Here is chapter 5…I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T UPDATE FOR SOOO LONG! I could find the floppy disc I left it on…I'm SO SORRY!…it is kind of weird so please bear with me, any questions, feel free to ask.

Thank you my reviewers:
Reader, who reminded me to update
bubblez
PurPLeDoUGHnuts
Dreammistress Jade

Ichigo talking
'Sapphire thinking'
Exaggerating
"Talking"
'Sarcasm'
:little actions:

My Light in Pitch Black
Chapter 5:
Operation Bring-Back-Memories

Dinner came faster than anyone expected did. Credits were given out to Sapphire, who distracted Horo with more of her 'skeleton tricks', as Ren called it.

There was something familiar about Ichigo but Ren couldn't put his finger on it. It's like he seen the bluish-white Fox demon before. But where? That question puzzled Ren for the rest of the meal.

During dinner, Ichigo curled up against Sapphire as she ate, with his tail on Horo's lap, who sat next to her. Horo didn't mind but soon Ichigo did because Horo was eating very messily.

After dinner, everyone went off on their own. The guys decided to hit the hot springs while Anna and Pirika watched soap operas. Sapphire offered to wash the dishes, seeing as Anna said all she had to do was chores. Tamao refused at first but Sapphire got Ichigo to lead Tamao to the living room with his 'cuteness'.

'I never thought Ichigo as cute…but I guess I couldn't tell him that he was beautiful' :laugh, Sapphire thought before washing the many piles of dishes, knowing Ichigo can read her mind.

The dishes took longer to wash than Sapphire expected. By the time she was finished, it was dark out. Looking out the window, she saw the stars sparkle. She headed towards the roof, where she knows she can get a good view of the glittering sky. Lying on her back, Sapphire put her hands behind her head as she let her eyes wander in the black sky.

(Sapphire's POV)

I sighed. When will Ren remember me? How can he forget me to begin with, after all the things we've been through? But he does seem to remember I'm a thief, since he mentioned it so many times.

The stars twinkled, as if trying to tell me something. What happened in these six years? What could've happened to make him forget me? All these questions were really starting to get on my nerves. I hated the fact that I missed out so much. What happened?

Ichigo must have sensed my thoughts because he crawled up next to me suddenly. Ren has forgotten you, Ichigo said, telepathically sending the message to my mind. For those who he didn't send it to, it would only sound like a purr from a cute little fox.

"I know," I said sadly. If anyone were to eavesdrop on our conversation, they would only hear me talking to myself.

He's forgotten everything. He's not even wearing the necklace. Admit it, Sapph, he forgotten the promise.

"Not helping Ichigo, I found out that stuff already. Not to mention the emotional pain you're inflicting on me," I said, hoping Ichigo would give me some advice instead.

There's nothing I can do, I can only steal thoughts. You're the one who does the actual stealing.

Then the light bulb lit up. "Of course! You're a genius. I am, after all, a top class thief." Giving him a quick peck on his nose, I lifted Ichigo and headed inside.

You got to stop doing that. I'm at least 500 years older than you are.

"Of course, of course," I said, without really meaning it. I opened the living room door and saw that everyone was inside watching some game show.

"Guys, I'm going to bed. See you in the morning," I declared, sticking my head in.

Horo glanced at the clock, then me. "It's only 10:30," he said, as if wanting me to stay. "Let the weakling go to bed," Ren said, obviously hinting for me to leave.

I frowned a little but then smiled after remembering my plan. "Yes, I better get to bed. Good night."

A chorus of good nights can be heard as I left the room and skipped upstairs. When I passed by Ren's room, I peaked inside. It was pretty neat, everything was in order, no mess on the floor. Best of all, there was a window. Perfect. If everything goes according to plan, Ren should remember at least a little of the past.

You're doing that again? I stared at Ichigo, as if asking if he's in or not. He gave a light sigh. Of course I'm in, you can't do it without me.

Smiling, I retreated to my room and hopped into bed. "Remember to wake me up!" I reminded Ichigo before quickly falling asleep.

( Later that night ) (Normal POV)

Ichigo violently shook Sapphire for the 5th time. Will you get up already? But nothing worked. If you don't wake up soon, the plan's going to fail! He screamed in her mind, causing her eyes to shoot open.

