InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Tale Twice Told ❯ An Intimidating Man ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of  their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. In other words, I don't own and I make no money from this.

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When Inuyasha awoke that morning, the first aroma that welcomed his senses was Kagome’s scent – as fresh and invigorating as that of pine sap in the crisp mountain air. The scent itself was not unfamiliar to him – he had been waking up to it for almost a month, though it still had enough charm to take his breath away. No, what made that morning special was the comforting realization that he would not have to part with heaven the moment he was up. Today he could hold Eden in his arms, revel in it, drown in it – and yet she would not mind. His consciousness protested against his growing wakefulness, his mind sought once more to dissolve in the velvety smoothness of mingled sleep and dreams, even has his hands started exploring her soft flesh, and his lips sought the rose-bud of her mouth.

Her long eyelashes fluttered; she opened her deep blue eyes to his kiss, her lips parted a little – and then she tried to withdraw her head.

“What’s wrong, Kagome?” he asked anxiously. Is she regretting what we did last night? His heart started to hammer inside his chest. The dream was over.

Kagome looked the other way. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

Inuyasha’s throat went dry. “Then why did you look away from me?” A possibility came to his mind as a chill ran down his spine. Was she fantasizing about someone else in the dark? Immediately he chided himself – his wife wasn’t that type of a woman.

“Give me a moment,” she made to rise, “I need to go to the bathroom.”

To cry? To wash his caresses off her face? A knot tightened around his heart. She seemed to sense something of his distress as she turned towards him.

“Last night was beautiful,” she said with a shy smile; a bit of courage seeped back into his heart. “But it’s morning now…I need to put on some clothes,” she looked pleadingly at him.

Inuyasha unwittingly raised an eyebrow. She was feeling shy about being naked? Of all the things in the world…But then it dawned on him that she was a virgin until yesterday. This was probably a very novel experience for her.

“Kagome, you are beautiful. You have nothing to hide,” he tried to pull her closer and yet she resisted. Inuyasha frowned.

Kagome’s face turned red with embarrassment. “And I have morning breath!”

His body finally relaxing, Inuyasha gave out a bark of a laughter. “You silly girl, why are you worried about that? You’re beautiful to me just the way you are! Come here!”

He pulled her in to a bear hug and was busy covering her with enthusiastic kisses when the door burst open, revealing the tiny form of Myouga. The lovers sprang apart, Kagome hiding under the sheets with a bright flush upon her face. The older man spun around, a blush of his own creeping up his neck, as Inuyasha angrily demanded an explanation.

“I beg your pardon,” he stammered out nervously.

Inuyasha calmed and checked to make sure everything was covered. The fault was his own. He had forgotten to bolt the door.

“There has been a situation,” Myouga continued uneasily. “If you would be so kind as to come down…”

“Yes, I’ll be with you in a minute,” Inuyasha informed him rather breathlessly, and Myouga shot out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Inuyasha frowned as he sat up in bed. “What the hell’s up now?”

“Oh!” Kagome gasped, her hand coming up to her mouth in dismay. “It’s the thing I was coming to talk to you about. But then I saw Kikyou and it slipped completely from my mind,” she added a bit sheepishly.

Inuyasha smirked. “Obviously, when it comes to sexual jealousy everything becomes secondary.”

“It’s not that!” Kagome protested.

“Nothing to be ashamed of,” Inuyasha laughed as he pulled on his pyjamas, “basic human instinct. Even apes can feel it.”

He got a whack in the head with the pillow as reply.

“Ouch! Now would you tell me your little nugget of information?”

“Oh yeah.” She paused, taking a deep breath.

Inuyasha worriedly watched her face turn solemn. Whatever had happened, it wasn't good.

“Several aborigines have been killed at Naraku’s rally,” Kagome sombrely. “By men who are claiming to be from our Party.”

Inuyasha cursed as he got out of bed. “This has to be Ryuukossei’s work I just know it!” he thundered as his face clouded. “This spells trouble for us, unless we can take pre-emptive action.”

“Will you be alright?” Kagome asked anxiously as she shrank back from him a bit.

Inuyasha noticed and gentled his tone. “I’ll manage,” he replied, pulling her into a hug and attempting to reassure her. “Your sexual jealousy won’t cost me my career, don’t worry,” he winked, causing her to blush and smack him with another pillow.

Lady Taishou was already seated at the breakfast table when the couple came down. Inuyasha suspected that Myouga must have mentioned something about the cozy scene upstairs, because despite the seriousness of the situation there was a mischievous twinkle  in her eyes.

