InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Dragon's Possession ❯ Chapter 7

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 Seven

 

Miroku watched the hanyou walk out the door and for several long moments the silence hung thick in the air around them. Eventually though he turned back to Kagome, who was still staring at the door with a look of disbelief on her features. Surely she hadn't expected Inuyasha to be fine with this, they all knew how he felt about her even if he was too stubborn to say anything, "I believe an explanation is in order Kagome." He of all people wasn't one to cast judgment over her but they needed to know the circumstance of what had happened.

 

 

Hiei leveled a glare at the monk when he spoke, something about the man rubbed him the wrong way and he had no problems expressing his distaste. The fact that Miroku had been the main one to cause Kagome pain earlier was a large part of it and his impression on the rest of the group that Kagome traveled with had not been a very good one so far. Even now he could still feel the last echoes of pain coming from where the wards had landed on the girl and burned her skin, event through the clothing she wore. Just because they were both held holy powers did not mean that they could not be affected by them, especially considering how the dragon was now a part of her. "The girl is now under my protection and is carrying my child. That is all you need to know,” he proclaimed, daring anyone to challenge his claim.

 

 

Both Miroku and Sango visibly bristled at the arrogant statement Hiei just laid down while Kagome took the opportunity to bury her face in her hands. 'I'm not going to be able to stop them from ripping each others throats out before this day is over, am I?' When she decided to raise her head she decided that her chances of that were far from good. 'Yep, just shoot me now.'

 

Sango was the first one to voice her opinion on the apparition's statement though. He was taking overstepping his bounds just a little bit too far her mind and she wasn't afraid to call him on it. It pissed her off that this youkai had taken such liberties with her friend when he obviously hadn't known her for long. That much was obvious to her at least, the man had no idea what Kagome was like or he would have known better than to say something like that, especially to them. Fixing the apparition with an intimidating glare of her own, the exterminator spoke in a very tight voice, "I don't know who you are but Kagome is like a sister to the both of us. That makes her family and if you think that 'she's under your protection' is all we need to know then you are sadly mistaken. Something happened since she left us the last time and someone is going to tell me what it is.”

 

 

Few things in the world had the ability to intimidate Hiei and the woman staring at him now sure as hell wasn't on of them. While she might be protective of her friend, all rights concerning the miko had been stripped from her the moment he'd stepped into the picture. To prove that the girl was his and wouldn't protest, Hiei moved closer to Kagome. His stance one of protective arrogance and a smirk crossed his face when the miko didn't protest his actions. At one time these humans may have been responsible for looking after her but the roles had now been changed and they would be doing well to accept it, "You are in no position to demand answers of me Slayer. That glare you are giving me is far from intimidating and won't get you what you want."

 

Frankly Hiei couldn't care less about what either of them thought they were entitled to. His original goal of getting Kagome some place safe had been accomplished and he'd even gotten the answers he was looking for from the kitsune. To him it wouldn't be a big deal if he and the miko were to part company with her friends now and set off on their own. In all actuality that would be preferable in his mind, being among so many humans was beginning to piss him off already. Throwing the hanyou on top of it was just an added headache he didn't want or need.

 

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Inuyasha had a claim on her long before you entered the picture. If you think he's just going to relinquish that claim just because you say so I'm afraid you're in for a rather nasty surprise,” Miroku stated calmly, his composure completely opposite of the woman who was fuming next to him. To lose their cool now was certain to bring about more trouble and he wasn't particularly anxious to find out just how volatile the demon was in front of them without learning more about him first.

 

The repetitiveness of the situation was growing rather boring to Hiei and he was beginning to wonder if an in depth conversation with Kuwabara would have been a more productive use of his time. Unfortunately his team mates weren't available and he was stuck with these fools who couldn't seem to accept the facts. Giving the monk a rather bland look, he told the man just what he thought about his last statement, “Your warning is unnecessary. As I've already stated she is now under my protection. I couldn't care less what he or anyone else believes as far as their 'claim' goes. Had he wanted to prevent someone from taking her from him he would have cemented the bond between them long before now but he did not. His hesitation is what cost him the girl, he will accept it. He has no choice.”

 

“You can state whatever you like but it still doesn't change the facts. Inuyasha might be an idiot at times when it comes to expressing what he wants but he's not just going to let you take Kagome from him,” Sango crossed her arms and stared at him defiantly. She was almost hoping that Inuyasha would come back inside so he could take up this particular thought but at the same time she was rather glad there was one less hot head in the room. If the hanyou had heard the way the apparition was talking he would have hit the roof.

 

 

It was official, Kagome was more than tired of listening to them bicker already. 'Where's my Tylenol when I need it?' Sensing that another round was about to start up she sighed and took the opportunity to lean backwards, coming to rest against Hiei's legs. It never occurred to her that he might object to her doing such a thing, and he made no move to stop her so she wasn't going to pull away now. Although listening to them was frustrating, she knew was that Hiei was trying to spare her from answering the difficult questions that were soon to follow. Of course it probably wouldn't matter to him one way or another if how they'd met came out. He could handle himself without a problem, but still he was seeking to protect her from the scorn that was sure to follow after they learned of what had happened.

 

'Still, we're going to remain in the village then the others deserved to know what happened, right? After all its not often that the group grows by one with another on the way.' At least with Inuyasha out of the room it meant one less volatile temper to deal with while the got the majority of the explanations out of the way, she'd have to talk with Inuyasha alone later. Tiredly she looked up at Hiei who had yet to move away from her, "Please don't antagonize them Hiei, they're just concerned." She closed her eyes briefly and wished that her friends would just let this go for the moment, just so she could gather her thoughts. She needed the time to figure out just how she was going to explain this one but she knew that it just wasn't going to happen. Time had ran out for her the moment she'd come through the well. Steeling herself for what was to come, Kagome looked at her friends with an unflinching gaze, "Before I start this story I need all of you to promise me that there won't be any violence. This has been stressful enough as it is and we really don't need any more problems alright?"

 

 

Somehow it came as no surprise to Hiei that the girl had asked for such a favor although she should have known he wouldn't attack her friends unless they called him out. So instead of saying anything the apparition remained silent for now as he kept a close watch over the other two. The kitsune he had dismissed immediately, knowing that Shippo wasn't a threat even if he was something of a minor irritation. When he looked down and took a moment to watch her hold the kit in her lap it did tell him one thing. Even though she was inexperienced he could see that she would make an ideal mother to his child. Any lingering concerns that he might have had about Kagome wanting to abandon the child after it was birthed disappeared in those fleeting moments.

