Kagome sat at her table staring at her wall blankly.

“You remind me of her.” Kagome winced, pulling her knees to her chest.

“Mama?”

“Yes Shippou?” Shippou sat next to his mother, curling his tail around in his body and petting it nervously. It was a bad habit of his, petting his tail when nervous.

“Did it hurt?” Kagome frowned, not understanding what her son was asking.

“What?”

“Did it hurt when you hear him whisper her name?” Kagome smiled softly.

“Once upon a time, it would have. I know now that he’ll never see me as me, only as her. He tries to distance us by me being the worthless jewel detector and her his number one love. I never understood him before, now I know. He doesn’t mean to hurt me, but still, it does hurt to hear a man you love call the name of the one he loves when he looks at you.”

“Why didn’t you sit him then?”

“What would have been the point? I’m a shadow Ship. I don’t belong here, never truly have. I made a place here because fate has decided that this is where I am needed most. Never forget that the Jewel is what brought me here. It is not a guarantee that it will keep me here.” Kagome stood, smiling gently down at the boy she loved as a son. “Okay Shippou?”

“Yes Mama.” The small boy watched as Kagome walked away, the sun making her features glow. As she moved into the shadow of the trees, Shippou drew in a deep scent, imprinting the scent of her on him again. He paused when he smelt the scent of tears. Kagome ran away, leaving him in the middle of the field, her sobs ringing in his ears. “Mama…”

‘Kagome? Come back to me dearest.’ Kagome whimpered, tear stained cheeks falling back to the cradle of her knees. ‘I’m sure he didn’t mean it.’

“Why lie Midoriko?” Kagome murmured. “I am not someone to love for me, just a person to remind others of their past memories.”

‘I doubt Reno thinks of you as anyone but yourself. And Denzel knows you only as Kagome. Tifa sees you as her dearest friend. It is you who sees them as memories past.’

“Liar! I know who they are! Tifa is only Tifa! I’ve never seen her as Sango! Denzel and Marlene, they are who they are. Never would I mistake them as Shippou and Rin.”

‘I’ve never said who they reminded me of. You see, you know who you can view them as.’

“So what are you saying then? Who does Cloud remind me of?”

‘Don’t you know?’

“Damn you Mido. Damn you.” Kagome sobbed into her knees. “I don’t want to be reminded of what I’ve lost.”

‘What of what you’ve gained?’ Kagome’s head snapped up, her eyes flashing angrily.

“I have gained nothing I didn’t have before! I was taken from it all! I never got to say goodbye!” Kagome stood and angrily walked to her weapon room. She dragged out her twin swords, throwing them on the floor behind her. Leaving them there, she stomped into her room, pulling off her shirt as she went. ‘What are you doing?’

“None of your business.” Midoriko flinched at the venom filled tone. The girl pulled on a different shirt, tugging it on roughly. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail angrily, ignoring when some of it came tumbling down her back. She changed her shoes and stood, ignoring the ghostly form that wavered at her from the corner of her eyes. She swept out of the house, slamming the door behind her after picking up her carelessly dropped swords. Outside her door, stood the twins she loved to tease.

“Ms. Kagome? Are you okay?” Kagome stared at the two boys, her eyes turning calm.

“I am. I just had a bad day.” She smiled softly, tipping her head to the side cutely. “Would you like to come with me today?”

“Where are you going?”

“The canyon.” The two boys frowned.

“We can’t. Not today. It’s too far and we have work to do.” Kagome pouted.

“You mean you can’t come play with me?” Twin number one blushed brilliant red while his brother all but stopped breathing.

“No ma’am.” Kagome sighed.

“Too bad. I guess I’ll see you around then.” The twins nodded as they walked back to their apartment.

“Hey! Akira?”

“Yes?”

“Why were you and Akiro in front of my door?”

“We heard loud noises.” Kagome quirked an eyebrow.

“Don’t you normally hear odd noises from my side of the building?”

“Yes.”

“Why investigate this time?”

“You sounded…angry.”

“Ah.” Kagome smiled brightly, masking her anger. “I’ll be seeing you.” Akiro and his brother nodded before they went back to their place.

