Pairing: minato/kagome

AN: This fic is complete, in a sense that i have in fact finished it, but it was going to be a oneshot til i realized it was 17k long. That being said, i read over it for comprehension, but it too is not beta'd. I love this fic and i've been working on it all month here and there. either way. I hope you like it. its rated high because eventually there will be a bit of... stuff.... Its possibly OOC for both Minato and Kagome but we really dont know what kinda guy Minato would be in this kinda situation. and i like this pairing. As for Kagome. well again I'm saying this is what i think she'd be like in this kinda situation. WARNINGS: Lang/mature content/violence/ same ole same ole. - MPB

The Pursuit of Happiness

Chaos was what was all around him, screams, and panic, he was not surrounded by the brave strong shinobi he knew lived in this village. It was his duty and job to protect them, but there was a large bitter part of him that hoped the fox killed them all. He had once been such a happy man. Once he'd bee a joyful person to be around, but that had all changed when she was forced from his side. The love of his life, …he didn't even know what had become of her, if she was well, if she had married, if she had children. He didn't know these things, and it angered him, for he had wanted to spend his life with her, he wanted to be the father of her children, her everything, just as she had been his world, his Happiness.

Minato chuckled darkly, his electric blue eyes narrowing into slits as he look out, he was glad for one thing, no matter what, when this was over he was be away from these people he loathed so much. It wasn't really the majorities fault, it wasn't the fault directly of the people, but they all fell into the roll of being blamed because they had fed into the cannon fodder that had allowed this all to happen. Clan heads, and council members, elders… they had ruined his life. It was any shinobi's dream to become Hokage, it meant that he was the best, the strongest, smartest, fastest. But for him, not long after he had taken the job, it had taken away all of his happiness. And his happiness had a name, Higuarshi, Kagome. His happiness had long dark hair, like a raven's wing, blue eyes brighter then his own, legs that went on forever, and a body that a goddess would envy. Yet his happiness had been gone for about five long years.

He sighed to himself as he summoned the great toad king, he didn't say anything other then asking him to move towards the beast that went to kill his people. Oddly he thought of the fact that he didn't care if it did or not, he secretly hoped it got every member of the council and any clan head that had voted for his life to be turned into the hell that he lived now, the darkness that he wallowed in. If he had known that they could force a marriage upon him, he would have just stayed either a Jonin or an ANBU member, and never, EVER accepted the roll as leader. He hated them for what they had done. And at the moment, he was glad to give his life away so that he did not have to live in a loveless marriage, or have to suffer pretending to care anymore, worse yet, live without the one he loved. He was too bitter to do his job, and all he wanted other then away out was to see his happiness again.

He looked over at the beast, walking death on four legs, with nine tails and rows upon rows of sharp fangs. Minato began to summon the death god. It took many symbols but soon, the apparition of death itself loomed behind him about to pull his soul into the next life when a plume of black smoke swirled before it and him. He stood shocked for he knew of only one person able to teleport like this, the woman that he'd wanted to spend his life with, the love of his life. She had walked away from her own happiness so that the village would prosper, but turned her back on them forever more. She looked only more beautiful as she had aged just a bit, the hints of maturity suiting her well. He wasn't listening to her as she spoke with the death god.

"There is no soul to take this night, not like this." she said.

"There must be a payment." stated the wraith, not that Minato was listening to the conversation but his gaze was locked on his once lover. The one that still held his heart even after so long.

"You will not take him." she responded, her voice clipped.

"Then no service shall be rendered. Shikon Miko, I will not stop collection for you again." the death god spoke as he began to vanish, but again his love spoke.

"Then I will kill you on our next meeting if you don't while I require it of you." she threatened. There was a pause, but the death god said nothing and she was no longer looking at it, it vanished its job not preformed. She did not look at the hokage as she turned. He fell to his knees weak from having his soul torn from his body yet returned. He wanted to hold her, caress her, tell her of his love. He didn't care that he was married, he had never wanted to marry Kushina in the first place. Yes, the redhead was very pretty, but she was loud, brash and abrasive. She was not Kagome. She would never be enough, and even if Kagome had died, Minato was certain that he would never be happy without her.

