InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Intertwined ❯ Meet: Youko ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: All characters are products of Rumiko Takahashi, and Togashi Yoshihiro's minds, not mine.

 

 

A/N: Holy cow and water sprouts! I had no idea that my feverish-perfectionist-editor-mode updating was sending out the flood. For this, I'm reeeeeally sorry to those of you whose email inboxes I raped. Thank you for pointing this out, Sam Sama Death. *embarrassed* I should be e-shot…

Alllllrighty…now, finding that I'm beginning to bore even myself with the set up chapters of this story, I am going to move things along (hopefully without making it too unbelievable…). I'm diverging from my original outline, but when does The Muse ever actually stick with it?! Never. *grumble* Anyway, give me your input, I'll love you forever and hand out e-muffins by chapter six.

I also apologize for the mean little cliffy. ^_~ (It's tiny, I swear!)

 

 

 

 

The Intertwined

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

 

 

Youko could not help but stare in bewilderment at the black-haired man that was hugging his sword tightly as he sat by the tree. Of course he'd known that half-demons went through such a time, but he had never actually seen it happen in person. In point of fact he looked quite nice as a human, but for the night he would miss seeing the features on the dog that so closely mirrored his own.

 

The team was pretty disappointed that they hadn't made it to their desired location in the allotted amount of time, but remained sure of their ability to head off any dangers at the pass. The hidden moon had probably already gone well past its zenith and they were apparently still nearly a full day's travel away from their destination. A little place it seemed that he'd been to before; that of the half-demon Jinenji's. One or two of his precious stores of seeds hailed from the nearly famous herb garden of theirs. Now he had to know why they were headed there. For some herbs surely, but why?

 

Snacking on some chestnuts he'd procured from a shedding Japanese Chestnut, he lay on his stomach in some new grass beneath some strategically arranged shrubs. His botanical specialties did have their uses. There was no way he would have dirtied his silk tunic by lying in the dirt; hence the grass. And this position gave him the illusion that he was actually riding with the group as a member.

 

Youko paused his toss of the next chestnut into his mouth as that strange thought surfaced. That wasn't why he'd chosen this position, surely. Shaking his head, he continued tossing the nut and easily caught it in is mouth. `What a ridiculous notion…'

 

“Inuyasha, get some sleep. You know we'll take shifts if you're that tired,” Kagome tried convincing him again. She knew how hard it must be for him, but if he didn't sleep he'd be more difficult than usual tomorrow when his powers returned. Sure she understood, but that didn't make him any easier to deal with when it happened. Kagome ran her hand along her ear to tuck her black hair away from her face as she watched Inuyasha trying to hide a yawn. Returning her hand to her book to turn the page, she once again thought of the psychology book she'd loaned Miroku a week ago. She really didn't know how he could hide it so well in his robes, and she hadn't even seen him read the thing since then. Not really seeing the words in her book, Kagome mentally shook her head. Of course she'd known Miroku would take well to the psychology book she had bought in a secondhand textbook store on the last trip home. It made it all the easier for him to get away with his trickery.

 

Shrugging it off, she snuck another look to Inuyasha and just barely caught his eyelids finally drop to a close over his dark eyes. Inuyasha finally fell asleep as she watched him, and she pretended to read for another half hour before putting the book away. Now that Inuyasha was out, she looked over to Sango and Miroku.

 

With finality in her movements, Sango arose from her spot, “I'll take the first,” she said, making her way to the tree line with her travel pouch to change over to her slayer suit for the first time since they'd left Kaede's. Rematerializing a moment later in her trademark black, red, and pink ensemble, she deposited her yukata next to Kirara. Turning with a shake of her high ponytail, she reached over to grasp her Hiraikotsu and lifted it easily to position it on her back.

 

“Be safe, Lady Sango,” Miroku said softly as he wearily watched the flames of their fire licking at the logs.

 

“Yes. Please be careful,” Kagome backed him up looking directly at Sango with a wealth of meaning: Loosing her sister would finish her.

 

With a solid nod, she disappeared into the dark to begin her perimeter check.

 

 

Blinking rapidly, Youko continued watching the dark pathway that Sango had gone down. Dropping the rest of his chestnuts to the ground through his fingers, he very artfully departed the bush to follow the woman currently dressed in the most form-fittingly hugging leather suit he had ever seen. Now he was certain of her status as a slayer. This he had to see more of.

