Chapter 5 Where there's smoke
The detective team wasn't allowed to eat at the dining table because of their offensive 'human' scent. This pissed Hiei off; he did not smell as bad as them, even on an off day. He smelt like wood smoke, and was proud of it. So his associates hadn't bathed in forever, however, it didn't mean he was one of them!
Supper came and went, thought it seemed as if they were still hungry. No one came to see if the spirit detectives needed anything, so they gathered their strength and decided to see what they could scrounge up in the kitchens. Their hunger pangs were more threatening than the demon lord himself.
Along the way, meaning they were completely lost, they stumbled into the miko who was dressed in a simple, thin white sleeping yukata. Needless to say they were shocked and speechless. The moonlight hit onto her clothes making nothing visible, yet leaving nothing to the imagination.
"Can I help you boys?" She asked slinging the yellow, withered backpack over her shoulder.
"Which way to the kitchen? I'm starved." Yusuke muttered, taking note of her curves as the yukata settled onto her like a second skin.
Not even noticing the ogling, she turned around and started walking, "This way, I'll show you."
"Yusuke, what would Keiko do if she found you staring?" Kurama silently told his friend as both Yusuke and himself admired the slight sway of her hips.
"I'd be dead, but luckily she's not here." His eyes never left Kagome's backside.
They reached the kitchens and were disappointed that no one was still around. There were no stoves, no fridges, and no microwaves: nothing. "Now what do we do?" Kuwabara complained, mimicking the sound of his stomach.
Kagome opened some jars and found some rice and a few fresh fruits, nothing to sustain four growing boys' hunger. However she did find something when she was searching for her bathing supplies: a few packages of ramen tucked into one of her back pockets.
She rekindled the fire.
She could tell that they wanted to ask her some questions, and hell she had some of her own. She took a pot from a corner and filled it with enough water for their noodles. She pulled out the four packages and watched as the two humans foamed at the mouth.
Kagome laughed and sat back, seeing now she had to wait. "Okay boys, I know you have some questions as do I. So I'll answer yours if you answer mine."
.:Ask the miko her name, I mean everyone calls her woman or miko, so ask:. Youko suggested.
'The little girl called her Kagome.'
.:Are you sure she was telling the truth:.
'Why would she lie to a little girl?'
.:It wouldn't hurt to ask. I mean, we could tell if she was lying.:.
'That's a reasonable request.' Kurama said. Actually, he was the only one willing or able to talk. "Why are you here?"
Youko groaned, .:No, ask her her name:.
"That's easy. I'm returning Inuyasha's ashes to his brother for burial. Now, why are you here?" She countered.
.:Oh she's good! But then we already knew that! I want to know if that's her name:.
'If you're patient we'll find all we want to know.' Kurama chided the fox demon.
"We were in search of the priestess Kikyo until Lord Kuma informed us that she was dead. Now how did you get to be here?"
Kagome smirked at Kurama, she knew what he was trying to as, and since Inuyasha died she missed this banter. It was obvious from her backpack, and the modern day packages of ramen noodles, that there was more to her than met the eye. Yet he didn't want to seem disrespectful to someone that could blow him out of existence. The show earlier in the courtyard was proof of that.
.:Damnit, she knows our game! This is not fair:. Youko sulked in the back of his mind. .:Who taught her this game:.
She wanted to see who would be the first to snap. "Kirara, the fire cat. Remember, you saw leave with Kagura. So if you were searching for Kikyo, that means you were either looking for revenge, but by your clothing that's not it, so I'd say you were looking for the fabled Shikon no Tama."
All four of them looked at her with unreadable expressions. Kagome laughed at what she saw. "I'm right on the money. So why are you searching for a jewel that's only a myth?"
"Hey that's two questions!" Kuwabara stated.
"Actually, it was only one. The first was a statement I worked out on my own." Kagome stated with a grin.
.:Oh she's VERY good:. Youko said sitting down eating an invisible bowl of popcorn waiting for everything to unfold.
'Will you stop that; I'm starving.'
"Yeah, it seems our boss has a fragment, and he's pissed that his records aren't accurate. He sent us back here to see what happened to it. When we saved Kuma's ass, we got out only way home broken." Yusuke was referring to the device that was sitting in his pocket: broken. "So now, we're stuck in this god forsaken hell hole with no running water, and shit," he said giving a frustrated sigh, "All I see are fucking trees! Do they have to come in green?"
Kagome laughed.
The water was now boiling, so she filled the ramen containers and let them sit for the three minutes required to soften the noodles. "The first time I ate ramen noodles with Inuyasha we were sitting in a battlefield littered with dead and rotting bodies." She shook her head with a sad smile and asked to see the device.
Trading the food for the time machine, Kagome opened up the device and looked at it. She wasn't unfamiliar with wires because Inuyasha had broken almost everything in her house. It was too expensive to buy new appliances or take them to the repair shop. It was trial and error. "I've got good and bad news."
All of their heads perked up. "If you can fix this I'll give you anything you want!" Yusuke boasted with a mouthful of noodles.
"Anything?" Her voice held a tone of skepticism.
