Disclaimer: Inuyasha & Kuroko's Basketball and their characters are properties of Rumiko Takahashi & Tadatoshi Fujimaki, Shogakukan, Sunrise, Shueisha, Production I.G., etc. Meaning, that I do not own them and I don't make any money out of this. This is written for pure fan entertainment and to the fans all around the world!

Pairing: Kagami x Kagome + Kuroko?

Rating: K+

Category: short fic, humor, general, crossover

Fiction note: On the nature's documentaries they say that the tigers are territorial. Apparently Kagami is pretty much the same.

An Inuyasha & Kuroko's Basketball Short Fanfic

"Beware of Taiga!"

Written by k-tiraam © 2016

She was in the kitchen, drinking her tea when she heard the television being loud in the living room. Her grandfather was watching one of the nature's documentary channels before the news.

"Adult tigers lead largely solitary life. Tigers establish and maintain their territoriesbut have much wider home ranges within which they roam. Individuals sharing the same area are aware of each other's movements and activities." The host of the documentary told the viewers.

Kagome thoughtfully took a sip.

"Although for the most part avoiding each other, tigers are not always territorial and relationships between individuals can be complex. An adult tiger of either sex will sometimes share its kill with others, even those who may not be related to it."

Huh.

Things you could learn from the television.

Kagome placed her cup to the kitchen sink before going to her room. As she reached to her room, she couldn't help but to think about tigers and their habits. It kind of got stuck into her mind, especially when Kagami's name sounded very much alike to the English word 'tiger'.

Well, he did have a bit of a wild side in him, especially when he played basketball. He could move with such speed and agility around other players, with Kuroko to back him up along with the rest of their teammates.

Great, now she would think about him instead of tigers for the rest of the night.

She flailed her hand above her, as if chasing the thought away for now – and then took out her pyjamas ready for the night. 'True, Kagami-kun can be a dummy when it came to school assignments. But he's a good person and a good player. Not mention he knows how to cook, which is a good bonus.' Kagome giggled at the thought.

Next day at the school was interesting for her. Actually, it was both interesting and stressful.

Manager's job was never-ending, especially since the Winter Cup began days ago and the Seirin team needed to train a lot. Kagome had to get the information on their opponents and schedules. Not to mention, she volunteered to take care of Nigou, since Kuroko didn't have the time during the practice.

She was in a hurry to the gym, carrying handful of notes and papers about the Winter Cup.

"Oi, Kagome-chan~!" One of her friend, Ayumi called for her in the hallway.

"Ah, Ayumi-chan." Kagome stopped.

"Do you have any plans later on?"

"Actually," said Kagome, sighing deeply, "I'm pretty much busy today. I need to be at the gym for the practice game."

"Oh yeah, it's time for the Winter Cup, huh?" Ayumi crossed her arms, looking thoughtful. "What about tomorrow?"

"Can't think of anything now, but I need to check out first." Kagome looked apologetically at her friend. "I'm sorry, I know we've been hang around for a while…"

Ayumi waved her hand in the air. "That's okay, Kagome-chan. Actually, I'm glad you're in the club."

"Eh?"

"It's been a while since I saw you smile and being so energetic." Ayumi smiled. "It seems that being at the basketball club had done that. Also the certain someone." Ayumi winked playfully at her.

Kagome blinked her eyes twice, blushing. 'It had? I never had thought about it. Then again, being with the team has been a lot of fun. Never a dull moment.'

"Ah, Higurashi-san!"

Kagome twitched, freezing to her place. 'Uwaa, not Houjou-kun…'

Indeed it was him. All of her friends from middle school had come to Seirin's high school. So did Houjou. Thankfully, the basketball club kept her busy and away from Houjou. How often did she need to tell him that she was not interested of him? The adventure in the Sengoku era made her mature mentally. She was not the same naïve school girl she once was. She explained to her friends that she held no interest on Houjou, also requesting them to stop pushing her to him. They respected that – at least Ayumi did.

However, when she told Houjou about it; it seemed like her words went only through his ears, paying no attention to them.

Kagome hoped, really hoped, he wouldn't come to Seirin. Alas, it was a wishful thinking.

"A-ah, Houjou-kun," Kagome greeted him.

"Higurashi-san, I was hoping to see you today."

"Oh?" Kagome looked nervously at him, which Houjou didn't notice. 'I've a bad feeling about this.'

He nodded. "I haven't seen you around at all…"

'That's because I'm in a basketball club and it takes most of my free time.'

