The Jewel Of My Heart

A/N: Thanks for all of the great reviews, guys. I'm glad that you enjoy the fic. Some of you have asked if Kuronue is going to get his body back, and all I can tell you is to keep reading to find out. I am holding this one close to my heart, and won't reveal anything until it's time. Please read and review. *Sorry guys....I boo-booed and had to fix something. Thanks for pointing out my goof, Diane.
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When his eyes opened, they quickly slid over to his companion, and was relieved to find her resting peacefully. Kagome's breaths were deep and slow, telling him that finally, she was without pain and was getting the healing rest that she needed.

He moved out of the bed and was grateful that his raging erection had gone down at some point in the night, and prayed that it did not decide to return with a vengence. One night of sexual frustration was enough.

Dressing swiftly, he moved to the main den and noticed that several of his followers were speaking quietly. They were clearly worried and when he approached, the wolf opened his mouth to address him.

“I'm sorry to inform you, but it appears that somehow, Kouga has learned that Kagome is here. He is on his way with several of his followers.” Hiko announced, his eyes narrowing.

Youko shrugged. “Let him come. When he arrives, I will inform him that his claim upon Kagome is now void and that he can shove his complaints up his ass, with my blessing. If he wishes to argue, then I will gladly show him the error of his ways.” He replied, his tone smooth.

Hiko grinned, and turned to find himself a prime seat for the show. He knew Kouga and knew that the wolf prince would probably throw himself a major fit when he found out that Kagome was no longer up for grabs.

Soon, as expected, Kouga and several members of his tribe arrived and were greeted by the sight of Youko and his followers lounging around. Sniffing the air, Kouga bared his fangs and stalked forward, his face a mask of rage.

Stopping in front of Youko, Kouga said, “I am Kouga of the eastern wolf tribe. I am here to collect my intended mate and will thank you for taking care of her.”

Youko allowed his eyes to trail over Kouga and smirked. He had heard that Kouga was a good fighter, but was more hot air than anything else. Standing up and looking the enraged wolf in the eyes, Youko lazily replied, “At this time and here on out, your claim on the miko, Kagome, is voided. She belongs to me now, and as her alpha, Inu Yasha has given her into my care. Take a careful sniff, and I am sure that you will recognize his scent.”

Kouga snarled and shouted, “He didn't have the right! Kagome is mine by claim and only she or I can remove that claim.”

“And, as her guardian and protector, I have removed the claim.” Youko said, his patience quickly fading. “You cannot have a claim upon a woman if her guardian does not agree to the pending union, and I simply won't give my permission for Kagome to mate you. Now, take your followers and get out of here.”

“I want to speak to Kagome. Where is she?” Kouga demanded, his sky-blue eyes beginning to tint with red. “I want to hear her say that you are her guardian.”

Youko felt his own eyes begin to redden, and knew that the situation was about to get ugly. He opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off when a soft voice asked, “What do you want to talk to me about?”

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Kuronue knew that trouble was brewing. He could hear the angry voices and then heard Kagome's name being mentioned. Suddenly, several wicked thoughts began to flow through his mind and he slowly climbed out of the bed, grateful that Kagome was still too tired to stop him from using her body.

He looked around and found a robe and put the silky material on, taking great care not to look down at Kagome's pert breasts. It had been several centuries since he touched a breast that the temptation was nearly too great, but instead, he focused on the task at hand. There was great fun to be had, and he needed to get his ass in gear.

He walked towards the voices and recognized Youko's voice and then heard another youkai snarl. He peeked around the corner and allowed his eyes, or rather, Kagome's eyes to widen. He knew this wolf, Kouga. This was the idiot wolf who kept going around, claiming Kagome as his intended mate. Oh, this one was all his. Youko got Inu Yasha, but he was going to get Kouga.

When Kouga snapped that he wanted to speak to Kagome, Kuronue moved from around the corner and asked, “What do you want to talk to me about?”

Every single head turned and stared at him, and Kuronue wanted to flip them off. But, he knew that Kagome would never do such a thing, so he kept his composure and moved over to Youko's side.

“What is it, Kouga? Why are you so angry?” Kuronue asked. He was trying so hard to act as Kagome would, and knew that she would be concerned for her friend. But, he was not Kouga's friend and wanted nothing more than to take Kouga's tail, rip it off his body, and shove the furry appendage up the arrogant bastard's nose.

Kouga smiled and held out his hand. “Kagome, come over here to me, love. You and I will leave this place and I will take good care of you.” He crooned, his voice soft.

“I can't do that, Kouga.” Kuronue purred, and allowed Kagome's arms to quickly wrap around Youko's waist, stunning both the spirit kitsune and the wolf, not to mention all of their followers. “I think that I would really like to stay here for a while longer.”

