InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Kagome ❯ Chapter 21

DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha and company, however I DO own an overactive imagination...

 

 

 

 

Finding Kagome

 

 

 

Chapter Twenty One

 

 

It was becoming apparent to Sesshoumaru that some type of major event was in the works, as he thumbed his way through the tiny date book. The calendar section included 'construction' dates and 'rehearsal' dates, all leading up to a date in late April. The cultural fair. Of course, she was involved in something to do with the cultural fair. He glanced at InuYasha, who's eyes were closed. No doubt exhausted after so much exertion. It had not been his intention to disrupt the hanyou's recuperation by sharing the small bit of information he had. He should have known better. He did, after all, know how stubbornly obstinate InuYasha could be. The troubling thing was, why were the wolves also interested in this Kagome Higurashi? To what end would it serve them to destroy her home in such a manner? What could they possibly have been looking for? What does Kouga know about, or suspect... that this Sesshoumaru does not...

 

“The HELLS??” Shouted InuYasha, jumping at the loud THUMP and scratching on the roof of the limousine. Sesshoumaru brought full attention to the ceiling above them, realizing too late his error in the distractions of his musings. “It's Kouga... shit... my sword...” InuYasha frantically grabbed at where Tetsusaiga should be strapped to his hip.

 

“Nothing to be done about it now, halfbreed... we must face him...” Sesshoumaru lowered the screen far enough to direct the driver to pull over, and instructed him to remain in the vehicle. As the vehicle stopped, a shape dropped off of the roof, and fell back into shadow to become only menacing eyes glowing in the mist.

 

Sesshoumaru exited, prepared for the attack and as expected he was rushed by the Ookami, who was obviously enraged. Barely dodging the first attack, Kouga's claws left a calling card on the elder youkai's side, as his whip lashed brightly catching the wolf's shoulder. At the scent of his brother's blood, InuYasha tore out of the opposite door, to jump onto the roof growling.

 

“You die tonight, old man...” growled Kouga, as he strafed around Sesshoumaru, paying no heed to the hanyou on the roof.

 

“Guess again, asshole... sankon-tetsusou!!” InuYasha dove off the roof at the ookami, claws fully distended, where on Kouga leaped agilely to the side. Sesshoumaru took full advantage of the momentary distraction, and lashed his whip directly at the neck of his target. There was a satisfying sizzling sound as it made a connection, illiciting a gurgled yelp, as Kouga retreated into shadow to regroup.

 

“Resorting to the help of mongrels now, Sesshoumaru?? My how things change...” came the taunt from the shadows.

“There once was a time when you ran in fear of this 'mongrel'... whelp,” retorted the hanyou. “I hear you are an oath breaker...”

 

“What the... who the hell are you?” Kouga raised his nose to the air, edging out of the shadows to better see this intruder. “No fucking way!!! InuYasha is dead!! Go back to Hell where you belong!”

 

“On who's authority?? Your's??? Don't make me laugh!! What were your people doing at Kagome's apartment?? Did they really have to wreck the place like that??” InuYasha moved closer, muscles taut, ready for the attack.

 

“You know about that? It's nothing... they found nothing...” his posture, initially defensive from the shock of coming face to face with InuYasha, quickly turned. “I knew you had to have had help, dog... the mess you left... Ayame reeked of you... but my sentries...” wolfish eyes narrowed on the hanyou. “Where is your toy, puppy?? Is that what you used to puree my guard??”

 

“Didn't need anything but my bare hands...” InuYasha stretched his hands, bearing his claws, but his boast was cut off by his brother.

 

“InuYasha... enough. Your fight is with me Kouga,” he prompted. At this InuYasha blinked and then scowled.

 

“Damn straight it's with you... Murdering hound...” and he again began to strafe around Sesshoumaru. “What kind of point could you possibly have been trying to make, by murdering my mate?? I'll give you one chance only... to explain yourself.”

