A/N: Hey you guys! I'm back! I know it was a while since the last update, but school has had me in a choke-hold the past few weeks. I barely get any time to write anymore, but I still try to do my best! I finish my projects more quickly and I do well in my classes so that I don't have to worry about my grades so I can focus on writing. Plus, I'm writing my own book and that need some of my time too, don't you think? I also want to thank the people that went to go vote for this story. Currently, it's in the lead, but come on you guys! My story "Death Angels" is gaining for first place, so hurry and vote!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Chapter 7: Unexpected visitors
I woke up the next morning when I felt the bed move. I opened my eyes to see Inuyasha frozen in place. For a moment, I was confused. I propped myself on my elbow and tried to rub the sleep out of my eyes.
Inuyasha didn't make a move to touch me. Instead, he sat there and whispered softly, "Are you okay, love?"
I stared at him blankly, but then everything from last night came streaming into my consciousness when I was finally fully awake. Talk about reeling memories. I shook the disturbing images from my mind and laid down again, closing my eyes, but no matter what I did, they wouldn't go away.
"Inuyasha. . ." I whispered, trying to distract myself. "Are you going to school today?"
Inuyasha nodded, but then added, "If you want, I can stay with you. Anything to make you feel better." He tentatively outstretched his hand to touch my face, but I flinched slightly, causing him to pull his hand back.
As I sat up, I cast my eyes to the sheets that I was twisting in my hands. "I'm . . . I'm sorry, Inuyasha."
He just shook his head. "It's alright, Kagome. I understand." He stood up, smiling at me and striding to the bathroom. I laid back down and bundled up in the sheets. I didn't want to go to school. He'd be there and the last person I wanted to see was Takeshi. I still shivered just thinking about him.
Inuyasha emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later and quickly dressed. Since today he was going to some mock-business meeting, he put on the dress shirt that I liked to dress him in. He gave me a wink as he adjusted the collar.
I smiled. "Is the shirt a tribute to me?"
Inuyasha laughed and grabbed his laptop, case and a few papers. He would be leaving his bulky backpack to look more professional. "Everything I do is a tribute to you, Kagome, the world's most wonderful wife."
I smiled wide as he grinned cockily and left, shutting the door. When I heard his car leave, the smile faded instantly. I was alone now, with no way of making the horrible images in my mind to go away. That, and the fear that he might still be stalking me, made me get up and covered up all the windows, lock them and lock all the doors, just to be safe. I wasn't going to take any chances where it concerned my life.
As I sat down on the couch in my living room, I curled up into a ball to think. What Takeshi . . . did to me last night was sudden and thoroughly unexpected. For one, I thought he hated me to his very core. I never knew that he had those kinds of feelings for me. I shivered at the thought. It didn't make any sense to me at all. He was all for killing me in high school, but now he wanted to . . . yeah.
I wondered where they took him after they found me last night. Miroku had whispered something to Inuyasha that made him stop punching Takeshi (I, for one, would have loved for him to keep going.) Suddenly, the phone rang.
I jumped at first, but then I hesitantly picked it up. "Hello?" I whispered.
"Kagome?"
I sighed in relief as I realized that it was only Sango. "Hi, Sango."
"Hey Kagome. Are you okay?" She asked.
I tried to make my voice sound convincing. "Y-yeah, sure I am."
"Kagome, don't play me, please. I really do need to know how you are. "
I sighed, pressing the phone a little harder into my ear. "Fine, I'm not okay. I'm still freaked out and I don't want to be alone, but Inuyasha can't stay from school either and then I have—l"
"Kagome!" Sango interrupted. "Calm down. Breathe for me, please."
"But Sango—"
"But nothing! Do it."
Just to humor her, I breathed in and out just like she told me too. After a minute, I stopped. "Better?" I asked, murmuring into the receiver.
I could almost hear Sango smile. "Yes."
"So, what's up?" I asked. Sango never called without a reason.
Sango sighed again. "I was calling you to see if you would like me and Ayame to come over today. I'm pretty sure you don't want to be alone."
I shook my head, even thought I knew Sango couldn't see me. "Oh, Sango, you don't have to. And neither does Ayame. She should be having fun on her honey-moon not worrying over a freaked out girl like me."
"Kagome, you—"
Sango was interrupted by someone grabbing the receiver.
"Kagome, how can ever think that I wouldn't want to worry about you?"
I blinked. "Ayame? Is that you?" I exclaimed, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Aren't you supposed to be in Cancun right now?"
