InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Identities ❯ Disquieting Encounters ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the assorted characters associated with the franchise. I just borrow them every now and then, and I always clean them up before I hand them back.

Acknowledgements: Thanks as always to my beta, the lovely Fenikkusuken. You're so fab!

A/N: Many thanks to Doggieearlover and Ai Kisugi, and to KittyKaiya for the respective Nominations and Seconding for the Q4 IY Fanguild Awards. There may have been a certain amount of squeeing around the house when the nominations list went up. I'm really glad you like the story!

 

 

*

Burning pain… her skin was slashed with cold fire.

 

Kagome shivered, the air colder and colder as her life's blood seeped into her clothing and dripped onto the grass. Stopping wasn't an option. The threat of failure bowed her shoulders as she staggered on the path, her heart cracking with every step.

 

“Just this one last task… need to protect them,” she chanted under her breath, urging her unwilling body to obey.

 

At her side, her sister sobbed silently, blood leaking like tears from under the makeshift bandage hiding a vicious wound that both knew time wouldn't heal. With agonised steps, the young woman stumbled towards the Goshinboku, tracking the path of the escaping youkai. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she drew her bow, nerveless fingers sliding on smooth wood slippery with her blood. Arms shaking, Kagome prayed she could hold onto her strength long enough to finish the mission at hand. Finally, the bowstring pulled taut. Focussing down the shaft with blurring vision, she aimed the metal point at a whirlwind of silver and red at the base of the Sacred Tree.

 

“Inuyasha… how could you betray me?” The whisper slipped past her lips before she could stop it.

 

Beloved golden eyes widened as he spun to face her, the accursed necklace clutched in his fist. His guilty look stole the air from her lungs and her most precious dreams shattered into a thousand pieces. Anguish ripped through the very fibre of her being, so bitter and deep it damaged the soul, far worse than the mortal wounds his claws had inflicted.

 

“Die, Inuyasha!” she managed to choke.

 

And she let go of the arrow.

 

With a jolt, Kagome sat bolt upright in bed, her arms still outstretched as she sighted into the darkness. Her breathing was ragged, her heart pounding wildly as she reached over her shoulder to check the wound gouged into her back. Sliding past the warm metal of the necklace and the soft material of her tee-shirt, her questing fingers touched smooth, unmarked skin. It was just a dream… thank goodness! It felt so real! The young woman wiped the sweat off her brow and shuddered before lying back down on the bed. The details of the nightmare were already fading, but the sense of familiarity was unnerving. I must have been thinking of the story about the Shikon Jewel from the book. Running her hand over the empty sheets beside her, she smiled sourly. “That's what I get for going to bed wishing Inuyasha was here,” she mumbled quietly. “Dreaming about his legendary namesake instead wasn't what I expected!”

 

*

 

The next morning, Kagome dropped into the post room before her 9am lecture. There was only one new piece of mail in her pigeonhole; a request to go and see the Dean at lunchtime. The girl turned the note over in her hands, wryly aware that no-one was ever invited to his office for a social call.

 

And there I was, thinking the Taisho scholarship was supposed to make my life easier!

 

*

 

“Mr Yamada, Mr Tanaka and Miss Higurashi, I'd like to congratulate you as the first recipients of this prestigious award. Your dedication to your studies and your determination to persevere despite difficult odds made you stand out above the other worthy candidates.”

 

Kagome carefully balanced the cup of black tea in her hands as the Dean stood next to his mahogany desk. The young woman vaguely knew the other two students sitting on the sofa beside her. Tanaka studied Fine Art and was currently fidgeting uncomfortably, and Kagome had seen Yamada in the Science Buildings but didn't know much more about him. What does he study? Computing, maybe? Or Engineering?

 

The Dean ran a hand through his thinning grey hair. “I didn't think my discussions with the Taishos would have such a dramatic effect so quickly. They must be desperate for you to get the money!” He smiled expectantly at the three of them.

 

“Thank you, sir,” Kagome replied formally. “We're all very honoured.”

