I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho fandom or characters. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi and to Toshihiro Togashi. I do not make any monies or profit from the writing of this story.

Please enjoy this newly Revised Chapter!

As always, please let me know what you thought of this chapter as well whether good or bad. Thank you.

Enjoy,

DawnFire_ice

Chapter 4

Things were tense for a moment as Kurama's confession and Hiei's disappearance hung in the air between them. And then sighing Yusuke climbed to his feet once more. "Kurama, man if I'd known you liked her I- know what it doesn't matter she didn't reply and I don't think she will. Let's let her choose who she wants. Then there will be no hard feelings, right?"

"I suppose that would be the only fair thing to do." Kurama demurred thoughtfully. "Or we could just agree that neither of us will pursue her…No, on second thought I like your plan let's stick with that." He pushed his crimson hair over his shoulder as he stood up and gestured with his hand for Yusuke to go down the path first, grateful that the night hid his pale cheeks. Yoko had ranted and raved in his head before but never had he threatened bodily harm to his avatar. To say Kurama was concerned would be an understatement. It wasn't even Yoko who would do the harming…

*No, Yoko I don't think kissing Hiei will be necessary, or helpful.* Kurama said mentally to the glaring kitsune in his head. Yoko raised an eye brow.

~does that mean then Red that you are going to pursue her then regardless of that stupid promise? ~

*I don't recall making any promises, Yoko…*

~Ooh Red, I have taught you well. ~ Yoko grinned as he settled back down and began to plan out a strategy for winning the heart of a Miko

*Yoko? Why do we want her besides the obvious? *

~Hmm? Oh haven't you noticed? Our souls resonate with her. She could be the one! ~

*The one? Really? You mean that we would be mating and settling down?*

~Of course not! But she could bare our kits…~

*Yoko, it doesn't work like that. I won't hurt her. It's all or none.* it was a brave thing to say in the off chance that Yoko lost his temper and Kurama waited with baited breath.

~you meant it then, you are in love? ~ Yoko's voice was softer than Kurama had ever heard it and there were emotions in it he didn't know the spirit fox had.

*I think so, Yoko. I have never felt so alive and nervous in all my life. Kagome makes me want to be strong and weak, its strange Yoko like -*

~Okay, okay, Red I know. I am in your head too and I noticed that your attraction had grown. So you want the whole kit and caboodle with vows and all then? Fine, I guess we could do worse than to be married to that gorgeous creature…~

*really Yoko? That's generous of you and I am sure that she will love you equally and so you will get to come out more around her and even-*

~Whoa, kit! First things first we have to win her heart…~

Yusuke was unaware of the kitsune and the avatar's silent conversation behind him, but he was fully engrossed in the inner dialogue he was having with himself and his conscious. He was conflicted and frustrated with himself. He loved Kagome damn it! Why did Kurama have to butt in? Why did he have to be the bigger man and back out? Why? Because he was the "save the day super hero" kind of guy, just like Hiei said he was when he met him that first time. He was the jump in and rescue type who helped everyone but ignored his own desires for theirs. Genkai would have said he was being an idiot, and she would have been right.

Hiei had been his biggest advocate to being with Kagome but something seemed off about that too. Why push the two of them together? Didn't Hiei want her too? He said he didn't but his eyes had said something different when they had come on them watching fireworks. Hiei had been watching her like one entranced. Clearly he felt something- some form of consideration for her? Did he love her? Maybe, but did that change Yusuke's feelings? If Hiei loved her, Yusuke decided suddenly, he would willingly step back and let Hiei have a chance at happiness. After all how many times would Hiei have this opportunity? And where did that leave him?

Yusuke swallowed as he stuffed his hands in his jeans pocket and blinked as he entered the festival and hastily turned his back the bile rising in his throat. What was she doing here?! He chanced a glance back and wished he hadn't. Keiko was smiling in a way he had never seen at a tall brown haired man and on her finger was a nice sized rock. Keiko was engaged and the thought hit Yusuke like a ton of bricks.

Retreating down the path to Kagome's camp site he was surprised to find her waiting for him. Her arms were open and he moved into them unerringly the tears already filling his eyes. But instead of lowering his face to her shoulder he brought his lips down and caught her mouth with a kiss. At first it was a desperate cry for comfort but as he kissed her it became harder and harder to remember why he had needed comfort and why he had not just kissed her before. He needed her like oxygen to breathe.

