Finding You

Need to knows

'blah' kurama thoughts
~blah~ Youko thoughts
+blah+ Hiei thoughts
blah Kagome(anyone that cant use telepathy) thoughts
--blah-- Shippo thoughts

Theres a part where four ppl are having two conversations at once, it's kind of hard to follow. I'll try to make it easier by making one coversation italicized.

Chapter 2: "The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."-Albert Einstein


Suichi, or Kurama as his closest friends call him, sat with his best friend, Hiei, in the Goshinbaku. Hiei scowled at him as he watched the well house intently. Suichi knew something was going to happen, but what? Hiei tried to pry into Kurama's mind earlier, but Youko would not let him in. Youko definately knew something, something that had Suichi more than interested, and it was about Kagome Higurashi. Suichi was constantly glancing at the bracelet on his wrist, old and worn, it was one of Youko's old possessions. Hiei blinked as a burst of energy came from the well house, a blue aura appeared and Hiei's hair stood on end. Thats when he saw the purity. A young girl came out of the well house, a yellow back pack strapped to her back. She ran to the house and Suichi sighed.

"So, Youko wasn't feeding me lies." Kurama said and Youko poked him in the back of his spiritual head.

~Stupid boy, I would not lie about HER. She is THE most important person to all youkai kind, especially me and the kit! You know this, boy!~ Youko grouched out and Suichi chuckled.

"Well, Hiei, what do you think about Youko's long lost love?" He asked, only to get a hard wack in the back of his spiritual head. Hiei raised an eyebrow. Long lost love, he says? Kagome? Bah, so thats where the damned well took her, he should have asked her about it, but she always came back so it had made no difference to him.

~Shut up, boy, we have no time for this. We must wait until she has returned to this time for good.~ Youko snapped at Suichi and mentally drummed his claws on the 'ground' he was laying on.

Hiei raised an eyebrow at their conversation. "So this is a time traveller? Isn't that dangerous for us? She is a miko after all." Hiei said and Kurama shook his head, Hiei knew he would. Kagome wouldn't hurt a soul, after all, unless she had to. Even demons, he himself was proof of that.

~She is the one that saved us all.~ Is all that Youko said to Hiei as Suichi leaned back in the tree, watching the house silently.

"Hn." Hiei said as he watched Suichi carefully. Suichi's eyes had softened from the usually bright emerald green to a dark forest green as he watched the house. Youko was apparently remembering things about the girl. Suichi closed his eyes and looked up at Hiei.

They watched for a full day as she left for the store and came back with several bags of and other such nonsense. Hiei raised an eyebrow at the choice of food, but didn't say anything as he probed into her mind. I got Ramen, the gifts, clothes, why is it I feel like I'm missing so--Oh! WHOOPS! Stupid Kagome! Stupid, stupid Kagome-chan! Can't leave behind the shards, who knows what'd happen then! Hiei had to snort at her rambling thoughts, but was immediatly kicked out of her mind so hard he almost lost his balance on the tree branch.

+Holy mother of youkai!!!+ Hiei's voice screamed in Kurama's mind. +She just kicked me out of her head!+ She'd never done THAT before, what was so different about now?

"This girl should remain a secret. She is too important, Hiei. Without her, Youko will die. He's loved her so long, he's waited five hundred years for her return." Suichi said and smiled slightly. "You'll have to meet her kit, one day, Hiei."

~Yes, Kagome was always strong with her powers. Yes, you do have to meet the kit. He's around here somewhere...~

Hiei raised an eyebrow. "Youko and her had a child?" Better not have, stupid fox, she was an important person to too many people.

~Not yet...~ Youko purred, chuckling to himself. Yet?! Stupid fox! He'd have to stay close to Kagome-chan, from now on, and possibly keep Suichi and her FAR FAR apart. No sex for Kagome! NONE, thank you!

