InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hunt for the Sword of Legend ❯ The Clue and the Plan ( Chapter 3 )

Here's another one folks. By the way, yes I'm a Southerner. For the future, I'm sorry if I accidentally throw in a few ya'll's and you'ens (ya'll plus three). I hope you enjoy this one.

 

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and company nor do I own Bond, James Bond.

 

 

Chapter 3:

 

 

The Clue and the Plan

 

 

Inuyasha lazily reached over and turned off the alarm clock. The shrill beeping noise stopped and he slung the cover off of himself. Planting two wobbly legs as firmly as possible, he stood and made his way to the bathroom.

 

 

He hadn't slept very well. No, that was an understatement. He hadn't really slept at all. He fell asleep once and woke with a start only an hour or so later. He could remember the dream he had very vividly. It was about his mother and father and, of course, about her.

 

 

Inuyasha turned the water on and adjusted the temperature of the nozzle in the middle of the tiled wall, so that the water was lukewarm. He never did understand how some people would want to turn themselves into human lobsters when they bathed. He then disrobed and stepped under the swift jets of water. He stood there, letting the water run down his muscular body as if trying to wash away the dream he'd had and the weariness of a night of almost no sleep. Inuyasha finally started his actual cleaning routine and within twenty minutes or so, he stepped out of the bathroom with damp hair clinging to his face and fresh clothes on his back.

 

 

Still in a slight haze from the events of the previous day, he made his way into the living area and saw Myoga sitting on one of the couches speaking in hushed tones to Sango. She was huddled very close to him. Inuyasha scoffed and the two immediately jumped apart and shifted their eyes to meet his. When the silence became too much, Myoga broke it.

 

 

“Well, why don't we get some breakfast? It's nearly 8:00 and we're supposed to be at the law firm at 9:00.”

 

 

Without a word, Inuyasha grabbed his coat and started towards the door. The other two quickly got the idea and rushed to catch up with their surly friend. They finally caught up with him at the elevator. Still not comfortable with the silence, Myoga took the more dangerous route and chose to shatter it once more.

 

 

“Would you like to talk about it, my friend?”

 

 

“Talk about what?” Inuyasha said, in a more aggravated than necessary tone.

 

 

“Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, I suggest you stop with the sour mood. Today should be a very happy day for you, or have you forgotten?”

 

 

“Of course I haven't forgotten,” Inuyasha replied in defeat. He begrudgingly knew that Myoga was right, although he would never admit it. Taking a deep breath and then letting it out slowly, he turned to look at his companions.

 

 

“I'm fine. I'll try to be a little less aggravated with the two of you. The reason I'm in this fucked up mood is not either of your faults.”

 

 

“It's okay, Inuyasha,” Sango breathed. “Myoga and I understand you better than anyone. If we can't put up with your mood fluctuations, no one can.” The three of them, somehow feeling better, shared a small laugh as they walked out of the elevator and towards the restaurant inside the hotel to get breakfast.

 

 

Inuyasha was still in a semi-foul mood, but after what Sango said he felt better. All he really needed to know was that he had friends that would be there for him. Even if he would never again see the mystery girl that haunted his dreams and thoughts, Sango and Myoga would understand and be there to talk to if he needed it. That was all he could hope for at this point.

 

 

Hope…

 

 

----------------------------

 

 

Kagome and Miroku had a long talk that morning. So long a talk that they actually missed breakfast and Kagome was running late. Kagome was in her bedroom getting dressed as fast as her arms and legs would move.

 

 

Miroku yelled down the hall to her. “Don't worry about it so much Kagome. I've endured much worse things coming from that mouth of yours. I would like to apologize again for what I said though. I won't bring it up again. All I want to say in my defense is that it's hard sometimes for me to watch you damage your already damaged self by ignoring love. There's someone out there for you, waiting. I'm afraid that when that day comes you'll close yourself up and run away from it.”

 

 

Kagome sighed as she came out of her room dressed and ready to go out the door. “Miroku, I need to think some things through. You're right about some things and I just can't pretend anymore that I don't want someone to love and eventually a family. Look, I have to leave now if I'm going to be on time.” Kagome hugged her cousin and then smiled at him while still holding his upper arms in her hands. “What time is your first appointment?” she asked him.

