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Dude, it's such a delight to read your reviews. You guys come up with so much stuff I'd never think of! (Like shipping Inuyasha and Mama Higurashi, say whaaaat?) Haha so many thanks to these people for reviewing: kristina m haynes3, kimmico, The Path of Supreme Conquest, ultima-owner, Singular Poisonous Ashes, angeldevil11, TsukiRiver, Alanna-sama, BookFinder, Silversun XD, Spice of Inu-Yasha, Foxluna, dxlmao, bribright91, Raelin Thoan, Spastic Freak, Guest 1, Guest 2, CloverBabe, PatrinPtn, fredisagirl, Youko's Befuddled Fox, Phelin, BlueFrost (x2), ApolloAres13, studentlife, Caramel Apple Chan, SilverontheRose, Saholia and Mystycal. I also cherish all the wonderful people who put this on their alerts and favorites or just took the time to read. You guys are great too.
Enjoy! (Major fluff warning. You may need to brush your teeth afterwards.)
oOo
"Good morning, Sesshomaru." Kagome smiled shyly.
He inclined his head. They were back in the hotel penthouse and sitting at the formal dining table. The windows faced east, revealing a breathtaking landscape as the sun lit up the city. Kagome absorbed the warmth of the sun as she faced the cold demon lord. The presence of Inuyasha across from her helped as well.
From his position at the head of the table, Sesshomaru's golden eyes held no such warmth as he inspected his pack member.
"A week has passed. Have you made your decision?" He questioned.
She nodded. "Yes, Sesshomaru-sama. I'm…" In spite of herself, she hesitated. This was a big decision and not one she could make lightly. She thought of Souta, of the Spirit Detectives she had met over the week. She pictured Genkai's stern face.
Sesshomaru huffed lightly and turned to his brother.
"Has the Prince kept his side of the negotiation?"
Inuyasha nodded and crossed his arms. "His Spirit Detectives kept watch over Kagome the whole time. Nothing got through their barrier, but it's not like they could have gotten through ours in the first place."
Sesshomaru nodded curtly as if saying: Of course not. "Continue."
The hanyou glared. "Genkai's training is weird, but she's not aiming to hurt Kagome and there has been some progress in the few times we went to the shrine.
"Hn. The miko is controlling her reiki."
Kagome blushed a bit, a little pleased that he acknowledged her success and a little embarrassed that she had needed the training in the first place.
"The Prince has met his end of the bargain."
"Then Kagome will be able to choose to become an ambassador… If she desires it."
And then two strangely colored eyes focused on her. Kagome felt a smile overtake her face. She loved Inuyasha so much, and in a span of a few days, she already cared for the reticent demon Lord. She loved Souta and Shippo and wanted to be friends with Prince Yusuke and Hiei. She wanted to talk to Kuwabara about his great love and…
…And she wanted to learn more about the fox avatar that treated her like a precious jewel.
There were so many things she was curious about. Friendly oni intrigued her, a human-sized kami made her smile and the thought of meeting new demons made her happy.
"If you don't mind, Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, I'd like to give it a try. I think…" She looked at her hands in her lap. She took a deep breath and thought about Kurama's smiling face and his complete confidence in her. "… I think I'd be good at it."
Sesshomaru nodded. "Very well. The Prince will be informed."
He made to stand but Kagome threw out her arm.
"Wait! Before we go, can I ask a favor?"
An arched eyebrow was her prompt to go ahead. Kagome touched her feet to the drawstring bag under her chair.
"Um… do you think I could have a bath here? Please?"
oOo
"Hey-ya, Kagome-san!" Kuwabara bounded over like an excited puppy as Kagome stepped out of Inuyasha's town car.
She smiled warmly. To no one's great surprise, the two bubbly people had become fast friends. "Hello, Kuwabara-kun. I hope you and Botan-san weren't waiting long?"
He shook his head vigorously, making his pompadour sway from side to side. "Nah! I just got here and Botan is still making the portal. You don't mind if she takes a little bit to get it going?" He asked her and the two Inu who came up to flank her. "She was slammed with work last night so making a really strong and epic portal is taking her a bit longer than usual."
Kagome liked that the redhead was defending his friend.
Sesshomaru appeared unconcerned. "This one will head to the place of departure." He announced and loped easily up the Sunset Shrine's steps.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and patted Kagome's shoulder. "See you up there?"
"I'll be right over in a minute." Kagome promised.
He nodded and marched up the stairs like he was about to argue with someone at the top.
