Hey, guys! Just bringing you wonderful readers a brand new story! Kage-chan will be thrilled, not to mention I am because my cable is working again! Yay, see it went out the other day and for some bizarre reason, it chose to come back in now. I'm not going to sit and contemplate it, I'm just going to update. And expect to see Secrets in His Eyes be updated either today or tomorrow. I have to finish one scene and then I'll post the next chapter. For now, I hope you enjoy this story.

Disclaimer: sigh Haven't we been through this many times before? Once again, I do not own YYH or Inuyasha...besides you can't own your mate, that's like slavery. Now come along Kuronue (pulls leash).
Just Fly

Chapter 1

Just run…

Run?

Run as swiftly as you can…

Run where?

Fly away, little bird…

Fly? Little bird? He couldn't fly…could he?

Let me protect you, my little one…as the wind will carry you to me…

Of course. He was willing to let her protect him as long as she lived, provided she stay right here where she was, something which seemed pretty doubtful seeing as how her body was fading before his very, tear-filled, eyes.

My arms will protect you should you fall…

Yes…but who will protect you mother? Her eyes were closing, a sheen of fresh tears blocking him from seeing into her soul and trying to understand just what she was telling him. What was he supposed to do? Something was taking her away from him and he desperately clutched her to him with small, scrawny arms.

Fly to me and be at peace, little bird…

Oh…what was it his mother always told him, something about needing to look deeper to find true meaning?

When at last the sun sets on the 500th year, I will be waiting for you.

Shippo had heard those words a few thousand times over, though they had only been spoken once through the clenched teeth of the only mother he remembered, the mother that had disappeared while he desperately tried to clutch her to him in a fit of unbridled rage. The only thing he had been thinking of while she was leaving him was that it was unfair, not to mention horribly cruel! He had lost his parents early on, including his much-beloved father, only to be discovered by a tiny miko who should have slain him the moment he tried to steal her jewel shards. Of course, Shippo found out minutes later, that it just wasn't in her to kill anyone, much less a demon. She loved all creatures the same and bore no hate towards anyone…well until Naraku came along.

No, instead of purifying him of his existence, the miko had assisted him, treating the many bumps and bruises he had collected (as well as the ones he had received from an arrogant hanyou) while trying to get back the shard the Thunder Brothers killed his father for. It had only taken that one crucial meeting for him to discover that this miko, his miko, was indeed very unique. She possessed an almost otherworldly air about her, which was brought to life when she willingly told him of her life on the other side of the well. That said a lot, seeing as she was very hesitant to expose her family to any kind of danger. And much to his surprise Kagome had treated him just like any normal child…her child…caring for him and loving him as his absent birth mother should have done, instead of running away when taking care of a family got too tough. Shippo owed her more than his life; instead he owed her a lifetime of love and commitment she should only receive from those who truly loved her as she is.

And it killed him to think of her in this moment, not that he didn't enjoy bringing to life the vision of the mother who had so willingly protected him throughout their magical journey those many centuries ago when he was still a young kit. After all, he would be with her soon. It had been 500 years since she had departed from him, his tiny arms unable to keep her with him, while something had torn her away and forced her back to her own time. And yet now, years after he had heard her whispered pleas, he finally understood everything she'd prophesized.

It was in those final moments that she had uttered those fateful words through pain-filled gasps that left her barely able to breathe. Her eyes had gone foggy and for a moment a much younger Shippo feared she had died, however the words spoken next would continue to inspire, as well as haunt, him throughout the next few centuries until the dreaded 500 years were up…which was today. The sun was setting, the sky turning from pink into a dark purple. He had to hurry if he wanted to find the weakness in the barrier. He was sure if he missed it there would be no other chance to escape the Makai and find his mother.

Zip! Bang! A blue beam of light clipped one of his tan-colored ears, a perk after a major growth spurt, and a tree went up in flames beside his head as the rusty-colored kitsune flew forward, chanting the words his mother left him with, urging him onward until he would finally be with her again, back in her arms, back…where there was no place safer.

Mother…I'll be with you soon.

