Disclaimer: InuYasha and YuYu Hakusho are owned by their rightful creators, Rumiko Takahashi and Yoshihiro Togashi. I make no money off of this fiction.
+Youko+
/Kurama to Youko/Hiei/
+Hiei to Kurama/Youko+
-+-+-+ Chapter 9, -+-+-+-
Forest green eyes slid closed as a pleasured moan escaped perfect bow-shaped lips. Red hair tumbled over pale thighs as their owner let his head fall back against the woman behind him. "Shit, Kagome-chan, is this why InuYasha didn't want you to touch his ears?" His tongue slipped past his pink lips and let a soft sigh escape his sharp nose.
Said miko giggled and continued to play with Shippou's ears, a playful smile spreading across her beautiful face. "You've grown up, Shippou-chan." She said and pulled at the tips of the kitsune's ears.
He sighed happily. "Well, no duh, I've been alive for more than five-hundred years." He stretched his foot out lazily. "I had too. I couldn't stay cute forever."
A soft snort had Shippou scowling. "You keep out of this, midget. I don't need any scathing comments from someone who's barely five feet. OW!" The fox gave a sudden cry of pain as Kagome pulled at one of his sensitive ears.
"Don't be mean, Shippou-chan!" Kagome chided before continuing her massaging ministrations.
A deep voice that had Kagome's fingers pausing cut through the suddenly hostile air. "It would do well to keep your scathing comments to yourself, fox. I do not need to hear any more from your mouth this evening." Sesshoumaru leveled the kitsune with a bored yet stern look.
He grumbled angrily for a few minutes before his voice tapered off and his eyes closed slowly. "Ah, go a little bit lower..." He purred and let his tongue loll from his mouth.
Hiei rolled his eyes but didn't comment.
Kagome had been surprised at seeing a handsome auburn-headed male with seated on her fold-up table and a regal looking dark-headed male on her tiny couch, Hiei leaned up against one of the arm rests like he belonged there.
She had thoroughly freaked out and started to panic, until the redhead and taken off a ring on his thumb and smiled over at her. His long red ears and bushy red tail told Kagome everything and the way he smiled at her, so familiar yet so different, had her tearing up and curling her fingers over her mouth. The demon's name was whispered past her plump pink lips before she raced over to him and collapsed in his awaiting arms.
The other male, who was revealed as the regal inu taiyoukai, Sesshoumaru, slipped off his own ring, though it was seated on his middle finger (for flipping off purposes, Shippou had told her later on).
So, after fixing up some snacks and offering tea, the four had sat down for some good-old remembrance of better times.
The miko yawned and covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, boy. I guess I'm more tired that I first thought." She giggled to herself before curling her fingers through Shippou's luscious red hair. "It's been great... You don't know how wonderful to know that there's just a tiny barrier separating my from my little Hi-chan and Shippou-chan" She cuddled the smiling red-head with a happy coo.
Hiei narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything. He knew Shippou didn't feel that way for the priestess. But that though lead to another which brought his mind to an angry place. If that fox tried anything... He looked out the window and ignored the dwindling conversation.
Kagome yawned before stretching with a soft moan. "Ah, work today was killer..." She rubbed her shoulders and blinked in surprise when Shippou twisted around in her lap and smiled up at her.
"Mind if I give you a massage then?" He wiggled his fingers and gave the priestess a very Miroku-ish smile.
The raven rolled her eyes but nodded her head. "A quick one then I'm off to bed." She slid off the tiny couch and rested her back against Shippou's knees.
"Well, my dear, I don't know about you, but..." Shippou gave a dramatic sigh and rubbed the miko's tense shoulders. "... I am in need of a hard drink." He leaned forward, rested his chin on the top of her head and never missed a beat on the steady massage on her tightly coiled muscles.
Kagome's head lolled back and she sighed softly as Shippou sat himself up and lazily dragged his fingers over her shoulders. "Mmm... go a little bit lower..." She sighed when the kitsune complied. "Oh, Shippou-chan, where have you been these last few years..." The question was rhetorical but he couldn't help himself.
"Screwing many female and male demons senseless and fighting till I collapses and dined on yum-tastic wine." Hiei snorted softly which earned him a narrow-eyed stare from the fox. "Keep out of this short-stuff. I don't want to have to bring up the 100th ball do I?"
Hiei gave the smirking fox a dark glare and Shippou faked a shiver. "Ooh, your making me shake in my fur!" He teased and only earned himself a harsher glare from the hiyoukai. "Your no fun, you know that?"
Shippou blinked when Kagome took a deep breath and her head fell over to one side.
"The miko is asleep." Sesshoumaru announced in his neutral voice. "I think it is best if we leave and take up residence in the Makai."
Shippou pouted but said nothing else. "Where should I put her?" The fox stood up and picked the priestess up into his arms, cradling her like a newborn.
