Chapter 15
A young policeman stopped Kouga. He came over and leaned down, putting his head close to Kouga's open window. "Sir, you must stop. You cannot go any further--" His eyes opened wide when he saw the driver's face. "M-mr. Narita! Gomen nasai! I did not realize it was you!" He bowed deeply when Kouga shut off the engine and jumped out of the car.
Kouga's heart squeezed painfully. "Kagome! Kagome!" he called out, his eyes scanning the entire area for her small figure. But he could not see her or Hiro anywhere. What was worse, he couldn't detect her scent either.
The once sleek, champagne colored BMW sat upon black lumps that had once been tires. The body of the car, although badly dented, still looked recognizable. The trunk looked like something had been rammed into it. The driver and passenger side doors hung open. Had the bodies been taken away already?
Fighting to keep his tears at bay, he managed to tear his gaze away from the wreckage and Kouga studied the earnest young cop closely. There was something familiar about him. After a moment, he recognized him as the son of one of his office managers. "Yamanoha? Yamanoha Jiro? Yes, I thought I recognized you. How's your father?"
Yamanoha bowed again. "He is doing fine, Narita-sama. Ano...Narita-sama? I am glad you arrived. There is a matter which we need to discuss with you. About the car." He indicated what was left of Kagome's automobile. "We've run the plates and just now discovered it is registered under your name."
Bracing for the worst, Kouga's body tensed. "Are there any survivors?" he asked hoarsely. His eyes scanned the remains of the car, noting that it was still smouldering. He was still bothered by the fact that he couldn't smell Kagome's scent.
"Well, it's funny you should ask that, Narita-sama," Jiro said, turning to look at the tall man with the ice blue eyes. "The car has been searched. There was no one in the car."
Yuki gave a groan of relief and Kouga whipped around to face Jiro. "Are you sure? No one was in the car? There's no...no...bodies? Anything like that?"
The police officer shook his head. "No, no remains have been found. No one was in the car when it burst into flames. As you can see, the doors are open. They were found exactly like that when we arrived at the scene. We believe that the person or people in the car exited the car as soon as it came to a stop."
Kouga's body sagged with relief. Never had he been so frightened for Kagome. He had been so sure that something terrible had had happened to her. But then again, something probably had. If she was alright, she would have called him. Why hadn't she called him by now? C'mon, baka, don't lose it now... "Well, that relieves my mind somewhat," he remarked, trying desperately not to give away just how tense he was. "Do you know what happened? Where are the occupants of the car? Two people were in the vehicle..."
"We are still investigating the cause of the accident, but it appears that the car had been forced off the road." Yamanoha looked back at the smouldering wreck. "We have determined that from the way the rear of the car has been damaged, another automobile rammed it, thereby forcing it off the road. Whoever was in the car, might have crawled out of or was pulled from the vehicle."
"Did someone stop to render aid? Perhaps if Kagome and Hiro crawled out of the car, someone stopped and took them directly to the hospital?" Yuki wondered aloud.
Kouga frowned. "If that was the case, Kagome would have gotten in touch with me already. And Hiro is the most upright citizen I've ever known. He'd never have left a scene of an accident."
Yamanoha shook his head. "No one that we have talked to remembers seeing anyone helping them out of the vehicle. Of course, we are still looking for other witnesses."
While Yamanoha talked, Yuki watched in silence as the ambulances took their leave, followed by the fire trucks. The only people left were the police and some individuals wearing clothing that announced the fact that they were crime scene investigators. He shut his eyes and turned away, the sight being too much to bear. Why hadn't he helped Hiro when he had called out to him?
Kami, he needed a drink. It needed to be something hard and stiff that burned his throat on the way down. He needed it because he couldn't bear the thought that the mother of his children and his brother were missing. Two of the most important people in his life were gone, spirited away... and no one knew where they were. He couldn't sense his brother calling out to him, nor could he hear Kagome... or the Shikon jewel for that matter. At the very least, he should be able to sense that. One thing he did know...both of them were still alive. So where on earth were they?
"Fuck this," he muttered under his breath and dug in his jean's pocket for his cigarettes, shaking one out. With it hanging from his lips, he patted his other pockets for a lighter. Nothing. "Oh, fuck this," he repeated grumpily as he went to re-check his pockets.
