InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Cruel Hands Of Fate ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

Koenma stood sputtering at the edge of his desk. He had been Prince of Reikai for centuries and had never, never had anyone just drop into his office in such a manner. He looked up to his detectives and was surprised to see that both looked as confused and bewildered as he was. Mentally shaking himself of his stupor, he rounded the corner of his desk to kneel next to the body of the young woman.

 

Seeing their boss in action spurned the demons into movement as well. All three came to the body of the young woman; Koenma and Kurama kneeling on either side of her while Hiei stood next to the fox. Once the three had taken up a position closer to the girl, they took notice of her aura. It seemed to be fluctuating harshly around her, as if it had lost its stability. Both Koenma and Kurama reached out to grasp a hold of the woman's shoulder in an attempt to turn her over on her back. The young Prince was able to touch her with no problems, but as soon as Kurama's fingers came close to the girl, he was thrown back violently.

 

A shocked expression crept across the fire demon's face as Kurama was getting to his feet. `What happened fox?'

 

Kurama shook his head in response and walked back towards the body on the floor and his boss. As he neared closer to the girl, he noticed her aura had changed. “Koenma her aura has changed. It seems to have calmed some. What would cause that to happen?”

 

The demi-god looked thoughtful for a moment before he answered, “I honestly don't know. It was rather erratic when she first appeared. I wonder what would complete the balance. And who is she?”

 

Just as the last question was spoken, a door opened revealing King Enma wearing a particularly excited expression. “Oh thank the Kami! She's here! I wasn't expecting to see her come here on her own but since she has, we won't have to look for her. But, where is the jewel I wonder?”

 

Kurama and Hiei turned confused looks upon one another before looking to Koenma. The Prince of Reikai looked almost as lost as they did. “What are you talking about father? This strange girl just showed up in my office with this wild aura! Now it seems to be somewhat calmer, but what is going on?” He was extremely interested in finding out who this woman was and how she came to be in his office.

 

The King of Reikai simply smiled, “She is Kagome Higurashi and is the current guardian of the Shikon jewel. I believe you were sending these two out to find her, were you not?”

 

“Well, they were being sent to find the jewel but it was unclear as to whether or not it had a guardian. If this is her, where is the jewel and why is she here?” The Prince replied.

 

Taking a closer look at the girl, Enma asked “What do you mean by saying she had a wild aura? It looks pretty good to me.”

 

Koenma looked at his father and then down to the girl. He realized then that he still had his hand on her shoulder. Cautiously, he removed his hand and watched in awe as her aura flared to life once more, dancing and licking at her form like flames. `What in all the realms is going on?'

 

Looking helplessly to his father, Koenma said “That is what I meant. Her aura was doing the same thing when she first showed up, though I don't know why it was smoothed out when I was touching her. Kurama couldn't even get close to her. As soon as his fingers were near her body, he was thrown back.”

 

Scratching his chin, Enma replied “Has Hiei tried touching her yet? Does her aura only react to demons, I wonder?”

 

When all three pairs of eyes turned on Hiei, he gave them a look that plainly stated `You're all crazy' before saying, “I am not in a hurry to be purified. Koenma might be able to touch her but the fox couldn't and he has a human body.”

 

The King thought for a moment before saying “True enough. Though, I would still like to know why and whether or not a demon can touch her. She will have to be moved to the medical ward to be checked out and I don't want my medical staff running into unknown problems if we can solve them here.”

 

Kurama regarded his partner “I didn't even have to touch her Hiei and she repelled me. I am sure that the same thing would go for you.”

 

“Hn.” Was the only response the fox received for his efforts. The fire demon then knelt down next to the woman and reached out for her…

 

…and was able to touch her without a problem, just as Koenma had. This new revelation brought looks of wonder to the Reikai royalty as well as Kurama. Hiei frowned. `I don't think I like this.' He then sat back on his heels and watched as her aura went chaotic once more. It was then he noticed the energy ties…

 

King Enma seemed excited once again at this turn of events but instead of saying anything further on the matter, he turned and left.

