InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpected Ally ❯ Kagome, The Runaway Miko ( Chapter 14 )

Unexpected Ally

 

Disclaimer: YYH belongs to Yoshihiro Tagashi; IY belongs to Rumiko Takahashi; Unfortunately, I am neither one of them. Pity me!

 

Chapter 14: Kagome, The Runaway Miko

 

When Kagome ran, Kurama tried to chase after her. However, she felt his presence before he got close enough to catch her, and she let her reiki flare out towards him. Faced with a wall of sparking and crackling pink energy, Kurama held back.

 

“Just let me go!” Kagome pleaded as she ran out of the park.

 

“Kagome! Wait!” he called out to her, but she was already gone. Kurama returned to the others, who were still by the picnic tables in the middle of the park. He was planning to demand answers from Inuyasha about Kagome's reaction to Kikyou's name, but when he got back to the group, things were a bit too hectic for his plans.

 

Inuyasha was being restrained by Yuusuke and Kuwabara as he and Koenma yelled at each other. Koenma was waving his arms and pointing at the young hanyou as he yelled at him about being disrespectful. Botan was trying to calm the red-faced Koenma down, to no avail. If anyone had been walking by at that moment, they might have found it quite entertaining.

 

However, the only witnesses to the ridiculous scene were the other two members of the group. Hiei stood off a few feet to the side of the skirmish, unconcerned with the ruckus his companions were causing. He saw Kurama return and gave him a look, clearly surprised that Kurama hadn't returned with Kagome. Kurama's shoulders slumped a little as he shook his head in answer, and he came over to stand with Hiei. They stood side by side, facing the fray between Inuyasha and Koenma. Though it looked like they were watching, they were actually too wrapped up in their mental conversation to take much notice.

 

`Kagome isn't telling us the whole truth.' Hiei spoke into Kurama's mind, peering at him from the corner of his eye.

 

`I figured that already,' the kitsune-boy replied. Kurama's eyes suddenly went wide with realization, but he kept staring straight ahead rather than turning to his friend. `You used it, didn't you?'

 

Hiei's silence was answer enough.

 

Kurama put his hands in his pockets. `What did you find out?'

 

`She was thinking that she didn't want to live in `her'shadow hereas well asinInuyasha'stime. '

 

`Inuyasha's… time?'

 

Hiei shrugged. `That's what she was thinking.'

 

(Wait, could it be…?) Youko's voice suddenly spoke.

 

`Could it be what?' Kurama questioned his other self.

 

(Kurama, let me ask Koenma something.)

 

`Just tell him what it is, kitsune, and he can ask Koenma.'

 

`It's okay, Hiei. I'm letting him.'

 

Youko exerted a bit of his youki and stretched out his consciousness, threading himself through Kurama's human body more in order to control it. He stepped forward towards the fray between the Junior Ruler and the hanyou, and soon stood a mere foot from the two. They took no recognition of him, however, and continued their cursing at each other. Inuyasha was demanding Koenma tell him what he knew about Kikyou, and Koenma was insisting he prove how it was any of his business. They finally shut up when Youko used Kurama's voice to speak.

 

“You never did really destroy them, did you?” He didn't look at either of them when he spoke, and his tone was calm, but it got their attention nonetheless. His sudden presence and calm manner amidst their fighting was unexpected. Youko allowed a small smirk to quirk up Kurama's lips as Inuyasha and Koenma both went, “Huh?”

 

Youko picked up Koenma by the back of his shirt and set him on the table again. Then he put a foot up on the bench and leaned on his knee to question Koenma face to face. “You never did really destroy them, did you?” he repeated.

 

Koenma eyed Kurama suspiciously, wondering if he was truly dealing with the boy or if Youko was speaking to him now. It was something he wondered often, ever since he'd found out the youkai fox was still a conscious presence in Kurama's mind. “Never destroyed what, exactly?” Koenma asked, crossing his arms and pouting behind his pacifier.

 

“The Artifacts of Ages,” Youko spoke from Kurama's mouth.

 

Koenma's mouth dropped open, causing him to almost lose his pacifier, but he quickly recovered. “What do you know about the Artifacts of Ages?”

