ShadowKurayami: I love my reviewers. I am getting some great ideas, and in this chapter there are two very minor OC side characters. They do not have a major role, they are just kind of there to fill a plot for Sesshomaru and Kouga-since I dislike Kouga and Ayame together.

I would like to thank both Mistress of Darkness Katana, and KEdakumi for your help and ideas. You both have helped me out with ideas and ways to fix things, so thank you.


Starting: Kagome/Youko

Ending: Kuronue/Kagome/Kurama

The One Who Started It All

Chapter Nine

Fate's Disruption of the Reikai


Kagome was practically bouncing in her seat when Shizuru pulled the car up to a large business. Shizuru chuckled at the miko, even the kids were giggling at her.

The business was a law firm, she knew she vaguely recognized the name Matsuno before, he was a popular lawyer, but she had never really paid attention to his business, having been far too busy in the past to follow the cases.

Kagome held Shiori in her arms, holding Shippo's hand as Shizuru followed them inside. "Hello, I am here to see Taisho and Matsuno." Kagome said softly, glancing at the young woman running the front desk, she wasn't much older than Kagome was.

"Name and appointment time please?" She asked, opening a file on the computer.

"Higurashi, Kagome—"

"Oh! Higurashi-san! Go in! Just up the elevator to the fifth floor, take a right, and into the main office at the end of the hall. I'll let Matsuno-sama and Taisho-sama know you are here right away." The girl's more professional attitude left the moment she heard Kagome's name. Something of excitement and curiosity.

Shizuru raised an eyebrow at the service but shrugged. "Kagome, you go on, I'm going to go smoke while you have your chat with them. It seems it'll be too personal for me to be there when you see them again." Shizuru told the younger girl.

"Okay, we'll see you soon." She nodded to her before the family went into the elevator and up to the fifth floor. Kagome instantly smiled when they got into the office.

The miko could see how five hundred years could really change someone. She was looking over them all and they all have changed. Once the door was shut, their guises vanished. They didn't need to worry about any human eyes seeing them, the room had a charm on it.

Kouga's hair was cut, now it was down to the base of his neck, one of those hair styles that one shake of the head or run of his fingers and it was perfect. His hands were on the table, where Kagome could easily see the worn wedding ring on finger.

Sesshomaru hadn't changed too much, just simple changes when he was in his human guise. His once long hair was now cut to shoulder length. He also had a wedding band on his finger, better maintained than Kouga's wedding band.

"Whoa!" Shippo looked up at them, "You both look so different." Shippo was looking them over while Shiori observed from her spot in her mother's arms.

"Well, five hundred years and a mate do that to you." Kouga laughed, motioning for Kagome to take a seat across the desk.

She observed the surroundings, smiling lightly when she sat down, it was Sesshomaru's office. Clean, organized, everything had a place and was professional. Except one, it was a hinged picture frame.

"May I..?" She asked Sesshomaru, motioning to the frame, his eyes met hers before a brief nod.

She took it into her hands, it held two beautiful pictures. One of Rin, it was a sketch, and she could see the worn edges under the glass. She would be long gone by now… the second picture of a young woman, her hair was a gradient from a dark blue to soft, a blueish-off white tips, her eyes were both beautiful and frightening, they were so pale, basically an illuminating white, with just a hint of lavender. Her face… the soft smile reminded her of Rin, and it made her smile brightly.

"Is that your mate?" She asked, setting the frame back down.

"Yes, Kimiko of the Arsinoe House. A lightning elemental clan in the House of Moon Royal Court." He explained, taking a moment to reposition the picture.

"Yeah, Kimiko is really cool, for someone that was introduced to him by his mother. Rin loved her as much as she loved him." Kouga smiled, he had amended himself to the young girl when she was in her teenage years. One of his wolves remembered attacking her, and the sharp whine from the wolf in apology made him question them further.

"Oh! Here. You probably want to see my mate too." Kouga laughed and moved to pull out his wallet.

"Is it Ayame?" She couldn't help but question, then noticed Kouga blanch at the thought.

"She's mated to Ginta. It took her years to realize, I made that promise to calm down a pup. Not a woman. Even tried to challenge Yukitsuki when we were courting. Then she realized how sweet on her Ginta was. He treated her right."

Kagome looked at the picture, Kouga was extremely proud of his wife. In the picture was a woman with curly, nearly platinum blonde hair. Two different colored eyes, one blue and the other was a darker silver. What made Kagome really smile was the small child in her lap that looked like Kouga, but the small boy's hair was curly and his eyes were the same shade of blue as his mother's left eye.

