Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or YuYuHakush.
AN: Hey Everyone, this is where things get kind of tricky. I actually want to hear my reader's input on who they think from the past should be making their way back into Kagome's life/future. It will play an important part in how Kagome develops through the plot. Plus, if you see any grammar/spelling issues just point them out and I'll correct them. Enjoy!
Chapter Nine: One Step Forward & Two Steps Back
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." ~Helen Keller
The halls of the cubicles were a rush of spiritual officers filing paper work for their charges. Phones were going off every five seconds with a new soul to be filed. Paper work, file cabinets, and stamps were piled up in every spare space the office had to offer. In Koenma's honest opinion, his employees all looked like a hoard of head less chickens.
Koenma had returned to the realm he called home more than an hour ago. Immediately, he had been bombarded with his assistances who complained about signing documents. He had tried to ignore them, but it wasn't as easy as he hoped it would be. All that he really managed to do was call his father. King Enma had agreed to meet him where the jewel was kept.
Now Koenma was making his way to the portal that will drop him off closest to the hidden vault with two irritated demons following behind him. Koenma allowed a soft snort to leave his nose as he grumbled, "If I didn't know better I'd say this was the longest day of the year."
Kurama nodded his head in agreement while he kept in step with Koenma. "I would agree with you, but I know it is only a day away from the summer solstice." He said.
"Remind me again why I'm being dragged along." Hiei said from his place beside Kurama.
To the two demons Koenma's grinding teeth sounded like nails being raked across a black board.
"Well Hiei, it most certainly had nothing to do with the fact that you've managed to get us prematurely tortured for a sin we hadn't even had the chance to really commit." Koenma spat out. He could hear Hiei's snares, but continued on. "Oh, lets not forget the death glare you were sending Kagome-sama after words which sent Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Souta in a near blind rage."
Kurama was quick enough to block Hiei's sword from embedding itself into Koenma throat. It however did not stop his friend's vicious snares or glare. "You speak as if that onna is god. Pathetic." Hiei spat.
The three guardians never noticed the swift silence that fell upon the office cubicles. Nosy orges, spirits, and whatever else popped their heads above their desks walls. A few were brave enough to inch closer to the argument.
Koenma's words dripped with fury as he spoke, "It's that hard headed stubbornness I would expect from Yusuke or Kuwabara. After what happened in the Higurashi's house you would think it could turn anyone into a believer." The prince's dark gaze evened with Hiei's. The warning back at the house fed the flames to the prince's anger. "However there seem to be the rare species of stupid fucks that still exist in this day of age."
Kurama struggled to keep Hiei away from the prince. "Please Hiei, see the reasoning in his words." He rasped out dodging the hilt of a sword.
The steps of Koenma's slipper clad feet seemed to echo throughout the room along side Hiei's colorful curses and Kurama's fruitless calming words.
"Stupid idiot, too prideful to recognize his place in this whole mess." Koenma thought. Taking in a breath of fresh air he walked alone into an empty gray room. "Kami, I certainly hope you know what you are doing."
Koenma had lied to the Spirit Detectives about not knowing where the jewel was hidden. He didn't want to go through all of the explaining about the jewel's location. It was a secret that no one needed to know and it wouldn't matter soon anyway. He stepped into the room picturing his destination. Slowly he opened his eyes to the darkness of an old cave.
"Long time no see, Koenma-sama." A hoarse voice spoke from the farthest shadows of the cave. Koenma couldn't for the longest time determine if it was male or female eventually he had given up on finding the answer to the question.
~*~ The Higurashi Household ~*~
"Aaachoo!" The loud sneeze broke through the conversation of the three young men in the living room.
"What the hell, Kuwabara!" Yusuke yelled while staring at Kuwabara. He wiped off the spit that managed to land on his forehead before he rammed a fist in Kuwabara's arm.
A bemused snort of laughter came from behind the duo. Souta casually leaned his back against the wall behind him as he slowly slid himself to sit on the floor.
