Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha.

Author's Note: Yes, long time since the last update. However, I'm mostly writing on another account in the KH fandom now, so these aren't big priorities.

Chapter Seven - Redirection

After the useless meeting where everyone put forward tentative ideas that had no chance of working, it took a surprisingly small amount of time for the tension to rise to a point where a fight could, and did, happen. It wasn't really a surprise to anyone who had been watching - which included everyone except Kagome, who had been blind toward the rising aggression Shippo harbored toward her new friends - Yusuke in particular.

When Yusuke, turning a corner, bumped into Shippo, the kitsune stumbled a step, heard the beginnings of a muttered excuse, and lunged. It was easy for him to fight. He had been doing it since Rin died. All he did was fight and kill, and here was someone who took Kagome's attention from them, and dared to try and lecture the miko. He didn't know her.

Yusuke cursed in shock, but was over it quickly. He had known the kitsune disliked him, and twisted away from fiery claws. In a short amount of time, Yusuke had managed to move the fight outside through the simple strategy of jumping out a window. Then the two really fought. Shippo knew, from the start, that Yusuke was powerful, but he was stunned when he realized just how powerful he was. It occurred to him that the boy would be a good ally - if he butted out of the personal side and stayed away from his friend, who had once been his mother. It was confusing to think of Kagome sometimes.

"What is your problem?" Yusuke growled as he ducked beneath a claw and then kicked the fox.

Shippo tumbled back and scraped at the dirt, jumping sideways as a punch landed in the spot he had been at an instant before. "You are."

"Really? Cause I kind of thought it was Sesshoumaru," Yusuke shot back, perfectly at ease with the exchange of punches and the lunges the kitsune made with his claws.

"You have no right," He began, hissing in pain as Yusuke landed a hard blow. "To even look at Kagome the way you do," the kitsune finished, and fire erupted close to the majin's present position as for a moment he stopped, looking a bit shocked.

Then both kept moving, neither stopping to exchange words, though for Shippo it was because he couldn't without losing. For Yusuke, it was because he wasn't sure what to say, and it was easier simply to flow into the rhythm of the fight than figure out what words to say.

Keiko was the first to notice the two, who were simply sharp flashed of blue light with a few moments where they stopped to breathe before charging each other again. She gasped, and almost screamed at them, but she knew it wouldn't do any good - and would possibly do them harm. She bolted, looking for anyone who could help. Mostly, this included Kurama or Kuronue who each had a hold on one of them. Instead she ran into Kagome.

Keiko nearly knocked the other girl off her feet and Kagome reached out to steady them both. Keiko had to catch her breath a moment from her sprint before she said in a rush, "Shippo and Yusuke are fighting outside and do you know where Kuronue or Kurama are?"

"That way," Kagome answered automatically, pointing. Keiko ran off again and Kagome stared after her before the sentence sank in. Then she took off as well, much faster than Keiko had gone, and back the way the brunette had come.

It was easy to find them, even though they had fought their way out of sight. All she had to do was follow their energy. They were pillars of youki to her, spread all around them, power that rippled through the air. She could also tell Shippo wasn't paying much attention to his fire. Somethings were burning. The fire eventually turned normal as it began to burn, and Kagome cursed as she stared at the beginnings of a few small fires. "Damn them," she whispered, and ran faster.

She skidded to the stop at the edge of clearing that she was sure used to be part of the forest. She felt a chill run down her spine as it took her eyes a few moments to adjust to their fighting. They were going all out, or at least Shippo was. She assumed Yusuke was, but she could barely follow his movements. They both looked very serious. She ignored her own safety and sprinted toward them. Too involved in their own fighting, they didn't notice until she was suddenly between them.

Yusuke swore and managed to stop. Shippo's reactions were slower, and he was more tired than Yusuke was. He realized too late she was there, his instincts screaming at him to attack, and then to stop, the signals mixing. He did try, but all he could see was startled blue eyes, the thought to defend never occurring in them.

His claws hit empty air and he stumbled, falling into a crouch as he shook in reaction, his eyes following Kagome's scent. He couldn't even growl when he saw Yusuke's hand on her shoulder, the toushin looking a bit pale. Kagome was standing very still for the first moment their eyes met.

Kagome pushed off Yusuke's hand and walked over to Shippo, startling both males. Yusuke's eyes flashed with anger as she quietly inspected the injuries Yusuke had given the red head. "That's it? He could have killed you!"

"Not on purpose," She answered, and absently evaded him when he tried to reach out and pull her away. "If you two hadn't been fighting in the first place, it wouldn't have happened."

Yusuke grabbed at her again and this time caught her, pulling her back and turning her toward him. "If I hadn't moved you out of the way, you'd be dead. Don't you get that?"

