The Pure Heart of A Child

A/N: Sorry. I have just experienced my first major case of writer’s block. :: cries :: That, and I haven’t had time to write in ages. :: cries again :: I hope you enjoy the new chapter. I’m just glad I get to write again. ^_^

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything.

The Pure Heart Of A Child
Chapter 9: Misunderstanding

Kagome awoke the next morning feeling quite refreshed and very happy. She looked over and saw that Kurama was still asleep on her shoulder, and Hiei was asleep on her lap, both breathing deeply and calmly, making a small smile appear on her face. Things were DEFINITELY looking up for her.

Stiffling a yawn, she rested her head back against the headboard, before her stomach began to protest harshly that she hadn’t eaten supper last night. As if in tune with her mates, their stomach’s began to rumble loudly as well, earning a small grin on Kagome’s face.

They both decided at that moment to awaken, and they looked to her. A small blush appeared on her face before she said, “Well, I’d say that’s our cue to get breakfast…”

Before she knew what was happening, Kurama was kissing her again, and Hiei followed suit. Smiling to herself, she said, “Now that’s a nice way to wake up.”

They both moved, and stretched in turn, as if they had been mates forever. She went into the kitchen and noticed that everyone else was also still asleep. Kurama donned an apron as did she, and they began making mountains of eggs, toast, and bacon that was found in the fridge. The smells wafted through the house, and within a few minutes, the rest of the household was up, mouths watering, and stomach’s grumbling.

Everyone looked a moment to Hiei and Kurama, recalling this mornings events and wondering how they were taking it. Kagome bit back the urge to tell them that staring was rude.

She stepped outside and smiled, taking in the sunshine. She felt someone come up beside her and she grinned. “I guess it’s time to train, ne?” she said, looking to Genkai.

Nodding, the older woman led her silently to a private dojo, locking the door behind her. Kagome ignored the prickly feeling that she got in the room. It was old magic, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to discover what it was used for. It felt…evil, to her.

Genkai’s face hardened. “Okay, missy. First thing I want you to do, is focus your energy into your hand. You won’t always have a bow in your possession, so I’m going to teach you how to call up your own weapon made entirely of your holy energy.” She said, getting Kagome’s attention.

“Okay. Well, here’s hoping.” She replied, before holding out her hand. Almost instantly, she felt a stirring of power within her. ‘That was quick…maybe it’s because of Hiei and Kurama…’ she thought quickly before focusing back on the task at hand.

Within a few minutes, she had a large basketball sized orb of pulsing power in her hand, and she stared at it dumbfounded, before her attention was drawn back by Genkai.

“Now, concentrate on what you want to do with it. Don’t waver in your concentration!” she shouted out, her voice hard.

Nodding, Kagome thought of her bow. The smooth wood of the handle and the taunt string used to fire her arrows came to mind, and the ball started to lengthen and shape itself into a thin, almost staff-like weapon, before completing its transformation into a shining pink bow.

The raven haired girl looked amazed at it before Genkai ordered, “Now, concentrate on passing it from one hand to the other.”

She went to place her other hand on the energy bow, but it dissipated before she could transfer it.

“Focus more! That spirit bow should be like a second skin to you! You must learn to do almost anything with it, even drop it on the ground and keep it in perfect form!” Genkai shouted, making Kagome wince at the harsh sound.

“Hai, Genkai.” She replied, before trying the process over again. And again. And again. By the 5th time she was tired, but she had passed it over this time without losing it. A smile came to her face, but the old fighter wouldn’t let her rest.

“That’s fine, but you must do it quicker, and use as little spirit energy as possible when you do so. You’re exerting too much power for just one spirit bow.” She informed the girl, before forming one in her own hand and transferring it 10 times without fail.

Nodding firmly to her, Kagome formed her bow once more and continued her practice.

~*~

Hiei relaxed in a tall tree, waiting for Kagome to finish her training for the day. Kurama sat beneath said tree, a soft smile on his face. He believed for the longest time that he would never find a mate that would accept him fully, and that he would be forced to endure loneliness for his long demon life. But with Kagome…it was suddenly not so. He would have a life with her and Hiei.

The fire apparition was trying to control himself. His heat cycle was so close he could taste it, but he knew he couldn’t force himself on Kagome or risk all that they had accomplished in the last few days. A soft growl escaped his lips and Kurama looked up, before his eyes widened slightly. ‘This isn’t good…Hiei is close to his heat cycle, and with Kagome being his mate now…’

‘This is definitely not good, red.’ Youko said, his worry evident in his voice. ‘We have to keep her away from him until his heat passes.’

‘But…his instincts will tell him to be with her. She is his mate after all.’ Kurama said, frowning.

‘I doubt she’s ready for that part of our relationship yet, therefore, as her mate, we have to protect her, even if it’s from him.’ Youko said, a deep seriousness in his voice that made Kurama take notice.

They looked back to Hiei and noticed he was gone. ‘This is not good at all…’ Kurama thought.

~*~

A few hours later Genkai let Kagome rest. She had a good handle on her weapon, and it was nearing lunch now. They headed inside and made sandwiches for everyone, and Kagome finally sat down to rest. She was sweaty, but very proud of her newest accomplishments. She could now form her spirit bow with ease and could transfer it from hand to hand relatively easily. She still needed work on controlling how much spirit power she put behind her bow and arrows, but that was something for a later lesson. Genkai suggested that she work with Yukina in the afternoon to learn and control her healing abilities.

Kagome sat down next to the cerulean haired girl, smiling gently at her. Suddenly, Yukina grabbed her hands, a couple of tears streaming down her face, turning into gems as they hit the wood floor. Confusion flooded the miko, as she asked quickly, “What’s wrong, Yukina? Are you okay?”

