Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. Each series, and respective characters of those series belong to their owners. I make no profit from the making of this fanfiction.
Searching for Shelter
Chapter 10
Shelter from Betrayal
"Your team is neglecting their duties." Sesshoumaru boomed rather darkly as even his prized momo-no-ka stood on end. His pristine hair seemed to glow with his anger as he looked at Koenma from the other side of the Reikai ruler's desk.
Koenma's office crackled with the unleashed energy that normally remained hidden within the powerful Taiyoukai, but today, it was anything but calm or collected. Just the day before he had seen Kagome at her lowest, without her being dead and now he was taking matters into his own hands. Koenma was trying not to shake in his booties but was having a difficult time of it. He never expected the Taiyoukai to take such an interest in the miko's welfare, but here he was, and now, the leader of the Spirit Realm had to address the issues that had been so forcefully brought to his attention. He hadn't been aware of his team's movements as of late because he had very little in the way of missions for them. Hiei had taken care of a few minor problems in the Makai because he was the fastest and it had little to do with negotiation and much to do with assassination—the hiyoukai's forte. He figured that until a problem arose, or Kagome was attacked or compromised, that he would let things go as they would. Besides, Genkai was teaching her about her powers and from what limited reports he had gotten about the situation, she was progressing quickly in her studies—therefore, he didn't have to worry about it until there was a problem. Apparently, his team not being there was a problem, not to him, but to Sesshoumaru, and whatever bothered Sesshoumaru, bothered him.
"I've had Hiei busy on missions for the good of the Ningenkai. The rest of the team has lives they wish to maintain. I can't force them to be with Kagome 24-7." He pleaded in his softest negotiation voice. The kind of voice you used for jumpers and people with guns at other people's heads. Ironic, that he thought of a gun at his head—Sesshoumaru certainly put the fear of God into him. "She is safe at Genkai's. There is little that can get to her there, and the team is close enough that if something happens, they can be on the scene nearly immediately."
"Nearly immediately is not good enough. Do you even realize what it is she carries? Do you fully comprehend what it is the jewel can do if put into the wrong hands?" Sesshoumaru shouted, his control snapping much as it had when he had been confronted by Inuyasha and his obvious contempt for the young miko. "I spent years looking over the shoulder of my lands because mere fragments of the jewel wreaked havoc and mayhem across Japan—demons who were weak, humans that had no special talents but to draw became weapons of destruction overnight. Do you want demons like Naraku running around in the human realm? Or another Toguro, a human with the power of God's and the moral compass of the devil creating his own realm—while he carves it out in the flesh and blood of humans and demons alike?" He had mentioned Toguro because he knew of the being, and the problems caused in both the Ningenkai and Makai by his existence. The Dark Tournament and the implications that a once human could become so terrifyingly powerful disturbed him. Humans were the weaker race, so seeing humans, any humans, with such strength were beings to fear. If there was one, there could be more. His own wariness was not unfounded. He knew of the fear the Reikai had of that particular being as well. "The jewel can create such beings. "He continued. "The jewel can grant the impossible. It is dangerous—it can give power, but the price for that power is heavy. Not everyone, however," his voice calmed just a fraction as it lowered to a darker, chilling tone, "is afraid to pay that price."
Koenma's eyes widened a few notches. If he hadn't been nearly trembling before with the Taiyoukai's mere presence in his office, he was now. It was nearly unnoticeable except for the fine tremors that scooted along his uniform. He had been alive for a long time, but not all of that time had he been leader of the Spirit Realm. His father had run things, and perhaps, that was the reason that things were so chaotic centuries ago. He wasn't a being that feared or avoided conflicts, or death. He didn't think much of human or demon life. If the humans wanted to war with one another, so be it. If the demons wanted to slay humans on principle, more power to them. It was a time of demon-slayers and miko's. He didn't interfere because other Gods were handling it just fine, what with the creations of monks, mikos, and slayers. Let humans handle the human problems that existed in the Ningenkai—it was not his problem. If someone got too out of hand, then he would deal with it—until then, he was content to watch and be amused at the weakness and stupidity of creation. It was just after he had handed the reins of power over to Koenma that the barrier was created, and something akin to civilized peace began in the Ningenkai. Besides a couple of world wars, and squabbles between humans themselves, humanity had grown both technologically and socially. Perhaps it was more the influence of a ruler who valued peace more than he valued bloodshed and destruction. The fact that he was unaware of what price was paid because of the Shikon no Tama was just another tidbit of information that proved there was a time before Koenma, and time after—both were vastly different for many reasons, reasons he hadn't explored or thought about since his induction to position of leader of the Spirit Realm.
