InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Sage ❯ Kaeda, Head of the Japanese Alliance ( Chapter 18 )

~*~*~*~*~*~*~Edited version~*~*~*~*~*

 

A/N: Hey everyone sorry about updating so late at night but I am a night owl and my best ideas come to me at night. Plus I am an insomniac and usually only sleep about four to five hours a night. I know that I'm weird and I can live with that.

 

A/N: Thankies so much for all the reviews!!! I really do appreciate them all!! So here is the next chapter. I wanted to do some answering of questions (and adding some ^_^) so the lime is not in this chapter but it is in the beginning of the next. *hands out popcorn* Now on with the chapter. ^_^

 

Chapter Eighteen

Kaeda, Head of the Japanese Alliance

 

Sorano stared out over the city. Once she had changed and left the locker room she was going to go home but decided that working on the new album was a better way to spend her time. Not to mention that Rin was working on her homework when she called and talking to Rin when she was working on something like that was like talking to a brick wall.

 

Now here she was staring out at the city lights instead of working herself. The lights of Tokyo were so bright that Sorano didn't feel like the sun had set. She turned and looked at her desk. Papers and pencils littered the desktop and crumpled paper filled the waste paper basket. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't seem to get into writing music. Not when her thoughts were on Kagome and what Suzuki had asked of her.

 

Kagome and the secrets that her family kept. Rin had been unable to so far find out anything about her family. Sorano, of course, could go to Kagome herself and ask her about her family but her family wasn't something she liked to talk about in the first place. Not that Sorano blamed her on that matter. She had to live through the death of her entire family and then the hellish nightmare that her guardian put her through. No this was a matter that was best kept from Kagome at all costs.

 

Then there was the matter of Suzuki and the idea of becoming the next Head Elite. Sure she had thought about it but not really thought about actually becoming the new Head Elite. That would mean challenging Suzuki to a duel and a huge test. Not something that she was willing to do right now. She needed to worry about her team and the band.

 

Sorano sighed as she rubbed her temple. This night was not turning out like she had hoped. She had had a wonderful date with Sesshomaru and now that she was alone all she had was her thoughts and they were more confusing then anything. Sorano turned around and headed for the desk once again. I might as well try to get some work done tonight. I mean Kagome and Sango are on a date and Rin is working on her homework. I seem to be the only one with nothing to do but stew in my own thoughts.

 

Sorano reached for the chair but as she did so her jewel on her choker lit up. Sorano yelped in pain as a shock was sent through it. What the hell! Kami-sama Sango if you wanted my attention then there are better ways of doing it! Sorano reached up and pushed her jewel. Suddenly the once quiet room filled with Sango's voice.

 

“This is Hiro Sango, Agent 1103 calling in an emergency Code Bronze. I have an agent down! I repeat I have an agent down!”

 

Sorano's hand slipped off the chair and she nearly fell to the floor. WHAT! No! NO! If Sango is the one calling in the agent down then that means that it's…

 

Sorano didn't even let herself finish her thought before she was running from the office and down the hall. A janitor trolley was blocking her way towards the elevator but Sorano just growled as she leapt over the trolley and skidded to a halt just in front of the elevators. Sorano pushed the `down' button repeatedly and growled in frustrated at the blasted things impertinence to hurry.

 

Another voice filled the air as the elevator doors slowly opened. “This is Central Command Operator 229. Emergency Code Bronze as been received. Activate down agents nano-tech immediately.”

 

Sorano jumped into the elevator and started to pound on the `close doors' button. Slowly the metal sheets slid closed. The minute the doors were closed Sorano pushed the manufacturers logo `Otis' and tapped her foot as the normal panel of floors vanished and now showed the eight levels of the United Alliance.

 

“Please state your name and rank and wait to be scanned.”

 

Sorano sighed out, “ Sorano, Elite Agent 015, Clearance Level Omega.”

 

“Elite Sorano Cleared. Please place your hands to your side and to not move until scan is completely done.”

 

Sorano placed her hands to her side as the floor to the elevator lit up with the usual eerie green light. The light scanned all the way up Sorano and vanished into the ceiling. Sorano rolled her eyes are she waited for the bloody machine to verify that she was really Sorano.

 

“Scan complete Light Youkai Sorano Cleared. Please state and push the level that you wish to be transported to.”

 

I'm going to kill something I swear to whatever Kami-sama is listening! Sorano pushed Level Three Central Command Operating Center as she stated in a voice that was more of a growl then her usual calm voice, “Level Three Central Command Operating Center!”

