Chapter 3

Secret

The next night, Yusuke's Wake had been set at Atsuko's apartment. For the most part since the Wake began, Kagome remains seated beside Atsuko, who is just staring off into oblivion, feeling grateful that so many people had come to pay their respects to Yusuke's family. She had noticed that some visitors were Yusuke's classmates but to see the smiles and hear laughter coming from them, Kagome had a feeling that they only attend to earn extra credit.

Then, Kagome sees Keiko arrive, a smile forming on her face to see her friend. As the brunette approach them, Kagome notices that she's having a difficult time fighting the tears. "Keiko, thank you for coming." Kagome greets her softly.

Kneeling in front of her, Keiko and Kagome hug briefly. "You know I would never miss this, no matter how hard this time is. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers."

This really made her smile and her eyes twinkle. "Thank you, Keiko." After Keiko gives her respects, her friends enter to escort her home since she's heartbroken over the thought of losing Yusuke.

Shortly after they left, Kagome could hear someone yell out, "Just let go of me!" Looking outside, Kagome sees another one of Yusuke's classmates, Kazuma Kuwabara, his two friends try to stop him as he forces his way into the apartment, his friends warning him that this is a place for mourning, but Kuwabara didn't seem to hear his friends.

Watching his behavior, Kagome had a feeling that once he got the news, he didn't want to believe that her cousin is dead, believing that he is actually hiding from him or something so they wouldn't fight anymore. Then his last words came as a surprise to her, "You were supposed to be there for me, Urameshi." After those words, Kuwabara finally lets his friends take him away from the apartment.

"You see those scums?" the next to speak was a man that must be a teacher from Yusuke's school. From what she had heard about him and his associate beside him from Yusuke, they are teachers Mr. Iwamoto and Mr. Akashi, two teachers claiming to be looking out for the reputation of Sarayashiki Junior High, but in truth are the biggest bullies.

To know what kind of men those two are as they insult Yusuke and some of his classmates during his Wake, Kagome is tempted to step outside and have a word about them insulting her cousin when she saw another man from the school, the principal Mr. Takenaka, come up behind the two dispicable men, making them face him as he glares at them. Just by looking at his expression, she could tell that he is not pleased with them.

After he had paid his respects to her and her family, he faces Yusuke's picture, saying rather softly as he sheds tears himself how much potential her cousin possessed and he could have made something great out of him had he stayed. Even though he was a troublesome student, Kagome felt her heart become warm that Mr. Takenaka truly believed in him.

As the wake came to a close with the small boy that Yusuke saved and his mother being the last to come pay their respects, Kagome is just bidding Atsuko good-night and as she leaves the apartment, she spots a small note tapped on the door frame, her name written on it. Curious, she removes the note from the door frame, opens the note and silently reading,

Kagome, after your cousin's Wake, could you meet up with me in the city park? The number I left on this note is my phone number so you can text me your answer. I hope to hear from you soon.

Shuichi

To know that Shuichi wants to meet up with her, Kagome's cheeks become a little pink and her heart to leap, wondering why he wants to meet up. After texting her mom to let her know that she's going to meet up with a friend and will be home before it gets late, Kagome sets the new number in her phone, telling Shuichi she'll meet him there. With that, she sets her course for the city park.

Once there, she finds Shuichi seated on a park bench, gazing up at the night sky. Then she notices that he's wearing black, thinking that he must have attended the Wake. Hearing her approach, Shuichi turns to face her with a smile on his face before he offers the open seat beside him. Once she is seated beside him, the smile vanishes. "Kagome, can I trust you to keep what I'm about to tell you a secret?"

Since they've only just met yesterday, Kagome understands why he asks her this, wondering what secret he wants to share with her. So she nods her head.

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Shuichi starts. "I'm actually not who I seem to be, Kagome. My real name is Youko Kurama, I'm a fox demon."

To hear that he is really a demon left Kagome completely shocked. "I never thought that demons are real."

"They are, most of them can easily hide in plain sight while others are more noticeable." he points out, then Kagome picks up on his silent message, saying that that was not what he wants to tell her.

"Tell me your story, Shu…" she cuts herself off before correcting herself, "Kurama."

For her to want to hear about his story, his nerves in that instant had completely gone away, he tells her without any trace of hesitation in his voice, "For many centuries, among demons I was known as the Legendary Bandit, an A-Class ranked fox demon. Fifteen years ago, I had been fatally wounded by a Hunter after I failed one theft, I had no choice but to escape to the human world.

"In order to completely heal the wound and regain my strength, I had implanted my soul into Shiori Minamino, my mother's unborn child. My plan was to stay in the human world long enough until I was completely recovered."

If he had plans to leave once he was healed and had his strength back, then why is he still here. "What got you to stay when you planned to leave?"

"During this incident back in my childhood years, my mother had selflessly saved me from falling onto the floor that was covered in broken glass, causing permanent scars on her arms. Since that time, I had learned more about emotional empathy and feelings that demons never care for.

"Another reason why I had stayed is that while growing up, my mother had become very ill. Her condition then made me remember that with some species, the young can devour their own parents. I now feel that I am the cause of her illness. So for a long while I've been searching for a way to save her." Now that he has told her his story, Kurama then looks back up to the sky, a deep sadness forms in his eyes again.

To see so much sadness in those deep green eyes, Kagome could also feel the pain radiating off him. Since he's given her company during the time she had waited to hear about Yusuke, she felt it is her turn to return the favor. Scooching closer to him, Kurama is left surprised as Kagome wraps her arms around his shoulders, her head resting on his right shoulder. "Kurama, I promise that there is a way to save your mom and I know you'll find it. After hearing your story, it sounds like you love and care for her so much. If you need anything, I'm here for you."

All this comfort and support really helped cheer him up. "Kagome," Kurama holds one arm, "thank you. And I'm also here for you if you ever need me."

Grateful that he'll support her as well as she will for him, Kagome tightens her embrace around him.