InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Archangel ❯ On the Edge of Forever ( Chapter 6 )

AN; Just a quick thanks for all the great reviews and a quick note on the music for this chapter. I have selected a classic, as I am prone to do. It is `Oh Fortuna', and yes it really is an opera selection. I get my stuff from the `Opera Babes' album, and if you can get you're hands on it you'll know why I chose this song. Anyways, I'll quit talking now. Hope you enjoy the story….




The Archangel



By; Undecidedly Certain



Chapter Six




On the Edge of Forever




>>>>>>>



New York City
Upper East Side Manhattan
Sunday, June 19th, 7:59 am Eastern Pacific Time



BANG, BANG, BANG!




Sesshoumaru groaned from his place on the couch and threw his arm over his face to ward off the early morning light assaulting his slightly hung over senses. Last night had been hellish in more ways than he'd like to remember and when he found that he could no longer sleep in his own bed alone he had sought his comfort in a bottle of rum.



He was angry at Kagome for not leaving when he told her to, angry at the agency for putting him in the position to begin with, but most of all he was angry at himself. He was angry at his own weakness for her and angry that he didn't just tell her the truth all along.



BANG, BANG, BANG!



And now his head was pounding something fierce and his body protested his assent into consciousness. Why was he awake again?



BANG, BANG, BANG!




“SESSHOUMARU!” Inuyasha's voice rang out through the thin walls of his apartment.



`Oh', he thought dryly, `that's why.' Perhaps if I ignore him he will go away.




BANG, BANG, BANG!




“I know you're in there!” Inuyasha bellowed, no doubt waking everyone on his floor. “Open the door before I break it in!”




So much for ignoring him. Maybe killing him would be a better option. With a heavy sigh Sesshoumaru pulled himself off the couch and staggered toward the door. He didn't have much of a hangover, but between the rum and the forced removal of his regulator chip he had one hell of a headache.



“What do you want little brother.” He snapped leaning heavily on the door frame.




“You look like shit.” Inuyasha pushed past Sesshoumaru and made himself at home in the living room.




Sesshoumaru huffed at his brothers audacity, but then again it did offer him a sense of normalcy, and no matter how small the comfort, it was there. “I don't remember inviting you in.”



“Nope, don't suppose you did, but I didn't figure you'd want to discuss this out in the hall. Too many ears ya' know.”



“Yes, since you've taken the liberty to wake everyone on the floor.” He slammed the door to his apartment and flopped into his recliner. “What do you want?” He turned his head tiredly toward his brother, who was sitting hunched over resting on his own knees on his couch. Inuyasha's long hair was braided into a long messy rope slung carelessly over his shoulder. It looked as though he had just jumped out of bed and rushed over there.




Inuyasha's look turned serious. “They need you down at head quarters. They`ve been trying to reach you all morning. What happened to you`re phone?”



“It's somewhere in central park.” Sesshoumaru answered with a shrug, earning a smirk from his brother. He regarded the younger man sitting across from him for a moment. Inuyasha had been retired from the agency for almost two years now, they must have been pretty desperate to reach him if they went through him. “I quit last night. I'm through with the agency.”




“There's a problem.”



Sesshoumaru turned his head to look out the window. The sun was coming up casting its glow into a cloudless sky. Only a faint trace of the grayish cloud of smog that seemed to cling to the city could be seen in the skies, a text book example of a beautiful day. Soon people would begin to rise to start their day, completely ignorant of the danger lurking in the darkest corners of the hell known as life.




They could care less what he gave up to ensure their freedom. To be sure that their pathetic little lives carried on another day. It didn't matter to them. It wasn't their problem.



Well it wasn't his anymore either.




“Sess…” Inuyasha started out tentatively, breeching the subject delicately. “Look, they told me what happened with Kags. Just tell her the truth, she'll understand. I'll even back you up, man.”




Sesshoumaru grunted noncommittally and continued to look out over the breaking day. An apology and a barely believable explanation, no matter how true, just didn't seem enough to erase the anguish he'd put on her face last night.




“C'mon Sess, they need you down at head quarters…they wouldn't tell me much, just that there have been complications.” Inuyasha shot his brother a side long glance, inwardly hurting for his brother, but knowing him well enough that consolation would be pointless and would serve to only further piss him off.




