InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Smokes and Mirrors ❯ One Step Closer ( Chapter 17 )

Smokes and Mirrors

 

Chapter 17: One Step Closer

 

All she wanted was a minute. Just one lousy minute when she could sit down and enjoy her first week-end back home. Did she get that one pitiful little minute? Of course! But did it last? Of course not! This is Kagome Higurashi we're talking about here. It was predefined in the great book of life that hers was going to be living Hell, and that it would not be getting better anytime soon.

 

Kagome was at her second cup of Ramen when she decided a bit of quality TV viewing wouldn't hurt. Since she's been on the move, she hasn't had the opportunity to just sit and watch whatever was on at the moment.

 

She placed her cup on the table as to not spill the hot liquid before she settled down on the couch. Grabbing the remote controller, as well as her cup, she turned the colorful box on. Shifting through the channels twice, nothing caught her attention. So instead, she turned it off, replace her half-eaten cup of noodles on the coffee table and got up to turn the radio on.

 

Some sappy love song was playing at the moment. Kagome rolled her eyes. It was nowhere near what she listened to, but it was far better than listening to the sounds an empty silent house could produce. Moving back to the couch, she heard someone barrel through the front door. Peeking down the hall, she noticed her grand-father fiddling with the locks.

 

“Grampa?”

 

The old man jumped several feet in the air. Holding his hand over his rapidly beating heart and leaning heavily against the wooden door, he scolded his grand-daughter. “Don't ever sneak-up on me like that!”

 

A quick apology later, the old man ushered the girl away from the door, fully ignoring the knocks coming through. Shrugging off the reasons why he wouldn't answer, Kagome sat down on the couch for the second time. The song was coming at an end and the radio announcer's animate voice could be heard. All movement in the house ceased as that same voice boomed louder than it normally should.

 

***

 

He couldn't believe his eyes. It had only been but fifteen minutes since the news hit the fan and the whole press party was already camped outside the Higurashi residence. They completely took over the shrine grounds with their equipments. That wasn't all: more were still coming!

 

Both Taka's approached the shrine steps, followed closely by a dozen police officers and a hoard of reporters.

 

“Sir, are the rumors true? - Has the killer been found? - What is your next plan of action?”

 

Questions after questions were being thrown at them non-stop. Neither father nor son said anything to anyone. Police men kept their mouths shut as they tried to keep the crowd at bay while the two agents made their way up the main stairs. They were nearly at the top when everyone's attention was drawn to the bottom steps. Turning around, Toga noticed a bewildered Anna being bombarded by people. Swiftly, he grabbed several cops and ran down to the woman's rescue.

 

With tears in her eyes, Anna looked at her savior. “What is going on?” She didn't get any answer as this brought forth a whole new set of questions.

 

“Weren't you informed of the latest news? - How do you feel about this? - What does your daughter think? - What's going to happen now? - Have you seen your husband's killer? - Do you know him?”

 

Loosing all strength, Anna's leg gave way. Toga caught her in time and angrily pushed his way through the mass. It took his every bit of will power to stop him from yelling at the reporters. They were just doing their jobs, but did they have to be so heartless in such a delicate situation? They were like a bunch of vultures picking at their pray, slowly dissecting them till there was nothing left but bones.

 

Finally reaching his previous spot where Sesshoumaru was patiently waiting, Toga found it much easier to move through the crowd. For some reason, they seemed to disperse and move out of the way, their loud voices dimming to low murmurs. One look at his son and he got his answer.

 

Never has he seen him look so cold yet focused. His conduct pretty much told the mob of people to shut up and move, or face the consequences. The tall young man could be excessively intimidating when need be. This was beyond daunting, though. This was down-right terrifying to all who did not know Sesshoumaru.

 

Looking down at the woman in his arms, Toga was very grateful of his son. Anna seemed so fragile in both their grasp. She wouldn't have been able to move an inch if it weren't for himself and Sesshoumaru. She was pale; her eyes momentarily blank of any emotions. Dried tears left their trail down her cheeks, her breathing shallow.

 

It took a good ten minutes to reach the house. Toga tried the door and was pleased to find it properly locked.

 

“The shrine is closed.” A man's voice yelled through the door. “This house is private property.” He shrieked some more. “Go away or I will call the police!”