Yusuke nodded his head while trying to chew his food. Before anyone could revoke their leader's statement, Kagome agreed: "The good news is that I can fix it. It's only a transistor and a few wires that have short-circuited. The bad news is that it has to be in sync with the one from your time. Otherwise you could be lost forever. As for payment, I want the shard your boss has."
That was a sick sight. The two humans had their jaws dropped showing Kagome a nice view of what ramen looked like half-chewed.
.:I didn't see that coming but, I wouldn't object if she asked for sex. Do you know how long it's been:.
'I really don't want to know, and no, we will not have sex with someone we don't know.'
.:Why not? I did it all the time.:. Youko matter-of-factly stated.
Shaking his head to clear Youko's thoughts, "I don't know if Koenma will agree to it." Kurama said once he swallowed.
Kagome shrugged, "It was worth a shot. I'll have fixed in no time. Do you have a device that'll allow you to communicate with the person from your time?"
Yusuke gave her the communicator, "I don't know what help this'll be because it hasn't worked once since we got here."
Realizing that they were getting nowhere, Hiei opened up his third eye and tried to look inside her mind. He saw a quick image of a demon with ears perched atop his head and a giant sword preparing to attack when it seemed the miko stood in front of him. "Looking into other people's minds can cause one to go insane. I would appreciate it if next time you asked me questions instead of invading my mind."
-I wouldn't have to invade your mind if you just tell us what we wanted to know.- Hiei countered.
Kagome chucked while watching Inuyasha take on one of the many demons he had killed. "I've answered all the questions you've asked. It's not my fault you all suck at asking the right questions. I thank you for dropping by, but now leave and never come back or I'll be forced to purify your mind." Her tone was one that even Hiei couldn't ignore. It was so friendly and so scary that Hiei retreated immediately from her mind.
Kagome thanked him. She got up and strapped back on her pack. She gave them a small bow and left, giving Hiei a small wink when she walked out.
"I hope you realize you still didn't get any information about her, but she knows why we are here." Hiei smirked bursting their bubble. Seeing that his work was done he left to finish his ramen in peace.
.:You know I still don't know if that's her real name:. Youko sulked with his arms crossed sitting at the back of Kurama's mind.
In her sleeping chamber
Kagome sat down on the futon. She had partially fixed the time machine, but first she would have to get the person on the other end to set the device so it would work properly. She had removed all the fried wires, and used her flashlight for new guts she just needed to transfer them in the morning. She carefully moved all the wires to the side of her bed.
Sesshomaru rudely awakened her a few hours later. "Miko, how is it you know about the human's device?"
Kagome sat up and rubbed her sleep filled eyes. Upon the utterance of the word 'device' her eyes searched the edge of the bed. Nothing had been touched, making her she sigh in relief. She picked up the device and placed all the pieces beside her. She might as well start working on it again, since Sesshomaru probably wouldn't let her sleep.
Kagome patted the space in front of her. Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow, "I will not sit with you human."
Kagome shook her head in frustration, "Well I'm not about to explain how this works with you looming over me. So you can either leave or sit down, the choice is yours." She started gathering some of the wires and stared to fix what was left to do.
Sesshomaru continued to loom over her. Sighing in defeat, Kagome immediately started identifying the parts and how they worked. Third time around was a charm. Giving allusions of their role was much simpler this time. The first time she tried with Inuyasha, she had gotten so flustered and frustrated that she sat him until she felt better.
The second time she's done much better, but Shippo gave up because she confused him. This time around the feudal day references were a snap. Also she had seen and experienced more, so it was a lot easier.
They both sat there for hours. Kagome taught while Sesshomaru listened, digested, and processed the information.
Kagome finished repairing the device. Kagome had attached one wire to the communicator. It made a beeping sound, and a girl with blue hair popped onto the screen.
"Botan here," The woman was surprised when she saw a woman on the other line. "You're not Yusuke."
Kagome laughed.
"I should hope not. Seems as if Yusuke broke the device. I need to know the date that's set on the other device so they can come home." Kagome figured that the human with the black hair was the one named Yusuke.
"Oh that's easy, hold on." Botan set down the communicator and she took out the time machine's sister and looked at the date on the side. "It says 06/13/00" Botan read off the numbers as Kagome adjusted the device.
"Thanks Botan, your boys should be home in a little while." Kagome smiled to the woman.
"Hey how is it you know how to work the device?" Botan questioned.
"Sorry I gotta go. Your questions will have to wait for another day." Kagome laughed and shut off the communicator when Kagome's stomach started to growl.
"My brother was a fool," He stated unexpectedly as he walked towards the door. He looked back and saw Kagome raised eyebrow and enquiring look. He decided to clarify, "Your knowledge is vast. Your strength and loyalty knows no depths. I would have approved if he had chosen you as his mate."
Shocked, Kagome got up and gave a low bow. "Thank you Lord Sesshomaru, that means a lot; but the heart is a fickle mistress. Once you love someone with your entire being, the rational part of your mind shuts down. You will do everything in your power to be with them. I came over fifty years too late. On a lighter note, you might want to allow the humans to dine at the table unless you want them to raid the kitchens or deal with the wails of hunger."
