InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Mission to Fulfill ❯ First Mission ( Chapter 1 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Enjoy! (And please R&R! I love to hear from you guys!)


Chapter One-

First Mission

This had to be wrong.

There was no way that what was on the sheet of paper in his hand was telling him the truth.

Growling, he clenched the parcel tightly and stormed off to Sesshoumaru's office. That man better have a good reason for why he was given this assignment IF it was indeed true. If it was, oh boy was Sesshoumaru in for it.

He was never fond of his boss. Maybe it was because he didn’t contain a single emotion in his stiff body. Eyes a piercing gold and a long, fine face- which never held anything other than a slight frown and narrowed eyes...or maybe it was because he was his half-brother. Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha shared the same father, but there was nothing the same about them except being Inu youkai, having long hair, and having the same blood. While Inu Yasha was arrogant, rude, and downright didn’t care about his surroundings, Sesshoumaru was a very sophisticated man. Keh. Well, that could be a way to put it.

He pushed anyone who was in his way aside, ignoring their short cries of protest and their piercing glares. He had one destination: To give that boss of his a piece of his mind.

Jaken scurried out of the room, apparently just been ordered to fetch something. He was such a disgusting little midget- a green toad youkai with the most AWFUL screechy voice. Inu Yasha practically shoved him to the other side of the room as he shot past him, slamming the door behind him. Sesshoumaru was behind his desk in his comfy business chair, facing the wall instead of acknowledging Inu Yasha's presence. Said dog-boy thrust the paper at the desk, slamming his hand onto it to keep it in place. "Sesshoumaru! What in blazes is this supposed to mean?!" A finger pointed at the assignment sheet was the only indication of what 'this' meant. Shame Sesshoumaru was not bothering to turn around.

"Is there something pestering you, little brother?" Sesshoumaru inquired, obviously just trying to agitate him further.

"PESTERING?! I'LL SHOW YOU PESTERING YOU LITTLE-"

"I'm assuming that you are seeking an explanation for your latest allocation?" Sesshoumaru interrupted, finally taking the time to turn and face him. He folded his hands and set his elbows against the surface of his desk, resting his chin atop his linked fingers. His expression was monotonous and he refused to show any emotion whatsoever - physically or mentally.

Grinding his teeth to keep himself from going insane, Inu Yasha glared at him before stating, "What's this shit about? Are you trying to piss me off???"

Lowering his gaze to the crumpled paper underneath Inu Yasha's hand, Sesshoumaru sighed. "As you well know, Inu Yasha, I am the one to assign tasks- such as this one-"

"I KNOW that. What I want to know is: what is this about me having to impersonate a freakin' art teacher at a private school!!"

Rubbing his temples, Sesshoumaru fought the urge to strangle the boy in front of him. This was the reason he had to take headache pills practically every day...

Finally, he exhaled before saying, "You want to know why I am sending you to Earth?"

"Yes!"

Sesshoumaru straightened, looking him right in the eye. "Naraku has informed us that 'Detector' has been present for a while now. Only yesterday did he confirm his theory and has notified me that she is not in outer space, but is on Earth, oblivious to her power at the moment." He placed a hand onto the assignment sheet. Inu Yasha's hand had long been by his side, clenching and unclenching during the whole time Sesshoumaru had been talking about why he was supposed to do the task. "This assignment is vital to properly support his theory and conclude his thoughts about her whereabouts. Our mission concerns her. Only then will our search become easier."

Automatically, Inu Yasha's hand reached for the shard around his neck. It hung on a thick string, shining brightly. "You mean...I'M the one who has to find her?"

Sesshoumaru nodded.

"But..." Inu Yasha protested, "...how am I supposed to know it's her? Any facial details? Birthmarks? And just where exactly am I supposed to search? Don't tell me I'm supposed to go around the world because I am not Phileas Fogg-"

"Actually, we've narrowed it down to one city."

