Whew. It's been a while since I've been back here on fanfiction. Not that I was avoiding it or anything, just that it's been very difficult these last few weeks. Let's just say I got kicked out of my mom's house and am now living with my father, where I am undergoing therapy and a new school. With that off my chest, I hope you all keep forgive my absence lately. I didn't have a lot of options and couldn't very well type without a computer. X3 Anyways, missed you all and hope you all can find it in your hearts to forgive me, as I am pushing aside homework right now to write this and make all of you feel better.

Much love and here's the fourth chapter of SHADOWED AMBER EYES! Enjoy the very late chapter.

Disclaimer: Check the first few chapters and you'll get much of the same impression: I DO NOT OWN YU YU HAKUSHO.

Chapter Four: Traps and Wagers

By: Asura Mori

Kuronue had more than one reason he didn't want to storm this castle, the first being that he might just die on this little 'mission'.

The other was his silver-haired fox. He glanced over at the kitsune, who ran beside him, looking completely unfazed by the many spears that flew over their heads. They had only just entered the castle and already they were being targeted as thieves. There was no way in hell the castle lord didn't know they were there.

Now, while Kuronue was concerned with the possibility of being caught, he was more concerned about what Lainsce would do to Youko if he found the fox demon. Too many things had popped into his head at the thought and none were to his liking.

The first was that the demon would kill Youko and him, thus erasing all of his other fears. The second, Kuronue would be killed and Youko would be captured and treated as a sex slave. He really didn't like that one, considering he would be dead and would have never have had the chance to bed the fox. Plus, another man was screwing the fox, which he really didn't like. And the third... well, he really didn't want to think about it, seeing as the third option consisted with both of them being captured, raped, and then brutally murdered.

Yeah, that option was a little too common these days.

He glanced over at the fox, who had noticed his worried gaze. Dropping his eyes and blushing furiously, the bat demon turned his black orbs back to the path in front of him, wondering just how much Youko had guessed of his intentions.

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Youko chuckled silently as the bat demon averted his gaze, amused by Kuronue's actions. He could tell from the way the other demon had been looking at him that, like so many others before him, the bat wanted him. It wasn't vanity that made him think this, just a sad truth he had come to terms with long ago.

From the time he was young he had been forced to acknowledge his beauty, by his own parents no less.

"Youko... so pretty..."

"Yes... you don't see silver kitsunes like him very often..."

"How much... for...?"

He pushed the memories away, amazed that he could be so distracted at a time like this. Maybe it was just this castle. Well, the sooner he and the bat left, the better.

The kitsune didn't need to remember these things, not here, not now, not ever. It was over and he would never allow himself to be as weak as he had been.

Besides, there was treasure to be found and stolen.

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Twenty minutes later...

After daring many traps and being ambushed by gruesome half-breed demons, the two thieves had finally reached the treasure trove. The only thing that stood before them now was a door. A HUGE door that betrayed what it held within.

The door was over twenty-eight feet high and about eighteen feet in width. It was made of two different kinds of gold, both of which were hard to find in Makai. Rubies and emeralds were embedded within the lighter of the two golds, which made up the outside edges of the door. Kuronue whistled as he took in the door and reached out a hand to touch it.

A stinging slap met his advances, followed by a glimpse of a pair of disapproving amber eyes. He turned to look at the kitsune, who shook his head. Youko held a finger up to his lips before advancing towards the door. He stopped about two inches from the door, his posture rigid. The bat demon watched carefully, wondering what the fox could have possibly seen that would make him pause.

Youko's eyes followed the glittering jewels slowly, searching for something. Two seconds later, Kuronue watched as the silver-haired fox slowly lifted his hand to a small ruby and turned it. Smiling in satisfaction, the thief stepped back and gestured for the other man to continue, never speaking a single word.

Wondering at Youko's lack of words and his actions, Kuronue stepped forward and pushed the door, which he was surprised to find wasn't that heavy at all. It swung open easily without a sound and the two demons walked through it and into the treasure chamber, both smiling broadly.

As soon as they entered the room, Kuronue let out a deep breath and turned to Youko, who was still smiling. "See, that wasn't too difficult, now was it?" Youko asked, smirking as he walked over to a small pile of sapphires and started examining them. "We're not out of here yet." Kuronue reminded the demon, though he too was smiling. So far everything had proceeded smoothly.

"That's true..." Youko trailed off, frowning as he surveyed the rest of the room, "... Now where could that sword be...?" The fox made a quick lap around the room, searching for the sword, but couldn't seem to find it. Remembering Youko's earlier actions with the door, Kuronue asked, "About earlier... why'd you slap my hand?"

Amber eyes snapped to the bat demon, though Youko still searched for the artifact. "The door was booby-trapped." He explained, "One touch and you would have been incinerated AND an alarm would have gone off, alerting everybody in the castle to my presence." "Oh." Simple, short, and precise, Kuronue had summed up his feelings on the matter. Amusement flared in the fox's eyes before he turned away from the bat once again, still looking for the sword. "It's not here." Youko growled a few seconds later, seemingly frustrated.

"Of course not. That would have been too easy."

The two demons turned at the sound of the voice, Kuronue with fear and Youko with calm acceptance. A demon with long black hair and crystal blue eyes stood in the doorway, the Shadow Blade resting at his side. Youko's eyes darkened as he took in the blade and the demon in the doorway laughed quietly at the fox's rage. "You wanted this, correct?" he asked, gesturing towards the blade with a finely manicured hand. Amber eyes smoldered as the other male ran his hand down the sword, as if he were teasing the fox.

"I don't know why you seem so angry. I've always heard that you like a challenge, beautiful fox."

Youko relaxed at this and his eyes shone with bitter amusement. "You've heard right, my lord. I do love a challenge." Kuronue heard the double meaning in Youko's words and looked over at the fox, who was smiling coldly. He didn't like how this was turning out...

"Would you care to make a wager then, fox?" the lord continued, blue eyes smiling, "If you win, you and your friend may have the Shadow Blade and leave with your lives." "Agreed." Youko answered, grinning brazenly. "... But if I win, then I keep you and kill your comrade. Do we have a deal?"

Kuronue looked from Youko to the other demon and back again, unsure of either one's intentions. He didn't like this bet, not one bit. On one side, if Youko won, then they got what they had come for and got to leave with their lives. But if they lost, Youko would be captured and he would be killed. No, not a good bet, not at all.

"Youko..." But it was too late. Seeing the fire in the kitsune's eyes, Kuronue's voice died. Youko stepped forward and nodded his accord.

"Agreed... my lord Karasu."

To be continued...

Asura: OMG! It's Karasu! Bwahahaha, bet you all weren't expecting that. So, yeah, I decided to introduce Karasu early on, because I could never figure out why Karasu hated Youko so much. Now here's a reason. Not only will it help with later chapters, it also makes the story more interesting. Poor Yomi. He wasn't in this chapter at all. Boo. Oh well, he'll have his moment later.

So, read and review please. I'll try and update faster now.