InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waiting at a Coffee Shop ❯ Poisoned ( Chapter 9 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter: Poisoned

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Inuyasha and Inuyasha the Final act, not Bulmathebabe or I. We make no money for the writing of this fanfiction. The ideas of the AU belong to us.


She suddenly buried her face into Sesshoumaru's chest and he looked down at her shocked, but wrapped his arm around her protectively. Sitting nestled with her when the others were engaged in amorous displays was one thing, but her resorting to clinging to him for comfort was undignified. Still it pleased him that she turned to him instead of anyone else. Yet again, he sighed, realizing that he would have to get used to how clingy humans were for Rin’s sake. He muttered, "You remember fights in your youth?”

"Yes. Everyone used to wrestle and gang up, and I couldn't..." she trailed off.

"Your foster family, correct?" Sesshoumaru then muttered. Rin nodded, still not looking up as she hugged him tightly. He felt a bit uncomfortable but does not push her away.

"Rin it's just a game," Kagome said.

Inuyasha pulled himself to his feet and pushed Sango toward Miroku. "We're just goofing off. Sorry If I scared you. I saw you freeze and backed off. Thought it was because I'm a guy," he said meeting Rin's eyes. "I wasn't gonna hurt you. Ask them, I don't actually fight back."  

Somehow, Inuyasha’s frank explanation soothed Rin as much as Sesshoumaru’s cold yet accepting embrace. Quickly she said, "It wasn't that! Not that you were a guy. It was because everyone wanted me to help and it was three against one..."

"That wasn't the same situation as when that bastard of a foster father asked you to hold the other down when he..." Sesshoumaru trailed off.

“Please don’t,” Rin pleaded, wanting to block out the memories. In addition, she had no desire to let everyone here know something that should stay dead and buried.

A frown crossed Sesshoumaru's face. "You will not suffer that again."

Inuyasha blinked. "I didn't know that. Besides that, I'm hanyou. You're not really gonna hurt me except for the random elbow in the crotch. Thanks whoever that was by the way."  

"There's a lot of things you do not know about her past," Sesshoumaru said quietly.

“It was an honest mistake,” Rin said as she looked at them all shamefacedly. "I'm sorry."

Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru oddly. She has no idea what he is referring to. A good deal of Rin's past wasn't known to any of them and yet somehow Sesshoumaru knew something none of them did?

“I'm sorry Rin. I was the one who started the whole thing. I guess we're so used to it, we didn't even think," Sango said, putting a hand on the girls shoulder. "I'm glad I didn't charge Sesshoumaru instead, you might have been more upset."

"That and he actually hits back," Miroku added. Sesshoumaru seemed remarkably calm as he continued
to rub Rin's back.

"Now that I know it's just a game, its okay," Rin said as she sighed in relief.

Inuyasha stared at Rin a moment more, with a look of understanding in his amber eyes. "I understand where you’re coming from. I've been in my fair share of fights. I've been ganged up on and had the crap beaten out of me, maybe not the same situation but still. It sucks but you have to move on. You can't let it get in the way of havin' fun."  

"He has a point. Will you let things rule your past or will you move on?" Sesshoumaru asked matter of
fact.

Rin released another deep breath, and then managed a smile, glancing from Inuyasha to Sesshoumaru. Each brother was right in his own way. "I never thought about it like that before... thank you... both of you."

Inuyasha snorted and muttered, "No problem," turning towards Kagome as a faint blush of embarrassment crossed his face. He put his arm around Kagome's waist to lead her back to the couch and sat down.  

Kagome wrapped an arm around him and realized how awkward Inuyasha must feel being lumped in with his brother. Nevertheless, in some weird way, they had both helped, and they were not accustomed to working together towards any common goal. Inuyasha grabbed the remote off the table and presses the play button, trying to find something, anything to distract him from the embarrassment. He stared at the TV screen, not even really watching the movie. Tension filled the room again. However, Rin remembered her secret weapon, which Sesshoumaru had stored in a cooler in the back of his jaguar.

