Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Par Tout Autre Nom ❯ Everything but Ordinary ( Chapter 25 )

Disclaimers: Inuyasha and Yu Yu Hakusho belong respectively to Rumiko Takahashi and Yoshihiro Togashi.

A/N: -Happy giggling- I know I left it off in an unhappy place, but Kazusa was out of town and I felt safe! -strikes dramatic pose…only to deflate a moment later- Only to have her return and threaten to devour my immortal soul if I didn't finish this chapter and post it before I leave tonight for work. -sobs- I am so abused! LOL, just kidding. I know it's probably getting confusing, and it'll probably get worse before it gets better, but paaaatience! I swear it'll come together soon enough.

As always, my beautiful and fabulous reviewers, I adore you and love to read all of your thoughts and opinions on the story. I love hearing that I have fanart or getting to talk to you about your impressions. -giggles- I sound like such a sap, but it's totally uber fun. -bows and blows many kisses- You're amazing and wonderful, and I hope you continue to enjoy the story. ^__~

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By Any Other Name

~Everything but Ordinary~

"You love doing this, don't deny it," Kagome tilted her head, sighing in long-suffering as she absently ran her hand through the silky fur of his shoulder, crossing one leg over the other as she watched them stare up at Sesshoumaru's transformed body in amazement.

This Sesshoumaru feels no need to deny obvious things, he snorted back at her, flicking his tail again and giving his version of a grin when they were forced to shift awkwardly to keep themselves on their feet. I do not often get to humiliate little upstart kitsunes and servants of the Rekai at their own request.

"I doubt this is what they had in mind, Sesshoumaru," she still couldn't help but smile at the sheer amusement radiating from his aura as she took in the differences age had made to the form she'd seen only once in the past. "You've gotten bigger, haven't you?" she regarded him carefully, taking in the way his muzzle had grown sharper, almost elegant in its lines despite the way he had his lips pulled back to show off the glistening fangs.

You did not think I had fully grown after knowing the battle for Tetsusaiga took place in my father's stomach, did you? he snorted at her in a rather matter-of-fact way, shaking his head as he shifted his weight and effectively guiding her perusal to take in the leaner, more precise lines of muscle even through the thick fur. This Sesshoumaru is a taiyoukai, miko. We are beyond compare when we reach our full potential… this is why others seek to challenge us in our youth. It is the only time they have the slightest chance to succeed in ending our existence without the aid of another higher creature.

"It is so beyond creepy to know that you were like a youkai equivalent to a teenager when you were doing all that," she pointed out.

I had recently passed my adolescence when you and I first met eyes, but my developmental state was irrelevant. This Sesshoumaru has never been so crass or base as to behave in the fashion as the creatures you found companionship among.

Kagome took a moment to digest that, making it a point to ignore the supreme arrogant oozing from every word and the knowledge that he was -for all intents and purposes- preening under the knowledge that his form had induced the admiration he'd intended to gain, "You do realize that you have an ego that might give your father a run for his money?"

My `ego' is not without the skill and experience to support it, as you are well aware, he returned blandly.

"You're posing."

This Sesshoumaru does not pose.

"Just like `the Sesshoumaru' doesn't vent," she murmured under her breath, well aware he could hear her and wincing when a streak of punitive energy snapped across her soul. "Ouch… okay, okay, I got the hint. We have an audience so I have to be in my unquestioningly adoring mode."

These creatures are not to get inappropriate ideas about your place in this family, particularly in their misguided thinking that they could find a way to sway your loyalties, Sesshoumaru instructed with a patience that surprised her, coming so quickly on the heels of the wordless reprimand. If you wish to keep that living flower, you will behave yourself in front of its master and refrain from your usual disobedience. You are here only at the grace and indulgence of this Sesshoumaru, miko, remember that… It would be easier to turn aside this creature without you making eyes at him out of some misguided envy or gods-forbid, desire.

Kagome sighed, her gaze trailing over to linger on the upturned face of the person responsible for her recent inability to concentrate… or sleep, "He is pretty, isn't he."

Kagome, that growl was back in his voice, full of warning and escaping his throat with enough force that the unfamiliar group was sinking into defensive positions.

"I know, I'm not supposed to like him, but dammit, Sesshoumaru, I can look," she folded her arms stubbornly and gave him the glare right back before her expression softened and she stared down at him with a warm sort of contemplation. "Besides… I was afraid."

She could see his brows draw together by the way the fur across his forehead shifted and creased, Explain the fear you have neglected to share with this Sesshoumaru.

"It was a stupid fear and that's why I didn't share it," she answered calmly, rubbing her face against his neck again to soothe the twangs she could feel dancing just outside her aura. "I mean… Miroku and I talked about it, Inuyasha was even there," her voice turned quiet, barely audible to his senses. "They just… they wanted me to find someone. But I didn't think I could… feel like that again, you know?"

There is no reason for you to think that simply because of your place in starting this family that you would have damaged natural parts of your soul's ability to feel desire for others in this time, his voice was filled with such resignation, the words almost grudging as he offered them, that she couldn't help but laugh as she tucked her knees to her chest. However, this Sesshoumaru is fairly certain that your inherent poor taste in male companionship had degenerated further than anticipated. Myself excluded.

Kagome rolled her eyes, "He at least knows how to send flowers… if you ignore the fact that it came with teeth."

Or that the gift is a way for this kitsune to be certain he is in your thoughts, he reminded her sternly, tilting his head to scowl down at Kurama as his poison flowed freely from his jaws. He is old, miko, and very intelligent as well as crafty. He may seem charming to you, but do not forget what he is. Even your brother will tell you this is a game to him.

