Chapter 12: Struggles of the Heart 2

(AN: please read authors note in bottom. It's about my updates and planes for my already posted stories.)

oOo

Koenma's office might as well have been located in the heart of a volcano with how hot it was. The air was dry, crusty, and practically unbreathable. Everything wavered as the heat increased, mirroring a desert mirage.

The young prince awkwardly pulled at his collar, his small form shaking in the wake of Hiei anger. He knew it wasn't going to be easy once Inuyasha told them his whole story. He knew Hiei was going to be beyond pissed with the whole situation, but did he really need to turn him office into a furnace?

Leaning against the wall, arms folded, his eyes glowed red hot, focused solely on Inuyasha. Said half demon stood in the center of the room, head bowed and fist clenched.

Kurama felt slight pity for the silver haired dog, but his own anger far outweighed his compassion. As a child his mother had always told him women were to be cherished. She feared that his treatment of her would extend to other females. She always said that a man must never raise their hand to a girl, and if so, they were not men. A man must never raise their voice, belittle, take advantage of, cheat, or hurt the fairer sex. And this demon had done it all. He'd belittle and hurt Kagome. And Kurama was not so keen on forgetting nor forgiving him anytime soon.

Which is why, when Koenma gave his next orders, not only was he subjected to Hiei's own scorching wrath, but so too that of an angered Kitsune.

"Bring Kagome here, now. That's an order."

oOo

Botan jumped as her communication mirror went off in her Kimono. Hurriedly opening it she was greeted by Yusuke agitated face.

"I need a portal opened to Tourin, like yesterday." His ordered as rudely as ever.

She was cut off before she could even reply back.

"SHE WILL NOT BE BROUGHT WITHIN EVEN A MILLION FEET COLSE TO HIM!"

Yusuke's eyebrow shot up at hearing Hiei's booming voice. "Was that-"

"It was nothing!" Botan hurriedly exclaimed before waving her fingers around. "There you go! One portal straight to Tourin, bye!"

"Wait-"

Click.

She snapped her compact closed with a sigh, wincing as a large blast of heat escaped Koenma's office doors before everything went silent. The blue haired reaper bit her lip, her worry for Koenma growing with each silent passing second. The doors were then promptly slammed open, Hiei storming over to her.

"Alaric."

She didn't need to be told twice, quickly opening him a portal into Mukuro's lands and watching him vanish through. Timidly she walked into Koenma's office.

"Mmm, Sir?" She questioned softly. "Your orders?"

A sigh left the small prince, his head bowed down and held in his hands. "Take Kurama to pick Kagome up and bring her here right away." as an after thought he added, "and be on the ready to call for Hiei."

"Yes, sir." Opening a portal straight to Higurashi Shrine she waiting for the red head to pass through.

Green eyes flashed golden, Youko's anger slipping through his cage. "I do not agree with this whole situation, Prince," he venomously spat the title out, "I refuse to bring her here."

Koenma tiredly rubber his temples. "Either you pick her up and stay by her side or I will have one of the SDF do so, and I will forbid you be allowed to stay. Don't make me use force Kurama."

The avatar remained silence before he snarled, "Pray all goes well or his body will litter your office, along with yours." With a spin of his heels, crimson locks flaring, he left through the portal, Botan behind him.

oOo

It was not in a demon's nature to run from a battle. They feared nothing. They lived for the trill of a good fight and the smell of blood. Which was why it surprised Makuro when, not one or five, but a handful of lower and upper class demons gathered at her gates, begging she stop the carnage. All speaking at once made it hard for her to understand but she was able to catch bits of words here and there, and it was enough to place the pieces together.

"Forbbiden, killer, Jagan, flames."

Curiosity and confusion filled her. What could have possible sent her Heir and General over the edge to the point of her subjects coming to her in fear? Forgoing her usual slow pace, she took to the trees until she was forced to stop, having no more trees to run through. A good portion of the forest was burned to a crisp. Her eyes found the crimson orbs of her successor.

His eyes, so full of anger, seemed to set her soul afire from their intensity alone, locked with her eye as he brought his sword down. The katana pierced through the mouth of a lower A Class owl, before his flames at away at its body.

Her spine tingled in anticipation as the air around them grew heavy, both their Jaki leaking from their bodies as his killer intent increased. It had been a long time since they had last battled. She wondered if he would be strong enough to defeat her now.

"Makuro."

"Hiei."

And they clashed.

oOo

Brown knitted together in confusion, Kagome regarded her Kitsune teammate carefully. The normally calm and stoic Kurama was angered, that much was obvious. But behind that anger she also saw worry and sadness. Those hidden emotions were what worried her.

"Koenma has ordered me to escort you to the Reikai." He spoke, and unlike his usual smooth monotone, his voice was gruff.

"Why?" She asked.

His eyes flickered from Youko's bright golden colored eyes to his own emerald colored ones. His fist clenched tightly before he walked towards her, closing the distance between them.

