Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Thin Line ❯ Flashing back ( Chapter 4 )

Sorry!!! EVIL COMPUTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

foxylilraven ( Yea, ya think he's seen everthing by now. Thank you! ...Damn, you know me pretty well. NO I'M BECOMING PREDICTABLE!!!!!!! Kag related to a detective? No, that's WAY over used. I've seen my fair share of both Yusuke and Kuwabara being related to Kaggy, so no. Even IF I'm getting predictable, I'd like to keep a little originality!!!!!!!!)

skyfox (fucushu means vengence. I said that at the end of the chapter, didn't I? Ah, well. You wouldn't be the first to ignore me. Here's my update!!!)

tbris (It isn't?)

kireishi (Tell me about it... My head still aches from the PSAT!!!!! Poor kitty... T_T)

Inubunny (Yep!!!! I've been told I'm evil incarnated. Love is good!!!!!! As much as I adore Kurama, no one can deny that fact!)

SapphireGems (Thank you!!! Sorry, but I won't say. Nothing's interesting if people know what's gonna happen...)

Rabidfangirl101 (Thank you!!! You're the second person to ask that... Anyways, here's the update!!! You can get a peek of what Youko and Senshi were like when they had thier own bodies... hehehe....)

foxylilraven (here's the update!!! She WAS annoying... I thought she said she was a cat? Maybe I heard wrong... AH!! Off track!!!! WAY off track!!! Thanks for the review!!!!!!!!!!)

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DV- All my suspicions about computers hating my guts have officially been confirmed.

Chiisai- they're not alone.

DV- Shut up!!!

Kagome- You're not going to torture me in this story, too, are you?

DV- SOMEONE knows how to hold a gruge…

Kagome- After what you've put me through?!?!?!?! You're lucky I haven't purified you!!!

Chiisai- `brightening' You can do that?!?!

Kagome- Well, she IS a demon…

DV-wellthatsaidIdonotownInuyashaorYuyuHakushoandthisischapterfou renjoythestoryanddon'tforgettoleaveareview!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

Key;

^Kagome^

~Senshi~

-Shippo-

((Souta))

<Kurama>

[Youko]

*Hiei*

|Sango|

{Kohaku}

Flashing back

.o0O0o. Kurama .o0O0o.

I sighed as I threw another rock into the water, watching it hit with a small `plop!' and sink quickly to the bottom, leaving small ripples in its wake. I studied the other rock I'd picked up, rolling it around in my hands and running my fingers over the hard surface, before looking up at the moon.

I raised an eyebrow as the demon was cut in half by the girl's claws. So, the protector of Yamakatta wasn't another pathetically weak youkai. Even at the age of seven, I was finding true competition to be hard pressed.

"Anyone else think I didn't earn this money?" The scruffy looking kit asked the others in the alley. A street fight had just taken place between the girl and the now dead youkai, her coming out the winner.

All other youkai in the alley stepped away from the skinny little red head. I rolled my eyes. Cowards.

I watched as the girl collected her winnings, her back, and Yamakatta, facing me. I sighed. Perhaps I gave her too much credit…

I watched as my vines crept silently across the alleyway, raising up to grab the infamous kitsune katana from the oblivious girl…

`whoosh!!!' I stared at the razor sharp rock that split my vine in two.

Okay, maybe she wasn't so oblivious.

"Just what do you think YOU'RE doing?!?!?!" The girl demanded heatedly. Her sunset tinted eyes flashed with anger and insult. I gave the girl my most charming smile.

"Borrowing," Her glare hardened.

"Well in case no one's ever told you, you have to ASK someone for something before you can consider it `borrowed,' And I'm sure as hell not giving you my katana, so find someone else to `borrow' from. Preferably someone with something to `borrow,'"

"Yamakatta is seems valuable enough,"

"Maybe, but it only answers to me,"

"Who said I was planning on using it?" the girl blinked at me several times.

"Are you saying, you wanted to steal it, but weren't planning on harnessing the power?!"

"More or less."

"WHAT'S THE POINT IN HAVING IT THEN?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"

"The challenge of the hunt." The girl glared at me.

"I won't let you have my katana,"

"And now that I've targeted it, I cannot allow you to continue to have it," this was greeted with an unladylike snort from the red-head, who fell back into a fighting position.

"I'd like to see you try, silver," Without another word, I struck out at her with my rose whip. She took to the air, making her an easy target. Smirking, I struck my whip at her again, wrapping it around her waist at the same time the ground below me came to life with the intention of swallowing me whole.