Kagome broke the kiss and stepped back. She had not been expecting to be kissed and had not been prepared to feel not his tears as she expected, but his mouth on hers. His eyes burned with his need but she could not give him the same. She cared for Yusuke, but her heart was still back there- in Hell- with him. She hadn't realized she had begun to cry until Yusuke, frowning wiped her cheek with his thumb. Questions formed in his eyes that she had no answers for and he took a step towards her.

She panicked, turning in one fluid motion she ran. Sprinting around the festival lights and to the stone stairs she hadn't slowed and took the steps far too quickly. As she tripped she bit back a scream as a blur of black snatched her mid fall. Held securely to a firm chest she found herself in the top of the Goshinkobu she was shaking as silent sobs wracked her body and the arms holding her tightened to keep her not only on the branch but in his arms.

Hiei was beside himself as he saw her trip and begin to fall once again down that cursed staircase that kept trying to take her from him. Well he wouldn't allow it! Nothing so pathetic would happen to her. It took him a moment to realize she was silently sobbing and he saw red for an instant. "What happened Kagome?"

The sound of him speaking her name stopped her sobs and she sat up looking at him with wonder. "You called me by name."

"Yes, onna and if you want me to continue to do so, answer the question."

"I was getting ready for bed when I felt a sharp pain go through Yusuke's aura and then I felt him coming my way so I waited for him and as I saw his face I thought he might need a hug or something but he kissed me."

"And you nearly killed yourself because he kissed you?" Hiei asked fingering his hilt thoughtfully considering if lopping off the head of his team leader would count as dishonor…

"No, I just wasn't expecting it and when I started to cry I panicked and ran from him, Oh no! He is going to think I rejected him too! Argh! That isn't what-Hiei!" Kagome gasped as Hiei stood with her in his arms and vaulted to the roof and then to the trees. Suddenly he dropped her and she squeaked in fright as she was caught again in a different pair of arms.

"Special delivery." Hiei said flatly before vanishing. Yusuke frowned after the apparition before he silently let Kagome down and turned to leave.

"Wait! Yusuke, I need to tell you something."

"It's okay; I think you running from me after I kissed you was pretty clear. You don't want me like that its fine. I should have known better."

"No, you stubborn male! I ran because I don't want you to see me cry! It wasn't because you kissed me! I like you and Kurama and Hiei a lot, but I haven't healed yet. My heart is in Hell."

"I know how you feel Kagome; seriously you don't have to make excuses."

"Damn it Yusuke! The man I love went to Hell with her! He chose her over me and died with her! It's not an excuse!"

"The Inu?" Hiei asked reappearing out of the shadows. Kagome looked stricken as she nodded slowly. "Did he know of your love?"

"Yes, he knew but he loved her more even though we were the same person."

"The fool." Hiei growled.

"Indeed. To chose the dead over the living."Kurama said stepping into the fire light.

"I don't get it. Call me stupid but I don't understand how could he choose her if you were the same?"

"Reincarnation, Yusuke. Obviously he loved her former incarnation."

"I was always in her shadow. She was a better archer, she was cuter, she was more powerful, and she wouldn't have done this or that. I was never just Kagome!" Her words bitter as her tears as she cried. "I loved him and I wanted him to live even if not with me. Even if he stayed with her, as long as he lived it would have been okay. He should have lived!"

"What an idiot! Kagome, anyone who would even look at another girl while you loved him would be dumber than Kuwabara!"

"Kuwabara is in college to be a veterinarian I'm not sure he would be the dumb one."

"Shut up Kurama! I told you all the teachers had it in for me!"

"Idiots," Hiei said shaking his head. He moved swifter than ever but as his aura faded Kagome blushed and raised a trembling hand to her cheek where she had felt for a split second Hiei brush his lips. His parting words made her blush deepen "I prefer your smile, Kagome."

If he was honest with himself, he wasn't completely certain what he was offering by telling her he liked her. That same feeling that he got when he'd seen something he wanted told him to hold on to Kagome with both hands. Once she found out what he was offering he hoped she would take it with both hands too. But what if what he thought he was offering wasn't the same as what she wanted? His doubts began to creep up in his mind.

He was not in love with the onna. It had to be a strange reaction to her tears and her words. That had to be it because the Kinshi-ko, the Forbidden Child was not going to be swayed by a simple human onna, was he? The very fact that he was questioning himself made him feel confused. Had he indeed 'fallen' for the woman?

Even if he had it was of no matter, she was never going to know about it and neither would the fools he called teammates. He would simply be her shadow forever and protect her in his own way, as he had been doing. But even as he thought about it he knew he would never be able to not be close to her now. Even though he knew nothing would come of it. After all, something so pure would never be interested in something as evil as himself, so it really didn't matter. Before a week ago he would have believed that, but she had changed everything when she told him "I like youkai."