Shippo picked up speed and ignored the shots floating about his head, running towards his freedom.

Just fly.

"Don't these guys ever give up?" Kuronue growled as shots of blue light passed dangerously close to his head, crashing into trees and other wildlife that just happened to be in the way. All around him demons fled, though he and his partner were among the select few to attract more than one pursuer. And for once, Kuronue was glad he had such awesome wings, since they propelled him forward at a much higher velocity than a normal demon. Normally they were large and tended to get in the way, especially if he were trying to be sneaky. But today, he was ever so grateful and would have considered kissing them if he wasn't too busy running for his life.

Beside him a silver kitsune who had no trouble keeping up with the fast pace, placed his hands on top of his head and felt the tip of his right ear, where a shot had nicked him earlier. If he had moved just a scant few inches to the right, his head might have been blown clear off his body. Just thinking about it caused a deep growl to emanate from deep within Yoko's chest cavity and he moved faster, keeping in perfect rhythm with his best friend.

"Rose Whip!" Yoko cried, jumping and spinning when he sensed movement to his left, destroying 5 of his pursuers all in one bloody row, Kuronue ducking underneath the vines and urging his weapon into the chest cavity of a man who seemingly came out of the ground, face still a mask of grim victory while his head left his body and was smashed underneath Yoko's foot.

"Damn it!" Yoko's face transformed into an angered scowl as he thought of all the blood and guck he was going to have to clean later. There were even more 'goodies' meshed within the sticky strands of his sweat-soaked hair and bangs. How he wished he could stop this nonsense and take a bath.

"We have to get out of here!" Kuronue called to Yoko over the rush of the whistling wind. Inside his chest his heart was racing and the adrenaline was pumping something ferocious as his strong legs propelled him onward. "Or else I don't know how long we can keep this up. They've been chasing us for hours now and there's no telling how many more there are. With their type of power, we can't even sense them until they're right upon us." Kuronue gave a grunt as he unexpectedly moved in front of Yoko, blocking a shot headed straight for his partner's heart. His legs moved quickly, the muscles slightly protesting and beginning to wear from all the running, dodging, and leaping he'd done that day. The protective vest on his chest did well to keep him from getting harmed, however the material was beginning to fall apart from the beating it had already taken.

Because of the many years of living with Kuronue, Yoko was able to think on his feet and avoid plowing into his friend's back, instead moving to the side and nodding to him, ever so grateful Kuronue enchanted his clothes with special, protective spells. Maybe he should ask Kuronue to make him some armor and clothes like the kumouri wore. They would be a bit heavier, but they would serve their duty.

Yoko gave a gasp as a shot slammed into his right shoulder, tearing the muscle in his right arm to shreds, blood pouring out from the sudden gash. His concentration was broken as he turned to look at the wound in disbelief, while Kuronue simply latched onto his friend and pulled him along. There would be time enough to treat their wounds later…if they survived that is. However Kuronue was a skilled warrior and would not accept death's claim on him. Oh, sure, he and Yoko were marked demons (meaning wanted by bounty hunters, dead or alive) however he was trained remarkably well and would not allow himself to fall to some stupid spirit soldiers.

All of a sudden, a wall of fire went up around both demons and for a few seconds both feared the worst…that is until they heard the tortured shrieks of their adversaries. A tiny breech in the fire and they were through, being pulled to safety by a sandy-haired kitsune who looked quite a bit younger than them, though only by a few years. He was grown, certainly, but he was still young in kitsune terms.

Yoko opened his mouth to demand answers when the other kitsune shot him a despairing look, tossing his fiery locks behind his head and fleeing, the two bandits having no choice but to follow in the younger kitsune's trail. "Don't ask questions," he urged, "just run." Yoko watched in awe as the rusty kitsune spun around and continued blasting fire ball after fire ball, some shots colliding with the light blue of the ones meant to take their life. The three demons continued their race towards freedom, all the while attacking or dodging in turn. It was obviously wearing heavily on the younger kitsune, as he was breathing quite raggedly, eyes frantic in worry and pain. He too had many wounds, cuts, and abrasions and his fire became less and less powerful the more his energy drained.

