InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Patchwork Family ❯ The House By the Sea ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: All Inuyasha characters and references belong to the creator of Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi and published by Shogakukan. Any other characters are more than likely my own creation. If I borrow from another story I will do my best to make sure I give credit where credit is due.

*Also: fun fact… I lived in a place once that was very similar to how I describe Rosalind’s apartment. The memory was a gross sort of inspiration, lol >.<
***

When Inuyasha pulled onto Rosalind’s street, he looked the place over, trying to determine if anything was out of the ordinary. There were vehicles and people all over the place but this was nearly a down town area, and only a few blocks away from Humboldt University. He cursed under his breath as he pulled into a parking spot near the shop Rosalind lived above. This place was a logistical nightmare. It was well enough that she would be leaving it behind.

He pulled open the door next to the downstairs shop entrance and leaped up the creaking steps, finding the door wearing rusting metal characters marking it as number 28C. He knocked and called out, “it’s me, open up.” Footsteps quickly approached the other side of the door and it swung open, revealing a somewhat flustered Rosalind, her scent laced with nerves and a little fear. He frowned; it was a rare moment when Rosalind was legitimately afraid of anything. Despite her quiet demeanor, she was a courageous little thing.

“You’re here! That was fast. I’m still packing.” Inuyasha stepped forward and closed the door, locking and bolting it behind him as he scolded her “You didn’t even ask who I was. I could have been anybody.”

Rosalind flashed him a smile. “I could tell it was you. I’ll be done in a few minutes. Am I going to your place?” Inuyasha shook his head. “No, there are two empty beds at headquarters. That’s safest. Keep it movin’.”

He motioned for her to hurry and she dashed back into her bedroom. Inuyasha stood in the living room and while he listened to the rattle of clothes hangers his frown turned into a scowl. This place was a dump. He felt momentary guilt and wondered how she’d managed to stay in a place like this without the rest of them noticing.

There was only a few folding chairs and a wooden card table that looked like someone’s dog had chewed the legs. On top of the table sat an old Dell computer. The carpet was threadbare, stained and torn in places. The cracked linoleum in the kitchen was curled up at the edges all around the room where it had never been secured to the floor. The ceiling had once been white, but was now a grayish color, dotted with water stains.

The windows were ancient, but at least it looked like she’d installed new locks on them. That was a small thing though, as the deteriorating wood frame might come apart without too much trouble, even for a human. As he walked into the short hallway and passed the bathroom he wrinkled his nose, smelling the poison she’d put down to ward away insects. The bathroom was worse than the kitchen. He could see a few ants crawling out of the hole in the wall around the shower head.

When he walked into the bedroom, the look on his face must have mirrored his thoughts because Rosalind flushed a little and looked embarrassed. She continued to roll clothes up tightly and cram them into a duffle bag. “It’s not much but it’s what I could afford with my paycheck from the bakery, and still be able to put something away in savings. On top of that it’s close enough to walk to work in about a minute.”

Inuyasha frowned at her, his expression approaching thunderous. “You know damn well that we would have given you a hand. We don’t let anyone live like this if we can help it. Someone actually has the nads to charge rent for this place?”

Rosalind looked at him again with an answering frown as she folded another shirt. “It may be a crappy place Inuyasha but it’s mine… was mine.” She looked around for a moment and sighed, moving around the room quickly and stuffing things into a backpack.

Inuyasha continued to talk as she went into the bathroom. “It’s not like it would have been accepting charity. You contribute to what we have as a whole, so part of that is supposed to go to your needs. You’re owed a portion. That’s how this is supposed to work and you’ve been with us long enough to know that. It’s been what… ten years now?”

Rosalind came back in, her arms full of toiletries. She shrugged and said, “yes, ten years, but I was a kid half of that time, so I never did actually put much in. If anything I owed for what it cost to keep me when I was younger.”

Inuyasha crossed his arms as she shoved things into her backpack. “That’s a load of crap. You put in plenty. Besides the money, you watch the kids all the time. You tutor Kohaku and Rin. Whenever we get together you do almost all the cooking. You help Miroku deal with the book keeping for the garage and house accounts; and a million other things. There’s no reason you couldn’t have told Sesshomaru you needed some cash to put towards a place to live.”

