Monday, February 7, 2005

chapter 8
here we go. Didn't sleep well last night, no one seemed to. Here's the next chapter, I think I'll go back to bed.

((Author's Note Loviatar: HA! It may take my counterpart 2-3 monts to write one stinkin chapter, but I've had this and the next done since Thanksgiving....I was waiting on Hecate... oh, an Genki is now in Foxglen. This is thanksgiving breaks end.))

“Boy was that ever a long trip!” Black Fox yawns as she gets off the airplane. “I swear, it gets longer every time I go back.” With a sigh, the tall demon readjusts her biker bitch hat and heads to the main part of the airport. “I could sure go for some Starbucks right about now.”

Exiting the terminal right next to the one Black got off, Kurama spies the dark fox strolling towards the cafeteria section of the airport. Shocked, the demon pauses. “I wonder what she is doing here...” He mutteres, glancing up at the terminal gate she had just vacated and discovering that she had just arrived from Athens, Greece. “Unless I am mistaken, Hiei was supposed to be going there over break. I do hope that they didn’t run into each other.” With that thought firmly in mind, the red haired boy quickly follows Black through the crowd.

“Ahh here we go!” Back Fox cries as she shoves her way over to the Starbucks. “HI!” She chirps. Much to her annoyance, the man behind the counter ignores her. “ETHUM!” The man turns and stares at her. She tries again. “I said ‘HI!’!”

“Uh...Hi?”

Taking a deep breath Black developes an anime style vein in her forehead. “Now you’re supposed to say, ‘HI, How may I help you?’ GOT IT?!” The man gulpes and tried to back up, seeing something in her eyes, “Now let’s try this again. HI!”

“H-h-Hi, How m-may I help you m-miss?” He stutters in fear.

“Aww, you have a speech impediment, how sad.” she grins, taking delight in his fear, “Well....I would like.....”

“There she is...” Kurama mutters under his breath as he catches sight of her fox tail hanging limp behind her. “Why isn’t she in disguise? Is it a trap?” He wonders as he slowly sneaks up behind her.

“Thank you!”

“Your welcome?” the man behind the counter repliea as Kurnama comes to stand just behind Black.

Black sighs, “Now you could sound just a little ore sure of yourself there....” Quickly she sidesteps and places a cup of hot chocolate in the hand Kurama had reached out to tap her with. “Hi Kurama, I’d thought you’d like something to drink!” She laughs, turning around, “After all I always find sneaking very thirsty work. Especially if you’ve been sneaking around as long as you have.” She grins and starts to walk away.

“So I take it you knew I was here the whole time?” He asks as he follows her.

“Of course, silly!”

“It seems then, that I am losing my touch.”

“Well, becoming human will do that to a demon.” She shakes her head at him, “Now if you had done what I did.....”

He stops, “And what was that?”

“I’m not telling....unless you join us.” She flirts.

“As tempting as your offer is,” He replies dryly, “I’m afraid I can’t do that, my friends need me.”

“Awwww how sweet!” Squeals Black, “I suggest you think about getting better friends.”

“Perhaps, but at least things are never boring.” He shrugs, “Speaking of friends, where are yours? Planning to kidnap me?”

Laughing, Black nearly chokes on her hot coco, “No way! They’re on vacation, same as you and me.”

“How did you know I was on vacation?”

“You’re not as bright as I thought you were, are you?” she sighs as she gives him a dirty look, “You’re at an airport, pretty-boy, so DUH.”

“Ahhh...Yes.” He sweat drops, “I see. Speaking of airports, have you seen Hiei? He should have been back by now, and I could have sworn that he was going to Greece as well.”

“Humm...can’t say that I have. Red probably knows where he is, or she’d be able to find out really fast.”

“Really?” Kurama asks dubiously.

“Oh, yeah, sure! She’s good at those things.” Black brushes him off. “If you want, I can check when I go back to the den.”

“The den?” he questions, “I see, so you do have a secret base. Yes, could you check? It is not like him to be late.”

