This is chapter one! The beginning of the adventure! ^^ This is so exciting!

I hope you all enjoy. Please leave comments!

Disclaimers:

I do not own any of the Yu Yu Hakusho characters (Yoko, Hiei, Jin, etc.). I wish I did… but I don't. ;.; They may be a little out of character, but it's my story and I can warp things a little. :3

However, I do own just about everyone else, including but not limited to Soko, her parents, Ritsu, everyone in the camp, all the bad guys, and the random passerby. ^^ So please don't kidnap them… or feed them to the rabid potatoes. O.o

Enjoy!

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Chapter 1

It's true what they say; your life really does flash before your eyes. Every moment, every memory, replayed as you inch closer and closer to death. I've known people to get lost in these memories, which is why they looked so peaceful as the life was ripped from their bodies. I, however, try to stay focused on the task at hand. One wrong move now and I will be joining my fallen comrades. But even as I shake my head to clear the thoughts, the memories just keep flowing from the depths of my mind to merge with my vision. As I run through the labyrinth of corridors, prize in hand and guards on my tail, I'm taken back to the earliest moments of my life.

~*~

My earliest memory was that of my mother and father. They raised me in a little house on the boundaries of my mother's homeland. She was a young and beautiful fox maiden; fair skinned with golden eyes and white hair and fur. She was a kind woman with the ability to charm nearly anyone she met. I think her laughter was what captured my father. A human man from the arctic region of Eurasia (modern-day Russia), he possessed dirty blonde hair and green eyes. His skin was also fair, but rough from the hard labor he did for a living. They loved each other more than anything, except me. I've always thought that they would have done anything for me. I can remember days when I was ill; how father would nearly be late for work fussing over me and then coming home that night and asking to see me first, then for dinner. Mother appreciated it a lot, I think, knowing that her husband worried about the two of us even though he had other things to deal with.

They had named me Soko as a play off of a piece of art that my mother cherished. They called me their little masterpiece. I had my mother's fox traits, though they were silver instead of white, as well as her hair and eyes. I wasn't as delicate looking as she was. I was built more like my father, strong and lean. Mother always wondered if the fox side of me would come through in my personality. Unfortunately, she never got the chance to find out just how much the fox blood dominated my being.

I had lived peacefully with my parents for 64 years when the soldiers arrived at the door. My father was old, too old to defend my mother and I. They easily captured him. Mother had told me to hide outside in the bushes. She confronted the soldiers, demanding to know what was going on. They grabbed her and pulled her away from the house. She saw my father and attacked the soldiers holding him. I gaped as the rosebushes grew wildly and wrapped their thorny stems around the soldiers. My mother danced in the middle of it all, directing the plants. She took out many of the troops, but it wasn't enough. A vulpine soldier created a massive fireball from nothing and hurled it at my parents. My mother clutched at my father's form as they burned alive. Sometimes, I dream about their deaths. Their screams haunt me to this day.

The soldiers burned my house after searching it for anything of value. I heard one of them mention me. They began to search the forest for me, so I ran away. I was just a kit. I had just witnessed the murder of my parents and now I was all alone. I was crying as I fell to my little knees hours later. I was cold, tired, and hungry. My parents had kept me sheltered from the rest of the world. I had no idea what was going on, or why my parents were gone. I curled up around the gnarled roots of a nearby tree and cried myself to sleep.

Somehow, I survived for three weeks on my own. When I was found by a traveling wolf demon, I was too weak to even lift my head to look at him. He picked me up and carried me a few miles to a large camp. The smell of food woke me from my weary slumber. I remember being taken to a large tent where there was an older wolf sitting at a table, papers scattered before him. A woman with large raven's wings sat near him, a scroll in her hands, reading off items to the wolf. Upon our entrance, the two looked up from their work to greet us.

