The Final Hunt
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After several hours of tackling one another, Yusuke called a halt to the sparing session and convinced Kuwabara to help him find the others so that he could have that meeting that he had been putting off. He was slightly surprised when they arrived at the bottom of the shrine stairs to Kagome's home.
Yusuke squared his shoulders in determination before climbing the long set of shrine stairs. Kuwabara was gingerly pushing himself up beside him, the breath huffing from between clenched teeth.
"You sure they are up there?" Yusuke demanded from about ten steps up as he eyed the rest of them distastefully.
Kuwabara gave him a dirty look and rubbed the darkening bruise on one forearm. "Of course I am," he answered. "Yukina's here too."
Yusuke shut his eyes and shook his head. "I refuse to be surprised again by anything concerning your girlfriend." Following Kuwabara around tokyo had proved amusing in its own ways. The taller boy easily followed the trail left behind by Hiei since he had made no effort to hide himself, as if there were an invisible line connecting them...like a "pinky string of love" that existed in the baka's mind between him and Yukina. Yusuke chuckled, remembering that time when he had believed his friend had finally flipped out and was in need of some serious therapy.
Kuwabara turned a becoming shade of pink and returned to climbing the stairs of the sunset shrine. When they finally reached the top, the sense of accomplishment deserted them in favor of dumbfounded astonishment.
"What the hell?!" Yusuke bit out.
Four pairs of eyes snapped over to him; the grateful blue of their newest member, two pair of identical red, though one was narrowed in agitation and the other widened in cheerful welcome, and the amused green gold of Kurama with Youko in attendance.
Kuwabara knew that his mouth was gaping open but he couldn't sem to regain enough control of his senses to snap it closed. He blinked heavily and rubbed at his eyes with two calloused fists. Sure enough, when he looked again, Kagome was still holding a shaking sword to Hiei's neck, the jaganashi's own sword at that! "Uh..." he grunted and held his hand out, palms up, "Hi, guys?"
Hiei calmly pushed the deadly sharp blade away from his skin and gave Kagome the okay to sheath the weapon. "Hn, better," he muttered, "but still too slow. I could have killed you in ten different ways in just the last two seconds."
Kagome sighed and stumbled over to Kurama to fall limply into his arms. "Urgh," she answered and buried her face in his chest.
"What ARE you doing?" Yusuke quirked a dark brow at the group.
"Hn."
"Training," Kagome's muffled voice replied from somewhere in Kurama's arms.
"Training," Yusuke repeated and sighed. "Right."
Yukina patted the other girl on the shoulder comfortingly and murmured consoling phrases to the sweaty miko. Kurama had explained why Kagome was pushing herself so hard and shuddered in sympathy. She had been in a similar situation herself and had responded in much the same way. Genkai had taken her in and given her the same opportunity to rescue herself should something similar happen again. Yukina had gripped the chance with her whole heart and for a time, dedicated herself to becoming stronger, more skilled. And she had also hoped to make her missing brother proud should she ever find him.
Kagome had experienced that same helplessness and was just as determined to defeat it before it could defeat her. Naraku's mark on her soul really had motivated the girl to seek out the instruction she needed to prevent further harm.
She noticed that Yusuke was staring at her and that Kuwabara wouldn't meet her eyes. Yukina moved, then, to stand in front of Kuwabara and twisted her hands together until he spoke.
"Yukina," he said quietly.
She peeked up at him and was gratified to see the acceptance and the hint of a smile in his eyes. She grinned and threw her arms around his trim waist and sighed appreciatively. The reserved and proper demoness was replaced by an emotional woman.
Grunting in surprise, he gently enfolded her in his arms and met Hiei's narrowed eyes.
"She was worried," the fire demon announced.
She pulled back enough to scowl at her brother but did not deny his words. She instead twisted up to peer at the tall human shyly. "I wasn't sure that you would come back..." she admitted. "You were angry when you left."