In that moment Hiei had felt like she had given him a gift and yet he was afraid to open it for fear that it was too good to be true. Oh, he was happy about it, but that's what confused him. He was happy. He wanted to say something but words were not his specialty.

Sensing that she was asleep and Yusuke and Kurama were gone, Hiei moved soundlessly from his spot in the tree and closer to her side, where she left the tent "window" open for ventilation, looking down on her. He was entranced by the way her thick dark eyelashes fanned across her creamy skin and he stared at her face silently for a long moment before sinking soundlessly to sit where he could watch her sleep.

Even if all he could ever do was watching her from a distance he was not going to deny himself any opportunity to be close to her when no one would discover him. He'd done this every night since meeting her, but to his knowledge she didn't know that he was ever there. She shifted and her hair fell across her face hiding it from his eyes.

This was foolishness... but he couldn't help himself. Damn it, he wanted to touch her and her to know it. He wanted to stop haunting her steps and walk beside her. It had been hard trying to be close and yet far away from her, when all he wanted to do was take her far away from everything and never let her go. Yes, he loved her. He was unafraid to admit that to himself now.

Still, he had told her practically nothing of himself and knew that she wished to know more about her silent protector... But honestly what could he say? That he was a spirit detective and that he protected her kind from his daily, like some kind of hero? No, that would be a lie. He in all ways, with her being the only exception, held little but contempt for her kind, feeling that they were spineless and honor-less creatures that lived rather like parasites. He protected them because it was his job and his duty to do so since he was still a Reikai dog.

No, he could no more tell her that than he could confess to her his feelings, or tell Yukina his identity. It would be the same. But this taste of purity had changed a few things in him, making him long for her to see him as her hero and not just a friend. He wanted all of it, her love, her mind, her very soul. Yet it was that very longing that made him push her away so forcefully. He loved her too much to condemn her to a life that he would give her. His enemies, and there were many, would try to hurt her to get to him.

Hiei shook himself. She said she liked me. Damn it, was he afraid? Yes, he was, he was afraid of her frailty- of the possibility that he could lose her. Pulling up the image of her looking at him her cheeks pink and that little shy smile on her lips in his mind he sighed. He had to stop this but he knew better than most that it was far too late to just walk away. He had to know first if he had a chance to love her. Tomorrow he'd ask her what she meant by liking him. Tomorrow he'd know one way or another if it might be possible-

Unfortunately the fates had other ideas as he was woken just as the sun was about to rise suddenly with the buzzing of his communicator. Irritated he flipped it open and listened wordlessly to the instructions that Koenma gave through a recording. He hadn't been fully unsuspecting of this as he'd been informed by Mukuro via a messenger, but the timing was wrong very wrong. Damn! Now he just had to hope that the Onna could stay out of trouble for a couple of weeks while he went in to the Makai so that he could deal with the problem. He would be back as soon as it was over they could talk then. He pulled off his cloak and folded it setting it on the log he'd leaned against last night. Hopefully she would understand his intention to come back.

Was he completely out of his mind?! What had possessed him to act so open about liking her? All this time he had been throwing her at Yusuke but keeping her from Kurama was an excuse, all this time she had been a constant on his mind. A fact that had as he predicted almost gotten his fool ass killed a few times. Now he had a reason to return, his cloak was important to him because of her tears. With a shrug he left. After all how much trouble could she get into in a couple of weeks...?

Hiei's mission was proving to be more difficult than he'd thought and his prey more elusive. It should have been easy to track down a being with such immense mental energy but Hiei was struggling to pick up even a trace. The instructions he had received were his basic instructions: find this monster Kage, kill him and rescue the human he'd kidnapped. It should have taken him days, not weeks, to locate him. But now standing before the dilapidated castle, or at least what was left of it. Hiei understood. It wasn't that he couldn't find the energy; it was that he was being led. He clenched his fists angrily.

Placing a hand on the hilt of his katana he entered the building. His Jagan was open and pulsing as he searched for the life energy of the human girl. What he was finding was overwhelming. There were at least ten humans not just one. Irritated Hiei used the Jagan to delve deeper in to the minds of the captives but quickly jerked his mental presence back in sheer horror. Their minds and souls had been shattered! Now angry at the idea that he could have failed such a mission, Hiei ran deeper into the crumbling fortress.

The darkness inside was thick like ink. Even the sconces on the walls that were lit did little to ease the darkness that seemed alive and oppressing. The soft plink of water dripping was loud in the echoing tunnels of the underground dungeon. It was cold and dank the air stagnant with the smell of moss and dirt as well as mold. Beyond all of that Hiei could smell the stink of death.

