InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Egypt Bound ❯ The Bitter Sweetness of a Kiss ( Chapter 19 )

******* I'm back! Sorry for the incredibly long wait, but as you all know I've been out of town for 6 weeks for a class and I have been insanely busy since I've gotten back! I made this chapter extra long (14 pgs.) because you readers have been so wonderful and supportive. I especially want to thank vtchachi for nominating me for the Inuyasha Fanfiction Guild Award in the action/adventure category. It really meant a lot for me as an aspiring writer. So enjoy and give me some feedback on how the story's going! ****Blows kisses to the readers****

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chp. 19 The Bitter Sweetness of a Kiss

 

 

“If yet I have not all thy love,

Dear, I shall never have it all,

I cannot breathe one other sigh, to move,

Nor can entreat one other tear to fall.

And all my treasure, which should purchase thee,

Sighs, tears, and oaths, and letters I have spent,

Yet no more can be due to me,

Then at the bargain made was meant.

If then thy gift of love were partial,

That some to me, some should to others fall,

Dear, I shall never have thee all.”

----John Donne, “Lovers' Infiniteness”

 

 

 

 

 

He wanted this moment to be imprinted in his memory forever; he wanted to let her kiss his sad soul away, but something deep inside wouldn't let him give his heart away to the lithe creature in his arms. It was his conscious. 'I can't get involved, I don't want her to get hurt and lose her forever---not like Mother. I have to be cruel only to be kind-- if only to save her. Naraku would use her like a pawn if we ever ran into him, I just know it. Now I have to tell her----for her own safety, yeah…for her sake I have to hold it in…when I get a breath of air…'

He could feel his mind revolting against his body, but he had to do it—he had to nip this in the bud before he fell too hard and lost her to some unspeakable fate. He pulled his lips away from hers and brought his hands to her shoulders. She lifted her eyelids as if she had awakened from a trance, and met his sorrowful expression. She was confused---did he regret kissing her while she was tipsy? She thought to herself.

He finally spoke.

“We—we can't do this, Kagome. I shouldn't have taken advantage of you in the state you're in---it wasn't right of me to have kissed you, I'm sorry.” He glanced down at the deck and let his hands fall to his sides. Kagome sensed the regret in his voice and felt an angry tension crawl up her spine. `How can he say that? How can he be hot one minute and cold the next? Who does he think he is that he can just—that bastard!'

“What are you talking about? You didn't force yourself—I told you to kiss me—how can you say you won't let me make a fool of myself and here you are, doing just that! You hypocrite! If it was so wrong, why did you kiss me so passionately? Hmm? Did you ever consider how I felt? Or were you thinking only of what you wanted?” Kagome protested, her hands indignantly on her hips. Inuyasha's statement produced the desired effect---he wanted to push her away to keep her safe, or at least that was the rationale he fed himself anyway. Deep down, he was trying to cut his losses; the heart-related ones hurt the most.

“ It's not right, Kagome, and you know it. You and Sango are in danger, just in case you forgot---and my job is to keep you safe, not seduce you. Like I said, I'm sorry—it won't happen again. We should just forget this ever happened---“

“Well I won't forget this! And I won't forget what you said earlier either! How can you say you don't hate me when you pull something as low as this? You weren't concerned about your `job' earlier, now were you?” Kagome shot back. If she were a cobra right now, Inuyasha swore that she would be spitting venom at him. He was trying to save her from himself, why couldn't she understand?

“I don't hate you, I wasn't lying about that! Damn it woman! Don't you understand?” He was growing more irate by the second. Kagome felt her eyes begin to water.

“No, I don't understand! I don't understand why you did what you did, and I don't understand you! There has to be a reason for this that you're not telling me…there has to be! One minute you're a dream and the next a complete cad! Which is it Inuyasha? If you think playing games with someone's heart is the way to go, then be my guest; because one day you'll lose the one person who could've loved you for the rest of your sad, pitiful life and you'll be all alone---and I won't feel sorry for you---I won't!” As she started making her way to the cabin door, the tears streamed down her face in little rivulets.

