I haven't written for this story in an atrociously long time but hopefully I can still do it justice, I don't promise updates regularly but I'll try not to leave it two years again… for those who are still reading thank you so much and I am eternally grateful for you all. There aren't nearly enough Hiei/Kagome stories to satiate my need so people; GET WRITING. I'm dedicating this to my absolute fan fiction hero Madmiko…I'm still waiting to read the last chapter of Black Widow Miko! Maybe this can be the inspiration you need!

I own neither Yu Yu Hakusho, InuYasha or Anna Nalick's 'Just breathe'

A Second Chance for Heartbreak

Chapter 15

I don't love him. Winter just wasn't my season

Kagome felt she should have realized that Kurama was bound to put two and two together and turn up at Shippous' eventually, regardless of the numerous threats he had received at the hands of the younger kitsune. If she didn't still have the irrational urge to cut his genitals off she would have probably admired his tenacity in seeking him out. As it was…Well, it was safe to say his visit was less than welcome. Sitting across from her on the plush leather sofa Shippou had in his westernized sitting room Kurama looked quite distressed and helpless. The lost look on his face once would have moved her to try and do anything, anything, to make him feel better. Yet now, Kagome felt nothing, there wasn't even rage filling her up anymore, just disappointment. Disappointment that she had invested so much time and effort in a relationship that now seemed farcical at best.

"Kagome, please just talk to me. Shout, scream, attack me even, if it will make you feel better. I will take your punishment willingly for this grievous offence. I am so ashamed of myself Kagome; I don't know why I did it. I love you; I want to be with you forever." Kurama spoke softly with an eloquence that Kagome had once admired.

"There is no need for fancy words between us Kurama. We were in a relationship for the better part of a year and yet here you are, still so closed off and formal." Kagome stated, completely disregarding his pleading. Kurama flinched at the sheer lack of emotion in her voice.

"Are you really willing to throw this away on a stupid mistake Kagome? I will do anything in my power to try and make this up to you. I realise that I can never truly be forgiven for cheating. I don't expect you to forgive me. Let me fight for us Kagome, fight with me. We can save our relationship. I swear I will do whatever you want."

"I want to never have to look you in the eye again Kurama. I want you to leave this room and disappear from my life forever. I gave you all that I could, all that I could give anyone and you completely disregarded both my feelings and our relationship as soon as you slept with that woman."

"Kagome, you are being irrational love. I made one mistake, surely you cannot punish me forever!"

"I can try. And I am not your love, call me that again and see what can happen when you anger the Shikon Miko. I promise you this Kurama, it won't be pretty."

"I always liked when you talked dirty Kagome." Kurama's eyes had shifted from emerald green to cold hard gold and Kagome new she was no longer talking to Kurama.

"Oh Youko, you came out to visit? How pleasant." Kagome replied acerbically, her fingertips sparking lightly reflecting her barely retained frustration. "If he has sent you out to beg, I assure you you will get no further."

"He did send me out, I'm supposed to be his last resort." Kurama's mouth tilted into a wicked smirk that didn't suit his delicate face. "I won't apologise for his actions Kagome. I know you don't want to hear them."

Kagome found herself laughing. Heartily laughing. Of course Youko would state the obvious in his usual deviant manner. Of all the things about Kurama she would miss, Youkos' wickedly dark sense of humour would perhaps be the greatest. She smiled jovially, "Then why are you here Youko, if not to plead your and his case?"

White started to streak through Kuramas' fiery locks and within a matter of moments Kagome was greeted to the sight of a 6 ft. silver tailed fox demon lounging self-indulgently on the sofa across from her. They stared at each other for some time, remembering the details of each other that they had taken the last few months to discover. It was a process that left Kagome feeling vulnerable but also as if she was saying goodbye. Youko contemplated her silently before suddenly breaking the silence, "I know people think that because I am a kitsune and seductiveness and promiscuity are supposedly inherent in my nature. I wanted to apologise to you and to tell you the truth of that night. Kagome I can answer you honestly, if I had been in control what happened that night, would never have occurred. People say the fox in Kurama is what all his more negative aspects are to be attributed too, but they forget that cheating is a characteristic related to humans. Demons generally don't live monogamously until they mate but I knew the behavioural elements I needed to temper when I entered into a relationship with you."

