Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Changed Miko ❯ Unknown Feelings ( Chapter 8 )

To the untrained eye, it would have appeared that Kurama was sincerely watching the antics of his companions, but to anyone who had known the fox at all, he was off in his own world again. While he had a truly amused look on his face, he wasn't even paying attention to the humans. He was busy having a `conversation' with the fox spirit that inhabited his body.

 

`Come on, Red! We should go in there and talk to her!'

 

`And what exactly would we say Youko? Tell her that we sat outside her house two nights ago and saw the fight between her and her inu hanyou companion? I don't think she would take too kindly to being reminded of such an event' Kurama responded with a scoff. He knew that Youko was simply itching to spend more time around the girl, truth be told, so was he, but he didn't want to scare her away.

 

`Honestly! You should know by now that I have more tact than that! Not only was I the greatest thief in Makai, I was also quite the `lady's man'. I don't think we should even mention our `meeting' on the sidewalk. I just want to be around her. She smells divine.'

 

Kurama mentally groaned. He knew what the fox spirit was thinking and although the same thoughts had crossed his mind of his own accord, much calmer ones mind you, he knew that the conversation he wanted to hold with the miko would have to wait. Kurama also knew that if they were closer to the girl, Youko would be pressing harder for reign over `their' body.

 

`Youko, we are going to have to be careful in this whole situation. Have you forgotten that Hiei obviously is having a reaction of sorts to Kagome as well? I might want something more explicit with her, but I don't know if I would go against Hiei for it.'

 

The kitsune scoffed, `Oh please! That boy doesn't even having feelings or actions of true kindness! What makes you think he would want something more than that with her? Are you really willing to throw away the most promising chance there is at having a mate that we both agree on?'

 

That phrase got Kurama's attention immediately. He had been aware of Youko for quite some time now and had been privy to more than a few of his memories. He could honestly say that while the fox was nothing short of passionate, he never really seemed the one to want a mate. Fox youkai mated for life and silver foxes, as Youko was, were even stricter about their mating.

 

`Did you really just say `mate'? Youko, are you serious? We don't even know this girl and you talk about her as a possible life mate?'

 

`You sound surprised Red. It's true that I have never really found one that I could consider a mate, but this one has everything needed to be a perfect mate. She is powerful, strong, compassionate and absolutely beautiful! What I wouldn't give for a little `alone time' with her!'

 

With that final thought from Youko, Kurama was forced to stifle a low groan that threatened to break free of his throat. He was being bombarded by images of a certain raven haired beauty, writhing beneath him in pleasure, a thin sheen of sweat covering her milky skin making her hair cling to her shoulders, with his name on her lips.

 

Kurama shook his head to clear the impure thoughts placed there by the sensual natured kitsune.

 

Once his mind was his again, Kurama immediately noticed that Hiei was not fairing well. The fire demon was absolutely seething with barely contained anger and was glaring daggers at the humans on the floor. He knew that Hiei held no real affection for either detective, but also knew he held no real malice. As he studied the face of his partner, he had to school his features to keep from revealing his shock.

 

Not only was the koorime nearly wearing holes into the two boys as they wrestled, his eyes had a dangerous gleam to them. No, it wasn't just dangerous…it was murderous. As the boys continued with their banter, completely oblivious to their possible demise, Kurama felt the hybrids' youki starting to build and flare. It was coming out in strong bursts as if meant to challenge the spirit detectives, or as a warning that their lives would soon be forfeit.

 

At seeing Hiei push off from the wall with his hand wrapping around the hilt of his katana, Kurama readied himself for an intervention. He had seen that look in his partners' eyes more times than he would like to count and he knew that it never did bode well. Kurama was just tensing his muscles, ready to react when he noticed two things. One was that Hiei had stopped his advancement and regained his place leaning against the wall. He had even closed his eyes, which he was never known to do, and his youki calmed down. The second thing the fox noticed was what must have been responsible for his friend's reaction. He felt the traces of an amazingly calming presence.

 

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They stood there for a moment in companionable silence, letting the question posed to both hang in the air. Neither made the move to answer simply because they knew they didn't have one. It was obvious to miko and youkai alike that neither one really could stand it. They both felt lost and alone and it weighed heavy on their souls. However, they both did well to hide such things from their companions.

 

 

Hiei wondered briefly if this was what heaven felt like. He was both amazed and confused at his current situation. The young fire demon had never been one to favor touch of any kind and abhorred emotions such as love, contentment and happiness because they had always symbolized weakness; something that could be exploited and used against one such as himself. His life was precarious at best and knew that such feelings could bring ill will, not only to himself, but to the one(s) in his heart as well.

 

Yet right at this point in time, he couldn't force himself to move. He wasn't completely sure what he felt for this intriguing creature. Hiei had grown up knowing that he was not one to love or be loved and had resigned himself to a life of loneliness. Now though, none of that even came to mind. All he could focus on was the warmth of the soft hand that held his cheek as though he were something precious.

 

For the first time in his life, Hiei felt a part of his soul stir. Something deep inside of him was crying out for the attention of this woman and, oddly, he welcomed it. The fire apparition felt … safe in the company of the girl. She was able to calm the constant raging of his opposing elements with her presence alone and that was enough to convince him to stay near her.

 

He was relishing the time he had with her and soaking up her very essence when he felt her tense slightly. He opened the eyes he hadn't realized he had closed and regarded the young woman standing a mere breathe away from him. As he found her eyes, he realized that she had sensed something that made her ill at ease.

 

 

His skin was soft and smooth against her open palm. Honestly, Kagome was still slightly surprised that he had allowed her such liberties with his person. She could tell he was even more stand-offish than Sesshoumaru on a bad day and emitted a coldness that would rival the Ice Prince's. Yet, here she was touching him in an almost familiar way.

