Searching for Shelter

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. They belong to their respective owners. I make no profit from my writing.


A/N: I’ve gotten good response with this, and the muses are like, “Hell’s yes” with the ideas, so here’s another chapter. Hope you all enjoy!
A/N #2: I have had a difficult time finding out Kagome’s moms real name, but came across Kun-Loon for one. This just sounds odd to me, and have decided that for my purposes, I will use the first name of the Japanese seiyuu that voices her as her first name. (Asako)
P.S.: Sorry for the many point of view switches throughout, I tried to keep it as organized as I could, so keep an eye out for the “~*~” to hint at point of view changes.


Searching for Shelter
Chapter 2: Shelter from Loneliness


Looking to the sad girl, Kagome sighed gently. Another young person tied to the world of the living, when they were to be departed and existing in the world of the dead. So many young people harbored feelings of anger and resentment that it depressed her slightly. However, it only strengthened her resolve to make things right in their afterlives.

After some quick talking with the girl, she had discovered that she was waiting on someone who had promised to meet her. However, that same someone had only set her up, and was never coming to meet the sweet hearted girl. After clearing up the incident, she assured the girl that though he broke her heart, she should not let him have the satisfaction of seeing her suffer. For so long, her own heart had battled with similar problems. Inuyasha was torn between her and Kikyou, and though she admitted she loved him, it was on her deathbed. There was nothing for her anymore with the hanyou. It was a sad reality to face…loneliness.

Botan was good company, if only a bit self-centered, and she talked constantly. Sometimes she wished that she could just talk to someone who listened to her for once. Sighing lightly, she waved goodbye to the young girl as she departed to the afterlife, and glanced to the blue haired spirit ferry. She was talking on the small mirror communicator that connected her to Koenma and was ignoring Kagome completely.

Turning her attention to the busy street below her as she floated in the air, she raised her eyebrow at a feeling she got from a small group of males. It was strangely familiar, and intriguing. Taking one more glance at Botan to see she was still engaged on the communicator, she smirked lightly before moving to hover near the group.

At the center was a young man of decent height, with jet black hair that was slicked back and a pair of shades that screamed “bad-ass”. He was the loudest, and currently was complaining about his “Grandma” and how she had put him on a new training regiment that was pure hell. Hiding a giggle, she continued to listen as a taller man with orange red hair teased him about being a wimp, and that he couldn’t handle the old woman’s training.

She tilted her head as she heard a soft laugh come from another of the males, this one sporting brilliant red hair and a strange aura. She curiously regarded him a moment, before looking to the last of their group. He was different, and it wasn’t just his aura, which was screaming confliction at her, but it was his demeanor. It reminded her of Sesshoumaru almost. He seemed slightly aloof from the other males, though he also seemed to be relaxed in their company. His unnaturally spiky hair was dark as night, and though he spoke nothing in the conversation, she could feel another deadly presence about the smaller demon. He seemed to be the most volatile of the four, and as they continued on their way around the street corner, she watched on with curious eyes.
Botan, now finished with her conversation, called Kagome back to her side. “I’m sorry, but something has come up and I have to return to the spirit realm. As part of this ordeal, I’m to leave you here in the spirit realm, so stay out of trouble, and here…” she held out a manila folder towards the miko spirit, “…work on some of these cases if you can. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Taking the folder, Kagome watched as she disappeared in a flash on her wooden oar. Worrying her lower lip, she looked to the folder, before shaking her head. Damn if she would work when she finally had some freedom. Looking to her small spirit egg, she saw it flashing lightly. “…is it feeding now?” she questioned aloud, before slipping it back in her pocket.

She started to wander around Shinjuku, until she realized she was actually following the boys that she had noticed before, and blinked. What was it about her and demons? She felt drawn to them, like she had been drawn to Inuyasha. Pushing that thought away, she watched over them and caught the orange haired boy looking back at her. “No, not at me, normal humans can’t see me…” she said softly to herself, looking back at the boy. His next words were whispered low, and she couldn’t hear them, but she couldn’t dismiss the four sets of eyes on her astral person.

