Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ From Dusk til Dawn Starts a New Day ❯ Chp. 5 Kagome, Revisited ( Chapter 5 )

Chp. 5 Kagome, Revisited

 

An estimated 500 and some years ago.

 

 

“Oh no! I'm out of arrows.” Kagome cried as she let her last arrow fly.

 

 

“It's okay Kagome. I'll protect you.” Shippo cried as he jumped in front of her, shooting his foxfire out at approaching demons, which didn't kill them, just warded them off.

 

 

As Kagome watched on helplessly as each of her friends fought their own battles, she couldn't help but feel responsible and guilty.

 

It was all her fought everyone was here fighting. If she hadn't of shattered the jewel, then Sango's family wouldn't have been slaughtered for the piece that they had. If she hadn't of shattered the jewel then Kouga wouldn't be revenging the death of his comrades. If she hadn't of shattered the jewel then Inuyasha would have just gone and wished to be full demon and gone and killed Naraku long ago. But if wasn't possible. The jewel had been shattered, Sango's family and Kouga's pack had been slaughtered, and Naraku was alive. And it was all her fault. They were all here because of her, and she wasn't any help in fighting. What was she doing? Hiding behind a kitsune pup.

 

She still didn't know why Sesshomaru was here, but she was sure it had something to do with either, Naraku, or the jewel.

 

She watched the two brothers fighting with each other against Naraku. She watched them fight together as if they had been doing it all their life. This brought a smile, grim thought it was, to her face.

 

 

Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw it. The glistening shine of the Shikon no Tama. Whole once again. She didn't question how it had gotten out of Naraku's clutches, she just assumed one of the brothers had knocked or cut, it out of his grasp, and it had rolled out into the middle of the fight.

 

 

“At least I can do something useful.” Kagome said aloud.

 

 

“Huh? What did you say Kagome? Kagome? KAGOME!” Shippo yelled. But it was too late Kagome had run out into the interior of the battle.

 

 

“Watch my back Shippo!” Kagome yelled dodging and jumping over youkai.

 

 

On reaching the jewel she wretched her hand out to grab it, but as soon as she did, so did another. Kagome didn't release the jewel though. She held on tight and, with the other person still holding it with her, lifted it into the air, until both of their arms were level.

 

Looking up into the eyes of the beholder (no pun intended) she let out a gasp of fear. The other person holding the jewel, snarling in front of her in all his gorgeous, yet extremely evil, glory, was Naraku. In the background, she could the see the brothers fighting about seven of Naraku's baboon-pelted puppets. The one in front of her had no pelt, and was real.

 

 

“Release me and the jewel wench.” He said through clenched teeth.

 

 

Only when he said that, is when she realized that their hands were interlaced, the jewel resting in between their palms.

Although fearing the consequences Kagome shook her head no.

 

 

Eyes narrowing, Naraku smirked. “Very well then.” he said squeezing her hand tightly, his claws digging into the back of her hand, but that wasn't what made her scream in agony. It was the wave of dark, tainted energy that surrounded her from the jewel.

 

 

 

Her scream of pain brought everyone's attention away from their own battles, to the one that was going on in the middle of the battlefield. They all watched on with wide eyes as Kagome was engulfed in the dark energy of the jewel, forcing her down to her knees.

 

 

 

“KAGOME!” numerous voices yelled out. The numerous voices of her friends, all except for three. Kikyo, Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru.

 

 

 

Through all the pain, Kagome heard and recognized all her friends' voices, and it left her puzzled.

 

 

`I knew why Sesshomaru didn't call out my name, because he doesn't give a damn about me. I knew why Kikyo didn't, Kikyo wants her soul back. But Inuyasha, why didn't he call out my name. Doesn't he realize what's happening?' she thought.

 

 

“Just give up you weak little girl. You're no match for anyone. Give in to the power of the jewel, let it consume you” Naraku sneered down to her.

