Hello my doves ! Here is your Saturday Update ! Enjoy!

(I don't own the characters...)

Chapter 4

"You need me to what?" Hiei asked unsure he had heard correctly.

"Cry."

"Why?" Hiei asked suspiciously. He was unsure of how Kurama had discovered his origins. And now it was clear that he had discovered the part of him that he had hidden since he was a child.

"I need four hiroseki stones to complete this seal. So if you wouldn't mind Hiei- I know you can cry them."

"What makes you certain?"

"Yukina."

"Yukina?" he echoed confused as to why Kurama would mention her.

"Yes she is your twin and she can cry them so you should be able as well." Kurama said patiently.

Hiei glared at the far too knowing eyes of the fox. Yes, damn him he could cry the stones but whether he wanted to prove him correct was another matter entirely. He certainly was not going to do so in front of Kurama; Yuusuke maybe but Kurama, never. Crying was a lot more complex for Hiei than they knew. On his own Hiei did not have the ability but with the assistance of the Jagan he could tap in to the emotions of someone who could.

"Kurama, why did you do that?" Yuusuke asked just as Hiei vanished.

Hiei left the room in a displacement of air and went to his space in the attic. Sitting on his futon he sighed. It had been years since he had been forced to use this particular talent. The last time had been to survive. This time was for her, one of the ones he would be willing to die for. Removing the ward from his Jagan he easily tapped into the closest emotional being in the house: Kagome. He was instantly sorry he had. Tears fell very quickly from his wide eyes as he embraced her pain lightly. It was hard to pull his mind back. Closing his self off from all emotion he looked around himself and found he was sitting surrounded by the small black spheres. Gathering them up and wiping the evidence from his face he replaced his ward and tore a piece of his ruined cloak to collect them into and tied it shut. Frowning at the two gems he had missed he left them where they lay.

Walking back into the room he dropped the makeshift bag on Kurama's desk. "You may as well use them all." He growled leaving again before the avatar could question what he meant. Kurama opened the 'bag' carefully and blinked at the number of hiroseki stones and their particular color. They would be perfect.

Yuusuke followed the hiyoukai. "Hiei," he called as he got to the bottom of the stairs and saw the hiyoukai sitting on the back of the couch with his back to the stairs. "Hey, I wanted to tell you that I don't care about your mixed blood. It was a fucked up thing for Kurama to do to out you like that, but I get why you hide it. Hokushin told me about youkai like that and said some shit about them being cursed. I'll tell you the same thing I told him. I think its shit to label anyone- kid or not, for something out of their control. You didn't choose to be born that way, but I think its pretty awesome that you became the guy you are. Just sayin." Yuusuke blushed and scratched the top of his nose awkwardly. Hiei just remained as he was, he hadn't moved. Finally with a sigh and a shrug, Yuusuke went back up the stairs.

Hiei sat there eyes closed just reveling in the words Yuusuke had spoken. His fingers dug in to the couch to anchor him where he sat so that he would not tackle Yuusuke and kiss him breathless. Maybe he should ignore protocol...After hearing Yuusuke open the door to Kurama's room, he slowly followed, using the time to pull himself together. He could not look like a giddy fool when he reached the other two, they would think the world was ending.

Swiftly Kurama assembled a bracelet with the hairs and tear gems and stood up. He motioned to Yuusuke now that he had returned, to follow him and they walked into Kagome's room. The room its self was not very large. The walls were plain white and the furniture expensive but plain aside from the carvings in the wooden furniture. Kagome rested peacefully on the queen size bed off center against the back wall of the room. It was a little tall up on the frame but it seemed Kagome managed all right. The coverlet provided the only real color to the room with a bright and cheerful tan and teal pattern. It was elegant but it too was rather plain. Kurama frowned. He had not really paid much attention to his guest rooms, but Kagome had been living there now for close to a month and this was her room? How disgraceful. There wasn't even a dressing table with a mirror for her to use. The answer was simple, he just needed to step up the work on her house and remodel his own.

Kagome's left arm was hanging over the side of the bed and Kurama easily slipped the bracelet on to her slender wrist. Swiftly he drew the kanji for "seal" over the hiroseki stones and they glowed lightly with green youki. He nodded to Yuusuke indicating he should do the same. This time the stones glowed pale blue with little traces of red. Hiei appeared and swiftly followed suit and the bracelet glowed with a dark red before it changed to a muted solid white haze around the bracelet that now could not be removed. Their energy would act as a seal not just on her power but also making it impossible for her to remove the seal without Hiei being close by since his Hiroseki stones formed the base of the seal.

Kurama breathed a sigh of relief as he could no longer feel her energy leaking from her. Actually leaking made it sound minor, but her energy contained as she tried to keep it still practically flowed from her in waves. It still amazed all of them that they hadn't felt her in the park but something about her depression or emotional state had interfered with her power, or as near to that as Kurama could speculate. But regardless, she would be hidden now from any detection by the High King of the Makai who had developed a desire to eliminate all hanyou or any youkai with human blood even in the slightest. Kurama was convinced that even meant Yuusuke if he had thought he could get away with it, but as it stood, doing so would cause the biggest bloodiest battle known to the Makai. Everyone with lots of power knew and respected Yuusuke, so his enemies never dared.

The seal was also strong enough that she should also be hidden from the Reikai as well. Which was for the best as they were certain that he had spies there. Koenma had tried to make a hidden protected space for hanyou, but someone must have let slip the secret because the whole camp was slaughtered. Every man woman and child. No, the three of them could not depend on the Reikai for this. They could only protect her themselves. Kurama nodded as he tested the seal giving it a small tug and watching with satisfaction as it lit up blocking the attempt. "There" he whispered,"The only ones, who can detect her now, where ever she goes, are the three of us who infused her bracelet with energy. Hiei most of all because of his hiroseki stones, the energy of those stones can not be hidden from him. Isn't that right Hiei?"

"You know everything already fox." Hiei bit out scathingly. Still upset with Kurama for outing him even through it worked out with Yuusuke saying he didn't care and that he thought highly of Hiei. But it could have just as easily made Yuusuke hate him. Kurama had taken a gamble with something not his.

"So" Yuusuke began softly, "Does this mean I can take her to Kyoto?" Yuusuke whispered with a gleam of mischief in his eyes. Kurama rolled his eyes and stalked out of her room ignoring the stupid question. Hiei smirked at Kurama's back. Yuusuke stopped and just stared, Hiei was so beautiful when he smiled or smirked or just about anything. Staring at Hiei's lips reminded him of the accidental kiss between Hiei and Kagome and he took a step towards Hiei, before his brain caught up to him. "I should go clean up the kitchen." He stated quietly trying to distract himself.

As sunlight filtered through the soft white curtains and Kagome's eyes opened, she knew something was different. She felt different and rather contained for one and she avoided thinking of how soft Hiei's lips had been under hers for two. Her face flushed with the unwanted memory and her heart thudded in her chest. Hiei's skin had been hot and his breath sweetened with the mouth watering smell of warm cinnamon and spices. Kissing Hiei had completely been different from kissing Inuyasha. Guilt hit her like a fist. Inuyasha was only one month dead and she had kissed Hiei. More than that she wanted to kiss him again! Looking around she rubbed her eyes to clear the sharp stinging tears and then looked at her wrist in confusion. She blinked and looked again at the bracelet encircling it. 'That wasn't there when I passed out. And they weren't there when I came to and decided to change and go to bed.' She thought absently. She held it up to look at the shiny black beads that had an elegant jagged stripe of white through each of them at the middle. They reminded her of Hiei for some reason. They felt like Hiei. Wanting a closer look at them she tried to remove them. They didn't budge. Rather like the subjugation beads they lit up with bright flares of green blue and red and white. Kagome frowned.

