Chapter 3 – Numbing Suspicions
His skin itched, and he'd had to restrain his foot from its unconscious tapping.
It had been a long, long while since that insensible tick had been rid of his body's repertoire, and he thought it strange for its sudden emergence. The demon had more control than that. This type of fidgeting had arisen during the years of his youth, and only in times of anxiousness, nervousness, or restlessness. He was sure it was not the former two that was triggering the current instance.
He huffed silently. Either way, restlessness was unbecoming.
Hours had passed and she had yet to emerge. He was unused to waiting upon another for extended periods of time. Two bottles now sat empty, the hefty bill already been paid long ago at the urging of the waitress eager to collect tip before the end of her shift.
Deciding to give his legs a stretch, he abandoned the booth to explore the lounge, feigning interest in the remaining performers to bypass any security suspicions that may be attracted. For a place such as this, he was slightly impressed with their attention to detail.
A short distance brought him to the bar closest to the stairway. From here, he had a much clearer view of the upper deck.
"What'll you have?" A bartender appeared at his side, expression expectant.
Sesshomaru merely slanted a look towards the backlit top-shelf. It was easier to seem inconspicuous as a paying patron.
"Macallan 18."
"A fine choice, sir," the man replied before getting started on pouring the drink. "I see you're a fan of the classics. It's pricey for its rarity, but the taste and quality is absolutely worth it, in my opinion."
The demon-in-disguise did not deign him with a response as the bartender placed the whisky on the counter. He gave a polite nod before going back to serving customers at the other end of the bar, getting a distinct vibe that this customer was not interested in chatting about alcoholic preferences.
A quick pass of the slim band on his wrist over a small screen completed the payment, flashing green to indicate a successful transfer. He faced towards club once more.
Dancers had emptied most of the stages and were now mingling amongst the customers like flocks of bedazzled peacocks. He noticed the woman that had first attended him. She was at one of the quieter tables, her straight black tresses and cut-across bangs a contrast amongst the sea of unnaturally bright wigs and hair extensions. Their eyes met briefly, and she stilled for a split second before continuing her lap dance, looking away with what could only be described as a sour expression.
An odd reaction, but he dismissed it before a movement caught his peripherals.
Trailing his eyes to the upper deck, he saw a door slid open. Another patron had stood up then to block his line of sight, but from behind he could see a woman escorted out by one of the bouncers. His hackles crept, prickling the back of his neck.
It was difficult to tell in the dismal lighting, but something seemed off with the woman's expression. Her eyes were completely blank, body moving almost robotically. Was it a trick of light? He was about to follow but stopped when she was ushered down the hall and out of sight. Filing the odd observance for later, he resumed watching for signs of Kagome from his perch.
By the time his glass had drained, the room was slowly brightening and the music had faded out completely. The few remaining patrons were soon settling their tabs and shuffling out. Sesshomaru continued scanning the room for any signs of his informant until a large figure stepped in his path.
"Hey pal, we're closing. If you still want a bit of fun, Vixxens is open 24/7 down a block from here." The irritated-looking bouncer signalled to the left. "Exit's this way."
Annoyed, the demon withheld the urge to rip the man apart as he shot one last glance towards the upper deck, before making his way towards the exit.
He was sure she was fine, he reasoned. He had been told not to wait for her, so whatever she had planned she knew it would be a lengthy process. He would just have to trust in her judgement, and that nothing had happened to her.
-X-
The sky was beginning to lighten as daybreak threatened to crest over in a dull haze. The wind, though weak, still gave a chilling bite upon its approach.
A young woman shivered as she pulled her long coat closer to her body.
"Button up or you'll catch a cold." Turning around, she saw her friend and co-worker push open the back door of NineTails to join her outside.
"I'm fineee, ready to go?" the first woman slurred, and the other looked at her pointedly.
Dark brown tresses – limp from hours upon hours of being stuck under a mass of synthetic strands – weaved from side to side as her head shook with a chastising sigh. Reaching into an olive-green backback, two water bottles were pulled out.
"Kagome," she passed one of them to the first woman with the cap already opened, "Drink this. You're still drunk as a clam."
"As if I could drink any more. I can't fit any more liquids in me!"
Kagome made a pathetic-looking face while whining, but still grabbed the bottle anyway to the other woman's pleasure, and took a healthy gulp. They began their trek away from the club as they normally would, walking side by side with one helping the other at each wayward step.
