Disclaimer: I do not own any characters used in this story. The characters belong to their respective owners: Rumiko Takahashi who owns Inuyasha and Yoshihiro Togashi who owns Yu Yu Hakusho. I do not make any moneys from this story.
This story was written as a sequel to Fading To Black. Enjoy!
Kagome's thoughts
'Other thoughts'
'Hiei's thoughts'
*Kurama's thoughts*
Return to White
Yusuke sat down at the table and dropped a notebook in front of Kagome who was eating her breakfast. It was a little embarrassing that she nearly dropped her rice bowl. "What's this?" Kagome asked curiously picking up the notebook to read the roughly scrawled information. "Is this-?"
"Yep something to keep you occupied while Hiei is gone. It's a simple mission nothing big but I thought you might enjoy a short outing with a friend since it's been a while. Hiei doesn't like you to be out of his sight but I think it will be okay if you are with me. What do ya say?"
"Absolutely! I'll go get my bow and arrows!" Kagome cheered jumping up and racing out of the room. She sprinted to the rooms she and Hiei shared on their side of the shrine. Yusuke and Kurama had begun work on one of the larger storage buildings converting it in to a home for them but it was a few months from completion. Yep that's right a couple, she and Hiei were married; newlywed only six months ago.
Kagome glanced down at the ring on the middle finger of her left hand and smiled. She still wore the ring as the youkai custom showing that the marriage did not unbalance the relationship. Then she frowned, it wasn't a complete relationship yet. There were certain things lacking in her marriage like: love. It was nothing like the fairytale romance she had dreamed of but there was respect and consideration and friendship at least on his side.
For her part it was far more, she was in love with him. Fear of his rejection of her feelings kept her silent on the words so she never voiced them. Or at least hadn't yet, although his actions of late had told her that he just might soon be ready to hear them. She smiled as she thought of how tender he'd been lately with her and how often his lips would curl into a true smile his eyes alight with warmth and affection or how he would hold her for hours after they would make love just running his fingers through her hair. She loved that. But there were things that she was not happy about: the lack of a mental connection like they'd had before and the biggest threat being the tainted jewel slowly killing her.
On her wedding day she'd received another warning that her time was ebbing and it made her sad anxious and angry. The jewel was cruel to warn her but sealing her ability to warn her love and friends was beyond heartless. She would die seemingly for no reason and they would be left only grief and regret she more than they. Hiei was far from back to normal after the emotional blow he'd taken in learning his conception was out of love and meeting his paternal grandfather. Her dying would be awful and devastating to her hiyoukai.
Speaking of Hiei, she glanced at the calendar and thoughtfully counted the days it was four days till he was due home from business in the Makai. He occasionally had to return to meet with a youkai named Mukuro who had proclaimed him her heir. He had been gone for a week and three days so far and she missed him. He had promised when he left that upon his return he would take her on a real honeymoon anywhere she wanted to go. She looked fondly at the tickets to Okinawa lying on their dresser.
"Hey Kagome, daylights a 'wasting!" Yusuke called down the hallway.
"I'm coming!" she called back running out the door weapons in hand.
"Run!" Yusuke yelled to her as she stood watching her friend being overwhelmed before he pulled his arm back his fist glowing blue and fired a volley of spirit gun blasts screaming "Shot gun!" The youkai surrounding him dropped but behind them a fresh wave was coming, it had been a trap. Yusuke grabbed her arm as he sprinted pulling her behind him to get her feet moving.
Kagome ran beside him trying not to think about the angry hoards of youkai behind them. These were not the run of the mill youkai this was a well trained veritable army of the youkai equivalent of Yakuza. "What did you do Yusuke? They're going to rip us apart!"
"I might have killed their boss's brother. But forget that, this way!" He grabbed her arm again jerking her to the left on a hairpin turn.
"Watch out!" Kagome screamed in warning as a fist collided with Yusuke's chest and sent him back several paces. This was so stupid! All she'd wanted was some exercise and to get away from the temple for a little while. It was her fist mission since getting married six months ago and Kagome had thought it would be fun to go with Yusuke for "old time's sake".
"Spirit Gun!"
Oh yeah, this was not on list of things to do- ever. If they were going to get out of this alive they would need a miracle. A spiked club narrowly missed her head. "Yusuke duck!" Kagome screamed in warning before she fired an arrow into the oncoming masses, purifying a good portion with her first shot.
"Kill the Miko!" a roar of rage surged through the hoard and they rushed forward to surround them. Kagome responded firing another arrow.
"There is no end to this!" Kagome screamed reaching back for another arrow only to find air. "Yusuke I'm out of arrows!" She turned her head to the side to scream to her companion.
The sharpened metal "spear" made a sickening hollow whistling sound as it flew through the air towards her chest at a fatal speed. Kagome could not possibly move fast enough to avoid it. Everything seemed to slow as she winced waiting for the inevitable blow. She was pushed to the side as blood sprayed her arms and face as her savior took the blow. The inertia knocked him back several feet and to the ground. Her eyes wide she saw first the black shoes and bandaged wrapped ankles followed by the black lose fighting pants and the rapidly growing pool of blood staining the floor. Her gaze snapped up and the cry of his name left her lips as the scene began to move at rapid pace "Hiei!"
A purification barrier surged out of her and surrounded Yusuke in a protective shield as it turned the hoards to ashes in seconds, their screams eerily loud in her ears as she scrambled to Hiei's side. She choked at the sight of the metal projectile sticking out of his chest before pulling it free and tossing it away. His eyes were already darkening with death and Kagome didn't hesitate as she placed her hands on his chest and summoned her life energy to her hands. The energy lit up the blood soaked concrete walls and floor. Just as before she poured everything into mending damaged organs and muscle, returning him to perfect health- his hand gripped her wrist before what was left of the wound, a shallow cut had closed and had been healed fully. "No! Stop Kagome! " Hiei sat up and drew her into his arms as her power flickered out.
Kagome collapsed like a puppet when the strings are cut. She curled in on herself as the pain wracked her body and her stomach roiled. The coppery metallic taste of blood filled her mouth and she choked. Blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth as Hiei held her so her back rested against his legs. Her breaths were slow and shallow as Hiei gave her energy to replace what she'd given to him. He didn't like how she looked with dark patches under her eyes and her skin so pale. She tried to smile at him, "You're alive."
"Yes, now you stay alive so I can yell at you later." Hiei said firmly, he refused to think of the alternative.
Kagome tried to nod, but more pain radiated out of her chest and she grimaced, her hand coming up to grip her shirt weakly. Hiei frowned before he ripped her t-shirt collar open and his eyes widening at the sight of purplish veins spider webbing her body from a nearly black sphere under her skin. He didn't have to be told what it was for he knew with sickening clarity. "The jewel, I thought-?" He recognized it but didn't want to believe it. Kagome had never told him it still existed and try as he might her thoughts could not tell him when she had discovered it either.
Kurama knelt beside her, returning after dispatching those who had run. He and Hiei had come to find them after hearing from a reliable source (now deceased) that this particular gang was planning to kill the Mazoku –Detective. Upon arriving and witnessing Kagome and Yusuke surrounded, they had leapt into the fray. Yusuke looked sick with horror and kept mumbling "it's my fault," while repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists. This was supposed to be a simple mission: in and out no danger at all but now-Hiei had almost died and Kagome- "Is she-," he couldn't finish the question.
