Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ From Dusk til Dawn Starts a New Day ❯ Chp 4 Refreshed ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chp. 3 Refreshed

Kagome and the Spirit Detectives were walking down the street, all happily joking, talking and laughing. Even Hiei. She stood in the middle of them. Kurama and Kuabawra on either side of her, Hiei on side of Kurama, and Yuske leading the front.

And they were happy.

They walked and walked until they left the city far behind, and were in the country, filled with forests and villages, filled with people. The strange terrain seemed familiar yet it made her wonder. But she paid it no attention, for she was with friends.

And she was happy.

They continued to walk, even when a thick fog settled in, obscuring everything from view. This made her a little nervous, but she had her friends to keep her safe.

So she felt safe and happy.

The fog continued on and on, but the spirit detectives didn't seem to notice. Smiling she looked up towards Kuabawra and frowned at what she saw...or what she didn't see. For Kuabawra...had changed. He now wore purple and black monk's robes and sandals. His height was the same, but his red hair had become black and straight and pulled into a ponytail and in his hand, he held a staff. Looking into his face her frown deepened as she saw that there was no face to look into. Although she had never seen this person in her life, he seemed familiar.

And she grew confused.

Looking towards Kurama to question him she gasped as she saw that he had changed too. His manly physique had changed to that of a well-fit girl. He or she now, was shorter that he had been. His red hair was now a dark brown and lay cascaded across his back. He now wore a pink, white kimono, with a green cloth wrapped around his bottom half, and on his back, he carried a giant boomerang. His face too, was also blank.

And then she grew worried.

Turning to Hiei, she got the similar results. His face too was non-existence. He was now a good deal shorter than what he had been. His black pinecone shaped hair now was red and put into a puffy little ponytail upon his head, held up with a blue ribbon. He wore a brown vest made of fur over his blue shirt with patterns of leaves on it, and his pants were a darker blue and baggy. His feet were now tiny paws, and he had the puffiest, fluffiest, softest looking tail she had every seen. But that did nothing to make her more at ease.

And then she grew scared.

“Yuske!” she yelled, her voice sounding far off and echoed.

“What's going on!” she yelled running towards where she knew he would be, never looking where she was going, and ran straight into his chest, where protective arms wrapped themselves around her.

“What happened to them?” she asked in her echoed voice as she turned to look at Yuske only to gasp in fright at the non-existence face of some stranger. The vaguely familiar stranger...with beautiful white hair and doggy like ears. She gripped his red jacket fiercely as her eyes widened.

And she loved him.

“Inu...Inuyasha?” she found her echoed voice asking in that far off way.

After uttering that name, a figure appeared ahead of them. A very familiar figure. A figure she had seen everyday when she looked at her reflection.

She saw herself. Only this Kagome seemed hostile, cold, empty, and a shell. And she was holding a bow and arrow. Pulling the bow back, the other Kagome let it loose with a show of blue light, and her face was devoid of any emotion as the arrow shot past Kagome and into the midst of the strangers. Killing them all with that blew light.

And she felt grieve.

“Inuyasha do something!” she pleaded the white haired boy.

Grabbing her wrist roughly, he pushed her away from him, and threw her to the ground. Looking up at him with hurt filled eyes, she cowered in fear as he held up a clawed hand to bring down on her with a yellow glow. Intent on killing her.

And she felt betrayal.

“NO INUYASHA...HELP...YUSKE!” she screamed in fright as she closed her eyes tight.

~__~

“Help me Yuske!” she screamed as she was abruptly brought from her nightmare.

Kagome sprang up in bed, sweating and panting, and when she touched her face, she found tears there.

Propping her face into her hands she sobbed quietly.

`What is happening to me?' she thought despairingly.

`First that fiasco with Kurama at the movies, and now dreams. What do they mean? Why is this happening to me? It's not like I'm special or anything. I'm just a regular, ordinary girl.' she thought, but deep down, there was a doubt, and want, to be more, than just ordinary.

A tapping at her windows jolted her from her thoughts. Looking towards the window, she saw a very disgruntled looking Puu.

