Chapter 3. Confrontations and Surprises

LAST TIME ON Confusion Of the Heart of the Kitsune Miko

"You guys are lucky I happened to have been passing by." She said. "Long time no see, huh?" They stared at her and Sango muttered.

"K-Kagome?" The girl turned to her and stated flatly.

"Who else would it be?" She said almost disappointedly. "Forgot about me already have you?"

"What is her problem?" Yusuke demanded and Kurama's face was tight.

"It appears she is no longer grieving. She's just a little upset. I think she was intentionally avoiding us. From how she's acting she has been around for a while." Sango suddenly began walking the path Kagome left. She paused when Kurama yelled at her to stop.

"She requested that we don't follow her." Kurama said.

"She requested that you don't follow her. She just ignored me. Something isn't right and I will find out."

NOW

W/Kagome

Why did I even bother to help them out? She pondered. It's not like I would've been bothered with whatever happens to them. She sighed. Why do I bother trying to kid myself? I do care. That's the only reason I stepped in to help. Damnit! Now they'll be following me around every chance I get. Damn my stupid conscience. They're lucky that I still care for them despite everything that's happened. She walked on silently for a little while and her ears and tail twitched in annoyance.

"You know if you quit following me and step out I may spare you some bruises." She called out. "Now which one is it?" She wondered mockingly, delicately sniffing the air. "Now how come I knew it would be you Sango?" She demanded twirling around watching Sango step into the area.

"Kagome…" Sango said quietly looking sad.

"Yes it's me, we've been over this already. I thought we've established that it's me already." Kagome muttered.

"Why do you act like this? Why don't you act like the Kagome we know and love?" Sango demanded getting straight to the point.

"Things change with time Sango. And unlike most people, as you know, I tend not to stay the same." Kagome said stiffly then sighed and added softly. "Sango things cannot be as they once were."

"And why not!" Sango demanded stepping forward and Kagome remained where she was staring at the ground.

"Sango things have changed. I have changed, as have you and the others. I know you did not really notice a difference in my absence so do not deny it." Kagome stated softly.

"Yes we have noticed the difference when you're gone." Sango insisted. Kagome smirked slightly.

"Oh…? Have you? In what then, has made you noticed? It certainly wasn't the battles. I used to be useless when it came to those…so what was it that made you notice I was gone? Now that your in my time you have all access to medical supplies that I used. So it isn't that. What is it? " Kagome sneered.

"All of us have noticed especially Kurama." Sango said softly. "You're the glue that holds us together. Kurama has missed you especially. He has grieved for you everyday since your disappearance. He was so happy that you returned. Yet you squashed it when you made it clear you weren't willing to stay." She stopped as Kagome snickered.

"Yeah, right." She snorted. "I'm real sure Kurama has missed me. Probably about as much as I missed him."

"Probably more so." Sango stated. "I know you missed him a lot. I saw the look in your eyes as you saw him. Then I saw your eyes consumed with pain. With the pain I know you've been burdening for such a long time. Kagome please come back and stay with us." Sango begged.

"I'm sorry Sango." Kagome said and turned her back. "I told you I'm here on business. I have no intention on staying." With that she moved quickly and was behind Sango in an instant. Sango looked around bewildered for Kagome, not seeing where she went. Kagome gently put her hands around Sango's throat and breathed in her ear.

"Your pathetic Sango." She whispered and squeezed her throat lightly. "If I were your enemy you'd be really dead by now." She felt Sango gasp softly. "I am more powerful now and I will have no problems with using my new strength against you and the silly detectives if you dare follow me again. If you follow me again Sango you will be hurt. So please do not make it have to be so. I will not guarantee your safety if you do otherwise." Kagome released Sango and began walking away.

"Why!" Sango whispered softly. Kagome didn't listen.

"All's fair in love and war. I'm sorry Sango but this is the way it will be for a little while. Goodbye." With that the winds picked up causing Sango to gasp and cover her eyes. When the winds died down she uncovered her face and looked around only to find Kagome gone.

"Kagome." She sighed and began walking away.

With Others

"Do you think Sango was successful in talking to Kagome?" Yusuke asked.

"Honestly no. Once Kagome makes up her mind she barely ever changes it." Kurama said and Inuyasha snorted.

