. : Muichimotsu : .
: . By Akikazu . :
. : Chapter Twenty Three : .
"You're worried about her aren't you?"
Kagome could see Itsuki flinch at the question but he made no other reaction. Hijikata, Souji, and Kosui all had to leave briefly for various reasons and Yusuke was out of hearing range, so no one but Itsuki heard her.
"I don't know Keiko but I do know you Itsuki, to an extent at least, and I've never seen you like this," Kagome pressed on. "Come on Itsuki, we're on the same side this time."
"Temporarily at least," he added.
She shrugged, "if that's what you want to think."
He broke down, at least somewhat. For a second his indifferent mask faltered and Kagome saw a hint of raw fear burning in his eyes. The shield was back up in second's time but he still spoke and Kagome found traces of fear in his voice. It was paired with anger.
"I am worried. She's not as tough as people think and she's been broken down by Sensui and my actions. We're the only two who've seen her like that and I don't know if she could survive as a youkai's slave," he spat the last word.
"Will you two be quiet!" Yusuke grumbled, half asleep.
Kagome inched away from the disgruntled boy and sent Itsuki a half hearted smile, trying to hide her irrational fear of the spirit detective. Logically she knew that there wasn't anything to fear from him, but in her mind he was connected to Inu Yasha in a way that couldn't be altered.
"Don't worry, Itsuki. If your friend could handle Yusuke in any manner she can handle a youkai till we get her back," she whispered.
Yusuke's voice broke through to them for the second time within the time since Kurama had left. Apparently the monster had awakened.
"Aren't you two supposed to be enemies, or something?" He demanded.
Itsuki tossed his hair back and looked at the fuming detective with a smirk.
"Kagome and I have come to an alliance truce of sorts, a temporary truce if you will," he stated.
"Oh yeah?" Yusuke questioned.
"Indeed, it seems we are united in our dislike of you."
With that Itsuki turned his back on Yusuke and proceed to make small talk with Kagome. Kagome held back a giggle but kept up her part in the act. They could practically hear Yusuke fuming from his position on the bed.
"Why you little-"
Yusuke huffed and leaned back against the wall, stewing in his barely contained fury. The door then slammed open and Hiei barged into the room. He barely gave the rest of the room a look before moving in front of Yusuke.
"Out," he ordered.
Yusuke didn't protest but instead actually followed the command. Hiei spared Kagome a glance before leaving and nodded to her in acknowledgment.
"Dojo," she mouthed.
And with a nod he was gone.
Kagome bit her lip and glanced at Itsuki for a long, considering moment. Apparently he knew what she was thinking.
"I wouldn't so it. Chances are the Jaganishi won't kill Yusuke," he said flippantly. "You don't like him anyways, so what's the problem?"
She frowned, "I don't know exactly."
"Women," Itsuki rolled his eyes.
Kagome giggled at the unexpected action and gave Itsuki a playful shove. Her face flashed serious for o moment.
"It's just a feeling I suppose. It's like how I feel comfortable with you I suppose. We should probably hate each other but in reality we're friend," seeing the look on his face she amend her choice of words, "or rather short term comrades. I can sense the Inu Yasha in Yusuke and it scares me away from him at the same time it makes me worry for him. It's like I see something in Yusuke that previously drew me to Inu Yasha." She shot him a look. "Does that make any sense?"
"I a way I suppose. Kagome, remember that Yusuke isn't Inu Yasha. They may be related, but that's a very distant connection."
"I know… How do you know about Inu Yasha anyways, Itsuki? I never had the chance to ask you before."
"We were there to grab you when you returned to this era, Kagome. Shinobu always does his homework," Itsuki said smugly.
"I see." She sighed dramatically. "My secrets aren't safe anywhere are they?"
"Nope."
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
It was not his day or week for that matter. First he get possessed, then a girl he kisses runs off, then a girl that is scared of him for some reason teams up with a man he hated. Plus he couldn't do anything about that because number one the girl was under the protection of his friend, two he was suppose to protect her for both Kurama and Koenma, and three under the order of Koenma he had to protect Itsuki.
Someone up there was laughing at him.
Yusuke only wished he could find him and kick his Prince of Reikai butt.
At least he was going to get to burn off his anger in this fight with Hiei, though he knew the fight wasn't something to be so excited about. Yusuke directed himself to the area he felt Hiei's aura coming from.
At least he knew that Hiei wouldn't kill him.
He recalled the look that came over Hiei whenever Kuwabara made moves on Yukina and rethought his position.
Hopefully Hiei wouldn't kill him.
Logically, Yusuke knew that the match would be close, as they almost matched in power. But emotions had a way of boosting a person's power. Yes, Yusuke was mad but he didn't think he was anywhere near the range of Hiei's pissed off level. Plus Yusuke ha never fought Hiei while he was angry, he had very rarely seen Hiei fight when he was mad at all. But he could not recall a moment where Hiei had been angered to the extreme and it made him uncomfortable.
Hiei was like a time bomb.
Finally Yusuke arrived in the large room in which Hiei was waiting. The room's walls were decorated with various weapons. The forth wall of the room was clear of decoration save several weapons. Yusuke admitted to want a closer look at them for some strange reason, however the correct time wasn't the present for he had a pissed off older brother to deal with.
