Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha
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Chapter 5 - "We were looking for you!"
Kagome woke up to the familiar curled form on her bed - and a golden eyed one on the floor next to her. Sleepily, she raised an eyebrow and the kitsune raised his head, glancing at Yusuke's wolf form at the end of the bed before looking back at her.
'Keiko kicked us both out of the living room, and out of Souta's room when she went to sleep - and he came in here. Once I was back in control and in this body, I saw no reason to sleep in the hallway, and the majin was already asleep, so he couldn't object,' Youko explained calmly, though morosely. Kagome shrugged and ignored the look in his eyes that was asking for sympathy.
Halfway out the door and to the shower, she paused. "He was in here already? Before you transformed back?"
'Yes,' The kitsune answered smugly.
Determined not to give him anything else to be smug about, she gathered up an outfit and went to the bathroom, her pace quickening when she felt Inuyasha's familiar presence nearby. She slammed the door close behind her, seeing a silver blur out of the corner of her eye as she did. Curses came from the other side, and Kagome was quick to start the water. It was well know that no one came in when someone else was in the shower.
At least, it was known to her little "familyî. It was not known to the other recent members of the household, as she was quick to remember when a hesitant knock came at the door only a few minutes into the shower when she had just began to think on what Youko had said. Keiko's voice drifted through the air. "Kagome? Can I talk to you? In there I mean."
Kagome winced, having been looking forward to spending as much time alone and away from Inuyasha as she could - possibly until the hot water ran out. finally she asked, "Now? Is it that important?"
"Well... I'd rather not have the boy's overhearing it," was the answer.
Sighing, Kagome leaned her head out of the running water and against the tile of the shower before calling out, a bit muffled by the wall, "Come in."
The door clicked open and then shut, and Kagome could hear Keiko shifting around the bathroom. She prayed that this wasn't going to be about Yusuke and Kurama. Surely the girl wouldn't ask someone she'd only know a whole month for advice on two boys who between them had more personality problems than Naraku had once had baboon suits. At least, she hoped he had more than one. Though that would have accounted for the smell...
"It's about Yusuke and Kurama," Keiko began hesitantly, and Kagome resisted the urge to slam her head into the wall. She was the wrong person to be asking for boy advice - she had dated Inuyasha, while both Kouga and Houjo had waited off in the wings - the sweetest boy on the whole planet, and the most devoted demon there ever was, and she had chosen Inuyasha. Not that in the end she had stayed with him - but at the time, considering her choices, she had possibly chosen the worst possible boy - of course, he could be sweet at times, and he did protect her - but in the end, it hadn't been her that had needed protecting.
"Go on," She sighed, unable to help herself. She couldn't deny Keiko. She needed help, and Kagome would give it.
"Well..." Keiko hesitated, and trailed off.
"Yusuke and you are together but now you're feeling something for Kurama and your wondering that if the whole meant-to-be-since-childhood thing might just be because you never thought there would be anyone better and who you could or would love more?" Kagome washed the shampoo from her hair and wondered if she should just do both their lines. The conversation would get over more quickly.
Instantly she felt contrite. She was just moody because she hadn't had enough sleep, Inuyasha was going to kill her, and because she was being threatened by someone she was trying to protect. And of course, because of Yusuke. Guiltily, she reminded herself his girlfriend was sitting outside her shower and pushed everything make her ill tempered off to one side of her mind.
"Well... Yes!" Keiko exclaimed, sounding surprised. "That's it exactly. What should I do?"
Kagome frowned, and chewed at her lip. She didn't know how to settle that one. She tried to think of what Miroku would say, and instantly blushed. No help there. He would probably have told her to try them both. Swallowing down that highly inappropriate thought, she asked, "Why don't you just take a few days to think of which you like better?"
"Well, for one, Yusuke's noticed my behavior - and I already tried that," Keiko sighed.
"What about which you would be happier with?" Kagome tried.
Keiko was silent for a few minutes and Kagome washed in peace, almost expecting the girl to leave. "I can't know that - but... Well..."
"Yes?" Kagome prodded, reaching for the soap.
