Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unto the Few ❯ Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind ( Chapter 3 )

Author’s Notes : I took some liberties with Kurama and Kuwabara’s heights. Apologies if I’m incorrect and/or wildly off base.

Chapter Three: Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind

~~

It was an odd sensation, really. It was somewhat like when she fell through the well. Only, this time, it was different. This time, she watched as her entire body dissipated into nothing and then, she was flung headlong back into her own time.

Her last memory of the Sengoku Jidai was of InuYasha’s molten gold eyes staring into her own, mimicking the cry of her heart as she was torn from her friends’ grasps. The heat of his hands on her cheeks was burned into her memory.

“This is wrong,” her heart was telling her. “I love Mom and Souta and Grandpa, but this is wrong! I need them! I need to be with them!”

The world was spinning in a whirl of multicolor and Kagome was simply along for the ride. When she was finally set back on her own two feet, she looked up with hooded eyes and saw the Goshinboku, standing tall and straight as ever, though its bark had knurled and twisted considerably over the last five hundred years.

Kagome was utterly dispirited and lost. How was she supposed to go on living a ‘normal’ life, after all that she’d been through? Nothing could possibly compare to living every day on a razor’s edge, waiting and expecting to be attacked at any given moment of any given day.

Nothing could possibly come even close to giving her the same amount of pleasure and pain. Nothing could compare to the loss she felt. For her, it was only a few moments ago that she had told InuYasha the words that had been on her lips for months.

For him, it had been five hundred years worth of waiting. Was he alive? The mere thought made her heart clench unbearably in her chest.

What of Shippou, Sango, Kirara, and Miroku? “What could I expect?” she thought.

Her beloved little Shippou and Kirara? And what about Kouga and his wolves? Sesshoumaru and Jaken? They were all full demons…had they survived? Would she ever see their faces again? Had they been reincarnated into other beings? Lived and died already? Who knew…Half of an entire one thousand years…Gone in the passing of a moment.

Who had kept InuYasha from throttling her poor kit? Who would comfort him when he woke up from a nightmare? What about Sango and Miroku? Surely they had gotten married and had a large family; she’d expect no less from Miroku, but she wouldn’t to see their kids grow up. She’d never get to see InuYasha again…

Tear after tear was trickling down Kagome’s face, and she let them come. She made no effort to resist when her mother came outside to see what all of the ruckus was about, and let herself be dragged inside, where she was allowed to cry as long and loud as she wanted.

But after an hour or so, she simply ran out of tears. She had no more energy to spare on crying and she was worn out. She fell asleep on the couch, curled up and facing into the upholstery, tired, empty, and heart broken. Her world was in pieces around her and the people she loved most were gone. Gone.

~

In a matter of a month, Kagome lost ten pounds. She ate little, and her mother worried endlessly; she tried treating her with hot baths, lots of Oden, and hugs, but that helped only on the best of Kagome’s days.

Mrs. Higurashi tried naturopathic treatments, but that too failed. Finally, she resorted to medication for depression. However, on the first night of taking it, Kagome was violently sick. Mrs. Higurashi decided to just try and wait it out.

The last three months of school were a disaster for Kagome. Her grades fell even more than they had when she was time traveling. Her average went down from B- to D-. Mrs. Higurashi made the decision to transfer Kagome to a private school for her final years of schooling.

Very slowly and not very steadily, Kagome began to eat a little bit more, and put on five of her ten lost pounds in the last month of school. However, she seemed to have lost all want for continuing her homework and keeping in contact with her friends. After they’d finally left her alone, she’d seemed less stressed.

She began to show interest in how Souta was doing in school, and more importantly (in her Grandfather’s eyes, anyway) in the grounds work at their Shrine. Because of her interest, Kagome grew closer to her grandfather than she had ever been before. Some days she had to leave his side abruptly when one of his endless stories came too close to home. On other days, she clung to every word like a lifeline. Eventually, her grandfather learned what stories to avoid and he developed a sense of diplomacy that he had been lacking before.

Unknown to Mrs. Higurashi, Kagome was little better mentally, although she put up the front that she was hungry, that she was getting better. She really wasn’t. She was merely sinking into the uncaring, unmoving sort of monotony of her every day life, breathing a sigh of relief when school was over for the year.

Now she could continue her uncaring, unmoving and sort of monotonous life without having to deal with gossip, and stares, and homework. She was finding that when she had a structured life, it was much easier to pretend that everything was just fine, and she didn’t have to deal with anything unexpected.

Then the letter came.

~~

Mrs. Higurashi was sitting by Kagome on the couch, watching a little bit of TV, still not understanding the apparently complex little world and plot line of the anime that Kagome seemed to have become addicted to.

“What’s this one called again, dear? Rando three-fourths?”

“It’s Ranma one-half.” Kagome chastised for the fourth time this episode.

“Oh, of course. That’s what I meant.” Mrs. Higurashi said, still trying to figure out who was who, or who was what, when there was a tap on the window beside them.

“Mom, could you get the door?” Kagome said, eyes sticking to the screen. “I don’t want to miss anything, if that’s alright.”

“No, dear. There was something tapping on the window, I think.”

“Huh?” Kagome turned her attention from the TV and focused on her mom. “The window? Why would anyone come to the window?”

“Why don’t we find out?” Mrs. Higurashi pulled back the drapes and gasped softly. “It’s…it’s an owl. An owl with a harness and a letter on its foot…”

“What!” Kagome said, getting up and going to the window with her mom.

