InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lost Child ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Twilight dawn 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Romance / Drama / Thriller | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 09.13.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 224 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Romance / Drama / Thriller | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 09.13.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 224 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters. The honor goes to Rumiko Takahashi.
Making sure no one had followed me, frequently looking behind me and my surroundings, I entered the lobby of a hotel and booked a room for the night. It wasn’t safe for me here, but I need to rest and I need to move on before morning.
I will have to move again, away from my friends, my new family. I don’t want them to be involved with my past. If he found me, it won’t be long until he finds them. He has every resource at his fingertips and I am surprised it had taken him this long to find me. It has been almost two years since the last time I had to move.
He’s enjoys toying with his prey, but I know it won’t be to much longer before he tires of his own game.
Eventually, I will be caught in his web.
I placed my briefcase on the inner table next to me and I keep my clothes and shoes on. An added measure in case I have to make a run for it. I didn’t turn the lights or the television on. I wanted people to think it was a vacant room.
Tears now ran down my face. I don’t know what bad thing I did in a previous life, but this life is surely punishing me for it. I wish Naraku had never found me, never brought me into his group, never loved me.
My phone rang suddenly, bringing me out of my thoughts. I let it ring and go straight to voicemail. I should have ditch it when I had the chance. I knew it was stupid on my part. It has a tracking device in the damn thing.
It rang again and I took the chance to peak at the caller id. It was an unknown number and thinking it was him, I still didn’t answer.
Getting off the bed, I took the phone into the bathroom and was about to flush it down the toilet, when the same unknown number flashed on the screen. Sensing the urgency from that number and against my better judgment, I answered it on the next ring.
“Hello,” I half whispered into the phone, scared to find what was on the other end. I shouldn’t let Naraku know my fear of him, but I couldn’t help it. I was starting to freak out.
I heard nothing on the other end. I was about to snap it shut, when I heard a breathing sound come from the other end of the line. “Listen here, Naraku,” I whispered into the receiver piece, my voice tight with fear. “I’m tired of playing your stupid games. Why don’t we end it already? It’s been well over five years since it first began.”
“I can assure you, Miss Higurashi, I am not the man you are speaking of.”
I suddenly felt very foolish.
He didn’t give me a chance to answer. It seemed as if he wasn’t done talking. “I know you are not at your apartment. Something must have happened to make you flee and I
have to believe it has something to do with the black spider on your living room wall.”
“How do you know that?” I asked him, shocked that he knew so much about what happened in a small amount of time.
I swear I could hear him smile on the other end. “I have my ways,” he answered. I knew that I wouldn’t hear him speak anymore on the subject. It seemed that even he had secrets of his own that he wished to keep.
I was tempted to hang up on him and let him deal with the consequences. I can’t take his daughter’s case, even though it hurts me to turn it down. He can always find someone else willing to take it. I plan to be faraway from this town as soon as possible. I didn’t need anything distracting to keep me here.
But something inside of me said to wait, and I have never doubted my intuition before.
“Where are you?” he asked, sounding concerned for my safety. His voice was soft and soothing.
I shook my head in answer, knowing he couldn’t see me. I didn’t trust myself to say anything. I might tell him everything he wanted to know and my actions would place him in danger.
Hearing him sigh deeply, I knew it wasn’t good. He wasn’t going to relent until he had his way. “Do you plan on running from him forever, Miss Higurashi? Always looking over your shoulder, wondering where he would find you next.”
“No,” I spoke softly. “We both know he will catch me soon. It’s only a matter of time.”
He gave a light chuckle. It was so soft, I barely heard it. “So your going to be a coward. I never thought you to be one.”
“You don’t have the right to judge me,” I hissed into the phone, forgetting about my fear for a brief moment. “You have never met me to make such an accusation.”
“True,” he admitted. “But you are giving him exactly what he wants.”
I decided to take the bait and see where he was going with this. “And what do you think a psychopath like him wants, Mr. Tashio?”