"Not at you, Yukina. Never at you," he patted her slim back. "I was just...upset. No one told me and everyone knew. I felt left out and stupid since I was the last one to figure it out..."
"Your not stupid, Kazuma!" Yukina cried out.
"Hn," Hiei snorted.
She took that as agreement and nodded happily. "See? Hiei agrees with me."
The slight tick in Hiei's right eye gave away the wince that the was holding in but it was enough to make Youko bust out in laughter.
"Quit that, Youko," Kagome's muffled voice berated the kitsune inside Kurama's body. Surprised, but trying to tame the howling laughter into more manageable sniggers, Youko giggled out, "How did you know it was me?"
"Kurama wouldn't laugh at such a serious moment for them," she pronounced in the same droopy manner that she was leaning her body against his. "And it's not like I can't tell the difference, you know. What are you doing out anyway?"
"I snuck up and pounced on my unsuspecting partner," he chuckled.
Damn it, Youko! What are you playing at?!
Me? He asked innocently.
Dumb fox, Shuuichi sighed. It's not safe to transform here in the Ningenkai.
I know that. That is why I'm still in Kurama's body, he answered proudly. I just wanted to hold her while she was being so willing.
Idiot, Kurama sighed.
Youko snootily put his nose in the air and said, "You're just jealous."
When he came back to the present, gold eyes were staring intently at laughing blue. "Talking to yourself again?" she questioned sweetly. "You know normally, that isn't heathy. In your case, I'm not so certain that I like the idea of being left out of your conversations with yourself..."
"Oh, don't worry," Youko smirked. "Those two never say anything interesting."
Hey! They protested in union.
Kagome just flicked his nose lightly and leaned back into him. "Be nice."
"What's fun about that?" he rumbled.
She just chuckled and hid her face in his shoulder, content to let whoever was currently in charge to hold her up.
Quit flirting and find out what Yusuke wants. He wouldn't have tackled all those stairs without reason, Shuuichi prodded the silver fox.
Ever the logical one, Youko moaned but agreed. Lifting flashing eyes to the other tentais, he got their attention with one gruffly spoken word. "Oi!" he yelled until the courtyard was quiet.
Oi?! Oi?! God, Youko! You're going to ruin my reputation!
Everyone blinked at the red head currently rolling his golden eyes in exasperation.
"Hn," Hiei answered, glad that the kitsune had broken the chain of endearments pouring from between his sister and her suitor.
Yusuke peered closely at Kurama "Youko?" he said and then flopped back till he was laying on the hot pavement. "Aw, fuck it," He threw his hands up and continued. "I give in. Any other strange developments you guys wanna share with me?"
"Hn."
Kagome sniggered against Kurama's chest, tickling a smile from the kitsune spirit in control.
Oi, he said again just to annoy his partner. Kurama, I didn't realize you were so ticklish! Youko sounded absolutely delighted by the discovery.
Shut up, Kurama said sourly.
"Well, what do you want fox?" Hiei cut in.
He waggled his eyebrows suggestively and grinned.
"Hn."
WHAP!
Kagome smacked her support lightly in the arm. "Be serious," she admonished, but Youko could hear the humor in her muffled voice.
"Fine, fine," he sighed. "I just wondered what our new mission is, Yusuke."
"Eh?!" Yusuke kept his eyes trained on the clouds drifting through the sky. "Damned kitsune intuition," he muttered then sat up so suddenly that Yukina jumped. Kagome would have too if her face wasn't still plastered into her boyfriend's shoulder. "I'm calling a meeting," Yusuke announced.
"Hn."
"We can just do this now," Youko pointed out, "We're all here."
"Except Boton," Yusuke agreed. "Anyone seen her?"
"Hn."
"No."
"Nope."
"She's with Inuyasha."
"Oh?" Yusuke frowned.
Kagome waved a hand vaguely toward the well house without lifting her head.
"Mmm," Yusuke contemplated.
"I'll get her," Hiei said and vanished.
"Right," Yusuke flopped back in satisfaction. "Good."
