Kurama had watched as Jin escorted the miko up the stairs again, taking note of the way she was being led as if she was blind. His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the morose family and the mother smiled grimly. He didn't have time to ask anything that was on the tip of his tongue and burning at his thoughts before Youko emerged from the hidden shadows he had immersed himself into.

He felt him shifting around in his memories, getting himself up to date on all the happenings that had been gong on and trying to observe at the same time. The family was looking worried, and Hiei was being his normal stoic self, but Kurama could see that he had moved himself closer to the doorway that led up the stairs, and he knew that Hiei was listening up the stairs for any sign of trouble. He still had to wonder how Hiei knew this family and had such close relationships with a miko, but he stilled his tongue and felt the nudge of Youko.

His previously silent soul tenant spoke: 'Jin knows our miko as well?'

Kurama could just make out the swishing of Youko's tail as it swayed in the shadows he had encased himself in, and Kurama knew that he had a while to wait before Youko fully emerged from the shadows he had encased himself in.

The sounds of footsteps on the stairs echoed strangely over the hum of conversation around him, and he watched in suspicion as Hiei and Jin talked quietly outside the room- barely visible to his eyes and he could hardly hear the faint hiss of whispers as they exchanged words.

Jin entered the room and all conversation stilled, Kurama took note of the anticipatory hush and focused on the family that watched Jin with a semblance of suspicion as he turned to face the wind shinobi as well. Jin smiled and flashed Souta a thumbs up. "Ah'm gonna go back ta tha' north." Souta deflated from his previously energetic position, and Kurama suspected that Souta had been about to try to get the wind master to stay and train him. "Ma' Lady is very worried." Jin titled his head back and scratched his chin. "Actually, the Highers ah all worried; Kagome needs to see them soon."

He turned to Hiei as he walked into the room. "I am going on a trip to the Makai, the hunting party for the scroll needs my help."

Kurama narrowed his eyes at his friend, wondering how much interest he had vested in this miko that he had never told him about. Jin interrupted his thoughts. "Thah's why Ah need Kurama." Jin faced him with a smile that was a little more threatening than he was used to. "Yah will take Kagome to the central lands when tomorrow comes." Kurama noticed the underlying threat to those words, Jin wasn't asking him to take Kagome to Makai, and he wasn't even telling him to. No, Jin was threatening him to escort the miko to her acquaintances in the Makai, and Kurama did not doubt that the Highers were dealing out this order through the wind shinobi.

He nodded his head in agreement and tuned out the excited and relieved tittering of Ms. Higurashi as she gave Jin a hug and ushered him and Hiei to the foyer to see them off. Souta pouted good-naturedly and snuck a quick glance up the stairs before he sat down. The only reason they caught it was because it was intended to be overlooked, and they had been trained to spot that which was not intended to be seen.

They left it as it was, taking the time only to glance at each other and make sure they caught the exchange as they settled in with the family to dinner. Kurama felt certain that this family would retain their interests for an indefinable amount of time, the only question he had, and Youko vehemently laughed in the back of his mind at him, was if Kagome even knew the trouble she was causing.

Ms. Higurashi smiled at them and brought out the meal. Dinner was a warm affair, but the absence of Kagome's presence rushed along the back of Kurama's senses, and the knowledge that Hiei was out there fighting without him caused his soul restless pacing.

Youko spoke as he smiled at the younger boy's avid retelling of a tale he had heard from his sister about a fight in Makai; 'Kagome will not be coming down for tonight, the way her family is acting tells it.' Kurama watched the family discreetly, taking note of the way they all had stopped glancing up to Kagome's room, supper continued as if nothing was amiss, and Kurama found himself relaxing and almost forgetting about the strange miko that presented the most unusual time he had experienced in while- almost.

He sighed as he watched the family eat and make merry, and he strained his ears to try to listen to the rest of the house, wondering about the origins of this shrine family and all the stories connected to it. Surely a family so immersed in the shrine legends stayed close to their origins, and surely they would be able to tell him stories of their origins with all the grace and flourish of the old entertainers.