"…Even thought we're in same high school. Anyway, I was thinking…"

'I really wonder how short his memory can be? Or did he even listen what I told me months ago…'

"… Would you like to go out with me?" Houjou smiled, hoping to her say 'yes'. Ever since Kagome told Ayumi and others that she held on interest on the poor boy, Ayumi also began to wonder Houjou's state of mind. This was starting to concern her as well. They had heard Kagome's reply to this same question, over and over.

And yet Houjou tried his best.

A shadow fell over Ayumi, making her to turn slowly around to see who was behind her and Kagome. Her eyes widened in shock!

"Houjou-kun… No matter how often you ask the same question, my answer is still…"

"She ain't going anywhere." A growling voice replied for her from behind.

Kagome's head turned quickly, her body winced slightly at the sight of Kagami – who looked furious with his eyes narrow. He looked like he was about rip the brown haired boy into pieces.

"Kagami-kun…"

"Dunno if Kagome had already told you, but she won't be dating with anyone," said Kagami, left one hand in his pocket and wrapping another around Kagome's shoulders, bringing her closer to him. "Because she's already seeing someone. And that's me."

If this was surprise to Houjou, he didn't show it. He was stone still, occasionally blinking his eyes. This news didn't come as a surprise for Ayumi. She already knew, but their other friends didn't. She had a feeling that they were reason of Houjou's continual attempts to ask Kagome go out. From the corner of her eyes, Ayumi saw two figures spying on them from the corner of the hallway. Ah, there they were. So they were reason for Houjou's appearance. Did they want him to get killed?

Suddenly, Kagome remembered what she heard from yesterday's documentary – about tigers being territorial. She took a peek at her much taller boyfriend. Indeed, he was acting all territorial now, growling like a tiger at Houjou. Defending what was his. If looks could kill, Houjou would be dead by now.

"Kagami-kun, stop that please. You're almost sounded like Aomine-kun when you said 'that's me'."

His growl deepened hearing the name of Touou's ace. "Don't compare me to him!" He turned his eyes away from Houjou to Kagome.

"Oh?" Kagome lifted one of her eye brows, staring at him in a deadpan way. "Both of you are power players, with same height and not to mention, you're a bit dummies when it comes to school."

Kagami's frown deepened; he was nothing like that Ahomine. It looked like the Seirin's ace was about to say few words at Houjou, but was interrupted by a pair of blue eyes staring at him.

"Kagami-kun, Kagome-chan… we're going to be late from the practice, if we don't leave now." Kuroko told them, scaring all of them with his "sudden" appearance. His presence was almost nonexistent! Even with her spiritual powers, most of the times Kagome was unable to sense him. Most of the times – there were rare moments when she did manage to sense him.

Seirin's manager checked on the watch in the hallway, gasping. Kuroko was right. Riko would be more furious than Kagami at the moment, if they didn't move quickly to the gym!

Kagome freed herself from Kagami's hold, bowing down at Houjou and then Ayumi. "I'm sorry, but we got to go now! Otherwise Riko-senpai will hunt us down!" She took a hold of Kagami's wrist, dragging him away. Kuroko lingered for while, turning his attention to silent Houjou.

"I apologize for Kagami-kun's behaviour. Sometimes he's protective of Kagome-chan. Ever since the day they began to date." Kuroko bowed down a little and then followed Kagami and Kagome, leaving Ayumi and a silent Houjou behind.

Both of them stood there for a while, until Ayumi patted Houjou on his shoulders as if to console him.

Or to congratulate him for surviving from a tiger's bite.

The day was far from over.

The team was having one of their practice games – first years against the second years – Riko played as a referee, while Kagome was responsible of keeping notes on the scores.

It was the last two minutes; the second years were two points ahead of the first years. At least they were, until Kuroko made a pass to Kagami, for him to slam-dunk the ball into the hoop – making them to tie with the second years.

Kagome smiled, clenching her fist as a victory sign. It was always amazing sight to see Kagami playing like this; she really admired how he smiled from the every score he made.

In the end, the first years won this game with two points.

Riko clapped her hand to gain their attention. "Great work, everyone! Now jog around the building five times, come back to gather the stuff and then you hit to the showers!"

"Yeah!" The whole team replied, going outside to do last warm-up.

"They are getting better, Riko-senpai."

"Yeah. However, they need to be at their best for Touou and other teams." Riko brushed some of her hair away from her eyes. 'Perhaps I should ask Hyuuga to shorten my hair a bit.'

Kagome nodded, writing down the boys' scores to her notebook and then took the scoreboard away – Nigou barking after her. "Ah, you want to help me, Nigou?" She giggled at the puppy's barking, as if replying to her.

"Yohoo~! Kagomecchi~!"

For the second time in that day, Kagome's winched in surprise. First Houjou, now him?! What was he even doing here?! "K-Kise-kun… What are you doing here?"