"Kouga, why are her eyes like that?" Shippo looked up at the picture. He had never seen anyone with eyes like that before.

"Now a days it is said to be a genetic mutation." He shrugged. The kit nodded slowly, not understanding at all.

"What is your son's name?" Kagome smiled looking at the toddler's image before he put his wallet back in his pocket.

"Kiba, he is actually my youngest. It's been five hundred years, we've had quite a few pups over that time."

Sesshomaru sat up in his seat, "We should move on. We can finish catching up another time."

Kouga's eyes hardened slightly before nodding. "Yeah, Kagome. You've caught the attention of Reikai." He said.

"A few of our… spies in Reikai have noticed you and your pups on their radar. It is worrisome." Sesshomaru took over and looked at the miko. "Enma is willing to do anything and go through anyone to get to what he wants. And you not only still have the jewel, but you have two youkai children."

Kagome opened her mouth to explain her confusion, but was stopped.

"Enma is the Lord of Reikai and he hates Youkai. Utterly and completely, and wishes for our kind to be eliminated. Yet here, a miko, said to be the greatest destroyer of youkai, is harboring two beings she is supposed to hate."

Sesshomaru and the other had done everything in their power to keep the location and name of Kagome from getting to Reikai. For five hundred years they were doing very well, until an emotionally distraught miko returned home from losing a loved one.

"I-I'm sorry…" Kagome mumbled, looking down.

"Kagome, you are not in trouble. We are worried about your safety and the safety of your pups. He may try to use them against." Kouga said softly to the miko. "We are just warning you to be careful. Okay? We know you're friends with one of the Reikai Tentei, this Kuwabara, Kazuma, as well… Just keep on alert."

Kagome nodded slowly, pulling her children to her. She wouldn't let anyone harm her children if she could help it.

"This is our cell numbers, and as of next week, you shall work here under Yukitsuki and Kimiko, until your training for work is finished." Sesshomaru passed a business card, two numbers written on the back.

Sesshomaru would always take care of his pack, and it may have taken him a bit longer then he hoped, but Kagome and Inuyasha were his pack. He would have a business accounting card sent to her, for her personal use. "We will also need your current address, since you are no longer with your mother."

Kagome was hesitant, but nodded, Sesshomaru and Kouga were both honorable men, writing down her home address and her cell number onto a slip of paper that was passed to her.


Kagome quietly met Shizuru outside the building, she was a lot more relaxed since she smoked. The children nuzzled into their mother until Kagome unknowingly purified the scent of the toxic smoke.

"Kuronue-ji-san..?" Shiori was quietly speaking with the sealed bandit.

"I'm here little one, what is on your mind?"

"What is Reikai? And why would they try to hurt Kaa-san, Shippo, or me?" She was actually a bit afraid.

"Reikai is the Spirit world, ran by a moron that calls himself Enma-sama. Little one… should anything happen, you run. You make a barrier, and you run. Try to get to the inu or Ookami… Enma hates youkai and hanyou alike Shiori. He will try to kill you or use you against Kagome if he gets the chance." Kuronue warned.

He knew Reikai were searching for his soul, and he was nearly strong enough. Shiori and Kagome, and Youko when he held the amulet, had fed the jewel their energy unknowingly. Kagome's miko powers and Shiori's bloodline were a literal jumpstart to his energy. What would take taken years, only needs to take a few months.

He may not have been happy with Youko's choice of taking a new lover, even if the girl was oblivious to what the rose represented. Youko did have good taste.

"Little one… you and Shippo need to help the miko find Youko if he is truly back. He is the only one who knows more about Reikai then me." Youko had set up many thefts from the Reikai vault, the kitsune knew that realm very well, for someone of the living.

Shiori nodded slowly, she just didn't know where to start looking. There were so many people in this city… as far as she knew, Youko could be in a place Kagome called America.

"How would I know where to look for him?" She asked softly.

Kuronue chuckled deeply, "Youko likes to show off… so unusual looking humans."

Shiori thought about it for a moment, she noticed everyone remained normal looking, even the dyed multicolored hair she saw, and her nose could pick up the chemical scent in their hair.

"There was this guy Kaa-san met… He helped me with my shoe. He kind of looked like an older version of Shippo. Red hair… green eyes." Shiori told him.

"Sounds worth checking out." Kuronue said, he hadn't been around to see it, and he wasn't going to go through her memories while she was awake, it could lead to a headache or nausea.

It was a downside. A living and awake conscious would always fight an extra force probing at memories unless there was an amplified power or force to it like a Jagan eye or being a telepath.


Kagome and Shizuru were nearly home, the two children secure in the back seat of the car.

