Notes: This is a response to the June and August Challenges from the Fan Fiction list. I realized that I hadn�t done either one and it�s almost time for the September one, so I did them both in one story.
June Challenge read: Start a fic of any length, genre and fandom, with this one sentence:
�S/he walked along the deserted road, unsure of how, or even why, s/he was currently in this predicament. There was one thing s/he did know though, and that was s/he was being followed.�
Of course, names can be used in place of the �s/he� stuff.
August Challenge read: You're getting the old sentences challenge. Fic any fandom, any length, with these sentences in it: �Does the world look better upside down?� �You look like you went three rounds with a bull with a toothache.� �You better eat that spinach.� And somewhere in it should be �wooden toys�
Sighing deeply, the young man ducked into the shadow provided by a large tree and, at the same time, spread his ki out among the surrounding plants, so that it couldn�t be sensed. Kurama watched as two dark forms crested the hill and continued toward him, scanning the forest.
A soft grunt startled Kurama from his reverie and he backed away quickly, his hand already reaching for the rose he had hidden from view. The moonlight shown through the trees to reveal a familiar face scowling at him from a low branch.
�Hn,� Hiei grunted again. �You�re either getting slow or there�s something wrong with you, Fox. Normally, even I can�t sneak up on you like that.�
�Find him?� a familiar voice called from the road.
Hiei rolled his eyes. �What do you think?� he snapped turning his glare to the two dark forms entering the edge of the forest where Kurama had hidden.
�Hello Yusuke,� the fox said softly.
Yusuke blinked in surprise. �Sheesh, Kurama, You look like you went three rounds with a bull with a toothache,� the youth said, blatantly staring.
�Truly?� Kurama asked, eye Hiei.
When the fire demon shrugged and said, �You look awful.�
Kurama sighed. �I feel horrible and I don�t remember what happened, so don�t bother asking.�
�Looks like you got beat up,� Kuwabara explained helpfully.
Kurama sighed again. �Thank you for the accurate assessment, Kuwabara,� he grumbled. �I was able to figure that much out on my own.�
�What�s the last thing you do remember?� Yusuke asked softly, helping his injured friend to sit down on a nearby stump.
Kurama sighed and closed his eyes as he sifted through his thoughts.
**
�You had better eat that spinach, Shuichi,� his mother said softly.
Kurama poked the loathsome vegetable with his chopsticks and them sighed and finished it off. �All done,� he declared, getting to his feet. �I�ll see you later, Mother. I have to drop the toys off at Hitomi�s and then I�m meeting some friends.�
Shoiri nodded. �Don�t stay out too late,� she said, accepting a kiss on her cheek. �You have school in the morning.�
�Yes, Mother,� Kurama replied, lifting the box of wooden toys that he�d promised to bring to one of his classmates. Her younger cousins would be visiting for the weekend and she didn�t have anything for them to play with. Hearing her plight, Kurama had remembered that he�d saved all the toys his mother had given him as a child and offered to lend them to her.
The errand didn�t take too much time, then Kurama turned to head to Yusuke�s apartment so they could talk about their latest mission. As he�d turned the last corner and the building came into view, he felt a sharp pain in his head and the world went dark.
**
�Then I woke up,� Kurama said softly. �I saw that all the lights were out in your apartment, so I decided to head home.�
Yusuke nodded. �Did you check your pockets?�
�My pockets?�
�Maybe you were mugged,� he offered the confused fox.
Kurama sighed and checked his pockets, withdrawing his wallet and finding it empty, he sighed once again. �I was mugged,� he said sullenly.
Hiei, still seated in the tree, began laughing hysterically. �Kurama was robbed by humans! He�s feared throughout Makai and he was robbed by humans!�
�Hiei,� Kurama said sharply, drawing the fire demon�s attention. �Tell me, does the world look better upside-down?�
�Hn,� Hiei grunted, still amused. �How should I know?�
�Would you like to find out?� Kurama asked in a dangerously soft voice. �It can be arranged. Keep teasing me and I�ll have one of my plants snatch you out of that tree by your ankles. Then we�ll see who�s laughing.�
Hiei blinked and then frowned as he considered the threat. Wisely deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, he asked, �Are you alright?�
�I�ll live,� Kurama replied evenly, pocketing his empty wallet. �Right now I just want to go home.�
�Sorry,� Yusuke said, shrugging. �Koenma said he needs to see us right away.�
Kurama growled in frustration and shook his head. �It will wait until morning. I�m tired and I�m going home.� Without another word, Kurama stepped back onto the road and headed off toward his house.
Kuwabara scowled for a moment, then turned to Yusuke. �Think we should stop him?� he asked.
�And risk him sending his plants on us?� Yusuke asked. �Not me.�
�Hn,� Hiei grunted, in agreement. �I�ll make sure he makes it home alright.�
�Good idea,� Yusuke offered. �See ya tomorrow.� The fire demon was gone before Yusuke even finished the thought. Turning to Kuwabara, the spirit detective said, �Obviously, we aren�t going to Spirit World tonight. Let�s hit the sack and start fresh in the morning.�
Kuwabara nodded and the two headed back to Yusuke�s apartment.
End