The girl took advantage of my surprise to kick against a wall, wrenching the whip from my grasp. Growing, I jumped away from the stone, dodging the rocks that shot out at me in mid air and landing in front of the girl.

"SPIRIT DETECTIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Both the girl and I scowled at the disturbance, but weren't foolish enough to stay and risk getting caught by the Reikai for their other crimes.

"This isn't over girl," The girl glared at me.

"Baka! And another thing, my name is Senshi Nozomi!!! Even that shouldn't bee too complex for someone like you!!!!!!!!" I rolled my eyes.

"Well, Nozomi, remember this, I won't rest until I win,"

<Are you planning on stopping the memories some time tonight? I really need some sleep…> Youko growled in response.

[I will do as I please,]

<Brooding won't bring her back to life,>

[I'm NOT brooding, and she isn't dead. Not that I'd care if she was…] I sighed.

<Youko, just because she was the one who told you about sharing a body with a human…>

[Senshi Nozomi is the most reckless, stubborn, vengeful creature I was ever cursed to meet. She never forgets things like that, and certainly won't rest without killing everyone responsible for the destruction of her true body.] I shook my head.

<Just because you remembered this theory in your dying moments, doesn't mean she did,>

[Says you,] Youko responded. [You weren't really the one who faced her, were you? All you know about her is from my memories,]

<That's about as much insight as you'd have if you had to face her at the moment, everything considered.> Even if Youko was right about Senshi still being alive, knowing her, she would've trained non stop as soon as her new body could walk, just as Youko had. Meaning she'd have learned new tricks, just as Youko had. And the winner of such a match was anyone's guess.

I growled, glaring at the thirteen year old vixen in front of me. She glared back, ignoring the small river of blood running down her cheek as I ignored my throbbing head, with had probably broken skin as well. Damn rocks…

"Wow, I've never seen you two use so much energy at once in battle," Koroune, my partner in crime for the last three years said, slightly amused. "Keep it up and the only way you'll decide the winner is in the fiery pits of Hell," I glared at him darkly.

"I've told you before, commentary during my personal fights is unnecessary, haven't I?"

"Yep," Koroune replied. "I just ignore you, my friend," I was about to retort when I saw a rock fly at me out of the corner of my eye.

"Hey baka, did you forget who you're opponent here is?!" Nozomi asked irritably.

"A scent as putrid as your is hard to ignore."

"Why you-! Would you cut that out?!" She glared at Koroune as he snickered. "Anyways my scent is nowhere near as bad as your face." I growled.

"I'm not sure what's more brutal, your physical blows or your insults." Koroune said, obviously enjoying the show. He was like this every time I fought with Nozomi. Worst, though, the two of them got along quite well…

"Anyways, I'm not gonna forgive you for scaring away the idiot I wanted to kill." I rose an eyebrow.

"You were fighting with one of your master's other pupils, correct?"

"Well, yeah, but Master doesn't have to know I was about to kill her…"

"Senshi!!!" I growled as another apprentice of the Yogensha called out to my opponent. "Master Nokoru has returned and sensed you and this silver fighting again!!!" Nozomi cursed under her breath as I glared at the young dragon demon darkly. He often accompanied Nozomi in the last few years, and ever since I met him, I could tell I didn't like him. Something about him just put me off…

"Arigato, Satsugai!!!" She said, hurrying back to the temple where she trained, pausing only long enough to give me a hard glare. "This isn't over, Pal!!! I'll beat you yet, you wait and see!!!" I smirked at her.

"Don't kid yourself, Nozomi, you can never even dream of reaching my level,"

"And so begin the arrogant proclamations of ultimate strength and will…" Koroune muttered.

"Will you shut up?!?!?!?!?!" Nozomi and I yelled at the same time.

"Senshi!!!!!!!!"the mountain kit winced.

"Crap. Gotta run!!! See ya, Koroune!!!" I growled as she ran off. Lousy little witch…

<She certainly knew how to push your buttons, Youko, I'll give her that.> I said in amusement.

[She knew no such thing.] Youko growled defensively. [As a matter of fact, the only reason she lived as long as she did was because I saw her as a valuable training tool.] I shook my head at Youko's vain attempts to sound stronger than the mountain kitsune.

<If such was the case, you would've killed her once rumors started that she was the only one who matched your strength. Face it Youko, even If you did have the power to kill her, you probably couldn't do it.>

[…] I ignored Youko's silent sulking, instead taking in the warm, peaceful night with calm solitude.

