InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cold ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

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

 

Chapter Three

 

February 21, 4035

 

‘Data processed. Initiating information playback:

Name: Kagome Higurashi.

Age: 22.

Species: Unknown.

Occupation: Waitress.

Current Employer: Siierkset R’vley

Place of Employment: Rizek.

Hair Color: Raven.

Eye color: Blue.

Citizenship: Immigrated to Rektan 7 ten years ago, original origins are unknown.

Siblings: Sota

Age: 12.

Sesshomaru silently absorbed the stolen information his internal system relayed, and observed the furious young woman kneeling over him with death in her eyes.  

This, Kagome Higurashi.

Her description was fairly ordinary, aside from the missing data of her species and origin. Her internal computer appeared to be standard but was adorned with above average security features. Signal scramblers, transmission jammer, heavy duty firewalls that even he had trouble penetrating. Hardly the standard upgrades for an average citizen with nothing to hide. Golden orbs gave the small living room a cursory sweep. Her home was integrated with modern technology despite the impoverished neighborhood she lived in. He had already made a fleeting attempt to hack into the system and been repelled. Another enhancement of security not often seen among civilian technology. Despite the inconsistencies, at the moment, she presented little danger to him. His immediate concern lay in the remaining pursuers that managed to elude his final attack before he’d made his escape. He wasn’t naive enough to believe that they would give up without confirming his death and presenting his head to their leader. They would be looking to finish him off in his weakened state.

A swirl of his irises launched his internal scanner into motion. Invisible beams of light passed within and far beyond the confines of the cramped apartment. Searching for the unique signature of enemies, Sesshomaru mapped out the layout of his temporary shelter while he looked. Unoriginal in a line of domes just like it, the unassuming structure was ideal for now. It was small but defensible, the breachable entrances limited to one door.

When his hunt for hostile combatants came up empty, he re-focused his attention to committing the the new blue print of the apartment complex to memory.

It would be invaluable should those cretins return.

Wounded he may be, he was far from defenseless. His battered humanoid form had more than enough energy to destroy any would be assassins that crossed his path. He welcomed such a scenario. Extensive injuries, such as the ones he currently sustained, drove his base instincts of survival to the forefront. Fight or flight responses ingrained in the very fabric of his DNA. Flight was incomprehensible to a being of his stature, leaving only the former.

Fight.

He was teetering dangerously close to bloodlust, it hovered on the fringe of his mind,  its beckoning call difficult to ignore. Volatile energy strained the restrictive confines of his compact body, twining with the destructive power thrumming just below his flesh. His senses were heightened, deepening his awareness of his body’s natural defenses. His claws ached beneath his blunted fingernails, his fangs throbbed in his gums and a rush of liquid toxins gathered near his pores. The intricate tattoos etched into his skin, an ancient suppressant that helped retain his humanoid form and contain the bulk of his colossal energy, grew warm.

Warning signs that the seal was stretched to capacity.

The beast within his subconscious rustled against the intangible barrier that protected his conscious mind, begging to rend flesh and bone in an effort to preserve their existence. Venomous fluid pooled at the very threshold of his pores, their rhythmic flow enhancing the violent impulses hammering his insides. It was a sirens call, the dual sensations of animal and poison fighting for release quietly enticing him to embrace the primitive need for senseless savagery…

A call that would go unanswered for now.

There were no enemies to rend here.

No pursuers to dismantle.

There was only himself and the woman.

With discipline years in the making, Sesshomaru suppressed the roiling urges, utilizing the tattoo’s power to force down the churning beast. He waited several moments for the archaic desires to recede, then turned his mind back to the information he’d gathered; reading and re-reading anything he though might be of particular value. Once finished, he dismissed the purloined data and switched over to his body monitor. The robotic voice didn’t miss a beat, transitioning smoothly before beginning a monotonic relay on the extent of his injuries.

A pale, 3D image of a male figure appeared in his mind’s eye.

‘You are wounded.’

Red circles flashed in the rib area of the illustration, pinpointing the points of injury.

‘Significant blood loss. Partial lung collapse. Charred skin and high levels of radiation. Risk of infection: Minimal. Healing tonic injected, recovery is expedited. Estimated healing time: 336 hours.’

Irritation flared.

The weapons used in his ambush been equipped with charges that dramatically reduced his body’s healing potency. It was a fact that filled his gut with rage and exposed the reality that there was a traitor in his midst. Someone had set him up, someone with intimate knowledge of how his body worked, someone familiar with him and his kind. The blaster that pierced his flesh had been specifically crafted to immobilize and weaken him. How they had gained access to something powerful enough to bring him this low had him sifting through possible suspects, his mind already compiling a list of people he wanted strung up and interrogated in the next 24 hours.