~*~

Kuwabara listened while Yusuke and Kurama discussed their last battle, and puffed up his own part in the battle as he exclaimed, “He didn’t know what him ‘em!” with an added punch up of his fist in the air. Rolling his eyes at the ningen, Hiei remained silent while Yusuke scoffed and punched his friend’s shoulder playfully. “Yeah, and you weren’t the one freaking out at all…” he smirked, laughing.

The orange-haired boy went to reply, when he felt something off coming from behind him. Turning his head, he could see the faint outline of a spirit hovering above them. It wasn’t malicious, he could tell, but still, why was a spirit following them? Turning back to his comrades he spoke in a low voice that got all their attentions. “…guys…don’t look now, but there’s a spirit following us…”

Instantly, all three looked back behind them, sending out their youkai energies to feel out the aforementioned presence. The readings were surprising to two of them, while Yusuke wasn’t affected at all. “You’re losin’ your touch, baka, there’s nothin’ special about the spirit.” The young toushin said to Kuwabara, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.

Kurama and Hiei’s eyes met simultaneously. There was something strange about the spirit, something that neither could quite put their finger on, but refrained from speaking up. Let the spirit follow them. Eventually they would figure out why the wandering soul felt the need to stalk their group.

Eventually, they came to the corner where they were to part ways, and said their goodbyes, leaving Yusuke to head to his mother’s apartment, Kuwabara to head to his sister’s apartment, Kurama to go to his mother’s home, and Hiei to head back to Genkai’s to check up on his sister.

~*~

Kagome watched as each of them went their own separate ways, making her stop and hover at that street corner for a moment. What was she going to do now? It wasn’t like she could go visit a friend, or had anyone whom she could talk to. Sighing softly, she watched each of the boys depart, before she moved for home. Maybe the shrine could comfort her where no one else could.

~*~

Kurama and Hiei both felt the spirit’s aura becoming fainter and fainter as it drifted away, and both put it out of their minds for the moment, each continuing their way to their individual destinations.

Kuwabara though, couldn’t push the spirits aura out of his head. He could feel power, but it wasn’t of malicious intent. It was almost as if the spirit was just curious about him and his friends, but for the life of him he couldn’t really understand why. There was no way any other humans knew about demons, or his friends for that matter. But still, it nagged at the back of his mind, and he took a quick moment to search out the familiar spirit with his energy, and easily found it. Taking a detour off his current track, he began to follow the spirit, and ended up at a shrine. His curiosity baited now, he walked up the steps of Higurashi shrine, intending on figuring out this little mystery, if only to put his own anxieties to rest.

~*~

Kagome’s eyes softened as she reached the top of the steps of her home. Papered sutras rustled in the faint breeze, drawing her attention to the large and lonesome tree that grew near her home. The Goshinboku was a lasting reminder of what had happened in the past, and even now, she could see a still figure pinned to its center, silver hair shifting in an invisible breeze, and the most adorable pair of dog ears protruding from the sides of his head.

Slowly, she moved closer to the large tree, relaxing beneath it as she sat upon the earth to relax. This tree was always a source of peace, and now it would serve her again, as she became as lonely as it. Everything had been taken from her, and all she could do was to try and take some of it back, thus why she even attempted to do this ordeal that Koenma had offered. Taking a glance over the lands, she leaned back against the large trunk of the tree, before closing her eyes. A spirit didn’t need to sleep, but she closed her eyes, resting near her greatest source of comfort right now, home. However, her rest was soon to be interrupted by a familiar aura. One of the boys she was following was back, and she wondered why he had come. Did he come to seek her out? Did that mean he actually saw her earlier? Curious, and confused, she stood to meet him, not sure how this new turn of events would play out.

~*~

As Kuwabara ascended the shrine steps, he paused, and looked out over the grounds. They were well maintained, and he wondered if perhaps this spirit was haunting the shrine. Why would it come here otherwise? “Hello, young man, may I help you?” a soft female voice cut through his thoughts. Managing to stop himself from jumping in surprise, he turned to take in the older woman who spoke to him.

