Chapter Four

A Red Gift From A Red Head

~


Time passed slowly for the little wolf and her new friend. Before they knew it, several months had passed by in leisure as they lived in the little village together. Shuichi would take her with him to the center of town and she would walk by his side.

The wolf would walk so close that the tips of his fingers could brush the hairs on the tops of her shoulders. Sometimes he would rest his hand there, or give her a quick pet on the head.

The village people took some time to warm up to her. The first few days, she would stay by the hut, sleeping out front with her head on her paws. Villagers would stand and watch with avid curiosity, until her ear would flick or she'd adjust her position then they'd walk away quickly. Usually they would leave her be and simply walk on by, eyeing her cautiously.

Shuichi told everyone she was just a big dog. This miffed her but to some extent, she understood. It was the easiest way for them to accept her. She made sure to keep her head down and her gait slow as not to spook the fearful residents.

For easier acceptance, Shuichi had bought her a patterned bandana in the color red. She'll never forget the day she let him put it on her, giving him a hard time the days leading up to it. The wolf stubbornly refused the gift back then, choosing to remain how she was without it.

The wolf never wore cloth like a human before. It made her wary and she fought off his advances of putting it on. But after awhile she had learned to accept it, like she accepted him. Because it seemed to make him happy.

~ Flashback ~

"Come on, Ajisai. It's not that bad. Please wear it." The red head asked her sweetly, holding out the neatly folded cloth in the shape of a triangle. The wolf looked at it and turned away, curling deeper into the blankets he'd lain out for her the night before. With a huff, she closed her eyes and waited for him to get the hint and leave her be.

Shuichi had been trying to get her to wear that thing for a few days now. She didn't understand the use in it or what purpose it served. He had told her before that it would make the village people more accepting of her, but to her she really didn't care what they thought of her. It seemed to bother Shuichi though.

One day a man had stopped him and asked what breed of dog she was, he simply told him she was a "German Shepherd/Husky cross". That didn't seem to satisfy the man, he would glare at her with suspicion everytime they were out and about. The wolf ignored it.

Most of the town people just gave them a wide berth when she was with him. They knew and trusted him enough to talk to him when he was alone, but when she was at his side they would look at her warily and leave. She knew their fear was warranted and she didn't mind.

They had reason to fear the unknown, having to face the threat of demons everyday. And she didn't look like your average little pooch. She was huge and had sharp eyes. Even dogs were scared of her.

The little wolf was sitting on the ground beside him when he found that piece of cloth in a stand that sold clothing. "Look Ajisai, a patterned bandana. These are rare now." The wolf looked up at the cloth and then to his face, he had on the brightest smile that day.

~

Ajisai shuffled in her bed and moved to look over at the red head. He was staring down at the cloth in his hands with a frown. Emerald eyes glanced over at her, betraying the sadness in them.

Shuichi never forced her to do anything that she didn't want to do. He always let her move around freely, unrestrained. Not like the village dogs that had leashes and ropes tied around their necks. She was free to roam, but she just chose to walk with him because it made him happy when she was with him.

The wolf looked down at the cloth and sighed inwardly, fine.

Ajisai pawed at his hand gently, getting his attention. He looked over to her confused, staring into her cerulean eyes for a second before asking, "Do you need to go out?"

The wolf stared expectantly into his eyes and then to the red cloth in his hands. In a gentle motion, she grabbed the cloth out of his hands with her teeth, held it up to him. His emerald eyes danced.

And then he took the cloth from her and gently tied it around her neck, adjusting the triangle shape of it to cover the tops of her shoulders.

~ End Flashback ~

The wolf watched her friend, mesmerized by the gentle rhythm of his hand slicing vegetables at the table with a knife. She shuffled, looking behind her at the red bandana tied at her throat then back to him. Feeling contentment, she sighed.

With a clack and scrape, he swept the cut vegetables into a bowl, replacing them with a generous slab of meat. The wolf's ears perked up, intrigued. His skilled hands moved with precision, slicing the meat into thin pieces that piled up to the side.

"I will have to leave here soon," Shuichi said suddenly, pausing his knife. The wolf watched the back of his head intently before he turned to face her, placing the knife down in the process. The wolf raised her head to listen to him carefully.

"I was wondering if you would like to come with," he continued quietly, assessing her face with emerald orbs. She let out a groan as an affirmative, wagging her tail slightly. It brushed against the fabric of her blanket softly.

