InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger Than Yesterday ❯ Chp. 7 The Passion of Flames ( Chapter 7 )

Chp. 7 The Passion of Flames

 

 

Kagome was having the time of her life. Being catered to by her so called captors and freaky snake demons who loved her feet. Lying on her chair in an elegant, dark green dress with a high split, she had Kurama brushing her hair, Yusuke fanning her, Hiei holding a tray with her drinks, and Kuwabara was feeding her grapes. None were too happy but they couldn't do anything because they were drugged up on snake venom.

 

 

“You know…I think I'm going to like it here.” Kagome said with a smile as she grabbed her drink to sip from. On her head she wore a golden tiara in the shape of a snake with it head resting on her forehead. On each arm she wore multiple golden bands that jangled up and down her arms. She also had two gold ankle bracelets that rested on her bare feet. On awakening with the snake demons she found her shoes gone and she hadn't seen them since. Snake demons loved feet.

 

 

 

“I really hate you right now…” Yusuke mumbled weakly for the umpteenth time.

 

 

 

“I know.” Kagome said well naturedly as she ordered Hiei to fill her glass. She didn't know what she was drinking but she knew it was good.

 

 

 

“Is he looking at me?” Kuwabara asked uneasily, his eyes on the demon king who had come to speak to Kagome 3 hours ago and hadn't said anything since.

 

 

 

“I don't know I think he's dead. But I do know that this is one good drink. I wonder it is.”

 

 

 

“He stopped breathing twenty minutes ago.” Hiei, the first time he had spoken since being forced to become Kagome's slave, commented dryly.

 

 

 

“I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IS MISTRESS SCHLANGE!” the king suddenly yelled, making everyone jump, but a quick slap to the head quieted him down a bit.

 

 

 

“What?” Kagome asked the once again quiet king, but he said nothing.

 

 

 

“That's getting old fast.” Yusuke muttered eyes the king with disdain. “…I hate you Higurashi.”

 

 

 

“Well I'm sorry, but I love you…love for you to fan harder slaveboy. Chop chop!”

 

 

 

“…its venom laced with aloe and a cup of our purest ones blood. Shaken not stirred with a twist of lime and cherry and a spruce of pineapple.” The king continued as if he hadn't taken that five minute break.

 

 

“Excuse me what?” Kagome asked with a mouthful of the poison she had been drinking.

 

 

 

“You heard him.” Yusuke said with an amused smirk.

 

 

 

“WHY WOULD YOU GIVE ME THAT?” Kagome yelled as she spit the drink onto the floor and scratched at her tongue. “I'm human! I don't drink this type of stuff!”

 

 

The king's answer was slurred out as he fell asleep.

 

 

 

“No! None of this!” Kagome said loudly as she hopped to her feet and nudged the old man, although it was more like shaking vigorously. “Answer me old man!”

 

 

 

“EARTHQUAKE!” the king yelled as he awoke with a start.

 

 

 

“No…now answer me right this moment! Why did you give me that?”

 

 

 

“Mistress Shclange is our most prized being. SHE CAN'T BE Human…but we wanted one with legs. NONE OF US HAVE legs if you've noticed. So on finding you we IMMEDIATELY concocted the potion…to give you ESSESCNE OF snake…DEMON! Of course you won't have our beautiful…SCALES or skin tone. Nor or RESOURCEFUL…tongues. But…but…”

 

 

 

“BUT! But what?” Kagome yelled as she continued to shake and slap the old demon…but her effort were futile. He was out like a light in a coma.

 

 

 

“Our apologies Mistress Schlange…but he has overexerted himself. He will need to rest now.” A female snake demon hissed as she slithered to Kagome's side and placed a calming hand on her shoulder.

 

 

 

“Oh. Oh yes of course. Matter-o-fact, you all can leave for the night. My slaves can attend to me from now on.” Kagome said quickly as she ushered everyone out.

 

 

 

“You are so kind Mistress.” The demon said graciously as she dragged her king out by his tail.

