InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Living The Promise ❯ Possible Motive ( Chapter 18 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
Chapter 18: A Possible Motive
******************************
“I did not faint, damn it! I just got a little dizzy,” Inuyasha huffed, folding his arms across his chest. Kagome and Sesshomaru shared amused glances.
“That would explain your collapse upon hearing of her pregnancy, even though you were given a clean bill of health? I find that hard to believe.” Inuyasha glared at Sesshomaru, who only smirked and looked out the window.
Kagome sighed and rubbed a hand on her stomach. “I am pregnant,” she said softly. “I can hardly believe it.” She gave a slight start when she felt a warm hand covering hers. Looking up, Kagome was caught in Inuyasha’s golden gaze, trapped by the emotions that swirled within their depths.
Sesshomaru watched the two across from him, touched by the tenderness they showed one another. As the moments passed, Sesshomaru felt a faint stirring of envy towards his brother. Looking away, he scowled. ‘What do I, Sesshomaru have to be envious about?’ he asked himself. ‘Besides the fact that Inuyasha was well on his way to starting a family, that is.’
Sesshomaru roused from his thoughts when Kagome placed her small hand on his arm. Turning his gaze upon her, he was a little surprised to see concern in her eyes.
“Umm, Sess are you okay?” she asked.
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“Well, you seem distracted and you haven’t noticed that we are home.”
Sesshomaru finally noticed that the car had indeed stopped at their residence. “I see. I was just thinking, nothing to be concerned about.” Kagome gave him a lingering glance before she nodded, not really convinced.
“Let’s get you inside, Kagome,” Inuyasha said as he opened her door. Both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru hovered nearby as she walked up the stairs to the door. Kagome bit back a sigh of frustration, knowing that they were only concerned for her welfare.
Kaede met them at the door, giving Kagome and Inuyasha a hug. “I am glad that you both are safe. Come and sit. I will bring everyone a snack, as it is way past dinner time.” Inuyasha’s stomach growled at the mention of food, causing everyone to laugh.
“Mama Gome! Papa Inu! Papa Sess!” A small dark-haired bundle came running down the hallway and ran into Kagome’s waiting arms.
“I have missed you! Rin was very good for Auntie Kaede!”
Kagome chuckled as she held the young girl. “I missed you too, sweetie. What did you do today?”
“I went to the park and fed the ducks and chased the geese and played on the swings and drew pictures and watched a movie and helped Auntie Kaede make cookies and played.” Rin finally stopped and took a breath.
“I see. You have had a busy day.” Rin nodded, trying to hide a yawn. Inuyasha saw it and looked at his watch.
“Bedtime, munchkin,” he told her.
Rin nodded. “Kay.” Turning her big, brown eyes upon Sesshomaru, she smiled and asked, “Will you tell me a story, Papa Sess?”
Sesshomaru cocked an eyebrow and looked briefly at Kagome’s smiling face. “I will, however, you must be ready and in bed before I get there.”
Rin’s smile grew larger and she gave a little jump for joy. “Yippee!” She ran over and kissed the adults goodnight and rushed into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth before running into her room and jumping onto the bed. “I’m ready, Papa Sess!” Rin called out. Sesshomaru sighed and headed down the hall, but not before Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kaede caught the tender look on his face.
“Sess is such a sweet guy, even though he tries so hard to hide it,” Kagome said softly.
Inuyasha snorted. “Keh! Don’t let him hear you calling him sweet.”
“Inuyasha,” Kaede scolded, “don’t talk like that about your brother. Now, you two should go and sit down. I would like to hear what happened to you today.” She ushered Kagome and Inuyasha into the living room, making sure they were settled upon the couch before heading into the kitchen to prepare a small snack.
Kagome leaned back with a sigh. Inuyasha looked at her in concern. “You okay, Kagome?” She nodded.
“Yeah, I am just a little tired. I am still trying to sort through the information that Hebi and Noriko gave me.” Inuyasha reached over and pulled her so that she lay snug against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her, Inuyasha began to nuzzle her neck.
Kaede entered the living room carrying a large tray of sandwiched. Inuyasha looked at her and said, “I am hungry, but not that hungry.” Kagome giggled as Kaede laughed.
“There is plenty for you, Inuyasha, but your friends will be here shortly. They heard about the crash and have been calling to see if you were home.” Kaede placed the tray onto the coffee table just as a quiet knock on the front door sounded. “That would be them now.” She went and answered the door.