Looking as if she were waiting for something to jump out at her, Mrs. Higurashi opened the window and the owl flew right in, and perched on Kagome’s shoulder. It pecked at her un-pierced earlobe until she finally got the hint to take the letter off of its leg. Slowly, Kagome ran her nail underneath the odd seal that was stamped in red wax.

“What does it say, Kagome?” Mrs. Higurashi asked gently, looking over her daughter’s shoulder.

Kagome replied by reading the letter aloud, in a dead toned voice.

“Dear Miss Kagome Higurashi and Mrs. Higurashi,

It is my pleasure to inform you that Miss Higurashi has been invited to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Miss Higurashi has been selected along with five other Japanese students to be offered to transfer to our fine Magic School for their remaining years of magical education. The arts of spelling, charming, and potion brewing will be taught. This is a priceless chance to experience the Magical world and its peoples. We hope that you will take advantage of this!

Our School has seven levels that are taught; ideally, Miss Higurashi will be joining her fellow students in that sixth grade. We realize that it will be difficult for Miss Higurashi to catch up with her year mates, we have found a way to fix this.

If replied to immediately, Miss Higurashi will be sent to spend the remainder of the summer with a host family, who will bus them to the lessons with the designated teachers, to help them catch up. At the end of the summer, they will be tested and their skill levels assessed, at which point they will be sorted into the most suitable year. Her schooling will continue until all of her classes have been passed at the seventh year level.

Please send your reply by way of the owl that delivered this letter. We thank you grandly and profusely.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

And

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Head Mistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

~~

“Well.” Mrs. Higurashi said. “Apparently, your priestess powers have been building enough to notify these people, Kagome. I think this might be good for you.”

Kagome couldn’t tell if her mother was using sarcasm or if she was sincere. “Mom, are you serious about this? I mean, I’ve seen a lot of things I never thought possible, but wizardry? And besides, even if this isn’t all a hoax, it’s all the way in Britain; halfway across the world! What about the language barrier?”

“Honey, English was the one class you kept at top level before, even after... You’ll be fine.”

“And I’d have to learn five years worth of—of—stuff in one summer!”

“I’m sure that if you had the incentive and the purpose, you could easily manage it, Kagome. You are really an excellent student, as long as you take the time.”

Kagome paused. Her mother was deflecting all of her excuses as if it’d been planned. “But…Britain? They have funny accents; what if I can’t understand them?”

Mrs. Higurashi laughed. “Honey, they’ll say the same about you. You can’t change your heritage.”

This struck nerves with Kagome on numerous levels. Her first thought was Kikyo and her unforgettable last words. She shuddered just thinking about Kikyo’s final end. Kagome just wasn’t ready to face up with reality yet.

And then she began to actually consider and think about it. At first, it seemed so irrational. Journeying halfway around the globe just to go to some so-called Wizarding school that was probably a hoax anyway, and then to be taught five years worth of education in one summer…

And yet…

…Nobody would know about her past, her pain. Nobody would know her. She could be whomever she wanted, and they couldn’t hold it against her for it. She could start over and live the next two years as Kagome Higurashi; not Kikyo’s Reincarnation, the Miko of the Shikon No Tama, InuYasha’s wench, The Miko, etc, etc…She could be herself with no strings attached. The more she considered it, the more appealing it sounded.

“But Mom, I’d have to leave you until next summer—a whole year!”

“Honey, if it will help you get out of the rut you’re stuck in, that doesn’t matter. I want you to go, and I want to you make new friends, and put the rest of this mess away until you’re ready to deal with it.” Mrs. Higurashi put her daughter’s face in her cupped hands and smiled softly. “I just want what’s best for you, Kagome. And I think this school might just be the ticket.”

Kagome looked back into her mom’s eyes and smiled her first true smile in three months. “That sounds good.”

~~

They sent the owl back with their reply the next morning, and another reply was received within three days, giving a detailed profile of her surrogate family for the summer, a list of basic supplies, and instructions on where to be and when to be “Portkey’d” to Britain.

Despite Kagome’s insistence that she’d be wearing robes all year round, and didn’t need any new casual clothing, apparently Mrs. Higurashi’s pocket was getting a little heavy, and needed a good eight-hour shopping trip.

Mrs. Higurashi dragged her reluctant daughter through five different stores before Kagome would buy a thing. When she did make her first purchase, it was a few outfits for casual dress, including three tops, khaki capris and blue jeans (size two; down two sizes from the last time Kagome had bought clothes).

Easily the most embarrassing moment for Kagome was when her mother hauled her into a lingerie shop, insisting that it was time she tried a thong.

“MOTHER!” Kagome cried out, going red to the roots of her hair. “If I wanted to have a wedgie all day, all I’d have to do is wedge my underwear up my butt! So why waste money on something that does the same thing, but costs more?”

“Oh, honey, I tried one when I was your age, and I loved them up until when gravity began taking over!”

Kagome, if possible, went even more scarlet. “Eww, Mom! I don’t need to hear this! Bad images! Very bad images!”

Mrs. Higurashi completely ignored her and pulled her over to the wall where the racks of thongs were. “Now, I’ll bet you’re an extra small, Kagome…Oh! Here’s one! Look, Kagome, it has cherries on it!”

Kagome wanted to crawl under the carpet and die when several girls and their boyfriends walked by the door and heard her mother’s proclamation and turned to stare. “Mom!” Kagome called in an insistent whisper. “Shut. Up!”

