InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heart's Landfill ❯ Prelude to Pandemonium ( Chapter 22 )

A/N: As always all characters will be walking that fine line called OOCness. Remember this is two separate time zones; one is happening in the day (Japan), the other at night (Hawaii). Before I get to the bad news I want to tell you all thanks for your wonderful support and reviews. I also want to thank everyone, personally, that nominated this fic and my other fic for an award. Heart's Landfill didn't win anything, but Confrontations II did win 2nd place Best Romance Other for Sesshomaru/Rin. Anyway, it was wonderful just being nominated. Thank you. Now for the bad news; my laptop died on me. Yes, it went kaput, kicked the bucket, refuses to boot, the whole shebang!! That being said, I have no clue as to when the next chapter is going to be out. For those of you reading Conf II, I was half way through the next chapter, so that's lost on the laptop as well. I'm currently working on getting a new one, but we all know that money does not grow on trees. Perhaps Santa will bring me one for Christmas. (Don't laugh! If I believe in Inuyasha, why can't I believe in Santa?) Once again, Thank you all for your support!!!

 

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership to anyone with the exception of Nya, Dr. Aikio, and Malcolm. All others belong to the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi.

 

Chapter 22:

 

Prelude to Pandemonium

 

“That had to be the best cheese cake I've ever eaten!” Kagome proclaimed, rubbing her belly through the black halter-top, knee length dress she wore.

 

Inuyasha grinned, amazed that she had actually eaten a full four-course meal. Sitting back in his chair, he took a sip of his amaretto sour and stated, “The more I'm around you, the more I'm realizing that you have the genes of a disgusting pig.”

 

Kagome laughed and glared at him, but she didn't reply right away.

 

At first she was going to try to not talk to him at all, but she realized quickly that that would take just a little too much energy. Besides, how would that help her get into his head?

 

As they sat down to dinner, she realized that even though she had screamed at him on several occasions that she wanted nothing to do with him, it was a very real possibility that she wanted, at the very least, a friendship with him. But, in order to get there, she would have to stop being a bitch towards him and actually act human for a change.

 

Rolling her eyes, she picked up her glass as she turned the topic away from her piggy ways and towards him and his whorish tendencies, “You know that was really inappropriate of you today.”

 

Setting his glass down, he queried, “What was?”

 

“That little show you put on, on the balcony. You know, ripping my robe sash, walking up on me… The whole thing; it was inappropriate and you owe me an apology.”

 

Inuyasha laughed. “Inappropriate? Hell, I've been trying to tell you from the beginning that there isn't a damn thing appropriate about me. You just refuse to listen.”

 

Taking a slow sip of her white wine, Kagome pursed her lips and retorted, “I think that's what you want me to believe, so you go out of your way to act like an obnoxious prick. But you're not. If you were, you wouldn't have consoled me this morning.”

 

Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “You're an ugly crier, that's the only reason why I consoled you. Besides, do you have any idea what kind bill I would've had to pay had I allowed you to peel the paint off the walls with that sickening screech of yours?”

 

“See what I mean? You're always going out of your way to seem like an ass, which means that you're not because a real ass wouldn't have to try so hard.”

 

Inuyasha chuckled as he stared at her, trying to figure out where she was taking this conversation. Leaning forward, his elbows on the table, he balanced his head in his hands as if she was saying the most interesting thing he'd ever heard. “How many times do I have to tell you to stop trying to figure me out?”

 

“Well, if you would stop acting like such a jerk all the time and just be human, I wouldn't-”

 

“I already told you, woman, I'm not human. I'm hanyou,” he quipped, cutting her off. “I think you should try remembering that.”

 

“All right, whatever,” Kagome replied. “For tonight, I won't be a bitch if you won't be an ass. Let's just be Inuyasha and Kagome; no more, no less.”

 

One eyebrow quirked higher than the other, he mimicked, “Just Inuyasha and Kagome, eh?”

 

“Yep, we've been stuck together for almost three whole days now, and it seems that the gods are refusing to let us go our separate ways anytime soon, so we might as well at least act civilized and try to learn something about the other, right?”

 

“What makes you think I want to know anything else about you?”

 

Keeping her face peaceable, she responded, “Well, you're half human and humans are naturally inquisitive creatures. Therefore, even though you won't admit it, I know you're intrigued by me.”

 

“I know that you have the patience of a rattle snake, I know that you have the temper of a Tasmanian devil, and I know that you're nowhere near as strong as you'd like me to think you are.” Inuyasha smirked, sitting back again, his lips set in a thin line. “I'd say that I know enough about you. So that leads me to one conclusion: you're the one intrigued by me and this whole little peaceable act you're putting on is aimed at getting into my head.”

