Yuko is a teenage bandit and one of the loyal cousins of the young witch Chasing Midnight and her brother Chasing Moonlight in the short story "Bone Eaters". However, his name is not mentioned there, and is only revealed in the following short story "Chasing Midnight: The Dark Lord as a Teen".
"Bone Eaters"
Yuko is not identified by name in "Bone Eaters" but he appears at several points as one of the unnamed supporters of Chasing Moonlight.
Yuko's clan – located someplace west of Rue in the northern continent – was wrecked by a series of misfortunes: "bad weather, pests, poor crops, [and] relentless tax collectors". This forced him, his brother Haru, his twin cousins Chasing Midnight and Chasing Moonlight, another cousin (the leader of the gang, unnamed in the Annals), and 2 more male relatives (later identified as Chick and Fade) to become amateur bandits. All except the original leader of the gang are captured by the Black Company when they attempt to rob the Company's cleverly-disguised scout group. They are invited by Darling to join the New White Rose Rebellion.
As the Black Company and their sizable train of refugees from the Lady's Empire moves slowly eastward, Yuko and the four male relatives are stuck digging ditches for latrines. Eventually they disappear without any notice beforehand, leaving Chasing Midnight with the Company. Later, Moonlight secretly returns with Yuko and the other cousins to ambush Rusty – a young, widely-hated Company man who had attempted to rape Midnight – at the latrines. Croaker interrupts the murder attempt, and the 5 teenagers are given amnesty by Darling who "overlooked their desertion completely" in return for extra duty. Moonlight receives the least desirable shifts as ringleader.
When the Black Company and the refugee band following them are forced to approach the Village of Hungry Ghosts, Yuko, Thorodd Asgeir, and two others are lured by a siren call, enveloped by a swarm of discorporate evil entities, and are gruesomely ripped into pieces.
"Chasing Midnight"
Yuko is deceased by the events of "Chasing Midnight", but it is during that narrative that his name is finally revealed. Yuko's brother Haru remains loyal to Midnight despite the recent loss of his sibling.
| Chasing Midnight's clan |
|---|
| Chasing Midnight • Chasing Moonlight • Chick • Fade • Haru • Yuko |