Taking one look at her face Kurama reached into his hair and pulled out a seed. Quickly he slipped it in her mouth and a flare of his energy later she went completely limp. Hiei snarled at him dangerously and Kurama hurried to explain, "I've given her an herb to numb the pain and it will slow the spread of the poison." His voice was hollow and the way the words echoed in the empty space of the warehouse sounded so final.
Hiei sat in stunned silence as Kurama spoke. He'd come to save her and now she was -in his arms and he was helpless. She had risked her life for his as he'd always wondered if she would once, but damn it this was not how he wanted to find out at the cost of her- His stomach twisted as he watched her chest rise and fall very slowly. "Fix her damn it!" he growled finally as fear gripped his heart with icy fingers of dread. She had to recover she had to survive.
Kurama hung his head as the weight of grief rested heavily on his shoulders. "I-I can't, Kagome is dying Hiei, nothing I can do can stop it, all I can do is delay it. You will have to take her to someone who knows about holy magic. It's that," he pointed to the black sphere still glowing under her skin, "that is killing her."
Hiei held her limp form next to his chest as he gritted his teeth, "Can't you just remove it? Cut it out of her and-" He gripped his sword hilt swallowing thickly. They had just begun their lives together and she was being taken from him already. He wouldn't let it take her. No matter-
"If I take it out Hiei there is no telling what damage it could do. It could damage her soul and then No one can help her."
"Damn it! Kagome, don't do this. How do I save you?!" he murmured through clenched teeth. The eerie purple/black light of the jewel made her skin paler and he felt her breath catch, stopping all together before picking up again shallower than before. He was running out of time and there was nothing-
"Koenma. Take her to Koenma, Hiei." Yusuke pulled out his communicator he kept on him for emergency. He flipped it open.
"Step in to the portal." Koenma said without preamble and before Yusuke could say a word. He had decided to check up on them all and had witnessed the events that had led up to the current situation.
Gathering her limp body into his arms Hiei followed Yusuke through the portal and Kurama followed after. The portal closed behind them. "Lay her here on this circle." He commanded softly. Hiei laid his wife down as though she were made of glass. It was the gentlest thing any of them had seen Hiei do. But when it came to Kagome nothing Hiei did tenderly or gently really surprised them anymore. Koenma held his hand over her chest and closed his eyes. "The tainted jewel is partially fused with her soul; to remove it would take someone with power equal to her own latent powers. The ritual is risky, Hiei you are the only one capable of performing this spell-"
"Save your breath, she is my wife. I will save her." Hiei interrupted harshly. He didn't care what the cost if there was a way, if there was a chance then he would take it. He would save her even if it cost him his total existence he would see her alive and well again but He had no intentions of giving up his life. She would recover and then they would return to being happy once more. He had just barely learned how to smile with her without reservations.
Koenma sighed he had known that would be his reply but he had not told him the risks. "Then I will try to help her. The mechanics of the spell are simple but the method is not. We have to draw the taint out of Kagome and then with her purity restored the rest should take care of its self. This spell is not without cost though Hiei, Kagome may never be able to access her power again, and she will be an average human. Hiei you could be obliterated body and soul."
"You are wasting Kagome's precious time." Hiei snapped turning his intense claret eyes on the young Reikai king.
Decision made Koenma could only hope that the spell went smoothly and that the other two were safe. "Very well, Hiei if that is your decision then nothing more need be said. Yusuke, Kurama stand guard at the door do not let anyone pass. The slightest loss of concentration could be fatal to either of them."
Koenma crouched and placed his hand on the floor adding four more circles of runes around Kagome's body. He waited till the door shut behind the other two before looking at Hiei. "You will need your maijin form Hiei. Once transformed you must release your jyaki at its full capacity and I will do the same. above all Hiei you must keep a constant control on your energy as the jewel is unstable. Ready? Go."
Hiei didn't pause to question the reason before ripping the bandana from his brow and shifting to the form required. His skin turned green as duplicate eyes that looked like the Jagan opened all over his body. A green aura surrounded him as he raised his energy to its max. Beside him Koenma did the same with his own power.
"Cleanse the defiled. Return the pure." Koenma commanded as Kagome's body rose from the floor. Purple light surrounded her as a roar of many voices echoed around the room. Both green and gold energies encircled the room before a funnel of them pierced Kagome's body through her back forcing out the defiled black jewel.
Kagome's soul called to him. Her purity called to him but the jewel's call was answered as the dragon sprang free and surrounded her. Its jaws closing on the defiled gem as maniacal laughter rang out as a chorus of voices hissed out… The Miko will be ours..!
Hiei's eyes burned red for an instant before he seized control of himself returning the dragon to his arm, but that instant was all that the tainted jewel needed. Hiei threw his energy at her body at the same instant the jewel was obliterated in the black flames of hell. Bright white light filled the room and plunged through Hiei knocking him back several feet. He hit the wall before falling to the floor his transformation reversing from the blow. Koenma was knocked backwards but he threw up a barrier to protect himself instinctually. As the light faded the soft sound of metal striking stone was loud in the sudden silence.
Hiei's eyes immediately sought the source of the sound and widened at what met his sight. In the circle lay only her wedding ring; the fire crystal cracked. He staggered to his feet calling her name though he knew it was futile. Kagome was gone. Yusuke and Kurama burst in hearing Hiei's pain filled voice. They froze staring around the destroyed room and the scorched blackened furniture.
Hiei felt his world shatter as he frantically searched for the bond they had shared. His heart gripped tightly with shock and disbelief. He recoiled mentally when he could no longer sense his mark or the feel of her mental- wait...He swallowed thickly, hardly daring to breathe as he listened intently within his own mind. His mental voice trembled as he hesitantly called out 'Kagome?'
He felt a strange sensation as though someone else was within his mind. He'd felt it before with the dragon but this presence was lighter and softer like a breath of spring. There was a pause before… Hiei what happened? His eyes pricked with an unfamiliar sensation as he realized what had happened but he could not tell her and so far it seemed she could not simply take the information from his mind.
Kagome's body had been destroyed in the combined energy of his, Koenma's and the dragon's. In that moment Hiei had formed the soul bond with her tying his life to hers, but it had not been completed and instead had pulled her soul into his body. He choked on tears forming that he would not let fall dropping to his knees and picking up her wedding ring Hiei clenched it carefully to his heart, "No."
'Hiei please tell me what's going on?' he ignored her plea. He could not give a voice to his horror and pain it would destroy him. He pushed her back away from his horror fill thoughts and away from the knowledge of what happened. He would tell her when he could. It was his responsibility as her husband and as her soul-mate. Until then she would not know. He would shield her from it the best he could.
Koenma sat up and looked around the room before his eyes landed on the hunched figure on the floor Kagome was nowhere to be seen. "Oh no."
"Bring her back!" Hiei ordered not looking at the king or at his friends standing frozen in shock and horror.
"I can't. Her body was destroyed and her soul with it, there is nothing I can do, Hiei." Koenma said quietly hanging his head before raising his hand to cover his face to hide his tears of grief for Hiei's loss. Yusuke fell to his knees punching his fist against the marble floor. His tears fell freely though his eyes were hidden by the grown out fringe of his hair. Beside him Kurama stared unmoving at his hiyoukai friend wishing and praying to whatever Kami would listen that this had been a horrible nightmare.
Hiei gripped the ring as he turned bright pain filled eyes on the ruler of the Reikai. "Her soul is within me!" he said as agony ripped through his heart. He'd lost her and with her everything but there had to be something- some way that this could be undone, he couldn't just give up-
"Like this she still lives in a way. Be grateful part of her remains, Hiei." Koenma said quietly.
