Yo, people. Thatnks to those of you who reviewed. As of now I'm going to start a voting section. You people get to vote whether you want this story to be only Kagome/Kuronue or Kagome/Kuronue/Yoko. So start voting now. For those of you who already have hinted at a vote, I'll just add yours now and see where we go from there. Okay? Okay. Anyway, here is the second chapter. I hope you all enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho

Chapter 2

Shiori's Trust

In no time at all the five youkai had reached the mouth way of Kagome's hideout.

:::Blink:::Blink::: "Wait this is your hideout?" Yoko asked skeptically as he gazed at the mouth of a seemingly normal looking cave. The cave was only about seven feet tall and it was surrounded on all sides by tree. In truth it didn't look like much.

Kagome and Hiei exchanged knowing glances. Then Kagome stepped forward in front of everyone else.

"Wait a sec, you mean to tell me that this is your big secret hideout?" Kuronue asked to Hiei, just as skeptically as Yoko.

"Thieves, you of all people, should know the power of a barrier," Kagome stated harshly turning to glare at her guests. "I would imagine that wherever you guys stay that you place wards and seals to cover your home."

Kuronue and Yoko had the decency to look sheepish.

"Sorry," Yoko apologized.

"That's okay. Don't worry about it. I know is doesn't look like much, but you'll see," Kagome said. She refaced the mouth of her home and called for the guardian of the barrier; her daughter.

"Shiori!" She called startling Yoko and Kuronue at her sudden outburst, wondering whether Kagome was sane at the moment.

They were both surprised when they began to feel a small bit of demon energy slowly approaching the mouth of the giant cave. "This is the opening of our keep. Underneath you will see an intricate series of passageways that go many levels deep underground, all which are protected by various barriers and spells," Kagome began to explain.

"So is it just Hiei and you here, Kagome-san?" Kuronue asked stepping to her side. Kagome turned to look at the handsome demon and almost stopped breathing. Good god, but the man was very handsome in the light of the moon. With her demon senses she could clearly make out his stunning form, his handsome angular face and bat-like ears. His eyes were purple, unusual she supposed, and his hat somehow gave him a very defining look. And his wings, they looked so soft and leathery; her fingers itched to touch them.

"Uh, Kagome?" he waved a hand in front of her face as she came out of her thoughts. She noticed Kuronue gazing at her bizarrely while Hiei looked kind of amused. Shippo wasn't paying any attention what so ever and was gazing in hero-like awe of Yoko, while Yoko looked slightly confused and amused.

"No, there are more of us," Kagome replied, turning away and blushing slightly trying to save face.

"There are more of you?" Yoko asked suspiciously. "Why haven't we heard of you?"

"Actually you probably have," Kagome muttered under her breath.

Yoko and Kuronue's ears pricked with curiosity.

"Yeah, momma's famous," Shippo spoke up excitedly before Kagome could cover his mouth.

"Yes, perhaps you've heard of the mysterious Queen of Thieves," Hiei spoke up as Kagome glared at him.

"Wait, you-you're the one they call the Queen of Thieve?" Kuronue asked.

"Interesting," Yoko stated.

Kagome was blushing but merely nodded. "So, you have heard of me?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"Who hasn't?" Yoko asked excitedly. "We've been hearing stories about you from lower class demons. We've almost thought about tracking you down and finding out if the stories were true."

"Wait, what stories?" Kagome asked suspiciously. She had a feeling she didn't want to know

"Oh, just that no one has ever seen you before and lived to tell about it," Yoko said.

"Well, that's true I guess," Kagome responded.

"They also said you were beautiful, but the stories don't do you justice," Kuronue spoke up softly as Kagome blushed. He brushed his hand across her soft cheek, mesmerized and now more intrigued than ever about this female thief.

Thankfully Kagome was saved from a reply by the appearance of her adopted daughter.

Instantly her blush was gone as she smiled happily at Shiori.

The little girl looked up and smiled joyously at her mother and brother. Kagome smiled back and went to greet her daughter as Shippo jumped down from her arms and raced over to his adoptive sister.

"Shiori!" Shippo cried flinging himself across the distance to reach his sister.

"Wait, Shippo! Wait till she lets down the..."

But Kagome's words went unheeded as Shippo slammed headfirst into Shiori's protective barrier. Kagome could just feel Hiei's rising amusement and knew he was going to make one of his rare comments. "Hn, Kagome, I would have thought he would have grown out of that stage of pure dumbness, but then again....you never did," he said smirking as she shot around and glared at him.