 

Kurama sighed heavily and leaned against the wall. The kitsune in his head was determined to give him a headache with how things were turning out. `This just isn't fair!' Youko whined, flopping down on his back and angrily crossing his legs at the ankles. `How come the hybrid and the godling get to be so close to her and we can't!'

 

The redhead mentally poked at the fox, letting a frown shine through his aura, `What do you care anyway? We haven't even seen what she looks like, we can't seem to get close to her right now and she is a miko!'

 

`I know all that! Why do you think I am upset? She just showed up out of nowhere and I want to know who she is! Besides, what I can see of her looks pretty damn good to me.' Youko pouted.

 

Rolling his eyes, Kurama pushed off from the wall and addressed his boss and partner, “Well, if the Shikon is already here, then I must be going. Mother has a doctor's appointment this afternoon and I promised to take her.”

 

Koenma merely nodded his head, still clearly absorbed in the raven haired girl occupying his floor while Hiei sent an odd look at the fox. He had heard the conversation Kurama was having with the kitsune and decided to taunt the fox before he left, `Interesting turn of events, ne? Isn't too often that I can get close to a female that you can't.'

 

Youko glared at Hiei and sent a snarl across the mind link `Like it matters! She isn't even conscious! Don't fret though…I will always give you a chance. And,' Youko smirked `I'll even be awake enough for it to matter.'

 

`Hn. Yes, she isn't even conscious and still managed to throw your furry ass.'

 

`Hiei! Youko! Please! I already have a headache and your banter isn't helping.' Kurama growled and slammed shut the door to his mind while simultaneously turning his back on the kitsune before making his way out of the office.

 

Koenma had remained unaware of the exchange between the demons in his office and looked up when he heard the door close. When he turned his attention back to Kagome, he noticed something he hadn't seen before. Between the three of them were softly glowing bands of pink energy, stringing them all together. `This just keeps getting more and more strange.'

 

Kagome made a small moaning noise in the back of her throat, somewhat akin to a whimper, snapping the attention of both young men back to her in an instant. Her eyelids fluttered briefly before once again falling closed.

 

The Prince sighed. He had been hoping she would awaken and be able to answer some of his many questions. When she remained in the land of dreams, he decided to at least turn her to her back and assess her health completely. It was obvious she had no injuries on her back because that was the side of her they had been looking at since her `arrival'.

 

He then stood and moved closer to her head before he knelt down. Turning his attention to the fire demon, he spoke “Hiei. Will you please help me turn her over? It would be nice to see what the rest of her looks like at least.”

 

The elemental apparition gave his trademark `Hn' before taking a hold of the miko's shoulder and turning her over gently while Koenma put one hand against the back of her neck to guide her upper body to rest against his legs. Once she was situated, Koenma brushed the dark bangs from her eyes.

 

It was then that the two noticed a bright pink glow pulsing from the girl's chest and realized that the bands between them had darkened. The color was the same as the ties of energy that linked the three and hummed with the same brilliance of power.

 

“Hn. The miko's aura has changed once again. It seems to be almost non-existent now.”

 

At first, the young ruler thought that maybe Kagome's miko-ki was going to the demon's head, until he looked once more down to the girl lying across his lap. His eyes widened in realization. `He's right! Her aura has settled almost completely back into her body! She is emanating almost nothing!'

 

Before he could think too much on this turn of events, he noticed that the three of them were still making contact. Kagome was lying with her head and upper shoulders on Koenma's lap and Hiei still had his hand resting gently on her shoulder.

 

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She felt disoriented and somewhat lost; a sensation she would relate with the feeling of being tossed asunder in the depths of the ocean, had she ever been there. The world was dark and somewhat foreboding as it swirled around her, biting at her skin and pulling on her clothes. She shook her slightly, trying to clear away the gentle haze that seemed to have formed there, in an effort to remember what had happened that led her to this point. Then, as if a light switch had been thrown, it all came back to her.