"I will take that as a yes," he chuckled softly but then added with narrowing eyes, "However, I must warn you. It will be dangerous."

The wolf looked at him for a moment before huffing softly, nothing was too dangerous for her. He didn't know what she had been through. This life right now was cozy compared to what she had experienced in her short life.

Her body had underwent a transformation lately, filling out in her ribs and legs. Her usually gaunt appearance filled out and looked softer and rounder in places. The white fur growing from her body even started to thicken and shine from the enriched diet she had been on lately, glistening a white silver in the light. Shuichi never let her go hungry.

For work, he did odd jobs like cutting firewood or helping the men build new structures for the village. He did a little bit of everything and they paid him with shiny gold pieces of coin. They kept a modest living.

Every so often he would bring home rich healthy plants from somewhere in the wilds and they would pay him handsomely. Live plants were hard to come by for this icy village, being in the middle of a cold environment. Nothing grew here but your odd potato garden or turnips.

He never let her follow on these trips, telling her to stay back because it was too dangerous. The wolf scoffed at this. She was a wild animal. Wolf belonged in the wild.

"I think I know of a way to unlock the mystery with your predicament." Shuichi said with thoughtful eyes and he turned to scrape the slices of meat into a metal pan. After throwing some oil and spices in the pan, he lit the fire on his propane cooker and sat it down.

When the food started cooking with a crackle, he continued, "I have a friend who lives in the forest. I think he may be able to help you." Ajisai perked her ears and considered his proposal. She guessed it wouldn't hurt to try.

The wolf had contemplated her identity for the past few months, piecing together faint memories of human faces. And that girl. There was too much she didn't know about herself. Her thoughts filled with questions she wanted answered.

Like where do the memories fit into all the blank spaces in the recesses of her mind. Why does she not remember her youth? How come she doesn't remember ever having a mother or a pack? Where did she come from?

Her earliest memory was her waking up in a dilapidated human establishment of some kind. The pathways to this place bore strange red archways. All the rooms in this place had torn paper walls and sleek wood flooring. Outside, a large tree grew that resembled the one in her vision.

There were empty places full of white rock of various sizes. Pools with unusual fish with orange, red, white, and black scales swam leisurely. Huge twisted ropes that hung from the ceiling draped down with a gentle curve. A box of wood with broken slates on the top sat in the front entrance. It held thousands of coins, some with squares in the center.

Long, low porches spanned the establishment that connected together. The most striking of all were the roofs of the buildings of this place, which had sloped and curved tiles that angled upwards slightly. The structure seemingly stood pristine against time itself. She's never seen anything else in the world quite like it.

Or the statues of the dogs. She thought to herself.

Most human buildings in this world were damaged beyond recognition. She stumbled upon rubble piles of what were towns in her travels, hid underneath forests of trees and overgrowth. The slanted roofs weren't unusual to find amongst what few buildings remained upright, but were uncommon.

The wolf couldn't remember anything about herself before waking up in that place. And she wanted to know more. There was a missing hole in her mind and she needed to fill in the pieces.

"You look like you're lost in thought. Are you perhaps thinking about things from the past?" Shuichi's soothing voice broke her from her musings.

She looked up to see that he was scooping the now cooked food into two wooden bowls. When he was done, he placed one bowl in front of her. He then went to sit cross legged in front of her, his bowl and a pair of chopsticks in hand.

The wolf regarded him before digging in, tasting and smelling savory flavors. Shuichi really was a good cook. The food was delicious.

The red head ate his own food with patience, carefully selecting pieces of meat and veggies with his chopsticks and placing it in his mouth. They were like that for awhile until the wolf's belly was full and she lay back down to watch the human finish his food. He quietly ate in thought, staring blankly into his food.

The wolf wondered where he came from as well, as she studied his soft angular features. Her Shuichi was handsome and kept himself fairly clean and tidy. His short russet hair brushed gently against smooth skin, angling around his face gently. His eyes sparkled like jaded jewels.

Right now he wore a plain white T-shirt and jeans, the fabric wrinkling softly as he moved. He kept his clothes clean, washing them in the basin out back with some detergent on the washboard. There was string that he had tied up where he would hang his clothes with wooden clothes pins to dry.