But he stilled his tongue and quietly resigned himself to listening to the welcoming conversation around him, but he never joined in. His conversation with his spiritual counterpart was far more important, and if he could seem to be paying attention then all was for the better…

'As I recall there was a tale of the miko who had to protect time and was labeled for her mercy and faith. I have not heard of the tales actually being true…but this shrine could be dedicated to her, and that would explain why this miko was named Kagome….'

.x.

Kohaku stormed silently up the steps to the manse, taking his time to shuffle his boots on the carpet so he wouldn't tack and mud through the elaborate halls. Kagura went anal over that kind of thing.

He sighed and rolled his eyes as he walked down the labyrinth of halls. He had felt his protégées presence, and he wanted answers DAMNIT! Things such as mud in the halls shouldn't be considered important at a time like this. The woman who had helped him mature and overcome the loss of his family and whole way of life was always weary of falling below society's rules and expectations, and even though she was calmer now he knew that she was still slightly anal about it- of all the times for her to worry about her precious rugs.

He growled very convincingly as a servant almost stepped into his path, and he only nodded his head strictly as she made her way around him- no collision would err him form his path.

He entertained the brief thought that Inuyasha would be very proud of his intimidation. Then he sighed and shook his head violently of these petty thoughts. Kagome was worried, and he knew that he needed to see her as soon as possible. Kagura had him on loan from his caretaker, and he desired to be with Onigumo now because he knew that he would most likely be the first to see Kagome.

He felt the presence of the wind users fast approaching, and he settled himself to a more sedate walk as he noticed them sense his presence- and hopefully his ire. Kagura had taken him in as an insanely-brother-like relation, and he knew that helped him get this way around here. It also helped that he could beat the wind witch in a fight. Not that she would let you know that…

He crossed his arms over his chest and stepped into a side room for the clash he expected. Jin may have been his student but there were things he didn't understand yet. One was that you never kept information about Kagome from the Highers, even if you considered it a game.

But Jin was oddly subdued as he entered the room, and he went straight to the point. "She had an incident before they took her to get Ketsueki, an' she was a wee cagey of her weak state now."

Kohaku took this in, staring hard at the young demon he remembered as a child. Jin shifted uneasily under his stare. "Had you found out about this incident?"

Jin nodded and shifted again, Kagura gave him an annoyed glance but she said nothing. "She was restin' and when she went to talk to her mother they forgot to tell her thah they had moved a table to clean thah walls."

Kohaku's head snapped down as he cursed under his breath - courtesy of Inuyasha's foul mouth – and he started to pace the carpet length ignoring the irritated stare of Kagura.

Jin sighed in melancholy. "Higurashi tol' me thah she panicked and couldn' get her bearings." He watched as the wind apprentice paced to the wall that held the tapestry of the legend of Aji-Suki-Taka-Hi-Kone woven together in brilliant threads. The redhead leaned against the wall in frustration, and Kohaku took pity on the man he had come to view as friend.

"She will be fine." Kagura's voice interrupted their conversation. The wind witch snorted in disdain and walked serenely to the window. Kohaku was momentarily confused – Kagura was one of those most protective of their miko – until she explained; "Jin has told me that she will be arriving tomorrow, and if I know Kagome, and I like to think I do, she is already meditating trying to get her powers back to stability."

Kohaku relaxed reluctantly, yes he knew that was what she would be doing, but he also knew what it was like for her to be so weak. He had been there once…for one of her episodes.

He shook his head again as he thanked the gods that she didn't have to expend so much of her energy often. Let the people think that their miko was insurmountable, the Highers all knew that if she used too much of her energy it backlashes.

And Kagome was blind, in every sense of the word, for a sporadic part of time.

Kohaku sighed and pushed his bangs off his forehead, cursing the fact that he couldn't just up and leave the Makai without going through the tiring process established by Reikai.

