InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Haunted ❯ Troubling Revelations ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4

Troubling Revelations

Long lost words whisper slowly to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there

- Evanescence

Back in his office, Naraku was livid. He leaned over his desk, leaning on one clawed hand the other clutching the phone to his ear. Fury etched deep lines in his face, which coupled with his blazing eyes made him look like a demon newly raised from hell with a vendetta. This kind of failure was intolerable! Byakuya was too cocky, he underestimated Kikyou! What, did he think Kikyou was just a pretty face and sexy body?

“Get after her!” Naraku barked. “If you dare to return here without her I will demote you after I beat you senseless and then send you to the Philippines!”

“Yes, Oyabun,” Byakuya said, and cringed as Naraku hung up the phone with a hard crack.

Feeling faint, Byakuya reached for the arrow in his shoulder. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the shaft. His mouth opened in a silent scream, as he slowly pulled it out. Fresh blood soaked his jacket, which was now white on one side and red down the other. He staggered to the bathroom, and peeled off his jacket, then the pink and black printed silk shirt underneath. Finally he managed to stop the bleeding with a towel, and lurched back over to the bed to call Kagura.

~*~

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

The alley way that Kikyou dodged into was narrow, had cracked pavement, and was obviously used for garbage storage. It was dimly lit, and Kikyou banged her toes several times as she desperately looked for an open door. Behind her, she heard the car then the head lights shown into the alley way. Kikyou ducked down behind a dumpster, and then crawled sideways on her knees, her back pressed to the wall. Her leg slipped and she almost fell into a window well, but caught herself just in time. Car doors slammed, and she knew she would not be able to get away from Kagura and Kanna if she did not act fast. Making a quick decision, Kikyou jumped down into the window well.

The phone rang as Kagura turned on a flashlight to scan the alley way for their prey. Flicking it open with one hand, she scowled when she saw it was Byakuya.

“Yes, we have her in an alley,” Kagura said. “She won't get away…yeah, I can take care of her myself. I'll send Kanna back.”

Turning to Kanna, she said. “Take the car and go back to the hotel and get Byakuya. He is too weak from blood loss to find us on foot.”

The smaller woman nodded, and caught the car keys Kagura tossed to her. Kagura shone the flashlight carefully back and forth, from wall to wall intent on finding any trace of Kikyou. Behind her Kanna backed up the car, turned around and drove away. Once the car was gone, Kagura listened for any sign of where Kikyou was hiding. She could not have got away without them seeing her, she was sure of it. The sudden sound of banging drew her attention, and she ran towards the sound. Her heels caught in the pavement, and she cursed. She was supposed to be the driver, she wasn't dressed for this! But Byakuya's slip-up gave her an opportunity to do well in the Oyabuns eyes…

There was the sound of cracking, like glass being broken, as Kagura got to the dumpster. She went around it, and shone the flashlight in the window well. The window was broken and there was a piece of dark fabric stuck to one of the pointy edges of glass. Gingerly Kagura slipped into the well, glass crunching underfoot. Taking the butt of her gun, she broke out more of the glass to avoid slicing her exposed arms and legs on it when she climbed through the window. She took off her shoes and jumped into total darkness, flattening herself against the outer wall. It was a dark basement, and smelled like it belonged to a restaurant and was used for storage. Kagura crouched down, and raised her gun and the flashlight, heart beating fast as she tried to decide if she should search for Kikyou or if the bitch had fled into the restaurant and away by now. Slowly she stepped away from the wall.

“UH!” Kagura reeled as a hard case connected with her head, and she staggered and fell.