"Let's make banana splits!" Rin suddenly said. "I brought ice cream!"

Sesshoumaru looked at her incredulously and shrugged. "What flavors are available?"

"Strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, and all sorts of toppings. Miroku, Sango, do you want to take a look?"

"I could go for ice cream," Miroku said with a smile.

"Just don't make it all vanilla this time if we're going to share," Sango said following him toward the kitchen.  

Sesshoumaru immediately walked into the kitchen before Rin watched Kagome mouth a "thank you" to her. This left Inuyasha and Kagome alone so he could feel less in the spotlight. Sometimes Rin had a good grip on how to distract people's attention when things get awkward.

Inuyasha was lost in his own thoughts, his mind going over the day's events. Today had been an emotional rollercoaster to say the least. Even something as simple as goofing around with friends had turned to a trip down memory lane. He sighed as he leans back against the couch.  

"Hey, you okay?" Kagome asked him, moving closer to try to calm him with her presence. "At least Rin has some sense to take the third degree off you."

Kagome's voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he blinked at her realizing he had been staring at the TV. "Huh? I'm fine. Just thinking." He shifts her so that her head is against his chest.  

"Tired from so many trips down memory lane?" she asked him. She lie so her hair is near his nose and he can smell her scent better, hoping it will calm him.

"How'd you guess?" he asked, wondering just how she knew him so well sometimes. He reached a hand up to gently brush her bangs to the side so that he can see her face better.  

"I was just thinkin' about what Rin went through and how it affects the way she reacts and how maybe that's why I react to stuff. My own crap that I don't want to deal with gets in the way." He stopped himself, shaking his head. "Forget it. I'm just thinking too much."  

"I think you're onto something," said Kagome. "But thing is that you're not the sort of person who likes to dive into their past. You seem to live in the moment."

He nodded in agreement. "I try not to dwell on things I can't change." He made a face. "Somehow though, the past tends to come back and bite me. That's what I don't get."

"You can change how you look at past events," Kagome said.

"How would I do that? If I look at something that happened years ago, chances are I'm gonna just feel the same way I felt then? Why bring up the bad feelings?"

"You can also change how you react to them," said Kagome.

He looked like he was having a hard time believing her. "You do that?" he asked, "You look back on stuff and just change the way you feel about it?"  

"Forget I said anything. It was a stupid idea. I should stop reading those dumb women's magazines," she sighed.

"No, you've got me interested now. Give me an example." he said, intrigued by why Kagome suddenly wanted the conversation dropped.  

Suddenly she saw Miroku standing there holding a bowl of ice cream with a grin on his face. "Oh Miroku... I forgot to tell you what flavors I wanted..."

"Just when the conversation got interesting too," Miroku said still grinning. Inuyasha glared at Miroku.

"Couldn't you have waited two minutes to spy on us?" he grumbled. "I wanted to hear what she was gonna say, damnit."  

Now Kagome felt extremely uncomfortable as she sat there. She muttered, "Me and my big mouth.”
Miroku shrugged. Turning to walk back into the kitchen he said, "I'll get your ice cream. I can take a hint."

"Why are you so uncomfortable all the sudden?" Inuyasha asked. "Does it have to do with me or something?"  

"No, it's not you," Kagome said truthfully. "It's just that I realize I'm the pot calling the kettle black here."
"What do you mean?” he asked confused trying to figure out why her mood had shifted so suddenly.  
"Here I am giving you advice on learning to look at your past differently, and I have trouble doing that myself. I have no right telling you to solve problems differently because you and I are different people, different personalities. Just because you deal with things your way doesn't make it wrong," she said softly.

She then added, "I'm being unfair to you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha stared at her for a moment and snorted. "No you’re not. Anyone ever tell you you talk too much?" He kisses her gently, hoping that he can cheer her up. "Those girly magazines really are getting to you."  

Relief filled her. "Yes, you tell me I talk too much. You're good for me. Next time I ramble, kiss me and shut me up," she laughed.

