InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Wooden Nickels ❯ Guile ( Chapter 3 )

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

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi



The artificial light had finally extinguished from the room above, leaving the shadows to claim everything from books to silk. The wind picked up and raised the curtains higher than before, remaining in the air and waving dreamily to the dark room. This increase of air through the tiny crack produced a low howl that echoed against the four walls of Kagome's temporary prison. Had she been anywhere else she might have run into the next room and sought comfort for her beating heart, but she'd much rather deal with fictitious danger than that which was living; and for the last few hours pacing steadily. Between the said pacing, the low howling, and the soft ticks of the clock on the wall, Kagome had for herself a cruel little lullaby that made her anxieties turn dangerously weary but her mind that much more alert.

The leather-bound books that had been littered upon the floor from her captor’s outburst now stood in neat stacks, circling around the edge of the red and green blend. From time to time Kagome would pick up one of these novels and leaf through the dusty pages for a familiar passage to take her away from the present situation. And, it so happened, that the brilliant authors were able to make her forget that the window, her only escape, lead to a five story drop with no ledge and no gutter pipe to shimmy down. The creative conversations and characters even had the ability to take her away from thoughts such as "why had he stopped her when there was no escape to be withheld from?" or "was the man from earlier still covered in blood?”

Though as charming as the writing was, there was nothing with more power to kill a good story than that of a harsh reality; pushing the mentioned thoughts foremost in her poor mind.

The coarse red blanket hung over her shoulders, barely touched from the time he had thrown it upon her. It was scratchy and smelled horribly of what she could only imagine to be mold, but it kept her warm and gave her more comfort than the documents of people who were happier than herself; even in strife. After becoming exasperated at the relatively pointless concerns of the heroine of Portrait of a Lady, Kagome snapped the weathered book shut and let it fall to one of her neatly arranged stacks.

Her eyes rested on the dancing curtains, her ears to the howling wind. For the seemingly hundredth time within the past twelve hours she pulled back the black sheets and looked down onto the now inky black streets. At noon it had been dark, now it was positively impossible to see. And with neither streetlamp nor fire filled trash cans; Kagome could only look blankly into the void of space.

An almost synthetic haze filled the skies above, creating purple clouds that blocked out the stars and moon. She longed for a glimmer of a distant planet, a reassurance that there was still natural beauty that reached even the darkest places; but to this call she received no answer. The haze remained as constant as the black streets, making her believe with a higher conjecture that this truly was the Area of Darkness.

Her mind fluttered about the different passages which had been read throughout the endless night as she gazed into the deep gap before her with a pensive look, wondering how the countless heroes would find a way from a place such as this; when a sound from the next room caught her attention. The pacing had stopped a good half hour ago and had been dutifully replaced with low and angry curses which she had taken to avoiding as well as the low howling. Her clear blue eyes rested upon the door for a moment before they fell to her thick blanket.

With a new conviction she shed her covering and crossed the room. The large room was in more disarray than the last time she had seen it; boxes were ripped apart and it’s pieces laid amongst the piles of books that covered the cement floor. Her captor stood in the center of this amalgam of cardboard and literature, digging through another box much like he had done earlier in the smaller room; the strange orange light as his only guild. With a final lasting look that reached beyond him to the useless door, Kagome cleared her throat.

"I should appreciate it very much if you would listen to me for a moment"

"And I would appreciate it even more if ya'd stopped talking like there's something up your ass" he replied with curt anger

She continued, unwilling to loose her temper again "Why exactly did you take me? I'm sure that even you can see that I have no relation with this part of town. How you can even associate me to...your type is a task in itself. I'm aware that you spoke of a "Kouga" with the man you relentlessly--and let me just add, pointlessly--beat, however, I must repeat there's been a mistake. I don't know what your person does, but the Kouga I'm acquainted with is a highly creditable accountant on the other side of town. So, if you'd just allow me to go I’ll--"

"Have the cops right on my ass"

She blushed lightly from the exposure. Despite the pounds of books that filled the two rooms, he didn't seem intelligent and she had at least hoped he would assume his name would be kept safe in granting her freedom--Which she most certainly would not.

"I ain't talking to you until you drop that talk"

"Proper English?” she replied with more annoyance than question “Are you not able to comprehend words with more than two syllables?"

He stopped rummaging through a box and rose in that too, too straight manner as before. From having just gone through a similar scene, she was positive he was going to complete it by throwing another box; but he didn't. He turned; piercing her with that hauntingly powerful purple stare for a moment longer than she felt was necessary.

