Shi: Well, after much waiting, it's finally here! Chapter 21! Enjoy and don't forget to review!

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The Slyest Thieves
Chapter 21

The group finally made it to Genkai's temple, and they sat down to talk. It was around 10:00 a.m. when they got back from the tournament, and they chatted about everything and nothing for a while.

Takara's been acting stranger and stranger, Aki noted telepathically to Mizuki. Both girls glaned at their hanyou sister out of the corner of their eyes. Maybe she had another vision? Aki suggested.

She told me she hasn't had any visions... She said she had a bad dream, Mizuki replied , falling quiet in the conversation between Yusuke and Jin. Touya was idly talking with Kurama, and Sesshoumaru and Hiei were off on their own, in seperate corners of the room, being quiet and mysterious.

She could've been lying, Aki reasoned. This wouldn't have been the first time Takara had lied about having a vision, but the hanyou only lied about really bad visions... So, this one had to be bad.

Mizuki sighed inwardly, She probably was... I wish she would talk to someone about it though, the wolf murmured in worry.

Suddenly, Takara sneezed, and as a few of the people said "bless you," she sent Mizuki and Aki one of her worst glares.

Uh oh, Mizuki and Aki said simultaneously and exchanged looks.

Yeah, you better say "Uh oh", Takara growled, the hairs on the back of her neck bristling slightly.

Everyone else was completely oblivious to the telepathic conversation and was staring wierdly at Takara, who's glare and growl were very noticeable.

"Uh, come on, Hiei!" Mizuki exclaimed and raced over to grab the fire demon's arm. "Let's get started on some training..! Outside..! Away from here," Mizuki faked a smile and yanked a glaring and confused Hiei outside.

"Good idea," Aki said and was on her feet in an instant. "Let's go, Fluffy," she stalked by the white-haired dog demon, who shrugged and followed after his trainee. To him, training sounded like a good idea.

"Uh," the room was silent until Yusuke spoke, "Did I miss something?" Everyone glanced at one anther.

"I think we all missed something, Yusuke," Kurama muttered then turned to Takara. "What was that all about?" he asked the hanyou, who shrugged.

"Meh, it was nothing of importance, sensei," Takara mumbled boredly and stood to her feet. "Your bandages need to be changed," she told Kurama matter-of-factly.

With a sigh, Kurama pushed himself to his feet and followed after Takara, leaving the others to feel very confused. Takara helped Kurama down the hall and into the bathroom, where the hanyou pulled out a first aid kit.

"What's wrong, Takara? You're not acting yourself," Kurama frowned as he spoke.

Takara was wrapping bandages around his wounds and was silent for a long while until answering. "We lost at the tournament, so we are your trainees. It's only right I show you the proper respect," she uttered.

Meanwhile, Hiei and Mizuki had stopped somewhere in the forset, and Mizuki was glad she had escaped Takara's wrath. When that hanyou got mad, she got MAD, and you'd hate to be on the ending line of it.

"So, what're we going to do first?" Mizuki asked, spinning on her heel to face Hiei, who glared at her.

"What are you up to?" Hiei inquired coldly, arms crossed over his chest. Mizuki leaned her head to the right some in a curious, questioning way and asked Hiei what he meant. "Why are you so happy? I thought you and your sisters didn't want to be here," Hiei retorted.

"Well, we DON'T want to be here, but... we gave you our word that if we lost the tournament, that we'd stay with you guys and won't try to escape. I'm just trying to make the best of the situation," Mizuki explained. "So, what first? Sparring?"

"First off, I want you to shut up," Hiei snarled. Mizuki scowled at him but fell silent and tapped her foot, impatiently waiting for an answer. "Now, we are going to run 50 laps around these grounds," he said, indicating to all of Genkai's lands.

"What!" Mizuki sputtered, "50 laps around this whole property! You gotta be kidding me!" She was fast, yes, but only for short distances. She wasn't too good with endurance, and it took a lot of her energy to run as fast as she did, even for short distances.

"I'm not. Now get going," Hiei ordered and waited until Mizuki bolted off grumbling, then he, too, started his laps.

"Hey, Aki!" Mizuki called as she passed Aki and Sesshoumaru down by the beach. She waved to them as she went by.

"Yo," Aki greeted distractedly and gave the wolf a quick wave as she dodged Sesshoumaru's whip. Mizuki went on, while Sesshoumaru stopped Aki after a few minutes of sparring.