"I think Yusuke would be happier without me," Keiko blurted out. The soap slipped out of Kagome's hand and hit the floor with a wet thud. Kagome didn't notice, because she had pulled aside the curtain just enough to peak her head out and stare at the fidgeting Keiko.
"What do you mean? I thought... I mean, he's the one who seems to be holding on a lot harder. No offense." Kagome tilted her head, eyes wide in confusion.
"I know what it looks like - but he's more angry at Kurama for flirting than me to straying - he gets in fights with Kurama, not with me. And... he's a little hurt by it, but not as much as he should be. I know it sounds silly, but I do know him - I'm just wondering if he wouldn't be happier with someone else. And I know I can't keep saying that we're together or that we'll get married soon if I'm thinking this." Keiko looked so depressed that when Kagome moved her head back into the shower, it was to hurry with the rest of her cleaning.
"You know what we'll do once Inuyasha had finished with me?" Kagome asked, grimacing at the thought.
"What?" Keiko asked, sounding hopeful.
"We're going to talk to my mother. Or, at least, be around her. Mama knows exactly what to say - and what not to say. I think it's time you got away from them anyway," Kagome said firmly.
-----
'Again?' Yusuke asked in exasperation as he tore up the meat Souta had handed him. 'Where's Keiko, then?'
Souta debated pointing out that the demon's priorities should probably be the other way around, and then studied those teeth for a moment. No, it was probably better not to mention it. "With Kagome."
Youko raised his head from his own meal and two pairs of intent eyes focused on the boy. 'They're both out there. Alone. When there's a group after us - and possibly anyone they can use to get to us? I'm sure they must know it's the miko by now - and Keiko's a very nice target to go after.'
The boy rolled his eyes. "That's a stupid excuse for going after them. You should get a better one before you get there. But I'll give you the directions."
He paused before smirking at them both. "I'll be giving both of you the directions, by the way, just so I don't have to repeat them."
Youko didn't pretend to be shocked, just waited as Souta consulted a piece of paper and then listed off street names and directions. His memory was excellent - though he knew Yusuke's was less so. Still, the wolf form he was in could easily keep up. There was just a little problem. 'I think it may be odd for a wolf and a white fox to walk around Tokyo. Just a bit.'
Souta shrugged and said carelessly, "Not my problem. Wait until Shizuru visits today and get her to drive you. Or just wait until you have your own forms. I couldn't care less."
Yusuke watched him walk out, and then looked at the angry kitsune. 'We'll wait, Kurama. Besides - ' There was a hint of malicious mischief in his voice as he continued, ' - It'll be more interesting this way.'
'If by interesting you mean this way we can at least look down on Keiko when she yells at us, yes, it will be. Of course, you have two girls to worry about, don't you?' Youko studied his paw as he spoke, apparently intent on the white fur and sharp claws.
'I don't know what you're talking about,' Yusuke tried, but his attempt fell flat when Youko gave a harsh barking growl - it sounded amused.
'Tell that to someone who didn't see you watching her sleep,' He said smugly, and jumped sideways just in time as large jaws snapped at the spot he had been a heartbeat before.
'I was making sure she was all right,' Yusuke growled.
Youko regarded him with knowing gold eyes and yawned hugely, sauntering out of the room, stopping only for the parting shot of, 'She didn't smell like sex last night. I'm sure you'll rectify that later.'
'I wouldn't cheat on Keiko,' Yusuke snarled, lunging for the fox again, but only half-heartedly. The kitsune knew he'd struck something.
'It's not cheating if Keiko doesn't want you anymore,' Youko shot off before sprinting into the living room, Yusuke hot on his heels. Probably there would have been a major confrontation if a huge paw hadn't come out of nowhere and batted them both to opposite sides of the living room. Kuwabara loomed above them both, but he didn't stop Yusuke from growling and baring his teeth at Kurama.
"Stop that," Kagura said as she changed the channel on the TV, apparently ignoring the danger the two canines presented to the safety and continued good health of the furniture.
'Fuck, no wonder Kurama never let you run free,' Yusuke sent.
'Idiot. I am Kurama. So is he. We are both Kurama, and sometimes we are one, and sometimes we just... aren't. It's a matter of upbringing and souls. Too complicated for you to understand.' Youko dove under the couch, wriggling fiercely to fit, and yelped when teeth dug into his tail and began to pull him backward. For the first time he could remember, Youko wished he were a cat, if only because then he could dig his claws into the carpet.
