Hey, everyone! Shi here! Sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter out... Busy business has been keeping me pretty busy, lol. Well, here it is!

The Slyest Thieves
Chapter 12

Well, previously, Takara was knocked out and handcuffed to the bed in her and Kurama's room after getting in a fight with Aki over the whole half breed issue. Now, Kurama, Sesshoumaru, Aki, Mizuki, Hiei, Genkai, Yusuke, Touya, and Jin all sat down in the den to chat.

"So, Jin, Touya, what brings you guys all the way from Makai?" Yusuke asked from his comfortable position on the couch. Hiei sat at the windowsill, Kurama sat beside Yusuke, Mizuki sat in the floor leaning on the wall and facing everyone else, Sesshoumaru stood using the wall to prop up on some, and while Jin floated sitting cross-legged in midair, Touya kneeled by the table and propped his head up on one of his fists.

"Ah, good ole Urameshi... I came t'e have t'at rematch wit' ya, o'course!" Jin exclaimed with a wide grin. "I'll beat'ya t'is time 'round!" he added pumping his fists. The air around him seemed to pick up suddenly, and the wind master seemed to be so excited for a rematch that he flew straight up and through the roof.

There was a crashing noise and a "Woo-hoo!" from Jin. Everyone sweatdropped and waited for Jin to come back down to Earth. Just as Jin floated back down to where he had been, Aki asked, "What about you, Touya? Do you always go everywhere Jin goes?" she sneered.

Mizuki sniggered behind her hand some then said, "Aw, Touya the adorable little puppy that will follow you everywhere! How sweet!" she fake cooed in a sing-song voice.

Jin just looked clueless, but Touya had a vein pulsating angrily on his forehead. He was trying to stay calm and was doing such a great job... WAS doing such a great job before Aki and Mizuki ran over and pinched his cheeks, gushing in a fake voice about how he was so loyal.

Yusuke, and even Jin were roaring with laughter, Genkai just looked bored, Kurama was trying not to smile at the sight, and Hiei and Sesshoumaru had similar looks of amusement with their eyebrows raised.

The room started to get chillier though, and everyone noticed immediately except Yusuke and Aki and Mizuki, but Aki and Mizuki were very aware of the temperature drop, even if they didn't show it. Jin's ears twitched as his laughter faded. "Uh oh... eh, lassies? Lassies, yeh might need'ta leave Touya 'lone now... 'E's getting mad," Jin warned the two girls, but they paid him no heed.

Suddenly, there was a large, bright light that spread its way around Touya and covered the den in ice, even blowing out one of the walls, which wasn't the only thing to go flying toward the stairs. Aki and Mizuki were thrown outside and far away from Touya, but... That's what they had been hoping for...

Finally... I thought he'd never blow! Aki growled to Mizuki mentally as she flipped and caught herself from being thrown into the trees. The debris that flew out with them landed in various places around them, but Aki just stood there waiting on Mizuki to land.

I know... Jeez, Mizuki answered with a look of annoyance on her face. You go on ahead... I'll get Takara and meet you back at our base, she told Aki, who nodded and took off down the stairs at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, Mizuki bolted around the temple under the cover of the dust which had yet to settle. Her eyes flickered in turn to each window as she passed until she got to her own room. She grabbed her weapons and disappeared out the window to dash into Takara's room. She cursed the handcuffs and had to slowly pick the locks.

"They're gone! Where'd they go!" Yusuke yelled from the den, and Mizuki realized that the dust must have settled by now, and they were looking for herself and Aki. She had to hurry... She snatched up Takara's gear too. Now the tricky part... How'm I going to carry Takara and her, mine, and Aki's weapons? She asked herself and hurried to Aki's room where she tested the weight of the coat. She rolled her eyes when she searched it. No wonder it's so light... Aki's already hidden most of her guns somewhere... She grinned and shook her head slightly then hopped out the window.

"Aki went that way," Hiei stated using his Jagan to find the thieves that had run away and pointed to the stairs. Sesshoumaru nodded and took off at top dog-demonic speed. Yusuke ran off after him to help if needed.

"And Mizuki?" Kurama asked looking around the peaceful temple grounds. He didn't hear or sense anything unusual. Genkai grunted and stalked off to fix some tea. Hiei growled after the glow of his Jagan faded, the eye remaining open. "Go make sure Takara is still in your room," Hiei ordered the yokai, who shot off into the temple, running towards his and Takara's room. Meanwhile, Jin flew way up into the air to look from the sky. Hiei was having trouble pinpointing exactly where Mizuki was and it seemed like he sensed Takara with her, but he wasn't completely sure... Mizuki seemed to be very good at masking her energy.

