Kiyoshi: Why did you write this chapter?

FCL64: This chapter is important! Important information!

Kiyoshi: But why here? It seems kind of unrelated…

FCL64: It was time for a flashback chapter, and this one fit best.

Kiyoshi: I see. Well, we own Ayaka, Kaien, Kyo, Lori, Xanthippus and Zuberi, even though only two of them are in this chapter, and the first three are shared with animegrlsteph. Here's the chapter.

FCL64: WAIT!

Kiyoshi: What?

FCL64: Although it's not vital to the understanding of the chapter, the reading will be smoother if I remind you (the readers) what a core is. I don't know if you'll remember it (it was mentioned once in the entire series), but it's the demonic equivalent of a heart (the organ, not the figurative heart that controls emotions).

Kiyoshi: Wow…

1854 A.D.

Kaien POV

"The black market is one of the best things ever created," I say, the money we've earned in pouches at our sides.

Hiei's nod is terse. This is one of those times that I get the feeling that he doesn't really like me, he just tolerates me. Which suits me just fine. I don't like him either. But our goals are the same. And it's always good to know someone's got your back. Strange that such a sense of security can come from partnering with someone you know you can't truly trust.

However…it's odd the way we work together. Very little is ever said beyond choosing a target and a date. Then there's the girl he's searching for, Yukina. He won't tell me who she is. Where he wants to search strongly influences the locations we target.

Then we speak when we argue. All I can say is that it's good we don't argue a lot. When we do argue, it nearly always comes to blows. All that can be said for that is that we both possess enough self-control not to use our fire or our swords. If that weren't the case, at least one of us would have been dead long ago.

It has always seemed strange to me that Ayaka and I are opposites but can get along so well, while Hiei and I, so similar, cannot seem to truly agree on anything. Close enough that our partnership works, but not enough that we don't get into fights. Perhaps we are too similar.

What's that whirring sound? I instinctively drop to the ground. At the same moment, Hiei does the same.

A thick arrow plunges deep into a tree several feet away. Hiei flashes to it and is back next to me, laying in the underbrush. He shows it to me. "Dipped in poison. Even a flesh wound would have killed you in less than a minute."

"But who wants me dead, how did they find us, and where are they now?" Hiei doesn't have an answer.

We lay there for several hours before easing our way up to a crouch. My ears twitch. The forest is too quiet. And something smells off. Whirr. I jerk back and only narrowly avoid another arrow. "Patient," I murmur. "Ayaka is the only person I've met who has such patience."

"I certainly do not possess it." Yes, I'm aware. Of course, I'm not much better.

"Hiei, stand up." He looks at me as though I'm crazy, so I say, "You're fast enough to dodge, and both arrows have been aimed at me." He stands.

After nearly a minute he mutters, "What could someone possibly have against you that they don't have against me?"

I look at him. "I committed very few crimes before I met you. Back then, Ayaka had more influence over me. No one ever saw me, and even if they had, I had taken on a different form."

"Could anyone have a grudge on Ayaka that they are taking out on you?" Why would he even ask that?

"Ayaka is even better at disappearing than I am. You know that, Hiei." But…something about that seems right. Is there some connection to Ayaka? But what? She isn't stupid enough to go in, be seen and still leave people alive. Then again…the three of them never killed unless cornered. When she said that, did she mean actually, physically cornered, not simply seen? I haven't thought about it before, but they must have been seen to have such high prices on their heads. They must have been seen several times for those after them to have such accurate descriptions.

"You have doubts, Kaien," Hiei mutters. Yes, Hiei. Thank you. I know that.

"It's related to Ayaka," I whisper back. "But not because of our crimes. There's some other connection."

"Other than the fact that she's your sister?" I glare. He ignores me and says, "We must find him." The eliminate goes unsaid.

We stand cautiously and move toward the place the arrows came from, darting from tree to tree. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of maroon. There is a flash and a knife embeds itself in the tree behind where I was standing a second before. It's hard to hit a moving target, especially when the target isn't moving at a constant speed. Unfortunately, that knife is exactly at core height. Whoever's after me…he's good.

That dark pink, almost red again. That's him. Or her. Him. I've never seen a girl that tall. He's found me. He knows exactly where I am. And he knows where I'm headed. Well, I think he knows where I'm headed as he's running exactly parallel to me.

