FCL64: Chapter nine?

Kiyoshi: Why are you asking me?

FCL64: I thought you might know.

Kiyoshi: Wow. Ayaka is the only person we have any ownership rights to. Oh yeah, the bounty hunter Kyo. Sorry it's so short. That's where it had to end, in order for the next chapter to work.

Kurama, Ayaka, and Yusuke hurried to find Kuwabara. "Kurama!" the orange-haired teen called when he saw his old friend. "It's been a while!"

"I wish I weren't here under these circumstances."

Kuwabara's good mood faded slightly. He eyed Ayaka nervously. "Who's this? And what circumstances? Something that is going to nearly cost us our lives again?"

"This is Ayaka and yes, it is potentially deadly. But Ayaka and I will most likely be killed if we do not have your help."

Kuwabara sighed. "Kurama, could you just come out and tell me what's going on?"

"A bounty hunter from when we were still thieves is after our heads."

"You two worked together?" Kuwabara was thrown off by the idea that she was a thief who had worked with the notoriously cruel fox demon. He really should have stopped being surprised.

"Yes. Along with a third person, who was already killed by the same bounty hunter. That's why I refuse to run again. I intend to avenge him." Kurama's eyes were hard, and in the green, they all got a glimpse of something they all associated with the gold. Cruel, cold hatred.

"Who?" Kuwabara asked.

Ayaka's eyes widened in horror, Kurama's went blank. Before Kuwabara could ask again, Yusuke, who had seen the look in Kurama's eyes before, interrupted. Looking at Ayaka, he asked, "Who are you? You seem familiar…"

Ayaka grinned. "I'm surprised you noticed."

"Huh?"

"I'm Aka." She was suddenly three inches taller. Her long blonde hair had vanished and a coppery red color took it's place, styled so that the longest bits at the front came down just past her ears. Her pale, icy blue eyes were no more; gold ones quite reminiscent of Kurama's had taken their place. She had her snow white fox ears and white tail.

Yusuke jumped back. "You! You're that weird chick from the Tournament!"

"I didn't even fight you!"

"Well… I made the conclusion that you were weird from the ten minutes I talked with you."

"Oh, thanks." Ayaka was back to her normal appearance.

Yusuke added, "Of course, you're probably only that way because you worked with Kurama for who knows how long."

Kurama rolled his eyes. "You guys understand the situation, right?"

"As far as you'll let us," Kuwabara replied. "I'm in." Yusuke nodded in agreement.

"Thanks you guys. Before we try to figure out what to do, there's one other thing Ayaka and I need to do." Kurama nodded a farewell at them and walked out. Ayaka followed. If Kurama wanted to tell her what they were doing, he would. If not, she just had to trust him.

Kurama headed for the park. There he headed with a strange amount of purpose toward the tallest tree. Once there, he called up, "Wake up and come down here. I need to talk with you."

A groan issued from the trees, but then Hiei dropped from the branches. "What do you want, Kurama?"

Before Kurama could answer, Ayaka said, "Hiei?" Then she looked around as if to find someone else.

Hiei looked at her. No reaction. Finally, "Ayaka." He turned back to Kurama, "What do you want?"

Kurama thought it best not to ask how they knew each other. Ayaka was looking desperately around the park for something—or someone—she was not finding.

Reviews:

Foxgirl Ray: I hope that was interesting enough for you... particularly Ayaka's reaction to Hiei. Next chapter should be coming soon; I know it's a bit mean to post such a short chapter.

naomi32795: Well, I'm glad you enjoy the story so far. I understand about the whole issue with being new to the site. It can be a bit confusing. What I hate is when they change the format in an attempt to make it easier to navigate the site; then anyone who's used to the old format is like, wait, what's goin' on here?