Southern Fried Chapter 5

Yay an update! Hope you enjoy!

There was a warm weight on her chest. Mickey-Jo stirred slightly and shifted her arm to a more comfortable position under the body at her side. It must be Jack. Poor kid just found his imagination and -might- have caught of a few scenes of a horror flick on his way to the bathroom late one night. Ever since then he couldn't walk by an open door that had the light off inside the room. He would either cry for Mickey-Jo to turn on the light so he could walk by, or race by the doorway at the speed of light. She laughed at his antics and repeatedly assured him it was just his imagination, but no matter how many "monster hunts" they went on, the little boy was convinced that monsters followed him.

If she only knew then what she knew now.

Mickey-Jo turned on her side and wrapped her arms around the other occupant of her bed. It had been so long since she cuddled with her boy.

Wait.. her boy...?

When the other occupant whuffed and started beating the bed with his tail Mickey-Jo could have broken down right then. How cruel dreams were. Jack was gone. It was her fault he was gone. He was gone forever. She really had thought he was here.

She gave a sad sigh and pushed Ol'Boy gently off the bed. "Down Ol'Boy. You know ya ain't a'pposed to get on the furniture." Her legs were slightly wobbly as she stood up and surveyed her surroundings. She was in a strange room. Her boots were missing, her long sleeve shirt was gone, leaving her in her black cami. And her cowboy hat was nowhere to be seen.

Her cowboy hat was nowhere to be seen.

Her hat...

"Oh hell nah! Somebody's gonna die!"

Crossing her arms over her chest, she sauntered over to the door, deceptively calm. She let herself and Ol'Boy out with exaggerated care and started walking down the strange hallway. Mickey-Jo had no earthly idea where she was, and that put her on high alert. Her eyes darted here and there but found no signs of life. No signs of whoever might have took her precious cowboy hat. She had had that thing for ten years and wasn't about to let it go. She would be buried with that thing.

Ol'Boy trotted back and forth in front of her. He sniffed every doorway and almost marked his territory on a few. Mickey-Jo almost let him. There was something off about this place to her senses. She didn't remember much. That bat demon character that took way more of her strength to beat than she thought she needed. Reaching the clearing with said demon wrapped up like a fly in a spider's web. She did remember meeting the boys and that demon they lead around. After that it was all a blank. Maybe they brought her here? Maybe this was their home? Or maybe... they left her out there and some demons kidnapped her and were going to torture and kill her! Either way... she was getting her damn hat back.

At last she came to a door that had sounds and delicious smells emanating from it. From the chopping sounds and sounds of dishes being clanked together, she deduced it was the kitchen. The cowgirl opened the door cautiously. She didn't know for sure what was on the other side, and she didn't want to be surprised. Opening strange doors in strange places usually had unwelcome consequences.

What greeted her eyes was the sight of a short blue-haired girl chopping vegetables on the counter. A low table surrounded by cushions was between her and this girl. A large, industrial size sink was right in the middle of the long expanse of countertop. The girl turned slightly and smiled.

"Oh good, you're up! You've been sleeping for a few hours, and dinner is almost ready. How do you feel?" The girl said.

That was when Ol'Boy started growling.

The blue-haired girl started looking nervous. "Is he ok?" She brought her hands close to her body.

Mickey-Jo studied her closely, and when she looked at the girl's cherry-red eyes, she froze. It seemed she was in a demons house. This demon was cooking dinner, for her to be in! Those boys DID leave her out there to die!

"Demon," she breathed. Her heart rate sped up and sweat formed on her brow.

The demon girl took a step back. "Miss, is something wrong?"

"You's a gods blasted DEMON!" Mickey-Jo roared. She leaped over the table and grabbed the large utility knife out of the girl's hands. The demon girl let out a terrified shriek and scrambled back until she hit the wall.

"Please! You're not going to be attacked! We're all friends here!" She pleaded.

