InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Kisses: Mistletoe or No ❯ With That First Kiss ( Chapter 9 )

*DISCLAIMER: The characters and worlds of “InuYasha” and “Yu Yu Hakusho” belong to their creators, Takahashi-san and Togashi-san. But as soon as they lift their restraining orders and read my fics, they will realize they need to be combined and will give the rights to me so I can have my wicked way with them.
No drabble here. This is a full-fledged one-shot.
(thoughts)

 

With That First Kiss

 

Opening the front of his mate's soft, pink yukata, Hiei breathed in her sweet scent before pulling her closer so he could press his lips to the mark on her neck that proclaimed her as his. Standing between his legs while he sat on the bed, Kagome breathed a contented sigh and let her hands slide down his bare shoulders, gently squeezing the firm muscles in his upper arms. As his lips traveled across her collarbone, she felt a familiar fluttering begin in her stomach. But a few seconds later, the fluttering turned to queasiness.

 

 

“Hiei . . .” she clutched his arms as she began to feel dizzy and she slumped against him.
A low growl rumbled in her ears as he clasped her tightly in his embrace. (What the fuck is going on?!!?) the apparition could feel a disturbance in the air all around them. Rising swiftly, he swept her up in his arms, ready to make a run for it. They were being attacked by some kind of invisible force and he knew that Kagome must be feeling the same unpleasant sensations he was. He would not risk her safety in a fight—he was getting them the hell out of there!

 

But before he could move a muscle, the room began to fade away and all he could see was a blinding pink light that penetrated his flesh and bones, paralyzing him completely with a cold numbness. He couldn't even activate the Jagan to help him see. It seemed as if both the earth and time stood still, and even though it could only have been seconds, it felt like hours had passed before the light began to dim and feeling returned to his body. Kagome stirred in his arms and he saw her shake her head, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked up at him. “The Shikon no tama,” she whispered.

 

She moved to stand, but he wasn't letting her out of the circle of his arms. Whatever the hell was happening, he didn't like it. Not one damn bit. Releasing the Jagan and looking around, it appeared that they were encased in some kind of small, odd-shaped room with see-through walls. As he focused, he could make out a gigantic, red-and-white object outside that was making a deep, rumbling noise.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kagome yelled, then turned to face him with alarm written all over her face. “Hiei, we're inside the Shikon no tama!” When the light had flared and seemed to flash-freeze her insides, she had recognized the power immediately. She certainly knew it well enough to recognize it, even though it had never been directed at her in such a way before.
(Well, shit.) That couldn't be good. That damn jewel had brought nothing but trouble to Kagome. The sound of hearty chuckling echoed around them for a few seconds, then four distinct globes of light became visible. (The four souls of the jewel.)

 

They heard different voices speaking in unison, “Yes, you are inside the Shikon no tama. And although you can do nothing to affect what has happened, we all agreed you have a right to know. Listen, and observe the past few moments.”

 

The rumbling noise became distinguishable as Inuyasha's voice, and they realized he had been talking to himself. “. . . don't like that little bastard one damn bit, but at least she's happy now. Stupid wench. It took her forever to get over all the shit from our travels and then she has to go and fall in love with a sorry, sawed-off excuse for a youkai with an ego and attitude to rival Sesshoumaru's and bad hair to boot. Keh, I think she breathed in too much of Naraku's miasma,” he said with a snort. “Of course, it's my fault. And yours,” he lifted the jewel in his hand and Hiei and Kagome got a close-up view of his face. “Stupid little rock. Good for nothing but drawing out youkai so I can get a little exercise. Why couldn't you do something useful for a change, like sending her some rich, handsome prince to love her and take care of her the way she deserves instead of that rude little shit?” He lowered his hand again and his fist closed around the jewel, obstructing their view. “Maybe if I hadn't been such an ass she'd have looked for something more. Well, it's too fucking late to do anything about it now. They've been together for almost a year now, and she's going to start popping out babies before too much longer.” He let out a long sigh and opened his hand to stare at the jewel again. “I just wish she hadn't gone through all that shit with me.”

 

“Oh, Inuyasha,” Kagome covered her mouth with her hand, “What did you do?!!?”

 

The four voices spoke again, “His wish has been granted.”