 

 

 

“Yes, yes. You're welcome.” She replied hurriedly before slamming the door shut behind them.

 

 

 

Turning around she saw the smug expressions on all the spirit detectives face and inwardly flinched. `They are going to hound me forever for this.' she thought grimly as she sauntered over to them.

 

 

 

“You know…we are going to laugh about this later.” She said in false cheerfulness as she smiled prettily at them. But they only growled at her in response while Yusuke even had the nerves to crack his knuckles.

 

 

“Fine have it your way.” She said angrily as she bounded to where she could keep an eye on them. “I'll let you have your revenge later, but now we have to get out of here. So…truce for the time being?” she asked giving the best `I'm just a cute, innocent girl and I'm truly sorry can you forgive me' look she could muster.

 

 

“You owe us.” Yusuke said as they gave in. Who could resist the `I'm just a cute, innocent girl and I'm truly sorry can you forgive me' look?

 

 

 

“Works every time.” Kagome muttered gleefully under her breath.

 

 

 

“What?”

 

 

 

“I said it's only a matter of time.” She lied looking at them seriously. “You guys are too weak to try to escape now. Rest here and then we leave.”

 

 

 

~__~

 

 

“If anyone asks…we are merely going for a walk.” Kurama whispered as they strolled down the hall behind Kagome.

 

 

 

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” She said offhandedly as she strode down the hall with a purpose in the swing of her hips.

 

 

 

“Must you walk like that?” Hiei growled, as the sight of her perpetually swinging hips gave him a headache.

 

 

 

“Like what?” she asked as she rounded on them with an irritated look. “Must you criticize everything I do?”

 

 

 

“Mistress Schlange?” a quiet voice asked ahead of them. “Where are you going?”

 

 

 

“Me? I'm only out for a stroll with my slaves.” Kagome lied as she gave the demon a small, reassuring smile.

 

 

 

The demon narrowed its eyes briefly. “MISTRESS SCHLANGE IS ESCAPING!” he yelled in a tell-tale voice.

 

 

 

“What? Again!” they heard yelled in response.

 

 

 

“Not another one?”

 

 

 

“Why does this keep happening?”

 

 

 

“Run.” Kagome whispered to her companions before they took off running in the opposite direction.

 

 

 

“You know, when I said run…I meant run with me…not run ahead and leave me behind!” Kagome yelled as they began to leave her. Seeing as how they did not slow, she tried a different approach. Whining. “I can't run in this dress and you guys are leaving me!”

 

 

 

Growling aloud, Hiei broke off from everyone else o double back on Kagome. Without stopping a second, he hoisted the running girl onto his shoulder and sped off towards the others. The way was fairly easy as they ran, the way being cleared of any hostile snake demons by Yusuke and Kuwabara, but they did not stop running, even when they burst out into the opening night. They did not stop running until they were sure they were clear of the Snake temple.

 

 

“Wow! Now I don't know about you…but I can't wait to get back home. I'm sleepy, hungry, and just my luck…its laundry day and I have no clothes. Not to mention shoes. Besides I think I need to call poison control. So…let's go home.” Kagome said cheerfully as she began to walk off only to have her armed grabbed and be forcefully yanked back.

 

 

 

“We still have a job to do. Now where is the relic?” Yusuke said through clenched teeth.

 

 

 

“You can't be serious. It has to be 1:00 in the morning.”

 

 

 

“And whose fault is that? No one told you to play priestess with those demons. Now march!” he barked as he pushed her in the opposite direction.

 

 

 

“You are very unpleasant.” She said as she stopped to look at him seriously.

 

 

 

“March!” he barked taking a step towards her.

 

 

 

“That's why your breath stinks.”

 

 

 

“March!”

 

“Yeah, yeah, I know. March!” she snapped, mocking the way he barked. “It's this way.” She growled as she turned on her heel and headed in the way she had been going in the first place.