"So was the guy from booth 17 a big fish? You were gone the whole night."
Her brows furrowed in thought, trying to remember all the details of her night.
Booth 17… what was booth 17 again?
Then, memories surfaced of a deep voice smooth as sin, dark eyes that held speckles of gold in just the right lighting, and corded muscles that spoke volumes of its hidden strength.
A faint blush could be seen creeping up her cheeks that had nothing to do with her blood-alcohol levels. "Oh – I, uh, didn't stay too long. I… had to attend one of the private lounges shortly after."
Kagome fidgeted, not sure why she was feeling so flushed all of a sudden. She must be more intoxicated than she cared to admit. Mixing liquors was never a good idea, and she distinctly recalled having four, maybe even five different types all within the span of a few hours. The hangover was going to be hell.
"Hope it was better than the crowd at the Bird Cage. They were downright degenerates tonight." Her companion's face scrunched in disgust as though encountering the smell of sewage. "Normally that's fine, but they were cheap too! The creds I got tonight were only a fraction of what I'd normally get for the same performance."
Kagome stifled a laugh at the scene, recalling the group of drunks that were at the VIP booth just to flex. They both knew the cashflow was never steady. It was more akin to the lines of an electrocardiography chart.
Shivering again, a stronger breeze picked up, swirling bits of wavy locks in her face as she fussed them aside, nearly tripping. Once she got them out of the way though, she had to blink a few times to focus her eyes, not believing what she saw. The figure up ahead and walking away looked strangely familiar. And without thinking, she started to run towards him lamely, going whatever pace her heels deemed fit.
"Heyy!" she shouted, hand waving, "Hey youuuu there!"
The other woman stared in disbelief, stunned for just barely a moment before catching up to Kagome and grabbing her by the waist.
"What are you doing? Don't be pestering strangers with your drunk ass." Releasing her slowly, she hooked an arm around Kagome's elbow least she runs off again. "Come on, let's get you home. Miroku's waiting at the car."
Kagome saw the man pause in step, and knew she was not mistaken, and that she was not just seeing things or recognizing the wrong person.
"But I know him," pushing off with surprising strength, she was able to wedge away from her friend's grasp. "Hey you!" she called again, "Wait up!"
But hasty steps only brought her so far before a stiletto heel got stuck in the crack of the pavement, catching her ankle at an odd angle and causing her to fall. Hands bracing in front, a sharp pain entered the skin of both palms as they made contact with the ground. Bits of gravel dig deep into her skin, and a burning sensation radiated from the one knee that cushioned the impact of her lower body.
Those goddamn heels! A string of expletives rushed out like a shaken soda can, wheezy breath sucking in through clenched teeth with eyes clenched.
"Gah!" she yelled at nothing in particular, trying to will the sting away. Now if that hadn't sobered her enough, nothing will.
"It looks like you could use some assistance."
Eyes shooting open, she looked up to the source of the voice, taking in the regal appearance of the man she had just been chasing. A smile spread across her face then as she reached for his proffered hand.
"You waited," she breathed once on her feet again, but he noticed her wince and wobble, and was quick to stable her with an arm around her tiny waist.
However, before he could say anything else, he was rudely shoved to the side and Kagome pulled from his grasp.
"I've got her, so hands off, buddy." Another woman was holding Kagome up now and glaring don't-fuck-with-me daggers at the stranger. "Dana," she began without relinquishing her stare, "let's go."
"Wait Sango!" Kagome beseeched, tugging her way out of her friend's tight grasp. For a woman of her size, Kagome was exceptionally strong. "He's a friend!"
At that, Sango turned sharply, piercing her with a look that demanded an explanation.
Kagome gulped meekly, wracking her brain for a believable backstory. They were supposed to be undercover, after all. And she wasn't sure if he would appreciate being revealed. "This is…um…"
"Matsuda Takeshi," Sesshomaru interjected to her relief. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Sango continued to eye him warily, releasing hold of the squirming Kagome. Chin inclining, an assessing look was swept from top to bottom of the tall man.
"You've already heard my name." Her tone was still obviously hostile, not trusting this stranger yet. "Never seen you around before. How do you know Dana?"
"Oh, he's a recent friend," Kagome responded this time in attempt to diffuse the tension. It was so thick and palpable that it could be sliced with a knife.
