Chapter 11 Deals, Daring and Regret
Rumiko Takahashi and her designees own Inuyasha and company, not me, and I think you all know that.
Inuyasha parked in the Keep's garage, tucking the compact deftly between the sportscars that were his usual mode of transport...and got out with a grin. He'd just have to scrub the car's interior first thing in the morning to make sure no one noticed Kagome's scent on it. Too much risk of someone in the staff seeing him if he did it now. He'd pushed his luck enough tonight.
"So, Lady Kagome is well?" Sesshomaru. Leaning against another car, smirking as he sniffed ostentatiously. Busted. Her scent was on him, damn it. Inuyasha was pulled along when he got out, and helped to sneak into his own apartments.
"What?" he asked blankly.
"You are aware of our Lord Father's orders on these occasions. You are to return to the Keep promptly and conceal yourself, baka pup. Although I was certain you would seize the opportunity to again see the female or do something equally foolish," Sesshomaru noted, unamused as he got the hanyou inside and away from prying eyes, sliding the door shut.
Inuyasha squirmed under the cool, appraising stare.
"Don't you ever get tired of-" he started, and a hard laugh cut him off.
"Being right? Of course not, pup...or is it human? How was your-evening?" Sesshomaru commented gravely. He sat without asking permission on his brother's black leather couch, stretching his legs and crossing his ankles elegantly.
"No...look, it's none of your...damn it," he tried. This was met by an inquiring expression. The hanyou admitted it all.
"Hm," Sesshomaru rose.
"Going to tell the old man, Sesshomaru? I'm two hundred years old, if I want to see her, or talk to her, or go out-I will!"
"Agreed." Inuyasha's jaw dropped.
"What...?"
"I believe you heard me, even with mortal ears. I recall you have assisted me often with Rin, in protecting her. Therefore, I shall return the favor. With one provision. You will cease sneaking out for," another sniff, "meals with her. Father. He would not approve. You used up his patience on such matters. As you did not tell her who you are, and have shown some small amount of sense, I will permit you to keep this private. I shall also see to it no one has a chance to smell her on the car."
"Damn," Inuyasha shook his head. With little choice-he agreed.
"Excellent," Sesshomaru rose, and paused, hand on the door. "I wish you success. Rin...has grown fond of the idea of another female in the family." With that, he left. Inuyasha sat, smiling to himself. He could still feel her lips. He had kissed her, and seen that lovely smile.
When he finally got some sleep after transforming for another month, though, he dreamt of her.
Not in the good way.
There was a man holding Kagome, kissing his scentbonded...rage filled him...then he turned-and it was him. The human him, smirking behind his spectacles and holding her close.
"She hates you! It's me she wants, and you know it. Just like last time."
"He's right, you know. I'll never love you! Once I know when I can take you, well, we've been there before, haven't we?" Kagome told him, snuggled up to the human. She pointed.
And Kikyou was holding an arrow trained on him again, with no Father to save him. It was released, sliding through his flesh-Tetsusaiga dropped from his hand and shattered on the ground as his sight faded, something horrible rose...something that he never quite knew what it was, only that it was terrible...
His eyes flicked open in terror as he woke up in a cold sweat. The first in a series of recurring nightmares.
Two weeks later, the Shrine's gift shop number rang. Kagome answered.
"Kagome?"
"Uh...Lord Inuyasha?" the feminine voice on the other end sounded sharp as Kagome tried to decide if the command word would work on the phone.
"No! Atsuo. Do you remember me?" Inuyasha said quickly, speaking into the new cell he'd bought.
"Atsuo...? You called me? I asked you not to," her voice became softer as she spoke quickly.
"Well, the Shrine's in the book. I thought, I thought you might change your mind. Let me give you my number, think about it. I'd like to just, well, talk to you once in a while."
"Oh. Um...Yes, I believe we have those in stock. Let me check," Kagome said suddenly, and he held the phone out and looked at it in confusion. "Sorry, someone came by. Look...it's not a good idea. Maybe..." she sounded worried. He gave her the brand new cell's number, and smiled to himself sadly. Having to lie to her shamed him, but he had to talk to her. If he did-perhaps the dreams would stop.
It took a week for her to call back.
But their little chats caused their own problems. Kagome's letters no longer said everything she was up to. He knew it. She was keeping 'Atsuo' a secret, just as he had to hide his calls to her. When they met on the presentation days, he still couldn't talk to her face to face when all he could smell was his scentbonded mate. The dreams didn't stop. And what she said on the phone...