“Sorry? You think I need you to feel sorry for me? I've been alone my whole life goddammit, and I sure as hell don't need you to tell me what I'm losing out on---I've lost enough already before you came along Kagome!” Inuyasha shouted at her back, his fist clenched. She had disappeared inside before he finished his sentence. He sighed, and looked up at the stars for guidance. “I guess I really screwed up this time, hmm Old Man? But at least you understand, don't you? Why I had to—I couldn't bring her into my life only to lose her—not like before. I hope she'll forgive me for this one day…”

The stars never answered back, they just listened, as they listen to all of the wishes and silent prayers people offer them. The words she spoke ran through his mind, making him feel like the cad he was. He only hoped that she would one day see why---if that day ever came.

 

 

Kagome ran past the small drawing room and into her berth, crying. This did not go unnoticed by Miroku, who was having a nightcap to recover from Sango's slap. `What happened out there to make her so upset? What did Inu do this time?At this rate, he'll never get that inheritance from Sesshomaru. Better check on the poor girl…' Miroku thought to himself. He walked down the little hallway to Kagome's berth and knocked softly.

“Kagome? Is everything alright?” he asked, concerned.

“I-I'm fine. Just leave me be, okay?” she sniffled.

“Did Inuyasha have anything to do with it? Are you sure you're fine?” he goaded. The sniffling stopped for a moment.

“I don't want to talk about it right now, just leave me be, Miroku.”

“ Well, if you need anything, or want to talk, just let me know. I'll be around.” He offered as he went back to his nightcap.

 

Inuyasha stared out at the river a little longer before he finally went back inside. It was going to be another long day of traveling, which meant that he and Kagome would be in close quarters---not a good idea after their latest quarrel. And if Kagome was mad, everyone else would be in sour spirits as well, which didn't bode well for Inuyasha.

He walked in to find Miroku drinking some of the whisky they had had earlier. He sat down at the table next to his assistant and poured a bit for himself. Miroku, who was acutely aware of what had transpired on the deck, wanted to hear Inuyasha's side of the story.

“So-uh, what happened between you and Kagome? She was quite upset, from the looks of it,” Miroku asked. Inuyasha responded with a sigh, and gulped down what remained in his glass before answering.

“ We had a difference of opinion,” Inuyasha's gaze drifted to the table.

“Well, I'll say you did! She was so distraught that she ran straight to her room! Now what could have possibly hap-----“

“It's none of yer damn business what happened! Got that?” Inuyasha raised his voice enough so that Miroku could tell he was irritated. Anyone could push Inuyasha's buttons, but only Miroku had the talent to get him to talk about what was bothering him.

“ You like her, don't you?” Miroku asked. Inuyasha froze in his seat. Miroku knew he had hit the nail on the head. “No wonder you're so flustered,” he sat back in his chair, grinning and anticipating Inuyasha's reaction.

“She's annoying, prissy, demanding…how could I possibly like a woman like that?”

“Because she's too much like you? Isn't she? Heaven forbid that you meet your match, Inuyasha!” Miroku guffawed.

“She's NOT my MATCH!”

“The hell she isn't! I don't know what the devil you two were up to on that deck but you'd better make it up to her quick! Or else me and Sango'll have to listen to you bloody lovebirds screaming at each other until we get to Luxor! You're in denial if you think you aren't in love with her---she's not Kikyo for chrissakes!” Miroku said vehemently. Inuyasha knew deep down that Miroku was right, but he refused to believe that he was in love with that formidable woman.

“So what? Huh? Even if I did, she would just be more of a target for Naraku and his friggin' mercenaries! Can you imagine the satisfaction that sick bastard would get outta that? It's better that I don't pursue anything with her---we'd both get hurt in the end. Now, Mr. Scotland Yard, if ya don't mind, I'll be off to bed. We've got some work to do in the morning concerning that piece of Sango's, so don't get too pissed,” Inuyasha said gruffly as he rose from his chair.

“Inu, what if you don't get hurt?” Miroku inquired, staring Inuyasha in the eyes. Inuyasha was taken aback at the impetuous question. It certainly wasn't an outcome he thought about; he always assumed the worst in everything, ever since he lost his mother years ago.

