Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hentai Bets ❯ Who Do You Love? ( Chapter 19 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A thousand thanks to my faithful reviewers -- the last chapter must have really hit the right note, after all, -- and there were LOTS of new reviewers, too! This extremely evil chapter is dedicated to Sango Tajiya and PureMiko_Kagome69ner -- they were the 175th and 180th reviewers for this story. Thanks, guys! It’s all coming to a head now! Do I have an evil cliffhanger for you with this one! Oh, yeah -- do I ever! Don’t freak! Trust me.

Purplebabe - Yeah, I kind of like the idea of Kagome having Miroku’s “curse.” And yes, the final pairing is set -- who’s going to get in Hiei’s way when he loves her? (Besides Hojo … and Musou … and Kagome’s misunderstanding …) Heh heh!
VB - I wasn’t originally planning on revealing the misunderstanding that way, either, but Yusuke was perfect for the job, don’t you think?
Cutekitty - Yeah, Hiei’s not going to enjoy that conversation.
Kawaii-KeKe-Chan - Thanks! I’m glad you liked last chapter’s cliffy -- tell me what you think of this one -- just don’t send out any assassins, please.
SadBrokenWings - It all comes out in this one -- or does it?
Seiteki_Tenshi - I’m glad it was received well -- I was worried about it. This chapter is …different.
Bluepeach1 - Thank you! Sorry this one took a while -- next one will be quicker.
Todavialoca - Glad you enjoyed the Hiei/Kag time! Sorry this chapter took me a while, too. The rest of the story will be out a lot quicker -- promise!
Hawaiianhoney2030 - I’ll take you up on your deal -- a chapter for a chapter!
Rauko_Arisha - I’ll let you in on a dirty little secret: I always know where/how I’m going to end a chapter before I start writing it. Thanks so much for your kind words!
Touketsu Kaijin - Hiei was rather evil to pinch her and make her yell so everyone would think they were … you know. Heh heh. Yusuke really let the cat out of the bag, didn’t he?
Underwater963 - Sorry -- I’m just such a fan of the cliffhanger. Try this one out!
Sango Tajiya - I am so flattered that you like this story so much! I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to review in spite of being grounded -- you’re a TRUE fan. (Just like me!)
Fox_Hanyou - I’m glad you loved it! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I’ll be looking for your YYH fics.
Halfblackwolfdemon - Yeah, Hiei’s da man -- er, demon! I’m a Kurama fan, too, though, and will put up a Kur/Kag one-shot when this story is done. But, my, -- er, Kagome’s heart belongs to Hiei. At least in this story.
Kagome093 - Glad to have you aboard! Have you had a chance to read further yet? I wanted to use some of the different bit players from the anime/manga and put them in a different light.
Arcangel3012 - You’re going to die when you read this one -- Kagome IS going to finally make a commitment, but ... Oh, just hurry and read it!
PureMiko_Kagome69ner - Here’s the fallout from Yusuke’s shocking announcement. And Kagome hasn’t had intercourse with anyone … yet. So, her barrier still hasn’t been breached. Heh heh!
DragonKitsune - Yeah, I’m sorry, -- I know several people were hoping for Hiei/Kag/Kurama. Youko and Kurama WANTED her, but they weren’t ready for a lifelong thing, and they didn’t fall “in love” with her. Youko still hopes she’ll turn Hiei down, though. I had always planned on this turning out Hiei/Kag, but I did waver after a few chapters and considered the threesome. But with the emphasis I put on her feelings about Inuyasha and Kikyou, and her need to be “enough” for someone, I couldn’t very well have her expect anyone else to settle for less than all of HER. Make sense?
Bloodbunny - That revelation was a long time coming, but I think it was worth it. (At least, I HOPE so!)

talking
mental/telepathic conversations - “Youko” “Kurama” “Hiei”
(thoughts to self)

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own or profit from “Inuyasha” or “Yu Yu Hakusho,” no matter what I do with the characters for my own amusement. I didn’t invent the internet, either. Or the wheel. But I make some awesome peanut butter fudge.

*********************************************************** *************
Last time:
“I will not allow it. It’s over!” the fire demon declared, throwing Kurama away from him, and forcing him to stumble over Kuwabara’s prone figure, thus waking him up.

“What’s going on, guys?” he asked with a yawn.

Everyone had stopped what they were doing and stared at the scene unfolding in front of them. Kagome’s eyes were as wide as saucers. (Did Hiei just break up with Kurama, or me?) She stood up.

Kurama narrowed his eyes at Hiei. In a low tone, he asked, “Have you slept with her? We all know you haven’t. We may agree there will be no consequences, but that doesn’t mean I will just give up.” He stalked over until they were standing toe-to-toe. His eyes flashed gold. “Not until a commitment has been made.” Hiei grabbed Kurama by the front of his shirt. They were glaring at each other so intently, they didn’t see Kagome cover her mouth with her hand and flee into the forest.

“Well, holy shit! Do you have any idea what that just sounded like? And look at you two! It’s no wonder she thinks you’re lovers!” Yusuke shouted.

Stunned, two pairs of eyes whipped around to stare at the toushin. “WHAT?!!?”
************************************************ ************************


“What did you say?” Hiei growled. He let go of Kurama’s shirt and stalked over to stop right in front of Yusuke with a murderous expression on his face. Yusuke started sweating and took a couple of steps backwards.

“Eh, … heh heh, … I don’t remember?” He took another step back only to bump into Kurama.

“Allow me to refresh your memory,” the avatar said, in a deceptively pleasant tone. “I believe it was something to the effect of ‘it’s no wonder she thinks you’re lovers.’ And since there is only one woman around here, I have to assume you are referring to Kagome. Now, would you care to explain your statement before Hiei rips out your intestines and we use them to decorate you like an American Christmas tree?”

Yusuke turned pale and swallowed hard. This was not going to be pretty. “Well, … it’s just that, somehow, Kagome got the idea that you two are, um, … you know -- really good friends. Really, really good friends. And …”

“And you two idiots have played right into that assumption over and over again, including that delightful little scene you just treated us all to. Very touching, really, that the avatar is willing to overlook your indiscretions with My Miko, hybrid, and vice versa. And it must be gratifying to know that he is apparently going to stand by you until you commit to him. Bravo, I applaud your devotion to each other,” Naraku informed them with a mocking smile while clapping his hands slowly.

With their attention now centered on Naraku, Yusuke took the opportunity to quickly get out of arms’ reach of both of them and hide behind Kuwabara. All was quiet for a moment while the two demons processed what Naraku had said. Then, with a cold, hard stare, Kurama replied, “Very amusing. You all heard what she said earlier, and you know we were referring to the bet between us,” here he turned the full force of his gaze on Hiei, “ -- which as I said we may agree to call off, but it doesn’t mean you have exclusive rights to her unless she decides it is so.” He turned back to Naraku. “Now, if you would be so kind as to spare us the condescending attitude, someone had better start explaining what’s going on here.”

