InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ If You Love Something... ❯ The Truth, the Whole Truth, & Nothing but the Truth: Part I ( Chapter 4 )

A/N: Okay, okay I know I said she'd find out in this chapter but it was getting too long & I would've put too much in this chap & that woulda made it sound stupid. But I swear at the beginning of Part II, it all falls apart in like the first two paragraphs. *dodges readers throwing rotten fruit & tomatoes* Hey! *ducks as empty beer bottle sails by* I'm sorry okay? But trust me it'll all make sense.

 

To all my reviewers - You guys freakin' RULE!! Thank you so much. Your thoughts motivate me to write.

 

Fairy_Fox_Maiden: *LOL* that's not funny! I have never been so scared in my whole life. *grumbles* Stupid killer ducks! My mom still teases me about that & when I take my son out to feed them, please believe I keep my eye on those feathered lunatics at ALL times. I'd hate to get all “taiyoukai” on them over my baby. *jumps up & yells “dokasso!”* Stupid ducks…

 

Also I got a really nice email from ADSV (thanks by the way!) saying that when Kags went to the graveyard she was half expecting Kagome to be visiting the grave of a stillborn child of hers & Sesshomaru's…. I've thought long and hard, really hard, about that twist. OMG! With the way I have Inuyasha's character in this story, there is NO WAY I possess enough skill to efficiently put into words all the swearing, blood shed, & all out senseless violence needed to describe what that hanyo would do to his brother if there had been a child involved. Holy cow. He would've hunted him to the ends of the earth… it scares me to think about what their father would do! 0_o Good God. I think the story would just have to stop… I mean, how the hell could he win her back after something like that? Any-hoo, just thought I'd share that because I thought it was cool.

 

 

 

If You Love Something…

 

Chapter 4:

The Truth, theWhole Truth, & Nothing But theTruth

Part I

 

 

 

Finally coming up on the entrance of her complex Kagome flicked the switch to activate the left turn signal and slowed the car to a stop as she waited for the other side of the street to clear. A nice hot, super bubbly bath… yup that's what I need. And truly she deserved one for driving like a crazed fool and not getting a ticket. She'd even blazed past a State Trooper doing at least twenty five miles over the speed limit. He either didn't see her, or just didn't care.

 

Sango had called in with her report when Kagome was still at the half-way point in her trip. There was no fire and though the details were still sketchy this is what she had so far:

 

Bankotsu sprayed Shippo with beer - she didn't even want to know where they found liquor on a Sunday or why he'd sprayed the fox in the first place.

 

Souta and Kohaku started laughing so the kitsune got mad and unplugged the video game they were in the middle of playing causing them to slightly lose their minds.

 

Kouga saved Shippo from being thrown from the balcony by the two video game jockeys. In the tousling the four of them bumped Miroku, who was manning the grill, and made him drop the bowl of barbeque sauce he'd been using.

 

Ro-Ro promptly proceeded to slap the wolf taiyoukai upside the head with the sauce brush sending spatter onto Houjo's shirt - he was sitting at the patio table drinking a Big Gulp he'd picked up from a gas station.

 

Houjo then took said gigantic cup of soda and threw it onto the whole crowd. This included Suikotsu and Hiten who were standing behind the grill laughing at everyone. That is, until they got drenched with Sprite.

 

Inuyasha was standing around cussing everybody out… just not really helping at all.

 

Souta took advantage of the distraction and he and Kohaku tried to toss a screaming Shippo over the rail again.

 

Suikotsu threw a wad of raw hamburger at Houjo who ducked. So instead it slapped Bankotsu as he was taking a sip from the left over beer he squirted on Shippo causing the can to tip and spill all over his face and down his shirt.

 

Kagome guessed that in the middle of all the melee was when Inuyasha called her - she didn't want to touch the issue of why he was calling her instead of playing referee - and she'd heard the thunder demon yelling for the fire extinguisher. He obviously wanted to spray the others with it.

 

If she'd known that this is what would greet her once she reached home, she would've dug a hole right next to Lady Takara and buried herself. Twenty four…? It was so hard to believe that the majority of those men were chronologically in their mid-twenties.

 

“I've got it under control.” Sango had assured her during the call. “Everything will be cleaned up by the time you get here.”