 

 

~__~

 

 

By the time Kagome led them to the spot, she was angry and irritable. Her feet hurt, she was cold, her dress had a considerable amount of tears from tromping through the overgrown forest, and she was itchy from mosquito bites. The spirit detectives knew this so they made no attempts to further anger her.

 

 

On exiting the forest they found themselves at the foot of a very large temple.

 

 

 

“Did we go in a circle?” Kuwabara asked as he thought they were back with the snake demons.

 

 

 

“No, this place is old and deserted.” Kurama stated as he looked at the foliage that had encased the temple.

 

 

 

Without a word to any of them, Kagome began to trek up the steps at a fast pace.

 

 

 

“Hey Kagome! Slow down!” Yusuke yelled as he ran up the stairs after her. The other's followed at a much slower pace. They watched as first Kagome then Yusuke reached the doors of the temple. They couldn't see what happened but Kagome suddenly turned on Yusuke with an angry frown and hit him on the shoulder before both fell through a trap door. The others raced the rest of the way up the to the top with sudden urgency, Hiei made it first, only to find no trap door, but their screaming could still be heard getting fainter and fainter.

 

 

 

“Well…that can't be good.” Kuwabara stated after the screams had finally died down.

 

 

~___~

 

 

Kagome and Yusuke screamed in unison as they slid through a twisting turning pipe. Yusuke sat behind her so she held onto his legs for support when the pipe made an abrupt turn. It would turn left hen right so fast that they would crack there heads on the tunnel wall or slide across the ceiling. They slid down for what seemed miles, and at one time they thought they were sliding up at a 90* degree angle.

 

 

“You know this would be fun if my butt wasn't currently covered in slime.” Yusuke commented as they grew tired of screaming.

 

 

 

“Same here if my dress wouldn't fly up above my head.” Kagome replied as she tried to hold said dress down.

 

 

 

“I've noticed.” He said with a smile.

 

 

 

Just as she was about to elbow him in the stomach, their tunnel ride suddenly ended as they ran out of tunnel and fell 15 feet onto hard, stone flooring. Fortunately for Yusuke he fell out last and had a soft landing, which happened to be Kagome. They landed in a large chamber with many tunnels branching off from half of it and the other half was covered by a black water pool. The ceiling was so high that they couldn't fathom where it ended. Up the length of the walls tunnel openings could be seen just as the one they exited. Light poured in from reflectors mirrors, but there were too many to tell exactly where the light was coming from.

 

 

“Get OFF!” she moaned as she pushed the burly boy off her to grip her abdomen.

 

 

 

“Thanks for catching me.” He joked as he stood to help her up.

 

 

 

“Not funny. I think you broke a rib or something.” She grumbled, taking his hand and doubling over in pain as she clutched her ribs with the other.

 

 

 

“Not like I could stop myself.” He said gruffly as he scooped her up into his arms. “If it's any exchange, I'll carry you if you want.”

 

 

 

“Well…just till I fell better.” She said with mock resignation as she settled into his arms as he set off down one of the numerous tunnels.

 

 

 

~___~

 

 

 

“No!” Kagome yelled pushing Yusuke's offering hands away. “I can walk on my own. My ribs aren't broken, they're probably just bruised or something.”

 

 

“Come on Kagome! I'll do better this time.” Yusuke pleaded with a laugh trailing behind her.

 

 

 

“No! You dropped me five times! My butt hurts worse than my ribs now!” she growled as she rounded on him with a feral growl.

 

 

 

“Well I wouldn't have dropped you if you hadn't been wiggling around so much.” He defended.

 

 

 

“That's because your hands kept wandering like a lecher. AND WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE!” the last part she yelled as they once again entered the entrance chamber.

 

 

 

“My hands didn't roam anywhere they shouldn't…you kept moving before I could.”

 

 

 

 

“Pervert!” Kagome yelled at him.

 

 

 

“I'm a guy.”

 

 

 

Choosing too ignore him, she examined the tunnels. “Have we been this way? Let's try this one.” Picking a random tunnel she and Yusuke trudged on again.