 

 

 

“...no.” she growled out. With a newfound strength, she tightened her grip on his hand so that it matched his own. She brought her other arm up so that it was level with the other, and, just as she suspected, Naraku interlaced his other hand with her free one. Grunting against the pain, Kagome pulled herself up to her feet.

 

 

 

“What are you doing girl? Are you trying to beat me? Well go ahead and see if you can kill me?” Naraku yelled at her, a crazed look on his face, as he made even more dark energy swarm over her.

 

 

 

The tainted energy almost bowled her it was so strong, but she kept her ground. Grunting against the strain, she began to purify the Shikon no Tama, and to her satisfaction, she saw the good energy of the jewel engulf Naraku, as the dark was engulfing her.

 

 

His scream of pain brought a smile to her face and gave her the strength she needed to put in more power. Unfortunately, Naraku also put extra power into the dark energy as she put in the light. It came to a stalemate. The energy combined in between them, forming a red glow that blasted the two combatants away from the jewel. They each landed on their backs a few feet away from the jewel. Said item was flashing from red, to purple, to pink spontaneously. At the end it settled on...black.

 

 

All was silent.

 

 

A small vortex of wind began to form around the now black jewel.

 

 

No one knew what it meant or what was about to happen. They just knew this, stay away from it. They tried, oh, they tried. Everyone got up and began to run. But the jewel as if it sensed their retreat, made the vortex even bigger and faster, slowing them down in the process of running.

 

 

The first things to become sucked into the jewel were the lesser demons around, then Kagura and Kanna, and lastly Kagome and Naraku. The jewel seemed to have finally gotten what it was aster, for as soon as the last two were in, the vortex disappeared, and the black jewel lay down innocently in the grass.

 

 

~___~

 

 

White. White. White. Endless white, with no boundaries. That's what Kagome saw when she awoke. Well, she didn't know if she woke up, or just opened her eyes from blinking, because when she opened her eyes she found herself pacing in a half circle.

 

 

Opposite her, also pacing in the half circle was Naraku. His head was down and he seemed to be thinking.

 

 

“The jewel has told many things miko. Many strange things, that concerns us both.” Naraku spoke up, never looking up at Kagome, as they continued to pace.

 

 

“Is that where we are. Inside the jewel?” Kagome asked her voice flat and dull.

 

 

“Yes miko. We are inside the Shikon no Tama.” He said now looking at her and waving his arms around for implication. “And it has told me things. Not everything, just some things. That concerns us both. Do you hear the voices Kagome? What are they telling you?” he asked, watching her with interest as they continued to pace.

 

 

Diverting her gaze from Naraku, Kagome concentrated on hearing. There wasn't anything to hear at first. Then it started. It a soft whispering, but she heard it as clear if it was in regular voices. There were lots of voices, both male and female. And they told her things. Strange things indeed. Involving her and Naraku. The voices told her things, not everything she realized, but some things. Were they the same things Naraku heard? Who knows? But she was gonna find out.

 

 

Looking back up at the pacing Naraku, she replied, “Yes. The jewel has told me things. Are they the same things you've heard, I do not know?”

 

 

 

“What, prêt ail, have you been told?” he asked, either never taking their eyes off each other, or ceasing their pacing.

 

 

 

“We are manifestations of...” Kagome started.

 

 

 

“...good and evil. You're pure good...” Naraku stated.

 

 

 

“...you're pure evil. The day you were created...”

 

 

 

“...you were born. The jewel has both...”

 

 

 

“...an equal amount of good and evil within it...”

 

 

 

“...this is why it allows me to...”

 

 

 

“...taint it. And me to purify it...”

 

 

 

“...and with the constant purifying and tainting...”

 

 

 

“...the jewel has become unbalanced...”

 

 

 

“...and with no one to stabilize it...”

 

 

 

“...the jewel has...”

 

 

 

“...taken this into its own hands by...”

 

 

 

“...bringing us into itself so...”

 

 

 

“...it can fuse us together and become a balanced being, but...”

 

 

 

“...the question is who will have control over the new body?” Kagome finished and they both stopped their pacing to look at each other square in the eye.