"Kagome, Kazuma is having some friends over for dinner tonight. Do you want to join?" The older brunette asked as they pulled into the assigned parking space at their apartment building.

"Sure, why not? Though, if that blue haired girl is there… I won't promise to be nice. She had no right to say that to Kazuma." Kagome said.

She had told Shizuru what had happened in the morning, Shizuru had explained that the girl's name was Botan, and that like Yusuke, she demeaned Kazuma. Except, Yusuke did it in a manner, while very crude, it made Kazuma stronger and they were friends and rivals. The way she described it reminded Kagome of Kouga and Inuyasha when they were in the past.

"I'll keep my cool, unless she starts anything." Kagome mumbled, as the two of them grabbed the kids, and some groceries they got after leaving the law firm.

Shizuru smirked, watching how Shippo and Shiori grabbed bags to help. "Oh, Hiei is coming as well. And I will warn you now, that he will often insult Kazuma, but is otherwise quiet. Kazuma often teases him about his height, and… well, Kazuma's crush is Hiei's younger sister."

Everyone that knew Yukina, even Kazuma, knew that she was Hiei's sister. They shared many small features, that was hard to see at first, but was eventually noticed.

Kazuma knew it wasn't in his right to tell Yukina, but he wanted to because it was the only thing Yukina ever asked him to help her with… and it killed him inside to hide that Hiei was her brother.

Kagome nodded, "Alright. That's different. That is just a typical protective brother thing." She smiled lightly, because this Hiei was so protective meant that Yukina must be serious about liking Kazuma.


Up in Shizuru's apartment the women were starting dinner, while the kids sat at the table coloring, talking lowly so Kagome wouldn't hear them.

"We need to find Youko… for Kaa-san. Kuronue-ji-san says that he knows a lot about Reikai… He could help Kaa-san." Shiori whispered to her brother.

"I'll bet. Youko is the greatest thief ever." He wanted to yell the statement, but they had to be careful. They didn't want Kagome to know just yet.

Kagome never wanted them to worry about danger, she wanted them to enjoy a childhood, despite the light training, they were kids and she let them be kids.

"She's done so much for us." Shiori whispered, "She deserves this." Kagome never had to take them in, either of them… but she did. Now they were a family.

"Does Kuronue have any ideas about where he'd be?" Shippo murmured to his sister.

"We should check out the red haired guy that got my shoe. Ji-san said that he'd look unusual for a human. And he didn't smell of the chemical most people did. He smelt… like people back where we're from."

Humans back then used only products they made by hand, nothing had chemicals back then. Kagome had gone so far as to pay more money for the natural made supplies for the children and herself, because she knew that smell bothered them. So, it was unusual to find someone who didn't smell like any chemicals on their person. Even Kagome fumbled a bit when she used her favorite lotion every now and then.

Shippo nodded and glanced over at Kagome who was chopping some vegetables, while Shizuru set up some sliced fruit in a bowl for the kids.

Shizuru could almost see the wheels turning in their heads. They were possibly planning a prank on Kazuma.


When Kazuma came home, he was laughing with Yusuke, the two got into a battle at the arcade after their small mission. There had been a low level youkai in the area.

"Kazuma!" Shiori ran up to greet the large man, she really liked Kazuma's company. He was funny and he made her feel safe.

The large man smiled and lifted up the girl, "Hey there Shiori. I want you to meet my friends."

She glanced behind him, feeling the strong Youki behind him. Her face was pressed into his broad shoulder, peeking back at them. She saw a hanyou, it made her very curious, a youkai, the red headed male she met once before, and two women… one with a kind smile and a youkai, the other had pink eyes… Shiori couldn't tell what she was.

"These are my friends. Yusuke." The hanyou, "…Hiei..." The youkai, "Botan." The pink eyed woman, "Kur-.."

"Shuichi." Kurama corrected Kazuma before offering a smile at the small girl. Shiori nodded slowly to him.

"And, this is my lovely Yukina." Kazuma smiled, motioning to the now blushing female youkai. It made Shiori grin.

"You are very pretty Yukina." Shiori said softly, this made Yukina blush more.

Kagome was watching from the kitchen, "I have to agree." Kagome spoke up, watching as Shippo went to see the large male and his friends.

As the greetings continued, Kagome relaxed, it was nice being able to meet Yukina. Kagome spent her time around the teal haired youkai and Shizuru. She did smile at the sight of Kurama, thanking him again for helping Shiori with her shoe last time they met.

Only a few people noticed Botan narrow her eyes at Shiori when she caught a glimpse of the amulet around her neck. She could feel a soul inside it, she needed to speak to Koenma and his father about this.


