InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Welcome to The Age of Un-Innocence ❯ And Then Night Fell ( Chapter 19 )

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

A/N: Hi again, wow. It has been WAY too long. Believe me, I know. I can't even begin to apologize for this huge gap, just know that it won't happen again and I'm very happy to be writing again. I'm going to finish all my stories even if it kills me hehe. Anyways, I had many reviews between the last few months and I just want to thank everyone SO MUCH for continuing to read, review and not let me give up. I really appreciate it, more than you guys know. Many more updates are on the way and I hope you all are still enjoying my stories despite my writers block issue. And I want to say a huge thank you to Maggz, this chapter is of course for you. Because you never let me quit, and where would I be without you pushing me :). I really hope everyone enjoys this update, and the ones to come. Ja - Laurell

“I have some news you might find interesting, something that might just interfere with your plans for tonight.” The voice snaked through the darkness.

Kikyou relaxed slightly when he turned the overhead lights on with a flicker and faint hum of electricity and her loft came into sight again. Her eyebrows knitted together only slightly before she gracefully walked to stand before him linking her delicate wrists behind his neck and leaning down to stare into his eyes.

His eyes were what really got her in the night, what had kept her coming back to this particular man, and giving him her business. His eyes were the strangest light brown, that they almost looked…red. Like dark red velvet, like the polish that adorned her toes or the stain left on a wine glass, blood red. One of her favorite colors. Inuyasha was so much less in comparison to the power and privilege he oozed, and he was the perfect distraction to forgetting the sexy man she had crushed without hardly lifting a finger mere days ago.

“You startled me.” She pouted and he smirked with some amusement.

“Sorry, I had just let myself in when you arrived, was admiring the view outside in the quiet.” He didn't need to explain himself, but he did solely for her to feel just a little bit safer. Kikyou; his sweet and deadly little mercenary.

“Guess who's back in New York, who you rustled out of his hiding spot and who ran back with his tail between his legs.” Kikyou couldn't stop how her eyes had widened or her heart speed up. “And guess who he says he's going...to…ruin.” He chopped out each word after the last syllable and Kikyou's eyes narrowed into black smudges.

“Where is he?”

“I've got a bad feeling, Inuyasha…”

`Please don't let that be my last conversation with him,' Inuyasha thought desperately. Truly scared his only real friend might be dead because of him.

Inuyasha tore past any unlucky people on the steps into the garage triggering the alarm to remember where he last parked his BMW. He exhaled a sigh of relief when it started and spun the wheel reversing out of his spot and into drive in a fluid motion. One of the things he could honestly say he was damn good at, was driving a stick shift. Something he had taught himself and was actually proud of. Unfortunately living in New York offered him very few chances to actually drive like he wanted to. But tonight that skill, along with his knowledge of the streets, was going to get him to Kouga's faster than any cab could have.

Zipping through the maze of buildings and their lights he swerved down a side street to avoid traffic up ahead and swore under his breath. He was remembering just how much he hated this city all over again, and all he could do for now was pray he got there fast enough.

Much closer than Inuyasha would have dreamed of, Kagome was having a very different experience looking out the window of her cab with a dreamy sparkle in her eyes. To her New York was a truly beautiful city, in the most chaotic way she could have ever dreamed of. Every where she could see there were people, lights, and places piled on top of each other. It was like an urban jungle that had overgrown when no one was watching, but she loved it.

She had no idea where she actually was but figured she must have been getting close when the buildings started steadily climbing higher. The cab lazily drifted through the thick traffic but she didn't mind, trying to take in all the sights and commit them to memory. If all went well maybe Inuyasha would be able to show her around, she would have loved that but she knew it would be a lot to ask for, in all honesty.

Through the site seeing and somewhere midway over the bridge she had changed her mind for the third time at least and decided not to get a hotel after all. There was no sense in wasting money on something that might not be necessary, and she was trying to save her cash. If things went bad with Inuyasha then she would deal with the issue of where she was spending the night until she caught a flight back. She could only handle dealing with one problem at a time by this point.

