Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unwritten ❯ Chapter Two: Right in Plain Sight ( Chapter 2 )

Spirited

He lives in you

He lives in me

He watches over

Everything we see

Into the water

Into the truth

He lives in you

He lives in you- Lion King Sound track

 

Chapter Two Right in Plain Sight

“Well Ms. Higurashi,” the unusually young doctor said as he returned to the holding room with some results from her tests, “You're child is amazingly healthy and growing at an alarming rate. The only problems I could even find, however, is the risk of your body not being able to take on such a dramatic change.”

“What do you mean by `growing at an alarming rate'?” Kagome inquired slightly nervous as she tucked a lock of her thick raven hair behind her ear. Her brown eyes looking up at the young male doctor with such wide and unrestrained worry that the Doctor paused for a moment, stricken by her sheer beauty.

“Ahem,” he coughed as he seemed to snap out of it, “nothing to worry about just yet, Ms.” He reassured, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly, “So far, your body is accommodating with ease at every change the child is imposing on your body. It's amazing really- a medical mystery. You're only in your fourth month, but the child is progressing to that of one thirty-six weeks in! And you're both very healthy!” The doctor rubbed the small goatee on his chin in his thought, “If I hadn't seen the test results of the conception date, I'd swear the child would have been conceived earlier than just four months ago. The lab has checked it at least five times already.” He sighed.

Kagome smiled awkwardly, knowing exactly why her child was progressing faster and much healthier than other HUMAN babies, “Well, I best be going then. Thank you Dr. Uwata.” Kagome bowed her head lightly to him in respect, which the young Dr. Uwata returned in earnest.

“Very well, Ms. Higurashi. Maybe next time, you'll want to do a sonogram to see your child? The test show that we should be able to see the gender and a good shape of it by now.” He offered as he opened the door for his patient.

Kagome gave him a sweet smile and shook her head no, “No thank you, Dr. Uwata. I love surprises, and you said my baby is healthy anyways, so no sonograms for now.”

“If you say so,” Dr. Uwata seemed crestfallen. Ever since Kagome had started to come to him for her pregnancy check-ups, the young twenty-five-year-old Doctor seemed really taken with Kagome and her child's unusual case, “Have Maiyumi set up the next appointment for two weeks from today on your way out.”

“Certainly, doctor.” Kagome nodded as she made her way down the sterile hallways of the hospital clinic, rubbing the small bump of her stomach where her and Inuyasha's child grew inside her. She couldn't help but have a silly grin on her face all throughout her walk out of the hospital, receiving a grin from Maiyumi at the front desk as the elder woman grinned knowingly while she watched Kagome rub her stomach affectionately.

“I take it the pregnancy is going well?” the elderly Maiyumi inquired as she signed Kagome in for the next appointment in two weeks.

Kagome's brown eyes blinked with sudden awareness from her day dream, “Uwah, Wha?” she shook her head to clear her foggy thoughts of what Inuyasha's child would look like once it was born, “Oh, yes- it's going very well! I'm so excited!” she smiled wider.

Maiyumi smiled warmly back at her. A younger nurse leaned on the counter next to Kagome with a smile as well, “I bet the father's just excited to have such a sweet girl like you sharing his child.” She admired.

Kagome's smile faltered a bit as well as Maiyumi's. Only Maiyumi and Dr. Uwata knew about the father- or what Kagome had told them.

“I'm sure he would have been very happy indeed.” Kagome said softly.

The young nurse seemed confused, “He would have?” she tilted her head.

“Jiyana, I think it's time for you to get back to work.” Maiyumi said quickly, earning an indignant look from the younger nurse called Jiyana.

“What? But Maiyumi! Look- no one's even come in!” she whined, wanting to share some gossip with Kagome.

“It's alright, Maiyumi- I'm fine.” Kagome reassured the concerned protective elderly woman who gave her a worried glance as Kagome turned to the blond younger nurse, “My… husband died shortly after the baby was conceived. He never knew about it.”

“Oh my god!” Jiyana gasped, covering her mouth with her hands and dropping her clipboard in shock, “I-I'm so sorry! I… I didn't know….” She looked to Kagome helplessly, feeling like a bitch for bringing up the subject.

Kagome shook her head to wave off her sympathy, “its fine. I still know him in my heart and know he'd love the baby just as much as I do. That's what counts, right?”