Rushing over she hastily opened the window, where Puu immediately flew in and enveloped her in the most comforting hug he could muster.

Sitting back down on her bed she hugged Puu back and slowly relaxed as his presence comforted her.

“You know Puu; you remind a lot of Yuske, but then you are also totally different from him. You make me feel...safe. I guess I'm lucky you showed up, right when I needed comforting, there you were. It's like you sensed my distress. Is that it? Did you come here to make me feel better?” she asked as she held him up in the air and giving him a loving smile.

“Pu!” Puu exclaimed happily before she pulled him into another hug.

“You are so sweet! Now why can't I find a guy out there just like you? A man version of you. If I could find a guy with your spirit and personality...who knows what would happen...but I know this...if there was a guy out there like you...he'd be the total opposite of Yuske Urameshi.” And with that said, she and Puu curled up and fell asleep.

~__~

“What's the matter Urameshi? Stayed up all night moping over Kagome?” Kuabawra teased as he saw the disgruntled state Yuske was in as they walked through town.

“NO! I don't care about her.” Yuske yelled angrily.

“Starting this again are we. In denial.”

“NO! It was Puu; he had me up all night with all his squawking before flying out the window. And I haven't seen him since.”

“Aww, worried about your spirit beast. Isn't that sweet.” Kuabawra teased as he pinched Yuske's cheek.

“THAT'S IT!” Yuske yelled before tackling Kuabawra to the ground and beating the living hell out of him.

“YUSKE!”

“WHAT DON'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY?” Yuske yelled as he stood, leaving a bruised and battered Kuabawra on the ground, and faced the floating blue haired girl on an oar.

“Yuske?” a soft timid voice asked.

“OH WHAT NOW?” he yelled rudely as he turned around to face an out of character Kagome. Instead of yelling at him, she had her head down and her voice was quiet and even, and in her arms, she held Puu.

“Yuske?” she asked again.

After getting over his shock for the lack of character in Kagome, he pulled himself together. Kuabawra lay forgotten on the ground.

“Yeah?” he asked trying to rouse something in her by being rude. He got nothing.

“Hurry up and get rid of her Yuske. I have some important information for you.” Botan asked, sure that Kagome couldn't hear nor see her.

“What was that?” Kagome suddenly asked her head shooting up and looking frantically around.

What was what?” Yuske asked obnoxiously not sure if she had heard Botan or something else.

“Did she hear me?” Botan asked him.

“There it goes again!” Kagome yelled almost hysterically as she inched up to Yuske and clung to his jacket. “Did you hear it?”

“No I didn't hear anything, but I'm sure whatever it was, it's gone now.” he said as he put a comforting arm around her shoulders, and looking up warningly at Botan before she disappeared.

After a quiet moment b/n the two, Kagome must have realized what was happening and blushingly pushed away from Yuske and looked back at the ground, this time form embarrassment. Rather then, what her Uncle Enma had said. Yuske was glad she was looking down; for fear that, she would see his blushing face.

There was a moment's silence b/n the two, where not even Puu said anything.

“Oi, Yuske.” A feminine voice called from down the block. The two blushing kids looked see Botan, in her human guise, running up the street towards them.

“Oh...uh...hey Botan.” he greeted weakly as she caught up to them.

“Who's this, Yuske?” both Botan and Kagome said at the same time.

“Huh...oh yeah. Kagome this Botan, Kagome this is Botan. Kagome, Botan works with me. Botan, Kagome...”

“Oh I know who she is. You're Yuske's new girlfriend, right?” Botan said cheerfully as she clasped Kagome's hands and began to shake it.

“What? Oooh `no'.” Kagome said distastefully.

“You didn't have to say it like that?” Yuske said sullenly.

“Oh. I'm sorry Yuske; I didn't mean it like that. It's just that...well...I'm looking for a certain guy. Me and Puu were talking about it last night. Weren't we Puu?” she said as she snuggled Puu into her chest.

“Puu!”

“Talking about it last night?” Yuske asked confusedly. “So that's were you went last night?”

