InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Infatuation ❯ Twist ( Chapter 10 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Lizzie Welling 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.30.2007 | Updated On: 01.30.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 887 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.30.2007 | Updated On: 01.30.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 887 | Status: Work In Progress
I am so, so sorry for the long wait! Way too much homework and big projects due these past few weeks, and being sick kind of ruins your schedule…Anyways, I finally finished Chapter 10. Hope you like it!
I’ve had a few good questions from reviewers recently that have brought up an important issue. I just want to make myself clear, and I may have to go back at some point and redo a few chapters to make this more obvious. But, as this is a work-in-progress, I’d just like to remind you there are bound to be a few imperfections.
I know the girls seem really powerful, especially in comparison to their cannon characteristics, but that’s due to my desire to make them more active rather than passive. In the series, Kagome, Rin, Ayame, and to an extent even Sango, play small parts in the physical fighting. I wanted that to change. Think of the girls as a cross between Buffy and Max from Dark Angel, with their own specialties and personalities. They are very independent when it comes to working with others outside of their little Slayer’s squad, so that’s why it might seem like they do more than the Hunters. Rest assured, the boys will get more fight time in the future. It’s all a part of the plot.
Thank you, Chissel for brining this up!
This is exactly why I treasure reviews--all writers need to be constantly improving their style and their writing. I can’t know what you all are wondering or thinking if you don’t tell me!
Thanks to my wonderful beta, inukaggrrl06!
Hope you like this chapter!
------------------------------------------
Infatuation
Rated M for language
-------------------------------------------
Recap:
“I thought I’d give you fair warning, but Kaede’s coming up to talk about our new living arrangements.”
“What new living arrangements?” Kagome asked suspiciously, pinching the skin on InuYasha’s hands to make him release her. She moved to sit on the side of the bed.
“Sesshomaru graciously offered to let us stay at the Taisho estate.”
“What?” Kagome and InuYasha cried at once.
“That’s what I said,” Sango shrugged.
---------------------------------------------
Chapter 10: Twist
---------------------------------------------
̶ 0;So, essentially, you and your brother failed,” Naraku surmised coldly from the report Hiten had delivered.
“No! It was that--”
“Did I ask for your input?”
Hiten shook his head, gripping his empty shoulder tightly. Tsubaki had wrapped the wound and his youki had begun to heal the severed limb, but he knew it would take several years to regenerate his arm.
“Now, I assume you know where that troublesome miko, one of her comrades and her family live?”
“Yes, Naraku-sama.”
“Good. I’ll send someone to collect the desired information. You are dismissed.”
Hiten gaped at the hanyou in shock. Dismissed?
‘That bitch is going to pay for what she did to me…For what she did to my little brother.’
“Sir, I request permission to reconvene the mission.”
Naraku cackled, red eyes sparkling in malevolent mirth. “You request? Kukuku, I think not. You are useless to me now. Tsubaki, you may do with him what you will.”
Tsubaki bit her lip and nodded, stepping forward to grasp Hiten’s arm and lead him away.
“Don’t touch me!” he shouted, ripping away from her grip and slamming his fist on Naraku’s desk. “I want another shot at killing that miko!”
“You will do no such thing,” Naraku bit out coldly. “I have an interest in her. No one shall kill her until I am through getting what I want.”
Both Tsubaki and Hiten stood rigid, made uneasy by the cold fury in his voice.
He glanced at them, as if wondering why they were still in his presence. “Leave.”
Tsubaki and Hiten could not bow and back out quickly enough.
“You may come in now,” Naraku directed to a dark corner of his office.
A small, white-haired child stepped into the florescent light’s gleam and glided over to the wicked hanyou’s desk.
“You know what to do.”
Kanna nodded, and disappeared.
Naraku smiled evilly, and began to laugh. “Soon, I will have what I want.”
--------------------------------------------
“Ah, there you children are,” Kaede said as she stepped into InuYasha’s infirmary room. She immediately noticed Kagome’s reddened cheeks, the hanyou’s smug look and Sango’s satisfied smile.
“Should I wish to know what transpired before my arrival?” she asked, raising a brow.