“I am merely letting you know how it must have appeared to her since she believes you are lovers,” Naraku said disdainfully.

Hiei’s eyes were blazing as his fists clenched and unclenched spasmodically, while he snarled and demanded, “Who told her that?”

“No one,” Miroku said calmly. “I’m afraid she came to that conclusion based on the way you were pursuing her, and your behavior towards each other.”

Kurama turned to the monk. “Since she knew we were pursuing her, how could she possibly think we were lovers? -- Especially since he has been acting like a jealous lunatic, no offense,” he said with a nod to Hiei, “and has been losing control of himself and attacking everyone who touches her, -- including me.”

“Well,” Miroku scratched the back of his head as he tried to come up with the best way to tell them what had been going on, “for one thing, she didn’t know you two have been at odds over her until recently. And with what she thought was going on between you, she misinterpreted your hostility for um, passion. And when she realized you were a bit angry with each other, she thought you were jealous over each other, not her.”

Kurama narrowed his eyes and turned to Naraku again. “You advised us not to let her know we had fought.” Then he turned and pointed at Shippou, “And you -- you were deliberately misleading her. You even told us to ‘kiss and make up’ at one point.” He shook his head in amazement. “Damn. You encouraged her misunderstanding. I underestimated you.” Truthfully, he and Youko were both rather impressed, but it was just too damn irritating for words. He looked at Miroku again. “So, how did she come to that conclusion in the first place?”

“It began when you both told her you were all right with the other one being with her, too. Her previous experience consisted of Kouga here dropping by and verbally claiming her as his woman every so often, and him and Inuyasha trading insults and fighting with each other. They were both very territorial and possessive -- especially Inuyasha. He wouldn’t let another male get near her without throwing a jealous fit, and then in the end, he didn’t even choose her. Since you two were so accepting of each other, she figured you weren’t all that serious about your interest in her. So, looking at it as being a casual, short-term thing, and due to the pilfered undergarments and certain events that followed, like at the dojo, she came to the conclusion that you both wanted to be with her at the same time. As in a threesome. And she wondered if, since you were both going to be there, if you were going to be together as well. And, well, it just kind of snowballed from there.” He paused here to see if they understood. ‘Oh, by the way, Kouga, thanks to her thinking they’re lovers, she also came to the conclusion that you and Inuyasha must have been attracted to each other.”

“WHAT?!!?” Kouga yelled. He looked around, wild-eyed. “No way! My Kagome could never think that about me!”

“Actually, wolfie, she already tossed you my way once,” Jakotsu winked at him.

“WHAT?!!?” Kouga sat down on the ground heavily. His mind was reeling.

Naraku smirked at him. “She also thinks you and the hybrid have indulged in a night of passion.”

“WHAT?!!” This time two voices were raised in disbelief.

Miroku snickered. “Hai. She thought that since Jakotsu wasn’t your type, you might like one of them. Or both, since they seemed to want to ‘spice up’ their sex life by adding in another person. That’s why she sent you with them a couple of times.”

“Why would she think I had been with him that way?” Hiei demanded.

“Hmmm. That could have something to do with the fact that when I snuck away to see her, I told her you had Kouga to keep you company.” Kurama chuckled a bit. “I had no idea she took it that way at the time, but now that I think about it … anyway, let’s go back to the whole threesome thing.”

“Yes! Let’s do go back to that. I’m not adverse to …”

“Do not even think about it,” Hiei growled.

“Be quiet -- both of you! We need to find out exactly what she thinks is going on if we’re going to fix it.”

“Honey, the way she told us was that that day at the dojo, when little big man here burst in on you two, he ripped his shirt off and then you couldn’t tear your eyes away from him. Not that I can blame you,” Jakotsu said, giving Hiei the once over with an appreciative gleam in his eyes. “Mmmm mmmm mmmm.” Shaking his head a bit, he continued, “After that, she was convinced. That’s why she ran. And, well, while the rest of us were talking about you two fighting, she thought we were talking about the way you two were … shall we say, enjoying each other.”

Miroku started laughing. “Oh, Buddha have mercy! I just remembered I asked her who she hoped came out on top -- no wonder her eyes bugged out! Oh, if I’d only known what she was thinking …”

Jakotsu huffed at him. “You are so bad. The whole thing shook her up so much that the poor thing decided she really wasn’t up on things enough for a relationship in the modern world, and then she traumatized herself by trying to watch a little porn to see just how threesomes were supposed to work. And she realized she just couldn’t do it. That’s when she spilled the whole sordid story to us. You two should be ashamed of yourselves for what you’ve done to that girl.” He swatted the air at them.

Kurama narrowed his eyes and turned back to Naraku. Then he included Miroku in his glare. “What we did to her? You bastards are the ones who misled her. I know why Shippou would interfere -- as a kitsune, he’s possessive to a fault of any female he considers family. And, of course, he just couldn’t resist stirring up trouble. But you all knew what she was thinking before he arrived. Why didn’t you tell her? You even had bets going yourselves as to which of us would win her. How did you expect us to do that when she thought we were involved with each other? Frankly, I’m surprised she has had anything to do with us after she reached that conclusion.”

“Actually, … so are we,” Miroku confessed. “And we discussed telling her, but decided against it, in her best interests.”

“And just how was it in her best interests to believe that we are lovers?” Kurama asked in an exasperated tone.

Naraku spoke up, “It was in her best interests for you imbeciles to convince her yourselves that you aren’t. How inept are you? My Miko deserves to know she is wanted for herself, and that she is enough for any male -- if she thinks all you want her for is to supplement your sex life, then you don’t deserve her.”

Shippou chimed in here. “I agree. The only thing is, for some strange reason, in spite of her past experience and her determination to never get caught up in a triangle like that again, she hasn’t been able to stay away from you. She’s already sworn off you both at least twice. But we did want her to give you a chance, and we actually persuaded her that if you two were having problems, it wasn’t her fault, and she should just see how things go. Unfortunately, while you’ve been amusing the hell out of us, you haven’t done a damn thing to prove to her she’s not just an outlet for your experimentation. I have to confess, I’m disappointed. When Kouga told me about the two youkai who had made a bet to try to seduce her, I thought that finally someone might get her to see herself the way others see her. Hell, I was hoping she would take one of you as a lover. My mother has let life pass her by too long now.” Shippou crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked down at his feet.

The silence that followed Shippou’s comments was broken by an explosive roar.

