Summary: He's a detective. She's your every-day-average teenager who works as a waiter. One night, she witnesses a murder and now she's under his protective. MULTI-CROSSOVERS!

Pairings: Is mostly IchiKag but the rest, well you'll find out soon enough :)

Protecting The Innocent

Chapter 15

It's been a week since Kikyo and Sesshomaru moved in with her and Ichigo and things have gone smoothly. Sometimes she would visit Kikyo in her and Sesshomaru's room (kicking Sesshomaru out) and they would talk, just like the old days when they were little. She found out about her and Ichigo. She walked in on them kissing when she wanted to ask him about the case. Somehow, Kagome knew it was bound to happen. They did live in the same house. Kagome told her not to tell anyone, even Sesshomaru. Kikyo promised. She knew what it was like to have a secret love affair.

She blushed thinking about the world 'love'. It's only been a week and a few days since her and Ichigo started dating. She wouldn't call it love. But he did mention that he would protect her with his life. Does he make that kind of promise with all of his clients or just her?

A hand waved in front of her and she blinked and looked to her left. "Huh?"

"I called you like three times. This is the third time you spaced out today. What's up with you?" Sango asked, concern written on her face.

Kagome blushed, wiping the bar with a wash cloth. "Just worried about Kagura. She's been in the hospital since the attack. Hasn't been back since. Do you think she's okay?" She wiped the bar harder. Even though she wasn't thinking about her boss, she was worried and Ichigo invaded her mind when he saved her as well and how close they were.

Sango raised an eyebrow at how hard she was wiping. "I heard she was coming back in a few days. She was hurt pretty bad." She was kind of scared of how hard Kagome was wiping/scrubbing the bar. She thought the wash cloth was gonna rip. She caught her wrist. "Woah! Kagome, I think you better slow down there a bit. She might break it..or your wrist maybe."

"Huh?" Kagome stared at her wrist. She wasn't paying attention but she noticed the wash cloth slowly ripping and got embarrassed. "Oh, my bad." She laughed nervously.

"Wanna tell me what's bothering you?" Sango asked.

Oh nothing much. Just that two men are after me and one of them want me and my sister and that I'm dating my protector who I'm not supposed to be dating. Life's good. Peachy. How about you? How's your protector treating you? Kagome thought sarcastically. No, I can't tell her. I have to wait until all of this is over and then I can tell her. Gosh, I hate how she's looking at me. It's like she's staring into my soul. But she can't see everything. The only person who can see through my lies is Kikyo, Uncle Zoro and Auntie Robin.

"Sango, your order's ready." Miroku called behind them from the kitchen.

Thank you Miroku for saving me from an awkward conversation! Kagome prayed in her mind. Sango took the plate and went to the table.

Kagome leaned on the bar, putting her face in her palm, looking around the diner. Ichigo wasn't here today. He was at the station doing some extra research for the case, so it was just Yusuke, Rukia and Renji at the diner today and honestly, she missed him. She let out a sigh and decided to take her lunch break since it was almost 2:30 pm. She told Miroku and told her temporary boss, Inoue Orihime, Ichigo said she was a close friend of his. She was a very nice person and Kagome wants her to stay but she knows she's only her temporary boss until Kagura comes back. She's thinking to ask Kagura for Orihime to stay as the secondary boss.

As she ate her hamburger and drank her strawberry milkshake, she couldn't stop thinking about her conversation with Ichigo last night.

Ichigo had just came out of the shower and had no shirt on as Kagome was laying on the bed with her back to him. He crawled on the bed and wrapped his arms around her torso, giving a light kiss on her neck. "What are you thinking about?"

Kagome smiled softly, scoffing and turned her head to him, meeting his chocolate brown eyes. So much like hers but so different. She touched his cheek, stroking it softly. "Everything. Me. My family. The case... You." She blushed lightly, admitting the last part.

He smiled back at her, kissing her hand. "I think about that too sometimes."

