Author's note: This is the sequel to Curiosity. I hope you enjoy and please review.

Update: I'm in revising Shadows Within the Darkness and I nearly have chapter 8 finished.

Chapter 1

As the Miko recovered I returned to my shadowy existence as her mother and brother came to stay with her. Upon hearing her begging and pleading for them to leave for their own safety, but they remained.

Her constant worrying was understandable. The injuries those disgusting humans had left upon her body interfered with her ability to use her bow. With several broken ribs on her right side, it was virtually impossible for her to pull the drawstring on her bow.

While she recovered I protected her territory possessively and without mercy. Sure I had protected the Shrine previously, but never as viciously as I found myself doing now.

The Miko was injured and unable to defend her land and herself, I had rationalized for my behavior. It was an answer that my mind came up with without having to dwell deeply on the issue.

So I waited for her to heal and as I waited, I watched the newest arrivals with some interest. Even with them here, they did not disturb the peace that surrounded Shrine. Surprisingly, the grounds seemed to hum with a warm joy that hadn't previously been there.

The Miko's mother I quickly realized was just as calm and peaceful as her daughter. However, the woman held no warrior spirit. She reminded me of my sister with her loving and patient nature. The smells that would drift from her kitchen and fill the air where mouth-watering at best and I would often find myself drifting closer to the house to watch the small family dine together merrily.

The boy was perhaps 16 years of age with a joyful and loving soul that loved getting a rise out of the Miko. It was captivating to watch them interact together and often my thoughts would turn to my own sister and the things we'd never have.

A week into the Miko's recovery, her mother surprised me. After setting the dinner table, she frowned before disappearing into the kitchen again. I could hear her shuffling around before I caught a glimpse of her walking through the hall with a tray.

The porch light glowed to life before the older woman appeared. The tray she carried had a generous amount of food on it, which she set on a small table by the door before stepping away from the house. However, she did not leave the light as she looked towards my hiding spot and I felt my eyes narrow as her gaze fell over my person.

"Thank you for saving my daughter," was all she said before she bowed and disappeared into the house to rejoin her children.

Only after the woman had seated herself did I eat. It was good.

Every night following the older woman would set out a tray for me. Each morning found those dishes on the kitchen counter, empty.

The days flew by and before I knew it a month had passed before I realize it. This was the longest amount of time I've spent in one place. I had even ignored my communicator as well as the Demon Whistle of several occasions.

However, as I watched the Miko move about with ease combined with nothing to kill in days, I felt the urge to run beginning to settle over me. These urges manifested into annoyance and I often found myself dark growls escaping my chest at the teen's louder antics before the Miko would send a wave of calming energy that would settle my dark mood.

Within days, not even the Miko's calming aura settled my darkening mood for long.

She approached my tree then, her eyes searching for the thick canopy for me before a sigh escaped her lips when she couldn't local me. "I understand if you must leave. I sense that you've becoming unsettled after so long of peace here. I know you've been protecting us and I appreciate it greatly but I'm nearly healed now," her eyes casted down wards as if in thought before snapping back to my position.

"I guess, what I'm saying is that if you've got… an itch that need scratching," her eyes flickered towards her brother as hesitated over the last part of her sentence, before resting back on my position, "I think I'm healed enough that you don't need to worry so much about us."

I held her gaze until she turned and settled in her mediating pose with her brother seated in front of her.

I felt bewilderment fill me as I saw nothing but a true understand shine in her dark eyes. She understood my nature to roam, the need for the chaos of battle. Those eyes even shone with the understanding of my bloodlust.

A type of contentment I've never felt before filled my body upon realizing she accepted my presence on her Shrine while fully aware of chaotic nature.

I felt the corner of my lip rise a fraction in a gently smirk before I eyed the Miko carefully. I will only accept her reassurance as if she was indeed healed enough for any 'what if' scenario.

Allowing my youki to leak out of my body, I felt the Miko's energy greet mine curiously as I directed it towards her body. Her energy hesitated for only a second before allowing my youki to swirl safely within hers, sending a pleasant tingling sensation through my energy that caused me to shiver slightly.

Carefully I brushed my energy along her skin, allowing her a moment to customize her skin to the feel of my youki on it before incasing her body. I heard her soft gasp of surprise as my energy slid over her skin like silk seeking out her wounds. All of the scrapes and outer bruising were healed however I could sense the tenderness around her freshly healed ribs.

