Disclaimer: Anyone you recognize doesn't belong to me. Anyone you don't, does. Especially Kusaraku Fujii. He's my pride and joy.

Title: Body, Mind, and Soul

Chapter: Four – Offer Made

Kagome couldn't believe it. Here she'd gotten all panicked, and yet it seemed that this guy… Naraku?… was just offering to help her study! It was like he was being… nice? Naw, couldn't be.

Her mind worked furiously as she stared, open-mouthed, at Kusaraku, who was watching her with an odd expression on his face. He was offering to help her study… how could she use that against him? Should she decline? Accept? When she really thought about it, there was really no question to it. She had to accept, as she had to investigate him, and this would be the perfect chance to do so. After all, he could only keep up the act for so long before he messed up, right?

Part of her nagged at her… what if this wasn't Naraku? No…She told herself firmly. He is Naraku. He has to be. I'm positive of it. That's when the idea came to her: She could study with him, as he was offering. Just this once, she decided, she did not need Inuyasha. She would handle this herself, as well as she could… she would observe him, and figure out why the hell he was here.

She forced a sheepish smile onto her face. "Yeah, that's exactly what I need… it's just that it's so hard to ask, 'cause it's a bit embarrassing, you know? It makes me feel like you'll see me as stupid, or a ditz. Not to mention, you probably have your own studying to do…"

Kusaraku shook his head. "I told you, I'd have no problem with helping you. My own studies are easy enough for me, and with how much school I've heard that you miss, you obviously need the help, Higurashi. Speaking of which, you should have yourself examined by a physician, what with the number of assorted illnesses which I have heard you acquire so often. It looks like you're healthy now, though, at least."

At this, Kagome nodded, slight crimson embarrassment spreading across her face. "So… you'll help me, Fujii?"

He nodded. "Meet me here after school, and you can come with me to my home… alright? Unless, of course, you would prefer for us to study at your own home. I really couldn't care less either way."

Thoughts ran though Kagome's head, rushing through quickly as they had so often been doing all day.

His house… it's his house. His territory. It could very well be a trap.

If I go there, I might never return, for all I know.

Inuyasha and the others would never know what happened to me… but Inuyasha would maybe come through and be able to sniff him out, and then he'd avenge me hopefully.

My house… my family's there. I'd be putting them in severe danger.

Honestly, it's not really a choice, is it?

Reaching her decision, Kagome gave Kusaraku a dazzlingly bright smile, hoping the fear in her eyes wasn't showing yet again. "Your place would be great, thank you. My house'll be empty at the usual time I get home, so it wouldn't exactly be proper, you know?"

Kusaraku nodded. Just then, the bell signifying the end of lunch sounded. Both the two bid their goodbyes, heading back to class.

As he made his way through the hallways back to class, Kusaraku found himself thinking… Why would I go out of my way and offer to help her study? He wondered. Normally, I wouldn't bother with any of those pitiful schoolgirls… they're all alike; hormonal, gossiping twits. He pictured her face, and a strange expression crossed his face as he thought of her. Damnit, how do I know her? She seems so familiar, and yet I know I've never seen her face before… I always remember faces…