Kissing Cousins

Chapter Fourteen


Sango lifted her head when a hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked up to see a small girl with blue hair peering at her with soft eyes. The girl went to kneel on the other side of Kagome and tried to give a reassuring smile. Sango looked around to see Hiei standing in the doorway, "Where's Kurama?"

"Coming up the stairs now." Hiei smirked seeing the anger in the taijiya's eyes. He felt him as he covered the distance. Red hair streaked across his line of sight then the man in question was kneeling beside Yukina.

"How bad is it?"

Sango looked up ready to tear into him for leaving Kagome alone. She could see the guilt, anguish and something else she couldn't name on his face. "There's a wound on her shoulder, probably a couple broken bones. The worst one is the wound she is working on, it's where he dug the jewel out."

"So it's been taken?" Hiei asked from the doorway.

"Yes, someone has it now." She removed her other hand so the wound on her shoulder could be healed. Kurama's hands were gliding over Kagome's body.

"She has some broken ribs, her wrist was broken also." He leaned over and grabbed the injured hand placing it along her stomach.

Sango felt her anger begin to rise, "Is she going to live?" She waited for the girl to nod then she reacted. Her fist balled finding a place to land against Kurama's jaw, he fell back from the force. He didn't move when she got to her feet and walked over. She heard the girl's gasp of suprise when she grabbed the man up by his shirt. "What the hell were you thinking leaving her alone? She'd be dead if I hadn't called to check up on her."

"I didn't think she'd be alone, Touya should have been here with her."

"I don't care who else should have been here, you were the one put in charge of watching her. You weren't suppose to leave until she'd was placed under a mate's protection." Sango shoved him against the wall.

"She chose Touya this morning, that is why I left. There was no need to for me to stay, my job was done."

"Your job? Is that all she is, your fucking job? You mean you left because another youkai was man enough to do what you wouldn't. And if she did in fact choose Touya then it was because you left her choice. Then you ran out like a coward without making sure it was done, leaving her alone in the process."

"There is nothing I could have done, she is my cousin."

"Spare me, especially from that excuse. You are nothing but a coward and you would use that as an excuse to run. You are a youkai so stop playing human. Even most humans would laugh at that pathetic excuse you seem so fond of. So what, her uncle married your mother, that is all. There is no blood relation between you two. There is nothing but your pride and stupidity." She released him when the blue haired girl stood up.

"I'm done with her, she needs to be cleaned and put in bed. I will assist you if you wish."

"Okay," Sango went over and picked Kagome up. "This way." They walked into Kagome's bedroom, placing her on the floor. Sango got up and slammed the door in Kurama's face as he was about to speak. "I'll get some towels if you wanna start getting the clothes off her."


Kaori stood on the roof of the opposite building, he hid himself when he felt the others coming. A young man with short black hair was the last to appear, Yurameshi. He recognized the boy that worked for Koenma on occasion. He'd never had the opportunity to meet him and didn't want to. His attention was drawn to the girl he sensed inside.

He sighed in disappointment when another man landed beside him. He turned to see one of Benjiro's men land next to him. He eyed the large burn on his face and then the smirk, "With a wound like that I wouldn't be smiling."

"Yes, well you didn't get it now did you? We were both sent here to retrieve the jewel for our master. Yet you have done nothing but sightsee." The man's hand went up to his face touching the scar. "That bitch will die, so will the other. I could have finished that miko off if the other girl hadn't shown up."

"Do you speak of the girl that lives in that building down there?" His eyes narrowed at the man, seeing the look on his face.

"Yes, that bitch came back when she wasn't suppose to. Doesn't matter she will die too for interference."

Kaori looked down at the building knowing that he spoke of Sango, he had seen her leave the building in a hurry. He'd followed her as she ran back home, so he was refering to her. His hand came out suprising the man a second before the head fell to the roof. "Don't worry I will inform Benjiro how you died valiantly trying to retrieve his treasure."

He pried the small orb out the dead man's hand and smirked. So much trouble over such a small thing, something so trivial. He examined the small jewel, nothing special. Even if youkai could use it to advance in strength. He had no such need for it, he looked down at the building. Now he just needed to decide what to do with it.

In truth they had both been sent there to retrieve the small gem for his master. The word master left a bitter taste in his mouth. He was just as powerful as the man but still served him. He knew he had his reasons for doing so, part of him felt obligated to do so. They had found the girl rumored to have the jewel the first day upon arriving. He didn't like working with others, so he went on his own.

