InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Then From Love until Forever ❯ So close...yet so far away ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters. I do not own I swear by All 4 One.

Please forgive the grammar and spelling errors…I am only human but believe me when I say I do try.

AUTHOR NOTES:

REVIEW pretty please!!

P.S. Naraku didn't hire Kaede to take care of Kagome….it will be explained in the next chapter…which will be the last chapter I need to set up the story…the fun will begin after chapter four…hehehehehe I am really excited about it.

*lyrics* - song

~~event~~ - is a vision in someone's mind

Sorry those two things were supposed to be italicized but after uploading the chapter they weren't sorry…V__V

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Then From Love Until Forever

Chapter Three: So close…yet so far away.

Sesshoumaru walked down the damp, dark alley towards the abandon warehouse. His eyes scanned and surveyed his surroundings, alert for anything out of the ordinary. Anything that might constitute that he was being set up. He saw nothing in the dark shadows and he cautiously turned the corner to the back of the building. He could see a tall, slim figure standing a few feet from him in the darkness of the night. His eyes strained in an attempt to identify the man before him.

"You have come to find out the location of your sister-in-law, have you not?" the man's voice was young, but strong.

"I have…" Sesshoumaru responded stoically taking a step closer.

"Very well, then I will tell you under one single condition."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes; he was not one to take demands from someone else. If Kagome were anybody else and not family, if his brother did not love her so much even after all these years, Sesshoumaru would never adhere to anything this man requested.

"What is the condition?"

"That you not tell your brother she is alive."

Sesshoumaru growled, stalked to the figure and grabbed his shirt, pulling him into the light. The man stared at Sesshoumaru, his face unwavering.

"I have seen you before. Where?" Sesshoumaru demanded.

"I am Kohaku. Kagome is a dear friend of my older sister, and my best friend is her younger brother." Kohaku announced, pulling his shirt from the older male's grip and taking a step back.

"How have you obtain the information of her whereabouts? How do you know she is even alive?"

"A few years after Kagome's disappearance I began working for Naraku beginning at the bottom and working my way up to higher positions, earning the trust of his advisors," Kohaku replied, a smirk forming on his lips, "A few months go one of Naraku's men revealed to me, in a drunken stupor, the location of a woman Naraku had ordered him to capture."

Sesshoumaru's eyes darken to a deep amber glow, "Naraku," his voice was low and dangerous.

"Yes, Naraku had her taken from your brother. Luckily the advisor who told me remembered nothing in the morning so I was able to check around unnoticed and affirmed that the woman is Kagome."

A stray dog knocked over a pair of tin trashcans earning both men's attention, and they both subconsciously scanned the area for any signs of intruders.

"That bastard will pay for the pain he has caused my family." Sesshoumaru's fist clenched at his side digging into his palms and bringing his gaze back to the other man.

Kohaku shook his head, "You have no evidence aside my word to prove that he took her. My word in court against Naraku's lawyers would mean nothing. Give me time, I have discovered a file that contains all information concerning Kagome, it is locked inside a safe in Naraku's home office. I am working on obtaining the file so that Naraku can be held accountable for the evils he had caused, but it will take me some time."

"Why do you do this? It could very well cost you your life."

"I do it for my best friend, he hasn't been the same since he lost his sister. I do it for Sango who loved Kagome as a sister and I do it for Inuyasha because I believe no one should be forced to live without the person they love. If it cost me my life, then I die without regret knowing that I tried to help those people who I care about the most."

Sesshoumaru moved to stand directly in front of Kohaku, placing a firm grip on the young man's shoulder, "You are indeed an honorable man to do this for them."

Kohaku did not respond to the compliment instead he proceeded to tell all that Sesshoumaru would need to know in the coming months, "You may retrieve Kagome form her place of exile. I did not know of her condition or how she has been treated for the last six years but she is alive, I am sure of it. If you do bring her back then she can not be seen by anybody aside from your wife until I have the file."

Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding and Kohaku continued, "Naraku does not keep watch over Kagome so he will never know of her absence. However if he discovers that she is gone before we can put a stop to him, I fear she will endure far worse fate when he comes to take her back. He is driven by revenge. He'll wait patiently for a slip up in Kagome's security and possibly this time kill her. He wants Inuyasha to suffer for the pain he caused Kikyou and so he will take the most valuable person away from your brother."

"Kagome…" Sesshoumaru muttered in a low whisper before turn to the side and staring across the ragged courtyard behind the building.

