Thank you to the following reviewers: Shinigami Clara, ixi, Despiteful Saint, Artemis the Goddess, watergoddesskasey, Darkened Skyes, Dark Topaz, Buffybot76, DemonLady1, KoiKokoro, Diaphanous, Forsaken Silence, Kurama-Kagome12, and Cerulean Rose
I think I answered all the concerns two chapters back, but since I am posting multiple chapters, I will do this one here. And thank's for correcting my spelling on Kagome's name...I'll go back and fix that later this weekend.
If you spot any other mistakes, point them out! I am perfectly willing to go back and repair what damage I've left behind from my abominable typing skills.
Kagome's Return
Exactly one week later, Kagome hauled herself out of the damp well and sat unmoving on the floor of the shed. She was so tired...
"Need help?"
She looked up quickly. "Oh, Shuuichi. I could use a bit of help." She agreed with a smile.
"I see,"he pulled the yellow backpack from her numb fingers and shouldered it easily. She pushed herself to her feet with a groan and stumbled toward the doorway. The sunshine fell around her, blinding her for a minute. She latched onto his arm for support.
"Ah! Sorry. It's just that I haven't seen the sun in a week!" She smiled and turned her face into the warm glow. "So bright!"
Kurama took in her soaked and bedraggled appearance. "Been raining, I see," he said trying to start a conversation.
"You can tell?" she laughed as she rung out her long hair and the hem of her skirt. The puddle at her feet got steadily bigger. "I swear I must be wrinkled all over!" She examined her fingertips and grimaced at the feeling of being so wet.
He raised both eyebrows and tried not to picture that last comment. Youko wasn't helping.
"You know, even after being soaked through for the past six days, I come home and immediately want a hot bath, hot food, and my pillow!" She laughed at herself. "I look like a prune and I'm already dreaming about the shower."
Kurama wisely said nothing. Youko's comments wouldn't do to repeat and Shuuichi seemed to be choking on his thoughts.
She took off one shoe and poured out a thin stream of water, then repeated the process. Her wet socks left strange foot prints which she examined absently. "So what are you doing here? You have good timing, I must say!" she said.
"Koenma told me you were on your way back." Kurama answered with a slight smile gracing his lips. "I chose to greet you here; to see if you needed any help."
"How would Koenma know I was-" she stopped. "He's been spying on me, hasn't he?"
"Mmm..." he wasn't sure what to say because that is the way he felt about it too.
"I knew I wasn't imagining things when I thought someone was watching me! That little pervert!" she crossed her arms angrily, pulling her wet shirt taught across her chest.
Shuuichi gulped and turned his face away. He walked her to her house and hastily set the bag down. "You know, all you have to do is call out and we will hear. One of us will be here to help should you need us."
She turned to face him. "Thank you. Oh! I almost forgot!" she dug into the bag at her feet. "Shippo asked me to give you something. From one fox to another, he said." She pulled a wrapped cloth from a side pocket and handed it to him. "I don't know what it is, but he worked on it constantly this week."
He took the wrapped bundle from her.
"Well, I'm gonna go in and get cleaned up. I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow?"
"Huh? Oh, indeed!" he looked into her welcoming blue-grey eyes. "Actually, we usually walk together, except Kuwabara who comes from a different direction. You're welcome to join us."
"Oh!" she seemed surprised by the invitation.
"You realize, even if you don't, one of us will be tailing you anyway to be sure you are okay."
She laughed again. "So, I might as well join you, huh?" She ducked her head and nodded. "Okay."
"Then I will see you tomorrow." He waved once and left.
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Kagome pulled the door closed behind her with a soft click, and leaned against it thinking. She wasn't expecting to be looked after so completely, but she found she had no complaints. She smiled at her own hypocrisy. With Inuyasha, it was hovering. With Shuuichi, it was sweet. One boy made her feel inadequate, and the other made her feel cared for. Inuyasha didn't feel that she could look after herself for even a minute. Shuuichi just seemed concerned, like the friend she always wished Inuyasha would be.
The same action by two different guys produced drastically different reactions on her part. She sighed. I need to think this through. Perhaps I'm not being fair to Inuyasha...or giving to much credit to Shuuichi...for doing his job. That's right. Either way, I'm a responsibility. One by necessity because I can see the jewel shard and one because it comes with the job. She sighed again. I will not feel sorry for myself. "Mama! I'm home!" she called out and ran up the stairs to hit the shower.
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(This is the Kurama/Youko and Hiei scene I was mentioning before...skip it if it bothers you.)
Kurama walked slowly to the park he always visited and found a deserted bench to sit at. He leaned his head back to look as the wind played with the new leaves of the sturdy tree above him. The blossoms would begin falling soon, carpeting the forest floors below. He closed his eyes and let the breeze play through his long hair in the same way.
Being around that girl was energized and calmed him. It was a confusing contradiction. When he opened his eyes a dark shape with two flame red eyes was looking down on him in disgust.