 

Kagome had no doubt that what she said was true. The guys had given her the nickname “The General” because when the time came, she was all about business and didn't play any games.

 

“Don't worry about a thing, Kagome.” Even through the background noise of traffic Kagome noticed Sango's voice was a lot tighter than normal. It was almost like she was angry… livid even, but was trying to hold it in. Surely this little display of testosterone at its best hadn't put her in this bad a mood. They dealt with the boys on a daily basis. When Sango spoke next it only confused Kagome more, “You know how much we all care about you, right? I mean, you know we'd never let anything happen to you, don't you?”

 

Kagome humored her friend with a nervous chuckle, “Uh, sure Sango.” Then brushed the weird vibe off and maintained her route back to the city.

 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 

Sango glared around her little sister's apartment narrowing her eyes further each time they passed one of the males. Her throat was sore. She'd never used so much foul language in her entire life as she did in the past thirty minutes. Where did they get off, huh? Thinking it was for the best to keep the girls out of this. Bullshit!

 

She'd known something major was going on the second her brother opened the front door. Once he realized it was her on the other side he actually choked spitting beer in her face. Good thing they'd been to the mall and she had dry clothes in the car. Kohaku, along with everyone else, was completely shocked, almost terrified to see her there.

 

After a lot of threatening and assuring them, “I know you're up to something and I'm not leaving until I find out what it is!” It was Shippo who finally broke down revealing something Sango hoped she'd never hear in a million years. He was on his way back as they spoke. The other guys attacked the kit trying to shut him up. Well duh, that only made the girls more suspicious.

 

Her gaze fell on her boyfriend still sitting at the dining room table rubbing his thigh. Once she'd learned that he knew of Kagome's ex returning this morning and had purposely kept it from her, she quickly preceded to frog the hell out of his leg with the middle knuckle of her right hand. He should've known better! To think that wasn't something that needed to be shared was just plain stupid.

 

“I don't give a shit who your fucking man is,” Inuyasha glowered at the tall female, “hit me like that again, bitch, and I'll rip your goddamned arm off.”

 

Okay, so maybe in her hastiness it really was a bad idea to issue a Wing Chun one inch punch to his chest. Her father was always telling her that in order for her to be a true martial artist her mind had to be one with her body and attacking out of anger or rage was not the way of a skilled warrior.

 

“Well excuse the fuck outta me!” She snapped back. There goes more bad language.

 

If he wasn't so angry, Inuyasha would've been laughing his ass off.

 

“No Sango,” Ayumi shook her head, “don't apologize. They are dead wrong and they know it.”

 

Suikotsu tried to kiss Eri's cheek but she palmed his face and shoved him away.

 

“Don't even think about it buster!” she moved off the sofa to lean against the wall across the room.

 

“Fuck it then.” Bankotsu lifted his chin defiantly at the highly pissed `General,' “Now that you know, any bright ideas on the subject?”

 

Kouga shrugged, “I still think my idea is the best for getting around legalities. Beyond that though, as far as how to tell her… well I'm lost.”

 

Inuyasha cracked his knuckles at the wolf and growled in warning, “That ain't gonna happen.”

 

“Seriously Kouga,” Kohaku was inclined to agree with the half demon, “Marrying her just isn't the answer. Actually it's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.”

 

“Piss off Hawk,” Hiten spoke up, “he won't be marrying her. He'll be courting her according to youkai custom, something you know nothing about. And if that bastard comes near, or upsets Kagome in anyway, it will be looked at as a blatant act of disrespect to Kouga's claim and his clan. Especially with him being the tribal heir. And by law, we can do whatever we want to that sack of shit as long as it's on Kouga's behalf and in defense of his honor. Not even Lord Taisho's power and connections can exonerate him from pack laws.”

 

“Feh, who's to say he'd even try? My old man is so in love with `honor' that if it had a body, he'd leave my mother in a heartbeat.”

 

Souta thought the idea sounded good. At least his sister would be protected and wouldn't be forced to see that loser if she didn't want to. But he was confused about something, “Well how come Inuyasha can't just court her then? He's the closet to her so at least it wouldn't look suspicious. Otherwise it could look like we faked the whole thing just to get away with murdering that asshole. Not that I mind after what he did.”

