Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha.

Cherryblosomz-You mean I didn't just strait out say that? I thought I did...

Names With Their Codenames:

Inuyasha- Hanyou Kagome- Eternity

Shippou- Kit

Souta- Acura

Miroku- Monk

Sango- Taijiya

Rin- Sapphira

Houjo- Dignity

A World Without Hope and Courage

Chapter 4: Risks

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

A messenger stood in front of Kagome, relaying a message. "Eternity-sama! Naraku and Kikyou have adopted two young heirs. One girl, and one boy."

Kagome twirled a lock of her raven black hair. Everyone was staring at her, expecting her to make a decision. "It is not fair to kill two young children for something they do not yet understand."

"But Eternity-sama!" Kagome's adviser, Kaede protested. "With heirs, they are virtually indestructible! We cannot simply ignore this fact!"

"I am not ignoring that fact, Miko." Kagome turned her chocolate brown eyes on her adviser. "I am simply stating the situation. We cannot kill two innocent children!"

"But then what shall we do, Eternity-sama? We cannot ignore the heirs. The heirs are in the way of our plans!" Kaede pointed out.

"I know, I know!" Kagome yelled in frustration, and she rubbed her temples.

Taijiya stepped forward. "I agree with Eternity-sama. It is unfair to kill two children who don't know what is going on. They are just innocent bystanders in our war."

Monk nodded in agreement. "It would make no sense to take two innocent lives when death is clearly avoidable."

Hanyou shook his head. "Feh." He muttered stubbornly, and did not offer his opinion.

"Give me some time to think." Kagome said unhappily.

The rest of the reports were less disturbing, reports on increasing rebellion troops, fighting tournaments, the need for more weaponry, etc.

Kagome yawned loudly after the last report. "Arigatou. You are excused."

The messenger bowed and left the room as instructed.

Kagome rubbed her temples, no solutions to any of the Rebellion's problems were coming. She sighed, and turned to Kaede. "I need some time to do some serious thinking." She told her adviser. "I'm going out for lunch." She stood, as did her bodyguards.

As they were walking along the streets, she attempted making a conversation with Sango. "Hi." She started lamely.

"Hello." Sango replied, looking at Kagome curiously.

"Ano... so how long have been serving?" Kagome asked.

"Two years. Two long, long years." Sango replied.

"I'd like to be friends." Kagome told Sango.

"Really?"

"Yes. So please be at ease." Kagome said happily.

"Ye- sure." Sango replied.

Kagome choose a nice looking café, and sat outside. "Have you noticed how advanced, and then how non-advanced this kingdom is?"

"Yes. We are very advanced in some places, but in others, it's like living in the Shingoku Jidai." Sango commented.

Minutes passed in silence before Sango asked, "Hey, Eternity, do you have a younger brother?"

"Two." Kagome replied. "But one is adopted."

"I had a younger brother." Sango said sadly.

"Had?" Kagome asked.

"He was taken away from us when he went to training camp. We never saw him again." Sango smiled through her tears. "We had a memorial and everything. For two whole long months... I couldn't even bear to see little boys. At that point, I was useless to the Rebellions. I was afraid that I would be asked to leave, but... but your brother... he told me not to bother with things that could not be changed." She blinked back tears. "He told me that even though I didn't seem useful now, that I was a vital part in our chance. He also told me that... that he felt sympathy for me, and that he hoped... that perhaps someday my brother would return to me."

Kagome looked at Sango, sadness welling up in her heart. "Taijiya... I know how you feel, more than you think. But perhaps you should be content with the fact that he is alive, and probably not suffering. I... I... I can never be sure of that. But part of you, Taijiya, should always hope for him to return. If you quit hoping, you've quit loving him. Remember that, Taijiya, and I'm sure, someday, your brother will return."

Sango looked up at Kagome in surprise... and sadness. "Thank you." She wiped away tears.

Kagome nodded and stood, deciding that she was done. Sango, to, decided she was finished, and they left. Inuyasha and Miroku were off to the side, their watchful eyes on the girls... or certain body parts of the girls. Inuyasha beat Miroku to the ground before joining the girls, as the monk moaned.

KKKKK SCENE CHANGE KKKKK

"Have you made your decision, Eternity-sama? Your choice will be our commands." Kaede asked.

"Yes I have. The task will be risky, but much worth our while. You are to retrieve those children. I do not care how, just be quiet about it." Kagome finished.

Kaede looked surprised at her superior, but said nothing.

"You heard her!" Hanyou snapped.

The soldiers, jumped at Hanyou's voice, but bowed, and rushed out of the room, planing to for fill the task asked off them.

Kagome rubbed her temples, when she remembered something. Something important, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Houjo had said something...

Flashback KKK

"Kagome, nobody truly deserves to die. It just happens. You might think of it as a punishment, but I think of it as a relief, as if your shift was over. Someday I will die, and you will take over the Rebellions. You will be queen of this country, I'm sure of it. You will be perfect." Houjo patted Kagome's head, who had only been 10 at the time.

"Onii-san, are you saying that you have to die, and I have to take over?" Kagome asked.

"Oh no, dear Kagome. You don't have to, but it would please me greatly. Remember Kagome, that you are special. One of a kind. Your life will be full of hardships, tough choices, and pain. Physical pain, and emotional pain. Please, be careful."

End of Flashback KKKKK

Hardships, touch choices, both physical and emotional pain. She didn't understand what he meant then, but she sure did now.

Her life would be torn to pieces before it got any better.

KKKKKKKK

Kagura wandered the endless halls of the palace. Naraku and Kikyou... how come they had kept her so hidden?

Kagura sighed. She had lived in the palace for many years, for Naraku and Kikyou had adopted her secretly. She was told that they had adopted two others, only publicly. She couldn't help but to feel more important, for she was a secret, and they were not.

She made her way to the throne room, and inside the room was Naraku and his wife, Kikyou, sitting on the thrones, and two younger children off to the side. One boy, one girl.

Naraku elegantly swept toward Kagura. "Evening, daughter."

"Hello, Onigumo." Kagura replied.

"Naraku. I am Naraku. Onigumo is gone! You will call me Naraku and no other!" He grabbed her hair and forced her head back. "You hear me?"

"Yes... Naraku-sama." Kagura said. Naraku released, and Kagura collapsed to the floor.

The boy looked extremely troubled, but the girl remained emotionless.

The girl.

There was something familiar about her. The way the girl remained emotionless, did not talk, just stared out into nothingness.

Could she be? 'No.' Kagura thought fiercely. But perhaps... the exact likeness, the emotionless... could she be....

Could she?

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

HI! I just got done watching The Grudge. Its creepy... If you want to hear about it, then you can email me and I'll tell you all about it.

Next Time on A World Without Hope and Courage: Kidnapped! Kagome ordered her guards to seek out the two heirs. In the meantime, the royal family is taking extra precautions to make sure nothing like that happens. Then Kagome meets this strange girl on the street. What does she want, and why is she so interested in Kagome?