Along Came a Kitsune
:Kurama:
Youko
Thoughts (usually)
Chapter 7: Blackout
Kagome woke up at dawn the next morning, courtesy of the rising sun. Yawning, she rubbed the last of her sleepiness from her eyes and folded up the blanket before returning to the house to prepare breakfast. To her surprise, her mother's smiling face met her at the entrance to the kitchen, her hands holding a plate of sliced vegetables over a pot.
"Oh, good morning, Kagome. I hope you've had a good night's sleep?"
"Yes, very," she lied through her teeth. "It looks like it'll be a beautiful day as well. Do you have anything planned Mama?"
"The usual shopping. Then this afternoon Grandpa and I will be attending Souta's soccer game. You're invited to come, if you'd like."
Kagome smiled regretfully. "I'd much rather do that, but I can't."
"Oh, yes, that's right. You're going off to meet that handsome young man."
"Don't say it like that! I'm not interested in him at all."
Both pairs of eyes traveled to the Goshinboku just outside the kitchen window. An odd silence passed between them. Mama pasted her smile back on and clapped her hands once. "Well then," she said with fake spirit, "I should go wake the boys. You go ahead and start eating. Grandpa will want you two to help clean up the shrine."
"Yes Mama."
"Kurama…" the young kitsune groaned as he made his way down the stairs. He nearly fell a few times, but saved himself by hanging onto the railing. "Do you have anything for hangovers? I fell like I'm gonna die."
"Yes, in fact I have the perfect solution," Kurama said calmly, not taking his eyes off the morning paper as he drank a cup of strong tea.
"What is it? Some kind of miracle pill?"
"No, it's the perfect solution to not getting hangovers in the first place: Don't get drunk."
"Kurama…! I'm dying here!"
"Just give him what he wants," said Kuronue, hitting the boy on the head, followed by muttered complaints and threats. "Or else he'll give us headaches."
Kurama sighed, then opened his palm to reveal a single seed. It was quickly taken and swallowed. "I'd find a bed if I were you" Kurama warned. The boy nodded and ambled back up the stairs.
"So you're expecting someone?" At Kurama's raised brow, said Kuronue, "Otherwise, you would have pestered the brat about his low tolerance instead of getting him the hell out of your way. Business or pleasure?"
"Business…for now. I will change her mind soon enough."
"Do you think she'll turn out like the others once you drop her?"
"Perhaps."
Kagome had pushed through the city traffic and was now in a much less populated area of the suburbs. She was thankful that her mother had allowed her to borrow her car. This way, she could procrastinate in the heavy traffic and make a quick escape when her mission was accomplished. But for now, she decided to take her foot off the gas pedal a little and…enjoy the scenery.
She began to see fewer and fewer houses and when she passed what she was sure was the last bus stop, she began to wonder if she had missed a turn. A mile later, she found a small, concealed dirt road that she would have missed were it not for the fact that she was driving so slowly.
After only a minute or two later, she cleared the trees and found herself in an area that could have been on a postcard. In front of her was a two-story house built in the traditional Japanese style. Around it was a modest wooden fence. Behind the house was a rise that wasn't small enough to be called a hill, but couldn't be a mountain either. To her left was a lake that even from her distance she could tell wouldn't be bad to take a swim in. The nature around her felt—and looked—wild, but at the same time strangely tame.
Kagome stopped her car just to the side of the fence and prepared herself to greet the handsome man named Kurama. She almost winced at this thought, but reassured herself that it was natural for people to do this. After all, she acknowledged that many actors were "hotties", but that didn't mean that she was gonna marry them all. No, beauty doesn't exist only on the silver screen, she told herself as she made her way to his door. She rang the doorbell and almost immediately was met with beautiful green eyes.
"Kagome, hello. How are you today?"
She took a breath and decided to be as curt as she could. "Hello. You can stuff it with the small talk. I have things to do today."
"I'm sure you do," he replied as if she hadn't been rude. "Please, come in."
She followed him into a sitting room with a low table. A tea pot and two cups were set in the middle. He poured the tea then sat across from her.
"May I see the ring again before I tell the price I am willing to pay?"
She fished it out of her purse and placed it in his palm then watched him as he barely glanced at it and smiled. "How does ten thousand yen sound?"
"No sale."
He smiled sweetly again. "It's the best offer you're gonna get. After all—"
"It's not of any use to humans?" When his smile dropped, she smirked. "Then who is it of use to, hm?"
"You misunderstood me, dear Kagome. These rings only have any value because there is a tale of a curse behind them, one that is known to very few. I'm a collector of objects such as these. Now, let me just get my wallet…"
"Not so fast. I want to hear this legend of yours. After all, a shrine girl like myself just loves to hear stories about artifacts," Kagome said sweetly. She stood. "I'd especially enjoy hearing why someone like you wants some ring bought at some cheap pawn shop. Perhaps you'd like to entertain me with that story as well…kitsune." Although she said this accusingly, she only had that small inkling of a feeling to go on, but judging on how he stood in response told her that she'd hit dead on.
:How did she…:
I don't know.
"No answer? Well, I'll be taking my leave now." She picked up the ring on the table before cautiously making her way to the door. She was pushed up against the wall with his hand on the surface behind her before she made it halfway. She felt the beginnings of a headache. Damn, perfect timing.
"Why the rush?" Kurama said seductively, "The bus doesn't come for at least another two hours."
Her head really hurt. "I have a car." Although I won't be able to drive if this gets worse…again.
"It seems like you thought of everything." He noticed that she began to tense up and was leaning against the wall.
Something's wrong.
He heard a stair squeak.
Kagome let out a whimper of pain.
"Damn, Kurama. I know this is your house and all, but get a room, why don't ya. Your conquests don't need to be witnessed by the rest of the world. And…Hey, what's wrong with her?"
The new aura felt familiar to her, even through the haze of the pain. "Sh…Shippou?" she asked quietly before new pain wracked her mind. Her hands flew to her head and she screamed.
Her body felt to hot. She felt like she would suffocate. The pain burned her. It was worse than before…so much worse. Her senses were going crazy.
"Kagome? Kagome!" she heard through the pain. It was someone she should know, but at this point, her mind was too far gone to acknowledge anyone.
The sounds were fading but that voice still…
"Kagome! Kagome! Kagomeeee!"
And then there was nothing.
Note: 10,000 yen is just a little over $90.
AN: I apologize for withdrawing for so long, but other things in my life started taking priority, so…meh. What can ya do? In any case, I plan on updating once or twice again before school starts and after that…we'll see how my schedule goes.
Review Responses:
Yes, it was Shippou
Yes, the bad guy is after Kagome and Inuyasha
The situations with Kuronue and Shippou will be explained later (Shippou in the next chapter)
Inu or Kurama with Kagome…not telling yet
MysticalFlame: Yes, you're right for the time placement for YYH. I haven't seen all of the Sensui arc, but I read spoilers, so I know what you're talking about with his father and everything. Also, about the Inuyasha thing: he says what he does because he believes that when he reincarnates he'll be with Kagome again, but he's not sure when this will happen, and in the meantime he doesn't want Kagome to get depressed and, possibly, suicidal.
Thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews!