Chapter 6
Yuusuke whistled lightly as he cleaned up his shop for the day and thought of the woman waiting for him back at Kurama's house. He sensed someone behind him and turned swiftly. Kurama stood with his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed, "this is a warning Yuusuke," he stated flatly and was gone leaving an envelope on the counter.
Yuusuke leaned over and picked it up. Tearing open the side he pulled out an official looking document printed in bold red letters 'Notice of Eviction'. Yuusuke stared at the notice eyes wide. "Thirty days from today? How am I supposed to come up with a place to live within a month from now with Kurama pulling the strings,'' he muttered angrily to himself. A note fell out of the envelope and landed face up. It read, "Kagome is mine, touch her and suffer." A low growl left Yuusuke's throat. So Kurama was playing this game. Fine, Yuusuke could play too. Taking out his cell phone he pushed the number two and pressed call. After the third ring he heard a tired voice say.
"Hello Yuusuke."
"Hey, Koenma. Have you got any jobs that pay really good? I have a situation and I need a lot of money fast, unless you can pull some strings and get me a place…"
"What happened to your apartment?" Koenma asked with a frown in his voice.
"It's a long story, got time to have some coffee with me?"
"I'd love some, my treat I'm assuming?"
"Aw Koenma, you are awesome buying me coffee after everything."
"I'll meet you in the café three blocks to the west. Yuusuke I'll race you there."
Yuusuke took off as soon as he hung up keeping to the alleys and off roads. He skidded to a stop in front of the café and straightened his shoulders as he walked in and gestured to the owner before selecting a booth in the back left corner where they would have a little privacy. There were no windows on their side and so the location was fairly secure. Raising his hand he called over the waitress and ordered two double shot espressos one with a shot of whiskey and whipped cream.
Koenma sighed as he stepped in to the café and moved to their usual seats. Yuusuke looked smug as he leaned back looking at the ceiling. There was tension in his shoulders that belied the casual way he was sitting and Koenma knew whatever the story he had to tell that he was not going to be happy about it. Silently he slid in to the seat as their coffee was delivered. Picking up his cup he took a drink and smirked. "You must really need my help to order me my favorite." Koenma commented as he took another sip.
Yuusuke sat forward and slid an open envelope to him. Koenma looked at the contents silently he did not look surprised. "I was afraid something like this would happen. Do you and Hiei have a plan?"
"No but we have an agreement to protect Kagome against everything. Kurama included if we must. I haven't seen the damage myself yet but as you can read Kurama either paid them well to evict me or he trashed the place."
"I'm afraid it's worse than that Yuusuke however he did it, you have been black listed from every apartment complex in the whole city. I'd say whatever you did you got off lucky so far. What did you do anyway?"
"I kissed Kagome."
"In front of Kurama-?" Koenma asked eyes wide.
"Not intentionally but he walked in on us. Kagome was having a rough day so I was holding her and she looked up at me with those beautiful deep blue eyes and I guess I couldn't help myself. She was so tempting sitting there with tears on her cheeks and I kissed her."
"Do you love her Yuusuke?" Koenma asked softly.
"I didn't mean to Koenma. Honest I was just hanging out with her and being her friend and I realized that I care for her. I mean she is incredible, her sense of humor and her laugh are amazing. Add to it that she's having a pup which I can't wait to help her raise. Man Koenma you have no idea how incredible this whole mission is to me. "
"Yuusuke do you love her?"
Yuusuke lowered his face and taped the edge of his coffee cup. "Yeah, I do." He said with a blush and a soft chuckle. "I love Kagome. "
"That changes a few things Yuusuke. The house next to Kurama's estate was for sale. It has a large amount of land that ironically goes right up to the guest house Kurama is fixing up for Kagome. It also has a guest house and a hot tub in the garden. I thought having a place I could come and take a break now and then that wouldn't draw any unwanted attention might be nice. That house is perfect for me and I will give you the guest house and hot tub to do with as you like." He held up his hand to forestall the argument. "I have already assigned my ogres and Botan to move your things in so there really is no need to go back to that apartment. I arranged everything beforehand," he said as he took a long drink of his frothy and creamy coffee. He paused and reached into his robe and withdrew an envelope. "This is the months wages I promised will it be enough?"
Yuusuke stared at the contents of the envelope in silence. "This is too much Koenma."
"There is an extra amount in there for baby supplies. It will go fast so if you need more for Kagome let me know."
