By KitsuneGirl911
Disclaimer: Roses are Red, Kurama's eyes are Green, The person who owns Yu Yu Hakusho is not me (or mean)... Roses are Red, Puu is Blue, I don't own InuYasha so don't sue...
==========meow========
The group was walking along silently, more or less. Hiei and Kurama were reminiscing silently of days passed in this very era. Yusuke and Kuwabara were, as usual, bickering over something; Yusuke was also smirking at Inuyasha every so often. Kagome however, noticed none of this. She was lost in her own thoughts, concerning the newcomers, mainly the Kurama and Hiei. Needless to say, they were unprepared for the break in silence.
"KAGOME!! You're back!!"
A brief flash of red-brown flew past, heading for said girl. Kurama perked up, his nose picking up the unmistakable scent of kitsune. A kit no less. The kit paused in his snuggling of Kagome's shoulder, and it seemed he finally noticed Kurama. And he noticed the others a few seconds later.
"Kagome, who're they?"
Kagome smiled.
"They're from my time, Shippou. They got stuck here."
"I thought that you were the only one who could go through the well Kagome..."
Yusuke spoke up.
"Oi! Stop talking as if we aren't here!"
He soon got into a verbal fight with Inuyasha over whether they should be here or not, which threatened to become more than just insults soon. Kurama tried to get Yusuke's attention, and when he failed, he used his plants to grab Yusuke and bring him away from Inuyasha.
"Stop Yusuke." Kurama started sternly, "We should be polite. Besides, you wouldn't want to kill him would you?" Kurama said this with an air of one who was only trying to maintain their appearance, and he hid a subtle compliment as well.
Sango and Miroku just happened to catch up with Shippou in time to see Kurama use the grass to grab Yusuke. They looked on in awe at the entire group, especially since it seemed that Kurama hadn't moved the plants, they moved themselves. Only Shippou saw what really happened.
"WOW! I wish I could do that! Are you a fox too? You smell like one,"
Kurama nodded. "Yes little one,"
"What's your name?"
Kurama paused for a second, debating whether or not to tell the kit.
Hiei came up behind him. "Hn. Tell him Fox,"
Kurama smiled, "You might have heard of me. I'm Kurama,"
The response was immediate. Shippou gasped.
"What! REALLY! WOW! I'm meeting the great Youko Kurama," He bowed deeply.
"Youko Kurama!?" Sango and Miroku exclaimed together. As experienced with demons as they were, they had both heard of the legendary silver fox. "I thought he was silver?"
Kurama laughed. " Oh, I am alright, but this is my human body. I really am a nine tailed fox."
Inuyasha paled. "You mean... It's true?" He didn't think that it was true, especially since he didn't appear to have any powers. But the thought of a nine-tail... That three-tail was hard enough! ((AN: Inuyasha fought a three-tailed fox demon... I want to see that episode again!! TTTT))
He moved in front of Kagome and Shippou, who still had an impressed look on his face. He could be heard muttering: "Nine tail! Wow!" Miroku and Sango tensed, ready to draw their weapons.
Hiei appeared in front of Kurama, ignoring Yusuke and Kuwabara, who were trying hard not to crack up, and also wondering how he got nine tails. Last time Yusuke thought he had said five tails...
"Are you threatening him?" Hiei asked Inuyasha, who was growling. Kagome tried to break up the soon to break out fight, while Kurama sat there. ((AN: I went to a fight, and a hockey game broke out! XD))
"I assure you I mean you no harm, unless of course you give me reason to," Kurama stressed the last part in a subtle warning. ((AN: Oh the wondrous art that is subtleness!))
Miroku was nowhere to be seen, and he could do a pretty good job of hiding his energy when he felt like it. Sango spoke up.
"Well Inuyasha seems to think so,"
Kurama smiled winningly.
"That's just because he doesn't trust us, but you have no reason to. As I said before, I won't attack you unless you do so to me," His eyes widened. Miroku was behind him doing what he usually did around pretty things with two legs. Needless to say there was a resounding slap and Miroku was sent flying through the air.
As soon as the monk sat up, rubbing his cheek, Hiei was right there.
"Mine," The fire demon growled out.
Miroku 'eep'ed.
Inuyasha and Sango laughed. "You finally got what you deserved Miroku!"
Yusuke and Kuwabara laughed as well, but for a different reason.
"You've still got it even in the past!" Yusuke laughed harder, falling to the ground and then being strangled by a weed that 'happened' to be there.
"You hit like a girl!" Kuwabara was next to be strangled.
Kagome was lost. "Isn't Kurama a girl?"
