Chapter 16
Yasu-Yasu Hishu

Kagome finished cooking all of the fish and set it on a plate for everyone to help himself or herself. They ate it, smiling, their taste buds going nuts. "This is very delicious, Kagome-chan," Sango said.

"Arigatou, Sango," Kagome smiled.

"I love the mixture of seasonings," Koishii-Yume commented, still chewing on the bit of fish in her mouth. "Good choice."

"Arigatou, Koishii." Kagome took a fish for herself and held out a plate for Inuyasha with fish on it. "Here, have some. If you don't, you'll be starving until dinner which won't be until late sunset now."

Inuyasha took the fish, touching her hand. Kagome pulled her hand away like she was burned. Inuyasha took her hand and looked at it, making sure it wasn't him.

"Yamete," Kagome exclaimed, pulling her hand back. "I'm fine, it's just a little bruised from the rocks at the bottom of the river. Mou!" She shook her head and ate her fish.

Inuyasha looked down at his fish, looking very guilty. He ate the fish and left without a word. Kagome watched him leave and looked over at Sango and Koishii-Yume for help. They shook their heads no and Kagome stretched her legs out, leaning against the wall. "It can be so boring here," Kagome complained.

"Depends on how you look at it," Miroku shrugged. "We could always travel around a little."

"Oh yes, only with a school uniform, a pair of jeans, one tank top, and a yukata. How brilliant of you, Miroku! Let's travel!"

Miroku sighed, "If you want to go after Inuyasha that bad, then go."

"I don't care," Kagome smiled very cheerful-like, "I'm over that fight. He's just not excepting the fact that I'm not mad."

Miroku slumped a little, his head falling forward slightly, "I'm not that thick headed, Kagome. You plan to make him want you. Then, when he stops touching you, you'll know that he really never gave a shit about you. After that, you'll feel really guilty about it and you'll be a depressed cat. Then, Inuyasha finds someone else and you get pissed off--"

"Miroku, be quiet," Sango looked at him sternly, "don't make her feel terrible."

"What if that happens," Kagome looked scared. "What if he stops and then he does find someone else!"

"Too bad," Sesshoumaru shrugged.

"Sesshoumaru," Koishii-Yume growled, hitting his arm, "that was cold."

"It's the truth!"

"Not everyone wants to hear the truth!" Koishii-Yume narrowed her eyes at Sesshoumaru. He began to coward under her stare, but remained looking powerful.

"She should know the truth, shouldn't she?"

"You're pushing it, Sesshoumaru. Unless you want me to go to Kagome's time and let Rin know that I'm your mate, along with you fellow peers, then you better watch you mouth." Koishii-Yume folded her arms, and stuck her nose up in the air. There was a pause until she punched him in the arm where the arrow had scratched him, "Don't call me that, you bastard! I am not a fluffer bitch and I am not attracted to anyone here, but you! Sometimes you're impossible..."

"Gomen," Sesshoumaru muttered.

Koishii-Yume went and sat next to Kagome, whispering something to her. Kagome giggled and looked at Sesshoumaru as Koishii-Yume went on.

"What are you telling her," Sango asked, "let me know!" Sango went over to Koishii-Yume and Koishii-Yume began to whisper in Sango's ear. Sango began to giggle to, looking at Sesshoumaru and then giggling again.

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Inuyasha sat in a tree, looking at the clouds. The clouds wondrous shapes, its lightness, and the way it could just sit up there and not lower a bit. He closed his eyes a little and drifted off to sleep until he felt a familiar brush upon his face. He opened his eyes and perched on the branch in front of him was Kagome.

"What are you doing," Inuyasha asked.

Kagome shrugged, "I don't know."

"Pathetic woman." Inuyasha turned his face away.

Kagome brought her hand and her head down, "Do you really hate me that much?"

"Keh, everytime you get pissed all you say is 'osuwari' and I get left behind in the ground." Inuyasha looked at her and smelt salty water in the air. He leaned forward and stutter, "Do-don't cry!"

"Why not," Kagome shouted, looking up at him and pointing. Her finger was between his eyes; "You're always going on and on about how pathetic I can be! Then I finally get you back for making such... such... offensive comments and you get pissed off! What the hell am I supposed to do! Perk up and say, 'I love you!' You know what, no way!" Kagome took a few deep breaths and took one, large sigh.

Inuyasha was as close to the tree as he could, fearing Kagome's yelling. Kagome sighed once more and looked down, "Gomen..."

