InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Living The Promise ❯ Making Decisions ( Chapter 19 )

Chapter 19: Making Decisions

 

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“I see. Thank-you for informing me. Good day.” Sesshomaru hung up the phone and sat back. He rubbed his temples as he stared blindly out the window.

 

The police had found the car that had rear ended Inuyasha and Kagome, but it had been wiped clean of any finger prints. A few blood stains were found in the trunk and were being investigated, but there were no further leads in the case.

 

Sesshomaru sighed, his thoughts turning to the soul connection he shared with his brother and sister - in - law. The fact that Kaede insisted he make his connection permanent as soon as possible had him concerned. He did not like being forced into something without adequate information, of which, he was definitely lacking. All he had to go by was Kaede's insistence that something bad was going to happen.

 

“Damn it!” Sesshomaru slammed his fist on his desk in frustration. He stood and went to the window, staring out at the panoramic view in front of him. After a long moment, Sesshomaru came to a decision. He could not ignore the growing feelings for Inuyasha and Kagome. If, by making his bond permanent, he could help them, he would do so.

 

Picking up the phone, Sesshomaru dialed and number and waited until it was picked up. “Kaede, I will do it.” He hung up shortly afterwards, feeling tense muscles relax; Sesshomaru felt strangely at peace now that he had finally made the decision.

 

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“You have failed me again.” Muso shifted uneasily in his seat, refusing to lift his eyes from the floor. Beside him, Goshinki gave a low laugh.

 

“Keep your skirt on, Kikyo. We were only playing with `em.' Kikyo spun with a snarl. Muso tried to keep from slouching further in his chair, attempting to keep from drawing Kikyo's wrath upon himself. He heard Goshinki's laugh choke off. Steeling a glance at his partner, Muso was surprised to see Kikyo holding a slender dagger to Goshinki's throat.

 

“Would you like to repeat that, you piece of shit?” Kikyo hissed. Muso watched as Goshinki glared at the woman, only to pale suddenly when she pressed the knife into his flesh, drawing a thin line of blood. When no further comment came forth, Kikyo stepped back, keeping the dagger in plain sight.

 

“I will not tolerate any further failure from you. You screw up once more and I will show you what happens to those who fuck up their jobs.”

 

Muso gulped and nodded. “Understood.” Muso stood and tugged at Goshinki, who quickly scrambled to his feet. Kikyo watched as the two men bowed to her before quickly leaving.

 

With a sigh, Kikyo sat down at her desk, toying absent mindedly with the dagger. When she realized what she was doing, she took out a cloth, wiped the blade clean, and placed it back in its sheath.

 

She had just finished when her private business phone line rang. Kikyo answered, only to sigh quietly when she recognized the voice on the other end.

 

“Hello, Mr. Neitzel. What may I do for you today?”

 

“Ms. Onigumo, I hope that you have secured the property I have requested and have so generously paid you for.”

 

“Just about. I am taking care of the last bit even as we speak. The land should be ready for you by the end of the month.” Kikyo stifled the urge to cross her fingers at her `little' lie; after all, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

 

“I am growing impatient, Ms. Onigumo. The board of trustees wants results, not excuses for incompetence. I think that I will take a trip out to check your progress for myself.”

 

Kikyo groaned to herself. “Of course, sir. I would be more than happy to greet you and show you around. Maybe I could take you to some of the cultural events that are taking place; show you around the city, so to speak.”

 

“That will not be necessary, Ms. Onigumo,” came the chilled reply. “This will not be a pleasure trip, I can assure you. You may expect me in two weeks, and I expect to see results at that time.”

 

Kikyo opened her mouth to acknowledge his statement when a sharp click sounded in her ear. Growling in anger, she threw the phone across the room before slamming her head upon her desk in frustration.

 

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“So, any new leads on your story, Kagome?” Ayame asked as the three friends sipped their coffee after their monthly lunch date.

 

Kagome shook her head as she put her coffee cup down without drinking it. She had found that coffee seemed to increase her nausea and so tried to avoid drinking it as much as possible. “No, nothing new at this time,” she answered.

 

Sango looked at Kagome with mild concern. She looked a little pale and had only picked at her lunch, and now Kagome was not drinking her coffee.

 

“Are you okay, Kagome? You are acting like you don't feel well.” Sango and Ayame watched as a strange look crossed Kagome's face; was that guilt?

 

Kagome looked briefly at her friends, and seeing their concern, rushed to reassure them. “I am okay, just not sleeping well with everything that is going on. It is nothing to be worried about.” Kagome quickly changed the subject, hoping that neither one of her friends would realize that she was starting her 3rd month of pregnancy; she was not ready to share the news with any one yet.

