Disclaimer: I still don't own any of the Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho cast. *sighs* Its sad, but that's life.

Please R&R

~* Equilibrium *~

Chapter 3

The Feudal Era

A cheerful campfire warmed the crisp air of nighttime. Even so, the group sitting around it seemed strangely tense for such a fine night.

"Really, Kagome-sama, there is nothing to be worried about. The instructions are very clear!" Miroku's head bobbed up and down nervously; strangely similar to the dashboard dog toys Kagome had seen in her era.

"You mean, there is a way to change me back?" Kagome said, trying to keep a terrified squeak from escaping

"Houshi-sama is right Kagome-chan. The curse can be lifted, however…" Sango trailed off

"However?" prompted Kagome

"There are certain…conditions…" Sango finished off, looking uncomfortable

"Feh. Told you not to mess with that stupid box," Inuyasha snorted, "Should have thrown it away."

"Inuyasha," Kagome said in a dangerous tone.

The hanyou grumbled and shut up. He was having a hard time not staring as it was. Inuyasha always knew, somewhere at the back of his mind, that Kagome was pretty…maybe even beautiful…Damn! 'Fine,' he admitted to himself, 'She's stunning. But no way am I ever going to admit that…'

But after the transformation…

She was heavenly as a kitsune – absolutely gorgeous. Those delicate silky black ears, her smooth black tail – and her scent! It was stronger and yet as gentle as the scent of a garden after heavy rain. It wrapped around you, calming your emotions, letting you drift off in her eyes…Ahh, her eyes…

Kagome winced at Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha…hello? Anyone there?" She poked him gently

"Hey! Dog boy! Did you hit your head?" Shippou poked him much harder

"What-? Hey! Runt, get back here!" Inuyasha shot off after the little kitsune

"Ahem. As I was saying," Miroku continued, "Akahashi has explained the details of the curse on the inside of the box."

Sango handed Kagome the lacquer box to study. The inside was a polished cherry pink, with black kanji carved into the wood. She glanced at a few lines but found her attention wandering to something more curious. At the very centre of the bottom was a strange symbol – a pointy star trapped in a circle and bound by chains. Around the rim were words Kagome couldn't read.

Miroku wondered if Kagome knew her tail was lashing out behind her. It was a very feminine tail, the monk decided. But before he could act on any of his lecherous thoughts Sango caught his eye with a very dangerous looking glare. Really, Sango positively glowed when she was angry.

"What does that mean?" Kagome pointed the symbol out, drawing Miroku's attention back to the problem at hand. 

"We don't know. We think its demon script, but neither Inuyasha nor Shippou could interpret it," The demon exterminator and monk exchanged glances, "We think it's the counter curse."

"What!?" Kagome shot up, fox ears flicking forward in surprise, "But…if no one can read it – what will we do?"

"Don't worry," Sango hugged her friend, trying to reassure her, "Shippou thinks the spell is in Kitsune script. We only have to find a kitsune who has learnt it, then they'll read it and you'll be fine!"

Miroku nodded his head quickly. Too quickly…Kagome's eyes narrowed and her ears lay back.

"What aren't you telling me?" She demanded

"The conditions of the curse state you only have eight weeks before the transformation becomes permanent. At the moment, you'll only transform into a kitsune between sunset and sunrise…if the curse isn't lifted, you'll be a demon indefinitely." Miroku explained gravely

"Nani!? Eight weeks!" Kagome gasped, "That's around two months – hardly any time at all!"

"Don't worry, Kagome-chan," Sango reassured her, "There are plenty of demons in Japan. It won't be so hard."

"Anything else?" sighed Kagome

"Ah, now that you mention it, Kagome-sama…" Miroku laughed nervously

"Out with it," Kagome said dangerously

"Well…Akahashi-san must have had a great sense of humour, because you see, one of the conditions of the counter-curse is that you must obey the kitsune who reverses the spell."

Silence. A cricket chirped.

"Sorry Miroku-kun, could you repeat that?" Kagome said slowly

"The kitsune who helps you with the curse will, um, be able to command you."

"And I have to do as they say?" Kagome asked

"Well…yes…" Miroku trailed off, aware how humiliating this must sound.

Inuyasha had returned in time to hear the last bit.

"No one is ordering around Kagome!" He yelled

'Inuyasha…' Kagome thought, ducking her head to hide her smile.

"She's my shard detector!"

"Inuyasha…" this time she frowned, "Sit-sit-SIT!"

Bam. Bam. BAM.

"That was truly inconsiderate, Inuyasha," Sango shook her head at the hanyou

Shippou meanwhile hopped into Kagome's arms and stuck his tongue out at Inuyasha. Then he turned around and hugged her.

"It'll be alright, Kagome-chan. You'll see. I'll help too," the little kitsune said

"Thank-you Shippou-chan. You're right, I don't need to worry," the kitsune-girl hugged him back. 

~*~*~

The Feudal Era

"But you should worry," Kagura smiled in the darkness as she watched the group, "Oh yes, there is plenty to be concerned about…"

The little group of friends was oblivious to Kagura's presence. She had been tracking them since yesterday, hoping to find something to report to her master. The wind youkai had seen the whole event. Now, she decided, she could return to Naraku. He would be very pleased, not that Kagura expected any thanks.

"You've forgotten, child; a demon can't use purifying magic," Her smile grew larger as she watched the young miko turned youkai, "And which of you has a chance against my master now?"

Turning, she melted into the darkness with a soft laugh.

~*~*~

In the Present

A soft rain pattered down on the streets. Grey clouds blanketed the sky, filtering the brightness of the afternoon sun. A sharp breeze cut through the city, making the few pedestrians shiver and hunch into their coats, hurrying their steps.

Standing tall under a tree stood a young man of strange appearance. His face was angular and sharp, but perfectly smooth and natural to the eye. Matte grey hair was pulled from the face with a leather cord, ending just below the base of the neck. His ordinary clothes were black but looked out of place on him. Even so, this was not what should have attracted attention.

It was the fact that no wind ruffled those clothes nor was he touched by rain. And he had eerie eyes that captivated anyone who looked into them. Eyes of the palest blue – so pale, they almost looked white.  

But no one looked his way. The people in the street would find their eyes sliding over the spot he stood, never noticing him.

It was a simple trick, for a kitsune.

But Kuromatsu Tanak, only half-kitsune, had struggled to learn the spell. He had pushed himself to exhaustion, time after time, until finally he was able to hold the spell without tiring himself. Still he was not as good as a real kitsune mage would be.

The feeling of unfairness was a familiar one. Kuromatsu pushed it away easily. He could only train himself to be the best he could be. Once he had thought there wasn't a limit to his skills – now he knew he was fast approaching it. Kuromatsu's fist clenched.

'And still, I will be neither as good as a full wolf youkai nor as good as a full kitsune.' He thought angrily, cursing his parents.

They had called him a hanyou, those other wolf pups, though his blood was as wholly demon as they were. 'Unpure' they had said as they beat him up. They had thrown him into the darkness thinking it would swallow him – but instead, he had been reborn.

Now that he was stronger then them, they respected him. The same demons that had been his tormentors wanted him for their ally. Did they really think he would put the past behind him?

But he would prove that he powerful – not to those filthy mongrels but to himself.

It didn't matter to him how many people got hurt in the process.

~*~*~

Author: Well, yes, this chapter is pretty long. Does anyone else think that part with Kuromatsu was unnecessary? I wanted to sort of introduce him as the bad guy with past issues and such. Yep, he was the kid in the prologue.

Anyone else notice that the same person made Kagome's box and Kuromatsu's swords? ^_^ 'Tis a wee bit important, that is! Please review…