Suddenly, his tail was let go and Yusuke let out a yelp. Hiei's mental voice sounded as Youko caught the smell of flames. 'Stop this. Now.'
Youko turned his head and caught Yusuke's gaze. Then they both looked at Hiei's smaller dragon form, and then back at each other. Silently, they agreed to continue it later.
-----
By the time Yusuke and Kurama - the red headed one - made it to the end of the directions, it was well after dark, and after ending up back at the shrine multiple times, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Botan were now guiding them along. Souta had been too amused by the two of them constantly getting lost to help, Inuyasha was still pouting in his room - apparently his scolding of Kagome hadn't gone so well - and Kagura hadn't even looked at them as they trooped out. Shippo, of course, pretended to be asleep the whole time.
"It's a house," Yusuke observed. "A small one, but still - why do they even need another house?"
"Considering Kagome accepted us into the shrine within a few moments, perhaps it was prudent of them to buy one," Kurama suggested. He had put the other three between him and Yusuke because despite the fact it had been Youko who had said and done everything, Kurama didn't think Yusuke would buy that.
"She is a bit impulsive in matters where the supernatural need help, isn't she?" Botan asked rhetorically as they all walked toward the house. It was a tiny house, and obviously not meant for a whole family - only for the mother and the grandfather.
Yusuke had only knocked twice when a woman opened the door, middle aged and with a smile on her face. She stared a moment at the four boys and the blue haired girl before swinging the door wide open and point to a large open space with a tv and couch. "They're in there."
Kurama slipped in first, hoping to gauge the damage before Yusuke started in. A few steps in he stopped short and stared, causing Yusuke to bump into him. Without turning his head, Kurama reached out a hand and covered the majin's mouth before he could begin swearing. His red hair swung forward when he jerked his head toward the two sleeping bodies on the floor.
The TV had evidently been showing a movie before as it now was showing nothing but a blank screen and a tape was sticking out of a VCR. Keiko was using one of Kagome's outstretched arms as a pillow and both girls looked particularly at peace.
"Good luck with the lectures," Botan said, not bothering to conceal her amusement as she skirted around the boys and went around the edge of the room toward where Kagome's mother had disappeared. Kuwabara followed her - and Hiei had disappeared entirely.
"Well. This is going different than expected," A nonplussed kitsune stated. The amused mental voice in the back of his mind agreed. The youko seemed to find the whole situation highly amusing, and Kurama ground his teeth in annoyance before taking a few quiet steps forward to stare at the girls.
"What are you doing?" Yusuke asked suspiciously, but his own curiosity drove him forward.
"Making sure they're really asleep," Kurama replied, and added on at Yusuke's questioning look, "They are."
"Huh. We come all this way to make sure they're fine and they're fast asleep," Yusuke grumbled, and inched forward. Kurama watched the hesitation as he reached between Kagome and Keiko, and then, surprisingly, he went to shake Kagome. The red head suddenly wondered if Youko was seeing something he was missing. Perhaps the teasing wasn't baseless after all.
Before Yusuke could touched her, the miko's eyes snapped open. For a moment before she was fully awake they were confused and out of focus - and then she began cursing, climbing to her feet and batting away Yusuke's hand. "Morons! You've led them right to you!"
Kurama knew instantly what she was talking about. Most of their power wasn't present, thanks to the spell, and they were weak right now - but his heightened senses weren't a part of his physical power and he could smell them now through the still open door. Not many - perhaps a bit more than a dozen. Enough to cause problems for the weakened five.
Keiko raised her head blearily as Kagome swept past all of them and grabbed her bow that was leaning against the wall outside the door. Yusuke looked a bit stunned - but followed her anyway, despite the fact that their youki was weakened. Kurama glanced around and noticed Kuwabara was doing the same. With a sigh, the red head looked at Keiko and told her, "Stay here. There are demons outside. We'll be back in a few minutes."
He didn't actually know that they would - but he hoped that the demons were simply weaklings that even weakened they'd be able to take care of. It was to his mild surprise that he was not only right, but that Kagome had taken care of half of them with her bow before Yusuke had even killed his first. Of course, Kurama knew that in a month's time, that would be opposite the present situation.