"Why won't they come off!" she said as she tugged and pulled. Instinctively she knew that Yuusuke and Hiei would not just put something on her with no explanation which left:

"Kurama!"

Her scream brought three youkai running at top speed to crash through her door only to stop dead at the sight of Kagome, her sleeping yukata loose to her navel, kept from falling all the way open by her nipples which were delightfully perky and very visible with the worn white material. She was oblivious to her state of dress as she was anxiously tugging on the bracelet.

Kurama eyed the pleasant sight with knowing eyes, his gaze taking in the paleness of her creamy flesh and the flush of warm pink in her skin from sleeping. He could see that the pregnancy hormones were hard at work from the deepened color of her aureoles they were a shade or two darker already. Which also made him pause, they shouldn't be that color yet...

Hiei stared at Kagome with covert interest. He liked her clearly and he despite knowing it was foolish had enjoyed the feel of her lips on his own. He glanced away as he noticed tears in the corners of her eyes and wondered at them with a internal sigh. Did all women cry constantly when pregnant?

Yuusuke of course didn't hesitate to tease her any way that he could. Whistling softly, Yuusuke said, "Nice view, could ya shimmy a little Kagome?"

Kagome frowned at the comment. What view? She looked down to where his eyes seemed to be directed and she eeped as she quickly righted her yukata. Her face and the skin they could see flushed delightfully pink as her blush traveled down. "Don't look!" She squawked indignantly.

Hiei thought her reaction was endearing. Though he did not let any of that show on his face.

Stealthily Kurama stepped on Yuusuke's foot. "Ow, Kurama what was that about." He complained loudly. It hadn't hurt but he loved to ruffle the kitsune and seeing Kagome's eyes narrow at the fox amused him.

Shaking her head Kagome pointed at the bracelet and demanded "What is this, and why won't it come off?Explain Kurama! You are the only one who would put something like this on me so start talking." she huffed still irritated that they had all been staring.

Kurama raised his hand in a gesture of peace."Why dearest, it's a gift why would you want it off? Do you not like it?" Kurama asked turning his winning smile on her.

Kagome rolled her eyes at his flowery words. "Subjugation beads are a gift? You can't "sit" me right?" she grumbled giving them another fruitless tug. The sudden laughter from an unsuspected source made her blink.

A deep rumbling laugh began and grew till the hiyoukai fell to his knees. Hiei braced himself with his hands as he laughed harder. Her words had triggered a memory from when he had been young and foolish. He had ventured in to the human world quite by accident but as there had been no barrier to stop him he had entered with no hesitation, He had been walking through a deep forest when he had heard to voices raised in a heated argument. It was a woman with hair the color of a midnight sky and a hanyou with silver hair. They were yelling heatedly about something he didn't care what, when suddenly the woman had spun on her heel stalking away from the Hanyou to shout "Shut up and Sit!" He had been amused to see the beads around the Hanyou's neck slam him to the ground and again every time she repeated the word "sit" Back then he hadn't understood but now...it all made sense and he could stop the mirth.

Yuusuke looked around and elbowed Kurama, "You didn't use any happy plants on him right?" He had only seen Hiei laugh like this once before and it was when he had become a youkai. Even then he hadn't laughed this hard. Hiei laughing was infectious and Yuusuke began to laugh too.

Kurama frowned shaking his head at the laughing fools as he walked over and sat on the edge of Kagome's bed, "I'm not sure what you are asking love. Those are not subjugation beads they act as a seal on your power. They have been infused with our youki and can only be removed by one of us." he struggled not to laugh but managed to hold it.

Kagome looked horrified, "A seal? You sealed my power?!" Kagome demanded. "Take it off right now!" She thrust her arm in his face with a angry scowl. She was helpless without her power. As the shikon Jewel she still had times she had to fight for survival.

Kurama took her hand and kissed her fingers. Making her pull her hand away sharply as though he bit her instead. "But dearest, you will hurt Hiei's feelings… He did go through a lot of trouble for you." he gave her his best pout.

Hiei stopped laughing. In fact the growl that came from his throat sounded quite vicious. His eyes had narrowed into mere slits and he was reaching for his katana. Yuusuke stopped laughing too. He glanced over at Hiei and prepared to grab him if necessary.

"Kurama..." he warned.

Glanced over at the angry expression on Hiei's face and then down at the gems. "What kind of trouble?" Kagome asked. Hiei growled low.

"Kurama don't..." Yuusuke said quietly.

Kurama ignored the threats being issued mentally and touched the stones. "Do you know what these are Kagome?" he asked gently ignoring the small scuffle as Yuusuke grabbed and held Hiei who was snarling obsenities at the kitsune. Kagome shook her head. "These are Hiei's tears, shed just for you." The room went silent as Hiei waited for her reaction. Yuusuke still held on to Hiei but now it was to keep him from running. Hiei was too angry to enjoy being in Yuusuke's arms.

Kagome turned startled eyes to the apparition and gasped. She stopped tugging on the gems and a look of wonder crossed her face rather than the annoyance from before."You cried these for me?" She was overwhelmed. She knew the type of male Hiei was, and the idea that he had shed tears for her was shocking.

Hiei discovered something very inconvenient at that second; he could not lie to Kagome. In fact he could not avoid her gaze and he could not stop his mouth as he said "Yes, for your protection."

Kagome pulled her arm with the bracelet to her heart and hugged the bracelet on her wrist. "They are beautiful, thank you." She said with a smile. Hiei felt his heart give a lurch at the beautiful smile she gifted him with in return, he would have cried buckets for a single one of those smiles.

"Anything for you," Hiei said before he could stop himself. He felt his cheeks warm and realized he was still being held by Yuusuke and he slipped out of his grip and flickered over to the wall a distance from everyone.

"Mine and Yusuke's hair is braided to form the base for the tears." Kurama interjected to break the attention that Kagome was giving the apparition.

Kagome's gaze landed on Yuusuke and she got up and walked over to him curiosity written all over her face. He looked different. He held his breath, he had transformed trying to hold Hiei down. Kagome circled him slowly not saying anything. She reached up and ran her fingers through his now waist length black hair and then lightly traced one of the markings on his shoulder. He shivered and she giggled. Circling back around she smiled at him although he was on his knees he was still taller than she by a good few inches. "I think you look better this way." Kagome replied finally.

Yuusuke reached out and seized her carefully in his arms then buried his face in her shoulder. Kagome was shocked when his shoulders began to shake and she felt warm wetness seep through her yukata. "Thank you." He said softly. Tenderly her arms wound around Yuusuke as he cried. Gently she carded her fingers through his hair and whispered comforting words. "You have no idea what that means to me." he said his words muffled.

Hiei watched in silence, puzzled as to why Yuusuke was crying till Kurama mouthed: Keiko. Hiei's eyes narrowed but he remained silent as Yuusuke calmed himself and pulled back. "I guess we should scram so you can get ready for the day." He said as he climbed to his feet. He didn't change his appearance back to look human, instead the markings darkened. He pulled a hair tie out but Kagome took it from him and gently tied back his hair at the nape of his neck.