"But why play it with me if they don't know me from the past?" her own mood turned serious with her unanswered question, frowning as her eyes followed the fluid curl and sway of his hair in the wind the taiyoukai was creating with his movements. "Why did he approach me out of all the women there that day? Why did he use those words?"

Depending on the outcome of this meeting, you may or may not be permitted to voice your questions yourself, he shrugged, unconcerned. But this Sesshoumaru is aware that you do not believe in coincidences any more than I do.

She nodded, lifting her hand to her throat to trace the neckline of her shirt before trailing her fingers to her bared left shoulder to rest on the lavender crescent, "I stopped believing long ago."

He grunted to acknowledge the incident they had both brought to mind, We will wait and see what these children have in store for us. If they prove useful, perhaps I will not kill them right away.

"He's not that much younger than you are," Kagome shook her head at the disgust that had filtered back into his tone. "We have to be sure first, but if they're dangerous, you can just eat them and be done with it. That way there won't be any bodies to trace back to us even if their boss person is suspicious."

Sesshoumaru's chest rumbled with another short chuckle at how very casually she spoke of such things, flicking his tail against the wall again and shaking out his fur distractedly, Be careful, miko… my brother and your late husband would accuse me of corrupting your peaceful nature with my sadistic tastes.

"Some people just need to be eaten," one shoulder lifted in a dainty shrug that knocked the billowing sleeve of her loose kimono down to her elbow.

And now you are reciting lessons I taught you.

"You should be proud they stuck into my `empty human head,'" her eyes sparkled at having a chance to remind him of one of his favorite remarks when he caught her mind wandering during her so-called lessons. Even if they really are so very different from anything I would have thought before this all started.

Perhaps you will be able to pass along your ability to find focus amongst distractions to your brother before his habit of being disrupted by the first thing that sparkles gets him killed, Sesshoumaru brought his foot down directly in front of Kurama, dipping his snout to more fully bare his teeth when the kitsune simply glared up at him defiantly. His attention is still even more flighty than yours was in the beginning, and he has proven resistant to correction out of sheer obstinacy.

"So that's what you call trying to bite Shippou in half? Correction?" she arched an eyebrow, lifting one hand absently to touch the vines that had threaded themselves through her high ponytail, separating large sections to toy with in its boredom. Leaning against his neck when his position changed enough to create a space for her to easily alter her own place, she closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled the scent that brought such comfort with its distinct connection to raw, untainted nature, "I understand the lesson, and it is important, but these are extenuating circumstances."

If they see my own trusted investigator in such a state for making a mistake in a simple training session, they will be aware that the pain my enemies suffer when they think to truly attack me is an incredible thing, Sesshoumaru replied loftily, letting out a throaty growl of chastisement when he saw the bored look filter onto Shippou's face.

"Oh stop it, he's just trying to show you he can take the punishment without whining about it," Kagome lightly smacked his shoulder beside her hip, well aware he probably barely even felt the pressure. "I don't even want to think about how exhausted he is right now, not to mention how much your poison hurts, and he's got a gut full of it at the moment."

Kitsunes are easier to instruct once their energy stores have been worn down to a manageable level, he informed her patiently. The older Takashima becomes, the more effort must be expended to bring him to this state.

"Lazy."

This Sesshoumaru did not complain over the truth of his instruction, did he? one of those eyes turned back to focus on her for a moment before returning to the gathered men below, well aware that they were unable to see the miko seated calmly on his shoulder. Do not accuse the Lord of the Western Lands of such a vile weakness, or the next individual standing on the ground to face me will be you, you bothersome miko.

Kagome tapped a finger to her lips and smiled slightly, "You're venting at me again."

Then again, I may simply swallow you whole and save myself the trouble of pretending such an event was unplanned, he huffed, grinning again when his poison swirled thickly about his ankles at the change in the air. After all, do humans not have that ridiculous saying about eating their pets?

"You interpret things in the weirdest ways sometimes," Kagome shook her head, biting back the laugh that she could feel would have been loud enough to clearly give away her presence. "And it's only if they think their pets are cute. They say their pets are so cute that they just want to eat them up, although I've heard people say it about other humans too."

Then devouring you would be acceptable, he lifted one paw absently to lick off the minor bloodstains in the fur when his nose twitched to show him the results of Shippou's earlier attempt to dodge.

"I'll give you the worst stomach ache of your immortal life, and you know it," she smiled affectionately.

With your singular talent for causing inconvenience to this Sesshoumaru under even the best of circumstances, those words take on an ominous tone, his voice was so bland that Kagome's brows rose in amazement.

"My gods," Kagome drawled out with perfectly feigned shock. "Somewhere a poor innocent world has just burst into flames… You actually made a blatant joke out of what I said."

If `poor innocent worlds' burst into flames every time such a thing occurs, I will make it a note to do so more often, he purposefully brought his foot back down close enough that the four men glaring up at him with varying degrees of concern in their eyes leapt backwards to avoid being "accidentally" crushed. Such large-scale destruction does appeal to my- what did you call it?

"Your sociopathic, homicidal complex," she recited easily.

Ah, yes.

"It has that nasty tendency to rear up when you're feeling particularly strong ennui brought on by your considerable existence," Kagome mocked him lightly even as she kicked her heel back into his shoulder and let her voice take on a hint of warning.

Indeed.

"Like now?"

If this Sesshoumaru was feeling homicidal, miko, there would be four less auras making you fidget at the moment, he scoffed at the ice she'd tried to insert into her tone, giving her a slanted glance to remind her just who had taught her that use it in the first place. I am exercising remarkable control considering what my instincts are telling me to do to these boys, as you well know.