She put on a little make up for good measure while the cab made its steady trek, her eyes watching the reflecting lights in the windows and smiling despite the situation. It seemed her optimism hadn't given out on her yet, and she couldn't help but love how beautiful Manhattan was. It was everything she was had been hoping for, shame the reason why she had come here wasn't.

When her cab stopped in front of a beautiful high rise apartment building Kagome craned her neck all the way up with her face as close to the glass as she could manage. She looked ridiculous to a man passing on the street but she couldn't have known that, all she knew was that even when doing this she still couldn't see the top of the building completely, and that made her smile.

"This is your stop." The cab driver gave a gruff reminder.

"Oh yes, sorry. It's my first time in New York." He gave her a dull look making it apparent that he already knew that and she smiled nervously when she handed him her fare. "Do you know, by the way...Is there a hotel near here?"

"There's a nice one a block down, real nice, if you can afford it. Why? Isn't this the right place? It's the address you gave me."

"Oh no I believe you, this is the place. I just don't know if I'll be staying here or not." Kagome smiled at him again when he stared at her blankly. The driver didn't say anything else when he helped her get her suitcase out of the trunk. Standing in front of the building's doorman; who was looking at her strangely as well, with her suitcase in hand, Kagome felt more nervous than she had the entire twelve hours of plane rides over.

Running her fingers through her hair and taking a deep breath she walked past the doorman with the curious look on his face with her chin held high. Until she stopped when she realized she had no idea which apartment Inuyasha had, and what floor of the many it was on. Back tracking a bit she coughed discreetly and gave the doorman a pretty smile.

"I'm sorry; I'm visiting a friend for the first time. A surprise visit actually, I didn't tell him and I just realized I don't know his new apartment number. He just gave me the address to the building."

"Oh, well we have very many people that live here. I might be able to help you though if I know of him, what's his name?"

"Inuyasha Taisho." Kagome faltered for a second when the doorman's eyes widened but he quickly regained his composure shaking his head a little side to side.

"Sorry, yes I know of him. He's on the twelfth floor, apartment seven. I do hope you enjoy your stay Miss." Kagome thanked him and headed for the elevators to ponder why exactly he looked so worried, when he said that last comment.

Walking into the elevator she punched the elegant script for floor twelve and studied her reflection in the mirror hanging on the back wall. Despite everything she had gone through she didn't look half bad, the makeup she had put on probably helped a lot of that though. Well at least those dark circles under her eyes.

The elevator gave a soft chime and the doors opened onto a richly decorated hallway with a soft red carpet running its length. Kagome was a bit surprised at just how upscale and refined this building was; she didn't honestly expect Inuyasha to live in such a nice place. She wasn't sure why, he had enough money for it apparently. But it didn't seem like the kind of place he would fit in.

'Shows how much I know,' she scoffed at herself. 'Ok, no more thoughts like that. From here on out its nothing but confidence, and thinking about how first thing I'm going to tell him is just how important he is to me.' She kept practicing in her head what she planned to say while she walked down the carpet her bag clunking behind her. Until much sooner than she was ready for, doorway number seven was in front of her.

Another few deep breaths and she knocked on the door, ignoring how her hand was trembling. Kagome could have sworn she didn't breathe for a full minute while she waited. In her mind he would open the door and a look of surprise would cross his face right before he swept her into a hug. She would be ready for this, just in case, and had set her suitcase down next to her so her hands would be free to wrap around him.

But the door didn't open, and her beautiful- but fake- fiancée didn't come through it with any expression at all. Biting her lip she knocked again and a third time before her anxiousness was replaced with anger. Here she had dropped everything to come halfway across the world and he didn't have the decency to be home at nine o'clock?

With a glare she sighed and leaned against the door, resting her forehead on its smooth wood panel. It was then a funny thing happened. It shifted under her and she stumbled.

Looking up in surprise she realized it hadn't been locked or even closed all the way apparently and nervously looked inside the dark apartment she had accidentally fallen into.

"Inuyasha?...Hello?" She looked down the hallway with a guilty sigh and wondered if she should just close this door and go find that hotel down the street. Despite knowing that would have been the best decision she didn't move from the spot. Gently she toed the door open wider mumbling an 'opps' under her breath, and with another nervous look around, grabbed her bag and walked in anyways.