Hiei waited for Kurama to get up and for both of the others to leave the room before he looked back at Kagome. "Your clothes are inadequate we will get you more. Get ready and I will accompany you." He said before he moved towards the door he paused, "Last night onna," he paused again unwilling to make her cry- by telling her the kiss meant nothing, "was my first kiss," he stated simply before he slipped out leaving her to dress.

Kagome stood there for a long moment in surprise that he confessed such a secret till her bladder became insistent and then she moved to the bathroom to begin her morning routine. Dressed and ready for the day she ventured out to the kitchen and found Yuusuke rummaging through cupboards looking for something to cook. It was a Saturday so he had no work and Kurama was off as well though no one knew where the kitsune had gone. "Hey beautiful, what do you want for breakfast?"

"its going to sound stupid." Kagome said with a blush.

"It won't. Just tell me." Yuusuke said leaning over the counter to talk with her.

"Your going to laugh at me, I want some fried chicken and fresh ramen with peanut-butter."

Yuusuke laughed, "Sorry, sorry. One pregnant lady special coming up." As it turned out it wasn't as weird as it sounded. It ended up being like a Thai dish Kurama had prepared once and even Yuusuke had a bowl. After convincing Kagome the dishes could wait Yuusuke and Hiei went with her and the three of them went shopping.

A full two weeks passed before Kurama was able to get the necessary supplies to do a blood test where he discovered two things one Kagome's baby was seventeen weeks gestated and Kagome had only been pregnant for eight weeks almost nine. That was both good and bad. It was good because it meant that Kagome would be done with the pregnancy ups and downs sooner, it was bad because her energy was being quickly depleted at an alarming rate. In fact Kagome had been passing out with greater frequency.

Kurama sighed and tapped his chin. Hiei he hoped would have an idea of how to fix the problem. But Hiei had left for the Makai a week ago and hadn't returned. Kurama was hoping desperately that he would return tonight but it wasn't looking likely. A loud thud startled him. He dropped the book he had been holding with a crash.

"Kurama!"

It was Yuusuke's voice and the concern in it had Kurama on his feet and sprinting up the basement stairs from his lab two at a time. Reaching the top he froze as Kagome was sprawled on the kitchen floor. Her face was pale and her breathing very slow and shallow. She had fallen in a way that she had shielded the pup but left herself vulnerable. Vegetables were scattered all over the floor and the knife she had been using had skittered away still spinning on the kitchen floor. Blood seeped from a shallow cut on her hand where it had scraped the corner of the counter top. She had just barely missed hitting her head he hoped.

Yuusuke crouched next to her and patted her cheek. "Kagome, can you hear me?" There was no response. "Oh god, Kurama I can't tell if she is still breathing!"

Hiei felt the disturbance in both Yuusuke's and Kurama's energy, but when he couldn't sense Kagome at all he quickened his pace cursing himself for taking so long.

"Get her to the couch Yuusuke prop her feet and keep talking to her." Kurama said in his calm in control manner. Inside he was panicking just as bad.

Yuusuke picked her up carefully and did as Kurama had instructed while Kurama cleaned and bandaged her cut. He talked to her about his ramen stand and the customers he'd had and when she still hadn't responded he started talking about her baby. About how fun it it was going to be to count little fingers and toes and about the first laugh. Yuusuke felt tears prick his eyes but he heroically held them back, "Kagome come on we need you here, the baby needs you here." He begged feeling panic begin to overwhelm his mind.

Hiei threw open the door and seeing Kagome laying pale and barely breathing he shoved Yuusuke out of the way and picked up Kagome cradling her in his arms. She was limp like a rag doll. He flared his energy around her and forced her to accept it. Her eyes opened slowly as the color began to creep back into her cheeks. Yuusuke knelt beside them with his arms surrounding her waist carefully. Kurama still had hold of her hand.

"Kagome focus on breathing and absorbing my energy. Your child thus far has been siphoning tiny bits of youki from us to exist but is mainly living off of your energy if this continues, you will both die. I will make a connection with you so that our ki flows easily and we are all very powerful so there is no worry that the pup will take too much."

Hiei lightly picked her up and placed her in his lap. "Breathe deeper Kagome, for this to work I must surround you completely with my ki." He tilted her face and leaned closer like he was going to kiss her and breathed out his lips merely a breath away. Pushing a small portion of his ki into her mouth as his ki rose around her like a black and red bubble. Everywhere the energy touched tingled as the foreign power filled her and she felt better. Her head didn't feel as fuzzy and she was not as sleepy. Her eye lids fluttered and she looked up at him. Hiei met her gaze but spoke to Yuusuke.

"Did you observe what I did Yuusuke. You need to repeat it." Hiei said handing Kagome over into the detective's arms. "If you did not see all of what was done I will guide you."

"I'm just giving her a little of my life energy right? No problem then. It's just like what happened when I was revived."

Lightly he touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. Lowering his head a little his lips brushed hers by just a whisper and like with Hiei his energy rose around her like a tide. She had been wrong Yuusuke was far more powerful than Hiei and she could only think of one other being that had this power. Like before it was over as soon as it had begun.

Kurama walked over and took Kagome into his arms and lowered his head but unlike the other two his lips were on hers as he kissed her lightly. Distracted as she was she didn't even have time to panic as she was surrounded by his youki. An instant later he let her go and winked at her. Kagome blushed. Her heart was racing and she knew her face was heated and bright red. She could feel their energy was flowing into her. Her tiredness was gone and with it the nausea and the dizziness. If she closed her eyes she could nearly "see" the bright threads connecting them to her. With her eyes closed she could now feel the smaller pull on her energy and felt as it twined with the youki that was flowing through the threads. She wobbled and Hiei was instantly there lifting her carefully into his arms and sitting back on the couch with her.

"How long is a hanyou pregnancy?" she asked curiously. Kurama had done the blood test but had not informed her of the results.

"Typically they are a normal human length of nine months but for animal type youkai they can be as short as six months. Where you are progressing in double time my guess is-"

"Your pregnancy will most likely be the shorter time considering that you are the Shikon no Miko. Yuusuke I'm disappointed that you would hide her from me." Koenma interrupted as he walked in.

"For good reason Koenma!" Yuusuke growled.

"We have been frantically searching for her for weeks since she was noticed being back in this era. Lady I apologize for my rudeness in just barging in. I am Koenma the king of the Reikai." he said with a sweeping bow. Ignoring the outburst from his detective. "There is someone who has been rather stubbornly camped out in the hall of judgment and refuses to go on till they know you are well. It's not usually allowed, but would you like to say goodbye to them? I will bring you back here of course."

Koenma pointed at Yuusuke and the other two. "You will be punished for your deceit, but I'm not sure how much of a punishment it is. Kagome will be entirely in your care and you will be expected to provide for her this is your only assignment for as long as it takes and you will be taking night shifts after the baby is born. He will have to be notified too. She is carrying the heir to the Moon Inu clan after all."

Hiei's eyes narrowed. "If she is under my protection then there is no need to involve that bastard." He held Kagome snugly not letting her go.

Kurama looked at Hiei in contemplation. "Hiei is absolutely right. Kagome is under the protection of the Northern lands and the Southern lands and certainly the Eastern lands right Yuusuke?"

Yuusuke stepped forward his energy rolling off of him in waves. "Hell yes. If you tell that icy bastard I will use all of my forces to take you down Koenma. You know what will happen to her if he is told. He will kill her!"