 

Rolling the sour apple blow pop around his mouth, Shippo sighed at the ignorant human. He pulled the treat out and spoke, “That should be obvious. Inuyasha can't court Kagome because she's already… uh… had uh… been with his brother. It would permanently damage her honor and credibility as well as the whole House of Taisho. She and Inuyasha would become outcasts. Youkai society would look at her as a whore,” the kit paused to shiver as the hanyo, wolf, and thunder demon all growled at him for using the word, “and would view Inuyasha as weak for mating her.” Well, weaker than they already do since he's hanyo. He added silently.

 

“No one is going to mate her!” Yelled Inuyasha.

 

“Court her.” Shippo corrected. “Whatever. Same thing.”

 

“But I thought it was also pack policy to mate…marry… look after… whatever,” Ayumi waved her hand at successfully confusing herself, “the mate and pups of a sibling.”

 

“Only if that sibling has died.” Kouga clarified. “Other than that it's highly frowned upon and pretty much forbidden.”

 

“It's not forbidden.” Sango wasn't without a pretty decent amount of knowledge on youkai tradition. “It's just one of those unspoken rules… a matter of respect. I wholeheartedly agree with you both, they would be considered trash and I for one would go on an exterminating spree of any youkai who'd even think such a thing about Kagome. It would be clobbering time for sure.”

 

The muscle knot on Miroku's leg jumped and tightened at his girlfriend's words. Damn that girl can hit when she's mad!

 

“Well that's just dumb.” Souta spat. “I mean we're pack in every way, shape, and form except for blood and no one's calling Ayame a whore because she used to bang Kouga and now she's banging Houjo. They're brothers too you know. So what the hell?”

 

If one listened hard enough, they could hear crickets chirping as every single person in Kagome's apartment froze and all the noise just vanished.

 

Oh for crying out loud! Gah! Houjo's face flamed beet red. Inuyasha, Hiten, and Bankotsu snickered. Miroku coughed into his fist and stared at the skylights. Shippo's emerald eyes grew to the size of a Mack truck as he blushed and glanced at Houjo. Eri, Ayumi, and Sango all gulped and found an interesting piece of fluff on the carpet to gape at. Kohaku gazed down at his hands resting in his lap as if they were truly amazing. Suikotsu, who was sitting next to the wolf on the couch, turned his face away as far as he could. His chin was damn near parallel with his shoulder causing Inuyasha to wonder if his head was going to spin completely around. For his part, Kouga just rolled his eyes.

 

Honestly, they could've gone all day without someone bringing that up! Over the extreme quiet everyone could almost hear the others breathing. Well the youkai could anyway, but still.

 

Kohaku then glared at Kagome's brother receiving a shrug and a look that said, “What did I do?” in return.

 

It was Houjo who broke the silence. After clearing his throat he said, “First of all, I do not `bang,'” he held up his hands and made quotation signs with his fingers, “Ayame and I'd thank you to stay out of my personal affairs…”

 

“And second of all,” Kouga cut in, “I just don't give a fuck.”

 

“All I'm saying is” Souta needed this issue cleared up. Hell, his sister was at stake! “How come it's okay for her to do it, but if Kagome did it she'd become a whore?”

 

Inuyasha growled again. If he heard that word and Kagome's name in the same sentence one more time, he was going to lose it.

 

Hiten looked tiredly at Kouga, “You wonna take this one?”

 

No, not really. The wolf sighed to himself. Everyone could see confusion written on the young boy's face. Youkai pack regulations were really understood by demons and Souta was just concerned for his big sister. They all were. Kouga let out a long sigh while rubbing his hand down his face before speaking:

 

“The difference is really simple,” he began. How come Thunder Boy couldn't answer this? “I dated Ayame, I never formally courted her.”

 

“But…” Kouga held up his hand at Souta's interruption already knowing what he was going to say.

 

“She was never presented as my intended according to tradition. There is nothing wrong with dating someone in a pack. If Inuyasha wanted to date your sister we'd all fight to the death to see them left in peace. However, officially courting or mating is something entirely different. Houjo can court Ayame if he chooses… rather she can court him since she has to be the one making the claim in youkai society because he's human. There is no issue there because it will not have an impact on me whatsoever. He is still my brother and I honestly don't care. If it ever did come up, though I highly doubt it would, I'd just give my blessing and no youkai would look down their nose at them.”

