InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Beneath a Smile ❯ Living a Lie ( Chapter 2 )

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Hidden Beneath a Smile

Chapter One: Living a Lie

Kicking the door open with a bang, Miroku wince when Souta screeched barely ducking out of the way of the shoe thrown his way. "Calm down, outou." He whispered soothingly. He watched painfully as his little brother gripped his chest breathing heavily, eyes opened as wide as they could possibly go. This should not have happened. He had failed Souta and Kagome by allowing them to go through this. The reasoning behind their not knowing his true face was to keep them from having to live through such a terrible ordeal. They had to see their mother and grandfather die, granted Souta did not see, but he still had to live with the knowledge of it. Miroku took in a agonizing breath as he gripped Kagome closer, sitting upon her dark blue blanketed bed. "Sit down outou." Souta complied with his wishes, albeit a bit hesitantly.

There was a pregnant pause as Miroku thought on how to organize his words, but Souta cut into his thoughts with his catechizing. "What happened down there Aniki?" He whispered; his words choked. Disheartening. "I heard gun shots, and mom, grandpa... I... there alright aren't they?" His eyes pleaded for an answer, an answer that was sure to destroy his young heart. Never the less, he needed it. He wanted to know what happened. With as much conviction as he could put forth, the dark haired boy demanded the answer, looking into his brothers violet eyes with his own dark soulful ones. "Don't lie to me, I deserve to know the truth."

Again there was silence, and it stretched on for a long a mount of time.

Torturous.

That is what it was.

How was he to tell his brother his mother was dead and the man whom had presumed the roll of their father with her? This is what the entire situation was, a one way roller coaster ride to hell. He gripped his hand into a fist; the hand blocked from Souta's sight. He was saved from giving any form of response when Kagome moaned in his lap, pressing herself closer. Her eyes fluttered open slightly, before squeezing them shut; tears leaking from the corners. "Tell me that I am dreaming Miroku." She begged pathetically, and it squeezed his heart like nothing else. Never had he seen her looking so venerable in her entire life.

The hesitation was evident upon his face and she knew. Her dream was a reality. Burrowing her face into his trench coat, his little sister began to shake with the force of her sobs. He himself felt like crying. He wanted to cry, but the need to be strong for his family kept him from it. He could feel the tears burn at his eyes, screaming to run free. He would not allow it. They would truly break down if there seemingly strong brother broke down before them in sobs. Wrapping his arms around her, securing her to his chest, Miroku whispered words of comfort to her. Never once did these words consist of 'things would be alright'. They would not be alright, and he could not lie to his sister, but he could tell her the he would be there for her. Miroku could assure her that he would not allow anything more to befall her. When she quieted down quite a bit, did Miroku truly speak with them. "I am going to have you both stay at a friends apartment in Kyoto, but in under no uncertain circumstances are you to leave the building without first calling me, is that clear?" He questioned.

"Why?" Kagome croaked out, her throat having been constricted with the tears shed from earlier.

"I do not know what those men were here for exactly, and in case they were suppose to do away with you as well, I don't want either of you to leave anywhere without my exact knowledge of the location." He replied sternly, eying her levelly. "As I said before, I will be having you stay at a friend's apartment, the thing is you can not let anyone know that you are related to me in anyway. Being an agent as I am, I have many enemies all of which would love to use the two of you against me, it would just be easier if no one knew of our relation." He explained patiently.

Kagome moved from his lap to claim her own place upon her bed, staring into Miroku's violet eyes; searching. Nodding once at what she had found in their depths, she said. "Alright, Souta and I will not tell a soul that were related, right squirt?" She asked to the smaller boy across from her. His eyes were wet with unshed tears, and he trembled slightly was he nodded his consent. "Good." Her eyes had long since dried, her voice coming back to her just as strong as it had been before this whole mess had begun.