"Ouch," she whispered, "Did you have to scream that loud?" She got up and began to take off the chains of bones on her shirt until she was left with one-meter long worth of chains. "Ready?" she whispered.

Yeah. And if you don't want to get caught, better let me read your mind instead of you talking.

'Fine, you ready?' Sapphire had taken off her cloak and was only wearing her normal cloths (due to the darkness, we cannot see it. I'll explain it next chapter).

Ichigo nodded. Sapphire opened the window and leaped onto the roof. Quietly making her way across the moonlight roof, she found Ren's window. Pulling a thin white pin, she poked the bone into the hole.

click

'Yes, the window's unlocked. Step one, complete. Ichigo, is he asleep?'

Yes, sound asleep.

'Perfect' Slowly opening the window, she slipped inside Ren's dark room. 'Where is it?' she asked.

Hang on, he got all these useless thoughts, I can't find it…hang on…got it! It's in the closet, 3rd drawer on the left. :jumps off Sapphire's shoulder:

'Okay, now keep watch,' Sapphire walked towards the closet, looking for the 3rd drawer. When she did find it, she pulled it open, pulling out the thing she was looking for. 'Perfect, let's go'

And with that, the 2 thieves left the sleeping Ren by himself, unaware that he just lost a very valuable item of his.

(NEXT MORNING)

A loud scream was not the best way to wake up in the morning. Especially if it came from Ren, the person whom you chose to steal from at 3 last night. Sapphire let out a groan after looking at her clock. Did Ren have to wake up so early?

Sapphire grabbed something from under her blanket and put her cloak over her pajamas. Stepping outside, she saw Ren fuming at his doorway. "What's wrong Ren:rubs eye: It's 5:30 for hell's sake."

Sapphire can tell Ren was trying to keep his anger in check and he was doing pretty well, in his standards. "Someone. Stole. My. KWAN. DAO."

Yawning, Sapphire walked around the staircase and into Ren's room. It was nothing like the room she saw last night. Piles and piles of cloths had been thrown out of the closet, along with some other sharp metal objects. "What are these?" Sapphire asked, holding up one of the many pieces of unidentified metal objects.

Ren snatched it from her hand and dumped it inside a metal suitcase. "Are you here to help? Or here to question everything?"

Sighing, Sapphire placed her hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you go downstairs and have a nice cold glass of milk while I look for it?" she suggested.

Ren obeyed, might as well as give her a chance since he looked for an hour already. After seeing Ren disappear down the stairs, Sapphire pulled out Ren's Kwan Dao from under her cloak. This should bring back some memories. She thought as she picked up the piles of clothes and helped him reorganized his closet.

When she was done hanging up all his clothes, Ren came in with 2 bottles of milk. "Were you even looking for it?" he asked, handing her one of the bottles.

"You're actually giving it to me?" Sapphire asked, taking a gulp out of the bottle.

Blushing, Ren began looking for his Kwan Dao again. "I'll take it back if you don't want it."

Sapphire shook her head and pointed to his bed. "I found it already. It's on your bed." Ren stared at her like she was crazy. He searched for his weapon for an hour and this girl found it in 3 minutes? She had a look on her face as if saying 'Don't question me'. But when he looked at his bed, there it was, lying on his blanket. "Thanks," he muttered, picking it up.

"No problem. Say, do you want to go for a walk to the cemetery?" Sapphire asked casually.

Ren frowned. It wasn't that he didn't want to go with Sapphire; it's that he does. Why would he, though? He just met the girl. Or did he? Something seems awfully familiar about this hooded girl. And why the cemetery? "Sure," he answered, after a long silence.

"Okay! Just let me go get changed," she said before running off to her own room.

Yes! Everything is going as planned. Soon, my little fiancé will remember who I am!

'What got you so happy? Last time I checked, you weren't a morning person'

Sapphire looked towards her bed and there laid Ichigo. Taking off her cloak, she managed to say, "You're the mind-reading brainiac, you figure it out." She gave Ichigo and quick peck on the tip of his nose and ran off.

'Stop Doing That!' Ichigo growled just so Sapphire could understand him.

Laughing, Sapphire met Ren at the top of the stairs. "Okay, I'm ready."

