Disclaimer: I don't own the Anime Ghost Hunt, or the Anime/Manga Inuyasha. Please don't sue.

Forbidden heaven

One-Shot

John x Kagome (Ghost Hunt x IY)

firefox369

Things are bound to change because things happen. Everything changes, like the sky, or the mountains, the trees, nature, everything changes. Especially people. But it took a while for me to accept that fact, accept the fact that I was no longer the little girl that could run wherever she wanted, climb whatever trees she felt like, and playing whenever she so wished. No, I was not that naive little girl anymore. I was a young woman, a teenager just about to enter the beginning of the prime of her life, and kami-sama, how I loved it. To an extent, of course.

I suppose you probably want to know my name, but that'll come in due time. I was about to explain what happened to me recently anyway, so you can safely assume that I will tell you what people know me by. Eventually. So, where should I start? I have no idea. I guess I'll start from the most simplistic of things, that should do.

I'm currently attending my last year of high school, much to my excitement, but I haven't decided to do with my future. I kind of want to go out, travel and explore the world, you know? I mean, who doesn't? But I also don't want to leave my family behind. My dear, loving family. Kami-sama, I'm going to miss them once I graduate. Or, was, I suppose. I guess I should be talking about them in the past tense, shouldn't I?

Haha, what am I talking about? You wouldn't be able to tell me how I should speak of my family anyway...

...Getting completely off topic, aren't I? Maybe starting off with the basics wasn't the best idea. Well, then, let's try this again, except this time I'll talk about how everything started and I'll hopefully end up where I want to conclude this.

It all started a few year ago - I was eighteen at the time - when my younger brother thought it would be really cool to sneak out at night to meet a friend from school (he refused to call her a girlfriend). My mom, of course, wasn't so easily fooled so she asked me to follow him, which I did. I stalked him to a nearby park and held back a squeal of 'Kawaii!' when a girl got off a swing from the opposite end of the playround and tackled him in a hug.

--

"Souta!" she giggled and my brother - kami-sama, this really killed me at that moment - actually hugged her back. Yes. My brother. The little 'oh-my-god-step-away-from-girls-because-they-all-have-cooties!' boy actually hugged her.

And then there was a snap that echoed in the darkness, which was not caused by me mind you, but the two little lovebirds didn't seem to notice. Which I could understand. They looked pretty content and unaware of everything. I suppose that's why my mom asked me to follow him. Darn her and her intuition.

Well, this drunk guy came blumbering out of the bushes on the opposite side of Souta from me and started walking toward them. They noticed, obviously, but didn't move and just watched as the man came closer. It was really dark out because there weren't really many streetlamps on so I had to squint a little make out his form.

Was he missing an arm?! Oh, wait, no, its just in his jacket. Ahh, there it is! What's that in his hands? Oh, a gun? Okay, nothing to worry abo-

Hold on a sec.

Gun?

Oh, noes.

"Souta, run!" I shouted and he spun around, confused, before a dark red stained his cheeks.

"You followed me?!" he squeaked but I was too worried about his well-being to tease him, otherwise he never would have gotten the end of it.

"Duck!" I commanded, racing at him and tackling him and the girl in his arms to the ground just as a loud bang sounded. No pain? Great, I was still alive! It seemed that Souta and the girl were, too, for they crawled out from beneath me and darted off, following my first instructions. Stalker Sister Saves Stupid Sibling! Ha! I could already imagine the headlines on tommorrow's newspaper. But how did they expect me to escape without their help? Maybe the guy wouldn't notice me?

"Wench!"

There went that thought.

I slowly sat up and raised my head to gaze straight down the barrel of a handgun. Not exactly the best predicament to be in. How many rounds did he have left? Well, I was pretty sure he didn't have a single-shot pistol. Those were so old and out of style nowadays. So that would mean about six? But he already shot one, so- gah! either way, I was officially screwed.

Click.