 

Quickly nearing the sound of her footsteps from behind her, he watched as she held her weapon suspended at the ready during her patrolling.

 

 

Stepping over another log in silence, Sango continued scanning with her seasoned huntress's eyes for anything out of place. A rustle here, a misplaced shadow there, or any unusual gut feeling she would get thanks to slayer's intuition. She did say she'd take the first watch, but she did not intend to wake up anyone for relief of the job. Momentarily pausing her steps, she listened for another of the sound that had drawn her attention. She stood in place narrowing her eyes until a small rabbit finally took the opportunity to bolt. Grunting lowly in an exasperated matter, she held still for a bit longer as she made certain the rabbit had been the cause for the disturbance.

 

After a short while, Sango was about to relax and continue her trek until she heard the scraping sound again. Scanning the direction of the sound, she caught sight of a very out of place flash of blue through the trees. It was moving slowly and didn't acknowledge her presence; apparently not knowing she was even there. Sneaking in very slowly for a closer look, she was able to determine that it was a humanoid fowl demon of some kind. It beheld the blue on small feathers covering his torso. He had a long and very colorful trail of feathers coming from the back of his legs that were dragging noisily through the brush, and she briefly wondered how exactly it had expected to get away clean. Taking her eyes off of the creature's unbelievable leg trail, she looked back to his face. He was somehow smiling through a beak that took the place of a nose and mouth on his iridescent blue face.

 

`I guess that explains why he didn't smell me considering I'm downwind anyway,' Sango kept quiet as she recognized this and waited as he crept toward her camp in what he must have thought was stealth. She rolled her eyes when she heard it mumble a bit and then cackle abrasively with ill intent. Stupid bird.

 

 

Youko observed Sango as she caught sight of the peacock that he'd been keeping his ears on since it had entered his hearing range. It was a pretty low-level demon, but still held enough power to just barely pull together somewhat of a humanoid appearance. This wasn't the large fight involving team play that he had the longing to see, but at least he would see Sango in action. Hearing the peacock mumble his desires for the jewel that Kagome held about her neck, he snorted in disgust. Of course it was after those shards; what pathetic low-level demon wasn't? Keeping a fair enough distance away and yet still remaining close…just in case…he settled into his favorite position of the crouch to continue watching from a sturdy tree.

 

He didn't have to watch for too long before Sango made her move and stealthily postured herself to throw her boomerang. Without a word, she heaved it around her body with a vigorous grunt. With the practiced dispatch of her weapon, he was incredibly torn between watching the weapon do its job and watching Sango's preparation for its return; her working muscles were so nicely outlined in her black suit…

 

Sango watched the Hiraikotsu regretfully make too much noise through the trees on its way to the blue fowl demon standing some twenty paces away. She caught it on the return trip, but the demon's attention was drawn to its attacker, “Oh, human female fighter. What I do to deserve attack, girl? I only out walking,” it snapped awkwardly with its beak, somehow finding a way to form coherent words.

 

Exhaling sharply, Sango dropped the Hiraikotsu into the crook of a nearby tree and withdrew her seldom used sword for what was sure to be a quick disposal, “Really bird, I may be human but that does not make me as deaf as you seem to be. I'm actually surprised you heard my attack in time to buy yourself a view of your attacker,” she returned venomously.

 

Hearing her wonderfully sharp reply brought an appreciative tilt to Youko's mouth as he saw her draw her sword. The peacock released an outraged and very distinctive cry at her taunt, and then charged her with his half-humanoid talon hands suspended in front of him.

 

When he cried out in his anger, Sango recognized the call to be that of a peacock. It was obvious enough what he was from the bright feathers on his legs, anyway. She knew his loud call was designed to distract her from defending herself, but she still had to resist covering her ears. She stubbornly waited where she was for him to bring himself closer. Dodging the deadly talons skillfully, she crouched with her sword angled for a thrust to be paired with his downward motions. Being of average size, the noisy peacock nearly impaled himself on the presented sword, but moved his blue form just enough to trip over her leg instead. She could have moved to avoid the collision, but used his imbalance to her advantage and whipped around with her sword to catch him on his neck while he was still down. Not waiting to see his inevitable death, she pulled back her sword and cleaned it on her sash as she arose to retrieve her main weapon.

