The Pure Heart of A Child

A/N: None at this time.

Disclaimer: *sigh*waves people away* I don’t own anything. I just…love to play with the characters! *grins evilly*

The Pure Heart of A Child
Chapter 4: Survivors



Hiei instantly was beside her on the ground, helping her sit up. She held a hand to her nose, which was bleeding profusely.

“Kagome! Where are you?! Kagome!” a strangely familiar voice called out, looking around frantically.

“Kouga…kun?” she questioned thickly, blood clogging her throat. Hiei’s growl could be heard echoing in the house as he positioned himself in front of Kagome. Kurama wasn’t far behind.

The dust settled and standing there in all his wolfish glory was none other than Kouga himself, his blue eyes twinkling with worry.

“Kagome!” he shouted out, growling slightly at the two demons in front of her.

“Kagome…do you know this demon?” Kurama asked, as Hiei was more apt to kill him for bringing harm to her, however insignificant.

She nodded, more blood spilling out of her nose. She coughed, some of the crimson fluid that attempted to go down her throat coming up and spilling down her chin.

“Kagome! Did this guy hurt you?! I’ll kill him! You’re still my woman, no matter how long it’s been!” he shouted, getting into a battle stance. Kagome shook her head softly, a slightly dizzy feeling overtaking her.

“Don’t…fight…” she got out, coughing harshly again. Hiei looked back to the sound and growled, not realizing how bad she had hit the ground. Her blood was sweet smelling, but she was loosing a lot from the wound. He grabbed up a hand towel from the table and handed it to her. Kagome gratefully took it, pinching her nose and tilting her head back.

“Baka! You hurt her!” Kuwabara yelled, his hand glowing as he called forth his spirit sword, his mind finally getting over the initial shock of Kouga’s entrance.

He looked confused to the orange haired human before his words sank in. “Kagome…are you going to be alright? I didn’t hurt you too bad, did I?” he said, regret laced in his voice. Hiei growled again, standing in front of her once more as the wolf prince took a step towards her.

She couldn’t really talk properly with her head tilted up the way it was, but she held up her free hand and gave him the peace sign, hopefully getting her message across. He nodded, taking a seat on the floor, while Hiei stood protectively over her, his hand twitching ever so slightly over the handle of his blade.

Kurama bent down and checked for any other injuries on Kagome, paying close attention to her ankle, which was swelling up pretty badly now. She winced involuntarily as he gingerly touched the bruised flesh. The fire apparition was worried, to say the least. This new demon whom Kagome knew was powerful, but nothing compared to himself. She didn’t seem to be afraid of him, but he couldn’t know for sure until she was able to talk, which, because of the damned wolf in the first place, she couldn’t do at the moment.

Koenma jumped down from the table and let his teenage form emerge. “Prince Kouga…I was wondering when you’d show up. Although, I daresay, your entrance could have been a little less noisy.” He said, as Kouga got to his feet.

“Koenma sama…What are you doing here?” he asked, his eyes flickering a moment to Kagome.

“You must have heard already, Kouga. Naraku is not dead, far from it. He is quite alive and he is after Kagome once more.” He informed him, his voice turning very serious.

“I heard a rumor. I was wondering if she would be okay. In the past, she had that hanyou to protect her, as well as that lecherous monk and taijya. I knew they wouldn’t be able to protect her this time, so I came instead. I’ve fought the bastard before, I know what to expect.” He said, puffing up his chest.

“You know nothing of the new Naraku, Kouga. He’s been living in the Makai for five hundred years, no doubt picking up new skills to use against his opponents. Don’t be too cocky, or it will be your downfall.” Koenma said harshly, his eyes flickering over Kagome once more as she began to finally wipe away the blood that was on her hands, her bleeding under control.

Kouga looked quickly to the demigod, his eyes flashing a challenge. He saw the look Koenma gave to Kagome, and he would not allow him to have her, if he had anything to say about it.

Kagome was oblivious as she tried to get to her feet once more, an ugly throbbing in her ankle making her wince in pain. Hiei gave her his hand and she took it, using her strength to lift herself up.

