InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Compliments of a Falling Bomb ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

Compliments of a Falling Bomb

By Juju-san

 

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha. Yay. And I still don't own a clever disclaimer line.

 

 

Chapter Two

 

Several Months Earlier

 

The girl hurried along, clutching a bit of paper in one hand and a large suitcase in the other. She had no idea where she was, but judging from the looks the men lurking in the alleys were giving her, it wasn't a good end of town. She felt a chill of anticipation, hoping that she could find the address she'd carefully copied down- and soon.

 

One of the men, a tall, thin one with a face like a rat, stepped out and grabbed her arm. The suitcase fell to the ground with a loud smacking sound that made the other men laugh. They quickly surrounded her, circling like a pack of mangy dogs. She recoiled in disgust as the rat-like one pressed his face to her neck, holding her tightly while another man, this one not as tall but equally thin, pulled out a pocketknife. Her eyes widened in fear as he began to slit open her clothing with the methodic calmness of a surgeon.

 

She felt a bit of pain, then surrendered to blissful darkness.

 

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Miroku had been walking his younger sister, Rin, home from a friend's house, when the small girl gasped and pointed into an alley. He shook his head; it was late, and they needed to get home. They had no parents to speak of, but he still didn't want to get caught in this area late at night. Someone could steal Rin from him, and sell her for...well, he didn't want to think of that. But the girl's grip on his hand tightened, and he was nearly pulled backward as she suddenly stopped, continuing to point.

 

“Niisan…look!” She released his hand and trotted over to the fallen figure lying in the puddle of murky water. Reaching down, she gingerly touched the person's face, eliciting a rather feminine groan.

 

“It's a lady!” As Miroku stepped forward, the light that had been blocked by his body flooded over the figure, verifying that it was indeed a young woman…and that her clothing was in shreds. It appeared to him that she had been raped, robbed, and left for dead, although it was too soon to tell. Kneeling down, he nodded and gathered her in his arms, surprised at how light she was.

 

The woman stirred, and Miroku made a soft shushing noise, nodding at Rin, telling her to follow him.

 

For the first time in his life, Miroku didn't feel compelled to grope the onna lying so prone and trusting in his arms; she probably thought she was dead. When they reached their apartment, he set her gently on the couch and covered her with a blanket.

 

She didn't wake up until much, much later.

 

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The phone rang, its call obscenely loud in the still room. The girl on the couch stirred and moaned, eyelids fluttering. Miroku, who had been poised in a battered armchair all night, jumped up and went to her side, helping her sit up. For the first time, she opened her eyes, staring straight into his for a moment before looking shyly away.

 

“What is your name?” He took her hand gently, felt the fine bones beneath the thin flesh, studied her profile as he waited.

 

“Sakamoto Raiha…” Her voice was dark for a female's, but chillingly soft and thin. It sounded as if she wanted nothing more than to curl up and die. He was afraid to speak, and waited a while longer.

 

Before she spoke again, her hand twitched beneath his, gripping it as if telling him to look at her.

 

“…Who is my savior, and why didn't he let me die…?”

 

Miroku didn't know quite what to say.

 

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Rin came darting into the room, slowing down as she neared the edge of the couch, eyes wide and dark. They seemed to dim for a moment before their cheerful brightness was revived, and she gently pulled on the woman's other hand.

 

“You should get cleaned up…” Miroku was pulling her off the couch, helping her stand before she even realized what was happening. He led her to the bathroom, where a steaming bath had already been drawn. She wanted to weep. Turning to him, she gazed directly into his eyes as she spoke again with her ancient voice.

 

“Thank you…” She closed the door. A second later, there came a knock, and when she opened it, Rin was standing there, holding a stack of fluffy towels and some clean clothing.

 

“They're nii-san's girlfriend's…I'm sure she won't mind.”

 

Raiha offered a weak smile and patted the girl on the head before nodding and closing the door. She slowly disrobed, biting back a whimper of pain as the sodden fabric rubbed cruelly over her sore muscles. Easing herself into the water, she closed her eyes, sighed, and began to wash.

 

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Miroku and Rin were sitting at the kitchen table when she finally emerged, hair dripping but neatly combed, falling to her waist. There was one of the towels around her shoulders, and- Miroku thanked the gods here- she was fully clothed. Remarkably, the other girl's clothing fit perfectly, except for a portion in the front where the shirt sagged slightly- apparently, she wasn't as well endowed as his ai.

 

She hesitated for a moment before sitting down with them. It had only been perhaps an hour, but she looked completely different. The stricken look was still there, but it had faded considerably. After a moment of silence, she reached into her pocket and extended the bit of paper with the address on it to Miroku, who was surprised that it had survived.

 

“Taishou?” His voice was incredulous. “But I thought there were going to be taking in a boy…”

 

She offered another weak, apologetic smile to her host, shrugging. “No, only me.”

 

He reached for the phone and dialed a number, then spoke to her as he waited for someone to answer. “I'm calling them right now…they have two sons, and the younger of them is a close friend of mine.”

 

He spoke rapidly into the receiver, pausing every now and then, glancing up at Raiha. “Yes, alright… so, you'll be here at ten? Thanks…bye.” Turning to her, he lifted a brow before moving toward the window and opening the curtains, allowing the bright sunlight to fill the room.

 

“They'll be here around ten o'clock to pick you up…I'm sure they'll find some way of getting you something to wear, so don't worry.”

 

She nodded once, and they sat down to wait.

 

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Some time later, the doorbell rang. Miroku stood and buzzed the others in. At the sound of a dark, velvety baritone, she lifted her gaze from the floor and stood, giving a respectful little bow.

 

“Raiha…this is Sesshoumaru Taishou…apparently, InuYasha didn't want to come with him, but don't worry, he doesn't bite.”

 

It was obvious that Miroku wasn't exactly comfortable around the man, and it rubbed off on her, making her fidget uncomfortably under his intense gaze. She began to walk toward Sesshoumaru, then stopped and moved back to her former host and brushed her lips lightly across his cheek, a gesture that was more friendly than anything else, then straightened up.

 

“Thank you for your help…”

 

“Miroku.”

 

She nodded and began to walk out the door, then stopped dead. Turning around, she saw Miroku gazing at her, face slightly flushed, a sheepish grin on his face…

 

…and his hand on her ass.

 

She sighed and walked away, ignoring the curious glance Sesshoumaru threw at her, then got into the car, waving goodbye.

 

TBC