Pain lashed so suddenly through his mind that he dropped to his knees. Something or someone was clawing ruthlessly through his thought to be impenetrable mental barriers. Hiei closed his eyes as he shifted to the Jagan's true form eyes opening all over his body for amplification. ^GET OUT OF MY HEAD!^ He roared mentally. A wicked laugh echoed back to him through his mind. "I see. HIEI you think that your pathetic Jagan will force me out. Don't make me laugh. Your Jagan has the mental powers of a child compared to my own."

Hiei shuddered as the presence became stronger; it was tearing through his memories, searching for something. In his mind's eye he saw the being that had to be Kage stop and pluck out the memory of Kagome to view. "Is this your woman? Ah, I see she is not yet, pity, but she is lovely Hiei, I'll bet her screams of agony are lovelier. Since you have given me such a pleasant gift and a new goal, I'll let you go. You can take my broken toys back with you; they are no fun anymore. My next victim will be far more enjoyable, little Jaganshi." His laughter filled Hiei's mind.

^YOU WON'T TOUCH HER KAGE! I WON'T LET YOU!^ Hiei roared in to the accompanying silence of his mind as Kage released him. The shock of having his mind pawed through as though his barriers hadn't been there was gradually wearing off. He shook with fury as he punched the unforgiving stone. Damn him! How dare Kage make a fool of him? Had there not been humans here Hiei would have unleashed his dragon but the humans had unknowingly been a shield for their tormentor. With barely repressed rage Hiei opened his communicator. "I found the girl and nine more." he snapped at the Godling.

Koenma wisely remained silent as he got the coordinates and opened a portal. Something had gone horribly wrong with this mission. Hiei wasn't speaking but the diminutive ruler could see that Hiei's face was pale and his eyes were blazing. Something had gone very wrong indeed... "Hiei take some time off. I won't call on you- for a while." Hiei was gone before the last word finished leaving Koenma's mouth.

Hacking and slashing through demon after demon Hiei gradually calmed himself losing his fury in the thrill of killing. Finally once again calm enough Hiei burned away the blood from his youki infused clothes and skin leaving them clean. He wiped his katana on the grass before sheathing it. Now that he wasn't enraged there was only one thing he wanted, one thing he needed. Kagome.

(The fates can screw themselves!) Hiei decided as another ripple of agony went through him. His seasonal heat was upon him and he angrily cursed his hiyoukai blood for the constant reminder that he was of age to take a mate. His instincts demanded that he return to his chosen one and fulfill the bonding. But he couldn't risk being close to her…yet. He could still watch over her even if at a distance it would calm the protective urges he was feeling that were literally a pain.

Yusuke looked at his reflection in the mirror and ran a nervous hand through his hair. He thought about greasing it back but then recalled Kagome's reaction to that look and her grimace as she touched the greasy strands. Pulling his hair back to the nape of his neck he tied it back and looked over his appearance again. Shaking his head at his actions he pulled out his cell phone and read over her message once more.

Yu, I would love to go on a date! So excited, err… what time? Kag

He blushed as he snapped the phone closed and tucked his wallet in to his back pocket. If he left now he would be too early but he couldn't possibly stand around pacing the floor. Grabbing his jacket and locking the door he headed to the Higurashi shrine. His grin stretched ear to ear and he couldn't help the eagerness coiling in his belly. He was finally going on a real date with Kagome.

"Sis, come on! I have to pee! Sis!"

"Souta I have a date! Give me a sec!" Kagome said through the door as she carefully applied a light touch of makeup and checked her curled hair in the mirror. She had pulled it up into a ponytail and curled the ends.

"Sis! Come on!"

"Alright I'm done!" Kagome said opening the door and nearly being bowled over by the eager teen as he bolted for the toilet."

"Why didn't you use the one down stairs?"

"Gramps." Came the muffled reply as the door shut in her face.

"oh." Kagome sighed before she walked to her room and sat on her bed tapping her foot impatiently. A folded black item caught her eye and she pulled it out of her bag. Hiei. It had been nearly a month since the night of the festival and a lot had happened.

After Hiei left kissing her cheek, Yusuke and Kurama had continued to argue till Kagome had laughed. Then they had each sat beside her till she had fallen asleep listening to stories of their adventures. She'd woken to the smell of breakfast being cooked by Kurama while Yusuke tried to help in his own fashion. Finally Kurama had relented and told Yusuke to squeeze the oranges he had brought, which he did a bit too well.