“I—I don't know,” he replied, staring at the floor. Miroku gathered that Inuyasha had never considered relationships to be fulfilling. He knew Inuyasha had been in love once, but not since he'd known him. Maybe there was something Kagome had awakened that Inu hadn't wanted to face? Inuyasha bid Miroku a good night and went to their berth.

Miroku silently congratulated himself for getting Inuyasha to confess that he cared about Kagome in a roundabout way. “Ahh… at least I get the first bath tomorrow morning…” he mused out loud.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

 

Meanwhile…Back in Cairo…

 

 

Sesshomaru mulled over his letters and telegrams at home in Ismailia. As he flipped through the numerous invites and bills, one caught his eye; it was from MacPherson and addressed urgent in red stamped letters across the top.

 

 

 

Sesshomaru---

Must speak with you as soon as possible. Got new information. Meet me at Turf Club at 9:30 tonight. V. Important!

 

---J. MacPherson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sesshomaru glanced at the Swiss cuckoo clock on the wall---it was 9:00. Whatever information MacPherson had, it required that he be there as quick as possible. Sesshomaru plucked his coat off of the coat hanger and told Gamal to ready his motorcar.

As he was about to leave he felt a tug on his coat---it was Rin.

“Rin? Aren't you supposed to be in bed by now? I haven't got time for games sweetheart, I have to leave immediately!” Sesshomaru said, exasperated.

“ I don't want you to go, Sesshomaru! Rin is so lonely with you gone!” Rin exclaimed. Sesshomaru's face softened, and he took her chin in his hand.

“Now listen to me, young lady, this Sesshomaru has an important meeting to attend, and will be back as soon as I can, so be a good girl and go to bed. I promise tomorrow we'll go out and do some sightseeing, okay? Jaken will look after you until I return.” Rin sniffed a crocodile tear as Sesshomaru leaned down to kiss her forehead. He turned and exited through the door, leaving a teary-eyed Rin behind.

Sesshomaru met Gamal at the car. “Gamal, step up the security tonight, min fadluk, I have a bad feeling about leaving Rin in the house alone.”

“Na'am Sesshomaru-bey, “ Gamal replied as he held the door open for his employer. Gamal ran over to the guard on duty and explained the situation. The guard nodded. Gamal returned to the car and they drove off.

 

_________________________________________________________________ _______

 

 

 

 

The room was smoky from the shishas and dimly lit, but he found his man without trouble. He sat at his normal table, smoking a bowl of hashish from a water pipe and taking a sip of tea ever so often. There were many effendis who frequented this den, because el hashish was illegal in their homelands, and legality could be bought and sold in Cairo if one had the cash. The effendi made eye contact with the visitor, who sat down at the table without even being invited formally.

“I see you've come, Hassan,” the effendi said, in between puffs.

“Na'am, I would never refuse an invitation from Naraku-bey, “ the visitor replied graciously.

“Did he get on the right boat?”

“Na'am bey. It was the one with the painted golden eye in the Boulaq harbor, like the bey said,” Hassan answered. Naraku sneered in delight. He trusted Hassan's judgment in carrying out the dirtier affairs. Hassan glanced around the room to make sure no one noticed their meeting. It was lucky for them that the establishment provided many feminine distractions in addition to the hashish, otherwise their presence would not have gone unnoticed.

“ Does he know his orders? I cannot fail, Hassan, the prizes I seek are far too valuable to lose,” Naraku took another hit and let the sweet smoke creep out of his nostrils.

“My cousin Malek knows his duties, bey. He will not fail, I assure you. Is that all you called me here for?”

“I want you to ride to Asyut with my assistant and intercept the ship when it docks. I want the girls and the item they are carrying with them—my assistant knows what it is. Meet her here at this time.” Naraku handed him a piece of paper. Hassan stood up from his seat.

“It will be done as you said,” he affirmed. Hassan bowed his head slightly and left as mysteriously as he came.

