InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Cruel Hands Of Fate ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

If Kagome had a feather in her possession at that time, it would have been the only thing needed to knock both men fully on their asses. Koenma and Hiei sat staring at her with eyes as big as saucers and matching looks of pure incredulity.

 

Kagome sat there for a few seconds, looking at the two who were regarding her as though she had suddenly sprouted wings and wondered if they would snap out of it soon. After nearly a minute had passed, she decided to do something. Normally, she would have left them be to come around on their own, however neither seemed to be even breathing at the moment. Choosing to be discreet as best she could, she coughed lightly and began to talk once more.

 

“So…I am sure that at least one of you has questions, right?” She asked rather hesitantly, looking from Hiei to Koenma and taking a small breathe of relief to see their eyes clear and refocus on her. “I will answer any you have as best I can.” She finished with a small reassuring smile to the both of them before settling back on her heals.

 

Hiei seemed to still be lost somewhat in his own thoughts, so Koenma decided that he did indeed have questions and would like them answered. `Besides, she has such a nice voice.'

 

He waited for a moment for the girl to turn her gaze back to him and once she did, he smiled softly, “I think I have questions, but this is all so astounding that I am not really sure where to start. Do you know what happened to make the jewel fuse with you? Instead of remaining as it was?”

 

Hearing the first and foremost question in his mind falling from the mouth of the godling, Hiei immediately turned his attention back to the miko. Even though he was unaware of it, his mind was tossing around most, if not all, of the same questions Koenma had. He had been trying to sort them all out and find the most prudent one, but there didn't seem to be one that mattered more than another. Now, a question had been asked and he was about to at least have some answers.

 

Immediately after Koenma's question had been asked, Kagome began worrying her lip again. There was so much to tell, how would she get through it all? Would they believe any of it? Hell, she wasn't even sure she believed it all, though she knew it to be true. She sighed heavily before un-tucking her legs from beneath her, stretching out and crossing her legs at the ankles.

 

“Well, the jewel was originally forged by the priestess Midoriko, combining her soul with the souls of three others in a last effort to end a horrible fight. Midoriko was the most powerful miko alive and her soul was enough at the time to balance out the three youkai that were trapped with her. Apparently, after I was born with the Shikon in my side, my powers combined with Midoriko's were enough to mostly calm the conflict inside the jewel.

 

But, when the jewel was torn from my side and shattered, it destroyed the fragile balance that was achieved. Each shard was possessed of both a miko's purity and a youkai's darkness. But, there was more youki than miko-ki, therefore when someone with an evil heart or evil intentions got a hold of a shard it was easy for them to draw upon the darkness already within and use it to gain power or manipulate someone.

 

Most humans really had no desire to possess the shards which left demons to take them up. After we had found all the shards and reformed it, the jewel had been purified once more by my hands before returning to me. Unfortunately, some of them, mainly the ones in Naraku's possession, had been tainted so thoroughly that even after being purified, the balance of darkness to light was severely off kilter.”

 

She paused then, both to take in a much needed breathe and to let her words sink in. It was a lot of information to digest and she wasn't even to the really sticky part yet. As she looked from the kami to the youkai, she saw the unanswered questions still lingering in their eyes and mentally sighed. Kagome hated the fact that they had both been drug into this mess with her against their will and was silently praying to everything she knew of that they wouldn't hate her when she finished her story.

 

“That isn't all there is to it, is it Kagome?” Koenma asked, already knowing the answer but thinking she needed at least a little verbal prodding. While he was sure she wouldn't withhold anything from them, it seemed hard for her to talk about it and he thought that maybe knowing that at least he still wanted to hear what she had to say would help her. When she looked to him with a small, thankful smile on her face, he knew he had been right.

 

Kagome smiled at the young prince. She couldn't help it. He had been so kind to her since she had arrived and it felt nice. At the same time, something pulled at her heart. Would he still be so nice and understanding once he knew the truth? She wasn't so sure. For some reason, the thought of him, or Hiei, hating her made her heart fall. 'Well, I'll never know unless I tell them everything.' She thought with a sigh.

 

Shaking her head sadly, Kagome answered “No. It isn't.” She looked once more from Koenma to Hiei and began speaking softly, “I am sure that you have both noticed the energy between the three of us?” They nodded, “And the way that my aura goes crazy if you aren't touching me?” Again, they nodded and she sighed. “Well, apparently, since the balance was upset I am no longer able to keep myself stable. I only have miko energy; powers of purification and healing. They fall along the lines of spiritual energy, but it isn't enough anymore. Not only do I seem to require a strong spiritual influence, I also need an equally strong youkai influence. I have neither, which is where the two of you come in.

 

Since there were youkai souls originally in the jewel as well as Midoriko's, my mortal life has been altered…in fact it seems I have become an immortal. However, the problem lies within the unbalance of spiritual, miko and youkai energy. The spiritual side is nearly non-existent which is leaving the miko powers to battle the youkai powers. The instability in my aura is caused because my miko-ki is trying to slowly purify the youki that has become a part of me. I don't have the youki needed to oppose the miko-ki and I don't have enough of the rei-ki to balance the others.

 

In addition to all of that, by forming with my body, the jewel has increased in power significantly…meaning I have as well. If I am taken captive by someone who knows anything on manipulating artifacts, I can be used just as easily as the jewel was. It seems that the jewel got fed up with being used for others evil designs in the past and has latched on to the two of you in an attempt to both balance me out and protect me. I don't know why you were chosen personally, though I think they made good choices. I am terribly sorry for all of this. If it had been my decision, I would have at least asked your opinions on the matter.”