“Ms. Kagome….” Jiyana looked like she was about to cry. She was a high school intern in the hospital and was still very emotional.

“Kagome, maybe you should move along to your class now?” Maiyumi hinted to break up the tense atmosphere surrounding the three women, “Didn't you say you have a Botany class this afternoon?”

“You're right.” Kagome nodded, “I hear today that our actual teacher will be there and not a sub like it has been since the beginning of the semester. That should prove to be interesting.”

“Good luck, Kagome.” Jiyana brushed away a tear from her eye.

Kagome nodded and turn to leave.

As she stepped out into the sun, Kagome's eyes squinted at the sudden change from florescent to sunlight. She brought up a hand to shield her eyes while they adjusted to the amber-golden of the sun bearing down on her with its warmth…. Reminding her much of a pair of amber golden eyes filled with similar warmth and love….

“Oh Inuyasha….” Kagome sighed as she let her hand fall. Her watch beeped, catching her attention as she half-heartedly glanced down to check the time. Her brown eyes widened as her face paled in horror, “OMGOD!” she yelped, “I'M LATE!” Kagome rushed to her little blue '03 Toyota Tacoma truck that awaited her in the parking lot- the one her grandfather's friend had given to her when she moved out from the shrine to go to college as a belated graduation present, “And there's traffic between here and the campus too!” she whined as the small truck's lights flashed to life and it made a small squeal of the alarm disarming from the unlock button. The little truck purred to life as she jammed the keys in the ignition and quickly shifted gears to back out of the parking lot.

As she speeded down the streets of Tokyo- or at least as much as traffic let her- Kagome hissed a mantra of `I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead' through clenched teeth.

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“Minamino-Sensei?” a young female student raised her hand in the greenhouse lab to get her red-headed teachers attention.

Kurama's green eyes spotted the young girl, ignoring the way her face- like all the others- turned pink soon as his eyes landed on her, “Yes, Ms. Iyouchi?” he inquired as he approached her lab-table. Her friends all huddled closer behind her with love-struck eyes as they drank in their beloved teacher's body up-close when he approached.

“You keep telling us tha-that this fa-formula will work on our plants, but mine's still dying- what am I doing wrong, Suichi?” she purred out his first name with flirtatious blue eyes he knew were color-contacts.

 

Kurama briefly looked down at her plant, knowing instantly what was wrong with it. He held back a grimace. All of his female students did this to their plants- drowning them, “It's Minamino-Sensei, Ms. Iyouchi.” He corrected, “I told you to only water in the morning and to only use the size of a coffee-mug of water. You have drowned it.” He said bluntly.

 

Iyouchi blushed at the light admonishing tone he used with her, but the giggle of her friends only served to add to her embarrassment than to boost her confidence like it did before.

“G-gomenasai, Sensei.” She bowed her head.

“It's a common mistake; don't fret over it too much. After class go into the student green house and request another flower of your choice to redo the project. I will be deducting points however since you failed to follow instructions.”

“Understood, Sensei.” The young woman nodded, keeping her head down to hide her embarrassment.

Kurama nodded and then turned to his class, “Now, this brings up something- does anyone know the types of plants that require little to no water?”

A few hands went up to answer, but the door banged open, startling everyone while Kurama just raised an eyebrow to the intruder. His green eyes widened in recognition- IT WAS HER!

The girl he had saved a few months ago from the three-headed dog demon. He had to erase her memories of him, but that didn't mean that he didn't remember her….

Her hair was slightly longer than it was three those few months ago. Her eyes were still a warm brown and her skin still ivory. Today she was dressed in baggie clothing and her long hair was pulled away from her face in a low ponytail. ….

And she was indeed still pregnant. More so than he remembered she should be at this time of her pregnancy.

“Sorry….I'm….l-late….Sen-Sensei!” she panted lightly, a hand resting protectively on her swelled stomach.

“Late..?” now that he looked her over, he noticed her cheeks were slightly red and her ponytail was tousled and loose. Her chest, only just starting to produce milk heaved with a slight, hypnotic bounce with each gasp of breath she took.

“H-Higurashi Kagome-present!” she panted as she slightly stumbled into the class room of the greenhouse laboratory.

The other students seemed alarmed and concerned once they realized it was Kagome who stumbled in, “Kagome, are you alright?”

“Kagome!”

“Did you get caught in traffic again? Its murder out there from here to the hospital isn't it?”

