Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Par Tout Autre Nom ❯ Deflection in a Single Bound ( Chapter 26 )

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

A/N: Mwah ha! The moment of truth has arrived! -strikes a dramatic pose for a moment before falling flat on her face with a groan- Phooey… the professionals make that look so easy. -siigh- Ah well, I may not be a professional, but dammit, I'm entertaining myself. LOL. And I had to get this out before Kazusa decided to make good on that threat of forcing me to read nothing but bad fanfiction for a week if I didn't update. Now I know it seems like it's been a while, but the stupid chapters just keep getting longer no matter what I do… the characters are running away with their lines and adlibbing up a storm! -sniffle- I feel so used. …Not really, but I can pretend. ^.~

As for you, my lovely reviewers, hundreds up hundreds of kisses and thank-you's for all your feedback and support. Nothing brightens up a day like opening my mail and being able to giggle and blush at the amusing and unbelievably sweet things you say. As always, I adore hearing your thoughts, even if you think you're rambling, I enjoy it more that I ever thought I would. But as I'm sure you want to know if Yuusuke or Kurama wins the argument, I'll stop now. -bows and blows kisses- I love and adore you all!

~*~*~*~

By Any Other Name

~Deflection in a Single Bound~

"You are already aware of what my answer is going to be… Sesshoumaru," Kurama drawled out smugly, keeping his hands firmly in place over Yuusuke's mouth to be certain the decision was finalized from the taiyoukai's own lips before he let the volatile man go off on what was sure to be a prime rant. "So long as I can trust the Western Lord to be honorable enough not to interfere by giving any sort of `special' instructions for Kagome to be unreceptive to my attention." Since he's right for the moment… If he gives her an order, she'll obey it. She doesn't love us enough to stand up to him.

`Yet.'

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed sharply not only at the insinuation, but as though something in Kurama's multi-toned eyes had given away those private thoughts while he continued to hold his faint smirk. The stones beneath their feet sizzled with the light drip of poison from the taiyoukai's claws before he murmured with quiet menace, "This Sesshoumaru has no use or need for underhanded tactics of such a nature. My miko is not a fool or a plaything for the likes of you, and as such, you will no doubt prove yourself offensive to her soon enough to cease your invasion of our family."

`I wonder if he's saying such things to convince himself Kagome will find us unappealing,' Youko chuckled easily, all his earlier tensions fading away as he fairly strutted about in the confines of their body at their all-but assured victory. `She doesn't seem the type to kiss and tell, so maybe we should clue him in that we already know she likes how we taste.'

And tempt the Fate that's kept us alive and on the successful side of this meeting? I'd rather not just yet, Kurama scolded him, but it held less heat than it had previously, eyes straying to where Kagome had just let Shippou drop his forehead wearily onto her shoulder. Or more correctly, hungrily following the path of her hands as they slowly combed through the younger kitsune's hair in a soothing gesture, bringing a sharp curl of envy through his own stomach at the tender familiarity between the two of them.

Yuusuke took full advantage of his wandering attention to jerk himself free of Kurama's hands, practically snarling as he fisted his hand in his shirt and yanked him forward, "What the fuck is this?! What makes you think it's your decision to make you sorry excuse for a-"

Kurama's hand was right back over his mouth before he could say more, glaring at him in frustration and hissing out rapidly, "Shut up, Yuusuke, or did you not notice that this is neither the time, nor the place for your brand of discussion?"

Do you want to know what's going through his mind right now? Hiei was openly snickering in his mind as he made the offer. It's quite interesting.

Probably safer for both of us if I don't, Kurama sighed and shook his head. It's not his choice to make, no matter what he thinks. He'll make the wrong one, and I can't let that happen for something so important.

His thoughts are disturbingly similar to your own but for different reasons, Hiei pointed out with a shrug. And while I am horribly loathing admitting to this, I'm tempted to agree with him this time. It would be easier for us, and probably more productive if you just gave up on this empty miko and found a different human girl. We'd have all the information we could ask for about this legend, and possibly make something of an ally out of a powerful inu taiyoukai.

`But I wouldn't get my miko,' Youko denied with a particularly obstinate snort. `What's worse, if he did turn into an ally, he would rub that failure in my face continuously whenever we were forced into his company. No, there's only one correct decision. Like a test… There will be other ways to discover the truth of the Shikon and my miko's involvement, but this is my only chance to take her from this pack peacefully.'

I just hope you know what you're doing, Fox, Hiei sighed heavily after another short contemplating silence, but took a step back to indicate he would side with his decision in the matter. I'll take it out of your hide in a way I can guarantee you won't enjoy if we get fucked over for your obsession.

`Stop being paranoid and trust us,' Youko didn't sound particularly impressed with the threats, lounging back even as he kept a sharp handle on Yuusuke before he could squirm free again and manage to shout something that would allow the taiyoukai to take a different route out of the meeting. `I can smell when the puzzle runs deeper than the surface, and it's not just because I want her for myself. If we answer wrong here, that's it. Sesshoumaru won't give us a second chance, and you know it as well as I do.'

"Kagome doesn't seem to hold the same narrow distaste for my breed that you do," Youko spoke up before too much time had elapsed, subtly elbowing Yuusuke in the stomach when he felt teeth digging into his palm. "Without you breathing down her neck in disapproval, I'm certain our lover will feel safe to relax and enjoy me the way she should."

