InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Killer Inside ❯ Chapter 16

Chapter 16

 

Memory could be a tricky thing, especially when one lived for thousands of years. Toga contemplated the two young women he'd met today as he sat with Sesshomaru in Rinoko's living room. Rin was everything he'd expected her to be and nothing like the woman he'd envisioned his older son eventually taking as a mate. She carried herself with an ease that spoke of her joy and contentment. Confidence was not something she lacked; neither was intelligence. While it was true that he no longer personally knew all of Midoriko's line, that did not mean he didn't follow their lives. Rin was not unknown to Toga; her status as a child prodigy making her more than a little noteworthy. Had Katja not offered her daughter the Shinuta cosmetic company, he might have offered her a job himself.

Kagome on the other hand had been over looked, it seemed. Her powers had been hidden and downplayed for years; that much was obvious. Toga was still unsure of the reasons, but it was clear that she needed to be trained soon. Did Kagome physically resemble Midoriko? Perhaps, but his memory of her had faded over the centuries. Of course, with every generation born, the genes of Midoriko's clan had been further diluted. Both Rin and Kagome had an intriguing mix of Japanese and European features, a fact which had startled him at first. Still, he could recognize in them aspects of their ancestors and it reassured him to see familiar gestures and expressions. Most of the features were different, but he recognized Midoriko's eyes in Kagome's face; the color and shape were exactly the same.

Inuyasha looked much like Masaharu had, not much of a surprise as the two were brothers, though they had never met. Toga supposed the similarities between his sons had caused him to forget how the features of a human family could change over several generations.

Sesshomaru cleared his throat, bringing Toga out of his thoughts. The younger youkai glanced pointedly at the front window and Toga's gaze followed. Out on the walk, Inuyasha seemed to be engaged in a serious discussion with Kagome. Toga thought back to the heated conversation between the two he'd overheard earlier; he'd been disturbed by the changes in his son but relieved by the way Kagome had handled the strange behavior. Sesshomaru, it seemed, had also noticed the difference and been angered. Of course, he'd also seemed quite annoyed and a bit embarrassed by their affectionate display as well.

Toga nearly smiled at the thought. He had mixed feelings, of course; the well-being of his sons was important and that included their love lives. Inuyasha had been so damaged by Kikyou's death; it was heartening to see him falling for Kagome. Knowing details, however, was not exactly something he was all that keen on. He was quite glad Sesshomaru and his mate would be staying on the other side of the county; there was little chance he'd get a full night's sleep sharing a house with a newly mated pair.

Suddenly he noticed Kagome was alone on the walk, a very concerned look on her face. Sesshomaru had also noticed and the two jumped up as one and headed for the front door. When they reached the porch, Kagome called out to him.

“Mr. Tai!” Inuyasha seemed to be intent on ripping the steps apart. One stone in particular bore the marks of his claws.

“Yash, what exactly are you trying to do?” Toga asked. Inuyasha looked up, his eyes clear but angry.

“She hid something here,” was all he replied. Sesshomaru huffed in disgust and jumped down to stand beside the younger man. Inuyasha shot him a dirty look and went back to trying to remove the stone from the step. Toga landed beside Kagome and looked at her in askance.

“The clue we found today turned out to be a reference to this step,” she said softly. “Apparently, Kikyou somehow hid something under that stone. I told Inuyasha to ask you and Sesshomaru for help, but he said he could manage on his own.” She frowned. “I know he's strong and that generally he wouldn't need your help with something as small as a stone from a step but…”

“It seems to be a stubborn stone.” Kagome nodded. “I see.” Toga stepped closer to Inuyasha. “Want to try together, Yash?”

“Yeah, take a look first, will you? It's loose, Dad; I've nearly killed myself on it twice now. Why is it so hard to pull up if it's loose?” Toga peered at it more closely, changing his sight just slightly. The stone itself seemed to shimmer and pulse for a moment, then return.

“It's enchanted. We might need some help with this, especially if Kagome isn't allowed to use her powers for a while.” Toga frowned. “How is Kaede holding up, Kagome? I'm aware that you're her caretaker; would she be up to a visit to Rinoko to take a look at this?”

Kagome nodded. “Most of her restrictions are dietary, now. You know; less sodium, fat, caffeine and sugar? She's been told to avoid places where she could easily trip so she stays out of the forest around Musashi, but otherwise goes where she wants.” Kagome shrugged. “I doubt she'd have problems here and I'm sure she'd love to help Inuyasha. When Rin gets out here, I'll go over and get her.” Toga nodded.

“That changes our plans a bit, doesn't it?” Sesshomaru interjected. “Father and I will stay here with Inuyasha while you and Rin collect Kaede. Perhaps our combined strength can force the step. How long do you think you will be?”