“Who the FUCK do you all think you are?!!?” All eyes snapped to focus on the figure surrounded with black flames. “Don’t you dare try to say you’ve been screwing around with her life in her best interests -- that’s a load of shit! If you knew she was thinking something was going on that hurt her or made her feel insecure and insufficient, then you damn well should have told her the truth. You sorry bastards may say you don’t mind if she takes a lover, but the truth is you’re too damn selfish to let someone else love her. Well, I’ve got news for you: she’s NOT your Miko,” he fixed his stare on Naraku, “or your Woman,” he told Kouga, “and even if you call her teammate, friend, or mother, you’re going to have to start dealing with the fact that she’s going to have another male in her life with a greater claim to her time, her attention, and her heart.” He faced down each of the others, his voice growing in volume as the flames licked the edges of his body and flared with greater intensity. “And if I have anything to say about it, there’ll be a whole lot of other little males in line ahead of you, too, because if she’ll accept me, that onna is going to be MY MATE!!”

Shippou’s mouth hung open at Hiei’s announcement. “You want to mate my mother?”

Jakotsu clapped his hands and squealed. “EEEeeee! Hai! Oh, I can see it now. Don‘t worry about a thing, hon, I‘ll take Kagome shopping and we’ll fix you two right up with a cozy little love nest. What are your favorite colors? I’m guessing black. Well, we can definitely make that work in the bedroom. Along with lots of mirrors. Yes, maybe one whole wall. And the ceiling, of course. Hmmm. Should we look for a place in Tokyo or Kyoto? Her mother will want to visit, -- especially once the grandbabies start coming …”

Everyone just stared at him as he went on and on about drapes and shag carpeting and mood lighting, -- every now and then adding a comment about the different ways various pieces of furniture could be utilized in their ‘love play.’ He wasn’t even looking at any of them, -- just gazing off into space with a dreamy look in his eyes.

Yusuke just kept hearing Hiei’s words about lots of other little males and Jakotsu’s mention of grandbabies echoing in his head. They were accompanied by visions of dozens of chibi Hieis running amok and setting his shoes and hair on fire. He closed his eyes and shuddered. If Kagome actually mated with him, they could all be up to their eyeballs in miniature hotheaded, arrogant, antisocial youkai in just a matter of years. He would have to check with Koenma when they got back -- surely there was some kind of law against Hiei reproducing. Or at least one against Keiko volunteering to babysit for them, because he knew she would. He was going to have to get home and marry that woman and start his own family right away so she’d be too busy to watch other people’s kids -- especially Hiei’s little demons.

Shippou approached Hiei and very quietly asked, “Do you love her?”

Having calmed down a bit after his tirade, Hiei looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Do you think I would have stayed here and made a fool out of myself acting like a maniac if I didn’t?”

Shippou grinned at him with an amused twinkle in his eyes. “Well, …” He chuckled when Hiei just glared at him. Then he smacked himself on the forehead. “Crap! How does he DO it? I swear that old dog must have an oracle in his closet. I mean, I’m happy for kaa-san and all, but, … damn it!”

“I take it your little dialogue with yourself has something to do with Sesshoumaru. What is it now?” Naraku asked curiously.

“I told you he had met them at some dinner or meeting or function or whatever,” he pointed to Koenma’s Spirit Detectives. “When I told him who the two youkai who had the bet on kaa-san were, he gave me the money to put in on your bet. I couldn’t believe he picked a fire demon over a kitsune in a game of seduction. So, I asked Koenma about them, and he assured me that if the apparition was chasing her, he was only doing it because the Youko must have insulted him and pissed him off. Then Sesshoumaru got all smug and we made a side bet. He told me that not only would the little hothead win, but that he would end up wanting to keep her. I’m going to owe him 500,000 yen, AND I’m not allowed to present my petition for Rin for 6 more months! Damn, damn, damn! Oh, man. Six more months of celibacy. Gah!”

“Six MONTHS?!!?” Naraku, Miroku, and Jakotsu all gave horrified shudders.

“Is that possible? I mean won’t it atrophy from lack of use? What if it gets used to just, well, hanging there?” Jakotsu hadn’t looked so shocked since the year they said yellow was the new black -- he had known that wouldn’t last.

“Are you trying to tell me that you’ve never gone for 6 months without sex?” Yusuke asked Jakotsu in amazement.

“Of course not! Not since the first time I lost my virginity, when I was 14. The very idea! The longest I’ve ever had to go without was when Naraku revived the Shichinin-tai and we were messing around with Inuyasha for a couple of months. That bad puppy just wouldn’t give it up,” Jakotsu said with a sigh.

“What do you mean the first time you lost your virginity?” Kuwabara asked, curious despite the fact he really didn’t want to know anything about Jakotsu’s sex life.

“Well, Mr. Tall, Built, and Stingy, I figure each time I’ve been brought back from being dead, I was starting a new life, so I must have been a virgin, right? That means I’ve been a virgin 5 times, -- though I’ve faked it a lot more than that,” he said with a wink.

“That’s just … not right!” Kuwabara’s face registered both shock and disgust. “… And how am I stingy?” he had to know.

“You wouldn’t share yourself with me …”

“Tell me, Shippou,” Naraku said, ignoring them and changing the subject, “were the terms of your bet with Sesshoumaru simply that he would want to take her as his mate, or does she actually have to accept him? Because she still might turn him down, you know, especially in light of what just happened. And was there a time limit on it? Did it have to happen during the course of the mission?”

“Hmmm. Now that you mention it, I’m not sure. I’ll have to check with Jaken -- he recorded it, of course. I could sure use a loophole -- 6 more months! It’s already been 4 …” Shippou’s voice trailed off sadly.

“Really? You’ve already gone 4 months without …? And it hasn’t shriveled up or anything? Are you sure it will still work when you actually do get to use it again?” Jakotsu was giving him pitying looks.

“Shut up, you fools!! I don’t want to hear about Sesshoumaru or your perverted thoughts about your virginity or any more Kami-forsaken bets! I have been trying to take a mate, and suddenly you tell me that all this time she thinks I’ve been sleeping with that -- that kitsune! Someone had better get this straightened out now!!” Hiei shouted.

“Hmph. You should be so lucky. As if I’d lower myself to fuck such an ill-tempered, mean-mouthed, rotten little bastard. Though the thought of him in the uke position does have an appeal all its own …”

“Do not show me that!! Youko! Stop it! Oh, somebody just kill me now,” Kurama groaned and rubbed his eyes.

“You’re about to have your wish granted.”

“Uh, guys? It’s staring at each other like that that got you into this mess in the first place,” Yusuke pointed out, drawing them out of their mental conversation.

