InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Beneath a Smile ❯ Commiserating ( Chapter 13 )

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

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha!





Hidden Beneath a Smile

Chapter Thirteen: Commiserating





As the fires roared in background, and debris fell from the building all around them, Miroku stared upon the scene with unseeing eyes, as though he were not even there. It had already been an hour without a single reaction from the man, and it was beginning to worry Sango. Yet, all she could really do was continue to hold on to him, and let him grieve. They both shared something now, they had both lost a sibling to the fire; they were both alone.

Suddenly Miroku stood to his feet, unbalancing Sango and causing her to fall upon her bottom. Looking up first in indignation, and then resignation towards his pain until her eyes sought his own. He looked determined, set, and soon he was off again attempting to make way into the smoldering building. She grabbed hold of his leg trying to stop him and he yanked back hard trying to imbalance her; she refused to budge. "I have to go," he spoke in forceful rasp, "I'm their aniki, I promised I would always be there for them."

Sango shook her head roughly, and held on tighter. "Please, houshi, you'll only get yourself killed!"

He pulled more, taking her with him as he moved an inch a second, slowly closing in on his intended target. "I'm their big brother!" He shouted his voice dripping of the pain that had floored him moments before, "if I can not save them then I deserve to die!" She had to let him go, he had to get inside that building before it burned to the ground, before it took his siblings to the grave where he could no longer reach them, touch them, feel their warmth and love. That thought alone was enough to cause bile to rise to his throat and he swallowed roughly to force the acrid taste back.

"Miroku!" The young brunette screamed stilling him surer then a slap across the face, that was the first time she had ever spoken his name. "How can you be so selfish, do you really think they would want you to die because of them. Do you really think that they would not live with regret the rest of their days thinking its their fault that you died!" That seemed to take the fight from him a moment and he slumped to the ground causing her to breathe easier. Maybe, she thought a bit over hopeful, maybe he'd see now that he can't do anything for them, that he needs to leave it to the authorities. He's not Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha, he's not near indestructible.

"You don't understand, Kagome and Souta are all that I have left." Then he stood again attempting to make way toward the burning building slowly being smothered by fast working firemen, only this time when a hand drew him back sharp claws bit into his clothed flesh. He winced against the pain, wondering dimly when Sango had ever had such sharp nails.

"No, I don't understand," the words were deadly soft and Miroku was forced to turn around and stare into in the eyes of the eldest Shikaku brother, eyes that sparked red signaling his tender grip of control. If need be he would fight this Taiyoukai in order to make the necessary path towards saving Kagome and Souta, they were worth far more to him then his own life. The sacrifice would be well worth it. "What happened here and where is Inuyasha?” Upon seeing the monk frivolously fighting against the taijya's staying hand, he had heard that last of the conversation not quite grasping whom they spoke of. He did not relish in knowing that more secrets were floating around his more trusted, he pushed the thoughts aside. If the monk was not on the inside and they were not mourning his half-sibling then perhaps Inuyasha had not been there after all. Then he is all right, at that thought anger at the mongrel set in, how dare that worthless cur make the great Sesshoumaru crumble in worry. Then cursed himself for such a thought, he was immune to such human weaknesses as fear and worry.

"Inuyasha…" Miroku murmured, his chest filling with anger at the thought of his partner alone with his unprotected and innocent sister. Once he made sure that, his sister and brother were all right, he would be sure to get a word in with that sister preying half-youkai. Then it occurred to him that his partner obviously visited the penthouse looking for him and that if Inuyasha was in fact there, then it could be assumed that his siblings were safe without a hair misplaced upon their heads. He calmed down at that thought and made use of the idle mussing to ease his sheered heart from its painful grasp. "I didn't even know that he was here, he's probably still there." Inuyasha knew how to detect a bomb with ease, he breathed heavily through his nose, and with that left the anxieties holding claim over his body.

Sesshoumaru raised his fist to knock the monk across the face, and would have done so had Kagura not placed her hand upon his arm to keep it from moving. "Stop, violence will not help anything," the wind youkai chastised. "Look, Miroku, there was a call that placed Inuyasha in that building," her ruby eyes flickered briefly towards Sesshoumaru before returning to the agent turned mobster. Her heart went out to the man, though she held a slight dislike for Inuyasha she knew that the two brother's cared deeply for one another even if it were not politically correct to do so. One brother was a full youkai, the blood of a legend flowing through his veins and already by his own merits was the strongest leader of the underground society that existed beneath the human world. Inuyasha on the other hand was only half, the blood of the legend flowing through his veins offering him slight protection from assassination attempts that most of his situation would be plagued with, Sesshoumaru's reputation offering full protection. However, neither of those stopped the world from hating him, neither of those made it okay in the eyes of those in this society for the younger brother to be shown any emotion other than disdain. "When was the last time you saw him?" She demanded. Her reasons for not liking the younger Shikaku were completely different, a grudge from their younger years, she would never wish to see Inuyasha dead.

Miroku shrugged sheepishly, his heart growing more at ease with that thought of his partner carting his beloved siblings away to safety. Now was the time for business, now was the time to figure out whom set the bomb and why. Did 'he' know of Kagome and Souta, and did 'he' know of their connections and maybe perhaps realize that the two might have some idea as to what their father might have taken. Worry stole his features to a frown as he answered the question. "I've not seen him since we spoke to the spider the last time around." Trying not to fall prey to the powerful eyes of the Taiyoukai, Miroku kept his gaze to the wind sorcerer.

"Houshi," Sesshoumaru spoke powerfully, "if you are not here because of my half-brother, then why are you here," he took a delicate sniff of the air, "crying before a burning building." The supposed monk gulp audibly, at that noise he steeled his resolve to drag the secret from the human's throat whether it killed the man or not. The inu-youkai was fed up with secrets and he would hear no more aversions and deliberate changes of conversation, for once, he would have the truth he sought. "Tell me or you won't live to breathe another day, why would you mourn so deeply for children you claim to hardly know?" He snorted at the other man's slip in emotion as his eyes widened a fraction in shock. "I am not stupid Miroku, I know of the two you pulled rank to obtain safety for. I was quiet, patiently waiting for you tell me why because you are my most loyal third and Inuyasha's best friend, however I wait no longer. Things have fallen beyond that point."