Hiei pointed to the couch. "She will be fine there." He said.
Nodding, Shippou set her down and started to transform. "Shippou." Sesshoumaru's stern voice cut through the foxes concentration.
He glared at the towering demon as he finished shifting forms. His three tails twitched in anger before he leaped up onto the bed and cuddled with the sleeping priestess.
Kagome's arm wrapped around Shippou's smaller form and rolled over onto her side. "Mmm..." She gave a soft moan before stilling.
Sesshoumaru scowled angrily but left the fox where he was. "I expect you at the hotel in three hours." The taiyoukai said before disappearing through the window that Hiei had vacated.
The hybrid glared angrily down at the smirking tri-tailed fox. +You are only a replacement for me, fox.+ He snapped through their mental link before moving back to his spot by the window.
+Yeah, right, you wish, buddy. I have officially taken your bed-warmer place. I'm furry, your not.+ Shippou flicked his tails and laid his head down on Kagome's chest. +Ooo... squishy...+
Hiei rested his hand threatening on Shuuketsu's hilt.
Shippou quieted down and fell into a meditative sleep.
-+-+-+-
Kagome wiped her brow as she finished with the dishes and let them sit in the drying bin. It had been hectic that morning, trying to get ready for her early morning shift and take care of a grumpy fox demon at the same time. Shippou simply wouldn't leave her alone. Constant questions and playful antics had the priestess ready to tear her own hair out.
She loved the excitable kitsune dearly, don't get her wrong, but one can only take so much. The constant. "Why can't you stay home and play" or "I don't want to be alone with him again" or "Say that again, Hiei and I'll bend you over so fast you're dick'll break off before you can draw Shuuketsu!"
The priestess heaved a tired sigh before turning to look at the portly male that had passed not moments before. "There's the last of them Watashi-san. May I leave now?" The manager nodded his head and shooed her from the fast food restaurant.
The raven sighed softly and quickly changed in the tiny bathroom stall out of her work clothes to her street clothing. She brushed her hair and swept it back up in a ponytail before checking her makeup and her appearance. "Well, it's as good as it's going to get." She sighed and walked from the bathroom, waved goodbye to her co-workers and exited the eating establishment.
The sudden appearance of Hiei's friend, Kurama had the priestess jumping slightly. Especially when he curled his arm around her shoulders. "Oh! Kurama-san, you scared me." She pressed her hand against her heart before smiling softly. "Where are we going, if I may ask?" She ran her fingers over her purse as a soft blush ran across her cheeks
The red-head smiled softly down at her and wiggled his finger teasingly. "That would ruin the surprise I have set up for you." He pulled out an expensive looking cell phone and pressed it against his ear after hitting a few buttons. "Botan? It's Kurama."
Kagome bit her lip in embarrassment as girls glared darkly at her and her 'date'. She scooted closer to Kurama and looked away from the harsh looks. "Yes, alright, we're coming up to it now, thank you." He flipped the phone closed and gave the red-faced female a light side-hug. "Just this way."
The miko worried her bottom lip as he turned them down a deserted alleyway. "Kurama-san..." She trailed off and moved away from him a fraction, only for the avatar to pull her tightly against his side and stop.
"You may feel a little weird since it is your first time going through but it will all be over quickly." He said and Kagome's back straightened.
A swirling black vortex with an eerily familiar aura slowly flickered to life. It feels similar to... to the well... Kagome took a tentative step forward, her hand outstretched. "What is this?" She questioned and turned around slightly to look over her shoulder at Kurama.
"A portal to your doom." The red-head said and gave her a devious grin.
Kagome rolled her eyes and stepped through it without a second thought. The rippling aura felt the same as it did when she had traveled through the well. The constant flux of energy, the never ending ripple, was so very comforting to her but before long, she was through to the other side and already missing the oh-so familiar feeling.
"Hello!" The overly-cheerful voice made the priestess squeak in surprise and jump slightly. "You must be Kagome-san! My names Botan and it is so wonderful to meet you!" The sky-blue haired female in a bubblegum pink kimono gave a deep bow to the bewildered miko.
Kagome bowed in return before locking her confused blue eyes with the brilliant pink eyes in front of her. "Oh... uhm... Hello... Botan...?" She jumped when Kurama's hand rested softly on her lower back.
"Please, Botan, your scaring the poor thing." He lightly chided the bubbly reaper. The red-head curled his fingers in her blouse before pushing her forward. "I've heard from a very reliable source that you have been employed at a very low-paying job that should be of no interest to someone as extraordinary as you."
Kagome flushed and worried her bottom lip. "Kura-" The male shook his head.
