Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or YYH.

Note: Chapters 1, 2, and 3 have been edited.

Chapter 2: Wanting Answers

"Hey, do you guys feel that," asked Kuwabara as he came to a stop.

"Yeah. It was here and then just disappeared. What the hell was it?" Yusuke kicked a rock in irritation. He stopped looking around. There was only a tree, a shed, and bunt wood remains of a shrine and house once resided, but for some reason it all seemed familiar."Can we go?"

"It felt pure, but I've only known such energy to belong to a miko," said Kurama, ignoring Yusuke. He had been complaining about leaving since before they arrived.

"You forget that mikos died out centuries ago, Fox. We are wasting our time," pointed out Hiei.

Just as they turned around to leave a noise of wood creaking caused them to look for the cause. What they saw was unexpected. A woman covered- drenched in blood. Blood of demons, humans, and a hanyou? Hiei's nose twitched at the mixture of blood but otherwise remained stoic. Kurama looked the woman over, looking for any injuries. Maybe some of the blood was hers.He couldn't see if she was in because her bangs covered her eyes and shadowed the rest of her face.

The woman simply stood there as if she didn't know they were there. Maybe she didn't. She turned from facing them to her left and gazed upon the burnt grounds where she was once welcomed by open arms from a loving mother, playful little brother, and crazy but loveable grandfather. No wind blew and the strength of the smell of blood only grew strong as Kurama and Hiei resisted the urge to cover their noses. Yusuke stood shocked and Kuwabara covered his mouth, the urge to puke was pressing. The woman looked as though she bathed in blood.

Kurama was the first to speak, "Excuse me, Miss?" He took a cautious step forward. "We mean you no harm. We were sent here by our boss, Prince Koenma of Spirit World, to meet you and bring you to him. No harm will come to you." They waited for a response and got nothing.

"She didn't hear a word you said, Fox." Hiei didn't know how wrong he was. "I know of a faster way to get cooperation." Using his speed, he went behind the unresponsive woman. He moved to press against her pressure points, but was instead thrown back towards the shed by an invisible force. Landing on his feet, he looked down at his right arm to find it smoking. A barrier. A purifying barrier. A purifying barrier made by a miko.

"A miko..." Hiei whispered. "Why the hell didn't Koenma tell us?" He made a reminder to 'speak' with Koenma after this was done and over with.

"Hiei! Damn it, wench! We're the good people," complained Yusuke ready to fire off his hot gun.

"That's no way to speak to a lady, Urameshi." Kuwbara and his code would always be together no matter the situation.

"Yes, agreed Kuwabara. Especially when she is a miko-" Kurama was cut off by Yusuke.

"What's a miko?"

"A woman with the power to purify anyone or anything in order to protect humans from demons. Hiei is lucky to be alive." Kurama cleared his throat, "Forgive my partners, Miss, but we were ordered to bring you to our boss with or without your approval. It is best that you agree since I see no need for violence." Again there was silence.

"Woman say something and stop standing there like a statue," yelled Yusuke, forgetting Kurama's lesson on what a miko was. Or maybe he never heard.

"Hn," agreed Hiei.

"Why?" The woman's voice was quiet like a whisper on the wind, always there but never heard. The Rekai Tantei thought they knew what she meant, but were completely wrong.

Kagome's Point of View

I came out of the well house and noticed four presences. I know what they want, but neither do I care. I care for nothing because I have nothing left. I could feel their eyes staring at me in shock and most likely disgust. I don't care. They don't know what happened, or do they? They don't me; I know this for a fact. No one knows me anymore. How can they when I don't know myself?

I turned and faced where my home once was. My place of refuge before I fell in love with him... How I missed my silver haired lovers. A demon attempted knocking me unconscious, but found out it will be harder then that to take me down. I am a miko after all, the last miko. I then heard a voice whose words reminded me so much of Inuyasha. I heard a soft voice, like Miroku's, speaking to me; pulling me from my thoughts. Prince of Spirit World, huh, he wants the Jewel; I am sure of it.

I want only answers and so I asked, "Why?" I knew they could not give me an answer. I knew they knew not what I meant, but that did not stop me from asking. I wished to know. Somewhere deeo inside my aching soul I knew I wouldn't be able to pass on without knowing. I asked once again, "Why?" to total strangers.

"Why?" My voice firmer.

Reader's Point of View

"Huh?" Kuwabara was confused.

"We don't know! Now come on chick, it's not like I want to stand here all night," complained Yusuke.

"Yusuke," admonished Kurama. "Forgive him, Miss. Please, come with us and your questions will be answered. No harm will come to you, I assure you."

"Kagome," she whispered.

