InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Leverage ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Leverage

AN: Hey Peeps! Thanks for reading and reviewing, I appreciate the love and feedback. Ok so here's the next chapter of ma' story. I hope y'all enjoy. Please Review and tell me how you feel it's coming along. Peace

Chapter 2

“Come on Souta! You're slower than Buyo!” Kagome called from the middle of the shrine's massive stone staircase. Her sixteen-year-old brother was sulking all the way at the top. “I'm the one doing all the work!” She scolded.

“How is it that on your one day off from school you feel we should work the hardest?” He groaned back at her.

She rolled her eyes, swept a step and descended to the next one. “Because Grandpa isn't able to do it anymore. Now get your ass in gear and lay those protective charms.”

Souta groaned again, but Kagome smirked as she heard him quicken his steps.

A few moments later, her brother called, “Kagome, look!” And she did. Climbing the steps were two people; a tall man with long, black hair and a white haired girl.

“Good morning and welcome.” Kagome greeted, bowing her head respectfully. A chill shot down her spine when she looked back up at the pair. “How can I help you?” She asked slowly.

The tall man spoke and offered his hand. “Hello. I'm Onigumo Naraku. Are you Nodoka Higurashi?”

Kagome clutched his hand briefly, her jaw clenching. “She's deceased. Is there anything I can do for you?”

Naraku smiled slightly, but it did nothing to disarm Kagome. She noticed that he and his partner were dressed in expensive black business suits.

“This is my lawyer, Kanna.” He gestured to the young girl. “And we're here to speak with the person in charge of this household.”

Kagome exchanged a sidelong glance with Souta, who'd moved to her side. “That would be me.” She replied firmly.

His eyebrows lifted. “So young to hold such a responsibility!”

Kagome could say the same about this so-called `lawyer' he'd come with. Kanna couldn't have been any older than Souta, and her silence gave Kagome the creeps. “So what do you need to discuss?” She prodded.

“Kanna!” Naraku snapped and turned and signaled to the girl. Kanna pulled a folder from a black bag that blended in with her suit. Naraku opened the folder for Kagome to see. There was a substantial stack of papers; the top sheet was a map.

“This is our shrine!” Kagome gasped and all but snatched the folder from Naraku's hands. Souta leaned over her shoulder for a look too.

“You see,” Naraku began, and Kagome dragged her accusing gaze back to him. “I've bought a significant piece of land around here, that overlaps the majority of this shrine.”

The way he said `this shrine' made Kagome's blood boil. “Well that doesn't matter because this is our—“

“But it does matter.” He cut across her. “Because I own the majority of the land here, I'm also entitled to what's left, by law of percentages.”

“But this is our home.” Souta finally spoke up. “Our family has been here for hundreds of years.”

What was supposed to be a lamenting expression graced Naraku's face. “And I'm very sorry about all of this.” He reached out to touch Kagome's shoulder, but her glare made him retreat his hand.

“You think you can just come here and tell people you're stealing their home? You must be crazy!” Kagome spat.

Naraku's red eyes seemed to become colder as he surveyed Kagome's furious face. “I truly am sorry. All the information about the purchase is in the folder I gave you.” He smirked. “And if you can't manage to come up with one hundred twenty five thousand yen to purchase this land yourself, in six months this will be my home.”

Souta lurched at him, but Kagome blocked him with her arm. They were pulled out of their staring match when the sound of wood hitting stone approached them. “You demons away! You will not cause harm to this spiritual place!”

Kagome turned to her grandfather who was hobbling down the steps with his walking stick. “Grandpa!” She gasped and walked up to help him. Souta was still facing off with Naraku.

“Away! Away! Evil beasts!” Grandpa yelled, swinging his cane at Naraku and Kanna.

“Grandpa, stop.” Kagome pleaded, the folder pushing against his great belly as she strained to keep him from coming down the steps. Somehow, though, Grandpa managed to struggle all the way down to where Naraku was.

