Disclaimer: I own only my OCs and the plot.

Recap: Tsukino has joined the cat demon resistance while Kurama has enlisted in the dog demon army. What possible damage could come from this?

This Is How You Remind Me
Chapter Eleven
Life at the Base

Learning the Lifestyle

After I agreed to join the cats, Neini all but dragged me to the recruitment center for the cats in a town a day away from Keisatsusho. At first the cats were reluctant to allow me to join, thinking that I was a dog army spy, until they asked for my reason why I wanted to join the war. I replied honestly, saying that I wanted to avoid a fox and that I was looking for a friend. Since the cats were low on people, they allowed me to join but not before Neyuki and Neichi talked with them and Neini begged for me be able to join.

After I was recruited, we started to make our way towards the cat base located in Nekonihon. It took us many days to travel there and each night we went to bed exhausted, but when we arrived I found myself lacking breath for another reason. The cat demon base was located in the top of a million year old tree, far taller and larger than anything in Human World was.

As we climbed upward, I felt my neck getting sore from me turning it every way trying to see everything.

The rooms were built into the branches by hollowing out some of the branches and making them bigger by using the wood to make walls and roofs in some points. The path-ways were the branches that connected to the main trunk of the tree. Everything was kept its nature colour to conceal the base from enemy eyes. Purples leaves decorated the roofs and the brown branches and brushed against my face as I followed the other cats upward. Even without a powerful nose, I was still able to smell the pleasant scents of the nature around me.

Unfortunately, the thought of nature quickly reminded me of Kurama who used plants as his choice of weapons. I still had no idea what I had done to cause him to act that way, but I was surprisingly thankful that I had at least learned the true him before I fell any harder for him. He had said so himself that he didn't care for me and, in so many words and like Neichi supposedly did, only wanted me for sex.

The happiness the tree originally brought me was quickly tainted by the memory of him, but I tried my best to hide it from the other cats. Luckily, it wasn't hard though since we were all tired, and the others were happy to be at the base.

Because it was many hours after nightfall when we arrived, we quickly moved to the main stem of the tree where the main office was so that I could be informed of what I would be doing to help the army and where my room was. I was told to obey all generals and to take different classes from different cats until the cats figured out how I could aid the army. After they gave me a quick run down of the rules (no mating with other demons, no causing food fights on the Food Branch, no stealing, no fighting, no leaving unless ordered by a general, and no causing chaos), I was told that my room was on the Special Branch.

Neini wasted no time in informing me that she and Neyuki shared a room on that branch and quickly pulled me in the direction of my room. Since we were all tried and ready for a restful sleep, we said our goodnights and went to our rooms. Neyuki and Neini showed me the door of my room and then went to their own.

Taking one last breath of the beautiful fresh air, I opened the door and saw that I had the room all to myself. In the middle of the room was a small bed with a closet on the right wooden wall and another door on the left, which I assumed was the bathroom. Light came through the window, which was above the bed's headboard, and from a strange plant I had never seen before, which looked like a light bulb and glowed yellow. Removing my bag, I opened the closet to see that it was completely bare. Silently, I placed my bag in the closet and closed the door before allowing myself to fall onto my bed.

Even though I was still greatly confused and hurt from our fight, it felt odd without him around. We had been sharing a room ever since we arrived in Demon World and an apartment for most of the time I was in Human World. If I was perfectly honest, I even missed the calming effect of his voice and energy signature. I felt like I had just lost a close friend, a true friend. In the end, I reasoned that it was just because we had been stuck with each other for so long and tried to block him from my mind as I fell asleep.

He didn't stay away from my mind very long because I quickly fell into a dream that made me wish for his fake comfort. In it, I was walking down a street in Human World laughing with Botan and Keiko when a zombie climbed out from under a manhole. Botan and Keiko quickly disappeared from my side, and I ran into an alley where garbage bags were piled as high as the buildings they leaned against. A man appeared at the end of the alley and grinned at me showing pointed teeth.

"Hello Nine," he muttered.