 

Kagome blushed at being found out, but didn't respond.

 

Staring at her, he sighed in defeat and asked, hoping to merely humor her, “So what makes you, you, Higurashi Kagome?”

 

“Huh? What makes me, me?” she mimicked, a befuddled look on her face.

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “You wanted to do this, so answer the question.”

 

Frowning, Kagome replied, “I don't really understand the question.”

 

“If you were in an interview, what would you say if your potential employer asked you that question?”

 

Kagome thought that over for a moment as she took another sip of her wine. “Well, I would probably say my family makes me, me.”

 

“Okay, so tell me about your family.”

 

Scrunching up her face, Kagome stared at him, unsure of whether he really wanted to know or if he was just trying to humor her. Deciding quickly that whatever it was, this was a step in the right direction, she began, “Well, my family and I are from Kyoto. We own and live on a shrine that dates back more than 500 years.”

 

“A shrine?” Inuyasha queried.

 

“Yeah, my Grand-dad says that it was built back during the Warring States Era.” Kagome smiled softly as she continued, “When I was little he'd tell me and my brother bedtime stories about demons fighting over a jewel called the Shikon.”

 

One eyebrow raised higher than the other, Inuyasha murmured, “Oh?”

 

“Yeah, Souta and I use to love hearing his stories…until he started telling us the same ones over and over again.”

 

Tapping his claw against the rim of his glass, he stared at her as she spoke. Her face was so peaceful, so serene. It was like her entire aura had changed. “Tell me about your mother and father. What were they like?”

 

“My father…” she stopped, a sad expression on her face. “My father was killed when I was 7.” Glancing up at Inuyasha, she added quickly, “And you better not get all sympathetic with me.”

 

Inuyasha scoffed, “I wouldn't dream of it.”

 

Rolling her eyes, Kagome continued, “Anyway, he was the chief of the Kyoto Police Department. One night he came home and one of the guys he'd locked up was waiting on the steps for him. Long story short, he killed my dad and left him there for me to find in the morning.”

 

“Damn,” the hanyou whispered leaning forward. “Did they ever find who did it?”

 

“Yeah, it was some low life burglar. Last I heard he was still in jail.” Before she could continue, their waiter interrupted.

 

“Do either of you need a refill?”

 

“Yeah,” Inuyasha responded, pushing his empty glass towards the young man. “And leave the bottle of wine.”

 

“Do you really think I'm going to drink all of that?” Kagome queried, eyeing the young native as he walked away from the table.

 

“Well, whatever you don't drink, they'll just pawn off to the next couple. Anyway, we were talking about your family. Please, continue,” he stated, totally intrigued by her story.

 

“Well, what's left? I have one brother, Souta, who's seventeen. He goes to Shijunson Prestige in Kyoto,” she stated proudly. “He was an annoying little shit growing up, but now he's just… He's a man now.” Kagome smiled as she continued, “My mom said that he has a girlfriend now and she thinks they're having sex.”

 

Inuyasha laughed. “Well, I'd have to agree that does make him a man, now doesn't it?”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes at him, playfully this time. “That's just it. When I left home to move to Kyoto, less than a year ago, I don't remember leaving behind a seventeen year old. I remember a little 10 year-old that followed me around everywhere.”

 

“Being the youngest of two brothers, I'd have to say that that's what's wrong with you older siblings. You never see us younger brothers as anything other than kids,” Inuyasha offered.

 

“Here are your drinks,” the waiter stated, setting Inuyasha's glass down in front of them, then refilling Kagome's glass and setting the half full bottle of Pinot Grigio on the table nearest Inuyasha.

 

After taking a quick sip of her wine, Kagome defended, “Well, if little brothers weren't so goddamn annoying, we'd be able to see them as something other than pests.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Inuyasha quipped, taking a long sip of his drink.

 

“Enough about me and my family, tell me about yours,” Kagome said quickly.

 

“You didn't tell me about your mother,” the hanyou replied quickly, really not wanting to delve into his life.

 

“We can save that for another time. So tell me Takahashi, what makes you, you? Tell me about your family.”

 

”Inuyasha frowned. “My family? What's there to tell?”

 

Kagome thought over his question, before replying, “Tell me the same things I told you. Tell me about your mother and father. How many siblings do you have?”