“Oh Kagome, are you alright?”

“How do you feel? Is the baby hurting you?”

“Here, Kagome, take my seat- you need to rest.”

Kurama watched in amazement as his students all bustled around the pregnant young lady, all full of concern for her while Kagome herself tried to reassure all of them that she was fine. He waited patiently for Kagome to take her seat and for the rest of his students to settle down somewhat before he caught their attention clearing his throat loudly.

“Ms. Higurashi, is it? Are you comfortable now?” Kurama asked with his brow arching elegantly.

Kagome blushed and ducked her head, “Ye-yes, Sensei. Please forgive my rude interruption- may we continue with the lesson?” her brown eyes looked so wide and innocent that they made Kurama pause for a moment. She truly was a captivating creature. Kurama could tell why the rest of his students made such a fuss over her well being. She had the ability to draw you in quickly. He himself found it hard not to look her over in concern at the moment since she still seemed to be having some kind of trouble as she rubbed her bump of a stomach- was the child giving her complications?

Kurama shook his head- he had a class to teach- not a pregnant teenage mother to worry about.

“Right, continuing on then to the types of plants that drown easily when over watered….” He lectured on, pleased to find that the Kagome woman immediately started to take notes. It proved what an in tune student she was.

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“Kagome, do you work today?” a young woman from the botany class asked curiously as she approached Kagome's seat when Suichi Sensei dismissed them for the day after 1:30.

Kagome sighed, “Yes, the daycare is short handed now that Chou left for England. It's just me and Granny to look after the kids.”

“Are you sure you can keep up with so many youngsters? And I heard they were some kind of…. Special kids or something your daycare looks after.” The young woman tucked a strand of her bleach blond hair behind her sun-tanned ear nervously. She didn't want to insult Kagome's line of work…

Kagome smiled warmly, “They are a special kind of kid, Matsumi, but I can handle them. Besides,” the young pregnant woman carefully hefted her light laptop bag strap over her shoulder as she attempted to stand. Matsumi braced herself to help out if Kagome needed, but Kagome was able to stand on her own with a half-hearted roll of her eyes at her class-mates concern, “I look at it as prep-camp for when JR. gets here.” She lightly rubbed her stomach lovingly at the mention of her own child on the way.

“Well if it gets to be too much, I want you to stop working until the baby comes.” Matsumi cautioned, “You don't want to end up hurting yourself or the baby, do you?”

“Matsumi, I'm fine, and so is my child.” Kagome chuckled it off easily.

“I can't help but worry, Kagome.” Matsumi sighed.

“None of us can. You're just the type of girl that draws others in like this ya know?” a young man called Gin agreed with Matsumi as he passed, “Oi, Matsumi, you commin with to the pizza parlor down the road?”

“Sure!” Matsumi glanced worriedly at Kagome quickly but Kagome just waved her off.

“Go, have fun.” Kagome urged her, sighing with relief when she was the only one left in the green house.

“They seem quite taken with you, Ms. Higurashi.” Kagome jumped a bit startled to hear her Sensei's voice so close.

She whirled around to see Minamino Sensei standing a few feet behind her with his arms folded in front of his chest as she found he did much during a lecture. His long red hair was tied back by a band to keep it off his neck while he worked around the soil and plants of the lab and his white lab coat didn't have a single stain to it whereas most of the students had green plant stains and soil marks on theirs from handling plants.

“Sorry for startling you- I thought you knew I was still around.” The green eyed man seemed to try and hold back a smile as his deep green irises twinkled with mirth.

Kagome let out a heavy breath she forgot she was holding, “I've just a bit wound up lately.” She excused with a quirky smile.

“Yes, I can imagine. I noticed you seemed to be enduring some kind of pain during my lecture at first- are you having problems with the child?” Kurama inquired, though he didn't know why he wanted to know as badly as he did about her wellbeing in this pregnancy for the life of him.

“The doctor says it's just my body trying to adjust to having to support more than one being.” Kagome explained without really thinking. She usually didn't hand out information like that, but Minamino Sensei seemed so easy to talk to, “You have kids?”

“Pardon?” Kurama was taken aback slightly.

Kagome blushed at his bewildered look, but she had to bite her cheek to keep from giggling at his look since he was so caught off guard. He looked like she had just jerked the rug out from under him, “Sorry, it's just that you seemed to know about pregnancy enough to have gone through it with your own wife.” She explained.

