Summary: By nature, Kagome was anything but cruel. She was kind, compassionate, and friendly, so how in the world did she ever achieve the title of strongest girl in Japan? It was something she certainly didn't boast about. Instead, Takemichi couldn't help but notice how she seemed to regard such a thing as a burden, but why…?

Pairing: Undecided

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Chapter Eight

They'd exited the tattoo parlor. As the door closed behind him, Draken searched out the small, raven-haired girl. She wasn't far from him. If he didn't know better, he'd assume she was waiting for him. It was almost like she knew he had more to say. She looked at him, a faint knowing light reflected in the stunning blue of her eyes. Draken closed the space between them, and it was then that she finally started walking.

He was mindful to slow his pace to make sure she could keep up without any stress or strain.

"So, your Aniki, huh?" he asked, glancing down at her as they walked down the streets, referring to her prior statement. "He got one like that, too?"

She glanced up at him, a brief flicker of surprise flashing across her face. She looked as though she'd been anticipating something else. Her surprise soon faded as a soft smile appeared on her face. She lifted a hand to tuck a dark lock of hair behind her ear. "Ah, yeah," she responded. "Something like that."

"You two must have a good bond if you're willing to do something like that," he remarked. He didn't miss the way her smile softened some. Something more vulnerable flashed through her eyes, but he made no comment on it.

"It means a lot," she said. "The mark, that is," she clarified. "It's something he'd never ask or demand I do. It'd mean nothing if that were the case."

For her to willingly bear a connection in the form of a mark to him was a sign of something much more than a superficial connection. She couldn't accept a mark of his own blood due to her spiritual powers, but something like this was as close as it could come for her.

"What's he like?"

Kagome was taken aback by that question when she first heard it. A moment later, her smile grew to a faint laugh. "We're pretty different," she said, catching onto the reason behind his question. "But he's really strong, and he can be aloof and cold," she explained. She looked at Draken, her smile seeming more forced the longer he looked at her. "Admittedly, we're not bound by means like blood," she said, "but he's one of the only ones I have left." Her voice grew softer as she sighed. "To call him kind would be a severe misjudgment. He's not kind or pleasant to be around if you don't matter to him, but if you are someone who matters to him, it's different. He's not easy to get along with. He's arrogant and haughty, but to me…-" she paused, her smile softening. "If I'm with him, then it's like I'm home.

She'd said more than she meant to, but she could tell he was someone she could say such things to. When she saw the shift in his expression, she turned away, letting her attention return to the street ahead of them. As she fell silent, she could feel Draken observing her. A moment later, a faint smile appeared on his face as he mirrored her actions of turning back forward as they walked beside each other.

"Sounds like quite the guy, if you ask me," he remarked. "I guess it makes sense for you to be the way you are, though."

That comment took her by surprise, and she glanced up at him, confusion peppering her face. "Huh?"

Draken shook his head, brushing off her confusion as he grinned down at her. "It's nothing, don't worry."

Kagome pursed her lips in a mild pout. Draken wasn't fazed by her expression. His phone rang, and he reached to pull it out of his pocket. Upon glancing at the caller, he answered.

"Huh? Yeah, we're outside," he said to whoever was on the other end of the call. "Just come on already."

A few seconds later, he hung up. He looked at Kagome, noting how the confusion still remained on her face. By now, the street lights had started to come on in order to illuminate the darkening scenery around them. Before any words could be exchanged, the thrum of a motorcycle could be heard coming closer. There was a second with it. Before long, the headlights could be seen.

What the…-?

There were no words said as two different figures came to a halt on the street beside them. One she recognized, but the other was a different matter. Either way… upon gauging his aura, she didn't peg him as someone to be wary of.

"Nice to see you again," Mikey said as he glanced at her. He regarded her with a smile as he put the kickstand to his motorcycle down and got up. He must've noticed her flat expression once he got closer. "There's no trick, don't worry," he said. "Just coincidence, you know?"

"Coincidence?" she repeated. Mikey nodded, his smile carefree and genuine.

"Ken-chin said he'd run into you, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to come out, too," he explained. "Toman's having a meeting," he went on to say. "What do you say to coming with?"

Kagome was quiet following that question. Being near Mikey left her with complicated feelings. Maybe it was due to the impact that first meeting had on her, maybe it was another matter altogether, she didn't know. He wasn't a bad person, not from what she could tell with her senses, but…-

"I…-" She was about to reject the offer altogether before a separate thought took reign. Despite her lack of interest, she found herself weighing the options. After all… maybe it was in her best interest, on some level, to go through with it? Her ability to glimpse into the future was no longer with her, but maybe going through with this meeting would have some impact on the future? Or, at the very least, maybe it could put her on a path that'd eventually spiral it to change?