She grunted. "That doesn't matter! Besides, Kouga didn't want to spend so much on the honey-moon. He had to pay for the whole wedding, since my dad has this weird tradition about the groom paying for everything and not the bride's father, but that's all irrelevant. What I want to tell you is that I will always be there for you, Kagome."
I smiled, my previous feelings of displeasure gone. "That means a lot to me."
"Great!" She shouted, a little too loud. "Then we'll see you in ten minutes!"
"Wait, Ayame—"
But it was already too late to say anything because she quickly hung up. I sighed as I put the phone down. She always hung up when I was in mid-sentence so that I wouldn't refuse what she asked for. It worked every time.
But I guess it wouldn't be bad. Being alone with my own thoughts was taking me in a downward spiral towards depression, and goodness knows, we didn't need that. Having Sango and Ayame over would relieve some of the tension I felt in this house.
Soon, I heard a car park in front of the cottage. I walked to the door and opened it.
Sango waved from the car, just as she was coming out. "Hey, Kagome!"
I waved back and beckoned for the both of them to come in quickly. I didn't want to be outside for too long. Ayame flashed me a smile as she came inside. I closed the door and latched all the bolts. Sango and Ayame glanced at me peculiarly and I shrugged.
"Better safe than sorry, right?"
Sango glanced at Ayame with a worried expression. They sat down on the couch and I sat down in the armchair across it. Ayame was the first to speak.
"Kagome, I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. I mean, if I hadn't been so insistent on you coming, maybe—"
I stopped her before she could continue. "Ayame, don't start blaming yourself for what happened. If anything, we should be planning Takeshi's death right now. I wouldn't love anything better."
Sango chuckled softly. "Goodness gracious, Kagome. Have you crossed over to the dark side?"
I stuck my tongue at her and we all laughed at my childish behavior. I offered them tea and they gladly accepted. Sango stood up to walk around the house a bit (probably to check if there was anything out of place) and Ayame began helping me prepare the tea.
All of a sudden, Sango came into the hallway, holding something in her hand. My eyes bulged when I realized what they were.
The letter and pictures.
Sango must have taken my horrified expression as some kind of answer. "Kagome," she asked, very serious. "What the hell has Takeshi been doing to you?"
I put down the mug that was filled with tea down, in fear that I would drop it in my shock. I didn't answer Sango and instead moved toward her to grab the photos. My hands shook as I took them.
"I-I had these locked in my drawer. How could they…?" I trailed off. I dashed off to the bathroom to check if my key was still hanging from the little tack I had put it on from when I took my shower.
It was nowhere to be seen.
By now, Sango and Ayame had followed after me. They figured something was bad, but they couldn't figure out what.
"Kagome, you're scaring me!" Sango grabbed me, just as I began to freak out. "Tell me why there's a letter from Takeshi and photos of you!"
I shook my head and Ayame laid a hand on Sango's shoulder. "Sango, calm down. Obviously, Kagome needs to let some of her feelings out." She gently grabbed me and pulled me into a hug.
And so I cried. Like a big, huge baby, just like last night, only now it was because he had been in here again. Ayame held me and rocked me back and forth. From what I could see from my hazy vision and from what I could hear, Sango was speaking to Miroku and she didn't sound the least bit happy. After a while, I stopped crying and Ayame pulled back a little.
"Better?" She asked, eyes wide with concern.
I nodded. Ayame could be the best and most serious friend sometimes.
Sango came into my room, snapping her phone shut. "Ayame, something happened."
Ayame glanced at her, her green eyes flashing. "What?"
Sango sighed, cracking her fists. She only ever did that when she was really angry. "Miroku told me that he and the guys who had grabbed Takeshi had taken him to the police station, but because Kagome wasn't with them to testify against him, they couldn't put him behind bars. Plus, since Kagome showered, there're no traces of his DNA on her body." She hit the wall of a sudden, making me and Ayame jump. "And they freaking let him walk away!"
I closed my eyes. Why, why, why did this have to happen to me? Why me and why now? All I wanted was to live a normal married life with the man that I loved and cherished and who loved me just as much. Was that too much to ask of life? Am I doomed to walk a path full of hurt and pain forever?
Ayame cursed to herself. "Sango, I think we should stay here until Inuyasha comes back. She's not safe by herself."
Sango nodded, frowning. "You're right." Then she added, "Inuyasha's going to be pissed as hell when he finds out."
Ayame nodded. " I know. He hates it when things happen to Kagome and he can't do anything. If Miroku hadn't stopped him last night, I hate to think what Inuyasha might have done to Takeshi. He'd be the one in jail right now."
I sniffled and let go of Ayame. My friends tensed for a second as they realized I was going to say something.
"H-he was here a-again." I stuttered, hiccupping slightly.