He watched as she drew a bow, leaving him to finally realize that she looked more like a samurai, then a ninja. He was not surprised. He wanted so much to hold her but he couldn't force his body to move, and holding the Boss Frog there was draining him of his energy quickly. Briefly he noted that she was again speaking but again not to him. He watched as she tapped on Boss Frog's head with her foot, the creature looking up in shock and awe that she was even there, before she told him to lower them. While Boss Frog normally wouldn't listen to anyone, she had always been different. She was Kagome. She controlled all five elements, she alone was more powerful then both Hyuga and Uchiha, for their dojutsu were useless against her. She alone was able to use his very own Hiraishin technique, and many others that only those with kekkei genkkais should be able to use. She was powerful, but she had not been political enough.

Kushina had been both a Kunoishi, and a kage's daughter. When her country had been destroyed she had fled to the Leaf. While they, Kushina and Minato, had known of one another, they hadn't spent much time together. Unfortunately, as soon as she came of age to marry she was pushed upon him, as he was the Hokage, it only seemed right to the council, even if they were ruining two happy beings in love. None of them had cared. Kagome was forced out and Kushina had taken her place. Neither of the two in the new couple had been happy ever sense. For the redhead knew she would never have his heart, and he had never really tried to give it to her either. He loved Kagome, his job had forced his hand in taking Kushina. He scowled at that thought, but turned from them to watch the love of his life.

She pulled out her bow, there were no arrows, but he knew, she needed none, she never had. He watched in awe as she let lose upon the fox a blue arrow, growing with wild crackling power, the creature didn't even seem to know what was going on, nor care. A barrier large and grand erected around the beast, keeping it in, and casting humans out, throwing them a few yards none to gently away from the large powerful barriers edge. Another trick she had never shown them, but then there were many tricks that she had as shikon miko. They had never known all of her life's details even when they had found her after the final battle, blooded as hell and barely alive. The barrier shrank, and with it the fox. Beast or not, controlled or not, it had a survival instinct, no matter what it would want to live, and it knew the walls trapping it were pure blue death.

Minato watched from his place on the ground pushing those shinobi and aids away that rushed to his side as he watched the love of his life walk closer to the barrier. He wanted to call out to her, to bring her to him, into his arms, hold her never let go. But he couldn't find the strength to do so, no matter how much he wanted. Shinobi parted a way for her, many knew her, had known who and what she had been. Many were still terrified of her, and those that hadn't been certainly were now seeing her power dance around her in rippling waves of purity, making those with tainted, and little demonic blood itch to destroy her or corrupt her. Before long the bubble containing the fox now contained a man with bright red hair, bared fangs and claws, and eyes that shown scarlet, three onyx tomoes corrupting them as he still thrashed wildly. Kagome only narrowed her eyes before she allowed a pulse wave of her energy to wave out into the land.

He was not far, the one responsible for this, and he could not get away from her. Miko barriers were amazing things. Trapped quickly with a flick of her wrist she pulled the hiding man from the woods nearly a mile away, his aura cloaking the foxes. She grinned wickedly, not at all looking like herself when she brought him towards her in a barrier. He was an Uchiha, and his power was surprisingly stronger then most of them, as if he weren't as tainted by human blood. She did not care, no one could use Genjustsu on her, too many times had Naraku tried similar tactics of mind invation that she had grown a natural and unbreakable defense for it. The Uchiha and Hyuga had hated and coveted her for that fact.

Kagome grinned at the masked man, as she pulled the barrier he was surrounded in high into the air, and then brought it down as if she were bouncing a ball slamming him into the earth with jarring speed. The ground beneath him cracked but she was more trained then to think such a single fall would hurt him, so she did it again, and again and again, until he was barely alive. Not normally one to be so malicious, she knew she was taking out her anger on him. She had sworn never to come here again, never to help this village. But Minato would die for them, and she loved him too much to let himself do it, plus there were simply other reasons that he could not die.

Looking at the masked man's body now battered and bruised she really didn't care what she had done to him but she did take one thing from him, those damned cursed eyes. Purifying him had been a treat his screams had been a pleasure to her ears before he had fallen into unconsciousness. As Kagome looked sadly back on her love, she longed for him, wanted him, but he could never be her's again, her secrets would have to remain. Her eyes nearly watered as she looked upon him, as the medic nins treated him. She could see longing on his side too, it didn't matter though. She might have given him up willingly, having learned her lesson from Inuyasha, but it had hurt more because she had truly loved Minato, she still did. Looking back at the now awake and coherent Kyuubi, she growled out something the shinobi couldn't understand, and there was a bright flash of light, the beast was gone.

