punkish furball – Hi, ev'rybody! XD

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Thanks for all the congratulations, guys! College was tough but worth it. For now, I keep moving forward and write whenever I have time. I also bought Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMix, and it is ama-ZAH! I'm also in the process of revising this story, so I'll keep you posted. XD

Chapter 17

Anzu huffed as she closed her cellphone with an irritated click.

"No answer?" Honda asked her.

"What do you think?" she snapped, glaring at him. He defensively raised his hands and backed away from her slowly.

"Chill out! I was just asking."

He, Anzu, Jonouchi, Otogi, and Ryo were all assembled outside the Higurashi family home for the Christmas party they planned to take place after Domino High closed for winter break. The air outside was cold and crisp, but it stopped snowing before they arrived at the shrine. Anzu collected all of the Secret Santa presents beforehand, not including Yugi's and Kagome's, making sure no one snuck a peek. They were all in a bright red bag stationed by her feet.

"Should we try knocking again?" Ryo suggested.

Otogi snorted. "Jonouchi practically beat down the door, and they still haven't answered. Are you sure they're inside?"

"Of course I am!" Anzu retorted and flipped open her phone, "I'm going to try calling again."

"Maybe the back door is open," Otogi suggested before running around the house, "I'm going to check."

"Okay," Jonouchi said. As he spoke, he turned to a tree planted closely to the house.

"I'm gonna try up there to see if that second floor window's open."

Honda's eyes widened. "You serious? You can't climb up there!"

Jonouchi smirked and approached the tree. "Just watch me!"

"Hey!" Anzu shouted, "We're trying to find Yugi and Kagome-chan not break and enter into Kagome-chan's house!"

"Calm down!" Jonouchi grunted as he hugged the tree trunk, "I'm not going to break the window. I'm just seeing if it's open."

"That's not what I meant!"

By the time Otogi returned, Jonouchi was halfway up the tree despite several slipups he made along the way.

"What is he doing?" Otogi asked.

"Something completely stupid," Anzu answered, "So did you have any luck?"

"Yeah," he replied, jerking his thumb behind him, "The sliding door is open on the other side of the house."

Honda snickered, looked up at Jonouchi, and cupped his hand around his mouth. "Hey, idiot! The back door is open!"

"Say what?" Jonouchi uttered. After he spoke, he lost his grip and fell onto the snow covered ground below.

"Dammit!" he grumbled, wincing as he sat up. The fall wasn't far but still very painful. Anzu sighed as Otogi and Honda laughed at his misfortune. Ryo could only shake his head in disappointment.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Of course I'm not okay!" Jonouchi angrily countered.

"Don't take it out on, Bakura-kun," Anzu scolded, "This is what you get for being an idiot."

Then, without warning, Kagome and Yugi appeared at the front door, curiously staring at everyone present.

"What's going on here?" Kagome asked.

"There you two are!" Anzu exclaimed at the sight of their absent friends, "It took you long enough to show up."

"Sorry," Kagome replied, "We were distracted until we heard all the commotion outside."

"What were you two doing anyway?" Otogi asked.

Kagome and Yugi simultaneously blushed.

"We were just finishing up the decorations for the party," Yugi answered, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck, "You guys can come in now!"

"It's about time."

Everyone walked into the house and into the living room, slipping off their shoes and shedding their winter coats when confronted with the pleasant warmth of the home. Jonouchi brought up the rear, staggering.

"Are you okay, Jonouchi-kun?" Kagome asked.

"Don't mind him, Kagome," Honda answered, "He's only suffering a mild case of stupidity. Nothing he isn't used to."

"Oh funny!"

Kagome giggled as she closed the door behind her blond friend. When she turned to join the others, Ryo was standing right behind her.

"Oh hello, Ryo-kun!" she greeted him, surprised to see him so close.

"Indeed," he replied with a serene smile, "I apologize if I startled you, but I really wanted to ask how your latest trip went. Compare to everyone else, I know next to nothing about your work and I'm quite curious about it."

