A/N: Finals week is here and i just had to get this chapter out before it. Wish me luck on finals, and tell me what you think of the chapter. If i don't post before then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Chapter Seven: Mourning

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Suikotsu sat at his desk in his office silently browsing the internet. What is with this guy, Naraku? I can't find anything on him. Not even a fucking birth certificate or social security number. Damn it… Just then, there was a knock at the door and Suikotsu looked up. "Come in," He said and Bankotsu walked into the room with Jakotsu before closing the door behind him. Suikotsu leaned back in his chair and stared at the two boys curiously. Something was definitely off with them. "How was school today?"

"Don't worry about school…we have something to talk to you about," Bankotsu stated as he and Jakotsu both approached the desk and sat down in the chairs in front of it.

Suikotsu waited patiently for his brothers to continue, but they said nothing. They seemed quite concerned about something. "So? What do you have to talk to me about?" Suikotsu asked when they still said nothing.

"That girl, Kikyo…" Bankotsu began, but he stopped unable to complete the sentence.

"What about her? Muikotsu went to go take care of her like an hour ago," Suikotsu told them, but watched as each of his brothers' gazes lifted to meet his as if they didn't believe him. Once they caught his gaze, they realized what he said was true and their faces paled. "What is wrong with you two?"

"She's Kagome's cousin," Jakotsu finally answered.

"So? What's your point? Are they close or something?" Suikotsu asked as if there wasn't a problem. Bankotsu immediately got up from the chair and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him and leaving Jakotsu alone with Suikotsu. "What's going on, Jakotsu?"

Jakotsu sighed and sat back in his chair. "I think Bankotsu is starting to have really strong feelings about this girl," Jakotsu explained.

"What makes you think that?" Suikotsu asked.

"Well…for one, he's hanging out with her, which is unusual because the girls are usually chasing him around. And two…I haven't seen him smile a pure smile since we were little kids," Jakotsu said softly.

"But he's only known her for two days, Jakotsu," Suikotsu reminded.

Jakotsu nodded. "I know…but even I feel a strong connection with this girl…and I'm gay," Jakotsu told him. "But I think she makes him happy. You should see the people she hangs around, Suikotsu. They're nothing like her, but she loves each and every one of them. This one guy is like ice cold…possibly colder than Renkotsu and when he's with her…he smiles, a warm, sincere smile."

"Well…there's nothing I can do about Muikotsu. More than likely he's coming back now," Suikotsu sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest. "As for that girl…Kagome, was it? Maybe I should check into her, make sure she's not trying to bring us down or anything."

Jakotsu's eyes widened. "You think she knows who we are and is playing us? Suikotsu, she's only 17!" Jakotsu exclaimed.

"And you're 18 and Bankotsu is 17. You two have been killing since you were 14. Do you really think it is that unlikely that she could have been doing the same thing?" Suikotsu asked.

"No…but…" Jakotsu began, knowing full well that he would lose this battle.

"But nothing. I'm just looking out for you two," Suikotsu stated as he reached into his desk and pulled out another file. "By the way…we've got a new mission from Naraku."

Jakotsu took the file and opened it up. "Taisho…of Taisho Enterprises!" Jakotsu exclaimed.

"Yup. If we accept, we have five days to complete the mission and will receive 500-grand. We were ordered to leave no one alive, not even servants that are living within their mansion," Suikotsu said. "Let Bankotsu have a look at it."

Jakotsu nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Suikotsu to his computer. Taisho? …This is a big one.

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After dropping off Sango, Inu Yasha and Kagome walked into the Higurashi's house. "Tadaima!" Kagome shouted happily as she and Inu Yasha took off their shoes. Nobody answered and she became curious. "Kaasan? Jiisan? Anyone home?"

Just then, they picked up the sound of sniffles and Kagome began to worry. "Kaasan? Jiisan? Souta?" Kagome exclaimed following the sounds to the kitchen and found her mother and grandfather sitting around the table with their eyes red and their heads in their hands. Inu Yasha walked in and was overwhelmed by the smell of tears.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Inu Yasha asked with concern.

