Yep! I"m back! Aren't you excited? I would be if I were you. Anyway since I'm back into the writing groove again I got some great thoughts about writing this chapter. I had intended on making it more light hearted, but I think you'll be pleased about the way this chapter is written. By the way I should tell you now that this chapter is a bit sad, but do not fear for all will be well. You didn't think I could write this story without throwing in other obstacles. Anyway sorry for my long absence but here it is. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 7

Pain of Separated Hearts

A young boy appearing about 11 or 12 in age sat up late at night, eyes staring hopelessly and lost into the black night, lit only by the shadow of the moon and the stars in the sky. It was about 12:30 that night and Kurama couldn't seem to fall into slumber as there seemed to be too many turbulent thoughts racing through his ever-thinking mind. Beside him and curled into his taller, yet not altogether fully developed, body was his best friend Kagome with her head resting gently against his shoulder and one hand draped across his naked belly. Her nails seemed to subconsciously draw across his expanding six-pack, causing the developing muscles to swell and twitch with the ticklish feeling her touch created. But his current state of undress was not the reason he was awake.

Catching movement out of the corner of his eyes, Kurama turned to see Yusuke on Kagome's other side, snoring a bit too loudly, but the sound did not perturb Kurama in the least. He had long since gotten used to Yusuke's company whilst sleeping and figured he could sleep through anything if he ever lowered his defenses enough. Yusuke was currently resting on his stomach, head turned the opposite way, yet he slept with one arm across Kagome's waist, holding her just as tight as she was holding onto Kurama. The two friends were sleeping soundly, a fact that right now Kurama envied.

Kami, how am I going to tell them? He knew both of his friends would be deeply saddened by what he had to tell them, but he also knew there was no way around the truth. He was leaving; moving half across the city and there was no telling if he would ever see them again. The female in his arms whimpered slightly as if sending his pain and moved closer to his side. Feeling Kagome's arms tighten around his waist, he allowed himself to relax just enough for her to fall back into deep sleep.

Sighing he turned slightly and wrapped his best friend more tightly in his grasp. For a long while he just sat and stared at her, calmly running his hands through her glorious hair. She had grown so beautiful these last couple of years that Kurama wondered why he'd never taken the time to notice before. She certainly was a sight to see nowadays and Kurama was sure that by the time she had finished growing she would be a gorgeous creature; a creature he knew he would have a hard time letting go of when the time came. Depression seemed to fall like a weight on his shoulders as he leaned in and kissed her forehead, trying to draw strength from one of the only two people to ever make him feel whole and at peace with himself.

It isn't fair, Kurama thought, brushing a hand down her soft cheek watching as she tilted her head into the gentle caresses. When it appears I have finally begun to settle, mother tells me we're moving. Kagome's going to be devastated…and I promised her I'd never make her cry. And Yusuke…

Kurama's eyes shifted to his other best friend; his male best friend. Even after all these years Yusuke still hadn't lost that edge that made him seem slightly rougher than most kids his age. His mother had become a raging alcoholic in the last couple of years and Kurama knew from personal experience that Yusuke felt helpless to aid her. At school Yusuke had become something fierce; a force to be reckoned with. He could take on any teacher and face down any consequence without feeling an ounce of regret.

Yet, only Kurama and Kagome ever got to see the other side of Yusuke; the one that only best friends were enabled to see.

Yusuke truly was a kind individual, but Kurama would never let him know as Yusuke would surely deny that fact to his grave. Yusuke had an overall pessimistic view of life and hated how the world was these days. He took joy in beating up punks who's only joy in life was bringing pain to others. He was also smart; smarter than anyone ever gave him credit for with a wisdom that seemed unnatural in one so young.

Kurama let the smile light cross his face, thinking about the many splendors of his two friends and how their friendship grew and expanded each and every day. Keiko was a friend of theirs also, appearing that she had some kind of crush on Yusuke. Kagome always told Kurama she thought other wise, but Kurama had seen the looks Keiko cast at his friend when she thought he wasn't looking.

