Note: Youko's thoughts -Kurama's thoughts- Hiei's telepathy 'general thoughts'
Chapter 4: Genkai
Kagome sat in the kitchen reading a magazine. The boys were in Souta's room plating video games, so she didn't have much to worry about. Her mother said she would be back soon, and then she could spend some time by herself. She loved Shippo and Souta, but sometimes a girl needed a little time to herself.
"Momma?" Shippo said, stirring her out of her thoughts.
"Yes, Shippo-chan?" she asked.
"Do you miss Sango-chan and Houshi-sama?" he asked.
"Yes, I do," she replied.
"So do I," he said gently.
"I know you do," she said as she picked him up and hugged him.
Yusuke sat quietly watching the sky.
"Hello, Yusuke," came a female voice.
"Hello, Keiko," he replied. She hugged him and he hugged her back. He smiled slightly.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked when they seprated.
"My cousin, she seems so different," he replied thoughtfully.
"How so?"
"She smiles and seems happy, but I can tell she's sad. She used to always be happy and cheerful."
Keiko watched a worried expression fall over Yusuke's face.
"Maybe you should invite her to come with us sometime," Keiko suggested.
Yusuke nodded, "Yeah, plus she still has to tell me her story."
Keiko gave him a curious look but didn't ask.
"Let's go find her, I told her I wanted her to meet the old hag," he said.
"That sounds great!" Keiko said.
The two headed off towards the shrine where Yusuke's cousin lived.
Kagome's mom walking in carrying groceries.
"Kagome, darling, could you help me?" she asked.
"Of course," Kagome stood up and took some of the bags from her mother and placed them on the counter. She then began taking them out of the bag and putting them away.
"Thank you," her mother said.
She smiled.
They were almost finished when they heard someone knock at the door.
"I'll get it," Kagome said and went to the door. She opened it and smiled when she saw Yusuke standing there with a girl.
"Hey, Yusuke. Who's this?" she asked.
The girl smiled and said, "I'm Keiko."
"The Keiko? The one who could always knock Yusuke out?" Kagome asked and laughed. Yusuke shook his head.
"Yep, I'm her," Keiko replied.
Kagome grinned, "Please, come in."
Yusuke and Keiko entered the house.
"We came to see if you wanted to come with us for a while. We're going to go see Genkai," Yusuke said.
Kagome smiled, "Sure, but let me go tell mom first."
He nodded and she disappeared into the kitchen.
"This shrine is so beautiful, there are so few places like this," Keiko said.
"It's been around for a long time. Kagome, her mother, and her grandfather pretty much run the place," Yusuke told her, "The dry well out back has been around for over 500 years."
"Wow, this place must pretty old too," Keiko commented.
Kagome came back and smiled, "Okay, let's go."
They both smiled and nodded.
"This should be fun," Yusuke commented as they left the house.
"Yukina!" Kuwabara yelled as he ran up the stairs that led to where Genkai lived.
Kurama chuckled and Hiei frowned.
"That Idiot," Hiei muttered.
Kuwabara was talking to a smiling Yukina when they got to the top.
"To what do I owe this visit?" Genkai asked the boys.
"Yusuke and Keiko are comming," Kurama said.
Genkai's lips twisted upward, "So when does the idiot plan on getting her?"
"Soon, I believe," Kurama replied.
Genkai nodded.
Hiei sat down and glared at Kuwabara. Genkai and Kurama also sat down near the door.
"How have you two been?" Yukina asked Kurama and Hiei.
"I have been well, just really busy with work lately," Kurama replied.
Hiei didn't respond.
Yukina smiled, "It's nice to see you two again."
She sat down with them, and Kuwabara sat down beside her.
"It's nice to see you again, too. Have you been well?" Kurama asked. He knew Hiei wanted to know how she'd been.
"I am doing well, I like being here with Genkai," she replied.
"That's good," Kurama replied.
"Hey, Grandma!" came Yusuke's voice.
They all turned to see Yusuke, Keiko, and another girl comming towards them.
"Well, you took long enough," she commented.
Yusuke ignored the comment and introduced them, "Genkai, this is my cousin, Kagome. Kagome, this is Genkai."
Kagome smiled, "Nice to meet you."
Genkai nodded, "You are related to him? You seem more intelligent than him."
"Yes, we're related. But I am more intelligent," Kagome replied. Yusuke shot her a look, and she grinned.
Genkai smiled, she liked the girl already. However, she did notice something different about her.
"I'm curious, you seem to have a powerful aura around you," Genkai commented.
Kurama and Hiei turned their attention towards the girl, they wanted to hear this.
Kagome tilted her head to the side in thought. Then replied, "Well, you see, I am a miko."
Genkai raised and eyebrow, "A miko? It's been a while since there's been one of them."
"So I've heard," Kagome replied.
"A miko? What's a miko?" Kuwabara asked.
Hiei frowned, how had he not noticed this.
"A miko is a woman that has the power to purify. They can also sense and purify youkai as well," Genkai explained.
"Should we be worried?" Kuwabara asked.
"Not you, idiot. You're human," Hiei replied.
"I really don't use my power much," Kagome said, "So there's nothing to worry about."
"Besides, you have adopted a kit, so you obviously have nothing against youkai," Kurama stated.
Genkai looked at him, then at Kagome. "You have adopted a kit?" she asked.
Kagome nodded.
"You certainly are a interesting girl," Genkai commented.
Kagome wondered whether it was a compliment or not.
Genkai chuckled, "That was a compliment. You are a extraordinary girl. I don't know of anyone who would take in a kit, especially one who knows it's a youkai."
"Thank you," Kagome said.
"Your welcome," Genkai said.
Yusuke let out a quiet sigh. He was happy that Genkai wasn't going to push that subject since Kagome didn't seem to want to talk about it. He wanted to hear her story, but he'd wait till they were alone. It was only fair.
A.N.> Here's the next chapter. I hope you all like it. Sorry if any characters seem OOC, i didn't mean to do that. Anyways, Review responses:
Celestral-demon: I won't forget, I just haven't quiet got around to him yet. Youko's comming up soon though. Thank you, I'm glad you like it.
Leila Jenkens: Thank you. And thank you for the update when ready.
animeangel779: Glad you liked it. Here's the update. Ja ne!
hersheys-kiss-girl: Thanks for reading, glad you thought it was cute, lol.
Lady Light: Glad you love it! You like a lot of my stories, thank you!
Sango556: Glad it seems to be getting better and better, hope you like this one too.
Wolf Contess: Thank you. Glad to hear I have talent, lol. Here's more, sorry for the wait. Hiei, well, we'll see.
Demon Girl: Here's a new chapter.
Sora the Taske: Thanks.
Emma: I will.
jesse: Thank you, glad you liked it.
inuyashagirl5: I'm glad you look forward to reading more. Happy to hear I made you laugh too. Thanks for telling me I've pretty much grasped all the character's personalities, it's good to hear. Thank you.
Thanks for your reviews. I'm glad to hear from everone. Sorry this took so long, it might take a while for the next part, but I think I'm going to post chapters 5 and 6 at the same time. Well, Ja ne!
Silver Hawk