"Grateful?" he roared. "You said you could save her! You said it would resolve itself once the taint was cleansed from her soul. You said-"
"I said it was a risky spell and that the slightest loss of concentration could be fatal! I warned you Hiei. I gave you every possible scenario except this- Hiei I had no idea that this was a possibility! That method is not used often and now I know why! How did her soul end up inside you Hiei? What did you do?"
"I soul bonded with her but it wasn't completed, damn it!" Hiei snarled punching the marble tiles ignoring the sharp pain shooting through his hand as a knuckle or two cracked.
"If you soul bonded her, your souls are tied for eternity. You saved her soul from obliteration but in return you have made correcting this impossible. There is no way for me to separate her soul from your body. Even if I could with nowhere to go she would fade away in moments."
"Useless."Hiei snarled at Koenma as he left slamming the doors behind him.
Yusuke moved to follow Hiei but Kurama stopped him. "There has to be something- someway that this can be rectified Koenma. You are the king of the spirit world, surely there is some obscure method some spell or –"
Koenma shook his head. "My hands are tied this time Kurama. I wish it wasn't so but the soul bond literally ties their souls together. You have heard the phrase "till death do us part" right? Well this is it to an extreme. But I'm not even sure death would sever the bond. It's never been done like this before with a youkai and a Miko. I don't even know how it is Hiei's soul remained intact with Kagome's pure soul. By all rights her soul should have annihilated his. They shouldn't be capable of existing in the same body. What I want to know is how that particular jewel ended up in her body. It makes no sense."
Kurama frowned certain things and reasons falling into place. "Kagome is and was the Shikon no Miko, Koenma. She traveled back in time through a portal she inadvertently found. It was she who wished the jewel to disappear but souls are energy and cannot just simply vanish. I surmise that upon wishing the jewel to disappear that it reentered her body and there became fused with her soul." He tapped his lips with his long graceful finger thoughtfully before speaking again. "I do not believe that she knew it was there until a short time ago when I saw her nearly collapse while doing laundry. I would have drawn her condition to attention but she acted normal after the occurrence and it didn't happen again."
"You knew she was sick and said nothing?" Yusuke said heatedly as he glared at the crimson haired kitsune.
"I merely suspected something was off, I thought honestly that she might be pregnant I did not think poisoned."
Yusuke's eyes widened, "I didn't even consider that she might have been-"
"She wasn't, I sensed nothing like that, so that at least is a small mercy." Koenma said sitting heavily on the remains of a chair. "I can't believe that Kagome- the Shikon no Miko was right under my nose and I didn't notice. She deserves better than all this, but it explains how their souls can coexist. Her love shields him."
"Does that mean there still is nothing you can do?" Kurama questioned.
"No, I will search the depths of my vaults till I find a way. It is the least I can do to make things right. Kurama I'll need your help and Yusuke go find Hiei and tell him to go talk with Mukuro. She just might know more." Koenma stood up and looked around the destroyed room and sighed. "Now I know why this room was so barren of furniture and décor I'm glad the seals held." He mumbled to himself as he walked pausing only to glance back and say, "Are you coming with me Kurama?" Kurama way ahead of him turned to wave, "Sneaky fast kitsune," Koenma grumbled racing to catch up.
Yusuke sighed as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. Finding Hiei would be difficult even if Hiei would want to be found. As he left the room and stepped into the hallway he spotted a familiar blue haired ferry girl. She had a serious look on her face and a book in her hands. Yusuke walked up and plucked the book out of her hands glancing at the words.
"Hey give that back!" Botan complained spinning to see who had been so rude.
"Hey Botan, I didn't know you read such heavy material." Yusuke grinning at her made her expression change and she threw her arms around him in a warm hug.
"Yusuke what brings you to the Reikai? I haven't seen you in so long."
"Something bad happened Bo, did you ever meet Hiei's wife?"
Botan shook her head. "I heard he'd gotten married but I wasn't able to attend though I really wanted to. I had a tragedy happen an hour before and had to ferry a whole group of kids. By the time I finished my duties Lord Koenma returned from the wedding. I was hoping to meet her soon though."
"I'm afraid that won't happen now Bo, she died. Well her body did."
"Oh no! Yusuke is Hiei going to be alright?"
"I don't know; her soul is inside him. He soul bonded her at the last second and now-"
Botan gasped in horror. "Oh! Yusuke no, Hiei did that and now they are- Oh! Poor Hiei." She hung her head as she clasped her hands to her heart. "What can we do?"
"I need to find him Bo, Koenma is going to search the vaults for any possible solution but we need Hiei to talk to Mukuro. Can you help me?" he asked watching her with intense brown eyes.
"Of course, if he is in the territories the Reikai controls or has access to then he will show up on the monitor. Follow me Yusuke."
Hiei ran dodging over rooftops and trees as he made his way into the city. His heart was breaking but within him Kagome spoke finally breaking through the barrier he'd placed around her. 'I'm sorry Hiei, this is my fault.' He couldn't bring himself to respond though he knew he should. He was too angry and raw to consider she was hurting too. He nearly fell from the branch he paused on as his heart wrenched at the feel of her soft sobs. 'I'm sorry Hiei, so very sorry. I didn't want this' He wasn't certain how much she knew of the current situation but her words infuriated him.
'And you think I did?!' he snarled back silently.
'No! I meant I wanted to stay with you! I wanted more time with you!' He could see her faintly as he closed his eyes. She had her face in her hands as her shoulders shook with sobs. 'I didn't want to die!' So she knew. She knew she was dead and that this was all that remained, but not why. She didn't know he had failed her and lost control. She didn't know that this was his fault. His anger turned inward and he turned it on her.
'Then why did you do it?! You knew that using your energy would- and you knew the jewel was killing you! You knew! You had to have known.' Hiei accused furiously.
'I knew, but the jewel wouldn't let me tell you. I was supposed to die the night you proposed.' she confessed quietly. She felt his shock and confusion before his mental voice dropped to a cold hiss.
'What are you talking about? You said it was a nightmare.'
Kagome drew her knees to her chest and in his thoughts he could see the familiar gesture; his heart ached. 'It was and then the jewel said you had thrown me away, I argued that you hadn't and that you needed time but the jewel said I was dying while you took time, It forced me to scream for you to come to my side but it never expected you to. If you hadn't come the jewel would have devoured my soul.'
'And you tell me this now?!' His thoughts were livid as he raged mentally at the thought that she had known and said nothing.
'I wanted to tell you Hiei! I wanted to warn you that my time was limited but I couldn't even form the thought! If the jewel were still within me I still would not be able to tell you!" In desperation Kagome drew up the memory of that night and mentally threw the thought to his mind.
Her dreams that night were dark blurry images of a past that was not her own and she saw her life from someone-something else's eyes. Blood, power and a wish, one single wish spoken by her lips followed by a shifting sensation and then sudden darkness engulfed her. She could hear the constant lub-dub of a heart beat and then a stirring, a sensation of bitterness and sorrow and the darkness was gone it could see again. Kagome saw herself again this time with Hiei and felt the sickly evil glee as she coupled with the youkai the first time and its power grew…
Kagome's eyes shot open as she clutched her chest. She felt it once more, a sensation she had hoped never to feel again, but this time it came from within her…the Shikon jewel was inside her! Her eyes widened as she realized something that made her tremble in fear. The jewel had been tainted. Hiei's words came back in a rush.
