Chapter 11: Survivors-
The headaches began a few weeks after Kagome learned of her grandfather's death. At first, she attributed the pains to stress and took more care to drink water and get more sleep. The pains would come and go in waves, leaving her alone for a few days at a time. Sometimes, however, the pain would become so intense that she would lie in bed for hours with enchanted earplugs and spells of darkness on her curtains.
When she missed her third class because of the pains, Kurama convinced her to see Yukina. The ice maiden had had several weeks of training in the Infirmary to add to her basic knowledge of wizardly healing skills. After looking Kagome over both physically and with a basic wound-revealing spell, she confessed ignorance and sent her friend on to Madame Pomfrey.
Kagome went along grudgingly, assuring her friends the entire time that it was probably just migraines; a few Pepper-Up potions and she would be fine.
Madame Pomfrey's analysis of her condition yielded similar findings. Kagome was suffering from migraines and should continue to get more rest, drink water, and take a super-charged dose of headache potion when she felt one coming on.
Convinced that this was the end of it, Kagome said nothing more about the issue.
But three weeks later, the potions no longer touched the pains, which seemed to be growing stronger by the day.
Quidditch try-outs came and went; both Yusuke and Kuwabara made first alternates for the Beater positions. While they were no-doubt the most ferocious swingers, they were still too new to flying to be trusted on the starting team. Luckily for them, Beaters were more likely to be knocked out of a game than any other position and had several chances to show off their skills in the first few games.
Kagome attended these events with Yukina and often sat with the Hufflepuffs; eventually, the members of that House became used to seeing the pair together and became relatively comfortable around Kagome, although they still avoided direct contact.
Although her flying lessons had ended after the first week of classes, Kagome often took time to borrow a broomstick and whiz around the Quidditch Pitch before or after dinner. Yukina refused to set foot on a broom after her first week ended in a few terrible spills but Yusuke and Kuwabara could usually be found to accompany her.
It was after one such evening of light flying and casual air games that Yusuke and Kuwabara called it quits early.
"We finally got that Hermione chick to take us seriously and she's helping us study for a Potions exam." Yusuke explained their early departure.
"Yeah, we're real sorry Higurashi. But Snape is an evil bastard and I don't want to have to drink any more of my messed-up potions." Kuwabara shuddered.
"It's alright. I wanted to fly around by myself for a little while, anyway. I'll see you tomorrow in class?"
"Definitely. Later, Higurashi." The pair departed quickly, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts.
She was feeling much better about her grandfather's passing now…it was still an incredibly sensitive subject, but Kagome no longer felt that it might swallow her whole world. Her grandpa had been one of her biggest supporters for her journeys to the past. He was always there when she returned home with an injury, saying prayers and performing rituals right alongside her mother, who applied the more practical healing tools, such as band aids and antiseptic creams. She had many fond memories, which is what she tried to focus on. But the fact that she had missed his funeral and hadn't been able to go home to support her family was weighing her down with guilt. Sometimes, flying helped clear her thoughts.
"It also kind of reminds me of how it used to feel to ride with InuYasha," she mused bitterly.
Turning her broom around, she flew lazily in large circles, going up to the top of the stands and then descending slowly back towards the ground. It was on her third loop that she felt one of the headaches start.
They always started in the same place—the very back of her head, deep in her skull, with a pounding like someone beat a drum inside her veins. The pain would move through her head like waves, crashing against the barrier of her skull and reverberating down her neck, leaving her entire head encased in a burning ache.
"But," she thought to herself, "it's not that bad yet. I've still got another half hour before it gets really bad." Kagome steeled herself against the pain and urged the broom a little faster. The sting of the cool autumn breeze helped clear her mind and push back the pain.
Kagome reviewed the last few weeks in passing…Classes, researching for papers, practicing spells and trying to keep up with her peers. Yukina and Kurama were at the forefront of her mind; she spent most of her spare time with them. Draco Malfoy and Orla Quirke were also frequently a part of her day, although definitely not in a positive way.
Draco insisted on making kissy noises at her whenever she and Kurama were together and made as many Asian jokes as he could think of, regardless that many featured Chinese as opposed to Japanese subjects. The one time she'd told him that they were in fact, entirely separate countries, he responded with, "Well, you can't expect me to tell the difference! You all look the same!"
