DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha or Yu Yu Hakusho

A/N: Took me long enough, right?

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Summary: Kagome, woken by Miroku, senses a Shikon shard and runs off to get it, rescuing a small youkai boy in the process. She plans on helping him back to his group, listening to him go on about his group and their wonderful leader, she can't help but be curious.

oOo

Kurama had been struggling with the images of the blue-eyed girl, he found that snippets and half-faded memories of her face would slide across his mind and fade before he could examine it for too long. Her eyes, always the brightest blue and always lingering the longest, like some kind of torture and making it hard to focus on anything else. He could see them sparkle and hear some ghost of what he could only assume was her laugh, he could smell an ancient and clean warm summer day, and he could almost feel the sun on his skin. But the memories that haunted him the most were the ones of her sad eyes, filled with tears, with the dark sky behind her. There was a feeling of blood, maybe a smell of it, something tipped him off to an air of battle and from time to time he would see blood on her.

It was torture, it was in his nature to be curious and to solve puzzles but when the puzzle was him and the questions could only be answered by unlocking his own mind, he was frustratingly at a loss. He knew of no potions or plants that would help him recover memories lost when he jumped bodies, for all he knew they could be long gone except for fragments to lose his mind over. But, not being one to give up easily, Kurama found his way to Genkai's temple with the hope that the old psychic could help him in some way. And, if he was lucky enough, he might find Hiei there and perhaps the little hybrid could poke around in his mind and stir up some of the memories from wherever they may be hidden.

With a small sigh, Kurama began his ascent on the long stone staircase, not rushing himself up them because he genuinely enjoyed a quiet walk to clear his mind and prepare him for what could lay ahead with his request. It could be a lot of work, it could end up being painful, and it could end up being a trip with no results for him at all. That was the very last thing he wanted to hear, but he knew that if there was a single human being on this planet that could help him unlock these faded and lost memories it would be Genkai.

For the last handful of steps he focused on the memory of her face, over-lapping it with the face of the girl who triggered all the trouble in his mind. It was amazing, she was exactly the same in every way, her eyes the same blue and her smile just as bright as the girl in his memories, he could not figure out how it could be that way. Youko's memories went back hundreds upon hundreds of years and he had never ventured from the Makai after the barriers went up, Kurama could not figure it out. Was she a reincarnation of a girl from the past? Was it purely a coincidence that triggered memories of a strikingly similar girl? Maybe they weren't really memories, just dreams that were so vivid about this blue-eyed girl and he was having trouble telling the difference.

"Oh Kurama! What brings you by the temple on this beautiful day?"

Giving his head a slight shake at the sound of Yukina's voice, Kurama smiled and waved at the young youkai. She was such a sweet thing, it was easy to see how Kuwabara could be so enamored by her.

"Hello Yukina, I came to see Genkai about a bit of a puzzle of sorts, is she busy?"

oOo

Kagome had been dealing with an odd feeling ever since her visit from Youko, she was constantly unsettled and she would get a shivery, creepy sensation travel down her spine frequently. It was like being watched, she was almost certain that she was being stared at by some random pair of eyes from the trees from time to time. Okay, more often than not. At first she thought it was just Kouga and tried to shake it off for a couple days, but she had become aware of the fact that it was happening even after Kouga had gone to sleep or out to hunt. That was when she started to worry that it was Naraku, but she calmed down after she realized that no one else felt it like she did. Besides, it's not as if the eyes were hurting her and she didn't feel threatened at all, she kind of felt like she was being watched out for now that she knew she wasn't being maliciously stalked.

The only thing that concerned her was how everyone else seemed to not notice it like she did. At the very least she would have expected InuYasha to be complaining about it, but he was so distracted by Kouga that he noticed little else. And Miroku, he was not his usual self these days, with the curse growing and consuming more of him it would be understandable that he didn't seem particularly interested in anything less than an imminent threat. Okay, so maybe she should be so worried about no one else noticing. Everyone else seemed to have their own problems.

If InuYasha hadn't been making himself Kouga's problem, Kouga would probably be more of Kagome's problem and she wouldn't be noticing how they were being watched. As it was, the ookami was already severely irritating and on her last nerve. She started wearing shorts under her skirts because of the way he had been leering and "accidentally" touching her thighs, he was quite brazen and more of a pervert than Miroku was at his best. With Miroku, it was obviously harmless and she would even call it friendly now. But with Kouga, it put knots in her stomach and a bad taste in her mouth to just sit near him. But she endured it because she knew they needed his assistance in the fight against Naraku and she would need to retrieve his shards sooner than later.