"The dragon is drawn to your purity and entranced by the taint upon it."
She swallowed thickly.
"Something in you has sullied your soul. The dragon is drawn to that which darkens your purity."
The tainted jewel had drawn the dragon to her; drawn Hiei. She felt sick and weak as she stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom where she vomited into the toilet. Her body shook with silent sobs as her blunt nails dug into the skin where the tainted jewel lay within her.
"I wanted your body and your power"his words came back to her fraying mind. She retched again till there was nothing left and leaned shakily against the wall.
"Hiei," she whispered as she curled her knees to her chest feeling shattered and broken. He had never wanted her it had always been the jewel though he couldn't have known if she didn't. "It's all a lie. Hiei is my friend, he is. He's my sodalis vitae he said so…he said so." She argued against the doubts flooding her mind with darkness the impurity of the jewel crawling beneath the surface.
Then where is he now… The voices of many spoke at once hissing a crossed her mind like sandpaper as the jewel spoke. Kagome clutched her head in pain as she fought the darkness alone. He has abandoned you little Miko. You are alone now as you always have been…He has thrown you away and you will die alone. Your soul belongs to us… Tear's spilled from her eyes.
"No, he hasn't abandoned me. He's suffering he needs time to cope with everything."
And while he is coping you are dying little Miko. Do you think he will care when your soul is no more in this world and your body a cold and lifeless shell?
Her hands rose to cover her lips in horror. She couldn't leave him now she could not abandon him it would break him completely. Hiei's mind and heart were fragile right now. She knew that she knew but- she staggered back to her room collapsing on the floor her body in agony.
Scream for him to come to your side and if he does… we will give you time. If not you will die here alone and broken… Scream little Miko like your life depends upon it…
"Hiei!" the word was ripped from her throat in a ragged scream.
Kagome sobbed bitterly reliving the memory anew with Hiei as his fury turned to cold horror. He'd left her alone to face a danger he'd never imagined her to be in. He'd pushed her away and caused her pain he'd never imagined and yet she fought for his honor she'd argued even dying that he was important and that she cared about his feelings his mind and his heart. Even then she- he couldn't think the words.
'I love you Hiei.'
He stumbled, falling out of the tree he had landed in for a moment. His chest heaved as he lay on the ground staring up at the blue sky. He trembled as he sat up pulling his knee to his chest and lowering his forehead to his arm. Grey clouds steadily filled the sky as he sat there in shock. A minute, an hour or a day, he didn't know how long he just sat there unable to speak, think or move. Six months they had been married both of them nervous and unsure as to the feelings growing between them. Neither of them daring to give words to the feelings for fear the other would not feel the same.
Now, that he could not hold her- now that he could not see her, touch her, or kiss her; now the feeling was named. It was unfair and he could not reply. He could not tell her how precious she'd become to him for he felt numb and hollow. He had no feelings to share but grief and anger. Her quiet words broke him. Shattered his grip on his emotions and his grief and he cried. His face hidden from the world tears ran down his cheeks and he no longer cared that they made him look weak, he no longer cared that he was sitting where he'd fallen out of the tree in a human park. Nothing mattered, nothing except- her. But he couldn't deal with the pain her voice brought him and so he forced her back to the recesses of his mind and there confined her again. He ignored her screams of protest and her tears. He would forget her for now. He clenched his fist and a small prick made him look down. Her ring, the one they had removed from the fire together lay in his hand.
'We are one.' She whispered softly. Had he no way to lock her away to not have to face every moment that he had destroyed the one thing he had cherished above all? Was there no way to be free of the guilt that was eating him alive? Would he be forever be destined to only hold her soul within him like this? Was this all he would have left in the end? A dry sob slipped between his clenched teeth. The light touch of a hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality and with a move that defied his swiftest movements he drew his sword and with a snarl attacked the unfortunate intruder.
Yusuke barely blocked the blade swinging at his throat by knocking the sword from the grip of the wild eyed hiyoukai. There was no recognition in his dark claret eyes only fury. Now weaponless Hiei resorted to bare fists lashing out and striking any place that was unprotected. Yusuke stumbled back from the barrage of furious blows "Hiei what the hell! It's me Yusuke! Stop attacking me!" He dodged a fist aimed at his throat as he swung a fist to block another attack. Hiei was fighting in a blind rage his fists flying without mercy, smoking dangerously.
Yusuke flung himself forward as Hiei called up his 'fist of the mortal flame'. He had to stop this senseless fighting before Hiei killed someone accidently. "Hiei snap out of this!" he yelled as his fist connected with the Hiyoukai's solar plexus driving the air from his lungs and throwing him against the tree at his back. Hiei hesitated for a single moment before he rushed forward with another barrage of punches this time aided by his fist of the mortal flame.
Yusuke shook his head before delivering his own barrage of punches each connecting with what could have been crushing brutality if Yusuke had been trying to hurt him. "Hiei knock this crap off man!" Punch, block, punch stagger "I don't want to fight you!" Right straight to the jaw, dodge to the left. "I know you aren't the kind to give up," Three consecutive punches to the stomach and face, "so go talk to Mukuro she might know a way to get Kagome back!" His fist froze a few centimeters from Hiei's nose as he had gone completely still.
Hiei looked at Yusuke with confusion why was he all dusty and covered in quickly healing bruises and burns? He looked at himself and realized he looked no better his clothes were mussed and he too had bruises on much of his body. Only now could he hear Kagome shouting his name frantically, begging him to stop fighting.
His chest heaved as he breathed heavily trying to figure out why he had attacked Yusuke in the first place. His sword lying on the ground caught his eye and he frowned walking over to pick it up noticing out of the corner of his eye Yusuke tensing and dropping into a protective stance. "Relax Yusuke. I will not attack." His voice was rougher and deeper with emotion but he would not look at his friend. "Why did you come?"
Yusuke lowered his fists and stuffed his hands in his pockets, "for some reason hearing Kagome was the Shikon no Miko lit a fire under Koenma's royal ass and he practically dragged Kurama to the archives and vaults looking for any way to help you two. But in the mean time he sent me to send you to Mukuro. He said she might know some-" Hiei vanished "-thing."
Botan walked over to where Hiei had been sitting when they had arrived and bent over to pick something up that had caught her eye. She held her hand out to Yusuke opening her fingers carefully. There nestled in the palm of her hand was a hiroseki stone as black as night but as the light caught it; it shimmered with a metallic silver sheen. Yusuke looked at it and raised a hand to his forehead, "Shit."
'Hiei, where are we going? Hiei answer me!' Kagome called uselessly as he ignored her. With a sigh Kagome withdrew and moved back to where Hiei kept putting her at the very back of his mind and away from his own thoughts and emotions. As she pulled back and went silent Hiei had to suppress a momentary feeling of panic, biting his tongue to keep himself from calling for her for reassurance. Softly she began to sing a haunting melody with no words. Her revival became his driving force and the song she sang only pushed him harder.
Hiei didn't pause this time as he sprinted at top speed to where the barrier used to be, the distortion and the pseudo space didn't even make him slow down as he continued straight through. He was three days from Mukuro's territory and the terrain was harsh not to mention the heavy rain pelting his form. However it was only a minor irritation and he ran on ignoring his muscles aching and burning with how hard he pushed himself. If he continued at this rapid pace running straight through the night he would reach Mukuro by mid afternoon tomorrow. Provided he didn't stop to fight or was stopped for any reason.
