InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Shifting Times ❯ Chapter IX ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Yuyu Hakusho.

Dedication: There are four dedications for this story. WhiteDemoness11, I hope that you enjoy this story as you’ve read all my others. Madmiko, I hope you also read and enjoy this story, as I hoped to match the length of your chapters with my own. Ryukotsusei, I love your stories and hope you like this one. And the final dedication is to KagHieiLuver. I hope you enjoy the scenes ya little pervert lol. I wrote it for you mostly, but all the others were in mind as well.

Author: Chrystal-Hearts

Summary: Kagome is crossing between the present and the past while trying to balance school, friends, and even a lover. Many things will happen as the Inu-gang will be forced to face off against Naraku many times, while things in the present might be getting a little difficult.

Let’s get telepathic!
/Hiei/
\Youko\
\Kurama\
(Kagome)
(Hikari)
(Tsuki)
Kitsune

Last Time:
“A fire/ice mix.”

“I thought so.” He said with a nod. “I have an idea for the perfect sword, and there are several things that I am going to need. This sword will take quite some time to make.”

“I completely understand Totosai-san.”

This Time:

The group was steadily making their way towards the north when they were attacked by a large group of demons who were after their Shikon no kakera. Inuyasha pulled tetsusaiga, Shippo used foxfire, Hikari morphed into her lager form to use her fangs and claws, and Kagome forwent her bow so she could simply use blasts of reiki to obliterate the low levels. For some reason though, her energy felt really low. Shards of energy blasted from her palms as she took out as many as she could. When all the demons were finally dead, she picked up the exhausted kits and followed Inuyasha’s hurried pace to get away from the spot where more demons were approaching.

By the time the group finally stopped to take a rest, more demons had popped up out of seemingly no where and another fight was forced to be had. Since Kagome had carried Hikari and Shippo, they were in better condition to fight than the other two were. Inuyasha continued slashing with his tetsusaiga, and even cast the wind scar a couple of times. They knew Naraku was behind the attacks, as there were several saimyosho there as well.

Kagome sent several blasts of reiki out before falling back to her bow and arrows. She could imbue quite a bit more power into them, and they’d kill anything with the barest touch. Therefore her hama no ya were far more effective for this kind of battle. She’d also managed to draw her energy into the wood of the bow so she could smack demons who got to close with it and purify them. When demons snuck up too close to her allies, she’d forgo the arrow and send blasts of reiki at the opposing foe. And demons that got too close to her from behind were met with sharp claws and fangs, or blue flame.

The group made slow progress disposing of the threat that the hundreds of demons held. When they’d finally destroyed the challenge, Inuyasha was panting and Kagome was about to collapse. Shippo was trembling from the strain on his energy while Hikari had collapsed and shrank into her smaller form. The miko slowly pushed her exhaustion away and gathered the two kitsune into her arms and ordered Inuyasha to find them a cave to stay in for the night. While the girl couldn’t create a barrier, she’d be able to place an energy shield at the mouth of the cave.

It was the dead of night and Kagome had to sneak past several demons in order to make it to the nearby hot spring. Inuyasha had decided that he wanted to be annoying and had managed to attract even more demons to where they were staying. It had been a week since they’d left the village and they’d been being attacked by swarms of demons on a daily basis. So at the moment, the miko simply wanted to relax and take a nice hot bath. A mew had her attention turning to see that a small neko was trailing behind her. It was a tiny black one that had small white paws and a small white diamond on its forehead.

Shrugging off the little fact that it was following her, she simply continued on to the springs. The kitten followed her as well. She quickly stripped and sank into the welcoming heat of the spring with a sigh. The little kitten mewed and sat down on the bank while tilting its head at her. Giggling, she closed her eyes and relaxed further into the water. The kitten stayed there the entire time, but the miko didn’t mind. In Kagome’s opinion, it was too short a time before she had to return to their ‘camp’. In essence, they were once again in a cave.

When she came to the ‘barrier’, which was in essence a seal. Miroku had taught her to make offuda, and she’d used them in a sealing spell, or at least what she had hoped as one. They were offuda that Miroku had essentially given her before she had left the village. Anyways, she had taken them down before allowing the neko inside and sealing the entrance back up. It’d be taken down once more when Inuyasha arrived, then replaced instantly.

