Author's Note: Ok, sorry this took so long. I had school stuff to worry about, plus for a while my laptop had a virus, and I couldn't really do anything. Oh, and I've updated my profile.

Disclaimer: I do not own Furuba, I do not follow the manga (though I have blended some Manga background with the Anime plot line to get my current story), and I do not guarantee to be IC at all times.


Chapter 15: The Search Goes On

The search parties combed the area; they had been at it all morning, and so far had found little sign of the two fugitives, at least little that they had bothered to report. A few broken twigs here and there that may have signaled the flight of the two cursed teens, but nothing more could be seen.

Haru's lazy gaze continued to linger on the horse who was searching nearby. Yuki sighed as he looked at the cow, "Haru, either go talk to her…or focus on the search. Just standing around like that isn't doing anyone any good."

To his surprise, Haru walked towards Rin after a slight nod of acknowledgement. The raven haired zodiac member turned as she felt someone approaching, her eyes wide at the sight of the cow behind her, "What do you want…"

Her tone was so blunt, and yet it cut like a knife. Just the same, Haru carried on trying to get her to talk to him in a civil manner, "To talk…we haven't done that in a while, just talked…"

"There's nothing to talk about." She said as she turned away, continuing to search, "Get back to your own group."

Yuki watched Haru and Rin a moment before continuing on his own search. He saw something in the trees…a small clue that would have been so easy to miss. A tiny blue thread stuck to a piece of tree bark. It was the same shade of blue as Kyou's sweatshirt. The rat picked the thread off the tree, and stuck it into his pocket. No one noticed as the silver haired boy himself slipped further into the forests.

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"This way," Kyou insisted as he dragged Kagura along by the hand, "Look, I hear a stream, and we should cross it. It'll make us harder to follow."

"But Kyou…that's the same stream you found me by, won't they think to search there?" Kagura replied as she tried pulling him in another direction.

"I didn't tell anyone where I found you, so why the hell would they look there? I know what I'm talking about dammit!" The cat snapped as he dropped her hand and turned to look at her. "Just standing around fighting isn't getting us anywhere!"

Chestnut hair billowed about Kagura's shoulders as she turned to face her love's hissing, bristled figure, "Well we wouldn't BE just standing around if you'd just listen to me!"

The two zodiac members stood there staring one another down; both thinking they knew best, each as stubborn as the other. Grey eyes met crimson ones, and Kagura let out a low growl, "Kyouuuu….we're going this way!"

Kyou balled his hands into stubborn fists, "Dammit Kagura! I think I know my way around the woods! I'm the one who spent four months training in the mountains! I know how to survive!"

The boar grabbed Kyou about the neck, taking him into a violent headlock, "Are you saying I'm stupid?"

"No, no!" The cat cried in distress as he struggled to free himself from her choking grasp, "Fine! We'll go your way!"

Kagura smiled at him, "Yay! You'll see, love! I know what I'm doing!"

Crimson eyes locked onto the brown haired girl from the corner of their field of vision, "You mean besides beating me to death?"

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Tohru had been keeping a steady vigil by the window of Shigure's house. She couldn't help thinking that maybe Kyou and Kagura would come back, and she would be able to help them somehow. Her brown hair was tied in pigtailed braids, and her blue eyes scanned the distance, hoping to see a speck of orange appear.

"Tohru?" A soft voice came from the small boy at her side, "You've been standing here all morning! Don't you want to sit down?"

Broken from her trance like focus, the young girl looked at the blonde, "Oh, Momiji!" She exclaimed, having nearly forgotten that he was there, "I was…I don't want to sit. What if they come? I have to be able to help them!"

A small sad smile spread over the rabbit's lips as he looked up at his older friend, "Tohru…I don't think either of them wants you to be sick with worry! If you really want to be able to help them if they show up…you should get some rest." His smile broadened into a grin as he turned to skip off, "I know! I'll make you something to eat!"

"Ah! Food! You must be starving! I completely forgot about lunch!" Tohru exclaimed as she followed the boy towards the kitchen. But Momiji held out a finger to stop her.

"Tch, tch. No, Tohru. You go sit and rest. I'll go get us some food!" He gave her a smile, "I'm worried about Kyou and Kagura too…but it won't help anyone if we don't keep cool."

With a small wink he scampered off.

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Akito sat in his bed, his cold gaze staring at the wall before him. That monster…that Kyou…not only had he defied his master, but he had brutally beaten him as well! The pain in Akito's side was immense, and it didn't help any that he had come down with a cold, and was suffering a cough.

With each hacking fit of coughing, his ribs felt as though they had been shattered all over again. His dark eye narrowed as he turned to face the sea horse who sat at his bedside, "What's taking so long, Hatori! I want them found!"

The half blind doctor turned his stoic eyes on the head, "It takes time to search…we haven't even found any leads yet." He let out a soft sigh as he caught site of Akito's angered expression, "You need to stop worrying…you'll only make yourself worse."

The dragon reached over to the table where he had set various bottles of pills, among them some sleeping pills and pain killers. He retrieved a bottle of sleep aids, taking out a small dosage, and handed the medicine to the pained head. Akito looked from the pills to his doctor before downing the medications swiftly.

"Now," Hatori said from his seat as he watched Akito carefully, "Get some rest."


And, another chapter finished. I hope you all like it…I skipped doing some very important homework…cuz once I got started on these fics; I wanted to update all of them! 00 moves on to her Inu Yasha fic next