 

 

 

“Don't get your hopes up girl. You'll be the one locked up in the back of my mind.” He said giving her a fangy grin.

 

 

 

“Yeah right. I just hope you enjoy being female.” She smirked at him.

 

 

 

They stared at each other until a little black light appeared in front of the two.

 

 

 

“It's time girl. I hope you like the dark.” Naraku said as he stepped towards the light.

 

 

 

“In your dreams you idjamamit. (Pronounced how it's written. I love that word, idjamamit. It's so cool.)” Kagome told him, as she too went towards the light. And without warning, they were hurtled at each other.

 

 

 

~__~

 

“WAHHHH...I...WANT...MY...KAGOMEEEE!” Both Kouga and Shippo cried, holding each other for comfort.

 

 

 

“SHUT UP, YOU BUNCH OF WIMPS!” Inuyasha screamed at the two mourners. “She's gone and she's never coming back so there.” He said more quietly and stuck his tongue out at them.

 

 

 

Taking a deep breath Shippo cried even louder. “KAGOME'S GONNA KICK YOUR ASS WHEN SHE COMES BACK FOR TELLING THE KITSUNE THAT.” Kouga yelled at Inuyasha, no longer crying aloud as he so freely had done.

 

 

 

“Feh, whatever. Oi, what the hell are you still doing here?” he yelled as Sesshomaru walked back into the clearing, along with his human ward.

 

 

 

“Not that it concerns you, dear brother, but I am here merely out of curiosity.” Sesshomaru said as emotionless as ever.

 

 

 

“Whatever...” he droned as Kikyo came and sat by him.

 

 

 

“PUU...eww! WHAT IS THAT HORRIBLE SMELL? DOG-TURD! WHAT DID YOU...OH MY GOD? KAGOME DID DIE, AND SHE CAME BACK AS A SMELLY ZOMBIE! NOOOOOO!” Kouga would have continued to howl if Miroku wouldn't have brought his staff crashing down on his head.

 

 

 

“All that noise isn't necessary. That zombie is not Lady Kagome that is Lady Kikyo.” Miroku stated, not making eye contact with the dead miko.

 

 

 

“Ooooohhhh. Yo. Zombie lady. Why do you look like my woman?”

 

 

 

Looking up at him with her cold lifeless gaze she fixed him with a glare while her arms around Inuyasha.

“No demon you are mistaking. You should not of asked why do I look like her, but of why does she look like me.”

 

 

 

“O-Kay, sure, why not? Why does she look like you?”

 

 

 

“Simple. She is my reincarnation?” she said drawing Inuyasha closer to herself and sitting up straighter.

 

 

 

“Really? That's fascinating,” he said sarcastically turning his back on the couple with a disgusted look on his face, ignoring the growl he'd gotten from Inuyasha.

 

 

Sesshomaru watched all this with interest. Looking around the clearing he looked at the strange group, he was currently `accompanying.'

 

 

He looked from the demon exterminator, who was cradling the body of her dead brother.

 

 

The monk who sat near her, examining and flexing his hand that stationed prayer beads.

 

 

The wolf and kit, which were comforting each other for their loss of the miko. `Kagome' he believed her name to be.

 

 

To his half-wit, hanyou, half brother who was caressing the `dead zombie lady', the wolf so bluntly named her, lovingly. Simply disgusting.

 

 

And finally, to the black jewel that, hours ago, had taken the hanyou and miko into its depths. His curiosity had been peeked by the turn of events, and he was gonna stick around until boredom brought its way back into his life.But that was far from happening.

 

 

The jewel began to float; the vertex began to blow around it again, only this time it was blowing, not sucking.

 

 

The others stopped what they were doing to stare at the phenomenon. They watched as the jewel went into another display of colors, before deciding again to stay on black, this time accompanied with a corona. A white corona. A dazzling white corona. A hurtful to the eyes corona. A blinding corona. A getting bigger by the second corona.

 

Now I believe you can all guess that they were blinded by the light, so naturally when the light died down it took them a few minutes to notice the figure floating in the spot the jewel had been.

