2017 RENOVATION

Chapter Twenty One: Kagami

Genkai's Shrine, Mt. Horai, Kyoto

Yukina let out a relieved breath as she pulled the fresh comforter over top of Keiko's sleeping form. The entire day before was fraught with worry as the human fought off a terrible fever, but it looked as though she had gotten through the worst of it. The ice maiden had all but burnt herself out trying to heal the stubborn wound, but finally, after nearly thirty five hours of determination, the flesh began to knit back together like it was supposed to. There would be a scar, but not a large one and thankfully not in a place where it would visibly disfigure the girl.

Keiko didn't mind, in fact she had admitted that having her first true battle scare made her feel like a real member of the team. Yusuke had become defensive when she'd said that the night before when he had arrived back from Koenma's, looking frazzled and defeated.

As far as he was concerned, Keiko had been on his team long before he was officially recruited by the Spirit World.

The small demoness gripped the cold, round Hiruseki stone that hung around her neck and prayed that everything would be alright with the boys. It hurt seeing their their large family of friends so torn and frayed.

The necklace was a replica to the one that she had worn for as long as she could remember, one of the stones that her mother had given her and her twin brother. She'd given the original to Hiei, in hopes that he would finally admit and accept their connection, but alas, he was too stubborn. She refused to let him return it, though, forcing him to keep it as a reminder of her love. The stone she had taken to wearing since then was one of her own, gold and a fraction smaller than the radiant blue gems that could only be produced at the moment of the birth of a child.

It wasn't anything special, but it brought her comfort all the same.

Picking up the discarded comforter, Yukina made her way outside the sliding screen doors of the refurbished main hall. The smell of strawberries and flowers was thick on the icy dew of the early morning breeze, a sweet reminder that winter was just around the corner.

As much as Yukina wanted to hate the cold season, winter in the human realm was so much more alive and fun than the everlasting, emotionless cage of the floating city of ice. It may have been her twin's existence that influenced her, or the fact that she was her mother's daughter, but she felt that living in that hell another day was worse than death. She could sympathize why Hina had committed suicide, being confined to the city after having the opportunity to explore the world below them and forced to sacrifice one of her children.

Yukina chose to live her life in the freedom that her mother had been denied. And perhaps, one day, she would even choose to have children of her own with a man.

The comforter was heavy as she attempted to lift it over the clothesline. Many demon species were known for their superior strength that brought humanity to shame, but unfortunately, Koorime were not a part of that lucky majority. Yukina struggled.

She was about to try a different strategy—throwing it and hoping it landed right—when tan, slender hands reached out from behind her and pulled the thick bedding onto the rope with ease.

Yukina looked up at the fox and stiffened. They had all been warned that Kurama's form had been compromised, and she knew not to trust him without further proof. But seeing him before her then made it frighteningly real.

"Kurama... It's still fairly early for a visit. I don't believe anybody had awoken yet." The Ice Maiden placed some distance between them. "The guard will be around soon for rounds, have you greeted him yet?"

The man who looked so much like Kurama smiled, sad and soft. "Yes, I saw Shunjun on my way over." He leaned against a wooden post then, relaxing his guard. Slender fingers caressed a moon flowers that had bushed and flourished with Kagome's energy. "To be honest, I was worried about Keiko. How is she?"

He knew the right names and held the right tenor of concern in his voice, but the small demoness still wasn't convinced.

She held her head high and spoke, ignoring his query. "You were in the room when I first met Mr. Hiei... What did he say to me?" Long years of subduing her emotions kept her hands from shaking.

The redhead frowned and looked out to the serene courtyard.

When she had asked the fire apparition who he was, he had replied that he was just a member of the team. She didn't realize at that time who he truly was, but she was so grateful that he hadn't taken Tarukane's life. Even a monster such as him deserved—

"Do you believe in redemption?"

Her blood ran like ice through her veins. He hadn't answered the question.

"Of course I do. Every single being should be given a second chance..." Yukina paused, hesitating for just a moment as small frozen crystals began to grow at her feet. "Don't you believe so?"

