Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Par Tout Autre Nom ❯ Testing Still Waters ( Chapter 28 )

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

A/N: -giggles- Oh I'm horrible… but then again, I'm still trying to think of revenge against Sylvannastar for cursing me with Youko seated on my head for hours at a time and gnawing when it's not going his way. -wicked smirk- And as for asking me not to say "be patient," I guess I'm just going to head down the evil route and shrug.

A couple people have been confused about ages though… so just a quick note that while Sesshoumaru is obviously the top of the line by rather a bit, Youko is close enough for him to take notice and to remember him. Shippou's the younger one out of the kitsune, by about half, but he's still a little older than Hiei.

As for Kouryuu and Souten, they're "real" characters from a filler episode up quite a bit along in the anime. Souten is the little sister of Hiten and Manten and challenges Shippou to a duel for the family honor which actually turns out pretty humorous considering they 1: don't know Souten is a girl at first, 2: Kouryuu (her pet baby dragon) manages to distract the rest of the group with his tricks to keep them out of it, and 3: Shippou is locked in a cage while they engage in a battle of artwork. Of course, Shippou is the victor because of his crayons, but after it's found out Souten is a girl, he gives them to her and tells her revenge isn't always best. It's really very cute, especially since it ends with Souten dreamily sketching what she thinks Shippou will look like all grown up and doing the girly sighing.

Gack! And I've so totally rambled… -winces and shakes head- You guys are amazing… up over 300 on FF.N and 200 on MM.O. -falls over comically- Mou… I never thought I'd have this kind of response to a silly little present. LOL, but I adore every one of them, and all the readers gleaning some entertainment from it. I really do hope you have as much fun reading as it's been to write.

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By Any Other Name

~Testing Still Waters~

Kagome refused to admit it, but she was perversely grateful for Kurama's stubborn hold on her hand when they reached a restaurant with food Shippou deemed `fit for consumption' and found herself staring down an aloof maître d' who obviously felt there was something improper about a young woman dining alone with five men.

Yuusuke had taken pity on Kurabara, sending him off with the "mission" to go to Keiko and inform her of what they had discovered while they had waited for Shinju to change and join them. Even adding discreetly in that he would appreciate having his boys looked after until he got home.

They'd had more time and been further removed from the situation to be able to view the sudden shift into looking at Takeharuka and his company as youkai, and while Yuusuke wouldn't never say it out loud, he wanted to give the man time to come to grips with knowing the company he worked for ran deeper than he'd ever suspected. He'd even stepped away from the group to put in a quick call to his wife and fill her in, asking her to keep him occupied before he returned to see the drama playing out at the reservation booth.

Shippou and Shinju's glares had mildly unsettled the man, but when Kurama stepped in and "subtly" cleared his throat, lifting their joined hands enough to draw his eyes, he'd practically started tripping over himself to make apologies for insulting what he then assumed to be a man bringing his girlfriend along on at outing with his friends.

A man so elegant that he fairly reeked of the substantial funds their establishment sought to cater to exclusively.

For a split second there was even a momentary truce between Shippou and Kurama, kindred spirits sharing in a particularly amusing scenario made even better when Shippou decided to drive another nail in the man's coffin.

The kitsune waited until they had been led to private table in the garden courtyard, sitting down with such grace that Kagome had to turn her head to hide a giggle and flicking out the wine menu in a move of practiced boredom before slanting a piercing stare up at the nervous man and raising his voice, "Takeharuka-sama wanted me to be certain you charged our bill to his account as he was unable to free his schedule and take his favorite niece out for lunch."

When the man's face drained of all color, Shippou closed his eyes and reached into his jacket pocket to flick out a folded piece of paper held in his middle and ring fingers, "If there are any difficulties, he invites you to call this number and receive his verification personally."

And for the absolute horror and mortification on the man's face, as well as the raised whispers that began around them, Kurama was even going to be polite and let the bastard buy their lunch.

Shinju chuckled, propping his elbows up on the table and leaning forward to waggle his eyebrows at Kagome as he mocked, "Yes, a single delicate flower of a girl forced to share her meal with such inappropriate company-"

"You could be wearing this water," Kagome arched an eyebrow, tilting her fingers in a quick motion to make the ice clack against itself and the glass for emphasis.