 

 

“I don't have one until noon, why?”

 

 

“Why don't you get us some breakfast and come to the office?”

 

 

“Okay, I'll see you in a bit.”

 

 

“Just come on in when you get there. I have that will reading at 9:00 and it should be over when you get there. Bye!” Kagome rushed out the door and hopped into her car while simultaneously starting the engine. As she wove in and out of traffic in hopes of making it on time, she started thinking about her rescuer again. She wondered where he was at the moment and if she would ever see him again. She also began to speculate about whether she'd had the same effect on him as he did on her.

 

 

“Not likely,” she scoffed to herself. `Why would he have a second thought about me? I'm just a short lawyer that gets into trouble over the stupidest things.' Her thoughts turned darker by the second. They only stopped when she noticed that she was finally at work, and right on time.

 

 

Kagome got out of the modestly sized, two-door car and pulled her briefcase with her. She walked the few steps to the dreaded elevators and very unwillingly got on board. With her mantra in mind, she pushed the button marked twenty-three and the doors slid into place making Kagome cringe. When the doors opened and released once more, she trotted the thirty or so paces to her office and let herself in. Yura was there to greet her.

 

 

“Miss Higarashi, here are your messages and faxes. Your two o'clock was moved to two-thirty and your first appointment will be at nine.”

 

 

“Thanks, Yura,” Kagome muttered as she grabbed whatever papers were in her secretary's hand and proceeded to her desk on the other side of the frosted glass door behind Yura. “Miroku will be showing up most likely as my first clients are leaving. Let him come on in when he gets here,” and as an afterthought she added, “And no flirting!”

 

 

Kagome sat down at her desk with the pile of papers Yura had handed her. Looking at the clock on her desk, she saw that the time was 8:45. She decided to return a few calls while waiting on her 9:00 to show up. Picking up the phone she called the first of many people who had called her after her early departure on Friday.

 

 

Almost exactly fifteen minutes later, Yura's voice sounded through her intercom.

 

 

“Miss Higarashi? Your 9:00 has arrived.”

 

 

“Send them in,” she said as she waited for the secretary on the other end of the phone to answer. Her clients could wait while she left a simple message.

 

 

She was looking down at the few papers with messages left on them when she heard the door open and a few pairs of feet enter the room. She didn't look up, even when she noticed that after a few seconds, those that had entered the room still hadn't sat down in the chairs in front of the desk. `What are they waiting for, an invitation?' she asked herself. Only when she heard a female voice sounding slightly fearful did she look up from the immense desk she was seated at.

 

 

“Inuyasha?” Sango questioned. Inuyasha looked like he had seen a ghost. His face was pasty white and his eyes looked as if someone had slapped him in the back of the head. His mouth was wide and his overall look could only be described as disbelief.

 

 

Sango tried again to get her friend's attention. He was starting to frighten her a little bit. “Inuyasha, are you okay?”

 

 

Still not getting a reaction, Sango looked at Myoga for help and noticed he was looking at something else. Moving her eyes to find out what it was that was more important then their friend, she found it.

 

 

There, sitting behind a desk that was entirely too big for her, was a woman with an expression identical to Inuyasha. “Blue eyes,” Sango murmured. “Inuyasha, is this her?” Sango asked in a very small voice.

 

 

“I'm her,” a voice answered before Inuyasha even registered that someone had asked a question. Sango's head whipped around to face the woman that had ensnared her best friend's world.

 

 

She looked a little more composed than the few seconds before, but still looked like she might faint at any moment. If only Sango could see the thoughts that were flying through Kagome's head at that very moment.

 

 

`Oh my God!' Kagome screamed inside her own head. `Just breathe girl. You can do this. He's only the HOTTEST guy you've ever seen. It's going to be fine. Just thank him again and do your job. You can do that. You're good at your job. Just get control of yourself.' It was kind of hard to gather her composure with that god standing in her office. He looked even better now that she could get a good look at him. The silver hair atop his head was flowing down his back. He was wearing black dress slacks and an untucked, red button up shirt with the first two buttons undone.