Kagome huffed at that memory and pushed her broom faster around the Pitch. "Stupid brat…maybe he'd shut up if I made some nasty blonde jokes at him!" She chuckled to herself at that, turning several of her favorites around in her head and picturing Malfoy's various reactions.
She was mid-chortle when the first wave of sharp pain hit her. Shocked, she wobbled on the broom, which dropped several feet and took off on its own course. Kagome struggled to regain control and direct the broom closer to the ground for landing but more pain was coming. This was the worst it had ever been and it had never come on so fast.
Kagome struggled with nausea from the caustic pain behind her eyes and from the swooping of the broom that dropped like a stone every time she lost control. Scared, she sat back on the broom to stop it mid-air, about fifteen feet above the ground. She intended to slowly lower the broom to the ground and dismount, but she was suddenly overcome by a wall of darkness that came from behind her eyelids and even though she kept her eyes wide open, all she saw was emptiness. She heard a rushing wall of air and a distinctive popping noise and all sensation was washed away.
Out of the void came voices, many voices from far away. Kagome struggled to keep up as the words washed over her. A familiar blue light edged into the picture, like a tunnel or a time warp, taking her away from the void. Her stomach fell in a familiar pattern, just like when she jumped into the well at home. Right before she was sure she would hit the ground, Kagome saw a tall, thin man with a bald head bent over in pain. He turned around, as if he knew she was there, and Naraku's morbid red gaze cut right though her. He straightened and laughed victoriously, pleased beyond measure with himself.
Kagome opened her mouth to scream and opened her eyes to find that she was flat on her back, staring up at the Quidditch pitch, her broom lazily flying in circles above her. She noted that her body was one massive ache but the headache was gone. She checked herself for broken bones or other injuries but couldn't find anything serious. Relieved, she flopped back onto the cooling grass and tried to make sense out of what had just happened.
She had seen Naraku! Or, what looked like him…but those eyes! His eyes! Red like blood and cold, calculating, as if it didn't matter to him if he killed you or let you live; he just had to decide which outcome would favor him more. And his laughter-! Kagome's body quaked with shivers. That laugh had preceded some of his worst attacks; it was a mocking sound, harsh like crows and yet…he sounded happy? Kagome shook that thought away; Naraku was never happy, it was more like he was pleased. But pleased by what?
"Oh!" Kagome beat her fists into the ground beside her. "This is ridiculous; Naraku is gone! He's been gone!" Frustrated but still frightened, Kagome picked herself up off the ground and called the errant broom back to her hand. She limped slowly back to the castle, afraid to take to the skies again. Full dark closed over the castle just as the doors eased shut behind her.
Kagome navigated her way through the passages of the castle without running into anyone she knew very well, but nevertheless, she felt like everyone she passed was staring, like many pairs of red eyes were marking her progress through the hallways. She considered going to the Library to find some solace, although she realized that the feeling of harassment and that someone was watching her was all in her head. Finally, Kagome stopped, took a deep breath, and decided to make her way down to the Slytherin Common Room.
"Pureblood," the murmured password convinced the ornate, heavy doors to swing inward and allow her to enter.
Orla Quirke was just exiting the Common Room and pasted on an overly-cheerful grin, the effort of which was wasted on Kagome, who wanted nothing more than to make it through the Commons without trouble.
"Well, hello, Kagome! How are you? Oh, my you look a little worse for the wear. Did you take a tumble? Or, perhaps..." Orla lifted a strand of disheveled hair, "you took a roll in the hay?" Orla pressed for information sweetly.
Kagome blushed at her implication.
"Ooh! Who was it, who was it! It will just break Red's little heart to know you've taken someone else to bed already!"
The priestess recognized a snowball when she saw one and knew that to leave this rumor alone would make it far worse than the actual truth. "Oh, that's not it at all! No, I just fell off my broomstick." Kagome felt satisfied with her answer.
Orla's left eye gleamed with menace. "Red will be thrilled to hear you're loyal to him, after all! So do tell, Kagome, is he a good shag?"
Kagome's eyes bugged and she edged around Orla as quickly as she could. "Um, I'll see you later. I've, uh, got to go."
