Disclaimer: I don't own nothin', so get offa my case, ya crazy lawyers!

A/N: sry, sry, sry, sry, sry, sry, sry, sry, sry! plz don't be mad at me, I try to find the time 2 rite, I really do!

3,2,1

Chapter 4: Youko's Mysterious Past part 2

"Hey, Kurama, can I bo-," Kagome started to ask, but was stopped by a ear-splitting scream as Kurama slipped off the bed and fell to his knees.

"Kurama! Kurama, what's wrong? Kurama, answer me!" Kagome asked, worried and frantic, but her voice was droned out by the pained yell. The black-haired teenager kneeled next to him and tried to find out what was wrong.

The door jerked open as an even more worried mother entered the room.

"Shuichii!" Shiori exclaimed as she made her way to her only son.

The two females continued to try and find out what was wrong, but suddenly the screaming stopped and everything was silent.

Kurama fell into Kagome's lap.

Everything froze...

oOoOoOo

'Wh..wha...?'

Kurama cracked his eyes open, puzzled. He wondered where he was, how he got where he was, and why he was there. He also wondered why he felt surrounded by so much spiritual energy and demon aura, as none of his other senses could detect anything unusual. (That is, if you don't call the situation he's already in unusual...)

His emerald eyes searched the area, which seemed to be a forest, as he was surrounded by trees on every side. Well, every side except for one little opening...

One particular tree caught his sight. It was, it seemed, the biggest tree in the forest. The thing that caught his eye was the well that was next to the tree, and the dirt path that started from the well.

'A well means civilization...I wonder...'

He was soon on his feet and walking along the path, which was edged with herbs, plants, and trees, being very cautious about his surroundings.

Soon he saw a girl who looked to be about 12 years old walking in his direction. She was wearing the robes of a Japanese priestess, from early Japan, when the Makai didn't exist.

Surprisingly, the girl looked somewhat like a younger version of Kagome!

In one arm was a basketful of herbs and plants with healing and medical properties. In her other arm was a bundle of blankets. She had a bow slung across one her shoulder, as well as a quiver full of arrows. On her other shoulder rested a sack with a drawstring in which her arm was looped through. On top of that same shoulder sat a little nekomata. The female demon's name was Kirara (or Kilala, and she did used to belong to the person that I'm describing). A katana dangled from her waist, it's delicately carved case secured by the red sash just above her hips.

Then something hit the puzzled kitsune. The spiritual energy that he had sensed was coming from the girl!

'That explains, she must be a miko...and a skilled one for her age...but what about demonic aura...that little fire neko-youkai can't be the cause...the aura, it almost feels like my own, well, Youko's...'

Suddenly the bundle of blankets moved, and out popped a head with silvery hair and fox ears!

'I...it couldn't be!'

'It is...me as a young kit...'

'Youko! Wh..wha...?'

'You were the one who wanted to know about my past... I couldn't explain it to you, so I thought I would show it to you... let you relive my past...'

'B...but... you did tell me... Why are doing this, Youko? You've always said that you didn't want to talk about it, you didn't want to open up to me about your life...and yet, here you are, giving me a tour of your history...your life before I came into the story...it doesn't make any sense...'

'I told you very briefly... you wouldn't understand unless you saw it, no, felt it for yourself... then you would see it from my point of view...then you'd see...why...'

There was an eerie silence as they both went back to watching the young priestess fumble around with her baskets and bags as she comforted the young demon.

'Midoriko...she found me when she was a young girl and took care of me... she was a very well trained miko...the demon on her shoulder was one that she saved from another demon...her name was Kirara...I grew quite fond of her...'

'Midoriko...that name, it sounds familiar...'

Then realization hit him. She was the priest who's soul was imprisoned in the Shikon jewel!

'She took care of me until she turned 18... then a war broke out between humans and demons. Miko Midoriko was called upon to stop the chaos. She could have abandoned us, or even killed me and Kirara (I know, it should be Kirara and I...) for being demons. Instead she left us in the care of her younger sister. I was a young child then, my body representing the body of a 5-year-old human. I was learning my strengths and powers with Kirara's help. Meiko was 2 years younger than her sister, and though she was not as caring to me as her sister was, she took us in all the same. A few days after Midoriko left, Kirara ran away to help assist her in the war. '

While Kurama listened to the Youko pour out his past to him, he noticed his surroundings change to fit Youko's words. He saw a young woman, about 5 foot 6, wearing the same type of robes and obi she was wearing before, except these were larger. Over the red and white fabric she wore armor shaped from demon bones. She let her jet black hair fall loosely on her back and neck, like a gentle waterfall that ended just below her waistline. The same sword he had seen before was still there, except this time the case was tucked into the dark blue belt of her armor, located just below her chest. She still had a bow and a quiver of arrows slung on her shoulder. On her other shoulder hung a cloth bag tied securely so it wouldn't slip that was filled with food, bandages, a blanket, and an extra change of clothing, and on that shoulder also sat Kirara. A container that held water was slipped on her neck and hung diagonally across her chest and under her arm so it rested against her left thigh. Underneath her armor, you could see the bottom of a small sack peak out, probably hanging from her priestess robes. The bag contained some dried herbs and plants. (How Kurama knows this, I don't know. It's my story and I can write whatever I plz.)

