Disclaimer: I don't own YYH, Harry Potter, or Inuyasha!

I don't own any of the Yu Yu Hakusho dialects that will be used in this chapter and the chapters to follow! (Yes, I am, incorporating the YYH storyline with the Harry Potter with my own small twists…)

&&&

Forlorn Wishes

"I've heard of high school dropouts, but what do you call a witch dropping out of Hogwarts?" Kagome muttered as she trudged towards Yusuke's high school, Sarayashiki High. She paused in her step as another thought occurred to her, "For that matter, what do you call a wizards dropping out of Hogwarts?" She could not stop the long-suffered sigh from her lips as her thoughts drifted to Hiei and Kurama. A picture of the handsome red-head entered her mind, causing her to blush slightly.

"Urameshi, stop right there!" yelled a rough voice belonging to a punk with orange, carrot-toped hair. "You still owe me a fight!" She tilted her head slightly to the right as she watched her childhood friend interact with another boy. "They act like little children. Even Rin and Souta behave better than them. Speaking of which, I really should check up on those two little rascals. " she mentally giggled to herself.

"Why bother, Kuwabara, you're going to lose anyway." sneered Yusuke as he shoved his hands into the back pocket of his torn jeans. "I can beat you without even using my hands!"

"Let's see you try, Urameshi!" Kuwabara shouted indignantly, causing his spit to fly everywhere. Kagome grimaced in disgust as she watched the droplets of saliva spew onto the pavement.

"Hey, I hate to cut in," she interrupted while walking into their vicinity, "but for your safety – Kuwabara, that your name, right – I would advise you not to pick this fight."

"If my fair lady wishes," Kuwabara replied before attempting to grab Kagome's hands within his own. Yusuke quickly intercepted by placing himself before his defenseless friend, rudely severing Kuwabara's attempt at having any physical contact with Kagome. Blinking her eyes in confusion, she peeked over Yusuke's tall frame on her tip-toes to silently regard the orange-head next actions.

"Keep your hands off her," Yusuke snarled viciously, causing Kagome to stumble and tumble onto Yusuke's back. Yusuke barely kept himself from falling flat on his face from the sudden addition of weight. Flailing his arms around wildly like a duckling learning to fly, Yusuke finally regained his balance after several attempts to stabilize himself.

"Sorry Yusuke," Kagome giggled as she took a small step away from Yusuke.

"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?" he demanded in a slightly peeved tone.

"Nothing Yusuke-kun," Kagome replied with a small shake of her head. "Come on, let's go already, you promised to treat me to a movie today. You better not have backed out of it!" she whined with a small pout. "I fully intend to enjoy myself today. So, if you ruin my mood…they'll be heavy consequences!" she finished in a sing-song voice.

"Okay, let's go." Yusuke replied as he shyly linked his fingers with Kagome. Kuwabara's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he watched the exchange in silence. Yusuke Urameshi, notorious punk in this block of the city, had just voluntarily linked hands with a girl! Upon further inspection, Kuwabara noticed the faint trace of a growing blush. If he had not been so shocked at the realization of Yusuke's disposition, Kuwabara would have taken the chance to embarrass his long-time rival.

"I want to get some ice cream first, though!" Kagome suddenly piped up.

"Strawberry or chocolate," Yusuke asked, causing Kuwabara's mouth to slacken.

"He did not just agree to treat some girl to ice-cream!" Kuwabara thought to himself with disbelief etched in his face.

"I can't decide." Kagome admitted after a slight pause. "How about we get both and then we can share!" she suggested, earning an agreeing nod from a slightly red Yusuke. Kuwabara's lower jaw had hit the ground as he tried to process the new change of events.

"How far have the two gone?" he silently asked. "They're sharing food and…saliva!"

"You're going to catch a fly like that, Kuwabara." snorted Yusuke, snapping Kuwabara out of his reverie. An impatient sigh escaped Kagome before she practically dragged Yusuke to the exit by the collar of his shirt.

"Man, you're whipped, Urameshi!" Kuwabara finally managed to utter as the duo neared the exit of the school. Yusuke was about to rudely retort, when a feminine voice that did not belong to Kagome, interrupted him.

"Yusuke, wait up!" called a young girl wearing the Sarayashiki High uniform. She skidded to a sudden stop in front Yusuke, slightly out of breath from her exertion. "Yusuke, you didn't forget already did you," she admonished with an annoyed glare, "you promised you would go on a…" She stopped as she noticed the girl beside Yusuke.

"What is it Keiko?" Yusuke asked as a pained look crossed Keiko's features. Keiko's eyes were glued to his right hand, which was wrapped tightly around Kagome's much smaller, left one.

