A.N. I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.
Sapphire orbs stared into their reflection. "How do I get myself into these messes?" She sighed, running a brush through her hair as she prepared herself for dinner.
Sadness tainted her features as she touched the sleeve of her kimono, the crescent moons reminding her of her servitude. She flopped back on her bed, staring straight up. "Kaede... I wonder, are you watching me now? Or have you already reincarnated so many times you've forgotten your older sister? And Kikyou... What would you do?"
Soundless footsteps brought the inu taiyoukai to his miko's door. I can't believe I can't find a single record on Kagome before she came here... Otou-san surely kept them.
"Kaede... I wonder, are you watching me now? Or have you already reincarnated so many times you've forgotten your older sister? And Kikyou... What would you do?"
Surprise momentarily flashed in the normally stoic male's eyes. To his knowledge, she'd not even thought on her siblings in over a century. Why would she only voice such thoughts to herself? What else may she be hiding from this Sesshomaru? He stepped closer.
"But then of course, you wouldn't be having this much trouble making a decision, would you? You've always been so perfect."
The miko suddenly rose from the bed, sighing to herself. Sapphire met sapphire once again. "I must be crazy, talking to myself like this..."
Soft knocking alerted her to the presence of the taiyoukai.
"Come in."
Sesshomaru appeared in the doorway, relief hidden from her. She only wished to find guidance in becoming my mate... Of course she'd long for her family. "The kimono suits you." He stepped forward, placing a silver comb topped with a blossom into her hair.
Kagome tried her best not to stiffen. "Thank you Sesshomaru."
He caught her chin in his claws, tilting her head back to look into her eyes. "Have you made your decision?"
She looked away. "Please... I'm not ready." Her heart screamed in protest, yelling that she had, that she had centuries ago... Under a tree with the most wonderful person she'd ever known.
Gold eyes bore into her momentarily as his lips landed on her cheek. "I will allow you more time. But you will need to make the proper decision soon Kagome." With that said, he placed her hand upon his forearm and began escorting her to their evening meal.
Kuwabara and Hiei shot glances filled with slight hostility at one another as they walked on either side of Mukuro, bickering viciously yet silently.
Mukuro groaned, suddenly flicking them each in the temple to sever the mental link between them. "If you two don't leave things alone, I'll make sure neither of you get her."
A sigh passed through the lips of the giant orange-haired man. "My apologies Onee-sama."
"Hn."
Annoyance flashed momentarily in her features as she moved ahead down the hall, allowing them to follow behind. "Work it out."
Kagome sighed softly as Sesshomaru seated her to his right. Her heart cried out to be sat next to Kazuma who was sat as far away from her as polite society would allow. Suddenly her cheeks tinted pink as she caught a certain hybrid's eyes.
Thankfully Izayoi struck up a brief conversation with Sesshomaru to distract him.
Haruko glared at the two males from the East. "So, I wonder why two young males have decided to go without mates?"
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. Meddlesome woman.
"Hn. I have no use for a troublesome woman."
Small brown eyes snuck a little glance at a certain blue-eyed beauty before meeting Haruko's eyes. "I am waiting for my one and only. The woman who will complete me. I will settle for no one else."
Warmth spread from the miko's heart outwards. Kazuma...
Violet eyes met Haruko's jade in satisfaction. "That sounds like a very honorable thing to do. So, do you wish to take a wife or a mate? Or perhaps you would like to find a woman well versed in both traditions?"
"I'd want to marry but she would need to be my mate as well-My soul mate." Kuwabara momentarily caught Kagome's eye.
The inu taiyoukai frowned, not at all enjoying the conversation. "Totosai, what news do you have from the Northern Lands?"
"Ah, the Ookami Lord is quite a young ruler! He still mourns his Otou-san but is learning quickly how to manage his territory. I think your Otou-san would be twice as proud of you though," the old man weezed. Best to pad his ego lest he hurt the miko.
Crimson irises snapped to the old youkai's bulging eyes as he caught the thought. Is he part of Izayoi's plans?
Inuyasha, uncharacteristically quiet, merely observed. He was merely waiting for an opportunity to assist.
Finally, after a rather hostile feeling meal, everyone rose to go to their rooms.
A clawed hand caught the miko's wrist. "I shall be spending the night in the archives. Keep your bedroom locked tonight."
"Hey Sesshomaru! Can I talk to you a minute?" a certain inu hanyou questioned.
The two brothers left the dining hall.
Izayoi steered Haruko away from the room, trying to create an opportunity for the potential lovers to speak.
As soon as the inu family was gone, Kagome took a step towards her orange-haired friend from so long ago. "Kazuma?"
He stepped forward, coming as close as he dared. "Kagome..." He reached one massive but gentle hand out, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand.
One small feminine hand reached up to press to his.
Beady brown eyes clashed with sapphire orbs, seemingly apart from the entire world. Auras flared, tasting the familiar energy, dancing around them in time with their synchronized heart beats. Time stretched on and on, yet the moment ended far too soon.
"Kagome, I still need to talk with you," Totosai reminded her, breaking the spell.