Yep. Officially screwed. But why wasn't I scared? I was, in actuality, anything but scared. I was quite content, knowing that I was about to die saving my brother. He was so idiotically irresponsible at times, but don't get me wrong. I love the kid to death.

Bang!

--

And that's how I died. Yep. I'm officially dead. I'm not a walking corpse or anything (I'd rather rot in hell than be a zombie), I'm a ghost. You know, the see-through 'BOO!' kind of things that you see kids dress up as on halloween. It's quite fun 'cause I've been haunting this park bench for who knows how long now, scaring the crap out of unsuspecting couples. Yeah. You heard me. I've been scaring the crap out of innocent couples that try to have fun on the bench that I occupy. If you've got a problem with that then cry me a river. I couldn't care less. Once again, I suppose I should be talking in past tense when I'm not... but whatever.

Everything was fine with my haunting until some idiot decided to call for some expert help. Psh! As if Ghostbusters actually existed. Looking back at it now, I could laugh. If only I knew...

I just regret that my last thoughts were 'I love the kid to death'. I mean, he's the reason I'm dead!

--

"Have I told you that I loved you yet today?" a guy asked and the girl next to him giggled before shaking her head.

"No."

'Well, I love you."

They leaned in to kiss eachother when I decided to make myself known. I leaned over the back of the bench and gazed at them with the black holes known as my eyes. I really did have eyeballs, don't get me wrong, I just don't have them when I want to freak the sh-t out of my victims. And it worked. There was an earsplitting scream from the girl as I looked at her. The guy just seemed confused, I mean, I looked like just the average girl with him staring at the back of my head and all. Slowly, I turned to gaze at him, a haunting smirk on my face.

"Now, don't let me bother you, dear, but please, watch the PDA while on my bench, would you?" I attempted to soothe, ego inflating when I saw his face pale and eyes widen, small beads of sweat forming on his brow.

"...ah... ahhh..." he whimpered and I smiled.

"Ah what?" I mused "Achoo? If you have to sneeze, please don't sneeze on my face. I'd hate to have to haunt you for eternity because of it if you did, love."

"G-... Ahhhh!" he screamed, grabbing his girlfriend and hightailing it out of here. Thank god. I giggled to myself, letting my body fade back into the transparent form I was usually in as I waited.

Ah, yes, wonderful entertainment.

"So, that's the bench?" someone asked and I blinked, looking up to see some blonde-haired kid. I giggled at his strange accent. Kansai dialect, huh? He was talking to one of my latest victims, who was wildly waving his arms around and pointing to my bench. I grinned.

Fresh meat.

But what was that under his arm? A book? Peeking closer I scowled. A bible? Was this guy some sort of exorcist wannabe? Some religious freak? I mean, seriously, who carries a bible around with them everywhere they go?

The blonde thanked the person he had been speaking to and walked over to my bench, staring at it curiously.

"So, I did some research" he stated, "and I know that some girl was shot here a few years ago. I don't know the details but I was wondering if you might be connected to her."

I blinked. Who was he talking to? Me? Yeah right! But, why was he still talking?

"I know you can hear me. Why don't you let me see you? I might be able to help."

I rolled my eyes. Good luck with that.

"There is a reason why I became a well-known exorcist, you know. I'm sure I can separate your ties from this world if that's you want."

"And if I want to stay?" I suddenly blurted, popping in front of him on the bench, in the exact spot he was staring at. He smiled, tilting his head to the side in amusement.

"What? You have eyes this time?" he mused and I scowled. Yes, I had decided to let this... guy see me with my eyes intact, their brilliant blue glowing beautifully in the fading light. "Well, if you want to stay then I'll have to exorcise you against your will."

"Joy" I sighed, rolling my eyes before patting the spot next to me on the bench. He didn't move. "Relax, I don't bite." He was on the bench in a flash, flopped against the back of it as he let his tired body sag comfortably. I furrowed my eyebrows. "Make yourself at home... I guess..."

"Care to tell me about how you happened to be stuck here?"

