I'm updating again! Yay! I couldn't help it as I got a great burst of inspiration and just couldn't help adding another chapter. As you all know or you should by now is that I write purely by what comes to me. As it is I really wanted to write some more and take you to where we are now. Also thank you to everyone who has bothered to already review and let me tell you I love you all. Anyway I hope you like this chapter. Some of your questions will be answered at the bottom so be sure to read it.

Chapter 8

Wishful Thinking

Kurama knew for a fact he used to be happy. He used to take joy in the finer things in life. He used to not take things for granted. So the question became; was he happy now? Sure, he had his some friends and even Yusuke was back in his life. He still had his mother, thanks to Yusuke's kindness of heart and more importantly, his life. He had Hiei, though Hiei had never come close to the bond he had shared with a certain girl all those years ago.

Kagome; Kami only knew how much he missed her. There wasn't a day goes by that he didn't think about his Kagome; how kind and pure she was and how much she meant to him. And as much as he wished to, he could never take away his last look of her that day his mother tore him away from her. She had been so sad and in that moment he had wanted to disobey his mother for the first time in his life and tell her that he selfishly didn't want to leave. He wanted to jump out of that car and climb back into her arms where he felt safe and loved and where nothing mattered but the two of them together. She had promised him forever and yet what had he promised her in return?

"Hey….Kurama. You okay?"

Kurama turned from the window out of which he was currently staring. Out of his peripheral vision he caught Yusuke walking up, with a curious but saddened look on his face as if he knew what or who he was thinking about.

"Yes, Yusuke….I'm fine," Kurama whispered, turning away and once again staring out his window.

Yusuke, who had just come from completing his training once again with Genkai caught the wistful look on Kurama's face, although on the outside it appeared as if Kurama was simply in deep thought. Yusuke smiled sadly and maneuvered to stand beside his best friend, he too remembering the girl who had made his younger years so much better.

"You know," Yusuke broke in. "You're not the only one who misses her."

Kurama closed his glorious forest green eyes and rested his head on the window pain. "I know Yusuke," He responded sadly. "But sometimes, I just-."

Want her back.

The phrase rang in both of their minds as Yusuke understood perfectly. After all, he missed her just as much and had never really adjusted to being without her. Yusuke continued staring at his best friend, allowing his eyes to see things that others would have missed.

Most of the others did not know about Kagome, or that Yusuke and Kurama were once close enough to share the same bed together. Not even Hiei was privileged with this information and the only one who knew was Keiko. To this day Yusuke never knew why they never told anyone. Perhaps it was because they didn't want to share Kagome with anyone. To Yusuke she was his and Kurama's best friend; their friend and one who had promised Kurama eternity. And yes, Yusuke knew all about the promise made between the two kitsunes, as Kurama had informed him some odd years later about what was said that night. Yusuke got the feeling something else had happened, yet Kurama had never spilled that particular event. Kagome just had a way of drawing forth all of their inner demons and chasing them away when they themselves could not.

She had opened up her home, her bed, and her arms to both Kurama and Yusuke and yet expected nothing in returned. He often times missed being able to open his eyes and spot Kagome curled up next to him with Kurama right behind her, both curled together and peacefully happy. He missed the carefree days of old and the tricks that had placed on others. He missed being truly happy and he knew the only way he would completely heal was if she was around again.

He wanted his best friend back and could only speculate how Kurama coped with the loss. Yusuke was only grateful that he hadn't lost Kurama as well.

Yusuke placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and turned him around. "Look, Kurama, we'll find her again someday. I know it is hard, but for some reason I have this feeling that she is closer than we choose to believe. Now would you stop acting so depressed? You're beginning to make me think you're going soft like you used to be in kindergarten. We have a tournament to win and I don't think any of those demons are going to sit around and listen to you wine about some girl."

For a moment Kurama was stunned before a smile crept over his face. Yusuke had turned away and crossed his arms in front of his chest, acting as if he did not just say those pathetic things. "Thank you," Kurama stated, chuckling a bit and feeling much better. "So….you finished your training with Genkai?"