"Uh," Inuyasha looked at her. "I-it's okay?"

"I guess it's all of this hanyou stuff."

"I'll be there for you."

Kagome's tail twitched, "Arigatou."

Inuyasha's ear twitched and he looked down. Everyone was looking up at them, including Sesshoumaru (to their amazement). Kagome looked down, Koishii-Yume was smiling and she said, "Don't let us interrupt you, go on!"

Inuyasha growled, but a stomping in the distance made them all look in the direction where the monster was coming from. "Kagome, stay here and make sure no one gets hurt," Inuyasha said.

"What," Kagome exclaimed, "no way! I'm coming with!"

"You're not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Will you two silence," Sesshoumaru said, "you're pissing me off."

"Mind your own business."

"If a youkai is coming this way and two people are arguing about who'll stay, then yes, it becomes this Sesshoumaru's business."

"Why'd you have to make him more talkative?"

Koishii-Yume shrugged, "He thought too much!"

"And now he talks too much!"

"Start walking," Sesshoumaru growled, throwing Inuyasha ahead of him. "You better stay here too, Yume!" Koishii-Yume was about to argue, but held her tongue.

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"Remember," Kagome whispered to Koishii-Yume--they had followed both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru with their weapons in hand, still wearing their yukatas. "Not until they start attacking."

Koishii-Yume nodded, "Hai."

A large, fierce, black creature came out of the trees into the clearing, bearing white fangs and yellow claws. It stood on all four legs, growling fiercely. It had a fire tail and its legs were like panthers, ready to pounce at any moment. Its flame-colored eyes stared at the two half brothers, hissing, "This is my territory!"

"Not for long," Inuyasha snarled, lunging at it.

The youkai dodged it without many harms done only a slight scrape. "Now," Kagome whispered, running out, holding her bow, and preparing an arrow. Koishii-Yume ran out with her, doing the same.

They stood there; legs spread slightly, their upper bodies turned for aiming. They aimed at its eyes. "1, 2, 3," Koishii-Yume counted, then screaming, "Now!"

Kagome and Koishii-Yume released their arrows; Kagome's glowing with a fuchsia light and Koishii-Yume's giving off a slight gold light. Both arrows hit the middle of the youkai's eyes, blinding it. "Got it," Koishii-Yume and Kagome screamed in unison.

"Hiraikostu," a shout called out and a large boomerang flew at the youkai, cutting off an ear. The voice ran up and caught the boomerang; it was Sango in her armor.

"I think you might need these," Sango threw two black jump suits and two sets of armor plates for them, along with gas masks. They caught it, smiling at Sango.

"Arigatou," Kagome said, running to a tree, quickly changing.

Koishii-Yume did the same, smiling at Sango. They came out, wearing the armor. The three seemed like triplets, besides the fact of their hair and their armor plates. Koishii-Yume's was blue, Sango's was a red-pink color, and Kagome's was orange. They stood there with their weapons.

"What the fuck, Kagome," Inuyasha yelled, dodging an attack, "I told you to stay, woman!"

"I told you to stay as well, Yume," Sesshoumaru said.

"Like we were going to let you fight on your own," Sango said, rolling her eyes.

Miroku rode on Kiara with Shippou. "Come on, Kiara," Miroku said, "hurry, we have to help too!"

Miroku took out a slip of paper and as Kiara attacked, Miroku threw the paper, it landing on the youkai's head. Kiara let go and the youkai screamed in pain, it looked like it was being electrocuted. Shippou pulled out a top and threw it; the top enlarged and set the youkai's head into the ground.

"Wow," Kagome said, "that's really cool!"

"It's just an illusion," Koishii-Yume shrugged. The top shrunk back to it's originally size and the cat snarled, finding anyone to hit.

Koishii-Yume pulled out an arrow, ran up and aimed. The arrow flew, striking it in the ear. The youkai shrieked in pain and hit Koishii-Yume away into a tree before she could dodge.

"Yume," Sesshoumaru yelled and he growled. "You've just made this Sesshoumaru very angry."

Sesshoumaru took out his sword and slashed at the youkai. It shrieked in pain as its arm came off. It went to hit him, but he dodged with ease. Sesshoumaru slashed again and again. Kagome shot another miko arrow at it. Inuyasha had slashed its back foot off. Sesshoumaru took one last slice, cutting off its head.

The youkai's head collapsed on the ground with a large crash. Sesshoumaru put his sword away and went over to Koishii-Yume. "Yume, Yume, wake up," he said.