Dinner was simple, but it was nice. Kagome sat down after dinner to watch the kids play with Kazuma and Yusuke, while Shiori attached to Yukina almost as quickly as she attached to Kagome.

Kagome could see how sweet Yukina was, and she was very happy that Kazuma had her in his life.

Shizuru sat on the couch, watching everyone like Hiei was from his seat at the window.

Shippo had disappeared from playing with the guys momentarily before walking up to Kurama, the older red head blinked looking at the child.

Shippo was looking him over, taking in his scent before a smirk graces the child's lips.

"Do not let him tell her Red!" Youko yelled inside Kurama's mind, he instantly recognized the smirk.

Kurama leaned down, "You can't tell her… not yet Shippo." He murmured quietly. His green eyes looked down into Shippo's.

The kit was very confused, "But… why? Kaa-san is still sad… and now with Sesshomaru and Kouga saying Reikai is trying to track her down…" Shippo mumbled.

The kit's words caught the attention of everyone in the room with sensitive hearing. Hiei narrowed his eyes at the Kurama, wanting an explanation. Yukina glanced at Kagome, she could feel the raven haired girl's power. Yusuke had to bite down on the inside of his cheek to keep from saying something out loud.

No one in the group truly trusted Reikai, they all knew that nearly everyone in Reikai was willing to step on anyone or cut their throats to get what they want.

Kurama glanced over at Kagome, he knew just how powerful she was as a miko from Youko's memories. If Reikai took a miko onto their team… Enma's desire to get rid of youkai could become a reality… especially if they took the children as leverage.

Kagome had said her goodbyes at eight, she needed to get the kids to take a bath then to bed. Botan left soon after, saying she needed to see Koenma about something. That was when the real conversation started.


"Okay, spill it Kurama, how did the kid know you?" Yusuke was very brash, and to the point.

Kurama just sighed, "Not me specifically. He knows Youko. All three of them do." He could feel a headache coming on from all the information and surprises today. "Apparently, Kagome traveled through time using the bone-eater's well. She met Youko a few years after Kuronue died, and all three of them were there when he died… Shiori, the little hanyou, is Kuronue's niece, and Shippo is Kagome's adopted kit."

Kazuma was quiet for a little while. "He isn't lying. A youkai dragged Kagome through the well on her family's property on her fifteenth birthday. I think she said it was a centipede youkai."

Yukina shuddered at the thought, "Those… creatures are disgusting…" She said softly. "They can be larger than those metal carriers for humans. The ones that run on tracks. They have a human upper body and a centipede lower body."

Kazuma grimaced slightly at the thought of it, and that was Kagome's first youkai.

Kurama was silent for a moment, "She is the Shikon no Miko." He said softly. "Youko said she probably destroyed the jewel though."

"She didn't. It would have been a selfish wish. So it went back into her body." Shizuru said this time, she put in the words before anyone could say anything else.

"What is the Shikon no Miko?" Yusuke asked. Kazuma sighed, he knew the story because of Kagome's grandfather.

"It is a jewel that can grant any wish, and give ultimate power." Hiei said, his voice was strained with anger. Reikai would know this, it would know if the jewel was gone or not.

"If it is so powerful, why didn't she wish it away?" Yusuke's brown eyes glanced around the room, only to get a dark look from Kazuma and Shizuru. Kagome explained everything about the jewel to them.

"Inside the jewel are the souls of a powerful miko and the youkai of the demons that tried to devour her. The jewel took place of her heart, and had so much power from all the souls trapped… but it was one miko against many youkai."

"Kagome was pulled into the jewel once it was finished… Midoriko, the miko… She became tainted herself. Only then could a pure miko keep it safe and untainted, but there is no such thing as a pure wish. So anyone that would use it would listen to the whispers of the youkai and the dark miko… until they made such a selfish wish that it could cause destruction." Kazuma explained. Kagome had been terrified when she described the once beautiful, pure miko as the tainted woman she saw.

"Kagome has to protect it the rest of her life and be burned with it after she dies, but even then, there is no certainty that it won't be reborn inside an untrained unknowing miko again." Shizuru said, pulling out a cigarette from her pack.

"So… What do we do then..?" Yukina asked softly.

"Keep her away from anything to do with Reikai… Botan included. She may be our friend, but she has worked with Reikai longer than most of us have been alive. Her loyalties lie with them." Kurama spoke.


ShadowKurayami: So the kids now know where Youko is, and Reikai has big plans for our favorite Miko.

Kurama isn't ready to introduce himself as he is to her just yet.

And Kuronue will be making an appearance soon.

Questions, comments, or concerns? PM or review.