Feeling…lazy. You'd think, after doing my science homework in class during my FREE PERIOD, that I'd be in a little more productive mood. But no, I'm all the lazier. The fact that I'm typing this useless rant proves it. I really ought to finish my history homework. But eh, look up four words, not so hard, right? Er, but then I have three weeks worth of Chinese homework that's due in a day and 1/12 –yes, I do mean 1/12 as in two hours-and I haven't even touch it. There's a bad sign right there. Oh, and I have to write the script to my narration lines for a group project, wait, no, three group projects. Hah! All in one weekend. Er, actually, one of them is due the same day as my Chinese homework. /Runs hand down face/ Bad, bad, bad me. You should feel honored I'm sitting here, typing this for all of you without lives to read. I owe my classmates a lot, but I'm not giving them 100 like the all think I will, cause I'm that kind of person. Oh well, it's their fault for assuming.

Now, here's the long awaited –I should hope- Chapter 5! Which would be the continuation of chapter 4. This is weird, chapter 4 was the continuation of chapter 3, er, I mean I had longer chapters and I cut them to be shorter and overlap. Yeah, that's what I meant. Dude, I think Darknesspirals' latest chapter got me drunk from Kisu. She sent chapter 25 to me to edit and now my brain's all messed up. (I hope you know that I wrote this note ages ago)

With the Sunset Goes My Love: Chapter 5

Hate is the Opposite of Love

Youko Kurama

Surprised is an understatement when it comes to my reaction to seeing my partner, Kuronue, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk on his face. Arms crossed in front of him, he took inventory of my condition and scanned the room. He then stepped farther into the room and closed the door behind him.

"Hear you've been causing trouble."

"Kuronue. How?" I asked, baffled at how he had found me.

"I heard through the grapevine that you were seen somewhere in the vicinity, being dragged in by some woman." The bat explained. That didn't answer how he'd gotten into the apartment, but I figured he'd simply picked the lock.

I nodded in response to this. "Glad to see you survived."

"Yeah, yeah, now come on. We're getting out of here." He gestured for me to get out of bed.

I began to object, something in me not wanting to leave Tsuchi without apologizing first. Racking my mind I gave an excuse. "What about the vase?"

He smirked as he pulled out the vase from somewhere with satisfaction. "Got it right here. Now we can go."

"Where did you find it?" I asked, trying to delay the inevitable and making no move to get up.

"The girl shoved it at me. Said for me to get you out of her home before she got back." The ignorant thief shrugged it off. By the looks of it, the bat didn't know what he was implying. Tsuchi was still mad at me, and because of it she was ready to kick me out without even a goodbye. Disregarding the fact that she had deemed me unable to travel just this morning. She obviously didn't care anymore.

As I got out of the bed I tried not to show my disappointment. "Well then, I suppose we can be on our way." I said as smoothly as possible, praying that my voice not waver. It seemed to fool Kuronue well enough.

Kuronue

I got Youko out of there and we were soon on our way back to our hideout, walking west. I don't really know what that was all about, but I do know one thing. That girl didn't want to see Youko. She didn't seem to hate him or anything, but then again, she hardly showed any emotions what so ever.

So when I told Youko about it, I passed it off as nothing of importance, though I'm certain it was more than that. I saw his ears droop a little when I mentioned it. Poor Youko. He must have a thing for that vixen. Well, I pretended not to notice so as not to wound his pride.

The sun is up now and we're well on our way to the cave we hang out in. At least, we were, until the fox tripped and fell. Must have been the bad leg. I expected him to just stand up again. With all the pride he's got, it's not wise to ask if he's ok and help him up you know.

But he didn't get up. Youko just turned on his back and leaned on his elbows, leaning his head back to face the sky. He had this distant look on his face that looked so forlorn that I had to say something to snap him out of it.

"Hey, are you gonna get up or not? If you don't stop daydreaming we'll get caught by the authorities." I was hoping that would get him on his feet, but he made no move to stand.

After a moment of silence he spoke. "What's the point Kuronue? Are we just going to keep running? I'm tired of that life." He sighed.

I raised an eyebrow at this. Youko Kurama, THE Youko Kurama, wanting to 'settle down' and stop running? What was wrong with the fox? That woman had told me he'd been itching to get out! He must really miss her.

"What's gotten into you fox? Thought you'd be excited about getting out of there. All cooped up in there like you were. This isn't like you Kurama." He just kept staring at the sky in a wistful way. "Look, I got something for you." I said, searching in my pockets.

"What is it?" he asked, almost as if he were certain it wouldn't cheer him up at all. I shoved a sealed letter at him and he took it, looking at me with questioning eyes.

"That girl gave it to me. Told me to hand it to you when we were well out of there." He just stared at it as if debating whether he wanted to read what it said or not. "Well, open it. The way she gave it to me, she thought it was important you got it."

At this he glanced at me again before moving to open it.

Youko Kurama

Kuronue had shoved a letter at me. I took it numbly and stared at it.

"That girl gave it to me. Told me it hand it to you when we were well out of there." I considered this and wondered why Tsuchi wanted to make sure I got it after I had left. Maybe she didn't want to stay just because of what it said, which could only mean it was good news, but I just couldn't take the risk that it wasn't and that it would just tell me how much she hated me. "Well, open it, the way she gave it to me, she thought it was important you got it."

On the envelope was engraved in golden letters: Youko Kurama. Turning it over I hesitantly broke the red wax seal on the letter and drew it out of its envelope. A yellow piece of paper unfolded before me with golden letters etched onto its surface.