"Se-Sesshoumaru," Koishii-Yume whispered, opening her eyes.

"You're alive!"

"I am... I know you're sorry, it's all right. It was my fault... No, it was, Sesshoumaru, don't blame yourself. I told you not to!"

"I hate that you can read my mind."

Koishii-Yume shrugged, "It's fun sometimes..." She giggled and stroked his cheek.

Inuyasha stormed up to Kagome, looking very pissed off, "I told you to stay there! Listen to me for once, woman!"

"I took care of myself just fine, arigatou gosaimazu," Kagome said with satisfaction in her voice.

"I don't care! If I tell you to stay, you stay!"

"You're so immature, Inuyasha! We all helped! Sango, Kiara, Koishii, Sesshoumaru, Shippou, Miroku, you, and me! We all beat it together!"

"I could've done it without you!"

"You're saying that you can live without me?"

"Uh, not like that, I'm just saying I can protect myself..."

"Oh, and I can't protect myself?"

"I'm saying, let me protect you!"

Kagome was speechless; "You really want to protect me?"

"Why wouldn't I? You matter so much to me, Kagome."

Kagome blushed and smiled, "Ar-ar-arigatou..."

"Do itashimashite."

Miroku leaped off Kiara and ran up to Sango, "You were great."

"You were too," Sango replied, "if it wasn't for you, then that youkai would've never gotten that weak..."

"What about me," Shippou cried out.

"Yo-you were great too, Shippou," Koishii-Yume said from the distance.

Shippou hopped over to her, sitting on her lap, "Really?"

"Yeah, that illusion was fantastic. It even fooled Kagome..."

"Cool!"

"Get off her, runt," Sesshoumaru growled.

"Don't treat Shippou like that, Sessy-Puppy. I told you once, I'm going to take care of Shippou, right?"

"Right," Shippou smiled, hugging Koishii-Yume.

Koishii-Yume smiled, petting the little youkai. She stood up and blood dripped from her back. "You're bleeding," Sesshoumaru said, "let's get you back."

"Right, let's go," Koishii-Yume began to walk, holding Shippou. She stumbled and Sesshoumaru caught her. He cradled her and began to walk back to Kaede's.

"Come on," Kagome said, walking behind Sesshoumaru and Koishii-Yume.

Everyone followed, noticing what kindness Sesshoumaru could show for his mate. Kagome sighed and tripped over a loss branch. "Stupid branches," Kagome murmured. She walked on though, limping a little. Inuyasha didn't notice anything, only the black jumpsuit.

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Kagome wrapped Koishii-Yume's back, using the herbs Koishii-Yume told her to use. Kagome sighed and let her rest. Sesshoumaru sat next to her, cradling her in his arms. He rubbed his face against hers and sighed. Koishii-Yume took a hand and cupped his face, stroking it slightly.

"Arigatou, Sesshoumaru," Koishii-Yume said.

"Anything for my mate," Sesshoumaru replied, kissing her on the cheek.

Koishii-Yume fell asleep in Sesshoumaru's arms as the moonlight shined through the windows. Kagome yawned and stretched.

"That was not an easy thing to make," Kagome said.

"Didn't look like it," Sango replied. "I mean, do you know how much sage can sting?"

"I know."

"It's her body and she knows this best, so, we should trust her."

"Hai."

Kaede returned, smiling, "How was the battle with the youkai?"

"It was boring," Inuyasha growled.

"Pretty brutal though," Sango added. "Miroku shocked it, Kiara bit at it, Shippou pulled a top illusion on it, it was blinded, it's arm was chopped off, one ear was cut off while the other one got shot with one of Koishii's arrows, Inuyasha did some damage, along with Sesshoumaru, and to top it all off, Sesshoumaru chopped it's head off."

"Why," Kaede asked.

"It knocked Koishii into a tree." Sango gestured to the couple in the corner. Sesshoumaru was holding Koishii-Yume close, not letting go, and Koishii-Yume slept. "She started bleeding and Sesshoumaru carried her back. Kagome did the herb mixture and the bandaging."

"I swear," Kagome said, "Sesshoumaru was watching me like a hawk like I was going to kill her!"

"That's normal of a youkai to do with his or her mate," Kaede said this like it was pure logic. "They'll protect them and stay close to them, almost growling at anybody who comes close or tries to touch them. I'll show you." Kaede approached Sesshoumaru and Koishii-Yume. "How is Koishii-Yume-chan?" Kaede reached out to brush her hair aside, but Sesshoumaru growled at her, showing her red eyes. Kaede backed away and went to the group, "You see? If their mate gets injured, they'll protect them and stay close until they've healed."