A gasp fell from her lips as she found herself pulled into his arms. "K-Kurama?"

His hold tightened almost painfully so. How he wished he could disobey Koenma. But Koenma was adamant on his decision and he knew the small prince would indeed just send one of his fathers puppets to retrieve her, and they wouldn't be kind about it. He rather it be him instead. This way he could be by her side and help her.

"I ask that your forgive me for this, Kagome. If I could defy Koenma's orders without repercussions I would, but I'd rather it be me by your side then one of the SDF. Know that I do not agree with what is about to happen, and know that I will protect you. I will not allow harm to befall you."

"Kurama, you're scaring me. What's going one? What don't you agree with? What do I need protection from?" Her questioned went unanswered, instead Kurama released her from his hold and turned to the silence reaper.

"Open the portal, Botan." He ordered.

With a sad nod the blue haired woman did as told, watching as Kurama pulled a reluctant Miko through, one hand on the small of her back. She just nearly caught his whispered words.

"Stay by my side. I will protect you, I promise."

oOo

With a sigh Yusuke dropped down on the top step leading to his old mans grave, legs spread and arms resting on his thighs. "Hey old man, it's been awhile. And before you start going on and on about how I'm a terrible son for not coming sooner, I'm sorry. Things have been... complicated," his head fell down, eyes clouded in confusion. "Keiko broke it off with me. Told she couldn't do this anymore. It hurt, worse than any hit I've ever taken when she ran away from me. Then Kagome came into my life. She became part of the team, and I guess I fell for her or something. Things were great until I tried to... you know," he trailed off awkwardly. "She freaked on me. I don't know what the hell happened but after that, it was like she was disgusted by my touch and I don't understand why! She lets Hiei touch her but flips out on me for trying to get to second base?! I thought he was my friend but I guess I was wrong. But that's not even the worse part of it all.

"I cheated on her. I slept with Keiko and Kagome found out... I feel like shit about it. I know I shouldn't have but I did. I know I hurt her. But Keiko and I have been together for years. She's the girl I love! But why does it feel so wrong now? We're always fighting. It seems like that's all we do now. She's constantly bringing Kagome into our fights. She's always going on about school and jobs. I'm drowning dad. I don't know what to do anymore. I though this was what I wanted, being with Keiko again, but it all wrong! What's wrong with me?"

Turning his head he regarded Raizen's grave marker with pained eyes. He wished his old man was alive to tell him what to do. Everything was just too messed up from him to understand. All he ever wanted since the breakup was for Keiko to come back, and she did! She came back to him and apologized! She took him back! But it wasn't all he thought it'd be. The happy life he had imagined was far from what he was living. All this guild and anger was eating away at him. He wanted the fighting to stop. He wanted his team- his friends, back. He wanted the perfect life he had envisioned with Keiko in the beginning! He wanted Kagome to talk to him again!

The breeze picked up, the trees rustled and the grass swayed from the force of Tourin's winds. And with it he heard Raizen's voice.

'Do you love her?'

"Love her? Who? Keiko or Kagome?"

'Keiko.'

"I mean, I thought I did but I'm not sure anymore. This time around it's different. I don't feel like I did before. I don't like I love her like I once did."

'And the other?'

Yusuke folded his arms across his chest as he pondered. "I mean, I liked her. She understood me. She's just like me, pops. She can fight and has powers. Something about her really drew me in and I do still care for her.

I really do but she obviously liked Hiei if how close they are is anything to do by."

'Fool.'

"Hey! Who you calling a fool you old coot!" He shouted to the wind.

'Would you feel such anger and jealousy for a woman you didn't come to love?'

Yusuke paused.

oOo

This wasn't happening.

This could not be happening!

Before her stood her worst nightmare.

Her chest rose and fell with her labored breathing, heart beating so fast she feared it would give out at any second, her eyes unfocused and glassing over with tears.

"You..." she growled out, her blood rushing through her ears drowning out the sound of Koenma's voice. Kagome roared as she lunged for her and Kikyo's old love.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

oOo

Done!

Okay, so it's been like forever... I won't lie. I've betrayed Kagome/(whoever) for Lucy Hearfilia/(whoever)... I am so ashamed lol! I got hooked.

Sorry for the rush of this chapter. I felt bad for leaving you all hanging so I wrote this for you.

Now on too my updating schedule and what not. I've recently gotten inspiration back and wish to try my luck at Fairy Tail stories but I can't do that without finishing my two main stories here (more like the ones I have actual plans for).

As of right now, Bleeding Love is my main focus. So expect more chapters for this story soon. Fatal Attraction will follow next. The only other story that I am wish to try to complete is Broken Pieces.

As for my other stories... I am uncertain. Fill free to give me your thoughts in a review or PM. Tell me which other stories I should continue on and I'll try my best to see what I can come up with.

Once again, sorry for the wait and rush! I'm starting up chapter 13 tomorrow! Stay toned for Struggles of the Heart 2!