Winds of Thyme: The Sequel

By Sakura Takanouchi

~*~ Winds of Thyme: The Sequel Chapter Four: On Their Own ~*~

Disclaimer: *hides behind cardboard cutout of tree*

Sakura breathed heavily as she set her backpack down to catch her breath. She had been traveling all night in hopes to reach the mountain by noon. That wasn't going to happen. She just hoped that no demons would attack her in this state. She was lucky so far.

"What do we have here?" She heard a voice from behind her.

'Oh great, just my luck,' she thought.

'A little human girl. Let's kill her!' A second voice rasped. They advanced on her, but Sakura turned around and punched the first one, sending him reeling several feet backwards.

'Little human girl wants to fight?' The other one asked. He started to punch her, with Sakura dodging most of them. She punched, but it dodged. To her surprise, the other one, recovered, snuck up from behind her and grabbed her hand.

"Little human girl now dies!" They cackled. Just then, something flew past Sakura, cutting off the hands that held Sakura, and cutting right through the other one. They sank to the ground, unconscious.

"Little human girl gets in trouble often, huh?" The deep voice of her rescuer said. Sakura turned around. Hiei smirked.

"Little human girl does not want little demon smart-alec following her around," Sakura answered.

"Let's go rescue him, then," Hiei started walking towards the giant mountain. "That is the reason why you're here, right?"

Sakura nodded, and followed him. They reached the mountain by 4:00.

~*~ At the Black Mountain ~*~

Hiei and Sakura stared in shock at the sight that lay before their eyes. "I don't know whether to laugh or blow this place up for the heck of it," Hiei said in disbelief.

The infamous Komotori Group's storage facilities consisted of a small cavern cut into the mountain. A wooden sign said, 'Komotori Group Storage…. Donations right. Collections Left.'

"This looks like some cheap Goodwill place," Sakura commented. She walked into the cavern and turned to the left.

"Wait," Hiei said. Sakura stopped. "We need a battle plan."

~*~Five Minutes Later~*~

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Hiei muttered through clenched teeth.

"Be glad I don't have a camera," Sakura said, trying not to giggle. They had gone with a 'demon trader and demon-to-be-traded disguise. Hiei was the demon.

Sakura pushed Hiei in front of her and barged through a small wooden door to the left of the cavern. "I got me a demon!" She announced.

The place ertaintly did not look like Goodwill. Several demons were playing cards in the corner, and a hallway full of cages that held demons were within eye view. Hiei looked around nervously, with an expression of fake hostility.

A youkai looked up from the counter to the right of Sakura. "Bring him over here so you can collect your bounty," She called. Sakura dragged Hiei over to the counter. "This is Hiei. Wily little demon. Took me months to catch him," Sakura said, trying to appear tough.

The youkai didn't seem impressed. "State your name, business, and sign at the line," She said.

"Kyoko, unemployed, and give me a pen," Sakura answered, thinking up a suitable alias. "Also, I heard that you're short on service," Shr bluffed. "Now I don't know if my info's reliable or not, but—"

"Yes, we're short several people," The Youkai interrupted.

'Whoa, that was lucky,' Sakura and Hiei thought. "Ya see, I'll be staying around these parts for awhile, and if you want, I'll give you guys a hand with stuff, and especially with him there," Sakura motioned to Hiei.

"Well, we do need some extra security for this one item, as well as the demon that came with it," she confided.

'Well then, lead the way so I can get him stored somewhere. Maybe with the other demon so I can guard them all at the same time," Sakura suggested.

"Good idea, Kyoko. I'll get you to his cell right away," The yokai led Sakura down several hallways, entering a lengthy cell at the end of the last hallway. Sakura gasped softly when she saw the tortured body of Kurama lying against the wall. Sakura shoved Hiei inside, and she leaned against the bars of the cell. "Explain to me some of the security features of this establishment," Sakura said, trying to sound official.

"Not much, really. We employ and they guard. You'll be responsible for those two as well as the other demon at the very other end of this hallway, but all she does is sleep, so it won't be too difficult. The redhead has some authority issues, so be sure to use proper discipline," She answered.

"Great, I'll take it from here," Sakura took a magazine from out of her pocket and started to read it. The youkai left the hallway and Sakura turned around. "Quick, wake him up so I can question him," Sakura ordered, just in case the other demon was awake. Hiei shook Kurama awake.

"Huh?" Kurama asked quietly. Hie eyes widened. "Hiei? How did you?" Kurama asked. Hiei pointed towards Sakura. He smiled. "I knew you'd come," He said.

"I'm supposed to be your guard, so I may be rough, but I promise I'll get you two out of here before the Anbu Shijou," Sakura promised. "Also, call me Kyoko. Don't ask."

The next five days passed with careful planning and contemplation of the anbu shijou.

~A/N~

Such a lovely ending for this chapter, ne? Next up, Mukuro makes an entrance (and a scene) When she is assigned to work amongst Sakura and learns of their plans. Also, Yusuke comes into the picture just in time. Check out the next chapter of WoT, coming in about a week. (or less, but not more. Finally, I'm going to update quickly!)

Need more stats please! I realized I have a poster of Mukuro (I think) On my wall, so I've got a picture. But I still need fighting style and mood.

Later otakus.

Saku(ra) Takanouchi