Yusuke acknowledged the kitsune's flinch and felt vindicated. The kitsune should flinch, considering what he had almost done. It was all to easy to imagine Kagome dead by his claws - or claws in general. Sesshoumaru had claws as well and Yusuke ignored the nervous feeling he felt at the thought. She was a warrior as much as they, if one who seemed reckless sometimes - and there was the jewel. He didn't know what Sesshoumaru would do about that.

"It wouldn't have happened if you two hadn't been fighting. I had to stop it," Kagome replied, her eyes calm and staring at him with an oddly peaceful look. She was plainly waiting for something, but he didn't realize what it was until there were footsteps behind them and a familiar throat cleared meaningfully.

He turned to find mostly everyone out there now. Most were looking at him and Kagome - many with suspicion and all with curiosity. He realized then that he had still had his hands on Kagome's shoulders until they approached. he darted a glance at Keiko and it was his turn to be surprised. She seemed curious, but not suspicious - and Kuronue's hand was on her shoulder. It should have disturbed him - it didn't. Neither did the comfortable way she looked with that hand on her shoulder. It should have, but it didn't and he scowled at them all, opening his mouth to make some remark, but it never came out as he realized Kagome had taken the chance to go back to Shippo's side and inspect his wounds.

"He's right you know," Shippo said in a low voice that was still loud enough to carry.

"Yes, he is. Just because someone has their facts down doesn't change my actions or opinions one bit," Kagome remarked and Yusuke resisted the urge to growl.

"Stubborn bitch," He muttered and felt the air tense. Especially the kitsune and her little brother froze. Kagome raised an eyebrow at him and snorted derisively, but that was all.

"Stubborn yes, but I don't see how my actions can be constructed as being dog-like," Kagome responded with a very even tone of voice. Yusuke suddenly realized what hot water he was in. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were dog demons - and Inuyasha had called her names a plenty if he remembered the story.

"Just stubborn then," Yusuke muttered, the closest he would come to apologizing. Kagome turned back to Shippo, much to Yusuke's irritation, and the atmosphere relaxed.

"What happened, then?" Kuronue asked as he moved to help Kagome check over and bandage Shippo. Unlike the others, he had known no matter how soon they were able to get there, someone would need bandaging.

"She doesn't fucking think, that's what happened!' Yusuke burst out. "She jumped right in the damn middle of the fight!"

"I didn't stop in time," Shippo added quietly.

"Almost, you mean?" Kuronue asked, but he was already shifting his gaze to Kagome and then to Yusuke.

"Yusuke grabbed me out of the way," Kagome explained absently as she took some of Kuronue's supplies to clean a long deep cut on Shippo arm. It would heal within a day, but until then she wanted to keep it clear of infection.

Souta shrugged as took over, "Seems like it turned out alright," he said, and shouldered Kagome away with her handful of supplies. She glared at him and the boy's intent look went over to Yusuke, then to the supplies in her hands. he glared at her and she glared back, but finally grudgingly accepted the assignment.

"All right?" Yusuke yipped, barely noticing the miko now. "She could have been killed!"

"You said that already. Sit down." Kagome followed him down and frowned at him. Shippo had more broken bones and internal damage, but Yusuke had more scratches and burns - more damage that showed, much less damage over all. Still, there were a few deep cuts that she knew she should clean. She refused to let herself be amused at how easily he had followed her instructions.

"And I'll say it again," He snapped at her.

"You can if you want. Shirt off," She commanded, and he took his shirt off, not even wincing despite the fact she knew that must have pulled a more damaging wound.

"I do want," He snapped, and then shut his mouth abruptly. "What are you doing?"

"Even demons have to watch for infections," She answered him mildly. She was already washing one long claw mark and Yusuke grimaced at the feeling of the cold water against the wound.

"But why you?" He asked, exasperated. She didn't reply, but someone else did.

"Kuronue and Souta have Shippo, and they're trying to make you two talk - probably in the hopes you'll fight less later if you get it out of your system now," Keiko piped up helpfully, her slightly pleased tone sounding like she agreed with them.

"I'm too exhausted to argue with Yusuke about nothing today," Kagome said mildly, and Yusuke frowned. She did look more tired than usual.

"Why?" He demanded. She didn't pretend not to understand.

"I've been training a lot, physical training, meditation, and trying to understand the Shikon no Tama. We don't have much time." She finished cleaning his wounds and stood up. "This was my break, I have to get back to training now."

Yusuke couldn't help but feel guilty that she was helping them on their break. He didn't even think before offering, "I could help. You need a sparring partner."

This time there was a muttering from Shippo, quickly silenced by Kuronue and Keiko. Yusuke didn't know why, but he almost felt like he was holding his breath. Then Kagome's lips quirked into a smile. "Sure. You can laugh at me when you hopelessly outclass me, too."

