InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Infatuation ❯ Blow Out the Candles, Pt. 1 ( Chapter 19 )

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Infatuation

By Lizzie Welling

Rated M/R for strong language

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AU InuYasha fanfiction

 

Disclaimer: Don't own InuYasha. Never have, never will. All other quoted songs, excerpts, etc. are cited and attributed to their respective owners.

 

A/N: Sorry for the long delay. As I said before, this semester is extremely busy for me (since it's my senior year in college). I am doing my best to update when I get down time, which never happens. I'm actually writing this when I should be working on my political science paper, but I needed a break from the institutionalization of the U.S. Supreme Court...A lovely topic that could make anyone snore.

 

Please understand that I have priorities that take precedence over writing stories. This is something I do for fun, not a job. I have enough jobs as it is. So I appreciate your understanding.

 

This chapter is dedicated to reviewers! You guys have been here for the long haul, and I just want to let you know how thankful I am for your continued support!

 

 

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Recap:

 

“Do you have any of those poison bombs on you?” Kagome asked, a plan formulating quickly.

 

“Always.”

 

“Good. Hand me, and InuYasha, one each. On three, we're tossing them into their faces.”

 

Sango nodded, slipping her hand into the pouch inside her pants pocket and passing the bombs behind their backs to hide them from view.

 

“One.”

 

They all palmed the bombs.

 

“Two.”

 

Kagome loosened her arm from around InuYasha's waist.

 

“Three!”

 

Kagome, Sango and InuYasha hurled the poison bombs as hard as they could.

 

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Chapter 19: Blow Out the Candles (Pt. 1)

 

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Kagome watched the bombs bounce off Kohaku, Kagura and Kanna and their surprised miens. Each bomb exploded in a cloud of poison, causing their enemies to cough and gasp for air, inadvertently inhaling more of the gas. Their limbs began to move sluggishly. The miko knew instantly that the paralyzing property in the toxin was taking effect.

 

The four began to move in tandem to the elevator, Sango jabbing the “CLOSE DOOR” button several times. Once the doors slid shut and the elevator began its descent, Kagome and the others released a collective breath.

 

“Has Miroku come-to yet?”

 

“No,” Sango replied, using her free hand to feel around the back of the monk's head. “He's got a nasty bump back here. Definite head trauma, possibly a concussion. We're going to have to head to the Infirmary at HQ to have him looked over.”

 

“Right,” Kagome said, glancing over at her sagging hanyou. “How are you feeling, InuYasha?”

 

“Keh, just a few scrapes. I'll heal.”

 

The miko rolled her eyes just as the door chimed open.

 

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“That is very bad news,” Myogua said into the telephone. “But I suppose you and Rin were lucky in that you suffered only minor injuries.”

 

He paused, listening to the voice on the other line.

 

“Hai,” he sighed. “I will. Keep me informed of any new developments.”

 

After a beat, the flea youkai hung up.

 

“Kaede is going to love this,” Myogua mumbled, leaving his desk and exiting his office. He hurried down the corridor to the office at the end.

 

The flea youkai burst inside, only to find Kaede on the phone, with a serious expression upon her face that grew graver with every moment she listened to the line. Ayame and Kouga were perched near her desk, eyes wide.

 

“Hai, Kagome-chan. `Tis horrible news. We will be prepared for your arrival. Travel safely,” Kaede sighed as she ended the call. The elder miko looked up at the office's occupants. “Ayame, would you--”

 

“Of course,” Ayame jumped, rushing out of the room.

 

“What has happened?” Myogua asked urgently.

 

“Kagome, InuYasha, Sango and Miroku were attacked at the mall today,” Kaede paused, “By Kohaku.”

 

“Kohaku? Sango's younger brother?” Kouga asked incredulously.

 

“Hai, he is much changed. Both physically and mentally,” Kaede said sadly. “Sango-chan is quite distraught. And he had help from Kagura and Kanna. Miroku is unconscious, and InuYasha has sustained some serious injuries.”

 

“Dear kami,” Myogua whispered. “I had a similar call from Sesshomaru. The `Band of Seven' attacked him and Rin at the estate. He says they were the owners from that gentleman's club.”