Kouga's jaw dropped and he stepped forward, ignoring the warning growl that Youko sent his way. “You are not thinking clearly, my love. This, thief, is not for you. You need someone who can provide you with everything that he cannot, and I am just the youkai to do that.” He said, his tone wobbling a little bit.

Kuronue pretended to think for a moment before allowing Kagome's face to harden. “Provide for me? Are you serious?” He demanded, enjoying the way Kouga's tail began to droop. “All you want from me is for me to find Those fucking jewel shards for you. You would not have given me a second glance if I could not see the shards. Admit it, Kouga. All you want are the shards and are willing to burden yourself with me to get them.”

Now he knew that something was up. Youko didn't know Kagome that well, but he could bet that she was neither cruel, nor did she curse. It just didn't seem in her nature, and he was a pretty good guess of character. However, it appeared that what he picked up on, Kouga totally ignored.

Kouga was pale, as the miko ripped him down. He listened as she laid out her complaint and had to admit that she was right. He would not have looked at her, except to decide on what tasty piece of her body he wanted to chew on for his dinner. He glanced over at his followers and then sighed.

“Kagome, I know that you are upset, and I have heard that you have not been well. Perhaps it would be best for you to get more rest and I will return when you feel better.” He said, defeat laced throughout his voice.

Kuronue grinned. “If you wish to see me again, you better clear it through my guardian. I doubt this little display has helped your cause any.” He replied, his tone smug. Despite his reservations about Youko touching Kagome, it would be wise to allow Youko to touch her, just to keep any other would-be suitors away.

Kouga nodded and turned his back on the miko. He motioned for his followers to leave the den and then looked over his shoulder. “I don't know what you did to her, but when I find out, I will be back.” He said, his eyes traveling back to Kagome's face, which held no warmth or welcome for him.

Youko said not one word, but merely nodded. When the wolf was gone, he turned to Kagome and narrowed his eyes as her arms unwrapped from his torso and fell to her side.

Kuronue shifted uncomfortably. He didn't know why Youko was staring at him so harshly, and quickly said, “Well, that little ordeal has exhausted me, and if I want to get better, I'd better go and lay back down.” Scuttling around Youko, Kuronue attempted to get back to the bedchamber, but found himself yanked backwards and looking into a pair of golden eyes.

Youko stared down at the female and took in a sniff of her scent. When he could not detect anything out of the ordinary, and mentally noted that she did look tired, he let her go and nodded. “Yes, it would be wise to get all the rest you can. I will be in shortly to talk with you.” He said.

Kuronue mentally congratulated himself on a job well done and walked back to the chamber. He thought that Youko had seen through him, but clearly the kitsune had been fooled, just like the wolf.

Youko watched as the miko walked away and sighed. There was no way in hell that the one walking back to his chamber was Kagome. No, the being who stood beside him and took Kouga down a notch had not been the miko, but rather someone who enjoyed toying with others feelings. Someone like Kuronue, and it seemed that he was attempting to emerge and protect the young female. So, it could be that Sesshomaru's prediction that the miko was being possessed by Kuronue was right on. However, until he knew for sure, Kagome would still have to be handled very carefully.

Still, it felt good to have her arms around him.

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“So, what are we going to do? Is Koenma going to send us back and get the miko, or what?” Yusuke demanded, his tone angry.

Genkai shook her head. “Because she is with Youko at this point, it would not be wise to go after her. Kurama, when does your counterpart send her back to this era?” She asked, her eyes trained upon the elegant young man.

“Youko never said when she returned, but I can only guess that something happened to force him to make her return, especially if he could not protect her.” Shuuichi replied, his tone smooth.

He had tried to ask Youko several questions before the meeting, but the spirit kitsune would not answer him, so that could mean that he was either sleeping or purposely being difficult. Overall, this entire situation was awkward and confusing.

The door opened and Hiei entered, his entire body stiff with aggravation. The fire youkai approached the group and snapped, “I think that I know what is going on.”

Everyone sat up, and Shuuichi gave Hiei his full attention. He could hear Youko stirring and knew that the kitsune was listening.

“It appears that Koenma gave a group of youkai permission to use a curse that had been outlawed eight hundred years ago. It seems that the mirror that was taken, held special abilities and whose who attempted to steal it would be cursed for a certain amount of time. However, those protecting the mirror decided to make an example out of Kuronue and after cursing him into his necklace, they burned his body. In other words, Kuronue is forever trapped in his necklace.” Hiei explained, and watched as everyone's face lit up in shock.

Now he understood. Youko felt guilty about mating Kagome because Kuronue had fallen in love with the human girl, but could never touch her, kiss her, or mate her. And, because he could, Youko felt that their mating was a slap in Kuronue's face.

The members of the small group glanced at Shuuichi and finally, Kuwabara softly said, “Man, that sucks. It must have really hurt to see his best friend and the woman he loved having sex.”