"I wouldn't be able do anything wench, you realize that right? I'd be kissing you all day," he teased, happy that she's smiling and laughing again.  

"Would that be so bad, kissing you all day, hmm?" Kagome asked, leaning in to give him a soft kiss. She had to turn around to do so.

Rin poked her head out of the kitchen, glimpsing them kissing. She then closed the kitchen door behind her to give them privacy. "I think my banana split distraction plan worked," she said to Sango with pride.

Sango smiled. "Yup. Like a charm." she agreed.

Inuyasha meanwhile deepens the kiss, pushing Kagome's hair back and running his fingers through it. Softly he said, "Won't hear me complain."
***
Out in the living room, Kagome's stomach suddenly rumbled. "Ooops," she chuckled.

"Guess we should probably get you some ice cream or something." Inuyasha laughed standing and pulling Kagome to her feet.  

Kagome accepted the help, him feeling the tension and resentment completely gone between them. It gave her a sense of relief that she is sure Inuyasha can smell on her.

In the kitchen Rin turned the table into a help yourself toppings bar. Several containers of ice cream are open with scoops, along with small bowls with nuts, m and ms, caramel topping, sprinkles, hot fudge, and other things. She currently dollop whipped cream atop a mountain of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and peanut butter, and caramel, then put a cherry on it.

"What on earth is that?" Sesshoumaru asked as she walks over and shoved it towards him.

"A banana split, what else?" she teased, taking a spoonful and shoving it into his open mouth.

Inuyasha opened the kitchen door walking in hand in hand with Kagome. "Damn Rin, what'd you do, rob Baskin Robbins?" he asked. Miroku looked up an eyebrow raised.

"Back already?" he asked Inuyasha innocently.  

"This is part of a bonus I'm sharing with everyone," she giggled. "I got a raise."

"That's great! Congrats!" Sango said beaming at her.

Miroku glanced at Kagome. "I uh still didn't know what kind of ice cream you wanted. Here's your bowl though," he said handing the dish to her.  

"Thanks," Rin chuckled. Inuyasha watched as Kagome sets to work building her banana split.

"You're not going to eat one?" Sango asked him.

Inuyasha shook his head. "I'll take a couple bites of Kagome's. I'm not a big sugar fan. You know that."

Miroku shrugged. "Suit yourself. More for us."  

"You make up for it in the coke you drink," said Kagome with a giggle. "But that doesn't count."

She passed a can to him. He laughed and took the can. "That's true. Thanks." Sango stared at him a moment more, puzzled. "If you don't like sugar all that much, how is it that you and Miroku used to eat all that candy while you play video games?" Inuyasha shrugged. "I'll eat it but what you didn't see was the stomach ache later. I've learned my lesson."  

"Too much sugar is toxic to y..." started Sesshoumaru but Rin shoved a piece of banana in his mouth.

"Thank you Mr. Science. I had no clue," Inuyasha rolled his eyes. He steals the cherry off the ice cream Kagome had just made and eats it before she can stop him.  

"Stop being a commentator and enjoy,” Rin said. "Are you going to comment on everything or just be?"

Sesshoumaru frowns but shuts up when she shoved another piece of banana into his mouth. Inuyasha watches in amusement as Kagome replaces the cherry without a word and takes that one too.

"She's going to flip if you keep doing that," Miroku warned with a laugh.  

"Take the pole out of your backside and join the rest of us and I think you'll be fine," Kagome giggled looking at Sesshoumaru.

"There is no pole," he mumbled.

"It wouldn't kill you to have some fun." Sango added. She winced at Sesshomaru's serious expression. "Or maybe it would." she muttered.  

"That's why I drag him everywhere. It's my personal mission to acclimate him to fun," Rin giggled.

"Best of luck on that," Miroku said straight-faced. "Perhaps you should give him a printout of the definition first. He seemed to like facts," he teased. Sango stuffs a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth to shut him up before he really irritates Sesshoumaru. However, Sesshoumaru smirked at this.