She had a soft smile upon her face and a gentle aura, something that calmed him slightly as he replied, “I was just walking and found myself here…what shrine is this?” he asked, learning a trick or two from the kitsune about smooth talking through a lie.

Smiling a bit more, she easily accepted his answer, and replied, “This is Higurashi shrine, it has been in my family for ages. If you would like, I can give you the tour.” She offered, giving him a once look over. While rough around the edges, he seemed like a gentle spirit, and she was reminded of her own daughter. She did miss her dearly. She hoped that Inuyasha would let her come home soon to visit.

Nodding in acceptance, he walked a few steps closer to the nice woman. “That would be great, thank you; by the way, my name is Kazuma.” He was always the perfect gentleman, even if his outward demeanor and reputation sometimes made him feared by others.

“And I am Asako, and you can call me either that, or Ms. Higurashi.” She responded, turning to lead him further onto the shrine property.

“Ms? I’m sorry if I sound forward, but you seem too nice and pretty to be unmarried…” he spoke up, falling in step with the older woman.

Her laughter made him stop a moment, before he raised a questioning eyebrow. The older woman was clearly amused by something he said.

“I’ll take that as a compliment. I was married once, to a fine young officer.” Her eyes turned wistful as she spoke of her late husband. “He passed on, a few years ago, just after my second child was born. He was helping to stop a robbery, and ended up getting shot and killed.” She said softly, a hint of sadness flashing across her face, but then disappeared as if had never been there to begin with.

“Oh…I’m sorry…” now he felt like a jackass, and wasn’t sure what else to say.

She shook her head. “It’s alright…now, about that tour…” she smiled softly to him, gesturing to the large tree that he had seen upon entering the shrine grounds. He stopped, feeling a mix of energies, one was that of the spirit, and one was that of the tree itself. This was certainly interesting.

“That is the Goshinboku, or God’s Tree, and has been on this shrine property for ages. Legend has it that a hanyou demon and his miko lover were betrayed by an evil demon and that in her final moments, she sealed him to this tree. Afterwards, she was cremated and buried, along with a small jewel that she was bound to protect, the Shikon no Tama.” Asako knew the legends were true because of her daughter’s remarkable travels, but still, in this time period, humans knew nothing of the existence of demons or fabled jewels.

Kuwabara’s eyes widened slightly. “Wow…what a way to go, they must have died so unhappily.” He said softly, his eyes drifting to the tree again.

“Indeed…” she replied softly, that sadness racing across her face again. She wanted to see her girl home and done with her duty. She did not like waiting and wondering if her little girl was alright, it was much the same with Kagome’s father, but different, as 500 years separated them. Even though the young man was mistaken, she didn’t bother to correct him. Inuyasha remained alive, but only in a timeless sleep, but it was something he really didn’t need to know. Falling silent, she left the man alone with his thoughts, continuing on with her chores, lost in her own thoughts now.

Kuwabara watched the older woman walk away, and looked back to the tree. He could still feel that other spirit, and now it was his turn to find out something about it.

~*~

Kagome watched as her mother explained a bit of the legend to the strange young man. She had heard his name as he introduced himself, and stored that bit of information in the back of her mind. ‘Kazuma, huh? Well, at least he seems nice…but what does he want here?’ she still questioned to herself mentally. Did he really come all this way just to track her down? And if so, why?

Her thoughts were interrupted by his rough voice. “I can sense you, spirit. You were following me and my friends earlier, the thing I want to know, is why?” he said in a low tone, looking to the slightly shadowed outline of the spirit. He could sense her and since his own spiritual powers had grown, he could make out a form, and was surprised to see now that the spirit whom he was intrigued about, was a girl.

Kagome held in a gasp. How could he see her? Opening her mouth to reply, she quickly closed it, before whispering softly, “Can you hear me?”

Kuwabara only heard silence as he looked to the girl, before he said softly, “If you are scared, you can trust me, I won’t hurt you.” He said, his tone much more gentle now that he knew it was a girl, and her aura didn’t convey anything that would make him fear or worry.