"That's the truth. She has the strongest will out of all of us." Inuyasha snorted.

"I wonder what they're talking about." Miroku murmured.

"Nothing." Sango said as she walked in. They all looked at her surprised.

"She wouldn't listen. She's still a little…upset. She is serious about leaving after her business is through. Though I would like to know what this 'business' is." Sango stated and sat down with the rest of them. They were all at Yusuke's apartment and they were discussing Kagome. (Obviously…)

"Figures." Yusuke muttered.

"But she's so different. Nothing like the Kagome I knew." Sango said offhandedly. "It was like I was talking to a stranger. At first it was like we were old friends meeting after a few years instead of sister like friends who were separated for six months. She was so cold to me, almost as if I were an enemy instead of her friend. I could see she wanted to say yes and come back but she kept holding back until she blinded me and escaped." Sango gently rubbed her throat. "She gave me a message for all of you. 'Don't follow me or I'll kill you.' She made the message loud and clear and I believe she's serious." Sango put down her hand as if she just realized she had it up there.

"What happened Sango?" Miroku asked. "What did Kagome really do?"

"That is what she did." Sango stated looking hard at the wall.

"We can tell she did something else. What did she do to you?" Miroku asked. Sango paused and looked at all of them.

"She threatened our safety obviously." Sango said. Miroku nodded his head.

"She tried to hurt you in the process didn't she?" Sango's eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"I don't understand why. She never would've done this before. She never would've attempted to hurt me." Sango's eyes suddenly flashed with hope. "But she didn't hurt me. She had the perfect opportunity. The way she grabbed me I was basically helpless. Any moves I would've pulled could've broken my neck. She could've killed or seriously hurt me, but she didn't."

"That's not the way her mind works Sango and you know it." Kurama said softly. "The only reason she let you live is because you had to deliver the message. She gives one warning and that's it." He sighed. "I'm so stupid. I should've figured something like this would happen."

"Shit happens. She'll snap out of it. She has stuff to do and she's obviously nervous about it." Inuyasha snapped.

"Hn. The mutt is correct." Hiei stated. "She's trying to scare us off by threatening our lives. No doubt she did gain the power to kill a bunch of humans and B class demons, but I doubt she will use them."

"She's up to something but she doesn't want us involved." Yusuke wondered then he looked slightly confused. "Sango did she specifically she would be the one to kill us if we follow her?"

"No. Not really." Sango said realization dawning on her. "What she said was, 'If you follow me again Sango you will be to hurt you'. She never said she would be the one to hurt us."

"Perhaps she is warning us." Kuronue said. "She could be warning us that if we interfere her business will kill us."

"That sounds like something Kagome would do." Inuyasha said.

"What if you guys are wrong? I mean Kurama, Hiei, Yusuke and I were wrong last time. What if you guys are wrong this time to?" Kuwabara asked seriously. (For once.)

"Then we'll all pay with our lives." Inuyasha stated smirking. Kuwabara gulped.

"When do you think we'll run into her again?" Yusuke asked.

"I don't know, whenever she wants us to see her." Kurama said.

"Anyways this Sensui guy, do you guys think he's behind all the new demons popping up all over the place?" Yusuke asked to change the topic.

"I think so." Sango said. "We should be on our guard. This guy is serious from what I can tell. He will kill us with out hesitation."

"That is true." Kuronue said twirling his pendant nonchalantly. "He should be our main concern for the time being." Inuyasha got up and they all looked at him.

"Where are you going Inuyasha?" Miroku asked.

"Feh. Where do you think?" Inuyasha snapped.

"Kagome doesn't want us to follow her." Miroku stated seriously.

"No you idiot. I'm going outside." Inuyasha looked at Miroku as though he was an idiot. (Imagine that…)