Before Kagura could get up, Kikyou was upon her. She grabbed Kaguras wrists, pulling them behind her back putting pressure on them to make her drop the flashlight and gun. Kagura tried to buck Kikyou off her back, but screamed in pain instead as Kikyou increased the pressure on her wrists. The flashlight and gun clattered to the ground, and in the split second Kikyou relented slightly on her grip on Kagura, the smaller woman pulled her knees underneath her and dislodged her. She rolled off Kagura's back, but did not let go of her wrists, pulling Kagura after her. Lashing out with her foot, Kagura managed to kick Kikyou in the stomach. As Kikyou gasped in pain, Kagura managed to get one wrist free, and lunged for her gun lying just in range of her flashlight on the floor. But Kikyou grabbed Kagura's wrist with both hands and pulled. Kagura flew backwards, crashing into a metal shelf. There was a sound of ripping as Kagura's silk mini-dress gave out, and bags of rice were dislodged off the shelf and fell on her. Kikyou launched herself at her, and Kagura was too dazed to resist. Kikyou planted her foot on Kagura's back, and felt around on the shelf until she found some twine that had been used to hold some bags of rice together. She quickly tied Kagura's wrists together, and then reached for the flashlight so she could see to tie her feet. Once she had Kagura bound, she shone the flashlight on her…and her eyes went wide. The dress she was wearing was in tatters, exposing marks of severe abuse. It seems Naraku had been precise with Kagura, using whips and canes on her only in places her choice in attire would cover. Her shoulders, chest, breasts and back had whorls of scars, and some were very fresh. Kagura knew what Kikyou was looking at.

“Just kill me now,” Kagura said wearily. “I can't go on like this. He has used me as your replacement since you fled. I will surely die in great pain for having failed to bring you back.”

The look on Kikyou's face softened, and she shook her head. She became aware once more of the marks on her own body, and they ached and chafed in sympathy. This was the first time she had ever seen Naraku's handiwork on another woman. It had never occurred to her that she would be replaced so quickly. Naraku always told her she was the only one…he loved her and she was his irreplaceable possession. She raised a hand to her mouth, her brows drawn down as she felt a small pang in her heart. This was very disturbing!

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

On the floor, Kagura watched Kikyou, her expression guarded. Was she going to kill her or what? And why was she looking that way? The bonds on her wrists were so tight they stung, and Kagura began to struggle. Damned if she would let Naraku get her again without a fight if Kikyou did not kill her! The twine bit into her wrists hard enough to draw blood as she strained against them, and she grunted, her teeth exposed in a grimace of pain and anger. Suddenly Kikyou crouched down and looked Kagura in the face, and startled her.

“I won't kill you,” Kikyou said. “Do you want to be free of Naraku?”

“Hell yes I do,” Kagura spat. “If he does not get you back, there is no way I want to be part of his organization anymore!”

“Well, he is not getting me back,” Kikyou replied. “I think you of all people can appreciate why that is. But I can promise you this…”

To Kagura's amazement, Kikyou started to untie her. Her mind spun, and her heart clenched with turmoil. It all had her in a state of paralysis, so she just quietly waited to see what Kikyou would finish saying.

“I will kill Naraku and you will be free,” Kikyou said.

Kagura sneered, and then laughed. Damn, this bitch had balls! She had never worked with Kikyou, she did not rank high enough…but really, kill Naraku all by herself? Kagura stopped laughing as Kikyou gave her a hard stare.

“I came back for only one purpose,” Kikyou said. “I will kill Naraku…even if I die doing it.”

All of the former derision Kagura felt left her as she took a deep breath and looked into Kikyou's darkly glittering eyes. She realized….the bitch really meant it. Maybe, she would even succeed.

~*~

Kanna pulled up to the hotel. The first thing she noticed was the suitcase on the sidewalk. Next she saw the open window. Getting out of the car, she went in and found Byakuya in the lobby, looking pale and ready to pass out, a blood soaked towel wrapped around his shoulder. Behind the counter, the attendant looked wild eyed and terrified. He did not say a word as she helped Byakuya out of there.

“Does that suitcase belong to Kikyou?” Kanna asked Byakuya.

“Yes,” Byakuya muttered. “We should take it back to Naraku, she may have left clues in there that may help us find her and the Shikon no Tama.”

Nodding, Kanna got Byakuya in the car. She loaded the suitcase in the trunk, and then tried calling Kagura. The phone rang and rang…but there was no answer. Kanna wondered if Kagura was dead….