Kagome stared at him confused. "What are you trying to tell me Youko?"

"I warned him, the whole time Shizuru was in our home, I had cautioned him everytime she looked at him ever since we had been with her previously that she would be trouble. And she was, Kurama and Shizuru have a weird relationship, a bond based off a shared past that you my dearest Kagome were not part of. I do not mean to defend him, and I'm not trying to, out of all the female friends Kurama has Shizuru was the most suited to him for a period of time. He was still friendly with him but I know she felt more for him. I had warned him that allowing her into the house was a bad idea. I had told him to cut her off completely. I had done everything to prevent this from happening."

Kagome smiled as she reached over and cupped his cheek, "If you had truly wanted to stop him you would have. I thank you for the kind words and I truly believe that those who say you lack humanity are idiotic, their theories on you are based off their ignorance Youko."

"I may not have stopped him Kagome, but honestly I don't think you would have wanted me to stop him."

Kagome snorted scornfully. "Oh, and what made you draw that conclusion Youko? That I would enjoy walking in on my boyfriend sleeping with a woman who was becoming a dear friend to me?"

"I've seen the way you look at him Kagome, even if you don't realise it. I've been alive for a very long time Kagome, and hopefully one day you will forgive us and we can be friends, but know this; the errors of humanity and the general stupidity of humans can be blamed for Kurama's actions, he was an idiot. But he cares for you, as do I."

"I'm not going to get back with him, he destroyed everything we had once he touched her, once he even thought about touching her and forgot about me."

It was Youkos turn to laugh now, "Forget about you, I don't think he ever will, I think Kurama will be haunted with dreams of you for years. And we will deserve to be haunted. I hope you learn from our mistakes and allow love to heal you rather than fight it."

And with that Youko Kurama rose from his seat nimbly and approached the young miko. Pulling her to her feet, he enclosed her in his arms and inhaled her scent before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. Kagome sighed and allowed herself to wrap her arms around him and clutch at the silky white top that she was so familiar with. After standing like that for some time they both pulled back and Youko delicately wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I'm sorry my love was not enough for you." Kagome whispered and Youkos head tilted to the side, his mischievous smirk firmly in place but somehow different, twisted with irony rather than roguishness.

"No Kagome, I'm sorry our love wasn't enough for you." And with a gentle caress of her cheek Youko moved forward and pressed one final kiss to her lips before moving to leave.

"Youko!" The kitsune halted in his tracks his ears tilted back towards her. "What do you mean you see the way I look at him? Look at who?"

Youko turned his body back towards her and this time all traces of vulnerability were gone masked behind a look of sheer sauciness. "Now Kagome, there are some mysteries in life we need to figure out for ourselves. I've just figured mines out, I'll have to leave you to do your own." And with a wink and a beautiful smile Youko moved out of the room with as much grace as he had left.

Kagome sat for some time, still reeling from the events of the day when she heard Shippou and Hiei entering the house bickering quietly amongst themselves. Sitting up and wiping at her face, Kagome smiled brilliantly at them as they entered the room. Shippou eyed her suspiciously before taking a delicate sniff of the room and with widened eyes that looked like they were becoming more feral by the second he excused himself from the room. Hiei, merely walked towards her and sat on the sofa beside her in silence.

Staring across the room at the blank wall Kagome felt her lips move without her permission. "Kurama came over today looking for forgiveness. Youko came to say goodbye."

Hiei nodded, contemplating his reply. "Do you think it's truly goodbye?"

Kagome answered almost immediately, "No, I'll forgive them both eventually. I think I already have for the most part. It will be a sore subject but eventually we might once again be friends, we never gave ourselves the chance to be friends the first time around, did we?"

"I suppose not. Are you sure you don't want me to run him through with my sword and be done with it?" Kagome giggled in response.

"If you had have asked me yesterday, I might have been tempted to say yes. Today Hiei, today I am too tired for revenge. During my time in the past I grew weary of revenge, it can be the ruin of a person."

"I will let no one ruin you." Hiei promised.

Kagome turned her head to contemplate him silently before smiling warmly.

"I know."