Disclaimers: Inuyasha and Yu Yu Hakusho belong respectively to Rumiko Takahashi and Yoshihiro Togashi.

A/N: Whoo! BUSY month… Kazusa had her baby, work went batshit insane, I got sick trying to cheer up Puppy given her own battles with inhumanly resistant illnesses, and now? Hah, now I'm just one hacking, sneezing, death-to-all-rays-of-sunlight-and-loud-noises pile of Holiday Cheer™. Go me. –flops over and dies- Beh. Ah well, at least I posted that new story, and I got this chapter done. Keep in mind though, the chapter here at FF.N is going to be… ah, considerably shorter this time. Any materials unsuitable for the rating have been edited, and all individuals below the legal age to read such materials should stay right here. For those of you who are of age, the full version will be up on Mediaminer either later today or early tomorrow… depending. (Eh heh, alcohol may be involved… hence the "depending" bit.)

That being said- as always, to all of you, I absolutely adore you! I don't generally give out individual responses because I don't want anyone to feel left out, but there were a couple people who mentioned a certain characterization that got me all squooshy-happy (of course that might just be the bottle and a half of NyQuil I've consumed, but whatever the reason, I was squooshy-happy). So thank you very much for that, Belle and Panda. And as ever and always, to all my junkies, buddies, reviewers and readers… your abilities to brighten the worst of my days are so very much loved and appreciated. Thank you very, very much, and I hope you're all enjoying your holidays.

By Any Other Name

-Beauty in the Breakdown-

"This is the great secret you're hiding from the miko?"

Shippou's concentration shattered at the voice so close at his side, jolting away from the sound and letting out a strangled cry of dismay when the instinctive move sent his chair tilting severely to the side. One hand scrabbled to catch hold of the table and straighten himself out, but only succeeded in sending a stack of thick, white papers flying when a light nudge tipped him the rest of the way to the floor.

Hiei tilted his head, snickering at the sight of the irritating kitsune sprawled out on the floor amongst the blank pages with the wooden folding chair crumpled on top of him, "Very graceful, Takashima."

Shippou blinked, twisting around to glare up at the hybrid as a low growl built in his throat, "You! Goddammit, you tri-cloptic fuckhead, have you ever heard of knocking?!"

Hiei shrugged, reaching out to casually pluck one of the pages off Shippou's desk, "The miko left instructions for me to make myself 'at home' here in her absence. Considering your habit for barging in to any and all rooms without a thought to who may be trying to have a moment of privacy, you don't have much room to talk."

"Get your hands off that, they aren't done!" Shippou shoved himself up on his forearms, muttering irritably and kicking the chair aside a little more forcefully than necessary before he rolled to his feet.

Hiei hopped back out of the way to dodge the kitsune's grab at the page, not bothering to look up from his curious perusal of the "borrowed" paper, "Who writes this nonsense?"

"It's not nonsense, it's romantic," he defended, raking his hand through his hair as he resisted the urge to chase the hybrid around his room more violently. There was a sly tilt to Hiei's lips that suggested he was milking the situation for all he could, and Shippou absolutely refused to add to Hiei's amusement. "And I write most of it. Shinju adds a bit here and there if he has an idea."

"You draw all the images yourself?" Hiei tilted the page in his hand to one side, momentarily wondering if a human could be twisted into such a position and still be enjoying it as much as the scene suggested.

"Of course!" Shippou puffed up defensively, never taking his eyes off the hybrid as the door opened again. "You think I'd have any respect for myself as a kitsune if I put my name on someone else's work?"

"Technically it is someone else's work, Shippou," Kaze interrupted their staring match, deliberately walking between them to disrupt their line of vision and dissolve the thick tension as he set a mug of coffee on the desk. "Unless of course, that happens to be one of the new doujinshi you're doing for your own series?"

"My editor insisted," Shippou muttered, folding his arms over his chest and reluctantly answering the question in his expression.

"She always has been fond of the male pairings, hasn't she?" Kaze held out his hand towards Hiei expectantly, using the bits of information to distract the hybrid just enough that he automatically followed the silent hint. The young human glanced over the page critically for a moment, turning it in the same fashion Hiei had done moments ago, and chuckling when Shippou quickly snatched it back.

"It's not done yet," he defended again, stacking it with the other pages and meticulously straightening his workspace as his chin reflexively lifted in silent arrogance under their amused stares. "If you want to see it so badly, buy it when it's printing, Kaze. Help support the family and all."

