AN: Yeah…I know. I'm working on my other stories as well but inspiration is a fickle bitch. I have half-chapters written for several stories and with any luck they'll be up soon. Anyway, on with what she's given me this time!

Disclaimer: I don't own, please don't sue!

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Where Life May Lead

Prologue

A young woman of sixteen slowly made her way down a familiar forest path; luckily, her feet had long memorized the way because her mind had wandered miles away. She tried telling herself that deep down she had known that this day would come, but it hardly helped to ease the pain in her heart.

All she carried with her was a small basket of bathing supplies and her bow and quiver of arrows. She had wished for time alone but didn't want to be left defenseless if something happened. Little did she know that she was being watched by a creature whose curiosity would lead to more than either had expected.

Kagome gently lowered her nude body into the steaming water of the hot spring and for the first time since she'd last spoken to Inuyasha, her body relaxed and her mind calmed. Earlier that day Inuyasha had openly told her that he did love her but the joy that followed was short lived when he explained that it only made his decision to honor Kikyo's memory and their love more difficult. She had smiled understandingly through his explanation and told him that she understood, but inside she was screaming out the pain that she couldn't show.

Kagome reached up to touch tear-streaked cheeks before wiping furiously with the back of her hand. "Stop crying," she told herself. "He told you he loved you. Shouldn't that be enough?" Pulling her knees to her chest and ignoring the fact that she was now talking to herself, Kagome answered, "No, how could it be? But he couldn't have known that it would have been kinder to just tell me that he'd never loved me at all either…the honorable, honest idiot."

Thoughts of a love lost continued to plague Kagome's thoughts through her bath and even after as she continued to allow the warm waters to soothe her aching soul. By the time she heard the first twig snap, it was already too late to reach for a weapon; there was a demon within the spring's clearing.

"You know," a deep voice began, "it's a shame to see a woman cry, especially the beautiful ones."

Kagome reached to wipe her eyes once more. She hadn't even realized that she'd been crying that time. Sinking further into the spring to protect her modesty, Kagome studied the demon that seemed to be studying her. He was incredibly tall and lean with alabaster skin. Smooth silver hair flowed down his back and her eyes lingered on the tall fox ears on top of his head longer than necessary. Cool golden eyes that seemed to gaze straight through her made it impossible for her to move but she thought that she saw a silver tail flick to one side of his white robes for a moment before disappearing again. Kagome couldn't stop her mind from superimposing red robes over his white ones and wondering if this is what an older Inuyasha would look like. While the object of her affection still had a boyish charm to his overall masculine appearance, the male in front of her was most definitely an adult of his species.

"Who are you?" She asked in a small, almost wistful voice.

The fox smirked. "I am Youko Kurama, my lady," Youko responded while inclining his head ever-so-slightly so that he didn't break eye contact with this woman's glazed, deep blue orbs.

He had been traveling through this particular forest when something caught his attention. It had been a young woman in odd attire. And though her beauty was nothing to sneeze at, it was something else that drew him closer. The distinct aura of power radiated from her. And when he was able to identify it, his tail began to flick excitedly. The young woman he'd happened upon was in possession of the purified Jewel of Four Souls; he'd heard rumors of its recent completion. But that would mean that she was also the miko who guarded the Jewel.

While Youko prided himself on his abilities in seduction, he'd never had the opportunity to test the on a woman of holy power. And the fact that the one guarding the Jewel of Four Souls was a young, very attractive miko was too much for him to pass up. She would be his most impressive conquest to date.

"Why are you here?" Kagome continued to question.

Youko knew how to best play this game. An obviously jilted woman would be an easy prize to win. "Merely passing through on my way home to my own territory."

"Then please leave. I came here to be alone," Kagome said as her eyes finally lowered to the water.

"Gladly," Youko responded before showing a hint of mock hesitation and speaking once more in a softer tone. "Though I cannot in good conscience leave without knowing what it is that troubles a beautiful lady such as yourself. Such sapphire eyes should never be forced to bear tears."

"That's none of your business," Kagome said sharply. "I'm asking you again to please leave…"

"Only a man could cause this much heartache," Youko theorized though he already knew it to be the truth. She should really watch what she says to herself when she thinks no one is listening. "Is he a human husband perhaps?"

Kagome shook her head softly without even thinking about the action. Her ache to talk to someone was winning out over her need for solitude.

"Then maybe a demon mate?"

Again, Kagome shook her head.

