Chapter 24
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CHAPTER 24 Another great afternoon
WITH KAGOME AND MIROKU
Officer Sako turned out to be one of the people Kagome had seen around Sango's house before. A friend of the family, a former demon slayer or another such thing. Kagome appreciated his calm approach to the whole situation. At least has an overview over what happened at the café and what might be the demon's alliances.
"I thank you for coming," Officer Sato smiled pleasantly at them, "As it turns out, the demon was part of Naraku's pack in the loosest of senses. An associate trying to prove a point. The woman was his first attempt to control a human mind, that's why she was able to partially resist him and you picked up on her discomfort."
Kagome tilted her head in thought. A stray, huh? That might make it more complicated in the future, if Kikyo has to go after random demons in order to make any kind of progress. That's not exactly what I imagined doing…
"Her name is Ayumi Tsukino. She's twenty-three years old and was on holiday before the demon got her. From what we can tell, she was not previously aware of the existence of demons or their actions amongst humans and she might still forget about their existence within a few months."
"That's good to hear," Kagome sighed in relief.
Next to her, Miroku scratched his head. His eyes strayed across the office as if trying to find Ayumi among the police officers and other people scattered around it. "So this demon took her to prove a point?" He looked confused, as if this situation was the least scenario he had expected.
"Yes, it appears so," Officer Sato nodded, "Although I wouldn't count on it. Sometimes Naraku has some really tangled schemes to gather information. Why, were you expecting something?"
"This just doesn't make any sense, I guess? I was expecting something a little more thought through? Something with a cult or sacrifice maybe?"
Kagome rolled her eyes, a rueful smile tugging at her lips. "We can't all be evil masterminds. Besides, it was unpleasant enough for the poor woman and dangerous enough for us to stop the demon."
"She's right. They were lucky to have Jakotsu of the Band of Seven with them to defend them."
"Oh, I didn't do all the work," Jakotsu laughed. He strolled up to where Kagome and Miroku sat at the officer's desk, his hands in his pockets. He looks more relaxed than I've seen him in some weeks? It's as if the little stare-down we had with that demon helped him find some kind of equilibrium?
"Ayumi made her statement, officer," he said. Jakotsu bounced on his toes, tilting his head towards the room, Kagome suspected held their victim. "She asked to speak to you, since you were the first one to speak to her and all. Said she wanted to ask to stay for a while, to collect her thoughts and emotions after the whole ordeal."
Officer Sako rose from his chair. "Of course. I'll look after her." He looked back towards Kagome and Miroku with a polite smile. "I'm terribly sorry, but I have to get on with my work. We'll keep the demon detained until one of the Taisho household comes round to collect them. The woman can leave whenever she feels ready once we've finished our questioning."
"You'll hand a copy of the reports over to us, right?" Miroku rose from his chair as well.
Officer Sato nodded shortly. "Of course, Hoshi-sama." And without another word, he turned on his heel and disappeared down the hallway.
"Well, as enlightening as this was, I'd like to get going. I seem to remember you promised me a walk with the puppies?" Jakotsu gave Kagome a dazzling smile. His eyes wandered over Miroku quickly, before darting back to her.
She raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"
"Why do you always show up with such handsome men? Where do you find them?" Jakotsu whined, "And by the look of this one, he's got a girlfriend already. Such a shame. But still cute." He winked at Miroku as he sauntered outside to get the dogs.
Miroku turned to look at Kagome. "So that is the friend of yours Inuyasha doesn't like all that much?"
"Jakotsu has a certain taste for Inuyasha, I guess... Although I have to admit, ever since Inuyasha openly shied away from him, he does turn up the flirting around him." Kagome turned to follow her friend outside. "But trust me, he's really nice. And apparently much more knowledgeable in he case of demons than I gave him credit for." I really should ask Jakotsu about when he found out and what he and this 'Band of Seven' actually are. Maybe they could be a help in the fight against Naraku or at least in keeping humans safe.
It took Kagome a couple steps to realise Miroku was not following her. As she turned back, they looked at each other in silence for a moment.
Finally, Miroku startled them both with his short laugh. "However do you always manage to meet with the right people?"
Kagome pulled one shoulder up before letting it fall. "It's a talent I suppose?"
Another laugh, then "Well, I better wait till I get those reports. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru will want to start their own investigations as soon as possible. And Miss Tsukino might want to have a skilled escort to wherever she lives."
"Of course. I'll see you around then." Kagome pulled Miroku in a short hug. "Give her my wishes. Her day was bad enough as it is."
Miroku nodded once, then spun on his heel and walked down the hallway Officer Sako had disappeared down just a few minutes prior. Kagome watched him go with a small smile. How do I meet these coincidentally important people indeed. And most of them have no idea that I am a Miko. Or that I already am elbows deep in their fight against Naraku.