The miko bit her lower lip. He couldn’t hear her, so how was she supposed to talk with him? She really was interested in him and his friends, and she loathed the inability to express herself to anyone who wasn’t dead. “I’m not scared.” She said, even though she knew he couldn’t hear her. She hoped that he could at least feel that she was okay with his presence and questions. She wasn’t disappointed.

Suddenly, a thought hit the spirit detective. She couldn’t speak directly to him, she was in a position like Yusuke was before he was brought back to life. Remembering back, he recalled that the young toushin had talked to him while he was asleep. He could talk to this girl the same way, if she wanted to. “If you want to talk to me, you can do it when I sleep.” He blushed lightly, thinking of some pretty girl sleeping near him, before he added, “You can visit me in my dreams.”

Kagome blinked. Was he serious?! Surprise and hope flooded her as she became excited. She could actually do that? How did he know? Could she trust him? Those questions, and more remained unanswered except the last: she felt she could trust him, so she nodded, actually smiling a little now.

He could feel her aura spike with new emotions and he smiled a bit. She wanted to talk with him, and that was something he was glad for. Gesturing in her direction for her to follow him, he moved away from the shrine, and to the steps, leading her away so he could go to his sister’s apartment, slightly anxious to talk to the girl. He had a feeling that she was going to be special, like Yusuke was. For some reason, he felt that she was there on business, and not pleasure.

Following him quietly, Kagome’s ethereal heart started to pound. This would be the first time she had talked to anyone since the beginning of her ordeal, anyone in the Ningenkai, that is, and she was slightly nervous. What could she actually tell him without him freaking out? Taking a deep breath, she watched the back of his head. He had demon friends with him, so that would make things a little simpler, but still, her story was a nearly unbelievable one.

Shaking her thoughts away, she focused on him right now. He was curious about her, just as much as she was about him and his friends. She hoped they would get along, and maybe, just maybe, she could begin to dig out of this lonely hole she had dug for herself.

Arriving at the apartment, Kuwabara walked in, glad to note that his sister was out for the moment. “It isn’t much, but it’s home.” He said, knowing full well that the spirit girl could hear him, as he gestured to the small, cluttered apartment him and his sister shared.

She just smiled, relaxing a bit. It was nice, small, but it had a cozy feel to it, that brought her a little peace. She had thought that one day, should she return to this era, that she would own an apartment similar to this one, and finish high school and go to college. She briefly wondered if any of those ambitions of hers would come to pass. At this point in time, some of those things seemed not so important anymore.

Watching as he back to the bathroom, her chauffeur disappeared, and the sound of running water could be heard. Waiting patiently in the living room, she looked over pictures that were on the wall. A young brown haired girl held a small bundle in her arms with flaming orange hair. Smiling softly, Kagome deduced that this was the boy’s sister, and they seemed to get along well. More pictures of beach scenes, school graduations, and others briefly drew her attention, before she saw one photo that had her heart aching. It wasn’t the content of the picture so much, as the symbolism it had to her.

A group of people were standing all together in a park it seemed, and each one held a smile on their face except for the shorter demon with spiky black hair. All four of the boys she had seen today were there, as well as the boy’s sister, another brown haired girl, a cerulean haired girl, and two people that she certainly did not expect to see. Botan and Koenma were in the picture too. Mouth open, she moved closer to make sure, before confirming it. How did this boy know them? Did they actually come to the Ningenkai often? Did they have friends here? By this picture she would assume so, and she wondered how they did it. Balancing their hectic jobs and still managing to have a normal life.

She tried not to think on it too much, but failed. She tried to have a normal life and help save the Senkoku Jidai as well, and everyone saw how well that turned out. She failed school, barely completed the Shikon, and then, she died. Tearing her eyes away from the photo, she felt that Kazuma was back from the bathroom and refused to look up at him. Maybe it was better if she stayed out of his life. She couldn’t even keep her own in check, and with the Shikon not wished upon and still hidden within her now healed body, he was in danger being near her, no matter what demon friends he had.

Kuwabara had been watching her for a couple of minutes now, watching as her astral head was pointed at one of his favorite photos. What was it that held her attention so? The longer she stared at it, the more her aura projected sadness, dejection and despair. What had made all this come forth? He walked up near her, holding up a hand shakily at first, before stilling as he “placed” it above where her shoulder would be.