“No!” Kagome quickly replied, hopping off her seat on InuYasha’s bed and making her way toward the older miko. She grabbed Sango by the arm too, and firmly guided them both to the door.
“Oi! Where’re you going?” InuYasha demanded.
“Let’s have our ‘housing’ discussion outside, ne? InuYasha needs his rest,” Kagome addressed the women.
“Hey, it concerns me too!” he shot back. “Discuss it in here!”
Kagome glared at him to shut up, but Kaede broke away and sat down in a chair.
“InuYasha does have a point.”
Sango snickered at Kagome’s irritated look. Kagome brushed past, pinching her friend on the arm. Sango let out a yelp, which satisfied the miko. She then plopped down on the edge of InuYasha’s infirmary bed, arms crossed in a huff.
“Now, I understand Sango has informed you of Sesshomaru’s generous offer. InuYasha, as it is your home too, do you agree with your brother?” Kaede asked.
“Keh, they all need protecting, so it’s the best place for them to be,” the hanyou replied.
“We don’t need to be guarded, Kaede-sama!” Kagome interjected angrily. “Both Sango and I are more than capable of defending ourselves and our own!”
“And I will NOT be living anywhere that lecher is!” Sango added. “We have both been on our own, taking care of our brothers for many years already! We do not need the protection these new partners of ours seem to believe we are so desperate for!”
“Hey now--” InuYasha sputtered.
“We are self-sufficient warriors, Kaede-sama,” Kagome interjected. “We may be on friendlier terms”--at this, Sango snickered, earning a glare from the miko--“In some respects, but to live with them? That’s absurd!”
“Girls, I admit this is not an ideal situation in some cases, but you must think of the safety of your brothers and, now, the young kit,” Kaede began. “We know those Thunder Brothers were working for Tsubaki, who has more than likely returned to Naraku. He is a very powerful demon with endless resources at his disposal. Do you wish to risk the chance of this evil getting a hold of your family, just to suit your pride?”
Both Slayers sat in silence, feeling chastised.
InuYasha, for once in his life, kept his mouth shut.
“My dears, I think if you give this proper consideration, you will realize this is the safest choice available. Please, give this some fair thought.”
Sango nodded, looking over at Kagome.
The young miko moved to get up, but InuYasha grabbed her by the arm.
Kaede noticed this gesture, and turned to address Sango. “Let us return to the Briefing room, so you may check on the boys and discuss our next move with the others. We shall leave these two to talk.”
“Hai,” Sango acquiesced, following Kaede out.
The Infirmary room was bathed in silence. InuYasha tugged on Kagome’s arm again, but she refused to look at him.
“Oi, Kagome! What’s your problem?” InuYasha mentally winced, realizing too late he said that a bit too harshly.
“My problem?” she growled out. “So now I have a problem just because I’m not bending to your every whim? Who says you get to decide what’s best for me?”
“Hey, it didn’t say--”
“You’re just like everyone else! I bet that just because we kissed you think you own me now, don’t’cha? Well, that isn’t how it works, buck-o!”
“Wait! I never said--”
Kagome stuck a finger in the hanyou‘s chest. “Kami! You just think you know everything! You’re so--”
InuYasha grabbed her wrist, tugged, and captured her lips with his. Kagome shoved him away.
“Hey! You can’t--Mmmph!”
After a few minutes of InuYasha’s tongue dominating her mouth, they broke apart, Kagome slightly out of breath.
“Now listen, wench. I never said I owned you or that I was demanding you move in.”
Kagome raised an eyebrow in skepticism.
“Really, it’s up to you and Sango what you want to do. I just think the family estate is the best choice because the fluffy bastard is so damn paranoid that, in addition to all the ancient wards and stuff, he’s added every extra security measure you could think of, like state-of-the-art security systems and all that crap. It’s practically the safest place in Japan, and most likely in the world.”
“And, of course, you’ll be there to play babysitter.”
“Ain’t much different than I do now,” the hanyou muttered.
“Excuse me!” Kagome snarled.
“Heh-heh, I was just kidding, woman. Sheesh.”
Kagome eyes him wearily. “So, if I were to move in--and I’m not saying we are--how would that affect…this?” she asked, gesturing between the two of them.