At last, he kicked a box aside and said "There's been no mistake"

"What right do you have to kidnap me anyways?"

"Kidnapers don't take rights. As there's no laws to go by in the process, they're free to do as they please"

She wasn't amused

"I'm not inclined to believe you--"

"And I'm not "inclined" to talk with you if you go on like that"

"Alright, I don't believe you" she reinstated “That better?"

He huffed, moving over to another box and ripped it open "Word out here is you're pretty damned precious to the wolf"

"See! See--I know he's never been called wolf! You have the wrong man"

"On the contrary. If you've never heard him called "wolf" than that's more proof that he is the same man"

"I don't follow"

"You wouldn't" he said presently "Your whole mind is deluded in deception. You should be glad you're away from him. The farther the better, in my opinion"

"No one asked for it. And seeing as that has nothing to do with you in the first place, you have no right to it"

He snorted contemptuously, his tone more bitter than mocking "Once those things get on your finger do the brain cells slowly start melting away?"

She hesitantly touched her engagement ring, growing irritated from the turn of conversation and feeling pressed to bring it back around "If I was to believe that your "him" and my "him" were the same--what possible reason could he have to make himself an enemy to you? Do you randomly stalk people who are well off and take a possession or two for ransom? Honestly. You people sicken me. Why not get a real profession and make some money for yourself. Surely, it’s much easier than going through all this revolting and more than delusional stalking of people"

"It's not wise to question the motives and styles of those you believe to be your kidnapper" he said with lack of conviction "They may just decide to tie you up and throw you out the window"

"I'll take that chance" she said, irked by the nearly humorous light

"Great. Only I have nothing to tie you up with so it's free fall"

Instead of the easy talk calming her, she took it as rather offensive and mocking. With a voice growing in agitation she asked "What has he ever done to you?"

"Well, for starters, he's the reason I have to put up with you"

"He didn't tell you to kidnap me"

"So I didn't and neither did he"

"I don't care for your humor" she said at last, with boiling emotion "I just--you don't even want me here so just let me go"

"Can't"

"Is this like an 'I can't get out of the door because the knob was ripped off.' Or more like 'I can't because the fall will be endless if I jump from the window'."

"Leaning towards the second" He kicked another box to the side "Go get that blanket. We're leaving in five minutes"

"You're taking me home?" she asked hopefully

"Underground"

After this short conversation came to an end she was decidedly convinced that she preferred him to remain silent. He took this as a joke, one that he had created but didn't want a part of. His talk with her was very different from his speeches to the man only hours passed--was he bipolar? Perhaps she was dealing with someone mentally unstable who was bound to hop from friendliness and murder with a sudden swing of the unknown. She was aware that most killers did have traits of anti-social personality disorder; an intelligence that made her look about more fretfully for an escape.

Her silken ruffles brushed past him, extracting little notice, and once more stopped before the front door. She kicked it, knocked on it, leaned against it lead with a quick heart and racing breath derived from another rise of panic. Thoughts of the man's bloody face fueled her attack against the unrelenting barrier, while her mind struggled for another way to distance herself from this dangerous man. After another seemingly pointless act was forced to a finish from no noticeable change in the door's attitude; she turned to look back in the cluttered room to see his back still turned to her.

"You have three minutes now"

"I'm not going with you" she replied firmly

"Ah! Now that's more like a true kidnapped person" He rose, shoving something in his pocket before nodding to the small room "Let's go then"

She didn't make a point of moving so he made a point of taking her wrist and pulling her, despite what she felt was a heavy protest, effortlessly into the tiny room. She caught the confused look he graced the pile of books she had arranged, a look that was quickly replaced with coldness she hadn't seen since he had pulled her from the window.

They approached the window and he drew back the curtains, exposing the darkness, before turning back into the room and retrieving the blanket she had left amongst the books. His dirty hands held it out before her but she didn't look at it, turning instead and staring out into the endless black. The thick blanket was tossed upon her with a curse as she continued looking down into the black space, finally coming to grip with what he was expecting them to do.

"Is this some weird metaphor?" she asked, unable to keep the tremor out of her voice "Jump out of a five story building to get underground?"

"To get there? No" Before she was even aware of what he did, Kagome found herself on his back and was only too shocked to utter or protest against him in that second "It's a bit farther. Hang on"

To her horror he perched on the window sill and made to jump.