 

“Che, please Koenma,” Youko replied haughtily, sticking his nose up, “Do not insult the greatest thief in Makai that way! I know plenty, of course.”

 

Koenma's eyebrow lifted at the condescending attitude in his answer. `That definitely had to be Youko just now.'

 

“What I do not know is why Reikai would possibly keep them around when they were declared too dangerous?” Youko added. “The Artifacts of Ages were supposed to be destroyed over 500 years ago, so why is it that there is at least one still in existence?”

 

“What makes you think that?” Koenma asked.

 

Youko used Kurama's hand to grab the collar of Koenma's shirt, glaring him down. “Do not play dumb with me, Koenma-sama. Hiei's Jagan heard her thinking about `Inuyasha's time.' If they are traveling through time, there is at least one Artifact left.”

 

Koenma's eyes grew wide and he turned his head to look at Inuyasha. “Is this true, Inu—” but the hanyou was no longer there, “—ya...sha…? Where'd he go?”

 

“I believe he realized Kagome was gone and chased after her,” Hiei answered boredly.

 

“Very well,” the Junior Ruler said, addressing his Tantei, “Kurama, I'm sorry, but I'll have to answer your questions about the Artifacts later. Right now, you four need to look for Kagome and Inuyasha. When you find both of them, contact Botan. Botan, you come with me.”

 

“Hai, Koenma-sama!” the blue-haired girl exclaimed. She produced her oar and waited for Koenma to get on before flying off for Reikai.

 

“Okay, this'll go faster if we split up,” Yuusuke began when Botan and Koenma left, “Kurama, you and Hiei go east. Kuwabara and I will go west. Botan left a couple communicators for us so we can contact her and each other when we find them.”

 

Communicators in hand, the four teammates nodded to each other before the two pairs went their separate ways.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Inuyasha cursed all the weird scents of Kagome's time as he searched the city for her. He ran over grass and concrete, leapt onto buildings, desperately seeking her. He could only imagine the thoughts that must be running through her head right now after what had just happened with those detectives.

 

`And I was too busy yellin' at that damn baby to notice she'd left! What the fuck is wrong with me? It's not safe for her to be running off by herself like this!'

 

His self-made guilt trip urged him to go even faster, though he still hadn't been able to pick up her scent amidst the industrial smells of modern day Tokyo.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

“So, how was your first day back, Keiko-chan?” the sandy-haired Shizuru asked her younger friend as they walked down the sidewalk in front of some small local shops. The girls had gotten bored waiting for the boys to show up at Shizuru's apartment, and had started their walk about ten minutes before. Keiko was carrying Puu in her arms so the spirit beast could get some fresh air.

 

The shorter, darker-haired girl turned her head at the sound of her name, looking slightly dazed, “Hmm? Oh, it was fine, Shizuru-san.”

 

Shizuru paused in her walking and sat down on a bench outside a bookstore. Across the street, there was a small restaurant with four tables outside. Only one table had anyone sitting at it, and it was only one person drinking tea. Looked like a high school boy from where Shizuru sat; most likely an underclassman. He appeared to be working on homework, but when Shizuru noticed a wavy light flashing across his pale face, she realized he also had a small mirror out. `Now, that's odd,' she thought to herself, `What kind of boy sits around staring in a mirror? But he is rather cute. Maybe he's just a bit conceited.' She shrugged the oddity off.

 

Shizuru got herself a cig from the box in her jacket and lit it before calling out to the girl that was still walking, “Oi, Keiko-chan!” She waited for the girl to sit down with her before continuing, “Did the boys actually make it to class? I heard Kazuma sneak out early this morning, before his alarm went off. I swear, if that little brother of mine didn't go to class after making me wake up three hours early to turn off his blaring alarm, which he so kindly forgot to turn off, I'll kill him.” A corner of Shizuru's mouth twitched as she exhaled her smoke slowly, a small smirk at her threat.

 

“Oh, hai, they made it. They missed their first classes, I think, but they were there most of the day.” The darker-haired girl glanced nervously across the street, quickly turning her gaze back to her friend when she met the cold, empty gaze of the boy sitting at the table there. A moment later, the boy paid for his tea, gathered his books under his arm, put his mirror in his pocket, and left. Once he was finally out of sight, Keiko seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

 

Shizuru noticed Keiko's reaction and it spurred her on with her interrogation. She needed to know. “Did Yuusuke tell you anything about what they've found out? Do they even know what's going on yet?!”