"I am not done yet, Kagome-san." He held up his unoccupied hand as if to ward her words away physically. "And I thought to myself... 'Why not get her a job where she could be surrounded by demons and others of the like? I bet she misses those wondrous times'." The kitsune smiled disarmingly down at her. "So, I have set up a meeting with my... boss..." The word slid from his lips with slight apprehension tinting them.
Kagome cut him off before he could continue"And now you have brought me here to this Reikai...? place to get a job for me?" She gave the male a soft smile before blinking in surprise.
"Koenma-sama!" Botan said as she slammed open the large wooden doors. "Kagome-san is here!" The blue haired female smiled at the priestess and danced off to the side.
As Kagome stepped into the room, a powerful energy curled around her body and brushed against her own aura. It wasn't demonic or malicious so her unconscious defense system didn't activate. She blinked away the sudden intrusion on her person before locking her eyes on the handsome brunette that plopped himself down behind the heavy-looking desk in front of her.
Deep chestnut eyes peered at her curiously as a handsome, slightly tanned face with full lips gapped openly at her before the male shook his head. Thick red cloth draped itself over his broad shoulders as a light blue tunic covered his chest and disappeared under the thick wooden desk. He crossed his long-sleeved covered arms and rested his chin on his curled hands under his chin.
"Ah, Higurashi, Kagome." He said, his voice a nice baritone. His brown eyes twinkled brightly. "I was wondering when I would get to finally meet you. I've heard so many great stories that I got myself overly excited and nearly forgot my manors." Standing up, the brunette strolled lightly over to her.
Kagome blushed when he took her hand lightly in his own and kissed her knuckles. "I am Koenma, Prince of the Reikai." The male let her hand go and walked to his desk again. "Please, take a seat." Waving his hand out to the two pillowy seats in front of his desk, Koenma seated himself and waited for her to take the offered chair.
Once she was seated, Koenma leaned back and rested his hands on his tummy. But before he could speak, Kagome cleared her throat and asked the question that had been plaguing her since she had laid her eyes upon him. "Uhm... Koenma-sama?" Once he nodded to her, Kagome gathered up her courage and forced the question out. "Yuusuke-kun has told me that the Reikai prince was a whiny little toddler that couldn't handle the tiniest problems without whining to him to 'save' the day."
Kurama curled his fingers over his mouth and covered his soft laughter with well-timed coughs.
Koenma sputtered momentarily before anger rippled through his suddenly dominating aura.
Kagome squirmed before clearing her throat again. "And... well... you don't look like a toddler... so are you able to shift forms?"
Gathering his wits about him, the prince took a deep calming breath and released it slowly. "Yes, I am able to shift forms... And if Yuusuke knew half of what I go through every day then he would be as stressed as I was." Scowling at nothing, Kagome waited for him to calm down enough to start up his previously interrupted conversation.
"So..." Kagome prompted and instantly, Koenma was back on track, his face instantly bleeding of any anger that she had felt in his ki.
"Ah, yes, where was I? Oh, of course!" He sat up straighter in his seat and gathered up a few files on his desk and held them out to her. "I know what you are capable of and how much you have helped the world so..." Smiling warmly at her, Koenma stood up and held out his hand after he had walked around the desk. "Shall we get you acquainted with the staff and give you a map of the Reikai?"
Kagome stared wide-eyed at the smiling male. "You... you mean I'm..." She didn't finish her sentence and nearly jumped out of her skin when Kurama's hand landed softly onto her shoulder.
"You are hired, Kagome-san." The red-head told her.
"And you start tomorrow." Koenma finished. He took her hand in his own gently before leading her through the heavy doors and into another room where many different ogres bustled and raced around, all yelling out indistinctly at each other.
A blue ogre stepped up next to the trio and held out a large stack of papers the prince. "Koenma-sama! I have the new reports you wanted! Should I put them on your desk for you to later view?"
The brunette nodded as his personal ogre raced through the doorway and into his office. "That was George. You'll get used to him." Koenma stated with a lazy wave of his hand. "Anyway, this is where most of the paper work is written out and searched over before it is screened by another room and sent. Once it passes the importance test-" He paused and leaned over with his hand cupped around his mouth. "-usually the lowerclassmen take care of the more mundane requests..."
Koenma straightened and continued to show the priestess around her new workplace. She would be his assistant/secretary/helper and would be paid very well.
Kagome's eyes had nearly fallen from their sockets at the weekly salary she would be getting.
"I can't thank you enough, Koenma-sama! I won't let you down, I'll work my fingers to the bone as thanks for this wonderful job!" Kagome had started to squirm in place and Kurama wondered if she was okay.
Her arms circled the red-faced brunette suddenly and she buried her face in his light blue tunic. "Thank you so very much." She whispered against his chest and Koenma awkwardly patted her back.
"No problem." He assured her. "Now... I know the unique situation with the Shikon no Tama so we'll keep that under wraps... But my father would still like a word with you on how you are progressing on keeping it safe and out of harms way." The prince narrowed his eyes at the golden flash that momentarily fluttered over Kurama's normally regal green orbs.