"Uh-huh." Sango didn't quite believe that this was all there was to the tale, but now was not the time to question it. She turned to her friend. "We gotta go – M's waiting at the car and he can't be late to his morning shift." Though her own name had been accidentally blabbed by the pretty drunk, she still kept to the protocol of using aliases. One could never be too careful.
"You should go on ahead, I'm on the other side of town anyway. Sess – er, Takeshi can take me home. You were waiting for me, right?"
Kagome was looking right at him with her wide, blue eyes. He couldn't deny he had been waiting for her, and couldn't understand the irrational relief at seeing her stumble out the back of the club unharmed. And after hours of covert assistance she had provided him, he couldn't deny her easy request either. So he simply nodded.
Her smile seemed to broaden at seeing his agreement. "See? Now shoo," she said towards her friend while making sweeping motions with her hands, "Don't need your boyfriend getting fired over being late again."
But Sango stood her ground, not yet swayed. "Dana, are you sure?"
The demon watched Kagome's expression softened before her answer elicited an odd feeling of satisfaction he would later dissect.
"Yes. I trust him."
Silence befell the three momentarily before Sango turned to address him once more, a considering look netting her features in a seriousness that could rival his own.
"You'll get her home safe?" It came off more like a demand than a question, and though he was usually not one to answer to such disrespect, he acquiesced for the sake of ending this roundabout conversation.
His answer was assuring. "Yes."
"Good. Because if I find out you're some creep in disguise and she gets hurt, I'm gonna hunt you down and kill you."
Kagome groused, almost embarrassed but also touched. "Hey! No threatening my new friend."
"I'm protective of you, you know that."
It was the truth. The younger, often bubblier woman was a perfect match to Sango's more sombre personality, though in the club they were pretty much on par. After meeting a few years ago through work, they had become fast friends, often partnering up for their performances or just hanging out at each other's cramped apartments when not hustling for cash. Kagome was the only girl she trusted, and she felt a potent need to protect her like a little sister, even if it's from her own naivety.
"I'll be fine," Kagome reiterated, feeling like a fragmented audio track on repeat. "You don't have to worry about me."
Sango crossed her arms and met the eyes of Takeshi. They both held still, sharing an unspoken promise before she was as satisfied with relinquishing custody of her friend. With a final nod, she turned to give Kagome a tight hug.
"Call me when you get home."
As her best friend began walking away, Kagome turned to the demon at her side. An implacable look was scrawled upon his features, and he seemed to be regarding her with a hint if inquisitiveness.
"What is it?" she dared to ask. The light-headedness and the feeling of weightlessness from whatever she had been drinking the whole night was still there, but made ever more prevalent the longer he stared at her with that mysterious look. It seemed almost unnerving, especially now in the somewhat better lighting of the street posts than in the club. It was still fairly dark, but out here, the stark contrast of Sesshomaru's disguise to his natural appearance was all the more unsettling. She recognized him, but the appearance of a stranger was conflicting. Perhaps she just needed to get her head straight, and then it wouldn't seem so odd.
"You are still highly intoxicated. Did they do this to you?" He still sounded familiar, and it jarred her out of a glassy gape that she should have been highly embarrassed about, if it weren't for the truth of that statement. She shook her head of the lingering daze.
"Sort of, sort of not. 'Tis part of the job."
A slender brow arched at her whimsical tone. Unobstructed by the overlapping odours of sweat and perverted old men, he could once again clearly scent her, though there was still a lingering note of a few individuals, presumably belonging to the men in the room she had disappeared into. More potently, alcohol clung like a second skin, layered with a sickeningly sweet coat of mixed liqueurs.
"But," she started again, and he saw a smile curve her lips. "I did get some intel for you, Mr. Matsuda Takeshi."
Though seemingly happy, the drunk was struggling to stay upright, and something in her expression seemed oddly resigned. A silent sigh escaped beneath his breath as an elbow was held out for her to grab onto.
"Let's get you home."
-X-
A few hours later, Kagome awoke with a pounding headache and an annoying pressure behind her eyes. Reaching blindly for the blankets, she pulled the sheet over her head, shutting out the brightness already seeping through clenched lids.