Her silence wasn't missed, and she emerged from her thoughts just in time to avoid any questions about it. She sighed, threading her fingers through her hair to brush it back out of her face.

"Fine…-" she relented. It took Mikey by surprise when she agreed so suddenly.

"Huh? Really?" he asked. Kagome nodded.

"Might as well."

The rally point was a shrine much like the one she grew up on and lived on still. The only difference was this one was seemingly empty, save for the rallied gang members. She felt many eyes on her as she walked alongside Mikey. Any question or retaliation about her presence was swiftly shut down when it was made clear she had been Mikey's guest.

She wasn't oblivious to the reason she'd been invited to a normally private function. She was an outsider of the gang's ranks, and she had no place there as someone who wasn't a part of it. She'd rejected the initial invitation that first day, and it was clear the reason behind her being there that night was to try and sway her to their favor. At least, to her, it was clear.

How unfortunate she wasn't one to be so easily swayed.

000

It was a few hours later before she ended up leaving. Even though she could find her way home just fine on her own, she was stopped before she'd fully left down the shrine steps. Most of the rest had left, so when she turned to face who it was that'd stopped her, she wasn't exactly surprised.

"I can take you home if you want," Mikey offered as he caught up to her. She weighed her options and soon enough decided to take him up on his offer considering just how late it was.

While she was more than capable of taking care of herself, she didn't exactly look forward to the chance of getting swept up in some sort of late-night trouble as the streets grew rougher. She sighed and swept a hand through her hair, relenting to the offer.

"Yeah, sure, why not?" she responded.

000

The streets were mostly empty, but that was to be expected with it nearing midnight already. Kagome kept her hand on the small bar behind her, her gaze pointed at the sky as the wind whipped through her hair.

In the silence between them, to her surprise, he was the first to break it.

"Why'd you agree to go tonight?" Mikey asked. Kagome shifted her gaze from the sky and forward. She couldn't see his expression, but that meant nothing to her. She could read his aura perfectly clear. She was silent for a few more seconds before she sighed.

"Make no mistake," she stated. "I still have no interest in joining." She reached to grip the back of his jacket as they slowed down for a red light. Once they'd fully stopped, her grip fell as if it'd never been there. "I don't believe I have it in me to sit idly by and listen to another's orders. I'd cause far too much trouble for you if I ever were to join Toman."

Mikey laughed. "So, in other words, you're just nosy and do what you want," he responded. She couldn't help but laugh in agreement.

"You're pretty spot on," she remarked. "This way there's no repercussions for any group specifically if I go jumping into trouble."

"I get it," he responded. The light turned green and they started moving again. Surprised, Kagome reached out again and gripped the back of his jacket with a bit more force than intended. When she went to pull her hand away, Mikey spoke again. "You can hold on to me if you need," he stated. "I don't mind."

Kagome ignored the flush of pink seeping into her cheeks as she pulled her hand back either way. "You're imagining things."

Her defensive tone made him laugh. As suddenly as it'd started, their conversation ended. It wasn't much longer until they made it to their intended destination. They came to a halt, Mikey once more putting down the kickstand and getting up first. Kagome followed soon after, reaching to unbuckle the clasp of the helmet and taking it off. She handed it back to him and reached up to smooth her hair back in place. As she did, Mikey glanced from her and to the shrine they were at.

"So you live here?" he asked. The building wasn't even visible due to the long staircase. Kagome nodded.

"Yeah," she said. "What about it?"

Mikey looked at her before shaking his head. "Nothing," he said. "It's peaceful, is all."

Kagome was quiet for several long seconds, merely gazing up the dozens of stairs as the moon got blocked out by some clouds. After a moment, she sighed and broke away from him. "Yeah," she whispered. "I suppose it is."

The bushes at the base of the steps rustled some. Kagome wasn't fazed as she looked toward them, Mikey mirroring her actions. A few seconds of silence went by before a small cat emerged from them. A small smile lingered on Kagome's face as she crouched to pick the cat up.

"I guess that means Shippo is back now?" she murmured softly to the cat. "Good, I'm glad," she sighed, leaning to press her forehead gently to the cat's head. "I was starting to get worried."

Before Mikey could comment, the cat in Kagome's arms turned full attention to him. Kagome turned, her arms cradling the cat with a warm tenderness.