Kagome nodded her head enthusiastically. "Alright!" She stepped back a few feet before biting her lip. "Uhm... You didn't tell me when I would be starting."
"Immediately if it is possible. Say, seven a.m. sharp?" His chestnut eyes blinked in surprise when Kagome sighed dramatically and pressed the heels of her palms against her eyes.
"Oh, but I have to go to Yoshihiro's tomorrow! I have the morning shift..." She trailed off when Koenma clucked softly to her, his finger tapping gently against her nose.
His soft mahogany eyes gazed into her own for a second and the priestess blushed lightly. "Let us take care of that. Just be ready by seven, alright?" He nodded to a quiet blonde-headed reaper who stepped forward and waved her tanned hand. "I hope the place where we picked you up is alright."
Kagome nodded her head and smiled brightly at Koenma. "Thank you so very much, Koenma-sama. I won't let you down!" She disappeared through the portal, Kurama right behind her.
As Kagome set her foot on the hard concrete ground, she turned around and waited for the avatar to appear.
Kurama stepped from the disappearing rip and was instantly enveloped in a tight hug. "Thank you, too, Kurama-san for getting me the job." She buried her head in his chest for a few seconds before leaning back. Her smile was breathtaking and the kitsune had to keep himself in check.
He raised his hand and rested the very tips of his fingers on her cheek in a feather-light touch. His emerald eyes stared deeply into the flushed miko's brilliant blue orbs.
Kagome pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and swallowed thickly. She watched as his normally guarded green eyes flashed a very expressive gold for a split second before fading back to their original unique color. His emerald orbs trailed down her face to rest on her lips and the raven swallowed again. Why is he looking at me that way? She thought and blushed harder when he leaned in closer to her.
Her insides felt warm and bubbly, like one of those heated blankets had curled around her mid-section and was turned as high as it would go. It grew harder to think, as if cotton was stuffing itself in her brain and keeping her thoughts from passing on past their processor.
Kurama leaned down closer to her mouth, green eyes hooded. "Kagome..." He whispered and the priestess barely registered the way the other spirit inside of his body slowly disappeared as it moved as close to the surface as he was allowed with his limited mobility.
Kagome let her eyes flutter closed as anticipation grew and grew inside of her petite body.
"Gwargllll." The miko blinked before flushing red for another reason.
"Oh!" She clutched her growling tummy and looked down at it. "I'm sorry! I didn't... You just..." She blinked up at the confused red-head before turning a darker shade of crimson. "I'm sorry..." She said again.
Kurama shook his head. "No harm, no foul." He said easily and moved closer to the tomato-faced raven. "Are you hungry?" The kitsune avatar questioned and wrapped his arm around Kagome's lean shoulders.
The female shook her head and smiled up at him, mind quickly shoving their earlier encounter to the back for later inspection. "No, i'm fine, but thank you for asking." And as if to prove her wrong, her belly gave another skin curling growl.
"Ah, yes, then your stomach is groaning from being too full instead of too empty. Correct?" Kagome pouted hit the smirking fox on the chest lightly.
"Yeah, so? What are you going to do about it?" She blinked in surprise when he took her hand and pressed her knuckles against his mouth, much like Koenma did.
"Why, take you out to lunch, of course." He told her and kissed each of her knuckles before threading his fingers through hers. "Now, what are you in the mood for?"
Kagome shook her head and pulled her hand from the fox's light hold. "No, that's alright. I need to get to my apartment anyway. I have to pick out my outfit for tomorrow." She stepped away from the male and headed out of the alley.
Kurama sidled up to her before he blocked her path completely. "An hour won't hurt, will it?" His green eyes seem to grow as liquidy as Shippou's hand when he wanted to put on the 'adorable charm' as Miroku had called it once.
Sighing to herself and mentally telling her tummy that it would be fed soon so it should STFU, she nodded her head, looped her arm around Kurama's and let him lead her to the closest restaurant.
-+-+-+- End Chapter Nine -+-+-+-
HBWD's Corner: Guess what I pulled out of my ass for you guys? (said in singsong voice) I hope you all liked it! I hate how overly dramatic a lot of author(ess)'s make Koenma! He may be a little high strung but still... think of his line of work and what he has to go through every day? I would be in a mental institution if that ever happened to me!! xD Anyhoo, please leave a nice long review telling me how horrid my writing is and whatnot! Thanks for taking time out of your busy day/night to read the latest chapter! (waves hand goodbye)
Translations: Miko – priestess. Kitsune – fox. Inu – dog. Taiyoukai – high level demon. Hiyoukai – fire demon. Makai – Demon Realm. Shuuketsu – end/close. Reikai – Spirit Realm. Ki – energy.