Kurama chuckled. "She adopted a young red kitsune, and raised him as her own. Youko came along and within a couple hours he vowed to take care of her and her kit. Didn't much like her current love, then, though. He does seem like he was a pain in the ass, always picking fights and such. An inu hanyou. Sesshoumaru's half brother." Ok, Youko's better than an Inu hanyou, at least...Kagome had bad taste in men or something! She shouldn't be messing with demon males! Blast her and her god damned purity, if he wasn't related then he could have possibly been attracted as well, thank god he wasn't.

~InuBaka.~ Youko added, snickering. ~Kagome will be sad to know what happened to him.~ He added as an after thought, frowning. ~Then again she might have expected it.~

Hiei shook his head. He had met the damned hanyou not long ago, having to go to hell and force the miko Kikyo to release her soul so she could be reincarnated. The hanyou was a pain in the ass. What was his name again? Ah. InuYasha. That was his name. Female dog demon. Not that Youko needed to know that, but as he thought earlier, Youko WAS a better choice...

+This is not explaining how she kicked me out you know.+ Hiei grumbled, setting the fox in a different direction.

~Not telling.~ Youko snickered out and Hiei gave him a mental kick in the rear.

---

A day past before Kagome, finished gathering her supplies, almost skipped out of the house. Happily carting along that giant yellow back-pack of hers.

~Oh! OH! Look! Here she comes! Isn't she just beautiful?~ Youko began rambling on and on about her and Hiei scowled.

+Oh, look fox, something shiny!+ Hiei said sarcastically, only to have Youko sigh dramatically.

~Yes, yes, her beauty sometimes blinds those who do not know her too well. The first time I saw her she was bathing in a hotspring, now that, my pyro friend, was an amazing sight to behold.~

Hiei almost growled but kept himself from doing so. This was his FAMILY damn it, he did not want to hear these things! Thank god Kagome was still a virgin...

~Go on, give her something! Something nice! She'll get SOME kinda hint that we're still around then, at least!~ Youko growled at Suichi, mentally pounding the poor soul in the head.

'Ok, ok! Just stop pounding on me!' Kurama whined.

She walked over to the Goshinbaku, Kurama was almost scared she sensed them. He tensed and watched her carefully. She stopped and kneeled down, closing her beautiful grey-blue eyes. He grew a vine down the back of the tree and dropped a small blue rose before she could open her eyes. He listened as she started to talk.

"Goshinbaku, you know of everything thats happened to me. You were there when I freed InuYasha from you. You were there when I cried over him, every time. You were there when I first brought each of my friends home, watching over them. I ask of you, Goshinbaku, watch over Youko and Shippo for me. If they are alive and well in this time, even if they don't remember me at all, I wish, just once, I could see them again." Kagome said and opened her eyes. She blinked and picked up the blue rose.

"Well, that's weird, was that there just a second ago? It's pretty..." She murmured and stuck it in one of the pockets of her back before walking slowly to the well house. "I wonder how Youko and Shippo are doing, I hope Youko kept him out of trouble with InuYasha..."

~I told you she loved me from the start!~ Youko proudly said, mentally slapping himself on the back. He was practically preening. Such a large ego for a theif. Suichi rolled his spiritual eyes.

'She just wants to know her kit's safe, Youko.' Suichi said and snickered.

~Hell no, she loves me just as much if not more!~ Youko snapped, growling loudly at his other half.

+Shut up the both of you! You're giving me a headache.+ Hiei grouched to them telepathically, slapping them both upside their spiritual heads.

~You're just mad cuz she can throw off your stupid lil Jagan.~ Youko taunted and grinned.

+Shut up fox!!+ Hiei growled out. +She didn't throw it off, she kicked me OUT, and apparently without knowing!

~Ohh the little fire brat's pissed!~ Youko said in a sing a song voice.~You're just jealous cuz you aren't loved like us. She lets me in her mind, you know.~

+Us? Suichi has yet to meet her. Besides, she was probebly in a vulnerable state when you read her mind.+

'True, what if she doesn't like me? What if she doesn't like the others, Hiei for example.'

~She'll like you cuz I'm part of the package. Don't care about the others. And I refust to comment on the last part, fire brat.~

+She'll like me, fox, don't worry about that. And, I knew it. You got her at a vulnerable time. Stupid fox.+

'How do you know that she'll like you?'

