A New Case
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Breakfast was consumed quickly, a testament to Mrs. Higurashi's cooking skills. Everyone was strangely silent after Kurama told Kagome where Inuyasha and Boton had gone.
"What will you do now?" Kuwabara asked her as they all walked outside.
"I'll go back tomorrow after my finals, like I planned to do. Nothing has really changed. We still have to deal with Naraku and complete the jewel."
Kurama frowned.
"But-"
"I don't really have a choice."
"Hey, how did Boton get down the well?" Yusuke suddenly asked.
Kagome thought about this. "I don't really know. I'm not even sure how Kurama got through before. Maybe..." she shook her head. "Maybe anyone can get through now."
They were interrupted by a beeping from Yusuke's jacket pocket. He pulled out his communicator and saw Koenma's panicked face.
"Yusuke! I can't find Boton! She isn't answering her communicator! I-"
"She's fine. Just out of range."
"Huh?"
"Boton left with Inuyasha to release that Kikyo zombie form her bonds to the living world."
"Eeeh!?"
"That's how I felt about it too." Yusuke told him.
"But we have trouble! How could she just leave like that? Ahhhh! Missions are piling up here like the dead!"
"Missions?"
"You mean more of those lesser demons are coming over?" Kuwabara asked from over Yusuke's shoulder.
"Constantly. I didn't let Boton tell you before, but, well, the barrier is falling."
"WHAT!?" Hiei bellowed.
Everyone looked at him. That was a very un-Hiei like outburst.
"Don't you think we needed to know that?" Yusuke demanded.
"Well, I wanted to be sure." he defended himself.
"Excuse me..." Kagome tapped Yusuke's other shoulder. "What is this barrier?"
"All the worlds are blocked from each other with a magical barrier," Kurama explained.
"I gathered that. But what is it made from and where did it come from?"
"No one really knows," Koenma said from the mirror. "But it has been in place for at least five hundred years. Before that, the demon and human worlds were more closely joined."
"So this barrier is important?" she asked.
"It's essential for the continued existence of both humans and demons. They can not exist peacefully together in the same world."
Kagome's mouth made a surprised "O" and she stepped back to think this over.
"Yusuke, there are four demons escaped in Tokyo. Find them."
"Tokyo is a big place, Koenma. What else can you tell me?"
"They are female. They suck the life out of men that they can ensnare."
"Eeew!" Kagome wrinkled her nose.
Kurama agreed with her prognosis. He may follow some of his baser instincts, but he wasn't ruled by them. His pleasure was in giving pleasure, not satisfying his carnal desires.
'So let's go."
"No, Yusuke. You and Kuwabara take that case. I have another that Hiei and Kurama can handle."
"Fine," Yusuke handed the mirror to Kurama and took off at a run, followed by Kuwabara.
"You have need of us?" Kurama prodded the child ruler.
"Yes. There are reports of two water dragons free from the Makai. They are deadly because apparently, the female is in her heat stage. Anything that moves is destroyed by the male. I figured you two would understand a demon heat and proceed with the necessary caution."
"Hn. Not all demons are animalistic in nature." Hiei said grumpily. He glared at the fox and the mirror in his hands.
"You're right, of course, but even fire demons have their temper tantrums..." Koenma snorted. "You have your moments too, Hiei. When you choose a mate, will you not protect her with your very life?"
"Hn." He had no intentions of taking a mate...ever.
"Anyway, it has already destroyed everything within a mile radius of the lake they claimed."
"That far?" Kurama asked surprised.
"Just hurry up before it gets worse!"
"Indeed." Kurama closed the communicator and tucked it into his pocket. "Hiei?"
"Hn."
"Wait!" Kagome ran inside and returned a short time later with her bow and arrows. "I'm coming too."
"No."
"Why not? I've fought demons for three years now. I know what I'm doing."
"No," Hiei said again.
"Don't be foolish. I can help!" she glared.
"N–"
"Fine," Kurama answered.
Hiei's eyes widened. "Damn it, fox-"
"Do you really want to leave her here alone to face Kikyo's torment?"
"Hn." Hiei conceded, not liking his options.
"Hey! I can help, you know!" Kagome protested. "I am not going to break now because of Kikyo!"
"Let's just go and get this over with," Hiei growled.
"Follow me," Kurama set off. "Koenma showed me where to go."
Kagome chased after them, ignoring the strange looks she was getting due to the bow and arrows over her shoulder. She was determined to show them she really could help. She had worth and strength. She was strong. She was a survivor. She could beat these threats in her own time. Kagome wanted them to understand that she knew she was worthy of being there with them.
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"Oh, Jaken-sama..." a little voice pleaded.
The toad sniffed distainfully.
"Jaken." a deep voice said.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Sesshoumaru gave him a pointed look until the toad cringed and allowed the human girl to string various chains and bunches of flowers over him.