 

At first look, they tensed as they saw the silhouette of Naraku descending down to earth, but as it neared them, they noticed apparent differences. For instance, the womanly curves and the slightly shorter structure.

 

Now they were thoroughly confused. Here was a body, with Naraku's hair and clothes, but with Kagome's body.

Sniffing the air, the demons (and 1 lone hanyou) smelt neither Kagome's nor Naraku's scent, but a whole new one.

 

Seeing as no one else seemed to want to approach the falling girl, Sesshomaru stepped forward and caught her just before she hit the ground.

 

 

Studying the girls face, he saw the face of Kagome. Not too much had seemed to change on her. Her hair had changed to that of the length and profile of Naraku's; she now adorned his clothing, she had the blue lining over her closed eyes that Naraku had, and she seemed to radiate the powers of Naraku, although he still sensed her miko abilities.

 

 

“It's the miko.” He called out finally, not taking his eyes off of Kagome. Glancing up once at Inuyasha and Kikyo he added on “the live one.”

 

 

At this Kikyo seemed to glare maliciously at Kagome and snuggle up to Inuyasha.

 

 

It didn't take long for the rest too crowd around him and the miko. Shippo and Kouga were the first to crowd him. Shippo jumped onto his shoulder to peer down at Kagome.

 

 

“She's just sleeping,” he said before anyone could bother asking.

 

 

“You know, maybe I should carry her. Since she is my woman.” Kouga spoke up breaking the silence. Everyone was a bit surprised when Inuyasha didn't yell out in protest.

 

 

“Funny how you didn't seem to want to catch her while she fell from the sky.” Sango said giving him a look.

 

 

Kouga didn't say anything just diverted his eyes to the side.

 

 

“I suggest we get the miko to her village.” Sesshomaru said turning around and heading in the direction of Kaede's village.

 

 

"We? What the hell do you mean by we?"

 

 

“If you do not wish to join us dear brother, it is more than alright with me.” Giving his brother a look of disgust, he sent an unseen signal to Jaken, who immediately after, loaded Rin onto Ah-un and followed his master as he left the battlefield, along with the others and the grumbling hanyou and his dead-lover.

 

~__~

 

Kagome woke with a start. Her breathing feeling labored as she took in her unfamiliar surroundings. The room she was occupying was vast, dark, and seemingly empty. The room was pitch-black and she couldn't see anything except the bed she lay in and herself.

 

The bed itself seemed to be made for a giant, one pillow alone was so big she could stretch he body out on it without touching the sides. It was laced with the finest of materials. The sheets were made of a cool silk and the spread and pillow covers were made from Egyptian cotton.

 

Her confusion soon turned into panic as she remembered the demon attack. Suddenly becoming frantic, she began pulling and scratching at her shirt until she finally had it up and had a good view of her stomach. Not a scratch, with only minor scar, and as she looked at her stomach she began to realize her bodily changes. Her stomach was as flat and firm as a board. Her nails, which had scratched her belly as she lifted up her shirt, had become long and sharp like claws. She could feel fangs in her mouth and differently tone muscles throughout her body. She also felt that her ears were no longer rounded but pointed. And that's when she remembered. Remembered becoming a demon in the final battle as she, Naraku, and the jewel emerged into one. Her mind and body, Naraku's strength and power, and the jewel's magic.

 

 

Slowly, she wrapped her arms around herself, as she felt the hurt, betrayal, and heartbreak resurface. Not being able to hold back any longer, she let out the heart-wrenching cries of pain and sorrow as she recalled the event that happened after her transformation.

 

 

~Flashback~

 

 

She awoke three days after they arrived back at the village. She was alone in the hut, and didn't bother to move as she tried to recollect her thought, but soon her tranquility was interrupted by the arrival of Kaede who then informed the rest of her awakening.

 

She was surprised, when all had gathered inside the hut, to find everyone from the battle waiting for her. She had been sure that once Naraku had been killed that Sesshomaru and Kouga, who immediately glued himself to her side, would have left, but no, here they were, everyone, including Kikyo.