"Stupid…demonic…immortal…youkai…dead…regulations…idiotic reikai." He realized that his mumblings hadn't been very intellectual when the subdued chuckle of Jin reached him. He sighed and mopped his face with one hand as he grinned sheepishly at Kagura who was trying to keep a disapproving glare on her face.

It failed and her light and airy chuckle filled the room before she waved a hand absently in the air. Kohaku ducked instinctively and the wind witch gave him an amused smile as she flicked her fan in blatant taunt to his nervous response.

Jin watched all this with the familiarity of one long used to the antics of a family, although he still never understood the reasons behind the actions between these two. Kohaku understood that Jin was still, despite being one of Kagome's favorites, unaware of the more dangerous and haunting past of the Highers. Just like Jin was only aware of the fact that all the Highers were allies and friends and once maybe enemies, he wasn't aware of the extent of this hostility.

Kohaku straightened from his defensive stance, taking his time to make sure he hadn't revealed any of his hidden weapons to Jin or the wind witch. He was a highly paranoid individual, and Kagome always took the time to lightly tease him about the people he actually placed his trust in- Onigumo and herself.

He figured that Jin wouldn't need to know of the cause for his paranoia, and he certainly didn't need to know the true circumstances that led to the formation of the Highers.

Enemies that are now allies, considered the closest of friends, they would have to keep such information away from people. If anyone found out…someone could use the old enmity to create a rift among the Highers…that would spell disaster for all the realms.

A struggle amongst the higher powers would mean Kagome was in danger, and people would choose sides and the general chaos would disrupt Kagome-miko's flow of energy. Kagome was the creator of these barriers that kept the fragile peace the now had, she was the guiding force that coached the barrier to become what it was today, if she was lost to a petty dispute….

Kagura snapped her fan closed, drawing his attention away from such musings and she gave him a hard look with a little shake of her head. He smiled weakly, he knew that no one could break the bond the Hgihers shared, and Kagome would always hold them together no matter how much they disagreed with each other.

'After all', he thought briefly as a bemused smile overcame his face, 'for the group that stuck together now to be so close…it would take a miracle to break us apart.' Kohaku chuckled and briefly flashed a knowing smile to Kagura, telling her that he would cease his useless panicking.

She smiled haughtily, probably enjoying the fact the he had doubted and she had been there to put him in his place. Kohaku outright laughed, and he stalked away from his two confused friends as he made his way to the edge of the manse. It was time to visit the central lands, and Kohaku knew that Onigumo and the others would be very anxious to hear this news.

He called back over his shoulder as he got ready to utilize his chakra. "I'll inform the others!"

And he was gone.

…

It was only a swift shift of time that found him at Jinenji's castle, where he suspected that Onigumo would be hiding in wait for their miko. He was proven correct, Onigumo's attention grabbing figure was cutting through the servants congregating in the halls like Moses through the red sea. Kohaku paused himself and resigned to waiting for the blatantly interested and determined profile of his close friend.

"You have information?"

Kohaku nodded his head and turned his form in a military shift to the right- into the corridor leading to the inner gardens.

A rather ordinary name for the elaborate and sometimes overwhelming inner court that Jinenji himself tended to. They walked in companionable silence, and they only paused once to nod in respect to Sesshoumaru's single female retainer as she walked silently past.

Onigumo turned to him expectantly and he sighed with a resigned smile as he let his hands fall from their rigid and defensive posture. "Kagome is…rattled." Onigumo's narrow eyes narrowed even more, and he turned towards the rose section of the gardens. Kohaku continued. "The previous incident that Sesshoumaru told us of was more unsettling than she let on, and now that she has no power to actually see around her…she is frightened."

"I thought that she was taking the measures necessary to ensure she never wasted her energy to such an extent."

Kohaku sighed and made an exhausted face before he relaxed his posture into the slumped position of a depressed teen. "She hadn't expected that she would be needed in Makai for a mission, and she had been training her brother." He looked up into the sky and circled around on his spot to gaze around the cavernous walls that secreted this inner sanctuary. "You know how much energy she uses to train someone, and she had been resting her senses when the tantei arrived."