"Yes, that is why Inuyasha can not know that she is alive. We all know he is not one to do things quietly or discreetly, and we cannot risk her safety and his sanity until we have that file in our possession and destroying the threat of Naraku forever. I have faith Inuyasha can survive a short time longer without her, he has this long."

"Indeed," Sesshoumaru agreed, "Very well, Rin and I will go and bring Kagome home but I am going to keep her in the mansion with us. Hiding her anywhere else could also result in tragic circumstances. Inuyasha will not know of her presence until the time is right, she will remain hidden in the mansion away from him."

"Okay, I will contact you as soon as I am able to get a hold of the file, if I should fail, there is one other who has the same determination as I to save Kagome and Inuyasha, will he finish what I have started. Should he fail as well, you will be on your own."

Kohaku held out a small gray envelope to Sesshoumaru, "Inside is Kagome's location. Be careful, and remember my words. Inuyasha must not know she is alive, and nobody can know you have her. You will need a helicopter to reach her location too. Good luck"

Sesshoumaru took the package just as the moonlight broke through the dark clouds of the early morning hours lighting up their secret rendezvous. The silver hair male's eyes stared up at the crescent moon descending towards the horizon, when his gaze returned to the man; Kohaku had disappeared into the darkness of the shadows leaving an empty spot in his place.

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Inuyasha felt the heat of anger boil his blood as he laid on in his bed, listening to his associate tell him their newest lead on Kagome was a dead end. He shot a death glare at his alarm clock, only a reaching distance away, telling him with large bright red lights that it was a minute till six in the morning. Darkness still engulfed his spacious room, his heart sinking into the depths of despair while the man on the phone expressing his condolences about the matter.

Broken heartedly and dangerously angry his gripped his cell phone and flung it across the room with such force it crumbled to pieces when it impacted with the far wall. He wanted her back, he wanted her by his side again and yet another piece of his fragile hope dwindled into nothingness.

He heard the soft click of his alarm clock indicating to him it was now precisely six and the room would be momentarily filled with music from a local radio station. He despised the bellowing sound of the beeping racket that was an option to wake him in the morning so instead he chose to be woken to music. He was not disappointed.

*I'll give you everything I can…

I'll build your dreams with these two hands…

We'll hang some memories on the walls…

And when (and when) just the two of us are there…

You won't have to ask if I still care…

Cause the time turns the page, my love won't age at all…*

Inuyasha's heart stopped beating, creeping into his dry throat and threatening to cut off his air supply. Pain and memories flooded into his mind, overwhelming him to the brink utter and complete destruction.

*And I swear, I swear…

By the moon and the stars in the sky…*

Unable to handle anymore he sat up, ripped the cord from the outlet and grabbed the clock radio flinging across the room to join his battered phone in pieces. His head hung in defeat, his silver hair falling over his shoulders to cover his face. It hurt, it hurt so god damn much. His life was not worth living without her. After six years, most people's hearts would have mended and began to move on, but his would not, could not. His loyalty and his love would belong to his wife for however long the fates deem it necessary to prolong his torment before they graciously ended his miserable life.

Gradually he peeled his red comforter off his body, exposing his toes to the cool crisp air in the room. He rose from his bed; his eye blank of all emotions, and then stumbled into the adjoining bathroom to begin his daily routine.

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Rin paced back and forth in the foyer, her peach silk robe swishing against her body and the floor with each step. Her black hair was braided loosely reaching all the way to her lower back. She twisted her fingers together nervously, and bit her lower lip. It was almost seven in the morning and Sesshoumaru still had not returned from work since he had left the day before. Her stomach turned and flipped creating a horrible sick feeling throughout her body.

Her heart told her he was fine, he was safe but she couldn't hold back the dread that still lingered in her veins. She knew she should not be worrying so much it wasn't good for her. She had been sick the last few weeks with a mild form of the flu or something, she planned to make an appointment at the doctors just had not got around to making one yet. Distressing over something trivial was not good for her immune system, she knew Sesshoumaru would not be pleased but she couldn't help it. She loved him.

She tried his cell a few times but every time she was placed on call waiting and when he failed to answer she was transferred to his voice mail, which confused her - to be placed on call waiting meant he or someone was using his phone and refusing her call. Her hands reached up to rub her aching temples, why the hell didn't he come home?

Rin knew it wasn't because of another woman for two reason, the first being Sesshoumaru was a loyal husband who she knew loved her more than there were stars in the sky, and secondly he understood the simple fact that she would not hesitate to castrate him then shove his detached member down his throat if he cheated on her.

