InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beautiful Miscommunications ❯ Explosive Developement ( Chapter 13 )

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

Chapter 13:
Explosive Developments
 
“I was five when he died.” Inu Yasha spoke quietly over his beer as the dark haired girl looked at him in surprise. He had finished his third and she hadn't started her first. Sitting across from him, with only his hard wood bar separating them, she felt closest to him than she had to any human being in a very long time. They had been talking for hours. Actually, she had talked, and he had listened, until now.
“I found him…I didn't understand it either.” He confessed, while sniffing. He wasn't about to cry…there was just something strange in the air. “We were always under attack from radical groups, but he promised they never would hurt us. I didn't realize he meant my mother and me. He…he died protecting us.” A pregnant, but comfortable silence followed as he opened another Corona. He slipped a slice of lime inside and looked at her drink.
“Do you have something against my beer?”
“I don't like it…never acquired the taste. Besides, it's all empty calories.” She shrugged.
“Keh.” Inu Yasha rolled his eyes before opening a glass bottle of diet coke for her. He took a deep breath, realizing there really was something wrong with the air, but he still failed to identify the strange scent edging into it. “You should have told me sooner.
“I didn't want talk about the beer.” She confessed. “Thank you.”
“Keh.” It had gotten late in the afternoon, and he hadn't turned on the lights. It was better that way. Sitting across from her in the dark, drinking his beer, reminiscing, reaching out to some else with a miserable past was the closest he had ever been to heaven.
“I'm responsible for my father's death.” She spoke as she played with the coke bottle.
“It wasn't your fault.” Inu Yasha pressed, remembering something about Taro dying in an explosion.
“No, you don't understand. He would never have been there if it hadn't been for me.” She looked up at him with sad regretful eyes that bore deeply into his soul. “I had just gotten my junior license, and when the mechanic called, I thought I would surprise Daddy by picking up the car for him. I didn't tell him…I didn't know they had called him at work as well. If I'd just told him…” Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Unsure what to do, Inu Yasha just placed a hand over hers. She seemed to hold on to her composure as she stared down into the Coke bottle. “For the life of me, I'll never understand how he didn't smell the gas leak.”
Gas…how stupid could he be? “Open the door and windows and get out!” He ordered as he followed his nose to where the smell was coming from.
“What's wrong?”
“Gas leak!” He shouted back. Quickly, she rushed to the front of the bar and did as was told. A sudden wave of calmness had washed over her. Years of working under pressure were showing their results in her cool-headed manner.
Inu Yasha on the other hand, was having trouble controlling his heartbeat. The smell of gas was getting stronger…too strong. This wasn't good. He opened the door to the basement and jumped back in disgust. His acute hanyou senses were overwhelmed by the scent. He covered his face, not daring to turn on the light.
Using his exemplary eyesight, he worked his way to the gas line. He tried closing it, but someone had damaged the knob. He turned and noticed where the gas pipe had ruptured…well, where someone had drilled a hole into it. Looking around franticly while holding his breath, he found an abandon roll of duck tape. He used it to seal the leak, knocking over a broom in the process. Getting an idea, he used the broomstick try to open a couple of the high windows. It was dark, and he had never cleaned the glass, making the task more difficult. Desperately, he pushed against the lock hopping it would budge. He began to cough: It was getting harder to breathe. The gas was making him woozy, and the beer in his stomach was threatening to revolt. Giving up, he used the stick to break the window open.
“Inu Yasha, is everything alright?” Kagome's voice came from the top of the stairs followed by some stifled coughs.
“Damn woman, I told you to wait outside!” He coughed. He heard her move towards him. Reporters: most stupid being to have ever evolved.
“I want to help…ouch!” Kagome complained as she bumped into a table near the stairs. She heard something fall, and didn't fail to notice the lit candle rolling around the floor. Inu Yasha paled as the candle rolled towards the young girl. How had he missed it?
“Kagome!” He screamed as he moved towards her.
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Five o'clock rolled around like it had so many days before, but today it was different. Sango Kizu was packing up for the day. The woman that knew no quitting time was actually getting things in order to go home for more than a shower and a change of clothes. She had date with a pervert and wanted to dress accordingly. She sighed as she picked up her briefcase. She had rearranged things with Miroku so that he would pick her up at home. Of course, he thought she was insinuating a different kind of get together, but, after the incident with Kagome, she didn't want to take any chances that he might want to back out.