 

Keiko's eyes flashed wide at Shizuru's sudden outburst, but quickly returned to normal. “No, I couldn't get much out of them. I do know they went to see Kagome-chan after school.”

 

“So, they finally found her, eh?”

 

“Mm,” Keiko replied with a slight nod of her head, “just this morning evidently. She agreed to talk to them after school today. That's where they are now.” Keiko smiled brightly at the older girl, but Shizuru could tell it was a façade. Shizuru couldn't really blame her, though. Something weird was going on, they could sense it, but they didn't know what it was.

 

And, oh yes, they couldboth sense it. Keiko's senses about these things weren't as strong as Shizuru's. In fact, they were still pretty weak. After all, Shizuru had been born with the ability, but Keiko had built it up gradually. It was most likely a byproduct of being surrounded by people with heightened abilities for the past couple years. They couldn't confirm it, since the girls, including Botan, had decided not to tell anyone about Keiko's rei kan for the time being. With all that was going on, they didn't need to add one more thing to the pile. It wasn't that important right now. Still, Shizuru was sure Keiko's strengthening skill in the use of her rei kan was due to the various types of ki and other supernatural abilities she'd been exposed to by hanging around Yuusuke.

 

`That's what happened to Maya, after all.' Shizuru thought, taking a long drag on her cigarette as she watched people pass by on the sidewalk, remembering when she'd first learned about the girl. It had been during one of the first of many conversations she'd shared with Kurama during the time they'd known each other.

 

~Flashback~

 

“You don't let too many regular ningen get to know you, do you? Especially onna. I noticed you completely ignore those girls that follow you from your school.” Shizuru asked the kitsune-boy sitting on the opposite end of the couch from her. He was waiting for her brother and Yuusuke to show up.

 

“I can't risk it,” the crimson-locked boy said, shaking his head at the girl. She swore she heard a trace of regret behind his words before he spoke again. “Besides, those onna at school are extremely irritating.”

 

She chuckled at his last remark. Then, picking up on what he hadn't said, Shizuru asked, “What happened in your past to make it such a risk?”

 

Kurama remained silent for awhile. He looked contemplative, though, and Shizuru kept waiting. She had a feeling he would still answer. If she were any other female, he might've just ignored her. But Shizuru and Kurama had developed a bond since he'd been coming around more often, and they'd found they enjoyed each other's conversation. Finally, just as she started to doubt that he actually would answer, Kurama spoke.

 

“Maya,” he answered softly.

 

“Maya?” the girl questioned.

 

“When I was 14, I did have a ningen onna I was friends with. Katajima Maya. Incidentally, she also had a crush on me; in fact, she said I was her first love, but she was a good friend and I didn't mind. Maybe I even returned her feelings a little bit; I didn't get a chance to find out.”

 

“What happened to her?”

 

“Maya had a natural sixth sense, but it wasn't very developed until I showed up. My presence around her enhanced it to the point where she not only sensed things; she could see and hear them also. One day, a servant of a nasty demon called Yatsude came across her and kidnapped her. Yatsude wanted her for the power that eating a spiritually-rich girl would give him. After all was said and done, I was able to rescue her in time, but I had to erase her memory so she wouldn't be traumatized. Letting her remember would've left her vulnerable to more attacks in the future, so I used dream flower pollen to make her believe it was all a dream.”

 

~End Flashback~

 

`That's right; knowledge about beings of Makai can be very dangerous.' Shizuru thought to herself as she came out of her memory. `But Keiko-chan's always been at least a little aware when there was something odd going on. She knows what the boys do for Reikai, so she knows a little of what to expect. We both do after all we've been through with them.'

 

“Well, you ready to go?” the lighter-haired girl asked her friend, finishing up her smoke. She dropped the butt to the sidewalk as she stood, and ground it out with her heel.