"Don't all spirits get stuck here?" I inquired, confused, and he looked at me with his sapphire eyes.

"No. They don't."

"Oh. Then no, I don't know why I got stuck here, but I like it on the ground if that helps you any. By the way, how old are you?"

"Nineteen. You?"

"I was eighteen when I died."

"Ahh, so you died young. I heard it was because you saved your younger brother from an alcoholic with a gun and got shot yourself. Is that true?"

"Yep." Sadly.

"Do you remember when you got shot?"

"August 14" I replied, fuming. That was the day of the season premier of my favorite TV show, too! "Is there anything else you might need to know..." I trailed off, not knowing his name.

"You can call me John, and no. I'll definitely be back to see you though. Its not every day that one meets a sociable ghost. They usually try to kill me the moment they see me."

I laughed, shaking my head. "'Tis the life of a mercenary" I sighed and he smiled as he stood.

"I suppose you could consider me a mercenary of sorts. But would you mind telling me your name?"

"Oh! I'm sorry! Where are my manners?"

"I think they left you the moment you died if all the filed complaints are-"

"Shut up, John-san" I growled. The blonde-haired boy laughed at me but was quickly quieted when a hand firmly smacked the back of his head. His eyes widened in shock before he began rubbing the throbbing area. "Now, if you wanted to know, my name is Higurashi Kagome. Go online and find information to your hearts content, baka."

"Oh, I will" he replied, smiling. He then turned and began to walk away into the darkening sunset.

--

And that's how I met him. The person that changed my life (or, non-life) forever. And like I said before, I knew that things changed, but I didn't think that it would change so drastically in such a short amount of time.

--

"Kagome-chan!" John called as he ran over and I appeared on the bench, waiting for him to say what had been discovered to make him so excited.

"Hai, John-san?" I giggled and he grabbed my hands, happily spinning in circles with me and laughing the entire time. When he finally released me we both swayed from our dizziness before plopping on the bench and giggling like little school children. Completely out of character, I know (I guess not so out of character for me), but we did it nonetheless.

"John-san, this is the girl you spoke of?" someone asked and I looked up to see a group consisting of three people. One was a girl with long, red hair who looked to be in her mid-twenties. Next to her was a brown-haired man that easilly dwarfed my five foot three height, and in front of him was a girl about my age with short, brown hair. Looking them all over, I began to scoot away from them from my position on the bench. Why, I didn't know, but it was in my instincts to do so.

"Kagome-chan, this is Takigawa Hosho" he introduced, pointing the tall guy, "Matsuzaki Ayako" he pointed to the red-head, "and Taniyama Mai" he finished, finally pointing to the girl about my height. I blinked, glancing around nervously. Why did he bring them here to visit me? I felt like they could completely obliterate me if they so wished. Were they exorcists as well?

Kami-sama, please say no! I begged silently.

"So, this is the stubborn ghost you talked about" the man known as Hosho stated and I cowered under his inquisitive gaze. Not just his, though, all of their stares were making me uncomfortable.

"Kagome" I blurted, "my name is Kagome and I hope you use it."

"Kagome-chan" Mai called, receiving my attention, "is your brother Higurashi Souta?" she asked and I blinked before slowly nodding. She smiled sadly before bowing. "I apologize."

I blinked. "Huh?"

She glanced up and smiled sheepishly. "I was the one that called your brother out that night."

I blinked again. And again. And then her words were processed in my brain. Hopping to my feet, I raced over to her and grabbed her hands, looking straight into her eyes.

"Have you seen him recently? How is he doing? Is he eating properly? 'cause Kami-sama knows I had enough trouble trying to make him eat his greens! Is he fat? Did he finally get glasses from all the video games he plays? How did he handle my death? Is mama alright? Did he-"

"Whoa, Kagome-chan" John laughed, prying me from the girl and I pouted. Mai's eyes were wide, as if she were overwhelmed by the flurry of questions shoved in her face. Which she was. "One question at a time."