Youko curved Kurama's lips up in a friendly smile at the strange human and quickly pulled it back into a frown when he heard an ominous counting in his head.
Three...Two...
What are you guys-
ONE!
....
Shuuichi! Kurama wailed unhappily.
Sorry guys, my turn! The human laughed.
Youko growled unhappily from inside his head.
Kagome leaned back in curiosity when the energy around her changed drastically. Laughing green eyes twinkled down at her. "Shuuichi?" He nodded and hugged her happily, twirling her around a bit in his arms. She laughed then held limply to the human side of her future mate. 'Let me guess, you pounced?"
"Of course," he agreed.
"I thought Youko would be more aware then that," Hiei said arriving as quickly as he had departed. "I overestimated his ability."
Grrrr...Youko growled.
Hiei appeared above then in a tree branch with a struggling bundle of pink in his arms.
"It took two of us," the human admitted with a shrug, "but we got him with his own tricks."
"Hn," Hiei commented and jumped down to the ground where he dropped the wriggling ferry girl in a heap.
"Ouch! Damn it Hiei!" Botan protested and untangled herself from the excessive folds of clothing. "You could have just asked me and I would have come!"
"Hn."
"I'll 'Hn' you!" she announced and rolled a sleeve away from one clenched fist.
"Hn."
Botan snarled and prepared to leap at the fire demon in angry indignation. She was stopped when the well activated again, announcing Inuyasha's arrival.
"Oi, wench!" Inuyasha yelled. "What the hell did you just disappear for?" He gave them all suspicious looks but did not ask what they had been doing.
Botan visibly bristled and turned to grit her teeth at the amused fire apparition. "It wasn't voluntary."
"Feh!"
"Hn."
"I wish you would stop that," Botan sighed. "I know that you are both smart enough to hold a real conversation without relying on one word."
"That's right!" Yusuke said from where he was sprawled lazily in the sun. "You two share a lot of similar qualities." Two very unamused demons turned to glare at the tempting target he made.
"Funny," Shuuichi smirked. "We've often thought the same thing about you and Inuyasha, Yusuke."
"Hn." Hiei agreed.
"Feh!"
"Keh!"
The three glared at each other and crossed their arms simultaneously.
"Hn."
"Feh!"
"Keh!"
"How amusing," Shuuichi laughed.
"Shut up!" Yusuke threatened. "All of you!"
Kagome rolled her eyes and ignored the boys. Glancing around, she caught Botan's eye and winked saucily. Botan's blush told her all that she needed to know. She flashed the ferry girl a smile and a thumbs up before turning back to her own male. Noticing that all his attention was on picking on the other members of his team, Kagome reached up and tweaked a lock of Shuuichi's crimson hair. "Shower first?" she asked hopefully.
Kurama finally turned back to Kagome and pulled her away form his shirt front. He pointed her in the direction of her home and couldn't resist swatting her lightly on her rear. "Go on," he smiled at her mock frown. He watched her drag herself over to the house and lean heavily on the door frame as she worked at the latch. Shuuichi finally gave in to Kurama's insistence that he be back in charge and moved aside. Kurama watched with concern until she disappeared into the house before he turned a suddenly disapproving stare on the jaganashi still engaged in a staring contest with the other two proud warriors. "You push her too hard, Hiei."
"Hn. She wasn't complaining," Hiei crossed his arms and glared back.
"She wouldn't," Kurama answered. "She is being driven by memories of her capture. You will be the one that has to call a halt when she tires. You will not push her to exhaustion."
Hiei recognized the demand for what it was but gave his friend a short nod.
Yukina only spared them each a glance before turning a concerned look toward the house where her new friend had disappeared.
"Is that what this is about?" Yusuke asked and frowned at them all. "She's strong as it is."
"Spiritually, yes. In combat, she is no more then a beginner," Hiei told his teammate.