 

“What's their status?” Kouga asked.

 

“Minor injuries. Sesshomaru is having them checked by the on-staff doctor monitoring Souta, just to be on the safe side. He also said they collected three Shikon shards from their opponents foreheads.”

 

Kaede nodded, frowning. “It appears Naraku has begun to hasten his plans.”

 

“Quite,” Myogua said.

 

They heard the ding of the elevators and a cacophony of voices. Kouga ran out, followed closely by Kaede and Myogua.

 

Miroku had been placed on a gurney. Sango ran behind the doctors and nurses as they wheeled him into the trauma center. A nurse aided Kagome in helping InuYasha to one of the examination rooms.

 

“I told ya I don't need any!” InuYasha whined.

 

“You're bleeding everywhere, dog-boy! Don't make me put the smack down on your ass just so the nurse can stitch you up!” Kagome yelled back, eyes glowing pink.

 

“Keh,” the inu-hanyou whined again, ears drooping.

 

Kagome kissed his temple, and then proceeded to help the nurse with cleaning and bandaging the wounds.

 

Over in the trauma center, the doctors were busy taking x-rays and cleaning out Miroku's head wound. Sango waited anxiously outside. One of the nurses drew the curtain, so the Slayer could no longer see what was happening.

 

Ayame spotted Sango leaning dejectedly against the wall.

 

“I heard what happened. I'm so sorry about your brother. That ass-wipe Naraku is going to pay.” Ayame frowned and paused, realizing Sango was deeply upset. So she tried to lighten the situation. “And don't you worry about the monk. You've conditioned him to survive any kind of head trauma with all the whacks you give him.”

 

The corner of Sango's mouth twitched, and Ayame laughed, placing a comforting arm around her teammate's shoulder.

 

Kagome stepped out of InuYasha's examination room and over to her sister (in spirit) and her teammate. They accepted her into their hug without pretense.

 

All heads turned to the trauma center door when they heard a `woosh,' indicating the entrance was opening. A short, petite woman in a doctor's coat walked over to them.

 

“Taijya-san, I have an update on Houshi-san's condition. He is awake.”

 

“Yes!” the girls cheered together, Ayame and Kagome squeezing Sango tightly.

 

“He will need to be on bed rest for the next two days, but after that he will be back to his normal self.”

 

“Ass-grabbin' included?” Kagome chuckled.

 

Sango swatted her on the arm.

 

The doctor looked mildly offended, but gave them a small, polite smile and excused herself for rounds.

 

“That woman needs to remove a certain stick from a certain place,” Ayame said smarmily, in a mock-posh voice.

 

The three Slayers burst into a fit of laughter.

 

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Three hours later...

 

The Slayers and Hunters were seated around the boardroom. InuYasha was leaning against Kagome, eyes and ears drooping sleepily from exhaustion. Miroku had been wheeled in by Sango, and was snoring softly on her shoulder. Sesshomaru and Rin had arrived a few minutes earlier thanks to Sesshomaru and both appeared worse for wear. Ayame and Kouga sat on the edge of the long table, looking worriedly at their comrades.

 

All heads snapped up when the door opened, Kaede and Myogua entering and walking to the head of the table. Kaede looked tiredly at the assembled Slayers and Hunters, wearily taking a seat in her chair.

 

“I am afraid we have some bad news,” she began. “Those Shikon shards we retrieved from the club the other night have turned out to be counterfeit.”

 

“What!” Sango, Kagome and Ayame gasped in outrage.

 

“No fucking way!” InuYasha growled, slamming is fist down on the table in anger. He winced when the motion aggravated his chest wound.

 

“Calm down, InuYasha,” Myogua sighed. “Thankfully, Sesshomaru and Rin managed to steal five of the real ones during the attack by the Band of Seven. However Bankotsu and Jakotsu escaped, and with them their shards of the Shikon. It is possible Naraku will give them more. We must be prepared for another ambush, with revenge and the increased power of the corrupted Shikon shards on their side.”

 

“Well that blows,” Kouga muttered.

 

“I agree with the smelly wolf,” InuYasha chimed in.