Weapon ogling would have to be put on the back burner.
Keeping that thought in mind, Yusuke walked over to the middle of the room, where Hiei was waiting. He stopped several feet in front of him and waited for his long time teammate to speak.
"You are aware of your transgressions?" There was no affliction of emotion to be found in Hiei's voice.
"I am," Yusuke's answer was confident, belaying the nervousness that was eating at his stomach.
Hiei gave him a piercing look and Yusuke could see the Jagan move beneath its cover. Yusuke could feel the not-so-familiar crawling feeling in his mind. He knew that Hiei had done it purposely, he would not be able to feel the Jaganishi as he probed otherwise.
The demon then announced, "I've decided not to kill you."
And he was gone, disappearing into a smug of black that smeared across his vision. Yusuke ran to the right, dodging just in time, a second later and he would be minus one limb. The fact that he had seen Hiei move disturbed Yusuke. Hiei was faster than that, and that meant he was toying with him. Knowing that the youkai was playing with him wasn't the most pleasant feeling in the world.
Yusuke's knee buckled when Hiei jammed the hilt of his sword into the back of it. The teenager managed to catch himself and flip forward before Hiei could follow up on the attack. However he didn't escape without a neat slice on his shoulder.
"Not in the best of shape are we?" Hiei taunted.
Normally Yusuke would shout an insult back at his opponent but currently he was attempting to find a battle plan that would prove effective against the Jaganishi. Since most of his ideas involved charging in a kicking butt they were no good. He knew that this was the reason that they had Kurama in their group. The fox was the brains after all. Still Kurama wasn't here and he probably wouldn't help if he was and that left Yusuke alone in a battle with no plan of action. Of course he had been able to, single handedly, pull a victory off of Hiei before and so he might just be able to do it again.
Thinking of his first battle with Hiei brought Yusuke's attention to the mirrors that periodically lined the walls. It was a long shot as Hiei didn't seem the time to fall for the same trick twice but Yusuke knew that he had to at least try.
He waited till Hiei attacked him again and positioned them in a way that the attack would hit, provided that Hiei fell for the move again. Quickly, Yusuke took aim and fired off his Rei Gun. The demonic energy blasted through the air and Hiei dodged as it came towards him as suspected. It ball of demonic energy then continued on till it rebounded off a mirror on the opposite wall and jettisoned back to the fighters. The whole process took a total of five seconds in which Hiei took to inflict a semi deep gash into Yusuke left shoulder. Then Hiei stepped out the "bullet's" way and let it smash into the wall near Yusuke's head.
"Did you think that was going to work?" Hiei asked, sarcasm rolling off his tongue without any care.
"I was hoping," Yusuke bit back.
A nicely timed rolling dodge save him from meeting the sharp end of Hiei's sword for a second time that day.
It was at this time that Yusuke decided to use one of his older tactics. Yusuke charged in, head first and delivered a solid Shotgun to Hiei's stomach. The youkai stumbled back a step and coughed up a bit of blood but was otherwise unaffected. Yusuke moved to follow up quickly but Hiei was no longer where he had been standing just second before.
"Getting slow in your old age?"
Hiei's voice came from behind him and the sharp tingle that sprang diagonally across his back proved his position. Yusuke could hear his own blood drip slowly to the ground. The wound on his back was minor and was already healing.
Without a hint of his intentions Yusuke slammed his left fist threw the air in a hook, charging the fist with demonic energy. The Shotgun surprised Hiei and caught on his cheek. Hiei jumped away but Yusuke could already tell that a bruise would form on the Jaganiahi's face, the darkening of the skin was proof enough of that.
"I think you're the one who's getting slow, Hiei."
The smart comment and a single step forward nearly cost him his right leg. As it was Hiei caused it enough damage that Yusuke would be seriously hindered until it was healed. Yusuke went down and shot another Rei Gun in attempt to even the score. The blast hit Hiei's thigh, tearing a rip into the fabric of his clothing and sizzling as it came into contact with his skin.
A second later the sharp blade of Hiei's sword was pressed to Yusuke's neck. Meanwhile Yusuke held his finger out, his last amount of power settling on the tip of his finger, waiting to be shot off at a second's notice.
"What are you two doing!"
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
"Hey, girl, wake up."
Keiko was awoken rudely by someone's persistent shakes. Before she could recall her situation she smacked whoever was shaking her. Startled gasps brought reality crashing down. She peeked an eye open and found the youkai that had bought her sitting besides her. He was supporting a red cheek and a surprised expression. Keiko knew that she might very well be dead meat.
Strangely enough the youkai sat back and began to laugh. The sound was whole hearted and completely unexpected. The booming noise caused the spectators around them to titter nervously. Keiko sat up slowly, staring at the strange demon that was caught up in his laughter.
Finally the noise stopped and the youkai sparkling, gleeful blue eyes turned to look at her. He was still smiling, his curved lip exposing a gleaming fang. The look on his face only added to Keiko's nervousness.
"I purchased you on a whim, but now I know the reason behind my fancy," he stood but continued his talking. "You remind me of a woman I love, a very long time ago."
Keiko noticed the wolves that were scattered in the crowd surrounding them. This brought her to the conclusion that the youkai that had brought her was a wolf youkai.
