Stuff: You might have noticed, Kagome can do a lot of new stuff with her miko powers. It's because Kaede's been training her. Of course that is just my pathetic excuse – but since I am the author my word is law! Ahahaha! …of course, that doesn't mean I can magically make me the owner of two different animes. No, that honour belongs to people with creativity and originality. Not moi then.

Chapter 8 – Rescuer Runs Away
Present Era – Sunset, Hinoki Park

"Are you alright?" the red-haired boy asked. Even stooping from exhaustion, he was taller than Kagome. Torn, bruised and bloodied as he was, she couldn't help but notice the wisdom and maturity in his eyes – or their entrancing colour.

"I, um, yes, yes I think so," Kagome replied, recognising him. It was the boy she had almost knocked earlier that day – Kagome was sure of it. There weren't that many red-haired and emerald-eyed boys in Tokyo, "Are you alright?" Kagome added quickly.

The boy nodded distractedly, absentmindedly fixing his dark pink school jacket, and knelt next black-haired human.

"What's wrong with him?" Kagome asked, quickly gathering up the contents of her spilt bag and walking to join him.

"Kuromatsu –the youkai we fought- cut him with a poisoned sword. He is turning into stone," The boy replied anxiously. He started searching his pockets; "I have to call Botan…where did the communicator go?"

While he was distracted, Kagome reached out sat down and lightly touched the human's injured shoulder. His hair, full of gel, now resembled a mess similar to a bird's nest. There was a rough and stubborn expression in his face that reminded her of Inuyasha. The boy moaned in pain and shivered. She could feel the 'wrongness' in his blood. Checking that the redheaded boy was still busy searching for his 'communicator' (she still wasn't sure whether he was youkai or hanyou), Kagome took a deep breath and sunk into a trance. A pink glow spread across her fingertips. Mentally, she urged it onto the boy's wound and into his body. Slowly he began to glow as well. Kagome kept purifying him until his teeth stopped chattering and he longer moaned in pain.

Satisfied, Kagome opened her eyes and leaned back, almost overbalancing from a sudden wave of exhaustion. A small frowned tugged her lips – she had never been this tired after using her holy powers. But she and Kurama gasped in shock when she realised that the boy's shoulder wound was entirely healed.

"Argh…" the boy groaned, "What…? Kurama?"

The boy now identified as Kurama stopped staring at Kagome and moved to the boy's side.

"How are you feeling Yusuke?" Kurama asked

"Felt worse, but I've also felt way better," Yusuke replied, sitting up slowly, "What about Hiei?"

"Hiei!" Kurama's eyes widened and he ran off, moving gracefully though Kagome half-expected him to trip in his haste.

Yusuke closed his eyes and ran a shaky hand through his hair but the mess was a lost cause. When he opened his piercing brown eyes again he was staring straight at Kagome.

"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" He frowned at her.

"Yusuke! Come here and help me with Hiei!" Kurama called

Yusuke stood up and wobbled. Kagome jumped up to help him but the boy shot her killer glare. Kagome frowned in return, surprised at his rudeness. He really did behave like Inuyasha. Kagome trailed after him to make sure he didn't fall. She got the impression he was somehow offended by her concern. Her frown turned into a glower. But her anger melted away when she saw their friend Hiei. He had been buried in the earth up to his waist, but not before he got a couple of nasty looking gashes across his chest and terrible bump on the back of his head. This guy's appearance just screamed 'demon' to the young miko – not only did his black and white hair defy gravity in a way no hair product could achieve, his aura seemed in constant battle with itself.

"Is he alright?" Kagome gently asked Kurama.

"I'm fine, human!" the black-haired youkai snarled. Apparently he was awake and spitting fire.

"I have to get you out, Hiei," Kurama told him, "But I'm drained. It may take some time."

Kagome watched with interest as the grass around short-tempered demon begun to wriggle and churn. Hiei struggled as well until finally he leapt out in a shower of dirt and pebbles.

"Hiei!" Yusuke shouted angrily and added a few more colourful phrases, "Watch it!" he grumbled as he brushed dirt out of his hair – or tried to. His head now looked as if covered by a chocolate sprinkled liquorice cake.

"Hn," was the only reply, "Someone tell me who the onna is."

Kagome gulped nervously as three sets of eyes turned on her – one set thoughtful, one set irritated, and the last (blood-coloured ones) downright unfriendly.

"Hiei, Yusuke – I'd like you to meet our rescuer," Kurama introduced her, giving her a reassuring smile.

"What?" Yusuke exploded while Hiei studied her with apparent disbelief. Kurama simply nodded.

"I think introductions are in order," Kurama said to Kagome, "I'm Kurama, and this is Hiei and Yusuke. Thank you for helping us out."

"It was no problem, I'm…" Kagome trailed off as she realised that the afternoon light had faded. She whirled around to face a glorious sunset, "…in trouble," she finished.

"What's the matter?" Kurama asked, stepping forward.

Kagome turned to face them, "Um…" She realised she had no idea who they were apart from their names and fact two of them were youkai. And she could remember Sango telling her that full demons didn't like hanyous. Sure, Kurama felt almost like a hanyou, but she couldn't be sure…How would they react if she transformed into a demon? After all, they had been fighting a demon and…she was rambling.

They were still waiting for a response. Her time was running out.

"I…I have to go. Look at the time – I'm going to be late," a tingling sensation spread across her body, "Nice to meet you, I hope you get better, good-bye!"

She turned and raced away, hearing them shout in surprise. Kagome didn't care. She ducked into the forest and ran through the disappearing mist, grimacing in pain. Her stride lengthened until she was flying across the earth and asphalt, tail flowing behind her. The tingling stopped as the rim of the sun sunk below the horizon.

Far behind her, Hiei frowned as the girl's aura vanished.

-

Author: Well, that's another one. You may have picked this up, but nothing happens in this chapter. They meet, full stop. Next chapter, Kagome's in trouble – guess whose turn it is to play hero?