AN: Hey guys sorry I havent been updating stories like I have in the past but their has been a lot going on in my life. So right now I have decided to fix and work on what I can with my stories that all I can do right now. So Secrets has been on my mind for a while now and I am slowly fixing the typos and problems with the previous chapters. I am adding more detail and changing some if the dialog. I will be posting the chapters as I fix them and they will all say revised. Then after I have fixed the current chapters I will post a new one.
Chapter One: The Question (Revised)
Kagome couldn't help but smile as she looked up at the man who had her currently pinned to his bed. He was so just so captivatingly beautiful with the way his long red hair would fall into his eyes and around his face. The way his pale skin seemed to have an otherworldly glow as the dim lights of the morning sun made their way into the room. The way his eyes shined like emeralds when he looked at her. The way his lips would tease her flesh and set it on fire as he kissed her neck ever so lightly. Sending shock waves through her entire body as soft moans would pass from her lips.
He was Shuuichi Minamino, the kindest hearted and caring man she had ever meet and he was all hers. Kagome still questioned from time to time why he had chosen to love her. Why her when he could have any girl he wanted. Really what did she have to offer him she was now a twenty-three-year-old who barely graduated high school and still lived at home with her mother, in the same bright pink room she had always had. She had no fore-seeable future other than that of a shrine maiden. All her years spent traipsing around the past had seen to that, but still he loved her just as she was, he never questioned her when she would disappear for sometimes weeks on end.
None of it seemed to matter to him as long as she always came back to him and she always did. Coming back to him was what she looked forward to more than anything from the moment she left his side, until the moment she was back in his arms. The idea of seeing him again was what still kept her fighting after all these long years. If it hadn't been for him Kagome knew she would have given up long ago. Things had only gotten worse over the years as Naraku's power grew and InuYasha became harder and harder for her to deal with.
When she meet him Kagome had been on the verge of giving up all together. But Shuuichi had rekindled the fire that InuYasha had snuffed out so long ago, he had given her hope of a bright future once again and something she wanted to protect. He didn't know it and she doubted she would ever be able to tell him but he was her life line he had saved her life.
"Shuuichi!" Kagome gasped as she felt his lips graze over her now bare stomach. Igniting a fire in her blood. Oh how she wished she could just stay with him like this forever. Locked away here in his apartment with the rest of the world forgotten about.
"Yes." He muttered as he looked up at her with mischief playing in his eyes. Kagome knew that look all too well and she knew what would fallow. It was his look that told her he was the Hunter and she was his pray. She couldn't keep the slight blush from her cheeks as images flashed across her mind of the things that had fallowed those looks in the past.
"You know I have to go soon." Kagome hated the look of disappointment that made its way on to his face. Kagome couldn't help but frown that sad look didn't suit him he was to beautiful to be sad. "Don't give me that look. You have had me all to yourself for five days now." Kagome scolded as he moved to lay beside her pulling her into his chest. He was always so warm and he always smelled of roses and damp earth after a storm. Kagome took in a deep breath of him as she adjusted her head so it was now laying comfortably on his chest. Her leg draped across him as he had his fingers though her hair.
"I could spend five years locked away in this apartment with you and it still would not be enough." He purred into Kagome's ear and she found herself melting at his words. She couldn't help it he was just so dame sexy every time he opened his mouth.
"You know I would stay if I could." Kagome told him as she propped herself up on her elbow pulling the silk sheet up around her. "But we both know I can't."
"Stay." He whispered as he brought his hand up to cup her cheek. His green eyes locked with her blue ones in a pleading battle for her not to leave him. "Quit this stupid job that keeps taking you away from me." Kagome's eyes softened as she gave him a sad smile. They had this conversation every time she visited him now. She wished she could just quit. Turn everything over to Kikyo and never look back, but Kikyo could not be trusted. Her actions were to wild a brash driven by nothing but anger so the burden of the jewel and Naraku fell on her shoulders.
"You know I can't. What would I do for money?" Kagome knew it was a lie and she hated that she had to keep up this farce with him but what choice did she really have. It wasn't just something she could bring up in casual conversation. Then there was also the fact that it sounded totally crazy, so she kept up with the lies the best she could.
So her friends had become her coworkers, the fuddle era became a mountain resort her grandfather and Souta had found online and Naraku her horribly atrocious boss whom she and the rest of her coworkers hated. It was a completely ridiculous story in her head but it was the only way she could really give him any idea of what her life was like.