"You promised not to kill them yet, remember?" she glared at him with a sigh, shaking her head at the definite, wicked pleasure she could feel humming off his aura as he continued to intimidate them through his size alone.

I can always correct any accidental breaking of that particular promise, he reminded her, tilting his head as he eyed the narrowed eyes of Kurama as they flashed between green and gold with his obvious displeasure.

"Do you really want them to know about the Tensaiga this early in meeting you?" Kagome folded her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow, playing along the natural tactician part of his mind to stop him from giving into the god-awful urge to "play." She'd learned quickly in the past that allowing him to indulge in what he found amusing generally -depending on his mood- translated into either the rapid death or the slow, inventive torture of someone he decided had been particularly irritating to him.

We have discussed how obnoxious you become when you are making sense to this Sesshoumaru, have we not? she could feel the tension in the muscles beneath her legs start to smooth as he relaxed back from his urge to pounce and rend.

"Repeatedly."

Excellent, Sesshoumaru glanced at Shippou and the monk's descendents as they chuckled over the antics playing out before them in the unfamiliar group, shaking his head to revel in the freedom of this body for another moment before his eyes whirled with concentration. Then I will not have to repeat myself.

"I can fake it if it will make you feel better to lecture me again," she offered, her eyes flickering just slightly with her own amusement as she struggled to keep a straight face.

This Sesshoumaru will remember your suggestion for a later time when it can be fully enjoyed, he assured her, sneaking in the hint of an impression that had her mentally groaning at the "promise" in it.

"What would you do with yourself if you didn't have me to take out your frustration on?" Kagome rolled her eyes, sitting up more attentively when she felt the shiver of ki curl through her and contract, warning her that he was about to change his body to his humanoid form.

I probably would have given into the urge to see how much of Japan I could destroy before these humans with their modern technology and Rekai's hired muscle succeeded in stopping me, Sesshoumaru's shoulder rolled with the shrug, opening his mouth to will more of his poison to flow and force that arrogant kitsune to walk backwards with his friends until they were standing in the same circle of light as Shippou and the monk's descendants. However, I find my attention more suited to retaining my lands here and governing the properties I have claimed in the Makai. So this Sesshoumaru will resist the urge to satisfy that particular curiosity.

Kagome made a face, shuddering at the mental image of the taiyoukai in full form, berserk and running around downtown Tokyo like some sort of cult-movie monster, "There's a creepy thought." And the worst part of that is that knowing with the Tensaiga, and knowing Sesshoumaru, nothing they threw at him would kill him. It's not like there's another taiyoukai around to get the sword away and take him out.

Sesshoumaru made a vague sound in his throat when he felt an echo of her emotions, taking in a deep breath as he forcibly retracted his ki to gather around him, Your faith in my abilities to decimate the human race is very satisfying, miko.

"It's just like you to do your version of preening after I think of something like that," she sighed at that controlled fluctuation of energy, watching their `guests' attempt to shield their eyes from the blinding light filling the room with the clash of his youki. "And taking advantage of being like this to laugh at me."

This body of mine does not translate expressions adequately enough for this Sesshoumaru to be concerned with his audience interpreting his reactions, Sesshoumaru inhaled deeply as he felt his natural magic spike, dissolving the massive shape and gathering it in a spiraling rush to reform his favored appearance within that sphere of protective light. Therefore, I find no reason to limit how I show my amusements when you are already familiar with my tastes in all things.

"Added bonus when the said amusement come at my expense," Kagome smiled from her undisturbed perch on his left shoulder, reaching over his head to slide her fingers through the fur winding its way back around his body to smooth it before she obeyed the arch look and calmed.

"That is, as always, an enjoyable bonus, miko, when my pleasure comes at your expense rather than my own," his voice was back to its usual tone, almost painfully arrogant and cold as any ancient sheet of glacieral ice for all its inhuman, melodic beauty.

"You really are a complete bastard, you know," she tilted her head until it was resting on top of his, content to draw from the stoic calm another moment as he perversely kept the youki shielding longer than necessary to hide from their anxious sight.

"You lost your rights to complain on how you are handled by this Sesshoumaru centuries ago, miko," Sesshoumaru lifted his hand to rest on her thigh absently, holding her in place as she re-crossed her legs and made sure she wasn't in the way or in danger of tearing her own legs open on his armor. "However, you will stop your irritating little brother from dressing you in the strangest things for his pleasure. You look as sloppy as that reanimated thing with the folding sword," he finished with the faintest hint of a growl when the shift allowed the dark fabric of her kimono to move and expose the entire length of her legs through the modified slits separating the front into sections rather than a full "skirt."

Kagome frowned in confusion and looked herself over critically, "Jakotsu?"

"I do not wish to suffer with smelling this other kitsune's response to the revealing nature of Takashima's creations," he informed her when she opened her mouth to deny the description.

"Well it was this or listen to him pout about ruining his precious jeans," Kagome shrugged and let it go, chuckling at the faint glitter to his eyes that showed he would like nothing more than to knock the poor kitsune around for his strange behavior and possibly her as well. "He cosplays too, doesn't he?"

Sesshoumaru turned a perfectly bland look up at her.

Kagome winced, reaching under the pooling fabric to be sure the obi was going to hold everything in place before folding her hands in her lap and nodding, "I'll see what I can do, but you know how much he loves dressing up."

He simply turned his gaze back down to the group as he allowed the glare of youki to die down, effectively ending the discussion while he hovered for a moment longer before manipulating the ki around them to lower himself to the ground.

