Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Can Purify the Coldest Flame ❯ through the well ( Chapter 2 )

Title: Love Can Purify the Coldest Flame

Author: Alexis - mezzomonkey@earthlink.net

Pairings: eventual Inuyasha+Kagome; eventual Hiei+Kurama; Miroku+Sango; Yuusuke+Keiko

Rating: let's just say R to play things safe, yes?

Warnings: hmm…crossover, AU, shounen ai/yaoi, het, potential bad language, some degree of violence, fangirly Japanese, corny jokes, sap, angst of the romantic nature, blah blah blah.

Disclaimer: Don't own them, this has been thoroughly established already. Our little discussions on this are getting tedious, ne?

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*beep beep beep beep beep*

Kagome rolled over and buried her head under he pillows.

*Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep*

"Uh," she moaned. "Five more minutes!"

*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*

"Ugh! Fine! I'm up!" Kagome slapped at her alarm clock, turning it off. She stretched and rolled out of bed, then hopped into the shower, thanking Kami-sama for hot running water.

Oh it's so nice to be home! Soft bed, hot shower, and ODEN! Already she was looking forward to having her favorite meal for dinner, as her mother promised when she got home last night.

She then got out of the shower and dressed in her school uniform. It was the first day of the school year, and she was now attending the prestigious school, Meiou High, having just scraped by in spite of her frequent absences in junior high.

Looking at the clock, her jaw dropped open. "Oh no, I'm going to be late!" She then ran downstairs and out the door, calling out behind her, "Bye Mama! Sota! Jiichan!"

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The four Reikai Tantei were walking down the street together, having just finished a short mission for Koenma. It was a simple elimination of a rogue demon that escaped to the Ningenkai, a lowly D-Class, which didn't need all of their attention. They were all eager for a fight though, not having been on a mission in a while, so they took their time and enjoyed themselves.

A girl dressed in a Meiou High school uniform was running towards them, obviously late, and accidentally crashed into Kurama, falling backwards and dropping her bright yellow backpack.

Smart Kagome, real smart, she thought as crimson stained her ivory cheeks.

A soft alto broke through her self-deprecating thoughts, "Here, let me help you up." She looked up into beautiful emerald eyes framed by long hair the color of flames, and saw a smile softening his face. She took the proffered hand gratefully, and stood. The boy who helped her was much taller than she, since she was only a little bit over five feet herself.

"My name is Minamino Shuuichi, and these are my friends, Urameshi Yuusuke," he gestured to a boy around his height with dark slicked-back hair and brown eyes, clad in a green school uniform.

Another boy broke in, even taller than the other two, with carrot-colored hair and a blue uniform. "I am Kuwabara Kazuma, and I believe I am in love, dear lady!" Everyone sweat-dropped at this declaration, and Kagome looked at `Shuuichi' for help.

He smiled and gestured to the other figure with them, who she hadn't noticed yet, since she was looking up at the much taller boys, and her jaw dropped open.

"Hiei," she gasped, and then collapsed in a faint, the small fire demon catching her before she hit the floor.

"Shrimp! What did you do? I was about to ask her out!"

Hiei just glared at the idiot, and then looked back at Kagome, who was stirring in his arms. She blinked and looked into Hiei's intense crimson orbs. "How are…what are you doing here?"

"Hn, I could ask the same of you. You disappear, and then show up again five hundred years later. No ningen can do that."

The other three boys were in varying states of shock at the fact that Hiei and the mysterious girl knew each other, they knew each other five hundred years ago, that Hiei still had her in his arms, and that Hiei was actually TALKING.

"I guess I have some explaining to do. That day when I left to go to my village for a few days? For you that was 500 years ago. For me, it was only yesterday."

Now all four boys were shocked, although you couldn't tell with Hiei, except for the slight tightening of his jaw to keep it from falling open.

"Let's go somewhere that we can discuss this." She then smiled at the other boys, who were beginning to think they had been forgotten. "By the way, I'm Higurashi Kagome. It's nice to meet you all, especially if you're friends of Hiei."

Kurama's good manners took over, even though inside the youko-turned-human was seething with jealousy. "Thank you Kagome-san. Forgive our surprise; we have never had the pleasure of meeting one of Hiei's friends before."

"Fox…" Hiei interjected, obviously annoyed.

"Hah! I knew it," Kagome exclaimed. "I thought you were a kitsune. But…how do you hide your form? Is it something other kitsunes can learn? I'd be able to bring my son here with me, and he could go to school-"

"It's a long story," Kurama cut in. "And no, I don't' think it is something that could be so easily learned…wait! You have a son?" Now Kurama was completely confused on how this young girl could have a kitsune as a son.