 

 

After a moments thought Miroku nodded his agreement, "You have our word Kagome." He'd noticed the dark circles beneath Kagome's eyes and the stress lines that she normally didn't have. Whatever it was that had happened had taken its toll on her and was only getting worse with each moment that passed. Being in a delicate condition was difficult enough for most women, adding to it the strain put on her body by the day's events could not be healthy for her even if she wasn't very far along. They could give her that much for now at least,"Now, if we are to help we need to know what has occurred."

 

Once he'd spoken Sango cast an uneasy look in Miroku's direction but nodded as well. She wouldn't provoke a fight, for now anyway. However when Kagome wasn't around to interfere it might be another story depending on the tale they had to tell. The only thing that mattered was that they were finally going to get some answers.

 

 

Now more than ever Kagome was grateful that Hiei hadn't moved away from her. His presence was the only thing giving her the strength to go through with this, she only hoped that it would be enough as she braced herself for what she was about to do. Honestly if the apparition hadn't been standing so close she knew that she probably wouldn't be agreeing to tell this tale. The images of their reactions that her mind had come up with were still very prominent and making her wonder if she was doing the right thing.

 

Times here were far different from the way they were back home, an unwed woman bearing children was not something that was often heard of nor accepted. Taking a deep breath Kagome decided that it was best to just start from the beginning and go from there, "I guess to start with I should tell you that a few days ago I was walking to the store since I needed to pick up some supplies before I could come back here. A few weeks ago they'd started working to repair one of the roads on the route I normally took so I decided to take a detour. What happened then was really weird, one minute I was walking down the sidewalk and the next minute the air in front of me seemed to ripple. After that all I could feel was the sensation of falling and I guess I blacked out. When I woke up I was in this strange place I had never seen before and I had no idea how to get home."

 

 

Hiei stared down at her in growing unease, he was familiar with every single fixed portal within the city and it was inconceivable that she would just walk right into one in the middle of a sidewalk. Placing one there was just an open invitation for a disaster to happen. For one to be there in the first place it had to be invoked quickly and then removed as soon as the target had been acquired. A conspiracy to kidnap the girl was not out of the range of possibility but for that to happen they had to have known she would be there in the first place. 'Hn, it's more likely she was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. I doubt that Kagome is the first human that Hiroshi has taken from the Ningenkai. This has just been the first time Koenma has stepped in, assuming he even knew about the kidnappings in the first place.'

 

 

Feeling the weight of the apparition's stare Kagome shifted uncomfortably. This was probably the first he'd learned of just how she'd managed to get into the Makai so it was understandable that he'd be curious. Still it was more than a little disconcerting that he would be scrutinizing her so closely. She began to scowl up at him though when the feeling of concern and apprehension she felt coming off of him changed into the faintest trace of amusement beginning to form. What ever it was that Hiei had found funny about her actions she didn't know but at least it had gotten his mind off of whatever he had been thinking. Figuring she didn't want to know just what it was she was thinking she picked up her tale, "Anyway, since I wasn't sure where I was I sat there for a few minutes. I didn't know what to do. I mean, it's not every day that you end up in a place where the sky is pink of all things. When I saw this weird little green demon and it wasn't Jaken I decided I'd better get up and move before something bigger came along."

 

 

Miroku looked puzzled by her explanation but when he watched Hiei's expression he got the distinct feeling that the apparition knew exactly what had happened to get her there. "So you were transported to what? Another world?" he questioned softly. Somehow it wouldn't surprise him, Kagome was after all a time traveler and while he had seen some unusual things in his lifetime Kagome just kept proving to him that even stranger things could and did happen.

 

 

At this point Hiei decided to answer the question for her, "She was transported into the Makai, a realm that in our time is home to demons in order to keep the human world safe. How she found a portal though I do not know, it is an unusual place to find a rip between the dimensions." With Kagome's limited knowledge of the three realms he knew that it would be up to him to fill in part of the gaps. Whether or not these two chose to believe him or not was another story.

 

 

Sango stared at the apparition hard, trying to determine if he was telling the truth. She had never heard of such a thing and didn't know if separating the world into realms was even possible. 'It's far more likely that Kagome was put under some sort of spell or had been drugged by this demon in order to get close enough to her to take the jewel. But if that's the case why is it still in her possession?' Such underhanded tactics weren't unheard of and she knew that demons strong enough to take a human form were not to be trusted. "How do we know that you're telling us the truth?"

 

 

Hearing Sango question such a thing was completely understandable in Kagome's book but it wasn't likely that Hiei would appreciate the insinuation that he was a liar. She knew that it would be up to her to convince her friends about the validity of what she had seen. "It's the truth Sango, I've passed through the portals twice now and I can't say it's any fun. This was a completely different world, I didn't see another human at all while I was there," She looked up at Hiei and decided to amend that statement, "Well, aside from his friends that arrived... after everything had happened."

 

 

"After everything that happened? What do you mean? How did Hiei find you?" Shippo looked from the girl to the apparition trying to figure out just why the two of them were together now. They had all thought Kagome was in love with Inuyasha and he knew she wouldn't just take up with another man because Inuyasha was being an idiot half the time.

