InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forever a Shadow ❯ A Friend in the Night ( Chapter 11 )

 

A Friend in the Night

 

 

The words of Kagome's intrusion on the street, harsh phrases of stupid bitch and so forth did not even register in her mind, all Kagome wanted to do was run, run far away from this now ruined life she once loved in the states. She readily had the money to fly to London maybe being with her little brother was what she should do, Kagome could go home to her mother, yet the disgrace she would cause her remaining relatives would be far to much to bare. How could she expect her mother to ever look on her daughters face with love ever again?

 

 

“Daddy I'm so sorry.” Kagome sniffled as she tried to wipe the tears from her face, but the tears refused to stop. Sango was right, she had no right to try and see Inuyasha. “You really fucked up this time.” Kagome chastised herself, not caring who heard her words, as her sprint turned into a fast walk; her feet simply led the way to nowhere.

 

 

Unsure of where to go, the only thing she knew for sure was that she did not want to see Kouga, or any other of her so called fair weather friends, the only friend to her heart was the one person she could not see, what if she never saw Inuyasha again? That realization nearly caused the minimal amount of food in her stomach to escape her body, the nausea was overpowering, it would come no matter how hard she tried to fight it, Kagome ducked into a dark doorway and retched, very unladylike, and Momma would be so disappointed in her little spoiled rotten princess.

 

 

“Hey, you alright?” An unfamiliar masculine voice spoke to Kagome from behind.

 

 

Kagome froze, her hand gripping the splintered doorway tightly that gave her some support, with her free hand Kagome wiped the spittle from her lips with the back of her hand. Okay maybe he's some homicidal maniac; perhaps dying would not be such a bad thing. The brief thought of her demise was overpowered with a fear of dying that was normally painful when it came to being murdered.

 

 

“You high or something lady?” The man's voice carried the tones of youth, this concerned person was a kid, but it still didn't mean he wasn't a homicidal maniac with a machete.

 

Her stomach still felt as if it was twisting in on itself, however there was nothing left to bring up, yet the gut punching nausea continued even after her moment in the vomitorium, yet the grandeur in her chosen doorway being nothing as the days in ancient Rome. Slowly straightening herself Kagome sniffled, with still watering eyes turned to face her either killer or savoir.

 

 

“No, not high, but I wish I was.” Kagome spoke under her breath. “Thanks for the concern, I'm just a bit out of sorts, and I don't do this all the time, I'm no junkie, I'm just in emotional hell right now, and I really don't need company.” Kagome ran the cleaner of the two of her hands through her hair, finally looking into the eyes of her pseudo rescuer. “Those can't be real.” Kagome found herself staring deeply into the most unusual aqua blue eyes she had ever seen, one could get lost in those eyes.

 

 

“I'm guessing those boobs are as real as my eye color, right?”

 

 

“Touché.” Kagome actually found herself giggling at the young man, who appeared no older than sixteen, but by the glint of streetlight off of his fangs and slightly pointed ears let Kagome know she was in the presence of once again another youkai.

 

 

“Well now that's settled, I'm Shippo, an' don't get me wrong when I say this, I'm not trying to pick you up or nothing, but you have a place to stay?” The sudden swish of a tail, made Kagome smile.

 

 

Noticing the flame red hair in conjuncture with the tan tipped tail she figured his variety of youkai. “Okay either coyote or fox right?”

 

 

“You're good, most try to lump all of us in either dog of wolf, but yea, I'm Kitsune.” Shippo smiled broadly, so can I buy you some coffee, get you a cab so you can go home? Anything I could do to help a damsel in intestinal distress.” The youth smiled, bowing slightly, trying to play the gentleman.

 

 

“I don't want to go home, he will find me there, I just don't want to deal with any of them right now.” Kagome's heart sank at the thought of Inuyasha, she hoped he was alright, Kagome wanted it to be him that was offering to help her, not that this Shippo kid was being nothing but sweet. “I'll take that coffee Shippo.” The kitsune offered Kagome his arm to give support, and Kagome took it gratefully. “How chivalrous of you Shippo.”