Kouga walked closer to her, a growl suppressed as she was helped to her feet by the demon with black hair. “Are you okay?” he asked, keeping his slight distance as she picked up her crutches and began her trek to the kitchen sink to clean up a little bit.

“I’ll be fine, just be more careful next time, okay, Kouga?” she said over her shoulder, as she started running some cold water and began to wash her hands of the dried blood.

He grinned at her and said, “Of course, Kagome.”

She lifted some water in her hands and washed her face, the water running down the drain tinted dark crimson. ‘I lost more blood than I thought…’ she frowned, continuing her washing.

“That’s a lot of blood, Kagome, you sure you’re okay?” Kuwabara asked, stepping up behind her.

“I’ll be fine…don’t worry.” She said, giving him a smile before grabbing up a towel and drying her face.

Hiei growled in frustration. She was under his protection and her blood was spilled, and he had yet to get retribution for it. He glared darkly to the wolf prince his eyes tinting demonic red. Kagome heard his growl and placed a hand on his shoulder.

‘Please calm down, Hiei.’ She thought, hoping he would be able to get her message. He did, and he eased his stance slightly, standing in front of her as she leaned over her crutches.

“We should get going to Genkai’s. The sooner, the better.” She said, hopping over to the stairs. She looked up and sighed wearily. Hiei didn’t give her a chance to try and make it up them alone. He picked her up, and she held in a gasp of surprise. Everyone’s mouths dropped open in shock as he took her up the stairs, her crutches falling noisily at the bottom of the stairs.

Kagome put her arms around his neck, holding on tightly.
“Which one is your room?” he asked, walking down the hallway. “The one on the end.” She replied subconsciously as she put her head into his warm chest once more. The contentment of contact they had shared before came back, and enveloped them in its soft embrace. Hiei savored the rare feeling of peace and walked a little slower to her room, to make the feeling last just a tiny bit longer.

Kagome sighed, a soft smile gracing her lips as he held her, and she didn’t notice that he had stopped walking, but she didn’t care either, and held onto him for a few moments longer, savoring his warmth and the feeling of protection he subconsciously offered her.

Sighing, she looked up and smiled up at him, taking in his eyes once more. So much torment rest beneath the crimson pools that she couldn’t help but pour some of her energy out to sooth them. Hiei felt her energy envelop him, somewhat calming the forces inside his body. He hid his reaction as best he could, but he knew she could tell the effect she had on him. ‘I…I have to get away from her…she’s getting too close…’ he thought quickly, panic overtaking him.

Kagome felt his aura flare in distress and she subconsciously poured more calming energy into him, confusion coming to her face. Hiei quickly set her on her bed and stepped back, trying his best to calm his racing heart and energy. He left wordlessly, and Kagome’s face softened in sadness. ‘Inuyasha was right…I am not good enough to love…I am worthless…’ she thought, her heart breaking all over again as her mind pulled up the images of him leaving her.

Hiei rested against the wall next to her doorway, trying to pull himself together. He heard her thoughts and refrained from going to her. He was getting too close to her, and getting too emotionally involved with her. He couldn’t subject himself to her rejection. Rejection was something the Forbidden Child was used to, but not rejection from someone he cared for. It was the reason he held his secret for so long from Yukina. In the end though, she didn’t care what he was, or what he had done. She was happy just to know her brother, and for that he was very glad. That was one of the best moments of his life, and it was one of the few memories he cherished.

He jumped up in surprise when Kurama came to the top of the stairs. “Is she ready yet?” he asked, his voice soft.

Hiei just stared, no reply was given. Kurama shrugged his shoulders and walked to her doorway. Hiei’s hand grabbed his arm before he walked in. Crimson eyes met emerald green in a silent conveyance of feelings.

‘What are you afraid of, Hiei?’ Kurama asked, seeing a slight glimmer of fear in his friend’s normally emotionless eyes.

