Inuyasha YuYu Hakusho Crossover 1 Chapter 25

Healing Soul Chapter 25: Recollections Revealed

The heels of his loafers pounded where they struck the sidewalk. Emerald eyes darted left then right checking for any potential witnesses before in a flash the redheaded college student leapt the shrine stairs in a blur. Adrenaline put a breathlessness in him from the dash across town which his youkai-enhanced body had only before experienced in battle. Sprinting to the door of the family's home Kurama found himself nervous as he lifted his knuckles to knock.

An elderly gentleman opened the door wearing the white haori and blue hakama indicative to the priest in a family of this shrine. "Eh?" Kurama withstood the way the wizened man looked him up and down before arching a scruffy brow. "What're you doing here? Kagome has school, and if I'm not mistaken you've classes as well."

Politely Kurama bowed, trying to reign in his breathing and other rebellious functions predominantly. "Onegai… forgive me, Higurashi-Jii-san. Something came up, and I was hoping to be able to walk her to school, to bring up talking with her about the matter after." He eyed Kagome's grandfather who was watching him suspiciously. "Might I have your blessing for this? If Kagome-chan is amiable?"

He could almost see the aged human's wheels turning. "Eh?! You're speaking to her here?!"

Barely lifting one crimson brow the fox avatar duly noted the degree of importance stressed on the location. Meeting the currently wide hazel eyes steadfastly Kurama nodded. "Kagome-chan speaks fondly and well of her family and how you supported her through her trials. I could do no less then confide in those whom she trusts with my secrets as well."

Higurashi Hayate's eyes lit up. "Really? Hot dang!" Chuckling to himself he turned around, leaving the door open. Kurama silently wondered at the somewhat maniacal sound. "C'mon, boy. You can wait inside for Kagome. That girl's always running late." The priest chuckled, muttering to himself as he ambled around the corner. Kurama's brows reached new height though hidden beneath his bangs at the words he was obviously not intended to hear. "Time to call Genkai. About time I know something before that insufferable know-it-all."

Standing in the entry Kurama quietly closed the door behind him, prepared to wait there patiently. However he should have known better from his previous meeting with Kagome's family. "Shuuichi-kun?" A slender, matronly woman with short brown curls half stepped from the kitchen to spot him there –likely after hearing her father-in-law's mutterings as he passed. "Ah! There you are! Come on –don't be shy. Eat with us while you're here. I'm sure you couldn't have had a chance at home to have made it all the way across Tokyo this morning."

Although he was uncertain the state of his appetite for the knots and butterflies taking up residence in his stomach Kurama recognized the gentle, motherly order to the words that harbored no room for refusal. Bowing lightly the redhead obediently toed off his shoes. "Arigato, Higurashi-san." His weak, polite protests were motherly ignored as the slight woman sat their impromptu morning guest across the table from her son and set a plate before him. Footsteps upon the stairs barely preceded her placement of a second plate at the space beside him –noted only in Kurama's periphery as his green eyes waited upon the door. He sucked in his breath at the early morning beauty that was Kagome –having to fight down the wistfulness mixed with memory of waking beside her and seeing her even more sleep-rumpled visage so much earlier than this.

"Ohayo, Okaa-san, Souta." Blue eyes stopped and blinked even as they widened upon taking in the change of company making Kagome do a double-take. "…Shuuichi-kun? How…? Wha…?"

Before Kurama could open his mouth to reply Higurashi Yusiko beat him to it. "Shuuichi-kun is here to walk you to school. Isn't that sweet?"

The miko's initial shock dissipated into brilliant joy. The fox basked in the feel of her aura reaching out to enfold him, returning the subconscious gesture intentionally while praying to any kami who would listen that what he would tell Kagome would not deny him this reaction of hers. "Yes. Yes it is." The high school girl agreed with a smile. "Just… unexpected. That's all." Again he could only hope her honest, happy aura would remain once she knew…

"So…" Souta started around a bite of omelet, brown eyes narrowed in brotherly concern -and potential warning- on the college student. "You're walking Kagome to school why now?"

Kurama felt his face flush. "Ah. Honestly I would also request permission to see her home after school as well." Green eyes slid between mother and daughter. "There is something of importance of which I would like to speak, that would take longer than there is time now. I've no desire to induce tardiness." His apology was in the half smile given, as Kurama also tried to support his request.