 

He was familiar though. She knew that both he and the fox had been lurking around the shrine grounds on the night Inuyasha graced her with his presence. Kagome wasn't sure what they had seen or heard but she knew that they had been outside her room just prior to the hanyou's leave. She hadn't really noticed it then and was only aware of it the next day; and she only became sure that Hiei was there when she felt his presence again the following evening and it was reaffirmed today.

 

The miko looked up at the youkai and smiled a small smile. He was truly at ease in her presence and she found that fact rather addicting. It felt to her as though he needed to be near her … and she needed to be needed. As she studied the fire demon closer, Kagome found that she wasn't so sure she could move from him. He seemed so at peace and his presence made her feel safe. He was strong and dangerous and could kill her without a second thought … but right now, that didn't matter.

 

Kagome was savoring the feel of his skin against hers. The very closeness that had developed over such a brief time was almost unnerving. She had never been one to be `close' to any youkai per se. She only really knew four full blood youkai. There was, and always would be she guessed, Kouga who professed his love to her at almost nauseating doses at regular intervals; Sesshoumaru who was aloof and indifferent at best and had a deep seeded hatred for anyone with human blood, despite Rin; Shippou who was still a child and was her adopted son; and Kirara who was her best friend's faithful companion.

 

Yet, even though she knew full well that being this close to a youkai she was barely acquainted with could be extremely hazardous to her health, she didn't care. All that mattered right now was the comfort that had been found in one another's presence.

 

 

That comfort was to be short lived for the miko. Just as she was thoroughly enjoying her time with Hiei, she felt the magic of the well followed by the presence of an irritated inu hanyou. She inwardly cringed and found that her body had inadvertently tensed at the knowledge that the foul tempered dog would soon be slinging insults and accusations at her. Kagome could handle what Inuyasha could throw, but she hadn't yet explained her situation to the people in her house and was momentarily worried about the inevitable violence that would soon follow his arrival.

 

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Upon seeing his partner's sudden flip of emotions, Kurama made the decision to try and find out exactly what was going on in the mind of the koorime.

 

`Hiei. What in Kami's name is going on?' Kurama asked through the mind link he shared with the fire demon. He had never seen such rapid changes in Hiei's actions or emotions before and he was almost unnerved by it.

 

After his initial attempt was ignored, he tried once more, `Hiei! What is happening? Are you alright?' He knew that a note of concern had seeped through but didn't really care.

 

Honestly, he wasn't sure why he was intruding on Hiei in the first place. His friend has lost the murderous tint in his eyes and now looked more relaxed than he had seen him in ages. Sighing, he gave one more mental nudge at his friend. This final attempt indeed got a reaction, though not one he was looking for. With this move, Kurama had Hiei's mental door slammed in his face. He was obviously busy with something important and was not going to be disturbed.

 

`That damnable hybrid won't let us in!' Youko complained, whining as much as he was fuming.

 

`And what would you like me to do about it Youko? What is the big deal? Is Hiei not allowed to have time alone in his mind?' Kurama was irritated. He didn't mind Hiei's ignoring him, but he was rather annoyed with the kitsune.

 

`Go up and shake him or something! Something very interesting is going on and I have a feeling it has to do with our future mate!' The fox replied, his tail swishing back and forth in pure aggravation. He knew the koorime had intentions with Kagome and it just made him see red. Youko had wanted to have the chance to claim the miko and now, the Forbidden Child was chatting her up.

 

`Youko! I don't believe we have actually come to the decision that we will attempt to make her ours in the first place! Second off, Hiei needs companionship more so than we do. I say we let him be.' And with that, Kurama mentally turned his back to the kitsune, stating that he was done with the conversation at hand.

 

When Hiei left and made his way towards the kitchen, Youko growled inside the mind of his human body. The redhead might be finished, but that didn't mean he wouldn't voice his own anger. The perfect mate was just in the next room and now that infernal hybrid was talking with her. It just wasn't fair!

 

Kurama knew his kitsune counterpart was straight up pissed off. He was youkai and all he could see was the fact that his `intended' was being approached by another youkai and it set his blood to boil. He heard the feral growl in his mind and had pull on the reigns that held Youko at bay a little harder.

 

And that was what he Kurama was resigned to for the next twenty minutes. It took all the concentration he had to keep the kitsune from surfacing and ripping his partner to shreds. He wanted Kagome, he would admit, but he would be damned if he would allow her to meet Youko in such a way. Besides that, he could tell that the miko and youkai in the kitchen were having a `moment' per se and he was loath to interrupt that at this point in time.

 

Youko had finally given up his fight with the redhead when they felt the ancient magic of the well followed by the smell of dog.

 

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Yusuke was really getting tired of this. If Kuwabara wasn't such a baka all the time, he wouldn't spend the majority of his time around the man fighting with him. They were both slowing down on their assaults of one another and soon stopped altogether when they felt an odd surge of magic and felt the presence of an unknown youkai.

 

“Hey Urameshi! Do you feel that?” Kuwabara asked as he pulled himself from the floor. It was just then he noticed that Hiei was not in the room and Kurama was intently focused on something.

 

“Kurama! What is that? Do you know?” He asked the fox impatiently when Yusuke didn't answer. He could feel in his bones that something was going on, but he didn't know what it could be.

 

Yusuke ignored his friend and put his attention back on what he had felt. He was aware of the fact that this girl was a miko and had spiritual powers that could rival those of Koenma, but this feeling was wrought of pure magic. Something he wasn't accustomed to feeling and it made him uneasy.

 

The detective noticed that Kurama was also intently focused on something and knew that he had made the same assumption as he had.

 

Something was about to happen.

 

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