Disclaimer: InuYasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi
Chapter Four—Double the Fun
……
Even though he wasn't a religious man, Ryutaro Higurashi liked the idea of the Judeo-Christian Sabbath, one day a week set aside to rest. Sunday was the only day he didn't work with his business papers. Instead, he liked to spend the day in his library with his daughter, reading a book and enjoying the calm atmosphere. And the addition of a second daughter in his household wasn't going to change that tradition, in his mind.
Of course, the way things were in Ryutaro's mind rarely had any bearing on reality. When Sunday morning rolled around, the three Higurashis were duly assembled together, but he found himself, rather than being in a quiet, intellectual paradise, in the presence of two giggling teenaged girls. They finally quieted down after his third and most stringent request for silence.
At that point they just started passing notes like schoolchildren.
They were discussing Kikyo's Saturday evening. When Koga had shown up out of the blue, it was for the purpose of whisking her away on an impromptu date—the classic dinner and a movie. Then, they had gone for ice cream and spent a couple hours after that just talking to each other. He had finally worked up the courage to officially ask her to be his girlfriend.
Actually, his oh-so-eloquent words had been, "Kikyo, I want to make you my woman."
Okay, so maybe he wasn't romantic. Kagome had literally burst out laughing—much to her father's annoyance—when Kikyo told her that part, unable to believe that a guy would seriously use that sentence and even more tickled that he had succeeded in his suit.
Kikyo, though, was still convinced that he was the sweetest thing to ever walk the planet, however chauvinistic his words might sound out of context. She was still inwardly tingling from the previous night, especially when she remembered him kissing her. A rosy blush spread across her cheeks every time she thought about it.
The whole night had been like something out of a dream, and she had had to wait until this morning to share it, because by the time she got in, Kagome was already asleep. Of course, she reflected to herself while her twin scribbled something on the sheet of paper they were passing between themselves at this point, I'm lucky she's even here to confide in. Normally, I wouldn't have any outlet but my diary. Yes, life was definitely good at this moment.
The phone rang and both girls looked toward the extension on the table next to where their father sat trying to read Gulliver's Travels. Kikyo noted as he set the book aside that the call was coming in on his private line, so she was a little surprised when he hit the speakerphone button.
"This is Higurashi," he said in a stony voice. He didn't like his Sundays to be interrupted.
"Ryutaro Higurashi?" said the voice on the other end of the line.
"Yes. Who is this?"
"This is Special Agent Saito of the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
"What may I do for you, Agent Saito?" His eyes strayed to Kikyo and Kagome, who had long forgotten their note-passing and stared back at him wide-eyed.
"I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news, Mr. Higurashi. Normally we would send someone to see you in person, but we're a bit short-handed at the local office, and…"
"What is the nature of your call?" he interrupted impatiently.
There was a sigh from the other end of the phone, and the agent seemed to hesitate before venturing, "We've been in contact with the Italian Police Force in Rome, sir, and it seems that your ex-wife, Akemi Takeshita, passed away this week under… um… suspicious circumstances."
"There's no need to beat around the bush. I'm well aware of Akemi's less than reputable hobbies—that's why I divorced her in the first place. But I don't see what her passing has to do with me."
"Well, since there's no other next of kin, it was suggested that her body be released to you, if you wished. I'm afraid your former wife was a rather notorious criminal, and a few of the national papers are looking to do a story—"
"You know," Ryutaro said thoughtfully, as though he hadn't heard the agent's last statement, "I was thinking of making a small donation to your organization this year, something along the lines of, say, five hundred thousand dollars?" That was chump change for him, but the federal agent was suitably impressed.
"That's very generous of you, Mr. Higurashi," he said after a brief moment, understanding the full purpose of such a seemingly altruistic gesture. "We will, of course, do everything in our power to keep your good name out of the press. After all, she was your ex-wife."
"That is very considerate of you," Ryutaro nodded, the ghost of a smile touching his lips.
The federal agent made some humble remark, then added reluctantly, "There is another reason I was asked to call you, sir. And actually, it's a far more pressing matter."
"And what would that be?"
"Well, it seems that in the wake of your ex-wife's—er—passing, her accomplice, one Keiko Hisamatsu, disappeared."
"And what does this have to do with me?"
The federal agent hesitated, then said apologetically, "We have reason to believe that name is an alias used by your daughter, Kagome. Do you know where she is at present?"
"Kagome?" Ryutaro repeated, his shrewd eyes fixed on the girl in question. "She's here with me right now." Kagome felt her stomach flip over in sick disbelief, but then her father added, "But I must say, Agent Saito, I am somewhat confused. Kagome has been living with me for the last three years at least."