She sighed and turned her head back onto the pillow, her hand buried underneath it. "Well, I think about it all the time. 24/7. It's always there... The case never leaves my mind."

Ichigo frowned. "Isn't this my job? The case is supposed to never leave my mind... not yours."

"Yeah well, I'm the case, Ichigo so it's not leaving my mind."

His frowned deepened. She had a point but he didn't want her to worry about this. He sighed. He buried his face in her raven hair and kissed her neck again. "Baby, don't worry about anything. I got everything under control. You're safe as long as you're with me." He kissed her neck again. "Okay?"

She knew that already. She knew she was safe with him. "You know, when you were bleeding out in the diner," She suddenly spoke, cutting the silence. "And we had to take you to the hospital... I thought I was going to lose you and that... that broke my heart. I didn't know what I would do without you even though we had no relationship except business wise." Her eyes turned watery just thinking about the situation again.

"Yeah. Well when you fought that guy all on your own, I thought that maybe you didn't need me to protect you anymore." Ichigo admitted.

Kagome turned her around to face him and saw him looking a little down and smiled. She put her hand on his cheek again, making him turn to him. "I'll always need you to protect me, Ichigo. Whether I admit or not. I'll always need you. No matter what."

She leaned in and kissed him with passion and he returned it with just as much passion.

And then a couple of hours later, Kikyo walked in and ruined their perfect make-out session. *Sigh*

Anyway, even though this case ruined not just her life, but also her family and friends, it introduced her to the most amazing man she could ever ask for. She just hoped it lasts long enough so that when the case is over, they could come out into the open like they had planned.

Someone came and sat right in front of her. Kagome frowned. She didn't recognize this person and the person was smiling at her, almost grinning. Suspicious. Feeling uncomfortable, she discreetly reached into her pocket and hit a button. It alarmed any police nearby her area and it was also a microphone so they could listen into the conversation. The only cops around here were Yusuke, Renji, Rukia and Orihime. Yes, her temporary boss was a cop, but not the badass fighting one. She does fight but when needed, she was more for the wounded.

"Hey there, pretty lady. Eatin' all by yourself, are ya?" The redhead started.

Kagome inwardly gagged and twitched at the same time. Was he hitting on her first to get her away from the diner and then strike? "I'm on break."

"So ya work or go to school?"

Don't give out any personal information to any strangers. Remember Kagome, you're being hunted. Be cautious. She remembered both Sakura's and Nelliel's advice.

"Work." She replied simply

"Where do ya work?"

"Who wants to know?" Kagome sat back, crossing her arms. "What is this? An interrogation?"

"I'm just tryin' to get to know ya."

Her eyebrows raised. "By asking me where I work? Personally, I think that's a bit stalker-ish. What's next? Are you gonna ask me where I live? Or maybe my age?"

The guy started to look serious now. "What's your name?"

If they ask you what your name is tell them...

"Kaoru. Samaji Kaoru."

The guy narrowed his eyes. "You're not her then?"

"Her?"

"I'm looking for a Kagome Higurashi. You look exactly like her. Know where I might find her. They say she works here."

I knew it!

"Why are you looking for this girl? Is she an ex-girlfriend of yours?"

He sighed. "I wish. She looks super hot compared to my ex. Both of my bosses, Naraku and Aizen, want this girl and her sister, well Naraku wants both of them. Aizen just wants the girl to use for some "experiments" of his. Says she got something special and that she will make a great second in command or something. Naraku wants both of them 'cause he wants to bed both of them. He's so greedy.. but I think he wants the sister more than the actual girl because Aizen wants the girl. I don't know. They fight a lot. Look, I'm just here to find the girl because the others have failed. Even Tia Harribel failed to get this girl. Do you know if she works here? Are you a regular?" He asked.