"Oi! T'ere's two o' t'e lassies!" Jin hollered down to Touya and Hiei, who both looked in the direction Jin was pointing in and saw a blur speed by, dodging in between tree trunks. Hiei bulleted over and began to chase his trainee down. He faintly wondered how she could still move so fast with all the stuff she was carrying.

Stupid tree root! Poking out of the ground like that! Honestly... Mizuki internally fumed as she stumbled over a root that protruded from the ground. Hiei was gaining on her, and that was definitely NOT good... She took a sharp right, heading deeper into the forest then jumped into the tree tops, springing from branch to branch. Hiei made sure to stay close behind her. She soon began to get lost in the big forest. I have to get out of here so I can figure out where I am... Mizuki wound her way back through the forest, still managing to stay a few steps ahead of Hiei.

Meanwhile, Aki cursed when she found out that Sesshoumaru and Yusuke were hot on her tail. I guess that we didn't make Touya angry enough, she mumbled mentally and upped her speed some. She was almost to town... If she could just make it into the city, then she'd stand a really good chance in losing them in the crowd of humans.

Sesshoumaru was in plain sight, only a few feet behind her, and everytime she sped up, he mimicked her. He drew his middle finger and forefinger together and created his whip to catch Aki around the ankles. She yelped out a curse word as Sesshoumaru yanked his whip and sent Aki flying back up towards the temple. She landed halfway up the stairs. She grunted and sat up rubbing her head. Wow, he's got a pretty good arm... she groaned.

"Hey!" a voice yelled from on down the stairs. It was Yusuke, and he was sprinting towards her at a rapid pace. She growled and took off up the stairs, trying to think of another way out. Mizuki... Where're you at? You got Takara? She asked telepathically.

Mizuki was still rushing through the forest, looking for a break in the trees while Hiei stayed not too far behind. Yeah, I got Takara... I'm somewhere in the forest. I couldn't tell where I was going because Hiei was right on my tail... Still is as a matter of fact... She leaped from one tree to another, the wind tossing her hair wildly behind her. Jeez... I wish Takara would wake up already! How hard did they hit her? She growled and shifted Takara around some on her shoulder while still flitting through the leafy greenery of the forest.

She should come to in the next few minutes... Let's just worry about getting away, Aki stated, throwing a look over her shoulder to see Yusuke and, now, Sesshoumaru gaining on her. Gr... I don't even know why we're running away... Why don't we just fight 'em? We can take 'em! Besides... I got to get Mr. Fluffy back for scratching up one of my guns... her face hardened into a glare at the thought of her poor, scratched-up gun.

Mizuki faltered slightly with a sweatdrop rolling down the side of her head. Oh... so THAT'S why you were so mad... she murmured back, realization finally sinking in. When Aki confirmed it, the two came in sight of one another, and they were... heading towards the temple... Darn... Mizuki grumbled, and Aki scowled at the temple. Hiei joined Sesshoumaru and Yusuke in their chase.

" 'Ere t'ey be com'n, Touya! C'n ye 'elp Urameshi an' t'em fellas out a lil'?" Jin called down to Touya, who stood with his arms folded neatly over his chest. He looked up at Jin and nodded then walked over to the top of the stairs, staring down at the two girls speeding up the stairs.

Touya's eyes fell shut in concentration as he raised his arms. Blue mist started to swirl around his open palms that faced upwards toward the wide, blue sky. Mizuki and Aki exchanged looks; they saw Touya standing there, and they prepared themselves to bolt in opposite directions into the forest to escape the attack. Suddenly, Touya's aura flared, and his energy pulsated in a great wave. The air suddenly became cold, and Aki, Mizuki, Hiei, Sesshoumaru, Yusuke, and Kurama—who had been standing next to Touya—could see their breaths in the chill of the air.