His eyes fell to the headless man beside him, he didn't even know the man's name. What did it matter? He'd never bothered to work with him, so why care about his name. He'd seen the other girl the second day he'd watched the building. She was nothing more than an average human yet something about her had called to him. He found himself watching her as she went about her life. Saving her that night hadn't been on his agenda, he wasn't sure why he'd done it. He had reacted at seeing her in trouble. She had become an obsession of his, an enigma he wanted to solve.

His hand clenched around the jewel in his hand. He wouldn't give it to Benjiro, the man was powerful enough. Decision made he jumped down to the street, it would give him a chance to talk to her once more before he left. No one stopped him as he walked up the steps, interference came when he got near the door.

A small man with short spiky hair met him, weapon drawn. He lifted his brow and tried not to laugh, "I wish to speak to Sango not to invade. May I come in?"

"Hn. Fine since you seem to know the girl. I warn you, if you make a wrong move you will die."

"Of course, I would be a fool to walk inside and try to fight knowing that you all are inside." He stated and walked past the man into the apartment. His nose picked up her scent, it filled the place. Gasps were heard in the room as he walked further in. "Good evening," He nodded at the group that appeared to be sitting around speaking. A door was heard opening, seemed the little man had went to fetch the girl.

Sango was shocked to see him standing there, she smiled as she walked up to him. "Sorry, my friend was attacked so I had to leave." She figured he was there because he'd seen her run from work.

"No need to apologize, I followed you." Kaori looked up when he felt eyes burning holes into him. He saw the others looking at him curiously except for the one man. The red head that had always been with the other girl was staring at him in shock. Trying to ignore the stare he turned back to the girl. "As I said, I followed you. Hold out your hand for me." He smiled when she did so without question, "I believe this belongs to your friend."

Sango felt his hand clasp hers causing a chill to run down her spine. Astonishment filled her when she felt the jewel being placed in her palm. "The jewel? Why? How?"

"The body is on the roof across from here. I merely finished what your friend started, nothing more."

"But why would you return the jewel? Surely you must know what it is." She stared at him in disbelief, he was a youkai but had returned something so valauble.

He looked down at her face and smiled, "My reasons are my own. If I may I'd like to speak to you alone." He saw her nod her answer. A grin split his face when she yelled at the small man to move out the way, who was blocking their path outside. The man growled but listened, they walked outside.

Sango couldn't believe it, Koenma had come to discuss on how to get the jewel back. Then it was being returned to them. "Thank you, this will mean alot to Kagome. I'm not sure why you would do it." A smile made it's way to her face, everything was okay now. His hand reached for her chin forcing her to look up at him.

He brought his face down bringing it within an inch of hers, "I have to leave for sometime, I'll come see you when I return." Taking a chance he covered her mouth with his, she stiffened under the touch. Once she relaxed he kissed her lightly, her mouth was soft and inviting. He heard a growl coming from behind the girl but ignored it. As she returned the kiss, he deepened it. His tongue ran lightly over her lips tasting her. She gasped and he pulled back from her. "Take care of yourself, I shall see you soon."

Sango watched him leave unable to move from her spot. Her hand tightened around the jewel in her hand, had he returned it because of her? Without waiting for Hiei to speak she turned around and ran back into the apartment. The others tried to speak to her as she ran inside, they got the cold shoulder.

She made it to the bedroom, to see Kagome sitting up in the bed. The look on her face said that she had sensed the jewel. "I got it," She ran over to sit next to the girl who was begining to cry. "It's okay, Kagome."

Kagome gasped as the jewel was placed in her hand once more. "How?"

"To make a long story short, I became friends with a youkai. Yes, I know I should have told you. He followed me home when I left work. My guess is he saw the man leaving and was able to get the jewel from him. He just brought it back to me."

"Seriously? You two are just friends?" Kagome gripped the jewel in her palm, "I'm grateful then. Help me up please, I want to be out there."

Kagome steeled herself as Sango helped her out of the bed, she could just imagine what Koenma was planning. She put a look of indifference on her face as she was lead out of the room. She hadn't seen Kurama since he'd left her that morning. Her heart clenched when she heard his voice, it was filled with anger.

The conversation stopped when they entered, Koenma was the first to speak. "You should still be in bed. But since you are up, can you tell us about the youkai that attacked you? Or was there more than one?"

"A little taller than myself, short dark hair, black eyes and really ugly. He will also be sporting a burn mark on his face. And it was just the one."

"Her description fits the corpse." Hiei walked back into the apartment and sat down on the table. "Now, it just leaves the question why the other would return the jewel after having it in his possession."


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