"I…" Miroku began and then stopped, there were too many people around them too many ears to hear the conversation. "Not here, back at your office I shall tell you every thing. You're right, things have gone beyond the point for secrets now. If we are going to find the bomber, though we both know that it is likely 'him', the truth must be known." He conceded and shared a glance with Sango that did not go unnoticed by the youkai and he was sure that she knew the secret and that annoyed him. It would make sense that she would now the situation surrounding the siblings she was charged with protecting, another order that had been given over his head. He snorted in resentment.

Before Sesshoumaru could answer, a cold voice broke into their discussion. "I should have known that you would be involved Shikaku-san, for all the world you try to appear innocent but I know you for the rat you are." The youkai's eyes narrowed dangerously, it was too bad that the human before him did not know that he was speaking to a mythical beast, for if he had then his life would have been forfeit. He ruled the western half of the secret society and those humans that awaken to the truth, and so in their world there would have been no punishment should he have made the man disappear for the insult. "If I find one scrape to pin you to this, I swear that I'll have you behind bars faster then you can blink." The little bald man boldly threatened.

Kagura snorted. "Hardly," she bit out, "how dare you insinuate that he had anything to do with that! His brother may have been in there that was his home, show some respect you sniveling little worm!" She was frustrated with Sesshoumaru for his lack of faith in her ability; she was upset with the thought of Inuyasha dying despite her grudge and the inu-youkai was upset that his brother might have died though he tried not to show it. All in all the day had not been good and she was not in a great mood to be dealing with know it all men of the law. She tried to keep herself tall, regal even, as those eyes of Sesshoumaru bore unto her. Such a heated looked he put upon her that she could scarcely believe her flesh had yet to self-combust.

The man sputtered angrily, "How dare you, you bit-" before the words were even out of his mouth hands were around his throat keeping him from breathing normally. In other words, he was choking.

"I would not finish that sentence were I you." Sesshoumaru let the unsaid threat hang in the air as he shoved the DA to the ground and turned on his heel in the other direction motioning for Kagura, Miroku, and Sango to follow his retreating form. After walking for quite a bit, seeing as he had run the entire way followed by Kagura there was no car to make the trek easier, and was sure they were an adequate distance from the burning building he turned a glare upon the wind youkai at his side. "Do not do that again, this Sesshoumaru does not need protecting."

Kagura narrowed her eyes at the man, she had done as much before, and so it was obvious that the possibility of his brother's death coupled with a secret he was not privy to had him over reacting to her act. He may try to deny it, but she knew the man better then he knew himself and so she could easily see were the comment sparked from. The taiyoukai never referred to himself in third person unless of course he was quite upset, and her action was not enough to spark such a level of anger. "This Sesshoumaru may not need protecting, however this Kagura will, despite what this Sesshoumaru thinks he may need, she will protect those of whom she cares for whether this Sesshoumaru likes it or not!" She finished firmly.

The silvered haired youkai's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Do you dare to patronize me?"

"If you're going to take your frustrations out upon me for doing absolutely nothing then yes, I do." With those words said she made a show of spinning upon her heal angrily and stalked off back towards the bombing site. "Don't follow me, I need time to cool off." She declared purposefully over her shoulder knowing that Sesshoumaru would not attempt to do so. Yes it was a stupid argument to be had and yet it was the first thing that had come to mind that she could use to find her escape. Kagura also knew from experience that, if she could pour enough anger into her scent, the proud inu-youkai would not come charging after her demanding for an explanation. They had done that once and the result had not been pretty, so when one stalked off to cool down the other usually did not follow. Thus it was the perfect plan, and she would get back before anyone could question why she had not been doing her job, or perhaps why she had not performed her job at all.

An amber slitted gaze followed the wind youkai's back as she strode off with the all the dignity of a queen, then slide toward his two near silent companions slitting even more with anger. They were unsuccessfully trying to hide their humor with the situation, and he would silence them. "Unless of course you want to join those whom have fallen from the tender caress of my claws then I suggest you keep as you are otherwise wipe all humor from your countenance." He threatened lowly, managing by a tender thread to keep from referring to himself in the third person as the level of his ire rose.

Sango merely nodded trying to keep her face from his sight and he would have to settle for that, as he could not very well take down his best due to a little embarrassment. Miroku, however, was suffering from loss and so his tongue was not nearly as guarded, as it would have been under normal circumstances. "The humor is gone and so now your pride may rest." His eyes winded as though realizing what he had just uttered, slowly, very slowly he turned to peek at the mighty youkai that looked ready to take his head. Miroku really did not relish the thought, as he had grown very fond of it right where it was. "I… uh-" before he could come up with a suitable reply his words were choked off as a clawed hand wrapped around his neck in much the same fashion as it had to the detective.

Sesshoumaru breathed deep, trying to calm his irritation at the insult and not kill the ex-agent trying to remember that he was the only one that could enlighten him as to why his brother's apartment had been bombed along with other things. Though there was always a chance that Sango knew just as much, he could not take the chance and so forced his hand to release its vice like hold. "You are lucky, Miroku, that the information you may posses might be too important to know for your death to occur by my hands. However," he paused with a wicked grin to let his monotonous words to take an ill effect upon Miroku's person, "should that not prove the case I will maim you terribly for that comment." The desired effect was evident when the monk shivered violently and then merely nodded to show his understanding. The inu-youkai turned on his heel and motioned them to follow after. "Come, there is no time for this useless dawdling, we have things to discuss." Sesshoumaru allowed a desecrate smile to form upon his lips when his ears heard the taijya berating the monk for foolishly speaking out as he had, taking a morbid delight in the man getting yelled at by the woman he held a vast adoration for.


"Haku?" A hesitant sonorous voice cut through the darkness of his madness, forcing him to lean backward and open his eyes to the visitor. "Haku are you all right, is something... wrong?"

Swallowing hard -trying to fix his suddenly parched throat- as tears misted his vision, Haku replied almost inaudibly. "I've done something horrible, Rin." She would help him; she would take away this pain.

The dark haired girl swiftly came forward, dropping the bags in her arms; she fell to her knees beside him. Concern for the man filled her vision and she, boldly, took his face in her hands forcing him to look at her. He had helped her feel slightly better when she had fallen into a deep-rooted sadness when her grandfather died, so she would return the favor and help him. Swallowing hard, she spoke with near the same volume, "what do you mean Haku, what have you done?" From the very broken look marring his features, she was truly afraid to find out.

