InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beautiful Miscommunications ❯ Sources ( Chapter 11 )

Ch. 11

It was dusk as a young, uniform-clad Kagome ran up the steps to her family shrine. “Last one home is a rotten egg!” She yelled back to her father. The branches of God Tree were visible and she was only slightly out of breath.

“I'll get you yet, princess.” He yelled back laughing. He was only a few steps behind her. This was their game. The pre-teen began to run faster, even though she knew her father would let her win, like he always did.

“I'm too fast for you, daddy!” She laughed as the top of the steps came into reach. Three, two one… “I won!” She jumped up triumphantly and turned to look at her father. Where did he go? The steps were barren as the night fell heavy around her. “Daddy?” She questioned again as she turned towards the house. A dark shadow hung heavy, but it didn't stop her from running towards it. Something was wrong!

“Daddy!” She screamed as her feet pounded upon the stone walkway that was stretching before her. She had to get to the house. Everything would be fine if she made it to the house, but the path began to twist and turn, prolonging her arrival. She ran faster, hoping to outrun the growing path in front of her. She could make it…there was still time. Running past the God tree, she screamed, “Half-way there!” Her legs burned as she struggled against time. Her school shoes scorched the soles of her feet, reminding her they weren't meant for running, but she had to keep going.

She smiled when the kitchen door came into reach. She made it. Opening the door, she walked onto the red floor. “Mama must have spilt tomato sauce,” she innocently reasoned. Then, a small light came on, and she noticed her grandfather and brother lying on the floor. “Mama will have a fit if she sees you napping there!” She complained as she stepped into the house.

“Kagome!” She turned towards her mother's voice as the familiar sound of a gun's safety being released flooded her ears. The young girl stood in frozen fear trying to make sense of the scene before her. Her mother was on her knees while a man stood behind her, black revolver pressed against Mama's head.

“Mama!” Her voice was lost with the loud blast of the bullet escaping into her mother's head. Blood and brain matter spattered on her pristine white uniform shirt as she looked in horror at a pair of red eyes. He laughed diabolically as his dark wavy hair danced behind him. Then he took a step towards Kagome. Instinctively, she stepped back, touching something behind her, leaning against the kitchen counter: a bow and arrow.

He had a gun with its safety removed, while she had her old beginners bow. Life could be so unfair. She grabbed the bow, and, without so much as aiming, shot him, before he could shoot her. The resilient old arrow flew above his head. He laughed as a red line of blood ran down his forehead, tracing his nose, to his chin, and so on. The crimson eyes suddenly became dull as his head ripped in half and two thin appendages pulled the skin apart. Kagome screamed as the dark spider eyes emerged from the once human body. Somehow, her legs were working again, and she ran. She ran to the last place she thought was safe, the God Tree.

The path remained relentlessly long as the spider hissed behind her. She could hear it laugh as the stone path became paved with small spiders trying to run up her legs. She wouldn't stop. She had to get to the God's Tree. She was almost there.

She yelped as she fell back, her green skirt singed from the fire. She watched in horror as her beloved tree exploded into spider-shaped flames. “No!” She screeched as the giant spider's laughter was upon her. She turned as the spider pounced. All she could do was scream.

“Kagome!” She felt a pair of hands shake her hard as she struggled to breathe. She was shivering from the cold night while drenched in her own sweat. She looked around the unfamiliar room as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. It wasn't working. “Damn wench! What the hell's wrong with you?” The strong hands still held her arms securely. That voice…the first signs of recognition invaded her mind as she whispered,

“Inu Yasha?” Silent tears ran down her cheeks as her chest heaved with suppressed sobs. Inu Yasha growled nervously.

“Kagome?” He tried speaking a bit softer. The damn bitch had scared him screaming like a banshee, making him think she was hurt or in danger.

“Spiders…they were everywhere.” Those damn spiders again. In the morning, he would have to exterminate every damn last one of them. Maybe, then, he wouldn't have to see her cry.

“Keh, stupid girl. Don't you know spiders are scared of dogs…particularly inu hanyous?” She turned to him and he almost sighed at her tear streaked face. “It's a well-known fact.” He reassured her as he pulled her into his embrace.

“You just made that up!” She protested as he laid them back down. It was just past midnight. She could still get some rest.

“It doesn't make it any less true.” He reassured, but her eyes were already closed, and her head was safely buried in his neck. He felt a strange sensation run throughout his body as her soft hot breath fell upon his bare skin. It wasn't sexual, but more akin to comfort and belonging. He held her tighter, and realized, it wasn't for her sake, but for his. “Sleep well,” he whispered. “I'll keep the nightmares away.”

