Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Final Fantasy (any of the titles), that right belongs to the game developers, Artist, storyboard writers and Sony/Square soft!

Author's Notes: This is your warning that there will be time jumps from here on out to help keep the chapters going at a faster pace. So if you have major problems with that, then sorry, not sorry!. Next is I will do my best to keep characters in, well, character. Following that I finally figured out my Time Stamp for this part of the story. It is two years before Zackary Fair becomes First class, aka Cloud Strife is just at 15 years of age. So from there, I am going to be changing arcs in Crisis Core and FF7 itself for this. So if you're a purist, please no flaming or rude reviews please. This is my work of fiction, so yeah. Bear with it. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you toturn around and leave now. Because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.


Kagome felt as if something was horribly wrong. Unable to place it, she followed Tseng and Hojo across the helipad. She was taking a quick note of everything around her. The first thing she realized was how thin the air was, indicating that they were reasonably high above ground still while being on top of a building. The next was a small group of people, being led by a short, round man that was balding. His dark eyes gleamed with something she was very familiar with greed. His aura was the worst of the bunch, well next to Hojo's, but she wasn't going to overthink that one.

The way those dark eyes looked at her, left her with a feeling of being coated in grease. Letting her eyes go a bit vacant, she made herself look anywhere, but at him, Kagome noted that two men were standing back by the door, dressed in the same get-up as Tseng. They were making her wonder if they were in the group Tseng had labeled as The Turks. Her gaze shifted to some uniformed people standing almost directly behind the man who was leering at her still, even as he spoke to Hojo.

With each step, she took the feeling of wrongness grew and kept getting stronger. Realizing that with her barriers up, she wasn't going to be able to place it, she slowly began to drop them. Only to feel as if the air was being pushed from her lungs. Soon her eyes began to glaze over, and her body began to feel like a lead weight. The world tilted out from under her feet, causing her body to fall forward.

Kagome struggled to get air into her lungs. She felt herself being caught, then shifted into a pair of strong arms. Arms that, in the last week, had come to be very familiar to her. The accompanying voice spoke next or her ear.

"What's happening, Kagome?" It asked her softly.

No matter how hard she tried to lift her head to see the speaker, her body refused to obey. Finally, she whispered, "Dead, it's all dead. I hear it's cries of pain. It's dead."

Silence met her softly whispered words. Then a familiar voice spoke again. "I will give you your report later. My new acquisition has air sickness. I have to treat her immediately. So pardon me, Reginald, I must attend to her. Please excuse me."

The next thing Kagome knew was the world was moving around her. She struggled to get air into her lungs, and her vision began to dim. Kagome let her mind go blank as she attempted to block out the screams of the planet. Trying to put her barriers up again, she failed horribly, as her body began to shake. The arms tightened around her more securely, just as everything went black.


The faint sounds of hushed words were the first thing that Kagome noticed as she started to come to — making her head feel as if it was going to implode, as she attempted to open her eyes. This only made her head feel worse, so she ceased trying. Slowly taking note that she was on a hard surface, which was semi-cold, so it was probably metal. Kagome began to wonder just where she was. The acrid smell of chemicals used in sterilization began to assault her senses. The scent caused her stomach to roll, forcing her to swallow as she did her best to take slow deep breaths through her nose.

Deciding that movement would be best put on the back burner, along with opening her eyes, Kagome focused on the hushed voices in the room. Her mind was sluggishly putting names to the two voices she was hearing, Hojo and Tseng. Curious as to both what they were talking about, and the tones they were using, Kagome did her best to remain still as she listened.

"I did my best to smooth things over, but you know you'll have to make a report. He has already expressed an interest in your new' acquisition, and willing experiment, Hojo," The soft, accented voice spoke, laced with mild irritation.

There was a rather rude sound, followed by the deep resonating baritone of Hojo. "Well, he can just stuff it. She is mine, and he has no right to any detailed information. So says the contract we both signed when he hired me. Thus the fat pig can stuff it."

Unable to help herself, Kagome let a smile tilt the corners of her lips. "I told him only what you had originally told me in Junon. Considering I haven't learned anything else from either of you on the trip here. Though I do have a few questions to ask her after she is up and mobile," Tseng said, his voice taking on an amused tone now.