He sat back with that unruffled expression that was starting to drive their more volatile lunch guests insane, transitioning into a face one would actually expect to see on a peaceful monk and lifting one hand in a prayer pose, "I am but a humble servant of Buddha-"

"You grope anyone in this restaurant and I'll have Shippou give you that crash course in anatomy personally instead of by proxy," Kagome cut him off before he could continue his trademark distraction, her eyes sweeping the layout of their surroundings as she broadened her search to find any girls her son might be attracted to enough to cause an awkward scene.

`Grope?' Youko's mind blanked at that, trying to figure out if it was really what it sounded like to him.

"Yeah, bouzu, we like this one," Shippou was for all intents and purposes ignoring the three men sitting around the circular table, leaning back in his chair as he continued to mull over the menus fanned out in his hand like cards. "If you get tossed, I'm denying association."

"Please! I am-!"

Shippou had slanted him a look, flicking the edge of the menu around as though it was a sword held to the boy's throat and sighing, "A total pervert."

"This coming from the one who has no qualms in forcing Kagome-sama to wear those pants?" Shinju dropped the pious expression for one devious enough to make Youko snicker in appreciation despite their uncertainty over the unorthodox topic. "In public?"

Finding herself the source of attention again, Kagome closed her eyes and propped her elbows up on the table to make a cradle for her forehead, "Leave me out of this."

I'm confused, Kurama blinked as he tried to shake off the odd tennis-match feeling of the conversation, their heads turning back and forth to follow each speaker with a sort of fascination at the complete oddity of the banter. Are they…? I thought he was a monk? They're talking about groping? As in physically grabbing someone?

Hiei suddenly made a disgusted snort in their head, catching his eyes when he folded his arms over his chest, A hand problem. Remember? That idiot said something about Shinju being said to have a `hand problem.'

Groping is a hand problem? Kurama arched an eyebrow, lips twitching in amusement at the tactful description.

`It would be if you were supposed to be a monk,' Youko chuckled and pushed at him impatiently. `Now hush… they're talking about our lover and I want to hear it. What about her pants? What's wrong with them?'

"I wasn't going to throw them away just because they got cut up a little, and I washed off all the blood," Shippou defended. "Besides, it's a warm day, and Kagome needs a breeze."

Hiei blinked, eyes dropping down to really look at her attire in suspicion and widening when he found the diagonal slice across the leg of her pants amongst the other, smaller tears much too precise to be anything but perfectly razor-edged in nature. He wasn't sure whether to laugh at the audacity or merely stare in disbelief, settling for shaking his head and sending a dry glare at the preening kitsune across from him, That little freak dressed her in the pants we cut up on him last week, the day she came to the house.

`No shit, the same ones?' Youko perked up, taking a closer look at Kagome's legs and grinning broadly when he too saw the fine slices running through the dark material to give a peek at the skin underneath when she moved. He knew from his connection already that those lines from her thighs down to her calves were all his, biting his lip in amusement when he noted with a broader slice that Hiei claimed to made in his fight with Shippou, `Now that's sexy… they look much better on her than they did on him.'

A throat clearing brought his eyes back up to those inhumanly blue eyes, a faint sparkle of some emotion he could have sworn was almost nostalgic making them something closer to indigo before it changed to dry amusement, and her eyebrow quirked up, "You have legs, hentai, you don't have to stare at mine as if you've never seen any before."

`Oh I like her. Such a smart mouth on that cute little face just makes me want to-'

Down, Youko, we're having a calm lunch with a crowd of people, only two of which are on our side and even then we can't be certain in this situation given how amused they have become at our expense, Kurama chided, covering the internal dialogue with a warm smile to the chuckling girl he'd managed to sneak a seat beside, reaching for his own water as an anxious server approached Shippou.

`How far do you think we could get our hand up that slit?' Youko waited until Kurama had started to take a drink, his voice a veritable study in innocence.

Kurama promptly choked, setting down the glass and hunching his shoulders as he leaned forward and tried to clear his airway, managing to pat Kagome's hand in reassurance when it came to rest on his thigh in an automatic showing of concern, "Wrong way."

`That's a matter of opinion,' Youko shifted their leg, purring in satisfaction when he brushed her fingertips along the inside of his thigh. Low enough still to seem accidental and guileless, but sending a streak of heat through their stomach at the same time, `I did that just right.'

You're trying to kill me! Kurama seethed at him, trying not to jump at that unexpected sensation and instinctively closing his legs in a move that coincidentally trapped her hand between them. Ah-!