 

“Houjo may be our brother,” Hiten added, “but he is not clan or blood. That has a huge impact on this situation. None of us, with the exception of the blood siblings, are from the same clan but we are recognized as pack in all circles.”

 

This is the most motley pack I've ever seen! Suikotsu's eyes sparkled humorously.

 

Something Kouga said just didn't sit right with Miroku. He leaned forward and asked, “Why did you say we'd have to fight to the death to keep her and Inuyasha's privacy if they dated? I don't understand why that would be necessary if dating in a pack is alright.”

 

“It's fine for Ayame because no claim was made.” Shippo was getting headache and they were no closer to a plan for breaking the news. “Inuyasha's stupid brother made a claim on Kagome. They are blood and he is not dead.”

 

“Feh! Not yet at least.” The hanyo stated.

 

Eri hated to be the one to bring this up but it needed to be put out there, “But even if Kouga were to court her, wouldn't that be looked at as disrespect to the Inu heir since he put his bid in first?”

 

Ah shit! As Sango groaned, she was joined by her brother and Bankotsu.

 

“Hold the fuck on!” Inuyasha jumped up and yelled, “Are you suggesting that son of a bitch still has a claim?” Things just got a little more serious.

 

And that is why I needed to keep my big mouth shut. Eri winced as the half demon went on a swearing tirade.

 

“Over my dead, worm eaten, maggot crawling, pus popping, fucking body! Bull-fucking-shit!! No fucking way! He gave up any and all rights to any-fucking-thing that had to do with Kagome the day he left. Fucking bastard! I can't wait to get my hands on him! I'll break his fucking neck!”

 

Kouga shook his head, “Calm down, mutt. There are plenty of ways around that.”

 

“So he still has rights?!” the hanyo was completely floored. Clearly, he should've paid more attention to his father as the Great Dog went over traditions, honor, and tribal laws. Hell, he wasn't the next in line to rule. He wasn't even full youkai so he'd never be head of the clan. So why the fuck would he need to know all that shit?! “Are you fucking serious?!”

 

“Idiot.” Shippo muttered.

 

The ookami taiyoukai motioned toward Hiten, “Thunder, if you please…”

 

“Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” Ayumi scowled at Inuyasha.

 

“Eat shit, wench.” Was all she got in return.

 

Kohaku was truly interested in what the Kouga and Hiten had to say, “Inuyasha, shut up! Kagome is on her way and we need to come up with a solution.”

 

“Thanks Hawk.” Hiten commanded the full attention of the pack. “There are many different ways to dissolve his claim. Actually, he gave us our biggest trump card. Running off after taking her innocence will make him appear cowardly, not worthy of honor, and even unfit to lead the clan.”

 

“Damn.” Bankotsu gave a low whistle.

 

“I can't help but think there's a down side to this.” Miroku was uneasy. Surely it wasn't as simple as the storm youkai made it sound.

 

“Kagome would be taken before the tribal elders and the offense against her would be made known….”

 

“No fucking way!” Inuyasha raged at Hiten. “I will not allow her to be humiliated in front of a bunch of dried up old demons!”

 

“That's bullshit.” Souta agreed. “Having my sister's personal life exposed is not an option. That means Gramps will find out seeing as how he's the only priest on the council. Huh-uh, no way.”

 

“For sure.” Kohaku piped up. “He'll pull that whole `dishonoring the Higurashi family' thing and start praying and shit, throwing sutras everywhere, and pretty much make her feel worse.”

 

Shaking her head, Sango sent her high ponytail bouncing furiously, “Nope. What little dignity she managed to salvage after that bastard left will be ripped away.”

 

“But your brother would lose everything.” The kitsune threw in there.

 

“I don't fucking care! It won't be at Kagome's expense. End of fucking story!” The half demon dug his heels in. There was no way, as long as he had breath in his body, he going to make her relive what that bastard put her through. Especially in front of a bunch of strangers with him not being allowed in there to protect her. No way in hell.

 

Kouga addressed Souta, “Your grandfather won't be there. A gathering of this type is for taiyoukai only. I'm pretty sure Inuyasha won't even be allowed in. No offense dude.”

 

“Feh!”

 

“And not even taiyoukai.” Shippo added, “Only the elders, not necessarily the tribal leaders. If a clan has a young leader, he will not be permitted to attend.”