"She kind of reminds me of Sister Kagome," one of the males in the crowd said.
The blue eyed demon turned away from her and faced the crowd. He took the time to sweep his eye over the crowd and note their expressions. Most were focused on him while others were focused on Keiko. He noted that one of his followers looked at the human girl with hungry eyes.
"Ginta, fetch some clothes for our guest. Hakkaku, when Ginta returns you shall both escort her to the hot spring, if she is anything like Kagome she'll want to be clean."
"Yes Koga-sama," two male youkai chimed.
The demon whose name must be Koga turned his blue eyes on her. Keiko wondered what had happened to the Kagome whom they kept talking about. She felt as if she owed the woman her life, it looked like she wouldn't be eaten or something horrible like that because of the woman.
"What's your name?" Koga questioned.
"Yukimura Keiko."
"Alright then, Keiko, I'm Koga, Prince of Wolves."
A youkai stepped forward out of the dispersing crowd. Koga turned towards him and frowned. Keiko caught the hungry look in his eyes and shifted uncomfortably. She had the distinct feeling that the youkai would rather devour her than talk to her.
"Excuse me Koga-oji (prince Koga). Are you not going to eat, or at least slay the ningen (human) for her audacity?" He asked.
Koga scowled at the demon. This particular wolf youkai was a new addition to his clan. He had begged to be allowed to stay, saying that his own tribe had unjustly banished him. Koga was starting to see the cruelty that his name implied and knew that soon something would have to be done about him.
"Mugoi (means cruel/inhumane) you have not been here long but this tribe does not eat humans. We haven't for five hundred years." Koga turned to look at a demon standing near the cave entrance. "Is Ayame due for a visit soon?"
"Normally Ayame-ojo (Princess Ayame) would be visiting today as schedule but she has sent word that she's to be in the Ningenkai for the rest of the week, or so," the youkai reported.
"Good, she'll be out of our hair for a while," Koga said smugly.
Koga reached a hand down to her and Keiko took it, letting the demon pull her up as Ginta came back into the room, his arms partly full of clothing. Another wolf demon stepped out to stand next to him near the cave entrance.
"Go on, Keiko you can clean up, Ginta and Hakkaku will take care of you." Koga said.
Keiko stepped out of the furs that had made her bed and made her way to the two okami (wolf) youkai, the crowd of demons and wolves parted as she walk, clearing the space in a yard's radius around her. Keiko could feel Koga watching her, his eyes burning into her back.
They two demons smiled at her when she reached them. Ginta, the one with the clothes, lead the way and Hakkaku brought up the rear, sandwiching Keiko between them as they made their way out of the cave in a leisurely pace.
They had walked past the waterfall that id the cave and into the forest when Keiko broke down and asked the question that was burning in her mind.
"Why are you all treating me so kindly?"
Ginta snuck a glance at her over his shoulder before looking past her and to Hakkaku. They were so quiet that Keiko thought that they weren't going to answer her. But finally Hakkaku spoke, his voice was quiet as if he feared speaking on the subject.
"You remind Koga of a woman that he loved. Her memory still haunts him after five hundred years."
"What happened to her?" Keiko could help herself, the question was out before she had anytime to stop it.
This time Ginta answered her question.
"She disappeared. One day Koga caught the sent of Kagome and took off like usual, but this time there was so much blood. We found the rest of her pack's bodies, we figured that Inu Yasha killed them all and Sister Kagome killed the mutt herself. We could smell her blood but we couldn't find her, we didn't find her kit either." Ginta sighed, "at that time we hoped that she was still alive, but there's really no point now, it's been five hundred years and Sister Kagome was only human. If we're lucky we'll find her kit and he can tell us what happened."
"How sad," Keiko whispered.
The trio was silent till they reached a hot spring. The water was so hot that Keiko could see the steam rolling off the water and couldn't hold back a happy sigh. Ginta set down the stuff he was holding on a boulder at the water's edge and backed away into the forest.
"We'll let you bathe in private but we'll be near enough to hear you if you need anything," Hakkaku said before backing away.
Keiko waited till the wolf demon's back faded from her vision before stripping and sliding into the steamy water. Another happy sigh escaped her as she took a second to bask in the warm water. After that moment she probed through the bundle that Ginta had left and found some bathing supplies in addition to clothing and what she thought to be a towel of sorts.
Finally she could be clean again.
Unnoticed by Keiko and her bodyguards Koga stood well within hearing range of the bathing woman, a smile on his lips as he remember the many times he had heard a similar sound come from the lips of his beloved.
"How you remind me," he whispered.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
Sesshomaru looked up from the book he was flipping through and set it aside. He was attempting to find a way to send his half sibling's spirit to where it belonged; the deep, darkest, most torturous dungeon in hell. However, despite his larger than life library, he was having absolutely zero luck.
What he ought to do was go threat Koenma to see how Inu Yasha had escaped in the first place, the visit would certainly put him to rights. Still the ancient baby would be there for a long time to come and Inu Yasha was something that had to be dealt with as soon as possible.
The scent from beyond his study doors disturbed his though process and he straightened himself in preparation for his visitor.
"You can come in Higurashi-san."
The doors opened slightly and the kind face of Kagome's mother peered into the large room. Her soft brown eyes landed on the imposing figure seat behind the heavy wooden desk and a small smile spread across her face.
