InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forever a Shadow ❯ Lost and Found ( Chapter 20 )

20. Lost & Found

 

 

They sat silently on the train heading into the northern UK, so named Scotland. Shippo mentioned from there the next destination would be up entirely to Kagome. However at the moment Kagome could care less, all she wanted was for her baby, the only thing left to her of Inuyasha, would remain safe. Fleeing across Europe was definitely not safe. With deep trepidation she sat starring out the window of the sleeper car watching the sunset fade on the snow covered countryside, if Kagome had been in an inspirational mood it would have been breathtaking. Her companion Shippo held his own worries to himself, Kagome had become so despondent since they boarded the train in London.

 

 

“Hey Kagome…I was going to check out the dining car, care to join me, maybe a change in scenery?” Kagome gave no verbal response only a sad shake of her head, she wouldn't even turn to look at him. “Alright, um, guess I'll bring you something back for later okay?” Only a shrug of her shoulders this time. The Kitsune stood pulling on his jacket, drawing the shade at the door closed, he remained watching the bereaved woman for a brief instant before sighing and stepping out into the hallway. “God I need a beer.” Shippo muttered pacing off down the hall.

 

 

The door clicked closed as Kagome turned watching Shippo's shadow walk away. It all honesty she was hungry, and the baby did depend on her for nourishment, but all she could think of was Inuyasha, she needed Inuyasha even if all she had left were the memories of him to survive. Inuyasha would protect her from the dangers hunting in the darkness for her, Inuyasha had to protect her, but what if he wouldn't, what if Inuyasha shunned her, what would she do then? With that pessimistic thought Kagome began to sob, rolling to her side in a fetal position, wishing with all of her heart that this was all some sort of bad dream.

 

 

The darkness of nightfall cast the entire car in deep shadow; the only illumination was the yellow running light along the floor. Kagome sat up groggy wondering how long she lay there sobbing and losing herself in pity, at some point falling asleep. It must have been the unfamiliar movement of the train that finally stirred her awake, the sleep invigorated her, but the darkness wrapping itself around her made her feel completely vulnerable.

 

 

“Shippo? You in here?” No answer but the cool shadows.

 

 

With a heavy sigh Kagome forced herself to her feet in the disorienting car, fumbling blindly, greatly relieved when she found the light switch. Thankfully the light chased away the shadows, Kagome stood at the door, what plan of action to take, glancing at her watch she was surprised to find that she had slept for nearly three hours, but where the hell was Shippo? A paralyzing fear invaded Kagome's soul, what if he was found out? Kouga would definitely notice her scent all over him. If Sesshomaru's people had gotten so close to finding her at Sota's surely the wolf pack could not be to far behind. Kagome shuddered at the thought, briefly feeling as if she would faint her grip on the door became tighter, it had to be only anxiety, but the idea of doing this alone was nearly too much for Kagome to fathom. Somehow without conscience consent Kagome had come to depend so much on Shippo, she needed her Kitsune friend desperately.

 

 

Feeling a fool, Kagome brushed her hair back and put on her best fake smile, deciding to find her companion, be he in trouble or not. If Shippo was indeed in trouble what could she possibly do but surrender? One human woman against the wolves or Sesshomaru's highly trained men? Oh yea, she'd be screwed.

 

 

Kagome laughed curtly, stepping into the hall. “Well I'm just not gonna worry about that. Maybe he's just having a really long dinner.”

 

 

The walk to the dining car was much harder than Kagome expected, her over active imagination was playing jokes on her fatigued mind, horrible images of finding Shippo dead with a bullet wound between the eyes, or seeing him with his throat slit continued to bombard her each time Kagome closed her eyes. With a trembling hand Kagome opened the door to the dining car relieved when she could instantly see Shippo chatting it up with a striking dark haired woman at the bar. Feeling an overprotective fool Kagome almost turned to leave, but she noticed the woman's gaze go from Shippo then fixing on herself. There was some annoying little voice nagging at Kagome in the back of her mind, somehow, somewhere, a memory of recognition was screaming at Kagome, unfortunately she rarely listened to the little voice of reason in her head, now was no different. But still, who was the woman? Out of frustration Kagome felt the urge to scream, it was that moment that Shippo turned on his barstool spotting Kagome waving her over to the two. Kagome's better judgment was telling her absolutely no, however her feet went on there own accord.

