Winter Wonder

Unexpected Sight

"So, how exactly did you guys meet with my cousins? You explained it kind of vaguely." Kagome said as she held onto Youko's back. Youko and Hiei were walking along the path as Kagome asked them questions.

"Kurama and Hiei stole some items from Koenma. Then they got caught by Yusuke." Youko laughed as Hiei glared at him.

"Hm…so Hiei tried to make Keiko into a demon and kill my cousin." Kagome thought aloud. "Wish I was there to watch."

"You wanted to see Yusuke get his butt kicked?" Youko asked blinking.

"Why not? He's too cocky for his own good anyway." She smiled as she laid her head on Youko's shoulder. Hiei rolled his eyes but silently agreed with Kagome. "Can you let me down now?"

"Why?" Youko whined playfully.

"Just let her down fox." Hiei shook his head as he continued to walk.

"Fine…Kurama wants out anyway…" Youko said as he put Kagome down. His hair then shortened and darkened to a red color as he reverted back into Kurama. Kagome smiled as Kurama's green eyes stared back at her. "I hope he was well behaved." Kagome nodded and followed Hiei.

"So…Kurama…what's it like?"

"What do you mean Kagome?" Kurama looked at her. Kagome frowned slightly before smiling.

"To go on missions of course!" Kagome laughed.

"Hn…" Hiei said as he listened in.

"It's quite monotonous really…" Kurama said as he looked ahead of him. "Go after a rogue demon, stop them, and then return to Koenma. It gets boring really."

"I never knew you got bored fox…" Hiei spoke as he looked back at Kurama. Kurama smiled at the koorime. Kagome laughed as she continued to walk with them.

"So Kagome, what was it like to travel into the past?" Kurama asked. Kagome spun around and laughed.

"It was fun…and tiring! I would always come back with my big yellow bag which was full of things for everyone." Kagome smiled sadly. "Fighting demons, collecting shards, and traveling around the feudal era, it was fun. I even got Sesshomaru to become an ally and friend." Kurama and Hiei were silent as they watch Kagome walk along happily. Kagome laughed. "What's a matter? Don't be sad! They were good times! Come on!" She ran ahead of them down the path.

"Hn…" Hiei continues to walk at a normal pace with Kurama.

"I wonder how she does it…" Kurama smiled. Hiei glanced at Kurama. "She's happy even though bad things happened to her."

"Better catch up to her…" Hiei said as he started to run after Kagome. Kurama nodded and followed Hiei.

---

By nightfall they had reach a village that had slave traders in it. They were outside the gate, trying to look in. A guard called down to them.

"You there! What business do you have here?"

"Er…we wish to enter your village! I am nothing but a traveling miko with my slaves. May we enter this village?" Kagome called.

"We are in need of another miko…" The guard said to himself. "Will you be able to stay for a while?"

"Of course!" Kagome smiled. Kurama and Hiei kept their heads bowed.

"Give me a minute Miko-sama!" The guard called then disappeared.

"Easier than I thought…" Kagome whispered.

"Be cautious…" Kurama replied. Kagome nodded as the gate started to open. She nodded and headed inside with Kurama and Hiei behind her. The guard closed the gate behind them shutting them from the outside world. Kagome shivered, the feeling in the air…she couldn't describe it, but it was frightening. Kurama came up behind her. The air around him seemed to calm Kagome down. Hiei stayed behind Kurama glancing around constantly. Kurama stayed behind Kagome like a good 'slave'.

"Ah, Miko-sama!" A village elder, or Kagome assumed spoke. "We have a room for you and your servants."

"Thank you…" Kagome bowed. Kurama bowed and forced Hiei to do the same. "We are tired…could you direct us to our room?"

"Of course! Of Course!" The elder bowed and hurriedly showed them to their room in the main house. Kurama and Hiei glanced around memorizing the sights as they followed Kagome. "Here you are, a spare room for you and your slaves. I hope you join us tomorrow for the festival. We have caught new demons and are going to auction them off. We will give you anyone you choose if you wish for coming to our village and blessing us with your presences." The elder bowed before disappearing into the hall. Kagome's eyes turned sad as she watched him go she walked into the room slowly then plopped down on the futon. Kurama looked at her then walked in with Hiei. Hiei closed the door as Kurama sat by Kagome.

"Are you alright?" Kurama said in a whisper. Kagome put a finger to her lips and smiled slightly as the edges of the room were encased in blue light.

"A barrier?" Hiei stepped away from the door.

"Sound proof barrier…" Kagome corrected. Kurama nodded and looked at her again.

"You're sad…" He stated. The woman next to him looked down her eyes becoming sadder. "This is not your fault." Kagome looked at him and sighed again.

"I know…but I can't help--"

"Feel like it's your fault?" Kurama ended for her. Kagome nodded. Hiei sat by the wall and looked at them.

"Enough talk…" Hiei said. He crossed his arms and looked at the two. "The ningen said there is a slave trade tomorrow. Are we going to do anything?"

"I don't know…" Kagome sighed as she lowered the barrier. "Perhaps we should rest first."

"Sounds like a good idea…" Kurama trailed off.

"What's wrong?" The miko asked quickly. Hiei stood up and opened the door. A tiny object flew past Hiei toward Kagome. Before it could land on Kagome, Kurama caught it on his hand. A voice called out from that closed hand.

"LET ME GO YOU NINGEN-KITSUNE! I MUST SPEAK WITH LADY KAGOME!" Kagome blinked...once, twice, thrice...