 

“How are you and the twins doing, Ayame?” Kagome and Sango watched with growing concern as tears filled the red head's eyes. Kagome leaned over and gave the distraught woman a hug. Ayame clung to her for a moment before pulling back.

 

“What is going on, Ayame?” Sango asked softly.

 

Ayame sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Koga has started drinking again.” Kagome and Sango exchanged concerned glances. Koga had struggled with a drinking problem off and on. The last time, he had promised Ayame that he had quit for good. Evidently, that was not the case.

 

“What happened?” Ayame sighed before answering.

 

“Last night, he was late coming home, and when he did, he smelled like a brewery. I told him that his dinner was in the refrigerator, and he could heat it up if he was hungry. He got mad, saying that if I was a good wife, I would have a hot meal waiting for him when he got home.” Ayame paused to wipe her eyes again and continued. “I told him that if he wanted a hot meal, then he needed to be home when he said he'd be home. He… he hit me and started calling me names. It wasn't much longer before he passed out.”

 

Sango was seething inside, but managed to keep it hidden; only showing her concern and support for her friend. “Has he hit you before this?” she asked quietly.

 

Ayame started to shake her head, but stopped and nodded slowly. “He has hit me a couple of other times,” she replied. Looking up, she saw the looks of disgust and anger on her friends' faces and hurried to reassure them. “But he has always apologized afterward.”

 

“That doesn't matter, Ayame. Koga has no right to be hitting you. I don't care if he apologizes from here to kingdom come. You do NOT have to put up with that!” Sango said, her volume rising considerably. With a hiss from Kagome, she quieted down again.

 

Ayame found herself studying the tablecloth. “What do I do about it? I love him, the idiot that he is.”

 

“Ayame, you and the girls need to get away from him before it gets any worse. Maybe if you left for a while, Koga would finally get the clue and sober back up,” Kagome told her. “Why don't you guys come stay with us at the house?”

 

Ayame looked at her in shock. “I can't do…” Kagome interrupted her.

 

“Don't tell me you can't do that or that you'd be a nuisance or in the way or anything stupid like that. Inuyasha and I are your friends and we'd do anything for you; just like you'd do the same for us. At least consider it an option.”

 

Ayame sighed and searched Kagome's face for a moment. Seeing the determination in her eyes, Ayame nodded reluctantly. “Okay, I will think about it, but I am not making any promises.”

 

“I wish you would just do it, but at least you know you have somewhere to go if needed. Miroku and I are also here to help if you need us as well.” Ayame gave Sango a weak smile and hugged both of her friends.

 

“Thanks guys,” Ayame said softly.

 

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Kagome was washing the last of the dishes while Inuyasha was reading Rin a bedtime story. It felt strange not to have Kaede in the house; she had left for her home that morning with the promise to return by the end of the week. Kagome smiled to herself. She found that she liked having a `full' house, and could hardly wait for the new arrival. She rubbed her tummy with a smile before finishing up the last pan.

 

Kagome was just drying her hands on the dishtowel, when she heard a knock at the door. Opening it, she was surprised to see Ayame standing there with the twins. Surprise quickly turned to concern and anger when Kagome noticed Ayame's black eye and split lip.

 

“Ayame! Oh my god, are you okay?” Kagome quickly pulled the woman into the house, securing the door behind her.

 

“He came home drunk again. Everything was okay until Kyoko started crying. Koga just lost it. He went after her…”

 

“That bastard didn't touch her, did he?” Inuyasha's growl startled the woman who quickly shook her head.

 

“I wouldn't let him near her. He struck me several time before staggering to the bathroom. I think he passed out - I don't really care. I quickly gathered some things, grabbed the girls and left. So here we are.” Tears slowly fell down Ayame's cheeks as she told her story. Inuyasha gathered her into his arms and slowly stroked her hair.

 

“It is going to be okay, Ayame. I won't let him hurt you again.” Ayame broke down and sobbed into Inuyasha's shoulder while he held her tightly in his grasp.

 

Kagome smiled sadly and quietly took charge of the twins, who started fussing.

 

“You did the right thing coming here, Ayame. You, Kyoko and Kichi are safe here.”

 

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TBC

 

A/N: If any one reading this story is a victim of domestic violence, please, please get out now before it is too late. There are shelters and organizations that will help you in any way possible. If there are no shelters near you, contact a local church or police station. Don't become another domestic violence statistic.

 

A couple of people have indicated that they are confused by the whole soul connection thing. I would recommend you go back and read I'll Be There For You as that story is basically all about the initial soul connection between Inuyasha and Kagome, as well as its consequences. This is the sequel to that story. I believe that it will help the whole soul connection thing clearer.

 

As Always, Read, Enjoy, and Review!