`Well, well!' Youko puffed up in delighted approval, his voice thick with laughter as he teased. `And here I thought I was the one rushing things along. Do that again!'

Kagome pulled her hand away with a startled look, a splash of pink spreading across her cheeks as she made an abortive attempt to speak before finally ducking her eyes and offering a strained, "Sorry!" Oh gods, I just felt him up… Dammit, I can't even blame it on him either, I put my hand there first!

Youko burst into delighted, victorious laughter in their head, his pride swelling at her discomfiture even more with the apology, `How cute! She's even taking responsibility for it!'

"I'm ordering for you, Nee-san, and you'd better eat," Shippou cut in smoothly before the situation could degenerate any further, especially when he noticed the look in Kurama's eyes. He smirked at the grateful look she shot him, giving her a wink as he passed off his menu and heard Shinju ordering beside him, "Big Dog doesn't want you knocking off during lessons for getting distracted and forgetting."

"Lessons?" Yuusuke cocked his head to one side, randomly pointing to something foreign that sounded like it was mostly meat when the irritating little man poked around to his side.

"Kagome-sama is an instructor in the family temple and helps within the dojo," Shinju responded with affectionate respect. "With her return, Takeharuka-sama believes it would be best to return her to that position when she is not with him."

"Translating into he thinks I'll get into less trouble if I'm working when he can't be supervising everything I'm doing," Kagome explained with a sigh, leaning back and idly watching a new couple enter the restaurant, sizing them up habitually before dismissing them as harmless. "Especially if he starts sending me the kids."

Kurama visibly perked, turning sideways in his chair and leaning forward to eagerly dig for more information on such an important issue, "Why would he send you children?"

"She has more patience for them than Shinju does," Shippou jerked his thumb at the monk offering them a rueful smile, his hand up behind his head in a gesture of nervous chagrin to be put on the spot in such a way. "Besides, the kids like learning from her." Considering they practically fucking hero worship "the miko" they all heard stories about growing up, they've been so excited to start basics with her.

"Youkai kids?" Yuusuke's voice dropped, brows lowering in what could only be called speculation as he drew Kagome's confused gaze. His mind had been scrabbling for some time now to find something else to latch onto rather than the confusing tangle of intrigue that Kurama seemed to be reveling in. And the instant those words had left the kitsune's mouth he had a flash of inspiration, hearing two voice whining and asking questions that overlapped a warm, slightly scolding warning that had stuck with him late into more than one night.

Kagome's own eyes flashed in understanding and she twisted to share a look with Shippou and Shinju, waiting until something seemed to pass silently between the three of them before she sighed and turned back to Yuusuke, "I'll ask."

He blinked and started shaking his head, muttering a few choice words under his breath, "That's damn creepy, you know that right?"

"What is?" Kagome and Shippou asked in unison, completely unaware of the way their expressions mirrored each other's right down to the timing and way they tilted their heads.

Kurama felt his eyes narrow as Youko suddenly turned serious and speculative, `Now that's interesting…'

"Like you know what we're gonna say just by looking at us," he sat back and folded his arms over his chest, straightening his spine to give them each a suspicious frown. "Either of you do the head tricks? Sneaking into minds?"

What's wrong? Hiei divided his attention between Yuusuke's questions and Kurama carefully, both promising to provide interesting results.

Youko shook his head, `Probably nothing… it's just not feasible, but one of the ways you can tell family ties amongst kitsune is a similarity in subconscious mannerism. It's an instinct for the younger ones to copycat their elders for practice when they're starting to get a feel for their illusions. But practicing it often enough-` he trailed off meaningfully.

Usually encourages them to pick up a piece here and there themselves, Kurama finished, recalling the hours Youko would spend in front of mirrors when this body was a baby, quirking his head this way and that. Moreso when they grew older and gained the proper mobility, re-teaching their body his own signature mannerisms until he was satisfied Kurama could mimic them fully if necessary and echo a great part of them naturally, But there's a slight… off note to it in the one who learned it, and Shippou's the one giving that off.

But he's not young enough to have learned from this miko as a kit, Hiei finished the simple truth that made that action more confusing.

`He'd probably still be a little puffball if he were,' Youko tried to picture the annoying kitsune as a kit and failed, shrugging it off as unimportant for the moment. `Like I said… it's probably just a coincidence. The young monk does the same thing, just not with the same precision Takashima does.'