 

“We have been asked to supply more information about the three of you for the press' benefit… with your permission, of course. Tomorrow, we would like to take an official photograph for the University, and a journalist from the Tokyo Times has requested a few minutes with all of you afterwards. The photo and the interview notes will be used next Thursday when the award is officially made. Is that acceptable?” All three students nodded with the enthusiasm of the condemned on a hanging day. The Dean blithely continued, “I've also put an announcement onto the board by the Administration Building, because I think that everyone should be able to congratulate you on your achievement. I hope that you don't mind?”

 

Tanaka groaned under his breath. “Welcome to Hell, my friends.”

 

*

 

It was six hours later, and a frustrated Kagome gently pushed away the old book and its yellowed pages. As Tanaka had predicted, the afternoon had turned into something of a not-so-subtle feeding frenzy once her fellow students had noticed the Dean's award announcement. Kagome had already fielded seventeen questions on the award itself, thirteen on the Taishos, and ducked five requests for an introduction to one or the other of the famous siblings. The last straw had been the delivery by an aloof graduate student of an invitation for tea from Professor Kagewaki. The young woman had smiled graciously and binned the envelope as soon as possible.

 

In an attempt to hide for a few hours, the girl had taken refuge in the Katei Collection of the General Library after her afternoon class, on the correct assumption that browsing Edo-era fiction would be an unlikely activity for a medical student. It might also give me a bit more information on the Shikon Jewel legend, since some of the books reference the earlier Warring States Era. She also admitted to being somewhat off balance from her disturbing dream of the previous night, and hoped to satisfy her curiosity.

 

As it turned out, Kagome was half-right. No-one discovered her refuge, but the young woman also remained unenlightened. Apart from the book Inuyasha had given her, the legend of the Shikon Jewel didn't seem to exist. Pulling the next book towards her without enthusiasm and dispiritedly skimming through the index, she noticed a reference to `Mythical Sengoku Artefacts', and immediately turned to the relevant section. The girl's eyes widened in surprise.

 

“… As with other items of power such as the Shikon Jewel, the Blood Coral Crystal (otherwise known as the Barrier Sphere) provided an interesting dichotomy. Due to their intrinsic power, these artefacts' auras were detectable over a wide area, which increased the risk of discovery. However, they had an inbuilt ability to disorientate opposing senses. Any searchers who lacked the necessary training or natural spiritually-attuned powers were easily able to identify the approximate vicinity of the Shikon Jewel or the Barrier Sphere, but were completely unable to pinpoint the location closer than a ri. Furthermore, attempts to narrow the search based on working out the furthest edges of the aura and working inwards would result in confusion, headaches and ultimately failure…”

 

The rest of the paragraph was unrelated to the Shikon Jewel, discussing the Barrier Sphere and the mystery of its disappearance, before going on to describe several mythical weapons. Oh well. I'll ask Grandpa, because if there's an obscure legend, he's bound to know about it. With a sigh, Kagome faced up to the fact that she was now procrastinating as opposed to doing anything productive. Gathering her resolve, the girl packed her bags and put the books back in their respective places on the shelves, removing the location cards put there in for just this purpose. I'm heading home; most people have gone now anyway.

 

Picking up her rucksack, the girl headed out, pondering the information she'd just read. The `lost' Barrier Sphere, guarded at one time by Ogre-Bat Youkai… I wonder what happened to it? And for that matter, what about the real Shikon Jewel?

 

*

 

Sitting cross-legged on her favourite rug late that night, jasmine tea in one hand and Inuyasha's book in the other, Kagome found the answer to the second question.

 

“…the Shikon Jewel was burned with the Priestess Kikyo's body after her untimely and violent death; no remnant of it was ever found.”

 

The former shrine resident gave a small, rueful smile. I have to admit that I had thought that there were too many parallels for the current situation to be purely coincidental, like the Youkai Pack, Naraku and the `powerful artefact' that Inuyasha is convinced my family had. The Shikon Jewel's destruction lays that theory to rest.

 

Yawning, she put the book down and climbed into bed.

 

*

 

Kagome looked down over the edge of the small, flat-bottomed boat into the tranquil waters of the lake.

