InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Egypt Bound ❯ A Drastic Action ( Chapter 11 )

A/N: Thought I was never coming back, didn't you? Well, finals are over, thank God! I managed to squeeze out this semester with a 3.5 GPA. Because of school projects, final exam Hell, and the Christmas retail season I have been lax in my updating…but now I have no excuse! I am sick with bronchitis and have nothing to do but stay at home & write until I get better---although I wanted to take it easy during Christmas break, this wasn't what I had in mind! But the good news is that now I can give you those chapters you've been waiting for---Chapter 12 is going to be a long one and it should be up at least by New Year's. Hope you all had a great Holiday and that Santa was good to y'all (as we say in tha Dirty South)!

Chp. 11 A Drastic Action

Sango finished buttoning the back of Kagome's sky blue evening dress. The gown was modest, with a slight bustle in the back, and a neckline that draped in a Grecian fashion. The simple, elegant ensemble was completed with the addition of her Grandmother's silver locket, to remind her of her mission. She was escorted to Sesshomaru and Rin's car, where the three would dine for the evening. As she was being informed by her escort, Kagome couldn't help but hope that Sesshomaru would dismiss Rin at some point so they could get down to business. As the porter/escort opened the door to the "suite" (I am really not sure what they refer to a private car) Kagome felt the soft glow of the gaslight, and saw it reflect off of the snowy strands of Sesshomaru's hair. He bowed slightly and said, " Good evening, Miss Kagome. I had hoped that you would join me."

"Good evening Lord Sesshomaru. How could I refuse an invitation from such an esteemed gentleman as yourself? You are too kind to extend such an honor," Kagome replied as she stepped in the room. As she scoped out the car, she noticed that something was missing-namely Rin. "Lord Sesshomaru, is Rin dining with us this evening?"

"No, she took an early supper and retired for the night. I advised her to get plenty of rest because tomorrow is going to be a taxing day," He explained nonchalantly as he ushered her to her seat. `Oh boy… you have NO idea, do you?'

"Oh, that's awful, I had hoped to chat with her before we reached Cairo, " she replied.

"Oh no, that is simply the excuse I gave her so that I could discuss some things with you outside of her presence, " he chuckled. His smile was striking. Kagome blushed. She fiddled with her napkin to hide her flushed cheeks.

"What did you have in mind to discuss?" she asked with a nervous voice. He took a sip of water from a glass. Dinner was in the process of being served as the two spoke.

" I was going to ask you if you had noticed any peculiar behavior from Lord Naraku, considering the amount of time you've spent with him," the words flowed out with no emotion. " Damn, he doesn't miss a beat, does he?"

"Actually, I had planned to address that with you, which is the main reason I accepted your dinner invite. I noticed that he has been more persistent in persuing any plans with me, and that he accosted my servant girl in the hall earlier this afternoon," Kagome informed him as she took a sip of soup. Sesshomaru's eyebrows lifted in interest.

"Oh? That's interesting. Why the servant girl?" he asked.

"Because he remembers her from the past---more importantly, he knew her parents---very well, I might add, " Kagome allowed him to digest this. Kagome lowered her eyes as she raised the soup spoon to her lips, allowing the warm beef broth to trickle into her mouth in the pregnant pause between herself and Sesshomaru.

"Please elaborate Miss Kagome, what was the nature of your maid's parents' relationship towards Naraku Hamilton?" He seemed to lean in closer to the glowing candles on the table, the dim light illuminating his golden irises. She raised her eyes to meet his, almost losing herself in their splendor, and said softly, " He murdered them."

Sesshomaru was a bit shocked."He what? Murdered them you say? Why the deuce would he do that? There must have been some reason behind it," he left off, leading the question, " has she told you why?" Kagome bit her lip and decided that before she should spill the sordid details, that she should enlist his help without laying all of her cards on the table.

"Lord Sesshomaru, you must wonder at why I have imparted on you such an awful story, but the truth is---well, remember that first night on the ship when you pulled me aside?"

He cracked a small grin, "I do."

"And do you remember that ominous warning about Naraku using innocents to further his plots?" Her voice lilted nervously.

"Yes, but my dear where, pray tell, is this line of questioning leading? Has he done anything to you directly? Made any scandalous advances?" His hand put down his utensil and crossed the table to rest on hers. Good, he's concerned she thought.

" He has tried to make amorous advances toward me, but the fact that he threatened my maid greatly disturbs me---what I mean to say, Lord Seeshomaru, is that we are in great danger and we need someone who can help us… someone we can trust. I am very sorry that I am burdening you with this request, but will you help us?" She pleaded, clasping his one hand with both of hers. This was the one thing he needed to nail Naraku for once and all, and Kagome had provided him with the opportunity and evidence he was desperate for---but he had to consider the repercussions of such an arrangement; he didn't want to appear to be a suitor in pursuit of Kagome, his feelings were reserved for someone else…his fleeting thoughts returned to him as he heard Kagome sniffle across the small table, a trace of tears stained her pretty face. He had made his decision.

"My dear, why are you crying?" he asked, concerned.

"I-I'm afraid. Not just for me, but for Sango---he said-- he'd kill us if we didn't give him what he wanted, " she choked back a sob. He rose from his chair and guided her to the fancy parlour sofa. She sat facing him as he took her hands in his once again.

He offered her his handkerchief and she took it begrudgingly. "Now, tell me why he would propose such a horrid thing, " he coaxed. Kagome dabbed at her tear-stained face, and continued, inwardly pleased that she had piqued his interest in their case.

"Sango, my maid, has a piece that Naraku wants for his collection, but the piece she has is not the one he thinks it is. You see, her father dealt in forging antiquities for Naraku, and he gave two of the forgeries to him and kept the originals to show the authorities," she paused to blow her nose.