"Can't you see it," he held his hands before her eyes his own leaking tears unrestrained, "can't you see what I've done, can't you see the blood." Suddenly he took the hands away, ripping his head from her hold he barked harshly. "Get away from me, I don't want to see your blood here too, I don’t want to hurt you too!" He stood, or at least tried to stand but Rin had grasped his shoulders, and despite the fact that he was much stronger, he did not use that force to get away. Instead, he stood there as though she had the power to incapacitate him, and waited, waited to hear her speak again. "If he finds out about you, he'll take you away from me, if I do something wrong he'll take you away from me. To punish me."

Honestly, Rin was terrified, yet looking upon him with the tears on his face the pain pooling in his eyes as though an endless ocean she felt her heart given in to him. "What do you mean? Haku, who will?" She probably should have left him there like he wanted as Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha would have certainly agreed with her and would not have faulted her in doing so. There was something definitely wrong, not something small, and not something trivial, it was big and dangerous. It was something that she should not be trying to involve herself in and yet she couldn't help, she was drawn to those in pain feeling as though it were her soul responsibility to heal what ailed them. She had done the same for Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru in her younger years, as well as for Kagura when they had been friends. Even Miroku, though she could never reveal that to the two Shikaku brothers, not with out mentioning the several times he had tried to grope her while she tried to help him work out his problems.

She had a feeling that this might be something she just could not fix, still that did not mean she would not give it one heck of a try. She felt her determination grow greatly when he turned to look at her with such a lost expression, he looked like a little boy, and grasped her hands tightly. "I just wanted him to love me, I did not understand what he was asking. I didn't understand, I only wanted his love," he fell further to the concrete ground dragging her down with him, "I just wanted his love, I just wanted his love, I just want his love." He murmured those words brokenly as he grasped her around the middle, and it wasn't until a few minutes of listening to the heart breaking mantra that she suggested for him to come home with her.

She watched him now from her place in the doorway, watching him lying in the middle of her floor before one of the largest windows in her home the outside air washing over him blowing anything loose enough in it's passing. He looked so at peace that Rin was glad that she had allowed him to move her furniture around in order to find the perfect place to lay and watch the sky through her open window. She observed him a few moments more before walking into the room and sitting down in a large plush chair that no longer obstructed part of the view through the window. She also sat down the tray she carried upon the coffee table that had also been moved to accommodate her eccentric guest, it was laden with two mugs of hot chocolate. In these cold winter months, it was a wonderful treat to have around, even if it was not snowing yet, and she only hoped that Haku would enjoy it as well. "I brought you some hot chocolate." She offered gently, smiling to offer comfort. On the walk to her, home they had not talked, and the only words he spoke to her were in question of whether or not it would be okay if he rearranged her living room.

"Though I've heard of it, I have never before had hot chocolate, however I would be honored to try the treat you've made." He sat up slightly, took the steamy mug from its place upon the try, and took a sip mindful of its heat smiling brightly after having swallowed. "It's good." Setting it back down he looked back at her and though his lips were smiling, still his eyes were shadowed with the same pain she had seen weakening his entire form at the park. How she wished to remove such a look, no one should have to live with such agony always looming out behind them. She was startled from her thoughts when he took her hands in his own trying to drag her from her seat. "Lie down beside me," he intoned and seeing the slight hesitation that crossed her visage he added, "I only want to show you my peace."

Rin did as he asked moving with him; she laid down beside him upon the carpeted floor looking out her window marveling at the sight her eyes now held. The sky was rolling with storm clouds, lightening flashing within the dark mass, illuminating the open expanse for brief amounts of time grumbling before showing its light. The wind blew in through the window over her body over her face, along with the rustling of the leaves and low grumbling, she felt as though her soul was relaxing within her frame. She felt completely and utterly at peace, her muscles' melted from their tensed stand at being so close to the man and breathed deep entering a sort of drowsy state. He and she lay in this serene position a long while before words were exchanged. "I'm sorry if I frightened you earlier," Haku murmured the apology, "I just kind of fell under the pressure of my life."

Mustering up her bravery, Rin found herself questioning, "what sort of pressure?"

Haku chuckled humorlessly, "the kind that I refuse to burden you with."

Turning onto her left side, she propped her head upon her hand and was looking thoughtful. "What if I don't feel it’s a burden, would you tell me then?"

Haku did not answer for such a long time; eyes shut as the wind washed over them, that she nearly lost hope in having an answer. Yet, when his voice permeated the silence she nearly jumped out of her skin. "I, after having lost my memories, of not remembering ever being loved, desperately wanted to have the love of my grandfather." He paused and then abruptly turned his back to her, and she had a feeling it was his way of putting a physical barrier between them as he spoke his troubles. "I did anything I could to gain that love, even hurt people." He curled in on himself and let out shuttering breath, whimpering and for a moment, she thought that he might have been crying.

Fearing that such an action meant that he was no longer going to speak of it with her, Rin said swiftly, kindly. "That's understandable, you were young and probably scared, so that's understandable. How could you possibly be faulted for that?" She winced as she saw his shoulders tense horribly, and feared that she had spoken the wrong thing. Opening her mouth to say something else, he interrupted before she could say a thing.

"Not its not," he bit out bitterly, "nothing I did was right, nothing I did should be justified by the mere statement of wanting my grandfather's love. I think that no mater what I do he'll never grant it to me, sometimes I think that he is incapable of love. Still a small part of me holds onto the thought of him speaking the words to me, of telling me how proud he is of all the things I have accomplished in my father's name." Suddenly he gasped, stood, and crossed the living room nearly all in one step, "I should go, my grandfather probably wonders where I am."

Rin found herself standing faster then she ever likely had in her life, grabbing onto Haku's arm to stop him from leaving her home. "Don't go," she shouted and then lowered her voice, "don't go." She pleaded again, fearing that if he left her now he would not return. Fearing that if he left her now she might never again have the chance to ease the corporeal pain hovering about his person. The thought of Haku continuing to live with such pain churned her stomach, "stay, you shouldn't have to walk home when it's storming." She pleaded, trying to reason with the dark haired man.

"I really should be going," he whispered pitifully, his words claiming without true voice that he too wished to stay and yet for some reason was trying to talk her into letting him leave. "My grandfather, he doesn't like when I'm gone for too long."