"Baka, he's adopted. Does that answer your question?"

Yuusuke finally cut in, "Do you think we can go somewhere to discuss all this? I don't mind the conversation, but we're in the middle of the sidewalk, and people are going to start looking at us funny if we get into more detail about…certain things."

Kagome blushed at this, and nodded. "My family's shrine is not too far from here, and is probably the best place for me to explain everything to you all."

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"So you see, for about a year I've been traveling through the well into the Sengoku Jidai, helping to retrieve fragments of the Shikon no Tama. My companions and I recently met up with Hiei, on our hunt for Naraku. He must be stopped before he collects the entire jewel. If that happens, there is no telling what the future will be like."

The four Reikai Tantei looked impressed; they had been listening to her story for the past twenty minutes. "So this guy is an S-class youkai, huh? I bet we could take him on!"

Kagome looked puzzled, "S-class? What does that mean? You've fought youkai before? I know Hiei has, and Shuuichi as well I would guess, but the rest of you?"

Kuwabara felt the need to cut in, in an attempt to impress the beautiful girl with them. "We've fought plenty! We just won a big tournament in the Makai, defeating many powerful youkai!"

"Bakayarou, we won without any help from you."

"What was that, shrimp? I'll beat you right now!"

"Onegai shimasu, everyone stop it. And Kagome-san, please, you can call me Kurama; I am Shuuichi only to those who do not know my story. I was a silver youko, and had lived for centuries, only to be struck down by a hunter. Instead of dying, I chose to go to the Ningenkai, and inhabit the body of a child not yet born until I healed."

"Okay, but how do you all fight youkai? And why are two demons allied with two humans? I do travel with them, but there are special circumstances surrounding that, most would never align themselves with those considered so inferior."

To that, Kurama chuckled, and explained the origins of the Reikai Tantei, and what he and Hiei had done to be working with the group.

"Hiei, I don't understand why you would do something like that. I'm glad you're okay, the punishment could have been much worse."

"Eh, the shrimp is like that. Causing trouble, picking fights…" At this point in Kuwabara's rant, smoke started to rise from the bandages encasing Hiei's right arm, his blood-red eyes snapping with anger. But before he could retaliate, Kagome swung her hand around, connecting with Kuwabara's face, knocking him to the ground.

"Don't tell me what Hiei's like. Technically, I've known him longer than you have, about 500 years longer! And if you weren't being so rude all the time, maybe he wouldn't get into fights with you! I wish I had one of Kaede's rosaries, so that I could tell you "osuwari" whenever you say something like that!"

Yuusuke nudged Hiei, and whispered, "Man, she's as scary as Keiko. I'm glad I haven't gotten on her bad side. I'd hate to be Kuwabara right now."

To this, Hiei only smirked, and replied, "Yet."

Kurama laughed, agreeing with Yuusuke, though inside he was very curious as to the relationship between Hiei and Kagome. The recalcitrant fire demon seemed to have a bit of a soft spot for the time-traveling girl. It rankled him that he might be five hundred years too late to win the half-Koorime's affections, especially since he had been so drawn to him since their very first meeting a couple of years prior.

As if reading his thoughts, Hiei glanced at the youko-turned-human, and cocked an eyebrow at him, as if in an attempt to dissuade him from thinking the sanjiyan had such warmer, ningen emotions. He didn't live for five and a half centuries as the Forbidden Child of the Koorime by being soft. He did what was needed to survive in the harsh reality that is the Makai.

Kurama's gaze turned introspective, as he recalled the first time Hiei showed his Kokuryuuha at the Ankoku Bujuitsuukai. Seeing him use such a powerful attack, watching the pain he was in afterwards as he tried to master its use, that was when he realized that he felt more than a mere attraction for the temperamental youkai. I remember after his fight with Bui, rewrapping the wards around his arm, and watching over him as he slept off the effects of the drain on his youki. Although I tried to read, it was hard to tear my eyes away from the sight of him. Rarely have I ever seen him so vulnerable, perhaps not even since our first meeting. We fought, and I took him in to heal his injuries. Even at that first meeting, he was striking to me, and I wanted to know him better. He has grown to be my best friend, but I cannot stop myself from wanting more!

Kurama finally realized that everyone was looking at him, seeing that he was focused on something other than their topic of conversation. With a nervous chuckle, he spoke up. "Sumimasen, what were we talking about?"