There was a period of silence; the only sound was a breeze passing through. ((AN: hwoooo XD))
Miroku's eyes bugged out and he gaped. "Wh-what?"
Kurama sighed from his spot on the grass. "I happen to be a guy..." He was used to this.
Hiei stepped on Kuwabara's foot, effectively stopping whatever he was going to say.
"Don't even think about it detective," Hiei glared at Yusuke, then stood next to Kurama
Kagome apologized and broke the tension by retelling what the Tantei had told her. Shippou had made his way into Kurama's lap and was sitting there, enjoying being close to one of his own kind. He reminded him of mother... He started to purr. Kurama enjoyed having a kit to watch over, even if it were for a little while. He wished for his own kits. Maybe if he asked Hiei... Spring was rather close... He started to purr unconsciously. ((1)) Everyone looked at Kirara, but it wasn't her. Hiei smirked as he looked at the two foxes. "Hn. Baka kitsune, you're purring..."
Kurama noticed, but he didn't stop, he just quieted a little, glaring at the others, as if challenging them to say anything.
They wisely chose not to comment.
Later, Kagome sat sadly. Shippou was spending time with Kurama, instead of with her. She could hear them talking with Hiei about his powers.
"So Little One, what kinds of things can you do?" Kurama asked curiously. He had no idea how far he could have gotten without his parents or another fox to teach him.
"I can do some illusions, and shape-shift a little, but I'm really best with my fire!" The fox kit exclaimed proudly.
"Really? Hiei uses fire too! Maybe I can help you with your fox powers, and Hiei with your fire!" Kurama suggested happily.
"Really?" Shippou questioned, his eyes wide and shining
Kurama looked at him kindly.
"Of course! We can start now if you want, I bet with a bit of training, you could really help out the rest of your friends when you go around getting shards!" Kurama stated.
Shippou leaped into the air excitedly.
"YES!"
Kurama giggled.
Shippou grinned wider.
Hiei rolled his eyes.
Kurama told the others that him and Shippou were going to practice, and that they wouldn't be far off.
"We'll probably be closer than you think..." Kurama said oddly, a smirk coming onto his face. He and Shippou both melded into the shadows and disappeared, leaving the others (minus Hiei) confused.
"I didn't know Shippou could do that..." Sango said breathlessly. "I've only seen dark demons do that, like Naraku,"
Yusuke and Kuwabara were a little less confused.
"What does Kurama mean by that? And when did he know anything about illusions?" Yusuke questioned, mainly to Hiei, who snorted.
"Baka ningens. All foxes are masters of illusions, and all foxes are good at sneaking around unnoticed. That's what he meant when he said he would 'probably be closer than you think', fool. He has to teach that kit something about it,"
Kuwabara was still puzzled.
"Who's Naraku?"
There was a long silence.
"I'm sorry if I offended you guys or anything..."
Kagome looked up.
"It's not you, it's just... He's done something to each of us... He gave Miroku a curse; Sango's brother was murdered and now controlled by him, and Inuyasha... well Inuyasha's um... 'close friend' was killed too. Naraku also wants to collect the shards before we do,"
There was another long silence.
With the two foxes...
"Okay, lets start on your fox form. Can you do that yet?" Kurama asked the kit.
"No..." He said ashamedly.
Kurama merely smiled at him.
"It's not your fault Little One, don't feel so bad about yourself, after all, we're here to help you remember?"
Shippou looked up, with determination in his eyes. He would try extra hard so as to make up for all the time lost. All the time he could have had this, another kitsune to watch over him, teach him...
Kurama sat down cross-legged across from the kit.
"Here, lets go over the basic steps first. If you want to be in your full fox form, you need to imagine yourself as the fox, imagining yourself feeling freer than ever before,"
The other kitsune complied, concentrating for a moment before relaxing.
"Alright, now just let that feeling overtake you. Don't worry, it always feels weird at first. If you want me to, I can go into my fox form first,"
Shippou nodded enthusiastically.
Kurama laughed, and quickly melded into his fox form. All his nine tails were wagging, and he barked out (in fox language of course),
"Now you try!"
Shippou concentrated again this time, however, he actually started to change. He became so surprised though, that he popped back into his youko form. He sighed forlornly.
"I'll never get it..."
Kurama shook his head.
"Of course you'll do it. I know you can. Besides, it was only your first try!"
The second try went better. The kit was rather astonished with his new look, and turned around to see behind him two red-brown tails. Both of which were wagging madly.
"I DID IT!!!" He began cheering this over and over to Kurama's amusement.
"Come on now, you don't want to be found by the others yet do you? You still need to figure out how to change back!"
He stopped sheepishly.
"Oh, right..."