"What is wrong with that girl?" Kagome wondered to herself as she hurried into the Commons.
Kurama was in his usual seat, a corner closest to the fireplace, surrounded by parchment, quills, and books. He stood when he saw Kagome approaching.
"How was your—what happened?" He picked a few blades of grass out of Kagome's wild mane.
"I'd rather not talk about it here." Kagome whispered, pulling her composure back as she spoke, taking in the curious glances from her peers.
Kurama folded closed his books and papers, deposited them in his satchel, and gestured for Kagome to lead the way.
"You're not going to take me by the arm again?" She grinned a little.
Kurama ducked his head, a thoroughly Suuichi gesture but one which he had adopted as his own. "Not after the last time I offered and you so graciously informed me this wasn't the Feudal Era and why don't I just let you walk where you please?"
Kagome giggled. "Well, that might be a little harsh. I was grouchy that day."
Kurama's eyebrow quirked up and Kagome blushed. "Grouchy, she says. Grouchy like Yusuke with a hangover."
In spite of the troubled thoughts racing through her head, Kagome laughed. "That's not fair!"
They stepped out of the Common room door and Kurama's attention was immediately turned away from his companion. Kagome followed suite, her powers flaring out tentatively. She found a familiar energy in the corner of the tunnel to their left.
"I know you're there."
Hiei appeared several seconds later. If Kagome didn't know better, she'd have thought the little demon was sulking.
"Isn't it bad enough the girl can sense me? Now I can't even hide from you."
"You never could." Kurama's response held a hint of smile.
"Hn." Hiei's nose turned up. "This school is scrambling all of my usual defense mechanisms."
"Then you shall have to learn new ones."
Hiei stared at him hard for a moment, considering whether to deign a response. "I was working on it."
Kagome had a response on the tip of her tongue but decided to keep quiet but Hiei turned towards her anyway.
"Go ahead and say it, priestess. I can see your words all over your face."
"I like to think I have some sense of tact."
"Perhaps more a sense of survival?" Kurama corrected her.
"That, too."
Kurama stopped their conversation with a raised hand. Seconds later, footsteps echoed down the hallway. Hiei disappeared, although with a little effort Kagome could feel him, hiding further up the hallway.
"Let us continue our walk."
They proceeded up the hallway, towards the incoming footsteps. They rounded a slight corner and nearly ran into Draco Malfoy.
"Watch yourselves, why don't you!" The blonde stormed passed them quickly, but his words were less angry than they were flustered.
"He must not be feeling well."
"You feel sorry for him?" Kurama asked.
Kagome's eyes hardened for a moment. "No." She paused and exhaled. "He's human, just like me and you, you know? Wait. I mean—"
"I know what you meant," chuckled Kurama. "But even after all his comments, you still feel sorry for him?"
"I don't know if sorry is the right word, but there's a reason he acts the way he does and I'm not saying it's right, but no one likes to have a bad day."
Kurama was silent and Kagome looked up at him, questioning. The look in his eyes was so cool, so calculating that it made her tremble for just a moment. Then, the expression had passed and he was staring at her with his usual calm demeanor.
"What's with that face?" Kagome questioned him, even as she felt Hiei return to their side. The little demon stood by silently but his eyes followed their conversation like a ping-pong match.
"What face?"
"Don't play Nice Human with me, Kurama. What was that about?"
Kurama stared down at the shorter girl, a little put-out that she had seen the fleeting expression yet compelled at the same time. "It is a rare person who has the ability to truly forgive. While I understand such clemency, I find that it is not within me to do the same."
"An elegant way of saying you're a harsh bastard when it comes to revenge." Hiei's interjection was snarky, angry that he'd been effectively elbowed out of the conversation.
"Is that true?" Kagome's wide eyes stared up at him, not judging but wondering.
"We should continue this conversation somewhere with more privacy," the kitsune replied, leading Kagome out of the dungeons with Hiei trailing behind.
The priestess huffed. "I'll take that as a polite, 'We'll talk about this later,'"
Kurama chuckled but didn't respond.
The trio ended up in the library, in the very back corner next to several large windows. It was fully dark by now, so nothing but their reflections could be seen outside the glass.
