Yes, yes, I know I have released yet another story. This one is also going to be rather short, maybe a two or three-shot. I wrote this one a long time ago and debated putting it up, but it is rather interesting an I love bring Shippo and other kids into Kagome's little family. Once again, this story is a Kagome/Kuronue/Yoko.
Disclaimer: I will only say this once and no more. I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. If I did, I'd be rich, which I'm not. So there you go.
Saving Grace
Pure Deceit
Chapter 1
Shippo screamed in pain and fear as he was kicked harshly in the ribs once again. He coughed and dropped to his elbows on the ground tears of pain slipping down his pale cheeks. Why? Why are they doing this? His mother protected their village, so why were they attacking him? They had to know he was her son. Beside him Kiyoshi, his silver kitsune adopted brother, also growled in pain, but instead of crying, he never once uttered anything but enraged growls.
Shippo sometimes wished he could be like him, but even he knew Kiyoshi was not one to back down so easily. "Stop this," Kiyoshi demanded, throwing off one human. "You do know what mother will do when she hears about this."
"Shut up!" One of the smelly humans growled smacking him harshly across the cheek. The scent of the sake was enough to make both boys want to hurl it was so pungent and foul as the man bent low over Kiyoshi and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. "You think she cares about you? You're a demon, she's a miko. She can't ever love a demon such as you," he sneered in Kiyoshi's face, an ugly scowl across his flushed, inebriated features.
The humans surrounding them laughed harshly, the sound grating against both their ears, as Kiyoshi was dropped on his tail bone. "Too bad she won't be around to see it," another human mocked, laughing when Kiyoshi's silver eyes glared up at him in anger. "And too bad you won't be around when we sadly report that her sons were attacked by rabid demons while she was away. Once we get rid of you two she'll no longer have two sniveling weasels to look after. And after that...well, lets just say she'll be so over come with grief that she'll be naturally susceptible to our charms. But don't worry, we'll treat her right...if she pleases us good."
Shippo's eyes widened in fear and anger as Kiyoshi jumped in front of him, shielding him from the boot about to be jammed into his ribs. Kiyoshi groaned and took the hit which tossed him several yards away into a tree.
"Kiyoshi!" Shippo cried starting to rush over to his brother. He gave a little yelp when another human picked him up by the tail, yanking him head over heels into the air. He began kicking and screaming, flailing his arms about and biting everywhere he could. As a last resort, Shippo used his foxfire to burn the human and was then dropped on his head and smacked so hard his head spun and bile began to rise in his throat. Shippo choked on a sob as the human crept closer, seeking to end his short life.
Suddenly a vine came flying out of nowhere, wrapping around one of the approaching humans and pulling him roughly against the bark of a nearby tree. "Hey, let me go you little savage!" The human barked as Kiyoshi tightened his hold, enforcing the man even tighter against the bark, hoping that it hurt very badly. Because he was distracted from this fight, he was caught off guard when the head elder grabbed him by the back of the neck and threw him to the ground directly beside his wounded brother. Now that the vine had slackened the human was able to free himself and together all four humans surrounded both kits.
"Ki-Kiyoshi," Shippo gasped, clasping onto his brother in fear.
"It-Its okay, Shippo," Kiyoshi whispered in his ear, tightening his arms around his brother, maneuvering his body in front. "Remember what mother says. 'Always be brave in the face of danger. Never let them see your fear'."
Trying as hard as he could, Shippo nodded, drying his tears and tightening his features until it was an almost perfect mask of blankness. He stood up straight next to his brother, ignoring the pain of his wounds and the pounding in his head. Kiyoshi smiled down at his brother and together they closed their eyes, waiting for death to take them.
Suddenly a soft ping met their ears, along with the readjustment of the wind as something came flying past them out of the woods and buried itself directly into one of the human's gut, impaling him roughly against a tree. The man didn't even get another chance to breathe before he lost his life. "Kiyoshi, what's going on?" Shippo whispered opening his eyes and searching for whomever had thrown the weapon. Kiyoshi, noticing that the attention was off them and on something far off in the distance, tried to urge his brother to his feet so they could run away. Unfortunately, one of the humans caught the movement and tried to grab Shippo as he ran away, thus halting his escape as well. Shippo gave a sharp cry of pain as the human picked him up and wrapped a tight fist around his throat.
