Title: Erased In a Moment
Author: Ryukotsusei
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Hiei/Kagome
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. I merely borrow the characters for my own twisted amusement.
Chapter Three
Two days later found him speaking with Koenma over the issue of Kagome's examinations. Already the assistant had stopped by to inform him of the exact time they expected the girl to be brought to them as well as telling him some about the procedure. It would seem that the Doctor was unconvinced that the spell was not the proper one and that he intended on repeating it. This time however he planned to use a power focus to help channel the energy of the spell while further subduing the girl's holy energy. Now Hiei needed to do was convince Koenma that their entire plan was absurd though he knew it was likely to get him nowhere. "It won't work Koenma, the Shikon is too strong. Sooner or later you'll end up killing the girl and then you'll have no one to keep it untainted."
"Have you forgotten I have no choice in any of this?" Koenma pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ward off the headache that was growing. It didn't matter who he spoke to, he was catching hell on all sides. His father demanded results and was furious this hadn't been resolved already, the Doctor's team wanted to increase the frequency of the examinations and Hiei wanted them reduced. He just couldn't seem to make anyone happy.
"I care not for your problems. You left me as the caretaker of this girl, do not bitch when I do my job." While Hiei could sympathize with the need for expediency there were lines even he wouldn't cross. The more time he spent with her the more she reminded him of Yukina and now his dreams were haunted with what he had seen. However instead of Kagome being strapped to the table it had been his sweet, innocent sister. Having experienced two nights of the same nightmares he was ready to disembowel the next person who came near the girl.
It was all Koenma could do at the moment not to scream in frustration. He liked this less and less by the moment and even though Hiei wasn't aware of it, he had reviewed every single moment of the last probing done to her. He'd even gone so far as to reprimand the Doctor and inform him that such measure were not to be taken again however the man had gone straight to his father and had his orders overridden. King Enma wanted this resolved as soon as possible, the amount of pain caused in the meantime was immaterial so long as he got the results he wanted. "I've done what I could, most of the decision making has been taken out of my hands. The Doctor doesn't even report to me anymore, he's gone over my head." As he stared at the apparition a sad realization dawned on him. The girl hadn't even been there a full week and she was already touching the hybrid. He wasn't sure to what level as of yet, but it was there none the less. "Hiei, I know this might be hard but.. don't get attached to her. I have a feeling this is not going to end well for her."
"Don't be a fool Koenma. There is no attachment, as soon as this is over I will return to the Makai and not give this a second thought. But while I am here I will not do a half assed job." Scowling at the demigod, Hiei refused to admit there was any possibility that Koenma was right. Just because she reminded him of his only family did not mean that he had feelings for her. Looking out for her best interests was something that he had chosen to do, it was something that any one of the other guys would have done. The only exception was that he could hold his temper in the face of what had happened and what was still to come. Yusuke or Kuwabara would have already been at the throne room, demanding that King Enma let her go.
"See that you keep it that way then." Rumors had circulating and truthfully they worried the demigod. Theories had been thrown around as to just why the Shikon refused to be separated from its guardian. What was so different now from before? Koenma couldn't answer that, the only possibility he could conceive was that it was tired of being separated from the girl and had decided to take matters into it's own hands.
Hiei almost asked what the godling knew that he wasn't telling but decided against it. There was nothing he could do even if he had the information, it wasn't as if he could take the girl away. Enma would hunt the both of them down, nothing would change except he'd be jailed for attempting to help her escape. "If you have nothing further that would be of interest to me then I will be leaving."
"No, that will be all." Koenma watched as the apparition turned on his heel and stalked out of the room. It was regretful that any of this had come to pass and he was feeling more than a little guilty for having dragged Hiei into this. He'd seemed the best choice at the time but the demigod was no longer so certain. While the Jagan was an invaluable asset when dealing with the girl, so far she hadn't given him another reason to use it. Perhaps he should have chosen someone else to watch over her instead. Kurama would have been able to maintain a distance between them, his cold way of thinking would have easily seen the necessity of what had occurred. However he'd never thought that Hiei would allow himself close to anyone, especially not a miko. Whether the hybrid wanted to admit it or not, Koenma wasn't fooled by his little tirade. Thoughts of pulling him off of the case came to mind but that could worsen things, both for Hiei and the girl. Resigned, Koenma knew the only thing he could do was wait this out and pray that a solution could be reached before things became any more complicated.
