Disclaimer: Nope...not mine still...
A/N: I'm going to take this moment to answer a few questions.
1.) Yes, Sesshomaru will be in a later chapter or two.
2.) No, I will not be pairing Kagome with Hiei. I just don't think he'd be the best person for Kagome in this story.
3.) I'm not quite sure at this time if she'll end up with Yusuke or Kurama. They're both good for her, but writing Yusuke and Keiko into a break-up and having it not affect Keiko's friendship with Kagome might be a bit challenging. I'm sure I could handle it, but this was pre-written as a Kagome/Kurama...but I'm having second thoughts...I don't know yet. Which leads me to ask you what you think? Let me know. Yusuke or Kurama? But really think it over!!
Chapter Five: Questions
Keiko stood in front of Kagome's door listening to the poor girl cry and sob loudly. She felt so bad for making her upset and she wanted to make it up to her somehow. She bit her bottom lip and turned to walk away. Yusuke was walking towards her with his eyes staring at the floor and his hands in his pockets. He was in deep concentration which was broken the second he heard Kagome. Keiko stepped before him and he smiled, pulling her into a soft hug.
"It's not your fault." he whispered before letting her go, "Shippo and Souta are watching TV. You should go sit with them and keep them calm."
"Are you going in there?" she questioned him with uncertainty. He just smiled again and nodded, "But, Yusuke..."
"I can handle it, Keiko. I have a knack for making her smile." he grinned and motioned for her to go.
"Okay, Yusuke." Keiko sighed and walked away.
He listened for a few moments. Her cries were heart wrenching for him to hear. What ever had happened, she was clearly devastated by the outcome. Her door was open slightly and he peered through to see her hugging her pillow tightly. He entered without knocking and sat next to her. She blinked the tears from her eyes when she felt that she was no longer alone. She threw her arms around his neck, buried her face against his shoulder and continued to cry. He caressed her hair as she slowly started to calm down. She leaned back and wiped the tears from her eyes and face.
"You alright?" he asked concerned.
"No." she answered with honesty. She had to accept that everything was not well with her. She rose to her feet and walked to the window.
"Do you want to talk?"
"Yes, well...for the most part I do." She turned to face him, "I was almost attacked in the park."
"Attacked? By who?"
"Youkai. There were two of them. They knew about me, my...status as a miko, and they were going to kill me. I was ready to let them." She frowned, "I was being childish and selfish. I only wanted to make myself happy. Not once did I think about my family, friends or the child I am carrying. I have never been like that and I hate myself for allowing this to happen. I guess I should be thankful that that other youkai came to my rescue, but I was so angry then. If I see him, I will apologize for my rudeness. I have to think about everyone around me before I take any action."
"That is a big responsibility. Worrying about others instead of you, I mean. Yes, it was selfish of you to want to die, Kagome. What would have happened to Shippo if you turned up dead? You are the most important thing in his life."
"I am going to try harder now to adjust to my new life. I don't want to be sad anymore. I see how much it hurts Shippo and he deserves to be happy." She looked to the floor, "I just want everyone to be patient with me is all."
"Hey, as long as you are happy, others will be happy too." Yusuke smiled warmly, "I am sure that everyone will be patient with you."
"Why is it that you are so understanding of these things?"
"I've been through similar situations." Yusuke answered, "Well...not exactly similar situations."
"You are not like other humans, Yusuke." Kagome stared at him, "I can't quite place it, but you are different."
"Yeah, I've heard that before." He chuckled and pointed to the door, "I think Keiko's still here. She was really worried that she upset you."
Kagome wiped her face with her sleeve and sighed loudly. Looking to Yusuke, she smiled a kind of smile that made him feel happier just by looking at her. This was a normal, happy Kagome smile and he knew it because her eyes held no sorrow, only the fire of determination.
"I must apologize to her then." Kagome answered, "Are you coming?"
"Yes."