 

“So the head of the pack and the elder are two different things?” Ayumi was learning a lot today.

 

Sango knew this answer. “In many cases, yes. The elder acts as an advisor or council to the ruling taiyoukai. Lord Shiroi, Ayame's grandfather, is elder of the White Wolf Clan. He'll be there but since she is a girl and technically the heir, she won't be allowed into the proceedings. Females never are. However with the Inu clan, Lord Taisho is leader and elder so he will definitely be there.”

 

Kohaku snorted, interrupting his sister, “Yeah, just wait till he hears what that stuck up fucker did.”

 

“He ain't gonna hear it `cause I ain't letting her go!” Inuyasha reiterated.

 

“Kouga, would you be there?” Eri figured Inuyasha would be banned because he's only half youkai. But hopefully one of her friends would be allowed inside to protect and support Kagome.

 

“She's not going!” The hanyo was getting tired of being ignored.

 

“His elder will present him.” Hiten nodded. “Then he will be able to bring up his intentions for Kagome. Naturally, they will want to know why he is seeking the chosen of the Inu prince. Kouga will tell them that the dog heir is not worthy of such a prize and let them know of his dishonor.”

 

And my old man will shit his pants. Inuyasha smirked. Hey wait… didn't I say she wasn't going? Goddammit!

 

“Okay so without putting her on trail like some freak, what are the other options?” Suikotsu asked before getting up and walking down the hall toward the bathroom.

 

“I could just ignore his courting rights and claim her anyway.” Kouga spoke loud enough for him to hear from the other room.

 

“Well that's sounds better.” Souta folded his arms. Finally, they were getting somewhere. “Much easier. Let's do that.”

 

Houjo opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Shippo.

 

“The down side to it is if Inuyasha's brother issues a challenge demanding that Kouga fight him for disregarding his claim.”

 

“Fight him?” Ayumi gasped.

 

“Yup,” the little fox talked around his lollipop, “to the death.”

 

“Shippo!” Kohaku rolled his eyes. He'd heard about such a ritual from his father when he was a child. And there was only one such fight he could think of that was to the death and set in place to defend one's mate. “The Doragon ha Aruku [Dragons Walk] hasn't been used for centuries. Get serious.”

 

“But think of whom we're talking about.” Miroku's mood darkened, “He considers himself the most powerful of taiyoukai…”

 

Feh, arrogant bastard. Inuyasha grumbled to himself as Ro kept talking.

 

“…and would not hesitate to use ancient tradition if he feels disrespected.”

 

“Fuck that!” Souta shouted. “What about how he disrespected my sister?! I wish he would challenge somebody. Hell, I'll fight him.”

 

“And you'll die.” Hiten scoffed. “Horribly.”

 

Sango walked up behind the couch, placed her hand on Kouga's shoulder and waited for him to look up at her. “Kouga, would you accept such a challenge? Would you fight him for Kagome?”

 

“Are you kidding?” his royal blue eyes blazed offensively, “Of course I'd fight for her! After all the shit he put us through? We accepted him into our pack only because she wished it and he not only betrayed her, but all of us. I know you guys haven't forgotten all the pleading she had to do for us to include him in the stuff we did. The trips out of town, the cookouts, the pool parties, paint-balling, go-carting, bowling… hell, even our water gun fights!”

 

“Speaking of which,” laughing, Suikotsu came back from the bathroom, “we need to have another one of those. Soon.”

 

Inuyasha chuckled. Even though they were all grown, they still knew how to have a good time. That reminded him he needed to go to the drug store and buy some more water balloons. Rin had stolen his last stash.

 

Kouga kept ranting and this time he brought up the one thing they never spoke of, “I'd battle him with everything I am just to pay him back for that night. I swear man, when I first saw mutt face with her blood all over him… I thought I'd go crazy… I thought she was dead. Would I fight him? Fuck yeah I would.”

 

Inuyasha's stomach tightened as the image of Kagome sitting on her bedroom floor staring blankly at him flashed in his mind. Damn that bastard. Damn him to hell. I'll never let him hurt you again, Kagome.

 

Obviously everyone was missing one very important thing so it was left up to Houjo to clue them all in, “All this is fine and dandy but you're all forgetting the most vital part of this equation.” Here they were talking about honor, laws, and even a deadly duel but no one had mentioned the most essential piece in all this.