"Technically I am his fiancée still, so there's nothing wrong with me being here. If he really wanted to keep people out he should have at least kept it closed." Kagome quickly reasoned with herself and gave a firm nod to the darkness. Running her fingers along the wall she found the light switch and clicked it until the lights above her buzzed to life.

The apartment, unlike the building, was a lot like she pictured it. It had a cute little kitchen she was currently standing awkwardly in, which looked like it had never been used once, and a table piled with papers and junk. It stretched into a living room with hardwood floors, a dark leather couch and a flat screen TV mounted on the right wall. It was small, but decently decorated and messy. Messy was an understatement actually, it looked like a tornado had blown through the place. But it had gorgeous high ceilings and large windows framed by dark red drapes took up most of the back wall.

Leaving her bags in the kitchen Kagome let her curiosity take her one step further and walked along the hallway to the right of the kitchen. It led to a large bedroom which was dominated by a huge king size bed with a red comforter laying in a messy pile on top of it, and a bathroom next to it. Kagome sighed at the size of the tub wishing she really was his fiancée surprising him for a visit, who could have started a bubble bath for the both of them as a welcome home gesture. That led to thoughts of her stripping him though, which she quickly tried to shake off feeling her cheeks flare.

Walking back into his bedroom she collapsed back onto the soft mattress and snuggled under the blanket. Everything smelled like Inuyasha, and it was as painful as it was familiar. She wished more than anything this trip could have been on better terms, but it wasn't, and she had to accept that. With a sigh Kagome stared up at Inuyasha's ceiling much like he had been doing the night before while thinking about her. She didn't have any idea what to do next, but for the moment, all she really could do was wait. Wait and hope he came home soon.

Now that her excitement and anticipation had drained from her, the weight of the last few days was all that replaced it. She was exhausted on more levels than she thought possible, a stranger in both a city she had never been to, and the apartment she had sort of broken into. She rolled her eyes at her own thoughts and tried to focus on one emotion to hold onto, but it was impossible.

She moved onto her side snuggling into Inuyasha's pillow and caught sight of a photograph on his nightstand. It was him and another man she didn't recognize, he had short black hair pulled into a pony tail and the two were grinning in some sort of bar. She felt so relieved to be close to him again finally, but so empty at the same time in his deathly silent apartment. Again her emotions twisted fickly between everything from joy to fear.

Reasoning with herself, Kagome figured if Inuyasha wasn't home she might as well see if she could try to eat something while she waited for him. She would have loved to just fall asleep in his bed, but the thought of him walking in on her asleep was much too embarrassing. Not to admit she would miss the look on his face at first seeing her.

Walking back into the kitchen she picked up her bags setting them down on his couch in the living room and took out a couple of things. Her cell phone was vibrating against the table again with an incoming call, she waited until it stopped before flipping it open remembering she had promised to call Souta. Nervous butterflies fluttered up through her again when she dialed Souta's cell. It rang twice before he opened it with a curt, “Hello Souta Higurashi.”

“Souta it's me, are mom and dad around you?” She whispered trying to keep her voice audible but quiet.

“Oh yes, I had been expecting your call.” He replied in the same bored tone so she understood.

“I figured, well just so you know I got here safe and everything is great. I'm at Inuyasha's apartment now so don't worry about a thing, I'll be home soon.” She was lying right through her teeth, but it was easy thing to do over the phone. She would have felt worse to have him worrying over her.

“Thank you, I'll be in touch later then.”

“Love you Souta.”

“Same to you,” and the line clicked silent. Kagome shut her phone unsteadily. Well she had made it, all of her excitement and adrenaline and here she was. Standing in Inuyasha's empty loft apartment…at a total loss what to do next.

“Where is he?” Kikyou stormed in the room without knocking her heels thundering through across the wooden floor. Kouga stayed in his seat calmly waiting for her tirade and inspection to finish, taking a slow sip of his drink and watching the city outside his windows fade from dusk into darkness. The lights twinkled silently, they were the stars, and the sky above them was empty from the light pollution.

