Oops. Sorry. Life got away from me again. Another new (but full time!) job and a new house grabbed my attention this time. To be fair, I wrote A LOT more than what I originally had for this chapter. Hopefully that will appease the (in my mind) masses.

Angsty fic is angsty. It's good, but I feel like people came here for the fluffy stuff that I spun together for The Innocence... but all you have gotten is angst. Well, we all knew once their covers were blown that it would be a little tough for a while. Hopefully the next chapter will be happier?

At least no one dies this time.

And with THAT ray of sunshine...on with the fic!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.

Light.

It pierced her eyes as she tried valiantly to peel her eyelids open.

"-ome! KAGOME!"

Someone was screaming her name. A female. But who?

Sapphire eyes finally opened, but they were dull compared to the once vibrant light they once held.

Her friends were dead. She had killed them.

Her eyes closed once more, tears forming behind her eyes, and the drops slowly dripped from her cheeks like rain droplets during a storm.

"Kagome! Get up! Kagome!"

There was no more pain. She didn't know how she knew, but Kagome knew that the Shikon, wherever it had brought her, had healed her wounds. At least the physical ones. She almost wished that she could have the agony back. She would trade anything to take away the emotional turmoil she was feeling now.

The voice continued to call to her. It sounded panicked. Again, the raven haired miko worked to open her eyes. The sun blinded her for a moment before something, or someone, blocked it out. Her mother stared down at her. She was kneeling next to her, and her brother and grandfather were standing behind her.

"Mama?" Kagome's voice was faint. So far away.

"Oh Kagome! Thank goodness that you're alright! Your brother found you right outside of the well house. You were unconscious! What happened?"

Hands grabbed her gently by the shoulders and helped her sit up. Shiori stared down at her daughter. Raven bangs hid the young woman's eyes, her head bent so that no one could look upon her. Suddenly, the girl's shoulders began trembling underneath her fingers and heavy sobs escaped her daughter's mouth.

"Oh Mama!"

Kagome threw her arms around her mother. Gut-wrenching wails burst from her lips as she buried her face in her mother's chest and cried her heart out.

All Shiori could do was clutch her brokenhearted daughter close, shushing her and consoling her as best she could. She laid her chin on the shaking girl's head as she stared up at her father and son. Kagome didn't need to tell them what happened. Deep down, they already knew.

Darkness.

It surrounded Kurama as he lay on his bed.

Soon he would have to steal something precious from one of the only people that he held dear.

He toyed with the thought of abandoning the mission, refusing to be a part of something so obviously foolish and poorly thought out, but he knew that he needed to be there when the jewel was stolen. No more would he and Kagome hide from each other. They would face their realities head on. If she hated him afterward, then he would spend the rest of eternity making up for his betrayal.

"You're being ridiculous fox. Get up. You're acting pathetic. Yoko should be ashamed"

The hand attached to the arm that lay bent under his head clenched tight for a moment before relaxing. Hiei had been unbearable lately. Two weeks had passed since Koenma had delivered the news to Team Urameshi that they would be robbing the innocent miko, and since then Hiei had taken it upon himself to get the constantly irritated fox to "grow up and grow a pair." Needless to say, the method that the fire demon had chosen was prickly barbs and scathing remarks. Not that Kurama expected the inherently grumpy demon to coddle him with tea and cookies, but enough was enough.

"Hiei." Green eyes blazed with anger as they met the fire youkai's. "Get out."

With a roll of his eyes, Hiei vanished in a burst of black flame. He better not have singed my biology notes. A great heavy sigh made its way through pursed lips as Kurama pushed himself up into a sitting position. Glancing at his watch, the red haired boy made note that he had about a half an hour until he needed to meet Yusuke and the rest of the gang. They were meeting to figure out how to pluck the jewel from his girlfriend clutches, someone who also happened to be an extremely powerful miko. It was sure to be a disastrous encounter, and one that he couldn't afford to allow to go sour.

As he hoisted himself up and off his mattress, his phone shattered the silence of the room. Without glancing at the caller i.d. before answering, he flipped open the receiver, "Moshi moshi."

A watery breath was heard before – "Shuichi?"

Kurama clutched his phone against his ear and sunk onto his bed. He didn't expect to hear from her before-

"Shuichi, are you there?"

He could hear her breath catch through the line, as if she were trying to keep herself from crying. "Kagome! How are you? How are you feeling? Are you alright?"

It was silent on her end of the phone for a moment before she answered. She sounded tired. Beaten. "I'm…hanging in there I suppose. I just got back from Kyoto." Again she stopped.

Kurama's heart clenched. He knew something was off. Something horrific must have happened while she was in the past. Emerald eyes closed and he almost laughed at the irony. Here he was, listening to the girlfriend who he never thought he would get to speak to again, wishing he could talk to her like a normal person. Now that he knew her secret, things would never be the same between them. "Kagome, are you alright? You seem like you're-"

"I just found out that some of my close friends just died. In a car crash. I-" And she burst into tears.