"My miko has had more than enough experience with kitsune and their tricks to last a dozen human lifetimes and more without adding the unfortunate experience of you," Sesshoumaru informed him easily, taking a single step forward and seizing him by the throat to lift him up off his feet, Yuusuke falling hard to the ground at the unexpected attack.

This again, Kurama caught himself before he actually sighed out loud, knowing that was the worse possible thing he could do in such a vulnerable position.

`Inu's like to go for the throat,' Youko nonchalantly offered his explanation. `Instinct. It's a quick kill.'

I feel so much better, he internally rolled his eyes to accompany that dry comment, ignoring the less than mature response from his counterpart.

Ignoring the outraged curses from the fallen man, Sesshoumaru brought his eyes directly in line with Kurama's before he whispered quietly, "You will not find an easy seduction in her, avatar. You would be better served to turn your attentions to another and take advantage of this Sesshoumaru's willingness to impart information you do not deserve to have."

Yuusuke rubbed at his mouth to dispel the lingering numbness, pushing himself up and just beginning to speak when Hiei darted forward. A simple twist brought his foot flat against the taller man's chest just hard enough to send him crashing back into Kurabara in a tangle of limbs, as he folded his arms and motioned with his head for the kitsune to continue.

Kurama smirked at the assistance and met Sesshoumaru's cool gaze as he reiterated his decision, "I prefer the warmth of my lover to hearing your story… no matter how tempting the offer is for answers I do want. I just happen to want her more."

Sesshoumaru continued to stare at him without a sound, almost seeming not even to breathe for a long moment more before he let out disgusted snort and opened his fingers to drop him to the ground, "You will not win in whatever you are plotting for my miko, kitsune. Better than you have tried and failed in catching her favor."

Kurama's eyes flashed, his lips curling up off the point of one elongating fang just enough to deepen the threatening expression, "There will never be a better creature, youkai or not, Sesshoumaru. She was meant to belong to Youko Kurama or I wouldn't be here."

Youko, Kurama ground out warningly. Stop pushing him before he gets nasty.

`If I don't push he won't respect us, Kurama, knock it off!' Youko snapped back irritably at the continued interference. `You didn't want to know what we know about this breed and that time, so I didn't tell you, but it was not a time for backing down or hesitating. Either one will make him decide we're weaklings who don't belong in his family.'

He's right, Hiei offered, keeping his eyes trained on the struggling pair behind them cautiously, ready to intercede again to keep them out of the discussion if necessary. As much as I hate to say it, Kurama, trust Youko for now. He's experienced with this kind of meeting, and he's old enough for Sesshoumaru to consider him an opponent.

"A murdering thief chasing my miko," Sesshoumaru's eyebrow kicked back up, this time displaying sardonic amusement at Kurama's unwavering claim. "You think she could care for something like you? Something inhuman? A creature with the blood of thousands of humans and youkai on his claws for nothing but its own twisted amusements?"

`I'm flattered, it seems he remembers us after all,' Youko held in a chuckle as he shared his impressions with both Hiei and his other side. `He recalls what we were famous for.'

But he thinks we're too stupid to recognize that Kagome surrounds herself with these deadly youkai from less peaceful times, Kurama snorted in disgust. If this is any indication, it doesn't seem to make a difference to her that they've got blood on our hands or not. She does not hesitate in showing them her affection.

`Exactly.'

"She obviously cares about you," Youko was already rewording their observations to answer without the slightest hint of uncertainty, eyes shrewd and bright as he watched the minute shifts in the taiyoukai's gaze. "If she was the type to hold a grudge for the sins of the past, I doubt you would have your so-called claim to her. Or are you conveniently forgetting that your hands are probably dirtier than mine, taiyoukai?"

Sesshoumaru let out a cold laugh, lifting his hand and curling his claws towards his palm as they lit with that same unholy green light, "Clever little kitsune…" Perhaps you will provide this Sesshoumaru with entertainment after all.

He dipped his head in a mockery of a respectful bow, "I told you once that I was a creative survivor. I did not get to this age by being a fool, or unobservant. Did you actually think I couldn't see the way her tension leaves her when she touches a youkai instead of a human?"

The green light slowly dissipated when he looked over their heads again to find Kagome watching him through her lashes where her chin rested on Shippou's shoulder. He could feel her power licking along his senses, whispering to him softly in its effort to sooth his disquieted soul before he sighed and let his hand lower to his side and forced himself to calm, "There are few creatures who will treat those born under the curse of a miko's bloodline as equals. Kagome has come to find what she requires with this Sesshoumaru, and as such, has come to take comfort in youki when we choose to offer it. Your observation is impressive, yet hardly as significant as you seem to think."

"I didn't think the `miko-curse' was as severe in this era," he pressed slightly, folding his arms and narrowing his eyes as he watched for anything that could give away any more hints. "Since we youkai have slipped into fantasy and the status of temples is no longer as powerful as it was when we were younger."

Sesshoumaru's lips turned up in a cruel smirk yet again, "And how many temples have you searched in this new era to see these changes for yourself?"

Youko took a step back in their consciousness to scowl from the safety of their mind, `Sneaky bastard… he's trying to make us back down by reminding us how we feel about holy magic.'