She wondered what his life was like before the demons came and ravaged this place. He was human. Did he have a family? Does he have friends that care for him like she does him? Why didn't he say anything about his past to her, but he will spark up a random one-sided conversation about their day?

Half the time, he was more interested in her background than he was his own. That troubled her. Did something happen to him as well?

As he brought a piece of carrot up to his mouth, his eyes traveled to hers just then, sensing her gaze. He closed his mouth, still holding the carrot up with his chopsticks. "What?" He asked her with an amused voice.

"Do I have something on my face? You've been staring at me for awhile, Ajisai." He continued, placing the carrot back into the bowl. She huffed in response, turning her head away slightly to lay on one paw.

He blinked at her response and said, pointing his chopsticks in her direction, "It's rude to stare."

The wolf let out a mixture of a groan and a whine, looking away from him in irritation. He seemed to find that funny as he chuckled to himself, grabbing the carrot with his chopsticks and plopping it into his mouth. Tch, he's lucky I like him. The wolf thought to herself.


"We're being attacked! Go to your homes! We're being attacked!" The tower guard yelled as he rang a bell loudly, holding a megaphone up to his mouth. "Intruders on the East side. Go to your homes and take cover!"

Yusuke lifted his head and stood up from his crouched position, dropping the makeshift weight onto the ground loudly. The boulders left a crater in the ground as he released the metal bar that connected the two together. Liquid chocolate eyes narrowed as he looked up toward the watchtower closest to them.

"So the dirty bastards have finally decided to try us, eh?" He said to himself and turned toward the wall closest to him. The man laughed and with cupped hands he yelled loudly, "Welcome to my camp, you jack-asses! Prepare to get your asses beat!"

Off in the distance, impact swirls peppered the blue Dome's east-side like raindrops as it was being assaulted by unseen enemies. A group gathered around their dark-haired leader as crowds of people ran to their homes. Yusuke regarded them and declared with a confidence, "You know the plan guys. We've trained for this."

"Group A get into a defensive position at the wall. Group B will leave the compound at the West Gate and flank them." He pointed to them and to the giant wooden gate on the other side of the village.

"Group C, help Shield Force to strengthen the barrier." He continued, pointing to a concrete building that sat at the center of the village. It was all gray with a glass dome above it. Pure blue energy streamed from the top of the glass up into the sky, beaming into the center of the energy barrier surrounding the whole area.

The groups dispersed, leaving him behind to stare over at an orange haired form that was making it's way in his direction. He sighed, taking the form in. As he got closer, Kuwabara marched up to him with a determination set in his dark brown eyes.

"Kuwabara –"

"I don't care Yusuke! I'm joining the fight! My wife is in there terrified with the babies and I'm going to protect them," the orange haired man interrupted, pointing toward a concrete building with glass sides. It was the hospital.

The other man sighed, sliding his hand over black tresses before replying, "I'd really rather you stay here, bud. I don't wanna see you get hurt out there. We have plenty of strong fighters –"

"I don't care!" Kuwabara yelled in exasperation, pointing at his chest with his thumb, "This is my home too! And I'm going to help protect it like a man!"

Yusuke regarded him for a moment before sighing and turning, saying over his shoulder, "Fine! I'll let you join my group. Now, don't do anything stupid! If you get overwhelmed I want you to fall back." He brought his hand up in a come here gesture and walked off in the direction Group A went to.

The orange haired man blinked at his back for a second and shuffled his feet quickly, following the black-haired man to a small opening in the wall. It was a small gate that swung outward. Group A was single filing through the opening one by one. Chu, a tall blue haired demon was taking the lead, ducking his head as he went.

"Oi! Blimey, they've already broke a crack into the Dome!" He hollered behind him, pointing forward. Yusuke walked through behind him to witness a large Y shaped fracture in the light blue energy shield of the Dome. He furrowed his eyebrows and pushed on, making his way toward the edge.

On the other side of the Dome, gathered a large group of demons of various shapes and sizes. Their leader, a large lion demon with a huge orange mane regarded the group with a wide toothy grin. The lion lifted up one arm, pointing a claw toward them as he yelled.

"There ya are, half-demon Yusuke Urameshi. We've come to pay our respects to your village!" The demons cheered loudly behind him, raising various weapons above their heads. Each individual was a different species, with various different clothes, skin colors, shapes and sizes.

