InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dusk Curse ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6

 

~Salisbury, MA, down Rt. 95 to Boston

~8:30AM-12:00PM June 4, 2000

 

Kagome furiously looked in the rearview mirror. As many times as she had told herself she wasn't going to, her gaze had been drawn there. And there he had stood until she drove around a corner and he was out of sight. Every fiber in her willed her to turn the car around, every one except her pride. And that one, strong fiber sustained her all the way through the next four towns on Rt. 95. It wasn't until she reached Marlborough that her grip on the steering wheel loosened and her throat closed up again. Tears slowly slid down her cheeks and the sun reflected the water on them. When she realized she that couldn't see, not because of the tears blurring her vision, but from the sun in her eyes, she pulled down the visor and started to haphazardly search for her sunglasses.

 

“Where the hell are they?” She muttered. She searched through her purse, dividing her gaze between the road and her fruitless search. She checked the backseat, the front seat, under her own. She even managed to reach under the passenger seat and fish around, but nothing came of it. “God Dammit, where could they be? I didn't lose them, did I?” She rummaged in the glove compartment, in the creases of the seats, but still nothing. She knew she had brought them into the front of the car with her, she distinctly remembered!

 

Seeing a rest stop ahead, she yanked the car over into the right-hand lane, ignored the sound of a car horn, and pulled off into it. She squealed to a sudden halt just off to the side and jumped out. She yanked the backseat car door open and reached under the seat, but nothing was found. Then she frantically checked every crease, and when she came up empty handed, she collapsed on the seat, letting sobs wretch her body. All of her frustration poured out of her with those angry tears.

 

“God damn you Sesshoumaru.” She whispered. She pounded the seat with her hand. “What the hell is your problem? Why did you lie like that? Why did you have to tear out my heart?” She stilled after she spoke those words, realizing it to be true. Her heart was lying in little pieces on the floor in that hotel room in Salisbury. And that was right where it would stay.

 

She sat up, brushing the tears out of her eyes, forcing her breath back to regularity. She used her fingers to comb her hair straight again. When she thought she had a decent control over herself, she climbed out of the backseat and into the front. As she belted in and went to start the car, a flash caught her eye.

 

Her sunglasses sat winking imperiously at her from the dashboard.

 

~**~

 

~Newport, NH

~1:00 PM, June 4, 2000

 

Sesshoumaru set his trunk on his bed. He quickly unsnapped the locks and pulled it open, setting it back on the bed to be emptied. For a moment, he just stared at the clothes. He slowly fingered the shirt he had been wearing the night he had held her in his arms while she slept. Quickly he snatched his hand away and proceeded to pull out his clothes and put them away, a detached expression on his face. He took the ones he had worn and put them into the dirty laundry basket, and then put his toothbrush and other essentials away. He took the now empty suitcase and stored it in his closet, high up on the top. Why the hell couldn't he stop thinking about her?

 

Obsession.

 

He wished to god her stupid words would stop replaying over and over in his head. If that was her version of love, then he didn't fucking want it. All it summed up to was temporary pain.

 

He started down the stairs, taking them quickly. He remembered taking her up another flight of stairs at the hotel after he had pulled that frigging pervert off of her.

 

Caring.

 

Wouldn't it ever go away?

 

He turned left at the bottom of the stairs and went into the kitchen, thankful to see a coffee pot. He opened the cupboard and got out the can of Maxwell House coffee. He quickly measured a scoop out and then filled the coffee pot half full, or six cups. It would only come out to three or four, but he shouldn't drink any more than that if he planned to sleep tonight. A thoughts truck him of how Kagome liked her coffee, two of the abominable equals and two creams. She liked things sweet. And god wasn't she sweet. Her taste…

 

Attraction.

 

He was going to go nuts if this didn't stop. Really.

 

He sat and waited for the coffee to drip into the pot. It would be at least ten minutes. Maybe he aught to go and do something while he waited.

 

Like what?

