Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Changed Miko ❯ Conversations ( Chapter 7 )

“Shut up, baka! She doesn't even know us!” Yusuke yelled, smashing Kuwabara in the side of the head, efficiently rendering him unconscious. “Sorry about that, Kagome? Isn't it?” He finished with a smile and an outstretched hand.

 

Kagome graciously accepted his hand shake with a smile and a nod, indicating he was correct with her name. “Maybe you should come inside. I would like to know how you know my name and I believe you have to introduce me to your friends.” She stepped back inside and made room for the group to enter, with Yusuke dragging Kuwabara by his collar.

 

Once everyone had made it in the door, Kagome led the group through the kitchen and into the living room. Yusuke dropped Kuwabara rather unceremoniously onto the floor and turned to their host, “Sorry about that. My name is Yusuke Urameshi, the girl with the too-happy personality is Boton, the redhead is Shuichi Minamino, but we call him Kurama, the short one with the bad attitude is Hiei and the one on the floor is Kazuma Kuwabara.”

 

Kagome smiled at each of them in turn, following their introductions. “Well, why don't you all have a seat and I will make some tea. I have a feeling that we will be here awhile, as we have much to discuss.” Kagome stated with a small smile as she turned and went into the kitchen.

 

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

 

Kuwabara groaned as he started to wake up. His head hurt like Hades and he was lying in a very uncomfortable position on the floor. “Hey Urameshi! What in the hell was that for?!”

 

The group just grinned, or smirked in Hiei's case. Kuwabara might have a soft heart and amazingly strong spiritual powers, but he was definitely a baka. They all knew he had a place in his heart for Yukina, but he could never stop himself from professing his love at the drop of a hat to some unsuspecting young woman. Thankfully, Yusuke was usually around to knock him into dreamland before he made a real ass of himself.

 

“Kuwabara you baka! We just met Kagome and you are asking her to be your girlfriend?! We have a mission that involves her and we can't have you scaring her off! Besides, I thought you liked Yukina?” Yusuke said, barely keeping his voice to a dull roar.

 

Boton had gone to tell Kagome good bye before she disappeared through a portal back to Reikai. Kurama and Yusuke were sitting on the couch and Kuwabara had just risen from his place on the floor to a chair, sending death glares at the detective as they continued their incessant arguing.

 

Hiei was grumbling from his place, leaning against the wall. Today was just not his day. At first, it seemed like it might not be too bad. They had their mission from Koenma which involved the young priestess that had been taking up much of his thinking time over the past two days and he had finally `met' her. Now he was standing in her living room, listening to the stupid humans fighting and to make it worse, he could just smell the attraction of the entire group to the raven haired miko.

 

Today was not his day at all.

 

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

 

Kagome had just set the tea kettle on the stove to boil and was taking out cups from the cupboard when Boton entered the kitchen. “Hey Kagome! I have to get back to the Reikai for awhile. I hate to leave you here with those fools, but I don't need to be here right now and have other things to do.”

 

The miko turned to the Ferry Girl and smiled, “It's ok Boton. I can handle them. Will I see you again?” She was almost missing Lady Death, strange as it sounds. Boton seemed to be very nice and Kagome was sure they could be good friends.

 

“Oh! Of course you will! The detectives have a mission that involves you and I am their `transportation'. I will be back as soon as they call me.” Boton replied with a smile of her own, before she opened a portal and was gone.

 

Kagome turned her attention back to the tea and snacks she was preparing for her guests when she heard the voices of Yusuke and Kuwabara arguing in the living room. She felt out the others in the house and found that Kurama seemed to be amused at what was transpiring, but Hiei just seemed flat out irritated. His aura was flickering dangerously with an array of emotions that belied the expression she was sure that would be found on his face.

 

Hearing the arguing continuing and feeling the tension in Hiei rise, Kagome decided to try something. Stopping what she was doing, the priestess focused on Hiei's aura and sent a wave of her own calming energy towards him. She didn't know how well it would work or if he would even accept it, but it was worth a try all the same.

 

Once done, she turned her attention back to the tea as the kettle boiled. She was just in the middle of putting tea bags in the cups when she felt a gentle nudging on her mental barriers, like the gentle caress of a lover. Feeling no malevolence from the force, she dropped her walls. When the least of her barriers were lowered, Kagome felt a strong but gentle presence enter her mind, followed by a voice.

 

`Kagome.'

 

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

 

Yusuke had just told Kuwabara that he was at the end of the line when the gods were handing out brains and Kuwabara had just retaliated by smashing a fist into the detectives jaw. Now, they were both wrestling on the floor, taking cheap shots whenever the opportunity presented itself, while an amused fox avatar looked on.