As they sat down around the fire they enjoyed their unique culinary creations as she laughed with them. It was the most fun she had had in a year, but Hiei was missing and that dampened her joy. "Don't worry," Kurama had said tapping her nose, "Hiei often returns to the Makai, but he will return. I am certain of it." Kagome had been relieved but anxious until, Yusuke, showing off balanced a bowl of miso soup on his head and danced around like a fool to draw a laugh from her. Yusuke was always eager to make her laugh and she found more and more she was drawn to his easy manor and his playful ways.

Shortly after breakfast Kurama had pulled her into his arms and told her he had a business trip to make and would be gone for a couple weeks and so Kagome had been left without two of her dear friends, but Yusuke had prevented her from being completely alone. More often than not she had woken to find Yusuke helping gramps on the shrine, or arguing with him over the value of this or that he may have accidently broken in his zeal to assist. Kagome chuckled quietly at the memory of Yusuke plastered with ofudas the last time. Shaking her-self from the memories she stood, did a last once over in the mirror and walked out of her room, a tingle of anticipation racing through her, Yusuke would be there soon.

As she came around the corner to walk down the stairs Souta crashed into her and gulped. He had been taking a cup of Kool-aide up to his room to drink as he studied and it was now down the front of his sister. He yelped as Kagome glared. "Souta! Look what you did to my dress! Now I have to change you brat! It took me hours to decide on this!"

"I think Yusuke san would appreciate the unique view sis. Your dress is clearly not water proof." Kagome gapped at her little brother before slapping the side of his head.

"You and Yusuke seem to get along almost too well brat. I'll have to tell him no more stories if this keeps up. I didn't know you were becoming such an echii."

Souta rolled his eyes, "its called puberty. Look it up. And voicing a fact is not being echii just realistic. You should go change." He shook his head as Kagome eeped and ran for her room muttering curses that their mother would not have approved of. "Sounds like she's the one spending too much time with Yusuke." He shook his head as he turned back down the stairs and to the kitchen.

Standing in front of her closet Kagome sighed. All of her skirts were too short and her shorts were too casual. "Denim it is then," she sighed changing out of her punch soaked dress and into denim dress and she had purchased on a whim. It was simple but, cute and most of all, the hem was slightly below her knees. Straitening her hair she checked her lip gloss and frowned at the light summer dress in a heap on her floor. She could only hope that the crimson stain came out of the light material. Shaking her head once more she picked up her purse and sat on her bed again listening for the sound of Souta's door to close.

Her eyes landed once more on the crimson stain and a memory tugged at her thoughts. White stained crimson, pain and merciful darkness. The sound of the door bell jerked her to her feet the memory forgotten once more.

"And why should I call my grand-daughter to come down here youkai?"

"Come on old man, are you always going to treat me like this? I'm going to date her so you should get used to it."

"What?!" gramps screeched and Kagome groaned as she ran down the hall. "Kagome's too much trouble."

"Hey." Kagome complained at the comment as she reached the front door.

"Yeah well I like trouble. Can I marry her?" Yusuke retorted. Kagome skidded to a stop and her eyes went wide. He was asking Gramps if he could marry her. Had he been serious then?

"Never, no youkai gets Kagome. Especially you, you rough-ian!"

"Oh, but father, think how cute the children would be" mama's voice floated through the door. Kagome closed her eyes her face flaming. This could not be happening. Throwing open the door Kagome took in the way Yusuke stood casually with his hands in his pockets and his white tank top exposed on his chest by the unbuttoned forest green shirt that was buttoned the rest of the way down and tucked into a pair of snug but appealing jeans. She caught her breath and he smirked. Damn he'd caught her staring

"I've already proposed to her." Yusuke said with a false pout.

"Yusuke!?" Kagome gaped at him.

"Oh?" Mama squealed excitedly, "what did she say?"

"Look at the time! Isn't our movie starting soon?" Kagome tried to interrupt.

"She said no."

"Oh, well keep asking, persistence is key." Gramps said and then frowned, "Taking advantage of an old man's frail mind is cruel, I said no!"

"Don't give up Yusuke-kun." Mama said with a wink. "I'll be making red beans and rice before you know it."

"Mama!" Kagome complained face palming while Yusuke chuckled. While her mother argued with Grandpa Yusuke took her hand and led her quietly away.

"That was your entire fault you know." Kagome said poking Yusuke's arm with her finger. Though she was finding it difficult to be angry with him, while he was looking at her so warmly and with those gorgeous eyes damn youkai and their sexy intense eyes! She thought with exasperation. Finally she sighed "You can stop giving me puppy eyes, Yusuke I'm not mad."