"Koenma, can I ask you something?"Yuusuke asked with a sigh. He trusted Koenma. At the king's nod Yuusuke spoke. "I think everything is more complicated than just me being in love with Kagome. I think, no I mean I know I love Hiei too. But he loves Kagome and that makes this whole thing a big mess."
"I think its less complicated than you think Yuusuke. You just haven't noticed it yet. I think if you pay attention you might see what we already know. Well almost everyone.-"
"Stop with the riddles and just tell me!" Yuusuke groaned.
"Hiei you dolt! He likes you!"
The mazoku blinked and then shook his head. Yuusuke sighed as he finished his coffee and glanced up at the clock. "Crap, is it already that late? Kagome is waiting for me to come get her to go play games at the arcade. Uh, do you mind if I?"
Koenma chuckled, "its fine Yuusuke. Go have fun, Oh and Yuusuke not a word about my new purchase and your place yet."
Yuusuke grinned and waved as he darted out the door. Koenma leaned back and sipped his coffee with a large smile. "Just like a kid," he laughed quietly. Yuusuke hadn't believed him about Hiei though. God that was going to get worse if it didn't get resolved.
Kagome sighed as she looked at her refection again turning to the side. She had definitely gotten bigger in the last week. Her dress no longer hid the fact she was pregnant and she sat down with another long sigh. Gently she rubbed her baby bump and smiled as the energy within shifted closer to her finger tips. Then she froze. She waited holding her breath and touched her belly again. Her eyes grew wide as she felt a light tap from within. Her eyes filled with tears and she gasped. A hot hand moved hers aside in worry as Hiei appeared and knelt beside her. As Hiei touched her rounded belly the pup within squirmed harder and kicked again making Kagome giggle, "it moved Hiei! I felt the pup move!" He looked up at her as he felt one of her tears land on his face.
Yuusuke who had just come in stopped at the sight of Hiei kneeling with his hand on her belly while she cried. It was a touching thing to see but Yuusuke was far from moved as he struggled with the jealousy that churned a little in his belly. He forced it back as he walked in to the room and Kagome spotted him. "Yuusuke! Yuusuke, the pup I felt it."
"Him." Hiei said quietly.
Kagome glanced down at Hiei and noticed the pale purple glow behind his ward and gasped. "Him? Are you certain?"
"He told me himself, Kagome. You are having a son and he is very healthy."
"That's wonderful Kagome!" Yuusuke said as he scooped her up and hugged her. "Of course a girl would have been just as wonderful, but a boy! Now I can teach him to be a good protector too. And Hiei can teach him honor. This calls for a celebration!" absently Yuusuke grasped Hiei's hand and held it. Hiei didn't immediately withdraw it.
"What about Kurama?" Kagome asked curiously.
"Eh? Oh he's at work today. We can celebrate with him when he comes home."
Hiei glared at Yuusuke silently as he spoke but nodded once when Kagome looked down at him from Yuusuke's arms for confirmation. Truth was Kurama hadn't been the same since last week when Yuusuke had kissed her. He'd been sulky and irritable and highly unapproachable. Yuusuke had told Hiei of the apartment incident and both had agreed that Kurama was going too far. Hiei had helped to move Yuusuke into his new place and he had chuckled at the irony that Yuusuke was Kagome's nearest neighbor.
Fortunately Kurama had been spending a lot of time at work and had not been around at all. It had been a relief in fact that the fox had been so busy that he left Kagome alone even when he returned at night. Of course Yuusuke was gone long before he returned.
Nothing of their disagreement had been spoken of in front of Kagome. They were aware by now that she would only take things as her fault and feel guilty. Truth was, this argument was bound to occur sooner or later between Yuusuke and Kurama because of Kurama's methods.
Unbeknown to his other teammate Kuwabara, Kurama had, pursued and slept with Shizuru Kuwabara once after Kuwabara had left for school. Yuusuke had seen the aftermath of tears and hurt and had not been happy with his friend. But at the time he had shrugged it off thinking "Shizuru is an adult and makes her own choices". Shizuru was always a very strong individual and Kagome right now was not.
Pregnancy hormones and the emotional trauma of Inuyasha's death and abandonment had left Kagome very vulnerable to Kurama's advances. To her credit and likely his irritation she had not gone back to him for comfort. Hiei kept close tabs on her and on the situation even though often it was from a distance.