"I'd hardly call buying your work adding to the family fund, Shippou. It goes to support your chocolate addiction," Kaze reached out, hooking his smallest finger through the back of the kitsune's necklace and giving it a teasing yank. "And that bizarre love you have for costuming."

"I don't hear you complain when you come to me for repairs in your uniform," Shippou swatted his hand away and settled his necklace back in place over the plain black tank top. Frowning again, he twisted to face them both and demand, "Now what the hell are you two bothering me for? I already told everyone I didn't want to be disturbed."

"Sexual intercourse between fictional characters is that difficult to draw?" Hiei folded his arms over his chest, one eyebrow kicking up when Shippou bristled at the taunt and growled at him.

"You can get the fuck out of my room now," the kitsune flicked his ponytail back over his shoulder in an agitated motion. "No matter how much I'd love to kick your ass without Kagome or Sesshoumaru-sama here to referee, I do have to finish this."

Hiei snorted at the claim, "You are welcome to try 'kicking my ass,' kitsune. However, you will have to wait for later. I'm not looking for a fight with you at the moment."

"Oh?"

Hiei nodded, keeping his expression carefully bland, "I want to know where I can find a computer."

Curiosity quickly overrode Shippou's temper as he turned to stare down at the hybrid, "A computer?"

"And privacy."

Shippou tilted his head thoughtfully, searching for any hint as to why Hiei would ask about a computer, "Shinju has one in the office, and Souta probably has one in his room. You can ask either of them if they'd mind letting you use it. But why the hell do you need a computer? You don't exactly look the type to be keeping up on human technology."

"Personal reasons," Hiei shrugged casually.

"Listen, you little prick! You're going to have to start realizing that in our family, we-!" Shippou's eyes flashed as he rounded on the unperturbed hybrid, when Kaze pressed a hand gently to the kitsune's chest and cut him off.

"Actually, Hiei-san, I wonder if you wouldn't be willing to put your personal matter on hold a little while longer," Kaze folded his hands together in the sleeves of his kimono once he was certain Shippou had backed down from the argument. "Sesshoumaru-sama is calling for you, and it would be in poor taste to keep him waiting."

"For what reason?" Hiei's attention shifted, casually resting his left hand on the hilt of his katana at the mention of the taiyoukai.

Shippou ignored the question, mouth setting in a grim line as he questioned Kaze on his own, "They're going now? All ready?"

"Going where?" Hiei's frown deepened when they seemed to be ignoring him in favor of sharing an odd assortment of coded looks and nods. Hiei blatantly let his ki flare in a show of intimidation when it seemed the two of them were about upgrade from the silent communication to their own vague conversation without answering him, "I said… Going where?"

Kaze smiled, reflexively lifting his hand in a blessing pose to soothe the hybrid's temper, unaware of how much that gesture made him look like his younger cousin. "My apologies… Shippou, considering Sesshoumaru-sama's plans, if you would call Kagome-sama this evening to check in on her?"

"Sure, I'll do it," Shippou muttered out as he nodded and righted his fallen chair to resume his place at his desk.

"And be nice when you call," Kaze scolded, motioning for Hiei to follow him out of the kitsune's room. "Kagome is still tired from visiting the shrine, and will have little patience."

Shippou made an absent motion to dismiss that reminder, "Ease off, Kaze, I know how to talk to my sister when she's drained. I still know her better than any of you think you do."

Hiei's brows rose slightly when he saw the way the human's jaw tightened at the thinly-veiled cruelty in that response, filing away the reaction to pick apart at his leisure as Kaze closed the door on the kitsune's room. "What does Sesshoumaru want with me, Hitokaze?"

Sighing, Kaze folded his hands back into his sleeves and started down the hallway, "Sesshoumaru-sama is waiting outside the compound. He has decided that with Kagome-sama away with Kurama-san, it's time to take you into Makai with him to meet the other side of our family."

Hiei's eyes widened, momentarily coming to a stop as he stared at Kaze's guarded expression, Into Makai. They're going to show me how they pass the barrier undetected?

"After the experience Kagome-sama had with the attack you witnessed, Sesshoumaru-sama has deemed it necessary to make personal inquiries in the realm it originated from." Kaze continued with a sort of calm precision that had Hiei inwardly admitting a grudging respect for his ability to maintain control of his emotions. "You can understand how unsettling it is to know that there is a youkai in Makai who is not only capable of organizing such an extensive grouping, but is also hunting for her specifically."