“Cut the shit Kouga. I know you're hiding him and I know you're protecting him, and we both know what I'm capable of.” She screamed whirling before him with twists of fabrics and the snapping of her shoes.

“What? Whoring yourself to the top baby?” He asked with a dull smirk through hooded eyes. Kikyou kicked his chair with one well aimed boot hard enough to knock the glass of whiskey out of his hand. He sighed like she had merely flicked cigarette ash his way rather than shattered his drink everywhere looking down at the sparkling chunks of wet glass.

She sucked a breath in through her teeth narrowing those large eyes until all he could see were her over played lashes and thick black liner. “I know what he's trying to do, and he doesn't scare me. Inuyasha can do as he pleases but I am not his prey. I know what his plans are and you're helping him!” Her shrill voice cut through the hollow silence of Kouga's flat, bouncing off the walls still echoing when he quietly spoke.

“You don't know shit.” His tone was as sharp as a blade and his eyes as cold as the gleam off its metal. The stare he was giving her with those icy eyes, it froze even Kikyou to the spot making her clamp her lips tight. He didn't say anything more, he didn't have to tell her the game she was playing was ending, that she had painted herself into a corner and the more frantically she looked for an escape the tighter the wires would become closing in around her. The more she fought this, the faster she would be dead. And if Kouga had any pity for her, or even thought she was smart enough to do so he would have told her to run, run anywhere that didn't know her and to not come back. But he knew better so all he said was. “Get out of my fucking apartment.”

And she turned in a flurry, graceful to the last, slamming right into someone's chest. She apologized before staring at him in complete confusion. “What are you doing here Naraku?” She asked her eyes searching his face when he raised his hands up to rest on her arms. Somewhere behind them Kouga was quickly moving to another room.

“Kikyou, I can't begin to tell you what a fabulous job you did with Inuyasha. In one stunning ten minute interview you ruined his entire life, his family's lives, and his fiancée's future. I'm so proud of you, have I told you that?” This wasn't making sense and she shrugged out of his grip hesitantly.

“What are you talking about?” She demanded a note of anger slipping into her voice, not liking the feeling of being left out of things. Her thoughts were jumbled and frantic from the cocaine she had done on the way over, but her adrenaline pounded through it all fueling her decisions and quick to spark anger.

“Just admiring how much easier you made this on me. Sealing off his future in Japan and ensuring he run back here first thing, that makes everything from here on much simpler.”

“Naraku!” She screamed in a ruthless aggravation. “What do- Never mind. I don't care what you're going on about, get out of my way!” Moving around him she slammed the door so hard it shook against its hinges in defiance. But quickly ran down the hall like a child who knew they were going to regret that, if that door opened up again.

She stopped when a group of men walked up from the stairway filling into the narrow hallway and blocking her path.

“Excuse me!” She barked being in no mood for anymore male bullshit tonight. But they didn't move only smirking and stopping in front of her.

“Would you all of you please get the fuck out of my way!” She shouted loud enough to wake the rest of the building. But nothing stirred; nothing even moved for a split second like the whole city had gone quiet reverberating from her earthquake of a yell. It was then she recognized them, and knew she was in trouble.

“Someone needs to teach you some manners doll.” One of them murmured and then there was a mind numbing sharp pain when one of them grabbed her shoving the cloth over her mouth, and then nothing but sweet darkness.

“Hey! …Kouga?” Inuyasha struggled to see through the darkness of his friends' apartment navigating the familiar hallway with ease. “Kouga?” He called out again when he found the large room empty and dark, Kouga's usual chair in front of the large window of the city skyline empty. Inuyasha walked forward when something caught his eye though, leaning down to pick up a sparkling shard of broken glass.

“What the fu-” He was cut off before he ever finished by a sharp sound he immediately recognized but wished he hadn't. Ducking behind the chair in an instinctual movement he tried to see through the darkness but didn't have to when the overhead chrome kitchen lights flashed on. “Kou..ga..?”

