InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Centre ❯ Captives ( Chapter 3 )

"She'll be comin round the mountain when she comes!" Rin sang at the top of her lungs. Kagome smiled as they went barreling down the road in a very old, very beat up Chevy truck. At least she thought it was a Chevy. It was so rusted and old she had no idea what brand of vehicle it once was. Sleeping bags and backpacks were in the back of the truck.

"Let's see, right about here," Rin said, pulling over next to a large field. Before Kagome could ask what she was up to the hood was popped and Rin was jumping out, a wrench in hand. A few minutes later she came back in with a dirty rusted part that looked like it came from the engine. "She won't run long without this," she said happily.

Kagome gave a small forced laugh. Only Rin could be happy about sabotaging her own vehicle. It took less than a mile for black smoke to start pouring from the exhaust. The truck began to sputter, cough and jerk about more than it had before.

"Oh dear, I think it died on us," Rin said cheerfully as the wheels stopped turning and the engine gave a shuddering cough before stalling. She cranked the key over and over until the starter also began to give up completely.

"Guess I'll have to see what's wrong. Kag, you wanna play look out in case someone passes by? I knew we should have brought those cell phones."

Kagome tried not to smile at Rin's fake dialog. She pulled out a sleeping bag and sat upon it as Rin began pulling thing out of the car, randomly throwing bolts and such everywhere.

"I could be wrong, but aren't you making it worse?" Kagome joked. Rin looked up, face completely serious.

"Who is Miss-Fix-It? You? I think not," she said in a huff. Kagome held up her hands in defeat. She turned to look around.

Could they be any more rural? According to the maps they were three days from the Centre, but Kaede had assured them this was the way to get in. And Rin was sure this was the place to break down. Kagome merely sat and waited. She had learned patience was essential in this branch of business.

Mikos were used to keep the peace between youkai and humans. They were the only humans all youkai respected, without question. They were also the only people who avidly protected youkai, especially lesser ones, from being totally annihilated by frightened humans in powerful positions.

Kagome was the strongest. Well, she would have been more so if she had more control, but it had not failed to come to her when she most needed it. Her touch purified the most tainted of things, but also soothed even the craziest youkai. The only thing against her was her lack of political connections and her age. She was only 20. 20 in a world where humans with blood bonds to youkai lived hundreds of years. Mikos could live well to their 500th birthday or so. 20 was so young. She had not witnessed most of the violence that started between youkai and humans a hundred years ago. She had barely been alive for two world's fairs. No one in their right mind took her seriously. Power was only useful with experience and wisdom behind it. Her lack of control didn't help either.

That is probably the true reason behind Rin accompanying Kagome. She obviously knew more about the Centre. Kagome was the tool, nothing more. Kaede wanted her back, but the politicians above her could care less whether she came home walking or in a box….or at all. The only thing they would mourn was the money poured into her training.

Kagome's train of thought was broken by the unmistakable sound of a car coming down the dirt road.

"Rin, car," was all she said.

"Maybe he can give us a ride to a gas station," Rin said calmly. "I'm thirsty."

The car slowed as it pulled closer. It sort of had to since Rin and the truck were kind of blocking the entire road. The tinted window rolled down and a very plain faced, pleasant looking man smiled at them.

"You two ladies alright?"

"The truck stopped running and I think my friend is only making things worse," Kagome said. "Do you know how far the nearest town is?" Behind her she heard Rin grumbling about all her hard work and being totally unappreciated while Kagome sat on her ass.

"You'd have to walk all night to get to town. Either of you have a cell phone?"

"Miss I-know-everything left it on the kitchen table this morning," Rin snapped.

Well that was true enough. Kagome had. Purposefully.

"I could give you a ride to my house, but I doubt you two ladies want to hop in a car with a stranger. How about I go get my wife so you two don't feel uncomfortable?"

"Well…" Kagome began.

"Aw, we believe ya. You got a ring on anyway and there is no way a bachelor would have a Winnie-the-Poo plush doll voluntarily in his car," Rin said. "If it's not too much trouble could we make a few phone calls from your house?"

"Sure! No problem at all! You'd be amazed, but people get stuck out here all the time. Hop on in," he said. Kagome was definitely confused. This seemed like an ordinary man. Rin plopped in the car. Kagome took one last look at the truck.

"What about our stuff?" she asked.

"We'll be right back," Rin said, rolling her eyes. Only Kagome caught the little wink she was given.

"Ok," Kagome said, closing the door as she hopped in next to Rin. The man carefully turned around and went back the way he'd come, never once saying what he'd been on his way to do.

They pulled up to a rather plain looking house where a woman was sweeping the porch. She looked up, startled.

"You are back early?" she asked, then was even more confused when the two girls got out.

"Another broken down car on the road, my dear," he said. "Could you bring our guests something to drink? They need to use the phone."

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. The phone line is down again."

"You are kidding! I just got them to fix that. Oh well, my humblest apologies ladies. Looks like we'll have to drive into town."

"Would you two care to stay for dinner? It gets rather lonely out here, I love having company over!" the woman said.

"Sure!" Rin began before Kagome clamped a hand over her mouth.

"We don't want to inconvenience you," Kagome said.

"Nonsense, please stay! It would be my pleasure," the woman said.

Dinner was light but excellent. As it grew darker Kagome got the feeling they'd be staying the night. Especially after the man fell asleep.

"I'm sorry, I feel so rude. I'm Kagome," Kagome said after helping the woman to clear the plates from the table. Rin was watching the small TV in the living room, occasionally scratching her thigh.

