InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Dragon's Possession ❯ Chapter 2

Title: A Dragon's Possession

Author: Ryukotsusei

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. I merely borrow the characters from time to time for my own amusement.

 

 

Chapter Two

 

 

Hiei's arms tightened possessively around the miko's small body while he continued walking down the hallway towards the main room. He hadn't been in the presence of his team mates for more than two minutes and already he was fed up with the questions he was receiving from Kurama and Kuwabara. That irritation though paled in comparison to what he felt about the accusing glares that were being directed his way. It was to be expected that Kuwabara would stare at him disapprovingly, but to be honest he didn't particularly care what the human thought of him. It was the looks that Yusuke had been giving him that had him wanting to lash out in anger. 'Who the hell does the Detective think he is? Haven't we been through enough together for him to know that I would never force my attentions on someone?' It was a serious blow to the trust that they had managed to form over the many years they had worked together and whether Hiei wanted to admit it or not, Yusuke's opinion was one of the few in all three realms that mattered to him.

 

 

Still he managed to keep a tight rein on his temper, maintaining his silence as the exited the staircase and ventured into the main lobby of the building. All conversation ceased at their entrance and there were more than a few hostile looks being thrown there way causing his scowl to deepen. This was where things could get complicated and he knew it. The owner was too good of a contact to lose just because those fools he called friends had decided to barge in and blow the scenario that he had set up. Someway, somehow he had to fix this before it became a completely lost cause. Steeling himself for what was to come he stopped in the middle of the room and began looking for the owner. Unsurprisingly his teammates stopped as well, all casting confused looks at him as they waited to see what it was he was doing. He didn't even bother to acknowledge them when Kurama spoke his name softly, they needed to shut up and let him work. If they left now he would never be able to use this place as a potential source of information again. Finally he spotted the owner who was gazing at him with an unreasonable expression and he gave Yusuke a penetrating look, "You three wait here, do not interfere."

 

 

He saw Yusuke's mouth open in protest but he silenced him with a darkening glare that promised pain if he heard so much as a word, "You fools interrupted my time here without cause. You will stay out of this." It was with satisfaction that he noticed the owner's expression relax ever so slightly upon hearing that statement. Perhaps there was a chance he could pull this off after all. He shifted his grip on Kagome ever so slightly and walked purposefully towards the demon. While he could have handed her off to one of the others he was loath to chance what the dragon would do if she was in another male's possession. Upon reaching the demon he lowered his voice purposefully, allowing his full irritation to come through in his tone, "I'd like to speak with you in private. Now."

 

 

The demon nodded ever so slightly while covertly taking in both of their appearances. Hearing the way the apparition had spoken to the supposed leader of the ragtag group had made it obvious to him that Hiei was less than pleased by their arrival. It was also apparent by the girl's current condition that the smaller demon had indeed given her quite a workout before they had been interrupted. 'Perhaps this is merely a coincidence, I cannot image him taking her to bed knowing that the others would be coming for them both.' It just wouldn't have made sense for Hiei to have taken her to his bed with Koenma expecting her safe return. While the apparition might be in full rut that didn't render him incapable of thinking. Nodding once he turned from his client and quickly walked towards his office, knowing that Hiei was following closely behind him.

 

Once the door was shut firmly behind them Hiei allowed his aura to flare slightly in anger but he was cautious about letting it spike too high. Knowing his current luck the others would believe he was starting a fight and would bust down the door which would force him to kill someone. He wasn't about to start hedging bets on who his first victim would be. "I take there's a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why you didn't detain them long enough for me to at least get my pants on before they barged through the door. I don't appreciate being interrupted, even by them. Especially by them," Hiei allowed his words to sink in for a moment before pressing on, "Now I have the job of explaining to Koenma exactly how I came across a human since you couldn't be bothered to warn me of their arrival." As expected the other demon paled slightly at the mention of Koenma's name, his words having the desired effect. With luck he would be able to keep the owner on the defensive so he wouldn't suspect that he had been sent to retrieve the girl.

 

 

"It is most unfortunate that they showed up Hiei, the guards did attempt to stop them but as you are well aware the Mazuko is more than a match for most. However I assure you it will not happen again, I will be looking into hiring more competent employees to keep undesirables like those three from entering. I trust you will be able to keep Koenma from knowing the truth behind our dealings?" He stared at the hybrid intently who seemed to be contemplating his question. While convincing the Reikai that his establishment had no dealings with humans would be difficult at best it was by no means impossible, not for Hiei anyway. Still, he sensed the slight hesitation and decided to see if he could push it a bit further since he had everything to lose should the apparition deem it none of his concern, "I can tell you weren't able to satisfy your every desire with the girl due to their untimely arrival, perhaps if you had more time it would have been a different story. I propose a deal for you, if you can guarantee Koenma will stay out of our affairs that is."

 

 

Hiei looked at him with an eyebrow raised at the man's audacity. The owner truly wasn't in any position to be offering a deal but for the sake of appearances he would hear him out. Shrugging his shoulders as if it where no concern to him one way or another Hiei gave him a skeptical look, "Go on, I'm listening."

 

 

The owner grinned slightly, at least the apparition was willing to hear him out. "I'll return the price you paid for the night to you since you weren't able to take full advantage of it. In addition, I propose the next time you visit be free of any charges. I don't wish for our current arrangement to end, you are a valued patron.” It was a generous offer, especially for one who visited so frequently, it would be a shame if he were to lose the apparition's business. “I know that your acquaintances are likely to question the human's presence so if you are so minded you can take her with you. However you wish to explain her to them or Koenma is completely up to you. Will that be enough to resolve any hard feelings over their intrusion? In return I ask only for your silence in the workings that go on in this building," As he spoke he reached the drawer of his desk that he'd placed the gold in earlier in the night and withdrew the two bags. Eagerly he slid them across the desk towards the apparition and waited in silence for Hiei's answer. This was a crossroads that could completely change his life, should Hiei choose to ignore the offer he could easily be spending the next several centuries in Reikai prison for dealing in human slaves.

 

 

"Fine, I'll deal with Koenma and the three fools waiting outside. Should he send someone to question you I arrived here with the girl and paid for a room. If you slip up and say the wrong thing it's no longer my problem but I will expect you to agree to the terms you specified," Hiei said, knowing the owner was in no position to argue with the terms of the agreement anyway. A smirk crossed his face when the demon nodded, sealing the deal. Overall he'd made out quite well with the deal and it was almost enough to cut through the majority of his anger. If nothing else it saved him a bit of gold the next time he decided he needed to release some sexual tension. Carefully he freed one of his hands and picked up the two bags of gold securing them in the folds of his cloak before readjusting his hold on the girl. Now that their business was concluded Hiei stepped out of the office and made his way back to his teammates.