 

“Didn't know you were home. Where the hell didjya go?” Sesshoumaru brought his gaze up sharply to see his brother standing there, his hair tousled from sleep, his eyes still half lidded. Deep, unexplainable and impenetrable anger filled him. This was why Kagome was attracted to him. He resembled his brother.

 

Love.

 

She was obsessed with Inuyasha. She cared about Inuyasha. She was attracted to Inuyasha. She loved Inuyasha.

 

The chair scraped against the floor, squeaking in protest to its rough movement. He ignored it and gracefully fled the room, a snarl building in his throat. He took the stairs two at a time and slammed into his room.

 

“Wow. What the fucks his prob?” Inuyasha craned his neck to peer up the hallway in surprise. “Hell, who cares? He ain't in my hair.” He then took the pot out from the coffee, ignoring the hissing sounds as the coffee splattered against the hot surface. He poured himself a cup of the coffee Sesshoumaru had made and replaced the pot.

 

~**~

 

~Boston, MA

~1:06PM, June 4, 2000

 

Kagome wandered aimlessly through the busy streets of Boston. What to do? What to do? She had never been a big city person; she was more of a country gal. She liked clean air and rolling hills. The city was fun for a while… when you had money and someone to spend the time with. She sighed.

 

Obsession.

 

Huh? Now where had that thought come from? What a random thing to think of all of the sudden. Obsession, yeah, she was obsessed. Everything she saw reminded her of him. A cafe made her remember that she had been wrong, he liked nothing in his coffee. At a clothing store she had seen this great shirt that looked just like one of his shirts. A furniture store made her remember how serene he looked while he had slept on the couch just last night.

 

Oh hell, when she saw an elderly man walking down the street she compared his silver hair to Sesshoumaru's exotically silver hair. Was that obsession for you or what? She laughed lowly at the thought.

 

Caring.

 

Wow, another totally stray thought. This was too painful. She managed to close her mind off and not think of him when she saw a couple staring into each other's eyes on a park bench. She even could ignore the way a couple that looked to be in their mid-thirties held each other tightly, yet comfortably.

 

It was the wind that gave her shivers, not remembering how his arms felt around her. No fucking way!

 

Her features pulled into an angry mask and her pace quickened. She passed a few stores, and then without realizing it she had walked into an old store with decrepit books sitting on its shelves. Stands held old antiques that were fading greatly with age. Silver gild lettering caught her eye and she sauntered closer.

 

Attraction.

 

She shook the word out of her head with a snarl of anger.

 

She wished it would stop!

 

She turned quickly and briskly walked down the aisle, and then she slowed. She was going nowhere in here. She wasn't even looking. What was she doing in here? A chill crept up her spine as she finally took in her surroundings. The store was dimply lit and gave off the feeling of darkness and evil. She shook her head at her fancy. Slowly now she started down the aisle, looking at the books and the antiques. She rounded the aisle at the end and came back up this one. There were a few things that attracted her eye, but she did not have the money for them. Off to her left, she found that the gilt lettering was trying to catch her eye again. Curious, she went back to it, for she hadn't read the title the first time.

 

Cursed Love of the Moon and the Sun.

 

Hm. How weird. For some reason, she found herself pulling out the book. She did like a good romance every once in a while. It was rather thin, only about 200 pages, much smaller then the average romance book. She turned it over to read the back.

 

Love.

 

The word struck her with double the force as the others. It made her hands freeze on the book. At the top of the back cover of the book the word stood out like a beacon. She read it just a second after the word slammed into her mind. She had to take several breaths to recover from the initial force of it. Her breath came in shudders. Once she had stopped clutching the book to her breast, she turned her eyes down to read it.

 

/The dawning of the night, the dying of the day. This is when they meet. A kiss casts a powerful spell they cannot lift. It shall shadow them forever, until they are reunited in love.

 

Each is the others opposite. Dark and light, sweet and tart, outgoing and withdrawn. They mirror each other so totally that they make one complete entity together. Apart, they are halves seeking to be whole. One accepts, the other cannot.