"Then this youkai knows that she's the jewel," Hiei shook off his thoughts, lengthening his stride to catch up with the taller human again.

Kaze nodded, "It appears that is the case, yes."

"Who is it?"

"Sesshoumaru-sama has asked me to allow him to handle this matter," Kaze shook his head to show he wasn't the one who was going to answer that question. "He called to request that you meet him in front of the main compound as soon as possible."

Hiei couldn't hold in the slight chuckle of sardonic amusement, "The taiyoukai does not waste time."

Kaze finally smiled at him, even if it didn't quite reach his eyes, "We have not been a peaceful, successful family for five hundred years by dragging our feet when conflicts arise. Besides, any time the Shikon-no-Tama is involved, our history has proven that it is best to move as quickly as we can to handle the matter."

Better than allowing an enemy to gain enough strength to become a true threat, Hiei glanced through the open shoji as they passed the dojo. Not in the least bit surprised to see Shinju kneeling in meditation in front of the memorial to their ancestors, seeming perfectly oblivious to the world around him. Shaking his head, Hiei refocused his attention forward and felt the strangest urge to offer some sort of compliment to that philosophy, "I am… impressed by how cleanly life in this family is run."

"We all know where we belong here," Kaze murmured softly, catching the sideways look from his cousin and momentarily tipping his chin towards his chest in acknowledgement. "It is not so difficult to function as a team when you learn to accept your limits and recognize there is greater strength in embracing your weaknesses than in hiding from them."

Hiei arched an eyebrow, "Weaknesses like the miko?"

Kaze paused with his hand on the shoji leading to the backyard, lips twisting in a wry smile for a moment before he answered in a more subdued tone. "Kagome-sama is more a weakness for some than she is for others. Sesshoumaru-sama does like to be kept waiting, Hiei-san."

Touchy subject then, Hiei nodded at the dismissal and walked past him, pausing for a moment to breathe in the untainted air and ponder the implications of Kaze's admission. I'm obviously missing something important in the way these humans are associated with Sesshoumaru's "family," and with Kagome. Something simple, but it's definitely the key to linking this together.

His gaze trailed back to the young man standing in the doorway, eyes narrowing with concentration even as the air at his feet seemed to bow inward in response to his rising youki. I'll have to disturb Kurama's alone-time long enough to call Kagome after I finish whatever it is Sesshoumaru wants.

When the hybrid simply vanished between one blink and the next, Kaze let his shoulders slump and stared blankly outside as he let his thoughts wander back over Shippou's words. One hand lifted to rub his temples wearily before lowering to rest over his heart, and finally fall back at his side, Even after all this time-

"Ignore him."

Kaze frowned, purposefully keeping his gaze outside as the calm instruction snapped him out of his brooding thoughts. Folding his hands up into his sleeves habitually, he answered flatly, "I'm not a child, Shinju. I know he's not serious."

Shinju was silent for a moment before he stepped out of the doorway, approaching his tense cousin to observe the rigid way he was holding himself. He reached out, lightly resting his palm against Kaze's back to try spreading more peaceful energy into him and counteract the anxiety, "Kaa-san has always and will always love us regardless of how little time we have had together. Shippou is frustrated, and you know how he gets under these circumstances."

"I said I know," he glared back over his shoulder for a moment, staring into identical eyes until the temper simply melted out of him. Kaze turned away again, fists clenching as he murmured quietly, "I know my lessons as well as you do, Shinju. 'Kitsune are experts at finding words that sting their opponents,' especially the one's who've reached his age. Just because I understand, doesn't mean I can dismiss it… And just because he doesn't mean it, doesn't mean he didn't succeed."

Shinju continued to watch him silently, waiting patiently for his cousin to work through his upset enough to speak or to indicate they would revisit the subject later.

"It's nothing, Shinju," Kaze forced himself to relax again under the weight of that stare, raking one hand impatiently through his hair. He took a deep, cleansing breath and closed his eyes to re-center himself before he spoke again. "Time with Okaa-sama is the only way that these feelings of insecurity will be put to rest. Otou-sama has said as much to us time and time again."

Shinju's lips curled up slightly, shaking his head at the perfectly logical rationalization he had been silently betting on hearing from the stereotypically indicative man. Keeping his amusement to himself, he suggested calmly, "Perhaps Sesshoumaru-sama is correct. We should speak with her privately about our… difficulties once she returns."

Kaze made a noncommittal sound to that suggestion as he braced his shoulder against the wall and leaned into it more casually and relaxed than he had been a moment ago. He gestured outside with a faint nod to indicate a change of topic before vocalizing the other concern that was disrupting his thoughts. "That one is suspicious."