 

Kagome finished the last sentence in a whisper. Her head hurt, her heart hurt, she was hungry and she desperately wanted to crawl in to the deepest, darkest hole she could find. Once again, people that had nothing to do with the accursed jewel were being pulled into its path and were being forced to guard it…guard her. She could already feel anger rising in Hiei and she was sure it was directed at her. The guilt she felt at the possible replay of the past four years was almost too much for her to take, and she sniffled slightly as tears began making their way down her cheeks.

 

Koenma had been following Kagome's story intently since she first started telling it, tearing things apart as she went and analyzing them, and had been slowly coming to the conclusion she led him to. Even had she not told him, he knew that they were connected. He felt a pull on his soul and even though he could tell she thought he would be mad about the entire thing, he was actually…rather happy. Odd as it sounded, he was almost relieved to know that he was tied to Kagome in such a way. Although he was, in truth, completely inexperienced with girls, he imagined that had he ever had the time to picture the perfect one, even the one in his head would have been lacking compared to Kagome.

 

In the demi-god's eyes, there wasn't a more perfect being to have ever existed. She was strong, compassionate, courageous, kind, unbiased and seemed to genuinely care about everyone. He even wondered if she had truly hated Naraku…or merely felt sorry for him. All of this, and up until less than a day ago, she had been human…and a miko. Mikos were bred and raised to despise and destroy all things that were possessed of anything less than 100 percent ningen blood. Even if she hadn't been raised as a miko or trained in their ways, it was something that was supposed to have been a natural reaction for them. Kagome however hadn't cared about that. Her first love had been a hanyou, she had adopted, in a way, an orphaned kitsune kit and traveled with and befriended hanyou and youkai alike.

 

She truly was a special person. He was somewhat surprised that he already felt so strongly about her, given that they had known one another for less than 24 hours. The young prince already knew that he would have to fight tooth and nail not to fall for her. But, the thought of falling in love with the girl wasn't so bad a thing, as far as he was concerned. And now, she was connected to him in a way he never knew existed. Not only that, but she was immortal as was he. The thought that he would get to spend the rest of his long life connected to such a wonderful being made him smile…a genuine, happy smile.

 

Until he heard her sniffle and saw the fat drops of water crashing down upon her pale hands.

 

 

Hiei had been sitting idly by throughout the entire thing. In truth, he was extremely impressed with the woman and her story, though he would never show it. However, his slight feelings of admiration were slowly starting to give way to anger. Sure, being mad seemed like a normal thing for the fire apparition but the word `mad' didn't quite encompass what he was feeling at the moment.

 

The entire tale that the miko had just laid open for he and the godling was almost more than even he could wrap his mind around. While he wasn't quite the brain the fox was, Hiei wasn't stupid by any means. He hadn't lived this long without having a few brains in his head and the fact that something that he was involved in was almost beyond his comprehension had him severely angered.

 

Aside from that, he was positively livid at the fact that he had been pulled into such a situation without his prior knowledge or consent. He was used to the normal, mostly bullshit, missions that the demi-god sent him on and came to accept, though not necessarily like, the idea that he didn't have a choice in them. He was on probation and being part of the Reikai Tantei was how he was working it off. This, however, was totally unacceptable in his mind. Granted, it was an interesting thing and proved to be challenging in some way shape and form, but still! He had no choice in the matter! And what was worse, not only was he forever bound to a human-female-turned-powerful-artifact for all of eternity, he was bound to her along with his boss!

 

And now that he was on this inward, mental rant, what was it about that girl! He had just met her and already his traitorous body was starting to think that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be stuck with her forever. How inappropriate was that?! Not only did his body react to her and her smell, and Kami did she smell good, but he could already feel that it was more than just the desire to push her against the wall and rut with her until she couldn't stand.

 

The base desires of his youkai wanted her, the Jagan seemed more than intrigued by her and even the damned dragon felt as though it was simply itching to get closer to her! Every ounce of youki in his being was pulling towards this girl and when he saw the grateful smile she gave Koenma, he nearly lost it and had to choke down a growl. He, the feared Forbidden Child, was being reduced to a simmering ball of untamed rage simply because he wanted this woman almost more than he had ever wanted anything…and it was grating on his nerves.

 

All thoughts of his traitorous being and his internal ranting were stopped cold in their tracks when he heard the girl sniffle and smelled salt in the air.

 

It seemed as though Koenma and Hiei were, for once, on the same page in their thinking when they heard the pitiful sound coming from the woman sitting between them. Hiei unconsciously put his hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture even as Koenma reached out and tilted her chin to look at him. When he raised her face to his, the prince felt his heart twist in his chest. Her eyes looked so sad, lost and lonely. She appeared to have the entire weight of the world resting on her shoulders and instantly wondered if there were some things that had been left out of her tale.

 

Certainly no being that was as powerful and strong-willed as Kagome could look so completely tortured unless she had been broken down to a point of near irreparability. Her soulful sapphire eyes looked haunted and he knew in his heart that something more had happened to her. `I wonder if it has something to do with the hanyou she loved.'

 

“Kagome…what is it? I know this is a lot for anybody to take on and I am sure that you are feeling a little overwhelmed, but I am here to help you. I promise I'll do whatever I can, but you have to talk to me.” The junior ruler of Reikai said softly, lightly brushing his thumb across her cheek catching her tears.

 

The young miko listened to his soft voice and knew he wasn't lying, but how much more could she tell him? Tell them? Her feelings over everything…would they matter? Would either one sincerely care that her first, and as of yet only, love continuously ditched her for a dead woman? Or that the same one she loved for so long had let his last look to her be one of utter contempt and hatred? That she had lived the last four years being degraded and broken down by the only person to hold her heart?

 

Could she tell them that she feared they would hate her, as he had?

 

Before she was forced to say anything more, the door to the office was flung open and a loud voice was heard. “Oi toddler! What in the hell kind of a mission was that?!”