Just Breathe

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

Stressed

Kohaku stepped up to the apartment door and unlocked it. The door creaked open into darkness and he slightly frowned. He flipped on a light and noticed that Kurama was asleep on the couch. The smaller youkai known as Hiei was sitting back in a chair with his eyes closed. Kohaku set his keys down on the table and watched Hiei as he walked into the kitchen. He was tired and thirsty; opening a portal to Makai was exhausting. It took just enough energy out of him to make him sluggish. His brown eyes scanned the room and he found Hiei's crimson eyes watching him. Kohaku shrugged and continued to raid the kitchen.

In a few hours, the sun would rise and his sister would be up and about. He just hoped that she could live one day without being consumed by memories. He grabbed a can of Coke from the fridge and leaned against the counter. He turned around and found that the little youkai had vanished. Kohaku's eyes narrowed as he took a step to the side and turned around. Hiei was leaning against the door with his eyes closed.

"Why did she leave you in?" Kohaku asked. This was his house and he deserved answers.

"What is your sister hiding?" Hiei calmly asked back.

"I suppose you know she's a Miko," Kohaku mumbled.

"I also know she's connected to Naraku, she was the one to raise the dead," Hiei stated as he watched the boy.

"You should just mind your own business," Kohaku calmly warned.

"Your sister or this Naraku are no threat to me," Hiei casually said.

"Then why do you ask about them?" Kohaku countered with ease.

"Hn," Hiei grunted.

"We all have our secrets," Kohaku began, "I have my past, Kagome has a secret she isn't fully aware of, and you have Yukina."

Hiei stood straight and his eyes narrowed. Kohaku grinned at the youkai before he sipped his Coke.

"Explain," Hiei demanded.

"Naraku doesn't know about your secret…but Kagome and I do," Kohaku clarified.

"Three can keep a secret if two are dead," Hiei warned.

"I know you can try to kill us, but do you really want to chance your own life?" Kohaku questioned.

"I live to fight," Hiei responded as he glared at Kohaku.

"What about a deal?" Kohaku suggested.

"Go on," Hiei said with interest.

"If you not mention what I tell you to Koenma, then I won't tell Naraku about your secret," Kohaku suggested with a smile. Hiei wasn't going to mention anything to Koenma, and Kohaku wouldn't give up an innocent girl to Naraku.

"How do you know I won't kill you both?" Hiei questioned.

"Because I have a few spies ready to go to Naraku if need be…and he is not one to trifle with," Kohaku coldly answered.

Hiei glared at the boy, he acted as if he did something like this before. His crimson eyes wandered to Kurama. If he learned something about this girl then he might be able to help the fox. He had nothing better to do so he sat down and agreed to the deal.

"Kagome was taken by Naraku about five hundred years ago. Her memories were erased and fake memories were put into her mind. Naraku then blocked out a few fake memories so she would constantly be confused. He didn't want her to remember what truly happened. I know what truly happened, but that is to remain a secret for now," Kohaku explained.

"What do you want me to do?" Hiei grunted.

"I want you to try and find the real memories and then try and ease them out," Kohaku answered.

"Do you trust me in her mind?" Hiei questioned.

"If something ill is going on then she'll purify you," Kohaku answered.

'Wow a dream come true,' Hiei dryly thought.

"You may get a chance to fight one of the strongest youkai alive," Kohaku added. Hiei was fully listening to the boy now.

Kagome grunted as she rolled over to her stomach. Her head lay on its side and she stared at the mirror. Stray thoughts of Shippo came to her mind as she thought about his death. She had known that Akago had killed, but she couldn't see the little boy killing her little boy. Her heart ached with betrayal as she thought of this. Shippo's death meant that Naraku knew of Shippo's existence and kept it hidden. Kagome growled at the betrayal and sat up.

'Why did Naraku want Shippo dead?' Kagome thought.