“I'm not married and I don't have kids….yet.” Kurama replied, “I may be a university sensei, but I'm really only twenty-five and still a bachelor.” He didn't know why, but he felt the urge for her to know his marital status for some reason.

“Oh really?” Kagome gapped in awe, “Wow, I pegged you for at least thirty- not that you look thirty, it's just that most university sensei are that age or older… or at least that's what I thought.” She rushed to explain herself better when he smirked at her.

“Let's just say I'm too smart for my own good?” he grinned, which widened slightly when he was rewarded with a giggle from her. He liked the way she laughed- it was carefree and warm. Just like her aura was comforting as it swirled and creased her body around her and tickled at his own muddled one. He doubted she even was aware of her strange, open aura. It was a lavender color, a light one too, not blue like most humans or red like a corrupt human. Hers was pure.

“Well, I better get going before the kids wear out poor Granny.” Kagome excused herself.

“You have more kids?” Kurama over heard her conversation with Matsumi before, but he wanted to hear more about herself from her own lips. Not snooping around…. Which he admitted was an old habit that Yoko still had him doing even when the ancient, mischievous fox spirit that shared his soul was in a deep slumber like he had been for the past few months or so.

“No, just this one. I work at a daycare farm for … special children, that's just out of town in the country. It's a bit far out, but its good practice and it will pay for the bills once my own baby arrives.” She said as she turned to leave.

“What about the father? Shouldn't he be the one working and you in bed rest for the pregnancy?” that's what his mother did when she surprisingly got pregnant with her new husband. Now Kurama had another step-sibling he adored- a baby girl named Hana.

Kagome hesitated at the door and Kurama instantly saw the sadness poor through her pure aura like a black plague. He'd never felt like shooting himself, but for putting his foot in his mouth just then, he'd gladly shoot his head off for retribution in making her beautiful aura turn a dark purple-black in pain and sorrow.

“He….He died shortly after I conceived.” She said softly and opened the door to escape before her tears fell in front of her sensei. What was wrong with her? She had been able to admit it to Jiyana at the hospital earlier, but just now, hearing Minamino Sensei mention the father of her child…. Inuyasha, she couldn't stop the tears from burning in her eyes. She had to get away from the campus before she did something REALLY embarrassing.

She hurried as quickly as she dared without running to her little Toyota truck and quickly revved up the purring engine. She took the freeway quickly and rolled down the windows to let the polluted air of Tokyo in as the wind crashed against her face and tangled with her hair- seeming to force her tears away from her eyes. She concentrated on her breathing all the way to the daycare so she would be her composed, quirky self once she got there for the kids. She knew they would sense her sadness and would get upset over it. After all, it was hard to hide much anything from demon and hanyou children….

 

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Kurama's rose whip tore through yet another weaker demon ruthlessly, ignoring the way the dark green and blue blood of the demons he slaughtered splattered against himself and area around him. He had frustrations to burn off, and killing things seemed to work lately. There was another break out of demons crossing the thin barrier between Makai and Ningenkai. It was such a big break; Koenma had called the old team all together to help out take down the lesser demons that numbered largely against them.

Kurama, who usually waited a moment before attacking to find vantage points in the hoard, surprised his old comrades as he was the first among them to jump into the fray and tear down demon after demon. His tactics were so rough that the others gave him plenty of room in case the fox forgot friend from foe.

When the last demon was split into five pieces still alive from Kurama's thorny rose whip, the others cautiously approached. Even Hiei was cautious with the way the fox was acting aggressively. Yusuke cautiously reached out and put a hand on his old friend's shoulder, “Yo, Kurama, what's gotten into you?”

“Whatever do you mean by that Yusuke?” Kurama hissed out his friend's name, shrugging off the younger man's hand from his shoulder. He didn't want to be touched by anything or anyone right now. He was just so… soo…. Agitated. And it wasn't even at anything or anyone but himself!

“Cut the crap, fox.” Hiei said bluntly as he shoved Yusuke out of the way and stood in Kurama's way, forcing the fox to look at him, “Even the dumbass knows something's wrong with you.” Kuwabara yelped indignantly at this, “You're a schemer, not an aggressor in battle, yet you leap right into the fray tonight, lashing down demon after demon with vicious intent, and half of it was with your bear claws. Something's got your balls in a twist and it could endanger our mission and our team if you let it drive you out of control like you just nearly did.” The little fire demons fierce eyes pierced right through Kurama, “And don't blame this on Yoko, I know he's been asleep for the past few months and I know he's still unconscious now- this is all you.”

