InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Delayed Dawn ❯ A Meeting with Some Truth Tossed In ( Chapter 11 )

A Delayed Dawn

Disclaimer: Some of it is mine, and the obvious stuff isn't mine.

 

Previously: Kouga and Inuyasha are sent by Sesshoumaru to meet with the leader of the Mikos. Kikyou offers them a truce and wants an alliance. Inuyasha stays behind as Kouga takes Rin, a representative of the Miko group, back to Sesshoumaru. Kikyou explains to Inuyasha some of the history behind the Mikos.

 

Warning: This story is posted in the mature section for good reasons. If ideas such as vulgar language, descriptive violence, and sexual situations such as rape disturb you, then you are warned now.

 

Chapter Eleven A Meeting with Some Truth Tossed In

 

*New Tokyo Museum*

 

Kagome sighed. She had finally made it to the library only to find out that the book she was looking for was missing, looted during the original riots at the start of the war. Why anyone would want to loot a library was beyond Kagome, however, it caused problems in her research.

 

It had been two weeks since the last attack on the museum. It had been two weeks since Kagome had any new information. It had been two weeks since Miroku had started to guard her. And it had been during those two weeks that Sango was visiting her more and more. Kagome could only conclude that some kind of relationship was forming between Miroku and Sango. Why else would Sango hang around her, a history nerd?

 

It was hard to work when there wasn't anything to work off of. All of the information Kagome had was a dead end. That was how these things went. She had been studying the artifacts for some time now. Since no new information was being discovered, it looked like it was the end for the Sengoku period artifacts. She wasn't going to submit a new report because she didn't have anything to add.

 

With no real work, it made the office really boring. She couldn't concentrate. And with no more attacks, it looked like whoever was interested in the jewel finally gave it up. It looked like she would soon be rid of Miroku and could finally live her life in peace and wait for the next set of artifacts to show up on her desk. Then she would jump right back in, becoming obsessed with some other time period and some other story. That was her life.

 

Outside, Miroku sat out in his chair, leaning on two legs, the back against the wall. It had been two weeks since he was assigned this mission and he determined that he was no farther than the day he arrived. In fact, this could be the first time that a mission actually went backwards. The only time when he would return with less than nothing, if that was even possible.

 

He spent his days napping. It wasn't that he was lazy, as Kagome suggested daily. No. It was because he spent the nights awake. The first couple of nights, he had searched Kagome's apartment for information and found nothing. Not even a diary. She had a ton of books and that was what took so long. He had to flip through each one, trying to decipher her hand written thoughts he found in the margins. Nonsense was all he discovered. This girl had the imagination of a child, not a scientist. He felt that she was too influenced by stories and myth to write anything of any scientific value.

 

“Hey.” A voice woke him from his thoughts. Miroku cracked an eye open to see Sango looking down at him. “Awake?” She asked.

 

Miroku nodded. “Barely, but enough.” He replied. “How did you get down here?” Miroku asked as he realized that he or Kagome hadn't let her in.

 

Sango smiled. “Myouga let me in. Working for Sesshoumaru has some perks.”

 

“Ah, taking advantage of an old man. And they call me a hentai.” He joked.

 

Sango sighed. “That's because you are one.” Sango bent down. “Look, the real reason why I am here is because I had a lunch scheduled with Kagome and I have to cancel it.”

 

Miroku now opened both eyes. For the last two weeks, Sango, like himself, had been assigned to Kagome, to get any information they could about the jewel. Miroku had told Sango to be careful, and to remember that she worked for Sesshoumaru first, then Kikyou. He told her that because there was times when Sango could be alone with Kagome, opportunities he never had.

 

“Can you share?” He asked.

 

“Meeting with Kikyou. I hear that she plans to share this with Inuyasha.” Sango explained.

 

Miroku chuckled. Inuyasha. He hadn't seen the hanyou in two weeks. He did hear about his reassignment to the Mikos, though Miroku probably understood better than Inuyasha the real reasons behind it all. Miroku sighed. It seemed like a painful torture. Beautiful sweet torture that hurt like nothing else.

 

“Let me know what happens.” He told her.

 

Sango nodded. “Of course. Tell Kagome to make it dinner instead. I should be done by then.” Sango turned and left. Miroku shifted his eyes to watch as Sango's hip swiveled away from him. Closing his eyes to go back to sleep, he had a large smiled plastered on that perverted face of his.

 

*The Miko Compound*

 

“Could you hand me that?” Kikyou asked. She was standing on a ladder applying more sutras around the compound. It was one of their defenses against attacks by outsiders. A lot of people had attacked the Mikos just because they were Mikos. Their power was attributed to that of witches. For humans, witches and demons were of the same class.

 

Inuyasha looked over at the last piece of paper she was referring to. Carefully he picked it and handed it to her. Kikyou took it and placed on the wall. She closed her eyes and whispered an incantation. Inuyasha watched as the scroll came to life. The pink energy he was accustomed to feeling and seeing surrounded the scroll and spread out like wildfire along the wall. He had learned that as long as the sutra remained and no one took it off, its power and strength would remain for the entirety of her life.