Kuwabara stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned back. "You know… he really reminds me of someone, but I can't figure out who."
Kagome's eyes widened. "You know what, when I met Yusuke, I thought the same thing!"
They stared at each other blankly for a moment, neither able to make the connection just yet.
"Hmm." Kuwabara shrugged. "Weird, huh?"
"Yeah…" Kagome furrowed her brows thoughtfully.
They passed a couple of moments, each trying to figure out why the two Princes seemed so familiar, but Kuwabara soon gave up.
"You ready to head up to the courtyard then?"
Kagome snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh! I was wondering if I could, erm, ask you a personal question, if you don't mind?"
Kuwabara hunched his shoulders and leaned forward, diminishing his height advantage and making himself less threatening. "Sure! Shoot."
Kagome blushed and looked down at the pavement. A shiny beetle crawled across the pavement by their feet. She focused on that.
"How… I mean, do you ever worry about the differences between yourself and Yukina? If-" she met his eyes, "if it doesn't work out? Do you ever think about that?" She winced as soon as she said it. The last thing she wanted to do was question his devotion.
Kuwabara's smile was blinding. "No." He straightened and declared his next sentence proudly and with certainty. "The red string of fate connects us! Nothing will ever separate our love!" He threw his arms out to the side like he was yelling off the top of a mountain. But he leaned forward again and his voice became much quieter.
"At first, I was really sad, because Genkai said that Yukina was going to take a long time to grow up, longer than even I'd ever be around. Granny said that Yukina was not going to want to get married until long after I was gone. So that was really a bummer. But you know what?"
Kagome's eyes were wide. "What?" She breathed.
He held up his pinky and grinned so widely, his eyes were slits. "It's fate. So even if I'm not around to get married to her, I'm still going to be able to show her how much I love her."
The priestess was so astounded, her knees wobbled a little. "You'd wait for your reincarnation to marry her?" She tried for a yell, but her vocal cords only let out a harsh squeak.
Kuwabara shrugged. As if he was so in love that it was nothing to wait for your demon love to mature enough that she could fall for another version of you.
What was it like to have that kind of faith?
"I figure men and women sacrifice all the time for the people they love. It's just different kinds of sacrifices when it's a human and a demon."
Kagome hastily wiped away her tears in an attempt not to worry her friend too much. "Y-you're a wonderful person, Kuwabara-kun."
He blushed and suddenly lost the ability to look her in the face. "Heheh, well uh- we should go. Um, Botan should have the portal open." He rubbed the back of his neck and ducked his chin into the collar of his jacket.
Kagome chuckled wetly. "Of course. T-thank you for being so honest with me."
He shuffled in place and did not move until Kagome stood on the third step up.
"Kagome-san?"
"Hmm?" She turned.
He smiled knowingly, kindly. "It doesn't have to be so complicated. Not if you don't want it to. He likes you a lot."
Kagome brought up a hand to cover her mouth but her eyes gave her away. "I just wanted some reassurance I guess."
"Did you get it?"
"Yes." She beamed and canted her head to the side. "We better go or else Botan will leave without us!"
He jumped into action. "Right!"
oOo
The Spirit World contained energy far different than the one that settled over the human world. The same was true for the Makai. Every world thrummed with a unique signature.
The Makai's energy was slow and flowed across Kurama's senses like a lazy river. Its inhabitants lived a brutal life but as they were so long lived, they felt no rush. Scents, sounds, smells were meant to be savored and picked apart slowly and methodically.
The human world was the exact opposite. The energy pulsed like a hummingbird's wings. Humans, frantic to make a living before they passed, charged the air so it felt like the atmosphere before a lightning strike and tasted like rusted copper.
The Spirit World… Kurama's lips twitched as an ogre rushed past. The avatar adjusted his course a bit and continued to muse as he walked. The Spirit World's energy was a little harder to describe.
The air smelled like paper and ink and the workers rushed to and fro much like humans. But behind every office door sat a divine being. Their auras extended over the general office to bathe their busy workers in the serenity that came with immortality and the seriousness that came with heavy responsibility.
Under King Enma, visiting the Spirit World had been a chore. His massive aura crushed everyone under its influence. He ruled using intimidation and the sheer force of his presence.
Kurama stopped right in front of a familiar door. Prince Koenma's aura was stronger than any of the Spirit Detectives gave him credit for. But it still rung along the edges of the soul with a high and tinny voice, not yet matured into kingship or adulthood.
Kurama took stock of the other signatures behind the door. The overwhelming presence of the Inu Lord almost smothered the wild youki of the hanyou and the tightly contained but slightly bleeding powers of their miko. Kuwabara reached out in greeting.