"I suppose you have a point," she replied and took a step away from him. She wasn't sure why she felt so uneasy.

"Hey, you two!" Jonouchi called out, "Get over here!"

"It's time to chow down!" Honda added.

Anzu scoffed. "All you two think about is food. You think you'd show a little more constraint considering we're guests in Kagome-chan's home."

"Come on!" Jonouchi said, lazily draping himself over Anzu's shoulders, much to her ire, "If you can't be yourself around your friends, then why bother keeping you guys around?"

"Very well said! Besides, how can we not enjoy all of the delicious food Kagome made?" Honda questioned.

"Then it's settled," Yugi said, "We'll stuff our faces then open presents. Just put them under the tree until we're done."

"Okay, just get off me!" Anzu shouted. When Jonouchi complied, Anzu walked over to the tree and emptied the bag of presents, carefully placing each one on the floor. Two other boxes, presumably from Kagome and Yugi, were already there.

After Anzu rejoined them, the group sat down and heartily ate the meal Kagome prepared with Yugi's help. When they ate their fill, they reconvened in the living room, gathering around the brightly lit Christmas tree.

"Okay, guys," Anzu began, "I'll start by passing out the gifts." She scooted by the tree and picked up the first gift, a pastel colored envelope addressed to Otogi.

"Oh great," he sarcastically stated, holding the envelope between his index and middle fingers, "I wonder which one of you creative souls got me this."

"Oh dry up, Otogi-kun," Kagome told him with cheeky grin.

"And don't open it yet!" Anzu added, "Wait until I'm finished."

"Whatever you say."

Anzu continued, picking up each present and giving it to its recipient: the largest box wrapped in glittery pink paper with a matching bow went to Honda, a slightly smaller box wrapped in plain brown packing paper was for Yugi, a small, flat box adorned in similar paper went to Ryo, Jonouchi received a short, square box wrapped in festive wrapping paper decorated with snowmen and Christmas wreaths, and Kagome received a slender white box bound with a shimmering dark blue ribbon. Anzu was left with a small box colored an orangey gold topped with a red bow.

"Okay! We'll take turns opening our gifts then we'll all guess who got it. Since I'm the one who picked up all the presents, I won't play," Anzu announced, "Let's start with the biggest box then work our way down from there."

"I guess that's my cue," Honda said and quickly removed the brightly colored paper from his box, crumbling it up and tossing it aside. When he opened it, there was a shiny black motorbike helmet inside.

"Awesome!" he exclaimed with a wide grin, "This is perfect for my bike!"

"I didn't know you had a motorcycle, Honda-kun," Kagome commented.

"That rules you out then," Otogi deduced, "I'd say it's from Yugi-kun, Anzu-chan, or Bakura-kun."

Jonouchi grinned. "It's not Yugi!"

"We don't need to hear that from you," Anzu quipped causing the blond to stiffen.

"My vote's for Anzu," Honda said as he lowered his helmet.

"Mine too," Kagome added with a wink in Ryo's direction, "Unless Ryo-kun has a secret affinity for pink."

Anzu giggled. "Guilty as charged! Honda's had that bike for months and still hasn't gotten a decent helmet."

"Well, not all of us have part time jobs," he countered, joking.

"Looks like you're next, Yugi-kun," Kagome said.

He nodded and unwrapped his present. Inside the box were three shrink-wrapped manga volumes and over a dozen, unopened packs of cards.

"Wow! Thanks, Jonouchi-kun!" he exclaimed.

"No problem, buddy!"

"How did you know it was him?" Kagome asked.

"It's the power of our bond of friendship!" Jonouchi declared, puffing out his chest with pride.

"And you cheated," Otogi dryly added, "He just didn't want to get a gift for his original draw, and traded with Yugi-kun."

Jonouchi faltered. "It's not that! Yugi couldn't get something for himself."

"Sure, Jonouchi-kun," Kagome told him with a sly look, "Totally believable."