 

 

Inuyasha's thoughts were just as cluttered. `I found her. Here she is. She looks even more beautiful. Don't get too excited! Just calm down. Ask if she's okay. That's good enough to break the ice. You can do it. Just say something. I can't stand here all day with my mouth open! Do something!' Inuyasha could get a good look at her now too. Kagome, that was her name, had her hair pulled up half way and let the rest pour over her shoulders. Those damned blue eyes were sucking him in again. The white, low-cut shirt clung to her curves in the most delicious way imaginable.

 

 

Of course, they spoke at once; Kagome thanking him and Inuyasha asking if she was okay. Both of them shut there mouths and stared a few more seconds before Inuyasha found the courage to speak again.

 

 

“Are you okay?”

 

 

Kagome cleared her throat and smiled. “Yes I'm fine thanks to you. I want to thank you again. If you weren't there, who knows what would have happened?”

 

 

“So, you're the girl from WacDonald's the other day.” Myoga was enjoying himself. He had never seen Inuyasha so flustered. For that matter, the girl in front of him seemed to be struggling herself.

 

 

“Mrs. Higarashi, did we interrupt a phone call?”

 

 

“No,” Kagome breathed. She hung the phone up without looking; completely forgetting that she was supposed to be leaving a message. “And it's Miss.”

 

 

“Oh?” Myoga enjoyed the way Inuyasha's face seemed to lose its distressed appearance at hearing that little gem of information.

 

 

“The police didn't call me after yesterday. I was wondering if you knew if they had that idiot locked up.” Inuyasha was very proud of himself for controlling his voice.

 

 

“Yes, they did. They came and saw me while I was in the hospital.”

 

 

Sango saw fit to find a seat, hoping that the men would copy her actions. They did eventually, even though Inuyasha was very hesitant. “Can I ask what he wanted? The police we talked to wouldn't say anything.” Sango was hoping that she wasn't overstepping her bounds by asking, but something kept nagging at her to ask.

 

 

Kagome's eyes got wide. “Um, actually, he wanted to know about the clue in Mrs. Sato's will.”

 

 

The movement in Inuyasha's brow demonstrated his anger. How did anyone else know about it? Then, in a few seconds, it all snapped into place. He stood up and removed his cell phone from his black slacks and sat back down, angrily flipping the phone open.

 

 

“Did I do something wrong?” Kagome asked with a curious and cautious expression.

 

 

“No, but my asshole brother did.”

 

 

Kagome sat there looking bewildered. Sango saw the expression on her face and decided to explain.

 

 

“Inuyasha has a brother,”

 

 

“Half-brother,” interrupted Inuyasha.

 

 

“Half-brother,” Sango continued as she sent a glare his way, “named Sesshoumaru. The sword that we're looking for has a brother sword. The brother sword is in Sesshoumaru's possession at the moment. When we left for the airport the other morning, Inuyasha called Sessh to tell him that we may have found the other sword but all he kept saying was to `watch our backs' and `be careful'. Now we know why. Someone must have found out about the contents of Mrs. Sato's will. The sword is a very important historical article and worth a large fortune.” Sango's explanation was cut short by a raging voice and by Inuyasha jumping up from his chair.

 

 

“Sesshoumaru! How the hell did you know that someone found out about the sword? And why didn't you tell me! I could have used this information a while ago. Someone could have been seriously injured.”

 

 

A short pause. Everyone was looking at Inuyasha now, wondering what was being said on the other end of the line.

 

 

“No, the three of us are fine but someone attacked the lawyer in charge of the will!”

 

 

Inuyasha's expression grew hysterical as he listened to the unheard voice on the other end of the phone.

 

 

“I will not calm down until you tell me what you know! Do it now Sessh or so help me, God…” Inuyasha was trying to keep his temper in check, mostly because of the extremely beautiful woman looking at him in shock.

 

 

Another long pause followed and Inuyasha told Sesshoumaru in a very hushed voice that he would call him later and hung up the phone. He sat back down in the chair he had occupied earlier and greeted Kagome with a small smile.