"There! Jaken-sama looks so pretty!"
"Keh! That will never happen!" Shippo said sounding like a miniature Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru frowned at the fox and wondered how much the hanyou was influencing the kit.
"Brat!" Jaken snarled at them.
Shippo tentatively approached Sesshoumaru's feet and snatched another budding flower from the grass before hurrying to Rin. He handed it to her, waiting to see what else she could make with the fragile things.
"Do you like flowers too, Shippo-kun?" Rin asked.
"Some."
"What kind?"
"Uh, well I have a rose from a silver!" he announced proudly.
"A silver?" she looked at him.
"A silver fox!"
"Don't lie brat!" Jaken fumed, pulling the flower chains into pieces.
"I'm not lying!" Shippo yelled back.
"I've lived for centuries and never seen a silver. There are none! And if there were any, they would never associate with a weak and useless creature like you!" he sneered.
"I have too met a silver! He's gonna be my new dad!"
"Shippo!" Sango admonished him. "You don't even know for sure if Kagome likes Kurama like that!"
"Yes I do." Shippo nodded.
"Really? How?" Sango was interested.
"I could smell it."
"Huh?"
"Just like when you are around-"
TWACK!
"Ow!"
Rin was watching with interest.
You, fox, that form you took earlier was human." Sesshoumaru suddenly and unexpectedly joinded the conversation. "The one you call Kurama."
"That was just his human form," Sango explained. She watched Sesshoumaru blink at her before he resumed staring at the well.
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"Eeeep!" Boton clutched the back of Inuyasha's shirt with all her strength.
"I can't believe you left Kagome!" The Youkai in front of them was yelling. "What the hell is wrong with you, dog-turd!?"
"Shut up, wimpy wolf!" Inuyasha shoved Boton further back and drew the Tetsuseiga.
"What did you do to my woman!" Kouga yelled.
"She's not your woman!"
"You never claimed her!"
"Neither have you so shut your damned mouth!"
"Actually I think Kurama claimed her." Boton clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide.
"WHAT!?"
Boton thought briefly of running away but she had seen the speed that the wolf had come roaring in with. She knew she couldn't get away...
"Who's Kurama?" the wolf asked in a dangerous voice.
"He's a kitsune."
"A fox? You lost Kagome to a Fox?"
"Boton, what do you mean he's claimed her?" Inuyasha demanded, forgetting the wolf.
"Well, he hasn't really yet. But he likes her."
"He can't have her!" Kouga yelled. "She's mine!"
"Shut up." Inuyasha snarled. "Boton?"
"Ummm..."
"Does she really like that girly boy?"
"Kurama is not girly!" she defended her friend.
"Feh!"
"Girly?" Kouga sniffed.
"He may be beautiful, but he's not girly." she insisted.
"Beautiful?" Kouga echoed.
"Boton?" Inuyasha let the warning growl out.
"Uh, I know she likes him some...but Kurama's hard to deny. I mean, who would really say no to a four hundred year old silver fox?"
"Silver...fox?" Kouga repeated.
"Feh! That dumb fox can't be no four hundred years old. He's no older then me. And you told him no...didn't you?" Inuyasha stood up straighter.
"Of course not! I mean, I never had to! He never liked me...or I never liked him like that!" she knew she sounded desperate, but god! How did she end up defending her own honor here?
"Keh!"
"Kagome met a silver fox? An experienced silver fox..." Kouga's face fell. "Aww, damn..."
"You lost her too." Inuyasha watched the dispirited wolf carefully. The last thing he needed was the wolf to think that now that Kagome was...occupied....that his new companion was fair game. Boton hid behind Inuyasha's broad back.
"Yeah I hear."
Boton watched them with care from over Inuyasha's left shoulder. She knew the reputation of a silver fox. She also knew the reputation of this particular silver fox. These guys didn't stand a chance if Kurama really decided to turn on the charm with the human girl. I wonder what he has done about his feeling for her...did he tell her yet? Boton sighed. I wish he was here now so he could tell me what to do about Inuaysha...
"It's better then you," Kouga sighed. "At least it must be someone worthy of her this time."
"What!? You stupid wolf!"
Kouga kicked up dust at the dog and left.
"Wow."
"That was Kouga," Inuyasha said, sheathing his sword.
Boton nodded. So far, they hadn't found any sign of Kikyo, but that didn't mean that they didn't have any adventures.
"Kagome and Kurama, huh?"
"I guess so..."
"I'm not really surprised. I could see it the minute I met him," Inuyasha sniffed. "I could smell it."
"Smell it?" Boton she realized that she had picked up the echo that Kouga had left behind.
"Yeah. I could smell the attraction between them."
"You could smell that he liked her?" Boton looked worried.
"Of course. I have an excellent nose..." he said pointing at his face.
Does that mean that he can smell that I-she pinned him down with her pink eyes and hoped she was wrong. He was smiling at her...Oh, cute!...wait...uh-oh.