He is old enough that he could have taught them to Shinju when he was a child, but the monk's blood-related to Kagome, so it stands to be more accurate that it's from that instead of the kitsune, Kurama's brow furrowed slightly at the confusion loop these observations were trying to make in his head.

Ch… you said forests pride themselves on flawless illusions, Hiei pointed out, looking off to inspect the other diners and ignore the server trying to get an order out of him rather than look at his friend as he offered his version of reassurance. He likely began this copycat behavior the moment he decided to keep the family.

Kurama held his breath for a moment, silently conferring with Youko before they both shrugged and allowed that explanation with a soft, You're probably correct, Hiei.

Kagome's soft laughter effectively drew him out of his troubled musings, flicking the fingers of her hand in an absent gesture that Youko followed almost hypnotically, "I've had years of practice, Urameshi-san. Se- ah… Takeharuka-sama isn't much of a talker unless he feels it's necessary, and I got used to interpreting what was just below the surface." She propped her elbows on the table, lacing her fingers together to make a cradle for her chin as she sent him a mischievous smile, "Comes in handy in `mixed' company."

`I could stare at those eyes,' Youko purred out, trailing off to leave the impression he intended to add to that statement, but decided against it as he let his hungry gaze traced down to her lips. `How did a human get such a feature?' he grumbled instead, shaking his head and reaching their hand out to skim his palm down that glossy length light enough not to draw attention while he marveled at the feel.

It's hair, Kurama, Hiei gave him a sardonic look.

`Texture, Hiei! It's all about texture!' Youko scolded loudly, irritation coming off him in waves for what he perceived as the hybrid being deliberately obtuse. `I know you don't have the refinement to feel what we can, but even you know there's a certain difference to human hair.'

Your point?

`She doesn't have it.'

"Just Yuusuke," their leader was saying, looking a bit uncomfortable as he folded both arms behind his head and leaned back without once thinking of how that action would appear in their surroundings. "I told you I ain't big on formality… but you'll think about it?"

"If you trust me with them, then yes, I'll speak with Takeharuka-sama and see if we can't set up a schedule to introduce them to the others," Kagome nodded, glancing over at Shinju and waiting for his agreement. "If you or your wife would like to bring them to observe and see if they're interested, I'm sure we can pull a few strings and start them sooner."

Kurama blinked in confusion at the interaction when his thoughts returned to the present at her voice, I missed something.

You were too busy staring at the miko with lustful intentions, so yes, yes you did, Hiei smirked, twisting slightly to put a "push" on that obnoxious server to bring out their order quickly to save himself from being trapped in such human company for longer than necessary.

`And-?' Youko prodded impatiently.

And what?

`I will not be held responsible for my actions if you do not answer me this instant.'

You like to forget that you cannot threaten me with your behavior the way you can threaten yourself.

Kurama didn't have a chance to restrain him before Youko had made a sound that drew Shippou's inquiring, wary gaze up to him over Kagome's head, "Shippou, is it? Since my friend is too shy to say so himself, he asked me to tell you that you- ouch."

Hiei had retrieved the chopsticks in front of him, jabbing them hard against Kurama's unprotected side to cut him off before he could say something he was certain to make him regret, "Kurama is curious about your admittance of Yuusuke's children into your classes with the other youkai of their apparent age."

`Now that wasn't so hard, was it?' Youko preened, reaching out and tucking her hair back behind her ear in a subtle caress.

Your road to failure cannot possibly be painful or embarrassing enough to satisfy me, Hiei shot back without letting his expression slip.

Kagome shrugged, sliding back away from Kurama and self-consciously reaching up to trace where his fingers had been with her own, covering the warmth rushing through her at that unexpectedly gentle touch by answering rapidly, "Ah… well, the last time I was still under orders not to let you know about the family. Now that it's all pretty obvious, Yuusuke can bring his kids to the right people."

Shippou nodded, sliding his arm around Kagome's shoulders and drawing her back with a warning gleam in his eyes as he scowled at the other kitsune, but smoothing it over with a "helpful" addition to the explanation, "Big Dog will probably insist that you start seeing the family physicians actually, and he'll find out if there are any open tests on your blood so he can bury them."

"The doctors?" Yuusuke tried not to sound too hopeful, recalling just how much he'd wanted to do that over the years since the birth of his sons.

