Disclaimer: I don't own anything peeps!

A/N: Not very important notice but I thought I should mention it. I like red-haired Kurama a lot but in this one shot I'm going with the original Black hair like in the manga.

Title: Ferment Flowers
Author: Adorkablebanana
Genre: IY/YYH crossover, one shot, shoujo-ai, romance, fluff.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: At first Yukina didn't understand but when its her turn to be struck she comes to terms with what it is like to fall in love. Yukina/Kagome.

Chapter 3: Struck

What does the meaning of love mean?

Yukina never felt that type of affections towards no one. She loved many things, like her woodland animal friends, the flowers, spring, cooking, and her friends she grown to dearly like but she, of all the things, never felt a love between her and a specific person. Not like how Keiko and Yuusuke care about one another.

Yukina still scratched her head in mild confusion about their relationship. Back home no Koorime would be caught dead with a male. It was forbidden and everyone went by a different preference and she liked it. She felt satisfied with it.

Yukina knew deep down she wasn't in the right field with everyone, everyone experienced that emotion once, why hasn't she?

She was missing out on a special event she desired to participate in.

One day Yukina inquired what it was and Kurabara Shizuru answered her in the best manner she could put together. Yukina had nothing to go by to understand this or even track it down or how it happens.

Apparently love is as mysterious but as wonderful as a phenomenon could be.

"Love is blind, Yukina."

"How so?" Love is blind? Love isn't a breathing, living creature. It isn't an object either. How is it alive?

"Don't worry about it. It just happens and when it does its kind of nice," Shizuru explained, trying to clarify what the meaning is exactly for Yukina. Explaining the inner works something like love is not the simplest of things to specify, many people have yet to know what it truly is.

Shizuru told her what she could go by. She patted Yukina on the arm. "Don't fret over it, you'll know when it happens."

"I hope so." The ice maiden truly hoped. Deep down her doubts clouded Shizuru's words.

Kurama, Yuusuke, Kurabara, Botan and Hiei went on to investigate a power channel opening signals Ningenkai should not have by this time along the road. The Reikai tended to that little problem during the separation of the realms.

Why is there an energy rip now?

No one truly could answer the question and for duties' sake the demigod, Koenma, send the spirit detectives to find out.

When the team went to collect Kurabara he was in the company of Yukina, on another one of those "dates" he got all excited for. Yukina admitted the dates were fun and she liked going on them even when half the time Kazuma confused her.

Yukina did not recognize the neighborhood, unable to go home on her own. Much to Hiei's displeasure Yukina tagged along. If things gotten rough Hiei made sure Yukina took off with Botan. Botan agreed.

The group was at the foot of one of Tokyo's oldest shrines. The place at the time attracted a few tourists and the inconvenience to arrive at a time where pedestrians could get in the way dampen the chances to go right down to business.

The shrine looked like any other shrine in Tokyo the only minus factor is the feeling of power swirling in the air was a bit off for a holy ground. It didn't taste like a shrine and the first few to realize the factor slipped each other sideways glances. Hiei and Kurama nodded, knowing already the issue up to bat.

Kurabara rubbed his arms uncomfortably, his expression melting to a more serious one. The 'off' feeling ghosted over his skin. He could say for one thing this wasn't as normal as it should be. Yuusuke voiced his confusion. "Guys, is it me or…"

"No, your instinct is right on the dot," Kurama said, his brows slightly slanting. His long dark hair swayed in the thick breeze, he flicked a tress behind a shoulder out of habit.

"What do we do now?" Kurabara asked, eyeing all the tourists in the area. "There are all these people here in the way."

"We should wait a little longer for them to leave," Botan suggested, the wide sleeves of her pink kimono hiding the portable wooden oar, shrinking to a smaller size to stash. "In the meantime we need to join in that group taking a tour around the shrine. We can't stick out doing nothing."

"I second that," Kurabara added quickly. He reached to hold Yukina's hand, leading her towards the group. Hiei's cold glare threatened Kurabara's well-being. The idiot human just won't quit.

Kurama followed as Yuusuke did and then Botan. Hiei tread on behind disliking the plan to join the oohing and ahhing noisy group of people. An old man dressed in traditional priest garbs talked about the history of the shrine, legends and myths often practiced. One particular legend awakened Kurama's attention, discussion of the Shikon-no-tama. The jewels of four souls story is a great myth among the humans but a historical fact most youkai in the Makai are aware of.

Kurama certainly knew of it. Hiei too, he finally began listening in on what the elder man said.

Yuusuke poked Kurama's shoulder. "Hey, is it true what the geezer's saying?" he asked, in a whispering tone. He noticed the deep attention suddenly over the kitsune. Something was up.

"Shh, I will explain after he's done."

Interesting as the story was Yukina's mind strayed. Kurabara's grip loosen enough for her to wiggle out. The place, this shrine, had a weird mixture about it. She couldn't put her finger on it and the very same reason worried her.

Did the guys and Botan come here to investigate a case? The answer was there out on the open. She hoped they'd be careful.