 

 

“I'm sorry about my behavior. I can't stand when he does that though. He likes to withhold information just to amuse himself at my expense.”

 

 

Kagome immediately saw red. She very calmly, too calmly, asked Inuyasha a question.

 

 

“He risked my life just to have a little entertainment? Is he insane?!” she hissed. She looked Inuyasha straight in the eyes. For the first time since he walked into her office, she didn't feel nervous. She was livid.

 

 

“Uh…” Inuyasha floundered helplessly. He looked at her red face and her scorching eyes and all he could think of was how beautiful she was even when she was angry. He found his voice and tried to explain.

 

 

“He didn't intentionally put you in danger. No matter how cruel he is he would never do that. He never thought they would come after you. Now that I think about it, it makes sense. I mean, why go after one of us, who could easily fend off that kind of attack, when they could go after a defenseless lawyer?”

 

 

Kagome sat ridged in her seat and glared at Inuyasha. She was hoping that her anger would be later conveyed to this Sesshoumaru person by Inuyasha.

 

 

Sango decided to speak up, seeing that the two parties had called a truce, of sorts. “What did Sesshoumaru say when you asked him what he knew?”

 

 

Inuyasha looked at the desk in front of him as he spoke. “He said that a guy called him last week and asked about Tenseiga. The guy was wondering how much it was worth, and all that. Then he asked what Tetsusaiga would be worth when it was found. What struck Sesshoumaru as odd was the way the guy had said it. He asked Sessh `when it was found' not `if'. Then I called a week later to tell him about the will, and he put two and two together.” Inuyasha looked at Kagome again. “He wanted me to tell you that he really is sorry that he put you in such a dangerous situation. He said to tell you that we'll do anything you ask to make up for it.”

 

 

It only took Kagome half of a second to figure out what she wanted. “Hospital bills.”

 

 

“Done.” Inuyasha said with less hesitation than Kagome. “Just give me the name of the hospital and your full name and it'll be done by the end of the day.”

 

 

Kagome found a note pad and wrote the information on it. Inuyasha accepted it from her and put it in his pocket.

 

 

“Well, now that that's settled…” Myoga was anxious to get on with the will.

 

 

“Yes,” responded Kagome as she carefully pulled out a stack of papers from a filing cabinet directly behind her. Spinning back around in her chair, she placed the papers on the table and thumbed through them.

 

 

“First things first. I need you to sign this form. It basically says that you are the one I'm reading the will to and not some other someone.”

 

 

Myoga grabbed the pen and signed quickly.

 

 

“Okay, then this one. This is the form that you need with you when you pick up the antiques and such from the storage building. Sign right here stating that you received the form, please. Also, Mrs. Sato requested that her house and all her land be sold to the highest bidder. I need the museum's bank account number so I can put that money directly into the account once the auction is complete.”

 

 

Myoga scribbled the requested information on a sheet of paper Kagome provided and handed it back to her.

 

 

“With all that out of the way, we get to the good stuff.”

 

 

“Thank God!” Inuyasha was tired of waiting. Even though Kagome was the one doing the talking in that wonderful voice that made it much easier to wait, he was very ready to finally have a lead on the sword he had pined for, for so many years.

 

 

“Inuyasha, I told you to stop being such a drama queen,” Sango muttered, looking at him from the corner of her eyes.

 

 

“Shut up you brat!” Inuyasha muttered back. He turned to face her and she reciprocated. A silent war began in their stares. Myoga rolled his eyes and looked at Kagome apologetically.

 

 

“They really are good friends. Sometimes it doesn't show.”

 

 

“I thought you were together! Your just friends?” Kagome cursed herself mentally at how hopeful she sounded.

 

 

“God no, we're not together!” Inuyasha yelled. Kagome's eyes grew wide and then they shifted to look back at her desk.

 

 

“Goodness, Inuyasha. You make me sound like the plague.” Sango turned and looked at Kagome. “I'm sorry. We normally don't fight this much. When we have to spend this much time together, it's hard to control our tempers. Myoga sometimes tells people that we're like fire on fire.”