She hated herself for it, but she was actually looking forward to her date. It had been a long time since she had been courted, and dinner with a handsome man that thought her to be Kami's gift to men would definitely boost her morale. Besides, she would love to be the envy of every woman in the restaurant. Miroku, without a doubt, was delicious eye candy. Now, if she could hold his attention for the entire night while tricking him out of some information, it would be a perfect evening.
She sighed as she said good-bye to her surprised secretary and headed towards her car. She had just enough time to shower, put on a dress and maybe some lipstick. Miroku was going to be in trouble. She walked out of the elevator into the newly secured garage. She grabbed her keys, unlocked her car, and cursed like a sailor. She pulled out her cell phone wishing she wasn't on call at all times. Recognizing the number, she let a new string of profanities. What trouble could Inu Yasha have gotten into now?
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Naraku waited impatiently as the bank manager returned with the emergency key to lockbox 524662. This was his bank; he shouldn't have to go through formalities.
“I found the spare key, sir, but I'm not sure this is actually permissible.”
“That is why I am personally inspecting the vault.” Naraku replied with a venomous tongue.
“I just think that it would be better if we had a member of the Wolf tribe here.”
“We don't pay you to think.” Akago reminded him from his seat near a corner as he played with a disposable cell phone.
“If the call we received was correct, and the Wolf tribe does have illegal material in this vault, then I would like to know that before we contact them.” Naraku explained.
“And if the call was wrong?” The bank manager protested.
“Then, our client will not be insulted by our mistrust.” Naraku snapped.
“Bullshit.” The bank manager thought. Though he might seem like a trusting naïve individual, he knew better than to break bank charter regulations without taking out some insurance. He would have preferred to have tape recorded the conversation, but there was no way he could have gotten that through security. Cell phones didn't get reception that deep underground, so he couldn't call his answering machine and record the incriminating words. So, he only had one choice left, and it involved playing along.
He walked up next to Naraku, and inserted his key into the secondary slot. Under the careful watch of Kanna and Akago, he waited for the older man's instruction before turning the key. The box unlocked, and they pulled it out.
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Inu Yasha stared blankly at the rotating siren light above the ambulance parked across from his. While breathing in pure oxygen, he tried to make sense of what had happened. He remembered the scent, the wooziness, the gas, the candle and Kagome. He didn't remember the explosion. A paramedic walked by and changed his tank. The girl was short with reddish brown hair that reminded him of Shippo, his bartender. She smiled compassionately as she told him to breathe calmly. “You're in shock.” She explained. “Everything will be alright.”
He nodded, an automatic response, as he continued to admire the flashing crimson and amber lights. He hadn't heard a word she said, but was keenly aware that had Shippo been on time for work for a change, he might have found a new girlfriend. The girl was definitely the fox's type. He should probably introduce them, but he wasn't the meddling kind. That was something more like Kagome.
Kagome.
He squeezed his eyes shut as the scene unfolded before him once again:
Kagome bumped into a table near the stairs. She heard something fall, and didn't fail to notice the lit candle rolling around the floor. How had the hanyou missed it?
Inu Yasha paled as the candle rolled towards the young girl.
“Kagome!” He screamed as he moved towards her. Even with his speed, he couldn't match her involuntary response.
He looked over to the second ambulance once again. This time, he looked at the dark haired girl breathing from a similar oxygen mask as his. She smiled lightly, more relieved than happy. He looked over to his bar and building, undamaged by the explosion that never came. She had just stepped on it, killing the lit flame. He had stared at her disbelievingly before she grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the basement and towards the fresh air of the street. The screaming song of the emergency sirens rang in echoes as confusion sunk in.
She had calmly defused an explosive situation, had the common sense to call the authorities for help, and responded mechanically to all questions, without demanding an interview or exclusive. It was as if she was a robot operating on autopilot. He kept looking at her blankly. What kind of reporter was she?
“Inu Yasha…Inu Yasha are you alright?” A familiar voice brought him back to reality. He looked over and stared at the dark haired woman standing next to him in confusion before her voice and face registered in his mind.
“Sango? What are you doing here?”