 

“You baka inu-kuso!” Kouga snarled.

 

“Chill you two!” Kagome yelled, raising her purifying powers a few degrees. The males began to yelp and whimper, their skin tingling uncomfortably in response to the miko's flaring aura. It was not enough to hurt them, but just enough to sting.

 

“Fighting amongst each other is not conducive to our current climate. We are essentially in a war here! You two best learn how to control your tempers!” Kaede chastised.

 

Both males ducked their heads, feeling duly reprimanded.

 

“What can we do now, Kaede-sama?” Miroku asked quietly, eyes closed in pain, as he continued to lean against his partner. Sango patted his hand.

 

“You are in no shape for a counter-attack. I suggest those of you who are able, reconnaissance is wise for now.”

 

Everyone, sans Miroku (and Sango who did not want to jar him) and InuYasha, stood up and headed for the door.

 

“Ayame and Kouga, please remain discreet. And be careful,” Kaede advised. “Sesshomaru and Rin, I would prefer you to rest for a little while. Feel free to nap in one of the Infirmary rooms. Then, when you feel up to it, see what you can uncover through some careful hacking.

 

“Sango and Kagome, escort your partners back to the Infirmary. Then, Kagome, please come to my office. I need a full report.”

 

The group nodded to the elderly miko and then left for their respective tasks.

 

Kaede leaned despairingly back in her chair, a hand resting over her eyes.

 

“Are you ill, Kaede?”

 

“Not physically, my old friend,” she responded quietly to Myogua. “But my spirit feels poorly. I am afraid that is a bad omen of things to come.”

 

“For all our sakes, I hope your instincts are wrong, for once. I hate to think how much worse things can become.”

 

“Things can always get worse, Myogua. Much worse.”

 

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0200 hours, later on that night (The Infirmary)

 

Sesshomaru stared down at his sleeping partner. He had already wasted four hours watching over this woman, instead of accomplishing more productive pursuits, specifically hacking into Naraku's mainframe and searching out information on the `Band of Seven.' He also should look into Kohaku's...transformation. He felt a tiny twitch of pity for Taijya.

 

The taiyoukai stood up to leave, having decided that enough of his time had been wasted being idle. But then, Rin released a soft sigh and turned over. Her tiny form was curled under the infirmary-issue blanket he had covered her with earlier when he noticed her shivering.

 

He paused.

 

`This Sesshomaru has become foolish.'

 

With that self-deprecating thought, Sesshomaru quietly—and determinedly—exited the single room and went out into the Infirmary's corridor. He paused by the room holding his baka half-brother and the monk. Sango sat at the monk's bedside, the only one awake. In her lap were files she was half-heartedly searching through.

 

“Taijya,” he called softly.

 

Sango's head snapped up, spotting him. She quietly extracted herself from the chair and walked over to the doorway. “Hello, Sesshomaru-san. What can I do for you?”

 

He glanced over at his brother, then the monk.

 

“InuYasha will be fully healed in another hour or so,” Sango said. “Miroku is progressing nicely, the doctors say. He just needs more rest. Kaede and Myogua have decided to keep him off active duty for the rest of the week.

 

“Hn,” Sesshomaru nodded and then left, off to the computer room.

 

“Ugh, he needs a new personality,” Sango grumbled, flopping back down on her uncomfortable plastic chair.

 

“Tell me about,” InuYasha's groggy voice startled her.

 

“Kami, InuYasha! Gomen-nasi, I didn't mean to wake you!” she whispered sharply, hand to her chest.

 

“It's alright. I'm sick of this Infirmary bed anyways. Always smells way too weird in here for me. Where's Kagome?” He asked, swinging his legs off the side and hopping down onto the tile floor.

 

“She should be finishing up with Kaede, in her office,” the Slayer said quietly.

 

InuYasha nodded, patting Sango on her shoulder. “I'm really sorry about Kohaku. I had no idea Naraku could be so sick.”

 

Sango nodded distractedly, concentrating very hard on the open file page in her lap.

 

InuYasha pulled his hand away and walked to the door. Pausing, he turned to look back at Sango. A few silent tears were making their way down her face.