"Hey, human, let my brother go!" Kiyoshi cried, his silver eyes beginning to fog over with a pink sheen. Kiyoshi shook his head, trying to rid himself of the rage. If he wasn't careful enough he would go into a blood rage and that could be quite dangerous if he lost himself in madness. He was just about to charge at the stupid man, wishing he'd thought to bring his sword along or at least his bow and arrows, so he might have something to defend himself with. See, while he was a silver kitsune, he'd been alone almost since birth and had never had anyone train him. Everything he knew now had been things he'd taught himself or something his mother had taught him. In short, his magic was useless.
Shippo choked, struggling weakly to get away from the death grip on his throat. He could feel his air supply rapidly diminishing and his eyes going heavy. The last thing he heard before he passed out was a cry of, "brother no!" And then there was nothing but black.
"No!" Kiyoshi cried again rushing forward and driving his claws deep into the humans neck, relieved when Shippo was released. He noticed Shippo was still breathing and gave a tiny sigh of relief then turned back to the humans who had dared attack his family. Reaching into his hair, he pulled out his last resort. It was a seed to a death plant he'd come across but had never used before. He really had no idea what it would do, but knew he had to try something.
Holding out his hand, he tried willing the plant to grow, his body shaking from the effort it took to coax even a sprout to grow. Come on...come on you stupid plant; grow! With a last burst of energy the plant burst out of the seed, attacking and surrounding the human who had almost killed Shippo. The vine snaked its way around the human's body, cutting off all oxygen, much like Shippo's had been cut off earlier. The human gave a tiny, gurgling cry right before the plant snapped his neck. Kiyoshi let go of the plant and collapsed on his knees breathing heavily.
He could barely lift his head as the angry humans began reaching for him. He had no energy left. He couldn't move a muscle. He was going to die!
"Leave them alone!" A sudden chilly voice rang out, the temperature in the area diminishing with the frigid voice. Kioyshi lifted his head weakly, feeling a new and powerful energy surrounding the area. It didn't feel like his mother...but it was a demon. A strong one if he had to make a bet. His eyes had barely left the ground when he found himself staring directly into the golden eyes of a silver kitsune!
Yoko howled in rage, dropping down next to the shaken, panting silver kit. Kioyshi was surprised when a second pair of legs dropped beside the silver kitsune. He didn't see much else, for soon the exhaustion caught up with him and he fainted.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Yoko demanded. "Attacking an innocent child. You have no right to live."
One of the humans dared to challenge him. "That," he pointed to Kiyoshi. "Is not an innocent child. He is a demon and no demon is innocent, even if it is a child."
Yoko growled deep in his throat as Kuronue watched the goings on with equally frigid eyes. He dismissed the humans as he caught sight of one of his scythes sticking out of a bloody human chest. He walked over to it, glad that his aim was so good, and ruthlessly tore his sticky, blood soaked weapon out of the dead man's chest. He growled, hating the smell of the human's blood on such a prized weapon. This gave him even more reason to kill the stupid, ignorant humans. The first offense had been daring to attack a child, and not one, but two. The second offense came when the humans insulted the demon race, as if they were all a bunch of mindless killers. And the third offense came naturally because the human had dared to bleed on his precious scythe.
"Yoko," he called. Yoko tilted his head in his direction, never taking his heated gaze off the two humans left alive. It seems the silver kit took care of the third, while Kuronue had taken care of the fourth. He would leave the rest to Yoko, who he knew to be even more angry for attacking another of his kind. "Go ahead and kill them both, I'm not feeling very friendly today."
"Right." Yoko smirked at his partner, frightening the humans immeasurably. He was just taking a step towards them when a sudden chill swept over his body. Miko, there was a miko around. He cursed hoping she wasn't here to purify him out of his existence. He really didn't wish to die when he was actually doing something good for once.