But it was too late. She was already awake, and knew there was nothing she could do to get back to sleep, what with the pulsating pain knocking around her cranial. With a huff of reluctance, she angrily whipped the blankets off her body completely, exposing herself to the opulent grey of another overcast day. She should really get those shade panels fixed.
"Goddamn hangover!" she groused, eyes still closed while lying motionless on the bed, wanting to do nothing but get back into a dreamless sleep and forget the world, forget the night that she had.
"That is because you are dehydrated."
Her blue eyes flashed opened as quick as the Zeleros Hyperloop during rush-hour.
"Wha..?" she asked dumbly, sight still adjusting to the brightness of the mid-afternoon day. Eventually, the squiggly silhouette solidified into none other than the silver-haired demon, complete with a glass of water offered in a clawed hand, disguise no longer in place.
Easing up to a sitting position, she felt an ache between her legs and almost toppled over. With the numbing benefits and the giddy high gone, every tired and worn-out muscle cried for help all at once. She forced her mind to ignore the pain, palms digging into crusty eyes to wipe away the remaining drowsiness. When she looked up, Sesshomaru was still standing there with a patience she was extremely grateful for.
Reaching for the glass, she offered a timid smile. "Thank you."
As the water was gulped down like a person lost in the dessert, Sesshomaru ventured back towards the table. She eyed him the whole time, taking note of his briefcase by the floor and a tablet on the table. He sat on the only proper chair of her apartment, attention swinging back to whatever work he had been doing before she had awoken.
"Were you here this whole time?" She couldn't help but ask, and mentally cringed at how rude that may have sounded. But he didn't seem to notice, or care, as he simply shook his head without lifting his eyes from the device.
"No. I went back to my apartment to retrieve my computer. There is food on the counter if you are hungry."
Her gaze flickered to the tiny kitchen counter, and sure enough, there was a take-out box sitting innocently unopened. Her stomach growled just then, and her chest warmed at the consideration.
Slowly, she got up from the bed and noticed her coat was still on. Come to think of it, she didn't even remember climbing into bed. She hadn't been that intoxicated, probably ever. As bits and pieces of the previous night resurfaced in more vivid detail, she forcefully shut away the ones that would ruin her day with practiced ease, locking any and all bad thoughts into a teeny, tiny box in the recess of her mind.
Removing her coat, she set it aside before placing the empty glass in the sink as she reached for the food. Opening the container, she was surprised to find actual food there. Not the dry, generic crap she had been used to eating all her life – but actual, fresh food. There were two over-easy eggs atop a bed of soft, plush-looking rice. Strips of seasoned fish lay on the side. It was pink in colour; she surmised it must be salmon, having seen it before on television but never having experienced such a delicacy in real life. In another section of the bento box were slices of mouth-watering fruits. Watermelon and peeled clementines. A soup of some sort sat in a separate container. Taking a sniff, she recognized it to be miso, but it was probably the most fragrant and delicious-smelling soup she had ever scented.
This was a gourmet feast!
Where on earth did he get this from? There weren't any restaurants within a 5-block radius that served this kind of quality. This was going to be the finest breakfast – no, meal – that she will ever have.
"Is it not to your liking?"
Kagome lifted her head to see him looking at her curiously, expression grim, and realized she had just been standing there staring like a zombie for the last five minutes. She felt her eyes began to mist, and that earlier feeling of warmth just melted into the cavity of her chest.
Blinking away the oncoming rush of gratitude, she shook her head in the negative. "No, it's perfect. Thank you."
"Hn." His expression seemed to relax back into its usual stoic state. "We will debrief after you are done eating."
Sesshomaru turned back to working on his tablet, while Kagome slowly dug into her meal, careful to savour each bite, imprinting every flavour to memory as best she could. The white rice was cooked flawlessly while the eggs were just the perfect texture with a runny yolk. She could only count on one hand the amount of times she's had eggs in her life. Her dietary provisions were like anyone else's of her social class – bulk supply of ration bars from the local food dispensary. And the salmon – oh her eyes practically rolled into her skull at the explosion of flavours. This will likely be the best meal she will ever eat, and likely the last of such too. It was bittersweet, almost disheartening. She wanted to remember it, stretch it out to make it last. So she took longer than usual, holding off the urge to just ravish it all in one go by holding back her hunger. She could eat this every day and never complain. Briefly, she wondered if Sesshomaru ate like this too. Do demons even eat human food?