Kurama's green eyes hardened at being cornered- one of the few things that made him uncomfortable, “We all have out issues, Hiei, mine just happen to come up shortly before we were called in, is all. I was merely venting.”

“Venting he says…,” Yusuke chuckled lowly and shook his head, “You vent by thinking up an elaborate plan to humiliate your enemies- not over killing lesser demons- that's Hiei's forte.” Hiei glared half-heartedly at the ex-detective.

“Feh, speak for yourself, Yusuke. I'm not the one dashing back to the Makai just to go looking for demon scum to take out my frustration with my needy wife who doesn't know you're not in your petty HUMAN College anymore.” The fire demon retorted easily.

“You leave KEIKO outta this! She was pregnant with twins- TWINS, Hiei! That's DOUBLE the hormonal screw-up she had and we all know how moody she is when she's NOT pregnant! Think of how it is NOW with the little devils out and about!” Yusuke bristled.

“Uh guys…?” Kuwabara tried to get their attention, but Hiei and Yusuke weren't hearing him and Kurama ignored him in favor for watching his two friends who had prodded at him earlier attack each other.

“You're the one who decided to marry AND bound her to your DEMON! You're the one stuck with the hormonal ona with a temper problem and your so called `devils'- not me!” Hiei grinned maliciously at Yusuke's fury, “Besides, we all know you love your little twin boy and girl devil and play patty cake with them every chance you get.”

“Least I HAVE a mate and children- not FUCK BUDDIES that could be both MALE AND FEMALE for all we know!”

“I don't have a taste for cock, idiot, though I wouldn't be surprised if the mating with Keiko was to cover up some hidden desire you have for man-sex. She is certainly strong enough to toss you around.” Hiei gritted out dryly.

“You. DIE! Now!” Yusuke held up his middle finger to shoot a Spirit Shot Gun at Hiei, who just rolled his eyes.

“Real mature, Yusuke.” The little demon scoffed, “You know you can't shoot me. You're too slow.”

“Guys….” Kuwabara tried again.

“I've gotten quicker” Yusuke bit back as he blasted another spirit gun at the quick demon, snarling his frustration as it once again missed the elusive target.

“GUYS!!!!!” Kuwabara yelled, hurting the ears of his team mates with demon blood as they all three winced and then glared at the worried Human.

“WHAT KUWBARA? What do you need that YOU NEED TO YELL OUR EARS OFF- JACK ASS!” Yusuke snapped.

The sudden silence allowed them all to hear what caught Kuwabara's attention- police car sirens.

“Fuck!” Yusuke hissed, “The cleanup crew can't take care of this before those dumbass's get here first- then what?? The discovery of demon kind- shit, Kuwabara, couldn't you have said something earlier?”

“Bu..But I… I tried.” Kuwabara sighed dejected.

“I've got it Yusuke.” Kurama offered then turned to Hiei, “Be so kind as to incinerate the bodies?”

“With pleasure.” Hiei released a stream of black fire from his fist and used it as a flame thrower over the bodies, turning them into ash and scorching the grass beneath them. Kurama then bent down to kneel on one knee and placed his palm flatly on the ground, healing the earth that Hiei scorched- soon it looked as if nothing happened at all. Certainly not an epic demon battle.

“Let's leave before they get any closer.” Yusuke suggested, but it wasn't necessary. Hiei was already gone and Kurama had already started for the forest- using the plants to cover over his tracks and his path, “Jerks.” Yusuke huffed as he used his demon speed to bolt away from the premises.

“OI WHAT ABOUT ME??” Kuwabara yelped.

Yusuke doubled back, tossed Kuwabara over his shoulder and then bolted away towards Genkai's with a hollering two-hundred pound human over his shoulder.

“THIS IS NOT WHAT I HAD IN MIND YOU ASS HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLE!”

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“Kagome!” “Lady Kagome!” “Kaggy!” “Mrs. Kagome!!” the children cried out for joy when they all sensed their favorite adult at the door before she even got out of her little Toyota truck. The hanyou, demon and human children of the small farm that doubled as an orphanage was home to five hanyou children, two demon children and one human pre-teen that were orphaned due to various ways involving demon interference. The old lady called Granny who owned the farm got her income through Alpaca fur she sold to cloth industries. Ten Alpaca's roamed the open spaces around the large house and barn along with a large draft horse called Ren. There was also a Doberman dog called Mya who was the honorary guard dog and herd-dog for the Alpaca and the children. Mya kept unwanted strangers off the small farms lands to protect the secrecy of the demon blooded children it harbored.