 

The two were cuddling, or more like brooding together, in the far corner. She tried not to look or think about them as she informed them about fate of Naraku and the jewel, but she couldn't stop the pain in her heart.

 

A silence enveloped the hut as they all thought this over. She felt herself slipping into depression as her eyes were drawn to the couple in the back, but before she fell in too deep, a ball of orange fur had plopped into her lap. Allowing a smile to spread onto her face, she resolved that she would be strong for him and the others as she began to tickle and play with the kit. It during this scene that everyone discovered Kagome's power to shape shift as they're were suddenly two fox demon pups rolling around on the floor, one with red hair and the other, female, with black hair.

 

The days passed, Kouga left, saying he had to inform his pack of Naraku, promising too return soon to take Kagome away. Sesshomaru, who finally seemed to have gotten bored with the group, gathered his young ward, Jaken, and Ah-un and departed without so much as a good-bye. Miroku discovered, once discovering his wind tunnel too have disappeared, promptly proposed to a stunned Sango. He was also promptly slapped for groping his newfound Fiancée, but it was done with smiles. Kagome delved into her new powers, entertaining all who wanted with a show of impersonations. During all of this, the dark couple slipped off unnoticed into the wilderness.

 

 

When not performing for her friends, Kagome exercised her new powers in secret. Obtaining flight as a bird, the swiftness and alert senses of different forest animal, or trying to use the powers of the different demons and humans alike that she would impersonate.

 

It was during one of these practice sessions that her betrayal occurred. Sensing another in the clearing with her, she turned to find Inuyasha. Her heart soared with happiness as she saw that he was alone, he had come back to her.

 

 

“Inuyasha!” she cried out happily as a smile as she took a step towards him, but out the corner of her eye, she caught movement. Stopping, she moved out of the way, just as an arrow, which was meant for her back, grazed her stomach, creating a shallow gash as it shot by.

 

 

“Kikyo!” she yelled angrily turning to face the dead priestess. “What...?” she began, but before she could finish her sentence as she felt the pain, of claws puncturing her back. “Why Inuyasha?” she asked without turning around as she fell to her knees. Too heartbroken to fight back as they proceeded to brutally and painfully murder her.

 

 

“Kagome!” she heard in the distant as her friends ran to her aid, hearing the sounds of cries of pain from the village. But Kikyo and Inuyasha also heard and left to head them off.

 

 

“No! Don't do this Inuyasha!” she yelled grabbing his pants leg as he began to walk off. “Leave them alone.” She managed to say as blood spurted from her mouth.

 

 

“Kill two birds with one stone! You thought I was just going to kill you, and not them?” Inuyasha asked with a laugh kicking her in the head so that she would release.

 

 

“Incarnation, what makes you think you're that special?” Looking coldly down at Kagome, Kikyo smirked as they left her to die and kill her friends.

 

 

“No! Leave them alone! It's me you want! ME!” but they were already gone.

 

 

Her legs were like dead weight as she tried to drag herself to aid her friends, but she was too hurt and too weak, as she fell flat onto her stomach. She didn't know how long she lay there, but by the time she thought of an idea, the sun had just started to rise. Using her powers, she shifted in the form of a snake and slithered as fast as she could towards the direction she had last seen the two head. As she slithered farther into the forest, the metallic taste of blood hit her tongue, as her snake like tongue tasted the air. Faster and faster, she slithered until she burst out into the scene that held her friends destruction. She was in the middle of everything, falling out of her snake form she sat on her legs as she tried to blot out the scene before her.

 

“No, no, no!” she screamed hitting herself in the head, as she shook it furiously with her eyes closed. Opening them again, she looked at her friends bodies as she began to rock back and forth.

 

 

There bodies were strewn everywhere, arrows and claw marks and gashes covering ever inch of them. Their eyes staring blankly up into the sky.

