Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING! GOT IT?
FoxylilRaven: Hmmm, I like that pairing suggestion for reasons probably most of you don't know. I'll take it!
The Switch
Chapter Twenty-One: Heading Out
"Please be careful, if anything were to happen to you two..." Kagome's mom's eyes were filled with tears as she hugged her children. Kagome's mom looked at them proudly. Kagome was wearing her fighting outfit and Souta was wearing jeans with a dark green t-shirt and they both had packs with them, filled with food, blankets, and medical needs along with whatever they could fit.
"Don't worry mom." Kagome said, though knowing her mother would worry anyway. "You just stay here with Ms. Urameshi and the others until we get back, ok? There's plenty of food left to last you a few years actually."
"Kagome...take care of Souta." Kagome nodded and Souta held his sister's hand.
"Nothing will happen to him, you have my word." Kagome's grip tightened slightly on Souta's hand and Kagome's mom smiled.
"Well, other than that, please don't do anything too bad with Yusuke!" Kagome's eye started twitching. How could her mom say that so cheerily? "What's wrong Kagome?"
"Nothing!"
"Mom, Kagome, what are you talking about?" Souta asked.
With Yusuke
"Yusuke why do you always have to go and be the hero? YOU COULD DIE! AGAIN!" Atsuko shouted. Well, she was taking it better than he had expected. Much better.
"If it makes you feel any better...I'll have quite a lot of youkai at my back plus my friends and Kagome."
"IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO KAGOME..." Atsuko started and Yusuke sighed. This again...
"Look mom, nothing will happen to Kagome or anyone else, all right? We're just going to go and kill a youkai and we'll be right back."
"WHAT IF YOU GET KILLED?" Atsuko blinked away some tears. "WHAT WILL I DO THEN?"
"Umm..." Yusuke felt his mom hug him. "Mom, are you all right?" Atsuko just sobbed. Awkwardly, Yusuke pat her back. "We'll be ok. Honest."
"Losing you once was hard enough already. I don't want to lose you again."
"You won't mom."
With Kurama
"Schuuichi, please be careful." Shiori smiled weakly. "I don't know what I'll do without you." Kurama hugged his human mother.
"We'll do our best, and try to return to you." Kurama murmured.
"Please, take good care of Keiko. You know, I wouldn't mind having grandchildren." Kurama's eye started to twitch slightly. "In fact, Keiko's parents wouldn't mind either. I know Atsuko and Kagome's mother have been talking about it..."
"Umm...mother...perhaps now is not the best time..." Kurama said, sweat dropping. Shiori chuckled.
"It's true though. You and Keiko are perfect for each other. I hope both of you make it through this ordeal." Tears fell down Shiori's cheeks.
A Little Bit Later
Keiko, Kurama, Kagome, Souta, and Yusuke were all a little bit subdued and everyone else was silent, mostly in respect for them. At least they didn't have to part with their parent's. Shippo, Rin, Kanna, and Souten were silently comforting Souta, and Kagome smiled. She was happy Souta had made friends with them. It certainly did make everything easier.
They traveled in silence for a little while before the group finally stopped for lunch. "Who's cooking?" Inuyasha asked and Yukina, Kagome, Keiko, Kikyou, and Sango volunteered. The more cooks, the faster they could feed the group.
"Souta, why don't you, Shippo, and the other's go play?" Kikyou asked and all of the kids immediately ran off.
"I'll watch them." Shizuru offered and Botan followed Shizuru to the kids. The rest of the group dispersed and left the girls with the cooking.
"Kagome, did your mom by any chance mention you and Yusuke when you said good-bye?" Keiko asked. Kagome laughed and nodded, getting the cooking supplies out of her bag.
"Don't tell me, your parents also said the whole 'as much as we want grandchildren we don't want you doing anything with Kurama on this little trip'." Kagome asked and Keiko nodded.
"That's the basic gist. You're mom say the same thing?"
"Yes." All of the girls laughed.
"At least they accept the fact that you have a guy. From what I know, most human teenagers have over-protective parents." Sango pointed out.
"By the way Keiko, you look great in that outfit." Yukina complimented and Keiko looked down. Her outfit was just like Yukina and Kagome's outfits except instead of red or sea green her outfit was more of a navy-blue. Botan and Shizuru had youkai exterminator outfits on, Botan's armor, instead of pink, was a light blue and Shizuru's was more of a dark green.