 

In the end, time will bring them together. But only they can find their happiness./

 

Kagome blinked. No way. Dur, now she was becoming deranged. A spell, on her and Sesshoumaru? She snorted at the thought. Yeah, right.

 

She turned around and just about jumped out of her skin to see a portly older woman behind her. “Oh! Hello! I didn't know you were there!” she grinned apologetically and went to put the book back.

 

“No child. You must have that book.” The woman had a definite Japanese accent. Kagome smiled at her.

 

“I'm sorry. I don't have the money for it.” She again went to reshelf the book but an old, weathered hand stopped hers.

 

“Listen well. This book was meant for you, or the other whom the story tells of.” Kagome started. How had the woman known she had been thinking that the story resembled hers and Sesshoumaru's in a way? “Ye must take the book, and read it well.” The woman pulled her toward the door.

 

“I… I can't just take it from you!” She said when she realized the woman meant to give it to her. She thrust the book at the old woman, but it was pushed back at her.

 

“I already told yea. This curse is yours. You will need this book. Now leave an old lady to herself.” She said irritably. Kagome obediently started for the door. When she got to it, she spun around.

 

“I think I should thank…”

 

The room was empty.

 

“…you.”

 

~**~

 

~Newport, NH

~9:11PM, June 4, 2000

 

Prowling the streets from the dark was the best way to alleviate his anger. It still pulsed in his veins; though not so hotly and undeniably as it had at the breakfast niche this morning. He didn't know why watching other people calmed him, but it did. He stood passively by while two men toppled out of a bar and immediately began to argue. A fist flew and then all hell broke loose. People rushed over to try and stop the foray. It was only after they were pulled apart that he realized one of them was Inuyasha. He chuckled. That hotheaded idiot.

 

He slowly made his way toward the group, an amused grin touching his lips. Inuyasha was fighting the men who were holding him tightly by the arms, and others were trying to stop the other man from getting at his brother.

 

“What the fuck did you do to her?” The other man yelled. He had black hair that was worn up in a ponytail. Most guys would look punkish with it, but the do seemed to fit this guy.

 

“Stay the fuck away from her, Kouga!” Inuyasha warned. The other guy threw off the others that were holding him but did not attack Inuyasha.

 

“Why should I? Kagome is MY woman!”

 

Had that dirt bag just claimed Kagome? Heh, how stupid was he?

 

“She doesn't want you, brainless. And she never will.” Inuyasha retorted. Kouga bristled and then relaxed, glancing at Sesshoumaru.

 

“Oh look Inuyasha. Its big-bro here to save you.” Kouga jibbed. Sesshoumaru's amused smile disappeared.

 

“I do not save anyone. You can tear each other apart. Do not think I will aid either of you.” He watched as the smirk fell off Kouga's face.

 

“Family values aren't valuable anymore, huh? Well, fuck this. I've got a date with a black-haired beauty.” He started away.

 

“KOUGA! Don't you even touch a fucking hair on her head!” Inuyasha struggled but he was no match for two other people. “Dammit Miroku! Sango! Let me go!” It was then Sesshoumaru noticed that the other person keeping a good hold on his brother was female.

 

“Ha, you are not strong enough to get free of a weak man and a little woman. Brother, sometimes I wonder that we came from the same father.” The amused smirk was back in place. “The woman, Kagome, does not have a date with the brainless one, Kouga.” Inuyasha ceased his struggles.

 

“How the fuck do you know that?” Inuyasha snarled.

 

“She left for a week-long road trip two days ago. Unless she has returned early, she is not even in this state.” He said.

 

“Feh, and she told you that?” Inuyasha's anger was slowly declining.

 

“Actually, I heard it through my sources.” Sesshoumaru lied smoothly. Inuyasha's brow twitched, but he said nothing for a second.

 

“Wait, how do I know you ain't lying?” His eyes squinted.

 

“Because he's not. Kagome's brother told me she had left, and that she had taken someone with her.” The woman, Sango, had her eyes trained on him. Shit, she must know. Would she tell?