"Actually, I haven't seen Souta since he moved away after your funeral almost six years ago" she replied and my hopeful expression dropped.

"They moved away...?" I whispered and Mai nodded. "...oh. I see."

I felt eyes drilling into me and I met Ayako's gaze before shrinking back and fading into nothingness. Alarmed, John called my name once, but I didn't reply.

I needed to think things through. Had I really been dead for six years already...?

--

"Are you sure you want to go through with this, John-san?" Ayako asked and John glanced at her from his seat on the couch across from her.

"Yes" John replied but her face scrunched up for a moment. She obviously was not very satisfied. "Is there something wrong with trying to exorcise her?"

"Well, no, but..." she trailed off before shaking her head to clear her mind. "Never mind, its nothing." Mai, however, refused to let the subject drop.

"You looked happy with her" Mai stated and John sighed. They had said this numerous times, already. When would they figure out that the girl, Kagome, simply had to be exorcised if she did not want to turn into a monster? "Maybe there's some way around the monster thing. I mean, she's been here for six years, already, but-"

"Her eyes are already starting to lose their color" John interrupted and Mai fell silent for a long while. Silence, and that was all as they stared at the plans they had written to help Kagome cross into the other world, where she belonged.

"You must look in her eyes a lot to notice that, John-san" Ayako finally informed, "not many people would."

--

"John-san, is something wrong?" I asked when I saw him next. He smiled weakly before shaking his head. "You don't look good. Do you have a fever?" I reached up to touch his head with my hand, and it was after I had pressed my hand to his forehead that I remembered I couldn't feel heat.

"No, I'm fine" he chuckled, gently taking my wrist in his hand and lowering it to my side.

"I don't believe you. You're a horrible liar, you know that?"

He took a deep breath before sighing. "How would you feel about being exorcised?"

I hesitated, stepping away from him and staring at him wearily. He wasn't going to make me leave... was he? We stayed that far apart for a while before I finally found my voice and cleared my throat.

"I don't want to" I answered softly and John smiled soothingly.

"I see."

No, you don't I thought, but kept it to myself I don't want to lose you, too.

--

"The Super-Exorcist returns!" I laughed and his eyes widened when I tackled him in a hug, arms under his as I buried my face in his chest. He stiffened before I felt his muscles relax and his arms wrapping around my shoulders and lower back. I saw his blonde hair shift out of the corner of my eye as he rested his head against mine.

"I can't stay long today."

"That's okay" I whispered, content with staying in the position we were currently in. I don't know how long we stayed like that, in eachothers arms and just relishing in eachothers' embrace, when his cell phone rang and my eyes snapped open. I let my arms drop and stepped away to let him answer his phone. He did, flipping it open and holding it up to his ear.

He was on for barely a second before he smiled sadly at me and walked away, the phone still attached to his ear. Slowly, he faded into the darkness as I watched. I had a bad feeling about this, about what was going to happen, about everything. That smile of his, the hug we shared and how long it lasted... yes, something was definitely amiss, and I had a feeling what it was.

He was going to try and get rid of me.

There was a slight pang in my chest, in the exact spot where my beating heart had resided once upon a time.

He was going to make me leave.

But my heart was there no longer. No, not in this ethreal body.

If it was required he was going to send me to the other world himself.

--

"John-san, you're really going to regret this" Mai warned as the blonde priest picked up his bible and made his way out the door. The kindness in his eyes had faded some time during the night. "John-san!"

John hurriedly made his way to me. Dressed in his black robes he caught quite a lot of attention, but he ignored them, too deep in thought to notice them. That was, until a scream reached his ears from my bench. He had assumed that I had played another prank, but he realized how mistaken he was when he saw me.

Like him, I had changed over the course of the night. I had no eyes, just dark vortexes that drained all light so not even a sparkle was seen. My form became hazy, and had long ago turned into a foggy, dark violet. My nails had turned into claws, my teeth became sharp, all my features had bled into the hazy fog surrounding me.