 

Securing it to her back once more, she departed the area as their would-be attacker drew its last strangled breath. Continuing her patrol, she was unknowingly being shadowed by one pleasantly impressed silver kitsune.

 

 

Kagome had heard the call of a peacock, yet she stubbornly sat where she was next to a snoring Miroku while waiting for Sango to return victoriously. Looking down to Miroku, Kagome laughed quietly despite the tension in her muscles. If Miroku were told that he snored he would probably strike his trademark “wounded” line. Returning her eyes to the trees before her, she stood and walked around the small camp to await Sango's return. Even certain as she was that she would come back in one piece, it didn't change the fact that she worried like this every new moon. She'd known Sango would stay up all night, and had taken to doing the same if for no other reason than to give her friend some company. It worked well as a kind of double paned defense for Inuyasha and the rest of the team, anyway. Sango took care of the perimeter while she stayed with Inuyasha during the night, her arrows ready. Of course she'd only had to dispatch of a demon once, but Sango had been injured at the time. Miroku always tried to stay awake, but never could hold his own and usually fell asleep soon after Sango left the clearing.

 

Still standing in front of the two sleeping men, she heard Sango hardly a second or two before she came into sight, “All clear?” she stated the obvious when Sango saw her. Looking somewhat more bedraggled than usual, Sango nodded with a smile at her.

 

“For now. I ran into a funky looking peacock demon a bit ago, I'm sure you heard it from here. I'm kinda surprised it didn't wake Noisemaker,” she giggled, kicking her head toward Miroku. The women fondly nicknamed him that sometime ago when Kagome had first begun staying up with Sango on these nights once a month. She'd been surprised to hear such a sound come out of the normally reserved man, even though he had no control over it, but Sango had just waved it off in a Yeah-I-already-knew gesture. They had noticed over time that he only did it when he was over-tired, but it wasn't bad in any case.

 

“I'm not,” Kagome supplied, also looking to Miroku before turning back to her confidant, “Funky?” she giggled back, her question pointing out the slang Sango had begun to pick up from her. Sango shrugged on her way to deposit Hiraikotsu with her casual clothes next to Kirara.

 

“It fits,” Sango offered in explanation before seating herself close to the fire, “Um…Kagome?” she hesitantly voiced soon after they finished settling.

 

“Yeah?” Kagome sat next to her in front of the fire, across from the guys. Being near to November, it had cooled off considerably and Kagome should have already begun relying on warmer clothes. As it was, she only continued to wear her old school's fuku because they wouldn't be missed now that she was out of school. On that vein of thought, she knew she would need to go back for more winter supplies. And as fast as Shippo had gone through his pocky, she would need to get extra this time too…

 

While Kagome's mind drifted, Sango took her time deliberating on exactly how to word her question, “Kagome…well…I wonder. If…do you feel it too?” she asked carefully with her voice pitched low, “It's nothing to be too concerned of, but I feel oddly…tense…as though I should be doing something,” looking up at Kagome from the fire, her eyes adjusted to the loss of light, “I remember feeling this way before we discovered Kohaku's return to consciousness, and again before Kanna broke. I can't help wondering if something big is to happen with this feeling too.”

 

Her attention effectively diverted from her wanderings, Kagome also looked from the fire to her companion with a sigh, “Yeah, I do feel it too. And it's hard to explain, but it's only intensified since we passed around that youki,” she confided, “We need to be extra careful. Judging by our past experiences, this does mean something. The question is what.” Sango nodded solemnly as they both looked back at the guys. They sat in silence beside the crackle of the fire for a while as they both pondered further while watching their men sleep, Kagome's thoughts eventually veering off course, “You know, I would have guessed that Inuyasha would've been the Noisemaker…” she pointed out drolly with her chin in her palm.

 

 

Lying hidden behind the shrub border on his back this time, Youko ran his claws lightly over his chest as he listened to the women giggling at their men's expense. After having observed them for ten nights, he had a feeling that the hanyou might have taken exception to that if he'd been awake to hear it. Looking over to the snoring monk through the leaves of his cover, he huffed lightly in a laugh…'Miroku would probably find it funny.'

