InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hunt for the Sword of Legend ❯ Cease of Calm ( Chapter 23 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: Here’s a little treat for you. I got finished with the next early, so here is the new chapter. A week early!!! Go me!


Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.


Chapter 23:


Cease of Calm


The next morning, Kagome woke up to find herself tangled so deliciously around the man that she loved. She wanted to stay there for as long as possible, but her bladder was making itself known.


She slowly slid her limbs from him, and stood up on two shaky legs. It was hard to walk and she was so sore. She hoped it wouldn’t always be like this. It wasn’t a bad kind of soreness, more like the day after you first start a gym. There was a sort of pride that came with it, and it lessened the effect somewhat. However, she couldn’t hold the hiss of breath that escaped her as she made her way around the bed to the bathroom.


Inuyasha must have heard her, because he was up and by her side faster than she though possible for someone who had just been in a deep sleep.


“What’s wrong?” he asked with a hint of anxiousness in his voice. He pulled her and the sheet she was wearing up into his inviting arms.


“It’s nothing,” she told him, and smiled at the feeling are closeness that they now shared. “I’m just a little sore. It’s nothing a nice, hot shower won’t fix.”


He carefully looked at her face. He was sure it was worse than she was letting on, but the contented smile on her face made him realize that she really was okay. For that, he was thankful.


“If you’re sure…”


Kagome nodded and slipped from his grip after placing a chaste kiss on his mouth. Inuyasha stood beside the bed until the door to the bathroom was closed firmly behind her, then he flopped back on the bed.


He was sure it was all a dream when he felt her shift beside him. He was still trying to remember what was dream and what wasn’t when he heard her sharp intake of breath, then everything had come tumbling into place.


Inuyasha could clearly see what had happened now. Her head thrown back, her smooth skin, her voice as she called his name. He cut his thoughts off before he could get too carried away, lest he jump her when she finished in the restroom.


Inuyasha flopped back on the bed with a happy sigh. This was what he had wanted. It’s what he had always wanted. No longer would he look at his brother and his sister-in-law and feel that bitter twang of jealousy.


Kagome finished her shower and walked into the common area wrapped in a towel. “When are we leaving to meet Jacqueline?” she asked, while picking out what she was going to wear that day.


Inuyasha got up from the bed, and entered the bathroom so he could take a shower. “We’re suppose to meet her before lunch,” he called. “If you want breakfast you should order some room service.”


After breakfast was eaten, they started their day. Neither of them could remember ever being so happy. Kagome vaguely wondered when the world would break into song.


Inuyas ha and Kagome made their way down a long, dirt road with dense flora on each side. The spanish moss grew thick on the trees. It seemed as if the road would never end, and Inuyasha felt a moment of hesitation, where he wondered if he’d taken a wrong turn somewhere.


Before he could make up his mind whether he wanted to turn around and figure out where he had gone astray, a little, grey, wooden house made an appearance. It was on the edge of a lake of sorts, with a small dock off to the side.


It looked well taken care of, if a little old.


He could see the advantages of living so far off the beaten path. She must have had a lot of privacy.


Kagome and Inuyasha stepped out of the car, and made their way to the screen covered front door. He leaned forward and knocked.


“Who is it?” asked a flowing, lovely voice.


“It’s Inuyasha. I called you yesterday about the sword?”


Swiftly, the door was flung open and a woman appeared in the darkness left in its absence.


Kagome couldn’t help but wonder how a person could be so beautiful. She had honey-brown skin and her eyes were a deep, dark caramel. He hair was braided very tightly against her scalp. The braids stopped at the nape of her neck, and the natural curl of what was left flowed down to the middle of her back.


The woman’s cheekbones were extremely pronounced, and it gave her a very regal look. She had full, plump lips that were turned into a frown.


She was slim, but curvy in all the right ways. Her bare-footed toes peeked from the bottom of the flowing skirt she wore, and the toe nail polish matched the red in her tank-top.


She had such an inviting face, but it was marred by the furrowing of her brow.