So that was it. They were all gone. He clenched his fist as he listened to the devastated cries that raked his eardrums. "I am so sorry, Kagome. Is there anything that I can do? Do you want me to come over?" He immediately it was a terrible idea. Koenma was always watching her house. If the prince found out that he was at the shrine and didn't try to steal the jewel, there would be hell to pay. But the broken hearted sobs that he heard over the phone told him that she needed him. He would be damned if he let his job as a spirit detective interfere with comforting the distressed girl.

"I'm at home right now. I'm so sorry Shuichi. It wasn't my intention to-"

"I'll be right there."

Her sobs were lightening to sniffles. A watery laugh preceded her concession. "Okay. Though I'm a bit of a mess…scratch that. I'm a giant mess."

A wry smile snuck its way to Kurama's lips. "I don't mind. I'll just make sure I wear an old shirt so you don't ruin any of my good ones."

Another watery laugh was heard on the other line. She knew he was only joking. He would never care about something like that. "I'll see you soon, Shuichi. Thank you."

Kurama could tell she was about to hang up, but there was one more thing he wanted to say. Something that she didn't allow him to say the last time that they had spoken. "Kagome."

"Hm?"

He could hear her breathing hitch again on the other line. He was sure she was going to start crying as soon as he hung up with her.

"I love you too."

Ending the call, Kurama jumped off his bed to change. As he threw on his shirt, his phone chirped. A text message lit up his phone.

He walked back over across his room, expecting to see a text from Kagome.

Instead, it was from Yusuke. Kurama paled as he read the damning text. "Time to go to work. Meet us at the shrine's steps."

Kagome gaped at her dead phone. She knew she shouldn't be shocked at his words. After all, she had done the same thing to him during their last conversation. But she had thought she was dying! Before she could contemplate his words any longer, a soft knock came from her bedroom door.

Slowly the door opened and her mother walked in holding a tray with two steaming cups of tea. A soft smile graced the raven haired beauty's lips as the older woman placed the tray on her desk and turned to hand her a cup. Her mother always knew how to make her feel better. The ache of losing her friends could never be erased so soon, after all it had only been a day, but the knowledge that she had a loving family around her to help her through the heartache comforted her a little.

"Did you call Shuichi, Darling?" The worried look in her mother's eyes hadn't left since she opened her own in front of the well house not too long ago.

Tears threatened to overflow again at the thought of the now powerless building. Sniffling and trying valiantly not to turn into a broken mess again, Kagome nodded her head. "He should be here soon. He said he would come right over."

Shiori sighed with relief, her shoulders sagging as she hung her head. Nothing could erase the pain her daughter was feeling, but the red-headed boy was always able to make the young girl feel better. "I'm glad he was around. I was afraid he would be out on another job."

"Yes, I'm very lucky – "

The older woman's brows scrunched in confusion as her daughter's words cut off. "Is something wrong, Kagome?" Her daughter sat up suddenly from her slouched position on the bed, placing her teacup down on her bedside table.

Kagome's breath caught as she hurried to the window. Taking in air was suddenly extremely difficult.

"…Kagome?" The young girl's eyes slowly widened in horror as she stared out the window.

"Not now. Not yet," The miko whispered to herself, her face paling sickeningly. Youki. Rushing towards the house at an alarming pace. I'm not ready for this yet. Kagome felt as if she couldn't get enough air in her lungs, it was as if one of them was still punctured from her horrific battle not too long ago. Her vision started to swim…

"Kagome!"

Her focus narrowed and she snapped back to attention. Shiori stood next to her, holding her up, supporting her from around her waist. "What's wrong?"

Moving her head back and forth as if to clear her vision, raven tresses falling wildly around her, Kagome whispered, "There are two youkai heading towards the house."

Shiori clutched her overwhelmed daughter close. She knew it was too soon for the broken miko to handle something like this. Where was the silver-haired hanyou when you needed him? Her heart clenched in agony as she remembered why he was missing. "What are we going to do?"

Determination flashed in the deep blue hues of Kagome's eyes. She pulled away from her mother and sucked in a deep breath. Letting out the air slowly, her gaze as cold as ice. They're after the jewel. I won't fail the people close to me again. I won't lose this time. She gazed out the window, eyes already scanning for the enemy. "I'm going to destroy them."

"Did you let Kurama know that we are on our way?" The deceptively undersized youkai barely broke a sweat as he fairly jogged next to the sprinting spirit detectives.

"Can't…talk…now….Outta…breath…."

Hiei rolled his eyes at the gasping behemoth struggling next to him. "It's a damn good thing I wasn't speaking to you then, wasn't it, you giant buffoon. Maybe if you stopped sucking down all that junk you call food you wouldn't be so out of shape all the time."

"What? …Just…you…wait… till…I…"

"What? I can't hear you over your disgusting panting."