 

The elevator started to move as Sorano paced back and forth in the elevator. What the hell could have happened at the restaurant that would have Sango calling in an Emergency Code Bronze?! They only went there to eat! Did a youkai attack? Did her guardian once again find her?!

 

The elevator suddenly stopped and slowly opened its doors. Sorano didn't even wait for the doors to be fully open before she leapt from the elevator and took off down the hall and towards the night Central Command Office. The Central Command Agent tonight is 229. That is one of the newer recruits but so far he is going everything right. Thank Kami-sama that I am the senior agent here tonight.

 

Sorano around the corner and slid to a halt outside the door to the Command Desk. Sorano took a moment to take a couple deep breaths to calm down her youki. Last thing she didn't want was to let her youkai blood take over and her to end up attacking someone because they looked at her funny. Sorano reached forward and opened the door.

 

Inside the room the three computer screen panelled wall was already active. The desk was a glow with every channel already connected. Sorano quickly walked over to the desk, grabbed an earpiece, and pushed a small circular green button on the main console.

 

Sorano hooked the earpiece up; “This is Elite Sorano here by known as Haven. I am the lead agent on tonight and I will be commanding the Code Bronze.”

 

The middle panel of the computer screen wall flashed to a bright white and when the light subsided Sorano could see into the Central Command Operating Pit. The room was completely empty except for the chamber chair that was attached to the ceiling and was hooked up to a rotary engine that allowed the Operator to move the chair up, down, side to side, and to move in a 360 degree circle with just moving their feet on the two petals that ended the suspended chair. All around the Operator was a sphere of video windows that were all touch and voice activated. The Operator was completely covered, from head to toe, in nano-tech armor, as the room was a static free zone.

 

The chair turned to face the opened panel. “This is Central Command Operator 229. I will be following your lead and your command Haven.”

 

Sorano stepped closer to the desk as she pushed a large square blue button on the desk. About a foot behind her the tile floor separated and created a three-inch wide trench that ran the length of the room. The wall to Sorano's left slid open and, running through the trench, came a high backed chair. The chair stopped right behind Sorano.

 

Sorano sat as she once again pushed another key on the desk. The computer panel to her right lit up and showed an empty prep bay. Sorano pushed the key again and suddenly a short puggy badger youkai appeared.

 

“Ah Haven tis good to see `ou. What tis the honour of ya call?”

 

“I don't have time for ideal chit-chat Gadget. This is an Emergency Code Bronze. I need your best EMT team send out to this address,” Sorano pushed another button on the desk and in the left hand top corner of the screen the address to the restaurant that Kagome and Sango were at appeared, “This is a top priority emergency. The team is to go now!”

 

Gadget nodded dumbfounded as he took off and out of the screens view. Sorano reached up and pushed her earpiece. “229 this is Haven. I want all roads and lights fixed. I need that team to get to them ASAP. I don't care how you do it but do it.”

 

“Hai!”

 

Sorano touched the left arm of her chair and instantly the chair slid through the trench and came to stop at the last computer screen panel. Sorano pressed a yellow key and another video window appeared. This one showed the Untied Alliance Emblem with a red cross overlaying it. Sorano growled out. Of all times!! Answer your damn video call!!

 

Sorano once again pushed the yellow key and again the same emblem showed up. Sorano growled out as she continually pushed the yellow key. After about a minute of constant pushing a short black haired brown-eyed Japanese medical attendant appeared in the video screen.

 

“What!!”

 

Sorano raised an eyebrow as the attendant finally saw who was paging them. Sorano would have let the girl sweat at her insubordination but time was off the essence and right now she was only thinking about one person and that was Kagome.

 

“I have a priority agent coming in for emergency medical treatment. She will be arriving in approximately six minutes. She is a high level agent and I am not sure of the injures that she has sustained. But I do know that she has type AB+ blood and that she is a very powerful miko. You will have your best doctors that are on tonight tending to her. I also need a trained miko or houshi present to help in anyway that they can.”

 

The girl nodded and was about to log off when Sorano held up her hand. “Don't you think that it would be good to have the frequency of the transport that will be bringing her in? After all how are you to be ready when you will not know what is wrong with her.”

 

Again the girl paled as she smiled sheepishly. Sorano shook her head. Where did these people come from? I mean really. Why have a new attendant in the medical team working at night in this United Alliance building. Sorano told the girl the frequencies and signed off with her.

 

“Haven this is Central Command. It seems that two civilians are with the down agent. What are we to do with them?”

 

Right Inuyasha and Miroku would have been with them. “They are to come as well. We will deal with them once they arrive.”