What's the problem? We just avoid- oh, Kurama blinked in realization, almost turning to look at Kagome over his shoulder before Youko caught him and held their eyes on Sesshoumaru. He's threatening us by proxy…

`No matter.'

"This Sesshoumaru raised Takashima from a kit, avatar," Sesshoumaru dipped his head towards the embracing pair, giving them the impression he was fully aware how much Kurama didn't care for that sight. "There is a great deal about kitsune ways and weaknesses that I have learned over our centuries."

Kurama blew out a sigh and leaned back, cocking his head at an arrogant angle to show the tactics weren't dissuading him in the least, "If you think that would convince me, Sesshoumaru, you simply will have to try harder. To me, this just means I don't have to explain my actions to you in regards to my lover. Even if you don't understand, you have a translator right on hand."

Hiei almost started snickering, How appropriate to suggest one needs another kitsune to translate just how odd you idiots are when it comes to your own behavior.

Now is really not the time, Hiei, Kurama growled at him irritably before Youko could get distracted.

"This Sesshoumaru believes Takashima is holding a grudge over the fact that your gift utterly destroyed one of his favorite outfits," Sesshoumaru informed him blandly. "If you believe he will be of assistance to you in any way, you are not nearly as intelligent as I gave you credit for."

"I expect him to fight me more than you do, inu," Kurama chuckled, brushing his hand through his hair to again press fingertips against his seeds in a deceptively casual motion. "But, I think the reasons behind that will stay between kitsune," he winked at him just to see those golden eyes narrow. "It's not any fun if all the secrets are gone."

"You have grown tiresome, avatar," Sesshoumaru's hand lashed out again, grabbing his throat tight enough to send a grimace of pain across his face as he was hoisted into the air yet again. "No second chances and no exceptions… Speak your choice."

Hiei was ready when he saw Yuusuke trying to shove himself up and answer when he heard the final ultimatum, springing onto Kurabara's back and forcing them back down in that tangle hard enough to knock the wind from their lungs and ensure silence long enough for Kurama to choose.

Kurama's lips split in a dark grin, brows drawing low and eyes sparking red for the briefest instant as his hands wound around Sesshoumaru's wrist to hold his balance, "You haven't changed my mind, Western Lord. Kagome will be my lover, and to hell with what you know of that fucking rock. It wasn't enough to draw my interest then, and it sure as hell isn't enough now, not when the alternative is so very appealing to me."

Sesshoumaru stared into his eyes for a long, taut beat of time, not even a hint of emotion crossing the sculpted perfection of his face before he abruptly opened his hand and let Kurama drop to the ground, "So be it."

"Sesshoumaru-sama, are you sure this is-?" Shinju took a careful step forward to prod, his brows deeply furrowed as he reached up and loosened his mask enough to pull it down around his neck.

"No questions and no information," Sesshoumaru cut the boy off with an impatient flick of his hand, turning to pin them with a hard glare, and waiting for their nods of understanding before frowning at the youkai in front of him again. "No exceptions and no excuses. Takashima."

"Yeah?" Shippou's voice lifted after a few muttered curses that didn't carry loudly enough to be accurately translated before he was walking back into their circle, still furiously scrubbing at his eye. "Stupid fucking inu poison," he gritted out as he stalked past Shinju and Kaze, choking off when Sesshoumaru wrapped a hand around his throat and lifted him up the same way he had to Kurama just a moment ago, "You have a phone call to make, I believe?"

He dug his claws into Sesshoumaru's wrist, growling and twisting to break free of that choking hold until he found himself flung off towards the entrance with enough force to make the walls shiver yet again the moment his back struck stone.

Youko shook his head with a sympathetic sigh, `Now that really was uncalled for.'

Maybe you should apologize then, Hiei suggested, turning again to see the look of disapproval crossing Kagome's face before she turned under the guise of reaching into the shadows to hide it from them. Since it's your fault the inu is taking out his frustration on the other kitsune.

I might consider it later, but not now and not in front of others, Kurama stayed alert and wary when Sesshoumaru scowled at him again before striding past them all to corner Kagome at the edges of the gloom. It would insult him if I did it that way.

Kitsune pride, Hiei muttered in disgust.

You would be insulted in similar circumstances, so don't even start, he arched an eyebrow and squinted to try and make out just what the Western Lord was saying to his lover to make her brow furrow in that particular expression of distaste.

Finally, she gave him a nod and smiled, Kurama's fists clenching at his sides while he held back the growl Youko was encouraging them to make at seeing her grace another man with such an affectionate face. Even more so when she reached up to cup his chin, raising up on her toes despite his unchanging expression to press a kiss to his cheek, `He's not allowed to touch her in such ways! Dammit all to hell!'

She is the one touching him- Hiei winced and stepped back under the blistering curses that suddenly flooded his mind, blocking him out and scowling at him openly.

"You're not going to make him combust or anything just by glaring at the back of his head, you know," Shinju remarked casually, bringing the Hiraikotsu down in front of Kurama just enough to make him start and switch the direction of his focus to give Kagome more privacy. "They always do that when he's leaving her alone for a little while, so calm down."