 

They would reach the village they sought the next day, and he pondered again the reason they were headed there. He'd already figured they simply needed special herbs for some reason or other. The question was: How did they plan to get some? That old hag-lady mother of the half-demon wasn't very pleasant to strangers. Youko grinned dangerously; `At least she didn't seem to be when she caught on that someone had been perusing through their herb garden…' He'd had to stay behind to see the woman's reaction, of course, and he'd been rewarded justly when he finally saw it. Kami, but that old woman has a temper.

 

He was ready for the next day to start; he wanted to see how the unconventional traveling group would do against a meeting that damn near proved to be wholly enjoyable. When Sango stood and picked up her favored weapon to go on another perimeter check, Youko stayed where he was.

 

He'd already been convinced that the slayer would deftly handle anything she might come across.

 

 

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How many surprises could one jaded kitsune take in one trip?!

 

In place outside Jinenji's hut the next day, he sported a decidedly confused look on his face as he slowly shook his silvery head. The look had been difficult to pull off to be sure; he didn't wear it very often. But when one seriously frenetic woman comes out to jovially accept each individual member of his group, he finds himself without a more appropriate expression to wear. Dear Kami, were these people untouchable?! The already cited fact that they were up against the infamous Naraku only helped to push that thought more into the “feasible” column of his better judgments.

 

Well…at least he knew now how they had planned to attain some herbs without one very skilled kitsune thief in their midst to do the collecting. The novelty of the unpredicted event eventually wore, and he successfully got the confusion off of his face by the time the old lady had invited them in for food and rest. They apparently all knew each other. Seeing that a fortunate opportunity had arisen, he went in search of the particular tree he would need for the night.

 

 

The sun was just at the horizon and was displaying its last rays of light in varying shades of oranges bleeding into purples as evening turned over to night. Sometime later into the rising of the moon, Youko once again found himself taking to the trees as the rest of the ensemble collected in the building father down a hill below him. He dearly hoped Kagome's apparent “sit” command wouldn't be used that night; he really wanted to see it.

 

“Jinenji, nice of you to come and keep me company,” he turned his head to address the horse approaching him, “I had hoped you would catch the message from my last visit,” his smooth, quietly toned voice naturally purred out as he twisted a Temple flower in his fingers.

 

The kind horse hanyou known as Jinenji stood in front of the fox that lounged on a slim branch some ten feet above the ground. As tall as he was, he was at a height where he could meet with Youko face to face. In his hand he held a flower, delivered from the Temple Tree Youko sat in; the flowering fruit tree that had appeared mysteriously after a theft of the herbs a long time ago. Back at the time when he'd helped himself to their garden, the kitsune had left the tree behind as a specific message that he would someday return. He had only been back twice since then, but had not actually shown himself until now.

 

“You wanted to talk?” Jinenji asked softly, peering past Youko to look to his home, “Do you follow Kagome?”

 

His golden eyes shining in the night, Youko considered his answer to Jinenji. He was the one that had done the summoning, but he figured the hanyou did deserve some answers, “Hai, I do…though you must realize that I mean no harm. I follow all of them,” he reassured his visitor before continuing with his purpose, “You know Kagome,” he stated more than asked, then watched Jinenji's features soften with fondness for the girl.

 

“Hai, I know Kagome. It is because of the kind miko and friends that I am accepted…not get hurt so much anymore,” he clarified to the kindred fox. He liked this demon; being one of the only ones that treated him with some kind of esteem, this kitsune was an accepting soul. Though he had stolen from them a few times in the past, Jinenji knew underneath the thief there was a considerate being. One had to be to have the ability he had to nurture something as delicate as plants, “You…help her?”

 

The silver fox nodded, “I have on the journey here. Tell me…why else would she need help?” he plowed on with his objective of learning more about the tachi's purpose.

 

Jinenji's large blue eyes turned sad before he replied, “Bad man tries hurting them; he takes lives and hurts living people. They are trying to stop it,” his vision shifted from the white being that sat in the flowering tree over to the hut, “They need strong help,” he continued, looking back to Youko, “Need you.”

 

Ignoring that declaration from the horse, he thought of one more answer he needed, “This bad man. His name is Naraku,” At Jinenji's nod, he continued, “Have they told you what he is exactly?” Youko knew from the rumors of him that he was a hanyou of some kind, but knowing the species of hanyou would be helpful if he decided to continue lending any aid.

