To Be Me

Chapter Eight


Kagome sighed heavily, she wasn't sure about this. They were on the bus heading to Kurama's place once again. The guys had left after lunch after Kurama told them what time to stop by. He informed them that he needed to do some shopping and was going to grab some movies while he was out. The miko was going to stay home but Tar had threatened her into coming. Kagome was brave but waking up in the middle of the night with snakes crawling all over you wasn't something she wanted to experience. So a little after five o'clock they were all on their way back over.

"If we get pelted, wet, maimed or spat on I'm going to kill both of you." Kagome crossed her arms.

"Don't worry Kags, if they pull anything we will just have to see how they all like snakes." Tar giggled at the thought. Surely the big dumb one would shit himself.

"You can be scary sometimes you know."

"Me? I'm not scary, I'm cute." Tar jumped off the bus, she was happy no matter what happened. If the evening was legit it meant free food and flicks. If not, just meant more revenge for her. They walked along the side walk in complete silence. Well until Taree broke it, "So, think either of you two will get a goodnight kiss tonight?"

"Why the hell would you say something like that?" Mai demanded.

She put her finger to her chin, "Well to start with I think its obvious Pretty Boy has the hots for you. Then shorty keeps giving Kagome these weird looks, they kind of hard to explain." She clapped her hands, "Thats it he wants to borrow a pair of Kagome's little heart panties."

"Shut up. He's probably more into sponge bob." Kagome blushed at remembering being caught in her drawers. "Besides why talk about us? You got the hots for Yusuke."

"Do not and even if I thought he was cute. I think it's more than obvious he doesn't like me at all. So I'll be going to bed alone, now as for you two." A hand clamped over her mouth. The apartment door opened and a young girl about their age came walking out. She looked absolutely pissed.

Yusuke came out a few seconds later, "Dammit Keiko wait up. Lets talk about this." He grabbed the girl's hand stopping her.

"We have nothing else to discuss. I thought we were going to spend the evening together, not with all your friends. Must you constantly surround yourself with youkai."

"In case you've forgotten I'm half youkai. They are our friends Keiko, Kurama just wanted us to hang out for awhile." Yusuke tried to explain.

"I know but what about us? You say you want to get back together but you won't spend any time alone with me." She yanked her arm away. "You are always with them."

Taree made a whip sound as she flicked her hand. All eyes turned to her, two of horror, one of confusion and the last of anger. "Evening." She brushed past the couple and walked inside. Kagome and Mai followed hoping the boy wouldn't say anything. They heard the girl asking him who they were.

Kurama saw them enter and smiled. He was busy talking to Touya, so he waved them over. "Touya, I'd like you to meet Mai, Kagome and Taree."

The ice youkai nodded at all three, looking them over.

"That figures, Mai gets introduced first. How come I'm always last?" Taree blurted. "I can understand with Red, since he has the hots for her but everyone does it."

Touya's eyes widened while Kurama gawked at her. Mai secretly planned on burning her up in the bed tonight. "It might have something to do with size." The ice youkai stated. "Usually, people will introduce others according to height. Since you are the smallest naturally you come in last. Don't take it as an insult, sometimes good things come in small packages."

"You bet your ass they do." She grinned at him.

Kagome suddenly wished they really had tranq. darts for her. This was going to be a long night. "So what kind of youkai are you?"

"I'm a master of ice." He stated.

"So you like have blue balls?" Taree asked.

Kagome grabbed her arm, "Please forgive her, we forgot to sedate her before coming." She dragged her away into what appeared to be the living room. Laughter followed in their wake. "I swear, do you ever think before you speak?"

"Am I suppose to?"

"What do we have here, a couple of new sheilas." A large man with a blue mohawk confronted them. "My you two are some pretty ones." He threw a wink in their direction.

"And you look like you forgot to tip your barber." Taree stuck her tongue at him. Laughter erupted through the small space.

"That one has problems." Hiei suddenly appeared beside him. He glanced towards Kagome, "That one is off limits."

"Is that so? That's all fine, I like em spunky." He belched as he laughed.

Kagome wasn't sure what to say to that comment. Taree nudged her, "Told you so."

Kurama tried to control his laughter as the two girls walked away. "Is it safe to let them wander alone?"

"Should be, Kagome can usually handle her. If you hear screams, I advise you to hit the deck." Mai smiled at him. She turned to the blue haired man. "Sorry bout that. She speaks without thinking."

"I see. Must prove to entertaining." Touya smiled. She was actually kind of adorable, if not nice to look at.

"You have no idea," Kurama was sure he'd get a kick out of the stories he already had to tell. "Hope you girls don't mind the few extra guests. A few friends stopped by and kind of invited themselves."

"No, we don't mind at all. We are use to big crowds. As long as you are willing to submit them to Taree."

Touya decided to leave the two alone and head into the living room. Seemed that girl was already spoken for as far as the fox was concerned. He found Chu trying to hit on the small one.

The front door burst open and Yusuke's voice could be heard, "Where the hell did that bitch go? I'm going to kick her ass."

Kagome sighed, here it comes. She could hear Kurama asking the boy what was wrong.

"I'll tell you what's wrong, that little pain in the ass that you invited over. I don't care if she's a girl, I'm going to slug her one." He came storming into the living room at seeing her standing there. "You think you're funny don't you."

"Sometimes."

His aura flared at her comment. Bad enough she had mocked him but he had also got smacked by Keiko because of her. Being angry he'd followed her with his eyes while she walked inside. Keiko had seen him watching her and assumed the wrong thing. "Someone needs to smack some sense into you, lucky for you I'm in the mood."

Kagome felt herself being jerked back and being crushed into a hard chest. "Youkai might wanna step back."

Yusuke quickly took the few steps seperating him, he planned on shaking some sense into her. She saw him coming at her with anger in his eyes. Her aura flared around her sending out bright pink energy. Each step he took it grew.

Kurama grabbed the boy by his arm. "Yusuke calm down, whatever she said it isn't worth being purified."

"What?"

"Stop and look at her. A few more steps and you will be turned to ash. You'll be dead before you get close." Touya took another step back, he enjoyed being alive. "Don't take your anger out on her."

Taree stuck her tongue out when he stopped. "Jerk." Her aura calmed instantly. Not her fault he was having problems with his girlfriend.

"Oh yeah, the right one for me." Chu grabbed her around the shoulders. "Cute and full of fire."

"You're breath smells like kitty litter." She tried pulling away from him. "Get off, drunky." She saw Yusuke storm upstairs and felt bad for some reason. Maybe she should go apologize as soon as she got the lush off her.

Kagome didn't have to guess who had a hold of her. Her back was placed almost perfectly against the chest. There was only one person here that short. The arm didn't remove itself, it stand wrapped around her waist.

Taree looked over for help from her friend. She saw her being held by Hiei, "No fair, how come you get to be held by the cute one while I get assaulted by Mr. Halitosis." The drunk finally let her go and she scrambled away from him. She left to go upstairs.

Kagome spoke loud enough for him to hear, "I think its safe now, you can let go of me." His hand slid across her stomach as he released her. It caused her nerves to come alive and a strange tingling sensation in her stomach. "Thank you."

"Hnn."

Kurama cleared his throat, "I'm going to go check on dinner. Can I ask all of you to behave and get acquainted while I do so? Would you mind giving me a hand Mai?"

"Okay, have fun Kagome." She followed the red head out the room.

Kagome sighed looking around. Both her friends were gone and she was in a room full of youkai she didn't know. She backed up out of instinct back into Hiei's chest. She heard his chuckle but ignored it.

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