 

Shippo led Kagome a little over seven blocks, and a few turns, Kagome was completely lost, she should be scared out of her wits about going with a stranger, but something about Shippo made her feel at ease, it was a feeling akin to her brother Sota. Boy would her face be red if he ended up killing her in one of the many dark ally ways they passed. Finally they stopped walking Kaogme looked at the edifice of an old building, cleverly painted in cheerful flowers, rainbows and peace signs.

 

 

“Yea, it's a hippy joint, but they make a wicked cup of coffee. Come on, let's get your shivering to stop.” Shippo held the door as Kagome crossed the threshold with a pleasant warm breeze met her face, and the aromas of fantastic smelling coffees met her nose.

 

 

“I didn't even realize I was cold.” Kagome remembered her brand new cashmere coat sitting in Kouga's back seat. “Damn there's a grand I won't see for a while.” Kagome muttered as her cell phone began singing to her from her purse.

 

 

Rolling her eyes in frustration Kagome followed Shippo to a corner table, as she tried in vein to ignore the music, she knew it was Kouga, and Kagome was sure as hell not ready to talk to the bastard who did nothing to protect her. Shippo sat across from her just staring at her with a small smile on his boyish face.

 

 

“So that the wolf you're running from on the phone?” Candidly the question slipped from Shippo's lips. The surprised look from Kagome indicated she really did not understand the subtleties of youkai anatomy, then again not many truly did. “His scent is all over you. There is something else as well.”

 

 

Shippo paused, and Kagome felt her heart skip a beat. Please don't smell Inuyasha, please don't smell Inuyasha, I swear I've taken a shower since then.

 

 

“You're engaged to him, but you don't love him.” Shippo winked to her.

 

 

“What you a psychic?” Kagome stuttered in disbelief, yet relieved he did not smell Inuyasha on her, god, was she a youkai slut or what?

 

 

“Nah, saw the ring, and as soon as I mentioned the wolf your breathing became erratic, so, you're hiding something from him, just a guess that you don't love him. But I was right wasn't I?”

 

 

“Yea, there is this other guy.” Kagome's head lolled down, her face hidden in a cascade of pitch hair.

 

 

“Hold that thought, I'll get us some coffee.” Shippo stood looking down at the seeming to be miserable woman he wished desperately to cheer up.

 

 

“Actually Shippo, how about hot chocolate.” Kagome whispered, still hidden in her hair. Suddenly the cold from outside crept deep into the marrow of Kagome's bones, the trembling returned, as did the nausea. The aroma of the coffee house was quite suddenly as appealing as a gynecological exam.

 

 

----------***----------

 

 

 

Inuyasha exited the limousine, the ride home had been in complete silence, Inuyasha even raised the divider between driver and passenger, the hanyou could not stand to make any eye contact with another living being. As the massive Tenkai opened the door, Inuyasha slinked out, giving a half-assed smile to his brothers' goon.

 

 

“I'll be quick.” Inuyasha flatly spoke.

 

 

“Take your time sir, I am not going any where.”

 

 

“I'm sure you're not.” Inuyasha put his key into the private elevator, breathing a sigh of relief when the ornate door opened, finally familiarity, even if it was only the elevator.

 

 

The doors opened slowly onto his empty home, darkness covering the entire place, the scent of his family seemed like a living being to his senses each footfall he could hear Kari and Suki running up the hall. As he stepped into his kitchen flicking on the lights, reflecting off the polished marble stood the apparition of Kikyo her long raven tresses caressing her thighs, and her chocolate eyes sparkling as she happily prepared a phantom meal in the kitchen she loved, the vision assaulted his sight only for a moment before dissolving away into nothingness as he doused the light.

 

 

 

“I can't do this.” Inuyasha raked his clawed hands through his hair tugging on the fistfuls of silver strands in frustration.