Luck was with him and he was able to run without distraction and as the morning became afternoon the strange sun reaching its zenith he saw the mobile fortress coming closer. He was certain that even from the distance he was from the fortress that Mukuro knew he was there and why. That would save time. Without hesitation he barged inside and fairly flew down the hallways to Mukuro's quarters. He didn't pause even to knock before slamming the doors open.
Mukuro sat on the large white cushion that served both as a chair and her bed on occasion. Her hands were in front of her fingers interlocked, her eyes intent upon him. "I know the reason you are here Hiei but I want to know why."
"Why what," Hiei snapped.
"Why you think I should bring a Miko back from the dead."
"Her death was an accident it wasn't supposed to happen." Hiei said firmly his eyes locked on those of his former Lords. Though she was a woman she had ruled a greater part of five centuries as a king. Now she called herself a lord never a Lady.
"And," Mukuro asked her eyes delving into his.
He paused to be certain Kagome could not hear and then spoke low and quietly. "I love her, Mukuro, please."
Her eyes widened at the sight of her strong ruthless second pleading for the favor. She had not anticipated this reaction, hadn't wanted to ever see Hiei so broken. "I can restore her body Hiei but her soul-tied as she is to yours that is beyond my ability, but the Reikai king may be able to figure out the rest as your thoughts indicate. Follow me."
Mukuro led him down a set of stairs he knew well and in to her laboratory. Before him were the restoration tanks that Mukuro had used once before to bring himself back from the dead. "You have something of hers I assume." Mukuro asked flatly. "I need some blood or hair something with her DNA."
Hiei ripped off a section of his bandages on his left hand that Mukuro could see were blood stained. "Is this hers?" she asked to be certain.
"Yes she had been injured before I arrived." He pulled off his cloak and ripped out a patch of blood stained cloth from his shirt. "This is also hers." He paused as he saw three long blue black hairs clinging to his cloak and he removed them reverently.
Offering them silently Mukuro took them and dropped them in to a florescent green solution. The solution was designed to search out the blood and hair and destroy the rest. As they watched the solution began to glow shifting from green to red to light pink. Mukuro wordlessly carried the flask to an empty tank and poured it in. The tank was shielded from outside viewing by thick metal blinds. "In forty eight hours we will know if this worked Hiei. You should get some rest and something to eat. You are no help to me or her dead on your feet." She waited for him to begin walking out before she stopped him. "Does she know everything Hiei?"
"No."
"Tell her tonight. That is my price. I will ask her tomorrow."
"Fine." He snapped leaving quickly. He went first to his rooms and stripping mechanically he showered and donned clean clothes. By the time he finished there was a tray of hot food on his table and his ruined clothes were gone.
While he'd been otherwise occupied Kagome had been alternating between singing that haunting melody and crying softly. She could feel his pain as though it was her own and she wept for him and she wept for herself and the life that had been cut short. She wept for the plans that would never come to fruition and for the family and friends she'd left behind but mostly she wept for the relationship that felt as though it was withering away as she watched helpless to stop it. She had confessed her love and as she had feared he pushed her away.
'Kagome,' he called softly his "voice" quiet and filled with many emotions. She didn't reply but she moved closer to allow her presence to be felt further. It was enough and he closed his eyes allowing the Jagan to protect him as he slipped into a meditative state. He constructed an image of himself and drew her forward.
'Kagome,' he took a deep breath before he hung his head. He felt her arms enfold him as she held him to her breast and rested her head upon his. He could feel the wetness of tears against his cheek and he started to retreat he couldn't do this.
'Hiei, please don't leave. I feel so lost and I'm frightened. I know I'm dead but how did I get here? Am I-' she hesitated and took a shaky breath 'am I inside you? Is my soul inside your body with you? Her voice was soft and he could feel how uncertain she was. He could not lie to her but he could not look at her either.
'You are dead Kagome, and it's my fault. I-I lost control of the dragon while I was trying to save you and your body was obliterated. It was only because I partially soul bonded you that your soul was not devoured by the combined energy too. But although I saved your soul I doomed it as well. I am trying to find a way to bring you back but-'
'But because of the soul bond it may not be possible?' His face fell in to his hands before he reached up to grab two fistfuls of his hair. His grief and guilt seemed almost tangible.
'I'm s-sorry Kagome.'
It took her a moment to realize that his shoulders were shaking and then another brief moment to realize with a shock that he was silently crying though no tears fell from his eyes save one. 'I failed you my sodalis vitae, forgive me.' It was only with her he could mourn. It was only with her soul tenderly embracing his that he could cry the tears locked within him. 'Forgive me,' he pleaded needing absolution for his sin, for his failure. Kagome closed her eyes embracing him with all the love she had.
'I forgive you.' She did not try to tell him that it was not his fault for his honor lay on the line in his eyes and she would not sully it. Willingly and openly she offered him her forgiveness and her love though she knew it would never be enough in his eyes until she was physically returned to his arms. He would blame himself and she would be there within to forgive him as many times as it took for him to find peace.
Hiei's shoulders stopped shaking and he pulled away a little still unwilling to meet her eyes. He had one final thing to tell her before he would pull away and give them both time to mourn. The words felt heavy upon his heart but heavier upon his lips 'Kagome, I love you.'
She gasped and like he had when she confessed, she broke and fell to her knees her face in her hands as she wept, sobbing bitterly as she shattered. He could not watch as she fell apart but he could not look away either and so he sat within himself as they each mourned the life they had lost and the life they might never have together. Slowly he drew her up into his arms and held her as she continued to cry. He could not promise that he would make things right for neither of them knew if it could be repaired. Even if her body was restored it would be a wasted effort if her soul could not be returned to it. But if there was a way Hiei would find it, that they both knew, though their hope was fragile. She felt him withdrawing and she frantically cried out reaching to hold on to him, 'please don't shut me out. Please Hiei don't push me away, I need you!'
'I can't shut you out, haven't you proven that?' Hiei said quietly as he stood and helped her to her feet. He embraced her tightly though the action made the ache in his heart worsen and he wanted to recoil from the pain. He held her willing her form in him more substance so that he could at least feel her even if it was a phantom touch or caress. The form he conjured solidified enough that he could feel more than a faint echo of her presence and he desperately kissed her before the pain of loss became too much and he was forced to retreat before he did irreparable damage to his own heart and soul.
Kagome's presence was closer to his own and that at least gave him a minute amount of comfort and in turn comforted her if only a little. It was with a small fragile hope that Hiei finally lost his battle with sleep and he fell into a deep restorative hibernation state with the Jagan to watch over and protect him and her.
When he awoke it was to a rough shaking of his shoulder. Mukuro stood over him with a frown. "Hiei something has happened." Hiei jumped out of the bed and away from her not waiting to be shown the way He ran to the restoration room and to the tank the contained their fragile hopes. Cautiously he opened the heavy blind and nearly collapsed in shock. Normally restoring something took weeks or on occasion even months but as he blinked to clear his vision it didn't change. Kagome's restored body floated complete before his eyes. How long had he been asleep? Mukuro came up behind him and gestured to the tank.
"Look what you have done Hiei!" she sounded amazed and a little angry. He stepped closer to the tank and was startled when Kagome's eyes opened and her head rose. Her eyes were dead and lifeless because there was no soul within but she lived. Something was not quite right though, something was off. It took him a moment to see the difference but when he did he swallowed the lump in his throat. There was a streak of white hair on each side of her head it was thin but now that he looked it was obviously strikingly familiar.
