InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Head Over Heels ❯ Falling to Pieces ( Chapter 22 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I took a deep breath, �Okay then, here goes.�

He fell to his knees before me waiting. This was the hardest thing I�d ever done. �I have a problem��

Sesshomaru frowned, �So I�ve noticed.�

�� With dead people.� I paused, waiting for his reaction.

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Hentai / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.23.2006 | Pages: 11 | Words: 10.8K | Visits: 447 | Status: Completed

Chapter Twenty-two

Falling to Pieces

Kagura:

I slammed the cab door behind me after shoving a twenty into the driver's hand. He passed my change through the little window then sped away leaving me alone on the curb in front of my building. Horace and company were absent and without them the place was decidedly depressing.

I shoved my key into the front door and dragged my feet up the long stairs to my apartment. Sushi greeted me by zipping around his bowl in a bright purple streak but I passed him making a bee line for my bed.

I kicked off my sneakers then cursed when I realized I'd left my nice black leather boots at the bookstore. Damn, everything was spiraling totally out of control and the boots were the last straw.

My bed was a disaster and two of my pillows lay on the floor but that didn't stop me from flinging myself across it. Omph!

I hugged a pillow to my chest pretending I wasn't on the verge of a panic attack.

Not only was I the patron saint of the living impaired, I was also a harbinger of death. In the store I was seconds away from crushing Miroku and deep down inside some part of me, a part I'd never met before today, wanted it.

It cried out for violence, blood and the sound of things breaking under the might of my winds. This part didn't live in my head but rather somewhere below my stomach, which might explained why I couldn't keep my food down.

I lay back on my bed trying to remember what organs sat below the stomach. Sometimes people are forced to have their appendix removed, and what if instead of becoming infected mine had inadvertently turned evil?

I pictured the admittance nurse at the ER when I explained I needed an emergency appendectomy because my appendix had turned on me, urging me to kill my friends. Somehow I doubt they'd turn me away. Most likely they'd help me check in to a nice plush padded cell; the kind that didn't have access to nice vending machines.

I rolled over to my side, pulling the pillow over my face. That padded cell was starting to grow in appeal. My nose itched and I moved the pillow to scratch it. Mrs. Disraeli stood over my bed glaring down at me.

Oh wonderful. I closed my eyes counted to ten and when I opened them, she was still standing there except now she was in some hideous pink bathrobe.

I groaned, then yelled, “What is it?”

She said nothing but was giving me an angry look that rivaled that of my frustrated mother. I ground my teeth, “Fine! I wasn't going to help you anyways.”

She shook her head and faded away leaving me to rot in piece. I took a deep breath and rolled over onto my back.

My ceiling seemed peaceful enough. It was white, flat and still. I stared up at it trying to take comfort in the blandness of my architecture.

Soon the day caught up with me and my breathing slowed as I gave in to blissful sleep.

_-_-_-_

Hours later:

A loud crash came from the foot of my bed. It was so loud at first I thought someone dropped a baby grand piano Road Runner and Coyote style from two stories up on to my bedroom floor.

What the hell? I sat up searching for the source of the racket.

I slid out of bed, grabbed the flash light from my bedside table and switched it on. I spun the light around the room and of course not a thing was out of place. I closed my eyes. When was this ever going to stop?

I pulled on a pair of thick socks and stomped into the living room oblivious to the poor people who lived below me. The room was quiet and a fast sweep of the flash light showed all of my furniture was sitting right side up.

My couch stood in the corner cowering under old age but that was nothing new. I glanced around the room and noticed all of my framed posters hanging straight on the walls.

Nowthat was creepy.

I can't hang a picture straight if my life depended on it. I'd even purchased a level but it only served to tell me what I already knew, that I sucked at picture hanging.

Okay so what kind of boogeyman straightens your picture frames? Was I being haunted by a Martha Stewart protégée?

I paused by Sushi's bowl and noticed the fish swimming around in a fast frenzy. Okay fishy what did you see?

Sushi may only be a fish but he's loyal and apparently he's also a watch fish. Someone was getting an extra fish flake in his breakfast.

Come to think of it, I bet picture straightening was right up Disraeli's alley. I remember how organized she'd kept the bookstore so it was possible she was a bit of a neat freak. My shoulders slumped in tired relief.