"What would you like me to do, Lord Sesshoumaru?" he questioned, his voice rather steady considering the inner turmoil he was dealing with. He could call his team up and order them surveillance on Kagome permanently, but there were still other matters that cropped up, and his team was the better part of valor when it came to dealing with problems that could potentially affect the Ningenkai. His father's SDF was not a team he wanted to deal with on a permanent basis, and if his team was indisposed of, then he would have to resort to dealing with the resources that were available to him—he really, really didn't want to deal with the SDF, in any capacity. "I need my detectives. They listen to me, and they have the expertise and judgment to handle most situations that could affect the human realm. They are strong, and they work together with few problems. My father's forces aren't nearly so easy to deal with. I'm afraid that if I began to use them, my father would get curious and then all hell would break loose. He was in charge at the time Naraku existed. He lets me keep my team together only on patience and results. If suddenly they weren't useful, or at least, not doing cases, and killing rogue demons, then he might disband them, permanently. I couldn't do that. I can't go back to the way things were when my father was in charge of the realms. It would be…" he paused, trying to think of the proper term. Finally he just settled for the truth, "…disastrous."
Sesshoumaru fought back the urge to growl. This was politics at its finest and he couldn't exactly argue with the demi-god in front of him. He was right. There was terrible information available about the infamous SDF and the leash that was nearly non-existent within the group. King Enma expected results and didn't care what carnage or chaos had to be done to get the results he desired. It was a fine line to walk. Even he, leader of the West of the Makai, would rather have the team of detectives that Koenma chose over the almost renegade SDF under Enma's thumb. "I know." He stated quietly, his temper reigned in at least for the moment. He wanted a solution but he wasn't sure how to come about with one without the three realms going to wrack and ruin. Koenma took the silence for the blessing that it was and didn't interrupt it. He realized the position the both of them were put in, and he knew that perhaps he hadn't taken this case as seriously as he should have. Oh, he helped bring the girl back to life, and he helped her get a tutor that could teach her about her powers, but he didn't fully realize what it was she guarded, and the power struggle that still hung in the balance because of that object. So far it didn't seem like there was trouble brewing, but he knew it would only take one demon, one A or S class demon to find out that the jewel was not just a myth for all hell to break loose. His team, powerful in their own right, could take on such a threat, but he knew that if a true A or S class demon took on his team, it would not be taking them on alone. The terror of the Chapter Black followers were proof of that. "I wish to speak with them…your team. I realize that they cannot be watching over Kagome all of the time, but maybe a schedule of some sort could be arranged. I can also bring in some of my own trusted guards to help watch over her. Is this acceptable?" he offered, his golden eyes lifting to meet with Koenma's.
The toddler ruler looked stunned at the suggestion before he nodded and offered, "That's fine. I'll call in some of the other demons that have been helpful to the team in the past. I'm sure they wouldn't mind helping out if they were informed of what was going on." He didn't like the idea of telling others what Kagome held, or what the situation was, but he couldn't think of anything else to do to help, and he felt obligated to over-do himself in this area. His guilty conscience was kicking in because he had ignored the depth of this case in favor of the simple and easy road. He didn't appreciate the danger that Kagome brought with her, nor did he appreciate the dangers that lurked just outside of the Ningenkai. He had been working for centuries as the leader of the Reikai, but he still didn't fully appreciate the dangers that demons had to humans, any humans, by just existing. Perhaps if he had experienced life as Kagome had in the past, he would understand more fully, but since he hadn't, and his father hadn't explained it to him, then he was young in that aspect of his life.
Sesshoumaru lifted an eyebrow before he nodded once to accept the offer. He didn't realize there were others they could call on to help protect Kagome, but now that he knew that there were, he wasn't above pulling together strangers to help keep her safe. She was one of the most fragile, and most important beings that he knew, and he would do everything in his power to help protect her. After all, she had done nothing less than that when it was his lands, and his life, on the line in the past. Even though their initial meeting was rocky, she put her life on the line to protect his sibling, and though it was coincidental, she had also defeated, nay, destroyed Naraku. That was not an easy thing to do in and of itself. In a turn of phrase, he owed her, and yet, he felt more than just a small obligation towards her. She had given him emotion and strength in that emotion. What was once forbidden for him to experience, he now had freely. Granted, he didn't express himself as if he were a human, but he could show compassion to his kit, his kingdom, just as easily as he could show anger and displeasure. Before her he could do neither. Rin had a lot to do with the change of his mental self, but Shippou helped, and he had Kagome to thank for that.
"That is acceptable." He finally said before he leaned back and got ready to leave to head back to the human realm. "If you would contact your team, I will meet them at the temple." He said, and then, just as rapidly as he entered Koenma's office, he had turned and left, leaving a bewildered, and scared, ruler in his wake. Koenma hadn't understood, not completely. Even now, he was unaware of the fears and thoughts privy to only the Taiyoukai, but he didn't doubt that the leader of the West had experienced the dangers for himself. What had he lost to Naraku? What had he seen to put him on full alert where Kagome was concerned? He had no idea, and though curiosity ate at him, he wasn't sure he wanted to know what things were bad enough to scare the "Killing Perfection". With that final thought he picked up the small communicator on his desk and began to contact his team one at a time.