"Why not call?" Yusiko asked casually, her young son nodding as he chewed.

Beside him Kurama could see the miko blush and from the heat of his own face feared his was nearing the shade of his hair. "Regrettably… I've never exchanged contact information with Kagome-chan."

Souta's gaze was as intense as any interrogator –and as mischievous as any kitsune. The latter was only amplified by the boy's growing smirk. "I don't buy that's the whole reason. You could have called the Kurabara first, or looked up our Shrine number." The ancient fox flinched under the adolescent's too-perceptive gaze. He honestly had not thought the latter, and the former would have simply given Shizuru too much to think about which he was disinclined to allot. Souta must have caught on for his eyes widened before his expression turned into the pure evil capable Little Brothers. "Whatever this is… it's gotta be GOOD. But more than that… I think you're just wanting more reasons to see my sister."

There was a gasp as chopsticks fell from the hand of said female and struck the table with a soft clatter. The feelings overflowing the fox were unlike anything he had ever experienced before. He could not bring himself to meet any of the eyes which he could feel upon him.

"Shuuichi-kun…" Kagome's voice was but a murmur, warbling in her uncertain emotional state. "Is Souta right?"

He sighed, finding himself unable to deny a direct question. "It is not something I can refute…" Kurama edged.

Apparently his evasive answer was enough for their mother. "Kagome, Souta… finish up, please." As they did so she stood with their bags at the ready, all set for a quick hug on the way out the door. Kurama, following behind, blinked as he too was included in the familial morning ritual.

Yusiko must have sensed his confusion, for she smiled, not letting him protest as she maneuvered him out the door, shoes slipped into automatically. "There is nothing you can tell us of your past that will change how you're accepted." Flummoxed Kurama stared at the now shut door, a sparse second before a hand tugged at his elbow and he was half thrown at Kagome with a lurch in his stride to regain both balance and some sense of composure.

"You'll get used to it." His aggressor stated casually. If not for the wicked gleam in the youth's brown eyes the fox would have been hard-pressed in accepting Souta had just man-handled him. 'I know he speaks of his mother… but could he also be referring to the roughness?' "School must really be ingrained in ya, huh?" Obliviously holding himself to Kagome's side the redhead blinked in confusion before following the teasing boy's dancing brown eyes. "Even rushing across town you remembered that."

Readjusting his bag strap upon his shoulder Kurama shrugged, more interested now in the little miko beside him. Close beside him. Somehow his arm was around Kagome's waist, one of her hands pressed upon his chest between them. The location of her other hand explained her silence through the males' exchange immediately perceived for her fingers stroked the cream fox tail dangling from Kurama's backpack with a look of soft, if sad, pleasure.

Souta snickered. "C'mon, lovebirds. If we don't start moving we'll be late." Blushing, the couple quickly separated then trotted down the shrine steps to the sound of Little Brother Laughter.

The younger male monopolized and steered the conversation until his path diverged where he left them with a smirk and a wave. Once Souta was out of earshot Kagome shot a sideways glance at her now silent companion. Catching the tantalizing flash of blue Kurama felt his skin warm slightly. He was afraid to break the spell of silence around them, just wanting to soak up as much of her company as he could. But he could tell by her face… Kagome had something to ask him.

Blue glanced surreptitiously side to side before the miko spoke quietly. "So… Kurama-kun, are you intending to tell my family tonight?"

His greens blinked in surprise. 'She has not told them…?' "That was not my intention –but then I had thought they would already know." Suddenly it dawned on Kurama what he had missed in his state of hurry, panic, and otherwise high emotion. "But of course… they probably would have reacted differently to my arrival then, wouldn't they?" his voice an introspective murmur of one speaking thoughts aloud.

He wondered at Kagome's funny look at him: part incredulous, part embarrassed. "You'd be surprised." She mumbled. It made Kurama pause, his thoughts finally calming long enough to recall and contemplate what she had said about her family's reactions to Inuyasha jumping into their lives. A part of him was forced to admit he may be overreacting. 'But Inuyasha never did HALF the things I have.'

She gave him time to think, for which Kurama was grateful. Eventually his pace slowed, then paused. "Then why are you…nervous, Shuuichi-kun?"