"Come on. We've gotta keep looking." He took pity on her and picked a direction.
Boton pulled out her oar and followed him, at a respectful distance of course!
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"Yusuke! Snap out of it!" Kuwabara waved a large hand in front of his friends face. "Think of Keiko! Damn it, Urameshi!"
"Oh, come on, Kuwabara. I'm not spell bound. But hell, I can still look."
Kuwabara looked at the four women trying desperately to entice them closer. Incredibly hot women were rare...four in one place was really rare. That's how the two spirit detectives assumed they had found the demon women...plus, there were various businessmen scattered in piles around the mouth of the alley. The energy they were giving of was tiny, but potent in it's own way.
"Oooh!"
"Fresh meat!"
"They grow up so young now..."
"Come here, boy!"
"Eeew," Kuwabara answered sourly.
"So innocent!" a blond gushed.
"At least one of them, anyway..." A red head smiled, showing fangs.
"Mmm...come here!" a brunette purred. "Let us have your soul!"
"Please?" the blond pouted.
Yusuke took a step forward with a smile on his face. Kuwabara grabbed his arm and yelled. "What are you thinking?"
"They are just women, Kuwabara," Yusuke continued smiling.
"Yeah, women with big..." he put his hands up and made a squeezing motion "...yeah," he finished lamely.
"See? They really aren't all that pretty," Yusuke continued.
"Hey!" the brunette stopped cooing.
"So is this how they draw men in?" Kuwabara glared a the busty women.
"Seems to work..." Yusuke pointed at several unconscious men in the alley.
"Weak. No honor." Kuwabara sighed.
"What the hell?!" the red head lost her pout.
"Really pitiful. A real man would never give in to..." he brought his hands back up to illustrate.
"You-" the blond hissed.
"Ooh, Men!" the previously silent girl with green hair growled.
"I think you pissed them off," Yusuke said conversationally.
"Uh, yeah..." the taller boy hesitated.
The four woman were advancing, their eyes glowing red, breasts bouncing with each step.
"Might not have been the best idea..." Yusuke was still smiling.
"Maybe."
"Ladies..." the blond warned. "This one's mine."
Yusuke just kept smiling...
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hehehehe!
That last bit was inspired by a few sorority girls in my 3-D art class that frequently alternate between luring new boyfriends to them only to complain about the chauvinistic attitude that is almost a requirement for frat. boys! They talk all the time like that and strangely enough, they do travel in packs...scarey!
I also think they are quite deadly in their own way....(shudders.) Thank god I'm attached...I'd hate to be in their way if they found new prey!
That is the last chapter written in the second notebook! I have a few more chapters in a third...but things will be slowing down soon...
On to reviews!
Thanks to:
ixi, Ai Higeki, Valkyrie Nienna Helyanwe, The Black Kat, Helen, Artemis the Goddess, Dee-chan, Kuro Eien Hayabusa, badgerwolf, Illustrious Sorrow, Inu Youkai-Hime, ShuiJadeDragon, ForestSprite, Gryphnwng, LaLoba, watergoddesskasey, HeavenlyAnimeAngel-Amaterasu, Sesshomaru13, DemonLady1, ^.^, shiningcrystal, Dark Maiden1, Shinigami Clara, Simply Hopless, Sukera, Star Silver fox, Elyndewen Startree, Dark Topaz, flare2, ladyofthedragons1, Lady of Chaos 2005, Kinky Usagi, E-100 Alpha, Rinaanne45, Diaphanous, Lost Anime Angel, SoulofSaturn, BookwormRose296, SilentDusk, Ladyarilyia, Sara Lee (Yabou) Neo-Crystal, InuBabe, Hinoke, and sparkz and those of you that reviewed more than once...thanks a second time!
Uh....Thank you everyone for inspiring me to keep typing this monster! I couldn't believe that I got over 45 reviews for these last three chapters! I don't have room to thank every one separately this time or the space! But, you know who you are! A few of you had comments or concerns that I will address here however!
The story is still going...never fear! Our fav. Demon lord has a purpose but I will get to that! Be patient! Sorry no lemon! I'm such a wus! I noticed by reading the reviews that there are a lot of new youko fans...I wonder if I started something! ^.~ I won't complain to see more Youko fics out there...hint hint...nudge nudge...Don't worry, Kagome will eventually put one and one together and get three....(Shuuichi+Youko=Kurama) hehehehe! Those of you that I have inspired to write, DO IT! Another good fic is always welcome! Those of you who read this in one sitting...0.o good god! I didn't even have the patience for that and I'm writing it! Wow! Props to you! And those of you I need to give a long response too, I'll e-mail you! As soon as I get this posted!
Kinky! I have news!
I am so hyper right now! This is going so well!
Till next time...
Sylvannastar (Forest of Stars)