“Well, I could sneak into your bedroom easier,” InuYasha snickered.
“You hentai!” Kagome shrieked, smacking him upside the head.
“Ow! It’s called a joke!” said InuYasha while rubbing the back of his injured skull. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled Kagome down beside him. “I promise we’ll take it slow, whatever this turns out to be. Okay?”
Kagome titled her head to the side, evaluating the sincerity of his words.
“Okay.”
“I won’t do anything you don’t want me to,” he added, kissing her on the forehead.
“Good, ‘cause if you turn into Miroku, I’m purifying your ass.”
InuYasha barked out a laugh. When he noticed the seriousness of her expression, he sobered up rather quickly.
-------------------------------------------------
“Haha, I win!” Shippo shouted, throwing down his cards. “Now hand over the candy, Miroku!”
“How is it that I lost a simple game of Go Fish to a child?” the monk moaned, digging in his jacket pocket to retrieve the chocolate bar inside.
“Because that child is far more clever than you,” Sango replied snidely as she and Kaede entered the room.
“You wound me, my dear Sango!” Miroku cried, calling to his knees, hands clasped over his heart.
“Save it for someone who cares,” she retorted, rolling her eyes and plopping down in the chair next to Kohaku.
Kagome arrived a short time after, looking decidedly less irritated. She smiled at Shippo as she took a seat, ruffling Souta’s hair. Shippo happily dealt out the cards for the next round. Just five minutes into the game, the door violently swung open.
“Kaede-sama! Kaede-sama!” a young man burst into the room. “Unidentified personnel have been spotted at both the Higurashi-Taijya residence, as well as the other Tsuki-Yamada* home.”
“Oh no,” Rin whispered.
“How could they have found us too?” Ayame demanded. “We were all careful not to keep information regarding each other around our homes!”
“Keep calm, my Slayers,” Kaede assured.
“I don’t suppose ya have room at that mansion of yours for all of them?” Kouga asked Sesshomaru.
If Sesshomaru was not such a compose taiyoukai, his eye would have begun to twitch. But, as he watched Rin being hugged and comforted by the miko, and saw the tears in his partner’s eyes, he begun to feel an emotion he never felt for any other being: sympathy.
“Kaede-sama!” another woman raced into the room.
“Hai?”
“Security has spotted a female wind-youkai snooping around the building with several lesser youkai!”
“Wait, doesn’t a wind-youkai work for Naraku?” Sango asked.
“Hai!” Kagome replied.
“We are under lockdown. Alert everyone, now!” Kaede ordered.
“Hai, Kaede-sama!” Koharu and the man sprinted out of the room.
Moments later, a low alarm began to sound. Staff began to appear out of the doors, then turn and scurry to their stations.
“Slayers.”
The four women nodded to Kaede, then split in different directions.
“Can we be of service?” Myogua asked.
“Yes. Hunters, follow your partners. Myogua, Kagome, come with me.”
------------------------------------------
220;So, what are we doing exactly?” Kouga asked Ayame as she began to pull daggers, katanas, crossbows, guns and varying cartridges out of the Weaponry room and dumping them into his arms.
“What does it look like, you idiot? I’m stocking up on weapons for everyone! Sango and Miroku are helping hand out the standard weapons to the other personnel. We’re getting our specialized ones.”
“Oh.”
Ayame rolled her eyes. “We need to get back to the briefing room. I’m sure they boys are scared right now.”
Kouga smiled at her. Look at her maternal instincts kick in! She’ll be a great mother to my pups!
“What’s with the shit-eating grin?” Ayame asked skeptically.
Kouga’s smirk just widened. “Nothin’.”
“Like I believe you. Let’s go.”
------------------------------------------
Rin sat typing furiously on her keyboard, helping to activate Headquarter’s lockdown mechanisms. Sesshomaru stood beside her, busy with a similar task. Suddenly, a beep sounded from Rin’s speakers.
“Is that a breach?” Sesshomaru asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” Rin said, frowning. She clicked on the alert, and gasped.
“Well, what is it?” Sesshomaru demanded with a hint of impatience.