“It’s alright. Whatever it is, you can tell me.” He spoke quietly, trying to be comforting. Already, he felt a bond growing with the spirit, and hoped she would not turn him away.

Sniffling, tears raced down her face. He was so nice, and he knew nothing about her. He was already trying to offer her comfort, and she could feel his hand ghostly near her shoulder. She wished she were real, and not some spirit form. She wanted to answer him, but the limits prohibited her from doing that, so she settled for a wash of calming energy as response.

She felt him take in a sharp breath, before calming, as she turned to face him. He looked stunned, and maybe a bit intrigued. However, he was also smiling, and that warmed the miko’s heart.

“I’m going to bed now, so, maybe I’ll see you then.” He said softly, nodding. The girl was so close to him now, and he had never really been this close to a spirit before except for Yusuke. This was different, because he could see her and feel her emotions. Even without a flesh and bone body, she drew his attention like nothing else.

Moving away from her, he headed back to his bedroom, slipping out of his pants and shirt into a clean pair of shorts and a t-shirt to sleep in. He snuggled underneath his cover and as soon as his head hit the pillow, he started to drift, the strain on his body from the previous demon battle allowing him to quickly succumb to darkness.

Kagome waited for a few minutes while she gathered her thoughts, and gave him time to fall asleep. She felt comfortable in his presence, and he seemed like a really good person, like Miroku, however, unlike Miroku, he didn’t seem to have any of the lecherous monk’s hentai ways.

Slipping through Kazuma’s doorway, she looked around to the dim atmosphere of his room. A computer monitor set upon his desk, and his room was cluttered with clothes, some in terrible need of repair, and video games and systems. Seemed he was a gamer, and that put him on her “to-like” list. It reminded her of her little brother.

Shifting over the floor, she sat quietly on the edge of his bed, before frowning, not sure how to reach him in his dreams. Did she say some special spell or something. “Mou, you should have left me directions, Kazuma.” She whispered, and as she did, everything changed. Suddenly, she was sitting in a white void in the middle of nowhere it seemed, before there was a field of flowers that materialized under her feet.

Blinking widely, she spun around quickly, trying to take in all of her surroundings. A familiar voice stopped her slight panic. “Wow, you’re really pretty…”

Freezing, she turned slowly, before taking in Kazuma’s form, and she blushed prettily. It had been a long time since someone called her pretty, and it caught her off guard. “H-hi…” she replied shyly, walking closer to him and taking a seat on one of large boulders in the clearing.

“You could hear me the whole time, couldn’t you.” He stated rather than questioned, as he took in the girl’s form. She was stunning, really, with long raven hair, and sparkling eyes, she was easily prettier than Keiko, though she could give Yukina a run for her money.

Nodding softly, the miko didn’t say anything for a moment, before she spoke up. “My name is Kagome Higurashi.”

His eyes widened slightly as he leaned forward. “Like the shrine?”

She nodded, before saying, “That was my mother that you were talking to, today. I was there to relax, because, well, I didn’t know I could talk to people this way, and I don’t want to talk to Botan anymore. She left me here while she went back to see Koenma.” They all knew each other; she gathered that from the picture.

“How long have you been, well…you know…” he asked, hating to sound so nosy, but really wanting to know more about the girl.

“Over two months.” She replied softly, her hands clutching into her school-girl skirt lightly. Why she was in this particular outfit in this dream world, she didn’t know, but that was insignificant right now.

“She didn’t seem distraught at all…she’s handling it well.” He replied, noticing how Kagome had suddenly stiffened up.

“She…she doesn’t know. And she can’t know!” she added quickly, getting to her feet. “I’m coming back, Koenma is helping me, and I don’t want her to know I died, I don’t want her to feel any pain over me…” her voice softened as she trailed off. “She had done too much for me. I do not want her to suffer anymore than she already has.”

Kuwabara remained silent a moment before nodding. “So, what happened to you? How did you die, and how does she not know already? Two months is a long time, Kagome.” He asked, curious. Koenma was helping her? She probably had one of those spirit egg thingies like Yusuke had, but that was also something insignificant. It seemed this girl had many, many secrets, and was actually quite alone. Dead without anyone but Botan to talk to for over two months? How did she not go crazy?

