Disclaimer: DONT OWN IT!!!
Author's Note Please Read: This was done in Notepad, if the chapter comes out strange on your computor screen, such as weird paragraph spacing or cut offs in the middle of a sentence to begin a new paragraph try viewing it under font size 10. Or just read as is, its not like it hurts the story itself any just may annoy some people. This first chapter is LONG. Be happy. I worked on it for quite a while during my vacation with my family, I'll try to make all my chapters so long but I may have a few short ones here and there due to spur of the moment Ideas. Oh yes, this is my ONLY plotted story to date, Be happy.
/hiei telepath/
\kurama telepath\
\\youko telepath\
"talking"
'thinking'
+kagome telepath+
-Shikon telepath-
Chapter One: A friend is like a candle in the darkest of storms.
This was a familiar feeling. He knew it well, all too well. This inbetween feeling, its one he's been through many, many times now. He welcomed it, wished for it sometimes in the dark corners of his mind. The first path to getting there was pain. Horrible pain shocking his system over and over as blows jarred his body. Now he was in the air, he braced for the impact as he went slamming into the tree then the ground again. Groaning, he tried to stand, only to have something hit him across the shoulders, breaking. Must have been a bottle.
The next step came soon after, the nausea. Not that he had anything to- oh would you look at that. One can puke up blood, he focused on it for a second before he was hit again. They were really angry at him this time, huh?
Now came the numbness. He thanked kami for it. His pain was no longer there, but his mind was still cloudy and dazed from it. What was next? Thats what it was. Confusion. Yes. What was he thinking about just now? Something about blood? It didn't matter. He saw the comforting darkness creeping in from the sides of his vision. You know that feeling between wake and dreaming? He was there. Confused, but not scared. He was oddly comforted by the darkness, but one would expect that if they were him.
The darkness crept in slowly, only at the edges of his vision at first, it was nearly swallowing it now. Darkness was powerful enough to block out the worst of pain, he knew. And finally, the sweet merciful kamis granted him that gift of unconciousness. Darkness reigned supreme, and it was the only place he could be safe.
No pain.
No screams.
There, in the strange obyss of nothing, he was alone. He wasn't the forbidden one. He was the only one. He was the most powerful here, being able to stand in the darkness when even the bandits he was being beaten by couldn't get in. He knew he'd be in pain later, but for now he was safe. For now he was free.
It wasn't until hours later that he woke. They had started the beating around six that morning and it looked to be afternoon now. His red eyes focusing on the sky above, he slowly rolled over and stood. It hurt, but nothing he wasn't use to. His youkai healing made things like this a great deal easier. He didn't mean to 'steal' the dragon. He really didn't. It came to him. He looked down at his bandaged arm and raised a brow. How was a dragon like this worth anything? Its not like you could sell it. He leaned heavily on the tree, wincing as he realized some ribs were broken.
He wished he were strong enough to get away. He was fast, for a youkai his age, but this group had youkai older and faster than him. He sighed, looking down as his chubby hands. He was only a child, he couldn't get away if he tried. If he did he could fend for himself, mostly, but there were always those youkai he couldn't defeat.
Thats when he felt it. The pulse of the tattoo on his arm. He blinked and unbound it, watching as it lifted itself off his arm and look him in the eyes. He gulped as it wrapped around his body once, then looked around. All around him lay the slumbering camp of the bandits. He looked up at the beast as it completely pulled away from his arm, dark misty youki flowed around it as it coiled up. Then, with a loud deafening roar, it began it's rampage.
Soon the entire camp was up and scrambling to get away from the dragon's wrath, many taking to the forest. Once the clearing was empty the dragon looked back at Hiei and instantly latched itself back onto his arm. Hiei, instantly terrified of the thing, wrapped his arm back up and ran. He knew that if the survivors found him he'd be dead. He ran as fast as his feet could take him, as far as they could. He had to find shelter, he had to find a place to hide and heal.
o0o
Three bloody noses lifted into the air and took a deep breath. Once more to be sure. The largest stood, his black fur matted with mud and dirt, he gave a great howl calling upon more of his pack. Oddly enough, he was the only black wolf of this pack, the others of varying shades of grey and brown. He licked his bloodied snout before taking off, about fifteen wolves close behind. He was a youkai wolf, even if he wasn't strong enough to take human shape, he had formed a great pack of outcasted wolves from any clan. He knew they needed more food, the lower rankings of his pack didn't get enough to eat, only scraps of that boar had been left for them. With a grunt he howled for his pack to run faster, their prey was getting away.
o0o
"What is WRONG with you?!" Kagome yelled, stomping her foot in anger. Her black tresses bounced as she and InuYasha ranted and raved at each other, this time over the fact that she wanted something other than ramen for once. Especially since they were days away from Edo and she only had one pack left.