Sending a soft pulse of youki over her ribs, allowing what little healing ability I had control of to seep over the weaken bones. Considering I haven't never used this ability on anyone beside myself, I was pleased when I sensed her weaken bones hardened to a nearly healed state and the tenderness around the area lessen.

Satisfied that she was indeed healed enough to defend her Shrine should the need arise; I retracted my youki before I left the grounds. It didn't escape my notice the way the Miko shivered with the lost as my youki returned to me.

…

I rested in my tree outside of my sister's window, relaxed after a trip to Makai. I was pleased to see my sibling content as she prepared for the day.

"It's been awhile," a silky voice spoke from beside me. I had wondered when the fox would realize I was here. It took him longer then I expected.

"Hn." Even without the Jagan I could feel his curiosity in his gaze.

"You look well."

I caught myself before I snorted aloud. That little sentence always came before his questions.

When I gave no response I heard the fox sigh, though I never took my eyes off my sister. Several minutes passed before she left her room and my sighted. Finally I turned my gaze to the fox.

He looked relax on his branch; his striking colors clashed harshly against the dark bark. "What do you want fox?" I snapped with without malice.

He sighed heavily. "We were all very worried about you Hiei, especially after Koenma told us you hadn't been reported crossing into Makai."

"Do not worry about me," I huffed before turning my eyes away. I felt only a sliver of guilt for causing them to worry but I quickly shoved it away. Guilt was not something did not feel.

"But we do worry," Kurama snapped with an edge of impatience. "Everyone here thinks of you as a friend Hiei. That won't ever change."

I grunted at his small speech. It was something I've heard many time before and though what he said wasn't a lie, I could not bring myself to think the same of them. To do so would admit that I'm capable of deeper feelings then the survival instincts I've honed over the years.

However, I could not deny the fact that they were allies that have risked my own existence for.

"Hn, you are allies nothing more," I asserted quickly.

The fox snorted. "Fine. Then as allies we were worried about you," his eyes were sharp as I glance at him from the corner of my eye.

"There is no need for worry fox," I hissed back with annoyance.

There was a moment of tense silence before the fox spoke again. His voice was smooth as always and there was no evidence that I had ruffled his fur the wrong way. "Tell, what has captured your attention here in Ningenkai."

"None of your concern." There was no way I would admit to him where I have been. I could only imagine the taunting I would receive should they discover I had been watching a human; no less a human female. Granted the Miko was no ordinary human, but still.

I snorted before I could check myself.

"Well, I'm glad whatever it is you find amusement in it," the fox sounded slightly put out before he covered it up. "May I ask how long you'll be gracing us with your presence?"

I shifted, before supplying an answer. "Long enough." I had no other answer for him. Already I was beginning to feel the need to return to the Shrine and the little family that occupied the grounds.

The fox smiled a knowing smile before nodding in acceptance. "Come, let's spar." Gracefully, he slipped from his branch and landed easily on his feet before turning his up to face me. "Coming?"

I felt a smirk curve my lips. True, I had just returned from the Makai but there were few there who could offer a true challenge to me. In a blink of an eye, I appeared beside the fox, my arms crossed over my chest as I waited impatiently for him to lead the way to the training field.

He gave a light chuckle before we headed to the sparring field. I already knew the detective and the oaf were there. Dare I say, this is going to be fun? A free-for-all battle between the three most powerful beings in Ningenkai sounded like a nice workout. The oaf unfortunately would no doubt be a part of this sparring match…

I suppose it's better then him doting over my sister. My lips turned up into a cruel smirk… perhaps it wouldn't be so terrible if the oaf sparred with us. After all, during sparring anything could happen to the pathetic human who wanted my sister.

…

"I give!"

I couldn't help the cold smirk that appeared on my face as I held my blade at the oaf's throat. Withdrawing my sword, dodge the whip aimed for my back as I watched the oaf retreat to the sideline out of the corner of my eye. His head was hung in defeat.

With my slight distraction, the detective was able to appear in front of me before I felt his fist connected with my jaw. Flipping back, I landed on my feet with a snarl before returning the favor to the detective.

Before I land more then a punch, the fox's whip appeared striking at both of us. I managed to evade but the detective wasn't so lucky. The whip curled around his body as the thorns pierced his skin.

"Ouch man! That stings!" the detective cried comically. Considering he was technically a demon now, he could sound just like the human he was raised to be.

The fox chuckled with amusement. "So you yield?"

"Yeah sure, just get this off of me." The whip fell from the detective's body without another scratch. "Damn, Keiko's gonna kill me!" the detective moaned as he walked towards the sidelines. "She just got me this shirt."