The stranger sighed as though he was genuinely distraught by her words.

"I used to."

The air around them dropped below freezing as the Ice Maiden made to run. She didn't get the chance to call for help, before she had even turned around his hand was gripped against her mouth. It felt strange, like warm water had been poured into her ears, she felt his mental power move from synapse to synapse as it took control of her body.

The man released her face to catch her falling body, her eyes fluttered closed. His chest was warm and familiar as he held her safe, she knew it to be an illusion, but she was paralyzed and unable to fight back.

Her mind raced. Where was the Captain who was supposed to have been keeping a close eye on their quarters? What would Genkai do when she woke to find the demoness gone from her post? Who would tend to Keiko?

One last thought crossed her mind before the void of darkness enveloped her completely.

Her brother was going to be so very upset.

═══════════════════ Tsarashi ═══════════════════════

It was the second morning morning after the impromptu battle at Genkai's pavilion. Things were strained since returning to the Kuwabara household, Kazuma had honestly tried his hardest to act as if nothing had happened, but his constant hovering and concerned looks were quite a bit more obvious than he seemed to think they were. Shizuru had originally gotten an abridged version from her brother, but a long, solemn phone call from Atsuko had filled her in on the gritty details. That resulted in the whiskey that was offered to the fox demoness after dinner, with the promise of updates on Keiko's condition. Kagome had surprised herself by accepting the drink. The alcohol had burned her taste buds but did little to ease her scorned heart.

Thick, dark clouds had accumulated sometime in the night and refused to clear. They dampened the sky, making the day feel much younger than it actually was. However, it had still been fairly early when the priestess had left the house. Shippo had watched her grab a thick slice of toast and leave without question, half asleep and long since accustomed to giving her space when she needed to clear her head.

Kagome sat on a long cement retaining wall that lined that part of the river, intended to prevent landslides by containing the spring runoff. That time of year the water was so low that you could wade through it. If she crossed the bridge and continued straight she would have found herself in the same small park that she had discovered earlier that week, but the fear of the unknown had stopped her from wandering too far.

Small flat stones skidded and tapped the surface of the slow flowing water as she threw them, before sputtering and breaking the surface with a satisfying plunk. The ripples barely had the time to settle before the teen skipped another one.

The priestess hated feeling so helpless. She was torn between the guilt of being the central focus of yet another villain's rampage where people were going to get hurt, and the knowledge that there was absolutely nothing that she could have done to prevent it. She had racked her brain trying to find a connection to the demon, something that she could have done to cause such anger.

There was none. It wasn't her fault that the Shadow Beast had targeted her. But, with how Genkai and Yusuke had looked at her...

It sure felt that way.

Kagome wanted nothing more than to just ignore everything and go home. She had no obligation to those people, no real connections aside from an uncontrollable mistake and a few tentative friendships. The Detectives were specifically trained to handle those sorts of situations in the modern era and between realms. It was too far beyond her.

The smooth pebbles felt cold in her hand. What had happened to the brave warrior that had stood proudly by Inuyasha's side? Had the final battle torn her apart so completely that running away with her tail between her legs had become the favored option as opposed to the last resort?

Her eyes stung as she thought about her last true battle as part of the team. Those long, never ending days spent in the past directly afterwords. It was far too soon for her to go through that again, especially when she hadn't yet recovered from the shell shock.

I'm not ready to lose anyone else! She cried out in the hollow of her mind.

"You're too quiet."

Kagome spooked and looked over at Kurama with her free hand gripping at the dead Shikon jewel that hung above her pounding heart. Her thoughts had her swimming too deep.

"That isn't like you." The red haired demon rested his arms on the wall, but didn't make to climb up and sit beside her. "Are you well, Kagome?"

There was something in the way her name purred off his tongue that didn't sit right.

"I'll be fine. I just need some time alone to think." When he didn't reply or move to leave and give her the space that she craved, Kagome asked "How did you know I was here?

