Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Fox Hunt ❯ Who's that girl? ( Chapter 1 )

I had my assignment. The stage was set and my accomplices were in place. I thought back to the particulars of this case. Toguro himself had given me this assignment and failure was not an option if I desired to see old age. In theory, it should be simple. I had done many such assignments in the past, one quite recently, with very successful results. Basically, no one was ever left alive to tell of my part which suited me just fine. Using sex as a deadly weapon was hardly original but very effective as the teammates from Team Gorenja would attest to. If they had lived. There was a rumor that a mysterious woman had come between Aka and his beautiful female teammate causing the doubt and mistrust that had annihilated their team. I had to smile at that, it really was one of my more sensational missions. Oh yes, and a very enjoyable task. Aka had proven to be very entertaining and talented in more than one arena. Would Kurama be likewise? Hmm…

This next one would require very careful handling indeed. Hiei could be a potential problem with his mind reading abilities. But then, that was what this whole plan depended on. In order to come between him and his fox, those special abilities were crucial. Could there be anything more deadly in life than a lovers' triangle? Again I laughed to myself. What fun this will be.

Time was short now; I checked my weapons one last time. My silky pale green hair had been carefully arranged in an upswept style with tendrils left hanging free as if they had come undone during a struggle. My expensive, sky blue, silk dress was of an oriental design, high necked with a diagonal opening from the neckline to the left sleeve. It was form fitting, hugging my full breasts and skimming over my trim waist and hips. It was such a beautiful dress, too bad it would soon be in shreds from the imminent attack by a pack of unruly demons. Various scratches and bruises had been strategically delivered to parts of my body and face, all the more to make this evening's performance believable. And tears. The hardest part of all would be to summon the pitifully weak tears that would seal Kurama's fate. But summon them I would.

The signal was given. Kurama was walking towards my position in the secluded clearing near the hotel where he was staying with Team Urameshi. He was deep in thought, a small frown marring his boyishly handsome visage. His scarlet hair blew gently in the warm breeze. Tonight, he wore a flowing golden tunic over tight fitting white trousers. The fabric molding to his finely toned body hinting at the sculpted muscles beneath. A small shiver ran down my spine, pausing briefly as a warm tingling sensation in the very core of my womanhood and continued to my toes. I never could understand that connection, but it was a pleasurable sensation none the less. A job perk, as it were.

I stepped onto the path at a partially concealed turn. As we passed on the path I looked up and smiled my greeting making sure to make eye contact; the nighttime shadow concealing my bruised face. Kurama nodded his greeting in return and we continued our walk going in opposite directions on the path. Just as Kurama reached my entry point onto the path a large, clawed hand grabbed me roughly by the shoulder and stated in a voice sure to carry to Kurama's position, "Looky what we got here boys, and we thought we was gonna be bored!" And I was yanked from the path and thrown violently to the ground. The shoulder of my expensive silk dress ripped away revealing my creamy, smooth flesh beneath. Surrounding me was four of the most fearsome, hideous looking demons money could buy. Seven feet tall all of them, with upward curving tusks growing from their ugly, pug-nosed snouts. They surrounded me, their cold beady eyes conveying their cruel intent.

"No!" I exclaimed, "What do you want from me?" Heh heh, as if I didn't know. My assailant reached down and grabbed me by what was left of my bodice hauling me up to his face. I took this opportunity to peek over his shoulder to make sure our fox was sniffing the bait. Kurama had rounded the turn in the path, but had paused as if listening for some unexplained disturbance. "Again, but louder" I hissed.

"You owe us, bitch" was my reward followed by an open handed slap to the face. My scream of outrage and pain was very real. Besha will surely pay for not pulling his punches a bit, but it served its purpose. Kurama doubled back on the path and had reached our position in a flash. Besha reached down to deliver the final touch to our little drama by ripping what was left of my dress further to expose my firmly rounded left breast. The fabric hung in tatters at my waist.

"No! Leave me alone" I cried. Now! Summon the tears! And they glistened in my violet eyes like glittering gems. A sob escaped me as Kurama stated in a firm, commanding voice,

"Perhaps you would prefer a more fitting opponent." He reached up and plucked a rose concealed in his brilliant, red hair. "Rose Whip!" He shouted as his trademark whip uncoiled from the innocent looking flower in his hand.

"You'll be sorry for this. Your mother will pay dearly!" A nice touch, that. It was hardly a secret how Shuuichi felt about his human mother, but an effective ploy none the less. Besha and friends departed the area quickly leaving me alone with my prey.

I heaved another sob and flung myself at Kurama, my arms encircling his waist as I buried my tear streaked face in his chest. I could feel Kurama tense as he looked around to be sure my attackers had left the area. Apparently satisfied that we were safe for the moment, Kurama let the whip fall to the ground as he rather awkwardly wrapped his arm around me and smoothed my hair in a comforting manner.

"Shh, you are safe now" he said. I cried harder, the tears soaking the front of his white tunic. When I pulled away a moment later, the spot where I had pressed against his chest was also stained faintly with blood. Oh yes, Besha will pay dearly! I looked up into Kurama's emerald green eyes.

"Thank you! Oh thank you so much! I was so scared!" My words tumbled out in a barely comprehensible rush. "I don't know what they would have done if you hadn't come along!" And I pulled more fully away from his body, allowing him to see my partially unclothed state. This would be the crucial moment. Would he take in the fact of my bare breast that had been pressing intimately against his chest, or would it be an uninteresting minor detail? I held my breath in anticipation.

