Pretender

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

Stressed

It had been a week since Suiichi had agreed to help her. He didn't tell Koenma about her. They both knew the little ruler would find out about her eventually. Kohaku had been gone for the whole week. Kagome softly sighed as she leaned against her windowsill. No more memories had popped into her mind. Suiichi had temporarily moved in with her so he could watch her more closely. Kagome feared that one day she would wake up to find him dead. She knew that Naraku could control her. It was only a matter of time before he demonstrated that control. Hiei had already figured it out that she was the one from the cemetery.

Kagome knew that he wanted to ask about how she came to be in the service of Naraku. She tried to pretend that the question didn't exist. Her memories were very clear, at least the ones she believed to be fake. Kagome was sick on not knowing her life, she wanted to go see her family and find everything out. Suiichi walked through the main door carrying a grocery bag. Kagome didn't bother to turn around. She knew it was Suiichi just from the feel of his ki.

She listened to the plastic bag crinkle as he set it on the counter. Kagome turned around and offered to help with the groceries. He refused and told her to sit down with a smile. Kagome sighed and sat down on the bench. She watched him put away the few items he picked up. He could cook, clean, and properly shop. What more could she ask for? He was the perfect man in everyway, save for his calmness. Suiichi always held a calm around her. It reminded her of how Kohaku acted when controlled. Except Suiichi seemed alive and not like a puppet.

She felt something coming from her room. Suiichi looked up and glared in the direction of the room. Kagome ran into her room and bowed at the mirror. She silently told Suiichi to stay out of sight. Kagome kneeled and kept her eyes on the floor. She couldn't see the cold crimson gaze, but she could feel it stalking her.

"Hello Master Naraku," Kagome greeted.

"You've healed wonderfully," Naraku commented.

"Your punishment has made me stronger," Kagome assured.

"Good, but I need you to do something for me," Naraku began.

"What is your desire?" Kagome asked as she bit back the disgust.

"I want you to find the spirit's detectives weak spots," Naraku commanded.

"It shall be done," Kagome unemotionally said.

"You know weakness is found in the heart," Naraku reminded.

"I understand," Kagome assured.

Naraku glared at her one last time before his image vanished in the mirror. Kagome stared up at the mirror before she frowned. She didn't want to do this assignment. Kagome walked out of the room and right into Kurama. He stared down at her and Kagome motioned him into the living room. Kagome sighed; it was time to tell him what she knew.

"Naraku likes to play dirty," Kagome began as they sat down, "he likes deception and betrayal."

"I see where this is going," Kurama assured.

"I know most of your team's weak spots. Yusuke has Keiko, Kuwabara has his sister and Yukina, and Hieialso has hissister," Kagome admitted.

"What about me?" Kurama asked with a smirk.

"There's your mother," Kagome seriously assured.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Kurama asked.

"He'll never find this information out from me," Kagome firmly assured.

"What's your weakness?" Kurama asked.

"My weaknesses were destroyed or forgotten a long time ago," Kagome coldly assured.

"What about Kohaku?" Kurama inquired.

"Kohaku can defend himself…he's had centuries of training," Kagome stated.

"How old are you?" Kurama asked. Kagome weakly smiled at him before she looked away.

"Kohaku was thirteen when he was taken by Naraku, I was about nineteen when I was taken in by Naraku," Kagome answered. "We're both at least five hundred."

Kurama was surprised by this information. She was a Miko and the boy was only human. He wondered how they were still living. Suiichi could tell that they had no illusion on them.

"Kohaku won't age because the jewel shard healed him and changed him," Kagome answered.

"I didn't mean to pry," Kurama assured.

"You need to know what you're up against," Kagome answered with a smile.

'How can she smile when hinting about her death?' Kurama wondered.

"I don't age because Naraku mixed his blood with mine. That is why I have certain youkai traits," Kagome explained.

"Did he…"

"He made me a child not a mate," Kagome assured with a blush. Kurama also began to blush at his hinted question.

"So Kohaku's not connected to Naraku in anyway?" Kurama asked.

"Kohaku is free of Naraku, he only stays because he wants to help me," Kagome explained.

"You have loyal friends," Kurama noticed as he smiled at her.

"Most of my friends betrayed me or died," Kagome whispered with a harden stare.

Kurama reached over and took her hand in his. He gave it a gentle squeeze and she shyly smiled at him. She really did miss the comfort a true friend could offer. Kurama was one that she could consider a friend. But the scars of pain ran deep within her soul. She couldn't help but feel hesitant about any friendships. Kagome would always fear the chance of betrayal.