She paused for a moment then, her backed turned to him, then she zipped up her backpack and said softly, “Sesshomaru has done a lot for me over the years; you all have. I don’t need money on top of everything else.”

Inuyasha sighed heavily and watched her bend to pull a milk crate of art materials out of her now empty closet and toss her long black woolen coat over the top of it. It looked like the only good quality piece of clothing she had, and he knew it had been a Christmas present from Sango the year before. When she set that on the bed next to her big duffel and backpack, she gave the room a cursory glance, grabbed her pillow, and said, “I’m ready.”

Inuyasha frowned again. “This is everything? This isn’t just a visit. You aren’t coming back. It isn’t safe if Naraku has this address.”

She met his eyes then and he let his expression soften a little as she asked, “don’t you think I know that? Yes- this is everything.” Inuyasha nodded and began to unbutton his shirt. Rosalind’s cheeks flushed and she raised her brows, a little perplexed. “What are you doing?”

Inuyasha smirked a little, keeping his tone light and teasing when he smelled her scent tinged with more nervous energy, and said, “relax, I know I’m irresistible but we don’t have time for that. Get out a bulky sweater or something. It’s only March. It won’t look weird.” As the buttons were undone, she saw the Kevlar vest. She huffed a little and grumbled, “ass.”

Inuyasha snorted and pulled the shirt off so he could shrug out of the vest. She looked a little exasperated, but pulled out a large gray sweatshirt that said ‘Chicago’ across the front. He held out the vest and she just looked at him for a moment. “Is that really necessary?”

Inuyasha nodded. “We already know Naraku’s been looking for your address and has it, so yes. Just in case someone’s monitoring your door and sees you coming out with bags- better to be safe and a little paranoid.” She shivered slid her arms through the vest. When he let the weight of it settle on her shoulders she made a small sound of discomfort and muttered, “it’s heavy.”

Inuyasha nodded, “that’s right, there’s ceramic plate in it. Sorry, it’s a little big. I didn’t have a smaller one.”

“That’s okay,” she said with resignation. “Thanks Inuyasha.”

He grabbed the duffle and backpack and slung them over his shoulders while she donned the sweatshirt and picked up her plastic crate. As they walked back through the front room, he looked out the window from an angle for a long minute. He noticed a white van with a cable company logo on it. “Have you seen this Comcast van out here before?”

Rosalind came and stood back from the window with him, peering out. After a moment of thought she shook her head. “I don’t think so. There was a beat up, blue, one-ton truck from the electric company that’s been around a lot lately though, just sitting on the street. But this is the first I’ve seen that van.”

Inuyasha scanned the street another moment for a truck like the one she described, but there were none to be found. As they went to the door he asked, “are there any groceries we should come back in for? I have some empty bags and a cooler in the back of the Jeep.” She shook her head. “No, don’t worry about it.”

When Inuyasha looked at her, she said defensively, “I haven’t gone shopping yet this week, okay?” He didn’t respond, but pulled the door open and stepped out into the dusty hallway, wrinkling his sensitive nose at the stink of stale cigarette ash that clung to the manky orange carpet. Rosalind pulled the door shut and locked it before they started down the steps. When she made to open the door he shook his head. “I want you to back up and stay behind me.”

She rolled her eyes but acquiesced and stayed in line behind him as he shouldered the door open. They made their way across the sidewalk to his Jeep and he tossed her bags into the back before quickly pulling the black canvas top up over the frame. While Rosalind opened the passenger side and set her crate on the floor, he reached over her to finish tying the top in place. She climbed in and he closed her door, quietly ordering, “scoot down in the seat a little so you aren’t that visible. It’s probably not necessary but…”

Rosalind gave him a small smile and a nod, scooting down in her seat. “But better paranoid and safe, I got it.” Inuyasha nodded and walked around the Jeep to the driver’s side They turned south on the highway, left Arcata, and had entered the next-door town of Eureka with no sign of anyone following them. Rosalind watched the water of the bay out the window for ten minutes before she asked, “how’s Kagome? Who’s with her?” Inuyasha felt the return of a nugget of guilt. “I locked up tight when I left and climbed out the window. She was asleep. I didn’t want to wake her up and she isn’t really up for much. There were some… developments- after you guys left.”