 

And she wished with a pitiful whimper, that it hadn't.

 

Still unaware of where she was, she knew what had transpired. The images of the jewel sinking into her skin and then being surrounded by her Feudal Era family as she disappeared before them flashed across her mind. As the last picture of her friends replayed itself, she studied their faces one at a time, committing every part of them to memory, even as a gentle voice was speaking to her and imparting important information to the less aware portion of her mind.

 

Sango, her adopted older sister, sitting with her hand on her shoulder and tears in her eyes, Kirara curled upon her shoulder; Miroku, the lecherous houshi with a truly good heart to her other side. Shippou sat in her lap, his brilliant emerald eyes gazing at her with unshed tears even as his tiny paws wrapped around her hands. Lastly, she looked to the hanyou whom she had loved for so long…and gasped silently.

 

All her friends had looked at her with such love and sadness as she left them…all except Inuyasha. She had lifted her eyes to lock onto the golden orbs she had admired for years, knowing he would never love her but hoping to at least see some sadness that she was being forced to leave.

 

She was met instead with anger and heartbreak. At first, Kagome was confused by that combination of emotions until she saw his eyes flicker briefly between her chest and a spot on the battlefield. The jewel and Kikyou.

 

The only two things he had ever really cared about.

 

As that realization was made, a cry wrought of pure anguish was torn from her throat as tears coursed down her cheeks. She had never meant anything to him…only a shard detector and the shell of the woman he truly loved. Miroku, Sango, Kirara and Shippou…they never meant anything either, not to him.

 

Her world stilled before it rippled and shattered around her. Kagome realized she had spent the last four years of her life with someone who honestly didn't care about her…at all. He didn't care that Sango had lost her entire family, the little Shippou had lost his parents, that Miroku had lived his life with a curse that could have sucked him into an endless void…and he didn't care that Kagome thrown away the life she had in her own time to help with a cause that really held nothing personal for her.

 

Kagome then became vaguely aware of strong arms wrapped around her, holding her closely to a warm chest. As the fog of her sorrow and replayed memories lifted slightly, a soft, comforting voice found her ears, whispering gentle nothings. The effect was soothing to her shredded nerves and raw emotions, settling across her soul like a warm blanket.

 

`Where am I?' She wondered silently, still unwilling to open her eyes even as she was aware that she was, in fact, somewhere that was real. She then became aware that the one holding her exuded spiritual powers and there seemed to be a strong sense of youki that settled against her from a hand on her shoulder. The feeling of being lost and abandoned for that short time was still to raw for her to want to face the world, so she buried her head against the chest she was being held to and let her tears fall.

 

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The junior ruler of Reikai and the Forbidden Child were just about to test the theory that neither were really willing to accept, though Koenma was less vehement about it, when the girl that their problem was centered on let loose a anguished sob from her throat. The sound was so full of pain and utter torment that Koenma immediately wrapped his arms around her small and visibly trembling frame and pulled her against his chest.

 

Hiei, while less obvious, was equally affected by the heart-wrenching sound that came from the girl and was tempted himself to comfort her. He would have too, were he any other being and had Koenma not beat him to it. As it was, when the scent of her tears assaulted his nose, he was hard-pressed not to wrench the girl from the Prince's arms.

 

While Koenma seemed perfectly willing to offer such comfort to the distraught young woman and not miffed in the least that the three were somehow bound to one another, Hiei was not quite as understanding. In fact, the hybrid was thoroughly pissed off.

 

Although a violent temper and a continuous look of simmering rage always seemed present with the fire apparition, he was usually indifferent to most things. Right now, however, such was not the case. This entire day had been fucked up from the get-go and it only seemed to get more complex and explicitly confusing as the time went by.

 

He understood, vaguely, the mission that he and the fox were to be sent on. Reikai always had a hard on for ancient relics and the older and more powerful they were, the more they were wanted. However, when they were just about to learn the specifics of said mission, a body appeared in Koenma's office, seemingly out of nowhere, and startled them all. Even the cool and calculating fox had been shocked. So much so, that were his hair and tail not already silver, he was sure they would have been turned that color…or something close.