Once Kagome stepped up to the porch, Mya woofed at her and bounded up the stairs to her side, wagging her stubby tail happily as her extra long pink tongue hung out the side of her mouth.

“Why hello there Mya,” Kagome carefully knelt down to pet the daunting, yet very friendly Doberman dog. The door swung open to reveal all eight children who rushed all around Kagome to hug her and shower her with welcoming hugs as they all cheered for her. Mya backed away wisely or else she'd be trampled, “Hello everyone!” Kagome giggled as she hugged them back in earnest, kissing each atop their head lovingly.

“Granny says it's okay to take Ren out for a drive! Will you take us, Kagome?” Tenchi, the eldest of the lot and also the only human child asked.

“Yes! Please?” “Please?” “PLEEEESE!” “Pweetty pweeese with icecream on top?” the other children turned their best puppy-eyed look up to Kagome as they all ganged up to beg her mercilessly.

Kagome couldn't help but smile, “Alright, I'll go talk to Granny about it and she what she says. How does that sound?” her heart warmed as the children cheered excitedly, “Everyone go get ready while I speak with Granny.” Without an utterance of protest, the eight little Munchkins were off to the contours of the house to get ready, talking animatedly about the exciting wagon ride that awaited. Kagome Slowly stood up with on protective hand over her stomach and followed them in at a much slower pace with Mya at her side.

“Granny?” she called as she took off her shoes at the door.

“In here, darling- the office,” Granny called back.

Kagome followed Granny's voice to the office to see the long-gray-haired old woman sitting behind her desk looking over her income papers with a smile on her face as she glanced up to see the woman she thought of as a daughter.

“Ah, Kagome, darling,” she stood up to give Kagome a welcoming hug, “How are you doing?” she moved back to look at Kagome's face, “Ah, you have that motherly glow about you, darling. I can tell you're excited about this young one here!” she nodded down to her bump of a stomach.

“I am very much excited for the baby,” Kagome fondly rubbed her stomach, “I noticed your smile when I walked in- did the Alpaca fur give you a lot of income this year?”

“More than enough, deary,” Granny grinned, “Looks like we'll be getting along just fine with how much in demand my Alpaca fur has become in the fashion business lately.” She winked, “Won't be needin to borrow money from the bank this time!”

“That's wonderful, Granny” Kagome smiled back in earnest.

“Kag'me” small rabbit hanyou poked her head in the door way, “Can we go yet?”

“Oh right!” Kagome turned back to Granny, “Granny, would it be alright if I took the children out on a wagon ride with Ren?”

“Go on, it's a good day outside and besides, ol'Ren needs to get out more often since I hardly use him but for harvesting grain in the fields once a year.” Granny waved her off, “Have fun with the kids, darling. I'll take care of the house while they're gone and clean up a bit before making dinner.”

“Kisa, go on and tell the others to meet me in the barn.” Kagome nodded to the rabbit hanyou who eagerly nodded and rushed off to tell the others.

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Kurama picked up the buzzing cell phone in his pocket just as he returned home from taking down the hoard of demons with the others, “Minamino speaking.” He answered as he flipped open the cell.

“Kurama, I know you just went out, but I need you to take care of a rogue demon spotted on the outskirts of Tokyo, in the immediate farmlands of the west.” Koenma spoke quickly.

“Rogue out west? What's it doing out there?” Kurama murmured to himself, “All the demon activity has been concentrated within the city limits.” Kurama paused for a moment, “And how did you get my cell number?”

“Well the communicators we used before seem useless with this new technology the humans have created. And since all of you have one anyways, we decided just to use something you all will answer to when we `ring'.” Koenma explained, “Back to the demon- we have no idea about its motives, but it seems to be hunting. Already there have been a few casualties, though so far it's just animals it has attacked from farms out there. It's a fairly large demon and is not a lesser kind. Our estimates say that it's a primitive lioness demon that's at least an A class. Can you deal with her?”

“I'm on it, but why did you call me?” Kurama wanted to know.

“You're closest to the scene.” Koenma replied.