+Hn.+

--Will you all just shut up? Okaasan is not up for discussion until Suichi meets her!-- Came a random voice. Hiei and Kurama looked down to see a small red fox trotting by, swaying its tail and carrying a kit in its jaws, a slight gold glint coming from the foxes wrist. --Besides, we all know she always loved me the best, and she'll love my kits more than you too, Youko!--

~You've become annoying, kit. She's my mate, she loves me more. Besides, I'm you're father you should respect me. ~

'How do you know, Hiei!'

+Ah, so this is the kit.+

'Stop changing the subject!'

--Actually she isn't your mate in current time, yet. She still loves me more at the moment and I'll say so until she says otherwise, also you aren't my otousan until she marries you thanks.-- Shippo said and they both saw him snort as he trotted into the wooded area with his own kit.

+Hn.+

'Yes, Hiei, that was the kit.'

~Kagome and my kit, not THE kit. Raised the boy ever since the day I met her, you know! And damn it kit, she WILL BE MINE! I placed my claim, she knows what that means!~ Youko huffed proudly.

--Shut up Youko, you tried to get me into stealing and I'm going to tell Okaasan you did that!.--

~What?! It was a family buisness at the time...~

'Youko, I'm going to tell on you too, that's terrible!'

+Hn.+

~You're all mean!~ Youko pouted, retreating to a darkened corner of Kurama's mind.

!!**!! The Past !!**!!

Kagome climbed out of the well, smiling brightly. She couldn't wait til she saw Shippo again! He'd be so happy she came early! She fingered the bracelets in her pocket. She had them made for her and Shippo a while back, but she figured it wouldn't hurt to give Youko hers. He would be Shippo's surrogate father after she was gone, after all. She pulled them out and looked at them as she made her way to Edo, where Kirara awaited her arrival in Kaede's hut. Youko's was pure silver, which suited him much more than it suited her really. Shippo's was gold, happy and bright like he himself was. The braceletts was designed to look like three foxes running, nose touching tail. It would be the best and maybe last gift she could give him. For InuYasha she brought Ramen, as usual, but also a surprise. Sango would be getting half of a friendship necklace. The necklace itself was silver, the pendant was half a heart, able to connect to Kagome's own silver necklace. Put together it would say 'Best Friends,' and thats just what she saw Sango as. Her best friend, her sister. Miroku would be getting a pair of gold rings, for when he ever settled down and had kids. Kirara's present was a golden necklace with a fire pendant. It was big enough to be a choker for her larger form, yet a long necklace for her smaller form.

Kagome noticed she was almost there, she smiled and jogged the rest of the way, calling out to Kaede and Kirara. She didn't see them yet, and wouldn't for a good half mile, but she knew Kirara would hear her call. Just as expected, Kirara was dashing towards her, though in her small 'kitten' form. She hopped onto Kagome's shoulder and Kagome just kept jogging. Kirara was excited, her mewls and bouncing from one shoulder to the next were just enough to tell Kagome something was awaiting her in the village.

Well, other than the frost-fire cat that Mikan was training for her. The frost-fire cat was a gift for bringing Mikan to the village. He had been a hermit for years, raising fire cats, frost cats, even the rarest shadow cat for who ever would pay him enough for them. Mikan, however, had grown lonely. He had been alone for years on end, and his voice had given out. Kagome and InuYasha had stumbled upon him one day, and slowly helped him regain his voice. He didn't talk to many people in the village, since his voice was still on the harsh side, but he did enjoy Kagome's company immensely. Maybe Kitaji was ready for her now? She sure hoped so! She felt bad, always borrowing Kirara as she did. Kirara and Sango were a team!

She spotted Kaede ahead and waved at the elderly woman happily. "Kaede-sama! Kaede-sama! I've missed you!" Kagome shouted, due to the distance, and saw Kaede was laughing. Kaede found amusement in much that Kagome did, and it made Kagome happy she could make the some what bitter old woman smile. As she neared she noticed Kaede held a black and blue...something.