“What’s the matter, Kagome? It’s certainly normal for a ‘hot young chick’ like you to be buying things like this!”

Now Kagome didn’t want to die. She wanted to kill her mother and take her down too! “Mom…” Kagome whined. “Okay, okay…” She said, giving in and figuring that resistance would be futile and would only make her mother louder. “Umm…here, this one.” Kagome randomly drew out one from the rack.

“Kagome…does that label say ‘Scratch and Sniff’? Oh, my, I don’t think I want you wearing one of those!”

Kagome’s face was absolutely purple! “Could my luck get any worse?” Kagome thought to herself, now glad that she wouldn’t be back to this mall for at least another year.

Just then, a sales woman came over, smiling. “Can I help you ladies with anything?”

Without hesitation, Mrs. Higurashi said, “Yes, my daughter is looking for her first thong!” She said with pride.

“What did I ever do to her?” Kagome pondered as the sales woman turned a bright…but somehow mocking, cruel, and twisted smile on her.

“Well, why don’t you tell me what you might be looking for?”

“Uh…” Kagome said. “Something plain, not anything…dirty. Or painful, for that matter.” She didn’t mention that all of them looked disturbing and painful.

“Well, then…An extra small for you, I believe?” she eyed Kagome’s narrow hips with a critical eye.

“Yeah.” Kagome’s voice cracked.

“Okay! Here we are! These ones right here are plain, solid colors. Do you like these?”

“Uh—”

The saleswoman cut her off. “Well, then, here, what about these three?” The woman held out a blue, red, and black thong, with a tiny metal embellishment hanging off of the back.

Kagome couldn’t decide which was worse; having your mother handle your future undergarments or some stranger. She decided immediately that the saleswoman was definitely better, because her mother decided right then and there to ask about their selection of bras, since, “Kagome (that’s her daughter, by the way), only has one or two”.

The lady gave her a slightly apologetic look and asked her about her cup size.

“Oh dear Kami,” Kagome thought.
Just kill me now and save my mother the trouble…” She said quietly “32 B,” and the woman rushed off. She returned soon with the choices that Kagome picked the plainest of. Her mother in turn paid for it and the thongs at the counter.

It took twenty minutes for Kagome’s face to return to normal color, and even then, she faintly blushed anytime that they passed a shop with undergarments visible through the storefronts. She finally forgave her mother when Mrs. Higurashi bought her a waffle cone of strawberry ice cream.

“Mom,” Kagome said as she was hauled into a collectibles shop. “Mom, we’ve got to stop shopping! I won’t need any of the stuff we’ve been looking at. And besides, I have to pack as little as possible, because I’ll have to buy a lot more once I get over there!”

“Well, then consider these as things to cheer you up when you get homesick.” Mrs. Higurashi said, as they finally sat down in the hall on one of the benches. Mrs. Higurashi had just bought a set of lucky cats for her daughter’s new bedroom.

Kagome sighed in defeat. “Okay, okay…but can we leave soon? My feet hurt!”

Mrs. Higurashi laughed and nodded. “Alright, dear. Besides, if that letter was right, they’ll be here tomorrow at nine and we’ve got some matters left to take care of.”

Kagome’s interest was pricked. “Like what?”

“Oh, I’ve got to cancel your subscription to that magazine you get, your phone line that you never use anymore, empty your bank account so you can take it over there, put your room up for rent…”

“MOM!” Kagome cried, giggling, but nervous all the same.

“Oh, dear! I was just kidding! I was just kidding!” Mrs. Higurashi amended. “So, shall we go then?”

“Yes, let’s.” Kagome agreed, and the two women went home, with Kagome feeling much more light-hearted than she would admit.

~~

They returned home and Kagome set about unpacking the dust collectors, the few clothes and her new lingerie. However, upon seeing those particular items, she grimaced and packed them at the very bottom of her bag.

Kagome had also requested and received two new pairs of pajamas. One was a cotton, baby blue tank top and black boxers for summer use, and a long, dark blue, silky nightgown with lacy hems and a V-cut neckline for—well, Kagome really wasn’t sure, but the material was so soft, she hadn’t been able to tell her mother no. She also bought a wonderful terry cloth robe for winter and for trips back and forth between bathroom and dorm.

The young miko packed a spare set of shoes into the corner of her large yellow bag, along with her pajamas and fuzzy slippers. Kagome couldn’t help but be reminded of all of the times that she’d done this, except she’d never packed for such a long time before.

While packing, Kagome came across the red leather covered album she’d put together many months ago, before Naraku was defeated. Inside of it were all of the pictures she’d ever taken while in Sengoku Jidai. It was a large book, and a quarter of it was still empty.

Kagome didn’t even open it. Instead, she shoved it under her bed, wiping tears from her eyes and forcing the unwanted emotions back down into the cavity she’d built in her heart.

Finally, her clothing and knick-knacks had been packed, leaving out only an outfit for the next day. She set her clock for 7:30 A.M and took a last look around her room, carefully converting everything to memory. She wouldn’t see it again for more than a year.

There was her desk, with some books and old binders and pencil holder and lamp, with papers sticking out of the drawers. Her dresser had been virtually emptied, as had her closet, her clothes put in vacuum-sealed bags, to stay fresh for her return. Her shelves still had most of their various pictures of her family and old friends, gathering dust.

Kagome closed her eyes and fell back onto her bed, falling asleep almost as soon as she’d struggled underneath the covers.

~~

The next day, at exactly nine o’clock, Kagome was giving out last-minute hugs, her two suitcases already by the door, when there was a knock.