Inuyasha stared at her, not really wanting to tell her anything, but knowing he honestly owed her that much. After all, she had just spilled her guts about her own family, hadn't she?

 

“No, I don't have any siblings other than Sesshomaru.”

 

“I was wondering about something,” Kagome stated evenly, “You and Sesshomaru are blood brothers, right?”

 

“Unfortunately, yes, we are.”

 

“Well, how's that possible? You're a hanyou and he's a full demon?”

 

Inuyasha snorted dryly. Rubbing his chin, he began, “You see, Sesshomaru's mom was a full demon and mine's a human.”

 

“I know that much, idiot. But how is that possible? I thought that demons only got to choose one mate. How did your dad do it? How did he get two mates?” Kagome asked sitting forward.

 

“Actually, he didn't get two mates. He had a wife and a mate,” the hanyou stated in a matter of fact tone.

 

Kagome stared at him skeptically. “I hope you know that you're going to have to explain that one. I've always been told that a youkai can only have one mate in his lifetime. How is it that your father got two?”

 

“Like I just told you, he didn't get two. His marriage to Sesshomaru's mom was for business purposes. Basically, his youkai side never chose her. Therefore, she is known as his wife. Once she died and he continued to live on, he realized that even though he did love her, his soul had never fully accepted her.”

 

Leaning forward, Kagome confirmed, “I see. So, your mother was his chosen mate then?”

 

“Yeah,” he responded softly, looking away from her.

 

“Are they still together?”

 

“You could say that,” Inuyasha replied cryptically.

 

`What does he mean by `You could say that?' she thought.

 

“You see,” he began slowly. “My mom died in a car accident about five years ago and my father died of a broken heart 6 months later.”

 

“Oh god, Inuyasha, I'm so sorry to hear that,” Kagome whispered compassionately.

 

“It's no big deal. It's not like it happened last month or something,” he replied, trying to sound like it didn't bother him one bit.

 

Kagome knew from experience that a child never got over the loss of their parent(s). It didn't matter if the deaths happened 2, 10, or 15 years ago. When one's parent(s) died it was like a piece of you died along with them. Reaching across the table, she squeezed his hand reassuringly.

 

Inuyasha glanced over at her, his expression blank. Glancing down at her soft hand that was lying on top of his, he looked back up at her and started to chuckle. “And you told me not to get sympathetic; look at you.”

 

Pulling her hand back, Kagome blushed. “I'm…I'm sorry. I just-”

 

Inuyasha knew she was being sincere, but he had no desire to become emotional with her. So instead, he laughed and joked, cutting her off, “You're such an emotional wimp. You really have to stop wearing your feelings on your sleeve. You'll get hurt like that, you know?”

 

Turning her head away from him, Kagome crossed her arms under her breast and pushed out her lips in a pouting manner. She did her best to look upset, but the harder she tried, the more he laughed, causing her to begin to laugh as well. “I really hate you. You do know that, don't you?” she avowed in between giggles.

 

“No you don't,” Inuyasha replied, his laughter dying out totally. Staring at her, her face flushed, her eyes shining, he found it entirely too hard to look a way. `Beautiful,' he thought with a soft snort. “Come on, we should head back up to the hotel so that we can start packing,” he stated, glancing down at his watch, which read 10 p.m.

 

They had been sitting there for three hours, believe it or not.

 

“Uhm, okay,” Kagome agreed, standing to her feet. Wrapping her shawl around her shoulders to protect herself from the night air, she watched quietly as the hanyou dropped a few bills on the table and proceeded towards the door. Following a few steps behind him, she thought, `I really had a nice time tonight. There wasn't any arguing. He didn't try to grope me and I was myself. I didn't have to pretend. I don't feel like I have to pretend with him. When we get back to Tokyo… I wonder…'

 

Stepping out of the door and stopping next to him as he lit his cigarette, Kagome's thought continued, `When we get back to Tokyo, I want to see him again. I want to… I want to know you, Takahashi Inuyasha. What harm will it do if we're just friends?'

 

Taking a slow drag of his nicotine stick, Inuyasha blew it out slowly, allowing large white smoke rings to filter into the night sky. “Damn this is going to be a long flight.” Turning, he started on the short trek back to the hotel as he finished, “The next time Sesshomaru asks you to go on one of these trips, you make sure you tell his ass no.”

 

“Yeah, okay,” Kagome agreed, not really listening to him. “Inuyasha?” she queried, unable to stop herself as she strolled slowly beside him, her shawl wrapped tightly around her.