Yusuke scowled and rubbed his shoulders. "Yeah, I think the old hag was much harsher this time. Sometimes I really think she's out to kill me."

Kurama chuckled. "Be careful Yusuke, you don't want Kagome thinking you're going soft on her now. Instead of me going soft, maybe it's you we should be worried about."

Yusuke let out a bark of a laugh. "Oi, you take that back, fox-boy. But you're right. I don't even want to know what she'd do to me if she thought I was losing my edge. She'd probably beat me up."

"Yes…and then demand that you spar with her," Kurama concluded sending both boys into laughter.

Yusuke collapsed on the floor, leaning back against the wall, laughing gaily with his best friend. Kurama sat down next to him and joined him.

"Yusuke….just what is going on in here?" Keiko asked stepping further in the room looking between both boys. She was immediately followed by Kuwabara who was staring at both boys strangely. He had never seen Yusuke laughing so loudly before. And he had never seen Kurama look anything but serious and poised. A "hn" from Kurama's opened window alerted the others to the fire apparitions presence as well.

"It's nothing Keiko we were just talking about Kagome."

From his vantage point underneath him, Hiei could just make out Kurama's smiling face, wondering who it was that had caused him to lose his grip on his emotions. For as long as he'd known him, Kurama had always appeared calm and collected, although deadly when he needed to be. Hiei had also never heard this 'Kagome's' name before. And he'd never seen Yusuke and Kurama acting so familiar with each other. It almost made him jealous seeing anyone interact with Kurama when Kurama couldn't even act like that with him.

For a moment a strange look passed over Keiko's face before it lightened and she smiled, causing Kurama to raise an eyebrow. Now what was that all about?

"Oh, then you must miss her very much, Kurama," She said soothingly leaning down and placing a hand on his shoulder in sympathy. Surprised by the gesture and not knowing how to take it Kurama simply nodded and backed away, exchanging puzzled glances with Yusuke. Yusuke shrugged, wondering why Keiko was acting so strangely these days. She had been a good friend to him and Kurama since childhood, although a bit of a nuisance at times. He knew she had some kind of crush on him, but Yusuke had never allowed himself to return the affections. She just didn't seem right enough for him.

For one thing Keiko was almost always serious, always studying and never taking the time to really get out and have fun. She had never seemed to understand why Yusuke never wanted to be in school, as Kagome always had. Yes, Yusuke was willing to admit he'd protected Keiko on more than one occasion, but she was and always will be just a friend and friendship was not something Yusuke took lightly….or for granted. No, Keiko just wasn't the one for him. He wasn't worried though. She would find someone. He just hoped that someone wasn't Kurama. He knew she had some kind of crush on Kurama as well, always finding some way to touch him or be alone with him. There was also the fact that whenever Kurama or he brought up Kagome, Keiko seemed to avoid that subject.

Keiko wasn't the one for Kurama either. Yusuke already knew who Kurama was supposed to be with and it certainly was not Keiko. Hm, he might have to keep a watch on the girl now and find out what she was up to. She was not Kagome and could never take her place in Kurama's heart.

"Who's Kagome, Urameshi? She your girlfriend you have hidden away somewhere?" Kuwabara asked, guffawing loudly.

"I fail to see how that's any of your business, Kuwabaka," Yusuke growled rising from the floor and raising his fists together threateningly. Obviously Kuwabara didn't remember Kagome which probably was a good thing. She'd made his life a living hell back in the early days. Yes, it was sad that he was now friends with the kid who he had beaten up on the first day of kindergarten. The fool was forever butting into his life, yet Yusuke was the only one who seemed to understand the big oaf. And while Kuwabara certainly wasn't a genius like Kurama or the most deadly in battle, Yusuke had to give him points for having heart.

Hiei took no notice of the detective and the oaf who had taken to fighting as they always did and instead steadied his gaze back on Kurama. At the mention of that woman's name again, Kurama's face had portrayed a range of emotions which shocked the little fire apparition. The largest emotions he'd seen were regret, longingly, and love. Love? Desperate for some answers and unwilling to ask Yusuke, Hiei tried to speak with Kurama the only way he could without interruptions.