Yusuke regarded them for a moment before saying, "Yeah, I can see you lot finally banded together to take on little ole' me. Did I piss you off that bad, Raishin?"

"Course' you did." The booming lion answered back, "You took out my whole pride. Now we want revenge. Isn't that right guys?" He turned to the crowd of demons and they cheered again.

He turned his huge head back to the dark-haired man and continued, "We are the remnants of the clans you wiped out. Now we want pay back! We will eat your whole tribe and spit out your bones into the mud, filthy half-breed!"

At that he began banging on the shield with a mighty paw, others around him took up arms and started attacking the energy barrier as well. Yusuke grinned and moved forward, running at the group full speed. Behind him, Group A followed, some unleashing weapons and others glowing with different colored auras.

A red headed demon laughed and flew above them all, loudly exclaiming, "Yer all gonna die, don't ya know? Yer all messin' with th' wrong ones!"

"That's right, Jin!" Yusuke hollered back with a grin as he ran, "Fuck around and find out!" At that his fist collided with a demon's face, knocking it back several feet.

Various attacks soon followed - energy blasts, ice missiles, sharp weapons, and wind slices in the direction toward the rogue group of demons. Several fell instantly, others dodged and gave a few attacks of their own. It was pure chaos and carnage.

The Dome worked like a automatic door, letting through villagers but preventing the rogue demons from getting through. That's because it didn't register their energy signature.

How it worked was you'd donate some of your energy into a huge crystal the size of a man. That crystal would catalogue your donated energy into its storage while the Shield Workers pushed the energy out into the atmosphere. To go in and out freely, you must at least once pour some energy into the crystal. If anyone is kicked out for any reason, a psychic would pull the energy you donated out of the crystal and discard it.

And that's how Yusuke's group danced in between the barrier wall, throwing attacks and falling back. Only a few remained outside of the shield, Yusuke included. They were fearless with their defense.

In no time the villagers moved the group back several feet, dwindling the rogue demon's numbers. It was at that mark that Group B decided to appear, running in from the forest beside them.

A large blob of water shot out from the forest, snatching three demons in it's prison. Mitarai "Seaman" Kiyoshi slowly commanded the water into the sky, letting it stay there while the demons inside slowly drowned. He had pulled his ashen curly blonde hair back into a low ponytail, wrinkled blue eyes shimmered as he said, "We're here Yusuke."

"I expect some thanks after this," Kaito Yu said before he pulled a good chunk of demons in with him to his domain. Touya, an ice demon, commanded a barrage of ice splinters to strike even more down alongside Hajiri "Sniper" Kaname, who was pelting them with deadly rocks.

Yusuke took on the head demon, Raishin while Chu pulverized a group behind him with his drunken fists that tried to flank him when he was occupied. Rinku, at his other side, pulled in several demons with his demonically enchanted Yo-Yos, bringing them up to the sky for Jin to send sliced gusts of wind at. Before too long, all that remained were a few stragglers and their leader, Raishin.

The stragglers took off into the forest then, leaving him behind. To which he called out, "Come back you cowards! Help me seek revenge on these humans!"

"They're smart. They know they will die here, if they remain." Touya told him calmly, freezing the lower half of Raishin's body to the ground. Riku tied his upper body up with Yo-Yo's, saying, "Yeah, you're dumb Kitty. You coulda left with them but you stayed to get beat up by us."

"Yer a big dummy, Raishin, bringing all yer friends over here. We beat them all to a pulp, that we did!" Jin told him cheerfully, hanging upside down in front of him before zooming off to float above Yusuke's head.

"I think yer luck's run out mate." Chu told him seriously, his arms crossed at Yusuke's side. The black haired man smoothed his hair back with a sigh, saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. He did something very dumb. Can we take him out now?"

Yusuke turned to hold his arm out, finger pointing at the lion demon's head. The tip of his finger began to glow brightly with a blue and white hue, growing in size as he continued, "Say your last words, Raishin."

The lion demon regarded him silently before bursting out with a loud booming laugh. He continued, getting confused looks from the group as his eyes formed tears. He stopped after awhile with a loud sigh and looked toward Yusuke with intensity in his eyes.

"We have your friend, Urameshi. Missing anyone?"

Yusuke's face paled.