She sighed, looking around at her friends as they went about setting up camp for the night. Miroku had been becoming one of the few that needed protected now and she knew he was trying to make up for it in other ways. He had insisted on learning how to cook ramen and was taking over making meals now and again, right now he was stoking the fire and waiting for the water to boil while Sango kept him company. Sango spent so much time by his side now, getting all the time with him that she could but never acknowledging out loud that she knew he was growing closer to dying. Kagome had lost a lot of "girl time" she used to have with Sango, but she hadn't complained at all. They were in love, she wanted them to have all the time together that they could because it was such a hard time for them to be falling in love. Besides, she would always have the boys if she wanted some companionship. They were always up for a walk or a game, stories and playtime were more frequent now that she had two demanding kits to occupy.

Kagome stretched her arms above her head, turning her gaze from her friends to her books. She was still reading up on shrines and temples in her time that might be able to help her advance in her powers. She wanted to help Miroku, she wanted to be a better fighter, but there weren't many people who could train her effectively in this time and people with real power had yet to even be proven to exist in her own time, but it was worth a shot. She had it narrowed down to three places that sounded the most promising, and she'd be visiting them as soon as she got home. InuYasha was giving her two weeks at home to learn what she could and then she had to come back to the past and they would continue their journey. She was filled with hope, it was what kept her going during these chaotic days, it made her feel so amazing to know that she might be able to help her friends!

"Kagome, Kagome, Kagome!" The kits chanted in unison as they raced toward her, she greeted them with a smile and open arms. She was preparing herself for the inevitable collision of a high-speed double hug, she had grown used to them now.

She hit the ground anyways, they got her with more force than usual which could only mean one of two things: They either ticked off InuYasha or Kouga, or there was a youkai on it's way. Considering the increase in attacks recently, she really couldn't be sure without more information.

"What happened guys?" Kagome asked, pushing herself back up into a seated position.

Of course they tried to respond at the same time and Kagome could only smile and sigh, she should have known better than to ask in such a way. Kids are the same all over the world, these two were particularly similar and she'd spent enough time with them to know better by now.

"Okay, okay! Ship, how about you slow down and tell me what's going on this time?"

"You gotta come see what we found! Pretty pretty please, come with us? You're gonna love it!" He begged, tugging on one hand while Kiro pulled the other.

Kagome looked over her shoulder, raising a brow at her two friends setting up camp behind her, they both waved her away and encouraged her to go with the boys. It'd be easier to get things done without two kitsune kits bouncing around the place and getting into everything. Smiling at them, she rose to her feet and let the two boys lead her into the forest. They were chattering excitedly to each other about how much they knew she would love what they found, it had her very curious. And maybe a little nervous. When Souta had been little and excited about something, it was usually a dead lizard or something else that made her cringe as a preteen girl.

They weaved her through tree and definitely away from any kind of beaten path, she couldn't even see where they had set up camp anymore, and she was getting a strong feeling that she couldn't describe the closer they got to wherever they were going. It was sending a strange sort of tingle down her spine, it felt like a warning and she was starting to slow her pace as it intensified. Was what the boys found the source of that feeling? And why weren't they feeling what she was?

"Shippo? Kiro? Where are we going, this is kind of far from camp, what were you guys doing this far out?" She asked in a soft voice, feeling as if she should be as quiet as possible.

Kiro was quick to respond, "We just followed the feeling! It was all warm and tickly right here."

He was pointing to his stomach and smiling wide, and Shippo giggled his agreement. Kagome's stomach flip-flopped, she was not at all comforted by the way they were acting; it only had her freaked out. But there was no way she would be able to convince them to go back, and even if she could turn them around they would probably just be sneaky about finding their way back to whatever it was. What if it was dangerous? She'd never forgive herself if she didn't investigate it. So she gave a half-hearted smile and let them pull her around another tree and then over a fallen log and toward a part of the forest that seemed a little misty. The mist was unnatural, it gave her goosebumps and a bit of a chill. It was probably demonic and she was almost certain that it was what was trying to repel her.