Ayame stared at me incredulously. "What?"
I gazed at the both of them. "My k-key was here last night and now it's gone. I-I'm sure Takeshi took it." I sniffled again.
Sango was quite for a second, but then she quickly moved towards me. "Kagome, I want you to look around and see if there's anything else missing, anything at all. Can you do that for me?"
I nodded and I walked around my house and in the closets. I wasn't sure if anything else was missing, and I didn't see anything out of place. I came back to my room and shook my head at Sango.
She nodded. "Alright, then." She quickly paced out of the room and Ayame and I followed after her. She grabbed her keys and turned to Ayame. "Take care of Kagome. I'll be right back."
I ran after her. "Where are you going?"
She turned to me as she opened the door. "I'm going to go get Miroku. Then, I'm going to try and see if I can knock some sense into the sheriff that let Takeshi off."
I opened my mouth to tell her not to, but she was gone in a flash. I turned around to see Ayame chuckling to herself. "That Sango will never change."
I crossed my arms. "Ayame, why does this keep happening?"
Her green eyes shone with sadness. "I don't know Kagome, I don't know."
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I had been sitting in the living room when I heard the door open. I jumped up thinking it might be Takeshi again, but it was only Inuyasha. I couldn't help myself and I ran to him, encircling him with my arms.
He returned the gesture and stroked my hair lovingly, crushing me to him. "Kagome, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left at all." He buried his face in my hair and gave me a light kiss. "I'm so sorry, Kagome."
I shook my head. "Inuyasha, you don't have to apologize for anything. It wasn't your fault."
He sighed and pulled away to face me better. "But I should be able to protect you and it bothers me that I can't. I should stay home."
"Inuyasha, you can't always be everywhere I go. Besides," I added, "I have to go to school tomorrow."
Inuyasha sighed angrily. "I know, but I don't even want to expose you there."
I arched an eyebrow. "Is—is he still there?"
His silver hair gleamed as the rays of sun hit it when he shook his head. "No, I didn't see him. And a good thing too, because he still owes me from last night."
I suddenly remembered the comment Ayame had made before. I wonder what Inuyasha really would have done. I decided not to ask.
There was a knock on the door and Inuyasha and I broke apart at the sound of it. It could be Sango, since she still hadn't come back yet.
Ayame appeared from the kitchen, a pan in her hand and glanced at me. "Is there someone at the door?"
I laughed as she held the pan tightly in her grip. "I don't think anyone who would try to hurt us would knock on the door, Ayame."
"Oh." She lowered the pan and shrugged non-chalantly. "I knew that."
Inuyasha shook his head, chuckling slightly and made his way to the door. He opened it with ease.
"Inuyasha, son," came a familiar voice. "It's nice to see you again."
Inutaisho strode in wearing his cream-white suit, smiling at Inuyasha's perplexed look and my surprised one. "It seems you're surprised to see me."
Inuyasha sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I think we would, dad. It's not every day that a mobster boss comes around."
Inutaisho ignored his comment and glanced at me. "Kagome, how are you? I haven't seen you since the wedding."
I smiled warmly at him, crossing my arms. "It's nice to see you too, Mr. Takahashi."
"Oh, please, call me dad!"
I blinked in surprise. "Um, ok. . . dad?" I said, awkwardly.
He glanced around the house, examining it carefully. "Well, I sure do like what you've done to the place. I haven't been here since Izayoi—I mean, since Inuyasha was a kid!" He tried to laugh off his mistake. "Yeah, that's it!"
Inuyasha sighed. "Dad, it's okay. It doesn't bother me as much anymore."
Inutaisho seemed surprised at Inuyasha's words and he smiled at me. "And that's because of your doing, isn't it?"
I blushed for a second before Inuyasha came and put an arm around my shoulder. "I owe a lot of who I am to two very special people. One is them is my mother and the other," he grinned crookedly at me, "is my wife."
He kissed my forehead, but I was a bit embarrassed that he had said that in front of his Dad. Inutaisho laughed at my expression.
"Oh, don't worry about it. It was the same way with my wife." He sighed, smiling at memories I didn't know about. "Those were good times."
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed in the room. Inuyasha stared at his father steadily and with a firm voice asked, "What's the reason for the visit, Dad?"
"I see that nothing passes you, does it, Inuyasha?" Inutaisho smiled slightly, "I am here because one of Kagome's friends found me."
Kagome arched an eyebrow. "Who?"
Inutaisho seemed to have trouble remembering the name. "She was a short girl, about your height, long hair in a ponytail, wore a lot of pink, oh and," He paused, chuckling slightly, "She has a mean right hook."