"Hn." it said tonelessly.
"Good day, Hiei," Kurama said pleasantly. Hiei rolled his eyes and dropped down from the tree without even a whisper of a sound. He joined Kurama on the bench.
Kurama continued to look up at the now empty tree branches. Several minutes passed in silence.
"Stop sitting like that. It hurts my neck just watching you." Hiei growled annoyed.
Kurama sat up and turned his amused green eyes at the moody demon. "Since you asked so nicely..."
"Whatever."
Silence fell between them again. Kurama waited patiently for his friend to reveal why he had decided to seek him out. With Hiei, there was always a reason. As the silence grew longer, the little koorime started to get agitated. The only reason Kurama could tell was the slight twitching
of Hiei's fingers on his sword arm.
He decided to let the fire demon work out what ever was bothering him and turned his focus inward.
Make a move, stupid. Youko growled in frustration.
For Kami's sake, No! Shuuichi replied.
Why not you just let the girl get away!
Have you no morals?
Keh! You're an idiot. Look at him. He's so cute when he's mad! The youko said lustfully.
"Why do you do that!?" Hiei suddenly said loudly.
Kurama let the voices fade away. "Do what?"
"Why do you look at me like that?" Hiei's face almost glowed but from anger or embarrassment, Kurama wasn't sure.
So cute! A voice said. He pushed it away.
"Sorry. It's the Youko in me," he sighed.
"Hn," Hiei said looking at him from the corner of one eye. "The Youko is you."
"So is the human." Kurama shoved his hands through his hair. Hiei watched the movement without blinking. He didn't expect Hiei to understand.
"So which are you now?" Hiei eyed hin in a way that reminded him of the look students gave a particularly disturbing lump of food from the school cafeteria.
"Both."
"Explain."
"I am at times caught between both human and fox. I can hear both sides of myself without being either one. The two don't always agree."
"You make it sound as if you are three people now."
"..."
"So what is it the Youko wants from me?" He suddenly uncrossed his arms and leaned away from the sudden predatory expression on his teammates face and the flash of golden eyes.
"Come closer and find out for yourself," a slightly deeper and more husky voice purred.
Hiei turned red and tried to scoot as far away as the bench would allow.
Kurama sighed and pushed the fox spirit back again. His eyes returned to their normal vibrant green. "Sorry." He made to stand up and leave, his green eyes sad and shoulders tense. He had probably just ruined what little comradery they had had.
"Wait..." Hiei said quietly. You just startled me," he actually admitted.
Kurama looked at him surprised.
"Well, sit down!" Hiei muttered. " You're tall enough as it is."
Kurama sat back down. The long silences were still there, but it wasn't uncomfortable. He his a relieved smile and watched a few of last year's leaves blow around their feet.
"If Youko's yearnings are such a problem, why not find some willing human to satisfy him?" Hiei picked the topic back up. He was trying to understand the intricacies of relationships.
"The two don't always agree, remember? I'll not transform and have to fight to return to normal for so paltry an excuse."
"You- I mean, they agree on me?" Hiei sounded confused.
"Not really. Not in that way." He could feel his own embarrassment at having to discuss this. "Youko is attracted to beautiful people."
Hiei's face flamed. He had never considered himself beautiful. He hadn't really looked at himself in any particular way at all.
"Stupid fox," he grumbled.
Kurama flashed him a disgruntled look.
"Shuuichi, on the other hand, sees someone he respects greatly and would call a friend."
This seemed to surprise Hiei more then Youko's feelings. He stared at Kurama and could feel the truth of that radiating from him. A friend?
"Hn." he hid behind the noncommital reply.
"Confusing?" Kurama chuckled.
Hiei looked at him. "I thought my own internal struggles were bad."
"You have internal struggles? No, not Hiei." Kurama teased.
"Baka," he replied, with no real heat in the word.
"If you think that's bad, figure this one out. Youko likes Shuuichi, too."
Hiei looked at him as if he had grown two heads. Then he started laughing.
Kurama had never seen the fire demon truly laugh before. It was an unexpected experience, even if it was at his expense, he could enjoy being there for such a rare moment.
Hiei laughed until tears were rolling down his face. Kurama endured this with a self-mocking smile of his own.
Hiei stood up finally with a grin on his face and a sparkle in his normally serious eyes. "I'll just leave you two alone together."
Kurama sighed. "That's the problem, Hiei."
Hiei snorted again but didn't lose the smile. He leapt up into the tree in one smooth motion. He looked down at his friend, yes...friend...again and chuckled before disappearing in a blur.It seems as if even Kurama doesn't have all the answers...
Kurama was left wondering what the little fire demon had sought him out for to begin with.
He looked down at the still wrapped package in his hands and pocketed it. He rose to leave himself.
He's even sexier when he laughs. Youko whispered.
There was only one acceptable answer to that. "Shut up."