“How went your night, Kagome dear?” she asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

Kagome blushed to the roots of her hair as she looked at Inuyasha for help. She was looking quite cute in her state of embarrassment, so the latter decided not to help her.

“Go ahead, answer her,” he urged with a poker-straight face.

“Yes, we’re waiting – especially since the glow on Inuyasha’s face clearly tells about his,” the Lady concluded.

It was Inuyasha’s turn to blush. Kagome mouthed the word “Touché” before she sat down on her chair.

Pleasantries had to be cut short owing to the pressing urgency of the situation, and after pecking at his pancakes for a moment, Inuyasha asked Myouga to convene a meeting of the Party. “Find out who could be in on Ryuukossei’s plan, and secure them. Threaten their spouse or family but no actual violence,” he warned.

“Lord Taishou is on his way back-” Myouga started to say.

“Let him. We can’t sit on our asses waiting for him to take charge.”

Myouga bowed his head as he rose from the table and hurried out to make a few phone calls. Inuyasha also rose from his seat, and called a contact in the media. Leaders from his Party were already filing into the office. Finishing the call, he gave the nervous Kagome a reassuring smile then went in and began his briefing. Lady Taishou joined them after a while. About an hour later, Myouga came rushing in with a strange sparkle in his eyes. He had a hurried discussion with Inuyasha and went out again. Soon afterwards, a call came for Inuyasha. He spoke briefly and then put down the phone with a satisfied smile. There was a commotion in the hallway and Sesshoumaru marched in with Myouga on his heels trying to brief him. But the lord ignored him as he drew all attention to himself and his commanding presence.

“We need to apprehend the men behind the attack as soon as possible, and then extort a full confession out of them,” Lord Taishou opined.

“Already on it,” Inuyasha said, “there is a middle order leader in Ryuukossei’s party. Name’s Mukotsu. He’s reported to be in on the whole conspiracy.”

“We can’t possibly kidnap a leader. Ryuukossei likely has him under his protection already. Any attempt to abduct him will get reported in the media faster than you can Keh.” Sesshoumaru stared at him, his look seeming to ask 'Just how stupid are you?'

“Obviously,” Inuyasha replied, slightly annoyed that his brother would think him to be that stupid, “but his lover doesn’t enjoy a similar protection. Jakotsu works in the docks. Right now our men have him under surveillance. As soon as we showed the footage, Mukotsu himself promised to haul his sorry ass into this house,” he looked at his watch, “any time now.”

Inuyasha noted with a hint of amusement that his brother was casting an appreciative glance at him. ‘Did the fool really think that I have no brains at all,’ he wondered. ‘Does he think I’m just the Party head only in name?’

There was no time for prolonged reflection, though, as Jaken was showing a small, mousy looking person inside the room, whom Inuyasha identified as Mukotsu. He seemed to shrink and shudder as Inuyasha came forward to greet him.

“Please take a seat, Mukotsu-sama,” he ushered him in cheerfully – for he knew that a smile could be just as deadly as a gun. “We have something important to talk about.”

“I-I don’t know anything about anything,” Mukotsu pleaded, “I’m just a low level worker, I’m not privy to confidential information.”

“Oh come on,” Inuyasha smiled again and happily noted that Mukotsu was even more upset, “don’t insult my intelligence. I know perfectly well what you have or have not been privy to. Sit.” He spoke the last word more firmly. He was giving a performance and he knew he could not screw it up. Especially since intimidation was all he had – he could never resort to physical violence. Mukotsu plopped down on a chair and tried to smile. His eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

“I’m telling you, you are making a mistake here.”

“I think not. Have a glass of water.”

Mukotsu grabbed the glass like he was grabbing onto a lifeline. Gulping down the water, he looked around, nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

“Now if you’ll be so kind as to tell us, it was Naraku who was behind the aborigine killings, wasn’t he?” Inuyasha tried to keep his voice dangerously low – almost to a purr. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Sesshoumaru look at him with eyes full of intense curiosity. ‘Good,’ he thought. ‘Watch and learn.’

Mukotsu nervously licked his lips as he looked for an exit. But there was none. Lady Taishou was smiling kindly from her chair. Sesshoumaru was standing near the door, impassive as ever. Inuyasha was inches away from his face.

“I really have no clue. Why are you t-torturing me like this?” the man squeaked.