~*~

"What is it, Kiba?", the older wolf asked. The wolf that was carrying me, who I assumed was Kiba, kneeled in front of the table. "I don't mean to interrupt your work, Kota, but I found a pup not far from the camp. She's underfed and shaking like a leaf.", he said, pulling me out from inside his jacket. He stood and held me so Kota could see me. I turned my half-lidded gaze at the man, who had an uninterested look on his face. "So? You know that we can't just take in every runaway that we come across. We don't have enough food to feed her.", he said. I let out a little cough, snuggling closer to Kiba's body. "But sir, she's a fox pup… and she reeks of humans.", Kiba argued. Kota raised an eyebrow. "Then she belongs to the humans?" "Their scent wouldn't still be on her after the way it's been raining.", Kiba said, a smirk on his face. "So then… you think…" Kiba nodded. "That she's the mutt pup that the humans are looking for." The woman in the chair stood up. "She's worth enough money to feed the whole camp for a year!", she exclaimed. Kiba laughed. "Yeah!"

The tent flap opened. A young sapphire fox entered, a sack slung over his shoulder. Kiba turned to look at him. The fox saw me and gasped, dropping the bag he was holding. "You know what this is, Ritsu? This is the pup that's going to feed us for the next year!", Kiba said, holding me out to the boy. Ritsu stepped forward and grabbed me from Kiba's hands. "You can't be thinking about turning her in!", the fox gasped. "And why the hell not?", Kiba questioned, placing his hands on his hips. "She's silver. Only Inari's chosen ones are silver! Turning her in would doom us all!", Ritsu said. Kiba opened his mouth to protest, but was cut off by Kota. "He has a point, Kiba.", he said. "Angering the God of Harvest is a risk I am not willing to make." Kiba growled, glaring at Ritsu and I. "Kiba, we can get food by other means. Besides, I brought back some things to sell.", Ritsu said, reaching down to pick up the tote that he had dropped. He walked forward and placed the bag on the table with a soft clink. Kota furrowed his brows but pulled the bag closer to open it. He smiled and turned to the fox. "Good work, Ritsu. I knew there was a reason I kept you here for so long.", Kota said, closing the bag and placing it on the floor next to his chair. Ritsu chuckled, his eyes closing in mirth. "It was my pleasure, Kota." He opened his eyes and looked down at me. His aqua eyes examined me before coming to rest on my tired golden orbs. "With your permission, Kota, I would like to care for the kit. She'll be my total responsibility.", he said, looking up at his leader. Kota nodded. "Very well, Ritsu. You may keep her, but you will not get extra rations; just enough to keep you both healthy. And if she causes trouble, you will face the consequences. Understood?" Ritsu nodded and bowed. "Yes sir. Thank you, Kota. She will not be a problem." I gazed up into his face as we left the tent. Even though the rain pelted down and chilled my bony form, I felt a sense of warmth and security beneath the fox's cloak that I hadn't felt since before my parents died.

~*~

Within a few days, I was well enough to walk around and explore my newfound home. Of course, Ritsu never left my side during these escapades. He pointed out everything and told me anything I wanted to know. He made sure that I got to eat and that I didn't get hurt. And all the while I could only think about my parents. I think he sensed this, but he didn't say anything. He understood that I needed some time to grieve, even if I was just a kit and didn't understand why. He held me when I cried and sung me to sleep every night, just like mother had done. It comforted me greatly.

One night, we were sitting at dinner. As usual, he split what he got with me with a smile. We sat around a small campfire with a few other people, some of whom I had met already. Ritsu was talking with them, laughing at funny stories and whatnot, as I sat to his right silently. They were telling jokes about each other when someone mentioned Ritsu's mother, how she had died at the hands of her husband. I looked up at him as he gave a weak chuckle. The group fell silent. "Do you miss your mommy, Ri'su?", I asked, my childish voice unable to pronounce the 't'. He looked down at me. There was a sad smile on his face. "Yes Soko. I miss her a lot.", he said. "Do you think she knows where my mommy and daddy are?", I asked. Ritsu sighed and put down his plate. He put his hands on my tiny shoulders. "No, but I'm sure that Inari-sama is taking care of your parents very well.", he said. "Can I go see them?", I asked. He gave me a sympathetic look and pulled me close to him. "Not until you're grown up.", he said. I pulled my brows together.