 

“Finished.” She proclaimed as she climbed down the ladder. Suddenly, he foot was stuck and her hand slipped. Kikyou found herself falling down. She waited for impacted and instead found herself in the arms of Inuyasha. Kikyou looked up and found only amber eyes. She held in her breath, but no blush tickled her cheeks.

 

Inuyasha helped her back onto her feet. She didn't say anything, didn't react. He silently followed her out of the room. They were heading up to her office.

 

“Kikyou-sama.” The little girl who had led them inside the compound yelled. Kikyou stopped and so did Inuyasha. The girl stopped in front of Kikyou and bowed. Kikyou bowed back. “She's here Kikyou-sama.”

 

“Thank you.” Kikyou replied and then the little girl ran off. Kikyou turned to Inuyasha. He had been watching her interactions with the little girl. Kikyou became a different person around the younger ones. She warmed up to them; he could see some life in her eyes. And soon as they were gone, she reverted back to the woman he made. “Let's go.” She instructed him. Inuyasha could only follow her.

 

Inside Kikyou's office, Inuyasha took one of the chairs and pulled it back some away from the desk and the couch. He didn't want to intrude on their meeting, even though it was Kikyou who invited him to it. She explained that this was something she could do to ensure that the alliance was built on trust, and a network of information. Inuyasha didn't care. She could have told him whatever she wanted to, but he wasn't about to spill his secrets. Only Sesshoumaru could authorize that. He was kinda glad that he didn't have to make that decision.

 

The door opened and Inuyasha turned to see Sango walk in. He was surprised to see her, but she wasn't surprised to see him. He pretended he didn't know who Sango really was.

 

“Kikyou.” Sango said as she walked up to her leader.

 

Kikyou bowed. “You are safe and unharmed?” Kikyou asked.

 

Sango smiled. “Always.”

 

Kikyou motioned for her to have a seat. Sango took the empty seat next to Inuyasha and Kikyou took her place on the couch. “A drink?” Kikyou asked. Sango only shook her head. “Sango, this is Inuyasha. Inuyasha, this is Sango. She is not a miko, but a trained demon exterminator. She is one of our best fighters and trains the women here who decide to fight.”

 

Sango reached her hand out. “Pleasure to meet you, Inuyasha.” Sango said with a smirk. She remembered Inuyasha. She remembered training with him. It was his training techniques that she used with the Miko girls.

 

Inuyasha took her hand. “Nope. It's mine. We'll have to spar one day.” He told her. Sango laughed as she sat back into her chair. He hadn't changed one bit. She was glad he was here.

 

“Sango, I asked Inuyasha to be here because we have formed an alliance with his gang. I believe it is time that they knew about certain things.” Kikyou started. “Do you know anything about the recent artifacts that were being tested at the New Tokyo Museum?” Kikyou asked him.

 

Of course he did. Miroku tried to explain it to him. Simply put, the museum had these artifacts and someone was after them and he had missed his chance for an ambush. “No, we don't bother with that kind of crap.” He lied. He had to. But he wasn't completely lying. He really didn't know much about them.

 

Kikyou nodded. She had expected that much. “We don't know much. But from the information we've gathered, about seven hundred years ago, at the peak of a Miko's campaign against the demons, she realized that she couldn't continue to fight. Surrounded by demons, her soul and theirs joined together and created a jewel. The jewel resurfaced during the Sengoku period and it then vanished from history. It has remained a myth until recently. One of the other gangs believes in its existence and is searching for it. If he gets his hands on it, he will have the power to do whatever he pleases.” Kikyou told him. She then turned to Sango.

“The New Tokyo Museum acquired artifacts related to the last time the jewel surfaced. We knew they were going to be a target. I sent Sango there to gather information, to see if the jewel truly exists.” At this point, Kikyou turned to Sango.

 

“The scientists in charge claims that the jewel cannot exist.” Sango said.

 

Kikyou was surprised. “Anything else?”

 

Sango shook her head. “The scientist is reluctant to share any information with anyone. Searches of her home have come up empty handed. And searches of her office have also come up short.”

 

“And of the artifacts. Their location?” Kikyou asked.

 

Sango shook her head. “Unknown. They were kept at the museum at one point, but now, no one knows. Most likely moved due to the attacks.”

 

Kikyou sighed. “Reluctance is usually a sign that the person knows more than they want to share.” Kikyou stood up. “Sango, why don't you show Inuyasha the training grounds. As head of the Toukens and with our new alliance, he might be interested in seeing how our girls fight and how he can incorporate that into his group.”

 

Sango nodded and waited for Inuyasha to follow her out. When alone Kikyou sighed. What did the museum want with the artifacts? And the jewel? Were they keeping that a complete secret because they knew of its power? She wouldn't let them have it. It was her job to guard the jewel. But, Sango wouldn't lie to her. She had known Sango far too long now. Perhaps the scientist was reluctant because she was scared. Now Kikyou didn't know what to do. She fell back down onto the couch and sat silently, thinking.