 

“Too much guilt for leaving her vulnerable, Kouga? She asked for what was handed to her, you know... and where were you??” Sesshoumaru had begun his own strafing circle, his claws beginning to drip. “This Sesshoumaru was seeking you, that night... where were you? Why did you leave your mate defenseless?”

 

“She wasn't defenseless... She had the guard there, I saw to that... where I was...”and he snarled, “...is none of your damn business, Bastard!”

 

“It should be someone's business... your pack runs rampant, wolf... too many humans are dead because of their antics. You endanger all of us with your lack of... discipline.” With this said, Sesshoumaru stopped moving. “You better than anyone should know it is a different world now...”

 

“I refuse to lay down and play dead... I am Youkai!!” And Kouga lunged at Sesshoumaru with a snap of the jowls, twisting away narrowly from the claws that swept at him.

 

“This is bullshit...” grumbled InuYasha as he yanked off his shirt. “Hijin-ketsusou!!” Slashing at his chest he threw his own blood at the ookami-youkai, watching it turn to daggers that tore into the youkai's exposed flesh. There was an initial yelp of shock, then deathly quiet.

 

“So the puppy wants to play...” Kouga snarled, licking at a rather prominent gash on his forearm.

 

“I'll take you apart, one piece at a time...” InuYasha cracked his knuckles, eyes agleam. “I owe that to Kagome, you said you would lay off eating humans... Oath breaker!!” And the two lunged at one another so viciously the air around them crackled with the energy, along with snarls and the occasional yelp when a mark was scored. So fast and violent were the attacks that it could not be discerned where one combatant ended and the other began.

 

Sesshoumaru looked down at the black stain spreading on his side, and sighed. His favorite white trench was ruined, and InuYasha's intervention had prevented him gleaning any more information from the arrogant wolf. Walking back to the vehicle, he motioned to the driver to lower the window.

 

“Sir?” the driver inquired, glancing toward the fray.

 

“It's time...” was all he had to say, and the driver passed through the window the one and only firearm possessed by the Demon Lord , an antique .44 magnum revolver. “I hate to resort to this...” he sighed as he checked the cylinder, “InuYasha really shouldn't be exerting himself like this.” Slapping the cylinder closed, he raised the pistol and fired twice into the air.

 

The shock wave of the gunfire had an immediate effect on both of the combatants, as they reeled from the sound, separating, each shaking their heads against the ringing in their respective ears.

Casting a glance at his hand, Sesshoumaru swore under his breath, seeing where traces of the poison from his claws had marred the surface of the pistol, which he quickly lowered to aim directly at the Ookami-youkai.

 

“As this Sesshoumaru has already stated,” his voice was raised, though his expression remained impassive, “... it is a different world now, Kouga... Either adapt with the times, or disappear... The terrorizing of humans will stop, is that clear?” he pulled back the hammer, waiting for an answer.

 

InuYasha glowered at Sesshoumaru as he moved out of the line of fire to grab his shirt and hat off of the ground, violently slapping the dust off the latter against his knee, ignoring the multiple abrasions on his torso and arms.

 

“Who died and made you God, Asshole?” growled Kouga as he backed away, unsure of his ability to dodge the next bullet.

 

“I will say it so you can understand it, whelp... He who wields the power, and right now that power is this Smith and Wesson... also issues the edicts. No... more... people. Humans are not your enemy... Is that understood?”

 

“Just fuckin' use that thing and get it over with, Jackass...” hissed InuYasha, “He's an oath breaker! He promised to never do that again... he promised Kagome!”

 

“Give me a break!! The Miko's been dead over 500 years!!” Kouga countered. “As your dear brother here just said... it's a different world now...”

 

“An oath is an oath, Kouga!! How many have you eaten... I mean personally??” InuYasha waved his hands, “No... never mind... don't answer that, I really don't wanna know.” He scowled with disgust as he slipped the hat on his head and crossed his arms across his chest.