"What's wrong is you forgot to mention you needed to fucking go home for more ramen, wench!" InuYasha growled out in her face, his ears flat against his head in anger.
"RAMEN isn't the ONLY reason I go home! Infact it's not even a factor in me going home!"
"Well, now it IS!" InuYasha screamed, clenching his fists before snarling. "Kikyo would have never done something so stupid!"
"KIKYO had no ACCESS to ramen! And I AM NOT HER! Get it through your thick ass skull!" Kagome snapped, then stood back, crossing her arms and smiling. "Sit."
With a loud thud and a cloud of dirt InuYasha now had a new crater. Shippo snorted at him from his place on Kagome's back, being to big for her shoulder now, as she picked up her bow and arrows.
"Ok, Shippo, time to get you started on hunting." Kagome said happily before walking off into the woods.
"GET BACK HERE BITCH!!" InuYasha yelled as he began pulling himself up.
"SIT!" thud.
Miroku sighed. "When will he ever learn?" He asked, his hand smoothly carressing Sango's bottom, causing her to stiffly growl at him.
"HENTAI!!!" She screeched and dropped Hiraikotsu onto the monk's head. Miroku, falling over in a daze, murmured how it was worth it everytime.
"The question is, houshi, is when will YOU learn?" She said, stepping on him on her way to tend to the fire.
o0o
Shippo jumped off of Kagome's back and ran ahead a bit, sniffing about, trying to find prey. It wasn't long that he found a rabbit's trail and followed, Kagome close behind at a safe distance. Shippo's body fell into a stalking position, his tail low and his nose to the air. Slowly he crept up behind the rabbit and-SNAP. Shit. A stick. Mentally cursing himself he gave chase, Kagome following, however he lost the rabbit and pouted.
"Kagome? Do I really have to learn?" Shippo asked as he began searching for another scent.
"Yes, sweety, you do. I won't be here forever." Kagome said softly, and she sighed as she saw Shippo's tail droop sadly.
"Of course you'll always be here with me, Kagome." He said and slowly followed the scent of a deer. She smiled sadly at the boy but said nothing. There was always the chance she'd be stuck here or still be able to travel back and forth when this was all over. She stopped when Shippo tensed.
"Someone's hurt...they're bleeding bad...youkai...a young one..." Shippo said and Kagome paled. Shippo took off after the scent of blood, Kagome followed not caring about the food any longer. She readied her bow just in case. She was glad she always kept extra medical supplies in the small pouch at her waist. A gift from Sango, made of a snake youkai's skin. It was then that they heard the howls, and they ran faster. Soon another howl was sent through the air and Kagome scowled.
So far, from Kouga and Shippo, she had learned much of the canine language as well as ancient Kitsune tongue. With that in mind she let out a warning howl, deep and long.
o0o
The dark wolf's ears straightened as he heard the warning howl, and he snarled loudly. So someone wanted the wounded prey and threatened his pack over it? He barked at his wolves for a debate on what they thought, and pretty much all of them wanted to continue, especially the hungry lower ranks. A howl came out of his throat, and a loud snarling bark followed.
o0o
Kagome and Shippo heard the answer, a clear one stating that it was their prey. Kagome decided to use another tactic. Sending out the same warning, she then added, in kitsune tongue, 'Miko'.
o0o
When the pack leader heard the call he sped up his pace, snarling. Miko his ass! They were trying to keep him and his own away! He would show this intruder who was alpha around these parts, and he'd kill them.
o0o
Hiei was panting now, huddled in a small cave. He had barely been able to get into the small opening, only to find there was another small opening deeper into the back he could easily get through. Sighing, he knew the wolves were coming. He wondered if the dragon would rise again to kill them too, but brushed the thought away. He sensed the wolves now, their leader was of average strength and if he was at full strength he could have fended them off. However, with his body so broken and tired he knew he couldn't right now. All he could hope is that they couldn't get in.
He could hear their sniffing now, getting closer and closer. He held his breath, slowed his heart, covered his aura, and finally his scent. Looking through the small opening the wolves were beginning to look confused when the biggest one, a black wolf, turned and looked straight into his blood red eyes with his golden ones. With a loud bark and a snarl the wolf tried to get into the cave, snapping his jaws at the boy.
Scared for his life, Hiei ran out the other entrance only to run right into Kagome. Kagome shoved him to Shippo before sending an arrow flying towards the angered wolves. She got the leader and two others down in one strike before she released three more, getting down a good ten wolves before the others turned tail. She was happy her aim had gotten better over the years, or this would have been one big disaster. Watching them leave, she spoke.