Shippou snickered and shook his head no, "The tests. Can't have people finding out youkai are still alive and thriving, you know? There are still sects that believe in us, but think we're a great, mindless evil plotting world domination, or some such bullshit. We deal with them from time to time… hard to make them go away without killing them, but we do our best."

"My cousins and I usually take care of it, since we're human and less likely to forget our strength," Shinju offered them an easy smile, absently running his fingers through his hair. "And it helps enforce to the new ones that they're only fighting humans. It's best if we can shake their belief and make them return to peaceful lives rather than waste time hunting for misguided reasons."

Hiei's curiosity rose at hearing that, shifting his weight so see if that would be enough to draw the monk's attention and inwardly smiling when he succeeded, "How are you able to do this without alerting Reikai?"

"No offense, but we aren't exactly sure what you guys do except for holding the major barriers," Shippou was the one who answered with a shrug. "The only time we've ever seen anyone with that weird hum Sesshoumaru says comes from an upper level, it was fighting some youkai running around, not humans. So we just kinda figured they didn't care about it."

The hybrid's eyes narrowed shrewdly, "There have been occasions… when we were tracking youkai that had escaped Makai when they have completely disappeared."

Shippou's smile took on an arrogant edge and he winked, "Too slow."

Responding to that challenge was suspended when their food arrived, Kagome stopping the server before he could leave and pulling him down to murmur something in his ear just below the pitch of youkai hearing. Kurama could feel the muscle in his jaw flex at her proof of that particular skill, forcing himself not to do something stupid… like using something blunt impale that obnoxious human blushing at being in such close contact with his lover. His eyes trailed across the table to the ladle handle sticking up out of the closed pot on the warmer in front of him, eyes dancing with speculation.

That could be messy, and highly inappropriate to the surroundings, Hiei inserted into his thought in definite amusement, making his grind his teeth together against the urge to kick him under the table.

`We are allowed our fantasies of violence in the privacy of our own head, Hiei,' Youko stressed the word with a growl, but relaxed when the server scurried away to perform whatever task the miko had imparted on him.

Hn.

I have every right to keep other men away from her, Kurama turned up his nose just enough to display his disdain as he reached for the small bowl containing his miso soup, parting his legs enough for his knee to press against Kagome's thigh under the table. Sesshoumaru's permission to offer for her is enough for that.

Hiei rolled his eyes under the safety of the inattention brought on by the others eating, toying with the urge to kick Yuusuke to shut him up when he started praising the younger kitsune's choice, You are acting as though you have already been promised her company exclusively.

`Might as well,' Youko's smile was dark, slanting a look at Kagome through their lashes as they listened to the inane chatter going on around them. `If I'm challenged, I'll kill them. No one else has to know, and I'm certain if I go through the proper channels, Sesshoumaru won't mind it too much.'

Mikos don't approve of killing like that, Hiei reminded him, his own gaze drawn curiously to the side at the server returning with a metal bowl that obviously contained something cold enough to form a line of frost along the exterior. What the hell did she ask for?

Shippou glanced up, taking a sniff of the air and sending her as scolding a look he could manage with his chopsticks still in his mouth, "I should never have told you about that, and I forbid you to eat it until you finish your lunch."

"You forbid me?" Kagome's brows rose, leaning back as the bowl was set in front of her with a flourish.

It's-

Just vanilla ice cream, Kurama had started to open his mouth when the server struck a match and applied it to a different dish, waiting for the puff of blue fire to dance across the contents before pouring it liberally over the waiting ice cream.

Kagome giggled at the blank looks on their faces and stuck her tongue out at Shippou to sneak a spoonful of something that smelled both sweet and spicy at the same time, disturbingly still giving off that little blue fire, "Shippou has a real soft spot for sweets… so most places we go have better dessert menus than real food. Bananas Foster," she pointed to the bowl in front of her and quickly stuck the spoon in her mouth before Shippou could take it away, grinning at his frown.

"That's a special treat!" Shippou complained, folding his arms over his chest. "You're not supposed to eat it in the middle of the day."

"It still tastes the same," Kagome grinned, but the look turned into rather comical confusion when she heard a thunk and looked down to find the spoon had hit empty table on her attempt to get a second taste. Blinking, she shifted forward, mouth open to accuse Shippou when movement out the corner of her eye had her turning to stare in disbelief at where Hiei was sitting with her bowl on the table in front of him, looking just as bland as ever with the exception of the spoon in his mouth.

