Omasunoniwabanishi: Man, you review fast! Hope you had a great Christmas, a wonderful present for Boxing Day, and the best New Years! And that goes to you who is reading this now!
Yea, I know. Took a day off yesterday... Might take a day off again on New Year's Eve... Not sure yet. So, um, like just telling you guys, in case someone was wondering why I haven't put up my daily chapter yet.
Chapter Eight: ...I Have Just Found the Silver Lining...
"Hey look Yuki! Isn't that Saiku over there? Where was she yesterday? I didn't see her in school at all! And who's that with her? I haven't seen him in this school before..."
Turning around, Yuki put on a face of confusion.
"Well I don't know. The first week's over already, so it's not my problem if she decided to skip school yesterday."
Scanning the school grounds, Yuki found Roviel and Kurama. Not that the pair was hard to miss. Roviel was stalking towards school building, lecturing the red-head on "responsibility" and "caution". Sporting a bandaged arm and a limp, she never less moved at an amazing pace, one that the kitsune was lucky to keep up with. Seeing him, Yuki grinned. Looks like she wasn't the only girl who had the "love at first sight" scenario. Walking down the front ground, Kurama turned many heads, most girls, a few guys.
"Hey, isn't that Shuichi Minamino, from Meiou High, that smart school? What's he doing here?"
If not that, then some other form of personal information of the red-head was quick to fill the ears of the onlookers.
Striding up to the school building, Roviel gave a nod towards Yuki and Sara before walking on. Kurama waves and smiled, following the furious looking girl before him.
"Hey, aren't you Shuichi, from Meiou High? Why are you here?"
Sara, the loud mouth... Yuki poked her friend and hissed at her.
"Why are you asking so many questions for? You don't even know the guy."
"No, but neither do you. And just because you have no interest in cute guys doesn't mean that I have suffer through that as well."
A loud cough broke through the two girl's whispered conversations. Having stopped in her rampage, Roviel turned one eye onto Sara.
"Shuichi, or as you call him, the "cute guy", is here because his car crashed into me yesterday when I was coming to school. And now he's coming with me to the principle's office to explain my absence yesterday. That's enough information for you?"
Sara blushed, partly for the fact that their private conversation was overheard, partly for the fact that she was being stared at with the most unpleasant of looks from Roviel. Sighing at the pitiful state this world was in, the amber glare moved from Sara onto Kurama.
"What are you standing there for? Move!"
Watching the two walk into the building, Yuki smiled unconsciously. She was hit by Kurama's car? So that's the excuse they've come up with. Yuki wondered how Roviel was going to explain her absence and injuries. But by the looks of things, both Roviel and Kurama have healed exceptionally well. Thinking over that statement, Yuki's thoughts turned back to the last two days in Reikai...
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"What! Where are they now? Are they hurt really bad? Who brought them back? Is Kurama going to be all right?"
Holding up his hands, Yusuke waved them as he tried to calm Yuki.
"Take it easy. I was just going to tell you everything. Let me finish, ok? Geez."
Ignoring the girl's urgent looks, the toushin sat down on a wooden chair, and opened his bottle of coke. In between large gulps, he told Yuki the whole story.
"Well it's like this. You know how Roviel, Kuwabara and Kurama went on a mission? The mission was to get this Key that could unlock any binding spells and curses right? From what they told me, is looks like the three of them were ambushed by some youkais who were also after the Key. They fought and stuff, and managed to get out off it alive. Nothing too bad; Kuwabara just got knocked out, Kurama overtaxed his stamina and Youki and Roviel just lost a bit too much blood. They are all fine now, and awake. Got back last night, the three of them, all unconscious..."
"So that means Kurama's ok?"
Yusuke winced.
"Eh, there's one other detail I forgot to mention to you. You see, the person who dragged all three of them back was Youko Kurama..."
She frowned.
" ...Kurama? So what's the big deal about that?"
Yusuke laughed nervously. If there was one thing being with Keiko for so many years had taught him, it's that one should never make a girl confused, because them they'll get angry, and he know first hand how ruthless girls could get...
"Eh, it's not what you think. You know Kurama right? Well he isn't a human; he's a kitsune youkai in a human body..."