She came out of the forest, an angry look on her face. Her energy was brimming around her as Yoko and Kuronue both took several steps away, unknowingly placing themselves in front of the kits. Her aura was not the only thing that startled them. Standing beside her, clutching her hakamas timidly was a little girl with black bat wings. She had silver hair and lilac colored eyes and an almost innocent air about her. Kuronue stared at her oddly. She was a half breed bat demon? Why did she look familiar?
Kagome's eyes swept the area, noticing the two dead humans, two live ones, and four demons. She spotted her precious kits lying unconscious on the ground and fought back the growl of rage she knew to be brimming. "What is going on here?" She hissed, voice barely above a whisper, yet it traveled through everyone presents spine. Shiori followed after sticking close to her mother's side, one of her fingers stuck in her mouth as she glanced over at her brothers nervously. Kagome turned to the humans first, hoping they would answer her truthfully.
"Miko, oh please," one of the humans called dropping to his knees in front of her. "We tried to stop them, but they were just too strong. They attacked the poor little kids and we tried all we could to help them."
Kagome's eyebrow lifted momentarily, taking a glance at the silver kitsune. Why would a silver kitsune attack another of its kind? Something is not right here.
"Oh?" Kagome questioned. "Really? Then allow me to ask you this, gentleman?" She took a step forward and began pacing back and forth in front of them. All eyes were on her and the little girl who kept pace with her mother the whole time. "Why would a kitsune, a race I find to be quite honorable compared to many others, attack another of its kind?" Yoko's heart lightened as he heard her speak, pleased that she found his race honorable.
"Well," the humans gulped desperately trying to think of something to say.
"And explain why they are the ones currently guarding my kits when you two are clear on the other side of the area," she continued on without waiting for a response.
Kagome didn't miss the way the silver kitsunes eyes widened when she addressed Shippo and Kiyoshi as hers. She turned to him and their eyes met and held as Kagome mentally assessed him. He was very strong and very good looking. He had long silver hair, streaming endlessly down his back and pure silver ears, tipped in her direction. He had golden eyes, just a shade lighter than Sesshomaru's. There was a deadly steal behind his gaze as he glared at the humans, yet quiet aloofness as he returned her questioning gaze with one of his own. She stepped towards him, pleased when he made no move to step back, only move closer to her kits in case she was going to hurt them. "You, kitsune-sama, what is your name?" She spoke quietly, not wanting to scare him.
"My lady miko, my name is Yoko Kurama," he answered plainly, speaking very low. Her eyes widened as did the other humans.
"A bandit, correct?" She asked, spotting the almost invisible line that started beneath his left eye and traveled down his cheek. She turned to Kuronue. The bat demon was eying her curiously and kept glancing at her daughter. "And you are?"
"Kuronue, my lady." She nodded, pleased at their manners. It would seem there were still some demons left with manners, even if they were thieves. She turned back to Yoko.
"Tell me, Yoko-sama, did you attack my kits?"
Yoko's eyes darkened and narrowed into tiny slits. "No, Lady Miko, I did not." She nodded wordlessly and turned to the chimera.
"And did you, Kuronue?" She asked.
"I would never attack an innocent child, especially a kitsune," Kuronue spoke the truth and Kagome nodded, then stopped. "You wouldn't perhaps be related to the southern bat tribes would you? Did you by chance have a brother with silver hair? I don't know his name, but I do know his mate. Or I should say, did." She glanced down at Shiori, noticing that the little girl had never once wavered her eyes off the handsome bat demon.
Kuronue's eyes widened as Yoko turned to look at him. "Yes, I did a long time ago, but I heard the whole clan was wiped out by a strange half demon bearing a sword of unmeasurable power."
Yoko's jaw dropped. Kuronue had a brother? He was irked that's for sure, but now was not the time to question his partner.