"Promise?" he asked with a grin.

"Yes. So I know you said no movies today, so what do you have in mind?" Kagome asked curiously.

"This," he said waving his hands like a magician and holding up two tickets to the amusement park. He grinned at her.

"Awesome!" she squealed hugging him suddenly before grabbing his hand and tugging like an excited child. "Let's go! Let's go!"

"Kagome you are such a kid! Race you to the station. Ready set go!" he said laughing as he took off at slightly faster than normal human speed and laughing.

"Hey!" she exclaimed before sprinting after him. She had gotten faster as she had been running for her life in the feudal era and soon she was catching up to him. Laughing with exhilaration as they ran for the train station Kagome darting quickly down an alley way she came out at the station and sat on a bench to catch her breath.

"You so cheated!" Yusuke said in mock chiding.

"Cheated? I just used creative shortcuts. You know they say the fastest way to anyplace is a straight line."

"Tried that once and ended up meeting the most annoying bat youkai ever, a straight line was not the fastest through grandma's forest. Man, I haven't thought about that mission in a long time."

"Come on you can tell me on the way!"

As Kagome and Yusuke made their way to the amusement park Hiei arrived at the shrine and with a leap landed on the roof outside of Kagome's window. Her curtains were wide open but she was clearly gone. On her floor, which was highly unusual was a bunch of light colored fabric stained crimson. Hiei narrowed his eyes as he looked at the bandages stained with fresh blood and his cheeks paled. If she had bled enough to soak through that many bandages then it was likely that she was in a hospital or a morgue.

He closed his eyes. Oh, he hoped he was wrong. The voice of her mother carried to his ears and he frowned. He wasn't sure what the date had to do with anything but if she was with Yusuke then he had better have a good reason for being out with her while she was so terribly injured. When he found the fool there would be blood to pay, even if he was relieved she wasn't dead.

After searching around the city to no avail Hiei opened his Jagan and located them closer to the Mushiori city and sighed correcting his previous thought, when he found them Yusuke was a dead man. As he neared their location Hiei's ears were assaulted with many human screams and he frowned, surely the detective hadn't taken her to such a place to be tortured? If he had then he wasn't just a dead man but he would be a broken and tortured dead man. Maybe even fodder for his dragon he grinned evilly as he considered the thought before spotting Kagome leaned over a garbage can. She appeared to be ill and Yusuke was rubbing her back. Without thinking Hiei dropped out of the tree where he had perched and started to walk towards her.

"Hey! How did you get in here with that thing!" a human shouted as a whistle blew.

As the men dressed in blue uniforms encircled him Hiei's last thought before he ran was, I'm not going to kill him I'll destroy him! Figuring they would return to the shrine and to Kagome's campsite, he went ahead to wait for them.

The day slowly became twilight and finally on to night before he heard the soft voices coming closer to where he waited impatiently. Her voice soothed the fury to a low burn even as he tried to hold his temper. He couldn't fight the relief he felt at hearing her laugh. He frowned, why was she laughing when all he had done today was to worry that she was hurt? How dare she be so care free while he was in a complete panic! His irritation soared and his eyebrow ticked.

"So the idiot visits me in spirit while I'm under water and he says I'm such a weakling and that after I'm dead he's gonna steal my job! Oh hell no. I was pissed and I destroyed the stupid hate fish- What has your cloak in a wad three eyes?" Yusuke asked noticing Hiei standing with his arms folded in front of him.

Kagome jerked in surprise, as she snapped her eyes to the heated glare that was now on her and searching her with a disconcerting intensity that made her squirm with nervousness for a moment before she threw caution to the wind and flung herself into his arms knocking them both to the ground. "You're back! I missed you!" then she hissed in pain, the sudden scent of blood ruined the thrill of hearing her words for him.

"How badly?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"It's nothing Hiei, just a scratch." Kagome said grimacing as the wetness grew under his hand.

"That is not a scratch." Moving her gingerly he knelt next to her, staring in horror at the thin trickle of blood oozing from a slice in her leg that extended from her knee to her hip.

Looking herself over in confusion she touched her wound and winced her fingers coming away lightly red with blood. "Ouch. I guess I cut myself on a rock or something."

"Holy hell, Kagome you sliced your leg on Hiei's sword," Yusuke said moving to help move her further into the camp. With a look of disgust Hiei shook her blood from his blade and sheathed it, angry that his blade had caused her injury. Seizing a towel hanging on a rigged clothesline he tore it in to long strips.

"Baka onna have you no sense of self preservation, you could have lost that leg."