"Oh shut it, Hiei," she muttered. A moment later smile of pure evil slowly lit up her face as Hiei's pleased smirk faded and his color lightened.

"Uh, now, Kagome, I'm your partner and best friend/brother. You really don't want to do that now do you?" he asked, backing away.

Yoko and Kuronue laughed at their old comrade since he was acting so out of character. Their jaws dropped as Kagome simply uttered a word under her breath and Hiei froze in his spot.

"Ha, that'll teach him to make fun of me," she said to herself.

She turned back to the laughing demons. "Come on, Hiei will warm his way out of my spell sooner or later," she said, amusement still in her tone. "After all he wouldn't be Hiei if he didn't have that fire side to him."

"Onna what did you do to him?" Yoko asked as he stepped up by her side and Kuronue took her left.

"Miko spell," she explained simply while leading them over to her downed kit.

Both demons started backing away from her a bit and she laughed. "Don't worry; I normally don't purify fellow demons unless they piss me off. And especially not to any fellow thieves." They relaxed slightly and rejoined her sides.

"How is that possible?" Kuronue asked.

"What?" Kagome asked.

"Being a demon and yet having miko powers?" Yoko supplied.

Kagome merely shrugged. "Don't ask me."

She led Kuronue and Yoko over to her kids and glanced down at Shippo shaking her head sadly. She picked him up as his swirly eyes dissipated.

"What happened to him?" Kuronue asked.

"He ran into the barrier before it was let down, the crazy kit," she brushed his hair off his forehead gazing down at him with a mother's warmth. Yoko and Kuronue were stunned at her motherly instincts for they could feel that Shippo was not her biological son. "Shippo has a habit of acting before thinking," she said, chuckling slightly.

"That's okay, Yoko, has those moment too," Kuronue teased flippantly.

"Hey," Yoko replied good-naturedly, punching his old friend in the arm.

"What it's true."

"Hmph."

Kuronue and Kagome laughed together before Yoko joined in. "You guys aren't anything like I expected," she said.

"Is that a good thing?" Yoko asked smirking charmingly at her.

"Maybe," She shrugged in reply before turning to the little girl at the gate. "Okay, Shiori you can let down the barrier now," she called to her daughter.

"Wait, you mean that was her barrier?" Kuronue asked shocked that a little girl could hold such a powerful barrier. That was when he noticed she was also a bat demon, except she had human blood in her. He frowned; a hanyou?

"Mm hm," she answered. "Shiori is one powerful little girl." When at last the spell was gone the little girl ran out to her mother and Kagome swung her up into her arms with Shippo.

"I missed you mother," she shrieked happily clinging to her mother's neck.

"Guys this is my daughter, Shiori," she explained, introducing them to the little hanyou. "You already met Shippo before, but both of them are my adopted kits.

Shiori smiled shyly, hiding under her mother's arm, while Shippo was just waking up from his, er, nap. "Shiori, this is Kuronue-san and Yoko-san," she whispered to her daughter.

"Wait. Yoko!" Shippo was instantly up. "I didn't realize it before, but you're Yoko Kurama! And Kuronue; the famous bandits. I've heard about you guys! Do you guys know how famous you are? I've always wanted to meet you," he began jumping around the two stiff demons, while Yoko looked faintly amused.

Kagome cleared her throat and looked pointedly at Shippo while Shiori whispered something to her mother. Kagome's eyes widened as she let her daughter down. She watched wearily as her daughter slowly approached the bat demon. She didn't think Kuronue or Yoko would hurt her, but you never know. Kuronue had been paying attention to the adorable little kit; he hadn't noticed the little hanyou at his feet until she tugged on the bottom of his yukata.

He glanced down at the little innocent child and she beckoned to be picked up. Kuronue turned curious eyes at Kagome who looked quite shocked but she nodded to him. Yoko and Shippo had also stopped their conversation, as Yoko gazed curiously, wondering what his friend would do.

"Hello," Kuronue whispered softly, reaching down for the little girl. He picked her up and stared into her eyes.

"Are you...like me?" she whispered, her light purple eyes staring pleadingly into his eyes.

He smiled gently at her. "Yes," he replied softly. "I'm like you."

