A/N: Alrighty, since it's my favorite time of the year (first day of spring! First day of spring!), I've decided to spend both class periods where I can use the computer (and yes, I'm done with everything I need to do) writing more of ACE. It's the final battles, people! Yay! X3

Alright, so since I've gotten two chapters out today (and both out in about two hours of each other...), I don't think there's much more to say.

Except that many of you will probably be ready to mob me by the end of the chapter. XP

Youko was waiting, crouched behind the couch, for the right moment. The furious demon, who had not stopped in his destruction of anything not nailed to the floor (and sometimes, even being nailed to the floor didn't stop him. The fireplace was kind enough to prove that), was slowly making his way towards the small fox. The keys Youko needed were strapped to Mr. Angry's belt, and the contraption was a lot less complicated than anything Youko was used to. He could pull this off with his eyes closed in his normal form.

And since you aren't in your demon form, I suggest you keep both eyes open and wary. Suuichi was keeping his ears open for any sign that the demon's partner was returning.

I'm not stupid, you know. And don't you dare answer that. Suuichi closed his mouth and swallowed his reply. You're supposed to be listening. Leave the other stuff to me. I know what I'm doing.

Suuichi didn't bother replying, and Youko was grateful. The demon was only a small, flimsy cushion away from getting to the couch. It was almost time to strike.

The pillow went up in a feather-filled explosion, and Youko momentarily lost the demon's form as a few of the feathers drifted into his face. One of them tickled his nose, and he couldn't help but sneeze. He immediately froze, the same time as the demon.

"Who's there?" the demon called out in a cold voice. Youko huddled deeper into the shadows, hoping that his luck would hold and the demon would continue to attack things.

Youko barely had time to wonder if Lady Luck would always be against him before he was furiously picked up by the scruff of the neck by the demon's meaty hand. Pain welled at the back of Youko's neck, causing him to snarl.

Naraku laughed. "Well well well. Look what I've found. Here I am, thinking that I'm all alone with nothing to do, and the damned fox that makes an idiotof me comes crawling into my presence." He chuckled coldly. "I think I owe you a little payback for making me look the fool in front of my woman."

Youko began to kick and wriggle, trying to loosen the demon's grip. Ow, damn him, that hurts! Ow, ow, pain...why won't he just let go?

Naraku chuckled at the fox's attempts at getting free. "Oh no you don't. I'm going to have so much fun." Naraku shifted his grip so that he could grasp the delicate neck of the fox. He slowly began to squeeze.

Can't...breathe... Darkness began to cloud over Youko's vision.

Suuichi, for his part, began to berate him. I told you! Didn't I tell you? Now you're in so much trouble! Breathe, damnit. You can't come here and let some low class, second-rate theif take Kagome away from us!

Youko wanted to shout at Suuichi, but he couldn't get his mind around the sheer animalistic panic that began to consume him.

"I wonder what Kagome will think when she finds out her pesky dog is dead?" Naraku mused.

Youko barely heard the question, but it was enough. To picture how Kagome would look, knowing that she was placing her hope of escape in her small companion, it was enough for Youko to push down his instincts and think. Though it helped that the demon insulted him, too.

Manipulating himself, Youko flung clawed paws onto the demon's hand. He kept scratching at him, slowly gaining more strength as he knew he needed to get free soon, before he drifted into a sleep in which he wouldn't be able to wake from.

Come on! Can't you bite him? Suuichi pestered Youko.

I'm trying...but the damn lug...won't work with me!

Youko hit something with one of his back claws and pulled out. He was rewarded with a cry of indignation and a slight loosening of the hand around his neck. It was just for a moment, but that moment was all Youko needed to maneuver his mouth and bite down onto the demon's hand.

Naraku's hand immediately let go of the fox. But instead of falling, like he had thought, the thrice-cursed fox leapt up. As in, into the air and onto Naraku's shoulder.

Naraku, who had been cradeling his injured limb, knew that the beast was within an area to do serious damage. He began to bat at the wretched thing, but the monstrocity kept moving.

