"Shippo!"

"Mama!"

The kit burrowed under her chin, hands scrambling around her neck and finding purchase in her hair as he wound himself deftly into her embrace. And the priestess reciprocated so easily, holding him to her chest and carding her fingers through his hair—a grooming tactic, a common trick to build trust with any pack youkai.

Youko didn't know what surprised him more…that the kit so obviously saw Kagome as a parent or that she easily returned the favor. He had understood why she'd wanted his help; her stories would have made things clear even if she had been more deceitful, though Youko was realizing she'd underplayed the magnitude of the attachment.

He'd expected to find the kit as part of the group, cared for by the whole…and instead, clear as day, the kit was hers.

"I thought you left." The kit was saying, face still tucked in the crook between shoulder and neck. "But Inuyasha said he hadn't done anything to piss you off."

She chuckled. "No, he didn't."

"And the forest smelled like you."

"So you understood my message?"

He nodded and said something else, though his voice was so muted by her skin that Youko would be surprised if Kagome herself had heard it.

Instead she stroked his hair and murmured soft words into his ears, asserting her presence physically. Her pointed questions from the past few days suddenly made so much more sense, and Youko found that he was…unsatisfied with the answers he could have given. It was one thing if she were after it for academic curiosity, because she was a priestess on a journey that put her at risk of a lot of different cultures, but another thing entirely for her to be trying to raise a child on her own. Kits needed constant stimulation and attention, for they were easily bored and often got themselves into the kind of mischief human parents abhorred. On top of that, Kagome was a priestess…

It was catastrophic. It was impossible.

Whatever she had said caused the kit – Shippo – to hop out of her grasp and turn to face Kuronue and him. His face scrunched up and he shot a disbelieving look back to his mother. "You're sure?"

She nodded. "I would not have left unless I knew I would return. Youko didn't kidnap me."

Shippo snorted. "Yeah, sure. You'd say that even if he had."

She laughed, but didn't say anything to the contrary. Youko only knew the brief version of her tale but from what he say thus far…well, Kagome was kidnapped a bit too often.

She shooed him. "Go on."

The kit nodded slowly, and slid his gaze back, sizing up whatever it was he saw in the two males.

"It's nice to meet you." Shippo said eventually, albeit rather formally. "We don't see many other kitsunes on our travels."

He glanced over at his mother—his mother—with another suspicious look, but didn't say anything else; Youko suspected it wouldn't be long before the kit realized her true intentions in leaving their pack for the last few days, if he hadn't already.

"The pleasure is mine." He stooped down so he was eye level with the kit. "I have heard both much and little about you."

Shippo smirked. "Same."

"Wait, you've heard of Youko before?" Kagome asked. Youko tilted his head up past the kit, only to find the priestess' attention focused on him.

"The Kuramas are sort of famous among our kind." Shippo looked back to his mother. "At least around here they are."

When Youko turned to stare at him, the kit looked pleased. "You're wearing your insignia." He pointed out.

Youko grinned. "So I am."

"Famous?" The priestess had her hand on the kit's shoulder, and tugged at it gently. "For what?"

"They're a big clan."

Kagome, her eyes still on Youko, smiled at a private joke. "Is that so?"

He stood up.

"We've grown enough for a reputation, I suppose." He admitted to the kit.

Behind him, Kuronue snickered.

Thankfully, any further insight was stalled by the nearby sound of shouting and a rapidly approaching aura that radiated angry energy…and fear. It was close enough that the priestess heard it as well, and with a barely supressed sigh, she nudged the kit around so that he was facing her.

"Shippo?"

"Yeah?"

She twisted her fingers together. "Would you say Inuyasha is ah...angry with me?"

The kit hummed a small agreement. "I wouldn't say that he's not."

She closed her eyes, small tendrils of reiki flaring along the forest floor and creeping out of whatever bind she normally encased them in. "I thought as much."

Kuronue walked closer, tightening the ranks in the case of a fight. Youko bristled. "The dog is unhappy with your capture?"

"Willing capture...but yes." Opening her eyes, she looked to her son. "Do you feel like providing a small distraction?"

His eyes lit up. "With your permission? Absolutely!"

Before she could elaborate the kit had turned around and run off, Kagome's voice loud as she called to him, "A small distraction Shippo!"

The kit was fast, and soon he had disappeared out of sight. Youko could practically hear the thoughts that ran through the priestess' head as she looked at where he had gone—he had been far too happy about his mission.

She continued to stare off into the distance, at whatever storm awaited, and Youko found himself asking, "Is your friend prone to violence?"

She snorted. "That's a minor understatement."

Kuronue stepped next to him. "Will he attack us?"

"Probably not?"

Youko growled. "Uncertainties are inadequate priestess."

"Well someone wouldn't let me explain why I was leaving."