 

The walls surrounding them vanished and they were left standing in a field near an old well. There was no sign of the Shikon no tama or Inuyasha. Kagome looked around in horror, not sure what to expect. They were definitely back in the Warring States era. As she clung to Hiei, she noticed that though she could feel him as solidly as ever, he looked somewhat . . . transparent. Looking down, she saw that she seemed to be just as incorporeal as he did. “Hiei, it's like . . . like we're not really here.”

 

But he was already studying their surroundings intently. “I am going to kill that damn mutt,” he muttered, “. . . if I ever see him again.” Then he looked into her eyes and hugged her tightly. “We're not here. We haven't happened yet.” He refused to voice his fear that they may not ever happen. Because if what he thought was about to happen happened, a 15-year-old Kagome was about to climb out of that damn well. And her entire history from five years ago was going to change. If she didn't “go through all that shit” with Inuyasha, then it was very likely he was going to be the one mated to her five years from now. Where did that leave him? He couldn't imagine what his life would be like without her.

 

---------------------------------

 

Two years ago, Koenma had sent the Spirit Detectives to retrieve one Higurashi Kagome from a shrine in Tokyo to report on her connection to the Shikon no tama and her adventures in the past. When they brought her to him, she told them her story. Koenma had been furious when she told him the jewel was currently in the hands of the inu hanyou, back in the past. She had given it to him, believing he was the one who deserved to make a wish. He had decided to hold onto it for a while because he had no idea what to wish for.

 

Koenma sputtered and yelled, ranted and raved, bullied and threatened, and through it all, the 18-year-old young woman just stood there. Then she got right in the demi-god's face, poked her finger into his chest and told him it was none of his concern. She was the rightful guardian of the jewel and if she thought it was safest with the hanyou, then that's where it would stay. She said that Inuyasha would be visiting her from time to time and that she would make sure the jewel stayed purified until he chose to use it. Then she said he had better return her to the shrine because she was supposed to help her mother fix the evening meal.

 

Hiei had actually blinked at the girl's audacity and the way she had apparently simply gone on with her life as if there were nothing unusual about traveling back and forth in time for three years to fight evil youkai. From her manner, it was obvious she had merely taken it all in stride. And she was not in the least bit cowed by Koenma's threats. She was a most unusual ningen.

 

Since locking her up wouldn't get him the jewel, Koenma had to let her go. But he had ordered them to keep an eye on her and to take the jewel from the hanyou when he appeared. Hiei had taken his turn with the others, watching her night and day. And he liked what he saw. It wasn't her beauty that caught his attention, though he supposed she was attractive enough, and it wasn't her power, either, though she must have some to have survived what she had. No, what he liked was her attitude.

 

He watched her with her family, and with her friends, and when she was alone, She was content. Not the ignorant kind of content that you see in foolish ningen everywhere, who believed the worst thing that could happen to them was not to get into the “right” school, or to lose their job or their flavor-of-the-week love interest. No she was content in a way that had been tested by trials and hardship—in a way that proved she was confident in herself and had faith in those around her, in spite of the fact that her eyes were wide open to the true dangers that lurked in the shadows. She wasn't arrogant or conceited, either. And it wasn't that she believed everything would work out the way she wanted it to every time, but that she could deal with any situation, any circumstance, and make it through. She simply knew that she could handle whatever came her way. That kind of confidence was appealing. And soon, he made it a point to come her way. Often. But there had been one big obstacle in his path: Inuyasha. Her hanyou friend was confident in himself, too, but it was not in the least bit appealing. He swaggered, he bellowed, and he made Hiei's life very unpleasant on a regular basis.

 

The first time Inuyasha came through the well, Yusuke had been on watch. The battle that ensued as the toushin tried to take the jewel from him demolished half of Kagome's house and resulted in Yusuke and Kuwabara being ordered to help re-build it while the Reikai footed the bill. Koenma had not counted on Lord Sesshoumaru showing up and supporting his half-brother's claim to the jewel. From what Kagome had said, he sounded like a coincidental ally—not really working with them, but simply wanting to destroy Naraku for his own reasons. But he did not want to see the Shikon no tama end up in the wrong hands again and apparently he had confidence in Inuyasha's ability to protect it—more confidence than in the Reikai vaults, anyway, which just proves he isas intelligent as his reputation makes him out to be.

 

Hiei had gone to the shrine to watch his partners engage in manual labor and had enjoyed himself immensely as they smashed their thumbs with hammers and “accidentally” hit each other in the head with planks of wood. Inuyasha was another reluctant worker there and he seemed to break as many things as he fixed. Really, the whole thing was very amusing—until Kagome caught sight of him lounging in a nearby tree.