Light shimmered behind his unnatural green eyes as he watched her intensely, as if studying her every breath. If she was a rare specimen, then he was a dedicated researcher. She shifted. After memorizing her face and moving his attention to her thin hands, he gave her an answer. "Kuwabara told me that you'd gone off in this direction. My apologies if I've overstepped my boundaries by checking on you."

Something wet touched the young woman's cheek and she looked up to see fat clumps of snow fluttering haphazardly from the sky. They melted when they made contact with her warm skin, dotting her arms and face with their bubbled remains.

"You need to stop saying that you're sorry all the time. You can do whatever you want, I don't care." The words slipped past her filter without thinking. The young and awkward fox backpedaled quickly. "I mean, I care. I appreciate it, honest. It's just... There's a lot on my mind right now."

"Ah, you're thinking about Kagami."

Kagome looked back at the handsome young man beside her, perplexed. "Who?"

For a split second, Kurama seemed to tense. His face twisted in a confusion that upset the calm surface that he used to keep his emotions passive. Then, with a soft smile, it cleared away without a trace, leaving the priestess wondering if she had just imagined it.

"The Shadow Beast." He explained, unconvincingly. "When we were in the forest he had introduced himself as Kagami. A fitting name, don't you agree?"

"Uh... yeah, I guess."

It was. Kagami meant mirror, what better name for someone with the ability to become a being's perfect doppelganger?

The being that had already copied Kurama's appearance and powers.

The nerves in her arms and legs began to crawl in her body like bugs. For the first time she truly studied him. The demon was too relaxed, the usual polite formality that he carried around when they were together was missing. He wore black casual pants, a white collared shirt and an over-sized, textured gray cardigan with large buttons. Hanging mid-chest, just above the highest button that was fastened, lay a slightly familiar necklace. The petite, golden orb seemed to sparkle, despite the lack of sunshine.

It was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't quite place it.

That brought her gaze to his bare wrist, lying innocently against the rough concrete, confirming her dreaded suspicions. A knot formed in her stomach. Ever since returning to the Human Realm, Kurama had taken to wearing the twisted, hemp-like bracelet that Shippo had made for them all.

The man beside her was not the same demon that has so graciously introduced her to some of the natural mysteries of Makai.

The revelation lit a spark within her, anger and hesitation colored her vision. Kagome released the sacred jewel and reached down to find some more of the small stones that she had been tossing. She kept her arms close to her sides to prevent him from casually brushing up against her.

"You're not Kurama."

The Kagemono smirked, sending a shiver down her spine. He pushed away from the wall, caressing the gem at his own sternum. The leather cord strung around his fingers, the little crystal dangled, innocent and pure. He flaunted it like a consolation prize.

"It took you so long to see? I don't remember you being so... naive. What happened to the brave warrior that I had once looked up to?"

Confusion crossed her features before the call of her name drew her attention up the bank to the street behind them. Kazuma was racing towards her, frantic and panting, followed close at his heels by the oh-so-familiar green eyed fighter. The real Kurama, tense and concerned, braided bracelet draped around his wrist.

Relief flooded her, so strong that she thought she might even drown in it.

═══════════════ Inuyasha X Yu Yu Hakusho ═══════════════

Kurama had started running to the other side of town before he had even closed his communicator. As the second to be informed of Yukina's disappearance, it was his responsibility to inform Kuwabara. They all knew that if the young man was told that his beloved ice maiden had gone missing over the phone and without a teammate there to anchor him, he would have run off blindly to find her.

Hiei would have done the same, but at that moment the apparition was keeping below the radar so nobody knew where he was.

The frost bitten morning saw that the streets were mostly bare, but there were still a few people to stare and goggle as he touched down in front of the Kuwabara's single family home. He'd taken to the rooftops in his rush, the wind whipped some of the moisture from his shower dampened hair. The front door was unlocked, as it always was.

Kuwabara spotted him as he was leaving the kitchen. Dread rose in his scent when he took in the usually pristine Kitsune's disheveled appearance.

"What's the matter?"