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Ayame paced the hallway in front of her fiancée's room while chewing on her claws. How long did it take to get a secure line? Her poor Kouga was suffering behind that door as several doctors and priests tried to help him reconstruct his mind, all because of that stupid jewel. For all they knew it was just a myth! She stomped her feet in anger. She would kill that little runt…right after he signed the approval for the final projects. As much as she hated him, she couldn't blow her cover just yet. But, when the time was right, that little brat was going to learn why you should never mess with a wolf bitch's family.

“Madame,” a young nurse interrupted her thoughts as she handed her the phone. “We were able to locate Madame Miko.” She bowed respectfully before walking away. Ayame looked at the black sleek phone in wonder. What would happen when it was known? Would they send in the twins? They had been able to get Kouga out of that place, but could they get to the Shikon before Naraku did.

“Old Miko?” She asked into the receiver.

“What is it my child?”

“Akago made one final attempt against Kouga…he was successful.”

“Is the wolf prince still alive?”

“Yes, but very weak.” Ayame tried to suppress a sob.

“Did he tell you the location?” The older woman pressed.

“No…just to warn Kagome. Why is Kagome in direct danger?” Ayame suddenly questioned. Even if Naraku didn't like the young reporter, why warn Kagome and not the Old Miko?

“As the last descendant of the family that was entrusted with its care, to fully claim the power of the Shikon, Naraku needs to kill her.” The voice of the receiver explained. Ayame's legs suddenly lost all their strength as she fell onto a nearby chair. First, her one true love, then her best friend, would that maniacal beast ever stop?

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Kagome was in a warm fluffy cloud wrapped up just like a little baby, or at least that's what it felt like. It was a perfect version of heaven, except for one exception: that annoying ringing. Why did they have telephones in heaven? It's not like you could call Kami…and why didn't anyone pick the damn thing up? She groaned as the heat shifted away from her. The ringing stopped. That was nice…now, to get warm again.

“Kagome,” a gruff voice broke her heavenly illusion. She opened one eye and stared at a blurry pair of golden eyes. “It's three thirty.”

“Five more minutes!” She begged as she snuggled deeper into the blanket.

“Fine, I'll start breakfast.” He tried to pull away from her unsuccessfully. She had a tight hold on his t-shirt.

“Don't take my blanket.” She complained in a sleepy haze. “It's so warm and soft,” she yawned, “and cuddly.” Inu Yasha gave her a strange look as she tried to pull him around her. Was she joking?

“You think I'm soft and cuddly?” Inu Yasha asked in a growl. Kagome mumbled something incoherent in her sleep. Inu Yasha's left ear twitched, just before he pulled her out of bed. She screamed at the sudden cold.

“Inu Yasha?” She questioned as he threw her over his shoulder.

“I'll show you soft and cuddly!” He growled.

“You said five more minutes!” She protested, now fully awake. “It's freezing in here!”

“Heat won't come on for another three or four months.”

“But the law…”

“Like my super cares.” He cut her off as he entered his bathroom

“What are you doing?” She demanded as he put her down on his shower floor. He smirked boxing her in, just before he turned the faucet on. She screamed as the freezing water hit her skin. He held her in place preventing her escape. “Inu Yasha!”

“What? You don't like a hot shower in the morning?” He asked innocently.

“It's freezing!”

“But that's the hot water, see…” He turned the other knob and watched with amusement as she jumped. How could the water get any colder? He turned the water off. She hit him hard before covering herself with her arms in hopes of retaining some body heat.

“That wasn't funny!” She berated him as she shivered before him. He didn't hide his amusement as he stared at her angry eyes. Grabbing, a giant fluffy black towel, he wrapped it around her. “Maybe you'll think twice about calling me soft and cuddly next time.” He smirked as he pulled her into his warm embrace.

She wanted to pull away from him, but found herself more cold than proud. He helped her out of the shower, noticing a small icicle had formed on the showerhead. “Next time, we go to my place. There's always hot water there.” She mumbled.

“Next time?” He asked off handedly. He hadn't thought she would even consider spending another night in the same bed as him.

“Next time we are caught in horrible weather we need to wait out, we'll do it at my place.” She explained as she headed towards the living room, hopping to find some dry clothes. She would change into something appropriate at the studio. She had to wear the clothes from her sponsor, regardless.

“I'll make you some Ramen.” He called back as he headed to the kitchen. “I know you don't really like it, but that's all I have.”

“Beggars can't be choosers!” She yelled back from his bedroom. Her underwear had gotten soaked… Would anyone noticed if she didn't wear any? They would notice if she did. Looking out the window, she realized it stopped raining. “No underwear it is.” Fortunately, her gym clothes had dried. She towel dried her hair before putting it up in a messy bun. Her hair/make-up artist would prefer it wet. “Something smells good!” She smiled as she walked into the kitchen. She may not be partial to Ramen, but after that cold shower, the idea of warm food was more than pleasant.

