InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Centre ❯ Life's Little Trials ( Chapter 46 )

Chapter 46: Life's Little Trials

 

“You have this all under control, right?” Miroku asked Sango as they approached the secretary's desk. Kohaku was between them, looking around in slight confusion. They hadn't told him anything…not that he'd asked. After 24 hours of being reintroduced to video games…courtesy of Souta….he was a bit dazed and confused.

“What are we doing here?” he finally plucked up the courage to ask.

“I'm not exactly sure,” Miroku said, mentally telling himself that wasn't a complete lie. He had no idea what Sango was going to do. “But we'll hit up ice cream once we're done, how's that?”

“Ice cream?” Kohaku repeated, eyes growing wide. “I don't even remember the taste of ice cream…”

“All the more reason to go out!”

“Can I help you?” the secretary asked without looking up.

“Sango Taijya,” Sango said and watched the woman visibly straighten, nearly falling out of her chair to become far more impressionable. The woman was obviously new…and equally obviously not going to last long with such an attitude.

“Of course, he'll see you right away. Who are they?”

“Miroku Houshi and Kohaku.”

“His son?” the woman asked, writing their names in the appointment book.

“No,” Sango said, opening the door to her father's office. “My brother.”

Miroku did get the amusing satisfaction of the information slowly sinking in the woman's brain, causing her eyes to widen in alarm as her jaw dropped. He quickly pushed Kohaku through the door, hoping the kid wouldn't pass out or hate him for this.

“Just in time,” a familiar commanding voice said, swiveling in the large leather chair to face them. “How goes the hunt f-” he began, stopping dead at the sight of the boy in front of Miroku. Kohaku also froze, his muscles turning as hard as ice under Miroku's hand. He glanced at his sister in utter terror, a flash of pain across his innocent face.

He'd trusted her…and here she was handing him over to the very man who would kill him.

“The traitor,” Senator Taijya sneered. “Excellent work, Sango. It is our responsibility to see that such failures are dealt with within the family.”

“Oh, we're going to deal with it alright,” Sango said calmly, placing herself between her father and brother. Kohaku was pushing back against Miroku as if he could simply pass through his body and blend into the wall. The poor kid was absolutely terrified.

“Since he's family…he can choose,” the senator said, frowning at his daughter's actions. It was almost like she was protecting the boy. “Either he can take the fast acting poison, or he can have a bullet to the head. Well, boy, which will it be?”

Kohaku trembled beneath Miroku's hand, glancing up at his with pleading eyes to let him bolt out of here. The look of utter desperation hit Miroku like a ten ton truck. He recognized such desperation. He'd seen it before. Not only in the woman before him, but also in himself. The desperation of one with nothing to lose.

“I promise I won't let anything happen to you,” Miroku whispered. “No matter what they decide.”

“Neither,” Sango interjected. “It's in your best interest to keep him alive.”

“Excuse me?” he replied, leaning forward across the desk with a dangerous gleam that suggested he felt his daughter was overstepping her bounds.

“Well you have a problem, father,” she said sweetly. “The three of us are the only ones of the clan left. Now while you could have other children, considering you haven't got even a girlfriend and training takes so many years, that leaves myself and Kohaku.”

“That sorry excuse for a son is NOT going to pass on our family heritage!” the senator snapped. “Not only is he a murderous traitor, he is a weak fool!”

Kohaku shuddered and let out a whimper. Turning around, the small boy wrapped his arms around Miroku's waist, obviously trying to hide the tears falling freely down his face. His shoulders shook as he attempted to shed his pain silently.

“Kohaku is your only hope of our family line continuing,” Sango said, changing her stance to a more defensive one. “You sure as hell aren't getting kids from me.”

Taijya's gaze immediately fell upon Miroku, the once friendly, fatherly look replaced by a more accusing one, eyes promising much pain and suffering. Miroku calmly accepted the gaze, offering no look in return.

“Your fiancée shooting blanks?”