"Are you okay?" She asked and Shippo looked him over.
"Kagome he's been beaten badly, he's got glass in his neck and I think he's got a few broken ribs." He said softly, soothingly running a hand through the other boy's hair. "It's ok, Kagome's a good healer. I know what you are, but its fine, she doesn't care. She'll protect you." He whispered to the boy before Kagome picked him up.
Hiei looked up at the miko with both fear and uncertainty plain on his face. She smiled at him before sitting and setting him in her lap while she cleaned and dressed his wounds. The worst of his wounds was a large gash in his back, judging by the glass it was probebly a bottle that had cut him. "It's ok, sweety, we'll take care of you. You can stay with us as long as you want too, when we get back to camp I'll hurt anyone who says otherwise." She said, lightly purring. The purr was just a low growl kitsunes used for comfort.
Hiei said nothing as she picked him up once more and they began to head back to camp. On the way back Shippo actually caught a couple plump rabbits, whom he had trapped in their own burrow. One of which was the one he had chased earlier, making him extreamly happy.
o0o
Back at camp InuYasha was sulking and muttering curses under his breath. He, of course, wanted ramen like he always did but at the moment it was more of a dominance issue. He knew Kagome wasn't hanyou or youkai and didn't understand the alpha male alpha female positions, but still he hated feeling like he wasn't in control. He had to admit that he wasn't the one in control, but damn it the head of the pack should be male! It's never a female unless the alpha male dies! Snorting he stood. When she got back he was going to give her a piece of his mind, damn it, and nothing was going to get in the way. NOTHING!
He turned his nose to the air, sniffing it. He scowled. Blood? A youkai. Fire and Ice? That was forbidden in youkai and ningen societies. Young, too. He inhaled deeply and scowled. Kagome and that forbidden one were coming closer, by the smell of it Shippo caught a couple rabbits so neither were in danger of the child. However, he worried about bringing such a being to the pack could mean more attacks.
On a brighter note, more attacks mean more shards. Hell yes.
InuYasha turned around just in time to see Kagome carrying the small boy in. InuYasha's eyes narrowed. He was small for his age. He'd probebly grow to be just a bit taller than Kagome when he was an adult. He walked over there and looked down at the boy who bared his teeth at him in warning.
InuYasha snarled, causing Kagome to kick him away and sit him immediately. Sango and Miroku carefully came to Kagome and looked down at the boy in her arms, only to have him lash out at them with his claws.
Sango looked a bit angry. "Why did you bring him here, Kagome?" Sango whispered and Kagome ran a hand through the boy's hair causing him to blink up at her with a bit of fear.
"He needed help, Sango, he's only a child." She said, settling the boy down on her sleeping bag as Shippo skinned and gutted the rabbits. "You'll be safe with me, I promise." She murmured to him before turning back to Sango. "What's so wrong with that?"
"He's a hybrid of fire and ice youkai, Kagome." Sango hissed out. "A forbidden one. Even hanyous reject them!" Sango said and InuYasha snarled at Sango, angry with her.
"So he's different! So what?! I am too! Fuck, I'm litterally a royal mistake! Don't you start pulling this shit, Sango." He said, moving over to the boy and sitting near him. "He stays with us. We ain't leaving the kid to die! It'd be like leaving Shippo to die!"
Sango looked slightly upset, but she turned her back to them as Miroku drew her attention. "Sango, we are all equals here, what ever species or background we come from, this is a group of acceptance, you should understand this." He lightly said, lightly letting his staff tap her head.
Sango nodded, walked to the opposite side of the clearing and sat. Kagome smiled and began cooking rabbit stew, only to find that Hiei was now at her side, sitting close to her and grasping onto her shirt. She smiled down at him as she worked.
"Do you have a name, sweety?" She asked and he nodded. "Well, until you're ready to tell me I'll call you Firefly." He blinked at her and she smiled. "I'm going to tell you a story my mom told me once, ok?" He nodded and she smiled.
Once upon a time, there was a great pheonix named Xixu. Her power was vast however she stayed atop her volanic nest in wait for something. For centuries she waited, for the great god Yuki had asked her to. This god controlled winter and was one of the oldest and strongest of the gods. Xixu, knowing his power was greater than her own, followed his instructions. She left her nest to feed on the fresh fruit of the land every so often, but otherwise she stayed. Centuries pass and soon she was giving up hope that this something may appear. Her bright red and gold feathers became black and the flames upon her body became deep blue with her sorrow. That year she did not feed, slowly weakening she lay still, her long neck struggling to keep her head up high.