"Feh! That's because I've always taken care of her," Inuyasha announced proudly and took his usual spot in the god tree. Botan stayed near him by standing at the base of the tree and running her fingers along the bare spot that marked his previous captivity.
"Fine job you did too," Yusuke muttered. Inuyasha managed to miss the sarcasm in Yusuke's voice and sat preening in the tree.
They spent the next fifteen minutes wrapped up in thoughts of their own while they waited for Kagome to return. When she stumbled out the door and over to them, she immediately fell back into Kurama's arms. With a hearty sigh, she grinned at them all and pronounced, "I'm ready now."
Yusuke shook his head but turned back to the topic at hand. Plans needed to be made. They had a shard to find and a jewel to finish... The only question was, where was it?
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Kagome woke up in good spirits. After determining that it was indeed time to search for the missing shard, she threw all of her efforts into preparing herself for the task...They would be leaving tomorrow, so she still had today to work on her skills.
After a few weeks of solid training in technique and form, Hiei concluded that she was ready to test her ability on a moving target. It was time to test her reflexes and let her instinct guide her actions. That meant she had to do a mock spar.
She was excited, her gradual improvement had been paying off at the expense of her soar muscles, but even that was beginning to fade. Kurama and Hiei were waiting for her outside. Yukina had not come today, promising her time to Kuwabara instead.
Hiei had not been pleased, but Yukina's gentle farewell hug had him smiling again and he quickly became rather pleasant company.
Kagome was skipping down her stairs when she sensed a third presence outside. Inuyasha...she hurried on, wanting to show her friend what she was doing. She stopped in the doorway, shocked to see the hanyou rolling around on the ground, laughing so hard tears were slipping down his face.
"You're AHHahahhaha teaching hahahaha her hahaha to what!? AHHahahahah!"
She silently fumed, the bright day going suddenly sour.
"Kagome Ahhahaha and a hahaha sword!" the inu continued, unaware of the change in the atmosphere.
"Inuyasha," she said sweetly.
"Wha- hahaha what?" he asked.
"Sit."
WHAM!
It didn't deter the hanyou in the slightest. "Hehehe!"
"SIT!" she said with more force.
WHAM!
"hehe hmmmm," he finished and tried to pick himself off the ground. When the spell wore off and he was once again standing, he flashed his fangs at her. "Bitch."
The Youko in Kurama slammed the half demon back down into the concrete with a well placed fist.
Hiei watched this all unamused.
"If all you are gonna do is laugh at me," she fumed, "then you can just leave!"
"Keh!" Inuyasha picked himself up off the pavement and glared at the fox.
With Youko so close to the surface, Kurama gave Inuyasha a look that sent danger signals up the back of his neck. He turned up his nose at the fox, adopting a superior attitude clearly taken from observing his brother. "Baka kitsune."
Youko snarled a warning and let out a wave of his youki, telling the dog in no uncertain terms who here had the greatest power.
Kagome glanced around at the energy surge and sighed. "Youko Kurama Minamino!" she said dangerously.
The sound of all his various names rolled into one turned his head to face the fuming woman in shock. Hiei laughed outright and inwardly congratulated the girl for her inventive nature.
"Don't you dare injure him! Botan would never forgive me!" she frowned.
"Eh!?" Inuyasha drew himself up and spat angrily. "I can handle this stupid fox!"
"Sure," Kagome said absently and continued to stare at her boyfriend.
It rubbed Youko's fur the wrong way to accept her orders, but she was right. Cringing inside, Youko slunk back to watch the dog demon with growing resentment. First, the hanyou had her affections. Then, her friendship. Now, he had her protection! Growling under his breath, Kurama reigned in his jealousy and took comfort in knowing that she was his.
"We are not going to spar today." Hiei finally said quietly. Kagome's gasp of dismay was cut off by the fire demon as he continued. "There is too much to prepare for our mission tomorrow. You will have all the opportunity you like to test your skills were we will be going," he assured her.
Disappointed, but understanding his reasons, Kagome let her shoulders droop and handed him back the blade she had been practicing with.
