: Muichi Motsu :
: By : Akikazu :
: Chapter Two :
"Doesn't Koenma have anything better to do than sending us to exterminate some rats?" Yusuke demanded angrily.
The group was walking home from a park where Botan had dropped them off, they had just finished another mission. Another mission, meaning Yusuke had missed another date with Keiko.
"They weren't rats Urameshi, they were bees, really big bees. Are you stupid or something?" Kuwabara asked.
"You would know," insulted Hiei.
Kuwabara turned and made an attempt to give Hiei a furious glare. He failed miserably.
"You trying to start something shrimp?" Kuwabara shouted, switching tactics.
"I don't try."
Hiei turned his back on the idiot and caught up with Kurama, who was leading the group because he had the best sense of direction.
"Ha! Turn tail and run, why don't 'ca. You are frightened of facing the power of the Great Kazuma Kuwabara!" He stopped to strike what he thought to be a heroic pose.
A still fuming Yusuke punched him in the face, sending the unsuspecting Kuwabara face first into the ground. By the time he hauled himself to his feet, the group was across the street.
"Don't worry Yusuke, tomorrow's Monday, you'll see Keiko in school," pacified Kurama.
"She's gonna KILL me!"
"You'll live," Hiei snorted.
"What part of 'kill' do you not understand?" Yusuke shouted.
Kurama stepped between the two, trying to keep the peace within the group instinctively.
"I'm sure if you tell Keiko that children were endangered by the demons, she'll forgive you," he said calmly.
"Eventually," Hiei added.
"Maybe I'll just skip school tomorrow," Yusuke groaned.
Kurama smiled slightly and continued to walk.
-I'll be leaving now fox-
Hiei disappeared abruptly without waiting for Kurama to reply to the telepathically delivered message.
"I'm afraid I must also take my leave and return to my home," Kurama informed Yusuke.
"Why? You're in college you don't have to wake up early. More to the point, you don't have to wake up at all," Yusuke pointed out.
"Yusuke, you know very well that I sit in on Hijikata's lectures during the mornings," Kurama replied.
"Hijikata is a high school teacher. Why do you sit in on his history lessons anyway? If I hadn't met people like Sensui, I'd say he's evil. As it is he's the next best thing."
"Good bye Yusuke."
Kurama turned and walked down the sidewalk that followed a back road into his neighborhood.
"Kurama get back here and answer me!" Yusuke demanded.
The red head didn't pause and Yusuke growled in frustration.
"Urameshi wait for me!" Kuwabara shouted from somewhere in the direction they had come from.
Yusuke took his frustration from the whole night out on Kuwabara.
"Hurry up, you big baka!"
"You trying to start something again Urameshi?"
Yusuke waited until Kuwabara caught up before giving him a black eye. He nodded with satisfaction before leaving Kuwabara behind again.
: Kurama :
Something was going to happen.
The plants were edgy, trying to send out their seedlings in an instinct to continue their species. After calming them with a tap of his powers, Kurama unlocked the door to his small house.
Koenma now paid them since both he and Hiei had finished their community service. It was enough to keep this small house with lots of yard space for his gardens. Fortunately he had a full scholarship for college.
He only took noon classes so he could spend mornings in Hijikata's lecture hall at Sarayashiki High School.
There was something about him. Kurama had already asked Koenma about him but Koenma had just scrambled around to avoid the subject. So Kurama settled with sitting in on his lectures.
The man was interesting, very strict but he made history come alive. He was particularly fond of the Sengoku Jidai.
Kurama had the sneaking suspicion that Hijikata knew exactly what and who he was.
He shut the door and locked it. Hiei sometimes came in at night but he had the key, though he rarely used it.
A mental whimper from one of his indoor plants drew his attention and Kurama stopped his activity for a second so he could sooth the plant.
Something was defiantly coming, Kurama knew it as though he could see the ominous cloud floating above the horizon. He only wished he knew what it was.
: Next Day :
There was fifteen minutes till the first bell rang, when Kurama stepped into Hijikata's lecture hall. The black haired man looked up at him, dark eyes scrutinizing him carefully.
"Welcome Minamino," he said before looking back to the papers on his desk.
"Hello Hijikata," Kurama replied politely.
Trusting that they were finished talking, Kurama took his customary seat in the center of the back row.
Students started filing into the room a few minutes later, taking their seats and pulling out their homework. Five minutes before school officially started and everyone was seated, prepared for class to begin. Kurama chuckled darkly in his mind, he pitied the soul that was late to this class.