"As well he should be."

"Mm… He's also intelligent and underhanded enough that he's going to find out everything we're trying to keep from him," Kaze continued in the same bland tone, not really expecting disagreement or reassurance so much as having a second voice verify his own observations.

Shinju chuckled softly from where he'd come to stand beside his cousin, glancing out into the yard to take in the circle of scorched earth Hiei had left behind. Calmly leaning in idle juxtapose with Kaze, he waited for his cousin to take the silent hint and look at him before he challenged with a smile. "Would any of us be able to truly accept him in our family if he couldn't?"

:………:

Kurama let his eyes close, sharpening his other senses as his fingers slid down Kagome's lips and traced a line down her throat before lightly circling her neck. Kagome stood docile under his touch, each breath brushing her chest against his as he simply basked in the faint scent he'd come to crave. He could feel her throat move against his palm when she swallowed, and he sighed softly as he rested his cheek against her temple, "I have no idea why you seem to think your past has any bearing on our relationship, Kagome. I had thought I made it clear to you that I don't care who you were, or what you've done before we began seeing each other exclusively, but somehow we seem to have hit a miscommunication."

"Kurama-" Kagome tried again, only to instinctively fall silent when he let out a low growl.

'Now it is our turn,' Youko rippled through their soul, twining their ki together a piece at a time as he exerted his superior control with a purely wicked grin. 'This miko needs to start having more respect for our ability to make such a decision for ourselves. This is our time to become more intimate, not to have her telling us that the woman we have so carefully handpicked to be the mother of our children is not good enough for our attention.'

Kagome frowned at the satisfaction she could feel radiating from him when she caught herself leaning ever-so slightly into his touch, the feeling enough to snap her out of her enthrallment. Mentally bracing herself for what she knew was going to be a difficult argument, she lifted her hands to his chest and stood on her toes to mimic the way he'd spoken into her ear. "Kurama, you aren't thinking this through."

That's the first time anyone's ever made that accusation to us.

'We'll correct her misassumption tomorrow morning… maybe afternoon.'

Or evening?

'If you insist.'

"You're just stressed out by everything," she tried to repeat, making a sound of frustration when he refused to budge at her prodding. A shiver ran down her spine when he answered her by nipping her ear, tracing the tip of his tongue over the spot as she stammered out in a breathy voice. "After you've had a chance to relax here and really get your energy back, you'll see. I'll even help you look for someone when we get home."

"Again, very magnanimous of you, but that won't be necessary," Kurama purred out, sliding one hand down to her waist and stepping forward to upset her balance. He was ready when she stumbled, wrapping his arm around her and lifting her completely off her feet only to take another step forward to pin her against the wall. "Previous ties, isn't that what you said, lover? You want me to find a girl who hasn't had a husband before, is that it?"

::Did you think it would hurt less because you trusted him?::

The sudden wash of memory was enough to have buckled her knees had Kurama not so very effectively made that an obsolete matter. The sound of that voice chased through her mind, pushing out the rational thoughts until she felt the warmth of the kitsune's lips just below her ear. Kagome's hands had instinctively moved to his shoulders, gripping his kimono tightly… although whether to anchor herself to something solid or merely in reflex to the abrupt, blatantly suggestive position he'd put them in, she couldn't be sure. "Kurama, put me down!"

"I don't think so," Kurama slid his other hand up her thigh, smiling when the muscles flexed and shivered under his touch. "I was polite, lover, I listened to you."

"I didn't have you against the wall," Kagome pointed out, forcefully stopping herself from wrapping her legs around his waist when he shifted to a more secure position against her. She pulled her head back away from his to look at his face, and frowned at the innocent smile he was giving her, Dammit, you sneaky bastard… But I… You can tell that I don't want to say no to you.

::I can see it in your eyes, my Tama. I can feel it, feel you… right here.::

"I can feel it inside you, you know," Kurama tightened his arm on her waist, bringing his other hand up to grip her chin and keep her eyes on his face as he unwittingly echoed at least part of that internal whisper. "Your body is hungry for me, Kagome. I can feel it reach for me, cry for me every time we touch."

Kagome tried to suppress the shiver that rolled down her spine, but she knew from his low chuckle that she'd been unsuccessful. Closing her eyes before she could give herself away, she took a deep breath and tried to ignore the feel of his youki twining so sinuously around her. His warmth was seeping into her, filling in the holes left from the exertions of the day and slowly stealing away what she'd managed to regain of her reason, "Put me down, Kurama. Really… I can't- I- you hardly know anything about me."