After a brief pause, the voice on the other end of the line stated in a skeptical voice, "Mr. Higurashi, we have in our possession a flight itinerary for Air Italia. It shows that one Kagome Takeshita—Takeshita being your late wife's maiden name—was on a flight from Rome to Toronto last Wednes—"
"You know," Ryutaro mused aloud, tenting his fingertips together thoughtfully, "perhaps I should double my contribution this year."
Silence.
Fully a minute passed by, and then—
"You say Kagome has been with you for the last three years?"
"That's correct."
"I see. Well, I suppose that clears up that little matter. We'll make sure there are no misunderstandings internationally. I'm sorry to have disturbed you on this fine day."
"That's perfectly all right. You're only doing your job. Perhaps your agency should contact my lawyer to discuss the details concerning the transfer of Akemi's remains to the States. After all, she was many things, but among them, she was the mother of my children. It's only decent that she should have a proper resting-place." He then proceeded to relay his lawyer's contact information and end the phone call.
For a long, drawn out moment after he hung up, Ryutaro and Kagome stared at one another, Kikyo looking between the two of them with her mouth hanging open.
Kagome broke the silence with a weak voice. "Thanks."
Her father shrugged. "Say nothing of it."
"That was a lot of money," she protested, looking concerned.
He waved a negligent hand. "I set some aside long ago for situations such as these. But I do expect you to behave, young lady," he added sternly. "None of your mother's tricks, do you understand?"
She swallowed and nodded. Her father picked up his book once more and began reading as though nothing of great importance had occurred.
……
"I think I should probably go buy some clothes of my own," Kagome observed Monday morning as she again raided her sister's wardrobe. "I've got my own room now, but the empty closet's pretty depressing."
Kikyo's eyes grew wide with anticipation. "That sounds like fun! But," she added with undisguised disappointment, "if you're still hiding out here, we can't be seen in public together."
"I can go by myself," her twin said reluctantly. "It won't be as enjoyable, but at least when I get back, you can have the fun of critiquing everything I've bought."
Kikyo smiled and nodded. "Just don't do anything to sully my good name," she smirked as she handed over her car keys.
"Why does everyone assume I'm going to commit a crime every five minutes?" Kagome muttered to herself, grabbing one of Kikyo's many purses before retrieving the wad of cash her father had given her the previous day. Her allowance, he had called it. And how. Three hundred dollars just for showing up on his doorstep one rainy night? She should have come back ages ago.
A pang of guilt washed over her as she trudged out to Kikyo's Geo. She could have come back ages ago, could have easily slipped away and hopped on a plane back to the states. She had wanted to many times. But she had never been able to bring herself to abandon her mother. Akemi had chosen her, after all. She had chosen her and taken her into the world and taught her so much—not just about how to break the law, either. Kagome had owed her a debt of loyalty, and only Akemi's death had released her of that. Still, she had often yearned for the sister—and even the father—left behind. She had been telling Kikyo the truth that first night. She had missed her.
She followed her sister's directions to the nearest mall, arriving soon after it opened, before most of the crowds. Kagome enjoyed shopping, not just because she was a girl, but because it was something she hadn't been able to do much of. Akemi had been very big on not having many personal possessions, mainly because she never knew when she would have to throw everything into a bag and skip town. They had lived very simply, for the most part, going from job to job, Akemi constantly needing to satisfy her thirst for danger and intrigue.
Kagome felt like she had had enough intrigue to last a lifetime. She just wanted a normal life, like Kikyo had. A permanent place to live, school, friends, maybe even a boyfriend, though certainly not one that claimed her as "his woman." She giggled to herself as she carried several bags full of newly purchased clothes.
And yet, as desirable as that phantom life was to her, at present she knew it would still elude her. Beneath her outward composure ran a twisting current of apprehension. Those who sought the Shikon would be doing their best to track her, even if they didn't know her by any name but her alias. They could descend upon her at any moment, take her unawares if she let her guard down. For now her dreams of normalcy would be nothing more— just dreams.
After nearly three hours of shopping, she started to get a little hungry. Approaching the food court, she set down her bags and looked speculatively around at her many choices of cuisine.
That was when someone from behind laid a heavy hand on her shoulder.
……
Inuyasha had agreed to meet Sango and Miroku at the mall, though he wasn't quite sure why now. While he found it amusing to watch his best friend be continually shot down and/or soundly pummeled by the dark-haired beauty, it was something he could see any day at school. Spring break was for partying, not for hanging out in the food court at the local mall and watching your friends bicker.