"You took precautionary measures for such events." he argued.

"So he wouldn't worry." She sighed, staring back off to where her son had disappeared, and amended, "Well, so he wouldn't worry as much."

"He will see your disappearance as a slight to himself."

Kagome let out a shaky laugh. "He's my friend, not my alpha."

"Is he not your leader?"

"We don't have leaders." she explained. "I told you, we're a bit of a motley crew…it wouldn't work well if it worked traditionally."

Kuronue's wings ruffled up, the wind pulling in the wrong direction. "But he would avenge you."

It wasn't a question, but the priestess agreed. "He would." Her words were heavy with a weight Youko didn't understand, a part of her story she had neglected to share. She pushed on. "But I'm not dead, so it'll be fine."

Although unwilling to admit it out loud, the youki Youko could feel was strong...and still speeding towards them. Whatever the kit had done, it hadn't halted him for long. Dog demons were pack animals by trade, regardless of how such a group was structured, and this particular one sounded fiercely loyal to the priestess he had promised to guard.

He pointed as much out to her. "Yeah," she said "he is. What they lack in size, they make up for in protectiveness."

"They?"

"My friends." She turned back to him now, and rather than worry, he saw pride etched on her face. "My own clan, I guess you could say."

"And will they all be so incensed on your behalf?" Kuronue asked.

The wind was still picking up, racing in the direction of the dog demon. Kagome's brow furrowed, a small concern written in the confusion, and said, "Only briefly."

Her energy was slowly moving outwards now, a steady stream rather than a tidal wave, one which ran in the direction of her friend. Whether it was to be reassurance or a threat, Youko didn't know, but it certainly wasn't ready to be an attack. In fact, if anything, her aura radiated a misplaced sense of serenity. Supplicant, safety, soothing—

"You're trying to placate him." He realized, watching her reiki pulsate in a steady rhythm. "Just like in the forest."

Sure enough, all around her the ground shone a particularly vibrant shade of green. She exhaled deeply. "Well, we'll see if it worked."

And just like that, vivid despite the night sky, a roaring red figure bounded into the clearing.

He was…rough, clad in ostentatious cloth, with hair brighter in shade than his own, wielding a sword of magnificently large proportions. It had been the reason for the changing winds, drawing in power even as it was held loosely in his grip. Youko got a glimpse of twin gold and suddenly realized that he must be from the Western Clans, for those were the only ones which so strongly resembled his own…and was the reason they'd been dubbed cousins among the other tribes.

Kagome walked forward, enough so that she was between him and them. Protected by a priestess, how novel.

"Inuyasha!" Her voice was tight with relief, flooded with joy, and either she had impeccable control of her emotions, or she truly followed the mentality of the pack she claimed not to follow. At first Youko thought that the half-breed would embrace her, but his eyes glanced towards them and he seemed to think better of it.

"Oi, you stupid woman, where the hell have you been?"

"I was only gone a week—"

"A week—"

"Yes, Inuyasha, just a week."

"That's a hell of a long time to just disappear—"

"I didn't just disappear, you knew I was safe."

"—all that bullshit about trust—"

"It wasn't!"

"—and you go and run off with the fucking fox anyway!"

"I didn't run off." She huffed. "I took a…temporary leave of absence."

"Bullshit."

"Inuyasha."

Youko watched with avid fascination as coils of energy wrapped around the dog demon's legs, a metaphysical embrace where a physical one was out of place. He knew his sight was clearer than most, his abilities lending themselves with a talent to read auras in all shapes, but wondered if perhaps the canine knew what his companion was doing.

He wasn't opposed to it in any case. His ears flattened against his skull as he took in the sight of the priestess, eyes roaming from top to bottom…checking for injuries, no doubt. "Feh. The others were worried. You can't just leave without tellin' anyone."

She shifted uneasily on her feet. "I know. I know," she insisted, when he shot her a disbelieving look "but it was important, you can understand that."

Once more the dog demon's gaze flit back to Youko's. Without taking his eyes off of him, he replied, "I sent the brat back to camp. He's expecting you back soon though, so you better be quick."

Kagome nodded. "Thank you." She reached forward and gripped his forearm, drawing his attention towards her. "For this. And for not coming after me right away."

"Whatever. Just…tell me what's goin' on next time."

She nodded. "I will." Then she let go of his arm, enough so that she could turn around and gesture to them. "This is Youko and Kuronue. You guys, this is Inuyasha."

"I deduced as much."

She shot him a glare, though it lacked any heat. "Inuyasha, Youko's agreed to teach me what he can about kitsunes…in exchange for some help with a, uh, clan thing."

"What did we just talk about—"

"After the jewel's completed."

The immediate effect of her words was a subtle shift, a minute drop of the shoulders and an exhaled breath. The dog demon glanced to the priestess then with momentary peace, before something occurred to him…at which point his anger clashed terribly with the energy Kagome had been wrapping around him.