"Nothing, just don't forget to do your homework and come to school on time." Keiko concluded lamely before turning around and heading back inside the school.

"Is she your girl…?" Kagome fidgeted nervously.

"No, I don't have a girlfriend." Yusuke replied, causing Keiko to quicken her pace. "Come on; let's go get our ice creams."

&&&

As he had designated three nights ago, Kurama stood waiting outside of the hospital for the newly appointed spirit detective. When Yusuke finally arrived, Kurama gave a quick greeting before leading him into the hospital. Going up several flights of stairs and then down several doors, he finally pushed one in. Yusuke held his breath for what lay beyond the doors, but was greatly surprised when it revealed a sickly, pale woman.

"Mother," Kurama greeted.

"Shuichi," Shiori croaked before attempting to sit up, much to Kurama's alarm, when she noticed Yusuke. "You must be one of Shuichi's friends," she smiled kindly at the confused spirit detective. "Where is your girlfriend?" she added as an afterthought, her attention on her son once again.

"What do you mean?" Kurama asked, clearly startled at the piece of information.

"Your girlfriend has been visiting me everyday now for almost a week. Don't tell me you didn't know that."

"Kagome's here?" Kurama thought surprised.

"Mother, Shuichi, his girlfriend? What the hell is going on?" Yusuke's thoughts were a mixed jumble as he tried to solve the puzzle that was Kurama (and he failed miserably). After a few sparse words with his mother, Kurama lead the spirit detective to the roof of the hospital.

After make a really long story short and leaving out the part about being a wizard, Kurama gave the sparse account of what he wished to do for his mother. "I will return the Forlorn Hope to you as soon as I have saved the life of my mother." Kurama stated as he pulled out one of the three treasures from King Enma's vault.

"Why?" Yusuke asked in disbelief. "Why would a youkai like you do this…for a human?"

"Maybe because I feel guilty," Kurama honestly replied. "Or maybe it's because Youko is and will always remain a part of me. These days, while I have not received his full memories, I know enough to deduct that Youko gave up his life for Kagome."

A few minutes later, Kurama and Yusuke both learned that Shiori was in a critical condition and possibly would not survive past the night. Worry clutched Kurama's heart as a desperate look entered his eyes. That night, under the full moon, Kurama made his very first, and possibly last, rash decision. "Don't you need to give something in return for this wish?" Yusuke asked skeptically as Kurama placed the mirror on the ground.

"Yes, my life." Kurama whispered as the mirror reflected the image of his mother.

"You desire this woman's happiness in exchange for your life?" the mirror asked in a deep, emotionless voice.

"Yes, I give my life for my mother's happiness." Kurama answered with hesitation.

"Hey, wait a second!" Yusuke protested just as the mirror began to devour Kurama's life energy. "Take my life instead! If you die, both your mother and your girlfriend will be sad!" Yusuke protested as he grabbed the mirror. "Damn, I just forgot that I have a mother and girlfriend too!" he remembered as the mirror began to tug at his life energy.

In a blinding flash of light, both Yusuke and Kurama were tossed backwards. A few seconds passed before Kurama regained consciousness. "I'm still alive," he murmured, "then what about my mother?" he asked himself as he ran back into the hospital, leaving Yusuke's unconscious form outside. Running down the hallway at an inhuman speed, he grabbed the first doctor he spotted exciting his mother's room.

"How is she?" he demanded, startling the doctor.

"It's amazing, she make a full recovery." the doctor replied after regaining his composure. A sigh of relief escaped Kurama lips, knowing his mother was going to live. "Why don't you go see her now. She'll be happy to see you." the doctor urged, only to find Kurama already turning the doorknob leading to his mother's room. As the door swung softly open, two heads turned towards his direction at the same time, causing Kurama's eyes to widen in surprise.

"Kurama, thank the Lord your safe!" Kagome cried as she launched herself into his embrace. She buried her face into his chest and mumbled, "I had the most horrible nightmare last night that you were going to die!" A small pause followed before she continued in a hesitant voice. "You were covered in blood…your own blood." she sobbed.

"Kagome, I'm alive, aren't I?" he reassured with a forced smile as he wrapped his arms around his girlfriend's small frame. "What would have happened if I had died?" Kurama asked himself as Kagome continued to sob uncontrollably. "I don't even want to think about it. If Kagome's crying like this because of a dream, what if it became reality?"

"It's so great to see you two together," Shiori smiled, causing her son to turn a dark shade of pink. "Why don't you two go outside and talk. I need my rest." she yawned for emphasis. Kurama and Kagome nodded their heads in agreement after she assured them she would be fine by herself. Shiori watched through half-lidded eyes as her son left her room with his girlfriend, "and hopefully future wife." she added silently as she slipped into a peaceful slumber.

