Chapter 2- A rough start

"YUSUKE! GET DOWN HERE! YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO PICK UP YOUR COUSIN IN TEN MINUTES!" The words echoed through the silent house, slightly slurred, and perhaps not as loud as he thought it was but he wasn't sure, his head was ringing. Grumbling Yusuke pulled himself into a sitting position, eyes glaring, muttering obscenities under his breath. Hoping out of bed he pulled his arms back, one by one, reaching up into a long stretch before fumbling for his cleanest pair of jeans and rumpled white shirt.

"All right, geez Mom i'm coming." He called out grumpily, slamming sneakers onto his feet and running a careless hand through his hair. The hair fell expertly into place, slicked back and dangerous. His mother offered a few more choice words at the top of her lungs, which admittedly wasn't too loud when you had a bottle to your mouth. He tried not to worry about it, by the time his cousin came by the bottles would be good. His mother was, after all, aiming to impress and he knew it. Boy did he know it. His mom had had him on his hands and knees cleaning the place with a toothbrush. How he wished he was exaggerating. He drew the line at repainting everything, no way was he gonna be put through that just to have her make him clean...again...

"Get going Yusuke!"

"I'm going, i'm going. It's only Kagome for christ's sake." Yusuke managed to stumble out of the house, his mother waving her arms in the air behind him like a complete idiot. Sighing he quickened his pace. His memories of his cousin were dim, at best. He hadn't seen her for over a decade but he remembered the impression. Little thing, big innocent blue eyes, temper a mile wide. She'd been...sweet was the word that came to mind. Shrugging he slowed, the train station was only 15 minutes away and trains were always late so there really was no need to rush. Instead his mind turned to more important things like the tournament, and Keiko. Somehow he was going to have to make time after this tournament to get a job that actually paid. Keiko was gonna beat the ever living shit out of him if he tried to propose to her without a ring. He stopped at the thought, unable to fight the shiver of fear that rode down his spine.

"Ya...better not piss her off again for awhile." He still had the bruises from the last time he'd done something stupid. Speaking of stupid...

"Hey Uramshi!" Kuwabara...just his luck. Behind him Kurama offered a friendly smile, Hiei took one look at him and huffed. Yusuke sighed again before joining the group.

"Hey guys, what's up?"

"Kuwabara thought it might be prudent to help you greet your cousin. After all, we all need to know who to keep him away from." Kurama offered a soft chuckled as Kuwabara shook his fist angrily.

"Why YOUUUU!"

Yusuke couldn't help the bark of laughter that escaped him. Shaking his head he continued forward, the others falling in easily behind him. The few people that were out gave them a wide birth, rushing into stores and generally avoiding them like the plague. Yusukes reputation hadn't improved much over the years, and with the three slightly dangerous men behind him the image he had cultivated only seem to grow stronger. It was better this way, he knew, less idiots getting in his way.

"So Urameshi, this cousin of yours...What's she look like?"

"How should I know? Haven't seen her since I was, I don't know, six? Seven?" Yusuke answered easily, albeit a bit defensively.

"Well let us hope she doesn't have your temperament. I don't think we need two of your running around." Kurama chuckled out, his eyes dancing with laughter. Hiei sniggered off to the side, in clear agreement as they stopped in front of the station.

"Ha ha, real funny. You guys stay here while I go get her. Try not to scare her with your ugly mug Kuwabara." Yusuke darted away, dodging past his friends outraged hands, laughing his way up the steps.

"Come back here Urameshi! Just wait you're gonna get it!" Kuwabara called after him, fists shaking in outrage and restrained laughter.

Yusuke stopped running once he was safely inside the old, red bricked building. The clatter of a departing train, and its horn, turning the loud droning of the busy building into a dull roar. Grunting Yusuke skimmed the crowd. He hadn't asked his mother which train she was coming from, Hell he probably should've asked her what she looked like too. Damn he thought with frustration how hard is it to find one girl? I mean where the Hell is she? Men in business suits, impatient gazes on their watches or arguing no their phones, thundered past. Children running from their parents grasping hands, women in little groups laughing shrilly, a young couple holding hands blushing madly, a young woman with a cat sleeping at her feet and a red-haired little boy curled on her lap, a group of boys laughing and hollering, there were just too many people.