 

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow while Toga stared at the closed door. Was he for real? Did he not bother to look outside his house?

 

“This is Agent Toga Taka. Open up, sir!”

 

Immediately the door flew open, revealing a very pissed off looking old man. Quickly, his features turned to worry at the sight of his daughter-in-law. “Come in, come in!” he ushered frantically. “Hurry before those meddlesome people try to barge in again!”

 

Sesshoumaru, with barely any help, guided Anna towards the living room while Toga was sending out orders. The officers were to get back-up, clear the courtyard as soon as humanly possible and block off all entry to the sacred grounds. That done, Toga closed the door to block out the annoying voices. Making his way further into the house, he took in as many details as possible. In the past six years it hasn't changed much. The walls were repainted in different colors, but could use a bit of touch-ups here and there. Other than that, the general architect of the dwelling hadn't change, and he was thankful for that.

 

The stairs leading to the second floor were farther ahead to his right. To his left was the kitchen that led to the diner room. Straight ahead was the living room. At the end, there were two doors: one led to the backyard; the other led to the gift shop and the basement. Approaching destination living room, he could here the muffled noise of angry music. Toga looked up the stairs, the source of the sound.

 

Sesshoumaru had also heard the music and was honestly surprised to hear the English alternative song blasting away. Firs thing he did once inside, though, was guide the trembling woman to the nearest comfortable chair. She was going into shock. Settling her down on the couch, he motioned for the old man to help him calm the woman down.

 

“Please, Anna,” the other man would say. “Take deep breaths. Inhale, exhale; inhale, exhale…” He would repeat those words. “My dear, you have to calm down. Everything will be alright!”

 

Whatever the old man was doing, it had helped. Anna had quieted down, but she started crying instead. The music hadn't stopped, the vocal reaching his ears.

 

I find the answers aren't so clear

Wish I could find a way to disappear

All these thoughts they make so sense

I found bliss in ignorance

Nothing seems to go away

Over and over again

 

Just like before…

 

Everything you say to me

Takes me one step closer to the edge

And I'm about to break

I need a little room to breath

Cuz I'm one step closer to the edge

And I'm about to break…

 

Funny, he thought, how well it suited the situation. Silently he was hoping the music was loud enough to reach the vultures and knock some sense into them. Remembering he heard nothing but annoying questions and the buzz of the machineries while on his way here, he figured that wouldn't be the case. Sesshoumaru's eyes roamed over to his father. He stood up and with a nod from Toga, he made his way towards the stairs.

 

Toga, on the other hand, took up his son's previous position by the frantic mother's side. He had a lot of explaining to do and he needed to be sure Anna was ready to hear it all. Rubbing his hand in soothing circles on her back, he murmured words of comfort and security in her ear.

 

The older cop looked up at the ceiling where he knew the girl's room was location. The music hadn't stop playing, but the song did change. Moments later, the sound grew louder and clearer. Now it was up to Sesshoumaru to clam the teen down.

 

***

***

 

A.N.

 

Well there you have another. How did you like it? I know I ended the last chapter with such an awful cliffy and I'm really sorry *ducks tomatoes* But that would have screwed my whole story and you might have stopped reading cuz you know what happened! Also, on a better note, I think I know why most authors threaten to not update ASAP if they don't get reviews… The more reviews an author get (in most cases that I have read) the more encouraged the author is; therefore the faster the updates, because the desire to write just washes over them and it makes them feel good to please other people! There. Geez, did that sound gay or what! LOL! Thank goodness I'm a girl… lol! (No offence to gay peeps: they are the sweetest people in the world!)

 

Shout-Outs!

 

Miaa_hiaa: Great to have you back! I'm glad you love it! Sorry about the cliffy, though. XP

 

Anime Lady P.I.M.P: LOL!!!!!! I swear your review made my day! ^_^ Thanks!

 

And thank you to the readers. PLEASE!! REVIEW! I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK!! Thanks! C-ya! ^_^

 

N.B.: This quote goes out to all those teenagers (whom btw aren't supposed to be reading this…) that try to act like adults, that ignore the fact they still are just kids. Enjoy your childhood and your youth. You only get one chance at that.

Quote: Adolescence, like snow, eventually disappears if you ignore it long enough. - Anonymous.