Kagome hesitantly opened the door, to find a Japanese woman dressed as a punk rocker, complete with brightly colored hair, chain links and all. She stuck out a hand that was gloved in something that looked like leather. Kagome shook it slowly, trying to decide whether or not her bright red eyes were real or were just colored contacts. Either way, her bloody gaze and bobbed hair cut made Kagome’s stomach churn as she thought of the wind sorceress from so long ago.

The stranger’s Japanese was very poor, and her accent was strongly western, as she tried to read off of a note card and fumbled over half of the words. Kagome stopped her in the middle of her speech and told her, “There’s no need for that, miss. I can speak English just fine.”

The woman smiled, showing slightly sharpened teeth. “So…You’re Kagome Higurashi, aren’t you?”

Kagome nodded, forgiving her mishap of putting her first name before her last. “I am. Are you here from Hogwarts?”

“No, but I was sent by Dumbledore himself to see that we get safely back to England and the Burrow, where you’ll be staying for the summer. So…Have you gotten everything?”

Kagome slung her bags over her shoulders. “I think so. We’ve got that school owl out on loan until I can buy one of our own… And, I’ve got all of my stuff in these two bags.”

“Well…I suppose those will do…but we’ll just have to get you some good trunks at Diagon Alley. Anyhow, come along, Kagome; say your good-byes, and then we’ve got to get going!”

“Alright. Would you like to come in for a moment?”

Tonks nodded and stepped just inside the door.

“Kagome?” Mrs. Higurashi asked. “Are you leaving now?”

“Yes, Mama. But I’d like you to meet…Oh…I guess I don’t know your name, mis.”

The woman smiled and stuck out her hand, then reconsidered and bowed low. “Nymphadora Tonks, at your service.”

“Nee-fa—lee—de—la…?”

Nymphadora grimaced and put a hand behind her head to scratch her neck. “Uh…Just call me Tonks.”

“Ah, that’s much easier.” Mrs. Higurashi smiled. “Now, you’ll be taking my daughter to these ‘Wee-suh-lees’ for the summer?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Very good. Please, on the plane, do not allow her to take the window seat; she gets airsick easily.”

Tonks covered her mouth with her hand. “Uh, we won’t exactly be traveling by air, Mrs. Higurashi.”

“Oh no?”

“Uh…no. We’ll get there via this.” She held up a broken Frisbee.

“…” Both mother and daughter were looking up at her with hypothetical question marks over their heads.

“It’s a Portkey. In exactly…DAMN! Say goodbye, Kagome, cause we’ve got thirty-three seconds—thirty-two! Before we’re off!”

“Oh!” Kagome cried, hugging her mother greatly, then doing the same to Souta and her grandfather.

“Hurry, hurry! Grab onto your bags! Three…Two…One…See you later, Higurashis!”

There was a pull somewhere behind Kagome’s navel, and suddenly the world seemed to melt and she couldn’t tear her hands from her bags or Tonks’s grasp. The sensation was very similar to another that she was familiar with. Finally, her feet were set down on solid ground.

“Well, we’re here!” Tonks exclaimed.

“Where?” Kagome asked, eyeing the towering, very un-symmetrical house.

“The Burrow, of course! Come on, Higurashi! You’ve got LOADS to do!” Tonks hauled her to the house.

“Didn’t you say something about five other Japanese coming here, too?”

“Oh, yeah! They’re already here. I picked them up at seven.” Her face fell and her voice lowered, like she was trying to decide whether she was amused, afraid, or putout. “A couple of them didn’t quite like having to get up so early…”

“What do you mean?”

“Well…” Tonks was cut off, as there was a major explosion of massive blue, gold, black, and green light from behind the house. “Oh no.” Tonks said darkly.

“Oh no, what? What’s going on?”

“Either Fred and George just got annihilated, or those boys are ‘practicing’ again…”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. Come on, let’s see what fireworks they’re doing now.” Tonks said, now seeming somewhat excited to get to watch the boys ‘practice’.

They crossed into the garden just as four young men were retiring indoors. Tonks and Kagome followed them inside. “Oi, who’s the new girl, Tonks?” a helmet-haired boy asked, leaning comfortably against a counter.

“The other transfer I told you all about. This is Kagome.”

“Uh…Hi?” Kagome said shyly.

The helmet-headed one looked away, muttering a quick “Hey.”

“Oh, c’mon, gents! Introduce yourselves properly!”

A very tall young man (by Japanese standards, anyway) with unusually colored hair stepped forward, all chivalrous. “I am the Great Kuwabara!”

Kagome chuckled at this great proclamation and bowed to him. Her eyes turned expectantly to the shortest man she’d ever seen look so tall. His very stature screamed arrogance and pride. He probably barely cleared five feet high, not counting his gravity-defying hair. By the white, jagged stripes over his bangs, Kagome tried to figure out if he looked more like a skunk or a zebra. She doubted that he would let her get close enough to sniff him and find out.

The short man remained silent, even as Kagome’s eyes silently urged him to introduce himself. Tonks helped (more like prodded) him by poking him in the shoulder. “Oh, come on, don’t be such a stiff!”

He glared at her, and Kagome noticed for the first time the blood-and-ice eyes this man possessed. “Woman…” he said warningly, then quelled his temper and glanced at Kagome, appraisingly. “Hiei.”

Kagome replied with a deep bow, as it seemed that would be the only show of courtesy that would give him a good impression of her. “A pleasure, Hiei.”