The front door opened instantly catching her attention. She closed her eyes and let out an exasperated breath of relief after seeing him enter, closing the door behind him. A second later she launched herself into his arms, muffling her gentle sobs in his shoulder. Sesshoumaru stroked the back of her head, using his other arm to hold her close to him. Guilt swamped in his heart, his mind had been so consumed with preparations he had forgotten to tell her he would not be home for a while.

"I did not mean to worry you," he whispered into her ear.

Sniffling back her remaining tears, Rin lifted her head from his shoulder to stare into his sad eyes, but something else loitered in them, something Rin could not place. She gave him a weak smile, "It's okay. I was just being paranoid, I guess," she shrugged her shoulders as if it was nothing, looking at her hands on his chest.

"No," he said a bit more forcefully than he intended and pulled her chin up so that he could see her eyes, "I should have called, but…" the corner of his lip twitched upward just a bit before capturing her lips in a slow, sensual kiss, "the past shall return in all its glory and tragedy," he finished breaking the kiss.

Rin's eyebrows furrowed together in absolute confusion, wondering what the hell Sesshoumaru was talking about but before she could ask, Inuyasha stormed into the foyer. The pair watched him walk straight pass them like a drone, his eyes blank, his face stoic. He opened the door, stepped outside and without a word slammed the door shut behind him.

"Be patient, little brother," Sesshoumaru said in a low voice staring after Inuyasha, "what you seek is closer than you think."

Rin's eyes expanded and her jaw dropped, praying silently she had interpreted her husband correctly, "Sesshou…?"

Sesshoumaru cut her off before she could ask, "she is alive."

Rin squealed at a glass breaking level, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly, happy tears glazing over her cinnamon eyes, "How do you know? When? Where? Why…?"

He placed a finger over her babbling lips, stopping her ramblings, "Shh, I will explain everything on the way. Go pack, we will be gone for a few days. I've had your graduate assistant assigned to handle your classes for the next two school days left of the week. I hope this is satisfactory to you?"

Her job was the last thing on her mind. Kagome was alive! That was all that matter but luckily her attention had not missed what he said, "Yes its fine. But…"

"On the way, we must leave quickly."

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~~She stood before the mirror staring at her form dressed in a strapless white satin gown. It was simple with jasmine blossoms embroiled in white thread across her bosom then trailed down the left side of the dress towards the bottom and spreading out into a beautifully sculpted trail of flowers. Looking behind her through the mirror she could see the train of the dress extending far beyond the mirror's sights.

Around her neck hung a gold necklace with a small pink orb dangling from the delicate chain. Her makeup was barely visible just enough highlight her eyes and lips. Her hair was curled around a diamond tiara and was partly covered by the long white veil that was draped behind her. In her hand she held a bouquet of pink, purple, and white roses while the same color ribbons hung from the bottom. The roses were sprinkled with silver glitter causing them to shimmer in the light.

A white flash consumed her mind then she was standing in front of creamy vanilla colored French style doors. From her place she counted five females standing in front of her though the veil over her face somewhat clouded her vision. The first was a young girl, a preteen possibly, dressed in a baby purple flower girl dress. Her white hair brushed just across the child's shoulders. The two women behind her had brown hair which had been done up in a tight bun with purple flowers entwined with the style. Their dresses were also a light purple, backless and plain.

Although she could not see the front of the three females at the head of the line a dim feeling of familiarity nuzzled her in the heart. But the strongest feelings in her came from the remaining two females that stood before her. Both women had their hair fixed the same as the other two women with the exception the flowers in their hair were a light pink. Their dresses, at least from the back, were more elaborate than the purple dresses and they were a baby pink. She felt like she knew them, they were her friends. But faces, names, memories of them, eluded her. All she had were feelings and staring at these women made her feel happiness and love.

Suddenly two young men in gray tuxes and tails opened the double doors to expose a large, expensively decorated room. It was separated down the middle by an aisle covered in pink and purple rose petals. Arches of glitter dusted white roses lined the same aisle while ribbons and more roses decorated each row of seats. A soft melody played from somewhere inside the room, and the girl in the front began moving forward dropping a hand full of white rose petals with each step. Every seat in the room was occupied but as the guest stared back at the bridal party, the bride noticed they had no faces.