"I wish we could meet again, are you sure you're busy next week? Maybe we could go do something-" he was glancing at a lunar phase calendar as he spoke, maybe he could again spend time with her...
"Oh, I wish we could, but, uh...classwork's really piled up," she didn't dare try and see him again. Kagome had promised Sango, not to mention the very real danger of something coming after her.
"Yeah. Classwork," he was disappointed, willing to risk it-but did like the fact that she was showing faithfulness to him in refusing to see, well, him. Quite conflicting.
"I'm so sorry. Atsuo, I wish I'd met you, um...I-I have to go," she hung up. Inuyasha was starting to worry. She was warm, caring...and he was starting to think-attracted to him! But not him!
Two months until the wedding.
"Damn, I'm glad you called, Kagome!" the tired, gruff voice on the phone made Kagome grin as she sat in the living room holding the phone. Sango was out checking the property again and her family was out, so she had a bit of time. She knew she shouldn't, but he was so easy to talk to, had been so kind and attentive. Kagome felt like she could tell Atsuo anything, even if at times he didn't seem to get some of her comments.
"I'm glad too, Atsuo," Kagome laughed softly. She hadn't seen him since the first and last time, he kept saying he was busy and she did too. Probably just as well. In two months, she'd be eighteen and married off. She'd been fitted for her wedding kimono again today...and the resulting depression had made her feet drag. So she'd decided to call her, well, sort of secret boyfriend. A glance at the television as she sat.
The news report.
"Today, local residents were treated to an appalling sight. A sealed youkai, one Ryuukotsuie, was released by alleged Panther Tribe members disguised as construction workers. The dragon then promptly slew several innocent bystanders and caused chaos at rush hour. The situation was not contained until the arrival of members of the youkai Inu Clan, who worked with rapid response teams to contain the dangerous dragon..."
The footage made her hands shake. Gore, explosions...the bodies...Lord Inutaisho using the Souunga. Inuyasha, bloody, battered, eyes hard and with red claws...a casual, effortless gesture...the youkai went flying in a spray of blood. He closed his hand, and released-something at the remaining Panthers...yelled something that made her turn cold.
Hijinkessou. Blades of Blood.
Kagome dropped the phone. That was blood...he hated mortals...was so insanely jealous. Sango said he'd have killed Houjo...and she'd kissed Atsuo...he'd never believe that was all that had happened...
"Kagome? Hey, you there?" the thin voice on the other end...she picked up the receiver. Atsuo was such a nice guy. An innocent mortal. He'd nearly killed Houjo for holding her hands, she couldn't let her-her-Atsuo to get hurt for her sake. No. She'd read those scrolls, and now she witnessed what they spoke of. Kagome realized that she was terrified.
"Don't call me again, Atsuo. I-can't talk to you anymore. P-please...? Stay away. I'm sorry...I wish things were different, but they aren't. Goodbye." With that-she hung up and slumped.
Inuyasha frowned at the phone he was holding, wondering. He was still in his firerat work clothes from fighting Ryuukotsuie...actually, clearing out Panthers and watching the old man's back earlier. Another sneaky trap to try and get at them. He'd been thrilled she'd called because he'd still been keyed up from the battle. His mate's calm, soothing way was just what he needed right then.
Rising, he closed the phone, set it to recharge and went to take a shower. The self-made cuts to his palm he used to create the Hijinkessou had healed already. He still had Panther blood and his own under his claws though, thinking nothing of it. Or of the fact that the media had been there today and filmed the battle...
The less said about Kagome's graduation from High School, the better. When everyone else was focusing on exams, and readying for college or careers...she was working on the wedding from hell. The seating chart for the reception alone required consultation with over a dozen people! Folding the paper cranes, readying the gifts for the bridal party, picking out flowers...it was a nightmare. But it was happening, it was real. And soon, she'd be married off to the Lord Inubaka, and his Clan of sword wielding psychos. Marvelous.
And soon-would be the visits.
Author's notes- Ahhh. Good things! Ok, a few notes. Hijinkessou is the Japanese for Inuyasha's 'Blades of Blood' attack. I usually use the Japanese, rather than the English translations. Thanks to Ear-tweak for their attack glossaries! I didn't go into her graduation much because I couldn't really find much on how High Schools do that in Japan, and I didn't want to fake it. The origami cranes the Higurashi are folding are a traditional aspect of a Shinto marriage, symbolizing good luck. The whole bride's family does it as there are usually about a thousand of them to fold. Thanks for reading!-Namiyo