The tension had significantly decreased once Koenma dragged Hiei and Kurama to Spirit Realm. Souta felt as if he could finally breathe easily in his home. There wasn't the insanely strong urge to hover over sister. There wasn't the "Short Stack" glaring blood murder at his sister or a prince mutter curses about migraines. The shrine felt like it should, a place of rest.
Wiping the last drops of spit off his face Yusuke's eyebrow twitched in aggravation.
"What are you finding so amusing, kid?" He asked small hints of his irritation coloring his voice.
Souta let out a jaw-cracking yawn bending his lean muscular form to crack his back.
"Other than the fact that you two seriously remind me of a comedic duo, I was thinking about the fact our shabby ass security group doesn't have a name. Maybe it should be somewhere along the lines of Mighty Snot Nosed Demons and the Super Humans." He said the last part more for himself than the others.
"Maybe we should name ourselves The Mighty Kuwabara and his Miniature Chibi Something." Kuwabara blushed at the image of his Yukina hugging his arm as he sported the good guy pose while his title laid in large printing under his feet in his head.
Botan shock her head as she stepped into the room living room. "Well, Mrs. Higurashi and Kagome-sama are both asleep in the master bedroom."
She had quickly picked up on addressing the young priestess with respect in fear of punishment. A shudder raked down her back at just thought of the consequences. "Your grandfather, Souta-san, said he needed to go out and pick up a few things. He promised it wouldn't take long." She explained.
Souta nodded his head. His voice took on a dark edge, "On a more serious note, I'm willing to kill any of you if you think about causing harm to my sister."
She found the protective side of Souta cute, except his threat was nothing compared to what they faced. The other's seemed to think the same.
Yusuke commented, "Sorry to disappoint kid, but stacked up to that huge shadow in the warning, you look like a kitten with its claws plucked. I understand where you stand though."
~*~ In Spirit Realm ~*~
An exaggerated sigh escaped the exhausted red heads lips for fifth time within the hour. His half-breed friend had proven he was a force to be reckoned with when mad if the bruises on his arms and face said anything. Lady Luck seems to be on his side as George had approached the still struggling pair with a quick mission. Hiei had gladly volunteered to take out three mischievous demons causing chaos for a middle school.
"To relieve stress no doubt." Kurama muttered to himself.
Kurama found himself walking back to Koenma's office hoping to catch a much-needed break. "I must agree with Koenma-sama again. I almost believe this day will never end." He hissed out as he checked a shallow cut on his arm.
~*~ With Koenma in the Cave ~*~
"It has been a while hasn't it." Koenma cracked a smile. "I've finally come to take the jewel to its owner."
A startled gasp resonated through the cave followed by a series of coughs. The prince rushed into the darkness to find the hunched over figure of a hooded form. "I see you haven't been talking much. You should take it easy with your voice. Unfortunately, I have to hurry. The true holder of the jewel is not as I expected."
The hunched figure reached into the dark robes of clothing. A wrinkled gray hand with its flesh hanging onto its skeleton held out what looked like a black marble for Koenma to view.
"It seems to have become tainted since the last time I've laid eyes upon it." The young prince took note of. The eerily glowing orb had dark wisp of energy floating around it. He could feel the fine hairs on his body stand at end. The presence of the jewel reeked of unfortunate things to happen.
The decaying form before Koenma shook with bitter amusement. "I'm no longer considered a saint, Koenma-sama. I am sure my greedy and selfishness nature has coated the jewel over these desolate years."
Koenma frowned at the figure. His body language fringed with displeasure. Two finely formed brows met in the middle of his eyes. The pacifier tucked tightly in the corner of his mouth in a grimace. A steady tapping of his foot screamed of his disapproval at the situation.
"Was it not still kept within this dank cave, Koenma-sama?" The person asked. The young prince's silence was taken as a yes. "Then there is no reason to frown. I will give you the jewel, but only after you hold up to your end of the bargain."
~*~ The Higurashi Household~*~
Souta sat at the entrance steps of the shrine just studying the buzzing nightlife of Tokyo. The view from the high shrine was one of the last few places where one could view both the city and the stars. It was a view his grandfather observed many of nights as he meditated. His mother and he had picked up the habit soon after Kagome left.