"Dinner is being served Sesshomaru, are you going to join us this afternoon? We've hardly seen you at all though we've been staying under your roof for so long." She asked politely.
"I do not eat human food, Higurashi-san and, while I would have preferred to take the time to sit with you during your meal and make sure the household is running smoothly, I have an incident to deal with presently and must remain focused on the dilemma."
She opened the doors wider and came into the room, taking small unhurried steps till she stood several feet in front of Sesshomaru's desk. She clasped her hands together in front of her and looked directly at him in a way that Kagome had done many times before. Her eyes sought information from his shaded eyes.
"Something's happen to Kagome," she announced.
The abilities of the Higurashi women never failed to surprise him, especially this particular, disquieting skill. Perhaps he could get one of them to act as his interrogator for the small but frequent periods in which he was unavailable.
"Yes."
There really wasn't any point in denying what they both knew. Plus lying was beneath him. At least in it was in most circumstances.
"What happened? Is she alright?"
"You need not concern yourself, Higurashi-san. You know that I will take care of the matter," Sesshomaru knew that Kagome wouldn't wasn't her family involved in this matter, especially since they had held a soft spot for the traitorous hanyou.
The woman straightened and sent a frown in his direction, "it involves my baby and that makes it my business. In fact it's a family matter, but I don't want to worry the others."
The threat was clear, if Sesshomaru didn't spill the woman would tell Kagome's brother and grandfather. No doubt the three would make it their prerogative to bug him till he told.
"Very well, but if I tell you the words must go no farther than us. In addition you will remain here unless I am able to find a suitable escort for your family."
"I accept, now tell what trouble my daughter has gotten herself into now."
Sesshomaru sat back, he really disliked not getting his way but the woman was determined to say the least.
"Inu Yasha has attacked Kagome from beyond the grave, using his descendent as a medium," the explanation was as sort and concise as he could make it.
However Kagome's mom had some questions.
"Inu Yasha? Why?" Her voice was broken from surprise and sad disappointment.
"Kagome hasn't told you about what happen before she left then?"
"No, she didn't want to talk about it when we saw her."
He could feel the stirrings of a headache, now he had even more to explain. Sesshomaru had though that Kagome had at least explained Inu Yasha's betrayal to her family. Obviously Kagome wasn't ready to talk about the incident to anyone.
"The half breed killed the Kagome's friends and set off to kill Kagome and Shippo next. Kagome was forced to kill him before returning to the present."
Her words were choked, "I never thought Inu Yasha would…"
"Neither did Kagome but he seems to be determined to kill her, though he is already dead. To that point he possessed Yusuke, Inu Yasha's descendent through a demonness he raped after Kagome released him from Goshinboku (God Tree), and attacked Kagome. Yusuke was able to force Inu Yasha out of his body but he still exists out in the Ningenkai and I am looking for a way to be rid of him once and for all," Sesshomaru summarized.
"Is Kagome safe?"
"I left Kagome in the hands of several trustworthy persons." He shot a look at the woman in front of him from behind his lowered lashes. "I assume you'll be happy to note that one of the persons guarding her have more than a passing interest in her."
The woman grinned widely, "will I have a son-in-law soon?" She questioned hopefully. Then she added, "and maybe more grandbabies?"
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Sesshomaru muttered.
"Oh hush, if you didn't like him you would have brought Kagome back with you instead of leaving her with him." She sighed, "I can't wait to meet this young man."
The woman left the room with a dreamy expression, mumbling to herself and Sesshomaru could help but give himself a mental pat on the back for finding such a successful way to distract the indomitable woman. He had brought Shippo back with him in attempt to distract her but it seemed the kit's inexhaustible energy supply was finally running low and the kit was now much more subdued and while he napped he had finally been cornered by Kagome's mother.
Sesshomaru sighed and melted further back into his chair. With the distraction gone it was back to the books.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
After Itsuki's appearance Kuwabara left the mansion. And so it came to pass that the boy wandered the street without direction.
He wanted to believe that Yusuke had forced the kiss on Yukina but he knew that Yusuke wouldn't sink so low and looking back he knew that Yukina had never responded to his attentions.
It tore him apart that the girl that he adored so much preferred his best friend and arch nemesis over him. But he had seen the way the fire sparked between them and now that Keiko had thrown over Yusuke there was no chance for him. If this is what they desired, and from what he could tell it would eventually be desired though Yukina had run, he would not stand between them.
Still he wasn't ready to face them yet and so he couldn't go home for that was where he knew Yukina would run.
Kuwabara's wanderings eventually brought him to the park. It wasn't as pretty as it had been when the cherry blossoms had been present but the park was still a beautiful place with its tamed yet natural surroundings.
He saw a crowd gathering around a tree and began to walk past it. However Kuwabara was stopped when his sixth sense kicked in telling him that a youkai was somewhere in the midst of the group.
His first thought was to call Koenma and get the team brought here, but he paused when he though of seeing Yusuke already. He relaxed and headed into the group, it was only one youkai right, he had beaten single youkai up on his own and he really didn't need much backup. Plus if he brought the demon in single handedly then he upped on the food chain right?
In the middle of the group a girl was sniffling into a pink handkerchief. Everyone in the mass of humans was looking up into the tree and sensing the direction of demon energy he Kuwabara also looked up.