Days pass and suddenly a great dragon landed before her. His scales were blue as the sky, and his eyes silver as the moon. She was sure he was there to kill her, she knew of him, this ice dragon named Kuro. However, Kuro simply dropped thousands of fruit before her. He had been collecting them for days now, seeing her becoming weaker.
"Eat." He had said simply, and she looked at him, her golden eyes narrowing.
"Are you not here to kill me? I am weak, you could do what ever you wish and yet you bring me food?" She asked and the dragon chuckled.
"In return for my act of kindness I require only one thing from you, a debt if you will. Now eat." He said, angering her slightly.
"What do you wish for, dragon?" She asked, her flames rising in warning and he shook his head.
"Nothing that will do you nor I harm. I simply want an heir, we are both old, and our two species are slowly dying, yours has no males left. Mine are being hunted and killed by great warriors seeking to bring our heads back as a show of strength. This union could bring out a strong heir to stand up for our blood." He said gently, and she lay her head down slowly.
"The great god Yuki has told me to wait for something, I suppose that something has finally come." She said, before beginning to eat the fruit. Slowly, over the years, they tried and tried for an heir with no such luck. They grew to love each other, and so did not see any reason to stop such actions, even if it was frowned upon by the others of their kinds. Then, almost a decade later, a boy was born.
However, he was not pheonix nor dragon, in fact he looked ningen! Both parents were suprised, but raised him none the less, and found he had enormous power. He had control of both his parent's elements and could surely save their blood! However, the boy was rebellious and angry that he was being used as nothing more than a tool.
He became the first forbidden child. He was a killer of many, youkai and ningen alike, and when he was brought down a law forbid such things from happening again. However, such laws did not stop his parents. From them came the first Fire Youkai and Ice Youkai. Later these two youkai became enemies. The Fire youkai blood was strong, and over came that of Tree nymphs and so they took them as mates to create a large clan all of its own. Ice youkai blood over came water, and so water sprites became their choice mates for years to come. Then, a war broke out amongst the Ice youkai themselves. Soon, just as it had with the pheonix, there were only females left. Their hatred for males became strong and they created a island all of their own. Soon they became Asexual, and could breed without males. However, some craved attention.
This results in those few youkai to leave the island. Every so often they would come across a fire youkai and either die or create a child. Now, because this is forbidden by law, one couple put a spell on their child. He became the very first Firefly, and soon there were others. More and more until the couple died. As fireflies the children freely danced and played, forgotten about by the other youkai.
The spell, never found again, could no longer be used and so every time a forbidden child is born the fireflies gather and secretly watch over the child. Sometimes, the child is saved by whispers in a mother's or father's ear. Other times the firefly would lead a healer to a dying child, or even a lonely youkai. However, because of the hate throughout the land, Yuki decided to step in. He touched the minds of some youkai and ningen, creating hanyous. Sometimes others like a kitsune and a crow, creating a different form of hybrid.
Over time hybrids will be accepted, just as we are causing the acceptance of hanyous through our quest with InuYasha, we will bring acceptance to you, because, Firefly, inside you are no different than us. We both bleed, we both die, we both hurt, and we both can love.
Kagome smiled at Hiei's confused expression. "We will protect you. If you were any other species we'd still protect you, and I will always help you as much as I can. With anything. Just like Shippo"
Hiei cocked his head at her but looked around at the others who, apparently, had heard the story before. Sango was still suspicious of him no matter what, but the others were relaxed and calmly doing their own things.
"Keh. Story or not you're one of us now, kid. Besides, us outcasts gotta work together!" InuYasha said, from his spot in a tree.
"Dinner is ready!" Kagome said and began handing out bowls.
o0o
Later that night Hiei was in a tree above Kagome and Shippo as they slept. InuYasha was in another tree nearby, keeping watch. Sango slept huddled against Kirara and Miroku napped with his back against a tree. Hiei looked around before hopping down to examine Kagome and Shippo, snuggled all warm in her sleeping bag. He could see the stain of blood he had left there when she had set him down and winced. Looking around, he sniffed the air and walked away to bathe in the nearby hotsprings Kagome and Shippo used earlier. Kagome had invited him along, but he blushed and hopped into a tree. How could the kit bathe with her? She was female, it was inappropriate.
Stripping himself of his clothes and bandages, he lowered himself into the springs. Again the dragon came out, looking around it flew over to a boulder and rested, looking at him with an odd expression. Slowly it lowered its head and closed it's eyes while he finished washing off the blood. It was only after he dried off and began dressing that the dragon returned to his arm and was rewrapped.
