And the paring is….Kurama/Kagome. Thanks for all the input. I personally love this paring so I'm excited to write it. Kuwabara will still have a large part as Kagome's best friend/older brother figure.

The team met up with Koenma and filled him in. He thought their plan was a good one. The Ogres he had assigned to look up information had found files on Inuyasha and the others so it was essentially stuff Shippo had already informed them of

"So once Hiei find the location of Inuyasha you guys can head out. Genki will watch over Kagome and the jewel." Koenma summarized.

"No." Kagome spoke up "I want to go." She had thought about it while the others were filling in Koenma. She had to see Inuyasha for herself if he had really gone off the deep end like Shippo said. She felt it a sort of responsibility to see if there was anything she could do.

Kurama was the first to protest. "Kagome really you should stay." The last thing he wanted was to see her get hurt. He wasn't quite sure what he was feeling quite yet but he knew that he definitely did not want her to put herself in danger.

Yusuke and Kuwabara agreed with Kurama whole heartedly.

"I should go…I have to go see Inuyasha for myself." She told them. Kurama not one to give up this battle just yet argued back again.

"You wouldn't be able to defend yourself if there was a fight. Also one of us would have to stay near you inhibiting them in battle." He logically deduced.

Kagome sent him a sharp look that clearly let him know she was not happy. "I'm not weak. Just because I'm stuck like this doesn't mean I can't learn some way to defend myself." She told him sharply. Kurama decided to end the disagreement there. He really didn't like being on that end of that look.

"Actually, you should be able to still use your spiritual powers since the "you" outside of the jewel is formed from your energy." Koenma said thinking out loud.

"Not helping any." Kuwabara stated. He also didn't want Kagome going. He had learned from Kurama's mistake though and wasn't going to say much more.

"Though it would use up a lot of your energy shortening the time you have to spend outside of the jewel." He hastily added once he noticed Yusuke's glare.

Kagome sighed she knew they would protest. She had to find some way to convince them to let her go. "I need this. I need to see this through all the way to the end." She said looking over at the guys with a small pout. It worked with her mother she might as well give it a try.

Kuwabara was the first to crumble. Yusuke not far behind him. They both looked to Kurama hoping he would hold. Sadly he already knew he was in hot water so he gave in as well.

"I still don't like it." He said voicing a final protest.

(Demon world)

Shippo entered Sesshomaru's castle nodding to the guard as he passed by. Finding a servant he asked for Sesshomaru directly he wanted to bypass Jaken if he could. Sadly luck was not on his side as Jaken rounded the corner.

"Lord Sesshomaru is busy." He answered for the servant who quickly fled form the imp. "Just what is it you want." He demanded.

Shippo rolled his eyes and shook his head. He was hoping this would be easy sadly it would not.

After the meeting with Koenma they had all headed back to Genki's. Yukina made some tea for everyone while they all relaxed while waiting for Hiei's return. Kagome hadn't said a word to Kurama for most the time. Other than one word answers when he asked her a direct question. Finally he couldn't take it anymore.

"Can we have a minute please?" He asked the others while looking at Kagome. Everyone else had already noticed the tension in the air and was happy to give them some space. Kuwabara handed the jewel over to Kurama. Besides he wanted some time with Yukina anyway.

"Yukina why don't you show me that new part of the garden ." He said with a wink while taking Yukina's hand. She smiled back at him.

"Dude you are so lucky Hiei's not here." Yusuke mumbled quietly while he and Genki also left the room.

Kagome looked away from Kurama, she really didn't feel like talking to him. His comments he had made still stung a bit. She was tired of people having to protect her and thinking she was weak.

Kurama noticed her attitude and noted that he would have to be the first to talk. "I'm sorry." He stated simply just wanting to open the door.

"Good, you should be." She answered still mad.

Sighing he continued. "It's not that I think your weak or that you can't defend yourself. It's just that….the thought of seeing you in danger scare me."

Kagome relaxed at his words. She should have known that was what he was thinking. He wasn't like Inuyasha in this way.

"I guess I'm just used to people underestimating me that I jumped to conclusions. I'm sorry too." She gave him a smile no longer mad and it made him grin right back.

"Would you consider staying?" He asked hoping she would change her mind.

Kagome shook her head, "No I really do feel like I need to go."

Kurama sighed not liking it but giving in. "Fine, but the jewel will travel with me. Stay close, I know you can take care of yourself but I'll feel better if I can look out for you too ok."

Kagome nodded willing to concede to his conditions. He was just worried about her after all. She actually thought it was very sweet the way he cared.