InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forever a Shadow ❯ Retribution ( Chapter 24 )

24. Retribution

 

 

 

 

Kikyo sat next to Suki's bed, the wheelchair nearly as uncomfortable as the bed she had laid in forever it seemed. Ayame had left her alone with the unresponsive child, hoping perhaps, upon hearing her mothers voice maybe the girl would awaken. Thirty minutes later Ayame reappeared with a petite woman in her shadow. The vibrant happy scrubs the elfin like woman wore did nothing but darken Kikyo's spirits further.

 

 

“Kikyo this is Kanna, she is a pediatric nurse practitioner from Charity, Dr. Ruben asked for her to transfer over to Mercy, there are really not too many of us that know how to deal specifically with youkai and hanyou children.” Ayame stepped back allowing Kanna further access into the room.

 

 

Kanna's vacant eyes briefly fell upon the unresponsive Suki, then she looked to the downtrodden mother in the wheelchair, Kikyo looked positively ailing, as if she would pass from thus world to the next at any moment being in her daughters presence.

 

 

Kanna knelt before the anguished mother, placing her cold hands over Kikyo's shaking interlaced fingers that lay in her lap. “I know how hard this must be for you, to know so much about the workings of the mind and body yourself and yet you are unable to help your own daughter, it must be torture, if it were me it would have driven me to madness. You must indeed have a stout constitution.”

 

 

Ayame scowled at the NP as she stooped to talk to Kikyo, Ayame had become incredibly protective of Kikyo in the past month, thinking of her as a sister or friend rather than a patient. However the paperwork supplied to her and Sesshomaru's men regarding this aloof youkai seemed legitimate, but why the attending would want more cooks in the kitchen she didn't know, and Ayame was not supposed to question.

 

 

“You daughter Kari is being discharged tonight, is your husband coming to take her home? I need to go over with him the medications that will need to be continued for the next week or so for Karisuma.” Kanna noticed the pain and anger briefly flashed through Kikyo's eyes at the mention of her husband, Kanna already knew Inuyasha had not been seen in the hospital for well over twenty-four hours, but the youkai could not stop herself from adding to Kikyo's discomfort.

 

 

Kikyo looked over to Ayame then back at the woman before her. “No, my husband is… busy with other problems at the moment. Karisuma will be going home with her Aunt Rin. At least until either Inuyasha is back or I am released myself.” Kikyo gripped the armrests of the wheelchair, fighting back tears. How could Inuyasha do this to their children?

 

 

“Oh, I'm sorry, did I dredge up something painful? Are you two divorced or something, I didn't know? Divorce is so hard on children, it's too bad when seemingly happy families fall apart.” Kanna could not help but inwardly smile; she could plainly see the suffering in Kikyo's face.

 

 

“Alright honey, lets get you back to your room, and I'll get your afternoon cocktail ready.” Ayame stepped in unintentionally yanking the wheelchair away from Kanna. “We will look in on Suki a bit later.” Ayame rushed Kikyo into the hall. “Is it just me or did that woman give you the creeps too?”

 

 

“I… she is very uncouth, who would ask about a strangers relationship like that, how dare she act as if she knew me or something.” Kikyo whispered, rubbing at her head, which was unceremoniously pounding once again. “Thank you for pulling me out of there.”

 

 

Kikyo slumped into the back of the wheelchair, she felt very weak, and completely exhausted from her little jaunt out of her room, at the moment all she could think about was rest, it was a nice change from dwelling on Inuyasha's infidelity and her twins health. The tediousness of her present life was draining the soul from Kikyo, and she could readily feel it all slipping away. Unfortunately there was nothing that could be done to stop it as everything remained, if her friends were traitors, and her family was afraid to come near her. Could it be that the only one looking out for her a youkai nurse who barely knew her?

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Kanna shined a light into the girls unresponsive pupils, there was still massive head trauma at work here, the doctors had already proceeded with the craniotomy to reduce pressure from the swelling, and the drains were all in place and clear, the girl was going to have to come out of this on her own. The one thing that the child did have in her favor was the blood of a great youkai family running through her veins, if she had been merely human the child would have been dead long ago.

