Ch. 22

Condition

"Kags, you're back." Shita walks over to Kagome as her and Daihoushi appear in the twins' house.

"Hey Shita." Kagome hugs her. "Where is everyone?"

"Yusuke is passed out at his place, Kuwabara's unconscious body has been delivered to his sister, and Hiei is sleeping in my room."

"What about Kurama and Rai?"

"You should've brought Rai back with you."

"What?" Kagome looks confused. "But I didn't see him."

"I've got him." Daihoushi pulls a blue feather out of a pocket. "I'm gonna go put him in his room." He walks off up the stairs.

"…" Kagome just stands there shocked.

"Hey Kags? Kags?" Shita shakes her a bit. "Earth to Kags! Time to come back!"

"Rai! He's nothing but a feather!" Kagome moves to run up the stairs but Shita grabs hold of her arm. "Shita!"

"You are needed somewhere else."

( Koenma's office)

"You tell her." Koenma whines.

"No. You must tell her yourself Lord Koenma." Boton argues. "I'm not here to take the blame for your mistakes. I'm here to help you with the Rekai Tentei."

"But she'll never want to go on another mission for me ever again!" He whines.

"King Yama said that you have to take responsibility for yourself."

"I'll do that tomorrow! Please?"

"Where is he?!" Kagome growls as she shoves through the door to Koenma's office. "Where's my fox!?!"

"… Heh… Kagome… such a nice visit…"

"Give him back to me right now Koenma." She glares down at him. "You either hand him over or I will get him myself."

"He's in… the same… room… you were…"Koenma stammers as he tries to hide under his desk. Kagome takes off down the hallway. "She's scary when she's angry." Koenma climbs back up onto his chair and sits up.

"That seemed a bit too easy."

"Nonsense Boton. She knows that as the son on King Yama, I cannot be harmed." Koenma waves a hand at her.

"She'll be back." Boton walks out of the office.

(In Kurama's hospital room)

Kagome rushes into the room and over to his bedside. "Kurama…" She stares at the different IVs, monitors and wires he's hooked to. "My fox…" She falls to her knees beside the bed. "I'm so sorry." She cries.

"He's not going to wake up."

"… He can't be dead…" Tears fall down Kagome's face.

"No." Daihoushi steps away from the wall, making himself visible. "He is not dead. But he can't wake up."

"Why not?"

"He's been injured very badly. He's struggling to hold onto his life line."

"He… can't… die…" Kagome sobs.

"Shh." Dai walks over to Kagome and hugs her.

"He…. I… can't… lose…. him… not now…" She continues to cry as he holds her.

"Don't give up on him yet. He's fighting for you."

"But look… what's happened… there's no way… and there's nothing… I can do…"

"You could help him heal." Dai suggests.

"But what if I accidentally purify him?"

"You love him, there's no way your emotions would let that happen. He might heal faster if you help him." He reasons.

"…You really… think so?" Kagome looks up at Daihoushi.

"Yes."

"Will you… stay? Incase something… happens?"

"Sure."

(The next day)

-Aaa!- Kurama is shocked awake in his head. –What the heck was that!?-

-I don't know, but we're alive. I think.- Youko states.

-I feel numb.-

-That's because we can't move.-

-Do you hear something?-

-Yes. Its faint but it sounds like someone's crying.-

-Is it for us?- Kurama questions.

-I don't know. We can't exactly tell if we're living or we're dead. We can't feel anything.-

-I hope it isn't Kagome crying.-

-'It is'- A voice enters Kurama's mind.

-Who are you?- Youko snaps.

-'Daihoushi.'-

-So we're alive?- Kurama asks.

-'Yes, barely. The only reason you're even conscious in your mind is Kagome.'-

-Is she alright?- Kurama becomes concerned.

-'She should be when she wakes up. She was up all night trying to help you heal without purifying you. She didn't stop trying to heal you until she passed out due to lack of energy.'-

-Was she crying earlier?-

-'Yes. She cried for you'- Dai replies. –'She still is.'-

-What? I thought you said she passed out. Youko questions him.

-'She did. She's crying in her sleep. She cares that much for you. So you better spend some time with her once you're fully healed.'-

-I definitely will. I'd like to ask her something later as well.-

-'I see.'-

-Would you allow it? Can you ask Raihoushi and Shita too?- Kurama asks.

-'I'll give you my approval. I'll talk to the other two for you.'-

-Thanks.-l

-'Now rest.'- Daihoushi leaves Kurama's mind. He pulls a chair out of the air and carefully picks up Kagome. He places her gently in the chair, wiping away some of her tears before leaving the room.

( The twins' house)

"Rai, I'm home." Daihoushi walks into Rai's bedroom. "How are you feeling?"

-"It … hurts…"-

"Just keep resting." Dai walks over and sits on the side of the bed. "I'll try to help you regain form." He puts his hands over the blue feather and surrounds it in green light. "Kurama wants to ask Kagome that question. He would like your approval. I already gave him mine."

-"Do I… have to?- Raihoushi whines.

"No. But it would make Kagome happy if you did. And Kurama is taking the chance to ask us before saying anything."