Yamanoha moved forward, lighter in hand. "Do you need a light, sir?" he asked politely.
From beneath his shining golden hair, Yuki gave the young cop a hard look. "Iie," he murmured around the cigarette. He lifted his right hand to the level of his face and pointed up at the sky with his index finger.
The officer frowned, his eyes immediately looking up in the direction Yuki was pointing.
Yuki gave a small snort of amusement as a tiny flame appeared on the tip of his pointing finger. He quickly lit his cigarette. "Oy, did anyone catch a glimpse of the driver of the other car?" he asked, exhaling slowly and shaking his finger as he would a match. Amazingly, Yamanoha did not seem to notice that his fingertip was on fire.
"Oh!" Yamanoha exclaimed. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small notepad, flipping it open. "Yes. Forgive me, Narita-sama! The other car was described as a light silver or white Jaguar with tinted windows. Unfortunately, due to the tinted windows, no one could get a description of the driver."
Tiredly, Kouga rubbed his eyes. "Look, my fiancee and this man's brother were in the car. You need to find them. Please," he pleaded softly with the officer and proceeded to give Yamanoha descriptions of Kagome and Hiro.
A shout came from another police officer and Yamanoha looked up. The other cop was waving him over and Yamanoha closed his notes. "We will do all that we can to find them, sir. My colleague is calling me. Please, excuse me, Narita-sama," he said respectfully, pocketing the notepad and after presenting the silent Kouga with a graceful bow, walked away.
Yuki looked over at Kouga, who was still staring at the car with an unreadable expression. He offered a cigarette to the wolf, but Kouga shook his head, saying nothing. Yuki sighed and leaned back against Kouga's car. "You know what? I think this was Inuyasha's doing."
Icy blue eyes turned on him. "And what is the basis for that assumption?" Kouga wanted to blame somebody...NEEDED to blame somebody for this, but for some reason he couldn't pin this disaster on the hanyou. There was something horribly wrong here. Just the way the car was battered told him that it was done in a moment of rage. A rage so great that he knew even the hot-headed Inuyasha couldn't manage it...especially against the woman he loved.
Inuyasha loved Kagome greatly, Kouga knew. With Kikyo long gone, there were no more impediments to him loving Kagome freely. If this was caused by Inuyasha, then why would he suddenly try to kill her? He'd be much more likely to just try to win her heart back instead of killing her. Inuyasha was the most persistent person he'd ever met. He'd never let insignificant things like fiancees or boyfriends get in the way of what he wanted.
No, someone else was behind this. Naraku? He had yet to put in an appearance, if he was still around. But then again... it didn't smell of Naraku, literally or metaphorically. Something was up and he had to find out just what it was. As soon as he ditched the pretty-boy elf, he could do his own investigative work. He'd find Kagome and Hiro with or without police assistance.
Yuki was starting to say something, so Kouga decided to turn his attention back to him.
The elf shrugged his elegant shoulders. "Its just the feeling I get. I mean, hell, the hanyou's been after her for a long time, ne? It would be the perfect time to try to steal her away. Sesshoumaru's dead and he knows that you've dropped your defenses because he knows you don't perceive him as a threat. Also, with everything that's happened, she still chooses to be with you. Maybe he snapped, or went psycho or something. Who knows." He stubbed out what was left of his cigarette on the bottom of his boot and lit another one. Casting his eyes over at the youkai, he gave a little frown. "What are you scheming over there, Kouga?
Kouga looked askance at his golden-headed companion. "What are you talking about, elf?"
Yuki slipped a hand into his front pocket. "I've been watching you for the past couple of minutes. You are definitely plotting something. Let me see, you plan on getting rid of me so you can hunt for Hiro and Kagome on your own, is that it?" He gave a satisfied smirk when Kouga looked visibly startled. "Well, let me tell you, pal, that ain't gonna happen."
A low growl rumbled from Kouga's throat, but Yuki didn't bat an eye. "Like it or not, you're going to need me," he retorted rather smugly. "Hiro can call me and I can hear the Shikon jewel. That means I HAVE to go with you. Heh, through death and back again, I'll be with you." He grinned over at Kouga. "Together, we'll find them and kick Inuyasha's ass."