Sesshoumaru's entire posture underwent a subtle transformation beneath her, body tensing just enough to be alert for any attacks while his chin lifted to display that shroud of regal arrogance that surrounded him so effortlessly. Cold amber hardened and forced them to hold still even as he settled into his own version of a relaxed stance when the winds died away and finally ceased to whip about their hair and clothing. He allowed a short span for their own curious assessment of his form before his focus sharpened, evaluating every surface strength and weakness until he was satisfied enough to lift his right hand, palm down in front of him.

Kagome subtly rested her hand on his shoulder beside her hip, ducking her head to hide the flash of her eyes behind her hair as she felt the heavy pulse of energy arc out and pass through the wary foursome with undetected fingers. He waited perfectly motionless until the summoned energy came curling back around into his soul, vibrating through him with the potency and unique composition of each individual aura.

Sesshoumaru's image seemed to pulse, eyes flashing scarlet as he inhaled and separated the scents to fit with the energy he'd read through that sweeping wave before it faded to normal. The very corner of his lips quirked for a split second as his youki instinctively flowed through a number of ways each of these beings could be broken and bleeding under his hands in very little time, letting the images soothe him before he actually turned to fully face the antagonist of this entire disruptive mess.

"Avatar."

~*~*~*~

`Now that is the proper way to intimidate someone,' Youko murmured in appreciation as they watched the waves of power wrap around the youkai who'd more or less herded them back in a closed position with his paws and poison, squinting their eyes to try and see through the glaring flash before they were forced to turn away from the intensity of the light.

And not a single goddamn thing is spilling from whatever is hiding the feel of that power, Hiei remarked in disgust, grudgingly respectful of the kind of control it took to accomplish that feat while his curiosity sparked at seeing the edges of that enormous body grow indistinct and draw inwards towards the light source. He's changing.

`Of course he is… that was just a very well-timed show,' Youko huffed at the idea the it hadn't been obvious as to what the inu was doing. `He was showing us that he's an old bastard who would rather eat us alive than speak with us. Or did you not figure out that the hole in your lover is probably from one of those teeth?'

Hiei shot him a dirty glare, but he was already twisting to look more closely at the injuries Shippou had sustained once he realized the kitsune had his eyes shut against the brightness as well, You have a sick fascination with my lack of romantic attachments, you know that? I'd almost think you were trying to live out your fantasies through me for actually being able to find someone older than me to have sex with if I wanted.

`Oh I'd much rather be the older partner,' Youko corrected him with a sly grin. `It's so much more delicious to be the one who corrupts the last shreds of innocence from a passionate soul after-`

Have you two forgotten that we have an issue in front of us that's a little more important than comparing your turn-ons? Kurama cut in when he sensed where that remark was going, forcing Youko to pay attention as the dimmer portions of energy near the floor started to twist into an upward spiral. You're the one who hasn't stopped going on about how he's going to be waiting for anything he can view as an insult to try and kill us. After seeing this…

It would be a difficult battle, Hiei's eyes narrowed when he saw Shippou take his hand away from his injured eye, lids still closed as he tilted his head back and drew in a deep breath. Youko, what is that little brat doing?

Youko turned their head to see what the hybrid was indicating, frowning slightly in confusion and tilting his head as he tried to feel out if he'd called the wrong breed, `He's drawing in energy from around himself… probably trying to speed up his healing.'

I thought you had to be in the woods to feed yourselves, he scowled, for the first time not liking his lack of knowledge on kitsune.

`It's not like that… you have to be surrounded by what gives you strength, or be fed by one who was,' he murmured in a distracted fashion. `But if he's a forest, being underground should weaken him. He's out of his element, except- he's not acting like he should be. And it would feel different if he was feeding off a human, so it's not coming from the taijiya boys.'

Is there any way that you've ever heard for that to be possible? the frown sharpened when he saw Shippou's hand drop to cover that strange burn he remembered catching a fleeting glimpse of during their fight. Some spell? A trick?

Kurama shook his head, echoing Youko's words, Our nature can't be changed like that. Perhaps he's not a pure forest, but that's the only way he should be able to do this.

Hiei looked at him in surprise, not having expected that side to be the one to answer and shaking off his suspicions for a later time as he tried again unsuccessfully to make out what he was certain was at the heart of that white light, Opening yourself up to more of what made your soul, Kurama?

He sighed, folding his arms over his chest as the unnatural wind sent the poison swirling just beyond their sensory range enough to cause discomfort without injury, We will win against this inu, no matter what it takes. If I have to let more of Youko's memories and experiences filter into my head to do it, I will.

Youko was the one who smiled for them, that particular twist of confidence and cruel determination woven with the inherent seduction of his entire being, `We have brought ourselves into the den of this puzzle, Hiei. For all that we bicker with each other, you should know that we do not lose in our pursuits, and Sesshoumaru is an adversary that we intend to take very seriously.'

I find it oddly disturbing when you finally act like the kitsune of the legends now that I've been exposed to your complete personality for such a long period of time, he gave up on looking into the light in favor of turning back in time to see one of the taijiya put on a pair of sunglasses and lean closer to the other, curious to know what was said when the second hit him smartly upside the head without so much as bothering to look at him.

`Tell the truth, hybrid, you know you think it's sexy,' Youko managed to sneak in a wink before Kurama got control if the scowl that briefly flitted across his face was an indication.

The shadows in the room began to deepen, that flare retracting so rapidly that they were left blinking in mild disorientation as their overworked senses attempted to adjust to the seeming gloom. When he heard Yuusuke cursing long and dark beside them, Kurama's hand snapped out and gripped his forearm tight enough to cut him off in surprise, "Kur-?"