He couldn't process all that had taken place. His sister was literally a godsend. Demons still existed in great abundance in a different realm. There were three separate realms. The three realms had Spirit Detectives looking over them. This was a bit much for just a day.
The young Higurashi rubbed at his eyes as a muttered curse crossed his lips. There was just nothing normal about his sister. He had once envied her for all of her adventures, but it was romanticized through his young eyes. For Kagome there was no clean cut villain, brave warrior, or just a simple loyal friend.
"I wonder how dad would have handled all this." Souta muttered to himself just as his stomach grumbled.
"Souta-san?" Botan'ns hesitant voice startled him. When he turned around to acknowledge her something about the youngest Higurashi made her think about Yusuke. They shared the same type of muscular lean build, yet Souta was taller than the Spirit Detective. She would probably guess that Souta was about five feet and ten inches; a clear two inches taller than Yusuke. She couldn't help but noticed that all of the Higurashi family shared openly expressive eyes. Souta's deep chocolate gaze was just as hypnotic as his sister. It was probably those eyes that kept the Higurashi in front of her from appearing threatening.
Souta turned his head to look upon the soul reaper. He took in the appearance of the blue haired woman for the first time. Twin pools of lilac pink stood out among the shadows of the night. Her long hair blue was haloed by the house's outdoor lighting. The faint glow of the city lights gave her peach skin a light flush. Unconsciously, his eyes roamed her figure and he couldn't lie; he liked what he saw.
"I made you some sandwiches. Yusuke and Kuwabara ate the last of the ramen and I thought that if they were hungry you would be hungry." She said.
Souta's piercing look made her think twice about the sandwiches in her hands. She twiddled her fingers around the plate, before she sputtered out, "But, I forgot that those two are just bottomless pits. You might not even be hungry. I mean you're capable of feeding yourself." A dark blush bloomed over her cheeks as she quickly amended, "That just came out wrong! I didn't mind making the sandwich. It was easy."
Before she could drop the plate to palm her own face a deep rumbling laugh echoed across the shrine grounds. Souta's laughter calmed to just chuckles as he patted the ground next to him. His easy going smile was encouraging her to sit beside him on the steps.
Botan moved forward. Shyly she held out the plate to Souta's waiting hands. She sat on the steps with her legs straight out before her.
"Thank you. Your name is Botan, right?" Souta asked. He observed the simple ham and cheese sandwich. With a shrug he bit into it.
"That's me!" Her cheerful voice was a pleasant change from the tense day.
"Well, thank you, Botan-chan." From the corner of his vision he watched in satisfaction as another blush blossomed on her face.
An enjoyable hush settled around the two. Botan absently swayed from side to side as she hummed to herself. The cool night air had a refreshing feeling. The low buzz of the bustling noise of Tokyo sounded like river bugs. A breeze cut through the surrounding forest and the heavy scent of the woods flooded her nose. She leaned back to where her forearms supported her upper body. All in all, the shrine was just as relaxing as the shrine of Genkai.
The clink of a plate against ground met her ears. It was a simple sound, yet it brought a sense of home to her surrounding. For her, the sound of another person's company was reassuring. It meant she wasn't alone.
"I never gave up on her." She knew who he was talking about. "Even when the weeks turned months or when the months brought by holidays I didn't lose faith. Something in me just kept reminding me of that single moment of when she was dragged down the well. I couldn't help thinking that if it only took a moment to take her away; it would only take a moment for her to walk back through the door. Well, something similar to that." He admitted.
His voice grew wispy as he fully turned towards Botan. "Do you mind if I tell you something? It's been heavy on mind for so long, but I haven't been able to say anything until now."
Botan felt her heart flutter. She couldn't remember the last time someone wanted to trust her. Sure, she was a messenger for Koenma. But, that was business. Since her official promotion as one of Koenma's trusted Lady Death Member and messenger she had been piled with work. The girls that surrounded the Spirit Detectives drifted farther away from her grasp. There was no longer a friendly ear that confided in her or that she could confide in.
