Disclaimer: The song is "Halo" by Beyoncé Knowles. I do not own Inu-Yasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. I simply love the characters and creating fiction.

A/N: The song "Halo" inspired this story, so I wanted to start each chapter with the lyrics. They actually fit quite well. Through the Ages is mostly a Youko/Kagome story, but it wouldn't be the same with Kurama, too. Love!

Through the Ages

Chapter One

Remember those walls I built?

Well, baby, they're tumbling down.

Kagome Higurashi didn't notice the stares.

She tapped her pen against her mouth, looking over the map. There were dirty fingerprints around the edges, and the fold-lines weak and malleable from everyday use. Red, blue, and green markers were littered across it, as well as something resembling dried blood on the upper right hand corner.

She had begun keeping track of the borders and territories of feudal Japan a little over a year ago, when she had started traveling by herself. It felt like cheating sometimes, but her history textbooks provided her with a guidebook to the feudal era: which warlords to avoid, where the next major battle will happen, who's side to take if you're caught between two opposing lords... It made traveling in the past a little easier. Especially during the past three months.

She erased and began re-districting the latest borders around Edo, penciling in beside them the dates and opposing warlords (this time).

Kagome distractedly pushed her hair away from her eyes when a male's voice startled her.

"Is this seat taken?"

Kagome glanced up.

Another student stood beside the desk next to her, his damp, crimson-colored hair falling around his eyes. A green scarf was wrapped loosely around his neck. Kagome felt her mouth go dry.

She shook her head.

He pulled the chair out and shrugged out of his jacket, revealing a crisp white, button-down shirt and grey slacks. Kagome managed to turn her eyes away, not wanting to be rude.

He was gorgeous.

And she recognized him.

Shuuichi Minamino. He usually sat three levels down and at the end of the row- far enough away to merely be a attractive distraction during a lecture.

Kagome looked around. Class didn't begin for another fifteen minutes and dozens of empty desks were scattered around the lecture hall. And the few students who were in the room were staring at him. No, she realized, blushing hotly. At them. And if looks could kill…

Kagome crossed her legs and pretended to read, pointedly refusing to look in his direction as he sat down. He shifted, and his shoulder brushed hers. Something powerful brushed across her senses. She ignored it, blaming it on the tension between two strangers.

He wasn't as keen on ignoring her, however. "Is that for class?" He asked, motioning with his hand towards the map.

"No," she said. "It's a… hobby of mine."

"Your hobby is recording medieval battlefields?" She could hear the amusement in his voice.

Kagome was a little impressed he recognized what the blue marks on the map were for. She smiled, tucking her chin against her palm. Finally, a fellow history buff.

But it was kind of ridiculous- Sesshoumaru's exceedingly good looks never made her this jumpy. Or Kouga's. And Inuyasha's only on occasion, but she blamed that on his cute puppy ears. But Minamino was doing it effortlessly. "Yes, it is."

"I see," he murmured.

"You seem surprised."

He chuckled. "I'm suppose I'm not used to anyone else sharing an interest in history."

Kagome laughed a little at that. "I know what you mean," she agreed. "I live at a shrine and couldn't have cared less about ancient relics or legends growing up."

Minamino tilted his head to the side. "What changed your mind?" He asked, sounding genuinely interested.

She swallowed again, fighting down a blush. Whoops. "Ah.. That is…" She faltered. "I had a… life-changing experience. Where my grandfather's boring history lessons actually were useful for once."

He chuckled again. "That's a very vague answer, Kagome." He said.

Kagome froze. "Excuse me?" He knows my name?

His green eyes lifted and met hers, watching her hungrily; almost like a predator. Minamino had such a gentle smile, but his eyes were… intense, to say the least. Kagome felt her breath catch somewhere in her throat, tensing. Something nameless passed across his face then, almost like a grimace. His expression changed to a blank slate.

"I saw it written on your notebook." Minamino explained. "I'm sorry, I can call you Higurashi if you'd prefer it."

"N-No, Kagome's fine." She said, cursing herself for stuttering. She pulled back her shoulders a little. "But only if I can call you Shuuichi," she bargained.

He shook his head. "No."

"What? Why not?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Call me Kurama."

"Kurama?" She repeated, confused. Her shoulders dropped. The anger left as quickly as came. "Is that a nickname?"

He shook his head. "No," he said shortly.

