Love Is Blind
Chapter Two
The morning air was clean and fresh after the rain from the previous day and the sun was shining brightly over the New York skyline. Birds twittered and swooped outside the windows of the newly inhabited Higurashi Mansion where two young people slept soundly in their beds. Well, one of them slept soundly in her bed. The other, was up and scouring the cupboards for something worth eating.
The young man, still dressed in his tuxedo pants and shirt, threw the cupboard doors shut with an angry growl. Nothing. How could such a huge mansion not have any instant Ramen? This place was famous and one of the biggest and wealthiest mansions in all of New York and yet there was no sign of Ramen being within its walls ever! Plopping down on a stool beneath the high granite counter, he let his head drop into his hands as he bemoaned his empty stomach.
"'Morning!" the cheery voice of his 'host' rang out from the doorway.
Kagome walked in with a loud, jaw-popping yawn. He didn't even look up. Kagome frown and padded over to his prone figure, laying a hand on his back, right over his left shoulder blade. He shuddered slightly at her feather-light touch but she didn't notice.
"Hey, you okay?"
He just glared at her from between his fingers. Kagome seemed to not notice. Concern was etched in her face, drawing her forehead taught in a frown. Pretending to not care, he shrugged off her hand and slouched forward even further.
"Why do you care?"
Kagome shrugged, slipping onto the stool beside him. "I don't know… Hey, are you going to tell me your name today?"
He just glared at her. She raised her eyebrows and stood up, walking over to the refrigerator.
"O-kay… So, how about some breakfast?"
He didn't answer. Kagome shrugged and pulled various ingredients from the large, steel contraption. She set about making food, humming softly to herself and dancing across the tiled floor. She didn't even notice when he looked up from his hunched position and stared at her.
After a few minutes, she slid an omelet onto a plate and set it in front of him with a glass of orange juice and returned to cooking, not paying him any attention. He stared at it for a while before tentatively picking up his fork and prodding it lightly.
"It's not going to spring up and bite you, you know."
He looked up guiltily at her laughing voice. She stood in front of the stove, hands on hips and smiling at his antics. She cocked an eyebrow at him expectantly and he glanced down at his plate. Finally, he cut off a corner with the side of his fork and put it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.
"Well?"
"Not bad," he said around another mouthful. "But not as good as Ramen."
The grin she'd acquired when he approved her cooking quickly slipped off of her face as soon as the second part to his comment left his lips. He just continued to devour the fluffy egg omelet obliviously, not even noticing her change in attitude. Sighing and shaking her head, Kagome returned to her cooking. Some people were just hopeless…
X
The two personal assistants leaned over the phone with bated breath. This phone could possibly hold the answer to where the missing celebrity was…
"First new message," the electronic voice of the message service droned.
"Hey, Inuyasha, this is Yura. We have an appointment for Thursday before the Award Ceremony. I can't wait to see you again, Inu-baby! Ciao!"
Sango pressed a button to erase the message with a scowl. She'd always hated the creepy hair lady…
"Next new message."
"Hey, Yash, man have I got something to tell you!"
Miroku's voice came from the speaker. With a yelp, he punched the erase button before Sango could hear anything else. She, in turn, gave him an annoyed look.
"Tell him what?" she asked in a deadly calm voice.
"Eheh, nothing, Lady Sango," he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck and looking anywhere but his partner.
Sango just shot him a look before rolling her eyes. "Whatever, Koji."
"Next new message."
"Hello, Mr. Taisho," an unfamiliar voice said calmly. "This is Brian Marina from St. Sebastian's Hospital downtown. We regret to inform you that Izayoi Taisho passed away on August 17. We send our regrets and condolences to you and your family."
"End of messages. There are no more messages. To repeat this message please press-"
Sango turned off the phone and sat down heavily on the leather couch. She glanced up at Miroku sadly. Her partner just stood there in shock. Sighing, she pulled him down beside her and both stared at the white wall in front of them and the black TV screen that was mounted on it in silence.
"Well," she said after a few minutes. "Now we know why Inuyasha ran off so suddenly."
Miroku just nodded. Sango stared down at the phone in her hand. Inuyasha and his mother had been very close. She was the only one who had encouraged and accepted her son and was his only living relative, well, except for his half-brother, but he didn't count. When she had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Inuyasha had almost quit acting right then and there. But Izayoi had insisted that he live out his dreams despite what happened to her. Now that she was gone forever, he had no one left. The two understood the gravity of his situation; they'd been working for him for years and had come to love the kind woman like their own mother. But now they had to drag him back despite what had happened and they were not looking forward to it at all.