 

“Hai,” Keiko answered, and the two girls continued their walk.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Kagome didn't know where she was going. The only thought that moved her body was, `Run!' So she did. She ran and ran, trying to outrun her tears; escape the ache in her heart. She'd expected to have constant reminders of Kikyou in the Sengoku Jidai, but why did the dead miko's memory have to follow her through the well?

 

`Of course, top it all off with Inuyasha going ballistic over the mere mention of her name.' Kagome's heart sank even more at this thought, and she pushed herself to run even faster. She let everything blur by, not that she could've seen through her tears anyway.

 

Suddenly, she ran right into somebody, hitting them with such force that she bounced back and landed on her butt.

 

“S-Sumimasen,” Kagome apologized as she accepted an offered hand, then she gasped as she stood up and met red eyes, speckled with gold.

 

“Don't worry about it, Higurashi-san,” Yukio replied, picking up the books he'd dropped. “Daijoubu ka?”

 

Kagome nodded, trying to smile, “Daijoubu.”

 

He took in her ruffled appearance, her breathlessness, her tear-stained face, and he frowned slightly. “You look like you've had a rough afternoon. Please allow me to walk you home.”

 

“Oh, no, that's okay, I don't want to trouble you,” Kagome politely refused. “Really, I'll be fine.”

 

Yukio shook his head. “Nonsense, it's no trouble. I insist.”

 

Kagome could tell from the look on his face that he wouldn't take no for an answer on this one. Sighing to herself, she accepted his `offer' and the two teens started off in the direction of Higurashi Shrine.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Botan and Koenma reached his office in Reikai a matter of minutes after they left Ningenkai. As soon as he opened the door to his office, he called to George.

 

“George, is my father in today?”

 

“Hai, Koenma-sama, I believe he is.” The blue oni answered with an enthusiastic bow.

 

“Please make sure. And, if he is, set up a meeting with him for me as soon as possible. There's an important matter that has just come to my attention that I must address immediately, and only my father can answer my questions.”

 

“Hai, Koenma-sama.” And with that, George left on his assignment.

 

“Botan!” Koenma called to get her attention.

 

“Hai, Koenma-sama?” the girl replied.

 

“I need you to get all the files on Reikai Protected Artifacts delivered to this office, and set aside anything that mentions manipulation of time. Make a pile of those files on my desk. Then I want you to wait here for word from Yuusuke.”

 

Botan nodded her understanding before Koenma left to make himself more presentable for his father. Within fifteen minutes, he was standing outside his father's door waiting to be allowed in.

 

“Enter!” a deep voice bellowed from within. Koenma obeyed.

 

“Ah, Koenma, my son,” King Enma greeted in the same deep voice, “I hear you have something important to discuss with me?”

 

“Hai, otou-sama,” Koenma began, “I need to ask you about the Artifacts of Ages.”

 

King Enma looked slightly surprised at these words, then he sighed and motioned for Koenma to take a seat. “Well, I knew this day would come eventually. Let me guess, it has something to do with that big case you have your Tantei working on, doesn't it?”

 

“Hai.” Koenma answered simply. He hadn't told his father about the case, but he wasn't surprised that King Enma knew about it. He was the Great King of Reikai, after all.

 

“Okay, son, I will finally tell you what really happened with the Artifacts of Ages.”

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

`So what are the Artifacts of Ages?' Hiei asked into Kurama's mind as they scoured the city for the runaway miko.

 

(The Artifacts of Ages were any objects made from the wood of a Tree of Ages.) Youko answered. The silver kitsune had once more receded to the background of Kurama's consciousness, letting Kurama control his own body again.

 

`Tree of Ages? That sounds familiar.'

 

(A Tree of Ages was a rare species of tree. There were only a few in the entire world, and they had existed since the dawn of time. The trees produced no fruit, nuts, or seeds from which more could grow, and this added to the intrigue of the trees. Each time a limb was cut from one of the trees, new growth began instantly. But the reason they were most legendary was because of the magical properties that the wood from the trees held.)

 

`Magical properties?' Hiei questioned.

 

(Hai. Each tree had a unique attribute related to time. One tree could stop time, another collected power through several generations at once, a third allowed time travel… you get the idea. Weapons, chests, and even shrines that were made from the trees retained those attributes. However, since these items were rare, and extremely powerful if you knew how to use them properly, the Artifacts of Ages became highly coveted by youkai and ningen alike.) Youko explained.