Kagome smiled brightly at him, Yuusuke elbowed him for drifting off like that, Kuwabara just looked confused at the out-of-character action, and Hiei kept that deeply penetrating gaze on him, as if trying to read every one of his secrets.

Kagome decided to break the ice, saying, "Yuusuke-kun was saying that he'd find out from Koenma if Naraku has been active in modern times. I've only come across a shard once here at home, and I must say that it was quite a mess. Thank goodness for Inuyasha, or else I bet all of Tokyo would have been eaten by that Noh mask!"

Kurama nodded, and then smirked at Yuusuke. "That was a good idea, are you sure you came up with it all by yourself?"

"Oi! I've had good ideas before! They're usually just spur-of-the-moment things though; we're all not meant to be master tacticians like you!"

Kagome looked over at Hiei, "Is it always like this when you are all together?"

He shook his head in response. "No, it's usually worse. The baka is being remarkably quiet today."

Kuwabara took offense to this, leaving off his musings on Kurama's actions as of late. "Teme! How dare you speak of the great Kuwabara Kazuma like that! I shall fight you right now to uphold my honor!"

Behind Kuwabara, Kurama and Yuusuke were mouthing the words to Kuwabara's speech with accompanying movements, much to the amusement of Kagome. Seeing her laughter, he turned around and saw the pair trying to look innocent or at least as innocent as a juvenile delinquent and a centuries-old youko can look.

Kuwabara looked confused again, and Yuusuke just laughed, taking out his compact communicator to call Botan. The blue-haired ferry girl's picture popped up in the mirror part of the compact, an ever-present smile on her face.

"Yuusuke! Isn't this a surprise! You're actually contacting me of your own free will? Praise Enma, this is a day that will live in history!"

The others snickered at this very apt description of events, whereas Yuusuke had a look on his face that was a cross between self-righteous indignation and chagrin. Not that he was quite sure of what those words meant, let alone what they looked like.

"Anyway, we need to know about a specific demon, going by the name of Naraku. We met a girl who was fighting him…the catch is that it was five hundred years ago."

At this admission, Botan's jaw dropped open in surprise. "I don't know anything off the top of my head, but I'll speak with Koenma-sama, and we'll look into it. I'll contact you when I know something."

"Thanks Botan, ja!" And with that, Yuusuke closed the comm., and grinned at everyone. "No problem, I'm sure we'll find out the deal with this demon soon enough."

Kagome smiled brightly, and turned to Yuusuke. "Thank you so much for your help. Naraku has just caused so much pain and suffering to so many people. All of my friends have been touched by his cruelty, even Hiei."

At this admission, all eyes turned toward the fire demon, who was glowering at the floor. Kuwabara then turned his eyes to Kurama, feeling something strange with his reikan coming from the attractive youko. Kurama was smarting over the fact that some ningen girl knew something about Hiei's past that he didn't, that Hiei had never bothered to share with him, even though they were close friends. Finally, he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Baka! Don't make something out of nothing. He is your comrade, and fighting partner. If he didn't need me to steal the Reikai treasures, I'd probably have never seen him again! And with that dismal thought, he stood and turned to face everyone.

"Well, I should probably try to head into school. Missing won't hurt model-student Shuuichi's reputation, but if `Kaasan found out, she'd be worried. I'll see you all later. Kagome-san, it was a pleasure to meet you, and I hope we can be of some assistance to you. Ja ne, minna-san!" With that Kurama turned to leave.

"Kurama-kun, wait! I forgot all about school in the excitement. It's my first day at Meiou High, may I walk with you?"

Kurama smiled and nodded, while Yuusuke barked with laughter. "Have fun dealing with his fan club, Kagome! Showing up with their darling `Shuuichi', they'll either love you or be totally jealous of you."

At this statement, Hiei's eyes flashed with anger for a moment, before being covered again by his indifferent mask. Kurama blushed rather attractively, despite his red hair, and waved away the remark. "It's not as bad as all that, they're exaggerating."

"Hn. Those ningen females stare at you like a pack of wolves on a fresh kill."

Kurama, never resisting the chance to tease the object of his affections, met this statement with a quick rejoinder. "Why Hiei, I didn't know you cared enough to protect me from the big, bad ningen girls."

Hiei did not dignify that with a reply, turning away to hide the slight flush brought to his cheeks by Kurama's words.

And with a few parting words, the group of teenagers went on their own separate ways.

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Kuwabara looked uneasily at Yuusuke, not knowing how to bring up this topic of conversation, yet feeling compelled to do so. "Oi, Urameshi. Did you notice anything weird about Kurama today?"