"That makes a lot of sense," Kagome said. "So, Inuyasha, if I got hurt like Koishii, would you be like that?"

"Of course," Inuyasha exclaimed, "I'm not gonna let some damn person touch you so they can hurt you!"

"It shows up in hanyous as well," Kaede added and Inuyasha growled, pulling Kagome towards him.

Kagome rolled her eyes and went over towards Sesshoumaru and Koishii-Yume. She sat down and sighed, "I'm sure she'll be fine by tomorrow."

Sesshoumaru growled, but Kagome still sat there. Inuyasha yelled from the other side of the room, "You're going to get your head bitten off!"

"I will not," Kagome replied. "You look thirsty. Want a drink?"

Sesshoumaru snarled at Kagome, his eyes burning red. Kagome half smiled and replied, "You know Koishii wouldn't want you to be like this. Your eyes burning red, snarling at her friends, sitting there thirsty and hungry. You won't even take in a few considerations of what Koishii would want.

"Just think, Sesshoumaru. Would she want you growling at me, your eyes burning red, acting like if you leave her soul range, she'll die within and instant? It's not that kind of a situation. If you go to get a drink and I carry Koishii-Yume right behind you, not even letting her hair touch the ground, would you agree?"

Sesshoumaru looked up at Kagome with amber eyes once more. Kagome smiled warmly, brushing some of Koishii-Yume's hair from her face. Sesshoumaru didn't growl, but he didn't hit her hand away. He just blinked at Kagome. Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Kaede, Shippou, and even Kiara gaped at Sesshoumaru and Kagome.

"She's good," Shippou whispered.

"Hai," Sango replied, "I'm not surprised at Kagome, it's just Sesshoumaru. He seems really stubborn like Inuyasha." Inuyasha snarled at Sango.

"Kagome's gained... Sesshoumaru's trust," Miroku said this very confused. "How?"

"She convinced him with what his mate would want," Kaede whispered. "That's probably what convinced Sesshoumaru..."

"So," Kagome said, looking up at Sesshoumaru, "what do you say? I carry Koishii-Yume, following right behind you and sitting next to you with Koishii while you get a drink?"

Sesshoumaru nodded, this made everyone's mouths open wider. How can this be? Inuyasha asked himself. Sesshoumaru is trusting Kagome with his mate. I don't get it... Inuyasha watched Kagome picked up Koishii-Yume with the utmost care and followed Sesshoumaru out the door, walking beside him down the path.

"I don't get it," Inuyasha muttered. "How can Sesshoumaru trust Kagome with his mate? It can't be that whole mind thing... It's something else. I don't know what though..."

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Kagome sat down beside Sesshoumaru, cradling Koishii-Yume's head like a child. Sesshoumaru drank water, glancing out of the corner of his eye. Kagome moved Koishii-Yume's hair aside. She took a hardened clay bowl and dipped it in the water. Kagome took the bowl to Koishii-Yume's mouth, tipping it a little so she could drink.

Koishii-Yume drank the water and opened her eyes, "Ka-Kagome...?"

"Hai," Kagome replied.

"How do you feel," Sesshoumaru asked, looking at Koishii-Yume.

"Better," Koishii-Yume replied, drinking some more water. "Arigatou, Kagome-chan."

"Do itashimashite, Koishii-chan," Kagome replied, smiling.

"You trusted her, Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru growled, ready to snatch Koishii-Yume back, but Koishii-Yume put her hand up. She smiled warmly like Kagome had, "I'm glad you trusted her. You don't have to fear about Kagome hurting me; Kagome-chan's heart is pure, just like a miko's heart should be. Only a heart as pure as Kagome-chan's could protect the Shikon no Tama..."

A voice quietly chuckled from the bushes a tiny distance away, "So this girl is the Shikon no Tama no Miko... This girl a hanyou though, but there's a strong scent of human. Was she... Human once?" The creature chuckled, "A ningen turned into a hanyou by a youkai, how pathetic... I thought it would've been more interesting."

"Think again," Kagome growled, turning around to where the voice hid. Kagome gave Sesshoumaru Koishii-Yume and lunged at the spot. She silenced, but there were only leaves. Kagome snarled and looked around, sniffing the air.

"Quiet a good set of ears we have, don't we," the voice chuckled. "I have a proposal for you."

"I don't make proposals to creatures I can't see! Come out and face me."