Koenma shuffled his feet and muttered "If I don't tell him it could mean war."

"Look just don't tell him until after the baby is born, by then the new tournament will happen and there will be a change in power alright? I have the feeling one of our own will be crowned king." Yuusuke looked at Hiei. His eyes were blazing with rage.

Yuusuke nodded to him. Hiei had worked hard to gain power and he had earned the right to be Mukuro's heir and this year he was certain to win since Sesshomaru had declared he would never compete again. The ancient youkai had come out of nowhere and claimed the crown annihilating Yomi and Shuura who had been close to taking the prize last time. Yuusuke could have taken the crown but he was in the tournament purely to fight. Hiei wanted that crown so much, that Yuusuke could feel the desire for power as though it were a tangible thing.

Koenma sagged a little. "Very well Yuusuke. I will try to keep Lady Kagome's condition a secret until then. But in that case I will need to take Kagome to the Reikai and have her energy sealed within her better. I was able to detect her only after you merged your energies with hers. If I can find her then so can he."

Kagome frowned at all of them talking like she wasn't there. "Excuse me, who is he?"

"Lord Sesshomaru, the current youkai king of the Makai." Koenma said with a sigh.

"Oh, he won't hurt me." Kagome said confidently. She sat up as much as Hiei would let her.

"Onna he hates humans." Hiei argued.

"No he doesn't. He traveled with a little human girl, Rin. He would not harm me."

"Kagome five hundred years lay between the Sesshomaru you knew and this one. He might not be as gentle." Kurama cautioned.

"I know Kurama but he can't harm me it's a matter of honor. He is the alpha of my pack since Inuyasha can no longer be. Sesshomaru is Inuyasha's elder half brother."

"That changes nothing Onna. You are under our protection and he can't have you. Despite what you think honor will not protect you if he finds that you carry a half breed child. To this date he has had every hanyou he has found put to death. Most have sought refuge in the Ningenkai. I will accompany you to the Reikai and ensure your safety there." Hiei said placing himself between her and Koenma. "There will be no tricks Koenma." he growled.

"I will strengthen my flora barriers and plant some more aggressive types." Kurama said as he slipped out of the door.

Yuusuke stood up and glared at Koenma. "You've been my friend for years and I would hate for that to change Koenma. I will go too and we most definitely will accept this assignment. Kagome is our friend and I never let down a friend. I never have and I never will. Now let's get moving and Koenma, like Hiei said no tricks."

Koenma opened a portal and no sooner had they stepped into his office Kagome was seized and crushed gently to a male chest. Kagome inhaled and choked out a sob. He smelled of pine and wind. His silver hair spilled over her shoulder and hid her face from view as she held him equally as tight.

"Don't cry." He said softly. She shuddered as sobbed against him. His fingers were gentle as he ran them through her hair.

"Inuyasha! I've missed you so much!" She pulled back and kissed him passionately. He didn't kiss her back.

"I know." He said quietly.

"Inuyasha, I 'm pregnant." She choked out suddenly.

His amber eyes darkened a little with anger. "I know. How? I thought that I could not father children. I remember that you told me that you thought that because I'm a half youkai, so how?" His eyes narrowed unnoticed by Kagome. His arms loosened from around her and he sat back "What will you do?"

"What do you mean what will I do? This is our child Inuyasha. I will love him or her as much as I can for both of us." She gently placed her hand over her slight rounded tummy. " I will tell them all about you I promise."

Tears gathered in his eyes as he looked at her and gently he leaned in and kissed her lips, nothing like the kiss she had given him this was like a slight brush of his lips. His eyes were bright with emotion as he tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes. "I only have a short time with you and I want you to listen," he said quietly.

Kagome nodded and he scooped her up and sat down with her in his lap. Softly he ran his fingers through her hair and sighed at the softness of her scent. "Our union was cursed to fail from the beginning. I betrayed Kikyou and she sealed me to a tree, she placed the curse on me. I'm sure she never thought it would be her reincarnation who would suffer; however the curse was that I could never take a mate or a wife. If I tried I would die a violent death. I didn't know anything about it till they told me after I died. So even if I wouldn't have died when I did, I would have a month later. It wasn't allowed for us to wed." His jaw flexed as he grit his teeth.

"But I thought Kikyou forgave you. I thought-"

"She forgot about the curse because she died just after placing it. The Kikyou who was around at the same time you were was nothing more than a shell with her memories. Kikyou was you in a previous life, just as Rin was too and hundreds of others. The difference this time was this time your soul was strong enough. I wanted to tell you that I loved you both. I told Kikyou once it was her spirit I loved but I was wrong it was your spirit I loved because you have always been you. Despite everything you have done, I loved you. Name the child Keiichi, for a boy and Yuki for a girl, I like those names. Raise your child well. Give that child all of your love. Take these and give them to your child when the time is right okay. I have no further need of them." Inuyasha said pushing a familiar red kimono and a sword into her hands. "You need to live and forget about me, I'm sure it won't be hard for you to find love again" his eyes narrowed and then he turned to the ferry girl, "alright I'm ready to go now." He said as he walked away.

"Wait, where are you-?"

"Be happy with the life you've chosen." He said as light surrounded him and before he disappeared into it she saw his head lift and a smile grace his lips and then he was gone. He never looked back.

"The life I've chosen? Wait you didn't say good bye! Inuyasha! You didn't even say good bye! How can I forget you! What about your child?! Inuyasha!" her words were followed by an awful silence. "I don't understand, what did I do? Why!"

"He almost missed his window and then he would have had to wait a thousand years for another chance." Koenma joked trying to lighten her spirits as he walked over and leaned against his desk. Seeing her face he sighed "Can you handle another visitor or would you rather not?" he asked gently. He had not realized the Hanyou would be so cruel.

"I can handle it." She said quietly. Nothing would hurt her anymore now that Inuyasha had walked away with her heart. He hadn't called her by name once and he hadn't acknowledged the child at all as his. His words left her to wonder if he had thought-

Hiei moved closer and helped her to her feet ignoring the looks of disbelief on the faces of all present. "If you can't handle more, it is not necessary to push yourself, Kagome-" he looked like he wanted to pick her up and carry her out of there.

"Kagome has an unconquerable spirit!" a male voice interrupted as she was wrapped up into a warm hug and then she frowned. There was a hand on her butt and it squeezed. Her eyes flew wide in both shock and elation. The irritation at being groped was quickly killing her joy at seeing and being hugged by the monk she thought was long dead.

Two distinct sharp growls were heard and the male in question was whisked away from her and Kagome turned quickly to see Hiei punch the man she had known as a friend and companion. She could not bring herself to feel sorry for him though as he rubbed his jaw.

Yuusuke let his hand drop from the fist he'd had and turned his eyes to Kagome. Silently he assessed her condition. She was not crying at the moment that was either good or bad. Her eyes had lost their shine; even though she smiled it was hollow. 'I'm leaning towards bad then,' he thought completing his earlier thought about her lack of tears. He couldn't say he was happy himself. It had taken everything, everything in him not to have walked over and punched that Inuyasha guy.

'She tells him she's pregnant with his kid and he walks away? He even alleged that the kid wasn't his! What. The. fuck?! He named the kid and walked away like a deadbeat! He even smiled as he left what an asshole!'