"Details," he gave her a squeeze as he felt the way her body was slowly softening into his caresses. He dipped his head to press a light kiss just beside her lips as his thumb began a gliding stroke back and forth along her clenched jaw, "Besides… I know more about you than you think I do."

Kagome's hands curled into tighter fists before slowly relaxing under a particularly strong rush of his energy across her senses, No good! Dammit, what if I can't hold it back?

::It's so much more delicious this way.::

"You don't want to run away from me or I wouldn't be here alone with you in the first place," Kurama pressed, smiling when he felt her pulse increase. "You know you belong here…with me. Is that why you're afraid?"

You don't really think she'll answer you that easily, do you? Kurama closed his eyes and sighed deeply when her fingers curled over his shoulders again before one of her hands slid up into his hair.

'No, but if I can get her to face whatever she thinks is forcing her to make this ridiculous speech about not being good enough to commit to us, I can stop her from pulling away long enough to fix this,' Youko retorted calmly, turning their head to lightly brush a kiss over her lips just enough for her to instinctively part them. Denying her silent request, he continued that maddening stroke over her jaw as he tried a different angle of questioning, "You loved your husband very much, didn't you?"

::Watching them betray you.::

Kurama let out a faint murmur of victory in their mind when her pulse jumped again, muscles stiffening just enough to alert him he was hitting a sensitive point. Then she is feeling guilty about something, that's why she's trying to push us away again.

"I don't make my feelings secret," Kagome answered quietly, shifting against him restlessly when her heartbeat staggered with another, deeper pulse. She could almost feel the shuddering uncertainty that had gripped her the last time she heard this voice speaking into her mind, mind racing as she struggled with the memory to find out just why she was re-experiencing it so intensely. Something's wrong… I'm missing- I- the thoughts scattered again when Kurama's lips passed over hers again.

'Perfect.'

Careful-

'I know, I know,' Youko brushed off the warning, ruthlessly focusing now that he had a clue to what he needed to effect the battle going on in her mind. Now he knew how to tip the scales in his favor, "Do you think you would be unfair saying yes to me? Do you think you won't be able to love me the same way, Kagome?"

"You're wrong-!" Kagome started to protest that soft whisper, choking off with a sharp gasp when he leaned his weight into her more purposefully. No… That's not- That's not it? Confusion set in as that truth slowly took shape in the tangled chaos of her emotions, But that can't… be?

::Watching your heart bleed for them.::

"Am I?" Youko slid his tongue across the side of her neck, tracing the pulse he could feel beating so very rapidly and ending with a light nip at the edge of her jaw just to hear that sound in the back of her throat again. 'That's it, little lover… show me where you break.'

"I can't-" Kagome started, cutting herself off again when her mind and mouth still failed to coordinate properly, attempting to shake her head despite his restrictive hold. "You don't… understand." No… that's not it, Kurama.

"Tell me," he cajoled softly, repeating that kiss before lifting enough to briefly catch her earlobe in his teeth. "Is it so difficult a thing? Am I not good enough for you to be willing to try?"

The pulse that rushed through her had her back arching, some part of her vaguely grateful that his attention was not on her face to see the way her eyes so obviously flashed. Naraku's accusation flooded her mind, overlapping the long-buried words from the past as the stark whispers gained strength to match the pounding of her heart. Her hands clenched in his hair, eyes squeezing shut in a futile effort to stave off the burn of tears as he took the pull as a request. Slowly, Kurama eased his body away from hers, just enough that he could look down at her expression as he waited for the answers he wanted to hear.

No, Kagome's eyes fluttered open, and she stared up at him in a sort of dazed disbelief.

::When you love them, my beautiful Tama.::

That damning whisper rang through her soul with an odd note of finality, making the blue of Kagome's eyes darken to indigo as her hands slipped out of his hair. Her fingers felt hypersensitive as those impossibly soft strands skimmed over her knuckles, only to have that sensation overwhelmed by the heat and softness of his skin against hers as she lightly grasped the sides of his head. The pulse grew nearly deafening inside her, flooding her system with a rush energy that left her trembling against him. She could feel his eyes on her, feel the anticipation in his body as he waited for her to speak.

I'm afraid I'll love you more.

The words caught in her throat, until Kagome heard the shaky response she managed to offer him as though it was being given by a total stranger, "Sesshoumaru is going to call."