Biting back a scream, I turned around and ran the other way only to trip over a bag when the walls of garbage started to fall. Suddenly, I found myself surrounded in water. I started to kick and claw my way upwards, but suddenly chains shot out of the ground far below me and dragged me downwards just as they had when I was a child. Desperately, I tried to flap my wings to propel me upwards but it was too exhausting to move them through the water. The chains became tighter and wrapped themselves all around my body. Air bubbles left my mouth, and I felt myself fall out of the water and into the arms of someone.

The pointed teeth hovered over me in a black silhouette as the voice said, "How luscious a girl you have become." The teeth hovered a moment longer before they dived for my throat.

I awoke a second later panting and clutching my throat. My eyes shot around the room looking for a hint of the demon. There was none.

For a moment, I was also looking for Kurama until I remembered that he was gone and hated me. Bitter tears started to come to my eyes as the pain and the fear took root and my chest started to ache as if my heart was beating too fast.

"Tama-chan."

My heart seemed to skip a beat as my eyes darted towards the door where I saw Neini standing.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

With a great amount of effort, I smiled. "Yes. I didn't wake you did I?"

The little kitten shook her head. "No, One-chan told me to get you're your lesson will start soon."

I nodded. "I'll be out in a few moments."

She nodded and disappeared out of my doorway still looking upset. I hoped that I hadn't scared her since I wasn't feeling the best at that moment. Though the dream was gone, the fear remained, but I wasn't going to let it stay. Setting my shoulders and standing tall, I walked out that door and towards my first day of lessons where I was sure I would find my place. But then, I had forgotten that a mixed-breed doesn't really have a place in any world.

Day Eighty-Nine

More than a month has passed since I joined the dog army, and I still can't help but look at my watch almost hourly just to be sure that she is okay. It had long ago changed back to blue after the scare she gave me when the compass turned yellow, but the arrow is getting closer and closer to the third stage. I keep telling myself that it doesn't matter, that I'm getting over her and don't care anymore, but I'm only lying. Everyday I become more and more worried as the arrow slowly moves towards the three. I haven't been allowed to leave the base since I entered either, so I haven't been able to look for The Fox's Rose, and time is running out for Tsukino.

Yusuke and the others have also become increasingly worried and call me daily to demand that I go look for her. Each day I refuse and say that it will jeopardize the mission, but each day I'm coming closer to leaving anyways. If I don't get a mission to scout out the cats' hideout, Kioshi and I are going to leave on our own.

In fact, as I update my journal, Kioshi has left to talk to the generals and demand for a scouting mission. I am unable to join him because I am expecting another call from Spirit World and cannot risk the communicator ringing in the middle of the conversation.

That must be Kazuma now.

I pull out the mirror and open it to see Kazuma in the mirror. He is probably the only person other than Koenma who has not verbally attacked me over the issue of Tsukino. Instead, he has remained understanding and keeps me updated on his and Yusuke's discoveries in the library.

"Hello Kazuma," I say when I see it is him, "Any information on Tsukino-san's problem?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing about the cure, but Spirit World files had some stats about mixed demons. Apparently virtually no mixed demon has ever lived pass the third stage because they were killed by other demons as they entered it. So we tried to find Tsukino's folder to see if we could learn anything else but we can't find it in the remains. So far, I haven't even seen a mention of Tsukino. Do you think she gave us a fake name?"

I nod. "It is possible. Did you find any demons matching her physically appearance?"

He nods. "Yeah but her name was Mikiku." His face suddenly becomes thoughtful. "Actually, this Mikiku is supposed to be the longest living mixed-demon. From what I found, she was protected by two purebloods and only ever hit the second stage. It doesn't say if she is dead now or where she is though, like it had for the other mixed demons."

"Was there anything else?"

"Not really except that because of the odd genes, mixed-demons tend to act more human because of their brain being deformed by demon standards and more human like with all the emotional chemicals and stuff."

I nod.

"We also found that mixed-demon's hearts beat unlike normal demons."

"But when she was attacked by a demon outside my apartment and Yusuke felt for a pulse he didn't find one."

"That's because their hearts actually beat so fast that you can't tell if they are beating or not unless they're hearts slow down before death or start to beat so fast that it seems to be a heart murmur. The scientists think that is another reason why the stages happen."

"Why is that?"

"According to them, when mixed-demons feel stressed or excited, their hearts beat faster. If they are stressed it beats even faster then when excited and puts more pressure on the body and the brain-"

"Which causes the brain to fail to work in certain regions causing the genes to destabilize."