Hikari and Shippo both were asleep, so neither commented on her new companion. The miko giggled though as the kitten curled up on her chest when she laid down. Closing her eyes, she sighed in exhaustion as she allowed herself to fall into a somewhat restless sleep. Her strength seemed to slowly be draining from her, and so she really needed her rest. Inuyasha did not return that night, instead seeking shelter in one of the trees after slaying countless youkai.

Their pace was extremely rushed as Inuyasha led them through the forest of trees. Inuyasha was exceedingly worried as the girl he traveled with had become increasingly ill, and it all happened after she’d been caught on the receiving end of a poisoned attack. He noticed that she had also been weakening and her scent had become tinted with a slight illness that he could not place. This was why he was pushing them faster, and when the village finally came into sight, he sighed in relief. He quickly ushered the girl to Kaede’s as Shippo ran off to play, and he was almost immediately kicked out. The little neko and Hikari remained though.

The examination did not take long and Kaede sat before her softly when finished. “Kagome child, what breed did ye say this demon lover of yes was?”

Though confused as to why she was thusly questioned, she still answered. “He is half hi youkai and half koori youkai.”

The old woman nodded at that. “That would explain part of it. Ye are with child, though I know not how.”

“B-but… I can’t be.” She whispered in denial as her eyes widened in shock. “I took precautions every… time…” Her voice trailed off as vague images of Hiei bringing her to completion with his fingers and tongue as she knocked over a certain bottle came to mind. “Oh gods… So I’m a month and a half along.”

“Nay child, ye are nearly three months. His demon blood coupled with yes miko powers have progressed it at a rapid rate. At the current rate ye will give birth in two and a half to three and a half months. Ye are carrying like a youkai female would. Also due to the fact of your new kitsune blood, it is acting like a kitsune pregnancy. Inuyasha can not sense it because in essence there is nothing to sense. Kitsune carry energy within them that will not show and form until a week before the child is to be born.”

“But why am I so weak? Why is my energy feeling so drained?”

“Ye are unmated and unable to draw off the power of yes mate. Another Koorime could lend you energy, including yes mate, but ye would need to have physical contact with them. There is a way to halt the pregnancy without harming thy child if ye wish it.”

“There is?” Kagome questioned curiously.

“Hai.”

The young miko thought for a few moments before shaking her head. “I wish to discuss things will my mother and my lover before I decide upon a course of action… but I am afraid of Hiei’s reaction to this news. I am not sure that he would want a child.”

“The most ye can do is offer him this alternative.”

Kagome nodded and stood with a sad smile on her tired and worn face. It was still quite early in the morning, so she decided to visit home for the day. Kaede had given her more potion to get rid of her newly accumulated scars, and she smiled thankfully before slowly making her way outside only to be greeted with an overly worried hanyou. She quickly explained to him that she needed some rest and that she was going home for the time being but would return shortly. He nodded his agreement and let her walk off with the little neko and kitsune following her.

It was not long before she came across Goshinboku and sighed as she relaxed against it for a few moments. The tree gave off a pulse and the miko felt slightly better, but only a little. The tiny neko mewed up at her and she giggled as she reached down to pick the little animal up. “I wish you could tell me your name.”

“Mew!” The kitten announced happily as it jumped up and cut a small gash along the now surprised girl’s palm before licking its own paw and biting a mark before looking at her expectantly. The miko suddenly laughed joyously as she lowered her hand and allowed the neko to place its paw over the small cut. A white light surround the two before a small voice was heard in her head. (My name is Tsuki.)

Another giggle escaped the miko’s lips as she looked down at the little kitten. “It’s nice to meet you Tsuki. Would you like to come home with me?”

The kitten’s eyes widened before they filled with complete happiness and she nodded her head. (I would be honored, mistress.)

“Oh no, not you too!” The girl exclaimed in a tired giggle. At the kitten’s curious gesture, she smiled. “My name is Kagome, please don’t call me ‘mistress’.”

The kitten simply cocked its head to the side. (But you have taken me in, making you my master/mistress.)

“Who’d refuse to take care of such a cute creature?”

The kitten shied away at that. (I am youkai.)

“So is Hikari.” The miko murmured. “So is Shippo, Kirara, Inuyasha, and Hiei. Youkai or ningen, it makes no difference to me. We are all the same, equals.”

The kitten was surprised for a moment before jumping up to nuzzle her. (I only have one tail right now, but I promise I’ll protect you.)

The miko giggled as she rose from her relaxed position against Goshinboku before heading toward the well, Hikari on one shoulder and Tsuki on the other. A sudden question came to mind though. “How old are you Tsuki?”

