InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Haunted ❯ Hunter and Hunted ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3

Hunter and Hunted

Hunting you, I can smell you - alive
Your heart pounding in my head - Evanescence

The cell phone clattered to the ground beside her as Kikyou's case flew open. She reached for the compound cross bow, which was always loaded in case of emergencies like this. Time seemed to speed up, as Byakuya stuck his head out the window, his gun held above his head. Before he could open his mouth to speak, his eyes widened as Kikyou pointed the cross bow at him and fired. The arrow hit him in the left shoulder, almost burying itself down to the fletching. Byakuya staggered backwards from the momentum of the shot, his face a mask of pain and shock. This gave Kikyou the time she needed, and she threw the crossbow back in its case, grabbed up the cell phone and scrambled to her feet. Glancing at her suitcase, she made a split second decision to leave it behind, it would only hinder her flight. She grabbed her cross bow case, and ran down the street, pushing and dodging around the startled city dwellers out on this night.

Two women sat in a black Nissan sedan nearby. The small, pale one in the passenger seat looked more like a young girl. The driver looked bored, her elbow resting on the window's edge and head in her hand. She tapped the dashboard with the long, red fingernails of her other hand impatiently.

“Kagura look,” said Kanna softly, pointing out the cars windshield. “Isn't that Kikyou?”

As Kagura looked up her cell phone rang. She cursed as she realized that her sister was right, that was Kikyou! Fumbling for her phone, Kagura saw it was Byakuya calling. What a fuck up he was, boy was the Boss going to be pissed!

“What the hell happened, Byakuya?” Kagura said into the phone. “We just saw Kikyou running down the street!”

“No time for arguing,” Byakuya gasped. “I've been shot, you two go after Kikyou without me!”

The cell phone made a click as Kagura snapped it shut. She tossed it into the console and started the car. Scanning the street for Kikyou, she cursed again. Damn that bitch could run! She managed to only get a glimpse of her as her bosses former number one bitch turned left down another street. Her stomach knotted at the thought of what would happen to her if she let Kikyou get away. Barely glancing to see if any cars were coming, Kagura yanked on the steering wheel and laid on the gas pedal. The cars tires screeched, car horns blared at them, and she pulled in to the traffic.

“I take it we are going after her,” Kanna said quietly. “Without Byakuya.”

“That stupid baka got shot, so we have no choice,” was Kagura's terse reply. “So keep your eyes out for her, we are not going back to Lord Naraku without her!”

Back at the hotel, Byakuya stumbled backward, sitting down as his heels abruptly encountered the bed. He dropped his cell phone and clutched at his shoulder, grimacing with pain. His white jacket now had a wicked, red bloom on it where the arrow struck him. But the wound was the least of his worries. The punishment he faced for failing Naraku had him nauseous, and he swallowed nervously his mind racing. As if on cue his phone rang. Eyes closing in dread, he slowly he picked it up and answered it.

“Yes, boss…”

~*~

Watching me, wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you, loving you
I won't let you pull me down

As Kikyou ran, one hand dialed the cell phone she had somehow managed to hold onto. She hated to have to call on InuYasha and her mouth was drawn in ambivalence, but now she had no choice. Having been forced to leave her suitcase behind, she had no money. Most importantly, she did not have a certain item necessary to her plan. It had been in a secret compartment in her suitcase with other important items. Only he had a duplicate of it…

InuYasha had not slept well since Kikyou's call. He tossed and turned, front to back, side to side until Kagome elbowed him and hissed for him to settle down. Finally he spooned her, placing his hand on her hip and sighed. Still he could not get his brain to ease up, and he did not close his golden eyes. Instead, he looked into the darkness seeing only Kikyou and imagining what could be happening to her. Finally he buried his face in Kagome's shoulder and sweet smelling hair, and let the feel and smell of the woman he loved calm him and lull him to sleep.

It did not seem he had been sleeping very long when InuYasha was startled by the sound of his cell phone. He was jolted awake, and his sudden movement woke Kagome as well. She made a sleepy mewl of complaint as he grabbed for the phone next to the bed.

`InuYasha, its Kikyou. I need a safe place to meet you and I need you to bring a few things.'

InuYasha ran a hand through his long, silver hair as her words penetrated his foggy brain. Kagome sat up and asked if he was speaking to Kikyou. He put out his hand in a request for quiet and patience and she subsided. Grimly he thought he was right, Kikyou was such a fool not accepting his help before!

“Meet me in the back of Hanuman's Udon shop in Akasaka,” InuYasha said. “What do you need me to bring and what time do you want us to be there?”

`When is the shop busiest?'

“Around 12:30, they do a brisk lunch, lots of sararimen,” InuYasha replied.

`Okay, bring me some money and your key to the locker.'

“What's this all about Kikyou?” InuYasha demanded. “Tell me what's going on!”

`The less you know the safer you are,' Kikyou replied. `Just meet me there. I have to go'

“Kikyou -,”

InuYasha cursed as he heard her hang up the phone. He threw it down on the bed in frustration. Brows drawn in concern, Kagome placed her hand on his arm. He did not look at her, and the room was nearly steamy from the machinations going on in his mind. Her mouth had been open to speak again, but she thought better of it and just waited, leaving her hand where it was to remind him she was there…if he needed her. He stroked his chin a moment and then turned to look at her.

“I don't know exactly what is she planning,” InuYasha said. “But I have a pretty good idea. She may think she is running the show, but I have a plan of my own. I won't let her put herself in danger.”

“Gee, the way you are talking makes it sound like you are in love with her,” Kagome chided.

InuYasha cupped Kagomes chin in his hand. “You know you are the one I love,” InuYasha said. “This is not about that. She and I were partners for many years working for Naraku. I owe her my loyalty…she is my friend.”

Nodding, Kagome broke away from InuYasha, but only so she could get closer to him. She embraced him, her head on his chest and he circled her protectively in his arms. Taking a ragged breath, she pressed her cheek tightly against him. How she wished an end to these months of running and hiding! Things finally looked like they were coming to an end, now that Kikyou was back. She knew that InuYasha had to see this through to the end…and where he went, so she went too. He rubbed her back and she fiercely banished her fears from her mind, and filled it with the conviction that she and InuYasha would come through this together and unscathed. The only other alternative was to disintegrate into panic, which she firmly refused both for herself and as the girlfriend of InuYasha.

“So, are you going to tell me your plan?” Kagome asked.

~*~

Watching me, wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me, raping me, watching me

Kikyou discarded the cell phone and kept running, looking for a place to hide. It was late, and many shops and office buildings that she could get lost in were closed. This particular street was practically deserted, and her footfalls made a deafening sound among the emptiness around her. The sudden sound of tires screeching unnerved her a moment. She glanced back, and saw a car barreling towards her. Was she being paranoid or was that car trying to catch up to her? When a pale head stuck out of the passenger side window she knew…

“Stop there Kikyou, don't make us shoot,” Kanna said. “Lord Naraku doesn't like it when we damage his possessions.”

“But if we have to shoot you we will!” Kagura yelled. “So stop running bitch!”

An alleyway was only a few yards ahead, but Kanna and Kagura were getting closer. Kikyou hoped it was too narrow for their car. Legs aching, she put on a burst of speed, her teeth clenched so tightly the pain wrapped around her jaw and clamped into her head. The sound of the cars engine grew louder, and she knew they were nearly upon her, but she would not look back. Would they shoot? No time to think now, she dodged into the alley.