Hiei took the sword and passed her another one that he had somehow hidden beside him. Kagome took the long sword and reverently touched it's carved hilt and matching sheath. "Wow," she breathed. Carved flames danced across the surface of the hilt and sheath, mixed with detailed carvings of two dragons with silver and ruby eyes and claws. They twined together at the top where they seemed to be battling or perhaps protecting one another, so close were they entwined. She ran her finger tips over the graceful curves of the serpent's tails and wings.
"That's yours now." Hiei stated and turned his face away.
"It's beautiful," she murmured. "Where did you get it?"
She could have sworn that she saw a faint tinge of pink settle in his cheeks before he answered. "I made it."
Her eyes widened as Kurama's narrowed. He could appreciate a masterpiece like that sword himself, and had no worries about her owning it. It was the fact that it was a gift...from another male that nagged at him. The jealous streak was stubbornly holding on and Youko was fighting to keep it under his control. He restrained himself as Kagome approached the fire apparition and hugged the demon tightly.
"Thank you, Hiei," she whispered emotionally. "For everything you have done to help me..."
"Hn," he answered and awkwardly patted her shoulder. "It is only a sword," he said, trying to play it off as unimportant.
"To others perhaps," she smiled. "But to me, it is very special..."
"Hn," Hiei lightly pushed her away and vanished into the trees. Kagome waved happily and ran over to show her newest treasure to Kurama.
"You embarrassed him," the kitsune observed.
"I did not!" Kagome protested. "He did it himself. Besides, it IS the most beautiful sword I have ever seen." She saw him purse his lips and frown slightly and she waved away his concern. "Hiei is a great friend..." she said putting emphasis on the word friend. "To the both of us."
Finally smiling again, Kurama let go of the lingering negativity and rejoiced with his mate in her happiness over having such a good friend. "He is indeed," Kurama agreed and kissed her lightly before running his own hands over the blade. It was very well made...but then, you could expect nothing less from Hiei.
Kagome sighed and rubbed her arms as if chilled. "Kurama, are you worried at all about tomorrow?"
"No," he said after considering her question for a few minutes. "You will find the shard, Kagome. I have faith in you."
"It's not the search that worries me. It's what we will find when its all over. It's that I will have to face Naraku again after I have it. It scares me..."
"I have faith in you, Kagome." Kurama repeated and wrapped his arms around her from behind so that he could tuck his chin on top of her head. "And I will never let him take you again. I promise."
Feeling better, Kagome leaned back and stared at the waving leaves above them and found peace. "Thank you," she whispered.
Kurama smiled and left it at that.
After a few more quiet moments, Kagome stretched and pointedly shoved Kurama toward the stairs. Thinking to finally get the chance to pick on him for a change she said, "Time to start preparing. Go home Kurama. Spend this day with your mother...I don't know how long we will be gone. She misses you."
Kurama rolled his eyes but smiled before he caught her up in a kiss that took her breath from her body and made the ends of her hair tingle. "And you don't when I'm gone? I'll be back tonight," he whispered and then left her gaping at the spot he had last stood for several more minutes.
"Oh!" she grumbled. "He did it again! Just you wait Kurama! One of these times, you're going to be the one standing here too confused to move!" She wasn't certain, but she thought she heard him chuckling from around the corner. Just for good measure, she blew a kiss in that direction and retreated to the house to dig out the massive yellow bag that had enjoyed a small vacation while she spent that last few weeks home. Now, it was time to start another adventure...
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They had agreed to meet at Yusuke's that morning before jumping the portal for Reikai. Kagome hefted her giant bag onto her shoulder and nervously attached her new sword to her waist and her bow in one fist. Her quiver of arrows was smashed between her back and her pack in case she needed to drop the oversized burden in a hurry. She tiptoed out of the house as quietly as she could by avoiding the creaky floorboards and the third stair down so that she wouldn't wake her family. She winced as the old house made a groan of protest as it settled. She made it to the door and out of the house before the distressed sound had finished reverberating off the walls.