He nods. "That and in the third stage not only does energy try to escape so does blood because the heart is putting too much pressure on the blood and it is trying to escape."

I nod. "Anything else?"

He shakes his head. "No, but I'll keep you posted."

"Please do."

He nods again. "Don't worry, we'll save her somehow."

I nod once more before closing the mirror. Perhaps separating by causing a fight was not the best idea. During the fight, I thought I hear her heart beating due to my demon hearing but assumed it was only my imagination. If her heart was beating, then all I have done is speed up the process more. I should have just left her in the inn while I had the chance but then she could have been attacked while leaving the inn or tried to track me down. There wasn't any other way to leave and she couldn't come with me. The other demons here are just as bad as Oshiro's gang when it comes to mixed-demons. There wasn't another way… was there?

"Yo Kitsu-san!" Kuronue shouts as he virtually breaks down the unlocked door to our room.

Slouching forward a bit, I turn away from the desk I had requested to face the bat demon. For the twelfth time this week, I say, "My name is Katsu."

As he normally does, he ignores me and walks over. Casually, I place my hand over the title of my closed casebook so that he thinks it is just a book I brought from home. I had told him it was about war techniques so that he would not read it. "You still reading?" he asks as he sits down backwards on the extra chair by my desk which is located on my wall.

I nod. "You never know when we might need to come up with a plan ourselves instead of leaving it up to the generals."

"You're reading that books so much that I almost think you are one of the generals."

I calmly place my book into a drawer on my desk and lock it. "Any news about when we will be permitted to leave the base?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing but why did you lock the drawer?"

"This book is very dear to me, and I would not be pleased to find it stolen."

"Why? Did your slave give it to you?"

I ignore his implications and reach into my bag for the file I was given by a messenger from the planning room in the eastern corner of the maze where the generals usually worked. After reading them over, I shake my head. "I fail to understand why they waste their time looking for high level demons to join and don't just attack with the men they have now."

Kioshi shrugs. "Dunno. Maybe they think it will be easier?"

"With this many soldiers it would not take very long to wipe out the cats." I shake my head in annoyance. "I just wish this war would either be over or allow us more movement."

"I hear ya but according to the generals, that's not going to happen until we get some stronger demons on our side."

I nod. "Unless we make them think we are worthless but it's probably too late for that."

Kioshi nods. "Why did you bother pointing out the generals' mistake? It may have gotten us out of here faster."

About a week after I had joined the army, the generals were planning sending out search parties of fifty demons to find the cats' base. Knowing that the cats would easily spot and then slaughter the demons before they even got close, I pointed out that smaller groups would be harder to detect. The generals had followed my advice and found the cats' base. However, only the generals know the location so we are forced to wait for the signal to move in, but before that they are having me look over their plans. "Because we could not afford to lose anymore men at that time. Even if the cats are stronger than us they would tire from fighting all the demons."

"Still though, it's not our fight is it?"

"No, I agree but with more demons around it will be harder to see two demons disappear away from the battle."

"Or because your batty-cat doesn't like violence, you want to avoid as much bloodshed as possible."

I turn my back on him and reach into my bag to grab the file of what The Fox's Rose had stolen. There has to be reason why she stole only these few objects.

Kioshi does not understand that I wish to be alone and says, "Speaking of batty-cats, how is she?"

"I have no idea. I haven't see or heard from or about her since I joined the army." I have long ago given up trying to tell Kioshi to shut up about her. No matter what I say he still insists on implying that there is something between Tsukino and me. For that reason, I reply as diplomatically as possible and continue on to the next subject.

"What about the other batty-cat?"

"If I had any news, I would have told you," I reply as I try to ignore the need to remove some stress from my system. The last thing I need right now is acting completely out of character.

"I'm thirsty," Kioshi randomly announces.

"There is water in the bathroom. Drink from the sink."

"But I don't want water," he whines.

Without turning to face him, I place my face in my palm. The stress must be getting to him as well if he has started to remove his stress by increasing mine.

"I have an idea! Let's go to the bar!"

I have the grace not to roll my eyes. "We just went to the bar."

"But that was this morning!"

"And this is still the same day. I'm not about to deal with you if you get another hangover."

