Here we have it.

Disclaimer: I suppose since these are required, I must say, "I do not own anything of this fic but the idea!"

xlii — reunions II

"It's been a while," Kagome said softly, her mouth curved downward as she leaned against the colossal green-tinted cage. Her palms rested flat against the bars, her curious nose wandering past one of the gaps in between. The ambient lighting was a dim, musty yellow shade and seemingly concentrated on her for its focal point, allowing utter darkness to stretch past everywhere else in the distance. Hidden under the thick veil of everlasting shadows, Kyuubi hissed at her, his blood-red eyes all that were visible of him.

"Any closer and I'll singe the skin off your pretty face!" he snarled, gaze narrowing.

Kagome's eyes glistened with restrained tears as her expression rearranged itself to depict both joy and sorrow.

"You don't want me to see you," she whispered, trying to inch closer past the unconquerable seal that was Kyuubi's confinement. "Are you ashamed of yourself, Youko?"

Kyuubi's eyes widened at the name she spoke so familiarly, and with a heinous cry he charged forth. He threw his entire body against the cage, though he managed to draw naught but a cruel rattling noise from doing so. He was crouched down on all fours, crimson eyes large and demented as he visually drank in the features of his—mate.

"Curse you… curse you, wicked priestess!"

Kagome regarded him with pity as she appraised him silently, her eyelids drooping low. Her incomplete grip on the massive bars of the cage turned vice-like as she frowned at his orange-colored fur and his long-since evaporated mannerisms and charm.

"Because of me, they banished you from their ranks," she said lowly. "Youko… it's my fault."

"Come inside, I will devour you!" Globs of spit flew from Kyuubi's gaping jaws as he futilely pushed his oversized muzzle against his prison.

"If you hadn't been forced to become a Red Fox…" Tears trickled down Kagome's cheeks as she spoke in a cracked tone, oblivious to the mad howls of the demon before her. "If… if your tails had never changed colors…"

.

.

.

Kagome smiled wearily at the silver-haired man whom had replaced the large, orange-furred beast. She extended her hand past the bars, hoping to entwine her fingers with him one last time. He outstretched his arm in her direction as well, a charismatic smirk tilting his lips. The tips of their fingers brushed against each other, before Kagome's rose up in the direction where a set of fox ears resided. They twitched atop a crown of silver hair, teasing her as she sought to reach a bit further. It was no use, and she settled for running her touch down the front of his white silken attire, relishing in the exquisite feel, of what she had not felt for centuries.

"Youko," she whispered.

His hand drifted to her own, and grasped it. Golden orbs remained fixated to her for the longest of times, until they gradually bled into crimson.

.

.

.

Her mood was blissful even as Kyuubi—yes, it was a vile creature named Kyuubi, it was not her beloved and handsome Youko Kurama—gnashed on her whole right arm with his fangs, reducing it to a bloody mangled mess of flesh that was tearing apart like seams on cheap clothing. Her pain was nothing compared to her relief and elation. Kyuubi, with a violent tug on her person, yanked her past the bars into his shadowed prison. There he tore away at her limp body, all the while as Kagome wore a look of ecstasy that out shined her blood-tainted features. Tears of reprieve flooded down from her blank eyes.

"Yes, yes, yes…" she cheered weakly. "It wasn't him… Youko was never caught… because of me…"

You know, we all have our inner demons. I, for one - I can't speak for you, but I'm on the verge of moral collapse at any time. It can happen by the end of the show.

—Glenn Beck

Author's Note: Yeah, I write some pretty crazy shit once in a while! Also, yes, by "Youko Kurama" we are speaking of the one from Yu Yu Hakusho. Google, if need be.

7 Cardinal Sins Suggestions Corner:

1) Namikaze Minato (as requested by AnimeFreakAmanda)

2) Suigetsu (as requested by Thyme Spirit)

3) Kakashi (as requested by darksilvercloud & Speedykitten1643)

4) Itachi (as requested by an anonymous reader)

5) Yahiko (as requested by Sin of the Fallen)

6-7) Open slot; sorry, one request per person, just to be fair!