InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Centre ❯ Disturbing Discovery ( Chapter 17 )

Chapter 16: Disturbing Discovery

"Hey Kaede, do you have a moment?" Kagome asked, popping her head around the door frame. Kaede looked up from the box she was packing.

"Of course. I'm not your superior anymore anyway."

"What's going on?"

"I've been…reassigned," Kaede said, a deep frown on her face. "They even took my big comfy chair."

"Someone in a high place isn't happy with what we're doing, are they?" Kagome asked. Kaede put what she was holding down and sat in the closest chair.

"Kagome, I want you to be careful. Whatever is going on is a great deal bigger than we originally thought. Close that door would you?" Kagome shut the door behind her, locking it and sat on the small floor space not occupied by boxes. "Listen and listen well child. Fifty years ago they sent the strongest miko available to the very place you went. Her name was Kikyou…she was my sister. Kikyou never returned. Someone somewhere knows what happened to her, but that sort of information is classified to the rest of us. Like everything else, though, there are records."

"Records? They keep information like that?"

"Think about it, Kagome. If more than one person is in on something you need documentation so you all agree upon details. Otherwise you'd spend half the time arguing over details."

"True. But where would they keep documents like that?"

"In a place you cannot go unless you know where you are going…." Kaede said and Kagome groaned, holding up her hand.

"Please, no cryptic stuff," Kagome said. "There must be something suspicious for me to follow or something."

"Well, there is a touch pad, voice recognition box with holy barriers around it."

"So not only do you need the pass-code, you need to be one of the holy and human. Sounds strange to me. Where is it?"

"Seventh floor, third corridor."

"Seventh floor? I'm a novis, I'm not allowed in there!" Kagome gasped. "I barely had access when I was a miko." Kaede smiled, reached back and handed her an envelope.

"But messengers are allowed up," she said. Kagome looked at the envelope.

"But you've been reassigned…"

"Yes, but you know how long it takes them to change all that data in the computer."

"Kaede, you are brilliant."

Musou frowned as he watched the young miko leave Kaede's office, an envelope in hand. Just what was the minx up to? Pity Naraku wanted her just followed. He would have liked to do more than follow.

She entered the elevator and he followed, acting as nondescript as possible. He saw the 7th floor button pushed, pressed the 6th floor and avoided eye contact.

Kagome did not like the feeling coming off the strange guy next to her. He seemed totally intent on ignoring her, but the strangest aura surrounded him. Not wanting to be caught staring she simply focused on the envelope in hand. The man got off and she heaved a great sigh of relief. She wasn't sure she would have been able to lie to anyone if they asked her outright what she was doing.

The elevator gave a ding and the doors opened. Kagome cautiously stepped out, grateful she saw no one. Then she saw the clock. Twelve thirty. Ah, lunch hour. No one would be on the floor. Double glass doors prevented her from going any farther, a security camera swiveled to focus on her.

"Name, rank and business," a computer voice from a speaker to her right called out. "Place your hand upon the touch pad." Kagome did as she was told.

"Kagome Higurashi, Novis, envelope from High Miko Kaede." The computer processed the information and Kagome shifted from one foot to the other, waiting for laser beams or something to come bursting out on her telling her she could not pass. Nothing happened. There was a slight click and the double doors swung open.

The seventh floor was extremely bare. Council members had offices up here, but nothing decorated the walls or hallways. It was like a deserted hospital. Kagome shivered and made it to the third corridor, peaking around to double check the cameras. None were focused on her.

A barrier glowed brilliant blue between her and rest of the corridor. Extra precautions. Kagome knew there would probably be far more. Rather than try to destroy it….who knew who would come in after her, she reached out a hand to touch it.

:Who are you?: a voice in her head resounded. Kagome looked around in surprise. She was no longer standing in a hallway. She was standing on nothing, surrounded by various colors, a colorful rainbow of swirls. Frightened she tried to see who had spoken.