“Contrary to popular belief I DO have a sense of humor," Sesshoumaru quipped.

"It's just been surgically removed right?" Kagome teased.

"Humph," Sesshoumaru comments, grabbing a spoon and stealing a dollop of vanilla ice cream from Rin's concoction.

"If you have one Sessh, I think it's broken. You might wanna ask for a refund." Inuyasha adds, not able
to resist.  

"The warranty expired,' Sesshoumaru quipped.

"I hear they're half price on e-bay," Miroku added in, earning a groan from Sango.

"That was bad Miroku. You can have him for that one Sesshoumaru. Just give me a couple minutes to check if his life insurance is up to date," she muttered.  

"Ebay, schmeebay," Kagome giggled. "I bet he'd just buy the company that writes the warranties."

Sango's cell phone ringing interrupted the banter and she checked the caller ID. "It's my boss..." she muttered with a sigh. “ Aren't you supposed to have time off?" Miroku asked. "Guess something came up."  

"A 24 hour leash," sighed Sesshoumaru. He then reached down and opened up his cell phone. "Excuse me."

Kagome saw Inuyasha wince. "Don't tell me he's using a ringtone that only you guys can hear?"

"Yeah," he whispered. "That and Sango's boss...well...I'm gonna keep quiet and hope he doesn’t realize I'm here."

Sango shook her head sympathetically and opened the phone. "Sango here."  

Sesshoumaru walked out the kitchen door and closes it. Rin blinked in confusion, yet figured it was better not to question things.  She respected his privacy after all. Instead, she focused on cleaning up the toppings and putting them back in their containers since everyone had helped themselves to ice cream. Quietly as she could, she stacked the bowls in the dishwasher.

"He creeps me out..." Inuyasha muttered quietly, referring to Sango’s boss. Whatever he did, Jakotsu had some odd crush on him.

Sango shushed him turning her attention back to the phone. "What's going on Jakotsu? Did something come up?"

"Sango, sorry to bother you," Jakotsu said smoothly. "But I've got bad news..."

"How bad?" she asked with a frown.  

"Looked as if that wolf demon thing's gone sour. Someone's posted bail for Ayame..." he said with a shudder. "Not to mention her sense of fashion reeks."

"I didn't notice Jakotsu," Sango laughed. "Is there something you needed me to do? I have some friends over right now..."  

"There's been some incidences of poisoning going on. Seemed as if someone's being targeted. I've
reports here from sources that some of the people who've been business associates from their clan have gone... ill and been hospitalized. Rumor has it that anyone is fair game being targeted..."

From the kitchen Kagome mumbled, "I don't feel so well..."

She looked rather pale. Miroku also seemed to be going white as a sheet. Rin looked at them in worry, her instincts screaming danger. She had seen people like that before, usually before they were going to vomit. Guilt surged up in her. She was sure the ice cream was fine, and Sesshoumaru had even sniffed it declaring it acceptable. So what was going on? She asked, "Are you all right?"

The color drains from Sango's face, though out of fear. "What's going on?" Inuyasha demanded.

"Tell me that the ice cream is bad please," she said softly.
Inuyasha looked at her confused before sniffing the ice cream. "Smells fine. A little different than usual but nothing bad.”

Sango shifted the phone putting it on speaker. "Jakotsu...what kind of poisonings?"  

"It looked like food poisoning, but it isn't transmitted in food. It's route of exposure is through contact
with documents," Jakotsu said worriedly.

"Documents?" Inuyasha asked. "You're sure it's just food poisoning right?"

"It causes nausea and dizziness in humans. In Hanyou, the effect is reduced. But certain youkai... And for those with miko powers..." Kagome collapsed as she leaned heavily on Rin. Rin herself is panting, yet didn’t seem as badly affected.

"Out with it!" Inuyasha snarls.

"Is there an antidote or something..." Sango asked a little more calmly, worried as Miroku lays his head down on the table.  

"Poison yokai... may counteract it,” Jakotsu said quickly, his voice filled with worry.