This time I distinctly heard the sound of a chuckle. “So, you finally figured my name out. I’m surprised it took you this long.”
“It wasn’t very hard,” I heard myself reply with a hint of amusement. I sobered instantly upon remembering our previous conversation.
Apparently, he didn’t forget either. “He wants to break you. To see how far it will take until you destroy yourself.”
I began to shake uncontrollably. His words didn’t offer me much hope. “What do you suggest I do?”
He answered right away, making me believe he already had a plan in mind. “Naraku will be able to find you wherever you go except for one place, my home. I want you to stay with me until he is behind bars and my daughter is found.”
I opened my mouth to tell him, no, but he beat me to it. “Before you start to disagree, listen to my reasoning,” he continued on, not pausing for even a moment. “I know that you are in over your head. I can offer you protection that the police can’t.”
I frowned. If the police department can’t help me, as I have discovered in the past, how does he think he’ll be able to. I knew this plan of his would work, but if anything goes wrong, I would be to blame. “I can’t take your offer. I refuse to place you in harms way.”
“I can assure you I can take care of myself,” he answered, with amusement. I didn’t find anything amusing about it, but I sense he was laughing at his own private joke. “I will ask my previous question again and I want an answer.”
I nodded my head. Mentally slapping myself when I realized I was still talking to him on the phone. “Go ahead,” I replied, confident enough I knew which question he wanted answered. It didn’t mean I had to give him the right one.
“Where are you?” He once more asked. “And don’t think about lying to me, Miss Higurashi, I will be able to sense it.”
In that moment, I believed him.
I remained silent, debating on whether to hang up or tell him where I am.
I weighed my options. I could run and eventually get caught by Naraku. He will probably beat me until I cooperated with him or use me for his own sick pleasure. I knew from previous experience that the only reason he wanted me was for my physic abilities. He wouldn’t be trying to get me back if he didn’t need me.
Then on the other hand, I could finally bring him down.
He will go to jail for all of his evil deeds and I wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore. I could live freely without having to look over my shoulder and wonder if he was there watching me. I would testify against him and be satisfied, that it was me who put him behind bars.
Knowing which direction to take, I told Mr. Tashio what hotel I was staying in. “I will be there within the hour to fetch you. Don’t open the door for anyone and remain quiet.”
“How will I know its you at my door?”
“I will knock lightly on your door three times. Does your door have a peep hole?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, giving the door a look over.
In the background I heard a distinct sound of fingernails being tapped on a desk top. “When you hear the three knocking sounds, I want you to look through the peep hole and look for a tall man with long, silver hair. That man will be me.”
I didn’t know what else to say, besides ending our conversation. “Goodbye,” I whispered.
“Goodbye, Miss Higurashi.” I didn’t hear the clicking sound and knew he was still on the line. “Remember what I said before and don’t answer the door unless you are sure, I am the one standing at the door.”
I ended the call with a push of a button.
I exited the bathroom and took the cell phone with me. I needed a few phone numbers from it before I destroyed it. I needed something to do while I waited for Mr. Tashio to arrive and thinking about my situation was going to upset me even more.
I quickly jotted down the numbers with the paper I had in my briefcase.
I headed back to the bathroom. I lifted the toilet seat up and released the cell phone, hearing a splashing sound as it hit the water. Drawing a deep breath, I yanked down on the handle and watched the contraption swirl around the bowl, before it was taken to the sewers.
‘I hope I didn’t clog it,’ I thought to myself. ‘I would be so embarrassed to find out otherwise.’
I released the breath I had been holding. Naraku wouldn’t be able to track me by phone now.
A long time passed. I thought he forgot about me. That he decided I wasn’t worth protecting and deserved what was coming to me, and he would be right. I had done some pretty bad things in my past and no amount of good deeds was going to erase it.
Three knocks on the door sounded, bringing me out of my thoughts. I sighed with relief knowing that he was there, but I still had to make sure. I had to ensure my own safety.
I tip toed to the door and closed one eye while I peered through the hole with the other. The man had his back to me, almost as if he was surveying the hallway of the hotel, and my eyes took notice of the long, silver hair.