“Ahem, now that we’ve got everything out in the open, may I suggest that the best way to go about fixing things with Kagome, for both of you, would be for us to go find Kagome? She’s been gone for quite a while now, and I can’t even sense her aura anymore,” Miroku pointed out.

“Shit!”

As they raced off into the trees at a dead run, Kuwabara glanced over at Yusuke. “So, does all this mean Hiei and Kurama aren’t lovers?”
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Kagome ran through the forest blindly. She had to get away from the scene she knew was being played out in the clearing -- they didn’t need her there to muddy the waters. (Oh, Kami! I am such an idiot! I can’t believe I put myself in that position again. Didn’t I learn anything from those years with Inuyasha? He loved Kikyou first, and even though he had feelings for me, she was always the one who occupied most of his thoughts and heart, and I needed more than just part of it. Why would it be any different with Hiei? He was with Kurama long before he met me. I knew better than to get involved with them after I found out they were together.

Maybe I should take a job as a relationship counselor, -- I could patch up every couple’s problems by dating them! I could take out an ad: “Lover try to kill you? Does she want to drag you to Hell? Or is he just curious about the opposite sex? Whatever the problems, our expert can solve them.”)

Kagome stopped for a minute and wiped her eyes. (What the hell am I crying for? It’s not like I’m in love with Kurama or … Hiei … right? Right? … Oh, … crap. I am the biggest idiot in the three realms. Damn them for involving me in their little games. I was perfectly fine with my life just the way it was. I didn’t need any damn males stirring up old dreams and hopes … I … still … don’t need …)

“Kagome? Are you all right? What’s the matter?”

A pair of strong, masculine arms encircled her as a gentle voice, full of concern and something else she couldn’t quite identify, reached her ears.

“Hojo?”

She looked up into warm, brown eyes set in a familiar, handsome face. Hojo. She let him lead her over to a fallen log, where he sat down, propping his back against it, still holding her securely in his comforting embrace.

“Why are you here by yourself? It could be dangerous,” he scolded her lightly.

“I could say the same to you,” she replied with a slightly forced laugh.

Tipping her chin up to look into her eyes, he asked her softly, “Did he hurt you?”

“What? No! No, he would never do anything like that.” As he continued to probe her eyes, she tried to convince him, “Hiei would never hurt me. Honestly.”

“All right. I’ll have to take your word on that because he strikes me as a very violent, dangerous person. But just because he didn’t hit you doesn’t mean he didn’t hurt you. I told you there was no future for you with him and I was right, wasn’t I?” When Kagome just looked away and didn’t say anything, Hojo sighed heavily and stroked the side of her face with the backs of his fingers. “Gomen. I just don’t like to see you like this. You know how much I love you. And if you’ll let me, I know I can make you happy.” He leaned forward to gently brush his lips across her cheek.

Kagome pulled away. “Gomen, Hojo. I just can’t … I can’t even think … not right now. Everything is so … complicated.”

“Then let me make things easy for you. Kagome, I want …”

“Get your hands off of her, you bastard!” There, not 15 feet away from them stood one very angry, extremely frustrated, and almost insanely jealous fire demon.

Hojo jumped to his feet at the sight of the little man. (Damn it! I had her.) One look at Hiei’s face was enough to convince Hojo he would have to finish this later because he had no doubt the man was completely capable of committing murder, and he was currently #1 on his hit list. Still, he didn’t want Kagome to know he was afraid of her boyfriend -- a woman had to be able to believe her husband would protect her. So, he forced himself not to run and answered back, “Just because you have been in an intimate relationship with her, it doesn’t give you the right to tell me to stay away from her.”

In the surrounding trees and bushes, the other detectives were listening carefully.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him. The more I think about it, the better the whole threesome idea sounds. We could get the best of both worlds in an arrangement like that.”

“He’s not going to go for that, Youko, and you know it. If she’ll have him, he won’t share. And I don’t even want to think about what you meant by both worlds,” Kurama mentally grimaced.

“Well! Will you just listen to him stand up to the scary little sugarman? He really is a fine specimen. I could sure go for some of that,” Jakotsu murmured to himself. “Some girls have all the luck.”

Hiei stalked forward. Did the ningen not have any sense of self-preservation? Ignoring his instincts for survival would be the last mistake he would ever make.

By this time, Kagome had gotten to her feet, and was standing beside Hojo. “Guys, calm down. There’s no need for any hostility. Gomen nasai -- I know this is all my fault. Hojo, have you all set up camp nearby? Why don’t we join the others for a bit and put our personal issues aside -- at least for the day? I promise, we’ll talk -- just not right now.” She looked at them both pleadingly, and they reluctantly nodded, though Hiei took her hand and pulled her to his side.

As they started to walk, he quietly told her, “It’s not what you think.”

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and then looked away. “Later, okay?”

Kagome spent the afternoon and early evening fishing with the four men, while Hiei sat nearby trying to think of the best way to explain things to her. He was leaning towards a simple ‘There’s no way in hell I’m not fucking the damn fox -- I want you to be my mate,’ but he knew that would probably just get him a shocked look and he’d still have to explain before she’d answer him. He didn’t want to make her feel stupid for thinking the things she had, but he was still a little in shock that she had been thinking such things about him. (How could anyone think that Kurama and I …?) He shuddered just thinking about it. Then his eyes narrowed as he thought about Youko. (Uke? I’ll make him think uke! I should use the Jagan and make him play uke to Kuwabara’s seme. That way they’re both out of my hair.) The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea, but that wasn’t solving his current problem. And he was tired of waiting. He was ready to slay all the ningen, -- starting with one in particular, -- kill all the demons, -- starting with another one in particular, -- and leave the others to sift through the remains for the damn jewel while he takes off with Kagome for an extended period of mating, -- like the next year, maybe two. After that maybe he’d let her visit her mother for a half hour or so. With him. And no other damn males within 20 miles of them. He had already had more than enough of that kind of nonsense.

The men could all tell something had happened between Kagome and Hiei. Masaharu thought it was a little sad since they were such a cute couple, but it just made Yasuo nervous. He was afraid to be anywhere near Kagome because he was sure her boyfriend would think he was hitting on her and would tear him apart in the mood he was in. But Tokiya and Hojo both smirked to themselves, -- they were confident they were very close to having the woman fall into their arms. When she spread out a blanket near the fire with the others for the night, neither of them could contain their smiles, and Hojo couldn’t resist shooting the little fucker a triumphant look.

(That’s it. Enough of this shit.) “Kagome, get your things. I’ll walk you to the lake now,” Hiei told her impatiently.