“It’s my program! I’m in!” Rin cheered. “You finish the last few mechanisms. I’m checking through Onigumo Industries databases now!”
Sesshomaru silently finished moments later, then came to stand behind Rin, looking over her head at the monitor.
“Oh no,” Rin suddenly gasped, as she double clicked on a file. “He can’t be, he just can’t!”
Sesshomaru scanned the file, his anger at Naraku deepening.
“We have to go tell the others now!”
---------------------------------------------
Kaede lead Myogua and Kagome to a small, white room. Myogua watched as the two miko kneeled down on two white pillows, joining hands. A soft pink glow emitted from where their palms met, and continued to grow in intensity.
“The wards are still strong,” Kaede said quietly.
“And if we add too much, the spy will notice,” Kagome added.
“We must simply do a few masking spells.”
Myogua began to back away, the concentration of spiritual energy making his youki highly uncomfortable.
“Myogua-san, please stand outside and guard the door. No one can enter this room,” Kaede requested. “Our focus must not be disturbed, or we shall be discovered.”
“Of course, Kaede-sama,” Myogua replied, disappearing out the door.
“Are you ready, Kagome dear?”
“Yes, ma’am. I hope the boys are all right.”
“Do not worry. They are safe. No clear your mind, and concentrate.”
Pink light immediately engulfed the room.
---------------------------------------------------
“What the heck is going on?” Kohaku demanded his sister once she returned.
“We’re going to be stuck her for a while, just to be on the safe side,” Sango answered calmly.
“Where’s my sister?” Souta asked.
“She’s gone with Kaede-sama to increase the spiritual wards around the building.”
“How will they manage to do that without drawing suspicion?” Miroku wondered aloud.
“They have their methods.”
“We’re back!” Ayame announced, lugging a large brown sack. Kouga huffed in behind her.
“Why did I have to carry most of it?” he whined.
“Oh, shut up already. I got sick of your complaining two floors ago. Now, who wants presents?” Ayame said gleefully, opening the sack and handing Sango some daggers.
Kouga and Miroku were each given a katana as well, but Miroku simply pushed it aside, in favor of his staff. When Kohaku and Souta held out their expectant hands, Sango smacked them away.
“Nice try.”
Suddenly, Rin burst into the room, running straight for the Briefing room’s wall computer and screen.
“Get the boys out of here!” she ordered.
Protesting, they were gathered up by Sesshomaru and taken to the next room over, then locked inside.
Once he returned, she had already hacked through the internal firewalls, accessing her computer and pulling up what she had seen on her screen.
Everyone stared in shock.
“No, he can’t be…” Sango whispered, slumping into a chair.
“I’m afraid so,” Rin said sadly.
“That bastard!” Ayame shouted, slamming her fist on the table. “He can’t do that to her!”
“I’m afraid he can, if he gets a hold of the miko,” Sesshomaru said.
“What the hell is going on?” InuYasha demanded as he slowly dragged himself into the room.
“What are you doing? Kagome-sama said you needed more rest,” Miroku scolded.
“Keh, can’t sleep with all that noise. I heard something about being under lockdown, so I came here.” He paused, glancing at the screen. “What the fuck is THAT?”
“Naraku’s plans for Kagome,” Rin whispered. “He’s going to kill her, then animate her corpse in order to use her powers to control the Shikon.”
“Ain’t no way that fucker is getting anywhere near her!” InuYasha roared.
“Guys, what’s all the shouting about?” Kagome asked as she appeared in the doorway, holding her head and wincing. “Can we turn down the volume? Masking and increasing wards hurts like no other.”
Everyone exchanged glances with each other.
“Guys?” Kagome repeated in confusion.
---------------------------------------------
A/N: *Tsuki and Yamada are the last names I’ve given Ayame and Rin, respectively. I recently realized I’d forgotten to do so in earlier chapters.
Thanks to reviewers: InuGoddess715, Kalauren-Hime, sunnymaus, Reignashii, elvira-inu-gurl, Inu Girl For Life, MoonGoddess32294, AnimeMew, Tiffani (Thank you so much for your kind review! I’m honored to be called a “future author,” and appreciate your college empathies. I’ll do my best not to disappoint in upcoming chapters!), demonic-angel-in-love, Kinezumi-Keikoku, inukaggrrl06, Mishirure, Chissel, twilight gal, and xochitlakran.
