A/N: Sorry for my lack in chapters, I've been super busy with work. REVIEWS MAKE ME SUPER HAPPY GUYS! Since I re uploaded I haven't really gotten any. I should've just replaced the chapters I fixed in the last upload and kept my 60 something reviews. Lol anyway enjoy!

Chapter 7: Exposed

It had been three weeks since their magical night and Kuronue and Kagome had been inseparable. Thanks to Kagome and Kaede's healing skills, Kuronue's wing was beginning to regain strength and he could finally fly short distances again. He even started to aid their group in finding the jewel shards. Kagome found that with her power and Kuronue's flight and sonar abilities finding them was so much faster than before! The jewel was nearly three quarters complete. Kagome trembled slightly, remembering that she will have to find Youko and retrieve the shards he stole from her eventually. Inuyasha still didn't trust him. Never would, mate or otherwise. While searching the land the lovesick bat had taken up the habit of bringing Kagome small gifts that he would find here and there. A bundle of mountain flowers, a pretty shell from the water front, some good smelling food he got from a merchant's cart in the village. Sango swooned at all the affection she was receiving and wished Miroku would take notes. All he ever did was grab a handful of her rear end every so often. Inuyasha scoffed at everyone fawning over the new couple. Not only did this bat work with Youko Kurama, but he kidnapped Kagome on how many occasions?! He couldn't believe she chose some murderous bandit to mate with.

By day Kagome would take to the skies with Kuronue to search the surrounding land for shards. At night they would make love and she would sleep curled up in Kuronue's arms under the stars surrounded by his comforting warmth. She never wanted it to end… But like all good things it eventually did. One morning while they were having breakfast, the demon named Yomi appeared in the village. Kuronue's brows knitted together in frustration upon seeing his former partner. His appearance couldn't possibly mean anything good. "Yomi, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Kuronue got up and made his way over to him.

"Youko sent me to retrieve you. We haven't been having much luck lately and he's wounded. We need your help." Yomi's face looked grim. Kuronue felt his heart sink, he didn't want to leave Kagome. Youko was his partner and his best friend. Kuronue nodded before making his way back to Kagome.

"Youko needs me. I won't be gone for longer than a week. I promise"

"But he hurt you." Kagome argued, feeling rage for the first time in a long time.

"He was upset, it's understandable. If someone was trying to take you away from me I'd be livid too. Besides, he only meant to knock me out of the way. The rip in my wing was a total accident."

Kagome closed her eyes and turned away from him with tears already streaming down her face. Kuronue's heart broke seeing her cry again. He gently placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face so she was looking into his eyes. "One week." He reassured her before kissing her goodbye and returning to Yomi. He lifted him and took flight. And for the first time in weeks, Kagome slept alone, curled into a tight ball.

A week had come and gone, Kuronue had yet to return. Then a week turned into a month. Kagome had begun to lose hope. Sango tried multiple times to talk to her distraught friend, Kagome would just feign a smile and walk away in response. Even Inuyasha was starting to feel bad.

"Kagome, why don't you just go home for a little while and spend time with your family? If Kuronue comes back I'll come get you. Maybe the distraction will keep you from worrying so much. I'm sure he's fine and just got caught up helping the fox." He suggested.

Kagome nodded in agreement. "Okay, I guess it couldn't hurt. Just promise me you'll come get me the instant he gets back if I'm still away."

Inuyasha hugged her tight. "I promise Kagome. Please go relax."

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Home was as calm as ever. It was spring now and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. There didn't seem to be anyone home when she arrived, which was odd. Even Gramps was gone. She sighed and made her way up to her room to find a cute spring outfit so she could go out and try to enjoy herself. Surely Kuronue was okay. He was a powerful demon, and he was just going to make sure his friend was okay..right? Kagome kept trying to calm herself down and reassure herself that everything was going to be okay. After what seemed like an hour of pacing and rummaging through her closet, she decided on a baby pink top and white jeans with a long white long sleeved cardigan and pink sneakers. She put her hair into a high ponytail and applied some light makeup before nodding at herself in the mirror and turning to leave.

The streets were alive and pleasant with families all around preparing for the mid spring festival. Their joy was almost sickening for her to witness. The park in the center of town was jam packed with food stands, rides and a stage for the annual talent show. It was the only year Kagome wouldn't be in attendance. She was in no mood to celebrate anything. Turning the corner, she finally reached her destination. Her favorite book store. "Kami's books." For some reason being there always helped her relax. Whenever she was sad she would go there, pick out a book and curl up with a hot tea from their café in their fluffy couches. It was nice to get away from reality for a little while.

"Hey stranger." Came a familiar voice. Kagome glanced up from her book and directly into emerald eyes.

"Shuichi?!" Kagome squeaked in surprise.

"Yeah, I work here part time. It's been so long I almost didn't believe it was you walking in those doors."

Kagome pat the seat next to her. "You're welcome to join me. Plenty of tea and books to go around and it doesn't look like you're working right now."

Shuichi blushed and looked down sheepishly at the bookmarked manga he had in his arm before taking a seat next to her. Suddenly Kagome's curiosity got the better of her and she closed her book, looking at the redhead inquisitively. "So my friend you met last time we saw each other in front of my family's shrine... He has good senses."

Shuichi stiffened. "Oh?"

"He told me…You aren't… from here." She stammered, losing her nerve and trying to keep it as vague as possible without coming off as insane if Inuyasha's hunch was wrong.

Shuichi tried to keep his composure as his eyes flashed golden. Youko was coming, she was starting to figure out their secret and he couldn't contain him, at least for the time being. "Come, I need to show you something." He replied grabbing her wrist with a suddenly clawed hand and tossing his book onto the sofa. Kagome's stomach flipped and she was tugged gently along to a storage room. Shuichi swiped the door open with his keycard and they managed to slip in unnoticed. Kagome began to feel scared and regretted even bringing up the topic of him being a demon, which was apparently true.