:You are not supposed to be here little one: the voice said and a woman stepped from the shadows. Kagome gasped at the sight. The woman was dressed in what looked to be samurai armor from thousands of years ago, but what amazed her was the sheer power. This woman was not only a miko, but an extremely powerful one.

"I'm sorry…." Kagome began, dropping to a knee. She didn't know why, but it seemed appropriate.

:You are not like the others: the woman said. :They come for power. You….you have come for knowledge. Why?:

"I don't need power," Kagome answered. "I just want…to help."

:You have a pure heart, little one. Enter, but do not take anything material with you.:

The woman and colors vanished, leaving Kagome right where she'd been, in the corridor, hand on the barrier, except now her hand passed through the barrier as if it wasn't even there. She hesitantly stepped forward and passed through, finally able to breathe properly. Gasping for air she reached the doorway, fingers curling around the simple doorknob. After all that security having a simple door to walk through seemed anticlimactic.

Inside were a cabinet and a statue. Kagome felt her breath catch in her throat as she looked at the statue. It was the same woman she'd just seen, only frozen in stone. She peered at the name plate at the bottom.

Midoriko

Kagome knew that name. Every miko knew that name. Midoriko, the first miko, the founder of everything holy. Midoriko's soul guarded this room? Just what secrets were kept here?

Kagome inspected the cabinet. There was no handle, no lock, no drawer….nothing. How did you get into a cabinet with no entry? Remembering the barrier, Kagome reached out her hand, resting it upon the top.

<Outside the barrier>

Musou cursed. The miko had gone where he could not. Where Naraku could not. How had she gotten past the barrier? Only the most powerful members of the council were able to get in. She had not the training or the clearance. Just who was this miko?

<Rin's apartment>

"What?" Sesshoumaru asked, a stupefied look on his face.

"Sess, I've loved you since I was a little girl. I know you better than anyone, even that damn little toad…I can't believe you let him stay in MY apartment," she grumbled. "Listen to me. I don't want to compromise your honor and I sure as hell don't want to be the one to create conflict. I am well aware of the trouble your father caused taking a human mate. That is why I am not asking you to take me as your mate. I would never ask that of you. Even if you suggested it I would reject the idea."

Sesshoumaru was confused. Very confused. He didn't like being confused.

"What do you want?" he asked, deep voice barely a whisper as she lay across his chest.

"You."

"But-" he began, but a finger on his lips stopped him. If it had been anyone else he would have been angry, but his anger was never aimed at Rin. How could you be mad at someone as deviously innocent as her?

"Mating is like marriage. I merely want the benefits without the actual connection." Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed and he did not respond. Rin sighed. "Do I have to spell it out for you? I want to be with you….and I want the sex. That's all I need. I'm already blood bound to you and have very limited miko powers, I'm not going to die anytime soon. And if a female dog demon ever appears, I will gracefully disappear."

Sesshoumaru still did not answer her, his brow furrowed in thought. Taking that as affirmative Rin leaned up, brushing her lips over his in a teasing manner. She was delighted when his responded with frenzied firmness, his tongue eagerly entering her mouth. Rin could feel claws running through her hair and moaned.

Suddenly Sesshoumaru pulled back, his chest heaving.

"What…if I mark you by mistake?" he asked darkly. Rin had to blink a few times to clear her head.

"Then I'll purify it," she responded. "This is, if you think you can hold me down long enough to even attempt it." He growled at the challenge. Rin always did like to challenge him, knowing full well that while he had the ability to kill her without a second thought he never would. He'd rip out his own heart first. Not to mention she'd already proved herself smart enough to outsmart his demon side. His neck was still bruised from her teeth.

In one last ditch effort to come up with some reason, any reason why they shouldn't be doing this Sesshoumaru looked down at her body. Rin had never been ashamed in his presence. She met his gaze with a raised eyebrow, daring him to find something he disliked or was wrong. Damn vixen knew she was cute.