Please leave a review! I really want to know what you think of the plot, and the direction it’s going! I’d love to hear your input!
I’ve had a few good questions from reviewers recently that have brought up an important issue. I just want to make myself clear, and I may have to go back at some point and redo a few chapters to make this more obvious. But, as this is a work-in-progress, I’d just like to remind you there are bound to be a few imperfections.
I know the girls seem really powerful, especially in comparison to their cannon characteristics, but that’s due to my desire to make them more active rather than passive. In the series, Kagome, Rin, Ayame, and to an extent even Sango, play small parts in the physical fighting. I wanted that to change. Think of the girls as a cross between Buffy and Max from Dark Angel, with their own specialties and personalities. They are very independent when it comes to working with others outside of their little Slayer’s squad, so that’s why it might seem like they do more than the Hunters. Rest assured, the boys will get more fight time in the future. It’s all a part of the plot.
Thank you, Chissel for brining this up!
This is exactly why I treasure reviews--all writers need to be constantly improving their style and their writing. I can’t know what you all are wondering or thinking if you don’t tell me!
Thanks to my wonderful beta, inukaggrrl06!
Hope you like this chapter!
------------------------------------------
Infatuation
Rated M for language
-------------------------------------------
Recap:
“I thought I’d give you fair warning, but Kaede’s coming up to talk about our new living arrangements.”
“What new living arrangements?” Kagome asked suspiciously, pinching the skin on InuYasha’s hands to make him release her. She moved to sit on the side of the bed.
“Sesshomaru graciously offered to let us stay at the Taisho estate.”
“What?” Kagome and InuYasha cried at once.
“That’s what I said,” Sango shrugged.
---------------------------------------------
Chapter 10: Twist
---------------------------------------------
̶ 0;So, essentially, you and your brother failed,” Naraku surmised coldly from the report Hiten had delivered.
“No! It was that--”
“Did I ask for your input?”
Hiten shook his head, gripping his empty shoulder tightly. Tsubaki had wrapped the wound and his youki had begun to heal the severed limb, but he knew it would take several years to regenerate his arm.
“Now, I assume you know where that troublesome miko, one of her comrades and her family live?”
“Yes, Naraku-sama.”
“Good. I’ll send someone to collect the desired information. You are dismissed.”
Hiten gaped at the hanyou in shock. Dismissed?
‘That bitch is going to pay for what she did to me…For what she did to my little brother.’
“Sir, I request permission to reconvene the mission.”
Naraku cackled, red eyes sparkling in malevolent mirth. “You request? Kukuku, I think not. You are useless to me now. Tsubaki, you may do with him what you will.”
Tsubaki bit her lip and nodded, stepping forward to grasp Hiten’s arm and lead him away.
“Don’t touch me!” he shouted, ripping away from her grip and slamming his fist on Naraku’s desk. “I want another shot at killing that miko!”
“You will do no such thing,” Naraku bit out coldly. “I have an interest in her. No one shall kill her until I am through getting what I want.”
Both Tsubaki and Hiten stood rigid, made uneasy by the cold fury in his voice.
He glanced at them, as if wondering why they were still in his presence. “Leave.”
Tsubaki and Hiten could not bow and back out quickly enough.
“You may come in now,” Naraku directed to a dark corner of his office.
A small, white-haired child stepped into the florescent light’s gleam and glided over to the wicked hanyou’s desk.
“You know what to do.”
Kanna nodded, and disappeared.
Naraku smiled evilly, and began to laugh. “Soon, I will have what I want.”
--------------------------------------------
“Ah, there you children are,” Kaede said as she stepped into InuYasha’s infirmary room. She immediately noticed Kagome’s reddened cheeks, the hanyou’s smug look and Sango’s satisfied smile.
“Should I wish to know what transpired before my arrival?” she asked, raising a brow.
“No!” Kagome quickly replied, hopping off her seat on InuYasha’s bed and making her way toward the older miko. She grabbed Sango by the arm too, and firmly guided them both to the door.