They kiss? Kurama blinked, looking from the vivid eyes of the boy beside him back to where Kagome was dropping back to her heels and nodding more at some quietly spoken instruction.

"You're thinking something perverted, aren't you?" Shinju's tone changed to disapproval, shaking his head as though the very thought pained him. "I thought kitsune were supposed to know the differences in kissing instinctually. Are you broken or something?"

This time Hiei was definitely chuckling, and Kurama shot him a quelling glare as he gritted out, "He's doing it to piss me off."

"Actually, Kagome-sama is doing it to show him that she holds him in high regard and trusts his decisions," Kaze returned with a stoic look of his own that had them grudgingly admitting that he was doing an impressive job of it for a human. "And if you are having difficulty with watching this, you will not last long in your endeavors. She shows affection through touching, a concept kitsune are supposed to be familiar with."

`I am not going to be lectured by a human boy about my own race's mannerisms,' Youko flexed their hands as though readying claws, not the least bit surprised when both boys slipped into positions that could easily switch to defend themselves.

"Houshi," Sesshoumaru's growl had them all snapping back to attention, turning to see Kagome standing just behind him with her shakujou in hand, her eyes straying off in the direction Shippou had been thrown earlier.

"Sir," Shinju straightened, flipping the Hiraikotsu to his back in a fluid, practiced motion before he offered a slight bow.

"Stay with Kagome."

"Yes, sir," he grinned widely at that, even more when Kagome rolled her eyes and pasted on a mild expression at Sesshoumaru's challenging look.

"Hitokaze-san, you will follow this Sesshoumaru," the taiyoukai said nothing more, his silent steps carrying him back towards the entrance as a faint glow settled around his body before it seemed to pulse and shrink back in on itself. The human disguise of Takeharuka firmly in place before he turned to send a final censoring glare at the collected grouping again while Kaze fell in step beside him, "Show them out, miko. There is nothing more for them to see in the walls of my enterprise."

~*~*~*~

Shinju glanced inquiringly at Kagome, waiting for her to nod before he burst out laughing and relaxed with a shake of his head, "Hell, Ka- Kagome-sama, you weren't kidding when you said this was going to be formal. That was just as bad as our holidays, but no sake to make it fun."

Kagome reached up into her hair and yanked at the tie to let it spill down around her shoulders, shoving her fingers through it impatiently as she struggled with her own thoughts about the "meeting" and waited for their guests to recover enough to speak, "No kidding." That definitely could have gone much better… but on the other hand, it could have gone worse too.

Before she'd completed the thought and convinced herself to look at the kitsune she could feel watching her, Yuusuke had flung Kurabara to the side with a violent shout and shot to his feet, "Goddammit, Kurama, what in the holy flying fuck were you thinking?! Don't you realize how easy this could have been for us? And where do you get off making a decision that important by yourself, huh? We should have talked to each other and-!"

"Let you make an inappropriate decision?" Kurama finished in a cool voice, never taking his eyes off Kagome as he watched the way her fingers tightened on the staff, her shoulders lift slightly with her held breath… and the pink seeping into her cheeks under his attention.

`She heard everything,' Youko purred out in satisfaction. `Good… she knows we think more of her than that legend he tried to bribe us with.'

"Did you stop to think that you weren't the only one here, you selfish bastard?" Yuusuke fumed, stalking forward to grab his shirt and shake him once in his frustration. "How could you do that?"

Kurama arched an eyebrow at him, turning his head to Kagome again before looking out of the corner of his eyes at Yuusuke's face, "Firstly, Yuusuke, it was my decision, as I was the one who challenged Sesshoumaru to start with. And second… how could I not?"

"We need to know what's going on," he hissed and dragged Kurama even closer to him, his temper spiking at the kitsune's inattention, and completely mindless to their audience curiously watching the verbal altercation. Even unaware of the strangely shrewd expression on Shinju's face as he inched closer to Kagome and gave her a nudge with his elbow. "One girl, Kurama, one! Couldn't you have found a different girl?"

Kurama's hand snapped up suddenly, knocking both Yuusuke's hands aside and gripping his throat in a way that was oddly similar to the way a certain taiyoukai had been handling him lately before he challenged in a snarl, "If it was the legend or Keiko, Yuusuke, would you and I even be having this idiotic conversation?"

Yuusuke frowned, shoving himself out of Kurama's hand, "It ain't the same as this, Kurama, Keiko and I have known each other for years, we've got kids and everything. I wouldn't give all that, or her up over a stupid legend."

"Then don't expect me to feel guilty over my choice," Kurama's voice dropped purposefully, slanting Kagome a warm look and smiling when he saw her trying not to peek at him through her hair. "Some prizes are too important to let go for the sake of an easy victory."

Shinju leaned down and hid his mouth behind his hand as he whispered, "Oh he's smooth… No wonder you like him, Kaa-san, he's obviously got the mouth."

Kagome brought her heel back lightly against his shin and muttered to him, "Stop that, Shinju. All kitsune have `the mouth,' as you insist on calling it, you perverted little freak. That's why I'm sure Miroku-sama's great-great grandfather either was or married one of them. It's the only reason I can think that all of you retained this personality."

He grinned unrepentantly, slinging his arm around her shoulders and speaking in a more normal voice, "Ah, but I am a monk of the most humble nature, Kagome-sama! You wound me with such slanderous remarks on my character."