Kagome nodded eyes bright. "That's correct," Kagome agreed. She turned away from him but stopped when he stepped forward and took her hand. Yoko froze wondering if his partner had gone bonkers. He'd just touched a miko. Not that he found that thought unappealing. The miko was quite beautiful.
"Please, miko-sama, do you know what happened to my brother?"
She turned back to Kuronue, looking him over with a sad glint in her eyes. She glanced down at their joined hands and held tighter, probably surprising him when she didn't reject his touch. "Yes, I'm sorry...but your father murdered him many years ago." Kuronue's eyes dulled and he looked so saddened that Yoko had no idea what to do. They were surprised when the miko picked up her daughter and brought her over to the bat demon. "Here," she handed him Shiori, surprising him again when the little girl clasped him around his neck and stared at him with something akin to wonder. "This is Shiori. She is his daughter."
Kuronue gasped, mouth dropping open as both he and Yoko stared at the little girl. He-he had a niece? Kagome turned away from them, getting back to the main problem, leaving her daughter in the bat's arms, knowing instantly that she could trust these demons. "Now, I'm going to ask you two gentlemen, to tell me the truth." She turned to human number one. "Did you attack my kits, Kyo?" His eyes never left hers, but his mouth tightened and his eyes darkened.
"No, my lady, I swear I had nothing to do with this," Kyo stated.
"Hm," Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes. So they were going to make this difficult were they? She knew there was something wrong with this village when she agreed to protect it. She'd felt something off but ignored her gut feeling. Her eyes filled with guilt, realizing that she had unknowingly endangered her kits' lives. She turned to the other human, Rumiko, and asked him the same question. This time, though, she stepped closer until she was about a foot away. "Did you attack my kits, Rumiko."
"No, miko-sama, I did not." His response was even worse than the last guy, as his eyes never once left her chest. She turned away, rolling her eyes in disgust shivering at the look of lust in the human's eyes. It was disgusting.
"So," Kagome stated stepping into the middle. "How are we going to tell who is lying?"
"It was them!" Rumiko suddenly burst out, pointing straight at the now angered again bandits. "They're demons, they don't do anything but kill and pillage! They don't deserve to live!"
"And you think you do!" Kagome suddenly burst out, surprising all when her aura sky rocketed. "Tell me what reason I have to believe that a demon has any less right to live then we do. What right do you have to decide who lives and who dies? We are all born into this world the same way, so what makes them any less important than a human?"
Yoko was surprised at the intensity of her words, but had to stop and think about that himself. He honestly had never thought about it that way.
The two human's jaws had dropped once again and Kagome was startled when Kyo suddenly reached out and attempted to grab her hand the same way as Kuronue had earlier. Big mistake. As Kagome stared into Yoko's eyes, her own eyes narrowed as she growled. "Let go of my hand," She demanded, breathing heavily. But the stupid human apparently didn't listen to her words as he just gripped her harder. She moved in a blur, too fast for human eyes, dislodging the smelly human from her person and backing him right up into a tree. "You apparently have a hearing problem," she whispered into his ear, pleased when he began shaking but inwardly groaning when she smelled and felt his arousal against her hakamas. She jammed a hand into his gut. "When I tell you to unhand me you will do it or so help me kami, I will tear your body apart piece by piece."
She backed off, grimacing. She moved her body closer to the kitsune, picking up his scent and letting it envelope her body. He smelled good, like roses, sunshine and spring, much better than the human smell of shit and piss. Yoko, instantly realizing what she was doing, had to smirk inwardly allowing more of his scent to wrap around her. Beside him he could see the curious glance of Kuronue, wondering what he was doing, but chose to ignore him. So she liked his scent did she? Good, he didn't particularly like the smell of the aroused human on her either.
"Now, I want the truth and I want it now. I want to know who attacked my kits, why they were attacked, and who is going to die this day."
Kyo and Rumiko gulped but held their ground. The kits were asleep, right? So if they didn't speak up, she'd never know right? Suddenly a coughing sound caused Kagome to spin around and find Kiyoshi sitting up and rubbing his silver head while muttering little ows under his breath.