"Kagome-chan, the villagers found something that could be of great use to you on your journey!" The elderly woman's harsh voice called out, and Kagome ran faster. What was it? She skidded to a stop right infront of Kaede and looked at the little black...thing. It moved, wiggled, and two heads looked up at her with purple eyes.

Kagome blinked. "What is it?" She asked, and Kaede set the creature at her feet.

"This is what is called a 'messenger,' they are very rare. It's rumored that Midoriko herself had one, and it protected her until it breathed its very last breath. Look at it's eyes child, the color will tell you what it feels." Kaede said and Kagome looked down at it, smiling.

The gem-like eyes on the two headed, two tailed creature was now orange as it sniffed at Kagome. She looked it over carefully. The creature's body was long, like a ferret's, and its tails were ferret like as well. Its legs were long, like a cats, an its two necks were about twice as long as a normal cat's would be. The messenger's entire body was black, with silvery stripes that looked like lightening bolts flowed over its head and back. The two silvery stripes started from over the creature's eyes, over the top of its head, along its sides, then ended up at the base of each tail. A silvery-blue strip started from its forehead, down its spine, and split at the tails, covering the tops of them as well. Its muzzle and underside were a silvery blue as well, giving it an innocent appearance. It's ears were fox-like, swivvling around much like Youko Kurama's would. It had a short muzzle, and a small forked tongue that would slip out and lick the cute creature's nose before slipping back into it's mouth.

"I think I'll call you...Kintaro. You are Kin." She said poking the left head in the nose, giggling as it licked her finger with happy blue eyes shining brightly. "And you are Taro." She added, tickling the other head under the chin. It, too, had happy blue eyes. "Now lets go get Kitaji and we can bring Kirara back to Sango, and you can meet everyone else, ne?" She said to the ferret-like creature and it seemed to understand, shifting into a larger form with a whirl of very colorful fire. The fire was blue, green, purple, and the normal red! It was beautiful to see.

Now, standing before her, was a larger version of the creature, twice as big as Kirara and much more ferocious looking. While Kirara may look like a saber toothed tiger in her other form, Kintaro looked like the Panthera panthera, which was a subspecies of lion before man killed it.[That is true. Panthera panthera was about six foot tall at the shoulders] He had the elongated teeth Kirara had, but instead of fire surrounding his feet there was just glowing light, again the blue, green, purple, and red. Kintaro kneeled down and Kagome climbed on.

"Kintaro, careful with my bag, ok? I've got important things in there..." Kagome said as Kintaro lifted the bag with one of his tails, wrapping his other around it for good measure. Then they were off, within seconds they were at Mikan's hut. Kagome grinned.

"Mikan! Mikan! I'm here for Kitaji!" Kagome called out, watching as a grumbling old man hobbled out of the house.

"Kagome, welcome." He rasped out. "Kitaji, come on, Kagome's here." He mumbled and Kitaji came out from the hut. Kitaji was slightly larger than Kirara, and had different markings as well. His fur was the same cream color, but an icy blue surrounded his eyes, came up in an upside down 'v' shape in the middle of his forehead and slid down his back, breaking off into spots as it made its way down the spine. The frost-fire cat's paws were a dark red, just about black, as was the tips of his ears and tail. He climbed onto Kintaro with little problem and crawled into Kagome's sleeve. Kirara figured this was a good idea and went into Kagome's other sleeve.

Kagome sighed, happy that she had graduated highschool and now wore normal clothing. Her shirt, though the sleeves were a bit big, fitted the rest of her like a second skin. It was a navy blue color, bringing out her grey-blue eyes. Her skirt was longer than a normal school skirt, at least covering her thighs. The black skirt had slits in the side so she was able to run better, and thank god she had black shorts underneith! She had learned her lesson with skirts without shorts long ago, back when Miroku first joined the group.

"Thanks Mikan!" Kagome called out as Kintaro turned about and began to follow directions that were being called out to him by Kirara.