It was late morning, almost lunch time at the temple and Kagome was rejuvenated as she trained with Genkai. The elderly woman was surprised at what just a good night's sleep and a full stomach could do to the concentration of her newest pupil. She was able to sit still, and pull her powers around her almost like a blanket, before she spread them out like a rainstorm that gently covered everything a drop at a time. Perhaps the analogies were a by-product of talking with Kagome. Her own attempts at describing her power and its abilities often went over the young woman's head, but Kagome could usually counter and come up with a suitable mental image that helped her manipulate the power at the tips of her fingers.
"You're doing well this morning, Kagome." She said, earning a bashful look from the raven haired miko before she replied, "Thanks." The compliment was uncommon and she savored it for the rarity it was.
"Pull your power back, and we'll go in for lunch." She instructed and with a warm smile Kagome nodded and began the process of drawing back all of that explosive power that seemed to saturate even the air around her. It was a difficult process. Sometimes it felt like her small, human body couldn't hold such power and when she thought that, somehow, it felt like a hole of some sort opened up within her and suddenly, it felt like all that power fit—like a hand into a glove. With a deep breath, she opened her eyes and grinned, happy that at least this small thing went right.
Genkai stood and made her way towards the door and Kagome quickly followed, finding herself absolutely famished even though she ate a hearty breakfast this morning. Perhaps it was her body yelling at her that she hadn't been eating enough but for whatever reason, her stomach was growling and she was looking forward to whatever lunch Yukina had made for them. She briefly wondered if Hiei would be around for the midday meal but she didn't hold her breath. He was like a storm; unpredictable at even the best of times. Sometimes he brought only rain, but sometimes it was destructive winds and tornados. He was an enigma to her. She knew little about him, but whenever she exited the training building she couldn't help but look for him. His presence stood out like a beacon and her eyes followed the invisible thread that directed her to him and his distinct power. A small smile lit up her features as she found him sitting high in one of the trees neighboring the training room and for a moment, she didn't move from her spot. The hiyoukai didn't miss her presence either as he looked back down at her completing the current of invisible energy that flowed between them. A lesser being would have called it sexual tension but it wasn't even close to that. So many other emotions existed between them but that sort of tension didn't exist, at least, not yet. Their own personalities were so explosive that it wasn't an impossibility but for now it was just a mutual understanding between the two of them. He would watch over her, and protect her, and she would show him kindness and compassion. Kagome refrained from waving at him as she finally broke that connection and stepped down from the room and walked across the cool grass towards the main house where lunch would be waiting for whomever happened to be around to partake in it. She couldn't help the growing smile when she felt his presence move in behind her. It looked like today he would be one of the partakers.
Both walked in behind Genkai and they let the door shut behind them as each headed into the kitchen area. Yukina was there, looking over a stew that was bubbling on the stove. There were all kinds of vegetables and even a large stack of sandwiches on a plate on the counter. Kagome frowned in confusion before she glanced up at the koorime. Hiei had made himself comfortable against a wall next to the opening to the kitchen, belying his own curiosity at the sheer amount of food being made. "Are we having a party or something, Yukina? It looks like you're cooking enough for an army." She joked, as she smiled and took a seat on one of the barstools that sat around the prep table.
"Lord Koenma said that everyone is coming over to meet with Lord Sesshoumaru." She answered, with confusion on her own features. She assumed that Kagome of all people would have already known about the meeting but the young miko's ashen face proved that she did not know about it and she was not looking forward to whatever would be said. If Sesshoumaru ordered a meeting between himself and the detectives then he was either incredibly pissed about something, or he had news that they needed to know. Kagome didn't know which would be better.
She turned around and met Hiei's crimson eyes as she asked softly, "Did you know about this?" The hiyoukai was silent a moment as he took in her pale features. She had looked fine just a few moments before and that worried him that just the news that Sesshoumaru wanted to meet with them had her so shaken. With a nod, he watched her face fall before her hands came together in earnest worry and uncertainty. He had gotten good at learning what her mannerisms and movements meant, but what he was seeing in her wasn't exactly comforting.
"Do you know what he wants to speak with us about?" Hiei broke the silence as he looked at the growingly distraught miko.
She shook her head as she bit her lower lip, before saying in an uncertain voice, "He did say something about me learning from you guys. Maybe he wants to set up some sort of training for me?" she suggested, earning a glance from the hiyoukai. He'd listened in on her conversation with the Taiyoukai the day before and it made sense, but her uneasiness wasn't easing the tension in the air. She was afraid, worried about what was coming. He didn't understand and he didn't like her so stressed. It turned her normally calm and pleasing scent into something he didn't recognize.