The demon was a girl, a pretty girl with auburn hair and green eyes, they looked very different to Kurama's though the coloring was a near match. She was crawling out on a limb to reach a small white kitten that was clinging to the wood tenaciously.
"Come on kitty, let's get down and off of this tree," the girl muttered.
The kitten blinked its wide eyes and came forward two steps before sitting and beginning the process of cleaning itself. The youkai girl wiggled her fingers in a movement that no cat could resist and the kitten returned its attention to her.
"Snowball's going to die!" The crying girl on the ground wailed.
Kuwabara nearly snapped at the girl to shut up when the kitten jumped slightly in surprise. Instead he moved himself beneath the kitten so that if it did fall he could catch it. The demon girl spotted him and stared at him for a moment before winking. She balance one of her arms in front of her before quickly leaning forward and snatching the kitten in her arm.
The kitten didn't appreciate the sudden movement and bit and clawed its rescuer. The unexpected pain caused the demon girl to lose her balance and sent her tumbling off the branch. Kuwabara only had to take a step forward and moments later caught a ruffled demon girl in his arms.
The girl with the handkerchief to whom the kitten obviously belonged rushed forward to relieve the demon girl of the kitten.
"Snowball, don't you ever do that again! If this lady hadn't come by you would have fallen!" The distressed owner scolded. Then she turned to the demon girl who Kuwabara was just setting down, "thank you so much for saving Snowball!"
"Next time don't let her climb up a damn tree," the demon girl snapped.
Kuwabara couldn't help but agree with the demonness, if the owner had been looking after the kitten properly then the kitten wouldn't have been in trouble in the first place.
"It wasn't my fault, I only took my eyes off her for a second," the girl protested.
"It takes more than a damn second to get chased around the park by dogs and have to climb a tree to escape."
The owner huffed and turned away. The demon girl obviously didn't like that and kick the girl in her skirt garbed butt, sending the human tumbling to the ground. Kuwabara saw the look in both girls' eyes and dragged the demon girl away before the tiff turned into a full blown cat fight. When they were far enough away Kuwabara turned to question his captive.
"What are you doing in Ningenkai, youkai?"
"I don't have to answer to you ningen, but for your information I have permission from Yama-sama himself to be here. If you can tell I'm youkai and don't know who I am you must work for that idiot Koenma," the girl huffed. "From your information I'm Ayame, Princess of Wolves."
"Ah, I'm sorry, Ayame… um… -ojo (princess)?"
"Humph, Ayame's fine. Now, who are you?" She demanded.
"I am Kuwabara Kazuma, you can call me Kuwabara."
"Very well then. Good bye, Kuwabara, I have the feeling we'll meet again."
And she disappeared, leaving Kuwabara will a handful of air.
"Wow, she was pretty."
Maybe there was hope for him yet.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
Kurama slid out of the passenger seat of the car, eyeing the house owned by the Kuwabara family. The family brought in a fairly big paycheck and so the house was anything but run down. The house was staged in a nicer part of the city than Yusuke's, gangs and thugs not being as dominant here, but was close enough for Kuwabara to maintain a close relationship with Yusuke. Kurama lived on the richer side of the city, close to his mother, having a horde of wealth hidden away to pay for anything he should need for his temporary stay in Ningenkai, while his mother was married to a successful businessman. Hiei roamed the night, though Kurama suspected that when he did rest he spent the time near Genkai's shrine or in the Makai.
Shizuru was not waiting outside for him but the house lights were on so Kurama walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. He knew that Shizuru would sense his presence but it was only polite.
It took a minute but a slightly distressed Shizuru eventually opened the door. The woman was normally as calm and composed as Kurama and seeing even the slight distress on her features was a surprise.
"Yukina won't come out," she said. "And I haven't been able to tell her anything about your call."
"I see," Kurama took a step into the house. "Will you lead me to her room? I will speak to her."
A brow lifted, "sure, fox boy."
Shizuru shut the front door and lead Kurama down the hallway and to a room in the back of the house. Yukina had chosen the only downstairs bedroom as hers instead of the open one upstairs. The ice maiden was frequently up before anyone else and made breakfast so being downstairs was more comfortable for her. As they approached Yukina's room Kurama could hear the muffled noises coming from behind the locked door. He looked back at Shizuru.
"You are packed?" He asked.
"Yeah."
"Go bring your stuff out to the car and wait there, we will not be long."
Kurama waited till Shizuru left the vicinity before moving close to the door and kneeling before it. He eyed the doorknob and identified the lock as being one of the standard house door locks. In his hand a slight blade of grass hardened and her inserted the tip into the hole in the doorknob. A second later there was a slight 'snick' noise and Kurama stood. The door opened under an easy twist of the wrist.
The room was dark and as light from the hallway surged in Yukina looked up from the pillow she had buried her face in. Her eyes were dry but she looked miserable in her position leaning against the wall and sitting on her futon.
"Hello Yukina," he greeted taking a step into the room.
"Hello Kurama. What brings you to my room?" Yukina asked from her futon, as miserable as she was feeling she wasn't about to be rude.
"I've come to bring you to the manor. Shizuru was to tell you but it seems as if your door has locked her out."
"I would prefer to stay here," Yukina said softly.