 

 

“NO!” she screamed beating herself even harder and pulling her hair in despair. But they never went away. Holding herself in a tight ball, she full out cried, screaming with every ounce of her soul, as her tears fell like water from a fountain.

 

 

“Well look who decided to join the party.” She heard Inuyasha's voice say in a taunting voice as she felt their presences enter the clearing.

 

 

“Oh cheer up, look, we've got a present for you.” With that said she felt and heard something fall in front of her. Lifting up to look, she instantly regretted as she met the eyes, the dead, blank staring eyes of Shippo, his throat ripped out and his face set into that of pure horror and pain.

 

 

She felt something snap and break inside of her and she let out cry of such pain that her soul exploded, sending her powers and every ounce of pain she felt, hurtling from her body in the form of a deadly wave. Killing anything in close vicinity, Inuyasha and Kikyo, clearing the forest floor of her friends' body, and spreading throughout the world. Then she died.

 

 

~End Flashback~

 

 

She knew she died because she couldn't remember anything after that. “Why am I here? Why aren't I dead?” she mumbled miserably to herself.

 

 

“You did die.” A great booming voice said.

 

 

Springing up she saw that the giant who bed this must obviously belong too, sitting on the edge of the bed, her Uncle Emma.

 

 

“You're not my real uncle are you?” she said weakly.

 

 

“I like to think of myself as one.” He said softly. “I am King Emma, of the three worlds. The world's that you created.”

 

 

“Me? How did I create worlds? Why aren't I dead? What happened to me? Who are you? Why am I alive?” as she asked each question her voice began to get louder until she was actually screaming.

 

 

Sighing, King Emma gathered her into his arms and comforted her with a gentle hug. “The day you `died', your soul erupted from your body in the form of a great power, it caused many different effects for all it touched, and it touched all. I was no more than a young demon back then, but as it washed over me, it purified my demon powers and transformed me into the even more powerful being that I am today. When your soul washed over me, it filled me with an understanding of who you were, of what happened, what was happening, and what was too happen. Your soul, created barriers that would one-day separate, spirits, from demons, from humans. I quickly traced your soul back to your body. I found you in what would one day be the spirit world. You had turned to stone. A perfect, beautiful sculpture of a crying being in a kneeling position. I vowed from that day on that I would honor and protect you resting place until the day when you would one-day return. I knew you would, for your spirit remained inside the stone as long as with a sliver of your soul. I built the kingdom,” he said emphasizing with his enormous hand to the surroundings around them, “Around your stone body. And as the years turned into decades, into centuries. I grew stronger and bigger as so did the barriers. I watched over you constantly. When I did, so often leave you, I would be out separating the three into their respected worlds. But still you did not waken until I finally began to give up, but one day I noticed a crack appear in your face. Horrified I watched as more cracks appeared and you began to fall apart, but inside the stone, naked as a Jaybird, I saw you. Soul regrown to its full potential, and a mind wiped clean of all memories. I hope you will forgive me for filling your mind with false information. It's just that I wanted to protect you.”

 

 

A silence developed between the two, until, after what seemed like an eternity, Kagome spoke. “Of course I forgive you. I love you, you'll always be my Uncle Emma, it's just that...I'm hurting all over again from old wounds. I just need a little time.” She whispered into the silent room as she hugged her uncle Emma, thankful for the silent understanding that he gave her.

 

 

~___~

 

 

The days became weeks, which became months and still there was no word about Kagome. And Yusuke went from grumpy, to temperamental, to just plain evil.

 

He seldom spoke anymore, he growled and snarled viscously if anybody touched, and kami help the poor bastard that mentioned Kagome, made him mad, or made him mad by mentioning Kagome. Koenma, who seemed to get hold of some genius pills, never spoke directly to Yusuke and was never in the same room with him, using other to relay messages to him.

 

He went on missions' everyday, if only to keep his mind off Kagome and release his pent up aggression, which seemed to pile up on him every minute. He became dark, creepy, and foreboding, slinking in the shadows like a vampire or suddenly appearing out of nowhere or disappearing without a trace. Whether he knew or not he was being regularly tailed. Someone of this much anger and power was a danger to public safety. So the other detectives, either openly or discreetly, were always with him.