"I would take care of you." It was a line he used almost every time she came home now. He was relentless in his pursuit to get her to stay. "You know I make more than enough working for my father's company." Kagome wanted to cry at his offer. No one had ever wanted to just care for her wellbeing before and if this were a normal situation and she were a normal girl she would jump at the opportunity to take him up on his offer.
"Shuuichi." Kagome smiled as she moved her hand to cup his face. "If I could I would take you up on your offer but you know I have responsibilities that I just have to take care of first. I can't just leave my burdens for others to take care of." He thought she was talking about medical bills that still needed to be paid. From all the time she had been sick in middle and high school. Her grandfather had finally settled on one sickness leukemia, she had hated lying about having cancer but it was a better explanation for her absences.
"I wish You would let me help you Kagome. You don't have to do this on your own." He told her and Kagome wanted to cry. If only he could help her. If only he had the power to help them fight so she could be done with Naraku and the past. She just wanted it all to be over. She had already given so much of her life to the past and she was tired, so tired of being alone. But he didn't have any powers, he was just a normal human man who could never be a part of that side of her life.
"Shuuichi we have been over this. I can't let you do that. I can't take your money. It just wouldn't be right." Kagome smiled sadly down at him. It was always so hard for her to tell him no and she was sure her heart broke just a little every time she did.
"Then marry me." It took a moment for the weight of his words to really sink in. Kagome's eyes widened and her lips parted in shock at his words.
"What?" Kagome finally managed to stammer out as the reality of his statement finally sank in. Kagome could feel her heart begin to race in her chest as she waited for him to speak again. 'Is he serious?' Kagome thought to herself as her eyes never left his not for a moment.
"Marry me." He said again as he grabbed her hands sitting up as he pulled her into his lap with speed Kagome didn't know he possessed. Kagome could see the seriousness in his eyes as everything in her screamed for her to say yes. Just one simple little word but it refused to come.
"Shuuichi, I can't marry you just for money. That just wouldn't be right! " Kagome started as her eyes hardened. He was worth so much more to her then that he had to know that.
"I'm not asking so you will take my money." He sighed as he brought his forehead down to rest against hers. "I'm asking because I want you to be my wife. I want a life with you Kagome and maybe just maybe if I become your husband then you might just Start accepting my help. Although I doubt it." Kagome was at a loss for words. She had not expected this at all. So, she did the only thing she could think of as she crushed his lips to her in a fiery kiss that she had no intention of stopping. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Yes." Kagome repeated as she kissed him again. Her last thought ' Screw InuYasha he can wait another day.' as he pressed her into the bed once more.
...
"Wench what the hell took you do long? Where the hell were you yesterday when I came to get you! You know we don't have time for you to waste!" Kagome groaned why didn't she just stay with Shuuichi? She wasn't even out of the well yet and InuYasha was already yelling at her, but did she really expect any different. She was after all a whole day late, Kagome had known he would be angry she just didn't care.
"What I was doing is none of your business." Kagome shot as she tossed her beat up yellow pack over the lip of the well. The thing was practically falling apart and it wouldn't be long before she would need to get a new one.
"I bet you were off with that Hobo person again!" InuYasha shouted as Kagome narrowed her eyes at him and for a moment she wondered if it would be worth it to sit him right now and just get it over with. 'He doesn't have a clue.' Kagome thought with a smile. That was the way she like it.
"InuYasha." Kagome stated the warning clear in her voice that if he continued with this behavior she would be forced to sit him. It had been like this for over a year now, oh how easily they had fallen back into old habits. Ever since she made the mistake of not bathing before coming back to the past. InuYasha had been able to smell she had been with a man. It was the first time she and Shuuichi had ever had sex, hell it had been her first time ever. It was supposed to be a beautiful memory for her to look back on some day, but it of course had been ruined by InuYasha calling her a whore.
"What it's not my fault you don't know how to keep your legs closed." Kagome wanted to scream in frustration. "I mean if you want it that bad you can get it on this side of the well. No need to run home every time you want to spread your legs."
"InuYasha! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit!" Kagome fought the urge to scream in frustration as she made her way over to the new InuYasha sized hole. "What I do and who I do it with is my business! So stay out of it you jerk!" Kagome screamed as she began to make her way to the village.
"I swear Kagome if I ever find out who it is I'll rip his balls off! You hear me! Your mine!" Kagome sighed. It was always like this between them now. The harmony they had once found was shattered and nothing but harsh words, angry sits, and hurt feelings remained.