 

 

 

At the Turf Club…

 

 

MacPherson drummed his fingers on the table, his head cradled in his hands waiting for Sesshomaru to arrive; normally, he was never late. He let his eyes wander around the room for the umpteenth time, just in case a face appeared that he didn't recognize. MacPherson was a cautious man; he didn't like surprises, which is why he had three plainclothes officers at arbitrary points in the Turf Club's lounge. The men blended in well with the crowd of officers that packed the pub and gathered in the lounge smoking Egyptian cigarettes, celebrating their return from the Sinai. The waiter had dropped by his table at least three times to fetch him drinks; he was circling around again to give MacPherson a refill on his gin and tonic when a tall, silvery-headed figure was making his way through the crowd of servicemen.

“Habib, make that two gee-and -tees will you?”

“Na'am effendi, two,” the waiter replied, removing MacPherson's empty glass and clearing his ashtray. MacPherson motioned for Sesshomaru to come over and join him.

“Sorry I'm late, Bimbashi, I just received your note within the last half hour---so what news have you got?” Sesshomaru removed his coat and hat and sat down.

Bimbashi MacPherson crooked his finger and Sesshomaru leaned in closer.

“He knows!” MacPherson said as quiet as he could, considering the noise.

“What? How is that possible? Goddammit! How did he---“ Sesshomaru raised his voice enough not to attract too much attention. How could Naraku possibly have found out that Kagome and Sango were not at his house?

“He planted a spy on your dahabeeyah, is what he did. I suppose that he found out about those gaffirs your archaeologists killed and thought that you'd try to hide those girls away---you know he's got an intricate network, Tomuri.”

“But you put out the word that the girls were at my house---hell, even I did---“

“He probably saw it as being too obvious and called your bluff, old boy,” MacPherson wiped his brow with a handkerchief. The waiter set the drinks down on the table. Sesshomaru took a swig of his gin.

“Then how did you know he planted a spy on my dahabeeyah?”

“ I had the reis check and see if there were any crew members that he hasn't worked with before—there was one short guy who just signed on…said he needed the money because his farm wasn't doing so well. The other chaps teased him for being a fellah, you know how that goes…sounded like a plausible excuse at the time, but then your reis noticed that he didn't bother to get along with any of the crew, just kept to himself---this was not a few hours before you boarded. Naraku must have found out you were sailing by the week's end—that's all I can gather. They're in real trouble now. God help them!” MacPherson exclaimed. Sesshomaru's grip tightened on his glass.

“So what can we do from here? How can we warn them? What if Naraku had that blackguard hired as an assassin? They're probably days from a decent port! Goddammit! If only I'd known he would pull something like this!” Sesshomaru's fist hit the table in anger. Never in all of their years of friendship had MacPherson seen Lord Sesshomaru Tomuri lose his cool—his face was usually like a stone statue; his feelings never surfaced. This was the first and probably the last time he'd ever see Sesshomaru visibly angry.

“I've never seen you so angry as long as we've been friends, Sesshomaru! Is there something on that boat other than the scarab that's precious to you? One of the girls perhaps?” MacPherson liked to push a few buttons to urge people to confess. “Would it be that Higurashi girl, by chance?” Sesshomaru nodded in affirmation.

“Did you find out anything about her that I should know?” Sesshomaru inquired.

“ I don't know if you'll be too pleased with what I've had forwarded to me from London…”

“Just spill it MacPherson, I haven't got all night!”

“ That money she's traveling with---it isn't hers.” Sesshomaru's eyes widened.

“What? Whose is it then?”

“Your old pal Naraku's.”

“I don't believe you—she didn't meet him until she was on the oceanliner! He was trying to woo her for God's sake!” Sesshomaru refused to believe what MacPherson was telling him, even though his friend had never been wrong before.

“You're right, she had never seen him until she boarded that oceanliner, but he had seen her several times before. Don't you recall telling me how odd it was that he insisted on her accompany him on several occasions? Wasn't it a bit strange to you that a virtual nobody was always seated beside him instead of a high-bred lady or someone of equal station? Or that she had no chaperone?” Bimbashi queried. It all came back to Sesshomaru as he remembered their first night on the boat.

