Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha!

Chapter Fourteen: The Kuro Kiba and Family

Drip. Drip. Drip.

'What the? where am I?' Minami thought as she listened and smelled the air around her.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

'Hmm...Mold, Dust, and old wood.' Minami thought before realiizing the dripping sound echoed when it hit the floor.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

'Must be a warehouse of some sort. Probably abandoned, by the smell of it.' She thought as she attempted to move to a more comfortable position. She stopped after realizing she couldn't move and tensed as she heard a door open from somewhere to her right. Footsteps echoed on the floor as whoever entered the building walked toward her. Two scents wafted to her nose and she immediately recognized who had captured her. "Naraku, Raichu, Let me go, NOW!" Minami roared at the two men.

"Ah, but where would the fun be in that, love?" Naraku questioned as he slid his hand up to remove the bag from her face. He watched as Minami blinked her eyes a couple times then settled on the two men with her frostiest glare. God, he'd miss those eyes. Naraku knew Minami would be pissed and just as he thought, it suddenly became uncomfortable to stand in front of her. He really did enjoy it when she did that. The atmosphere shifted as Minami let out her most dangerous growl and Naraku couldn't keep the smile from his face. He walked toward her and pressed his body against hers. "You know what your anger does to me, love," he whispered quietly, "It's a pity you won't live long enough to reap the benefits of our combined resources. I would take great pleasure in this body of yours." He moved his hand from the wall by Minami's head and slid it down her side causing Minami to jerk at her chains and growl even louder.

"You will maintain your distance from me, Naraku, or so help me, I'll sever your hand and force feed it to you," Minami growled out as she jerked the chain binding her right arm to the wall. A smirk formed on her lips as she watched Naraku gulp, though he didn't move. "Hmm...seems you're aware of what I realized a minute ago," Minami laughed harshly, "Still a down right coward, eh, Naraku?"

Naraku stepped back and glared at her before turning to Raichu. "The chain on her right arm isn't tight enough. Kaboshi failed to mention this," Naraku stated to the elder Taisho male, "Take care of it. I'll be back in a moment." He glared at Minami one more time before leaving the way he came.

Minami turned her attention to her sire after watching Naraku leave. "Now, what part are you playing in this little game, father?" Minami questioned.

"Well, as you well know, daughter, our family has hit a financial downfall while my brother seems to continue to accumulate massive amounts of money. Naraku is aiding us in fixing this problem. Most of which is your doing," Raichu stated as he moved closer to her, "My "role" as you put it is the persecutioner and, later, executioner of you." He summoned his black acidic poison to his fingertips and smiled at her, "I've waited four hundred years to get my claws in you after you betrayed your family and I will not miss my chance to do so."

Raichu struck at Minami then and dug his claws into her left side. Tears pricked at her eyes as she felt her own flesh being burned, but she didn't scream. She would not give them the pleasure of hearing her scream. 'Shippo... Sesshoumaru... Uncle Toga... Inuyasha...Kagome...Somebody! Help me!' Minami screamed into her mind as tears began streaming down her face. She clenched her fangs closed tight enough that she drew blood as her father continued his assault on her. Minami could feel the poison start to spread though it didn't get far as her own immunity kicked in and began fighting her father's poison. It was painful. More painful than anything she'd felt before in her long life. Seven hundred years of life. Five hundred of those spent fighting, killing, destroying, and maiming all in the name of peace. Four hundred spent torturing her cousins with childish games until they finally began seeing her as a sister instead of competion. Minami had one last thought before she passed out from the pain, 'In the end, everything I've done in my life...was worth it.' The sweet abyss of unconsiousness took over then.

Raichu watched as Minami slumped in front of him. "Pitiful. A dozen blows and she passes out. I thought Toga would've trained her better," he stated as he stepped away from her. He turned as Naraku and Kaboshi entered the warehouse.

"Is she dead?" Naraku asked.

"No. My poison won't kill her. She's immune to it. Though it is rather painful," Raichu smirked as he chuckled.

Kaboshi walked over to Minami and tightened the chain on her right arm. "So this is the "Black Fang"? The stories amoung my comrades made her sound invincible," he stated with a sneer, "How many blows before she passed out?"

"Twelve. Which is impressive as most wouldn't have made it past four," Raichu responded.

"That aside. Did you do as I asked, Kaboshi?" Naraku questioned.

"I forged a marriage certificate, changed her will, and set it up where you both inherit her fortune when a death certificate is arranged, Though the paperwork won't be official for two days" Kaboshi stated as he glanced at the sleeping demoness. In a way, he felt bad for her. Having been on the recieving end of Raichu's claws himself, he knew it was unpleasant. Him, he could understand, but his own daughter? What kind of man would do that to his child? Kaboshi inwardly shuddered as he thought about his daughter, but though he didn't approve of the two males in front of him. This was business and if this female had to die, then it was none of his concern. Business is business.

