Ch

Ch.8 – Realization and Serious Advice from the Pancake Master?

"You." His lightly purring voice slowly registers in her mind. She remains frozen in place, speechless for a few minutes before she feels something tickling her ear. She glances over to find Youko nuzzling her ear. At first she wanted to distance herself from him, to run. But she couldn't get the tickling sensation out of her thoughts and soon found herself not only blushing, but laughing a bit as well. Youko's ears perk up as the light sound of her laughter reaches them. –I so win.-

When Kagome realizes some sort of feeling starting to form she quickly backs up, putting distance between her and Youko. A small whine escapes from Youko at the slight loss of her close presence. "What did you do with Suichi?" Kagome asks lightly, but firmly.

"How badly do you want him?" Youko inquires.

"… Why did you possess my friend?"

"I haven't possessed him. I've simply switched places with him. You can have him back later."

"…Nani?" Kagome looks at him in bewilderment. "Who are you?"

"My name is Youko. I share this body with Suichi. I've been with him since before he was born."

"Why?"

"Well… a long time ago I was the most skilled thief throughout the world. I made a foolish mistake one time on one of my missions and was severely injured. Being in a dying state I used the last of my spirit energy to seal myself within an unborn child. He was normal until I regained consciousness and my strength when he was in high school. And from then on I've taught him very well how to handle his capabilities." Youko glances over at Kagome to find her listening intently. "… You're not running away and calling me a monster?" He becomes curious.

"Do you want me to?" Her question catches him off guard and he barely catches himself from falling over.

-Am I hearing her correctly?- Youko is completely shocked. Suichi takes this opportunity to take control and shift back to human form. "You're not scared?" He looks up to meet soft, brown eyes.

"No. Should I be?"

"… Isn't it a little strange to have a demon living with you?"

"Not for me. As long as you don't pull any stupid stunts and I don't see you killing any people I'll let you stay."

He looks at her in amazement. He tries to resist the urge to hug her but the temptation is too great. He is immediately right next to her with his arms wrapped around her. "Thank you."

"…" A light blush seeps across Kagome's face. "…um… you're welcome?" She hugs him gently in turn, causing him to smile. "… Can we go home now?"

"Sure." He slowly lets go of her.

Kagome looks around. "Home…"

"I know Youko jumped a lot of trees and kind of stranded you out here with him. Can you tell which way to get back home?"

"Hmm… give me a few minutes." Kagome kneels down, bringing her hands up in a praying motion and starts to mutter under her breath. Even with his strained demon hearing, Suichi is unable to make out whatever she is chanting. After a few minutes she gets up and points to a set of trees diagonally across from them. "That way."

"Alright." Suichi holds a hand out to her. "Shall we?"

"… Nani?" Kagome looks up at him confused.

"Incase something happens. I don't bite, I promise."

"…um…ok…" She takes his hand and they start walking back. After a short while Kagome notices that a path has been forming in front of them. "How are the plants moving?" Kagome asks out loud.

"I asked them to."

"…" Kagome stops walking, letting her hand fall. Suichi looks back at her questioningly.

"What's wrong?"

"You… you really are the same…" Realization hits her as she starts to freak out. "You really are a demon!"

"Kagome…" He reaches out to her gently.

"No!" A strange aura knocks him back. "I will not let this happen again!" She takes off running.

"Kagome!" Suichi calls after her. "Kagome!"

Kagome comes running out of the forest. She quickly rushes up to her room and locks the door behind her. Suichi reaches the house a few seconds later and reaches the top of the stairs in time to see her door slam shut. He carefully walks over and knocks gently on Kagome's bedroom door. "Kagome?"

"Go away!" The faint sound of crying can be heard coming from inside the room.

"Kagome please!"

"I will not go through that again! Now go away and leave me alone!" The sound of something hitting the door echoes through the air.

Suichi flinches slightly, turns and walks to his room. –She hates me.- After a couple of restless hours he finally drifts off to sleep. –I will not let it end like this.- Youko takes over and shifts forms, being careful not to wake Suichi. He carefully slips into Kagome's room. Everything is in ruin, books pulled off of shelves, notebooks torn apart, clothes thrown all over the place. He notices one book by itself, the object she threw at the door. He picks it up and opens it to find a photo album. But there's nothing normal about it. The first picture is a group photo and he recognizes the background as a clearing in his forest 500 years ago. –How in the hell?-

"…Inu…yasha…"

"Hmm?" Youko walks over to the bed to find Kagome tangled in blankets, tears streaming down her face, holding onto a picture frame with a death grip. He gently sits down on the bed next to her, pushing a few strands of hair out of her face. Her eyes open slightly and Youko freezes, unsure of what to do.

"…Inu…yasha…"

"Kagome?" Youko questions, confused.

"…Inu… yasha…" She reaches out to him, dropping the picture frame.