 

*The Miko Compound*

 

Sango and Inuyasha walked down the hallway of the compound, heading down and outside. “I think you'll be impressed with our girls.” Sango said. “None of them are trained demon exterminators, but many had training before and a lot work hard because they want to. I've learned that women fight differently than men.”

 

Inuyasha glanced over at Sango. “Oh, how so?” He asked, keeping up the façade that they had just met and were discussing matters he was interested in.

 

“Men, they fight to kill.” Sango started. Inuyasha nodded. That was his goal when he fought an enemy. “Women, though,” Sango paused. “Women fight to annihilate.” Inuyasha looked over at Sango. “They see the enemy in everyone and won't stop until there is nothing left, or until there is nothing left of them. It is for this reason that women lack control in fights.”

 

Inuyasha nodded again. “So, you saw Miroku then.” He commented.

 

Sango smiled. “How did you know?”

 

Inuyasha looked around to make sure they were the only ones. “Sesshoumaru received the report about the artifacts and sent Miroku in. Did you lie to Kikyou?”

 

“No,” she replied shaking her head.

 

“So, if you found out nothing, I can only imagine what Miroku has found out.” Inuyasha started to laugh. “I'm going to tease him so badly.”

 

Sango laughed. “The scientist had him figured out in four minutes.”

 

Inuyasha stopped. “Four minutes? Seriously? That's a record.” Sango smiled. Inuyasha laughed out loud. “Oh boy, he's so going to get it. I can't wait. He got beat down by a girl. That had to have bruised his precious ego.”

 

“And knowing Miroku, I'm sure some other part of him was bruised as well.” Sango joked. “Inuyasha,” Sango started, changing the subject from Miroku to something more serious. “Do you know what's going on?”

 

Inuyasha shook his head. “No. I don't. But I feel that something is happening.”

 

Sango nodded. “Just be careful. I know Kikyou well, but I don't trust her.” Inuyasha studied Sango. He had learned that her face told him more than her words. She was really worried about him and that she was confused. Sango could also sense the change that was coming, but didn't know from where or from whom.

 

“Why don't you trust her?” Inuyasha asked.

 

Sango sighed. “I don't know. It started out as little things. But, she sent me to the museum one hour before it was first attacked. I wasn't supposed to show myself, to allow some of the attack to happen, but to then fight them off after a certain point.” Sango stopped, causing Inuyasha to stop. “How did she know?”

 

Inuyasha sighed. He didn't know how to answer. Things were getting too complicated. He hated complicated. “Come on Sango, the only thing I know how to do is fight.”

 

Sango nodded. “You're right you know.” She laughed and he laughed back.

 

*New Tokyo Museum*

 

Kagome wasn't saddened that Sango cancelled their lunch date and decided on dinner instead. It gave Kagome time to get her work finished. She worked straight through lunch, not stopping even when Miroku pounded on the door whining about food and how hungry he was. Kagome only told him to go out and get himself some food. She said that because she knew he couldn't. It was funny enough to get a chuckle out of her before getting back into her work.

 

Inside the safe that was usually hidden behind the book shelves, Kagome stood there and let her gaze sweep over everything. She had decided. The Sengoku artifacts were officially case closed. Without the funds, the research and the information, she was at a stand still and that meant hours of boredom, which she really hated. Closing the case on the artifacts may mean that she wouldn't be babysat by that pervert anymore, no more attacks on the museum and she could pursue something else. Never had research been so life threatening.

 

She had yet to tell Myouga that she was officially calling it quits on the case. Her report was enough, and it wasn't like anyone was interested in more work on it. If they were, money would have magically started to wave in front of her face. And it wasn't. Not that she expected it to either. She exited the safe and shut the door, reentering the security code. Once everything was secured, she slid the bookshelf back in its place.

 

Kagome slipped some notebooks into her bag, and some CDs as well. She turned her computer off and shut the lights off. Stepping outside of her office, she found Miroku sleeping in the chair. She sighed. She knew that he slept during the days because he stayed up during the night. Also, she knew what he did at night. At first, she thought that he had rummaged through her underwear drawer because he was truly that much of a pervert. But when she noticed some of the papers in her drawers were in a slightly different order than before, she knew that he was going through all of her things.

 

“Hey.” She said, waking her sleeping guard. “I'm ready to go home.”

 

Miroku stood up, stretching and yawning. “Sure thing.” He replied.

 

They made it to her apartment. Kagome unlocked the door, but instead of opening it, just stood there. “I want you to stay out here.” She told him.

 

Miroku could only nod. He watched as Kagome let herself in and shut the door behind her, then hearing the familiar sound of the locks clicking. This was the first time she had asked him to stay completely out of her apartment. He sat down on the floor, leaning his back up against the wall. What was she doing?