"Ah! Let him go! Let him go! It's Myoga-san!" She said in a hurry. Kurama slowly opened his palm to reveal the old flea. "Myoga-san!" She held out her hand and allowed the flea to jump onto her hand. She smiled happily glad to see the flea demon safe.

"Ah! Lady Kagome!" Myoga bowed. "It is so good to see you!" He jumped onto her face and started to suck her blood. Hiei snatched him off and glared at him. "And your blood is as sweet as ever Milady!" He said in a slightly daze.

"It's alright Hiei," Kagome smiled at him as he began to squeeze the poor flea. Hiei stopped as he saw her smile. He dropped the flea and sat down. Kagome smiled at Kurama then at the flea. "Myoga, how have you been and what are you doing here?" Myoga jumped up and down.

"It is terrible Lady Kagome! The youkai and humans have all gone mad are enslaving each other!" Kagome frowned and nodded. "You know this? But how?"

"Cania has disappeared from my time...I do not know how or why..." She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her head on her knees. "Not only that...I was attacked by those who wanted the Shikon. They spoke of their master wanting not just the jewel...but myself as well."

"A Great evil is at work here Lady Kagome..." Myoga said. "If you wish, I will head to the West and inform Lord Sesshomaru of your return and of that which has happened in your time."

"Could you?" Kagome asked softly. "I will need his help as well as Kaien's." The old flea nodded and smiled at Kagome.

"It is good to be at your service milady." Myoga bowed and left through the door Hiei held open and closed behind him.

"Myoga?" Kurama asked.

"He was Inuyasha's retainer...Sesshomaru being the only other son of Inu Taisho took Myoga in. Myoga now goes around and gathers information for him." Kagome said as she turned her back on them and began to change. Kurama blushed slightly as he turned his head and Hiei just closed his eyes. If you looked close enough you could see a pink tint on Hiei's cheeks. Once in her yukata, Kagome sat down on the futon blushing as she looked at the two. "I have a request from you two..." Kurama turned to her as Hiei opened his eyes.

"What would that be Kagome?" Kurama asked. Kagome blushed more as she scooted over.

"Could you guys sleep with me?" Both demons blinked at Kagome. She turned away from them blushing more than ever. "I mean if you don't want to I understand. It was stupid of me to ask." Way to go Kagome, sound like a little girl that's scared of the dark...She thought. Arms wrapped around her waist from behind suddenly, it caused Kagome to jump in surprise. Kurama nuzzled into Kagome's neck taking in her sweet scent.

"Its not stupid of you to ask..." He said as he laid down with her. Kagome blushed and nodded slightly. She closed her eyes and exhaled. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Hiei's ruby fire eyes in front of her. He was laying down in front of her. She blinked a few times. He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to him. Kagome smiled and ran her hands through Hiei's hair. He made a noise of approval. Kurama pulled the fur blanket over the three of them. He too hugged Kagome around the waist. "We won't leave you alone Kagome..." Kurama whispered. Kagome smiled as tears of happiness spilled down her face.

"Thank you...." She said before settling down between them going to sleep.

---

The next morning as they were waiting for the village elder to get them for the auction Kagome said they should sit outside. Kurama was sitting on the wooden steps below Kagome. Hiei was sitting beside them watching with amusement as Kagome fixed Kurama's hair.

"Mistress..." Kurama called remembering they were in the open. "Must you play with my hair?" Kagome smiled.

"Yes, Kurama. I mean it wouldn't be fair, I played with Hiei's last night and not yours." This cause Hiei to turn his head as he blushed...a tiny bit. Kurama chuckled and just nodded. He actually enjoyed Kagome running her hands through his hair as much as Youko did. He closed his eyes and began to purr because of her skillful fingers. The young miko blushed a bit as she heard the purring, but didn't stop.

'Enjoying that fox?' Hiei asked in Kurama's head. Kurama just nodded and leaned back into Kagome's fingers. Kagome blushed more, not only because of Kurama, but because she heard Hiei.

'Er...Hiei...I heard that...' She experimented. Out of the corner of her eyes, Kagome saw Hiei look at her strangely.

/I'm not surprised...she is a miko after-all.../ Youko replied with a purr. /This can be to our advantage, we can converse without anyone talking./

"As he said..." Kurama said leaning back into Kagome. He tilted his head back to look at her. "The elder is coming Mistress..." Kagome smile dimmed as she nodded. She ran her hand through Kurama's hair before pulling it back into a ponytail. The elder walked up to them and bowed.

"Miko-sama the auction is ready..." He said. Kagome nodded. Kurama stood and helped Kagome up to her feet. Hiei got up and stood behind Kurama and Kagome. The elder led the way to the town center. Kagome held onto Kurama's arm feeling nervous. Kurama patted her hand discretely as they got to the auction.

'Don't be nervous...' Hiei whispered in Kagome's mind walking a bit fast so she feel his aura. Kagome smiled and nodded.

"Here they are Miko-sama," The elder spoke as he led them to the front of the crowd. Kurama stopped as he felt stop walking. He looked down at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Mistress?" He asked. Hiei came up beside Kagome and stood beside her as Kurama knelt down in front of her. 'Kagome...Kagome what's wrong?' He asked in her mind.

'It's them...I know those two...' Kagome whispered back in his mind. Kurama looked over his shoulder at the slaves. Hiei also looked up at the demons. A young girl with white hair and an older one with black hair. The older one had a feather in her hair and red eyes. Both girls looked up to see Kagome. Their eyes widening they immediately went to their knees.

"Lady Kagome..." They whispered as they looked up at her with pleading eyes.

'Kagura...Kanna....' Kagome said in Hiei and Kurama's minds.

---

TBC

that's all for now....hehe At least I updated.