Inuyasha sighed and adjusted his hold as he reached for a pair of sandwiches, handing one to Kagome. Kaede reappeared, followed by Sango and Miroku, who was carrying a sleeping Kanaye. Ayame and Koga also came in, each one carrying a sleeping baby in a car seat. Kaede led Miroku towards the guest room where he could lay Kanaye down. The others took up seats after greeting Kagome and Inuyasha. Miroku came in and sat beside Sang, while Kaede bustled about, getting drinks for everyone.
“What happened, you guys? Are you okay?” Sango asked the questions everyone wanted to know.
Kagome smiled at her friends. “We are okay, nothing more than a few bruises and some soreness.”
Ayame checked Inuyasha and Kagome over, not quite believing them. “So what happened?”
“Some asshole rear ended us and we were pushed into the path of a delivery truck.” Inuyasha mumbled out between bites of his second sandwich.
“Was anyone else hurt in the accident?” Miroku asked as he grabbed a couple of sandwiches for himself and Sango.
“It was no accident. Someone intentionally rammed into us.” Silence fell upon the group before everyone started talking at once. The noise level rose, causing Kagome to put a hand to her head in attempts to stave off the impending headache.
“Silence!” Sesshomaru’s voice cut through the noise; everyone’s attention turned to his towering form framed in the doorway. Once he had their attention, he glared at each person as he continued, “Rin is asleep and you would do well to lower your voices. If you are unable to do so, I will ‘ask’ you to leave.” Everyone knew that by ‘ask’, Sesshomaru meant that he would forcibly throw them out. Satisfied that everyone understood him, he walked over and stood behind the couch where Inuyasha and Kagome reclined. By this time, Kaede returned with beverages and took the last remaining chair.
Kagome took a deep breath and entwined her fingers with Inuyasha’s where his hand lay across her stomach. “You all know about the story I am working on, right?” She looked around the room and saw everyone nodding. “Well, a few months ago, I was almost run down. I didn’t think much of it, but Inuyasha made me promise to take someone with me any time I was investigating the story.” Kagome paused as she felt his grip on her tightened momentarily.
“Anyway, when I went into work this morning, I had a couple of messages from my contacts, requesting meetings. I phoned Yasha and took him with me.”
Sesshomaru listened closely as Kagome relayed the information that she had been given by her two contacts. This was the first time he had heard the full story, only having gotten bits and pieces from his brother earlier in the day.
Once Kagome finished telling them the information she had gotten from Noriko, she paused to take a drink and eat a little more of her sandwich.
“Oh, Kagome! I don’t like the idea of those disappearances,” Ayame said, her eyes wide with fear. The others murmured their agreement. Kagome shrugged it off.
“I don’t like it, but I have to get to the bottom of this.”
“May we see the prayer beads?” Kaede asked. Kagome pulled them from her pocket and passed them over to the older woman. Kaede studied them closely before passing them to Miroku. “What do you think?” she asked him quietly.
Miroku took his time and gave them a thorough going over. “These are very old. My grandfather had a set in his collection with the same artist’s mark,” he pointed out a faint marking on one of the beads. “He claimed that they were close to 500 years old.”
Kaede nodded. “That is what I was thinking as well.”
Sango looked thoughtful. “If the beads are indeed that old, then what were they doing there?” She looked at Kagome and asked, “You said that Hebi told you that nothing else was found at that time, correct?” A Kagome’s nod, Sango continued. “Do you know of other objects such as these have been found at other times?”
Kagome finally caught on to where Sango was going with her questions. “Not to my knowledge, but I can ask Hojo and Suki.” Trying to contain her growing excitement, Kagome turned to Kaede. “Do you know if there may have been a temple or shrine in that area back then?”
Kaede looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. “I do not recall, but I can check some of the scrolls from that era and see if any mention of one has been made.”
“Will someone please tell me what is going on here?” Inuyasha growled. He was getting frustrated, not following where the conversation was going.
“It is simple, Inuyasha. If there was indeed a temple or shrine dating back 500 years located in the area Kagome is investigating, it would explain the motive behind the mass purchase of properties. Some one knows that there may be a very important archaeological discovery in the area, and intends to have full control and ownership.” Miroku said.
The group fell silent as they digested this information. “I get it now,” Inuyasha said quietly. “Anyway, to continue the story, when we finished the lunch, we pulled out of the parking lot. This dark car followed us. We came up to a red light and waited for it to change. The dark sedan rear ended us, pushing us into the path of a delivery truck. The truck clipped us before being able to stop. We went to the clinic where we both were given clean bills of health and then came home. That is all there is to it.” Everyone started talking among themselves.
“That is not all there is,” Kagome said softly. Everyone’s eyes looked at her as she continued. “I believe that the car that tried to run me down and the car from today were the same vehicle.”