Whatever the reason, he would pay for Shippo's death. He loved betrayal too much and for that he would be betrayed. Kagome stood and quickly changed into jeans and a tank top. She threw on a pink sweater to warm her arms. Kagome paused at the door and felt the presence at the mirror. She walked to the mirror and stood in front of it. He would not receive respect from her. The mirror blurred before the image of a young boy came to her. Kagome hid the anger as she stared at the boy in front of her. Maybe she was more like Naraku then she thought, she already had thoughts of killing him.

"Hello Akago," Kagome calmly greeted.

"Kagome," the boy greeted with a grin.

His lavender hair fell to his shoulders with a few curls upward. Crimson eyes stared at her and she plastered on the best smile she had. His face lit up with true happiness and Kagome wondered how he could have killed her Shippo. Akago grinned and his blunt human teeth showed. He looked like an eight-year-old boy; he would always remain like that. Akago grew from a baby to eight and then suddenly stopped.

"How are you doing Akago?" Kagome asked with a bit of concern.

"I'm doing fine, I'm just bored of being locked up in the castle," Akago admitted. Kagome nodded in agreement.

"Have you had any missions lately?" Kagome asked.

"I had one a few days ago, it wasn't that special," Akago admitted.

"What was it?" Kagome asked; she needed confirmation.

"I had to kill this one youkai," Akago explained as he recalled the event. "What about you? You're so lucky."

"Luck has nothing to do with me," Kagome softly said.

"You are lucky! You get to leave the castle and spend time with Kohaku," Akago listed. The boy was only this sweet around Kohaku, Kanna, and Kagome. Naraku would punish the child for acting like a child.

'I can't kill a child,' Kagome thought. 'But it's Naraku's offspring.'

"How has Naraku been?" Kagome questioned.

"He's been upset these past few days. He won't let Kanna and I go out to the garden," Akago quickly said.

"Did you kill a youkai named Shippo?" Kagome asked. Akago stopped talking and looked confused.

"No…I only killed a minor youkai, it was a kappa," Akago explained.

"Okay…"

"I would never hurt your Shippo!" Akago firmly said.

"I'm sorry, but is there someone that looks like you?" Kagome asked.

"Naraku produced a new brother for me, he reminds me of Hakudoushi," Akago admitted.

"Naraku's coming," Kanna's soft voice warned. Kagome placed her hand on the mirror and Akago did the same.

"Don't mention this to Naraku, and stay safe," Kagome whispered to him.

"You too," Akago wished before the mirror shut off.

Kagome sat on the floor once more and pondered this new finding. Naraku hadn't created a new offspring since he killed Kagura. Kagome smiled at the memory of Kagura, he thought she would forget. She never forgot the wind youkai, Kagura was a bit snippy, but she was kind in her own way. He had finally given her the freedom she wanted only to poison her to death with his miasma. Kagome stood from the floor wondering if she would meet the same fate as Kagura. If death were her release then she would accept it with ease.

Kagome stepped into the hallway and could see Kohaku conversing with Hiei. A slight frown marred her features as she entered the kitchen. Kohaku smiled brightly at her and greeted her. Kagome nodded and turned her gaze to Hiei. He merely stared at her and she frowned even more. Kagome picked a glass for the cabinet and grabbed the milk that was in the fridge. She poured a glass and put the milk back. As she drank from the glass, she stared at Hiei from over the rim.

"You've been gone almost a week," Kagome calmly said to Kohaku.

"I had to take care of some business in Makai," Kohaku answered.

"You're lucky that Master didn't notice your disappearance," Kagome calmly said.

"I'm sure he noticed," Kohaku whispered.

"Shippo is dead," Kagome coldly informed.

"Of course, he's been dead for five hundred years," Kohaku said with a confused tone.

"No! I went to Reikai and met his spirit. He died a few days ago," Kagome angrily informed.

"Kagome," Kohaku softly said.

Kagome slammed the glass on the counter and milk spilled over the rim. Her eyes were filled with a suppressed rage. Hiei watched the woman closely; he needed to learn her habits and how she worked. If he could learn her functions then invading her mind would be so much simpler.

"I'm sick of being lied to!" Kagome harshly whispered.

"I didn't lie to you," Kohaku protested.

"Just because I have no true memories or I am controlled like a puppet doesn't mean I don't have emotions!" Kagome painfully said.