"Tell us what happened after dinner."
The priestess twiddled her thumbs, composing her thoughts. "I'm honestly not too sure. I was flying around the Pitch; Yusuke and Kuwabara went in early to study for an exam. I felt a headache coming on but I kept flying because the cool air made me feel better. And then…"
Her voice trailed off for so long that Hiei prompted her impatiently. "And then?"
A thread of fear crept into her voice. "The headache got much worse and came on faster than it ever had before. I lost control of the broom and I heard…um, voices." She looked up, trying to see the impact her words had. Both men were listening attentively, no hint of mockery or doubt.
"And then?" Kurama's probe was kinder.
"And then…" Her eyes closed of their own accord and it was like being sucked back into the vision. Naraku was there! And his laughter, his eyes! The sick glee that came with triumph; Kagome knew it had something to do with her, which made her stomach lurch with dread.
A hand on her shoulder snapped her out of the memory. "Kagome?" Kurama's touch was firm but still gentle.
"I saw a man. Tall and thin. He looked right at me. His eyes—" Her words caught in her throat, panic was rising but she continued without urging. "He had Naraku's red eyes. Not even like yours, Hiei, but darker like real blood. He started laughing." She paused, overcome with emotions she couldn't even name. "Laughing, mocking me."
There was a long lull in her story and both Kurama and Hiei let her have the time to collect herself but they shared a look that promised a long conversation later. She was so caught up in her memory of the event that she hadn't stopped to explain who Naraku was, although he was obviously terrifying to her.
"When the vision cleared, I was flat on my back, looking up at the Pitch."
"You fell from the broom? How high up were you?" Kurama didn't think she'd been limping and thought that if anything was broken she would've expressed some pain, but then again, she could be close to shock at this point.
"I'm not sure, maybe twenty feet, maybe less."
Kurama was on his feet, pulling her up gently. "You need to be seen."
"What? No. I'm just achy and sore, I promise."
Kurama pointedly grabbed her shoulder, causing her to wince.
Realizing she was fighting a losing game, she resorted to pleading. "But I've already spent so much time at Madame Pomfrey's!"
Hiei smirked; this argument was over before it began.
Madame Pomfrey was settling the Infirmary down for the night but was more than happy to look Kagome over. When Kagome had changed into a loose robe to be examined, Pomfrey 'tsk, tsk'd' and got the bruise balm out. Turning around, Kagome saw the dark mottling extending from her shoulders to her tailbone. Seeing the marks was like flipping a switch and suddenly she was all too happy to be in the Infirmary.
Kurama and Hiei waited outside a drawn curtain and winced when they heard Kagome's sharp intake of breath.
"Will we be forever waiting for this girl to come out of the hospital wing?"
"It is getting late," Kurama agreed.
"I believe the Detective may want in on this one."
"If you're volunteering to go fetch him, please do so."
Hiei gave Kurama a considering stare. "You're going to wait for her. Again."
Kurama returned the look coolly. "Yes."
"Why? I thought by now your interest in her would have faded."
A smirk showed briefly on the kitsune's lips. "So did I. But, in fact, I believe the opposite is happening."
There was a long period of silence while they listened to Pomfrey dress Kagome's back with healing bandages.
Then, "You're an idiot."
"I've begun to ponder that likelihood myself, lately."
"She's human and a priestess, Kurama, get that through your brain. Unless all you're looking for is a good f—"
Kurama silenced him with a withering glare. Even Hiei knew when he was crossing thin ice. The end of their whispered conversation was well-timed, as Pomfrey drew back the curtain separating the group.
"There. Now, off to bed with you Miss Higurashi. Don't forget to apply the balm twice a day. The marks should be gone in a few days."
Kagome murmured her thanks and the trio left the wing. Hiei parted with them, telling Kurama he would meet him in the library in a few minutes. With that, his form blurred down the hallway.
"Was it something I said?" Kagome joked poorly.
"You should get some rest, Kagome. You've had a long day."
"What do you think I should do about the vision?"
Kurama pondered this before responding. "I think you should rest tonight and we'll discuss it tomorrow after classes. There is much to consider."
Nodding, Kagome turned away from Kurama. "I'll head back to the Common Room now. I don't want you to keep Hiei waiting; he's not the patient type."