"Well, it looks like I'm up," Ryo said as he unwrapped his present. It was a dark brown journal with leather bindings.

"Kagome," Jonouchi abruptly stated.

Otogi nodded. "Definitely Kagome-chan."

"Why are you so sure it's me?" she asked.

"How could it not be?" Jonouchi countered, "Only a girl could pick out such a girly gift!" He and Otogi began to snicker. Strangely, Honda didn't join them.

Ryo cleared his throat. "All that aside, was it from you, Kagome-chan?"

She shook her head. "Nope, not me. It looks like one of you guys has a feminine side." From the corner of her eye, Kagome saw Honda twitch.

"Honda-kun, it was you, wasn't it?" she asked.

He blushed and answered, "Well, yeah. Bakura's such a quiet guy, so I thought he'd like a gift like that, ya know?"

"It's very thoughtful. Thank you," Ryo said, "I believe it's your turn, Kagome-chan."

Kagome took her box and carefully removed the ribbon before removing the lid. Inside the first box was another one, a black velvet covered one meant for jewelry.

"Looks pretty fancy!" Jonouchi commented. He snuck a peek at Yugi and winked.

Kagome continued and flipped open the lid. She quietly gasped when she saw what was inside. "My goodness!"

"What is it?"

"Come on! Let us see."

Kagome nodded and slowly withdrew a thin, silver necklace from the box. It had a circular pendant that with a small bright green stone set in the bottom of it. Further inspection revealed her name engraved on the circlet.

"How beautiful!" Anzu exclaimed

"That's gotta be from Otogi!" Honda guessed.

"How do you figure?" Kagome asked.

"Just look at it! It has to be from him!" he argued, "He's definitely the type of guy who'd try to one up us all like something like this."

"I don't think so," Kagome replied.

"Really? It could be me," Otogi smoothly countered, "Isn't it a nice present for my future girlfriend?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Two things. One, even if you're the slightest bit serious, I'm not changing mind because of a necklace. And two, you don't know when my birthday is, so you couldn't have gotten my birthstone."

"Well, you got me there," Otogi said with a smirk, "But, if it was me, I would have picked a darker green. Maybe a bigger stone too."

Jonouchi glared at him. "I think it's fine the way it is.

Kagome nodded. "I think so too." She turned toward Yugi, who was seated at her right, and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his cheek. As soon as she made contact, Yugi's face was aflame. Kagome kissed him before but never in front of their other friends.

"Thank you, Yugi-kun," she said as she pulled away.

"You're welcome," he said, "I'm glad you like it, Kagome-chan."

"Wait!" Otogi interjected, "This means Jonouchi didn't want to get a gift from Kagome-chan."

"I think Kagome lucked up in that deal," Anzu commented, "Yugi's gift is definitely better than Duel Monsters cards and manga."

Honda nodded. "No question."

"Yugi-kun," Kagome began, holding out the necklace to him, "will you help me put it on?"

"Sure. I'll do it."

Yugi took the necklace and gulped when Kagome turned around, holding up her hair with one hand and displaying the slender column of her neck. He quickly clasped it around her neck.

"All done."

Kagome let down her hair and turned back at Yugi, beaming. "So how does it look?"

"It's really nice," Ryo commented, "You picked well, Yugi-kun."

"Thanks," Yugi replied. He quickly changed the subject to deter attention away from him. "So who's next?"

"Me!" Jonouchi shouted.

"Hold on!" Kagome interjected, "I think Anzu-chan's box is a little bigger than yours."

"Just let him go," Anzu said with a dismissive wave of her hand, "I only made up that size progression rule so my gift would be opened first."

"Alright!" Jonouchi exclaimed and eagerly tore into the box, tossing the wrappings aside without a care.

Anzu sighed. "Cute wrapping paper is wasted on boys."

"I guess that means Kagome-chan got this, right?" Otogi guessed.

Kagome grinned. "Guilty."

"Awesome!" Jonouchi cried, "I hope it's more food!" He removed the lid of the box and slowly pulled out its contents by a thin leather cord.