Everything that had happened over the last horrible three days suddenly felt like it had exploded to equal something so much worse. And nothing in Inuyasha's head was making sense anymore over the popping and fizzing parts of his brain were doing. Kouga, the only friend he had next to Miroku was pointing a gun at him, and for the life of him he couldn't process why.

Kikyou opened her eyes after some struggling, her eyelashes feeling like they weighed a ton. Through her squinted gaze she blinked through the watery outline of shapes and lights trying to make sense of what had happened. Her first thought was what had she taken, or what had she been slipped. And fear took over when she tried to move and first felt the binds restraining her.

Kikyou whimpered alerting the four men nearby in conversation she was awake a little earlier than planned. Naraku slowly walked up to stand before her and she raised her head with some difficulty her eyes still going in and out of focus like a busted lens.

“You better not have caused any damage to her. We don't need a suspicious autopsy coming up.”

“I didn't,” One of the nameless voices shot back defensively. “Besides, there's so much heroin in her system it's amazing she's still breathing.”

“She better stay that way a little longer, otherwise the purpose of her being here at all is lost.” Naraku muttered bitterly staring down at her with something akin to pity or disgust, he wasn't sure which, in his gaze.

“Why….Why are you doing this?” Kikyou struggled to speak, her tongue feeling like it had swelled up to an irregular size and her mouth incredibly dry.

“Because you have no more use to me.” He answered calmly.

“I…” Kikyou's eyes drifted open and shut again as she swayed slightly in her confusion. She knew she should be terrified but she couldn't feel anything through the euphoria.

“Oh do you mean why haven't I killed you yet?” She nodded instead of trying to speak again. “Well that's because this will cause Inuyasha to suffer. You know how I don't deal well with competition.”

“Haven't…you done enough?”

“Not yet. It won't be enough until he is dead.”

“I- I don't understand.” Kikyou fought the urge to go back to the simplicity that was unconsciousness with all her might, trying to figure this out.

“Don't you remember what he did to you? Remember how badly you hated him, how much you wanted to punish him?” Honestly she couldn't, her head lolled back between her shoulders and she winced. She could barely remember her own name.

“But I did everything I wanted to…everything you suggested!”

“Yes. But you see here's the really great part.” He leaned down to a crouch staring at her dull eyes and smiling. “That was only the beginning. But please understand none of this would have been possible without your help.” Naraku stood up walking over to pick something up on a table. “You have my gratitude for that I assure you.”

“No…” Kikyou moaned from some deeper part of her soul the drugs were making her painfully aware of. She didn't want him to die; she didn't want him to die because of her.

“Well…sometimes you just have to take the consequences for your actions darling. You hate Inuyasha, and even if you're not willing to see it through, I will be. You knew this was the plan. I'm disappointed though.” He kneeled back down to look at her pretty face, even with her makeup messed up and her hair hanging in her eyes, she was gorgeous. He would remember that.

“What are you talking about!?” She screamed in frustration and panic, her unshed tears burning her eyes and her heart feeling like it was beating way too fast. `Like a humming bird, yea a humming bird.' “I never wanted him to die!”

Naraku shushed her affectionately and smiled. The he securely fashioned a large piece of duct tape over her mouth, smoothing the sides on her cheeks softly. He gave her a gentle kiss against the duct tape where her lips were and stood again walking away from her.

“You know what to do.” He called to the two remaining men, one following his leave.

Kikyou was screaming at the top of her lungs something muffled horribly by the tape so it came out as nothing more than moans for most of it. But as he was leaving one last thing caught him.

“What was that darling?” Naraku asked smirking at the tears that were falling down her cheeks. She screamed it again, barely audible but she had definitely said `Why?'

“Because you're nothing but a liability.” He answered walking out the door being held open for him and hearing it shut with a reassuring click behind them.

`Sorry Kikyou, but I've just run out of room for you. It's a shame, if nothing but hate had been in your heart for that worthless Inuyasha, you might have lived.'

A/N: Ahh that felt good, work those writing kinks out! Thank you so much to everyone who is still reading my stuff, or just starting to. I luff you all. I'm so glad to be back and I'll be updating again soon this weekend if everything goes as planned, as well as updating my other stories. Let me know what you think! Ja for now!