I turned back to my bedroom and saw a black shadow watching from the doorway. Oh fuck.

The goblin had followed me home. I clutched the flashlight in my fist wishing it was a light saber, so that I could slice the thing in half. While I do hate Star Wars the Goblin did have a dark side air to it. Oh well, it knew I could see it so why play games?

I moved the light over it's face but it's hood was pulled low giving nothing away. I dropped the flashlight beam to the floor beneath it and saw it's eyes glowing green in the dark. My heart froze in my chest then warmed as I was filled with a fury unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

“You tried to use me to hurt Miroku, you son of a bitch!” I met it's green stare and swallowed. It hovered in place standing it's ground unshaken by my shouting.

My head began to pound and the floor was unsteady beneath my feet. The goblin approached me and I fell down to my knees trying to keep a solid grip on the here and now. My only chance of winning was not to give in.

The goblin cackled as it glided closer, I heard a small splash and saw Sushi angrily zipping around his bowl. My stomach rolled and all thoughts of a Benedict Arnold appendix or pancreas were gone. The source of my problems was far from physical

I said in my strongest voice, “No. Leave! You weren't invited and you aren't welcome here.”

It chortled at this, now close enough I could see it's tiny hands had a curved black claw on the end of each stubby finger.

I was on my hands and knees backing towards my couch. Oh Jesus and Kami! Why did it have to end like this?

Less than four hours ago I tried to kill my boss and friend. I don't often acknowledge Miroku as a friend; after all he does trade heated barbs with me and did deny me my Christmas vacation but all and all we manage to get along. And I tried to kill him. If I could go after Miroku then who was next? Sango? Sesshomaru or even worse… Rin?

I pressed my back to the wall and slipped into the small gap between my couch and the wall. Why was I fighting this?

Maybe I deserved to die.

I pulled my knees to my chest and closed my eyes. My face was wet with tears and this only added to the chill that overtook my body.

I opened an eye and saw in the hole I'd just squeezed through the glowing green eyes of the goblin only inches away from my foot.

My chest shook as I watched and waited, praying for a fast end.

_-_-_-_

Sesshomaru:

My house was filled with chaos and Inuyasha had yet to even realize the Tetsusaiga was missing. He and that wretched human of his ran up and down my halls at all hours.

Rin joined them and it sounded as though a herd of buffalo had moved in. Loud laughter, inane giggles and singing could be heard from every room and my only comfort was seeing Kagome's hold on my bastard half brother.

She made him miserable. He sat in a chair pretending he wasn't watching her every move while she frolicked on the floor with Rin. The girl's skirt was so short it was almost criminal. I smirked watching his eyes follow the hem of her skirt.

Were the Miko under my care, Hell would freeze over before she'd leave her room, much less the house, dressed like that. But the girl had yet to let the half breed have her and it was slowly killing him. I watched them interact and wondered if he'd even tried. Hell, this was better than Broadway.

Rin ran to me, grabbed my hand and pulled me into the room with them. “Sesshomaru-sama, come on!”

Inuyasha cocked a brow, “You have the kid calling you lord?” He laughed flashing a sharp canine. “Shit, you just don't change do you?”

I shot him a withering look that slowed his laughter. “I've taught her manners. Something you could benefit with more of.”

He shrugged under his thick red sweater. “Yeah but no one uses the sama title these days. You should just let her call you Daddy.”

How dare he, rage pooled in my eyes and the half breed ducked my on coming fist, “I am no human's…” I spat the word from between clenched teeth, “father!”

He fell back onto the white leather couch laughing so hard he was holding his sides. This was a waste of my time not to mention hard on my furniture. I turned on my heel and left.

Once in the hall I heard the high pitched voice of the human miko. “Inu-yasha! He's your brother; you should at least try to get along.”

The half breed sighed, “Ka-go-mae, stay out of shit you don't understand!”

I paused in the hall counting to five then heard, “Inuyasha... sit boy!”

A loud crash came from the living room followed by a shout, “Woman! What the hell's wrong with you?”

I chuckled softly as I went to call my witch, sometimes justice could be found in unexpected places.

_-_-_-_

The dial tone rang loud in my ear. I'd dialed the witch's home five times and only gotten a busy signal.