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Watching from her second story window, Yuki followed Kurama's procession out of the school. Quite a few girls have dared the home room bell for the fox, running to his side and asking, Yuki guessed from the papers and pens, for his home address and contact number. She grinned; Sara was wrong, she was into good looking guys. Just that her friend doesn't know yet...
The door banged open with a loud snap, and storming in was, who else, but Roviel? Taking her seat behind Yuki, the youkai began to mumble dark words at the desk, occasionally adorned with the words "Youko" and "damn fox". Turning around, (Mr Sato was late, once again.) Yuki tapped lightly at Roviel's desk.
"I'd thought you would be happy, now that there is an extra person to help with missions, and that means Koenma would call upon you less. Isn't that a good thing?"
Roviel raised one brow at Yuki. One day she has to try out this "love" thing. It's amazing how thick people become, blinded by love.
"You actually think that Youko's going to help? Ha! That's as likely as Hiei falling in love with Kuwabara."
Yuki saw the youkai's lips twitch.
"But I'll forgive your insolence this time, seeing it that you've completely and utterly dove into the unreachable depth of love, where the light of truth could never reach your shadowed eyes."
Yuki rolled her eyes. Why does Roviel have to be so sarcastic all the time?
"This time it's serious! You weren't there, so you can't know what I mean. Youko's the best!"
"Who's the best?"
"AH!"
Yuki jumped in her seat at the sudden voice, her beating heart still wasn't calm even as she saw that the intruder as only Sara. Winking at Yuki, Sara grinned in mischief.
"So, you have a boyfriend and you haven't told me! How could you?"
Never in her life had Yuki been happier to hear Mr Sato's loud entrance, the teacher's blundering ways allowing her to avoid answer Sara's accusing question. As Mr Sato began to mark the roll, Yuki leaned over towards Roviel.
"Hey, can I go where you go for lunch all the time? The place that no one can find?"
Hearing the whispered plea, lazy orbs of fawn gold crinkled.
"Sure."
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Soft steps, each careful and deliberate, lapped at the silent air. Peeking around the corner, Yuki hoped that Youko didn't go too far. She had asked Hiei, and accompanied with the "Hn" was a point down the corridor Youko took. She had thought of waiting outside Koenma's office, where the Prince of Reikai was talking with Youko, but that would look very suspicious. So now she was trailing after Youko, wanting to see just what the King of Thieves looked like. Since he's a fox, then does that mean he would have fur and a tail and everything? Seeing that it was empty, Yuki gave a sigh and stepped into the hallway, hoping that she would be able to catch the fox at the next turn.
"Looking for someone?"
A low voice drawled out from behind her, causing Yuki to spin around in fright. There, just three feet behind her, leaning against the wall, was the smirking from of Youko. Staring at the white clad figure, Yuki felt her mind turn blank. A tiny corner of her mind shrieked that it was horribly rude to stare, not to mention that her mouth was hanging slightly open. But how could that voice compete with Youko? The smirk not lessening, the fox bent forward, coming so close to Yuki that she hardly dared to breath. As a matter of fact, Yuki stopped breath completely; every fiber of her mind was on the fox, who was leaning so close...
"You know, you would look pretty...If your jaw wasn't hanging open."
One of his hands lifted, the fingers closing her jaw softly. Straightening, Youko stretched.
"Ah, it's great to be back, to have a body again."
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His eyes, they were amber too. No, not amber, for his was a lighter color than Roviel's, While Roviel's eyes reminded Yuki of the first light of dawn, or the dying magnificence of the day; his was much stronger, the sun at its mightiest, where nothing dared to challenge the flaring globe of molten gold. Much was the same with his eyes, in them holding supreme control and unquestionable power. And yet, despite all that, those eyes held a grudging softness, as if not sure whether he truly admired something or was just a passing fancy. Occasionally those eyes would be covered, the maple color shadowed by strands of silver.
Or were they silver, these soft tresses of shimmering white. Platinum gold or steel gray? Was there an actual right answer? The hair, it suited him well, holding within them a bold mystery that surrounded the rest of him. Perhaps that was what drew her in, the thought of discovering the secrets that were lost to her, and yet as clear as day to him.
"So, who were you looking for, me?"
Youko's voice snapped Yuki out of her daydream. She flustered, at a loss for what to say.
"Yea... No. Um...I was just walking and... Yusuke told me about you and like... You were the one who spoke first! Oh yea, my name's Yu"
"Yuki Hatake. I know exactly who you are."
