Ch.4 – Flashback Memory

-A priestess eh?- Youko speaks up in the back of Kurama's mind. –That could be Kagome!-

-What?!-

-Seriously Red! Run faster! Kagome could be in trouble! We have to help her!-

-How do you know it could be Kagome?-

-That night in the park, she blinded me with some sort of bright blue light.-

-But Koenma said this power hasn't been seen since 500 years ago. Do you remember anything about a priestess?-

-Actually I do. I met a priestess the day before I died…-

------ Flashback -----

Youko was sleeping in a tree in the center of his forest when he felt someone comes through his barrier. He woke with a start, puzzled as to how someone could get through his walls. "Unwanted trespassers must die." Youko started jumping from tree to tree in search of this unwanted company. As he nears a clearing he hears someone singing. He stops when he sees a girl with long black hair and deep brown eyes in priestess robes picking herbs while singing. Her voice reaches his ears on the gentle breeze of the wind.

(The Ash Grove by Janet E. Tobitt)

Down yonder green valley where stream lets me ander

When twilight is fading I pensively rove

Or at the bright noontide in solitude wander

A mid the dark shades of the lonely ash grove

'Tis there where the black bird is cheerfully singing

Each warbler enchants with his notes from the tree

A then little think I of sorrow or sadness

The ash grove entrancing spells beauty for me

-Pretty- Youko thinks to himself. He uses his demon speed to appear behind her. "How did a miko with such a beautiful voice wander into my forest?" He whispers in her ear. She stiffens, dropping the herbs and her organized basket. "Speechless?" He gently lays a hand on the back of her neck and the other on her shoulder. "Oh come now, do enlighten me as to how you managed to get through my barrier. I promise I don't bite."

"I do not trust stranger, never mind unfriendly demons. And I don't know what you're talking about. I never broke any barrier."

"I'm unfriendly? I could be a little…" He wraps an arm around her waist, drawing her against him. "More friendly if you'd like." Youko whispers sadistically in her ear. "And I have a barrier around my entire forest. No one has been able to penetrate it, never mind break through it subconsciously. Anyone who trespasses in my forest without my permission is foolish. Unwanted visitors face death."

"Then why haven't you killed me yet? Why bother stalling to talk?"

"Are you in such a hurry to die miko?" Youko becomes slightly curious.

"It would not matter." She stares at the ground. "Go ahead. Kill me. No one here will notice."

"Well aren't you a cheerful one. I thought mikos were supposed to be optimists."

"Not when they've had their heart broken. I'm sorry that I have trespassed. If you're not going to kill me, then I will leave." She grabs her basket, picking up the herbs she dropped and placing them inside.

"You think I'm going to let you leave here without anything in return?" He is suddenly blinded by bright blue light. When he is able to see again the priestess is walking away in the distance. "Hey!" Youko chases after her. "I never said you could leave!" 2 seconds later she is wrapped up in vines and Youko has her sitting with him in a tree.

"You're not going to kill me, yet you won't let me leave. What do you want fox-boy?" She stares up at him blankly.

"I will let you go… on one condition miko."

She sighs. "What is it?"

"Well don't sound too excited that I'm giving you a chance to live."

"Don't worry; I'll try to contain my enthusiasm."

"Ouch. Well aren't you just a lovely little fighter. I thought mikos were supposed to be all happy, not sarcastic."

"If you want me to be happy then let me go free."

"Hmm… no. No one has ever talked to me like you are now. I'm quite curious as to how you can talk to me and show no fear. Do you even know who I am?"

"You are an incompetent fox demon who won't let me leave."

"Incompetent? Me? I am the legendary fox thief Youko Kurama!"

"Well I have nothing of value in your terms for you to steal so I do not see why I can't leave."

"I would like to steal your lovely voice for a song." He smiles.

"You want me to sing for you?" The priestess looks puzzled.

"Why are you so shocked? Has no one ever asked for you to sing? Or maybe… you wanted me to request something else…" Youko winks at her.

"You shouldn't let your ego blow up like a Macy's Day balloon; it's bad for your health."

"What? What is that?"

"Nothing." She sighs. "Inuyasha will be pissed if I do not return soon."

"Who is this Inuyasha of whom you speak?"

"A dog hanyou with golden eyes, silver hair and a pair of silver ears. Kind of just like you actually." She cocks her head to the side. "Except your ears are softer… I think."

"I am a full demon. And I have a tail along with a few talents. As for my ears… would you care to find out?"

"Really?" She looks up at Youko curiously.

"I'll let you have my ears if you give me your name."

"… Kagome." She replies.

"Well Kagome, I am Youko." He unties her hands. Kagome slowly reaches up to his ears, placing her hands gently in his hair. After a minute or so she begins to sing.

(Anyway – Martina McBride)

You can spend your whole life building,
Something from nothing
One storm can come and blow it all away,
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray;
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway,
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
And it's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today.
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart,
For all the right reasons,
And in a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray;
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway,
I do it anyway

God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway,
Yeah I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway,
Yeah sing it anyway

Yeah! Yeah!
I sing,

I dream,

I love Anyway

Youko opens his eyes, having closed them while she was singing and playing with his hair and ears. He looks over at her when she falls silent, her hands still in his hair and her eyes still watching his ears. He takes this opportunity to carefully lean forward and kiss her gently on the lips. She freezes as her mind goes blank; Youko pulls back and smirks at her stunned expression. "Did I put you on cloud 9?"

".. Wha… What?" Kagome snaps back to reality.

"And that was just a light one… I wonder what would happen if I made it last a bit longer…"

A light red line spreads across Kagome's face. "I have to leave now. Could you let me go, I sang for you."

"Aw." Youko sighs." I suppose I could… is it really necessary that you leave? You sing beautifully, I would like to hear more."

"Inuyasha will punish me if I do not return before nightfall."

"Is he your lover?"

"… No. He already has one. She is better then me."

"Then why return to him? Why not stay with me?"

"He'll get mad and come looking for me."

"So? No one can break my barrier let alone survive my defenses. Stay."

----- End Flashback -----

-And?- Kurama asks eagerly. –Did she stay?-

-No.-

-What? Why not?-

-She did spend the night with me. We laid out in a clearing under the stars. I had my plants give her a soft place to sleep and we talked for quite a bit as we watched the stars. Actually she fell asleep on me.-

-And in the morning?-

-The hanyou came for her. She pleaded with me to do nothing about it and promised to meet me that afternoon by a river. Before he took her away she handed me an odd piece of medal. When I went to meet her later, she never showed up. I went after the hanyou. Be he had thrown her down an enchanted well, sealed it and then destroyed it so that it could never be unsealed. I went on a rampage, foolishly getting in the path of a hunter and I died. Only after death did I find that she had given me a ring in the form of a key. I still have it, so that if I ever see her again she'll know who I am.-

-Wow. That's deep Youko. And you're saying that my new friend Kagome from school may be your Kagome from 500 years ago?-

-Yes.-

/Why don't you both keep your feelings in check and stop being all sappy./ Another voice sounds in Kurama's mind.

-Shut up Hiei. I don't recall inviting you into this conversation.- Youko growls.

/Someone has to tell you to stop being pathetic./

Youko starts to make some sort of remark when the scent of blood fills his senses. Kurama shifts to his demon form in order to pay better attention to his surroundings and speed up even more. As they start to near a clearing spots of blood little the ground and plant life, showing clear signs of a violent battle. Youko's ears ring when a high pitched scream pierces the air and his eyes widen a bit as Hiei and himself come upon the scene.