"We might find out something about The Fox's Rose."

"Kioshi-san, the only people who go to the bar are people who have been underground too long and have no idea what is happening above ground."

"What about the bartender?"

I grab the file of the generals' plans and read them over looking for mistakes. "No, I have work to do." I feel like a work-at-home father arguing with his child about going to a baseball game.

Suddenly, Kioshi moves from his chair and pulls one of my arms behind my back while the other holds his weapon to my throat. He then removes me from my chair and forces me to walk through the door.

"Kioshi-san, let me go," I growl at him, my patience virtually used up.

Kioshi doesn't appear threatened and starts dragging me in the direction of the western corner of the maze. "We are getting a drink," he tells me.

Wondering how I could remove myself from his grip without killing him or myself, I repeat my order. "Let me go."

I assume he is smirking judging by the tone of his voice. He sounds amused and smug. "Are you going to run back to the room like a little kit?"

Ignoring the other demons who are hoping for a fight to break out, I carefully shake my head.

Kioshi releases my arm from his grip and removes his weapon. "Now we can go get a drink," he announces.

I shake my head and start to walk in the direction of the planning room. "Later."

His hand quickly grabs onto my left ear and gives it a sharp tug. "You said you wouldn't go back to the room."

"I'm not. I'm going to the planning room, and I never said I would get a drink."

Kioshi sighs and then happily says, "You are now!" as he drags me in the direction of the bar.

A few seconds later, he releases my ear when I yell into his, but we continue to walk towards the bar because it is probably the most amusing way to waste time in the base.

We arrive at the bar five minutes later, and while I look around the bar with wooden walls and electrical lighting, Kioshi is still complaining about how I yelled into his ear while rubbing it. "If I become deaf, I blame you."

"If only you would become mute," I mutter as I finally spot a table by the backdoor. I point the table out to him, but it is obvious that Kioshi heard my comment because he is muttering words under his breath and rolling his eyes at me. We walk over and are quickly served, but it is not until we are settled and drinking that Kioshi continues talking to me.

"What are your chances of being able to sneak out and scout out the town without the scout party seeing you?" I say quietly after looking around the bar to be sure that no one will be able to tell the generals about our deserting plan.

"Slim to none. Those brats have annoyingly good eyes," Kioshi replies. "Why?"

"I was wondering if we could do some scouting on our own."

Kioshi shakes his head. "Even if we got out, getting back in is impossible. Not only does the dirt on the outside rip whatever is digging in it to shreds but we would have to break through the Black Demon Diamond."

"Not impossible, just difficult," I correct him with a small smirk. "We could dig into that one part where the tunnel was narrow."

"Didn't you listen to that wolf? He said that if anyone tried to widen it, the tunnel would collapse."

"That's if we try to widen it. We would be digging down into it."

Kioshi shakes his head. "If you want to try, be my guest. I'm not going to commit suicide over getting some air."

"Not even to catch The Fox's Rose?" I ask as I take a sip of my drink.

He nods. "Not even to catch The Fox's Rose."

We are silent for a moment as both of us drink before Kioshi asks, "So you haven't heard anything about your batty-cat, Kitsune-san?"

"My name is Katsu," I say before taking another sip of my drink.

"Your batty-cat lover can't remember your name either?"

I try not to spit out my drink. I have never liked this subject of mating and lovers and such. That sort of thing should remain in the bedroom where it took place. And the fact that he thought that Tsukino and I… It's not that I wouldn't mind but…

"I don't have a lover," I reply to Kioshi.

He seems a bit surprised but also slightly happy. "Taking after your old man, huh?"

I shake my head, still confused as to how this bat could have known my father when he wasn't from Demon World. "I never knew him," I say as I take a drink, hinting that this was the end of the subject.

Kioshi does not take my hint. "How come?"

"He died," I reply quickly.

Kioshi seems to deflate as he slouches forward. "Oh, sorry about that. He was a good man… sorta… for a fox."

Though my face remains blank, I wonder, 'What is the difference between a good fox and a bad one?'

"He was a royal pain at times but a good man and a good planner. Better as a thief though than anything. Pathetic with the girls," Kioshi adds as an after thought.

I shake my head. "I'm sorry. But we must be talking about two different foxes. My father was not a planner or a thief."