 

“And just who do you think you are? Get your lazy butt down here and help them,” she demanded.

 

He might think she was unusual and interesting, and he might even admire her inner contentment and attitude, but that didn't mean he was going to let her mouth off to him. Landing directly in front of her, his eyes flashed in warning. “Onna, I don't take orders from anyone, and I'm not lifting a finger to help these morons.”

 

“Oh yes, you are,” she poked him in the chest with her finger. “You are every bit as responsible as they are for this mess. And don't try to excuse yourself by saying you weren't even here—you know as well as I do that the same thing would have happened if it had been your day to spy on me.” You've been here as often as they have. And my name is Kagome,” she added with another poke.

 

Catching her finger in his hand, he leaned in and smirked at her, causing her to blush. “You're wrong, Kagome—if it had been my day to spy on you, I would have recovered the jewel.”

 

“Bullshit!” Inuyasha grabbed her arm and pulled her finger out of Hiei's grasp and then stepped in between them. “You think you can do any better than them, you're welcome to try, runt.”

 

“Oh no, you don't! You've done enough damage already, Inuyasha! And it's all settled now, thanks to your brother,” she reminded him.

 

“Half-brother.”

 

“Whatever. Get back to work. And stay on this side of the building so you don't get in the workers' way,” she told him as she adjusted the kerchief on his head. “And stop taking their supplies. You've got everything you should need over here if you'd stop breaking things.”

 

“Bossy wench,” he grumbled. But he started back to work.

 

She turned to Hiei then and looked at him expectantly. He was about to blow her off when he remembered the way she had blushed. She wanted to see him work? He stared back at her as he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. “All right, Kagome, what is it you want me to do?”

 

Her eyes widened and the color rose in her cheeks again at the suggestiveness of his tone. Yusuke saw what he was doing and laughed. Then he took his short off, too. “Good idea, Hiei. It's hot work out here.”

 

When Kuwabara grinned and stripped his shirt off, Kagome turned and quickly went inside.

 

“Oh crap, man! Did you see the look on her face?” Yusuke laughed.

 

“Hey! What the fuck are you guys doing?!!? You can't walk around out here half-naked!” Inuyasha yelled as he stalked back over to Hiei. “And you! Stay away from her.”

 

They had glared at each other for several minutes until they heard Kagome's voice calling, “Inuyasha, if you expect some lunch, you'd better get to work.”

 

Hiei returned to the shrine and helped out for the next two weeks. He wasn't quite sure why he was bothering, since the hanyou was even more annoying and irritating than Kuwabara. And he made sure Hiei didn't get near Kagome. The apparition was beginning to think his interest in the girl wasn't worth it.

 

Then, one afternoon as they were sitting under the trees across the courtyard eating lunch, Kagome's mother brought them out some cold drinks. As she walked alongside the part of the house still under construction, a pile of wooden planks and shingles toppled off of the roof right over her head. In a flash, Hiei had whisked her out of the way, bringing her to the center of the courtyard. Everyone had jumped up, and Kagome, who had just stepped out the door carrying more drinks, dropped everything and ran over to them.

 

“Mama! Are you all right?!!?”

 

And although her voice was a little shaky, the older woman answered that she was fine. Then she turned to Hiei and gave him a hug. “Thank you.” Then she bowed deeply.

 

“Yes, thank you!” Kagome also bowed deeply to him. “Thank you very much!” And before he could discern her intent, she had stepped up close to him, put her hands on his shoulders, and pressed her lips to his, ever-so-briefly. Then she had quickly turned back to her mother, and putting her arm around her, led her back into the house to sit down.
After that, it didn't matter what that damned dog said or did—he couldn't keep him away from her even if he used that adamant barrage attack of that ridiculously overrated fang of his—he had tried. That was when Kagome had agreed to his courtship and threatened to remove the dog's subjugation necklace so he couldn't come to her time anymore.

 

Inuyasha continued to get in his way, though, and it had taken him over a year to get Kagome to agree to be his mate. But in the end, he had her. And now that fucking bastard had found a way to take her away for good.

 

 

-----------------------------

 

“Why now? What the hell set that idiot off?” he wanted to know.