“She says that now; just wait until she gets to know him.” The youth by the counter said.

Kagome turned to ask him what on Earth he meant, when her eyes caught on the most unusual Japanese man she’d seen since Sengoku Jidai. He had untamed, exquisite cherry-red hair that fell in a rumpled mess to the middle of his back. He had curious, observant green eyes.

Truth be told, Kagome hadn’t seen such a beautiful man manage to look so masculine since Sesshoumaru. “Who are you?” Kagome asked, her bright blue eyes looking him over carefully. She got the sense that Hiei and this man were not quite human; she got the same vibe off of the youth at the counter, though it was not as much of a strong of feeling from him.

The red head smiled at her, making Kagome wonder if he kept that grin in check for when he wanted to be especially charming. He seemed to have stolen her trick for smiling on command. “I am Suuichi Minamino; but called Kurama by my friends.”

“Ah…It’s nice to meet you then.” She dipped in a short bow, still trying to calculate ‘Kurama’. Kagome turned to face the boy now sitting up on the counter. “And who are you?”

If this boy had a cowboy hat, it would have been pulled low over his eyes, so that when he looked up, all you would be able to see was the shadow of his eyes, and the glimmer of a smirk. His attitude was so reminiscent of InuYasha, Kagome’s eyes watered and stung.

“Ah…” Kagome stuttered, backing slowly away from him, her eyes alight with something not quite like fear. She bumped into Hiei as she was backing up, and he snarled inhumanly at her. Kagome automatically went into a defensive stance, her probes going out to try and discern his power and breed.

She felt his barriers come up instantly, nearly trapping her inside of his mind. Kagome pulled back physically as well as mentally, this time falling into Kuwabara, who had come up behind her when he sensed her power flare.

Hiei’s pupils dilated and he glared at her with a look that might’ve turned her to stone. “Woman. What were you doing!”

Kagome rubbed her head and returned his glare as Kuwabara set her back on her feet. “That HURT, you JERK!”

Hiei pulled back just slightly, her outburst unexpected. He fixed his glare back on properly and stared at her unblinkingly. “What were you doing.” He prodded again, this time with more firmness.

Again, Kagome did not reply with an answer to his question. “Just what kind of demon ARE you!”

This made Hiei flare with a new ferocity. “How could you know that!”

“I just DO, okay Mr. Stick Up My Butt!”

Hiei took a step forward. “You dare!”

Just then, Kurama stepped in-between them. “Hiei, no. Miss Higurashi, you will please refrain from antagonizing him further.”

Kagome’s temper flared again. “Me! HE was the one being so defensive! HE was the one who got all jumpy and tried to trap me in his head!”

“Which is a place you should not have been in, in the first place!” Hiei retorted. Kurama was doing everything to keep him back except using physical force, which would no doubt set Hiei off for sure.

“I can’t help it! You’re an unfamiliar demon, it’s my nature to investigate--” Kagome stopped suddenly, her eyes turned to Kurama as her miko powers were prowling the area for more demons.

“Who mixed to get your breed!? You’re not a hanyou, are you? No, no,” she reprimanded herself. “You couldn’t be…He doesn’t resemble…” Kagome turned now to face Kurama fully, completely mystified that she couldn’t identify his breed. “What kind of demon are you?”

Now it was Kurama’s turn to be a little miffed. This girl was making accusations of mixed blood? Taking a deep breath, Kurama told her briefly that an ancient kitsune named Youko inhabited half of his soul.

Kagome nodded, her eyes holding something akin to understanding in them. “I see. I can sympathize.”

“Huh?” this caught the attention of the young man who had reminded Kagome of InuYasha. “You ain’t no hanyou.”

Kagome snorted. “Of course not! What I meant was, I know what it feels like to have half of your soul missing.”

This made Hiei calm down completely, now eyeing her with some bridled curiosity. “How so?”

Kagome shrugged carelessly, but new pain and fresh emotional wounds showed clearly through her misty blue eyes. “It’s a long…long…story. Maybe I’ll tell you later.”

Hiei was looking like she’d better tell him now, before he lost his patience, but Kurama gave him a slight mental push to stop. ‘Not now,’ Kurama told him. Reluctantly, he backed down, his eyes still smoldering.

Just then, Kagome got another chill down her spine, and she whirled around, expecting to come face to face with another temperamental demon, but instead caught her eyes on a very serene girl who appeared to be her own age.

Kagome was about to inquire about the girl’s name, when the girl lifted her head, large red eyes crinkling as she smiled and bowed to Kagome. Kagome bowed back, unable to keep her eyes off of this lovely lady. She was a demon, yes. She couldn’t tell what type, but she radiated a chill from her soul, and her overall personality was calm and loving and warm.

Kagome straightened and then her eyes widened at a sudden realization. She turned from the lady and stared directly at Hiei. Kagome looked back and forth between them. Hiei was more lean and wiry versus this woman’s more short, stoutly built body…but their height was shared, and their eyes were the confirming quality. Their twin crimson eyes couldn’t have been more different for what they held within, but make no mistake that they were family.

‘She’s quick,’ Kurama remarked mentally to Hiei, who retorted with a brusque “Hn.”

“Are you two—” but the still nameless man ducked in-between Kagome and Hiei to keep him from incinerating her.

“Ah…I’m Yusuke Urameshi, by the way. So, what’s up with you? Am I really that scary to be backing away from?” Yusuke flashed her a smile that seemed completely out of place on his face.