“It is no longer my problem.” The quiet man lounging almost bonelessly in the recliner seemed a far cry from the stealthy, tightly coiled warrior from the night before. He seemed almost diminished somehow despite the fact that his Youki was no longer being repressed and the full force of his presence was exposed.




“You really love her, huh?” Inuyasha knew it was wrong to be prying, especially at a time like this, but he just couldn't help himself. He had never seen his brother like this before.



Sesshoumaru made no reply, simply turned to look at his brother. Why was he here? Did his sick little mind find pleasure in dredging up the darkness in his heart? Reveling in his weakness? No matter, it was none of the hanyou's business. He didn't even deem the question worthy of an answer.



BEEP, BEEP, BEEP




“Hello.” Inuyasha's face paled as the faint squalor of a voice sounding suspiciously like Shippo sounded across the line. “Ok, I'll get him down there.”



Sesshoumaru quirked a brow at his brothers antics. He hadn't even been aware of his brother still keeping contact with the agency after his retirement.



“Naraku's sent you a message. He knows it was you Sess and he's pissed.”




>>>>>>>>>




New York City;
Underground Miasma Headquarters
Sunday, June 19th ; 6:22 am Eastern Pacific Time




Kagome became increasingly nervous as the night progressed into morning. She knew it had to be extremely late, or early depending on how you looked at it. Having forgotten her watch she couldn`t be exactly sure, but she knew she'd been there for several hours. She probably should have been exhausted, but adrenaline and fear were more potent than coffee anytime.




She had been dragged from Naraku`s….Onigumo`s…who ever he really was…office and down several flights of stairs. On the lower levels she had been witness to hoards of thugs, some obviously youkai, some undistinguishable aside from an odd sort of foreboding feeling she got from them, like they had dark aura`s or something. Of course she'd come into contact with humans possessing darker aura's than some Youkai.



On one level there arsenal large enough to take out most of Manhattan, a genetics testing lab where they were studying the effects of certain poisons on demon blood, and a logistics lab that could revel that of the pentagon. Most incriminatingly though she had seen Naraku's face, and she dismally noted that he did not even allow most of his men that privilege. All in all it didn't bode well for her mortality.



For the last two hours she had been sitting on a leather chase lounge in a small sitting room with an odd cross dressing guard armed with a sword that he kept slung over his shoulder. The man cast her dirty looks every now and again, just for good measure she was sure. When she'd first been tossed in there for `safe keeping' he had been sure to let her know that her `wicked female sorcery' wouldn't work on him and not to bother trying.



All that just for asking his name.



A strange sutra had bound her wrists together, though why they didn't just use duct tape she couldn't understand. Granted she was of miko blood, but she had never perused her training so what little powers she may have possessed lay dormant and harmless. Some of the beliefs of the miko council were horribly archaic and prejudiced and Kagome just couldn't bring herself to relate with such an association.



The door was suddenly slung open and in walked the baboon pelted Naraku followed closely by the same elegant woman who had come into his office earlier with the pictures of Sesshou.



His smile was shadowed by the mask, but Kagome could practically feel the malice in it. He extended a delicate hand, hands that had the blood of so many, both directly and indirectly, spilt by them. In what she was sure would be one of her last acts of defiance, she turned up her nose and rose to her feet unassisted. She saw him smirk beneath the mask as he graciously held his hand forward indicating her to exit the room.



Shooting him a questioning glare, Kagome began to nervously shuffle toward the open door. “Where are we going?” She demanded as a forceful hand was placed at her back.



“We're just going to send a little message to your `lover'.” He sneered in her ear.



“Why would you want to do that?” She demanded harshly fighting against him as much as she dared, with her hands bound there wasn't much she could do. “Surely he doesn't make enough money to pay any worthwhile ransom for me. Besides, You've let me see too much.” She knew she was being bold, but what did it really matter at this point. Besides, Sesshou's `wife' probably wouldn't be to happy with him paying out a hefty ransom for his mistress anyway. The thought made her stomach heave.



“Clever girl.” Naraku chuckled darkly, taking one of her arms into a sharp grip. “I can see why he kept you around, but do tell me what does `Sesshou' do.”



“What do you mean what does he do? He's an investment banker, why?”