Kurama gave him the update, watching the human's reaction tentatively as he did. Goosebumps rose on the ex-delinquent's skin, his heartbeat quickened and his pupil's dilated. Just before Kuwabara was about to rush past him through the door to take matters into his own hands, as predicted, the fox grabbed his shoulder.

Something in the house was missing.

"Where's Kagome?"

The lug gritted his teeth and yanked away, angered that his friend was going to stand in his way of finding his girl. The longer they stalled, the smaller their chance of finding Yukina became, that was the first thing you learn about kidnappings! And, understandably, he wanted to be the first on the scene when they saved her.

When the Silver Fox's question finally sank in, he blinked dumbly. Anger quickly shifted. "Kagome?" He began to sweat, the adrenaline coursing through his veins screamed at him to move, to dance, to do something. "She went out!"

Kurama bristled.

"What do you mean, she's gone out?" He demanded, cold and stern. "We are supposed to be protecting her." Even as he said it, the words didn't settle right with him. Since having her under their wing they had done absolutely nothing to protect her. In fact, they might have caused even more harm than good. The priestess had every right to step away from them and breathe.

"That's a fat load of dung and you know it!" Kuwabara snapped back, earning him a startled look from the two thousand year old Youkai. The incident with Yusuke had set them all on edge, but now one of their own was missing. It was too much for the human to hold in.

"Keepin' an eye on her, not bein' allowed to touch her—to comfort her!-not lettin' her go home! We're not exactly body guards, Kurama! We're more like prison wardens, and not the kind that let ya out early for good behavior, neither."

Kuwabara glared his brown eyes at his friend of just over five years, the one he considered to be the most reasonable mind on their team. Then, as if his feet couldn't possibly stand still any longer, he stormed to the living room to pick up a discarded sweater to throw over his band tee. Again, he stomped pasted the Kitsune to the coat closet where his sister kept all of the junk that their guests left behind. He threw a heavy black bomber jacket over his shoulder, less than gentle.

Kurama didn't dare mention that the freezing temperatures outside no longer affected his demon body as drastically as it did when he wore the human skin, but he covered his sleeveless linen undershirt nonetheless. It was best not to draw any unnecessary attention to themselves.

"I know." The demon resentfully agreed after a tense moment, pulling the zipper partially close. He stepped back to the front door. "The situation is infuriating. But I can assure you that I do not know any more than you do as to why."

When Kuwabara didn't turn around to face him, Kurama nudged the back of his fist against the taller man's stiffened arm. "But we need to focus on what we do know. Yukina has been abducted and the perpetrator is still at large. We need to find Kagome before he can get to her as well."

"Then we'll save Yukina."

The fox nodded. "We will find her."

There was no goofy smile or glimmer of humor in his eyes when the tall human turned to look at the crafty demon and grip his hand, only a fierce and solid determination. Kurama admired that. The love and faithfulness that he had for the little ice demoness was heartwarming and respectable.

Somehow, strong relationships between Youkai and humans always seemed to work out like that; they brought out the passion in both species. It was a necessary fire though, considering how fleeting the human lifespan was.

Kurama's gaze softened on his teammate.

He didn't believe that he would have ever been strong enough to fall in love with a human for that very reason. The thought of having barely sixty years with a partner that was intended for life was painful. Knowing that his human mother was growing old so quickly was hard enough.

It was a fact that Yusuke had yet to realize for himself.

The creak of a floorboard alerted Kurama to the elder Kuwabara sibling standing in the doorway to the kitchen, her hand tangled in the long, auburn hair on the tiny fox kit's head. The child was just over fifty years old, already half a human's lifespan yet not even old enough to fully hold a human form—as evident from his furry feet poking from beneath the hem of his pants.

Shizuru spoke. "Then you two'd better break up the love fest and get going, already. She went north, up by the bridge they rebuilt last year."

Shippo looked as if he was about to jump from her arms and demand to go with them, but her hold on him tightened. Kagome hadn't replaced his Glamour that morning and there was no way that they would blend into a crowd with a bushy tail like that.

"We'll hold down the fort, here."