 

 

Kagome ran her fingers through the fur on the kit's tail while trying to figure out just how to put this into words that would be acceptable with a child present. She knew that sending him out wasn't an option, most likely he'd refuse to go and if she forced the issue he'd probably have his ear pressed against the door anyway. She had to force herself to remember that even though the kitsune was young, he was a demon and had probably been alive longer than she had. The likelihood he had heard similar stories of what some demons did when they were seeking physical pleasure was great so she decided to just say it with as little detail as possible,"Well I wandered around for a while, looking for a place to go but I guess someone decided falling into a new world wasn't enough. It felt like I was being followed but I couldn't see anyone so after a while I ignored it. Shortly after I started walking it began to rain and there I was, stuck out in the middle of a downpour without even a tree for shelter. In the distance I could see the lights of what looked to be a town so I started to run towards it, hoping that someone there could at least tell me where I was. “

 

Kagome sighed heavily then, she felt like such an idiot telling them what had happened. She should have known better but what else could she have done? “Before I made it even halfway I came I was ambushed. I shouldn't have ignored the feeling of being followed because they waited until I was completely distracted before they attacked. I couldn't tell you how many there were, there seemed to be so many but I was too busy trying to keep them off to get a good count. I managed to purify a couple of them even though I didn't have my bow with me but one managed to get behind me. The next thing I remember was the shock of being dumped into a tub of cold water and being ordered to clean myself up." Her hands went to the collar around her neck, the thing that had kept her from killing every last demon that had been there. "I'm warded, I guess they figured out what I was when I fell through the portal and went to get reinforcements and the collar. With it they made sure I wouldn't be able to cause anymore problems, at least not with my energy. They didn't give me much of a choice and I managed to get myself cleaned up but I didn't know what they had planned. It wasn't until they put me up on display and people started speculating on how much it would cost to buy me for the night that I figured out just what I was there for. "

 

 

For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence while Miroku's gaze went from Kagome to Hiei and back again. A blush stained the girl's cheeks even if the apparition's expression revealed nothing and by her words it wasn't hard to figure out what she meant. Had she said they were offering to outright purchase her Miroku might have been willing to believe it had been a slave ring but he knew that wasn't the case. "So you mean this place was a," A harsh elbow to the ribs cut off what he was going to say but there was no doubt that Sango was thinking the exact same thing. A mere nod was the answer to his question causing him to glare up at the apparition behind her, "So how did you come to find her then?" Had he purchased Kagome for the night and taken her without caring that she was an unwilling participant? If that was the case he'd gladly see just how well the apparition stood up to his wind tunnel, dragon or no dragon.

 

 

Hiei brushed off the accusing glare without care. So he frequented the brothel, it wasn't like that was an uncommon practice in the Makai and he certainly wasn't one to deny his desires. What he did or did not do during his personal time was none of their business. The fact that Koenma had sent him might have put him in the right place at the right time but had he been there anyway the outcome would have been the same. But for now he'd willingly answer just why he'd been there in the first place, "I work for Lord Koenma, ruler of the Reikai. He and his father have been keeping tabs on Kagome, knowing that she was the Guardian of the Shikon. So naturally when she disappeared they began to search for her. When they found out where she was they called me."

 

 

As much as she hated to admit it, Hiei's words rang true to her. If he'd wanted the jewel he'd had plenty of opportunity to take it. He would have had no reason to bring Kagome back and it was obvious that she was with the demon willingly. If this three realms business was true then perhaps Hiei didn't have any ulterior motives but she couldn't be certain, not without knowing the full story. "So you were sent to rescue her, that doesn't explain how any of this happened though," lazily she gestured for them to continue, she'd reserve judgment for now.

 

 

Hiei appeared to be nonchalant even though he knew that the exterminator was not going to be happy with this next part of their story. Either way though, the woman was of no serious threat to him so her displeasure over the situation was not something he was going to concern himself over it. "I am very well acquainted with the owner so I was given first opportunity to purchase her for the night. Appearances had to be kept up so that is exactly what I did," he replied easily.

 

 

"So you.. purchased her," The words were distasteful, something that Miroku was finding difficult to say. The thought that Kagome had been treated as a prostitute angered him but there was nothing that could be done about it now unless Hiei had taken her forcefully. Miroku couldn't begin to put himself in the miko's place and it surprised him slightly that Kagome was holding up so well. Even now she was trying to put up a brave front even though her cheeks burned with shame. To show her that he wasn't holding her to blame for what had happened he gave her a reassuring smile, "What of the rest?"

 

 

Thankfully they weren't interrogating either of them on just why Hiei had insisted on doing it that way instead of just killing everyone there. Even she could see the folly of taking such drastic action and even if she didn't want to admit it, he'd played his cared right and gotten the job done. Slowly she took a deep breath before picking up the story again, "Well sometime during.. well you know.. his dragon decided that it had taken a liking to me. We still haven't figured out why it chose me but from what we know the bond isn't breakable. Sometime later his friends showed up and they weren't too happy about what happened." Even she didn't know what had transpired in the time when she'd been asleep and she wasn't about to ask now.

 

 

Sango eyed the apparition curiously in spite of the impassive scowl on his face. She had seen the violence and destruction that the dragon could cause first hand, many homes now lay in ruins due to its fury but why would it take to Kagome like that? Another question plagued her, just what was the beast exactly? In all her life she'd never even heard of anything like it. Deciding the only way to find out was to ask, she did just that, "So the dragon is the one responsible for this then. Just what is that creature anyway? I don't recognize it."

 

 

Hiei nearly laughed at the Slayer's ignorance, for one whose profession was slaying youkai she was woefully uninformed if she didn't know what the Dragon was. Briefly he entertained the idea of not telling them, but in order to make them understand how serious the situation was they needed to know what they were dealing with. As much as he would have liked to keep the secret to himself, he knew it wasn't a possibility. "It is the Dragon of Darkness Flame, a creature from the lowest level of hell and summoned only by those who are willing to risk it all for the chance to tame it. I alone command the power to control the beast, it bows to no other will but my own." He ignored the skeptical looks that were thrown at him, whether or not they believed he was that powerful wasn't any his concern. At least not until they challenged him and then it would be another story.

 

 

"If you control it then why did you allow it to choose Kagome?" Sango shifted uneasily, not liking what she was hearing in the least. If this apparition could control it as well as he had said then he had to have had a reason for allowing it to do such a thing. What that reason was anyones guess but if she had to lay money on it, it could be traced right back to the Shikon.

 

 

When Hiei outright ignored the question Kagome sighed, knowing that he was unlikely to answer when it was phrased like that. It was a definite blow to his pride that he had allowed his control to slip so easily but then again, with his current condition combined with what they had been doing it would take more than his iron will to contain the beast. "Hiei was sort of... occupied when it came loose. By the time we realized what it had done it was too late. This isn't anyones fault, it just sort of happened," she said, quickly coming to the apparition's defense.

 

“And you are certain that you are okay with this?” Miroku watched her expression carefully. His question covered not only the bond that she had found herself with but Hiei's advances as well. He could see that the demon had picked up on what he really wanted to know but to his credit didn't comment.