She turned back towards Minato and mouthed the words, "I love you," to him before she vanished once again in a plume of black smoke. She could not stay here and watch him be with another.

Minato cursed feeling all his hate and anger well in him once more. His eyes darkened as he looked upon Sandaime's face as he came towards him, he nearly snarled as he saw the old man looking at the last whips of black smoking, knowing only one person could teleport like that. "Was it her?" he ask, knowing not to say her name. He had hated the fact that they had been torn apart, but it had been best for the lands they had thought, but not best for the man, or the women. He had never seen something so upsetting and disturbing as when they had forced Kagome and Minato apart. It had brought a lot of change to the village, not all of it for the best. He felt more then his fair share of shame for his part in the act.

He watched as the one he picked to secede him nodded, his jaw clenched his eyes dark, the older Hokage knew that the younger Kage might not be as well suited for this job as he had once hoped he'd be. "That man." the forth pointed towards the body laying near by that did not look like anyone either of them knew. "She beat him to a pulp. I think he's responsible for this." Minato indicating all of the damage around them, Hiruzen sighed but nodded as he watched Minato black out. This night was not its best, many had died, Minato's wife included, and what was worse was he had seen his old and only love once more. Things were not looking good for them at all.

XxXxX

Seven and a half years before the fox's attack…

The final battle with Naraku for the cursed shards had come down to just Kagome and Sesshomaru fighting the spider hanyou. While she wanted to look around for her friends she knew she could not. To take her eyes off this madman would be her down fall, and as much as she knew Sesshomaru was a born fighter, she could not let this fight fall only on his shoulder. She knew though that she needed to get the jewel. To do so would put all of the favor on their side. Many months of hardship and travel, heartache and sadness, it would be all worth it when he was taken down. Briefly telling the demon lord her plan, he only grunted in acquiesce to her desires and started taking the battle on before her, giving her time to call out to the jewel.

Through study with Keade and Miroku she had learned to call upon her powers more, as the jewel protector, no matter what anyone said, it was her's. Calling out to the cursed babble she barely heard the roaring screams of the spider hanyou as the large chunk of shards he had soared to her person, purifying before they touched her. She gathered them together, and prayed, kami did she pray for everything that she had ever hoped, dreamed and wished for her friends; for the people that had lost anything from the jewel corruption. A bright light had surrounded her. And she could only see Sesshomaru as he had already finished Naraku off. She really couldn't scream but tears welled in her eyes, as she nodded to him a 'thanks,' he nodded back.

Before long she was gone from that world, the wish made, the jewel gone. She didn't know the ramifications of what she had wished. She would find out when she woke up in the ninja era.

.

.

.

They found her just barely in the forest near their village, near and old well that had never had water, on an old shrine grounds that was said to be haunted, o cursed, it was dilapidated. She was battered and bruised and looked like a prostitute, but still she had needed medical attention and they had taken her back to the hospital there in Konoha. It took a month for her to wake, but by that time they had many questions, like what was the strong pink glow she had? Why her chakra channels were so different? Why was her chakra not blue but a pale pink that almost looked white, but at the same time, black because she seemed to have two sets of them? Those were just some of the many questioned they had. Unfortunately for them, when she had woken she was far too overwhelmed to really answer any of them.

While she had slept the knowledge of all that had once been trapped in the jewel had been thrust upon her, the healing powers as well as many others were adapted to fit her human body, and suit her into this new world. They were grateful to be free and could not leave her defenseless in this new dangerous world where she did not have a protector. She was only about sixteen years old, for the most part she was really good about bringing trouble unto herself as well. They, the jewel, owed her this, as she would find out, she was alone in this world, there were no longer any Higurashi, she was the only one, as her line had not been needed once she had preformed her task of killing off Naraku and getting rid of the jewel.