Kurama could have weaved a glamour of his own for the little boy, but it was probably best that he didn't go with them. They had no idea what the Black Fox's reaction would be when she learned of the new developments in her case.

The Silver Fox prepared himself for any and every path that he could think of.

══════════════════ Just Instincts ═══════════════════

Heart racing, Kuwabara's feet slammed against the pavement as they ran. As much as it tore him in pieces to put Yukina's disappearance second on their itinerary, he had a funny feeling that Kagome was the golden key to saving their team's littlest cheerleader and the love of his life.

The thought of the blue haired demoness scared and alone, locked away once more made him run until his legs gave out. Pedestrians jumped and swerved from their path.

He was too slow!

Why couldn't he have had some secret demon blood too, huh? If he did, maybe he would have had the demonic speed he so desperately craved to close the distance. Maybe then he could have read the subtle nuances between the lines and understood what was really going on. Maybe then he could have been equal once more to his teammates instead of the weakest link.

Maybe then he would have felt like he deserved such a bomb girl.

"Kagome!" Kuwabara yelled out to the riverbank coming into view.

The flash of red beside her sent a splash of ice water through his body. Kurama was right to worry.

They made eye contact, the human and the Shadow Youkai. It was freakish, seeing the redhead in two places at once, but worse than that was the blood-lust and amusement hiding behind those emerald green eyes. It was so strong that he could taste it in the air.

"Ah!" He let out when a glitter of gold caught his eye.

Before he and the fox demon could get any closer to the two, between one passing car and the next, the Shadow Beast was gone, leaving the Priestess scrambling down from her perch on the wall.

When the light turned red and traffic stopped, Kuwabara tore across the crosswalk and straight past Kagome. He stood right where the Kagemono had, seconds before, and could feel the magic of the portal still pulsing around him. They were so close!

Anger welled up in him. "He was right here!" The gangly redhead bit his heels into the cement and turned to look at the girl, currently being inspected by the real deal. "Did he say anything about her!?"

The priestess gasped as he grabbed her by the shoulders, desperation pouring from every crevice of his being.

"Did he say anything about Yukina!?"

Kurama scolded and pressed himself between the two, but the human was fixed on the woman's reaction. Blood drained from her face and she reached up to grasp the blue stone at her neck, as she always did when she was uncomfortable. She choked on the air as she fought to breathe, as if he had knocked the wind right out of her.

"Did he!?" He prodded further, fearing that he was pushing her too far but needing to hear the answer.

"No, but..." Kagome stuttered. Her comment made the earth stop spinning. "I think he was wearing her necklace..."

Kuwabara took a shaky step backwards. Kagome's quivering hands reached up to cover her lips, and then the better half of her face.

"Oh my god..." She whispered. "He's got Yukina."

The shattered words felt like a mountain had come crashing down upon him. It was somehow so much worse hearing it from her. The pressure inside of him grew and he growled out, focusing his energy within the palm of his hand.

Concentration lit a fire within him and his blazing yellow sword sprung to life. Unlike the wildfire of his usual Spirit Sword, this one was smooth with sharp edges capable of tearing beyond flesh and being. It could cut a hole within the fabric of reality itself. With his Dimension Sword he could follow the dirty monster to the prison where he was holding the ice maiden.

Nothing would stand in his way.

"Kuwabara! Don't be rash!" The Silver Fox intervened, he jumped in front of him once more, blocking the site where the Shadow Beast had portaled from. All he needed to do was slice through the residual energies and there was a chance that it could reopen them! "We do not know enough to face him yet! It would be suicide to follow him now!"

"You said we'd find her! We have a chance right now!" The thug pointed the business end of the sword at the Kitsune in an empty threat. The venom of betrayal sank deep, an abrasive in his already stinging wound. "If 'yer not gonna help me then get outta my way!"

Kurama stood his ground. "We will find her. As a team, not as a vigilante. You have no idea where that portal will take you, if anywhere relevant at all. That sword has always had a mind of it's own, there is no guarantee that opening a portal here in the middle of this public place will follow him, as you intend. And if it does? If it is a trap waiting to be sprung? We need to think this through rationally."