“Normally, I wouldn’t check...” She brushes up against him, “But for you.....sure.” With that she downs the last of her hot coco. “I warn you though, I’m not going back to the den until tomorrow morning. I’m on vacation dammit!”

“So what will you be doing instead, Barbra?” he asks, tossing his hot coco container away.

Grinning, Black Fox gives the boy an appraising look, “Huh, maybe you are as smart as I thought. Don’t tell the others ok? I want to see how long it will take them to figure it out.” She laughs, “You really are on the wrong team...Well, I might go to the mall, maybe catch a movie, do stuff, you know?”

“Might I accompany you?”

“Oh?” she raises an eyebrow, “like a date?” Black grins as Kurama looks decidedly uncomfortable, “I’m just kidding. Sure you can come along, let me just....change.”

Meanwhile.......

Once again, the hunter slows as he reaches a slightly muddy section on ground. The deer tracks are very fresh. He is getting closer to his prey. Quietly, the man presses through the bushes in pursuit of his quarry. A few moments later, Red Wolf stops by the same section of ground and sniffs the footprints.

“I’m getting closer....” She sighs in happiness before silently following after the hunter.

Meanwhile....

Hiei run through the woods, looking for a place to practice. Before long he comes to an area that is nearly perfect, save for the one tall tree that is in his way.....

Meanwhile (With Red)

She has finally caught up to the hunter. Slowly, ever so slowly, she approaches him from behind. The hunter, lying at the edge of a clearing hidden from his quarry by a bush, is totally oblivious to the danger he is in. Just as he takes aim, Red Wolf rushes him. Suddenly, a tree falls right in front of the man, slamming his rifle into the ground, but missing him.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!” He screams, jumping up.

“ERAHRG!!!!!!!!!!” Red screeches, colliding with the ground where the man had been a second ago.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!” The hunter cries again, running like hell trough the woods.

“Damn it!” Red snarls, pounding the ground with her fist.

“Well..that will do..” Hiei says, unaware of the commotion he has just caused, or of the angry Red, who just happens to be sitting a few feet away.

“YOU!” She shrieks, launching herself at him and wacking him with all her might on the back of his head. Letting out a groan, Hiei collapses into an unconscious heap at her feet. “Well....Looks like you’ll be my replacement..” She giggles wickedly, “So nice of you to offer.” With that she pulls out a large bag and stuffs him and his sword in it before racing through the woods.

The next morning

“I really don’t see why it’s such a big deal that he’s missing,” Barbra groans as she leads the way to her teams hideout, “I mean, we could have checked AFTER class if it is that big of a deal to you.”

“Yes, well, the sooner we find him, the sooner you can get to class.”

Rolling her eyes, Barbra moans, “That wasn’t what I meant.”

“I know.” Kurama smiles.

“And they say you became a better person when you became human.....” She mutters as she unlocks the door. Casually, as if she didn’t notice the former thief watching how she opens the door she adds, “You know, we change the security every week, and the doorknob is actually a touch pad. Sometimes, the key is a formality, sometimes it isn’t.” She sighs, “Our security department does wonderful work.”

Grinning nervously at the thinly veiled warning Kurama has to admit it sounded impressive, “How wonderful...Tell me, if you don’t mind me asking, who does your security?”

“Oh that’s easy,” Barbra laughs out loud, turning to look at him as she opens the door a crack and pushed him against the wall. Suddenly a bunch of arrows went wiping through the air right where the two had been just standing. “My partner Red does the security, of course.”

“I see....” Kurama sighs, seeing his chances of ever sneaking back in disappear as the door swings open. “Did you do something wrong?”

“Oh no, Silly,” giggles Barbra, “Red’s theory is if you can’t move fast enough, you deserve to get hurt. Keeps the help on their toes.” She concludes airily.

“Come on in!” a voice shouts from the interior.

“Hi!” Shouts back Barbra, “Did you have a nice vacation Red?”