I stop. After a few more steps, he stops too. Before another projectile is sent my way, I shout, "Come out and face me like you meant it! Quit hiding in the shadows and kill me with some honor!"

A dark chuckle precedes him as he steps from the trees. A large bow is slung across his back, along with a quiver loaded with the poison arrows. He has at least three daggers similar to the first. But that's just what's visible. I've learned through experience—and often through practice—that what's visible and what's available are two completely different things. Then we haven't the slightest clue as to if he possesses any demonic tricks he can use, much less what they are.

His overall appearance is odd. Beneath that dark pink-red hair are eyes that almost look purple and almost look black. He's about half an inch shorter than me but still taller than many. But pound for pound, he would outweigh me because he is built thicker than me. Except for his fingertips and the area around his eyes and ears, no skin is visible. A black headband holds his ear-length hair out of his eyes and conceals his forehead. His mouth and neck are also covered in black. He has thick, black leather boots on, and every other inch of him, right down to his fingerless gloves is concealed in black.

I place my hand on my sword. "Who are you?"

"Your sister asked me the same thing. I am Kyo." Ayaka. Calm, Kaien. She isn't dead. I would know. But that means he's after her as well.

"Why do you want us dead?"

"Personally, your lives mean nothing to me. I really don't care if you live or die."

"Then why try to kill me?"

"I am not a fool. I know you won't part with the locket you carry unless I kill you first." The locket? That's what he's after? But it's an almost symbolic connection to Ayaka.

"Never," I spit.

"See?" he says, pulling a knife out. My hand tightens on my sword, and Hiei appears next to me, his hand gripping the hilt of his katana. Kyo pauses. "This is why I wished to attack you from a distance. I did not wish to deal with two of you. Last time I tried something such as that, I came away worse than my target. Your sister, aided by Kurama," he adds helpfully.

"Leave, or we will kill you," Hiei threatens.

Kyo looks at him, eyes calm. "I've heard a demon called Eight-Hands knows something of an Ice Maiden." Ice Maiden? Is that Yukina? I always got the impression that it was his sister…evidently not.

"Scum," Hiei hisses, lunging forward.

Kyo reacts in an instant, somehow dodging Hiei's sword. But it leads him toward mine. And as I go in, he whips up his hand and begins to parry my attacks with a ten-inch knife. That shouldn't even be possible. Not only that, but he's using his right hand to ward off Hiei. How can he do such things?

Suddenly, in one fluid movement, he stops blocking, takes several steps back at a speed faster than I have seen Hiei travel and throws his knife at me.

I do not have time to dodge. Not at this distance. I do somehow manage to move just enough that it doesn't hit any vital organs; it lodges itself in my left shoulder instead. Some comfort. I grit my teeth and face him. The knives aren't poisoned; best to leave it in for now. It will stop at least some of the blood flow.

But I don't need to fight. Hiei's sword is protruding from Kyo's right leg. He used Kyo's temporary distraction during his attack on me to get a good hit in. "He deflected my blow." Hiei glares. "But not well enough."

Kyo falls to the ground, and Hiei withdraws his sword. It appears he has hit the femoral artery. If the man does not receive treatment soon, he will die. For a moment, Hiei looks as though he would skewer Kyo through the core. But there is something in those eyes. Hiei sees it too. Even now, with that fatal wound, he is a threat, and he knows it. He has some ace up his sleeve. If Hiei kills him, our lives will be in danger. But how could a dead man pose such a threat?

Hiei steps back and faces me. "He can bleed out. Perhaps a longer, more drawn out death is what he deserves. Let's go."

"Two minutes." I tear parts of my shirt up. Then I clench my teeth together and rip out the dagger. As the blood begins to flow, I quickly bind it with the rags, using my teeth to pull the knot tight. Then Hiei and I run, leaving him bleeding on the ground.

Unfortunately, I have a sick feeling that we have not succeeded in killing him.

I have this gut instinct that is telling me he will be back.

What fun. Thought you guys might want to know what happened when Kyo attacked Kaien. And there you have it. It may all seem disjointed now...but it will all come together eventually, I promise. Here are the reviews.

animegrlsteph: Here's more. Although this is the last chapter I have prewritten...that could become a problem if I don't pick up the pace.

Foxgirl Ray: Glad you saw that Lori would be coming back because I definitely didn't. Particularly not this soon. Hmmm... I guess I'll just step back and let Kiyoshi write this story like he normally does, then.

White Rose Fox: Glad you like it!