“Yeah he had come after I had a nightmare and he made me feel better. Then he stayed the night with me, and I didn't have anymore bad dreams. He's a real life saver, and I had come to return him to you.” She said reaching Puu back to Yuske.

“Uhh...thank you.” He said taking Puu from her arms, where he immediately flew to Yuske's head.

Botan, who had been watching all this with a scrutinizing eye, now decided to interrupt. “Anyway, Yuske, I came to tell you that the boss man wants you at the meeting. He said it's vital.”

“Oh, okay. Well, see you later Kagome. Oh, Botan, how do I get to the meeting?”

“Just go right around the corner. You can't miss it. And while he's busy, why don't you and I go out for a little girls' night out at the town.” She said cheerfully, herding Kagome in the opposite way Yuske and Puu were going.

“But it's not night.” Kagome protested; sweat dropping at the girl's eagerness.

“Doesn't matter we need a little time to ourselves.”

“But I just met you.”

“That's not important. We're going to get to know each other now.”

~__~

5 Minutes later

A portal opened on the sidewalk, where Botan and Kagome had just left. A head poked through and looked left and right before going back in. a few seconds later Yuske jumped out of it. Grumbling angrily to himself, he walked a few paces before crouching down.

“Come on you idiot.” he mumbled as he grabbed Kuabawra's foot and dragged him into the portal, where it closed behind them.

~__~

“This better be important toddler, tell me who I have to beat so I can go home.” Yuske announced as he sauntered into Koenma's office with a conscious Kuabawra in tag, Kurama and Hiei were already there when he arrived.

“This is no joking matter Yuske.” Koenma said seriously from behind his desk, in his teenage form. (I think he's a little hottie when he's a big boy)

`What's this? He's not going to yell at me for calling him a toddler? What's wrong with me? First Kagome now this. I must be losing my touch.' Yuske thought moodily.

“What is this about Koenma?” Kurama asked.

“This is about this girl here.” Koenma said as a picture of Kagome appeared on the screen by his desk.

Looking at the screen, Yuske's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as he turned back towards Koenma. “What's this got to do with her?” he asked in a voice so dangerous, so cold, so menacing that it made Hiei wish he could muster up a voice half that intense.

But Koenma stood his ground, braced himself, set his shoulders back, and gathered up all his nerves. “Everything.” he said simply, not backing down.

“What do want with her?” Hiei asked, before Yuske could do anything he would regret. Besides, he was curious, and protective of the girl.

“I want nothing. It is what my father wants, and he wants you to stay away from her.”

“Why does King Enma want Yuske to stay away from Kagome?” Kuabawra asked confusedly.

“Not just Yuske, you too...all of you. Stay away from her. Stay. Away. From. Kagome. Higurashi.”

“Why should we?” Yuske asked in that dangerous voice.

“Because father threatened to have all of you fired, disemboweled, and then have your souls painfully torn from your bodies.”

“Ouch.” Kuabawra said blankly.

“Well that's not going to stop me, and if he doesn't like it, he can come stop me himself!” Yuske yelled before storming out of the room.

“What about you three?” Koenma asked the three remaining spirit detectives.

“No one tells me what to do.” Hiei said before walking out the door.

“I would love to see you try to stop us.” Kurama said with a glint of Kitsune mischief in his eyes, and daring in his voice.

“What about you?” Koenma asked in a grave voice as he faced Kuabawra.

“Okay now, this disembowelment. Isn't that...waahh!” Whatever Kuabawra was going to say was cut short as someone forcefully dragged him from the room.

Now Koenma was left alone. “I thought so.” he sighed defeatedly. “Father, have I tried.”

~__~

Atsuko sat at the bar looking around for her favorite violent girl. She thought, no, she knew that she was perfect for her little Yuske. She was smart, beautiful, and going to school. She was nice, friendly, and treated everyone with kindness. Plus she was also a brave, strong, and a very temperamental person with a bit of mood swinging on the side. She had personally seen her in action. She had seen her outwardly flirting with a guy, touching him, sitting on his lap, then turn around and beat the crap out of a guy who had groped her, throw him out on the street, and come back to flirt.