Youko quickly glances at the photo before it falls to the floor. –A hanyou?- He questions the dog demon with silver hair and ears. He flinches slightly, forgetting about Kagome until she grabs hold of his arm. He looks over into tear-filled, sleep-filled eyes. "Kagome?"

"Inu…yasha." She pulls him closer. "Inuyasha please don't leave me again." She cries, holding him close.

"…What happened?" Youko tries to gain information.

"You don't remember? You died. After our final battle against Naraku, right before he was purified into dust, he slashed you with a poisoned scythe. I tried to heal you, but you told me to just leave." She cries. "But I couldn't leave you!" She hugs him. "Please don't leave me again Inuyasha. It was so hard to watch you die in my arms, to watch as you were taken away."

"Kagome…" Youko hugs her in turn. "I will never let that happen again… I promise. Now go back to sleep." He lets her go and slowly gets up to leave.

"No!" Kagome grabs him, her arms around his neck, and pulls him back onto the bed. "Please, at least stay with me tonight."

"Kagome, I –"

"Please! I'm just asking for tonight! You can leave in the morning! Just please stay with me tonight!"

"…" –Suichi is going to freak out in the morning. But in her state of mind right now she thinks I'm a hanyou. She's broken and is asking for comfort. How can I say no to a cute face like that?- Youko looks over at Kagome to find her looking at him with big, pleading eyes. He sighs lightly before responding. "… Alright."

"Yes! Thank you!" She kisses him on the cheek stunning him and causing a light red line to appear across his face. Unsure of what to say to her, Youko just remains silent and lets her pull him back against a pillow. She throws a blanket over him before lying down beside him, making sure to hold onto him. "Good night, Inuyasha." Kagome is immediately asleep.

-Now what?- Youko tries to come up with something. –How do you tell a broken girl that you're not her dead lover and that you'd like to be her new lover without scaring her?- He falls asleep a few minutes later, still trying to think of something. The next morning Suichi stirs and opens his eyes to find himself in a different room. He feels a weight on his chest and looks down to find a sleeping Kagome holding onto him. –Youko…- There is no response from the fox. –Youko!- -What now Red?- -What the hell happened last night!? How did we get here!? And why are we in bed with Kagome!?- -Calm down Red, I only came here to check on her last night. She asked me to stay.- -I don't believe that! She was scared of us last night. She ran from us. Give me back control tight now.- -But Red!- Youko whines. –No.- Suichi shifts them back to human form. As soon as he does the door is kicked open.

"Kagome!" Corin walks in with a plate full of pancakes. "You have to eat pancakes with me!"

"..mm… huh?" Kagome stirs and slowly sits up.

"You how to eat pancakes with me –" He stops mid-sentence and points at Suichi. "… Why is he here?"

"…huh?" Kagome looks over to find Suichi sitting next to her. "… I have no idea?"

"Awkward…" The room falls silent for a few minutes before Corin speaks up again. "Hey how come you let him cuddle with you last night? I was sober. I told you that I wouldn't try anything."

"Corin, I don't remember letting him in here."

"So you let him sneak in and spend the night!? That's not fair!"

"Corin I -"

"And you." Corin turns to Suichi. "How dare you not ask me first. Don't you have any manners? Go back to your own room."

-Let me talk.- - no Youko.- -C'mon Red! He's trying to order us around!- - stay out of it Youko, this is all you're fault.- Suichi quietly leaves and goes back to his own room.

"Where are Nora and Shorin?" Kagome inquires, changing the subject.

"They're still knocked out from their battle last night." Corin answers, walking over to sit down on the bed. "They refuse to wake well up for breakfast. Now eat your pancakes." He sets a plate down in front of her and walks over to the door.

"Corin?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

He nods and walks down the hall. Some odd minutes later he knocks on Suichi's door and walks in. "Here's your pancakes."

"Thank you."

"I don't know what happened last night but if you hurt her I'll kill you. And if your demon friend kidnaps Kagome again, I'll make sure that it is the last time he sees her." Corin is very serious. "Keep that in mind."

"…" Suichi doesn't have time to respond as Corin walks out, leaving him with a plate of pancakes.

"Um… Suichi?" A soft voice reaches his ears from the doorway.

"Yes?" he looks up from his sketch book to find Kagome watching him intently. "Please come in. what can I help you with?"

"… About last night …"

"Yes?" He gently prods her.

"… How did you get in my room?"

"I went to make sure you were ok. You were crying and I wanted to make sure you weren't hurt."

"And how … did you end up in my bed?"

"You grabbed me."

"…oh… um… heh…" Kagome can't figure out what to say.

"You thought I looked like someone you knew."

"… You snuck into my room in your demon form!" Kagome turns to run but Suichi grabs hold of her hand.

"Kagome please! I only went in to check on you. I Switched forms because I didn't want to wake anyone up. I know what happened to Inuyasha. Last Night I promised you that I would never let that happen again."

"Inu…yasha…"