Chapter 9

Yusuke watches Kagome cradle the phone to her ears, her rigid body trembling as it kept ringing before being answered on the last ring. She cried out, a loud broken sob ripped from her throat, crumbling to the floor, calling to her mother. On the other end he heard the stunned voice of who he imagined to be her family, each one calling her name with a surprised question.

"Mama, you need to leave!" She begged, shoulders trembling, and voice watery. "It's not safe!"

"We know- the city already came out and warned us about the gas leak. They're paying to have us stay in a hotel while they take care of it,"

Kagome's brow furrowed, her tears slowing at her confusion and concern. "Who came out?"

"He said his name was Hikatu? Hikasu? Oh! Here he is now, he said you called him,"

There was the sound of movement before a masculine voice spoke, Yusuke's spine stiffening. "Hey Kagome! Don't worry about your family we're taking care of everything,"

"Hakkaku!?" Yusuke's ears perked at the male name. "Wait! What are you doing there?! Is Ginta and Kouga there too?"

"Hey Kagome!" Another male yelled from far away. She gave a happy grasp of 'Ginta'.

His voice grew soft as he whispered. "It's just us and a couple other members of the pack. When we felt the presence of the Shikon we rushed over, but you weren't here, and there was so much blood," there was worry and concern in the man's voice.

"Are you alright?" The other male asked in an equally quiet voice. "We followed your trail but only found a demon corpse, we would have tried tracking you further but we've been busy keeping the demons at bay here,"

Her body started shaking. "You've been protecting my family?"

The male spoke gently, with such care Yusuke almost growled. "Of course, your our family, pack protects pack,"

She gave a teary smile, a watery laugh being his only response.

"Where are you? It's not safe to be on your own." his tone uneasy and even fearful, as if he knew something.

Kagome worried her lip, her eyes sliding over to Yusuke who quickly looked away, trying to seem indifferent despite the jealousy he currently felt.

"Are the others also with you?"

"Yes!"

"They're still out looking for you. We need to protect you,"

"I'm safe, I'm currently staying at the Jīngshén Shrine. But please don't worry about me, just-" her voice broke. "-just keep my family safe for me, okay?"

The two spoke as one "OF COURSE!"

"Can I talk to mama?" The phone was handed over with a muffled good-bye and then her mother was on the line.

"Hi mama," she sniffled with a weak smile. "I'm sorry I won't be home anytime soon,"

"That's okay sweetie, just be safe. I might not know what's going on, but I have faith you'll do the right thing,"

Kagome cradled the phone with a whimper, hugging it to her face as if she could hug the person on the other end.

"I love you Kagome,"

"I love you too mama,"

"Do what feels right,"

She sniffled, a confident grin taking her face. "I will. I'll call you later,"

"Okay sweetie, bye-bye,"

"Bye," still smiling Kagome hung up the phone, and whipped at her teary face with the back of her sleeve.

"Feel better?" Yusuke asked.

She gave him a teary smile and nod. "Yes,"

"Good cause Grandma wants to start training, "

Her eyes widened. "Right now?! So soon?"

"Quit your whining girl!" Genkai interrupt. Stepping forward to leer down at the girl. "Why let a few flesh wounds stop you?! You want to stay weak forever?"

"No," Kagome growled back, cheeks heating and eyes narrowing.

"Good, that's the kind of attitude I like to see," she grinned before turning her back to the girl and eyeing her successor. "Don't just stand there, you have training to do to!"

"What!? Why me to?"

Genkai just kept walking, expecting the two to follow, and if they didn't she'd drag them. A smirk pulled at her lips, as big as the headache those two would surely give her later, the potential they both carried would be well worth the trouble.

"Don't just walk away from grandma! I ain't training! You hear me! " he yelled even as he marched after her angrily.

Kagome brought up the end with a gentle giggle.

Jīngshén: Meaning Psychic in Chinese. I couldn't, for the life of me, find what Genkai calls her shrine- if it even is a shrine. So if you know, please tell me in a review and I'll fix it.

wolfYLady: I was genuinely surprised when a reader guessed at Kouga and the wolves be introduced. (And you were close.) I hope to have everyone- and I mean EVERYONE- coming up in the next couple of chapters.

I also wanted to say how sorry I for taking so long to post, sadly I've been really depressed making it difficult to write or even post chapters. If you are still reading thank you so much, it means a lot to me that there are people out there that still enjoy my writing.

Thank you.