"No, he's not. I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight. Thanks for watching out for me."
Kurama watched her go before he went his separate way. With any luck, Hiei would have rounded up the detectives and they could figure some of this puzzle out before curfew was called.
"Okay, so let's review what we know. Kagome is a priestess. She hasn't said shit to us about where she came from or why she's here."
"She's running from something." Hiei added.
"We'll assume whatever is chasing her is pretty badass. If that's the case, we need to pay attention because anything that powerful will be able to follow her here."
"Perhaps she's not running from an enemy but from a mistake?" Kurama interjected. He knew more about Kagome than he was letting on, but while he had to include the team, he wanted the satisfaction of solving this mystery himself.
"Possible. If that's the case, we don't have to worry so much. It's just her personal shit following her around."
"It's more than that," Hiei replied. "I heard her nightmares from the boggart test. You all heard her shouting about a curse and a traitor weeks ago. Now, she's having headaches and visions of someone called Naraku. Someone she feared so much that just the recanting of the memory caused her heart to race in fear. No, I believe we are dealing with much more than personal baggage."
Kuwabara, who interacted with Kagome least of all the team, interjected, "Maybe if we find out what her baggage is we'll figure out what's after her, too."
"That's the best idea I've heard from you all day, dude." Yusuke slugged his best friend in the shoulder. Kuwabara's outraged shout caused Madame Pince to swoop upon them, shushing violently and threatening to throw them out.
Calm once more, the four men settled back down. "How do we figure out her personal stuff? We've known her for months and I like her and all but she really doesn't say much about herself."
"She's very close with Yukina," Kurama added.
"I thought she was closer to you, fox?" sarcasm laced Hiei's words. "Why don't you take it upon yourself to get to know her better, since that has apparently been your aim all along?"
Yusuke and Kuwabara were staring at Kurama, ready to burst into questions and innuendo at any moment. Inwardly, Kurama sighed.
"Whoa, fox! What happened to that 'completely platonic' relationship you were barking about before!"
"It makes sense, you know," Kuwabara added. He grabbed Kurama's hand, raising the pinky. "I can almost see that string of luuuuurve tying them together!"
Kurama snatched his hand back and sat stiffly, not enjoying being on this end of the interrogation.
"Have ya kissed her yet?"
"Have you—"
"No. I am not involved with Kagome romantically."
"Yet."
Kurama gave Hiei a vicious glare and weighed his options. "I admit I have interest in her."
Yusuke and Kuwabara hooted, smacking the table and cackling. "You sure know how to pick them, fox-boy!"
Madame Pince stormed their table, ordered them out of the library and banned them for the following day as punishment for rowdiness.
Banished, the four loitered outside the library entrance.
"I vote we talk to Yukina about Kagome. Kurama, you're the best man for the job. You've gotta get her story out of her somehow so we know what we're dealing with here."
Kurama knew a corner when he was in one and accepted the assignment without question. He had wanted to do this for ages anyway; now he would just have to share some of the knowledge he gained with his team. Some.
Kurama made it back to the Common Room right before curfew. A good number of students lingered and Kurama settled into his customary corner for some quiet thinking time. Slowly, the room emptied and the noise died down to just the crackling fire. Concentrating inwardly, Kurama pondered the situation and the best way to approach Kagome. He had made up his mind that he wanted to pursue her, but mixing business with pleasure was tricky business. The possibility that she would discover his dual purposes was high and that would bring an end to a very pleasant relationship, not to mention a dead end in terms of his research.
Out of habit, he caressed the seeds at the nape of his neck and pulled out a rose seed. His energy surged after not having been used for so long and the flower blossomed with huge petals and incredible, arcing thorns. Intrigued by this change, he calmed himself and reverted the flower to a seedling. Focusing as he usually did, he re-grew it but found that it had taken on the typical form he was accustomed to. He repeated this exercise several times but to no avail.
The light touch of footsteps on the carpeted stairs to his left switched his focus outward. Kagome rounded the corner in comfortable Muggle pajamas, her hair slightly askew.
"Kurama?"
"I'm here."
