A/N: And I'm back and I changed the last paragraph of the previous chapter to be less sucky. Onwards friends! The show must go on!
A/N: FanFiction is seriously pissing me off. Posted new chapter and then was like oh no! Proofreading would've been wise so I changed and updated. And then the chapter fell off the map when I clicked on link. So I was like let me try to upload it again since it doesn't even say I uploaded a chapter now. Same thing. So this is my THIRD attempt to try and fix this nonsense. Sorry for any confusion. One chapter only.
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Safety Not Guaranteed
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"Listen up everyone! I have an announcement," the blonde haired American announced as he stood in the middle of the multitudinous cubicles. A few heads turned but the majority of his co-workers merely continued with their work. Clearing his throat, the blonde haired man tried again, "I have an announcement. Ms. Higurashi is being promoted and transferred to….wait for it….New York City! Tomorrow after work I have arranged for an office celebration and to see her off!"
"Does she know this?" a strawberry blonde woman asked as she moved to remove the headphones from around her neck and turned her full attention to her supervisor, "I find it strange she hasn't mentioned seeking a promotion once. That and she's only worked here for what, a month or two?"
"Kagome is far too humble to have applied herself. Given her stellar performance, the higher ups have decided to give her this opportunity," the blonde haired man continued as he shoved his hands into his pockets, "I'll be going with her, of course."
"Will you now?" the woman pressed as she arched her brow and gave the smug looking man a once over, "How would the higher ups feel if I informed them you've had an unhealthy interest in her, Greg? Will they still transfer you with her?"
"Watch yourself, Marie," Greg snapped as he narrowed his eyes at the younger woman, "You know better than anyone transfers are common in this company."
"Ah, the difference is that I actually applied for a position here in Osaka," Marie countered – her hazel eyes flashing as she set her jaw, "She never even applied for a transfer, she's newly married and her husband found a steady job here. Why the hell would she move?"
"What exactly are you insinuating?" Greg challenged as several of the other employees exchanged nervous looks, "You know, I could arrange for you to be sent back to Lyon in a heartbeat. Do you really want to risk all you've built here?"
"Is that a threat?" Marie chuckled as she arched a brow and gave the seething man a once over, "Go ahead. Do your worst and see where it gets you."
"My worst? You're fired ," Greg hissed before relaxing his posture and giving the woman a smug grin, "Please collect your things and remove yourself from the premises."
"Glady," the woman replied coolly as she gave Greg an amused look, "Enjoy your position while you can and I'll see you in court. Can't wait for the settlement negotiations."
As Marie walked out of the office with her head held high a few minutes later, she quickly checked her surroundings before pulling out her phone and dialing.
"Kagome is not to arrive at her place of employment under any circumstances," the strawberry haired woman hissed urgently into the phone, "The rat has revealed his plan."
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"Oh, I can't believe how much I missed that," Kagome sighed happily as Inuyasha knelt down to make it easier for her to get off on the roof of their building, "And I can't believe you won, that I'm pregnant…"
"The old man is here," Inuyasha muttered quietly as he glanced down at the entryway and threw Kagome a worried look, "You didn't tell him you're pregnant did you?"
"Well, I mean….I had to tell Mama," Kagome answered nervously as she played with her hands, "I didn't think…"
"Well he's here," Inuyasha murmured as his expression darkened, "And from his scent, he's pissed as hell."
"You can't tell that from scent alone," Kagome huffed in exasperation as she headed towards the stairwell door, "You're just worried he's angry."
"Can too tell," Inuyasha protested as he followed her – the lines of worry growing deeper as his lips formed a thin line, "Why does he hate me?"
"Oh Inuyasha, he doesn't hate you," Kagome cooed as she turned on the stairwell and gave him a sympathetic look, "He probably is upset that I didn't tell him in person or something if he's even mad at us."
"I mean, you've told him I have a job, right?" Inuyasha asked nervously, "That I can provide for you and the baby."
"Yes, he knows you have a job," Kagome sighed heavily as she moved to intertwine their fingers while they descended the staircase, "And he knows nothing will ever tear me away from you. If he doesn't like it, then he has no place in my life anymore."
"Don't say that," Inuyasha huffed exasperatedly – insecurity worming angrily in his soul, "You go around saying things like that and eventually you'll regret it. You'll regret being with me and I never want you to regret being with me."
"Inuyasha," Kagome groaned wearily as she gave him a sympathetic sidelong glance, "I will never regret being with you. Never."
"You say that now but…" Inuyasha began pointedly as he opened the door that led to their hallway - the rest of his sentence never making it to his tongue as the world went black.
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As he was sent to voicemail for the dozenth time, after a text message that read 'Kagome is in danger' went unread, after so many other blaring warning signs that something was wrong, did Sesshomaru enact a code red and assembled a co-op team to investigate. When they'd arrived, there was no sign of either of them. And then, oh and then, he received a call from the human spy the French general had generously placed to watch Kagome, a high level student was reported missing, a demon with a criminal record a mile long was found murdered in the park near his brothers home...
If life had taught him one thing, it was that there was no such thing as coincidences.
"Tell me what you've learned about this Greg," Sesshomaru asked coldly as he gestured for the strawberry blonde woman to sit down. Nodding, the woman pulled a large, expertly organized binder from her bag and began her report.
"Target is originally from the country of Japan. Given name determined to be Kaneshiro Mikio from the census completed in 1875 and council registration identification number 57299721-436. Mikio immigrated to the United States under that name and identification number on April 12th, 1922. From 1922 to 1950, he remained primarily in Texas where he engaged in underground criminal activity for the terrorist group called the Divine Soldiers. When the United States arrested him in 1947, he was tried and found innocent by a jury of his peers in federal court and was granted amnesty by the Council of Demon Affairs for his cooperation in a pending investigation. From 1950 to 1999, he used the name Matthew James Vernon. From records, I have discovered he unsurprisingly practiced commercial real estate law, was divorced in civil court in the State of Wisconsin in 1967, and had no children. Official records – forged – list his date of birth as January 2nd, 1932 in Atlanta, Georgia and that he died November 8th, 1999 in Madison, Wisconsin. Nothing out of the ordinary for a demon in the United States during that period," the woman replied professionally as she pulled out the relevant documentation as a fact was mentioned, "Since 1995, he has gone by the name Greg Anthony Moore. First use was in October of that year. Given date of birth was October 29th, 1968. Licensed to practice law in Wyoming. Did not attend law school but studied under a judge for six years and was allowed to sit for the bar exam. Used his law license to gain admission to an L.L.M. program in Tokyo in 2001 and graduated in 2002. Specialized in corporate employee benefit law. Employed by the international company Kreston Japan from May 27th, 2002 to May 16th, 2003. Transferred to Mazars on May 20th, 2003 where he is currently employed. No known connections to one Kagome Higurashi or one Inuyasha Arioka."
"A Divine Solider," Sesshomaru murmured as he glanced over the various sheets of paper before glancing up at the girl, "And you reported this to your superior officer?"
"Repeatedly," the woman replied as she grimaced, "I've given reports three times per week and been told to merely observe. After he brushed off my latest report, I felt this needed your attention as your brother was intimately involved."
"You did well, Agent Binoche," Sesshomaru sighed as he set his jaw, "I will deal with Lieutenant Coutillard myself. For the moment, report only to me and tell no one we have met."
"Understood," the woman replied with a curt nod before she stood, "I will await further orders."
Standing himself, Sesshomaru walked calmly to the sliding glass door, slid it open and took off in a ball of light to check the status of his brother himself. No one could truly be trusted any longer. He needed to deal with this himself.