"If that is the reason then why you so upset, Kagome?" Yukina asked softly as she came around the table to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. Hiei looked from Kagome to his sister as she spoke and it was a valid question, one that he might not have asked himself even if the thought came to him.
A momentary pride swelled in his chest before he looked back to Kagome as she answered, "I don't want him to force them to come to my side, or teach me, or anything. If they don't want to be here of their own will I don't want to force them here. Inuyasha…" her voice caught as she said his name but before it could stop her she barreled on with her thought. "…Inuyasha left us so often to go to Kikyou. He felt an obligation to her, so much so that even we, me and my friends, took a backseat to her. If I'm not friend enough to be a priority, then, I don't want to force them to be here." Her expression broke as she hung her head and let the dark bangs of her hair cover her face, hiding the uncertainty and the fear behind those thick locks as she finally said, "I don't want to be an obligation."
Yukina's own expression softened as she looked with saddened eyes to Hiei, willing him to do something to help. Hiei didn't know himself how to reassure her that she was enough as she was to warrant their attention but it was only with his sister's unspoken prompting that he managed to figure out something to say. "Kurama's been here. He comes every night to check on you and the grounds." He hated bringing the kitsune's name into the conversation but it was true, after all. Of all the detectives, he trusted the fox over anyone else and that was mostly because of their past together. He knew that the human part of Kurama cared for Kagome as a friend. He didn't know how Youko felt about her but as far as he needed to know that as long as the ancient spirit was neutral then that was all he could ask.
That one statement had her looking up and he breathed a mental sigh of relief when knowledge dawned on her and she seemed to shake away at least a little of her uneasiness. "Y…you're right." Her expression seemed to take on a little shame as she stepped forward from Yukina's touch and reached out towards him. Pure shock froze him in place as she touched his crossed arms with her soft hand. "You've been here, too. I'm sorry I said that." He at least thought something of her or he wouldn't have been there. Nothing, not even Koenma's orders would have kept him there if he didn't feel at least a small want to help keep her safe. She was not just an obligation to him, and that meant something to her messed up psyche. "Thank you, for being here."
Hiei stood there in slight shock though his exterior belied his interior thoughts as he nodded lightly, not saying anything else for fear of breaking that faith she seemed to have in him. Her hand was gentle, warm, and was unlike anything else he'd ever experienced. No one touched him willingly, not even Yukina on most occasions. He was touched to be healed, and when he was being attacked, and little else. She touched him because he was there for her, even if he himself didn't realize what his existence there meant; to him, or to her. She recognized that he could have abandoned her, and yet he stayed near her even if he had to leave for periods of time, he came back to the shrine to look after her.
At that nod, she squeezed his arm lightly before she pulled her hand back and turned back to look at Yukina. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she offered, pulling her uncertainty around her much like her power. She could handle whatever life threw at her; she just had to be calm and she had to be strong.
Both siblings stayed quiet a moment before the koorime finally gave a small smile and said, "Don't worry about it. You and Hiei go rest in the living room and I'll finish up in here. They should be here soon." And with that said, she turned back to go to the stew cooking and Kagome let out a shaky breath only to hear the doorbell ring. She turned with uneasy eyes to look back at Hiei before she seemed to gather on some invisible strength and she moved through the doorway towards the front door to open it. Hiei followed her silently and made himself comfortable in the living room; far enough away to create the illusion that he wasn't stalking her and yet close enough to hear who it was at the door. Kagome turned the handle and opened it to find Kurama on the other side. He was early, though that wasn't exactly surprising seeing who it was. She smiled warmly as her eyes lifted to meet with the emerald green of the kitsune. "Hi." She said softly as her heart seemed to lighten even further at the sight of him. The familiar fox aura touched her own and reminded her of her own kit and of days long gone in the past. Though he was gorgeous, it was the familiar air that he carried around him that made her more comfortable.
"Good afternoon, Kagome." he replied, as he saw her smile and relaxed demeanor. It had been three torturous weeks since he'd really gotten to talk to her. His own missions and life kept him busy during the days and nights was the only time he had to come and check in on the shrine and her. He had noticed her deteriorating healthcare but he wasn't sure what to say to bring her out of her depression and Youko wasn't exactly helpful in that department. He didn't think much of the human girl yet, and he didn't know if anything would really spark his interest with her. So few beings got the kitsune's attention, but the girl before him had at least one thing going for her in the eyes of the fox: she didn't fear him.
There was a quiet silence between them before Kurama's eyes shot up in confusion and uncertainty when she reached out her hand to place on his arm. Her thin, small hand wrapped around his lower arm, and though there was no strength there, he wasn't sure how to react to her movement. "Kagome?" he questioned before he saw her shake her head. Quietly he placed his hand over hers on his arm as he looked into her almost tormented sapphire eyes.