Through death...and back again? Why would he say something weird like that...
Kouga froze. Through death and back again...
"It wasn't Inuyasha," muttered Kouga absently before going to open his car door. He slipped quickly behind the wheel.
Yuki made a dash for the passenger side and got in just as Kouga started the engine. "Where are we going?" he asked as the car shot forward onto the now traffic-free highway. He tossed the butt out of the window, earning him a dirty look from Kouga. "Eh...okay, okay! Don't mess with Japan, I know. Sheesh!"
"Here you are, supposedly one of the purest creatures in nature," Kouga muttered, "and you go and throw a cigarette butt out of the window. Those things aren't biodegradable, you know."
"Agh! Kouga, do you MIND?" cried Yuki in anguish. He ran an angry hand through his hair. "This is NOT the time for an earth-first lecture! Now, please, concentrate! Where are we going..." He looked at the speedometer. "...at nearly 100 miles per hour?"
Kouga looked down and he scowled, but obediantly dropped his speed. "You'll see. I have a hunch."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
'This isn't right,' Yuki thought as they pulled up to Sesshoumaru's house, which looked cold and unlived in. Well, it HAD been lived in...until Inuyasha turned his brother into a huge, burnt-out, crusty mess courtesy of the Tetsusaiga. Aloud he said, "But this is Sesshy's old house. Why are we here? Do you think Inuyasha's holed himself up here?"
Instead of answering, Kouga headed around the house to the back. Yuki followed him and lit up along the way.
The backyard had not been touched. The huge grooves caused by the kaze no kizu were still there. Kouga made his way over to where a large, blackened piece of ground had been the very spot where Sesshoumaru had died. Both men stared down at it, frowns evident.
"Why are there no remains?" Yuki murmured softly. He exhaled and tapped ashes on the ground. "There's nothing here except dirt." He looked up at Kouga with some alarm.
For his part, Kouga scowled, baring his fangs. "Of COURSE there's nothing here. Argh! I should have guessed this would happen!" He shot Yuki an angry look. "Don't you see? There's no remains! That leads me to only one conclusion."
"Which is?" Yuki raised his cigarette and inhaled deeply. He daren't say anything. He knew what Kouga was suggesting, and he didn't want to believe it.
Kouga's eyes shifted towards the empty house. "Sesshoumaru isn't dead." His intense gaze took in the entire yard warily, as if he thought the taiyoukai might jump out of the bushes at any moment.
Yuki's fingers removed his cigarette from his mouth quickly. "What? What do you mean?"
"He still lives. I know you MUST remember Sesshoumaru's swords." Kouga continued to stare at the house.
"Yeah, I remember. The Tokijin could kick my ass at twenty paces and the..." Yuki broke off suddenly and he dropped his butt. "The Tensaiga! Kami! I'd forgotten about it." He scowled, putting his cigarette out with his toe. "But as I recall, he wasn't wearing it when he was hit with the kaze no kizu. So how was he resurrected, if that's the case?"
Kouga looked thoughtful and turned his gaze to the ground. His eyes searched for something on the ground. Yuki watched the youkai as he examined the area around the spot where the taiyoukai was supposed to have breathed his last. Silence hung over them for a few moments while Kouga prowled about.
"What are you looking for?" Yuki asked, unable to resist the call of the nicotine. He lit up once more, earning him an exasperated glance from Kouga.
"You may be an elf, but you'll be the first elf in history to die of lung cancer," Kouga muttered as he dropped down on one knee to look at something more closely.
Yuki exhaled with an agitated puff. "Heh, that's what YOU think, youkai. You just want me outta the way. But let me tell you this," he said, pointing the end of his cigarette at Kouga, "she's the mother of my twins. I think I have as much right to her as you do."
The elf's words were dismissed with wave of Kouga's hand. "Whatever. Anyway, I found what I was looking for." He stuck a couple of fingers in the ground. "I knew it. Here. This is spot."
Moving over to where Kouga knelt, Yuki looked down. "What of it? It's a hole."