When he returned he found Kagome sitting up. "Firefly, please don't go off alone, if you want to bathe alone or without me, you can bathe with Miroku, Ok? Let me see those wounds of yours."
He hesitated before going over to her, standing silently while she fussed over his bandages. He watched her worried face and frowned. She was becoming alot of firsts for him, and it was strange. He pondered over the story she had told, one that was almost a prophecy saying eventually acceptance would come. He hoped it would be soon, but doubted it. He knew better than to hope for things that may never happen. However, this girl already accepted him with open arms, treating him like a child even though, more than likely, he and the kit were both older than her by a few decades. Even if he had the body of a pre-teen, it didn't mean he was one. He was starting to understand the lustful cravings of males and knew he would need to leave in fear of taking such a kind ningen against her will.
She smiled at him and ran a hand through his slightly damp hair. "All done, come on, you can sleep with me and Shippo." She said, patting the open space next to her. He scowled and hopped into the tree above and lay down. She shrugged it off and lay back down.
o0o
Days pass and Hiei realized how frequently the group faught, with hardly enough time for everyone to heal between attacks they relied on Kagome's medicens and her under developed healing powers. Even though the hanyou was close to her, he would put up a struggle when she wanted to look at his wounds. Always angering her or making her sad with things he said or did, Hiei simply became her silent shadow. He often stood next to her during fights, killing youkai that came too close to her and her kit, which happened much too often for his taste. Kagome, though good with a bow, always struggled through fights, having to be saved time and again.
One youkai almost kidnapped her, would have if he hadn't have lopped the arm holding her off. Slowly he began to realize his emotions caused the dragon to act up, so he began hiding behind a mask and distancing himself from everyone but Kagome. Infact, as much as he tried he could not distance himself. Even when he growled at her to back off, she always gave him a smile and continued her care over him.
He had even begun sleeping near her, not nearly as close as Shippo did, but leaning against a nearby tree on the ground or even laying on the ground nearby. Once he had woke to find he had gotten too close, mere inches away from her sleeping bag, in his sleep. Frightened by the experience he took to the trees for the rest of the night.
But now they were in a village, one they apparently came to often. An old woman easily accepted him as the newest member and offered him a place to stay for the night with the others. Kagome had given him one of her dazzling smiles before they entered the hut and ate dinner that night. When he woke the next morning, Kagome and her things had gone.
Desperate to find her he quickly followed her scent trail, up a hill to a large tree then to a well. Sudden fear struck him as he looked around and in the well for her only to find nothing.
"She'll be back, kid." He heard someone say, turning he saw the hanyou leaning against a tree watching him. "She goes home through that damned well every once and a while. She's got to get stuff and do stuff there too. Her family is back there, and only me and her can get back and forth. Dunno why." Inuyasha said, but Hiei snarled at him, looking down the well, waiting for her. "She'll be back in a couple days, if not I'll go get her."
Not trusting the hanyou, Hiei sat on the edge of the well and waited. The next couple days were hard, with his worry the dragon was restless. When she finally reappeared the dragon had burned through the wrappings on his arm and went straight to her, to say she was shocked would be an understatement. It coiled around her and looked her over, scaring Hiei near to death as it opened its great mouth to taste her.
By this time Kagome was giggling at the dragon, confusing Hiei. The dragon helped her up and out of the well, not forgetting her bag, still examining her carefully. It backed away, circled around, nuzzled, coiled around her, and soon began messing with her strange clothing. She wore a sweater and faded jeans today, with hiking boots. Kagome was giggling more when it came up to see the hair clip she had in, sniffing at it before exhaling in her face. It's breath was hot and blew her hair back making her smile. Her hands came up to caress it's great muzzle before it escaped her touch, attatching itself to Hiei's arm once more. Hiei held his arm with the opposite hand, trying to hide it behind his body and Kagome smiled.
"So that's why you bandage your arm. Come here, let me bandage him up for you. It's not like he's going to hurt me, ne?" Kagome said and Hiei hesitated before doing as told. "He's powerful, sweety, powerful enough to take care of you if you need him, just make sure its what he wants too. Don't go using him for just anything, if he chooses to leave he may just do that, you have power on your own so be sure to use your own power too. I can tell you're scared of him, and its ok I would have been too, but I don't think he'd turn on you. He's smart, this one, checking me over the way he did. He's also very affectionate, a good sign he thinks on his own. He was curious, too, so dont keep him locked up for too long, let him have fun every so often to explore things." Kagome said as she finished it up and stood.
"Kagome!" Shippo called out, flying into her arms, knocking her over. "I missed you!"