"...Amazing."

"Indeed," Sesshoumaru agreed, opening one of his desk drawers to retrieve a folder of papers. He handed it to Inu Yasha, who took it cautiously. "This is all the information you will need. I've already made arrangements for you to stay at an apartment. It's decent, so if you spot any rats or insects, you can report it to me and I'll have that place sued up to their eyeballs."

"Damn, how much did you pay?"

"Enough for a month's stay at least."

"WHAT?!?!" Inu Yasha exclaimed. "A whole MONTH?!?! Are you crazy???"

"Quite sane actually. You will be departing tomorrow morning, three o' clock, Tokyo time. I suggest you pack up for your long departure." With that, he turned around in his seat, back facing a very stunned Inu Yasha.

Before Inu Yasha could object, Jaken was suddenly shoving him out of the office. Inu Yasha gave in without much to say. What could he say? If he went along with it and found the girl, he'd have a much easier time in space. It would be so much easier if he just went with the flow. But, he still didn't think he could handle it. The longest time he had been down on Earth since the big lift off was two weeks. Now he had to double that time, AND come back with some girl who had the ability to sense exactly what they were searching for.

Pressing his back against the wall, he slowly slid down, feeling something turn on the wall as he slithered to the ground. Suddenly, he felt his body slowly rise upwards, but he was still somewhat in his sitting position. After a few seconds, he realized what he had just done and mentally kicked himself.

Floating in mid-air, he could see a certain wolf youkai growling. "Hey, mutt-face! How many times do ya gotta mess up the gravity system?!?!"

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Sighing as she left the building, Kagome swam through the crowded courtyard. She spotted her brother none too easily and took hold of his arm. Souta grinned at her and she gave him a smile in return. Together, they started off to the parking lot where their cousin was waiting by her car. She waved at them, a daily gesture for them to get moving.

With one last shove, they managed to weave through the many students, sliding into the car after unloading their backpacks into the trunk. They started off the road towards the shrine. It was a ten minute walk, but only a couple minutes by car, so there wasn't very much conversation in the vehicle. After a while, Souta broke the silence by telling them about the funniest thing that happened to his bald music teacher (concerning a toupee and a violin)...

Arriving at the shrine at last, they parked just outside the steps, retrieving their backpacks after stepping out of the car. They headed up the steps, neither one of them uttering a word at all. It wasn't until they entered the house did they dive into 'How was school?' and 'Did you do well on that Math test?' questions.

Kagome climbed up the stairs to her bedroom after greeting her family briefly. Right away she dove into her textbook, reading the pages that she had for homework before answering the various questions on said passage. Shortly after she had started her homework, her cousin (the one who drove her home) knocked on the door.

"Come in," Kagome called from her desk.

She entered without a word, seating herself on the cozy lavender comforter of her bed. "So, how was school today?"

"Fine..." Kagome answered on auto-pilot.

"Good."

There was more silence. Kagome's pencil tapping against the desktop was the only sound throughout the whole room. Suddenly, Kagome turned around in her wheelie chair with a bright smile. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to ignore you or anything. Did you want to talk?"

Her cousin was speechless for a moment, watching Kagome smile brightly. Then, she smiled in return, amazed at the way Kagome could make just about anyone grin with a beam of her own. "No, I was just seeing if you needed any help with your Math."

"Oh, well I'm not doing my Math right now, but thanks anyway! I appreciate you looking out for me." Again, her smile practically lit up the room.

After a while, her cousin stood up, brushing away invisible dust particles from her skirt. "Alright then. I'll leave you be for now, ok? Just call me if you need help." With that, she headed for the door in elegant strides.

"Kikyou?"

Said woman turned around slightly. "Yes, Kagome?"

"...Thanks..."

It was her turn to smile brightly and genuinely. "No problem."

