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.

Thank you, thank you to those who took the time to review and to those who made this story a favorite! As you can see from the title this is a re-written version of my original story. I hope you will enjoy it just as much. I really love to hear your thoughts and comments...Please let me know what you thought of this chapter as well whether good or bad. Thank you again!

Enjoy,

DawnFire_ice

Chapter 5

Upon waking and finding she was alone with nothing to do until the late afternoon when she had her date with Kurama; Kagome went about her morning tasks as usual. Feeling restless and unable to sense Hiei or Yusuke anywhere near, she hid her aura and her scent and gone for a walk. While Hiei had been gone Kagome found that life and the fates were nowhere near done with her. Twice she had almost gotten herself killed a fact the she hoped Hiei never discovered or Yusuke for that matter.

"Yusuke or Hiei?" that was the million dollar question.

Yusuke was earnest and honest giving all of himself and holding nothing back. He laughed with her and made her feel cherished. What was not to like about that. They had chemistry, even if it wasn't the inferno that she felt when she looked at Hiei. Something about that hiyoukai made her hotter than, (well a hiyoukai). She giggled softly to herself as she walked into the train station and boarded the train to the park. True there was a park close to home but this park held a precious memory. It was the one where she had learned she wasn't without youkai. Where her new life had begun and the year of depression had been changed to hope.

Stepping off the train she made her way through the streets following the same steps from that day now six months ago. Turning her thoughts back to Yusuke she considered him from all angles. She cared about him and she made him happy so maybe-she could do worse than to marry him. At first she thought his proposals were a joke but now she didn't think so. Could she in all honesty bind herself to Yusuke in every way? Could she let him hold her and touch her? Could she give herself to him, without thinking of an intense crimson gaze? Ugh why was Hiei so stubborn? Hadn't she been clear enough? Maybe she needed to give up on Hiei and learn to love was good for her. Drawing a deep breath she focused her thoughts again on Yusuke and tripped.

Vines tightened on her wrists as they were lifted above her head. What the crap was with this plant? It was like it had a mind of its own and was sentient. She should have known that there was something odd about the garden she'd happened upon in the same forest like area where she'd met Hiei. But her thoughts had been elsewhere and now she was sorry they had been. Now she nearly wished that she was dead, for the conundrum she now found herself in.

Now though she was too occupied by the plant that seemed intent on immobilizing her limbs and tearing the clothes from her body little by little, preparing to do something that left Kagome's mouth completely dry and her voice gone. It was so wrong! She did not want to lose her virginity to a plant. This was so unfair, but the more she struggled the tighter she was bound. The tearing of fabric caused tears to brim her eyes even as she gasped in shock at the moist appendages. The scream that had been lodged in her throat tried to break free as she drew a breath to release it, when another moist plant vine was thrust in to her mouth effectively silencing her.

Kagome's eyes shot wide as she felt a vine slither up her leg to where her most intimate of places lay untouched. Tears fell steadily from her eyes as she struggled in vain to prevent the inevitable. Her power flared doing nothing and Kagome struggled to scream. Suddenly the vines touching her went slack and still before disintegrating in to green ash. Panting Kagome looked around for her savior while also trying to cover herself with her hands.

"Are you alright miss?" a deep almost seductive voice came from the tall figure standing with his back to her for decency as he stood in the deep shadows. His dark hair tossed softly in a breeze of youki and the plant life seemed to reach for him. He was removing his shirt as he spoke and Kagome had a brief flash of fear before he tossed the shirt to her. Trembling and weeping silently, she covered herself with the too large shirt and curled in to a ball. "Fine." She said with a trembling voice. Then to herself she muttered "Why, would a person ask that to someone who was nearly raped by a demonic plant?! Do I LOOK alright?!"

Kurama cursed lightly at his stupid words. Something about seeing her helpless and entangled with his plants had caused every coherent thought to fly out of his Kitsune head. Of course he was very displeased with the plant life for behaving in such a manner as they all knew that any onna they caught was his to do with as he saw fit, so why then had they acted so aggressively on their own? Her words registered suddenly and he turned to look at her closer. His green eyes widened. It was Kagome! He hadn't recognized her, likely because he had been distracted. Turning partially he offered his hand to help her to her feet. Kagome took it gratefully looking at the ground in shame. "Thanks for helping me. That would have really sucked." she said trying to laugh now that the danger had passed. Her voice quaked and Kurama knew she was not "fine".

She was rambling though and Kurama was not inclined to stop her as he could get a lot of information from a woman that way. "I can't even imagine how bad of a lecture I would have gotten from him.'Onna I can't leave you alone for an instant.' she said with a glare and a frown at a harmless tree. A perfect impression of someone that Kurama hoped was far from here. "And Yusuke would have been furious." Shit. This was not the first date he'd had in mind although it seemed that she had not put two and two together. Hiei was going to be pissed. He'd threatened on more than one occasion to torch his garden if his plants touched another woman.