"Mrs. Kaeru (means frog), but you can call me Natsu."

"I hate to inconvenience you or your husband more…"

"Are you kidding me? I love the company. Usually when people come they don't stay for dinner. I meet all these people briefly but never get to talk to them or anything. It's rather lonely. Of course I have my husband…" the woman said with downcast eyes. "But he works long days and is often gone. I really enjoy your company. Oh dear, I see he has fallen asleep. Poor dear. Maybe it is best he did not go to the office."

Office? The nearest office building had to be two days drive away. Suspicious. Very suspicious. Wisely Kagome said nothing. Rin was now snoring softly on the floor.

"How about I show you to our guest bedroom? It's hardly ever used."

"Thank you so much. I hope we can repay your kindness."

Kagome woke with a dull headache. The last thing she could remember was feeling very groggy and falling asleep next to Rin on the guest bed of their rescuer's house. She looked around and discovered not only was she on a rather cold stone floor, but Rin was next to her, still asleep and naked and the day she was born.

Then again, so was Kagome. Not a stitch of clothing on either of them.

"Already awake, I see. You must be a miko," a dark voice said from the shadows. Kagome scooted back toward Rin in fear. "You have nothing to fear yet, miko. You're just being transported, that's all."

"Where are we?" she asked.

"No questions, my dear. You'll see all soon enough." Kagome pulled herself around Rin, holding her close as she fought the natural fear of the darkness.

Use as little power as possible and they won't know how much you can do. She thought. Better they underestimate her.

Sunlight filled the chamber and Kagome shielded her eyes. She could see figures coming in from the doorway that had opened. Part of her wanted to curl up in modestly, but Rin was still unconscious. Kagome's protective instinct overcame all.

"Kagome?" Rin said softly.

"Time to get up," Kagome said softly, wishing the sun were not directly on her face so she could see the figures in front of her more clearly. At least one was a woman.

"Five more minutes," the girl said with a yawn.

"Kaeru, get them up," a voice snarled. Kagome was hauled to her feet by rather slimy hands. She looked at the figure grabbing her and screamed. A huge frog youkai was holding her. He had the same clothes Mr. Kaeru had been wearing. Rin was pulled up and slapped.

"Stop it!" Kagome yelled, catching Rin as she recoiled from the slap. A protective barrier went up. Kagome could not help it. She was not going to let them beat Rin.

"Enough," a voice said and the door shut, leaving them in a blinding darkness from the loss of light. "Banish your barrier, miko, before I do it for you. You are no match for me," the voice said. Kagome wanted to throw that in his face and put her full power behind the barrier, but that would get her no where. In order to get to the youkai to free them she had to get inside.

"I'm…not sure…how to get rid of it," she said.

"Untrained? Interesting. Very interesting. Wake your friend up. We have much to discuss."

"Can we have some clothes?" There was a chuckle and the barrier vanished. Kagome felt like someone had ripped the power from her. She let it go. No need to fight now. Something hit her in the face. Clothes. Well, two t-shirts anyway.

"You have managed to stumble upon something very great, little miko, and I don't even mind sharing it with you. In fact, you will probably benefit from it more than I." That made Kagome suspicious. Rin was beginning to stir, wearily blinking sleepy eyes.

"Can you just let us go?" The voice laughed. A bone chilling laugh. Kagome had never felt such evil before.

"I can let your little friend go. She's of no use. You, however. You, we cannot let go."

"If I…go willingly, will you let her go?"

"Of course. You have my word," the voice said. Kagome got the feeling that word wasn't worth much. "But no more barriers, no purification and no arrows."

"I give you my word," Kagome said and felt a shiver like a magic binding would hold her to that. Something in the back of her mind promised a great pain if she did not. Well, he didn't say anything about collars.

"Kagome? Where are we?" Rin asked as Kagome pulled a shirt over her head.

"Rin, this is where we say goodbye."

"Goodbye? What are you talking about? We're a team, Kag….aren't we?"

Kagome stood, leaving Rin there. The extra long t-shirt was the only cover against the cold in the chamber. She went to stand by the tall man, head bowed.

"Excellent. Kagura, see to Rin's release," Naraku said with a chilling voice. Kagura nodded. The door opened and they were gone, leaving Rin sitting on the cold stone floor with the woman towering above her.

"Where am I going?" Rin asked. Her answer was a slap across the face.

"Bitch, you speak when spoken to and ask no questions. Hiten, Manten, pick her up, we're taking her with us."

"Huh?" Rin asked, confused. Didn't Kagome just arrange for her release?

"What? You thought you'd actually get released? And run the chance of blabbing your mouth? Oh no, we have plans for noisy little girls like you."

Rin's eyebrow ticked.

"Little girl? I am not a fucking little girl," she growled. Kagura slapped her again, blood spilling from Rin's split lip. Rin licked it and gave Kagura a wicked half smile.

"I like blood. But yours would be better," she said. Hiten and Manten went flying as she launched herself at Kagura, managing to get her teeth on the woman's ear as Kagura screamed bloody murder. Hiten and Manten pulled Rin off after a bit of struggling and Manten hit the back of her head, knocking her out.

Kagura straightened her kimono and looked down at the little hellion beneath her with distaste. Her ear hurt like hell. She reached up a hand and hissed as pain shot through her head. Her hand came back bloody.

"Oh you are going to get it little bitch. I hope you like pain. I'm gonna watch you die with the utmost pleasure. Pick her up.