There were actually almost two dozen - and they were on them just as Hiei dropped down from a tree to stand nearby. Silently Kurama changed his ever-present rose into the Rose Whip and stepped up to kill his first opponent. He kept an ever-present tab on his companions and was surprised to notice that when Kagome dropped her bow - useless at short range - that she didn't pull out another weapon, but instead fought with her fists and feet, her miko energy saturating the air.
Kurama also didn't miss the way Yusuke's gaze strayed almost admiringly to the miko in the few spare moments. Even Youko seemed slightly surprised. If his comments hadn't had a basis in reality before, they did now. But the fight was fairly short, and the enemies fairly weak - though they all still felt frustrated and tired at the end - if they had been at full strength, any one of them could have taken all of them on, instead of just a couple each and leaving the bulk to Kagome to kill.
Furious blue eyes glared at all of them before the ash had settled around her and Kurama almost followed in Kuwabara's footsteps as the human took a hesitant step backward. The miko's fierce glare seemed unable to settle on any one of them, and she finally just settled on glaring at the air somewhere in the middle of them. "What did you think you were doing? There was a reason you were hidden behind wards! You may not be able to use your powers properly, but your presence fills the air, and it's impossible to miss! You could have gotten us all killed!"
Kurama racked his brains for a way to smooth it all over - but then Yusuke had to open his mouth. "We were looking for you! You and Keiko just fucking ran off for whatever stupid girly reason behind this, and we were trying to make sure you didn't get killed!"
Kurama closed his eyes for one moment in frustration, and then opened them to move slowly and silently toward the door as Kagome turned all of her furious attention onto the majin. Keiko was watching the scene through wide, alarmed eyes, and the kitsune ushered her inside, saying softly, "They'll be alright. They just need to yell for a bit to work out their frustrations."
"Won't it just make it worse?" She asked.
Behind them, Kagome had found words for Yusuke, and none of them sounded the least bit apologetic. "You knew where we were. Don't use us as an excuse for your own hare brained ideas, Urameshi Yusuke! We aren't the ones with people after us, you are!"
"Like it's difficult to see who's sheltering us! You're the one who pointed out that it wouldn't be long!" Yusuke snapped.
Watching them, Kurama sighed. "Yes, it might make it worse. But they've begun already, and it will be worse if we stop it."
Keiko had a strange look in her eyes as she stared at Yusuke, and then slowly her gaze trailed toward the red faced miko. She allowed herself to be pushed inside, but there was a thoughtful look on her face when she sat down, and Kurama couldn't help feeling he'd missed something as the yelling continued outside.
"Well, now they definitely know, thanks to you!" Kagome screeched.
"And what if they were already coming here? You wouldn't have had any fucking backup!" Yusuke ground his teeth at having to refer to himself as "backup".
Before Kagome could make a potentially hurtful retort, a sharp voice interrupted them. "Children, you stop that! Kagome, why don't you clean up the mess left behind, and boy, gather your friends and go home - you should all get back to the wards. Once you get there, I'm sure you'll both have calmed down enough to talk about this like rational beings."
"Doubtful," Someone sighed as Kagome's mother finished her speech. Yusuke threw a vicious glare at Botan, who did her best to look innocent.
"Fine," Yusuke and Kagome snapped in unison, and Kagome busied herself with the task of purifying the demon bodies.
-----
Kagome couldn't say that the walk had calmed her temper much - but it had made her realize how much she had single mindedly gone after them out of her own guilt - because Yusuke could have been right. They could have been following her, and she had been the one to put her family in danger.
It also made her realize that this was the first time she had seen them under clear lights, even if it was under street lights. Pictures really didn't do them justice. Even Kuwabara, the plainest of them, had a certain innocent charm to him, and certainly the other three were what her friends would have easily termed as eye-candy. Even Hiei, with his red glaring eyes had her attention a bit. Mostly it was still Yusuke - of course, this could be because he was radiating anger and aggression still, and it was getting on her nerves. But Keiko's fox was quite good looking, and she knew that at least Yusuke and Kurama had seen her looking - Yusuke because he had growled, and Kurama because he had done a funny little half smile that was just a quirk of his lips and made her blush with realization.