"This way!" Shippo called, zigzagging through the trees and approaching a spot in the barrier he knew to be weakened slightly. If he used just enough energy to break it, he could save himself as well as these guys. He had no idea why he was saving them, as it was unlike him to trust many others. He had remained solitary throughout the years, not wanting to risk exposing his existence. He knew someone had ruthlessly torn his mother away for a reason. It was just as well that he remain hidden so that her enemy could never find him. However, one of them was a kitsune and his race was dying out from being hunted for their gorgeous fur. And his mother seemed to enjoy saving others, so why not follow in her footsteps? If they turned on him later, she would simply kill them. When it came to himself, his mother loved him something fierce and no force on earth could be saved from her wrath should he come to harm.

Yoko and Kuronue exchanged a curious/suspicious glance, wondering why they were still following the stranger. Certainly they could have gotten through this by themselves. But who were they to not take advantage of a helping hand? After all, it was better than the alternative. They'd rather deal with another kitsune than the damned spirit assassins.

That's it! Shippo exclaimed excitedly in his mind. Just a step closer and he could visibly see the swirling colors of the golden barrier which stood between him and his mother, the Makai and the Ningenkai. Stopping in his tracks, Shippo nearly caused a fatal collision, however Yoko and Kuronue had fast reflexes and managed to stop them selves from running him into the ground.

"What are you doing?" Kuronue demanded, expression one of startled bewilderment, eyes darting in all directions and occasionally swinging his scythe when one of their pursuers came too close for comfort. He gave a loud growl when a shot of blue whizzed by his head and cut a few strands of his pure raven hair. His mouth dropped open as several strands fluttered to the ground.

"Oh, shit," Yoko muttered, recognizing the look in her partner's eyes when they started flashing red. Kuronue was about to break. When it came to their hair, no one messed with it.

Sure enough, the kumouri let out an angered cry and his weapon soon followed, tearing through the approaching enemies cleanly and making satisfying crunches and interesting, squishing sounds as it connected and struck them down with years of skill and mastery. Yoko also had his whip out, though through an advanced technique he hadn't used in years he had been able to set his vine aflame; so instead of it shriveling up like most plants would, this particular vine was able to withstand any type of heat or fire.

Shippo paid them no mind, strangely trusting them to keep the assassins off his tail, while he lifted his hands and went to work on causing a breach in the barrier. Almost immediately the barrier tried to purify him, singing his hands slightly, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. The golden barrier was designed to completely purify any demon that made an attempt to get past it, however Shippo had bonded to Kagome at a very young age, and because of her unique powers and their close bond, he was able to live with very strange abilities. Purification had almost no affect on his body, other than a slight burning sensation.

Kuronue who had glanced behind him briefly when he felt the flare of magic, went to shout out a warning to the kitsune and almost dropped his jaw when he saw what Shippo was doing. The kitsune was actually breaking through the barrier. His hands were turning a light blue color as the magic raced through his body and effortlessly began expanding a hole until it was the size of a human body. Shippo's eyes bled red and he fought to sustain the hole, finding the barrier more difficult to breach than he thought it would, yet he pushed onward and slowly, but surely the hole expanded even more until a demon body could pass through with perfect ease and without threat of purification.

"Go through," Shippo gritted out when he noticed the incredulous stares he was receiving. "Go through now! It's the only way. Quickly!"

"Are you mad! That thing will purify us the moment we cross!" Yoko exclaimed eyes wide as he studied the hole in quiet thought. It was remarkable what this young kitsune had done and at another point in time he would have given anything to know the secret behind the young kit's strange powers, however Yoko's sharp mind processed that this was not the time and that his feet should be moving real soon.

"It won't," Shippo assured them. He raised his head and locked eyes defiantly with Yoko, an almost unspoken dare rising to the surface between them. After a long, tense moment Shippo stopped glaring, however his face never lost the gruffness. "Trust me, please." His eyes implored them to understand that he was not trying to kill or harm them. He was trying to take them some place safe, some place where they could rest and heal their wounds and perhaps think and find some answers.