Kagome looked up when she heard the door open. She had thought it a bit strange that she hadn't seen Hiei at all today, normally he'd put in an appearance for at least a few minutes before running off to God only knew where. She never questioned him about it though, he was only there because he had to be not because he wanted to. She couldn't help but feel extremely lonely, even when he was there with her. But at the same time she was grateful for his presence, while he wasn't exactly friendly he helped to break up the monotony of her day. So it was of no great surprise that she smiled when he walked through the door but it quickly faltered seeing the expression on his face. "What's wrong?"
Taking his normal seat, Hiei stared at her while debating if he should tell her what he had learned or not. He wasn't sure which would be worse truthfully, knowing what was to come or being taken by surprise. But as she stared at him in concern his gut twisted. How betrayed would she feel if she learned that he knew what was happening and he had withheld that information? "The frequency of the Reikai's experiments are to increase. They are determined to find a way to destroy the jewel and no amount of persuasion will sway King Enma."
Kagome bit her lip as she contemplated what he had said. She had expected it really, seeing the angry glare in the Doctor's expression when he had stopped by yesterday to inspect her incision. She was sure the man hated her, as if it were her fault that the jewel had a mind of its own. What she wouldn't give to hand the damned thing to them and say here. At least then they could quit cutting on her. Turning slightly she stared out the window, for once taking no joy in the peaceful surroundings that lay just beyond the glass. "I want to go home." A wistful tone had entered her voice as she thought about her family.
A blanket of sadness had settled around the girl within moments while Hiei stared at her intently. Why was she still holding onto the life she had left behind even after learning what plans King Enma had for her? Surely hanging onto the past would only make dealing with the here and now more difficult. Hiei supposed it was the same for the kitsune, he could return to his own past but his mother tied him to this human life. "What were they like?"
"My family you mean?" At his nod a small smile crossed Kagome's face as she resettled herself, smoothing the comforter across her lap. An image of her Grandfather came to mind, his wrinkled face forming perfectly for her as he spouted off some nonsense, looking for all the world like he knew what he was talking about. "Well, there were four of us. Myself, my mother, grandfather and little brother. They live at Higurashi Shrine but you knew that already, it's been in the family for generations through my mother's side. Grandfather tends the grounds and makes all the necessary preparations when it is time for a festival." More than once she had been coerced into helping the old man. At the time she had been disgruntled at being volunteered but now, should she get the chance to help once more she wouldn't voice any complaints.
"He's just a bit crazy you know though I don't mean that in a bad way. Researching demon lore and mystic artifacts used to be a passion for him, unfortunately with his age many of the legends he once knew somehow tangled with others. Anymore you can never be sure what is actually the truth when he gets to talking but we love him anyway." Kagome remembered on more than one occasion trying to correct the man over some historical battle that he had gotten mixed up and failing miserably. It didn't matter that she was traveling to the time when these took place, no one could argue with him.
"Knowledge of demons was common in your family before your trips to the past?" The thought was intriguing to him. As far as Hiei had been aware all knowledge of demons had been erased from the Ningenkai. What had been left were a few legends that had been allowed to remain for various reasons. But Kagome spoke as if there were more than just bits and pieces of a legend or two, embellished by an imagination.
Kagome considered the question carefully before answering. "Well, I wouldn't say it was common knowledge exactly. I never believed in any of his wild tales until it was too late. On the other hand though there was no denying some of the artifacts he kept hidden. For my birthday he once presented me with a demon's mummified hand. Don't ask me where he got it, I didn't ask and I'm still not certain I want to know." She remembered that day vividly, having handed the green thing off to her cat. Now that she thought about it, the thing kinda reminded her of Jaken. Somehow she doubted that Sesshoumaru would be amused at the thought of his retainer becoming cat food.
Hiei nearly chuckled at the disgusted expression on the girl's face. No doubt it would have offended her to receive something so grotesque. Even Yusuke's idea of presenting Keiko with a food processor for her birthday along with a recipe book had to have been a better choice than a demon's hand. Still, he would have been interested in hearing just how he had acquired it in the first place.