"Yes, I know, you always do, Shippo, now get off so I can breathe." Kagome whined and Shippo laughed, hopping off of her quickly. "You're getting so big, ya know that?" Kagome said, ruffling the boys hair and he grinned up at her as she stood again.
"Yeah!" Shippo said, puffing his chest out proudly.
"Where's InuYasha?" Kagome asked and Shippo's proud look instantly fell.
"He's...ah..." He started, tears forming in his eyes in anger. "Stupid mutt." He mumbled and Kagome nodded.
"It's ok, Shippo, you know I don't feel like that for him anymore. Still, I hope he's ok." Kagome said, biting her lip. "Miroku's watching him I suppose? Sango'd kill him if she were trailing.." Kagome said and the kit nodded, his hand grabbing hers.
"Myoga came by today, saying that there are only three sets of shards. Kouga's, ours, and Naraku's now. So, we should probebly go see Kouga, if he doesn't come to us first." Shippo said, and Kagome rolled her eyes.
"Firefly, there's a pack of wolf youkai that are our friends, their leader is very, very fast and tends to say I'm his woman. We won't be fighting them, but I'm going to have to ask that if he doesn't hand his shards over if you can get them away, I know you're a bit faster than he is. There is one in each of his legs, ok?" Kagome said and he nodded sharply, bringing a hand up to grasp onto her sleeve. His eyes glared at her then turned to Shippo. His gaze hardened as he looked at the kit holding her hand, and in turn the kit glared back. Then, suddenly it clicked with the kit and he looked happily up at Kagome.
"Kagome-okaasan, its ok if I call you Okaasan, right?" Shippo asked and Kagome grinned happily.
"Hai, Shippo! I'd like that very much!" She said and, releasing his hand to grab her bag and put it on, she turned around in time to see InuYasha walking towards them with a slightly guilty look on his face. Shippo wrinkled his nose in disgust and Hiei growled at the hanyou. "It's ok, you two, now stop that. InuYasha, its fine, just make sure you don't get too attatched. You know, one day, I'll need the rest of my soul." She said and looked him dead in the eye, sorrow filling them. "Its not a fact I like, having to take her away from you, but it's a do or die, I only have roughly a year left."
Miroku chose that moment to make his entrance with Kirara trailing behind. "She's right, InuYasha, her aura seems to just about scream pain."
Hiei's neck popped he had turned his head to look up at her so fast. He concentrated on trying to see her aura and soon he could see it. It was a shadow of herself incased in blue. Her shadow self was holding her true self, tears running down her face. What was odd was the fact that her shadow self seemed to be missing a rather large portion of her stomache. He watched as the aura Kagome shook with pain as she sobbed, rubbing her cheek against her true self. Her lips moved and seemed to be speaking but he heard nothing, but with how Kagome closed her eyes and shook her head she had. The other Kagome seemed to grip tighter, if she could physically hold something she would have been tearing the sweater with that grip. She seemed to just give up a bit and sob on her shoulder. He growled loudly, his eyes turning to InuYasha. His pupils became almost cat like as he snarled at the hanyou.
"Firefly. Enough. He doesn't see auras like some of us can, his blood is unstable and don't agree on how they should go about searching for an aura." Kagome explained as Sango finally made her entrance.
"Kagome, it's time to head to Kouga's territory." Sango said slowly and Kagome gripped both boy's hands.
"Hai, I know. come on, you two, you'll be riding on Kirara with Sango today. InuYasha, carry Miroku. I'm taking my bike." Kagome said as she and the boys started walking towards the village, InuYasha almost immediately went out front taking his place as leader.
o0o
Later that day it was no suprise that Kouga had immediately come to them when they entered his territory. "Kagome! How's my onna?" He said before he looked to InuYasha. "Eh? No shit coming out of InuTrasha's mouth?" He then turned to Kagome expectantly when InuYasha bit back an insult. "You're here for them aren't you?" He said, standing straight.
"Hai, Kouga, we'll take them by force if it must be that way, but you know I don't want to see you hurt. We're giving you the chance to give them up." Kagome said as Hiei jumped from Kirara to stand next to her, grabbing onto her hand possessively. He only stood up to her elbow, so it didn't seem like much of a threat. Shippo came up on her other side and did the same, his head barely reaching her waist. Kagome, herself, had a completely serious look with no smile. It was unsettling.
"But, Kagome, you're my onna, what's yours is mine!" Kouga said and Kagome let go of Hiei's hand. Suddenly Kouga was on the ground holding his bleeding legs while Hiei seemed to disappear for only a few seconds only to have Kagome's hand again as he sheathed his sword. In Kagome and Hiei's hands were Kouga's bloody shards. Kagome smiled down at the boy before her sad eyes turned to Kouga.
