InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Book of Shikon ❯ Secret of the Four Souls ( Chapter 8 )

The Book of Shikon

 

Chapter 8

 

Secret of the Four Souls

 

“Put this on the back of your neck.” Inuyasha said, hanging Kagome an icepack from the freezer. Kagome lifted her hair up from under her jacket and let it fall down her back as she lifted the pack to her neck. “I'm sorry about punching you.” Inuyasha said, sitting beside her on the bed.

 

“It's okay. I've seen worse.” Kagome replied, smiling. Inuyasha nodded slowly.

 

“Thanks…for the rescue.” He grunted, rolling his eyes. Kagome smiled back and patted the back of his hand on the bed. Inuyasha wanted to get up and go down to thank Myoga for getting him the room, but found himself unable to do anything…except stare at Kagome. The girl's eyes had taken on an unearthly glow in the dim light of the bedside lamp, although Inuyasha couldn't tell if it was real or a trick of the light.

 

Kagome reached up to her nose and carefully wiped the blood off on the tip of her finger. That same finger came up to Inuyasha's forehead, but he barely even noticed. He did snap back into focus as her finger traced over his skin. One line across….one short, vertical line on the left, a longer one on the right. Inuyasha blinked as she drew her hand back, a sly smile on her lips. Inuyasha got up off the bed and glared down at her.

 

“Okay, that's it. What do you know?” He demanded. Kagome shrugged.

 

“Someone is after your book.” She said.

 

“No shit. How do you fit into it?” He snapped. Kagome flashed her trademark smile. “And that…is getting annoying.” Inuyasha growled. The phone on the bedside rang, and Inuyasha stomped over to answer it.

 

“What?”

 

“You have a call.” Myoga said on the other end.

 

“Patch it through.” Inuyasha said. The line clicked.

 

“Mr. Taisho, long time.” Naraku said.

 

“Ah, his master's voice.” Inuyasha muttered. “Hold on.” He put a hand over the receiver and looked down at Kagome. “I'll be in the bathroom. Will you be here when I get back?”

 

“Not likely.” Kagome replied. Inuyasha grunted and walked into the bathroom, locking the door behind him and turning on the sink faucet to wipe the drying blood on his face with one hand while the other gripped the receiver.

 

“I spoke to Kaede.” He said, toweling his forehead off. “She knew who I was and figured I was working for you. Then she kicked me out. You weren't exactly in her good books.”

 

“I see. How distressing.” Naraku sighed. Inuyasha glared at the phone.

 

“Also, Sesshomaru is dead but you probably already know that, huh? Why is it this entire time it's felt like you've been stepping in my footprints? Where are you?” He snapped. “I've been nearly run over, stalked, had my ass kicked by a woman, and keep seeing people dead. I'm getting a little tired of this shit, especially when you, among a lot of other people, have the answers I want.” Naraku was silent for a moment, and when he did it wasn't anything Inuyasha wanted to hear.

 

“Go back to Kaede, examine her book.” He ordered.

 

“The old woman has security.” Inuyasha replied.

 

“Everyone has a lunch break.” Naraku replied. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and hung up, knowing his shadowy employer had probably already done so himself. He walked back into his apartment, noting with disinterest the lack of Kagome, and grabbed his book bag. He phoned the hotel desk.

 

“Yes?” Myoga answered.

 

“Do you have a photocopier here?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Yes.” Myoga replied. Inuyasha nodded and hung up, grabbing his book bag and heading downstairs.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

A few minutes later, Inuyasha entered the room again, a stack of white photocopies in his hand. He tucked them into his book bag and looked around the room. He spied a small cupboard next to the bed and knelt down, opening it to reveal a mini-fridge. He grabbed either side and slowly pulled it out. He took a towel from the bedside table and wrapped the Shikon-no-Tama in it before tucking it behind the fridge. That done, he pushed the fridge back and shut the cupboard. Inuyasha nodded and grabbed his book bag, leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Myoga.” Inuyasha said, slapping a hand on the desk. “I need you to find someone for me.”