He saw her turn to look at him, face full of concern. “What happened? Is she ok?” Inuyasha breathed out a deep sigh and propped one elbow on the driver’s side door as he drove, shaking his head once. “I don’t know. She was already sorta shell-shocked, I think. Then she was checking around on the internet and apparently Naraku sent someone after her little brother.”

Rosalind gasped and put a hand over her mouth. “Oh no, what happened? Is he alright?”

Inuyasha didn’t say anything for a moment, only shook his head again. Then he told her, “no, he was only 13 years old. I gathered he was living with a family member up in Portland. The funeral is tomorrow.” Rosalind sat back in her seat with a sympathetic frown. “That’s awful, poor Kagome.”

“Yeah, she was pretty wrecked over it. She threw up the only solid food I managed to get into her.” His brow creased further as he remembered the blood that had come up with the partially digested chicken soup. She watched him while he navigated his way through Eureka and observed aloud, “you’re really worried about her.”

Inuyasha didn’t answer her, but it was clear in his face. She didn’t think she’d seen his brows lift since she’d opened her apartment door. After a few minutes she said, “Sesshomaru mentioned Tsubaki might be a traitor.”

Inuyasha nodded, “yeah, Kagome pulled up some records on the computer that had her picture. Apparently she’s seen her before, reporting to Naraku. She was there with him and saw it happening for months.” Inuyasha didn’t mention the bit about Tsubaki being the one to administer the drugs that were keeping Kagome from being able to function well enough to fight back or get away. The thought made his teeth clench so hard his jaw hurt. He briefly recalled that she’d said she was looking to steal back something Naraku had taken, and he wondered again what could be so important? It had gotten her father, uncle, and brother killed and nearly put her in an early grave as well.

Distantly, he heard Rosalind ask, “is that how Naraku found out where I was? Did Kagome tell you he found me?” Inuyasha pulled himself from his thoughts and looked over at her. “Yeah. Kagome said she heard Tsubaki give Naraku an address near the college.”

“My address,” Rosalind said, shuddering a little inside at what might have happened if Kagome hadn’t fallen into their midst with the information that Naraku was looking for her.

“Afraid so, I don’t know what else it could be,” Inuyasha said. “She didn’t hear much more than that. They were keeping her pretty messed up, I get the impression she was in and out.”

“Gods… is there anything else I can do to help?” Rosalind asked.

Inuyasha shook his head. “I don’t think so. And it’s probably best for you to stay at headquarters for now if Naraku’s trying to track you down. Gabriel or I are gonna set up something so we’ll know if anyone drops by looking for you.”

“Do you think someone will?” she asked, hesitantly.

“I think it’s a good possibility. He’s had the information for a week. I’m just glad nothing happened before we found out.” He smelled the sour tinge of fear in her scent again and looked at her. She was looking out the window, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. “You’ll be safe at headquarters with Sess,” he added, trying to reassure her.

When the fear and anxiety didn’t seem to fade at all, he said something he knew would help. “Rin will be excited to see you. She’ll think it’s the best sleepover ever.” His words had the expected effect and she smiled a little, thoughts of the girl relaxing her. “Yes,” she said softly. “That’ll be nice. I know she thinks the world of Sesshomaru but I think she gets a little lonely. There’s no one else around right now is there?”

“Nah, a half dozen of Sesshomaru’s people from Japan have been staying there while they’re in the country on business, but I think they leave tomorrow. Other than that, the place has kinda been empty. I guess it might be lonely for a kid. If I’d seen what you were living in, I would’ve dragged your ass out here sooner.”

“Inuyasha, what about my job?” she asked suddenly, the thought just now occurring to her. He put on his blinker and turned onto a road that went west again, to the coast, and said, “I guess you could commute. It’s only about 20 minutes each way, but if they know your home address…”

“Then they probably know where I work, too. It’s right down the block,” she said, sounding resigned. “What am I going to tell Gerard? I can’t just call him up and say, ‘hey sorry, I quit, I can’t show up at 4 a.m. tomorrow because there may or may not be some boogeymen out to get me.’”

