InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Killer In Hindsight ❯ Said The Spider To The Fly ( Chapter 9 )

A Killer In Hindsight

Chapter 9: Said The Spider To The Fly

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and Co. All rights reserved for Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Said The Spider To The Fly by Mary Howitt.

“Speech”
`Thoughts”
OOO - Flashback
XXX - Change in Scene or POV
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A clawed hand, smeared with oil, appeared from behind the generator. Inuyasha grunted and wiggled his fingers.

“I can't read your mind you know…” Miroku trailed off and heaved a sigh when the captain only grunted again.

“I need the wrench.” His voice was slightly muffled and he crouched to get a better position. Grabbing the wrench from the toolbox beside him, Miroku sighed again. Inuyasha pushed himself up from behind the generator to look at the distracted man.

“What's on your mind?” He finally asked.

“Why would you think anything's on my mind?” Miroku blinked.

“Because…you just gave me a screwdriver, I asked for a wrench…and you keep sighing…. so spill.” Inuyasha placed the screwdriver back and picked up the wrench, wheeling himself back underneath the heavy piece of machinery.

“What do you think is going to happen to us?” He finally asked, after a few minute of listening to Inuyasha tinker.

“What?” came his clueless answer.

“What do you think will happen to us? Do you think we're ever going to get off this island?” Miroku took a glance at his half-demon friend.

“Why would you ask that? You know we're going to get off this island…or die trying.” Miroku didn't hear the last part but sighed again anyway.

“If we ever do get off…I think I'm going to ask Sango out.” He continued to stare at Inuyasha's feet as the shuffled again, trying to push him further behind the generator.

The half-demon grunted again and cursed, “Dammit all to hell!”

“What? Is something wrong?” Miroku asked, peeking underneath to get a better look at the captain.

“I just realized how much work it's gonna take to get this oil out of my hair.” Miroku chuckled; you could always count on Inuyasha to lighten the mood.

XXX

Kagome hummed silently to herself, cracking open another coconut. Earlier, she had begged Inuyasha enough to let her go out and grab a few of the coconuts lying on the beach, under his ever-watchful eye of course.

It had been two days since the discovery of Jinenji's head and what lay tucked in his mouth. The young cook shivered at the memory.

OOO

Jakoutsu had just emptied the envelope and pieces of a picture fluttered to the table, along with a small piece of paper. They had pieced the picture together enough to realize it was the one that Kagome had discovered missing, when they had first found out Jinenji had been taken.

Maya's smiling face gleamed up at her and Kagome felt tears spring to her eyes; she had been so preoccupied with staring at the pieces of the picture she hadn't noticed Jakoutsu pick up the paper.

“It's a note.” He said astonished, and the other's crowded around him to see what it said. It was written in neat, beautiful, calligraphy and Jakoutsu noticed a small spider emblem at the top right hand corner. Clearing his throat he began reading.

“If you are reading this note it means you have found the first to die of your crew.
You must leave, repair your vessel or what remains of you will meet the same fate at my master's hand. I will help you as much as I possibly can, for if he knows of my deceit I will surely wish for a quick and painless death. Oh, if only I were so lucky.
Heed my warnings, if you wish to live, leave.”

“So what, there's someone on the inside who's helping us?” Inuyasha asked rubbing his chin.

“It looks to be that way.” Bankoutsu answered.

OOO

Someone may be trying to help them, but it certainly didn't make her feel any better. Kagome went back to pouring the milk from the coconuts into a blender, with some ice cream and strawberries, thankfully the small piece of machinery was battery powered. The boat had become increasingly hot since the generator had gone kaput.

Pressing the puree button and letting the noise of the blender fill her mind, Kagome jumped when someone tapped her on the shoulder. Spinning, she came face to face with Ayame.

“Are you alright?” the wolf demoness asked.

“Yeah…I just…” Sighing, she hung her head.

“You're scared?” Ayame hopped onto the counter, Kagome nodded her head in the affirmative. Going back to blending her smoothies, her hand twitched when the demoness spoke again. “You wanna talk about it?”

She shrugged and let her finger off the metallic button. “When I signed on for this, I definitely wasn't expecting anything like…well…. this. This whole, being hunted down and tortured and people ending up dead…it's just…overwhelming. I just can't wait to get home and see my brother.” She felt tears spring to her eyes again. Shaking her head, her hands came up to rest over her mouth as she choked back a sob.

“Shhhh…everything's going to be okay…” Ayame rubbed her back and she leaned against the counter. Sango came out from her shower at that moment, towel drying her hair.

Seeing Kagome she asked, “Is everything alright?” Kagome wiped at her eyes and cheeks, sweeping away the tears. She looked at Sango and nodded.