"Mother?" the little boy asked, glancing up when he realized everyone was looking at him, everyone including the pair who had apparently saved him and his brother. He looked at the others in the area, disregarding the humans knowing that with his mother was here, they wouldn't do anything. "What's going on mother? Why haven't you killed the ignorant humans yet?"
Kagome's eyes widened and she moved forward ever so slightly. So, the humans had been messing with her kids. "Kiyoshi," she called, scooping him up into her arms where she hugged him tight, relishing the feel of his little body pressed against her own. "Tell me what happened as it seems our two human friends haven't been able to cough it up."
Kiyoshi's eyes widened and he lifted his head from her shoulder to stare incredulously at the two stammering humans. So they'd been lying their way through this. Well, if there was anything his mother hated it was a liar, especially since she could always tell whenever someone was lying to her. His eyes gleamed with the possibilities. "Well, mother it was like this-." Kiyoshi went on to tell how the humans had lured both Shippo and Kiyoshi out the in the woods, asking them to help with a passing demon, since she'd been out on patrol at the time. He went on to tell how the humans had ambushed him and poor Shippo, catching them both off guard. He explained everything that happened up until the time he passed out and by the time he was done, there were three growls in the area; one coming from the silver kitsune, one coming from the bat demon, and the loudest from his mother.
Growling in rage Kagome spun around intent on ripping the humans apart like she promise. "Wait, lady, please, you must listen. He's only lying! Kids lie all the time to their parents so its only natural. They just want to see us die, the bloody savages."
Kagome stopped in her tracks as Kyoshi growled low in his throat at the being called a liar. "Are you calling my son a liar?" Her voice was so cold and so violent that everyone present gulped and took a step back, Yoko and Kuronue included, although they were glad that her anger was off of them and onto the deceitful humans.
"That's right," Kyo spoke up bravely.
"Oh, then who's vine is that wrapped around Natako over there?" Kagome referring to the man Kyoshi strangled earlier.
"It's that damn silver kitsune. Everyone knows he's a vicious killer with the ability to manipulate plants," Rumiko pleaded, pointing directly at Yoko.
Yoko growled and shot forward only to be stopped by Kagome's hand on his shoulder. "Stop, Yoko-sama, I can handle this." He turned to her and met her angered eyes, nodding at the look of loathing deep within. He backed away, knowing that something was about to happen.
"Kyoshi," she whispered to her son and set him on the ground where he stood at her side, looking up.
"Yes, mother?" he asked softly.
"Is that your plant?"
He nodded slowly, wondering if he was in trouble for killing the human. She crouched down next to him, pulling him into a short, but loving hug. "Don't worry, I'm not mad at you," she whispered to him. She kissed his cheek and then stood up. "I want you to go over there and revert that plant back to its seed." His eyes widened and he began walking over to the human. With one touch the vine was back in its original place and the seed carefully restored in his hair.
"That was your last chance," Kagome spoke to Kyo and Rumiko. "If the vine had rejected him and laid dormant then I might have been inclined to believe you, however that is doubtful." Her eyes opened and she pulled out an arrow. "Now, you die!"
Quick as a whip both men found themselves impaled by her arrows, stuck against two different trees. Kagome left them alive on purpose. Face impartial and devoid of pity Kagome stepped forward and charged them for their crimes. "You, Kyo Myogi, and you, Rumiko Tenisen, have been found guilty of attempted murder, assault against a child, and lying in the presence of a miko. You will be held in the dungeons of the West Castle of Sesshomaru until your punishment can be assessed." With that she clicked her fingers, causing both men, the arrows, and all sign that there was once a struggle here, gone.
Nobody moved, until...
The sounds of gentle weeping reached Kuronue's ears, him picking up the sounds before Yoko, seeing as how his ears were even more sensitive than a normal demon's. Kyoshi, concerned that she was hurt, raced towards his mother. "Mother, are you okay?" he asked gently. He gasped when she spun around and picked him up, holding him tightly against her.
