A/N: Here's chapter two, just to get the story a little more into perspective. Thanks for reading, don't forget to leave a review!


Yumi groaned softly as she slowly came to. Her head throbbed tenderly and her mouth was dry. The back of her neck was incredibly sore and her limbs felt stiff. She couldn't remember feeling this terrible in a long time. She could barely even remember where she was.

Her head hung weakly, and when her vision finally adjusted to the dim surroundings, she saw a pile of green and leafy vines snaking around her ankles. Her eyes quickly shot open, and when she tried to move her hands, she realized each one was tied up above her head, by the same green slimy plant. She began to thrash and grunt against the vines, when she heard a frightening sound.

The noise was a low growl that crept a few inches to the left of her face, and she slowly turned to see what it was, fear creeping up her spine.

It was a large, dark pink flower. It's giant petals were brilliantly luminous and waxy, and at the center were smaller blood red petals. Further inside was a huge mouth, with sharp teeth dripping with acid. The droplets burned holes into the cave floor as it fell from the terrifying plant's mouth.

She soon realized the vines were all a part of the same demon plant that had her tied up, and was holding her tightly against the cave wall.

She struggled against them again, her breaths now ragged and shallow.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," came a calm, deep voice from nearby.

She looked up and saw Youko Kurama step forward from the shadows, standing in a space that was previously unoccupied a second ago. She hadn't even sensed his spirit energy moving in the room. Her forehead began to sweat, and she dug her fingernails into her palms to keep from screaming.

"This is an ojigi plant," he continued. "I'm sure you may have heard of it. Even the slightest of movements can trigger it's appetite for your flesh, and I assure you it'd be quite an unpleasant experience. The acid on it's teeth can melt your bones and have you writhing in agony."

Yumi was completely frozen. She didn't need to be told twice not to move. She had a feeling the only reason why the plant hadn't torn her to shreds already was because Youko hadn't wanted it to kill her yet. She was absolutely terrified. All she could do was stare straight ahead at the legendary thief and hope not to die, her heart beating erratically in fear.

"I find it quite amusing that you would think that I would leave myself open to being robbed or attacked by sleeping as soundly as you thought I was. What is even more amusing is that you thought you could get away with it. Do you not know who I am? I am assuming you do, being that you are one of the famous demon hunters from the Aikawa family."

He approached her more closely as he absentmindedly stroked the large ojigi plant with a strange affection.

Yumi remained silent, unsure of what to say. She stayed as motionless as possible, her wide eyes focused on Youko's face and not on the man-eating plant that snapped playfully a few inches from her ear. Her chest rose with ragged breaths, and she saw from the corner of her eye the plant draw slightly closer, it's mouth wide, and teeth poised for attack.

A whimper threatened to escape her, but she bit her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. How did he know who she was? She then looked down and noticed the cloth that hid her identity was gone. Her long, light pink hair hanging down past her shoulders. She gasped and the plant hissed threateningly.

"Yes, I removed your disguise." He held up the tattered and dirtied cloth for a moment before letting it fall to the cave floor.

"Is that why you came here? To attempt uselessly to capture me? On your own? If this was the case, then why would you steal from me at the same time? Are the Aikawas not known for their strict code of honor and noble morals?" His voice was a soothing tenor that coasted almost sensually over every syllable.

There was the sudden sound of crash and someone tripping towards the entrance of the room, and a loud string of curses in the distance.

"Son of a-Kurama, can you tell me when you've got man eating plants running around before I come in here assuming I won't be eaten?" came a grumbling voice.

Even in the dim light of the cave, Yumi could tell it was the bat demon, his partner.

"You should know by now that I show my teeth when attacked, Kuronue." he replied coolly, rubbing the tip of a large dark petal tenderly.

"Point taken," he sighed. "I see that our little thief is finally awake."

"She's an Aikawa."

Yumi saw a vine move upwards towards her chin, and she flinched as it lifted her face forward.

"Incredible how human-looking she is," said Kuronue, now standing next to Kurama, observing her as if she were a strange animal. "It's a wonder how any of them have even lasted in Makai this long. I'm enjoying this view, though." He grinned as his eyes took in the shape her body, incapacitated by the thick vines, but then he frowned. "Even if she is kind of flat-chested."

Kurama ignored him. "Spit it out," he suddenly said, his eyes narrowing on Yumi's sweaty face. "Why did you come here? Explain or I'll feed you to my pet."

Yumi fought off the fear with all that she had. If there was one thing she had learned from her family, it was to try to keep cool. Even if you were afraid, act as if you weren't. Demons fed off the fear, and it fueled their excitement for blood.

She assessed the distance of the dark pink plant, before clearing her dry throat and speaking, trying to mask the shakiness in her voice.

"My name is Yumi Aikawa," she began softly. "I ran away from my family a few years ago, and I started out being just a traveler. I couldn't find a job or a home or stay in one place because of bounty hunters after my life, or my family searching for me, so I became a thief. It's the only way I can survive. I'm not extremely good at it, but I'm good enough to get by, somewhat," she sighed, and couldn't help rolling her eyes at the situation she was in.

Kuronue snickered.

"I've been down on my luck lately, because it seems the two of you have been cleaning out places a day or two before I reach them, and I don't have any money. The last place I was at was Asura's Castle, and I couldn't really manage to find anything worth selling at the marketplace. As I was leaving the town, I got into a fight with a fortune teller, and my identity was revealed. I was chased out of town and after a few hours I finally found this cave to take up shelter in. I could see it was occupied by the torches, so I decided to just ask whoever was in here if I could stay for the night. Then I saw all the piles of stuff here, and I figured if I just took one or two things you wouldn't notice, and I'd be comfortable for a while, and then I guess you caught me, and here I am, hanging from a wall in a cave with the King of Thieves."