X
"Okay, um, favorite color?"
"Easy, red. Favorite position."
"…Excuse me?"
"You heard me – favorite position."
"I don't even know what that means!"
No Name, as Kagome had decided to call him, stared at Kagome unconvinced. She winced and looked away. Why did he have to keep making her feel stupid with all of his questions?
"So, you mean to tell me that you honestly have no idea or comprehension for sexual positions or anything else that any normal, single, healthy twenty-five-year-old person would know every fucking thing about?" he said in disbelief.
Kagome winced again at his language and shook her head.
"Where have you been?"
"Um, Kenya."
"Don't tell me they don't have sex out there!"
"They do, but I wasn't out on the plains of Africa with my grandparents to have sex or anything. We were missionaries!"
"But that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun like a normal adult or even teenager!"
"Well, I don't believe in sex before marriage! I haven't even been kissed yet!"
Throughout their whole argument, they'd gotten closer and closer, leaning over the kitchen table as their voices escalated. But as soon as those words left her lips, everything came to a sudden halt. Neither of them spoke or made a sound as they stood over the table, nose to nose like the previous night in the taxi. Their chests heaved from their heavy breathing and racing hearts as they stood staring into the other's wide eyes.
Kagome was the first one to move, noticing their close proximity and quickly jerking back, a dark blush coloring her cheeks. No Name stepped away from the table as well, still staring at her. Kagome broke eye contact and looked out the window. They'd been playing 'Twenty Questions' for hours now and she still didn't know his name or anything significant about him. He, on the other hand, had practically gotten her to spill her whole life's story in just an hour.
Sighing, Kagome glanced back in his direction. He was still watching her intently. Quietly blowing a stream of air out through her lips, she turned and walked out into the large back yard. His intense gaze was starting to unnerve her and she needed to be alone for a while. He'd be fine in the house without her.
Walking across the grassy meadow that led to the small forest that was part of the expansive property, she watched her shadow stretch out in front of her. It was bordering on late afternoon and she'd have to return in a few hours to make dinner for the incompetent stranger, but for now, she had all the time in the world to just wander.
X
Inside, No Name watched her go. He didn't know why, but he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. Sure, she was pretty, but throughout his life and career, he'd seen and dated many stunning beauties that far surpassed her in looks. And she was so annoying! She just wouldn't let up on wanting to know his name and everything about him. Even though, she hadn't gotten anywhere, he still felt exposed and raw whenever she looked at him.
Maybe it was the fact that she was naïve enough to allow a complete stranger into her home and not know anything about the world she'd unknowingly put herself into. She was so pure and untainted by the media and shit that had been going on throughout the world for the past fifteen year that it amazed and captivated him. But… that couldn't be it. There was more to it, but he didn't know what.
Shaking his head clear it of his thoughts, he saw her slip into the tree line and out of sight. Maybe he just needed some sleep. Or a shower. Glancing down at himself, he realized how sloppy and bedraggled he looked. His tuxedo pants were lined and creased and his white tuxedo shirt was a limp, wrinkled mess. Frowning, he headed for his 'room' and the conjoining bathroom to take a hot shower and air out his clothes.
"Inuyasha, you're loosing you touch," he muttered as he shed his clothes.
The hot water beat against his tanned skin and tense muscles. He sighed and closed his eyes. The rhythmic drumming of water on skin was lulling him into a calming, black numbness. He'd deal with his Kagome Higurashi problem later.
X
"Where the hell could he be?" the pudgy, red-face chief of police growled, punching the wall with his fist.
"W-well, we're n-not sure… sir," the jumpy detective squeaked, ducking beneath a folder when Chief McGuiness slammed his fist on his desk angrily.
"That's not an excuse, Smalls! The press is all over our asses on this one and we don't have a few months to look for this rich brat! I want results, damn it! Call every fuckin' Motel 6 on the fuckin' continent and find out where he is!"
Detective Smalls bobbed his head meekly and darted from the Chief's office. The Chief sighed and sat down in his squeaky, uncomfortable chair and punched his desk again in frustration. Why him? Why did this kind of stuff always seem to happen to him?