"Ah, then he's a half-breed lover?" Youko asked in a slightly surprised tone.

"Don't call him that!" Kagome shouted before composing herself. "And he's never been my lover," she continued in a smaller voice.

"Well then," Youko said as he drew a seed from his robes to hold in the palm of his hand. He began walking towards the water only to gently step in completely clothed as the seed blossomed into a brilliant red rose. "That will forever be his loss, won't it?" As he spoke, he used a claw to cut the stem short so that he could gently tuck the rose behind the woman's ear. "I'm sorry but I never asked your name," he said in a husky tone.

"Kagome…" she whispered as her mind seemed to fog at this male demon's closeness. She knew that she should push him away or fight back or call for help, but when it came down it she also knew that she wanted someone to hold her.

Youko bent so that their faces were closer. "Your eyes seem distant. Do I look like him? Like your half-demon love?" When he saw the tears begin to gather again, he knew that he had won. Leaning in closer so that he could whisper into her ear, he began again, "I could give you the experience of being with him for a night…Kagome."

Placing a large hand on the small of her back so that he could gently being pulling her forward and into his body, he felt one of her slender arms hesitantly wrap around his waist as her forehead touched his chest and the other small, delicate hand gripped the material at his shoulder. Oh yes…he had won. And now it was time to claim his prize.

Tilting Kagome's head upward, Youko leaned down to seal his victory with a kiss.

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Several months later…

Kagome awoke with a start at the sharp pain in her side. Taking a deep breath and relaxing, she slowly laid back down in her bed before reaching up to rub her swollen stomach. Now seventeen and into her fifth month, her lithe form made it obvious that she was pregnant. She sometimes thought that it was just her luck to get pregnant the first time and only she had sex. But as bad as she felt at the accusing stares of others on the street or the initial disappointment that had been in her mother's eyes, Kagome couldn't and wouldn't blame her baby.

The fox demon who had knowingly seduced her in a time of weakness was a different story, however…

She had chosen to return to her time as soon as she figured out that she was going to have a baby. While teen pregnancies were frowned upon in her time, it would be safer not only for her but for her child. Modern medicine would ensure her baby was born healthy and the fact that demons were thought to be myth would ensure that it wasn't hunted down because of its parentage.

Her mother and grandfather had been shocked when they had first found out what had happened and Souta hadn't known what to think. But over time and many discussions a plan of action had been decided upon and things had been going fairly smoothly since then.

Kagome would be homeschooled which wasn't hard to arrange without telling the school board directly why because of all of the illnesses that had been on her record from middle school. But they had taken a risk with bringing one more person into their little family secret. Kagome's mother had been a certified midwife for several years and had developed friendships with several doctors at local clinics, one of which she had known since high school. It took quite a bit of convincing that they weren't crazy or playing a prank, but the doctor had eventually believed them and had been Kagome's physician ever since.

With her family to support her, Kagome knew that everything would work out in the end. She fell asleep once more with her hand resting protectively on her growing stomach.

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Several years later…

A man with short black hair walked through a local grocery store looking for anything to make for his supper. As a bachelor, he almost never had stocked cabinets. Between work and his general lifestyle, he was likely to go out to eat more often than not anyway.

Now a police officer, a twenty-five-year-old Yusuke Urameshi lived on his own and worked shifts keeping the general population safe from itself and the occasional rogue demon. He and Keiko had given their relationship a try and even lived together for a short time, but as they grew older they realized that they wanted different things at different points in their lives. They still got dinner or caught a movie together but just as friends.

And he was completely content with his life to date. If only he could find something to cook! After getting take-out for four nights in a row he felt the need for a home cooked meal.

He continued perusing the shelves of cans, boxes, and bottles when he heard a small cry from the next aisle. Taking a peek out of curiosity, Yusuke frowned when he saw a little girl clutching a box of cookies to her chest and looking around franticly with tears in her eyes. She was wearing a pink dress with a black ribbon tied in a bow around her waist while black polka dots adorned the skirt portion. With little black shoes on her feet and pink ribbons keeping her black pigtails in place, she would have been adorable if she hadn't been scared and crying.

Yusuke slowly approached her so that he wouldn't seem threatening and smiled gently when he saw that he had her attention. Kneeling down to her level, he asked, "Are you lost?"

The little girl's ice blue eyes grew wide and she nodded eagerly. "I lost my mommy," she said with a small hiccup as her cheeks grew flushed. "I wanted cookies but now I can't find my way back!"