"Let me do the talking," Kurama interrupted quietly, his eyes finally recovering enough to filter out the darkness as he looked up at the youkai staring down at them as dispassionately as if they were no more than the stones they stood on. "You'll only-" his voice trailed off when Sesshoumaru turned and let the considerably dimmer light of Shippou's foxfire dance around the girl perched on his shoulder.

Yuusuke's brows drew together when Kurama stopped talking and turned away from him without another word, following the kitsune's eyes back up and feeling his own widen slightly in surprise to see Kagome in that precarious spot, "Is that-?"

"Kagome," Kurama breathed out, feeling himself relax and narrowing his eyes slightly as he filed away the reaction to examine later. His eyes darted over her as Sesshoumaru brought them down, smiling in warm delight when he saw the vines curling through her hair and followed them to the bud resting docile against the tie holding the style in place. She didn't let him kill it, his eyes filled with a more languid emotion, warming and trailing up her bare feet, not stopping until he reached her face.

`That's definitely the artwork of a kitsune,' Youko offered a silent salute to Shippou when he saw the way the youkai had puffed up at the sight of her in the stylized kimono. She ducked her head when he tried to catch her eyes, and he lifted his hand to cover his mouth before Sesshoumaru could see the predatory smile that crossed his lips, `And now she's feeling shy… She's so cute and sexy I could just-'

"Avatar."

Kurama and Youko both snapped back to the present, eyes losing their warmth in favor of frigid calculation as they observed the form "Takeharuka" was revealing to them, `Damn, he's pretty.'

Don't start, Youko, or I'll find a way to kick your ass, I fucking swear, Kurama barely resisted the urge to let his blood move to his cheeks at the embarrassment filling him at his other half's admiring purr.

Youko flicked a hand dismissively, `If he and I were ever to engage in intimacy, it'd be a fight to who was on top the entire time, and I can think of a number of other ways I would like to spend my nights than fighting an inu as strong as this one for penetration rights.'

Hiei coughed, trying to cover the action as he folded his arms over his chest and kept his expression as blank as he could manage when he wanted to laugh at the horrified emotions roiling in Kurama's mind, Perhaps the two of you can work out a trade to convince him to let you see Kagome.

I am not the bottom, he growled darkly, eyes flashing with fury before he suppressed it and knowing from the arching silver eyebrow that he hadn't been fast enough to escape notice. Youko, you are not to discuss anything that involves penetration until we're finished with this meeting.

`It's not like I plan on letting him do it,' Youko shrugged, actively reaching out to wind his arms around Kurama's soul and pull them closer together as his voice dropped to a seductive murmur. `I want that miko, Kurama, just as much as you do. I want her under me, begging me and sliding those beautiful hands over my body for as long as I can stand before I can't help but-`

Kurama had barely registered the gleam of light before his instincts kicked in and he had flipped backwards to avoid the snap of concentrated youki that split the stones where he'd been standing. Startled, his eyes traveled up to where Sesshoumaru held two fingers poised and gleaming with pale green light, A whip… Dammit, he'll be even harder to fight if he's trained in our weapons.

"This Sesshoumaru does not abide by disrespectful behavior of any creature that places itself in his path," his eyes narrowed in warning, a promise that the next time he attacked, he would not miss. "You have disturbed our routine and now when you are granted the audience you request, your attention wanders. How revoltingly kitsune of you."

Shippou cleared his throat pointedly and started to scowl only to pause and reluctantly back down when Sesshoumaru looked at him, Damn insulting prick.

Kagome sighed, arching her back to elongate her spine when it kinked and tucking one foot up to balance on his armor while she resisted the urge to intervene on Shippou's behalf. But she had promised, Maybe I should have stayed inside.

Youko chuckled through Kurama, easing him back with reassurances that he could handle the taiyoukai as he shook out his hair, touching the tip of his tongue to one fang when his eyes shifted to Kagome, "I can assure you, Sesshoumaru, I have no thoughts of disrespect at the moment."

Kagome's head came up in surprise when his voice dropped, meeting his eyes for a breath of time that seemed to slow, dreamy images from her sleepless nights flashing through her mind so rapidly she was unable to do more than suck in a gasp before she forced her attention elsewhere, This… is not going to be easy.

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed when Kurama's smile turned smug, reaching up to curl his hand over her thigh again and squeeze until her aura smoothed out and the kitsune's eyes darkened in anger, "You will refrain from needlessly bothering my miko while you impose your presence on my hospitality."

Hiei's eyebrow kicked up when he saw the faint tightening around her mouth, the hand she had on his shoulder crumpling the white silk beneath it just as she turned to hide that action, She didn't like hearing that. You focus on him, Kurama, I'm going to watch the miko. He's paying most of his attention to you anyhow.

Of course he is, Kurama agreed with that even as he felt his jaw tighten in annoyance at having to leave that part of the meeting to they hybrid. He's asserting his possession and we've openly challenged it. I'm the one he really wants to kill.

What a comforting thought.

Isn't it though? Kurama managed to by back a snort at the stereotypical sarcasm, instead staring up the distance to Sesshoumaru's eyes and swearing at the disadvantage. This is probably why he wanted us to agree not to change between bodies.

`So he could loom over us?' Youko wrinkled his nose. `He's probably still bitter about that bauble thing I stole from him. If he knew it was me, anyway.'

"Who are you?" Kurabara's voice cut through the tension, bringing almost comical looks of disbelief to the trio behind them and even managing to wipe the murderous shine out of Sesshoumaru's eyes for the moment.