The smirk on the avatar's face grew. He was curious to see how Koenma would change things. But more importantly, he was curious to see how Kagome would influence the three worlds.
And Kurama intended to be there every step of the way.
He schooled his face, knocked once, and entered the office. Bowing before the group, he offered his greetings.
"My apologies for interrupting, but I was summoned."
"Good, Kurama, you're here! Shut the door." Koenma still had his new adult body, but he still vibrated in place like an energetic toddler. When he waved Kurama in, a large ring glinted on the kami's fingers. The large stone set into the metal band was shaped a bit like a pacifier. "Kagome-san has agreed to become an ambassador and now I want to offer you and Kuwabara a job!"
Kurama played dumb and raised a brow. "Oh?"
Koenma nodded vigorously. "A permanent bodyguard position."
Kuwabara bounced in place. "Does this mean I'll finally get to go the Makai? Sign me up!"
Koenma snapped something about it not being that simple and honestly, can't you behave for once? But Kurama wasn't paying attention to their squabbling or to the two Inu who were radiating enough menace to leave Kurama's teeth feeling too big for his mouth and his bones itching to change into his own silver form.
No, instead he was staring at the woman who was peeking out at him from the corner of her eye.
Well? Her eyes prompted.
His own eyes flashed and warmed. You're never getting rid of me now.
oOo
"Ice cream?"
Kagome, in mid-lick, peered over to the man sitting next to her. "Hmm?"
Kurama thoughtfully chewed on his popsicle stick. They were sitting in Kurama's little clearing and with his youki ringing the area to discourage a wandering visitor, it was private. His popsicle had not survived the journey from the shop, but Kagome was still working steadily on her own sweet treat.
"When you asked me to accompany you somewhere, I did not expect this." He admitted.
His companion shrugged and curled her bare toes into the grass. The space between Kurama's shoulder blades tingled. He suddenly wanted to turn into his original fox form. The sunlight was fading and the light from his transformation would reflect brightly in Kagome's eyes.
He frowned and tried his best not to watch for glimpses of Kagome's tongue. His human blood was usually enough to calm the animalistic urges that threatened to consume him, but now his human side was just as much of a problem.
Kagome spoke. "I just thought that it's going to get a little hectic." She was methodically chewing away sections of her cone now. "Between the negotiations on where I'm going to live and how we're going to travel, and my pay and every piece of my life being turned upside down… I just thought it would be nice to learn about you the normal way."
He did not reply.
Kagome popped the last bit of cone and ice cream in her mouth and leaned towards him. They were sitting side by side and her shoulder nudged against his.
"I'm sure you've been on dates before!" She exclaimed.
He stared at the scenery instead of her. "As a human, no." He then cut his gaze to hers and gave a wicked grin. His voice deepened into an approximation of Youko's rasp. "And as a demon, it was different than this."
Games were amusing when he could fluster his opponent but Kagome did not follow any of his rules. Instead of blushing, she sighed and flopped gracelessly onto her back.
"That's right," she mused, crossing her arms. "You were a legendary thief before you reformed and became a Spirit Detective." She said it like she was reciting a report. Matter-a-fact and completely unconcerned.
She made him sound so tame. Kurama abandoned his popsicle stick on the ground and whirled. Planting his hands by Kagome's head, he hovered over her as his hair settled into a curtain around them.
"You're not afraid? That I'll become a thief again?"
Her smile was blithe. Still, she was unconcerned with either his presence or the threat he posed as a predator. Even her reiki did not move from behind its barrier when his youki buffeted against it.
She reached up and lightly tugged at his crimson bangs.
"And you'll leave me to go steal? Sesshomaru-sama won't be too happy when he learns that you're shirking your duties."
He did not know whether to laugh or become angry that her threat was better than his. Behind the cover of his lips, he ran his tongue along the ridges of his teeth. He smiled anyway.
"You would tell?"
"Shippo would. Especially since he and Inuyasha are becoming part of my detail as well."
Kurama fought diligently to keep from laughing. This woman of his was good. She was innocence personified but she wielded her words like she did her bow. Skillfully.
But he was still a thief. To prove it to her, he leaned in to steal a kiss.
Her lips were warm, her gasp was adorable. In her surprise, she lost control of her power and it swirled around them. He felt the warmth of his transformation overtake him and he pressed in more desperately.
With extreme reluctance, he pulled back and inspected his handiwork. Her cheeks were bright red and she looked dazed. He would have felt a bit smugger if he did not feel winded as well.
