AN: I apologize for how late this is. Because of school and some really bad family problems I lost track of this fic. I'm going to try to update weekly from now on. Here's hoping nothing else goes wrong in my life!

Undercover Wife

Chapter Three: Fortunate Developments

When the Empress was finished threatening Kagome and Inuyasha to cooperate, she turned to the police chief and began to play her politics as usual. "Get this body bagged up and keep her delicately preserved in the morgue. We'll need to use her body later." She turned to all of the officials working there, and she snapped her fingers for their attention. "I know this is difficult, but I expect to receive your total cooperation. You will be handsomely rewarded of course, but I promise you, if today's events leak in any way later on, you will receive the worse punishment I can decree. Worse than treason, and worse than terrorism. Do you understand?"

With automatic and mutual agreements, the officers performed their duties and took care of the physical matters of wrapping up the crime scene. Sesshoumaru watched his mother play the part of cold, calculated leader, and he frowned slightly when his gaze fell on Kagome, who looked at Inuyasha with such anxiety that it was finally becoming reality to her on what she must do. Inuyasha was still agitated, and Sesshoumaru imagined he'd be like that for some time. However, his mother's plan did nothing to take in his objections, and he rather thought she wouldn't even hear him out. Still, he had to try despite his reasons to be nothing more than futile.

He was about to walk over and ease their worries when Rika drew his attention again. "Sir, we have a problem," said the dark-skinned hanyou agent. "Agents at the gate have captured two suspects trying to leave the premises. They were going under a cover as a monk and a miko."

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. The silver bullet that killed Lady Jiang had miko energy attached to it. He would not think to be so lucky, but he couldn't ignore the coincidence. He met the hanyou agent's silver eyes and said to her, "Bring them up for questioning." As Rika bowed and left to make the call, he caught his mother's attention and felt less anxious about the situation. If these were truly the murderers for his contact and Lady Jiang, they could close this case sooner than he imagined.

"Rika says we may have our suspects, a monk and miko," Sesshoumaru said to her, and his mother nodded.

"That would make sense," she said. "They could have been hired to kill her, to make us look bad. I have heard of anti-youkai groups that keep spiritual experts in their employ," she said, and even Inuyasha and Kagome were paying attention to the turn of events. Inuyasha almost looked relieved that maybe his intended mate wouldn't have to play in this charade for too long. Sesshoumaru had to admit, he was somewhat relieved too. Still, they wouldn't know until they questioned them to gauge if they were innocent or not.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Sesshoumaru turned to meet Rika and two more agents, and when his eyes fell on the two suspects, his hope immediately deflated.

"You," Sesshoumaru said with a sniff, and the monk smirked at him. The two of them have history, that was for sure, but this monk was definitely not the killer. His bosses would have his hide for it, and he would never do something so overt.

"Good tidings to you, Sesshoumaru-sama. How is your engagement going?" the monk teased, and the woman next to him glared - seemingly without the same sense of humor as her partner.

"Mother, this man is not the murderer. This is Kensagi Miroku; he is specially trained Buddhist monk and Japanese government spy," he said. "I have dealt with him before." Sesshoumaru growled low and continued, "What are you doing here? And who is this woman? Your new partner?"

"We were accompanying Lady Jiang on her trip to Inu-Suki for a special meeting," Miroku said, and Sesshoumaru noticed he was being vague. It wasn't going to be easy to get much information out of the man, and probably even less from the woman. Still, he would take them under arrest and try to work out a deal.

"What sort of special meeting?" his mother asked quickly. Miroku's grin only grew wider.

"I cannot discuss that at this time. I can tell you that I have been undercover as Lady Jiang's servant, as well as my partner Sango." Sango made a curt bow, and she continued to look at them with an uninterested glower. Sesshoumaru supposed she didn't like getting caught, but he knew Miroku was the sort of man that wouldn't get caught so easily. They must have planned to get caught on purpose.