"This is all your fault."

"My fault?!?!" I growled indignantly, "You're the one who nearly killed the prince!!!"

"He felt me up!!! And it's still your fault for stealing that stupid medallion then running to hide in my campsite!"

"Believe me, If I had been aware that that was your campsite, I would've passed through before you could return from hunting and start yelling at me, therefore attracting my pursuers."

"My scent was all over the place!!!"

"I had other things on my mind."

"Some great thief you are."

"Silence!" Nozomi and I glared at the tribal chief who had yelled at us when he entered the enclosed room. Or at least, I assumed Nozomi glared, considering we had been tied with out backs facing each other. "Silver Kitsune, you have been judged to have committed crimes against the tribal temple."

"You desolated their temple?!?!?" Nozomi hissed at me.

"Mountain Kitsune, you have been judged to have committed crimes against the chosen family of the tribe, Including severe damage to the nose of our prince and heir."

"You broke their princes' nose."

"He's lucky I couldn't do more…" I almost smiled at that.

"For your crimes, I, King of the Toriowasu tribe, Sentence the Silver to be killed by our most experienced archer, and the Mountain to serve as an attendant to the prince." I could hear Nozomi sputtering indignantly at the thought of becoming a pervert's possession, and it only increased my amusement. The King turned to our guards, who stood outside. "The sentences are to be carried out at sunset. Guard the fugitives until then," And, with that, he left. Nozomi and I listened carefully until his footsteps faded.

"If you don't have some kind of plan to get us out of this mess, I swear I'll kill you before the archer even has time to ready his bow."

"I don't suppose you still have your usual arsenal with you?" I asked, deciding this wasn't the time to argue over blame.

"Well, they took Yamakatti, not to mention my pouch and almost all of my knives. I still have my stones in my hair and three knives on me that they missed, but other than that, they cleaned me out," I frowned curiously, sure that when I'd counted the number of knives they'd taken from Nozomi, it had been one less than the amount she usually carried, and I hadn't noticed any new additions.

"Three knives?"

"Don't bother asking, I'm not gonna tell."

"Can you reach either of them from our current position?"

"No."

"Could I?"

"…possibly." I rolled my eyes. It didn't take a genius to guess she'd hidden the knives in places she didn't want any guy touching, least of all me.

"Well, since you refuse to cooperate, I guess we'll just have to wait to die."

"Actually, You're the one waiting to die, genius."

"Yes, how foolish of me. You will be sent into a life of slavery for the same youkai who has already proven to have a fixation for you. No doubt he will turn you into his mistress."

"…I've told you I hate you recently, right?"

"It goes without saying," Nozomi sighed.

"What about your flower? You can have them get us out of this, right?" I concentrated, then shook my head.

"There aren't any plants growing nearby. What about your pebbles?"

"Ground's completely free of any, it's all sand. Damn…" Nozomi sighed and rested her head against the back of mine. "There has to be some way out of this! There's no way I'm playing hooker for some horny royal bastard for the rest of my life!!!" Then, it hit me.

"Nice thinking, Nozomi,"

"…eh?"

"I have an idea…"

Ten minuets later

"You do realize that if this backfires, I'm gonna find a way to kill you even if we die today, right?"

"Do you want to be free or not?" I demanded. In truth, I was very amused at the thought of what was to come.

"Arrg… Fine!" she issued a few un-ladylike oaths under her breath before letting out an earsplitting scream.

"What is it?!?!"

"What's going on?!?!?!" Both guards rushed into the room weapons drawn.

"A spider youkai!!!!!!!!" Nozomi squealed. "I saw a spider youkai!!!!!!!!!"

"Where?" the smaller guard asked looking around. The other one rolled his eyes.

"Idiot!!!! It's already run off!!! He probably didn't get very far if she only just saw it. Go try to hunt it down while I speak with the King. Damn pests are probably planning another attack…" Both hurried out of the room, their original task apparently forgotten.

"We should have about ten minuets before they realize they were tricked." Nozomi said. "You sure you can get those props in that amount of time?"

"Have you forgotten who you're speaking to?" I demanded.

"No. That's what has me so concerned…" I snorted at her dry response.

"Don't worry about me leaving you behind. I'm not going to let some Barbarian prince beat you when I could not," And, before she could defend herself, I took the knife she had told me about and cut my bindings.