It was eleven in the morning and it was unlikely she'd still be home. I called the store next after obtaining the number from information.

The phone rang and rang with no answer. I'd have to stop by the store in person. That was going to be highly inconvenient but well worth the effort. The sooner Kagura learned her place was here, the better.

_-_-_-_

The book store's front window was grimier than usual if that was even possible. I pushed open the door and was assaulted by the stench of wet smoke and ash. I coughed and pulled my blue turtle neck collar up over my mouth and nose.

The bells jangled over my head but I saw the lights were out and realized the store was closed. I strode in looking for the witch. The lights were out but the store was filled with people in hazmat jumpsuits digging through some charred debris.

The dark haired cricket man, Miroku spotted me first. “Sir! I'm sorry but the store is obviously closed.”

I nodded, “I could care less, where is Kagura?”

The witch's so called friend, Sango stood behind him. “She's not here.”

This was not going as I'd expected, “Why isn't she?”

Miroku watched me cautiously though I'd yet to give him reason to fear me. “Sometimes she just doesn't show up, the girl is great but she's flakey as all hell.”

His breathing was labored even though he wasn't doing any of the heavy lifting. “She wasn't… feeling well last night. I guess she's home, sick err… something. It's not like there's much she can do here anyway.” He gestured around to the stinking ruins of the store's interior.

I narrowed my eyes at him and saw him swallow. “Has it occurred to you to fucking well check on her?”

Miroku sighed and tried to explain, “We used to, but she doesn't like it and it's only been one day. Sometimes she just gets these headaches; we don't know why- she won't tell us. If we hadn't heard from her by Saturday, Sango was going to knock on her door.”

I slammed my fist onto the top of a low bookcase, “You stupid mortal, how can you be so blind? I'm going over there.” I wanted to snap his neck in my hands but somehow I knew it'd just piss off my witch.

Sango frowned at me as she leaned against her broom. “Not a bad idea but you aren't listening. She's not going to let you in. I know you are mad at us and all but don't you think we've been through this with her before?” She shot me a brutal, brazen look.

If Kagura thought she could lock me out she'd better think again, running off two mortals was child's play but she would find me up to the challenge.

I turned my attention back to the matter at hand, “Mortal bitch, how dare you tell me what to think.” My hand slid from my pants pocket and I began studying my talons. The threat was quiet but obvious.

Sango ran a hand over her forehead in exasperation. “Look, Kagura's my friend and you are an asshole. I dunno why she likes you but she does so I am going to let that one slide. Push your luck and I'll rip your arms off.”

If she was going to be blunt then so would I. “Yokai slayer… I have no qualms with or fear of you. Stay out of this.”

She tossed her long pony tail over her shoulder and rolled her eyes, “My family's been in the police force for four generations now, unlike some people, we gave up the old ways.”

She waited to hear my reply but I gave her none. I recognized a slayer when I saw one; no amount of time could distance her from her true heritage. Not that she worried me, as a taiyokai I have little to fear from any living creature.

Sango fidgeted with her hair then groaned, “Okay I'll go check on her and you can come. This way you can get in without ripping her front door off it's hinges.

I took a step towards her, “You've a key?”

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other before confessing “Um yeah… I do.”

I doubted her key would fit the new lock I had installed but that was not the point. I dropped my chin and demanded, “Then what is with this she won't let you in bullshit?”

Sango looked away as she muttered her reply, “Because the headaches make her sensitive to light. She's probably under her bed. If we go over there she won't come out.”

She began pacing in front of me. “The whole thing is ridiculous. I'm through with talking to a bed instead of her. She'll come out when she's good and ready, begging won't help.”

Guilt at confessing her friend's secrets came off her in waves. I had to admire the stinking human; she was trying to save Kagura's pride.

But the witch wouldn't hide from me. I'd drag her out by her ankles.

I said softly, “I never beg, I'm going over there and getting her.”

Miroku intervened obviously against his better judgment. “She's not a pushover, if you go over there and piss her off she's gonna knock you off your ass, last time I tried she blew me into a wall. And then yesterday… ” He rubbed his arm and I noticed his pallor was sickly. I hate weak humans and have no time for them.

I glanced at my watch. “What happened yesterday?”

