InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride & Predjudice: A Sesshomaru Tale ❯ Beneath, Between, Beyond ( Chapter 25 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Twenty Five:

Beneath, Between, Beyond:

Kagome leaned back in the leather seat of the mustang while the radio blasted Wave 104. She tuned out the music and wished she knew what was going on but so far there had been no updates.

Rin stretched out and hung her bare foot out of the open window. Kagome watched in disbelief as she began to swing it to the beat of the Velvet Revolver song on the radio.

“Get your feet down, were you raised in a barn?”

Rin rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Inuyasha doesn't care.”

Kagome threw back, “I'd be willing to make you a wager on that one.”

A group of Coastal Carolina students were in the parking lot selling candy bars to raise money for hurricane relief. Rin watched them and was dying to be free of the tiny confides of the car.

“Damn it!” she muttered. “What is taking them so freaking long?”

Kagome answered, “It's only been three hours. Who knows how long it'll take to track down Naraku and find Kanna. Relax already.”

Rin snorted. “They've killed people in less time than this. This is taking way too long. I was hoping to get out not rot in this car.”

Kagome chastised. “It's not my fault you insisted on coming or that Sesshomaru threaten my life if I were to let you step one foot outside the damn car. Lay off.”

“He wouldn't kill you.”

Kagome check her cell phone display for the hundredth time. “I'm not so sure about that.”

Rin pulled a pack of gum from her purse and popped a stick in her mouth. “If he wanted to kill ya then you'd be dead and not here babysitting me.”

Kagome dismissed her. “You're exaggerating. I'm hardly your sitter.”

Rin laughed. “Hell yes you are.” She pushed another piece of gun between her lips. “I'm notorious and they want to make sure I stay outta trouble.”

Kagome leaned her head on her knuckles while propping her elbow on the car window sill. “Yeah you're such a bad ass.”

Rin laughed, “Care to make a wager on that one?”

Kagome sighed, “Sure kiddo. What do you want?”

Rin thought, “My own personal bottle of Crown Royal.”

Kagome turned to her. “I'm not giving an underage girl alcohol.”

Rin challenged. “What's the matter, afraid I might win?”

“No, it's just a stupid bet. And if, no make that when, you lose what'll I get from you?”

Rin smacked her gum. “That's easy. If Inuyasha screws up and doesn't get back together with you then…I'll give him a hair cut.”

Kagome blinked. “What?”

Rin put her arms behind her head and leaned back. “Really, if I can't shock you with my past exploits and Inuyasha stays broken up with you then I will personally sneak into his room and cut off both of his fetlocks.”

“He'd kill you.” Kagome was certain.

Rin shrugged, “I'll do it the day I go back Julliard. He'll have till Christmas to get over it.” She grinned and added, “I'll mail them to you as proof. You can even give me a self addressed envelope one of those big ones should do the trick. I'll mail it from the airport. ”

Kagome pondered this outrageous deal. Normal she would never do something this stupid but Inuyasha had rubbed her heart raw. Besides Rin wouldn't really do that…would she?

“Okay brat. You're on.”

Rin smiled and cracked her gum. “Oh where do I begin…?”

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Naraku sat under the pier on a sand dune watching Kanna pretend

she wasn't afraid. Hours earlier when he pulled the knife out to slash his own leg she damn near fainted. It was very funny and he quite enjoyed tracing her nose, eyelids and lips with the sharp

blade before turning it on himself then mopping up the blood with a sock. He'd lift her unscathed but shaking.

Kanna did not know any of the Inu yokai so she had no idea that they could track them by the scent of his blood. Now she sat holding her knees to her chest alarmed and confused. Naraku wasn't disappointed by this development. He liked her this way, quiet, shaky and obedient. In fact if the whole stinking Inu clan wasn't in hot pursuit than then he would've been having the time of his life.

Kagura was beyond frantic. So much so that she'd sent her fancy blue blooded boyfriend after him. He'd realized the full extent of his growing problems when he caught Koga's scent on the wind. But they were crazy if they thought the sloppy wolf had a chance in hell of bringing him in.

The worst part of the situation was he needed to ditch the kid before his meeting in the morning. He regretted not being able to keep her for a while longer just to play with. He gave a mental shrug. Who knows, maybe he could ditch his pursuers and just leave the girl in a place for safe keeping until after he'd sold the stadium plans to the man in brown.

Usually he dealt in weapons but this time it was the security schematics to Panther Stadium in down town Charlotte NC. The man in brown was willing to pay a great deal of money and Roger had been more than willing to branch out his business and locate them. Naraku didn't know what his intentions for the plans were but he sure as hell wasn't going any where near Charlotte for the 2005 football season. It sucks too, cause the Panthers are my boys… Guess they won't have a chance at the Super Bowl this yeareither.