"InuYasha I am not yours!" Kagome stopped as she turned back to yell at the half demon who was just begging to make his way out of the hole. "You made it very clear two years ago that you wanted nothing to do with me in that way." Kagome clenched her fists as she turned to face him. "You lost all claim to know what I do when it comes to other men. So just leave me alone already"
"Fehh, it's only a matter of time before you come back begging!" InuYasha scoffed as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"I wouldn't beg to you if you were the last man on earth! " Kagome was furious. He never listened to anything she had to say. He never treated her with an ounce of respect. Looking at him now and thinking of Shuuichi, Kagome couldn't believe that she had ever loved InuYasha as more than a friend and right now she wasn't even sure she loved him as that. InuYasha had been pushing his luck for the past two years and Kagome wasn't sure how much she could take before she finally snapped.
"Whatever wench. You go spread your legs for that Hobo idiot. It won't be long before your begging me too. Once a slut always a slut." Kagome was livid. InuYasha had made nasty comments before but nothing like this.
"SIT!" Kagome screamed as loud as she could plummeting InuYasha back into another crater. Not bothering to wait for more harsh words Kagome made her way to the village. She may not love him the way she did when she was fifteen but his words still hurt. He was someone who she looked up to as an older brother her protector and he did protect her. He protected her from everything except himself.
His harsh words and indecisions had torn her self-confidence down peace by peace over the years. The constant comparisons to Kikyo and the constant reminders of how weak she was. After years of hearing it they had finally gotten to her. She had been ready to give up and leave it all behind her never looking back but then she had meet Shuuichi and had started find some of those pieces InuYasha had torn down.
Shaking those thoughts from her head Kagome didn't want to go down that dark road right now. No, she had better things to worry about like planning a wedding. Thankfully she had made Shuuichi agree to something simple at the shrine. Yes, she would focus on the one thing that kept her going him.
...
"Your what!" His mother screamed into the phone.
"I'm getting married mother." He repeated. He knew the woman would be over the moon with excitement. She had been pestering for grandchildren for as long as he could remember.
"Oh, Shuuichi where did you meet her? What's her name? How old is she? What does she look like? When are you having the wedding? Where are you having the wedding? You must simply have it at our church! Oh, how old is she? Where did she go to school? " Kurama couldn't help but smile. His mother always did this when she was excited. Asking a million questions and never giving you time to answer one.
"Mother calm down." He laughed at her. " Her name is Kagome and she's a few years younger than me. We meet at the park two winters ago, we had both stopped at a small coffee stand next to the park. We talked for a while and then I walked her home." Kurama loved thinking of the day he meet her. It was the day he truly felt he had started to live again.
After the tournament in demon world Kurama had felt like he was searching for something he could never really put his finger on. There was something missing from his life that is until he meet her that cold December night. She had looked like a dark Angel with the way her raven hair feel around her blending in with the black leather jacket she had warn. She had been sitting alone on a bench with a frown on her face and a cup of coffee in her hand. Her face turned to the sky watching the snow fall. He couldn't help but notice how sad her eyes looked as if she were contemplating something and before he knew it his feet were moving against his will as he took the empty seat beside her.
They had talked for hours upon end that first night. Conversation was so easy with Kagome and for once he felt he could truly be himself. As the parted ways he had missed her on the cheek smiling his phone number into her hand. He had waited weeks for her call and when it finally came he heals on tight. Her current job had made things difficult though. Working out of town at a small mountain resort didn't leave her much free time. With no cell service and no personal calls allowed he had worked extra hard to make sure she would not forget him.
"Oh, Shuuichi I can't wait! I'm sure she is a lovely young woman!" His mother gushed.
"She is mother I am quite confident that you will love her just as much as I do." Kurama smiled he knew they would get along. "Kurama was about to say something else when a knock came to his office door.
"Mr. Minamino. There is a girl with blue hair in the lobby claiming to be an old friend of yours. She refuses to leave until you speak with her." It was his secretary Yuri.
"Mother I must go. There is someone here to see me." Kurama spoke into the phone as he motioned for Yuri to let the woman in.
"Alright dear. I love you."
"I love you too mother." Kurama smiled as he flipped his cell phone closed. He would need to get one for Kagome soon. Maybe as an early wedding gift. He knew she wouldn't be able to really use it when she was at work but she could at least have her music. She had expressed to him multiply times how she missed it.
"Well aren't you a sight for sour eyes!" Botan's voice pulled his attention back to her.
"Hello Botan. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Kurama asked as he offered her a chair.
"We this isn't a completely social call I'm afraid. Koenma has sent me to round up the four of you." He could see that she was nervous. The normally bubbly grim reaper looked to be more then worried.
"Is it that bad?" Kurama asked.