She hesitated. She was dreading the talk she knew was coming, and had avoided him all afternoon and evening. She knew it was all over between them, but she really didn’t want to hear it right now. Noticing the tension in his body and the anger radiating off him, she sighed. He needed to get it off his chest evidently, and who was she to stand in the way of him feeling free to commit to the one he loved?

Her thoughts strayed to Inuyasha and the painful conversation that had resulted in her letting him go for good. At least she had never had to see him and Kikyou after that. She truly did hope they had been happy together, but she didn’t think she could have stood having to watch it. Of course, since he had given up his demonic blood to become fully human to be with Kikyou, to Kagome it seemed as if he had died that day. The hanyou she had loved had ceased to exist. She had never told anyone else she felt that way -- not even Shippou. They all thought her heartbreak was just knowing the male she loved was with someone else. Her real heartbreak was knowing he had chosen to give up all he was -- to erase everything she loved -- to be with someone else rather than be himself with her. It wasn’t just that he was out of her reach, he was truly gone forever. At least that wasn’t going to happen this time. So why did it hurt so bad? Even knowing what Inuyasha was going to do, she hadn’t argued with him or pleaded with him to change his mind. So why did she feel like doing that now? She looked at the rigid, impatient figure standing before her. He must really love Kurama. She would have to tell Lord Enmaru she would prefer not to have to team up with Lord Koenma’s detectives again.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“Kagome? I can take you to the lake if you want,” Hojo said, starting to walk over to her.

One glance at Hiei’s face had Kagome rushing to make him back off. “No, no. We need to talk anyway. Why don’t you guys go ahead and start that card game we were talking about? We’ll be back in a little bit, then I‘ll clean you all out -- I‘ve always been lucky at cards.” (And unlucky at love.) Shaking her head at her rueful thoughts, she smiled reassuringly at Hojo and walked off into the trees with Hiei right behind her.

They walked along in silence -- each lost in their own thoughts about what they would say. When they reached the lake, Kagome set her towel and bathing supplies on the ground right at the water’s edge, and put her clothes a little further away to make sure they didn’t get wet. Then she turned to Hiei. To her surprise, he grabbed her and started kissing her in a way that spoke of desperation and determination. He clutched the back of her neck in one hand and tilted her head so he could press his tongue against the seam of her lips and force them to part for him. He had to show her how much he wanted her -- and how ridiculous it was to even think he could ever want anyone else. He was afraid he was actually going to lose her and he had to lay claim to her on a primal level before he could even begin to try to talk to her. So, his tongue swept the recesses of her mouth, tasting and claiming it before stroking against her tongue in dominance. And she let him. No, she encouraged him, with the soft sounds she made and the way her arms had encircled his waist. She had even pressed herself closer against him and her hands were gripping the back of his shirt tightly. He had a hard time forcing himself to stop, and he was sure the only reason he was able to do so was because she had responded so completely to his advances. She still wanted him. It was going to work out.

He sat down, pulling her with him, but she slipped out of his lap to sit facing him. She could feel how flushed her face was, and was embarrassed to have let herself go like that. It was way too easy for her to get lost in him, and she knew that wasn’t going to make it easy for him to say what he had to say. He did care for her -- she knew that. It was Inuyasha all over again. Then he spoke, and it wasn’t like last time.

“What you’re thinking -- you’re wrong.”

She stared at him, at a loss for words. “What do you mean?”

“Kurama and I aren’t … we’re not … he doesn’t mean anything to me!” He fumbled, trying to explain.

Nearby, several well-meaning and extremely nosy friends smacked their own foreheads and shook their heads, undetected by the couple thanks to Naraku’s barrier.

“Tell me that idiot didn’t just say that,” Yusuke groaned.

Jakotsu giggled. “That’s almost as bad as the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ line.”

“I can’t believe he just gave her the standard adulterer’s excuse -- he’s truly pathetic,” Youko howled with laughter.

Kurama couldn’t stifle a chuckle of his own. “I have to agree with you there.”

Kagome looked at Hiei in confusion. Why would he say that? (Maybe he’s just scared about making a commitment.) “You know that’s not true. And you’re not the first person to ever suffer a bout of nerves -- ningen call it ‘getting cold feet.’ It’s not unusual, even though you’ve been lovers for a long time. It’s always a little scary when you enter a new stage in a relationship.”

Hiei’s eyes widened. (Crap! She didn’t get it.) He tried again. “We’re not entering a new stage, and we haven’t been lovers for a long time,” he snapped. “We’re just … partners.”

“Oh no he didn’t!” Yusuke was rolling on the ground now.

“He wants to be my otou-san? He’s as bad at this stuff as kaa-san.” Shippou rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Maybe someone should go help him out before he accidentally professes his undying love for Kurama,” Miroku snickered.

Kagome’s brows furrowed as she looked at Hiei intently. (Is he saying their relationship is just casual? Friends ‘with benefits?’ And they haven’t been together long? Kurama was certainly serious. Is it one-sided?) She tilted her head and a speculative gleam entered her eyes. (That kiss -- he still wants me. For one last fling before he settles down? Or is he unsure of his feelings? Kurama made his quite plain, though, and even if they’re just “partners,” he’s the one with the prior claim to him. I can’t interfere in that, … can I? Knowing how important Hiei is to him? I’m not like that.) Then why did she feel like being so selfish? She couldn’t deny it -- she wanted to tell him she wasn’t just going to give him up to Kurama so easily. She wanted to make it hard for him. Shippou and her friends had said she just gave Inuyasha up without a fight. Was the chance to be with Hiei worth fighting for? Could she really do that? (Hell YES!) He hadn’t said he had chosen Kurama and that he couldn’t be with her anymore. As a matter of fact, everything he had said pointed to his uncertainty. Maybe she could help him make up his mind.

With new determination, she stood up and untied the ribbons holding her hair in long pigtails. Hiei wasn’t sure if she had understood what he was saying, so he didn’t know if the time was right to ask her to be with him yet. But he was tired of waiting. “Kagome, I want …”

She reached down and put a finger to his lips. “Shhhh. I don’t want to hear any more. I think I understand where you‘re coming from.”

“But…”

“Un-uh. Not another word.” Then she unbuttoned her shirt and untied the knot at the bottom of it. As she let it slide down her arms, Hiei just stared at her. So did the audience she didn’t know they had.

“What are you doing?”

As her shirt hit the ground, she shimmied out of her shorts, then turned her back to him. He heard a ‘click’ as she undid the front clasp of her bra, then it, too, hit the ground. Hiei was still sitting there, feeling a bit dazed and confused, but parts of him were starting to feel pretty happy about the way things were going. When she stepped lightly out of her lacey white panties, she looked over her shoulder at him. “I came here to take a bath, didn’t I? Want to join me?” And with a wink, she waded out into the water.