Kagome sighed and skipped away from her home and its occupants. She hated to leave them all the time, but the jewel was a harsh task master that requested more then her time and attention. It demanded it. Kagome was no more free to choose to walk away from this task then Sesshoumaru was to walk away from his responsibilities in his lands. That is why he would not be joining them here in the future on this final hunt...and his pride might not survive it if the well refused him.
Inuyasha had woken her up early this morning but trouncing on her and Kurama in her bed. Kagome shook her head at the memory and considered what she could do to get the playful dog back for waking her up so rudely. He had been all excited to start this trip...perhaps because he was going to be seeing Botan's world for the first time and that he was going to be doing some scouting work for the Reikai when he returned home. The idea of rubbing such a job in his brother's face was too much of a temptation to ignore. Grinning at her while she tried to pull her blanket out of his clawed grasp and over her head, he announced that he was going to leave early with Botan to see the Reikai prince about "Important business." Kagome was rather unimpressed by his declaration but waved a cheery hand at him as he paced the room and jumped back out the window. Soon after, Kurama made his own way home to retrieve his own pack of essentials before returning to get her.
This though made Kagome smile as she tripped awkwardly down the stairs. Mindful of the weight of her things on her back, she knew that such a fall could damage her immensely, both physically and her pride if anyone saw her take that tumble. She reached the bottom stair and with a gusty breathe of relief, she plopped down on it so that the bag rested on the step above her without her having to take it off.
It was a quiet kind of summer morning, early enough so that the majority of mankind still slept, ignorant of a teenaged girl's ongoing quest to save the world... and she intended to ensure that it remained that way.
A few birds chirped brightly as the sun strengthened and Kagome glanced around vaguely until a lonely plod of old gum seated beside her caught her attention. She wrinkled her nose at the filthy remains that appears to have been stepped on several times already and scowled at the memory of scrapping similar lumps from the edges of her home before. She scooted slightly away, hoping to ignore the sticky substance long enough to escape absentmindedly touching it.
"Kagome!"
She twisted around in surprise, which was harder then it should have been with all the stuff attached to her and found her mother descending the stairs with her purse dangling from one elbow. Kagome waved with mock energy until her mother reached her level and stood in front of her. Seeing that her mother was about to join her, Kagome gestured at the gum and directed her to her other side.
"I am glad that you are still here," Mrs. Higurashi began with a pleased smile. "I wanted to say goodbye before you left."
"We all said goodbye last night," Kagome reminded her mother but grinned in pleasure anyway.
"I know, but it is hard to catch you alone anymore, to talk. Usually, when you are not gone in the past, you and I got some time together. Now," her smile turned mischievous, "that delightful young man of yours is around."
Kagome bit her lip to hide the grin that came unbidden to her face at the mere mention of Kurama. She prayed then that she wasn't about to get "The Talk" for the fourth time in her life, though admittedly, Ji-chans attempt had bordered on hilarious. "He's not here THAT much," she attempted but couldn't meet her mother's eyes.
"He's here more then you let on." Mrs. Higurashi shook her head at her daughter. "I may be getting old and outdated, but I'm still your mother. I am fully aware that he spent the night here again last night."
Kagome widened her shocked eyes and protested, "Mom! You're not old and outdated!" She followed that up with a whimper as she dropped her head into her raised knees and hid from the knowing look on her mother's face. "It's not like that," she managed to burble out.
"It's not?" the obvious tone of disappointment in her mother's voice sent Kagome's head shooting back up so that she could stare at the older woman in shock.
"Mom!"
"It's okay, dear." she sighed. "Shiori and I were just so glad that you two found each other. We had hoped..." she trailed off.
"Mom!" Kagome choked out while the blood rushed to her face. "It's not...I haven't...We never..." She sighed and looked her mother in the eye so that she could explain to the best of her ability. "It is like that...just not yet. Kurama stays with me because I have...nightmares."