Sango jumped up. “What?!?” She cringed when Sesshomaru glared at her. Lowering her voice, Sango asked, “Why do you think so? Who would do such a thing?”
Kagome told her the reasoning behind her theory. Her friends listened in growing concern. No one spoke for a long moment. Finally Koga broke the silence, saying what was on everyone’s mind. “You be very careful, Kagome. We don’t need you to disappear like those missing residents.”
Kagome wiped away the tears that threatened at the concern she saw in each of their faces. “Thanks, guys. I will be careful, I promise.” She stifled a yawn; Sesshomaru saw the weariness in both Kagome and Inuyasha and made a decision.
“It has been a trying day for my brother and Kagome. It is time they got some rest.” Taking this as their cue, Koga and Ayame gathered the twins and took their leave, promising to call later to check on them. Sango went over and gave Kagome a hug, while Miroku collected their sleeping son. Kaede showed the friends out as Sesshomaru bullied a reluctant Inuyasha and a more cooperative Kagome into going to bed.
“Thank you for being there today, Sess,” Inuyasha told him quietly before leading Kagome to their bedroom.
Sesshomaru gave him a small smile. “I am glad that the 3 of you are okay.”
“Yeah, me too,” Inuyasha replied with a faint blush.
Sesshomaru watched as the two disappeared into their bedroom before turning around to find Kaede watching him. “The 3 of them?”
Sesshomaru nodded once. “The doctor found that Kagome is about 6 weeks pregnant.” He watched as Kaede paled and swayed. He quickly moved to her side and held her steady.
Kaede took a deep breath and looked up at Sesshomaru. “You must make the soul connection permanent before the child is born. There is little time left.”
*************
TBC
A/N: I hope that you like this chapter. I will try to have the next one up soon.
I also wanted to say thank-you to everyone who has read and reviewed my story. You are the continuing reason I have not bagged this story. I also want to give a great big THANK-YOU to my wonderful beta, Breezie for her tireless work and endless patience.
If you haven’t already done so, you can take a look at my new one-shot, Breaking a Heart’s Promise. I may expand this out into a full story, but this one will take priority first – I don’t like having multiple stories open as I feel that I can’t give them the concentration they deserve. Anyway, take a look and let me know if you think I should continue with that story line.
As always, Read, Enjoy, and Review!
******************************
“I did not faint, damn it! I just got a little dizzy,” Inuyasha huffed, folding his arms across his chest. Kagome and Sesshomaru shared amused glances.
“That would explain your collapse upon hearing of her pregnancy, even though you were given a clean bill of health? I find that hard to believe.” Inuyasha glared at Sesshomaru, who only smirked and looked out the window.
Kagome sighed and rubbed a hand on her stomach. “I am pregnant,” she said softly. “I can hardly believe it.” She gave a slight start when she felt a warm hand covering hers. Looking up, Kagome was caught in Inuyasha’s golden gaze, trapped by the emotions that swirled within their depths.
Sesshomaru watched the two across from him, touched by the tenderness they showed one another. As the moments passed, Sesshomaru felt a faint stirring of envy towards his brother. Looking away, he scowled. ‘What do I, Sesshomaru have to be envious about?’ he asked himself. ‘Besides the fact that Inuyasha was well on his way to starting a family, that is.’
Sesshomaru roused from his thoughts when Kagome placed her small hand on his arm. Turning his gaze upon her, he was a little surprised to see concern in her eyes.
“Umm, Sess are you okay?” she asked.
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“Well, you seem distracted and you haven’t noticed that we are home.”
Sesshomaru finally noticed that the car had indeed stopped at their residence. “I see. I was just thinking, nothing to be concerned about.” Kagome gave him a lingering glance before she nodded, not really convinced.
“Let’s get you inside, Kagome,” Inuyasha said as he opened her door. Both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru hovered nearby as she walked up the stairs to the door. Kagome bit back a sigh of frustration, knowing that they were only concerned for her welfare.
Kaede met them at the door, giving Kagome and Inuyasha a hug. “I am glad that you both are safe. Come and sit. I will bring everyone a snack, as it is way past dinner time.” Inuyasha’s stomach growled at the mention of food, causing everyone to laugh.
“Mama Gome! Papa Inu! Papa Sess!” A small dark-haired bundle came running down the hallway and ran into Kagome’s waiting arms.
“I have missed you! Rin was very good for Auntie Kaede!”
Kagome chuckled as she held the young girl. “I missed you too, sweetie. What did you do today?”