She stepped away a bit, the crowd blocking her view of anything. Her height didn't help her case and frankly she grew tired of staring at people's backs. Among the mass of people in the far edge of the shrine she escaped for a bit. A pretty flowerbed attracted her attention enough to pay it a visit. Yukina kneeled to see the pretty flowers in the flowerbed around the shrine owners' house. They were well taken cared of. She admired their healthy beauty.

Yukina was so enthralled by the flowers she paid no heed to anything surrounding her, she didn't realize either a person standing behind her. A slender forearm curved around her collarbone, a thumb pressing her lips close. "Shh…stay still or else…"

Yukina's heart raced a mile a minute in less than a seconds' time. The unexpected hold froze Yukina stiff. She swallowed a few times to regulate her breathing and keep in check her rising panic. What is happening? She did nothing of the sort to put in motion a fight.

Oh no, perhaps it's the demon hiding in the shrine the spirit detectives are looking for. A thousand thoughts ran across her mind. Her eyes watered and before she could tear up the one keeping hold of her whispered clearly, "Don't move a muscle. I got almost have it."

What? Almost have what? Did Yukina sincerely want to know? She obeyed and stood stock-still. A jar's top popped closed beside Yukina's shoulder and with a victorious 'aha!' she was released. Yukina turned around to face the stranger who turned out to be a woman?

"I got you now. Now you can't buzz away," the woman mocked the bee buzzing angrily around the small shiny jar. Yukina blinked the blur and surprise out of her eyes. The woman had no interest to harm her?

Aware of the confused stare the woman smiled apologetically. "Sorry about that. My brother's homework escaped and I found it resting on your shoulder. I didn't want it to sting you so I kind of snuck up on you, sorry again," she said, bowing her head in recognition. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh, no. You just startled me. No harm done." Yukina felt silly for her reaction, she shouldn't jump to conclusions right away. Embarrassed, she tugged the hem of her kimono sleeves.

Training her eyes down she noticed a flower pitcher beside the woman's flip flopped feet. Yukina watched her reach down for it and resumed to watering the flowers she was admiring a few seconds ago. 'She's the owner of the flowers.'

She tipped the pitcher a portion sprinkling the flowers fresh water, Yukina watched interested and looking up at the arm pouring the flowers their drink of the day she noticed clearly the woman for the first time.

'Oh my…' Her face felt hot, hot like a heavy heat wave catching her from the inside. Where has this come from? Yukina didn't like the sudden excitement. She couldn't do anything but stare at her transfixed.

She was beautiful. Her very long, ink black hair braided down her back in one messy pigtail shined in the sun's light, her dark brown eyes concentrated on the task she's performing, they showed a kindness enough to comfort a person. Her fair complexion contrasted under the darkness of her hair and the face that flashed her a smile was beautiful, just a clean beautiful sending Yukina's heart racing.

What is this she's feeling? Oh she wanted to know, she wanted to find out why her nerves twisted in a knot and the feeling to be near her was blissful.

"What is your name?" Yukina yearned to know. She edged closer to her, admiring her the longer time passed.

"Higurashi Kagome. And yours?"

Kagome…what a pretty name. She could say that name over and over again and never grow tired. Having Kagome's full attention on Yukina made the apparition self-conscious, what was her name again? She searched her thoughts for her own name. Goodness the forgetfulness put her under a strain.

Yukina cleared her throat before stuttering, "Y-Yukina."

"Yukina? I like your name, it suits you, Yukina-san." Kagome giggled as Yukina nodded quickly, the girl unsure what to do around Kagome. "Are you with the tour group my grandfather's showing around today?"

"No--I--I mean yes."

"The shrine's popular this year. We get tour groups in swarms on the weekends, I even had to dress the part," she indicated to her formal garbs, a white gi and red hakamas. The clothing made her feel like Kikyou in a way but now it didn't matter much. She can't help resembling the beautiful priestess.

Yukina thought the outfit looked stunning on her, she couldn't say why specifically. In fact she thought anything would look marvelous on her. "You look very nice in it," Yukina complimented timidly.

Kagome laughed. "Thanks. I don't like it though, it gets in the way." Kagome had the bruises to prove it. Thanks to the thick hem of the pants she tripped, falling down the stairs. The experience not worth reliving. InuYasha always acted strange when she wore it around him. She knew already the reason. Speaking of said hanyou, he should be coming for her later tonight.

"Yukinaaa!" the familiar wailing startled both of them. Kagome set aside tending to the flowers and stood. Yukina followed, dreading their time is cut short.

"Friends of yours?"

"Yes." Yukina tried to mask her frown. Leaving was the last thing she wanted to do. Would she see Kagome again?

Kurabara came running with Botan. She swatted him in arm for his carelessness. "See! If you kept an eye on her we wouldn't have gone looking for her like idiots."

Kurabara glared at Botan then switched to a more pleasant tune instantly. Whenever facing Yukina his mood was always cheerful. Thought this time he expressed worry. "I thought you were taken by the de--"

"--The crowd," Botan cut in. She elbowed Kurabara in the ribs for almost blowing their cover. The girl in miko garbs obviously works here and to have a group of people searching the place for 'demons' she'll call the police.