‘So,’ I thought, releasing the locks on the door. ‘He’s an older man. At least, I won’t have to worry about any advances. I doubt he can get it up anymore.’
The sound of my door opening caused the man to turn around, and my heart to lurch in my throat. He wasn’t an old man at all. The color of his hair had me completely fooled.
To say he was handsome was an understatement. The man was drool worthy, absolutely gorgeous.
He easily hovered over my small frame. I had to tilt my head back to appreciate, I mean check out, the fine specimen before me. His long, silver hair seemed to have a silky texture to it, and I had to clench my fists at my sides to stop myself from touching his stands. He seems to have a well-toned body beneath the black, striped suit he was wearing. It looked expensive.
I wanted to kiss his lips so badly to see if they were full and kissable as I believed them to be, but I resisted. And when his golden colored eyes focused on me, I felt my heart drop into my stomach. He was too gorgeous for his own good.
How in the hell an I supposed to live with this man, while trying not to jump his bones? Knowing my luck, he’s gay. What a waste to women everywhere.
“Miss Higurashi, I presume,” he said, looking me over. I hoped he like what he saw.
Instinctively, I reached up to pat my hair down. Just in case a few strands became unruly during my run. I should’ve fixed my hair in the bathroom before he showed up.
He continued to check out the hallway, like he expected someone to be there. “Collect your belongings and let us be gone from this place. I would like to get you to safety before he learns where you are.”
I nodded in agreement and did as he wished. When I stood before him again, he seemed to stare at me for a brief period of time. “Is there something I can do for you?” I asked, getting fed up with his constant staring.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I was just seeing why Naraku wants you so badly. It can’t be for your looks. You are as plain as they come.”
I gripped the handle of my briefcase, hoping the pain would keep me from doing something I would regret. I wasn’t so plain as he described. I am considered to be a beauty, but I ran from my apartment to the hotel. I sweated and I probably smell. My hair is matted to my head and my mascara has probably ran due to my tears.
“There’s no reason for you to be rude,” I retorted, pushing him aside, entering the hallway and closing the door to the hotel behind me. “Shall we go?”
We quickly made our way to the front desk where I dropped off the key and exited the hotel. A long stretch limo was parked in front and Jaken walked around it, opening the door and waited for me to enter.
No wonder Mr. Tashio thought I was plain looking. Compared to the women he dates, I must be a country bumpkin. If I thought I had a slim chance with him before, I had absolutely no chance with him now.
“Hurry along,” I heard him say to me, and I turned around to give him a dirty look.
“I don’t like to be told what to do,” I said to him, turning back around, walking toward the limo. “I am not a child.”
I bent my head down and scooted inside, appreciating the soft, leather seats, making sure I sat on the opposite side. I didn’t want to sit next to Mr. Gorgeous after his earlier comment. Just because he has money, doesn’t mean he can be rude.
Once everyone was in the limo, we started down the road. I focused my attention towards the window, looking at the scenery. I tried to ignore him, but he wasn’t going to let me.
He crossed his legs and placed his hands in his lap. “Don’t think for one minute I am releasing you from our contract. You still will find my daughter while you stay with me for the time being.”
“We have no contract,” I couldn’t help pointing out. “You didn’t sign it.”
He nodded his head in agreement. “I know I didn’t sign it. But I’m not letting you stay at my home for free. You will still search for her.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t want my staying there to be a bother to you.”
He choose to ignore me. “I believe Naraku is also involved with my daughter’s case.”
“What makes you say that?”
Mr. Tashio shifted his body around to stare at me. “My office has been looking into his crimes. I believe he has heard about it and is using my daughter as leverage.”
Suddenly, everything became clear. “You want to make a trade.”
“What are you talking about, Miss Higurashi? A trade for what?”
I rolled my eyes at him. He can’t be this stupid. “Naraku has obviously contacted you and offered an exchange. Me for your daughter.”