Kagome was surprised at the time they made. It took Kirara about an hour to get to the well from the campsite, yet Kintaro made it from Edo to the campsite in about five minutes! She scratched him behind his ears and smiled.

"Kintaro land by that woman down there, ok? That's Sango, Kirara's human." Kagome said and Kintaro nodded, landing gracefully.

Youko was shocked to see Kagome on a messenger. Even more shocked to see a frost-fire cat come out of her sleeve with Kirara close behind. The messenger set Kagome's bag down carefully near Sango, and then laid down to let Kagome off. Kagome grinned and looked at Shippo.

"Shippo-chan! Meet the messenger, Kintaro, and the frost-fire cat, Kitaji! They'll be with us until the very end!" Kagome said and Shippo squealed, running over to play with the now kitten sized Kintaro and Kitaji. Kirara cuddled against Sango, mewling. InuYasha was glaring at Youko, again, and Miroku was looking at Kintaro with wide eyes. Youko, however, was now smirking at Kagome.

"Whaaat?" Kagome asked, walking over to him and poking him in the chest. "It's rude to stare you know!" She said to Youko and pouted prettily. "Do I got something on my face or what?" She asked, again poking his chest.

"Just wondering how you get more amazing everytime I lay my eyes on you..." He purred out and chuckled when she flushed.

"YOU just like to pick on me! Stop it!" She said, pinching him before sitting down beside InuYasha. "Inu-kun? Does your back still hurt? You want something to help you heal a bit?" She asked and InuYasha smirked at Youko before turning to Kagome.

"Hai, Kagome. Sit with me for a bit?" He mewled out and Kagome smiled.

"Since you asked so nicely, of course I will." She said and gave him some medicen, counting down the seconds before he fell asleep. "Sango! InuYasha just made a new record! Ten seconds!" She said and beamed happily knowing that her sleeping 'medicen' worked so well. She skipped over to Shippo and picked him up, hopping from foot to foot as the cat and the ferret ran about her feet, wanting Shippo back. Kagome laughed and danced about keeping Shippo from them. "Hold on, hold on! I got presents for them, stop it!" She giggled out and they immediately stopped as Kagome slipped the bracelet on Shippo.

"Shippo, keep this and remember me, ne? If I ever cant come back to you, you'll have something with you to know that I'll always be there, just a few hundred years away." She said and Shippo nodded looking sadly at the gold foxes. "We're family, Shippo, I want you to live and find me, ok? Even if you'll be older than me then, you'll always be my little kit." She said and kissed his forehead, setting him down. She walked over to Sango and Kirara, handing them their presents.

"See, Sango? This way you'll always know you're there in my heart, the sister I never had." She said and they hugged tight before she walked over to Miroku.

"This is for when you DO meet that special someone that wants to marry you, Miroku. In my time we exchange rings during marriage, to show we're bound to each other. You put it on the left hand, on the third finger, ok? You could probebly be the official beginning of this tradition, you know!" She said, laughing. She made her way to InuYasha, slipping off the necklace that kept him bound to her. She smiled softly.

"I grant you your freedom, InuYasha." She said, slipping the necklace into her sleeve. She made her way to Youko and handed him the bracelet.

"This is to show you are part of Shippo's family now, Youko. If you go and have to do something dangerous, put this under the Goshinbaku. It'll keep it safe for you, and even if you die, you'll be reincarnated right? There will be a shrine built by the Goshinbaku and the well, thats were I will be. If I find the bracelet, I'll know you've died and I'll search for Shippo on my own, if not than I'll wait for you to find me with Shippo." She said and smiled at him.

She took the necklace from her sleeve and broke it slowly, taking four beads and two fangs. She made two necklaces, a fang in the middle of two beads on each of them. She slipped these necklaces on Kintaro and Kitaji. "You two are going to be my last connection to this time, if I ever get locked away in the future, I want you to live on and protect these beads. You'll find me, I know you will." She said and pet them both.

Shippo jumped onto her shoulder and nuzzled her, murring. "Okaasan." He murmured and Kagome's eyes watered. She dropped to her knees and held him close, kissing his forehead. She sat there a while rocking him slowly.