"Are you crazy?!" she cried, finding her voice "My gosh! If you want to kill me just--"

"It'll be over in a minute"

"Let go!" she shouted in panic, struggling furiously to get away form him "Don't touch me you--you psycho! Let me go, let me go, let me go! I have connections! I swear it, I have connections! If you kill me your as good as killing yourself! Not only the police will have you but Kouga will find out! Don’t mess with Kouga he'll--"

"What? Manage my money?" he shouted in vile "Shut the fuck up and quite struggling or you'll really have something to cry about"

He didn't give her anymore time to add in another string of threats; leaned forward and jumped. She squeezed her eyes shut and clung to him so tightly she thought, or rather hoped, his air to be cut off. But she wasn't so lucky as to bring him into sudden unconsciousness. He touched on the sidewalk softly, keeping both in perfect health, despite her hold on his neck.

Her mind flowed with so many questions. What was? Who was? How was he able to take a five story in one jump?

The only satisfaction she received was that he was able to do what he thought in the fleet and that she had lived. Though, this thought was only briefly comforting for, as soon as she realized she was alive and not locked in an apartment she started struggling to be released once more.

"Let go of me you crazy dysfunctional kidnapper!"

She whacked him on the side of the head, heard a brief growl, and fell painfully on her rear.

He glared down at her in one of those longer than needed stares before extending one of his large, dirt covered hands out to her. Kagome turned her head from the offering with a nasty look to it’s owner and picked herself up, going in the opposite direction. Which became directly caught off.

She lowered her brows "Move"

He held out his hand to her again, this time extracting more confusion on her part; if not annoyance.

She laughed out in a short bitter way "Are you serious? What do you take me for?"

"Someone who's too stupid to take a hint. I already told you--"

"A hint for what? A path to homicide? No thanks" She pushed past him and started walking for a good few seconds until she realized he was beside her. With a sharp glare, she said "Can I help you?"

"I doubt it. But you ain't helping yourself any if you go this way”

He took her wrist and started pulling her in the other direction as she gasped in place of the threats she had ready.

Feeling offended and more than violated from a man who she didn't know and was above all her kidnapper, Kagome lashed out with her anger at last. Her free hand raised and was brought down hard and fast across the cheek in closest reach. From her view, their connected arms' length behind, she couldn't see his initial reaction but she hoped it had been of surprise. Reasonable of her own strength and still rather disinclined to hurt anyone purposefully, no matter what their place in life; Kagome was partially relieved to see the action did no harm to his stony features.

He stopped and looked behind him for a moment, filled her up with his violet gaze; before looking above him to the sky. She too, curious from his irrelevant motion, chanced a glance above; but no longer than that for fear of any retaliation on his part. He gave her a tug a few paces over to where a truck was parked on the side of the road and pulled the passenger seat open. Her blue eyes passed between the dirty upholstery and him, finally narrowing on her freed wrist.

With an instructive turn, she tried to run off, only to find herself in his grasp once more. He gave her not another chance of getting in herself; instead lifting her off the ground and putting her upon the seat herself before slamming the door shut. As he disappeared from the window, she reached out for the handle to find it unmoving. Had he broken it? With little leisure to think, she slid over to the driver's side and opened the door; hopping down the step and right into the man's chest.

She took an involuntary step back, trying not to make anymore contact with him; but stood her ground with her arms crossed, prepared for battle.

"You do yourself more harm than good if you run now"

His eyes were colder than the wind, his face darker than the streets. He was once again looking down upon her, filling her with the aggravation of being thought of as inferior–to someone like him!

Kagome promptly opened her mouth to retaliate, but found herself off guard when he walked out of her path and pulled open the hood of the vehicle. She side stepped, trying to get a better look at him from around the hood and found his attention and hands were busied with the gadgets of the truck. The words rung in her head, echoing as the howls of the wind had done; giving her reason to stand immobile for a few seconds with a curious gaze at the man and his expressive eyes. Her curiosity was quickly replaced with the hunger of escape though and, without anymore backward glances; Kagome bounded off in the opposite direction.

The streets were jet black, making her feel more blind and more fearful than she had been when in the other’s company. Though never having taken an familiar interest with the dark side of town, she was confident enough that if she kept on in her direction she would eventually come to her side again. After a block or two had been taken in a run, succeeded into a jog, Kagome took a look to see no one behind her.

Her feet lingered on the spot, as her eyes took in the scene around her. The purple haze that had meet and blended with the skies above was now descending down around her and the lifeless street, as would the clouds do when the weather permitted fog. The moment she noticed this change a sharp sensation hit her throat, causing her to cough and gag. She brought the blanket, still around her shoulders, to her mouth and looked around as if expecting someone to fess up to the sudden pain she was feeling.