That pissed Yuusuke off royally. His dad had done something similar to his mom and he had seen her go downhill in a hurry. He never wanted to see Kagome like the mess his mother had been: jumping from guy to guy and living out of a bottle because she couldn't face the world alone. That would never happen to Kagome. Not with him there. Shit, if she'd let him he would step in and take the role of dad. He couldn't guarantee he would be very good at it but he could promise he'd never run away. Hiei would even step in and he hated everyone, except himself, Kagome, Kurama and Yukina, but the way he was hovering made Yuusuke both jealous and aware. Even if Hiei didn't realize it himself yet it was obvious he liked Kagome as more than a friend.

However, a new lover wasn't what Kagome needed right now. She needed a friend and someone to talk to. Yuusuke could be that for her. He would be anything she wanted him to be for her. He'd do anything to see her smile again the way she had in the café and the arcade every day they had gone. He'd never had so much fun being himself and seeing her laugh and be comfortable around him. Keiko had always been on edge. Keiko had never been herself around him even before his rebirth as a youkai. Keiko had always needed to feel better than him. Keiko had never loved him. He swallowed. He had never loved her, not like this. Not like –Kagome.

Kagome had accepted him and allowed him to be Yuusuke, not some perfect imaginary version of himself but just Yuusuke. She accepted his quirks and his sense of humor, and she accepted his secrets that he hid from the human world. She loved his stories and could hold her own when dishing out the teasing. He could laugh with her. He could never recall laughing with Keiko. He wanted to punch himself, how could he have let himself fall in love with her? How was he going to be able to be around her now that he realized it? This changed everything and yet why did it have to? She didn't know how he felt and neither did Hiei or Kurama. He could just continue like they had been and she never had to know. 'What if she falls for Kurama or Hiei?' It could happen. He frowned at the spark of jealousy squashing it before it could take root. 'Then I'll be her best friend as well as theirs. I can still love her and support her and them even if-' he refused to complete the thought.

"Miroku don't you ever learn?" Koenma stated with boredom as he sat behind his desk and began flipping through files. "I need these filed and put into alpha numeral order, and then I need the files ten through fifteen from A and B sectors. Also I need dinner. Go."

Miroku ducked away from the angry apparition and winked at Kagome. "Busy, busy see you around Kagome. Oh the seals you requested are in the box on your desk, Lord Koenma."He said over his shoulder. Before the door shut they heard Miroku exclaim "Ladies wait for me," followed by a round of female giggles.

"Ugh, I have to ask, was he always this bad Kagome? With the ladies I mean?"

"Yes, he made it a point to ask every woman we came across if she would bare his child. Including me." Kagome said with a forced chuckle. "Sango always set him straight though. Where is Sango did she pass over?" Kagome asked. She could really use her best friend right now.

"She chose to go to the paradise waiting for her with her family she is due for reincarnation within the next five years and Miroku wanted to go with her but he also wished not to sit around and he had valuable information and skills so I hired him to assist me. I wonder if the ladies will let him leave when the time comes for his reincarnation."

Kagome smiled tightly. Holding in all the pain that wanted to seep out of her. "Oh good she did finally see them then. I prayed that she would."

"Yes we know Kagome. You never missed a day. Sango left you a message on her way through. She said "Tell Kagome that we loved her and missed her every day."

"And what of Koga, did he marry Ayame? " Kagome asked curiously.

"He did and they had several healthy pups. He passed about a hundred years ago and once again thanks to your influence he was granted a pardon and he also works for me. He is away at this time though."

"Shippo?"

"I am not at liberty to tell you of the kitsune. He isn't here and he hasn't died but that is all I can tell you Kagome."

Kagome nodded accepting his answer as a positive thing that he was alive. That was alright then. She was sorry to hear of Koga but she was glad for Ayame. Seeing Inuyasha had helped to calm her heart a little until his words shattered her. Although she was doing her best not to think of him at all his words echoed in her thoughts like a recording on repeat but if she allowed herself to consider that Inuyasha was gone forever she would break. He hadn't believed the child was his. He hadn't acknowledged it at all! How could he? She had been faithful from the moment they met and yet his parting words were to be happy with the life she had chosen! The life she would have chosen was with Inuyasha and their pup. But he would have thrown her away! If he had lived that was what he was going to say. The accusation had been in his eyes as he walked out to fight she just hadn't know what it was.

Hiei watched her silently as he saw her eyes darken he grew angrier and had no idea why. He kept his thoughts unreadable and his expression bland but he was livid with the fool who had dared to touch a being of her purity and taint it with sorrow. Kagome deserved better than the hand she had been dealt. How dare the kami tease her with everything she wanted and desired only to make her suffer as it was ripped away without as much as a good bye and horrid accusations; It was wrong and cruel beyond anything he had ever witnessed. Forget him? He nearly snorted. How was she going to do that while raising his child? The kami had such a cruel sense of humor that he would just bet the child would look exactly like the one who had thrown her away. What had Kagome possibly done to earn such an unjust punishment?

She swallowed heavily letting Hiei help her. "Lord Koenma can you seal my energy so I can go home please, I can't take any more today." Her eyes burned and her shoulders slumped. She looked brittle and far too fragile to both the youkai there with her.

Hiei was more than ready to leave and start working on the damage that had been incurred in her mind. Normally he wouldn't bother trying to help but Kagome had more than earned his respect and his loyalty, he realized in puzzlement. When had that happened? The dog had abandoned her but Hiei was not such a fool. If she would allow it he would be at her side from this point on. But he could also see the adoration from Yuusuke to her and though it cut like a blade he would let her go to Yuusuke so that both of those he l-loved, oh god. He loved her. Had fallen for her and Yuusuke. Why, why was she not a youkai so that they could all mate and be together? It was unfair, but many things in his life were. He would just have to keep a careful distance and push Yuusuke and Kagome together.

"Of course, if you would be so good as to sit down Lady. I had the seals made into earrings and a bracelet combination or there is a bangle set. However I expect that they feel a lot like shackles. I will give you a choice though. Which would you prefer Kagome?"

"If it's all the same I'd like to keep the seal Hiei Yuusuke and Kurama gave me. Can it be used instead?" Kagome said softly as she sat.

"Of course Kagome if that is your wish. This will be a power limiter class A, which means that if you are in danger and need your power, you can break it on your own but you will have to be around at least one of the three who made this. Keep in mind Kagome, that your power will be significantly less because most of your energy is going to create your child," he cautioned as he made several symbols in the air above her bracelet and Kagome felt it grow warm and then icy. Kagome felt a flare of reiki and shivered as her energy suddenly was forced tighter within and contained. She had never realized how much energy was leaking out still until it no longer could.

"As added protection one of my spirit detective team will accompany you anywhere you go outside of Kurama's property. I have placed a barrier that will make you virtually invisible while you are at home, however for the time being I am forbidding you to leave the city where Kurama lives." Koenma saw her shoulders sag and placed a hand on them. "Just until these power limiters take full effect; which will be one month from today do you understand? Also while you are vulnerable you are not permitted to tell anyone of the pup. I am sorry but that order includes your family." Koenma sighed. "If I had known the damage that Inuyasha would inflict I-"

"Koenma enough." Yuusuke stepped forward and gathered her up into his arms as she teetered a little unsteady on her feet. She leaned into him shaking. Yuusuke began to lead her back towards the portal.