 

 

The casual way Hiei was walking towards them managed to piss Yusuke off all over again. It was like the man didn't have a care in the world, never mind that he'd just fucked someone that was supposed to be a job. "What the hell was that all about Hiei?" Yusuke's voice was low and dangerous as he stared down at the apparition, demanding an answer. He wasn't sure what bothered him more, the fact that Hiei seemed to be on extremely friendly terms with someone who enslaved human females or the fact that he couldn't tell whether what the hybrid had done to the miko was consensual or not. Even he could tell that Hiei's cycle was full force upon him without having to have been told. Friendship be damned he'd have no problem beating the hell out of his friend if he had forced the girl into having sex with him. Normally he wouldn't even consider that as a possibility but with demon mating cycles all bets were off.

 

 

"You will shut up or I will make you Detective, what happened is none of your concern and right now I have no desire to cater to your curiosity," Hiei snarled at the man in anger. One way or another they needed to get out of there before either Yusuke or Kuwabara opened their mouths and said something about the mission. He had just fixed it, it would be just his luck for them to break it again. Only Kurama could be counted on to keep silent until later, if only the other two could learn some similar restraint he'd consider it a blessing.

 

 

Kurama immediately picked up on what it was Hiei wasn't saying and stepped in between them before a fight could break out, "Hiei is right, we can discuss this at a later time. For now, let's get back to the Ningenkai, I'm sure we can discuss things there at my place. Surely Hiei is growing tired of holding onto his woman and I doubt she'd enjoy knowing that you two were bickering over him bringing her here." The brief look of relief that flashed through Hiei's eyes was enough to tell him he'd said the right thing. There were very few instances that Kurama could think of for moving so quickly and diffusing a situation with one of his own contacts but this was obviously important to him. Few gave the apparition the credit he was due when it came to intelligence but Kurama knew and would never be guilty of underestimating him.

 

 

Yusuke transferred his glare to the redhead but nodded his agreement anyway. If nothing else, he trusted the Fox implicitly and if he said to wait then he would go with it. The reference of Hiei bringing her here himself told him there was something more going on that he wasn't privy to as of yet, it was best to bide his time.

 

Kuwabara was being strangely silent about the entire thing but he continued to look between Hiei and Kagome, trying to figure out just what it was about her that was throwing him off. 'She's supposed to be human right? So why is she surrounded by demonic energy?' The tangled energy that cloaked the girl was puzzling, shouldn't miko's be able to destroy anything demonic that they came in contact with? Then again, Hiei hadn't been reduced to a pile of ash so either she could control it or it was bound somehow. The purity the girl radiated was unlike anything he had seen before and he could sense the energy radiating from the Jewel as well but the demonic ki was dark and sinister, pulsating around her body in reaction to the emotions that were being given off. Somehow the ki felt similar to Hiei but even his aura paled in comparison to the malevolence it was giving off. Kuwabara's eyes widened as memory came to him of the Dark Tournament when Hiei had called the Dragon of Darkness Flame the second time, "What the hell did you do to her Hiei?" He shuddered as he moved closer to her, the dark aura that cloaked her body flaring up in warning only to be matched by a similar flare coming from Hiei's arm.

 

 

Hiei was temped to growl at the tone Kuwabara was so eager to use but settled for glaring at him instead. He had no need to explain himself or any of his actions to the human standing in front of him that was trying to be intimidating. The action itself was rather laughable considering Kuwabara was doing his best to control the shudder that wracked his body when he felt the protective aura of the Dragon flare. For whatever reason it had chosen her, and now the creature was making it blatantly obvious to all that she was under it's protection. Even if it meant standing up against it's Master's teammates.

 

 

Yusuke and Kurama took a slight step back as they felt the malevolence radiating from Hiei's arm. But it only came as a slight surprise to Kurama as he watched the Dragon begin to free itself from the apparition's arm, hissing its fury at being challenged.

 

Sensing the impending disaster, Hiei unleashed the full power of the Jagan in an attempt to assert his dominance over the creature, determined to regain control. He just couldn't allow it to devour the fool, no matter how much the human annoyed him at times.

 

Kurama placed his hand on Kuwabara's shoulder to gain his attention away from the spectacle that was unfolding before them. The dragon coming loose in the middle of this building could mean nothing good and it was best to allow Hiei to do what he needed to before all hell broke loose. Seeing that he had his friend's attention, Kurama nodded towards the apparition, "Perhaps we should move back Kuwabara. There is more going on here than meets the eye and it would be unwise to force a confrontation here."

 

 

Once they had stepped back the Dragon began to calm, seeing the imminent threat diminishing. It would not allow any to separate it from the girl, any who tried would feel the full force of it's anger. Hiei wondered at the creatures possessiveness. It wasn't unusual that most of the time he could sense it's thoughts and feelings to some degree, but now they had become that considerably stronger than anything he'd felt before, with the exception of the heat of a battle. The need to destroy in the creature was strong and it had been something he had always accepted without question. But now it had changed slightly and it left him confused, for now the beast had the urge to protect the small woman in his arms. Despite her power and despite the jewel he couldn't fathom what it was about her that called to the dragon in such a fashion. 'What is it's purpose in choosing her out of all the women I've been around in the past? Even Mukuro would have made more sense than a miko!' The urge to rub at the impending headache was nearly overwhelming but he refrained since it would mean going through the trouble of working his hand free. Only once he had the dragon settled did he begin to make his way towards the portal he had used to enter the Makai. The others could follow or not as they wished although somehow he doubted he would be lucky enough for them to part ways without an interrogation occurring.

 

 

While he walked closer and closer to the portal his mind was racing as to possible solutions to the problem. Admitting that Kurama was right was the first step, like it or not the Reikai took an extremely dim view on unions between humans and demon. Compounding the problem was that holy energy was on the opposite end of the energy spectrum from the ki all demons possessed. The two were meant to destroy each other and there was no way of arguing with that particular fact. To date he'd never heard of their kind coming together but if there was one thing Hiei had learned over the years it was there was a first time for everything.

 

The regulations the Reikai had placed upon human reproduction were strict, even if the human's didn't realize they were even in place. That had been just one of many reasons that the great barrier had been raised in the first place, to prevent hanyou children from being conceived. Having weaker blood would make it extremely easy for the demonic traits to overpower a human's mind, rendering them insane. It had happened before and was likely to happen again should the species have a chance to intermingle once again which brought him back to his current problem. Now that he, and by he it was actually the dragon but that was splitting hairs, had been bonded to a powerful miko he had to consider the consequences of their rutting together. There was a chance, however slight in his opinion that their joining would result in a child. 'Thank God it is the human females that determine fertility instead of the males as in our race. There would be no end to the problems I would have on my hands otherwise.' Of course that would be assuming that the merging energies wouldn't destroy each other before a child could be conceived.