Kikyou left the room after that, closing the door slightly so that no one would disturb her. Suddenly guilt washed over her and she stopped in her tracks, her hand rested along the railing of the staircase. That guilty feeling was always filling her mind lately. Why it did was unknown to her...but every time she was near Kagome, she always seemed to act extra nice towards her, showing her that she was her favorite cousin of all.

But, it seemed more than just that...why was she overwhelmed with guiltiness so many times?

Kikyou shook her head, ridding her head from such thoughts. No matter what- she had to keep strong. The weak never got far in life.

Gracefully, she strode down the steps and into the kitchen to prepare some tea for everyone.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"So, your departure is tonight, huh?"

"Shut up." Inu Yasha turned over in his bed. It wasn't very big (only room enough for one) and he had to share the room with Sango, Miroku, and Kouga. Sesshoumaru had his own little room and Jaken slept outside his room, acting as pathetic guardian.

How he longed for a bed of his own...

Well...now he was going to get one...at his apartment...

"Oh stop being such a crybaby," Sango sighed, slipping out of her clothes. She had the curtain pulled so they could only see a faint outline of her form, but nothing too showy. Her long brown tinged hair fell across her shoulders in a graceful gesture as she reached for the set of clothes that hung on a low hanger. After she got her slip-on pink jumper, she moved the curtain out of the way. "Jeez...I wish Sesshoumaru would have gotten me a decent set of clothes to wear to bed. I mean, a night gown would be sooo appreciated."

Inu Yasha furrowed his eyebrows together. Why wasn't anyone as worried as he was? What if he didn't find the girl in time? What if she didn't even go to that lousy school that he was supposed to teach at? What if she was as old as he was, with a superior job, and totally boring? If he didn't come back with the 'Detector' would he get fired? Or even worse- thrown out into the cold of the universe to shrivel up at the moment his skin touched the air that held no oxygen?

Shivering at the thought of being cast out into the desolate atmosphere of the universe, Inu Yasha curled up as if a sudden gust of cold air had swept over him. He resisted the urge to stick his thumb in his mouth and cry out for his mother. He wasn't frightened about if he'd survive the long period on a planet, but more what the consequences would be if he didn't come back with the right girl. He had fought youkai as big as the moon and lived to tell the tale. Why was one little girl so much more important now?

He knew the answer.

Because she was the 'Detector' and therefore would ease the heavy load off of everyone's shoulders.

Miroku shifted his sitting position, looking upwards at the bunk above him. He had his uniform on, the one that everyone had made alterations to after being given them by Naraku. (Even Sesshoumaru!) His short ponytail swished a little as he looked upwards at the hanyou. "Aren't you scared, Inu Yasha?"

"Keh. Only a pussy would be scared of this task." This would make him a pussy...

Sango shivered a little from her spot on the other top bunk. "I would be so scared. I haven't been to Earth in such a long time..."

"I admit I would be frightened as well," Miroku admitted. "More like I would be terrified."

"Oh, yeah," Sango agreed, nodding her head while hugging her form. "You must be really brave to take on this assignment, Inu Yasha."

Inu Yasha sat up in his bed, stretching his arms. "Well, it's not like I really have a choice."

Miroku nodded. "He's right. If the Detector is on Earth, there really isn't a choice whether or not he can go. She is essential to this whole mission."

"But," Sango said, lowering to a whisper so that the boys had to lean in to hear her properly, "What if she's still a kid? Like...she might still be in school."

Inu Yasha and Miroku thought that over a bit before Inu Yasha declared, "Whether she's a student or not isn't the issue. If she's the Detector she must be brought up here and aid our search."

"Yeah, but if she's still a kid, won't her family go ballistic when they find out she's missing? They might even go overboard and hold a search in space!" Sango protested, waving her arms to show her point...or over exaggerating...the difference was really impossible to tell.

"They're not gonna search outer space! Stop exaggerating Sango!"