Wow. That's a lot of information to take at once. Thank god I recorded this! "Actually..." She looked behind him where the rest of the group was and they were telling her to confirm that she works here. I guess they want to take him in for questioning... "Yeah. I think you just missed her though. I've never seen her face though." She smiled nervously.

"Aww man. Well.. nice talking to you, girly." He winked before leaving and before she could stop the recording he came back. "Oh and one more thing, don't tell anyone what I just told you."

"Who would I tell? I'm just a social worker." She lied.

He nodded before leaving and Kagome turned off the recording as the guy left the diner and walked to his car. Kagome let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. She picked up her milkshake and walked over to Yusuke and the other's table and sat down next to Yusuke, resting her head on his shoulder. Ever since living with him and Ichigo, Yusuke was like the big brother she never had. "Well at least we have a name for the other guy and what their objectives are." Kagome said, heaving a sigh, taking a sip of her milkshake.

"He was very talkative." Rukia mentioned.

"And flirtatious." Yusuke growled.

"If only Ichigo was here to see it. I bet you he would be all over that guy." Renji laughed, causing Kagome to blush.

"W..What makes you say that?" She asked.

"He's super protective of you. More now than before. Wait until he hears that." Renji pointed to the recorder in her pocket.

Kagome sighed again drinking her milkshake. She looked to Orihime for help but she just looked at her with sympathy. Out of everyone here, Orihime was like her big sister and she loved her to death, even though she was really weird (including her taste in food), and she knew the feeling was mutual and having Orihime hear what they wanted from her was like a mother having heard that their child was kidnapped. She wondered how it would feel for Ichigo.

"Are you shitting me right now?"

"It's not a bad idea?"

"Not a bad idea? Not a bad idea? This is the worst idea you could ever come up! I thought you were smart!"

"I am! But in this situation, it's the best we got! And I'm tired of this!"

"Tired of what?"

"Doing nothing! So at least let me do this!"

"You're not doing this! It's too dangerous!"

"Ichigo!"

"No!"

They both stared into each other's brown eyes stubbornly (her looking up) not one willing to break the stare contest.

Outside, the whole crew listened to the argument. It's been going on since Ichigo heard the recorder and Kagome suggested to continue being 'Kaoru' so this guy or anyone else that was looking for her would stop and she can get more information out of any one of their henchman but Ichigo thought it was dangerous and that's what brings them to where they are now. The argument has been going on for 30 minutes or more. No one knows but no one has been keeping track either.

"Kagome, it's too dangerous." Ichigo sighed, rubbing his forehead. He was starting to get a migraine.

"That's what you say every time I bring up something that I should do. You can trust everyone else but you can't trust me. What's up with that? I'm not a china doll. I'm someone too. I can defend myself when needed. My uncle and aunt taught me well enough." Kagome crossed her arms.

"That's not it!"

"Then what is it? Tell me!"

"I DON'T WANNA LOSE ANYONE ELSE!"

Kagome was taken aback by that and took a step back with wide eyes, staying silent.

Ichigo sighed. "We'll talk about this when we get home." He walked to the door, slamming it close, causing her to jump.

When he got outside, he saw all eyes on him. "What?"

"Don't you think you were a little hard on her? She just wanted to help." Yusuke pointed out.

"You too?" He asked in disbelief. "It's too dangerous... especially when-" He stopped himself. "Nevermind. I'm going home early. Sakura, if you get anything else on this Kabuto guy, notify me immediately."

Sakura nodded.

"I'm going home early." He grabbed his jacket and put it on. He noticed an auburn head run past him over to the room where he left Kagome and shook his head before he left the station, slamming the door behind him.

Kagome was on the floor, her legs pulled onto her chest when she heard the door open. She looked up through her bangs, thinking it was Ichigo but it was just Orihime and she mentally sighed. Of course he wouldn't come back.. not in the way he left... She teared up at the thought.