 

`Poor kid.'

 

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0200 hours, Kaede's office

 

“Is that everything to account for?” Kaede asked, glancing back down at the notes Kagome had provided.

 

“Hai, Kaede-sama.”

 

“I can't help but wonder what Naraku's motivation for sending Kohaku, Kanna and Kagura to such a public place. Where they specifically searching anything out?”

 

Kagome bit her lip, thinking carefully. “No, not that I could tell. There were no shards nearby, at least none I could sense. It's almost as if he just wanted to send Kohaku out to do some damage.”

 

Kaede nodded. “Psychological warfare. He wanted to distract a few of our key players. Sango, obviously; you, because of your attachment to them; and Miroku and InuYasha because of their attachment to Sango and you.”

 

“I suppose so.”

 

Kaede studied her Slayer quietly. “Do you need any sleep?”

 

Kagome shook her head.

 

“All right, then I would like you to see if you can track down someone who can tell you anything about what Naraku's done to Kohaku, and what he has planned. I will be putting in a few calls to my own contacts.”

 

“Hai, Kaede-sama.”

 

Kaede waved her hand as she reached for the phone atop her desk, dismissing Kagome.

 

As she went through her locker, looking for something suitable for reconnaissance, she noticed the calendar hanging on the door. She paused.

 

“It's the fifth anniversary of my parents' deaths. My brother's still in a coma. My best friend's brother is practically lost to us. Happy fucking 20th birthday to me,” she muttered, slamming the locker door.

 

Grabbing the clothing and wig, Kagome stomped over to the bathroom and slammed the door.

 

InuYasha stood shocked around the corner. He had come to find her, and paused outside when she entered the Dojo's locker room.

 

“Birthday?” he whispered.

 

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0900 hours, the Boardroom at HQ

 

The boardroom had been turned into a dining room, decorated in an explosion of brightly colored balloons, streamers and a large banner that read `HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAGOME!' A massive three-tier cake sat on the table, covered in delicious butter cream icing, with blue and green iced flowers all over the sides. A small pile of presents and party favors sat next to it.

 

Once InuYasha had learned it was the miko's birthday, he had run around Head Quarters, enlisting the others to help. He wanted Kagome to have something that might make her smile about today. Everyone had abandoned their tasks and pitched in. Rin had made the cake, with a reluctant Sesshomaru's help. Ayame, Kouga, InuYasha and Sango bought and hung the decorations. Jaken brought Shippo to HQ as well so he could be part of the festivities. Even Kaede and Myogua had joined in.

 

Once all make-shift presents had been assembled, everyone congregated in the boardroom, waiting.

 

“Isn't she supposed to be here by now?” Ayame asked.

 

“She should be,” Sango said, helping Miroku out of a wheelchair and into a seat.

 

Everyone continued to volley back and forth between glancing at each other and the door.

 

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0900 hours, Motel Ryo

 

Kagome struggled against the ropes as she tried to rock the chair to knock it over. The informant had been a set up. The last thing she remembered was her informant agreeing to meet near Club Lotus around 0500 hours. She remembered standing under the streetlamp, at the back door, looking around. Then she remembered someone grabbing her from behind. Now, here she was, kami knows where, tied to a chair. She couldn't even scream because she had a gag in her mouth.

 

The motel room was dark and dingy. A small bed sat in the corner, an end table and a desk with a chair. Nothing else.

 

The door handle to the room began to jingle and turn. Kagome's eyes widened as it was thrown open.

 

Jakotsu, Bankotsu and Naraku stepped inside.

 

“Hello, my dear miko,” Naraku purred.

 

Kagome's eyes got wider. `I am so fucked.'

 

 

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A HUGE thank you to the following reviewers: Bert8813, pyscho-pyro-shrink, beautifulyreal, loretta537, narutoboy03, DesMM, unanimus12, BoredGirl17, fire-Angel-of-death322, bearsammi2011, shippoizmaFOX, kyonkichi-luver and jdh0801.

 

Please review! I love feedback and constructive criticism. It keeps me going. =D Hope you enjoyed this chapter of Infatuation!

 

Lizzie