"Well, as far as I'm concerned, you may kill her when you wish to, Raichu," Naraku stated as he turned away from the other males.

"I'll wait till the paperwork is official. I wish to torment her some more. This bitch has done more wrongs than rights in my opinion," Raichu stated as he followed Naraku to the door.

"Kaboshi, keep an eye on her," Naraku ordered as he and Raichu left.

Kaboshi nodded and sat on the floor in front of Minami. He wouldn't have to wait long as he noticed Minami's eye start to open when the door closed. He was actually curious as to what she heard and smirked as he wondered what she'd say about it.

Meanwhile...

Kagome sat in Sesshoumaru's office surrounded by at least forty demons of various power levels. She could tell they were demons due to her being a miko, of course, but still she was getting uncomfortable with that much youki in the room. It was stifling. However, the main focus of this meeting was Minami. The demoness had been missing for about sixteen hours and they still had no leads. Kagome watched as Sesshoumaru grabbed the reciever of the phone and yell, "What!" into it. His glare landed on her and she could see the worry in his eyes. He'd called her in the middle of the night, explained what happened, and she raced over to the mansion. Sesshoumaru had been awake for at least twenty four hours and was noticebly exhausted. She felt for him. She was just as worried about Minami as he was. She snapped herself from her thoughts as Sesshoumaru hung up the phone and turned his attention to everyone in the room.

"That was Shinjin, Minami's contact at the Secret Service office in Kyoto. He said there was paperwork filed this morning naming Naraku and Raichu as Minami's heirs upon her death," Sesshoumaru stated calmly though his eyes showed his anger.

"Wait. Naraku? He's behind this?" Toga questioned as he placed a hand on Sesshoumaru's shoulder.

"Yes," Sesshoumaru replied.

"How? Naraku can't inherit jack shit from Mina. They're not married anymore!" Inuyasha hollered from behind Kagome.

"Apparently, there was also a forged marriage certificate filed. Shinjin has brought it to the attention of the authorities since it wasn't Minami's handwriting on the signature," Sesshoumaru replied.

"What does Raichu have to do with all this?" Shippo questioned from his place on the couch.

"That is uncertain. However, I believe he may be after the same as Naraku, Minami's fortune," Sesshoumaru responded. His anger was rising more as the seconds ticked by. He settled his gaze on Jaken and his men. "Jaken, find Naraku and Raichu. I don't care what you have to do. Find them. We only have forty eight hours to find Minami or the paperwork will go through. Shinjin said if she doesn't go to the courthouse and prove the documents were forged within the next forty eight hours then the paperwork will go through," Sesshoumaru growled out through clenched fangs.

"We'll find her Sesshoumaru-sama," Jaken stated as he bowed and his men began filing out of the room.

"I'll go too. Can't depend on toad-boy's nose, mine works better," Inuyasha stated with a smirk as he followed Jaken from the room.

With Toga, Shippo, Kouga, and Kagome left in the office, Sesshoumaru slumped into his chair. Now, all he could do was wait. It was aggravating!

"We'll find her, son," Toga said as he sat across from Sesshoumaru.

Kagome stood from her chair and walked around the desk to sit on Sesshoumaru's leg. "She'll be just fine, Fluffy. Don't worry so much," Kagome said with a giggle that made Sesshoumaru smile for a moment. "Knowing Mina, she's probably torturing those two with innane questions," she continued as she smiled at the man.

Sesshoumaru chuckled at that. "True. Mina can be rather child-like at times," he responded before wrapping an arm around Kagome and hugging her. "I just hope we find her in time," he whispered into Kagome's hair.

"I just have one question," Shippo chimed in from the couch pulling everyone's attention to him, "Why are they after her fortune? Is she really that rich?"

"Minami's fortune, which she herself built, is worth seven times what the Taisho fortune is. Without hers, we wouldn't have been able to sustain the company for as long as we have," Toga responded.

"I see. How'd she get that much?" Shippo asked.

"Have you ever heard of the legend of the Black Fang or Kuro Kiba? Minami is the Kuro Kiba. She was at one point the best and most demanded assassin known throughout the world. Mind you, that was over two hundred years ago, but Minami was the best of the best. Her skills were unmatched and extremely deadly. Anyone who came across the Kuro Kiba was dead in a matter of seconds," Toga supplied, "Therefore, she was able to build her fortune over the course of two hundred years from the blood money she was paid."

"No shit? I'd heard of the Black Fang, but didn't realize it was Minami. She seems so...different than the assassin I'd heard of," Kouga chimed in.

"Mina wasn't always the meddling, carefree, childish soul we all know and love. She finally let go of the assassin job after a particular incident struck a cord somewhere in her. She was frightened after it and hasn't been the same since," Sesshoumaru stated.

"What happened?" Kagome questioned.

"She was ordered to kill the Inu-no-Taisho and she nearly did, but stopped her assault before the final blow was delivered," Toga said as a trace of sadness entered his tone, "She cried and fell to her knees in front of me saying she couldn't do it. She couldn't kill her father and begged my forgiveness. I didn't realize until that moment that Minami had become my daughter at some point and, like my sons, I loved her."