"The Hiraikotsu is looking awfully convenient right now," Kagome gave him a pointed look that had him sliding back a step and lifting his hands in a placating gesture.

"I will, of course, appropriately stand at a distance while you converse with our guests, Kagome-sama," Shinju's voice was dripping with such humility and respect that she burst out laughing, unable to stop herself at such a typical response, shaking her head and reaching over to give him a teasing smack on the head.

"Baka," Kagome felt the majority of her unease slough off after that, trying and failing not to feel the warming in her soul at the way the strange kitsune had so vehemently denied the temptations of the Shikon-no-Tama for her. Knowing he had heard of it in the past, knew some of the story at least, and still chose her without knowing her own involvement made her eyes brighten and brought a wide smirk on her face as she struck the end of the shakujou hard against the stone, I think… that's the first time I've met a youkai without the jewel, without knowing I'm only around them because of it. Bracing her other fist on her hip, she forced her thoughts to the back of her mind for a later, more thorough perusal and met Kurama's eyes directly, "So I'm a prize now, am I?"

He blinked, taken aback by the abrupt turnabout in her attitude while Youko was chuckling in open appreciation at the recovery and dipping their head, "Only of the utmost quality, little lover, but I'm not so stupid as to think that was all it took to convince you I've won."

`Oh no… I expect we will have to play this game for a time and show you just how perfect we are before you will give yourself and all that beautiful loyalty over to us,' he purred darkly in their mind, sending a chill down Kurama's spine at the utter conviction in his voice.

Yuusuke's scowl was right back in place at hearing such an un-Kurama response coming from the kitsune, mouth open to accuse Youko of taking over when he felt Hiei's hand on his wrist and the sudden intrusion into his mind, Let him handle this, Yuusuke. This is his game for now, and will remain so unless he leads us to the wrong end.

He yanked his arm out of Hiei's hold, folding it across his chest and huffing in reluctant compliance, "This is such bullshit."

Kagome was chuckling to herself, the smile on her face changing into something warm and teasing as she switched the shakujou to her left hand and absently leaned against Shinju's shoulder to accuse, "Did you really have to piss him off so much? Sesshoumaru's really not a bad guy, but he's just not the most tolerant youkai in the world…"

If that's not an understatement, Kurama's eyes flashed bright as he responded to her softening attitude, straightening his posture and letting his own misgivings go to bask in her reception.

`Not a bad guy?' Youko repeated in disbelief before letting out a bark of laughter. `That old bastard was bluffing us… damn, even more than I thought he was. If he's "not a bad guy," Kurama, we're going to look like a fucking saint to her.'

"Besides, being what you are, you have to understand that we don't get many strangers with the best of intentions," her eyes turned knowing, catching and holding his in a way that let him clearly see that she still held a number of suspicions about his motives. "And while we appreciate the acts of the Reikai when something dangerous gets loose, we aren't leaving our home," her attention slid away from him to focus sternly on Yuusuke.

In other words, they're ready to fight us if we're here to send them to Makai, Hiei snorted in Kurama's head, the frown settling back on his face in agitation as he failed to sense anything in either of the humans before them.

"That's not our objective, Kagome," Kurama assured her quickly, sending a glare at Yuusuke that was dark enough to send the man back a step in alarm before he caught himself and glared back. "I actually saw you for the first time long before we had heard the Shikon-no-Tama being discussed again, or even realized Sesshoumaru was in the Ningenkai," he watched her eyes widen and just as quickly narrow, darting across his face as she searched for a hint of deception.

Why the hell did you tell her that? She'll see through you, Hiei shifted his position back to the other side of Kurama when Kurabara finally managed to get to his feet, shaking his head to dispel the ringing in his ears while the others stayed focused on the staring match.

It's not a lie, Hiei, he smiled and made a little motion with his fingers to get the vine in her hair to rouse and curl around her throat, watching her hand move to absently pet it until it settled down again. I saw her the same day we first saw Takashima, standing in a doorway to a… Oh my gods, I saw the shrine there! Goddammit, I wasn't even thinking of it the other times, but I saw her in the doorway of a shrine in that neighborhood when I watched Takashima leaving.

"That isn't possible," Kagome shook her head, lifting her hand up to press over her heart when she felt nothing in him to suggest he was making it up. "I would have seen you." What the hell is going on? He saw me before? But… if it's not the jewel… Why did he pick me to chase after?

To the amazement of the others, it was Shinju who leaned down, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and offering in a low voice, "Kagome-sama… please try to recall your… condition prior to now. It… actually is possible he has seen you."

`Condition?' Youko frowned, not liking the idea of secrets being kept from him, especially not a secret that suggested his chosen lover was suffering from an unnamed illness.

"You sick?" Yuusuke cocked his head to one side, distracted enough from the absolute gravity in the previously cheerful boy's voice to leave Kurama alone.

Kagome could feel her cheeks heat, trying to smile and wave off the concern even as their eyes took on a calculating gleam, "Oh! No, no… well, not anymore, anyhow. It was… just a temporary illness." If you can call closing off your entire living aura to hide everything from your own senses for fear of being alone an illness.