The priestess looked relieved and made her way to him. A small smile on his lips, Kurama presented her with the rose. Kagome's surprise showed but she took the flower delicately, mindful of the thorns, and drew a deep breath of the fragrance. Kurama felt a pull deep in his chest and channeled more energy into the flower, filling it to its peak with health and aroma.
"It's lovely. I'm so glad you're here. I couldn't sleep." She sat in the chair next to his, wincing as her back muscles stretched.
"Easily understood. How are you feeling?"
"Tired and sore. Actually, I was hoping you could help me a little. Madame Pomfrey tied these healing bandages a little too tightly. That's part of why I couldn't sleep."
"I imagine they're tied tightly for a reason. I think you should keep them on."
"That's fine, I will, but I just want them loosened a little. Please?"
That hint of pleading, asking him to help her almost made him give in immediately, but prudence won out and the part of his brain thinking practical thoughts took over. "How do you suggest going about this? Has she wrapped your entire torso?" 'Will I have to undress you?' is what his entire body wanted to know.
"Yes." His stomach tightened. "But it's just the part around my ribs that's giving me problems. I can't bend or anything and it's hard to breathe. Here," she turned in her seat, facing away from him; she was unbuttoning her pajama top. He had to close his eyes and fight the tension building in his stomach. Her top slid off her shoulders, revealing delicate skin. Kurama took a deep breath as the bandages came into view; focusing on the utter absence of sexiness that medical dressings muster made it easier to do the job she wanted.
Unless she wants something different, a wicked voice suggested. Kurama squashed it brutally.
"Where is the end?"
"I'm working on the knot right now; at least she tied it where I can get to it!"
"How do you want to…go about this?"
Casting a glance over her shoulder, Kagome saw the low heat in Kurama's eyes and blushed. Suddenly she wondered if she really wanted out of these bandages so badly. And then, embarrassment was shoved aside as a beautiful image of Kurama kissing her bare back flooded her mind. Sensitive to such changes, Kurama picked up on the speeding of her heart.
"I—I think I'll unwind it in the front and pass the wrap to you and we'll go around my body and adjust the tight—the um, tightness." She squeezed her eyes shut after stammering over that stupid word, thanking every deity she knew that Kurama couldn't see her face.
Kagome passed the end of the bandage back to Kurama, who took it delicately and passed it back on the other side. Concentrating on the rhythm of their hand-offs, Kurama was able to accomplish his task without losing his composure.
Kagome heaved a deep sigh when the bands were finally loose enough for her to be comfortable. "Ah! That's so much better!" Her body shivered. "But it's so much cooler, now, too."
Demon eyes picked up the sprinkling of gooseflesh rising across her back, testifying to her chill. At that moment, there was nothing Kurama wanted more than to lean forward and warm her body. But was that what she wanted? Pressing forward now might prove disastrous, but ignoring this chance could mean they would be forever stuck in the cycle of Just Friends.
What could it hurt to give in, just a little?
"You can pass me the end back, now," Kagome called over her shoulder, gesturing for him to begin re-binding her back.
Do or die, Kurama thought. He placed his hand on her back and slowly traced down the edge of her spine. She tensed, her breath caught and she refused to look over her shoulder.
"Kurama—"
He removed his hand immediately, cursing inwardly. "I apologize, Kagome, it's late and I—"
She turned slightly and clutched her robe tighter around her. "Don't apologize. I just…I'm complicated. I mean, I'm a complicated person. I don't know if this, if you…" She groped for words while Kurama sat silently behind her. "People that I care for usually wind up getting hurt." She faced him more fully now, eyes large with sorrow. "I don't want you to get hurt."
Softly, as he knew this was an important moment, he touched her hand. "I'm a very hard person to kill."
Kagome tried to laugh. "I didn't say anything about killing." She disregarded the pile of wrappings in her lap and buttoned her top before facing him fully. "Sometimes I forget you come from a life not so different from mine." She paused, deciding whether or not to continue. "Tell me, please, what you meant earlier when you said you don't forgive people."
Kurama struggled to turn his thoughts from carnal to analytical. He knew he would have to show some of his cards in order to earn her trust. "You've heard about the Dark Tournament and the things that we had to do while we were participating?"
"Enough to know you were fighting for your lives every day. I know you were all hurt badly at some point or another."