The Next Morning
Kagome spent the walk to school scolding Yusuke for skipping and swore she'd beat him into the ground if he didn't attend today. He rolled his eyes, but he was happy. This was a side to her that he thought he'd never see. Her eyes still held the same smile they had the night before, but with the morning sun they held a bit of a sparkle.
Keiko met them at the front gate again. Yusuke tried to distract their attention once again and the other students laughed when Kagome grabbed his ear firmly and dragged him into the school with Keiko blushing from embarrassment behind them. Yusuke's angry glares sent most of the laughing students scurrying off to their classrooms. He smacked Kagome's hand away when the entered the building.
"Alright, I'm here. You don't have to hold my ear anymore." He turned to face two boys that were staring, "What are you looking at? Do you want me to rearrange that already crooked nose of yours?"
The two boys gulped and took off running down the corridor away from Yusuke and the girls. Keiko and Kagome sighed at the same time and he turned back to them. They walked away from him, leaving him to stare and then follow.
Lunch was the same as before, except the surprising appearance of Yusuke which only caused Kagome to get more strange looks from the other students. They gawked at her and were shocked when she didn't flinch when he sat next to her.
"Why must everyone stare so much?" Kagome glanced up from her food and eyed the table three rows from theirs.
"They're probably wondering why a pretty girl like you is sitting with us. They're all afraid of us." Kuwabara answered. Kagome turned to Yusuke who was leaning back in his chair taking a nap.
"Where is Keiko?" she poked his forehead and he grumbled something about the library and stupid girls. His eyes opened quickly when he felt Kagome's energy spike with her obvious anger at his comment. She glared at him long and cold.
"Sorry." He lowered his eyes and she calmed down. Kuwabara stared at the two of them before continuing to eat his lunch.
After school, they walked home together with Keiko and Kuwabara tagging along. Kagome and Keiko talked and giggled a lot which made the boys walk slower, separating themselves from the girls and their current discussion of baby clothing. A topic neither of the boys felt comfortable with.
They met Kurama by the park again. The boys stopped to talk while the two girls continued on, oblivious to the boy's departure. Kurama watched them for a few moments before motioning for Yusuke and Kuwabara to follow him.
"This must be important, Kurama. You look serious." Yusuke yawned and stretched out under the cherry tree.
"Yes, it's about Kagome." He answered, leaning against the base of the tree, "She is a miko."
"That explains her spiritual energy." Yusuke responded, "I take it Koenma knows?"
"Yes. Hiei and I paid him a visit last night." Kurama gave a short nod, "Hiei saved her last night in the park. She was willing to let herself get killed."
"I know. Kagome and I discussed it last night." Yusuke began, "She felt horrible for how she acted and is doing her best to be a better person."
"Is that so?" Hiei jumped down from a nearby tree.
"She even said she was going to apologize to you for her rudeness." Yusuke grinned at Hiei. He stopped when he remembered more of his discussion with Kagome from the night before, "Hmm, she referred to you as a youkai."
"And your point?"
"Kagome noticed that you are a youkai. She must know more than we thought she did." Kurama answered readily, "Maybe she can sense the aura of a youkai. Maybe she sensed mine as well the other day. She knew she was being watched."
"There you are!" Keiko yelled out. Yusuke and Kuwabara jumped and bowed their heads as the two girls approached. Kagome held back a little at seeing the guy who had saved her the night before. She was finding it odd that the two guys she got weird feelings from were actually Yusuke's friends. Even Keiko and Kuwabara were relaxed around them.
"Ah, Keiko, I'm going to head home." She said it quietly and hurried away from the park. They watched her go. Keiko turned to them and pointed her finger at Yusuke.
"You could have told us you were coming here." She yelled and her face got red with anger as he rolled his brown eyes.
"Calm down, Keiko. I just had some business to discuss with the guys. Besides, you and Kagome were deep in discussion about clothes." He said pointedly. She stomped her foot and stormed out of the park. Yusuke gave a small sigh and knew he'd pay for that later.