 

“Sure, who?” Myoga asked, pocketing the bill under Inuyasha's hand.

 

“Kikyo Fletcher, maiden name Tuso. 30-ish, black hair, brown eyes, dishy. Probably with a younger woman with platinum-blonde hair, called Tsubaki.” Myoga jotted down the descriptions and nodded. “They're probably in a hotel somewhere in the country, maybe even in town. Try the 4-stars, she's loaded.”

 

“I'll look around.” Myoga promised.

 

“Thanks.” Inuyasha waved, walking out of the hotel.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Inuyasha flipped through a newspaper, his white hair tucked underneath his coat. Every time he flipped the paper he cast a glance across the street where Kaede's complex was. Finally, he saw the security guard step outside, and smiled. He grabbed his book bag and waited for the guard to walk away. When she turned the corner he ran into the complex. He searched under the guard's desk and hit the button to retract the iron gate over the stairs. That done, he climbed up them to the doors to Kaede's office. He hit the intercom.

 

“Who's there?” Kaede demanded.

 

“It's the wolf in sheep's clothing.” Inuyasha replied.

 

“I told you to leave.” Kaede snapped.

 

“I know, but I have a peace offering in exchange for letting me see your book. Something you might be interested in about it.” Inuyasha explained.

 

“What could you know about the book that could interest me?” Kaede asked. Inuyasha took a breath.

 

“What if I said I know why no one in history has been able to perform the ritual?” He said. There was a pause. Then the door clicked open. Inuyasha smiled and pulled it open, walking to Kaede's desk.

 

“You have two minutes.” Kaede said. “Why has the ritual never worked?”

 

“Tell me Baroness, have you ever compared your book to the other three?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“No, why?” Kaede said.

 

“Because the fact is they differ.” Inuyasha explained.

 

“So your peace offering is to call my book's authenticity?” Kaede growled. “If so then leave. My book if genuine.”

 

“I agree entirely Baroness, the fact is all 4 books are genuine. If you would be so kind as to show me your copy.” Inuyasha waited for a moment. Kaede glared at him suspiciously before wheeling to her library doors, punching in the keycode and going inside, pulling her book off the shelf. “The first engraving.” Inuyasha said, taking the book from her and flipped it open on the table. Kaede's chair stopped in front of it as they gazed at the hanged man. “In Bankotsu's copy, the man was hanging by his other leg.” He flipped to the second engraving. “And in Naraku's.” Inuyasha reached into his book bag and pulled out one the photocopies he had made, that of the engravings. “The man's visor is down. In the other books its up.” Kaede's brow furrowed. “And if my research is any indication, the third engraving will be different in your book.” Inuyasha turned to it and pulled the next photocopy from his bag, placing it on the table beside the book. The two showed a regal castle in the distance, a large lake of water with a man floating in it before the castle.

 

“So?” Kaede demanded. Inuyasha tapped the page.

 

“The turrets, Baroness. 3 in Naraku's, and the others. 4 in yours.” Kaede's eyes slowly widened. “In Naraku's copy four of the engravings differ, and the ones that do aren't signed Midoriko Takahashi. They're signed L.C.F.” Kaede's head snapped up to stare at him. “There are four in total is each book so far, and if my hunch is right there's another four in yours. Four engravings in four books makes sixteen. Coincidence or more?” Kaede shook her head in disbelief. “Maybe Midoriko hid the secret of the Four Souls in four books, not one. But no one is history has ever owned all four books and never figured that out until now.”

 

“I must say, I am impressed.” Kaede breathed. “If this were true it would be a revelation, my research, research on the book itself would do a reversal, a complete twist…” Kaede looked up at Inuyasha. “You have my permission to research my book, take as long as you need Mr. Taisho, but I ask that I see your findings before you leave. You may very well have stumbled upon the answer to a 5-century old riddle, and I will be a part of it.” Inuyasha smiled.

 

“Thank you.” He replied.