"Of course it makes no difference that I know some of the most powerful youkai to walk the earth nope not one tiny speck. They weren't even here. They didn't come." her head lowered as she seemed to curl in to herself. "He didn't come." she buried her face in to her hands and began to weep harder. The scream that tore from her throat had him freezing mid step as he'd been moving closer hearing the hysteria in her voice. He had been planning to reveal himself as he had been in shadow for the most part and she clearly hadn't recognized him.

"Hiei!"

As though her scream summoned him Hiei was there standing in front of her with a menacing growl. The look he leveled on the Kitsune was nothing short of murderous as he gently probed her frazzled mind for the events that led up to her current state. Seeing the plant that had nearly violated his Miko hovering near its master Hiei spared it a glance before it shrieked and went up in flames.

He cursed himself again for the thousandth time as he looked back at Kagome huddled on the ground wearing Kurama's shirt. That irked him. Pulling off his cloak he lifted Kagome to her feet and held her tightly as he draped the cloak over her while at the same time he removed the offending shirt. "This is thicker." he stated calmly as he struggled to keep from lopping off the head of the Kitsune master of the plant he'd destroyed. Behind her and in plain sight of the Kitsune the shirt went up in a puff of flame and smoke becoming ashes in seconds.

When Kagome latched on to him he rubbed her back. ^I killed it. It will never be able to harm you again. I should have been here but I was… detained. ^ He told her softly in her mind while still giving her comfort. Her body was shaking as she was still weeping in terror. She nodded slowly before closing her eyes "Please just take me home, Hiei." she whispered before passing out in his arms.

Kurama stood there long after they had left looking the direction they'd gone. He was angry with himself for not realizing sooner the reason for the plants behavior was that she was a priestess. It had sensed the purity within her and was doing exactly as he had told it to do centuries before. A tainted priestess was harmless in most cases. He'd forgotten that. Damn it that was a lousy impression. Of course she probably knew that he was the plant master who placed the things here and so that just made getting her more difficult. Pulling out his cell phone with a sigh Kurama dialed a number. "Cancel my reservations."

Looking down at the ashy remains of his shirt he swallowed hard as he closed his cell phone and dropped it in his pocket. He would have to proceed very carefully. He would be lucky if Hiei didn't lop off his head or Yusuke. Still Hiei was awfully protective over a woman he claimed not to care for.

~Wasn't he though Red.? ~

*You weren't exactly helpful you know.* Kurama reprimanded.

~Neither were you. ~ Youko said with a scoff. ~A minor setback, we can still fix this, however did you smell Hiei? ~

*I don't make a point of smelling Hiei.* Kurama quipped not in the mood for Youko's banter.

~He's in heat. ~

*damn.*

As Hiei carried his precious cargo back to Genkai's shrine which was just a bit further than her home, he was livid; no, not at Kagome, never at Kagome, but at himself. Damn it, he had known that she would be in danger unguarded. Especially since the jewel still was inside of her, though dormant. He'd found it when she'd allowed him in to her mind once. She had thought that it had been purged from the world but in reality it had burrowed in to her very soul. She was its guardian even from the beginning of her life and he knew that she would be until the moment of her death. But even that was doubtful that the jewel would let her go.

It had been sheer luck that he'd come back to the park where they met and now he wasn't certain that he dare leave her again, ever. How she'd managed to slip past him unnoticed still bothered him. But it was more the 'why' than the how. He also hoped Kurama had a good reason for letting the woman he supposedly loved go through such a traumatic experience, even if nothing had happened. If this was Kurama's idea of a date he would never get another. "I should kill him on principle."

Kagome whimpered in her sleep and Hiei stopped. He wanted so badly to erase the events that had occurred moments ago from her mind but he couldn't until she asked him too. It was one thing to erase the memories of the hapless humans that stumbled in to the Makai but another thing entirely to play doctor inside the head of one's beloved. Besides that there were her mental barriers. He sighed before deciding that he would dull the memory a bit for her so that she could deal with it better, after that he'd just be there for her to cry on his shoulder.

Her words and actions from the night before still bothered him and he had sat up the entire night debating on whether enlightening her to his feelings would be better or worse than the current situation. He had finally decided to tell her and had gone to her campsite to do so. Upon finding it empty he'd gone to her mother's house. When he hadn't found her there either he had gone to Yusuke's apartment. Finding the door locked and the place vacant he went after Kurama. It was a Saturday and the fox wasn't working so upon finding he wasn't home either Hiei had really begun to worry. He clutched her limp body closer. If he'd been faster if he'd seen her leave…

When he arrived at the shrine he sensed Yusuke and Yukina there and not wishing to explain himself to his rival and friend, turned back around and headed to his own place. He lived alone and so was more comfortable bringing her there. Yusuke and Kurama had helped him with the leg work but he had funded the building of his house right out. It was well built and clean though not very big or fancy it was home and he was able to come and go as he pleased. It was closer to Genkai's shrine and so ideal for him.

Kicking the door closed behind him Hiei moved silently up the flight of steps to his room and moved to lay her on his bed. But she was not letting go. With a sigh and a tighter rein on himself Hiei kicked off his boots and climbed in to the bed with her. He was still in the last days of his heat and so he was fighting himself constantly but somehow or another with her curled to him and his arms wrapped around her he fell asleep.