 

Hiei was seconds away from either fleeing the scene or throttling the baka ningens that didn't even have the decency to take their ridiculous fights outside while they were at someone else's house. Just as he pushed himself from the wall, content at taking out his frustrations on the humans, he felt a wave of perfect calm wrap around him in a comforting embrace.

 

The fire apparition blinked at the feeling. For the first time in his entire existence, he felt at peace, the opposing forces within him were almost lulled to sleep. He knew that energy. It was Kagome.

 

`…Kagome…'

 

`Why would she be comforting me? How is it even possible for her to do such a thing? She can't sense my distress, can she?' His mind was flooded with questions that needed answering. He didn't understand how it was possible for anyone to be able to force a perfect calm upon him in the first place. And he liked it!

 

Suddenly, as if in response to that peaceful energy, the Jagan started pulling towards Kagome. Now that was an unusual feeling. Hiei knew that the Jagan was a sentient being of sorts and had, on occasion, wanted to be set free to sense something specific. This, however, was something totally new. He could feel the intensity behind the pull, as if her soul was calling to his, her mind to the Jagan.

 

Hiei was no fool, however. He knew the holy powers that the young priestess possessed and he also knew that if he just let the Jagan roam free, he could be instantly purified for trying to pry into her mind. So he decided to approach this situation in a sensible way, that was almost contrary to his `act now, think later' attitude.

 

The demon leaned back against the wall once more and closed his crimson eyes. He didn't remove the bandana, for that would alert attention from the fox, but he did relax a little and let the Jagan open up. He sought out Kagome's mind and gave it a gentle nudge. Not enough to startle her into accidentally purifying him, but just enough that she would take the bait and lower her guard.

 

At the first probing of the miko's mind, Hiei was impressed. The girl knew how to protect herself from intrusion. The kind of barriers she had set up locked her mind down tight, leaving no room for playing of any kind from any outside source. Once again, he questioned how that hanyou could ever consider her weak. Clearing his mind of the troublesome dog demon, he let the Jagan gently brush up against a wall in Kagome's mind.

 

Both Hiei and the Jagan were rewarded for their efforts when the outer most wall of her defenses was dropped, leaving her open for a discussion of the minds. Hiei had to mentally choke down the small knot of uncertainty that was forming in his gut before talking to her. Still, all he could say was her name and it came out in a proverbial whisper.

 

`Kagome.'

 

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

 

She smiled when she heard her name uttered in an almost quiet reverence. The girl immediately knew who it was in her mind and she smiled again, in spite of it all. There was a very powerful demon traipsing through her mind and she was smiling about it!

 

`Hello Hiei. How are you feeling?'

 

`Hn. How did you do that?'

 

Kagome smiled again. She knew the fire demon wasn't much of a talker, so she let the ignoring of her question slide. `I am sorry…was I wrong to do so?'

 

`How was it possible for you to do such a thing? It should not be possible.'

 

`I am sorry. I didn't mean to intrude or offend. I could tell you were distressed and thought I would try to help.'

 

It was then she felt his presence in the kitchen. She turned, putting her back against the counter, and regarded the koorime with gentle eyes and a small smile. As he stepped closer, she was better able to feel his aura and she was shaken to the core of her soul by the torment that ran rampant throughout.

 

Hiei noticed a small tremble course through the miko's body and stopped, thinking he had invaded too much of her space…and that she did indeed, find him unworthy.

 

Kagome noticed as his footsteps halted and she could feel the uncertainty coming from him. `What could he be so uncertain of? Did I say something I shouldn't have?' Then, she got brave. She closed the gap between them and lifted her hand to cup his cheek.

 

`Why am I letting myself get so close to her? Someone that pure of heart and soul could never, never want anything to do with one who has so much blood on their hands…' Then he felt it. She had stepped up in front of him without him even noticing and now her soft, warm hand was gently cupping his cheek. He startled them both when he moved his face into her hand.

 

`So much sorrow and loneliness…how can you stand it?' She `said' to the demon as she held his face in her hand. His skin was warm, despite the coldness in his eyes. Kagome was shocked still when he nuzzled his cheek against her hand. She had been expecting retaliation, anger, embarrassment…but not compliance!

 

Hiei was a little taken aback by the girl's question. She had asked it in all innocent honesty, but it wasn't one he was expecting. He thought she would ask of his past, his murderous ways…but not of his emotions. The fire demon smirked then…he hadn't been aware that he had emotions to speak of. He looked up from the floor and was instantly trapped in the stormy eyes of the miko. She was much the same as he was. `How can you?'