Inuyasha's POV

Kagome…what are you planning on doing? Inuyasha thought sitting lazily on the ground under a tree. This isn't like you. Come back to us please. We need you. I need you. I'm supposed to protect you and I didn't do that. I should've protected you from seeing all this pain. I should've protected you from everything that's happened. You used the Shikon no Tama to bring back what your friends desired most. Miroku wanted Sango, Yusuke wanted Keiko, the idiot wanted Shiziru, Hiei wanted Yukina and Kurama wanted his human mother. None of them wanted your family back. Instead of wishing for your family you wished for theirs to be returned. Kagome I'm sorry for what I've done in the past and so is the stupid fox. The past can't be changed. I know that, really I understand how you feel. But Kagome your like a little sister to me, please come back. We all need you. Inuyasha stared up at the starry sky. The sun will be up soon. Tomorrow night will be the new moon and I'll become human. He smirked slightly and looked at his claws. None of the detectives know my secret and I don't intend for them to find out. But they will, because I doubt Kurama's forgotten it. His smirked left and he gazed longingly at the sky. You always kept me company on my nights of weakness. I still feel a sadness when your not there even though its already been several new moons since your disappearance. Suddenly Inuyasha's ear twitched and he whirled around.

"Who's there?" He growled and flexed his claws.

"You know Inuyasha, it's not exactly wise to go too far from the temple." Kagome said looking at the sky and sat next to him. She was in her human form. She was wearing black jeans and a red short sleeved shirt. Her raven hair was cascading down her back. "Why did you come to a park of all places?" She glanced at him.

"Why did you come to the park?" Inuyasha snapped back and Kagome and stared at him.

"I was here long before you. None of you are strong, you're all weak." She snapped. "I could've killed you several times before you would notice I was here. You should never let your guard down Inuyasha. Remember that's the number one rule of the feudal era."

"Kagome please why don't you come back?" Inuyasha asked looking young and vulnerable for a minute.

"Because I have stuff I need to do. I'm a very busy girl Inuyasha." Kagome said standing up.

"Then why are you in the park at this time of the morning then?" He snapped and she smiled.

"I came to give you a lesson and I gave it. So goodbye." She said and turned around.

"Kagome?" She tilted her head slightly inclining she was listening. "I'm sorry for everything that's happened, please come back. I'm sorry for being a jerk and fox boy's sorry about breaking up with you."

"I know." She stated simply. "I simply have better things to do than mend wounds of others when I'm still tending to my own. Makai taught me one thing. Look out for number one. Then you look out for others, if you wish to. After I've tended to myself than I will tend to yours. Goodbye Inuyasha. If I run into any of you again after this and you all continue bothering me I won't be as nice." She left.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha watched as she left. "Feh. See ya around than." He whispered and got up to leave and paused. "How long are ya gonna stand there Hiei?"

"Hn. As long as I please." The apparition jumped from a tree. "So the woman did learn basic fighting techniques in Makai. Those are the rules of a true fighter in Makai. Look out for yourself first. The strong will live and the weak shall die."

"She isn't like that though. She was almost like the old Kagome for a minute. She was willing to talk and I almost got her to tell me what was wrong. Damn."

"The others sent me after you." Hiei said and disappeared.

"Feh." Inuyasha said and followed.

Next Day w/ Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei and Kuwabara

"Come on guys. Why are we even bothering checking out the park?" Kuwabara whined.

"Because both times Kagome showed herself was in the park." Kurama stated.

"So it's a possibility she's staying nearby? What if she just enjoys the park, you know all the trees and stuff? I noticed most of the demons I know have a tendency to go for trees. She could've possibly picked up the habit." Yusuke said.

"Possibly, it could all be coincidence, but I'd really like to find out." Kurama said. Suddenly they heard shouting.

"Get back here kit!" They heard and suddenly they saw a teenage kid with sandy red hair running through the forest.

"Not if you can't catch me!" He called out. He continued running and they saw he was a kitsune. He was also holding a bag.

"Give that back!" There was a huge, ugly demon (hmn…that's really descriptive isn't it?) chasing him.

"Not a chance!" The kid yelled suddenly the demon threw something at him and the kid just barely dodged.

"Hey! You almost hit me!" He said angrily.

"That was the intention brat! Now give me the potion, and I might let you live." The demon said smirking.

"Well if you wanted it that bad, I wouldn't have been able to steal it." The red kitsune smirked and his tail swished lightly. As they watched them they noticed he was about Yusuke's height and his sandy red hair was in a small ponytail, like a shorter version of Kouga's. He also had a sandy red tail, which swished in amusement at the older demon's frustration. He was lithe and had wore an outfit similar to Kurama's fighting outfit (dark tournament outfit) in green and it had green sash around the waist.

