Ch. 12 – Wake up Call

Youko is snapped out of his stunned expression as he realizes what is going on and smells salt. He notices tears starting to form in Kagome's eyes as she tries to hold her barrier against her brother. The barrier continues to flicker even more are she starts to become weaker. This angers Youko and as soon as Rai smashes through the barrier and it dissolves he holds onto Kagome protectively. Thorn-filled vines lash out from several different locations and attach Raihoushi. A few thornless vines wrap around Youko and Kagome, shielding them from view and grow sharp thorn spikes as a means of defense. Rai continues to fight off the vines as he tries to reach the thorny cocoon-like defense system. After about an hour Raihoushi finally destroys the last attacking vine. "Now to get them out of there!"

"Don't even bother Rai, they've been gone since Youko put that thing up."

"Are you serious Dai!? Then why are these things still attacking? Why are they even still here?"

"To distract you. Obviously if Youko loves Kagome then he'll want to protect her. You were a threat to her safety as she is quite weak at the moment because she used up so much energy yesterday. So Youko would take her somewhere safe rather then stay here while you are still a threat."

"Then where'd they go!?" Rai yells, still trying to demolish Youko's defense system.

"I don't know. And if I did I wouldn't tell you. I told you before, I am not helping anyone. I am simply observing. You will have to figure out what to do on your own."

"This sucks. At least help me get rid of this thing, unless you want it to continue to live in your room."

"It's kinda cool looking…but not really. Alright, I'll get rid of it." Dai gets up.

(Meanwhile)

"You can open your eyes now, you're safe." Youko whispers in Kagome's ear. "We're not even anywhere near your brother, I promise. Just open your eyes for me."

Kagome slowly opens her eyes and looks around. They're standing in front of a grassy field under a sakura tree. "Where are we Youko?" She asks curiously.

"This is a piece of my garden that you didn't get to see before. I thought you might like it."

"Can I?" She gestures to the open field.

"Go ahead. Have fun." Youko smiles.

"Yay!" She takes off running.

After a few minutes Youko doesn't see her anywhere.

"Kagome? Where'd you go? Hello?"

No answer.

"Kagome?" Youko becomes concerned. "Kagome?!" All of a sudden he is tackled to the ground from behind. "What the?" He lies in the grass stunned until he meets brown eyes.

"I got you!" Kagome laughs.

"So you do…I didn't even sense you coming."

"Well if you were able to sense me then it wouldn't have been a surprise. Duh."

"Then what about this?" Youko tackles her in turn. "What are you going to do now?"

"…Good question."

(Back at the Twin's House)

"I can't sense then anywhere! No fair!" Raihoushi whines.

"As long as she gets home at some point tonight, it doesn't really matter." Dai dumps a dust pan of plant pieces into a trashcan.

"You approve of him?"

"Yes. He protected her and he brought her somewhere safe. That is what you do when you care about someone."

"So?"

"So if he didn't care about her then he wouldn't have defended her. He obviously likes her quite a bit."

"But I don't like him."

"You don't have to. She does. We'll be here id and when she needs us."

"…Fine. But I challenge you to a duel!"

Daihoushi sighs. "What game?"

"Soul Calibur 3! So I can kick you ass!"

"Lets duel then." The twin's race down the stairs, grab the controllers, jump on the couch and switch on the TV.

"Prepare to die!" And evil smile spreads across Raihoushi's face. "Muaaaaa!"

"Shut up." Dai states in a monotone as the game loads. "You will not defeat me that easily."

"I beg to differ! I will own you at this game!"

(Back at the Garden)

"Youko look!" Kagome points up at the sky.

"What?" Youko turns his attention. Kagome takes this opportunity to tackle him again. "Hey!"

"I got you now!" Kagome smiles.

"That wasn't very fair." Youko remarks.

"Oh well. Too bad."

"Kagome…"

"Fine." She sighs and lets him sit up. "The sun is setting see?" Kagome points at the sky again. "I really did want you to see it. Isn't it pretty?"

"Yes, it is. And the stars are starting to come out."

"Can we stay a little longer? Please?"

"…Sure, I guess. Why?"

"I want to watch the stars with you. Please?"

"Alright. I think I can do that." An hour later the two are laying in the grass watching the stars and drawing pictures with them.

"I think that one looks like a frog." Kagome points to a cluster of small stars.

"How about his one?" Youko points to a different batch of stars. "What do you think this one is?"

"Hmm….a flower?"

"What kind of flower?"

"Umm…I don't know…"

"You should know this kind of flower Kagome. You've seen it before."

"Hmm…a….rose?"

"So it looks like this then." Youko pulls a red rose out of his hair and hands it to Kagome. She carefully takes it from his hand and gently lays it on the ground nearby.

"Thank you." She hugs him.

"You're welcome." She smiles. "Can you do me a favor?"

"…Sure. What is it?"

"Can you come back to school tomorrow? The fan girls are getting a little too close for my taste and Suichi won't do anything about them."

"Really…well that will have to be fixed."

"When can you come back to school? We're lonely without you."

"I'll come with you tomorrow."

"Promise?"

"Yes." Kagome sighs.

(The Next Morning)

Kurama wakes up to the smell of Bacon.

-Bacon?-

His groggy mind is jolted out of his sleepy state as he hears a huge commotion coming from the other side of his apartment.

-What the?!-

He runs out of the room, down the hall and into the kitchen. He starts laughing as he comes upon the scene. Kagome is standing on a chair with a pitch fork in her deep red-colored school uniform trying to fend off a spider. "Back! Back I say!" She yells at the good-sized critter on the floor near the chair. "Get away!" She doesn't notice Kurama since she is too busy being petrified by the spider. It jumps. She squeaks and makes a run for a different chair, watching the eight-legged creature, keeping the pitch fork between them. Kurama quickly gets a plastic container and scoops up the spider while it's distracted and puts a lid on it, trapping it. "What are you doing up?"

"I heard a loud noise coming form this room. Food thing I came or you might've woken up the neighbors."

"Go back to bed. Now."

"What?"

"I didn't wake you up yet, so go back to sleep."

"But-"

"No. Breakfast isn't ready now shew." Kagome steers Kurama out of the kitchen and back to his room. "You're not allowed out until everything is ready."

-Didn't you bring her home last night Youko?-

-Yes.-

-Are you sure?-

-Yes. She fell asleep while we were in the garden. I carried her home and tucked her in her bed.-

-Didn't her brother say there were wards around her house? How did you get by them?-

-There were. They flared up when I got too close to the place. But then I was able to walk right through the wall and up to the front door, without feeling any pain. I think it was because I was holding her.-

-Alright…-

"How did you get in here Kagome?" Kurama inquires.