“Don't you DARE bring Miroku into this!” Sango retorted. “And stop making fucking assumptions! Did it ever occur to you maybe I was the one incapable of having kids?” Shock hit the old man's face like a freight train. “I was too “weak” to handle being raped by a youkai while being too “weak” to fight Naraku's controlling collar! I'm permanently sterile and no amount of your money or power or temper can change that! You want our “blood” to continue, you better damn well reconcile yourself to the fact your SON is your only hope! And while you're at it, you can stop blaming him for being unable to fight the influence of Naraku's power. A full grown inu-youkai was unable to fight the collar's power. The fact that he's still alive and sane shows how much strength Kohaku truly has!”

“Sango,” Miroku said softly. She inhaled a ragged breath, her shoulders shaking ever so slightly from anger and partial fear of her father. He was still a powerful and dangerous man.

“Think it over,” she continued, her voice deadly calm once again. “In the meantime, Kohaku will be under MY care. If you want to see him, you'll have to go through me. Any attempt on his life will be met with one upon your own.”

Taijya just sat there, unmoving. Taking that as a sign this conversation was over, Sango gave a slight bow, as was proper of her station, and practically pushed the two males out through the large oak swinging doors. She didn't stop until they were outside of the government building and on the sidewalk near the subway.

Then her legs practically crumbled. Still supporting the silent crying boy, Miroku used his other arm to wrap an arm around her waist.

“Unfortunately, I do not possess the strength of Inuyasha so I can't carry you both,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“I think that was the scariest thing I've ever done,” Sango choked.

“Sis,” Kohaku managed to whisper through a cascade of tears and raw throat. “Thank you.”

She gave him a weak smile, but it was full of love.

“You're more than worth it kid,” she replied, grabbing her little brother in a tight hug.

“So how about that ice cream?” Miroku suggested.

“You and what money, Mr. No-job-and-no-income?” Sango teased.

“Call me Fake-Father-in-law's credit card.” Pulling a small card from his pocket, Miroku gave her a beaming smile.

“Didn't you cut that up?”

“Yep….and your father happily sent a new one. You know, cause we men accidentally cut up credit cards all the time.” A slow smile spread across Sango's face.

“Kohaku, how would you feel spending the day shopping? New clothes, ice cream….maybe a TV for your bedroom.”

“Can I get one of those video game machines?” he asked.

“Little bro, you can get one of each! We wouldn't want to limit your game choices, would we?”

“Oh god,” Miroku groaned. “Why do I get the feeling I'll end up carrying all of this?”

“The game store is next to Victoria Secrets in the mall,” Sango suggested, not looking him in the eye.

“Lead the way milady!”

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“Oh no, no, no and no,” Kagome said firmly, a blanket clutched to her chest as she glared at her newly mated hanyou.

“Keh, it's not like this is my decision woman,” Inuyasha argued. “The mating bond needs close contact at all times or it won't work and we BOTH get a nasty emotional backlash. We have two more days then the bond will be solid enough to not worry.”

“I get that, but why the hell do you have to come to the bathroom with me? I have to pee and I want a shower!” Inuyasha's ears flattened as her voiced raised, a flash of rejection across his face.

“Sorry,” she said softly, leaning her head into his. “I…just….the idea of you standing there while I pee is just….weird and gross.”

“You think I WANT to watch?” he scoffed, nipping her nose. “I'll turn my back, it's not like I have to see the act. But you aren't getting more than three feet from me…unless you want to have a little chase around the bedroom.” The wicked gleam in his eye made Kagome laugh, relaxing some of the tension that had build between them. The pressure against the bond disappeared as they just sat there, leaning against one another in bliss.

“Why is this youkai mating so difficult?” Kagome asked.

“Because of the intensity of the bond. We are, effectively, not only keying our emotions to one another, but sort of binding our souls with one another. That's why finding a mate is so difficult. People and their souls have to be compatible.”