Kurama's lips curved as her fingers spread to trace just behind his jaw on either side, Got her.

"Let him," Youko silently acknowledging his agreement to that intense declaration as their own eyes flashed with promise. "I'll tell him we're busy."

"Kurama-"

"How do you like to be touched, Kagome?" he cut her off, youki curling darkly in the air around them as his focus shifted.

"What?" Kagome frowning up at him as the abrupt spike in his ki sent a chill rushing down her spine.

Kurama tightened his arm around her waist, pressing into her until she was forced to tilt her head back at a severe angle to hold their gaze. "I am going to make love to you, Kagome. I may not be your first or your only lover, but by the time I'm finished, I will be the one you turn to when your dreams leave you empty and crying inside."

'She's so close,' Youko turned their head pressing a kiss to her palm without once releasing her gaze as he blended them together with much more purpose than Kurama had ever felt from him. 'Just a little more… She's lost and she knows it.'

"You remember what it felt like to be touched by a lover," Youko sighed as he took control, tracing a line down her throat with the very tips of their elongating claws. "No one has ever made you feel the way I do, have they? I could taste it inside you."

He leaned forward, rubbing his cheek against hers in a deceptively harmless show of affection, inhaling deeply as he took in the hungry way her aura seemed to reach out to his as though begging to relive their morning. Before she could respond to his words, he was turning his hand to slip beneath the collar of her yukata, "You seem uncommonly fond of inu youkai… have you picked up their preference in positions? Is that how I should take you our first time? I could hold your hips and watch those beautiful, deadly fingers curl in my blankets every time I push into you.

"Or maybe face to face?" Youko gave her no time to guard against him as he continued his verbal illustrations, absolutely preening at every shiver and twitch in her body against his as he traced the line of her clavicle to artfully bare her shoulder. "Would you wrap your legs around my waist, Kagome? Throw your head back when you moan for me? What color would your eyes turn when you felt me give you my baby?"

Kagome's mouth went dry, trying and failing to block out the words tumbling so easily from those sculpted lips before the paltry bit of willpower she had left crumbled. He knew… he was playing his voice along her senses like liquid silk, making every part of her long and remember, meticulously pulling her cravings to the surface. Making her imagination stir up every wicked fantasy she had ever had about him-

"Would you rather be on top?" Youko grew bolder at the way her breathing hitched, the sound of her heartbeat even louder in the otherwise quiet room. "Arching your back, rolling your hips in perfect rhythm with mine… Letting your hair fall across my stomach while I trace your ribs one at a time? Would you tease me until I couldn't help but dominate you? Until I held you still above me while I touched you in places that no other man or youkai could hope to reach?"

Where are we getting this? Kurama's voice was awed, tapering off slightly under a moaned sigh when Youko leaned forward to grind their hips together.

'How many times have I told you that nothing seduces like a kitsune?' Youko scolded in a rather distracted manner, much more intent on watching and feeling Kagome react to him than in answering questions he felt Kurama should have known since his youth. 'We are the best at what we do and I have been thinking about having this miko in this position for a very, very long time.'

Youko eased his hand out of her yukata long enough to find where the crossed fabric below the simple obi, slipping his hand inside it to trail his fingertips up the inside of her leg, "Your body is craving mine now, isn't it?"

Kagome let out a choked gasp, trying to curl in on herself and keep his hand from going further than her thigh, "Don't!"

The chuckle echoed in perfect synch inside and out as Youko and Kurama ignored the hollow command, "Where's the harm in being selfish, little lover? You are thinking too much when you should be feeling, and your body is working against your mind."

"You're a dangerous person, Youko Kurama," Kagome finally managed to speak with a semblance of calm.

"Then what a pair we make," he murmured with a satisfied grin at the charged response, reading more into the tone and what she didn't say. "I find you 'dangerous' as well… Give up the chase, Kagome. Let yourself love me."

"I've made promises," Kagome could feel her body shake with the effort it took not to simply melt into him.

"Make new ones," he purred silkily, making his voice temptation itself as he ruthlessly plucked away at her token resistance. "Make a promise to belong to me instead."

She tried to speak, but closed her mouth quickly when he shifted against her and changed what she'd intended to say into an involuntary, breathless moan. One knee bent, bracing her foot back against the wall as he immediately took advantage of that to readjust her position to fit them together for a more inflammatory press of his body against hers. Kagome bit down hard on her lip against the cry struggling to break free, forcefully composing herself enough to whisper. "I have responsibilities."