"Just go!" Another deep voice echoed, interrupting the stand-off, stepping forward and pausing to glance at Yoko and Kuronue before walking elegantly through. Yoko briefly recognized the black blur and growled in his mind. What the hell was Yomi doing there? Was he being targeted by the assassins as well? And who would be powerful enough to force out a demon of Yomi's strength? From what Yoko had been able to gather, Yomi was just settling into his new role as a lord. Yoko was truly puzzled by this turn of events, his overworked mind desperately seeking some kind of revelation to the turmoil rocking the Makai. "Come on!" Yoko blinked when he felt the blind demon's claws scratching his wrists and simply allowed himself be pulled along when Yomi reached back through the hole and forced the silver kitsune to move.

Shippo urged Kuronue in after both demons, a bit worried about saving another demon he didn't know, yet he was more concerned about himself at this particular moment. With a push and an agitated growl from Shippo, the kumouri went tumbling after his friend and the ex-bandit, turned lord, Shippo following soon after and disappearing through the doorway into the other world, the world in which his mother resided. She would be waiting for him. He knew she would be. After all, she must have known something was going to happen. Otherwise she wouldn't have given him that warning all those years ago. His heart rate sped up with his nervousness over seeing her again and the bounce that developed in his stride continued carrying him forward…and back into his mother's life. He was so excited about seeing her again that Shippo failed to realize just how much energy he had lost by breaking through the Makai's barrier. His beautiful, though tired, aqua eyes fluttered closed and the last thing he remembered was falling against a silver-clad chest and a strong arm wrapping around his neck, several voices telling him he needed to stay awake.

She was waiting…just like she promised. The blue and white robes that fluttered around her seemingly delicate legs continued to dance with the soft breeze. Ah, the calm before the storm, she thought forebodingly. It was such a nice night too; a beautiful night which would soon be lost to her and drowned out by a war almost 200 years in the coming. The priestess sat very still, eyes closed as she enjoyed the last few moments of peace she would know for quite some time. She allowed the feeling to fill her soul with hope, her mind unwilling to cope with the consequences should she fail in her upcoming task. The bow she held in her hands lay docile across her lap, the white wood glistening in the brightness of the moon's glow. Her fingers moved of their own accord and wrapped around the smooth contours of her beloved weapon. It was hard to believe such a delicate-looking tool was capable of such strength; however even after all these years and after the many weapons she had trained with, the bow was still her weapon of choice. She had mastered it years ago and it was almost as precious to her as her little Shippo…well not quite, but close.

A small, peaceful smile slid across her serene face and she tipped her head back, allowing her eyes to blink open and her hair to glisten in the moonlight as her face lit up with inner happiness as she allowed herself to remember the young kitsune she had befriended and then later adopted as her dear son. She wondered what he looked like now, if he had grown even more handsome than the last time she'd seen him. Would he still grin at her impishly, the way he did as a child? Or would he be serious and poised…like say Sesshomaru? Somehow, Kagome couldn't picture anyone else with as much dignity and grace as the great Lord of the Makai, much less her son. She gave a slight giggle as she tried to picture Shippo acting like Sesshomaru, the giggles transforming into full blown laughter with the ridiculous notion.

Almost as quickly as it came, her laughter faded away until she was sitting as still as before, all traces of happiness and peace dissipated.

Only the small burning sensation that tingled on her right shoulder blade and upper arm, alerted her to the presence of a demon. And not just one, there were…one…two…three...four altogether and there seemed to be some other beings as well, though they were not of demonic origin. Kagome growled lightly, recognizing Shippo's energy signal almost instantly. Even after all these years he still felt the same only now he possessed ten times the strength he had in the Feudal Era. There was only one other demon she recognized, but for the life of her she could not put a name to the demon behind the signal. The last two demons she did not know, though her son's energy did not seem to be in any danger from them. Instead, it almost felt as if his energy was protecting the others, guiding them to her. However, something was causing great pain and anguish to reside in him and she knew exactly what that something was…or rather, who they were.