Dark shadows of leaves ran across her white fur coat as Ajisai ran through the forest at a gentle stride. Her step falls were silent, easily avoiding sticks and leaf debris with her nimble paws. Her body glided through like a ghostly apparition.

The wolf rolled her tongue out, enjoying the run. She had been stuck in one spot for way too long, her body needing to burn all the energy off. The air smelled fresh here and she breathed it in greedily as she ran.

Running was fun for her. She could easily go long distances without much strain, her body being adapted for stamina. Her long legs pushed her through the forest at an easy stride.

She thought back on what Shuichi said to her just after traveling the long distance across the frozen waists to get here.

~ Flashback ~

"This is it, the forest he lives in for the time being." Shuichi said and he looked down to her. She was standing at his side taking in the vast beauty of it all. Turning her head, she looked behind her to the frozen emptiness. A stark contrast to what lay in front of them. She turned back with a wolvine smile, tongue drooping to one side.

White, frozen tundra instantly turned into a lush forest of trees taller than she had ever seen before. They blanketed the land almost to form one entity, swaying together like an army of lumbering giants. This part of the forest didn't have much undergrowth, bare except for some bushes and leaf litter, a few downed logs here and there.

The wolf was happy. She instantly felt at home.

The two made their way through at a comfortable pace. Shuichi's eyes stayed forward, having been here before while the little wolf took in the scenery. She felt so small amongst the towering trees surrounding her.

She looked up as they walked, watching leaves like clouds hang over head. High limbs danced as she stared, mesmerized. Shuichi's voice broke her of her trance just then.

"Be vigilant, Ajisai. Powerful demons live here," he said as he looked down at her and back up. She lowered her head to point forward, sniffing the air silently. She didn't smell any demons here. Of course they might be masking their scent, hiding amongst the great pillars.

"There are other ways other than scent to detect them. I feel an aura up ahead. Thankfully he is a friend, so don't be alarmed." He said as he pointed forward. She looked on ahead, expecting to see something. This garnered a chuckle from the red head.

"No, he's not that close. We have a little bit of running to do. I feel him toward the center of the forest. It feels like he just got done with a fight, so his aura is loud and clear from here." He said and picked up his speed into a run. The wolf matched his pace all the while thinking to herself.

She wondered who this friend was and how important to Shuichi he was. But also if she could trust them. If they were a friend to Shuichi than they must be alright, right?

The wolf ducked under a log that Shuichi leaped over, his movements fluid and graceful. She hadn't seen Shuichi like this before. He almost didn't seem human.

Thinking back, he did match her speed at full tilt back when they crossed the icy waists. Something told her that wasn't even his full speed. Watching his feet blur as he ran, she considered that thought.

After awhile of running, Shuichi slowed to an even pace and then even more to a comfortable walk. Before them was the largest tree of all, trunk as wide as a house. Maybe even wider.

"This is the matriarch of the forest," the red head whispered and placed a hand at it's large trunk. Ajisai saw a faint green glow around his hand and cocked her head to the side, wondering why that was. He said something to the tree and turned to her, seriousness in his eyes. She looked at him and her eyes trailed, taking in more details about the tree.

At the bottom was a hollowed out space big enough to shelter her and Shuichi comfortably. Above it, the tree grew strong and healthy. It's canopy enveloped other tree tops and it casted out a deep shadow. The wolf's blue eyes grew wide with amazement. Shuichi's stern tone brought back her attention and she listened.

"We part ways here. Hide in this hole until I come back, please. If you must drink or eat try to hold off until I get back. But if you are in dire need, there is a water source not too far from here." Shuichi told her and continued, "This tree will protect you."

~ End Flashback ~

Ajisai grew thirsty with waiting. So here she was now, running through the forest. Her nose picked up the smell of water and she turned her path slightly in the direction it was coming from. Faintly, her perked ears could pick up the sound of running water. There must be a natural stream nearby.

Steadily, she picked up her pace, jumping logs and dodging bushes as she went. Her muscles have gained more definition since being with Shuichi. It gave her body more energy being able to eat more regularly as well. It helped having another pack mate.

Before too long, the wolf finally made it to her destination and she slowed to an easy pace as she made her way through the last bit of trees. She slowed down even more as trees gave way to pebbles, the banks of the stream. Watching carefully for anything that might harm her, she tentatively walked forward.