Naraku laughed out right, Kagura, the leggy brunet following him unleashing a deep feminine chuckle as well. “Investment banker indeed.”




“What are you laughing about? What's so funny about banking?” Kagome was finding her patience wearing thin.




“To be such a clever girl you certainly are oblivious to such great deceit.”



“What are you saying?”



They entered a large room with a strange gray canvas back drop behind them and an abundance of overhead lights. It was almost blindingly bright. In front of them was what looked to be a television camera linked directly into a laptop computer.



“I am saying that your dear `Sesshou' is most certainly not an investment banker.”



A large man suddenly grabbed Kagome roughly from behind and she found her self bridled with a coarse linen gag. She began to struggle as best she could in the mans grip, but a sudden sharp pain in behind her neck rendered her limp and helpless, yet still painfully conscious.



She wondered vaguely if he had snapped her neck. None of her appendages seemed to be obeying her, hanging like dead weight at her sides.




“Now, smile for the camera my dear.”





>>>>>>>>& gt;


New York City, Financial District
Central Intelligence Agency, New York Headquarters
Sunday, June 19th 8:42 am Eastern Pacific Time




Sesshoumaru strode up to the front steps of the CIA's public façade still wearing the dirty and blood stained clothing from the night before. Inuyasha trailed not too far behind warding off any suspicious looks with quiet mumblings about getting mugged and bar fights.



With out a word to the guard he entered the building heading directly for the elevators, Inuyasha in tow. Passing the finger printing and voice recognition, he strode impatiently into the lobby of the Central Intelligence Agency, New York headquarters. Shippo was sitting on the receptionists desk looking unusually solemn. The sleeves of his green button down shirt were rolled up to his elbows and his head was bowed in a desolate fashion.




“You have twenty minutes. Lets get this over with.” Sesshoumaru stated blandly and instead of putting up a fight like Shippo had been sure he would. Shippo merely nodded and jumped down off the counter heading for the main logistics room where Kaede and the rest of his team had already assembled.



All of them were looking anxious and despondent, none seemed quite able to meet his eyes. Sesshoumaru stopped just inside the door frame, his arms hanging limply at his side as he studied the occupants in the room. He could sense the tension and fear in the air, something unusual in a room full of wrought iron operatives, they were trained to handle anything. The only one who seemed in any state of coherence was Kaede and even she seemed to be looking at him with a grave form.



Inuyasha came bustling in behind him, giving Sesshoumaru a slight bump as he brushed by. “So what's so important that you had to drag me down here too?” He grumped out in his usual gruff manner that became his trademark when he was still with the agency.



Kaede's face, if possible, turned even more grim and Sango burst into tears, turning into Miroku's shoulder. “We have received a message…” she began grimly, “…or rather you have received a message.”




Sesshoumaru could feel the trepidation building to a stifling level in the air and gave a tight nod for the old woman to continue. Kaede motioned for Shippo to play the message and with a dejected sigh he got up from his seat and moved to the lap top at a nearby desk station.




The 40 inch LCD screen hanging over head that had been sporting a classy CIA logo rotating around a marbled looking globe sprung to life as Shippo skillfully manipulated the keyboard.



The screen went blue, then black, before a soft music filtered over the speakers. Unless he was mistaken it was the opera `Oh Fortuna'. The black faded to gray and two figures appeared on the screen, though their silhouettes were still fuzzy the one on the left was easy enough to decipher.



Naraku was standing center stage so to speak, clad in his usual baboon pelt. A tall man was standing next to him and as the picture came into focus he could see that it was one of Naraku's goons wearing a bland white mask and holding a much smaller body that was slumped uncomfortably forward revealing only a cascade of remarkable dark hair.




“Ah, Sesshoumaru.” Naraku began as the music hit a rather passionate crescendo. “I do so love the classics don't you?” He made a few grand motions with his hands.



“You are a difficult man to get a hold of Sesshoumaru, rather like myself. I must say I admire that in you.”



Sesshoumaru grimaced. `What is he up to?'



“Your little stunt last night was quite the piece of art. I enjoy art Sesshoumaru. Do you enjoy art…Sesshoumaru?” Naraku's voice was beginning to take on a sinister edge the further into his twisted one sided conversation he got. “Well, let me show you a little art project I'm working on.”