At least, it was at first. She had felt invaded and oddly investigated by the mists of youki, and it had been oppressive until it suddenly caressed her. It was rolling over her skin in a way that was soothing and welcoming, it was like being held in warm arms. Strong arms. She wasn't really sure what it made her feel, but she was absolutely certain that she wasn't feeling tickling and giggling was not what she felt like doing. Just as Kagome was adjusting to the new sensations, the boys pulled her through a dense wall of youki and let her hands go with a joyful shout.

"Oh…wow. This is so beautiful!" Kagome breathed, taking in the unexpected sight before her.

There were stunning purple flowers growing all over, they looked as soft as velvet and were so vibrant that she had to blink a few times to correct her eyes. The boys danced their way in front of her, giggling and then rolling around in the grass, acting almost like a pair of drunks would. They were adorable in their mirth, it was as if they felt right at home in the little meadow.

"Do you love it, Kagome?" Shippo asked, bright green eyes looking up at her inquisitively.

"Of course she does, it's great here!" Kiro chirped, rolling onto his belly to look at his friend.

Kagome smiled brightly, "I was a little worried at first, but this place is so lovely. Thank you for bringing me here, I love it!"

She left the boys where they were and began doing a little exploring of her own, kneeling down in a patch of the beautiful purple flowers and giving them a sniff. They were sweet, but not over-powering, and so soft to touch that she couldn't resist laying in them and feeling them against her arms and legs. She could hear the boys whispering a little too loud as she snuggled down into the welcoming softness, planning to pick some of the flowers to take with them. She could have sworn something changed, though she couldn't pinpoint what, and it made her frown a little.

"Don't pick the flowers, please! I don't think they'd like that, this is their home and all." Kagome called out, content to keep her eyes closed as she indulged herself in a little relaxation.

"You are very right about that, they wouldn't like to be picked."

"Oh!" Kagome's eyes shot open as she gasped, finally catching on to the presence of Youko standing beside her. His eyes were dancing and a smile was playing on his lips.

He hadn't been surprised when the kits found their way to his little hideaway, it was a kitsune haven after all. It drew them in like a mother calling them home, it was meant to welcome his brethren and give them a safe place to rest. He had no problem letting them explore, he was watching them and figured that he could easily put a stop to any damage they might do. It had been quite surprising to watch them leave only to return with the pretty miko in tow, it was not something he expected. Then again, they didn't know what the place could feel like to someone full of holy energy. She had looked quite ill, the mist had naturally reacted to her and he had to manipulate it a little to allow her passage free of foreboding.

He had watched from the trees as the little kitsunes reveled in the meadow, rolling and giggling like the children that they are. He was more focused on Kagome's reaction to the place, it was humorous to watching her kneel down and lay in the flowers, she had been absently stroking the petals with one hand. The flowers enjoyed her just as much, her skin was soft and sweet to them and they leaned close to her to feel her. It was funny that a youkai plant found her so irresistible, it had him curious abou her skin himself.

"Hello again, little miko. I see you are enjoying my garden." He teased, watching her cheeks turn pink as she blushed.

"I'm sorry about intruding, I didn't know it was your place!" Her cheeks were red now, she covered her face with her hands, "I'm so embarrassed! I knew this wasn't a regular place, I got distracted by how beautiful it all is."

He folded his arms in front of his chest and crouched down beside her, "I am flattered you find my humble garden so lovely. And flattery will get you everywhere with me, little one."

He chuckled as she stammered and pushed herself up and away from him, eyes cast down to the ground while she stroked the flowers.

Kuronue rolled his eyes, tired of watching his partner put the moves on the miko, and made his way over to the kids. They hadn't even noticed their presence, so caught up in the warm fuzzies they were feeling.

"If you think this is something, you should see the stream Youko keeps hidden just over there." He said casually, pointing off to his right and away from Youko and the priestess.

"Kuronue!" Kiro jumped to his feet and launched himself at his friend, giddy to see him so randomly.

"Do you think there are fish in the stream? I bet Kagome would be so proud of us if we could bring her some fish for dinner!" Shippo chattered excitedly, bouncing up to give his "puppy eyes" to Kuronue.

He hefted both of them up with ease, "Why don't we go see if we can scare some up, eh?"

'And maybe Youko can satisfy some of his curiosity about this miko before we have to part ways again.'

"Oh jeez, I'll get out of your hair before I bother you any more than I already have. Ship? Kiro? We need to go back to camp!" Kagome called out as she stood, face red and eyes down on her skirt as she brushed away imaginary dirt.

"Uhm, boys?"