WITH INUYASHA AND KOGA
"Oi, muttface! Where are you?" Koga bellowed across the grass.
Inuyasha felt the need to bang his head against the nearest tree. Why am I allowing this? Why did I let Miroku go with Kagome to the police station?
Someone hit him over the head. "Did you not hear me? I called for you?"
"Yeah, well, one why should I come to you and not you to me? Second, of course I heard you. The whole street heard you loud and fucking clear." Inuyasha bared his teeth at the other man. His mood was not the best considering his mother had called them to the café only to reveal that everything had already been taken care of – and then nothing came of their search of the surroundings.
"Then how about you answer me?" Koga bared his teeth as well, eyes narrowed in a clear challenge.
Inuyasha leaned against the tree. Not giving up, definitely not. Just not going on in their rivalry fight. People were staring already. "I don't really care. But you know what really sucks? Sesshomaru is with his mother this whole time, having to keep her and father from physically ripping apart every single wall within our house. Meanwhile Kagome up and stumbles upon a demon with an ensorcelled woman – and just so happens to have one of the goddamn Shichinintai with her." He carded a hand through his hair with a low growl. This is getting more and more convoluted.
With a sigh, Koga tilted his head back. He eyed Inuyasha as if contemplating if he should tackle him to try and scratch his eyes out or maybe just hit him over the head again. He settled to do neither. Instead, he crossed his arms across his chest. "Yeah, the Shichinintai was a surprise. Though I guess it would happen sooner or later for these humans to cross our paths. I heard through the vines they were assembling in their bar again."
Inuyasha raised a single eyebrow. At their bar, huh? Well at least we know where to find them from now on. I guess, I should send someone to negotiate some kind of alliance before Naraku gets to them. Sesshomaru isn't going to like including seven humans into our war, never mind the fact that we already have enough competent humans on our team. And even the demon slayers needed a lot of convincing to get him to agree to it, even after father arranged everything.
Koga watched Inuyasha for a few moments, then nodded his head once. Without even waiting for Inuyasha to formulate a response, Koga spun on his heel and strode away. Inuyasha let him. It doesn't need the both of us to tell Miroku we couldn't find any clue on where the demon came from or what he wanted with the woman. Hopefully, his little excursion had more success.
A ring of his phone brought Inuyasha's attention back to the present. He looked down to find a message from Koga. It was the address of the Shichinintai bar along with a short note that he would gather the girls to bring them up to date as well as deploy some of his wolves to keep an eye out for Naraku around the bar. Inuyasha typed a short response then shoved his phone back into his pocket.
This afternoon is really not going as planned.Inuyasha stepped out of the tree line and made a beeline for a bench close by. With a sigh he sat down and stretched out his legs. Well, let's see what Miroku was able to trudge up.
It couldn't have been more than a few minutes before Miroku sat down beside Inuyasha. He handed the folder with whatever Officer Sako had given him for their case over. Inuyasha took it, laying it down across his lap but didn't move to open it.
"No connections to Naraku as far as we can tell right now," Miroku began, "Just a demon wanting to trap a mortal woman in their net. Miss Ayumi Tsukino gave me the address of her hotel and has my number in case she remembers anything aside from what she told the police. Officer Sako organised for her to be escorted back to her rooms and to make sure she stays safe for the next few days."
Inuyasha pulled his phone out. "I'll send Myoga to assist the police. I assume Officer Sako deployed a few demon slayers?"
Miroku nodded wordlessly.
For a few moments, the two men sat on the bench just observing the come and go of other people around them. Inuyasha's phone pinged in his pocket, most likely a message from Myoga with the affirmative for his new orders. Another followed shortly after. Probably Fluffy telling me to update him as quickly as possible on anything we found out. Or threatening me to return home as quickly as possible because his mother is driving him nuts.
"Where did Kagome go?" Inuyasha asked.
"She and her friend went on a walk with the dogs. Apparently she promised him that or something and they were interrupted by the demon." Miroku tilted his head, lost in thoughts for a moment. "Her friend, this Jakotsu. Officer Sako called him one of the 'Band of Seven'," Miroku paused again, "Is he one of these human mercenaries you mentioned a while ago?"
"Yeah."
"Are they on our side or on his side?"
A sigh was the only response Inuyasha could give. This afternoon is on a steady downward spiral. Somehow I'm surprised I haven't found a body yet. Or, well… I suppose I haven't been home to ensure that Sesshomaru prevented his parents from going to each other's throats.
Somehow, Miroku seemed to interpret Inuyasha's silence. "We should go to them and talk to them. We can use any help we can get, if even random demons start acting up now. The more troops we have the more efficient our work will be."
