My Not So Imaginary Friend

For as long as she could remember he had always been by her side. He had been her best friend, although only she could ever see him. It was odd but then again, that was the point of imaginary friends. Only Kuronue isn't as imaginary as she thought and neither are his feelings

Disclaimer: Neither Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hawkish are owned by me. I am simply using the animes and their characters for the enjoyment and entertainment of my readers.

Chapter Six

More than a few simple months have come and gone since the group of shard hunters came together as allies and friends, in fact a year would be marked tomorrow, yet they still haven't solved the puzzle most of them were dying to know. He wasn't sure how much each person knew but Kuronue wasn't so ignorant as to believe that he would have been able to remain nothing more than a ghost during this quest. The world during this era wasn't as naïve to the 'supernatural' as the modern world of humans so despite their inabilities to interact with him, Kuronue had still be expecting for at least a few people to pick up clues on his trail.

Honestly he didn't give a damn if they knew about him or not so while, yes, it was he who instructed Kagome to keep quiet about his existence he was doing nothing extra to truly hide. He found it rather amusing to be honest, watching them grow frustrated when another month passed with them no closer to the truth, but his amusement was quickly transforming into concern.

Desperation sometimes followed frustration and when one, let alone many, wanted the answers they so badly sought unpleasant things followed. No, this did not mean they would suddenly beat his little miko until she bled the truth, but the chances of someone questioning Kagome were growing more and more each day.

He could see their curious gazes lingering on her longer and wasn't deaf to the lightly probing questions beginning to mix into their conversations. Plotting never escaped him when it happened under his own nose so Kuronue knew that one of them, most likely Miroku if he presumed correctly, would strike soon.

Of course as he already stated, Kuronue didn't care who or what knew of him, so that was not why the thought of them getting to Kagome was worrying him so much. Kagome trusted Kuronue's word and still wouldn't give anything away; purposely that is, until he told her it was okay, but if her friend's begin questioning Kuronue was worried that Kagome might then begin questioning herself.

During her entire childhood Kagome had been told over and over again that Kuronue was nothing more than an imaginary friend. At first she argued over the truth behind that statement with every fiber of her being but Kuronue never really confirmed or denied this whenever asked. His answers were always sly and vague, hinting at the possibility that he was something more but never giving enough to prove that he wasn't. Overtime though when they both began noticing the odd gazes from others and the worried look in Kagome's mother's eyes, they decided it best for Kagome not to speak verbally to him unless alone. Kagome did just that and when her mother made a comment a few weeks later about being proud over her accomplishment of moving on from her imaginary friend, Kagome said nothing.

After that Kagome just seemed to accept the fact that imaginary or not, Kuronue was there and would be for a very long time. Clearly Kuronue had no plans of leaving while Kagome had no plans of letting him go, but that still left Kuronue in the dark about what Kagome believed him to be now so if she began questioning herself, questioning him, Kuronue wasn't sure where it would lead.

"Kuronue?"

"Yes, tenshi?" He replied absently, stuck on auto-Kagome as he continued with his thoughts. Would Kagome realize he was dead?

"Are you okay?"

"Of course." Would she fear him if she did?

"Honestly?"

"Yeah." If not fear then hate? He was technically lying to her…

"Truly?"

"Uh-huh." Then again she never asked if he was a spirit in the first place.

"Kuronue?"

"Hm?" Kagome might not see it that way though.

"Has anyone ever told you that you have a nice ass for a man?"

"Yes, tenshi." She might see it as a betrayal…wait…

What?!

Slightly horrified to feel his face burst out into various shades of red but more than shocked to care, Kuronue quickly snapped his thoughtfully closed eyes open and, with as much grace he could pull off when flushing like a virgin, gaped at Kagome.

Although since the group returned to Kaede's just yesterday for a much needed break, Kagome had been able to return home and was now in her room. Souta was out with her mother picking up some more supplies for Kagome while her grandfather was…somewhere (she would look for him if she knew it wouldn't lead to story time), so she was free to speak to Kuronue as she wished.

Only with Kuronue still looking like a magicarp she barely managed to open her mouth before bursting out into laughter.

"O-Oh…oh god, Kuronue….y-your face!" Clutching her stomach she closed her eyes in an attempt to calm herself down, but by doing so completely missed the flash of annoyance from being laughed at in Kuronue's eyes and the deadly mischievous look that followed. "I…I didn't know you could make- KURONUE!"