Rin shook her head ruefully, "no, he probably won't care so long as your not out in that." She spoke almost forcefully pointing toward the open window, the winds moving violently about thunder and lighting carting across the skies, rain beating downward toward the earth. "Stay, I have a spare bedroom." She added as though that information alone would be enough to sway him.

The dark haired man paused, considering, leaving Rin to wait in hopeful anticipation of his answer, and then finally said, "I guess that it couldn't hurt. My grandfather, he might understand." That being said, Haku allowed the now ecstatic girl to lead him to the spare room, speaking excitedly of the movies they could watch and the games they could play claming that this would be the first sleep-over she had ever had. Smiling at her antics, he decided he had done right by choosing to stay and hoped that he could bring such joy to her eyes in the future contritely adding. "This would be my first too, at least of what I can remember."


The room was dark, almost frightening from the worsening storm that could be seen from inside through the two rather large widows at either side of their leader's mahogany desk. The blinds were drawn up and so the little illumination cast by the lightening made the stoic face of the man to seem rather ominous. The two other occupants of the room shivered horribly before taking their seats with a reluctance that did not go unnoticed as the resigned themselves to take what may come for their actions. Drumming fingers ideally in the deep-rooted silence, the man behind the desk ventured to ask. "I, though I reluctantly admit, am the one seeking the information and that means that you need to speak so that I may have it otherwise I shall just take out my threat here and now. I am not a patient man, and I believe that being such I have been patient long enough giving you this past week to say something other then lies." He bit out bitterly while leveling the two of his operates with a well-placed deadpan glare.

Calling a calmness to over take his body, the same type of serenity he often found right before coming to blows, Miroku spoke solemnly. "I apologize, however what I have to say isn't exactly easy to say right out and requires a bit of finesse," and he found himself hurrying right along to say what needed to be said at the look his boss gave him. One that demanded he hurry, one that seemed to say that he care not for the level of difficulty it would take for him to get the information out. "Yes, well, as I was saying… the day you are aware of when I had gone over your head and placed the two siblings into protective custody I also did not mention they might have bore witness to a conversation. Or even that they might know of the information as to what my father may have died for."

Sesshoumaru slammed his fist down upon the desk hard, causing things to shift, rattled and fall to the floor, shouting, growling really, in anger. "How dare you keep something so important to yourself, we could have used that piece of knowledge, but since you have seen fit to keep this Sesshoumaru in the dark our one chance at ending this nightmare may have perished in the flames of my brother's penthouse." Clenching fists tight, he was silent for all of a moment before the ex-agent found a clawed finger in his face, the male youkai shouting angrily once more. "My brother may have died for nothing, this all might have been avoided if you had not been so foolish, what do you have to say for yourself." The scorned brother spurted in fierce rage.

Taking the words in stride, Miroku replied to the demand as though he had not been interrupted, keeping to the aloofness, he was well known for under the extremely infuriated Taiyoukai. "The attack upon them was by 'him,' and the most essential information in all of this would be that Kagome and Souta are my siblings, they are my brother and sister and I do not regret what I have done. I would do it again, I would do anything to protect them." He met his superiors gaze unflinching.

Sesshoumaru felt himself calm drastically under such a steady look, seeing in his operate the same undying brotherly loyalty that he himself felt towards his own half-sibling. Unwillingly, he had to admit, if grudgingly, that were he in the ex-agents place the actions Miroku had taken might have been reciprocates of his own. He was not, however, about to admit to such a thing openly and instead went on to approach this new piece handed to him carefully. "I wasn't aware you had any siblings, I do not recall you or your father speaking of anyone other then you," he lied. He could not quite recall if either of the two made a mention of more to their family other then a son, father, mother and grandfather, despite that he continued on, "but that doesn't matter. For now, I will not punish you for your actions, I understand them, such is human nature, however if you do not tell me everything you know, if they are not alive then I will be forced in to taking actions that you and I will loath to happen." He finally spoke his sentence hanging heavy in the air.

Miroku merely nodded. "I understand."

"Good," Sesshoumaru nodded toward the Taijya, "and what exactly is her involvement in this, was she aware of anything other then the order to guard your brother and sister?"

The man opened his mouth in response; however, Sango felt the need to speak before he could cover for her. She would not let the man whom had saved her from such a horrid fate fall down this route alone; no she would accompany him despite its foolishness. She stood abruptly drawing all attention to her stopping her savior from speaking, "I, too, knew this information."

The monk slapped a hand over her mouth before she could needlessly condemn herself any further, earning an indignant growl and a glare from the girl saying sheepishly for the display. "She didn't know any of this until I spoke of it to her just this morning, I had a guilty conscious I guess and felt the need to ease it." He added, sending Sango a look, telling her not to speak another word. He had done enough to her already, snatching the innocence from her, making her the assassin she is today, giving her little choice to be anything different. Miroku could still recall the look upon her face the first time she had claimed a life, well it was the aftermath, but she had been terribly shaken by the act. The tears cascading trails down her cheeks would forever be engraved upon his memory and because of that he would allow no harm to come to her. He would not let her throw away her freedom, and possibly her life, to ride the same boat as he. Though it was likely only to be a minor token punishment, he could not be sure, if Inuyasha were to die as a result of his keeping secrets Sesshoumaru might not feel so inclined to be so forgiving.

The inu-youkai nodded his head briefly. "Hai, I believe you speak the truth, as your scent speaks no deception. Though," he added, "I find it mildly amusing that you so wish to partake in his punishment. I, despite your wish, will not grant it as such reprimanding will only be given where due. You've done nothing and so you are free to do as you please, you on the other hand," he spoke to the monk, "are not free to do as you please. You will be required to stand to my aid until Inuyasha has returned, if he returns, where we shall fix the mess you have created. I alone will not mend what you have rented asunder." Sesshoumaru spoke finality to his words that made neither of the two dared to question his say. Not that Miroku would question the Taiyoukai; he had been expecting much worse in the ways of discipline to his person for his failure to follow the rules of his leader strictly. "That, monk, shall be attempted by your own two hands per my guidance."