Yuusuke glanced at his watch and frowned. He needed to get to work as he would have customers lining up in a couple of hours and he had to prepare the ingredients. Kagome looked at him with a smile. "You have to get going don't you?" she asked as she put her small hand on his cheek. He smiled at her and nodded. "I should-but I don't think anyone will die if I skip today. Besides I said we were going to celebrate and we can't very well do so if I am at work. Hiei, go grab her sweater and lets go. I have an idea."
Hiei was all for making Kagome smile but with him there why did she need a sweater? He was more that capable of keeping the cold away from her but he could also understand that he keeping his youki up would not be as helpful. So he disappeared and returned with the requested item. Yuusuke helped her on with it and with her shoes and then he scooped her up and he and Hiei left with her.
They went first to the bus stop and got on the next bus and got off in the city center. It wasn't very big but there were a few stores and shops. They went first to the clothing shop and looked for some larger clothes for Kagome. After finding some very cute tops and pants and a small argument about cost they left with a couple of bags worth of clothes that fit her now and some for a couple weeks from now.
She had given into Hiei's insistence that she wear one outfit out of the store and she smiled to herself behind the brightly colored scarf that wrapped around the top of the scoop neck sweater that she was wearing. It was light and yet soft and warm and the turquoise color was bright and cheerful. The sweater hit mid thigh and she wore it over some stretchy black leggings. Finally she felt like she could breathe without feeling like she was going to burst the seams of her dress. Yuusuke held her hand on the right and Kagome had looped her arm through Hiei's on the left as they walked.
Yuusuke stopped and gestured to the side with his thumb at the shop he'd stopped at and Kagome squealed as she headed for the entrance of the baby supply store. Hiei begrudgingly allowed himself to be pulled along with the excited woman who was gushing over the little boy clothes. Yuusuke followed with a grin on his face. Kagome had never looked happier. Hiei caught his eye and shrugged as Kagome held out a little outfit giggling excitedly. Yuusuke chuckled as he handed Kagome a basket and she immediately began filling it with little clothes.
~*oOo*~
Hiei hefted the large box of diapers on his shoulder and gathered up the rest of the many bags in his other hand as Yuusuke gathered up the dozing mother to be in to his arms and smiled over at his companion before picking up the last few bags of her clothes and gesturing with his head the direction of Kurama's house.
Kagome had literally shopped till she dropped and had baby clothes, toys and other baby necessities to show for it. Both of her male companions at one point had shaken their head at the overzealous Miko but even Hiei had to smile mentally at her antics and her excitement.
When they arrived back at Kurama's house, he was waiting for them. His face was relaxed and he smiled at the picture they made as the other males carried everything inside. "Don't set it down in here, follow me." He said as he lead them out the back door and to Kagome's little house. With a grin he opened the door and stepped back so that they could enter.
Kurama had out done himself. The house was gorgeous done in cherry wood and deep forest green with cream accents in the kitchen. In the rest of the house he had kept the color scheme she had chosen with one exception. He led them up the stairs and into the bedroom and through a door in to a nursery. The nursery was done in the same cherry wood but painted all over the walls and ceiling was the legend of the Shikon Jewel in a mural form. In the corner was a crib engraved with the fangs of heaven and earth crossing and a pale pink jewel inlaid between them. Yuusuke gasped and woke Kagome accidentally.
Kagome opened her eyes and her eyes widened as she looked around the room. Her eyes landed on the crib and she stared with disbelief and wonder. "What is this?" she asked.
"The nursery for your pup, Kagome, your house is ready and I was having Yuusuke and Hiei bring your things out for you. I figured that the purchases you made today should be put away rather than having to bring them out later."
Yuusuke set her down and Kagome moved to the center of the room and looked in awe at the mural that depicted herself and her feudal era companions in bold bright colors as they stood fierce and strong before a menacing version of Naraku. Inuyasha was brandishing a drawn Tetsuaigua and Kagome could almost hear the familiar battle cry of the Taijiya who held the Hirikotsu above her head ready to fling it in to the fray. Her image that had been immortalized in brilliant color had her standing with a sacred arrow drawn and ready as she fearlessly faced down her enemy while her hair blew in the winds of energy.
"Oh Kurama, how did you know what their faces looked like? How did you capture us so perfectly?"
"Do you like it, dearest?"
"Like it? It's wonderful! It's like you plucked the moment from time and immortalized it. You even got our expressions right. How did you do it?"