Youko leaned in and softly spoke into her ear, "They left, dear."

She jumped and squeaked, "Wh-what? But it's not safe to wander off, they know better!"

"They are with my partner, they are safe. Now, sit with me and talk." He illustrated his point by sitting in the flowers and patting the ground beside him.

Kagome blushed and stepped toward him, "Well, I suppose I can, if you are sure we aren't bothering you by being here?"

"Little miko, if you were a bother we would not be having this conversation." And quick as lightning he took hold of her hand and pulled her down to him, she stumbled and fell into his lap.

"O-oh!" She made an attempt to push herself up but he held her fast.

"Are you not comfortable?" He purred into her ear.

She took a moment and then gave his chest a big shove, "What are you-AH!"

Youko released her with a dark chuckle, the girl had fire and he enjoyed that spark, but watching her face turn red as she fell was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. He got what he wanted, but what he hadn't expected was for her to start giggling as she hit the ground. He leaned over her and arched a silver brow, watching her giggle behind her hands like she had no cares in the world.

"Miko, you are a puzzle."

Her giggles subsided, "Kagome, call me Kagome. I am not much of a miko, I imagine a proper miko would not be so comfortable around a youkai like you."

"True, Ka-go-me. But if you were any other miko, I would not have let you live the first time I met you." He flashed her a fang in a smirk, she only giggled at him.

"I am sorry to laugh, but you are not the first friend to have tried to kill me when we first met. That seems to be the way everyone treats me at first."

In an instant Youko was on top of her, noses nearly touching, "Make no mistake- it is not your friendship I am after."

He stroked her face and Kagome felt her heart begin to race and her face begin to flush, her mind took her back to that stolen kiss. She shivered and held her breath, staring up at his ridiculously flawless face, confused by what she was feeling. It was far more intense than what she felt for InuYasha, it was different and fueled a fire deep in the pit of her stomach that she had never known before. Youko just watched her react to him, finding it quite exciting to see her innocent expression in this intimate position, it was exciting to inspire arousal in someone completely inexperienced.

Leaning in even closer, he pressed his lips to hers and watched her eyes grow wide before fluttering shut as she responded to him. She was hesitant, adorably shy, and it only served to swell his ego to know that he would be teaching her everything in time. He would be patient, it would do no good to move too fast and scare her off, so he would lead her through a kiss or two. He wanted her to dream of him, to be thinking of only him while she traveled with the other males.

Youko ran his tongue across her bottom lip lightly, and Kagome gasped slightly at the new sensation which let him snake his way into her mouth. She felt like her head was full of bees, all this buzzing was distracting her and drowning out all logical thinking for her, and then his tongue was in her mouth and his hands were in her hair and she was lost. A small part of her wondered what she was doing with this strange youkai, another part wanted her to move her damn hands and touch him, so she ended up moving one hand and lightly running it along his forearm to grasp it close to his wrist.

His knee brushed against the inside of her thigh and her eyes snapped open, so Youko pulled away with a mental pout. He was not sure if all miko tasted as sweet as she did but it was quite addictive. He had almost lost control of himself and he hadn't done that in many, many years. He was certain that she would occupy his mind for days to come after their little kiss and he couldn't help but wonder what would happen when he got to enjoy more of her.

"I think I should go find the boys." Kagome whispered, scrambling to her feet and running off to the cover of the trees.

She was very confused, a walk in the woods would help clear her head. As long as InuYasha and Kouga didn't come looking for her, only Kami knew how long she was gone from the camp.

"Why did he kiss me?" She asked aloud to no one in particular.

oOo

With a frustrated snarl, Naraku waved his hand dismissively at Kanna and she quietly turned her mirror away from him. He had been watching the little miko Kagome and the damned kitsune kissing, and she had enjoyed it! The little hussy, he had seen how she reacted to him and it disgusted him, for a miko she was far from innocent. And that kitsune! He was supposed to kill her, not seduce her. It had been such a simple plan, he was sure they were so easy to manipulate and the entire situation had fallen into place so perfectly so why wasn't it working?

"That little bitch." He growled and paced the small room, furious. But then he stopped.

He could use this to his advantage, yes, he could take control of this entire situation and she would fall so easily into his trap. After all, she was being so secretive and seemed to trust this new youkai despite not knowing him at all. It would take him some time to pull it all together, but he would have the miko's head soon enough.

Naraku laughed, red eyes full of rage and mischief.