"I guess they didn't tell him," Shinju's chuckle had the man in question spinning around and pointing at him accusingly.

"What do you mean by that, Nenjuharuka?! What the hell is going on here?" his attention darted between one side and the other, tensing when he belatedly realized that Sesshoumaru had sandwiched them in between himself and the three fighters.

"You will speak with respect or I will remove your tongue personally, filthy human!" Jaken waved his staff threateningly again, preparing to advance on him and do just that when Sesshoumaru's single bark of his name had him freezing in place. "Forgive your humble servant for speaking out of turn, Sesshoumaru-sama! I merely thought-"

Shippou brought his foot down on Jaken's head, smashing the youkai into the ground and grinning up at them despite his battered appearance, "You get used to ignoring him after a while. Continue…"

Kaze sighed and straightened when both his brother and Shippou gave him a look that seemed to delegate him to the speaker, setting a fist on his hip as he met Kurabara's eyes and offered, "He is Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, Kurabara-san, the head of the family since Sengoku Jidai. However, I believe you are more familiar with the assumed name, Takeharuka Masaki?"

"A youkai…?" Kurabara murmured after a moment, his voice thick with stubborn disbelief as he looked at the creature obviously more than human despite their inability to sense anything unordinary.

"Unless you think a human would walk around with a fuzzy tail thing tossed over his shoulder and be able to change into a dog the size of our building complex," Shippou couldn't resist adding under his breath, only to hit the ground with a startled yelp when that youki whip snapped across the space that would have been his head. "Dammit, Sesshoumaru-sama, I didn't say-!"

"Shippou," Kagome's voice stopped him mid-sentence, looking up to catch the warning in her eyes before he fell silent and nodded in resignation. When he'd dipped his head in a show of apology, her lips quirked in a smile and she glanced down at Sesshoumaru, "How many?"

"More than once."

"Lately?"

"A decade ago."

Shippou's cheeks were suspiciously pink as he hissed out, "One little mistake in three centuries-!"

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Yuusuke finally snapped out when it seemed as though they were being ignored in favor of the weird coded argument.

"It is of no concern to outsiders," Sesshoumaru intoned easily, heaving a sigh that suggested he was rapidly tiring of their existence. "Especially not amongst those outsiders who work for that fool who named himself ruler simply because he discovered the separation spells and created an effective system of deception to get his way."

I'm actually starting to like this guy, Hiei admitted with a faint smirk. I like the way he thinks.

`Sesshoumaru has always been our kind of bastard,' Youko chuckled at the surprise in Hiei's tone and offered a mental shrug. `I never said I didn't respect him for who and what he is, and especially the shit he's responsible for in the past. I only said that he's going to lose to us where our miko is concerned. Nothing personal.'

Only you, Youko, Kurama sighed with a sort of affectionate exasperation, not wanting to examine Hiei's casual remark about his mental state at the interaction between what was essentially just himself.

`Give me the mouth again before we annoy him,' Youko retorted in a particularly business-like way, sweeping back through their soul again to selectively take over here and there. `Inus are a bit bitchy that way, they need attention constantly or they get mean.'

Suddenly I can believe they're related to kitsunes, Hiei pasted on what passed for an innocent expression when he earned a renewed glare and a few choice comments from both sides of their soul. What? It is merely an observation of fact.

`You are an aggravating thing at times, hybrid,' Youko rumbled even as he offered a slight bow to the stoic youkai watching them with unblinking intensity. "We were unaware any youkai had managed to avoid the separation and retained their lands or else we would have introduced ourselves before now," he offered out loud, trying to urge him into giving them answers, or at least an opening for questions.

"As you and another of the youkai race are standing in front of me, I find that statement reeking of hypocrisy."

You're in a mood, Kagome lifted a hand to hide an errant grin, her toe brushing along the bare skin of his wrist for an instant before moving on to make that touch seem accidental to any watching eye.

"Sometimes you pay a price for pleasure," Kurama sighed softly, nodding towards Hiei. "And there are aspects of our positions that are entertaining in and of themselves."

"Hunting with the sanction of the beings that have been attempting to govern the human plane," Sesshoumaru snorted disdainfully.

"Keeps the soul young, after all."

Shippou rolled his eyes, wincing slightly and pressing his hand over his torn flesh when he felt the burning of youki working to repair it, "You don't have permission to be hunting in the Western Lands, Red. You want to stay young, you'll back off and move on."

For a moment, Hiei thought that Kurama would actually completely snap when he felt the dramatic spike in ki and the instant rigidity that took over his body at the blatant and even almost coarse rudeness the kitsune had used to address him. Even he instinctively cringed away from the absolute fury in Youko's voice, stunned by the way his eyes had begun to glow a deadly, violent scarlet as he hissed about having a kit refer to him, an ancient, powerful, fucking legendary silver spirit as something so bland and common and simple as "red."

Kagome sighed and shook her head, feeling the ripple in her soul at such thick emotions filling the air calling out to her, warming her soul and tugging at her heart, "This isn't going to get us anywhere."

Kurama had turned back, expression shifting to curiosity over his banking fury and opening his mouth to reflexive ask for clarification and use the opening to draw her into the conversation when Sesshoumaru turned the hand closest to her feet palm up. He fell silent when she used the offered hand as a step, bracing herself on the other when it joined to hold her steady on her short hop to the ground.

"Shippou, can I have a word with you?" Kagome's eyes were narrowed, flicking her hand imperiously to get the youkai in her way to move when she stalked to the flustered and suddenly nervous looking kitsune.