"Yes, it is but it would be best to let Lord Koenma explain. Things are very complex with this case that's why he has petitioned King Enmma to let your group handle it. He has agreed. If that gives you any indication of how bad things have gotten." Botan swallow hard as she began to chew on her nails. Kurama knew this had to be big. For King Enmma to put aside his hate for Yusuke. But he had a life now he had Kagome, he couldn't go rushing head first into life and death fights.
"I will hear Koenma out, but I cannot promise that I will aid him this time. My debt was worked off long ago and there are things here that need my attention. I'm going to be planning a wedding after all." Kurama couldn't resist the urge to slip that in. He was proud of Kagome and if she had been here he would be parading her around the office for everyone to see.
"Oh, Kurama that's wonderful! I hope you plan on inviting all of us! And we simply have to meet her once everything has settled down." Botan chirped as she clapped her hands together. "Now let's get going!"
...
"What the hell do you want you brat!" Yusuke yelled as he entered Koenma's office. "I'm missing one of Keiko's doctor's appointments for this so the world better be ending!"
"I assure you Yusuke you wouldn't be standing in my office now if the threat wasn't very real." Koenma resisted the urge to sigh, in the years since the sprit detectives had been disbanded and the barrier between the worlds had been dropped Yusuke hadn't changed at all. He was still just as foul mouthed and rash as he had always been.
"So where are the others I assume you have summoned them as well." Yusuke asked as he took a seat in front of Koenma's desk. Shoving his hands in the pockets of his faded blue jeans a sour look placed firmly on his face.
"Botan has went to retrieve them. They should be here any moment now." As if on cue Kewabara burst through the doors. His bright orange hair still in the same goofy pompadour it had always been in.
"Whose ass are we kicking this time! It's been so long since I got to flex my spirit muscles! Oh, hey Urameshi nice to see they already called in the B squad." Kewabara prodded as he dodged the chair Yusuke had previously been sitting in.
"Still as big of an idiot as ever! Looks like I need to remind you just how much my punches hurt." Yusuke yelled as he lunged for Kewabara.
"Nice to see the baboon hasn't changed much." The voice caught both boy's attention as a smile grew across Yusuke's face.
"You want to say that again short fry! I'll pound you into the dirt!" Kewabara shot as his attention turned from Yusuke to Hiei.
"Kewabara you shouldn't let Hiei bate you so. It's only his way of showing he missed you." Kurama teased as he made his appearance.
"Shut it fox or I'll sever your head from your neck." Hiei threatened.
"I have missed you as well old friend." Kurama smiled down at the fire demon.
"As touching as this reunion is I called you all here for a reason." Koenma stated as he drew their attention.
"Well get on with it. Who's trying to destroy the world this time?" Yusuke asked as he shot a serious look at Koenma.
"I wish the situation were as easy as me pointing out the bad guy and saying have at him like we have in the past. But this is a real mess my father has bumped into my lap a mess he created." Koenma groaned as he began to rub his temples.
"Get on with it already. Some of us have places to be." Hiei bit out impatiently.
"Fine, but to fully understand this mission and what's at stake I'm going to give you a little history lesson first. Many, many, many centuries a go back before demons and humans lived in separate worlds there was a very powerful priestess by the name of Midoriko. She had the ability to purify even the darkest demon's soul and render them powerless." Koenma pointed to the scram as a picture of the dark baked woman came into view.
"Yes, we all know the ghost stories of Midoriko. She's the boogie man that all demons fear. Her and her band of Miko's who will purify us if we misbehave." Hiei spat. "Why is she relevant to this? Her and her kind died out years ago. There are no Miko's left."
"I'm getting there Hiei. Now where was I oh yes upon Midoriko's death she was unable to completely purify the soul of the daemon she was locked in combat with. They had fought for days and nights on end. Neither side relenting, but no matter how powerful she was Midoriko was still only human and it wasn't long before the demon gained the upper hand." Koenma paused as he turned to face the group of men standing before him. He could see they were all listing intently to his every word.
"It caught Midoriko in its massive jaws and she knew her life would soon end. So, she used the last of her power to attempt to purify the daemon. As a result, she pushed her own soul out of her body trapping both her and the demon in the jewel known as the Shikon No Tama. A jewel that can grant wishes and increase the power of the wielded a thousand-fold. The jewel was passed around for a few centuries until it came into the possession of a young priestess named Kikyo." The scream changed again and Kurama frowned. This woman looked so much like Kagome they could have been sisters but he could see the differences. Kikyo's eyes were a dull lifeless brown where Kagome's were a bright blue. Kikyo's hair had a brown tint were Kagome's was a midnight shade of black.