Kurama went to speak again but his communicator went off. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it. This time is was Koenma on the small screen not the cheery Botan. Koenma had a scowl present and his eyes shut.

"Kurama, where are you?" Koenma asked; you could hear the anger.

"I'm staying with a friend," Kurama assured. He didn't like the toddler prying into his life.

"I need you in Reikai right now! The youngest of the shard hunters has appeared in Reikai," Koenma explained.

'Shippo,' Kagome thought in shock.

"Is he alive?" Kurama asked.

"No, he's recently deceased, but he claims to know stuff about the Tama," Koenma explained.

'Recently deceased?' Kagome questioned.

"I'll be there shortly," Kurama assured as he closed the compact phone.

"That's wrong," Kagome whispered as she racked her brain for answers. Kurama remained silent as he watched her. "Inuyasha killed Shippo five hundred years ago."

"I'll be back as soon as possible," Kurama said as he watched her look away.

"I need to go with," Kagome firmly said.

"I can't take you to Reikai," Kurama calmly said.

"Call your boss and tell them you found the Guardian of the Tama," Kagome simply said.

"He'll want answers," Kurama warned.

"He'll get what I reveal," Kagome assured.

Kurama nodded even though he didn't agree with her. He opened the phone again and reached Koenma. Koenma looked even more frustrated then the first time. His eyes were open and they shone with anger.

"What?" Koenma snapped.

"I found the Guardian of the Tama," Kurama simply said. Koenma tensed and then the pacifier fell out of his mouth.

"What do you mean found?" Koenma stressed.

"I found the Miko while working," Kurama explained.

"Bring her to Reikai this moment!" Koenma exclaimed before he shut off the link.

Kurama turned around to give Kagome the okay and she was gone. His eyebrows furrowed and he walked down the short hallway. He heard Naraku's voice again and frowned. Kagome agreed with him before saying bye. She walked out of the room dressed in her Chihaya. He noticed that she had Buddhist prayer beads around her neck and no weapons. Kagome looked up and him and gave a weak smile.

"What did he want?" Kurama asked.

"He called me to say that he wants me get close to one of the detectives and gain their trust," Kagome explained.

"That's it?" Kurama asked in mild disbelief.

"Naraku also ordered me to make them believe I'm not an enemy," Kagome finished.

"Betrayal is sweetest when it comes from a loved one. Steal their hearts make them believe you love them, care for them, and then crush them. Show them betrayal and crush their hearts and souls."

"What will you do?" Kurama softly asked.

"I will do as he asks," Kagome said as she noticed Kurama tense. She reached out and held his hand. "I will pretend that I am following orders, then I will betray him."

Kurama's hand gently held hers. Kagome looked away and slightly blushed at the display of emotion. She heard him chuckle and she looked at him in question. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Kagome's face turned tomato red as her eyes widened. She smiled at his trust and wondered how he could trust her with matters like these.

"How can you trust me with this?" Kagome whispered. Kurama traced her cheekbone with his thumb and smiled.

"I don't need a sign to point out that you're a good person deep down," Kurama explained.

"How can you justify that as reason to trust me?" Kagome almost yelled.

"Call it instinct," Kurama waived off.

"My adopted son was a Kitsune and he trusted me," Kagome began.

"Kitsunes aren't very trusting by nature," Kurama pointed out.

"He stood by me through everything," Kagome finished as she went back in thought.

The portal to spirit world opened and they both stepped through. Thinking about Shippo always made her want to cry. She felt guilt for letting Inuyasha kill him. Then she felt saddened because something told her that he was alive. The feeling of him being alive hurt her as much as his death. Either way she had failed him badly. She didn't save him or she left him alone. If he were alive then she wouldn't have brought him to live with Naraku. Even when she fully trusted Naraku, she wouldn't have brought him there. She could only hope that he was alive and he was safe.

'What if it's really him in Reikai?' Kagome wondered.

Would he blame her for letting Inuyasha get to him, or would he yell at her from leaving him alone? Her emotions were in turmoil as she thought about the possibilities. Her eyes strayed to Kurama and she thought that him and Shippo had the same beautiful eyes. They should everything in those emerald depths. She then wondered if she would let Kurama die or leave him alone somehow. No, she refused to do that. She was sick of hurting or killing people. It would end, this time she knew she could break away from Naraku and end it all.

Author's Note:

I thought this chapter was a bit boring...but I couldn't think of what to do to it, the next chapter will be a lot better.
My other fic I am going to make it a Sesshoumaru and Kagome pairing, I think it would go perfect!