Chapter 3
Someone was chasing her through the forest. Wicked shadows casting from the twisting arms, bare of leaves by the silvery blue moon. Nyoko really hated dreams like these especially when she was being chased by something she could not see. Her bare feet burned as they touched the cold ground whose hair was trying to grip her down. 'I hate this!' Cold forces, causing goosebumps were attempting to slow her down. Behind her, she could faintly hear two pairs of running feet or perhaps the creature had four legs.
Branches thrashed; sticks cracked; heavy footsteps pounded in her wake. Her side ached. 'Why won't my alarm ring and wake me up?' Nyoko hated nightmares where she was a prey of a predator hidden from view but always close. She glanced back. Always a mistake. Something big was after her. And she didn't know what it was.
She stumbled over a branch and hit the ground hard. 'NO!' She couldn't breathe. She felt like she was going to die. Then suddenly air returned back to her lungs. She gasped greedily. Something leaped on top of her. She twisted and grabbed fistfuls of fur. 'What the. . .'
It was silver and huge like a dog but it wasn't a dog. The ears were too big like a fox. Yet it had four tails. 'A fox with four tails. . .' What a weird dream she was having. Its eyes were amber and humanlike. 'Like the ones outside my window. . .' A sudden growl emitted from the fox, sending fear throughout Nyoko's body. It went for her throat, but instead of biting her, it licked her collarbone. Nyoko shuddered and knew that the fox was male. Her body was on fire as the fox moved lower and lower.
This was wrong. So wrong on so many levels. The licking stopped around her naval. Nyoko struggled to sit up but a hand came and kept her down. A hand. . .with claws. Looking up, she saw the back of a man with long silver hair. Her eyes widen as she saw two fox ears perched upon his head. Suddenly pain shot out throughout her body. She felt wetness trickling down her bosom.
"You have the sweetest scent," a silky deep voice spoke. "And yet you are merely human. I loathe humans. Let's hope you aren't one in your next life." A flash of silver came and—
Nyoko woke up, sweating. Not only that but she felt sick to her stomach. Picking up a mirror, she was met but a flushed face. "I hate growing up. . .evil hormones." 'But why did I dream of being. . .with a fox. . .' It gave her a sick feeling that she was desperate enough to dream of getting pleasure from an animal. . .er man.
A black book caught her eye. 'Shit. . .no more reading about demons for a while. . .' Looking at her clock, she noted that it was still early to go to school. 'Kami. . .tomorrow's Saturday.' Tomorrow she would spend the day with Yusuke Urameshi. A day with him. Yet for some reason, she had an odd feeling that something out of the ordinary would happen. 'I don't think I should tell Yusuke my dream. . .' It's not that she was afraid he would think she was nuts but rather she felt this should be one of those things she can't share with him. Sure, he was the closet guy and she was comfortable around him but he was Keiko's. 'I wonder if they finally admit they're together.'
It was a fact that only Nyoko knew. She could tell that both Yusuke and Keiko had intimate feelings for each other even though they didn't know it. 'I envy you, Keiko. You know things about Yusuke that I will never know. . .' Nyoko hated to say but she was jealous. Keiko knew more about Yusuke due to their childhood friendship.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Nyoko turned to see Yusuke leaning against the school wall.
Nyoko ignored the question and stated, "Keiko's mad that you weren't in class."
"No shit," Yusuke shrugged. "She's always telling me to get my ass to class."
'That's because she cares about your future, Yusuke,' Nyoko thought. A sigh escaped her lips. She shouldn't be here. There wouldn't be any room for her once the bond between Yusuke and Keiko was realized.
"You sure you're alright?" Yusuke placed his arm around Nyoko's shoulder. Nyoko nodded. "Well. . .then later!" he suddenly ran off.
Nyoko sweatdropped as she found herself missing some cash. Yet she didn't care. Somehow Yusuke would pay her back but not in cash. 'I'm Yusuke's personal bank. . .'
"Oh what the hell," she got out of bed, into the hallway, into the bathroom, into a shower, into her school uniform, and out the door. 'Fuck! I forgot breakfast!' She was already a block away from her house. "So. . .now what?" Nyoko had an hour to kill before school opened. 'I wonder what it would be like if I didn't stop talking to Yusuke and Keiko during those two years.' Then she shrugged. "At least I'm richer than before." Then she sighed. What good was having more money if she didn't have her favorite punk borrowing it from her?
"Where do you think you're going, girl?" a rough hand seized Nyoko's arm and pulled her back. "You can't walk past us without paying." Nyoko saw a total of five boys in dark purple uniforms.