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry. I haven't been able to thank you for checking up on me, for coming here when you didn't have to." Her hand tightened lightly on his arm before her eyes gentled and she seemed almost embarrassed about the way she'd gone about thanking him.
"You're my friend. Of course I would come check up on you." He replied easily, though his hand tightened lightly on her own, as he marveled at the soft feel of her skin underneath his own. The thought was fleeting but even Youko perked up at her apology, and then at her thanks. He wasn't sure what had brought this on, but he didn't question it. The easing of her expression and her softened eyes was enough to reassure himself that there was nothing more wrong than her own inner guilt at him being there. He didn't like her feeling guilty about him being there to look after her, but he was sure that it would pass if she could just see him as a friend and not someone that was obligated to be there. He wondered what had happened for her to react this way towards just seeing him. It was a question that was answered by Hiei in his own way when he said mentally, "Stay for the show fox, and you'll find out."
Confusion spread through his mind before he was interrupted by Kagome's voice again.
"I know, but…I'm still really…" her voice faltered before she shook her head and she pulled on his arm a little to draw him inside. "…nevermind. Come on inside. Yukina's making lunch for all of us." She said with a warmer smile on her lips as she closed the door behind him.
He almost wanted to ask her what she was going to say but he refrained as he gave her a small smile back and said, "I can smell her famous stew. Where is Hiei?" he questioned, knowing that if anyone knew the hiyoukai's whereabouts, she would. After all, she lived on the shrine grounds now.
"He's in the living room. The food's not quiet done so Yukina told us to wait while she finished it and we're waiting for everyone else to get here…" she trailed off as she moved towards the living room and as she entered she glanced to her side to see Hiei. He was glad to see her a little more relaxed than she had been but he didn't know what to think about it. Did the kitsune do that or was she just walking through her own inner maze of feelings and calming herself down? For some reason, thinking that the kitsune was able to calm her down irritated him though he would never speak the thoughts aloud.
"Hiei." Kurama greeted as he walked into the living room behind Kagome. As she took a seat on the couch, so did he and he managed to stuff down a moment of uncomfortable silence that moved around them. Kagome was projecting her feelings far more than he'd ever seen her before and that bothered him—not the act itself, but the fact that she was uneasy. "Do either of you know why we're meeting with Sesshoumaru?" he questioned, as he glanced between the two of them. Even Hiei looked uneasy or irritated for some reason and that just made the tension in the room raise to new levels. If he knew why, maybe he could ease some of the uneasiness, if not, well then, there had better be a damn good reason why the nearly unruffled Hiei was upset. Kagome was human, and thus more susceptible to emotions, Hiei was not. He'd never known the hiyoukai to be on edge without good reason, thus, his own growing unease.
Again, the two others in the room locked eyes before Kagome turned her head towards the kitsune and she smiled weakly. "I think it might be because Sesshoumaru wants me to learn from you guys, something besides energy manipulation. Genkai's a fighter, but I think he wants me to learn from what he deems 'experts' in the field." She said, with her uneasy smile turning into a wry one.
Kurama lifted an eye in curiosity as he said, "I didn't know you were interested in our individual talents."
Kagome's smile turned again, into something bashful as she said, "I wasn't really, but Sesshoumaru is right. If I can learn more than just about my own energy, if I can learn to fight on my own, that would be better than being protected all the time. If for some reason I'm out alone, I need to be able to learn how to fight, or at least protect myself until help can come. Besides, I have all this power, but all I've been doing is learning how to tap into it, and make it move how I want it to. I'm sure it can purify, and I can charge arrows with it, and I can heal, but I don't know what else it can do. If I learn to fight with a sword, or learn how to nurture plants like Kaede used to do, I might learn what else I can do with my energies."
She asked him with her eyes if he understood what she was saying and he said with a growing smile and a growing admiration for her, "I see. Well, I'm at your disposal, Kagome. If you want to learn about plants and manipulating energy to care for them, and perhaps grow them yourself, then I believe I can help you." He was grinning when he finished that. He was the best, after all, as Youko so pointedly said in his mind. Hiei didn't like the idea of her spending one-on-one time with the kitsune but there was little he could say about it, not that he would in the first place. He also had to agree with Sesshoumaru.
"Thanks." She replied before she heard the door slam open and she jumped at the sound but when she saw that Hiei and Kurama didn't move she assumed it was someone they knew.
At Yusuke's shout of, "Grandma!" she swallowed lightly and leaned back further into the couch. It was at the unfamiliar sound of a girl's voice saying, "This is ridiculous, you shouldn't have to protect her all the time, and we shouldn't even be here at all. Let Hiei or Kurama take care of this. Even Kuwabara could handle it. He's strong enough to handle watching over some girl. Besides, he likes Yukina, it would give them some more time together." That drew her forward, but only so she could hide behind Kurama. She felt stupid huddling behind his larger figure but she didn't know the girl's voice and she didn't want to fight about having Yusuke here if he had someone who didn't want him there to begin with.