"Kurama?" A voice questioned quietly causing him to jump slightly and drawing him forth out of his thoughts. He shifted his head down and instantly his eyes met and clashed with Kagome's gentle understanding ones.

"What is it, Kagome?" he whispered back, smiling happily when she sighed and burrowed deeper into his side. He had to hold back the shiver as her warm breath passed over his skin like a warm breeze. For some reason, lately some of the things that he had grown used to over the years had been causing him to look at his best friend in a slightly different light. Kurama was no fool and knew that somewhere deep inside his mind, thate had some type of feelings for her; feelings that had nothing to do with friendship. It didn't help that ever since joining with Yoko, he always had the urge to be around her, even more so than before. He was a kitsune and so thrived on any type of physical contact and as it was Kagome's body fit so perfectly against his own that it just seemed to send jitters coursing through his body. He knew he was falling fast. He just wondered how far he had already fallen.

"Are you all right?" She asked, sleepily relishing in the touch and feel of her best friend. She just loved being in Kurama's embrace. He always had the ability to make her feel invincible whenever she was in his arms; like she could conquer the world. "You've been awake for while….is there something bothering you?"

Kurama sighed wondering if now would be a good time to tell her. Her birthday was in two days and he really didn't want to spoil the beginning of another year of life, by making her unhappy. So he settled for a half truth. "Mother got a new job," he stated quietly making it seem like he was truly happy for her; and he was, he just wasn't happy for himself.

Kagome's head jolted up the look at him in happiness. "That's wonderful, Kurama. You must be happy for her. She's been looking for a new job for such a long time; I was beginning to give up hope."

"Yes, it is good news and I am proud of her."

"What's all the fuss about over there? Can't a guy catch a few hours of sleep without you two yakking away?" Yusuke murmured from behind Kagome. Kagome purred happily when Yusuke pulled himself closer to her for warmth and Kurama wrapped his arms more securely around her small body. Kami how she loved her two best friends. She didn't know what she would do without them.

"It's nothing, Yusuke, you can go back to sleep now," Kagome whispered to him soothingly. When he didn't reply both Kurama and Kagome looked behind her, noticing that Yusuke had done just that without bothering to reply. They exchanged glances and Kagome began giggling burying her head into Kurama's chest so as not to reawaken the sleeping boy. She found herself surrendering to Kurama's warmth and falling back into pleasant dreams.

"Kagome," he suddenly whispered and Kagome shifted slightly against him.

"Hm," she murmured in askance.

"Promise me something, Kagome," He whispered in her ear. Her eyes flew open at the seriousness in his voice, wondering why he seemed so melancholy tonight.

"Yes, Kurama, I'll promise you anything," she replied lifting her hand and tracing his gentle-sloping cheek bones. His eyes met and held hers for the longest time before he leaned in slightly and kissed her. Not a slight against her forehead or cheek, but a real kiss; one which echoed of trust and curiosity and more importantly…love. Kurama never deepened the kiss or tried to take it further, but instead pulled away watching as Kagome's eyes reopened and a light blush blew over her face.

He watched as she raised a hand to her lips and touched them gently. Her first kiss; her best friend had given her, her first kiss. And what a wonderful kiss it was.

"Kurama, wha-." She was cut off by his gentle words.

"Just promise me that whatever happens, you'll be with me forever."

Kagome's eyes softened and filled with adoration and if he wasn't mistaken, some tears. She gazed into the pure emerald orbs of his knowing that she would never tire of looking into them. "Kurama," she suddenly murmured before lifting her head and brushing her lips against his own before drawing away just as he had done earlier. "For you, I'll promise eternity."

Kurama smiled gently and tucked her against his side, wondering how in the span of a night he went from looking at her as his best friend; but as his soul mate.

The two kitsunes finally settled down enough to fall into a comforting sleep, Kurama comforted by Kagome's words and Kagome comforted by Kurama's presence and the hard press of Yusuke's body against her back. Her last thought were this is my home. This is where I belong.