"Why?"

"Because Inari-sama only lets old people come see him and his guests." He pulled away to look at me.

"Old people?", I asked, tilting my head, silver locks spilling over my shoulder.

"Yeah.", he replied.

"Like Kota?", I asked.

Ritsu and a few others laughed a little. "No. Older.", he said.

"Older? But Kota's really old!"

More laughter. Ritsu looked down at me, smiling. "Soko, I promise that when you're old enough, you'll get to see your mom and dad again." "Promise?", I questioned. "Yes, Soko. I promise. Now eat your food before it gets cold.", he said. I looked down at my plate. 'Once I'm older than Kota then I'll get to see mommy and daddy.' I thought. I smiled and looked up at Ritsu. "Thanks Ri'su!", I said, hugging the boy around the middle as far as my arms would reach. He stroked my silver head gently. "Sure thing.", he said. I let go and finished my meal, hopeful.

~*~

I was getting stronger with each passing day. And every day, I would be a little happier. I wasn't always thinking about my parents, and when I did I didn't cry as much. Slowly my life was starting to patch itself up. I was helping out around camp with whatever little thing I could do. Ritsu let me wander around by myself, having his own chores to busy himself with. Kota mostly had me taking things from place to place or sending messages. He was amazed at my level of curiosity. He was always having to pull me out of boxes and drawers. He only got mad at me once for playing with a bag of coins; after that, I stayed out of his tent. But I was quickly becoming a member of the camp. People waved at me when I tottered past. They would go out of their way to do things for me. Someone even made me a new outfit, along with a few others. I just thanked them all and smiled.

~*~

I stayed with the group for a long time. My toddler years passed quickly. By the time my 100th birthday came around, I was helping with chores like cooking, gathering, sewing, and cleaning. I was lean and strong and healthy. People always commented on my flexibility and agility. I was learning as much as I could about whatever caught my attention. I could count, spell, and write. Ritsu even began teaching me the language of our people, as well as coaching me with the common language. I took pride in my wit and sharp mind. After completing a physical training exercise one day, Ritsu pulled me over to our tent.

"Soko, I've been talking to Kota. We've watched you train and we've decided that it's time you learn a specific skill to help maintain the camp.", he said, folding his arms across his chest. I nodded. "What did you have in mind?", I asked. "I've thought about it…", he began. "And I think that you'd make a great thief." I blinked. "But… isn't that bad?", I asked. Ritsu's hands moved to his hips. "Well, it depends on a lot of things… like who you steal from, what you steal, and why.", he said. I bit my lip and nodded. "You've got the body type and the ability to be a very efficient thief. I can teach you the all the skills you'll need. I just need to know if you're willing to learn.", my adopted brother/teacher said. "I'm surprised I have a choice.", I admitted. Ritsu smirked. "Kota's really pushing for it. We've had some of our better thieves captured by bounty hunters in the past few years, and our gang has really relied on the income brought in from heists. We've been having to cut back on some things because we're not as prosperous as we've been in the past.", he explained. "But like I said, I want to know if this is something you want." I set my jaw and nodded once. "I'll do it.", I stated. "If that's where I'm best suited, then that's my place. I want to help." Ritsu smiled at me. He lay an arm over my shoulder. "Then, Soko my pupil, come with me and you will learn the ways of the Thief.", he said in an old man accent. I laughed and followed him into the tent to begin my training. Little did I know that what I was going to learn would be the foundation of the rest of my life.

~*~
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Nifty? Horrible? Let me know! Comments are always appreciated! :D

~*~Soko~*~