Kagome leaned back, surprised at his outburst, but didn’t have much time to get her balance back, when there was a loud BOOM and a woman’s shriek from upstairs. Kagome promptly fell to the floor of the kitchen, landing on her bottom with an indignant squeak.

The maiden in the doorway covered her mouth with a hand, hiding her smile, and murmuring, “Oh, my!”

Then, there was another shout, this time of outrage from upstairs. “FRED WEASLEY!”

“MOM! IT’S GEORGE! FRED’S IN LONDON!”

“I DON’T CARE! YOU KNOW BETTER THAN SETTING OFF ONE OF THOSE THINGS INSIDE OF THIS HOUSE!”

“HONESTLY, MUM! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! OWWW! MUM, NOT THE EAR! PLEASE, NO! DON’T THROW THAT OUT! IT TOOK A MONTH’S WORK OF PROTOTYPING! GYAAA!”

There was another explosion, and down the stairs slammed a robust woman with a shock of bright red hair, dragging behind her a boy almost a foot and a half taller than she by the ear as he protested loudly. Her face was a mask of fury until she saw Kagome. She promptly dropped her son’s ear in favor of rushing forward and engulfing Kagome in such a hug that it squeezed the air from her lungs.

“Oh, my dear! You must be Kagome! Welcome! GEORGE! DON’T EVEN THINK OF SNEAKING OUT OF THIS HOUSE!” She almost blew out Kagome’s eardrums, screaming so closely to her head.

The carrot top identified as George grimaced and slunk back to lean against the wall beside the cold maiden. He raised an eyebrow and muttered something to her, making her giggle. Hiei visibly restrained himself from ripping the young man’s head off.

“As I was saying, my dear, welcome to the Burrow! GINNY!” There was an answering pounding of feet down the stairs, making the demon’s eyes water just slightly.

Another red head peered over the top of the turquoise-haired demon and replied, “Yes, Mum?”

“Why don’t you show Kagome up to one of the new rooms? George, you’re off the hook for now, but take her luggage up for her.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, his ears going red at the tips. “Come on, then, Miss.” Fred said politely, something in his voice telling that he wouldn’t normally be so formal, but for the presence of his hawk-like mother.

Kagome stifled a laugh behind a fake cough and followed Ginny up two flights of rickety stairs, finally emerging in a hallway that connected to the stairwell. This part of the house was very new and so well put together, that Kagome speculated it was a brand new addition specifically for them.

As if reading her mind, Ginny told her that this part of the house had been added on by some wizard architects because they were taking in Kagome and the others. She was led to the first door on the left, with two other doors across from her own. Obviously, she was sharing a room, as were the others. Deducing that it must be the maiden from earlier, Kagome got excited at the prospect of getting to know the girl better.

The door was pushed open and Kagome felt a slight, chill whisper of a breeze wrap around her, making her miko abilities buzz in reply. She assumed it was the girl’s natural protectors around her things.

The first thing after the energy that Kagome noticed, was that the maiden had abandoned the tall, western-style bed in favor of a thin pallet with a sheet and one pillow. On the nightstand beside it was a lone drawstring bag, barely even half-full of her belongings. Either she traveled very lightly or she did not have the luxury of many belongings.

Kagome thanked the siblings as they left the room. They told her that the rest of the family would be home in a few hours, since Fred and Ron were checking up on ‘Harry’, and their dad wouldn’t get off of work for another three hours or so. Kagome nodded and turned to unpack her things.

But first things first, she did a running leap onto the huge, fluffy bed, immediately sinking a foot or so into the feather down. She snuggled deeper into the comfortable nest, the hand-sewn yellow and cream quilt rubbing softly against her cheek. After a few minutes of comfort, she dragged herself off of the bed and set to unloading her clothes into the large chest at the foot of her bed.

After completing that task, she looked more closely at the room, and found pale yellows and pinks taking up the majority of the décor; obviously, they had designed it with females in mind. There was a large window that overlooked the garden behind the house, tall walls and all, and she saw tiny creatures being chased around by Ginny and George, with Yusuke and Kurama looking on with interest.

Then, the door creaked open and Kagome turned to see the demon from earlier walk slowly in, her steps slightly hindered by the tubular restraints of her old-fashioned pale green and blue kimono and obi. Kagome bowed quickly and asked for her name.

The girl looked surprised for a moment, then smiled. “Yukina. I am a koorime.”

So that explained the perpetual chill of her signature. Kagome had never met one of these ice maidens before, but had heard Kaede’s legends about them. “I’m Kagome. Please forgive me if I seem over anxious to talk to you, but quite frankly, I’ve never felt a youkai with such a pure energy before!”

Yukina blushed slightly and ducked her head, averting her eyes politely. “Ah…Thank you, Miss Kagome.”

“No, no!” Kagome waved her hands in a soothing gesture. “Not so formal, please! I feel like I have to impress somebody!”

Yukina’s full face tilted and she nodded, eyes sparkling. Somehow, Kagome knew that they would become fast friends.

Over the next two hours or so, the two girls completely alienated themselves from the rest of the household, wholly immersed in a deep one on one talk that Kagome had not had since Sango, and that Yukina had only had tastes of with Botan, some with Genkai. It really was quite amazing how quickly they acclimated to one another’s presence, and there seemed to be no topic they did not cover. Anything, from Kagome’s initial questions about being a koorime, to their favorite kimonos, to colors, foods, jokes, stories…

Kagome even went so far as to tell her about her adventures in Sengoku Jidai (although briefly and without much plot or filler). Yukina had a bit of difficulty wrapping her mind around the idea of time traveling, but when she thought of all of the other things that had been made possible in her life, it didn’t seem so far-out. They finally they ended up on their last topic: boys.