He shook in head in disbelief. “The thought had not even crossed my mind and I can assure you that Naraku hasn’t even contacted me about that.”
“But you’re not denying he hasn’t contacted you at all,” I pointed out.
“You are too smart for your own good, Miss Higurashi. I wouldn’t have expected it from you.”
I wanted to argue with him about that comment, but I thought against it. We already have been fighting like an old married couple. “Call me by my first name, Kagome. I hate being referred to as Miss Higurashi. It’s so informal.”
“In that case you can address me by first name, Sesshoumaru.”
I got the feeling that he was on to something and our previous words caused me to believe he wanted to know about my past with Naraku. What other reason could there be? He has been mentioning his name a lot. “I know what you’re up to,” I said to him, wishing I didn’t agree to leave the hotel with him. “You want to know my involvement with Naraku, am I right?”
He didn’t deny it. “I was going to let you settle at my home before I asked you about your past, but since you brought the subject up, I believe I will ask you a few questions.”
I had no objections with him asking questions. I didn’t have to answer them.
Sesshoumaru had seen my refusal. I could feel his body tense beside me. “You will have to tell me about your past at some point,” he spoke. “My daughter can be found with the information you keep from me.”
I forced myself to look him in the eye. “There are many things you don’t want to know about,” I answered, choosing to tell him the truth. “Trust me on that. There are some things I have done for him that I am not proud of and if I reveal those things to you, I could incriminate myself.”
“By not saying anything, you are already incriminating yourself. I only want the truth. I want to bring my daughter home.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”
He sighed. “So be it.”
No regrets I reminded myself. Even though Sesshoumaru’s silence was making me feel guilty. He might not hate me, but he really doesn’t like me at the moment.
We continued to give each other the silent treatment the rest of the way to his home. I could tell he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He was probably thinking of ways to make me reveal all that I knew to him, and it wouldn’t work.
I sank back against the leather seats of the limo and returned to look out the window once more.
I had thought I would be safe from Naraku if I went to stay with Sesshoumaru. But now, I don’t know who’s worse. The criminal or the gorgeous guy who would do anything for the sake of his daughter.
To be continued…
Making sure no one had followed me, frequently looking behind me and my surroundings, I entered the lobby of a hotel and booked a room for the night. It wasn’t safe for me here, but I need to rest and I need to move on before morning.
I will have to move again, away from my friends, my new family. I don’t want them to be involved with my past. If he found me, it won’t be long until he finds them. He has every resource at his fingertips and I am surprised it had taken him this long to find me. It has been almost two years since the last time I had to move.
He’s enjoys toying with his prey, but I know it won’t be to much longer before he tires of his own game.
Eventually, I will be caught in his web.
I placed my briefcase on the inner table next to me and I keep my clothes and shoes on. An added measure in case I have to make a run for it. I didn’t turn the lights or the television on. I wanted people to think it was a vacant room.
Tears now ran down my face. I don’t know what bad thing I did in a previous life, but this life is surely punishing me for it. I wish Naraku had never found me, never brought me into his group, never loved me.
My phone rang suddenly, bringing me out of my thoughts. I let it ring and go straight to voicemail. I should have ditch it when I had the chance. I knew it was stupid on my part. It has a tracking device in the damn thing.
It rang again and I took the chance to peak at the caller id. It was an unknown number and thinking it was him, I still didn’t answer.
Getting off the bed, I took the phone into the bathroom and was about to flush it down the toilet, when the same unknown number flashed on the screen. Sensing the urgency from that number and against my better judgment, I answered it on the next ring.
“Hello,” I half whispered into the phone, scared to find what was on the other end. I shouldn’t let Naraku know my fear of him, but I couldn’t help it. I was starting to freak out.
I heard nothing on the other end. I was about to snap it shut, when I heard a breathing sound come from the other end of the line. “Listen here, Naraku,” I whispered into the receiver piece, my voice tight with fear. “I’m tired of playing your stupid games. Why don’t we end it already? It’s been well over five years since it first began.”