 

“If only I could get inside your mind, wolf...” his voice but a whisper, Sesshoumaru lowered the weapon, carefully dropping the hammer. “All this bloodshed could be avoided.”

 

“It's a little late for negotiations, bastard...” Kouga bared his fangs, “You made sure of that when you murdered Ayame.”

 

“It was not my first attempt to discuss these issues with you... You refusals only escalate the problem, Kouga,” Sesshoumaru was a testament of calm. “It is not going to go away... unless you make it go away by co-operating. This Sesshoumaru is not the only voice here, I represent many...”

 

“Cut the crap, Sesshoumaru!!” Interjected InuYasha, his irritation tangible. “All your fancy words are worthless... The only way to stop this mangy fuck is to kill him!” And he stepped forward menacingly.

 

Crouching on the ground, Kouga eyed the weapon that was still in the inu-youkai's hand. This had not gone as planned, not at all. But he would be damned if he was going to roll over and play dead.

There was too much at stake. The quality of life for all youkai was in the balance here, and he could not ... would not budge.

 

“This isn't over, mutt... Not by a long shot...” he hissed as he jumped back and up to a low branch of a nearby pine. “This is bigger than you can possibly imagine, Sesshoumaru... and you better watch your back, old man... because I am watching you... your hide will grace the floor of my great hall once this is done... I promise you that!” With the parting threat, he transformed to an image of dark wind, briefly disturbing the fog that surrounded them as he bolted down the hillside.

 

“Why the fuck didn't you kill him??” demanded InuYasha as he stood arms folded across his chest, glaring at his brother.

 

“He challenges this Sesshoumaru for a position that is actually... nonexistent in this era. Use of a firearm would be wholly inappropriate in this circumstance. Get in the car, halfbreed... you are bleeding.”

 

“Bah! It's just a scratch... what the fuck are you talking about? What position?” His gaze fell on the blackened area of the youkai's left side. He opened the door and motioned for Sesshoumaru to get in first.

 

“There is no Tai-Youkai here...” He settled himself into the seat, unsuccessfully masking his discomfort from the injury. “Treaties have been in place for centuries among the native youkai. Kouga seems to feel that this arrangement is... unsuitable, or so it appears.”

 

“So what you are saying is... he wants to be King Shit, and he thinks if he kills you he'll get it?” InuYasha snorted.

 

“Something tells me there is more to it than that. There is something that he is hiding.” The limousine had reached the gates, and Sesshoumaru heard the driver pass the word that they were in need of the healer. He watched as InuYasha once again became completely absorbed in the old, scratched image of the young miko.

 

“There is something you must realize, InuYasha,” he ventured.

 

“Nani...” the hanyou's response was vague, as though he wouldn't hear what he was being told.

 

Sesshoumaru leaned forward painfully, to try to catch his eye. Reaching his hand out, he touched his brother's leg lightly. InuYasha finally looked up into his intense gaze.

 

“The Miko...” the demon nodded toward the picture. “She is not that person, now... That image that you treasure is a thing from the past.”

 

“What's your point, Jackass?”

 

“You realize, she can't possibly look the same.”

 

“Huh?” InuYasha grasped the picture more tightly, looking at it, then glaring at his brother.

 

“You once told me that the Miko was also the one who pinned you... correct?”

 

“Yeah... when she broke the seal she was fixing her own mistake...”

 

“So... tell me, little brother... Did your Kagome... look like Kikyou?”

 

“What kind of question is that??? Of course she didn't look like Kikyou...”

 

“It's a relevant one, be assured.” Sesshoumaru sat back heavily on his seat.

 

“At first, I thought she was Kikyou... I wanted to kill her...”

 

“Hn,” the demon grunted. “what changed your mind?”

 

InuYasha thought on this for a moment, remembering that first meeting, playing it out in his mind. He remembered the conflict... those eyes...