The area around him was deserted, it seemed that the students were nervous about him like always for one or more of the various reasons that floated around the school. Two of the most prominent being that he was friendship with the Yusuke Urameshi and the second being Hijikata's friendly attitude towards him.
At the front of the lecture hall Hijikata straightened and turned to face the class.
"Kazahaya and Saiga have already called to inform me that they won't be attending class today. Other than that is everyone else here?" He questioned.
"Sensei, Hojo-kun hasn't arrived yet," a girl in the second row called.
The door burst open and a boy with brown hair and slightly lighter eyes came in. Kurama vaguely recognized him as a popular boy who was cheery and, unfortunately, a ditz. Kurama sat back with a smirk, ready to be entertained at the boy's cost.
"Glad you could make the time to join us boy," Hijikata greeted sharply.
"Sorry to be late Sensei," the boy bowed lowly.
"You'll stay after class so I may have a word with you. Now, take a seat so we can start class, you've wasted enough time."
"Yes Sensei, sorry Sensei."
As the boy scrambled into a seat, Hijikata turned to write on the whiteboard in the front behind his desk. Kurama almost sighed his disappointment, he had been hoping for more than a promise of retribution from Hijikata.
Hijikata turned and took a step away from the board so the class could see what he had written. It read 'Sengoku Jidai, the "Warlord Era" or "Era of the Warring States" 1482-1558'.
"Today's lesson is on the Shikon no Tama, which takes place in the Sengoku Jidai, for the most part."
The class was quiet, prepared to take notes on the lecture. Kurama watched curiously, he hadn't thought Hijikata the type to tell what were believed to be legends. If he wasn't mistaken, Hijikata was observing him for a reaction.
"The story begins before the Sengoku Jidai. A powerful miko called Midoriko was locked in a hopeless battle with several powerful youkai."
"Sensei, what's a miko?" A male voice asked.
Kurama inwardly snorted at the stuidness of the question, even if true mikos were just a legend during this time period, they were part of Japanese heritage. OF course he was a demon and would know what a miko was. Although then they had died out years ago, youkai still told tales of the demons massacred by the purifying priestesses.
"If you wish to know, look it up. Next time do not interrupt me to ask such a foolish question," Hijikata scolded.
"I apologize Sensei."
Hijikata nodded and looked out at his class, ready to resume his tale.
"Midoriko defeated all but the most powerful demon there, the demon was composed of three already strong demons. Her powers were nearly exhausted and her body severely injured. She knew that she would not be able to defeat the demon in her pitiful state, and so with a last burst of power she crystallized her soul and the souls of the youkai. The souls took the shape of a marble like jewel and inside the jewel Midoriko waged battle with the now separated demons. The jewel became known as the Shikon no Tama, the Jewel of Four Souls."
The teacher paused to see if anyone wanted to voice a question or comment. No one spoke so he continued.
"Years later at approximately 1446 a miko named Kikyo nursed a burnt bandit named Onigumo back to health. Onigumo was horribly deformed by the fire but he still fell in love with Kikyo. Kikyo rejected him for she had fallen in love with an inu hanyou named Inu Yasha."
"But doesn't Inu Yasha mean 'female dog demon'?" A girl interrupted.
Hijikata glared at the interrupter before continuing, without answering the question.
"In a fit of jealousy Onigumo offered his body to the demons, thinking that is he could match her in power, Kikyo would love him. A thousand demons joined with Onigumo healing his body to the point that he only had a spider shaped scar on his back. At that point the human bandit Onigumo became the hanyou Naraku. Naraku took both Inu Yasha and Kikyo's forms in turned and attacked them, causing the lovers to believe that they had been betrayed."
"So mush for true love," a voice muttered.
Kurama smirked when the person got a glare from Hijikata. The man really hated to be interrupted.
"Inu Yasha stole the Shikon no Tama but as he escaped into the forest Kikyo pinned him to a tree with a sacred arrow. She was, however, seriously injured from Naraku's attack on her and she died. The village burned her body and the sacred jewel with it as she had requested that she be allowed to take the jewel with her to the next life. Inu Yasha fell into a coma like state, pinned to the Goshinboku. The forest was then renamed Inu Yasha's Forest."
Hijikata paused but the class was silent, completely transfixed by the unfolding tale. A small smile crossed the teacher's face.
"Fifty years later a mysterious miko, that claimed to be from the future, came. She was chased into Inu Yasha's forest by a centipede youkai. The miko released Inu Yasha as she was being crushed to a tree and Inu Yasha slew the centipede."
Kurama closed his eyes for a second. The story was familiar, perhaps from his previous life?