“I can assure you, Miss Higurashi, I am not the man you are speaking of.”
I suddenly felt very foolish.
He didn’t give me a chance to answer. It seemed as if he wasn’t done talking. “I know you are not at your apartment. Something must have happened to make you flee and I
have to believe it has something to do with the black spider on your living room wall.”
“How do you know that?” I asked him, shocked that he knew so much about what happened in a small amount of time.
I swear I could hear him smile on the other end. “I have my ways,” he answered. I knew that I wouldn’t hear him speak anymore on the subject. It seemed that even he had secrets of his own that he wished to keep.
I was tempted to hang up on him and let him deal with the consequences. I can’t take his daughter’s case, even though it hurts me to turn it down. He can always find someone else willing to take it. I plan to be faraway from this town as soon as possible. I didn’t need anything distracting to keep me here.
But something inside of me said to wait, and I have never doubted my intuition before.
“Where are you?” he asked, sounding concerned for my safety. His voice was soft and soothing.
I shook my head in answer, knowing he couldn’t see me. I didn’t trust myself to say anything. I might tell him everything he wanted to know and my actions would place him in danger.
Hearing him sigh deeply, I knew it wasn’t good. He wasn’t going to relent until he had his way. “Do you plan on running from him forever, Miss Higurashi? Always looking over your shoulder, wondering where he would find you next.”
“No,” I spoke softly. “We both know he will catch me soon. It’s only a matter of time.”
He gave a light chuckle. It was so soft, I barely heard it. “So your going to be a coward. I never thought you to be one.”
“You don’t have the right to judge me,” I hissed into the phone, forgetting about my fear for a brief moment. “You have never met me to make such an accusation.”
“True,” he admitted. “But you are giving him exactly what he wants.”
I decided to take the bait and see where he was going with this. “And what do you think a psychopath like him wants, Mr. Tashio?”
This time I distinctly heard the sound of a chuckle. “So, you finally figured my name out. I’m surprised it took you this long.”
“It wasn’t very hard,” I heard myself reply with a hint of amusement. I sobered instantly upon remembering our previous conversation.
Apparently, he didn’t forget either. “He wants to break you. To see how far it will take until you destroy yourself.”
I began to shake uncontrollably. His words didn’t offer me much hope. “What do you suggest I do?”
He answered right away, making me believe he already had a plan in mind. “Naraku will be able to find you wherever you go except for one place, my home. I want you to stay with me until he is behind bars and my daughter is found.”
I opened my mouth to tell him, no, but he beat me to it. “Before you start to disagree, listen to my reasoning,” he continued on, not pausing for even a moment. “I know that you are in over your head. I can offer you protection that the police can’t.”
I frowned. If the police department can’t help me, as I have discovered in the past, how does he think he’ll be able to. I knew this plan of his would work, but if anything goes wrong, I would be to blame. “I can’t take your offer. I refuse to place you in harms way.”
“I can assure you I can take care of myself,” he answered, with amusement. I didn’t find anything amusing about it, but I sense he was laughing at his own private joke. “I will ask my previous question again and I want an answer.”
I nodded my head. Mentally slapping myself when I realized I was still talking to him on the phone. “Go ahead,” I replied, confident enough I knew which question he wanted answered. It didn’t mean I had to give him the right one.
“Where are you?” He once more asked. “And don’t think about lying to me, Miss Higurashi, I will be able to sense it.”
In that moment, I believed him.
I remained silent, debating on whether to hang up or tell him where I am.
I weighed my options. I could run and eventually get caught by Naraku. He will probably beat me until I cooperated with him or use me for his own sick pleasure. I knew from previous experience that the only reason he wanted me was for my physic abilities. He wouldn’t be trying to get me back if he didn’t need me.
Then on the other hand, I could finally bring him down.
He will go to jail for all of his evil deeds and I wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore. I could live freely without having to look over my shoulder and wonder if he was there watching me. I would testify against him and be satisfied, that it was me who put him behind bars.