The silence that had ensued between them had been so thick, so strenuous that when the cell with in Miroku's trench coat rang all three occupants jumped in slight fright. Breathing in a deep breath of relief while calming his startled heart, he took the cell from his inside pocket checking the caller ID. Flipping the phone open with one hand he held it to his ears. "Yo." He voiced despondently.

"Damn, bouzu, you sound like someone important died." Inuyasha remarked tactlessly and Miroku had to hold back the urge to growl. He knew that his dog friend did not mean to be so callous about the situation, that he did not know he had lost a mother and second father all in one night; that he had also nearly lost a sister and brother as well. He had nearly lost a whole family in the span of one night, the thought was rather disturbing. Inuyasha did not know these things, nor would he ever, and thus Miroku assuaged his ever growing ire at his exceedingly blunt friend. "Look the clean up crew has already started to take care of everything. The bodies were tossed into a ditch somewhere and buried and those innocents are at the societies morgue. I figured that you could be the one to decide what to do with their bodies. I may be stupid half the time, Miroku, but I'm not a complete fool. I can see that they were someone close to you, the only question I need to figure is how close." He let out in a surprising show of intellect that most would think beyond the hanyou's grasp.

He stared at his phone in shocked horror. When had Inuyasha ever shown that much intelligence? He could not recall a moment and that frightened Miroku. How much more of himself had his partner been hiding from the world, from him? Miroku shook the thoughts from his head, ignoring the curious stares of his siblings. "They were friends of my father." He responded dispassionately hoping to dissuade his partner's interest in the matter, and if not that, then, to at lest rid himself of the questions for the moment.

There was a sigh on the other line, and then Inuyasha voice saying softly. "Then I guess I made the right call when I told them not to dump the two bodies in the ditch with the others then, huh?"

Again he had to choke back his astonishment with his partners actions. Never before had the dog shown this side of himself, a side that before he would have said was none existent; if asked. Miroku had always thought the hanyou was a psychotic sadist that was extremely dangerous when a gun -or any weapon for that matter- was introduced to his hands. "Thank you, Inuyasha." He replied, sincerely grateful. At lest he could say his good-byes to his mother and grandfather properly. Not like his father, he had to watch the man drop over a waterfall smashing his soft flesh against rigid rocks on the way down. He squeezed his eyes shut as the memory tried to replay it self within his minds eye. When it had left him fully did he breath in a sigh of relief.

"No problem, and remember… you owe me… big time." Inuyasha reminded austerely. "The surveillance cameras have already been set up all over the apartment, the rooms are set up for their arrival and the house is clean as if blood had never been spilt." There was slight pause on the other line as if he were debating over something, and then he said solemnly. "Whatever it is your hiding from me Miroku, I hope you trust me enough to confide it to me soon, and when I say soon I mean before you and whomever your trying to protect ends up dead." After those words were said his ears met with the dial tone. Inuyasha had hung up on him, not that there was anything unusual in that. It was just the spiel he had spoken to him that gave him pause.

Miroku stared at the phone a moment, before pocketing it. His partner knew something more about his situation then he was letting on. He would have to tread cautiously around the dog for a while, giving him enough time to hopefully forget whatever it was that he managed to find out. His eyes moved from the floor to the curious observing eyes of his siblings. More innocent blood to be spelt. He roughly shoved the unwelcome thought to the back of his head, their blood he would not allow. Enough blood had been let in this cause of theirs and he would not allow Souta's and Kagome's to be apart of the endless river.

One would view the government as the shepherds while they were the grazing sheep. They set the fence and allowed them to exist in it, keeping the wolves from nipping at their hides and snapping their necks. They were the ones that set the rules, keeping the corrupt from completely corroding the world with its taint. They gave the country structure and order. In essence this was all true, but only in essence. This is how the government portrayed themselves, as a working unit set to the needs of the people. It was all a lie, a fabrication invented by a greater evil. It was this truth that his father had stumbled upon, and it was this truth that the government had attempted to cover up with the death of his father. Never would they have thought he had the chance to tell another living soul, and never did they think more would find out about such a farce. Never did they think that a society would come into being with the soul intent of taking them down.