"This is Kirara," she said, nodding to the cat that'd shown up out of the blue. "She's always curious about new people who come around, but she doesn't mean any harm," she explained. With those words, she's the one who took the initiative to bridge the gap, stepping closer. The cat looked to have no intention of moving, seemingly perfectly content and calm where she was.

Mikey looked from the cat and back to Kagome's face. There was an emotion present in her eyes, yet it was masked. It looked to be bleeding through by accident alone. He lifted a hand and held it out toward the cat, letting her sniff without getting too close. After a second or two she nudged her whiskers against his fingers.

"You're an older sister, aren't you?" he asked. It seemed abrupt, and Kagome cut her eyes back up to meet his own.

"Huh?" She's barely given that response any sound. There was a trace of surprise in her eyes, paired with another emotion threatening to bleed through the mask she kept up.

"You act like an elder sibling," Mikey stated. "You mask a lot, but that's one thing that always seems to come through." He looked at her, spotting the way her expression fell. Her grip on Kirara grew a bit tighter, but the cat didn't react even once.

"You're right," she mused softly. "I am."

She was.

There was a weight to her words. He noticed it, but a part of him knew better than to comment on it. Had she wanted, she'd be the one to do so.

"You seem wiser than others," Mikey stated. "I don't know what it is, but something about you," he added, his voice going softer. Kagome lifted her gaze, bright blue clashing against black. "You…-"

"Kagome~!"

There was no warning before another figure descended the stairs to where they stood at the base of the shrine. A tall figure with long, auburn hair pulled up in a neat ponytail. Emerald eyes cut through the darkness as they settled on Mikey. At the same time, he wrapped both arms around her shoulders in a clinging hug. At once, Kagome swapped focus to him.

A few bandages covered his arms, as well as a square pad of gauze on his right cheek. He wasn't fazed as he leaned to press that side of his face against her own. Kagome noticed, pushing him off as Kirara hopped up onto the newcomer's shoulder.

"Shippo…-!" There was a chiding tone lacing her voice as she lifted a hand to press it against the side of his face. He wasn't fazed by her tone, his smile only growing wider as he stole her full attention away from the unfamiliar boy there with her. "How many times do I have to tell you to be careful…-?" Kagome huffed, pulling her hand away and folding her arms over her chest. Her reserved disposition had melted away with his presence, revealing another side by pure coincidence. "Seriously, you can be as reckless as Inuyasha, you know?"

That comment brought a pout to his face. "How can you compare me to him?" he grumbled. Kagome's brow twitched as she glared at him.

"Because it's like you've learned all his recklessness," she fired back with a chiding tone.

"Nuh-uh!" Shippo argued back, a pout on his face. "He's annoying and never comes to see you," he huffed. "I'm nothing like him!"

Kagome sighed and turned away from him. The moment she glanced back at Mikey, Shippo once more curled both arms around her shoulders, peering at the blonde from over her shoulder with a cold gleam in his eyes, seeming to size him up without making it obvious. Despite that, it was clear she knew about it, especially when she reached up to tug a free strand of auburn hair.

"Knock it off," she stated. "He's a friend."

Shippo sighed but did as she had said. He looked away then, clearly having no interest in being amicable with the blonde. Kagome sighed and shook her head.

"Shippo can be a bit rude and abrasive with guys he doesn't know," Kagome stated, deciding to offer Mikey some sort of explanation about the clingy boy. He never means anything by it," she said, reaching up to pat the side of his head gently. At once, his scowl faded. "It's just his way of protecting the people he cares about. It's a complete one-eighty with kids and girls, though."

"He's certainly…-" Mikey trailed off, thinking of what to say without coming off as rude. Kagome smiled when she caught on.

"Give him time to warm up to you, and you'll see a huge difference," she stated. A second later, she sighed and shook her head. "I should go now," she said as she turned on her heel. "See you around."

"Right," Mikey responded, watching as she started up the staircase. "If you want, I'll come get you for the next meeting."

The offer made her pause. Her back to him, she didn't worry about keeping her expression neutral. Concern bled into her gaze as she looked down at the ground.

Was she making the right choices?

The offer hung in the air for nearly a whole minute before any sort of response came from her. She pulled her expression back under control as she turned to look his way.

"Yeah. Sounds good," she said. Not long after, she turned and resumed her trek up the stairs.

With no way to know, all she could do was hope. Hopefully it was still a good idea to follow her instincts.

Auroua-chan: Gonna wrap this chapter up here. Gradually Kagome is growing closer to Mikey. Inevitably it's what seals her fate in the mess of their future but maybe it's all worth it?

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you all for reading and I hope you all enjoyed. Hopefully I caught all the errors before posting, but if not sorry.

Please remember to Review&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~