“Oh…boys…” Yukina said, when Kagome brought it up. “Oh…I don’t think…Well…”

Kagome laughed. “Then let me start! You know that InuYasha guy I told you about a few minutes ago…? Well, he was a real jerk sometimes. Completely insufferable, egotistical, stubborn, loud-mouthed, obnoxious, dense…!!” Kagome broke down into a deep, sad sigh. “I love him.”

Yukina touched her arm gently. “You mean…loved, right, Kagome?”

Kagome’s face fell and her bright blue eyes softened. “…Yeah. I guess I did “loved” him…”

“I’m sorry, Kagome. Obviously this is still too fresh for you to be talking about it.”

Kagome nodded and turned reddened eyes to Yukina, smiling slyly. “So…you got anybody sweet on you?”

Yukina blushed up to her hairline at this, giving Kagome all of the answers that she needed. “Oh, who is it? Who is it!”

“I—” She was interrupted when there came a knock at the door, before it was pushed open by Kuwabara.

“My Love!”

Kagome sweat-dropped and muttered, “Well, I guess I have my answer…”

“The rest of the family just got home, and Mrs. Weasel—Wheezy—Yeah…Anyway, she wants you—oh, yeah, and you Kagome, to go down and meet them.”

“Ah, thank you, Kazuma…” Yukina said, smiling.

“Not a problem, sweetheart!” He practically skipped out of the room.

Kagome turned a sly eye to Yukina, raising a brow. Suddenly, her eyes got large and puppy-like, pouncing on her new friend and giving her a quick hug. “Oh, how completely sweet of him! You’ll be great together, I just know it!”

Of course, this made Yukina even more embarrassed, and she flapped her hands to shoo Kagome away. “Come on, we better go down now.”

“Spoil sport!” Kagome said, setting them off into giggles like neither had in a long time.

The two came down the rickety, creaking stairs and into the kitchen, where Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, George, Yusuke, Hiei, Kurama, and Kuwabara waited along with George’s twin, another young man with the same red hair, and an adult they supposed was Arthur Weasley. Arthur smiled grandly at all of them, kissed his Missus, hugged Ginny, and slugged his sons on the back. He then turned his attentions to the newest additions to the Weasley family and shook each of their hands, bowing slightly in the process. “It is such a pleasure to have you here in our home for the summer, everyone! Now, you’ll have to forgive me with your names—it’s Molly’s got all of the memorization skills in the family—but why not introduce yourselves now and get it all over with, hmm?”

They obliged and went down the line, spitting out their names in rapid-fire.

“Yusuke Urameshi.”

“Kazuma Kuwabara.”

“Kurama Minamino.”

“Hiei.”

“Kagome Higurashi.”

“Yukina.”

Mr. Weasley got a very over-whelmed look on his face and said, the tips of his ears going red, “Come again?”

They all complied and repeated their names again, slowly, this time leaving out surnames. Mr. Weasley had the strangest urge to call both Hiei and Yusuke “Who-Nan”, earning laughs at the two men’s expense. Kagome was quickly dubbed “Pinkie” for some strange, unknown reason to everyone except Arthur himself. Kuwabara became “Elvis”, and Kurama was “Koomah”. Yukina was the only one whose name he actually got right, a fact Yusuke immediately began bemoaning.

Mrs. Weasley was quick to introduce her other sons, Fred and Ron, who waved merrily, identical grins on their faces. Ginny interrupted her mother by announcing loudly and with point to never, under any circumstances not fatal, to ever accept any food or drink from the twins, lest what they were offered kill or maim them.

Kagome and Yukina exchanged humored, yet slightly nervous glances. From the explosion earlier, they’d heed Ginny’s word. Mrs. Weasley announced that dinner was ready and they sat down at a long table with room enough for all elbows and knees. Kagome went to take a sip from her glass, but found it empty. Molly came around and asked her what she would like to drink, Kagome replying that water would be fine, and Molly whispering an incantation. Amazingly, sparkling water shot from the tip of her wand!

Mrs. Weasley repeated this process with all of the children except Fred and George, who were legally of age to practice magic, and conjured some sour apple juice (which supposedly turned your tongue acid green as you drank it). The meal was delicious; roasted chickens with sides of corn and potatoes with gravy. The Japanese found it a rather heavy meal, but figured that they could get used to it.

One of the first things Kagome noticed about her new housemates and future peers were their eating habits. Yukina was a very bird-like eater, and chewed her meal silently, making polite noises of appreciation; Ginny, on Kagome’s right, ate similarly, but was very loud and nearly talked Kagome’s ear off. Fred and George ate in almost complete synchronization; each lifting their glass and drinking and replacing it, moving fork to mouth and back with perfect timing. Their other brother, Ron, was a very messy, noisy eater who liked to talk with his mouth full.

Mrs. Weasley took small bites and talked much, except that she was sure to swallow before she replied to or asked a question, a point she over exaggerated, trying to pass this on to Ron, who was blissfully unaware. Mr. Weasley really ate almost nothing, being too interested in quizzing Yusuke and Kuwabara about living with Muggles.

Hiei and Kurama were both silent, Hiei eating nothing, and not even looking at his plate, and Kurama, not being interested in his food either, picked at it to be polite.