 

 

“That's okay. My cousin and I are the same way,” Kagome said as she chuckled at Inuyasha and Sango. “So, would you like to hear what Mrs. Sato had to say?”

 

 

All three of them nodded their heads vigorously and directed all their attention to her words.

 

 

“Okay. All it says is `Seek the maker'.”

 

 

Kagome looked up to see some strange looks floating her way. Myoga looked deep in thought, Sango looked disappointed and Inuyasha just looked very, very angry.

 

 

“What the fuck is that! We fly halfway across the world for that. What the hell was that old woman thinking?” Inuyasha'd had enough. He was tired and cranky. He just wanted to know where the sword was so he could go get it and finally end the decade long search. Now they were off to God knows were to `seek the maker'. The day had gone from bad, to better, to much worse in the span of a few minutes.

 

 

“Inuyasha, calm yourself or you'll have Miss Higarashi running from the room, screaming. We knew it would only be a clue. I just didn't really expect a riddle.”

 

 

“This isn't a riddle, this is nothing. The maker of the sword has been dead for over four-hundred years. There's no possible way we can talk to him unless you've found someway to bring people back to life.” Inuyasha was still fuming but he did realize the truth in Myoga's words. He really needed to tone it down a little in front of Kagome. He didn't want to scare her off with his foul mouth and bad temper. `Ah well, better she sees now what I am. I wouldn't want her to be surprised later. If there is a later.'

 

 

Kagome was kind of hoping that the three of them would stay in her office. She had a few more clients to deal with later, but they could wait. She just wanted to look at Inuyasha a little longer. He had the whole bad boy thing going for him but she also knew he had a much softer side that he let out when he thought no one was looking. `Please let it take them a few more minutes to figure this out' she pleaded with who ever would listen.

 

 

“What about a descendant, Inuyasha? Do you know if the sword maker had heirs?”

 

 

“Sesshoumaru would know more about that than I would. Do you want me to call him?”

 

 

“No, we know the original sword maker's name. Someone that ingrained in history has to have a family tree on file somewhere,” Sango said as she pulled her laptop out of her bag and placed it on her lap. Then she stopped, as a thought struck her. Looking up at Kagome, she realized that they were probably taking up time that was meant for someone else. “I'm so sorry. You probably have more clients waiting.”

 

 

“That's okay. I really don't have anyone else for quite a while. I'm kind of curious myself. Please, be my guest.”

 

 

Sango smiled. She liked this Kagome person already. It was easy to see now why Inuyasha had been so taken with her. She was very pretty, and had an aura about her that screamed nice and charming. Sango booted up the laptop and clicked on the internet. While she was searching, Inuyasha's phone rang. He stood up and went to the corner of the room to answer it.

 

 

“Inuyasha Tanaka.”

 

 

“Are you still angry, little brother, or have you calmed yourself.”

 

 

“Sesshoumaru, I don't have time for this right now. I told you that I'd call later.”

 

 

“Yes, I know. I was just wondering if you knew what you had gotten yourself into.”

 

 

“What's that supposed to mean?! If you know something else, tell me.” Inuyasha was getting very tired of the conversation. He was praying that Sesshoumaru would spit it out and choke on it at the same time. My, that was a wonderful thought.

 

 

“I know who it was that called me last week. His name is Naraku. He's well known in regards to the black market. I'm still not sure how he found out about the will, but rest assured, you haven't seen the last of him. The man that attacked Miss Higarashi was one of his henchmen. There are many more where he came from I'm afraid. I'm not so much worried about you and the others as much as I'm worried about the lawyer. She's not safe there anymore. You may need to take her with you.”

 

 

`No arguments there' thought Inuyasha. He couldn't believe how perfect this had turned out. Not only was he on the trail of the `Tetsusaiga', he was also going to be able to have an excuse to be around Kagome constantly.

 

 

“All right, I'll tell her. By the way, we're paying for her hospital bills and her expenses while she's with me.”

 

 

“Acceptable.”

 

 

The two brothers hung up without so much as a good-bye. Inuyasha made his way back to the comfortable leather chair. Sango was talking about China.

 

 

“What's going on?” he asked.