"'Gome, what happened to you?" he asked and I spun to face him, snarling. But I couldn't bear to look into those clear, sapphire eyes of his anymore.

He had betrayed me. The proof was in front of me. The holy water was in his hands, the bible also, and he was dressed in his black exorcist robes.

He wanted me gone

The fog around me darkened and he shut his eyes, pained. The expression made the haze lighten up and the beginnings of my normal features returned.

He's doing it for your own good my heart soothed.

"Our Father which art in Heaven" he began after he had finished emptying the holy water from the small bottle it was contained in, "Hallowed by thy name." He opened the bible, eyes shut as he concentrated. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

I felt the darkness slipping from my being as I watched him, and he hesitated when he saw the tears rolling down my cheeks. I shook my head, covering my mouth with my hand.

"Don't do this to me" I begged, but he continued.

"The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through-"

"John-san!" I sobbed and he bit his lower lip, but plowed on, squeezing his eyes shut so he wouldn't have to see me.

"-Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men."

"John!" I cried, throwing out all honorifics, and the flow of words from his lips halted. His long, golden bangs hid his eyes from view as I dropped to my knees, the cold blade of a scythe pressed against my neck. The cold blade of death. I was trembling uncontrollably. I wasn't afraid when I first died, but now, with the grim reaper standing right behind me and with my soul about to be reaped, I couldn't stop the violent tremors in my body. "John..." I pleaded and he took a deep, shaky breath. He raised his head to gaze into my own, blue eyes. The ones I knew he absolutely adored.

He always stared into them when we were talking, revealing his heart to me. Just like he was doing now.

And oh, how his gaze was killing me. The apologies in them, the love, the pain... I shut my eyes and looked away, gritting my teeth as hot crystals poured down my cheeks.

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

The scythe came down, but it didn't hurt as my soul was split before forming into a small orb of light that shot toward the sky like a rocket. John watched as it happened, I could feel his gaze, but I could see nothing but darkness. I could hear nothing, could smell nothing, could feel nothing...

So this is what it was like to be reaped, huh?

I take what I said back. I could feel hate.

How I hated John then. Absolutely despised.

But love and hate come together, and the more I found myself hating him, the more I loved him.

And kami-sama, did I hate him with all my heart.

--

I watched as he once again walked past the bench that I once haunted to see a couple sitting on it, kissing. He immediately looked away, not wanting to see my sacred spot defiled.

I watched as he returned to the bench at night, when no one was there, and gently caress the wood where I always sat to wait for him. A bitter smile made his soft features darken with depression.

I watched as he sat down on the bench and stared blankly at the cement where we had hugged for kami-sama knows how long before he was torn away fom me because of a phone call.

I watched as a few, silent tears rolled down his cheeks as he mourned for my forced departure. He lowered his head and took deep, calming breaths.

And I hugged him from behind, whispering soothing words in his ear to calm him. But he couldn't hear me. He couldn't feel me.

So I cried with him as I moved in front of him and buried my head in his chest, feeling his tears drip on the thin cloth of my clothing, soaking them.

But that night, as he left, he noticed that his clothes were completely dry, as if the tears he had cried had disappeared in mid-air, and I saw a sad smile on his face, which made a smiliar one appear on mine.

"Thanks, 'Gome" he whispered before he left. My smile widened.

--

So, that's my story. John still visits me occasionally and makes small talk, though he knows that even if I respond he won't be able to hear me. But I don't. I'm content with sitting on the bench and watching him age, watching from afar as he married a gorgeous young woman, had beautiful children, grew with old age, and he still visits me.

But even though I love him, since the beginning I knew that what we had never would have worked out no matter what. After all, a Ghost and an Exorcist just weren't meant to be, they just don't mix. Just like Mikos and Demons, or Cats and Dogs.

We simply would never have stayed together, and I accept that, though grudgingly.

At least I got to see him get tackled by his fourteen-year-old son when he agreed to practice American Football with him. Kami-sama, that was a sight to behold.

The End