 

If by some miracle the unthinkable occurred the Reikai would surely step in. The incident with Sensui had given him enough experience as to King Enma's views on hanyou's and their potential power levels. It had only been by Puu's interference that Yusuke's transformation hadn't been halted by the SDF. The Toushin was powerful, Hiei had to give him that, but would it be a match for a child who was likely to be born with immunity to demonic attacks by virtue of a miko's blood? There was just no way of knowing and it was something he'd rather not deal with right now. 'I'd rather not deal with it at all, raising a child is not something I've ever considered doing in this life time.' Now more than ever he wished he had a more sensitive sense of smell but being an elemental apparition limited his abilities. Perhaps then he would be able to determine whether this particular woman was fertile or not.

 

Sighing heavily he readjusted his grip on her, thankfully they were approximately the same height or carrying the girl would have been even more bothersome. Soon they would need to stop anyway since a decision needed to be made about what to do about her in the first place. Should he just hand her over to the Reikai and be done with it? The idea was appealing but not necessarily feasible nor realistic. Until he could determine just what the dragon wanted with her it would be a constant fight to keep it under control. Separating the two of them would just be asking for trouble and eventually the beast would manage to wear him down. He could only imagine the destruction that would be wrought as the creature destroyed anything that stood in its way of reclaiming her. That of course would mark him for death with the Reikai. King Enma would not allow such a transgression to go unpunished. 'I knew I should have told Koenma to shove that pacifier up his ass while I had the chance.'

 

 

Yusuke was more than a little tired of being ignored and in his opinion they were far enough away from the brothel that they could have a little chat. "We're stopping here and Hiei, you will give me the answers I want," Yusuke said as he came to a stop, fully expecting the others to as well. So far the apparition had remained silent for the entire trip and it wouldn't be long before they reached the rendezvous point where Botan would open a portal that would allow them into the Reikai. He had to know what they were walking into when they reconvened in Koenma's office. This was one situation that he refused to walk in blindly.

 

 

“Just a moment Detective,” Hiei replied wearily and began looking about for a suitable place to set the miko down. To his consternation the ground was littered with rocks of various sizes and any place that he laid her down was likely to wake her up simply from the uncomfortable conditions. While he normally wouldn't give a damn one way or another this conversation had the potential of turning ugly and it was best if she heard as little of it as possible. 'I'm worrying over a human female. Tch, I should kick my own ass.' Shoving the masochistic thoughts aside for the moment he threw a look over at the kitsune and then indicated an area of thin grass just beneath a tree.

 

Kurama raised a brow at the implied request but complied easily enough. It took minimal effort to encourage the grass to grow and before long a thick enough cover existed to provide some form of comfortable bedding. “That should suit her just fine for the moment. Now if you all please, let's try to keep things quiet shall we?”

 

Nodding his thanks Hiei took a moment to lay her on the thick covering of grass and then made sure the blanket was in no danger of coming off of her body. For a moment he hesitated, it wouldn't be long before they were moving again and the bulky material was more of a hindrance than anything else. He contemplated taking his cloak off and wrapping her in it but to do that would mean exposing her to the others. The frown he was wearing deepened at that thought but he shrugged it off. If necessary he'd just tell them to turn the hell around and avert their eyes before they left. Once he was certain that she was comfortable and unlikely to wake up he turned to face the irate Detective, "What is it you want to know? You do realize the longer we remain in the Makai the more likely we are to be attacked."

 

 

"Of course I know that Hiei, I'm not stupid remember? I hate to break it to you but you're in some deep shit here. Do you really think Koenma is just going to let you go after what you've done? If we're going to help you then you've got to tell us what happened in there!" Without knowing the circumstances he couldn't begin to guess at what Koenma or his father was going to do and Yusuke had no desire to see Hiei imprisoned again, certainly not for touching the girl. The toddler should have known better than to send Hiei, especially considering the apparition's current problem. Although Yusuke wasn't sure just what they could do, he'd be damned if he would see his friend punished for something he likely had little to no control over. Still, for his own peace of mind he had to know what went on before they had arrived.

 

 

"For the record Yusuke I don't need your help. I am quite capable of handling Koenma on my own. But if you must know I paid for the girl's services. Only for the night so that it would not look out of place when I made the offer to outright purchase her which was what Koenma originally wanted me to do. Hiroshi is too good of a contact to lose just because the Reikai managed to lose track of one of their charges," Hiei shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn't a big deal. Hopefully that would be enough for them to drop the subject but somehow he doubted it. So it wasn't too big of a surprise when Kuwabara voiced his opinion on the matter, much to his irritation.

 

 

"You mean to tell me you pick up prostitutes? I hate to tell you Shorty but she's not one of those girls. I don't care if you gave the man money or not, you shouldn't have touched her!" Kuwabara couldn't begin to imagine what the hell Hiei had been thinking by taking her to his bed. The cavalier attitude the apparition displayed about the whole thing was more than enough to piss him off.

 

Yusuke stepped up and put a hand on Kuwabara's shoulder, gaining the man's attention,“Easy there, I'm sure he has his reasons. I'm just waiting to hear them.” It was his time for questioning and if Kuwabara continued on with his tangent it was entirely possible the Apparition would close up completely. If that happened it was highly unlikely they wouldn't get anything more out of him. For now he gave Hiei a considering look and then glanced over at the sleeping girl, "I understand how she came to be in your room but how'd she get the bruises Hiei?" It was an indirect way of asking whether or not he had forced the girl but it would get him the answers he wanted. He wouldn't outright accuse his friend of raping her, that would overstep the boundaries of their friendship much too far and likely get him killed a third time. When it looked like Hiei wasn't going to answer him Yusuke took a step towards the girl, if nothing else he was certain he could get answers out of her. However, before he got more than two steps in her direction the apparition stopped him by standing between the two with a glare that bordered on murderous. Whatever it was that had happened between them was big, he had never seen the Hybrid act quite like this before. 'This is even worse than when Kuwabara kissed Yukina the first time. Dammit, what happened in there?'