 

 

 

“Don't you have a girlfriend?” she asked after a while.

 

 

 

“Yeah. So what?”

 

 

 

“Then why are you being such a perv?”

 

 

 

“If you must know. I like pretty girls. Keiko never let's me feel her up. Last time we spoke she ended up hitting me over the head with her purse. Besides…it's not like I'm cheating on her. She doesn't deserve that no matter how mean she is to me. What now?” he asked gruffly seeing she had stopped and looking at him strangely.

 

 

 

“You called me pretty.” She said in a half accusing half confused tone.

 

 

 

“Yeah and? Haven't you been told that before?” he asked teasingly.

 

 

 

“Not too often.” She answered with a small smile before returning to her trek down the tunnel.

 

 

 

Yusuke stared after her a few seconds, lost in bemusement. `This girl sure was strange.' He thought before following her like a puppy. That was…until he bumped in the rope. It wouldn't have been too interesting, but he could have sworn that it wasn't there a second ago. The rope just hung listlessly in front of him, and not even the swing of Kagome's hip could draw his attention away from it. Oh yes, Hiei wasn't the only one affected by those hips, but none the less, that rope was tempting. What would happen if he pulled it? Nothing? Everything? A door would open? A dangerous beast would be let loose? He didn't know, but he was going to find out. Not bothering to inform Kagome of his find, Yusuke quickly grabbed at the rope and pulled.

 

 

 

There was a thick silence as Yusuke waited in anticipation. Nothing happened. “What a jip.” He exclaimed slightly angry.

 

 

 

“Huh?” Kagome asked turning towards him.

 

 

 

“Nothing. You see I just…” Yusuke began but was cut off as the sound of brick sliding across concrete filled their ears.

 

 

 

Kagome was on him in a second, looking in horror from the rope in his hand to his sheepish face and back again.

 

 

 

“What? How was I supposed to know?”

 

 

 

Kagome didn't say anything as she slapped him in the back of the head and jumped out of the way as a wall suddenly dropped from the ceiling, and the one next to them slid away.

 

 

This continued spontaneously for fifteen minutes, with the two pushing and shoving each other out of the way of sliding walls with Kagome continuously calling Yusuke names.

 

 

 

“Idiot!” she yelled pulling him forward as a wall fell behind him.

 

 

 

“HEY! I didn't think anything was going to happen!” he yelled back at her over the noise.

 

 

 

“Why would you pull a strange rope in an ancient temple? Were you just asking for trouble?”

 

 

 

“Yeah Kind of! I was bored!” as he yelled this he pulled her to his chest just as a wall came crashing down in the spot she had just been standing in.

 

 

 

“BORED! You were BORED! What type of fu…” but she never got to finish her sentence for the floor began to rise and the wall behind them fell away, causing them to fall through the opening it left.

 

 

 

The scream they were about to let out was instantly squelched down as they hit water. Cold water. Cold, biting, deep water. Frantically they clawed there way back to the surface only to find themselves in the pool of the entrance chamber. They seemed to come to a shared conclusion. For they both, silently, swam towards the edge of the pool. Getting out first, Yusuke helped Kagome out and they both went to the center of the chamber and plopped on the ground back to back and watched sullenly as tunnels appeared and disappeared in all directions.

 

 

 

~___~

 

 

Kagome wasn't sure how long they sat there watching the ever changing tunnels, but she did know that it was long enough for their clothes to dry, leaving her freezing, and extremely bored. So bored in fact that when a tunnel deposited Kuwabara into the tunnel they didn't even flinch at his abrupt appearance.

 

 

 

“Hey I found you! Don't worry I'll save…” and that was all he said. Before he could touch the ground a tunnel opened under his feet and disappeared as quickly as it came.

 

 

 

“Well that was pointless.” Yusuke remarked dully as a she agreed with a nod of her head. Then all was silent once more as they went back to watching the tunnels.

 

 

 

5 days later. Although it was really 3 minutes.