Kurama then hung up, having heard all he needed, “Lioness, hmm?” he thought aloud, “The rarely leave their territory unless told by their alpha to seek out something…. Either that or she's gone rogue like Koenma's sources believe.” Regardless, the lioness was dangerous. Since she was hunting, she would kill and consume anything she deemed tasty enough that she crossed paths with- human or otherwise.

Kurama took a quick look around to be sure that he was alone on his street before he leaped up to the tree near his door and used it as a spring board to shoot him to the roof tops where he allowed his demon speed to carry him towards the west of Tokyo and eventually to the farmlands beyond the city's suburbs. He actually loved this area of Tokyo- the farm lands just outside of the city. It was where nature was still dominant over civilization in the mountainous range and only farmers lived out here.

He stopped once he was well within the forests of the farmlands and put a hand on the bark of the tree beside him, using its connection with the rest of the plant life to help track down his prey. She certainly was on the move, but from what he gathered, she hadn't killed for little over two hours- she was stalking something though…. But what? Kurama looked to the sky, noting the sun was barely starting to set. He'd have to move quickly. Primitive lion demons were active both day and night, but they got more aggressive during the night times. If she was waiting for the high of the night to hunt again, she's killing more than just a few domesticated animals for food. She'd kill anything for the pure rush of the kill.

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Kagome felt uneasy as she guided Ren through the forest trails with a wagon load of demon blooded children and one human pre-teen. They were all quiet, enjoying being out of the cramped house and barnyard where they were restricted to staying near. All of the children loved the sounds of the forest around them and the joy of getting to ride in the wagon while the tall, dark draft horse, Ren, pulled them along the mountain trails.

“Ka'me” the youngest of the group, a rat-demon child called Theo, asked, “How long do we get to stay ou- here?”

“The trail is a big loop, Theo, and we're about to start heading back to the barnyard.” Kagome said.

The children groaned in dismay.

“Can we stop in the meadow Ms. Kagome” Kisa's long rabbit ears perked up.

The others quickly lit up and started chattering excitedly, also begging to go to the meadow.

Kagome looked up to the sky, seeing the barely setting sun, “I guess it couldn't hurt to give Ol'Ren a rest, now would it?”

The kids all cheered in success while Kagome clucked her tongue against her teeth to urge Ren into a steady trot to get to the meadow quicker. Ren tossed his great head and snorted as he plodded along, his heavy hooves making deep imprints into the soft ground and his long strides took them to the meadow in record time. Kagome pulled Ren to a halt and carefully dismounted the wagon. She turned to the back of the wagon to help the kids down and watched them as they rushed into the grassy meadow that had grass growing as tall as they were. She leaned against the wagon side as she watched her charges lovingly as they played hide-and-go-seek with each other in the tall grass. Ren lowered his head to graze a bit of the tall grass while he was allowed to take a break and Mya, the Doberman lay in the grass at Kagome's feet, resting from running alongside the wagon all this time.

Kagome took in a deep breath of refreshing mountain air, enjoying the crispness of it and the cleanness compared to the smog of Tokyo. It was so peaceful out here. She swore that when her child was born, she was going to move into the country so her baby could grow up in the refreshing mountain air and not have to endure the toxins of the Tokyo smog. If the child was anything like Inuyasha, and she was sure it was just like him, it would have a sensitive nose as well and would be very tender to the toxins in the air of Tokyo. She didn't want that for the baby.

Suddenly Ren raised his head sharply and snorted as he scented the air, stretching his long neck to the breeze and curling his lip back to get a better scent. His ears pinned back as his front hoof stomped down- something was riling him up. Mya too. She stood up and bristled her short fine fur, growling lowly. Just as precaution, Kagome expanded her awareness to try and see if she could sense what had the animals so high strung… what she felt alarmed her- demon.

“CHILDREN, BACK TO THE WAGON NOW!” Kagome ordered. Eight heads poked out of the tall grass alarmed- Kagome never shouted or ordered anything of them. Still they didn't question her as they all quickly made their way to the wagon.

But something startled them all to a halt….

A wailing roar thundered across the meadow, silencing the birds and even the insects stopped buzzing in fear. Ren reared in fright, wanting to flee, but Kagome had his reins and held him back. Mya barked savagely towards the sound, trying to intimidate it, but Kagome knew whatever made that sound wasn't to be intimidated, “THE WAGON, NOW! EVEYONE IN THE WAGON!” Kagome called.