 

Hiei nodded, `I seem to remember the bandits talking about the legendary Trees and Artifacts, now that I think about it. But in all my years as a thief, I never saw any of them.'

 

(No one has for centuries. They were destroyed before you were born. Or, at least, they were supposed to be.) Youko said as Kurama shook his head. (Several centuries ago, before Ningenkai and Makai were separated, Reikai had many problems with the wrong people getting their hands on the Artifacts and abusing the powers of the Trees. Therefore, Reikai decided to destroy both the Trees and the Artifacts, eliminating the threat to the flow of time.) Kurama paused a moment to see where they were. So far, he and Hiei had covered several neighborhoods and a few retail areas looking for Kagome, but they'd still found no trace of the girl. The two youkai scanned the faces of the humans in the area, but no Kagome.

 

`Dammit,' Kurama thought, `I should've kept following her when she ran!'

 

`We'll find her.' Hiei confidently assured his friend.

 

Kurama nodded, a look of appreciation on his face at his friend's words. He then sniffed the air in each direction, searching for the scent of Kagome. He hadn't been able to track her scent from the park. It seemed that all traces of the girl had vanished with her. Even Youko wondered how that was possible. Finally, Kurama seemed to catch the scent, and he and Hiei continued tracking the runaway miko.

 

After a few moments, Hiei resumed their previous conversation. `So the Artifacts were destroyed then?'

 

Once again, Youko answered. (Officially, every single item and tree was found, contained, and destroyed by Reikai years before the creation of the Ningenkai and Makai barriers. But if Inuyasha and Kagome are really traveling through time, I am not sure if I believe that anymore. Are you sure that is really what she meant?)

 

`I trust the Jagan to work properly.' Hiei scowled momentarily before returning to his mask of indifference.`Aren't there any other ways to travel through time?'

 

Kurama quirked a brow at his friend, `You and I were both infamous thieves for centuries. You don't think, in all those years, we would have at least heard about it if it was possible?'

 

`In all those years, we never knew the Artifacts of Ages might still exist, either.' Hiei reminded him easily.

 

A small smile came to Kurama's face. `Aa, you have a point, Hiei. I guess the answers we seek will have to wait until later. For now, we really need to find Kagome.'

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

“So, where do you think she went?” Kuwabara asked Yuusuke. The two boys were casually strolling the sidewalk a few blocks away from the park.

 

“Dunno,” the black-haired boy responded. “Guess we'll just hafta use our better judgment. We don't know enough about her to know where she'd go, so I guess the first place we should try is her home.”

 

The two boys made their way to the Higurashi Shrine quickly, and reached the top of the steps just as Inuyasha leapt into the shrine grounds. Inuyasha barely spared them a glance before continuing to the house. When Yuusuke and Kuwabara were about to knock on the shoji, Inuyasha threw it open wide and glared at them.

 

“She's not here.” Inuyasha informed them irritably, exiting the house and closing the shoji.

 

“Do you know where to look next?” Yuusuke asked the hanyou.

 

“No fuckin' clue. Thanks for makin' my life hell.”

 

“Oi, what's that supposed to mean?” Kuwabara demanded.

 

Inuyasha was about to leap off to hunt for Kagome more, but…

 

Kuwabara called out again, “Oi, Inuyasha!”

 

That was the last straw for the inu-hanyou. He turned back around, grabbing both human boys by their shirt collars, and got right in their faces. “Listen, aho, Kagome wouldn't have run if it wasn't for you guys and your stupid interrogation! Now she's running around somewhere in this stinkin' city, and I can't find her scent to track her. You guys are just gonna make this shit worse, so just stay outta my way and let me find Kagome.” That said, he left them standing in his dust.

 

“Feh, that guy thinks he'll get rid of us that easy?” Yuusuke took out his communicator and pushed a few buttons to contact Kurama and Hiei. Once the two teams had checked in with each other, and the two human boys stopped laughing at Kurama for mistaking an orchard of sakura trees for Kagome's scent, Yuusuke and Kuwabara left the shrine grounds.