"Now just imagine yourself in your other form, this one is easy, because you already know the feelings in that body,"
True enough, Shippou got it on his first try.
Kurama wagged his tails proudly.
Shippou started to dance around, only pausing to go into his fox form.
"Let's go sneak up and show the others now!"
The two snuck off, Kurama pointing out the few flaws in Shippou's stealth technique, the latter becoming better and better with each comment.
The others had set up camp while they were gone, talking of inconsequential things, and getting to know each other. (Except for Hiei, A.K.A: the walking enigma.) After a time, the group began to wonder what was taking the two so long.
"They should be back by now...I'm getting worried," Kagome whispered.
Hiei merely rolled his eyes at the group of foolish ningens. He knew that the two foxes were in the second bush on the left.
"Hn. Stop your worthless worrying. They're fine," Hiei stated.
Inuyasha was asleep, as well as Kirara, so they got no warning. In an instant, two shapes sprang by out of a nearby bush and startled the others. They each stood up, tense, and ready to draw their weapons, lest the need arise. Another pair of flashes went by and it seemed as though they were being toyed with.
Being toyed with is frustrating.
After about four more passes, someone finally snapped.
"ARGH! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!" Yusuke fell to the ground and started beating on it like a little kid having a tantrum. Suddenly a dark youki filled the air. Two of the four relaxed in recognition, while the other two tensed up more. Two foxes suddenly fell out of the bushes, looking as though they were laughing their heads off. But not for long. Yusuke still was mad at being made to snap like that, especially in public, and he wanted revenge.
"KURAMA!! WHEN I GET A HOLD OF YOU I'LL RING YOUR STUPID FOX NECK!! AND WHEN I GET THROUGH WITH YOU YOU'LL WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!"
Hiei glared at Yusuke, and looked at Kurama, who was giving him one of his fox grins. Hiei shrugged.
:: Your call Fox, but I'm not helping you.::
His response was simple and it echoed through his mind.
:: Don't worry Hiei, Yusuke can't catch me:: He winked at Hiei just before Yusuke launched himself at the still sitting fox with a battle cry that could raise the dead. Almost.
But before he could tackle the fox, he saw his target blink out of view, and he crashed down onto the hard unforgiving dirt.
Inuyasha, who had woken up at the previous commotion, winced. 'That's what I look like when Kagome 'sit's me?' He felt a small twinge of pity for the human teen. A very small twinge. It was mostly lost in his raucous laughter.
Sango, Miroku, and Kagome were busy looking for Shippou.
"Kurama! Did you leave Shippou back there?"
Kurama gave Kagome a look that clearly said two things at once. 'Are you CRAZY?!' and 'I can't believe you are so stupid'. Kagome blinked. She wished she could do that... Kagome shook her head to dispel those thoughts. This wasn't the time.
"Then where is he?"
Sango's inquiry was ignored.
Miroku suddenly jumped up in surprise, only to be knocked over by a little fox. It was about Kirara's size, and it was the same color of Shippou's tail and hair.
"Shippou?" Miroku questioned inquisitively.
The fox wagged its tail and gave an affirmative answer. (Well, Miroku hoped it was affirmative...)
"Yip! Yipyip yip!" Shippou seemed pleased that no one understood him. (It wouldn't be easy to explain the sudden change of character. Some of those things weren't nice words...) Well, no one understood besides Kurama. The latter of which was still in his fox form, twining himself around Hiei's legs much like a cat would. Hiei absently let his hand scratch one of the happy fox's ears. When he looked down and realized what he was doing, he snorted and stated.
"You're shorter than me Fox,"
Kurama paused ((AN: PAWsed! XD sorry peeps...: I couldn't resist...)) and gave another fox grin before replying back to Hiei in fox language. (Oh, revenge is sweet.) ((AN: Kurama's thinking to himself, not saying there.))
"You wouldn't do that in front of these humans," Another response. "HELL no Fox,"
Yusuke looked at Hiei suspiciously.
"What are you guys talking about? What are you turning down Hiei?" Yusuke's eyes lit up. "Oh!" He said like he knew exactly what Kurama said, which he didn't. "I get it. Y-" A hand clamped over Yusuke's mouth before he could finish his sentence.
"Detective..." Hiei growled warningly.
"Mrmph," Yusuke was starting to turn blue. ((AN: If you strangle a smurf, what color does he turn? Kurama: Purple! Me: OO uh... Kurama: What? See? (throttles random smurf) Me: Cool! XD))
"For your information, Detective," Hiei spat vehemently, "He was suggesting that he turn into his Youko form to be taller than me again. Your mind is disgusting. Hn, learn kitsune speech sometime,"
Hiei dropped his hand.