"Well, it's not food," Honda quipped.

Otogi shrugged. "It could be on the other end."

Jonouchi completely withdrew the cord from the box, revealing a blue crystal arrowhead. He carefully placed it in his palm.

"Whoa!" Honda exclaimed, "Way cool!"

"That's really nice. Did you excavate it, Kagome-chan?" Ryo asked.

She nervously chuckled. "Something like that. Jonouchi-kun wasn't easy to pick something out for. Do you like it?"

Soon after she spoke, Jonouchi lunged forward and grabbed the petite girl around the waist with the arrowhead still in his hand, knocking both of them on the floor.

"Thank you!" he cried, nuzzling his face into Kagome's neck.

She nervously put a hand on top of his vibrant yellow head. "You're welcome, Jonouchi-kun."

Then, without warning, Kagome winced and quietly cried out. At the troubled sound of her voice, Jonouchi lifted his head and looked at her worriedly.

"What's wrong?" Yugi asked.

"Jonouchi's fat ass is suffocating her. That's what," Otogi answered.

"Shut up!"

Nonetheless, Jonouchi rolled off of Kagome and helped her sit up. Without his body obscuring the view of hers, everyone could see a long, jagged slit on the left side of her shirt. Despite the panicked looks her friends sent her, Kagome smiled and covered the rip with her hand.

"That arrowhead's pretty sharp so be careful with it," she stated.

"Geez, Jonouchi! You could have stabbed her," Anzu scolded.

"Sorry!" Jonouchi shouted, appearing extremely apologetic.

"Oh, it's okay," Kagome insisted, "It's only a scratch."

She slipped the arrowhead from Jonouchi's loosened grip and placed it around his neck. Once it was in place, she game it a small pat.

"I'm going to go change. I'll be right back," she said as she stood.

Jonouchi sighed as Kagome turned and trotted up the stairs to her room. He grunted when Honda slapped him on the back.

"Way to go, buddy. Kagome gets you an awesome gift, and you stab her with it."

"It was barely a scratch! Besides, I apologized."

"We know you didn't mean it, Jonouchi-kun," Yugi insisted, "Why don't you go to the kitchen and clean it up?"

"Huh?" Jonouchi looked down to see the crystal pendant was flecked with spots of Kagome's blood. He groaned and stood to his feet, subsequently heading for the kitchen.

"Since there's only two of us left, I think we should go ahead and open the rest of the gifts," Ryo suggested.

"Shouldn't we wait for Kagome-chan and Jonouchi-kun to come back?" Yugi asked.

"It'll be fine," Otogi said and pressed the envelope to his forehead, humming.

"What are you doing?" Anzu asked.

"I am channeling the spirits of the Underworld," he answered, "The spirits say the contents of this envelope were given to me by Bakura Ryo."

Anzu snorted. "Oh, please! You know that because you and Bakura-kun were the only two who weren't given away yet."

"I thought you gave up your con man routine," Honda dryly added.

Otogi's smile was strained. "It was supposed to be a joke."

After he finished speaking, he and Anzu both opened their presents. Anzu received a pair of turquoise drop earrings with a gift card to the mall from Otogi. Otogi also received a gift card inside a cheery holiday card from Ryo. Soon after they finished, the group heard an unexpected cry from the kitchen.

"What was that?"

"It sounded like Jonouchi!"

The group stood and rushed to the kitchen, intent on checking on their friend.

-O0o0O-

Kagome hummed as she applied a thin film of ointment to the cut on her side. It was only a shallow mark, one she wouldn't waste any holy energy on healing, but still needed to be taken care of. And, oddly enough, she felt disoriented from the time she spent downstairs and couldn't figure out why.

'I must not have completely recovered yet. I need to take it easy,' she reasoned. Just as she put on a new shirt, Yugi burst into her room.

"Yugi-kun?" she asked, "What is it?"

"You need to come downstairs!" he told her, "It's an emergency!"