 

Since Kagome had evidently hidden her scent, and she wasn't using her reiki, their best bet right now was to try to think logically. They didn't know her well enough to know her usual hangouts, but the boys figured they might get lucky and find her anyway. Yuusuke and Kuwabara decided to search every building they came across until they found her.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Kurama sighed, exasperated, and closed the compact communicator. `Kusou!'

 

Hiei rolled his eyes at his friend. `So you tracked Kagome by her sakura scent? The trees aren't even in bloom,' the shorter youkai stated in monotone.

 

`Kagome smells like sakura, and the wood of the trees retains the muted scent of the blossoms long after they've fallen.' Kurama reasoned. He leaned a hand against one of the trees, head hanging in shame. Balling up his fists so tight that his fingernails cut into his palms, Kurama exclaimed, `Chikushou, why can't I find her scent?!'

 

`If we can't track her scent, we have no choice but to continue our blind search. I've tried finding her with the Jagan, but it can't detect her either.'

 

Kurama nodded his understanding and agreement, and the two youkai left the orchard, still searching for the girl.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

As Kagome walked with Yukio, she looked at her surroundings in near-wonder. She hadn't realized she'd run so far. She was nowhere near her home right now, and was thankful she had someone to walk with now. Even if it was Yukio. Lost in thought, she didn't hear Yukio the first time he asked the question.

 

“Hmm?” Kagome asked when she realized he'd been talking.

 

“I said, would you like to get a bite to eat? I know a place nearby that's great.”

 

“Oh,” Kagome said, caught off guard a bit by the offer. She was about to say no, when her stomach growled. Her cheeks were tinged pink when she answered, “I-I guess that would be okay.”

 

“Yeah?” Yukio asked, a hopeful look on his face.

 

Kagome almost laughed at the expression. It was the first time the whole day that he didn't look creepy to her. “Sure, why not?” she agreed with a genuine smile.

 

Yukio took her to a sushi bar around the corner. Kagome was rather surprised that that was the restaurant he was taking her to. It wasn't the kind of place she'd ever been to with her friends. She'd only eaten at places like this with her family before. At first, she was a bit uptight about eating, especially since Yukio insisted that he would pay for her, but soon she relaxed and enjoyed herself.

 

Yukio seemed to become a bit livelier than he'd seemed at school, though not by much. He was a little more talkative, though he still wouldn't talk about his home life, and he even joked around a little bit to entertain Kagome.

 

Forty-five minutes later, the two sushi-filled teens hit the streets again. Kagome smiled, realizing she was actually enjoying her time with Yukio. `Much better than dwelling on my problems,' she thought to herself. Kagome even let him carry her backpack when he suggested the idea. In fact, he had insisted since she'd let him put his school books in it while they ate, but this time Kagome didn't mind Yukio's insistence. The bag was rather heavy.

 

An hour after they left the sushi bar, the first colors of the sunset were painting the sky as the two teens reached the stairs to the shrine. Yukio held Kagome's arm as they climbed the steps, and walked her to her door once they were in the shrine grounds.

 

“Arigatou, Shindo-kun. I don't know what would've happened with me today if I hadn't run into you!” Kagome said gratefully. She giggled a little at her unintentional pun.

 

“It was no problem, Higurashi-san. And, please, call me Yuki.”

 

The raven-haired girl smiled. “Okay, arigatou, Yuki-kun. You can call me Kagome, okay?”

 

He smiled and nodded approvingly. Kagome noticed his smile was different than the ones she'd seen on him before. She didn't get that strange, uneasy feeling from him anymore. `Wonder what's different now?' she thought to herself.

 

“Well, I better get inside,” said Kagome finally, “I'll see you tomorrow at school, ne?”

 

“Hai,” the boy agreed. He then did something that surprised the hell out of Kagome. He stole a kiss! A chaste peck on the lips, but a kiss nonetheless. “Ja ne, Kagome-chan!” Yukio waved to the shocked Kagome, jogged back through the shrine grounds, and began the trek back down the shrine steps.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Several feet away, standing behind some tall bushes, Kurama let out a low growl when the human boy kissed Kagome.

 

`Easy, kitsune. She's finally back; we don't need to go chasing after her again because you scared her.'