Not only was she the perfect girl for Yuske, but she would keep him on his toes. Besides, Atsuko wasn't getting any younger, and she wanted grandchildren.

So all those two needed were a little nudging in the right direction, then a huge shove into each other's hearts.

And speaking of shoving, she had just seen the soon to be object of her son's affection shove a drunk out onto the street.

“Oi, Kagome!” she called out over the music.

“Yeah?” she called back.

“Come here, I got something to ask you!”

“What is it Atsuko? My shifts over, I was just about to head home!” Kagome said when she made it to the bar.

“That is why I called you. You are a part time bouncer, and female bouncer at that, so you obviously don't make much money.”

“Thanks Atsuko.” Kagome said sarcastically.

“You're welcome. While me, I am a full time bartender, plus I get tips. I'm doing way better than you in the economic department. Not to mention Yuske brings in a paycheck from who knows where he works. And even that is more than what you make.”

“What's your point?” Kagome snapped becoming agitated.

“Well, I'm hardly ever home, my house is a mess, I be tired when I leave the bar, and God knows Yuske isn't going to do anything. So I was wondering if you'll like to be my housekeeper.”

“Your housekeeper?”

“Yeah, just, you know. Keep it tidy, stock it with food, and cook us supper. That's all, and I'm willing to pay generously. So, what do you say?”

Kagome thought about it. Yeah she could use the money, and she had nothing better to do...plus Atsuko was her friend. “I'll take it.,” she said with a smile, shaking Atsuko's hand. `Sorry uncle Enma, but it just seems I can't stay away, besides what's the worse that could.'

“Great!” Atsuko cheered. “Here are the keys, some money for grocery, and I'll see you when I get home, so run along now, before I fire you.”

“Umm...okay. I'll see you later. Bye.” Kagome said uncertainly as she began to leave. Sometimes, Atsuko made her wonder.

`Yes. Perfect. Phase 1 of operation Grandchildren is complete.'

~__~

“Oh, wow, this place is a mess.” Kagome said as she kicked trash out of her way, once she got in.

“What is that...did something just move...what was that...SOMETHING HAS MY FOOT...what is this...mold...I have up some cleaning to do.”

Putting her hair into a ponytail, putting a scarf around her nose and mouth, and pulling on some thick latex gloves, Kagome began to clean.

~__~

After leaving Koenma's office, all four detectives made beeline to Yuske's house, and all the way there, Yuske's aura stayed angry and brooding...that is, until he walked inside the house.

“Umm...am I at the right place?” he questioned his friends who still waited outside.

“You've lived here all your life and you're still not sure?” Hiei questioned sarcastically.

“No, I mean...look at it.”

And so they did, and so they were speechless.

“Is this your house?” Kuabawra asked as he stepped back outside to check the address.

“Yeah this is it, see look, there goes pictures of me as a baby.”

“Well, it seems like your mother has been busy.” Kurama commented as he closed the door behind everyone.

“And look...you have carpet.” Hiei said in is regular manner.

“I'm going to go check the kitchen.” Yuske announced as he headed towards the kitchen. “Hey it's clean in here too. And there are pots on the stove. Now what's really going on?”

After tasting the contents of the pot and checking for edibility, he grabbed a big bowl and began to load it up, that is, he began.

“What do you think you're doing?” a scolding voice said startling him. Spinning around to face the person, he instantly regretted it. For he spun to fast, and his food left the bowl and jumped onto the hair, skin, and clothes of the one who scolded him.

“Kagome! What are you doing here?”

~__~

Yuske stood brooding in the hall, nursing his bruised face, with a pair of old clothes in his hands. Next to him, the bathroom door opened and a lithe, wet arm reached out of it. Without saying a word, he plopped the clothes in the hand and stalked off toward the living room.

“You know Yuske, when you told me she hits hard, I thought you were exaggerating. I was wrong, your head liked of come off.” Atsuko teased as Yuske came in sight. Kurama and Kuabawra grinned at this, while Hiei barely smirked.

“She didn't hit me that hard.”

“Oh, I didn't huh. Well hold still so I can try again.”