"I'm so sorry!" She cried digging her face into his soft silver hair and ears. "I should have been here, I'm sorry!"
His little arms came around her neck as he tried to reassure her that he was fine. She opened her eyes and spotted her other son, lying sprawled out over the ground. "Shippo!" Kagome gasped, realizing he was still knocked out. She raced over to him and picked him up off the ground, while Kiyoshi jumped onto her shoulder and peered worriedly down at his brother. Shiori buried her head against Kuronue's neck, silent tears beginning to form when she whispered, "mother."
"I'm sorry too mother," Kiyoshi cried, for the first time allowing a few tears to slip down his face. "I couldn't protect him mother. Shippo got hurt because I-."
"No, Kyoshi, its okay. You did the best you could under the circumstances." She leaned in closer. "And I'm very proud of you." With that Kyoshi collapsed against Kagome's neck and shoulders, sobbing his hurt, betrayal, guilt, and relief.
Kuronue let the little girl down, feeling awkward watching the female clutch at her children in despair. Sobbing, she dragged Shiori into her arms as well when the little girl was within arms reach.
Kuronue looked oddly at them, wondering how a miko came to claim a silver kitsune son, a red kitsune son, and a hanyou bat demon. "What a strange family," he whispered, startling Yoko who was staring just as intensely.
Kagome lifted Shiori into her arms, relieved when Kyoshi passed out again from exhaustion. She placed Shippo on her shoulder as well, knowing that even in his sleep he recognized his familiar perch. She gave a tiny sigh of happiness when she felt the sharp pinch of his tiny nails digging into their usual spots. But she didn't care. She was just glad to have her sons back in one piece. She turned to Yoko and Kuronue. "I need to thank you for stepping in and protecting my kits when I couldn't get here earlier. You saved their lives. I don't know what I would have done had I lost them." She looked so vulnerable and sad that Yoko couldn't help but reach out and trace a hand over her porcelain skin smoothing the worry lines.
"I'm just glad we got here in time. We heard the sounds a few yards away. Kuronue was able to dispatch one and we arrived here just in time to see Kyoshi kill the other one," he explained.
Kagome nodded in understanding, then her eyes widened in realization. "Oh, I'm sorry. I never told you my name. I am Kagome." She bowed her head.
"It is nice to meet such a lovely miko, though I have to wonder what a traveling miko is doing alone and without a companion," Kuronue spoke.
Kagome's eyes narrowed. "I have many companions. It just so happens that I choose to travel alone. Speaking of which, you two possess quite a few shards of the Shikon no Tama, may I ask as to where you've acquired them from?"
Kuronue's eyes widened as he watched Yoko reach into the sack at his waist. "How did you know that?" Yoko asked.
Kagome smirked and walked past him. It was almost morning and they would need to get going if they were going to reach Sesshomaru's castle sometime today. She had to tell Sesshomaru about what happened and why there are now two humans situated in his dungeons. "Now why would I tell you that? I can't just go along telling my secrets to the first demon that comes along, even if it is a kitsune bandit with an aptitude for retrieving such jewels."
He couldn't help but grin back at her mischievously, tail twitching in excitement. "So, you have heard of me then?" he asked her, sidling up next to her. Kuronue appeared on her left.
Kagome giggled, noting the curious look in his eyes. "Who hasn't heard of the great Yoko Kurama and his thieving partner Kuronue?" If he didn't know any better, Yoko would think she were mocking him.
"Why is it always Yoko Kurama and Kuronue?" Kuronue whined suddenly, drawing Kagome's attention away from the handsome kitsune. "Why can't it be Kuronue and his partner Yoko Kurama?"
Kagome and Yoko laughed together. "Maybe, they just fear me more," Yoko surmised teasing his partner.
Kuronue pouted, but grinned at the miko pleased that she wasn't sad anymore. Suddenly Shippo whimpered and burrowed deeper into her neck. Kagome stopped walking and turned her head to look at her poor Shippo when his eyes blinked sleepily open. "Mother?" He whispered. "What happened mother? Did the bad men go away?" Kagome tensed and she growled softly, damning the stupid humans again. She stopped growling when Shippo peered up at her worriedly.