 

 

 

“I can't take it anymore!” Kagome yelled as she sprang to her feet.

 

 

 

“What is it?” Yusuke asked as he jumped up urgently from his nap.

 

 

 

“I can't take this sitting around. I need to do something. I hungry, my feet hurt, and to top it all off I'm FREEZING!” she yelled as she attempted to pull her hair out.

 

 

 

“It's not that cold.”

 

 

 

A thought seemed to hit her for she slowly turned to look at him a suggestive smile. “Well…not to someone as hot as you.” She said softly as she gave him an alluring look.

 

 

 

“Excuse me?” Yusuke asked with surprise written all over his face.

 

 

 

“Listen Yusuky, you just heard what I said. I'm bored…cold…and hungry. I'm sure with your help; a few of those problems can be abated.” She said charmingly as she walked up to him.

 

 

 

“Um…uhm.” Yusuke stammered as he suddenly got nervous.

 

 

 

 

“Now you're looking extremely hot, I'm cold, so why don't you warm me up and…take it off.” Now that she was up in his face she whispered the last part and Yusuke grew red. Was it him or did it just get hotter?

 

 

 

“Kagome…I…I have a girlfriend.” He tried to explain.

 

 

 

She frowned for a second and rolled her eyes. “And I had sex with Kurama. What does that have to do with us right now?”

 

 

 

He couldn't say anything. He didn't know what to say. He sighed in defeat as a smile broke onto his face. What Keiko didn't know couldn't hurt her.

 

 

 

~___~

 

 

The tunnels still hadn't stopped moving and Kagome had taken up looking at the many hieroglyphics carved into the walls. She did this with a smile for she was now warm and had something to do after her little compromise with Yusuke. Said boy sulked on the other side of the chamber looking strangely dejected and disappointed and she couldn't for the life of her figure out what had caused his abrupt mood change. She suspected it had something to do with boredom.

 

 

 

Yusuke looked back at her and mumbled angrily under his breath. He thought he had won the jackpot all of a sudden. But no, she only wanted his jacket. “Stupid girl.” He mumbled, although he was the one being stupid for thinking Kagome would actually…. “I hate her sometimes.”

 

 

 

Getting up moodily he turned around only to bump into another rope. And like the one before it, he was utterly enthralled. Slowly and inconspicuously his hand crept up towards the rope as his eyes darted back and forth from the rope to Kagome.

 

 

“You should really have a look at these Yusuke.” Kagome began as she tried to engage Yusuke into conversation, but as she turned around she froze. “Yusuke what are you doing?”

 

 

 

He said as he grasped the rope in his hand.

 

 

 

“Don't do anything stupid. Just…let go of the rope and back away.” Kagome said slowly in a coaxing voice as she made her way slowly towards him

 

 

 

He paid her no intention as he gripped the rope tightly.

 

 

 

“No. Bad Yusuke! Put the rope down. Drop it!” she yelled, addressing Yusuke as if he was a dog.

 

 

 

Yusuke too caught this and glared directly at her as he purposely pulled on the rope…and disappeared from sight as a newly formed tunnel opened beneath his feet and the rope was drawn upward and out of sight.

 

 

 

“NO!” Kagome called out desperately as she ran to the spot Yusuke had last been in. but it was too late, Yusuke was gone and so was the tunnel. “No.” she said more quietly bamming on the concrete till her hand began to bleed. “Don't leave me alone.” Ceasing her self injuring, she lay there for a second before she heard concrete moving behind her. Before she could look to investigate, the brick flooring she was sitting on suddenly catapulted her into the newly arrived brick wall just a foot behind her and slid down into the tunnel resting at its feet.

 

 

She slid into a dark and wet chamber. She groaned as she rubbed the back of her head where it had hit the wall. She wasn't sure if the wetness she felt on fingers was blood or slime. Groaning aloud once more the new chamber suddenly burst with light from a huge, magical fire that abruptly came to life. She was sure it was magical for despite the size and ferocity of the fire it dealt out more wind than heat although the heat was barely bearable. Stepping closer she saw an object floating in the middle of the magical fire. She couldn't see from where she stood but she could feel the power of the relic wash over her like a gentle wind.