Turning he gaped at how big his clothes fit her. She wore an old button up shirt of his and a pair of jeans that barely fit around his thighs, but on her, they were baggy.

“Hi Kagome...you look good.” Atsuko said, choking on a laugh.

“Are you going to pay me now or later?”

“You are really little.” Kuabawra said bluntly.

“Atsuko!” Kagome said desperately.

“Alright, alright. Here's $200. Now do you have to leave so soon, because I can have Yuske walk you home?”

“Sorry, but I pass on that offer. Now what about my clothes?”

“Don't worry about them; I'll wash them for you. Now are you sure you don't need Yuske to walk you home, it's pretty dark out there?” she insisted, ignoring the suspicious glare Yuske, or the knowing smiles of the spirit detectives.

“No, I've had just about enough Yuske today.” she said gesturing towards the clothes and giving Yuske a quick glance. “Well, I guess I'll be going now. See you guys later.” Waving once at the group she left.

“What the hell are you up to?” Yuske asked with an accusing glare at his mother, once he was sure Kagome was out of earshot.

“I guess I'll be turning in for the night, good night boys.” Atsuko said with a fake yawn.

“Good night Ms. Urameshi.” Kuabawra and Kurama said in unison as Hiei just hned.

After watching his mother leave, Yuske then turned his glare onto his friends. “You four have been pretty chummy lately. What's she up to?”

“Only for your well being.” Kurama answered.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, how the time flies. I do believe it's time to turn in.”

“Oh, no you don't you're not...” but whatever Yuske was about to say was cut short as a familiar scream rang through their ears.

“Kagome.” Yuske whispered before bounding out of the door, closely followed by the rest.

Down the streets and around corners they raced til they finally found her, and she wasn't alone. She was being held in the air in the middle of the street by her throat. And holding her up was a fathomless, bulky, gray demon with spikes all over its body.

“Get away from her!” Yuske yelled to the demon.

“Not on your life detective. This girly holds the jewel within her.” The demon growled opening its mouth to swallow Kagome whole. Kagome just whimpered out of fear and pain, trying to dislodge the demon from her throat.

On hearing her cry of pan the detectives, all readied their weapons. “We must proceed with caution, for he may hurt Kagome.” Kurama warned, not taking his eyes off the demon. “Yuske, you go for Kagome, while we distract him.”

“Right.” he agreed, putting his arm down and creeping into the bushes behind Kagome.

~__~

`Can you say de ja vu? Why does this seem so familiar?' Kagome thought as she grasped at the demon's claws.

`What is this thing talking about? I have no jewel. What does it want with a jewel anyway? What is it by the way? It's big ugly and gray, nothing in my dictionary looks like that. Funny what you think of while running out of air.'

Kagome, being so lost in her thoughts, vaguely noticed how her seemingly normal friends began to fight the demon with expertise and abnormal weapons and ability. Nor did she notice how her body jerked in all directions as the demon moved.

`I wonder why he called Yuske detective. This thing must be delirious.' she thought as a picture of Yuske wearing a hat and matching trench coat, with a cigarette in his mouth and in need of a shave. She laughed aloud at the image.

Neither demon nor Kagome noticed Yuske sneaking up behind them, but the demon finally noticed, and before anyway knew what happened; Kagome noticed how an agonizing pain in her stomach had suddenly apparated.

“Oh.” was all she could say as blood made its way out of her mouth, and the gaping hole in her stomach, where the demon had impaled her.

Extracting its spike form her stomach, the demon then tossed her body away into the bushes like a rag doll.

“Kagome!” Yuske yelled in rage as he tore upon the demon.

Unknowingly to anyone, in the bushes a horrifying remembrance was accruing.

~__~

Kagome lay on her back motionless, her abnormal eyes seeing nothing and everything at the same time.

Then suddenly she came to. Arching her back and opening her mouth wide she let out a silent scream, a silent scream of not only pain, but sadness, betrayal, and remembrance. And finally as her scream caught up with her, her body changed to that of man with red eyes, and black curly hair, and a gaping wound in his stomach, and blood running out of his mouth. And as he screamed, his body changed to that of a white haired youth with doggy ears and golden eyes, with similar wounds. Next, her body changed forms of seven more people, all with the same wounds.