"Just shut up, Keiko! I'll handle this. Besides, it was Sesshoumaru who wanted to meet here. It could mean that something's happened in the Makai." Yusuke bit back harshly. Kagome nibbled on her lower lip as she looked quickly to Hiei who was looking nearly livid in his corner of the room. His eyes were rimming with red and she didn't know who he was mad at so she couldn't stop the thrill of fear and the increasing uncertainty that raced through her.
"You promised me! You promised me that you wouldn't take on any other dangerous missions, Yusuke!" the girl shouted, as they finally came to the opening that led into the living room only for Yusuke to turn around and shout back at the girl that Kagome had yet to see, "It's my job, Keiko! If something is coming after humans in the Ningenkai it's up to me and the guys to stop them! You know this, so quit harping on me!"
Involuntarily, Kagome reached out and gripped Kurama's sleeve in an effort to calm her racing heart. She never was good with confrontation unless it was her own and even then, she hated when people were fighting. The fact that these two seemed to be fighting because of her just made it worse. Kurama turned his head towards her when he felt her grip on his shirt and almost involuntarily he reached with his free hand and placed it over her own in a calming gesture. He couldn't believe that Yusuke and Keiko would be fighting like this in front of her, about her! She didn't ask for the jewel or this danger, and yet she was getting punished for it at every turn, from herself, and from others. He knew about the cruelty of the world, but seeing it firsthand reminded him of how unfair the world really was.
"Is everything alright?" the new voice broke through the tenseness like a knife and instantly the two seemed to be on their best behavior. Hiei managed to calm himself when he heard his sister's voice and he stared harshly at Yusuke. If the boy kept up his arguing and upset Yukina, there would be hell to pay.
"Yeah, everything's fine Yukina. We're just wondering where everyone is. Where's Grandma?" Yusuke questioned, almost glad to see the koorime. Keiko wouldn't continue fighting in front of the kind ice apparition, he knew.
"Genkai is cleaning up, I think, and Hiei, Kurama, and Kagome are just in there." She said, pointing into the living room. "I'm finishing lunch up. We're just waiting for Kazuma and Lord Sesshoumaru." She informed him, and with a little embarrassment, Kurama watched him turn his head to the side to see that indeed, his team members and Kagome were waiting in the living room, which told him that they definitely heard the conversation that was taking place even as they entered the house.
Angrily, he ran his hand through his hair before he managed a smile for Yukina. "Thanks." He moved through the door, almost ignoring his girlfriend in favor of taking a seat and trying to figure out what was going on and why the Lord of the West would want to meet with the team. What was worse, Koenma told him how important this was and he didn't like it. It was either really bad, or really stupid. He almost preferred the stupid, because he knew when bad appeared, it could be really, really bad.
Yukina looked perplexed at the tension in the room and she looked to Hiei for reassurance before he nodded lightly. She looked to Keiko before she turned around and walked back into the kitchen, not liking the tense atmosphere. Keiko looked around the corner and Kagome finally got her first glimpse of the girl she'd only heard about. Her grip on Kurama's shirtsleeve tightened to the point where it was going to be permanently wrinkled unless she let go of it soon. The kitsune didn't seem to mind much though he was wary of Keiko and he let her know it as his expression darkened a fraction.
Kagome looked from the girl over to Yusuke and he looked back at her with anger in his face. What he had managed to hide from Yukina for a few moments came back in full force. "I'll just bet you have something to do with this. Why the hell do we have to meet with Sesshoumaru?" he questioned, his tone rising again. He didn't know how to have a normal voice when he was angry, and not knowing what the hell was going on was just a part of what was making him angry. Keiko's obvious displeasure at him lately had him wanting to take a long relaxing trip to the Makai. When the demon realm became more relaxing than the human realm there was definitely something wrong.
Kurama and Hiei both glared at the toushin before Hiei said, "She didn't know about this until a few minutes ago. None of us know what the Taiyoukai wants." His tone was quiet, but stiff and angry.
Yusuke lifted an eyebrow in confusion before he looked to Kurama as if to ask what was going on with the hiyoukai, but instead, Kurama said, "Don't look at me. I didn't arrange this and I don't think Kagome had anything to do with this sudden contact from Sesshoumaru, let alone Koenma."
The toushin looked to Keiko with a triumphant looking smirk before he said, "See. I told you it wasn't about her. Now can you leave me the hell alone?" he questioned, as he relaxed back into his seat as if a great weight had been pulled from his shoulders.
She had the grace to look embarrassed before she looked from Yusuke to Kagome. Her expression didn't stay embarrassed as it turned downright hostile. Kagome's grip tightened even further and Kurama was afraid for a moment that she might rip his shirtsleeve. She was terrified, but at the same time she was trying to act so brave. Hiei growled slowly into the air which got everyone's attention, and it even calmed a little of Kagome's fear.