Once I was free, I transformed into my original form and slinked out of the hut, slipping into another one nearby. Making sure no one would see me, I stole two outfits and began to leave, first hiding under a table until I got a clear chance to get out the door.

`Bam!' I stiffened as a tray fell near where I stood.

"Damn it," the boy who had dropped the tray said, bending down to collect the fallen utensils. I stayed as still as a statue as he did so, not even breathing considering that he was close enough to feel it.

I felt my heart skip a beat as something started playing with one of my tails, and turned to find a mouse. I glared at it and it squeaked and shot out.

"What the-!"

"Hurry it up, boy!!!" the harsh voice of an older man called.

"Yes, sir!" the boy called back, hurrying to collect the rest of the dropped supplies. I breathed a sigh of relief when he ran off, and quickly ran back to Nozomi.

"What do you know," She said as I transformed back, "you're good for something after all."

"Shut up and change," I growled, throwing the clothes at her.

"I will I will," She snapped. Then she stood there for a few minutes. "Well?!?!"

"Well what?"

"Aren't you gonna give me some privacy?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"

"Why? It's nothing I haven't seen before…"

"BECAUSE YOU INSUFFERABLE HENTAI, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE HERE MODESTY INTACT!!!!!! Anyways, I thought we already agreed to never bring up THAT incident again!!!" I smirked.

"Why? It's your fault for not sensing me…"

"I was dirty, grimy and tired, okay?!?!?!?! And you're the one who looked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I rolled my eyes and turned around. "Thank you," Nozomi snapped.

"you looked as well." I muttered under my breath. I smirked when I could almost feel Nozomi burning holes in the back of my head with her glare.

Several minutes later, there was a panic among the Toriowasu. The kistunes they'd imprisoned, one for the thievery there kind was notorious for, and one for assaulting their prince.

During the uproar, no one noticed the courtesan with bright red hair and her handsome silver haired escort leaving the tribe.

"If anyone find out about this, I swear I'll make it impossible for you to conceive, Baka," Nozomi muttered, trying to cover her legs more with the flimsy (And practically see through) skirt.

"We made it out alive, did we not?" I said, twirling the sparkling ruby medallion around my forefinger. Nozomi stared at it for a second. Before shooting me a dry look and sighing.

"I'm not going to say it. I am going to leave, go back to traveling with Satsugai and pretend you don't exists while you go back to stealing and screwing every pretty girl you see."

"Jealous?" I teased.

"Positively green with envy," Nozomi said sarcastically. Then she paused thoughtfully for a second. "You know, We make a pretty good team."

"Indeed," I admitted, thinking of Nozomi's little acting performance and good sense to keep knives hidden in times of great distress.

"'Course, I still hate you."

"The feeling's mutual,"

<How come you never told her?> I asked after the last, and rather amusing, memory faded.

[I don't know what you're talking about,] Youko said, sticking his nose up. I sighed, throwing the rock into the lake I stood up.

<Alright, Youko, You win. We'll keep our eyes and ears open for rumors about Senshi. With her personality, it shouldn't be long until we find something. That is, If she's still alive.>

[Check with Koenma,] Youko said confidently, [Her soul never entered the afterlife. I'll bet one of my tails on it.]

<She may be a ghost,> I said frowning. I didn't want for Youko to get our hopes up.

[No, she's here. I can feel it, Kurama.] I was surprised at the sheer determination coming off Youko. [And I WILL find her…]

I sighed and watched the ripples in the water. As I did, one last memory came to me

Senshi Nozomi, the most annoying thorn in the side the gods allowed to walk the earth, was sitting in the corner of the cave, tears streaming down her face and eyes unseeing…

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Kagome- Huh? What was that about?!

Sango- Yeah, that's a weird way to end.

DV- `Whistling cheerfully'

Chiisai- Forget it, she ain't gonna talk.

Miroku- And you? You ARE her muse…

Chiisai- And I somehow got roped into signing a contract that every time I give away a plot secret, I earn another hundred years onto my sentence under DV. I like you guys, but not enough to spend the best years of my life as the fox's slave.

Kagome- `sigh…'

DV- On the one hand, I haven't tormented you… yet.

Kagome- WHAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

DV- bye!!!!!!!!!!

Kagome- Hey!!!! You get back here and explain yourself!!!!!!!

Shippo-…what's a courtesan?

…

`cough cough'

Miroku- Well, Shippo, you see-! `Sango knocks him out.'

Sango- We'll tell you later. For now, please review!!!!!!!!!!