“Keh, of course it smells good. It's beef flavored Ramen.” He explained as he placed the microwavable cup in front of her. She took a cautious bite, remembering the cardboard Ramen she had in college. She looked at him in surprise,

“I'm impressed. You can make me Ramen any day.” She smiled and continued eating, completely ignorant of the intense stare the hanyou had on her.

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“Hello?” A groggy, female voice spoke into her receiver. She had been sleeping since noon the day before, but she was still suffering from jetlag. There was nothing short of a miracle that could revitalize her.

“Really?” She sat up interested. Miracles seem to be a dime a dozen these days. “When?” She questioned as she put her messy blonde curls in a semi-tamed bun. “If they are good you'll get the money.” She affirmed before heading towards the shower. She stopped when she noticed a few things out of place. Hadn't she come home with a man? It didn't matter; he seemed to have the common sense not to stick around.

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The room was dark when a cell phone went off. It rang twice before a young man with wet black hair and a blue towel wrapped around his waist walked into the room and answered it. The voice on the receiver was grave but firm,

“Otokonoko, forgo Higurashi's protection for the day. Tend to the Madame that is secretly entering the country instead. Make sure she makes it to the safe house alive. Then, come with your sister to my Shrine. I have a present for my twins.”

“Should I warn Onnanoko that I'll be running errands today?”

“No, your sister must not be aware that she is back.”

“Understood, but do you think it's wise to leave Higurashi unattended today of all days?”

“Don't question my orders.”

“A thousand pardons, Old Miko.” The other line went dead as the young man stared at the receiver. Higurashi should not go unwatched today. He started to dial his sister's number, but stopped himself. She would know he had disobeyed orders. He threw the phone on the bed next to a black folder for the impending day's events. He sighed. He would just have to trust the old woman. She was hardly ever wrong. Unfortunately, the last time she had ordered him not to protect Higurashi, the girl had gotten shot. A quick worry crossed his heart. Was Old Miko trying to sacrifice Higurashi? He froze. After watching over the young journalist for fourteen years, he had developed feelings for her. Losing her would be akin to losing his sister.

He threw his wet towel aside. He was Otokonoko. One of the best assassins the Agency had: second only to his sister. He didn't have emotions other than an unwavering loyalty to Old Miko. Even if Old Miko ordered him to kill Higurashi, he would pull the trigger without faltering, just like his sister wouldn't hesitate to kill him for disobeying the old woman's order.

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The digital clock above the teleprompter read four-forty as the studio was in chaos. The director was shouting last minute orders as hair and makeup personal were ensuring perfection. Eri had gone for a tan, and now her foundation didn't look right. The young makeup artist did the best he could to make her skin look more healthy and less artificial. Kagome was supposed to be approving last minute changes for her segments, but her producer knew better than to bother her today. She had insisted that Kagome take the day off, but the young miko never listened to reason. Instead, she was taking in the last few minutes of this frenzy while she ignored the pang of emptiness in her heart.

Today was her anniversary of her death and rebirth. Strange, another year past, and she felt more dead than alive. The clock signal the passage of time as someone yelled, “And we are on in five, four, three, two, one…”

“Good morning Japan! I'm Kagome Higurashi.” A cheerful and smiling Kagome spoke to the camera.

“And I'm Eri Tama.”

“The time is four forty-five, on this beautiful October 19, 2004. The weather is cold, but relatively dry after yesterday's downpour.” Right on schedule, just like every morning. “We have a morning full of stories that matter to you, but first, traffic.”

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A young blonde with curly hair smiled at the camera as she spoke to her adoring public. Granted, it wasn't as large as it used to be, but her loyal fans would never leave her for a brunette, and today, she was sure to gain a large number of repented viewers. After all, even though the photographs her source had gotten her weren't conclusive, they would be enough to throw some dirt on that holier-than-thou Higurashi.

“Good Morning Japan! Welcome to the `Morning Stop!' I am your host, Anika Monoko. We have a show packed with surprises for you. Starting with this week's weather and ending with the latest scoop in television romances. That's right! One of the ladies of the Morning Scoop has a new boyfriend. More, after a word from our sponsor.”

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Naraku looked at the devastation the rain had left behind: a few branches were being cleared from the main road; puddles of dirty water and mud dirtied the shoes of pedestrians; while the city looked dirty and forgotten. He smiled coldly at the beauty of destruction before him. This was going to be a good day. He turned to his children, who were waiting patiently for his instructions, though Kagura seemed a bit more preoccupied with filing a broken nail. He would deal with her later. He nodded to Kanna, who immediately began to take notes. “Did you have success Akago?”