“I went to the park and fed the ducks and chased the geese and played on the swings and drew pictures and watched a movie and helped Auntie Kaede make cookies and played.” Rin finally stopped and took a breath.
“I see. You have had a busy day.” Rin nodded, trying to hide a yawn. Inuyasha saw it and looked at his watch.
“Bedtime, munchkin,” he told her.
Rin nodded. “Kay.” Turning her big, brown eyes upon Sesshomaru, she smiled and asked, “Will you tell me a story, Papa Sess?”
Sesshomaru cocked an eyebrow and looked briefly at Kagome’s smiling face. “I will, however, you must be ready and in bed before I get there.”
Rin’s smile grew larger and she gave a little jump for joy. “Yippee!” She ran over and kissed the adults goodnight and rushed into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth before running into her room and jumping onto the bed. “I’m ready, Papa Sess!” Rin called out. Sesshomaru sighed and headed down the hall, but not before Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kaede caught the tender look on his face.
“Sess is such a sweet guy, even though he tries so hard to hide it,” Kagome said softly.
Inuyasha snorted. “Keh! Don’t let him hear you calling him sweet.”
“Inuyasha,” Kaede scolded, “don’t talk like that about your brother. Now, you two should go and sit down. I would like to hear what happened to you today.” She ushered Kagome and Inuyasha into the living room, making sure they were settled upon the couch before heading into the kitchen to prepare a small snack.
Kagome leaned back with a sigh. Inuyasha looked at her in concern. “You okay, Kagome?” She nodded.
“Yeah, I am just a little tired. I am still trying to sort through the information that Hebi and Noriko gave me.” Inuyasha reached over and pulled her so that she lay snug against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her, Inuyasha began to nuzzle her neck.
Kaede entered the living room carrying a large tray of sandwiched. Inuyasha looked at her and said, “I am hungry, but not that hungry.” Kagome giggled as Kaede laughed.
“There is plenty for you, Inuyasha, but your friends will be here shortly. They heard about the crash and have been calling to see if you were home.” Kaede placed the tray onto the coffee table just as a quiet knock on the front door sounded. “That would be them now.” She went and answered the door.
Inuyasha sighed and adjusted his hold as he reached for a pair of sandwiches, handing one to Kagome. Kaede reappeared, followed by Sango and Miroku, who was carrying a sleeping Kanaye. Ayame and Koga also came in, each one carrying a sleeping baby in a car seat. Kaede led Miroku towards the guest room where he could lay Kanaye down. The others took up seats after greeting Kagome and Inuyasha. Miroku came in and sat beside Sang, while Kaede bustled about, getting drinks for everyone.
“What happened, you guys? Are you okay?” Sango asked the questions everyone wanted to know.
Kagome smiled at her friends. “We are okay, nothing more than a few bruises and some soreness.”
Ayame checked Inuyasha and Kagome over, not quite believing them. “So what happened?”
“Some asshole rear ended us and we were pushed into the path of a delivery truck.” Inuyasha mumbled out between bites of his second sandwich.
“Was anyone else hurt in the accident?” Miroku asked as he grabbed a couple of sandwiches for himself and Sango.
“It was no accident. Someone intentionally rammed into us.” Silence fell upon the group before everyone started talking at once. The noise level rose, causing Kagome to put a hand to her head in attempts to stave off the impending headache.
“Silence!” Sesshomaru’s voice cut through the noise; everyone’s attention turned to his towering form framed in the doorway. Once he had their attention, he glared at each person as he continued, “Rin is asleep and you would do well to lower your voices. If you are unable to do so, I will ‘ask’ you to leave.” Everyone knew that by ‘ask’, Sesshomaru meant that he would forcibly throw them out. Satisfied that everyone understood him, he walked over and stood behind the couch where Inuyasha and Kagome reclined. By this time, Kaede returned with beverages and took the last remaining chair.
Kagome took a deep breath and entwined her fingers with Inuyasha’s where his hand lay across her stomach. “You all know about the story I am working on, right?” She looked around the room and saw everyone nodding. “Well, a few months ago, I was almost run down. I didn’t think much of it, but Inuyasha made me promise to take someone with me any time I was investigating the story.” Kagome paused as she felt his grip on her tightened momentarily.
“Anyway, when I went into work this morning, I had a couple of messages from my contacts, requesting meetings. I phoned Yasha and took him with me.”
Sesshomaru listened closely as Kagome relayed the information that she had been given by her two contacts. This was the first time he had heard the full story, only having gotten bits and pieces from his brother earlier in the day.
Once Kagome finished telling them the information she had gotten from Noriko, she paused to take a drink and eat a little more of her sandwich.