“Oi! Where’re you going?” InuYasha demanded.
“Let’s have our ‘housing’ discussion outside, ne? InuYasha needs his rest,” Kagome addressed the women.
“Hey, it concerns me too!” he shot back. “Discuss it in here!”
Kagome glared at him to shut up, but Kaede broke away and sat down in a chair.
“InuYasha does have a point.”
Sango snickered at Kagome’s irritated look. Kagome brushed past, pinching her friend on the arm. Sango let out a yelp, which satisfied the miko. She then plopped down on the edge of InuYasha’s infirmary bed, arms crossed in a huff.
“Now, I understand Sango has informed you of Sesshomaru’s generous offer. InuYasha, as it is your home too, do you agree with your brother?” Kaede asked.
“Keh, they all need protecting, so it’s the best place for them to be,” the hanyou replied.
“We don’t need to be guarded, Kaede-sama!” Kagome interjected angrily. “Both Sango and I are more than capable of defending ourselves and our own!”
“And I will NOT be living anywhere that lecher is!” Sango added. “We have both been on our own, taking care of our brothers for many years already! We do not need the protection these new partners of ours seem to believe we are so desperate for!”
“Hey now--” InuYasha sputtered.
“We are self-sufficient warriors, Kaede-sama,” Kagome interjected. “We may be on friendlier terms”--at this, Sango snickered, earning a glare from the miko--“In some respects, but to live with them? That’s absurd!”
“Girls, I admit this is not an ideal situation in some cases, but you must think of the safety of your brothers and, now, the young kit,” Kaede began. “We know those Thunder Brothers were working for Tsubaki, who has more than likely returned to Naraku. He is a very powerful demon with endless resources at his disposal. Do you wish to risk the chance of this evil getting a hold of your family, just to suit your pride?”
Both Slayers sat in silence, feeling chastised.
InuYasha, for once in his life, kept his mouth shut.
“My dears, I think if you give this proper consideration, you will realize this is the safest choice available. Please, give this some fair thought.”
Sango nodded, looking over at Kagome.
The young miko moved to get up, but InuYasha grabbed her by the arm.
Kaede noticed this gesture, and turned to address Sango. “Let us return to the Briefing room, so you may check on the boys and discuss our next move with the others. We shall leave these two to talk.”
“Hai,” Sango acquiesced, following Kaede out.
The Infirmary room was bathed in silence. InuYasha tugged on Kagome’s arm again, but she refused to look at him.
“Oi, Kagome! What’s your problem?” InuYasha mentally winced, realizing too late he said that a bit too harshly.
“My problem?” she growled out. “So now I have a problem just because I’m not bending to your every whim? Who says you get to decide what’s best for me?”
“Hey, it didn’t say--”
“You’re just like everyone else! I bet that just because we kissed you think you own me now, don’t’cha? Well, that isn’t how it works, buck-o!”
“Wait! I never said--”
Kagome stuck a finger in the hanyou‘s chest. “Kami! You just think you know everything! You’re so--”
InuYasha grabbed her wrist, tugged, and captured her lips with his. Kagome shoved him away.
“Hey! You can’t--Mmmph!”
After a few minutes of InuYasha’s tongue dominating her mouth, they broke apart, Kagome slightly out of breath.
“Now listen, wench. I never said I owned you or that I was demanding you move in.”
Kagome raised an eyebrow in skepticism.
“Really, it’s up to you and Sango what you want to do. I just think the family estate is the best choice because the fluffy bastard is so damn paranoid that, in addition to all the ancient wards and stuff, he’s added every extra security measure you could think of, like state-of-the-art security systems and all that crap. It’s practically the safest place in Japan, and most likely in the world.”
“And, of course, you’ll be there to play babysitter.”
“Ain’t much different than I do now,” the hanyou muttered.
“Excuse me!” Kagome snarled.
“Heh-heh, I was just kidding, woman. Sheesh.”
Kagome eyes him wearily. “So, if I were to move in--and I’m not saying we are--how would that affect…this?” she asked, gesturing between the two of them.
“Well, I could sneak into your bedroom easier,” InuYasha snickered.
“You hentai!” Kagome shrieked, smacking him upside the head.