-"I… will think…about it."-

"Alright, fair enough. You have time to think it over. He still can't move. Kagome is trying to help him heal. She wanted to help you too, but she's already exhausting herself."

-"Will she… come visit?"- Rai asks.

"I could see ask if you'd like to see her."

-"… Yes…"-

"Rest. You might see her tomorrow." Daihoushi pulls his hands back, gets up and leaves.

(That afternoon)

"You bastard!" Shita smacks Daihoushi upside the head. "That one was mine!"

"Calm down. It's no big deal. I just helped you."

"No! That dude was mine!" She growls.

"Well you should shoot them faster. You're a poor sniper." Daihoushi states.

"Grr! That's it!" Shita attacks Dai, tackling him to the floor.

"All of your bickering is giving me a headache." Hiei walks into the room to see the two demons wrestling on the floor. "…" He turns around and leaves the room without saying anything.

(Later)

Shita is by herself in the living room flipping through channels on the TV. "Hn."

"Sup Hiei." Shita states, her attention still on the TV screen.

"What was that about earlier?"

"What? Me and Daihoushi wrestling?"

"It looked like it was more then that." Hiei sits next to Shita on the couch. "Is he competition? Is he the reason why you haven't given me an answer yet?" Shita breaks out in laughter. "What… is so funny? This is a serious question. And you're… laughing."

"Daihoushi… competition!" She continues to laugh. "That's just too funny!"

"Stop laughing and answer me." Hiei glares at her.

"Oh please." Shita looks over at him. "I'm not one to break up a gay-acting pair of twins. I just hang out with them. They're my friends."

"So if they're not competition, why haven't you given me answer?

She sighs. "You really want a date with the devil?"

"With his daughter, maybe more."

"Let's just settle with a date for now."

"When?"

"The day after you survive a day with the twins."

"…" the blood seems to drain out of Hiei's face.

(A few days later)

(In Kurama's hospital room)

"He still won't wake up…" Kagome starts to cry for what seems like the hundredth time. "Please…. Please wake up!"

"Hey Kags guess what!?" Shita materializes out of the air. "You won't believe –" She stops talking as she notices Kagome on the floor by Kurama's bed drenched in tears and still crying. She runs over to Kagome, dropping to her knees and hugging the sobbing miko.

"He… still wont'… wake up…" Kagome cries, gripping Shita's arm like a life line.

"It's alright Kags. You're doing your best to wait patiently. He'll wake up soon, I promise. Just hang in a little bit longer."

"I can't… get him… to wake up…" She stammers between cries.

"Shh. You need sleep. Just take a break."

"I… I can't… leave… him…"

"Nothing bad will happen to him, I promise. Here, I'll make it easier for you." Shita stands and picks Kagome up off the floor, holding her ad they fade into the air. Daihoushi appears from the wall and walks over to Kurama's bed.

-'Wake up fox.'- His voice rings in the back of Kurama's mind.

-Huh? What's going on?-

-'It's time for you to open your eyes. You need to. Kagome is starting to lose herself, she's trying so hard to heal you that she is neglecting herself. She is losing her will to fight. You need to open your eyes and give her hope.'-

-Where is she?- Kurama asks in a concerned voice.

-'Shita just took her out so I could talk to you. She hasn't left this room since about an hour after you got here. It's been a few days already.' – Dai states. –'Do you thin you can open your eyes for her when she gets back?'-

-Yes.- Kurama nods inwardly. –I'll do better then that for her.-

(Later, that afternoon)

Kagome slowly walks back into the room, shutting the door and goes to sit in the chair next to Kurama's bed. "I'm back. I'm sorry I left you, my fox." She holds onto his hand, staring at the floor. "I will not leave you again, I promise."

"You didn't."

"…" Kagome picks her head up to find concern-filled green eyes looking back at her. "Kurama?"

"Kagome…" He pulls her onto the bed, hugging her and holding her tight. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You never left."

"But I did. Shita took me out."

"You may have left on the outside, but you never left on the inside."

"What do you mean?" Kagome looks up at him curiously.

"Where was your heart?" He asks.

"… I don't know…"

"Tell me…" He kisses her. "What are you feeling in your heart right now?"

"All I can think of is you."

"Then you care for me?" He prods her.

"I do more then care for you, I…" She trails off.

"Yes?" Kurama nuzzles her. "Don't think; just let your feelings take over. There's no one else here bit us."

"I… love you…"

Kurama hugs her. "You don't know how long I've waited to hear you say those words Kagome. I love you too."

"Are you feeling better?" She asks, checking him for wounds.

"Oh yes." He pulls her loser, trapping her arms underneath his and nuzzles her, making her laugh a bit. "I am feeling much better, now that I have you."

"You're silly, fox." She hugs him.

"That may be, but you still said that you love me."

"I did."

"Kagome, I have a question for you." He loosens his grip so he can look at her face.

"Yes?" Kagome inquires. "What is it that you wish to know?"

Kurama looks at her eyes for a few more seconds before speaking. "… Will you –"

The door is kicked open, startling the two. "A HA!" Raihoushi steps through the doorway. "I finally found your room!" He walks over and poles Kagome in the arm. "You didn't come visit me. And you…" Rai turns his attention to Kurama. "I will give my approval on one condition…"