“Hey…where is everybody?” Ayame finally asked, taking a glance around the boat.

“I think they're all down in the ice room, trying to cool off.” Sango said, ambling over to them and taking a seat next to Ayame on the counter. “Are those for us?”

Kagome took a glance at the somewhat forgotten smoothies; condensation was forming on the outside of the blender. Nodding her head, she went and grabbed some cups from a cupboard.

“So….” Ayame started, clearing her throat.

“So…” Sango said, glancing between the wolf demoness and the cook.

“Yeah…” Kagome finally said, staring down into her drink. Wouldn't it be fabulous if she could get her hands on some rum that would make the smoothies so much better.

A bang and thump from below them had all three girls staring at the floor.

“What do you think they're doing down there?” Ayame asked.

“Probably wrestling over who gets the biggest block of ice.” Sango laughed, which made Kagome laugh, and in turn, made Ayame laugh. They sat there sipping their smoothies and laughing for a short time before coming into a comfortable silence.

“You think if we get out of this Kouga will ask me out?” Ayame's smile spread as her two newest friends’ laughter filled the air yet again. They both nodded enthusiastically, no girl could pass up talking about boys.

XXX

Red eyes gleamed from between the ample leaves of one of the many large trees on the island. A small smile flitted over graceful features, flashing deadly sharp fangs. As far as she could tell they were far too busy being scared to come out and face her.

A fan fluttered and the figure was brought gracefully to the deck of the small fishing vessel. Her feet barely made a sound as they touched the splintered wood.

XXX

Inside Kagome tensed suddenly, stopping mid-sentence.

“What's wrong?” Sango asked, looking on in concern

“I don't know…but I think we should get Inuyasha.”

“Why?” Ayame glanced at her curiously. She took another sip of her drink, changing focus from the worried cook to the bottom of her glass, the demoness slurped noisily at the remnants of her smoothie.

“I just…I really think we need to get Inuyasha.” Panic lined her voice and she hurried over to the intercom on the wall pressing the little gray button that said, `talk'. “Inuyasha?” She called into it; her voice was heavily coated in panic now.

Inuyasha's gruff voice came through the speaker, “What?” he groused.

“Something's wrong.” She was becoming hysterical now; Kagome took a deep breath in through her nose and let it out through her mouth, trying to calm herself.

“What are you talking about?” He seemed more weary then annoyed, Kagome noted with some comfort.

“I don't know…just…something doesn't feel right.” She chewed on her thumbnail; it had always been a bad habit of hers when she was nervous.

“You're botherin' me because something doesn't `feel right'?” Now he was annoyed.

“Please Inuyasha, just go check it out.” Something was coming, she could feel it. She wasn't sure how she could feel it, she just knew. Kagome heard him sigh before Bankoutsu's voice came over the speaker.

“What's wrong?” He asked, only having heard parts of the conversation.

“Kagome has a `feeling'.” The half-demon's voice sounded mocking and Kagome felt tears prick the backs of her eyes and her nose burn, something was wrong. Why wasn't Inuyasha listening?

“Kagome?” Bankoutsu asked his voice concerned.

“I don't know what it is!” she was yelling now, “Just something isn't right!”

Ayame came over and rubbed the girls shoulders, the scent of fear poured off her in waves.

“Could someone just please go have a look around, just to make sure?” Sango's voice came over the intercom to the boys. They heard Inuyasha grumble before the stomping of his feet could be heard coming up from below.

XXX

Inuyasha burst from the door across from her, and they were both startled for a second, just staring at one another in shock. Kagura whipped out her fan as Inuyasha crouched into a battle ready stance. Kouga came up behind the captain, watching as he positioned himself low and ready to attack should the need arise. Bankoutsu came up beside the wolf demon, crossing his arms over his chest.

Kagura's eyes landed on him and he shivered. She grinned slightly behind her fan. Her red eyes flit back and forth between Inuyasha and Bankoutsu.

“What do you want Kagura?” Bankoutsu finally asked.

Inuyasha turned to look incredulously at him, “You know this bitch?”

Kagura chuckled and her eyes glinted in humor. She took a few steps towards the men but stopped when Inuyasha growled low at her, she watched his eyes flash with deadly intent. Her smile widened.

“I just popped in to see how you were doing.” Her voice lilted from behind her fan.

“Bullshit, what do you really want?” Bankoutsu stared hard at her and she faltered just the tiniest bit under his intense stare.

“You know me too well.” Sighing she paced back and forth across the broken boards of the deck. By this time Kouga and Inuyasha stood from their battle stances, to stare wearily at the demoness.

