(( Dedication )) (( This chapter is dedicated to emma for all her helpful info she recently sent me! Thank a whole bunch!))

. : Muichi Motsu : .

: . By Akikazu . :

. : Chapter Twelve : .

Their walk to the mansion where the center of their next assignment wait was quiet, well quiet for Kurama. Hiei had left sometime along the way, trust the fox to get his papers for him, not that he intended to have to deal with human to begin with. Yusuke and Kuwabara tagged along behind Kurama, talking amongst themselves and barely paying any mind at all to the direction they were walking.

The door was opened by an old gray haired man who, after asking who they were and what they wanted, disappeared inside only to reappear seconds later to open the door. The three boys were led into a parlor and just as the butler turned to leave, a blur passed into he room, immediately attaching itself to the currently defenseless fox.

"KURAMA!"

The force that the kit pounced with nearly sent Kurama sprawling to the ground. As it was the child had made a spectacular entrance.

"Good evening Shippo, I trust that you've been well."

"Yup Kagome momma takes really good care of me, and she almost DIED because she was trying to help me escape but then Sesshomaru-sama came and we kick the snake demon's butt!"

Kurama gave then kit a gentle smile and set him on the floor as everyone else watched in wonder at what could have passed for a father and son.

"And where is Kagome-sama?"

Shippo's face was briefly clouded by guilt but the emotion soon passed as he climbed back up Kurama's body and leaned up to his ear.

"Oka-san put me in bed for a nap but I'm not tired at all! Don't tell Kagome Momma that I'm still up because Momma says that all young children need to take nap even if they're not tired."

The elder kitsune nearly laughed at the younger's statement, for he was sure that his adopted mother had heard Shippo's greeting. It had been extremely loud after all.

"Shippo-chan, shouldn't you be taking your nap?" The butler asked from the doorway.

"KOSUI! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be somewhere that's… that's not here!" Shippo yelped.

The nap-ditching kitsune climbed off of Kurama and turned guiltily to the butler in the corner whom looked at him in barely confused amusement.

"Shippo-chan, your mother will not be happy if she finds out that you aren't taking your afternoon nap."

Shippo stumbled to the Kosui and hugged him around his waist. He turned his large, pleading, light green eyes onto Kosui even as he gave a sleepy yawn.

"I'm sorry Kosui I just wanted to say high to Kurama. Please don't tell Oka-san, I don't want her to be disappointed at me."

Meanwhile Yusuke decided to give Kurama a hard time about the scene they had just seen.

"I never knew you had a son Kurama. Is that Kagome girl his mother?"

Kurama sighed the boy's statement was totally outrageous, he had no idea why anyone would make such an unfound comment.

"Yusuke if Shippo is as old as he appears I wouldn't have even been a teenager when he was born."

"Damn Kurama, if that wasn't an early start I don't know what is."

"What stupid things are you saying now Urameshi?" Kuwabara demanded.

And just as Kurama felt the beginnings of a horrible headache, the door open and in stepped none other than Kagome herself.

: Kagome :

"Hello boys."

All eyes turned to her and Kagome crossed the room and took a seat even as she gestured for them to do the same.

"Shippo come sit with me, Kosui have some rooms cleared out, some guest will be arriving soon. On that note have the dojo prepared too, if memory serves me they love sparring," Kagome then turned her attentions to the Reikai Tantei. "So detectives you are the bodyguards that my Aniki decided I needed, ne?"

"Yes Kagome-sama, I'll see to it right away."

Kosui left the room even as Shippo bounced to her side and the detectives finally took their seats.

"Momma, the one with the red hair is the one that saved me from drowning in the tank of DOOM! His name is Kurama, and he's a fox just like I am!" Shippo announced happily.

Kagome's eyes softened as she gazed upon the boy she considered her child.

"I know who he is Shippo, but what I don't know is why you aren't taking your nap."

Shippo's eyes grew large and he pouted cutely as the Reikai Tantei watched them from their seats.

"But Oka-san I'm not tired," Shippo objected right before letting another yawn escape him.

"Please Shippo."

Shippo gave a long self suffering sigh before hopping off the chair and walking out of the room. But just before he shut the door behind himself, he turned and shook one of his small fingers at Kagome.

"But only this one time, 'k Momma."

Kagome nodded dutifully, a wicked gleam appearing in her eyes as Shippo made to leave.

"Thank you baby boy."

And so Shippo left leaving the group in the room to hear his grumbling as he made his way back to his room. But soon they all turned back to the mater at hand.