Inuyasha rushed to Kagome, shifting her to lean against him. With his other hand, he steadies Rin.
"Sessh!" he yelled, hoping that he's nearby.

"What is it that you needed me to do? Track down the source?" Sango asked, trying to keep calm, though panic is starting to overwhelm her.  

"Yes," said Jakotsu. "I’m sending the specifics to you via text message."

Suddenly Sesshoumaru opened the door. "What in the name of..." he gets out before he looked in worry at Rin.

"Some type of poison...he said a poison youkai could counteract it..." Inuyasha tells him. "Kagome Rin and Miroku are feeling the effects... everyone else is probably going to soon, except you." Sango sat down heavily on her chair, feeling dizzy all the sudden. "I'll check out the text and get back to you." She manages to say before closing the phone.  

Sesshoumaru grumbled. Rin seemed far less sick then the others. She manages to blink at him.

"Damn," Sesshoumaru mumbled, struggling to think how to best do what was expected. He could not simply use his poison claw without killing them, and the other option of placing his blood in the drink would be very inappropriate. However, there had to be a safe way for them to ingest it without getting sicker. He then looked at the cans of soda and formulated an idea.

"You ok Sango?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yeah. Just dizzy. Gotta keep focused though," Sango muttered trying to read the text. She gave up after a moment and lays her head on the table.

"What are you thinking Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha asked, feeling panicked. His stomach felt strange, though he is not sure if he's affected or if it’s just from worry.  

“Give me a moment, idiot,” Sesshoumaru grumbled. He started to open cans of coke and then dips his fingers in each one of them, adding a bit of his poison from his claws. He shoved the glasses of soda towards each of them.

"Drink this," he mumbled. Inuyasha pressed the soda to Kagome's lips to help her drink and shoved one of them towards Sango. Sango made a face but manages to drink, nudging Miroku to do the same.

Inuyasha looked at the glass in front of him skeptically. "Are you sure I'm not gonna react bad to this? Remember what happened when you got me with your claws that one time. I had a fever for days."  

"That's why it's in the coke. The sugar will lessen the toxic effects so it will target the toxin..." Sesshoumaru explained. However, he hasn't handed Rin any of the soda. She seemed to be gaining color back in her face the longer she breathes in and out, sitting on a kitchen chair.

Sango sat up straighter feeling a little less dizzy and watches as Miroku manages to finish the soda. Inuyasha places Kagome's empty glass in front of him and holds her tightly. He picks up his glass reluctantly and drinks the soda quickly, making a face as he finishes. "I think my stomach felt worse now," he grumbled.  

Kagome gripped Inuyasha. "What the hell happened I feel... weird... and something tastes like crap?"
Sesshoumaru sat down next to Rin, brushing her hair back from her face. She grips his shirt tightly and he pulled her close to him.

"Poison," Sango answered. "I'm trying to figure out the source now."

Inuyasha hugged Kagome tightly in relief. "Sesshoumaru gave you guys something to take away the effects." he muttered. "I'm really starting to wonder though...I'm feeling worse than I did before Sessh."

Miroku nodded his thanks to Sesshoumaru. "Aren’t you going to give Rin the antidote?"  

"She already has it," Sesshoumaru mumbled, coughing.

Kagome moved closer to Inuyasha. "I have something that can help. Let me get it..."

"No, I'll get it," said Rin as she stood up, feeling rather uncomfortable about the attention on her. Kagome instructed Rin what to look for in her purse. Rin rushed out to bring it in. Inuyasha went pale and jumped to his feet running from the room. They hear the bathroom door slam and Miroku made a face.

"He drank the soda too fast. The bubbles got to him. He thought because he is hanyou that he's
invincible." Sango nodded worried. "He's going to have to drink it again though right?"  

"No," said Sesshoumaru.

Kagome said, "Maybe some antacid will help him feel better. I'll go check on him..."
Slowly she rose from the chair, and then walked towards the bathroom. Sango sighed. "So much for a movie night." She read over the text message and looked at Miroku apologetically.