"Yes, Shippo," she sighed, reaching back and ruffling his thick red hair. "They're gone. I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner."
Shippo yawned and slithered his body behind her hair, sighing with pleasure when his mother's soothing scent washed over him and her hair cocooned his body. "Is Kyoshi all right?" he asked in her ear.
"He's just fine," Kagome responded soothingly. "Why don't you get some sleep Shippo? You've had a tough day today."
Shippo yawned again. "Okay, but later you'll have to tell me why I smell another kitsune scent around us," he murmured before falling asleep again.
Kagome smiled gently at him and then turned around. She noticed the odd looks she was getting and flushed. "What?" She asked.
Yoko smiled gently at her. "Its nothing. You're just very good with them. Its hard to believe a human is taking care of a demon, let alone three. Even stranger that they look at you as a mother."
Kagome smiled back and shrugged. "What can I say? I love them."
"Do you mind us asking where their real parents are?" Yoko asked when they began walking again.
"Well, I don't exactly know what happened to Shippo's mother, but I know his father was killed by the Thunder Brother's for his shard of the Shikon no tama," Kagome said. She looked back at her tiny son. "That was almost five years ago and Shippo's been with me ever since. Kiyoshi wandered into our camp one day, lost and very hungry. He was completely malnourished and needed a lot of water. He's been with us ever since. He has no idea who his parents are or if they are even alive. As for Shiori...well, you can plainly tell that she's a hanyou." She glanced at Kuronue who had his attention directed at Shiori. She smiled at him gently. "Her father was already dead, I never met him but I heard from his mother that he was a good man. And as for her mother..." Kagome's voice dropped low as she glanced sadly at the little girl. "As far as I know she's dead now. 6 months ago I found Shiori wandering around by herself. She never speaks a word about what happened to her so I can only surmise that the villagers finally took their revenge for the tragedies the bat demon tribe carried out on them." Kagome went on to explain how they first came upon Shiori and her mother.
"That's...that's despicable!" Kuronue suddenly burst out. "I knew my stupid tribe was made up of a bunch of bloody thirsty ass holes but kami. Wish I'd known about it. I would have killed them all myself."
He sat heavily on the ground, panting heavily while Yoko looked on worriedly. Kagome glanced at Yoko and walked over to the bat demon, depositing Shiori in his arms, and gently sat behind him, embracing him from behind, twining her arms around his neck after placing Shippo and Kyoshi on the ground. "I'm sorry, Kuronue, I really am," She whispered in his ear soothingly. "But we took care of most of them, including your evil father and Shiori's still alive."
Kuronue sighed and enjoyed the warm embrace of the miko and the little girl in his arms. It felt...nice. It had been a long time since he'd been hugged or comforted. There was only so much comfort you could get when your partner was the notorious Yoko Kurama. Kagome ran her hands through his thick hair, suddenly wondering what he looked like with his hat off and if his hair was as long as it looked to be. Before he could protest Kagome's curiosity took control and she tossed the hat off.
"Hey!" He protested at first but Kagome was too interested in staring at his long hair. It was even longer than Yoko's when it wasn't up. It was so beautiful that she couldn't resist raking her hands through the thick strands. It wasn't long before a strange noise began emanating from his chest. It sounded like...purring.
Kagome fell over laughing and Kuronue opened his eyes and stopped the noise, while Yoko wondered what she found so funny. "S-Sorry," Kagome giggled. "I just didn't know bats could purr." She continued laughing while Yoko began chuckling as well, while Kuronue turned away trying to not blush. It wouldn't do for his rep.
"I was not," Kuronue whined in denial, hiding his smile in Shiori's sweet scented neck. She smelled good and holding the little girl was quite comforting.
"Ha ha, don't live in denial, Kuronue," Yoko laughed and sat down next to the miko, feeling just a little bit jealous when Kagome began urging her fingers through his partner's hair and he began purring again. Kuronue saw his look and grinned, one fang hanging over his lip as he relaxed into the gentle miko's grip.
