InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Dark Hour ❯ No More Lies ( Chapter 6 )

Ch. 6

No More Lies…

Sesshomaru waited outside of the bank, watching for the dark-haired woman to reappear. He checked the area to make sure she didn't have security guarding her. He really didn't want to make a scene in public.

He spotted the woman walk out of the bank and he quickly caught up with her.

Wrapping one hand around her arm, he whispered close to her ear, "Don't bring attention to yourself. Just follow me."

The woman glanced at him in surprise. To her credit, she acted natural, not making a fuss as he directed her towards a small café on the corner.

Once they were seated in a booth in a quiet corner of the restaurant, the woman glared at him.

"What the hell are you doing?" She hissed, her eyes suspicious. Sesshomaru gave her a small smile. "Don't tell me you're not happy to see me, either Kikyo." He said sarcastically. Kikyo rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you're really broken up about it."

The smile disappeared from Sesshomaru's lips. "Alright, enough with the witty banter. I've got more serious issues to talk about." Kikyo looked away from him.

"If you want me to help you, forget it. Inuyasha's already pissed about you being alive; I don't need to add to it." She said. She reached into her purse and retrieved a cigarette and lighter. Sesshomaru gave her a disgusted look.

"Don't do that around me." He ordered. Kikyo made a face and put the cigarette between her lips. Before she could flick the lighter, Sesshomaru plucked the cigarette from her lips and smashed it into the table.

"Hey!" Kikyo protested, but quieted down when she saw the warning glint in Sesshomaru's eye. She grudgingly threw the lighter back into the purse and crossed her arms.

"Kikyo, don't give me the spoiled little bitch routine. I'm in no mood for it." Sesshomaru said quietly. Kikyo sighed. "What is it you want?" She asked again.

Sesshomaru eyed her before responding. "I want you to retrieve some files from the master study." He said. Kikyo's eyes widened. "But that was your father's study. What could you possibly want from there?" She asked. Sesshomaru waved a hand at her. "That is none of your business. Can you do it?"

Kikyo leaned back. She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Inuyasha keeps it locked and I'm not exactly sure where he keeps the key, although I have a pretty good idea."

She leaned forward, her arms on the edge of the table. "Why should I help you anyways? We've never liked each other and you know I'm loyal to Inuyasha." She said. Sesshomaru laughed shortly.

"Yes, if by loyal to Inuyasha you mean loyal to his money." He said. "Besides, Inuyasha doesn't give a shit about you and you know it. He picks up a new girl every week and you just happen to be his backup when women are in short supply."

Sesshomaru saw the anger that flared up in Kikyo's brown eyes. He also saw the truth. She looked away from him, her jaw set. "I don't have to sit here and listen to this." She said, sliding out of the booth. Sesshomaru caught her arm before she could rise.

"Kikyo, sit." He commanded, his voice low and deadly. Kikyo hesitated before reclaiming her seat. "Listen, you and I both know the truth so there's no use in sugar coating it. Inuyasha could give a damn about either one of us, so why shouldn't you want to get back at him?"

Kikyo glanced at him, beginning to lose her resolve. "What do I get out of this besides a little revenge?" She asked. Sesshomaru sighed. It was always about money with these types of women, but he was prepared.

"$10,000." He said flatly, watching in amusement as Kikyo's eyes widened. "Really? $10,000?" She said in a whisper. Sesshomaru nodded his head.

Kikyo looked away, uncertain whether or not she should go along with this plan. After a few moments, she nodded her head slowly.