"Screaming my name already, darling?" Kuronue purred, spreading his fingers on Kagome's bottom and squeezing teasingly.

Maybe he should invest in a cursed hand as well.

Any words she could have spoken died off into a squeak as Kagome slapped Kuronue's hand off of her body. Revenge, being the bitch it was, brought a flush that far surpassed Kuronue's previous one to her cheeks and for a moment Kagome did nothing but hide her face and splutter. Feeling Kuronue press an over exaggerated kiss to her cheek only increased the blood flow to her head and in a Sango-like move, Kagome threw her hand out for a slap. "You pervert!"

Grabbing Kagome's hand with his own right before it hit Kuronue smirked placed a lighter kiss than the one earlier to her cheek onto her palm. "You started it, tenshi."

"I was only trying to get your attention!"

Pulling her smaller body close against him and ignoring her struggling, Kuronue gently blew into her ear and chuckled. "I'll give you all the attention you want."

"Not that kind!"

"What kind?"

"The kind you're thinking of!"

"Oh? And what kind is that Ka-go-me?"

"The kind all boys think of!"

Huffing and giving a little bonk to her head with his fist Kuronue playfully scowled. "I'm hardly a boy, tenshi."

Gasping dramatically, Kagome tilted her head and widened her eyes. "You mean," she began in an overly shocked whisper. "You're a woman?"

Narrowing his eyes and throwing her off of him, carefully that is, Kuronue stood and schooled his face into an emotionless mask. The giggling Kagome had begun stopped at the action and she looked to him with a confused, slightly worried, expression. "Kuronue?"

"A woman you say?" He hissed out dangerously. Kagome gulped, sensing her doom, but nodded anyways.

"You do have awfully long hair for a man." Her wary eyes focused on his own as she slowly straightened herself on her bed. "Have you ever worn a kimono? You'd look lovely in one, I'm sure of it."

"Kagome?"

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Run."

Catching the shift in Kuronue's stance just as he said that, Kagome gasped and shot off her bed and out of her room. Counting to ten in his head Kuronue smirked before flashing out of the room after her. It took half the time that he spent counting to appear before her and Kagome was only able to squeal before his arms caught her in an embrace and he began spinning her around.

"Kuronue, please!" Kagome laughed. "I'm getting dizzy! Let me go!"

"Never!"

"Please!"

"What was that?" Picking up speed to swing her around faster Kuronue grinned. "I'm afraid I can't hear you!"

"Please, Kuro! Let me go!"

Blinking, Kuronue stopped and gently set her down. "Kuro?" he repeated softly. "It's been a while since you've used that version of my name."

Doing her best to fight against her spinning world, Kagome tilted her head and gave a thoughtful hum. "It has been hasn't it?"

"Just curious but, why did you stop using it anyways? It was always 'Kuro-san' back then. What happened?" Personally he didn't mind the change. Although Kuro-san had been cute from the little girl Kagome he much preferred the teenage one calling him by his full name.

Shrugging Kagome threw a quick glance around the living room, where she and Kuronue ended in their short game of cat and mouse, to see if anyone was around before taking a seat on the sofa. "I'm not sure…" Smiling when Kuronue took a seat at her side she continued. "I guess it just made sense to change the way I called you. Mama said that things like toys and imaginary friends were for children so I just figured that Kuro-san was more of a child's name as well so I should stop."

Imaginary friends… "I don't think that excuse works, tenshi. You continue talking to me, don't you? Yet you're not a child."

He watched her face closely for a reaction. Although he hadn't outright stated that he was an imaginary friend, it was clearly being hinted at.

"It would be rude to suddenly stop talking to you, don't you think?"

"And why is that?"

Turning so that she could face him better Kagome frowned. "Just because others can't see you doesn't mean its okay to ignore you."

"Ah, but I'm just the 'Imaginary Friend' here. That means it's odd to not ignore me."

Staring at him openly for a moment, Kagome deepened her frown before a little knowing smile suddenly tilted her lips upward. "Now whoever said you were Imaginary, Kuronue?"

"Mom? Since we're getting all this stuff for Kagome, is it okay if I pick out a snack or something for me?"

