Okay, time for another chapter of Youko's life! My gratitude to all those who reviewed. In this chapter we find our favorite fox adjusting to life as a thief's apprentice.

Kitsune Bandit: Thanks for the advice and keeping up with my story. Thanks for adding me to your favorites.

Shiorifoxiesmom: Glad you like it. It's an honor.

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It's a Secret: chapter 4

Over the next few weeks Youko trained rigorously. Nori taught him about how to tell the value of treasures, he found that his most of his treasure from the village wasn't worth much. Shizuka trained him in the arts of stealth and lock picking. A cat demon named Takeshi taught him fighting. Sho had fixed up his ribs, and he was now learning plant manipulation from the golden-brown kitsune. Along with that, Kuronue taught him various other skills, including how to disguise himself and told him about old legends. Though Kuro gave him a lot of freedom, one thing he insisted on was that the fox join him in bed nightly.

Youko was in a small tent he had been given, practicing with his plants. Leaves covered the walls of his tent, and he had concealed his treasures, along with various other things he had stolen (mostly food) in them. Kuronue and his other thieves were away on a raid, as of yet, Youko hadn't been allowed to accompany them. He was beginning to open up to the thieves, and a personality he didn't know he had had begun to emerge.

He hoarded items that he thought he might need, or that he just wanted. He found that he was drawn to everything shiny that he saw. Anybody who got near him while he was eating would be scared away by his cold eyes. He also found that he cared about cleanliness and his appearance. His beauty was one of his top priorities. Sho told him that most kitsune's were vain, but he was over the top. There was one other thing about him he had discovered, he couldn't care less about killing.

He did it without remorse and without mercy. He struck down any demon who got close to discovering their camp. He could almost say he enjoyed it. Some of the thieves seemed incredibly foolish to him. Youko found himself looking down on them. The only people he really respected were his teachers, those who he could learn from. In Youko's view, he should take what he wanted, and strike down those in his way.

The next morning, the thieves returned with their loot. Kuronue had gone off somewhere with Sho, so it looked like Youko didn't have any plant training to look forward to. He joined the others at around a fire and ate his fill of the food. He watched them look over the loot they had brought back with them. That was when he noticed one of the men, an older fire demon named Susumu, staring at him with obvious lust in his eyes. Maybe I can use this to my advantage. Youko thought.

He approached the demon that evening. "What were you staring at this morning?" he whispered seductively from behind him. Susumu jumped back in surprise, turning to face the fox. "So, why were you looking at me like that?"

Instead of answering, he licked his lips, then reached over and pulled Youko into his lap. Youko could feel his desire pressing against him, and it took effort not to shudder in disgust at the demon's touch. "Why don't you come to my tent tonight and find out." he said, in a not very subtle way. He then proceeded to start licking and nibbling at the fox's neck. Youko exposed his neck more and pretended to moan in pleasure. Taking that as acceptance, Susumu tightened his grip on Youko and wrapped his legs around the fox's waist. Youko shuddered this time. The demon took it the wrong way.

"If you want it that bad, we can always go to my tent now." He stroked the Kitsune's inner thigh, reaching between his legs. Youko quickly bit down hard on Susumu's ear, afraid that he'd go to far before Youko got him to the tent. "Alright." he grumbled. The fire demon picked Youko up, his hands wandering over the fox's body as he brought him to the tent.

There the fire demon stripped Youko and immediately pressed his lips down on his. Then he took what he wanted. Around two in the morning, they both lay there panting. "Time for you to go." Susumu told him. "We wouldn't want the boss to find out about this." He practically forced the boy out of the tent. Youko should have felt outraged, and he probably would have if this hadn't been what he intended.

Kuronue and Sho came back the next day. Youko was in his tent when he felt the familiar arms circle his neck. "Welcome back master Kuro." Youko greeted cheerfully. He felt Kuronue's arms slide slowly off him and heard soft footsteps. "Am I that obvious?" Kuronue pouted.

Youko smiled, in way he had found master Kuro to be like a child. It made you forget that he was a murderer with a really bad temper. "Of course you are master." Youko teased. "I can predict everything you do." He turned to face Kuro, who was leaning against the plants on the tent.

"Oh?" the chimera said. His eyes met Youko's, shining with amusement. "I had a complaint from a certain fire demon about you. He says that you seduced him, and that when he woke up the next morning, you, and all of his treasures were gone. Was that predictable?" Youko just looked away guiltily and didn't answer. "I don't think what he said was entirely true, but his jewels were indeed missing."

"It's his own damn fault for leaving them out like that." Youko mumbled under his breath. Kuronue heard him. He laughed loudly. "You can do whatever you want with your body, but just remember you'll always be mine, foxy boy." He walked towards the exit. "You can keep what you took, but in the future, don't steal from my thieves." Youko breathed a sigh of relief, then headed after Kuronue out of the tent.

Later that day, Kuro and Sho sat talking. "He's doing quite well. You have good taste m'lord, he'll make a good thief." Sho complimented. Kuronue grinned. "Don't I though? Well, I must be going. I have a previous engagement with our little fox." He winked and strode off into the camp.

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Well, that's that. More changes in Youko's personality to come, next time on It's a Secret. (So don't forget to review.)