InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hijacked Honeymoon ❯ Chapter 6

A/N I'm sorry for the wait cuz someone was suppose to help me but then change her mind, but we have a life too u know. Anywho I made a mistake in the other chapters, I spelt Hojo's name wrong. It's Hojo not Hogo okay. Now on with the chapter.

 

 

Hijacked honeymoon

 

Chapter 6

 

Kagome trudged behind Sesshomaru, her thoughts a mass of confusion, her feet aching. If there was real evidence on that camcorder she wanted to see it, but Sesshomaru seemed determined to save the batteries so he could start a fire, and she didn't know whether to believe him or not. Sesshomaru's story seemed concocted out of nightmare. And while she'd always wanted to believe that her father who'd disappeared had cared for her, hearing about him now seemed too much like a story contrived to tell her exactly what she wanted to hear.

 

What fatherless child didn't dream that someday their dad would return, sweep them into their arms and vow their love? Kagome knew life was made up of the good, the bad and the nuances between. Just because she'd wished to meet her father for her entire childhood didn't mean the fantasy had much chance of coming true.

 

And yet she couldn't dismiss what Sesshomaru had told her when so many facts fit what she knew to be correct. According to her mother, her father had been brilliant and eccentric with deep interest in engines and motors and fuel-cell cars. Apparently her fanatical, inventor father had always been obsessed in creating the ultimate green machine. Her mother had said he vowed to make some kind of engine system that ran on hydrogen and oxygen and spouted off heat and water vapor as by-products. Give him twenty years, funding and peace and quiet and he would change the balance of power in a world no longer dependent on Middle Eastern fuel. Kagome had always believed her father had used science as his excuse to avoid family responsibility, and it irked her that Sesshomaru now claimed that her father was so important that he was once again ruining her life.

 

Ni-Ru Higurashi had contributed only one thing in her life—his seed. He hadn't helped her financially or emotionally. And if he'd somehow kept track of Kagome through the years, then he'd known about her mother's death. Yet had he come to the funeral? Had he phoned? Sent a card? No.

 

A burst of anger at him flared then burned inward. She shouldn't care about a man so egocentric as her father. She didn't like having feelings for him at all. Recently she'd actually succeeded—until now. Sesshomaru's story fit all to well into the facts she had about her dad.

 

And Hojo was in the FBI. His marriage proposal had seemed to come out of the blue. Although Hojo had offered her his friendship, their relationship lacked the kind of passion she'd always hoped for. But she'd attributed the lack to her state of grief over losing her mother. But what about Hojo's passion for her? He'd never seemed to notice how she looked, even when she'd taken care of her appearance. He'd never once tried to push for a physical relationship beyond a few kisses. But were those the actions of a man who was in love?

 

In addition, Sesshomaru's explanation had her questioning how much she didn't know about Hojo. She'd assumed he hadn't introduced her to coworkers and friends because he'd been new to the area. He'd clamed to not have any family. And she'd believed him when he'd said they'd have to make their own. At the time, she'd seen no reason for him to lie.

 

Oh, Hojo had given her reasons for his actions, telling her that he moved so often that he preferred to rent fully furnished properties and took few personal possessions with him. A loner, he'd concentrated a lot of attention on her. She'd been flattered and needy after the death of her mother, soaking up his kindness without questioning his story. And now she wondered how much she really loved him, especially if a complete stranger like Sesshomaru could make her doubt Hojo's motives.

 

She wanted to see Sesshomaru's video proof.

 

Between the expense of taking her by helicopter, the picture of her father and her growing assurance that Sesshomaru didn't intend to murder or rape her, her uncertainty about Hojo was growing. Was her honeymoon an excuse for Hojo to take her out of the country to blackmail her father into stopping his work as Sesshomaru claimed? Was Sesshomaru trying to hide her from terrorists to protect her?

 

Sesshomaru seemed too rock solid, too in control, too sympathetic and sincere to be a liar. She'd noted his erection when he'd held her and had been immensely relieved when he'd ignored his condition. Perhaps Sesshomaru even believed that he was protecting her, but that didn't mean his boss, Kincaid =, was on the up-and-up.

 

Wishing she had more information to go on then her impressions of Sesshomaru, wishing he wasn't so determined to save his batteries and that he'd show her his video evidence, she focused on the facts. Sesshomaru hadn't hurt her. In fact, since he'd kidnapped her, he'd gone out of hi way to make her more comfortable. She would never forget his hand holding hers during that wild helicopter landing. Or how the man had altered her dress and shoes. Or how after she tried to scream for help, he'd gagged her but left her hand free.

 

While she didn't necessarily believe his wild story, she no longer believed he meant her harm. If he'd wanted to kill her she'd be dead by now. Yet, if Hojo could fool her, then so could Sesshomaru, who could be lying through his straight, white, charming teeth. After they reached civilization, he could be the one who tried to use his on her against her father, not some mysterious saboteur.