"And then what?" Sesshomaru inquired.

"Then somehow, Sango's father entrusted one of the pieces to Sango, saying that she should do everything in her power to keep the piece safe from Naraku's clutches. The other piece he gave to the British Museum to spite Naraku. Now do you see the gravity of our situation? He wanted us to hand over whatever she has when we get to Cairo or he would arrange an `accident' for us." Kagome looked at Sesshomaru's face in hopes of finding an answer---his answer came in the form of his large hand rubbing her shoulder in consolation.

"My dear Kagome, how could I ignore your appeal? I have long suspected Naraku of having some, shall we say, less than noble dealings with the transport and sale of antiquities. Now, I can assure you that your maid's artifact will be in good hands, as I am attempting to recover artifacts which have been looted from various sites in Egypt. I have also funded quite a few expeditions, which have resulted in fully excavating the sites that were believed to have been looted by some of the thugs in Naraku's employ, to prove my case to Parliament. If you don't mind, could you enlighten me as to the nature of this `piece'?" His steady, calm speech had evoked the desired response from Kagome. She noticed the soothing effect that his mild caress had on her shoulder-she blushed.

"The-uh `piece' is a heart scarab. I am not sure what that is or why its important, but Sango told me that Naraku believed that she had a gold burial mask---which she doesn't, of course. I haven't seen it-the scarab, I mean," Kagome imparted, still a bit nervous with Sesshomaru's hand on her mostly bare shoulder. Her skin tingled when he touched her, and didn't recoil in the same disgusted manner as when Naraku had tried to touch her.

Sesshomaru started to feel the sudden heat between them, and in all gentlemanly propriety removed his hand from her shoulder, letting the tips of his fingers lazily caress the length of Kagome's slender arm, feeling the softness of her skin. Her eyes were glued to his as she saw his pupils enlarge slightly as he took in her lovely features. He was feeling the romantic in him come out-a damsel in distress, a terrible tyrant in pursuit of her, it was like the old medieval tales he indulged himself with as a boy. The air became so thick that one could slice it with a knife and Sesshomaru, in the imagined part of the knight in shining armor, spoke the very words Kagome wanted to hear, " I will help you, only on one condition," he paused, revealing his debonair smile.

Kagome, who was completely entranced, replied, " And what is that?"

"That you forgive me for my actions and trust me in my arrangements to help you and your maid," He replied huskily, deftly closing the remaining distance between them. Kagome smiled, her eyes bright and shiny in the low light. "I forgive you then. I am in your debt, Lord Sesshomaru. Please allow me to show my gratitude in some way---" she was cut off as his mouth overtook hers in a surge of passion. Kagome had never been kissed like that before, at least not that she remembered. His lips were soft and his kiss was fierce as he pulled her to him. She yielded-it was the least she could do since she had asked for such a Herculean favor. As he continued to pepper her lips with searing kisses, she found that she didn't half mind this kissing business, and she especially didn't mind that such a handsome man had chosen to kiss her of his own free will. So she returned his kiss innocently. After a few more seconds he drew his face from hers, halted his ministrations and scooted back on the sofa, noticeably flushed and short of breath.

" Please forgive me for taking such liberties with you Miss Kagome, but I am sure you are aware of what soft light and a pair of trembling lips does to a man! I truly am sorry, but I just couldn't-"

" I already forgave you, my Lord. Don't be ashamed; it was the least I could do to thank you for helping us in our hour of need. Besides, " her voice sweetened, "it was kind of nice." She smiled at him. He returned her smile. "Now," she said in a secular manner, continuing her item of business, " since Naraku has made it clear that he intends to inform us as to when he expects the piece handed to him, we must figure out a way to stall him."

"I have made alternative plans to tour some of the sites my team has been working on these past few seasons before the Cook's tour is bound for Luxor. Perhaps I can arrange for you to accompany me on these tours… and I believe I can find someone to ascertain the nature of that heart scarab, hmm?"

"What about Sango? What if Naraku tries to harm her when neither of us is around?"

"She will just have to `assist' you on these outings. I can make the necessary arrangements to keep you both safe. When we check into Shepheard's Hotel, I will send an invitation for you to join me at dinner with some of my colleagues-your maid will be present with the staff, of course." Kagome was elated. She thanked her Creator and placed a polite kiss on Sesshomaru's cheek to announce her approval of his plan. His hand cupped her chin.

"Thank you very much, but it's getting rather late, and I should be going now, " Kagome said shakily as she tried to stand up. Sesshomaru nodded in agreement.

"I am glad to have been your confidante in this, Kagome. You have helped my investigation greatly. But we must be careful not to advertise our partnership too loudly, as Naraku has his little spies crawling everywhere. I would advise that you not speak of our arrangement to anyone but Sango, and in a voice none too loud-anyone could be listening. I'll ask my butler Jaken to escort you to your room, just in case, " Sesshomaru warned in a fatherly tone.

"Advice taken. I will see you tomorrow at supper, my Lord, " Kagome curtsied as she left the suite. Sesshomaru went toward the table and rang the small silver bell that sat near the candelabra to rouse a sleepy Jaken from the next room.

"Yes mi'lord?" Jaken stood at attention.

"Escort Miss Kagome to her cabin and make sure she gets there safely-no excuses."

"Yes mi'lord. She will arrive safely." The butler replied.

"And do make sure no suspicious persons are lurking outside her room, will you Jaken?"

"Like before sir?"

"Yes, like on the ship, Jaken. We have to take great pains that she arrives home in one piece after this is all over, she is very important to us."

"I agree completely, mi' lord."