 

 

In many instances the Detective was as easy to read as an open book, so when he began to move towards the girl Hiei quickly put himself in Yusuke's path. The look the Toushin was giving him however said he wasn't in the least bit intimidated. Hiei fixed the man with a cold stare before answering his question, "She managed to put up quite a struggle when they captured her. From what I was told she succeeded in killing several demons before they managed to subdue her powers and she was injured in the process. If your wondering if I had any part in her injuries the answer is no. I would think that you would have realized that I can control myself better than some common lowlife thug who is ruled by his instincts alone." The look of relief and puzzlement on their faces was obvious as they pondered his statement. Surely even if the others did not, Kurama would know exactly what she was by now and how she managed to kill so many demons. No, the puzzlement from him was likely to be over the fact that she willingly gave herself to him. Well, willingly after a bit of gentle persuasion. It really hadn't taken much considering she wanted him just as badly as he had her. There was no need to tell them this though, it would get the fool harping on how he somehow took advantage of her.

 

 

"So then it was consensual? What a strange Miko, never have I heard of one that did not harbor an intense hatred for our kind. Of course, you being in season might have had something to do with it but there is no way to be sure," Kurama said as he looked at the sleeping girl with interest. To find one of her power was almost unheard of, combined with her apparent lack of hatred for demons was inconceivable. Yet here was one in front of them that defied all laws of nature. "And what of the Dragon? Is that your doing or the creature itself?" Even though he desired to examine her closely he was not so foolish as to attempt approaching her. He knew exactly what sort of claim the girl had on her, his question was if it was voluntary on Hiei's part of not.

 

 

Yusuke quirked an eyebrow at this, if the dragon was involved then it would certainly explain the weird reaction that Kuwabara had given to her back in the brothel. He wasn't quite certain what it was that Kurama meant by that though and he had to ask, "What could the dragon possibly have to do with any of this?"

 

 

"Of course it was consensual, I would not force myself on any unwilling female. As to your other question it was the Dragon's choice though I have no idea why yet. As you saw before it branded her, placing her under it's protection. It has already begun to deepen the bond, strengthening it to make sure that she is not taken out of its reach. I do not know what the consequences would be of separating the two of them and I for one have no desire to find out," Hiei said quietly as the jagan grew brighter, forcing the dragon to remain on his arm. Even now could feel the beast's rage at the very thought of being torn from her and it was taking all of his control to keep the creature from lashing out at his team mates.

 

 

"Indeed, it would be unwise to attempt at this time though I doubt Koenma will see it that way. There has to be a way to undo this, you know what will happen if King Enma finds out about this. Compound the problem with the fact she allowed you to lay with her and he very well might execute the both of you may be killed simply to prevent a child from being conceived," Kurama said as he thought frantically for any knowledge that he might have come across over the centuries that would deal with such a union and ways to break it. Unfortunately not much was known about the Darkness techniques and even less about the Dragon Of Darkness Flame.

 

 

"There's not, as much as I am the Master of the Dragon even I cannot destroy a bond once it has chosen. Believe me, I have no desire to take a mate and yet that is exactly what it seems I may have to do. Being under the Dragon's protection places her directly under mine and nothing will be allowed to harm her, not even the Reikai." Hiei stated grimly, even though he was not looking forward to the possibility of having to go up against the Spirit world but he would if it came down to it. Their best bet would be to find someplace to lay low for a while if it looked like things were going to take a turn for the worse.

 

 

"What would be so bad about them having a child?" Now that the uncomfortable question about her consent had been answered Yusuke had thought he'd be able to relax. But hearing the two of them talk had quickly destroyed that possibility. He didn't understand what all the fuss would be about if Hiei did take this girl as a mate, provided she was willing. The knowledge that the Reikai could order their executions did not sit well with him at all. The girl was innocent of having done anything other than being attracted to his antisocial team mate. 'It might be a bit strange but that's not enough to warrant a death sentence in my book.'

 

 

"The problem Yusuke is any child Hiei and this girl could have together if it were to survive could have the power to rival even you. You've already experience King Enma's paranoia over even your existence. He would do no less to their children and they would be virtually defenseless without Hiei there to protect them. I'm sure the girl would provide some protection but she is human and therefore vulnerable," Kurama stated matter of factly. In this he refused to sugar coat things, it was a very real possibility that Hiei had just gotten in over his head. Fixing them all with a solemn look he continued, “I can even venture a guess as to how it would happen. Koenma would be forced to call us in for an important mission and attendance would not be optional. Once Hiei was out of the way the SDF would strike. Whether or not the girl could hold them off is extremely questionable. If she can't then not only would the child die but they would terminate her life as well. I'm afraid that you have some important decisions to make Hiei.”

 

 

"You mean to tell me they'd kill the kid just for being born? That's seriously fucked up. There is no way Koenma would order that!" Yusuke knew that Koenma had some screwed up plans in the past but he just couldn't see him putting a hit out on a baby. 'Assuming that short stuff there managed to knock her up in one shot.' Regardless, he wasn't about to sit by and wait for the possibility to happen. He knew that Hiei had been alone for most of his life and if he chose to take this girl as a mate then he would stand behind him. There as no way in hell his friend's life was going to be destroyed because Enma was afraid of what might happen.

 

 

Before either Kurama or Hiei had a chance to answer Yusuke's question Kuwabara spot up with one of his own, "Koenma wouldn't really do that would he? I mean, he's got some pretty strange ideas but he's not a bad guy. We're all friends and it just doesn't sound like something he would do." Of course where Koenma wouldn't, his father would. That was the reason why Yusuke had disappeared to the Makai to train after all. At the moment he didn't envy Hiei's position in the least, the man had a tough road laid out ahead of him. It also raised other questions in his mind, specifically dealing with him and Yukina. If they ever decided to have kids could they possibly fall into the same problem? His own spiritual awareness was excessively high making him extremely powerful for a human. Would any children he and Yukina have be hunted as well? The thought was not at all reassuring and it casts doubts in his mind over their future together that he once believed was secure.

 

 

Of course, Kuwabara knew why no one had brought it up to him before. They had believed he never stood a chance with the Koorime and he knew under normal circumstances they would have been correct. Most of them never looked twice at a male, preferring to stay with their own kind. Yukina however was different and once things had settled down he had begun courting her in earnest. She had explained the customs of her people to him, uncertain of what exactly it was that he wanted from her. It had taken some time and a great deal of embarrassment on his part but eventually he had come to tell her exactly how he felt for her and what he hoped they could have together. She had been surprised but did not object to the idea, asking him only for some time to think on it. In the meantime he continued to visit her and slowly she was coming to love him in the way that he had always hoped for. For the most part the others had not noticed however, rarely making the trip to Genkai's temple. Sure, Hiei had caught them kissing once but Yukina had given the apparition that innocent smile of hers and stated that she'd been wondering what a kiss was. Even now he could remember how Hiei's eyes had widened when she'd asked if he'd like one as well. Unhappily Kuwabara looked to his teammates, his expression pleading with them. He wanted them to tell him that what was being said was wrong, that everything would be fine and that he would not have to worry about his future with Yukina. His hopes were crushed by the sour expression on Hiei's face.