Suddenly the room went dark and Sango screamed, Inu Yasha only giving a short cry of surprise. It was Miroku who stayed calm and folded his arms, though it was hard to see him in the dark. "Kouga, that's not very funny."

Laughing hysterically, Kouga flipped the light so that they could all see again. Sango was hugging her pillow, glaring daggers at him while Inu Yasha was red in the face, mumbling something about not being scared at all. Kouga was still laughing even after everyone had calmed down and were making little murder plans in their heads. "That was hilarious! You should've heard yourselves!! Screaming like little girls!!!"

"Let me remind you that I was not in the least bit startled-" Miroku started to say before Inu Yasha suddenly interrupted him.

Kouga leapt back, but could not dodge the clawed hands that soon gripped his neck tightly. Flames shooting out of his eyes and mouth, Inu Yasha gave Kouga a bone-chilling glare. Kouga was not in the least bit intimidated. "Hey mutt-face, it was only a little prank. Lighten up a little!"

Inu Yasha bellowed, tightening his grip from around Kouga's neck. The wolf-boy tried to pry off his fingers, but they were unusually stubborn. "You bastard!" Inu Yasha spat.

Miroku and Sango were by his side in a flash, tugging on Inu Yasha to try and pull him away before he killed the poor ookami. Inu Yasha was ultimately yanked by Miroku, and Kouga was left rubbing his offended neck. Somehow, he managed to find the whole situation amusing and started to laugh and taunt him yet again. "Ha! You're so easy to anger! I could merely steal your teddy bear and you'd be all over me, tackling me to the ground like the inu you are."

"That's it! Prepare to die wolf brain!!!" Inu Yasha flexed his clawed hand, glaring and seething.

Sango and Miroku managed to hold him back. "Stop it Kouga!" Sango ordered.

"She's right; Inu Yasha has a big mission ahead of him in only a few hours. Let him get some sleep in peace and he'll be off soon enough," Miroku said, shoving said boy to the bunks.

"You make it sound like you can't wait for me to leave!" Inu Yasha exclaimed, a bit hurt.

Everyone went quiet suddenly, thinking that over in their heads. "Hey...you know...he really is leaving..." Sango whispered to Miroku.

"Yeah...should we throw a party? OW!" Miroku rubbed his head, a small but visible bump growing already. "That was a joke."

"Well it isn't funny," Sango hissed, Inu Yasha already climbing his bunk bed and lying down. "This ship is going to be much quieter without him. Can you imagine waking up to the alarm and Inu Yasha not being here to smash it?"

Miroku nodded, seeing the problem immediately. "Maybe Kouga will smash it?"

WHAM!

"Ow!! Ok, ok!"

Sighing, Sango whispered, "Show him a little gratitude. He really is a big part of our mission- and our lives! If it wasn't for him...then... hmmm..." Sango put her finger to her chin, thinking about the advantages of having Inu Yasha in the ship. "Well...it would be very quiet..."

"There was that time he saved us from certain death concerning that lizard youkai," Miroku reminded her. "If it wasn't for him, we probably wouldn't be here."

"You're right! See, he really is valuable."

There was a moment's silence again. Inu Yasha was turned in his bed, pretending to sleep and Kouga was just getting into his bed. The two locked furious glares of rivalry before turning away abruptly, sinking into the mattresses beneath their bodies. Sango and Miroku looked at each other, before Sango muttered:

"Though maybe we should throw that party..."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Awww, do you have to go?" Souta pleaded, giving her wide and pleading eyes. He was only 10 and thus could still pull off the puppy-eyed look without looking like a wanna-be-a-little-kid look. "Pleeeease stay?"

Mrs. Higurashi chuckled and Kikyou smiled. They obviously had taken anti-puppy-eye pills that morning. "Souta, you know that Kikyou has to go to work."

Pouting, Souta mumbled, "Yeah but still..."

"You'll be back, right?" Kagome asked, smiling hopefully. Her shoulder-length hair bounced as she cocked her head slightly to the side, brown eyes shining in a better attempt to convince her.