“Yo, those are some pretty cute kids. But not as cute as me.” Kagome rolled her eyes.

“Reno… do I even want to know how you got here? And how you knew where this was?” Reno smiled brightly, winking at her.

“A little bird told me where you live and I borrowed a helicopter to get here.” Kagome bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

“You…borrowed the…helicopter? Where from?”

“Ah, Rufus won’t mind that much. Besides, he wants to speak with you.” Kagome blinked and then sighed. Her hand drifted down to her side where her swords were secured. Fingering the hilt, she pushed past the red haired man.

“Yo! You know you could just make it easy on me and come back nicely.” Kagome grinned.

“Now, why would I do something like that?” She leaned on the railing and looked back. “See ya!” She leapt over the railing, landing lightly on her feet. Pulling her keys out, she ran to her bike and started it. She drove away, leaving Reno behind in the dust. The red haired man muttered a curse before running to his ‘borrowed’ helicopter. He muttered more curses under his breath as he dived into the pilot’s seat and started it up. Five minutes later, he had managed to get the helicopter into the air. All he had was to find the petite woman who had left him behind. Reno grinned in triumph when he spotted the girl and her bike. Turning the helicopter, he followed her to the canyon. When she slowed to a stop on the edge, he brought in the helicopter to land.

Kagome stood on the cliff watching Reno bring his helicopter in for landing. Her hair blew into her face, blocking her vision. She tossed her head back, moving her hair out of her face. Kagome giggled when Reno jumped out of the pilot seat and walked towards her, leaving the motor running.

“You know, I can’t practice like this!!”

“You say something?!” Reno yelled back.

“I can’t practice well with all this wind! I came out here for peace, not for stalkers!” Reno snorted, a noise that went unnoticed against the roar of the helicopter.

“If you’re all that, you should be able to practice anywhere!” Kagome stared at the man incredulously.

“Excuse me!”

“You heard me!” Kagome frowned.

“Turn it off!”

“Make me!” Reno grinned. “I doubt you know how to do it!” Kagome marched up to the man and glared at him. Blue gray clashed with aquamarine in a test of wills. Reno smiled. “I’ll turn it off if…”

“If what?” Kagome stared at him, distrust all over her face. Reno leaned down getting closer to her face.

“If I can get a date.” Kagome snorted.

“Hah! Never!” She spun around. “I’ll just go somewhere else.”

“And I’ll simply follow you there!” Kagome didn’t look back, waving him off as she got back onto her bike. She smiled when Reno ran back to the helicopter. Truthfully, he had helped to cheer her up. Starting up her bike, she drove back the way she came; passing the place she lived and continuing on to the city, She turned off the road, reaching the place where she had started to grow her beloved flowers. She pulled up on the hill that oversaw that it. Reno landed in the center of the field, prompting Kagome to a bad case of the twitches.

“Reno! Get your copter offa my field!!”

“Say yes and I’ll move it!”

“No!”

“Too bad.”

“Reno, move!!”

“Yo, I’m not moving for anything except what I want.” Kagome rolled her eyes.

“Why are you doing this?” Reno winked.

“I like you.” He shrugged. “Ain’t that reason enough?”

“No!”

“Boss really wants to talk to you. Will you come?”

“Does that count as a date? It doesn’t seem very romantic to me.” Reno smiled brightly.

“Yea, but I get you all to myself don’t I?”

“Where’s Rude?” Reno shrugged.

“How am I supposed to know? We don’t go everywhere together.” Kagome sighed, peering past Reno to see the damage he had wrought on her field of flowers. She winced when she saw that he was going to permanently damage them unless the helicopter was moved soon.

“Fine! I’ll go! Move the damn helicopter!” Reno flashed her another bright smile.

“Sure thing!” With that, he left her on the small hill and ran back to his helicopter. Seconds later, it left the ground. Kagome walked back to her bike, mulling over what Midoriko had said. Reno saw her as her, not as some other woman. If she wanted to never deal with heartbreak again, he would be the ideal man to go to. Kagome sighed as she revved her bike. She looked up to see Reno was hovering above her, clearly waiting until she would move to lead her to where they needed to go. Kagome started to slowly roll, showing that she was ready to move. Reno flew off; Kagome sped up to keep up with him.