 

 

As much as he wished that he could state otherwise, Hiei knew that he couldn't. They needed to realize just how dangerous the situation had become and he wasn't about to trivialize the problem, "Perhaps not Koenma but Enma would. Which is why I need to ask you Kurama. Can you detect whether or not she is fertile or not? I know that humans are different from demons in that respect." Hiei didn't like the idea of allowing another male so close to her, not yet anyway when he was so uncertain of the dragon's motives towards her. But despite that unease he remained where he was as Kurama approached the girl cautiously. He didn't blame the Fox, the situation was volatile at the moment and though he had control over the situation for now things could get out of hand if they weren't careful.

 

 

Kurama inhaled deeply, taking in the girls scent and sighed. He was hoping to be able to give him an answer to reassure him but that was not to be the case. For as long as he maintained his human form his senses weren't any sharper than Hiei's. He could not pinpoint whether the girl was fertile or not and in order to do so he would have to change into his kitsune form, something he had vowed he would not do again. He brought his hand over her body to see if he could read anything from her energy but thought better of it at the last minute. To do so he would have to remove the blanket around her midsection and place his hand directly on her. It could easily be signing his death warrant regardless of Hiei's feelings if the Dragon felt that he was somehow challenging its claim over the girl. He leveled a calm look at Hiei before standing and moving away from her, "I'm sorry Hiei, I cannot tell at the present time. The best I can tell you is refrain from rutting with her again until we know for certain what you wish to do. For what it's worth, if she is pregnant I can prepare something that ensures that she will not carry to term if you wish."

 

 

The blunt statement and the uncaring way it was phrased had Yusuke staring at his friend in shock, "Shouldn't she have a say in that?" Yusuke was couldn't believe what he was hearing. Here they were discussing a potential life like it was completely up to them and she had no say in the matter. Granted, it was a difficult spot to be in but they shouldn't make these sort of decisions without at least speaking to her first.

 

 

"It was merely an offer Yusuke. I daresay I doubt that Hiei has ever wanted children, and the added possibility of the threat from Reikai is not to be taken likely. If it were taken care of before she was even aware of the child's existence then I fail to see where the problem lies," Kurama tried to make Yusuke stop and think about this rationally. Even though he didn't like the idea much either he was under no illusions that Hiei could do this by himself. If she did end up pregnant and decided to keep the child then it would likely take the combined efforts of the entire group to keep the three of them alive. It was a lot for Hiei to ask of them and there was every possibility that someone would not be willing. Especially when one stopped to considered everything they stood to lose if they chose that route.

 

 

Hiei was silent for a moment, considering Kurama's words. While it was true that he'd never considered the real possibility of children he would have to deal with whatever was thrown his way. That was why he'd become a regular customer at the brothel, the women there took precautions to ensure this wouldn't happen. But since the miko had been brought in just that day it was unlikely they'd given her anything, assuming it would have even have worked. Sighing heavily he fixed Kurama with an emotionless look, "Yusuke is right. I will not condemn any child of mine to death simply for what it is or has the potential to be. To do so would make me no better than the Koorime who chose to banish me on the basis of being a male and therefor dangerous." Even after all those years the betrayal of his mother's people still ate away at him. He may not have asked for this, but he did have some measure of honor. If the girl was pregnant he would do everything in his power to protect both her and the child, he would not abandon them to face the consequences alone. If need be he would take the girl to Mukuro, surely they could find sanctuary with her. Not even Enma would venture into the Makai and challenge them should that be the course of action.

 

 

Hearing Hiei's thoughts on the matter was enough to take a great weight off of Yusuke's chest. "Well, whatever you decide to do Hiei I'll stand behind you on it. Just so you know I've got your back," Yusuke nodded once, giving Hiei a cocky grin despite the seriousness of the situation. Enma feared him for a reason, and if he thought that he was just going to stand by and watch the SDF destroy his friends life then the great King was going to get a double barrel shot straight up his ass.

 

 

Now that it looked like the matter had been settled, Hiei nodded his thanks and moved towards the girl to pick her up. It was time for them to get out of there and find out just what it was that the future held for them. However he noticed as he moved closer that her breathing pattern was not that of a person that should be deeply asleep. The thought unsettled him at what the miko might have heard already before they had a chance to find out how likely of a problem this was going to be. He could make out the barely suppressed trembling of her body and resigned himself to the fact that she'd heard enough to upset her. He never was any good at this emotional bullshit and here he was, immersed in it. 'This just isn't my damned day is it?'

 

 

Kagome felt the light touch on her shoulder and withdrew further into herself. She didn't want to hear anymore, she had already heard more than enough. Had they asked her she would have been able to tell them whether or not she was fertile. Had she lain with a normal human the answer would have been no, she still had close to a week before her peak time would be upon her. But hearing that he was in season changed everything. 'I should have known that's what that scent was. Sango warned me about getting too close to full demons when they were in their mating cycle. How could I have been so stupid!' She didn't know whether his pheromones would be enough to push her into early fertility or not but even if he wasn't she was more than aware of a demon's potency. There was a good chance that his seed would still be viable by the time her body got around to ovulating. Could she take the chance and inquire what methods they'd been referring to that would keep her from becoming pregnant? Could she take the chance that she wasn't already and ignore the fact that she might be destroying a life? 'I can't. No, I just can't, it wouldn't be right. Dammit, I'm screwed no matter how I look at this.' Now more than ever she wished she'd taken the time to get on birth control pills but she'd never seen the reason to. Shame coursed through her body as the full impact of what they'd done hit her. What Hiei had said was true, she'd wanted him just as badly and hadn't thought of the consequences of their actions. If she'd been able to think rationally she would have done everything in her power to avoid being put into this position. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought that she might be pregnant with a demon's child but then to be hunted on top of it? Honestly she had no idea who this Enma is but if the way they were talking was any indication it was someone she didn't want to meet under any circumstances.

 

 

 

 

Hiei wasn't quite sure what to make of her reaction but it was child's play to pick up on her current train of thought the jagan. The strongest emotion radiating off of her was shame and fear which caused him to recoil for a moment, believing that it stemmed from the fact that she'd slept with a demon, the supposed enemy of her kind. However more of her thoughts reached out to him and he realized that it was shame over what her family would think of her for ending up pregnant, not that she'd taken a demon to her bed. Then there was the fear of what her traveling companions would say, knowing that she slept with someone who would more than likely want nothing to do with her under any other circumstances. The belief that she would be shunned for what had happened was nearly crushing, and for the briefest of moments he felt that he could relate to the girl on some level. Although she had friends and family their support was somewhat dependent on her adhering to the role that she'd been placed in. Deviation from that routine was likely to bring about scorn, something she'd tried so hard to avoid. With that support crumbling around her she'd find herself just as alone as he was.