Yuusuke looked up from the can he had been kicking down the road, and fixed Kuwabara with a confused stare. "I don't think so, he was his polite and charming self to Kagome, and teased all of us, in his usual good humor. Why?"

Kuwabara gave a slight nod, not feeling entirely reassured by his comrade's observations. "I don't know, I just felt something…odd…with my reikan. Maybe he was just worried about being late for the first day of school or something."

Yuusuke just grinned at that. "Yeah, he has to start working on being the head of his class for the third year running. That'd stress you out I bet."

The two troublemakers just continued on past Sarayashiki Jr. High, in favor of going to the arcade instead, to brush up on their `Game Battler' skills.

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Kurama and Kagome made their way to Meiou High, their walk highlighted by bits of small talk about school and various other mundane subjects. Finally Kagome decided to breach the awkwardness that surrounded the two teens. "You seem to be very close to Hiei."

Kurama closed his eyes momentarily, and then reopened them, wiping away any emotion from his expression. "He is my best friend. For a while, he was the only person who knew all of me, who I could truly be myself in front of."

Kagome nodded at this admission, understanding lighting her deep brown eyes. "I know what you mean. Whenever I'm home, I see my friends, and have to lie about my absences, going along with the ridiculous stories that Jiichan makes up about being sick. I couldn't possibly tell any of them the truth about what I do. You four are the first ones from my time to know the truth."

At this admission, Kurama sighed, wishing the girl wasn't so likable. Then maybe he wouldn't feel so guilty about his jealousy; instead he felt a kinship with her over their common bond of dual lives. He finally turned to her with a small, genuine smile. "These are burdens that are easiest carried when shared, ne? But as for now, we had best get going before the whole day is wasted!"

Neither of the two teens noticed the pair of crimson eyes observing them intently from the trees above.

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Flitting from tree to tree, Hiei was mulling over the various things revealed in the last hour or so, systematically cataloging every admission and reaction from all parties present. He felt odd running into someone from so far into his past, since most of his past acquaintances were not pleasant in the least. If he was truly honest with himself, he was glad that the silly ningen girl was alive. He had assumed that she had gone and gotten herself killed when she didn't show up at the aforementioned time.

Hn, Hiei thought. That baka kitsune was acting strangely the whole time. He kept getting distracted and drifting off during the conversation. Those sorts of actions will get him killed. He was fine during the battle earlier today…

~*Flashback*~

The battle was easy, would have been over in moments, but they took their time, enjoying themselves with a simple task after having dealt with the stressful challenges of the Ankoku Buujuitsukai. All four of us take our turns, teasing the doomed youkai into a drawn-out fight, hoping for something of a challenge. Kurama and I were as we always were in a fight; side-by-side, back-to-back, our skills complementing and feeding off one another as only seems to happen when he and I fight together.

He gets this look in his eyes, a spark, a feeling of completion and contentment when we are like this; as if he knows that this is perfection. This is not just mere fighting, it is a dance; a waltz of death, endless. Rhythm is kept by the beating of our hearts, the rasp of our breath, the crack of his whip and the slash of my katana. It is strange that in times of battle I feel the most at peace with myself, but that is the paradox of my life. I am the Forbidden Child, and nothing in my life has been `normal', per se.

~*End Flashback*~

Hiei was somewhat surprised to find himself stopped in a tree outside of Kurama's school, since he had made no conscious effort to head in that direction. It was far enough away to not be directly on top of the idiotic, shrieking ningens, but close enough to monitor for any youkai activity nearby. He seemed to find himself waiting here quite often. The rationalization behind this was the fact that there wasn't exactly all that much for him to do while stuck here in the Ningenkai.

Suddenly a familiar voice floated up to him. "He is my best friend. For a while, he was the only person who knew all of me, who I could truly be myself in front of." Kurama, Hiei thought to himself. He continued to listen as the two of them continued their conversation. His eyes widened slightly as he saw Kurama give Kagome a small, but genuine smile, a rare gift to someone outside their circle. Accompanying his widened eyes was a slight tightening in his chest. Now what the hell was that about?!

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Botan stood in front of Koenma's desk, looking quite nervous. The heir to the throne of Hell got an odd look on his face after she mentioned the demon Naraku that Yuusuke inquired about, and promptly turned into his teenage form. "Botan, you need to get Yuusuke and the others in here as soon as they get out of their classes, along with that Kagome girl as well. The fate of the three worlds could very well hang in the balance here."