"Then there is mama. When all of this started I thought she'd have a harder time with it all. But instead she's been rather supportive, including welcoming Inuyasha into the family. Of course, they didn't believe me when I said he had two puppy ears until he walked through the front door one day." Kagome giggled, remembering the expression on Inuyasha's face when her own mother had walked up to him and tweaked his ears. "Of course, she did the same thing I did and had to rub them. Inuyasha was rather upset at being manhandled. Souta yelling that his turn was next didn't help matters any either."
"Souta is your brother?" Somehow Hiei found it strange that a human family would accept demons among them so easily. Even Kurama refused to tell his family just what he was, fearing their condemnation. Should most human families be the same way? His thought strayed to Kuwabara and his sister Shizuru before brushing them away. Of course they'd accept the supernatural easily, they couldn't claim to be anywhere near normal themselves.
Nodding slightly, Kagome realized that this way the most interest the apparition had ever taken in her. For once he no longer looked as if he were pissed off at the word, instead he seemed genuinely curious. "Souta's younger than I am by a few years. He's been the best about all of this I think. He looks up to Inuyasha as a sort of role model, even if his manners aren't the best in the world. There's been times when I've been so rushed with time hopping I had completely forgotten about things like my homework and he'd take it on himself to bring them to me even if it made him late for his own classes. Of course, I think part of it is because he feels bad. Bouyo, our cat was the reason I was pulled into the past. Souta knew he was in the well house but was too afraid to go and get him himself so I went instead. Then Mistress Centipede pulled me into the well and he couldn't stop her. Poor kid, afterwards he told Mama and Grandfather what had happened and they didn't believe him. Ever since that day he's tried looking out for me when I am home as a way of making up for what happened I think."
It was slightly surprising to him finding out he had yet another thing in common with humans, most of the ones he had studied didn't seem to care about their families to such a large degree. Courtesy was given yes but it only extended so far. Most siblings it would seem would rather fight than look out for one another. "You seem to care for them a great deal."
"I do, it hurts to think that they don't even remember me. I can't see why all this was necessary." Kagome stopped herself before she became depressed again. She had managed to shrug off much of the sadness but she knew it was there lurking, waiting to strike once more. Instead she picked up her own line of questioning. Surely Hiei would have his own story wouldn't he? "What about you? Any friends of family to speak of?"
Hiei hesitated before answering her. Usually he would divulge no information on himself to anyone, even his teammates were limited in just what they knew about him. However this girl was being so forthcoming and she was trapped, unable to make good on any information she would be given. To be honest he doubted that she would use it to her advantage even if she did gain her freedom. "I have a sister though she does not know of our relationship."
"Why not?" Curiosity drove Kagome to ask the question in spite of the way he seemed to hesitate before answering her. There had to be some pressing reason for him to withhold the information from the girl, especially with how blunt and straightforward the apparition appeared to be.
Sensing no malice in the question he decided to humor her. After all, it wasn't as if he hadn't been asked this question before. In fact Kurama seemed to be the worst about hounding him to tell Yukina. Yusuke on the other hand seemed to understand his reasoning even if he didn't necessarily agree with it. He couldn't help but wonder how she would be. "Tell me, if you learned you had a brother and searched for him how would you feel in finding out he was a thief and a murderer? Not someone who killed merely out of self defense but because they enjoyed the adrenaline rush of taking someone's life?"
The question startled Kagome for several long moments as she stared at him, unsure of what to say. "I'm.. not sure. I think it would depend on what drove him to that point." Had the same question been asked before she went to the past she would have been horrified, now however she had to look past the initial knee jerk reaction. "In some ways, that's exactly the way Inuyasha is. His life hasn't been easy and there is no denying that he's had to steal and fight in order to survive. Though he'd probably deny it, I know he enjoys killing sometimes. It's in his eyes when he fights and each time he uses the Tetsusaiga I can see the enjoyment he gets watching the enemies turn to dust. Granted, he doesn't necessarily go looking for trouble but it always seems to find him. I could accept him as a brother easily and without reservation."
Hiei wasn't exactly sure what to make of her answer. If he didn't know better he'd think he was talking to a demoness in disguise. Humans were supposed to shrink away in revulsion at the thought of someone taking sadistic pleasure in killing, not saying they could understand and accept it. This strange girl continually surprised him. "You are strange for a human, even Yusuke had a difficult time in coming to terms with the life he had found himself drawn into."