"I assume you are looking for a deal," Sesshoumaru said, cutting to the chase. "You would not have allowed yourself to be so sloppy."

"Clever," Miroku said. "You are right. We meant to contact you. The Japanese government would be very interested to know how Lady Jiang died while we were under her employ."

Sesshoumaru sighed heavily. "Bribery. So what do you propose to keep this under wraps? My mother and I do not want an international incident."

Miroku furrowed his brow. "Surely you do not think you can cover this up? You're going to have to explain how she died one way or another, and Sango and I could work with you on the explanation so it does not make Inu-suki look at fault. This is why we need your cooperation in investigating the drug cartels, and we need your permission to investigate in your country – something that has been difficult for us to do, given your international laws."

"Kensagi-san, do not think us so willing to lie down and admit defeat at this point." Sesshoumaru's mother grinned at Miroku's confused expression. "We do have a plan, a good one, and with your cooperation, we will pull it off. There is no need to create some silly story to excuse Lady Jiang's death."

"Well, madam, I am surprised. I did not know Inu-suki was in the business of raising the dead," Miroku said cheekily.

"Your tone, Miroku," Sesshoumaru said before his mother could retaliate. The monk only shrugged.

"Then what do you intend to do? A woman is dead - a very royal and conspicuous political figure," Sango added.

"If you will avert your eyes toward the younger prince's attended mate," Sesshoumaru's mother said, and Sesshoumaru was hoping he could tangle with Miroku a little more to get additional information. His mother was far too excited for this plan. Miroku and Sango both looked to Kagome. At first, like Sesshoumaru, they did not see the resemblance, but as his mother pointed out, with some small modifications and makeup, Kagome could pass off as Lady Jiang without much problem - at least on TV or on a photograph.

"You have to be joking! I hope you're not going to do what I think you're going to do," Sango exclaimed. She pointed at Kagome and said, "You're going to make her a double?"

His mother was more than pleased. "We are going to try, and I am confident in our abilities. We have potions that can even make her smell like a wolf youkai."

"This is insane," Sango said, shaking her head, but her partner looked amused.

"I wonder if you'll get away with it," Miroku said, stroking his chin. "But now that we know your plan, how do you intend to silence us?"

Sesshoumaru knew it would come back to this. They had to do something to stop Sango and Miroku from squealing to the Japanese government. "We will cooperate with the Japanese government on the drug cartels." Sesshoumaru felt a pit of unease in his stomach, and it must have been obvious on his face. Miroku smirked at him. "You may even have the collar when we find the Shikon Jewel."

"Sesshoumaru!" his mother protested, but Sesshoumaru waved her off with his hand.

"Mother, it is the only way. These Japanese agents have already compromised your so-called plan, and it has not even begun yet. We would benefit from their help," he said. His mother still didn't seem convinced, but she huffed and made no motion to stop the deal.

"Fantastic," Miroku said, holding out his hand to shake on it. "We have an agreement."

"There is just one more thing..." Sesshoumaru said, and he reveled in the flash of annoyance on Miroku's face. "You must help us make Kagome appear and act as Lady Jiang's double. You have been working with Lady Jiang. You know her mannerisms, her personality and biography. I know you were trained to know more about Lady Jiang than she knew about herself when you were agents in Japan. Now you must use that knowledge to help us. It can only work this way."

Miroku bit his lip but nodded. "Fine," he said, and Sango looked more perturbed than before. Sesshoumaru took Miroku's hand shook it once. The two old friends glared at each other as the deal was set. Sesshoumaru's mother chimed in to get the last word, and she began finalizing the cleanup at her airport.

"Right. Let us get started then," she said turning to Kagome. "We start with you." Kagome frowned, and Inuyasha growled at her side. Sesshoumaru couldn't blame their unease, since he felt it too. Kagome's eyes met his, and he could already feel the dread building up inside them both.

This wasn't going to be easy.