Frowning Yusuke skimmed over the crowd again and again, his frustration mounting. "Maybe her train ran late...?" Yusuke muttered as he skimmed the crowd one last time. The woman holding the kid lifted her eyes, blue eyes caught and held brown. Yusuke blinked for a minute, stared, blinked again, tried, and failed, to reconcile the woman before him with the hazy memories of his past.

"Yusuke?" The girl questioned softly, her voice a sharp but soothing soprano. Yusuke blinked again, mouth opening in something akin to shock. The woman slowly standing before him looked very like his memories. She was 5' 2", almost petite. That much hadn't much changed, she was still shorter than him at least but the rest... Her hair reached her knees and it was threaded with silver and gold, must have been hair-dye or something but it looked so real. Simple black sneakers led up to light blue jeans cupping long legs and a shapely waist. An old, but well kept, red jacket dwarfed her small frame, held in place by a yellow with purple lines, it opened far enough in front to reveal a tight white halter top and a generous, if modestly covered, set of breasts. Around her right hand, wrapped almost painfully against her skin, were purple prayer beads, gleaming bright. Her blue eyes were deeper than he remembered, duller somehow too but it made her look more mysterious than tired. All in all she was a provocative, if strangely dressed, package. Not that his mind was wandering, Keiko was after all the most beautiful girl in the world in his eyes, but he figured he'd probably have to put a shock collar on Kuwabara.

"Hey Kagome."

The train had arrived early, which hadn't bothered Kagome too much. The cramped quarters made her feel uncomfortable, and the suffocating number of people pressing in on her had made her itch for the sword hanging at her back beneath Inuyashas jacket. She had forgotten how crowded her time could be, compared to the open spaces of the past. Sighing Kagome tightened her grip on Shippo, Kirara settling herself on her free shoulder. Maneuvering the little fox, Kirara, and their bags was difficult but she managed to pull the last bag out just as new passengers began to board. Struggling she looked around in desperate search for a place to sit down. An older gentleman caught her eye, considered her for a moment, and then stood in a grand gesture offering her his seat with a kind smile. She thanked him profusely before settling herself in to wait, Shippo curled tiredly on her lap. The poor boy had been so overwhelmed by the sights and smells of her world that he's used up all his energy pointing and running towards everything. It had been a trial to keep up but, thankfully, he'd never gone to far from her sight. Kirara meowed softly before circling around her feet, settling against her shoes and lowering her head to sleep.

For a long while she simply stared at the two, her mind wandering to another time and she felt her heart ache in its depths. Eventually, realizing she'd lost track of time, her head came up. Eyes rising, instinctively, to clash with the soulful brown eyes of a boy roughly her age. Recognition hit her like a bolt of lightning and before she knew it she was calling out to him.

"Yusuke?" Rising to get a closer look at him, still not entirely sure that this was her cousin, she found herself oddly confused. He looked the same, almost. He was taller now, easily as tall as Kouga had been before she left. His thin frame wiry and thick with sleek muscles, reminding her of some kind of predator. A panther maybe. His hair was slicked back, almost oily in shine, but she remembered that from childhood. He'd always had a thing for the American greaser look. His eyes were bright, direct, searching. The same brown as the trees back in the shrine, comforting. His stance spoke of a devil-may-care attitude that, easily, stated he was the baddest guy in town. She could almost chuckle at that, Yusuke had always been the tough guy when they were children. Up until she fell down and scrapped a knee or arm, then he was like a mother hen, stubbornly making sure that she was safe and taking care of her injuries as if he'd committed some terrible act. His dark blue jeans rode low on his hips, the black shirt clinging to hard muscles. His brown leather jacket hid his arms from her but she suspected that, much like the rest of him, their were muscular without bulging. All in all he looked like every good gril's fantasy for the ultimate bad boy.