“What is wrong with you?” she asked while pulling them both by their arms into her house. “Don’t you realize what it is that you have come for? You said so yourself that there was a vile man following you.”


The smoothness of her heavily accented voice negated the anger in her tone. Kagome’s eyes widened when Jacqueline threw her arms up into the air in frustration.


“Jeez, lady. I didn’t realize that you thought someone was in the woods spying. No one knows you, or even that you have anything. The only way I knew, was because Totosai told us. I very much doubt if he told anyone else. He went to a lot of trouble to see that it was safe with you.”


“Inuyasha…” Kagome said with a little anger in her voice. She was only trying to be careful. He shouldn’t fault her for that.


“Never mind, just come in and have a seat,” Jacqueline said with a flip of her wrist. She was already halfway to the sitting room when Inuyasha and Kagome noticed. They hurried to catch up. The woman sure was spirited.


As soon as Jacqueline was sure they were comfortable on the swanky couch that was in the middle of her knock-off oriental rug, she crouched down in the corner of the far side of the room, and pulled up a loose board in the hardwood floor. Kagome wondered if anything in the whole house matched.


A dusty wooden box was in her hands when she made her way back to the couple. She took a seat and wiped the gray particles from the top. The silver latches made an audible pop as she released them.


Inuyasha could barely stand the anticipation as the lid was lifted, and he released a deep breath when the glint of gold was seen in the woman’s hands. She carefully placed it back into the box, and then handed it to him.


He shifted so he could lay it across his lap, and stared in awe at the culmination of his efforts. Here is was, in his hands, what he had been dreaming of for so long he could hardly remember what it felt like not to be combing the globe for even the tiniest of hints. To most people, it was just a sword. Just a rusty, old katana in a ragged sheath. To him, it was his family, his history, his forefathers.


He expected some kind of fanfare to go off inside of his head when this moment finally came. He expected choirs of angels and the clouds to part. But, with Kagome sitting beside him, her happiness for him showing in her smile and glassiness of her gaze, all he could think or feel was the extreme relief that it was finally over.


Not just because he had waited to close this chapter in his life for so long, but because he was free from the burden. He was free to start a new life, one in which he hoped that Kagome would continue to be by his side.


It was all so strange. It was all so…


…unexpected.


And it made him feel like he could fly.


Inuyasha put an arm around Kagome, and squeezed her tight against his side. She giggled beside him, and made him laugh in return.


He looked forward, just in time to see Jacqueline smile at the scene before her.


“Thank you,” he said, never meaning it more in his life.


She nodded, the smile still gracing her lips.


“You’re welcome.”


Kagome chose that moment to finally say something.


“I have a copy of the will for you, if you would like to see it. The proprietor of the museum isn’t present, I know, but Inuyasha is a representative of the museum.” She dug into her bag, and grabbed the papers that Sesshoumaru had faxed them.


“That’s okay. I believe you. Totosai called me and told me all about the situation. He described Inuyasha to me, and I must say, when he told me silver hair and golden eyes, I laughed at him, and told him that he must be going crazy.” She let a twitter of a giggle escape.


Inuyasha barked out a laugh, as well.


“That’s okay,” he assured her. “I get it all the time.”


“Well,” exclaimed Jacqueline, as she clapped her hands in front of herself. “Since it’s almost lunch time, how about I make you two something to eat?”


After lunch, the three of them chatted a while. It seemed to get dark rather quickly. Jacqueline explained that the dense forest around her home caused it to seem darker than it actually was. Inuyasha and Kagome decided to leave around six o’clock.


“I’ll warn you. Don’t take that sword out of that box. It was safe inside the house, but outside, it can be compromised.”


Inuyasha nodded at Jacqueline’s sagely spoken words. He didn’t believe in that kind of stuff, but he wasn’t going to take any chances.


Kagome absorbed everything the woman had said. She found it all fascinating. She had asked all sorts of questions during lunch and the hours after. Jacqueline had patiently answered each one, and Kagome came away with a greater respect for the woman. It seemed that she was a highly sought after woman for the knowledge she carried. She was also a staple in the community where she lived. She’d had at least five guest show up from the time Kagome and Inuyasha arrived. They’d had some kind of problem or another. Kagome had watched as Jacqueline listened to each problem, and then scurried around her home to find the things she required to help each person in need.