“What the hell just happened?” Yusuke asked, blinking owlishly.

“Who cares?” Miroku said, with a large grin on his face.

“Shut your eyes, you hentais!” Shippou smacked him in the head, then reached over to bop Yusuke one, too. Kuwabara had already covered his eyes, and was blushing furiously.

“I must say, that was an unforeseen turn of events. I can’t imagine what My Miko is thinking. I was sure she would take what he said the wrong way. But she does make a striking picture out there in the water, doesn’t she?” Naraku mused.

“Picture? Crap! Where’s my camera?” Miroku started fumbling around in his backpack. Kouga couldn’t decide whether or not to help him look for it, but opted for enjoying the scenery instead. He did manage to mutter, “She’s not your miko,” to Naraku.

Jakotsu rolled his eyes at them. “Men. You’re all so clueless. It’s obvious what just happened. Any woman could tell you -- she’s fighting for her man. And she’s bringing out the big guns.” He nodded in approval.

“Big guns is right,” Yusuke said with a leer.

Kuwabara reached out and smacked him. “I’m gonna tell Keiko, Urameshi.”

Yusuke whined, “I’m just looking.”

“Well, stop it! ALL of you! And put that camera down, Miroku. I don’t want to pick up a copy of my favorite magazine and find out my kaa-san is the PlayMiko of the Year.”

“I’d buy that issue.”

Kurama looked admiringly at the woman in the lake. “So would I, Youko.”

The monk’s eyes widened, and Shippou scowled at the considering look that came over his face. (Why didn’t I think of that? I’ll bet that American magazine mogul, --what is his name? Ah, Heffner, isn’t it? -- would be very interested in some of my pictures. And I wouldn’t mind visiting that Playboy Mansion of his.) He nodded to himself in excitement.

As Shippou herded them away back towards the ningen camp, he saw Jakotsu still standing there gazing rapturously at the lake. “Jakotsu? Not you, too! I‘ve never had to worry about you around kaa-san before.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, sweetie. Kagome may be a beautiful woman, but she’s not the only thing worth looking at over there. I was admiring how quickly short ’n sexy got out of his clothes. I wonder how he manages to move so fast with all that in between his legs?” He clucked his tongue in appreciation. “Ow! Ow! Ow!”

Shippou grabbed him by the ear and led him away.
***************************************************************** *******


“I’m glad you decided to join me -- the water’s a bit too cool for my liking,” Kagome said with a smile, as Hiei wrapped his arms around her.

“So, you just invited me in to take advantage of my heat-producing youki?” he teased her as he elevated the temperature of the surrounding water.

“Hmmm. Who said your youki was what I wanted to take advantage of? You can heat things up without it.” She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips before trailing a series of kisses along his jaw to his ear. She tugged gently on the skin captured between her teeth before releasing it with a giggle as her searching hands reached their destination and gave the sought after flesh a firm squeeze. She couldn’t believe the things she heard herself saying, and doing. Hiei brought out a side to her she hadn’t even known existed. And she enjoyed it. “Will you let me wash your hair?”

Hiei had grinned when he felt her grab his ass. After he had heard what the others said she believed was going on with him and Kurama, he had really been worried that it would take a while to straighten her out about the fact that he was, well, straight. And he was so uncomfortable even talking about the whole thing that he thought for a minute there he might have been making it worse. But she had understood, and definitely seemed to still want to be with him. Now all he had to do was ask her to be with him forever. At the moment, though, he was reveling in the feel of her fingers massaging his scalp and running throughout his hair.

“You can rinse it out now.” She laughed when he came back up out of the water and shook his head from side to side. “Now that’s interesting.”

“What?”

“One second your hair is totally plastered against your head, and as soon as you shook it out, it lifted up and looks the same as it always does. How do you do that?” she asked curiously.

Both of Hiei’s brows rose in surprise. “I never thought about it. I guess it’s just a result of the youki flowing through me.”

Kagome reached out and buried a hand in his hair. “It’s dry, too. Unfair,” she pouted. “As if you youkai don’t have enough advantages over us ningen, you don’t have to waste your time drying your hair.”

“I told you I’ll be happy to dry yours for you,” he said as he dunked her under the water with a mischievous smirk dancing around the corners of his mouth.

“Hey!” Kagome sputtered.

Hiei just turned her around and reached for the bottle of shampoo that was bobbing in the water nearby from where Kagome had brought it out to use on him. Pouring some out in his hand, he tossed the bottle back on the ground beside the lake. Then he gathered her long hair up and worked the shampoo through it. He loved the way the thick mass felt in his hands, and he took a long time massaging her scalp as she had his. He leaned forward and inhaled deeply. Lemons. He chuckled a bit.

“What’s so funny?” she asked, as she almost purred in contentment.

“Your shampoo smells like you. I like it.”

“I smell like lemons?”

She felt him nod as he kissed the back of her neck. “And oranges.”

“Huh. Really? I smell like a fruit basket?”

He chuckled again. “And sometimes, cinnamon.”

He dunked her again.

“Hey!” She submerged herself once more and ran her hand through her hair to rinse out all the suds. When she came back up, she faced him and narrowed her eyes. “You could have warned me.”

He brought his lips down to meet hers in a lazy caress. “What would be the fun in that?”

She looked at him curiously. “Do I really smell like food to youkai?” She had heard Shippou and Naraku refer to her scent before, but they had never described it.

He gave her a considering look before answering. “I guess you could say that. It’s definitely a scent that gives one an appetite.” He bit her neck, causing her to let out a surprised little cry. “And it makes me want to taste you.” He nibbled and licked his way to the hollow of her throat, where he paused to suck on the delicate skin for a minute before continuing his way downward. He lifted her up against him and gave a low murmur of approval when she wrapped her legs around his waist, with one of her arms around his shoulders, while the other one twined around his neck so she could sink her hand into his soft hair as she closed her eyes and let her cheek graze against the silky, feathery-feeling mass. His thoroughly aroused flesh was currently nestled very comfortably up against her warm heat, with the tip reaching up past her abdomen.

Cradling her bottom with one arm and supporting her back with the other, Hiei lifted her a little higher to give himself access to the treasure he sought. Kagome’s body tensed when he flicked his tongue lightly over a tightly budded nipple before pulling it into the warm, moist heat of his mouth. He teased the nub with his teeth as well as his tongue until her soft moan penetrated his own pleasure at his actions and caused him to let go and look up at her with a cocky grin. “And there’s the cinnamon.”

Kagome blinked her eyes at him uncomprehendingly. “What?”

“I told you sometimes your scent is also laced with cinnamon. This is one of those times.”