Who is Kagome, Fox? Why does she seem so important to you? Hiei was most shocked when sudden barriers seemed to fly up in Kurama's mind so that Hiei could not travel any further into his mind. He never knew Kurama had such strong barriers and automatically knew this was something he had learned a long time ago and had never bothered to inform him about.

This bothered Hiei immensely. He took pride in the fact that he had found the great Yoko Kurama and made an ally out of him. But he had never considered that he had also found Shuichi; the human. And Shuichi, it seemed, had even more secrets than the great Yoko.

Suddenly a colder, decidedly more demonized voice responded to Hiei's question, causing Hiei's head to spin when the voice boomed in his own head. She is none of your concern, Hiei so stay out of it, the voice whispered, before forcefully throwing Hiei out of his mind and tightening his mind barriers.

Hiei's eyes had widened considerably as Kurama had not moved once and simply allowed the Yoko the free will to throw him out of their mind. What had happened? Had Kurama lost control over Yoko? And just why was Kurama so determined to protect the identity of some human girl? At least he thought it was a human.

I am sorry, Hiei, Kurama's voice sounded in his head startling Hiei. But Yoko is right and there are just some things that are of no concern to you.

Kurama's mind left his just as quickly as it invaded and Hiei was suddenly so confused that he needed to get away. No one noticed as Hiei seemed to disappear from the window. No one noticed as Kurama's eyes flashed open and burrowed into Yusuke's back. And no one noticed as Yusuke's mind left Kurama's after overhearing Yoko's strong defense and Kurama's apology to Hiei.

A few days later all manner of demons and apparitions were gathered and waiting for the boat to arrive which would take them to Hang Neck Island. As it was Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara were waiting for Yusuke who seemed to be running late.

"Where is Urameshi?" Kuwabara growled. "Leave it to him to keep us all waiting."

"Do not worry yourself Kuwabara," Kurama responded easily. "He will arrive shortly." No one bother to ask how Kurama knew this, choosing to believe Kurama was simply guessing.

Suddenly a crackly voice called for all gathered to board the ship.

"Wait, one of our teammates isn't here yet," Kuwabara pleaded. "Can't you wait?"

"Sorry…I guess you'll be left behind for the demons to eat."

Kuwabara stiffened while Hiei smirked. "As if any of you lower classes can take on me," he scoffed under his breath, causing Kurama to smirk as well.

"Now, now that's no way to speak to my teammates," Yusuke's voice greeted as he walked up, followed by Genkai.

"Hello, Yusuke," Kurama stated wondering whether Genkai was to be their fifth member.

"It took you long enough," Kuwabara yelled grabbing onto Yusuke's shirt front and attempting to lift him up. He attempted to that it until a hand clasped onto Kuwabara's and forcefully pulled him away.

"That…is no way to speak to one who is of greater strength than you," A whispered husky voice, not unlike that of a woman's spoke, causing all three teammates to stiffen. Kuwabara was thrown to the grown, seemingly effortlessly to reveal a black cloaked figure, standing directly by Yusuke's side.

Sorry to end it there. I know I'm evil. But if you're lucky some more thoughts will come to me and I'll be able to update later. I hope you liked this chapter. I know you'll enjoy the next one. Now for some responses. Yes, Kagome will fight in the tournament if you haven't already noticed I put Genkai already in there, as Kurama recognized her right off the bat and then added in the black cloaked figure. Kagome is fo course the masked fighter thought I don't think I'm going to be calling her the masked fighter the whole time. Which leads me to ask you guys what you think I should call her? And please try to come up with something original. Um, lets see now Yusuke and Kurama won't know it is her until later as she will be kept a secret. I thought about having Yusuke discover the truth earlier on, but we'll see how it goes. Um, I will be going through the tournament mostly as it was in the show, with the same fights and things but have Kagome comment on some of them, especially the ones with Yusuke, Jinn, Kurama, Karasu, and Chuu. Lets see, I don't know when I'm going to have them discover her identity but I do have an idea for that. Anyway I think that is all I wanted to say. See ya next time and thank you for being so patient with me.

Ja ne,

Kura-kun's-lovr