 

Jinenji scratched his head as he thought, then shook it, dropping his long arm back to his side, “They have not said, but he is not true hanyou. This I know from their talk. I hear he used to be human, that is all I know of him.”

 

 

“JINENJI!!” a voice yelled from the direction of his home, “IT'S LATE!”

 

Youko nearly winced at the old lady's yelling, but refrained as he looked at her son, “I thank you for your information, I will not take any of your herbs at this time,” he said in place of a farewell, “I only ask you tell no one of my presence.”

 

With a nod of his large head, Jinenji slowly emerged from the tree line toward his awaiting mother at the hut he shared with her.

 

Settling in a more accommodating tree after the meeting, Youko twirled the spider-like bloom from the Temple Tree he'd just vacated, `So…they are the group that is fighting against Naraku. I wonder if they have crossed paths with the Lord Sesshomaru…' That dog Lord of the West also supposedly held a grudge against the dark being and he wondered of their knowledge of each other. The twirling of the flower stopped as a sudden thought crept in to his mind, `Come to think of it, Lord Sesshomaru is a dog demon with a despised half brother…' Filing that highly too probable thought away for further investigation once he had more facts, Youko took the quiet night for some time to recuperate and get a little of his seldom needed sleep.

 

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“We have no understanding of the sickness. It works very quickly and we have exhausted our own herbs to try treating it,” Kagome filled Jinenji's mother in on the details of their visit. They had already been granted the use of what it was they needed, but Kagome still felt the need to let the woman know of their reasoning, “I fear for the lives of those already infected if we aren't able to cure it,” she finished sadly.

 

“Oh, we can't save everyone hon, but we do the best we can,” the aged woman said, soothing Kagome in her own way, “Now, eat and get a little sleep. I'm gonna go and get that boy o' mine and head over to bed myself,” before doing her task however, she leaned over to Kagome and put a weathered hand on her shoulder, “Stand to fight against it; if I know anything, I know that you have a weird way of coming out the victor,” she advised with wisdom showing in her eyes. Leaving the room to retrieve her son, Jinenji's mom shoved aside the tatami mat on her way out, letting in the cool air from the early winter weather. Shivering both from the cold and from her uncertainty, she joined Sango where she already lay close to the fire.

 

“She's right, you know,” Sango whispered, startling Kagome who'd thought she was sleeping, “I don't know how it will happen, but somehow I feel that this sickness will not last long with you chasing it.”

 

Kagome lay down in her bag next to Sango as she considered that, “Like she said, we can't save them all,” a look of pure determination set across the young miko's features, “But I'm going to try,” she declared, seeing the same look she wore cross her sister's visage as she nodded her understanding. Wrapping her warm down sleeping bag over her shoulder, she closed her eyes after Sango and waited for the sleep to overtake her.

 

 

The next morning found Inuyasha outside the hut on the roof as he watched the sun's rising. He didn't usually do such a thing, but he was waiting for his pack to get their herbs and head out on their way back to the village. They had all been up for a little while, preparing to start the trip back early this day. He had been up there for a good amount of time already, and they should be ready to go soon. The need to get home and aid the sick was pulling at the women, and Miroku seemed eager to get moving as well.

 

“Are you intending to stay up there as we eat, Inuyasha?” Miroku voiced from below, as if thoughts of him had conjured him up. Jumping to the ground in front of the houshi, he slanted him a `Don't-be-moronic' look before entering the hut from where the heavenly smells of breakfast were wafting. The large mixed gathering of human and demon alike ate quietly from their breakfast before anyone thought to mention the morning's quick progression. As usual that anyone was Inuyasha, who had nearly finished his breakfast in one gulp.

 

While the team pulled together their respective effects outside the hut, Jinenji approached Kagome to say goodbye, “You still needing help?” he asked slowly, cautiously.

 

Kagome, knowing of the kind horse's concerns, eased his worries, “Don't worry, we will do fine. You'll take care of yourself right?” she asked Jinenji, as he seemed to have something else to say to her.

 

“Hai, Kagome. We will do fine, too. Take this for your safe travel to your village?” he lifted one of his long arms to present Kagome with the spider flower Youko had summoned him with the night before.

 

Smiling brightly, Kagome took the blossom and wrapped the stem into her hair above the ear to hold it in place, “Arigato, Jinenji,” she waved her goodbye as she joined Inuyasha, taking her out of Jinenji's sight. And following the shard hunting group, Youko took off as well.