Without delay, Kagome rushed ahead of him with Yugi following close behind. Once they were downstairs, she saw Anzu and Ryo huddled outside the kitchen. The others were presumably inside judging from the commotion coming from the room.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Kagome-chan!" Anzu cried, "Some weird boy broke in and started attacking Jonouchi!"

"Really?" Kagome asked. She turned to Yugi, hoping her initial thoughts weren't true.

"Don't tell me it's..."

Yugi regretfully nodded. "It is. I tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen to me."

Kagome sighed and tiredly ran her hands through her hair. This was definitely something she did not need right now.

"I'll take care of this."

Before she could enter the kitchen, Anzu grabbed her arm.

"Kagome-chan, are you sure you should go in there?"

She turned to her with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I can handle this."

Anzu reluctantly pulled her hand away allowing Kagome confidently strode into the kitchen. The room was in a slight disarray with dishes and furniture roughly pushed aside. Kagome angrily glared at the four culprits: Otogi, Honda, Jonouchi, and, the party crasher, InuYasha. Thankfully, nothing was broken and the altercation wasn't serious yet. The unruly boys were only posturing.

Kagome groaned; she certainly had her work cut out for her. Only the addition of Koga would make a more volatile combination.

"Alright, that's enough!" she shouted, causing all activity to come to an abrupt halt. InuYasha growled and jumped to her. Before he could speak, Jonouchi snarled and tried to separate the two of them.

"Hold on, guys!" Yugi shouted. Against Anzu and Ryo's wishes, he rushed into the kitchen and stood in between Kagome and InuYasha and Jonouchi, Honda, and Otogi.

"Yugi-kun, what are you doing?" Otogi demanded.

"Just calm down," Yugi said, "Kagome-chan can handle this."

"Are you sure?" Honda asked, "Something's not right about this guy."

"Of course I am," Yugi replied, "Kagome-chan has everything under control."

"Fine."

Placated, Jonouchi, Honda, and Otogi stood to the side and carefully watched Kagome with the white-haired stranger.

With InuYasha in front of her, Kagome took a deep breath and calmly asked, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" he repeated, immediately offended, "That guy was washing off your blood!"

Kagome scoffed. "Maybe three or four drops of it at the most. Certainly not enough for me to be seriously injured, and certainly not enough for you to barge in here and attack my friends!"

"Kagome," Jonouchi interjected, tired of being a spectator, "what the hell is going on?"

"Hey! Stay out of this!" InuYasha barked.

"Don't talk to me like that, you punk!"

"Who are you calling 'punk'?"

"I said that's enough from the both of you!" Kagome shouted, effectively silencing both boys.

"Everyone in the living room now!" she ordered. Her left eyebrow twitched when only Yugi, Anzu, and Ryo did as she told them.

"I said move it!"

Almost instantaneously, everyone else migrated into the living room under Kagome's watchful eye. They all sat around the Christmas tree like they did before except for InuYasha who leaned against the entrance to the kitchen. Kagome walked outside and stood in front of everyone with her arms folded over her chest.

She took a deep breath and began to speak. "Alright, everyone. It's about time I told you all the truth."

"What are you talking about?" Anzu asked, "You can't tell me you actually know this weirdo." She flippantly gestured to InuYasha. He said nothing but growled in her direction making the brunette lean forward in her seat and glare at him.

"I do, and I'd appreciate it if you'd all stop the name calling," Kagome said, "Everyone here is a very dear friend of mine, and I'd like to keep it that way."

Yugi bit the inside of his cheek to keep quiet and addressed the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle.

'She's really about to tell them.'

'It seems so,' the spirit responded, 'You should support as much as possible.'

'Yeah. You too.'

As soon as Yugi spoke, the spirit emerged and encircled Kagome in his energy as he had done before. She visibly relaxed.

"Okay," she began, "What I'm about to tell you might sound unbelievable, but I assure you everything I say is true."

"If you say so, we'll listen," Otogi said with everyone else nodding in agreement.