Youko snickered, mollified and relaxing at her defense of him when she reached up and grabbed Shippou by his ponytail, yanking him along despite his sputtered protests as she obviously moved far enough to avoid their ears, `Oh he's in trouble. Our beautiful lover is going to burn his ears off about offering us respect.'

She's more annoyed that he's hindering the `proceedings,' Hiei offered, head cocked to try and hear what he could before they went out of range. Something about a council rule-

"Why does a youkai like you keep a miko? They kill youkai," Yuusuke broke the taut silence with the growled demand, and Kurama barely restrained a wince at the tactlessness of it.

One brow kicked up, giving off the air of a sort of casual disinterest and disdain.

`Very smooth,' Youko rolled his eyes, reaching out to grip Yuusuke's arm in warning when he felt him winding up to shout. `Good gods, we should have left him behind. At least Kurabara isn't fucking this up by talking.'

I'd say he's gone into a sort of shock, Kurama remarked, feeling a slight touch of sympathy for the human, but turning it aside to focus on those cold amber eyes as he ignored Yuusuke's remark completely. "Thank you for allowing her to decide the fate of my gift," he dipped in a shallow bow, his gaze never leaving the disturbingly still youkai.

"Don't not mistake her reluctance to permit its destruction as encouragement for your plans, kitsune," Sesshoumaru instructed with the patience of one dealing with a child, or a being that lacked the most basic intelligence. "Kagome has unfortunately allowed her failure as a proper miko to make her more soft in dealing with sentient things of all inhuman races. It will be corrected."

Touchy subject, Hiei snorted.

Obviously, Kurama reached back into his hair, touching his fingertips briefly to several seeds to be certain they were easily accessible. "All the same, Sesshoumaru, I'd rather not have to continuously replace my lover's presents for silly reasons."

He realized the mistake as soon as the words had left his lips, barely resisting the urge to wince or blanch at the error when the air around them seemed to freeze and crackle under the spark of shielded youki. He saw Sesshoumaru's eyes narrow and sensed the taijiya boys' waves of displeasure pushing against his aura, trying to insinuate the feelings into him and force him to back down from the intimate claim he had just blithely announced, Oh goddammit.

Letting your mouth get away from your head, Fox? Hiei shook his head, glancing at the amazed looks on their own human companions' faces as he took an instinctive pivot to keep both unfriendly groups in sight. Congratulations… you idiot, you've managed to make them all want to kill you even more.

"Your lover?" Sesshoumaru's voice was deceptively soft as he lifted one hand, fingers curling as the toxic green glow seeped out across the pale skin, illuminating those perfect features in stark relief.

Youko pushed Kurama back, tilting their chin up arrogantly and sending the taiyoukai a cold smile, "I will, of course, listen to any objections you may have about our relationship… but I can't promise they will have an effect on my interest. Or success."

A creak divided his attention back to the boy holding that massive boomerang, brows lifting at the way those familiar eyes were flashing with indignation, "How depressing… you really are as much an idiot as they predicted."

`We will enjoy rubbing our children in the faces of this clan.'

"I know what I want," Kurama replied with perfect seriousness, tamping down his own misgivings about the setback and deciding to stick with the direct approach, making sure to focus on the largest threat of this meeting. "And I see no reason to lie about my intentions. I asked for introductions to make you aware of what I plan to accomplish with Kagome."

"Sullying my miko with your unclean hands and kitsune perversions," Sesshoumaru's hand came to rest lightly on Toukujin's hilt.

"Whatever you think of me, I will still have her," Kurama's voice lowered, smooth as silk and just as deadly as the taiyoukai he faced. "I have decided to make her mine."

"Tell me, avatar… what has led you to believe that you could come before this Sesshoumaru and voice this claim with the expectation you would be permitted to walk away with your head still attached to your shoulders?"

I'd say we made him mad, Kurama blew out a sigh from the safety of their mind as they continued their face-off. This could easily become messy.

"I am not a weakling to be intimidated, Sesshoumaru," Youko ignored what had suddenly become his cynical side, folding their arms and standing proudly in front of the inu. "Make no mistake, I will be Kagome's lover regardless of your feelings on the matter. She would be wasted on a creature that would not put those beautiful hands to good use. Or would you deny her the satisfaction only I can give her?"

"Where in the hells is this coming from, Kurama?!" Yuusuke cut in yet again, completely ignoring the bland look he was receiving with his entire focus on his friend. "I thought we were coming here to ask him what Kagome had to do with Onigumo and that fucking legend about that jewel thing! And here you're outright saying-"

"Jewel?"

Yuusuke stopped mid-breath at the absolutely lethal edge that filled Sesshoumaru's voice, gaping at the source in a sort of awe even as he found his mouth working to produce the answer before he even realized he was speaking, "The Shikon-no-Tama."

A slow smile touched across Sesshoumaru's lips, holding the promise of things no mortal mind could possibly comprehend and retain their sanity, "Ah… you are dredging up ancient history in addition to harassing my miko…" His chin tilted, lifting a hand to regard his claws lazily as he murmured, "Which activity came first, I wonder."

"Then you do know about it," Yuusuke ignored the new warning squeeze from Kurama, brushing him off as he demanded his own answers. "You know what the hell happened with it and why? You know the truth?"

"Yes."

`How enlightening,' Youko muttered in annoyance. `Just had to be another youkai in the world with your conversational skills, didn't there, Hiei? Can't you two do a scowl-bonding or something and convince him to be more forth-coming?'

Hiei slanted him a look that promised his response to that would be more physically damaging to him later, Don't snarl at me because you misspoke earlier than you intended. You should be satisfied that he hasn't killed you yet and that the miko is too busy lecturing the idiot kit to kill you.