‘What are you doing?’

“Following a path Mido. I chose to choose before I was pulled in, caught unaware by another war.”

‘Not like this Kagome. Would you sign yourself over to the man who so depleted this world? The man who sucked the life out of it and made it crave power? This world would drain you gladly if not for your shields and binds.’ Kagome frowned, her eyes hardening.

“The heaven help us when I let it all go.”

‘You cannot! You are needed here! Not just for this war, but for more!’ Kagome smiled sardonically.

“What? To find love?” She sneered. “What if I wish not to?”

‘That is not for you to decide my dearest. You know that lesson to well.’

“So I do.” Kagome glanced up and veered left, trailing the helicopter easily. “But I do not see what that particular lesson has to do with me. It teaches of pain, betrayal and deception. Of being lost and then finding something new to hold to cling to, to enjoy.”

‘Would you so easily give up when it has not yet even begun?’ Midoriko frowned, touching her hand to Kagome’s shoulder. ‘Would it truly be that simple to you?’ Kagome blinked, clearing her vision from the tears that had gathered. It always pained her to hurt Midoriko.

“It would.” Midoriko let out a sigh.

‘We shall see.’ Her presence faded, and Kagome relaxed. She glanced up again, to make sure she was following Reno. Twenty minutes later, they were back where Kagome’s bad day had begun. Kagome left Reno on his own to land the helicopter as she drove up the winding path that led to the Healing Lodge. She frowned when she saw another bike in front of the lodge. There was a fleeting feeling of panic before she realized that it wasn’t Cloud’s bike. She caught sight of Reno’s red hair as he opened the door and walked in. Kagome pouted. So not fair. She had to walk up all the damn steps and all he had to do was park his ride and walk on in. When Kagome reached the door, she froze, her hand held over the knob. She heard a grunt of pain and soft male laughter.

“Pathetic.” She heard the soft scuff of steps as the man crossed the room. Kagome held her breath as she pushed open the door slowly. She could only thank whatever god was watching her when the door slid open smoothly. She paused for a split second by the door, her eyes drawn to the spill of red hair on the floor. Then her eyes flickered back to the person who had beaten both Rude and Reno and left them as if they were inconsequential. “Rufus.”

“May I ask who you are?”

“I am Kadaj. I seek my Mother. Do you know where she is?” Kagome crept into the room, surprised that he didn’t notice her. Rufus’s fingers clenched on his cheer before relaxing, letting her know that he knew she was there.

“Many people seek their Mothers. I don’t believe I have yours.” The silver haired man hissed.

“Don’t play coy with me! I know you know!” Kagome felt for her tiny senbon needles. Not even attempting to warn him, she threw them. She was gifted with a scream of fury. “A woman! You bitch!” Kagome felt the cool smile slip onto her face, knew that it was mocking and left it there.

“I believe I am a woman. How perceptive of you to notice.”

“How dare you wound me!?” Kagome shrugged as the man turned to face her completely.

“I dunno, I just did.” She pouted as she looked at Reno again. “Why’d did you have to go and hurt him?” She motioned to the fall red head. Kadaj didn’t spare the man a glance.

“I’ll kill you.”

“Many have tried, none have succeeded. You are welcome to attempt to though.” Kadaj frowned when the girl accepted his challenge. Most every girl would have cowered in fear rather than face him. This girl simply stared at him blankly.

“Do you not fear me?”

“I fear many things. You are not a priority.” His frown deepened. He spun around to face Rufus.

“Who is she? Is she one of your old soldiers?”

“I had little women suitable for the status of soldier. None made it to that level, what makes you think she would be any different?” Kadaj’s eyes narrowed.

“She would kill me if she could.”

“I will kill you if I must.” Kagome rested her hand on the hilt of one of her swords. “I care not that a man’s blood will color my clothes. Dead is dead, you will no longer harm anyone.” Kadaj’s eyes ran over her small form appreciatively.

“Never have I heard a girl speak those words to me. How very interesting.” Kagome smiled wanly.

“I’m sure. I can speak others as well.” Kadaj smiled at her and turned back to Rufus.