He turned his attention to the candy bar that served as dinner. Wonder how much time I have before they realize I tricked the human P.I.?

Naraku smirked. Silly woman, sending a human after me…what was she thinking? If I get away from this I think I'll thank her for the donation of her skinny sister by sending her tickets anonymously to the next home game. Course, maybe I'll get lucky and she'll be working late that day… in her tiny glass office right over the stadium.

He turned and smiled at Kanna. Her candy bar lay untouched by her converse sneakers. “Aren't ya hungry?”

She shook her head and he picked up the candy bar. “Hey whatever, suit yourself.” He pulled down the wrapper and bit into the chocolate candy goodness.

I could really fuck with Kagura and send her sister back to her piece by tiny piece. That'd be more fun than dragging her around with me. Of course the post office does have that stupid rule about mailing body parts…hazardous waste my ass.

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Kagura sat on the bench and allowed Sesshomaru to bring her a bottle of water. She took a gulp of the cold water and downed her antibiotics. He watched her as if she'd change her mind at the last moment and spit them out.

It was getting later by the moment and so far they circled the whole strip three times with no luck. By the time they passed the No Cruising sign that read: `it is illegal to pass this point more than once every hour', for the third time; Kagura was dejected.

This only served to shorten Sesshomaru's already non-existent fuse. He snapped at Inuyasha. “We aren't moving fast enough! Damn it, I know he is right under our noses.”

Inuyasha didn't know how to react. Sesshomaru was the expert of cool, calm and collected. Except for when Rin eloped with Naraku this was only the second time he'd witnessed Sesshomaru losing control.

Kagura drank her water and Sesshomaru stepped away to study the darkened beach from the board walk. Sesshomaru's claws dug into the wooden rail. He stood in silence while a quick whip of fire flew from his fingertips and singed the rail. Smoke wafted into the air around his head.

Inuyasha put his hand on Sesshomaru's shoulder. It felt out of place. Usually Sesshomaru was calm while Inuyasha was ill rational. He couldn't think of another time when the roles were reversed as they were at that moment.

“Keep it up and we're gonna need a fire extinguisher.”

Sesshomaru shot him a death glare and pushed his hand away. “You are touching me at your own risk.”

“Maybe but you needed a reality check. We've been through worse than this.”

Sesshomaru answered flatly. “She hasn't.”

“Sure she has, didn't she lose her parents?”

Sesshomaru turned his head and studied the young woman on the bench who was checking the messages on her cell phone. She was upset but still calm. She was taking the whole thing one moment at a time.

Inuyasha added, “See even the weak human is handling this better than you are, and it's her sister who's missing.”

Sesshomaru spat, “He is mocking us.” His fingers burned deeper into the rail. “He will pay.”

Inuyasha replied, “Ya know maybe you should go wait in the car with Rin and Kagome. You aren't much help in this condition.”

Sesshomaru's eyes cut into Inuyasha's face. “Father is long dead and will be none the wiser if I were to slit your throat.”

Inuyasha accepted the gauntlet. “Anytime you think you're big enough. But isn't this a waste of time, to attack me when it's really Naraku you want?”

“Perhaps but it will still be satisfying”.

Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest. “You wouldn't really do it.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Inuyasha cocked a brow. “Easy, you'd hate to ruin those nice white pants with my filthy blood.”

Sesshomaru shrugged. “Good point.”

Inuyasha leaned over the rail and inhaled deeply. A furrow appeared in his forehead and his ears fell flat against his head. “Do you smell that?”

Sesshomaru drew in a deep breath. “Smell what?”

“Half brother, don't tell me you are losing your nose in your old age.”

Sesshomaru's clawed hand reached for Inuyasha's neck but he easily dodged the half hearted attempt. “What is it?”

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. “Fear. Naked human fear. That has gotta mean something.”

Sesshomaru's nose found the scent and he was enraged his emotions had distracted him from detecting it earlier. “It's coming from below us.”

Sesshomaru called to Kagura, “Stay here!” Then he lifted himself up and jumped over the rail directly to the beach. Inuyasha followed and they hit the sand running.

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Kagura watched them leap over the railing. There they go with out me. Why won't anyone stop and tell me what the hell is going on!

She gritted her teeth as they ran across the sand without as much as a backward glance. Maybe they saw him?