"I'm going to have to go pay a visit to a couple places. Make some calls." Miroku nodded.

"Anything I can do to help?" Sango shrugged, “I have to see what I can turn up first. Then yes."  

"May I offer any assistance?" Sesshoumaru suddenly asked.

"Yes actually. If you could let your father know what's going on. As Tai-youkai he's probably aware. See if he's heard anything from the wolf youkai tribe. I figure we can meet up in a couple hours. Maybe Inuyasha will feel ok enough to help at that point."  

"All right," Sesshoumaru said. "I will take my leave. My apologies that this situation adversely affected you."

He quickly dialed his father's number and waited for an answer.
**
Meanwhile Rin hands Kagome something from her purse and she knocks on the bathroom door.
"Thank you Sesshoumaru." Sango said sincerely. "We'll meet here in two hours." She pulled out her laptop and starts typing as Miroku looked over her shoulder.
The girls hear the sink turn on in the bathroom. "Be out in a sec." Inuyasha muttered.  

"All right," said Kagome. Rin handed her the herbal remedy and then rests a hand on her friend's shoulder. She heard talking from the kitchen, as Inuyasha had left the door open and saw Sango on her laptop and Sesshoumaru pacing in the living room trying to get hold of Takutaro.

The bathroom door opened and Inuyasha was startled to see the two girls waiting right there. "I'm fine," he said before they say anything.  

"I'm glad you're okay," Rin said quickly. She then walked over to the kitchen, unsure of where to be. Sesshoumaru finally gets hold of Inu no Taisho, Rin figured because he stood with a finger pressed in his right ear while holding the phone up to his ear with the left.

"Yes... there was an attempted poisoning. No... Everyone is... copasetic..." he reported, seeing Inuyasha.
Inuyasha noticed Kagome's worried look. "I'm fine. I promise. My head is pounding but I'm ok." he insists.  

"You sure you don't want to take something for it? I have something that works for headaches," she said.

"I just need to lay down for a little bit and I'll be back to normal," he told her walking over to Sango. Sango hands him a piece of paper.

"Two hours we meet back here." She said distracted. Inuyasha glanced back at Kagome, showing her the paper. It is a list she needs him to check through, based on the contacts he had. "I'm heading back to my apartment till then. You can come and help me check into this, if you want."  

"All right, I'll drive you there," said Kagome.

Rin looked lost. Quietly she asked, "What should I do?"

"Call Kagura. You seem to get along with her. She might know something." Inuyasha suggested. He glanced back at Kagome. "My apartments three blocks away. Its dark out, I'm going by rooftop. I don't think I can handle a car right now."  

"All right," Rin said as she reached for her cell phone. Sitting down she dials the number.

Kagome picked up on Inuyasha's implications, knowing he needed some down time. She felt badly for Rin because she knew her friend must feel guilty for them getting sick just after her ice cream diversion. Things were going so well and then reality interrupted in a wicked way. She murmured,
"Okay..."

Inuyasha walked out of the apartment and paused by the railing waiting for Kagome. "I'll carry you. Let's go."  

Kagome climbed onto his back and holds onto his shoulders. Inuyasha made sure that she held on tight and leaps from the railing to the roof, jumping to the next as if it’s nothing. He cleared the three blocks to his apartment in just a couple minutes landing on the roof of the complex he lived at.

There is a door to the stairwell and he lets Kagome down off his back steadying her. "Quicker than a
car."  

"I love it," Kagome said with a smile. "It's the best way to travel."

They walked through the door and down the stairs a couple floors. Inuyasha unlocked his apartment and held the door to let Kagome in, turning on the light switch. She swung the door open, realizing that she had left her purse behind.
"Something wrong?" Inuyasha asked, kicking his shoes off.  

"I left my purse at Sango and Miroku's,' she sighed. “ I've got my cell phone though...."

"Do you need it right away? We're going back there in a couple hours," He tells her, grabbing his laptop off of the desk.  