 

“It may not have been exactly what I was expecting when I was led to the room but I'm okay with what's happened Miroku,” Kagome replied while meeting his eyes squarely. She wasn't about to place the blame squarely on Hiei and she wouldn't let the others do so either. Had she outright refused him back at the brothel he wouldn't have carried it any further, she knew that now and there was no denying she actively participated in what had happened.

 

 

Miroku nodded slightly, he'd heard what he needed to know and was satisfied with the answer. Although he could sense the power that Hiei possessed he'd also seen the dragon in action. If what Kagome said was true and Hiei had been occupied with what they were doing then he could easily see something like this happening. It didn't explain why the dragon had chose her but at least they knew what had occurred. "Okay so that covers the past couple of days, what is it you intend to do now?"

 

 

"I'm not giving the baby up if that's what you are asking," Kagome snapped at him, automatically becoming defensive. But within moments she was looking apologetic, “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you.”

 

 

Miroku held up his hands up in a gesture of peace, unsure of what to make of her reaction. Apparently he had just touched on a very sore subject without meaning to. "I meant nothing of the sort Kagome, I apologize if it seemed that way. I merely wondered about your plans, why you chose to come here instead of staying in your own time?" Unasked was the question of why she had brought Hiei with her, although he was certain she would pick up on it easily enough. From everything he had heard and seen from the items Kagome brought with her, the future was far more suitable for dealing with situations like this.

 

 

Hiei's eyes softened slightly as he looked down at the girl resting against his legs. He knew that her friends were taking this far better than Kagome could have anticipated but the ordeal was still difficult for her. At the moment he was the one best suited for explaining their predicament so he picked up the task yet again, "The ruler of the Reikai, King Enma watches over the Ningenkai and to a lesser extent the Makai. He is the one who oversees the disputes that occasionally arise between the realms although for the most part he remains a neutral party. I'm sure things are no different here than they are in our own time, relationships between demons and humans are frowned upon but for a Miko to be tainted by one such as myself is forbidden. If a mate is chosen and it is against her consent, her demon mate is disposed of and she is allowed to go free barring complications. If it was by her choice however, the punishment is death for both. So as you can see, Kagome cannot remain in her own time. Especially now that it has been determined that she carries a hanyou child."

 

 

"So Kagome can't go home?" Shippo turned over, resting comfortably in her lap. While he'd be happy that she'd be spending more time with them he definitely didn't like the turn that this had taken.

 

“Not for a while Shippo but eventually I'll have to. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to my family before we came through,” Kagome replied sadly. Maybe she could ask Inuyasha to go through the well and tell them what was going on, she didn't want them to worry about her any more than necessary.

 

Shippo reached out with his energy, attempting to find the fragile life that was growing inside of her. He knew that it was there, somewhere but as of right now its energy was so low it was almost impossible to detect. Giving up for the moment he turned his attention to Hiei, “You came through the well, does that mean this King Enma can as well?”

 

“It is hard to say for certain, the dragon altered the spell when the portal denied us passage. Whether or not Enma will realize I managed to follow her to this time is something we cannot predict. I've made sure that I'm difficult to track at the best of times and Koenma knows that I will not be found unless I want to be. They might assume that we are still on the other side of the well. For now she will be safest here until we can decide on a permanent course of action,” he replied after some thought. He doubted that the Reikai would follow them here if they even believed it to be possible. The dangers in this time period were great and even Koenma had admitted they weren't sure of the girl's chances surviving in the past. They might leave it to chance, expecting a rouge demon to take care of the problem and only act if they reappeared in their own time.

 

 

 

 

"I don't know how exactly to say this but I'm not sure if staying here will be any safer,” Sango stated slowly, her thoughts turning inwards to the problems they had been having, “We still have Naraku to deal with he's decided that Kagome needs to be eliminated at all cost. The last fight was bad, if Inuyasha hadn't managed to grab her at the last minute," Sango trailed off, her eyes glazed over as she remembered in vivid detail, the blow that was meant to end the miko's life. Shaking her head she attempted to clear the images and get back to the task at hand, "If she stays here Naraku will eventually find out that she's pregnant and she won't be able to fight back. She's going to end up being nothing but a target." The attacks had been even worse than normal ever since Shippo had managed to steal Naraku's half of the jewel. The Shikon was essentially completed as soon as they obtained Kouga's shards. It was almost guaranteed that if they were to take them from the wolf prince now that Naraku would launch a devastating all or nothing attack to obtain the jewel. With things so off balance they couldn't afford to engage in such a battle, not yet.

 

 

Before Hiei could interject his own comments concerning the situation and just how the miko would be protected, Kagome sat forward and stared at Sango in disbelief. She was used to Inuyasha calling her weak and swearing she needed protected but to hear her friend now saying she was just a target? The statement hurt more than she'd like to admit. "What do you mean I'm nothing more than a target? I'm not weak or helpless, I can still protect myself," she stopped when she remembered the unfamiliar weight hanging around her neck and absently brought her hand up to tug at the collar, "Or I can once someone takes this stupid thing off of me anyway."

 

“She didn't mean it like that Kagome,” Miroku said calmly, hoping to diffuse the situation before she managed to take offense. Immediately he had picked up on what Sango was referring to although it surprised him slightly that Kagome had not. “You have to remember that you carry a child who is half demon. As you know holy energy courses through your body but for the most part lays dormant unless you call on it, whether it is intentional or instinctual. If you were to attempt using that energy you might inadvertently purify the child. Unfortunately we cannot know how much immunity your blood will give the baby against your own energy so until you give birth, it would be for the best if you refrained from using it as much as possible."

 

 

It was a problem that Hiei had been debating for some time but now that the others were openly speaking of it he could begin to seek a solution. The unknown factor had been how her holy powers worked to begin with. But hearing they laid dormant was a bit surprising. The collar would go a long way towards helping that. Nodding to himself he came to a decision, "I think that is a good reason for the collar to remain in place. As you know it helps to conceal your presence as well as repressing your energy. It will prevent Naraku from finding you as easily and on the chance that he did, he will succeed getting past myself or the dragon." Another thought struck him as he looked at the group. The level of comfort they exhibited as well as the fact that no one had come to order them out of the village told him that this was was one of their normal resting spots. Remaining where Naraku could keep tabs on them was out of the question, they'd have to relocate and soon. Preferably before Naraku realized that he was here with her.