Ren couldn't help but blush. Sapphire was wearing a black tank top that perfectly outlined her figure. She was wearing a thin, black clothed mitten that covered only the thumb, ring and pinky. ((Sort of like Max's from Beyblade but it's black)) Blood red wristbands replaced her bone bracelets but her belt, earrings, rings and other accessories were still made of bones. She had a dark gray knee-length skirt and black boots that went half way between her knee and ankle. She tied up her hair so that it was in a high ponytail. To top it off, she grabbed her black backpack and slipped into a white puffy jacket as they stepped into the cold air outside.

"Don't you just love walks in the morning?" Sapphire asked, taking a deep breathe so the morning smell fills her lungs.

Ren did the same and the smell of morning dew surrounded them. Without meaning to, a smile formed on his face. But it quickly disappeared when they entered the graveyard. Sapphire slightly tilted her head as she let her mind absorb the view of the gloomy land.

Okay, here goes nothing. She thought as she turned to Ren. "Say, how about a friendly match before breakfast?" Seeing Ren hesitate, she added in a baby voice, "Or wis the wittle Wen afwaid of harmwess Sapphwire?"

She knew it hit the spot because immediately, Ren pulled out his Kwan Dao. Something in his eyes twitched the moment he lifted his weapon but he hid it. "A Tao never backs down from a challenge," he said, readying himself for a battle.

I thought so. Smirking Sapphire focused her furyoku so that it loosened all her bone accessories. Surrounded by tiny pieces of skeletons, she once again used her furyoku so that it forms a staff like pole. Pulling a blade from her bag, she connected it to her staff. ((Her weapon looks like Faust's but instead of the red pole, it's bones))

"Were you there when I explained everything to Yoh and them? I clearly stated that I'm a bone yard sorceress. And guess where we are?" she said in a casual happy tone. Ren took a second look at their surrounding. Sapphire could tell he was mentally smacking himself and that formed a smirk on her face.

Victory is all mine, but I mustn't underestimate Ren. It caused my defeat years ago and I plan to win this time. After all, I do have 2 major advantages.

With that thought, Sapphire did a black flip and landed on a nearby tree. Holding her weapon in front of her, she turned to the Chinese boy. "Ready, Ren?" Sapphire asked, in a somewhat mocking voice. Ren's emotion stiffened, meaning yes.

Smiling a somewhat innocent smile, Sapphire started to spin her weapon. Glowing animal spirits started to appear behind her, as Ren felt as if this was all a familiar dream. "Donny," she screamed, causing a bat to fly forward and turned into a glowing black orb, "Into the ((Ah! What's that thing called! Uh…let's call it a…blade or pole for now)) blade!"

As the black orb united with the weapon, the bones started to turn black. Once again, an innocent smile formed on Sapphire's face. "Donny was poisoned by hunters, so after I found him dead, he asked to specialize in poison."

Ren smirked, if she think a poison pole can defeat the great Ren Tao, she is SO underestimating him. But then again, he thought, staring at his weapon.

"Ren," Sapphire smirked, "is this really the time to look at your Kwan Dao?" She uttered a spell under her breath and cracking sounds surround Ren. As he looked around, the dry ground was being broken up, revealing white skeletons readying themselves for a fight.

I've seen this before. Memories of Faust's fight with Yoh flashed through Ren's thoughts as he dodged the skeleton's tackles. No, it wasn't Faust…it was back in China…

Seeing the confused look on Ren's face, Sapphire grinned as she pulled out an elegant glass cup from under her cloak. Looks like he's remembering. Rising her right index finger to her weapon, she let the blade cut the skin as blood oozed out.

After throwing off another skeleton, Ren took this moment to catch his breath and looked up at Sapphire. She was holding her dripping finger over the glass cup with ancient scripture on it and allowing the blood to flow freely from her finger to the cup. As if he was taught to handle this type of attack, he picked up a sharp piece of bone and chucked it at Sapphire, aiming for the cup. But Sapphire dodged in time so that it pierced the bleeding finger. She mouthed a thank you to Ren and cheerfully watched the blood fall into the cup, filling it almost a quarter full.

Something turned in Ren stomach, as if warning him about the cup of blood but Ren ignored it, continuing to fight off the limitless skeletons. "Master Ren, the skeletons are regenerating. They'll just keep coming back to life," Bason's voice said from the Kwan Dao. Ren looked around, Bason was right. The shattered bones pulled itself together, literally, and returned to its original shape, until it took form of a skeleton.