 

“Kagome?” he teased playfully, one hand shoved deep within his pocket, the other holding his cigarette.

 

“Uhm…uhmm…”

 

Inuyasha glanced over at her. “What's on your mind?”

 

Kagome swallowed. `It doesn't mean a thing if I ask him, but what if he says no. What if he says…'

 

Inuyasha let out another puff of smoke as he eyed her curiously.

 

“When we get back to Tokyo…” she started, but stopped. “When we get back to Tokyo do you think…” she faltered, swallowed her words and decided quickly that maybe this was a bad idea.

 

“You want to see me again, is that what you're trying to say?” he offered with ease.

 

“Not…not like that, but as friends, you know?” she corrected quickly, hoping that she wasn't sounding like a complete moron.

 

Inuyasha glanced over at her, their eyes meeting briefly before she looked away nervously.

 

He wanted to tell her no, they couldn't continue this friendship when they got back to Tokyo because it would only confuse things, but he couldn't. He knew that no matter how much he denied it, something about her spoke to him. There was something about her that made him forget his troubles…Kikyo. There was something about her that made him feel, needed, comfortable, and at peace with the world around him.

 

Noticing that he wasn't giving her an answer she stated, “Never mind,” as she began walking faster, so that she was ahead of him. “Forget I said anything. It would probably be best if we just go back to the way things were.”

 

Watching her hips sway, he stated with a hesitant smirk, “Were you standing behind the door when the gods were giving out patience?” Not waiting on a reply, he continued, “I think you and I continuing this friendship could do you some good. After all, who's going to stop you from making a complete fool of yourself?”

 

Kagome smiled to herself, but didn't turn to look at him or acknowledge that she was listening. `Asshole,' she thought, her smile quickly turning into a relieved grin.

 

Simonkal of Inuy

 

Hiking his book bag up on his shoulder, the 5'11”, slender built young man sighed, relieved to be done with yet another school day.

 

He had an exam in math, a paper due in writing, and a speech to perform in his Introduction to business class. He'd never tell anyone that he thought he was as smart as his lawyer sister, but he did make good enough grades in elementary school to land one of the top ten spots at one of Japan's best and most prestigious private high schools. Ironically, this was the current reason for his weariness.

 

Souta not only took all advanced classes, but he attended school seven days a week. There was never a day that he didn't have homework or an extra credit assignment that took him to some museum, research lab, or plant to examine some idiotic thing that he had no interest in. Quite honestly, the school was kicking his Japanese born ass!

 

`Just a few more months to graduation,' he thought. `Then I'm off to college, to do it all over again, fuck!'

 

All he wanted to do was practice his guitar, hang out with a couple of his friends, or catch a movie with his girlfriend, but with all the exams and just average everyday bull-shit, he had little time to even sleep.

 

Sighing heavily, he pushed open the gates that separated the school from the outside world and began to step onto the sidewalk, but stopped as a sweet voice called out his name. Turning, he smiled at the American born neko youkai named Nola.

 

“Oi,” he greeted.

 

“Oi yourself! Why didn't you wait for me?” she queried, coming to an abrupt stop in front of him.

 

Scratching the back of his head since he really couldn't remember telling her that he'd wait for her today, Souta replied, “I'm sorry, I guess I was just distracted. Today has been the day from hell.”

 

Stepping closer to him, so that her breasts were touching his chest, Nola purred while leaning in, “If you're stressed, I know something that can help you relieve it.”

 

The young man grinned sheepishly at his girlfriend. She stood about 5'5” tall with fiery red hair and an hourglass figure. She had five of the cutest little freckles he'd ever seen running across her high cheekbones, the sexiest slender shaped black diamond positioned beautifully in the center of her forehead, and dimples that melted his heart whenever she smiled at him.

 

They had met a week after Kagome had left for Tokyo. The first time they went out on a date, she told him that he was her mate and that demons only had one mate, which meant she could never love another. Of course, he though she was absolutely nuts. At least until, he fell head over heels in love with her on their second date.

 

Snaking his arm around her shoulder, he replied, a blush staining his cheeks, “Were you always this bad?”

 

Stealing a chaste kiss, she quipped, her emerald green eyes glistening with mischief, “Only since I met you.”

 

Pulling her to him, he inhaled her sweet perfume, and then sighed once more. “I'm sorry, I can't.”

 

Nola pulled away, her face set in a deep scowl. “Why? It's been weeks, you know?”

 

“Don't you think I know that? But, between studying for my exams and helping my Gramps out around the shrine, I don't have time,” Souta offered apologetically.