"Excuse me." Kurama was now confused along with Kuwabara.

"Kagome... My name is Kagome Higurashi."

"Well, then Miss.Higurashi will you come with us?"

"I will." Kagome kept the last two words to herself. 'For answers,' she thought.

"Botan, portal!" Yusuke yelled through the communicator.

"Right away," chirped Botan. In a flash Botan appeared with Hiei now on the same side as he originated. Wondering what caught their attention so, Botan looked to where they were staring at. "Oh, my," gasped Botan, her hand coming to her neck. "I-is she the girl?"

"Yes, she has agreed to come with us," answered Kurama.

The Rekai Tantei and Botan walked over to Kagome although Kurama, Hiei, and Yusuke cautiously while Kuwabara and Botan remained oblivious to Kagome's strength. Botan waved her hand and a black portal appeared.

"This is a portal." Kurama reassured Kagome it wasn't a tick.

"I know." Kagome answered before waking through.

"'I know'," mocked Yusuke and walked through.

"I wouldn't provoke her wrath, Yusuke," disagreed Kurama.

"Hn," agreed Hiei.

Spirit World and Koenma's office

"Ah, welcome Higurashi-Sama. It's an honor to meet the great Miko of the Feudal Ages." Koenma stood in his teenage form and bowed in respect. "I am Prince Koenma of Spirit World."

Yusuke and Kuwabara walked over to the love seat near to the door, plopped down, and fell asleep immediately. Hiei leaned against the wall in a dark corner, Kurama leaned against the wall behind the Kagome, Botan left, Koenma stood before Kagome smiling, and Kagome stood before Koenma frowning.

"I want answers," stated Kagome getting right to the point.

"I'm sure you do. Please, have a seat." Kagome remained standing, acting as if the two chairs before Koenma's desk weren't there.

"I want answers."

"About what? Why are you covered in blood," questioned Koenma just now realizing Kagome's state. "Were you attacked by demons on your way back?"

"No, I want answers." Raising a her right hand and calling her powers forth, she touched the blood on her chest and clothing and purified it away.

"About what?" Koenma managed to get surprised at the blood disappearing.

"Why did they die? Why am I still alive!" Kagome cursed, "I want answers! They should still be alive, not me! I should have died!"

"I-I can't answer that, but I can answer why you're here." He got no reply. "I know you're the protectress of the Shikon no Tama. I want to offer you a proposition."

Kagome glared. "What of it?"

To say Kurama and Hiei were shocked would be an understatement. The Shikon no Tama! It was said to have disappeared as did it's guardian around 500 years ago. How could she protect it if it wasn't around anymore? This was becoming very interesting.

'The Shikon no Tama disappeared, Fox,' thought Hiei.

'Yes, I know. Just listen.' Kurama wanted to hear every word.

"You give me the Shikon Jewel- for protection, of course- to put in a vault and you may come whenever you like to check up on it. Do you accept?" Koenma looked hopeful.

"I will not be put into some vault. I can protect myself." Kagome disagreed, "You can return me, now."

'The onna is deaf and crazy. Koenma said put the Jewel into a vault not her.'

'Yes, I know, Hiei. Now, listen.' There was puzzle here and Kurama intended to hear all the detail and figure it out or maybe he woudn't have to.

"You misunderstood. Not you, the Jewel-" Koenma started.

Kagome interrupted, "I am the Jewel and the Jewel is me. Return me home."

"How did- How are- The Jewel-"

"A wish, the Jewel was wished on and this-," she pointed to herself, "is the result."

"If you don't mind me asking, what was the wish?" Koenma's faced showed great curiosity, but no more then Kurama's and Hiei's.

"For my friends deepest desire, for the Jewel to never be used for evil, and for there to be in someway, shape, or form, even if a little, peace between humans and spirits and demons. Kikyou's spirit and Onigumo's heart to have rest." Kagome faded into her memories, remembering when she first gave Shippo pocky, Inuyasha potatoes chips, and Miroku and Sango her home cooking. A smile tugged at her lips at the thought of one of her most treasured memories. It was when she first met that sweet little girl at Sesshomaru's side. "For the Jewel to never be used for evil. It fused with my body instead of going back into my side, giving me an immortal's life span."

Koenma remained silent for quite some time, "Then allow me to offer you protection. I'm sure- In fact, I know there are demons that will come after you. Demons attempt to break the Kekkai barrier, which you created, every day. I'm assuming you know that."

"I do." Kagome frowned, "And you may offer, but I will not accept. I don't need protection when anything or anyone with evil intentions is purified on the spot when in a certain amount of distance. Even those that don't have evil intentions can be purified because everyone has a dark side."

"Then, will you become a Spirit Detective?"