Death would not be pretty for the traitor, he would make certain of that.

The computer beeped.

He glanced over the readouts graphing his temperature, pulse, heartbeat and blood pressure. Minimizing the display screen, he listened with half an ear to the rest of the report as he shifted his gaze to the woman. She knelt next to his prone body, fists bunched and resting on her hips, blue eyes snapping with ire. She seemed crossed enough to give him a vicious kick.

He was….

‘You are, amused.’ the computer supplied.

His brows twitched at that. The blood loss was more severe than he realized. The female sighed loudly, some of the indignation leaving her spine.

“Let’s get you up and onto the couch,” she suggested, “You’ll be more comfortable there.”

‘Warning. Low stamina. Proceed with caution.’

She bent, slinging his arm over her slim shoulders. He pushed himself up, more than a little annoyed by the assistance. It was rare he was ever in such a condition. Weak as newborn pup, unable to stand on his own two feet.

It sickened him.

The move from floor to couch felt more like a walk in the desert with weights attached to his ankles. By the time they reached the couch he was fighting unconsciousness. He lowered himself onto the hovering couch, its softness contouring around the shape of his body. The sofa shifted beneath him, back lowering into a recline, its bottom lengthening and lifting his feet. The comfort did little to dispel the pain in his side or the anger gnawing his insides.

The woman shifted at his side, clasping her hands in front of her skirt.

“I only had a mild healing curator to give you,” she explained, “I really think you should go to the hospital, just in case you’re hurt worse than we know.”

“Healing has already began, I am in no need of further assistance.” he informed her.

The female’s lips turned down, and slender hands moved to her hips, a stance he recognized as feminine pique.

xxxxxx

She didn’t know if he was trying to piss her off or if he really was that cold. He almost sounded like a low priced android, robotic and monotone. It was irritating and a bit unsettling. Kagome huffed, then trekked back across the living room. Grabbing the left over first aide material, she placed it on the low table in front of the couch, well within his reach. Just in case he needed something during the night. If he didn’t want to go to the hospital, that was fine with her. She certainly wasn’t going to sit here and argue with him about it. It was his body, his injury, his problem. Nothing she could do about a stubborn male.

“If you say so,” she conceded, “I’m going to go wash up. The bathroom is the first door on the left, feel free to use the nanonites for a fresh pair of clothes.”

She turned, moving from the den to the dark hall. She stopped at the entrance and turned.

“I don’t think you’re in any condition to try anything, but just in case I’m wrong, I’ll give you a warning. Try something and I’ll end you.”

Amber eyes stared back at her; uninterested and clearly unconcerned with her threat.

Kagome sighed and turned back to the hall.

‘Jackass.’

Lights illuminated her path, shinning at half capacity before winking out behind her as she passed. The entrance to her bedroom slid open and closed as she crossed over the portal.

She made a beeline for the washroom.

Stepping into the blank white room, she locked both her bathroom and bedroom door with silent mental commands. Satisfied, she shuffled over to the far right corner of the room. Glass panels materialized, sliding in place around her. A silver shower head descended from the low ceiling above her head, its wide spout beeping twice before a heated stream of water erupted. The nanonites crumpled as warm lavender water cascaded over her body, leaving her naked beneath the spray. She sighed in contentment, shoulders slouching beneath the heated drumbeat of moisture. She leaned into the cascade, sliding wet hands over her skin and running gentle fingers through her hair.

Soaked, she closed her eyes as the shower beeped again, signally a change in substance. The water stopped, a beat of silence passed and then a new product left the spout. Lime, room temperature cleansing foam poured over her head. The frothy soap fizzled as it sluggishly covered her skin, eliminating dirt right down to her pores.

The final buzz filled the washroom and hot water returned, washing away the collage of bubbles. She enjoyed her shower for a few minutes longer before initiating the drying sequence. The shower head retreated, making room for the drying spout. Warm air filled the glass container, blowing her midnight tress about her body.

Thirty seconds later, the wind ended and a soft puff sounded, signaling the release of fresh nanonites. The shower glass slid back into the floor while a mirror emerged on the wall near the door. She wandered over to the reflective rectangle, soft vibrations crawling over her skin. The nanonites activated, the microscopic bots weaving a silky pink, thigh length night gown over her exposed body. Her shinny raven hair threaded together, forming a thick, waist-long braid that lay loosely along her spine.