 

Her customarily solemn reflection stared back, the heavy fringe of black hair falling over her eyes. Still, there was a slight sparkle in her gaze that shouldn't have been there, and a tiny, contented tilt to the corner of her mouth. For a woman who was technically consorting with the enemy, she looked… happy. Holding her long white sleeve out of the way, she dipped her fingers into the water, dispersing the traitorous image into a myriad of orange-hued ripples.

 

Inuyasha sat opposite her on the boat, his customary cocky expression softened into watchful affection. His ears twitched as the dragonflies buzzed in the cooling evening air. This could never be, not a Priestess and a Hanyou. They both knew that, and yet… a wealth of unspoken words wrapped lovingly around both of them. Her hand twitched, longing to touch him, and tell him she understood, but both knew it would be deeply improper. The Hanyou noticed the slight movement, and smiled that rare smile he kept only for her. For a second she forgot to breathe, so intense was the feeling of being cherished and wanted.

 

They reached the quay that led back to the village and to the responsibilities she couldn't ignore. Inuyasha jumped out first, his red fire-rat fur blending into the sunset. His movement rocked the small vessel, and as Kagome climbed out, holding her ever-present bow in one hand, she lost her balance and stumbled. In a flash strong arms were holding her steady. His cheek was against her hair, the smell that was uniquely Inuyasha in her nostrils. She leaned into him, treasuring the forbidden contact, and wishing beyond all reason this could last forever.

 

She felt his voice rumble before she heard the soft whisper. “I'll become human for you.”

 

*

 

Kagome awoke to darkness, the vivid images burned into her mind, still feeling his arms around her. “The Inuyasha of legend again, damn it! Why can't I just dream of my Inuyasha?” she muttered discontentedly, before rolling over to go back to sleep, the solid weight of the pearl bouncing along her collarbone.

 

*

 

“Kagome, hold still!”

 

It was mid-morning on Friday, and the young woman yelped as a mascara wand poked her in the eye “Eri, is this really necessary?” she demanded as tears dribbled down her cheek.

 

Her fashionable friend grinned impishly and dabbed at the moisture. “Absolutely. You're being photographed for posterity, and I can guarantee that your image will be everywhere after the award ceremony next week. Now, stop blinking like a near-sighted bat so I can finish!”

 

“I only asked if I could borrow an outfit.”

 

“Not true. You asked if I could help you `not look like a complete mess',” the socialite corrected, expertly wielding a pair of eyelash curlers. “And I agreed. I have my standards you know.”

 

Yuka sat curled up on the tiny sofa, her long silver earrings catching the light as she laughed at Kagome's disgruntled expression. “At least it's something different from our usual routine, especially considering the Tokyo Times journalist will be there as well. I wish we could come along.”

 

Kagome offered Yuka an apologetic smile, which caused Eri to mutter dire threats as she applied eye shadow. “You know that I would invite both of you if I could. The Dean was worried that opening it to the public, or even publicising the location, would cause a mob to show up just in case the Taishos might be there, which of course they're not. He hasn't even told the staff where the pictures will be taken. Plus, I'm missing Dr Murato's lectures this morning to attend this civilised form of torture, so I have to go to the library to play catch up after Professor Nakamura's class this afternoon.”

 

Yuka gave her friend a sympathetic look while shaking out her long, flowing skirt. “Well, I should really be working on my dissertation paper this weekend, so I'll come along and keep you company. We can be miserable on a Friday night together.”

 

“Thanks Yuka, you're the best,” Kagome replied gratefully.

 

Before the geography student could answer, Eri stepped back and looked her victim up and down with an appraising air. “Not bad, if I do say so myself. What do you think?”

 

Kagome jumped up with an expression of relief that made her audience chortle and stepped in front of the full length mirror. Tilting her head this way and that, before turning around and peering over her shoulder to admire the fit of the borrowed clothes, her face lit up. “That's brilliant, Eri! Thank you!”

 

The language student smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. “No problem. That's a beautiful pendant, by the way. It's the reason why I picked out that blouse for you, because I thought the similar shade of pink would nicely frame it.”