Kagome awoke to an odd sensation. Something wet was brushing over and over the side of her neck. Confused Kagome moved to sit up and found an arm like a steel bar holding her down. Glancing over to the side she saw a head of gravity defying black hair and froze. "Hiei?" She asked softly. He raised vivid crimson eyes to hers and Kagome shivered at the wildness in those eyes. His skin had taken on a pale green hue and Kagome knew at once that his instincts were in control. After waiting a moment to see if she was going to say anything else Hiei resumed licking her neck to prepare it for taking his mark. Inside of his coherent mind Hiei was frantically trying to stop himself from doing something stupid. Yes he wanted her but not like this.

Opening up the Jagan he established a link with her mind so that he could speak to her. I'm in heat...you have to get away. He said frantically hoping she would understand and not struggle. Zap me with your power and then run. Hide your aura and scent so I can't follow you. It will be over in a couple of days and I'll come and talk to you then. Go to Yusuke he will keep you safe."

Kagome hesitated as Hiei hand began searching for the edge of the cloak. "I can help, I can…"

^No! Get out of here. Just go! ^

Kagome was crying as she raised her hands and gave him a jolt strong enough to propel him in to the wall and knock him out. She was hurting deeply. For a few weeks she'd entertained the idea that Hiei might secretly be in love with her but now she knew it was just his heat. He didn't care about her like she'd hoped. He didn't want her for help in dealing with his problem and she would have been willing to give herself to him if he wanted her, because some time in the time that she'd known Hiei she'd fallen for him as she had Yusuke.

But now...Kagome struggled not to cry as she ran from the unfamiliar house and into the forest. She was still wearing Hiei's black cloak and it hid her well in the shadows, too well. She had her answer and Yusuke would have his. She would marry the Mazoku and somehow she would forget Hiei. She wasn't familiar with where she was after leaving the house she'd woken up in. She could feel Yusuke's immense youki and reiki signature not too far from where she was and she turned making her way closer to the temple.

Black soulless eyes watched her every move as it stalked his prey. She was alone and unprotected and no one would hear her scream...black shadow tentacles rose up out of the ground and seized the weeping young woman. She struggled futilely in his grasp as he tore the cloak as she struggled in his grip. His grip was crushing and she went limp to end the pain before she could renew her fight he dragged her down in to the shadows leaving half Hiei's cloak as the only proof she'd been there. "Yusuke!" her scream echoed long after she was gone.

Hiei awoke to the pounding of someone at his door and the shrill ring of his communicator. His head felt like it was full of cotton and he couldn't think clearly. Stumbling down the stairs he made his way to the door and pried it open. Yusuke looked back at him with a serious frown. "Hiei you idiot! Why didn't you come get me?!" he demanded pushing passed the still dazed apparition. "I would have helped you and Kagome…"

Hiei frowned at the detective. "I fail to see how this question is relevant to the headache you are causing. Kagome is yours for now, be happy." he snapped back, his eyes unbidden where looking past Yusuke for the woman in question.

Yusuke tossed something at Hiei with a glare. "I would be, except she isn't here. Kagome is now a top priority mission."

Hiei instantly recognized his cloak and sniffed it searching for a scent but the only thing he could smell was himself and her tears. He vaguely recalled telling her to cover her scent and aura so he couldn't find her but damn it why had she chosen now of all times to listen to him? Glaring daggers at the torn cloth that would not help him, he felt a moment of panic. "Why is she a mission?" he demanded. He hadn't hurt her had he?

"She was kidnapped by a youkai called Kage." Yusuke replied and then swallowed he'd never seen Hiei go pale before.

Hiei was not just pale he was shaking in horror and fury. He knew Kage, knew his reputation very well. He was a shadow master and a telepath like himself but not even the Jagan would be of use to him in Kage's lair as he was a master of illusions as well, as he had proven in their last encounter. Kagome was in grave danger, Hiei was not even sure they could help her.

Kurama laid a hand on Hiei's shoulder having just come in through a portal from the Reikai. "We'll get her back." he tried to assure but even he knew something about the shadow master, he always broke his victims first. Koenma had called him to help with the girls Hiei had found. Even if they got her back she would be a mess inside and they would be lucky if she was ever the same again after the torture she was certain to endure. Hiei jerked away from the kitsune avatar.

"Kagome would be safe fool, if not for your thrice damned garden."

"What about his garden?" Yusuke asked turning to eye the wary red head. Kurama opened his mouth to speak but Hiei continued.

"One of his plants tried to rape her."

Kurama had seen furious Yusuke before but this speed defied anything he'd ever seen. Pain exploded in his jaw as black spots danced in his vision. Yusuke reared back for another volley of blows but stopped turning to Hiei. "Did it?"

"No." Hiei said flatly.

"Good, you get to live. It'd make me sick to kill you after everything we've been through." Yusuke leveled cold calculating eyes on the avatar.