 

Bankotsu blinked slowly, “Um… okay. And that would be?”

 

Houjo's jaw dropped as he gaped stupidly around the room. “Uh Kagome… Duh! How the hell are you going to get her to go along with any of this? Inuyasha, Kouga, you both should definitely know better. Trying to plan her life for her? Ha! It's your funeral.”

 

A vision of Kagome ranting about one thing or another with preverbal flames fluttering about her body danced through everyone's mind. It took an awful lot to piss that woman off, but when she finally reached that point, it was best to duck and run. One thing she did not tolerate was someone trying to tell her what to do.

 

“Ohhhh yeah.” In all the plotting Souta had actually forgotten that she needed to agree first.

 

The sound of keys jingling in the hallway caught everyone's attention. Kagome fumbled with the lock and pushed open the door with a teasing look on her face.

 

“Okay,” placing a hand on her hip she twisted her lips and huffed, “so I go to turn into my carport, right? Well imagine my surprise when I have to slam on the brakes to keep from hitting three motorcycles parked in my spot! B-Boy, Hawk, Thunder… how many times do I have to tell you not to park there?”

 

“Hey sis.” Souta smiled genuinely at her.

 

“Hey brat.” She moved to tousle his hair then turned her attention back to the parking spot thieves, “Now if I actually hit them one day I'll have to hear `Kagome you can't drive… blah, blah, blah.'”

 

Hiten shrugged, “There were bikes in there when I got here, so I figured it was okay.”

 

“Suuuure you did.” Kagome gave him a doubtful grin. “So now that you're all here… hey wait… where's Ayame and Yuka?”

 

Like we need more female hormones in here. Bankotsu rolled his eyes. Yeah right.

 

“Damn, well…” Sango blinked several times, “I guess we forgot to call them.”

 

“Anyway Kagome, what's the deal sending Sango over here to baby-sit?” Inuyasha's heart rate increased because he knew soon the shit would hit the fan.

 

Kouga, Shippo, and Hiten picked up on the change and darted their eyes in his direction.

 

“I thought there was a fire! Give me a break.” She dropped her keys on the cherry oak and smoked glass credenza by the front door.

 

The longer Shippo watched her with that innocent, unsuspecting smile on her face the more his chin quivered. Please don't look at me; please don't look at me… He silently prayed. Knowing full well that once she set those starry sapphires on him he'd probably start bawling. And that would mean a good thrashing from Inuyasha.

 

“So did any of the food survive? I'm starving.” Upon entering the kitchen Kagome opened the oven door to peer at the foil covered aluminum pan warming inside. Her mouth began to water as the smell of perfectly grilled meat filled her head.

 

“How can you eat charred mammal flesh?” The taiyoukai arched a dark eyebrow at her.

 

Kagome looked up at him from her tender, juicy beef rib dripping with sauce in surprise, “Are you kidding? Don't tell me you've never had barbecue before! Oh you poor, poor thing! Here, taste mine.”

 

He turned up his nose, “This one certainly will not.”

 

“Just try it!” she rolled her eyes shoving her plate across the wooden picnic table with her pinky. The rest of her hand had a serious case of `sauce fingers.' “And stop referring to yourself in third person. How many times do we have to go over this? You are you, not a `this.'”

 

“You'll love it!” Eri squeaked.

 

“Yeah, Ro-Ro's a master at the grill.” Ayame nodded with a smile and then yelled over her shoulder, “Hey Inuyasha! Fix your brother a plate!”

 

“Keh! I ain't his fucking slave.”

 

“Kagome?” Sango walked around the corner. “Could you please come back in the living room? We need to talk to you.”

 

Once in the main room of her home, Kagome found all eyes on her. They seemed to be watching intently, almost worriedly.

 

Do I have something on me? Absently she glanced down at her dress to see if there was big splotch of mud anywhere.

 

Inuyasha approached her and took her hand in his, “Sit down.”

 

The gentleness in his voice surprised her. Ummm… okay?

 

Moving around the sofa the hanyo led his best friend to the captain's chair at the center. Once she was seated, he settled at her feet on the floor. Working from the right end of the sectional to the left the seating went: Miroku, Sango, Kohaku, Souta, Kagome, Kouga, Bankostu, Shippo, and Houjo.