"Did you tell her that?" Kagome wondered.

"Of course! I forgave her and she returned to the Western Palace. Hasn't left again since," Toga replied with a chuckle, "That's why it's important to find her. Minami is family."

"So, why'd the call her the Kuro Kiba?" Shippo asked.

"She was a black dog demon with deadly skills. The name sort of stuck," Sesshoumaru stated.

"I just hope she's alright," Kagome said as she nibbled her lip.

"I'm sure she is," Toga stated.

With Minami...

Minami was in pain. Everything hurt, but for some reason, her unconsious state only lasted two minutes. She kept her eyes closed though as she listened to the men speak and waited till there was only one left in the room. She cracked her right eye open slowly then opened her left one as she looked her body over. From this position, she could see that a majority of the damage was to her midsection, but the wounds were beginning to clot so she was no longer bleeding. The cut on her right leg was deep enough to see bone, but she could see the tissue starting to reform.

"You'll be healed up in an hour at this rate," A voice said causing her to raise her head and look at the demon sitting across from her. The face was one she'd seen when she was taken. That much she was certain. A scent wafted to her nose and she knew she was saved. She just had to distract the demon in front of her...

"Who are you?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Kaboshi. Really now, Kuro Kiba, you insult me," Kaboshi began, "Surely, you'd remember one of your own. After all, Itsumaki-sama was the one that paired us up for the Crusade on China."

"Ah, I remember you now, Kaboshi. The little pain in the ass that cost us that particular mission. I had one hell of a mess to clean up, thanks to you," Minami replied quietly.

"Well, that was then. I never dreamed I'd be able to best the Kuro Kiba. You've become weak over the years," Kaboshi stated. He tensed when Minami laughed.

"Quite the contrary, Kaboshi. I'm not weak. If you were the one in my positon, you would've been long dead," Minami pointed out, "I can almost bet that I'll be out of here within the hour."

"Really? What makes you so sure of that?" Kaboshi asked.

"He does," Minami said with a chuckle then laughed as Kaboshi was grabbed by the back of his neck and turned around to face the newcomer.

"Where's Naraku and Raichu?" Inuyasha demanded as he shook the tiger demon in his claws.

Kaboshi panicked. He didn't even sense the half-demon or any of the forty demons standing around him. How the hell did she manage that? It dawned on him then. "A cloaking spell while you distract me," Kaboshi stated as he glanced at the demoness from the corner of his eye, "You are good, Kuro Kiba. I see why you were given your name."

"Correction. The name is Minami. I'm no longer the Kuro Kiba and no longer wish to be associated with the name of a murderer," Minami stated as she leaned on Jaken who had helped her stand after she was freed from the wall, "Now, where are my ex-husband and father?"

"I don't know, but possibly at Naraku's office," Kaboshi confessed after realizing he had no choice but to obey.

"Good. Jaken, take Minami to the hospital. Don't leave her side. You are going with these two and I'm going to go tell Sesshoumaru we've got Mina back," Inuyasha said as he handed Kaboshi to two of Jaken's men. He turned to Minami and smirked at her, "Ya know, I hate the smell of your tears. They're annoying as hell."

"Without them, you wouldn't have found me, Yasha. I knew you would!" Minami hollered as she smiled at him while Jaken helped her toward the door.

"Yeah? You knew they had a barrier around the place?" Inuyasha questioned.

"Duh! I knew you'd smell my tears though. You always hated that scent," Minami stated as she laughed then flinched when her side pinched her.

"Easy, dummy. You're pretty banged up," Inuyasha replied as he helped Jaken get her into the Escalade.

"Aw, I love you too, Yasha," Minami stated as he shut the door.

Inuyasha watched as Jaken drove away and headed for Taisho Incorporated. He was glad his cousin was a quick thinker and amazed she'd managed to basically lead him here with her tears. If he hadn't caught the scent on the breeze, he never would've found her. Yes, Minami was a complicated creature, but she was family. He realized at that moment that even though Minami was his cousin, she held her place within him as a sister. Granted, she was backstabbing and manipulative, but she always did what was best for him and Sesshoumaru. Even if it seemed like torture at the time, everything always turned out for the best. Like getting Sesshoumaru and Kagome together, it was evil what she'd done, but he was glad Minami had done it. He'd never seen Kagome happier than when she was around his brother. All thanks to Minami.

Author's Note: Just realized this story bounces around alot and tends to focus more on Minami than any of the rest of the characters. Sorry! My brain runs away with me, but Minami will be fading out in up coming chapters. Just wanted everyone to realize that she's kind of the glue that holds the Taisho family together. Next chapter will be Naraku and Raichu's capture and a bit more intimate stuff between Kagome and Sesshoumaru. Hope you enjoyed and please review! Thank you and have a good day!