Hey, guys, sorry it took so long to get this next chapter out. But guess what? This is the long awaited chapter. We find out who Kurama's soul mate is and some surprising information about the past relationship of our favorite two people, Kagome and Kurama. To find out what it is you must read. And I have no doubt that if you've read up to this point you'll be pleasantly surprised that the strange events. So, anyway, here it is for your reading pleasure.

Disclaimer: I have nor ever will own anything Anime related, because I am poor and have no talent for drawing Anime or anything art related.

Chapter 4

A Friendship Long Forgotten

As Kagome had been walking, carrying Shippo at her hip, she began to notice the oddest sensation; like little tiny pinpricks of energy that seemed to call to her. It felt odd, yet at the same time somewhat familiar. "Momma, momma," Shippo tugged on her black shirt as Kagome snapped out of her trance and stopped to look down at her son.

"Yes what is it?" she asked calmly, trying not to show her nervousness.

"Are you okay, okaa-san, I've been trying to get your attention for the last ten minutes," he stated curiously his big green eyes staring into her own blue orbs. She couldn't help but feel her heart melt.

"Yes, I'm fine Shippo, it's just, well I've been feeling a strange energy and it's beginning to bug me."

"What energy?" Shippo asked, glancing around. He hadn't felt anything strange.

"You mean you don't feel it?" she asked.

"Mother, all I'm feeling is your energy. I don't feel anything else," he replied.

"Hmm," Kagome murmured before shrugging. "Oh well, maybe I'm just being paranoid." She began walking again and before she realized it, she'd arrived at their destination; the mall. "Well Shippo, we're here. Are you ready for your first ever shopping experience?" she asked, laughing when his eyes widened at the size of the shopping center.

"Yeah, let's go!" he cried struggling to get down.

"Then lets go," she replied. She set Shippo down and grabbed his hand. "Now remember Shippo, don't go off anywhere without me, okay? This is a big place and I don't want you getting hurt or lost."

"I won't leave you momma, I love you," he whispered the last words.

Kagome had tears in her eyes when she bent down to kiss him on the cheek. "I love you, too, Musoku (I think that's Japanese for son. If not, oh well sue me. Or not, because I can tell you I have little money)," she whispered back before straightening up. When they reached the doors she had a heck of a time explaining to Shippo how the automatic doors were not demons, they were merely opening devices. And then she spent about ten minutes trying to get Shippo to stop jumping on the opening platform while he watched in awe as the doors opened and closed by themselves.

After that she took him all around the mall and showed him all the different stores, even taking him into the candy shop when Shippo immediately noticed the smell of chocolate. The last place she took him to was the toy store. When they walked in Shippo was so high from all his candy he was literally bouncing off the walls. Kagome merely smiled in amusement, her eyes shining with pride at her happy son. "Okay, Shippo," she said bending down and looking him in the eye. "I'm going to let you look around, okay. You can pick out any two toys you want, but don't leave the store, okay?"

"Yay!" he exclaimed jumping up and down in excitement. As Shippo darted around, picking up anything and everything that caught his interest, Kagome could barely keep up with the rambunctious child and as it was, Shippo got so far ahead, that eventually Kagome lost sight of him and began to worry when he did not immediately return to her. She decided not to worry for now and continued to browse for ten minutes....then 20, then 30 until finally she started to get anxious. Using her newly acquired youkai abilities, she used her nose to sniff out her son, her eyes rising when she caught him near the strangest smell; roses. What on earth was causing that delicious smell? It was then that she noticed the energy radiating from the area of the strange scent. It was the same energy she'd felt that morning. Feeling slightly panicky that something might happen to Shippo, Kagome sped up and headed straight towards her son's rising energy. Oh if anything happened to him there would be hell to pay.

Breakfast that morning had been about as lively as it ever was, with Kurama's friends conversing with each other. Well, mostly it was Yusuke and Keiko arguing over various points of interest, which seemed to entertain Kurama. Kuwabara was thankfully not present as he was currently sleeping from a long night of police duty. Hiei, of course, was also nonexistent as always. It had been almost five years since High School graduation and Kurama was now 23. After a very short stay in college, he had majored in Botany and graduated very quickly, not very surprising really considering he knew all there was to know about plants; and then some. Everyone was surprised when Yusuke and Keiko decided to marry. They had been married for four and a half years and were expecting their first child within the next couple of months. Yusuke still worked for Koenma and actually got paid now after he threatened Koenma with quitting.