He watched mesmerized as she smiled brightly and buried her head against his neck and whispered something like, tou-san, before promptly falling asleep. Kuronue froze. What was he supposed to do now? He didn't have any experience with children. But, Kuronue glanced down at the little silver head, for some reason this little girl was making him feel weird; like he wanted to protect her or something.

"I-I'm speechless," Kagome spoke as Kuronue turned curiously to her.

"Why?" Yoko asked.

Kagome looked saddened. "Well, it's just that Shiori doesn't trust that many youkai, especially youkai she just met," she explained. "She's had a rather hard life, being what she is."

"You mean a hanyou?" Kuronue asked his eyes hardening for some reason his arms tightening around the little girl.

"Yes," Kagome answered before she smiled softly at her daughter and this youkai. For some reason the two just looked right together. She was getting a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. "But she must sense some good in you. You must remind her of her father." She and Kuronue stared at each other as Kagome contemplated this bizarre event.

Kagome shook her head out of her trance. "Anyway, I think we should get going." She went to reach for Shiori but Kuronue stopped her.

"No, it's all right. I'll carry her," he whispered.

Kagome was once again rendered speechless, before smiling tenderly and stepping closer to the handsome bat demon. She looked down at the sleeping hanyou and smiled gently before looking up and into the calm eyes of Kuronue. He let a small smile grace his face as Kagome touched his sleeve gently before whispering a "thank you."

"For what?" he whispered back.

"Well, I guess for caring about her. You're the first person I've seen that's been able to get anywhere near her, without her being scared," Kagome explained gently.

Kuronue didn't know how to reply. Kagome merely smiled at him and then took his arm as she began leading Kuronue into the cave. As they walked they drifted closer and closer together until Kuronue had shifted Shiori into his left arm and had taken Kagome's hand in his right.

Yoko and Shippo exchanged glances, before following after them. "Hey, Yoko," Shippo whispered.

"Hm?"

Shippo tilted his head to the side and stared quizzically at his mother. "From this angle they kind of look like a family, ne," he stated.

Yoko glanced to his best friend standing with the gorgeous female and child as they both walked slowly every once in awhile casting little glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. "You know something, Kit, you're right."

Finally, after passing numerous doors and openings, the group, now joined by Hiei once again, had finally made it to a very tall pure gold door, covered in jewels of all shapes and sizes. Yoko and Kuronue merely gaped at the beautiful doors. Yoko stared hungrily at the jewels and went to take one when a hand thwarted his attempt to take it and slapped his hand away.

Stunned Yoko turned to glance at Kagome who was glaring at him. "Do no even attempt to steal anything from me or anyone else in this room unless you want to be skinned alive by our boss," Kagome stated through clenched teeth. Gees, she'd heard he was a bit greedy, but to try and steal right from under her nose.

"Onna what do you take me for?" Yoko asked haughtily crossing his arms stubbornly in front of his chest.

Kagome raised an eyebrow, before replying, "A thief."

"Yes, and I suggest you head her warning like she said," Hiei warned. "The demon in charge really would kill you for touching anything of Kagome's. He's rather...protective like that."

"Oh, Hiei, he's not that bad," Kagome chuckled. "You only say that because every time you two get in a room together you play who has the bigger ego."

"Ha! Onna don't forget this is the same demon that boarded up your room two years ago after pulling that stunt where you-"

Hiei probably would have spilled the beans but Kagome jumped on him covering his mouth. "Hiei must you tell them about that?" she hissed. "And anyway, it wasn't my fault you couldn't get out in time. I only did it as a distraction."

"Kagome!!!!!" A loud female voice shrieked, momentarily breaking up the argument. A minute later the doors were unbolted and two neko demons shot out the crack and jumped their friend. Yoko and Kuronue jumped back in shock as Kagome fell to the floor under the weight of a fully grown neko youkai, and Sango.

Kagome was laughing merrily while Kilala licked her and Sango was hugging her friend tightly. A second later Sango's nose twitched and she grimaced. She immediately shot off her friend and into the face of one said fire apparition. "Hiei, what are you doing here? Shame, you didn't get lost on the way here," she taunted.

Hiei growled. "Yeah, well if I knew you were going to be the first one I saw upon arriving I would have," he replied.

"Bastard."

"Bitch!"

"Shit-head!"

"Whore!"

"Whore, why you-" Sango was about to fling herself at the amused fire apparition as Kagome jumped up and pulled her friend away.