"You're probably right. Still, that's not a decision we can make on our own. The others need to be on board with it." Inuyasha gave in and opened the folder. Quickly, he scanned the information provided by it. It was nothing Miroku hadn't told him. "Naraku has been awfully quiet these past days. You don't think he might change his tactics?"
"Or he might be laying low for a bit after our fight with Yura and Inu no Kami's interruption upon it. Might be possible."
They exchanged a look that clearly said neither of them believed in that. It was so unlike their enemy to give them a breather for reasons of new interventions without his own ulterior motives.
Inuyasha's phone rang. And rang again. With a sigh, he fished it out of his pocket. Sesshomaru's picture flashed up on the screen. "Yes, Fluffy," Inuyasha said as he answered the call.
"Home. Now," Sesshomaru growled, then immediately hung up.
Inuyasha stared down at his phone in astonishment. "Fluffy calls. I guess his mother finally caused him to snap."
"Then you better get going. I'll see what I can find out about the Band of Seven apart form our current information of them being human mercenaries and the location of their bar."
A nod was the only response Inuyasha gave his friend as he rose to his feet. Folder still in hand, Inuyasha started to walk towards his home. Let's see, what kind of chaos Sesshomaru needs help cleaning up with.
WITH SESSHOMARU
After a day with his mother, Sesshomaru was ready to pull his hair out. First, she antagonised his father with the expertise of knowing each other for millennia until the dog demon growled and disappeared from the house. As if that hadn't been enough, she continued to antagonise Inuyasha's mother and although Sesshomaru was not too keen on Izayoi's company, he felt it unwarranted to slash her dresses.
After the third attempt to get her out of the house, Sesshomaru had enough. If this one has to suffer, this one is not going to suffer alone. Why did Inuyasha even leave the house to begin with?
In a rare moment of silence, Sesshomaru send his half-brother a text. Just when he pressed send, Myoga came rushing into the room. The flea demon was out of breath, most likely due to Sesshomaru's mother shooing him around the house to fetch her things and unpack her bags, which had miraculously appeared in the early morning.
"Master Sesshomaru, Master Inuyasha just send a text. He requires my assistance with a demon's victim. I must leave immediately. I apologize." He bowed deeply before scurrying off, not even waiting for Sesshomaru's response. The little critter was always more loyal to my disgrace of a half brother.
With a soft breath, Sesshomaru stood to go back to his mother. He found her in her temporary room amidst her clothing. "Where is Myoga? He promised to help me with the assembly of my wardrobe for this evening's dinner."
Her eyes were deceivingly soft, lips curled into a thin smile. Inu no Kami knew exactly what happened. She even took joy in it. In the chaos she caused in Taisho Mansion. Among their staff, their ruling couple.
"You know very well, where Myoga is, mother," Sesshomaru simply replied, "Your ears are far superior to what you want to make people believe."
Inu no Kami tilted her head, long hair falling over her shoulder as she regarded her son carefully. A shudder ran down Sesshomaru's spine. Her scrutiny was uncanny. Unknown amidst humans and his stepmother's loving care. Not for the first time since her arrival, Sesshomaru almost understood his father's infatuation with Izayoi.
"Alright then," Inu no Kami clapped her hands, "If Myoga Is gone, then you can help me with my wardrobe, right Sesshy-kun?"
"Of course, mother."
"Do you think, I should wear this kimono tonight? It matches my hair in my human disguise splendidly." Inu no Kami held up a light blue kimono in front of Sesshomaru. The next in a long row of almost identical kimonos he had seen over the past minutes.
With a dead look, Sesshomaru raked his eyes over the fabric. "The violet one matches your markings better. Even though you don't show them in your human disguise," he replied. This needs to end. Better sooner than later. Why hasn't my disappointment of a sibling should have looked at his phone by now.
Inu no Kami looked between the two kimonos in question, before snatching up the violet one as well and disappearing behind a changing screen Sesshomaru had had to drag into the room for just this occasion.
With his mother out of view, Sesshomaru pulled his phone out of his pocket. No message from Inuyasha. That runt. This one will not tolerate this any longer.Sesshomaru grit his teeth, slipping out of the door into the hall already waiting for his half brother to pick up his phone.
"Yes, Fluffy," Inuyasha sounded as irritated as Sesshomaru felt. At least something this afternoon.
"Home. Now." Sesshomaru hung up and went back inside.
"Who was that?" Inu no Kami peered over the changing screen. Her brows rising into her hairline.
"Nothing to concern you."
Inu no Kami narrowed her eyes slightly before shrugging and disappearing behind the screen once more. "You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to. You are old enough to make your own decisions." Fabric rustled. "And didn't you miss me in the past years?"
Does one miss stabbing oneself in the shoulder repeatedly?Sesshomaru returned to his seat across the changing screen. Crossing his arms over his chest, he settled in to await Inuyasha's return or his mother's new idea for a fun time for both of them. Whichever came first.