“Of course, father. I would never disappoint you.” Akago sent a side-glance to his tallest sister, who pretended to ignore his blatant insinuation. “It was not easy to invade his mind from such a distance, but knowing its distinctive aura, I was able to find it. He wasn't expecting the invasion, and having been weakened from our previous games, beating him was relatively easy.” He gloated.

“Stop stalling brat. Did he tell you were the stupid jewel is or not?” Kagura demanded as she rolled her eyes in order to hide her true emotions.

“To an extent.” Akago began to explain as he shot his sister a dirty look. He sat tall in a chair that was much too big for him as he smiled to his father and explained. “He knows the question, but not the answer.”

“What's that suppose to mean?” Kagura couldn't believe she was missing her morning dose of reality from the Higurashi girl for this.

“The key to find the Shikon no Tama is a number, dear sister. What it means, I don't know?”

“What number?” Naraku inquired.

“524663.”

“Is it a location? Like a plot of land on a city map?” Kagura questioned, truly intrigued.

“They could be coordinates.” Kanna offered.

“Much simpler than that,” Akago spoke up. “What is the most secure place in the entire world?”

“First National Bank's Vault.” Kagura responded slightly annoyed.

“Correct. The fifth level, to be précised. The individual lock boxes in that level contain six digits and begin with the number five. I checked our records; box 524663 is rented to the Wolf Pack.”

“Would they truly hide the jewel in Naraku's personal bank?” Kagura questioned.

“Why not? We would normally not think to look there!” He defended himself. His sister was becoming a bother, making him doubt her true potential as his mother. Maybe eliminating her wouldn't be such a bad idea. She would be good for target practice.

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"I'm glad to say that we have a great turn out at Paradise Park."  Kagome smiled into the camera.  Now, more from our correspondent."    Kagome finished quickly as she saw her producer flag her.

"You better explain this."  The tall brunet in spiked heels warned as they turned towards a nearby television. Pictures of her getting on Inu Yasha's bike outside the studio and again outside the newspaper office ran across the screen. 

"Though we cannot confirm that it was Kagome Higurashi who got on the back of the infamous Inu Yasha Takahashi's bike outside her newspaper office, we also can't disprove it.  It looks like the young reporter is having a new love affair with the biker playboy she denounced on live television just a few weeks ago."

"Well, Anika," The camera switched to show a young man with dirty blonde hair and contact-blue eyes.  "They must have gotten close after she saved his life."

"According to our source, the girl that left with Inu Yasha Takahashi returned with him to his apartment in downtown Tokyo and stayed until well after 1 am."  Anika added.

"Kagome," her producer began, "I could care less who you sleep with, but your contract states that you must appear single.  We need to hook the male viewers one way or another."  She reminded as she fixed her frameless glasses.  You have three minutes until you are back on the air.  You better have a good excuse or denial."

 "Give me a phone.  I have to warn him first."  Kagome insisted.

"Higurashi, your brother is on line three!"  A stagehand yelled.  She reluctantly walked towards the back of the stage.  Kami, she hated this day.

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Otokonoko watched discretely from a corner in the airport as the veiled madam walked out of customs.  Her stride was proud and seductive.  She had once supplied concubines to all the powerful demons in Japan.  She owned the country, until she crossed Naraku. 

Otokonoko, kept his hand by his gun as he quickly examined the surroundings.  She had arrived in a plane from India, allowing her to blend in perfectly with the tourists.  Why she had returned knowing that Naraku still wanted her dead, was a mystery to him.  He could only assume it had something to do with the Shikon no Tama.  Everyone wanted it these days.  Though, the madam wanted long before, which is how she and Naraku crossed paths. 

The woman stopped at a nearby television.  Otokonoko noticed, in surprise, that it was tuned to the 'Morning Stop.'   He examined the perimeter once again.  Things were going smoothly.  Naraku would never know she had returned, until she made the blunder of telling him.  She was a bit unpredictable, but that made it fun.

Otokonoko didn't miss the evil smile that spread across her lips as pictures of Kagome and Inu Yasha came across the screen.  "Thinking about setting up shop again?"  He mumbled to himself as he turned to follow her.  He stopped short.  Could he have seen what he thought he'd seen?  Green was a common color, and suede a popular material.  Just because he wore a green suede pilot jacket, did not mean that the dead walked the Earth.  It did not mean that he had just caught a glimpse of his hero: the best assassin the agency had ever had.  No, that couldn't have been Taro Higurashi. 

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Otokonoko = boy

Onnanoko = girl

Not too creative on these names, but they serve their purpose. Yes, they are meant to give you a deeper understanding of those two characters. Virtual cookies to whoever gets it.