"And we'll believe every word," Anzu earnestly added.

"Thanks, guys."

Kagome launched into her tale without any other introductions, intending to speak until she revealed, including her last trip through the well. Like with Yugi and the spirit, her listeners—InuYasha and Yugi excluded—hung on her every word. Unlike her previous telling, Kagome kept her account restrained to the facts with little details or tangents in between. There were no imitations of amorous monks, tiny foxes, or lovesick wolves. She didn't stop to answer any interpolated questions or giggle at any amusing anecdotes.

By the time Kagome finished completely, the sun started to set, and the snow began to fall again. Her story ended with the showing of the incomplete Shikon no Tama, hidden underneath her shirt next to the necklace Yugi gave her.

Everyone seated before her continued to sit quietly, looking at her with unreadable expressions. Kagome quietly gulped and looked in Yugi's direction for reassurance as she had done many times during this talk. He grinned and the spirit shifted and tightened his hold, engulfing her from head to toe.

Irritated, InuYasha spoke. "Well? Ain't you got anything to say?"

Without warning, Jonouchi threw his head back and laughed.

"Jonouchi-kun?" Kagome quietly uttered.

When he finished, he took several deep breaths and ran his hand through his hair. "So that's what it was, huh? All this time, I thought you were in the yakuza or something!"

"You mean you're not angry?" Kagome asked, astonished.

"I think surprised might be a better word," Ryo said.

"Amazed works too," Anzu added.

"So you're all okay with this," Kagome pressed. This certainly wasn't the response she was expecting, not by a long shot.

"Well, yeah," Otogi answered with a grin, "Were you expecting something from us by telling us all this?"

"Not at all. I just thought given recent events I should let you know what's really been going on with me now and all. I didn't want to keep any more secrets." Kagome hastily added, "I originally planned on telling you all during the last museum exhibit."

"Kagome-chan, you don't have to feel so guilty about this," Anzu began, her voice calm and clear with an encouraging smile on her face, "Friends don't have to tell each other everything. I think we all have secrets in our past or present whether they're painful or sad or something we just don't want to think about. There's a difference between things you should tell your friends and things that are personal. And, if you do want to share the personal things, there's not necessarily a right time to do it. Even if you trust us completely, it could still be hard to share."

"Anzu's right," Honda said, "You didn't tell us at first because we didn't know each other. After that, you didn't say anything because you didn't want us to worry about you. You weren't trying to hurt us. We know that."

"Yeah, but—" Kagome started to explain, but Otogi cut her off.

"We're friends, so you don't have to worry that we won't accept you anymore," he said, "You can tell us anything you want."

"They're all right!" Jonouchi cried, "You're stuck with us for a long, long, long time!"

Kagome sniffled, fighting the urge to shed a few of happy tears.

"Oh great!" InuYasha said with a groan, "Now the wench's gonna start blubbering."

"Hey!" Anzu shouted at him, "Don't call her that!"

InuYasha snorted and stuffed his hands in his haori sleeves. This situation was turning out to be more awkward than he expected. He wasn't quite sure how to react.

"Okay. Whatever." He reasoned that most human women in the modern era must be inherently headstrong.

"Don't worry about it," Kagome said, "InuYasha says it so often I think of it as a term of endearment."

"Well, if you say so."

"So, InuYasha," Honda said, turning to the half demon.

He huffed in response. "Just because you didn't freak out about all this, doesn't mean you can address me so familiarly."

InuYasha looked at Yugi from the corner of his eye. As he expected, the boy was grinning from ear to ear. He probably expected that they'd all get along now.

"There's no need for you to act like that! We're sorry for earlier. It was just a misunderstanding," Honda insisted, "Why don't you stay and hang out with us? There's still plenty of food left."

"Yeah," Jonouchi added though his voice was far more stained than Honda's, "Join the party."

InuYasha snorted. "As if. I only came to check up on those two."

Yugi nodded in his direction. "Thanks for seeing about us, InuYasha-san. We've got everything taken care of, but you can always come and visit us again."