"No. Besides I'm sure Rin will notice it and since we're meeting back there," she said sitting near him.

He opened a drawer of his desk, going through a few files before pulling out the folder he needed and getting to his feet. "Come on," he said motioning for her to follow. He walks to the small bedroom and turned the lamp to low. "I'm gonna lay down and do some of this research. You can keep me company or help me if you'd like," he said softly as he lay down on the bed.  

She moved over to the bed and lay on her side. Resting her head on the pillow next to his she murmured, "Very comfortable..."

"Better be. Damn mattress cost me a fortune," he muttered opening the laptop. Light from the activated screen illuminated the dim yet comfortable chamber. It made Kagome think of a den or comfortable cave. Moving close to him, she rested a hand on his shoulder. He sat up bracing his head and shoulders against a pillow, resting the laptop on his knees.

"Sango wants me to run a background check on some youkai using one of my dad's databases. It's similar to a police database," he explained, holding the list Sango gave him.  

"How often do you do this?" she asked.

"When something like this comes up. Usually when youkai are involved, Jakotsu can handle it. This is more wide scale. There are more people involved, not just youkai but humans too." he checked the progress of the laptop and saw that it's still booting up, running a virus scan. He put an arm over his face, still feeling the headache.  

She heard her phone vibrate and opened it up.  Inuyasha's ears twitched at the noise and he cracked an eye to look at Kagome. She then saw that it was a text from Rin. "I have your purse. Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on it."

Inuyasha sat up, squinting at the computer screen. "Almost ready. What's the first name on the list?"  
Kagome looked at the first name on the list. "Kyoko Suigetsu..." she mumbled.

Inuyasha keyed the name into the database and waited while it searches. "This will tell us what type of youkai they are, where they work, addresses and show their criminal record if they have one," he explained. "All youkai are required to have a file for safety reasons. Most agencies like the police and hospitals have a person there at all times that is able to tell if someone brought in is youkai."

"Made sense. Though it reminds me of some 'mutant registration act' from X men," Kagome muttered.

Inuyasha chuckled at the reference. "Similar." He saw the file pull onto the screen. "Wind youkai...interesting," he muttered.

"Said they are illusionary youkai..." she said. "Moth youkai..."

He strolled down reading the information. "Works for a courier service. One of Naraku's sub companies. Couple of assaults but nothing major on his record." He frowns. "Sango said that the people on this list were being investigated as associates of the wolf youkai tribe."  

"How about this name?" asked Kagome, pointing to the next one. "Ryokamaru?"

Inuyasha typed it in and waited. "Sounds familiar for some reason."  

Kagome traced to the third name and shudders. "Tsu... baki..."

The file pulled up. "That would be why. Ryokamaru works for Sesshomaru. Bat youkai. Has a clean record as far as this said." He starts to type Tsubaki and remembers the name. "Isn't she a priestess?"  

"Yes," Kagome said. "A Kuromiko..."

He paused. "Wouldn't she have to be human? Why would she be on a list of youkai?" he wonders.  

"Yes but she made a contract with a demon to become eternally young," she whispered. "She's a dark miko with youkai powers."

"Sounds like you know her." Inuyasha states typing her name in. Sure enough, she was in the system. He lets out a low whistle at the record. "That's quite a bit of stuff. Arson, assault with a deadly
weapon."  

"She tried to attack the shrine. I knew her from the school that my grandfather had at the shrine. He trained women to be priestesses... Tsubaki was one of his better students but... she was jealous of me..."
Inuyasha clenched his jaw in anger. "I'm guessin' that's one of the destruction of property charges on her record here."  

"Yes. She assaulted me with a shikikami. Luckily I had my bow with me and managed to deflect it. But it hit the wall and blew up..."

"When was this?" he asked softly.  

"I was only 15," she said in a quiet voice, shivering as she hugged herself. "Grandfather kicked her out of the school. She finished her training somewhere else..."

"Then I ran into her again by luck or some misfortune in college. She set fire to the dormitory I was in, and if I hadn't woken up when I did..."