"A drop of your DNA got mixed in Hiei. I don't even know what we have created. She might be human, she could be hanyou, and she could only have the small appearance difference, I have no way to tell. But however it happened she has been fully revived as much as I can do so take this abomination and get out of my sight."
The tank drained and opened slowly. Once fully open the physical form of Kagome stepped out looking around with expressionless features and lifeless eyes. Hiei picked up the sheet that had been left on the table when Mukuro had left; it was the last small kindness she would give the soulless creature till she could know more. With shaking hands Hiei wrapped the sheet around her body and secured it to make a rough dress. But as he dressed her he took time to look over her form noting with relief that it was Kagome down to the smallest scar.
'Kagome look!' he invited lending her the ability to see through his eyes.
'It's me, but not me.' She gasped. Nervously she looked closer at the figure of her own body before her. 'This is eerie Hiei, it's like I am looking at a doll of myself. What is it."
'You. I had your body remade Kagome, now all that needs to happen is for Koenma to separate our souls and you will live once more.'
'I won't have to live off the souls of the dead right?' she asked nervously all too aware of how this soulless Kagome reminded her of Kikyo.
'Did you before?'
'No! I wouldn't do something so horrible.'
'This form is the same as before you died down to the last eyelash. She is you. Nothing altered save the fact your soul is not present.' He did not mention the mistake made in the re-creation, the drop of his blood that had been added to her rebirth. He saw no need to make her further distrustful of her revived body. 'Our welcome here has ended so we must leave.'
Hiei gently gathered Kagome's body in his arms and carried her to his rooms and there covered her the rest of the way with another sheet so that she was mostly hidden from curious eyes. Satisfied that she would not draw further attention he carried her out of the fortress and towards the barrier to the human world. It was a relief to hold her familiar weight in his arms and to breathe her scent again, the warmth of her skin and the steady pulse was soothing to his shaken heart.
Stopping to rest after a day of traveling Hiei found a quiet place that was hidden from sight and carefully laid down his precious cargo before sitting next to her. The soulless body reached out its hand to touch him, acting on some instinct, seemed to be searching for its soul. As the hands became more insistent Kagome lost her cool.
'Hey Stop that!' She shouted at her body as she watched the –her hands slip beneath his shirt still searching. Hiei seemed unbothered. 'Knock that off!' she ordered but the body could not hear her commands. Hiei feeling this was an opportunity to exact his revenge on Kagome going off on the mission that caused all this in the first place, began to embrace and caress the body in return. For good measure he even tenderly kissed the body's lips. It was even better than scolding her. Kagome got angry. 'I'm telling you keep your hands off of him, or I'll feed you to the dragon!'
'You will do no such thing, Kagome. Besides I just got you back. If it bothers you don't look.'
'Don't look?! That is like telling someone not to look while crossing a rotting old bridge over a high canyon, they look down on principle! Ugh you are practically having an affair with my body and I'm not in it! That's just gross and mean! I can't feel anything!' From his eyes Kagome watched the soulless body feeling oddly jealous of her ability to touch Hiei.
She was nervous of the thing even though Hiei said it was her, it just felt differently presence wise than Kagome had before. She had experienced this sensation before as Urasue had forced the soul from her body and she had had the unfortunate opportunity to sense her own body as it had called her soul back. There was something slightly off but not enough to worry her too much, still though it was creepy to have your soulless body look at you through another's eyes. Kagome shuddered pulling back so she could no longer see the thing. Hiei chuckled at her as she sulked he had no intention of carrying on anything with a soulless shell. He wanted Kagome as a whole. But it was satisfying to know that she was jealous even of her body over him.
Answering her unspoken request he stood up and prepared to continue their journey .Hiei carried her body as though it was delicate and in a way it was for it held the fragile hope of a nearly broken soul and heart of a powerful being. All his hope and dreams rested upon this living shell and the ability of the friends he relied upon to correct the wrong he had unintentionally caused when he lost control. Now he just had to believe that Koenma and Kurama would find a way to bring her soul out of him and into the body.
Exhausted Kurama swept a hand over his brow setting down the book he held. It was one of thousands he'd carefully scanned already. It had been five days already since the accident. And since that day he'd devoted all of his energy to finding something- anything to reverse the wrong. A worn and tattered tome caught his eyes and he carefully lifted it from the shelf. It had no title but dutifully he opened it and began to scan the pages then he stopped and a slow smile spread over his lips. "Koenma! I found it." he called jumping to his feet and walking quickly to where the king of the Reikai sat surrounded by stacks of discarded books he'd tossed around in his search.
Koenma leapt to his feet and seized the book from the kitsune's hand flipping through it before a frown creased his brow. "Did you read all of it?" he asked slowly. Kurama shook his head warily. Koenma flipped to a page somewhere in the middle of the book and began to read aloud:
"The separation of souls accidently contained in one vessel is a difficult and complex thing to correct. To begin there must be a place for each soul to go as the original vessel will likely be destroyed in the process. This however is not the case in the rare occurrence that the original vessel is youkai. In these rare occurrences it should be noted that the youkai will become mortal and has a tendency to retain the longevity of its former self. It is also noted that memory loss may occur with the youkai, therefore it is recommended that a complete rebirth be conducted in such instances and that the youkai soul be cleansed of all jyaki and placed in a prepared human body to be birthed as per the usual method.' We don't have time for that," he snapped searching the page and reading the next part silently, 'The damage to the secondary soul may also result in complete memory loss of the vessel and of any contact which may have occurred.' Following those words was a lengthy spell and the details of what needed to happen and how. He scanned it quickly before closing the book.
"If I understand what that said, Hiei will become human with youkai longevity and possibly no memories of being youkai, correct?"
"Hiei as we all know him could essentially die, yes." Koenma sighed quietly
Kurama sighed reaching for the book as he resigned himself to continuing the search for a way to return Kagome that would not cost Hiei everything. "He would never agree to that," he said as he shook his head wearily with a frown.
"Yes I would."
Kurama froze as the conviction in those three words left him reeling. He had been certain knowing Hiei as he did that he would never accept that option. He had been certain that Hiei would rather die a thousand deaths than to be made human to be weaker and to lose the power he'd fought so hard to obtain-he had been wrong. It was not something Kurama was used to being. Kurama spun on his heel to face the hiyoukai he'd thought he knew so well. Only to stare wide eyed at the figure in his arms. Her head was covered by a black silk sheet but it was impossible not to tell from how Hiei held her who it was. Koenma looked up and sighed again. "So Mukuro helped you after all then?"
"Yes, Kagome's body has been reconstructed how soon can we complete this?" Hiei asked harshly
"I'll need twenty four hours Hiei. You realize that once this is done it cannot be undone." Koenma hedged nervously. Hiei had a look of determination and resignation in his eyes that made him sad and respectful.
I don't care Koenma. Kagome will be alive that is all that matters." The hiyoukai stated his gaze flicking down to the precious figure in his arms.
"Even if she completely forgets everything about you, Hiei?" he asked. He had to be certain.
"Yes. It is a small price to pay for her life. Besides she was always better than I deserved Koenma." His head hung lower and his words carried all the grief and guilt he'd carried with him.
'That isn't true Hiei! I don't want to forget you! Don't do this!' he ignored her plea as he nodded his head squaring his shoulders and meeting the king's eyes.
