AN: Kagura might seem a bit out of character, but I don't think it's too bad. Personally, I don't think that Kagura is that bad of a person. She only serves Naraku because she has no choice. She isn't that mean. Occasionally she saves Kohaku and once or twice she warns him to be careful, showing that she cares for him. She actually doesn't have much pride, since, in one episode, she goes to Sesshomaru for help. I don't think she carries many illusions because she never goes to Inuyasha's group for help (they'd just kill her). I actually think that, deep down, she's a nice person who cares about those close to her and is scared of losing control over her life, but I also think that she has a lot of self-preservation instinct, which can be mistaken as obsequious-ness. Sorry, another character rant there.

-_-;;

A bit confusing, but yes, Kagura and Kohaku are recovering drug addicts who work for Sesshomaru. It's sort of explained, but some of it's a bit foggy.

Chapter 7: Shame

Click. Click. Click, click, click.

I walked into the small apartment I shared with my younger sister and dropped my bag by the door. I hated going on information pick-ups, but Kohaku had been unreachable so I got roped into going it. Fortunately, it had gone well, but I still hated the idea that I had no choice but to follow the directions of the informant. It made me feel so weak and powerless.

"Hey." I nodded to my sister as I walked through the dark living room. The only light in the room was coming from the computer where Kana was sitting. She probably wasn't even listening. She was always like that when she was doing a computer search. It was almost scary how oblivious she was to the outside world. I entered the kitchen and opened the fridge. Nothing.

'Maybe one of these days I'll actually get my act together and go shopping for some food. Nah. I'll let Kohaku bitch and complain until he does it for me.'

Running my hands through my short black hair, I decided I should get it trimmed; my hair almost reached the bottoms of my ears. I took a quick shower to get the sweat off my body and grabbed a fresh pair of shorts and a gray tank top. It was my normal gear that I wore year-round. I came back into the living room and the lights were still off. Kana never bothered with light anymore. It's a wonder she could see properly. I flopped down on the couch and looked over at Kana.

"How goes it?"

"I've got a led." Kana sighed, not looking my way. I wasn't too worried about Kana's attitude. She had always been like that, completely devoted to her technology. I think her and her computer would have been having crazy monkey sex if it were logistically possible. I sighed and flipped open my fan, which I carried tucked behind my belt. "Stop that. You know the energy released by your fan makes my monitor shake."

"Ah, bitch, bitch, bitch." I snapped as I closed my fan.

"Are you two fighting again?" Kohaku asked as he walked into our apartment. That mofo didn't even knock anymore. I looked up at the ceiling and tried not to make eye contact, but his hair always drew my attention to it. Kohaku Ryoshi's black hair was a bit longer than mine was, and it was streaked a dark blue.

'Note to self: blue hair clashes with camouflage jackets and pants.'

"Hey, Kana. Kagura."

"Kohaku." I nodded—Kana ignored him completely—and Kohaku dropped his large duffel bag next to the couch. I watched him walk into the kitchen and decided we needed to talk.

"Hey. Kohaku."

"What? Hey, don't you ever go shopping for food, or do Youkai just not need to eat?"

"Where were you today? I had to go get that information myself. You know that makes me nervous."

"My baby needed a little work." Kohaku shrugged and I rolled my eyes. "So, I took the day off; grow up."

I snorted and look back over at Kana. I didn't really feel like dealing with the pacifists bitching right now.

Yea, as crazy as it sounds, Kohaku is the most pacifistic person I know. Yes, granted that isn't saying much, but still. It's amazing. I once asked him exactly what he called pacifism, and he explained that he would only fight if there were no other choice left and even then he would only kill if the target were endangering the life of someone else. I never really understood, but, as I'm the kind of person who's willing to kill someone at the drop of a hat, I've always respected him for sticking by his morals.

'His morals. Shit. I just had to go and remind myself.'

"Hey, Kohaku?"

"Yea?"

"Are you clean?"

"Six months, thirteen days and counting." He smiled at me.

"Five hours." I muttered.

"What?"

"Yes. It…......"

"Kagura! How could you?!"

"I SCREWED UP, OKAY?!" I shouted before lowering my voice so Kana would not be disturbed. "It was just a small sniff."

"But why? You know that was wrong."

"Oh and like you never thought about going back to your heroine?" I spat, slapping him across the face. "I was stupid today and I slipped up. But you were stupid once too! Oh, or did you forget that while I whored myself to Naraku in order to pay for my cocaine, you were his muscle, going against your own morals to get a single fix! Did you forget that you left your family for those little shots? Have you forgotten that you nearly died several times and it's only damn luck that saved your sorry ass, you bastard?! You have no right to call me stupid, Kohaku Ryoshi!"

"But notice that I've been clean for months. When Lord Sesshomaru gave me a chance I didn't bit his hand." Kohaku replied and we lapsed into silence. "Why? Why did you do it?"

"I was just so scared." I whispered, leaning against the wall. "I needed to relax. I need to relax, and that dealer was just there. I had the money, so there wouldn't be any debt. I was just so tense and I though, only one snort."

"Just one, huh? You know that's never enough."

"No! It was just one. One. That's all it was, I swear." I told him and he was silent for a second, his impassive thinking face looking me straight in the eye.

"Hey. It's okay. We all screw up sometimes." Kohaku whispered, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It'll be all right. I'll help you out. I know how it feels."

"What will Lord Sesshomaru say?" I whispered, my real fear coming out. Sesshomaru had saved me when Naraku, my drug dealer and pimp, was going to kill me. I owed everything to him. If he found out, he might fire me, and then I would lose my apartment; I wouldn't be able to support Kana. My life revolved around my job.

"I won't tell if you won't. I know what the job means to you." He said.

"Thanks." I smiled back, though my smile was weak compared to his heartfelt one.

"I found it." Kana called. We looked up and walked over to where she was sitting. I sneaked a glance at her face and wondered if she had heard my little confession. She gave no sign, but she was always fairly impassive. "Call your boss."

I dialed Sesshomaru's number on my cell phone and he picked up the phone on the seventh ring.

"Speak." Sesshomaru growled, causing me to wince. It was obvious that it was a bad time.

"Kana found got a lead."

"And?"

"The purist factions your boss was worried about plan to take on an attack tonight." Kana explained as she continued to type on her computer.

"The purists do plan to lead an attack." I repeated, unsure if Sesshomaru could hear Kana.

"Fuck. And the target?"

"Your brother." I explained repeating the information I got from the informant that afternoon. Snapping my fingers, I remembered the other piece of news I had received today. "But it seems the Kitsune boy will also be a target."

"Your orders, sir? Kagura and I are ready to move at this moment." Kohaku told Sesshomaru as I handed him the cell phone so I could grab my feather, which I had left in my room.

"Rin is in no shape to be left alone with a servant, so I leave it in your hands. Protect the targets, but do not interfere with anyone else. And that's an order."

"Yes, Sir. We're on our way." Kohaku nodded, but I could already hear the dial tone on the other end of the line as Kohaku finished speaking.