(Two years.)

“Don’t you have a family?”

(Two brothers and a little sister. They found masters already though.)

“Oh.”

Kagome sighed as she pulled on a comfortable royal blue kimono. A smile tilted her lips as she admired it in the mirror. She knew it was odd for a girl her age to wear this kind of garment instead of something like a skirt and tank top. Though currently she’d probably be required to wear pants and a long sleeved shirt as it was rather chilly. Making her way down the steps, she bumped into her grandfather who asked a favor of her and she agreed with a smile and a nod.

He’d asked to be taken to an old friend’s shrine, and though it was several hours by any mode of transportation she decided to have Hikari help out. The kit eagerly agreed, as did Tsuki and they were soon outside. She’d helped her grandfather onto Hikari’s back before she was shocked at seeing Tsuki’s transformed state. With a warm smile she slid onto the neko’s back and directed both animal’s on where to go.

Her grandfather questioned her about being seen, but she assured him that they wouldn’t be. She’d made sure to cast an illusion over them that Shippo had taught her. He’d smiled and stated how proud he was of her skills and she happily thanked him for the compliment. It was maybe an hour later that they reached the bottom steps of the shrine and began ascending as the two animals had resumed their small forms and were told to rest.

There were many steps, but it wasn’t too bad. Kagome was still having a difficult time because of her exhaustion, but she’d managed to deal with far worse in the past two weeks. When they finally crested the steps, Kagome paused as she heard the sounds of fighting and then was floored by the feeling of hundreds of youkais. Quickly ushering her grandfather around the shrine, they became faced with the sight of a battle. The girl recognized several people there, Yusuke, Kazuma, Kurama, and even Hiei. There was also a girl with turquoise hair and crimson eyes, a demon she thought, and an old woman with brown eyes and pink hair; Genkai? Ignoring that, she turned her attention to the demoness who stood behind the men on the porch. The men noticed far too late that a demon had snuck past their defenses and not one of them would be able to do a thing to save the girl.

Kagome looked to Hiei and noticed a flash of fear and panic pass through his eyes before her own took on a determined glint. Just as the demon struck, a deep violet barrier sprang around the scared demoness; this caused the hundreds of demons to turn to her as her eyes narrowed at them. Oh how she loathed lesser youkai. Turning to the old man beside her, she ordered him to help the demoness while she helped fight off the hoard. He nodded and her hand rose as she looked calmly at the youkai trying to break her barrier. Her hand raised and energy shot forth tearing it to pieces in mere moments. Her eyes then turned to the other demons and those who were seemingly protecting the shrine.

Kagome entered the battle and took out several demons with her energy blasts, surprising the others who were also fighting. One demon got pretty close to her, and before the others could shout a warning a roar shattered its surprise attack as a large neko youkai pinned it and tore into its throat. The sound of a neck snapping echoed around them before another ferocious roar was heard and a large kitsune dove into the fray. The two animals were protecting the woman and tearing into anything that got too close. Soon though, exhaustion began catching up to her and she growled darkly. Both animals looked to her before moving quickly behind her.

Genkai also spared her a glance before ordering everyone behind the girl, and though confused, none argued. As soon as they were out of the way, Kagome mumbled a few words with her eyes closed before opening them to reveal completely dark blue orbs. Power seemingly wrapped around her before lashing out at all those in its path. Two simple words and all the approaching demons were completely destroyed. “Shock wave.”

The words were quiet, but there was power laced in her voice as the energy released from her body and lashed out in defense of those around her. As soon as the energy dissipated, she began to collapse, but Hikari quickly shot forward to catch her. “Mistress!” The shout was distressed and surprised and confused Kurama as he watched the kit catch the woman using its large body.

The girl mumbled something incoherent before shakily rising to her feet, though the kit was supporting most of her weight. The neko quickly moved to her as well and added to her aid. “I’m alright.” She managed to say so softly that he and Hiei barely heard her.

“What the fuck are you doing here Kagome, and how the fuck did you do that?” Yusuke suddenly asked as he snapped from his shocked state at her power display.

“I’m here because my grandfather wished to visit Genkai-sama and I did it because I’m special.” She grumbled as she nearly collapsed, but the two animals moved closer to her.

“How the fuck do you know about demons?”

“Yusuke, can I assume that you know Kagome?” Kurama questioned curiously.

He shrugged with a grin. “You could say that, her friends came up to me and told me she thought I was hot… then she told her friends off for lying and tried to disappear away from them. Do you know her Kurama?”