The sparks were not visible…but his annoyance certainly was. "You told him about the jewel?"

"No!" She shouted, hands up. "No, I didn't."

The wind was swirling again, getting caught up in the blade—such a powerful artifact, one that tugged at the edge of his sense…he would love to have a chance to study it. Kagome reached out and placed her palm on Inuyasha's, atop the curled fist which threatened to demolish and destroy.

"Inuyasha."

And to Youko's complete bafflement, everything calmed. Perhaps she is the alpha…it would certainly explain a few things.

The dog demon cocked an eyebrow. She waited. He wilted.

"You really didn't say anything?"

"You know I wouldn't."

"Keh. I didn't think you'd run away either."

"For the last time—okay, look. I would never say anything without everyone's approval…but I really want to tell them. He's promised not to steal it."

"Like that means anything."

"It's as if Sesshomaru swore he wouldn't. You'd trust him, right?"

The Lord of the Western Lands? Youko had to bite his tongue to keep from asking, from insisting she tell him how she knew someone so powerful…and how she thought to address him so informally. Was it ignorance or something even more interesting?

Inuyasha was still staring at the priestess, eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't trust that bastard."

"That's a lie Inuyasha and you know it. You just don't like him."

As if contemplating her words, the half breed looked over her shoulder to stare at Youko. Unable to resist a challenge, and also incapable of not indulging in his curiosity, Youko stared back.

"Oi, nancy pants."

He raised an eyebrow. Dimwit.

"Who do you belong to?"

It hadn't been the question he'd expected, but it wasn't something he would begrudge giving up. "Kurama." He said.

"That old kitsune clan? Then you're allied with the Western Lands."

"You are a part of their pack?"

He snorted. "Yeah, no, not quite. But the bastard is allied with us, so breaking a promise with her," he pointed to the priestess, who was glancing between the two, "means facing the consequences of the Western Clans and their treaties."

Youko turned his eyes to the priestess. "I wasn't aware you had such powerful allies."

"It's…complicated. Sesshomaru is an ally out of necessity, not goodwill."

"Still, a worthy foe." He grinned. "I have not had the pleasure of meeting the fearsome leader yet."

He slid his gaze to Kuronue, who was standing silently at his back. The bat-youkai nodded after a pause.

Perhaps there are more perks to tagging along with her group. Addressing Inuyasha again, Youko agreed, "You have my word that I will not steal this jewel you possess."

"You can't use it either. Or steal the pieces we don't have." The priestess piped up, staring hesitantly at her friend.

Inuyasha snorted. "Smooth Kagome."

"Use?" Kuronue asked, striding forward. "I must admit, if my curiosity hadn't been piqued before, your cryptic remarks are quite effective."

Youko shrugged. It wasn't as if he didn't have centuries ahead of him. Kagome was but a human, with a limited life span, and whatever they were collecting would only be in her possession for a brief glimpse of his time. He was a patient man. "Alright. My word then that I will neither covet, steal, nor use this gem."

The silence that followed was tense and disquieting…and broken by the dog demons soft exhale. He put away his sword, the mighty blade condensing into a ratty sheath braced on his hip. "Yeah, that will do."

"And her word," he continued "that at the end of her quest she will fulfill her obligation to me."

"Obligation—"

"Yes." The priestess settled a furtive glance on Inuyasha. "It's not permanent. Trust my judgement?"

It was a demand tucked into a plea, and one that the half breed fulfilled, albeit in a roundabout manner. "Don't know why I do."

The energy that had been swirling around them, sparking and soothing, finally stopped; except this time it wasn't coiled back into her so much as it had settled in between. The difference of discomfort and relief. She sighed. "Thank you."

"Feh. You're gonna have to explain it to the others first, and good luck convincing Sango."

Kagome cringed. "Yeah…right, that." She tilted her head up to him. "Uhm, head start?"

Inuyasha snickered. "You'll need it." He turned to Youko. "You stickin' around for a few days then?"

"I would like to establish the terms of our agreement in more detail," he said slowly, looking towards the priestess "which I feel may take some additional time."

She agreed. "If the others agree, I'm sure you'll want to tag along." She looked past to Kuronue. "Both of you."

Kuronue smiled and said nothing.

She made to leave then, walking past the dog demon and towards where her son had disappeared to, but halted after a few steps.

She turned back to Inuyasha. "I know we need to keep going," she said, "so no matter what, we'll start again tomorrow, right?"

Beguiling, bewitching, befuddling…keeping with the enigmatic style of the conversation, the half breed nodded, but said nothing more than an affectionate agreement.

And with that, the priestess was gone, leaving Youko and Kuronue with her companion…and all of his potential secrets.

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