Disclaimer: Own random people here and there.
Yoru: It's been a while! I just got a job, so I'm a working girl now! Consequently, I don't have much free time anymore. But I'm trying!
Kuronue: You don't even have time for me anymore. sniffle
Yoru: Anyway, this "let's use Kuronue for ransom!" thing gave me a new idea for this story, so now it might go somewhere! Also, GUESS WHAT? I, ONE OF THE BIGGEST KURONUE FANGIRLS I KNOW, HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE SCREWUP! I FORGOT KURO'S WINGS! AHHHHHHHHH! So now I have an idea as to how they pop up, okay?
Kuronue stared as Youko crashed through the trees. The kitsune had his whip out, and it snaked out straight for Turo's throat. Turo's whip disappeared from Kuronue's leg and blocked the attack.
"Nice try, fox, but I've been watching you long enough to know your attacks! Now hold still or I'll kill the bat!" Turo's whip snapped down and wrapped itself around Kuronue's neck. Turo yanked him to his feet harshly, ignoring the strangled cry from his captive. Youko snarled.
"Let him go." He took a step forward, but stopped as the whip tightened visibly around Kuronue's throat. Kuronue pulled at it fruitlessly, struggling to breathe.
"I have a message for you, and then we'll go. But try anything and I'll snap the Chimera's neck, I swear it." Turo made the whip tighten one more time, then loosened it enough for Kuronue to get air. Youko growled softly at the redness around Kuronue's abused throat.
"What do you want?" he snarled. Turo smirked.
"My master wants me to tell you that he awaits his revenge and will do anything to get it…including taking everything away from your precious Chimera." Turo licked his lips, "Everything."
Kuronue whimpered. "Please no…"
"LET HIM GO!" Youko shouted. The two underling demons jumped, but Turo only pulled Kuronue closer.
"Your master's fight is with me! Leave Kuronue out of it!"
"My master wants to break you," Turo said quietly. Youko stopped yelling.
"What?"
"He wants you to feel pain beyond imagining. In this case, it doesn't mean hurting you." Turo touched Kuronue's face and ran a finger over his lips. Kuronue jerked at the unwanted contact. Youko's eyes flashed.
"You're not in control of your body, are you?" he asked suddenly. Turo pulled his hand away.
"How perceptive of you, Youko," he answered.
"Who are you?" Youko's hand tightened on his whip.
"Someone you don't want to anger at the moment. Come to Taiken Castle tomorrow at noon. If you come with anyone else or before then, I'll kill your Chimera." Turo waved a hand, and a dark vortex formed behind him. Wrapping an arm around Kuronue, he began to walk toward it. Kuronue began to struggle frantically
"Youko! Help!" Kuronue yelled as Turo started to pull him into the vortex. Youko lunged, only to be blocked by an invisible barrier. He pounded on it, attacked it, only to have Turo laugh at him as he disappeared with Kuronue.
Kuronue was thrown into a small cell when they arrived and left there. He pounded on the door and yelled, but no one came. Finally he collapsed onto the cot in the corner of the room and curled up in a ball. Why hadn't he been ready? What was going to happen to him?
After what seemed like hours, the cell door opened. Kuronue's eyes opened blearily; when had he fallen asleep? Someone grabbed his arm and flipped him over faster than he could blink, and then he was staring into the crimson eyes of someone he had thought he would never see again…
Youko paced his tent worriedly. Why Kuronue? Why not Tohma or someone everyone knew Youko cared for? More importantly, who would know how much Youko cared for Kuronue? Tohma, maybe a few others in the camp, but…
He stopped. It couldn't be…
"TOHMA!" he yelled. Tohma ran into the tent.
"What?" he yelled back. Youko grabbed him and shook him.
"You removed the body, didn't you?"
"What? Oh, uh, yeah."
"ARE YOU SURE HE WAS DEAD?" Youko was frantic. Yes, yes, let it be yes…
"Uh, yeah. You stabbed him right through the…what's this about, Youko?" Tohma asked, extracting himself from Youko's grasp.
"I think he kidnapped Kuronue…but he's dead…but he's the only one who…oh gods…" Youko dropped to his knees.
"Kuronue…"
Kuronue stared up into his worst nightmare's crimson eyes, shocked and confused. But he was dead…
"Miss me, Chimera?" Taitsu whispered, his face inches from Kuronue's own.
"You…you died…" Kuronue stammered, his eyes never leaving his captor's. Taitsu chuckled quietly.
"You thought I was gone? Youko killed me, yes, but here I am. Insatiable thirst for revenge and all that, I'm afraid."
"What do you want with me?" Kuronue asked, fear causing his voice to soar.
"I thought Turo explained that. I want Youko to hurt. Hurting you does the trick worse than hurting him." Taitsu leaned down and placed his lips on the corner of a frozen Kuronue's mouth; Kuronue whimpered as Taitsu's lips moved sensually on his skin, "And now you're mine…"
"Let me go…" Kuronue whispered, feeling Taitsu's lips move along his jaw and to his neck.
"Oh, never. Never, lovely Chimera…"
Youko paced, Tohma watching silently.
"So you're saying you think Taitsu's still alive?"
"No, I'm saying he's dead and has somehow managed to come back and kidnap Kuronue. YES I'M SAYING HE'S ALIVE YOU IDIOT!" Youko yelled. Tohma flinched.
"I checked his pulse myself, Youko. He was dead."
"Then who else would have my Chimera?" The words slipped out before Youko could stop them. He shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Tohma. But…Kuronue…who knows what they're doing to him? They said they would hurt him, and all because they know I…" He stopped. Tohma was watching him.
"Love him?" the other bandit finished for him. Youko hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes. Love him."
"We'll get him back, Youko." Tohma slung an arm over Youko's shoulders. Youko looked out at the rising sun.
"At noon."