Walking down the hospital hall in utter silence, Kagome began to fidget. "Kurama, are you mad at me?" she asked softly before slamming her eyes tightly shut. "Why did you leave so suddenly? You didn't even look back at me. When you said you were leaving to steal something, I thought I would never see you again. At least, I didn't think I'd see you alive."

"Do you love me?" Kurama suddenly asked, startling Kagome out of her ramblings.

"Of course I do," Kagome immediately replied. "Though it is also true that a part of me loves and will always love a dead man." she sadly added, her eyes pleading with him to understand her disposition.

"Youkai," Kurama corrected with a wry smile on his lips, earning an agreeing nod from Kagome. "Maybe it was for the best that it is this way." Kurama thought to himself as he stepped closer to Kagome. In turn, she lifted her head so she could lock eyes with his emerald ones. "Youko and Kagome were destined to fall in love…yet have a tragic ending. I was fated to share a body with Youko and fall in love with the woman he loved…but, one thing still eludes me. How did this happen? Kagome couldn't have possibly been born yet when Youko was still alive."

As if reading his thoughts, Kagome answered, "After the battle with Voldemort and the serpent last year, I didn't want to see any of you. So, I tried emerging myself in many studies. I signed up for every single class."

"That's not possible," Kurama interrupted.

"That's why grandpa lent me the time turner, which allows the user to return back in time. I accidentally used the time turner while trying to apparate (yes, I know I'm underage) back to my island." she explained.

"Your…island?" Kurama asked skeptically while quirking one of his eyebrows.

"Uh, I'll explain another time." Kagome answered. "Anyway, as I was saying. So I turned back time and apparated at the same time. So, somehow, I ended up in Feudal Japan! There, I met…Youko," she sighed wistfully, a deep longing etched in her voice at the mention of the kitsune youkai's name. "I spent over a year with him…and we began to fall in love."

"Over a year," Kurama mused. "I believe time changes differently?" Kagome nodded her head in agreement.

"You're such a genius," she smiled. "While I began to fall for Youko, half my heart still loved you." Kurama's eyes widened at the revelation, because he knew he had betrayed Kagome's trust last year. "Youko whole-heartedly loved me, but all I wanted was to return home…to my own time. Since the time turner was broken, I couldn't return. He helped me by getting the stone that would allow me to transcend through time once again and in the process of attaining this stone, he died and was cursed. He was cursed to live as a wandering soul for five hundred years."

"That explains why he's sharing a body with me and not someone else's five hundred years ago. It seems, fate has long decided our course of life. I am who I am today because I betrayed Kagome…in the end; everything comes back to a full circle. Life is a confusing thing." Kurama wisely mused, a wry smile on his lips.

"I feel like I'm cheating on both of you…" Kagome started, but was silenced. A small gasp of surprise escaped her lips when she felt Kurama's soft lips descend upon her own. Scooting even closer to the warmth he provided, she slowly wrapped her arms around his neck. Placing his hands on his girlfriend's hips, Kurama deepened the kiss.

"Never believe that. Fate had a hand in this." he whispered as they parted for breath.

"Let's start over…again." Kagome giggled. "We seem to start over a lot." she thought to herself, before she was brought into another innocent, but passionate kiss. It was a kiss expressing their feelings and love for the other…nothing more and nothing less.

&&&

"Hey, isn't that…" Botan started, but was rudely interrupted by Yusuke, who slapped a hand over his assistant's lips.

"Sh," he hissed as he pulled the blue-haired grim reaper out of the hospital. As soon as they were outside and exposed to the chilly night air, Yusuke grinned boyishly. "He must have been making out with his girlfriend! I'm glad I was able to save him and his girlfriend the pain of being separated."

"Kurama has a girlfriend? I didn't know youkai fell in love with humans." Botan murmured.

"If he was willing to sacrifice his life for his mom, this is nothing." Yusuke announced before muttering, "Too bad I didn't get to see what his girlfriend looks like."

"Yeah, but she must have been really pretty. Kurama strikes me as the kind of person to go after intelligent and beautiful girls. If what you say about Kurama is true, then he'll make that girl very happy."

"Damn, I got to go home and call Kagome." Yusuke hissed as he suddenly remembered his girlfriend.

"Arranging another date with your girlfriend?" teased Botan.

"SHUT UP!" protested Yusuke before storming off with a tomato-red face.

&&&

TBC

Review! ;)

Okay, sorry for the very late update! As some of you know, I've been really sick. Anyway, everything is finally rolling back into place. Kagome and Kurama finally back together, but for how long? Yusuke's growing feelings aren't going to help the situation either. Feel free to guess how long it is before another break-up, if; there is another break-up.