InuYasha returned the gesture and left in a hurried, red blur.

"Yugi-kun, you knew about all of this before now?" Ryo asked.

He nodded. "Kagome-chan told me after she moved in with me and Jii-chan, and I've been sworn to secrecy ever since. But she only told me because I told her about the Millennium Puzzle first."

"Is that so?"

Kagome nodded. "The spirit of the Millennium Puzzle practically bullied me into it." She stiffened when the grip around her tightened.

"Well, now that the big bad demon is gone, and our resident miko is done with her story, let's get back to our party," Otogi suggested, "It is why we're here, right?"

"Right."

When Kagome started to walk to the kitchen, she stumbled and fell forward as though drunk. Jonouchi and Yugi were immediately by her side, propping her up from the floor.

"What's wrong?" Anzu asked fearfully.

Kagome lurched forward and gripped her stomach. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"Someone take her to the bathroom," Anzu instructed.

"I'm on it," Jonouchi quickly complied, scooping Kagome up before jogging upstairs.

"What do you think happened to her?" Ryo speculated, "She wasn't ill before."

"Maybe it was the stress from standing up and talking all this time or something," Otogi suggested with a shrug, "She looked a little disoriented before."

"Perhaps," Ryo replied, "I believe it may have to do with the miasma she was exposed to before returning home."

"You really think so?" Anzu commented, "But there aren't any demons here. Not as far as we know at least."

"InuYasha was here for a while," Honda reminded them, "Maybe that had something to do with it."

Yugi pursed his lips together but didn't contribute to the conversation. Something about their reasoning didn't seem right.

Upstairs, Jonouchi reached the bathroom, kicked open the door, and walked in with Kagome still cradled in his arms. Once inside, he gently placed Kagome down by the toilet. She retched and leaned forward, emptying the contents of her stomach. Jonouchi winced and tried to look away lest he become sick himself. However, he reluctantly looked back when Kagome retched again. He groaned and knelt beside her to gather her long hair from her face.

"It's okay. Just let it all out," he stated, woodenly rubbing her back.

Kagome coughed as she finished and eagerly flushed the toilet's contents down the drain.

"That was disgusting." She turned to Jonouchi with an awkward smile. "Thanks, Jonouchi-kun. I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault." Smiling, Jonouchi reached out and wiped a plum colored substance from Kagome's cheek with is thumb. He cringed at the slimy texture as he pulled his hand away. She giggled at the expression on his face.

"I appreciate the gesture, but you could have used a washcloth," she proposed with a grin.

"Oh, shut up," Jonouchi replied. He continued to cringe and tightly clenched his fist.

"What's the matter?" Kagome asked.

He winced and tightened his grip on his hand. "It burns."

"Let me see."

Without waiting for a reply, Kagome took Jonouchi's hand and unfurled his fingers. She gasped at the sight of his palm. There were splotchy red burns spanning from the side of his thumb to the base of his palm, nearly overlapping with his wrist.

"There must have been some miasma still in my system," Kagome reasoned, gently running her finger over the injury. It blanched despite the lightness of her touch.

"Sorry about this."

Before Jonouchi could say anything else, Kagome covered his hand with hers and closed her eyes. In an instant, streams of nearly transparent, fluorescent pink wrapped Jonouchi's hand in warm, tingly energy. She pulled away after a few seconds leaving Jonouchi's skin clear and unblemished.

"How did you...?"

Kagome grinned. "Weren't you paying attention? It all comes with being a miko."

There was a knock on the bathroom door pulling the two teens away from their conversation.

"Kagome-chan, Jonouchi-kun, are you in there?" Yugi asked from behind the closed door.

"Yeah," Kagome answered. She stood and opened the door with Jonouchi right behind her.

"How are you feeling?" Yugi asked when the three teens were in the hallway.

Kagome shrugged. "Better out than in. My throat's a little sore though."

"I thought it would be," Yugi said and held out a bottle of water.