Youko, for his part, knew he couldn't stay still. He still needed to get the keys, so he began to move in a way that was forcing the demon to bend over, creating a nice platform for Youko to work with. He scratched and bit at the demon's skin, through his clothing, and in any area that would cause the most pain or annoyance.

Finally, after enough patience, the demon bent over at his waist enough for Youko. He scrambled over the back, reached an extended paw over to the front of the belt, and pulled it free. The clasp broke immediately and fell to the floor. The keys made a small jingling noise to alert Youko to his success.

Naraku roared. He stood up, and he could tell the fox couldn't get a grip on his bloody back as the creature fell to the floor. He whipped around and faced the thing, breathing heavily and creating a scary sight from all the blood that was streaming from his once perfectly groomed hair. In his fury, Naraku lunged at Youko.

Youko had been waiting for that moment. Without hesitation, Youko danced out of Naraku's clutches and shot after the belt. Since the keys were attatched to the ugly accessory, he had to take the entire thing with him.

Youko barely made it out of the doorway before the wards went up as Naraku flung himself after the fox.

A slight sizzling was heard before Naraku could pull himself back from the energy field. His hair was standing on end, frizzled and moving about with the slightest motion.

He looks like a porcupine, Youko observed.

A very angry, murderous porcupine. Suuichi stiffled a small laugh, even though he could practically see the steam drifting from the demon's ears. Maybe it's about time we left him to his own devices.

Youko needed no futher prompting.

Within moments of leaving the demon fending for himself, Youko was once again at Kagome's cell door. There was no sign that the other demon was coming to them, and so Youko set down the keys and called out.

Kagome heard Yuuki's bark and scrambled back onto her feet. She had to stand on her toes to see out the window, but she was able to pick out Yuuki and what looked like a belt. "Hey there, you really did it, didn't you?" Kagome was amazed that Yuuki looked neither fazed nor injured. "The only problem is, I haven't thought about how you're going to get them to me."

Youko shook his head slightly. Typical. Humans always plan so poorly when they're under pressure.

Ignoring Suuichi's comments, Youko picked up the belt in his mouth again. Eyeing the height of the window, he backed up a bit more before taking a running start and leaping towards the opening.

Kagome snapped out of her own little world and saw Yuuki sailing towards her, the belt dangling from his jaws. Reaching a hand through the bars, as far as she possibly could, she made a snatch at the belt as it passed her. She was able to brush it with her fingertips before losing any grip she had on it. Frowning, Kagome egged Yuuki on to try again.

Youko needed no commands for what he was doing; he kept at it until, some time later, Kagome was able to grab the leather band. "Yes!" she cried, pulling her hand back a little bit.

Working with her crazy ideas (which just seemed to appear magically in her head), she stood on the very tips of her toes like a ballerina. She was barely able to reach the lock, sliding in different keys until she found the right one.

With a satisfying click, Kagome pushed open the door.

Youko slithered through the small crack and leapt at Kagome. Kagome caught him just in time, and began to praise him.

"I don't know how you did it, Yuuki, but you just saved us! You're such a pretty boy, so smart, so brave, you're just my knight in shining armor, aren't you..." Kagome smiled as Yuuki basked in his own glory.

Kagome stopped talking and set Yuuki down on the ground. Youko looked at her with a slightly confused look as Kagome turned around and walked further into her cell. Bending over, Kagome picked up the still unconcious Shippo and pulled him into her arms.

Youko saw the boy and immediately his ears went down and his tail curled under him. He felt so guilty for not paying more attention to what was going on around him and he began blaming himself for what happened to Shippo.

Kagome gave her little friend a tiny smile. Looking up at the door, she saw a shadow. She froze in fear and watched, in slow motion, as a heavily booted foot shot out and caught Yuuki in the ribs. The young fox sailed across the room, crashed into the wall and slid to the floor...and he didn't move.

End Chapter.
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