 

 

“So my sleeping beauty awakens.” Shippo broadly smiled hugging Kagome tenderly, reeking of beer and cigarette smoke, so much Kagome fought the urge to vomit. “My dear Kagome this beautiful woman is—“

 

 

In a near whisper the recognition of the woman came to Kagome. “Yura.”

 

 

The name came from Kagome's lips nearly impossible to hear, yet the two youkai next to Kagome heard all to well, it was then she realized the woman chatting it up with Shippo was one of Sesshomaru's top agents in Europe. It was Yura who cleared Sota to work for the London office, and of course being the doting sister Kagome had been there. Kagome slumped against the bar holding her head in her hands, how could she be hopeful when Sesshomaru touched each corner of the globe.

 

 

“You can tell Sesshomaru to go fuck himself, I'm not going back.” Kagome mumbled out, fighting tears in the corner of her eyes, she'd be damned to cry before the woman.

 

 

Yura gave Shippo a predatory grin, taking a long drag from her cigarette, then forcefully crushing it out in the ashtray, pausing a brief moment before responding to Kagome.

 

 

“I am truly shocked that you remember me after one meeting. Guess I really am that memorable.”

 

 

 

Shippo finished off the last of his beer, slamming it down hard of the bar, the gravity of the situation sinking in slowly to his inebriated mind. “What have I done?”

 

 

“Honey did you honestly think we wouldn't find her?” She lifted her gaze to meet Yura's. The thin smile on Yura's lips made Kagome's blood run cold. “You really have no choice Ms. Higurashi, for some odd reason Lord Sesshomaru has made finding you the companies top international priority. Milord's agents were dispatched all over Europe, guess I just got lucky and ended up in the right train station.”

 

 

Shippo placed his head in his hands with a moan. “I'm so sorry Kagome.”

 

 

Kagome placed a reassuring hand on Shippo's back as she sat in the empty barstool to his right, she wished in vein that she could hammer down a few shots, it would definitely help to take the edge off, but even now she could think of nothing else but her baby.

 

 

“Why does he want me so badly, I have had no contact with Inuyasha for weeks? What does he want from me?” The thought of the baby scared the hell out of Kagome, but Sesshomaru couldn't know about the pregnancy. “You do know taking me would be kidnapping.”

 

 

Yura laughed with a glint in her eyes. “You know mortal laws mean nothing to the Taiyoukai, so don't try to pull that crap, you're grasping at straws like the desperate woman you are. So lets just call it protective custody.” Yura stood towering over Kagome by nearly four inches, mainly because of the black stiletto heels she wore, the youkai meticulously smoothed the wrinkles from the clingy black silk dress she wore, her eyes ever watchful of Kagome's movements. “You really have no choice, one way or the other you are leaving this train at the next station, and with in the next twenty-four hours you will be meeting with milord Sesshomaru. If you wish to make problems for me I can incapacitate you, but I would hate to do harm to the little bastard growing in your belly.”

 

Kagome went frightfully pale. “Wh…what did you just say?”

 

 

“Oh you stupid humans, really I know of your little secret the same way the kitsune did, after a certain point of gestation the female carrying a youkai, or hanyou whelp in your case, she begins to emit a very particular scent, call it a message board to all others that she is spoken for, and with child.” Kagome looked as if she would faint at any second. “Because you carry an heir of the great dog general their bloodline is incredibly strong. You more than likely got lucky with the wolf clan by only a few days, after that their alpha would have known, and from what I hear they are very possessive, more than likely killing you before you could voice a rebuttal.”

 

 

Kagome held onto the bar so tightly her knuckles went white. “So Sesshomaru knows?”

 

 

“No, not yet, but he will within the hour. Why don't you two go back and get some rest, the train won't be stopping for another four hours, so rest up while you can.” Yura leaned close to Shippo's ear whispering to him. “And don't try to be heroic I am not the only agent on this train, so just be a good little boy and comfort your friend there, an' make sure she doesn't do anything stupid herself.”

 

 

Shippo had to nearly drag a trembling Kagome out of the car, his friend sobbing uncontrollably as the door to the dining car shut behind them.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

The call came far too early in the morning for the Taiyoukai, yet the annoying ring did its job, stirring him from sleep at 3:39 in the morning. Opening his cell in the pitch blackness of the room sent a brief shock waves to his light sensitive eyes, only a mere microsecond for them to adjust before voicing a response to the caller in Scotland.

 

“Yes.” Although Sesshomaru was exhausted, and missing the company of his wife dearly, which his dreams echoed, he was still able to command a strong voice over the line.