Kioshi stares at me. "But aren't you-?"

A small pup arrives at our table, panting. "Katsu-san! Kioshi-san! You have a scouting mission! The generals want you to meet them in the planning room."

The pup has barely finished his sentence before Kioshi and I are on our feet. We quickly pay for our drinks before calmly walking out of the bar. Once we are out of sight of the bar, we quickly run to the planning room.

When we arrive we find four dog demons waiting for us outside the Black Demon Diamond door that leads to the planning room. It appears that the generals have been waiting for us.

At my first lesson, I was told how the cat army would decide how I would be most useful. Unlike the dogs, who apparently just asked what your speciality was, the cats would give the recruit lessons in all fields. The lessons would continue until the recruit reached a spot they could not overcome. My first lesson was cooking, and it was over before it even started. After being in Human World so long I couldn't look at the sliced up Production-Model Hominids. Even though they were plant-like and obviously not human, I couldn't stand the idea of cooking with them.

Every lesson after that also went downhill. Scouting also was over before it even started because I couldn't fly silently and I was unable to get into small spaces due to my wings. Weapon making and making/mending clothes was another automatic fail. I just was unable to sit still long enough, and my hands weren't delicate, strong, or lithe enough to do the job that needed doing. I also couldn't use the weapons that were made because every time I was about to deliver a killing stroke or one that would even harm the hominid used for practice I would get sick. The reason for that was my blood fighting again. My cat demon blood wanted to be accepted very badly by the cats while my bat demon blood refused and didn't want to kill. It was my two wants and desires conflicting that caused me to be sick.

The one lesson where I actually lasted a while for was hand-to-hand combat. I didn't have to kill, and Yusuke and Kuwabara had already taught me the basic. However, they taught me street-fighting, and my cat teacher was a martial-artist. Luckily though, I was able to mix the two seamlessly until the day when she tried to teach me how to punch my opponent.

"No. No," my tiger demon teacher said as her striped tail swished side to side while her yellow eyes glared at me. "You are putting too much weight on your front foot. In martial arts you have to keep your weight centered."

I sighed and argued back, "But this way the punch has more power."

"And leaves you open to a counter-attack. Try again, and keep your weight centered."

I bit my tongue and tried to do what she told me. Taking a deep breath, I moved my feet so that I was crouching. I curled my hands into fists and stepped forward, moving my arm forward as well to create the punch. Sadly, once again, I subconsciously moved my weight onto my front foot to power my punch.

"NO!" the tiger shouted at me. "That's all wrong. Who taught you? A street-fighter?"

I nodded. "Two of them in fact and they could take you any day." I instantly covered my mouth after my outburst and tried to calm myself. The stress had been building for days. After every failed lesson, I felt worse and worse, like I would never find my place. Neini, Neyuki, and Neichi assured me that I would find something I could do, but I was doubting them which only caused me more stress.

The tiger didn't seem to notice my regret. Instead, she sneered. "Fine, if you think you are so hot, let's fight. Street-fighting against martial arts." She moved into the position I was previously in.

I shook my head, trying to fight down my bat demon instincts that were urging me to fight to defend my original teachers. "I am sorry, Iuki-sensei. I allowed my anger at my own limitations to speak." I wasn't a fighter; I knew that much so it was wiser to try to avoid the fight even if Kurama thought otherwise.

Iuki accepted this answer and nodded. "Yes, I suppose it would be difficult to switch from one version of fighting to another." She walked over to the door and then turned back to me. "Tomorrow you will meet your last possible teacher. Perhaps healing would better match you since you are unable to forget your bat-like street-fighting."

I nodded and forced back my bat demon instincts that called for me to defend my kin from that stereotype. In that place, you are either a cat or an enemy, I told myself as I left through the same door after her. Neichi was waiting outside the door for me, but I shook my head. The last thing I wanted right now was more stress caused by his flirting. Admittedly, Neichi had reduced the flirting to playful teasing since I had joined the army, but I wasn't in the mood to talk. Surprisingly, he understood and just walked beside me with a comforting hand on my arm.