He dropped his eyes from mine, “Uh, nothing worth mentioning.”

This was ridiculous. I momentarily lost my temper and roared “Stop wasting my time.”

Miroku stepped back as I continued. “Let her try. Something's wrong and I will rectify it. That is the only thing any of you needs to know.”

Sango lifted her brows looking skeptical and unimpressed, typical slayer. “So I guess this means you're going over there?”

Suddenly it occurred to me that the witch really cared for this woman. Perhaps she could be useful after all. “You will accompany me.”

Sango rolled her eyes and pulled her keys from her pocket. “Well since you just asked me so nicely, how can I refuse? God I don't know what she sees in you.”

I snorted, “Herself. She spends too much time with mortals.” This was something I mean to correct in time and the fact the store was ruined only made it easier.

The demon slayer shook her head, “Oh shut your pie hole. I'm going to get my coat.” She headed for the back. I watched her go, deciding to let the comment slide.

_-_-_-_

We took my car. Sango sat in the passenger seat staring at the interior with obvious distain for my fortune. I watched her from the corner of my eye as I took a turn so fast the tires squealed.

I pulled up in front of Kagura's building and was up the front steps before the slayer even had the car door open. I tried the door handle and it was locked.

Sango was at my elbow with the key before I could force the door open. She fumbled with the lock and after a solid click the door easily opened.

I was up the stairs and at the Witch's front door in a blink of the mortal woman's eye. She was behind me, “Hey wait up!”

I waited while Sango slipped her key into the lock. She gave the key a hard turn then jiggled the knob and of course nothing. Anger bit at me, had this happened only a day later I would've been carrying a key to this door. I hate being caught unprepared.

Finally she gave up. I shoved her aside and she fell back against the wall. I pounded on the thin hollow wood door with my fist. “Kagura!”

Sango stood behind me rubbing her shoulder, “You ass! Why couldn't we have just rung the bell?”

There was a door bell? I look down, found it and pressed hard. Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

I pressed my ear to the thin door. Sango said, “I don't see how you're helping.” I spun around giving her a damning look until she shut her mouth.

I put my ear back to the door. “There's nothing moving in there.”

Sango just shrugged. I studied the door trying to remember how sturdy the hinges on the inside were. “Get back.”

She didn't have the sense to do as she was told. “Why?”

“Get back now!” I pressed my shoulder to the door testing it. Sango backed down the steps giving me the room I needed.

That's when the door adjacent to Kagura's opened and Horace's head popped out. “Man, what the hell are you doing?”

“Get back inside this doesn't concern you.” I pushed and the wood seemed to give slightly under my weight. I tried calling the witch's name one more time but there was no answer.

Horace pointed a brown finger at me, “Don't make me call the cops, cause I will.”

Sango surprised me by calling out, “NO really it's okay.”

Horace seemed to recognize Sango. “Well if you say so. But I mean it. I don't care how fancy your car is. One scream and it's over.”

I curled my lip and he slammed his door shut at the sight of my teeth. Then I spread my feet apart then pushed forward slamming my shoulder into the door. I was rewarded with the sound of cracking wood and it was nothing to pull it free from the hinges and toss it aside.

The apartment was filled with a quiet chill. I sniffed the air and winced. It stank of rotten eggs, but her kitchen was clean. There was no immediate explanation for the stench.

I heard Sango's foot steps behind me and spun to face her. “Stay outside unless I call for you.”

She stuck her finger in my chest, “I'm NOT your lackey.”

I caught her finger in my fist and squeezed slowly. “Do as I say.”

She winced and pulled her finger back. “Okay, jeeze!” I waited until she was gone before proceeding into the bedroom.

Kagura's bed was in it's usual state of disarray. I didn't have to look beneath it to know she wasn't hiding under it as the Slayer and Preacher had claimed.

Her scent clung to every surface in the room the sweet, intoxicating essence of mimosa mixed with a sharp helping of fear and regret. The atmosphere smelled like a suicide but I detected no hint of a rank decomposing body.

The bathroom was empty. Her closet was clear and that left only the living room. Her scent was concentrated around the couch. I pulled it free from the wall with one hand and found the limp, unconscious yet still breathing body of the Witch behind it.

