Rated: M

This story is rated M for violence, language and sexual themes.

I do not own the shows or the characters.

Chapter 7

Finding Home

Taking a deep breath Kagome moved forward and opened the portal. After ensuring the glamours were on and working the trio walked through and into their new lives. Instantly Ifrit and Kilala's senses were slammed with horrid smells and loud noises but soon the glamours took effect and canceled them out to almost nothing. Looking around they saw they were in what appeared to be downtown San Campion.

"This is great, I know exactly where we are and how to get to the house. Sesshomaru gave me a thorough tour over the last few visits so I wouldn't get lost looking for mom. I just hope the old dog didn't get carried away with the house, I told him I wanted something simple." The miko informed the others mentally. It would look weird to talk to a lion and a cat. Quickly making such the leash were secure and that Kilala was in her kitty carrier the young woman set out for their new home.

The entire walk people stopped and stared openly at them. She wouldn't lie, she was pretty sure she was the only person in the city with a pet lion. Still the fact that every couple of seconds someone wanted a picture or had to ask if it was really her lion was really starting to get to her. Some people even asked if they were shooting a movie, convinced she was some kind of star. Mentally groaning the duelist forced her way forward through the crowds.

It wasn't until a young boy ran into her that she almost lost it. However seeing the kids face and his friends instantly paling she just couldn't bring herself to yell. Instead she offered him her hand and asked if he was alright. However the boy simply stared at Ifrit wondering if he was seriously staring at a lion and it wasn't until his friend asked if he was ok that he seemed to snap out of it.

"Hey kid, are you ok? You didn't scrape your hands when you fell did you?" Kagome felt bad for glaring at him when he first ran into her. He seemed pretty shaken up over her "pet". Reaching over silently she scratched Ifrit behind the ear earning a content purring sound and a nuzzle against her leg.

"This is Ifrit, don't worry he's really a big suck. He won't hurt you. Look I didn't mean to glare, or raise my voice if I did. It's just been a long day, are you ok?" Once she spoke a second time the boy seemed to relax.

"Yeah I'm fine, sorry about running into you I should have been watching where I was going. I know you must get this a lot but where did you get the lion?" His voice was calmer and the curiosity in it was clear. His friends had even moved to stand on either side of him. The girl looked like she wanted to hug her companion while the other boy looked ready to faint.

"Glad to hear you ok. As for where I got Ifrit well he kind of found me while I was out in the wilds and saved me from some nasty critters. He's been by my side ever since. He's both my companion and my best friend. Don't worry though I have all the necessary paperwork and he is very well behaved." The miko added quickly. Some people would freak at the thought of being near a once wild lion. She noticed the girls hand twitch and smirked.

"You can pet him you know. He loves to scratched behind the ears." Kagome stated addressing the red head. The girl visibly jumped at being called out but also seemed happy to take up her offer. Moving with confidence the young girl approached the lion while keeping her hand out. Kagome had to admit the kid was smart, she wanted Ifrit to see that she wasn't going to hurt him, not that she could.

As soon as the was close enough he nudged her hand and that was that. The girl stood beside him scratching his ears while he practically preened with happiness. The duelist had never seen him act like such a suck but this little girl had him almost rolling over. The sight made her smile with pride and happiness. It felt good to see him getting some love. She noticed that the second boy was looking at her kitty carrier and chuckled.

"Lions might be a bit big for yeah but Kilala here should be the perfect size." With those words she brought the fire demon out into the open. Instantly the boy was in front of her gushing over how beautiful she was. Kilala chirped and jumped into his arms. Looking over at the boy who had run into her she couldn't help but notice how his eyes kept darting here and there.

"So you wanna tell me who you were running from or do you want me to pretend it didn't happen?" Her tone was gentle and understanding. A kid his age would probably get bullied or worse harassed. The guarded gaze he sent her way was more than enough to confirm her thoughts.

"Look I'm not going to lecture you or anything but if you're being chased by someone you need to tell me. I can't stand bullies and considering your friends and now friends with my friends that makes us friends. So as your friends by extension I want to know if I should be concerned about letting you walk home." Once again her tone was calm. She had been bullied for years, she wasn't about to stand by and let it happen to someone else.

"Come on Ray just tell her. Maybe she can help?" The girl said trying not to giggle as Ifrit licked her cheek. The sight caused her to smile gently her partner would make a great dad someday.

"Allie's right Ray. I mean science has proved that talking about your problems instead of trying to handle them by yourself has far less self destructive side effects." The boy stated logically. Kagome stared at him wondering where he learned that before figuring he was the brains in their little group. The boy known as Ray sighed before looking at her once more.

"There are a couple of bullies that like to beat me up because I'm a half-blood. Normally I can avoid them and get out of school with no problems but lately they have been trying a lot harder to pound my face in. They chased us all the way here, where we lost them in the allies." Ray didn't like talking about his problems much less to a stranger but something about the woman seemed familiar to him. For some reason he knew he could trust her just like he had with Bob.

"I see. Typical brats, they don't understand something so they try to get rid of it. I know what it's like, I'm a half-blood myself. I got bullied not only for my heritage but also for my name, my family's job and my eyes. It just goes to show how bad some parents are. I mean if you're judgmental of people then your kids will be too. I have a idea though, what school do you go to?" The miko's eye lit with a playful yet deadly glint. The kids all looked at each other before the one who's name she didn't know answered.