‘I am afraid of nothing, fox.’ He lied, his voice attempting to be gruff, but it came out sounding somewhat weak, something for which the fire apparition berated himself for harshly.

‘Don’t hide from me, Hiei. Tell me what’s wrong…please?’ Kurama asked, and for once, even Youko stayed silent, sensing deep distress within the demon.

Silence filled each ones mind, before they were interrupted by a loud thump coming from Kagome’s room. They both looked in and saw she was just hopping around on one foot to get to her closet door. Kurama looked back to Hiei, who’s eyes were focused on her, watching her with unguarded eyes.

‘He is afraid to get close to her, Red.’ Youko said, embracing his human half rather gently. Kurama was not used to this attention from the fox spirit and leaned into the embrace.

‘Why would he be afraid? From what I’ve seen, she doesn’t hate him, in fact, I get the impression that she likes him, although how much, I am not sure.’ Kurama replied, watching Hiei’s eyes as they followed the miko girl.

‘He is afraid of rejection. Although he is used to it, he still doesn’t want to feel that sort of pain anymore. You remember how happy he was when Yukina accepted him fully?’ he asked, his eyes now trained on Kagome.

‘Yeah, it was the first time I ever saw him with a happy smile…a content smile.’ Kurama replied, watching as she took out a huge yellow backpack from her closet and sit down on the floor.

‘He is afraid that she will not accept him fully. He is beginning to care for her, and he doesn’t want to admit to himself that she is important to him. I know they had to have met before this, he had to know this girl before today, because his mind is in too much turmoil not to have known her already. I wonder how they met?’ Youko asked, a smile coming to his face at the possibilities.

‘You know Hiei would never do that…that’s beneath him.’ Kurama said sternly, batting down the kitsune at the suggestion.

‘Oh, but who says it can’t happen?’ he replied, smirking as he conjured an image of the girl and Hiei together.

‘You can stop that anytime, Youko.’ Kurama said dryly, glaring slightly at the fox.

‘So you prefer this one instead, eh, Red?’ he said seductively before bringing forth an image of a breathless, flushed Kagome beneath the avatar.

Kurama closed his eyes, trying not to focus on the image, as it made his body react adversely. Hiei’s mind was brought away from Kagome at the scent of arousal.

‘Problems, fox?’ he asked, a dry look on his face.

‘Just a horny fox being a pain in the ass.’ Kurama said, making Hiei smirk.

‘Hey! It’s not my fault that girl is one fine human, even by my standards!’ Youko shouted out in protest, making Hiei arch an eyebrow at the kitsune.

‘How did I know this discussion would come down to Kagome?’ he asked, a soft sigh in his voice.

‘Hiei…how did you guys meet?’ Kurama asked, looking to her again as she began loading up clothes in the huge backpack.

‘So you know we met before today…I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.’ Hiei softened his tone, a weariness never heard before by the fox coming out.

‘Why are you holding back from her? She doesn’t seem to hate you, in fact, it seems to me she likes you…what’s the problem?’ Kurama asked softly, placing a gentle hand on the fire apparitions shoulder.

‘I doubt you would understand, Kurama.’ He said, tearing his gaze from the girl to go downstairs.

‘You would be surprised, Hiei. You would be surprised.’ He thought, his focus going back to Kagome as she got to her feet, her backpack packed and her heart a little heavier. She looked up and saw Kurama at her doorway. She gave him a bright smile, but he could see the sadness in her eyes.

“Are you alright, Kagome?” he asked, not expecting an answer from her, or, at least, a true answer.

“I’ll be fine. I have to be, I’ve got to protect the jewel from Naraku. Let’s get going, ne?” she said, still hopping, but not having as much luck with the balance issue now that she had a very heavy backpack shouldered on her back. Kurama fought a laugh at the sight before he took the bag from her.

She raised an eyebrow in question then seemed not to care. Kurama’s eyes went wide at the weight. “What did you pack in here?!” he exclaimed, his confusion coming out.