"I was never yours to begin with, Kouga, I'm not an object to own. If I want a man, I'll find one on my own." Kagome said and sighed. "Besides, I don't even know if I'll be allowed to stay here after the jewel is complete, you know that." And with that the children were back on Kirara and Kagome was tucking the shards into the jar around her neck before climbing onto her bike. Just as Miroku was about to get on InuYasha's back Kouga let out a feral snarl and leapt at the female that dared refuse him. In the split second that he was diving for her, a black blur had came down hard on his back, causing him to land hard on the ground in front of her bicycle.
"Hn." Hiei said, his pupils narrow once more as he looked down at the wolf.
"Firefly, that's enough." Kagome said, steering the bike around the wolf, her hand came around Hiei's head as she pulled him close, letting him burrow his nose in the crook of her shoulder. "I'm happy to have such a great guardian with me, so fast and protective. It makes me happy to know I mean something to you and you aren't just tolerating me."
InuYasha's eyes softened at the scene. It felt familiar to him, it was as if she had said it to him before. She probebly did, at some point, early on during their travels, but the kid needed to hear things like that just as he had. He noticed Hiei didn't hold her, but stood there letting her hold him, he was breathing in her scent and allowing it to cover him. It was like being marked by his mother. InuYasha knew that feeling well.
"Oi! Lets get goin'! Burnin' daylight here!" InuYasha said and Kagome chuckled, releasing Hiei.
"He's right, lets go before Kouga recovers and decides he wants one of us as breakfast." She said and then they were off, following Kagome's insticts to find Naraku.
o0o
A week passed by without so much as a growl from any youkai, and this day they found out why. Sesshoumaru was trailing them. InuYasha was cursing loudly as Sesshoumaru made his way into their campsite, looking around.
"Oi! Sesshoumaru! What the hell are you here for ya bastard?!" InuYasha yelled out, only to cause Jaken to snap.
"That's Sesshoumaru-sama to you, half breed!" Jaken growled out the best he could, only to have Rin run up with AhUn in hand, proudly putting her hands on her hips.
"Sesshoumaru-sama is Sesshoumaru-sama!" She said, and at first no one recognised her. Kagome blinked several times.
"Rin?!" Kagome asked, grabbing the girl's attention.
"Kagome-sama!" Rin squealed, launching her pre-teen form at her much like Shippo was so fond of doing. Hiei knew better than to get in between the two, though he was slightly annoyed by the attention the girl was now getting from HIS Kagome.
"Oh wow you are growing up so beautiful, Rin! Are you bathing everyday like I told you?" Kagome asked, causing Sango to wrinkle her nose at the habit. Kagome's daily bathing couldnt be healthy.
"Hai! Sesshoumaru-sama makes sure I do! Yesterday Sesshoumaru-sama gave me this new Kimono!" She said, spinning so Kagome could see. Kagome smiled.
"Rin, this is my new friend, Firefly. He's my newest protector!" She said, pulling Hiei closer and wrapping an arm around his shoulders causing him to look away with a huff. "Firefly, this is my little Rin, well technically Sesshoumaru-sama's little Rin, but I claim her too!" She said, running her hand through Rin's hair. "Ohhh Sango I think Rin found out certain hair secrets!"
"EH?!" Sango rushed over and ran her own fingers through her hair. "Oh, wow!"
Kagome grinned. "Sesshoumaru-sama! It's alright if we go have some girl time with Rin, right?" Kagome called out, causing InuYasha and Jaken to stop fighting.
"NO!" Both of them yelled before looking at each other and going back to fighting, this time over why each said no.
Sesshoumaru, however, nodded. "This Sesshoumaru will talk to you after your bath, miko." He said simply, causing InuYasha to go on a yelling spree saying there was no way that it was going to happen.
"Sit." Thud. "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama! Firefly, make sure the boys don't come near, not even you or Shippo, ok? This is special girl time." She said, kissing Hiei's forehead causing him to blush brightly before hopping into a tree growling at her softly. Kagome chuckled. "Sesshoumaru-sama, Firefly is special to me so please try to overlook him and focus on InuYasha!" With Sesshoumaru's nod, the girls ran off giggling and talking about 'Sesshoumaru-sama's secret'.
Sesshoumaru nearly rolled his eyes.
o0o
As the girls began stripping, still talking nonstop about this and that Rin pulled out a long strip of fabric from her kimono. "This is it, the secret!"
Kagome came closer and fingered the fabric. "Silk?"
"HAI! After a bath Sesshoumaru-sama wraps his hair in it! This one is Rin's very own!" She exclaimed, rubbing it against her cheek and Kagome grinned, pulling her clothes back on.
