Mukotsu was stepped on the gas, feeling lighter than he did all morning. He had been so afraid when those men showed him the footage about Jakotsu, his Jakotsu being held at gun point. He had immediately made a promise to come down to the Taishou mansion, and then run to Ryuukossei with the news.
"They probably wish to inquire about the truth behind the aborigine killings," Ryuukossei had said, "There is no harm in confessing. Make yourself their trusted ally. Of course, we will claim that you had lied under temptation, which you will prove by leaving our party and joining them shortly."
Mukotsu thought it was a risky proposition and he said the same.
"Oh you shall be richly rewarded, don't worry about that," Ryuukossei had brushed aside his concerns, "To tell you the truth, we are currently in need of a bridge between the two houses. Your assistance will prove invaluable in this."
The meeting had gone exactly as Ryuukossei had predicted. Mukotsu had gotten a nasty fright when Inuyasha brought out the camera. But on hindsight, the more his confession was publicised, the bigger would be the Taishous' fall from grace. How would the public feel, knowing the family had resorted first to violence, and now to bribery, in order to win? Mukotsu smiled at his reflection in the mirror. He made a call to Jakotsu, just to make sure that Inuyasha's gunmen had indeed withdrawn. The call went unreplied. Mukotsu was slightly uneasy.
On the rear view mirror, he could see a black SUV following him at an even distance. Was he being watched? He called Jakotsu again. Again, no reply. A cold sweat tingled down his spine. Did someone double-cross him? Would he inform Ryuukossei? But Ryuukossei had warned him not to call. Calls could be intercepted, he had said. In a flash, the solution suggested itself to him. Sesshoumaru! Sesshoumaru said he only had to call him on the secure line. He would talk to Lord Taishou and clear up the matter once and for all.
Taking out the phone, he dialled the pre-saved number, hoping it was not a bogus trick. To his relief, the call went through. He thought someone answered.
The man in the SUV skidded to a halt as the car in front of him blew up, throwing debris all over the road. Behind him, the traffic came to a stop. People were coming out of their cars. A woman cried in shock. The man got out of his car and ran forward towards the inferno, although there was no hope of salvage. He was running late for his anniversary dinner, but this was more important.
At this time, beside the lonely dock, Jakotsu's lifeless corpse was floating in the water.
Kagome was getting restless. She missed her husband. She knew the situation was a difficult one, and making it right was more important than romancing her, but the events of the night before were still fresh on her mind. She could still feel the softness of his lips upon hers, his breath on her neck, the touch of his hand all over her body. Even thinking about it ran shivers down her spine. Beside her, Rin was also looking a little lost without Sesshoumaru. So both girls were happy to finally see their husbands return.
Inuyasha dropped on the couch beside Kagome and put his arm around her. She instinctively leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder. It didn't strike her as odd when Sesshoumaru similarly put his arm around Rin, but when he nuzzled behind her ear and nibbled at her earlobe, she was a little surprised. She looked up to see him staring at her, the hint of a challenge hiding in his stormy eyes.
Kagome was immediately seized with an urge to reciprocate in kind. But then she checked herself. What the hell is he doing? This is so childish, so unlike him.
His look deepened into a more sinister gaze as he ran his hand down Rin's arm. Kagome felt sorry for the clueless girl, as a deep blush settled on her cheeks. But her transient pity changed into a more lasting embarrassment when she realized that Inuyasha was probably very aware of everything that was going on inside the room. Even though his soft hold around her shoulder betrayed nothing.
There was a buzzing on the table. Sesshoumaru's phone was ringing. He picked it up with a guarded expression. Rin saw him take the call, but then he kept the phone back on the table. She was curious, but soon a deluge of sensations covered her has he tickled her neck with a finger. She forgot all about the call.
Kagome looked up at her husband's golden eyes and detected a slight twinkle. Yup, he knows alright. She felt at a loss about what she could do to escape the awkward situation. Sesshoumaru was sniffing at Rin's hair now, almost angrily, provokingly, daring her to match his passion. Inuyasha straightened.
"I think the newlyweds need some time alone," he said airily, "C'mon, Kagome, let's not disturb the lovebirds."
Kagome got up after him, grateful for the intervention, and followed him out of the room. Sesshoumaru moodily scowled at the fireplace, all thought of Rin forgotten.
Ordinarily, Ryuukossei could process whatever information came to his ears and act immediately upon it. There were only a few times when he could not believe his own ears. This was one of them. In fact, had someone other than Naraku brought the news to him, he would have brushed it off as a mere rumor. But Naraku wouldn't bother him unless his intel was fool proof.
Mukotsu had been murdered? His partner was dead under suspicious circumstances?
He could only plop down on the couch.
"This murder coming so closely on the heels of Mukotsu's confession will put us in a real tight spot, Father," as usual, Naraku was stating the obvious.
Mukotsu had given a public statement claiming Ryuukossei to be responsible for killing the aborigines and framing the Taishous. Within an hour both he and his partner were dead. The finger of blame would definitely point at them.
Ryuukossei dug his nails into the flesh of his palm in impotent rage.
"This does not sound like the work of Myouga," he thought aloud.
"Myouga, Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha," Naraku shrugged, "what difference does it make? How do we get out of this pickle?"
How indeed…
Ryuukossei made his decision.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures. Is you weapon ready?"
"Seething," Naraku replied.
Ryuukossei picked up his phone and dialled a number.
"Keep giving me full updates of their whereabouts."
The time had come to nip the Taishou fins.