"My baby. I'm sorry, I'm sorry I can't find a way to be with you and watch you grow." She said and Youko wrapped his arms around them both, lifting the bracelet to her eyes. It would have been a funny sight if one were to stumble upon it. The great youkai theif, Youko Kurama, on his knees holding a human woman and a red kit. His silvery hair flowed over the woman, mingling with her own ebony hair. They looked content for a moment, though they were all three sad beyond anyone's comprehension. Youko because he would probebly have to wait two hundred years for her. Shippo because he would grow up without his mother. And, above all, Kagome who desperately wanted to cling to the past.

"You'll be with us all, with these you'll be there watching over us, even if your destiny lies elsewhere. No one will forget you, nor will we think of you as gone, merely unseen." He purred out and Kagome felt Shippo nod.

"I'm gonna live to see you again, Okaasan. I'm gonna make you proud!" He said and Sango sniffled.

"We'll all last are longest, to see you again, Kagome, would be worth trying to become immortal. Or demon." Sango said, tapping her chin slightly. "InuYasha will be able to see you too!"

Kagome laughed lightly. She knew InuYasha would go to hell with Kikyo right after Naraku was gone. Sadness radiated off her in waves, Youko noticed. He murred close to her ear and nuzzled her neck. "We will see you again, even if I am defeated in a battle I will find another body. I will find you and reunite you and your kit." He said and Kagome smiled.

"Thank you." She murmured, before standing. She wiped away her tears and smiled lightly. "Ok, I-I'm starving what about you?" She asked no one in particular as she made her way to the large pot sitting over the fire, that Sango had kept going while Kagome was gone.

Time passed by, only a few months from then, and Kagome was still Kagome. She smiled and played with Kintaro, Kitaji, Kirara, and Shippo. She spent as much possible time with Shippo and Youko as possible. Youko grew more and more fond of her, watching her hold back her sadness so she could keep her kit and friends happy. She had begun to lean on him for support, now and then, telling him her fears while everyone else slept the night away. It was unnerving to her that her adventure was coming to a close, and there was only one shard left. She hadn't returned home for a full month, in fear of being locked away and never being able to return, yet now she had to for more supplies.

Somewhere along the way an arrogant demon, his retainer, a two-headed dragon, and a small girl joined the group. Lord Sesshoumaru was a proud demon, and often walked ahead of the rest, glancing back every so often at Kagome, who was often with his ward. Youko felt uneasy about Sesshoumaru's interest in Kagome, but shrugged it off thinking he was just being too possessive of her. He had felt worse around the ookami prince, Kouga. Claiming her as his woman, ridiculous! Everyone, by now, knew that Kagome belonged to the kitsune theif Youko! It had started out simple enough, really.

They got closer through Shippo, even bathed together with no problem now. Not completely nude, of course, though Youko was hoping she'd come around to the idea sooner or later. Youko trained both her and Shippo, whenever they found time. Kagome's abilities grew significantly in a short amount of time, and although she preferred to use a bow and arrow, her other attacks were much, much stronger. Her barriers were the strongest he'd ever come across, even he, Youko, could not get in if she wanted him out. He throught back to their latest training session, which had immediately become his favorite. She had shown him a blue rose she had come upon months ago, which was strange because it wasn't even wilting. He must have left it for her in the future. He smiled to himself at the thought.

!!**!!Flashback!!**!!

"Kagome, that is no ordinary rose, it's a weapon. Its a kitsune weapon that few humans know about." He murred out taking her by the waist and pulling her closer, setting his chin on her shoulder. "Look at the stem of the rose, at the bottom. You see that part sticking out? Press it and say 'Rose Whip,' it's one of many things this rose can do. We call it the Touch, because you have to touch different parts of the rose to get different weapons."