“Hai, I bumped into her close to two months ago.”

“Your grandfather?” Genkai questioned before turning to the old man. Her eyes widened and shock showed on her face as she looked at him, “Ikiji?”

The old man smiled at her. “Hai, Akari.”

“Akari?” Yusuke questioned as the old woman’s eyes widened farther.

“How…? What…? Why are you here?” Genkai finally managed to ask as the old man smiled.

Kagome merely attempted to remain on her feet throughout the exchange, as she already knew how they knew each other. When Yusuke and Kazuma both burst out with questions, she sighed in annoyance and cleared her throat; gaining everyone’s attention. “Perhaps we could go someplace more comfortable to talk?”

“Right,” Genkai agreed with a nod, “into the sitting room.”

The men all started that way with Ikiji following Genkai while Kagome attempted to follow. Yukina came over to her side with a smile and offered assistance, “thank-you, for saving me with that barrier.”

The miko smiled in return. “You’re welcome.” When Yukina reached out and took hold of her arm to help her, she nearly gasped in shock as her own wide eyes turned onto the miko. Kagome cocked her head to the side in question as the two animals shrank and followed after her. “What is it?”

“You are pregnant.” The crimson eyed girl whispered as she helped her into the sitting room. Kagome was surprised, but glad that no one else heard that as she had yet to be able to talk to her lover. Hikari morphed into her larger form when they reached the room and laid down on the floor. Taking the hint, Kagome shifted and moved to relax against the kit. Yukina asked to sit with her also as Tsuki curled up into her lap. She gave an affirmative nod and as Yusuke and Kazuma began firing questions off at the two older people, Kagome felt her eyes widen as energy began pouring into her.

Turning to look at Yukina, she noticed the girl had a slight smile as the girl’s hand rested upon her arm. She gave a small thankful smile before turning back to the others, “quiet dimwit.”

Yusuke quieted as he looked to the annoyed looking old woman. “Then why not let us in on what’s going on?”

“Ikiji was an old friend of mine back when I met Toguro.” Genkai explained softly as she looked at the man. “I haven’t seen or heard from him since the end of that Dark Tournament.”

“He went to the dark tournament?” Kuwabara questioned.

“He participated.”

“But he has no energy.”

“That’s my grandfather you’re talking about Kazuma.” Kagome growled out with a slight glare.

“It’s alright Kagome, he’s merely stating a fact.” Ikiji offered.

“And doubting another one,” she huffed slightly, though her mood was starting to lighten the more energy the girl next to her shared with her. Speaking of which, she turned to the girl. “By the way, my name is Higurashi, Kagome.”

“I am Aisu, Yukina.” And cue surprised gasp. “What is it?”

“Nothing, I’ve simply heard that last name before.” She quickly murmured. “I read it in a history scroll on the shrine.” Hey, it was half true.

“Back to the whole old man participating in the Dark Tournament thing,” Yusuke grumbled as he turned away from the two.

Genkai gave a defeated sigh and started telling the story of how her and the two Toguro brothers had needed two more members, and how she’d asked Ikiji and his brother, Yoshirou, to join them; then of how the tournament had gone and how Yoshirou had died in the final round against the last team. Kagome ignored the entire story though and simply relaxed against the kit as her body seemed to loosen. She never noticed as both Hiei and Kurama’s eyes flickered to them and that they’d noticed the energy transfer. Instead, her mind began replaying her conversation with her mother.

“Tadaima momma!” She exclaimed as she’d entered the door.

“Welcome home dear.” The older woman said happily before a frown marred her features at seeing how tired her daughter looked. “Are you alright dear?”

“Will you make some tea for us momma?”

That worried the older woman slightly but she nodded and set to work on heating the water. When the tea was ready, she set a cup in front of her daughter who took a sip and one before herself as she sat down at the table as well. Reaching across the table, she grasped her daughter’s hand and gave her a soft smile. “What’s wrong Kagome?”

The girl looked up at her mother with tears forming in her beautiful sapphire eyes. “I’m pregnant momma, and I don’t know what to do.”

The older woman’s eyes widened in surprised shock as she quickly moved around the table and hugged her child to her chest. Her fingers soothingly ran through the long black hair as she stroked them through in a calm manner. “You’re going to take care of this child Kagome, and I’ll be right here to help you.”