"Yes, I'll be back Monday to see you off to school and to pick you guys up again," Kikyou stated, earning a big hug from Souta. "Until then, be good."

"We will!" Kagome and Souta chorused, beaming like little kids.

Kikyou left after that and Mrs. Higurashi ushered her children to bed. She said something about it being past Souta's bed time already and Kagome entered her room, closing it slightly before slipping into her pajamas. She jumped onto the bed, sighing as the soft scent of lavender filled the air.

Hmmm... Kagome thought, enwrapping herself into the soft blanket. Tomorrow's Saturday...what should I do? Mom'll probably be out grocery shopping by the time I wake up...Gramps will most likely be sweeping the steps to the shrine like he always does...Souta and I will have nothing to do...

Closing her eyes, Kagome decided to drift off to sleep, her worries behind her as she took in air and exhaled in deep and even breaths.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

It was no use.

He couldn't sleep.

Sighing, Inu Yasha sat up in his bed, checking to make sure his fellow ship occupants where still asleep. Slowly, he climbed down the bunk. Thank goodness they had artificial gravity or he would be sleeping in those weird sleeping bags leaned against a wall or even the ceiling. That would not be very comfortable.

Yawning a little, Inu Yasha pondered on why it was so difficult for him to fall asleep. Normally, the moment his head hit the pillow, he'd be out in an eye blink, snoring away just to perturb the others. But that particular night he felt like he had drunk one too many coffees and cokes. It was as if caffeine was keeping his energy levels up, causing him to have to walk around lest he lie in bed till sleep finally took pity on him with its magic slumbering sand.

There weren’t really many places to walk to. It was a fairly big ship, but due to the fact that over half of it was shut down because of a chemical accident, the area that he could walk to was limited. If that section had been running, he'd probably have had his own room by now.

Walking into the control room by sliding his card through the slot, Inu Yasha looked at all the levers, buttons, lights, and whatnot. He was amazed at the fact that both Sango and Kouga had memorized every single button and lever by heart. Even blindfolded, they would be able to start the ship and orbit around a planet without entering their force of gravity. At that moment the ship was on auto-pilot, meaning that it did not have to be manually driven at the moment, but it didn't move very far. The ship held its ground as much as it could so it wouldn't drift too far from the destination.

Inu Yasha walked over to the window and saw the Earth, sleeping in all her beauty. A dark shadow smeared a part of her beautiful outline while the other side faced the warmth of the sun. He was to descend at three o' clock, and that meant that he had to wake up earlier than that, at least two thirty. His things were already packed into the small space pod that would guide him into Earth's atmosphere. He had used that pod many times before- when he had to descend onto Earth to gather food and other supplies they need to survive secretly in space.

That's right, Inu Yasha thought, leaning against the wall; ...Nobody knows we're up here. We're dead according to their history files. If I were to screw up on this mission and someone learned my real identity, this whole expedition would be ruined...

Then there's no way I can let that happen. I have to find the Detector and bring her up here, even if it kills me.

With that last thought, Inu Yasha walked back to the chamber, careful not to wake anyone else. He surely wasn't going to get enough sleep that night, but he would at least get a wink of sleep. He curled up into the blanket, sighing every now and then. Slowly, his eyelids closed and he fell into deep slumber...


------

A/N: Well, there’s one chappie down, and many more to come! I couldn’t fit any decent proverbs in here so here’s one to ponder over. I would like everyone to know that this is anime based. I realize that in the manga Kagome has blue-grey eyes and all that stuff, but I only watched the anime so that’s my main resource! And yes, they do have to wear slippers inside the house because of the material of the floor (bamboo). Well, Sayonara for now, minna-san!

An old broom knows the corners of a house.

Vocabulary:
Youkai- demon
Ookami- wolf
Inu- dog
Hanyou- half demon