 

Still looking at her reflection, Kagome nodded. “The pearl does look really terrific with this shirt; good call, Eri. Grandfather sent me an early… and tasteful… birthday present.”

 

“Really? That's very unlike him. Are you sure it doesn't contain a magical dead toad, or the spirit of some long-dead magician?” Eri teased, winking at Yuka.

 

“Maybe that's why it appears to swirl,” the other girl suggested helpfully. “Think of all that magical energy trying to escape, coming to eat your head in the night…”

 

Both young women laughed, and ducked the pillows tossed their way.

 

*

 

Clutching an armful of books, Kagome hurried across the main Hongo campus, anxiously checking the tower clock. Her afternoon classes with Professor Nakamura started on the Shirokane campus in a few minutes, but the interview with the journalist had taken longer than she thought. I hope I won't be overly late! As she rushed down the side of the Humanities Faculty Building, a babble of voices grew audible.

 

“Tahashi said that when they came round, her Professor called her over from the other side of the Quad, and that he smiled after her when she left.”

 

“That doesn't mean anything.”

 

“Depends whether or not she encouraged him after that.… It could have been a favour for a favour, if you know what I mean…”

 

“I'd do it for free! They're both gorgeous…”

 

Kagome rounded the corner to see several of her fellow students standing by the Administration announcement board, and more specifically, directly under the memo announcing the winners of the Taisho sponsorships. Rapid nudges telegraphed her appearance through the group and they fell silent, everyone refusing to meet her eyes. What on earth…? Oh. Understanding and a strong sense of anger flooded through the young woman. Flushing scarlet, she proudly raised her chin and sailed past the group without a glance.

 

*

 

The afternoon sun slanted across the pavement as Kagome headed towards the General Library after her class ended. The young woman winced as she considered the reading list Hojo had helpfully handed over from the morning's lectures. Dr Murato really piled on the reading! It's going to take all weekend just to get through this, never mind the assignment! At least I have Yuka for company. I hope she's not waiting outside as I'm already fifteen minutes late….

 

Walking through the Third Building's atrium, Kagome spotted a group of students approaching on an accidental intercept course, and her mood plummeted even further. If I have to answer one more `humorous' question on my supposed attractiveness to the Taishos, I'm going to scream! Glancing around, the medical student detoured into a deserted corridor and waited until the group continued on past. Dodged! The girl grinned victoriously... until the sound of a door opening made her groan in anticipation of another set of innuendo-laden comments.

 

“Ah… Miss Higurashi, where have you been hiding? Didn't you get my invitation?” The resonant voice was both unexpected and highly unwelcome. Damn it! Trust it to be the man I've been trying to avoid all week.... Kagome arranged her face into a polite smile and turned around.

 

“Good afternoon, Professor Kagewaki.”

 

The professor's gaze crawled all over her like a living thing. Kagome shuddered in visceral response, her necklace glittering with the movement. Kagewaki's face went slack, his mouth moving soundlessly, red eyes burning with some indefinable emotion. Instinctively, the young woman went very still as a feeling of palpable menace filled the empty corridor.

 

“Where did you get that, girl?” he hissed.

 

“Sir?” Kagome involuntarily stepped back, everything inside her screaming Run! Run Now!

 

“That,” he ground out, jabbing his finger towards her chest. The young woman's hand went to her throat, covering the swirling pendant.

 

“My grandfather gave it to me…”

 

Kagome felt like she was suffocating in the deadly silence surrounding them, black shapes flickering at the edges of her vision. The Professor's face contorted unnaturally, and the student began shaking with uncontrollable fear as cold sweat beaded on her skin.

 

“It's been a while since I've seen that expression on your lovely face, Priestess.” Kagewaki's mouth twisted into a vicious smile as they locked eyes. He moved closer to the frightened young woman, boldly running his finger down her cheek before burying his hand in her hair. Jerking her head back, he pressed up against her body, and she could feel his breath on her skin, the slightly fetid smell making her feel nauseous. His other hand slithered over the curves of her chest and clamped over her fist, still protectively clutching the pendant. Sharp nails dug into her hand as he whispered almost sensuously, “I'll take that now,” but with dire threat.