 

“Hai.”

 

Sorano slumped forward in her chair and rested her head in hands as her elbows rested on her knees. Sorano could feel her youkai blood trying to take over. She knew that it was going to take everything in her not to loss total control. I am of no use to Kagome or Sango if my youkai blood takes over. I need to stay in total control.

 

Sorano looked up at her reflection in the computer screen and sighed. Keep it together girl! Sorano youki was flashing off of her and eyes were already changing into an iridescent silver.

 

***

 

Inuyasha sat in the back of the emergency vehicle in a state of total numbness. He was covered in his blood and Kagome's blood. Everything that had happened was like something from one of his worst nightmares and yet it seemed to be real. Of course he had thought that Red was a dream and now it looked like it was not a dream and that Kagome was actually Red.

 

Inuyasha glanced around the small back of the truck. Sango was talking with the EMT attendant and Miroku was sitting beside him staring at everything with glazed over eyes. I guess this wasn't the way he was planning on spending his first date with Sango. The attendant was currently attaching tubes and cords to Kagome's strange armor. Suddenly the machines that sat behind Sango and the attendant came to life.

 

The heart monitor made Inuyasha's heart speed up. Kagome's vitals were very low and the stench of death was still all over her. Inuyasha felt his youkai blood once again trying to resurface itself. Hold it together Inuyasha. If you loss control again you might actually loss Kagome instead of saving her. These people are here to help her.

 

“Inuyasha?”

 

Inuyasha jumped slightly as Sango called out to him. “I know Inuyasha that this is all confusing and doesn't make sense but trust us. We will make sure that Kagome pulls through this. Haven is not going to let Kagome die.”

 

“Haven?” Inuyasha glanced at Miroku as he got into the conversation.

 

Sango nodded at them both. “Hai. As you have probably guessed already. Kagome and I are apart of the United Alliance. Haven is Sorano.”

 

“NANI!” Inuyasha covered his mouth after his out burst. “Gomen. I guess I'm wound a little tight. None of this is making any sense. I could have sworn that Kagome in this armor was all a dream. I mean I dreamed that armor to a tee. Of course it was us running for our lives from a bunch of wasp youkai.”

 

Inuyasha stopped when Sango looked away. Her eyes were showing that she felt guilty about something. “Wait a minute,” Inuyasha glanced at Miroku, “I dreamt the same thing. Sango did it really happen.”

 

Sango sighed, “Uhmm… yeah it really happened. But you were made to believe that it was all a dream because no one outside the Alliance is to know what we are and what we do. So when you came upon us capturing Konala and ended up staying with us for the whole night while we were chased by those wasp youkai we needed to modify your memory.'

 

`However since Inuyasha you have a strong bloodline from your father and Miroku you are a powerful houshi we needed to use other means to make you forget what you had seen. So we used the youki of a moth youkai to make it seem like a dream.”

 

Inuyasha stood his head as they rounded another corner and came to the street with the Tower Recording building. “What are we doing at Tower Recording?? We should be heading for the hospital! Kagome needs to see a doctor.”

 

Sango jumped back as Inuyasha's youki flared. Miroku placed a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder as he chanted softly under his breath. Inuyasha felt a little lightheaded but at least his youkai blood had subsided for the time being.

 

“We are at the United Alliance. It is under this building. Most of the agents for the United Alliance are famous people or people that are in places of power. That's because if the United Alliance ever went public then the people would already know the agents and that way a sort of trust would be created.”

 

Miroku clasped his hands together, “That is a really good way to go about things. I mean if the Alliance was ever discovered then the people in the public positions could tell everyone about the Alliance and since they are already known to the public the public would listen to them more because they are someone they can relate to.”

 

Sango nodded as the truck turned just in front of the building and headed down a narrow alley that ran along side of the building. They sat in silence, well almost silence. The only thing in the back of the truck that was making noise was the heart monitor and the breathing apparatus that was hooked up to Kagome.

 

Suddenly the ground shook and Inuyasha nearly fell into Sango. Inuyasha looked through the windshield and saw that the alley's street had pulled back and was now showing a decline into the ground. The truck slowed as it entered the ramp. Inuyasha gasped as he saw that they were now in a parkade of sorts. It was a steady decline as they drove further and further underground.

 

“Taijiya this is Haven do you read me?”

 

Sango reached up and pushed her choker's jewel, “Yes Haven I read you.”

 

“The medical unit is ready for your arrival. Inuyasha and Miroku and to accompany you to conference room 3 on Level Eight.”

 

Sango looked at Inuyasha and Miroku before she turned away, “I understand. We will be docking in 2 minutes.”