In that long moment, Kurama gazed into my tearful violet eyes and using his free hand wiped the tears from my cheek. A spark of some unknown excitement ignited at his touch and that unexplained shiver again ran down my spine. I know Kurama felt it too. His eyes widened suddenly at the contact. His hand on my cheek now curved to cup my cheek and slid upward towards my temple into my hair in an unconscious caress. Intense emerald eyes moved from my own tearful gaze, traveling to my full, slightly parted lips and down the slim column of my neck to that deliciously exposed flesh. Kurama's quick indrawn breath was the unspoken answer to my question. Indeed, he found great interest in my partial nudity. The fox had found the scent, now to spring the trap.

As if in a trance, Kurama's hand in my hair descended slowly to trace the delicate peaks of my ear. My traitorous toes curled in anticipation as those strong fingers left my scalloped earlobes and continued a slow, torturous path down my neck and across the hollow of my collarbone. Finally Kurama's hand came to rest just above the swell of my breast. As I leaned my body fully against his; I could feel the evidence of his interest hard against my own loins. Again I held my breath in anticipation; what was wrong with me? Where were these feelings coming from? How could I possibly allow the prey to dictate terms to me?

Kurama lowered his firm, sensual lips to my ear and spoke sending the tingling sensation skittering in every fiber of my being. "It is unwise for beautiful young ladies to walk alone at night down these paths. Perhaps you are in need of an escort to see you safely to your destination." Of their own accord my hands reached up and threaded themselves in Kurama's hair. I licked my suddenly dry lips, his eyes darting to that small movement. The hand at my breast reached up and again cupped my cheek as his thumb traced my lower lip. With a gentle pull of my hands, Kurama's lips slowly moved towards my own. My eyelids fluttered closed in anticipation of the sweet brush of his lips when suddenly,

"You were late for our appointment, Kurama, and I became concerned." Hiei's strident voice caused us both to jump. Speak of timely interruptions! This situation was quickly getting out of my control and it was time to re-establish our roles. Grabbing fistfuls of tunic I cowered against Kurama's chest, the same lower lip that he had recently caressed trembling in fear.

"No!" I exclaimed in fright, "They're back! Oh gods please help me!" Kurama responded by tightening his arms protectively around me. "It's ok Juri, Hiei is a friend." I allowed his strength and confidence to relieve my fears. "Perhaps now would be a good time to hear why those demons attacked you." I reluctantly let go of his tunic and fumbled with the torn silk of my ruined dress in an effort to preserve my modesty.

Holding the fabric to my chest I stepped away from Kurama. As I did so, I could half sense a strange tingling sensation in my skull. Focus only on Kurama, on images of a mother in mortal danger from merciless demons; of the fear and trauma from the recent demon attack. This was the final crucial test. Hiei was trying to read my mind, his suspicions were aroused. Perhaps control had not slipped from my grasp after all.

Looking only at Kurama, I began my pitifully sad tale, "My mother has a very rare, but curable disease. The treatment is extremely expensive but we felt confident that only a few would be necessary." I let a slow tear trickle from the corner of my eye. "At first, she seemed to be responding quite well. Then," A sob tore its way from my chest, "She had a relapse. The treatment time was doubled, but we had spent all our money on the few she had already received. We were desperate. I took two jobs to pay for the treatments, but it just didn't cover all the expenses. Then I found out through a friend that the Dark Tournament was in need of an additional announcer. The pay was four times that of my two jobs combined due to the rather hostile working conditions. It was a Godsend and I took it. My mother is recovering nicely, but if I am unable to pay for the treatments then she will get sick again."

Kurama had been silently staring into the distance through my story. Did he believe it? Did Hiei? I had no doubt that Hiei would question every aspect of my tale, but that was what I wanted. Kurama must believe it enough to challenge Hiei's objections. He turned his emerald green eyes to mine. "It is a terrible thing to watch a loved one become sick and wither." Yes, Shuuichi, show me your sympathy and concern over my sick mother. "Please, tell me what I can do to help." Snap! The trap was sprung!

"Don't be a fool, Kurama!" Hiei was indignant. "You know nothing of this girl. Don't you find it too coincidental that two days before our most important battle this presents itself?" He jerked his thumb in my direction. I am not a this! "Her story does not ring true to me and I would encourage you to spend your energy focusing on Karasu!" I turned my watery gaze to Kurama.

"Please, you must believe me. Those demons have been harassing me every day of the tournament and I do not know what will happen if they catch me alone again!" I buried my face in my hands, sobbing. "I am so afraid of being alone just now." I sank gracefully to the grass of the clearing crying my fear and helplessness.

Kurama knelt beside me and gathered me in his strong arms. There! That spark once again! At his touch I raised my head in surprise, my eyes seeking his. The electricity fairly crackled between us as the sensation shot to my breasts causing the sensitive nipples to peak and tingle. A steady heat was beginning to pulse at the very core of my womanhood and I felt a heavy moisture collect in a very intimate part of me. We leaned towards each other, oblivious to Hiei's scowling disapproval.

"Mark my words, Kurama, you will regret this!" And then he was gone.

It was as if Hiei's departure broke the spell surrounding us. Kurama rose to his full height and offered me his hand in assistance. Strangely reluctant, I accepted his help. In a very matter of fact manner, Kurama removed his tunic and placed it over my shoulders. The sight of his smoothly muscled, bare chest caused my heart to beat a little faster. But now was not the time. Together, we walked down the path towards the hotel where, coincidentally, we both were lodged.