"It'll make my day," He retorted and got up, stretching and ignoring her rolled eyes. So she had just cleaned the wounds – he was just making sure she had done it properly. He pulled his shirt back on and glanced around. Mostly there were amused and exasperated faces now. The worry was mostly gone – though Souta had an odd look on his face as he stared at them. Yusuke couldn't read it.

He shrugged it off and grinned at the girl by his side. "C'mon, let's go get into a fight."

She had to laugh. "We do that anyway."

"Yeah, but this one won't be interrupted." He grinned at her, pleased to see her return it. This would definitely turn out to be fun.

Kuronue stared at the stars and listened to the sounds of Yusuke helping an exhausted Kagome back. They both sounded relatively happy, and their banter had less bite than usual – though Kuronue couldn't help but wonder if they realized that they sounded as if they were flirting half the time. He heard the approaching footsteps but didn't turn his head. Kurama stopped behind an outstretched wing and Kuronue finally did stare back. He was flat on his back, wings outstretched, and Kurama was staring at him with a peculiar expression.

"A lot has happened. I have come to realize that I do not know you as much as I once did," Kurama started carefully. Kuronue raised an eyebrow and wondered if the kitsune realized that it sounded like he had prepared the speech. Actually, knowing Kurama – if he could say he still did know the changed fox – it probably had been planned.

To forestall more of the same stilted talking, Kuronue snatched at the ankle of one foot and pulled. His position mad it awkward and his friend fell with a yelp – partly on him, making the breath leave his body. "Ow."

"Your fault," Kurama murmured, sounding amused as he rolled off – and onto his wing, which was unusual. He expected Kurama to get off, but he didn't. The kitsune instead stared at him. "I mean it, you know."

Trapped as he was – and it was definitely on purpose – Kuronue had no choice but to shrug playful – but with an air of seriousness. "I know my friend. And you didn't expect what you consider my betrayal. I have new friends – but you are still important to me. We have changed, but I hold dear to me the memories of our escapades – and the things we stole, of course."

"Of course," Kurama said dryly. "Like the mirror that we stole that almost got you kill."

"Ah," Kuronue said inelegantly. "You want to talk about that?" His expression clearly asked, 'Do we have to?'

"Perhaps not now. But someday I will want to know what happened. When this is all over." Kurama was smiling slightly, but Kuronue sensed the demand, the order behind it, and he accepted it. Beyond them, in the house, there was a shout of male laughter and an angry female yell.

Kuronue smiled in spite of himself. "I am not the only one with a friend among your group. An odd start, but Yusuke and Kagome are getting along well."

"Of course they are. Their very natures tell them that they should never be friendly to each other. Yusuke always goes against what he should do, and by what you've told me and what I've seen..." Kurama trailed off meaningfully.

Kuronue sighed and filled it in. "Kagome does the same. Sometimes I think the more people tell her she shouldn't do something, the more she desperately wants to. But then, I suppose I could say that about a lot of teenagers."

He smirked at Kurama's narrowed eyes. It was odd that Kurama considered himself both teenager and old demon, but Kuronue had picked up on it right away and was having endless amounts of fun teasing him about it subtly. Kurama flashed sharp teeth at him in the darkness. "And what do they say about the age old powerful demons who follow those silly teenagers."

"They say we're crazy, of course." Kuronue managed to make a solemn face and added, "They're right, of course. But I knew I was crazy once I accepted an offer from a kitsune. Something about stealing precious books from powerful demons three times our age and strength, wasn't it?"

"I think we both may have been a bit drunk when we decided to do that," Kurama admitted. Kuronue shrugged. It had been a fun night, drunk or not. And they had still managed to pull it off.

"So, what are we going to do about Sesshoumaru?" Kurama finally asked.

Kuronue stared back up at the stars. "Train. Watch what Sesshoumaru does – and hope that we can win. For the sake of ourselves, and all three worlds. And for Kagome's sanity."

"She'll be dead if he wins," Kurama stated flatly, coldly. Kuronue hated it when Kurama talked about Kagome now – since the Shikon no Tama had been revealed the kitsune had been nothing but frigid toward her.

"I don't know about that. The Shikon no Tama is deeply connected to her – I think more deeply than even she knows. Sesshoumaru is crazy, but he is not stupid. Why kill something when he could use it?" Kuronue watched Kurama carefully as he spoke. Kurama wanted to use Kagome, and Kuronue was trying to make a point. He saw a flicker of anger flash in Kurama's eyes and sighed. The kitsune didn't want to listen.

"Would she let herself be controlled so easily?" Kurama asked coolly. Kuronue gazed at him sadly and pulled his wing out from under the kitsune.

He stood up and said quietly, "She would die first. But he can fix that quite easily, you know."