 

 

Yet for all the fear and anxiety she was experiencing at the same time there was a fierce protectiveness that surged off of her in waves. It was then that he knew that she would protect any child she bore to the death if need be, even if it was created under what she would consider to be less than ideal circumstances. 'Even Enma might be staring death in the face if he were to threaten her offspring. Would she be able to call on the power of the jewel? Let's hope she can in case it ever becomes necessary.' Just maybe the Dragon had made a good choice in selecting this girl, it would remain to be seen. For the moment though he had to reassure her that whatever was to happen, he would make sure that Enma wouldn't get close enough to harm her.

 

 

For now Hiei ignored the curious looks he received from the others, knowing more questions would come later as he carefully forced her to turn over and look at him. She came into his arms easily, causing his eyes to widen in surprise as she clung to him. It felt strange to be holding someone like this and he wanted nothing more than to be able to bolt away from the problems she represented. However he was not a coward, he hadn't run from any fights in the past and he wasn't going to start now. Carefully he pitched his voice in what he hoped to be a soothing tone, "How much did you hear?"

 

Although she wanted to ignore the effect it had, Hiei's voice washed over her, somehow soothing her with it's intensity. Suddenly she wished she could go back to sleep and forget what she'd heard. It was strange, feeling safe in his arms like this but sooner or later that comfort would end and she knew it. Sighing heavily she looked into his wary eyes, "I heard enough and I can tell you right now whoever it was that came up with the bright idea to perform an abortion can shove it up their ass. So help me if any of you come near me with that intention I'll purify you before you can blink." With the threat given her mind was already racing through possibilities of places she might be able to go to stay safe, “What am I going to do?” The well was open so there was a chance that she could once more slip into the past, provided this Enma didn't get to her before then. If need be she could disappear into the feudal era permanently even though she knew that would miss her family terribly. But first she had to get to there in order to even utilize that option. Afterwards she would be forced to face Inuyasha and the others, no matter how much she was dreading that confrontation. There were no doubts in her mind that the hanyou's anger would get the better of him. Most likely there would be a violent argument resulting in a great many sits and more than a few tears shed before it was all said and done.

 

 

Hiei considered her question but the thoughts his Jagan picked up opened up another realm of possibilities which stunned him. He'd never heard a credible tale of time travel but unless this miko was crazy and truly believed in a demented fantasy, she actually had that ability. In the past King Enma would have no way of knowing what had transpired, leaving them safe from persecution for at least a little while. Mukuro was still a viable option as well, albeit an extremely obvious one. The well however, that was an unexpected opportunity that he was more than willing to take advantage of. Granted it wasn't a permanent solution for he refused to leave Yukina completely unprotected but at the very least it would be a safe place to take Kagome until their next course of action was determined. Hiei fixed her with a stern look that demanded she him the truth, "Will the well let anyone besides you pass?"

 

 

Kagome quickly pulled her head away from his chest in order to stare at him in astonishment. She hadn't spoken to him of the well or her travels through the past, nor did anyone outside of her family know about it in this era. "How did you know about the well?" Her voice was hesitant, barely above a whisper when she asked the question. A faint snicker from off to the side had her gaze darting over to a male dressed in some sort of green uniform that was staring at her with an amused expression. It was obvious to her that he knew something that she did not if that look was anything to go by was anything to go by. She could feel the powerful demonic energy radiating off of two of the males there besides Hiei and as a result pressed closer in to his side. One of those guys was the one who had indirectly threatened her and as far as she was concerned Hiei was the only one who she could begin to trust.

 

 

Much to Hiei's consternation the dragon sensed her unease and ripped itself away from his arm in order to wrap around her. In its own way it was attempting to comfort her, seeking to take away part of the distress that it could sense plaguing her. Wisely, the others kept their opinions about the action to themselves when Hiei gave them a displeased look. In spite of the control he had it took all of his concentration to keep the beast reined in. When he was distracted as it was, it was easier for the creature to exert its will but he wasn't about to point out that particular failing. Instead he chose to answer her question, “I am a telepath and you are projecting your thoughts quite loudly at the moment.” When he felt her apprehension intensify he tried to pull away, wanting to give her the space to think on her own for a few moments but it was not to be. The dragon had managed to wind it's way around the both of them and was determined that they were going to remain in physical contact, all the while continuing the soothing movements it was making by rubbing its head along her neck.

 

Kagome wasn't at all sure that she liked the idea of Hiei having the ability to read her mind but there was not much that she could do about it either. Her mental barriers had never been exceptionally strong and it had never completely repaired itself after Tsubaki had taken over her mind, despite her best attempts at becoming stronger. A shudder wracked her body as she remembered the dark taint that had infected her mind and how she was forced to watch helplessly as the Dark Miko orchestrated her every move. It was something she dreaded ever happening again but she didn't know how to prevent it. Yet she couldn't dwell on that now, Hiei was still waiting for the answer to his own question. “I don't know. Inuyasha can pass through the well but no one else has been able to yet,” Kagome admitted quietly while wondering if he'd seriously want to go through with her. She couldn't picture him asking that question for any other reason.

 

 

“Hey! How about one of you explain what it is you are talking about for those of us who can't do the creepy mind to mind thing,” Yusuke groused unhappily. He was getting just a little bit tired of being left out of the loop. 'How am I supposed to be able to help them if they won't tell us shit?' He was certain the others were thinking the same thing as well but he was the only one to voice his complaint.

 

 

Hiei was tempted to roll his eyes at the Detectives comment but refrained for the moment. Kagome on the other hand ignored Yusuke like he had never spoken. She recognized his voice as one of the ones who had stood up for her earlier in the discussion but she still didn't know anything about them and certainly didn't trust them. There was no way she was about to tell them about her time traveling, it was upsetting enough that Hiei knew about it. But if these other three males were out to hurt her somehow then the well would be one of the few things that might save her life. She'd be a fool to reveal that secret.

 

 

Hiei however had no problems telling them at least part of it. He trusted all of them to a certain extent, even if one of them had a tendency to run his mouth a bit more than necessary. “We speak of a safe haven, someplace where Enma cannot reach her if it becomes necessary.”

 

 

Yusuke nodded, accepting the answer easily. With how guarded Hiei was and the danger of the situation he knew that the apparition would be hesitant to reveal too much more until it became absolutely necessary. Looking at his team mates Yusuke sighed slightly, “That's all well and good once you get to.. wherever this is. But in the meantime we need to figure out what the two of you are going to be doing. If you being with her is as forbidden as you say it is, it wouldn't be safe for either of you to go back to the Reikai like he's expecting. I doubt Koenma would do anything to you but if his father is there then there is no telling what would happen.”