“Ow! It’s called a joke!” said InuYasha while rubbing the back of his injured skull. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled Kagome down beside him. “I promise we’ll take it slow, whatever this turns out to be. Okay?”
Kagome titled her head to the side, evaluating the sincerity of his words.
“Okay.”
“I won’t do anything you don’t want me to,” he added, kissing her on the forehead.
“Good, ‘cause if you turn into Miroku, I’m purifying your ass.”
InuYasha barked out a laugh. When he noticed the seriousness of her expression, he sobered up rather quickly.
-------------------------------------------------
“Haha, I win!” Shippo shouted, throwing down his cards. “Now hand over the candy, Miroku!”
“How is it that I lost a simple game of Go Fish to a child?” the monk moaned, digging in his jacket pocket to retrieve the chocolate bar inside.
“Because that child is far more clever than you,” Sango replied snidely as she and Kaede entered the room.
“You wound me, my dear Sango!” Miroku cried, calling to his knees, hands clasped over his heart.
“Save it for someone who cares,” she retorted, rolling her eyes and plopping down in the chair next to Kohaku.
Kagome arrived a short time after, looking decidedly less irritated. She smiled at Shippo as she took a seat, ruffling Souta’s hair. Shippo happily dealt out the cards for the next round. Just five minutes into the game, the door violently swung open.
“Kaede-sama! Kaede-sama!” a young man burst into the room. “Unidentified personnel have been spotted at both the Higurashi-Taijya residence, as well as the other Tsuki-Yamada* home.”
“Oh no,” Rin whispered.
“How could they have found us too?” Ayame demanded. “We were all careful not to keep information regarding each other around our homes!”
“Keep calm, my Slayers,” Kaede assured.
“I don’t suppose ya have room at that mansion of yours for all of them?” Kouga asked Sesshomaru.
If Sesshomaru was not such a compose taiyoukai, his eye would have begun to twitch. But, as he watched Rin being hugged and comforted by the miko, and saw the tears in his partner’s eyes, he begun to feel an emotion he never felt for any other being: sympathy.
“Kaede-sama!” another woman raced into the room.
“Hai?”
“Security has spotted a female wind-youkai snooping around the building with several lesser youkai!”
“Wait, doesn’t a wind-youkai work for Naraku?” Sango asked.
“Hai!” Kagome replied.
“We are under lockdown. Alert everyone, now!” Kaede ordered.
“Hai, Kaede-sama!” Koharu and the man sprinted out of the room.
Moments later, a low alarm began to sound. Staff began to appear out of the doors, then turn and scurry to their stations.
“Slayers.”
The four women nodded to Kaede, then split in different directions.
“Can we be of service?” Myogua asked.
“Yes. Hunters, follow your partners. Myogua, Kagome, come with me.”
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220;So, what are we doing exactly?” Kouga asked Ayame as she began to pull daggers, katanas, crossbows, guns and varying cartridges out of the Weaponry room and dumping them into his arms.
“What does it look like, you idiot? I’m stocking up on weapons for everyone! Sango and Miroku are helping hand out the standard weapons to the other personnel. We’re getting our specialized ones.”
“Oh.”
Ayame rolled her eyes. “We need to get back to the briefing room. I’m sure they boys are scared right now.”
Kouga smiled at her. Look at her maternal instincts kick in! She’ll be a great mother to my pups!
“What’s with the shit-eating grin?” Ayame asked skeptically.
Kouga’s smirk just widened. “Nothin’.”
“Like I believe you. Let’s go.”
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Rin sat typing furiously on her keyboard, helping to activate Headquarter’s lockdown mechanisms. Sesshomaru stood beside her, busy with a similar task. Suddenly, a beep sounded from Rin’s speakers.
“Is that a breach?” Sesshomaru asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” Rin said, frowning. She clicked on the alert, and gasped.
“Well, what is it?” Sesshomaru demanded with a hint of impatience.
“It’s my program! I’m in!” Rin cheered. “You finish the last few mechanisms. I’m checking through Onigumo Industries databases now!”
Sesshomaru silently finished moments later, then came to stand behind Rin, looking over her head at the monitor.