 

Crossing her arms beneath her breasts, Nola poked out her lips in a pouting manner. “Well, I still feel neglected!”

 

Pulling her to him once more, Souta stated softly, “I know and I'm sorry, but you did say you wanted a huge house on a hill with a massive backyard and to get that I need an education, right?” Kissing her forehead, he continued, “And my Gramps is getting up in age; the old man can't do everything himself.

 

Grinning up at him, her red locks blowing in the light breeze, she giggled, “Are you saying that you agree that we're-”

 

Souta cut her off with a soft kiss. Pulling away, he stared down into her eyes as he replied, cutting her off, “Just be patient with me, okay? I promise you, as soon as these exams are over, we're going to do something real special.”

 

“Promise?”

 

“Yes, I promise, but only if you stop giving me a hard time.”

 

Snaking her arm around his waist, she turned and began walking with him out the gate. “Well can I at least come over? I haven't seen your mother in forever.”

 

“She'd like that. Ever since Kagome's been gone, she's been practically begging for female company,” Souta teased as he eyed a black

Mercedes Benz with pitch black tinted windows sitting near the corner.

 

“Speaking of your sister, when do I get to meet her?” Nola queried, leaning her head against his shoulder.

 

“Mom says she's in Hawaii on business right now, but she's supposed to be coming home soon.”

 

“Hawaii? What's she doing in Hawaii?”

 

“I don't really know, but it's probably business. All she does is work.”

 

Nola was quiet for minute as they neared the corner. She didn't notice the way Souta's eyes were trained on the car. “Can we honeymoon in Hawaii?”

 

Souta was caught off guard, but quickly recovered. “What makes you think I'm going to ask you to marry me?” he joked.

 

Pinching his side lightly, she teased, “You're my mate, idiot! Who else are you going to marry?”

 

Souta chuckled, but stopped when the passenger door to the Mercedes swung open.

 

“Yo!”

 

Squinting at the person whose face he couldn't clearly make out, but whose voice sounded a little too familiar, Souta stopped, his arms still wrapped around Nola's waist. “Are you talking to me?”

 

“Who else would I be talking to?” the man quipped, stepping onto the sidewalk.

 

Taking a step towards the man, Souta growled as if he were a dog, and then questioned irritably, “Kouga? What the fuck… What are you doing here?”

 

Souta had tolerated the wolf youkai while he was dating Kagome, but honestly he'd never liked him. He was just too slick, almost slimy, if that made any sense.

 

The young man wasn't sure what had happened between Kouga and his sister, but he knew whatever had happened had changed his once loving and happy sister forever.

 

He'd heard his mother talking to her over the phone a few times about whatever happened, but they never went into any real details. She was always telling Kagome that it was time to move on and that she knew what Kouga did wasn't right, but she had to let it go and start living again. Honestly, he didn't need to know much more than that. Even though he was younger than his sister, he still felt a fierce need to protect her.

 

“I never knew you had such a mouth on you,” Kouga replied with a grin, his iridescent blue eyes glistening. “I was in the neighborhood and remembered you went to school here.”

 

Not willing to take the wolf's word for it, Souta hissed, “Yeah right! Even when you were dating Kagome, you never came by here. So cut the shit, what do you want?”

 

Nola stepped up grabbing, Souta's forearm. “Who is he? I…I don't like him,” she whispered softly, hoping that the wolf demon hadn't heard her. There was something wrong with his aura; it was tainted, twisted somehow.

 

“That's your chick?” Kouga inquired rhetorically. “You're just like your sister, eh? Got to have a taste of the youkai.”

 

Souta kissed his tongue against the backs of his teeth. “Whatever, man.”

 

The wolf youkai chuckled and leaned back casually against the side of the Benz. “So what's up? What have you been up to? How's your sister doing?”

 

It was Souta's turn to laugh. “So that's what you want. You're fucking insane, you know that?”

 

Grabbing Nola's arm, Souta started down the street again murmuring incoherently about sons of bitches and stinking conniving wolves. Not wanting to stop at the corner, but knowing he didn't have a choice, Souta tried not to turn and look behind him as he pulled Nola so that she was standing on the far side of him away from where Kouga's car was parked.

 

“Look, I didn't come here to argue with you. I just want to know if Kagome is okay,” Kouga stated honestly, grabbing the boy's arm.

 

Turning around angrily, Souta snapped, his rage unlike anything he'd ever felt before, “It's been months and you pick now to just pop up?” The boy laughed derisively as he continued, “Well if you must know, she's happy alright! She's…fucking…happy! She doesn't cry any fucking more, Kouga! She doesn't sit around the house moping and hoping that your sorry ass will call!”