 

 

 

Kanna had taken on so many identities through her long lifetime, it all came as second nature to the youkai, she followed orders well and the petite woman did intend to follow through with the shattering of Kikyo's life. Then again wasn't she being blackmailed as well, the bastard held the life of her younger sister over Kanna's head, Kanna could in a perverse way feel for Kikyo, she was herself, responsible for Kagura's life even if Kagura did not realize she was sleeping with a truly evil monster. Kikyo was his target, and manipulating the lives of her children would play out, as Kanna planned, after all what Mother wouldn't give everything for the life of their child? Kanna pulled a syringe from the depths of her pocket, the translucent liquid would kill the little girl, no autopsy would be done, it would be assumed heart failure due to weeks of stress from a worn out body. She shoved the deadly object back into its hiding place, something about this bothered Kanna's mind and heart, she had killed children before, so it had nothing to do with guilt, perhaps it was the fact that when her job was completed Kagura would more than not still die. Kanna could put nothing past Naraku, not now anyway, the vile personality had reawakened and the bastard was even more treacherous. Kanna liked him better as the low life PI.

 

 

“I'll let you live another day little one.” Kanna whispered and soundlessly exited the room catching the lights on the way out. She turned back to the door looking at the peaceful face of the silver haired child. “I'm sorry.”

 

 

She walked slowly back to the nurses desk, a smile on her face, the grin faded as she met the glaring eyes of her superior Ayame as Kanna took a seat before a computer screen.

 

 

“Listen, maybe you guys at county treat your patients differently, but Mercy is a private facility, and our patients are more like honored royalty than anything else. It is not all right to pry into the lives of our guests. Understand? That lady has gone through hell and back and I'll be damned if you are going to unduly cause that soft-hearted woman any more mental stress.” Ayame stood from her chair glaring down at a stone faced Kanna. “If you can not handle that you can just get your ass back to Charity. Mr.Chikara won't stand for this either, I only need to say one word to him and—“

 

 

“Yes, I get it.” Kanna rose from the seat and walked away from Ayame. She wondered how long she would be allowed to remain until Sesshomaru or his men figured out she was not what she seemed, already being disliked by the head nurse Ayame was not a favorable portent.

 

 

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

 

 

Inuyasha sat in the darkness of the hotel suite, he had turned the overstuffed leather chair toward the open expanse of the sliding balcony doors, his feet propped up on the ottoman, a double scotch within arms reach, Inuyasha had spent the past ten hours the cooling darkness, it was comforting to him, yet lonely. The forlorn hanyou gazed out into the night, the snow was quickly falling, the local weatherman reported nearly half a foot of snow this night, Inuyasha continued to stair out into the distance through the flurries he could easily make out the mountains with his acute eyesight. Here he was in Ft.Collins waiting, waiting to rescue a woman who should have never taken a part of his heart when she disappeared. Inuyasha flipped open his cell phone scrolling to the number that belonged to Kikyo's hospital room, by all the gods she has to be furious, bet she won't even answer let alone speak to me.

 

 

Grumbling to himself in the dim room Inuyasha shut his phone feeling so much the traitor. In all honesty to himself he knew damn well that, that was exactly what he was, a deserter to his family, yet, the gnawing idea that he was trying to protect a member of his family would not fade away, Kagome was carrying his child, and he'd be damned to let Kouga or Sesshomaru lay one claw on his heir. Even if the child was a proclaimed bastard to the family. Everyone had to realize there would never be a `happily ever after' with Kagome, he knew it, as did Kikyo, Kagome would never have him again.

 

 

Overcome, Inuyasha inadvertently opened his cell going straight to Kikyo's number and pushed send before he could internally cry out a retreat. It rang only once before Kikyo lifted the receiver.

 

 

Inuyasha took in a deep cleansing breath, and a huge gulp of his scotch, the warm burn running down his throat snapped him to attention. “She's pregnant with my child. That's why I left.” Inuyasha exhaled roughly, the air was shuddering in his lungs, and for a brief second he felt as if he would begin to hyperventilate at any instant.

 

 

There was dead silence on the other end of the line, as Inuyasha felt the twinge of panic try to seize him mind and body all at once. “I know you heard me Kikyo. Please.” His voice pleaded desperately.

 

 

“What do you wish for me to say Inuyasha?” Kikyo's voice was soft, full of sadness and regret.

 

 

“I love you, I never wanted any of this to happen.” Inuyasha's head hung down his heart beating within his chest feeling as if it was being crushed under an enormous weight.

 

 

“I am certain you didn't want to get caught, but if you never wanted this to happen you should have kept your pants zipped, and out of that whore's bed.” Kikyo laughed nervously with her frustration over the phone, abruptly the laughter stopped and soft weeping was heard for but a moment. “Why do you hate me so Inuyasha? Have I been sub par as a wife, did I do something wrong? Or were you simply tired of me and the girls?”

 

 

Blinding hot tears stung at Inuyasha's eyes, hearing the questions of why were simply questions he could not answer, either to himself or his wife, whom disserved such answers.