"I'm sure you would, however the attack on Genkai's Shrine was directed at you and so you must be placed under protection. The Reikai Tantei is currently working on another case protecting a youkai lord's sister and her home was attacked also so we have to be around her. The demon lord offered to let us stay in his home and since it's big enough to house us all we've all decided to remain there."
"Could I stay at Genkai's instead?" Yukina asked hopefully.
"Normally we would have opted for that but during the raid on the manor Botan was killed and that left us without a healer. I'm afraid that there are injuries already," Kurama let the last sentence hang in the air and could feel victory drawing near. And to complete his trap her added, "we could really use your help."
Yukina couldn't refuse anyone help, especially when there was an injury involved. Still the drive to avoid both Yusuke and Kuwabara was strong. Worst of all she had the horrible feeling that her fertile period was going to begin soon and she didn't know if she would be able to stay away from Yusuke during that stretch of time. She was attracted to the young man, there could be no doubt about it. His being with Keiko had prevented her from getting closer to him in the past but now Keiko was gone and Yusuke was showing signs of being attracted to her as well. There was only her, Yusuke, and the passion that had raged between them.
"Yukina, will you come? You don't have to see Yusuke and you can stay with Shizuru," Kurama said. Then he asked, "is something else bothering you?"
"I'm scared," Yukina admitted. "I can feel my body preparing to enter its fertile stage and I do not wish to suffer the fate of my mother, nor do I wish my child to suffer the fate that my nii-san has. I was thinking of returning to the Glacier Country till I've had my child."
Kurama was slightly surprised, he had not expected this problem to occur for several years. For Yukina to be approaching her fertile cycle, meant that she was nearing the age of one hundred. Hiei was a lot older than he let on. It also occurred to Kurama that the koorime (ice maiden) had not yet learned that although the council remained in tact, most of the Glacier country had been destroyed along with most of the inhabitants of the plane being killed. Yukina had left shortly before the attack and had yet to return.
"Yukina, the Glacier Country was nearly destroyed several years ago. If you go back you will be in even more danger than you are in here. I know why you desire to remain away from the male persuasion at the moment but I'm afraid all we can do is keep you separate from any males till after you birth your child. If anything it gives us even more reason to keep you close by."
Yukina was shocked to hear about the attack on her homeland but knew that it was entirely possible that it had happened without her hearing about it for she had had no word from her birth place since the day she had left.
"Can I please stay with Genkai?" She was begging but she didn't care.
"I'm sorry Yukina. I know this is hard for you because you've seen first hand the damage what happens when koorime consort with males during their fertile period. You're going to have to make a choice if you really want to live that lifestyle, Yukina because you actually have a chance to break away from the Hime clan. Our team will protect you if the elders do try to persecute you but you're far enough that they may never learn about what's happened to you."
Yukina was quiet and Kurama didn't press her any farther, he knew that Yukina was facing a tough decision regarding her future but knew without a doubt Yukina would chose the path that would end up being the best for her and everyone around her. She touched his arm to get his attention and Kurama looked down at the red eyed maiden.
"I'll go, but may I make a request?" She asked hesitantly.
"Of course, if it is within my power I will grant your request. I regard you as being as close to me as any member of my family."
Yukina blushed, pleased by his admission and gave his arm an affectionate squeeze, letting him know without words that she returned the feeling. Although she couldn't find her brother, her only living family, she had found a place with the detectives that had rescued her from Tarukane.
"I would appreciate it if you would, with the exception of the injured, keep all males save you and Hiei, if he would like to visit, away. Until I am sure of my decision I don't want anyone to attempt to sway my decision," she said, her voice firm.
"I will do my best."
Yukina smiled, "alright then, let's go. I just have to grab some clothes and supplies and we can be off."
"I'll wait outside of your room."
Half an hour later the group was entering the manor. Kosui had dropped them off in front and had driven away to park the car. Kurama lead the two women inside the manor, allowing them the time to gaze at the ancient Japanese architecture in appreciation, it was a fabulous piece of work after all.
In the entry room, Kurama caught the scent of blood and halted the procession immediately. The blood smelt of Yusuke and Kurama knew that it was probably just Hiei fighting with the detective, but he decided to check on them in case Hiei got carried away.
"We need to make a quick detour, it seems that more injuries have been inflicted in my absence," Kurama announced.
"Lead the way, pretty boy," Shizuru said, Yukina nodded her agreement.
Kurama settled Yukina's bag into a more comfortable position on his back before starting down a hallway to the right, following the slight sent of blood in the air. He had insisted on carrying Yukina's bag as it was slightly heavier than expected but Shizuru had demanded that she be allowed to carry her own bag, Kurama had relented not really wanting to get into an argument with Kuwabara's unwavering sister.
They came to a set of closed sliding doors, it was from behind them where the smell originated and from behind them came a thump. Kurama slid the doors open and surveyed the scene, his body positioned so the women with him could also see into the room.
Hiei was standing above the fallen Yusuke, his sword at the young man's throat. Yusuke was down but by no means out as the telltale glow sat on the tip of his index finger, said finger directed towards Hiei's midsection. At such close range the Rei Gun would without a doubt hit and could take Hiei's stomach with it if it did not just blast Hiei back. It seemed as if the two were at a stalemate.
