InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Lost the Real Dream ❯ Beware of Brothers ( Chapter 8 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Sengoku Otogizoushi - InuYasha or Yuu Yuu Hakusho. InuYasha belongs to Takahashi Rumiko, Shogakukan, Viz Media, ShoPro Entertainment, and Shounen; while Yuu Yuu Hakusho belongs to Togashi Yoshihiro, Shueisha, Viz Media, and Shounen. No profit or money of any kind is made from this fan-created crossover.


It had been only two days since the tragedy that struck Kagome. It seemed as if sorrow would follow her around no matter what, but Kurama couldn't help wondering how much more his sister would have to suffer through. There had to be some reason all of this was happening to her, and he would do whatever was necessary to figure it out. Perhaps the answer would be revealed as she remembered more.

The kitsune soul he harbored in his body refused to allow him to focus on what the teacher was saying. His sister was hurting emotionally and there was nothing he could do about it. It tore at him. There were only two people in all the realms that he cared about, and when one of them was in pain, he wanted to seek retribution. But what could he do to feelings and memories?

Much to the concern of his many fans, he once again began chewing on his pencil's eraser. For the second time they had to wonder if their genius was ill. If they only knew his mind was plagued with the intriguing puzzle his step-sister was giving him. From what he had managed to gather about her, it was seeming too much like she had been fighting for her life against demons. The scars on her back and sides told him she had been in a few situations where her life was on the line. Her dulled spiritual senses were too similar to Kuwabara's for his liking. And given her spiritual senses, she was far too comfortable around demonic auras for him to not be suspicious of just what she had been doing in her past.

Yet, he was sure he would have felt it if demons had been in the Ningenkai and if battles had taken place here. Even if a barrier concealed the actual aura and power, he would still sense the barrier. And there had been nothing of the sort in the Ningenkai. He didn't want to consider the possibility that it was possible she could have been in the Makai. No, that was something he didn't even want to think of.

Perhaps later in the day, after making sure Kagome was alright, he would see what information he could get out of KoEnma.



"Hey, Kagome-chan!" A loud, gruff voice called out from the entrance to the little ramen shop. Said woman looked up from the table she was cleaning at hearing the familiar voice before smiling brightly at the person.

"Kazuma-kun, it's nice to see you! Out of school already?" She gathered up the empty plates in her hands as she looked at the clock. "Hm, perhaps the question I should ask is: Did you go to school today?"

Kuwabara rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "I did show up before I started to feel ill... Then I headed over to the arcade for the cure!"

She laughed and shook her head. "You should be more serious about your schooling, Kazuma-kun. However, it's not like I can talk... Anyways, please sit down and," Kagome paused in the middle of her sentence, a loud crash catching her and Kuwabara's attention. "Inuyaska..? Was that you?"

A muffled, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine! Just slipped..." reached their ears. Neither of them looked too convinced as Inuyaska just didn't seem to be the type of person to slip. Kuwabara didn't believe his excuse because he felt the slightest trace of spiritual energy right after Kagome said "sit down" before it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. It was too strange to be a coincidence.

"Well, alright. If you say so," Kagome said in an incredulous tone, letting Inuyaska know just how much she believed him. She turned to Kuwabara and pointed to a place at the counter, "Anyways, as I was saying, have a seat and I'll whip you up a bowl of ramen."

Kuwabara nodded before taking a seat where she indicated. Kurama had already shared what he had found out about Kagome with him and Yusuke, letting them know just what they were getting into before meeting her. Feeling that trace of energy and seeing how much she smiled and seemed happy reinforced Kurama's words. She had been involved in something supernatural. Something that involved much death for her to manage to keep on going after suffering as many losses as she had.

A finger poking his forehead caused his attention to focus in on the smiling woman he had just been thinking of. Seeing her eyes at such a close range allowed him to actually see. Perhaps this was what Kurama and Yusuke, and even maybe Hiei, could see when they looked at her: all the sadness, the weight of a forgotten burden, and helplessness that lurked beneath the happiness. "I have to wonder what's on your mind for you to go this long without noticing your ramen is already done."

He looked down at the noodle-filled bowl, surprised that he didn't notice it before. "Ah, thank you, Kagome-chan! I didn't even notice you had finished it..."

She only smiled as he began to eat, "Thinking deeply will do that to a person."

"Kagome-chan," Kuwabara spoke up after a moment, "would you mind me asking how you manage to move on with your life so soon? If I lost my sister, I don't think I'd ever get over it."

The smile on her face turned sad, "I don't mind at all... And truthfully, I don't think I'll ever get over his death, or my family's for that matter. I know it doesn't seem like I mourn, but I do. There's not a day that goes by that I don't feel the void in my heart where they used to be... I just know none of them would want me to stop living my life and become stuck in the past. They all would want to see me smile, especially Souta. Not all that long ago, I remember him saying that he wished he could be like me and always find a reason to smile."

"You're starting to remember?"

"Yes," Kagome nodded her head before smiling brightly. "Being around you, Shuichi, Yusuke, Keiko, and even Hiei has helped me to remember alot. You all are so similar to people I used to know... It helps me remember.. But don't take that to mean I don't see you all as yourselves because I do! You all are so unique in your own ways that there's no way I could mistake you for the people I used to know."

"Well, that's good to hear," A familiar voice chimed in from behind Kuwabara, "because I was starting to worry you only kept us around to remind you of those people."