"So do I," Kurama stroked his cheek across hers again, sliding his palm from her knee to her thigh in order to push the yukata aside and bare her bent leg from the waist. "But I want to have more, Kagome. I want to come home at night and find you waiting for me. I want to learn every last inch of your body and soul."

He slowly worked his hand up under the obi to spread his fingers across her bare stomach, putting his lips right to her ear as his eyes closed to hide the flash of scarlet. "I want to make my children inside you."

Kagome could have cried.

She could feel the taut muscles in her neck to relax and let her head lower until she was resting her forehead on his shoulder, her hands sliding back up into his hair in a mindless caress. This shouldn't be working on her; the words, the looks, the skillful touches… She had done all this before, heard it all, felt... like this?

With Miroku it had been about a different kind of love. The children he'd given her had been for Sango and his words always grateful and adoring. Not these blatant seductions all for her that came so perfectly and easily from Kurama's lips. He had been gentle, even worshipful each and every time they were together, so careful to place her feelings and needs well above his own. They had loved each other, but never truly been more than deeply friends despite the intimacy of their relationship. Never wanted or intended to be more.

Kurama… made no secret that he wanted so much more.

Kagome could feel his ribs expand against her chest; hear him draw the air into his lungs as he readied himself to speak again.

She felt his jaw go slack and waited for his mouth to open before she pulled him down to cover his lips with her own.

:………:

Hiei frowned as he followed Sesshoumaru deeper into the mountain range the silent youkai had led him into, his gaze sweeping every inch of the passage for some hint as to how and where they were bypassing Reikai's barriers. So far, the passage had been slightly difficult, but there was nothing to suggest an unnatural deterrent, unless it was plainly not effecting him now that he was "acceptable." Underground again… Do they use some sort of spell then? Something about Kagome's powers to amplify some mineral, or perhaps ancient magic held in the mountain itself?

Sesshoumaru hadn't spoken a word since his arrival beyond instructing him not to fall behind. And despite the seeming urgency to Kaze's instructions, he didn't appear to be in any particular rush. Each step was graceful, unhurried, and perfectly silent as the thick braid hanging down between his shoulder blades swayed from side to side. Had it been any other creature, Hiei might have thought the youkai walking in front of him was unguarded and even relaxed.

Might have.

His hand lifted, pressing just below his throat with a grimace as that branded symbol started to ache, giving a single pulse before returning to dormancy as though warning him against such underestimating thoughts. There was nothing relaxed about the taiyoukai walking in front of him, and frankly, it was nearly impossible to mistake the force of agitated ki making his skin crawl. Whatever reason Sesshoumaru had for calling him out, it wasn't over good news.

"The miko has sources that no other creature can reach," Sesshoumaru's voice broke through Hiei's musings with ease, echoing almost melodically off the dark walls of the cavern despite how softly he'd spoken. "Not even your first-level employers."

"Sources?" Hiei repeated suspiciously. What sources? Why would he be talking about sources when she isn't even-

Sesshoumaru turned a glance back to him when Hiei made a nearly silent sound of realization, waiting for those claret eyes to meet his own before subtly chastizing, "You will learn, hybrid, that activities and behavior that may appear to be frivolous always have deeper meaning in our family."

"There was something for her in Shikoku," Hiei verified out loud, eyes narrowing slightly at being kept in the dark.

"It is a difficult situation, and it drains her to speak of it. You would have asked questions without thinking of the consequences," the taiyoukai chuckled sardonically at the emotions he could clearly feel radiating back to him through Kagome gift of connection. "My miko did not need the added strain of reliving the past for your satisfaction. But you may ask her about the bound remnant she visits upon her return, and whether or not she answers will be her prerogative."

Hiei frowned, gritting his teeth against the distasteful feeling of parroting nearly every word out of the youkai's mouth with the increasing impression that there was much more to the secrets of this family than he had first anticipated. But he swallowed his pride enough to press for a more complete answer, "Bound remnant?"

The smirk that chased across Sesshoumaru's lips revealed his full awareness of the discomfort, and that he was not above letting the hybrid stew in the feeling a little more before addressing the cause. "The creature who hunted the jewel and originally cursed the human family linked to my lines. Naraku was finally destroyed by this Sesshoumaru and other respected allies, but his hate and rage were so intense that those emotions were unable to pass into the next world. Those emotions left behind a spirit that was bound by the houshi and his wife to its grave, and transported to the most holy grounds available to us by my half-brother and his companions."