 

 

When it looked like Kagome were about to protest the collar staying on Miroku raised his hand, "As much as you may not like it Kagome, I agree with him. It will be harder for Naraku to find you if he cannot sense you. Between all of us we should be able to keep him from finding you easily." An appraising look was thrown at Hiei, "I'm willing to bet that even if he did find you, I think he would get more than he bargained for if he tried to attack you again." He was positive that not even Naraku would be able to stand up against the black dragon. His shielding might be strong but would it be enough to stand up against a beast straight from the pits of hell?

 

 

Although Kagome couldn't refute anything that they'd said so far she still disliked this feeling of helplessness. Would they be willing to watch her constantly? 'More like can I handle that much attention without being smothered?' The entire situation was forcing her to rely on others again, a habit she'd been desperately trying to break, "He knows we stay here though, how is that going to make any difference except keeping me helpless?"

 

"That is why we are going to be relocating. It will make it more difficult for him to track us that way," Hiei said without hesitation. While she had been mulling over what Miroku had said, he had already started running possibilities through his mind. It helped that they were essentially in Tokyo, even if it was five hundred years in the past. For the most part the caves he had found in their own time would be here even now, including the one he had taken up residence in when he had been restricted to the city limits.

 

 

"But what about Kanna? She could still find you with that mirror of hers," Shippo said suddenly. It was bad enough that Kagome periodically disappeared to her own time but how much worse would it be knowing that she was somewhere nearby yet out of his reach?

 

 

Hiei looked down at the kit with an expression of surprise. This was a name he had yet to hear out of any of them and he wanted to know more, "Kanna? Tell me about her and this mirror."

 

 

"Kanna is a detachment of Naraku, taking on the appearance of a young albino girl. Her powers manifest themselves in the form of a mirror that can transcend any distance giving Naraku the ability to observe us at will. It also absorbs attacks and can rip the soul from a person's body. More than once it has managed to reflect the Tetsusaiga's wind scar among other things so if you happen to encounter her you must use the utmost caution, the only one immune to the mirrors power is Kagome and that is because her soul is too large to be contained," Miroku said, drawing the apparition's attention off of Shippo. Seeing the intense look on Hiei's face was what had prompted him to speak up. Some youkai were notorious for killing children that were attached to a female they were interested in. For now he wasn't certain whether or not Hiei would be a threat to Shippo and resolved to keep a close eye on the two of them together.

 

 

"Hn." Hiei contemplated what he had just been told. Just because he hadn't encountered anything like it before didn't mean he hadn't heard of beings with such abilities. On impulse he started to make an attempt to read Kagome's memories again but stopped short, remembering her indignation at his invasion of her privacy. However he wasn't about to ask her for her permission now, it would have to be something that he did at a later time.

 

 

Seeing the contemplative expression on Hiei's face, Kagome decided to question him, "Do you think there is a way to prevent her from using the mirror? We need to figure out something, if Naraku sees my powers are restrained he will attack soon. Even if it just meant sending Kagura instead of himself to make sure his suspicions are correct."

 

 

Gently he nudged her mental barriers, giving her fair warning that he was about to venture into her mind. When he felt them drop far enough that he could enter unhindered, he began to sift through the memories of each encounter with Naraku's minions. It would be difficult to shield against the mirror but it could be done. The crucial factor would be in who set the barrier up. Any trace of holy energy in it would give their position away since Naraku would be expecting it. Eventually he pulled from her mind and nodded, "I can set up a shield with the Jagan once we get to our destination. Since it will be pure youki he won't think to examine it too closely like he would if it had any holy energy in it. The hanyou does not have the ability to shield with and the kit is far too young to cast one of any real strength. It would be the last thing that he was expecting."

 

 

Kagome nodded in understanding but didn't bother to reprimand Hiei for not using Inuyasha's name. It just seemed to be one of his little quirks and she was beginning to understand that it would probably take a very long time to break him of the habit, assuming it was even possible in the first place. "So you have a place in mind then?"

 

 

Sango remained silent as she listened to the conversation going on around her. Her mind was busy, filing away the pieces of information that Hiei dropped into their laps for future reference, just in case he ever decided to turn on them. She didn't want to be caught unaware and she had to be the first to admit there wasn't much about him that she knew. They couldn't even be certain just what kind of demon he was. Based on his appearance she was certain he was a fire apparition but some of his physical characteristics were slightly off. 'Is he some sort of hybrid then?'

 

 

"There is a cave, not far from here that I have stayed in before. It will more than suit our needs for the time being, although for an extended stay we will need something more appropriate. If we remain in this era for that long you will need to be in a village when it comes time for the birthing," as Hiei spoke he wondered if the others were going to voice their own opinions on the plan. He was already beginning to think ahead about what they would need. The cave he had in mind was far too drafty to comfortably house a newborn, not that he had much experience with them to begin with. It was only by chance that he had picked up what limited knowledge he had to begin with while he was in the Ningenkai and even then he had thought it to be worthless to him. Now he was thankful that he had been listening, even if he hadn't been paying that much attention.

 

In Miroku's opinion it was a fairly sound plan that the apparition had come up with. Finding someone to birth the child when it was time however was a different story. Most midwives were reluctant to deal with anyone associated with demons. While Kagome might be able to plead for assistance on her own, if Hiei was with her then they would most likely be turned away. The best thing Miroku knew to do was to point out the aid that would be right at hand, if only he chose to utilize it, “When the time comes she can always return here provided you are in the area, I'm sure that Kaede would be willing to assist in the delivery.

 

“Perhaps,” Hiei conceded after a moments thought, “Although it might be a better plan to bring this Kaede to us instead of returning here.” The less time they spent out in the open the better off they would be and it would save him from having to worry about transporting Kagome and the child to safety.

 

 

“It would probably be a good idea then to bring Kaede with you when you guys visit, if she has the time of course,” Kagome said thoughtfully while pondering what the next nine months would be like. Reading about these things in books and experiencing them were two completely different things. And besides, she'd need to be checked out periodically wouldn't she?

 

“Out of the question,” Hiei stopped the idea before it could get off the ground. It wasn't idea of her receiving medical care, such as it was that had him putting his foot down, but the idea of anyone coming near the cave before it was time.