"A secret," he winked.
Kagome carefully walked over to the crib and touched the glossy surface with shaking fingers. "Its beautiful." she breathed.
"Unbreakable too," Kurama stated casually as he smiled at her reaction, "Even if the pup gets overly rambunctious it can't damage it not even the finish. It is warded with protection spells and charms. I carved them myself.
Yuusuke and Hiei stood in awe as they looked at the incredible work that Kurama had put in to the design and decoration of the nursery alone and then looked at each other. Damn this was going to be hard to top.
"Shall I help you put the baby things away, Kagome? Then I made dinner for you in your kitchen as a sort of house warming."
Kagome was overwhelmed and sat down in the recliner on the other side of the crib and looked up at the ceiling where a larger than life image of the Shikon jewel gleamed as light and dark swirled together in its endless dance of rise and ebb frozen in the artists rendition of the cursed gem.
The artist had captured it perfectly and Kagome felt tears prick her eyes as she looked around the room surrounded once again by the faces of her comrades. Even Koga stood with the Goraishi claws ready to battle and the stoic Inu lord stood wielding his Bakusaigua. Everywhere she looked in the room was a familiar face and Kagome buried her face in her hands and cried.
"Kagome, are you alright? Is it too much?" Kurama asked softly as he knelt beside her.
"No, I just miss them all. Seeing this scene it's like I can hear their battle cries and feel the wind on my face. It's incredible it's just overwhelming. I can picture myself sitting here with my son and pointing out my comrades faces as I tell him the story."
Kurama looked at her for a moment. "Son?"
"Yes I found out this morning. I felt him kick and Hiei was worried and opened his Jagan to check and I guess he told him. I'm having a son Kurama."
Kagome stood and walked over to the image of Inuyasha and lightly touched his painted cheek. "He will be strong and brave like his father, honorable and courageous like his uncle and his aunt and –"
"Loving and kind like his mother." Yuusuke said looking at her as he walked over and hugged her tightly as he dared. Kagome cried again as the other two looked on. With a sigh Kurama opened the first bag and began putting baby clothes away in the closet built in to the wall. In his head he conversed with Yoko.
# She was pleased with your efforts, Red. #
*Yes, she reacted just as I expected, but doesn't it seem like she is a lot closer to Yuusuke since last week? They both look happy. They do look rather cozy and comfortable don't they? Even Hiei looks relaxed this evening. Are you alright with that?*
# For now. Yuusuke is becoming further enamored with her and Hiei as much as he fights it is too. So it will be all the sweeter when she chooses us over them. Now go get Kagome's attention and show her the rest of the house Red.#
Kurama stood smoothly and walked over with a warm smile as he took her hand. "You haven't seen the rest of the house yet love would you like the grand tour?"
Kagome nodded and let him lead her out in to her bedroom and she smiled at how well he had incorporated the bed set she had picked out. Then she looked closer at the simple wooden frame and noticed it had been carved to look like branches winding elegantly to a canopy of cream colored silk that added elegance and feminine grace to the wood accents in the room. She loved it.
Looking around she went to the door in the corner and found a partial bathroom and smiled. Then she went to the closet and slid the door open and looked at the space within. The several dresses she had owned were not there but there were several others and some casual kimono and yukata. Kagome grinned at the thoughtfulness and closed the closet as her stomach rumbled.
Kurama took her arm as he led her down the stairs and to the main floor. He led her to the left and into her dining room and to a chair. Yuusuke and Hiei followed silently keeping their eyes on Kurama. He was acting a little too nice after how he had been all week and both of them were on guard for any trickery.
"I made more than enough so we should all eat together, and don't worry Kagome I will clean up afterwards. You needn't lift a finger my dear. Oh and I heard from Koenma that Yukina will be here on Friday so I made up your guest room for her." He turned to Yuusuke, "Why on earth didn't you come to me when you got evicted last week Yuusuke? I would never leave my friends out in the cold."
"Yuusuke you got evicted?" Kagome gasped and looked at him scolding "Why didn't you tell me? I would have helped you out too. What are friends for right? Where have you been sleeping all this time? Not under a bridge I hope?" Kagome said shaking her finger at him. "I won't have it!" Kagome exclaimed. "You will sleep here, don't argue!"
Yuusuke opened and closed his mouth. Kagome was dead set on him staying he could see it in her eyes that it would do no good to try right now so he shrugged as he held up his hands "Alright! I won't sleep under the bridge."