 

As if that hadn't been enough, the fox was refused so much as a touch to the girl while both he and the Prince of Reikai were now seemingly attached to her. Not in a proverbial or sentimental sense either. It rapidly became apparent that the strange woman, proclaimed a miko by King Enma himself, was something more than just a woman. For a reason, as of yet unknown to the two, the girl, Kagome, had become entwined with their very auras. So much so, that without contact, her own aura would become violently unstable.

 

As if being unwillingly bound to some human female, a miko at that, wasn't enough to thoroughly put his underwear in a bind, he seemed to have been entered into said agreement with none other than the Prince of Reikai. While he didn't hold the hatred towards the young prince that he once had, he still didn't have a reason to like him. Hiei never made it a point to push his buttons as Yusuke did, but he didn't fight the smirk or, very, occasional chuckle that would occur as a result of such torment being brought down upon the prince.

 

While the hybrid was sitting and stewing over his newest predicament (honestly, did all the Kami despise him?) he suddenly became aware that his anger was ebbing. Scratch that…it was being absorbed! He sat there a moment longer to ponder the strange feeling. It was exactly as it felt…all the angry emotions that were flying through his mind, as well as the raging of his opposing sides, were slowly being withdrawn from his body, only to be replaced by a strange, but not unwelcome, feeling of total calm.

 

Weird was the word that came to mind first. Though it was quickly shoved out of the way and replaced with another…impossible.

 

He sat there and stared in unhidden shock at the girl that was wrapped protectively in Koenma's embrace. The hybrid was actually able see the exchange of the hostile emotions he possessed for the calmer ones of the miko skating across the band of pink energy that tied them together. Dark, raging energy was passing into her form and soft, comforting energy was seeping into his. He turned his startled gaze to Koenma and growled “What in Kami's name is going on?”

 

The whole world had ceased to exist for the Prince of Reikai while he held the the sobbing girl in his arms. Being a god, Koenma never really had a chance to be around women, at least, not women that were corporeal and not the deity of death. If he was perfectly honest with himself, though he wouldn't admit it to anyone else, he hadn't even had the opportunity to be with a female. Now he was sitting in his office with a beautiful, young woman snuggled tightly into his chest and clinging to him as though he was the last real thing in her life.

 

At that moment, life was good for him.

 

And then, it was ruined with a growled question from the, temporarily, forgotten fire apparition. He raised his head to lock eyes with Hiei and had just opened his mouth to tell him that he truthfully had no idea, when the precious burden against his chest shifted away from him. His heart clenched in his chest when he looked into her face to see the most beautiful blue eyes known to man, shrink-wrapped in unshed tears.

 

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Kagome had been peaceful for the first time since the start of the final battle with the dark hanyou, cradled against a very masculine and warm chest with a gentle hand on her shoulder, when she felt a sudden rise in youki, and a stream of darker emotions flooded her. Letting her own aura flare slightly, she realized the emotions were radiating from the person who owned the hand on her shoulder. Kagome wasn't aware of what caused the sudden rise in the hostile feelings, but was compelled to help. She focused all the calm and love she could into a gentle stream of energy and wrapped it around the youkai next to her.

 

She felt him tense at first and then succumb to her soothing ministrations. Once he had relaxed somewhat, Kagome felt around his aura more and found that not only was he youkai…he was a hybrid. Something rarer to find than a hanyou, for they were looked down upon even more than a half-youkai, half-human and normally didn't live longer than a few days following their birth. Knowing that he was birthed of opposing elements, the young miko felt her heart go out to him. He had a hard life and was a living testament to strength and determination.

 

Kagome was then shaken from her private admiration when she heard him growl, obviously at the one holding her, “What in Kami's name is going on?”

 

Taking that as her cue to buck up and explain things to the two she now knew she was attached to, she removed herself, albeit regretfully, from the comforting arms around her to look for the first time in to one of the faces to which she would be forever bound.