Kagome's mother looked up and saw Kagome and Inu Yasha standing in front of them with concern. "Kaasan?" Kagome asked.

"Your grandfather just got a call from the temple your cousin works at. About half an hour ago..." her mother sniffled as she wrung her hands tightly. "Kikyo was poisoned and died before she got to the hospital."

Kagome's eyes widened and Inu Yasha grabbed a hold of her before her legs gave away. "Kikyo…is dead…?" Kagome said softly.

"Kagome, have a seat. I'm going to call, Sesshomaru," Inu Yasha said helping her to a chair and sitting her down before he pulled out his cell phone and exited the room to call his brother.

Kagome's mother got up from her seat and threw her arms around her daughter, crying against her shoulder while Kagome stared into space.

Inu Yasha dialed his brother's number and waited for him to pick up.

-What do you want?-

"Kagome needs you. Her cousin was murdered."

-What!-

"Her cousin was murdered, Sesshomaru. Get over here."

-I'm on my way-

Inu Yasha listened to Sesshomaru hang up and hung up his own phone too. He walked into the other room and saw Kagome was now crying. His heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly and he ran over and hugged her tightly, rubbing her back soothingly. "Inu Yasha…"

"It's ok, Kagome. Everything will be ok," Inu Yasha assured her, before turning to her mother. "Do they know who did it?"

"No, they didn't find anything except the poison," Kagome's mother said as someone walked into the house without knocking and she held her breath, fearfully of what it could be. But when Sesshomaru ran into the kitchen, she sighed with relief. "Oh, Sesshomaru…you scared me."

Sesshomaru immediately ran over to Kagome and took her from Inu Yasha, hugging her as tightly as possible, without crushing the poor girl. "Sesshomaru…" Kagome cried against his chest.

"Shh…" He whispered as he released her a little bit, and escorted her to the couch in the other room. Inu Yasha watched them walk away and turned to Kagome's mother.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Higurashi and sir, for your loss," he said as he bowed his head. "I'll let myself out."

He bowed again and left the house, leaving his older brother to take care of Kagome.

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The next day, despite her mother's protests, Kagome was escorted into school by Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha. She told her mom that she needed to go to get her mind off of everything else. She went to classes and remained silent throughout each class, not participating in any of them.

The lunch bell rang and Inu Yasha, Sesshomaru, and Kagome walked out to their table outside meeting up with Jakotsu, Bankotsu, Sango, and Miroku. "Kagome-chan? What's wrong?" Sango asked with worry when they all saw Kagome's sad expression.

Sesshomaru ignored them, putting his arm around Kagome and leading her to the table, leaving Inu Yasha to explain. "Kagome's cousin was murdered yesterday," Inu Yasha told all of them quietly. Sango gasped and covered her mouth in horror while Miroku rubbed her back reassuringly.

"So Kagome isn't taking it well, huh?" Miroku asked. Inu Yasha shook his head and they walked over to join them. Jakotsu and Bankotsu looked at each other and immediately felt guilty. Shit… They walked over and sat down with the group.

"Do they know who did it?" Bankotsu asked.

Inu Yasha shook his head and placed his hand on top of Kagome's. "Listen, let's not talk about this anymore," Sango told them and pulled out her lunch. "Let's just eat."

They all nodded and pulled out their lunches.

Kagome didn't say a word during lunch and when they were done, Sesshomaru just escorted her back to class. Inu Yasha, Sango, and Miroku followed, leaving Bankotsu and Jakotsu alone at the picnic table. "I guess they were closer than she said," Bankotsu said softly.

Jakotsu shook his head. "No, I don't think that's it. That girl was her family, Bankotsu. When a family member dies, no matter how close they are…people still mourn over them," Jakotsu told him. Bankotsu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "So what now?"

"We move on. We move onto the next target…Taisho," Bankotsu stated.