 

They had given up their search not too long beforehand, deciding to wait for Kagome to come home rather than waste their energy running all over Tokyo.

 

Kurama was about to make his presence known to the girl, when someone else decided to take the opportunity.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Once Yukio was out of the shrine grounds, Kagome abandoned the idea of going inside. She just didn't feel quite ready to be around her family tonight. Instead, she decided to visit Goshinboku.

 

“Inuyasha!” the girl gasped suddenly as the hanyou dropped to the ground right in front of her. He'd been sitting in the tree waiting for her.

 

Inuyasha crossed his arms and frowned at his friend. “Where the hell have you been, wench?! I've been looking all over for you! And who the hell was that?!!” he pointed a clawed finger in the direction Yukio had just run.

 

“You mean Yuki-kun?” Kagome asked. “He's a new guy in my class at school. I was with him for the past couple hours.”

 

“What the hell for?” the hanyou demanded.

 

Kagome mirrored Inuyasha's crossed arms and scowled at him. “If you must know, he helped me. He took me out to eat and walked me home. He helped me forget about being upset for awhile and I'm grateful to him for it.”

 

“So you kissed him?!” Inuyasha growled out.

 

“Not that it's any of your business, but he kissed me. And, anyway, it was barely a kiss, so just chill out. It's not like I'd be doing something bad if I did kiss him, though. After all, I don't have a boyfriend, remember?” Kagome turned her back on Inuyasha and stomped off towards her house. She didn't much feel like sitting under Goshinboku anymore.

 

“Fine, I guess I didn't need to look for you at all then!” the silver-haired boy called after her. “Next time you're in trouble, you can have Yuki-kun help you!!”

 

At his words, Kagome turned around to see Inuyasha run into the wellhouse and slam the shoji shut behind himself. Groaning and rolling her eyes at his irrationality, she ran after him. “Inuyasha, wait…” She slid the shoji open, immediately closing it once she was inside the wellhouse, and hopped down the well after her runaway hanyou.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

“Did you feel somethin' funny just now?” Kuwabara whispered to Yuusuke as they entered the shrine grounds.

 

“No, like what?” Yuusuke asked.

 

“I don't know. It was similar to Kagome's reiki, but different…”

 

“Well, that clears that right up,” Yuusuke said sarcastically.

 

“I felt it, too,” Kurama informed the redheaded human, stepping out from behind the bushes.

 

“What was it?” Kuwabara questioned the crimson-locked youkai.

 

“Only one way to find out,” Kurama began, walking silently towards the wellhouse Kagome and Inuyasha had gone into. “It came from the wellhouse, that much I'm sure of.”

 

The other three tantei followed him, gathering outside the door just before Kurama opened it.

 

“Huh?” Kuwabara was completely puzzled. The wellhouse was empty. That is, except for the well, of course. “Where'd they go?” He and Yuusuke proceeded to search the small building thoroughly, going as far as to look for secret doors. Their antics were almost comedic.

 

Ignoring their spectacle, Kurama stepped casually into the dark building. A shaft of pale orange light from the outside came in through the open shoji, illuminating a set of steps leading down to the well. Kurama descended the steps. He placed his hands on the edge of the well to peer into it, and immediately felt a warm tingle across his skin. “I think,” Kurama answered Kuwabara, “they went down the well.”

 

“What? That's crazy!” Yuusuke exclaimed. “If they went down the well, they'd still be here. There must be another way out of this place.”

 

“Che, baka,” Hiei commented, rolling his eyes at the ningen boy. He crossed his arms and watched what Kurama was doing. The kitsune boy had been running his hands all over the well and inspecting every inch of the outside of it. Hiei addressed his friend, “That's one of them, isn't it? One of the Artifacts?”

 

Kurama turned towards Hiei's voice, emerald eyes sparkling even through the darkness of the wellhouse. He nodded. “Aa. That is, I believe so. I can't be entirely sure, but that seems to be the most logical explanation.”

 

“Wait a minute.” Yuusuke held his arms up, coming between the kitsune and the fire apparition. “You mean that well is one of those Artifacts of Ages you were talkin' about before?”

 

Kurama nodded, “It would seem so.”