He pushed such reminiscing away, moving to concentrate on the largest problem at the moment, or at lest the one that needed his sole attention right about then. Miroku needed to be sure that his siblings understood the severity of the situation they have found themselves in. He needed to make sure that he explained everything carefully, explained things in such a way that informed greatly without giving too much away. He could not afford for them to learn the truth. To know that the government they so trust in was responsible for the death of their father as well as the more recent deaths and then along with the exceedingly startling news that the government was plotting against the very people they governed.

Brushing back the hair that fell in front of Kagome's eyes, his own softened a bit, before hardening with resolve. "As I said before, it is very important that no one is privy to our relation to one another." His words interrupted the silence that had begun it's stretch; he needed to make sure that understood. That his siblings at lest knew a small fraction of what was going on. He could not continue to allow them the ignorance that he has let them wallow in. "I believe that those men work for the man that killed our father." He began calmly. "As long as no one knows that we are related then they will not come after you seeing that it is well known that I am Hakujou Higurashi's son, so if we're not related then you hold no relation to our father and thus are unimportant in their eyes." He wore a thoughtful frown for a moment, before adding. "We'll have to change your last names, how about our grandmother's maiden name? I've always liked it, what about you two?"

While Miroku had been talking Souta had crawled across the bed to set himself in Kagomes lap, wrapping her arms around his smaller frame in a warm and comforting embrace. He had wanted the security all young hearts wished for, to be able to lay within his sisters arms and will himself to forget the horrors that had passed this night. Petting down Souta's dark hair, she secured her arms around him, pulling him up against her, her cheek now resting upon the crown of his head. She locked eyes with her brother, daring him to deny her request. "What do you mean our father's killer?"

A disheartening sigh fell from Miroku's lips. He should have known that Kagome would not leave it at that, that she would delve in deeper until she had every answer her heart could find in the matter. She was too stubborn to let such things lie, to go along and only be contented with what is told to her. She was one that disliked to be left in the dark, and fortunately for her he was going to brighten the darkness of her confusion slightly. "The man that killed our father is looking for something I guess, and had you not been as skilled as you were you would have been killed; seen as an obstacle in the way of their search. The group and I are trying to find out what it is exactly that our father has that they value so importantly, and we've basically come up empty handed." At her look he said heavily. "I know that the agency said that he died while out on a job, that the man was caught and in custody, but the truth is his killer was never captured. They wanted it under wraps that way it would not complicate their case." He shook his head. "Never mind about that, were leaving in a few minutes. Pack whatever you believe you can not live without, whatever you can carry, I'll replace anything that was left behind."

"Are we not coming back here?" Souta inquired, amazingly enough he had managed enough mastery over his own voice that it did not tremble when he spoke this time around. "Aniki?" He inquired once more when his brother had been quite for a such a lengthily amount of time.

"Not for awhile, no." Was his reply. "But when this is all over and done, if you want to, we can come back to this place." He promised. When his younger brother gave a nod of his acceptance he shot Kagome a look that was meant to say, 'take him to his room and pack.' She answer with her own gray-blue eyes saying their agreement to the silent plea.

When they left the room, when he was sure that they were in Souta's room, did Miroku leave his little sister's quarters making way down the stairway steps at a steady pace. Pausing on the last step, his eyes surveyed the room silently amending his approval. They had certainly done a wonderful job a riding the room of the blood, cleaning it up to look as if a struggle had never taken place. The blood that had poured from the man he had shot dead was gone, not even leaving a stain upon the beige carpeted floor. It was quite impressive work considering he could not rid himself of such liquids from his cloths, thus causing him to rack up the bills upon his credit card. He would have to remember to speak with the cleaning crew, talk to them about the removal of stains.

