Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Dance ❯ Target Acquired ( Chapter 5 )

Morning came far to quickly for the weary pair. Both had a difficult time sleeping from the rocky night beforehand. Ifurita leaned back into the comfortable folds of the rocking chair, contemplating over last night's events. Considering what had transpired she was worried for them both. Skyre was still sleeping and might even sleep the clock round. That was perfect for the ice demon, leaving her time to think things over and figure out a plan. While both young women were very bright, Ifurita was still more of the brains of the operation, leaving the brawn to the wolf that slept on. After letting her thoughts simmer, she moved one hand to the phone, dialing for the operator.

"Hello. Yes, I'd like the number for a student on campus." A pause followed. "Shuiichi Minamino."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weather was clear and beckoned people outside to enjoy it. Ifurita denied such an invitation, favoring the cushioned seats of the Moonlit Café for the second time that week. But she had extended an invitation of her own.

"Hello Nariko. To what to I own this invitation?" Shuiichi asked cheerfully as he joined her at her table.

"You don't owe anything. But I'm happy to see that your concept of time has improved," she replied calmly, barely hiding her scathing tone.

"Yes. I have improved on that attribute. Where is Matsuko today?" he inquired, still possessing an unending happiness.

"I'm afraid she's not well. She likes to go out running at night you see. Far fewer people then. In any event, she had a bit of an accident last night." Here she paused in her tale, pretending to be nearly overcome with worry.

"What sort of accident?" he asked. His eyes had become hungry for information.

"Well, at first I only thought she had tripped and fell. But with a closer look, it appeared as though she had been attacked." Ifurita then made the huge watery eyes that begged for someone to protect her and her friend.

"Where was she running? In the forest perhaps?" He had begun to sweat a bit, clearly uneasy with how the conversation was going.

"Well, yes. She has always loved the trails there. Anyway, when she was able to speak again, she confirmed my suspicions, but said she didn't see her attackers really. It's a shame really. If she had I know she would have alerted the authorities," she replied, laying heavy amounts of worry for her friend and anger at such an occurrence. The girl picked up her mug, peering over the edge with hooded eyes, drinking slowly as she gauged his reaction. She set her mug down, running a hand through her red and gold hair. Shuiichi gulped visibly, a look of concern over his features.

He's afraid.

"Oh. How awful," he commented brokenly. He began to fidget, playing with a drink coaster. "Will she be alright?"

Ifurita gave a theatrical sigh. "I do hope so. I only have basic training in dealing with physical injuries but I hope it was enough." She then pretended to break down in tears, really fighting laughter at his reaction. He reached over to touch her when she sat up again, wiping away "tears" from her eyes. "I'm fine really. I should go and keep an eye on her. Thank you for coming though. I thought you should know incase it is a while before we meet as a group again for our German project. Good day to you Shuiichi." Not waiting for a reply, she dashed off, jogging away before he could go after her.

She only jogged a short way before ducking into a bookstore to ensure he did not pursue her. Hiding in the back behind a stack of books, she watched him walk by the window, clearly wondering where she had gone. The ice demon observed him, staring until he left in a different direction altogether. She snorted with contempt and crept out, keeping a wary eye for the strange student named Shuiichi Minamino.

"I don't like this one bit," she muttered under her breath, as though the very air would provide her with answers.

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The sorceress shut the door behind her, still sorting out the encounter in the coffeehouse. Her thoughts tumbled over each other like a little of kittens, each one demanding her immediate attention before being bowled over by the next that demanded the same. Her body moved by its own accord, her mind so engrossed in trying to make sense of it all that she didn't notice a thing.

"I wondered where you were," a voice said. Skyre stood leaning against a doorframe, pain etched in her face. "I woke up a little bit ago looking for some medicine to take when I noticed that your shoes were gone."

"You should be in bed," she snapped.

"And you shouldn't leave without letting someone know where you're going," Skyre retorted. "I don't want to see you end up like I did last night." The wolf staggered to the counter, sitting down on a bar stood with a gasp. "Look. Someone is after me. I don't know why. But I do know I don't want to see anyone else get hurt. That includes you partner." She stressed that last word, reminding her that they were business partners and had to look out for each other.

"That's all well and good, but I went out trying to get some intel on who went after you last night." She said haughtily. A head tilt from the wolf asked for more to be said as the ice demon fished some cans of Pepsi from the fridge, handing on over to the invalid. "I went and met with Shuiichi. I think I played the part of the worried friend rather well. I gave him almost the whole truth about what happened to you last night. I changed it a little though, saying that you hadn't seen you attackers at all. And I didn't even say where you were running. He guessed the forest trails without a problem. When I mentioned you were attacked, he got nervous too. I could see the fear in him. I think he was indeed one of your attackers last night. I can't say who the other might have been, but where there's smoke there's fire."

"Then let's be the ones to set this fire and smoke out our enemies."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It had been two months, leaving only scars on Skyre's skin to show where she had been injured. In that time though, they had begun to train in earnest. If they weren't at class, eating, sleeping, or doing homework, they were training on the rooftop, increasing their abilities against each other. A second Mimic had been made for Ifurita, freeing up the first so they could focus without distraction. The whole time, Skyre's scars and soul burned for revenge at her attackers, wanting to feel their blood flow through her fingers.