"Well I guess I know now I shouldn't jump you while you have your sword exposed."

"I fully agree Kagome that move could be dangerous." Yusuke said trying to keep a straight face

"The penetration is deep." Hiei stated looking over the wound with a frown. Kagome's mouth twitched un-noticed by either male, as Hiei's hands expertly bandaged her wound. If Yusuke thought that she was not aware of the innuendos being tossed back and forth, they both were about to learn better.

"Can't be too deep your sword is not that big." Yusuke dead panned trying to keep his face neutral.

"It is the precision and the speed that matter, not the size." Hiei said meeting the ex-detective's eyes. If he wanted to play, Yusuke was going to find that he was out of his league.

"So it is small?" Yusuke asked his eyes sparkling with mirth.

"Those who were impaled on it think otherwise." Hiei said with a challenging raise of his eyebrow.

"I thought his sword was really heavy." Kagome commented suddenly making both males turn their eyes to her.

"When did you handle his sword?" Yusuke asked with a surprised tone coloring his voice before he glared at Hiei with narrowed eyes. The look was returned in full by the apparition.

"The day we met." Kagome replied smoothly.

"Damn you do work fast. I didn't know you had it in you, Hiei." Yusuke said with a challenging tone the humor was fading fast as jealousy was rearing its ugly head.

"No I had it in me. I'm the one who got stabbed. Good night guys." Kagome said as Hiei finished tying off the make shift bandage. Kagome got up and hobbled to her tent. Yusuke gaped his annoyance turning to bewilderment.

Hiei and Yusuke gawked. "I think we just got schooled, three eyes."

"Maybe you did detective, but I have not been beaten yet." Hiei said recovering his surprise and failing to hide the smirk curling his lips. Kagome had been defending his male pride after all…

"Oh come on, ya gotta marry me Kagome!" Yusuke said kneeling outside her tent with his hands clasped. The sight made something in Hiei ache in agony. He was almost afraid to hear her answer.

"Not tonight I don't." Kagome retorted. Awkwardly she zipped it closed trying to keep the weight off her leg. Once alone she groaned aloud forgetting they could hear her, "Ugh! I shouldn't have looked! I'll never be able to look either of them in the eye!"

"She apparently liked what she saw." Hiei said mentally pushing down that random pain and dismissing it as nothing. If Kagome hadn't accepted Yusuke then…

"She liked mine better. My pants show more." Yusuke baited feeling slightly affronted by the idea she had looked at Hiei too.

"Then there isn't much there to be seen." Hiei could help but to throw one last dig at Yusuke before he left.

"Damn it Hiei get back here and say that to my face!"

Pushing her face in to her pillow to hide her mortification she had the sudden mental image of a dog barking up at a treed cat, as the cat licked its paws, taunting the dog who was never going to reach it. "I'm in big trouble." She said and then she groaned.

Hiei led Yusuke on a merry chase before doubling back and sitting in the tree above her tent. He did want to talk to her but- "Hiei?" he looked down and sighed. Kagome had opened her tent door and was sitting inside. He jumped down and settled on the ground next to her. "You were upset before I threw myself on you, what happened?"

"Are you really thinking of marrying him?" The instant he'd spoken he wished he could take it back.

"Can you think of any reason I shouldn't?" Kagome asked in return. She sighed but her eyes never left Hiei's till he looked away.

"I-I can't." the lie burned on his tongue but he could not retract them now. Even if she married the Mazoku at least she would be happy and safe from his enemies. He clenched his teeth silently biting back the growl that wanted to slip out, (Yusuke has just as many or more than I do! Damn! Damn! Damn!)

"You can't think of a reason or you can't tell me?" For an instant he had a deer caught in headlights look but the instant passed so quickly she wasn't sure she'd seen it.

"Why were there bandages on your floor onna?"

Kagome sighed so they were back to onna? "What bandages?" she inquired thoughtfully. Hiei rolled his eyes at her confused look.

"They were piled in the center of your room in your mother's house. That amount of blood loss should have killed you…" he stopped at her giggle.

"It was punch."

"Someone punched you that hard? Who?!" Hiei demanded seeing red. If Yusuke had-

"No, no. I wasn't punched, its juice from fruit you drink it. Souta spilled it all over my dress." Kagome tried to take the laughter out of her voice. Hiei's glare was enough to make her pause. "You were worried about me, I'm sorry." She said hanging her head contritely.

Hiei narrowed his eyes. "Who said I was worried, Onna?"