 

“Her scent was all wrong. But it's not like I had a lot of time to think about it, the damn centipede was trying to kill her. All I cared about was getting rid of it and getting the jewel.” He cast his eyes down at the old photograph. That damn jewel, brought nothing but pain...

 

The limousine had reached the mansion, and a group of people rushed down to the car, to assist their Lords into the house and back to the healers wing. InuYasha shrugged off the offers of assistance up the steps with a growl, as he watched the Great Bear practically haul the Demon Lord up and in with great haste, asking questions about how the wound came about. As they disappeared down the hall, the hanyou waved off the concerned questions of the remaining servants, and turned to look out into the foggy night.

 

Where the hell are you, Kagome? Don't you know that I need you here... by my side?

 

 

 

 

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The sound of the waves brought a serene sense of comfort as she lit a stick of incense, using caution to avoid the long wide sleeves of her flowing caftan. Gently sliding the incense into the feather shaped holder on her mantle, she adjusted her wireless headset. It tended to hook into her long chestnut locks, and pulled uncomfortably at the most inconvenient of times.

 

The calls had been slow, but then the full moon always made up for that. At that thought she smiled, as she picked up her cards and wandered to her reading table. There was a slight fluctuation in the flickering candle light, as though a breeze had brushed through the room, and this caused her to look up from the layout she had begun. Glancing at the candelabra on the table, she noticed a shifting in the fog just outside the sliding glass door. The elven face that formed beyond in the mist gave her a shock and she gasped. Moving to her computer to log off the network, ending her availability for incoming calls, she quickly made her way through the kitchen.

 

“You look like hell,” she observed as she slid open the door to see her number one client leaning on the banister of the porch.

 

“Your house stinks...” came his reply, as he sauntered into her kitchen glancing around. “How can all these damn plants breath when you burn that shit??”

 

“They seem to like it just fine, Kouga... you are the one with the skewed sense of smell. That's Nag Champa, it's delicious!” She backed up to scan the wounds he was sporting, as she pulled free the headset and set it on the table. “I think we better clean you up... bad night?” She went to the cupboard to pull out the box she used for first aid supplies.

 

“Feh... fucking dogs,” he crouched on the floor.

 

“Use a chair, I can't reach you down there... what dogs?”

 

“I really can't stand that stench, Miranda... where are my fucking cigarettes?”

 

“On top of the fridge, where they always are... you are in a foul mood tonight...”

 

Kouga rose and looking up, reached for the pack of Marlboro reds, then sauntered to the candelabra and lit one off one of the flames. The only reason he smoked them was to mask the strange and usually unsavory odors in Miranda's house.

 

“The Goddess doesn't like that, you know...” she commented offhandedly as she moved in closer to examine the damage. “This one on your neck... no dog did this, this look like a whip mark.”

 

“So the dog had a whip... he also had a gun...” he glared at her. “You didn't tell me about the competition I would be encountering, Miranda...” he grabbed the hand that was gingerly tracing the area around his neck wound. “Why is that?”

 

Miranda knew this temper, she refused to cower to him. Matching his glare with her own intensity, she grimaced at the pressure on her wrist.

 

“I have held nothing back from you, Kouga... you know the readings aren't exact. I have told you that from the beginning. Let go, please, you are scratching me... you really should get a manicure,”and she yanked her arm back from his grasp.

 

“You foretold the return of the Priestess... and the ancient Jewel... we learned of a girl, she has the same name as the Priestess... She has power too, I have been told.”

 

“So find her, and you will most likely find your Jewel,” she cast off glibly, as she opened her box to pull out disinfectant wipes. “Strange that she would have the same name, but it just makes it easier for you, don't you think?”

 

Kouga tossed the cigarette into the unused fireplace, and went to sit in one of the chairs by the table. As she gently wiped at his neck and then at his arm, as he considered the 'easier' part of her comment.