I knelt down beside her pulling her into my arms. Why the hell had she been hiding behind the couch? A relief I'd never admit to pulled at my soul as I bent over her and captured her lips in mine.

Her eyelids opened, her ruby eyes swimming with a power that took my breath away. She was every bit the dark creature whose power I'd tasted in the movie parking almost two weeks ago.

_-_-_-_

Kagura:

I woke slowly in stages. Was I dead? The pounding in my head disputed this; but maybe this was hell and it was my fate to have a headache for all eternity. But if this truly was my hell there should also be a stair master and loud country music.

My ears detected only a blissful silence, then a heart beat that didn't belong to me followed by a soft whisper, “Kagura?”

Warm lips moved slowly across mine. I opened my eyes and saw Sesshomaru. He gazed deep into my eyes then promptly dropped me onto the floor.

I landed hard on my shoulder. “Owe! What the hell was that for?” I glared at him as I rubbed my arm.

He loomed over me his golden eyes glittering with anger. “Tell me what's wrong or I'll leave you here.”

My stomach jumped and tried to crawl up my throat. “I just fell behind the couch while I was cleaning and…”

Sesshomaru stood dusting off his pants. “Kagura cut the bullshit. I'm leaving. If you care one iota for anything that's between us you'll talk to me.”

So he wanted to play Texas Hold `em? Well he didn't know who he was dealing with, I don't appreciate intimidation. I decided to call his bluff. “Fine, leave, see if I care.”

Of course if he left he'd be safe so I was willing to lose him even if he left with my soul.

Sesshomaru turned for the door as he slid his hands into his pants pockets. His eyes flashed. “I thought better of you than this. But if you can't ask for help, then there's no hope for you.”

I sent him an angry gust of wind but Sesshomaru stood his ground refusing to be pushed out the door. My wind ran through his hair blowing it back from his shoulders; his expression was neutral but his eyes burned at my attempt to shut him literally out of my life.

Sighing I propped myself up on one hand, and watched him from my seat on the floor. How could he ask me to do something that he'd never do? I licked my dry lips then asked in a biting tone, “Do you ever ask for help?”

His steps faltered. “Not in the way you mean but I do know when it's time to call in an expert.” His lips thinned and turned up on one side in a half smile. “For instance I would never do my own plumbing.”

While I highly doubted that he knew jack squat about fixing my problems or plumbing; the picture of Sesshomaru under a sink in his white pants with the crack of his nearly non-existent ass showing, flashed through my thoughts. I surprised myself by laughing. “I guess not.”

He put one hand on the frame of my front door. I leaned over and noticed the door seemed to be missing. I didn't have to ask to know he was the reason it was gone.

Sesshomaru's voice was low, “Kagura I mean it. I'm not coming back.”

Why did he think he'd be able to help me? I tried to stand but my legs refused, leaving me stranded on the floor. “Fine. Leave. It's for the best anyway.”

He frowned, his eyes flashing a hint of red. I looked away not wanting to watch him leave.

“Why?” demanded Sesshomaru, “Why would you say that?”

I shrugged, “Because it's true.”

He slammed his fist so hard down on my counter, I actually heard it crack. Sushi splashed in his bowl but luckily didn't topple over.

Sesshomaru's rage was written across his face and for a brief moment he was laid bare, “Why do you get to be judge and jury? How do I not get a say in this?”

It'd been well over forty eight hours since anything I'd eaten stayed with me and I was woozy. If he really wanted to knowthis badly then why not tell him? He wasn't staying either way so I had nothing to lose. Plus maybe if I appeased him he'd pay for the damage he'd caused to my apartment.

I threw up my hands in defeat. “Okay I'll tell you!”

He was beside me instantly lifting me onto the couch. God I wish he hadn't done that, it was giving a dying woman a taste of what she'd always be missing.

Sesshomaru stood in front of me and announced in a dry tone, “I'm waiting.”

I stalled, “I'm thirsty could you get me a bottle water from the fridge?” There wasn't any but he didn't know that.

He shook his head slowly, his long silver hair brushing against his blue sweater. “Not until you tell me.”

I took a deep breath, “Okay then, here goes.”

He fell to his knees before me waiting. This was the hardest thing I'd ever done. “I have a problem…”

Sesshomaru frowned, “So I've noticed.”