“You asked me who I was. I shall tell you.” He dropped to his knee. His hair fell into his face. He started to look up and Rufus gasped in a mix of surprise and horror.

“Sephiroth…” Kadaj grinned.

“How astute.” Kagome frowned.

“Get out, now.” Kadaj turned to look at her. He stood up slowly and walked over to her.

“I will enjoy breaking you.”

“You cannot break what is already broken.” His grin turned malicious.

“You can shatter it so completely that it will never reform.” He shivered. “I would enjoy that immensely.”

“I would not.” Kagome looked up, her eyes flashing in anger. “Leave, or I will rip out your throat and leave you for dead.”

“As you wish.” Kadaj left the room slowly, his eyes never leaving her until she nudged the door shut in his face.

“Reno!” Kagome ran across the room, dropping to her knees next to the man. “Damn it Reno, I thought you had more power to you than this.” She ran her hand through his hair gently, searching for any unseen injuries. Her eyes slipped out of focus when she found one. Silver light focused around her fingers. Reno moaned softly and leaned more into her touch, seeking refuge from the pain. Kagome giggled softly.

“Yo, you know, if this is what I get to see after I’ve been beaten by some weird kid, it needs to happen more often. I mean, who else but me gets their own personal nurse?” Kagome let out a disgusted sigh and dropped him. “Yo! That hurt!”

“That was the point Reno.” Kagome murmured dryly. He blinked up at her, aquamarine eyes going sly.

“So does that mean you like me?” Kagome slapped him. She stood up and turned to face Rufus.

“You wished to speak with me?” Reno sat up slowly, sensing that she wasn’t the same as she had been a second ago.

“I did.”

“What about?” Rufus opened his mouth to answer but hesitated. “Talk. I do not have the whole day to exchange pleasantries that have already been worn thin.”

“Cloud. How intimate are the two of you?” Kagome smiled.

“Not intimate as all.”

“Rude has told me that the two of you are drawn to each other, much as moths to a flame. He tells me that he saw you kissing him earlier today.”

“A mistake that should never have happened.”

“Spoken like a woman scorned.”

“Never scorned.” Kagome put a hand on her hip and turned the full force of her beauty on Rufus. “Who would want to reject me?”

‘Kagome, you go too far with this.’ Kagome smiled patiently.

“No one.” Kagome nodded. “Do you not find him handsome?”

“I find Reno handsome as well. Do you seek to play matchmaker? To have me use Cloud to save the world?” Rufus’s hand clenched.

“It would be worth it.”

“To who? You?” Kagome lowered herself to the floor, pulling her swords out and laying them off to the side where she could reach them easily. Tipping her head to the side, she looked at him from under her lashes. “Why should I do what you want? You do not own me and I owe you no favors.”

“I ask this of you.” Blue gray eyes flickered with knowledge that was usually less displayed.

“And what else would you like? Me to seduce the man who just left? If I could use him, then I wouldn’t need Cloud to save the world, would I?”

“That would have been my next request, yes.” Kagome chuckled mirthlessly.

“I am not a woman to sell to the enemies. I am not your woman to trade. I came here on my own free will.” Behind her, she heard Reno calm his breathing. “Besides, would you hurt someone loyal to you by having me court the enemy?” Rufus sucked in a sharp breath when her yes were turned full force on him. He had thought that having her use the beauty she held to smack him was all she could do, but the weight of her eyes on him threw him more. “I am a warrior at heart. I refuse to play this game.” She stood elegantly, grabbing her swords as she rose. “I refuse to this plan of yours. And for it, I should kill you.” Her eyes turned thoughtful then morose.

“Will you?”

“Why should I? You’re pathetic as you stand now.” She stepped back, her eyes trained on the figure in white. “I would not deceive someone as you would have me. It is not one of the many games I play.” She backed up to the door. “That you are willing to play them makes you despicable. Reno!” Reno blinked in surprise.

“Yes?” Her face softened as she turned to him.

“Tomorrow?” He frowned.

“Huh?”

“Our date. I promised. You move the helicopter and get a date.”

“Are you sure you want it to be so soon?” Kagome quirked an eyebrow. “I mean, not like I’m not prepared and all to give you the nigh of your dreams and all.”