He turned away from his friend and opened his wings wide. He wanted to explain it all clearly to Kurama. He wanted to explain how hurting Kagome just hurt them all. But... He couldn't. He didn't know how. Kurama was right, they didn't quite know what to say to each other anymore. Kurama felt hurt, and was blaming Kagome most of all – and the power the jewel had wasn't exactly a small temptation either.

Kanna sat quietly in the wolf den. White wolves sat all around her – and a few brown, but mostly they were white. She look at the alpha female – though they pretended that it was one of the younger wolves that was alpha. Yet, Kanna knew the truth. The one they all called Grandmother – or Mother for those few that were her direct children and not generations after – was definitely the one in charge. And she was not as crazy as many had thought, either, which she was showing her clear eyed gaze and thoughtful expression. "She still has the jewel?"

"So it seems. Sesshoumaru wants it, of course," Kanna stated blandly. Ayame snorted, rolling her green eyes and surprising many of the younger wolves with her active movements. They were her used to just staring.

"Of course. He's insane. The Shikon no Tama is always coveted by the insane. It's some kind of rule. Naraku, for instance. All those stupid demons who wanted an easy path to power – all dead now, aren't they? Kagome will manage to do the same to Sesshoumaru. With our help of course." The wolf demon stood and stretched, her white tail swishing eagerly behind her. "Finally, a fight."

"I advise strong caution. She had many powerful allies now. We should plan carefully and contact her before making any moves," Kanna said, staring straight ahead. She had spied on them as best she could, and been relieved that Kagome's luck held true even now. She always managed to find the best allies.

"Sure, sure. We won't move until she's ready – but that's no reason not to make sure we're all at our best. I swear, this pack has let itself be ruled by fear too long. It needs a good rousing rebellion! What do you all say?" She grinned at her pack and got some muttered cheers. Her smile vanished and her green eyes glittered angrily "I said, you lazy dog-whipped shit-eaters, what do you say."

"REBELLION!" They screamed, partly in fear of her reprisal – but when it became a chant Ayame's head lifted to look at all their faces. Kanna blinked once at seeing the grins on their faces. And then the chant became a howl and all she could hear was, "REBELLION, REBELLION, REBELLION!"

Ayame joined in and then lifted her head at the last syllable and really howled, and the wolves themselves joined in with the demons. Kanna let out a tiny, tiny smile and whispered, "Rebellion."

Perhaps, if the wolf demons could overcome their fear, then they could do it. Kagome would want them there – the more help, the better. Kagome and her friends could take care of the powerful ones – but there were the weaker demons that would obey Sesshoumaru's command. The pack would tear through those simpering puppies. Kanna's black eyes shone and she whispered, "For my lost future, rebellion."

Sesshoumaru gazed down upon the shrine. The tree was familiar – he remembered the tree for sure. Inuyasha had been kept their for half a century. The miko's home stood nearby, an old man and a human woman. Those he had collected around him rustled restlessly. They wanted to attack. His golden eyes flickered to the door as it opened, the old man coming out, toward the tree that Sesshoumaru recognized from long ago. He couldn't kill them both – but a little blood would appease his followers and tell the miko he was serious.

"Kill him," He ordered, his voice making the man's head snap up. He watched coldly as the human's eyes widened, just before half a dozen demons jumped onto him. He didn't even have time to scream before they were tearing into him, biting and clawing at his flesh. Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose in disgust at their barbaric actions. They could have at least used weapons.

He stalked by them and the dead human. The door loomed in front of him. He knocked politely and waited. The woman who opened the door could have been an older Kagome – if Kagome had never known the things she knew. If Kagome had kept more of her innocence. Impassively, Sesshoumaru grabbed the woman as she gasped. "You will come with me."

"You look... like Inuyasha," the woman managed to say, despite her obvious fear. The dog demon looked at her and snorted.

"I am his brother," he stated shortly. The woman began to ask another question which he probably wouldn't have answered – but then she saw the demons destroying her father's body. She screamed, and out of annoyance he knocked her unconscious.

He grabbed a fire demon by it's arm. "Burn it down. Leave the man's body untouched."

"When should I stop it?" The demon asked. Sesshoumaru's lips curled up into a feral smirk.

"Don't stop it. Let it burn for as long as it wants." As long as the old man's body was there, Kagome would know. And if a few of her neighbor's ended up dead as well, then all the better. Let her rage futilely at him from afar. She would never be able to do anything unless she came to him – and she would. She wouldn't be able to help but come to him, with or without her friends. He had her mother, after all.

But he stayed to watch it burn, and raised an eyebrow curiously as the tree was also untouched. But then there were human voices approaching and he left, disappearing into the darkness with the miko's mother under his arm. On the other shoulder was his new arm, taken from a wolf demon. It wouldn't last long, they never did, but it would do for now. And he had only needed this one arm to destroy the miko's world.

End part.

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