She tried to ignore the uneasiness building in her stomach and the depression that accompanied it. She couldn't recognize anybody and as her spirits fell she followed behind the females in front of her, walking closer to a figure standing at the front of the room with four men to his side. When she passed the first row of people she closed her eyes, praying that when she reached her destination she would open her eyes and recognize the man waiting for her. Hoping she would know his name, know why she was dressed in a lavish gown, at a spacious wedding, walking down the aisle to be married to him. She wanted to remember what they shared together, how much he loved her, how much she loved him. No words could describe how irritated it was - not knowing.

She stopped, her eyes still closed, going on instinct she turned to her right and waited for the feel of the veil being lifted over her face before opening her eyes. When a small gush of wind danced across her flesh, she opened her sparkling oceanic eyes. Disappointment cracked the contours of her heart. Before her stood a man with long silver hair but no face, no name, no memories. She felt the sting of tears prick at her eyes…it was hopeless, she would never remember…~~

The meditating female slammed her fist on the mat she sat crossed legged on. Hot tears fell from her bright blues, "I can't do this! I am never going to remember!" She brought her knees up to her chest, hugging then tightly to her body.

"Calm ye self, Kagome. These things take time," the old woman stirring a pot of soup spoke from across the room.

"Kaede, I have been trying for what? Six years now and I still don't know anything more than when I was first brought here." Kagome sobbed to her caretaker.

"It will come to you, when the time is right. Ye just need something to spark ye'rs repressed memories."

Kagome stared at the wedding band and engagement ring on her left hand. She was so frustrated with herself. She hated not knowing anything about her past, not knowing who fathered her child. Kaede had suggested mediation to help her. It help a bit, sometimes when she concentrated especially hard she could muster up detailed images of events in which she hoped she had experienced in the past. Normally she could not name where she was but usually figured out what was happening before the memory faded.

She sighed and listened carefully through the paper-thin walls of the hut as her daughter talked with her imaginary friends out side in the garden. She wanted out of this valley she was trapped in, she wanted her daughter to be around other children her age, she wanted to remember her life. In aggravation she rose from her seat and grabbed her bow and arrows heading out the door without a word.

Her eyes squinted from the brightness of the midday sun; once they were adjusted to the light she surveyed the horizon. It was a relatively small valley a few patches of forests and a sparkling lake in its center. She glanced over at Destiny twisting the flowers she had picked together to make a necklace. Kagome let a few more tears escape her eyes. She felt alone, partially empty inside. She had this great void in her life that would only be filled when she remembered everything.

"Destiny…" she called out in her motherly tone, catching the young girl's attention, "I am going to practice, stay around the hut okay."

The little girl gave her mother a brilliant, toothy smile; her amber eyes glowing like a lantern would in the dark, "Okay mommy."

Kagome gave her, an equally delight smile despite her tear stricken face. Satisfied that her child would obey her request and not wander away, possibly in the path of a stray arrow, Kagome walked the short distance to the tree she used for target practice. Her mind and thoughts bustled into a conversation with herself as she cocked an arrow and pulled back the string with two fingers and her thumb.

"Lets organize what I do know." she muttered, narrowing her eyes at the notch in the tree she wanted to hit with the arrow.

"I need a life…correction…I had a life." Kagome let go of the arrow, frowning when it hit two inches above her desired mark. A light breeze blew her dark hair to her left.

"Damn it, trying to understand the jumble pieces of my scattered mind is like finding your soul mate…impossible. Anyways I digress, okay obviously, I have a husband or had a husband, the proof is on my finger," she cocked another arrow, her other hand gripped the bow firmly.

"I have child, hopefully with the man I married but who knows…. I sure as fucking hell don't." Kagome said bitterly, releasing the second arrow from her grasps.

It hit the target, the tail end vibrated violently from the impact. Her heart was so confused, so sad and alone. She didn't belong here, there were people beyond the confinements of the mountains that cared about her, she could feel it in the deepest part of her heart. Her thoughts returned to the silver haired male that dominated most of her recollections. Whenever she thought about the faceless man a blast much like an explosion erupted in her heart - love, friendship, trust, life - coursed through her blood. She loved him, so much.

The logical part of her mind found that simple fact intriguing. She knew nothing about him; she couldn't remember what had transpired between them, yet her soul still clung to her love for him. An unknown stranger ironically owned her heart.

An odd sound penetrated her ears and her eyes averted to the bright blue sky. She watched with squinting eyes as a black object descended closer into the valley. After about a minute she recognized it as a helicopter. Her breathing hitched and her heart pounded fiercely in her chest…a mixture between hope and fear torn through her bones and muscles as the loud aerial machine landed roughly about five miles from the hut.

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