InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ frozen ❯ frozen pt9 ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: You know what's what otherwise I could finish this story faster-

frozen

by kittie le sabre

Part Nine

The old man took a hefty swing of Jack Daniels hissing at the burn that scorched his throat. It helped to ease the tension that kept him awake at night. The docks could be more dangerous than the alley ways so he needed something to help him wind down enough to relax for a couple of hours.

Twenty minutes later, a noise started him awake. He sat up, wading through the piles of flattened boxes and trash. The last thing he needed was one of those packs of wilders hassling him tonight. It was better to move on than get killed or worse.

He kept his body flat against the wall, aware that he blended in with the refuse because of his ragged and filthy clothing.

"H-h-help…"

The drunk paused and doubled back, tracking the gasping and coughing noises. He followed the sounds to the dumpster and decided to lift the lid. What the hell. Being too cautious was just as bad. But he doubted that he was in any danger. The reason he was alive when most were not was because he trusted his gut.

It took a few seconds for his old eyes to adjust and he was grateful he'd slept off the whiskey. Or maybe not.

A blood crusted, dirty hand reached up towards him and the derelict jumped back away from it.

"H-h-h-he…"

The old man staggered forward, staring down into the dumpster. His bleary gaze could make out the crumpled figure of a man struggling to get out. Dried blood covered the entire side of his face and matted his hair. It stained the formerly white shirt and his slacks. His shoes were missing.

"Can you stand up?" the old man asked. "I can't lift you but I can steady you so that you don't fall on your face."

The wounded man nodded, then gasped at the pain of the movement.

"Steady now," the drunk told him, bracing himself as the man struggled to stand.

Finally he leaned against the side of the dumpster, fighting to climb on top of the mounds of garbage.

"Wait, I got an idea," the derelict said. He rushed to grab a few discarded crates and propped them up against the side of the dumpster. "This should help."

After a few attempts, the injured man managed to climb out of the garbage with the old man bracing him somewhat. Still disoriented, his weight shifted when he attempted to use the makeshift steps and they both tumbled to the ground, knocking over the crates.

"Shit! You trying to kill me?" the old man cried out.

The man's shoulders were shaking as he sat there for several moments with his head down.

"Hey buddy, did you hear me?"

"I heard."

"I said you trying to kill me?"

The shaking became more violent as the man attempted to sit up and look at his savior. The old man moved away at the fierceness in his deep blue-green eyes. The color stood out in the paleness of his blood and dirt streaked face.

"No, but some bitch sure as hell did," Kouga replied with a nasty feral grin.

The old man backed away not certain if he was safe for this night's work after all. The man had a head injury and was not capable of catching him if it came to that.

"I best be going," the drunk muttered and quickly made his exit.

Kouga did not glance his way but called out, "If you want to make a few extra dollars, stick around."

The old man froze. He slowly did an about face, peering at Kouga with suspicion in his eyes.

"How much you talking?"

Kouga dug into a hidden pocket in his slacks. He always kept emergency money for times like this. He located the 20, making certain he had something to bargain with.

"Get me out of this shitty spot to civilization that's an easy 10. Find me a phone somewhere, I'll spot you 10 more." Kouga knew he needed to call his boys, Ginta and Moutan to pick him up. Plus there were plans to set in motion. No one, absolutely no one crossed him and lived to tell it.

The old man studied him for a few seconds before answering. He always followed his gut. It had saved his life countless times, maybe he could make some money this time.

"Done."

"We got a deal then," Kouga told him, holding his breath as the drunk walked over to help him stand. Hell, he doubted he smelled any better.

The only thing he needed to worry about was getting out of this alive and plotting his revenge.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kagome was exhausted.

The advanced microbiology class seemed to last longer than norm, and it was all she could do to stay awake in her Latin course. The Latin class was a great help with her medical terminology; it was one of her favorite courses. Tonight she was too distracted and her poorly written notes showed.

She was grateful that Sesshoumaru had sent a car to pick her up from work. After the incident with Naraku, she had felt drained and uneasy. The man had been plotting to get close to her but she was not sure how, or why.

Kagome was walking towards the front doors when her cell phone rang. She glanced at it. A smile lit her face when she noticed it was Sango.

"Hello?"

"Kagome! I'm so glad I caught you. I didn't want to ring your phone in the middle of your class."

"It's okay, Sango," Kagome grinned at her friend's considerate nature. "Did you want to meet me for dinner after all?"

"That's why I'm calling! Miroku wants to take us both out tonight!"

Kagome noted how happy she sounded. What had caused this? Perhaps she had come to a decision after.

"Sango, why do I get the feeling you have some good news?"

Before Sango could reply, she heard Kagome scream on the opposite end and the screech of car. There was a series of loud masculine voices. The next thing was that her friend was yelling, "Let me go!"

"Kagome!" Sango shrieked as she more sounds of her friend's distress and strange voices was broadcast over the wireless phone. Then abruptly, the phone went dead.

"Miroku!"

Miroku rushed into the room, his eyes wide with fear and concern. He looked around the room for intruders and scanned Sango to see if she was hurt or sick.

"Sango, what happened?"

"Miroku! Miroku! Something just happened to Kagome at the school! We need to go and find her!" Sango was scrambling to grab her purse as she spoke, frantic with worry and panic until Miroku grabbed her by the arms.

"Sango! We need to call the police!"

"No! What if they hurt her?"

Miroku narrowed his eyes as he thought. Of course he dare not tell his sweetheart that Kagome could be hurt not matter what they did. Or worse yet, dead.

He blinked and then came up with a solution. "Okay, we'll call Inuyasha." Miroku decided to call the police anyway. This was dangerous and he did not know what was involved with this kidnapping.