Snorting with my own amusement I turned my attention towards the fox. His cunning, amused eyes looked over me from his position on the ridge. Never have I defeated the fox without using dirty tactics and even then it was always ended in a draw.

I attacked without warning and his whip easily fended off my Katana. Predicting this counter, I allowed deadly plant to over my blade as I stepped deeper into his defense.

The fox read my movements easily as another section of his whip snapped at my leg, drawing blood but I didn't retreat. Instead, I stepped deeper in what would have been death for anyone else. I considered myself lucky for nearly making it through the fox's defence before I felt the thorny whip snake around my leg before jerking my feet out from under me, causing me to land heavily on my back.

I would have burned the troublesome whip had we all not agreed to use only one weapon. I had chosen my Katana, of course.

Snarling I felt the thorns dig deeper into my skin. Had I been the fox enemy, my leg would have been gone and I could only be thankful that I was his ally as he stepped closer until he was staring down at me.

"Do you concede?"

I snarled at his question and felt the whip tighten.

"Do you concede?" he asked again.

I did not reply but grunted and lower my eyes. I would not admit defeat… but this was simply practice.

Accepting his offered hand, I allowed him to pull me to my feet as the pressure from his weapon vanished from my leg.

"You're never going to defeat me using brute force," he stated with amusement as we walked towards the others.

I let a chuckle escape my chest before glancing at him. "Eventually, I'll overcome that damn whip of yours."

The rest of the day was uneventful as I lazed about the Temple listening to the nonsense my allies regularly displayed. It was different from the Shrine's quietness and I found that the longer I was around my teammates the more I craved the peace that made up the sacred grounds.

Slipping into the room that Genkai had given me long before her passing, I slipped into a shower, taking care to clean my injured leg. No matter how great my urge was to return to the Shrine, I would have to wait until tomorrow. The blasted fox had ensured that.

My leg wasn't serious in retrospect to past injuries, but I could feel it becoming stiff as my natural healing abilities began taking affect. Twelve, perfectly round holes travelled the length of my leg starting from my ankle and ending ay my mid-thigh. They were easily an inch in diameter and deep enough to nick my muscles.

With a sigh I laid down in my bed. There was nothing I could do until tomorrow morning. Closing my eyes I allowed a healing sleep to fall over me.

…

It was black when my eyes snapped open. Something wasn't felt… off.

Opening the Jagan I couldn't find anything off around the Temple. Finding everyone was sleeping peacefully, I felt it pull in a different direction. Curious, I allowed its gaze to travel across the city. Finally, its far away gaze paused on a blank area surround by familiar trees.

I frowned as I felt the holy energy brush along my mind's eye. Even without the feel of holy energy, I recognized the area surrounding the Shrine. I was intrigued that the Jagan couldn't make out the Shrine itself, but I set that thought aside in favor of another. Why would the Jagan be drawn to the Shrine?

Suddenly I felt the eye pulse before the image in my head narrowed towards a thicket of trees closer towards the blank area that the Shrine should have been. Through the Jagan I watched as several figures crept through the shadows before slinking beyond my vision and on to the Shrine grounds.

My natural eyes opened as a deep growl vibrated through my chest. How dare they attack my Shrine!

Pausing long enough to secure my Katana, I left without another thought. I only hoped the Miko would be able to stand against so many demons while insuring her little family's safety. The Miko would gladly give herself over to the demons if that would safe her family, I knew and thought caused an uncomfortable sensation to settle deep within me

With a shiver of uncertain, I focused on my journey. Normally it took four hours to travel from the Compound to the Miko's Shrine if I skirted around the city as I preferred.

That time was unacceptable. So as the city lights peaked through the trees, I didn't hesitate as I leapt onto a nearby street light and bounded through the city. I would shave nearly an hour off my travel time this way.

I paused on a tall building as the Shrine came into view. From my vantage point, I could only make out four of the seven intruders the Jagan had viewed. I could barely make out several of the Miko's arrows that littered the open cobblestone yard but they told me the fate of the missing demons.

Three of the four demons danced around the Miko, taunting and tormenting her as the fourth demon held her brother and mother within its claws.

I had seen enough as I jumped from the building. I would kill the demon that held the boy and the old woman first, then I would deal with the others.

Slipping unseen onto the property, I silently made my way behind the creature that held the Miko's family. The sound of my Katana sliding from its sheath was the only thing that alerted the demon to my presence. Before he couldn't finish turning his head to face me, he was dead.