 

“I don't think he did it on purpose, Hiei,” Kagome said quietly. “He was just . . . thinking out loud.” She sighed. “He came to visit and had lunch with me today, remember? Well, we were reminiscing a bit and he started apologizing for letting Kikyou go on so long with part of my soul. He said that if he had just put her to rest when he discovered the soul-stealers were hers, he thought things would have turned out differently. And he asked me if I was really happy. I told him yes, and that I was hoping you and I might start a family soon. He said it was about time and that I had let the past make me too cautious.”

 

“Hn. You weren't cautious enough—leaving the jewel in the hands of that moron,” he said testily. He could see how upset she already was and he knew his words weren't helping, so he hugged her and rubbed her back soothingly. He didn't want to blame her, but damnit! This was his life that was getting fucked! Inuyasha might have been strong enough to protect the jewel from other demons, but he sure couldn't protect it from his own dumbassery.

 

“I'm not going to apologize for giving him the jewel. It would be pointless, anyway. But, if we have not happened yet, then why are we here?” she asked.

 

That was a damn good question. The souls in the jewel said they thought they deserved to know what had happened. Now that they did, he would have thought this consciousness of theirs would have just disappeared since they would be re-living 5 years of their lives.

 

 

“Perhaps we are simply here to witness the beginning of your adventure.” And the end of their life together. Looking at her standing there in her yukata, which was still gaping open, he couldn't help but wish that Inuyasha had at least waited and hour before screwing up the universe.

 

They both turned to the well when they heard a girl's voice yell, “Souta! You there? Go get Gramps! Now!!”

 

In spite of himself, Hiei couldn't help but smirk at the sight of a younger-looking Kagome struggling over the lip of the well. She was adorable with her pink cheeks and her obvious annoyance flashing blue fire in her eyes. And check out that tiny skirt! It really showed off her long legs.

 

“Onna, did you really go running all over Feudal Japan in that? It's a wonder you weren't raped.”

 

But Kagome was barely paying attention to him, focusing instead on this vision from her past. (Is that what I looked like back then? I was so . . . young.) She didn't know whether to be entranced or embarrassed by the picture of wide-eyed naivete in front of her. (I had no idea what was going on—no idea of what I had been destined to be a part of.) It was humbling and scary, and she didn't want to have to live through it all again. The fears, the anxieties, the danger, the injuries, the losses, the tears . . . Knowing what was going to happen was infinitely worse than taking it as it came, even though she was sure they would once again be successful.

 

“Grandpa? Mom?”

 

They followed her, still holding onto each other, unable to do more than watch her confusion and her discovery.

 

“Oh! The old Goshinboku!” She moved quickly through the overgrown foliage to stand at the foot of the tree. But . . .

 

“Hiei! Inuyasha's not there!”

 

The tree was beautiful and magnificent—maybe even more so than in their time, because it was standing in its natural element here instead of in the cleared area that composed part of the shrine grounds. It was thrumming with power and vitality. But there was no sign of an inu hanyou or even a mark to indicate an arrow had ever been embedded in it.
Hiei's mind was racing, trying to remember Inuyasha's exact words as he had made his accidental wish. “Shit.” That stupid bastard had wished that Kagome didn't “go through all that shit” with him. The Shikon no tama had a wicked sense of humor and now Kagome didn't have a protector in this time.

 

“Where is he?” she asked, looking at him in confusion and dawning fear.

 

“I know where I hope he is,” Hiei growled viciously, though hell was too good for him.

 

 

Kagome's eyes were glistening with unshed tears and he knew she was worried that the stupid bastard had wished himself out of existence. It was a nice thought, but that was too good for him, too. In all likelihood, he was stuck to some other tree in some other country where he had pissed off some other priestess. If there was any justice in the world, that Jakotsu fellow would be the one to un-pin him this time. But would the Shikon no tama really do this to her? She had guarded the jewel practically her life, even if unknowingly for most of it. It had been born inside her. Would it really doom her to be killed here after all she had done to safeguard it?

 

He felt another flash of power that signaled that someone or something had just come through the well. The centipede demon? No! He recognized that aura! He blinked and looked up into the surrounding trees, but his attention was drawn by several arrows hitting the tree beside the younger Kagome. It seemed the villagers had found her.

 

“Kagome . . .”

 

As the men tied her younger self's hands and feet and carried her out of the forest,

 

 

Kagome saw a blur in the trees following them. “Hiei? Is that . . . ?”