A droplet of blood ran down the taller man's chin and along the length of his jaw from where he but his lip.

Years ago, Kuwabara would have rushed in anyway. Even if it was a trap, he would have pushed past Kurama and moved on ahead, knowing that his friends would back him up and dig him out of whatever trouble he found himself in. But not all of his teammates where behind him then. It wasn't like any of their other fights.

They were more divided than ever before and they were completely in the dark about their enemy.

The young man felt tears prickle at the corners of his eyes before they overflowed onto his short, curly eyelashes. "He's got Yukina." He repeated like a broken record.

When he released his fist the blazing energy of the sword dissipated into the falling snow. He shook with the effort it took to let it go.

They didn't know anything about the demon that had attacked them, that was willing to stop at nothing to get under the Priestess's skin and disrupt those around her. Not even Koenma had given them any indication that he'd heard of the powerful Kagemono—Koenma always had something on file somewhere.

His sleeve doubled as a handkerchief as he roughly brushed away his tears and frustration colored his high cheekbones. Kurama slowly lessened his guard after the weapon was dropped, but he remained on high alert, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.

"I'll do what I can to help."

Their attention flicked back to Kagome when she spoke up. She looked so lost and helpless, searching for straws. White clusters of snowfall stuck to her long black hair, but left melted tracks on her face. Kuwabara never realized just how tiny she was compared to him. Sure, Yukina was substantially smaller than her, but the frosted demoness had learned to stand with the confidence and grace of a proud house cat. The fox girl looked as if she wanted to fold in on herself and completely disappear.

"If you'll let me." She finished impishly, shifting under his intense scrutiny.

She was their answer!

With as much as the Shadow Beast knew about Kagome, there was no possible way that they were complete strangers! She had to know something, anything, that would help them. Even the smallest tidbit of information would but them in better standing.

But... if she had dirt on the bastard, why hadn't she told them already?

He watched as she swallowed hard, but kept her focus locked on him. The oceans in her eyes were an infinite abyss, deep and so very alone.

"You've gotta know the guy, doncha, Kagome?! You musta met him somewhere!" Hoarseness crept from his throat, decorating the desperation with salt. His slang slurred more than it had in a long time. "How do we fight 'im?!"

Kagome frowned and glanced down at his large hands, enveloping her own with ease. "But... I don't..."

"Please!" Dropping to his knees—he wasn't sure that his legs could support his huge frame any longer—Kuwabara pulled her with him. Couldn't she see how much they needed her to confide in them?! They needed her, he needed her to just talk to them. "Help us out here!"

He held her captive, the warmth of her body against his forehead did little to sooth the raw emotions raging war inside his soul.

The little red pinky string of fate was too faint to feel between the realms. The not-knowing was killing him.

The demoness's chest heaved, but the tears had stopped falling. She'd dried herself out. "I can't." She felt limp in his arms. "I don't know anything, I swear. I don't know who he is."

It didn't make any sense!

"That's a lie, you've gotta."

"I'm sorry!" She replied a bit firmer. "There's nothing else I can tell you. Aside from today, I hadn't even met him yet—"

Kagome cut herself off, her breath halted. The human swore that he could feel every single muscle in her body tense one by one. Her heart's rhythm was so slow, far slower than any mortal's. When she pulled away, falling on her tailbone in a small heap, her eyes had widened. She looked as if she had just discovered the truths of the universe.

For a second, hope filled him. Had she finally remembered where she had known the Shadow guy from? Even if it was just a hazy memory of a passing glance, he would have taken it joyously. Just something to work with!

Instead, the vixen repeated herself, letting her voice build and grow with clarity and confidence.

"I haven't met him, yet!"

For some inexplicable reason, she smiled .

Shit, Kuwabara thought.

He broke her.

════════════════ 犬夜叉 X 幽遊白書 ═════════════════

Chapter Twenty One: End

Advance Warning: The next chapter (And following epilogue) will be the end of Just Instincts, but please keep in mind that it is far from the end of the story! This book's got a sequel.