Chapter Fifteen:

"It's your move," Souta reminded.

Kagome stared down at the chessboard. She and Souta had been playing Shoji for the past twenty minutes while she waited for her date to arrive. They sat on the floor with the board between them. She wore a snug, emerald green dress that showed a generous amount of her long, tone legs. Her younger brother had been schooling her with his apparent knack for strategy while she struggled to protect her king. "I'm thinking," she protested. She moved a knight.

Souta smirked as he took out her knight in the next move. "At least the game should be over before your Shuuichi arrives."

"Don't be too confident," Kagome warned.

There was a knock at the front door.

"You want me to answer it while you contemplate your next move?" Souta asked.

"No, thank you. I"ll be right back." Kagome pushed away from the table and walked barefoot across the living room floor. She opened the door and her heart swelled at the sight of the handsome young man on her door step. Kurama wore charcoal gray slacks and an emerald green button up shirt that matched the exact shade of his eyes.

Kurama held out a bouquet of red roses. "You look lovely," he greeted with a charming smile.

Kagome ushered him inside and took the flowers. She inhaled their sweet fragrance. She looked up and met his amused emerald eyes. "Did you grow these yourself?"

"Of course." He stepped inside and scanned the room. His observant gaze fell upon Souta. "Am I interrupting a game?"

"You're just in time to help me with an epic comeback," Kagome assured him. She looped her arm through the crook in Kurama's elbow and drew him further inside.

"What? No way!" Souta protested. "You can't let him help you."

"Kagome is my teammate," Kurama argued. "If she is in jeopardy, it is my duty to offer assistance." He sat cross-legged on the floor and examined the Shoji game. "Who's turn is it?"

"Mine," Kagome said sitting next to him with her legs folded up under her. She ran her fingertips over the soft pedals of the roses in her arms.

"May I?" Kurama asked.

"Kagome!" Souta pouted.

"Sorry, Souta, but you're no match for me." Kurama moved the lance and took out one of Souta's generals. "And you're in check."

Souta stared at the board in disbelief.

"Perhaps it's time we set out for our date," Kagome suggested. She stuck her tongue out at her little brother. "It's time you stop procrastinating and finish up your report

Kurama smoothly rose to his feet and offered his hand to Kagome, helping her up. They put the flowers away in a vase and then Kurama drove them to the botanical gardens. He'd borrowed his step-father's car to drive them.

While they were paused at a stop light, Kagome tugged on his red forelock. "After spending so much time with your silver-haired version, I'm still getting used to this look." She released his silky lock and shook her head with a laugh. "I can't believe I'm dating my ex-boyfriend's nephew."

"To be fair, I didn't know who my father was until only recently," Kurama pointed out. He turned towards her, emerald eyes sharp and intelligent. "Are you disappointed in my human form?"

"Hardly," Kagome scoffed. "You're gorgeous either way." She folded her arms under her breasts, silently enjoying the look of appreciation Kurama sent her way. "Though, you might just be prettier than me."

Kurama laughed. He parked the car and helped her outside. "Not sure I agree with that," he said pulling her out of the passenger seat. He traced a finger along her jaw, down her neck, and rested on her collarbone where it peeked out from her dress' scooped neckline. "Personally, I prefer looking at you."

Kagome blushed and bit her lower lip in embarrassment. "Did you visit with Sesshoumaru earlier?"

"Actually, I did. I helped him tend the gardens at the palace this morning. We planted a cherry blossom tree, similar to the one in my mother's back yard," Kurama answered. "He's actually training Hiei in combat so that he can win next year's Demon World Tournament and become the next king."

"Do you think he can?" Kagome asked.

"He's certainly strong enough to win the tournament, but whether he wants to rule a world or not is another matter." Kurama led her towards the front entrance of the public gardens. "Yusuke and Keiko should already be here."

"What about Hiei and Botan?" Sakura asked. "Oh and your friends Yukina and Kuwabara?"

"Flowers aren't really Hiei's things," Kurama answered. "Are you trying to pair up all my friends, Kagome?"

"Of course not, I was just curious." She waited at the gates while Kurama paid their entrance fee. "Besides, they already seemed paired up," she mumbled under her breath.

"I can still hear you," Kurama told her. He tapped the shell of his ear. "I may look human, but I have a kitsune lurking just beneath the surface." He took Kagome's hand and laced their fingers together. "There's a most spectacular koi pond in the back of these gardens that I think you'll really enjoy."

"Shuuichi," Kagome said, looking up at him. "I'll appreciate everything you've done. And while I'm sure the koi pond is nice, I'm mostly just interested in spending time with you."

Kurama angled himself so that he stood toe-to-toe with Kagome. He kept holding her hand and with his free hand he ran his fingers through her dark hair. He cupped the back of her neck and leaned down until he could press his lips against hers. He started the kiss softly at first, and then deepened it. He felt Kagome's free arm loop around his waist and her hand fisted in the back of his shirt holding him close.

"Ahem," a voice cleared behind them.

Kagome pulled back, her cheeks flushed. Kurama nuzzled his nose against hers before he looked over his shoulder. Yusuke stood just inside of the gates with an amused expression. Keiko held her hands over her mouth to hide her smile.

Kurama squeezed Kagome's hand and pulled her alongside him into the gardens. "We'll continue our conversation later," he whispered in her ear.

They walked past the crowds and headed for the koi pond. There were machines you could put in coins and receive food for the koi. Kurama bought a bag for them to share.