 

“What?” Why not?” Kagome couldn't help but stare at him as if he'd lost his mind, “Don't you know anything about pregnancies? I have to be checked out every month to make sure everything is going well.”

 

“Of course I know that much so don't be foolish,” Hiei snapped back at her, “Don't you think that Naraku is going to notice that you are missing? If he's that desperate to get his hands on you there's a good chance that he'll follow any one of your friends to get what he wants. What do you think will happen as soon as he realizes just where we are staying?” It was tempting to use his hand to attempt to massage his headache away but for the moment he refrained.'Do any of these fools have the capability to think ahead? How the species has survived this long with such poor survival instincts I will never know.'

 

“He's right, as much as I hate to say it,” Sango said and then sighed heavily, “With Kanna's mirror and the saimyoushou we wouldn't even realize that we were being followed. It would probably be for the best if we spent as little time around the cave you will be going to as possible.” The next few months looked like they were going to be hell for Kagome but she couldn't come up with a better idea either. 'Poor Kagome, this is going to take isolation to a whole new level for her.'

 

“Great, no friends, no family and one antisocial protector. I'm going to be bored out of my mind,” Kagome muttered beneath her breath. This was beginning to feel like one big conspiracy against her with the way those three were acting. Only Shippo had remained silent and he was probably in agreement with them but didn't want her to stop petting his tail.

 

Hearing this made Hiei chuckle, even if it caused the slayer and the monk to stare at him. For the first time since he'd entered the hut he knelt down beside Kagome and allowed his lips to brush her ear as he spoke, “Do not concern yourself with a lack of something to do. I'm sure I can find plenty of activities to keep you entertained.” Of course only one of the things that he'd meant was sex but he wasn't going to elaborate. They only had a few months to prepare for winter and in that time they would need to establish a supply of food as well as furs to keep warm. If Kagome didn't know how to live off the land, she was about to get a crash course in it.

 

Ignoring the wide eyed stares that her friends were giving her Kagome placed Shippo on the floor and stood up, quickly facing Hiei with a blush on her cheeks, “Alright, I think it's time that we had a talk. Alone.” The apparition was going to be the death of her yet if he continued to embarrass her like that. Sango and Miroku had to have picked up on just what he was implying, she was sure of it. One of them was wearing a mischievous grin and the other was sporting a blush that could rival her own.

 

Without waiting for his answer Kagome turned and stalked out of the hut, knowing that he would follow her whether he really wanted to or not. Most of the villagers were working on cleaning up part of the damage that had been caused earlier in the day so none of them attempted to stop her as she stalked past them. Finally she reached a spot that would be far enough away that no one would overhear them so she turned to face her self appointed shadow, “I think it's time I asked just what your intentions are with me even if it is a bit late.”

 

For several long moments he said nothing, choosing to think about how he wanted to word his answer. There hadn't been much time to think about just what was going to happen but he did come to a couple of decisions while she'd been asleep on the train. Finally he leaned against a nearby tree and gave her a considering look, “If your asking if I am going to take you as my mate the answer is no, at least not yet. I'm proposing a courtship period, lasting the length of your pregnancy. During that time I will take up the role of your mate but there will be no official bonding.”

 

Hearing those words Kagome turned from him to stare at a distance. When she finally spoke again her tone was bitter, “Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free right? You've got enough of a claim on me because of the dragon that you don't need to be bothered with anything else. But what about what I want? I had a life and something of a relationship before I met you.”

 

“I hope your not expecting me to coddle you and tell you everything is going to be okay. You are not the only one who has had to give up on the life that they had so don't try to play the martyr here. Or do I need to remind you of the people who are back in our time doing their best to ensure that you remain hidden, risking their own lives in the process?” Hiei pushed away from the tree and put his hand on her shoulder, forcing her to turn and look at him, “And as for your other comment that is why I placed a time frame on it. I refuse to take a mate when I don't know that she's even going to be able to survive birthing a hanyou child. I'm not masochistic, the pain of a soul bond ripping apart is one I'd rather not experience so forgive me for looking out for myself. Assuming we make it through this then yes, you'll get the commitment I'm assuming you desire. But not before.”

 

Kagome was rendered speechless by the words that he'd just thrown at her. One one hand she wanted to scream at him that this was all his fault but she could. It would be a lie and she had to own up to her responsibility. One the other hand she wanted to cry because she wasn't sure what she wanted. A commitment would be nice but it had never been Hiei that she'd been picturing it coming from. The apparition's statement of a courtship period essentially removed Inuyasha from the picture completely, he'd already said as much without speaking those exact words. He'd be taking up the role of her mate without the bond in place, it left no room for the hanyou in her life in any position but a friend. Another question rose in her mind, one she needed the answer to, “And what happens if the child cannot handle both of our energies and dies before it can be born. What then?”

 

It was a good question, one that had the strong possibility of coming true and Hiei knew it. “In that case we will see where we stand when the time comes. Just remember that if you are thinking that you could return to the hanyou, forget it. Regardless of my feelings on the matter the Dragon has made its choice and unless it chooses to break the bond itself neither of us can go our own way. If you care for him, you'll let him go.”

 

Seeing that Hiei wouldn't budge on this, Kagome nodded her acceptance, “Will you at least let me tell him myself? He deserves that much at least.” It was a conversation she was not looking forward to but it had to be done.

 

While Hiei had no real desire to leave her alone with the hanyou he knew that this was something that had to be dealt with. The man was upset now, anyone with an emotional attachment would be but eventually he'd get over it and want to speak to her again. If they'd already left by then they'd have to deal with Inuyasha trying to track them down which would draw attention. Really he had no choice but to allow her to do this and he knew it. “The hanyou is down that path,” he indicated with a wave of his hand, “I will remain nearby while you speak with him.”

 

“Thank you,” Kagome murmured before starting down the path to find her friend. Hiei of course was trailing behind her at a leisurely pace, she knew that he'd meant what he said by remaining nearby. No doubt if he felt that Inuyasha was getting out of line he'd make certain to step in and it wouldn't be pretty.

 

'We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. No, if we come to it. I'm not going to let either of them get into a position where they have to fight each other.' But first she had to find Inuyasha, a task that wasn't always easily accomplished.'You would think that wearing all that red would make him stand out amongst all this green.' Sighing heavily she kept walking while keeping an eye out for him. It wasn't long though that she spotted him and called out to get his attention, “Inuyasha, can you.. come down here for a minute? We need to talk.”