 

 

“This is insane! He's worse than Hiei!” Kuwabara yelled as they followed far behind the brooding Yusuke.

 

 

“He's been like ever since Kagome left with Lord Sesshomaru. He's acting like...” Kurama began only to stop mid sentence.

 

 

“...like a demon that's just lost a mate.” Hiei finished for him. “You're getting this? What's the matter, old age sneaking up on you?”

 

 

“Now that I think about it. There have been signs.”

 

 

“Of old age?” Kuwabara asked, interrupted him.

 

 

“Yusuke's behavior.” Kurama answered eyebrow twitching.

 

 

“What about him?”

 

 

“He's behaving like a demon that's just lost his mate. And there have been signs.”

 

 

“Like?” Kuwabara asked dragging the word out.

 

 

“We could tell that he was immediately attracted to Kagome when we first met her at the Burger Hut.” Kurama began.

 

 

“He was constantly seeking her out.” Hiei added.

 

 

“He's chased away all males who have shown or might have any attraction to her.”

 

 

“He tried to kill Kurama in his sleep after he took Kagome to the movies.” Hiei said, smiling at the memory.

 

 

“He what?” Kuwabara asked not sure if he had heard right.

 

 

“Is that so?” Kurama asked looking towards his short friend.

 

 

“He sneaked into your apartment and stood over your bed pointing his finger at you, and he would have fired if I hadn't of stopped him.”

 

 

Kurama was silent a moment as he contemplated this. He was suddenly brought of his reverie as they ran into a short old woman with a bag of cans.

 

 

“Oh, I'm so sorry madam; let me help you with that.” Kurama apologized as he helped the lady gather her cans.

 

 

“Oh you are such a sweet young lady. I wish more young women were as polite as you.” The woman said as she gathered her bags and began to scoot past the trio.

 

 

“I'm accept you compliment ma'am, but I am a boy.” He corrected, ignoring the laughs, he received from Kuwabara and the smirk he was sure was on Hiei's face.

 

 

“Huh?” the old woman said taking a better look at him. “Oh so you are. And what a fine young man you are too. Reminds me of my youth. Oh if only I was a few years younger, eh?” the old woman said nudging Kurama in his side with her elbow suggestedly.

 

 

“Old woman, get out of our way!” Hiei demanded once seeing that Yusuke was now out of sight.

 

 

“Oh, you're a rude one, there shorty, but I guess I'll forgive you this one time, considering the old saying. Big things come in small packages.” The old woman laughed, waggling her eyebrows and showing off a yellowed tooth grinned.

 

 

“You're a real pervert lady.” Kuwabara suddenly spoke up in a bland voice.

 

 

Turning towards him the old lady's smile vanished as she looked him and down with wide eyes. “Well aren't you a big strapping looking young man? All muscle aren't you, not an ounce of body fat.”

 

 

“Well I do work out.”

 

 

“Can I rub your stomach?”

 

 

“Eww, no! Gross Lady!” Kuwabara yelled jumping away from the perverted old lady.

 

 

“Oh come on young man! At least let me squeeze a bicep! What about a thigh muscle? Hey, where you going?”

 

 

“Away from you!” Kuwabara answered as they began to hurriedly walk the way Yusuke had last gone.

 

 

“That was disturbing.” Kurama commented as they hurriedly retreated.

 

 

“A word of advice.” The old woman yelled after them. “Follow the old black bird. It's a perfect day for reuniting with old friends.”

 

 

Stopping, they turned around only to find no sight of an old lady or her cans.

 

 

 

“Where'd she go? She just vanished.” Kuwabara said as they looked around for her.

 

 

 

“Humans don't vanish idiot.” Hiei retorted.

 

 

 

“Oh, no, he's right. She did vanish.” A voice said above them.

 

 

 

Looking up, they saw perched on the wall, a black bird with red eyes.