Inuyasha turned left onto a wide gravel drive that led out to the large house nestled against a stone ridge, looking out to sea. The afternoon light shown on the large front yard where Rin was playing with the gigantic Newfoundland dog she’d been given almost two years ago.

The dog, Axel, was easily twice the size of the little girl. Rosalind laughed and the fear and nervousness left her as she watched Rin throw the dog’s rubber ball, at which point the dog would chase it down, grab it in his big mouth, and then run back to Rin with such enthusiasm that he wound up knocking her over in the grass. Both Axel and Rin paused their game as Inuyasha pulled up to the house. After a second’s surprise they both got up and ran over to the Jeep.

Rin’s whole face lit up when she saw Rosalind step out onto the driveway. “Rosie’s here!” the girl yelled, laughing. Axel barked a few times in a manner that clearly said, ‘belly scratcher is here!!!’ Rosalind knelt down to open her arms to both girl and dog. Inuyasha shook his head and rolled his eyes as she let the dog lick her face.

“Yes, I’m here,” Rosalind said. “It’s good to see you guys too. Where’s Papa, Rin?”

Rin shrugged. “I don’t know. I think he’s talking to the people on the wall in his office.” Rosalind raised a brow and Inuyasha hefted her bags out of the jeep and onto his shoulders again. “I think he said he had a meeting with someone in London. They must sleep about as much as he does. It’s something like midnight there,” he explained.

Rosalind collected her crate from the front seat and Rin led them and the happy dog into the house. This was a property they’d bought eight years earlier, after Rin’s mother had died. The Wardens had been looking for a place to outfit as a central headquarters, and the house was a broken down mess piled on the rocks near the shore.

Sesshomaru had needed a project to throw himself into, and so they’d purchased it for a small amount and he went to work. Rin had just been a baby at the time-- a newborn, and he’d hired a nurse, AnnMarie, who’d stayed on as a nanny of sorts. Just after Rin had turned two, the woman’s grown children had begun to have babes of their own, and she’d moved back to the east coast. Inuyasha remembered the tearful goodbyes and knew that the woman still wrote letters to both Rin and Rosalind, and even on occasion Sesshomaru.

Rin turned as they came through the big front door into the tile entryway, and saw the bags Inuyasha was carrying. “Are you guys staying?” she asked, sounding hopeful. “Is Kagome coming too?”

Inuyasha was surprised she remembered Kagome’s name after only meeting her once, and when the little girl was half asleep. He shook his head. “Afraid not Little Bit. Rosie’s going to stay here for a while. I’m gonna to talk to Otosan and head back to my house so Kagome isn’t all alone. She’s still not feeling good.”

Rin nodded her understanding and then said, “wait here a sec,” and ran at top speed down the hallway to the back of the house, the dog chasing after her, tail a-wag. Inuyasha rolled his eyes, this time with good humor, and hefted the bags. He followed the girl to the back hallway, his boots squeaking a little on the terra cotta tile. He called back over his shoulder, “do you know which room you want?”

Rosalind followed after him, shrugging. “It doesn’t matter.” Inuyasha turned right, down a hall that ran across the back of the house where the spare rooms were, and passed several closed doors before he came to one that was open. After a moment’s pause he passed it and went to the one at the end of the hall. Privately Rosalind appreciated this, as she didn’t know the people who were here from Japan and wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of being right next to strangers.

He dropped her bags on the bed and she followed him in, setting her crate down on the writing desk that sat under a window; out of which she could see the ocean. She’d forgotten how much she missed the ocean. She’d spent several years living in this house when she was a younger teenager, and had mixed feelings about the fact that it felt so good to be back.

Rosalind pulled her sweater off and undid the straps on the Kevlar vest she still wore over her t-shirt. When she managed to get out of it she handed the armor back to Inuyasha, meeting his eyes pointedly. “Tell him I said thanks.” Inuyasha just shrugged and snorted. “For what? This place belongs to you just as much as the rest of us. Get over it.” And with that, he turned and left. That sounded like him, sometimes gruff, but caring.