`He's older than you,' Youko shot back rather than respond to the other portions of that command.

"Well?" Yuusuke held out his hand, absently gesticulating to try and get more than that single word. "What is it?"

Shinju breathed a sigh, twirling the Hiraikotsu with one hand before he brought it down sharply on Yuusuke's head to drive him to his knees, "You are being rude and entirely too demanding, Urameshi-san."

Kurama's eyes left their startled, dazed leader when he saw Kagome's head come around, her hand over Shippou's mouth to stop his protesting as she took in all their positions a frown of concern, We should have done this alone.

No use complaining now, Hiei shrugged, idly wondering what it would be like to fight with those two boys who obviously had unnatural proficiencies with antique weaponry. If you're going to pull this out of your ass, now would probably be a good time to do it.

"This Sesshoumaru can answer any questions you have regarding these stories," his line of focus moved from them to the miko tilting her head in silent question, dipping his head slightly to pass a message none of them understood.

"Finally!" Yuusuke shoved his arm against the bone edge, wincing when it bit into the skin and settling for ducking out from under it and rubbing his throbbing head. "Just what the fuck-?"

Kurama clapped his hand over Yuusuke's mouth, eyes flashing gold as his other hand moved to the back of the other man's head to prevent him from pulling away, "At what cost, Sesshoumaru?"

Those sculpted lips curved up into that same acid smile as his eyes again darted up to Kagome before returning to the kitsune doing an admirable job of hiding his emotions behind a stern mask. Were he not so offended by the very sound of his heart beating after the words that had stumbled from his mouth a moment ago, he might have been impressed.

At the cost of Kagome, Kurama's jaw clenched. He'll give us the answers and take her away from us.

You had to expect that, Hiei snorted, brows drawing low when he saw Kagome reach out and press her hand against that hole in Shippou's side, her eyes softening and lips moving in what seemed to be a more affectionate type of scolding. You backed him into a corner and he is returning the favor. Quite well, I'd have to say. He's beating you.

`The hell he is!' Youko growled deep in his chest, having to stop himself before he accidentally snapped Yuusuke's neck or suffocated him unconsciously in his frustration. "And the alternative? If we do not ask you to depart a single secret regarding that jewel, Sesshoumaru, what will you offer me in return?"

That's going to piss Yuusuke off.

`Do we really look like we have any fucking concern for his feelings at the moment?' Youko continued to watch Sesshoumaru's expression, a faint smile tugging at his lips in helpless admiration for the perfect control the inu held over his emotions. `This is war between Sesshoumaru and me. Yuusuke's desires have no bearing.'

You're going to have a lot of explaining to do once we leave here, Hiei pointed out, trying desperately not to roll his eyes at Youko's dramatics.

"This is the only time I will offer this information, kitsune," Sesshoumaru warned him dryly, his hand still caressing the hilt of Toukijin as though longing for a chance to use it against them. "Agree to leave and never come near my miko again and I will satisfy your every curiosity regarding the past."

Kurama's brows drew low in annoyance, "You didn't answer me, Sesshoumaru… what other option are you offering?"

He knew he'd managed to irritate him with his ability to ignore the promise of unlimited answers, but there were certain things that simply held too much importance to be distracted no matter how tempting the easy prize might be. Agreeing to that offer would still count as a loss and remove Kagome from the position he was determined to bring her into in his life. Such would be unacceptable, There are other ways to get information… but this is the only way to the miko by fair means.

Sesshoumaru shifted his weight just enough for his stance to widen, blatantly aggressive and threatening as his eyes gleamed with unholy fire, "This Sesshoumaru will order every creature with the knowledge you desire to possess to refuse your questions. If you do not refrain from them after being told once that it is not a matter for your ears, your safe passage in my lands will be forfeit."

Kurama's smile showed a flash of fang, his own anger subsiding at the blatant sight of the taiyoukai's growing irritation, "You are still avoiding the matter that truly interests me, Sesshoumaru… If I agree to no questions, what will my trade be? Since the other stipulation required that I never see my lover again-" he trailed off suggestively, barely resisting the urge to do more than press the tip of his tongue to his fang.

You are truly a sick bastard to poke at a dangerous person in this way, Hiei watched curiously when Kagome shivered, wrapping her arms around herself and turning a vague, searching from to Sesshoumaru. She can feel his displeasure and it unsettles her.

Considering I can feel it about to crack the ground I'm standing on, that doesn't surprise me, Kurama snorted, his eyes never leaving Sesshoumaru's as they silently clashed wills.

Finally, Sesshoumaru's eyes moved back to Kagome, letting his hand fall away from his swords, "You… will be permitted to present your suit to my miko for her company."

Youko let out a bark of ecstatic triumph, `HA! Hear that? Victory!'

"However, if this is the option you select, you will agree to abide by her decisions regardless of your personal feelings, avatar," Sesshoumaru's gaze was back, burning into his as though determined to sear his soul from the inside out. "One word from my miko that you have crossed the line will result in the instant destruction of that weak body you have created to house your soul and rebuild yourself."

Yuusuke's foot came down hard on Kurama's eyes blazing and furious as he screamed behind the constricting hand in his attempt to shake the kitsune loose before he made the wrong choice. Whatever had hit the man in the head to cause this sudden irrational behavior had to be dealt with before it was too late to be salvaged, Dammit, Kurama, what the hell are you thinking?!

"This Sesshoumaru is no longer negotiating," amber eyes swept across the men standing so warily before him, warning them that his patience was at an end. "Your options have been stated. Now you choose."