“Tomorrow Reno, or nothing.” Aquamarine eyes narrowed speculatively.

“Fine. I’ll pick you up from your hose around ten.”

“So early?” Reno smiled.

“Yo, I wanna get to know you, if you know want I mean.” Kagome rolled her eyes.

“Sure Reno. Sure.” She walked out of the door without any further comment, slamming it shut with more force than needed. She stomped down the stairs, all too aware of Midoriko’s unease. “What is it?”

‘You play a dangerous game here.’

“Not anymore dangerous than presuming to think that a person would bend to a wish that they would never do. You know I am not one to lead men on. I could never be. I would never hope to be.”

‘And if it makes this fight easier?’

“I still would not.”

‘Why?’

“Damnit Mido, I refuse to do it! I did not go to Naraku I will not go to whoever that man was. Such things are below me!”

‘It would be all the more simple if you would go to him.’

“Leave.” Kagome’s gaze narrowed as she neared her bike.

‘I cannot.’

“Do not speak to me again this day.” Kagome felt the other woman pull back and hesitate.

‘I do not mean to imply that selling yourself would be for the better. I simply do not want to see if the outcome of this battle will be as I except.’

“Go Midoriko. I cannot listen to you know, knowing that you agree with that man.” Kagome started her bike and drove off, fleeing any reply as if it was physical. But it wasn’t physical at all.

‘I would not have seen you like this. I would not have seen you as a person who could not serve the greater good.’

“Then you do not know me.” Turning her bike, she flew on the road to the city, not even slowing when she felt Midoriko fade completely from her mind. Half an hour later, she pulled up in front of Tifa’s shop. She walked in slowly, looking around for her friend.

Kagome giggled softly as Tifa rolled over. The woman was holding a eddy bear tightly, almost as if it would run away from her. She had never pinned Tifa as a woman who would keep such things around. But seeing her with the bear seemed strangely right.

“Boogie…” Tifa pulled the bear closer almost as if she could feel Kagome’s gaze on it. A wicked smile blossomed on the petite woman’s face. Kagome pulled the bear from the woman’s hands slowly and walked off. She returned ten minutes later with a wad of cloth that had been dipped in some foul smelling substance. The smell faded when Kagome placed it in Tifa’s searching hands. Tifa pulled it closer, murmuring what Kagome took to be the bear’s name once more. It was four hours before Tifa woke up from her sleep with a scream that brought everyone running. She was frantically pulling at something that seemed to be attached to her shirt. It was Denzel who spoke first.

“That has got to be the biggest booger ever!” Tifa screamed in horror again when she realized that it did indeed look like something one of the children had lumped together for months. But what scare her most was that it was the exact size as her bear.

“Boogie!!!!” She screamed frantically as she clawed at the disgusting lump on her chest. Until…she heard Kagome trying to hide her laughter. She looked up to see Kagome holding her bear, but snickering softly. It was only then that Tifa realized that Kagome had used her for yet another prank.

“Here’s your bear, booger.” Kagome shrieked when Tifa lunged at her with the intent to kill. “It was a joke!!”

“Booger Bear!!! Where are you!!?” There was a thump from the bar. Kagome grinned.

“I’m not a booger bear!!!”

“Sure you aren’t….” Kasgome blinked when she saw the keys in Tifa’s hands.

“Going somewhere?”

“Denzel went out. Marlene and I were going to go find Cloud.” Kagome pouted.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it. I have better things to be doing than looking for Strife.” She whirled around.

“Kagome?”

“Hmm?” Tifa shook her head.

“Never mind.” Kagome left the woman in the room. Tifa sighed when Marlene came running down the stairs.

“Tifa! Was Kagome here!?”

“She just left.” Marlene’s face fell. “Oh.”

“C’mon. Kagome seemed busy.”

“Couldn’t she have come to help us find Cloud?” Tifa’s brown eyes softened.

“I guess not.” The two left to go to the church where they often found Cloud. Kagome waved at Marlene as the two walked by. Marlene stuck her tongue out at the other woman. Kagoe repeated the motion. As Tifa and Marlene went on their search for the elusive Cloud, Kagome snuck back into their home. It would not do for them to not live in a safe house.