"Fair enough," Miroku answered, "it is only right that I should fix the problems I have made for everyone rather then allowing for you to handle them for me." The ex-agent eased Sango back into her seat slowly taking his hand from her mouth, turning to the don with a near apprehensive look. "Since I am commanded to your aid, what is it that you will first require of me." Sango snorted, ignoring both of the men as she silently stewed in her own rage, mentally berating them both and planing to give the so-called monk a piece of her mind when she had him alone. The inu-youkai's next words had all the anger draining from her completely; she watched her savior superstitiously, watching carefully for how he took to the words.

"I require for you to mourn the loss of your siblings, though they may not be dead, we have no time for such things and so it is best for you to get your mourning out of the way so that your feelings will not interfere with business." He knew that the words were cold, but they were necessary, as their society could not afford any of the slip-ups that might come with a mind clouded with thoughts of newly deceased family members. Such slips could cost them a high number of men, including the ex-agent himself if he was not too careful. A loss that would not do for their operations seeing as Miroku was a major part of the solution.

Miroku understood, though he did not appreciate the harsh words as he had finally almost convinced his heart that Inuyasha had them stowed away somewhere in safety. Such sentiments were needed, and he merely nodded, voicing his acceptances of his first task. Sesshoumaru having said that they were dismissed, Miroku stood swiftly catching Sango's hand and carting her with him roughly passed the office doors of the tough youkai. He understood, being the oldest sibling as well, that Sesshoumaru needed his own time to mourn, his own time to curse himself for his inability to protect that which he should have been able to keep safe flawlessly. There was not an older sibling alive that would not feel ripped apart at failing in their universal, birth given, duties. Once completely, out of earshot he rounded upon the assassin. "What were you doing in there, had he not been feeling so generous, you might have found yourself saddled up next to me upon the executioner's chopping block."

Sango balled her fist at her side; "I was being truthful, besides I wasn't about to let you face his wrath alone. Especially not after hearing, that Inuyasha might also have been killed." She spoke fiercely advancing upon the slightly taller man, "if you think that after all that you have done for me that I would let you just walk in to a lion's den with out so much as a tidbit of aid then you have another thing coming." She was nearly nose to nose with the man, her narrowed eyes daring him to defy what she just said, and her finger jabbing into his chest for good measure. "Besides, who are you to tell me what I can and can not do?" She demanded just as fierce.

Being so emotionally drained from all the happenings of the day Miroku found himself rising to the occasion, and was coming back with equal force as all of the calm he could muster was used on Sesshoumaru. "Who am I," the ex-agent raged, "I am the man that found you, I am the one that brought you into this life and though I loath it I am the one whom made you the assassin that you are." He shook his head and wrapped his hand around the finger that had been poking his chest, eyes narrowing determinedly as they gazed down at the young brunette woman, cinnamon eyes boring into his own in shock. Despite that, he could not stop himself now that he started, it seemed that this day was all about getting hidden secrets out into the open. "Because of that, because I brought you here, trapped you here, stole the choice you had at a normal life, I will not allow you further entrap yourself to this life by actually handing it over to the society for something you had no hand in. For some reason Sesshoumaru decided to show mercy and for that, I am grateful, for if he had not you might have joined me in a graver fate then I am now faced with." His gaze found elsewhere to focus upon as staring into her stunned face became too much and he could not help but wonder if she too would realize finally that the sum of her misery had been entirely his fault.

"Is that what you think," she barely was able to choke out, and she swallowed hard. "You baka," were the faint words reaching his ears, "I don't blame you for this, I'm actually grateful to you. If you hadn't of found me I would still be at the orphanage purposely attracting all the unwanted attention to me so that the others wouldn't have to feel the shame, misery and horror. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have the money to save them from that place and provide them with a home where they would feel more love then such a place as an orphanage could ever offer. I like who I am now, and I don't feel as though I've had my choice stolen from me."

During her speech Miroku found himself whipping his head around to stare at her as though she had grown a second head, "how could you say such a thing?" He demanded, and grasping her shoulders in almost a painful grasp, he nearly shouted at her trying to find understanding. "I saw the look on your face after your first kill, the tears, and the utter anguish etched unto your every contour Sango, your face that day will forever be seared onto my memory as though with a hot poker." He murmured, taking a finger to lightly push back the hair that had fallen to the front of her face behind her ear. "How is it that you seem to forget now, how is it that you are so forgiving?" Sango felt her heart speed up at the words, at the tender gesture, did he truly feel so strongly about this?

"Because," she spoke with the same strength of the ex-agent, "there is nothing to forgive," she reiterated, "I feel that you've slighted me in no way to deserve the resentment you seemed to think I have for you."

"But your face," he protested.

"It was the first time I had taken a life," she answered loftily to hide the fact the it still shook her to the core, "that's not something that any person with a conscious could do without the tiniest bit of remorse. I still feel remorse over it, I'm not cold, I'm not heartless, and I'm not quite use to this society. I've only known of it for the past three years, but I'm still only getting use to it. Still it's a much, much better life then I lived at the orphanage."

Miroku hesitated for more then a moment before nodding his head, he still did not agree with her, he still felt that he had stolen away her precious innocence. For now, however he would no longer speak of it. "Come," his words were bitter in his mouth, "I must do as Sesshoumaru bids and mourn."


Inuyasha could not help the look of surprise that he was sure filtered across his face at her offer, not use to such generosity from people other then those he consider family. He was hungry, he had to admit, and after traversing the entire city looking for his baka partner, he had worked up quite an appetite. Finally, after no more then a second's consideration, he nodded. "Yeah, why not, what're you eating?" He looked on curiously as a thoughtful frown crossed the girl's features. Entirely too trusting, letting a stranger eat in her house along with her brother and Shippo, he concluded. She was naive.

"I don't know." She shrugged sheepishly, "it'll come to me once I get to the kitchen." Knelling, she carefully sheathed the Krodachi, lovingly caressing the sheath before placing it back upon its stand. Her favorite weapon. She turned to see Inuyasha staring at her thoughtfully, forcing herself not to blush, Kagome walked past him to the kitchen and leaving him to follow at his own will.

Catching up to the raven-hared girl, Inuyasha watched as she milled about his kitchen like an expert. It was as though it was her own kitchen, how well she moved within it finding everything without having to check twice. Taking a seat on a barstool at the kitchen's island, Inuyasha drummed his disguised claws against the countertop. "You're right handed." He remarked, as though absentmindedly. Inuyasha wanted to make sure his eyes had seen right, before he came to conclusions. Jumping like that could get you killed faster than standing still as a man shot you with a handgun.