 

Stepping closer to the wolf demon, he persisted, “She not a fucking walking zombie anymore, Kouga! My sister, Kagome, the woman you broke…” Forgetting that the demon before him could have easily torn him asunder without batting an eyelash, the young man stepped forward so that he was nose to nose with the youkai. “I don't know what you did to her or how you did it, but you tore my fucking sister apart! `You' stay the fuck away from her!”

 

Stepping back, Kouga licked his lips and tried to rein in the frazzled tentacles of his aura. “Alright, I deserved that. So, she's happy?”

 

Souta grunted, feeling Nola slip her soft hands around his bicep, instantly calming him. “Yes, she's happy and she'll continue to be happy as long as you stay the fuck away from her.”

 

Staring at the young man as if he needed a moment to think about what to say next, Kouga shoved his hands in his pockets. “She's not in Kyoto. Where is she?” he asked, mildly. “Why did she leave?”

 

“Wherever she is, I hope you never fucking find her,” Souta snapped. Turning on his heels, he stomped across the street, his girlfriend trotting closely behind him. “That fucker must be out of his fucking mind if he thinks I would ever tell him anything about Kagome,” he mumbled angrily.

 

Simonkal of Inuy

 

Balling up his fists tightly, Kouga watched the boy disappear across the street. Had he been anyone else, he would have used him as a fucking punching bag to get the information he needed, but he was her brother, he'd never be able to explain that one.

 

`Little shit', he thought heatedly as he climbed back into the passenger seat of his car. As the remnants of Kagome; her scent, her smile, her laughter, the feel of her body pressed against his, and the smell of her tears jumped to life within his already frazzled mind, he stated softly, “Let's go.”

 

Having heard the conversation, Hakkaku queried, “So what do you want to do now?”

 

“She's not in Kyoto. Have Ginta check all the major law firms in Japan. And if she's not registered with any of them, have him check with every fucking law firm on the face of the planet. Just find her, damn it!”

 

Pulling slowly out into the street, Hakkaku glanced skeptically at Kouga as he dialed his brother's number with his free hand. His best friend and boss of sorts had been like this for months. It was like he was a man blinded by desire. He was obsessed with that which he could not have. He didn't understand what Kouga was feeling and he didn't want to understand it because in his mind it was asinine.

 

When he had Kagome all to himself, he chose to woo the daughter of the head of the Kyoto syndicate. Kouga wanted power; he wanted to move up through the ranks of the syndicate as fast as he could and with little effort. Therefore, he pretended to love Ayame, he pretended that his youkai had chosen her, but he knew better…they all knew better.

 

Then, there was the night that Ayame caught the two of them in bed together. Kouga could have easily chosen that time to speak the truth, but instead, he cowered like a dog, begging Ayame to forgive him and saying that Kagome was nothing to him. He lied to himself, to Ayame, and to Kagome.

 

Knowing all that, Hakkaku couldn't come up with one good reason why they were hunting Kagome down like this. Sure, Kouga said he loved her, but what exactly did he think would happen once he found her? Did he really think that she would take him back? Did he think that they would actually pick up where they left off? Was he forgetting that he was a married man? Regardless of whether he thought Ayame was his mate or not, he was married and, for all intents and purposes, mated.

 

“Are you going home to Ayame this weekend?” Hakkaku asked, trying to break the tension and bring some sense of reality back into Kouga's mind.

 

“Yeah,” he responded dourly.

 

“Ginta, Kouga wants you to check all of the law firms in Japan. And If you don't find anything there, fan out into other countries,” the younger wolf youkai ordered into his cell and to his twin brother. “Yeah, okay, call me,” he finished closing the phone quickly.

 

“Kouga, you should call Ayame. You know she worries when you're gone too long.”

 

“Yeah, I know,” he replied, pushing his thoughts of Kagome to the back of his mind. “When Ginta finds Kagome, I want you to book a trip for Ayame and her sister to go away…far away from here for a month or so, okay?” he finished, closing his eyes and laying his head back against the headrest.

 

Shaking his head in a negative manner, Hakkaku agreed, “Sure boss, whatever you say.” Truth be told, he pitied his friend, who was buried so deep within his own little fantasy world that he couldn't see the sun through the rays that were Kagome.

 

Until Next Time: (Your .02 cents are greatly appreciated)

 

Next Chapter: Letting Go Graciously