"That's so mean, Kagomecchi! Can't I pay a visit to the lovely person in Seirin?"

Kagome's eye brow twitched. No matter how she had begun to enjoy her time with the basketball team, there were times when Kagome's questioned her choice to join the club. Seemed like it brought more troublesome personalities and here was one of them.

"I'm flattered, Kise-kun. But I'm a bit busy right now."

"It's okay. I can wait until you're done." Kise smiled, posing one of his model poses at her. He brushed his hair back with his fingers, looking cool.

'That may work on other girls, but you can't fool me, Kise-kun.' Kagome mildly shook her head, took out the box filled with water bottles for the team.

"It must be so hard for you, Kagomecchi."

"What is?" Kagome pretty much ignored him, not looking at him at all.

"Taking care of these for the team. Say, why don't we go out after this? You know, to have some fun." Kise winked at her.

Kagome stared at him. Seriously? Another request for a date? Did she have a sign above her, saying: 'you can ask me out for a date'!? Perhaps she and Kagami should be more open about their relationship.

"Look, Kise-kun," Kagome stepped backward noticing him being too close. When did this happen?! "I'm really flattered, I really am. However…"

"Oi, Kagome~! Yah done yet?" Kagami asked loudly then became quiet. The red haired player noticed their unexpected visitor standing too close to his girlfriend. A growl escaped from his lips as he stomped his way to them. "Oi! Kise! What are yah doin' here?!" He took a hold of Kagome, steering her away from the Kaijou's ace player.

"Came to see Kagomecchi, hoping to go out with her." Kise smiled, not noticing the danger heading to his way.

"Why you…"

"I'm sorry, Kise-kun, but Kagami-kun and I are already dating!" Kagome interrupted them quickly, before things got too far.

"Eh?" The tall blonde blinked, first staring at Kagome and then turned his attention to pissed-off Kagami. "Eh?! Kagomecchi~! Of all the people, why him~?" Kise whined pitifully at her, only being pushed away from her by Kagami.

"Doomo, Kise-kun."

"Uwaa! Kurokocchi~!" Kise took a hold of the phantom player's shoulders, shaking him. "Why didn't you tell me that those two," he pointed at Kagome and Kagami (who had accepted a water bottle from her), "are dating?!"

"You wouldn't have believed me if I told you. (And please, stop shaking me, Kise-kun.)"

Dramatically, Kise fell on his knees and hand. "Why him and not me…?"

Rest of the team arrived in time to see the drama Kise was creating. The first years were chuckling quietly, while the second years either smiled or shook their heads. Izuki was trying to come up with a pun to fit with the situation.

"No matter how often we see it, Kagami's protectiveness amazes me." Hyuuga said after wiping away the water drops from his lips. "He's like a tiger protecting what is his."

"That's for sure, Hyuuga." Kiyoshi chuckled.

"Taiga the tiger." Izuki mumbled thoughtfully. "Beware of Taiga!"

Hyuuga groaned at Izuki's attempt to create another pun.

"Ever since Kagome-chan joined the club, Kagami instinctively had kept other boys away from her. Even before they began to date." Furihata told them, remembering how overprotective Kagami was of Kagome, whenever one of her male classmates asked something simple such as about their homework.

"But what amazes me the most," began Kiyoshi, "is that how Kagami allows Kuroko to be close to Kagome-chan or letting him to touch her. He hasn't growled at Kuroko or taken Kagome-chan away from him. Once I ruffled Kagome's hair, Kagami gave me a death-glare."

"They are friends before Kagami and Kagome-chan began to date." Riko pointed out. "Perhaps Kagami trusts Kuroko?"

"Or he wants to share Kagome-chan with Kuroko." Izuki joked. Others stared at him as if he had lost his mind.

A headache was starting to make its appearance, and it was not because of the shouting and growling that Kise and Kagami were making. 'The more I think about it, the more I began to think Kagami-kun is like a tiger. Is he, by any chance, a descendant of a tiger demon?'

Like they said in nature's documentaries; in wild, tigers might be solitary animals, protecting what was their territory. But sometimes they do share with others.

Kagami, indeed, 'protected' her from other men.

Only let Kuroko be close to her.

End of story.

First draft: February the 20th, 2016

Author's note: Whew! I really needed to think this through to make any sense! xD Kinda liked playing around with Kagami's first name, Taiga. It sounds 'tiger'! I had to remind myself about the nature of wild tigers – and I'm glad I got the facts correct about them.

More are on their way, please be patience. Sometimes I get inspirations to do arts too, causing me to be away from the computer. See you next time!