"Hn," Touya hummed, eyes still shut, "ya!" he exclaimed, eyes popping open as ice raced down the steps. Now! Aki and Mizuki yelled at the same time, and they turned sharply in different dirrections, heading into the forest, but walls of ice kept them from getting in there. Mizuki ran right into the ice wall and ended up hitting her nose. She yelped and fell back onto her bum, Takara slipping off her shoulder and onto the ground, still unconscious. Aki was more graceful than Mizuki was. She had skidded to a halt right in front of the wall, but when the ice formed walls all arounnd them, Aki jumped back as ice began to nip up and try to grab her. Mizuki, too, jumped away just in time, but what they weren't expecting was for there to be ice waiting to wrap and tighten around their ankles in the center, which the two eventually ended up in. Mizuki had hoisted Takara onto her shoulder once again, but now, her and Aki were stuck, and Takara was still out like a light...

Sesshoumaru, Hiei, Yusuke, and Kurama all gathered next to one of the ice walls. Touya's aura returned to normal, and his eyes fluttered as he collapsed to a kneeling position. "Touya, ye alrig't?" Jin asked, landing beside his friend.

Touya nodded, his breathing a little heavy. "Yes, I'm fine... I don't use that attack much... It takes too much energy to control all that ice so that it doesn't get out of control," Touya muttered. He took a deep breath then stood up and walked down to where the other guys were standing. Jin followed along behind, except, he floated down.

"Wow! That was awesome!" Yusuke shouted and grinned like an idiot. "That's a wicked move, Touya," he complimented.

Touya thanked him then slowly lowered the walls around the girls, but the ice around their feet kept them in place. "Gr... Hey! Let me go! Melt this ice!" Aki roared and attempted to yank her foot out of the ice, but it didn't work...

"A-ah-aahchoo!" Mizuki sneezed once, twice, three times in a row. "Bless you," Aki added quietly to her friend, her glare never leaving the group of guys around them.

Mizuki sniffled, "Thanks," she replied.

"Are you getting sick? You weren't in the cold that long," Hiei drawled, glaring at the girls for making him run all over the temple grounds.

"I-achoo," Mizuki began but was interrupted by another sneeze, "It's a gift..." she answered bitterly to the short demon, matching his glare.

"You're a wolf demon, though, are you not?" Kurama frowned. He had thought wolves could handle the cold.

"Yes, I am," Mizuki snapped, then sneezed again.

"Ahem," Aki cleared her throat to get Mizuki's attention. "Mizuki, don't try to protect me and Takara. If we get sick, it's our own fault for being so weak. Don't use that power like that," she scolded, and sent a small glare at the wolf. At the questioning looks from the guys, Aki and Mizuki sighed. "She can take on the wounds or illnesses of others..." Aki explained. She threw a glare back at Mizuki, who sighed and closed her eyes, letting a white light outline her body.

"There, ya happy now?" Mizuki asked, glaring back at Aki, who nodded and said, "Very."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's take them back inside," Hiei snapped impatiently. He walked over to where Mizuki, Takara, and Aki were, and he slipped Takara off the wolf's shoulder, carelessly tossing the hanyou to Kurama, who scrambled to catch her safely. Then, the small demon turned his crimson glare on Touya, silently commanding him to remove the ice, and the ice demon did so. Mizuki tried to bolt when the ice vanished, but Hiei had already grabbed her by the upper arm and began to drag her up to the temple.

Sesshoumaru nodded to Touya as he moved to stand beside Aki. The ice vanished from the dog demon's feet, but before Aki could attempt to run, Sesshoumaru tightly gripped her shoulder with his hand and began pushing her to the temple after Hiei and Mizuki. She struggled, of course, and Sesshoumaru, already tired of running around all day to catch her, merely knocked her out and slung her over his shoulder.

"Let me go, Mr. Shrimpy!" Mizuki snarled and yanked her arm, not able to remove his iron grip. Hiei's eyebrow was twitching as the wolf continued her incessent jabbering, so he merely turned around and punched her in the gut just right to knock her unconscious. He, too, carelessly slung her over his shoulder and stalked to his room, where he handcuffed her to the bed. Sesshoumaru did the same to Aki, and Kurama redid the handcuffs on Takara. Then, Kurama, Hiei, and Sesshoumaru returned to the den to talk with Jin, Touya, and Yusuke.

Shi: Okay! Finished with chapter 12!
Kitsune: Hooray!

Aki: It's about time.. I was so bored! You took forever to get this done!
Shi: I know! I'm sorry... I've been more busy than I want to be...

Kit: Ah well.. you've gotten it out!
Aki: Yeah, now.. GET TO GETTIN ON THAT OTHER CHAPTER FOR THAT STORY ME AND YOU ARE WRITING ON FICTIONPRESS!
Shi: -shrinks back- Okay.. lol.