The ninja had interrogated her, tried to tap into her brain but that had been a bad idea as she had retaliated without thought. Too many times had Naraku tried to mess with her mind. Unfortunately for them, she was vicious, the poor Yamanaka who had been assigned to her had been placed into the hospital for a week afterwards. Using what they could because none wanted to attempt to rummage through her mind they had determined that she wasn't a threat to them as she wasn't violent towards them, but could be a very valuable asset to their village. A foolish determination on their part, but she was rather peaceful considering everything. Of course she would be watched, the one assigned to her, one Namekaze Minato.

They really hadn't gotten along too much at first the ANBU member was new to the title but at the same time, he didn't really mind being near her. She was funny and different from every female he knew. Plus there were her eyes. He'd never seen another being with blue eyes as bright as his own, or anyone from his own clan, a dying clan. Slowly but surely they had grown close. As the village came to trust her more, grow in awe and fear of her powers as they were still on the last cusps of a war, the name Higurashi became as infamous as Namekaze. Slowly the two fell in love. It was a deep love that rivaled star crossed lovers. They had planned to wed, and so they hadn't thought much about anything when he had taken her to his bed, and made love to her.

They didn't know that shortly there after their lives would be changed forever.

XxXxX

Five years before the fox's attack…

Both stood before the council. Neither one looking up. She was nearly nineteen, and he was twenty two, their wedding was just weeks away, she had a secret to tell him. But right now they were hearing things that were making her want to be sick, want to cry, want to kill every last one of them. Sometimes life just seemed to hate her. The whirlpool country had dissolved some time before, its people killed, but, there was at least one survivor, the kage's daughter, Kushina. She had come to the Leaf, a village that had been at peace and allied with theirs, in hopes to find home a few years ago. But now, she had come of age, and rather then one clan getting a hold of her, they had pushed her on to the young Hokage, not caring that he had a lover and fiancée.

None of them wanted this. Kushina didn't want to break up a happy couple, but she had envied Kagome and Minato, had longed from a love like that, and when asked who she would be interested in marrying, thinking it had been a hypothetical question she had said someone like him. She had never thought that the village elders or council would vote in this manner. Minato she knew was happily in love with Kagome, and Kagome would do anything for Minato for she loved him just as much. Somehow she had broken them up. This was all her fault, as she watched the dark haired woman fight back tears, she was far stronger then herself as Kushina could already feel tears falling. And Minato… He looked like he wanted to gut every living body in the room that was not Kagome. His eyes were dark and unreadable. It was startling to feel the killing intent rolling off of him in waves as he held on to the woman he loved.

"Is there no other way?" The blond asked darkly. It was the Third, his predecessor that answered.

"It was decided long ago when she came to this village that she would wed politically. It was also decided more recently that rather then marrying into a clan where there could have a potential to fight, she would marry you, as you are a leader of all, and are not married as of yet."

Minato growled out low, dangerously, seething as he replied. "I am marrying Kagome in only a few weeks. There must be another." Kagome buried her face into his chest not wanting to look at the people ruining her life, and taking away from her, her happiness.

"You are Hokage. You serve your people before yourself. This marriage is best for Konoha." answered one of the life-ruiners. None on the floor below their gaze could say anything and finally it was Kagome that pulled away from him. She smiled bitterly at him before pulling him down to her and kissing him with all the love and passion she felt, not caring at those who watched, or those that could see, not caring for the girl that stood by feeling both her awe and jealousy. When the pulled apart he whined at the lose of her body heat and lips. He blinked as she wiped tears away. She pulled out a kunai from her pouch and took off her hitai-ite. She maliciously scared the leaf and threw it to the floor. She didn't need to say a word to let them know she was disowning this village.

It was Danzo's voice that stopped her. "You cannot just stop being a ninja. You will not even get out of this village alive if you leave." Kagome's ears had perked for just a moment before her face turned just enough and her eyes slid over to them all, those once bright blue orbs did not darken in anger. Her anger was white hot, and the pale eyes that looked at him with her pale skin and dark hair made her look down right sinister. There was a plume of wisping black smoke, a small shift in the air, as no one saw where she went, no one felt where she was, it was something that infuriated most, but made others fear. Her voice sounded behind Danzo as a chakra laced Kunai dug harshly into his neck only just a bit away from killing him, and he had not sensed it, nor could he stop it. She spoke.