Naraku raised his eyebrows and smirked at this pathetic scene. He adjusted his suit blazer. “Young lady, I've placed my contact information in your folder. If you're ever ready to arrange an offer to me, please don't hesitate.”

He bowed his head, barked Kanna's name, and they turned to leave. Grandpa was still struggling, swinging his cane, and screaming, when Kagome gently stroked the top of his balding head. “Please Grandpa, calm down. They're gone.” She soothed sadly. “They're gone.”

~~~~~~

Kagome sat at the edge of her seat, waiting with Souta and Grandpa, as the cheapest lawyer they could find pored over the documents.

“This doesn't look good.” He sighed, stacking the papers neatly. “This contract is iron clad.”

Kagome's heart dropped into her stomach. Souta sank a little too. Grandpa still looked pissed from earlier.

“But there's gotta be a law against this! You can't just throw a family out of their home!” Souta burst out.

“Those bloodthirsty demons are up to no good!” Grandpa burst next.

The lawyer paused and stared at them, stunned.

“Is there any way we can fight this?” Kagome asked, more composed than her male relatives.

The lawyer sighed again. He'd been doing a lot of that since they came into the office. “You see, the problem is you have no formal documentation claiming your ownership to the land. It's all fair game unless you can pay more than Naraku.”

Kagome shook her head. “I don't believe this. How can we afford it? We only have a certain amount of money to survive on! So me and Souta can go to school without working!” Tear welled in her eyes.

“It's ridiculous! The Higurashi shrine has been in our family for nearly five hundred years. Maybe more!” Souta griped.

“That long?” The lawyer asked,. Kagome and Souta nodded. Grandpa had fallen asleep and let out a little snore. “Well if you can prove that your house is really that old, you may be able to have it declared a national historic landmark.”

Kagome's heart soared and she looked to see Souta sharing the same excitement on his face. “We have all types of ancient artifacts and stuff!” He cheered.

“We could give them a tour!” Kagome added.

“Well it's not that easy,” The lawyer started, already dissolving their glimmer of hope. “And it's no guarantee that the city will accept you.”

“That's ok, it will still be worth the try.” Kagome countered.

The lawyer sighed again, but smiled. “Good attitude. It's going to cost a lot of money though, probably just as much as the price of the land. You have to fill out an application, and then you have to pay for the city researchers to do a study on your house and your items. I just want you to be prepared for that.”

Souta threw his head back, exasperated, and mumbled, “Money, money, money.” Kagome pinched him.

She nudged their grandfather awake. They started getting ready to leave, and as she stood up she asked the lawyer, “But you'll help us through this, right Hojo?”

The man blushed, shook her hand and nodded. “Of course. I'll help you out as much as I can.

~~~~~~~

“That's it. I'm dropping out and getting a job.” Souta declared.

“Souta, if you want me to kick your ass, then just say so up front.” Kagome responded, cutting up Grandpa's dinner for him. It wasn't quite as good a their mother's, but it was passable.

“You might have to give up some of that scholarship money, Kags.”

“Shut up.” Kagome rolled her eyes.

“Well we have to do something! Someone in this house has to start putting money toward the historical landmark project!”

“Relax Souta.” Kagome sighed, chewing her food. “Try not to worry about it too much. Enjoy what's left of your summer, because you are going back to school.”

Souta huffed, and sat back in his chair the way a spoiled child would. “I wonder if Mama knew about this Naraku dude. It's so messed up that he's harassing us now, after….you know.”

“ Just stop talking about it, Souta.” Kagome groaned, losing patience.

“I don't know about you, but I'm pretty suspicious about that Naraku guy. He's up to something. I mean, it's not exactly a million dollar business venture, buying a shrine in the suburbs.” Souta went on as if he hadn't heard her.

Exasperated, Kagome left the table and washed her plate in the sink.

“They want something from this place. Those demons are trying to steal from here, and they must be stopped!”

Kagome shut off the water and turned to look at her grandfather. Souta was staring at him looking perplexed as well. The old man was growing notorious for his incoherent, senile rantings, but what scared Kagome was how close to the truth he might be.