 

 

Smiling victoriously she sauntered up to the fire only to get halted in her track by the force protecting the relic. It appeared in cyclone of fire. It stood as tall as a house and had teeth as think and long as full grown man. This she found out as it snapped its huge jaws at her. Its fur was as black as night and so was the fire on the end of it tail and in its eyes. It was a giant dog. A giant, ferocious, fire dog with a temper just as hot. And she had to fight it. When the boys fought water people, she had the dog from hell. Fate was so fair.

 

 

“You think you can scare me.” She said with a laugh void of humor. “Let me tell you about my day. I had to baby-sit the spawns of Satan. I was seduced and lost my virginity to a Kitsune. I fell into a pit and was felt up by spirit detectives. I was poisoned by snake demons. I trudged through the forest with no shoes. My feet hurt. I was bitten half to death by mosquitoes. I fell through an endless tunnel. I had a man-boy fall on me from 15 feet in the air and possibly broken my ribs. Again I was felt up. I was scared half to death by constantly moving walls. I was plunged into extremely cold water. I got BORED! I was left alone. And to top it off I cracked my head against the wall. Do you think you scare me? I am completely pissed off! You don't scare me. YOU…SHOULD BE THE ONE SCARED! BECAUSE I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER AT THE MOMENT!”

 

 

The dog demon only growled fiercely before charging her with the speed and force of a locomotive. He had been warned.

 

 

~___~

 

 

“…and that's the fourth time I had to get my stomach pumped.” Kuwabara concluded to his three companions on the steps of the temple. They been there all night and couldn't find a way to enter the temple. He had once when the wall opened up showing a door and he had caught a brief glance of his lost companions but he was soon thrown out from a drain at the temple's foot. That was where they had found Yusuke about an hour later. They had tried breaking down walls to find them, but whenever they did a wall was suddenly there blocking the newly formed hole. So they gave up and just chilled.

 

 

“You live a sad little life.” Hiei commented at the end of the story.

 

 

 

“Maybe we should try to rescue Kagome again?” Kurama suggested.

 

 

 

“You'd like that wouldn't you?” Yusuke mumbled bitterly. He had been moody ever since they found him. They supposed something had happened between him and Kagome that had set the detective off.

 

 

 

“It was merely a suggestion.”

 

 

 

“You sicken me.” Both Hiei and Yusuke said at the same time.

 

 

Kurama just sighed and fought the urge to roll his eyes. He knew Yusuke was attracted to the miko, but he had a girlfriend and didn't have the right to say such things, but Hiei did it only to harass him. Hiei was too hardened and unsociable to care that he had gotten `close' to the miko.

 

 

 

A loud snarling followed by an explosion shot all the detectives in defensive mode as a great dog demon crashed from the wall of the temple and towered above them menacingly. They would have attacked if they had not seen who was riding the demon like a horse. It was Kagome, looking fierce and warrior like. Her hair and body were wrapped in flames but she didn't seem to notice as she stared down at them. Her hair and clothing blew in an unseen wind and she held herself like royalty. He had never seen and never would again see anything as beautiful as she looked just then.

 

 

He found himself unable to look at her for fear he would disrespect and defile her somehow, and that's when he saw it. The look on Hiei's face. The look of awe and adulation as he stared upon the miko. But a second later it was gone and replace by his usual stoic face although not as solid. That look leaked out only a bit. Anyone other than Kurama wouldn't have noticed if they were to look at him just then. But Kurama had seen it, and despite what it would cause him, he took off all his claims for the girl. If Hiei wanted her, he would let him. His friend needed love, and just maybe…she'd be the one to give it to him, and if not or if the fire demon hurt her in anyway…Kurama would be there. Just because he laid off all claims to her didn't mean he couldn't lust after her anymore.