Those alluring eyes looked at her.
"Remember, before yesterday, I was in Shuichi's body."
Before yesterday... A sudden thought occurred to Yuki.
"Does that mean Kurama, I mean Shuichi is now human?"
Youko grinned.
"Why do you ask? Still nervous for your boyfriend?"
Her mouth opened, and some stuttered words came out.
"He's not, I'm not his, NOTHING'S GOING ON!"
His grin widened. She was an interesting one, whose shy exterior masked a bossy, but kind hearted and simple girl...
"Whatever you say. No, Shuichi is not turned into a normal human, even if he wishes to be. You see, when I escaped my binding with the help from the Key of Ages, part of myself was left behind. I think this was because when I first entered Shuichi, he was still unborn, and thus still growing. My theory is that while he was still growing, my human counterpart absorbed some of me, so when I left his body, Shuichi still had youkai parts in him."
"So does that mean he's a youkai now?"
"You are not only attractive, but also smart I see. Yes, he's a youkai now, although no longer as powerful as before. But I have no doubt my human half would be quick to train himself back to an A level."
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Today it was a chicken salad, something light. Nibbling on a piece of badly cut tomato, she watched as Roviel went through the ritual poking of her lunch. The detailed inspection done, she picked the sandwich up, having approved of the salmon and lettuce meal. Watching Roviel biting into the bread, Yuki suddenly spoke up.
"Why aren't you asking me anything?"
She was ignored, the lunch must bepretty then...
"Why should I?"
"Don't you want to know what happened? Aren't you curious?"
"Why bother. If it's important, I'm bound to know sooner or later. If not, then I do not need to waste time listening."
"Are you still going to call Kurama kitsune, even though he's not any longer?"
"Don't know, don't care."
Apparently the lunch was better than she thought, or why else would Roviel devote her time to devouring the food rather then listening to her recount of her meeting with Youko? Turning her own attention back to the salad, Yuki prodded at a piece of carrot.
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"So... How did you get out?"
They were walking, where to, she doesn't know. But that doesn't matter; after all, Youko was walking beside her.
"I was, and still am, the King of Thieves of Makai. Before those sad low life bastards that dared to call themselves youkais knew of its existence, I had already tried countless times to steal the Key of Ages. But, in the end, I reached the conclusion that it could not be moved, or at least, not with any power I had. When things became tight back in the chambers, I knew I had to use to the Key to get out and aid Shuichi and Roviel. Of cause, I knew how the Key worked, unlike some pacifier sucking toddler. So I told Shuichi to grab the Key, to coat it with his blood, to say the right words and push his ki into the Key the right way. It worked, and just in time too. Of cause, I'm not a figure to be forgotten so quickly from history, those pests knew of me and who I was. They begged for mercy, pathetic waste. After I disposed of these nuisances, I brought those three back to Reikai."
Two ogres saw them, both hurrying out of the kitsune's way. Noticing this, Yuki grinned. He's not that scary as she imagined him to be, listening to Yusuke's descriptions. Rather, the master thief proved to be somewhat of a fun companion...
"It's going to be hard from now on, remembering to call Shuichi by his human name, now that you are here. It would be easy for me; I've only known him for a week or so. But that would be a whole different thing for Yusuke and them."
Something jumped out in her mind, and Yuki laughed.
"Wonder how it's going to be like for Roviel? She keeps on calling Shuichi fox, so how's that going to work now?"
Youko muse over that dilemma.
"Roviel... She isn't the type to change anytime soon. Not that any of us really does... Youkais, I mean."
Looking up at Youko, Yuki noticed that his ears had a slightly darker sheen to his hair, only a tiny bit.
"Why?"
He shrugged, tail twitching as he walked.
"When you get to her age, or mine as a matter of fact, you find that nothing short of a miracle is possible to change your perspective at life or anything in it."
He chuckled.
"Listen to my talk; I'm getting old..."
She snorted at the comment, the pure silliness of it all. Ha, a centuries old fox youkai calling himself old?
"Youko would be fine."
She frowned. That came out of the nowhere.
"Pardon?"
He grinned down at her.
"What you people will be calling me. Youko sounds good. Shuichi cankeep his new name.And besides, Kurama sounds too old."