"You baka." Kouga looked up at Yuki. "Do you see the shape? It's not a hole, it's a slit in the ground. Its the perfect shape for where the blade of a sword pierced the ground." Kouga rose to his feet and dusted his hands off. "The Tensaiga would never have let its master perish."
Once more tapping ash on the ground, Yuki looked down and then back up at Kouga. "So, what are you saying? That the Tensaiga grew little legs, ran out here and swung itself to bring that fool back to life? Oh please, that's crazy talk."
"How else do you explain the absence of... of bones...or his clothing? It hasn't been that long since it happened. There would still be some remnants of his carcass, Yuki." Kouga lifted his head and took a long sniff of the air. "He hasn't returned to his house, at least not within the last couple of days. But I highly doubt this would be his only place of residence." Lifting his hands, he released his hair from its ponytail and ran his fingers through the silken black mass. "Shit, I'm gonna have to get in touch with Inuyasha." He began walking back the way they had come.
"What on earth for?" Yuki asked, trotting obediantly behind him. "He's probably in on this with Sesshy. You know how the inu tend to stick together."
"Shut up," Kouga shot back irritably. "I already told you that Inuyasha had nothing to do with this. If there's one thing I know for certain, it's his love for Kagome. He wouldn't have the heart to ram her off the road. Sesshoumaru on the other hand... Well, he wouldn't think twice about doing it."
They made it back to Kouga's car and got in. Yuki turned to look at Kouga, whose normally youthful face looked tired and drawn. It was obvious he was terribly worried about Kagome.
"Hey," the elf murmured gently. He put and hand on Kouga's arm as the youkai started the engine.
Kouga turned to see what the elf wanted. "Hmm?"
Yuki gave him a small smile. "We'll find them, don't worry." He gave Kouga's arm a squeeze and removed his hand. "So, where are we off to?"
Kouga put the car in drive and they shot forward. "To look for Inuyasha. If anyone knows where Sesshoumaru might be hiding, it would be him."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The maddening sound of his cell phone ringing jarred Inuyasha out of his sleep. Not that his sleep had been peaceful; he'd just had a horrible nightmare. His hand blindly groped around on his bedside table, seeking the object of loathing. He finally managed to getting the thing to the vicinity of his head.
"Yeah," he mumbled into the receiver. At least, he hoped it was the receiver.
A woman's voice cried softly, "Inuyasha-sama? Gomen nasai! I did not mean to disturb--"
Blast it to hell and back! It was Sesshoumaru's secretary. What in kami's name did his Royal Jerk-off want this time?
"What is it?" he rasped angrily, interrupting her.
The woman seemed to compose herself before speaking. "Sir, I have Narita-sama on the other line for you. He wishes quite urgently to speak with you."
Narita-sama? Kouga wanted to talk to him? What the hell for---?
"Fine," he snapped irritably. "Put him through."
There was a short silence before Kouga's voice came on. "Oy, inu-koro! Get your ass up and get over to my house now!"
Inuyasha froze. How DARE that fool speak to HIM that way! "Yaseokami," he snarled through clenched teeth, "don't you EVER order ME around! I don't fucking answer to you!"
An irritated sigh filled his ear. "Listen, I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I really need to you to come over right now. I..." Here, Kouga's voice broke off and Inuyasha could hear another male voice arguing with him. Inuyasha frowned. Was that Yuki's voice he heard?
Kouga resumed speaking after shushing Yuki. "I mean, WE need your help. Okay?"
Inuyasha snorted and rolled over onto his back. "And why should I?"
The next words chilled him to the core. "Its Kagome. Something's happened to her."
ooooooooooooooooooooooo
The ground was cold and hard. Without having to open his eyes, Hiro knew that he was in a basement or cellar of some kind. The drip, drip, drip of water filled the air, disturbing the relative silence of... of...wherever the hell he was. When he did open his eyes, he was met with a dank, poorly lit room.
Ignoring the pain in his side, Hiro managed to roll over on his side and prop himself up on his elbow. Beside him, lay a blood-covered Kagome. He pulled himself over to her and quickly checked for a pulse. He nearly sobbed with relief when he found a pulse.
"Kagome," he whispered in her ear, "I'll get you out of here. Okay? I'll get you...out of...here..." He managed to hold his head up only a second longer, before passing out again.