"Well then, I guess you won't have long to wait. Kagome should be rousing herself at any moment," Hojo replied.

Knowing Hojo was aware of her being awake, Kagome couldn't help but mentally cringe. Not that she wasn't fully aware of his extrasensory abilities, thanks to the alien being living in his body. She knew that she would have to attempt to open her eyes once more. Though this time, she felt calmer, if not stable now, as the pounding receded into the back of her skull. Kagome did a quick check of her barriers, finding them up and in place once more so that there wouldn't be a repeat of earlier. She slowly cracked her eyes open.

She hissed as a blinding light met her eyes, and pain to flare behind them. Quickly she shut them again. The sound of talking altogether ceasing when she hissed and Kagome once more opened her eyes, prepared for the damnable light. When she got them open, she saw a rather sizable fluorescent light hanging a few feet above her, dangling from a flat steel gray ceiling. This let her know she was most definitely inside of a building. Again she slowly moved so that her head was turned in the direction of both Hojo and Tseng.

They stood no more than four feet from her. Each had a different look on their face, as her blue eyes met their own. She sighed before speaking, "Well, can a girl get help sitting up?"

Her words earned a look of annoyance from Hojo, and a small one of shock from Tseng. It was Hojo who came over to her and placed a hand under her head, while the other grabbed her far hand. They lifted and pulled her into an upright seated position. A position that only served to cause her still rolling stomach to threaten to empty itself. Something she saw Hojo notice, as he quickly stepped away, reaching behind himself. When his hand came back into view, he held a small plastic container that was marked with the biohazard sign.

Giving a small wry smile, Kagome reached out and took it. "Thank you, Hojo. Though I am sure, I can keep everything in."

She was letting her eyes shift from Hojo's black ones to Tseng, who once more put his glasses on. Kagome moved the plastic container into one hand and raised her now free hand to wave at him. Earning her a look that said he wasn't amused. She rolled her eyes before narrowing them, making sure her look was slightly pointed.

"I do believe she wants you to speak Tseng," Hojo supplied when the silence continued a bit longer than he cared for.

Unable to help herself, Kagome let out an exasperated sigh as she mentally spoke to Hojo, "Thank you for being my voice, oh great reader of thoughts."

"I would say your welcome, but sarcasm isn't something I am in the habit of rewarding," Hojo retorted.

Keeping her eyes on Tseng, he seemed to be trying to figure out not what he wanted to say but how to say it. Kagome closed her eyes and centered herself as she spoke mentally to Hojo again, "Are there any video cameras or listening devices installed in this place?"

There was a bit of silence before she got her reply. "None that you have to worry about. I took care of them after I got here and set you on the lab table. The stupid man thought he could plant devices in my lab while I was gone, and not have me notice."

Allowing a smile to curve her lips, Kagome took a deep breath and visibly relaxed. "Tseng, it's okay just to speak your mind. Do not worry about how to say what you want. I find honesty and bluntness to be wonderful traits, even if they are hurtful and annoying at times."

Her words caused the man to startle, though his face quickly settled into the professional mask he wore most times. Unable to stop herself, Kagome let a small laugh escape her lips. Which only earned her two frowns from both the men. Not caring, she just shrugged her shoulders and waited for one of them to speak up, which wasn't long at all.

"I guess if you prefer bluntness, then okay. What I want to know is why you told me all that you did in the helicopter." He asked before crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back against what appeared to be a counter. It held various instruments, beakers, and vials on it.

Blinking twice before, then letting out a small sigh, Kagome let her gaze on Tseng harden, even if she visibly relaxed more. With a tilt of her head to the right, she began to speak. "Because at first, I thought having someone to talk to, other than Kenya, would make the time go by a bit easier. But after seeing your... esteemed leader, and before doing something silly like lowering my barriers, I realized that an intercessor was necessary."

Her reply, though lengthy, was so simplistic that she noted both of them look a bit confused. Rolling her eyes, she knew she would have to explain. A deep chuckle resounded in the back of her head. It caused a brief flash of annoyance to flicker in the depths of her eyes.