 

 

It was hard for him to ignore the purely satisfied feeling he got when he saw what was essentially his flower gracing Kagome's smooth hair. He had taken observance of Inuyasha's confused face when he must have picked up traces of his scent under that of Jinenji's. It didn't particularly matter to him that Inuyasha had his scent in one way or the other, because Youko knew that he'd smelled it on himself after the night he had tweaked his ear. Sure his scent identified him, but he didn't much know if he really wanted to remain anonymous to this team anymore. It was yet another confusing feeling that he was not used to; the need to be known to a simple group of people. Either way, he had plans to reveal himself eventually; he simply needed the opportunity to do so.

 

Jinenji watched from the ground as the party left for Musashi, “Kagome has the help she and friends will need,” he said to no one before going to tend his mother.

 

 

 

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Just over one week later, their trip apparently made incredibly faster with the help of the flawless demon in front of them, Kagome and Sango had yet to get their tongues to work. Inuyasha was in a pose he often took; his arms crossed inside his sleeves as he leaned against the Treatment hut's doorway with a serious look on his face. He stood next to Miroku who also had his eyes fixated on the gorgeous being that had surprised them all upon entering the large hut unannounced.

 

 

Six days previous, after four days of travel back from Jinenji's, they had reached the territory that had lengthened their first trip by forcing them to go around it. When they began taking their previous trail to go around it again, everyone…even the ones of the group with no demon blood…was bombarded with the scent of roses and sandalwood. When this happened, of course, Inuyasha recognized the scent that had lingered on his person while passing through the last time. Feeling out the aura of what was most definitely the resident kitsune, he was convinced. This was the randy kitsune that had fucked with his ears, causing him to be in a constant state of pain the day after the event.

 

Though try as he might, Inuyasha somehow couldn't work up the anger toward the fox that he really should have for having touched his ears. Still, the youkai had refused to show himself and that did irritate him to all hells and back, but Shippo wouldn't shut up about the creature after feeling it. It was powerful, and Shippo was finally able to feel out that it was a kitsune of the Silver Spirit breed; now one of the rarest, he'd said, because of their heavily hunted moon-color pelt.

 

So, now after another five days of travel with the unseen youkai and one more day in the village, they stood silently in the sick hut as their newcomer had finally revealed himself and worked efficiently with some purple-stemmed plant he'd produced seemingly out of thin air.

 

 

Kneeling next to the man that was near death, Youko set the Renewal Fog Orchid he'd summoned to the side before he began breaking down the petals in his palm. Instead of actually brewing the fog he'd used on this particular illness before, he fed the petals directly to the man since his infection had advanced so far.

 

Turning to the old miko of the village, he spoke to their ears for the first time, “This man is not to be allowed a blanket. The toxin in his system is one I have seen before; dispersed by a shadow creature called a Fog Manipulator. The contaminant it exudes feeds off of the human's warmth and spreads through the extremities first, causing his body to die from lack of heat. It is the creature's form of reproduction, fatally robbing its host of the incubation it needs. This is why he must be allowed to freeze it out of his system with the aid of the Fog Petals,” considering briefly his next words, he shifted on his haunches, “Though this one feels different somehow, it is still a Manipulator. We shall see if the treatment still works on it.”

 

“Hai, we shall see. I thank you; your aid is most appreciated, Kitsune-sama,” Kaede bowed her gray head with respect to their ailing village's possible savior.

 

Returning with a nod of his own, he arose from his position across from the old woman before turning around to the others crowding the room. For the first time since finding them on the edge of his territory, Youko viewed the team of his attention face-to-face.

 

 

 

********

0.o…Don't stone me!! I didn't do it, blame my fingers.

This is me trying to speed up the story a bit. I hope it doesn't just feel fast-forwarded to you guys, even though it does to me. But hey, this is my version of improv. It took me five years to get a little romance novel written, so consider this story as me testing myself with deadlines and characterization. It's actually a bit tougher than making a book out of thin air, really.

Also…I have a terribly horrific (as is documented by anyone who favorited this story) habit of going over my stuff with a fine-tooth comb and making repairs. To avoid raping anyone's emails again, I will only feverishly edit chapters in AFF from now on. If you want to read the heavily beta-ed chapters, go there…also under the penname Sardave.