'High school thugs still exist?' Nyoko could believe that she must have walked past them. She had the tendency to space out and not pay attention to her surroundings. "Please get your hands off of me." Nyoko was trying to keep fear from showing. 'Ok, just because I haven't had Yusuke's street training for two years, doesn't mean that I'm weak. I am a kendoka, one who practices kendo.' Who was she kidding? Back then, she had Yusuke to help her out. In kendo, she wore a bogu, protective armor.
One of the thugs smirked down at her. "You're afraid, little girl. Why don't you show it?" His grip on her arm was tightening. Nyoko winced. She knew she was going to get a bruise. She bruised easily. "Who knows? We might be doing you a favor. . .to show you what real men do." Nyoko's eyes widen. Not because of what the thug had said but of who she saw behind him.
"Oi! Who are your new pals?" Nyoko gave a look of joy. The grip on her arm was gone and she rubbed it.
"Urameshi!" one of the thugs flinched at the glare Yusuke was giving out. Even the hair on the nape of Nyoko's neck stood up. Yusuke seemed to possess an aura that was suffocating the air around them.
Yusuke smirked. "Normally I'd give you bastards a warning but hell," his smirk turned into a frown, "I rather beat the SHIT out of you!"
'I can't watch,' Nyoko looked away, flinching at every 'popping' sound. Those sounds probably came from the bones cracking. She winced at every 'Ow' and 'Thud'.
"Ah. . .I feel so much better." Nyoko felt an arm draped around her shoulders. "Come on, Nyoko. You ought to know it's in my nature to fight."
Nyoko sighed, "I know, Yusuke." 'Well, here goes nothing. . .' "Are you and Keiko a couple yet?" She looked at Yusuke to see a red stain upon his cheeks. "I'll take that as a yes." Then she wrapped her arms around Yusuke's chest. "I don't know what to say but," a grin appeared on her face, "Go Keiko! Yusuke has a weakness!"
Before Yusuke could reply, a male, rough voice called out. "Oi, Urameshi! I thought I told you that Keiko's your girlfriend?"
Automatically Nyoko let go of Yusuke and felt her cheeks grow hot. Then she blinked when she saw who it was. "Kazuma?" 'I remember him! He loved kitties!'
"Um. . .Kazuma?" Nyoko timidly spoke to the tall, orange-haired boy who was also badly bruised and beaten up.
"What?" Kuwabara was still peeved that he was once again beaten by Yusuke. "Shouldn't you be hanging with Urameshi?"
Nyoko frowned, "I don't think you should provoke Yusuke otherwise you'll really get hurt. I hate to see nice people get hurt." She knew Kuwabara had an Honor Code.
"Don't worry, little lady," Kuwabara said as he staggered to stand up. Nyoko winced when she heard cracking. "I won't stop until I beat Urameshi."
". . .I supposed anything is possible," Nyoko smiled. 'I liked to see the day when Yusuke loses to another his age.'
Kuwabara blinked, confused. "So you're not going to say that I'm crazy to try to think I'd beat Urameshi?"
"Nope," Nyoko told Kuwabara. "Maybe one day in the future, you will beat Yusuke." 'Though not in a fight. . .'
"You know what, you're ok," Kuwabara looked down at Nyoko. "Even if you are pals with Urameshi."
'I feel so short!' Nyoko sweatdropped. "Er. . .thanks."
"Do I know you, lady?" Kuwabara looked down at Nyoko.
'Damn. . .I still feel short. . .' Nyoko sweatdropped. "Don't you remember me, Kazuma?" 'This is just like with Yusuke. Did I change or something? I don't feel like I look any different.'
"Um. . .a little help, Urameshi?" Kuwabara looked at Yusuke who was snorting behind his hand.
"Geez, Kuwabara. . .you honestly don't know who she is?" Yusuke practically had tears, from laughing, streaming down his face.
Kuwabara had an anime vein. "Shut up, Urameshi!"
Nyoko pouted, "Yusuke, I had to give you a phrase to get you to remember me." Turning to Kuwabara, she spoke, "I dubbed this one Kiki. Meow." Kiki was the name of a white kitty plushie Kuwabara gave Nyoko as a gift.
Kuwabara blinked. Then he blinked again. Once more with the blinking. Yusuke stopped laughing to stare at Kuwabara who was blinking at Nyoko. Nyoko walked slowly behind Yusuke but it was too late. "NYOKO!" She was seized into a tight embrace.
'I am so loved by the once infamous punks of Sarayashiki,' Nyoko felt silly being lifted into a hug. "I'm not a little kid, Kazuma."
"Yeah, Kuwabara," Yusuke grabbed Nyoko into his arms. "Nyoko, here, isn't a little girl anymore."
"You could put me down," Nyoko hated when her feet weren't on solid ground.