Onigumo scowled deeply, marring his usual stony and sculpted face. "She should rest every morning, before her day begins." His countenance softened as a small smile found its way to his face. "She always did push herself too hard."

Kohaku laughed openly, enjoying the fact that although there were tough times and past times, they always welcomed him with open arms and were prepared to aid each other I any situation. "It is how she is." His face grew sorrowful as he remembered too many occasion she placed herself at risk. "She needs to stay at the castles more, though I know she would hate that."

Onigumo nodded. "Kagome is one who will work through the day and sacrifice her security just so she knows her close ones are safe." He growled out in frustration. He ignored Onigumo's amused look as his rumble rebounded through the green gardens.

Kagome always pushed aside her senses when she was resting, letting her powers once again pool into her reserves- but that left her more vulnerable than any blind person, because she had a duty to protect all under her supervision. She forgot to look after herself.

He scowled into the sky as he couldn't help but admire her for it. Kagome would accept help when she could take care of herself, but when she truly needed the help she felt weak and useless.

He sighed heavily.

Onigumo's laugh rang out in the garden, scaring a few birds from their perch. Kohaku gave him an odd look, and turned to face him fully as his arms crossed over his chest. "Exactly what are you laughing about? Our miko is troubled, and she can't get here until tomorrow morning!"

Onigumo settled his laugh down to a chuckle. "Our miko will be fine; it is you who hates to stay patient and wait." Onigumo smiled and tilted his head back, the elaborate robes of his station trailing to the ground with his wavy hair. "You should have learned patience by now young one, you were a Taijiya, and now you are a shinobi- both professions are renowned for the need to stay silent and stay still."

Kohaku snorted. "I have had over five centuries to practice my patience; I can act like I don't have any for a day." Kohaku grinned evilly. "Besides, I know who is going to be the first to rush to our miko tomorrow."

Onigumo scowled, but then a mirthful chuckle escaped and ruined his pretense. "You have come far from the child you were."

Kohaku shrugged in reply; "I am captain of the guard for the summits, I have killed and I have fought. Of course I am going to lose some of my immaturity."

"I wasn't talking about your maturity." Onigumo laughed and turned to walk down a different path, Kohaku guessing it led to the lily pond- a personal favorite of Onigumo's. "I was referring to your painful shyness."

Kohaku yelled out in mock outrage and chased after his friend, laughing and smiling but still wondering if the miko would be over in the morning. The companionable silence drifted through the gardens and the idle chatter commenced as they unconsciously guided the conversation way from the more serious events.

Those could wait for later, when they had their miko somewhere they knew was safe and welcoming to her aura. They could wait for the morrow, but Kohaku knew that he would have to wake very early- just to find his friend so he would know exactly when his miko was coming.

So he let the train of thought drift, and he wondered at the ease with which Onigumo relaxed and talked when he, by all rights of experience, should be the one panicking and threatening all the denizens to get his miko. Onigumo had lived over five hundred years looking after the miko and what she considered her clan, even from this side of the barrier.

It was speculated that the miko had even taken the time to visit Onigumo's family- before it had been torn apart and he had become the human thief. Kohaku shook his head and murmured consent to an idle statement from his comrade as he continued his thoughts.

He knew he was overreacting in his worry and that their miko always came back to them once she had the energy to do so. Kohaku's eyes flashed as he settled his nerves to the best of his ability. Kagome would be coming home, and they would be able to se her, and she would be okay.

He looked at his companion Onigumo, and with a start he realized what his senses had told him; Onigumo had been joined by Kouga and the two female retainers, and Shiori the half demon servant was walking along beside them in amiable silence. They all had this glint in their eyes, one he knew too well. He grinned.

Kagome would come back safely; they would all make sure of it.

.x.X.x.

Aji-Suki-Taka-Hi-Kone: the god of thunder. I had to put it in- just like the Bird of Paradise flower.

And once again Jin's brogue has me pulling out my hair. So excuse the mistakes, I am gradually making corrections through the whole chapters.