"Yeah? Who's going to stop me?" she asked low and dangerously, her brow raising, and for the first time, they realized that this might have been a mistake. Yes, Uzumaki, Kushina would be best suited married to the Hokage, but having and enemy like Kagome Higuashi; who was just as dangerous as their hokage and more for they knew she held back more information upon herself, was a far more dangerous thing. Many shuddered at the dark promise that laced that once happy voice, a voice that was now laced with dark intention and lust for bloodshed. More shuddered at the killing intent SHE let off, none had ever felt the weight of her wrath, none were worthy of it until now, few had ever seen her in the battle field to bare witness to this type of display.

No one said a word knowing that she could, and probably would kill him if they advanced, she scoffed at them. "You can't touch me." she hissed lowly still. "Furthermore, I will never step foot in this village again, and if I do…" she grinned dangerously, like a predator, remembering Sesshomaru as it slid easily against her charming face. "It will only be because of Mina. Or…" she smiled at them, something that looked like she was going to take joy in killing them all horribly… something that Sesshomaru would have been proud of as well. "I'll be coming back to kill you all. Who knows… maybe it'll be both. But you won't stop me." She paused again to let it sink in for a second before she finished, "…because none of you can." Her whisping smoke spiraled around her and Danzo, and once again she was by the door. She only stopped for a moment to speak.

"Danzo's soul is as black as my smoke. He will get you all killed some day. And he's worked with Orochimaru since he has declared a missing Nin. Have a nice day." and with that her smoke once more plumed around her and she was gone. They were left in an uproar, and no one even dared to go after her. It was Minato that picked up the headband, pocketing it as he left, right then he just didn't care. He felt dead. The one being he loved was no longer there to come home to, no longer would he see her, feel her, touch her. He already missed her and right now he felt like killing anything and everything in his path. He didn't get far before he felt a dainty hand one his shoulder, for a moment he had thought maybe it was Kagome, but as he turned it was the redhead that had started it all. He narrowed his eyes at her as he shifted fast to pull his shoulder away from her touch.

He didn't care if he made her cry, he didn't care if she hated him. Right then he hated the world, his ire was palpable, and he certainly didn't want comfort from the one that had caused him so much pain. He did the only thing he could without killing her, he left, not for good but to the Valley of the End, where he took out all his anger and aggression. By the time he was done there was a full platoon of ANBU waiting for him, waiting away from him, and not wanting to be in the cross fire. When he returned not speaking to anyone, he was relieved of his duties as Hokage for a time. No, he was not demoted, just given a break. The old man could tell he wasn't in the mood to deal with the day to day work of being a leader, and frankly the amount of hate and loathing, the dark will and intent in him, scared the third.

For a month he drank. He drank until he was poor, until he was nearly dead. Always someone would bring him to his estates where his new wife waited for him. He hated her too. He hadn't touched her once, not even to kiss her at their wedding, he hadn't even cared if he had been shameful, he felt cold, dead, and he didn't think he'd ever feel alive again. He wondered always what Kagome was doing. Jiraiya, having heard what had happened had returned. He and Kakashi were some of the few people that didn't feel his deadly gaze now-a-days. From time to time they would bring him reports of his happiness, no one had seen or heard of her after she had left. He knew best, Kagome was known as Konoha's Black Death, Konoha no Kuro Shi. If she did not want to be found she would not be.

Eventually he began to function, but he would never be the man they had once known, that man was dead. He died the day they took his happiness away, the day she gave up her own for the village and damned them all for it. No one had really known the extent of her power, until the end. Many never noticed it but Minato had. Her aura was soothing, and always alert, allowing the residents of the village to sleep at ease, in peace. She held up barriers in her sleep, none could even enter the village without her knowing, now there was nothing like that, and the village felt cold and dead. It suited how he felt over all and it didn't help that they were still dealing with the end of the war.

With her leaving them, there was an unease and restlessness that had not been there since she had arrived. Everyone knew something was wrong but hardly any knew what. She brought happiness to the village. Many people missed her, and a small growing discontent was in the villages people. No one had known how much one person who was not a leader could be responsible for so much joy in their lives at such a trying time. Slowly Konoha realized how much they had made a mistake. Minato could only laugh bitterly as they came to the understanding he had the moment she left. Without Kagome there was no happiness.

XxXxX

EndAN: Well there's about 12k more to go, but i'll load that up later! Tell me what you think, and does it make sence? - MPB