Kurama changed back into his human form.
"Come to think of it, none of them have seen my Youko form, up close or otherwise,"
Hiei knew he was referring to the dark tournament, when the few times he went youko he was behind smoke or something. But it still sounded weird. Damn that fox for his choice of words.
Kurama was thinking silently.
"Hiei, do you think I should show them, in case we are attacked and I need to change? I wouldn't want them to see me for the first time then. It may be distracting to them..."
Hiei merely grunted, "Hn,"
Kurama smiled.
"You're right Hiei. I should shouldn't I," He replied, translating the 'hn' for what it was.
Kuwabara shook his head.
"I don't get how you understand that twerp. I mean all he does is 'hn' and stuff. It's like talking to a wall! A short wall!"
Kurama had to forcibly restrain the now fuming Hiei.
"Hiei! Please! Don't kill him!" This didn't do much, so he tried something else. "What will Yukina think?"
Hiei suddenly stopped and considered this. If he killed the baka, he would make Yukina sad. Koenma would no doubt have a fit and place a higher sentence on him. He would make his fox sad... Damn the baka! He would have to wait until Yukina got over him, and his current sentence was over. Yes. That was his plan. He would have to tell Kurama this sometime. But how...
Hiei had an evil smile and he stared Kuwabara with an odd look on his face that unnerved Kuwabara. It looked... acceptive and semi-happy. Kurama sighed.
"Hiei I know you're plotting something," Kurama started reproachfully. Quietly, so only Hiei could hear, he continued, "Are you going to tell me later? Kuwabaka annoys me too,"
Hiei smirked and nodded. Kurama stopped holding Hiei back and let him go.
Their new acquaintances had stopped admiring Shippou's new form to come over.
"Wow! You taught him in that short a period of time! That's amazing!" Sango complimented.
Kurama blushed.
"It wasn't that a remarkable feat...I do have many centuries of experience behind me..."
Miroku finally spoke up.
"I have heard of the 'great Youko Kurama' before but I have never seen him. Well, in person anyway..." He had seen drawings in various scrolls before, depicting the fox as either beautiful or evil. It was highly doubtful he looked as good as the drawings.
"Well... Actually I am him, but that is too long to be explained right now. I can revert to my Youko form now... If you wish..." Kurama said, not wanting to force them.
Surprisingly, Inuyasha was the one to answer.
"Go right ahead, we'll all see if you're lying," He said disbelieving that this was Youko. His brother would know, he grudgingly admitted.
Kurama merely smiled at him, then concentrated on something. A cloud of white mist (mist made of youki, not dry ice like Koenma's) arose, blocking him from view as he transformed. A few sparks of black energy crackled through the air, and then it all seemed to implode on itself and there stood youko.
Yusuke whistled approvingly.
"Well," Youko Kurama began, somewhat nervously, "I guess you know what I look like now..."
Miroku was stunned. The demon before him was too breathtakingly beautiful to be fully appreciated on paper. He was exactly like Miroku had imagined was impossible.
Kagome was surprised too. She had heard of the legendary silver youko in history class (and from her Grandpa) but she didn't actually know what he looked like.
Sango hadn't seen a full-grown youko before, but if they all looked like this she wouldn't mind meeting one. Then again, the power he held was astonishing as well... Scratch the meeting part.
Shippou stared in adoration at Kurama. When he grew up he hoped he would look like the great Youko Kurama, it was his dream to meet him in person, but knowing him was even better.
Yusuke and Kuwabara hadn't really seen youko before, the times he had changed in the Dark Tournament were blocked from their view, so now they stared with open mouthed appreciation for their fellow teammate.
Kurama shifted a bit, slightly blushing from all the attention.
Hiei merely smirked at the other's astonishment. The flawless being before them was his.
Inuyasha was surprised. He hadn't actually thought that it could be true. But there he was, standing before him. Youko made his silvery hair and golden eyes look dull in comparison. Suddenly he was struck with fear. He had gone against the great youko. He had sat next to the Youko and made fun of him. Great, now either he's going to kill me, or someone I hate will show up.
As if on cue, a presence made itself known.
"So, Youko, we meet again,"
Kurama froze.
==========meow========
((1)): I don't think foxes purr, but they're demon foxes, so I say that they can! XD
YAY! I updated! It's fairly long too! I might not update on anything for a while (sorry people who like my YYH HP crossover...) because school starts on the 8th and it's my first year there... (Hee hee! 8th grade starts on the 8th!) So I want to make sure I can find where I'm going (Coughmakeamapcough) and stuff like that... But I won't have too much homework in the beginning of the year, at least not the first week... so until next time, SAYONARA!