Instead, she was worried as she looked to his eyes, as if just that one look could help her understand what was wrong. He turned his head away from the stares and Keiko took that moment to break the silence. "Shut up, Yusuke. I told you before that I wanted you to quit this stupid spirit detectives business but you keep going on missions and going into danger. Don't you care about me at all?" she questioned with her voice rising just as his had only moments ago. "She's not worth dying over!" she shouted, as she pointed quickly at Kagome, who leaned back and further into Kurama when the yelling started.
"You only get this pissy when it's a girl I'm going to save, or I'm protecting. If you don't trust me by now then I don't know what to do to prove it to you! If it was you in her position I would do the same, but just because it's a stranger you have to get your panties in a twist! Relax! Christ, it's a job! I'm not going to fuck her while you're not looking!" Yusuke shouted back harshly as he moved to stand, now toe-to-toe with his girlfriend, ignoring his teammates, and the growing blush on Kagome's cheeks.
Her embarrassment and devastation were two different, but equally powerful blows to her heart. She wasn't even a friend, she was just a job. A job to be handled like everything else. What did she expect, that he would befriend her, or at least treat her like she was a human? Right now he wasn't even doing that. He had degraded her to nothing more than a client, and the way he was talking, she was less than that. If that was the case then Sesshoumaru wouldn't get him to help train her. She wouldn't allow it. If he felt so strongly about her, that she was just a job, then she would make sure that he never came around her again. She didn't need obligations, she needed friends and companions. She knew that now, even if it was hard for her to grasp the concept again after so long without her friends in the past.
Keiko went to shout back something equally depreciating but Kagome's shout stopped her before she could utter a syllable. "Stop it!" Both looked to her, each with different degrees of rage on their faces before she continued with a cracking voice, "Stop it both of you." Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she looked between the two of them only to finally look at Yusuke. "If I'm such a pain, if this is wrecking your relationship, then just go. Forget talking to Sesshoumaru, forget me. Forget all of this. If I'm just a job, then I'm firing you. In fact, I don't know why I didn't think of it before. You're fired, Yusuke. You don't have to worry about me anymore, or how it will look in front of your girlfriend that you were ordered to look after me. I'll take care of myself." She said, not thinking about what would happen should she fail, or what would happen if she were killed. No, the only thing she was worried about was preserving his relationship, or lack thereof, and the problems she'd created between the two in front of her by just existing with the jewel. Her hand had come away from Kurama's sleeve as she moved to stand, her attention shifting between the two of them before she walked out of the living room in two quick strides that helped her disappear behind the wall. Hiei knew she was moving towards the front door and he glared quickly at Yusuke and Keiko, who were both shocked by what she said.
"Wait, Kagome…!" Yusuke recovered first as he moved to go around Keiko to follow her. "Damnit, you're not my boss! I didn't mean it like that! Fuck, would you wait a minute?" he said only to hear the door slam and silence fill the hallway where he was standing.
Kurama was the next to recover as he moved to stand. His anger seemed like something tangible in the tense air as he glared at Keiko. She had started it, and now he was going to say something that had been on his mind a long time. "If you haven't accepted Yusuke and what he enjoys, then I suggest you end things now because for you to ask him to quit being a detective means that you do not accept him and the part of him that enjoys fighting and the thrill of victory. You coming into this house like you have shows that not only do you not respect Yusuke, but you do not respect Genkai, or for that matter Yukina. You certainly don't respect Kagome, nor do you respect me or Hiei." She looked as if she wanted to say something back but he plowed on, ignoring her opened mouth as his tone turned darker, and angrier. "Furthermore! Kagome did not order him to stay, nor did she force him to come to her side even though things are dangerous and uncertain. She cared for him enough not to force him to be here, if he does not wish to be. The fact that you do, however, proves you couldn't care less if she lives or dies. Kagome has done nothing to you or to Yusuke to be treated like this. She is not just a job, she is his friend, and she would die before letting a hair on his head be harmed, and both of you are treating her like she's a dog! A creature to be placated! You let him protect Yukina, Shizuru, and Botan! Hell, you let him protect me, and Hiei, and Kuwabara! Why is Kagome a lesser friend than they are!" he didn't let her answer, nor did he expect one. He was livid and for once, Youko couldn't agree more. Kagome was supposed to be their friend and yet Yusuke was letting himself be ordered around by his jealous girlfriend when he should have been thinking about Kagome and the danger she was facing by herself. Sure, he and Hiei were there to help take up the slack, but the fact that he wasn't there at all said something; something saddening. He considered her a lesser friend than the rest of them and that was no way to treat anyone.
