Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Sengoku Otogizoushi - InuYasha or Yuu Yuu Hakusho. InuYasha belongs to Takahashi Rumiko, Shogakukan, Viz Media, ShoPro Entertainment, and Shounen; while Yuu Yuu Hakusho belongs to Togashi Yoshihiro, Shueisha, Viz Media, and Shounen. No profit or money of any kind is made from this fan-created crossover.

Title: Love's Lies
Chapter Eight: The Truth Begins to Unravel

Kagome watched as they left with worried and tired eyes. She hoped to have left everything dealing with that cursed jewel behind after being sent back to her true time. Demons, jewels of power, legends and miko duties were things she wished the keep in the past. Was she really asking for too much in wanting to be a normal woman with normal worries and stresses? Was it too much to ask to be just Kagome and not the miko Kagome?

It seemed that as long as the past happened, she would never be able to escape it. And while she dearly loved her friends, she wished that it had been filled with less heartache.

"Hey Kagome!" Souta tapped her on the shoulder, startling her out of her depressing thoughts. "When did you steal Ayumi's boyfriend away from her?"

"What?" she asked thoroughly confused. "What are you talking about Souta-kun? I'm not dating Yusuke, and besides, she's dating Hojo."

A sly grin appeared on his face, giving him a very cat-like expression. Kagome didn't like the looks of it at all. "Uh-huh, for someone not dating him, you sure are defensive… So then, what were you doing today to make up for last night with your not-boyfriend?"

She had to wonder when he became so sneaky. Had all the stories she told him about Miroku completely warped his mind? "How did you find out about that?" her voice held subtle undertones of horror. If he knew that, then what else did he know about the relationship, or lack thereof, she had with Yusuke?

"A little birdie happened to be speaking too loud," Souta was far too smug-sounding in his reply. He laughed as she paled, hearing the unspoken words about what more he had heard. His next words caused her to pale further, "You know I have to wonder where you got your male-aversion from. Out of everything you've been through, a kiss scares you."

Her pale complexion was soon replaced with an angry and embarrassed blush. "Shut up!" she hissed, "It's none of your business what I do -- or don't do! -- with anyone!"

"Whatever you say, sis," his smug grin never faded, even though his eyes flicked behind her.

That man had been watching his big sister for far too long, and while he may not have the spiritual powers of his sister, he could tell that he was someone to be watched and feared. Not to mention, he didn't like the look that was in his eyes. They held something bordering on obsession, along with an immense hate.

"So, you've noticed him, too?" Kagome asked.

Souta nodded, "He's been watching you since before Yusuke and his friends appeared… I don't like it."

"He's a demon," her words caused worry to appear on his face more.

In an attempt to soothe his worries, she gave him a wide smile that caused her eyes to close. He had known her for far too long to know that meant that what she was about to say was a lie. She only closed her eyes to hide the evidence of a lie or her sadness. "Don't worry, I don't know him… But, Souta-otou? Could you get my bow and quiver and bring them to me behind the house?"

Those words coupled with her smile caused him to worry more instead. If she was lying about who that demon was and asked him to get her her weapon, then something was definitely wrong. Yet, he nodded and headed inside to do as she asked. He turned around only once to see his older sister walk towards the object of their conversation.

That was his big sister: fearless when facing down demons, yet terrified of humans and their reactions.

Kurama mulled over everything he knew about the woman they had just seen. He wondered if his stepbrother, Shuichi, knew something about her like the missing piece to her puzzle. So far they knew she had been doing something that caused her to be away from Shuichi, and that she was a miko, one that didn't seem to be just a volunteer miko that so many were. She also knew far too much about ancient legends, and the stance she took at the mere mention of the Shikon no Tama was far too suspicious.

Just who was she? And what secret was she guarding?

Now, he had to wonder if Yusuke knew there was something different about his would-be girlfriend. He wasn't looking forward to bringing up the subject or letting him know he had Hiei spying on her and the shrine. Yusuke was sure to flip if they didn't approach the subject carefully; especially if he was convinced she was a normal woman.

"Did any of you notice something strange about Kagome?" Kuwabara asked, causing Kurama to sigh heavily. There went the tact he had been hoping for.

"So you guys noticed it? The way she tensed at the mention of that jewel?" Yusuke surprised them both with his levelheaded response. They were sure he was going to have a fit, however his calm acceptance of it had Kurama's mind working on all the possibilities of what it all meant.

"I take that to mean this isn't her first time doing something or saying something strange around you, Yusuke-kun?"

Yusuke nodded, "Yeah. The first time was right before I introduced you two. She called me a youkai."

"Youkai?" Kuwabara interrupted. "I thought hardly anyone besides KoEnma and Botan-chan used that term?"

Kurama ran his hand through his hair, an old gesture he did whenever he was trying to find a way to word what he wanted to say. "Kuwabara-chan, people who don't really understand what demons are use the term 'oni.' However, those with a little more knowledge use the term 'youkai.' "

"But that can be because she grew up on a shrine, right?" Yusuke's voice held hope that Kurama's answer would be 'yes.'

Kurama shook his head, "Nearly all who grow up on a shrine are just as ignorant as the rest of society… However, what I find strange is that she omitted all the names in the legend."

"You knew of the legend and didn't tell us!" Kuwabara's question came out more like a demand.

"No, Kuwabara-chan. I only knew bits and pieces about it. I had my eyes set on other treasures during that time and hardly cared about a broken jewel."

Yusuke was trying to find something in one of his pockets as he asked, "So what were their names?"

Kurama appeared thoughtful for a moment before replying, "I believe the kitsune was called Shippou, the youkai taijiya was Sango, and the houshi was called Miroku. The reincarnation's name was never recorded and I never heard it, but the 'good' hanyou's name was Inuyasha."

"Inuyasha, huh?" Yusuke said as he looked at a locket he pulled out. "Think this is just a strange coincidence?"

He held up the opened locket so they could see a newer picture, one that looked to be taken only a couple years ago. In it were a kitsune child, a youkai taijiya, a houshi, Kagome, and a boy with violet eyes and a beat-up sword. All figures looked very familiar to Kurama. They were shocked even more when Yusuke turned the locket around to show the engraving on the back. A declaration of love written to Kagome from Inuyasha.

As soon as the shock wore off, Kuwabara said, "We need to head back there now!"