 

Suikotsu had moved one of the dinning room chairs to the end where Houjo sat and took his place. There was a strategic reason for this. It was closet to the door should he need to run to his car and retrieve his medical bag. But he hoped like hell it wouldn't come to her actually fainting… or worse. He shuddered remembering the night his life flashed before his eyes while trying to keep Inuyasha from destroying the ER. Perhaps he should call the hospital and put them on standby? Once the Taisho brothers came face to face, one of them would definitely be in need of medical attention. If not both.

 

Hiten dragged the oversized denim beanbag in front of the big screen television and that is where he, Ayumi, and Eri plopped down. All wiggling their butts to make a comfortable spot on the noisy pillow.

 

Inuyasha rested his chin on Kagome's knee, “We need to talk about the meeting tomorrow.”

 

The mood in the room was somber and it was creeping Kagome out. Okay they wanted to talk about the meeting. So why did they all look like someone just died? Souta looked just as serious as the others and he didn't even work at Taisho. Neither did Kohaku and Shippo. Suikotsu would be there to make a presentation and ask the board for more medical research funding and hopefully get them to invest in the new neurology wing.

 

There was more going on here than just the annual meeting. Sure, it was unheard of for lower level employees to be in attendance. But they'd be there strictly to observe. They wouldn't even be sitting at the table, but in the chairs against the wall. Unless…

 

“Oooh.” Kagome breathed in realization, “Your dad doesn't want us in there now, right?”

 

Rising up slightly Inuyasha blinked and wrinkled his forehead, “What?”

 

“The meeting,” she reached out to lightly stroke his puppy ear, “He changed his mind about us being there.”

 

“Who?”

 

Kouga wanted to smack the half-breed for his complete lack of brains.

 

“Your dad silly.” Kagome chuckled.

 

“My dad? What about him?” Clearly her attention to his ear was throwing off his ability to put two and two together.

 

“No Kagome,” Sango huffed glaring at Inuyasha as Kohaku and Miroku broke into laughter. “We're still going to the meeting tomorrow. It's just that…” her voice trailed off.

 

“Someone unexpected will be there.” Houjo leaned forward to look at the woman he'd had a crush on back in sixth grade.

 

“Feh! Unexpected huh? More like unwelcome if you ask me.” Closing his golden eyes Inuyasha tilted his head more into her touch.

 

“Amen brother.” Souta spat.

 

Bankotsu snorted in concurrence.

 

At the thought of that monster being in the same room as Kagome, Shippo whimpered causing both youkai and the hanyo to glare at him. As if they had a mind of their own, tears filled his crystal green eyes.

 

Bad move.

 

Kagome slowly followed Inuyasha's gaze to the trebling kitsune sitting to her left.

 

Please don't look at me; please don't look at me…

 

Please don't call his name… Kouga and Hiten mentally begged in unison. Please don't call his name…

 

Ah shit! Inuyasha could feel the storm brewing. Don't ask him what's wrong, Kagome! Please don't!

 

Though he couldn't smell the salt water threatening to spill, Miroku had known the kit long enough to know when he was about to lose it. We're talking really lose it… snot, slobber, hysterical babbling, the works. He gripped Sango's hand tightly as if he were on a roller coaster and they were about to go over the first big drop. Here it comes!

 

From the far side of the coffee table, in front of the TV, Ayumi and Eri's eyes tripled in size as the scene seemed to unfold in slow motion. Shippo no!!!

 

“Shippo! What's wrong?” Kagome cried once she focused on his terrified face.

 

And that was it. She had unknowingly pulled the frayed thread that would unravel the world as she knew it…

 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

 

A/N: Part II will be out as soon as humanly possible. Heck, I want her to find out just as much as you do. Once that happens, the story will finally shift into high gear. Oh, & remind me to never again put all those people in the same room again. Trying to include them all in a conversation is totally hilarious. I wish you guys could've seen me totally crazed on caffeine & trying not to forget anyone! Ummm well too bad I've got to do the board room scene. That's probably twice the number of characters… good grief.

 

PLEASE don't flame me for her not finding out yet! I said I'm sorry! I've already written it for Part II if that helps. *ducks* Hey! Stop throwing stuff!