“But that’s just it momma! I need Hiei to help me or I might not make it! The child requires a lot of energy which I can only gather from a Koorime and he’s the only one I know that can help because he’s the child’s father! I don’t even know that he wants children!” Tears were now streaming down her face as she sobbed into her mother’s loving embrace. “What if he leaves me because of this? What if he hates our child for being hanyou? What if he hates me for allowing this to happen?”

Her mother gently shushed her as she pressed her fingers to the girl’s rosen lips. “How far along are you?”

“A month and a half, but the pregnancy has already nearly progressed passed the first trimester. It’ll be three or four months before it’s born.”

The woman still ran her fingers soothingly through the girl’s hair as she hummed a little, managing to calm the girl down. “Hiei would not leave you because of this, if anything he will stay as his honor demands it. I know he will not hate this child for being hanyou, as neither shall you. And you know these things Kagome, you are merely in shock already and too stressed out. These things are not good for the pregnancy. Now take a few deep breathes and calm down.”

The girl nodded before turning to look at her mother. “There’s another option momma. I can halt the pregnancy by taking an herb to suspend it where it is. It’s not harmful to the baby, but it will require another herb to unsuspended it.”

The older woman thought for a moment before nodding to herself. “The choice is yours sweetie, no one else should make it for you; though you should think things over before coming to your decision. This is just like when you turned sixteen and you came to me concerning your love for Inuyasha. You told me then that you loved him and if he chose you, you’d wish to remain with him by mating him. And after that I took you to get birth control just in case, but told you it was your life and that the decision was yours. Then you came to me after he’d broke your heart and had disappeared from him. You told me you’d met someone, a demon, and that you had taken him as a lover. I had been shocked at first but eventually accepted it after meeting him and realizing that he could protect you when you wished to go out with him. This is your decision, just like those times.”

Kagome turned to her with a sad smile at that. “I don’t know yet what I plan to do, because I wish to speak with Hiei before I decide. But momma…?”

“Hai Kagome?”

“If I have the baby now instead of taking the herb, will you take care of my child while I finish my quest?”

The older woman smiled brightly and gave a happy little laugh. “Of course I’d be willing to watch my grandchild!”

“Kagome,” the voice calling her name snapped her from her memories and she focused her attention onto her grandfather as he smiled at her and shook her head. “You weren’t paying any attention to the tale, were you?”

She pouted at that and huffed. “I already know what happened.”

He chuckled and shook his head before turning back to the old woman. “You asked why I chose now to come, well I will not live much longer and I wished to see my old friends. Do you know where Ototo and perhaps a man name Shinobu are?”

Kagome’s whole attention snapped to the others upon hearing her grandfather’s question. Genkai was the one who answered. “Dead. Yusuke killed Toguro in the last Dark Tournament that his team was forced into, and he killed Sensui for trying to unleash Makai upon us.”

My father was… a bad guy? How wonderful, she was the daughter of an evil man. She bet Naraku would get a kick out of that one. A mew drew everyone’s attention to the kitten in her lap as it perked and looked out the window. “It’s late.” Kagome commented as she saw that the sky was beginning to darken.

“Perhaps we could stay here for the night?” Ikiji questioned, to which Genkai nodded.

The girl merely sighed at that, but Yukina smiled. “I’ll go prepare dinner, would you care to help me Kagome-san?”

“Of course Yukina-san,” the girl whispered as she managed to rise easily to her feet. The two animals hopped up and were alert as they followed the girls.

“Your granddaughter has high reiki in order to pull that technique off, have you been training her?” Genkai questioned as she turned to the old man.

Said old man shook his head. “She trains with someone named Miroku, but mostly she has taught herself.”

“She doesn’t feel like she has high reiki.” Yusuke commented. “And how does she know about demons?”

Genkai chuckled. “Look at who she’s related to, dimwit.”

Kagome stealthily crept outside as the darkness surrounded the compound which was the shrine. Her conversation with Yukina ran through her head and she had to smile at the intelligence of the young demoness. Yukina had told her she’d assumed the father of Kagome’s child was Hiei, her twin brother, as he was the only one capable of getting her pregnant with a Koorime child. She’d also giggled and told her that Hiei didn’t know that she knew, and she’d also offered to play mid-wife since a hospital was out of the question.

It was then that Yukina filled her in on Koorime pregnancies as she doubted that Hiei knew much. Kagome had then informed her of the slight kitsune blood she carried from adopting her young kit who was staying with friends and how the kit in her stomach was growing at a fire youkai pace but like a kitsune. The ice maiden giggled at that as well, and so did Kagome when she thought about it. Her child grew like a hi youkai, formed like a kitsune youkai, and required energy like a koori youkai. She decided then that her child would be extremely special.