Sesshomaru nodded briefly and left Kagome to dress. Kagome emerged a few minutes later in her miko uniform along with her bow and quiver full of arrows. She slung her backpack over her free shoulder, and placed the time machine in her sleeve.
She opened the dining area doors and stepped inside. She took the only available seat by Sesshomaru. Everyone watched with terror, except for Hiei, who was amused by the situation. "You dressed quickly," Sesshomaru stated.
Kagome nodded and proceeded to grab some food. "The motivation a girl can have when she's starved is a sight to behold."
"If you were hungry you should've said something." The stoic demon lord took pleasure at the sight of his unwanted guest's expressions.
"You were having too much fun. I would've felt bad leaving you like that." Kagome started eating and forgot all about the other people in the room. Once she was full she asked, "Where's Rin?"
"Outside picking flowers."
"I think I'll join her." She got up and carried all of her possessions out.
Before she was out of the room completely Sesshomaru stopped her. "Miko, I would like your input sometime this afternoon. I will be in the war room if you should need me." She gave the demon lord a large smile and a curt nod before heading towards Rin. Shortly after Sesshomaru and Kuma retired to the war room to plan out their strategy.
"Can someone tell me what the hell just happened?" Kuwabara asked dumbfounded.
"That's my woman!" Kouga boasted. "She can befriend even the most dangerous of creatures. Like the time I kidnapped her, I was going to eat her as a snack, but when she saved her kit and slapped me, I decided at that very moment she would be my woman."
.:She has a kit? Ask him about it! See she would have never told you she had a kit, so does that mean she's taken by another fox? Is he really her mate? Would he accept a kit as his own:. Youko's questions kept shooting out faster then Kurama could process.
In the corner Hiei gave a slight smirk as Youko's questions shot out. The fox demon was curious, and Kurama had to fight for control.
"Where's her kit now?" Kurama asked. He felt Youko plastered himself against his mind to listen to his answer.
"Dunno, probably at her village." Kouga said, whimsically placed his arms behind him and leaning back.
"Where's her village?" Kurama asked before Youko could say anything. If she wouldn't directly answer her questions maybe he would get some answers from her mate.
"I think she's from a village east of here."
.:Think? You think? What kind of answer is that:. Youko snarled.
"You don't know where she's from?" Yusuke asked raising an eyebrow in skepticism.
"Don't need to know. Besides, I mostly see while she's on the road with her friends." Kouga was about to say more but a servant entered and told him that he was needed in the war room. Without another word he got up and left.
"Guys, I'm confused." Kuwabara scratched his head.
"That's not hard," Hiei snickered.
"Shut up shorty. I mean I know everything about my sweet Yukina, so why doesn't he know anything about her?"
.:Oh a puzzle, now interesting. What do I get for figuring it out:. A purring demon asked its host.
Kurama taking a pensive stance thought out loud, "What is she not telling everyone?"
No one could answer that question. Having nothing better to do, they decided to wander around the grounds. Hiei took off to the forest; Yusuke and Kuwabara noticed a training area hidden by trees. Kurama went in search of the miko that piqued his interest.
He found her sitting in a patch of wild flowers with the young child Rin and the imp standing watch.
When they caught sight of them, they both smiled and waved him over. Both females were covered in rings of flowers. The miko looked like a goddess sitting in her element. He wanted to pluck a rose from his hair and give it to her, but she was already taken by the wolf.
Instead he sat beside them and allowed them to decorate him in flowers. Hours seemed like seconds to them.
Everything good must come to an end. That end was when Kagome bolted up and scanned the area.
Kurama searched along with her. Their eyes were both locked onto the smoke that was rising into the air.
"Jaken, prepare Ah Un right now." Before Jaken could squawk some lame excuse Sesshomaru appeared, "No."
Kagome's eyes slanted and glared at the demon lord. "Why not?"
"I will not have my pack beast used at any whim you deem fit." Sesshomaru ignored the rise in power from the miko.
Instead of exploding in anger like she wanted to do, she took off towards the smoke. Kurama took off after her.
end chapter
AN: evil place I know, but I didn't want to cut into the next chapter. -looks at beta reader- I wonder how many flames I'm going to get over the next several chapters? Anyway, thanks for all your kind reviews. I'm totally shocked by the reviews, and I love them all. This chapter is a whole eight pages (now nine)...and I might just make the other one longer depending on the reviews I get...or I might make it another evil chapter shrug it all depends on my mood.
Beta: -laughing like an idiot- hahah... I mean, excellent chapter... -continues laughing at Hijikata from Peacemaker Kurogane- I wish I could burn this for you J. You'd die! Umm, great chapter! Have you ever even gotten any flames? I haven't There were parts I loved, but I forgot already... Actually, your run-ons weren't too bad this time –grins- Enjoy people!
AN: Okay here's some interaction between the spirit detectives and our miko. One clarification I MUST make ... no Kouga and Kagome are not mates -rolls around in a fit of laughter- it's called miscommunication ... it will all be clarified in LATER chapters.