 

 

“There's a descendant that lives in Tiangin, along the Ziya He.”

 

 

“In English please Sango.” Sango rolled her eyes at her dense friend.

 

 

“Tiangin is a city in China not too far off the coast of the Yellow Sea. Ziya He is a river.”

 

 

“Okay. What's that got to do with us? He's not the sword maker.”

 

 

“He may know something.” Kagome's input startled the three out of there musings.

 

 

“What do you mean Miss Higarashi?” Myoga asked.

 

 

“Mrs. Sato did travel to China right before she made the final version of her will. She may have asked him about the sword while she was there. He might be the one who has it, or knows where it is.”

 

 

“It makes sense Inuyasha. Also, he's a sword maker himself. We should defiantly check this out.” Sango was excited again. She had never been to China. This was shaping up to be a great trip.

 

 

“Well, if we're going to China I need to call the airlines and book a flight for four.”

 

 

“Four? There are only three of us.” Myoga was starting to wonder about Inuyasha's mental grasp on things. Either he had an imaginary friend or he couldn't count. Neither one of those options sounded good for the young man.

 

 

“Yeah, four. She can't stay here anymore. She needs to come with us. Sesshoumaru said that they'll come after her again. I'm not going to have that on my conscience.”

 

 

Kagome was shocked. This man just assumed that he didn't even need to ask if she wanted to go. He was making it sound as if some boogie man was going to kill her in her sleep. On top of that, he was talking about her as if she wasn't even in the room. How dare he?! Even if he was the most perfectly made human being on earth, that didn't mean that she had no say in what went on.

 

 

“Excuse me, but I'm not going anywhere.”

 

 

“Excuse me, but you are. You can't stay here. You're not safe. These people will come after you with everything they have once we're out of the way. As soon as we get on that plane, it will be all over for you. These people are dangerous. They won't care that you're a woman.”

 

 

“All the same, I'm not going.” Kagome stood up, crossed her arms over her chest and glared down her nose at Inuyasha. Where the hell did he get the nerve to tell her what she was and wasn't doing?

 

 

Inuyasha glared back. “What the hell is wrong with you? Can I ask what is so important that you would stay here and risk your life for it?”

 

 

“For one, I'm not leaving my practice. And two, you didn't even ask me if I wanted you to protect me. It's not your place to nose me around like some guard dog.”

 

 

“Is this practice worth more to you than your own life?! I'm trying to do the right thing here and you're just being stubborn because I didn't ask you if you wanted to be safe from another one of those attacks. I guess I just assumed you wanted to NOT die!”

 

 

In the middle of Kagome and Inuyasha's shouts and Sango and Myoga's pleas for the two of them to calm down, Miroku staggered in with an arm full of food and a very confused look on his face.

 

 

“Am I interrupting something Kagome?”

 

 

“No you're not. These people were just leaving,” Kagome said very venomously as she threw a dirty look at Inuyasha.

 

 

“We're not leaving here until you're willing to come with us!” Inuyasha was getting very tired of this `play nice' game. If it came to it, he'd drag the pig-headed bitch all the way to China.

 

 

“May I ask what the problem is?” It didn't look as if either Kagome or Inuyasha were going to interrupt their staring contest to reply, so Myoga answered for them.

 

 

“Good to meet you. My name is Myoga Suzuki. If you're a friend of Kagome's then you'll know of the incident yesterday.”

 

 

That got Miroku attention. “I'm her cousin and roommate. How do you three know about what happened yesterday?”

 

 

“Our Inuyasha here is the one that saved her.”

 

 

“Is he now?!” Miroku moved quickly to put the bags in his hands down and rushed over to Inuyasha. He nudged his way between Inuyasha and the desk he was leaning on and grabbed his hand.

 

 

“I'm so happy I got to meet you. I wanted to thank you in person but I didn't really think I would get to. Thank you so much for saving my cousin. She's very lucky that you were there.”

 

 

Inuyasha looked at the man in front of him and felt a blush spread across his cheeks under the heavy praise. “It was nothing, really,” he muttered under his breath while trying to get Miroku to release his hand.

 

 

After Miroku finally got the hint and gave up his hold on his new best friend's hand, he turned to speak to Kagome.