Kurama clapped a hand over his eyes and blew out a sigh, You did not just steal her dessert.

You should try it, it's not half bad, Hiei was completely unruffled in the face of the accusation, giving Kagome his version of an innocent face as he continued to savor his ill-gotten goods. I think this is caramel… at least mostly, there's other stuff-

You stole a dessert, Hiei, Kurama cast his eyes skyward as though praying for patience when he heard attempts to muffle snickers from their other companions, not the least bit surprised when Yuusuke lost the battle and broke into loud laughter first. And he had to admit, the mournful look on Kagome's face with the silent triumph radiating off his short friend did make the entire event particularly amusing. Isn't that a little beneath you?

I retract my offer for you to have a taste since it obviously affects your delicate sensibilities, his eyes gleamed brightly in mockery as behind them, Shippou gave Kagome's hair a tug and directed her back towards more substantial dishes.

`Give me that damn bowl,' Youko huffed and made a grab for it, growling when Hiei slid it to the side at the last moment to protect it for his exclusive consumption.

This is the most embarrassing thing you two have ever done to me, Kurama forcefully reigned in Youko before he could all out dive at the youkai savoring the last of the sauce and banana slices, silently adding to his prayer for some sort of divine intervention to rescue him from the mess this was becoming. At this point he would be grateful for anything-

"Yuusuke, I'm so glad I found you!"

Except that, his eyebrow twitched, hand fisting on his thigh when he recognized the cheerful voice raised towards them from the restaurant's entrance and turned to confirm the identity of the smiling girl in her trademark pink kimono.

`No. I absolutely refuse to leave right now,' Youko folded his arms and shook his head stubbornly, turning a baleful glare on the ferrier that Kurama managed to mostly filter out before she could notice. `She has the worst timing! Dammit all to hell, I'm making progress here! We just got permission-`

Yuusuke was already sighing and pushing himself to his feet, mindful of the intense curiosity vibrating off Takashima in particular as he turned around, "Botan… let me take a wild guess."

She winced sympathetically, hunching her shoulders and clasping her hands in front of her heart to give him a hopeful expression, "It's… um… very important?"

"When is it not?" he rolled his eyes and didn't bother to hide his unhappiness before giving Kagome a rueful grin. "Much as we hate to eat and run, Kagome, we got no choice sometimes."

Her brows rose, nodding while her eyes continued to stray to this `Botan' girl, shining a little brighter than normal under the strange hum of ki she was exuding, Closest I can say is that it's like Kikyou was in the end… alive, but… not alive. What is this person? And where have I felt that energy?

"Duty calls?" she covered her shift of emotions, pressing a hand unobtrusively to her stomach when her body warmed and tried to lean towards the new source around it, wanting to know…

"Unfortunately," he turned an uncertain look to Kurama where the kitsune looked to be locked in his own personal war, gaze turned inward and hands curled into tight fists against his thighs as the muscle in his jaw gave a telltale twitch. "Can you call Keiko for me? Tell her `bout this and see the kids?"

Kagome dipped her head in a nod of acknowledgement, "My pleasure."

"Thanks, Kagome, for that and lunch," Yuusuke grinned and stuffed his hands down in his pockets before kicking at the leg of Hiei's chair just to annoy him. "Oi… you two ready?"

Suck it up, Fox, we don't get to call days off, Hiei smirked, paying no attention to Yuusuke as he rose to his feet, but inclining his head to Kagome in a gesture of gratitude that was only half-taunting. She'll still be here when you get back.

`They'll use the time we're gone to get her close to others in their grouping, you know they will!' Youko protested, stubbornly trying to hold them in the chair. `This isn't fair! I want to stay.'

Hiei's right, Youko, now let go and let us up, or they'll just take us in an undignified fashion and I've been embarrassed enough in the last hour to last a human lifetime, Kurama blew out a slow, controlled breath, eyes snapping open when he felt a small hand wrap around his wrist and squeeze lightly.

"We can always do this again when you get back," Kagome winked at him, giving a nod towards the trio obviously waiting impatiently for him to join. "Besides, this was more a family outing that the date Shippou thinks you were hoping to turn it into."

"Oi!" Shippou scowled, kicking her in the calf for having his words repeated to the one person he didn't want to hear them.