“Well, it was ok until this ass interrupted my hunting,”

“I’m sooo sorry to hear that sweety! Did you get the bastard?” Barbra croons as she enters the room only to stop dead. “Is that my couch?” she twitches.

Blithely ignoring the last part, Red Wolf giggles, “Oh I got ‘im alright!” Kurama, wondering what could possibly be wrong with Barbra, pushes past her into the room. “I see you’ve been having fun, Barbra....”

“Is that my couch?” Barbra calmly asks again, pointing at the burning object in the middle of the room. She callously ignores the fact that Hiei, bound and gaged, is suspended right above the fire in full demon form. She also ignores the greeting chirp from the groups pet dragon, Jawbreaker, who is attempting to peck out Hiei’s Jagon eye.

“Uhhhhh....” Red begins, knowing troubles coming, “What couch?”

“I believe she means the one that is burning.” Kurama butts in, eyeing Hiei speculatively.

“Oh, THAT couch. No it’s not yours Barbra.”

“Then why does it have the same pattern as mine?” She snarls.

“Ummmmm.....Lucky coincidence?” Red stammers, backing up, “Wait, you can still see the pattern?”

“You are sooo.....”

“If I might interrupt, could it be possible for you to release Hiei now?”

“NO WAY!” Gasps Red, “The little prick interrupted my hunt! He belongs to ME now!”

“Pa-KWEEP!” hisses Jawbreaker as Hiei dodges his attack again. Impressive, given his position.

“Allow me,” Barbra sighs, patting Kurama’s arm, “This could take a while.... Red, I think you should let him go.”

“NO! He’s MINE!!” Pouts the shorter demon, “I worked hard!”

“Let him go.”

“I don’t wanna! You can’t make me! Your not my mother!”

“No I’m not, but I AM your partner, and I am telling you to let him go.” Sighs the fox. “I’ll tell you what. You let him go, and I’ll overlook the fact that you burned my new couch.”

“Hummmm...OK!” Yelps Red as she readily agreed, knowing she was getting off lightly. With a grin, she calls out to the small dragon, “Yo, JB, cut the rope, k?”

With a squeak, the piebald little creature launches himself at the rope and severs it. Unfortunately for Hiei, the couch is still on fire. Before the green-many-eyed demon can even let out a strangled shout, Kurama catches him and lands on the other side of the room.

As Kurama unties his friend, Red laughs sheepishly, “Guess I should have put out the couch first huh?”

“Gee ya think?!” Barbra growls as she wacks her partner upside the head. “Baka!”

“OWW! Hey, it all worked out!”

“Hiei, are you alright?” inquires Kurama.

“Hrmph!” snorts the shorter demon, reverting once again to his human form, “I’m fine. She just got lucky.”

“Oh really?” Red laughs before glancing at the clock. “Shit, I’m gonna be late! I gotta get changed!” With that, the Wolf demon run into a smaller side room.

“Late?” Hiei asks befuddled, glaring at Barbra.

“You really think she just got lucky?” Back laughs, picking up a backpack, “Let’s go already Chica!” She glances over at the two other demons, “Don’t you have class today?”

“I’m coming!” Cries Emily as she bolts out of the room scarfing a breakfast bar.

“YOU!” Growls Heie, tensing.

“Huh?” chocks out Emily, “What about me?” she gasps for air, confused.

Her eyes dancing, Barbra laughs, “I think he just figured it all out.” She grabs her friend and drags her out the door. “Come on! Let’s go!” Turning back to the two demons still inside she grins, “Remember our deal Kurama....”

“Deal?” whispers Emily, “What have you gotten us into this time?” shaking her head, she shouts, “You’d better hurry up, the automatized defenses are going to come on in a minuet, and you DO NOT want to be in there when they do....” She steps aside as the two boys brush passed them and headed on their way. “Now what deal?”

“Oh, you know, I help him with Hiei, and they keep their mouths shut on who we are. I still wanna see how long it will take the others to figure it out....” Chuckles Barbra as the buss pulls up. “Hi guys! Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?”

Comments (2)