 

 

“I…am…so…sorry Kikyo. I love you so much.” A sob broke through Inuyasha's voice, his clawed left hand tugged at fistfuls of silver strands in his anguish. “Forgive me please.” The hanyou whispered over the stillness of the line.

 

 

“I do not think it is within me to forgive you Inuyasha, however I can not help myself but to love you, I've always loved you, and I will continue to love you, and…” Kikyo immediately stopped herself, her tears a distant memory, she knew that all she wanted was her husband, no matter what. “and… I will love your child with that woman.”

 

 

Inuyasha inadvertently sobbed again trying to ebb the flow of his tears. “What are you saying?”

 

 

“Bring your child home, we'll figure out the rest together.” The line went dead, and Kikyo was gone before she changed her mind on the matter.

 

 

Inuyasha sat in the cold darkness swallowing the two shots worth of scotch in one gulp. Inuyasha's tear bleary eyes once again watching the snowfall mere feet from him dancing on the other side of the glass. His heart was beating strong now, Kikyo wanted him to come home, and never in his most secret hopes of his heart did he expect the call to end in such a positive manner.

 

 

Inuyasha sighed standing from his chair, it was nearly time. The hanyou meticulously pulled his long silver hair into a ponytail securing it with a black band. Walking across the hotel room he flexed his clawed fingers they popped harmoniously gearing up to do their magic this night, as Inuyasha made his way to the dark closet pulling out a full length black leather trench coat impeccably tailored for him alone, a pocket sewn in just to house the Tetsusaiga. The coat fluttered around him as he fluidly slipped in his arms, standing before a full-length mirror all that was seen in the shadow filled room was a pair of xanthic eyes staring back from his reflection. Inuyasha retrieved the hidden Tetsusaiga placing it in the secret part of his coat. Determined in his plan, with a look of resolve on his face Inuyasha left the room his black SUV would be waiting for him downstairs as requested. Kagome was only thirty minutes away, and if Sota's information was correct he would be there to greet the jet, if it was to be a reunion of blood and tears so be it, it was all up to those who held Kagome.

 

 

“Lets do this.” Inuyasha muttered to himself as he pulled away from the hotel.

 

 

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

 

 

Shippo stared out the pitch-black window watching the snow fly by, Kagome was asleep, yet he was unable, the situation did not deem itself safe by any means. Yes, they were out of the InuTaisho's hands, but the mercenaries that held them Shippo definitely did not trust, even if they owed something to Sota. The eldest was not bashful about his attraction to Kagome, if he wished he could violate her at any moment and there would be nothing he could do to stop it save giving beaten to death when Kagome would be taken either way. The Kitsune was not prepared for that grim reality just yet, at least they were back in the states, the fifteen-hour's they spent of the plane were hopefully coming to an end. Wherever they were landing it was snowing, and the wind was kicking up. The cabin was dark all except for the running lights on the floor, and the heavyset youkai Manten was snoring away, Shippo kept his eyes trained on the back of Hiten's head wondering how he was going to get Kagome out of this situation, however even after the long plane trip he had come up with nothing.

 

 

Abruptly Hiten rose from his seat, an unnerving grin on his face as he stalked toward where Kagome was sleeping beside Shippo. The thunder youkai leaned over into Shippo's face, that creepy grin still on his lips.

 

 

“Wake that bitch up, we're about to land. And don't get any bright ideas about making a run for it, were landing at a private airstrip surrounded by nothing but forest, you may make it but the woman would not last an hour in the freezing conditions.” Hiten chuckled aloud walking past his brother slapping him roughly on the arm. “Get up Manten.”

 

 

Shippo turned to Kagome stroking the hair out of her face; she was truly lovely, this poor woman who had everything in the world go wrong for her so suddenly. She positively loved the hanyou, but from what Shippo gathered reading between the lines he was coming to protect his heir, not rekindle their doomed relationship. However Kagome refused to acknowledge that fact, and there was nothing Shippo could do to make her see.

 

 

Shippo bent to her ear. “Kagome time to wake up.” The Kitsune whispered softly, still caressing the hair from her eyes.

 

 

“Inuyasha.” Kagome mumbled nearly incoherently, but it was easy enough for Shippo to make out.

 

 

“Oh god, she's dreaming about him.” Shippo moaned to himself.

 

 

The plane bounced through a pocket of turbulence, jostling Kagome to wakefulness. “What the—“ Kagome blinked hard as her surroundings came into focus. “oh, were still with them.” Kagome righted herself in her seat, glaring at Hiten as he passed by flashing her a predatory smile. “Asshole.” She muttered pulling her hair behind her shoulders.