"Hey Kagome." The cocky voice drifted over the other noises, drowning them out. Kagome allowed the warm sound wrap around her, a familiar and comfortable voice. Still...She felt her head tilt in confusion because something was off. Searching Kagome could feel a small pulse, beating like a humming birds wings, somewhere deep within her cousins body. The energy was ridiculously strong for such a small fluttering of power. That, however, was not the cause of her confusion rather the demonic nature of that energy is what confounded her. Her arms tightened around Shippo instinctively, waking up from slumber.

"You've changed Yusuke." Her voice was warm, soft, careful. Yusukes eyes narrowed before skimming over her again, His eyes focused on the three droplets on her forehead, on the phoenix fire. Huffing he gave her a non-committal shrug.

"So did you. Who's the brat."

In her arms Shippo poked his head up, green eyes sharpening dangerously. Yusuke noted, with surprise, that Shippo had the same symbol? Tattoo? Whatever that his cousin had minus the phoenix fire, and he only had one droplet on his head. The little red-haired demon glanced at his mother for a moment, quickly weaving the illusion that his tail was a small backpack as Kagome had taught him to do. He watched his mother give him an almost imperceptible nod before the little demon turned to the older male.

"The name's Shippo." He offered his hand, his voice bright with childish delight. When Yusuke proceeded to ignore the proffered hand Shippo stuck an insolent tongue out at the man. Yusuke immediately lunged for the brat, making Shippo scamper onto Kagomes back. Yusuke found himself stopped, mid-lunge, with a sneaker to the face. Falling backwards Yusuke cradled his nose, glaring through his cupped hands at the woman responsible for his pain. Kagome smiled indulgently.

"Yusuke this is my son, Shippo." Yusuke felt a sliver of fear, usually reserved for when Keiko was mad at him, run down his back at Kagomes tone. The sugary-sweet quality of it wasn't fooling him. Cursing he pushed himself to his feet, grumbling as he made his way behind her and snatched her bags from where they'd been resting on the floor.

"Ya ya, C'mon princess." Glancing back Kagome turned and settled the yellow back pack against her back. It was old, worn, but she hadn't had the heart to throw it away. She didn't care how pathetic it seemed, anything that came from the past was another foothold for her sanity. Kami knew that it was fragile at best right now. Too much had happened too soon, too much lost in a single moment. Warily she followed her cousin outside, focusing on the puzzling demonic energy emanating from his core. She was so focused, in fact, that she almost didn't notice the two demonic auras the small group was quickly approaching.

Hiei was doing his level best to ignore his companions, reigning a temper that was swiftly building beyond his control. Babysitting. The word stung even in the privacy of his thoughts. They drag me out of Demon World to babysit it was humiliating. Not that he would say anything. Oh no, he'd suffer in silence for now and, at the first opportunity, he'd pay them back. They knew, they all knew, he had for more important matters to take care of then this. Kuwabara's low whistle drew his attention to his friends. Glancing back at them he noted Kurama smile indulgently.

"She is exquisite isn't she? She must be Yusuke's cousin, I can see the family resemblance."

"NO way she's way too hot to be related to that dumb-dhit Urameshi."

"Never the less, Kuwabara, as they are together it seems that, no matter how unlikely, she must be his cousin."

Kurama didn't often give such compliments, that alone is what made him turn his head to consider the female approaching them. It took every ounce of his considerable strength not to ogle. His eyes devoured her image, he forgot to breathe. She was beautiful, yes, very much so. More than he cared to admit, something that gnawed at his growing discomfort. His skin itched, he ignored it. This beautiful woman, apparently the half-wits cousin, was holding a young demon in her arms. Another trailed at her feet. Confusion warred with distrust. His skin tingled, itching more, warmer than it should be.

"Think she has a boyfriend?" He heard Kuwabara mumble half in jest.

"I would suggest," Kurama sounded irritated, "you steer clear my friend." Frowning the fox demon rubbed his arm, as if trying to get the blood flowing. His frown deepening the red-haired man turned to his fellow demon, who looked just as uncomfortable.

"Hiei is something the matter?"