My strike had been so fast, the demon's body couldn't comprehend that it was dead until its head slipped from its shoulders. His life blood gushed from his body as it slowly crumpled the ground.

The boy clung to his mother as I stepped over the carcass. Glancing towards them, I was relieved to see they had no serious injuries though the woman's face was swollen and the boy's was sporting a black eye.

The woman caught my eyes with her and I was not surprise to see terror in her usually warm eyes. However, what did surprise me was that her fear was not directed towards me and that there was something similar to hope appeared in her eyes locked with mine.

That hope ignited an unknown feeling in my chest as I turned my attention back to the three remaining trespassers. They had finally noticed my presence.

One of the demons held the Miko close to his body as the two others stood slightly in front of him, protectively.

I scuffed at the simple and worthless act. It didn't matter to me what they did, they were all going to die.

Stepping away from the Miko's family, I brought myself closer to the trio. They charged suddenly, but their movements were slow and predictable. With a flick of my wrist, I allowed them to sail passed me. At their surprise, I couldn't help but smirk cruelly as I heard their bodies fall to pieces.

Now only one remained.

"She is mine!" the demon hissed as he tightened his grip around the Miko. She hissed with pain as her newly healed ribs re-fractured from the pressure.

I found myself responding to her pain as my youki increased, whipping wildly around me body. I even felt the Jagan and dragon stir, demanding blood but I restrained them. Already I could feel me youki mingling with the holy energy that was laced in the air causing sparks to dance around me.

As my black flames dance around my body, I watched an unbridled terror take over the trespasser's features. He stepped back, the Miko still hugged to his chest like some sort of shield.

Stepping forwards my smirk widened as he continued to retreat. Backing him against a small stone wall, I watched with morbid amusement as the demon discovered his mistake. I was curious what he would do now? I would allow him to harm the Miko any farther.

I could tell he was thinking by the way his eyes danced from side to side franticly looking for a way out. Suddenly, his eyes hardened with resolve as he slowly rose to his full height, picking the Miko's feet off the ground.

"Here! You want her? Fine, take her," the demon snarled before flinging the Miko carelessly at me. I was caught unprepared and the Miko slammed into my chest.

My arms wrapped around the Miko's petite form, catching her before she could fall to the ground. Glancing over her head, I couldn't help the curses that slipped passed my lips unchecked when I realized the demon had escaped.

"My sorry, he got away." Her voice was soft remorse as I casted my gaze on her. The last time she was in my arms, she had been nearly inconsolable but this now she held my gaze. Her dark eyes were piercing, more so then the last time.

I looked away, though I felt a need to reassure her. "Hn, he was nothing more then a coward." I paused before glancing at from the corner of my eye. "You are injured," I stated.

I watched her frown and her brow knit together before she sighed heavily. "Yeah… I guess I am." She looked away from me before blushing. "If you could put me down, I'd like to check on my family."

Her request surprised. I still holding her firmly to my chest and I found myself reluctant to release her. However, gently I placed her on feet. Her hand caught my own and she gave me a small smile before leading me over to her family.

She released my hand long enough to greet her family and heal their minor wounds before returning to my side. I gave her a questioning look but she only offered a smile in return as she lead me up to her house with her family.

Once her family was inside she faced me a small blush on her face. "I wanted to thank you for everything since I didn't get a chance to the last time I saw you." With confidence she stepped towards me before shyly placing a kiss on my cheek.

I was surprised by the gesture and even more surprised that I found enjoyed the tender display.

"I know you probably know this but my name is Kagome," she stated as she stepped back, a small blush still stained her cheeks. "May I ask your name?" She looked up at me from beneath her eyelashes timidly as if I was going to vanish.

"Hiei," I answered easily. This was probably the first time I have ever given my name away so casually.

She smiled widely at my answer. "It a pleasure to finally meet you Hiei. Would you like to join us for breakfast?"

Before I could answer, she grasped my hand and led me inside. I was tempted to pull away from her but I knew that would only aggravate her damage ribs, causing her pain. The thought of causing her pain didn't side well in me that was the only reason I allowed her to drag me into her home.

However, something at the very edge of my conscience nagged at me as I felt her happiness surround me, welcoming me and accepting me. Perhaps… maybe just a little… I wanted this.

I looked at her small hand wrapped in my own and felt my lips turn up in a ghost of a smile.

Yes… perhaps, this is what I wanted from the very beginning.