"Hey, Inuyasha," Miroku broke into his quiet reverie, having apparently survived another of Sango's head thumps, "here comes your favorite person in the world!"
Inuyasha stopped swishing the straw around in his Coke long enough to turn around and observe Kikyo approaching the court, hands full of various shopping bags.
"Keh," he pronounced derisively, turning back to his drink.
"Looks like Daddy's sent Kikyo on a little shopping spree," Sango observed with a hint of distaste. "Maybe her entire wardrobe went out of season and she has to replace it."
"She looks a little disoriented to me," said Miroku, scrutinizing the girl in question closely, "almost as if she's not sure where she's going. And I don't think I've ever seen her with her hair like that."
Inuyasha turned once again to watch as Kikyo set her bags down, noting the way her silky black hair was pulled up in a spiky bun. It looked oddly good on her and was certainly trendy enough, but Kikyo didn't seem the type to wear that hairstyle. She had always opted for the more conservative fashions, like a braid or a low ponytail—that is, when she did anything with her hair at all. Usually, it just hung down her back like an inky waterfall and looked perfect. Inuyasha mentally shook himself. Kikyo was a witch. Nothing about her was perfect.
"Oh goody," he said in a snide voice, observing Koga approach her from behind, "here comes her wimpy wolf-boy to give her a—"
"Whoa!"
"I didn't know Kikyo could throw a guy like that," Miroku intoned with wide eyes as Koga sailed through the air and landed flat on his back some ten feet away.
"Is he all right?" Sango asked, standing up and trying to see if the prostrate teen was still breathing.
Inuyasha's jaw had gone slack from shock, but the next instant he dissolved into uncontrollable laughter.
"Geez, Kikyo!" he heard Koga shout from the ground. "It's just me! Remember, your boyfriend, Koga?"
"Kikyo" immediately moved out of the defensive stance she had assumed after tossing her supposed assailant. "Oh, sorry!" she said with genuine concern on her face, rushing forward to help him up. "Y-you startled me."
"Geez!" he said again, sitting up and rubbing his back. "Where'd you learn to throw a guy like that?"
"Umm… too many Jackie Chan movies?" she ventured wistfully. Luckily, she had enough presence of mind to mimic her sister's American accent.
"Right," he said, eyeing her with uncertainty.
"Nice move there, Kikyo! That was absolutely priceless!"
Kagome swiveled around, her gaze landing quizzically on the speaker, a boy her age that she couldn't help but notice was extremely good-looking. At least he would have been if he hadn't been wearing that derisive sneer. He was relaxing at a table with two others, a pretty girl and another good-looking guy, all of whom were watching her closely. She realized she was probably surrounded by people who knew Kikyo and thought she was her—there was only one thing to do.
"Listen, Koga," she said, turning back to that unfortunate soul and offering him a hand to stand up, "I have to go. But I'm really sorry. Really sorry. I'll make it up to you, I swear."
She dashed off, snatching up her bags and disappearing into the crowd that had gathered to watch their little scene.
"Wait, Kikyo!" Koga called after her, but she was already gone.
"Umm, is it just me," Sango said after a moment, "or did Kikyo just look at all of us as though she didn't have the faintest clue who we wer—MIROKU!" She jumped as a certain wandering hand came in contact with her butt.
"YOU PERVERT!" she screamed, snatching up a lunch tray and whacking him in the back of his grinning head with it.
"It wasn't just you," Inuyasha murmured as Sango continued to beat their friend senseless. Kikyo hadn't so much as glared at him after he had taunted her. "Oh well," he shrugged to himself, turning once more to watch the abusive entertainment in front of him. He wasn't going to waste any of his time wondering about that wench.
……
"YOU DID WHAT!"
"Kikyo, I'm sorry," Kagome apologized again. "It was just a reflex, I swear."
"You threw Koga—my boyfriend—over your shoulder and onto the ground, and it was just a reflex?" her sister thundered.
"He came up behind me," she protested feebly, then smiled. "But I did promise him I—or you, rather—would make it up to him. Just think! Your first altercation as a couple, and you didn't even have to be involved in the unpleasant part of it! All you have to do is make up and make out!"
Kikyo flushed a delicate shade of pink. "But now he probably thinks I'm some kind of man-throwing psycho," she huffed indignantly. "He'll dump me for sure!"
"Or," came Kagome's bright alternative, "he's impressed that his woman was so strong, and he'll be so proud that he'll immediately propose the next time he sees you!"
Her sister snorted, though a faint smile did touch her lips. "I highly doubt that."