Momentarily thrown off-balance at her switching names Kurama registered the sounds of high schoolers and their chattering. Having expected it as they neared her school he had disregarded the signs in the focus of his contemplation as they neared. The proximity was reason enough and Kurama applauded his miko her discretion and quick thinking even as he blushed faintly, turning to meet her eyes. There was an engulfing emotion within their blue-grey depths. But how to answer her? "In care for you, Kagome-chan."

The look of shock on her face was both beautiful and frustrating as the miko's skin pinked. 'Has she forgotten my offer...? My Promise? Why does she seem so stunned that I have affections for her? Or…?' And he recalled that which she did not say but he reflected from their newly remembered time together. 'Has she so lost her sense of self worth from that dog's words that she cannot believe my sincerity?' As her silence continued Kurama strongly suspected the latter, catching quick little flashes of brilliantly happy but baffled blue as she cast sideways glances his way while they walked the last block together, her cheeks pinking darker each time their eyes met. With a slightly nervous chuckle hearing the sound of three female voices calling his companion's name Kurama gently placed his hand at the small of her back and discretely directed Kagome to shift her steps into the schoolyard. "Go now, Kagome-chan." He loved the taste of her name on his lips, enjoying the way she blushed and shivered at the sound near her ear combined with his touch. At least she was not immune… "I hear your friends coming for you. I'll meet you here, at the end of your classes." Her mouth opened, eyes questioning but as she went to vocalize it the redhead stilled her lips with a finger upon them. Her blush first crimson intensified as he failed resisting a less than casual caress. Kurama could not take his eyes off hers, grabbing her own to reiterate before she could mention his class. Her schoolmates and friends did not all need to know he would be skipping out on his botany lecture that afternoon. Not that he needed it anyway; the spirit fox knew far more about the workings of plants than any human professor could ever learn. "Here, after school, Kagome-chan. I -will be waiting for you."

Gently Kurama gave one more nudge to the flummoxed girl who was encircled immediately by her three friends the moment her foot stepped past the gate. He smiled at Kagome as she glanced back, then quickly turned around when she did, hiding the heat springing to his face. He had often been the subject of girls' conversations before… why was he reacting to hearing it now?

A lone college student kept his eyes closed while he reclined his body casually with his back to the brick gate-head and one knee bent as the high schoolers let out and started filtering past. He did not require sight to tell him when the object of his affections stepped from the doors of the school, quickly to be re-encircled by her three childhood friends. Kurama had been able to feel her pure energy reaching out to him long before he took up his current post.

Listening for the nearing sounds of Kagome and her friends it was more difficult to filter out what was being said around him. More particularly… what was being said around him about him. Green eyes remained closed, as if to keep comments of their particular color at bay; not that it mattered. It was times like these Kurama almost regretted his red and green tones in a sea of blacks and browns. Almost –his kitsune nature for individuality and acclaim secretly liked it. To an extent. It was a similar pride issue that did not allow Kurama to entirely falsify his intelligence. Of course both appearance and academics together were enough to deny one Minamino Shuuichi any obscurity. Especially among high school students for whom both were so greatly aspired.

Thankfully his closed eyes did at least deter the majority of the masses from accosting him with intent to converse. Unfortunately there was always at least one over-bold female in particular with a high enough self-importance to overlook propriety and courtesy to impose herself far too close to his person for any respectful society. At this female's unwanted self-introduction Kurama internally sighed as he donned a put out yet courteous expression. Thankfully Kagome was nearing; or not, as he felt her aura flex with anxiety to note his current companion. He had not asked for the annoying female to speak with him, nor did he want her there, and it became pressingly more difficult to keep his cool in response. "Thank you but no thank you. I am waiting for a specific girl…" he let his eyes open then brighten as he scanned the students and alighted on his longed for miko. It was not an act how he delighted in the sight of her, only revealing it when in believable visual range rather than first sensing or even hearing her. "There she is. Please excuse me."

Thank the kami for his kitsune skills enabling Kurama to slip past the forward female despite her attempts to snag and block him as he fled with all appearance of casual politeness and ease. "Kagome-chan!" His heart soared feeling her anxiousness depart as the distance between them disappeared. "I hope your day was well…" he reached for her, caressing her soft cheek with the backs of his knuckles then tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Regrettably but politely he turned a less personal smile towards the three girls keeping point around her. "Ah; Watanabe-san, Sato-san, Nakamura-san." Kurama greeted in order with a bow. "A pleasure to meet you at last."