Boton rolled her eyes at the stubborn boys' antics. This was hardly the time to be cracking jokes and she told them so. "Gentlemen, please." She gazed at the group leader as she flew swiftly next to them on her paddle. "Yusuke sent a message to our fox friend a few minutes ago. Hopefully he'll meet us there." Even as she said this, she felt uncertain of her own words. I hope that Kurama makes the right choice in this one. Koenma won't be merciful if he disobeys.

Yusuke stayed quiet for once, steeling himself for the almost certain battle that was about to unfold. Right before he sent the message to Kurama, Boton had warned him that the situation had changed a bit. His job was about to get a hell of a lot more difficult soon.

The shrine loomed ahead and dread struck through his gut like a bolt of lightning. He slowed down to a light jog before coming to a stop. Staring up at the top of the stairs, he waited for his friend to catch his breath.

Forearms leaning heavily against his knees, Kuwabara gasped for breath as he too came to a stop. Lifting his head, he looked around them. "Where's Kurama?"

"Not here yet-"

"I'm here."

The gang's heads whipped to the left as Kurama seemed to seep right out of the shadows. His eyes were like steel as he gazed at his friends.

"You're here. That's good." Yusuke turned toward his comrade, relieved that he showed of his own volition. Things would have ended badly if Boton had to retrieve him herself. He squared his shoulders and leaned back, tilting his head a bit at the same time. As his back cracked, he sighed his relief. Glancing at the rest of the group he asked, "Are we ready?"

"I will not be participating."

Everyone stared hard at the red-head's sudden, but not unexpected, proclamation.

"Stop whining, you idiot."

Kurama's teeth clenched at the scathing remark. Piercing emerald eyes glared into flaming red ones. "I am here. Nothing else should be required of me. And since I am in the presence of friends, I assume that I will not be pressured otherwise."

The raven haired male fairly growled. "I don't understand why you continue to allow that useless, slip of a girl come between you and the contract that you made with Koenma. Will you really throw your life away just for one woman?" By the time he finished his sentence, Hiei was fairly shouting.

Finally, the red haired kitsune snapped. Youki flooded the area as he took a menacing step toward the fire demon. "Just because you have not felt an ounce of love for any being other than yourself, does not mean that you get to demean the decisions that I make about my life or anyone else's." Emerald eyes flashed to gold and back, as fast as it took for Kurama to force his way past the leader of their group and into Hiei's space. "Do not forget that I can wipe you out of your miserable existence if I really want to. Do not push me, Hiei."

"Uh…guys?"

The two youkai looked like two wolves about to devour the other, teeth bared and hair standing on end. Neither acknowledged the tall spirit detective that was trying to get their attention.

"Yo! Kurama! Hiei! Knock it off! We have company!"

The shout from the youkai prince was finally heeded at the utterance of "company". Both males snapped their heads in the direction of Yusuke, only to find that he was staring grimly up at the top of the stairs. Their eyes followed his gaze.

At the lip of the shrine steps stood a raven haired woman in full miko garb. In her left hand she grasped a bow, and in her right an arrow. Even from where he stood, Kurama could see that her knuckles were almost pure white from clutching the wood so tight.

"Shuichi?" His name was a pained whisper on the breeze. Her voice trembled as she took in the scene of her boyfriend baring down on another youkai with his overwhelming demonic presence. It was almost…malevolent. That wasn't right. Her Shuichi could never let out such a horrible aura.

The red headed male's anger immediately cooled at the sight of his distraught other half. He straightened as he called out her name.

The pained sound of her name on his lips rang in her ears, but she ignored it, knowing what she had to do. I will not fail again.

So, in writing this little fic of mine, I have found that I have a bit of a flair for the dramatic. Though if you ask my family, they would probably tell you they knew that about me a while ago.

Sorry I made Hiei into a giant jerk in this fic. He's so bitter about Kurama's relationship. I honestly don't know why he comes out that way.

Kurama is a little...more angsty than normal too, but give the guy a break! He's about to steal the love of his life's most precious thing! (There I go with the dramatics again.) But it's true!

I hope Kagome lives up to your expectations. I don't want her to seem like she's blubbering all over the place, but she DID just go through a PRETTY traumatic experience. I feel like some tears are at least appropriate. Her badassery at the end should make up for it.

Hopefully you all enjoy the route this fic is taking. I have things planned out, and then my muse takes me in a different direction. I'm pleased with the way that it is going so far, though. To explain a bit why Koenma and King Yama are so hell bent on taking this jewel from Kagome: she is clearly a bit distraught. Yes, I COULD go in the direction of "KURAMA BE MY PROTECTOR AND BE WITH ME ALWAYS! I LOVE YOU!" but I feel like that bit is done a lot and I want to be different. This is so much more fun anyway. It makes more sense due to all the dancing around of their secret identities anyway. But have faith dear readers! All will come together in the end...hopefully. heheh ^_^

Until next time!