She smiled at the confused miko and said, “I have never been so happy in my life. My brother is not alone anymore. And I have you to thank.”

Kagome’s shock must have registered, so the koorime elaborated. “Hiei has been alone for so very long. No one wanted to accept him because he is a forbidden child. I was happy when he finally told me his secret. But now…now he is not alone anymore. You accept him, just as the rest of the team does…as I do…and I know that you love him very much.” She said, smiling at the girl, as her shock turned into a soft, wistful smile.

“I have always had a place for him, Yukina…here in my heart. The first day I met him, he saved me, and has been doing so ever since. I can say, very honestly, that I love him. And I love Kurama.” She smiled softly to herself before the koorime said, “Well, enough of this. We must get training!”

Nodding firmly, Kagome began to follow her instructions.

The time passed in a blur, and Kagome finally exited the temple with Yukina after a few hours hard work. She had complete control over her healing abilities now, and at first, she was shocked that the koorime inflicted wounds on herself so that Kagome could practice. Shaking away the thoughts, she felt Hiei near her, and turned to smile at him, but he was gone before she could.

‘Is he…avoiding me? What’s going on?’ she thought, frowning. Not paying attention where she was walking, she ran into Kurama, who was also looking in the direction of where Hiei was. He looked tense, as if something very serious was going one between the two.

“Did you guys have a fight or something?” Kagome asked, her frown turning deeper as she looked to the kitsune.

“…huh? No, we didn’t have a fight.” He said softly, still looking towards the empty tree.

“Then…what’s going on?” she asked softly, her heart hanging on his every word subconsciously.

“Nothing, Kagome. Everything’s fine. Don’t worry.” Kurama lied, even as the words escaped his lips, guilt set in. Youko frowned at his human counterpart.

‘You should not lie to our mate. She will not be pleased with you once she finds out. She will worry anyway, Red. She is Kagome.’ He said, lecturing Kurama softly.

The young miko frowned and then became angry. ‘He’s lying to me! I know when he’s lying to me! What the fuck is so important that they can’t share it with me! What is going on? Is he mad at me? Did I do something wrong?’ she thought quickly, unknowing that her body was reacting to her intense emotions, as tears began to flow down her face. She turned from Kurama and ran deep into the woods, not wanting to face either of them at the moment. If they felt the need to keep secrets from her, then maybe this mating thing wasn’t such a great idea. Let Naraku have her. At least she wouldn’t have to constantly deal with a broken heart—first it was Inuyasha, and now it was Hiei and Kurama…

‘Why does it always seem like I’m alone?’ she thought, hugging her knees closer to her chest.

Kurama watched her race for the forest, and went to go after her, but was stopped by Yusuke. “She was upset…just let her go for now. Let her cool down.” He said, not catching fully what happened, but knowing that with girls, it was better to let them calm down before trying to fix things. He had come to terms with her. She was a good person, and now she was Hiei and Kurama’s mate. If she had gotten both of them to care for her enough to mark her, then there must be something more to her than what he had seen, he figured.

Hiei had watched her run from the fox, and wondered what happened to upset her so badly. He would love nothing better than to run to her, but being alone with her in the middle of nowhere wasn’t exactly the best idea at the moment. He just hoped that someday she would understand why he was avoiding her.

~*~

“I request an audience with Lord Sesshoumaru.” Kouga said, talking to the guard at the front gate of The Taiyoukai of the Western Lands castle.

“I will inform him, Lord Kouga.” The guard replied, before disappearing, only to return in moments to usher him forward. “The lord has been expecting you. He has instructed you go straight to his library.” The guard added, as a familiar green toad like demon appeared.

“This way, Lord Kouga!” the voice that was once so squeaky and loud, had diminished in tone to become almost normal over the years.

The moment he entered the library, he bowed deeply, seeing the Aristocratic Assassin behind his desk, going over some very old looking scrolls.

“This Sesshoumaru knows why you are here, wolf. Naraku is not gone, as we had all thought, and has waited for the miko’s return to take her out once and for all, as well as take possession of the jewel once more, so let’s just skip to the chase. Why are you coming to this Sesshoumaru?” he said, narrowing his eyes at the blue eyed wolf prince.

‘Well, he never was one to beat around the bush…’ Kouga thought wryly, before taking a deep breath.

“Kagome has sent me on behalf of herself. She has requested your help, and was also worried about your safety, as myself, and one of her new companions was under the vile hanyou’s control, until she dispelled it with her miko power.” He said, growling internally the whole time. He still couldn’t believe Naraku had taken control of him so easily. It irritated him to no end.

“How do I know that you are not under his control as we speak?” Sesshoumaru asked, his eyes narrowing further.

“You would be able to tell of my deception if that was the case, Lord Sesshoumaru.” He said softly, not daring to make eye contact with the lord.

Nodding, the taiyoukai took a deep breath. ‘So the miko wishes for my help once more. After all these centuries, she still thinks of this Sesshoumaru with a fond heart. I will never understand that human woman.’ He thought, before standing, getting Kouga’s attention.

“This Sesshoumaru will meet with the miko. Will my brother be there, as well?” he asked, walking over to the doors of the library to prepare for the trip.

“She has asked me to find him and bring him as well. She is also worried for his safety from Naraku.” Kouga said, his heart aching as he thought of the hanyou that had always held her heart from day one. His competition.

“That is fine. This Sesshoumaru will tell you where he can be found. I will be departing immediately for the miko’s location. I will see you when you arrive.” The lord said, leaving Kouga to finally relax.

~*~

A/N: Gods this chapter makes me want to cry. It took me forever to get this out, and I’m so sorry about that. The Chapter name has been changed, because frankly, it doesn’t fit. *sigh* Well, please R/R. Hopefully this writer’s block thing will go away!!

A.N: Thanks for all the reviews, guys. I love them so much!