 

Unease settled in the pit of Inuyasha's stomach as he heard those dreaded words. This was something he'd been expecting though, things couldn't remain the same between them after what had happened. He just wasn't sure what changes were about to take place though, not with Hiei remaining in the picture. With a heavy heart he jumped down out of the tree he'd been sitting in and moved to stand next to her, “Yeah, I guess we do.”

 

Silence stretched out between them since neither knew quite what to say and neither one of them were particularly anxious to be the first to speak. However Kagome knew that Hiei was lurking nearby although she wasn't sure if he was close enough to hear the conversation or not. But if he felt she was just wasting time he'd put an end to their discussion whether they were finished or not. Her eyes were sad as she turned to look at him, “While you were gone we had a long talk and it's been decided that it's not safe for me to stay here. Not with Naraku still around and me not being able to use my powers to protect myself.”

 

“Of course it's not safe,” Inuyasha snorted in derision, “It's never been safe but that hasn't stopped us before. I'll just keep protecting you like I have been alright? It just means that you won't be able to travel in a couple of months, that's not a big deal provided Miroku keeps that damned wind tunnel closed. That should give us more than enough time for you to have the baby before we start the hunt for Naraku again.” Of course he had no idea what they'd do with the kid once it was born. Traveling with a newborn wasn't exactly safe but leaving Kagome in the village unprotected was even worse.

 

“It's not that easy Inuyasha,” Kagome said as she sat down on a patch of grass. The long blades pricked at her fingertips as she ran her hands through them uneasily. For a moment she wondered if he was just going to stand there, looming over her but after a few seconds he took a seat next to her. A brow was raised in her direction though when she shifted away from him slightly. There was no need to tempt the dragon out a second time just because Inuyasha sat too close to her.

 

Inuyasha stared at her, trying to figure out just what the hell it was that had her so jumpy. Was it because that spiky haired little bastard was watching them from a short distance away? If he had a problem with them even sitting this close he couldn't imagine how much it would rub Hiei the wrong way when he saw him carrying her. Then again, Kagome shouldn't be worrying about what Hiei thought, “What's your problem? You've never moved away from me like that before.”

 

“I'm trying not to tempt fate a second time. I don't think the villagers want the rest of their village destroyed because we sat too close to each other,” Kagome replied dryly. It was going to be hard enough explaining to them just why the creature had appeared in the first place and it was a damned miracle in itself that they hadn't come questioning her about it in the first place.

 

“Oh right, the dragon thing. You want to tell me what that was about anyway? I know it's got some sort of hold on you, I can sense it. I'm just not sure what it is,” Inuyasha's nose wrinkled in distaste at the thought that the beast had touched her. Something that evil had no business even looking at Kagome.

 

'As if I haven't already explained this enough for one day.' Kagome gave a tired sigh, couldn't he have stayed in the hut for the main explanation? “I've already talked about this more than I had any desire to but you need to know. You're right, partially anyway. The dragon staked a claim on me but we haven't figured out why just yet. But as you saw today it takes a very dim view of anyone touching me that it doesn't approve of. Unfortunately the only ones it doesn't seem to have a problem with are Hiei and Shippo.” That was putting it more than a bit mildly, when Inuyasha had gotten close enough to smell her she could feel the rage surging through her bond with the beast.

 

“And this happened while you two were,” Inuyasha repressed a growl when she nodded her head. 'Well that solves that. He's the one in control of the damned thing although I doubt letting it loose was done on purpose. That bastard doesn't seem to give a shit about her one way or another.' Seeing Kagome looking at him strangely had him scowling, “Well it's just going to have to get over it or your new friend can leave.”

 

“That's what has to happen anyway,” Kagome stated sadly and looked away, “Only, I'll be going with him.”

 

The softly spoken words left him stunned but only for a minute, “Oh hell no you aren't!” Inuyasha lept to his feet and stared down at her. How could she even think about leaving with him? She'd made a promise, how could she break it now, after everything they'd been through. “You promised you'd always be by my side! Was that a lie?”

 

“Of course it wasn't!” Tears were beginning to form in her eyes at hearing the accusation. It wasn't as if she wanted to leave after all but she had no real choice in the matter. Angrily she stared at him, hurt that he would think such a thing, “You know damned well about how I feel about you Inuyasha and that's exactly why I agreed to this. How do you think this makes me feel? Do you think I like knowing that at any given moment you could be attacked just because you happened to sit too close? Do you think I want to be the one responsible for your death because I inadvertently touched you?”

 

The ferocity of her words only provoked his anger to greater heights. Inuyasha glared first at the apparition watching them and then down at Kagome, “Well then maybe you should stop worrying about me! There ain't no way that thing is going to be able to kill me, I don't care how powerful you think it is. I handled Ryukotsusei didn't I?”

 

“And you almost died Inuyasha!” Hearing him brush the danger off so easily had her standing as well, unwilling to back down from the confrontation, “It nearly killed me seeing you laying there as if you were dead and if your demon blood hadn't taken over you would be! Dammit Inuyasha, can't you understand? More than enough people have died because of my mistakes and I won't let your name be added to the list.”

 

“So that's it then? You're just going to up and leave.” As hard as he was fighting for her it seemed to Inuyasha like she wanted him to let her go. That thought hurt the worst of all but if she'd already given up then what more could he do? Besides challenge Hiei for the right to her but something told him if he even tried Kagome might well stand against him even if it tore her heart out. 'She'd do it if she thought it would keep me safe. Dammit Kagome why won't you let me help you?'

 

Kagome tried to ignore the hurt look that he was giving her. This was for the best, at least right now. Perhaps if things changed in the future they could re-examine the situation but she wasn't going to hold her breath either, “If it means keeping the rest of you safe then yes. I imagine we'll be leaving in the next couple of days so Naraku doesn't figure out that Hiei is here. Where we are going I'm not sure, but he's already got a place in mind. There's something else you should know.”

 

“You mean there's more?” As if they didn't have enough to deal with, what was next? Inuyasha wasn't so sure that he wanted to find out anymore.