"I am certain Koenma. Even if my life is lost in the process I want her returned. Nothing else matters." He didn't hesitate as he evenly spoke his decision.
"Hiei, please consider again. There may be another way." Kurama urged trying to reason with his friend. Hiei had no idea what being human would mean.
"There is no other way, and you seem to have mistaken me for some heartless monster that would put his life above his soul-mates. You mock my honor and my vows to Kagome, Fox."
"No I just cannot believe I knew you so little. I thought that you would be horrified to become human. I thought-"
"I would gladly die or risk everything for her sake! You know nothing!"
"Even if that means losing your strength and power Hiei, your guilt is so bad that you would go that far?" Kurama questioned trying to understand this male called Hiei whom he had thought he knew better than anyone, who he would have willingly bet that he had. Who was this Hiei standing before him?
"I would go that far for her love!" Hiei yelled back, his voice echoed through the vault and Kurama took a step back, he had never seen Hiei act selflessly nor had he ever heard Hiei willingly admit a feeling.
Kagome within his mind fell silent as a sad smile curved her lips. She had never been loved so fiercely and now she was going to lose it once again but-'it's alright, it will be okay Hiei. We can start over we can find each other again. You will try won't you?'
'I will find you again Kagome.'
'Then I agree to the terms. I too would risk it all for you, Hiei.'
"Kagome agrees Koenma, let us prepare." Hiei stated following the Reikai king from the vault behind him Kurama fell to his knees as he silently trembled in confusion and disbelief.
The grief would come soon enough and he knew he would mourn the loss of his first best friend most keenly. Yusuke would mourn too but it was uncertain that Yusuke would ever know what was about to occur to the extent that he would. Even then he wasn't certain he would be permitted to be there when the ritual was conducted due to his own unique situation. Wordlessly Kurama got up and made his way out of the hall of judgment and back to the human world. His heart was heavy with the sorrow of one who knew he was helpless to stop the loss of a friend. On his way he ran into Yusuke and the look on his face was enough to cause the Mazoku to follow without a question knowing that when he was ready Kurama would tell him why.
Once again alone but for Kagome in his thoughts Hiei sat in a meditative pose and willed another spectral image of her to appear before him again within his mind. This farewell had no tears. These hours they had left together were bittersweet as they both held on to the hope that somehow, some way they would be together again no matter the cost.
"What if something goes wrong, Hiei?" Kagome asked finally voicing the question neither wanted to face. "What if we lose our memories and we-"
'Nothing will keep me from you Kagome.' Hiei said clutching her ring carefully in his hand. Using his eyes once more Kagome looked at the familiar item.
'My ring survived, Hiei?'
'Yes, I have had it with me; it is all that was left of you after I lost control. The flame has gone out.'
'Can it be relit?'
'No, the crystal was damaged. I swear, Kagome when we are reunited I will replace that crystal with another and the flame within that one will burn stronger than this one.'
Kagome's voice turned sad as she knew that time was slipping away. 'Just promise me that, no matter what the both of us forget about each other, you will never throw away my ring. Keep it next to your heart always Hiei. I know that right now the idea is absurd to you but if you forget me this ring; this symbol of our love may have no more meaning to you. So promise me that you won't. That way no matter what you will have a part of our love and our promise with you. You can give it back to me when we are reunited Hiei. Bring my heart back to me then. My heart belongs to you Hiei, now and forever I will never give it to anyone else no matter what happens. My heart will burn for you and no other, we are one.'
She vanished from his mind's eye her soul exhausted from the strain Hiei forced on her to take a shadow form. Hiei was now alone with his thoughts. "Likewise Kagome, my heart was yours the moment I saw you I just didn't know it. I promise you Kagome and when I return your ring it will be only the beginning of the life we will share." He said solemnly. He removed his mother's hiroseki stone and placed her ring on the chain concealing them in a hidden pocket within his clothes. He had no reason other than he did not want to lose them if the worst should happen. The next morning approached with agonizingly slow minutes and contrarily swiftly flying hours.
Candles adorned the wall sconces lining the room and casting strange shadows on the stone pillars. Around the room there were protection symbols carved into the stone. They were in the basement of the Hall of Judgment deeper than any non member of the royal family had ever been. Koenma, Hiei and the soulless form of Kagome's revived body stood in the heart of the Reikai at the very center of all the power. It was the only place that this particular ritual could be conducted properly and without great risk to the souls that would be handled. The heart also contained the highest concentration of protective seals.
Within the room the ceilings were vaulted and centered in the middle, was an enchantment circle with four inner rings and a triangular shape with the points extending beyond the circles inscribed with runes and symbols to heighten the power harnessed in the center. Two intricately carved marble platforms of white on the right side and black on the left sat inside the largest ring; where a pillow had been placed at one end of each for comfort. Behind the platforms and straight back from the center was a stone table of sorts upon which rested the items necessary for the ritual. Two glass goblets sat next to a carefully prepared potion in a blue glass container and another in a white.
The potion for the ritual had been almost too easy to create, now that he knew what it was he needed. Ironically he'd already had the base potion made as he used it frequently to create his ferry girls. The rest was just a small alteration to the mix and an added ingredient or two. He had laughed at the irony then but now his face was somber and focused. Carefully he poured the potion from the white container in to one of the goblets.
Koenma walked forward and gestured to the first platform "Place Kagome's new body here on this white marble platform and prick her finger and add a drop to this potion." Hiei did not reply with words instead laid Kagome's body where Koenma had indicated before he frowned in concentration as he took the ceremonial dagger and lightly pricked the finger Koenma indicated then squeezed it lightly to draw a drop of blood. The drop vanished quickly in to the cloudy silver liquid. Carefully Hiei held the goblet to her lips as she drank.
"Make certain she drinks it all." Koenma stated as Hiei tipped the glass to drain the last drops into her mouth. Satisfied she had taken it all he laid her back on the white platform but before turning away he kissed her tenderly and with moderate passion as a gentle farewell.
Koenma looked away taking a breath to keep his focus. "Hiei you need to lie on the black marble platform beside her, but before you do here is the potion you will need to drink adding a drop of your blood as you did before but this time you need to also flare your energy lightly as the drop falls. Then you must drink it all, Hiei no matter how strangely it makes you feel. And you will feel strange, most likely dizzy and disoriented but once this procedure has started it must be completed no matter what. Are you prepared?"
In answer he pricked his finger and flared his energy causing the potion to hiss lightly before it turned black and then an ashen grayish purple he then seized the potion from Koenma's hand and placing it to his lips began to drink. As he drank it was as though his limbs were slowly turning to lead and he could not lift them or rather he was losing the strength to lift them. His head began to swim and the room seemed to sway. Through strength of will alone he drained the potion and the goblet slipped from his numb fingers to crash on the floor. Unnoticed the last drop fell from the broken edge and splashed to the stones, hissing softly as the drop coated a rune.
Hiei struggled to remain sitting up and felt cool hands ease him back onto the marble platform. "Sleep Hiei and be reborn. When you wake it will be with a new life and name, but those of us who are your friends will always be watching out for you." He closed his eyes for a moment before raising them above the form of his friend and Kagome's soon to be body. With a deep breath he began:
"Elemental being of fire and of ice let go thy power and take a mortal form."
Hiei's body began to glow with a bloody red and black light before it faded gradually to soft white as it faded his features began to change. His hair fell limp and the fangs receded to those of normal human teeth. His trimmed claws lost their razor edge.