"One more word of caution Kagome, having a part youkai child with such rapid development means that the child will literally devour you from the inside out if you do not eat enough. The human in him or her will give you some protection but not enough to skip any meals from this point on. You will need to eat meat and lots of it to keep up your energy. Vegetables and grains are important but not nearly as important as protein. Inu are carnivorous by nature and the pup will exist on instinct alone until born." Koenma paused to be sure she understood.

The youki that these three are giving you will temper the survival instinct and help but you must not become agitated or upset for long periods of time after next month. Youkai are highly sensitive to emotional changes. Your pup will become aware in the womb in a month and with heightened senses you must be careful to remain calm. Though it is not a common practice now you will need to enter confinement at your four month mark and stay there until you deliver."

"Confinement?" Yuusuke asked unfamiliar with the term. "Like solitary confinement? Like prison?!" He felt a spike of irritation at the idea of Kagome being imprisoned. Hiei caught his eye and a silent agreement passed between them. Kagome would not be imprisoned.

"No Yuusuke, confinement as in a quiet place to have the child; the quieter the better, especially in this case with an inu pup whose sense of hearing is so acute, loud sounds will frighten the pup. Kagome will not be able to be up and about during that time so she will need someone calming to stay with her to cook and clean. I suggest Yukina. She has experience with youkai births and would be a perfect choice. As a matter of fact Hiei go get her now." He said firmly turning away from them he shouted, "Botan!" She ran in as though she had been waiting.

"Yes, sir."

Hiei glared at the Reikai king for the order but nodded curtly and followed the bubbly blue haired reaper from the room. Kagome tightened her grip on Yuusuke's shirt suddenly uneasy about Hiei leaving. Yuusuke tightened his hold a little and unconsciously nuzzled her head with his cheek as he sat down on the sofa. He was growling low in his throat in a constant rumble and when Kagome giggled slightly he jumped a little. "You sound like you are purring." She whispered. He cleared his throat and looked away from her his cheeks lightly pink but he didn't stop the low rumble. It made Kagome happy and helped her relax so he was alright with that. He glanced down at her and could see her eyes had lightened a little in color. She looked up and smiled at him, her smile touching her eyes just a little. He had been afraid that she would never smile again with what Inuyasha had said.

Miroku came in bearing a tray and a stack of files and a lecherous grin. "Lord Koenma, here are the items you requested." He said as he set the items on the huge desk.

"Took you long enough. The tray goes over there." Koenma said flipping one of the files open and gesturing to Kagome with a finger. Miroku's eyes softened as he saw Kagome cradled in Yuusuke's arms while he blushed. It was the first time he'd ever seen the spirit detective so gentle. He almost hated to interrupt.

Almost.

"Well you look comfortable." Miroku said playfully.

"I am." Kagome stated refusing to rise to the bait. Yuusuke turned a grin at the former monk.

"You almost look like lovers…" Miroku commented laughing to himself as the two scrambled away from each other blushing madly.

"Miroku! We are not. Stop embarrassing Yuusuke!" Kagome said standing and stomping her foot lightly. Miroku grinned at her. He loved to see that spark of temper still had a coal or two lit. She sat back down next to Yuusuke but with a reasonable distance.

"Here you need to eat." Miroku said setting the full tray in front of his long time friend. "My greeting was awful and I apologize. I am really happy to see you Kagome. I praise the Kami that we were able to meet again. I hoped that we would. I'm just sorry it is under these circumstances. Congratulations by the way. Sango sends her love always. I haven't spoken to her but I know that is what she would want me to say." He said as he sat down in the chair across from them.

Kagome eyed the food distrustfully with a sigh Miroku picked up a dumpling and took a bite. "I'm insulted you would think I would poison or drug my dearest friend. I knew the tray was for you and so I selected the very finest foods with high protein content. You should eat they are quite delicious."

Kagome selected a dumpling and took a small bite. The meat inside was seasoned perfectly and she devoured the dumpling with gusto. Yuusuke grabbed one for himself and winked at Kagome who gave him a small smile.

A ripple of spirit energy announced the arrival of Botan and Hiei before they appeared and Koenma walked around his desk to greet them. He held out his hand and guided a petite youkai with aqua colored hair wearing a dark blue traditional kimono from the portal. "Lady Yukina, I thank you for coming so swiftly at my summons."

"Of course Koenma san. You summon me so little I knew it must be of great importance." She said softly as she looked around the room. She gave a shy smile to Yuusuke and ignored Miroku completely. "Is this she?" She asked looking at the young woman who was watching her curiously. Yukina's bright carmine eyes sparkled warmly as Hiei came up to the side of her.

"This is Kagome, the one I told you of Yukina." Hiei said quietly.

"Yukina has been informed of why she is here Koenma and she would like to give her answer in person." Hiei said coldly. He hated being a messenger boy.

"Very well, Yukina what is it you would like to say?"

"I am honored at the trust you have placed in me Koenma sama, I will do my very best to serve Kagome in every way, however I wish no disrespect but it is Kagome sama's place to request companionship and not to be ordered to have some. Youkai pups are not as easily frightened as you seem to think. Alert, yes but only very loud noises will startle a pup. Please do not worry Kagome sama with unnecessary fears. You should study more on the youkai birthing cycle Koenma sama." Yukina said before walking over to where Kagome sat.

"Hiei san told me a lot about you Lady Kagome. I am so pleased to meet you in person." Yukina said with a formal bow. As she bowed her eyes caught sight of the bracelet on Kagome's wrist and her eyes widened just a fraction. Black and white hiroseki stones? She looked at the bracelet and over at Hiei. Her eyes widened a fraction more but when she raised up from her bow her expression was welcoming and friendly but exposed nothing of the fact she had just realized who Hiei was to her. "If it is alright with you Lady Kagome might I examine you and the pup?"

"Just Kagome, please titles make me uncomfortable. "Kagome said with tired smile. She liked Yukina already. "I think you and I will be good friends Yukina san. Please I would feel much better knowing everything is going fine."

Coming closer Yukina rested a gentle hand on Kagome's belly. She closed her eyes for a moment, "Everything is fine with the pup." she assured before Yukina beamed and then giggled lightly. "Titles make a lot of people nervous, call me Yukina. Anyone who is as important to Hiei san as you are, is already my friend. I hope you will forgive me Kagome but I will need to prepare things so that I can leave for a longer time, but I will come to Kurama's house to help you within a week."

A young woman with sky blue hair laughed. "Oh Yukina I really must take lessons on how you manage to put men in to their place without seeming impolite. I envy you greatly. I am Botan, I met you once before but I doubt you recall the meeting it was very brief Kagome. It was when you succumbed to Mukotsu's poison and died for a moment. You scared us up here! We didn't know what we would have done if you had given up. I admire you Kagome clinging to life like that, bravo. I cheered the loudest for you as you defeated Naraku in the last battle. We all watched avidly. "

"Botan, breathe." Yuusuke said with a chuckle. "I'm certain that even grim reapers can die of suffocation."

Kagome giggled or tried to. It sounded strained and Hiei looked at her with concern. ^Kagome, just tell them you have had enough and I will take you home. Come over here to me and I will make the excuses for you.^

"Shut up Yuusuke, can't you see I'm talking to Kagome? You are always so very rude." She turned back to Kagome. "He has always been like this. Why, when he was fifteen and he died, there he was trying to pick a fight with the ambulance drivers when they covered him up. Then he tried to tell me, I wasn't death. I thought he was quite a brat back then. He has always been rough and tumble, but thank goodness time has mellowed him out a little or there would be no living with him at all. You wouldn't believe all the fights he gets into. And you wouldn't think so to look at him but Yuusuke is the hero of human kind and he is a youkai king. Amazing isn't it?"