"You brat I'll kill you!" The demon lunged at the kid and he dodged quickly and whirled around only to be slightly cut by a sword.

"Hey! It's just rude to attack someone when their back is turned!" The boy yelled angrily. "Enough of this I'm not lettin' you get the potion so just give up!"

"Never!" The demon yelled and the boy sighed then dodged and yelled.

"Fox fire whip!" He was suddenly holding a whip made of fire and he slashed at the demon who screamed in pain and was a pile of ashes on the floor.

"What is it with foxes and stealing and using whips?" Yusuke muttered then he yelled at he kitsune. "Who are you?" The kid swirled around looking surprised and was preparing to fight. Then he looked at all of them and recognition sparked in his glittering green eyes.

"Oh, its you. The Spirit Detectives. Where are the others?" He asked.

"What do you mean 'oh its you'? And its none of your business where the others are." Yusuke said preparing his Spirit Gun.

"Wait, wait, wait!" The kid shook his hands in an air of surrender. "I'm not gonna fight you guys. Don't you recognize me?" He asked.

"Hn. You're the kit, Shippo." Hiei said. Everyone turned around to look at the kitsune.

"Yup." He nodded. "Knew you'd at least recognize me, Hiei." He looked around. "Hey, where's Kagome? I wanted to surprise her. That's why I came here. I figured she'd be here."

"She's not here Shippo." Kurama said.

"Why?" Shippo looked surprised.

"How did you survive?" Yusuke instead changed the subject.

"Me and Kirara managed to jump into the well, he got me cut up real bad along with Kirara but somehow we made it back to the Feudal Era. We've managed to live this long in the human world. Took us a while to find out where you guys were. Kirara went to visit Sango and the others." He paused and smirked a little bit. "That guys' potion there probably would've ended up poisoning the whole town and he left it out in the open so I just borrowed it without asking." He grew serious once again. "Don't change the subject, why isn't Kagome here? Is she okay?" He asked again with concern showing on his face.

"She's fine. She just left us, that's all." Kurama said and Shippo looked shocked.

"Kagome wouldn't do that without reason, what did you guys do?" Shippo demanded.

"She couldn't control her emotions and made a reckless wish after using up all her energy on Naraku." Hiei said.

"It nearly killed her. So Kurama told her the truth and she didn't take it well." Yusuke said. "Then she kinda left to Makai and came back a complete…eh." He looked at Shippo remembering how protective he was of her. "Not as nice." Shippo looked worried.

"But she did come back, I smelled her so I came here. I also sensed her aura." Shippo said.

"Yes this is where we saw her for the first time in six months and Inuyasha saw her here yesterday. We assume she lives nearby." Kurama said but was cut off.

"Or she just happens to enjoy walking in the park." A voice said irritably.

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Hmn…should I leave off here? Who could it be now? I really considered leaving off here. And you know what?

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I won't.

"Kagome." Shippo said shocked. She froze and her eyes went to Shippo.

"Shippo…?" Her voice filled with surprise. "How?" She looked at him in shock then at the detectives. "If this is some joke detectives, I'm not enjoying it."

"Kagome it's no trick! It's me Shippo! Me n' Kirara jumped into the well, got sliced up pretty bad but we waited and looked for you guys!"

"Shippo." She whispered and her eyes shimmered for a minute, then hardened. "I'm sorry, just because he's back doesn't mean I will be." She said and glanced sadly at them. "I still have business to take care of. I'm sorry." With that she turned around.

"Kagome wait!" Shippo shouted and began running after her. She paused as he reached her. "Kagome please stop this and come back! I don't know why you're doing this but I know your hiding something." Shippo begged grabbing her arm. She smiled lightly and put a hand on his.

"Shippo you grew up." She murmured her eyes softening. "Nice to see you didn't lose your childish side to growing up. But I am sorry, I can't even tell you what my business is. I'll give you fair warning though. If you follow me, I will not be responsible for what happens. This goes to all of you. Leave. Me. Alone." She said and tried to walk away again only to have Shippo tug her arm again. She turned her head away and Shippo flew back as a blue barrier formed around her.

"Ow!" He said as he was thrown onto the ground. As he looked up they all saw her with a look of regret and she left. Much like Kikyo used to do to Inuyasha.

"Kagome!" He yelled wincing.

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