“Oh, Kagome! I don’t like the idea of those disappearances,” Ayame said, her eyes wide with fear. The others murmured their agreement. Kagome shrugged it off.
“I don’t like it, but I have to get to the bottom of this.”
“May we see the prayer beads?” Kaede asked. Kagome pulled them from her pocket and passed them over to the older woman. Kaede studied them closely before passing them to Miroku. “What do you think?” she asked him quietly.
Miroku took his time and gave them a thorough going over. “These are very old. My grandfather had a set in his collection with the same artist’s mark,” he pointed out a faint marking on one of the beads. “He claimed that they were close to 500 years old.”
Kaede nodded. “That is what I was thinking as well.”
Sango looked thoughtful. “If the beads are indeed that old, then what were they doing there?” She looked at Kagome and asked, “You said that Hebi told you that nothing else was found at that time, correct?” A Kagome’s nod, Sango continued. “Do you know of other objects such as these have been found at other times?”
Kagome finally caught on to where Sango was going with her questions. “Not to my knowledge, but I can ask Hojo and Suki.” Trying to contain her growing excitement, Kagome turned to Kaede. “Do you know if there may have been a temple or shrine in that area back then?”
Kaede looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. “I do not recall, but I can check some of the scrolls from that era and see if any mention of one has been made.”
“Will someone please tell me what is going on here?” Inuyasha growled. He was getting frustrated, not following where the conversation was going.
“It is simple, Inuyasha. If there was indeed a temple or shrine dating back 500 years located in the area Kagome is investigating, it would explain the motive behind the mass purchase of properties. Some one knows that there may be a very important archaeological discovery in the area, and intends to have full control and ownership.” Miroku said.
The group fell silent as they digested this information. “I get it now,” Inuyasha said quietly. “Anyway, to continue the story, when we finished the lunch, we pulled out of the parking lot. This dark car followed us. We came up to a red light and waited for it to change. The dark sedan rear ended us, pushing us into the path of a delivery truck. The truck clipped us before being able to stop. We went to the clinic where we both were given clean bills of health and then came home. That is all there is to it.” Everyone started talking among themselves.
“That is not all there is,” Kagome said softly. Everyone’s eyes looked at her as she continued. “I believe that the car that tried to run me down and the car from today were the same vehicle.”
Sango jumped up. “What?!?” She cringed when Sesshomaru glared at her. Lowering her voice, Sango asked, “Why do you think so? Who would do such a thing?”
Kagome told her the reasoning behind her theory. Her friends listened in growing concern. No one spoke for a long moment. Finally Koga broke the silence, saying what was on everyone’s mind. “You be very careful, Kagome. We don’t need you to disappear like those missing residents.”
Kagome wiped away the tears that threatened at the concern she saw in each of their faces. “Thanks, guys. I will be careful, I promise.” She stifled a yawn; Sesshomaru saw the weariness in both Kagome and Inuyasha and made a decision.
“It has been a trying day for my brother and Kagome. It is time they got some rest.” Taking this as their cue, Koga and Ayame gathered the twins and took their leave, promising to call later to check on them. Sango went over and gave Kagome a hug, while Miroku collected their sleeping son. Kaede showed the friends out as Sesshomaru bullied a reluctant Inuyasha and a more cooperative Kagome into going to bed.
“Thank you for being there today, Sess,” Inuyasha told him quietly before leading Kagome to their bedroom.
Sesshomaru gave him a small smile. “I am glad that the 3 of you are okay.”
“Yeah, me too,” Inuyasha replied with a faint blush.
Sesshomaru watched as the two disappeared into their bedroom before turning around to find Kaede watching him. “The 3 of them?”
Sesshomaru nodded once. “The doctor found that Kagome is about 6 weeks pregnant.” He watched as Kaede paled and swayed. He quickly moved to her side and held her steady.
Kaede took a deep breath and looked up at Sesshomaru. “You must make the soul connection permanent before the child is born. There is little time left.”
*************
TBC
A/N: I hope that you like this chapter. I will try to have the next one up soon.
I also wanted to say thank-you to everyone who has read and reviewed my story. You are the continuing reason I have not bagged this story. I also want to give a great big THANK-YOU to my wonderful beta, Breezie for her tireless work and endless patience.
If you haven’t already done so, you can take a look at my new one-shot, Breaking a Heart’s Promise. I may expand this out into a full story, but this one will take priority first – I don’t like having multiple stories open as I feel that I can’t give them the concentration they deserve. Anyway, take a look and let me know if you think I should continue with that story line.
As always, Read, Enjoy, and Review!