 

“Yes. It's me,” he said, still puzzling over how that could be. He had never been able to travel through the well before, so it had to be the jewel's doing. He wondered what circumstance had prompted him to try it. Had Koenma sent him here?

 

“Oh,” Kagome smiled at him, “then it's going to be okay. You'll be here with me.”

 

Something about it wasn't right, though, and Hiei couldn't shake the nagging feeling that for once, his mate just might be a little too optimistic. They had reached the village and were watching as Lady Kaede spoke to her and told her she was the image of her elder sister Kikyou, who had died over 50 years ago. That's when it hit Hiei—the version of him that had come through the well wouldn't be him as he was now—it would be him from 5 years ago. He closed his eyes and tried to think back. (Shit!) At this time 5 years ago, he had been scouting out the Ningenkai, planning to steal that damn sword from the Reikai vaults and enslave the ningen population. He had looked around Tokyo, and had even rested in the Goshinboku one night, though he had not seen Kagome then. The jewel must have manipulated the timing of his visit to coincide with the day she first traveled through time. This younger version of himself, who was even now watching the younger Kagome, must have felt the power of the well when she was pulled through and checked it out. One thing was sure: he wasn't here to help her.

 

As the afternoon wore on and darkness fell, the younger Hiei disappeared. As he thought about it, the hiyoukai realized that if had somehow found himself back in Feudal Japan before he had met up with Yusuke and become indebted to the Reikai, he may very well have thought he was in paradise. He would be free to enjoy the less civilized land and to fight and to kill ningen and youkai alike with no barrier to contend with and no need to shield himself from the eyes of the Reikai. He might not even come back to this village to check on this girl who had also come form his time. And if he did, he might just kill her to make sure she didn't have the power to force him back. Then again, he hadn't found Yukina yet, so he might just look around and then go back, leaving the girl here to her fate. It was torture trying to second-guess himself, but no matter how many possibilities he came up with, none of them involved him helping her.

 

“Hiei, we're still here,” Kagome reminded him. “Why are we still here? Time has begun again. I don't want to sound ungrateful to have this time with you like this since things will be different for us, but it's really difficult to watch myself and not be able to warn myself that the village is about to be attacked. It's nerve-wracking. And I don't know exactly what will happen when Mistress Centipede comes after me. Last time, I ran to Inuyasha and ended up freeing him.”

 

She saw that he was hesitating to speak, as if he was debating with himself about telling her something. “Oh no, you don't. If you think you know something, you need to tell me.”

 

Knowing she wouldn't let it be, he told her of his suspicions, “time has begun again, but I don't think out fate is set. I think we are going to be here to witness that.”

 

“What do you mean our fate isn't set? I'm here, there's no Inuyasha, and you're here. Inuyasha's wish took him out of this part of my life, so you're in it 5 years sooner than you would have been.”

 

He shook his head. “It's not that simple. I wasn't supposed to be in your life 5 years earlier because back then I was a bitter, hardened killer. Kagome, I was planning to take over the ningen realm and turn everyone into mindless slaves. The chances that I am here to help you on your journey are slim to none. We've already seen that the jewel chose to interpret Inuyasha's wish differently than he would have intended if he had intended to wish at all. Hell, it's always seemed to thrive on misery and pain. It may have wanted me here to kill you, and it may be getting its jollies out of forcing us to watch it happen. Even though this consciousness may fade away, that knowledge would be a scar on my soul. And you . . .”

 

“That's not going to happen.” Cupping his face in both of her hands, Kagome kissed him, softly, but firmly. “If you believe that our consciousness now will still have an effect on our souls even if it's in a way that we are never truly aware of, then you have to know that you could never hurt me.”

 

Resting his forehead on her, he took a deep breath. No. It was a nice thought, and he was sure she believed it, but she didn't know him back then.

 

Just then, a horse fell from the sky right outside the hit the younger Kagome was sitting in. Mistress Centipede had arrived. She demanded the jewel of four souls and Lady Kaede looked at Kagome in shock. “You have the jewel?”

 

“I . . . I'm not sure!”

 

As the demon wreaked havoc, Lady Kaede was telling the men that if they could somehow lure it to the old, dry well, they might be able to trap it.

 

“The well near the Goshinboku?” Kagome asked.

 

“You recognized the god tree? Yes, the well is near there,” Kaede said.

 

But Kagome had gotten all turned around when the men had carried her to the village.