"ARGH!!!" Let me go, Kagome!" she cried struggling with all her might. "Did you hear what he said to me? Let me go, he must die!!!!"

"Yes, that's nice; we all know how much you two really love each other. Now kiss and make up," Kagome smirked evilly pushing Sango away and into a startled Hiei as both toppled to the ground.

"WHAT?!!!!" Sango shrieked and Hiei bellowed.

Kagome merely laughed as Hiei and Sango gaped at her, while Yoko was nearly doubled over from the amusing spat. Kuronue was laughing also and still held onto the little hanyou.

"Anyway, Sango, I would like you to meet Yoko Kurama and Kuronue, his partner and fellow thief."

Sango instantly stopped and looked around before standing up straight. "Oh, Hi, I'm Sango, sister and best friend to Kagome," she held out her hand to Kuronue noticing right off the bat (ha bat, pun, but seriously I didn't mean it that way) that Shiori was sleeping in Kuronue's arms. She looked sideways at Kagome. "Kagome is he-"

"Yep."

"And did she-"

"Walked right up to him."

"But she-"

"Yep."

"Wow," Sango breathed before turning to Yoko and shaking his hand. She blushed as he kissed it, missing the quiet growl from Hiei. But Yoko didn't and turned surprised eyes onto the fiery little koorime.

Hiei lost his glare and huffed before zipping through the open gold door. "Uh, why don't we go inside," Kagome suggested. "You guys can stay here for the night and tomorrow we can show you around the place. Sango inform the boss that we're here and that everything went well. Tell him we'll talk in the morning." Sango nodded before followed after Hiei and went in search of Sesshomaru. "Well, shall we?" Kagome asked gesturing for Yoko and Kuronue to follow.

Once inside Kagome had Hiei show Yoko to a room, while she beckoned Kuronue, who still held onto Shiori, follow her into Shippo and Shiori's bedroom to put them to bed. Kuronue watched curiously as Kagome gently tucked her tired kit in and reached for Shiori. Without a word he handed over the tiny hanyou, for some reason feeling a loss as the warm body left his arms. He watched with observing eyes as she set the little girl right next to her brother and the two kids moved closer together in their sleep to cuddle.

Kagome gave them one last tender look before beckoning Kuronue to follow her out. She shut the door and then turned to him, smiling unsurely. He was a little close to her and she was feeling a bit freaked out because of his proximity. "Uh, I, uh, don't know what to say," she stammered, "but arigato for carrying her."

"Kagome, it wasn't a problem," he whispered stepping closer to her in the darkness of the halls. He brought a hand up and trailed it over her soft cheek and down to her neck. He was pleased when she shivered slightly at his touch. Kagome gulped as he leaned closer and she could only stare hopelessly into his dark purple orbs. "Kagome, would you like to go somewhere and talk later?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked nervously.

"Nothing. It's just that I find you quite..." he brought his other hand up and gently brushed her curls away from her face. "Interesting. I'd like the chance to get to know you better." He began leaning impossibly closer as Kagome stood frozen in fear...or was that anticipation.

"Uh, yes, I'd like that," she squeaked. She leaned away brushing past him, trying to calm her raging hormones. Lord, but the youkai behind her was gorgeous. Kagome could hear his light chuckle as he followed her to his bedroom for the night, pleased that he'd someone managed to get under her skin.

Oh, yes, my little vixen, he thought. We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other for what I have planned.

So, what did you guys think? So anyway here are the votes you guys have cast so far.

Kagome/Kuronue: 1

Kagome/Kuronue/Yoko: 3

Well, this looks like all the votes so far and I hadn't really brought it up except for a suggestion in the last chapter. But this is great because you guys are the ones who give me ideas. But anyway, whether or not this turns out to be a Kag/Kur or Kag/Kur/Yoko, I'm going to begin working on Kagome and Kuronue's relationship. Like the rest of my stories, I try and speed up the getting together part, but it's up to you guys whether you want the relationship to build slowly or go fast. And another thing, tell me how you think I'm doing with Kuronue. Since he hasn't really been in Yu Yu Hakusho that much I really don't know much about him, other than the fact that he is Yoko's best friend and partner. So tell me what you think of my Kuronue. Anyway, later people. Hope you enjoyed my new chapter and I'll probably update soon.

Ja ne

Kura-kun's-lovr