"Jealous, Yoko?" he questioned and leaned even further back into the miko's embrace. Kagome blushed lightly and glanced at Yoko's pouting expression and couldn't help but giggle.
"Come here," she patted the spot directly at her side. "Besides there's something I've been meaning to do." Yoko smirked, thinking of the possibilities and crept closer, sitting next to his partner when Kagome held out one of her arms. He leaned into her embrace and almost jumped when he felt her left hand come up and start rubbing his ears. Instead his eyes instantly felt heavy at the sinful caress and he slumped heavily at her side.
"Mother?" A small voice asked, and Kagome froze turning to face both of her sons who were eyeing her oddly. She had the decency to blush and both Kuronue and Yoko couldn't help but think her cute.
She smiled at her sons. "Yes, what is it?"
Kyoshi eyed the demons skeptically. "What are you doing?" He didn't think these demons were a threat; after all they did save him and his brother, but still. His mother hadn't looked quite that happy in a long time. She was always so serious most of the time unless she was playing like it looked like she was now.
"Uh, er, well...have you met Yoko and Kuronue?"
Kyoshi continued staring at his mother for a few more seconds until he rolled his eyes and turned to the demons with a wide smile. "Hi, I'm Kyoshi and this is my brother Shippo! Thank you for saving us. Hey, wow, are you really Yoko Kurama! I've heard about you."
Yoko gave the kit a wide smile when he walked over with Shippo staring curiously behind him. "And what things have you heard kit?" Kuronue rolled his eyes, knowing that the kitsune was preening. But he fell over laughing with the little silver kit's next word.
"Not much." Yoko just fell over.
Kagome began laughing at the two and reached for Shippo who was standing next to her. She pulled him into her arms when he began laughing too and ran her long fingers through his course red hair. She smiled softly at him when he turned in her arms and gave her a big hug, purring happily into her embrace. Kuronue's body and hair still lay quite close to her and the black waves continued to fall over her lap and Shippo's body, while Yoko lay on the other side. Kagome closed her eyes and leaned back against a tree, enjoying the feel of her warm son. She opened her eyes when she felt Kyoshi fall tiredly into her arms as well and kissed his shiny hair. She watched as her sons curl up together and fell back asleep.
Yoko shifted to sit behind her and lifted her into his lap and Kagome gave a light squeak of surprise and blushed when she felt his hard body moving behind hers. So now Yoko lay sitting up against the tree, Kagome in his lap with Kuronue in front of her holding Shiori, while both Kyoshi and Shippo lay curled in her lap. Kagome couldn't resist reaching behind her with one hand and rubbing Yoko's ears. His head dropped onto her shoulder and she could feel his warm breathing washing over her neck and shoulders. She held back the moan of pleasure threatening to spill and instead leaned back even more in his hold. She didn't know what it was about these two demons. By all rights she should have been scared to be in the presence of such powerful and probably dangerous demons. She couldn't explain it, but they both made her feel extremely safe and protected.
"Ano...Kuronue, Yoko," Kagome heard herself whisper as her eyes drifted shut.
"Yes, Kagome?" Yoko murmured in her ear, eyes closed in enjoyment as she scratched his ears.
"Would, would you like to travel with us, just for a little while?" She asked blushing even more.
Kuronue and Yoko exchanged glances, knowing that they really didn't have much to do these days. Sure, they were bandits, stealing was their passion. But they would be glad to put it off for such an intriguing miko.
"I think we can work you into our schedule," Kuronue joked turning his head up to view the peaceful miko, lying against his partner.
Kagome let a small smile fall across her face as she fell into sleep. "See you in the morning," she whispered just before she sunk totally into the world of dreams.
I'm done! And that's the last of my updates for now. Who knows what my wicked brain will come up with next. Please remember to read and review! I promise to be good to you! Hey, that rhymed...I'm such a dork.
Ja ne
Kura