The trees moved away to uncover white stones of various sizes, in the middle of which was the water source she scented. Ajisai paused before striding over to a freshwater spring. It was wider than it was deep. The water was really clear, she noted just before taking a drink.

She watched fish swim against the current below as her tongue lapped up water. Maybe she should catch one, she wondered to herself, envisioning the look on Shuichi's face when she showed him her catch. He'd probably enjoy the sight, always picking on her.

Fish sounded amazing to her right about then and she paused her drinking to eye them carefully. Cocking her ears forward in anticipation, she heard a twig snap and briefly saw the reflection of a flying form across the water. Her instincts kicked in immediately and she quickly jumped back.

Rocks kicked up where she used to be and in slow motion she saw the shine of metal and a black form land in front of her. She processed quickly that the metal shine was from a sword and the impact was the tip digging into the ground where she was just a second ago. If she were just a split second slower, she would be dead.

The wolf snarled at the intruder for the attack he just tried to make on her. Quickly, her eyes took him in before lunging out of the way of another slice, a near miss again. The wolf was very lucky her limbs were so agile.

From what she gathered, the attacker was a man of some kind wearing a frayed cape. She could barely make out his features through the blurs of his incredibly fast movements. He had tan skin and black hair. That's all she could assess of him while dodging attacks.

With a yelp, the wolf was barely grazed on her front left paw. A light cut, but the sword must have been very sharp because her wound bled quickly. Her new injury slowed down her movements and she was cut again, this time on her right cheek, sending a few strands of white fur flying.

She barely dodged decapitation when she finally decided it was time to make a run for it. Hoping her attacker's movements were quicker than his speed on foot, she turned and kicked her legs out with as much speed as she could muster. She felt the river rocks shift as she ran, deciding then to lose him in the forest where she could get better traction.

The wolf felt the bite of steel at her back leg just then, the rocks slowed her movements too much and she was caught in range of his sword. The wound felt deep, but she pushed on anyway. Pure adrenaline coursed through her veins.

She made it to the tree line when a red streak flew above her head. Her ears heard the sound of flesh being hit behind her and she turned her head slightly to see what it was. It was a man with red hair and a brown jacket. In mid-air, he had punched her attacker square in the jaw. Shuichi.

She never felt more relieved.

"Hiei, stop this!" He yelled angrily, moving to put himself between her and the swordsman in a fighting stance. The wolf pinned her ears back on reflex. She's never heard him so angry.

The wolf's back leg gave out just then and she collapsed to the ground, panting heavily as the two apparent friends squared up on each other. She couldn't see Shuichi's face, but the man with the black cape looked fairly ticked off. The wolf could finally see him now that he was standing still.

The intruder smelled of wood smoke and leather, with a hint of his own natural smell that her brain couldn't process. It smelled sweet and sharp like something burned, combined with the testosterone smell she found most males have.

His was more obvious than Shuichi's own light scent of green things and flora. She could asses he had just hit maturity sometime in the near past. No hint of an injury, but he did have a bit of old blood smell on his cape. Probably from other victims, she assumed.

The dark haired man was just a hair shorter than Shuichi, with tan skin and more muscle tone in his upper shoulders and arms. He had on a tattered old black cape, hastily tied into a knot at his neck. The front was open to show his bare arms and a black shirt that was tucked into his pants.

He wore several belts that seemed to have many uses, one of which held a plain black sheath hanging from his side. His pants were made of black canvas with splatters of old mud, lastly his feet bore leather boots the color of ink if it weren't for the dirt and grime.

The wolf's eyes took in his facial features last and she stopped breathing. He was handsome, with high cheekbones and a sharp chin. His eyes elegantly rounded and curved into an almond shape and were unusually large, showing off irises the color of red apples.

On his forehead, he wore a white cloth with frayed edges. His hair was black like raven feathers and swept upward into the shape of a flame.

He said something and pulled off the bandana with a slip of the cloth, exposing a lavender colored eye in the center of his forehead that had an eerie glow. He had three eyes.

She stiffened, realizing with a shock that this man was a demon. The realization made her growl deeply in her throat. She snarled at him with bared fangs while they argued.

"I didn't take you as a traitor, Kurama." The man bit back, slashing his sword in the air. To which the red head responded with fists clenched, "This wolf is under my care. If I am a traitor for that, so be it."