 

Taking a deep breath, Kagome nodded and prepared herself for an explosion, “Hiei has proposed that the next nine months be a courtship period. At the end of that time frame if our child survives he said he plans to take me as his mate.”

 

“Oh now that's just fucking perfect,” Inuyasha snarled but he made no attempt to move towards Hiei. 'I should have seen this one coming. Any demon would want to take that step if they had even the slightest shred of honor in them.' Of course things like this weren't a common occurance though and he hadn't known Hiei prior to this so his predictability was limited at best.

 

The slightest bit of relief filled her when she realized that Inuyasha wasn't going to go on a rampage. Overall he seemed to be taking it far better than she'd anticipated and for that she was thankful. Sensing an intense gaze settle on her, Kagome knew that her time was drawing to a close, “I should probably get back. I just wanted you to know and.. I'm sorry things turned out this way.

 

Inuyasha watched her turn and leave, returning to the apparition's side. His gaze remained on them until they vanished from his sight and only then did he speak, “Me too Kagome.. me too.”

 

~*~

 

Shippo had waited impatiently for Hiei to bring Kagome back to the hut. While they'd been gone he'd been thinking of just how things would be around the village without the miko there and he was less than pleased with the prospect. He could only imagine how lonely would be as well with only the apparition for company. 'He doesn't even seem to like her very much! There's no way she'll be happy with only him to talk to.' When the mat pushed aside to reveal the two people that were on his mind he jumped up and faced Hiei with a determined look, “I'm not going to let you take Kagome without me. We're a team and where she goes, so do I!”

 

Brief surprise crossed Hiei's face before his expression settled into one of mild amusement. It'd been plain to see just how attached Shippo was to the miko and it was more than obvious that he was used to getting his way. The kid had guts stepping up to him like that but it didn't mean that he was just going to say yes to the kitsune's demand, “And just what makes you believe that I would allow a mere child to come with us? What purpose would bringing you possibly serve other than to present one more mouth to prove for? I will not be saddled with a child who cannot care for himself, regardless of what he says will or will not happen."

 

Anger flared in Shippo's eyes hearing Hiei call him all but useless. He'd taken care of himself just fine when he had taken it upon himself to track down the thunder brothers. It was only once he'd found them that he'd ran into trouble. Standing up as straight as he could, Shippo locked gazes with the apparition staring him down, “There's plenty that I know how to do! I can hunt and cast illusions. I can control fox fire and I've protected Kagome plenty of times with it. Besides, you can't be with her all the time. Sooner or later you'd need to hunt and who's going to watch over her then?”

 

For a moment Hiei said nothing, choosing to contemplate what Shippo had said. The kitsune had a point, whether he went with them or not it would be up to him to provide the big game. Smaller animals were fine for providing limited supplies of food but for more than that they wouldn't suffice for their needs. So long as Kagome remained within the barrier he erected she'd be fine but a bit of added protection might be enough to warrant bringing him, "The step outside kit and show me what you are capable of. I wish to see for myself before I decide whether or not I can put my trust in you to watch over her."

 

Not waiting around to be told twice, Shippo raced outside to begin the demonstration that the apparition had requested. He knew that the others were following closely behind him, though they were strangely silent. 'They're probably surprised that I insisted I go. Hmph, like I'd leave Kagome alone with only him to take care of her.'

 

In reality they were more surprised that Hiei was even considering the idea but it made sense. Miroku obviously couldn't go if the presence of any unshielded holy energy would give their location away. Sango and Kirara would of course follow Miroku so their presence was ruled out as well. The fact that Shippo was a child only made his disappearance more believable if Naraku should happen to look. He was one of the weaker members of the party and had nearly been killed on multiple occasions. Most likely he would merely assume that someone had finally managed to take him out.

 

Inuyasha had been on his way back when they had exited the hut and stopped where he stood. 'Are they leaving already? No, they have no supplies with them. If nothing else that is going to take some time to get together' What he didn't understand was why they were moving towards a large pile of debris that would be burned later. Quickly he caught up to Sango and threw her a questioning look, "What's going on now?” Seeing the wary look he was being given Inuyasha sighed, “Kagome told me they were going to be leaving soon so spill it. What's happening?"

 

It was a bit surprising that Kagome had already dealt with that difficult subject but Inuyasha seemed to be dealing with it well. After a moment Sango turned her attention back to the three walking ahead of her, “Shippo all but told Hiei that he's going wherever Kagome does and Hiei wants proof that he can look after her whenever he has to leave."

 

At this Inuyasha rolled his eyes even though he was relieved that at least one of the group would be going with her, “You might want to send Kirara too in that case. The runts almost useless against a serious opponent. At least with Kirara there Kagome would be able to get out of danger long enough to use her arrows.”

 

The thought hadn't occurred to Sango but it wasn't necessarily a bad one. While she would miss her companion Kagome needed all the help that she could get. They ended up stopping some distance away, giving Shippo room to work, “Kagome won't be able to use her arrows. She has to leave the collar on her because her energy might kill the baby. With the collar repressing them it will keep them in check and make it even harder for Naraku to find her.” Sango gave a look to the two tailed cat in her arms, “What do you say Kirara. Would you mind going with them?”

 

The small cat mewed her agreement. It helped that she liked both Kagome and Shippo, even if she was uncertain about the newcomer.

 

“I guess that settles it then. Thank you Sango, I'd rather go myself but that just isn't going to happen,” Inuyasha said with a sigh. If he thought Kagome would agree he'd be pushing the issue but he already knew just what she would say and there would be no changing her mind.

 

The hanyou's voice was gruff with emotion and Sango knew just how hard it was on him to step aside. Gently she laid a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it in reassurance,“I know you would. We'll just have to stand back and help where we can, that's all we can really do.”

 

Inuyasha said nothing, choosing instead to watch Shippo's performance. To the kitsune's credit the attacks he was using were even stronger than usual, desire forcing him to throw more power behind them. They could all see how important this was to him and it was showing in the strength of the attacks he was throwing.

 

Eventually the demonstration ended and Shippo turned to look at Hiei, waiting for his judgment. Even though he was exhausted by the effort he was pleased that he managed to keep from shaking while the apparition stared at him critically. He'd expended a high level of energy and fatigue was to be expected but he refused to give into it. This was one time that he couldn't afford to show weakness, the next nine months and Kagome's safety depended on it.