Pretending to think over it for a while Mama Higurashi glanced at her son's hopeful expression before smiling and nodding. "As long as it isn't too much then I don't see any harm in it."

"Yes! Thanks mom!" Souta cheered before sprinting off in search for whatever would meet his taste.

Mama Higurashi watched him go off with a smile before she returned to her own shopping. Pushing the cart further down she mentally went over her list. It seemed like she had everything she needed so all she had to do was wait for Souta to come back before paying. Until then she decided to look around for anything extra that might be useful for Kagome or her friends, yet just as she was about to turn the corner a hesitant voice softly called out.

"Kun-loon?"

Freezing where she stood Mama Higurashi, or Kun-loon if you prefer, stopped breathing for a moment before she turned around, her smile strained and just a bit bitter. She didn't need to see the woman that called out to her to know who it was but when she found herself face to face any hopeful doubt was washed away.

"Shiori."

The woman gave a slight smile in return before bowing a bit. "It's good to see you again, Kun-loon."

"Please," she murmured with a bow of her own. "Call me Higurashi-san."

Although it was unlike her to say such a thing to anyone in such a stern clipped tone, Kun-loon didn't worry over it much. She did however feel a shot of guilt when the woman flinched but before she could decide whether or not to throw in a 'Just Kidding' someone a voice out of Kun-loon's view called out.

"Mother?"

"Oh, Shuichi!" the woman beamed, waving 'Shuichi' over to her. "This is Kun-ah, this is Higurashi-san. You've met her once when you were younger so come say hello!"

Whether the young man, for the voice was clearly male, nodded or not was unknown to Kun-loon but when he stepped out and into her view, she felt her very heart stop beating within her chest.

Shuichi was a very handsome looking young man with beautiful long locks of flaming red and dazzling green eyes that stared at her coldly despite the pleasant smile on his lips. He looked odd for a Japanese born teenager but it was those odd looks that caused such a reaction within her. Not because he was painfully beautiful but because his looks were unmistakable this was proven when the picture of an identical child from long ago flashed through her mind.

"Mom?"

Jumping slightly when Souta suddenly joined their little trio, Kun-loon cleared her throat and slipped her hand onto his shoulder. He threw back a confused look but she simply smiled and looked back to Shiori and…Shuichi.

"Let me introduce myself, Shuichi-kun. Like Shiori said I'm Kun-loon and this," she pulled Souta closer. "Is my youngest child and son. Souta."

Smiling and nodding Shuichi bowed and gave a polite "Pleased to meet you" whereas Souta simply nodded and smiled awkwardly. The air around the four was tense and odd though only the two women truly understood why.

"Well…It was lovely seeing you again but Souta and I must be going." Turning around to do just that Kun-loon was about to make her escape when a hand grabbed onto her coat.

"Higuarsahi-san, wait!"

There was no way to get out of this.

"Souta," she sighed. "Why don't you and Shuichi-kun go to the gaming store next door?"

"What? What about the shopping?"

"Souta…go."

Before he could protest Shuichi, who was watching the possibly dangerous women with his mother carefully, kindly took his arm and dragged him away as nicely as possible. Both women watched their children go before turning to each other seriously, one with a harsh expression and the other with sorrowful eyes.

"Kun-loon…Higurashi-san I mean, I-"

"Why are you here Shiori?" Kun-loon cut in sharply, her eyes suddenly tired and weary. "We had a deal. I allowed you to attend my husbands," she put as much claim into the word as possible "funeral in exchange for you to stay away."

"I know, it's just-"

"Nothing. Just nothing. We made a deal so follow it through and leave both my family and I alone."

"Kun-loon please!" Shiori called out but she made no move to answer as she began calmly walking away with her cart. "Kun-loon!"

"Goodbye, Shiori."

Eyes tearing before clenching closed tightly; Shiori pulled both hands into tight fist at her sides and shouted her last attempt to get the woman to stop. "I have a right to see my own daughter!"

And that my lovelies is where I shall leave you all! Muwahaha!

Sorry that it isn't as long as the previous chapter but we did find out that Kagome knows a little more about Kuronue than he might think but not just that, Kun-loon has a secret of her own?! And for those who might think that the whole second half of this chapter is random as hell…it isn't. Kun-loon's secret will be playing a nice sized part in this story!

Thank you all for the kind reviews and please do review once more!

Kagomes Kit