Hiei chose not to respond, his eyes narrowed viciously, his body felt like it was on fire. Risking a glance at his hands he realized they were smoking. By now both demons were shifting uncomfortably, their skin sizzling loudly. Kuwabara looked from one to the other in obvious distress.

"Wha-What's wrong guys?"

"I do not know." Kurama ground out but Hiei knew, he'd felt this once before a long time ago. His eyes flashed dangerously, so focused on the girl that her gaze was drawn to him, as if she felt the weight of it. Hiei watched the lines near her collar bone twitch slightly. A split second later found him, sword drawn, charging towards her throat, his form nothing but a black blur.

Kagome wasted no time in acting, Shippo pulled roughly and protectively against her side. Hand reaching back and ripping sword from hilt. The two blades met with a loud CLANG not two inches away from her, otherwise, unprotected throat. Stoic, cold, ruthless Hiei applied more pressure against her blade, surprised when she matched him pound for pound. His whole body ached, his insides feeling as if they were on fire. Glancing to the side he noted that the little fox kit seemed perfectly fine. Which meant that the girl was shielding him somehow. Furious crimson eyes met determined blue. His body tensed, coiling to strike.

"Ouch! What the FUCK!" Yusukes voice broke through the heavy air around the two very different individuals. Kagomes shocked gasp was tied with the firm pressure of her blade pushing his away. She turned to her cousin and, just like that, his skin cooled. That maddening itch returning to a more bearable annoyance.

"Oh no, Yusuke I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"What? Didn't mean to what? Roast me like a marshmallow!?" Kagome frowned at his tone, so reminiscent of Inuyasha that it could have been funny if it didn't hurt so much. Shaking her head, she turned back to the demons before her. The first one was...odd. Red hair, beautiful ethereal emerald eyes, but decidedly human in appearance. But his aura reeked of demon. Somehow she could see a fox trapped within the confines of a human vessel, strong and beautiful. The man next to him was most definitely human, Kagome felt herself soften towards him instantly. The man was surrounded by demons but didn't seem the least bit fearful of them. Before the one had attacked her he had even seemed to be joking with them. Kagome could not bring herself to distrust that, to begrudge that, after all she knew all about traveling with demons. It wasn't something you could ever really forget.

Which brought her to the demon that had attacked her. He was taller than her, barely, but loomed larger than life. Dressed in black pants, black shoes, a black shirt the man was a stark contrast to the bright day. His crimson eyes reminded her of blood, her friends blood coating her hands in the middle of a horrible battle. They were unnerving, and as cold as Sesshomarus had been during their first several meetings. His clothes were tight against a lean muscular form. Every breath plastered his shirt against an upper body that damn near her mouth water. Startled by that last thought she tore her gaze away from him, forcing her mind back to the matter at hand.

"What are you?" She hear Yusuke ask from behind her, anger and confusion tinting his voice. Before she could say anything, though, a voice like the wind through the icy trees answered.

"Miko." Refusing, absolutely refusing, to meet that unnerving gaze Kagome, instead, choose to look at her cousin defiantly. Hiei didn't notice, his mind reeling with the idea that a miko, a demons worst nightmare, was none other than Yusukes cousin. Oh there had been some, here or there, that he'd encountered. Most untrained, a few ignoring him in favor of their own dark practices but he knew that there were some, like her, that could still purify demons easily enough. This easy...he wasn't sure. Few Mikos traveled far from their native land.

"Demons." The girl replied softly and, really, did her voice have to sound so ridiculously right. Even hard and tinged with caution it sounded like the sea, or the natural songs of the woods, or other equally pathetic and romantic things. She glanced at him for a moment before her eyes darted away, Hiei almost took that as a sign of fear, almost. From behind them a rather confused, rather rough, and just a little curious voice broke the sudden silence, "Uh...Hey guys...What's going on here?" Both demon and priestess glanced at Kuwabara, rubbing his head nervously. Growling softly Hiei took a step away from the priestess, Kagome turned to favor Yusuke with a level look.

"We need to talk." She offered peaceably.

"No shit!"