#well that failed spectacularly, Instead of making us look like the perfect friend he is going to be sleeping here.# Yoko groused.
Kurama was just as put out, but he hid it well as he walked in to the kitchen and returned with a couple of plates of the steaming hot entrees he had prepared. Yuusuke stood up and said "hey Kurama can I help?" before following the crimson haired male into the kitchen.
No sooner were they out of earshot Kurama whirled on Yuusuke, "Kagome is mine," he snarled dangerously his face only a foot away from the ex detective's.
"What's the matter your little ploy not working like you hoped? That was a dirty trick Kurama. Too bad Kagome's smarter than you gave her credit for. I have to admit the mural and this house are hard to beat, but Kagome seemed to have a blast just looking at baby clothes."
"You are out of your league, Yuusuke. She is too fine a treasure for an amateur like you." Kurama hissed keeping his voice down.
Yuusuke balled up his fist as fury filled him. He ground his teeth together before he hissed, "I might be an amateur, but I do know this: Kagome doesn't belong to anyone Kurama least of all you. Who do you think she needs right now? Me who loves her as she is or you who thinks of her as a fine treasure without considering her heart. You want her power and to claim you had her for a time, but you are an idiot; Kagome's heart and her love are a treasure by themselves but you don't care about that. Consider this, even if she were a normal human woman I would still want her. I love her, Kurama."
Kurama was taken aback by the confession but his pride would not let him back down nor would Yoko. "Love, what nonsense, that sentimentality is what makes you a fool. She doesn't need further heartache she needs passion. Why, do you know who knocked on my door and all but begged me to "help her forget" she did. She wanted to be in my bed not yours. That doesn't sound like she loves anyone does it? She wants to play and we are more than willing to comply. Once she is no longer pregnant we will pursue her in earnest and you will not interfere." Kurama hissed back moving a little closer his hair beginning to lighten in color.
"I will not allow it Kurama." Yuusuke said poking a finger roughly on Kurama's chest. "Did I say she loved me? So what if she turned to you I didn't smell you on her so you pushed her away. She is broken right now. Her heart was ripped out, stomped on and thrown back in face. I understand how that feels." A low growl came from his throat. "I don't care if she loves me back it doesn't change anything. I love her and I will, when the time is right, ask her to be my mate. She is off limits to your games, Kurama. I know what you did to Shizuru and I'll be damned if it happens to Kagome. By the way what is all this 'we' crap? Do you have a multiple personality disorder or something?"
Kurama seethed at the edict Yuusuke had given. "I warn you a final time Yuusuke Urameshi, stay out of my way or ally or no I will view you as an enemy and show you no leniency."
"You are out of your freaking mind Kurama! I said I will not allow this and I out rank you. Back down."
"Never."
Yuusuke snarled low as his markings began to show in stark contrast on his skin. His fangs lengthened to sharp points and his eyes narrowed flashing crimson as his instincts were pushed to the surface. "I said submit, kitsune." He ordered quietly with all the authority of a lord of Makai.
Kurama shifted to Yoko and he bore his fangs. "I will never submit to an infant with far too much power and not enough experience. I am Yoko Kurama, I have lived eighteen hundred and eighty years and you are a mere child."
Yuusuke's instincts raged as he snarled in fury. "I am a Lord of the Makai. Submit or die."
"Then it is to be war." Yoko snarled back snapping his teeth for good measure.
Yuusuke raised his hand in the familiar manner of his weapon and aimed it point blank at Yoko's heart. Yoko didn't flinch as he reached into his silver hair and withdrew a seed.
"Don't do this, I don't want to kill you, you are my friend, Kurama." Yuusuke pleaded as Yoko narrowed his golden eyes.
"Enough!" Hiei snapped as he shoved them apart. "If you make her cry over you, I will kill you both. Now act like the humans you were raised as and play nice. If I see one tear, Kurama, just one because you hurt her, I will lop off your male pride and you will have to wait three hundred years for it to regenerate. As of this moment Kagome is under my sole protection since you two can't seem to keep your heads out of your asses. Touch her Kurama and I will consider it a personal offense."
Yoko paled as he cupped the suggested part protectively with one hand. "Fine, Yuusuke a truce. Till the pup is born neither of us is allowed to pursue her. If she instigates contact she can lead but we will not make any moves on her. Agreed?"