Knowing which direction to take, I told Mr. Tashio what hotel I was staying in. “I will be there within the hour to fetch you. Don’t open the door for anyone and remain quiet.”
“How will I know its you at my door?”
“I will knock lightly on your door three times. Does your door have a peep hole?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, giving the door a look over.
In the background I heard a distinct sound of fingernails being tapped on a desk top. “When you hear the three knocking sounds, I want you to look through the peep hole and look for a tall man with long, silver hair. That man will be me.”
I didn’t know what else to say, besides ending our conversation. “Goodbye,” I whispered.
“Goodbye, Miss Higurashi.” I didn’t hear the clicking sound and knew he was still on the line. “Remember what I said before and don’t answer the door unless you are sure, I am the one standing at the door.”
I ended the call with a push of a button.
I exited the bathroom and took the cell phone with me. I needed a few phone numbers from it before I destroyed it. I needed something to do while I waited for Mr. Tashio to arrive and thinking about my situation was going to upset me even more.
I quickly jotted down the numbers with the paper I had in my briefcase.
I headed back to the bathroom. I lifted the toilet seat up and released the cell phone, hearing a splashing sound as it hit the water. Drawing a deep breath, I yanked down on the handle and watched the contraption swirl around the bowl, before it was taken to the sewers.
‘I hope I didn’t clog it,’ I thought to myself. ‘I would be so embarrassed to find out otherwise.’
I released the breath I had been holding. Naraku wouldn’t be able to track me by phone now.
A long time passed. I thought he forgot about me. That he decided I wasn’t worth protecting and deserved what was coming to me, and he would be right. I had done some pretty bad things in my past and no amount of good deeds was going to erase it.
Three knocks on the door sounded, bringing me out of my thoughts. I sighed with relief knowing that he was there, but I still had to make sure. I had to ensure my own safety.
I tip toed to the door and closed one eye while I peered through the hole with the other. The man had his back to me, almost as if he was surveying the hallway of the hotel, and my eyes took notice of the long, silver hair.
‘So,’ I thought, releasing the locks on the door. ‘He’s an older man. At least, I won’t have to worry about any advances. I doubt he can get it up anymore.’
The sound of my door opening caused the man to turn around, and my heart to lurch in my throat. He wasn’t an old man at all. The color of his hair had me completely fooled.
To say he was handsome was an understatement. The man was drool worthy, absolutely gorgeous.
He easily hovered over my small frame. I had to tilt my head back to appreciate, I mean check out, the fine specimen before me. His long, silver hair seemed to have a silky texture to it, and I had to clench my fists at my sides to stop myself from touching his stands. He seems to have a well-toned body beneath the black, striped suit he was wearing. It looked expensive.
I wanted to kiss his lips so badly to see if they were full and kissable as I believed them to be, but I resisted. And when his golden colored eyes focused on me, I felt my heart drop into my stomach. He was too gorgeous for his own good.
How in the hell an I supposed to live with this man, while trying not to jump his bones? Knowing my luck, he’s gay. What a waste to women everywhere.
“Miss Higurashi, I presume,” he said, looking me over. I hoped he like what he saw.
Instinctively, I reached up to pat my hair down. Just in case a few strands became unruly during my run. I should’ve fixed my hair in the bathroom before he showed up.
He continued to check out the hallway, like he expected someone to be there. “Collect your belongings and let us be gone from this place. I would like to get you to safety before he learns where you are.”
I nodded in agreement and did as he wished. When I stood before him again, he seemed to stare at me for a brief period of time. “Is there something I can do for you?” I asked, getting fed up with his constant staring.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I was just seeing why Naraku wants you so badly. It can’t be for your looks. You are as plain as they come.”
I gripped the handle of my briefcase, hoping the pain would keep me from doing something I would regret. I wasn’t so plain as he described. I am considered to be a beauty, but I ran from my apartment to the hotel. I sweated and I probably smell. My hair is matted to my head and my mascara has probably ran due to my tears.