Kagome hugged the woman lightly, and giggled when Jacqueline placed a kiss on each cheek. She held Kagome by the arms and looked her over thoughtfully.


“You know what? Maybe I can do something for you,” she finished with a smile. She stepped back from Kagome, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.


Kagome watched as the woman pointed her index finger in her direction, and then started to draw in the air some sort of symbol. When she was finished, Jacqueline stepped forward again and grabbed Kagome’s hands into her own.


"Gentle Guardian wise and strong, keep her as she doth belong. Safe within thy charge and care, the current problem to fare. No harm to come or ill to befall. Guarded and safe through it all.” 1


Jacqueline sighed, opened her eyes, and let Kagome’s hands fall to her sides.


“What was that?” asked Inuyasha. He was more than a little overwhelmed. He never was the sort for organized religion. He liked to move to the beat of his own drum a little too much for that.


Jacqueline smiled at him.


“It’s only for a little while, but she should be safe until you make it back to North Carolina.”


“Oh,” she Kagome. “Thank you, for everything.”


“You’re very welcome. If you’re ever in these parts again, come and see me.”


And with that, they were in the car, and traveling back down the long driveway.


“So , where do you want to eat dinner?”


“I don’t care. Nothing too greasy, though. You don’t mind do you?” asked Kagome, as she rolled her head across the headrest to look at Inuyasha.


“No, not at all. I’m actually hoping to find some sushi joint. I think I remember where one is.”


Kagome smiled. She loved sushi. She had no idea how many things they had in common. It seemed like they kept piling up.


“That’s a great idea. I do so miss sushi. I eat it a lot back home.”


“Speaking of home,” Inuyasha began. They had touched on the subject the night before, but he wanted to be perfectly clear. “When we were talking last night, you sort of implied that you would like to stay here. Did you mean that? I guess what I’m asking is, if you would mind staying with me…would you?”


He felt like an idiot. Inuyasha couldn’t seem to get a full sentence out without feeling like he was going to choke on his own tongue. He’d had sex with the woman for crying out loud! Why couldn’t get just ask her to move in with him and be done with it? Inuyasha sighed and waited for her answer.


Kagome couldn’t help but grin. She was feeling self-conscience after the night before, too. It helped to hear his reassurance that he still wanted her to stay with him.


“I’d like that, if that’s what you want.”


“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind that at all. We can sort it all out later.”


The shared a smile and some comfortable silence.


It wasn’t long after their little confirmation that Inuyasha remembered where he had seen that sushi place. They were pulling in the parking lot minutes later.


After eating until they’d deemed themselves full, Kagome excused herself to visit the ladies room, and Inuyasha paid the tab.


When the waiter brought back his change, he heard his phone ring and he answered it.


Ses shoumaru was in his office finishing up some paper work for his lawyers. Rin had taken off to get some groceries and other odds and ends.


Rin seemed to have that glow about her already. They wouldn’t know for a few more weeks of course, but it was nice to think about. He knew about female cycles, and as far as Rin was concerned, they were pregnant. She had told him that right now was her most fertile, seeing how her monthly visitor had stopped while he was out of town for those few days. He hoped it was true, but he already knew somehow. Rin said she could tell too, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t keep trying if it wasn’t true. If he had his way, as soon as she got home, they would try again…


That woman always could keep his mind further in the gutter than it should be.


As he sat pondering what kind of underpants his Rin could be wearing, his phone rang. He answered it without even looking at the caller ID.


“ She’s in the bathroom now. What about the other one?”


“Here in front of me. It doesn’t look like he’s anywhere around.”


“Okay, as soon as she’s out of everyone’s sight, take action. Call me back as soon as it’s done.”


“ Ahhh, nice of you two to answer your phones at such an hour.”


“Naraku!” spat Inuyasha.


“Inuyasha?” asked Sesshoumaru.