 

 

“I thought I heard shouting?” Miroku was confused. If this was Kagome's rescuer, why would there be angry shouting.

 

 

“You did,” Kagome replied in a heated voice. “This over grown bloodhound, guard dog wants to drag me to China for God knows how long.”

 

 

Miroku looked at Kagome and then at Inuyasha seeing that they had identical scowls on there faces. If the situation didn't look so serious, Miroku would have laughed. Instead, he asked, “Why?”

 

 

Inuyasha took the chance to explain the situation before Kagome could throw anymore insults his way. He was losing his patience; and if he did, it wouldn't be pretty. “She's still in danger of that happening again. The guy that attacked her may be behind bars, but there are more than a few that will come after her again.”

 

 

“Why would a bunch of thugs want Kagome?”

 

 

“There's someone else looking for the same artifact we're looking for,” replied Myoga. “Kagome is in danger because she knows a vital clue to its whereabouts. The cops here won't be able to protect her and I doubt she would want to hire a personal body guard. The only way to keep her safe is to come with us. Inuyasha will keep an eye on her while we search for the sword. Once it's found, she can go back to her normal life.”

 

 

Miroku was dumbfounded. What had his little good girl cousin gotten herself into? He was starting to get worried about her safety himself. It would probably be a good idea for her to go. This Inuyasha guy had already saved her once and now he was offering to keep her safe. The other reason she should go dawned on him a little more slowly. If Kagome went with Inuyasha, she could possibly get over this fear of getting too close to men, or anyone for that matter. She would have to stay close to him for at least a few days. This could be even better than he thought.

 

 

“Kagome, I think you should go.”

 

 

“What!!!” she screeched at him. She couldn't believe it. Now her own flesh and blood was falling for these James Bond wannabes. What was wrong with the world today? Didn't anyone else but her see how insane this was?

 

 

“I want you to go with them if it will keep you safe. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you. I'm not much of a fighter or I'd be your new shadow until this is over. As it is I'm more of a lover than a fighter.” At the last statement, Miroku scanned the form of the other female in the room.

 

 

“Miroku! I'm not going and, STOP FLIRTING!”

 

 

Sango blushed and looked away. Miroku at least had the decency to `look' guilty.

 

 

Miroku had a thought. Maybe she would agree if she had someone on her side going with her. That was why she wasn't going. He knew it had nothing to do with being so far from home or leaving her practice behind.

 

 

“Would you go if I went, too? I mean, if that's alright with the others.”

 

 

Kagome thought about it. She knew from the first minutes of the fight that Inuyasha wouldn't give up. She could see in his eyes that he felt an obligation to her. But what terrified her was the way he looked as if he really did want her to go. She was afraid if she was this close to him for an extended amount of time that she'd fling herself desperately at him. But, if Miroku would go, then she would have someone to distract herself with. That could work. Hmmm…

 

 

Inuyasha thought about it as well. He really wanted her to go. If she would give up and agree to go if this cousin of hers went with them too, he would have to give in to the compromise. He couldn't let her get herself killed. With less enthusiasm, he admitted to himself that he really wanted her to go for other reasons as well.

 

 

“If it's alright with Sango and Myoga, it's alright with me.”

 

 

“It's okay with me,” Sango stated. Hopefully Kagome would give in. Sango liked her and it would be fun to have a girl along for a change. Not to mention Kagome's cousin was very attractive.

 

 

“Fine with me,” Myoga chimed in with a grin.

 

 

Everyone glanced toward Kagome. She was growing nervous with the pressure. “What about money? I can't pay for myself and Miroku to be gone for an undetermined amount of time.”

 

 

“Don't worry about that. My brother still has things to make up for when it comes to you. He'll pay all the expenses. I'll make sure of it.”

 

 

“We can't accept that kind of offer. That's a lot of money for a stranger. He's already going to pay for my hospital bills.”

 

 

“I said don't worry about it. He was the one who told me to take you with me. He feels badly for putting you in danger. Let us do this as a way to make up for that. And certainly don't worry about putting a financial strain on us. My brother is made of money. He couldn't spend it all even if he tried really, really hard.”