Dear Youko,

I want you to know that the only reason I even considered letting you go was because Kuronue is there to catch you when you fall. And you must have fallen for him to give you this.

I do regret not being there to bid you farewell but I had a scheduled previous appointment that I had to attend to. I never told you but I'm a songstress and I sing every Friday night down at the pub. I couldn't let my singing partner down. He would have had my head if I didn't return immediately.

Now you go have fun on your raids. I know you've been restless lately. Just don't go getting yourself caught, or I swear I will be the one to cut off your head.

Tsuchi Kusabana

P.S. I don't hate you.

A smile tugged at my lips as I finished reading the letter. With lighter spirits I refolded the letter and tucked it back in its envelope. Kuronue offered me his had and helped me back on my feet. I nodded to my bat friend and we leaped off home, the rising sun behind us.

Kuronue

We got home by nightfall, and even though Youko seemed okay, something was still off. I know the letter was meant to comfort him, but it seemed Kurama was really doubting the credulity of its contents.

He'd taken to staring at it when he thought I didn't notice. He wasn't even concentrating when we were planning our next raid. We were standing over a map of the Kompai Valley.

The Tsuriai Bonsatsu, or the Balance Temple, was a prime target for thieves looking for a challenge. As of then no one had managed to lay their hands on the famed relics within, that is, without getting them cut off. Protected by a priestess by the name of Kasumi Kouken, a storm demon. She would be a formidable opponent should they cross paths with her, but the riches hidden in the temple were well worth the risk.

However, it seemed the kitsune's mind was not on the problem at hand. I heaved an impatient sigh.

"Youko, you really need to stop thinking about her. She doesn't hate you, alright?" I said. I was hoping it would be enough to snap him out of it, but he still had that look of doubt in his eyes.

"How would you know, Bat?"

"I know because of what she told me and how she acted." Seeing this wouldn't be enough I decided I would have to tell him exactly what had happened.

Normal

(Flashback)

Tsuchi unlocked the door to her apartment and tossed her keys on a table near the door casually. Kuronue hesitantly followed. The place seemed too quiet for his tastes. Although it was pitch black outside, he noticed that Tsuchi made no move to turn on the lights.

This place is under a silence spell, only mind speak can be used here. I didn't want Youko aware of my departure just so he could get up and go, taking a few of my valuables with him no doubt.

Kuronue, being unable to 'path back, held his tongue and his thoughts. Tsuchi stopped in front of an open door that led to a laundry room. She began rummaging around among the clothes. Meanwhile, Kuronue swiped a jade box from a shelf to the right of the door.

I would appreciate it if my possessions remained where they belong, Bat. I don't take kindly to dishonesty; especially if you want your friend back in one piece.

Kuronue immediately replaced the box in its rightful place and hid his hands behind his back, only to bring them forward to catch the Kopaku vase that Tsuchi had shoved at him.

Here.

Kuronue made to inquire about the whereabouts of his friend when he was reminded of the silence spell when no noise could be heard. The opening of his mouth was all Tsuchi needed to understand what he wanted. She smiled at Kuronue with sad eyes.

Youko's lucky to have a friend like you. Most people would just take the vase and run. But no, your friends come first and foremost, don't they? Down the hall, last door. Get him out of my home before I'm back.

She nodded towards the door to Kurama's room and said the last sentence in a friendly joking way. Kuronue turned to do so when he was stopped by a hand.

And give this to him. Only after you're well gone, though. Wouldn't want him staying just 'cause I wrote him a little note.

Kuronue took the letter and nodded. He put it away in a hidden pocket. With the ticking of the clock, he knew the silence spell had been lifted. He looked up again to ask Tsuchi why and he found himself alone in the hall.

This would be the place to stop, not because I'm lazy, but because I don't want to confuse you. Any more detail and your heads would be spinning like mine is. Just go with it. After all, this was supposed to be part of chapter 4 so hey, you shouldn't have expected much more.
Glossary-

Tsuriai- Balance, equilibrium

Bonsatsu- Temple

Kouken-Protector, guardian

Kasumi- Mist

'path- short for telepath. Used as a verb to represent speaking telepathically.

Responses-

Princes Kandra- Tell me when you finally accomplish this great feat. I would like to be the first to congratulate you.

RoseFire-shadow666- Well, here's your update. Thank you for reviewing.

Mayumi- Thank you for reviewing. However, I happen to doubt the quality of this piece. It's authenticity is way off, unless I take drastic measures to fix it…but that's out of the question right now. I'm busy recovering Chapter 8 out of the abyss that is my floppy graveyard. Or I could always rewrite it. /sweat drop/ but it was way too hard to write in the first place to make myself rewrite it/whining/ Oh well, I'll get it somehow.

Hieiloving101- Glad to know I didn't depict him the wrong way. But I've totally OOCed both Youko and Kuronue. The situation set up is just plain awkward as well. /twitch/ It's just what came to me. My apologies…lack of authenticity is my vice.

Darknesspirals-Look! I got my dad to give me Internet for the day! It is now 10:15! Cause yesterday we wasted five hours at my grandparents' place; them having now returned to America. They came bearing gifts including lots and lots of socks. Yeah…I fell asleep. I think he forgot to put a time where my Internet should die. It was suppose to stop at 10 just to make up for yesterday, but here it is still running. /huge grin/ yep, I love glitches.

Boost an ego, leave a review. Common courtesy can be worth more than you think.