Keiko was currently in her last year of college, while she interned as a substitute teacher. When she was finished she would graduate with a degree in teaching and go on to teach Kindergarten. Kuwabara worked for the law as a police officer and everyone saw very little of Hiei, as he was allowed to go back to Makai. Kurama seemed to be the only one these days that still didn't really know what he wanted. He had moved out of his mother's house after her marriage to a new man and gotten his own apartment further away.

Giving a short goodbye after breakfast, he decided to head over to the mall to pick up something for Yusuke's first kid. When he go to the mall, he parked by the rear entrance where he knew the toy store was. He locked his car and walked into the toy store and began his search for the perfect baby gift. The only problem was, he had no idea what to get a child, much less a human baby.

Kurama stopped in front of the stuffed animal section as something caught his eye. It was a little stuffed fox, brown in color with a brown tail and ears. It had blue eyes and soft fur. Kurama immediately smiled and went to reach for the stuffed fox, when a little hand reached out and snatched it before Kurama could pick it up.

"Hey," Kurama started to protest as he turned to glance down at a little boy who was curiously examining the stuffed animal. "I was going to buy that," Kurama commented, causing the boy to stiffen.

Kurama watched in dismay as the little boy's eyes filled with fear and he hurriedly placed the stuffed fox back. "I'm sorry, mister, I was only curious, honest," the boy whispered, tears filling his eyes.

Kurama immediately felt sympathy for the child and squatted down next to him. "Hey, hey, it's okay, may I ask your name?"

The boy sniffled. "I'm Shippo," he answered wiping his nose and eyes on his sleeve. "Who are you, you smell weird."

Inside his head Yoko began laughing at the off-handed comment as Kurama struggled not to growl at his annoying counter part. Instead he smiled politely at the boy and held out his hand. "I'm Shuichi Minamino, but you can call me Kurama."

The little kid smiled and that's when Kurama caught the sight of tiny fangs in his mouth. For a moment he could only stare, before calmly calling for Yoko.

Yoko, what on earth would a youkai chibi come here for? And for that matter, where are his parents?

How should I know, red? Yoko asked calmly. But he does smell familiar. Yoko gasped as the realization struck him. The kid's a kitsune!

What?! Kurama cried.

"Excuse me," a little voice brought Kurama back to the present. Kurama glanced down to see the little kitsune staring at him strangely.

"Shippo, can I ask you something?" Kurama asked sitting back on his heels as he examined the human-looking child. He had to admit his cover up was very well placed. He looked normal, with short reddish color hair and aqua eyes.

"I guess," Shippo looked weirdly at the older man. Why on earth would this youkai want to ask him anything? Yes, he knew this Kurama was a demon; he could smell it.

"Shippo, are you a youkai?" he asked.

Shippo shrugged. "Yeah, so, what's it to you, youkai?"

Kurama was once again stunned. The little kitsune had just acknowledged what he was and had been able to identify Kurama as a demon. Shippo immediately froze, before bursting into tears bringing Kurama out of his puzzled thoughts. Shippo began speaking a mile a minute as he went on and on about how he wasn't supposed to say anything and how his mother would be mad at him. Kurama started to get a little worried as all around him people were starting to give him dirty looks as if he'd hurt the kit on purpose and Kurama started to blush.

Suddenly something caught his attention and his nose. Coming towards him was the sweetest smell he'd ever smelt. He could only watch as a woman came tearing around the corner, her head turning every which way and that, her eyes and aura frantic. Suddenly her eyes jerked to him and the crying kit in his arms. Her eyes were filled with worry as she swept past a silenced Kurama and picked up the crying kitsune in her arms and began crooning softly to him. When Shippo began to calm down Kagome turned her attention to Kurama. Her eyes were piercing, almost glaring into his until she finally realized what and who she was looking at.

When their eyes met, both instantly froze as the ping of energy grew and raced through both of them. Kagome's eyes widened momentarily as recognition swept through her. "Shuichi," she gasped taking a startled step away from the red-head.