“I came as soon as I heard. You're very lucky. That was an amateur but effective bomb from what I've been told. But, don't worry; your bar is safe, even though you won't be able to open it for business tonight.” The severity of the situation was just beginning to sink in. Someone had tried to blow his bar and apartments to smithereens. “From what I can see, it was timed to go off around seven thirty…when you usually open the front door.” Inu Yasha paled as he noticed Kagome drop her oxygen mask. She was fumbling with her work phone. It was just like her to be preoccupied with work as the gravity of the situation hit him. Someone was trying to kill him.
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Sesshomaru waited patiently in his office for an important phone call. There had been some interesting change of events that day. Sango had just called to inform that Inu Yasha was safe and unharmed, though he had been in the company of a certain morning show host. That would be great publicity for the show, though it would fuel the rumors that the two were dating. He would resolve the situation during dinner. Sango would make sure the hanyou would come sooner or later. Right now, there were other matters that needed his attention.
His gaze turned towards his door as it opened slowly. He discretely admired the long firm legs and sumptuous hips covered in a chocolate Channel wool skirt before taking in the silk cream Christian Dior blouse covering the finest breasts that had ever barged into the dog demon's office. Her red lips were only out done by the fire of her red eyes.
“All you had to do,” she started as her dagger-like gaze locked with his, “was approve Ayame's proposal for next quarter and have it sent for distribution before the end of the day. I could be on my way home, thinking of the delicious bath that I was going to indulge in tonight.”
“It wasn't on my list of priorities.” He answered dismissively.
“We are presenting it to the board tomorrow!” She snapped. “Copies of the approved proposal need to be distributed in advance. We are going to have a press released at one thirty!”
“Jaken can do it in the morning.”
“You gave Jaken the day off!” She was ready to strangle him. She threw the proposal on his desk before setting her fists on her hips. “Sign it!”
He raised an elegant eyebrow.
“I should make you copy and bind the presentations yourself, but I know you won't. Sign the damn proposal so that I can prepare it for tomorrow's brief!” She demanded.
He smirked, but she didn't falter. Sitting up, he opened the proposal and began to read. He heard her stifle an angry response. “Please, do sit down.” He offered as she suppressed the need to scream. “Has Naraku approved this yet?”
“He gave me power of attorney for this project… He has had other matters on his plate this week.”
“He always has other matters on his plate not related to this business.” He replied courtly. “I didn't worry about signing this, or even looking at it because I was sure he would railroad it to begin with.”
“He doesn't like Ayame's ideas, but he can't deny they are innovative and aggressive.” Kagura tried to hold her temper.
“He thinks them idiotic and risky. Sometimes, I wonder if we read the same proposals.” He waited a few seconds for effect before adding, “I get the feeling he doesn't like her.”
“He doesn't like anyone…with the exception of his son.” She added with an afterthought. Without looking up from the paperwork, he continued,
“I thought it was from his dislike of wolves.” Kagura remained unresponsive. “He did become volatile at your relationship with the wolf prince several years ago.” He looked into her surprise eyes awaiting his response. She stood up and turned to leave.
“Canines don't agree with Naraku's youki.”
“What kind of youkai doesn't agree with canines?” He pressed. She turned as she reached the door. “Nice try, but you know better. Naraku doesn't advertise his youkai, and I won't do it for him.
“Send me the documents when you're done. I'll be in my office.” His phone began to ring as her long legs took her away from him. How he wanted her on his team!
“Yes?” He answered the call as he signed the proposal. “Interesting…and which of the wolf tribe boxes did he access.”
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Madame Centipede sat by the window of her new home. Right now it was a disgusting hole in the wall, but, by the end of the week, it would be the city's busiest and most exclusive brothel. The only thing the place needed was a little bit of paint, a few red silk and satin curtains and the best harlots from the seven continents. She smiled deviously as she thought of her girls slipping through customs with fake work visas. How quickly she would quietly rise to the top social scene in Tokyo! The only thing quicker would be how she would fund her escapades to capture the jewel. Knowing where it was gave her the edge she needed to finally defeat Naraku. The bastard would pay for what he had done to her.
She looked at the quiet darkening street as two lovers kissed under a light post. Last time, he had nearly killed her. Things would be different this time. She would be smarter. She would make sure he didn't know of her until she had him in her venomous web. He would fall for her once again, and he would die pleading for one last kiss. But, for now, she had a business to set up.