 

“What do you know about a Seth Inudono?” he asked, eyes narrowing on her.

 

“Triple D Enterprises? He's a recluse, very few have ever actually seen him,” she looked up into his eyes, which glowed with the candle light. “I don't know him, personally. I have invested in some stocks in one of two of his subsidiary companies. Decent return, too... why do you ask?” and she returned to her ministrations.

 

“He's the dog... and I want him dead.”

 

“What in the world are you talking about? You sound like you are delirious.” She backed up to peer at the strange man that she thought she had come to know. “Kouga, the man shits money, his security has got to be better than the White House. What's this grudge you have with him?”

 

“He is the competition... he's made moves...”

 

“That's ludicrous... what use could he possibly have with this rock you are looking for?”

 

“Miranda...” he reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, a hollowness in his eyes. “The son-of-a-bitch murdered Ayame.”

 

She dropped the little disinfectant towel onto the table, her jaw slack as she stared at him in disbelief. This situation was growing to proportions that she was unsure she knew how to deal with.

 

“When?”

 

“Last weekend, while I was... overseas,” he snarled. He hadn't told anyone where he was going, or why... and for good reasons.

 

Miranda's hand shook as she reached for the pack of cigarettes, drawing one out, then reaching up to light it off a flame on the candelabra.

 

“Thought the Goddess didn't like that...” Kouga muttered.

 

“She'll get over it...” Miranda responded, her face pinched against the smoke.

 

“How?” she asked simply.

 

“By his own hand. Or maybe teeth would be a better description...” his voice was raspy.

 

“Why didn't I see it? Surely something this final would show it's self... what do you mean... teeth??” her eyes widened, as she visualized horror movie attacks, werewolves and vampires... cat-people... and suddenly an ancient David Bowie song began running in her head. “Putting out the Fire with Gasoline...” she mumbled.

 

“What the fuck are you talking about, witch??” demanded Kouga, who had watched her eyes shift as her fear spiked... to be quashed by something else... what was that?

 

“Its the title of an old song... an old saying... gasoline is combustible, and when dumped on a fire, doesn't smother it, but fuels it. You said he used his teeth??” her expression was incredulous. “That's a bit over the top... what kind of monster is this guy??”

 

“The worst kind... the kind with money, power and...” he hesitated, “... some kind of god complex... and the scariest part is... he actually believes he's right,” he sighed.

 

“What did the police say? Surely he left some kind of evidence... or do you think he can buy himself out of trouble with the law?” she made a face at the cigarette, and rose to dowse it at the faucet.

 

“No police... she's gone, I know who did it... there is nothing they can do.”

 

“So now you are going to take it upon yourself to avenge her... against Inudono? Do you really think that is wise? He really sounds like a lunatic...” she trailed off, shaking her head, as she tossed the waterlogged butt into the trash.

 

“You don't know the half of it... he's looking for the Priestess too. But I don't think for the same reasons.”

 

“So he isn't after the Jewel? Do you think he even knows about the Jewel? Does the same fate wait for the Priestess as your Ayame met?” Her barrage of questions were like hammers on his soul, as Kouga raised his hand to ward them off. Returning to her seat, she ceased the questioning as she took his hand in both of her own, blinking back reactive tears.

 

“Can I stay here tonight? I really don't want to be alone right now,” the mournful look in his eyes pulled at her heart even more.

 

“Sure Kouga, but I think you should have that arm looked at... want me to run you to the ER?” she grimaced at the open wound on his arm.

 

“Just wrap it tight, Miranda... it'll be fine by morning,” he reached over to the box and pulled out a roll of gauze and handed it to her.

 

“Have I told you lately how strange you are?” she asked as she began winding the gauze around his forearm.

 

“Not for at least a couple of weeks...”

 

“That long? I must be slacking...” their eyes locked as she smoothed the dressing.

 

“Or maybe... you are growing accustomed to my ways...” his smile was grim.

 

 

 

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