 

“Which way?”

 

“The forest of the Bone-Eater Well is East.”

 

Not having a good sense of direction, that didn't help her much. So, she looked around her as far off as she could. There was a section of forest that seemed to be glowing.

 

 

“Where that light is? Okay.” And she took off running. She knew the centipede demon would follow because she was what the thing wanted.

 

“That child saw the mystical aura of the forest?” Kaede whispered to herself before rounding up the men to help trap the monster.

 

Hiei and Kagome watched as young Kagome dodged the demon and its length swept over her. She had reached the Goshinboku, but there was no one there. No taunting hanyou and no hiyoukai form the future. Just as the centipede made to grab her, the creature was struck by a barrage of arrows with ropes attached to them. The men of the village began to haul the demon away towards the well. But Kagome's reprieve was short-lived and bodies began to rain down around her.

 

“This body . . . is so weak . . . I will devour you whole . . . Shikon jewel and all . . .” the youkai hissed.

 

“No!” the girl yelled. “Get away!” She threw out her hand to ward off the demon and just like when she had been pulled into the well, she felt something surge through her body and shoot out through her hand, ripping three of the centipede's arms off.
“The Shikon jewel?”

 

Hiei looked up and saw his younger self staring down at the girl on the ground with an interested gleam in his eyes. In all the chaos, he had not eve noticed his arrival.

 

“Vile thing!” the centipede screeched, and she lunged forward, biting sharply into Kagome's side and lifting her into the air. There was an initial spray of blood, then a large, pink jewel seemed to float through the air in a red stream for a minute before falling to the ground to land in front of the body of its unknowing possessor and protector.

 

Hiei put his hand over Kagome's where she was clutching her side. She had jerked slightly when the demon had bitten into the younger girl's side. “Could you feel that?”

 

She shook her head. “Just a sympathy pain.”

 

“The jewel of four souls!” Lady Kaede cried.

 

“I knew, I knew, I knew you were hiding it!” the youkai yelled triumphantly.

 

At that moment, Hiei made his presence known. “I'll take that.” And he landed right in front of Kagome. Before he could pick the jewel up, though, the demon, who had coiled her body around Kagome and the tree, slammed her into Hiei and trapped them both against the Goshinboku. Then she swallowed the jewel.

 

“Damn it girl! Move! Hiei snarled at her. The ningen had his sword trapped.

 

“I'd love to,” she said, with her face pressed into his lower abdomen. “But in case you haven't noticed, there's a demon squeezing the life out of me.”

 

The centipede began to transform as she grew in power. Her arms flew to body and reattached themselves.

 

“Move! I have no intention of dying here because some fool ningen . . .” a strange look came over his face.

 

“Kagome, couldn't you have moved in another direction?” Hiei asked his mate.

 

Though there was no color in her face, he was sure she was blushing. “There is a centipede demon trying to kill me—I don't think I had a choice,” she retorted.

 

Seconds later, the centipede lay in pieces. But the pieces began to move.

 

“Can you see a piece where the flesh glows?” Lady Kaede asked her. “Unless you remove the jewel, her body will resurrect itself time and again.”

 

“I . . . I see it,” Kagome said, crawling over to a wiggling piece of flesh. Reaching in, she pulled out the jewel. “You're telling me that this 'Jewel of Four Souls' thing gives power to demons?”

 

“Yes. So you have no need of it. Now hand it over,” Hiei demanded, “Or I'll take it from your dead body.”

 

This was Hiei's worst fear come to life. He was going to kill her. Because he knew Kagome, and he knew there was no way she way going to hand the Shikon no tama over to him. And he knew himself. He had no love for ningen—no sympathy, no compassion, and he would show no mercy. He held Kagome to him.

 

“You don't need it, either. You're obviously powerful enough already.” Before the words had left her mouth, five thin lines of blood appeared—one on each side of her neck, one on each arm, and one across her abdomen.

 

“Hand over the jewel or the next cut will remove your head from your shoulders,” he said in a bored tone of voice.

 

“You . . . you cut me!” she stared at the youkai standing in front of her in disbelief. None of the wounds were very deep, but they all stung and Kagome blinked furiously to keep her eyes from watering. Then she just turned and ran.

 

“You can't escape from me!” he told her, and he was right at her side in an instant. She switched direction and kept going, but he was there, too. She turned one more time and had barely gone a few feet when she slammed right into him.