Flat blue eyes widened and blinked at him. Yuka's eyes were more blue than Eri's almost black ones but despite their hue still rather nondescript. Or perhaps Kurama was merely biased, his gaze flickering to the brilliantly emotion-filled blue-grey orbs that meant so much to him. That Kagome's momentarily faltering aura was shifted once more to happiness filled the former thief with a sense of peace and tolerance. "You know who we each are, Minamino-san?"

A polite nod. "Hai, Watanabe-san. Kagome-chan speaks of you, Nakamura-san, and Sato-san quite frequently. She is honored to have such loyal childhood friends."

"It is we who are honored, Minamino-sempai." Ayumi uttered shyly.

A red brow rose, preceding a polite smile. "Congratulations on being accepted already, Sato-san."

"Will you be coming for Kagome every day, Minamino-san?" Eri interjected eagerly, her dark eyes showing their hint of blue as they glimmered.

Letting his hand slide smoothly down the said stunned silent girl's arm to lightly take her hand Kurama's smile turned sheepish as he glanced at Eri before focusing on the miko. "Not every day, Nakamura-san, as I have my own classes to attend which don't always align to allow such pleasure. Otherwise… how often depends on Kagome-chan herself."

He did not allow his fear that she might not even wish to see him after hearing what he had to tell her show in any way. For the moment… Kurama wanted to douse himself in hopeful bliss.

A bliss Kagome's three unusually observant friends were apparently quite willing to retain as with a shared glance and muffled giggle they wordlessly synchronized to direct the bashfully smiling couple off school grounds. Quickly, before Hojo Takaya was cleared from his afterschool responsibilities. With a smokescreen of girlish chatter they walked the politely responding college student and the stunned but smiling blushing miko to her shrine.

The girls seemed unaffected by Kagome and Kurama's continued silence but the fox caught their conspiring glances on occasion in his periphery. For the first time in his life Kurama was content to be safely herded towards their destination and was in fact surprised upon reaching it so punctually.

"All right you girls –GET!" The elderly shrine priest's playful but authoritive directive caused the group to jump and Kagome's trio of friends to squeak in start. Higurashi Hayate was already using his broom to separate the couple from their escort while effectively sweeping the pair inside and the triad back down the steps. "There'll be more gossip for you three from Kagome in the morning, hear me? Right now that boy has enough to explain without you lot giggling every other word. Now, off with you!"

Giggling the girls cheerfully obeyed, calling out their farewells mixed with teases of good luck being rather accustomed to the many peculiarities of Kagome's grandfather. The girl herself blustered a bit, yet all too soon she and Kurama found themselves seated at the family's dining table with the Higurashi and one calm tea-sipping Genkai settled around in various displays of waiting.

Kurama slid his eyes to the elder Higurashi, wondering why Kagome's grandfather was suddenly silent in contrast to what he had both been told of the man as well as previously experienced. His hazel eyes were lucid and sharp, and Kurama felt oddly exposed. 'What could Higurashi Hayate-san suspect to give such a look? It's almost knowing and somehow… accusing?' Feeling uncomfortable in the relentless gaze the ancient fox for the first time he could recall looked away primarily from nervousness. Clearing his throat Kurama forced himself to have confidence.

"Kagome-chan has informed me that she has not shared with you yet that which I told her about myself." Scanning the range of eyes upon him from the Higurashi and the kind patience in two of the three pairs with which he was less familiar the ancient kitsune steeled himself for what he had to say. "Let me start first with that."

Slowly, methodically, with more apprehension and less of the comfort than he had when telling of his history to Kagome herself Kurama once more spread bare his tale. There were a few times he could feel the sharp accusation of hazel eyes upon him darken, as well as their occasional snaps towards Genkai where she placidly sipped her tea. The rising excitement in young Souta's aura as well as his happiness was an unexpected boon –almost enough to counter his grandfather's growing ire. But otherwise it went much smoother than his previous endeavor, lacking many of the deviations and distractions.