“There’s no reason for you to be rude,” I retorted, pushing him aside, entering the hallway and closing the door to the hotel behind me. “Shall we go?”
We quickly made our way to the front desk where I dropped off the key and exited the hotel. A long stretch limo was parked in front and Jaken walked around it, opening the door and waited for me to enter.
No wonder Mr. Tashio thought I was plain looking. Compared to the women he dates, I must be a country bumpkin. If I thought I had a slim chance with him before, I had absolutely no chance with him now.
“Hurry along,” I heard him say to me, and I turned around to give him a dirty look.
“I don’t like to be told what to do,” I said to him, turning back around, walking toward the limo. “I am not a child.”
I bent my head down and scooted inside, appreciating the soft, leather seats, making sure I sat on the opposite side. I didn’t want to sit next to Mr. Gorgeous after his earlier comment. Just because he has money, doesn’t mean he can be rude.
Once everyone was in the limo, we started down the road. I focused my attention towards the window, looking at the scenery. I tried to ignore him, but he wasn’t going to let me.
He crossed his legs and placed his hands in his lap. “Don’t think for one minute I am releasing you from our contract. You still will find my daughter while you stay with me for the time being.”
“We have no contract,” I couldn’t help pointing out. “You didn’t sign it.”
He nodded his head in agreement. “I know I didn’t sign it. But I’m not letting you stay at my home for free. You will still search for her.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t want my staying there to be a bother to you.”
He choose to ignore me. “I believe Naraku is also involved with my daughter’s case.”
“What makes you say that?”
Mr. Tashio shifted his body around to stare at me. “My office has been looking into his crimes. I believe he has heard about it and is using my daughter as leverage.”
Suddenly, everything became clear. “You want to make a trade.”
“What are you talking about, Miss Higurashi? A trade for what?”
I rolled my eyes at him. He can’t be this stupid. “Naraku has obviously contacted you and offered an exchange. Me for your daughter.”
He shook in head in disbelief. “The thought had not even crossed my mind and I can assure you that Naraku hasn’t even contacted me about that.”
“But you’re not denying he hasn’t contacted you at all,” I pointed out.
“You are too smart for your own good, Miss Higurashi. I wouldn’t have expected it from you.”
I wanted to argue with him about that comment, but I thought against it. We already have been fighting like an old married couple. “Call me by my first name, Kagome. I hate being referred to as Miss Higurashi. It’s so informal.”
“In that case you can address me by first name, Sesshoumaru.”
I got the feeling that he was on to something and our previous words caused me to believe he wanted to know about my past with Naraku. What other reason could there be? He has been mentioning his name a lot. “I know what you’re up to,” I said to him, wishing I didn’t agree to leave the hotel with him. “You want to know my involvement with Naraku, am I right?”
He didn’t deny it. “I was going to let you settle at my home before I asked you about your past, but since you brought the subject up, I believe I will ask you a few questions.”
I had no objections with him asking questions. I didn’t have to answer them.
Sesshoumaru had seen my refusal. I could feel his body tense beside me. “You will have to tell me about your past at some point,” he spoke. “My daughter can be found with the information you keep from me.”
I forced myself to look him in the eye. “There are many things you don’t want to know about,” I answered, choosing to tell him the truth. “Trust me on that. There are some things I have done for him that I am not proud of and if I reveal those things to you, I could incriminate myself.”
“By not saying anything, you are already incriminating yourself. I only want the truth. I want to bring my daughter home.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”
He sighed. “So be it.”
No regrets I reminded myself. Even though Sesshoumaru’s silence was making me feel guilty. He might not hate me, but he really doesn’t like me at the moment.
We continued to give each other the silent treatment the rest of the way to his home. I could tell he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He was probably thinking of ways to make me reveal all that I knew to him, and it wouldn’t work.
I sank back against the leather seats of the limo and returned to look out the window once more.
I had thought I would be safe from Naraku if I went to stay with Sesshoumaru. But now, I don’t know who’s worse. The criminal or the gorgeous guy who would do anything for the sake of his daughter.
To be continued…