"Great, how about we stop by once classes let out and we'll see if those bullies want to pester us? I mean the kids got to have balls to mess with a half-blood but to mess with two half-bloods and a lion? I don't think so." Ray stared at her in shock. This lady was going to come to his school and intimidate Carny? She didn't even know them!

"By the way I'm Kagome. This is Ifrit and Kilala. Nice to meet you all." The young woman stated suddenly remembering to introduce themselves. Sesshomaru would have kicked her ass for her poor manners. She flinched at the very thought.

"I'm Allison Underhill and these guys are Raiden Pierce and Gabriel Wallace. It's nice to meet you and just for the record I think your plan is awesome and that we should totally go through with it." Allie stated excitedly. However her smile faltered when she saw how pale Kagome was.

"Hey Miss Kagome are you ok? You look like you're going to faint." Gabe asked in concern. He didn't understand she was fine just a second ago, and then she heard their names and got this startled look in her eyes.

"I'm sorry did you just say Pierce? Raiden Pierce? You wouldn't happen to be named after your grandfather would you? Are you the son of Janet Pierce?" Kagome could feel her voice get more and more hysterical as Ifrit and Kilala came to her side. This wasn't happening this couldn't be her little brother! She wasn't ready to meet him yet! Seeing Ray share glances with his friends he stepped forward.

"Yeah actually, I was named after my grandpa and yes my mother is Janet Pierce, why are you so freaked out by that and how do you even know that stuff about me anyway?" Raiden half asked, half demanded. There was something going on here, he felt like he could trust her but seeing her freak out like this made him think that maybe she worked for the Choten.

"I'm sorry; I'm so so sorry Raiden. I never meant for us to meet like this, I thought it would take longer to find you guys, I thought I'd have at least a week to come up with something to tell you. I never once thought that I'd meet you on the streets with your friends." Kagome knew she was close to crying and she hated herself for it. She hadn't cried since the well was sealed nearly five hundred years ago but this was all so sudden. How could this boy, who was so guarded, not hate her for not being there for him, especially now that she knew he was being bullied because of their father!

"Whoa, whoa what are you talking about? Hey don't cry look whatever is going on I'm sure it'll be fine. What do you mean you thought it would take longer to find us, why are you even looking for us in the first place? How do you know me and my family?" He voice was gentle and soothing. It was clear that he didn't want her breaking down in the middle of the ally they had moved into.

Raiden didn't know what to do. If there was one thing he truly hated it was seeing girls cry. It made him very uncomfortable and for some reason that feeling went double for the woman in front of him. Absently he wondered if this is what meeting his older sister for the first time would be like. Emotional and completely awkward. It was at that thought that the boy realized something. Looking Kagome over thoroughly he realized she was roughly the same age that his sister would be. Paling slightly himself he forced the questions out.

"Kagome are you from Tokyo by any chance? And if you are did you grow up on a shrine with your aunt and uncle?" His voice wavered when she snapped her head up to look at him. There was a terror in her eyes that confirmed his thoughts. Both of them stood frozen not sure what to do. Kagome wanted to run like she never had before whereas Raiden wanted to hug her, hold her close and never let her go. Still he couldn't figure out why she looked so scared, and then he remembered what she had said about figuring out what to say. She was scared that he was going to be mad that she wasn't there sooner.

Stepping forward he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Behind him Allie and Gabe stared open-mouthed not sure what the hell was going on. When it became clear she wasn't hugging back Raiden figured she was in shock and he knew just how to snap her out of it.

"I forgive you." The words were clear, his tone sincere. Instantly her arms were around him as they slowly slid to the ground. It wasn't until he felt tears on his shoulder and cheek that he realized they were both crying.

"I'm so sorry Raiden. I wanted to be there for you and mom and really did but there were things I had to finish and tie up loose ends. I never meant for it to take this long." Her voice sounded broken and it broke everyone's heart. Allie and Gabe went over to them asking if they were ok only to receive a look of pure happiness from Ray.

"Better than ok you guys. This is Kagome Okamoto, my older sister. She was taken in by our aunt and uncle after her mom passed away and dad couldn't keep her because of work. She told me about how she wanted to find her and be a family but I never thought that Kagome would find us first." Raiden's tone was full of joy and he couldn't help but laugh at their shocked faces.

"I'm sorry you guys. This isn't how I planned to meet Raiden, I'm such a mess. I just can't believe I found you and that I'm holding you right now. I have dreamed of this moment for so long." The last part was barely a whisper but they all heard it. With the help of Allie and Gabe the duo were soon on their feet once more, tears dry and smiling like fools.

"You have to come home and see mom and grandpa. They will be so happy that you're here." Raiden said holding her hand. As they walked down the street people whispered and it wasn't until they were approaching an apartment building that Allie asked a question that made everyone pause and laugh.

"So you're still coming to our school and scaring Carny right?"

~A.N.~

There is chapter seven! I think this one is one of my favorites so far. Still let e know what you think by leave a review. *Smiles and bow*