Ren nodded and made his way to the tree Sapphire was on but the skeleton army's defense strengthened. By the time he was 5 meters from the tree, the glass cup was filled to the rim with fresh red blood.

Uh-oh, Ren did a back flip and managed to escape the grasp of the white bones. Picking up another piece of sharp bone, he threw it at Sapphire again. The time, she allowed it to hit the cup, shattering it. But then, the ancient scriptures on the cup glowed a deadly purple. The glass cup broke all right; the pieces hit the dry ground. But not a single drop of blood touched the dirt. Eyeing the blood, that now took form of the cup, Ren's thoughts told him one thing: I defiantly saw this before.

Sapphire grew a small smile and put up her hand. Wiggling her fingers, she was able to move the cup so that it's right above her head. "The battle begins now, Ren," was all she said before releasing her 'grip' and sent the red liquid splashing over her and her weapon.

The reddish-black aura she had shown before had returned, darker and thicker than ever and shielded her from Ren's eyes. All he can see is a pair of glowing demonic red eyes, focused on him. Suddenly, dark purple clouds started to come from nowhere and covered the rising sun. Ren would've been panicking but the fact that all this is so familiar gave him hope of winning.

Sapphire snapped her fingers and the skeletons began to break apart, leaving pieces of decaying bones. She raised her arms and the bones floated in the air, rising to her level. Her piercing red eyes flickered and the bones glowed black.

So that must mean they're poisonous now, Ren thought as he remained in his battle position, ready to defend himself when she strikes.

Sapphire dropped her arms suddenly, sending bones to charge at Ren from all direction. Then the reddish-black aura disappeared, and Sapphire stood there holding her head in pain, trying to keep her balance.

Ren used all his might to prevent the bone darts from piercing through his body. But then, as sudden as all this began, it stopped. The sharp bones fell to the ground. Surprised, he turned to Sapphire, who was fighting a losing battle with her headache. Releasing her grip on the blade, she fell backward, falling headfirst.

Ren rushed to where the girl will fall, but he had been too slow. He slid and successfully landed under her, cushioning her fall with his own body. ((Gawd, my friend read this and said this part was wrong. Anybody, who is thinking wrong right now, is very sick-minded)) When he was just about to tell the girl to get off of him, he saw that the girl was unconscious.

Okay…he stared at the girl and couldn't help but smile. She was strong and she'll make a great training partner. Picking her up, along with her weapon, Ren carried her in his arms bridal-style and walked towards home.

(AT HOME)

When Ren entered the front door with Sapphire in his arms, he earned weird looks from everyone. Lucky for him, Horo and Pirika weren't there to greet him. After all, it was only 7 in the morning. Laying her on the couch, Ren left for the kitchen. When he got in, Tamao was making breakfast and Pirika helping her.

"Ren, where were you this morning? And have you seen Sapphire?" Pirika asked, not taking her eyes off the carrots she was chopping.

Ren walked to the medical cabinet and pulled out a roll of bandages. "Sapphire and I went for a walk this morning," he said simply, not wanting to give out to much information about the familiarity of the battle that they had.

Worry leaked into Pirika's voice and Ren can tell it's not worry of his safety. "Where'd you guys go?"

"Uh, cemetery," Ren said, now reaching for the alcohol. "Cemetery? Why the cemetery?" Pirika asked, letting more worry escape from her voice.

"She suggested it," Ren said, closing the cabinet. As he began to leave the kitchen, he felt Pirika's grip around his wrist. "You like her?" she asked.

He turned to face her. "No, we're just friends. How can I like her? I barely know her," he said, but a little voice in his head told him otherwise. Pushing that little voice away, he said in a stern tone, "Now if you don't mind, Sapphire's injured."

Pirika stared at Ren's disappearing figure as he walked away. She can't believe it. She'd known Ren for so much longer and Sapphire comes in and he'll just go with her. If only she can count all the times Ren had refused to even go out in public with her. Now, after knowing Sapphire for 3 days, he'd go to the cemetery with her?

Tamao stopped stirring the soup for the noodle after feeling the murderous aura coming from the Ainu girl next to her. It's going to be a long day…or week…or month…or year…or maybe even longer…

OKAY! That's longer that I usually write so you better be happy! Hope you liked it! I actually thought it was pretty good…reviews make my world go 'round! So review!