"Yeah. What does it matter?" She replied to his question, asking one of her own as she filled a pot she had gotten from under the oven with water. She was going to make spaghetti; it was both hers and Souta's favorite foreign food.

"No reason." He tossed aside carelessly, keeping his tone flippant. Therefore, he mused thoughtfully, this meant that more then likely, she was the one to kill the two men his brother had shown him. The main question left to be answered was why his stupid partner seemed fit to keep him in the dark in regards to this little secret.

The girl spun on her heel smiling brightly, "there must be a reason for you to ask, you just ask something like that out of the blue, unless of course your weird." She added, turning back around she began to fill a large pot full of water, and for a moment Inuyasha thought that she was going be preparing ramen but was disappointed as she began to collect unknown ingredients that had nothing to do with his favorite food.

"Then maybe I'm just weird." He answered offhandedly, his disguised ears twitching at a noise down the hall that caused him to smile briefly. Shippo knew he was here. He was proven correct when not a moment more the very human looking kit came bounding around the corner latching himself around Inuyasha's neck talking so excitedly that was difficult to understand. Still, he humored the boy, acting as though he was hanging upon every word. The hanyou keep an ear and eye trained on the kit while sparing an ear and an eye for the brother and sister duo that watched their antics. The brother wistfully and he could not help but wonder why, while the sister watched them with such a strange look to her face, on might call it soft but there was something else there that would qualify it for another name. A name that was teetering at the edge of his mind, but not readily coming to the fore for the disguised male to recognize. "Oi," Inuyasha interrupted him before the dull ache at his temples from the child's chattering could grow to anything too painful, "so I take it you like it here?"

Shippo nodded vigorously, "yes, I like it very much." Suddenly, as though realizing there was an audience, Shippo blushed looking toward Kagome and then Souta and back again. Then he smiled, "Kagome I have something for you," he slipped his hand into his vest pocket and pulled forth a folded piece of paper, hopped down from Inuyasha and moved toward the girl handing her the piece. "I made it for you and Souta helped." He announced proudly, his voice beyond chipper.

Kagome accepted the picture with a smile, carefully unfolding the piece, her smile brightening when her eyes sighted the kit's handy work. From what Inuyasha could see from his place, or the place he moved to at her left, there was a surprisingly skilled doodle of what he was almost positive was the girl, her brother, and the kid himself. "Oi," His utter shock causing him to interrupt before praise could even be handed to Shippo, "I didn't know you could draw."

The kit looked up timorously, cheeks tinged with a bit of red, he said hesitantly. "I didn't think you'd care, you never seemed to like that type of thing."

"Keh."

Abruptly Kagome gathered the kit into her arms hugging him tightly, "I love it Shippo," she crooned setting him down, "I think it'll look lovely over here on the refrigerator." She added taking the drawing and placing against the refrigerator door holding it in place with a magnet. Inuyasha had to hide a smile as the little kitsune beamed proudly, chest practically puffing at the girl's nominal action, he had never seen the boy quite like this and now he was finally feeling at ease with Miroku's decision at bringing the kit to stay with the two. He watched their interaction opting to fade into the background, this was the first time he had ever really seen Shippo so at peace that he was able to freely act his age, and so he observed as the girl filled the kid's ego praising his skill. Finally, she gave both her brother and his charge a tight hug telling them both to go play so that she could finish making dinner. Inuyasha could also say he had never quite seen such eager looking faces as they speed to do her bidding making demands that she hurry over their shoulders, and it left him to wonder at her prowess as a cook. His stomach rumbled at the thought. She watched them leave a fond smile alighting her lips, and she turned back to her task seeming to forget that Inuyasha was even in the same room as herself.

Not wanting to be forgotten, yet entirely immersed in watching her work, he settled for making himself comfortable in one of the four barstools the lined the island of his kitchen rather loudly yet making it look accidental. She jumped spinning around quickly, a timid smile coming to her this time and she seemed to be mentally berating herself for not recalling that he was still in the room. Ascertaining that she was caught in mental duress, seeming unsure of whether she should feel embarrassment at being rude, or angry with herself for forgetting his presence entirely Inuyasha spoke to break her from it. "So, what have you decided to make?" He queried; violet eyes following her every move as she put ground beef in a pan while leaning over to set the water in the pot to boil. Water that he had seen her, while he remained out of her thoughts, putting oil, garlic, salt, pepper and oregano into the pot stirring it well.

She smiled, and he was beginning to realize that it was a large part of her personality, but her smiles seemed to hold something deep down. There was something raw and painful hidden deep beneath her smile, and he found himself trying to guess at what it might be. "Have you ever had foreign food?" She questioned in turn.

"Keh, other then the crap my brother tried shoving down my throat, no." He responded dryly, Sesshoumaru was big on French food, though Inuyasha thought that it was in part due to the fact that he hated the stuff. He was never big on snails, and a cow's tongue and brain were not his idea of a mouth-watering meal. In fact, his brother never ate any of the meals opting for some type of French noodle dish, or near raw meat, and everyone was well aware those foods of that grotesque nature were meant only as means to irk Inuyasha.

Kagome nodded thoughtfully, "then I don't suppose you've ever tried Italian food, have you?"

"Keh."

"Hmm," Kagome murmured as she began to spice the meat with the same spices she had put in the water minus the salt, adding thyme, dried onion slices and powdered lemon, "I guess I'll take that as a no. Well, you won't be disappointed, I can assure you of that. I made something similar for Shippo a while back and he seemed to enjoy it." That said, she began to stir everything together causing a heavenly aroma to filter through the air as everything cooked together.

At the smell Inuyasha felt his mouth begin to water, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad, then her words reregistered in his mind and he found his head snapping upwards, dumfounded. "You got that kid to eat something other then takayoki? What was it," he asked genuinely curious at what could have possible persuaded Shippo turn from the last meal his mother had ever cooked for him.

"Linguini." She simply answered.

"How'd you manage that," perhaps, once they no longer had need of the siblings and Shippo was to stay with him once again he could find away to employ her trick.

She chuckled lightly, "I told him that if he would just try it I'd make him takayoki if he still wanted it."

"That's it?" Inuyasha searched as surely it had not been that easy, wincing in remembrance to some of their many battles over the matter.