 

Inuyasha whirled to face the woman. “You knew?” He asked incredulously. “And you didn't tell me?” He demanded an explanation. Sango sighed tiredly.

 

“Her brother asked me not to. But since Sesshoumaru has told you, I figured it didn't matter anymore.” Her glare made him sure she did know that he had left with Kagome, but had not come back with her. Uncharacteristically, he silently tried to beg her with his eyes to say nothing. She slid her gaze from his and stared at the ground as if arguing with herself whether to say anything. Finally her eyes came up to meet his and relief filled him. Grudging acceptance flickered in her eyes.

 

“Since you have now been fully informed of the predicament, I shall take my leave of you.” He turned and melted into the darkness. He could feel the woman's eyes on his back, that is, until he heard a screech that resembled the word `hentai' and a loud slap. He chuckled; it was the `monk' whom had brought her attention away from him. Not that he would ever thank him for it.

 

He stopped, prompted by something he didn't recognize, in front of a computer store. The sign glittered above him in bright, unbecoming colors. He wielded a passable hand with computers; well, perhaps more then passable. He did a lot of things with computers when bored, which was often. An idea formed slowly in his mind, an idea of how to improve computers. It blossomed slowly, and as he started back down the street toward his house, had totally taken over his mind. A cutting edge computer name… cutting edge, sharp, as in…

 

Katana. Katana Computer Industries Inc.

 

It was to be his uplift and his slow downfall.

 

~**~

 

~North Newport, NH.

~6:30 PM June 9, 2000

 

Kagome rolled to a stop outside her little house. There was something sad and nostalgic about it, as if it was some place she had loved and lost and was only visiting momentarily. It reminded her of when she met an old friend in a store with whom she had been very close a long time ago. It gave her joy to see them, and yet, it was sad and painful.

 

She ruefully smiled at her whimsical feelings and slowly got out of her car, pulling out her keys and locking the door as she did. She stared at the house, memorizing its colors and contours, though she already knew them. She drew her gaze away from the house and to her car, unlocking the trunk and getting out her bags. She shut the trunk again and it slammed with finality. Despite the fact she knew it would make a large bang when she slammed it, she cringed just the same.

 

She stepped up the walk to the house and opened the door. She dropped her bags, not bothering to shut the door behind her as her eyes took in her house as if she had never seen it before. All of the familiar furniture and colors glared back at her spitefully for leaving them and only coming back to leave again. She breathed deeply the smells of home.

 

“I'm home! Souta? Momma? I'm back from my vacation!” She heard a commotion in the living room and then her brother came in to greet her, hugging her tightly. He was the same height as her at the age of 12 and strong enough so she couldn't breathe when he hugged her. She feigned being choked as he hugged her and he let go of her, laughing and punching her in the arm. She took him by the shoulders.

 

“Did you tell Sango what I told you to?” She asked seriously. He grinned back at her.

 

“Course. But Sango called back to tell me to tell you that if you called, she wanted you to know something.” He screwed his face up in concentration. Kagome was confused. Sango wanted to tell her when she called that she wanted her to know… Okay, she was confused. She slowly sorted it out in her mind, and then she grasped it.

 

“What did Sango tell you to tell me?” She asked quickly. Souta was still thinking. Finally his eyes brightened as he remembered.

 

“Oh, yeah! She wanted you to know that Sesshoumaru accidentally told Inuyasha where you were to stop him from hunting Kouga down and killing him. She said she wanted you to know and to call her as soon as you got in, not a moment later!” He smiled, full of pride that he had remembered the whole thing. She grinned back at him and ruffled his hair.

 

“Thanks, Souta. I'll go and call her right now.” She started into the kitchen as he went back to the living room, surely to finish the movie or TV show she had interrupted. “Oh hey, Souta?” he turned back to her, stepping from foot to foot in his anxiousness to get back to the TV. “Where's mom?”