Let life and time renew thy strength."
Koenma paused for a moment considering his next words. If spoken a certain way the love a couple held for each other could either be strengthened or extinguished. Grief made his lips form the words even as his heart panged at him for the betrayal of trust.
"Thy love before was now for naught, let thy lover be forgot.
Let the heart once broken now to mend and live for thy self my once dear friend.
Your past name and self you now forsake and to another thou shall wake.
Hence forth your name shall be: Takeo Yukishima.
Sleep now deep and dreamless
Be thou reborn."
Koenma's voice intoned on creating a past lifetime of memories that when Hiei woke would be as real to him as breathing. When he finished speaking he lightly touched Hiei's forehead as he chanted the final seals into place sealing away forever the Jagan and the dragon within Hiei's body. At his feet the floor lit with different colors as power rose up in a wave to envelop Hiei's body completing the transformation.
As the glow died away Koenma sighed as he un-bandaged Hiei's right arm. He would have no use for the wards woven in them. He did the same with the white bandana Hiei had used to seal the Jagan. He paused as he distinctly felt the Jagan was still awake though now within Hiei. Its power had faded somewhat but Koenma didn't doubt for an instant that it was not still capable of horrendous strength. In human terms it would make Hiei/Takeo a very powerful physic. He frowned knowing that what he could do to alter that power he had done. Now he would just have to make certain that he was trained properly.
He turned to the still soulless body of Kagome and raised his hands above her chest making her glow with golden light as he had for Yusuke so long ago but he had to grit his teeth to maintain focus as his temper flared at the very sight of her. His temper returned to calm as he refocused on the ceremony. Once their souls had been separated then he could be rid of her. For an instant a sickly purple light twisted through his aura before turning blue-white once more. With another deep breath to clear his mind he spoke:
"Oh, Goddess Amaterasu, mother of all
Grant thy mercy upon she who is before thee.
Let thy guidance return once more the soul to this servant of the gods."
He didn't have to think twice about removing Hiei from her memory
"Let memory of this vessel be erased from her mind and heart.
Oh, Kami of earth and elementals I call thy power to my hands to right the wrong,
This vessel overflows with a soul not its own return it to its rightful place".
He placed one hand upon Hiei's chest while the other continued to stay above Kagome's flesh and blood form.
"Oh, living flesh and beating heart accept the soul which from thee was torn ne'er to part.
Sever now this bond of flesh that ties the Miko's soul within."
He stepped back as her body pulsed calling the soul back to its self as it had long ago. Hiei's body began to glow once more before a pillar of white light rose up out of it and circled the room once before plunging almost violently down and into the prepared vessel. Several more orbs of white entered her body rapidly.
Koenma watched in morbid fascination as he noticed that Hiei and Kagome's souls were still connected to each other. He had not severed the bond or separated their souls; he had only placed their connected souls within two bodies. He had betrayed Hiei's trust for nothing. Finally her soul settled within her new body, Kagome drew a deep breath into her lungs once again.
Her blue eyes fluttered open and her gaze landed upon Hiei one last time before her heavy lids fell closed once more never to remember the past four months. To her she would be waking from a long slumber after returning from the past. Her journey now over for good and her family eager to see her again now that she'd woken from her unconscious state. Her breath hissed out a whispered "Hiei," before sleep took her thoughts and stole away her memory…
Koenma wiped his brow and sighed looking over the two sleeping side by side. The ritual was finished and he was exhausted both mind and heart. He frowned at Kagome, he could not deny the anger he felt at her for nearly breaking his most unlikely friend with love. Hiei would never have ended up now a human when he was once a legendary youkai. He never would chosen this path if it were not for her. He could do nothing about the connection they had with their souls but he could try to give Hiei a chance at a normal long life without her. If they never met again, if he could find a way for Hiei never to meet her again then he would never have to see him broken like that again.
He rubbed his neck thoughtfully as he began to consider how to keep them apart. He could lock the girl up in the Reikai for eternity, just leave her down here in the heart and create a sleeping tonic that would make her unaware of anything at all. But if the other two discovered what he had done-no it was too risky to keep her here. Damn. He couldn't kill her again now that the souls were connected or Hiei would go insane though he wouldn't understand why. He could turn her into another grim reaper to do his bidding. That spell allowed him to completely erase the mind and heart of the ones chosen. It was tempting but then he'd have to look at her, talk to her and deal with her for eternity and that would be hell for him. No, that was not an option.
Forming his cloud big enough to carry the two, he returned to his office where he laid Hiei on the couch and the woman on the floor. She didn't deserve even that small courtesy from him. She'd nearly killed Hiei and he didn't have to be nice to her, besides she wouldn't remember it any way.
"That's rather unlike you, Koenma. Do you know what Hiei would do if he saw her like that? What I should do to you for treating my Kagome like that? I swear if there is even a scratch on her I will burn you to cinders"
Koenma jumped at the sound of the voice, glancing around frantically to find the source, the copper haired male was leaning against the wall watching Koenma closely. Koenma swallowed at the blue wisp of flame dancing upon his fingers. The current King of Thieves was unpredictable at best. After being trained by Yoko Kurama Koenma would have been shocked if he were any less. It had only been recently that this particular kitsune had become a friend of his and it was still a shaky friendship even at the best of times.
He did not doubt the kitsune would do just as he said as he hurriedly formed his cloud again under the sleeping woman. Why were all his friends either currently on the Reikai's most wanted list or formerly on it? It made him think he seriously needed to evaluate himself –another time. Right now he had an angry kitsune to appease. If dealing with Kurama had taught him one thing, it was that he would have to tread very carefully.
"Did you say 'your" Kagome, Shippo? Oh, that's right you told me that you loved her didn't you." He asked a plan forming in his mind. "You know I believe we have a common goal, Shippo. You want Kagome and I want Hiei to be free of her. What do you say? You get the woman you love and I get to keep our friend whole. That is of course if you think you can get her to love you." He threw down the challenge with a casual flick of his hand though his heart was pounding with fear. Shippo stalked forward and slamming his hands on the mahogany desk.
"My Kagome did love me, but Hiei marked her before I could place my claim! He marked her against her will. He hurt her like Inuyasha almost did! I will never forgive either of them for it!" Shippo growled turning to gather Kagome to his chest. "Hiei was my friend but in this situation my enemy as well. I want Kagome happy. I will not do anything to hurt her Koenma. If she is still in love with Hiei she isn't going to want me."
"Shippo, Shippo, I erased her memories of Hiei. Do you honestly think after how badly she hurt him I would let her keep even that! I took it one step further and erased his memories of her as well. If you can win her love, and keep her happy as you claim, then I'll make sure Hiei is no longer in the picture."
Koenma tapped his chin thoughtfully "I'll make him my new spirit detective so that I can give him assignments to lessen the chance of them meeting. I have someone who will train him outside of Sarayashiki City. You just have to keep her away from there and from meeting Yusuke. Since it happened once before you will have to intercept her as she will be drawn to return to the place her heart knows. Her last actual memories are of leaving the Sengoku Jidai, so use it well. Take this tonic to the Higurashi shrine and slip it in some tea it will alter her family's memories as well." Koenma said pulling a small blue flask from his desk drawer. Shippo walked over and took the flask from Koenma. His cold teal eyes boring in to the dark golden brown of the young king, he smiled.
"I believe we have a deal." He said quietly.
*Takeo- violent warrior
Yukishima- (from) ice island