"That’s it." She breezily replied and Inuyasha again found himself warming in the thought of Shippo spending his days with the two siblings that Miroku seemed to have such great trust in. Perhaps it would be safe for him to offer his own trust, but firmly set himself against it. He would never let down his guard for two persons he had known of for barely a week and actually been in the presence of for little over two hours. After that the disguised half-youkai did not try to initiate conversation and Kagome seemed happy, enough to cook in the silence while guarded eyes observed her every move. It was as though she was use to such treatment, if it had been him, he would have been irritated beyond belief making all sorts of threats until the starring came to an end.

It was not long before the noodle dish was finished, and hour and half really, and Inuyasha found himself staring at the red sauce drenched meat and noodles with a bit of trepidation despite the fact it smelled absolutely wonderful. The cow brains had smelled wonderful too, that is, until shortly after he downed and digested the heavily seasoned stuff he found out exactly what it had been. As he stared at the finished meal reliving many traumatic moments with foreign foods, he heard her voice calling the boys to come out and eat. Before she had even finished the call they were already racing towards the kitchen, and the moment they were there questioned what plate was their own. "Pick which ever you want, but remember you can always have seconds if your still hungry so don't argue over got more then the other."

They nodded obediently, and then her brother piped up, "can we watch TV while we eat, please. We," a glance at Shippo whom chirped his agreement, "want to see that movie you let us get."

Kagome hesitated, "but if sauce got on the white," she stressed, "carpet then…" she trailed when the two adopted twin pouting looks that reminded Inuyasha -he winced- of a puppy begging for a treat. Sighing she gave in far to quickly for the hanyou's liking, and said sternly. "All right, but you have to lay a few towels out okay, and be careful this isn't the shrine." That seemed specifically mentioned for her brother, but both were nodding vigorously rushing off to find a few towels to lay out before the television set, and she called after him weakly. "That doesn't mean you can do this all the time."

Chuckling Inuyasha murmured, "This wouldn't be the first time they've done this, huh?"

Shamefully she admitted, "No."

Shrugging, he replied, "I don't care so long as nothing in here is damaged beyond repair." Kagome nodded her understanding, and grabbed the two remaining plates she had prepared asking him which he would prefer. "Feh, I don't care," truly he wanted the one on the left as it seemed to have quite a bit pilled on top but kept his mouth sealed. Though this was technically one of his homes, he felt as though he was a guest here and even if he was had, no manners in such things he had a driving need to implement what he did not have while he was around the girl and her brother. Miroku seemed to think they were worth such a high level of protection even going as far as to keep secrets from him and Sesshoumaru, and so perhaps not making a fool of himself for once would be a good idea. If they could bring out such a side of partner then perhaps they deserved his better half rather then his arrogant sarcasm.

Smiling another smile that seemed to have deeper things hidden beneath, she handed Inuyasha the plate he had his eye on saying. "You have to eat it with a fork, and don't pick at it either," she said patiently, "if you try it your sure to like it. It's one of the favorite foods Souta and Miroku like that I know how to make."

Inuyasha's invisible ears perked up at hearing that, following her into the adjoining room were the TV sat with two youngsters blanketing the floor in towels, he asked. "Really," he spoke casually, "so you've fed Miroku too, when he visited?"

Watching as she claimed a seat upon a blue towel, he took one far enough that no matter how much he moved they would not touch, but not so far that he could not hear her were she to whisper. "Yes, I've fed him," a cautiousness seemed to enter her scent, "didn't Miroku tell you he's known me since my birth. Our families have gone back very far, they were high school friends and stayed in touch through all of these years." Deception, there in her scent for a split moment was something not quite a lie but close to it. Only were did it belong, he had very little doubts that it was about how long Miroku had known her for, but why lie about their parents?

Instead he humored her as Shippo and Souta lay sprawled out greedily consuming their food while watching some goofy cartoon that he hardly cared to pay any mind to. "Yeah, I think I remember the monk saying something similar." Looking down at his food, hesitation creeping up and down his spine, he dived right in while she watched eagerly for his reaction. Taking a bite, he first chewed swiftly in case it was foul, but once the blissful taste registered, he slowed his chewing savoring the morsel in his mouth, swallowing finally. "It's good." And that was all that he would allow on the matter, if he tried to speak more he'd end up saying something like, "not half bad but it'll never beat ramen." For a comment like that Rin had nearly decked him with a frying pan after she slaved away to prepare a meal for both him and his brother. Now, he did not have much practice in this element, however he did not really feel like taking the risk.

The raven haired human smiled brilliantly, and for a moment there was nothing hidden in that grin, clapping her hands together in delight. "I knew that you'd like it!" She beamed.

Just as Inuyasha was about to respond with his customary "Keh," his concealed ear twitched his nose working feverishly. Eye's widening he jumped to his feet spilling his meal all over the towels acting as a barrier between the food and his white carpet, there was something seriously wrong. Moving towards the sound, he paused and turned abruptly readying to force them all from the apartment complex ignoring their shouts, protests and demands to know exactly what was going on. It was all too late; jumping for the brother, whom was closest to him, he shoved the boy to the ground covering his body with his own as the harsh sound caused his ears to press against his head while intense he whooshed over his person.

He stayed that way for the longest time as things fell all around him, flames roving over everything in an attempt to satisfy its never ending hunger, a fruitless effort and in the end all would be reduced to ash, the fire extinguished. Pushing up on shaking limbs, Inuyasha noted that the boy beneath him had fainted from nothing more then fright, though there was a slight bump on the head the child's scent indicated that it wasn't enough for a concussion. He was no longer concealed and his half-youkai features were plain to see, his golden eyes tore over the mess of his penthouse searching for Shippo and the eldest of the two siblings. "Oi, Shippo!" Inuyasha called out, his voice hoarse. "Shippo, you stupid kit, you'd better answer me!" He bellowed after a long silence, worry pulling the harsh call from his throat.

"I'm all right!" Came the weak call somewhere to his left, and he found himself searching out that direction for any sign of the little guy's figure through the conflagration of the room. Gathering the unconscious form of Souta up, he walked in the direction he heard the kit, watching out for fallen pieces of material and large clusters of flame that stood in his way.

"Shippou," Inuyasha rasped out, "say something else," he demanded as his eyes searched widely about the steadily burning room jumping as a small piece of derbies fell in his path. He had to find the kitsune before the building collapsed completely around them, and he refused to leave his charge even if meant they all stayed there with him.