After the white haired youth, she changed to that of a tall boy with black hair pulled into a ponytail; he wore purple monk's robes. Next to that of a small fox child, followed by a girl in demon slayers armor. Next to come was a roguish looking boy with blue eyes, and black hair pulled into a long ponytail, he wore an armor made of fur and steel. Then to that of a tall white haired man, with a fluffy white tail wrapped across his chest. And last, to that of herself only wearing red and white priest's robes.

The changes started again only now changing more rapidly, not staying on one for more than 3 seconds, but when the time came for the spirit detectives to find her, she was back to the way they knew her as.

~__~

“Kagome!” Yuske yelled, bursting through the bushes and throwing himself down next to her. “Kagome! Speak to me.”

“Yuske?” she whispered softly, tears rolling down her face. “It hurts.”

“I know, just hold on. Don't let go. Please, don't let go.” Yuske pleaded clenching her body to him.

“Yuske, I've called Botan and she...” Kuabawra began, but was cut off by Yuske.

“Tell her to open a portal to Koenma's office.”

“What?”

“DO IT!”

“It's done Yuske, I'm here.” he heard Botan say somewhere behind him. Without looking at anyone, Yuske gathered Kagome up into his arms and stepped through.

~__~

“Yuske, what have you done? I told you to stay away from her and now look...”

“SHUT UP AND CALL FOR HELP!” Yuske yelled, cutting his boss off mid sentence, as he set Kagome down on a couch and knelt down beside her, clutching her hand like a life support.

“...I've already done that, but you should have listened to me...” Koenma started again after a pause only to get stopped again.

“If we'd listened to you, she'd be dead. The demon that attacked her was after her, talking about a jewel.” Kuabawra yelled as heard Yuske begin to growl angrily at Koenma.

“A jewel?” Koenma asked confusedly.

“Yes a jewel. Why was the demon after her? What does she have to do with it?” Kurama asked loudly.

But Koenma didn't seem to hear him as he searched his brain for any information on this subject...on this girl. Finally, he seemed to come up with an assumption. Looking towards the wounded girl, he searched her pain filled face for a clue. He found none, but yet...something at the back of his head...

“Koenma,” a deep, powerful sounding voice called out as the door to Koenma's office burst open.

All eyes, except Yuske's and Kagome's, turned towards the door to see who had entered. It was a tall demon, with long white hair and marking on his face and hands. He wore a casual yet important looking black suit, and he had golden eyes. Golden eyes that acknowledged no one in the room except Koenma.

“Lord Sesshomaru.” Koenma greeted with an awed voice, as his suspicions were confirmed.

“You father summoned me here, said it would be wise for a familiar face to fetch her.”

“So you knew she was alive then?”

“No, not until recently. I figured she was dead.”

“Why did father revive her?”

“You shall have to ask him for yourself.” Sesshomaru answered as he made his way over to Kagome. Reaching down for her, he stopped as Yuske let out a hostile growl at him.

“Take it easy boy, I'm an old friend.”

Not willing to back down, Yuske stood up and got into fighting position as Sesshomaru picked Kagome up.

“Yuske you, fool...don't you know who this is?” Koenma yelled as an attempt to save his employee.

“It seems my reputation has gotten as old as I am.” Sesshomaru said aloud, smirking at the growling youth at his side.

“Sesshomaru?” A weak and strained voice called out from the bundle in his arms.

Smile disappearing and eyes softening, Sesshomaru looked down into Kagome's face. “Yes, I'm here.”

“Sesshomaru, it hurts...it hurts so bad.” She whispered as she draped her arms around his neck and curled up in his arms as she started to cry.

“I know. I shall take you to your uncle,” he answered as he began to head for the door, only to stop as Yuske yelled at him.

“Didn't you hear her? You need to get her to a doctor!”

“She's not talking about that wound boy.” Sesshomaru growled as he continued to leave. “Some aren't as physical, but just as deadly and painful.”