 

“Do you want me to kill you?” he asked, becoming annoyed.

 

“I refuse to die here! I have a family to get back to!” she shot back at him.

 

For a moment, he had lost sight of the fact that they had been transported to another time. He had a sister to find, and that jewel would help him. Tired of waiting, he simply flashed forward and snatched the jewel from her hand. “I'll be sure to tell them you send your regards.” Then he took off for the well.

 

He . . . he couldn't possibly know where her family was, could he? Could he? She took off after him.

 

Hiei and Kagome looked at each other and followed her. Hiei was still amazed that he hadn't just killed her outright. He didn't remember being so tolerant of anyone who defied him as she had. And he was heading for the well. He had to be planning to take the Shikon no tama into the future to use it. He supposed it would fit into his plans very nicely. But, didn't Kagome say something about not being able to pass through the well without a shard? He may not have killed her by his own hand, but he was leaving her to die, just the same.

 

Kagome squeezed his hand. She knew he was still worried, but she had been right. His younger self couldn't kill her. Now, if he went through the well and left her, that was another thing, but she just couldn't let herself believe that was going to happen. She willed herself to run faster. She knew she could never hope to catch him, but she would try.

 

When she reached the well, there was no sign of anyone. But as she looked over the edge, she could hear mumbled curses turn to shouts over the sound of her heavy breathing. He couldn't get through.

 

“See?” Kagome nudged her mate. “Even with the jewel, you can't get through. It's making sure you will be here with me.”

 

“You may be right,” he conceded.

 

The younger Hiei leaped out of the well. “We are stuck here,” he growled.

 

“What do you mean 'we'? Are you from my time?” the girl asked him.

 

“Yes, but it looks like I'll be having my fun with this in this time.” He tuned to leave, but found himself face down on the ground.

 

“You're not going anywhere with that jewel,” came a muffled voice from his back.
She had tackled him! And she had her arms wrapped around his hips and one of her hands was cupping . . .

 

Hiei covered his face with his hand and shook his head. “Kagome, how did you ever survive as long as you have? Better yet, how is that you were still a virgin when we mated?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Onna, you've got your hand wrapped around my cock,” he pointed to the couple on the ground.

 

“Girl! What do you think you're doing?!!?”

 

“I'm taking back the jewel,” she said calmly.

 

“Those jewels stay with me,” he snickered.

 

Hiei stared at himself, eyes wide with disbelief. Was he laughing? Granted, it was a ridiculous situation. And of course, he had noticed right away that she was an unusual ningen when he first met her, but somehow, he hadn't thought he would have appreciated that when he was younger. He definitely sounded amused, though. Maybe Kagome was right. Maybe everything would work out after all.

 

When they both sat up, and he saw himself looking intently at her rosy-cheeked face, he relaxed a bit. He was startled, though, to see her put her hands on his shoulders and lean forward to press her lips to his. It was an extremely brief kiss, but he could swear he could feel the softness and the warmth of her lips against his. They tingled. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kagome gently touch her lips. She had felt it, too.

 

“Thank you,” she said to the stunned youkai, “for saving me from that demon.” Then she stood up and slipped the Shikon no tama into the front of her bra, where it rested securely in her cleavage.

 

“I never knew you were so sneaky,” he accused his mate.

 

“A girl's got to have some secrets,” she smiled back at him. She noticed that they were beginning to fade away. “I guess we're done,” she said, as a small tear slid down her cheek.

 

“No,” he told her. “We're just beginning.”

 

She smiled at that. “You're not afraid you're going to hurt me or leave me now?”

 

“Hn. Of course not. You sealed our fate just like you did the first time—with that first kiss.”

 

And as he captured her lips for one last caress—one last taste--he knew it was true. Their life together wasn't going to play out the way it had the first time. Hell, everything was going to be different. But, they would be together. As their bodies completely faded from view, a young Kagome and Hiei looked up as they both heard familiar voices whispering on the breeze throughout the forest. “I love you.”

 

----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------End.

A/N: I directly quoted a few lines of dialogue and paraphrased a few others from the 1st volume of “InuYasha,” as published by Viz, in the part where Kagome first comes through the well and during the attack by Mistress Centipede. Credit where it's due, folks!

*I wrote this for a contest being held by the kagome-x-hiei club on Deviant Art. The theme was “first kiss,” and I cheated because I put two of them in there. HA!