“Sesshoumaru?” asked Inuyasha, just as puzzled.


“Well, now that that is out of the way. I have something to tell you both that you may want to hear.”


Inuyasha nearly smashed the phone into pieces. He hated the bastard with every fiber of his being.


Sesshoumaru wasn’t doing much better. He had known that Naraku wasn’t going to give up that easy. ‘The deep breath before the plunge’ 2 came to mind. He had tried to be as ready as possible. Now, he just wanted to be done with it, so he could find out where the man was, and wreak some havoc of his own.


“What do you want?” Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru asked at the same time.


That made Naraku chuckle madly. It was so much fun to rile up the brothers. ‘This is going to be so much fun,’ he thought.


“I wanted to call and tell you that I found something of yours. You shouldn’t leave things lying around. Someone is libel to pick them up, right from under your noses.”


“Inuyasha, where is the sword?”


“It’s right here beside me. I have my eyes on it right now.”


“What in the world are you going on about, you parasite?” Sesshoumaru was losing his patience. That…was never a good thing.


“And how are your wonderful ladies this evening? Maybe you should check on them.”


Inuyasha sucked in a deep gasp, and jumped up so quickly that the table was barely able to remain on all fours. He grabbed the sword and tucked it under his arm before running to the area where the restrooms were. He barreled through the door of the ladies room.


“Kagome!” he shouted. He tried a few more times before it sunk in.


“You bastard! Where is she?” he seethed through gritted teeth.


Sesshoumaru was busy on his own end. He was checking the tracking device in Rin’s cell phone on his laptop. It seemed she was miles from where she was supposed to be, and getting further and further away.


“What is it you want, Naraku?” If he showed emotions now, it would do no good. Besides, Inuyasha was showing enough emotion for the both of them. Oh, but did he feel the anger churning in his belly…


“I want the swords, of course,” he replied. “I want both of them. Sesshoumaru, I assume you already have your wife traced. Rest assured that the other woman will be joining her shortly. You both will meet me here, and we’ll trade the girls for the swords. You will not contact the authorities. If I have even the slightly feeling that you have done so, I’ll slit both their pretty, little throats from ear to ear. Oh, and don’t take too long. The longer I wait, the less I can promise that I won’t rough them up a little. They are very beautiful women, after all.”


“If you touch a hair on Kagome’s head, I’ll slit you from ass to appetite, got it?!”


“Well, I’ll leave you to gentlemen to your thoughts…” and with that, he hung up.


1 This an actual protection spell. It is specifically for short-term only. You can find it at www(dot)khakani(dot)com/ freemagicspells/ freemagicprotectionspells2(dot)htm Take out the spaces and whatnot.


2 This is a line from ‘Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King’. It is a line spoken by Gandalf.


A/N: Well, the main arc of the story is back on, and I hope you guys are holding tight to your seats. It’s all down hill from here. Just a side note, my story ‘Sorry’ was nominated in the IYFG for Best Songfic. Thank you to wbakerhubbardave for nominating it, and ktshabatie for seconding it. As usual, the review responses can be found at malitia dixie(dot)live journal(dot)com.


Here is the sneak peek for the next chapter…


Chapter 24:


Reassurance


In the end, Inuyasha had to step away from the phone for a moment. If the sounds coming from the other end of the line meant anything, Sesshoumaru was going to have to pay for a table at some restaurant in Louisiana.


It’s not that Sesshoumaru didn’t understand his younger brother’s frustration or anger. He, himself, wanted to tear into something so bad that his fingers twitched on top of his desk. However, he was too busy trying to think of a plan to get both of the women back safely. He didn’t trust Naraku to be true to his word. There was no guarantee that he would return Kagome and Rin unharmed, if he returned them at all. He wouldn’t leave anything like that to chance.


“Fuck!!!” cried Inuyasha into the phone. It startled Sesshoumaru out of his thoughts. “Well, where the hell is he taking them?”


Sesshoumaru glanced at the computer screen that showed a red dot as the location of Rin’s cell phone.


“They are in South Carolina, close to the Georgia border.”