He shook his head of the thoughts, taking from his trench coat his cell, dialing up another number for what would be nearing the fifth time this night. "You say it, we imitate it! What can I do for you?" A childish tone questioned over the line, a slight giggle to his voice.

Miroku rolled his eyes. "Did you come up with that one all by yourself this time, or was their more involved with this?" He questioned tiredly, rubbing his right eye that ached with his exhaustion. Before coming home and having to deal with this entire mess he had to deal with the detectives down at the pier. It may not have been so bad if Inuyasha had not lost his temper nearly slashing the man apart; he had been doing so well confusing the detective with his words he nearly got the man to leave forgetting the true reason he came in the first place. Inuyasha always seemed to use the worst times to bring his temper into the mix, though he did have to admit the detectives daughter was a very exasperating girl. After the whole fiasco of Inuyasha falling into the ocean from the pier he had to start working the man all over again. Still even with all those blunders he managed to make the man forget all the inane charges that were being brought up against them.

"Of course I did, don't you like it. I say it was better then the last one. 'Do you need a sexy girl at your side but are too damn ugly to get it, then grab a kitsune! It's better then a blow up doll! How may we help you?' What do you think, huh? Though personally I would say this one was a tab bit more humorous then the new one." The voice admitted grudgingly. "But hey I came up with this one on my own, it took all of them to come up with that one." He stated proudly and Miroku could almost see the prideful look upon his face, chest puffing out in a stance to rival his partner Inuyasha on one of his more arrogant days. He really needed to keep that kit away from the hanyou, it was really doing bad things for him.

"Shippo what happened last time when Sesshoumaru called this line and you answered the phone with that little tidbit?" He questioned slowly.

There was a bit of a pause before the childish voice of Shippo said, a bit hesitantly. "He said he was going to come over here and rip me a new whole, well not in those exact words, but I do remember having to hide out with you and Inuyasha for a while. The other kitsune had holes in their stomachs for a couple of weeks." He replied to the question. "But this time it's different! This time I got his permission to use this line, and he said as long as it wasn't offensive like that last one, he said that it was alright." He edified excitedly. "So what do you need this time, Miroku? I know that you didn't call just to chat, you never do."

"Ah, you know me so well." He stated dramatically. "But I have a question for you, what is so wrong with myself calling in to say, hi every now and then?"

"Cut the crap Miroku and tell me what you want, I have other things to take care you know!" Came the annoyed shout from the other line, Miroku had to hold the phone a couple inches from his ear or risk going death from the high pitched sound.

"With the way you talk and carry yourself Shippo, I find myself constantly having to remind myself that you are only five." He remarked calmly. Everyone in the society had their own sob stories, and the kit was no different. Having his mother die after he was brought to this world to be raised by a drunk of a father till he was three, Shippo was dropped off at the nearest dumpster when his father got sick of caring for him. It was by the luck of the fates that the poor boy just happened to have been tossed aside near the bar he and Inuyasha had been currently drinking at, otherwise he may still be digging around for left over scraps of meat and other such foods. It was how they found him, bundled up in a torn paper bag his nose wrinkled at the site rotten fish as he prepared himself to devour the edible substance whole. Ever since then the kit rarely ever left their sides, only did so when working the phone for this group of their society. The shape shifters. They really came in handy when they did not want the world, or specifically the authorities, to find out they had removed another from existence.

"I'm six now you half-wit!" He squawked in outrage. Though Miroku had reason to believe the kit was spending far too much time with the half-demon being that the auburn haired boy had become like a second Inuyasha. When neither were around it was a constant joke between those that knew them in the society. If Inuyasha every found out he'd likely kill all of them; but would only get as far as threatening to shove their entrails down their throats. Shippo was likely to try the same, but since he was deemed as cute as a kitten -at lest by the females of the group- the words would not have the same effect as the half-demons.