"What are you two doing!" Yukina cried.
Both males looked up at the voice at saw Yukina rushing towards them. Kurama made no attempt to stop either of them as she made her way to the two fighting males. Hiei was unwilling to continue the fight with Yukina present and sheathed his sword and stepped away from Yusuke. Yusuke, didn't wish to continue the fight and reabsorbed the demonic energy at his finger tip. With that done he sat up and winced as the movement tugged at his wounded shoulder.
Yukina saw the look and knelt at his side. She looked at the wound carefully before moving on to his other injuries. Kurama sat her bag next to her as she began to treat the young man and went to stand by Hiei, Shizuru stood near Yukina and kept an eye on Yusuke.
"Are you satisfied?" Kurama asked the demon standing beside him.
"No," Hiei bit out as he watched his precious imoto (younger sister) tend to the person he had recently set out to harm.
"You may cheer up when I tell you the request Yukina has asked of us."
"If you have something to say, speak," Hiei snapped.
"It seems that Yukina wants us to keep all males, save the two of us and the injured, away from her. Apparently she has sensed that her fertile period is drawing near and she has made it clear to me that she would prefer to be left at Genkai's or even the Glacier Country," Kurama summarized.
Hiei let a smug smile slip onto his face, "fine, after this we take her to the yaminade (a demon that can move freely through dimensions, the type of demon that Itsuki is) and then we can settle her in a room."
"And from there you will viciously guard the room," Kurama finished lightly.
"Perhaps," Hiei grunted.
"You went easy on him," Kurama commented surveying the battle ground which was missing any scorch marks that would have been inflicted had Hiei been fighting his hardest. "You didn't use any Jaou Ensatsu Ken (a fighting style that Hiei converts demonic energy into flames that burn on the tip of his sword)."
"I decided to allow the detective his life."
"How very generous of you."
"Hn."
Not far from the pair of watching demons Yukina hovered over the wound on Yusuke's thigh, it being the most serious. Her palms framed the wound at its sides and she concentrated on the wound. Under her touch the wound closed slightly, though she wanted to Yukina knew that she could not heal it through abnormal means any further as Kurama had mentioned that there were other injuries. She sat back and began to wrap the wound with bandages from her pack. It would be painful but the wound would heal fast.
"Yukina it seems Hiei also needs a bit of bandaging," Shizuru said from behind her.
The koorime looked at the taller woman thankfully and stood. She picked up a roll of bandages and walked over to where Hiei and Kurama were talking quietly. Shizuru stayed close to her and she was grateful that she would have the woman's company in this unfamiliar place.
"Hiei-san you are injured too?" She questioned softly.
"I don't-" Hiei began.
Kurama interrupted, "his thigh and you may want to check for internal bleeding. The bruise on his cheek needs no look at, it'll heal in a few hours."
Yukina smiled at him and began her work on her brother, though the relationship was unknown to her. Hiei glared at his friend at his little sister began to treat the burn on his thigh. Kurama merely smile, knowing that the Jaganishi enjoyed have his sister pamper him.
"There, all done Hiei-san," Yukina chimed.
She stood and looked at Kurama.
"Are there any more injuries?" She inquired.
"One more person, Yukina. If you'll follow me I'll lead you to him, he's entertaining our hostess."
Kurama lifted Yukina's bag and walked out of the dojo leaving Yusuke inside while Yukina and Shizuru followed him. Hiei was already ahead of them, intent on watching over his sister at every opportunity. Kurama was aware of the excitement that was driving through him at the thought of returning to Kagome. It was really ridiculous seeing as they barely knew each other.
But the anticipation was there and it didn't seem as if it was going to fade.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
The red eyed man decided to head towards the light and the large box under the grayish sky. The walk took a long time but he took the opportunity to probe his mind for any information her could find.
He knew what thing were like he was a male and that he was walking and that he was dressed. He was aware that things were missing like he was weaponless but still had a way to defend himself though he didn't recall how to do that. He didn't know his name or anything about himself nor did he remember the name of other beings, or even some faces. There were only vague shadows and murmurs in his mind.
He resolved to ask the first intelligent looking person that he found for help. He passed by several ditzy looking girl that were scantily clad in short skirts that cooed and twittered as his gaze passed over them. He also passed by a man that stumbled around, obviously intoxicated. There were various other beings around him but they all looked somewhat short of intellect and he was beginning to despair never finding someone who could help him when he ran into another man. The force of impact sent both men backwards to land on their behinds but the man that the red eyed stranger had run into quickly jumped to his feet. The man with red eyes looked up into the person he had bumped into and felt hope, the man's violet eyes sparkled with intelligence. He reached a hand down towards him and helped him up off the ground. The man with purple eyes and hair was several inches shorter than him and looked around for something as he addressed him.
"I apologize for running into you like that," he said.
"Actually I'm glad you ran into me, you see I need some help," the red eyed man said.
The man who had run into him turned quickly to face him, his eyes narrowed though surprise flickered through them. The man with red eyes noted with the fact that the man seemed vaguely familiar but continued on his quest for information.
"You see, I'm lost and I have no idea who I am nor of anyone I can contact," he admitted.
"I see. Do you remember me?"
"You seem somewhat familiar but I cannot place it," the red eyed man sighed.