Kuwabara nodded, "You're right, Urameshi. She's not flat anymore. Oops. . .sorry."
'Was I flat back then?' Nyoko's face was red.
"Yeah, she isn't," Yusuke stated. "It seems that someone is suddenly taking interest in our Nyoko."
Kuwabara looked at Nyoko who sweatdropped. "Who's the guy, Urameshi?"
'I'm right here and yet I don't exist right now. . .' Nyoko let out a sigh. "Oh, sure. You're both right. He just wants me for my body."
"WHAT?!" Kuwabara boomed. "Let me at this guy."
'I should have kept my mouth shut. . .' Nyoko mentally beat herself up. "Kazuma, I was just kidding." 'He's not listening to me. . .' She watched as Kuwabara formulated a plan to get this guy who doesn't even know yet.
"Not only that but we have to keep an eye on Nyoko," Yusuke added, still holding Nyoko above the ground.
Nyoko cleared her throat, "Um. . .I have to go to school and so do you two."
"School?" Kuwabara frowned. To Yusuke, he questioned, "How are we supposed to keep an eye on her while we're in school."
"Yeah. . ." Yusuke went, frowning. "The guy is in her school so. . .let's get him to watch over her."
"Urameshi, I don't think Hiei should do this job," Kuwabara stated. Yusuke's eye twitched. "Oh, you mean Kur—"
"No!" Yusuke stopped Kuwabara from finishing what he was saying.
'Who's Hiei?' Nyoko thought. 'And now they're hiding something from me?'
"Ah. . .just who I wanted to see," Yusuke suddenly spoke and Nyoko wanted to hide when she saw who it was.
"Yusuke," said Shuichi, "Care to tell me why Nyoko is being held up for?" For a moment, Nyoko thought she saw a flash of amber in Shuichi's eyes.
"Huh? Urameshi's holding Nyoko?" Kuwabara looked. "Put her down."
"How'd she get in my hands?" Yusuke blinked and put Nyoko down.
Nyoko said nothing but merely looked at her watch which told her that she had fifteen minutes to haul herself to school. Then she blinked, "Wait. . .you guys know each other?" 'I didn't know Shuichi had friends like Yusuke and Kuwabara. . .'
"Yeah," Yusuke said. "It's a long story but we met a bit after you weren't allowed to hang with us anymore."
"And Shuichi here will help us," Kuwabara added, grinning.
Shuichi questioned, "Help with what?" Nyoko felt the warm, fuzzy feelings inside as he was looking at her the whole time.
"Nyoko CANNOT be taken by this guy who wants her all of the sudden," Yusuke declared.
"A guy?" Shuichi stated rather coldly.
Kuwabara continued, "So you're going to keep watch over Nyoko for us in school. Can you do that?"
"Of course," Shuichi smiled, "I can keep watch over her."
'Uh oh. . .' Nyoko saw Yusuke looking back from her to Shuichi and then her again. Something told her Yusuke was not pleased with something.
"One more thing," Yusuke said, "you are NOT allowed to check out Nyoko's womanly body."
'Oh Kami. . .just kill me now,' Nyoko bet her face was more red than Shuichi's hair.
"Urameshi's right," Kuwabara placed a hand on Nyoko's head. "Nyoko is under our guardianship and we cannot allow any guy to try to take her away now that she has bloomed. Even if you're our friend."
Nyoko wished she was gone right now. 'Am I dead yet?'
Shuichi chuckled, "Don't worry. I have no intension of doing such thing to Nyoko."
'. . .I knew he had no interest in someone like me. . .' Nyoko felt a stab at Shuichi's words.
"Now, I believe we all don't want to be late for school," Shuichi stated as he placed a hand on Nyoko's shoulder to lead her away. "Good day."
"Bye, guys," Nyoko waved at Yusuke and Kuwabara. She was concentrating on ignoring the fact Shuichi had his hand on her.
"GET YOUR HAND OFF HER!" Nyoko was snatched up once again by Yusuke. She looked and saw the glare upon Yusuke's face which was directed at Shuichi. "You can't touch her either."
Was it her imagination or did Nyoko hear faint growling? "Yusuke, you better get to school or I'll tell Keiko." That did it. Nyoko blinked as she watched Yusuke sped off.
"You're not really going to tell, are you?" Kuwabara asked.
Nyoko raised an eyebrow. "Better go now, Kazuma, or I'll tell Shizuru." Kuwabara's eyes widen and then he was gone.
"I think we ought to get to school now, Nyoko," Shuichi offered his arm. The next thing Nyoko knew he was holding a rock.
"HEY! DON'T TRY ANYTHING FUNNY WITH HER!"
'And this is why I love Yusuke. . .'