Pausing Kurama once more glanced around the room. He took strength in the comfort and support Kagome openly showed in her expressive eyes. That her mother looked only mildly startled and a little impressed was also encouraging, although Souta's barely contained exuberance was almost frightening in its intensity.

Only more so was the fire flashing in the family elder's now darkened eyes. Kurama could only be thankful that for the moment they were not directed at him even as he worried that such might not long be the case while wondering what it was Genkai had done to draw it.

""Powerful" you said. "Dangerous only to those that cross him" you said. "One of a kind…" how the Hell did you manage to tell me everything and nothing all at once, old hag?"

"Jii-san!" Yusiko admonished sharply if baffled herself. "Language!"

Shaking his head, hazel eyes tossing daggers intermittently at his lifelong friend with occasional glances at Kagome and Kurama the aged priest continued to mutter hotly. "Youko Kurama. THE Youko Kurama. Legendary thief of the known worlds and beyond… courting my granddaughter…!"

At the last one Kurama blushed scarlet, barely able to raise his eyes to see if said female was equally embarrassed at the comment had she heard it. Although he was, yes, courting her in a fashion Kagome had yet to say anything straightforward in regards to his suit therefore leaving the inexperienced in this matter kitsune quite lacking in his typical self-confidence.

The Spirit Wave's creator just sat there, a grin half hidden by her raised teacup and her aged eyes bright and youthful in her mirth. That she had learned things about the infamous Youko Kurama on top of everything else was certainly a bonus.

Dulled green eyes blinked. 'Ah I see. Genkai must have told him something the night I first escorted Kagome home. Yet… I believe from his reactions now and throughout my telling that he had previous knowledge of my exploits, even if he did not know them to be mine. Now… all things that I can see considered… he is taking this rather well.'

Understanding that Genkai was not going to give Higurashi Hayate any satisfaction of a reply the individual who was the subject of the dispute politely, if nervously, reclaimed their attention. "Excuse me, Higurashi-Jii-san, but there is more." Once satisfied that their curious eyes were on him Kurama did not yet assuage their curiosity but turned pained emerald orbs to Kagome. "While I did not intentionally leave anything out, there is an incidence of great importance which I only last night unfettered."

"Eh? What's this?" Hayate mulled, eyes still flashing but attention adequately snared.

Only a nod showed he heard the elder and acknowledged him but it was within blue-gray seas Kurama lost himself. "Kagome-chan…" His voice nearly broke with emotion over her name. "Do you remember a period, a span of days just shy of a fortnight, where you took in your company an injured silver fox? A fox, larger than normal who you brought to Goshinboku to heal after he faced Naraku alone? And one night visited by a lordly sibling in Inuyasha's absence?"

Hands that had been lightly touching hers slid down her arms to catch at the elbows as the miko's slender digits failed to cover her gasp beneath wide eyes. "Kurama… You were that fox? The one Sesshomaru-sama called Youko…?" Her eyes if possible widened even further at that revelation and he was not sure Kagome could even see the nod of his head. "But then… why wouldn't you tell me?"

Shame urged him to look askance but Kurama could not bring himself to surrendering from the oceans of her eyes. "I… compromised myself. After leaving you and returning to Reikai." More than before his tone was hushed, pained. "When the rest of you left to bathe that night, after the Western Lord had passed through, the monk told me I would forget you. I was… angry that he dared imply such a thing. Even as I caught the Kami's own touch to his words. I conceded… but I would do things in my own way. If I had to forget… I would also remember. I knew, that in such a situation where I felt some memory was missing what I would do, and last night I did so –and now I remember."

He could feel the heavy weight of eyes upon them from all sides but it was the heavy compassion in a particular pair of soft brown orbs that tugged his gaze if only in a glance to the matriarch. "Ah. I think I see." Higurashi Yusiko murmured gently. "Regaining your memory… that was the driving force behind your urgency at this morning's impromptu visit."

He wanted to fall back into Kagome's eyes but to do so at this moment would be impolite to her mother. There was also something about the woman's calmness in the new knowledge and situation which was both relieving and soothing. "Hai. It would not be right… to withhold such information from Kagome-chan. She more than anyone deserved to know… and I would not have it that I ever kept something of this nature from her. Not intentionally longer than I possibly had to." Kurama's grammar was all over the place as much as his thoughts and emotions but for all that his heart was steady in its resolve and the rest again found some calm in Yusiko's accepting and grateful nod.