Botan nodded her head waiting in anticipation for the secret.
Souta threw a glance behind them to the house before he turned towards her again. Their eyes met and held each other. "It's been haunting me for a little over a year now. But, there was no one I could tell. I couldn't tell my family and none of friends would ever believe me." He whispered.
The young Higurashi brought his hands up between the two of them. His dark chocolate eyes clouded over as a faint blue glow encased his large hands.
"Souta-san." Botan whispered in amazement. She could feel the warming sensation of his holy powers. It was as if a small camp fire was between them.
To her surprise, Souta didn't seem to delight in the power. He just carried on in the same bored tone, "When I first discovered them I thought for sure I could pass through the well to go get her. I wasn't stupid though. I was too scared to tell Jiji or Mom. If I failed they would only feel the loss of Kagome ten times worse. Plus, at the time I couldn't even handle a modern day bully. What the hell was I going to do when I faced down a half demon? So, I trained. Every second I had to spare I put it into training and studying the mythology of demons. I secretly trained my holy powers under the guise of soccer practice. I kept at it until I could easily cover my whole body with it. That's when I deemed myself ready."
His gloomy tone entranced her. She couldn't seem to mutter one word of comfort as he poured his heart out, "On the sly I packed a bag full of supplies. I had written some long winded letter to Jiji and Mom to explain where I was going. I didn't even give myself time to really think twice. All that was on my mind was save her. So, at the midnight hour I jumped down the well." Souta paused for dramatic effect.
Botan had leaned in to him and at some point their foreheads met in a comforting gesture.
"What happened?" Botan asked. He met her eyes and she gasped. She could see the pain that echoed throughout him.
A dead accent assaulted her ears when she heard his next words; "I broke both my legs."
Souta said it as if it was a bad pun to a horrible joke. The bitter chuckle that followed was chilling. Something about that laugh broke the mask that surrounded him and what lied beneath it contradicted greatly from the strong young man she saw before. His shoulders were slumped in defeat. The hands between them couldn't stop trembling.
"What type of man can't defend his family?" He pleaded for an answer.
Something deep within the Lady Death Member broke at his words. She engulfed him in a bone crushing hug. Her fingers carded through his hair as she felt the heaving of his shoulders. Botan's own tears fell into Souta's black hair. She felt honored. Souta had trusted her. He had come to her. He had confided in her and no other.
"Souta-kun." She whispered.
Fin Chapter 10
AN #2: First I got to say, I love how the scene between Souta and Botan turned out! Second, judging on what kind of responses I get from whom should come back; it will effect how the second part of Kagome's life goes. Hope you, enjoyed!
Special Thanks to my Reviewers, those who Fave, & added the story to their Alerts
mangadreams – Thank you for the compliment. It's difficult to be original when there are so many fan fictions.
anniekins11 – You'll have to forgive me. I have no pattern on updating. I can say that reviews do spur me into action on trying to get chapters posted.
WarriorCatInuTangerineMew – I swear I wore a huge smile when I read your review. It means worlds to me to hear that someone thinks my story is "epic."
fbfh and nk – It isn't a Kagome-centric chapter, but I hope I kept it on the interesting side.
Forbidden Shadow Foxx – LOL. I don't care about the log in part. I appreciate the review no matter what. Thanks for at least considering being my Beta. I have no clue why it's so difficult to get one.
MidnightReader1 – Wow, I'm glad you brought up that little fact. It's amazing to think that I have been working on one story for more than five years now.
Venas – Thank you! I have no clue how I did it, but I forgot about the females in the Spirit Detectives gang. I'll make sure to start slowly introducing them. I agree that Shizune will be a great female friend to Kagome.
Rogues Angel - Shippo is a strong consideration. He'll be kept in mind as I look at other characters that might be reintroduced.
fushigiarisu13, Eva318, Kira Kyuu, Mousers18 – Was the wait worth it?
R&R