"Inu Yasha and the miko reluctantly teamed up when the miko accidentally shattered the jewel when saving a village child from a youkai. Later on as they traveled Kikyo was revived using part of the miko's soul, she was animated with only a hate for Inu Yasha, who she stilled believed betrayed her, inside a clay body. Kikyo made many attempts on the lives of both the miko and Inu Yasha, who frequently ran off to meet with her because of his love for her. Kikyo eventually joined Naraku as he attempted to gather the jewel shards, the shards could individually increase a youkai's power ten fold but together they could grant any wish imaginable, the wish would be what decided how the battle in the jewel would win. The miko and Inu Yasha also gathered more allies on their journeys, a cursed monk, and a taijiya. The miko also adopted a kitsune kit and was taken in as Inu Yasha's hated half brother's sister."
There was a small murmur of confusion but no one dared to interrupt the story.
"Naraku killed Kikyo and much later was killed by the miko and her group. The jewel was completed and purified by the miko, but tragically Inu Yasha turned on the group killing the monk and taijiya. The miko was forced to slay Inu Yasha and then she, her kit, and the Shikon no Tama disappeared."
There was a moment of silence before the class realized that the story was over.
"That's the end?" A boy demanded incredulously.
"That's the end," Hijikata confirmed.
"It's so sad!" A girl wailed crying on the shoulder of her unlucky neighbor.
Hijikata leaned back on his desk and the turned to him but the teacher ignored them to make eye contact with Kurama.
"Of course this legend is pure nonsense. Even if we believe in mikos and jewels that can grant an unlimited wish, youkai are fictional. Isn't that so, Minamino?" Hijikata questioned.
The man defiantly knew that he was a demon, he was clearly taunting him. Well, two could play at that.
He wasn't the type to turn down what promised to be a good game.
Kurama rested his elbows on his knees and folded his hands as if he was deep in thought. His index finger tapped the right corner as he leaned forward. Each movement was deliberant and carefully calculated.
"Youkai are nothing more than the figment of overworked minds, their place is in legends and realms other than this one. Though one must wonder," Kurama gave a dramatic pause. "Why you include such fables in your curriculum."
Murmurs of speculation went through the class and Kurama smirked at the teacher. Hijikata opened his mouth to reply but the door to the lecture hall slammed open. A small girl with dark hair flew inside.
"He found her!" The boy shouted.
The class was thrown into mass confusion. Hijikata hauled the boy closer to him and they held a whispered conference. Hijikata straightened just as the bell rang.
"Class is dismissed," he announced.
Students and the girl ran out of the lecture hall leaving the hall nearly deserted in no time flat. Kurama moved at a slower pace, sauntering out down the step to the front of the room.
"See you around Minamino," Hijikata said as he reached the door.
"Perhaps."
"Oh Minamino, take care of yourself."
Kurama continued to walk but inwardly speculated about Hijikata's words. Outside of in the school the teacher's words became clear when Kurama heard a buzzing from his pocket. He pulled out a small cell phone, flipped it open, and looked at the screen.
"What is it Koenma?" He asked, clearly resigned.
"Kurama, Botan's coming around to pick you up. Get here fast, it's an EMERGENCY!" Koenma shrieked.
"Yes, sir."
Kurama flipped the phone closed and pocketed it. Hiei emerged from the trees to stand next to the red head as the front doors of the school slammed open to let Yusuke and Kuwabara run out.
"The toddler had good timing for once, we're getting out of school after only one and a half hours," Yusuke crowed.
"Hn."
A girl with blue hair, pink eyes, and a kimono appeared in front of them, floating on an oar.
"Ready boys?" She asked.
"Yeah, let's get outta here Botan," Yusuke answered.
"Alright then, one portal to Prince Koenma's office coming right up!" Botan announced cheerfully.
A black portal appeared before them and they, in turn, stepped through it.
: End Chapter :
: Author's Note :
There is the brief explanation of all of Kagome's adventure and the introduction of the Yu Yu Hakusho gang to this story. I've go to go and finish a report on deforestation that was due on Friday, but I didn't turn in because I stayed home. I love my parents sometimes, but I'm still going to put it off for a little while.
I still don't know what the pairings going to be and I have one request for Hiei/Kagome and one for Kurama/Kagome. I've only read Kagome/Kurama so if anyone knows a good, COMPLETED Hiei/Kagome fic please give me the title. I started reading one but I felt really bad for Kurama so I had to stop reading it.
If there are any Kagome/Kurama fans out there go to and look for a fic called Commitments Made In Blood I really like it!
Happy President's Day!
Akikazu logging off.
(Don't know why I put that, put I like doing it anyway)