She exhaled nervously, ignoring the disturbingly warm breath of the ojigi plant sliding over her cheeks, poised for a bite at any given moment. Her eyes stayed focused on golden smolder of the fox demon's.

Yoko stared back, considering her response.

She matched his gaze with determination, trying to gauge his reaction. His eyes were incredibly deep, but clouded by layer upon layer of guard, letting not one of his thoughts betray his cool visage.

She could tell he was definitely a person who needed to observe things from every angle, and see what a person was capable of before determining what to do. He was intelligent, and refined in his mannerisms, which had probably kept him alive and uncaught for so many centuries.

"So, do we let the plant eat her or not?" asked Kuronue, picking at his nails in a bored fashion. "We've got to clear out of here soon." He yawned.

Yumi glared at him with daggers in her eyes, and he smirked back, winking.

She didn't know how to feel about the fact that her life may come to an end this very moment. It was almost as if she was so afraid, she had became apathetic and numb.

She couldn't feel anything.

She dragged her eyes back over to Kurama and stared, waiting. How much longer would she be on this plane of consciousness? A few minutes? A few seconds?

How had she, an Aikawa, succumbed to such a fate? How could she have not been more careful walking into such a situation? Had her family not trained her from a young age to defend herself against demons? She mentally cursed herself for her impulsive tendencies, and for slacking off in her training all these years as a wanderer. These stupid mistakes may as well have cost her her life at this very moment.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity of long silence, Yumi heard the two words she'd never thought she'd hear from the merciless Kurama.

"Release her."

"Hah, I knew it. Let her-what?" Kuronue did a double take and stared at him in utter shock. "Kurama?"

Youko flicked his wrist gently, and the plant released it's hold on Yumi, growing smaller and smaller until it was a tiny seed. Youko bent down and retrieved it, placing it in his hair before gazing venomously towards Yumi. His face was hardened, almost as if he was fighting with himself.

She rubbed her wrists softly, thick pink lines cut into them from the tightness of the vines. She cowered slightly under his powerful stare, but she never looked away. Why in the world was he letting her go? Perhaps he started out thieving the same way as her? Separated or abandoned from family, just trying to live day to day. Hadn't all thieves begun the same way? Maybe he could tell her stealing wasn't meant maliciously, and that she wasn't trying to capture him.

She could easily figure out that kindly letting her go on her way wasn't something he had done typically. Considering the stories she had heard about Youko and judging from his companion's response he was quite the hard ass. Yet at the same time she could tell he wanted to maintain his authority and toughness, and not show mercy, because it was a sign of weakness.

"Listen here, now, arrogant woman. I am releasing you, and I expect to never see you again. If I do, I will not hesitate to end your life. And take this insurmountable favor from the King of Thieves and know that this is not one that will ever be repeated or done again for anyone. And if you are to tell our location or any of the things you've seen taken here to the outside, know that I will find you without a problem, and it won't be a pleasant visit."

Kuronue stood flabbergasted next to him, completely confused by the act, and he turned to stare at Yumi incredulously.

An idea suddenly came to her, one that was crazy, and she knew that if she asked he might change his mind about killing her, but if she's come this far, why not take it further?

"Kurama-sama," she said, bowing, and addressing him politely to help the plea she was about to present to him. "I was just wondering if…maybe I could…come with the both of you? I promise not to be a burden, and I'm quite skilled at picking locks. I'll keep to myself and help you out as well."

Kuronue's eyebrows shot up, and he looked over at Kurama, who seemed to be mildly shocked and quite annoyed.

"Do you not realize that I could easily end your life this very second? And not only did I do the unthinkable and impossible - spare you a terrible death, but now you're asking to join me as if all of a sudden we're comrades? Not to mention the fact that I had easily incapacitated you without even blinking. Not only would you be a burden, but a weakling such as yourself would have no place with skilled bandits."

Every word was utterly smoothly, and laced with venom that seemed even more dangerous that the one from the ojigi plant.

Yumi suddenly regretted asking, and she wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. She bowed quickly once more, her face a bright red.

"I shall take my leave. I'm sorry for bothering you." She quickly grabbed her personal items which were tossed nearby in a pile, and made a hasty retreat. As she exited, the entire time she could feel Kurama's eyes boring into her with what seemed like hatred. She hadn't felt this awful in a long, long time.

Her mind raced with unanswered questions.

If he was going to kill her, why would she feel bad for him? He'd murdered countless demons and she was going to become just another number.

Had she really let herself become so weak that she would be insulted by a high class demon like Youko Kurama? He had seen her as immensely inferior, barely a threat if any, and it had angered her in a way she had never been angry before.

Her face burned with humiliation, and she vowed that today would be the day that she would make great changes to herself.

But even with his insults and anger, he related to her…and he showed her mercy. Underneath her shattered ego was respect for this man; for what he had accomplished and how he remained at the top for so long. She wanted approval over revenge, and it was a foreign feeling to her. She had never felt the need to prove herself to anyone, not even her family.

As she neared the entrance of the cave she decided to skip Kohaku Temple altogether and head to the town of Gandara to find a teacher to increase her skill, and further what latent talent she had already had.

And even though he said he'd kill her if he saw her again, deep in her bones she knew she'd see the King of Thieves once more.

She'd make sure of it.


A/N: Thanks for reading! Drop one for me down there ;D