"That's right, my apologies." All humor drained from his voice as he continued on. "I need four kitsune down at the Sunset Shrine to act as the caretakers." He explained, getting down the reason for impromptu call. "Have them ready for a moments notice, Shippo, when the information is faxed to them I will expect for the kitsune to reach the shrine before sun rise. If the guest do not see the caretakers when they arrive it could bring about unwanted questions."

"Righty'O!" Shippo cheered. "Is that all?" He questioned curiously.

"Yes!"

"Alright then, everything is as good as done!" There was a small pause then Shippo asking almost hesitantly, his voice exceedingly small. "Miroku when will I be able to stay with you and Inuyasha again, I don't really like it here." His voice sounded as it should, as a small six-year-old boy. It made Miroku's brows draw up in confusion and slight surprise.

"Is everything alright down there, are they not treating you well." He asked softly trying to coax the fox in to confiding the information to him. The kit had as much, if not more pride then Inuyasha and it took him a full week before trying to get him to admit he was being pick on. He only hoped that it would be brought from him a lot sooner this time, like during this phone call.

The long pause over the other line had Miroku more then worried, already he consider the kit family as he was sure that Inuyasha did as well; even if it would take hell breaking lose to get him to admit to it. The man whom picked on Shippo ending up in the hospital with lacerations all over his body should be proof of that, Miroku only wished the half-demon had found another way to deal with the situation. Though Miroku had to admit if he had come face to face with the dock engineer first he would have likely shot him point blank. At the time Shippo was four, and the man in his twenties had no right to beat any child black and blue; even if the child were demon and the bully a human.

It was that reason -he fully believed- that Shippo's abuser got away with his life. Inuyasha wasn't one to take the life of a human, unless they truly tick him off beyond all reasoning, being that he viewed them as the weaker species boasting that he did not feel like killing someone that couldn't even injure a fly. Of course when he pointed out that he was human and he could hurt a fly just well enough as had he taken down a demon; Inuyasha would just growl and curse out his customary 'keh'.

When Shippo's voice finally drifted to his ears, he found himself jumping slightly. For so long it had been quite that he was unprepared for the sudden sound. "I just don't like it hear it all." His tone subdued. He didn't like that at all.

With a disheartening sigh Miroku said. "I will speak with Inuyasha as well, and we shall see about it." This would bee the fourth time they had too move Shippo to another job in their society. For some unknown reason the workers did not like him hanging around and chose to take out this dislike physically, sometimes verbally. Miroku did not understand it, they always seemed to think he was cute enough, and he found nothing wrong with his personality for them to be treating him in such a harsh way. "Till then take care and try to stay out of every ones way." Once he heard his agreeing words, Miroku hung up the phone.

Turing he found his brother and sister watching him curiously. How much did they hear? He pushed the question away, in that one call he revealed nothing of his working life and thus it did not matter really what they heard. Both stood basically covered bags strapped across them, two rather large suite cases occupying their hands. With one last searching look he motioned for his sibling to fallow him out, and fallow him they did, their hearts heavy with the knowledge they would be leaving their home. A place where they had built their memories with two members of their family that had died that night.

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Sitting before the incarnate of all evil's desk, he took in a deep breath and prepared to speak his little white lie. He only hope his cold, calculating, heartless bastard of a brother was in a good mood for once. He slumped back in his seat, amber eyes watching the man seated across from him warily. He did not like the look upon his stoic brother's face, there was a shrewdness to the mans amber eyes that set all his instincts on the defensive. His brother knew something that he did not, he would have to play this white lie thing carefully, though it would be extremely difficult without Miroku here.

As if reading his mind Sesshoumaru's eyes glared pointedly to the unoccupied seat next to his own, asking coolly. "Where is your perverted partner this evening?" Those frosty eyes were back upon him, causing him to shift uneasily in his chair. Damn, he knows something, I know it. His inner voice growled out lowly in his mind. They way his brother's eyes watching him as if daring him to give an answer; Inuyasha did not like this situation at all. "Well?"