Kagome nodded and did as he asked, pressing the bottom with her thumb. "Rose whip!" She called out, and in a flutter of rose petals it became a spiked vine, too hard to be cut through, yet too flexable to be considered a metal. She smiled at him happily. He began to teach her how to use the Rose whip, which was easy since she had recently mastered a whip of miko energy, thanks to Sesshoumaru taking part in one of her lessons. Youko, again, looked over the fact that Sesshoumaru was taking an interest in Kagome, seeing as she WAS pure and therefore the ultimate high for any demon.

She learned everything about the rose, making it into swords, ashiko, shoku, chigiriki, fukiya, jo, kakute, kama, neko-te, manriki gusari, ono, shobo, shurikens, tanto, and tessen.* Lastly, he taught her how to make a Rose bow, which was her favorite by far, he knew it would be. The rose bow had the rose in the center, with the rest of the bow being the stem. To make arrows one would pull back the petals of the rose, revealing small, flexible arrows that came from the stem, made by the stem. The arrows, themselves, after leaving the stem would dry instantly and become like metal. The end of the arrow was what looked like a sharpened rose thorn, while the rest of the arrow was covered in normal looking rose thorns. What excited her more was the fact that the petals grew right back giving her an unlimited amount of arrows.

After she masterd the Rose bow, she had turned about, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He kissed back, passionately. Of course, she pulled back almost immediately, blushing. She had looked down at her feet, and muttered a quick appology. However, she was smiling softly. He simply took her chin in his fingers and tilted her head back up for another kiss. Her knees gave out and so he held her close, liking the feel of her body so close to his own.

"Kagome, may I place a courting mark on you? It will show other males that I am courting you and to back off if they know whats good for them." Kagome had nodded and smiled. Youko murred and nuzzled the crook of her neck. "It will also mean you are considering me as a mate, Kagome." He said, and she wrapped her arms around him.

"What are you waiting for, then, Youko-kun?" She asked and Youko chuckled, licking her neck and shoulder, nipping slightly to numb the area. After a few minutes of this be turned his head slightly and bit down with only his right fang.

!!**!!End of Flashback!!**!!

It wasn't long after that when Sesshoumaru, too, managed to get her to agree to a courting mark on the opposite shoulder. It bothered Youko greatly, but he was happy that his scent overpowered Sesshoumaru's by far. Sesshoumaru, annoyed by this, didn't stay far from Kagome for any more than needed. Youko watched Kagome as she climbed up on Kitaji, who had been riding on her shoulder for a while now, and layed down on his back for a nape. The frost-fire cat walked along with Kintaro on his head, watching for any dangers. Shippo was curled up under Kagome's chin, covering Sesshoumaru's courting mark. Youko almost snickered.

Almost.

It worried him that the courting mark was even there, but not much. He was stronger and older than Sesshoumaru, and Kagome liked him better, thats for sure. Also, since he had been the first to place a courting mark, he was top candidate to be her mate. He walked closer to the frost-fire cat and gently ran his claws through Kagome's hair. They had been walking for almost twenty hours now, even the monk and slayer were on Kirara to rest a bit. Rin had been riding on the dragon after ten hours.

"Sesshoumaru-san, I suggest we make camp, the others need to rest, eat, and quite possibly bathe." Youko spoke up, InuYasha snarling behind him.

"Humans are weak! We don't need to stop! They can get rides from their precious pets, and they should have eaten more earlier!" InuYasha snapped at Youko. Kagome snorted from on top of Kitaji. She whispered something and her rose whip shot out at InuYasha, causing him to fall face first and make friends with the dirt.

"Just because I can't sit you doesn't mean it'll stop happening, Inu-chan, remember that." She practically purred out. Sesshoumaru quirked a brow.

"We will rest for a few hours." He said and sat at the base of a tree. Youko helped Kagome off of Kitaji and pointed her, Shippo, and Sango to the nearest hotspring. He didn't worry about their safety now that Kagome and Shippo both knew how to fight and fight well. He jumped up in a tree and listened to Kagome and the others anyway, just in case. He couldn't see them, but his hearing was far superior to the inu brothers. His sense of smell might not have been as great as Sesshoumaru's, but it was better than InuYasha's at least. He layed back on the tree branch and looked up to see an old friend.