 

 

Walking through the darkness Inuyasha slowly plodded to the master bedroom, the thoughts of a shower relieved his tattered mind and body. Stripping off his clothes, leaving them heaped on the floor, enveloped by darkness Inuyasha made his way into the bathroom, the cold of the black marble floor sent a chill racing through his body, sending the fine hairs on his body to tingle in response.

 

 

Keeping the lights dim he turned on the multiple sprayer shower, immediately stepping in, not caring about the cold temperature that briefly lasted only to be replaced with scalding spray from all directions. Inuyasha collapsed the shower floor, allowing the heat to travel over his overwhelmed form, his long silver mane hung on his back, his ears drooped as he found himself thinking of Kagome, her image in his mind's eye surprising him, only adding to his guilt, she was the last image he wished to conjure up at this moment.

 

 

“What is wrong with me?” He asked out loud he wished for a response but only answered himself with silence.

 

 

Inuyasha endured the scalding shower, scrubbing his skin with the fragrant exclusive soaps Kikyo always bought from Saks, Inuyasha never really liked the smell of them, but now the bouquet from the soap made him feel better, it smelled like Kikyo, he wanted to be near to Kikyo. How pathetic was he to be at ease since he smelled like his mate, the same soaps he used to tease her over gave him a link to her, Kikyo was last to touch the aromatic bar. Okay now I truly am losing my mind.

 

 

Still psychologically spent, with pruned fingertips, and heat rising off of his skin from the shower Inuyasha collapsed onto their bed, a towel loosely tied around his waist, Inuyasha pulled the sheets and comforter around him wrapping himself in Kikyo's smell mixed with his own, for a brief second he felt at ease, closing his eyes he could imagine her with him in the room, her soft caress over his body, a touch she possessed that no other woman could rival; not even his adored Kagome. The urge to scream out his frustration was building, but Inuyasha knew it would do no good other than give him a hoarse voice and bruised vocal cords. Standing to his feet Inuyasha began to remake the bed he had just left in disarray, Kikyo loathed the idea of an unmade bed, even if their maid was paid for such menial duties, Kikyo refused to leave in the morning till she made their and the girls beds. It was one of Kikyo's many quirks that seemed like nothing to Inuyasha before now, but knowing how important it was to her Inuyasha remade it, probably not to Kikyo's approval, but he did try. Inuyasha missed her bizarre quirks, and would give anything for her to chastise him for messing the bed, and remaking it the wrong way, he just knew he put one of the seeming million decorative pillows in the wrong spot.

 

 

Dropping his towel on the floor, Inuyasha rummaged through his closet packing a small bag with changes of fresh clothes, and what hygiene products he needed, and finally dressing himself in a simple jeans and t-shirt, he went back into the bathroom finally brushing the tangles from his hair, leaving it wet, which Sesshomaru would hate. His brother was continually on his ass to cut his hair to conform to the society in which their fortunes were made, his hair was the one thing that Inuyasha would not back down on. Even his old man agreed with him, their sire had an even longer mane than Inuyasha till the day he mysteriously passed into the next realm.

 

 

Inuyasha turned out the bathroom light glancing around the empty room, sighing in disappointment; he grabbed the bag heading to the elevator. On the antique telephone table near the doors, were piled the letters from the past couple days. A manila envelope caught his attention; it was addressed to him, but no return address. Inuyasha's inquisitiveness took hold and he grabbed the envelope pulling out a cover letter and a photo.

 

 

Mr. Chinkara, your beloved wife is not what she seems to be, she will consume your heart. I will be in contact soon.

 

A Friend

 

 

 

The two lines of text perplexed Inuyasha, what the hell was going on? Inuyasha stared at the photo, even more bewildered, there was his mate Kikyo, but not the Kikyo he knew, this woman was so young, but the unmistakable visage did indeed belong to his wife. The photo was of a smiling Kikyo in her nursing scrubs, kneeling at the side of a patient wrapped nearly from hear to toe in bandages, all for one bloodshot eye staring at the cameras lens with a disturbing smile on the man's face.

 

“What the fuck does this mean?” Inuyasha scowled, stuffing the photo and note into his bag, he'd get to the bottom of this later, right now his family needed him.