“Everything but the kitchen sink. Oh, you don’t think we’ll need one at Genkai’s, do you?” her voice jokingly replied, a smirk on her face. He rolled his eyes at her and she had to appreciate the overall CUTE factor Kurama possessed…or was it more a HOT factor…she couldn’t decide at the moment and just let it drop for the time being, her next thoughts on how to get back DOWN the stairs that Hiei had so willingly helped her up.

He saw her brows furrow in concentration a moment before she said, “You first.” He nodded and walked down, taking his time as the added weight to his person made balance a little harder.

Resigning herself to a somewhat embarrassing fate, she sat down on the top stair and began to slowly scoot her bottom down the steps, wincing every time she jarred her already super swelled ankle. At the first bump, she had gained a large audience, and she tried to force down the blush of humility that rose quickly to her cheeks.

At the bottom step, she stood to her good foot and reached for her crutches. “Now that I’m thoroughly embarrassed, I suggest we go.” She mumbled under her breath, not willing to look anyone in the eye.

Koenma opened a portal with the wave of his hand, and Kagome couldn’t help but be shocked at it. She had seen some strange things in her life—most of them in the Feudal Era…but this was just too weird…even for her.

She was even more surprised when the strange demigod stalker walked through it, seemingly unphased and unharmed. Her surprise and confusion shown bright on her face, getting Kurama’s attention once more. “It’s a portal…it’ll take us to Genkai’s, although I don’t know if you will be able to get through it on your own…” he said worriedly, looking to her crutches.

“Stop fretting over the girl! She’s only got a broken ankle, nothing to worry about.” Yusuke huffed, shock value still high at the attention she got from Hiei, and how everyone who came in contact with her was somehow bending to her every whim…he didn’t like it, and he refused to do so.

“Shut up, Urameshi. If I wanted to hear your two cents, I would have asked for it.” Kagome shouted back, a glare on her face. ‘Yup…reminds me entirely WAY too much of Inuyasha…’ she thought, holding back the temptation to shout her favorite word, ‘sit’.

Kagome pondered a quick thought, grinning a bit evilly. ‘Is that…demon aura I feel coming from Urameshi?’ she pondered, holding down a fight of extreme glee. ‘Oh…Genkai will be able to help me out, I think…now only to convince her to let me…this is going to be so much fun!’ she laughed almost maniacally in her mind, getting Hiei’s attention.

He almost didn’t want to know…almost. But he delved within her mind once more only to hold back a very large laugh and a smirk the size of Texas. ‘You shouldn’t have messed with the miko, detective. She’s going to make you regret every word you have said to her…’ he thought, almost as maliciously as Kagome was.

Kouga listened to the kitsune’s words and took them to heart. Thinking quickly, he picked her up, earning a surprised cry. “Wha? What are you doing, Kouga?!” Kagome nearly screeched out, displeasure, confusion, and anger in her voice.

“What does it look like? I’m carrying my woman!” he said, giving her another wolfish grin. Kagome huffed loudly and screamed out, “I am not your woman! Now put me down!”

Hiei looked quickly to her and took a deep breath. She was utterly hopeless at times. Kuwabara and Kurama looked on, surprised expressions on their faces, but neither one dismissed the fact that Hiei was next to her in an instant.

Kagome looked over and saw familiar crimson eyes. She wish she would just shut up sometimes, as her mouth got her into too much trouble, and now the one person she was sure didn’t want to be anywhere near her was forcing himself to come to her ‘rescue’.

Hiei looked at the changes of expression on her face. She looked angry at first, although he blamed that on the initial aftermath of being handled in such a way, but at his eyes met her, he saw sadness and regret. ‘She is guilty…why?’ he thought quickly before her thoughts assaulted his mind once more. Sometimes he just wished she would quit thinking and give his poor mind a break, but this was not one of those times.

‘Kami…I keep on bringing him closer to me and I know he wants to get further away…kami…how do I keep doing this to people I care for? First it was Inuyasha…now Hiei…when will I ever learn to stand on my own…do I ever want to be on my own?’ she questioned, before the fire apparition had heard enough and took her quickly from the wolf’s arms. He went to protest, but Kagome gave him a look that plainly said, ‘Not one word, wolf. Not one word.’