"I'm in. What do I have to do?"

~~~~~~

"So what are you gonna do?"

Kagome sighed and brought her knees up to her chest. "I don't know, Sango. This whole situation has gotten so complicated."

Sango looked at her friend helplessly, wishing there was something she could do to help. Kagome had dug herself into quite a hole this time.

"Maybe it's time you go to the cops, Kagome." Sango suggested. Kagome shook her head adamantly. "No. Bringing in the cops would be pointless. Naraku's lawyers would only pull some fancy stunt to get him acquitted and I'd only be in more trouble." Kagome said. Either way she looked at it, she was stuck.

Sango took their coffee cops to the kitchen, promising to return with refills. Kagome smiled. She was glad to have a friend like Sango. She was always there when Kagome needed her, never complaining.

Sango returned to the couch and handed Kagome her freshly filled cup. Kagome smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, Sango. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Sango rolled her eyes. "Probably stay out of trouble." She joked. Kagome stuck out her tongue. Sango suddenly turned to Kagome. "What about that guy…Sesshomaru?" She said, snapping her fingers when she remembered his name.

Kagome averted her gaze. "What about him?" She muttered. Sango gave her a look, one that Kagome knew to be the I-know-there's-something-going-on-but-I'm-gonna-ignore-it look. "Well, wouldn't he help you? I mean, I'm sure there's no love lost between him and Naraku since Naraku did try to kill him, so he'd probably be willing to help you out, you know, like a bodyguard or something."

Kagome admitted that it sounded like a good idea, if only she knew where Sesshomaru was.

"I don't think so, Sango." Kagome said. "Besides, Naraku as much as said he'd give me an exclusive interview if I called him if Sesshomaru showed up here." `Which he hasn't.' Her mind echoed.

Sango looked at her, a disgusted look on her face. "And you'd consider such a deceitful offer?" She demanded. Kagome closed her eyes, not wanting to hear a lecture. Sango huffed. "Kagome, look at me." She ordered, her voice sharp. Kagome reluctantly opened her eyes.

"Kagome I've known you for years and I know you're not the kind of person to do something despicable just for occupational gain." Even though the incentive was huge, Kagome knew she couldn't go through with Naraku's plan. Somewhere deep down, she also didn't think she could turn in Sesshomaru.

Kagome was brought from her inner thoughts by a steady beeping. Sango reached into her purse and pulled out her pager. She groaned and threw the pager back into her purse.

"It's the studio. They're having a production problem so I need to get down there ASAP." Sango grabbed her pocketbook. She gave Kagome a quick hug. "Promise me you'll get some sleep. You look like hell."

Kagome gave her a playful shove towards the door. "Ok, mom." She said sarcastically. She waved goodbye and shut the door.

She glanced at the wall clock. It was only three in the afternoon and already she was contemplating sleep. As she headed for her bedroom, she heard a knock at the door.

She figured it was Sango, she'd probably forgotten something like she always did.

"I swear you'd forget your head if it weren't-"

When Kagome flung open the door, the rest of the sentence was forgotten.

"Sesshomaru." She said, surprised. He stood before her, his silver hair flowing to his waist and his beautiful face expressionless. Kagome was momentarily stunned by his presence, seeing him for the first time free of bruises, cuts, and blood.

"May I come in?" He asked, his voice smooth and devoid of emotion. Kagome shook her head to clear her thoughts and stepped aside, slightly embarrassed by her behavior.

Sesshomaru glided past her, his eyes never meeting hers. Kagome closed the door softly and faced him, wishing he'd say something.

"How are you?" She blurted out, needing to fill the silence. His back was facing her, and she was disappointed that he seemed to be avoiding her gaze.

He shrugged his shoulders. "As well as can be expected." He said. Kagome shifted from foot to foot, not knowing how to react to his strange behavior.

"And you?" He reciprocated the question. She hesitated before responding. "Fine."

Sesshomaru suddenly turned to her. Kagome took a step back when she saw the deadly look on his face.

"I guess you would be with Naraku at your side." He spat out, his voice quiet, but angry. Kagome's eyes widened in realization. He knew. Somehow he knew.

"I-I don't-"

"Save it." He growled. He advanced towards her slowly, his golden eyes burning. Kagome took another step back, but found she had backed herself against the door.

"Was that the plan right from the beginning? Did you hope I'd still be here when you got back the day after you found me so you could lead Naraku right to me?" He was now directly in front of her, his body effectively blocking any escape.

Kagome's mouth opened, but no words came out. Sesshomaru sneered. "No excuses or lies to cover up your real motive?"

Kagome wanted to deny everything he was saying, but she couldn't. He was more or less telling the truth. She turned her face away from his, not wanting those golden eyes accusing her.

Sesshomaru could feel the anger building inside him, but effectively quelled the emotion. As mad as he was at her, he couldn't help the strong urge to reach out and caress the smooth cheek that was turned to him.

He growled low in his throat and clenched his hands by his side. That was definitely something he wanted to keep from doing at this point. As innocent and harmless as she looked, she still deceived him.

"Don't you have anything to say?" He said, his voice still low. Kagome slowly turned her gaze to his. "It's true. Everything you said is true." She admitted, her voice filled with regret and shame.

Kagome looked at him, her eyes silently begging him to listen. "I work for the New York Daily Sun and I was supposed to write an expose on your family and when I found out who you were, I was tempted to use that information, but I didn't."

She looked away from him. "I wasn't going to Inuyasha to turn you in, I was only going there to see if he could help you and to see if maybe he'd give me a quote or two for the story." She said quietly. She sighed. "Naraku had Inuyasha kidnap me and drag me to his place where he proceeded to offer me an exclusive interview for the story in exchange for…"

Kagome wasn't sure she wanted to finish. Sesshomaru's eyes bore into her, making her uncomfortable. "In exchange for what?" He asked between gritted teeth.

"You." She whispered. Sesshomaru nodded his head. "Well, I guess that's quite a boost for your career." He sneered. Kagome shook her head.

"No, I'm not doing it." She said, her voice pleading for him to believe her. She slipped past him quickly and went to the desk in the corner. She rummaged around for a few minutes before finding what she was looking for.

"This is the number Naraku gave me to call if you came back here." She explained, holding up the card. Sesshomaru looked at her, his face blank, giving nothing away. Kagome ripped the card into shreds, letting them fall to the floor.

Sesshomaru watched the pieces of paper float to the floor, not knowing what to say.

Kagome stepped in front of him. She tentatively placed a hand on his chest, letting it rest there lightly. Sesshomaru's breath caught, the touch surprising him.

"I couldn't turn you over to Naraku. I know he'd try to kill you and…and that thought bothers me more than I care to admit." She whispered. She looked up at him, her eyes holding pain and something else Sesshomaru didn't recognize.

"Please, Sesshomaru, you have to believe me." She begged. Maybe it was the tortured sound in her voice or maybe it was the way she said his name, but Sesshomaru was suddenly powerless as he found himself drawing closer and closer to Kagome.

Her lips were mere inches away, parted slightly as her breath quickened. She could see the confusion in his golden depths, but she could also see desire and need.

"Sesshomaru." She whispered in a sigh as his lips descended on hers, taking her breath away.

a/n: sorry for the long delay…had some last minute holiday emergencies! well, this will have to do until after the holidays cuz i'm going out of town for the holidays and won't have the time that i need to devote to the story…so please leave reviews and happy holidays!