Putting as much heat into a glare of his own, he stared Sesshoumaru down in a battle of wills. "How the hell should I know! One minute he's there and the next he's gone." Sesshoumaru rose a brow in question. It would not do him any good if he were to have continued with the lie he had prepared, not when there was that knowing look to his eyes. Any fool knew that about Sesshoumaru, you had a better chance at living if you came out with the truth first. "He got a phone call from some girl, apparently one of 'His' men trashed the place killing her mom and grandfather. Miroku says they were looking for something, so he wants the place to be under surveillance to see if they come back."

Sesshoumaru nodded his head in agreement with his words. "Yes, I was already informed of this matter." He stated calmly, waiting for his brother's reaction to this bit of information.

Jumping from his seat and point a finger towards him, Inuyasha yelled out of frustration; the idiot got him all worked up over nothing. "Then why did you ask if you already knew the answer!" He ragged, barring his fangs and claws.

With a well placed glare he had Inuyasha reclaiming his seat, but it was not with fear but with an unwillingness to walk around with a hole through the stomach for a couple days till it healed. "The clean up crew faxed me the report, making a call to see if I had received it. Apparently you and Miroku ordered this, among other things." He said distastefully. He did not like the idea that his brother was doing things behind his back, they were suppose to be working together in this. "It was a rather interesting report, the way these men died." Taking the file from his desk he tossed it to Inuyasha, watching dispassionately as he caught it single handedly.

Opening the manila folder carefully, he pulled out its contents, amber eyes studying the pictures with a sick sort of fascination. On the first couple of pictures the head was severed from the body, and if one looked at the skin closely you could see that the slash was done in a downward cut, not upward. Whomever had done this had to have come up upon the man from behind or down from a high surface. He doubted the last one, though since it was in the a house in what looked to be a small kitchen. The next couple of pictures focused upon the next bodies throat, while there was one viewed from afar. The incision was deeper from the right, but as it proceeded on the cut became shallow. It was obvious this killer was right handed then, but Miroku was left. Everything but groping women was done with his left hand.

What was Sesshoumaru trying to say, did he believe that someone else killed these men besides Miroku? He came upon the final set of pictures, this man was shot through heart. There were only two, and it focused upon the mans upper half while the other focused upon a slash running down his side. This could have been done by anyone, but he was more inclined to believe that it was his partners doing then another. Who else could hit their target, the middle of his heart, with such expertise accuracy. The slash was obviously done with a katana, but it was shallow thus indicating it was not made at close range. He did not bother with reading the report, already impatient with the need to know the point in all of this.

He brought his eyes from the pictures, to Sesshoumaru's figure, narrowed in confusion. "What, you think that someone else killed these men? The only other person there besides Miroku was a girl and her little brother, I doubt very much that they could have dealt this kind of damage. The supposed monk probably picked up a sword on his way." Inuyasha suggested. Sesshoumaru never allowed the two of them more then a gun to defend themselves in case things got out of hand as a show of faith to the other leaders of the groups in their society. Inuyasha on the other hand was allowed nothing but his claws, seeing that he was a bit trigger happy when angered or annoyed. He on the other hand found it quite unfair, it wasn't his fault his hand happened to slip when is ire rose, nor was it his fault when the bullet happened to hit the one ticking him off.

"I checked into it, apparently he went straight to the chopper and then straight there taking the pilot's gun from him. The one with the bullet hole in his chest was done in by Miroku, but the other two were murdered by another hand." Sesshoumaru stated assuredly, and then held out his own clawed hand, a sudden realization coming over him. "Hand over the gun little brother."

Inuyasha was about to give in to his elder brother's demand, before remembering a little something his childhood friend had told him in case he ever found himself in a situation with Sesshoumaru where he was about to receive a serious injury. Suddenly he grinned widely, shaking his head. "I think I'm going to keep it with me." He said contumaciously, the features of his face contorting into smug arrogance.