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A stealth helicopter quietly approached Full Moon Enterprises' Headquarters. “Less than a minute for departure,” the pilot stated to his two companions. They nodded from behind black masks as they linked their black vests to a high power tether.
“You seem distracted, Otokonoko.” The first masked figure commented as she stepped out of the helicopter. They were hovering over a large chimney. One false move and they would both fall hundreds of feet into a concrete splatter death.
“I don't like the fact that both times Old Miko has taken me off Higurashi, she nearly gets killed.” He complained as he stepped next to her. Taking her hand, they both, jumped the short distance the tether allowed them. Due to the position of the rope, they were dangling upside down from the helicopter. Otokonoko signaled the pilot, and their cable began to descend.
“You should be more worried that someone has discovered this chimney was off and decided to turn it back on. Old Miko knows what she's doing. Higurashi is still alive.”
“Let's see if you say the same thing if something happens to one of your charges…Naraku has influences everywhere, and you can't protect them and break into his office building at the same time.”
“I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. In the meantime,” she paused as they reached the mouth of the chimney, “it's show time.”
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Inu Yasha was angry as he entered Mystique's, the restaurant located on the first floor of Full Moon Enterprises' Building. His shock had long been replaced with fury. He hated having to see his brother once a month, so having him to see him twice in the same day was eating away at his already unstable nerves. Besides, this dinner date was preventing him from escorting Kagome home. That would not do, no matter how efficient the police supposedly were. No one could protect her like he could.
“I'm sorry sir…” The Matron Dee approached him quickly, prepared to kick him out politely. Furious golden eyes met surprised brown before the old man with salt and pepper hair turned and stumbled over his words before managing, “your brother is in his usual table. Allow me to escort you.”
Inu Yasha snarled as the old man ignored the suit and tie dress code, and escorted the young leather clad man smelling of propane. The Matron Dee ignored it, believing it was one of the strange new scents by those fancy designers. He, himself, was an Old Spice man.
The two made their way to the center of the restaurant, where the elevated seating was. It was perhaps the most private and expository sitting there was. Sesshomaru's table was by the “Front Balcony,” as the Matron Dee referred to it. The restaurant was decorated in mahogany wood and golden chandeliers. The color motif continued into the beige and burgundy linens. The chairs were covered with velvet and were too cushiony for Inu Yasha's taste. It was perfect for his brother, though.
Not waiting for permission, Inu Yasha sat down. A line of waiters quickly appeared to serve him wine and what they claimed to be food. The dish contained a small cube of meet covered in a creamy sauce. “I took the liberty of ordering for you, since you only know how to order hamburgers.”
“Keh, and this place doesn't know how to make them.” Inu Yasha replied as he stabbed his unknown meat. “What's this? Spam?”
“No, cow tongue.” Inu Yasha looked at his brother in surprise. Seeing the blank stare covering Sesshomaru's face, he remembered his brother's inability to tell a joke, so he dropped his fork.
“What do you want?” Inu Yasha demanded.
“To see if you were still alive.” He replied casually.
“You could have just called, or waited for Sango's report. What do you really want?”
“You're not as dim-witted as you look, Inu Yasha.” The hanyou growled in response. “Higurashi.” Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow when his brother's eyes flashed red. “Relax brother; I don't want your woman. I just want to know how much she knows.”
Inu Yasha snarled, “I love how you say brother with the same tenderness you say garbage.”
“There's a difference?” Sesshomaru raised his eyebrows in question as the hanyou growled at him. He didn't fail to notice a few of the regulars beginning worry.
“She knows more than you.” Inu Yasha smirked. He had a weapon against his brother, and was planning to use it. “She knows what kind of youkai Naraku is.” Inu Yasha's smirk turned to a genuine smile of happiness as Sesshomaru dropped his fork. Payback was sweet.
 
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Dropping down a chimney before crawling into the vent system of Full Moon Enterprises was the easy part of tonight's mission. Having revealed their usual choice of entrance during their last visit, the twins had to opt for a different door. This was harder than usual, considering few buildings had as complex security system; then again, few buildings were under the careful watch of Sango Kizu. Now that they were safely in the building, they had to find a way to travel throughout it without being detected. Knowing they couldn't open an elevator door without setting off an alarm, they took the vent system to the express elevator. Beforehand, they had lowered temperatures of the vents so that their body heats wouldn't set off the thermo sensors. They were surprise to discover that there had be so many oversights in the protection of the building, but then, how many thieves could acquire a stealth helicopter?
