"Kagome my pet. I trust everything is going well?"
Her teeth gritted as she responded. "Yes, Naraku."
" ...you have any leads?"
"No sir. I haven't sensed anything for months now."
She heard him growl low into the phone. "Search harder. Or else."
A chill crawled up Kagome's spine at his tone."Yes, sir."
"Good girl. Good afternoon, Kagome." Then the line went dead. Kagome knew all to well the consequences if she didn't do as she'd been told. She had to find the items he wanted. Otherwise...Souta...She shivered again. She didn't want to think about it. Naraku was powerful.
Kagome walked to the back studio were Sango sat. The brunette looked up as her fellow instructor entered. Just by looking at the expression on her face, she knew who had been on the phone.
"What'd he want?" Sango asked quietly.
Kagome flopped down next to her, scowling. "The usual. Asking for leads, the threats." She trembled, biting her lower lip.
"Sango, I haven't sensed anything in months! I don't want to lose everything!" Tears quivered in her usually bright blue eyes.
Sango leaned over and wrapped her arms around her friend. "Shhh. Don't worry. We'll find a way to keep everything and get rid of him. Trust me." They both knew she was lying. Naraku controlled them both thoroughly. But hearing such optimism kept them from committing the suicide they'd wanted to attempt so many times before.
If they didn't find and deliver pieces of some jewel he was obsessed with, Their families, their friends, would all be dead. Kagome had the deep misfortune of somehow being able to sense the pieces. Once the ability was discovered, she'd refused to help Naraku find it. In retaliation, he'd taken her family hostage, only releasing them under the condition that she work for him.
When she'd refused a second time, Kagome had lost her father.
After that, she'd agreed, and her mother and brother returned home.
Her family was kept under close surveillance by Naraku. Sango became involved when Naraku found out her family held a piece of the jewel, resulting in the unsolved murder of her little brother.
And Sango wanted revenge. However she let Naraku believe she worked for him as she tried to figure out how to exact her retribution. As it turned out, Sango's training in the martial arts had made her incredibly talented at cat burglary, a skill that had come in handy last time Kagome had found a shard.
The dance studio was an oddly convenient cover. It allowed them to maintain odd hours to go off jewel hunting.
It didn't hurt that Kagome and Sango genuinely loved the studio and being part of making movies.
Heaving a deep sigh, Kagome stood and stretched. "I need to work off some of this tension. Can you put on some Lindsey Stirling or Kamelot?"
Sango grinned, rising and walking to the stereo system in the corner of the room. "I've got just the thing".
Kagome returned the smile when the first few notes of "Wasteland Monarchy (Liar Liar)" started up. It was a heavy rock song by Kamelot, and one Kagome knew very well. She threw herself into the music and into a dance to match the harsh melody and violent guitar rifts.
When the song ended, her friend applauded. "Wow Kagome. That was fantastic!"
She felt her lips turn upwards in a smile. "Thanks. I had a lot of frustration to work out."
That's when her phone rang again. Frowning, Kagome gestured for Sango to stop the music before it could go to the next song.
Koga. What did he want now? They were done with the scene they'd needed her for. Reluctantly she answered anyways.
"Hello?"
Sango watched with amusement at the emotions that flickered across her friends' face. Irritation, amusement, back to irritation, and finally settling on an eye twitch as the wolf began begging on the other end of the call. Finally she heard Kagome give a resigned sigh.
"Fine. Have him come by tomorrow with his manager so we can sort out the details. Yeah whatever. No, you can't take me to dinner to thank me. Yes I am mean." A long pause, and then a firm "GOOD BYE KOGA" before Kagome hung up. "UGH!" She groaned, flopping once more onto the polished wood floor.
"What happened?" Sango asked.
"Koga wants me to give Inuyasha dance lessons to prepare for the next scene. He really wants to use Kikyo for this one instead of a stand-in, but Inuyasha can't seem to get the steps right." She groaned.
Her friend raised an eyebrow. "Why is that a problem? Inuyasha's hot and loaded. There shouldn't be an issue with him paying for the lessons."
Kagome paused at Sango's comment. Her mind flashed back to the on-set kiss they'd shared, her cheeks heating up as she realized that was the REAL reason she was reluctant to let the handsome hanyou into her studio.
Noticing her expression, Sango grinned. "Oh I get it. Did something...happen on set the other day?"
Dammit. Sango was too perceptive by far. She shook her head vehemently in denial. "NO! I just...we need to start looking for those pieces. I don't have time for this."
Still not convinced, Sango let the subject drop.
For now.