 

 

“So what do you suggest we do Urameshi? You know Koenma is going to demand a report and his orders were to bring her in to the Reikai!” Kuwabara was torn about the entire situation but he didn't know what to suggest. He didn't think that they should go in either but he also didn't see that they had much of a choice in the matter. They had their orders, it was expected that they would be followed. 'How long will it be before they realize she's disappeared and Hiei's gone with her?'

 

 

“Hell if I know, I was hoping one of you guys might have an idea,” Yusuke shrugged and proceeded to keep an eye on the girl who was watching him closely. It was almost as if she was for waiting for him to attack her or something. That thought didn't sit well with him but he didn't know what he could possibly do to reassure her. He didn't blame her for not trusting them, though it was ironic that she latched onto Hiei's arm and had him in a death grip. One of the most feared demons of the Makai and she was holding him like her favorite teddy bear. If the situation wasn't so serious he might have laughed at the picture they presented. Instead he gave Kuwabara a flat look, “Besides, when was the last time I followed anyone's orders when I thought they were wrong? And what are they going to do about it if I tell them to take a flying leap? Kill me? They've already tried that one and it hasn't worked yet.”

 

 

Kagome actually managed to smile slightly when hearing that, it sounded exactly something like Inuyasha would have said, minus the 'keh' to go along with it. The more she heard him talk to more she was reassured that the at least wasn't a threat to her or the possible child that she carried. Without really thinking about it she laid one of her hands against her stomach. 'Could I really be pregnant? There was no way I could possible know right now, not this early anyway. Even a test wouldn't show anything right now.'

 

 

'What will Inuyasha say when I tell him?' It seemed a bit strange to her to be thinking of him, most girls dreaded telling their parents when they became pregnant, or thought they might be. She suddenly realized she hadn't thought much about what her mother would say. Instead the thoughts automatically went to the hanyou who was waiting for her to return to the past. Adding to her confusion was that she still didn't even know just what their relationship was. He hardly ever touched her and the majority of the time he was downright rude but at the same time she knew he cared. 'And what about Kikyo? He's never been able to make a choice between us before, would be be able to do so now?' Assuming that was even an option any longer with this strange creature that was growling in her ear. 'What about Hiei? If I'm pregnant it's his child. Would he stand for me entering into a relationship with Inuyasha if he was able to make a choice?' She wasn't under any illusions that he held feelings for her, there was no chance of that with how long they'd known each other. But bringing a child into things might change his views, she couldn't be certain. 'Would he even want to be a part of our lives? Or once the threat is over will he want to go his own way and forget about us?' That though left her feeling empty inside and the weight of the questions she had no answers to continued to press in around her, making it hard to breath.

 

 

 

Hiei allowed her to continue working her questions out on her own, really he didn't have any answers for her as it was. The only thing he knew was that if she wanted him there, he would not abandon her. “She will not go to the Reikai. Tell Koenma what you want but first she must be taken someplace safe,” Hiei said while looking at Kurama speculatively. Out of all of them he was likely to be the best one to decide what to tell the demigod. In the meantime he had to see about getting her through the well. Time would tell whether or not it would grant him passage and truthfully he didn't enjoy the idea of being separated from her and having a pissed off dragon to deal with. But if it meant keeping her out of Enma's hands until some of their questions were answered he would allow it and deal with the beast as best as he could.

 

 

“Agreed, I propose that myself and Yusuke go and speak with Koenma after you take her where she needs to go. It would be unwise to disclose that location to us at this time until we know what Spirit World intends to do about this,” Kurama spoke quickly, he could see the determination setting into his partner's eyes and knew they had a hard fight ahead of them. It would seem that Hiei had already made his choice, for better or worse. Once that choice was made he knew that there would be no changing the apparition's mind. He could only hope that the five of them together would be enough if the Reikai went on the offensive.

 

 

“What about me guys?” Kuwabara did not like being left out of the planning and it was beginning to piss him off. He could see why they needed to split up like they were but he wasn't completely useless. There had to be something that he could do to help!

 

 

Hiei gave him a contemplative look for a long moment before coming to a decision. There was something the human could do after all and he had no doubts that Kuwabara would do everything in his power to see that it was done. “If we are going up against the Reikai then everyone close to us may become a target. Take yourself, Shizuru and Keiko to Genkai's temple. Guard them and Yukina with your life. Should any harm come to them your life will be forfeit, do you understand?” It took a lot for him to put his sister's safety in Kuwabara's hands however at this very moment he didn't have much of a choice. If the well refused him passage then he would resume guarding his sister while they waited to see what actions the Reikai would take. If he could pass through time, Kuwabara would be a good choice until Yusuke and Kurama arrived.

 

 

 

“Good idea, I don't anticipate them coming under attack but it's better to be safe than sorry,” Kurama said, relatively pleased with the idea. It was tempting to ask Kuwabara to take his mother as well but considering that she knew nothing about his alternate life it was certain to cause more complications. That was just something they really didn't need any more of at the moment.

 

 

“What about my family?” Kagome's thoughts instantly filled with the possibilities of harm coming to her family. She had fought for so long to keep them safe, along with the entire time line. Would it all be undone by this one day? She couldn't bear the thought of something happening to them now. 'No! I won't let anything happen to them now, there has to be something we can do!' She turned a pleading look to Hiei, as if he would have the answers that could ease her mind.

 

 

To say that Hiei was surprised at the level of trust this girl was giving to him was an understatement. Trust of herself was one thing but believing that he could keep her family safe was something else entirely. He would have scoffed at the very idea of someone putting that much of their life in his hands if he hadn't been there at that moment, seeing that look in her eyes. There was no questioning the fierce protectiveness she had for those that she cared for. This much he knew that he could give to her if nothing else, “They will be taken care of, either by myself or one of the others.”

 

 

Before they could sit there and watch her get all teary over the promise Hiei had given her, Yusuke addressed the team as a whole, “Right! Okay boys let's get this over with. Hiei, contact one of us when you get her wherever it is that she is going and let us know whats going on. Kuwabara, you haul ass and get yourself out to Grandma's. Let her know what's going on and I'm sure she'll have no problem with you staying there. Me and Kurama will take care of Binky boy for as long as possible. Just stay safe everyone and we'll get through this just fine.” Yusuke stood with Kurama and then the two of them began to walk off towards the direction of the portal. With luck Botan hadn't gotten too nosy and checked up on their position. If she had she'd be wondering just why they'd stopped to take a break in the middle of nowhere.