Kurama blinked in surprise, inwardly letting loose a string of expletives when Youko took him by surprise again and grabbed the back of her head, pulling her forward and locking their mouth over hers in a warm, deep kiss, Youko, don't do that! Not just up and out of the blue, she'll get scared!

`These stupid missions never have a timeframe, so shut up and enjoy it, hn? I want to have this taste lingering in our mouth while we're gone,' Youko sighed in appreciation, mollifying his outrage at the way she softened to allow the contact for a moment before pulling away with a shaky breath. `And she's not complaining, is she??'

"Your friends are waiting," she lifted a hand to rake through her hair and smooth it back out, cheeks again that soft shade of pink and licking her lips as she sought to shield her embarrassment at participating in such an intense, public display.

Kurama let her move away, untangling their own fingers and helping her to settle the rest of that heavy curtain until it was again falling in a soft wave down her back. Offering her an affectionate smile, he gave into the urge to lean forward and press a less inflammatory kiss to her forehead before resting his against that exact spot and murmuring, "I'll make it up to you."

She wasn't paying the slightest attention to Shippou's low growl of disapproval as her eyes fluttered closed on the sudden curling warmth spreading through her blood under the low caress in his voice on top of the almost painfully sweet, gentle touch of his skin on hers, This… I… Damn, why does he have to be so good at this? And why do I want to hear it?

"And don't date anyone while I'm gone," he leaned back and pressed a finger to her lips, trying to lighten his voice against the way Youko was determined to burn that into her mind. But by the way her eyes slid closed a fraction in consideration, he knew he'd only been half-successful, and took both her hands in his to press a kiss to her knuckles as he forced the other side down to add a more cajoling, "Please?"

Shippou let out a groan and sat back, trying to pretend he wasn't seeing Kagome get hooked right into Kurama's wishes with that single word and the gentlemanly kiss, "Hell, Nee-san, don't-"

"I think I can manage that."

"-Agree… Shit," Shippou's chest expanded on a loud sigh when he saw Kurama's eyes glitter with arrogant victory at her agreement, turning to look anywhere but at them when the youkai's hands went back to cupping Kagome's face and pulling her forward for a shorter, lighter kiss. Now he's going to be even worse… Goddammit, I have really, really got to talk to her about how to turn off a kitsune.

I'm getting nauseous, Kurama, Hiei drawled out suggestively at his reluctance to pull away, elbowing Yuusuke when it seemed the human had forgotten how to breathe at seeing such uncharacteristic behavior. And Yuusuke just may faint if he sees any more.

`This is so completely fucking unfair,' Youko growled again and pouted, sliding their hand through her hair in one last, lingering gesture as they let out a reluctant sigh in unison and stood.

Agreed… but… she'll have to accept this too, Kurama reminded him, letting his fingertips pause on the slender line of the rose vine keeping watch around her throat and reinforcing the orders to keep her safe. Better now than later, and at least we don't have to lie to her about what we're leaving for.

`I don't like it when you act responsible,' Youko made a particular show of ignoring him as they left the table to join their companions and turning up his nose at the stunned looks on Botan and Yuusuke's faces. `And I also don't like that they are surprised to see us kissing our lover, they will have to accept that.'

That is the first time they've seen you kiss anyone, you know, Hiei pointed out with wicked amusement, briefly glancing back at the table to see the miko watching them go with a strangely serious expression while the monk and kitsune appeared to be whispering to each other heatedly. Dammit, I would kill to get into that empty head and see what she's thinking.

`So long that's all you're up late trying to get into,' Youko gave him a mental pat and snickered at the dark glare the hybrid shot them as Botan led them back to a deserted corner of the restaurant's lobby.

"I-I really am sorry, Kurama," Botan was tugging on her ponytail, giving him anxious looks as she apologized. "I didn't- I mean, we didn't have any idea you were… you're seeing someone. It's just-"

Kurama sighed and made a faintly dismissive gesture with one hand, "Forget it, Botan. We know there are times we will be called inconveniently, we've seen it happen enough with Yuusuke. And as for knowing, I think it's safer to keep it a secret that `Youko Kurama' is romantically involved. Who knows what youkai might try to cause her trouble to get to me?"

Slick, Fox… very slick, Hiei clucked his tongue in appreciation for that little piece of manipulating logic.