"I cannot believe the adventure you both had," Keiko said as she tossed in a handful of feed to the fish. "I mean, you both had jobs as archeologists. You'd think your biggest worry would be funding from the universities."

"It had been some time since I'd been on such an adventure," Kagome admitted. "Though, it was a common occurrence back when I was in high school."

"You really traveled five hundred years into the past?" Keiko asked.

"On a regular basis," Kagome confirmed. "And it made it very difficult for me to pass algebra and calculus."

"If I had known you then, I'd have been glad to tutor you," Kurama assured her.

"You never offered to tutor me," Yusuke complained.

"You had me," Keiko answered.

Kagome smiled up at Kurama. "I seriously doubt that if you were tutoring me that I'd have paid much attention to the math either."

OoO

"I'll admit, I'm confused. Do I owe you or do you owe me?" Kouga asked.

"I believe you owe me," Shippo answered. He snacked on a bag of potato chips while he and Kouga watched Kagome wander the gardens of the Western Palace alongside Kurama. They'd paid Sesshoumaru a visit and were checking on the progress of the cherry blossom tree. Kurama had utilized his power to turn the sapling into a full-grown tree. Within minutes he was able to accomplish what took nature decades to perfect.

"How do you figure?" Kouga asked.

"I was the one trying to introduce the two of them. I think Kagome and Kurama make a great power couple." Shippo finished off the last of the chips and crumpled up the bag. "You were the one that wanted to throw a wrench in those plans as soon as you caught wind of it."

Kouga sniffed derisively. "I'm just not sure he's good enough for her."

Shippo laughed. "You don't think anyone is good enough for her." He tossed the waded up bag at the wolf youkai. Kouga caught it with ease. "Just sit back and watch love bloom between them."

"Bloom? Seriously?" Kouga scoffed.

"It's an appropriate word! Bloom as in flowers blooming," Shippo answered defensively. He smiled softly at Kagome and Kurama's retreating backs. They were going inside to share a dinner with Sesshoumaru. It was a relief that his foster father had both Kagome and Kurama in his life now too. He didn't want to admit it, but knowing that his long-lost son, Takaramono, had found love and that Kurama was the result of that love warmed his heart. "I believe it's going to work out just fine."

There was a knock at the door to the balcony where Shippo and Kouga were sitting. Koenma stood on the other side of the glass. Shippo opened the door and gestured for Koenma to sit in one of the lounging chairs.

"I hope you two are happy. What am I supposed to do now? Hiei quit, won't work free lance for the Spirit Detectives indefinitely. He has other things to focus on. And then Botan took all her accrued vacation. Do you know how much time that is? She's been working without vacation for seven hundred years! She's decided to take the next five years off so she can explore her friendship with Hiei! This is all your fault!" He poked Kouga hard in the chest.

Kouga yanked out Koenma's pacifier. "Stop being such a baby," he growled. He examined the pacifier with a curious expression. "If you keep sucking on this, you're going to ruin your teeth."

Koenma snatched the pacifier back.

"Why don't you ask Kurama and Kagome to free lance for you when things get rough. And Kuwabara and Yukina. And maybe Yusuke again," Kouga asked.

Koenma folded his arms over his chest and continued to pout. "Maybe."

"Maybe?" Shippo asked with narrowed eyes. "Are you saying that my grandson and best friend aren't good enough to be Spirit Detectives?"

Koenma held up his hands in protest. "I didn't say that at all!"

Shippo crackled his knuckles together in a manner oddly reminiscent of Inuyasha.

The door to the balcony swung open. "Here you guys are!" Kagome greeted. Kurama stood beside her with an amused expression. "Dinner is ready. Are you going to join us?"

"Of course!" Kouga agreed cheerfully. He eyed Kurama up and down and then stood in front of him. "Just so we're clear, I don't care who your daddy is or who your granddaddy is. If you hurt Kagome, it will be the last thing you do," he warned.

Shippo shoved Kouga from behind and laughed. "Don't listen to him. If you did something to Kagome, she'd be the one to hurt you!"

Kagome rubbed her forehead in embarrassment. "Maybe we should have left them up here."

"Their presence will make dinner more entertaining," Kurama calmly replied. "Koenma, are you coming?"

"Um, yeah, congratulations on whatever is going on," Koenma said. He stared down at his feet for a moment.

"If you need help, Kagome and I will freelance for you," Kurama offered.

"Really?" Koenma asked. His eyes were bright with hope. "Because that would be a big help!"

"Really," Kurama said. He wrapped his arm around Kagome's waist and pulled her close. "Kagome and I are a team. We have too many ties to the human world and to Makai to ignore whatever plights might be going on. Do not hesitate to contact us."

Kagome laid her head against Kurama's shoulder. "As long as we're not too busy with our treasure hunting," she murmured.

Kurama kissed the crown of Kagome's head. "I don't know, I think already found the best treasure." He grinned. "Even Youko agrees and he's spent the last three hundred plus years scouring the world for treasure."

A/N: A bit of a cheesy ending — is there any other kind? This story was quite the challenge, but I think I'm pretty happy with the end result. I hope you were amused and entertained! Thanks so much for all your support! I was really excited that I picked up so many new readers over the last few months. I adore Kurama SO much! At this point, I don't think I'll be writing any more YYH/IY fanfictions, but I'm so fickle you never know. Have an amazing day!