It didn't take long for them to reach their destination. They work silently as they entered a different set of vents. They were silently thankful that Naraku didn't want to be watched. It left security by the elevator weaker than it should have been. They crawled silently through the tight space until they were above their final destination. Otokonoko looked at the wires wrapped around the vent. Recognizing the video feed cable, he bypassed it manually so that it would not trigger any alarms. Somewhere, a security guard would be watching more than one type of rerun. Opening the vent, both siblings dropped in front of the vault door. The guard on duty stood up, but was quickly knocked out by a puff of smoke from Onnanoko's aerosol can.
They moved the body out of sight before approaching the voice recognition key. Otokonoko took out a digital tape recorder. It had taken a lot of work to get the code, and it had almost killed Higurashi. He was going to put it to good use. The recording began to play; first, Sesshomaru's voice was loud and clear though a bit choppy, “My brother is the missing link.” It was followed by Inu Yasha's string of curses. That one did not need to be edited.
“Voice match recognized. Vault door opening…” A computerized voice replied.
“We have 3 minutes and 45 seconds.” Onnanoko warned as Otokonoko walked over to the left side of the vault: The side that belonged to Naraku. The door had opened, and all security had been alerted. He didn't need to be cautious anymore. A set of electrified bars separated them from the dark secrets, so he took an item similar in appearance to a stun gun. One shot later, he had fried the circuits controlling the electrified bars. Onnanoko was ready with her camera. She quickly found the file she was looking for and photographed the relevant pages. It was thicker than they expected.
She returned it to its storage location before saying 1 minute 53. Her brother nodded as they made their way out of the vault. The elevator was moving and they could hear guards climbing the stairs. That was quicker than expected. They returned to the vents, knowing it wouldn't be long until the guards found them. The buildings security systems were on full alert. One thing left to do…split up. Otokonoko and the film took the elevator cables all the way down as his sister remained in the vent system as a diversion. Fortunately, she knew what she was doing. She found the maintenance trash shoot before the coordinating security guard realized where she was heading.
Falling into a pile of garbage was not on her favorite list of narrow escapes, but it was part of the job. Apparently, today had been the day to clean out the cafeteria refrigerators, since she was covered in vanilla pudding and jelly. She had barely gotten out of the trash can when the door was slammed open by a small team of armed security guards. She cursed as she bolted to the other side of the room before they saw her.
“To the right! I see him!” A guard yelled.
“Those idiots!” She mumbled. Why did they always think she was a man?
“Halt!” Someone yelled behind her. She stormed into a busy kitchen and tried to make her way through it. It was like a human labyrinth. She heard a loud crash behind her and realized the guards were coming through the middle, one way or another. With no time to lose, she pushed herself through. They were right behind her. She was going to have to run out of there. She silently prayed her brother didn't bother to stop the car. They couldn't afford to waste more time. She ran across the restaurants as the guards yelled behind her, jumping on a table in order to avoid the stun gun. Time stood still as two pair of gold eyes stared at their uninvited companion.
Before they could react, she jumped, grabbing a chandelier, and swung herself to the other end of the restaurant. Inu Yasha was on his feet, running after her. There was something familiar about that figure, and it wasn't the overwhelming smell of vanilla pudding mixed with ink toner. He stepped outside in time to see her jump into a moving black SUV, which conveniently didn't have any plates.
“Inu Yasha!” He heard Sango screamed as she rushed out of the restaurant followed by the guards and her boss. “Did you get anything?” She asked when she saw him alone.
He never had the chance to reply. Three loud shots cut through the night followed by the stench of blood. Sango turned automatically, instinctively tracing the path she believed the bullets had taken.
She stopped short, shocked at what her eyes beheld. “Kagura!” She screamed as she rushed to the side of the fallen VP. Sango took off her jacket and placed it over girl's chest, putting pressure on the wound. From what she could see, the wind youkai had taken three bullets to the heart. “Can you hear me?” She coaxed as she tried to find a pulse. She felt Sesshomaru's piercing eyes as she shook her head. “She's dead.