“It depends on who's there at the time. Sango stops by to check on her most days around this time and there are a few other people who visit on a daily or weekly basis.” Kagome smirked and shook her head. “Not to mention she still has a few suitors. Her love life is more exciting than mine.” Inuyasha glared over at Kagome for a moment but she just grinned at him. Toga could swear he heard a muttered, “We'll just see about that, little girl,” from Inuyasha, but ignored it.

Inside the house, Rin was approaching the front hall, cell phone glued to her ear as she chattered at her staff back in California. “Chloe, I'm on vacation. Yes, I'm quite aware. Marta said they would be arriving on Friday.” She paused for a moment as she opened the front door, sighing explosively and rolling her eyes. “No, Jean-Luc should be able to manage just fine. No, Marta does not need to supervise! Well, tell him to get his act together! I'm not being un-sympathetic; I think it's quite a pity his boyfriend left him. But he's still my liaison for the foreign press and he still has to talk to Takai. I'm not going to let him wimp out and ruin the launch just because his old lover is going to be at the meeting. He'll be professional with him or I'll walk him out myself.” Toga saw her eyes drift to Sesshomaru briefly before they grew unfocused again as her attention drifted back to her business conversation. “Yes, I'm here with Sesshomaru. What does that have to do with- Excuse me? Did you just imply- Chloe!” The girl's face turned bright red. “Yeah. So? We had three months to get to- Chloe, he and his dad are standing a few feet away and they both have exceptional hearing; you don't want to finish that thought. Yes, he has a brother. No, he's not single. Chloe, I've got to go; my cousin is waiting for me and my mate is glaring at me. OK. I'll talk to you later. Bye.” She closed the phone and looked at the four gathered at the base of the steps. “So, what are we staring at?”

“The step,” Inuyasha snapped.

Rin frowned and looked at the step, her eyes catching on the damaged stone. “If it's offended you, by all means, kill it. But I'm curious as to what it did?”

Inuyasha glared at her but Kagome quickly intervened. “The step is what the clue Kikyou left us was all about. But Inuyasha can't move it.”

“I should be able to; I put the damn thing in.”

“You can't move it because she did something to it, Yash.” Toga could hear the tension in Kagome's voice; it was obvious she was frustrated and wanted to just get things moving along. “And I can't use my powers right now so we're going to get Kaede and bring her back here so she can do something about it, ok? I just wish Kikyou hadn't been so tricky about this whole thing!”

“Maybe she wasn't.” Toga turned to his elder son in surprise. Sesshomaru looked at the group disinterestedly but Toga could see the gears turning in his head. “She sent you easy to decode letters and e-mails; perhaps this also has an easy solution.”

“Oi, like what? She touches the damn thing and it dissolves?” Inuyasha shook his head. “If it had been that easy why didn't…” Suddenly his eyes went wide and he turned to Kagome. “You've never touched the step.”

“Of course, I have,” she laughed. “I've walked up and down these steps at least ten times now.”

“But you've never stepped on that loose stone.” Inuyasha's voice was thoughtful and low. “I've watched you to make sure you didn't stumble on it. Somehow you always miss it.”

“That's ridiculous. Nothing's going to happen if I touch that step.”

“Try it,” Inuyasha insisted.

“It only makes sense,” Sesshomaru interjected again. “How could she be sure what your level of training would be three years later? If she was as intelligent and cunning as you both claim she was; she would know that the simplest methods are often the most effective.”

Kagome looked at him doubtfully then looked at the gouged rock. Toga came up beside her and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Try it. If nothing happens, it's not a big deal; we'll just go get Kaede as we've already planned. It can't hurt to try.” She turned light brown eyes up at him and he was again reminded of his long dead daughter-in-law. When she smiled at him and nodded, it was all he could do to smile back as he remembered the last time he'd seen Midoriko hale and whole, nodding regally to him from horseback with his granddaughter snuggled securely in her lap. He mentally shook himself free of the image as Kagome stepped forward and stood next to Inuyasha.

“You really think-” she began.

“Yes,” Inuyasha interrupted. “Please try, Kagome.”

“OK, but I'm not promising anything.” She stretched her right arm forward and leaned down to touch the step. At first, it seemed to want to repel her; pushing her to the left or right as if she and it were oppositely charged magnets. She held her ground, though and moments later the stone evaporated in a shimmer of silver particles.

All Toga could do for a moment was blink; even Sesshomaru had a slightly dazed look in his face.

“I guess we don't need to get Kaede after all,” Rin said with a smile.

 

A/N - This has taken forever…. And it's not all that much, really. I've re-written several times but can't seem to get things right. I thought I'd post part of it to just get it out. I seem to be stuck and I feel the pacing is off. If you have any suggestions, please let me know! As always, read and review, please.