Kurama looked stunned. Did he know her? His eyes swept over her in an appraising manner and he had to admit she was very beautful. She was tall and pretty, with long blue-black hair and almond shaped blue eyes.

"You don't remember me, do you?" she asked finally when she could speak again.

When Kurama could do nothing but shake his head Kagome introduced herself. "I'm Kagome, Kagome Higurashi. We went to school together when we were kids. We met when a kid was picking on me and you stepped in and-."

"Gave him a bloody nose," Kurama answered for her, this time smiling widely. "I remember now!" he cried drawing her into a hug. The two stood there relishing in their long lost friendship when a small voice spoke up between them.

"Mommy?" Shippo asked startling the pair.

Both Kurama and Kagome jumped apart and stared down at Shippo. Once Kurama realized what Shippo had said, his eyes swung to Kagome who looked a bit nervous. "I guess it has been a long time," she finally whispered unable to meet his eyes. Suddenly she caught the vestiges of demon energy and it was coming directly from Shuichi. "You're a-you're a demon, Shuichi," she gasped, before covering her mouth at what she'd said.

Kurama continued to gape before glancing around, noticing where they are and how many people were pooling around them, probably drawn to the drama of the crying kid. Kurama gently took her arm and led her down an empty aisle so they could speak more privately. When he let go he turned and finally took a good look at her. She'd changed, oh boy had she. Kurama blocked out the string of perverted questions and comments of Yoko, as Kurama stared at the girl he'd once saved and befriended so long ago. She certainly didn't look like the small, timid, innocent girl she'd been.

Kagome met his eyes before sighing in defeat. "Look, I know you have some questions for me, and I have some for you as well," she said casually raising an eyebrow pointedly. "But for now, Shippo and I have had a long day and need to get home to my family."

"I understand," Kurama assured her. "Maybe we could get together some time this week. Would you like to have dinner with me some night?"

Kagome looked stunned. Was he asking her on a date? She blushed slightly as she gazed at the man who'd once saved her from a bully on the playground. He always was kawaii when he was little, now he was plain gorgeous. "I, uh, I guess so," she finally answered.

"Great!" Kurama exclaimed. "How about I pick you up on Saturday. You still live at the shrine don't you?"

Kagome smiled. "Yeah, we still live there. Oh and I suppose you met my son, but the way why was he crying?" she asked remembering the scene she'd come in on.

She watched as Kurama blushed before explaining what happened. "I didn't mean to upset him, really," he assured her. "He just startled me a bit."

"It's okay, Shuichi, I know you," Kagome reassured him, placing a hand on his wrist in a comforting manner. "I know you wouldn't purposely upset a child."

Shuichi met her gaze and smiled into her eyes. "Thanks," he whispered. As if remembering what time is was, Kurama looked down at his watch. "Well, I should really get going."

"Okay, I guess I'll see you Saturday?" she questioned.

"Yeah," he replied.

Kagome began walking away from him, before Shuichi called out to her. "Hey, Kagome!" She turned and smiled at him sweetly.

"Yes, Shuichi?"

"It was wonderful seeing you again," he murmured softly.

She blushed before replying, "yes it was nice meeting you again. I'll see you Saturday."

Kurama nodded and Kagome walked away, a huge smile on her face with pure happiness for the first time since she'd returned from Feudal Japan.

Well, I think this is where I'll stop. It was certainly long enough, don't ya'll think? If not, well review and maybe I'll update soon. For now, I hope you guys enjoyed this. Oh, and to those of you who are confused, I made Kagome and the rest older. It had been able 8 years since the beginning of Kagome's adventure in the Feudal Era, and the whole beginning of Yu Yu Hakusho. So Kagome and Kurama are 23, while Yusuke and Keiko are 22. Remember Yusuke was 14 when he died the first time and I believe Kurama was 15. I could have been wrong, he might have been 16, but I know he was older than Yusuke. Anyway, I wanted them to be older because I didn't want to have to deal with the whole school thing. As for the past relationship of Kagome and Kurama, I bet no one saw that coming. If you want to know how they met, you'll have to keep reading this story. I assure you it'll be a sweet meeting too. You will all love it. Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed my story. You guys are the best. So I hope you liked this chapter since it took me awhile tonight to write it. In the meantime, please read and review.

Ja ne

Kura-kun's-lovr