Returning her mind to her surroundings, she shivered at the chill in the air. Her eyes had already adjusted to the almost total darkness and she peered around for any sign of Hiei that she could find, knowing that he was here somewhere. She spotted him in a tree a little ways away and began trekking towards it while ignoring the slight chill. Yukina had loaned her a night gown and it wasn’t all that warm to be out in at this time of year, “Hiei.”

Her call was met with his eyes opening to look down at her before they scanned the area to make sure no one else was around. He dropped down quickly, wrapped an arm around her waist and jumped back into his tree. She giggled, but relaxed into him as his energy began instantly soothing what Yukina’s could not. “Why was Yukina giving you energy earlier?”

She tensed. “You noticed that?”

“Hai.”

She sighed. “Please don’t be mad at me Hiei, but… I carry your child.” The last words were spoken softly and held a slight fear as her eyes averted to the ground, so she didn’t notice the widening of his eyes. When he remained quiet, tears slowly began to fall. “I’m sorry Hiei, I didn’t mean for it to happen. It’s just that that night you were so… and I was…”

The hi youkai effectively silenced her as he sealed his lips to hers in a gentle, almost loving kiss. When he pulled back, he allowed his arms to pull her body tightly against his own, though he was careful not to hold to tight. “I am not mad, only surprised.” He said softly as he continued to hold her close. “Though I am curious as to how I hadn’t noticed.”

“The pregnancy is progressing like it would for a fire demoness, but its acting like a vixen’s as it won’t show until a week before it is to be born; though it requires energy like a Koorime’s pregnancy.”

Her soft explanation had his eyes widening in realization. “So you’ve been exhausting easier?”

“Hai, if not for Yukina, I doubt I’d still be able to move at the moment.” She said with a giggle. “As she’s full Koorime, she sensed it and started sharing energy to help me out.”

His hold on her tightened, as he looked to her, “how far along are you?”

“A month and a half.”

He nodded. “So you will give birth in three and a half months.”

The girl nodded as she looked up at him. “You’ll stay with me through this?”

His crimson orbs slowly looked into her own sapphire in near disbelief. “Of course I will.”

A seemingly happy smile touched her lips. “Promise you won’t stay simply because I carry your child? That you’ll only stay because you want to be with me?”

“Kagome, where is this coming from?” Hiei questioned as he looked down at her. “I told you I wish you to be my mate.”

“But I know you don’t love me.” She replied. “I want you to be happy and I don’t want you to feel obligated to be with me simply because I carry a kit, pup, I mean child.”

He chuckled at her. “I remember you speaking of Inuyasha getting you into the habit of calling a child a pup, but a kit?”

“Shippo’s my kit and I do have some of his kitsune blood inside me.” She said with a pout.

Smiling at her, he allowed his hold to tighten. “Kagome, I do not feel obligated to be with you. I am with you because I wish to be.”

Curling closer to him, she smiled as her body completely relaxed. “You never told me you were a ‘Spirit Detective’.”

“I’m not, and I didn’t know you knew about them.”

“Ojii-sama told me about them, starting with the first and going up to Shinobu Sensui who he said was the last he knew of.”

“I had no idea your grandfather knew Genkai.”

“I learned a little while ago when I read something kept in the shrine shed. It documented the Dark Tournament and told of how their team won. It also spoke of several of their abilities.”

“Where did you learn the technique you did today?”

“I taught myself. I used theory to construct it, but today was the first day I attempted it. It’s also the first time I managed to erect a barrier.”

“You fought well.” The fire demon complimented. “But you aren’t to fight youkai anymore.”

“What? Why?” Kagome asked as she looked up at him, a little perturbed.

“You will endanger yourself and our child if you do.”

She pouted. “I’m still training.”

“Fine.” He agreed to that one. She could train all she wanted, but he wanted her home every night.

Here’s chapter nine of Shifting Times. I hope that you enjoyed it, and to let you know; it registers at forty-five pages. And I wish to thank everyone who reviewed and/or read this chapter. I hope you all know that I enjoy hearing from you and comments are much appreciated.

Eva318 (Here’s an update.)

Lina03 (No problem. I’m glad you like it.)

LadyAkina (Here it is.)

KagHieiLuver (Wow, I haven’t heard from you in forever.)
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