One by one, the children appeared from the tall stalks of grass and clambered into the wagon while Kagome stood aside, dutifully counting heads. She scooped up the light Doberman dog and helped her into the wagon as well.

As she over looked the children, she only counted seven heads! Who was missing? She quickly ran through faces and names and turned about terrified- “KISA!” she called into the grass, but the rabbit hanyou didn't reply.

“KISA? KISA, HONEY, YOU GOTTA MAKE SOME NOISE!” Kagome called.

“KAGOME! SOMETHING'S HERE!” Kisa called back in the grass terrified. Her little voice quivered and cracked in fear.

“I know honey, come on back to the wagon, we're leaving” Kagome tried to remain calm as she felt the presence getting closer. Kisa suddenly appeared from the grass, paralyzed with fear. It was in her nature to freeze when terrified just like any normal rabbit. So Kagome quickly rushed to the child's side, gathering her up in her arms when another roar- much closer this time- shook everyone to the bone. Kagome heard the thunder of hooves as Ren bolted off, since no one was holding him back, leaving Kagome and Kisa alone in the meadow with the beast that stalked them.

“Shh, Kisa, try not to make a sound and stay low.” Kagome whispered, feeling much calmer than she should have, but with all her trips to the past, her body instinctively knew how to handle a situation when she was being hunted. Kisa nodded and dug into Kagome's embrace when the monstrous cat hissed as it stepped out of the forest. The two of them could hear the rumble of the cats vocal chords as it growled lowly to itself when it saw none of its prey but could easily sense that Kagome and Kisa were still there.

Kisa whined and shuddered, the lioness perked its ears and hissed while Kagome held the girl closer to her body, petting the blond shaking heard and white ears that folded to Kisa's head as she shook with absolute fear. Kagome's body tensed as she felt her power react to the presence of the hunting lioness. Her aura expanded, sending a purified warning to the lion to back off, but the predator took no heed of it and instead used the warning as a pinpoint to where they were hiding. With a low hiss, the lioness crouched and took off after them.

“RUN, KISA! RUN!” Kagome shoved the child away from her so she wouldn't burn Kisa with her purification as her dark blue power was summoned to her fists like Miroku had shown her to manipulate it other than just with her arrows. She sent a beam of weak purification at the cat, which rolled out of the way nimbly. Kagome could only use so much of her power, since the child she carried was also demon blood- she didn't want to harm the baby in anyway so she only allowed a certain amount of purification… and she now realized that even if she hit the Lioness head on, it would only burn the demoness. There was no complete purify unless she wanted to purify her child in her womb as well.

“KAGOME LOOK OUT!” Kisa screamed as the Lioness lunged at Kagome. Kagome fell on her back, dodging the swiping claws of the lion as it tumbled above her, twisting in the air to try and change directions in midflight. As soon as the lioness landed, it took after her again, completely ignoring the rabbit hanyou that was defenseless and just within its reach- the lioness had its mad-eyes locked on Kagome.

Kagome felt a sense of De'ja'vu when she felt the lioness aura prod hers, trying to consume her and choke her aura, but Kagome fought back. Demons had been doing that a lot to her lately- prodding her with their Yoki to consume her aura and get inside her power somehow- didn't they know that was dangerous to them?

Kagome sent a wave a weak purification power on the lioness, stunning the demoness for an instant before the great cat snarled and was at her again, swiping at her with its claws and snapping at her with its teeth. Kagome tripped on uneven ground, falling to her back and rolling to her side while the great cat's claws dug into her shoulder. Kagome cried out in pain, urging the cat on.

But suddenly…. The lioness stilled and screamed in pain as the sound of something piercing flesh alarmed Kagome who was panting for breath underneath the lioness. She looked down to see the tall grass had sharpened with fine needle points and were embedded into the sides of the lioness, spilling blood all over Kagome. The lioness ripped itself away from the stalks of grass and turned on her new opponent. Kagome's eyes were hazy and all she could make out was the golden fur of the lioness and some kind of red blob that drew it away from her. The golden blob she knew as the lioness screamed again and she felt the earth shake from impact. She heard the struggle of claws digging desperately into the earth lessen more and more…. Until silence. She could only hear her heart pound in her ears as her world started to go black….

The last thing she heard was a kind voice chuckling, “Well, well, that would be twice now that we've met like this, Kagome…..”