Kagome stood and waited patiently, robes swaying as she walked forward and disappeared into the shadows. It was time.

"Come on, kit, stay with me," Yoko murmured to the younger kitsune, currently slung between him and Kuronue. The rusty-colored kit was losing color in his face and his eyelids kept sliding closed.

"Not…a kit," Shippo muttered and fought to keep himself conscious, if only to prove to the other kitsune that he could be just as strong.

Despite the seriousness of the day, Yoko couldn't hold back a small chuckle. "You okay…kit?" Yoko chuckled once again when the younger kitsune raised his head and glared, though his face was slightly strained. He turned away from the angered, half conscious kitsune and found himself staring at the back of his former partner. Almost against his will, his hands clenched into fists and he fought not to throttle his former partner. Although they'd settled their differences many years ago, there was still an instinctive distrust between the two and Yoko was pretty sure Yomi was a tad jealous of Kuronue. After all, Yomi had only been one of his many men and Yoko had only chosen to send him on easy missions, whereas Kuronue was much more talented than Yomi ever was or could be. Kuronue was a true friend and was the only one Yoko trusted fully. The kumouri was also very, very good at what he did.

"How you holding up?" Kuronue asked when their eyes connected and met over Shippo's head. Yoko shot his friend a tired sigh and ran a talloned hand through his ratty hair.

"I've been better," he confessed. "You?" His eyes trailed over his partner's form, satisfied when he could find no life threatening injuries.

Kuronue simply shrugged his shoulders, slumping with exhaustion. "Fine. But we better get this guy some place safe. And speaking of safe places…where in the hell are we? Are we really in the Human Realm? Shouldn't we have died the instant we tried to pass?"

Yoko glanced around, slightly curious, noticing that there were some strange sights and smells. Luckily, there didn't appear to be any humans wandering about, perhaps because the lateness of the day, so that was a plus for them. Surprisingly, it was the young kitsune who answered.

"Yes, we're in the human realm," he confirmed, drawing attention from all three demons. Yomi continued to walk forward, only the slight turn of his head indicating he was listening.

"Why are we here?" Yoko asked. "And how did we make it past the barrier without melting?"

Shippo considered answering, but truth be told, he really had no answer, at least where the others were concerned. He knew whyand how he was here. But why had he chosen to save the others when he could have easily left them behind? Ah, well, too late to worry about that now.

"Halt!" A loud voice shouted and Yoko cursed his self for not feeling the spirit soldiers following them. He should have known they would be able to get into the human realm. They worked for Reikai after all and the Reikai could send them where ever they wanted.

All four demons stopped in their tracks, finding themselves surrounded on all sides. A green-haired man took center stage as he stepped forward, a cruel sneer on his pale face. "Yoko Kurama and Kuronue…so I've finally caught you. You know you two are really hard to track. Too bad for you, I am a master at tracking criminals such as yourselves."

Yoko and Kuronue growled at the man's conceited tone, but the green-haired assassin simply ignored their anger and smirked at Yomi, bowing condescendingly.

"Lord Yomi, it is a pleasure to meet you. Lord Enma sends his unfortunate regards." Yoko was surprised at how well Yomi maintained his anger. In the past, Yomi had possessed quite a temper, which was one of the reasons Yoko had forced him out of his clan. Well, what do you know? He mused. Maybe Yomi learned something after all.

The assassin looked confused to see Shippo, however he foolishly chose to dismiss the younger kit. "I don't know who you are, kitsune, but I'm afraid all four of you will be coming-"

"We will not," Yomi interrupted and stepped elegantly forward, intent on breaking through the circle surrounding them. Two men stepped in front of him and attempted to stop the lord, intent on departing from the scene. "You cannot leave, sir, you must stay," one of them spoke up bravely.

Yomi turned his head and glared through unseeing eyes, allowing his power to swell a bit until it washed over them. His horns glistened and his ears twitched as he took in the slight increase in their breathing patterns, an indication that they were afraid of him and his power. Their eyes widened as they felt the lord's overwhelming power and both trembled nervously in front of the great lord. No one had informed them how powerful these demons were. They were simply deemed dangerous and supposed to be killed or placed in Spirit World custody. "And who will stop me?" Yomi scoffed. "You two? Please."