Inuyasha did not want to think about that. He shuddered, pulling Kagome closer. "If the wolf youkai tribe have someone like this as an ally...we may be over our heads here. Not that I don't think you can take her anything but there aren't exactly any other mikos strong enough to back you up if you need it. Not any that would be of any help," He trailed off shutting his mouth and shutting the door on that thought. That was getting dangerously close to someone he didn't want to bring up.  

"Rin has miko powers. She's just woefully untrained," Kagome said softly.

She curled up next to Inuyasha on the bed, shivering from head to toe. The mention of Rin is merely to distract him from asking her further about her past with Tsubaki, yet she knew that Rin may be a powerful ally. Unfortunately, Rin had not expressed much interest in pushing to learn more about her abilities.

"Let's not jump to conclusions just yet. If it comes down to it though, Rin might have to take the advanced course in miko training," he stated. He read the next name, "Sato Akasuki." When the file came up, he paused.  

"I'm glad she knows the basics, but still... if I can convince her..." she trailed off then listened to the next name.

"This girl is hanyou," he said surprised. "Tiger youkai hanyou. She works for Naraku's corporation in security." He ran a hand through his hair. "This is getting worse and worse.  

"This sounds pretty deep. I hate the look of it all," Kagome winced.

"I'm starting to get a bad feeling. I have no idea what to think if Naraku is teamed up with these damn wolves. It is not good though. Sesshoumaru is gonna be pissed. I can tell you that much." He typed in the last name on the list. Ryuuya. The file pulled up and Inuyasha made a face. "I really hate cat youkai. I've heard of this guy too. Rumor has it he's got mob connections. Job is listed as a bouncer for a club."

Kagome shivered from head to toe. "One hell of a movie night. This whole situation sounds like a plot to a movie..."

"No kidding. Guess that made us the action heroes or something. Unless it is a horror movie. I'm starting to wonder," He said saving the information and closing the laptop. He put the computer and the files aside and pulled out his phone to send Sango a quick text that he had gotten all the information. He settles back against the pillow with a sigh putting his arm around Kagome.  Kagome lays her head on his chest, burying her face against it. She inhales deeply and squeezes her eyes shut, shaking from head to toe.

"Its gonna be ok Kagome," he said trying to reassure her, wrapping both arms tightly around her shaking body. "I said I'd protect you and I mean it."  

She relaxed hearing this. "I feel safe with you Inuyasha. Here. It felt like you all over..."

Inuyasha smiled slightly. His headache was mostly gone at this point and he felt a lot better. He has the feeling that Kagome's presence alone is what helped. "I can't believe I let all that crap get to me earlier. You missed it too. I almost kicked Sesshomaru's ass. Rin had to pull him away."  

"I can't believe I missed that!" Kagome giggled. "If Rin wasn't there I'm sure Sango would have been cleaning fluffy pieces off her lawn..."

He chuckled. "Along with my remains. She would have killed me. I've never seen her so pissed off as she was at me tonight."  

"Uh oh," Kagome whispered. "I heard the shouting match but..."

"That was mostly for show more than anything," he admitted. "She had a point though. I was so pissed that she had to get me listening somehow. I'm just glad that's over with."  

"So am I," she said with relief.

"Next time just knock some sense into me or something ok?" he said kissing her lightly.  

"I promise," Kagome said as she returned the kiss.

He moved Kagome so that she is lying on him rather than next to him so that she can rest her head on his chest more comfortably. "The evening wasn't a total loss though was it?"  

"No, I got to hang out at your place and use you as a mattress," she whispered.
He cannot help but laugh. "So you're using me for my body then?" he teased.

"Mmm it's a very sexy body at that," she chuckled.

"Glad you approve. I have to say I was pretty amazed that you jumped in the wrestling match. And Miroku didn't even make a single perverted comment about you wrestling in a skirt."  

"He knows if he did Sango would make him sleep on the sofa. And I'm sure Rin would have come to my defense too," she giggled.