One hand was holding the bow so it wouldn't slide down. In the other hand was the small hand of little Youko.

Youko.

He looked exactly as he did now, just younger and with an innocent look on his face (kinda like the face that inu had when he was younger, if u've ever seen 1 of those pics, they're so KAWAII! If NE1 wants 2 c 1, just tell me in ur review, I'll send it 2 u via email...if u don't hav an account on plz B sure 2 include ur email address!).

A teenage girl wearing a navy blue yukata with a periwinkle blue sakura pattern, which was matched with a sky blue sash. Her silky black hair fell half-way down her back, lightly tied with a blue silk ribbon. Slipped on her feet were traditional Japanese wooden sandals (what are they called again?). Resting against her wrist was a bracelet made from demon claws, presumably from an old demon slayer's village, that was supposed to protect the bearer from demons.

Meiko, instead of following in her sister's footsteps, had always secretly wanted to be a demon slayer, ever since she heard the stories, but unfortunately, the village was burned down by a fire-breathing demon, taking most of the demon slayers, as well as many of their weapons, armor, and other necessities, such as food and water, clothing and shelter. Only a few children survived, along with an old grandmother, and most of the children hadn't even started to learn and train in the art of demon slaying.

The 2 children who did know some of the basics were a boy and a girl, both teenagers, and both refused to teach the younger children. They helped the old lady build a wooden shack just barely big enough for all off them, stayed with them for a few months to help raise some money and gather food, and then took off, each going their own way, but each with the same thought that flowed through there bodies every waking moment: 'I will slay that demon and avenge my family... my friends...and my village.'

oOoOoOo

Once again, Kurama awoke, finding himself in an unfamiliar place. Then he recognized the big tree he saw before, along with the well, except this time, the well was dry.

'Well?'

'We're in the same place as before, just 2 years forward in time.'

Kurama decided not to reply.

Soon a young man appeared from the curtain of trees, staggering, and clearly injured bad enough that if he didn't get help soon, he was likely to die.

oOoOoOo

The familiar office door of the teenage prince came into view at the end of the long corridor. As he drew nearer to the room, he sensed that Botan was in there as well, discussing to Koenma about something in a hushed voice. Because he was a demon, he could make out parts of there conversation. He caught the name Kurama many times. Since he wasn't one to knock, he let himself in. The two glanced up in startlement (is that even a word?). The blue-haired grim reaper glanced at Koenma, then back at the surprise visitor.

"Uh, um...I see you got my message...come in...We were just discussing some unimportant matters." The prince of the Spirit world spoke in a nervous tone as the fire apparition walked expressionless into the room.

"Lord Koenma?" Botan questioned.

"Just stay where you are,it won't help for you to leave."

The demon (who's shorter than some of my shortest friends! no offence...) was getting impatient. The message he recieved said that this was urgent, and for him to go to that ever-annoying prince's office. But now, it didn't seem very important. That idiot was probably just scared that he would kill him; if he didn't hurry up, he might as well do just that...

"Well, I suppose you want to know why you're here," he sighed,"Kurama, well, he's not responding to us."

"Hn."

"This is serious! He's never done this before!"

The demonwasn't convinced that this was important. He knew the kitsune's powers, that he could take care of himself, and he knew that Koenma wouldn't call him for just this.

Koenma took a deep breath, then sighed yet again.

"Afew hours ago, we felt a large surge of demon aura at the Minamino residence. A few minutes later, every single bit of it disappeared in to thin air. We can't sense him at all. Not only that, but the human world seems to be frozen in time. Yusuke and Kazuma have been uncontactable as well. They are probably frozen like the rest of the enhabitants of their world."

This was the first time he had been sent to Koenma. Now he knew why.

"You are to investigate what happened, and try to straighten things out. Ifeven one worldstops for too long, it can through everything off balance. You must work quickly!"

He looked at Botan, who took it as her signal to open a portal to the human world. Soon both of them were out of site.

'Please hurry, Hiei.' Koenmaworried to himself, taking deep breaths andshuddering every now and then,'I don't even want to think about what would happen if you don't succeed...'

A/N: Here are the results.

Kur/Kag: 15

Hiei/Kag: 14

Yus/Kag: 3

Inu/Kag: 2

Sesshy/Kag: 1

Hiei/Sango: 1

As u can c, Kur/Kag is the winner, but cuz it's so close, I'll probably make it a Kur/Kag/Hiei and in the end she'll end up with 1 of them, most likely Kurama...and don't worry, Youko fans! He'll still be in the story! I'm also puttin' Fluffy into the story, if u want him with some1, plz vote! Hiei will most likely be with Sango, unless he's with kaggie, or u vote 4 him 2 b w/ some1, but like i said b4, Kags will probably end up with Kurama...NEways, keep on voting 4 pairings (just not Kags)!