"Okay…" Kagome pushed hair behind her ear, feeling a little awkward now. Kurama. What a strange name. She was sure none of his fan club had ever called him that before. Was he messing with her? She glanced at him. No, he was serious. And… A smile played around her mouth. He was frowning at their observers, who quickly pretended to be doing homework. It seemed to fit him, somehow, she thought. She shrugged away the strange implications.

Looking down at her notes. It was a lost cause. Not with someone as distracting as Kurama sitting next to her. She could do it later, she reasoned, pushing it to the side.

"So," she tried. "Why Kurama?"

His eyes met hers, again. He made it difficult to look away- not that she wanted to. It almost seemed like he was trying to tell her something without saying a word. But what, she wasn't sure.

"Because," he murmured, leaning forward and tilting his face to the side. She could feel his breath on her face. "I have always been Kurama."

Suddenly, their professor breezed in to the room and slammed a binder down on his desk. "Good Morning, class!"

Kagome jumped away from him, her chair scraping against the tile with a loud screech. Several heads turned in their direction.

"Settle down, Miss Higurashi." Professor Nakamura teased. "I'm just as excited about today's class as you are. Today, class, we will be covering ethics. Prepare to take notes. The powerpoint will be up in a moment."

Kagome immediately began digging through her backpack, looking for her anthropology notebook. Her face was hot. What, she thought, was that?

She glanced at Kurama from the corner of her eye. He was looking forward and he looked calm enough. But his knuckles were turning white around his pencil.

The lights dimmed and the word "ETHICS" was boldfaced across the white screen. Professor Nakamura began speaking.

Pushing her hair back over her shoulder, Kagome flipped her notebook open and spent the next twenty minutes furiously taking notes and ignoring the handsome red-head beside her. Quite effectively, too. She didn't know how to handle these kind of situations at all - her experience in that area was solely restricted to half-dog demons from five hundred years in the past. Dating and boyfriends was something she didn't have time for. She was too busy. And too complicated.

Kagome sighed.

Then she felt something hit her chair.

She looked down and saw a pencil rolling to a stop beside her foot. She saw Kurama glance at her before slowly bending down to pick it up. She went to get it for him, but as her fingers were about to close around it, his fingers closed around hers. She tried pulling away, but he had a firm hold on her.

"Kur-" She began, but the words died in her throat. He brought her hand up and pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist. His lips were warm and moist, and so light it almost tickled.

Then he let go, smoothly sitting up and reaching for the spare pencil beside his notebook.

Kagome stared, craddling her hand. He planned that! She realized. The hot flush of her cheeks changed from embarrassed to angry. And he was acting perfectly normal.

She glowered.

Kurama's eyes widened, grabbing his shin where she had kicked him under the table. He turned to look at her and she glared before deliberately turning her head away. A soft chuckle reached her ears.

Jerk.

As soon as the lecture ended half an hour later and the lights came on, Kagome was cramming her things in to her bag and standing to go. But Kurama blocked her way. Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, having to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. She squared her shoulders.

"What do you want, Kurama?" She demanded.

He was looking at her, too - at the planes of her face as his eyes hungrily tracing the frown on her lips and smiling at the blush rising to her cheeks. He seemed completely unaware that she was two seconds away from either kicking him in the shins again or suffering a heart attack. Whichever came first.

"A date."

Kagome blinked. "What?"

He nodded stiffly. "Go on a date with me."

Kagome considered refusing, but had a feeling he wouldn't take no for an answer. She glanced at her watch. She promised her grandfather she'd be home by twelve to meet with the antique dealer.

If she started running now, she'd only be a few minutes late. Kagome glanced past his shoulder longingly as students escaped in to the hallway.

She conveniently ignored how fast her heart was beating. She didn't not like the idea…

"One date?"

"Just one."

"Fine," she sighed. "But next week. And I get to pick the place," she added.

His eyes warmed considerably at her demands. "Alright," he agreed. He stepped aside, leaving her just enough space to get to the aisle. Her back brushed his chest as she scooted past him. "I'm looking forward to it, Kagome."

Kagome didn't respond. She was too busy rushing down the stairs. Tugging her backpack straps higher on her shoulder, Kagome avoided the other people in the hallway as she made a bee-line for the exit. Her annoyance was quickly giving way to excitement. She was going on a date with Kurama. She laughed to herself, unable to keep a smile off her face.