"I know you have emotions," Kohaku began, he needed her to calm down.

"No! I know you try to protect me…but damn it! I need to break away from all this!" Kagome finally growled.

"If too much happens then you may breakdown," Kohaku explained.

"No more hiding…I want to remember it all," Kagome firmly said as she stared at him. "Are you willing to let me do this without interference?"

"It's not safe…but I won't stand in your way," Kohaku agreed.

"Good," Kagome whispered.

'She's a fighter,' Hiei noted.

"Who killed Shippo?" Kohaku suddenly asked.

"Shippo said it was Akago," Kagome softly answered. Kohaku tensed at this news.

"Is he…is he sure?" Kohaku carefully questioned.

"Shippo wouldn't lie," Kagome solemnly said, "and I want to believe that Akago wouldn't lie to me either."

"Did you talk to Akago?" Kohaku questioned.

"Yes…and he assured me that he wouldn't harm Shippo. He said that Master created a new offspring similar to Hakudoushi," Kagome explained.

"I wouldn't trust anyone in that castle," Kohaku muttered.

"I'll just have to wait and find out about this whole situation myself," Kagome mumbled.

"For now I would just wait and relax," Kohaku voiced. Kagome solemnly nodded before she turned her attention to the yawning male.

Kurama approached the counter while rubbing his eyes. He blinked as he focused on the three people in the kitchen. Hiei smirked; the fox never let anyone see him while he was a mess. His crimson hair was sticking up on the side and his clothes were wrinkled. Hiei wished he had a camera for blackmail; it was truly a Kodak moment. Kagome smiled and greeted him with a simple good morning. His emerald eyes mostly focused on her while she smiled. He noted that she seemed a bit happier then the other day. Kurama could tell something was weighing on her mind.

"You over slept," Hiei simply said.

"It's such a comfortable couch," Kurama reasoned.

"I have to stop by the Sunset Shrine," Kagome quickly said.

"Do you think it's best?" Kohaku nervously asked.

"Yes, I need to see if they're really my family," Kagome supplied with a questioning look.

"Just be careful," Kohaku advised.

"I always am," Kagome joked.

Kohaku scoffed before he went back over to the TV. Kagome happily smiled and watched as he put in the Fruits Basket DVD. Kurama looked over when he heard a noise and watched as the orange hair boy crashed through the roof. He rolled his eyes and turned back to Kagome.

"Hellsing is so much better," Kagome mumbled. Kohaku glared at her and Kagome grinned.

"The Hellsing Manga is great, but they screwed up the series by adding Incognito," Kohaku explained before turning up the volume.

"Well…they screwed up Fruits Baskets by making Akito a guy!" Kagome countered.

"Well who would follow a woman?" Kohaku questioned before he tensed. He had just shoved his foot into his mouth.

"You would! You follow Shiori like a lovesick puppy!" Kagome sang.

"Akito is better as a male," Hiei replied. Kurama raised an eyebrow in shock. He couldn't believe Hiei watched anime.

"Akito is a woman! It should stay that way because it adds more drama!" Kagome dramatically explained before she ran into her room.

"She's just a feminist," Kohaku explained.

"I HEARD THAT!" Kagome yelled through the walls.

"I wonder why your neighbors never complain," Suiichi muttered.

"We own the building," Kohaku supplied.

Hiei's left eye twitched. Why would they buy a whole building to only share one apartment?

"Why?" Suiichi asked.

"It's keep others safe from harm," Kohaku explained.

"I want to leave!" Kagome sang as she ran down the hallway.

She grabbed Suiichi's hand and ran out the door. Kohaku grinned before going back to the anime. Hiei rolled his eyes before he followed the other two. He had work to do and wanted more information on this family.

Author's Note:
Thanks to all the wonderful reviewers!
Please leave a review!

Skitzoflame- I'm glad that put a funny picture in your head, it was meant to lighten the chapter
Kage Otome- Even though Kouga seems somewhat...dense, I really like his character and thought that he deserved his own chapter
Anonymous- You'll see how they react to each other even though Kurama won't see Kouga with Kagome