"Oh Kagome..." She heard the auburn-haired beauty say as she sat on her knees in front of her, her cream skirt probably getting dirty. Kagome could hear the pity in her voice. That's all she ever gets. Pity. Never praise. Ever since this case began, all she ever got was pity.

"What happened?"

"I'm sure you already know. I bet you all were listening."

"I was too busy eating." She rubbed the back of her hair sheepishly. "I know what happened before you guys came here." She put her index finger on her chin as if she remembering something.

Kagome slightly smiled before telling her the story of what happened. Like she said before, Orihime was like a mother/sister to her even though she already had a sister and a mother but Orihime somehow fit both roles.

Orihime listened intently and when Kagome was done she could see that the girl was torn in pieces but she knew that Ichigo was also torn in pieces and as the third party in the argument she had to point it out. "I've known Kurosaki-kun for a long time and if he says it's dangerous, Kagome-chan. It is."

"But I feel so useless. I never do anything but wait around. It's like I have a sign in my chest saying 'Hey I'm over here, Kill Me'." She said sarcastically.

"Kagome-chan, out of everyone here, I can tell that Kurosaki-kun worries about you the most and I know how he looks at you and you look at him. You can't keep your dirty little secret for long if you keep looking at each other during work."

Kagome 'eeped' and looked at Orihime blushing and Orihime smiled. "He doesn't want to lose you like he lost his father. He doesn't even know what happened to him and if I'm correct from what I heard from Grimmjow-kun, one of the men you caught mentioned his father. He's having enough trouble paying for his sisters' apartment and his, and now he has to look out for you and now someone has mentioned about his father... which could mean that he is probably still alive."

Kagome looked down. "I didn't know that."

Orihime grabbed her hand. "He just doesn't want to lose anyone else."

"But I'm tired of doing nothing. I wanna do something, Orihime."

She smiled. "Then tell him that."

"I already did but we all saw how that went." She said sarcastically.

"Tell him..calmly."

Kagome sighed. "Okay. I will."

"And think about what I said earlier at the diner missy." Kagome laughed at Orihime's puffy face and Orihime smiled. "Come on, let's get you home or else Kurosaki-kun's going to freak."

"You said it."

When Kagome got home, she went to Ichigo's room and saw him sitting on the bed. She slowly walked to him, standing in front of him and twiddling with her fingers. "Are you still mad?"

Silence.

Kagome bit her lip. "Ichigo, I brought up the idea because I feel so useless just sitting around while everyone does the work. Everywhere I go, I feel like I have a sign saying 'Kill Me' or something. I need to do something. Anything."

"..."

"Please say something."

"...putting yourself out there is more of a greater risk than any...no matter what, I'll never agree."

"Why not? Ichi, I want to do something to help."

"Anything but this. You're already in danger and putting yourself out there like that...you're sign is becoming bigger."

Now it was her turn to become silent.

Ichigo looked up at her. "You said you want to help? You can help Sakura with the computer stuff because at times she has to leave and help Team Seven."

"But-"

"You said anything and I'm giving you something. You are not doing this, and that's final. We're never having this discussion again."

Kagome looked down. Ichigo sighed and stood up, pulling her into a hug. "You know I'm just worried about you. You're not just under my protection, but now you're my girlfriend and I can't take risks now. Please understand. Put yourself in my shoes. What would you do?" He buried his head in her neck. She could have sworn she felt something wet. Was he...crying?

Okay, now Kagome felt bad for forcing him to let her do this. She hugged him back, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm sorry. I just...I guess I'm just used to being out in the action since that's what I always did with my Uncle and he always taught me to defend myself if the chance ever presented itself and I guess this chance wasn't the right one."

"I just don't wanna lose you. I've seen what this guy could do and I don't want it to happen to you." His grip tightened.

She slightly pulled away to look at his face and confirmed her suspicion. Yes, he was crying. "You're not. I promise. You promised to protect me, remember?"

"With my life."

"You give me heart attacks when you actually do that but yes," she laughed and kissed him.