 

“The medical team is already at the prep bay. They have been informed about Miko's condition and they are standing by. Haven Out.”

 

Sango took a deep breath as the truck came to a stop shortly after Sango finished talking to Sorano. Inuyasha and Miroku were to stay seated no matter what. Inuyasha growled at the attendant but a scary glare from Sango made him stay silent. The back doors opened and two more attendants reached up and started to help the other attendant get the stretcher out of the back.

 

Inuyasha watched until Kagome was taken to an elevator and the door slid closed. Sango climbed out the back of the truck and walked around to the front. Inuyasha couldn't really make out what Sango and the driver were talking about but suddenly the driver was walking away and Sango was standing at the back of the truck.

 

“Come on you two follow me.” Sango didn't even wait for them to get out of the back before she was walking off towards the concrete wall. Inuyasha shrugged as he leapt from the back of the truck and followed after Sango.

 

“Oi Sango you do know that you are leading us to a concrete wall? I mean this has been quiet a night and I'm tired of all these fucked up games. Why don't you just tell us what is really…”

 

Inuyasha's jaw dropped as Sango placed her hand on the concrete wall. Underneath Sango's hand a large rectangle of green light appeared. Sango cleared her throat as she spoke loudly into the empty parkade. “Hiro Sango, Agent 1103, Clearance Level Alpha.” The pad lit up even more as it scanned her hand.

 

“Hiro Sango Cleared”

 

Inuyasha jumped as Miroku gasped loudly at the bodiless voice. Inuyasha was about to yell at Miroku when the seemingly concrete wall suddenly opened. “Its an elevator!”

 

Sango smirked at Miroku as she walked into the elevator. She raised her eyebrow as she looked from them to the empty space of the elevator. “Are you coming or not?”

 

Miroku was the first to move as he quickly joined Sango in the elevator. Inuyasha shrugged and entered the elevator. Inuyasha wanted nothing more then to find Kagome and find out how she was doing. But nooo, he was stuck in an elevator with an overly excited houshi and a drummer with too many secrets.

 

***

 

Sorano stood in the conference room looking at the door. Soon Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango would be coming in. Sorano heard something coming and readied herself to tell them everything. The door slid open and in walked…

 

“Kaeda?”

 

The old short women smiled softly at Sorano as she walked to the head of the table and sat down. “Please child come and sit.” Sorano nodded and walked to the chair that was just to the right of Kaeda.

 

Sorano sat down as she stated, “Kaeda I didn't know that you were still here. If I would have known that I would have let you run the Code Bronze.”

 

Kaeda laughed softly to herself, “I don't think that I would have been able to run the Code Bronze anyways. Your youki was setting off some of the silent alarms that are in my office and I had to see what the reason was. Now I see. You are worried about young Miko?”

 

Sorano sighed and nodded her head, “Trouble seems to follow that girl. It wasn't always like this either. When she first joined the Alliance she was shy and didn't do anything that would put her in harms way. And now she is getting attacked left right and center. I can't seem to keep up. Plus…” Sorano stopped herself as she looked up at Kaeda and then away.

 

“Child ask what is own your mind. I can not help you if you will not tell me what ails your mind.”

 

Sorano bit her lip as she tried to think of a way to ask the question that plagued her mind. “Kaeda why is Kagome's family history restricted? I think I know that the wasp youkai are after Kagome. And if I am to protect my team and the Alliance I need to know what it is about her that the wasps want.”

 

Kaeda sighed as she hit her shoulder to rid herself of the kink, “Child I do not think that you are ready to hear about Kagome's past. Actually it's not Kagome's past but the history of her family. If you were to know then your life would be in danger.”

 

Sorano banged her hand on the table, “My life is in danger every time I put on my armor! My life is in danger every time I agree to a mission! My life is in danger every time I go out as an Elite! Kaeda my life is full of danger. I need to know the truth. I have been an agent of yours for a long time. I was an agent before you were even the head of this office. I think I have the right… no… I know I need this information.”

 

Kaeda studied Sorano's face for a time before she sighed and nodded her head, “Yes you are right. It is time that someone else knew the secret of the Higurashi family. And I would trust none other then you. And this way you can get Rin to stop trying to hack into my computer. I have had to change the security on it six different times because she is that good.”

 

Sorano smiled, “Yes she is but don't tell her that. She already has an ego when it comes to knowing everything about anything when it comes to the Alliance.”