Mickey-Jo snorted. "That's what ya ALL say you piss-poor waste of space!" She gestured wildly with the knife, eyes going feverish. "ALL you demons are evil to the core! Now where am I? How in the hell did I get here! I ain't gonna become your dinner ya pus-rotted demon! If anything has happened to my pony you gonna die twice! I swear to God I will-"

The kitchen door burst open admitting Hiei and Kurama to the rescue. Hiei's face transformed into the picture of murder. "Yukina!" He jumped across the room, drawing his sword.

"Hiei! Wait!" Kurama shouted. "It's against the law to kill humans! Don't do anything foolish!"

But Hiei's sword only clanged against the knife in Mickey-Jo's hands, sending it clattering across the floor to Kurama's feet. Kuwabara and Yusuke raced into the kitchen, holding Mickey-Jo's boots and cowboy hat, respectively.

When Kuwabara saw Yukina collapsed on the floor and surrounded by glittering gems he cried out. Dropping the boots, he raced over to the fallen ice apparition and took her into his arms. Yusuke's eyes were wide as he surveyed the situation. Everyone was yelling. Mickey-Jo and Hiei were nose to nose, facing off. Daggers flew from between their level eyes. He was screaming at her and she was screaming at him. Ol'Boy was between Mickey-Jo's wide stance, growling loudy and barking. Kurama was trying to diffuse the situation with a calm, raised voice. Kuwabara was screaming at Mickey-Jo while Yukina huddled in his arms, trying to compose herself.

Genkai walked in, took one look and whistled loudly with her fingers. Everyone froze and turned to the doorway. "What the hell is going on here you idiots?!"

Mickey-Jo's eyes turned to look at the doorway. She stopped on Yusuke and spied her hat in his hands. "My hat! Give it back ya dirty hat-stealer!" She ran over to the boy and grabbed the hat, slamming it on her head. She stomped over to where her boots had fallen, righted them with her feet, and slammed into those as well.

Genkai rolled her eyes. "I asked a question you dimwits! What is going on?"

Hiei sheathed his sword, rage still on his face. "This stupid human was brandishing a knife at Yukina!"

"Yukina wouldn't hurt a fly!" Kuwabara yelled.

The old woman turned to the cowgirl, eyes narrowed. "I let these boys bring your unconsious body into my home, and you turn around and hurt one of its residents?"

Mickey-Jo gestured wildly with her hands. "How was I a'pposed to know this weren't some demon cesspit?! The last thing I 'member I had just fought m'way through a demon in-FESTED forest. I don' 'member gettin' brought here, I only 'member passin' out like a sissy once I reached that big ol' tree. And if you can just let some damn demons live in your home they obviously got y'all brainwashed and are just biding they time y'all let yer gaurd down!"

Kurama sighed nervously. "Mickey-Jo, we've told you Hiei isn't like all other demons. and Yukina is the sweetest, most selfless person I've ever met."

Mickey-Jo snorted. "Tha's what they all would LIKE ya to believe. Then their true nature comes out. Where's my pony?"

Yusuke frowned. "Out front." He corssed his arms over his chest. "And where do you get this idea all demons are all bad?"

The cowgirl leaned forward. "Personal. Damned. Experience." She hissed and poked his chest with every word. She straighted up and gave a soft whistle. Ol'Boy didn't stop growling as he crept over to his mistress.

"Now, If y'all don't mind, I'm gonna take my leave o' this godforsaken place a'fore I lose my head, or one of them two no good demons decides to take it." She bowed slightly to Genkai as she walked by. No one made any move to stop her. "Thank ya for lettin' me recover here."

She walked out the door and started down the hall. "And when y'alls heads are on the floor and ya hearts are on those demon's dinner plates don't come a'crying to me!" She called behind her.

Kurama stood frozen. What just happened? Hiei came up level with with, but didn't look at his face. "I blame you."

"I know."

Genkai walked over to where Kuwabara and Yukina stood. "Yukina, are you ok?"