Kagome sighed and put her arms once more around his neck before leaning up next to his ear and whispered softly, “I’m sorry.” He had to fight the growl down that was eagerly forcing it’s way to his mouth. ‘She is always thinking of others…she never thinks of herself! Why? Why does this human affect me so harshly?!’ he thought angrily, the fire in his blood raising slightly.

Kagome’s eyes went sad and she hid her face down in his chest, not wanting to really face his wrath. Kurama picked up her fallen crutches and each one walked through the portal, trying inconspicuously to look at Hiei and the miko girl.

He could feel their stares and fought the urge to flip them off each in turn, but with his current position it was not possible, but he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way, except for the fact that after his mental outburst, his human had become quiet and still. He tried to ignore the unshed tears she smelled of, but found he could not.

‘She can’t hear my thoughts…can she?’ he thought quickly trying to keep from looking at her. She still had her head hidden in his chest, so he calmed, taking a deep breath of calm as they ascended Genkai’s steps.

Kagome couldn’t help but berate herself harshly for finding herself in his embrace once more. ‘Twice too many…he hates me…’ she couldn’t help but think despairingly.

Hiei flinched mentally at her words. He did not hate her, as she so thought, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. He didn’t like the fact that she was being so hard on herself, worrying about his feelings the whole time, and not focusing on any of her own. She was a puzzle to him, and he had yet to figure out her ulterior motive. ‘Why does she constantly look to others feelings, instead of focusing on her own, like other humans?’ he questioned himself, a frown coming to his face, as he subconsciously focused on walking up the steps to Genkai’s temple.


They reached the top and Kagome couldn’t help but widen her eyes in amazement. “Wow…” she said, getting everyone’s attention. “This place is…huge…” she said, as Hiei lowered her to stand on her good foot.

Everyone else hid back the urge to laugh at her expression, and continued walking ahead, Kagome included now back on her crutches.

The older woman met them at the front of her main home, inspecting each of them in turn.

“Koenma…to what do I own this unexpected visit?” she asked, her voice holding hidden distrust.

“You remember our earlier discussion? Well, this is Kagome Higurashi.” He answered, gesturing over to the out of breath girl.

Genkai stepped forward and inspected her critically, and Kagome wished she would have been just a little more presentable to the older woman. ‘Her aura is enormous…how is it she has managed to shield this type of power so well with her being untrained? Is this the power of the Shikon no Tama?’ she thought quickly, looking deep into the girl’s eyes.

“My name is Kagome…but I guess you already knew that.” She finally said, catching her breath and looking likewise into the woman’s eyes.

“I am Genkai. I will be helping you to harness your powers.” She said, everyone watching the exchange between the miko and fighter.

“What’s the point? She’s not strong enough to do anything on her own. She has to have Hiei do everything for her.” Yusuke said sarcastically under his breath, words that didn’t go unheard by his Master, and the fire apparition.

“Dimwit, when I want your opinion, I will ask for it, until then, hold your tongue. She has enough power to send you into ten consecutive deaths by purification, so I thought I trained you enough to have some manners, especially where a miko is concerned.” She ground out harshly, her eyes narrowing at her pupil.

He narrowed his eyes back and went to open his mouth once more before a blade came to his throat. “Never…insult her again in my presence. This is your first and final warning.” Hiei said, trying to hold his anger back.

Yusuke took a deep breath and nodded, before the blade was lowered and he stalked off to one of the many temple rooms muttering something about ‘touchy fire apparitions’ and ‘damn mikos’.

“I plan on remedying his attitude, but I need your help, Genkai. Let’s go inside, shall we?” Kagome said, her evil smirk returning. The woman looked quizzically at her a moment before nodding, leading them into her home.

~*~

A/N: Okay, you know the drill. Please R/R!

A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews! They make me so happy! I hope you all enjoy this update as much as I have had writing it. =)

Kudos, Loves!
A/N: Next Chapter: Training