“That has to making youkai dating a drag.”

Inuyasha gave a light chuckle, canines flashing in the dim light.

“We do have one advantage. This,” he said, tapping his nose. “I knew you were compatible the moment I smelled you.” Kagome's eyes widened in surprise.

“Are you saying I had a neon glowing youkai sign saying I was ready for the taking?” she asked, half laughing.

“Hence why Kouga tried to pick you up as well. Your aura is surprisingly accepting of youkai. However, your personality does not match well with Kouga's.”

“And yours does?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow in a mocking gesture.

“Damn right it does, bitch,” he growled, tackling her.

“Well how can I argue with that?” she laughed. He gave her a soft kiss on the lips, pulling her half covered body flush against his as he nuzzled her neck. Kagome laced her fingers through his hair, careful not to pull strand too close to his sensitive ears.

“This form of bonding decreases the initial awkwardness of a newly intimate and serious couple,” Inuyasha explained softly, his breath caressing her neck. “Having sex doesn't solve all problems….in fact, it usually creates more doubt and questions. The close proximity decreases the chances of the couple breaking due to too many assumptions or doubt. Forced proximity makes small issues come up and effectively forces the couple to work through them. Truly compatible couples are willing to work through anything. I guess you could call that love.”

“So love, in youkai terms, is the willingness to compromise and work together?” she asked curiously. Just what was his definition of love? The affection was there, she had no doubt of that….but how did he see it? How did he see the fact that she loved him?

“Love is the willingness to compromise and work together because the result is better between the couple than life would be if they were separate. It's not the willingness to change….but more the change in what you want. Individual goals are now the simultaneous goals of 2 people, forever bound.”

“So if I had a dream of becoming an Olympic ice skater you would too?”

“Not necessarily. If I was highly adverse to the idea you could easily carry on your own ideals. However, I would always be at your side for support. Unquestionably.”

Instead of answering, Kagome smoothed the hair from his temple and laid a slow, gentle kiss upon his temple.

“What did I do to deserve you?” he asked, looking up into her eyes.

“I don't know….but I can tell you the only goal in my life right now is to make it to that bathroom and empty the bladder your elbow is leaning on.” Golden eyes blinked at her.

“Good thing I'm not into that romantic shit or you would have totally just crushed my world right there,” he teased, jumping up and holding out a hand to hoist her up. A dark blush stained her cheeks and she attempted to look anywhere but at the naked hanyou in front of her. “We'll have to work on your shyness,” he said with a smirk. “Common bitch, time for excretion.”

“I still say this is very, very weird.”

“Feh. Be glad your period isn't due.” A long pause followed his words.

“I can't believe you just said that.”

***************************************************************** *******

 

“Ms. Kaede, could you file these for me please?”

The older woman looked up from her tiny desk in the far corner of the windowless office. The closet sized office.

“Hojo, you don't have to call me Ms. Kaede. I'm not your boss anymore. Now you're my boss.”

The young man blushed and scratched the back of his head in an uncomfortable way.

“Hard to get used to. I feel bad having to order you to do my old job. Filing is so boring. Are you sure you're ok? I could do this myself.”

“Don't worry yourself,” she said calmly. “I'm not as young as I used to be. Filing is a nice slow job I can do without having to think too much. Besides, you have much more important things to do.”

“Yeah….they keep sending me all this weird paperwork. Half the time I don't know what to do. Do you think you could help me out with this one?”

It was too ironic sometimes. Kaede had been demoted, Hojo promoted, and yet here he was in his old office, having her help him do the job she'd once done. The only thing missing was the paycheck.

Why Hojo? Well, he was the type who didn't ask questions and pretty much did whatever he was told, always assuming his supervisors, of course, knew best. Kaede wondered if the old bat that ran the council upstairs knew that every executive decision Hojo made went through Kaede first.

And Hojo pretty much did whatever Kaede suggested unless orders from above came through.