I groaned, knowing who it was in an instant. "Did Sango hit you?"
Inutaisho laughed. "Oh, she didn't hit me. Her boyfriend was being a little too . . . friendly and she got tired of it. Just hit him without even a warning. Poor boy, sent him flying"
I giggled, the first time in a while. "That's Sango alright."
Inuyasha looked puzzled. "Wait a minute. How did she find you? I thought your location was top-secret and crap."
Inutaisho shrugged. "I don't even know how she bypassed the system. All I know is that she came into my office, demanding information on a man that used to work for Naraku."
My eyes bulged. "She asked about Takeshi?"
He nodded grimly. "The very same. Seems like she's on quest to find him and put him down, if you know what I mean." He ran a finger across his neck.
Inuyasha tensed, walking towards his father. "Did you have any information to give her?"
He shook his head. "That man hasn't been seen underground for months now. He's evading even his old comrades. Listen," he added, glancing at me, "I'm here because your friend explained what's been happening to you because of this man, and I feel that it's my obligations as your father-in-law to set up some type of security when Inuyasha's not with you."
Ayame suddenly appeared, having reemerged from her kitchen-cave, civilized once more. "Sango and I were going to alternate days of watching her so that's part covered.
"But what about when she's in school?" Inuyasha asked, "I'm on the other side of campus all day."
Inutaisho smiled. "Don't worry, Inuyasha, I know many professors at that college who wouldn't hesitate to watch over her. Hmm," he thought out loud, "I probably will need to call in some favors for this." He grabbed his cell phone from his pocket, but before he dialed any number, he added, "And just to make sure, I'll put people around the perimeter. It's high time my men do something worth-while."
He turned away as he began to call and I turned to Inuyasha. "Are you going to accept the offer?"
He shrugged. "Even if I didn't, it would be too late. He's already on the phone with half the world." He chuckled, grabbing my hand. "Besides, I think it would help ease my mind."
He then glanced at Ayame, who was busy braiding her hair. "Ayame, would you mind taking care of Kagome when I can't be here and she is?"
Ayame glanced up and nodded. "Of course. She's my best friend." She smiled warmly at me. "And by the sound of it, Sango wouldn't mind either."
Inuyasha nodded. "Thanks."
Ayame crossed her arms. "It's nothing."
Inutaisho suddenly snapped his phone shut and turned to us. Pocketing the phone, he said, "Everything's in order, Kagome. You'll be safe at the campus, though I doubt he'll be there. I just talked to the dean of admissions and they couldn't find his file. But," He added, glancing at me and Inuyasha. "Don't be lulled into a false sense of security. Someone might just be working for him, so be careful who you trust."
I nodded vigorously. I would not let my guard down for anything. I already did that too many times, and look at where I am? I mentally shook my head at myself. "Thanks for all the help, um. . ."
"Dad," Inutaisho finished for me. It was a little awkward to say it so I just nodded. He waved goodbye and was out the door. His shiny black car gleamed in the setting sun. I checked my watch.
"Oh, look at the time. It's dinner and I haven't prepared a thing to eat for you, Inuyasha." I glanced worriedly at Inuyasha, silently conveying that I was sorry, but he shook his head.
"It's okay, Kagome. I can fix something for the both of us."
As in on cue, Ayame called from the kitchen. "No one worry about the food! I'm treating you guys to some of my favorite dishes."
Inuyasha and I glanced at each other. He grinned. "Do you think she's a good cook?"
I shrugged. "We'd have to ask Kouga."
Abruptly, my cell phone rang. I dug in my pockets for it but I realized I had left it in my room. I ran quickly to grab it.
"Hello?"
"Kagome? It's Sango. I was just calling to tell you that I'll be there tomorrow morning to pick you up for school." She sighed. "You're definitely not going anywhere by yourself."
I laughed. "This sort of reminds me of high school, you know."
Sango moaned. "A little too much of high school, if you know what I mean."
"Well, then I'll see you tomorrow." I bid her farewell and hung up.
It seemed like I would never get the peace I wanted. Even if with this extra security, I still had my doubts. I mean, we're talking bout the man who's evaded the police since he could practically crawl. Everything has gone from bad to super bad to oh-my-gosh bad. It's created a kind of domino effect on my life.
I just wonder what part of it is next to fall.
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A/N: So this is REALLY late and I know. If I could, I would bow to each of you in apologies right now, so when you read, just think of a person bowing and groveling for your forgiveness. I hope you guys still liked the chapter.
I haven't gone to check the poll yet, but I will right after I upload this. Hopefully, this story is in the lead!
REVIEW and VOTE!
~Daichi