 

 

Shippo could not help but smile, how he loved the woman beside him, she had become a sister that he never had, the Kitsune knew he would gladly give anything for her safety, he had been escorting her around the world for the hell of it, so what did that make him? A fool, or a devoted ally? Maybe a foolish ally?

 

 

“Wherever we are landing it's snowing like crazy, ready for this?” Kagome silently nodded to Shippo. “One way or another we'll get out of this alright?”

 

 

“Inuyasha is coming.” Kagome looked Shippo straight in the eyes, the belief that this rich hanyou would be her rescuer was unwavering.

 

 

All Shippo could do was sigh, and nod in acceptance. However the doubts that her lover would come were far to strong for Shippo to ignore, he would have to get Kagome out of this, at the cost of his own life if it came down to it, he had already made his peace with that possible outcome of the situation, and there were no regrets in his heart.

 

 

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

 

 

He sat in the darkness of the night leaning against the jet-black 4 x 4, his right hand resting on Tetsusaiga's hilt as the little jet came in for a bumpy landing on the private runway. There were few lights to be seen on in the interior, but Inuyasha could have sworn he glimpsed Kagome's silhouette in the blackness. The shadowy figure of Inuyasha began walking alongside the tree line following the path of the plane, the wing lights flashing brightly as if they belonged on a Christmas tree, the lights were a welcome beacon, as was intense snowfall, Inuyasha was grateful for both. The burning jet fuel overpowered his acute sense of smell, but at least the snow gave him cover and the light would lead him to Kagome and his unborn child. As he drew Tetsusaiga Inuyasha smiled, it had been far to long since the blade had tasted blood, and the fang seemed to sing with the desire for carnage.

 

 

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

 

 

Kouga's descent madness knew no bounds now that his cousins who provided him with a conscience were gone, he was a lunatic ruled only by instinct and emotion. The anger was all consuming, and the news that his mate-to-be was whisked away by yet another party simply fueled the fire that burned in his veins. The alpha did however have enough of a mind about him to realize that Kagome was being taken out of the country. Whoever had her would not be so bold to move her through a public airport where Sesshomaru would surely spot her and take his woman into custody once again, so the next hunch which played out was the private airfields, and it just so happened Kagome was escorted onto a plane the very time he was slaughtering Sesshomaru's agent, and wounding his cousin. Within less than an hour Kouga had the flight plan and a plane at his disposal, even if the air controller was not so forthcoming with the information, the man quickly changed his tune after having the bones of his right hand turned to powder in Kouga's grip. Pain was such a powerful tool, and humans far too weak to stomach much of it.

 

 

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

 

 

“We have Sota sir, it seems your brother contacted him nearly 24 hours ago, it appears he's going after the Higurashi woman, Inuyasha is aware that she is pregnant.” Kohaku reported with military like speech over the phone to his boss. “We found the bodies of Yura and her partner in Glasgow, the two must have been dispatched by the wolf and his pack, the massacre is similar to the wolf packs frenzy feedings, just like the ones in London. What are your orders sir?”

 

 

Sesshomaru sat alone in a café half a block from the hospital, he was trying to enjoy a peaceful meal for once, yet like always news had to interrupt and darken his mood. It was going on one o'clock in the afternoon in the UK, it did not take his people long to find Yura, Kagome was now in someone else's hands and his brother was on their heels of course.

 

 

Sesshomaru took a breath, keeping his composure before responding. “I want you to find Kagome Higurashi, and my brother. If you need more people you have them, just find the woman, she is making a mockery of my life, how is it that we can not find one human woman?” Irritation began to slink into Sesshomaru's smooth voice; it severely rattled Kohaku who was an ocean away. “Can you do that for me Kohaku?”

 

 

“Yes sir.” Kohaku responded without even thinking, but he knew that at this point failure was not an acceptable option. Then again when it came to Sesshomaru there was no such thing as failure.

 

 

Sesshomaru hung up the cell without another word, the braised fillet with mushrooms in white wine before him was becoming cold, and the Taiyoukai suddenly lost all of his appetite. The impressively dressed Sesshomaru stood from the table drawing all eyes to him both female and male, the waiter offered his apologies if the meal was flawed to which Sesshomaru waved him away, he wanted nothing of food, he wanted retribution, he wanted blood, somewhere out there the wolf was killing his people, and there would be reparations. By the blood of his father the wolf tribe would forfeit dearly for their alpha's lack in judgment.