A dark red blush stained her cheeks. “You mean the only time the cinnamon smell is there is when we … when I’m …? No wonder Shippou knew … -- that means everyone with youkai senses can tell if I …? I didn’t know my scent changed when I … I just thought it got stronger like if you’ve been running or something.”

Hiei arched a brow at her. “Running?”

“You know what I mean -- doing some kind of physical activity.” She frowned at him when he started to laugh. “Well, damn. That’s another advantage you youkai have -- dating and relationships should be a snap for you if you can tell so much about someone else’s, um, attraction to you.”

“That depends on whether or not all you want is a physical relationship. When it comes to emotions and matters of the heart, youkai are just as much in the dark as anyone else,” he told her in a serious tone. He started walking out of the water, still carrying her. “Kagome, about us …”

Suddenly she scrambled to the ground. “Hiei! There are several youkai approaching the campsite!” But Hiei had already sensed them, too, and was already pulling his pants on. Kagome threw a light blue t-shirt over her head and then pulled up a pair of white shorts, completely forgoing any underwear in her haste. Leaving her other clothes and supplies behind, she started running towards the camp only to be grabbed up and carried by Hiei as he sped along through the forest.
*************************************************************** *********


They came to a stop on a branch about halfway up a large tree right next to Naraku. Their teammates were spread out in the surrounding area, carefully concealed in the trees and bushes. Naraku had erected an invisible barrier surrounding the ningen so their scents and auras would be masked from the approaching youkai. “Glad to see you made it -- we wondered if you two would notice,” he said mockingly.

Hiei just glared at him, but Kagome blushed. “Were you hentais spying on me again?” she hissed.

“My dear Miko, what else is there worth looking at around here?”

Now Kagome glared at him, too. But their attention was soon diverted to the lone figure quickly making its way from the camp towards the youkai. There were 10 of them, of various strength levels ranging from a lowly snake youkai to an “A” class elemental apparition. Judging from his appearance, he seemed to be a wind-user. He was about medium height and stocky, with shoulder-length blue hair. He held up a hand to signal the others to stay where they were while he walked forward to talk to the ningen.

“Tokiya” Kagome breathed quietly.

“You have brought him here and he has the Gem with him?” the youkai asked.

“Hai, he’s here. As for the Gem, well, I assume he has it with him -- I doubt he would leave it anywhere. So, you’re going to do it tonight, right?” At the youkai’s nod, he added, “There are two others staying at our camp. You can go ahead and kill the man, -- as a matter of fact, do it slowly and painfully, -- but leave the woman alone. I’m taking her as part of my payment.”

The wind demon frowned at him. “No one said anything to us about a woman, except for the miko Musou wants. Did you clear this with him?”

Tokiya looked a little uncomfortable. “No. But why would he quibble over such a thing? I’m sure if he’s going to all this trouble for some priestess then he will understand my desire for this woman.” He snorted impatiently. “Look, this doesn’t change anything. Just kill all the men and leave the woman to me. Understood? I will leave the campsite about an hour before dawn.” And he turned to walk away.

“Don’t turn your back on me, ningen. You’re not giving the orders around here. We will check to see what Musou says about the woman.”

“Leave her and you can keep half of the gold I was promised.”

The demon looked at him speculatively. “This woman is something special, ne? We shall see.” And he signaled the others and they all faded away back in the direction they had come from. When they were gone, Tokiya quickly retraced his steps, too.

The Spirit Detectives gathered where the other meeting had just taken place. Kagome frowned. “Damn. So, Tokiya’s the spy. And he’s planning to just walk away and let them kill the others.”

“And Hiei. That’s one way to get rid of the competition. Slowly and painfully. He may be a ningen, but he’s got the heart of a youkai,” Kurama commented.

“I told you these ningen were taking up youkai traits. Flattery, seduction, slyness, now cunning and ruthless efficiency. If he can get rid of Hiei that way, tell me again why we can’t?”

“That would be because you CAN’T.”

“Will you two please knock it off?”

“Damn, Kagome. Does this happen all the time? I used to think Kurama’s fangirls were scary, but this is a whole other level,” Yusuke said, shaking his head.

“Yusuke, I can honestly say that before this mission not a single male ever showed serious interest in me -- this is completely unprecedented.” Kagome looked rather dazed by the whole situation.

Shippou stepped beside her and threw his arm around her shoulders. “Kaa-san, you are the most unbelievably oblivious female in the three realms. In the Feudal Era alone, there was Inuyasha, Kouga, Aikitoki, Mukotsu, Musou, that Chinese pig demon, …”

“Inuyasha loved Kikyou, Kouga just liked to annoy Inuyasha, -- you know you did, Kouga, -- Mukotsu just wanted a woman -- any woman, Musou originally mistook me for Kikyou, and that Chinese pig demon was kidnapping every woman in the area to be his bride,” she said in an exasperated tone.

Shippou moved to face her and narrowed his eyes. “Okay, how about Enmaru, Koenma, Shishi, Yomi, and that big dude with the mohawk -- the drunk -- what’s his name? Chi? Chee?”

“Chuu?!!?” Kuwabara asked in shock.

“You know Yomi?” Kurama asked.

“Shishi? Wakamara?” Yusuke yelled.

“Don’t be silly, Shippou. The only reason I went out with any of them was because you made me, and I‘m sure you coerced them, too. And Lords Enmaru and Koenma are only interested in my abilities and my history.”

Shippou threw his hands up in the air. “What about the ningen who swarm all over you every time we go out somewhere in the Ningenkai?”

By this time, Hiei was getting seriously agitated. He was going to spend the rest of his life chasing other males away from his mate.

“Hee hee! I get the feeling you don’t like what you’re hearing, Hiei. Are you sure you want such a desirable mate? Are you going to be up to the task of protecting her from unwanted male attention? Because if you want, we can make an arrangement to help you out …”

“Hn. It’s not going to be a problem because I’m going to take her away somewhere where there aren’t any males, like the Koorime village, and lock her up. And you can just forget that whole threesome idea -- keep your paws to yourself.”

“I don’t think Kagome would be too happy if you tried to keep her away from everyone.”

“And I don’t think you’re going to be able to make her do anything she doesn’t want to. You’re the one who’s going to end up being kept on a short leash. AND, may I remind you, she’s not your mate yet.”

Kagome saw the way Hiei and Kurama were looking at each other. Hiei looked angry, and Kurama looked a little smug. She grabbed Shippou’s arm and walked away a few steps. “Shippou, stop it,” she whispered urgently. “You’re going to make Hiei think I run around all the time, and that’ll make Kurama look good by comparison.”

Shippou’s mouth hung open. “What are you saying?”