Two days later Kagome turned 12 and Kurama and Yusuke held a small party in her honor. The only ones present were Keiko, Kagome's mom, Kurama's mom, and surprisingly enough, Yusuke's mom. Kagome received two heart necklaces from both guys, bringing tears to her eyes.

Two days after that Kurama informed both Yusuke and Kagome about his mother's decision to accept a teaching position clear across Tokyo.

As he figured Yusuke and Kagome was devastated at the news, none more so than Kagome. For in the span of a few days she had begun looking at her best friend in a new light. She was sure that had time allowed, they would have fallen in love. But now…there would be no time. Because three days after the dreaded truth Kurama moved. And after a tearful goodbye and a promise of staying in touch, both knowing that it would be a very long time before all three saw each other again, Kagome and Yusuke were left standing alone as they watched their best friend drive out of their lives.

After his departure Kagome stood out in his drive way, staring listlessly down the street, somewhere inside hoping that this was all a dream; no a nightmare and that she would wake up safe and sound once again in her best friend's embrace.

This is how Yusuke found her. This is where Kagome finally broke down and cried buckets of tears for her lost friend. She knew that if Yusuke too had left, she would not have survived very long. She knew deep in her heart that she would forever be tied to both boys and the strain of having both lost to her would kill her very soul.

"Don't worry, Kagome," Yusuke murmured into his friend's hair as he held her close and allowed her, for once, to cry all over him. Keiko stood to the side, saddened for her friends, yet a little jealous that she'd never even begin to have the type of relationship Yusuke, Kurama, and Kagome had built; not even close.

Of course what Kagome couldn't have known and didn't for see, was her own mother informing her that they were going to live on a different shrine with their grandfather. She was thirteen and moved the same exact day as Kurama had just a year before.

After that what was left of Kagome's heart seemed to break into a million pieces as well as Yusuke's. The day she left was the last day she ever say Yusuke.

When Yusuke turned 14 he was hit by a car and died while rescuing a young boy from getting hit by a car; thus beginning his career as a Spirit Detective enabling him to meet up with Kurama again, both surprising and delighting both boys.

Kagome cried when she heard the news.

Although somewhere in her heart she still refused to believe that one of her best friend's was dead.

On Kagome's 15th birthday she was brutally torn from her world and thrust back into a world not even she recognized; a world known as the Feudal Era. It was here where she met the hanyou Inuyasha, and many other strange characters, and broke the Shikon no Tama, thus beginning her own journey of the heart.

Two years later Kagome returned through the well; broken, yet alive and victorious. She left behind a kit, three brothers and a sister, yet she knew the Feudal Era was not her place. No; her place was with Kurama and Yusuke. She would never be satisfied until she was held, safe in the arms of both boys.

Not even a week after her return through the well Kagome set about finding her lost friends, breaking into the Prince of Reikai's highly guarded vaults for any information regarding her friends and was surprised to find both Kurama and Yusuke alive and well and apparently working for Koenma.

And so now here she was, bag packed and weapons ready, as she set out for the Dark Tournament, determined to find her best friends…and protect them, whatever the cost.

Well, that's over. Come on and tell me what you think? And I'm sorry if I made it slightly more depressing but you knew I had to seperate them all some how...just so I could bring them back together. Oh yeah and another few comments. I had to throw a fluffy moment in between Kurama and Kagome just to indicate how their relationship was growing. If you'll noticed I didn't make them all over each other like I have before in my other fics. I only wanted to show the growing love developing between them. Notice that I did not say that they were already in love with each other. They are only 12, what do they know. But they do have feelings for each other; very strong ones, ones that have to develop over their lost time together. So...anyway I think that is all I really wanted to say. Hope you all liked it and stayb tuned for even more updates. I should be updating some more of my other stories for those of you who are wondering.

Ja ne

Kura-kun's-lovr