"Well, hello Kuronue. I was wondering when you'd show up." Youko said, chuckling. Kuronue dropped from his branch onto a closer branch to Youko.

"I see you've got yourself a pure little miko to play with." Kuronue said and Youko snorted.

"Not playing with her, Kuronue. She'll be my mate after this is all over. She and I are already raising a kit together, I am considering it practice for later." He said, smirking. "I'm going to pamper the girl, you know, with all I have."

Kuronue raised an eyebrow and grinned. "So the great Youko Kurama has finally found a chit that's more entertaining than stealing?"

"Hai, I have. She's bloody hillarious at times, with her clumsiness, but she's the strongest being I've ever seen. She's too trusting, though. She got me to promise to look after her kit the first day I met the chit, and the kits a red, for gods sake. He's entertaining though, plays tricks on the hanyou InuYasha. InuYasha can't hurt the kit because he knows Kagome would beat him to a bloody pulp."

Kuronue smirked. "So I can't go and take a peek?" He said and Youko swung a punch at him knocking him out of the tree. Kuronue landed on the ground hard, Youko hovering over him. "Well a god damned 'no' would have worked, Youko." Kuronue grouched, standing and stretching his wings. He chuckled, however, finding amusement at Youko's amazing possessiveness over Kagome.

Kagome and the others decided to return just then, wanting to sleep. "Kitaji, Kintaro, time for bed." She said, walking over to her yellow 'back-pack,' as she called the monstrousity, and grabbed her 'sleeping bag.' She lay it down pretty close to Youko and smiled up at both him and Kuronue. "Sorry I can't meet your friend at the moment, Youko-kun, too tired." She murmured as she slipped inside the sleeping bag with Shippo and Rin, Kintaro and Kitaji laying near her head.

"Very trusting, isn't she?" Kuronue asked as Youko shifted into his fox form. Youko nodded and curled up around Kagome, just as he did the first night. He looked down at her with softened eyes before turning back to Kuronue, who had shifted into a bat the size of a big cat and lay between Youko's front paws. Kuronue watched with amazement as Youko let the girl tug at his fur so that he would come closer.

"I wonder, Youko, what you'll do if she dies." Kuronue said and Youko looked down sadly at Kagome who was already asleep. He shook his head.

"Die." He said after a moment. Kuronue sighed.

"She's human she'll die after only a few decades." Kuronue said and Youko chuckled.

"She's a time traveler, Kuronue, she's going to be leaving after this journey. She'll get that jewel of hers together, kill Naraku, then wait for me five hundred years from now to meet her again with her kit." He said before softly licking her cheek. Kagome shifted and rolled over, her back now against his fur.

"Stop it Youko..." She murmured and Youko chuckled as she went back to sleep. Youko lay his head down and closed his eyes. Kuronue did the same, now under the warmth of Youko's neck, surrounded by the silvery fur.


Explanations


Ashiko: Spiked claws worn on the feet.
Shoku: Spiked claws worn on the hands.
Chigiriki: Uhh, kind of like a morning star. The chains could be tucked into the hollow handle and then used as a mace,
Fukiya: Blowgun (used for blowing darts and such).
Jo: Hollow piece of bamboo used for various weapon functions and could easily be disguised as a staff or walking stick.
Kakute: Metal type rings used to strangle an enemy.
Kama: Sickles.
Neko-te: Iron, claw-like fingernails used by female ninjas.
Manriki gusari: Chain.
Ono: Battle Axe (very heavy; you needed a lot of strength to weld it).
Shobo: A ring fitted to the middle finger with a piece of dull wood attached. Used for pressure points.
Shurikens: Throwing stars, sometimes dipped in poison.
Tanto: Knife.
Tessen: Folded fans; the blade of the fan when open was often razor-sharp)

Things to Ponder

Why is Kagome so important to Youkai? Why is Kurama showing Hiei Youko's girl? Will Kagome like Kurama? What is the significance of Kuronue's appearence? Why does Kagome get the blue flower in the future rather than in the past? Wouldn't that mess up time a bit?