"Me neither," Shippo spoke up, eyes open and fully alert. "I'm not going anywhere until I find what I am looking for."

His power was weak at the moment, however his mother had always taught him to be strong in the face of danger. The circle of assassins laughed at the young kit's bravery.

"And just what could you be looking for the in the Human World?" The aqua-haired assassin speculated as all eyes directed to Shippo. "Jewels…paintings…riches?"

"I'm not a thief!" Shippo countered sharply. "And I never said anything about stealing anything. If you must know, I am searching for my mother. And right now you are keeping her from me!" Shippo's anger was about maxed out and he knew his eyes were flashing in rage. The pressure and the danger were beginning to get to him and the only thing he wanted was to be in his precious mother's arms. As far as he was concerned, anything else in his way could just go to hell. "So get…out…of MY…WAY!" Shippo shrieked and threw his hands up; generating enough power to obliterate everything in the nearest vicinity should he be forced to release the blast. He was about to blast every one of those assholes who kept his mother from him when a strong, feminine voice boomed out over his anger.

"SHIPPO!"

Shippo stopped what he was doing, the power he had conceived leaving him in a blink. His eyes stopped flashing and they faded into their normal aqua color.

"Shippo," she called again, though this time it was much softer and her voice seemed to be much closer.

Shippo turned his head and for the first time in exactly 500 hundred years, saw the face of his beloved mother as she hurried towards him with tears in her eyes, anger on her face, and a welcoming smile on her lips. For a moment Shippo feared her anger was directed towards him…until it registered that her eyes were shining; shining with adoration. She wasn't angry at him. She was angry at the assassins. She still…she still loved him. The love shining in his mother's eyes, leftthe kitsune momentarily breathless.

Shippo took no notice of anything else at this point; the confused awe of Yoko and Kuronue, the spirit assassins beginning to unfreeze after their terrifying brush with death. Even Yomi had stopped his progression and was staring at the new arrival with curiosity and, strangely enough, recognition. However, Shippo lifted his head and flew forward just as she'd warned him to do, sure that when he fell into her arms she would catch him just as she'd always done, just as she'd promised and as she would continue to do now that she was his once again.

Well, that's it! What did ya'll think? Let's see, what can I tell you about this story or answer some questions that might arise? Kagome, if you haven't figured it out, was forcefully pulled out of the past. Why, who, and how are just some questions you may have, though I will not answers those specific ones now, since I would give away the plot. However, I can tell you that Kagome has ties to the Spirit World, I just can't tell you what kind of ties. That, too, will also come about later. Why did Yomi recognize Kagome? And why is he there in the first place, well he too was forced out, however there are a few factors that he already knew ahead of time. You will find out what those are later. Um, let's answer some simple questions. Yes, Shippo is grown up; fully, I suppose, though I do believe he is still younger than Yoko and Kuronue; Yoko, for sure. Kuronue's age is anyone's guess, however it just makes sense that Shippo would still be younger than the two even though he's never met them before. Also, keep in mind thatShippo kept to himself during his alone time. He didn't venture out and make friends. His presense was hidden so he knows almost nothing about thewell-known figures of the Makai. Um, I can't think of anything else you guys might ask, though I suppose the pairings are the same as always; Kuronue/Kagome/Yoko. I believe Shippo will have a mate later on, though I haven't decided who it's going to be yet. Perhaps you guys can review and suggest a mate for Shippo. I promise to take anything into consideration. Also, any other questions that I didn't answer will be answered in my livejournal. Well, I think that's all. I hope this was up to my normal standars. Hope you guys enjoyed it and remember to review!

Ja ne.

Kura

P.S. This is dedicated to Kage-chan, not only for being my one true sister at heart, but also because she was the first one to see this story. I also haven't been able to talk to her in a few days because of the cable situation, so this is to make up for missing her. So you all should give her credit for inspiring me topost this.