Satisfied with her bed attire, she left the bathroom. The door closed behind her with a low hiss and the bedroom illuminated. Her small room bathed itself in soothing, melatonin inspired colors in preparation of sleep. Kagome paused, glancing at her bedroom door, unable to help herself. She listened for movement, for the slightest sign that her house guest was up and moving. Minutes of prolonged silence passed. Hearing nothing, she shuffled to her bed, contacting Lyra as she climbed onto the queen sized mattress. She was just pulling the blankets and bed sheets up when the line responded.

A holograph of Lyra sprang into view, her translucent image taking residence at the foot of the bed.

Green eyes gleaming, nose ring twinkling, her best friend waved in greeting. The mocha skinned beauty was swathed in a dark crimson bardot top dress, her coily, honey brown hair framing her pretty heart shaped face and tumbling down her back in a thick mass of tight, bouncy curls.  

“What’s up chick?” Lyra grinned.

Kagome smiled.

“Ummm, a couple of things,” Kagome responded vaguely, “How’s Sota?”

“Dead to the world,” she replied, “He finished his homework and was in bed by 10,”

She paused, thick kinky hair bleeding navy in concern. Kagome waited for the inquiry, knowing Lyra could sense something was amiss. The Azeraic female was a strong empath, and the many hues of colors her hair took on reflected and telegraphed her shifting emotions.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen at work?”

Kagome shook her head.

“I actually wanted to ask you something. I need a favor.”

“Shoot.”

“I need you to keep Sota for a little while.”

Lyra’s curls bloomed cyan with curiosity.

“Of course, no problem, but what’s going on?”

“I can’t get into too many details right now, but I have a…guest that needs my help for maybe a week or so.”

Kinky coils erupted into light brown, her dark brows stretching towards her hairline.

“A guest you say.” Lyra chirped.

Kagome giggled. Her friend looked like a sly cat with a bowl of cream. The spunky Azeraic female was convinced Kagome was in desperate need of a man. While Kagome wasn’t opposed to having a significant other, the busy waitress just didn’t have the time. Dating and maintaining a love life was energy consuming and she didn’t have it in her to make the effort to support a relationship right now.

“You can wipe that look right off your face Lyra, its not like that and if it was you’d be the first to know.”

“Mmhm, I better be.”

The two shared a laughed.

“It’s no problem,” Lyra assured her, “Sota will be thrilled.”

Kagome rolled her eyes.

“I’m sure.”

Her little brother would just love a reprieve from his big sister’s strict rules. While Lyra would never let Sota act in a way that would put him in harms way, the laid back nurse thought nothing of letting a kid stay up until midnight during a school week or munch on sweets before dinner. At times, Kagome looked the other way when either situation occurred, wanting to give her little brother those moments of carefree freedom, small as they were. Because when he came home, when he returned to the reality of their lives, instances of careless childish antic were severely limited.

“You sure you’re okay?” Lyra asked again.

Kagome nodded.

“I promise it won’t be long and I’m not in any danger,”

‘I hope.’

“If you need help you know I’m here, no matter what. ” Lyra told her.

“Of course, quit your worrying,”

“Alright, but the moment you can go into detail, I want the whole story,” she wagged her finger, “and if I find out this is some stunt to hide a week long booty call, your ass is mine!”

Kagome burst out laughing.

“I’m mean it,” Lyra proclaimed, shaking a fist, “I will absolutely end you!”

Kagome stuck out her tongue.

“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see, huh?”

Lyra scoffed, rolled her eyes, but relented.

“Alright Kagome, but I swear to Zalthorn-”

“There is no booty call!” Kagome laughed.

“Alright, alright, I’ll contact you tomorrow.”

“Have Sota message me when he wakes up.”

“Gotcha, later bestie,”

“Later,”

The call terminated and the hologram fizzled out.

Tired, but heartened by the call, Kagome snuggled beneath the covers, sighing as the bed merged around her body, relieving the aches of an eventful day. Before she drifted off into the world of dreams, Kagome tapped into her apartment’s computer system. She changed passwords and reinforced security features, then adjusted setting to ensure the system’s alarm was more susceptible to triggering tonight. She had a secret to protect, one that could put her and her brother in jeopardy should someone…stumble upon it. She eyed the door as she set the house alarm, tuning it to monitor living room movement.

Rolling over, she ran her hand over the wall next to her. An invisible light scanned her palm, chimed, then opened a hidden drawer.

Reaching into the compartment, she pulled out the small pulse handgun. The drawer closed, fading smoothly into the wall. Turning it to the side, she check it’s charge and made sure the safety was on. Satisfied, she slipped it beneath her pillow and laid down.

Kagome prided herself on helping others, but she was far from stupid.

xxxxxx