It became apparent about half way through the meal that Kuwabara and Hiei sitting side by side, along with Yusuke on Kuwabara’s other side was not a wise thing. Hiei made a brash, toneless comment to Kuwabara about eating like a horse, therefore developing the facial qualities of the beast.

Yusuke jumped in then, saying how that would be an insult to such a proud creature, which in turn, made Kuwabara ready to pound both his best friend and the ‘Shrimp’ unmercifully. Yusuke laughed in his face, telling him to bring it on, saying that he’d kick his ass any day of the week, any time of the day.

Mrs. Weasley was about to jump in, reprimanding Yusuke’s use of language, but was quieted by her husband, telling her to see if they could resolve it without their interference.

The insults began to fly, slowly slipping into Japanese, leaving the Weasleys completely in the dark, but giving the others an excellent show. Apparently, the slander had crossed somebody’s border, as all three stood up at once, moving for the back door and out into the garden. The rest of them followed, Kurama leading them, but he mentioned over his shoulder that this often happened, and a good fight would relax them nicely.

This didn’t exactly comfort the adults, but made the twins, Ron, and Ginny smile with anxiousness. George and Ginny had been witness to their group practice hours earlier, and had an idea of the fireworks to come, but Fred and Ron were unaware and about to be given quite the three-ring circus. Kagome was interested too, wanting to see how these others fought.

After quitting the garden, the three boys about to duke it out retreated to a nearby field. The Weasleys were about to follow them further, but Kurama held up his hand. “We will be able to see quite well from here. If we go any farther, we will be inside of the arena. By the looks of it, they are all ready to go. It would seem that they are going to agree on a hand-to-hand fight only.”

Kagome nodded to no one but herself, as she watched the three men form an off-center triangle about thirty yards from the larger group. She watched in utter awe as Hiei charged Kuwabara, his figure blurring as he sprinted to the taller man. Kuwabara ducked at the last minute, but Hiei’s fist glanced off of his right side, under his arm, making Kuwabara grasp that side, almost on his knees.

“What on Earth happened!” Mrs. Weasley cried. “We can’t let this continue—it’s not safe for them!”

Kurama chuckled. “Madame, you are mistaken in your thoughts. This is nothing to them; Kuwabara simply broke a rib; if Hiei had wanted to wound him, he would have aimed higher and more to the left.”

“But…you mean…that you don’t consider a broken rib a ‘wound’?”

Again, Kurama chuckled, his verdant eyes watching Yusuke go at Kuwabara all out, fists flying faster than the naked eye could see. He replied, “Compared to Yusuke’s two deaths, Kuwabara’s pass through another dimension, a faked death, and Hiei’s former mercenary occupation…no. This is nothing.”

Mrs. Weasley and the rest of them, excluding Yukina who already knew this, went pale. “Two deaths? M…Mercenary?”

“Yes. It’s a long story.” As he took in their befuddled and somewhat accusing stares, he figured that he might have to tell them that story…one day.

Suddenly, his senses tingled and his eyes watered slightly, as a sharp scent of mint overpowered his nose. Kurama turned quickly, to find Kagome gripping the material of her shirt nervously, her eyes fluctuating in a myriad of blue hues. “What’s wrong, Kago—” he stopped when he felt another tingle, this time of growing Spirit Energy in the field where Hiei, Yusuke, and Kuwabara still fought.

Kuwabara had his Spirit Sword in hand and was charging a crouched-down Hiei. Apparently they had decided to use their special abilities after all. Hiei dodged Kuwabara’s mad swing with too much ease and nailed him in the back with a hard kick, forcing the man to eat dirt. The electric-like charge in the air was coming from Yusuke as he prepared to fire off his Spirit Gun at Hiei, aware that he was giving more than enough advance warning.

Suddenly, from behind him, a voice cried out. Turning, Kurama saw Kagome’s eyes roll into her head. There was a blinding flash, followed by a scorching, yet pleasurable heat. It raced through his veins, lighting him on fire. Then, it was over. He looked over his shoulder and saw the shockwave roll over the three combatants, stopping them in their tracks. The trio stared directly at Kagome, who was blushing now and trying very hard not to look guilty.

Hiei blurred and was by her side in an instant. He grasped her arm, then withdrew, staring at the reddened skin of his palm and fingers. “Woman. What did you do?”

Kagome shook her head frantically. “I can explain! I just lost control of it—I haven’t been around so much youki in so long that I just…over reacted…and I’m really, really sorry that I hurt you, but I lost control…”

“Lost control of what?” Kuwabara asked, finally making his way over from their arena’. Apparently he’d not been listening to the conversation from earlier when they’d first met.

“My…miko…powers.” Kagome whispered, not making eye contact with anyone.

This silenced the Japanese group, but left the Weasleys high and dry. “Miko powers? What’s that?”

Kagome moaned and put her head into her hands, rubbing her temples. “If it’s alright with everyone, I think I’m just going to go to bed now.” Mrs. Weasley nodded as her mothering instincts kicked in. She ushered Kagome inside, patting her on the back and saying that she should get some extra rest.

The rest of the red headed family followed, considering the show to be over, and leaving the Tantei behind to consider this new turn of events. They’d known she was a miko…but they hadn’t known her strength… She would’ve had to be strong to have created such a blast of purifying energy. Yet the fact that she hadn’t simply annihilated the demons showed that she had some control. This added a whole new dimension to their lives here in Britain and gave them much to consider.

~~