"When can I see you?" Kuwabara trailed his fingers through midnight silk longingly as he continued to stare into her eyes.
"Later-Go through the gardens and jump through the waterfall. I'll be there as soon as I can be. Wait for me?" Her eyes met his in question as she held onto his hand longingly.
"Until the end of time."
Her lips tugged into a smile as she walked away, giving the hybrid a side-long glance as she passed.
Mukuro sighed as she watched both her sibling-like companions stare after her. Something tells me this is going to get very complicated...
Totosai gave Kagome a glance as they walked back to his bedroom. "Tread lightly Kagome. Sesshomaru is not one for giving anything he wants up."
The miko stiffened slightly at his words, nodding dejectedly. "I know... I'll have to let him down gently. I can't let him get hurt." Pain rippled through her form at the idea of allowing things to lapse back to the way they were.
"Which one?"
She stopped short, looking at him incredulously. "Kazuma. Who else could there be?"
"From the view I got earlier, the hybrid's a candidate as well." The old man smiled wryly and opened the door for her to pass into his sometimes dwelling.
Pink dusted across her cheeks at his words. "That was... A misunderstanding. One that shall never happen again." Her heart gave a twinge in protest. Why does that affect me even a little? I feel nothing for him! He acts just like Sesshomaru...
He nearly rolled his eyes at her stubborn denial. "Either way, I have something for you." He stepped towards his belongings, sifting through them momentarily before presenting her with a carved wooden box.
Confusion washed over her features as she touched the box. "Shikon no Tama...? But that's the Higurashi seal... But I've never heard of this and Kikyou made sure we knew all of the history and legends. But this is at least a millennium old..."
"The story was kept secret. No one wanted it to get out." Totosai let out a breath of air. "Long ago, when I was a younger man, I crossed paths with a Higurashi Miko. Her name was Midoriko. She'd fallen in love with a koorime and wished to forge a blade for her that could protect her for life. But she needed it to be done in secret because she had already been married.
"She felt quite guilty over this but she'd been forced into the marriage by need to continue the line, and she'd already had two daughters. She was truly in love now.
"I agreed to forge the blade for her, using one of the tear gems she'd been given. But, unfortunately, before the blade was finished, Midoriko's husband found them out. He and three youkai assassins went after her, wanting to torture the whereabouts of the koorime out of her. You see, the husband's rage was so great that he wanted to murder them both.
"Once cornered, Midoriko lashed out against them. She sealed her soul as well as that of the youkai in the Shikon no Tama and weakened her husband terribly. The warded Shikon no Tama was entrusted to the Kuwabara, along with the now finished blade. The husband, Onigumo, gave himself over to hundreds of minor youkai, becoming Naraku. The Kuwabara and Higurashi were weary of him and erected strong barriers against him and his kind.
"The Kuwabara protected it for generation after generation, until Naraku came back, looking for more power and revenge. Shizuru, the heir to the Kuwabara and the Shikon no Tama's guardian brought the Tama to Higurashi village. She and your sister buried it in the center of your village, protected by the lover's sword. Finally, I dug them up."
Shock tainted her features. "What about the koorime and her sword?"
"The koorime mourned the loss of her lover and demonized men to her village. She insured no man could ever take anything from her again that way... As for the sword, it's wielded by the only male to ever be born from a koorime. And he has no idea," Totosai finished.
"Hiei?" Confusion coated her tone. None of this made sense to her. How could all of this been kept secret?
Totosai nodded, touching her shoulder gingerly. "One day, you'll understand. Now, I believe you are supposed to be meeting someone. Put the box away somewhere safe."
A sigh of frustration passed through the miko's lips as she rubbed her temples, pacing her room. "Why can't things just be simple?" She looked down at her bed, placing the box underneath her pillows before crawling under the bed.
Soft hands searched around until they found the little lever that would allow her to go to her long-time love. Suddenly the floor opened and she fell through with a soft "oomph". She sighed, rising to start her walk. Just be happy... You'll be seeing him again.
Kuwabara shivered slightly as he waited for the miko, his haori soaked through. I hope she'll be here soon.
"Kazuma?" a soft voice called from further into the tunnel.
He grinned, taking her hands in his as she appeared. "You look so beautiful... I've missed you." He leaned down, kissing her cheek gently.
The miko noticed his slight tremors due to cold and began to push his haori off. "We need to get you warmed up-I'm so sorry I kept you waiting!"
Surprise and embarrassment flashed over his features as he stood, now bare-chested before his long-time love. "It's fine. Seeing you would be worth far more than a little cold." His cheeks tinted as he looked down at her feminine perfection.
Sapphire orbs stared into brown irises as she grasped his face in her hands. "Kazuma... I love you." She leaned up, pressing her lips to his passionately.
Desire overtook the male immediately as he grabbed her hips, bringing her closer to him. Her warm body heated his cooled flesh even through the layer of silk, sending tendrils of electricity through his system.
Slowly, Kagome broke the kiss, stroking his cheek as she gazed at his lidded eyes.
Brown eyes made their appearance once more, gazing into sapphire. "I love you too." And his lips descended upon hers once more.