 

 

 

“Did you just talk?”

 

 

“Who me? No, I'm a bird I don't talk.” The black said rolling its eyes at them before flying off.

 

 

“This day is just getting weirder and weirder.” Kurama said as they began to follow the bird, Yusuke momentarily forgotten.

 

 

~___~

 

 

They followed the bird to the park where it soon disappeared.

 

 

“Was that a waste of time?” Kurama asked as they headed for the nearest exit, and hopefully find Yusuke before he killed anyone.

 

 

“Not a complete waste, look.” Hiei said with wide eyes as he pointed ahead of them.

 

 

Looking to where the stunned Hiei was pointing, they saw, climbing over the fence, a very familiar face.

 

 

They slowly made their way over until they were only a few feet away from the girl, who was busy dusting her skirt off, oblivious of their arrival. It wasn't until she looked up to leave did they notice them.

 

 

“Kurama! Hiei! Kuwabara! What are you guys doing here?” Kagome squealed happily to the stunned figures.

 

 

“Kagome?” Kuwabara asked uncertainly.

 

 

“Yeah. Who else would I be?” she asked with a smile staring at Kuwabara strangely.

 

 

“Kagome!” Kuwabara yelled launching towards the girl and enveloping her in a big bear hug swinging her from side to side. “You're back, we've missed you!”

 

 

“Missed...you...too...Kuwabara.” she managed to gasp out as he finally let her go. “Maybe I should go away more often. So I do I Get a hug from you guys too?” she asked staring at them expectantly.

 

 

Gathering their composure back, Kurama and Hiei returned to their normal selves. “Welcome back Kagome.” Kurama said pleasantly offering her a handshake, as Hiei just hned and looked away.

 

 

Smiling nonetheless, Kagome took the handshake, but without warning, she pulled Kurama towards her, reached for Hiei with her free hand, and brought them both into a hug. Because Hiei was the most reluctant of them all she held him the longest and gave him, to his horror, a peck on the cheek.

 

Stepping away from the once again stunned boys, she gave them all peculiar looks.

 

 

“You guys are all acting weird. Where's Yusuke?” but all she got was blank stares and silence. But in the silence, she heard breathing that came from none of the three boys in front of her but from behind her.

 

 

Eyes wide in alarm she slowly turned around to find Yusuke hovering over behind her with dark look in his eyes as his breathing came out hard and heavy.

 

 

“Whoa.” She breathed out as his aura overcame her. “H-hey Yusuke!” she managed to say before said person pulled her close to his chest in a one armed hug as he glared at the men standing behind her. Laying his head onto hers, he breathed in her scent.

 

 

“Umm, Yusuke?” she said uncertainly as she began to blush. `Well doesn't this seem familiar?' “You can let me go now.” But as she tried to pull away, he held on tighter and growled.

 

 

“Yusuke. Let me go!” she ordered trying to get away, only to have him pull tighter and growl even more.

 

 

His growling seemed to awaken the boys behind her as she suddenly heard their voices.

 

 

“Release her this instant Yusuke!” Hiei said threateningly.

 

 

“Snap out of it, Yusuke!” Kurama voice said sternly trying to coax Yusuke to let her go.

 

 

“Let her go right now or else I'll pound you.” Kuwabara yelled angrily.

 

 

The growling became louder as the other males tried to get to his Kagome, but he wasn't going to let them get her, he was never going to loose her again, he...was in terrible pain.

 

 

“Next time I say let me go, do it...fucking idjamamit.” Kagome mumbled as Yusuke collapsed to the ground clutching his stomach in pain.

 

 

The dark and foreboding aura around Yusuke began to lighten as the pain in his stomach began to ease and his pupils dilated.

 

 

“HEY!” he yelled angrily staring up at Kagome.

 

 

“What?” she asked staring down at him, oblivious to the mischievous glint in his eyes.

 

 

“Nice skirt.” He said as a huge smile erupted onto his face. Staring at her face this time he saw her emotions flash across her face before a fist connected with his.