She hadn't been around this many good looking males since after the battle of Naraku - though so far, none quite matched Sesshoumaru in his lofty splendor. Or Kouga with his more rugged and wild personality. Though personality wise Yusuke came close, and Hiei was far from tame.
"The pictures just aren't as good, huh?" Came an amused voice from beside her. Kagome ducked her head to hide a blush as Botan fell back to fall into step beside her, and Keiko wasn't far behind.
"Don't worry, neither of us mind. I like looking quite a bit - though unlike Keiko, I don't think I could handle any of them," Botan said, seeming a bit wistful.
Keiko blushed, but admitted, "They are quite eye catching, especially standing together, and their personalities are very different - and each one of them calls attention to himself somehow, even by accident. It's a good thing they're mostly oblivious to it - they'd spend all day preening instead of fighting."
Kagome giggled, but before she could reply, an amused green gaze looked at them over his shoulder and said pointedly, "I can hear you three you know."
He smiled at the sudden abrupt silence and his eyes twinkled as he said. "It is nice to hear what you think of us."
Yusuke's head jerked up from contemplating a rock he was kicking over the dark sidewalk. He turned his head to fix brown eyes on the three girls. "What? What were they saying?"
As Kurama's smile grew, Kagome's face brightened and she pointed toward the stairs of her shrine. "We're home!"
The three girls bolted up the stairs fast enough that Kurama's hair was blown around in the wake of their disappearance. The other three boys turned curious eyes on him. Even Hiei looked marginally interested. The red head smiled mysteriously and made his way up the stairs.
Kagome had separated from the others to go to the God Tree for a nightly visitation and breathed in the calming aura around the tree. She knew before her hand fell on the bark that Yusuke was trailing after her. It wouldn't lead to either of them being calmer, usually, but he was coming toward her, and he would have questions on his mind - she just hoped he didn't want to argue more. It was too late at night to argue now.
"What is with you and this tree?" He asked.
"It's calmer under here - always has been, and probably always will be. It's also the one thing my whole family can always count on as being there." She peered at him from under lowered lashed. The moon was still bright, but not quite at the right angle to see much of him. He wasn't looking at her - she could tell that much. She would bet he was looking toward the house - where Keiko was probably trying to figure out what she should say to both boys. That was a discussion Kagome wanted to be nowhere near.
"Why were you over there?" Yusuke asked casually. She gave him a dark look he couldn't see. If he thought that was going to trick her, he obviously had a lot to learn.
"My mother gives good advice sometimes, and Keiko needed some. Boys are difficult." She sat down on one of the larger roots, glad they extended so far up out of the ground. She tried to feel his aura, as flickering and weak as it was - but considering how weak it was supposed to make them, and that this was only the second day, they had to be extraordinary at full strength.
"I wouldn't know," Yusuke replied flippantly and she could just make out his silhouette copying her stance on another root. "So? What was the decision?"
Kagome sighed and stared down at the dark ground. "Yusuke... It's not my part to say."
"You just did," Yusuke muttered, his voice low and hard. There was just enough anger there to make her glance up again. There was nothing to see, but she tried anyway.
"This isn't any of my business," Kagome murmured and stood to leave. She winced when a hand shot up to grab her wrist, though out of trepidation, not fear. And damn, did everyone have better night sight than she did?
"Isn't it?" He asked levelly. "You helped her come to this decision."
Kagome froze, slightly startled, before she felt the anger uncurling in her middle, giving her enough energy to realize he was trying to pin this blame on her. Furious, she pulled her wrist from his grip, her hand glowing for a moment with miko energy. He swore in surprise.
"Don't even it try it, Urameshi," Kagome snapped, keeping her voice down. "I didn't tell her who to choose, and neither did my mother. This isn't my responsibility; it's hers, yours, and Kurama's! You think this wouldn't have happened if you weren't here? Then you're more blind than anyone ever credited you with."
Her perfect fit of rage would have been perfect if she'd been allowed to stomp off, but she had only made one step when she was pulled back and trapped against the bark of her tree. He was close enough that she could actually feel the growl vibrating in his chest. But he didn't say anything and she huffed and crossed her arms. "Can I go in now or are you going to actually say something before the sun comes up?"