The creature jumped it and it was a woman. She smirked; her hair white, but her skin as fair and smooth as the water. She walked up to Kagome, "A ningen who became a hanyou, eh?" Her black robe waved and rippled against the wind. "How pathetic... A hanyou--once human--miko protecting the Shikon no Tama..." She chuckled once more.

"Who are you!"

"Uragirimono."

"What the hell are you?"

"I'm the only, and last, black youkai miko."

"What do you want with me, Uragirimono?"

"Why, if you give me the Shikon no Tama," Uragirimono smirked, "I let you live." A red ball appeared in her hand, and she began to crush it in her hand.

Kagome collapsed to the ground, crushing the edge of the yukata in pain. Kagome felt like her heart was being crushed itself, slowly being broken into a million pieces. Kagome fell in pain and cried out, "Zettai!"

"Then die, hanyou miko," Uragirimono crushed the red ball harder and Kagome screamed silently in pain.

An arrow flew at Uragirimono's hand and Uragirimono dodged the arrow, her grip loosening on Kagome's heart. She looked to see who dared launch an arrow at her. There stood Koishii-Yume, breathing heavily, holding her bow up, still in the position she was in when she released the arrow.

"How dare you try to kill me, pathetic youkai," Uragirimono launched herself at Koishii-Yume.

Sesshoumaru took a stance in front of Koishii-Yume, holding his sword. Koishii-Yume collapsed and shut her eyes again, the wound reopening. Uragirimono grinned, "I was thinking of taking you for myself to be my mate, but since you've been a bad puppy, no treats for you!"

Uragirimono released glittering, black blasts of energy at Sesshoumaru. He dodged with his speed and swung his sword at Uragirimono. He snarled when he saw he hadn't struck her. He spun around and Uragirimono launched a hand through his chest. Sesshoumaru roared in pain and scratched at Uragirimono.

Uragirimono launched backwards, pulling her hand out of Sesshoumaru's chest. She pulled out a mirror and looked; across her cheek were three cut marks from Sesshoumaru's poisonous claws. She closed it and turned her head at Sesshoumaru (who was clutching his wound); she growled, "You ruined my beautiful face! Do you know how much work it took me just to get this beautiful! You'll pay!"

"Not so fast," a voice cried out, swinging their sword at Uragirimono.

Uragirimono looked over and grinned, "Ah, Inuyasha. You are the kitsune-neko hanyou's playmate?"

Inuyasha growled, "Who the hell do you think you are!"

"I am the last, and only, black youkai miko, Uragirimono, which is more than I can say for a pathetic inu-hanyou like you, Inuyasha..."

"What do you want!"

"I wanted the Shikon no Tama in return for your playmate's life," Uragirimono showed Inuyasha the red ball, "but she refused, so I'm forced to kill her." Uragirimono crushed the Kagome's heart once more.

Kagome cried out in pain and Inuyasha growled fiercely, "Kisama youkai yarou!" Inuyasha lunged at Uragirimono, almost slicing in her in half.

"Bad puppy, no treats for you either!" Uragirimono sent out a group of black energy blasts at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha dodged each one, looking over at Kagome after he dodged one. "You're being a very, very bad puppy," Uragirimono sent out another group of black energy blasts, "why don't you just die!"

Inuyasha dodged once more. Uragirimono smirked, crushing Kagome's heart even more. Kagome cried out, tears rolling down her cheeks. She lay upon the ground, crying, crushing the cloth of the yukata on her heart.

This was the pain that Kagome feared. It was the pain of your heart being crushed, except it wasn't by someone she loved, it was by a stupid youkai miko. Uragirimono wanted the Shikon no Tama, but Kagome would never let her have it, not even in death. Even if this was the pain that Kagome feared, she wasn't going to let it happen by some selfish, stuck up, obsessed, black youkai miko. All she wanted it for was for power. Kagome had the Shikon no Tama to protect. I am the Shikon no Tama no Miko!

As Uragirimono was distracted, Kagome turned over, using her hands to move her body across the ground, going towards her bow and arrows. Kagome snatched them and stood up wearily, aiming at the woman's hand. Kagome pulled the arrow back, stretching the bow to its minimum length. Kagome aimed carefully, and fired. The arrow flew at the woman's hand, but it had done what Kagome had not expected it to do...

A/N: Quick translation!
The Shikon no Tama no Miko = Miko of the Shikon no Tama (my special phrase for the protector/keeper of the Shikon no Tama).