"Really, you think it looks that good?" Keiko looked at her outfit. Kagome and Yukina nodded.
"You three look like your own little group with those outfits." Sango commented. "I'm glad at least Botan and Shizuru decided to come as youkai slayers." Kikyou nodded.
"Well, they'll scare a few youkai away at least." Kikyou pointed out. "I know I do." Kikyou looked down and laughed. "Being a miko does have its advantages."
"You can say that again." Kagome smiled, remembering some of the times she wore a miko outfit, before she met Kikyou. They usually met up with less youkai when she did...who knew that purifying powers could strike such fear?
"Guys, do you know why Hiei is being so protective of me?" Yukina asked all of a sudden. Kagome froze a little while the others just shook their heads. "Oh..."
"Why don't you go ask him yourself?" Kikyou suggested. Sango nodded in agreement.
"She's right."
"Now that I think about it, Hiei has always been protective of Yukina. Especially around Kuwabara." Keiko murmured. "Did you ever notice, Kagome?" Kagome's eye twitched for a second but her face returned to normal.
"I guess I have." Kagome shrugged. "Just do what Kikyou says and ask him. It's not that hard, is it?" Yukina smiled at her friends.
"Thanks guys."
"Welcome!" All four of them said at once and everyone started laughing then continued to cook lunch.
Somewhere near the cooking
Hiei had not heard the girls talking, but was sitting in a tree, completely silent. Kagome had been on his case for a while; trying to get him to tell Yukina that he was her brother. She had gotten to the point where he was actually considering it, like right now.
"Whatcha doin'?" A female voice asked him and Hiei looked down. The one wolf youkai, Tessa, was staring at him, her gray ears perked towards him and her tail wagging slowly behind her.
"Hn. I don't see why it's any of your business." Hiei said and Tessa rolled her eyes.
"All right." Tessa shrugged. "Umm...have you seen Ayame?"
"No."
"Kouga?"
"No."
"How about Ginta or Hakkaku?" Hiei was slowly starting to get annoyed.
"No. I haven't seen anyone." Hiei snapped and Tessa glared at him briefly.
"Fine. Don't get so touchy. If you haven't seen anyone, then do you wanna just talk?" Tessa asked and Hiei eyed her.
"Why are you so persistent?" Hiei asked and Tessa shrugged.
"Why are you so cold-hearted?" Tessa received a deadly glare. "All right I'll go. Sheesh. You're a grump." Tessa walked off.
'Hn. Persistent onna.'
Elsewhere
"Lets see you block this...SPIRIT SHOTGUN!" Yusuke shot many little bullets of spirit energy at Inuyasha, who was able to block some of them with his sword and dodge others, but was hit with the remaining bullets.
"Not bad Yusuke, not bad at all. IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!" Inuyasha struck at Yusuke with his claws, Yusuke blocked with his arms, ending up with rather deep scratches. Jin jumped in.
"TORNADO FISTS!"
"I would highly recommend you not train like that." Sesshoumaru came into the clearing. Kurama came in from the opposite side of the clearing. "We don't want anyone injured before we enter the northern lands. The wolves wouldn't be too happy about it either."
"All right. How do you suggest we train then?" Yusuke cocked his eyebrow.
"Why don't you just attack random trees, or just work on physical attacks with each other. It would be more sensible." Kurama suggested. Yusuke rolled his eyes.
"All right, go ahead and ruin our fun." Inuyasha grumbled and the trio walked off, looking for a good area to train.
"They're like triplets." Kurama shook his head.
"Inuyasha, Yusuke, and Jin certainly are a lot alike." Sesshoumaru agreed, and turned to Kurama. "Tell me, do you know how to revert to your youkai form?" Kurama shook his head.
"I used up all of the potion that I had a while back." Sesshoumaru smirked.
"Youko is a silver kitsune, am I correct?"
"Yes."
"I might be able to help you."
End of Chappie
TYN: Once again, THANK YOU FoxylilRaven! That wasn't the most interesting of chapters...oh well. I'
Yusuke: You seem really happy about that suggestion...
TYN: I feel like being happy about it.
Yusuke: Ok then. Umm...read and review!