Peeking through her lashes at the three she began, “It seems Naraku has taken quite a shine to one of your crew, Inuyasha.”

“Which one?” Bankoutsu simply asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Your cook, Kagome.” Kagura smirked when she noticed the steam practically pouring from the hanyou's ears. The wolf demon behind him looked fairly shocked as well. Oh, this was too much fun.

“You ain't gonna get her if that's what you're here for. You'll have to go through me first.” Bankoutsu turned to look at the captain, had he never been taught proper grammar?

“I'm not here to take her…not right now at least.” Kagura said, glancing back at Bankoutsu.

“Kagura has been helping us avoid Naraku.” He explained. Kouga and Inuyasha turned puzzled faces towards him.

“Does that mean she's the one that wrote the note?” Inuyasha asked, turning to regard the demoness not even six feet from him.

“What note?” Kagura turned on him suddenly interested. Her eyes passed over the captain and then over Bankoutsu and back over to the captain.

“There was a note found in Jinenji's mouth when he was… `returned' to us.” Bankoutsu said.

“I didn't write it.” The demoness said finally, after a long pause.

“Well, then who did?” Kouga piped from the back.

“What did it say?” She regarded the three in front of her with a critical eye.

“Just that if we want to live we need to leave the island.” Kouga said. Kagura's eyes turned thoughtful.

“So, it wasn't you?” Bankoutsu asked.

“No, but I will look into this.” With that she turned away from them and threw her feather into the air, quickly taking to the skies.

“Why didn't you tell us about her before?” Inuyasha suddenly turned on the contemplative human.

“I don't know.” Bankoutsu shrugged and headed back inside, Inuyasha and Kouga just watched him go.

XXX

Shortly after she had called Inuyasha to go check out the upper deck, everyone had ambled upstairs and now sat awaiting their return. Kagome pounced on the three when they came down the stairs.

“So?” she asked, glancing eagerly between the three men.

“So what?” Inuyasha shrugged and plopped onto the couch.

“Was there anything up there?” She asked again, anxious.

“It was Kagura.” Bankoutsu said from where he leaned against a wall. All eyes turned on him. He seemed to be the only one who was going to talk about what had happened.

“What did she want?” Ayame asked, still perched atop the counter. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

“Wait, back it up…who's Kagura?” Miroku asked, he stood from his position on the floor playing checkers with the children, he was losing anyway.

“She…helped us out a few times. She works for Naraku but she's completely against him.” Eri absently explained her eyes were trained on Bankoutsu's form, waiting for him to reveal what had happened.

“She just came to warn us that Naraku has picked his next target.” He stared down at his feet and shuffled them slightly.

“Who?” Hojo asked, his sandy brown hair falling to cover his eyes. He lifted a hand to sweep them back.

“Kagome.” Inuyasha said, staring hard at the young cook. She froze and her eyes became wide with fear.

XXX

A dark chuckle filled the small cave and another `crack' could be heard as the whip met flesh again. Tearing it open as blood pooled in the fresh wounds. Hiten tensed in preparation for another lashing. None came and he chanced a look over his shoulder. The whip came down to meet the flesh of his face and he screamed.

“That will be all for now.” The man raised a hand and waved it slightly in a dismissive gesture as two hulking men stepped from the shadows to drag Hiten away. Naraku watched as he fought the entire way.

“Kanna.” His voice filled the nooks and crevices of the cave. Naraku watched in satisfaction as the small girl melted away from the shadows, the mirror clutched close to her belly, her eyes wide and completely empty.

“Show me the girl.” He smiled again, and a crazed glint lit his eyes. Kanna lifted her mirror and the surface shimmered before showing a picture of Kagome. Her eyes were wide and she looked as if she was going to cry. Something malicious flashed in his eyes and the small demon before him shivered.

XXX
Kagome's eyes widened even larger if possible when she heard a voice enter her mind. `Will you walk into me parlor said the spider to the fly. `Tis the prettiest little parlor you ever may spy. The way into my parlor is up a winding stair, and I have many curious things to show when you are there. Oh no, no, said the little fly; to ask me is in vain, for who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again…' The voice trailed off and she had to grip the edges of the counter to support herself. Her knees had suddenly gone so week.
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End Author's Notes: So, I’m a bit on edge about the way I’m portraying Kagura. Oh well. A bit more dramatic than I’d like, but I guess it’s okay.

Soundtrack for Chapter 9:

Atreyu: Falling Down
When Two Are One
Bayside: Devotion And Desire
Brand New: Sic Transit Gloria…Glory Fades

Next Time on A Killer In Hindsight: When It Rains, It Pours