Yusuke smiled as he held out one of his large hands. "My name is Yusuke. I know I don't look like it right now, but I'm a policeman. If you come with me, I'll help you find your mom."

The little girl studied his face for a moment before putting her much smaller hand in his large one. Yusuke stood up once more and started for the front of the store. If her mother wasn't already there, they could find someone to make an announcement over the intercoms. Looking at the little girl with bobbing pigtails, Yusuke asked, "So what's your name?"

"I'm Satomi!" The girl answered happily now that she had someone to help her find her mother.

"How old are you, Satomi?"

"I'm five," Satomi answered with a toothy grin as she held up her other hand with all five fingers out. But in the process she let go of her cookies and the box fell to the floor. Yusuke stopped when she tugged on his arm and waited for her to pick up the box before they started walking again.

'She's cute,' Yusuke thought while trying to hold back a grin.

As they made it to the front of the store, he could hear a woman yelling at someone.

"Don't tell me to calm down! You have to help me find my baby!" The woman yelled at who Yusuke assumed was the store manager.

"Mommy!" Satomi yelled before dropping her cookies and running towards the hysterical woman.

Yusuke watched as Satomi's mother turned around sharply before running to meet her daughter. He picked up the cookies an approached the woman who was now on her knees embracing her daughter and muttering things like "I was so worried" and "I love you" and "Don't ever leave my side again" between kisses on Satomi's face and head.

After she had calmed down some, the woman turned her attention to Yusuke as she wiped the tears from her eyes and stood once more. She definitely wasn't what he had been expecting. She looked to be younger than he was and was dressed in a nice black dress with black heels. Her black hair was pinned back in a bun and cobalt eyes looked to him appreciatively. "Thank you so much for bringing her back to me," the woman said as she reached out to give him a hug.

When she suddenly pulled back there was a light blush on her cheeks as she pushed a nonexistent hair behind her ear out of a nervous habit. "My name is Kagome," the twenty-two-year-old woman said extending her right hand.

"Yusuke," he replied with a smile. 'Cute daughter, beautiful mother,' he thought absently.

"I really can't thank you enough," Kagome said before her eyes caught sight of the basket in his hand and she smiled broadly. "Actually, if you don't have any plans, I'd be honored if you joined us for supper as a way to say thank you. My mother is cooking a celebration supper now and I was just down here to pick up dessert."

"What are you celebrating?" Yusuke asked out of curiosity.

But just as Kagome was about to respond, Satomi piped in, "Mommy just grad-gradi-gradu…"

"Graduated," Kagome supplied with a soft smile.

"Graduated college!" Satomi finished with a beaming smile. She was very proud of her mother. She had seen how hard Kagome had worked to reach this goal. "She's gonna be a teacher!"

Yusuke smiled. "Well congratulations, but I don't want to impose on your celebration."

"Please," Kagome said with a bright smile, "I insist."

Looking down to Satomi who nodded eagerly, Yusuke smiled and caved. "Okay." There was something about these girls that simply drew him in and made him want to be near.

"Good," Kagome nodded before turning around and picking up the small cake that she had ordered from the store's bakery. Placing down enough money on the cashier's counter to cover the cake, she turned to the manager who had been less than eager to help her find her daughter and said, "This will be the last of my business that you get." She then held out her hand for Satomi to hold and smiled at Yusuke before heading towards the door.

Yusuke gave the cashier enough money to cover the cookies as well before leaving the remainder of his groceries, looking at the manager, and stating, "The same goes for me."

Yusuke and Kagome chatted the rest of the way to the Sunset Shrine, Yusuke never noticing how every now and then Kagome or Satomi would glance up and the New Moon sky.

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AN: Yep, those were the segments you needed to know for the rest of the story's setup. And did everyone get what happened in that last part? Satomi's human night is on the New Moon (same night as Inuyasha's was) and that's why Yusuke didn't pick up on her being part demon right away. The next chapter will pick up a couple of years down the road and should (hopefully) be out soon :] For right now, I'm not totally sure who Kagome will end up with in the long-run (hence the title of the story). But you're more than welcome to let me know your opinion on the matter, though I will say that it will definitely either be Yusuke or Kurama/Youko. I have a poll set up on my profile because trying to keep tally in reviews is tricky. We'll be getting into the drama next chapter so be on the lookout! Thanks for reading!