"Inuyasha," the child began weakly, "I'm all right but Kagome's not. I can't get her to wake up, I tried to protect her, but I couldn't." He wailed. Locking on to the sound of the voice, Inuyasha found Shippo rather quickly, falling to his knees mindful of the objects around him to assess the situation. He hissed silently when his left knee his some foreign looking piece, and then looked over the still body of the girl as well as he could without the use of his arms.

The raven haired enigma did not seemed to have fared the blast too well, her skin was marred with several shallow lacerations and was quite dirty from the blast her wild hair adding to the disheveled look. His eyes rounded a brief moment as he realized that she should not smell of so much blood if she only had few small cuts and scrapes. "Shippo," he muttered, "take the kid right now and leave."

"Leave!" The kit wailed, "why, where, how come, I want to stay with you Inuyasha!" The child avidly protested.

"Don't argue!" Inuyasha bellowed efficiently silencing any more words of protest that may have been on the boy's tongue. "Take him and go through the dojo, down to the underground site 115, and don't move. Don't call Sesshoumaru, don't call Miroku, period! I'll explain it later!" Shippo took the child from his arms and, with one reluctant glance back, was swiftly on his way to do his guardian's bidding. Inuyasha watched him a moment, waiting until he was far enough away before moving Kagome gently in order to prod her body for the open wound that was releasing so much of her blood.

The injury did not take long to find.

The girl had been laying mostly upon her stomach and thus covering nearly her entire side from sight, and that was both a bad thing and good thing. More a good thing then a bad, as it keep the wound from Shippou's sight as well as putting pressure upon the laceration itself to slow the blood flow, however when he moved her the cut pulled causing it to tear and bleed more heavily. Inuyasha let out a string of curses, how was he suppose to move her without implementing more harm to the already life threatening gash marring all of her right side and most of her stomach? He did not know, and as the fires grew fiercer around him, as they grew more desperate to feed their infinite hunger and as parts of the floor and ceiling gave way before the insatiable beast the hanyou came to a quick decision.

Slipping his hand into his back pocket, he fished around for the small metal tin he knew was there, painfully aware of the minimal time he had to perform the devoir. He always carried this special piece with him on every mission, and while he rarely found himself injured with more then his half-youkai blood could handle the needle and thread had been necessary on more then one occasion. Time was not something he had and so swiftly he raked his claws down Kagome's shirt effectively shredding it from her body without disturbing the cut, and began to place the thread through the needle's eye. Focusing his entire attention upon the profusely bleeding wound to afford the unconscious girl some modesty, Inuyasha pushed the two sides of the cut together slipping the needle through her porcelain flesh. He paused to glance up at her face, and wasted a moment to pray that she did not rouse while he performed this operation, not envious of the agony that she was sure to feel.

Blood pooled up to his knuckles and he found himself taking the tatter remains of the girl's shirt to soak up the deep redness so that he could better see the area of the torn flesh to mend it. Inuyasha performed diligently, wincing every time the thread snagged in her skin and he had to tug a little harder in order to pull the line all the way through. Pausing only briefly as a moan escaped her parted lips, he continued again when she showed no signs of waking mentally sighing in relief that she would not be conscious for the throe that sure to rack her body through this procedure. Being hanyou, depending on the wound, such a thing would be mildly annoying, but for a human it was usually a tormenting ordeal to sit unbroken.

While his sight was firmly transfixed upon his task his ears were trained upon the room around him, flicking nervously as things slammed, moaned, cracked and smoldered signaling the dwindling of time he had left. The stability of the complex was fleeing far more quickly then he had originally expected forcing him to hurry the speed of his work, and though this was not a desired move, he made it anyway. Better to be alive, if only slightly, then dead with no chance of ever coming back.

Tying the thread off, Inuyasha clipped the string with his claws, breathing a sight of relief when he was finally done and the building had yet to collapse around him. Sixty-two stitches he had given her and now that he took in the sight of her blood bedewing the flesh around the inch and half-wide wound unsettled him as it always did. He could witness the crimson liquids, innards and gore of his opponent without the hint of illness, but when it was one he knew, someone on friendly acquaintances Inuyasha could be found bent over the nearest bush, bend, or bracken loosing the contains of his stomach. It was a weakness he was desperately tying to overcome as the ways in which his mind concocted such an infirmity could be used against him were terrifying possibilities. Right now, his stomach rolled, and he tried valiantly to squelch the feeling in his gut, he had no time right now for his 'weakness' to come into play. Taking the girl into his arms, he stood in one flowing movement, and moved through the burning penthouse towards the steel door that housed all of his prized weapons.

That room would likely be the only thing that was left standing after this fire either smoldered itself out, or the firemen he could hear trying to make their way towards his apartment unsuccessfully managed to put it out. It did not matter, they'd find nothing up here even if they were to get in as he would be long gone leaving the rest of the world to believe him, Shippo and the two siblings had died in the explosion. Entering the room, he grabbed the krodachi he saw the girl handling when he had heard someone messing in his, favorite and very off limits, place as well as another wicked looking blade. He would leave, however, his Tetsusaiga behind, as Sesshoumaru would never buy his death without the telltale sign, because Inuyasha never left anywhere with out the blade by his side if he could help it. The momento of his father meant everything to him, but not only that, it was the seal that kept the madness of his other half at bay.

Locking the door from the inside of his dojo, Sesshoumaru or Miroku would come by later -likely after things settled- to collect his valuable weapons and find the indisputable proof of his 'death'. Hefting Kagome closer Inuyasha took to the same route he knew that Shippo had taken earlier, hopping to find the kit in good health he shut the passage trying to make it look as unused as it had been previously.

Whoever had been able to enter his home and place that bomb would pay dearly, he felt his youkai stir in anger, he would make sure his painful revenge became more then thought.



A/N:


What did you all think, like it, love it, hate it? Review and let me know as I sit eagerly awaiting your valued opinions! Flames are okay too as long as they aren't overly cruel and don't have too much coarse language, I especially like constructive criticism. It's how we authors grow right?




Angelstars- (Grins sheepishly) Yeah, sorry, though I probably have a few more horrid cliffhangers like this chapter hear. Thank you for saying so, I always try to think of stories that no one has done to death yet, as for the lack of feedback… while it is a drag, I'm really happy that I have one terrific reviewer! ^_~


~Zonza