Kurama nodded. "We're all fighters, Kagome. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and I all love the thrill of battle; we love the uncertainty that comes with each new opponent. Some of us, like Hiei, are so accustomed to walking that line between survival and death that we cannot bring ourselves to remain in one place too long."
"That's fine, I understand the warrior mentality. What I don't understand is why Hiei seems to think you're ruthless."
Kurama pondered exactly how honest he should be at this point. "It's because I am ruthless." He waited for her reaction and watched her grow quieter, more apprehensive of him. "It is not a side of me I ever expect you to see but neither am I ashamed of my actions. Understand that the times I have seen differ greatly from the ones you've grown up in."
"I really doubt that."
"Why so?" An edge had crept into Kurama's voice; thoughts of his past always brought Youko closer to the surface.
Instead of answering directly, Kagome sidestepped the question and answered with, "Yukina said you questioned her about me. I know you know something about my past."
Well, well, it seems she does know how to play this game. Intrigue tinged with lust began to spiral upwards from Kurama's soul. Youko liked this harder side of Kagome.
"I admit I asked her about you. I wanted to know about InuYasha." He struck a nerve with that one; the girl tensed immediately.
"Why would you want to know about him?" She was definitely on the defensive now.
"I want to know more about you. I was also concerned that part of your sadness since coming here stemmed from him."
Kagome deterred his soothing words with a stinging retort, "If you're so ruthless, how do I know you won't use what I tell you against me?"
Well, that was direct. She was guarding her secret very carefully, indeed. But the next emotions that came into his mind surprised even Kurama. It actually hurt his feelings that she would think so little of him. "It's a matter of good faith, Kagome. I think that I show you the utmost respect and kindness when we're together. I would like to consider you my friend, but any relationship requires trust." Feeling suitably vindicated, Kurama sat back and watched her react.
"I'm sorry. It's not that I don't trust you; you're right, you've been nothing but kind to me." Her mind brought back the memory of his warm hand on her back and she blushed. Kurama noticed. "Friendship is very special to me. I don't take the word 'friend' lightly."
"Neither do I."
There was a lull in their exchange as they tried to figure one another out.
"Tell me why Yukina said you've been around for five hundred years."
"She said that?" Kagome squirmed, uncomfortable that Yukina had divulged such sensitive information.
In order to preserve her confidence in the koorime, Kurama explained himself. "She only said anything because I…suggested that I already knew."
Kagome's eyebrow kicked up. "You really are good at manipulation, aren't you?"
"I will take that as a compliment," was the response that made her laugh out loud.
Kagome quieted and turned her thoughts back to the one thing she truly did not want to discuss. "I don't know how much I ought to tell you," she said truthfully.
"Why? Are you still afraid I'll use it against you?" There was a slight edge to his jibe.
"Not really. I just haven't been able to bring myself to talk about it."
"Would you try? For me?" Kurama intentionally added that last bit, but he relished her body's response.
The priestess didn't answer for so long that he thought the conversation was ended. When he was about to suggest they return to their rooms, she finally spoke.
"What is your experience with time travel, Kurama?"
"Little to none. Kuwabara was once lost in a different dimension where time ran differently but he was eventually rescued. What is your experience?"
Kagome looked him in the eye, some of her steely reservation slipping into a disconnected sadness. "When I was fifteen, I was pulled into the well on the grounds of my family's shrine by a centipede demon. The well was a portal to the past, five hundred years ago in feudal Japan. There, I learned that I'm the reincarnation of a priestess named Kikyo and that when she died, the sacred Jewel she protected passed into my body." She touched her hip. "I still have a scar from where the centipede ripped the Jewel out of me."
Kurama leaned forward, intently listening to every nuance of her voice.
"I made friends in the past; Sango, Miroku, Shippou and InuYasha." Her breath caught. "There were others, but I traveled mainly with those four. The Jewel that was inside my body attracts great evil and corrupts those who desire it for selfish purposes. I accidentally shattered it into many pieces that spread across Japan and we spent nearly two years trying to piece it back together. We had to defeat many demons who wanted to possess the shards we collected but no one was worse than Naraku."
Finally, Kurama was getting the answers he craved! He focused his attention entirely on the young woman before him.