 

 

 

“I have the relic, now I'm going home and I'm going to sleep. And if you try to stop me…I'll kill you where you stand.” Kagome threatened as she stared down at them in challenge. When none made to object she kicked the whining demon in the side and took off over the tree tops and into the waning night.

 

 

~___~

 

 

When the detectives arrived they found Kagome nestled down in bed fast asleep. They soon retired to their respective rooms themselves or off into the forest to do who knows what.

 

 

The next day, Kagome awoke before all and went outside to practice her swordsmanship. She didn't know how long she practiced before he finally spoke up. She knew he had been there the whole time. Watching silently. She had been about to address him herself when he broke the silence first.

 

 

 

“The snakes have heightened your agility.” Hiei droned as he hopped down from the tree to land next to her.

 

 

 

“Among other things.” She said quietly as she faced him.

 

 

 

“So are my senses, strength, and speed. Not to mention I now seem fire proof.” She said with a smile going back to last night. “Oh and now I'm cold bloodied. But hey, those are the breaks.

 

 

 

“Let's test your new ability girl.” Hiei said abruptly as he unsheathed his sword.

 

 

 

“Do I have a choice?” she whined as she got into a ready stance.

 

 

 

“No.” he said shortly before attacking.

 

 

 

He seemed to attack head on, but a split second before he got within striking distance he disappeared only to appear behind her, but she was ready and blocks his attack.

 

 

 

“You're going to have to do better Firecracker. I was never slow before and now I'm even fast.” She said with a teasing smile before they broke apart. The break didn't last a second before the two were on each other again. Swinging and swiping and blocking at each other. It would have seemed like a fierce battle if it wasn't for the occasional laugh Kagome would let out whenever she would nick Hiei with her blade.

 

 

Finally they parted and they stood apart facing one another, each panting hard with a pleased grin on their faces. “You're still a weak human.” Hiei remarked.

 

 

 

“And you're still an evil Santa's elf from hell.” Kagome said with a laugh as she got out of her defensive stance, never noticing the expectant smirk on Hiei's face. Although she didn't notice this, she did notice however how slits and cuts began appearing in her clothes and she became painstakingly aware of how clothes couldn't stay put with so many cuts and turned completely red as they fell away piece by piece, leaving her only in her underwear. And another thing she did notice was laugher. It was low and throaty, as if someone was trying to hold it in, and she knew just who that person was.

 

 

“YOU!” she hissed angrily turning towards the laughing demon. “You…boxers.” Now smiling Kagome watched in self-satisfied glory as Hiei's fell away in a similar state. “You have scrawny little chicken legs!” Kagome yelled aloud as she burst into laughter. Hiei on the other hand scowled darkly and made as if to attack, but Kagome beat him to the punch. Literally.

 

 

 

“You don't treat a lady like this.” she growled suddenly angry as she knocked him unconscious. Picking up her clothing, she marching the house, and pass the amused Kurama and Yusuke, with as much dignity she could muster while being half-naked in public.

 

 

“She is something.” Yusuke said fondly as he turned to his companion. “You know if I didn't have Keiko, and didn't love her, and she was a bit bustier, and not so bipolar, and didn't hit me so often, and could be a bit more understanding, and didn't drag me to the mall, and didn't treat me like a kid, and didn't complain all the time, and didn't cry so often, and never got those huge pimples, and would let me feel her up, and…and…” by now Yusuke's light amused voice had gotten slow and quiet. “And…umm…what was my point?”

 

 

“That if you didn't have Keiko you would go after Kagome too?” Kurama answered for him.

 

 

 

“Yeah.” He agreed half-heartedly. “What a bummer.” He muttered before going into the house to brood.

 

 

 

“That's right Yusuke. You have Keiko.” Kurama said softly to himself before turning his attention back to his unconscious friend in the yard being assaulted by squirrels. Just because he had lain off claims to Kagome didn't mean he didn't have spouts of jealously. And it was just that emotion that had him leave his friend to the mercy of the squirrels.