Mrs. Higurashi's attitude changed suddenly as she stopped teasing her daughter and became very serious. "Nightmares?" she asked looking for clarification.
Kagome nodded and reached up to trace the thin scar that was barely noticeable on her cheek before dropping her gaze. "I feel so silly for being scared of a dream,"she explained, "but when he stays with me, all those bad memories disappear somehow. I feel safer with him there."
"Oh, Kagome," her mother sighed and pulled her daughter into a tight hug. "This won't go on forever." she assured her daughter. "I know that it is your destiny to do this, but there is always an afterward of peace to follow such hard times. You'll see."
Kagome stayed in her mothers arms until she noticed an extra pair of feet beside her own. She blinked several times and pulled away from the maternal comfort to find Kurama sitting casually beside her. "When did you get here?" she asked in surprise.
Mrs. Higurashi seemed just as interested in his answer and tilted her head to the side in a move her daughter unconsciously imitated. "Oh, my."
He chuckled and smiled pleasantly. "Just now, actually. I did not mean to disturb either of you."
"No no!" he was assured. "I was just leaving, and I know that you both have somewhere to be!" She paused slightly and gave her daughter a bland look and gestured to where Kurama was sitting. "Mmm, Kagome? Wasn't there...?"
Kagome nodded and her mouth trembled as she tried to suppress the laughter welling inside her. She clenched her eyes shut to keep them from watering and heard her mother's stifled voice sounding suspiciously high with her own laughter. Kurama politely answered her goodbyes and
waited for Kagome to turn to him.
When she finally faced him, she immediately burst out laughing and tugged at his arm to get him to stand. "Come on," she giggled. "We have to hurry if you want to change your pants before meeting with the others..."
"Change my pants?" he questioned and made a move to stand "Why would I—oh," he tried to look uneffected, but the blush on his cheeks gave him away. "Well, that's never happened before..."
Kagome was rolling with laughter by the time Kurama managed to shift his weight enough to inspect the damage. "To you maybe!" she gasped."
Kurama gave her a disgruntled look that only magnified when she suggested that he scrape his ass on the step to remove most of the substance clinging in stringy threads to his pants. Kagome was laughing too hard to retrieve her camera from her pack and had to be satisfied with telling the others when she saw them. She grinned and wiped the tears from her eyes and offered him a hand up. "Let's go before they come looking for us," she snorted and pushed him ahead of her. "I'll cover your rear," she announced and burst into a louder fit of giggles then before.
Looking affronted and slightly miserable Kurama hurried back to his own home with Kagome's sniggers lending him speed. There was no way that they were going to make it in time to Yusuke's and he knew that everyone would be sure to question him about being late...and Kagome was enjoying this too much not to tell. He sighed, if this was the worst thing to happen during this mission, he would count them all lucky...
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Koenma in teenaged form sent Botan out to open the portal for the tentais and was not surprised to see Inuyasha go with her. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he considered what to tell the group to get them started on this mission. There was really no hints at all about the location of the shard or who may have it. All they had to work with was Kagome's certainty that five hundred years ago, there was a shard lost in the land of the dead...it could be anywhere now...even reincarnated into another soul that may have possessed it last, like she was. If that were the case, the shard could have gone into the ningenkai or even the makai, though he hoped they could avoid going there.
In truth, this time, there were NO certainties. He could only pray that his team was ready for anything, because that is what they were facing...all they had was a five hundred year old rumor and the untrained senses of a teenaged Miko to guide them.
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Well, everyone, thank you for your reviews and your support, and again I apologize for the wait...I have three more chapters that go with this update but I have been very ...discontented... with them as so, will not post them until I rid myself of this troublesome writer's block. Sorry about that. It shouldn't be too awfully long...feel free to contact me and tell me to get my butt in gear if it takes longer than a month to get multiple chapters up! I understand if it gets annoying waiting for an author to update.
Sigh...I hope that this slump doesn't last too long...
Sylvannastar