"You're such a bitch," He hissed. She froze, and struggled against the automatic subduing command that came to her mouth. She closed her eyes and refused to be hurt by the insult that Inuyasha had called her more than once over the years.
"Back off," She said after a few moments of silence, and her voice was cool. Yusuke didn't move. He did mutter something under his breath that was unintelligible to her ears.
"I shouldn't have said that," He offered, and there was a tiny note of apology in his voice. For some reason, that made her more furious. She had taken them in, she had tried to help them, but she didn't want to have to do with their drama.
"Back. Off," She repeated, this time letting the purifying energy gather in her hands.
"Kagome," He began, and his voice held too many emotions for her to pick any one out. She went with her first instinct and punched him. Or she tried to. He could see a lot better than her, and while her fist grazed his cheek, he caught it easily before she could pull it back. She glared, and wished she'd gone with an open palm instead - but then more energy was released, and she didn't really want to hurt him - just back off enough for her to bolt.
"I didn't fucking mean it," He explained, sounding frustrated. "I'm just pissed off."
"Be pissed off at someone else," She hissed, and tried to pull her wrist away.
"Who? How the hell can I be pissed at Kurama and Keiko? How many times have they been there for me?" Kagome blinked at the furious question and almost groaned. Someone save her from the emotionally blind and stupid.
"So you have to be pissed at me? Too damn bad for you! I didn't do anything!" She glared uselessly in his general direction and wondered if kicking him would do any good.
"Yes you did," he muttered. "You just don't realize it."
He released her wrist and was walking away before she had time to register that comment. Incredulously, she turned her head back and stared up at the branches of the trees. "I suppose that made some kind of sense to you?"
"Yes," A dark voice said from the tree, and she threw up her hands.
"That's because all of your are the same brand of crazy!" Kagome glared once more for good measure and then stomped on over to her house - but not to the door. She went to the back and climbed quickly up the tree closest to her window. She definitely wasn't going to go through the front door and hear the argument that would start. She tidied up, changed for bed, and left the door open wide enough for Shippo - or any other furred creature - to creep in and out. Shippo was actually already in bed, but she chose to ignore that fact as she curled around him.
She woke up briefly, feeling an itch on her back that had nothing to do with the material shifting on her back, and usually had to do with someone watching her. Very carefully, she kept her breathing even and tried to get a grasp on the auras around her. Kurama was still up, with mostly everyone else, enjoying the last few minutes before they changed back. Except Yusuke, who was watching her in a way that would have been creepy if his aura hadn't been so calm.
Deciding there was no real reason to pretend, she lifted her head and met his startled eyes straight on. Still a bit sleepy, but knowing exactly what she was saying, she nodded to a chair closer to the bed. "If you're going to do that, sit down. There's no reason for you to be uncomfortable."
"Surprised you're talking to me," He murmured, almost too low to hear.
"If I stayed mad every time someone called me a bitch, I would never have talked to Inuyasha for a good portion of the years we've known each other - though usually he used wench instead. Bitch seemed a word for special arguments." She shifted to sit up, careful not to dislodge Shippo, who had fallen asleep in the curve of her body.
"How'd it go?" She asked when he didn't say anything more.
"Badly," He answered shortly. Then he added almost unwillingly, "But not as bad as it could have been."
"And not as much pain as you thought there would be?" She asked, gently this time. She was careful to keep the pity from her voice.
"Yeah," He whispered, and she nodded. She waited, and then when nothing more happened, motioned to the chair again. This time he moved forward and sat.
She ignored his presence and settled back down - but moved Shippo to the other side, so they could sleep facing the chair. Shippo murmured a sleepy protest, but she ran a hand through his hair and the fur of his tail and he slowly settled back into slumber. Feeling more comfortable than she had in days, she followed him quickly.
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End Part
Thank Rose for editting this for me when I couldn't seem to just get down and do it myself, otherwise who knows how long it would have taken to be posted! And if any of you wrote a review more than a couple of sentences, you should check your e-mails, many of you have replies - well, if you're registered and I could click the reply button at least.