"I take it that Keiko knows nothing about Kagome?" Kurama asked, slightly amused with Keiko's fit of anger.
"No."
"Are you going to tell her?"
"Not unless I have to."
"That is probably for the best." Kurama smiled politely, "Shall we go to your house then? We should properly introduce Kagome and Hiei. I would like to have a talk with the kit if it is possible."
"Hn. I do not need to be introduced." Hiei turned to walk away.
"It would be best for you to meet her, Hiei." Kurama began, "She should know that you are not her enemy."
"Am I?"
"No you are not."
"Hn." He shoved his hands into his pockets and followed the others quietly.
She knew they were all coming by the time they had reached the gate. She breathed easily as she took the time to water the flowers in the backyard. Keiko and Shippo sat together on a swing behind her. Shippo growled as they entered, but Kagome gave him a reassuring smile. He quieted and cuddled closer to Keiko.
The four boys walked into the backyard. Kagome and Keiko ignored them and Shippo jumped onto Kuwabara's shoulder. Yusuke cleared his throat and both girls still didn't acknowledge them. Kurama stepped next to Kagome.
"The flowers are happy." He said gently. She glanced at him and he continued, "Do you water them often?"
"Only on dry days." She answered, "Shippo, can you turn the water off please?"
"Yup!" the little kitsune jumped down and scampered over to the knob and twisted it until the water stopped coming out of the hose. He hurried over and jumped into his adopted mom's now empty hands. She hugged him quickly and allowed him to perch on her shoulder.
"I find it odd that a kitsune youkai is so fond of a human." Kurama spoke quietly. Her eyes met his and she smiled.
"Well, he is only a child after all." She scratched behind Shippo's right ear, "Besides, not all youkai are evil. I know that some are genuinely kind and gentle."
"And I suppose you've met a lot of youkai?" Hiei asked. She turned to him with a smile.
"Yeah, you could say that." She replied and walked towards the house, "Come on, Shippo. It's time for your lesson today."
"Can I sit in on your lesson as well?" Kurama caught up with her. She blushed and nodded.
"That will be fine." She agreed nervously, "But I'm sure that you will find it to be boring."
"Oh, I'll be alright." He smiled and followed her inside. Instead of the lesson normally being in her room, she opted for the living room this time since she had an extra guest for the learning session.
Yusuke and the others remained in the backyard and were soon joined by Souta. The young kid blushed when Keiko said hello and motioned for him to take the swing next to the one she was on.
"What is Kurama up to?" Kuwabara asked and narrowed his eyes in concentration.
"Don't think too hard, Kuwabara. Your brain can't handle it." Yusuke laughed and dodged his pathetic attempt at a punch.
"Maybe he likes her." Souta stated innocently and Keiko giggled.
"Yeah, that might be it!" she agreed happily making the young boy blush again.
"Hn." Hiei turned from them, "I'm leaving. Tell Kurama to find me before he goes home."
"Sure thing, Hiei." Yusuke waved to the disgruntled fire koorime.
"What do you think?" Kuwabara asked, pulling Yusuke to the side.
"He said he wanted to talk to Shippo. They have things in common, you know."
"Oh, yeah."
"How do Shippo and the red-haired guy have something in common?" Souta spoke loudly, "Is he a kitsune youkai like Shippo?"
The other three looked to each other nervously. Keiko tousled the boy's hair.
"Do you promise to keep a secret for me?" she smiled sweetly.
"Ah-huh."
"Kurama has the spirit of a silver kitsune youkai inside him. It's a long, complicated story of how it happened, but I bet someday he'll be happy to tell you about it. Until then you can't tell anybody about it. Not even Kagome."
"I'm sure Kagome already knows." Souta rose from the swing, "She's smarter then you think."