 

“So what's your plan for me?” she asked, breaking the silence of their march as much to distract herself from her disturbing thoughts and her wet cloths as to find out some answers.

 

“To keep you safe from terrorists until we either deal with Hojo or your father finishes his invention.”

 

Her father had been working on his invention since before she'd been born, twenty-four years ago. “And how long will that be?”

 

“We're uncertain.”

 

Frustration escalating, she tried again. “Where are you taking me?”

 

“We had a safe house set up in Mobile. However, now that my cover may be blown, we'll have to make other arrangements. First we need to get out of this forest.” He stopped abruptly at the edge of a lake.

 

Surrounded by tress, the lake looked so peaceful under the moonlight sky that had cleared of clouds now that the rain had stopped. But no welcoming house lights shone on the water. No cars rushed by. For that mater, she saw no sigh of a road.

 

“Why don't you rest and I'll scrounge us up some dinner,” he suggested as if he could order takeout and have it delivered.

 

Thankful to take the weight off her aching feet, she settled on a flat spot atop a rock. When Sesshomaru took a scrap of her abandoned crinoline out of his sleeve, she shook her head in surprise. She'd had no idea he'd found and saved the item. He removed his knife and hacked away at the material, and she watched in weary fascination. In no time, he'd separated the netting from the lining, woven the netting around a branch and headed out knee-deep into the lake to fish.

 

If she planned another escape, this would be a good moment to try. But a hundred-yard head start wasn't enough. He'd overtaken her within minutes. She'd be prudent to wait for a better chance when he took her back to civilization—especially since she no longer believed he meant to hurt her. And if she hung around, she might learn more about her father. Besides, she had no doubt Sesshomaru would catch their dinner, and food would fill her hollow stomach.

 

This morning she'd been too nervous to eat and then she'd skipped lunch as she'd showered and dressed for her wedding. Between the hairdresser and fixing her makeup, she'd found herself rushing, she'd used up lots with no time to eat. After at least an hour of walking, she'd used up lots of calories and she'd already learned that Sesshomaru did what he said. She hoped he didn't expected her to eat fish raw. Sushi might be chic, but she preferred her food cooked, thank you very much.

 

Under the moonlight Sesshomaru stood so still that the water ceased to ripple around him. He remained there for so long that the birds they'd scared away returned, along with the chirping crickets and croaking frogs.

 

When he finally moved, he did so with a grace that suggested he'd performed the action many times before. Scooping and tossing the netting and fish high onto the bank, knowing his beached catch couldn't escape. Some men would gloat but Sesshomaru squatted, untangled the fish from the netting and headed back into the lake. “If you can gather some wood, I'll make a fire after I catch another bass.”

 

“And then you'll show me the video?” she asked. Although relived he intended to cook fish, pleased about the thought of a fire that would dry out their cloths and keep back the wild animals, she needed to see the video.

 

He nodded. “One thing at a time. First I'll start the fire, then we'll see what we have left in the battery. The trick's going to be igniting this fuel-soaked slip that I stripped from the netting and to find some dry kindling.”

 

Her hopes rose. She wanted an end to the uncertainty of weather she could trust Sesshomaru. “Nothing is dry.”

 

“I'll peel off some bark and dig out dry wood underneath. Should do the trick.”

She restrained a smile of admiration. “You should have tried out for survivor.”

 

“I wouldn't last past the first or second round.”

 

“Why's that?” she asked, curious how he saw himself.

 

“The strong ones always get voted by the weaker ones.”

 

“True.” However, if she had to be stranded in the woods, she was glad it was with someone who knew how to find dinner. And strong described him perfectly. He possessed a self-confidence that made her feel comfortable in a way that Hojo never had. “While I look for firewood, I'm going to make a pit stop. It might take a few minutes to untie—“

 

“I understand. You'll have all the privacy you need.”

 

If she intended to run, now would be the perfect time—except then she might never get to see the video. While she might get a fifteen-minute head start before he followed, that wouldn't be enough. However, she had no intention of running blindly into the woods when he would show her his proof of Hojo's perfidy if she stayed. Was she letting her hungry belly and the potential comfort of fire dictate her actions? Or was she simply beginning to trust Sesshomaru? She didn't know. But when she weighed which she'd prefer, heading alone into the dark woods or staying with Sesshomaru, she found that making the decision was easier then she'd anticipated, or perhaps easier then it should have been. But she didn't think she could develop Stockholm Syndrome in less that twenty-four hours and went about her business of seeing her personal needs and collecting firewood.

 

She returned to find that he'd cleaned and filleted the fish and had them speared =, ready to cook. She dumped the firewood in a pile beside him, careful not to disturb the tiny fire he'd kindled and was carefully feeding.