"Rin, there is no way I am going to fit inside of you." He spread his claw across her tiny waist as if to prove it, his thumb and fingers longer than her width. The corner of Rin's mouth twitched and soon she was laughing hysterically, clutching her sides.

"Oh, I can't breath. Oh, tell me another one, Sess, you are so good at pulling my leg. And saying that with such a straight face! Not fit, hahahaha!"

"Rin," he growled. "I am serious. You are tiny. I….am not."

"Sweetheart, you are one of the most powerful, sexy and intelligent demons to ever grace this earth, but sometimes you don't think. Women are made to stretch. Kids have to come out of there. You are big, I'll give you that," she said, looking down at his lap, all too happy to see a bulge between his legs. "But even you aren't the size of a kid's head and shoulders."

"Childbirth is painful," he retorted.

"And I'm not virgin, so what's your point? Tell ya what, if it hurts I'll tell you to stop, how's that?"

"Are you sure I'll be able to stop?" came his reply. She cupped his face and grinned at him.

"Yep."

Sess couldn't think of another argument. His claws flexed as they touched her small hips and Rin spread her legs wide, eager and so trusting. She would trust him forever. Beyond forever. If he were to stick poison claws in her stomach now she would die with a smile. That kind of loyalty was rare and it gripped Sesshoumaru like an iron vise. 80 years she'd been loyal to him. No reason to start doubting her now.

<Sango's apartment complex>

"Hello sir, will you be coming here often?" the officer at the security desk asked.

"Yes, actually. Sango Taijya told me to check in with you guys first," Miroku said with a winning smile.

"Hmm, she should have filled out a form, but I did see you come in together. If you could give her this and this," the guard said, handing him a few pieces of paper. "I'll need to know your relationship etc, nothing personal, just if you are a relative or something."

"Of course. Should I put boyfriend or intended fiancée?" That got the guard's attention.

"Intended?"

"Well I haven't gotten the ring yet so it's not official…" Miroku said offhandedly.

"Fiancée will be fine. We can always change it. Could I see some identification?" Miroku happily opened his wallet and produced the new government id he'd been given. He hadn't gotten a driver's license yet since he hadn't driven in like….decades. The guard looked visibly impressed. "I'll…uh…have to make some photocopies of this if you don't mind, for identification purposes in the future of course."

"Of course. I'll wait right here." The guard exited the booth and hurried down the hall. Miroku smirked to himself, counted to ten and let himself in the booth. So much for tight security. They didn't even have a camera in here!

The screen showed a different area every 3 seconds, five smaller ones to the side with different views of the parking lot. Looked like the parking lot was tighter than the rest of the building. He picked up the mouse and managed to minimize the security screen.

"Now let's see, how convenient. Separated by hour and location. Hmm, elevator shaft." He double clicked on the file and the media player popped up. Miroku nearly got a hard on watching part of the replay. He quickly dragged the file to the cd burner program, letting it burn away. In the meantime he replaced the now deleted file (from the computer) with the previous hour. Now all he had to do was hope no one would know.

When the guard came back Miroku was leaning against the glass panel with a smile.

"Your phone rang, but I didn't pick it up."

"That's ok, the front desk should have gotten it. Here you are. We look forward to seeing you in the future, Mr. Houshi. Please give Miss Taijya my best wishes."

"I certainly will."

Miroku exited the building, the disc in his pocket, whistling happily. There was only one word filling his mind.

Blackmail.

<Kagome's apartment>

"Inuyasha, Kagome said you aren't supposed to be up yet," Shippou whined as the Hanyou emerged from the bedroom.

"Keh, I'm already healed ya runt. Get me something to eat."

"If you're healed you can get something yourself!" the fox cub said, sticking out his tongue. That got him a bruise on his head which promptly made him cry.

"Oi, brat, you're a demon, that ain't gonna kill ya."

"Wah! I'm calling Kagome!" he wailed, running to the phone.

"Good, tell her pick up some ramen. There's all this healthy stuff in the fridge."