Sesshoumaru growled low in his throat, his clawed hand glowing a bright green, oozing with his self made poisons. "Inuyasha now is not a good time to mess with me, I am in no mood to deal with your insubordination. Hand over the gun or be stuck in the societies infirmary for a couple of days, your choice." He threatened lowly in his throat, preparing himself to leap over the desk at any given second.

Inuyasha's grin grew wider if at all possible, as he said haughtily. "Yeah, well Rin said that if you lay another hand on me then you've got her to deal with." He almost laughed out glee at the look of pure panic that over came his brother's normally emotion vacant features, the green glow about his claws dispersed immediately as he allowed himself to fall back in his seat a pout to his lips. Leaping from his seat and bursting through Sesshoumaru's office doors, Inuyasha called over his shoulder. "I guess I'll be leaving now, with the gun!" He did laugh this time as his brother's irritated roar reached his ears. He had finally won against Sesshoumaru and he had Rin to thank for it.

They had known each other since birth, being that both of their moms were best friends and pregnant at the same exact time. It was strange, but he was grateful for the brown eyed dark haired girl, if not for her Sesshoumaru would have probably killed him a long time ago with his minimal injuries he like to give out. Rin was as scarier then Sesshoumaru on a killing rampage in his dog form when she was angry, and scarier still when she was beyond mad. Inuyasha, though, was barely certain it wasn't that fact that made him bow down to her every whim; fearing her wrath. As much as it was difficult for him to digest, he would have to say that his brother was in love with the girl or as close to the emotion as the stoic inu-youkai could get.

Then there was that Kagura, he seemed to have a soft spot for her as well as Rin. Inuyasha on the other hand did not like the wind sorceress, though it could be that he was a bit bias being that she wasn't too kind to Rin. A girl that he thought of as a sister, that he thought of as the nicest woman in the world. One that treated him with kindness while other's snubbed him for his mixed blood. He shook the thoughts from his mind, keeping up his course to the place Miroku was sure to be at. He needed to kick the perverts behind to the bottom of the seven hells for leaving him to deal with his stupid half-brother alone.

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The rain pounded the outside world heavily, and to the ears that could hear it the sound was surprisingly peaceful. Especially with the added sound the rumbling thunder. Darkened rooms being illuminated through blind covered windows with flashes of lightening off in the distance.

She sat in her new darkened home after just arriving there hours ago receiving a tour of the place by her brother. He had tried to make the rest of the evening a bit more enjoyable, but she just was not in the mood. Her younger brother had long since went to bed, thinking she had fallowed suite after making way to a room Miroku had deemed to be hers. The room was made up of bright pinks and purples, it was enough to make her ill; blue, red, black or white would have been better. Being that she was not picky, nor was she a complainer, she said nothing about the room only excepting his words with a gentle tilt of her head. Souta's room consisted of blue and white and, like her own room, it consisted of nothing but a bed and a empty dresser and few shelves off to the sides. She could tell that the rooms were hastily put together, the paint still being fresh.

She moved her body from the stool she resided in, walking towards the sliding glass door, placing a hand against it's cold smooth surface. Her eyes stared out into the city over head. The apartment was a penthouse really, covering entire top of the apartment complex. She had been expecting it to be small, but in reality is was huge, having its own indoor pool a gigantic kitchen with several rooms they were likely to never use. Had it have been any other day she may have shown her amazement, laughing as she explored each room along with her little brother while Miroku smiled at them. The same went for the chopper ride, she had never been upon one before, nor had she been on any contraption that flew through the air; she was too torn up inside to enjoy it. It would seem that Souta had felt pretty much the same way as herself.

She then rest her cheek upon the cool glass, willing herself to remain in control of her emotions. She would not cry, she could not cry. She had to be strong for Souta, just like before, just like when there father had died. She did not cry then either, she needed to be together for her family, to take care of them protect them since Miroku was not their to do it. She lifted herself from leaning against the glass, why is it so hard this time! She thought despondently, trying unsuccessfully to gain control over her emotions. Is it because I had lost two people instead of one, is it because I don't have her too comfort me now? Too keep the tears away.