"Hm."
The man with purple eyes looked around again and this time apparently spotting what it was he was looking for he began to wave his arms around frantically.
"Hijikata, over here! I found someone who you'd probably like to see!" He shouted.
There was a minute of muffled sound but finally a man in a black hair made his way over to them. He was glaring at the man that had called him over.
"Souji you are such a pain in the-" he began.
"Look," the purple eyed man said pointing at the confused man with red eyes.
Hijikata's turned in the indicated direction and his eyes widened. He nearly dropped the plastic bags full of food that he had been carrying but his handy self control returned before the terrible incident could occur.
"You!" He roared.
"I presume that you two didn't like me then?" The red eyed man asked.
"You are a menace to society! What the hell are you doing alive? I should-" Hijikata was once again interrupted.
"Hijikata he says that he doesn't remember anything," Souji said.
"Not 'anything', just people and obviously places too because I haven't the slightest idea where we are," the red eyed man corrected.
"We should bring him to Sesshomaru-dono," Souji shook his head at Hijikata's suggestion. "Or at the very least Kagome-sama, she can control him if he regains his memory."
"Alrighty then, it's off to the manor we go!" Souji announced.
"Could you at least tell me my name before hauling me off to parts unknown?" The red eyed man asked, as he tugged on lock of his black hair n frustration.
Both of the previously mentioned names sounded vaguely familiar to him but he still could place them. He couldn't even get an emotion from the name, like a hint as to whether he had liked or hated the mentioned persons.
"Your name is Naraku," Hijikata stated blandly before walking away.
"And you died five hundred years ago," Souji added before turning around.
That left the red eyed man with even more burning questions and he really had no other option but to follow the two men that were walking away from him. And so he ran to catch up.
M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M . M .
He gasped in excitement as his newest doll gasped in air, drawing the oxygen into lungs that hadn't been used for an extremely long time. It was a breakthrough and he waited in anticipation as the doll continued to breathe eventually its breathing grew into a steady rhythm of inhale and exhale but the doll failed to make any other movements.
Disappointed he moved back and looked longingly at his beloved, who was knelt on the ground with her hands cushioning her head on his chair. She was such a beautiful creature, so lovely and untouchable in appearance.
Walking away from the doll that was nothing but a breathing corpse he moved to sit on the chair, moving his love so that her hands and face rest on his thigh. He ran a hand through her silky hair wondering at it softness. It was one of his favorite pastimes to brush her beautiful hair for an hour or so till it became as silky as spider's thread.
"I am a hypocrite, am I not my love?" He whispered, bending so he could lay a kiss on her cold cheek.
She said nothing but he knew that she would be protesting his words had she been able to speak. She would argue that he was perfect in her eyes and held no vices but the rest of the world would not look at it the same way as his pretty love.
"I say that I will teach them muichimotsu. To hold nothing. But how can I teach them when I hold onto you so desperately?"
He gazed at her bowed head in affection. He could practically hear apologizing for getting in his way, for adding such disturbance to his life. He could see her tears as she cried for being such a weakness, for she was nothing if not in admiration of strength. But she was a woman and held no true strength, though he body was strong.
"Ah love, I cannot even think of you crying without suffering your pain myself. No worry, little one, I will never leave you. After all I am all you have."
In his mind he saw love in her wonderful eyes; in reality those very same eyes were closed in death. He saw her wonder that a man such as he could love such a weak and pathetic woman.
"How I love you aijin (beloved/darling)."
And in his mind the though he saw he smile.
. : End Chapter : .
: . Author's Note . :
Another chapter finished, and this one is the last one of my Winter Break because I have school on Monday. I have two honors math classes so I'll have homework every night guaranteed so updates are back to the old, scarce schedule. Hopefully I will get a jump start on Inazuma tomorrow on the plane and I can get it posted soon.
Anyways this chapter features both Koga and Ayame. Both of these wolves had debatable parts in this story. Koga was actually up to become the villain (creepy guy at the end of the chapter) meaning his "beloved" would be someone that looked like Kagome because he was trying to bring her back, but Koga slipped himself in the position of Keiko's master and was saved from becoming the villain. Ayame originally had no place in the story at all because she doesn't appear in the manga, and when she climbed up into the tree scene I debated taking her out because of life span differences in her and Kuwabara. Then I thought Kuwabara needs a modern girl to shove that code in his face and they might not end up together anyways so I let her stay.
Naraku also reveals himself as the red eyed doll that our villain was verbally abusing. Naraku's on his way to Kagome and that's bound to cause trouble, and the best part of it all is that Naraku is, number one, suppose to be and, number two, oblivious to everything that he had done before he was killed. It's a doozy, ain't it?
Shippo, I didn't forget about him, is revealed to be at Sesshomaru's for the purpose of distracting Kagome's mom. Just wanted to make that clear, in case you were wondering.
Now one last thing before I close this thing up. I'd like everyone to note how the villain is steadily getting creepier. He even terrifies me now and that shouldn't be happening because my mind made him that way.
Happy late New Year's.
Bye, bye peoples!
. : Next Time : .
Meeting Kagome
A brother's concern
He lives in her dreams
A defenseless Yusuke
He's back
Of wolves and kittens
The not so new but defiantly improved
My dearest minion
A fierce protector