“Hmm…now that you mention it, I wondered those things myself. I distinctly remember warning her about Naraku, thinking that he was trying to lead her on or use her against me. And she was always seated next to him at supper---I was scared for her so I attempted to get her to befriend Rin, to keep her away from Naraku---I couldn't bear to see another maiden ruined by him,” Sesshomaru recalled as he took another sip of his drink.

“Naraku was expecting her. He set up the seating arrangements and everything. The only glitch was that you were in the way. You see, Kagome's family is indebted to Naraku, since he gave them some settlement money for Jim Higurashi's death and allowed Kagome's brother and Grandfather to work in one of his factories,” MacPherson explained.

“How did her father—I'm assuming it was Kagome's father—die?” Sesshomaru asked.

“ As ironic as it may sound, I only found out about this when I was conducting that investigation on Daniel Forth; Jim Higurashi's name kept popping up in the records. Apparently, they worked together for Naraku, Higurashi used the factory as a front for what he was really doing—smuggling in antiquities. There were reports of an explosion of some sort at one of Naraku's factories, and some of my colleagues spoke with the man who wrote the story for the Times; as soon as he was assured police protection, he told my colleague that he was paid to flub the story by an anonymous source. What really happened was Naraku found out that Higurashi and Forth were trying to sell him out by going to Scotland Yard and the British Museum. Higurashi was only an accomplice to Forth; he was the guy who actually switched the pieces on Naraku and helped Forth get the law involved. Naraku went out of town and had his henchmen take care of Higurashi in an abandoned mill he owned, then ordered them to torch the mill to cover up the crime.”

“But if Higurashi was a nobody, why bother covering up the crime? Why do you think he went through all that trouble for just one gent?” Sesshomaru asked pointedly.

“ It was around the time Parliament was debating some tax law and Naraku was one of the main politicians behind it---I believe that if he hadn't covered it up, someone would have exposed his illegal dealings. Plus, he had to make the family pay for the one sheep that went astray; so Higurashi's father-in-law promised him that they would work to pay off whatever he gave them as settlement, including giving him their first-born as an indentured servant to cover Higurashi's failure. Can you believe that?”

“Good Gad, that's despicable! So how is it that Kagome got to go to Egypt? That's what boggles me the most.” Sesshomaru was aghast upon hearing the shocking news concerning Kagome. He wondered silently if Kagome had known anything about her family's real plans for her prior to Egypt.

“Naraku apparently decided that letting Kagome go to waste as a mere maid was a bad idea, and that what he needed was a pretty wife to clean up his image and give him some good press. My source told me that Naraku informed the Higurashi widow that he was going to court Kagome in Egypt on one of those Cook's Tours so that no one would question her background beforehand; the only caveat was that there was little left of their settlement money, only 700 pounds, and Naraku offered to give them a thousand pounds as her dowry when the time came. At the time, Kagome was not yet a teenager, and her mother used most of their settlement money to run the household, her dress-making business, and to hire a private tutor for Kagome.” MacPherson conjectured.

“ A thousand pounds? Did he think he was going to shut the family up forever?”

“I suppose so, Sessh old boy. Apparently Kagome was informed that she was supposed to get Naraku to notice her---and she's the only innocent in the whole mess. I don't know all of her story, so I'm going to leave all of that up to you. I'm just letting you know what I found out. Odds are, he won't kill Kagome since he has a lot invested in her—the others are in serious danger with that madman below deck.” MacPherson lit a cigar and offered one to Sesshomaru, who gladly took it.

“Thanks, I needed something to calm my nerves after that news you gave me. Dear God, this is more involved than we thought isn't it?” Sesshomaru remarked.

“ Right you are, old friend. But I want to see him put away as badly as you do. It's his brigands causing all of the trouble around the sites, looting and whatnot,” MacPherson sympathized with Sesshomaru when it came to antiquities and legality.

“I just hope Inuyasha and Miroku can protect themselves and those girls when the time comes. God only knows what will happen—I can't send a telegram until they dock at Asyut as scheduled,” Sesshomaru worried.

“At this point, we can only hope for the best, “ MacPherson consoled.