She pushed open the glass door and stepped out onto the balcony, moving out from underneath the roof over her head. Kagome sighed as she reveled in the feel of the cold rain hitting her heated flesh. She moved until her arms rested over the railing her eyes gazing downwards despite the uneasy feeling it gave her. "Mama, I need you." She whispered. If not for the rain you would be able to see the hot tears coursing down her cheeks. She had to be strong around everyone so that they could be weak, she never had to be strong for her mother; it was the one time she could be weak with another present.

Kagome let her body fall to the ground, her eyes staring at the cloud filled sky emotionlessly as the rain pelted her flesh, chilling her to the bone while soaking her clothing and hair. As she lay there her mother's song passed softly from her lips. "I'll kiss the flame…

And reach for the stars…

I'll take your hand….

And ease all your pain…

I'll dry your tears…

And lift up your spirits…

I'll make you laugh…

And guard your heart…" She paused humming deep in her throat, closing her eyes, concentrating upon the rain caressing her skin like a lost lover. After a few more moments she began the haunting melody once again. Words her mother would sing to her when she felt the need to cry. "Take me in…

I want to feel your light…

Hold me tight…

I can't stand this agony…

Drowning in Sorrow…

My soul is lost to Darkness…

Be my guide…

Show me the way…

Bring me freedom of my pain…

Let me drown in you..." Kagome began humming once again, her tears had stopped as had the rain, but she still laid there upon the soaked balcony in her own soaked clothes. In a few more moments she would return to her new bedroom and replace her wet cloths for dry ones. In a few more moments she would be playing strong once again for her younger brother.

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A/N: Something that I should have explained before is that the paring be this:

Inuyasha/ Kagome

Miroku/ Sango

Naraku/ Kikyou

Kouga/ Ayame

Shippo/ Souten

Kohaku/ ?

I will not be focusing on any one person in this story, I will make it all very equal between the characters, though it is mostly about the death of Miroku's father and plot that the government has against the world that they are figure out and stop.

The votes are in, and if you want your vote to count get it in before the fourth chapter:

Sesshoumaru/ Rin : 3

Sesshoumaru/ Kagura : 2

Review Answers: FF.Net

Kara- Thank you for your review and vote, so far it looks as if Rin is going to be with Sesshoumaru, but you never know, ne? I'm glad that you liked it, and I agree with you there on your views with their relationship.

Devour Thy Flame- oh be quite, I know for a fact that you do cringe at the sight of blood sis… anyways thanks for the nice review and if you check your own reviews you'll see that I've review your fic as well.

Vixen 12089- I'm glad that you think so, I like Rin and Sesshoumaru together as well, I was just curious as to who you all wanted to see him with. My sister wants Kagura.

trixie-trix- I know it was sad. About the brother thing, I asked my best friend about it once -he's got like three sisters all but one younger then him- and according to his logic most brothers feel that if they tell their female sibling lies like that that it will lower their confidence around the male species thus saving them from having to deal with all of their boyfriends, at lest that is what he says. Thanks for the review, and I'm glad that you liked my story

Demon Exterminator Barbie- I'm glad that you like it, I made Kagome like myself, I was kind of getting tired of reading stories -and the series- were she always played out the helpless damsel in distress waiting for Inuyasha or anyone else to save her. I gave the story humor since it is going to be very intense, and everyone should be willing to risk death for their family; I would, they are all that I have.

MM.org

Grins: Thank you so much for the review, and the comments, it was nice of you to say.

Hello ^_^ : Thanx for the comment, I'm glad that you think so!

Hellkeeper: Thank you for the review, I really appreciate it! They make me want to get out another chapter sooner! -Zonza

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Review! Review! Review! Don't forget! ^_^

[This chapter has been revised, if there are mistakes that I have missed please feel free to email me about them or leave a review; thanks -Zonza]