 

Kaeda sat back in her chair and closed her one good eye. Sorano sat in silence as she waited for Kaeda to begin. “The secret dates back to hundreds of years ago. The date of the secret is a mystery, that is how long ago it happened,” Kaeda opened her eye and stared forward as Sorano leaned more forward towards Kaeda, “It is said that a powerful miko existed that had the power to purify the very souls of youkai. She was the most feared miko of the era. This miko was sought after by all youkai for all youkai wished her death,'

 

`One day at great battle erupted and the miko was almost devoured by a larger serpent youkai. Just before the youkai could completely devour her she used the last of her strength to draw all the youkai in the area souls into her person. With the last bit of her will she thrust her soul and the souls of the youkai out of her chest; creating the Shikon no Tama.”

 

“I have heard of the legend. But it is just a legend is it not? No one has actually seen the Shikon no Tama. It was just a legend that old youkai told their children.” Sorano rubbed her chin as Kaeda continued.

 

Kaeda laughed softly, “ Ai a lot of youkai were told that it was legend because miko and houshi feared that if youkai knew that the Shinko no Tama actually existed they would kill anyone and everyone to find it. The Tama pasted through the hands of youkai and miko until one day it came to a powerful shrine family. This family was the Higurashi. They were entrusted with keeping the Tama pure and safe. So every miko born from that family were to keep the Tama safe and pure.”

 

Kaeda rubbed her temple, “Now this is the part that no one knows. Suddenly the Tama vanished. No one knew where it went or why it went away. But it is said that one day the Tama would resurface and it would be born from a very powerful miko born within the Higurashi family. That is why Kagome's mother was killed. The youkai that attacked her family believed that Kagome's mother had the jewel and when she refused to tell the youkai where the Tama was she was killed.'

 

`Not only did they kill Kagome's mother but they killed her whole family. Kagome was hidden in the well house and her Jii-chan placed powerful sutras on the doors that warded the youkai away from the building. When the massacre was over Kagome's guardian found her and was to keep her safe. But he heard about the rumours, the secrets, the fortune and his heart was turned.”

 

Sorano shook her head, “So you are saying that Kagome knows the secret of the Higurashi family?”

 

Kaeda shrugged, “No one really knows the secret. I know of the legend and I have been trying to figure out the answer for going on ten years. Kagome may have heard of the legend of the Shikon no Tama but as for its location… I don't think even Kagome knows the answer to that.”

 

Sorano sighed, “Just when I think that I am getting ahead...” Sorano sighed again as she continued, “I will need to speak with Kagome about this. I was hoping to figure out the secret myself but I was mistaken. Kaeda I have one last thing to ask.”

 

Kaeda raised her eyebrow at Sorano, “I was wondering about the fortune of the Higurashi family. Kagome's guardian is after that. And if I am to keep Kagome safe I need to know what it is that he is after.”

 

Kaeda sighed, “Now that is something I know nothing of. Before Kagome's Jii-chan died he came to me and gave me a scroll. It was spiritually sealed and he said that when Kagome figured out the family secret that she would need this scroll. When I asked him what the scroll was he said `This scroll is needed to give Kagome and her team a fighting chance against the coming darkness that is trying to cover our world. When she is ready she will know what needs to be done.' Other then that I do not know what it is all about.”

 

Sorano opened her mouth but was silenced when the conference room door slid open. In walked Sango and following behind her was Inuyasha and Miroku. Sorano hid her smile as she saw the look on Miroku's face. I think if that boy smiled any wider it would rip his face in half.

 

“Ah come come everyone. Have a seat.” Sango sat on the other side of Kaeda and Inuyasha and Miroku sat at the other end of the table. Kaeda laughed as she beckoned them closer, “Come and sit closer to us. I assure you we do not bite.”

 

Inuyasha made his familiar `keh' noise as he and Miroku once again rose and walked closer to them and sat down.

 

“Good now that you are both here there is a little bit of explaining that needs to be done.”

 

Inuyasha crossed his arms, “Keh! I little bit my ass! Where is Kagome?!”

 

Kaeda laughed again, “She is in the hospital getting the best treatment there is. Now I think that you both have questions but first I think some introductions are in order. This is Hiro Sango. She is a Strategist for her the team Sage. She also has a partner that is a neko youkai and her name is Kirara. Of course Kirara is not here because this is an off night for her and Sango. And this here is Sorano. She is the Team Lead of Team Sage. She is also the top rating Elite of the United Alliance. She is the best of the best and can prove it any day.”

 

Sorano felt her cheeks lighting up slightly as she inclined her head to Inuyasha and Miroku. “And I am Kaeda, Head of the Japanese Alliance.”

 

***