She felt a chill under the warm late summer sun and pulled the windbreaker around her chest. Her cell phone rang and Kagura's pulse jumped. She flipped it open before the third ring. She didn't recognize the number on the display but it had an 843 Myrtle Beach area code.

“Hello?”

A confident male voice answered. “Kagura.”

Shit, it's really him. “Naraku?”

“Yeah babe, it's me. It's been what three weeks since we last spoke. I wasn't sure you'd remember me.”

Kagura's rage built up inside her and she imagined she could feel her finger nails grow with it. She wished she had Sesshomaru's claws. “Where is she?”

He paused than said. “Who?”

“You know damn well who.”

Naraku chuckled. “I guess I do. That is the reason I'm calling, not because I like you, which I do. A lot.”

“Where is she?”

He sighed. “If you must know, Kanna is here with me. I'd like to stage a family reunion. Why don't you meet me at the Gay Dolphin gift shop? It closes in ten minutes but I'm throwing an after hours party.”

Kagura was struck by blind panic but her logical banker sense kicked in. “How do I know you really have her?”

He mumbled something, dropped the phone and moments later Kagura heard the unmistakable shrill screams of her younger sister.

Naraku picked up the receiver. “Was that proof enough for you?”

“What the hell did you do to her?”

He answered in a nonchalant tone. “Pulled out a good chuck of that short silver hair, it's nothing that won't grow back in good time.”

Kagura took a deep breath and began to pray silently. Naraku added.

“Oh yeah, and I want you to come alone. If I see so much as a shadow of one those mutts I will slit her pretty throat from ear to ear. Or maybe I'll run and you'll never see her again then I could mail you her body parts from all over the country.”

Kagura sobbed. “No!”

He continued in an amused voice. “An ear from Philadelphia. A tongue from New York City, perhaps a finger from San Francisco.”

“Please don't!”

“Well than I guess you'd better get over here then. I can see you're alone so now is the perfect time to slip away.”

Kagura looked up and saw the glass tower of the Gay Dolphin only blocks away. He must be looking through their telescope.

“Oh and Kagura do hurry. If I get bored things could get… ugly. And frankly there is nothing sweeter than young pussy.”

Kagura's flesh crawled and her knuckles turned white where she was clutching the cell phone. “I'm gonna fucking kill you. I swear to God, I am coming over there and I will kill you.”

He laughed. “Good luck with that. I guess I'll be seeing ya.”

Click. He was gone and her stomach heaved.

Kagura scanned the beach but saw no sign of Inuyasha or Sesshomaru. Okay what do I do? She couldn't just leave without a note or something. But Naraku would probably see her leave a note and God only knows what he'd do to Kanna.

She closed her eyes and tried to find a rational train of thought. Then it came. Scent, they can track me if I leave them something to follow… Now all she needed were the bread crumbs of the odor word.

Kagura dug through her purse but wasn't surprised when she found no perfume or even lip gloss. Kagome has a bag full of crap, I wish she was here. Even my free sample of that awful blood red lipstick would come in handy… I could draw an arrow or something…freaking hell!

That's it, blood. They will find me faster with that anyway.

Kagura turned her back to the Gay Dolphin tower and pulled out her small Swiss Army Knife. She popped the blade open and made a fast shallow cut on the inside of her upper arm. I'd prefer a finger but I might need to fight later on and don't want an injured hand.

She held the jacket open and allowed a few drops of blood to hit the wood board walk. She also made sure to leave a few on the rail. I hope this is enough…it has to be.

Kagura turned and continued down the walkway slowly to make sure she left enough droplets for the Inu Yokai to track later.

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Sesshomaru beat Inuyasha to the dunes under the pier. There were two distinct impressions in the sand of human rear ends surrounded by empty candy bar wrappers and nothing else.

The scent was strong but fading. They'd missed them. Sesshomaru growled. “We've been set up again.”

Inuyasha nodded. “Why send us out here? Were we closing in on him?”

Sesshomaru's anger showed in his vulpine expression. “We've given him exactly what he wanted. We left Kagura alone.”

He turned and flew back toward the boardwalk but even before he climbed up over the railing he knew it was too late.

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Kagura finally arrived at the front door of the tall pink gift shop. The Gay Dolphin was one of the oldest buildings on the strip. It was easily forty years old and had survived numerous hurricanes including the infamous category four Hugo. It was five or maybe even six or seven, stories of possibly every piece of touristy souvenir crap ever made. Some of the stair wells were blocked off and so many floors had ramps and back stairways the place was more Winchester Mystery House than gift shop.

