Returning To You

Chapter Twenty-Three


Sango forced herself to leave the bathroom, the others would be up soon. She needed more time to herself, the thought of facing anyone filled her with dread. So she changed her clothes and slipped on her shoes. She opened the bedroom door and closed it quietly behind her. Her eyes stopped her to take in the other door. All lights were off, he must be asleep. It would be dawn soon, she needed to get out. If not Kagome would see the distress on her face and demand answers. She knew she would have to tell her friend eventually everything but now wasn't the time.

How could she admit to her best friend that she'd left her husband because she wanted to be with a man who cared nothing for her. She couldn't count how many times she had called Kagome a fool for still loving and wanting to be with Inuyasha after the way he treated her. But all Inuyasha had done was call the miko names and degraded her on occasion. He'd also done things to show that he cared without realizing it. She remembered telling herself that she could never love a man that treated her so, her pride wouldn't allow it. Now, here she stood loving and wanting a man that treated her no better than a woman he'd picked off the street. Yet, she still secretly wished that he would find it in himself to care, to want her for more than a quick rut.

Even if Kurama didn't want her, she couldn't return to Miroku. Her pride and her heart would never allow it to happen. She wouldn't wrong him anymore by wishing he were another man. He was a lech but he deserved better than that.

Hiei stopped her as she got to the front door, "Where are you going?"

"For a walk, hush before you wake everyone up." She turned to look at him, he eyed her.

"It's not wise for you to go off on your own."

"Why not? They aren't after me, so I won't be attacked. If they attack it will be here, I will be fine." She reasoned with him, "So don't bother following me. If they attack you need to stay, Kagome will need the protection not me."

"Hn." He let her go, he sensed that she needed time alone. He was suprised she hadn't broken down before getting outside. The fox had some explaining to do. The smell of his semen had been on the girl not in her. Why would he disrespect her like that? It was stating he thought her no better than a whore. He knew Kurama didn't feel that way so what had prompted him to do it? Being a taijiya she had to know what it meant also, which would explain her distress.

He should have confronted his friend before now but had tried to let him settle his own affairs. Yet it seemed he was handling it badly. The fool needed to get his shit together before he lost the girl permanently, if he hadn't already. The pride was strong within her, so was her resolve. A lesser woman would have broken down, especially a human female.

He got to the door and could feel the fox inside, he didn't bother knocking but walked in. Kurama was laying on the bed with his head buried in the pillow. His long red hair covered his face, hiding his eyes from the fire youkai's gaze.

"Go away, Hiei."

"Why did you do it? I'd like to know what could cause you to mark her like that?"

"It is none of your concern." Anger laced the voice, seemed he was still very put out.

"Hn. Maybe not but I doubt her friends will take kindly to you treating the girl like a whore. I can see no cause for it either. She is not one of your trollops that follow you around. I suggest you figure out what you want; you shouldn't break what you can't fix."

"I didn't ask your advice."

"Fine but I pity the girl. Shame she left a man that at least cares for her; for someone that doesn't even think enough of her to treat her no better than a whore." Hiei saw him stiffen and left the room.

He sat up in the bed, what had Hiei said? Was she no longer with her husband, had he misunderstood the conversation he'd heard? His head turned, his eyes fell to the locket laying on the floor. It was broken, he could see it laying in half. Then he noticed something else, something had been inside. Is that why she'd clung to it, had she kept something important inside.

His feet carried him across the room until he was kneeling on the floor. His fingers reached out to pick it up, a piece of paper? As soon as he opened the small note he recognized his own writing and the words he had left her. Why had she kept it?

Sango walked down the streets, only a few of lights lit the street. The begining of the sun coming up could be seen. Her hand went up to her throat, missing the feel of the heavy locket. Should she go get it back? No, she couldn't. She couldn't go back, it would hurt too much. There was no way she could look at him without breaking down.

The tears streamed down her face as she walked, the others would be up by now. How could she walk back inside and act like everything was okay? Would she be able to sit there and watch him smile and talk to everyone but her? He'd given her the worst insult a youkai could give a female.

She had to go back, she had no where else to go and she was no coward. She had to at least go back and inform Kagome that she was leaving. Decision made she spun around to walk back. Her gasp of suprise filled the air as she was being confronted.


Hiei was standing in the hall waiting, he knew the fox would be out soon. Kagome came out the other room smiling, he nodded in her direction. A blush spread across her cheeks making her look angelic.

"Morning, have you seen Sango?"