"Kikyo had the ability to keep the jewel pure and keep the demons at bay. She was nowhere near as strong as Midoriko. But the jewel was safe with her until she fell in love with the half demon InuYasha." Kurama frowned at the mention of the name InuYasha. This half daemon from the past shared the same name as Kagome's ex. The one who continued to pester her. Often, she would come back from work crying of something stupid the barbarian had said to her. "They had found a way of ridding the world of the jewel a way to purify it for good. But before they could carry out their plans Naraku tricked them and Kikyo died while InuYasha was placed under a spell. Pinned to a tree by Kikyo's sacred arrow." The scream once again flashed and now a silver haired boy appeared.
"That's a great story Koenma but could you get to the point already! Because if there's not a point to this and I have to tell Keiko I missed this appointment for a bed time story she will kill me!" Yusuke barked.
"I'm getting there Yusuke. I told you this is complicated. Now when Kikyo died she had the jewel burned with her body. That act sent it to spirit world with her. When she arrived, she was angry beyond consolation and had to be moved for initiate reincarnation to try and mitigate her rage. My father thought it would be best to hide the jewel in Kikyo's newly reincarnated form. This worked for many years as the anger made its way out of Kikyo's soul. That is until her most recent reincarnation." Koenma paused as the screen once again changed. Kurama's heart dropped and he felt as though he might fall. 'No, it can't be!' he thought as he took in the image of the young girl. There on the monitor was a picture of his sweet Kagome.
"This is Kagome Higurashi the most recent reincarnation of Kikyo and the strongest miko by far. Her powers as a priestess have the potential to rivals that of Midoriko's. In her the jewel had finally found what it wanted. A guardian who could keep it pure no matter what. So, on her fifteenth birthday the jewel opened a portal in an old well on her family's shrine. Kagome was then drug by a demon 500 years into the past. The jewel that had been so carefully hidden was ripped from her side. She freed InuYasha from his spell and in a tragic twist of fate she shattered the jewel into millions of pieces. With the help of InuYasha and other friends whom she has made along the way they all fight to recover the shards that have been scattered. However, with the shattering of the jewel Naraku was also brought out of hiding seeking its power for himself.
"Kagome and her group of friends have fought for years to keep Naraku at bay. Thwarting his evil plans and trying to erase him from the world. Sadly, try as they might Kagome and her group of friends have reached a standstill in their war against Naraku. I fear this is partly because of InuYasha's harsh treatment of Kagome. " Kurama stiffened at Koenma's words. His mind was in overdrive as he replayed everything Kagome had ever told him about her job. About InuYasha, about Naraku and her other coworker. He wanted to be angry with her for lying to him but he knew he couldn't. He understood all too well why she lied. If Koenma wasn't the one telling him all of this he wasn't sure even he could have believed it. Time travel the concept seemed ridiculous. But was it any more ridiculous then a human having the soul of a Kitsune.
"I want to alter the portal in the old well and send the four of you back to help. It's my hope that your added powers will help tip the stale mate in our favor." Koenma continued.
"I still don't see how something that is happening 500 years ago can affect us now? What's the big deal if he gets this jewel? I mean isn't our time line already set?" Yusuke asked.
"I see where Koenma is going with this." Kurama spoke as all eyes turned to him. " These events were never supposed to happen. Naraku was never supposed to be this powerful and Kagome was never supposed to free InuYasha. The very future we live in now is in danger of changing. If he wins the world will be completely different. We may never even be borne."
"Exactly the world we know will be plunged into eternal darkness if Naraku gets his hands on a completed jewel or if Kagome dies. She is the only one who has the ability to purify the evil in Naraku and render both him and the jewel powerless." Koenma added.
"Fine. I'll help I have Keiko and a brat on the way." Yusuke smiled as he began to make his way out of the office. "Just tell me when to show up and who's ass to kick."
"I can't let Urimeshi have all the fun count me in! I need a good fight!" Kewabara smiled.
"Hn, you're just going to get your ass kicked like you always do. You should just let Kurama and I handle this." Hiei scoffed as he dodged Kewabara's fist.
"What about you Kurama will you help us one more time?" Koenma asked as he studied Kurama's face. He could tell he was deep in thought as he seemed to weigh something in his mind.
"Yes, I will but I wish to speak with you privately first." Koenma nodded as he waited for the others to exit. Kurama had many questions and he knew the situation was delicate. There was always the chance that Kagome would reject their help. But one thing was certain all of their secrets were about to come to light. He only hoped they would be strong enough to withstand the aftermath.