"I've been told that. Quite a bit actually, few people in the past could accept how easily I became friends with Inuyasha. Few people here in my own time would be able to accept the changes I went through due to the past. Even if they didn't know the reasons why it happened, they still didn't know what to make of it." Kagome sighed, realizing just how true that statement was. Eri, Ayame and Yuka were constantly harassing her to be someone she wasn't. Doing the average thing most teenagers did no longer held any interest for her and dating the boy next door seemed positively dull. Who would take that when they could have someone exciting like Inuyasha or Kouga? "So is that why you won't tell her? You think she won't accept you?"
"I believe she would, but it would destroy the image she has held of her brother since she learned of his existence. I would not take that dream from her." It wasn't a matter of thinking Yukina would shun him. Instead he knew she would welcome him with open arms but he would still know what she had lost when she did. While the Koorime might never mention it, the knowledge would continue to haunt him and he had enough weighing down upon his shoulders. He didn't want to add to that burden.
"I suppose it's ultimately your decision on whether to tell her or not. I can't say whether you are right or wrong in your thinking. If it were me, I'd want to know and I'd be willing to take the bad with the good. Either way though I'm sure you'll make the right decision in the long run." Kagome gave him a slight smile, she could see his position even if she didn't agree with it. She didn't know the girl and couldn't begin to imagine how she would react to the knowledge. Hiei was the only one who could make the choice on telling her or not.
It was slightly surprising to him that Kagome didn't immediately launch into the 'It's cruel to keep it from her' argument that the others were so prone to do. It was a miracle that Kuwabara hadn't figured his secret out by now and for that he was grateful, if he had there was no doubt in his mind that Yukina would have found out a long time ago. "At least you're sensible. The others would be doing well to take a lesson from you. They have made it their business to interfere where it is not their concern."
"Maybe if I knew her it would be different but since I don't, it's not my place. Besides, you're the only one I can talk to in this place. If I alienated you where would that leave me?" Kagome had no desire to speak to that pacifier junky, it was all she could do not to scream at him when he visited her on the few occasions he had made the attempt. The ogres were afraid of her with good reason, if she thought she had half a chance to escape she'd have purified them a long time ago in the attempt. Hiei was the only one who seemed to give half a damn about what was happening, even if he remained cold towards her most of the time.
"Climbing the walls in your boredom and driving me to distraction I suspect." On more than one occasion her incessant pacing and attempts at conversation had driven him from the room. Hiei didn't want to imagine how much worse it would be should she decide to truly attempt annoying him. Thankfully though she had refrained, threatening her with bodily harm at this stage in the game would probably get him laughed at. With everything else she was going through he wasn't likely to carry through with it.
Kagome laughed then, somehow knowing exactly what he was thinking. He was always so serious and for a while she despaired over him ever lightening up any. Of course, given the circumstances it would be difficult for any humor at any point but at least they were putting forth the effort. His attempts to distract her were more than welcomed at this point in time. "You might be right about that. but somehow I think you enjoy when I do it more than you let on."
A snort met that suggestion, even though he occasionally found her antics amusing he wasn't about to provoke her into a demonstration. He'd rather go ten rounds with Kuwabara, assuming of course that the human could last that long. "If you believe that I might just have to accuse you of being delusional." Hiei stood then, fully prepared to leave the room. "You should rest, they come for you in the morning."
Her mood dampened then, of course they would come. He had told her that the examinations would become more frequent. Kagome wasn't certain how much longer she would be able to cope. Her side still throbbed from the last time they had sliced her open, how much longer could this go on? She nodded to him indicating that she had heard. "Thank you for telling me. Will you be there tomorrow?"
"I will." As much as he disliked the thought of having to watch them tear at her yet again, he wouldn't leave her to face it alone. Briefly he wondered when he had begun to think of her as slightly more than a job and then cursed Koenma for being right. He was getting attached. Without another word he walked out the door, confident that she would be more than capable of taking care of herself for the night.
As he entered his own room, he stripped his cloak off and draped it over a nearby chair before heading over to the bed. Even through the thick walls he could hear her moving around, most likely preparing to sleep. Even now he could tell her movements were slow and pained, most likely she wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight in the morning. He wasn't sure if that was for the better anymore or not, the assistants were likely to be twice as harsh with her seeing that she couldn't fight back. It was merely another reason for him to go, he'd be able to somewhat keep them in line.