 

Yuusuke clapped his hands once, loud. “Okay, then, what're we waiting for?!” He climbed onto the narrow lip of the well, bent his knees, and jumped in. The rest of the Tantei waited with bated breath for that same weird feeling they'd felt before. But… nothing happened. Well, nothing except…

 

THUD! “Oof!” Yuusuke landed in the bottom of the well.

 

Kuwabara looked over the side of the well. “Oi, Urameshi! Did it work?”

 

“Why don't you come down here and see for yourself?” Yuusuke challenged threateningly, making a vulgar sign at Kuwabara. The three boys not in the bottom of a dry well laughed.

 

By the time a dusty, slightly bruised Yuusuke climbed the ladder out of the well, the laughter had subsided. It was then that his communicator decided to ring. Yuusuke pulled out his communicator as it sounded off, only to be snatched from his fingers by an eager Kuwabara, who flipped the lid to yell, "Moshi moshi!" to an awaiting Botan.

 

“Oh, hey, Kuwabara. Have you guys found Kagome and Inuyasha yet?” Botan asked cheerfully from the communicator.

 

“Well, we saw `em. As for knowing where the hell they are now, that's a different story.” Yuusuke answered from the background, still standing in front of the well.

 

“Is that Yuusuke I hear?” Botan asked.

 

“Hai,” Kuwabara nodded at the communicator screen, “Kurama and Hiei are with us, too. We met back up at Kagome's house. She got back a few minutes ago, but she and Inuyasha just disappeared into thin air again. We can't seem to find them anywhere.”

 

“Oh…” the blue-haired girl replied softly. Then, doing a complete 180, she returned to her hyper self and said, “Well, that's okay for now. Why don't you all come to Koenma's office? He has something he needs to tell us.”

 

A few seconds later, the ferry girl had retrieved the four boys from Ningenkai and transported them all to Koenma's office.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Shizuru was returning to her apartment after walking Keiko and Puu back to Keiko's house. Yuusuke and the others had never shown up at Shizuru's apartment, and the sandy-haired girl had decided to walk her friend home so she wouldn't have to walk alone. A mere three blocks from her building, the uneasy feeling she'd been having for the past few weeks came back to the forefront of her consciousness when someone passed her on the sidewalk.

 

Shizuru turned to look at him, and got a feeling of déjà vu. `Black school uniform, long black hair, pretty pale face. Could that be the same guy from earlier?' she wondered to herself. Then she shook her head, noticing something else, `Nah, that kid didn't have a backpack.' Nevertheless, she let her curiosity lead her to the alley he'd ducked into.

 

When she peered around the corner to the alley, Shizuru gasped. There, at the end of the alley, was a small, swirling black hole about the size of a basketball. The girl watched as the hole shrunk smaller and smaller, until it was finally gone completely.

 

End Chapter 14

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Words First Appearing in Chapter Fourteen:

rei kan: ability to feel supernatural phenomena

Yatsude:one of Kurama's former enemies; if you read the `Two Shots' extra from the manga, you know ^__~ ; if you read it in SJ, they named him “Eight-hands” which is almost a literal translation of his name… *rolls eyes*

daijoubu/daijoubu ka:alright/alright? ; the “ka” makes it a question; the complete form of this question is approximately “daijoubu desu ka?” (are you alright?)

aho: an insult; fool, dumbass, etc.

kusou/chikushou:both are curses, translated a few different ways depending on context; most common: damn, shit, etc.

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A/N: Another really late update, I know. Gomen nasai! It probably will be another long update from here also, but hopefully I will be able to update by November if not sooner. Chibi-chan is not making it easy to have free time to write lately, plus I've been sick which helps so much. >.< I really wish I could update more often like I started out, but I also don't want to drop plans and plotlines by trying to rush chapters out, so please bear with me… As of now I think the story may run into the 20s, though from here it will be a bit more intricate and possibly last longer depending on where the chapters take me and what other ideas decide to pop into my head. :p

 

To All My Reviewers: Thank you guys so much! It's great to have such awesome, impatient readers. ^___^ (Heheheh) Even though I can't satisfy your hunger for updates as often as you (and I!!) want, the fact that you want them still makes me happy. Stick around, more to come!!

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Please Read and Review, thankies!