"I suppose you want the papers, ne?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah, the toddler said we'd need 'em so we wouldn't have to go to jail if we beat up some normal human or something like that," Yusuke answered.

Kagome was quiet put out by the boy's answer, they all seemed so much more mature last she had met them, but dutifully she stood and gave them their papers not even scolding Lon when he growled at Yusuke.

"What is that thing on your shoulder?" Kuwabara asked, alarmed.

"Oh this is Lon, Aniki gave him to me before I left the Makai. He usually comes with me wherever I go."

"That'd be creepy to have a little fur ball follow you everywhere," Yusuke commented.

"Humph, I don't think he likes you either."

Kurama attempted to calm the fuming Kagome down a bit.

"I'm sure Yusuke didn't mean to be as rude as he sounded Kagome-sama."

All Kurama got for his pains were skeptical looks for nearly everyone in the room, and as it turns out he got that headache after all.

Kosui came into the room after giving the door a nearly silent knock.

"Kagome-sama your guest have-."

"KAGOME-CHAN!"

A cheerful, youthful looking man with purple hair ran into the room and gave Kagome a hug before plopping down onto the couch next to her.

"Souji-kun how have you been? I haven't seen you in… forever!" Kagome laughed.

"I've been perfectly fine Kagome-chan. I knew you would come back to us and when I heard Sesshomaru-sama sent you to the Ningenkai I knew I must visit you. I even brought-," Souji was then cut off as a darker man entered the room.

"Welcome back Kagome-sama."

"Hijikata-san!"

Kagome stood to give the stern man a quick hug before leading him to the sofa to once again sit.

"Minamino, I knew you'd end up here."

Kagome frowned in confusion as she looked at Kurama then back at Hijikata, while Yusuke and Kuwabara, who had hardly opened his mouth at all, stared on in confusion. They had both seen Hijikata once or twice around the campus. Souji however was not fazed at all and gave Kurama a sunny smile.

"So you're Shuichi Minamino. Hijikata thinks very highly of you, though he would never tell you so. He's always saying 'mind my words, that boy will help bring her back to us', and such. I pleased to finally meet you, my name is Souji Okita by the way, just call me Souji. I work for My Lord Sesshomaru, so you'll be seeing me around more often that not."

"Then please call me Kurama, and this is Yusuke and Kuwabara. Both they and another two will be working to keep Kagome-sama safe for the duration of her stay in the Ningenkai."

Kagome huffed in annoyance as soon as he finished speaking, she clearly didn't agree with them being assigned to protect her.

"Oh come now Kagome-chan, you know that you attract trouble in all situations," Souji cajoled.

"He's right Kagome-sama this is the best thing next to Sesshomaru-sama being here. You know how it is because you have 'it'," Hijikata added.

"Fine, but I want it recorded that I did this only under protest, and only because I don't want my Shippo-chan hurt," Kagome huffed, resigned.

"Speaking of, where is Shippo-chan?" Souji asked.

Kagome sent the man a glare that had Kuwabara shuddering.

"He's napping Souji-kun and if you disturb him…" She let her voice trail off, but then continued. "I will show you to your rooms now, you," she looked briefly at the Spirit Detectives, "can follow Kosui out."

And Kagome left the room sweeping Souji along with her and letting Hijikata trail after them as they chatted away.

: . End Chapter . :

. : Author's Note : .

At first I hated this chapter, and it's still not my favorite, but I'm glad this is out of the way.

I might be focusing on Inazuma so I can finish it before school starts next month, but then again I may not. I don't really know what I'm going to do.

The official pairing of this story is going to be Kurama and Kagome.

I'm sorry all you Hiei-Kagome fans, but this is just how it's going to happen.

Bye peoples.

: . Review Responses . :

Peeka-chan – I am, at the moment, super awake, I slept twelve hour last night.

PastelStar – I'm feeling much better now that I've rest up a bit, thanks for the concern.

Anonymous – It seems like a unanimous feeling. Lol

Emma – Yay, you'll be happy 'cause Kurama won! A 'worthyness' scene with Kurama and Sess would be fun wouldn't it… Yup the info helped in fact this chapter for what it's worth is dedicated to you!

SunStar Kitsune – Well your prediction has come to pass, but he's still so cute…

LKLTB – In the chamber of trials Kurama has prevail and has sweeped the audience's favor in his quest for the Lady Kagome's hand. And to put it in English, Kurama wins!

Swifterthanarollingapplejuices – Those rolling apple juices are just so persistent.

shadow miko – I'm so sorry, I have failed you…

. : Thanks To : .

Kc