“Wow, that helps,” he said with a sigh of relief. “I didn't have a clue what they meant.”

`Which is how they want you,' she thought, but only smiled at the sweet boy.

“Would you mind if I pulled out some old files? I want to make sure we don't have duplicate records. No sense in wasting space.”

“Of course! I never thought to do that when I was down here…. A fabulous idea! Those file cabinets are getting quite full. Are you sure it wouldn't be too much of a bother? I could come down and help.”

“No, no. I've plenty of time today. Might as well put that time to good use. You'll be busy with meetings all afternoon today anyway.”

“Oh yeah,” he said, crestfallen and handed her the access keys. The poor boy probably missed filing. It was a brainless job…one he excelled at. “Thanks again for the help!”

Kaede gave a patient sigh when he left. Such a sweet boy, but so dense. No wonder Kagome never really entertained the idea of dating him. No spark, no excitement…nothing.

The small stack of files he'd given her only took a few minutes to put away. Kaede shut the drawer and hobbled over to the farthest cabinet. It was locked, no surprise there, but easily opened with Hojo's access keys. Technically she had no deceived him. She would look for duplicate files….while also looking for information on Naraku. There had to be some record of him first appearing if he was as old as Midoriko. Demons were always difficult to age.

 

***************************************************************** *****

 

“Go fish,” Rin said dully, half leaning over the table. “Do you have an 8?”

“Go fish,” Sesshoumaru replied. “Why is it we are playing a children's game?”

“Because it takes a long time, little thought and keeps me from wanting to jump you.”

“I see….you do realize playing with one hand is less than amusing.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled. “At least we aren't playing slap jack or war. Although I might have a chance against your demon reflexes if we did.”

“This is….acceptable. Do you have a 3?”

“Yep.”

The door to the apartment opened, revealing a well worn, exhausted toad demon under a bundle of bags. They regarded him with a general lack of interest, Sesshoumaru giving his usual expressionless gaze while Rin just looked uncaring.

“Did I miss something?” he asked, wondering why the two of them weren't engaging in their usual bedroom activities. Sesshoumaru merely lifted an eyebrow and went back to his cards.

“Take a good sniff and I think you'll figure it out,” Rin snapped.

“Ah….that female problem. I am very glad I am neither human nor female,” he replied haughtily.

“So am I,” Rin retorted. “You'd be one ugly chic.”

Sesshoumaru allowed a low chuckle escape his stoic personality.

“What is this?” Jaken asked, looking at the card game.

“Go Fish. Wanna play?”

“A human child's game??” Jaken sneered.

“You could just say no,” Rin grumbled. “Sess, do you have a 5?”

***************************************************************** ******

 

Kaede frowned at the documents before her. She hadn't found Naraku yet, but she did find something rather odd. High Councilor, otherwise known as the old bat, was once a rather open, accepting individual who often pushed for equality, acceptance and lack of conflict between the different powers. She used to support the school broadening the classes offered, expanding opportunities and always being the first to accept an idea that seemed way to far fetched to be true.

Yet over a hundred years ago she suddenly switched…like a light bulb. Now the same woman was the complete opposite, being the one who had pushed for the current narrowly focused curriculum that left students like Kagome far from their true potential.

“This is far too suspicious,” Kaede said aloud. “I think Naraku's control runs deeper than we thought. Which means he wanted us to find the collars…and destroy the breeding grounds? But why?”

Then it hit her. Of course he wanted them to do it. He was safely in hiding…and they'd just cleaned up after an idea he decided to abandon. They had effectively taken care of most of the evidence against him. In a few decades, no one would care….and he'd be free to continue whatever foul plan was hatching within his brain.

Pulling out her private cell phone…the one the company didn't know about…Kaede dialed Kagome's cell. It immediately went to her voice mail. Kaede didn't trust that. Changing tactics, she dialed Rin's number instead. With any luck the woman would be with that full demon.

Lord Sesshoumaru would want to know of this, that was certain.