 

 

Yusuke's plan was fine with Hiei, they weren't that far from the border of the Ningenkai and incidentally Mukuro's territory. Kuwabara was already making his way back to civilization leaving him alone with Kagome, with any luck the fool wouldn't run into trouble on the way back. Ordinarily he might follow him and ensure that nothing out of the ordinary happened but this time he couldn't. A slight detour before they headed back to the Ningenkai had become necessary although he wasn't entirely sure of the welcome they would receive. If they were going to take refuge in her territory then he needed to inform Mukuro of what was happening, regardless of what he thought her reaction might be. However there was something that needed to be done before they could even think about leaving this place.

 

 

Mukuro was just as strong of a telepath as he was and he was certain there were things that Kagome would not want her nor anyone else in the area knowing. For her own safety she needed to have some mental barriers in place and he was the only one available to help her raise them. Giving her a firm look that brooked no argument he told her just that, “We need to shield your mind. If I can pick up on what you are thinking there are others that can as well. It was only by luck that no one picked up on the Jewel you carry. If they had you would have lost it within minutes of landing in the Makai.”

 

 

“You're right. My shielding isn't good for much right now,” Kagome sighed, once more feeling just a bit useless. Not even Kaede had been able to help her repair the damage that Tsubaki had done and the intense pain she experienced when she tried alone was enough to knock her unconscious. She had no idea how Hiei would be able to help her but if he could succeed where she had failed she would be grateful. A hopeful look was given in his direction, “Does this mean you can help me?”

 

 

For delicate work such as this it helped for him to be in direct contact with her. “Just relax,” Hiei spoke softly and closed his eyes as he sent the Jagan coursing through her mind, keeping a tight rein on the eye. It had a mind of it's own and he was not about to let it do as it pleased in this instance. It would obey him, there was no question of this.

 

 

Kagome's eyes clenched shut as she tried to keep from pushing him away. Relaxing as he had requested was pretty much out of the question but it didn't seem to be hindering him any, perhaps it was because her powers were sealed away for the time being. The intrusion into her mind was not painful by any means but it was definitely strange and she would never get used to the sensation. Gradually she felt the holes in her shield beginning to fill and pain she no longer realized she had been experiencing on a day to day basis began to leave her. It was amazing what a person could learn to live with, to the point of even considering it normal. She breathed a sigh of relief as she felt his mind pull away from hers, “Thank you.”

 

 

Hiei nodded, it had been easy enough for him to accomplish what she had failed at which was not surprising. He had years of experience manipulating minds to his own purpose. This would ensure that nothing was revealed that she did not wish to be. He'd still be able to gain entrance any time he felt like it since his energy was permanently entwined with her own, he'd just have to make an effort to do so. Yet he didn't see the need for that, at least not at the moment. After a moment he stood and held out his hand to pull her to her feet, “Let's get moving, we have a stop to make before we take you to the well.”

 

 

Kagome stood up and immediately grasped at the blanket when it tried to fall off of her body. She blushed at the amount of skin that she was showing, even though he had seen her completely nude already. She wished that she had her clothes with her but she supposed she would just have to be grateful that she had any cover at all. She didn't miss how Hiei's eyes roamed over her body, taking in how most of her legs were exposed to his view. The thought that he still found her attractive, even after everything that was going on made her blush intensify.

 

 

Hiei smirked at her reaction, but right now they didn't have the time to act on the desires her appearance invoked. It was unfortunate but he knew that something would have to be done about her attire however or they would never get anywhere. As it was his body was still aching from how they were interrupted earlier and he longed to be able to continue but could they take the chance? He had only intended to give her a slight rest before taking her again but instead the others had chosen to barge in. He repressed a sigh as he looked her over once more. His desire would have to wait until they arrived in some place more secure than their current location. Without a word he stripped off his cloak, not caring in the least that he didn't have a shirt on underneath it. He watched with thinly veiled amusement as her eyes roamed over the expanse of his chest and the smell of her arousal hit new heights. It would seem that she was still just as affected as he was. Wordlessly he held the garment out to her and waited for her to take it.

 

 

Kagome couldn't help but stare as he stood before her. She had thought that he was well built before and that was in the dim light of the room. Now, out in the full sun she could fully appreciate the view and she found that she definitely enjoyed what she was seeing. She was startled out of her appraisal when he held his cloak out to her. Sheepishly she took it and stared at him. She was hoping that he would be a gentleman and turn around, allowing her to dress but he merely looked on in amusement, “Do you mind?”

 

 

“Actually I do. Hurry up, we don't have all day,” Hiei retorted blandly. He didn't see why he should deny himself the pleasure of looking upon her naked body. There was no telling when he would get the chance to do so again, he was going to take full advantage of the opportunity.

 

 

Kagome rolled her eyes and sighed. She considered yelling at him but somehow she knew that it wouldn't do any good, he did what he wanted and that was that. If anything she had seen where her defiance had gotten her with him before. Right into his bed and pinned beneath him. She smiled as she contemplated that thought, it wasn't a half bad idea. She wouldn't mind a repeat of before, but Hiei was right. The didn't have all day and she wasn't sure if asking him to pull out the next time was such a good idea. Wordlessly she dropped the blanket to the ground, ignoring the barely audible groan she heard coming from him.

 

 

'It serves him right, refusing to turn around when I asked. He can suffer a bit.' Instead of hurrying to pull his cloak on, she took her time with redressing. Kagome wrapped the black material around her shoulders and fumbled with the clasp, giggling slightly when the fabric slipped from her fingers and fell apart to reveal her breasts again. Perhaps she was going out of her way to tease him some but she didn't hear him complaining. 'Well it is a tight fit after all. He might be muscular but I've got the bigger chest.' It took a bit time and patience before she got the material secured in place. When she finally looked over to Hiei he had a pained expression on his face and looked to be about two seconds away from leaping on her.

 

 

By the time she was finished Hiei was swearing beneath his breath. She had to have done that on purpose to taunt him and it was taking all of his control not to lay her back down on that bed of grass Kurama so thoughtfully provided. Even now despite the seriousness of the situation it would be all too easy to have her screaming his name once more as he drove repeatedly into her body. He was snapped out of his little fantasy when she laid her hand against his chest, staring at him with a slightly worried expression. 'The hell with this, the sooner we get beneath the roof the sooner I can show her just how dangerous it is to toy with me!' Without warning he wrapped his arms around her and began running towards Mukuro's fortress, leaving her with nothing to do but cling to him for dear life. Trees blurred passed them as they raced through the Makai.

 

 

After her initial startlement Kagome relaxed enough to rest her head against his chest as he ran, enjoying the feel of the warmth that radiated off of his body. It wasn't long before she was lulled to sleep, secure in the knowledge that at least for the moment she was safe.