The cast of characters used in this story are not my creations. Yu Yu Hakusho characters and InuYasha characters are the intellectual property of Yoshihiro Togashi and Rumiko Takahashi respectively.

Please be advised that there will be adult content in various forms throughout this story.

Part I: Dr. Minamino

"The oxygen levels have been checked and rechecked. Brain activity indicates she is still in a coma-like state. The latest spinal tap and CT scans are regular, showing no clear abnormalities. All other tests so far suggest the subject's body is perfectly healthy, stable and able to breathe on her own. Will there be anything else before we close up the lab for the night, Dr. Minamino?"

Same ol', same ol'.

The technician's voice seemed millions of miles away to Kurama. Preoccupied as he was, he barely acknowledged her with the lazy wave of a hand as he dismissed her. "No, Hoko-san, you may go. Just leave the backlights on please."

"Yes sir," Hoko sighed. He was obviously going to spend the night in here again. This will make the fifth night in a row. The man was going to burn himself out.

As soon as he was certain he was alone, Kurama ran his fingers along the thick glass of the chamber. Only in his dreams the glass would be gone and he could freely touch the figure contained within. Her onyx hair floated around her in the cloudy liquid that was chemically identical to amniotic fluid.

The bulletproof, shockproof, practically apocalypse-proof glass gleamed, taunting him and reminding him that he couldn't touch her. When would she wake up? Would she wake up?

Inari-sama, please don't let me fail in this task.

"Come back to me, Kagome. I don't think I can do this for much longer," he whispered, caressing the glass enclosure.

For three hundred and four years Kurama hung on by a thread, existing solely for the day he would be reunited with his long lost wife. In the last twenty-three years he watched as she developed from a dividing cell to a fetus, then eventually on to the woman he married.

When quiet reflection proved more depressing than fruitful, the kitsune retreated to the oversized swivel chair that had been his silent partner in the many hours spent researching. Collapsing heavily into the worn oxblood leather of his old friend, the kitsune tiredly tugged at his red hair while double checking some inconsequential data before settling back into his nightly vigil.

He knew his assistants all thought him an obsessive nut. However, the fox didn't give a damn what anyone else thought. Eclipsing all other concerns, there was a newfound tension that jelled within him over the last few days. It was something that he simply could not ignore. Not the usual anxiety he muddled through on a daily basis, but a curious sort of anticipation plucked at his senses, setting his nerves on pins and needles. Something deep inside, an age-old instinct perhaps, told him that the results of all his toil would come to a head soon.

Never one to ignore his instincts, Kurama stayed every night in the uninviting, dank laboratory, waiting and dozing uneasily until whatever destiny decided would happen, happened.

Gods, how he hoped there was an end in sight. On the one hand, Kurama was frightened that his past may come back to haunt him. On the other hand, he was sometimes positive that he'd paid his debt for the sins of his previous existence—he hoped.

One more night passed with a quasi kitsune slumped over a keyboard. One more night passed with nightmares plaguing said quasi kitsune.

The glorious morning, however, would dawn almost the same as any other. Except this time, it would bring joyful tidings to the kitsune in human skin who fate sought fit to compensate for his contrition and patience.

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Short prologue, I realize, but I didn't want to launch right into the story with a mega chapter, ya know?

Sayonara