Her head quickly snapped up, instantly looking like a deer caught in headlights. How was she supposed to tell him about her past? Shaking her head, she said, “Not yet. You first. I want to know about you and your friends. They’re demons, aren’t they.” She stated the fact easily. If he tried to deny it, she would refute his claims.

Now it was his turn to look like a deer in headlights, as he bolted up. “How the hell do you know that?!” he shouted out lightly, shocked.

She grinned softly, before taking her seat back. She wasn’t losing her touch, and it was a good feeling to know that there were still demon’s walking in the Ningenkai, and that they weren’t all forced to stay in the Makai. While her and Botan talked of many things, she didn’t actually learn anything about the Makai, or the Spirit Realm, or anything of that nature. It was frustrating to the miko simply because she had contact with demons in the past, and had strong ties to them. She wanted to see if she could still retain ties with demons. Call her crazy, because hell, she was when it came to her miko “duties” and what her actual policies were, but she liked being around them. Maybe it was just her friends that she liked, or the actual thought of befriending creatures that could kill her without a second thought, but she didn’t want to be left alone in the Ningenkai, without anyone near who understood her struggles and thoughts concerning the past and the demons she was around.

After a moments silence, Kuwabara fell heavily down to his rock. “You really are as special as I thought.” He muttered to himself, earning a small look from Kagome. “What do you mean?” she asked, as she looked to him curiously.

“My friend, Yusuke, the one with the dark short hair that was with me today, he went through something similar that you are going through now. By chance, did you get a spirit egg from Koenma?” he asked.

Nodding, she pulled it out so he could see it. It was glowing slightly, and she smiled, patting it gently as it did. That, in her mind, meant it was healthy, and she hoped she could get through this ordeal without complication. Kuwabara recognized it, and smiled. ‘Yeah, just like Yusuke.’

“He was revived by going through that same ordeal, and that’s why he’s alive today. We met our other friends when he became a spirit detective.” He informed her, relaxing a little now as stories were starting to be told.

“Spirit detective? What’s that?” she asked, putting the small egg away as she focused on him.

“It’s someone who fights demons who start breaking Reikai law. Demons who cross over the barrier and start making trouble here in the human realm, and those who are being just a pain.” He answered, gauging her facial expressions for some sort of disbelief, but finding none.

She took his answer easily. He had no reason to lie to her, and his explanation made sense. Of course they would need a special “police” in order to keep the Ningenkai safe. No matter how many friends she made in the past, there were just as many enemies, and some demons were just illogical and evil; like Naraku. “Are you a detective too? And how about those other demons that were with you?” she asked, engaged in the conversation.

He nodded in affirmation. “Those other two you saw me with, Kurama, he was the red head, and Hiei, the shorty of the group…” he smirked momentarily, “…are my friends too, and part of our small group of fighters. We work for Koenma, and he informs us when something’s wrong, or some artifact is being misused for evil. We step in and take down the bad guys, and save the day!” he said, puffing out his chest. It was an important job, and he took great pride in being able to be part of the team that saved the world and beat up the bad guys.

She giggled softly. He looked goofy just then, but really, it gave her a glimpse about his true nature. He was honorable, and strong, and even more so, he was a proud creature. It seemed he was a little like Inuyasha, and that made her a little fonder of him. At her giggle he stopped and looked at her. “How did you know they were demons though? Normal humans can’t distinguish human from demon, so how were you able to?” he asked, now putting her in the spotlight.

Worrying her bottom lip slowly, she took a breath, before saying, “Because, I’m a miko, and I had demon friends in my past life.”

Silence filled the clearing a moment, before he said, “Tell me more.”



A/N: Mou! Sorry to cut it short like that, but it’s getting long and I want to speed this up a bit. However, I wanted to bring Kazuma into the story as more than just a back-up character, and I hope I did him justice. :-)

Well, hope you liked it! Please read and review, onegai shimasu!
Kudos, loves!

Sayuri-chan~