This was hardly the ideal place to chase down a bastard, psychotic hanyou. Naraku would have every advantage. This is madness…

She was greeted by a young blonde man with a German accent. “Good evening! We close in five minutes. It's ten fifty five.”

“I know…thanks.” Kagura's first choice came quickly. Immediately past the steps was the iron stair case. She could go up or down.

I really wanna a weapon. But the only thing that jumped out to her was the wall of bamboo back scratchers. I guess my best bet is to distract him until Sesshou gets here. Then if he is up in the tower I need to get him down, I don't want him to have any warning or to see if I was followed.

So the choice was made and she began the long climb up the stair case. She looked down and saw the wishing fountain many levels below on the ground floor. Kagura plucked a quarter from her jeans and dropped it as she pounded up the stairs. Hell I need all the good luck I can get about now.

Kagura reached the loft and highest level of the gift shop. A long table with buckets of beads for necklace making sat in the quiet room. Her heart jumped when she saw a man with long hair but he was only the old Cigar Indian. She was almost to the top of the stairs and the observation deck.

It was closed and a chain hung over the rail. Kagura knelt down and slipped under it. Her head peeked over the floor of the observation deck. But it was empty. She climbed up the rest of the stairs and on the black metal floor sat a thick swatch of Kanna's silver hair.

Kagura picked it up. That monster wasn't kidding. He's capable of anything. She dropped a quarter into the telescope and scanned the streets for Sesshomaru or Inuyasha. The streets were crowded and her hands shook too much to hold the telescope steady. She gave up looking and climbed back down the wrought iron steps.

She was between floors when the building was plunged into complete darkness. Great, well at least now I know he's here. She stepped off the stairs and into the practical joke gallery. Squirt guns, nasty gum, fake vomit and whoopee cushions hung from every surface.

Kagura picked her way through a maze of personalized license plates softly lit by tiny security lights. The place was tomb quiet.

She thought of the young German student she'd met earlier and hopped Naraku hadn't hurt him.

She went down a set of low steps and found her self next to the candy counter. A large jar of giant two pound jaw breakers sat on the counter. Kagura picked up five and stuffed them into the pockets of the windbreaker. Until I find something else this is better than nothing. If I see him from the distance I can nail in the head.

Kagura moved past spinning shelves of used romance novels and came to the largest Precious Moments collection she'd ever seen. The pale porcelain faces appeared sinister under the pale security lights. Kagura continued on hoping to find even an ornamental sword or bat anything she could use. Of course I'll probably just find Naraku first. I wonder if he can see me.

She put her hand in the jacket pocket and grasped the cell phone. A red light from a security camera caught her attention.Better not use the cell, I bet Naraku's on the other side of that camera. There goes the element of surprise. She dropped the phone and took her hand from her pocket.

But if The Gay Dolphin was like the other beach stores than it had cameras outside as well. I'd better call him out before he realizes help is on the way…at least I sure as hell hope it is.

Kagura went behind a glass counter filled with gaudy costume jewelry and found a pad of paper and thick black marker. She made a sign, held it up the camera than waited.

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Sesshomaru was incensed. The smell of Kagura's blood was all over the wood planks of the board walk. It was mere droplets but still…

Inuyasha pointed out. “She's taken her purse with her. Naraku would've left it here for us. I don't think he's carried her off.”

That was almost worse. “She wouldn't leave without telling me… After what happened earlier we came to an understanding. Also this was a trap.” His eyes were red, his claws fully extended and his ears were growing.

Inuyasha said. “Yeah but it doesn't make sense.”

Sesshomaru was past caring about sense. He began to track the blood trail knowing it would lead to Kagura and possibly Naraku. Inuyasha followed him calling out. “Hey, calm down or else we are going to have to pick up a leash for ya if you get my drift.”

Sesshomaru stopped. “You're right; it wouldn't be to our advantage to met Naraku in a less than…civilized form.” He took a deep breath and transformed back to his usual detached self. “Let's go.”

Inuyasha muttered sarcastically under his breath. “What no, thank you Inuyasha…Ugh! He's such an ungrateful bastard.”

Sesshomaru called back over his shoulder. “I may be out of control but I am not deaf!”

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Notes:

Wednesday 20, August. Thailand's women's prison

4:30pm: You see. Even when things seem bad, still enlightening things happen. Screwed-up paper (the prison guard allowed me to keep) was Dad's poem from book club that Mark (Darcy) gave me. Am going to read and think of finer things.

“If” by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep you head when all about you

Are losing theirs and…

Oh my God. Oh my GOD. Do they still have beheading in Thailand?

…..Bridget Jones's The Edge of Reason, (the book) Helen Fielding 1999