"Botan knock it off. You are giving Kagome the wrong impression of me." Yuusuke complained.

"Yes he is amazing," she said shyly and then hurriedly added "so is Hiei- and Kurama as well." Kagome said with a forced smile. She just wanted to go home shut herself in her room and cry... "They are the best friends a girl could ask for."

"That's right you do know Kurama. Quite yummy right, totally drool worthy if you ask me. All of the males in the team are, yummy, that is and all in their own way." Botan whispered in Kagome's ear. "Kagome may I touch your belly?" She waited for a nod. "Your child is quite healthy! That's wonderful. When I heard that you had passed out this evening I was so worried. We have to get together for a sleep over and have a nice juicy chat right Kagome? Yukina?" Botan asked as she plopped herself on to a chair and picked up a cracker. Yukina and Kagome looked at each other as Botan nearly sat on Miroku's lap. "Yuusuke go fight something. I want to speak with Kagome. Miroku, you too get lost. Go file something or find Ayame I know she was looking for you earlier." Yukina frowned at the pain in Kagome's eyes, but Botan didn't see it.

"No can do, Botan. Kagome's my new mission and I was instructed never to leave her alone." Yuusuke said scooting closer to Kagome and crossing his arms. Hiei smirking moved and sat on the other side of Kagome. He could never pass up the opportunity to irritate Botan.

"You boys are too clingy. I was going to ask Kagome some girly stuff about babies and pregnancy. But if you don't mind hearing about tampons and kissing guys and juicy little tidbits about other males then…"

Yuusuke grimaced. "Do your worst I'm not leaving Kagome's side."

"Hn," Hiei grunted as he too crossed his arms and dared her with his eyes.

Botan raised her eyebrow and leaned closer, "Kuwabara has a tight little ass don't you think Yukina? It makes me want to spank it just to hear him yelp and those abs make me want to trace them with my tongue. He also has those big friendly hands that I just think would be so good at-"

Yuusuke jumped to his feet. "La la la! I can't hear you. "His fingers were in his ears as he darted away. Hiei also stood up looking a little green. He glared at Botan in warning before he moved away.

"Ha, gets them every time. Now I can ask you about living with the hotties of the group." Botan said looking for the world like a cat with a bowl of cream.

"Botan san, perhaps we could talk with Kagome at another time. She looks very exhausted."

Kagome stood up as well, "I need to get home actually. I'm sure Kurama is getting quite worried." She looked over to Hiei who nodded and appeared next to her.

"Aww not just yet Kagome, we just started." Botan complained.

As if on cue the doors opened and an angry red haired male stormed in, "Koenma if you have done something to Kagome I will feed you to my Sinning Tree."

Koenma paled and pointed to the avatars left. He'd never seen Kurama so irate with him except the time he had withheld information about their case the once. "Kagome is fine. Botan was talking to her."

Kurama relaxed visibly now that he had caught her scent and turned with a warm smile that he saved for her. He walked over and took her hand and kissed it with a dramatic flair "I have come to rescue you Kagome. Let's go." He said before turned to his team mates. "Shall we? It is getting late."

Kagome felt a flutter in her stomach as he smiled at her. She had never really looked at the kitsune but now that he was standing there and his youki was pouring off of him in angry waves, Kagome looked it was hard not to. Kurama's waist length hair was the color of a red rose and it tumbled in graceful waves down his back. His body was trim and lithe and Kagome blushed as she realized she was checking out his firm tone buttocks. Everything about Kurama was beautiful from the pale creaminess of his skin to the brilliant emerald of his eyes. Botan was right he was yummy. Kagome felt her cheeks heat further as her eyes moved over to Yuusuke and she really looked at him as well.

Yuusuke was tone and athletic. She could see his muscles rippling beneath his tight white t-shirt. His body was that of a fighter and it showed in the graceful flowing movements he made. Every motion was controlled and even. His dark hair was messy and hung in his eyes in the front before hanging below his shoulders and trailing to his waist. He had found a tie somewhere and bound it back like she had done for him before. His dark chocolate brown eyes were intense as he studied everything in an instant. He held himself confidently meeting every eye without hesitation. He had a nice tone butt too.

Her eyes drifted to her other side and she studied the shortest member of the males group. Hiei was a good half a foot shorter but he too was trim and athletic in a way that was disguised by the baggy black clothes he wore. She already knew he had intense gorgeous eyes that were often cold and shielded but missed nothing as they darted around so swiftly they almost appeared not to move. She knew he was strong from the times he had picked her up. She also knew that he was not as cold as he seemed. Hiei had shown her a softer side of himself a few times and she knew that he cared even if he acted otherwise. Her perusing was cut short as Kurama turned and walked closer.

Kagome's heart was pounding as she had been afraid that Kurama had caught her checking out Hiei. Kurama looked at her knowingly as he kissed her hand and then swept her into his arms effortlessly. His manner was easy and he lightly kissed her brow. "You have been crying again. Are you alright?" he questioned softly.

Kurama's question was like an arrow of guilt that shot through her. Inuyasha had just left to be reincarnated and here she was checking out her male friends. What in the seven hells was wrong with her? She wasn't one of those kinds of girls who were always on the prowl for her next male, but the kitsune was hard to ignore just as he was supposed to be. He smelled good and he was gentle even if he was a little too polite and cautious. Thoughtfully Kagome touched her lips. Koenma had arrived before she could full process the kiss Kurama had given her and now that Inuyasha had kissed her again, her memories focused on the feel of Inuyasha's lips on hers one last time.

She was confused and hurt at his actions and thoughtfully she touched the fire rat fur kimono tied around her waist. Tetsuaigua was tucked in at her waist and her hand naturally held the hilt as her thoughts wandered. Inuyasha had thrown her away. No, Inuyasha had thrown them away. Telling her to forget him? How could he say something so insensitive? Her heart ached. He had smiled as he walked away from them. He had been happy to leave her behind. He had been willing to walk away and not even tell her goodbye. She clenched her eyes closed.

Kurama watched her silently as he pondered the scents on her. The scent on her lips was the same as the brilliant crimson kimono she was fidgeting with. He could only assume that it was Inuyasha's scent. On her clothes there were the scents of Yuusuke and Hiei but there was another male scent too. It smelled like that new assistant of Koenma's Miroku. Alright they had known each other during the great quest. Those scent's he easily brushed off but the scent on her lips kept bothering him.

Inuyasha should have been a spirit and incapable of touching a living being, why had Koenma allowed the contact between them? He frowned; he had missed something by not coming with the other two. Whatever had happened had made Kagome cry again and her eyes were red and puffy. She had cried enough to leave light bruises under her eyes. She looked exhausted and emotionally drained. He could not help but to ask if she was well.

Kurama was alarmed at the damage that his question seemed to cause as she visibly wilted and her head hung lower. He could smell the tears before they fell and turned to his teammates, "shall we go? It is getting late," he repeated.

"Kagome needs some sleep; it has been a difficult day for her I am sure." Kurama stated to a confused Botan who jumped up and opened a portal at the sharp clearing of Koenma's throat.