Taking a slow, deliberate breath, she exhaled just as slowly to keep her mindset. "I know you both know what an intercessor is — a person who speaks on behalf of others, aka a mediator. Tseng, your aura says a whole lot about you. That you are a very calm, rational person. Who has strong beliefs in what you see as right or wrong? Which are great traits, and it also says that you know how to keep your mouth shut when needed. You know what has to be said and what doesn't, between both parties. Does that make it a bit clearer, cause I can go into a much, much longer explanation, if need be."

As she finished, she let a mischievous smile curve her full pink lips. Her eyes twinkled as she saw their reactions. Hojo had a rather interesting smile that spoke volumes of dark humor and pride while Tseng had stiffened and looked a mix of being shocked and insulted. Only briefly, though, as she watched him straighten himself before removing his glasses to give her a pointed dark look. One she met and returned without hesitation.

"Are you implying that you want me to play the double agent," He more stated than asked.

Blinking rapidly, she felt her lips twitch in amusement before replying. "No, no. I am not implying," Letting her face go blank, Kagome narrowed her eyes. With a look that she was sure would do Sesshoumaru proud, she continued. "I am straight out asking you to. And before you spazz out on me, I have good reasons for asking this of you."

Letting her eyes shift from Tseng to Hojo, Kagome saw his eyes bugging out of his face. The man pressed his lips into a very thin line to keep from bursting out laughing. Raising an eyebrow as she looked back at Tseng, who was standing stiff as a board and giving off an offended vibe. This was something she expected, considering what she was asking, but there was a method to her madness, and she waited for him to take her bait.

The silence that filled the room was slowly becoming pregnant. A sharp intake finally broke it of air. "What you are asking is..." Tseng said, trailing off as he shifted himself, so his hands were clasped behind his back. "I do not appreciate being baited, but let's hear your reasoning."

At his admission, Kagome gave a low chuckle and slid herself off the lab table slowly, making sure that she could stand, before walking towards Tseng and Hojo. "Good! I know for a fact that that fat, slimy, pig will be doing some Q and A on you about me even if Kenya made his claim that I am off-limits to him. I can tell from that lustful look he gave me; he will do whatever he can to get information on me, especially why I chose to be a willing victim. So it is a trade. We feed you select information about me, and what goes to him, because it would be beneficial. On top of looking like you are a trusted person to us... which you are, of course. I like you already. And in return, you give us a small bit of information on what is going on in the company... That is all."

With a sweet, semi-innocent smile on her lips, Kagome spun around, tossing her arms into the air. Her voice is coming out a bit shrill. "Besides, he looked at me like I was a piece of meat. I felt as if my body had been submerged in a vat of rancid cooking oil. No amount of bleach or ammonia cold wash that feeling from my body. The rich, arrogant prick thinks he can do or have anything he wants. Well, we'll see about that. I can play the game better than him."

After her small rant, silence reigned for all of a minute, before a distinctive snort of amusement was heard. Kagome whirled around and looked skeptically at both men. One who was shaking from his restrained mirth, while the other was staring at her slack-jawed and shaking his head. It was as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing, let alone seeing at the moment. Kagome fisted her hands and placed them on her hips as she stared a bit sulkily at them.

"Don't even try to understand. Kagome has a unique ability to aptly assess one's personality, accurately and with startling clarity. And before you ask, our first meeting will be going to the grave with me... don't ask," Hojo said, earning a snort from Kagome.

Narrowing her eyes at Hojo, she stuck her tongue out mockingly while looking smug. Hojo took the chance to continue. "I would suggest you take a week or two to think about this. And if you want, I will talk to... him, and give a rational explanation which would be acceptable. After all, he is rather intrigued by all this."

Kagome listened and watched this all with a reserved silence. She was noting that Tseng stiffened briefly at the mention of the word him. Then Tseng gave a nod, spun around, and left the room. This left a semi-confused Kagome with Hojo, who was looking rather amused on the matter. Without a word, both turned, almost in unison. Kagome followed Hojo further into the lab. She was listening as he began to give detailed explanations about his lab. What was what, where it should go, and her coming position as his helper... when she wasn't being experimented on.

TBC!