Happy New Year to all my fans! Thanks for sticking around another year!

Chapter Ten: Mitsue's The Word

Kagome folded her arms. A ward against the many eyes watching the exchange between Kurama and herself. "So you're Yoko Kurama's avatar?" Kagome commented as if the answer were obvious.

Kurama knelt on the mat she provided, miko energy twinning like a snake around his wrists. His eyes shone with the intelligence and mystery of a kitsune that had been to the abyss and back. "I am," he said.

"But you died," Kagome listened to Rin prod further. "What are you doing with a human body?"

He shook his head at the young demoness. "This is a merger, not a possession," he said. "Certain conditions must be met for my demon half to retain his true form."

Conditions?

Rin tilted her brow, glancing between Kurama and Kagome. "Like kissing Lady Mitsue?"

Kagome's cheeks burned. The hard press of Yoko's lips against Mitsue's had broken through her soul's darkness and pulled her to the forefront of his kiss.

Out of the tail of her eye, she caught Kurama's gaze as it trailed from her sandals to her green dress. She tugged at hem and hoped it came down centimeter or three.

He leaned back and lowered his voice. "Regrettably so."

"Regrettable my behind!" Kagome stalked forward, pausing to notch a fist at her hip. "Whose demon was slipping Mitsue tongue while he kissed?"

Kurama shrugged dismissively, "Whose demoness was clinging to me?" then cut Sesshomaru a sly glance. "Besides Mitsue is mine."

"She does not bear a mark," Sesshomaru said, "By demon law, Mitsue is free to mate as she chooses."

Celadon green eyes burned honey gold with his demon. "There's more than one way to claim a mate, Sess."

Kurama… The more the man divulged his past less she seemed to understand.

Massaging her temples, she stopped before the avatar and held up a hand for him to take a break.

"Okay, I get that your demon and Sesshomaru have history," she said. "But will someone please explain where I fit into all of this!"

She swore the longer she remained in a room with this fox, the more her inner demon screamed to purify his behind. From what Kagome could gather beforehand, Yoko had forced Mitsue to swallow Neguri Nectar–the Makai version of a sleeping pill. Sesshomaru caught the fox kidnapping a dozing Mitsue and everything went downhill from there.

Her blue eyes met Sesshomaru's liquid amber gaze. He was studying her face, watching for a reaction as he spoke. "Kagome, what do you remember of the fight with Inuyasha?"

Kagome moved away, jaw tightening. "He betrayed us," she answered quickly over her choking, beating heart. "Killed Sango, Miroku. All for the Shikon Jewel and his beloved Kikyo."

She bit her lip and swallowed the tears. Three years of longing Inuyasha had burned with the mark on her throat. A bruise–a reminder of her own obliviousness.

A hand cupped her head, rubbing gentle circles in her sable mane. She cast her gaze downward, welcoming the dark curtain of her bangs as she continued. "Inuyasha killed innocents, not just Sango and Miroku." She chuckled a hoarse sound that was bitter even to her ears. "Guess his death was a blessing?"

Kagome didn't look up. Didn't care for the pity she felt in the room's stares. Her love for Inuyasha had been girlish admiration. And a way to hold onto their friendship. She'd sensed the change in him. Noticed his restlessness when Kikyo was near. Burying the truth beneath her heart had become a simple way to keep smiling.

"Kagome…" Shippo wrapped small arms around her leg.

"I won't make excuses for Inuyasha's choice." She looked around at the room, blue eyes landing on Sesshomaru. "I only ask your forgiveness and a chance to make amends for my part."

Sesshomaru jabbed his fingers through his bangs as he watched Kagome pluck the kit from her body and sway out of the room.

She'd been ready to cry. Asking her to relive his brother's betrayal was a mistake. One he'd likely face punishment for later. But he had the information he needed.

Kagome was unaware of the past the demoness within held. For now, her ignorance was best.

He glanced at Kurama. "Do you still drink?"