We don't want them gossiping about her and raising interest, Kurama defended when the pair in front of him made sounds of understanding, meeting Yuusuke's more demanding glare and shaking it off to show he didn't want to explain any more details in front of Botan.

"What the hell is this about anyway?" Yuusuke changed the subject, catching the faint grateful smile that curved the kitsune's lips upward and trying not to smirk in answer and accidentally tweak any more curiosity. "What's our emergency?"

"There have been a number of… systematic attacks on the barrier at strange intervals," Botan's expression instantly turned worried, chewing on her lip as she made a gesture with her hand to summon her oar and slice an opening in the natural flow of the realm to make a path into Reikai. "Koenma is worried because they seem to be organized, or at least, more organized than usual. A few of them have even managed to open the barrier, but they didn't pass through."

Hiei's brows drew together as he waited for Yuusuke and Botan to step through before he followed, hooking his hand under Kurama's elbow and dragging him along when it became obvious the kitsune was dragging his feet, That doesn't make sense.

"What're they attacking it for if they don't want to pass it?" Yuusuke wrinkled his nose, unknowingly mirroring Hiei's look of disgust and causing the hybrid to scowl at sharing a similar thought with him.

"I think that's what he wants you for," she offered, cheeks still faintly pink at seeing Kurama behaving so closely with a human girl. Well, I guess that disproves that…

"Just great," Yuusuke blew out a sigh, kicking an imaginary rock on the ground and sulking at hearing they were most likely about to have Makai watch again until they could find the reason behind the odd random attacks.

Tuning them out, Kurama glanced back over his shoulder and passively allowed Hiei to pull him into the portal as it started to close, absently encouraging the decorative foliage to shift aside and give him a clear visual line to the table Kagome occupied with her annoying relatives.

A unexpected shiver of apprehension slipped down his spine, bringing him to a complete halt just within the opening when his senses roused to life at the look on Shippou's face, startled at the ferocity of the anger and hatred that had filled the normally easy-going expression. Beside him, Shinju had also grown tense, one hand inside his jacket to no doubt rest on his ofuda in the gesture of one prepared to fight at the drop of a hat.

The perusal took less than an instant, widening eyes moving to find Kagome only to discover his view was blocked by what was obviously the back of a tall, slender man with a long, dark ponytail hanging down between his shoulder blades. The faintly curling locks swayed from side to side as he saw that man shake his head and then bow deeply, reaching out and covering Kagome's hand on the tabletop, fingers curling over it in a way that had a deep snarl building in Kurama's chest.

The unidentified man chose that moment to shift his weight enough that it moved him aside and let Kurama take in the expression of Kagome's face, the pallor of her skin as the blood drained away and the disturbing way he could tell her pupils had severely contracted even from this distance. Lips barely parted and back rigid as her eyes locked up on the face he couldn't see as the shock wiped away to be replaced with an emotion that rocked through his soul and settled painfully in his gut.

Stark terror.

Kurama had wrenched his arm out of Hiei's grasp, eyes flashing red as he pivoted to escape the portal and rip that man into a thousand pieces when it snapped shut and left him staring at a blank, white wall, palms flat against the unyielding cool stone.

No-

What is it? Hiei snapped to attention, more than alarmed at the amount of youki spiraling around the kitsune as he remained motionless where he stood except for the slow curl of his fingers into white-knuckled fists.

`If he so much as breathes on her-` Youko's growl hummed across Hiei's senses with a violence that had the smaller youkai stepping back with instinctive caution.

He?

"Open the portal again, Botan," Kurama gritted out in a dangerously soft voice, taking deep, careful breaths as he fought to control himself. "Now."

"What happened?" Yuusuke demanded, brows drawing together as he tried to figure out what could have possibly caused this kind of reaction so suddenly.

Kurama's chin tilted down towards his chest, hair hiding his face as his lips curled back off his fangs, "She was afraid." Her eyes… his hand was on her and her eyes were filled with fear. I could feel it.

"Kagome?"

"Open it!"

`Dammit, do something! We'll rip him apart for putting such things in her eyes… I want to feel his skin tearing under my claws, Kurama, I want to watch the life leave his eyes when I paint the ground with his blood for making her hurt like that! For making her so afraid.'

Kurama gritted his teeth hard against the gore of the images his other half was passing along with his constant growl, shuddering against the onslaught for a silent moment until he whispered back, So do I.