"Hold on then! I got some for me and Sango!" Running back to camp Kagome dug into her backpack, startling Shippo who was leaning against it. She pulled out two silk Obis and ran back, leaving many confused males and one amused Sesshoumaru.
Upon returning she stripped and handed Sango one of the silk Obis. They all sank into the warmth of the hotspring, and began washing each other's hair with Kagome's Watermellon scented shampoo then the conditioner. Afterwards they each wrapped their hair in the silk and leaned back to enjoy the warmth.
"So we just let our hair dry with the silk?" Kagome asked and Rin nodded.
"Sesshoumaru-sama says if you dry it with the silk it becomes wavey, but if you just let the silk dry it it straightens!" Rin said, grinning.(This is totally made up for those thinking of trying something like this. Completely and utterly made up ya'll!) Kagome, decided on the wavy hair, Sango and Rin just sat back and let theirs dry. They could hear InuYasha ranting and raving back at camp, but didn't pay him any mind. He'd get over it.
o0o
By the time they returned to camp, Miroku was bound and gagged, laying on the ground with Hiei sitting on his back glaring down at him. InuYasha was trying to get Sesshoumaru to fight him, still, only to get distracted by Jaken once more. Shippo was practicing his kitsune magics, and Sesshoumaru was looking at Kagome expectantly. Kagome sweatdropped and bowed to Sesshoumaru in appology before pulling Hiei off Miroku.
"You did wonderful, Firefly." She said, pulling him into a hug before releasing Miroku. Sango, however, thought it wasn't a fit punishment for trying to peek again and so Hiraikotsu was 'dropped' onto his head as he was getting back up.
"Whoopsie." Sango said innocently sending Rin and Shippo into fits of laughter while Kagome went over to Sesshoumaru.
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Kagome asked, grinning up at him much like Rin does.
"This Sesshoumaru is aware that the final battle is approaching, and will be joining the pack for the purpose of defeating him." He said and Kagome nodded.
"Hai, with you with us it'll make it just that much easier." Kagome said and he nodded. "During the battle I want Rin to stay with me and Shippo. Firefly is good at protecting us if a youkai gets too close, while me and Shippo have more long ranged attacks. I'm assuming AhUn will be there with Rin as well?"
Sesshoumaru nodded and looked over to Hiei. "That boy is a forbidden child, I'm assuming you realize."
"Hai. He's become attatched to me. I worry about when I leave, if he'll be alright." Kagome said and Sesshoumaru snorted.
"Mukuro has her eyes on that one, I would not worry. She'll take care of him until the time comes for him to leave." Sesshoumaru said and Kagome blinked.
"Mukuro?" She asked and Sesshoumaru nodded.
"A rising threat to the Eastern Lord, I'm sure she'll take over soon. She has the power and wisdom the current lord does not." Sesshoumaru said and Kagome smiled.
"I wonder if she'll take in Shippo as well. Will you bring it up with her? Shippo doesn't need to have any more of InuYasha's bad habits." Kagome whispered knowing Sesshoumaru could hear while InuYasha was too far.
"Hai, if not I'll take in the kit. He's got strong blood, both fire kitsune and spirit kitsune." Sesshoumaru said and Kagome smiled up at him, glad that someone would care for the little ones while she was gone.
o0o
It was days before InuYasha stopped yelling about Sesshoumaru's pack joining theirs, and took several sits to get it through his skull that they wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. However, by the time he was use to the idea Naraku attacked.
Blood covered the forest floor, Naraku had chosen to attack in the dead of night while most of them slept. Immediately Kagome found herself, Shippo, Hiei, Rin, and AhUn farthest from Naraku. Rin sat between AhUn's front legs, covering her head as he protectively watched for incoming Youkai. Hiei was covered in youkai blood and flesh from protecting the small group from the odd ones Shippo and Kagome missed. Kagome's arrows were running low as were her options. Naraku was fighting tooth and nail to get to her and the jewel while InuYasha, Sesshoumaru, and, amazingly, Kouga took him on. Sango and Miroku were fighting back to back while Kirara was fighting Kagura in the sky. Jaken was a little ways ahead of Kagome's group, helping protect Rin.
It was at this time Kikyo made herself known, carrying Naraku's child in her arms. Naraku took notice of this and screamed in pain as Kikyo sent her powers into the baby purifying it and his heart. In this instant Kagome sent her own powers into an arrow directed at Naraku, her body tense with determination. Hiei, at the same time, went to Kikyo and in a split second her body was cut into thirds. Kagome's soul hit her in the chest just as the arrow was released.
On impact there was a blinding light that had everyone turning away.