"Back when the legends were written," Hiei's annoyance was gone in an instant under the casual offer of so much missing information. Fucking finally!

"That was before the monk took time to document our battles, yes," Sesshoumaru dipped his head in acknowledgement. "We had settled into peaceful times back in our own lands by the time the Shikon-no-Tama and the battles for it became our legend."

"And the second wife had died," Hiei tilted his head to one side, feeling the Jagan narrow under a sudden twinge of suspicion. The way the taiyoukai spoke… he wasn't in the habit of speaking names, but it still felt… rehearsed? It was the same way that Houshi-sama or Sango- hell, even the way that Kagome spoke when he asked about the past. Detailed and honest, but so subtly and skillfully vague that there were times he just barely caught the signs of omission.

"Naraku had run her through with one of his appendages in their final battle, just before she managed to channel herself into purifying his body," the emotion left Sesshoumaru's voice, although whether it was out of respect for the memory or a warning against the topic, Hiei wasn't certain.

But in the next breath, they had turned another corner where the passage opened up in much the same manner as the underground training grounds, and Hiei was startled into perfect stillness.

Ignoring Hiei's shock, Sesshoumaru calmly raised one hand, his youki flaring up to rapidly light the torches around the circular chamber and bringing the structure set into mountain in front of them into stark relief. Turning to stand in profile to Hiei, Sesshoumaru brought his hand to rest on Tenseiga's hilt as he waited patiently for the hybrid to process what he was seeing.

"What is this?" Hiei breathed out, taking an unconscious step forward as the Jagan actively reached out in a more obvious display of their curiosity.

"Gozu and Mezu."

Hiei's head snapped around, eyes widening in alarm at the blasé answer, The Guardians of Hell's Gates?

Sesshoumaru's laughter still soft, but more obvious this time as he walked calmly towards the massive oval gateway. "They have stood guard at this gate since the dawn of time, and they will still be here guarding it long after the rest of us are dead and gone. When the Ascended creatures ruling Reikai formed the barriers, the questionable possibility of another entrance to the Underworld –to what has become Makai- existing became obsolete in their plans. It was already all but forgotten to even the oldest youkai when it was first shown to me, and now the passage of time has only made it more so. The most trusted members of my family are the only ones who know of it any longer."

Hiei could feel his skin chill at the massive wave of energy flowing out from the enormous statues with every step the taiyoukai took in their direction, every one of his senses was screaming a warning. His hand automatically curled over to the hilt of his katana as he slid back into a more defensive position and struggled against the instinct to flee from sheer force of power and danger vibrating from the stone figures. But... a soul has to be dead to pass the Gateway. In ever legend and rumor, Gozu and Mezu destroy any creature foolish enough to try and go beyond them!

The statue to the left pulsed, one eye slowly opening to focus down on Sesshoumaru as the taiyoukai finally came to a stop before the chained doors. As Hiei stared at the unfolding scene with a sort of morbid fascination, the statue's head turned and both eyes opened to stare more attentively down at Sesshoumaru. The oppressive silence that gripped the chamber seemed to buzz in his ears for a painfully long stretch of time until it was broken by an ominous creaking that drew his gaze up to the source. The statue's fingers had moved, tightening around the staff of its weapon as the pulse of jyaki intensified to almost suffocating levels.

"Sesshoumaru-heika."

The grating echo reverberated around the chamber over and over as Hiei's hand went numb, fingers falling away from his sword while he gaped from the taiyoukai to the wakening guardian in blatant disbelief. Hei…ka…?

In response, Sesshoumaru drew Tenseiga in a single fluid motion, letting the weapon feel out their surroundings and give off a warning pulse of recognition. The blade flickered once before giving off a pale white glow to push away the remaining shadows as Sesshoumaru turned Tenseiga to point directly at the gateway and waited for the chain across the doors to melt open. The air around the chain seemed to distort and shiver before the links cracked and fell away with a nearly deafening clatter of metal on metal that had Hiei involuntarily wincing and the statue on the right opening its eyes as it roused as well.

Sesshoumaru didn't so much as bat an eyelash as Gozu and Mezu took a step away from their places flanking the gate, each step sending heavy shudders through the mountain as they approached the stoic lord. When they paused on either side of the taiyoukai, he turned his wrist to bring the Tenseiga into a relaxed, defensive position in front of his chest, "Step aside. This Sesshoumaru is taking the new extension of the Shikon-no-Tama into the Makai."