When we arrived at my room, he muttered something about being here for me when I wanted to talk, but I just nodded and closed the door. I was stressed, tired, and hungry. However, I refused to give into my hunger because I knew that I would only throw it up later. Almost two weeks after Kurama and I went different ways, I started to throw up after meals, almost as if my body couldn't change the food into energy. Because of this, I was more tired than usual, and the fact that I was worried that I wouldn't be able to earn my keep wasn't helping. But then, neither were the dreams, which were steadily getting worse.

Every night I would have a nightmare, which I would awake from covered in sweat. Sometimes I even felt dizzy from fear after them. However, no dream before or after it had the same effect on me as the one that happened a month after I left Kurama behind.

The dream started nicely enough. I was small, only two months but the same size as a human six year old, and looking for some food. I came across an orchard with apples and picked one. After eating the apple, I planted the core so that a new tree could grow. Then I started to walk towards the nearest town. The town was filled with beautiful colours. Demons of all sorts walked the streets, but all of them were purebloods. They whispered to each other as I passed. Soon, I became slightly uncomfortable and walked into an alley to avoid the crowds.

The town became dark. The beautiful colours merged into threatening colours of blood red, black, brunt orange, and ash brown. The demons became more and more outspoken about me. I was no longer walking down an alley but a main street. My two month old mind was confused by the change and became frightened.

Then they appeared.

A group of purebloods surrounded me and reached towards me. Saying horrible things I did not understand. One cut my cheek with his sword.

I ran away from them, and the colours faded to ash brown and shades of gray and black except for my blood. My blood remained a bright and sickening red.

The purebloods chased after me, shouting words at me that I didn't understand.

I kept running, hoping that someone to stop them.

A hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back. His claws dug into my skin as he turned me to face him. They surrounded me again and pulled out their weapons.

I broke away from their grip and ran until my lungs were on fire. Then I crashed into her.

My mother's hateful green eyes stared down at me once again as her black tail whipped around behind her. Her words shouted even louder this time than the last. They stabbed even deeper into my soul and subconscious with every word she said. "Filth! You are no kitten of mine and no one will ever care for you." In a sickeningly graceful movement, she grabbed me and threw me backwards to the group of purebloods.

Hands moved greedily over my arms and legs as they argued over what they wanted to eat. I screamed, begged, hoped all for nothing. The pain grew as I became covered in cuts.

Through the pain, I heard one demon suggest they kill me and then divide me among them.

The others agreed, and I felt teeth start to sink into the flesh of my arm while teeth hovered under and over my throat to end my life. I cried and tried to defend myself, but the other demons held my other arms and legs down.

Suddenly, I was covered in blood. The grips holding me slackened as the demons fell away from me in a circle. The demon who was about to rip my throat out also fell to the ground, dead. My throat, no longer between his teeth.

Even though I was now free, I was still unable to move. I watched terrified as a figure walked towards me. He kneeled down besides the corpses and went through their pockets, removing the coins he found inside. Once he had done that, he walked over to me.

I realized that he was a bat demon, and while he appeared fully grown, he was only a few months older than I was.

He kneeled down beside me and took a piece of cloth out of his pocket. He took some of the coins and wrapped the cloth around them before putting the cloth and coins in my hands.

"You're going to need these, batty-cat," he said quietly.

I realized that he wasn't going to hurt me and handed them back. "Stealing isn't right," I said quietly. "But since they can't use them, you should keep it. You saved me."

He smiled and rubbed my head between my ears with one of his hands while the other reached into his cloak. From it he pulled out a small plush dog, the same dog that was had been hiding in my closet. Smiling gently, he handed me the toy. "Since you don't want coins, allow me to give you some luck."

I stroked the head of the dog in wonder and looked up at the bat. "Thank you."

He rubbed my head again causing me to purr. "I have to go now or else my boss will kill me. See you, batty-cat."

I nodded, and he walked away. Leaving me sitting in the middle of a circle of corpses and covered head to toe in blood.

It was the first time that the dream so horrible usually had a nice ending. Though it was silly, the dream gave me hope and with new determination I readied to start my first lesson as a healer. This time I knew I would not fail.

"Greetings Katsu-san, Kioshi-san," one general says to us as we draw near the door.

"Greetings generals," we reply as we wait for orders.

"Your orders are to go and scout out the area around the base."

Kioshi and I nod, knowing that this will be our only chance to escape and find The Fox's Rose.