She blinked once, twice before she gasped. "You changed."
"You caused it."
Kagome tensed. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
His eyes were full of fondness as he sat up to allow her perusal. "You did not. In fact, I appreciate the return to my original form. I have been searching many years for a way to do this exact thing."
Kagome sat up as well. It seemed like she wanted to touch him, but she clasped her hands tightly in her lap. He preened as she cast her gaze all over his face and hair.
"Is this what you used to look like?" She asked.
He nodded.
"You look like Inu and Sesshomaru, if not for your eyes."
Kurama huffed and pushed a thick lock of hair over his shoulder. "Foxes and dogs are cousins, but we gained our daiyoukai forms first." Something occurred to him. "My eyes?"
She nodded and ran a finger under her own eyes. He became momentarily distracted with the curve of her fingernail. "They're green."
That was an actual surprise. "That is not their original color."
The same fingernail bravely and lightly tapped his chest. "Then, that means your soul will always have Shuichi in it."
Quick as lightning, he trapped her hand between his. He leaned forward and smiled in a way that bared his canines. He wanted to show her how much of a predator he was. She needed to appreciate the danger he posed.
"But I will never be fully human," he warned.
Kagome blinked but did not cower. "Will you hurt me?"
He reared back, highly offended. "Of course not!" A thief did not steal a highly prized mirror just to smash it. If he kept it, then he kept it to admire its craftsmanship and shine. He used her hand to tug her close. "I would never do anything but cherish you." He vowed lowly.
Her smile was brilliant. "Then I have nothing to worry about."
Kurama reared back and blinked. How was this woman doing this to him? How could one little human make him feel so unbalanced?
"Um," she interrupted his stuttering thought process. "Can I ask-no it's rude, never mind."
He had something she wanted. An advantage? He pressed forward, excited to regain the upper hand.
"What is it you would like to ask?"
Her face was turned away from him but he could still see her blush and how she stared out of the corner of her eye.
"I just…" She tried before she crumpled. She buried her face in her free hand. "I can't stand it anymore." She mumbled into her fingers. "Your ears are just so fantastic and I reallywanttotouchthemplease."
He recognized how terrible his innuendo was but he leaned in and whispered it to her anyways. "You can touch any part of me you like, no need to ask permission."
Behind her hand, her face was so red it glowed. "Your ears are fine."
"Very well." He smirked and adjusted himself so he could lie down and rest his head in her lap. He closed his eyes and waited. "You may proceed."
After a pause, her fingers brushed the sensitive fur with a feathery touch and he felt his resulting shiver even in the tips of his claws. His shoulders tensed once more.
She pulled back hastily and leaned forward to peer in his face. "Are you sure?"
He sighed and opened his eyes. "Will you hurt me?"
"Of course not!" Caught off guard, she laughed.
He closed his eyes and readjusted his head. "Then I have nothing to worry about." He declared.
He felt her smile as her fingers returned with less uncertainty than before. And so, the fox demon fell prey to the priestess and passed into sleep.
oOo
*Note: One more chapter where we'll see more of Souta and Shippo. Then the epilogue, where we'll finally see Kouga (because I am determined to smother his character with affection and attention), along with a couple more guests and then it'll be done.
Anon Review Replies:
Guest 1: Why thank you very much! I hope you liked this chapter then, since it's mostly their interactions. Thanks for reviewing.
Guest 2: I stumbled across the nure-onna when I was trying to decide what to include, so I'm glad I could share! And aw, I'm glad we could both enjoy the romance aspects of the story. Thanks for reviewing!
BlueFrost: Your second review made me cackle. I'm glad you recognize yourself haha. And oh man, I need to start printing your reviews out and keeping them for when I feel like a horrible writer. I'm spoiled by you. Also: tasteful chases do more for me than heated carnality ever could, so I agree. Second: I'm glad I have someone who can compare the two stories because they are so different. I'm glad I'm not making everything same-y. Thirdly: people need to stop hating on Inuyasha just to justify not having him with Kagome. It's lazy. (And they should stop doing it with Kouga too, because damn, based on the fan portrayals, it's easy to forget he's a good guy.) /Rant over. Thanks for reviewing, it got me going!
studentlife: Oh. Oh man. Biochem, eh? I wanted to write as soon as I read this and you kept this update from being delayed any more than it is. I'm there. I'm right there with you and I'm honored that I'm your feel good pitstop. Stay strong comrade and I hope this helps. Thanks for the review!