 

 

Kagome sighed and hung her head. This was getting to be too much. She really didn't have an option.

 

 

“Am I really in that much danger?” she asked in a weak voice.

 

 

Inuyasha walked around the desk and grabbed her hands. The two of them felt the shock of the touch instantaneously. Inuyasha and Kagome found each other's eyes and held them there for a moment.

 

 

“I know this all sounds like some kind of conspiracy theory but trust me when I say that this is no game. This guy's name is Naraku and apparently he is some black market big wig. This sword is worth more than you can possibly imagine. Sesshoumaru said he is very dangerous and that yesterday is only a drop in the hat. It's not just you that's in danger, it's all of us. I not worried about the rest of us. I am worried about you, though. You have no way to protect yourself and if you go to the police, they'll turn you away and laugh when you're out the door. Please, come with me.”

 

 

Kagome was staring at him like a deer in the headlights. `He said `come with me'. He didn't say `us', he said `me', Kagome thought. It seemed that Inuyasha was the only one who hadn't caught his little Freudian slip. The other three in the room looked at each other in a knowing way.

 

 

“Okay, I'll go,” she whispered.

 

 

Inuyasha let out the breath he was holding and smiled. “Thank you,” he said a little too excitedly.

 

 

“Well, when do we leave?” asked a now smiling Miroku.

 

 

“As soon as possible. Sango, you book the flight on the internet. I'll call Sessh and let him know where we're going and who's coming with us. Myoga, call a hotel near the sword maker and book us three rooms. You two are with me,” Inuyasha said as he pointed at the new members of the party. “We're going to your house to pack some things. I'll follow the both of you there and you'll leave your cars and ride back to our hotel with me.”

 

 

The five of them jumped into action at their `leader's' command. Strangely, no one seemed to mind being told what to do by Inuyasha. It almost seemed natural. Sango and Myoga left the room and shortly after Kagome, Inuyasha and Miroku left the office. Kagome stopped at Yura's desk to tell her to cancel all of her appointments and reschedule all of her court dates on the grounds of a family emergency.

 

 

As the three of them got into the elevator, Inuyasha noticed that Kagome had her head down and her eyes closed. He looked at Miroku in puzzlement.

 

 

“She's afraid of elevators. She got stuck in one as a child and has never gotten over it.” `Never gotten over a lot of things from childhood,' Miroku mentally added.

 

 

“Feh! You're afraid of an elevator, but not of blood thirsty lackeys that will torture, rape and kill you. Something's wrong in that head of yours.”

 

 

Kagome ignored him and kept her head down. Inuyasha felt himself staring at her and all of a sudden had the desire to whisper reassurances in her ear. He knew he couldn't without giving away how much he really wanted her or how much he cared about her. He bit his lip to the point of drawing blood and looked anywhere but at Kagome. `This is going to be fun,' he thought to himself sarcastically. `I have to fight the urge to scoop her up and stop the elevator now. What will I do if she's in real danger?' This trip was going to be long and tiring. He could already tell.

 

 

“What have I gotten myself into,” he whispered to no one.

 

 

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I didn't really like this chapter at first. I felt like it was moving a little too fast. But, I'll let you be the judge. I needed to get the ball rolling on the plot and this was the best way to do it. I hope you like it let me know.

 

 

Reviews:

 

Punkrock grl92: I'm glad you like my style of writing. I really didn't notice it was anything special, but if you like I'll continue to let you praise me. Just kidding. Thank you very much. I'm glad you like it so far.

 

Inu Kagome 4Life: OMG!!! My very own number one fan! I'm so excited that I can hardly contain myself; no kidding! My boyfriend laughed at me when I told him. He said that I was getting myself worked up over something silly. I told him that he would never understand the special bond of an author and her number one fan. LOL! I hope this chapter answered that `who attacked Kagome' question. To answer the other question I had to think a while. I guess if I had to put an age on them they would be…

Inuyasha: 26

Kagome: 25

Myoga: 60 something

Miroku: 29

Sango: 26

I hope you enjoy this chapter too!

 

 

As always please review.