"We will leave as soon as possible," I reply.

The generals shake their heads. "No, we have scouts for tonight. You will work tomorrow night along with two other members of the army." One of the generals gestures to another tunnel that leads to the planning room and two pups walk over, both barely a year old. They have black hair and brown eyes but because of their ears and tails, it is obvious that one is a wolf while the other a dog.

Kioshi is less than impressed about this development and says, "You want us to pup-sit?"

"If that is your term for making sure that our borders are safe then yes."

I frown and speak before Kioshi can. "However, the pups do not have the experience needed to-"

With a glare, the generals speak as one and cut me off. "Experience is not a problem where you are going. We only want you to patrol the borders of the base. You are dismissed."

Before Kioshi or I can say anything about that, the pups along with the generals enter the planning room and close the door. Knowing that we only have to be sober for tomorrow, we return to the bar where Kioshi quickly orders twenty-five glasses of Wolf's Bane liquor while I order one Nightshade Ale. He does not speak until he has had fifteen of his twenty-five glasses and when he does, his voice is furious.

"Damn Generals… Treating us like a kit and pup. I'm over two hundred fricking years old for crying out loud!" Kioshi indiscriminately shouts at the ceiling.

"And shouting at the ceiling truly proves your point," I reply dully as I play with the berry in my own drink.

Kioshi says nothing towards me and instead swallows another glass.

After he drowns yet another cup, I quietly remark, "Perhaps it is a good thing we are remaining so close to the borders. If you continue to drink like that, you'll be more of a hazard than those pups because of your hangover."

"Shut it fox-boy," Kioshi says slowly and with slurs. "When I hit ten, I'll be just fine."

"You've already had seventeen."

He continues as if he had not heard me. "Just need some painkillers to dull the pain and shut up the voice."

"Voice?" I thought Kioshi was sane.

He nods. "When I get mad, his voice starts talking in my head." He grins and lifts up his cup. "I find the best way to drown him out is to get rid of the anger."

"And drinking does that wonderfully," I reply calmly and sarcastically.

Kioshi grins even more. "Exactly." He drinks another two shots and then stands up. "Alright, the voice is gone. Time to go kick some cat tails!"

Somehow, I'm reminded of Chu as Kioshi tries to make his way out of the bar. I estimate it will take him ten seconds to realize he is going in the wrong direction, and then another ten to walk into a wall.

I blink in slight confusion when Kioshi walks into a wall fifteen seconds after standing up but he never noticed he was going in the wrong direction. Perhaps Wolf's Bane is stronger liquor than I thought.

I finish my drink and then go to help Kioshi. I help him out of the bar, and then back to his room. Once there I help him to the washroom where he quickly purges his stomach of all the alcohol he consumed. Leaving him to it, I return to the main part of my room just in time to answer a call from Kazuma. Knowing that Kioshi won't hear anything over his vomiting, I feel safe in talking with Kazuma.

"Hey," he says.

"Any luck?" I ask.

He shrugs. "Not really but we found some warning signs for the third phase. Her wings and stuff changing colours are actually the last warning sign. Before that happens she will experience vomiting and dizziness but that doesn't really help you, does it?"

I shake my head. "No, not at the moment but thank you for the information."

He nods and quickly hangs up before Yusuke notices that he is talking to me instead of yelling at me. Withholding a sigh, I lie down on my bed and wait for Kioshi to stop vomiting. Once he has, we will discuss possible escape routes and hopefully remove ourselves from this prison. The sooner the better because I can't help but feel that Tsukino is in danger. Hopefully my instincts wrong but I have yet to fine them to be. Please let me be wrong.

A/n: Nice long chapter for you. I hope you liked it and to be honest, I was planning on dragging out the fuming at the camp more but then I decided not to and realized that the plot wasn't as bad as I thought. It just needed a few touch-ups… Damn! I just remembered that I forgot about the elder. Kurama really needs a butt kicking, doesn't he? I guess I'll have to find some way to tie it in and get Kurama thinking a bit.

Also remember those plant guys from Maze Castle? The Production-Model Hominids are the same thing just the manga name which I felt was better since demons can't eat humans now.

Anyways, thanks for the reviews and reading, and I hope to hear from you. See ya!

-d101