"Is that so?" Yusuke gave the kid a questioning stare and Souta laughed, "Explain it to me."
"She's been through a lot. More than you can possibly even imagine. It's more than just Shippo." Souta bit his lip nervously and continued, "I don't think I'm the one to tell you. I don't want to make Kagome upset. What she went through and what she lost has changed her."
"That's fine, Souta. You don't have to continue." Yusuke pulled the boy into a headlock and lightly ground his knuckles into the kid's skull. Souta tried to fight off the attack and only managed to escape when he kicked his assaulter in the knee, "Hey, get back here shrimp!"
"No way!" Souta yelled and ran into the house, Yusuke following right behind him, "You can't catch me!"
"You wanna make a bet kid?"
"Yusuke, leave Souta alone! Souta, no running in the house! You know better!" Kagome yelled from the entrance of the living room. Both boys stopped dead in their tracks and faced her.
"Sorry." They mumbled in unison and waited for Kagome to go back in the living room before they both charged up the stairs.
Kagome sighed as she heard the racket being made in the room above them. She could hear Souta yelling "uncle" and then both of them were laughing. She took her seat next to Shippo again and realized a moment later that Kurama had taken a seat on the opposite side of the kit. Kagome blushed and then regained her composure.
"I'm sorry, Shippo. Where were we?" she apologized.
"You were talking about math." The little kitsune replied, "But I don't think I like it. Can we talk about something else?"
"Like what?"
"Youkai."
"Youkai?" Kagome shrugged, "I guess we can put math off until tomorrow, but that means you don't get a lollipop after dinner tonight."
"It's okay." Shippo gave a small smile. He really enjoyed his favorite treat after dinner, but tonight he'd have to make an exception.
"What do you want to know?" she lifted him onto her lap.
"I thought that there were none in you era, Kagome." He asked with innocent eyes and Kagome swore he had asked her for a reason. Her eyes landed on the red-headed friend of Yusuke's and he seemed to be waiting for her reply as well. He seemed oddly different to her, but she couldn't understand why. Shippo tugged on her sleeve and Kagome brought her gaze back to him.
"Well, Shippo, I didn't think there were any." She said truthfully, "I only found out yesterday that I was wrong."
"Shippo, what did you mean her era?" Kurama was puzzled by the kit's choice of words. Kagome jumped to her feet, cuddling Shippo close to her and turned to leave.
"It's nothing." She said quickly and hurried out.
Kurama stood watching the doorway from where she exited. His mind swarmed with unanswered questions. Kagome was a very confusing girl and he was determined to find out just what it was, aside from being a rare miko, that made her different. He walked into the dimly lit hallway and he could hear her voice coming from her room. He listened as she explained to Shippo that what they knew had to be kept a secret from people they barely knew. When Shippo made the argument that even Yusuke didn't know their secret, Kagome just shushed him and explained that he didn't know for good reasons. She was just not ready to tell him.
"Kurama, what are you doing?" Yusuke appeared at the bottom of the steps, followed by a blue-haired deity that must have arrived a short while ago. Both of them looked at him with curious eyes.
"It is nothing." He answered, "Anything from Koenma, Botan?"
"Oh, yes. That is why I am here." She smiled, "Hiei and Kuwabara are already upstairs."
"Very well then." He nodded and walked up the stairs to Yusuke's room. Botan shrugged when Yusuke grunted and the two of them followed.
"What is going on?" Hiei asked first.
"A new mission." Botan replied and jumped onto the bed, "Koenma wants give you all the details, but he wants you to bring Kagome and the kitsune youkai."
"How come?" Kurama questioned, "Does the mission concern them?"
"Koenma has reason to believe so." Botan answered, "All I know is that it concerns the Lord of Makai."
A/N: I think I'll end it there for now. I am so sorry that it took me so long to update. I was very sick this past week, but I am better now! I will update soon! Don't forget to let me know about the Yusuke or Kurama thingy!!