InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ This Wasn't In The Job Description ❯ Kikyo and Itaro ( Chapter 43 )

Chapter 43

 

Kikyo and Itaro

 

InuYasha and Kagome headed back into Tokyo, to the Ikebukuro commercial district. They found a place to park the bike, and if they had been in the demon realm, InuYasha would have just picked up Kagome and run to find Itaro. But because they were in Tokyo, he had to make do with walking at a brisk pace - which still meant Kagome had to practically run to keep up with him.

 

Turning down a side street, InuYasha broke into a locked warehouse. The doors smashed open with a loud crack, and Kagome flinched and looked around. Luckily, no one was nearby. Then she had to try and catch up to InuYasha again, who had immediately stalked into the dark warehouse.

 

“I should have known you would show up,” said an annoyed voice behind them.

 

Spinning around, InuYasha snarled when he saw Kikyo framed in the doorway, her arms crossed and a corner of her mouth turned down. Kagome turned around as well, and then moved closer to InuYasha's side.

 

“And you are still dragging that girl around with you, I see.” Kikyo said, her eyes flicking over to Kagome in dismissal.

 

“Don't you fucking dare speak about Kagome with such disregard!” growled InuYasha.

 

“Oh, I see,” said Kikyo, her mouth now quirking up at the edge. “Has your new assistant now truly become my replacement?”

 

That really angered Kagome, and she clenched her fists, tired of being belittled and ignored by the scientist. It was time to let her have it.

 

“I'm no replacement for you,” said Kagome with contempt. “Because you should never have a replacement - I am far better for InuYasha than you ever were.”

 

Kikyo regarded Kagome in mild shock.

 

“I love InuYasha just as he is, a hanyou,” continued Kagome. “I never want to change him - unlike you.”

 

“Think what you want, but I did love him,” said Kikyo in a low, outraged tone, putting her hands on her hips. “He was going to become human because he loved me.”

 

“I was going to do it until I realized you only wanted me as your fucking lab rat,” said InuYasha angrily. “And when I told you I had changed my mind and decided to become full youkai, you dropped me.”

 

The argument was suddenly curtailed as they heard footsteps and the rustling of someone moving through the warehouse's merchandise, heading their way. Immediately, InuYasha knew who it was, and stalked away to meet him, followed by Kagome and Kikyo.

 

“Itaro,” said Kagome sweetly, when she saw the man. “So good to see you are okay!”

 

“It's good to see you are okay, as well,” said Itaro, smiling shyly.

 

Whatever damage Itaro had received when he was hit by the car seemed to only be noticeable in a slight limp. Otherwise, Kagome was relieved to see he looked fine. She thought he had been very brave and loyal to have tried to save her and the information as he did.

 

“Enough of the pleasantries,” said InuYasha gruffly. “If you have any more information, you should give it to me.”

 

“As the scientist who worked on the project, any information is rightfully mine,” scoffed Kikyo, skewering Itaro with her eyes.

 

“I pay for his services, so the information is mine!” InuYasha growled.

 

“Can't you share the information?” said Itaro, looking at them beseechingly.

 

“No!” They answered in unison.

 

Itaro hung his head and sighed. Then he looked up apologetically at Kikyo.

 

“I'm sorry, Miss Kikyo, but unless you can pay me more than InuYasha, I have to give him the information,” said Itaro. “I wanted to do what is right, but bottom line is I need the money.”

 

“Then I'll take you to court!” said Kikyo angrily, fists clenched at her sides, as she watched InuYasha walk off with Itaro in triumph.

 

“You know you can't do that without exposing yourself to Naraku!” said Kagome in contempt. “You are just grasping at straws.”

 

“Why you-!” said Kikyo, flushing angrily - but she knew Kagome was right.

 

The scientist spun on her heel and marched angrily out of the warehouse, while Kagome watched in satisfaction. Then Kagome went to find InuYasha and Itaro. They were standing together and talking, a few yards away.

 

“I managed to clean this off enough for it to be useful,” said Itaro, giving InuYasha another envelope. “It was all I could get - they were getting ready to demolish the building. The old warehouse where Midoriko must have briefly stayed in hiding before she disappeared,” said Itaro.

 

“Is the building gone?” asked Kagome.

 

“I don't know,” said Itaro, shrugging.

 

“Then can you give me the address?” said Kagome excitedly. “InuYasha, our friends and I may check it out ourselves, then.”

 

“Yeah, good idea,” said InuYasha in agreement as Kagome reached for a piece of paper and pen from her purse.

 

There was just enough light from the opened door for Kagome to take down the address Itaro gave her. When they were done, Kagome smiled and bowed her head politely. The informant gave her a quick bow in return.

 

“I suggest you find another place to hide and then call me,” said InuYasha, giving Kagome the envelope to put in her purse. “Your payment will be in the usual place.”

 

“It was good to see you again, Itaro,” said Kagome brightly. “Thank you so much for your help.”

 

“Hey, the help was paid for,” said Itaro in a depreciating manner. “But it was still good to see you again as well.”

 

Starting to get a little jealous and restless at the endless stream of polite conversation, InuYasha grabbed Kagome by the elbow.

 

“Say good bye, Kagome, we have to go,” said InuYasha. “We still have one last concert tonight to get ready for.”

 

As InuYasha hustled Kagome out of there, she managed to say a quick good-bye, and then they were back at his bike. It looked like there was something else that was irritating the hanyou by the scowl that remained on his face, and his gruff actions as they got their gear on. She decided to find out what was bothering him before they left.

 

“InuYasha, is there something wrong?” said Kagome, taking her helmet in her hand and looking at him. “I thought you would be pleased - we have more clues.”

 

“It's not that,” said InuYasha, climbing onto the bike.

 

“Ah…” said Kagome thoughtfully, getting slowly in the bike behind him. “So…it's Kikyo then, isn't it?”

 

With a disgusted sigh, InuYasha stopped before and turned to look at Kagome. She waited expectantly for him to say something, her expression solemn. This was the time she may finally find out how he felt about the scientist. He turned his eyes, intense and troubled, to hers, and then his expression softened somewhat.

 

“Don't worry about her anymore,” said InuYasha. “I'm not sharing any information with her - because she certainly would not share it with me. And, I realized….I owe her nothing. I used to think I did. I used to think I still loved her. But now…”

 

“Now…?” said Kagome as he trailed off, looking down at his lap.

 

“I learned something today,” said InuYasha quietly. “The only one I love is you.”

 

With a quick laugh and sigh of relief, Kagome rested her head on his chest a moment.

 

“I'm glad you said that,” said Kagome. “Because you know it is true, I love you, my hanyou - and Kikyo only loved you when you said you would change for her.”

 

“I believe you,” said InuYasha, and turned to start the bike.

 

The roar of the bike's engine cut off anything else Kagome had wanted to say. He did not hear her say that she loved him as a hanyou - and he never had to change, to become full youkai.