The kitsune did not spare another glance at anyone as he walked purposely through the portal and into his living room. Without a word to those behind him he carried Kagome down the hall and up the stairs to the room she was using. She didn't reply as he slipped her fully clothed under the blankets and leaned over to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Tomorrow will be brighter, Kagome. Sleep and know I am here for you should you have need of me. Tomorrow we will figure everything else out." He left her there to go interrogate his friends.

Kagome lay wide awake staring up at the ceiling as she kept trying to keep her thoughts from wandering to the last time she had seen Inuyasha. He had said not good bye even knowing they would likely never meet again. Had he been trying to tell her about the curse as a way to say sorry it didn't work out but I hope you won't hate me? That kiss if you could call it that, had been his final gift to her and Kagome had felt his feelings clearly. He was never going to think about her again. He was never going lie awake at night dreaming of what could have been. She felt the tears burn her eyes and stubbornly pushed them away.

She felt hollow and empty as she climbed to her feet and changed into a long nightshirt and climbed back on to the bed. She needed to forget for just a little while. Even if she knew that it wouldn't change the reality she needed to feel loved. Mentally she tried reaching out for Hiei, but then changed her mind. What she wanted wasn't something Hiei could or would give her. She wanted comfort without the attachment. She needed a kitsune. She needed the love 'em leave 'em kind of comfort she could only get from one. Getting back up Kagome opened her door and walked soundlessly down the hall. Lightly she tapped at Kurama's door.

"Kurama can I come in" she whispered.

Kurama lie awake in his room staring at the book open in front of him without really seeing it. All he kept seeing was Kagome wilted in his arms like the life had been sucked out of her. Yuusuke had filled him in on everything that Inuyasha had said to her before leaving and it disturbed him how casually Inuyasha had left her behind.

He himself had avoided the Reikai and been reborn without the need to be reincarnated. If he had been in Inuyasha's shoes looking at his beloved who was carrying his child he would have moved mountains to stay beside her. Inuyasha hadn't even told her good bye after everything. Sure he had given the child a name and inheritance and shed a tear but in the end that meant little when compared to him walking away. How could he? How could any male with intelligence just walk away from Kagome? He growled low in his throat and clenched his fist. If it were him, if it were-

"Kurama can I come in?"

Her whisper cut through his thoughts and he stood up and closed the book slipping it back on to his shelf. Silently he crossed to the door and opened it. Kagome stood there with her head bowed and her long midnight colored hair was tousled and she fidgeted with her night shirt. Opening the door wider Kurama moved aside and placed a hand on her back to guide her in. "By all means, come in." he said warmly as he closed the door behind her.

Kagome stepped inside and looked around. Kurama's room was elegant and simple with plants of several varieties scattered throughout the room. Vines climbed up the wall closest to the window and twined around his bed posts. Forming a canopy above his bed were thinner vines with pale lavender flowers. The overall effect was stunning. Kagome crossed the room and doing so her hand brushed too close to one of the plants and the plant reached out and snagged her wrist.

"Now that isn't polite to my guest." Kurama chided gently as he lightly tapped one of the leaves. The plant unwound from Kagome and sagged a little. Kurama pet the leaf he had tapped and it rose up to brush along his hand. "They are sentient, and highly curious about you. Don't be alarmed."

Kagome reached out and lightly touched the same plant running her fingers over the leaf that was touching Kurama. He shivered lightly at the gentle contact. She didn't seem to notice as the plant reached up for more of her touches. Kagome smiled a little as one of the vines lowered and caressed her cheek. Kurama silently waved the others away for now.

"Come sit beside me dearest and tell me what brought you to my room." He said sitting down on his bed. Kagome sat beside him and for a moment fidgeted with the night shirt as though arguing with herself. She uttered something under her breath and then she turned and locked her arms around Kurama's neck her lips on his and her eyes pinched tightly closed.

Kurama felt the shock ripple through him and reacted, his hands coming up to twist in her hair as he tilted her chin to a more favorable angle and began to take control of the shared contact. He felt her moving backwards and followed her, eagerly deepening the kiss with a very soft moan. He felt it then, her tremble. She was shaking like a leaf. He opened his eyes pulling back to look at her. Now that he was not kissing her she was biting her lip and her eyes were closed so hard that he feared that her eyelids would bruise. Gently he cupped her cheek, "Kagome, look at me."

Slowly her eyes opened and he could see her pain written there. Tenderly he helped her to sit up and wrapped her in his arms. "You are being unfair to both of us, love," he tucked her hair behind her ear and tilted her chin up to look in her eyes. He could see the shame and guilt there and he smiled carefully at her. "I understood why you had come when you knocked at my door Kagome. I do not blame you love. It is only human to seek comfort in another it is only natural to desire warmth and contact when you are hurting. I have no problem giving you that warmth, but not like this when I know that we will both regret it."

Shame burned in her chest and Kagome looked away hiding her flaming face in her hands. "I just wanted to forget just for a little while. I didn't-" Mumbling some apology she ran for the door. Kurama was one step ahead of her and the plants sealed her exit before she got there. Kagome froze as she stood there mortified as the tears wouldn't stop flowing. Kurama stepped close to her and pulled her into his arms. Gently scooping her up and carried her back to his bed and laying beside her as she wept out all of her hurt and frustrations into his chest. Shifting in to his fox form he turned and licked all of her salty tears away as she ran her fingers through his fur careful to not touch his tails.

Kagome slowly began to calm and nuzzled her face against his warm body. "Inuyasha didn't say good bye to me at all. He seemed happy to be leaving me behind even knowing he would never see me again. I'm such a fool. I don't think I meant anything to him except someone who accepted him. Sometimes I wonder if I was a convenience to him. 'Hi, I'm the doormat who is always there, please feel free to walk all over me.' I can't believe what an idiot I am. I should have known he didn't want me. Nobody really wants me. I'm sorry I came here tonight Kurama I didn't mean to put you in a bad position I just wanted- I don't know what I wanted." she sniffed.

Kurama growled at her but she didn't seem to hear it so he followed his instincts and he nipped her, not hard enough to draw blood but hard enough to get her attention. Kagome jerked and let him go. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to! I didn't think I had touched your tails." she began to cry again drawing into herself.

Now that her arms were no longer around him he shifted and stood up. "Kagome you are being utterly ridiculous. First of all this has nothing to do with my tails so don't worry. Secondly-" He drew her off the bed and kissed her, unbridled his pent up frustration and he poured it all in to the impassioned kiss that he used as a distraction to move her to the door. Breathlessly he opened the door and pushed her gently into the hall. Quickly closing the door before his desire could get the better of him.

Kagome stood in the hall trying to catch her breath and stop her heart from racing as she struggled to comprehend what had happened. Her mind was fogged and her thoughts seemed to be derailed as she could not get her mind past, 'oh crap oh crap' which was the last coherent thought she'd had before he had kissed her. Now though that her pleasant fog was dissipating she was growing annoyed. Kurama had kissed and thrown her out of his room. She could hear him breathing heavily against his door and hissed, "Kurama! That wasn't fair."

"No you are incorrect what isn't fair is how sexy you look all disheveled and thoroughly kissed as you should be. Go to bed Kagome before I pull you back in here."

Kagome gaped at the door like a fish her mouth opening and closing soundlessly. Wordlessly she turned and walked back to her room feeling completely confused and a little giddy from the high that his kiss had sent her on. It crashed the second she realized what she had almost done. And she walked back to her room with her heart in shambles.