Kurama had managed to close the distance between them, not bothering to hide his speed given her own ties to youkai, and clasping her hand gently but firmly, "Is this something you can tell us?" Kurabara said Sesshoumaru had to send her away, perhaps this was the reason for it?

Just an illness? Hiei arched an eyebrow, lips twitching at the way the miko was trying to politely extract her hand unsuccessfully from Kurama's grasp. That seems a bit extreme... and you really should let her go before that boy decides to see how hard your stubborn head is. He's giving you a look.

Kagome glanced at Shinju, catching his shrug to show he wasn't sure what to tell her in that regard before she tried tugging her hand away from the warmth of Kurama's and offered, "I…" Wait a sec… I can use this! She straightened her spine and glanced over at Hiei, unaware of the frown her wandering gaze brought to her "lover's" face, "You remember asking me about my aura, right?"

Hiei unconsciously tilted his head in wary confusion, folding his arms over his chest and nodding as he tried to puzzle out the reason behind her change in topics, "Hn." It was only a week ago, and it's not something that one is likely to forget for fuck's sake.

Be serious, Kagome, it's all in how you sound when you're saying it. Sound confident and they'll buy it, she tugged at her hand once more before giving up when Kurama ended the attempts by lacing their fingers together. "My ki was trying to devour itself," she offered, mentally shooting a prayer up to whatever gods might be listening that this would work. "It's why you say I don't have an aura… Sesshoumaru sent me away to be healed before it could consume itself to the point that it killed me."

There was a painful stretch of silence while Kagome carefully held her expression to hide the anxiety trying to beat at her head until finally Yuusuke lifted a hand to his head and repeated in awed confusion, "Devour… itself?"

Oh thank gods, Kagome could have shrieked with glee, but settled for nodding as though eager to offer them whatever information she could about the phenomenon now. "None of the monks or doctors I had seen could figure out what was wrong, but it was just turning in on itself a little at a time. I wasn't giving anything off because my soul wasn't letting it past my body, and I haven't quite recovered completely from it yet." That's true somewhat.

"That's creepy," Kurabara finally joined in, shaking his head and stuffing his hands down in his pockets as he obviously struggled to adjust to the information overload he'd received. "Is… is that why we can't feel the youki around here? The thing that infected you?"

Kagome's brows shot up, stunned that he would offer that kind of an out for their hidden auras and mentally debating its merits as his companions turned a variety of expressions on him, "I hadn't thought about it… I mean, I know people are supposed to be able to sense youkai, but I didn't have that kind of training." Until muuuuch later. "Maybe it was something around here if you say it's not just me."

"Sesshoumaru didn't want to send her away, but it would have been a mistake to keep her here," Shinju added smoothly, sending her a shielded wink as he settled into their "story-telling" mode: vague in the most detailed as possible way. "Kagome-sama promised to return when she was able, and we waited with the utmost patience for that time."

They're definitely good, Hiei's eyes narrowed sharply as he shared that thought with Kurama.

Don't believe them?

Yes and no, he watched Kagome's hand close into a fist over her heart as Shinju answered more questions for Kurabara and Yuusuke. I get the feeling they aren't lying to us-

But they aren't giving us the truth either, Kurama slid his thumb gently across the back of Kagome's hand, inwardly preening when she shivered and involuntarily squeezed his fingers. They're talking the same way those legends are written, answering us without telling us what we really want to hear.

`I'm so proud of you for seeing that on your own that were it not completely physiologically impossible, Kurama, I would kiss you,' Youko wound his arms around their soul, sending the impression of nuzzling his ear with open affection and no small amount of that said pride. `We should celebrate by taking Kagome out to dinner, then for a walk in the woods where we can pin her up against a tree and-`

Should I excuse you two before you scare her? Hiei drawled out in amusement, waiting until the kitsune caught himself and patted Kagome's hand reassuringly on seeing her concerned look before he started to tease. Or were you planning to take her to the ground right here in front of everyone?

`You have the romantic instincts of a dying wombat,' Youko made a rude sound in his throat before ignoring the hybrid to watch Kagome nervously tug at her hair while she cut in here and there to make corrections or stop a line of information with cultivated precision. His voice slowly took on a more distracted note as he watched her fingers glide with mindless elegance through the thick strands to smooth it down, `No wonder I had to do all the work in our relationship.'

You did all the work because our so-called `relationship' was only alive in your overloaded, perverted kitsune head, Hiei folded his arms over his chest and calmly held the vivid eyes of the boy Sesshoumaru had called "Houshi," trying to figure out what it was about him that seemed so odd. Not necessarily out-of-place, just… a niggling feeling like he wasn't what he appeared to be.

`I feel so used.'

Don't make me get your blood all over that miko, Hiei's eyebrow twitched as his concentration shattered.

`The best years of my human childhood wasted on a heartless, abusive boyfriend-`

If you don't knock that off, I swear I'm going to kill you where you stand, he cut him off before Youko could get anymore into his little dramatic tirade. Sesshoumaru would probably consider me a godsend and offer me anything my black little heart desired, including the legend of the Shikon-no-Tama.

`Cold-hearted little fucker.'

Yes, and that's why you try to seduce me on a daily basis, you sick twisted freak, Hiei shot right back, smirking when Youko sent him an obscene gesture and went back to encouraging Kurama to touch Kagome.