She didn't wait for the nonexistent culprit for long, hadn't a chance to when a shadow of a different nature came into her line of sight. Her first reaction at seeing the human shape was to run towards it, an impulse that had done well to drop itself once she came to terms with the sate of this newcomer. He was dressed more ruggedly than her captor, walking with a shuffle, and slowly swinging a bottle to his step. He took his first notice of her, and she took her decided last.

With a new wave of fear washing about her body, Kagome turned, pulling the blanket more over her mouth and headed back in the other direction. To her increasing alarm, she heard her own footsteps being echoed with a heavier and faster beat. She picked up her own step to go against this, heard the shuffle coming closer, could almost feel the rising breathe of the other, almost hear his torn clothes beating against the wind--

The same moment tears sprung into her eyes from this appending attack, she ran into something hard and warm. Though her mind was in fear of what it might be, her desire of safety forced her to look up, right into the violet eyes of the first man she had escaped. He was taller than her by a good deal, the top of her head only reaching his chest; so that as he looked at her he was looking down. His neck didn't move as his gaze flicked behind her for a second, though his eyes did narrow when they returned to take her blue eyes once more.

The motor of the truck was humming when they came back to the spot, the seat already warmed from the sputtering heater. After both doors had been closed, the vehicle put in motion, Kagome drew herself the farthest away from him she could be on the worn down bench seat and rested her forehead against the window. As they passed the man who had pursued her, her mind tumbled over what motivated this kidnapper to do the things he did. Why had he come after her? To save her? To imprison her once more after he had as good as set her free? Why didn't he say anything as he took her wrist once more, wrapped his fingers around her and pulled her into the truck?

A sense of safety, she was sure, was most readily to be accepted from such a situation; with no reference to the past few hours, of course. Though, this event only lead her to believe him more capable and more dangerous than what her image of him had come to be. There was a thankfulness for his appearance buried beneath all this, unwilling to come out even when her heart pulled against her chest.

To this pull, she fought against and searched for another.

Wearily, curiously, cautiously she asked "Who are you?"

The air was filled with the clinking of the engine and the moan of the vents, warming the small space while piercing her ears. He pushed his vents in her direction and rolled up his window with a relaxed nature that could almost be thought of as a cover for embarrassment, as she tracked his motion from the reflection in her window. Another adjustment to his seat was made, followed by a quick adjustment to the review mirror.

"Inuyasha"

Kagome pulled the blanket tighter about herself as the name was pronounced in such a tone, in such a deep husky way, which made her shiver. She licked her dry lips softly and tested the name out for herself in silence. The second time, as if she had to first get used to the name, Kagome said his name strong and clear.

"Inuyasha?" She heard him shift in the short pause “What do you want with me and Kouga?"

"Nothing"

Tears threatened the tips of her long lashes once more as she cried out "Then why did you take me?!"

He sighed, rather uncharacteristically for the image she held of him "We've been over this already"

"And I still don't understand"

"Yeah, well--welcome to the club"

She felt the tiny tears melt from her anger "Why can't you just tell me straight? If you’re going to kill me I should at least like to know what I have ever done to be brought into such a place--such a situation! I'm sure I'm far from perfect but what of my faults has exposed me to this?"

"Agreeing to marry Kouga"

"That makes even less sense" she snapped “And further more, that is no business of–“

"Listen, I don't care to know what makes sense to you and what doesn't. Kouga's a liar, a bastard, and above all the stupidest ass in this town. Anything you know about him, think the opposite and you'll get the real him. He says he's an accountant, does he? That's plain bill shit. He's knocked out too many brain cells in cage fights to be able to comprehend any normal human job. All's he's good for is claiming property and killing people. That's what he is, and that's who he's been." He made a distinctively sharp turn, which consequently brought Kagome sliding against his side "You wanted it straight, and that's as straight as that crooked piece of shit is"

Her eyes remained fixed out the windshield as this speech ended. Words such as "killing", "fights", and "liar" ran through her head as the cloud of smog outside grew darker, blocking her sight from the distance beyond the mismatched pair. Her pale lips parted, her crystal eyes watered, and slowly, softly, she pulled herself off of his side and back against the chilled window where she curled into herself.

The blanket was discarded and dropped between them.

"I don't believe you" she said with quiet firmness "I don't believe a word you say and never shall"

"That makes two of us" he mumbled back with a dark smile