A small box was wheeled on screen by a leggy woman who was also wearing a white mask. Naraku flipped the lid open, but it was nearly impossible to see what was inside. A digital clock-like device was affixed to the front of the box, the red numerals blazing like a fire in his soul.





`48:00, Son of a…'



All thought came to a halt as a graceful hand reached out and grasped a handful of the hair blocking the small body being held next to him and jerked it back.




>>>>>>>>>>>& gt;>>>>


New York City
Underground Miasma Headquarters
Sunday, June 18th, 8:45 am Eastern Pacific Time





Kagome felt a hand grip the back of her hair and harshly jerk her head up. Unfortunately in her odd paralysis she was still perfectly coherent and could feel and hear everything going on around her.



`How the hell did he do that?' She wondered bitterly as she felt her gag wetting with her saliva as she fought to get it out of her mouth with her tongue. Naraku kept saying Sesshoumaru. Was he talking about Sesshou? It really didn't matter who he was talking to, if she could get the gag out of her mouth she would scream out exactly who the bastard was and where the headquarters was located. What would it matter, they were going to kill her anyways.



“Pretty isn't she?” Naraku crooned in her ear. “But…you already know that don't you? Tell me, does she taste as sweet as she smells?” He pressed the baboon mask right up against her neck as he drew in a deep breath. “Hm…I can still smell a distinctively male scent on her. Is that you Sesshoumaru?” He gave a small chuckle. “I wonder…will she still smell of you when I'm through with her?”



Kagome whimpered through the gag and Naraku laughed out right. “What's this? Did you teach your bitch to whine like a dog? Very nice.” He gripped her chin in his hand. “Very nice indeed.”



He released her head and it promptly flopped foreword. Kagome watched through the curtain of her hair as he pulled an intimidating syringe out of the wooden box that had been wheeled out on a cart next to him. There was what looked to be a digital counter of some sort attached to the front of the box, set at forty-eight hours, but whether that meant military time or if it had some other meaning she didn`t know. In the glass vial on the syringe she could see an ominous looking purplish-green liquid that seemed to be bubbling as if unstable. Just looking at it made Kagome's eyes widen and her whimpers increase.




“Ah, can you hear that? It is beautiful, no?” Naraku sneered. “There really is nothing more…arousing than the sound of a woman's fear.” He held up the syringe, pushing out all the air and giving the end of the three inch needle a tap.



“As I was saying earlier Sesshoumaru, you're little stunt was a real piece of art, and I as an art dealer of sorts never put the originals out with in the reach of the public riffraff.”




Naraku nodded to the man holding Kagome and her head was yet again jerked up. “ I wouldn't want you to miss the look on her pretty little face as I set the clock running. You shouldn't have toyed with devil boy, he knows how to manipulate fire.”



Naraku roughly grabbed Kagome's arm and shoved the needle in. Kagome screamed, though it was muffled by the gag. The liquid felt like ice going through her veins. She could actually feel it traveling up her arm as the coldness swept over her shoulder and down her chest. A feeling of fierce nausea swept over her as the needle was pulled out of her arm.



“Now that I have your attention.” Naraku began again dropping the now empty syringe back into the box and turning on the timer. “You have forty-eight hours Sesshoumaru. If you deliver the Shikon, I will deliver your bitch and the antidote. If not, well… I will release her somewhere down town. The subway perhaps.” Naraku took her delicate chin into his grip once more, a few silent tears began to stream down her cheeks. “or maybe La Guardia airport.



“You know, I never thought you'd be one to sully your blood line with a filthy human, but the apple never falls far from the tree does it? Your father was a tough one too, but I got to him in the end as well. Inu's are funny that way…you have to take out the bitch to bring the bastard to his knees.”



Kagome whimpered once more as her head was dropped back to her chest. Naraku's maniacal laughter filled the room over powering the background music.




“Forty-eight hours Sesshoumaru. I'll be in touch.”



>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>



AN: AAARGH! Ok who hates me? That's ok, its all for good reason and I do like happy endings, so don't worry they'll be some flat tires and twists in the road, but we'll make it to Disney world in the end. Thank you so much to all of you out there who are reviewing for me, I love the feed back. It's really encouraging. I hope you guys are enjoying my story so far, and don't forget to let me know what you think. Just click that little button down there and speak your peace. Thanks a bunch…
U.C.