"Oh! I finally remembered something!" Shinju smacked a closed fist into his open hand with a look of innocent realization, effectively stopped all the conversations around them and bringing the attention to himself.

"Something?" Yuusuke set a fist on his hip, gesturing with his other hand when the information didn't follow that shout. "Something that has to do with Kagome being sick? Or just something you needed to tell us?"

He nodded, pointing a finger at Kurama and letting devilish mischief sparkle brightly where Kagome couldn't see it, "You're the guy who ruined Kagome-sama's sleeping with the dreaming rose, aren't you?"

"Yes… What about it?" Kurama blinked in confusion, waving off the confused looks from his companions.

"Kagome-sama merely wanted me to remind her of that so she didn't forget her promise to you," he informed Kurama, taking an exaggerated step to the side before he offered them a devious grin.

A chill of foreboding snaked down Kurama's spine when he recognized that gleam in the boy's eyes, a gleam that he had seen often enough in his own or Hiei's right before they- Oh fuck.

Kagome's fist connected with his jaw on the heels of that thought, knocking him back a step as he reached up instinctively to cover his cheek with his palm and gape at her. He was dimly aware of a snort behind him that turned rapidly into snickers before two voices rose in veritable gales of laughter, knowing without having to turn that Yuusuke and Kurabara were having a grand good time at the expense of his pride. While Hiei elected to let a smile grace his lips and echo his own laughter almost painfully loud in his rattled head.

She was flexing her right hand absently, the color in her face high with belatedly remembered embarrassment and her eyes almost seeming to glow on their own with her jumbled emotions, "Thank you, Shinju, I did ask you that. Now… you didn't think I was about to let you get away with embarrassing me like that, did you, Kurama?" Actually… he almost did, but better late than never. Dammit, I should have punched him before we started to talk!

`I thought she was kidding about that,' Youko could still feel his lips trying to curl upwards in amusement, holding it in with effort when he really just wanted to sweep her up and kiss that flustered look off her face.

So did I, Kurama gingerly pulled his hand away from his cheek and offered her what he hoped was an appropriately chastised expression. "I did not intend for you to be inconvenienced, Kagome," he tried for a more gentle tone, swatting Hiei when he heard the hybrid scoff.

"Just frustrated half out of my mind," she mumbled under her breath, flicking her hand to be sure her energy had slipped through it and corrected any potential bruising. Damn hard-headed youkai.

"I wanted to give you something that would remind you that you were in my thoughts," Kurama carefully schooled his face to reveal more innocence, mind racing for a way to redirect her down a less touchy path. "Something that could look out for your welfare in my absence-"

"What the hell were you thinking?! It talks, Kurama," she turned to scowl briefly at Yuusuke when that brought a new sound of choked amusement out of him before refocusing on venting at the beautiful kitsune in front of her. "It's a plant, and it talks to me, do you know how creepy that is when you're half asleep?" And it's putting thoughts in my head that make it impossible to dream of anything but you. That make me remember…

"Well it really doesn't so much talk really as it does whine and reach for her if we try to take it away-" Shinju started only to trail off at the murderous look he was receiving from his mother. "What?" he cleared his throat and tried to go back over what he'd said wrong.

Kagome dropped her head into her hand, using the other to prop up the elbow as she massaged the throbbing at her temples, only to stop with a rather impressive growl for a human when two little vines separated from the whole and took up the motion for her with an odd grumbling sound, "Do you see what I mean?"

`Well, well… this is a surprise,' Youko observed critically, prodding Kurama closer to get a better feel for the way his plant was responding to her.

What is it? Hiei tried to find what held the kitsune's fascination, annoyed at the way he had to wait on an explanation like the others.

`You can't tell? C'mon, Hiei, don't be dense! It actually is talking to her, it likes her,' Youko chuckled and pointed out, reaching out their hand to brush to backs of his fingers over Kagome's cheek and bring her face jerking up in surprise even as they were moving on to lightly touch the vine. `Not the edible way, and it's not just that we gave it orders to stay close to her and to protect her, it's enjoying itself being near her. Something about a vibration… and it says she's very good to it even though she tries to act disturbed.'

So she's posing, Kurama observed the renewed blush on her cheeks, tracing the sweep of color to her ear before gliding the tip of his finger down the side of her throat and drinking in the way her heart started to race against his skin. She's fishing for reasons to act mad at us.

`Not that it will work, but it's a good try,' Youko nodded with satisfaction. `She understands it on some level, and she likes it enough to care for it, but she knows Sesshoumaru doesn't approve. It's probably just guilt confusing her into thinking she should push us away. We can fix that.'

"It likes you," Kurama tried to reassure her when she cleared her throat and grabbed his wrist to stop that fingertip caress.

"It also likes biting anyone who comes near me at the most inappropriate times," she arched an eyebrow at the cajoling note that crept into his voice, biting the inside of her cheek to hold in an errant laugh when it reminded her of Shippou's attempts to get out of trouble. "That's more than a little awkward, you know, especially when we're trying to have a formal dinner at home."

`Takashima must sit next to her,' Youko rubbed his chin thoughtfully before waving that off. `He'll get over it… and we might give the rose new instructions… eventually.'

You realize it's remarkably childish for you to taunt a kitsune who is likely half your age? Hiei automatically turned and frowned in the last direction they had seen Shippou thrown, even knowing the likelihood of him still being there was next to none.