"I think we should make this training a little harder," Sesshoumaru stated emotionlessly and advanced at a calm walk to Aki, who tensed. "Hold still," he demanded and grabbed her arms, pulling them behind her. He used his whip to create an unbreakable rope that wound its way around her wrists.

"Hey!" Aki exclaimed angrily, "That's not fair!"

"Hn, now fight me," Sesshoumaru said coolly, returning to his position about 6 feet in front of her.

"Fine," Aki growled, "I can beat you easily with my hands tied behind my back." And with that, she launched herself forward. She jumped over her trainer and landed behind him, quickly side-kicking him in the side.

He retailiated by slinging his whip at her, turning around as he did so. She jumped into the air to try to avoid it, but he brought it up rather fast, and it wrapped around her left ankle. With a yank, she was thrown roughly into the ground, rocks flying up everywhere, one nicking Sesshoumaru on the cheek. And so it went, they sparred until that afternoon, which would put them at training for about two hours.

Now, Mizuki wasn't fairing so well... Hiei stopped her after two hours. "How many have you done?" he asked from his perch on a tree branch.

"About," Mizuki panted, "39..."

"Not fast enough," Hiei scolded, "I'm already finished."

"Good for.. you," Mizuki growled, glaring up at the fire demon.

"Hn, finish your laps," Hiei ordered in that monotonous voice of his.

"Come.. on..." Mizuki took sharp breaths in and out as she spoke, "Can't I... rest and... get some.. lunch or... something?" she asked.

"No food until your laps are done," Hiei sneered as he watched Mizuki groan and run a hand through her hair then throwing it into a ponytail.

"But, my... energy's about... gone!" Mizuki whined, wiping the sweat from her brow, a scowl on her face.

"Better hurry then," Hiei shrugged and hopped away from the tree.

Mizuki moaned and set up a telepathic message with Aki. Hey, Aki, you got any energy to spare? I really need to borrow some...

What's that shrimp making you do? Aki asked frowning as she sat eating lunc with everyone except Mizuki and Hiei, but Hiei walked into the room at that moment.

I gotta run 50 laps around this huge property... And I can't stop until I'm done. My energy's about zapped, Mizuki answered, regaining her breath slowly.

Hm... How many do you have left? Aki inquired with a furrowed brow.

Mizuki mentally did the math and replied, 11...

Aki sighed, Alright, this should get you through your last laps... She concentrated and transferred some of her energy to the wolf. Mizuki could suddenly feel energy entering her body, and she gladly accepted it. Pace yourself, Aki warned.

And with more energy, Mizuki started again...

About half an hour after lunch, Hiei returned to where he and Mizuki had begun to find Mizuki resting against a tree, barely conscious. "Are you done with your laps?" he asked and stopped in front of the girl.

"Yes," Mizuki snarled, "I didn't have enough energy to make it back to the temple though, so I sat down here to try to regain some of my energy." Her voice was as cold as ice, rivaling that of Hiei's icy voice.

"I'm sure you have enough energy to get back. Now, come on," he demanded and started off to the temple, but when he glanced over his shoulder, he found Mizuki still sitting there. He frowned and used his Jagan to check up on her. All her energy really is gone... he thought in amazement.

"I told you," Mizuki glowered at him from her seat. She had read his mind, and she was not happy at the moment. Hiei had better be glad she didn't have any energy left, or else he'd be in real trouble... She was only still conscious by power of will, but that power was slowly slipping as well.

Hiei sighed and stalked back over to pick the wolf up. "Pathetic," he uttered disdainfully as he tromped back to the temple.

Mizuki inwardly winced. "I'm not... pathetic," she mumbled as she let unconsiousness take her. Hiei mumbled about stubborn demonesses all the way to the temple, where he lay her in bed and went outside to trian on his own until supper.

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Shi: There it is! Sorry it took a little while to type up. ;p
Kit: Yay! Chapter 21's here!
Aki: About time. Have you worked on Saving Kimani any?
Shi: Uh... no...
Aki: -warning growl-
Shi: -hides behind Kit- Sorry! I'll try to work on it.
Aki: Good. Now... next chapter... it's my turn!
Kit: Then mine!
Shi: Yepp! See you readers next chapter!
Kit: We don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Sesshoumaru either, so...
Aki: Bye bye!