"She left a while ago, said something about a walk." Hiei looked her over and could sense her worry. As far as he was concerned she had reason, her friend was being treated badly. He leaned against the wall looking the miko over and felt his desire stir. She was beautiful, especially with her hair tousled; like she'd just came from a night of passionate rutting. The thought made him harden and he growled.

His mind was quickly brought back to reality when he sensed a very powerful aura appearing. The miko gasped, she sensed it as well. A second later Kurama came out the door, "Yes, something is coming. I suggest we get ready." Hiei ran outside in time to see a portal opening up in the street. His senses told him something big was about to come through.

The others came running out the apartment to stop behind him, they all came prepared for battle. The kit was standing in the door with the neko. They didn't have to wait but a few seconds before someone made their appearance.

Kurama felt his heart stop and his mind scream in denail as the figure emerged. No, it couldn't be happening all over again. It had to be a trick once more, there was no way. Yet the male youkai was completely out the portal, standing proudly before him.

The youkai looked the group over, his eyes resting on the red head. His long black hair fell down his back, covering the Staff of Damnation. His fingers twitched at seeing the object of his hatred standing before him. The man that had caused his downfall, that had tried to kill him. A smile graced his lips, he would not kill him today. No, today had another objective; the first step to obtaining his ultimate revenge against the fox.

Hiei recognized the man and stared in denial also. He knew why the fox was stunned, he himself wasn't sure if he could believe his eyes. Was it possible? It didn't matter if it was or not, the man stood before them. Hiei also sensed the strange power coming from him, it wasn't natural. His eyes landed on the staff placed across the man's back.

Kurama finally found his voice, "It can't be you, you're dead."

Sango knew she was in trouble as she stared at the five youkai standing in front of her. She had no weapons to speak of and she was a good way from the apartment. There would be no help, Hiei had been told to stay behind. She was on her own, things didn't look good.

A middle aged man came out his house, his eyes landed on the strange men standing in the street and to the lone girl. They were carrying strange weapons, while the girl stood there glaring at them. He wasn't sure what was going on. "Hey, what's going on here? You men leave that lady alone before I call the authorities."

The middle youkai flicked his hand setting the man on fire, he was engulfed in flames. Sango heard his screams and felt a chill run down her spine. Part of her wanted to go help him but knew there was nothing she could do. She would probably be joining him soon in death. She would not go without a fight.

"Come with us quietly and we won't hurt you. Our master wants you alive and unharmed but we will use force if necessary." He extended his hand beckoning her to him.

"You gotta be kidding me, you'll have to kill me before I go willingly with the likes of you." She stood her ground as he scowled.

"Very well, you were warned. Get her but don't kill her."


"Am I? I'm sorry to disappoint you, I am very much alive. You should have made sure before assuming my demise was taken care of. Now I finally have what I need to see to your downfall, you will pay for what you have done." He took a step forward and saw the fox tense.

Kagome wasn't sure what was going on, but it was clear that Kurama and Hiei both knew who the man was. He kept his eyes on Kurama as he took another step forward, he didn't look very friendly. She could also sense something else along with him. Her guess the object they were searching for. She didn't like the power she was sensing, most of it was coming from him. If he was that powerful did the two youkai in front of her stand a chance?

Miroku watched the staring contest not sure what to think. Kurama looked stunned beyond belief, torn between suprise and denial. While Hiei looked to be fighting denial and confusion, who was the strange man? He had to be the one they were waiting for, why were they just standing there? The object of power was in the man's possession. As the houshi looked it seemed Kurama was being filled with conflicting emotions, mostly regret.

Hiei decided to take a look for himself, the hell with it. There was no way he'd watch the fox stand there torn between disbelief and indecision. He pulled the material off his third eye and scanned the man. His breath caught when he saw the truth. He caught bits and pieces of the man's thoughts; the jagan roamed over the man's youkai. The aura and appearance seemed to be geniune, but the memories and images were mostly incoherent. The eye closed and Hiei felt the power from the staff trying to latch onto him. He took a step back catching the fox's attention, he voiced the truth. "It's him, there is no deception. Don't ask me how but this is no fake, he's real."

"Of course I'm real, very real." Harsh laughter filled the air, "I have longed to see the look on your face at seeing me once more. Know now that I will see that you feel the same pain that I have had to live with. I will see you suffer before you die."

Kurama found his voice once more. His mind didn't want to believe it, yet he trusted Hiei. If he said it was really him then it had to be. The fox didn't know how but the man stood before him once more. Several emotions surfaced as he spoke the man's name. "Kuronue."


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