 

“She went to the grocery store.” He took off before she could keep him any further length of time. She smiled and shook her head, going into the kitchen and picking up the phone. Quickly she dialed Sango's number and waited while it rang twice. She heard the click that meant it had been picked up.

 

“'Lo?” Sango's voice carried over the phone. Kagome wiped the smile off her face and made her voice as deep as she could, lowering it to just over a whisper.

 

“I know what you did last summer!” She clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from giggling over the line. Sango's voice, though not hers because it was muffled and low, came back at her.

 

“Yeah? Well I STILL know what you did last summer!”

 

“And I will always and forever know what YOU did last summer!” Kagome shot back in her low and even voice. She burst into a fit of giggles as she always did and heard Sango's on the other end.

 

“So, what's been up, hun?” Sango said cheerfully.

 

“Not too much. I just got back from my road trip. Sorry I didn't take you. It was kind of last minute.” She apologized.

 

“Yeah? Yet you had the time to pick up Sesshoumaru?” Kagome was shocked. Nobody knew that Sesshoumaru was going… no one except…

 

“SOUTA!” She heard her younger brother swear (Something he had just started doing lately) and take off out of the living room and up the stairs. She glared in that general direction.

 

“Yeah, I um… He stopped me as I was leaving and said he wanted to go. I don't know what prompted me to let him go…” Dammit if her voice didn't break.

 

“Kagome? What's wrong? What happened with Sesshoumaru? Why did he come back early, but you didn't?” And Dammit if Sango wasn't the right nosy investigator and get right down to the bottom of her problems right off. How had she known?

 

“I don't really want to talk about it, Sango. There were problems and he took a train back. End of story.”

 

“You're lying to me.”

 

Sango knew her only too well. She could tell by the simple nuances in her voice, as much as she tried to hide them.

 

“I wasn't lying, I just didn't tell you everything. And I really don't want to, Okay? Please don't bug me about this, Sango.” She pleaded. A short silence buzzed.

 

“Kagome?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Tell me just one thing, and I promise I'll leave you alone about it after that.”

 

“Fine.” She sighed wearily.

 

“He didn't… touch you in any way, did he? He didn't try anything or something like that, did he?” Sango sounded so worried, and Kagome was so relieved at the question, she burst out laughing. TRY anything? Touch her? Well, come to think of it, yes he had. And then he had shoved her away from him like some whore he had had enough of.

 

“No, he didn't rape me, Sango. You worry too much. And about the wrong things.” She couldn't stop laughing, as stupid as it was. Sango was asking her if she was all right, and the truth was that she probably wasn't. She carefully cradled the phone, ignoring Sango's questions. Immediately her laughter died and a total stillness encompassed her.

 

She quickly left the kitchen and grabbed her bags, bringing them up into her room. She rapidly went into the unpacking mode, carrying her clothes to their proper places, putting worn ones into the dirty laundry, replacing her little necessities in the bathroom where they belonged.

 

Her eyes fell on the gilt-lettered book sitting at the bottom of her back. Her hands reached forward to pick it up. She had ignored it for the whole vacation, though her thoughts turned to it often. Many times she had been urged invisibly to get it and read it. And many times she had quelled the urge and ignored the itch in her hands to hold it in her hands and ignored the hunger in her mind to know what it said.

 

And she could quell and ignore those urges no more.

 

Her hand opened the book slowly and her eyes feasted on what was written there. She devoured the first page quickly, getting lost in the story of the two opposite lovers who could not find peace. On and on she read, the first chapter, the second and the third.

 

Hours later she finished it, shutting it slowly and placing it on the bed next to where she sat. She stared at it dumbly, shocked by what she had read. It was impossible, of course. Totally unfeasible and off the wall. There was no way this was real. This book was centuries old, and it was just a story. A story that resembled hers and Sesshoumaru's.

 

A story that so much paralleled what had just happened to her that it was impossibly impossible.

 

Yet it had happened.

 

~**~

 

Hello. I hope everyone is doing well! I'm off groundation… YAY!

 

 

RyuuYoukai@hotmail.com

 

 

RyuuAngel