“The truth will out, Mukotsu-sama, the truth will out. Why not be the vessel for it and buy our allegiance forever?” Inuyasha hid a smirk as the small man flinched and shifted uneasily at his continued use of the honorific. 'Good,' he thought, 'the more uncomfortable he is, the easier it is to make him talk.' He casually put a hand on Mukotsu’s shoulder. The latter flinched at the touch, and then sagged in resignation.

“Only if you promise to protect me and Jakotsu from Ryuukossei.”

“We promise.” ‘This was too easy,’ Inuyasha thought quickly. ‘Ryuukossei could not be such a fool as to send you here to turn into our weapon.’ Still, he would not play as dirty as Ryuukossei did. After Mukotsu gave him the desired confession, he would do all in his power to give asylum to the man.

Mukotsu took a calming breath. “N-Naraku is planning to use Kouga against you-”

“Not like this.”

Inuyasha hauled Mukotsu across the room and seated him behind a table. At Sesshoumaru’s signal, Inuyasha’s contact in the media entered the room with a microphone and a camera. Mukotsu blanched at the sight of them.

“Not on camera, no,” he whispered hoarsely.

“There is nothing to be afraid of,” Inuyasha assured, he could not risk Mukotsu getting too scared and upsetting the whole plan. “Just make a clean breast of things and off you go. You see, we are a very truth-loving family.”

“Inuyasha-sama, please…”

“Now.”

The cameras were switched on.

A short while and a fully videotaped confession later, Mukotsu was toddling his way out of the mansion. Sesshoumaru saw him out. From a distance, Inuyasha saw him push a phone into Mukotsu’s hand. ‘What new bit of devilry is he planning now,’ he idly wondered as he made his way to the parlour.  

His mood immediately brightened upon seeing his wife, all thoughts and suspicions forgotten. Inuyasha dropped on to the couch beside Kagome and put his arm around her. She leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment as he simply let her presence soothe him. Upon opening his eyes, he noted with a hint of amusement that Sesshoumaru had followed him into the room, similarly putting his arm around Rin, and was nuzzling behind her ear and nibbling at her earlobe. He was quite intrigued when he detected a dark challenge in his brother’s eyes, as if he was deliberately trying to provoke him. He traced his brother's gaze and corrected his assumption. He was trying to provoke Kagome. ‘Uh-oh,’ Inuyasha thought. ‘Somehow he has got wind that our equation has changed.’

Sesshoumaru’s look deepened into a more sinister gaze as he ran his hand down Rin’s arm. Inuyasha felt sorry for the innocent girl, who knew nothing of the drama that was going on behind the scenes. He was curious as to how Kagome would react to the dare, although so far she hadn’t reacted at all. ‘Has she really gotten over Sesshoumaru,’ he idly wondered.

There was a buzzing on the table. Sesshoumaru’s phone was ringing. He picked it up with a guarded expression and then he placed the phone back upon the table without saying a word. Inuyasha looked at him curiously, but quickly turned away when he started tickling Rin’s neck with a finger. His behaviour seemed increasingly odd to Inuyasha. Kagome looked up at him. She was visibly uncomfortable. Sesshoumaru was sniffing at Rin’s hair now, almost angrily, provokingly, daring Kagome to match his passion. Inuyasha straightened.

“I think the newlyweds need some time alone,” he said airily. “C’mon, Kagome, let’s not disturb the lovebirds.”

Kagome got up after him, and followed him out of the room. Inuyasha noticed her breathe out a sigh of relief once she had escaped Sesshoumaru’s presence. Strange are the affairs of the heart, he thought with a smile.

The day had been hectic; he was developing a slight headache after all the excitement. Instead of going up to his bedroom, he headed for his favourite spot on the estate. Kagome came with him, and he was grateful for her company after the madness of the day. He sat down upon the knoll, after spreading out his coat for her. Neither spoke a word – there was no need for words, just a silent wave of comfort and understanding passed back and forth between them. The moon had not yet risen that night – only a million stars twinkled like lights from fishing boats wandering in the vast ocean of the sky. Resting his head upon his knees, Inuyasha rubbed his throbbing temples. But Kagome’s cool hands gently stopped him. Tugging at his locks, she pulled him towards her, drawing his face to hers as she laid a soft and lingering kiss upon his lips. His tension started to abandon him at that one touch and exhaustion threatened to conquer him. With a sigh, he lay down upon the grass, allowing Kagome to draw his head into her lap, her fingers dancing nimbly across his brow and his closed eyelids, draining out his remaining stress. After a while he felt himself smiling as he breathed in her scent.

“You know, Kagome,” he slurred sleepily. “You smell nice.”