Shuichi locked the doors and led her between two large bookcases that kept them hidden from the small windows on top of the door. "I'm going to show you something." He said breathing heavily and sounding strained. "You can't scream no matter what or it will attract an audience. I'm not going to hurt you I promise." Kagome relaxed slightly when he let go of her wrist. He stumbled away from her and fell with his back against the bookcase behind him. He took a deep breath and finally surrendered control. He began to glow slightly and went from being five foot eight to seven feet tall. His hair bled silver from the roots and grew longer. The intense aroma of roses assaulted Kagome's nose and suddenly she knew who he was.

"Youko.."

The beautiful fox that was now standing before her opened his golden eyes and took her petite hands in his large slender ones. "Hello my love."

Kagome was in shock she could barely breathe, let alone talk. Somehow, as if reading her mind Youko began to tell the tale of how he died and became a human boy from her world.

"It's been so long Kagome. I've missed you so much." He hugged her tightly. Kagome, who was still trying to wrap her mind around what just happened, finally snapped out of her shock enough to speak. She pushed him away from her and glared at him.

"What happened to Kuronue after Yomi came back to get him that day?" She demanded.

Youko didn't answer, instead choosing to look at the stock room floor.

"What happened to my mate?!" She yelled, beginning to cry and pulling away her cardigan to reveal Kuronue's mark. Youko felt his heart sink and shook his head. "I can't tell you Kagome. Nothing has changed yet and I cannot allow you to alter the course of time." He replied sadly, giving Shuichi back control of their body. Leaving him to comfort her.

"Do you have his memories?" She asked quietly. Shuichi nodded in response.

"I do, though I have to agree with him. The course of time should not be tampered with. Who knows how disastrous the consequences would be."

Kagome collapsed, he caught her quickly before she hit the floor and she sobbed audibly in his chest. He rubbed her back and held her tightly. Not only did he share memories with the bandit, but emotions as well. He had fallen head over heels with the girl the second he met her and had a powerful need to protect her. After she managed to pull herself together they left the book store. Shuichi offered to take her home and she shook her head. "I don't want to be alone right now. Please take me with you." Shuichi nodded and drove them to his apartment.

Kagome curled up in Shuichi's warm blankets with her head on his shoulder. "I can't believe he's gone." Shuichi stayed silent. "If I ever see him again I'll never let him leave without me again. I'll keep him safe, even if it destroys the future."

It was midnight before Kagome finally fell asleep in his bed. He offered to take the floor. Overcome with Youko's emotions, he was now the one curled up in a ball. Sadness from the loss of his partner, Jealousy that Kagome was still mated and longing to lay beside her and take her into his arms. It was going to be a long upsetting night.

The next morning Kagome woke up before Shuichi did. Looking down at him on the floor beside her, she noticed his forehead was beaded with sweat and he was mumbling something softly. "He must be having a dream." Kagome reached down and brushed his damp red bangs from his face and his expression softened almost instantly. Getting up, she padded her way to his kitchen and decided since he made breakfast for them last time that it was her turn to cook. Shuichi awoke to the smell of French toast and coffee. He looked up at the empty bed and sighed. "Stupid." He sighed, angry at himself for sleeping in. Grabbing his robe, he followed the delicious aroma to the kitchen where Kagome was just finishing up plating their food. It consisted of vanilla bean French toast and eggs with a steaming pot of coffee, creamer and sugar displayed nicely in the middle of the table.

"Kagome... Thank you for the breakfast, though someone in your emotional state should be getting catered to. Not doing the catering."

"It's okay, I have faith that Kuronue will be fine when I get back. He just acquired an extra shadow." She said enthusiastically. A pang of guilt stabbed through his chest as he sat and smiled at her in-genuinely.

The first half of breakfast was spent in silence while they ate. Then over coffee Kagome decided to interrogate him again. "So what happens to us? Last time I saw you...Youko, I was mad. I almost killed you, but changed my target last minute. The way Youko spoke when he took control of your body was almost too friendly. Like we somehow moved passed that and made amends." She said casually making eye contact over the brim of her mug and sipping lightly.

"Kagome... I can't go into details but yes we made up eventually. That's all I'm saying."

"Please Shuichi?" She begged

"I can't, and call me Kurama. Everyone that knows my secret does."

"There are others?" Kagome raised an eyebrow. Kurama nodded "Do you still have your power?" She asked. Kurama looked up and pointed to a pathetic looking potted flower on the top of the counter. He closed his eyes and concentrated his energy on the plant. Before long it straightened out and it's dried up petals uncurled and became bright pink again. It was good as new. "Yes and no. I still have power over plants, but I'm nowhere near as strong as I was before and I can no longer change into a spirit fox. Youko can only take over for short periods of time before he turns back into me. He's managed to hold control for two hours so far."

Kagome nodded and returned to her thoughts.

After they cleaned up breakfast Kurama offered to take Kagome home. Turns out his fancy blue sports car wasn't the only car he had. He also had a violet motorcycle and a red convertible. Kagome was in awe.

"Why do you even have that job at the bookstore?" She asked as they made their way through the city.

"Mostly to keep up appearances. A while back I had a friend of mine from the Makai retrieve my treasure from my old hideout. I have enough money to live off of for a long time, but how do I explain how a mere eighteen year old acquired such riches?"

Kurama pulled up to the Higurashi shrine, got out and held open the door for Kagome. She hugged him and thanked him for taking care of her before running up the stairs. She didn't even bother packing more supplies, she just leapt through the bone eaters well as fast as she could.