"And Sesshoumaru!" Sango ran to get her phone to dial both men.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sesshoumaru stood outside of Kagura's door with a disgusted smirk on his mouth. He briskly knocked once and she immediately opened the door.

"Sesshou!" She exclaimed racing towards him, her eyes scanning his appearance. He was dressed from head to toe in charcoal gray that was so dark it was close to black. There was a gleam in his eyes that made her pause but she decided to ignore the feeling.

"What's going on, Kagura?" He queried, less than impatient.

Kagura stared up at him for a brief moment before grabbing him by the hand and leading him over to sit on a nearby sofa. He retrieved his hand from her and sat back, studying her, saying nothing.

"I-I want you to help me get away from Naraku," Kagura murmured, ignoring the mocking disbelief and bored disinterest in his expression. "Please, Sesshoumaru, it has gotten out of hand."

For several long, long moments, he did not reply. He shifted once and said, "Tell me what he is planning. I want to know everything."

Kagura's face grew alarmed but very, very briefly. The look was fleeting a quick that had it been anyone else, they would have missed it.

"Naraku…Naraku wants me help him bring your company down."

"Tell me something I don't already know," Sesshoumaru snapped. He glanced down at his watch. "I need to leave. This has been a waste of time." He rose and started walking toward the door.

"He wants to use Kagome to destroy you," Kagura called out from behind him.

Sesshoumaru turned so fast to stare at her it was a near blur of motion. He crossed the room in less than three brisk strides to grab her by the front of her blouse. She peered down at his hand but said nothing.

"How?"

Kagura shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not certain about the details but I guess it has something to do with an exchange."

Sesshoumaru's face became a clean slate without giving anything of what he was feeling within. She had never seen him more cold. Then next thing she knew, the hard barrel of a very large gun was pressed against her forehead.

"Where is he now?" He released the safety clip when she refused to answer at first. "I don't care if you are afraid of him. I will spread your brains all over this room without a second thought, bitch."

Kagura did not hesitate this time. "He is at his loft near his main warehouse near the wharf. The plan was for me to get you hear and to stall you."

She did not see the blunt end of the gun swing around but she felt the impact across her face. There was extreme pain and darkness then nothing.

Sesshoumaru stepped over her, unconcerned that he had broken the sorry slut's jaw. His phone rang and he was surprised to see that it was Inuyasha's number.

"What?" He growled into the mouthpiece, rushing out of Kagura apartment to get his car.

"Sesshoumaru! Where the fuck are you?"

"Inuyasha, I don't have time for this shit. Kagome is-"

"That's why I'm calling you, you prick! Kagome's been kidnapped!"

"Did they call the police?"

"Not sure," Inuyasha told him. "We gotta find her!"

"Calm down." Sesshoumaru had reached his car and he quickly got inside. "Do you know where Naraku's loft is?"

"No, but I can find out,' Inuyasha replied.

"You have ten minutes," Sesshoumaru stated and pulled out of the parking lot. He was on his way to Sango's.

"For Kagome, anything," Inuyasha retorted and hung up.

Sesshoumaru refused to allow his emotions to get in the way. Naraku had his woman and he was going to have to deal with the bastard. He didn't appreciate something as inferior as Naraku attempting to manipulate him by using Kagome. There was no way he was going to allow that piece of shit to harm the one person who meant anything to him-besides Rin of course. But he was violently in love with Kagome. This meant that Naraku was going to pay dearly for attempting to destroy him and his woman.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was darker than hell; at least that was what Kagome thought when she woke up bound and gagged after being chloroformed. She was vaguely disoriented as the movement of the van lurched forward suddenly. It was only then that she realized she had been blind folded as well.

One moment she had been talking to Sango, walking out toward the curb to see if Sesshoumaru's car was there to pick her up when three big men jumped out of a black van and grabbed her. She had yelled and struggled but to no avail. She only prayed Sango heard everything. Somehow she managed to fling the phone over into the grass, anticipating that the goons would take it from her. When she continued to fight them, someone had put a cloth over her mouth and nose and then there was nothingness…

Suddenly the van screeched to a halt. Her head was finally clear, somewhat. She could hear the doors open as someone climbed up and into the back, making the van lurch.

"Walk," a gruff voice ordered with a subtle hint of threat.

Kagome obeyed, letting the glove covered hands lead her outside. She could feel the cold air on her and she could hear traffic somewhere in the distance. Then she heard something that made her freeze up.

It was her name.

"Hey Kagome! Is that you? Who are those guys?"

"That ain't her man!"

"Yes it is! I seen her with Kouga before!"

The man leading her rushed now, gritting into her ear, "Don't' answer them, bitch. Just walk."

Kagome was too afraid to call out. She could feel his grip on her tighten and he would hurt her. She knew it. Hopefully the voices were persistent enough to challenge the man. She heard the voice of her other abductor bellow out, "Move away! Step off!"

"Listen asshole, don't fuck with me! I know that girl!" The voice was closer now.

The man holding her threw her to the ground and she landed hard with her face pressed against the wet concrete. She could hear them scuffling and arguing with new comers.

"I'll deal with them! Take her upstairs!"

Kagome was lifted from the ground and slung over the man's shoulder like a rug. He ran inside what felt like a hall or entrance way and she heard a door slam shut. She felt him bounding up stairs and the only thing she could feel around her was darkness and the man's breath and sweat from his exertions. He was cursing and muttering.

Kagome decided to do something. It would be dangerous but she needed a chance to get away from this brute. She knew Naraku was behind this and once he got to her, she knew he would use her to hurt Sesshoumaru. No way could she allow that.

She swung her legs and kicked high and hard, bucking as the man tried to make another flight of stairs. He was winded from carrying her and climbing them so he could not catch himself in time as she managed to topple their balance. The next thing she knew they were falling backward…

And then darkness…