A very light blush appeared on Kagome's face as she saw Yusuke, "As if I would be so mean."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Yusuke gave her a roguish grin before he turned to Kuwabara and smacked him upside his head. "Did you forget about the tape, doofus!?"

Kuwabara stood up and looked down at Yusuke angrily, "Dammit, I'm not a doofus, Urameshi!"

"And yet, who's the one who left school and forgot about our new mission!?"

"...You actually went to school today?"

Before Yusuke could hit Kuwabara again, Kagome quickly stood in-between them, hoping neither of them would be tempted to continue the fight. "Yusuke-kun, I'm sorry for keeping Kazuma-kun. I should've realized he probably had some important business to take care of rather than talk to me... Since this 'tape' seems to be important, and my place is closer... That is to say... You both could come over and watch it..?" She asked nervously as her earlier blush became a bit darker.



What Kurama had been expecting at his home was not what greeted him. While it was Saturday and only a half-day at school, it didn't mean he was expecting to see Yusuke or Kuwabara in his home before he even got home. Especially when his school was closer to his home than theirs. Nor did he expect them to be huddled around his VCR, trying to figure out how to work it. The soft humming coming from the kitchen let him know just how they got into his house.

He couldn't fault his sister for being the kind, caring person that she was, but she was just too nice, too trusting. Those traits all lead to the the same thing: falling in love too easily. And his big sister was definitely starting to fall for the detective that apprehended him. Just because he knew Yusuke was a great guy, along with the fact that he possibly did owe him for that whole Forlorn Hope incident, did not mean he would just hand over his sister to him. Nobody would ever be deserving of his sister. Or at least, that's what he kept telling himself. He was a kitsune at heart, after all.

"Yusuke-kun, Kuwabara-chan, perhaps you should ask for help before you end up breaking something?" He smoothly asked, taking a small amount of enjoyment at seeing them jump in surprise. And they called themselves Spirit World Detectives.

"Alright then, Fox Boy, help us out!" Yusuke playfully shouted, more than glad to have someone else do his work for him.

Kurama sighed heavily before hitting the power button on the VCR. "So... How did you run into oneesan?"

To Kurama's surprise it was Kuwabara who grinned sheepishly, "That's kind of my fault... I forgot Urameshi said something about a mission and needing my VCR, and I ended up bugging Kagome at work for some ramen..."

Kurama's eyes narrowed slightly. While he understood that it was inevitable they would all become friends, not to mention the fact that he was hoping they would, it didn't mean he liked the thought of them visiting her at work. He really didn't like the thought of Yusuke visiting her at work either; he knew there was attraction building between them. "You both should be more responsible."

Yusuke leaned forward, looking straight into Kurama's eyes, "Subtlety isn't really my strong point, Kurama, so just say what you mean."

Sparing only a glance towards the kitchen to make sure Kagome wouldn't be coming out anytime in the very near future. "I am more than sure you know exactly what I'm saying, Yusuke. If you keep on relying on her kindness and feelings, and inadvertently hurt her, I will make you regret it." His voice was soft, but there was no mistaking the threat in his words. He was a brother determined to keep his sister from more sadness.

"Welcome home, Shuichi-kun! I didn't hear you come in," Kagome's pleasant voice had Kurama and Yusuke pulling away from each other and masking the seriousness of the conversation they just had.

With a smile purely for his older sister, Kurama took the tea tray from her, "I just got home, oneesan. Did you only work half-a-day today?"

"Yes, Inuyaska and Kaede refused to let me work a full day," Kagome sighed softly before turning her attention to the TV and Kuwabara. "Oh, did you figure out how to get it all set-up?"

Kuwabara nodded, "Yeah, Kurama helped us out."

"Kurama?"

Kurama sighed, "Kurama is a...nickname of mine."

They all watched as her face became thoughtful as she stared at Kurama. For all intents and purposes, it seemed as if she was trying to figure out how he got the name of Kurama, but she was really focused on the image of someone much younger. Someone with the same vibrant hair color, and eyes not exactly green, but more teal. That same evasive nature, the protectiveness that Kurama was showing was just too similar to the actions of another. One with the same nature... With a tail?

Shaking her head slightly as if it would help to remove the image she was seeing, she smiled brightly to hide the sadness that always came with the vision of that person. "I almost have to wonder if you have any more names I need to be made aware of... Anyways, enjoy your tea and video, I'm going to go take a nap... Oh, and Yusuke-kun, Kazuma-kun? It appears the toddler on the screen is speaking to you both."

Three pairs of curious eyes watched her leave. They had heard KoEnma say that normal humans would only be able to see static, now the question was: How different was she?



Reviewer Responses:

yusukekuramasgirl: Oh, he is.. But she is as well. And yes, Kurama will clash with Yusuke and anyone else who shows an interest in his big sister. Kitsune are incredibly protective of what they believe is theirs. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and thanks for the review!

a reader named jen: I'm glad this one caught your attention! And yes, there is a reason I'm spelling his name like that.. I don't want to say why right now because it'll ruin the surprise, but I think in two chapters (three max) I will reveal why I've been spelling his name like that. I hope this chapter is just as good as the previous ones, and thank you for the review.

Yue no Rei: I know... I still can't believe I actually went through with killing him, so mean of me.. But, like you said, it will make some things harder, and at the same time it will make other things easier. This is a romance story, after all, so I actually want the characters I'm messing around with to actually fall in love and have deeper relationships than what is found in most other romance stories. I hope this chapter has been just as good as the others, and thank you for the review!