`He'll live.'

After that display of temper from the taiyoukai, I'm starting to have my doubts, he shook his head, mentally trying to nudge Kagome into punching Kurama again.

Traitor, he growled when he could the brush of it against his own mind, setting his jaw but smirking when Kagome merely pinched the bridge of her nose and moved onto something new.

Can I help that I found it entertaining to see a girl put a bruise on that pretty face for once instead of make an ass out of herself for it? he retorted loftily. Try to get her to throw you again, I want to commit that picture to memory.

They're laughing enough at me, thank you, he turned up his nose primly. Why don't you drag them back to the elevator so I can have some time alone with Kagome?

And miss this? Hiei arched an eyebrow. Not on your borrowed life, Fox. I've waited too long to watch you get laid low by a female you couldn't dazzle into falling at your feet in a brainless puddle. It's even more gratifying to know it's a human girl a fraction of your age from a shrine family.

`We will kill you eventually, Hiei,' Youko ground out, his tone thick with annoyance at that remark, especially with the expectant look he was currently enduring as Kagome waited for an answer. There was a certain sense of pride to be had in the ability to charm your way into anyone's heart if you so desired, and the frustration building inside them at having the miko they actually wanted to charm so completely being the only person in centuries to deny them was becoming something of a sore spot.

"Well, there's no use staying down in the catacombs all day," Kagome huffed when she realized he wasn't intending to do anything about the rose, taking advantage of his apparent preoccupation to slip out of his grasp again while her eyes swept the circular room for anything they might have missed before she gestured with the shakujou. "Come on. I'll take you back up so you don't get lost and die in Sesshoumaru's fog."

Kurama caught her hand again when she would have walked past him, bringing her to a stop and offering her his most charming smile when she threw a questioning look over her shoulder, "I would like to walk with you like this."

Shinju snickered when he saw her uncertainty, brushing past and whispering in her ear, "Sucker."

Kagome eyes narrowed darkly, muttering a curse under her breath as she flicked her wrist to sweep his legs out from under him with her staff and planted a foot on his chest in a single motion to grit out, "Don't make me kick your ass in front of all these people, Shinju-chan, hn? I know you'd rather avoid that public humiliation."

"Yes, ma'am."

She stopped again, a look of resignation crossing her face when she felt Kurama's fingers thread through her own tenaciously and squeeze, Well dammit. Her shoulders slumped as she lifted their joined hands and shook them once to try and dislodge him, sighing when he held that innocent expression but still refused to let go, "You're a persistent kitsune."

"Thank you," Kurama dipped his head, that smile taking on a decidedly satisfied tone at her capitulation.

So much for avoiding him until I could get these stupid dreams under control… and dammit, if he gives me that smile one more time, I'm going to kill him. Or maybe- no. Fucking hells, no, and I need to stop thinking about it, she tried to banish those fantasies to the back of her mind, setting her jaw and stepping off Shinju with one more warning grind of her heel.

Hiei's thoughts were filled with wicked amusement when she finally gave up on extricating herself from Kurama's hold and motioned for them to follow, muttering under her breath as she past them, I think she said something like `stupid hair, stupid body.'

Youko perked up, `Ha! I knew she wasn't unaffected! The way she couldn't keep her hands off us in our dream-`

She thought we were someone else, Youko, Kurama reminded him. It doesn't completely count.

`She knew we weren't who she thought we were before we really started to touch her seriously,' Youko defended his excitement. `I'm telling you, her body is hungry for us, and now she's going to be receptive since she heard us say she's more important to us than Sesshoumaru's knowledge. I know what I'm doing.'

Kurama blew out a sigh, mindlessly taking comfort in tracing little circles on the back of Kagome's hand, delighting in the feel of her skin warming against his as Youko started running over a multitude of plots all while trying his damnedest to ignore Yuusuke's scowl boring into his back. He is not going to let this go, he lengthened his stride just enough to brush against Kagome when he walked, closing his eyes and trying to locate the faint scent he'd been able to find in their dream.

`So? It wasn't his choice,' Youko shrugged, particularly unconcerned. `He'll blow up later and we'll calm him down. Stop fussing and enjoy that our lover is letting us stay close and holding our hand without arguing.'

She's distracted, Hiei couldn't resist pointing out.

`Must you speak?'

I'm afraid I must, he deadpanned with remarkable aplomb as Youko hissed out a few more choice threats.

`Honestly, Hiei, you have absolutely no respect whatsoever for ambiance,' Youko accused him darkly, unobtrusively tilting their head and breathing in when he finally managed to catch that muted thread of essence. Closing his eyes, he pushed down the urge to draw it into himself in a more intimate fashion out of respect for their mixed surroundings, instead making sure their hands were more securely joined and using them to brush his knuckles across her thigh with every step, `No wonder you have a hard time keeping lovers.'

You call strolling through poison mist in the catacombs of a hidden youkai society "ambiance?" Hiei nearly choked on his disbelief.

Kurama slanted him a look over his shoulder, green eyes flashing gold as Youko grinned arrogantly, `A true kitsune is not hindered by such things.'

Hiei shook his head, sending the preening kitsune a glare with his retort, And a true fool just doesn't care.