"I'm well Kazuma. I apologized for worrying you," Yukina said, inclining her head. Kurabara flushed, frantically telling her there's no need for apologizes. Observing Kurabara fuss over Yukina put a smile on Kagome's face. In that heartwarming kind of way Kagome thought the caring was cute. Too bad not many girls had it that way, she ended up loving an indifferent dense inu-hanyou whose idea of romance is stuffing his face in ramen while he ordered her for more.

Leave it to her to love the callous one.

A young, strapping man with that bad boy type of allure joined the group, running a hand through his dark, slightly messy hair in agitation. No hair gel meant extra attention from his peers and the ladies and surely, like a normal girl, Kagome noticed. He was pretty handsome.

"Good, you found Yukina. Cool. Now Hiei won't--Hey ow! What the hell was that for?" Yuusuke rounded on the glaring fire apparition, rubbing the lump added to his skull. Hiei had to hit him over the head with his damn sword.

The narrowing in his eyes warned Yuusuke to keep his trap shut, if he had something to say they'll take it elsewhere. Yuusuke got the hint eventually, shrugging his shoulders he walked away but not before checking out the girl before him. He didn't have a problem with older chicks, if they're cute then why the heck not?

Keiko won't know, he's just saying hello after all. No harm in that. He stuck his hand out. "I'm Urameshi Yuusuke."

"Higurashi Kagome, it's nice to meet you." She shook his hand and that tingling sensation people attracted to one another often get was exchanged. Kagome tried to hide her constant staring. He's like a person she knew but different. Did she mention he's very cute?

Yukina could only watch in the sidelines the events transpiring. A painful pang swelled up in her chest and for a moment she wanted to run away and cry her heart out. Confused by the roller coaster of emotions and the ups and sudden downs was enough to have a girl spinning. She swallowed, her throat tight and not knowing what to do anymore.

All she wished for was to disappear.

Hiei arched a brow of interest then of concern. Yukina's eyes were glossy, boarding on the verge to tears. What the hell? What happened? She had her head turned the other way, unable to bear looking at them any longer. Kurabara and Botan implored her if she felt alright. Yukina answered them with feeble excuses. "No, I'm fine. I am not feeling like myself today."

"Are you sure? You look pretty pale?" Botan said, lending an arm out to her. Yukina took it to convince them. If they didn't leave now there's no saying if she's going to breakdown in tears right in front of them.

She didn't bother bidding Yuusuke and Kagome farewells. Yukina felt hurt by the girl who shined like a jewel in her eyes and by Yuusuke, one of the few males she ever trusted. Hiei told Botan to take Yukina back to the temple. Kurabara wanted to go with her but the mission came first. The worry pitting his gut never left.

Inside the cab Botan searched an angle to comfort Yukina, its strange for her since she never seen the ice maiden overwhelmed by anguish. "Tell me what's the matter? Did something bother you at the shrine?"

Yukina let her tears fall, the Hiroseki stones rolling down her lap. Botan collected them incase they forget them in the cab. There's no believable explanation for priceless jewels scattered allover the backseat of the cab.

"Yukina?"

She nodded. She trusted Botan and she couldn't hold in her pain the longer she looked at another face.

"What happened?"

"Why does it bother me so to see Yuusuke-kun and Higurashi-san act on friendly terms with one another? I couldn't stand it. It hurts so much," Yukina whispered in her tiny voice. She shook under her shuddering sobs.

Botan gave her a shoulder to cry on. She processed what Yukina said over and over in her head to see the angle on it. Did Yukina like Yuusuke? Is that why she grew upset with the girl, Kagome? To think Yukina liked Yuusuke of all people was an interesting one but a situation that will end up unrequited. Yuusuke loved Keiko. He won't trade her in for any one, not even for that Kagome girl.

The look of pain on Yukina worried Botan. Has she been keeping her feelings for Yuusuke in the dark? Botan felt doubt over it but she must have if she's a wreck right now. Botan feared what she needed to say to her but it's for her own good. The job to be clear and blunt with Yukina fell onto her jurisdiction. "Yuusuke's a nice boy Yukina, but he may not be the one for you and--"

"--No. I don't like Yuusuke that way…I--" Just then it occurred to Yukina. It hit her like a ton of bricks instantly. She leaned up in her seat, staring up at the taxi's ceiling in silence. Shizuru's words came to haunt her.

"Yukina?"

"Botan, I think finally did it," Yukina began softly, her face reddening for all her shyness is worth. "I think it happened."

"What happened? Please tell me, maybe I can help you in a way, I don't want to see you sad." Yukina's bright eyes locked with Botan's pretty ones and for a moment she thought if she could do it she could lose herself in them.

Why couldn't she have loved Botan instead?

"I think I fell in love with Higurashi Kagome," Yukina unveiled, her eyes watering in the sorrow she experienced earlier and for not knowing what to do about it. She felt confused but one thing was clear each time she remembered that smiling face, that long dark hair, dark brown eyes, and Kagome's sweet scent pouring off her soft fair skin Yukina's heart pounded, and all the willingness to embrace her comes to life.

She was even willing to forgive her for flirting with Yuusuke.

Yukina had no doubt she fell for the girl at first sight and that Higurashi Kagome was her first love.

The End.