"He used to be a human, but allowed his soul to be devoured by many demons in order to gain power. He would stop at nothing to accomplish his goals, no matter how cruel his actions. He cursed Miroku's lineage, slew Sango's entire village and killed InuYasha's lover, Kikyo."
"And you are that same woman's reincarnation, correct?"
"Yes."
"But I thought you were InuYasha's ah…love interest?"
Kagome's jaw clenched.
I'll have to be more careful with my choice of words. Hopefully the situation is reparable. "I apologize, I didn't mean—"
"It's fine." Clearly it wasn't, but Kagome plowed ahead with her story as if thankful to relieve the immense weight of her history. "InuYasha does love me. Did love me. At first, it was because I looked like her but then…he was so confused. Kikyo was reanimated by a witch and she wanted revenge on InuYasha because she thought he'd betrayed her and the whole thing was a huge mess. He wanted both of us and she used that against us all in the end." A bitter laugh bubbled up. "I shouldn't be telling you all of this, but I can't stop myself."
"It's alright," Kurama reassured her softly, but inside he was celebrating his luck. He was much closer to solving this puzzle than he ever thought he'd be in such a short time. "How did it end?"
"We thought it ended perfectly, considering who we were dealing with. None of us died in the final battle against Naraku. And Kikyo…Kikyo was sent back to Hell, where she belongs." Kagome's voice was venomous. "But not before she cursed me."
The anticipation was building inside Kurama like a fire. Here was the crux of the matter, he was sure of it! "How did she curse you?"
"A curse on you. I will live in your heart and soul for every day you wake, and in every step you take, I will be there. Never will you forget, priestess. You will never be whole again." The air seemed to become heavier as she spoke the words for the first time aloud. "It took me awhile to figure out what she'd actually done because nothing spectacular happened when she said it to me, when she was dying on the battle field. No thunderclap, no parting of the skies, no unholy light, nothing. But I felt it when InuYasha completed the Jewel. She lives on in me. I know that I'm her reincarnation but I have a separate soul from her. Or, I used to. Her hate, her rage, her poison is buried inside me. She's made me impure!" A sob started to build in the back of her throat.
Kurama reached out to comfort her, but she suddenly smacked his hand aside. "No! No more crying! Gods, I haven't stopped crying since I was sent back to this time!" She buried her face in her hands and huffed angrily while Kurama watched from the sidelines at the apparent transformation taking place. When Kagome raised her head up a few moments later, there was a distinct change in her features. Her eyes were still sad, but inside was a fire and determination Kurama had never seen before. Youko rolled so close to the surface that Kurama felt fox fur rub sensually against his insides.
"Kurama, I want to apologize for being so weak since you've met me. I've been so lost without them that I feel like I've just been wandering around, waiting for someone to tell me what to do next." Another deep, cleansing sigh. "I feel so angry at myself for allowing this to happen! And I'm still so mad at InuYasha for making that stupid last wish!"
Kurama felt like an intruder during her monologue but found he couldn't stop watching Kagome as if he'd never seen her before.
"So much has happened, Kurama, I don't think I could tell you everything that's taken place if I had two lifetimes. But starting now, I'm going to accept the path that was set out for me and I guarantee you're going to be seeing a New Kagome!" She placed her hand on top of his clasped ones. "Thank you for your honesty, and for your patience."
He covered her hand with his and smiled, "I'm glad you've found some peace. And thank you for sharing so much with me."
Kagome blushed and looked at the clock to try and distract herself. "Oh! It's nearly five in the morning! Quick, help me re-wrap these silly bandages and then we need to go to bed!"
Kurama smiled, feeling extremely satisfied with himself. He knew it would only take the right words here, some encouragement there…and now, he had nearly all the answers he was looking for to solve the mystery that was Kagome. As he helped her pass the bandage around her torso he was so caught up in feeling pleased with himself that he completely missed the chance to do what he'd originally set out to.
"Thank you so much, Kurama! This feels so much better already. I'm so tired; I know I'll drop right off to sleep." She squeezed his hand warmly and gave him a sweet smile that made him want to reach out and draw her closer. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," He stood to watch her go and only then realized he hadn't kissed her.