The silence lasted for a moment before Kurama directed his anger at Yusuke, who stood there almost defiantly. He didn't know what was going to be said, but he knew he wouldn't like it. "And you…you said you were her friend, that you would help keep her safe, but you've let your jealous girlfriend order you around! A partner is supposed to support you and help you through tough times, not cut you down at every turn and strip away your freedoms as she deems fit! Kagome is someone who nearly gave up her existence for one of our own." He looked at Hiei as he said it, before he looked back to Yusuke. "That's as good as a life debt, and though the human part of you doesn't understand that, I'm more than sure that your demon half understands perfectly well what that means." He took a step towards the toushin, who was no longer angry, but looking rather uneasy and for once, ashamed. "She is trying her damndest to get stronger so she doesn't need any of us around, so she can care for herself, but she's only human, only one woman against a world of demons who want the jewel. You haven't even thought about how hard it has to be on her, and then you offer her friendship only to rip it away at your girlfriend's insistence. She, even now, wouldn't turn her back on you even though you have more than turned your back on her with this latest display. If it was your life or hers, she would pick yours because she is your friend, and she understands the danger she's put you in just by being around her. But you don't care about that; all you care about is Keiko and her misguided jealousy." He was so angry he was seeing red, but Youko helped him calm down enough for him to shake his head in true disgust as he moved out into the hallway and towards the front door. A few moments later it closed behind him, none too silently.
Hiei was stunned that Kurama had been so perceptive of the situation and he was glad that he was not the one giving Keiko and Yusuke this little heart to heart. He would have just killed them both and gotten it over with, but while he would have enjoyed killing Keiko, he would have regretted hurting Yusuke. Whatever had happened here, there was a lot of history between them since he became a spirit detective and he would have hated to kill an ally. The fact that the boy looked regretful of his actions had Hiei's ire at him fading. He had never liked Keiko and this latest incident from her didn't win her any brownie points from him. She was the lesser female of their group. Shizuru and Yukina were far more important to him than she would ever be, though Keiko should have been in that group simply for the fact that Yusuke was her mate, and he was loyal to Yusuke. Somehow, he'd never agreed with that and his own personal feelings interfered with his internal hierarchy of who was important to him. Keiko was lowest on the list, followed by Botan, Shizuru, surprisingly Kagome, and finally his own sister Yukina. The realization that Kagome had become someone he deemed important to him was startling, but not entirely unwelcome. She had already proven her worth and that she would sacrifice everything for him, he could do no less for her.
His eyes met with Keiko's and it almost looked like she wanted to say something to him but one harsh glare in her direction had her rethinking anything she might want to say. He was the last one she wanted to tempt fate with, and the fact that she didn't seem to understand that proved that she didn't respect Yusuke or his friends. Yusuke stepped back into the room with a torn look in his eyes and Hiei glanced from her to him. His own expression toned down a few steps before he moved towards the hallway as well. He moved outside and found that Kurama and Kagome were sitting beneath one of his own favorite trees and he quickly found his comfortable spot upon that branch and listened to the silence taking place beneath him.
Kagome hadn't cried, though that took so much effort that she gave herself a zillion brownie points because she could, and right now, she needed the confidence of those zillion brownie points to keep from breaking down. She never expected to be betrayed as she just was; that's what it was to her, that's how it felt, was one huge betrayal. She expected it from Inuyasha. Once betrayed, it never surprised her to be betrayed again and again. She expected it from him, but not from Yusuke; not like that. She felt worthless, like she was nothing in his eyes, not even a friend. Keiko was more important and her thoughts on the matter. She couldn't understand how he could let Keiko boss him around, when the girl didn't even know what was going on, or what Kagome was going through. She needed a friend; she didn't need a boyfriend, or a fuck-buddy. She just needed a friend, and a protector. Why couldn't Keiko understand that? Silent tears crept their way down her cheeks before she realized it, and Kurama winced from beside her before he placed an arm gently around her back, as if to say, 'I'm here. You're not alone.'
Fortunately, or unfortunately, that's when Sesshoumaru showed up.
A/N: This chapter was almost not possible if I wouldn't have gotten a forceful visit from the muse. My chapters for this story were stolen along with my laptop a few weeks ago and I was deeply depressed over it, but my old laptop, and a very forceful muse with a swift kick up my ass made this all possible. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have re-writing it.
A/N #2: Thank you to everyone who added this story to their favorites lists, their watch lists, and who reviewed. You make it worthwhile to write, especially through the setbacks. I ::heart:: you all.
A/N #3: While the muses are being generous, they are not being very inspiring in the pairings universe. I still am fairly clueless on who to nudge towards Kagome, or anyone else for that matter. Suggestions are highly welcome at this point; all will be taken into consideration, even rare, or otherwise uncommon pairings. Just drop a review and let me know who your personal favorite is. :D Thanks for all the help and the encouragement, guys.
Kudos!~
Sayuri-chan aka animeinvasiongirl