Shuuichi, for once, had to agree with Kuwabara. Now it was all beginning to make sense and he could understand Youko's resistance to talk about Kagome and the past. Now he knew why the kitsune was so reluctant to speak about the events that happened after Kuronue was ripped away.

Everyone was silent, but then Yukina softly asked, “If this girl is a time-traveler, is it possible that she has as of yet to mate Youko in the past? Perhaps we can get to her and stop them from mating, thus saving the bond that Kuronue and Youko had.”

Everyone stared at the ice youkai and then Yusuke stood up. “That's right! With her there, right now, it's possible that Youko hasn't fucked her yet. If we get to her quickly, we can stop them. Great thinking, Yukina!”

However, there was one who was not pleased with the suggestion. Shuuichi stood up and snarled, “No! I never said that I did not want to be mated to her, only that I regretted that it was the woman that Kuronue loved. Try and take her from me, detective. Try it and see just how brutal I really can be.”

Youko's features began to overtake Shuuichi's and soon, the spirit kitsune stood before the group in all of his glory. He snapped his fangs at the group and then slowly turned towards Yukina, who paled underneath the golden gaze.

“Thank you for trying to help, but I want this. I want her, and it would kill me if she were taken from me. I lost her once, and I will not lose her again.” He explained, knowing that the female ice youkai meant no harm to him or Kagome.

Yukina visibly relaxed and gaved Youko a shaky smile. “So, what are you going to do?” She asked, curious.

Youko looked out the window and narrowed his eyes. “I am going to let nature take its course, and so are all of you. When she returns, I will pick our relationship up from where we left off, but this time, I will never leave her again.”

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Kuronue was glad for the moments of peace that he was given. He knew that he should have not wrapped Kagome's arms around Youko, but it was important for the wolf to know that he didn't have a chance in hell.

Still, he could smell Youko's arousal, just at Kagome's nearness, and it concerned him that his former partner was growing too attached to Kagome, though he could see how it would happen. Kagome drew people to her like honey draws bees.

But, no matter how strong his bond with Youko was, he could not bear to part with Kagome. Kagome was quickly becoming his world. Once again, he delved into her memories and watched her as a small child.

He could see the similarities with her family and his. Though, he wished that he could have been there when her father died. For her, that experience had been difficult and because she was so close with her father, it made his death that much worse. Even if she was a child, he could have provided for her family, or done something to make his passing easier. He knew that her family had struggled, until they moved into the shrine with the grandfather.

Now that he thought about it, the grandfather was pretty amusing, though his lusty youkai lectures still bothered him. He was a good man, who provided for his family, and still continued to provide even though his own child was grown. He could deal with the elderly man now that he understood him, but would have to have a long talk with him about youkai traditions.

The only real problem he had now was getting Kagome well. In her sleep, he had been whispering to her, taking care of her and letting her grow accustomed to his presence. In his own way, he was preparing her for when he did get his body back and they could be together physically.

He wanted Kagome to burn for him, just as he burned for her. He needed to feel her young body writhing underneath his as he took her and made her his mate. But, until that happened, he would have to settle for his fantasies.

He heard footsteps coming towards the chamber, and he quickly threw the covers over Kagome's body. He looked up in time to see Youko striding into the chamber and pull a chair over to the bed.

Youko's face was set in a mask of determination, and he sat down. Turning his golden eyes towards Kagome, Youko sat back and folded his arms across his chest.

“Well, that was quite a display out there. I was very impressed on how you handled the wolf and it was a good thing that you did it, or else I would have taught him the true meaning of the word pain.” Youko drawled, his tone lofty.

Kuronue really didn't know what to say. He shifted uncomfortably for a few moments and then shook his head. “That stupid wolf has been after me since the day he met me. It was time that he was set straight.” He said, his brain going a mile a minute.

Youko nodded. “That is true, but tell me this. Why is it that you waited until now to do it? Why not have done in one month ago? Two months ago? It just seems odd to me that you chose this moment to put the wolf in his place.” He said as he leaned forward.

Kuronue gulped. How in the hell was he supposed to reply to that? Sighing, he finally said, “I don't know. I guess I am still tired and chose that moment to do it because I was irritated.”

Youko's brow lifted and he regarded Kagome for a moment before laughing. “You know what I think? I think that you have been playing me for a fool.” He said, his tone now growing hard. “Let me tell you what I think is going on. I think that you are completely aware of your surroundings and are faking this exhaustion.”

Now Kuronue was getting a little angry. Snarling, he sat up straighter and snapped, “Well, there's no fool like an old fool, you know.”

“Well, look at that fire.” Youko mused, settling back in his seat. “I'm glad to see that you are just as tempermental as before, and as I once told you, that is going to give you away each and every single time.....Kuronue.”