“Well, Hiei seemed unsure of his feelings for Kurama, and I decided I do want see if he could really come to care for me. I feel a little bad trying to take him from Kurama, but I just can’t give him up without at least trying to fight for him. I know I’m working against his natural inclinations, as well as trying to compete with a kitsune, for Kami’s sake, but … well, I just have to try. So, please don’t make it more difficult than it already is,” she asked pleadingly.

“You’re competing with Kurama for Hiei now. Well, that certainly is … interesting. Go get ’em, kaa-san! I‘m behind you all the way.” (I can’t believe Jakotsu was right -- she’s going after that little twerp even though she thinks Kurama wants him. This is too good!! The prey has become the hunter.)

“Arigato, Shippou,” she smiled gratefully. Then, arm in arm, they walked back to rejoin the others.

“By the way, kaa-san, did I mention I was glad to see you took the time to put on some clothes before joining us? Though you seem to be short some undergarments again.”

She reached over and grabbed his nipple through his shirt and twisted.

“Ow! Ow! Ow!”

“Behave yourself. Well, I guess we should go back before someone comes looking for us. I think Kurama and Hiei should search through everyone‘s things as soon as they fall asleep. As soon as we know where the Gem is, we can take out the demons, and then we’ll just have to wipe the ningens’ minds and take Tokiya in to the Reikai.”

“And whichever of the men has the Gem,” Yusuke added.

“Hai,” she agreed. As the others split off to circle around the camp, Kagome touched Kurama’s arm. She leaned toward him and whispered, “Gomen nasai. I didn’t mean to cause problems for you.” Biting her bottom lip nervously, she reached up and caressed his cheek briefly in apology. When she turned to go, he grabbed her around the waist and slid a hand into her hair beside her face, holding her captive for his kiss. Her lips parted in shock, and he pressed his advantage and brushed his tongue against hers. As the growling behind him increased in volume, he gentled his embrace and slowly eased away from her, brushing his lips over hers once, then twice, before releasing her completely. He smiled down at the confused look in her eyes before Hiei picked her up and disappeared.
********************************************************** **************


Kagome was confused. (What was that about? Is he still trying to make Hiei jealous? Or since Hiei isn’t sure about having a serious relationship with him, is he thinking about offering to go the threesome route again in order to keep him? Because I just can’t do that. Hiei is going to have to choose. No halfway measures -- no settling for less. I want the whole deal this time.)

Hiei was pissed. (It’s nothing but interruptions and interfering kitsunes every damn time I get a few minutes alone with her. The Kamis hate me. And I’m not too fond of them, either. I’m not waiting another minute!) When they were back at the lake, Hiei put her down, but kept his arms around her. He pulled her close and held her. “Kagome, …”

“Kagome! Are you all right?” a familiar voice called.

(He’s a dead man!)

She pulled away from Hiei and looked to where Hojo was walking swiftly towards them. “Hai, I’m fine. Is everything okay at the camp? Did something happen?”

Hojo stopped a few feet away and frowned. “No, everything’s fine. It’s just that you’ve been gone so long, I was worried.” He looked at the murder in Hiei’s eyes and couldn’t quite quell the involuntary shudder that ran through him. Then he looked at Kagome, and in a very grave manner asked, “Can I speak with you ? Alone?”

“No.”

“Hai. Hiei, I really need to talk to Hojo. Would you please take our things back to the camp?”

(She’s not fucking serious, is she? She doesn’t really think I’m going to just leave her here with him, does she?)

She touched his arm and said quietly, “Please, I have to talk to him.”

“Hn,” he grunted. “A few minutes.” He picked up their things and walked into the shadows, where he joined Kurama, Shippou, Naraku, and Miroku. The others were staked out at the campsite.

Hojo was still frowning as he watched the little man leave. From the looks of things, they had made up. It would have been easier if she had broken things off with him, but it didn’t really matter. She was always supposed to be his, and now she would be. He took Kagome’s hand. “Let’s sit down.”

Sitting beside him, Kagome looked at the man who had been her friend for such a long time. She had known him since they were kids, but it wasn’t until she was 15 that he had shown any real interest in her. He looked a little different now with his longer hair and more muscular physique. He really was extremely handsome. And his self-confidence was attractive. He was kind and generous. The most amazing thing was that he wanted her -- loved her. He was still the only male to do that. Any woman would be lucky to have him. Any woman would jump at the chance to marry such a guy. Any woman but her. She let out a long sigh. He had offered her everything she could have ever wanted, but she just couldn’t accept it. Regardless of all of the reasons she had listed why she could never be with a ningen man, she would have tossed caution to the wind and gone for it -- if only she had loved him.

“Hojo, gomen nasai for making you wait so long for my answer.” She held his hand between both of hers. “I am honored that you think highly enough of me to want me as your wife, but …”

“Kagome. Before you say anything, I want you to think one more time about everything I said -- about all the things I’m offering you, and about the futility of thinking about such things with him.”

“That bastard! I’m going to rip his arms off and gouge his eyes out with his own fingers,” Hiei hissed.

Naraku nodded in silent appreciation of the apparition’s tactics.

“Calm down. He’s just trying to persuade her to accept him,” Kurama tried to reason with him.

“Exactly,” Hiei snapped.

Hojo looked into her eyes as she remembered his words. (I can trust him to take care of me. He loves me. He wants to have a home and children with me, and he would try to make me happy.) She was feeling slightly warm under the force of his gaze, and the nerves at the nape of her neck were tingling. (He really is offering me a wonderful future.) She thought of Hiei. (He’s a bit temperamental and controlling. He’s had a few jealous outbursts -- over Kurama. He’s GAY. There’s no future for me with him. Is there?) She closed her eyes and shook her head to try to clear it as the same thoughts kept swirling around in her mind. “Hojo …”

“Look at me, Kagome.” He tipped her chin up with one of his fingers so she was looking directly into his eyes. The tingling at the back of her neck was spreading down her spine. “I want you to see me as the one you love and desire above all others. I want you to say you’ll marry me. Will you do that? Will you be my wife?”

As the warmth and tingling spread throughout her body, Kagome leaned forward and touched Hojo’s face gently. “Hai. I’ll marry you.”

“What the fuck?!!?” Shippou was stunned. “There’s no way she would have accepted him -- not now!”

“Fuck! He’s using the damn Gem!” Hiei’s nails grew into deadly-looking claws and fangs glinted in the faint moonlight as he gnashed his teeth in fury..

“I think you’re right -- but where is it? He’s not wearing a necklace.” Kurama asked, glancing at Hiei warily -- things were about to get ugly.

Hojo continued to stare at her intently. “Tell me you love me. I want to hear you say it.”

“I … love you …”
******************************************************** ****************