X
Miroku and Sango had been tandem-calling hotels all around the New York district and still they weren't any closer to their goal than they had been that morning when they found out about Izayoi's death. Miroku clicked off the phone and flopped onto the couch. Sango looked up from the magazine she was reading expectantly. Miroku just shook his head.
"Nothing. Inuyasha Taisho isn't hiding out in any hotel or resort in New York or Brooklyn," he said wearily.
Sango's face fell and she set her magazine aside.
"Miroku, where could he be then?"
"I don't know, Sango. I really don't know."
The two simultaneously sighed. Things were starting to get difficult. What if he was never found?
X
Across town, Kagome had returned from her solitary walk through the woods and No Name/Inuyasha had finished his shower. Now, Kagome was making dinner for the two and trying in vain to pry information from the tight-lipped young man.
"Why won't you tell me?" she whined for the fifty-thousandth time.
"Because you don't need to know, wench!"
"That's not an excuse, mister," she said sternly, pointing a wooden spoon at him, her free hand firmly situated on her hip. "Now just tell me. I'm not going to get mad at you or anything like that. I just want to know."
"I'm still not telling you," he said, sticking his nose in the air and crossing his arms snottily.
"I just don't understand why you won't tell me. I mean, it couldn't be a bad thing to know what to call you. Unless…" she whirled around and pointed a shaking finger at him in mock horror. "You're some crazy serial killer that preys upon unsuspecting, beautiful, young women by befriending and then continually raping them until they die and you're running from the authorities, aren't you!"
She gasped and clutched at her heart, falling back against the granite counter in a faint. Inuyasha couldn't help but laugh at her theatrics. She really was one of a kind. Kagome stayed there for a few seconds before springing back up and returning to making dinner with a grin in his direction.
"Really, I don't mind you staying here for a few days, but at least knowing your name would put my mind at ease. Besides, I don't know anything about you and I had never seen you before yesterday when you just showed up in Benny's taxi. I highly doubt I would recognize you by your name," she reasoned, twirling her wooden spoon around to emphasize her point, not even glancing back at him. "Right?"
Inuyasha just shook his head. 'You have no idea…'
Not receiving a response, she turned her head to glance back at him. He didn't say anything and showed no sign of yielding. Kagome sighed and decided to propose a compromise.
"Okay, fine. How about a nickname or something. It doesn't even have to be remotely related to your actual name. Just give me something!"
She was getting desperate. Inuyasha smirked. She asked for it…
"Alright," he said with a sigh. "I give up. Just call me…"
Kagome smiled and turned around eagerly. Inuyasha paused and watched the tension mount on her face and shoulder. This was going to be good…
"Aquaman."
Kagome's face fell and she gave an angry shriek. Inuyasha laughed as she chased him from the kitchen and through the halls. She yelled curses and names at him, throwing her wooden spoon and both of her shoes at his head. Inuyasha just laughed harder and sped up.
"Hey, wench," he called back at her with a grin. "Those aren't very Christian things to say!"
Kagome just screamed and started yelling at him in Swahili. Inuyasha glanced back for just a second and nearly fell over laughing. The next few days would certainly be very… interesting for the two…
X
Somewhere else in the busy city, the composed talent agent was sipping his coffee in his dark top-floor office. No light penetrated the gloomy room, but he could see everything with perfect clarity.
"Kagura," he purred, his velvety voice sending shivers down his assistant's graceful and poised back.
"Yes, my lord, Naraku?"
"Any news on the whereabouts of our elusive star?"
Kagura gulped almost inaudibly, but his keen eyes caught the action.
"No, my lord, Naraku. Hasigawa and Koji have found nothing at Taisho's apartment and the police are only running around in circles, tripping over their own feet."
Naraku's eyes narrowed to tiny red slits. "And what about the Higurashi estate? I'm very interested in the goings on of the old woman's will. Have they found it?"
"The Higurashi brat just arrived yesterday and is currently setting up house in the mansion. Her lawyers have produced a will and yours are right now going over a copy," she replied
"Will we possess it by the end of the week?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
Kagura nodded, knowing her master would see it. "Without a doubt."
Naraku grinned. "Good."
E
There's not much else to say. The next chapter should be out soon, depending on how much computer time I have over the next week. Has anyone ever heard of those Magic Bullet blender/chopper/purée-er/dicer/whatever-the-heck-you-can-think-of-to-do-with-food things? They're so COOL! I just found out that we've had on for a month or so and we pulled it out today. I love that thing! Well, until next time, everybody! – Hope Swings