"Really Hiei? You were ready to kill Yusuke. I could feel your fury as we entered the shrine grounds. I know I am human but please do not mistake me for a simpering little girl!" Hiei's blustering was too familiar of that of a certain- she shook her head folding her arms to stop the throb of pain from her chest. A similar experience had happened back then too…

Hiei froze as he realized he had upset her. He was embarrassed but that was no reason to take it out on Kagome. His thoughts circled back to his original upset and the very likely wedding of his Kagome to the Mazoku. The part of him that rarely if ever saw the light of day wanted to beg her to reconsider, to think instead about what he could give her. But what could he give her? He opened his mouth wanting to ask her once and for all if there was the slightest chance for him. If there was even a minute possibility she could love him in return he would take on the world for her. "Go to sleep, Kagome."

He wanted to hit himself for being such a coward and at such a time! But it was more than cowardice it was seeing Yusuke's smile and knowing that Kagome had put it there. It was seeing Kagome laugh and tease him and Yusuke and knowing that it was Yusuke healing her fragile heart. How could he even think of taking that from her, from him? Simple he couldn't not even his selfishness could breech that line.

"How do you really feel Hiei?" It took him a moment to remember what they had been talking about and for an instant he was afraid his secret had been discovered. He wanted to tell her she was right, that he had been in a panic seeing the dress dyed crimson and that he could think of nothing else but finding her to know she still breathed in this world. If he had found otherwise Koenma would revive her even if he had to destroy the Reikai to make the demand met.

"I don't feel anything Onna." It was far harsher than necessary, and in retrospect very unfair of him to say something so cold after all the moments they had shared and the tender budding friendship they were forming day by day. But his soul had been flayed to the core hearing Yusuke propose. He was angry and hurt so he lashed out at the one being in the three worlds able to hurt him. Everything he'd been through and done in the last few weeks, the stress and anguish he'd dealt himself watching Kagome grow closer to Yusuke and further from himself in the process drove him to slam another proverbial nail into the coffin of hope. "I don't give a damn about you."

The old Kagome who had never been good at rejection would have crumpled into a mass of self derision and self hatred but this Kagome who had been slowly healing under the days spent with the three ex detectives didn't. In fact her actions bewildered the hiyoukai, she hugged him, tightly. "I don't believe that you even believe that lie. I-I really missed you Hiei."

His bravado collapsed as did any thought of hiding his heart from her. Silently his arm wrapped her slender waist. Despite unintentionally (sort of) trying to make her hate him she had seen the hurt in his soul and seen through the lies. (She knows.) She had to know now that he loved her, that against all odds she had gotten under his skin and into his soul. She had to know.

"I have a date with Kurama tomorrow so I should get some sleep. Good night Hiei." Kagome said quietly as she pulled out of his arms and re zipped up her tent. Hiei sat there for several long moments.

"…" She didn't know, and now he had a kitsune avatar to kill.

Kagome lay in her sleeping bag listening to the sound of Hiei getting up and leaving. Normally he was almost silent as he moved acting more his name sake of 'Flying Shadow' but tonight it seemed that the conversation had affected him more that she thought. Truthfully she hadn't made any decisions about Yusuke. He was a great guy and she really liked him but it wasn't yet love. Kurama was a great guy too but there was something about him that made her wary and she couldn't quite be herself around him.

Hiei though made her nervous. Not a scared nervous but a fidgety restless nervous that was like a constant feeling of butterflies in her stomach. When their eyes would meet it was like the butterflies were suddenly a maelstrom. Though she had kept her cool in the moment hearing him say he didn't care about her, had hurt. Yet she had taken a chance throwing herself into his arms knowing that there was a small possibility he would push her away and was overjoyed when he hadn't. Ugh what was she doing?! She was leading on Yusuke and Kurama because Hiei wouldn't confess?!

No, that wasn't true either. She did love Yusuke in a way and she was sure that given time she could be happy with him, but she never would completely be able to move on if Hiei actually cared. That was why when he had asked if she was really considering marriage she had asked if there was a reason she shouldn't. If he had said no, or none that he could think of the matter would have been settled and she would have known right then and there that Hiei didn't love her. But his answer had been enigmatical. "I can't" what was that even supposed to mean?! He couldn't love her? Or was it he couldn't betray Yusuke? "This is so messed up!" Kagome groaned wiping her hand through her hair. Why couldn't it be simplified to "I like you and I know you like me"? In fact why couldn't she just ask him?

"It would never work." Hiei would shut down faster than he could draw a sword. She couldn't ask Yusuke due to the nature of the situation but perhaps she could ask Kurama? Nope that wouldn't work either, Kagome covered her face. "I am so screwed."