She saw him grab something out of his hair and suddenly he had a green whip in his hand, using it to slash at her attacker's sword. The black haired demon countered with an attack of his own, lighting his hand on fire and throwing it in Shuichi's direction. He dodged.

Ajisai felt exposed where she was suddenly when some of the fire got a little to close to singeing her fur. Slowly, she turned and limped away into the forest, leaving a trail of blood. Her wounds ached as she burrowed herself into the hollow of the largest tree.


Shuichi glimpsed Ajisai leave the river bed just as a fist collided with his jaw. Guess Hiei decided to trade his sword in for hand to hand combat. This gave him better odds, but barely.

"You'd turn on your own over a man-eating animal, Kurama?" Hiei snarled and went to swing at him again. Shuichi barely dodged, grabbing the fire demon's arm and wrapping it with his rose-whip.

"I think I'd know if she was a man-eater, since she's been with me for three months!" Shuichi answered, dodging a hit from Hiei's left fist as he restrained his right. "And by the way, it's Shuichi now."

Hiei's red eyes danced as he set fire to the green vine, tossing the burnt remains behind him. He launched himself forward and was able to catch Shuichi in the forehead with his fist, knocking him back. The red head caught himself with one arm and wiped blood from his face with the other.

"It doesn't matter. I know what I smell, Kurama. That wolf has the stench of human all over it." He pointed in the direction of the forest and then to Shuichi, glaring down at him.

"You are a fool, Hiei." Shuichi spat blood to the ground and wiped his mouth, glaring up at the standing demon with blazing emerald eyes. "Did she smell like human blood? Or just human."

Hiei's glare turned menacing at the insult and he pointed down at the red head again as he said, "You'd be lucky if I don't kill you here and now."

"Oh? I'm the one who's going to die? Check your arm." Shuichi countered back and Hiei did just that, moving his firey gaze from the red head to a spot on his arm.

A tiny green leaf sprouted from a tiny hole in his tan arm. The fire demon's eyes widened, then narrowed as he turned back to Shuichi with a glare demanding, "What is this, Fox?"

"It's a Death Plant seed, Hiei. Now you know how serious I am." Shuichi answered and stood up, adding, "I want you to leave this area and to never touch that wolf again. She has a name and it's Ajisai. She would never hurt a human."

"You would make enemies of me over an animal?" Hiei growled.

"No. I would rather still be friends, Hiei. I just don't see a reason for her death. She has done nothing wrong." Shuichi said carefully, watching Hiei closely before adding, "I don't know why she smells like human. Or where she comes from. She's a wolf in Japan, Hiei. There are no wolves here, not naturally anyway. I came here to find you and ask for a favor. Maybe if you use your Jagan on her mind, we can put the puzzle pieces together."

"I'm not your dog, Fox. You don't get to seek me out for your own personal reasons," Hiei snapped in response.

"Then we'll leave," the red head replied and added, "If you promise you won't come after us then I'll release that bud from your arm."

Shuichi didn't give him time to respond, he turned and walked away back into the forest. He knew the fire demon wasn't stupid. He wouldn't risk ending his life over his petty pride.

"Fine. It's life is spared for another day." He heard behind him and turned to see Hiei sheathing his sword. Shuichi studied his face closely before saying, "I want to trust you, Hiei. But considering what just transpired here, I don't know if I can."

"I swear on my sister's life, I'll leave you alone to go frolic in the woods with your pet, Fox," Hiei spat, his mood still sour. Shuichi sighed and said, "Well your honor wouldn't allow you to say that without meaning it, so I suppose I'll say truce."

With a flick of his hand, the leaf and seed popped out of Hiei's arm easily, leaving a tiny hole in it's place. A small amount of blood welled up and dripped out in a line. Hiei dropped his arm and looked over to the red head as he said, "If I see that wolf anywhere near a human corpse, she's dead."

"I'll be the one to kill her myself, Hiei." Shuichi answered back cooly, turning to leave the area. "If you change your mind about using your Jagan to verify her innocence, you can come find us." He said and walked away, leaving the silent dark haired apparition behind.


AN: I wonder who was kidnapped? -shocked pikachu face-

In all seriousness, I think I need to give my hands a break. I typed this whole story out on my phone, believe it or not! I have indentions in my pinkies that shouldn't be there. I've wrote chapters for this back to back for three days straight like this. The commitment is real!