"Fine, but if you betray me Kurama, I'll tell Kuwabara what you did to his sister and help him beat the shit out of you. Losing your dick will be the least of your worries, Kuwabara will kill you with his ji gen to and there won't be enough of you in any dimension to reincarnate."
"Touché, alright I give you my vow on pain of losing a tail that I will abide the agreement."
"I witness this agreement; now get out there and make Kagome smile. This is her celebration remember? "Hiei snapped, "Oh and I hope you both had something else in mind to eat because she ate what was out there."
Irritably Hiei followed the other two back out to the dining room and smirked a little as Kurama saw Kagome practically licking her plate. The food he'd brought out was most definitely gone and Kagome seemed to be looking for more. Kurama sighed as he turned around and went back into the kitchen as Yuusuke walked over and sat beside Kagome. She blushed and set down her plate.
"Is everything okay in there?" she asked.
"Hm, oh yeah just a disagreement over how much garlic was on the bread." Yuusuke said with a grin. "But nothing to worry about. Did you have fun today beautiful?"
"Yes, today was amazing," she leaned over and laid her head on Hiei's shoulder where he sat on her other side. A huge yawn broke free and her eyes began to drift closed. Hiei shook his head but wrapped his arm around her and glanced at Yuusuke. Why was she not a youkai. This could be so simple, it didn't have to be complicated. He cared for her, Yuusuke cared for her they could just all be together. Hiei carried her up to her new room and laid her in her bed. Carefully he removed the scarf and hung it over the reading chair in the corner.
Shutting her door behind him he saw Kurama and Yuusuke eating and joined them dinner was strained with the glares from Yoko. "Yuusuke, come spar with me." Hiei said in a rush.
"That's a great idea!" Yuusuke cheered softly. Except it wasn't during the spar at Genkai's temple their fight had become a wrestling match that ended abruptly with Hiei's lips on his. Or rather his on Hiei's. Either way Yuusuke had panicked and run, and was now kicking himself for his cowardice. Hiei hadn't hit him or reacted at all. He had just laid there motionless. Realizing Hiei wasn't kissing him back Yuusuke had retreated with a lame ass excuse and run the hell away.
Hiei lay on the sun warmed earth in the darkness of the night with wide eyes unable to move as his brain tried desperately to comprehend what had just happened. His lips tingled with the sensation of Yuususke's mouth pressed to his and he just couldn't wrap his head around it. Then swiftly on its heels he realized he had not kissed back and belatedly that Yuusuke was long gone, "fuck." He had no idea what he could say or do to make things better "fuck!" Yuusuke probably thought he didn't reciprocate his feelings "God-fucking-dammit!" Hiei snarled hauling himself off the ground. Angrily he gathered his shirt and his sword and with a low growl he left the temple going the long way back.
Along his way Hiei contemplated his actions. Why hadn't he kissed Yuusuke back? He wanted him, and god forbid cared about him. But he hadn't kissed him when he had the chance. Everything, he realized was complicated with Kagome there now. When he had accidentally kissed her, he had felt a spark of something when he had kissed her again he had nearly been overwhelmed by more intense feelings. It was warmth and welcoming and frankly scared him. He knew he was becoming attached to her and she had only been there with them for a short time. He cared for her almost in equal measure to how he felt about Yuusuke. And perhaps that was why he hadn't kissed back. Kissing Yuusuke would not have ended with a kiss, and he was sure Yuusuke was falling in love with Kagome, no he knew he was. God, this whole thing was confusing. If Kagome was a female youkai this would be simple, they could just all be together. But Kagome was more human, and would probably reject the idea. Hiei shook his head with a frown. He had forgotten Kurama.
Kurama he was sure did not actually love Kagome. He desired her and he was a healthy male so he lusted for her but he didn't love anyone. Kurama loved his human mother but he never ever made the mistake of falling in love. From what Hiei knew of him he had no plans to ever settle down with a mate, male or female so his playing around with Kagome was irritating. Especially with what he had over heard in the kitchen. He thought he had freed Shuichii, but since the last time speaking with him his presence had vanished completely. No their friend Kurama was no more, he just had to face it. If he was still there he and Yoko had blended too perfectly to be separated again.
Hiei returned to Kagome's house and let himself in. On the second floor he found her second guest room and laid his cloak on the mattresses before he lay down. Through the wall he could hear her soft breathing and he let it lull him into a restless sleep.