 

He didn't take his eyes from the fire as he burned dollar bills to encourage tiny sticks to light. “I wasn't sure you'd come back.”

 

She snapped branches into smaller pieces. “I'm still not sure that I made the right choice.”

 

“Are we ever?” he blew lightly on the fire. The flames danced in his eyes and she caught sight of a slight smile on a face that no longer looked so stern.

 

“Well, with that kind of encouragement, now I feel so much better.” She didn't know what about Sesshomaru caused her sarcasm to come out, especially when she knew how much her peculiar sense of humor irritated most men. She'd had to curb her tongue around Hojo who told her in no uncertain terms that he preferred a gentler attitude, but Sesshomaru seemed amused by her comments. Although Kagome had missed growing up without a father, she'd never learned how to suppress her natural curiosity, intelligence or wit on the rare occasions men were around.

 

Sesshomaru fed increasingly larger branches into the fire. “Personally, I'll feel better after we eat I'm starved.” When the flames brightened and the wood popped and snapped, he arranged the speared fish over the flames. “If you'll turn these often, I'll see about finding us water to drink.”

 

She was glad he hadn't suggested drinking from the lake when they had no idea if it was contaminated and would make them sick. Without a pot or cup, they couldn't boil it. While she tended the fish, feeling like some stone-age cave woman squatting by the fire, Sesshomaru returned with several long stalked plants.

 

“These are all for you. I've already drunk.” He gestured for her to stand, sliced the stalk open with his knife and tipped the stalk into her mouth.

 

Clean, sweet water dripped, then gushed into her mouth. She swallowed quickly, ignoring the over flow down her chin. With all the rain, she hadn't realized how thirsty she'd been until the cool liquid slid down her parched throat. “Thanks.”

 

“Let me know when you want more.” He leaned toward the fire and examined the fish. “Looks done.”

 

While he'd been gone, she'd ripped two large leaves from near by plants. “I thought these would work as plates.”

 

“Good idea.” Sesshomaru placed the fish on the leaves. “We should probably let the meat cool to avoid burning our fingers, but I've never been able to wait that long.” He broke off a piece, then sucked in his breath and fanned his fingers to cool them.

 

“You've done this often?”

 

“My dad would take me camping in the wilds of Colorado almost every weekend, rain or shine, winter or summer.”

 

No wonder he was so comfortable in the woods. “Your mom didn't go?”

 

“She died after I was born.”

 

“Sorry.” She broke off a tiny slice of fish, but it was still to hot to eat. “Did your father ever remarried?”

 

“Yeah, then he had my bastard half brother.”

 

She could tell from his tone that the memories weren't pleasant. “Does your family still live in Colorado?”

 

“My brother InuYasha dose.”

 

“Is he married?”

 

“No, he's too busy getting rich to have time for a wife. He claims that all women like to do is shop and spend money.”

 

“And what about you?” she asked.

 

“I'm not the marrying type.”

 

“Neither was my father.” The words popped out before she realized how bitter she sounded. She attempted to lighten her tone. “Oh, he married my mother but after she became pregnant he didn't stick around to give us more than his last name.”

 

He used his knife to cut the fish into smaller sections that quickly cooled. She popped a piece into her mouth and couldn't believe how great it tasted without any seasoning. “This is good.”

 

“Cooking over an open fire always increases the appetite.”

 

She had no idea if his double entendre was deliberate or accidental but his statement made her uncomfortable. Hojo was sexless compared to Sesshomaru, but Hojo had also made her feel safe—which made Sesshomaru's assertion that the man wanted to turn her over to terrorists difficult to believe. When they'd finished off the fish in tense silence. When they'd finished the last morsels, he tossed the leaves into the lake, rinsed his hands and began to walk back toward the fire.

 

She glanced at the camcorder battery, preyed there was enough power left.

 

“Can we try the battery now, please?”

 

She half expected him to refuse. But instead he placed the battery into the casing and flipped on the power. He fast-forwarded to the position he wanted, then handed her the video. “Press the button on the right.”

 

Her mouth went dry and her hand shook. Now that the moment was here, she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Either her fiancé was plotting against her with terrorists, or she was in the middle of nowhere with a madman. But she Hojo's face, heard him specking clearly on his phone. “The bitch agreed to marry me,” Hojo sneered. “I'll deliver her next week in Cairo as we agreed,” Hojo paused, then laughed. “Don't worry. She doesn't suspect a thing.”

 

“Oh…God.” Her hands shook so badly she couldn't hold the camera. Despite everything Sesshomaru had told her, Hojo's betrayal shocked her to her core. Although Sesshomaru had explained the details, she hadn't really believed him until now.

 

“You okay?”

 

Shock had numbed her and her voice cracked. “Could I have another drink, please?”

 

“Sure.”

 

Before Sesshomaru had risen to his feet, the silence of the forest shattered.

 

A rifle shot blasted through the night.