"Well, I don't think he'll dump you over something so little like this. Really, I don't think you need to worry. And if he brings it up, just trust your inventive mouth to get you out of the situation. And not in the conventional way," she added with a wink.
Kikyo turned the color of a steamed lobster. "Kagome!"
"There was someone else there who knew you," her sister added thoughtfully, ignoring her maidenly protest. "At least, I think I heard him say your name. He was laughing pretty hard."
Her eyes narrowed. "What did he look like?" Kagome described the dark-haired boy, right down to the sneer on his face.
"Inuyasha," Kikyo growled.
"You mean that guy that made the bet and—"
"Yes."
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's okay. You couldn't have known he was there."
"Well, if it's all the same to you, I think I'll stay at home from now on. I've got clothes, and I bought a couple of new CDs. Plus I've always got my trusty laptop—endless hours of fun there and I can't get you in trouble if I'm on it, either."
"You didn't mean to," Kikyo said, her anger having vanished. "It was just a stupid accident. Just don't do it again, okay?"
"Okay," Kagome said uncertainly. "Although, Koga probably won't be sneaking up on you again from behind anytime soon."
"That's probably a good thing," her twin grudgingly admitted, and they both grinned at one another.
……
RING! RING!
One of the maids had plugged the phone back in while tidying Kikyo's room that morning. Kikyo looked up from Wuthering Heights and momentarily wondered if she should answer or not. Koga had this number, though, and he would probably try to call her after Kagome's little incident.
She sighed and picked up the receiver, hoping it was her boyfriend on the other end.
"Hello?"
Silence.
"Listen creep—" she started hotly.
"Kikyo." The way he said her name sent shivers up her spine.
"Who is this?"
"Your admirer, of course. Who else would it be?"
"Stalking is illegal," she intoned.
The voice on the other end laughed, a deep, throaty chuckle that made her want to reach through the phone wires and throttle him. "Feeling feisty, are we? I saw your little show at the mall today, and I must admit you took me by surprise. I had no idea you harbored such violence. Although I was pleasantly impressed as well. Taming the wild animal is half the fun, you know. The other half will be when I pin you to the ground and squeeze the breath out of your throat, all the while—"
Kikyo slammed the receiver down on its cradle, cursing herself for having indulged him so long. The phone rang again and she snatched it up, snarling, "Stop calling, you creep!"
"Kikyo?" said the all-too-familiar voice on the other end, nearly causing her to drop the phone.
"Koga? I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you! This jerk's been prank calling me, and I just assumed—"
"You thought I was some pervert prank caller?" her boyfriend asked in confusion. "Don't you have Caller ID?"
"Not yet, but I'm getting it," she vowed. "Hey, about earlier—I am so sorry!" She looked up and found Kagome standing in her doorway with a guilty expression. "So how can I make it up to you?"
Koga seemed to hesitate, and Kikyo's heart dropped into her knees. He was going to dump her, she was sure of it. "I don't know," he said uncertainly. "It's not every day a guy gets thrown across the food court by his new girlfriend. I'm not even sure where to start…"
She stood mutely, phone to her ear and tears welling up in her eyes. Kagome's brows arched in surprise and anger.
"…How about we go get something to eat?" Koga suggested brightly. "Then as punishment for tossing me like a twenty-pound bag of meal, you can spend the rest of the evening with me?"
"Wh-what?" Kikyo said in something of a stupor. "You're not angry with me?"
"Angry? No way! I mean, you took me by surprise, but I have to appreciate a woman who knows how to take care of herself. Just so long as you let me do that job when we're together."
"Gladly," she laughed, wiping away the tears that had tumbled down her cheeks moments previously. In the doorway, Kagome smiled encouragingly.
"So what time should I come and pick you up?"
"Any time. I'll be ready when you want."
"So in, say, half an hour?"
"Sure."
"Okay, see you then, Koga."
"Yeah."
And on that brilliant note, he hung up. Kikyo let out a cry of delight as the phone dropped from her hand. "He didn't dump me!" she cried joyously to Kagome, jumping up and down as her twin beamed at her. "And we're going out in half—an—hour—" She stopped her celebration as realization hit her full in the face. "Half an hour!" she repeated, suddenly alarmed. "What am I supposed to wear!"
"You can borrow something of mine," Kagome offered with a radiant smile.
……
The phone pealed out its fourth ring and the answering machine picked up. "You've reached Kikyo Higurashi. I can't come to the phone right now, so please leave your name and number after the tone."
Beep.
"Kikyo. You belong to me. You should know better than to look at other guys. I'll have to punish you for this. But first, I'll have to punish him for thinking he had the right to touch you. You're mine, do you hear? Mine!"
……