"Thanks, Yugi-kun," she said as she gratefully took it, "Let's go back downstairs. Coming, Jonouchi-kun?"

"Yeah," he replied, "You two go ahead though. I'm going to wash up."

"Okay then."

When Yugi and Kagome left, Jonouchi looked back at his hand. As Kagome healed it, her soot colored lashes caressed her cheeks, her raven hair formed a messy halo around her head, and her pearly pink energy lightly kissed her skin making her glow. He groaned. Despite all the teasing, he always found Kagome to be very cute. But this instance was different.

Jonouchi found Kagome quite beautiful.

-O0o0O-

After several more hours of fun, the group of friends all but collapsed in the Higurashi family living room. Since it was so late, Kagome suggested they all camp out at her house for the night.

'Pharaoh, don't you think you should give Kagome-chan her gift now?' Yugi asked once everything settled down. He was suspiciously silent.

'Don't tell me you're scared!' Yugi jested.

'Not at all. I only prefer to do it in private.'

Yugi rolled his eyes. Jonouchi, Honda, Otogi, and Ryo were all snoring on the living room floor. Yugi gave up the guest room to Anzu, and she turned in for the night a while ago. After everyone else was accommodated, Kagome retired to her bedroom.

'I think this is as private as it's going to get. Get up there and good luck!'

The spirit sighed as he felt Yugi relinquish control of his form. His host was getting better at catching him off guard like this. Now in control, he went over to the Christmas tree and retrieved the gift box he carefully hid amongst its posterior branches. He then walked upstairs to Kagome's room and opened her door without knocking. She was on her bed reading a volume of shōjo manga.

She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. "You must have something extremely important to talk about if you forgot your manners." She grinned. "I'll let it slide since I barely saw you after we left your soul room."

"I suppose I do," he said as he approached her bed. When he stopped, he held out the small white box topped with a red bow.

Kagome closed her manga and set it aside. "What are you doing with that?"

"Giving it to you," he answered, "Is it not for this very custom that we're all assembled here?"

"I know that," she replied, "but I assumed the gift Yugi-kun gave me was from both of you."

She still wore the jeweled pendant around her neck.

He shrugged. "Did you not get us separate gifts?"

"Yes," she answered, slightly irritated that she didn't receive a direct answer, "but I didn't expect anything in return."

"And neither do I."

"Well, on that note, I suppose I'm just being rude by asking all these questions and not accepting your gift."

"Indeed."

Kagome quietly huffed as she took the box and carefully removed its wrappings and lid. After setting those aside, she gingerly removed the velvet ring box and opened it. She gasped at the sight of the silver ring inside.

"It's beautiful..." she commented as she removed it, "but what is this shape? I've never seen it before."

"It's called an 'Ankh'," the spirit answered, "The word means 'life', and the object itself is regarded as a key or mirror to one's soul. I'm giving this sacred symbol to you because, like with Yugi, I have found in you someone who gives my existence purpose.

"For a long time, it was a very lonely existence. I have no memories of my past, of any love or friendship that may or may not have occurred in my past life. When I became aware of myself, I was sure I had no place in his world without Yugi. However, I'm beginning to see myself as a truly separate being. That is something that began with Yugi and his friends and has continued through you. Thank you."

By the time he finished his explanation, Kagome was in tears. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. The spirit expected the hug and put his arms around Kagome's waist, his complexion only slightly red.

"Thank you," Kagome whispered into his neck, "Sometimes it's difficult to understand what you're thinking, so I never imagined you felt that way." She pressed a wet kiss to his cheek before pulling away completely.

"Look at me crying like this," she said with a chuckle, "InuYasha would have a fit if he saw me."

"Indeed," the spirit replied, his lips quirked in a crooked grin, "I believe it's time for bed."

"It's past time. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

-O0o0O-

punkish furball – And so the plot thickens. In the next chapter, we're going to meet a few characters who have been absent for now. Until next time, TCB! XD

(edited 09.18.2013)