“… With dead people.” I paused, waiting for his reaction.

He blinked, “What?”

I tried a more direct approach. “I attract spirit. They come to me for God only knows what but I've never figured out how to stop it. Sometimes they want things but mostly they're just pissed about being dead.”

He took my hand in his and said slowly, “So you see dead people?”

Sesshomaru must be the only person on earth who hasn't seen that movie. I gave in nodding, “Yeah that's one way to put it, but these people have only recently passed.”

Now that wasn't a complete lie. Okay so maybe it was but who cares? Must I give out all of my most guarded secrets at once? I'd tell him about the goblins, but only after I knew how he felt about the basic premise of my curse.

Sesshomaru broke into a huge grin, it was wonderful and unsettling. How many sharp teeth did he have anyway? “You're a necromancer.”

“A neck-ro-ma.. what?” I had no idea what he'd just said, I was dumb founded he was still holding my hand.

“Necromancer”, he pronounced it slowly, relishing the word. “You have control over the newly dead. It's a rare talent.” His grin didn't fade. In fact he looked a lot like the cat who ate Tweety Bird with a healthy side of cream.

I pulled my hand free of his and hugged my upper arms, deciding not to read too much into his predatoral expression. “It's not a talent it's a curse! I hate it.”

He chuckled, “Only because you don't know how to control it.”

And Sesshomaru did? Who was he kidding? I'd been stuck this way for the past two decades and I barely understood it. Hell, if God had a return desk then I'd be in line waiting to swap this out for something else, like the ability to sleep with my eyes open. Now that would be a handy talent.

I shamed myself by sniffling. “I didn't ask to be this way… I don't want it!”

Sesshomaru blinked then said in a tone I've heard him use on Rin, “This is who you are.”

I shook my head, “No, it shouldn't be this way.”

Sesshomaru cupped my face in his hands forcing me to look at him. “You are what the world made you. How can you be anything else?”

I am what the world made me?

Didn't he mean to say I am as God intended, or didn't the high and mighty Taiyokai believe in God? Tears ran down my face. “This isn't me. I want it to stop. Please… just make it stop.”

Sesshomaru brushed his thumbs across my wet cheeks, “You are a dynamic individual in a world of sheep. You'll never be complete until you've embraced and mastered your gifts.” Then he added softly, “You've not even begun to meet your full potential.”

Suddenly I was suspicious he'd found a new use for me. Outraged I railed back, “No! I'm not some evil thing!”

…Or his pawn, but that part I kept silent, filing it away as proof Sesshomaru was as cold and cruel as I'd first thought him to be only a mere week ago.

Sesshomaru pushed my hair back from my face, “Not evil, just yourself.”

I took a fast gulp as he gave voice to my worst fears. “There's more inside you than you know and if you don't acknowledge it, it will destroy you.”

As a wind yokai, death was not on my to-do calendar for at least another hundred years or so and I was in no hurry to change that. But he was right. I couldn't fight the goblin much longer. Sooner or later it'll blow a vain in my head or worse I'll give in to it and go on a killing spree.

And what if I fought this one and won? Then would another goblin show up, followed by another and another?

Miroku once told me that crazy people never doubt their own sanity. So I guess if you pause to question your mental health you can't possibly be insane. I sat letting Sesshomaru kiss my forehead, wondering how much longer I had before it didn't mattered to me if I lost my mind.

And when I did would Sesshomaru be there because he cared, or would he want me to serve a more sinister purpose?

_-_-_

Notes:

This chapter is dedicated to the irrepressible, irreplaceable, magnificent, one and only Frimm.

And also to an unexpected NASCAR fan.

This story is a smidge away from 20,000 hits! Thanks so much everyone! Of course they all could be from Frimm checking to see if she really did get her dedication.

Necromancy is a nasty business usually involving zombies but I have tweaked the definition here. I don't recommend Necromancy for a career, the hours are bad, the benefits are crappy and the company is questionable. But there are hours of endless amusement to be derived by asking your school's career guidance counselor about it.

Texas Hold'em is a poker game.

I apologize to all country music fans. Please remember that was Kagura's definition of hell, not necessarily mine.

The Devil's Dictionary

Pray: To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy.

Present: The part of eternity dividing the domain of disappointment from the realm of hope.