 

Wrapped up in the moment, both predator and prey were oblivious to the approaching footsteps, and neither heard the voice calling her name growing louder and louder.

 

“Kagome! Where are you… oh!” Yuka stood at the end of the corridor, evidently mortified at the tableau. The Professor instantly released his hold on his victim as Kagome threw Yuka a look of desperate appeal. Catching the silent plea, the newcomer added with nervous politeness, “I'm sorry to interrupt, but the Dean's office has requested Miss Higurashi's immediate presence.”

 

“I'm afraid that Miss Higurashi and I aren't finished… speaking.” The professor's voice was chillingly smooth and very, very dangerous. Yuka glanced over her shoulder. All three could clearly hear the clattering approach of more potential witnesses.

 

“Yes, we're done.” Kagome's throat was almost too dry to speak, but she still managed to pour her anger into those three words. Rage flickered over the professor's face, and his hands flexed as if he intended to seize her again, but Kagome took several rapid steps backwards, each one faster than the last. Yuka moved forward to protectively slip her arm around her friend's shoulders, making it clear that the encounter was over. Kagewaki's face slipped back into an impassive mask, casually flipping out a mobile phone as the two girls escaped out into the atrium.

 

“I was wondering where you were… you did want rescuing, right?” Yuka asked, checking to make sure Kagewaki hadn't followed.

 

Kagome smiled weakly. “I did, thank you.”

 

Utter fury washed over Yuka's usually gentle face. “You know that's sexual assault, right? He had you pinned with his hand on your chest!”

 

The young woman burst into tears on her friend's shoulder.

 

*

 

Despondently leaning her elbows on Yuka's kitchen table as she did her best to concentrate on her pancreatic system notes, Kagome found she couldn't stop thinking about the afternoon's events… and how much she wished that a certain vigilante was nearby.

 

After what was now being called `The Incident', Yuka had hustled a teary and reluctant Kagome straight to the Dean. Knowing that the now-frightened medical student would be in the limelight for at least another week, the Dean had acted with unexpected alacrity. He had promised that Professor Kagewaki would be banned from campus until her complaint had been investigated, and told Kagome that if she needed any time off from classes, he would clear it with her tutors. Emerging from his office, the geography student had informed Kagome she was staying at her apartment that night and had bundled her off the campus.

 

Yuka was making them both a cup of tea, a mobile phone propped between her chin and shoulder as she gave an update to an obviously upset Ayumi. Kagome glanced over as she caught her name.

 

“…Kagome's doing OK… no, don't come back! You've had this weekend planned for ages, and you have to go to your fathers' fiftieth birthday celebration tomorrow!” There was a pause as Yuka handed Kagome a cup, still on the phone. “Kagome's staying here tonight, and Eri's coming over in half an hour with some spare clothes and a film for us to watch. We'll look after her…. Kagewaki? He's been barred from University grounds with immediate effect… I know, we were surprised, too. Apparently he was furious.…”

 

The other girl stared morosely into her cup as the conversation continued over her head. I really need to talk to Inuyasha. I hope he's all right… I want to see him. When her phone unexpectedly beeped, she eagerly picked it up and could hardly contain her excitement when a small envelope flashed on the screen. The message was terse and to the point.

 

“Still searching. Got nothing. Don't forget me, wench.”

 

The girl smiled in relief. Not likely!

 

“Who was it?” Yuka asked, still on the phone.

 

“Someone that Ayumi officially doesn't want to know anything about,” Kagome replied with an almost-cheeky grin as she heard the law student's tinny squawk.

 

*

 

For the third night in a row, Kagome woke up gasping for breath. The pre-dawn sky was lightening beyond the curtains of Yuka's small apartment, but it was still far too early to be awake. As her heartbeat slowed, the remnants of the dream swirled into indistinct, eddying colours dominated by red, silver and pink. That's it… I really need to stop thinking about this or I'll be a basket-case! the girl resolved, before pulling the blankets over her head and going back to sleep for a few hours.

 

*