The blue-haired girl nodded slightly. "Yes, I think so. I was just scared. She didn't hurt me." Her brow furrowed. "Why does she hate demons so much?"

Kuwabara tightned his arms around her. "I have no idea, Yukina, but I promise she won't come near you again."

"Thank you Kazuma. I'd better get back to dinner now."

Genkai shook her head. "I think it would be better if we get take-out. You're in no shape to continue cooking." She turned her head to look at Yusuke. "You, slacker!"

Yusuke raised his eyebrows. "Yea, Grandma?"

"Go get all of us some food."

He sighed. "Ok, ok. Come on Kuwabara, I can't handle it all myself."

Kuwabara unwrapped Yukina from his arms, but caught her hands. "Are you sure you're alright, my love?"

Hiei glared at the youth. "If that human had harmed her she would be dead and not walking out of here like nothing happened."

"No need to get all touchy, shrimp. Yukina just had a really scary experience! Have more sympathy."

No reply.

Kuwabara "hmph"-ed and walked out the door with Yusuke, glancing back once at Yukina. She smiled slightly and gave a small bow.

When Yusuke and Kuwabara got outside, they saw MIckey-Jo still tacking up her pony. Kuwabara walked right by without glancing, keeping his face expressionless. Yusuke walked up to her and she sighed.

"If it's worth anythin'," She murmured. "I'm sorry I went after one you call friend. I 'member what ya told me in your girlfriend's place."

It was Yusuke's turn to sigh. "Yea.. It may be best if we just keep away from each other." He shuffled his feet in the dirt. "You can't go around assuming all demons are the worst, especially in this city."

Mickey-Jo turned a critical eye on him. "In my line o'work, you cain't assume everyone is friendly. That's how ya get killt."

"Yea I know. I'm the Spirit Detective, remember? I've had my fair share of demon fights. Most of them aren't friendly, but I've found most of them are like humans. Give 'em a chance and they'll be your friends for life."

Mickey-Jo's face hardened. "I tried that one time. If I handn't wised up, I wouldn't be here."

"I'm not saying every one you meet is going to be your 'BFF'." Yusuke rolled his eyes.

"URAMESHI!" Kuwabara yelled from down the steps. "Why are you wasting the time we need to get Yukina some food talking to that crazy cowgirl?!"

"I'm coming!" Yusuke yelled back at him. He turned back to Mickey-Jo. "Just watch yourself. I know you're a good person, but right now, you're starting to seem like a lot of trouble."

"Don'chu worry 'bout me. I'll be keepin' my distance." Mickey-Jo replied. She turned back to Dazzle and Yusuke went on down the steps. She tightened the saddle girth one last time and patted the pony's neck. Ol'Boy looked up at her from his prostrated position on the ground and thumped his tail a few times. She sighed again as she swung up. "Well boys, we sure know how to make friends, now don't we?"

She urged Dazzle forward and down the mountain, parallel to the long expanse of stairs. She was far enough behind the boys that they wouldn't notice her, and you better believe she was turning the opposite way once they reached the bottom of the path. She checked the location of the sun through the forest canopy and gauged it was getting close to evening time. It was too late to start hunting again. Cursing herself for being such a weakling, passing out and wasting an entire damn day, she decided her best course of action was to go back to the place she had made camp. She could come back here and start tomorrow now that Dazzle knew the place.

Dazzle's ability to teleport was tricky, and came with many exceptions. He could only go to a place he had been before. He couldn't teleport if he was too excited, scared, hurt or tired. Just like a real equine couldn't do anything but flee if they were in the same position. But his teleporting had gotten Mickey-Jo out of many sticky situations, and she wouldn't trade him for the world.

She told him her destination and he whickered in agreement. Calling Ol'Boy close, Mickey-Jo gave the signal and they disappeared in a flash of purple energy.

Whew! Crisis averted! Don't hate MJ please. :D Everything happens for a reason. Read and review! Thanks!