 

 

“I see….yes, good job. Well, that is a problem that will need to be dealt with as soon as she is in our hands. No, no, bring her companion as well. All right, see you tomorrow. And tell Kohaku nice job.”

 

 

Sesshomaru got to his feet, he was far to tired to worry about appearances at this hour, all he really wanted to do was find out how Inuyasha was faring with his wife. Opening the door taking a step into the hall under the glaring fluorescents Sesshomaru had to pause a brief moment before his gaze adjusted catching the form of Miroku further down the hall sitting vigil at Kikyo's door.

 

 

The prominent counselor sat on the floor; his head lay in his crossed arms, which rested on his knees. Sesshomaru would have thought the man asleep, but the drop out priest raised his head as soon as Sesshomaru made one footfall. The passive demeanor of Miroku always surprised Sesshomaru, his relaxed manner and disarming smile were things not ken to ruthless attorneys, however Miroku was at the top of that ladder unopposed. But tonight, more so this morning, Miroku was simply a man worried about his friends, wearing casual attire, so unlike his second skin of hand tailored suits, the blue jeans, Henley and glaring white tennis shoes was a side of Miroku Sesshomaru rarely saw. At Sesshomaru's approach Miroku regained his footing leaning against the wall.

 

 

“Inuyasha is still in there, now whether he's asleep or dead I can't tell you, but Ayame came out smiling about an hour ago, so I think things are going well.”

 

 

Sesshomaru's calm face twisted to a frown as he thought of the new problem that had arisen. The damning news allotted him would devastate his sister-in-law, not to mention topple the already precarious marriage, Sesshomaru decided in that moment I would be best for both of them if they just never knew of the existence of Inuyasha's bastard. Miroku noticed the change, patting Sesshomaru on the back.

 

 

“What's wrong?”

 

 

“Kagome is with child.” The flat tone of Sesshomaru's voice reverberated through Miroku's ears, Miroku's face turned ashen; he knew what was at stake, just as well as Sesshomaru.

 

 

“You've got to be kidding me. Are you sure it's Inuyasha's? I mean he wasn't the only man in her bed.” Miroku rubbed at the shadow of stubble on his chin contemplating a course of action. “Well there are quiet ways to get rid of it.”

 

 

Sesshomaru shook his head. “No, the child is Inuyasha's, and another link in our fathers bloodline, I would not dishonor his memory by destroying an innocent.”

 

 

“Oh god, so much for the reconciliation! Kikyo is going to loose it when she finds out.” Miroku fell back against the wall with a thud, a troubled look etched upon his face. “Inuyasha.”

 

 

“I can not watch my brother's marriage fall apart because of this. There are other factors to think of, what if the wolves were to get their claws on the child…. no, Inuyasha and Kikyo will not know, it is for the best. Rin and I have been thinking of adopting a child. A need filled and a problem solved.” Sesshomaru roughly clasped Miroku by the shoulder looking him deeply in the eyes. “No one would be the wiser.”

 

 

“Except what if the child is born with Inuyasha's ears? Kari's got em'.” Miroku questioned with brows raised.

 

 

“Alright I have not figured everything out, I only found this out five minutes ago, give me a break.” Sesshomaru yawned. “I'm going back to sleep, I really just wanted to know if Inuyasha was alright. But, I'll leave that up to you. Goodnight.” Sesshomaru walked back to the room/office he took over on the floor, looking forward to getting some well-disserved rest.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Inuyasha awoke startled as he was holding a sleeping Kikyo on his chest. Even in the dim light, his view of a peaceful sleeping Kikyo melted his heart. There half a night talk had ended when Ayame had administered Kikyo's pain meds; Kikyo was asleep only moments later as the two held onto each other.

 

 

What stirred Inuyasha awake were the hushed voices of his brother and best friend outside the door. Delicately Inuyasha slipped from the bed, dexterously avoiding the tubes and wires connected to his wife. He had gotten answers, hopefully the ones Sesshomaru wanted, he still had no idea what Sesshomaru was planning, and deep within his heart of hearts, Inuyasha guessed maybe he really didn't want to know. Inuyasha hesitated, his clawed fingers on the door handle, something did not sound right, and both Miroku and Sesshomaru were holding stress in their voices, why was Miroku so upset? Placing his ear to the door Inuyasha heard four words that made his head swim and his heart skip a beat, “Kagome is with child.”