“Oh no,” Rin suddenly gasped, as she double clicked on a file. “He can’t be, he just can’t!”
Sesshomaru scanned the file, his anger at Naraku deepening.
“We have to go tell the others now!”
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Kaede lead Myogua and Kagome to a small, white room. Myogua watched as the two miko kneeled down on two white pillows, joining hands. A soft pink glow emitted from where their palms met, and continued to grow in intensity.
“The wards are still strong,” Kaede said quietly.
“And if we add too much, the spy will notice,” Kagome added.
“We must simply do a few masking spells.”
Myogua began to back away, the concentration of spiritual energy making his youki highly uncomfortable.
“Myogua-san, please stand outside and guard the door. No one can enter this room,” Kaede requested. “Our focus must not be disturbed, or we shall be discovered.”
“Of course, Kaede-sama,” Myogua replied, disappearing out the door.
“Are you ready, Kagome dear?”
“Yes, ma’am. I hope the boys are all right.”
“Do not worry. They are safe. No clear your mind, and concentrate.”
Pink light immediately engulfed the room.
---------------------------------------------------
“What the heck is going on?” Kohaku demanded his sister once she returned.
“We’re going to be stuck her for a while, just to be on the safe side,” Sango answered calmly.
“Where’s my sister?” Souta asked.
“She’s gone with Kaede-sama to increase the spiritual wards around the building.”
“How will they manage to do that without drawing suspicion?” Miroku wondered aloud.
“They have their methods.”
“We’re back!” Ayame announced, lugging a large brown sack. Kouga huffed in behind her.
“Why did I have to carry most of it?” he whined.
“Oh, shut up already. I got sick of your complaining two floors ago. Now, who wants presents?” Ayame said gleefully, opening the sack and handing Sango some daggers.
Kouga and Miroku were each given a katana as well, but Miroku simply pushed it aside, in favor of his staff. When Kohaku and Souta held out their expectant hands, Sango smacked them away.
“Nice try.”
Suddenly, Rin burst into the room, running straight for the Briefing room’s wall computer and screen.
“Get the boys out of here!” she ordered.
Protesting, they were gathered up by Sesshomaru and taken to the next room over, then locked inside.
Once he returned, she had already hacked through the internal firewalls, accessing her computer and pulling up what she had seen on her screen.
Everyone stared in shock.
“No, he can’t be…” Sango whispered, slumping into a chair.
“I’m afraid so,” Rin said sadly.
“That bastard!” Ayame shouted, slamming her fist on the table. “He can’t do that to her!”
“I’m afraid he can, if he gets a hold of the miko,” Sesshomaru said.
“What the hell is going on?” InuYasha demanded as he slowly dragged himself into the room.
“What are you doing? Kagome-sama said you needed more rest,” Miroku scolded.
“Keh, can’t sleep with all that noise. I heard something about being under lockdown, so I came here.” He paused, glancing at the screen. “What the fuck is THAT?”
“Naraku’s plans for Kagome,” Rin whispered. “He’s going to kill her, then animate her corpse in order to use her powers to control the Shikon.”
“Ain’t no way that fucker is getting anywhere near her!” InuYasha roared.
“Guys, what’s all the shouting about?” Kagome asked as she appeared in the doorway, holding her head and wincing. “Can we turn down the volume? Masking and increasing wards hurts like no other.”
Everyone exchanged glances with each other.
“Guys?” Kagome repeated in confusion.
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A/N: *Tsuki and Yamada are the last names I’ve given Ayame and Rin, respectively. I recently realized I’d forgotten to do so in earlier chapters.
Thanks to reviewers: InuGoddess715, Kalauren-Hime, sunnymaus, Reignashii, elvira-inu-gurl, Inu Girl For Life, MoonGoddess32294, AnimeMew, Tiffani (Thank you so much for your kind review! I’m honored to be called a “future author,” and appreciate your college empathies. I’ll do my best not to disappoint in upcoming chapters!), demonic-angel-in-love, Kinezumi-Keikoku, inukaggrrl06, Mishirure, Chissel, twilight gal, and xochitlakran.
Please leave a review! I really want to know what you think of the plot, and the direction it’s going! I’d love to hear your input!