He then turned to the girl for whom all this was presented. "Kagome-chan… there is something else. After the monk Miroku told me what I must do he asked me to relay to you something when I saw you again." He held her eyes with his, hoping his message would bring her more joy than sorrow. "He asked me to tell you that he and the taijiya "loved you all their days but they could not stay for you" and that they "loved you and missed you… but that their time was always now, with you forever in their hearts."" The tears welling then falling down her cheeks were nearly too much for the kitsune who accepted he had fully given this female his once-hardened heart. Tenderly he wiped her cheeks free of tears, over and over again; a difficult feat indeed once Kagome ensconced herself in his lap, seeking and attaining Kurama's embrace as she snuggled into his chest.

When her tears had slowed and throat unclogged he heard her choked "thank you" half muffled by his shirt and smiled softly.

"You are welcome. I may have been the first able to pass on their message, but I've a feeling I will not be the last. Your monk was too wise to rely on merely one messenger."

Kagome's laughter was a blissful thing. "What you call wise, I'd call crafty." Her tone was playful if still a little sad remembering her lost friends. "Especially in Miroku's case."

"Yes. Well. I am certain he is not the only one to be so labeled."

Again her laughter; this time partnered with a playful slap to his chest and a "oh you" as she pulled back to look up at him. Kagome's fake pout quickly dissolved into a smile. "Trust a kitsune to relate "sly" and "crafty" with "wisdom"" she teased.

"Only the sly and crafty among us tend to live long enough to be considered wise," was Kurama's equal playful rejoinder.

Kagome's mother chuckled softly, her eyes warm and happy at seeing her daughter so easily embraced by this redhead she had just learned was not exactly the "young man" they had believed. Yet still he was… just so much more. "Well such ways of thinking will certainly be enlightening and entertaining around here." Yusiko remarked casually, her tone light with mirth and joy. Beside her Souta was fair bouncing with excitement, nodding his agreement and looking at Kurama with eyes almost wild in their boyish exuberance.

Green eyes widened at Kagome's family in shock at their complacency but none more than their matriarch. "How can you still be welcoming? Are you not upset with me?"

Higurashi Yusiko chuckled then tsked at the baffled redhead. "Come now, Kurama-kun, ne?" The middle-aged human had a lilt to the edge in her voice as if tickled to talk as to one younger to someone far, far older. "You are an intelligent young man –and more from what you tell. Why would you think our opinion of you could change?" Kurama opened and shut his mouth twice unable to voice a viable, logical reason. "You heard Kagome's tale: we accepted Inuyasha as he was and he was nowhere as polite as you."

Finally his voice unstuck. "But that was different. I deceived you."

Yusiko gave him a hard, narrowed look through motherly eyes. "Your circumstances were completely dissimilar." Kurama went to protest but another pointed look from the Higurashi matriarch silenced him. She would not have him attempt to dissuade her. Upon witnessing the redhead's compliance Yusiko once more returned to her motherly calm demeanor. "Now… when will you be taking Kagome to tell your mother? I may not be able to say anything about Youko Kurama, but I would like to know when I can start bragging that my daughter is being courted by Minamino Shuuichi."

The fox avatar sputtered, dumbfounded, and the elderly priest fell over with a loud if broken exclamation. The miko blushed crimson as her brother guffawed then fell into a fit of giggles, brown eyes never leaving the couple. Genkai, watching on, was amused.

Author's Note: This is another of those chapters/scenes that wasn't in my original plans for this story but stemmed from another chapter. As soon as I started altering the ending of 'Shuuichi Speculates' to how it is now this simply came to be –and was practically finished while working on the Exchange chapters. What took so long was the fleshing out, particularly the wording when Kurama picks Kagome up from school and their arrival at the shrine following. I could see it but not word it. Very annoying.

I hope you find it fitting, and understand why Kurama is acting out of character from his normal behavior. It's intentional, with his current emotional state combined with a never before experienced or even expected situation. I only hope I did him justice. Same with Kagome's family.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.

Thanks for reading!

Originally posted 8 February 2013

Edit 24 May 2013: changed Ayame to Ayumi as it should be. Thanks to katyj13 for the heads up!