An hour later, she was satisfyingly full and had freshened up with a shower, changing out of the clothes from last night and into a comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants. Without the dolled-up lingerie and excessive make-up, she felt more like herself.
"Is that the case file?"
Kagome was at the table now, sitting on a stool she had bought a few weeks ago for their impromptu-turned-regular meetings at her apartment. It was easier to converse when both were at the table.
"Yes. I will be taking notes, if you will begin."
Straight to business as usual. She smiled, leaning her chin on her palm, elbow resting on the table. After the breakfast and a nice hot shower, her mind seemed to be in a better place, the headache practically non-existent now. If only she knew that the best cure to a train-wreck of a hangover was just simply water, a shower, and a you-can-never-afford-this gourmet breakfast, then she'd probably be even more broke than she was right now. All her credits would have gone to just food alone. Thinking back on the meal, she could entertain the idea of living on the streets again if she could eat like this every day.
When she heard a soft clearing of his throat, she realized he had been waiting for her to begin recounting last night's events. She offered a weak smile in apology to hide the embarrassment of drifting off again.
"Well, you remember the ones we identified going into the upper sections, right?"
Sesshomaru gave a faint nod. "The four men. Two of which were Suikotsu and Renkotsu."
"Right. The other two were Ryuga and Bankotsu. Some type of business associates. In the private lounge, they were speaking a bit more openly when they thought I wasn't around to listen."
Sharp nails clicked with the typing onto the plexi-screen of the device. It was a bit funny to see, as that clicking noise reminded Kagome of sassy secretaries and their lengthy manicured nails when asking in a snobbish tone, 'Do you have an appointment?' as they typed away. She had to hold back a laugh, positive that Sesshomaru would not appreciate such a comparison.
"What were they discussing?"
"Suikotsu was expecting some type of delivery from Renkotsu," she recalled, becoming serious again and trying to remember the exact wording that had been used. "I think it's nanotech that they mentioned. They didn't talk specifics; it was all still very secretive when they spoke. It's supposed to take place two weeks from now. All I know is that it's going to some type of lab, or of use to a lab. These guys seem to run whatever operations they were speaking of. They didn't seem like low-level henchmen."
Kagome took even pauses to allow time for him to record the details. She continued when his glance lifted from the screen.
"Ryuga was the one that seemed familiar that I couldn't quite recognize at first. Turns out he runs a transportation network." This one had a less distinguishable face. Unlike the others, he didn't have any face tattoos. But the gruff-sounding voice was what had given him way to her recognition. "Naraku uses the same network to move the street drugs, that's how I've seen him before. Either way, this seems to be a new arrangement between the four of them."
When his movements paused, she looked curiously at the flash of understanding that crossed his features. She had seen that look countless times over their previous meetings whenever she would drop a name or disclose another tidbit of information. He was keeping stuff from her, and though she didn't expect him to trust her fully, it still riled her that he was still withholding. Hadn't she shown that she was more useful when she knew more of what she was dealing with? She wanted this as much as he did, and he should damn well appreciate that.
"You know something, Sesshomaru. Stop keeping me in the dark." Her voice was firm, but also pleading in its demand. "Please, let me really help you – who are these guys?"
The demon hesitated. He knew that she knew he was purposely keeping information from her on majority of the casework. However, it was coming to a point where perhaps it made more sense to let her in on some of the details. It would help her help him, and she had been exemplary in keeping their discussions undisclosed. He had not sensed deceit whatsoever. Though young, the woman's mind was sharp and displayed a mature intelligence that was rare for someone her age. She had proven ability to shed more insight into the interconnecting pieces of the puzzle. He was used to working alone, but perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to let her in a bit more. They do say that two minds work better than one – if they were aligned.
Taking a clarifying breath, he met her awaiting gaze, decision made.
"Suikotsu Kamiyama is the lead scientist behind GenexisLab. It is a small biopharmaceutical company specializing in human and demon genetic research."
Confusion etched her face as she digested what had been said. "What do they research?"
"Based on public records, their primary focus is on DNA sequencing and trait identification." Sesshomaru leaned back into the chair, arms crossing a broad chest. "However, I suspect something more sinister is at play."
The way Sesshomaru's expression had darkened was a bit unnerving. Whatever it was, it really bothered him, and he seemed just as unaware as she was.
"Do you know anything about Renkotsu?" she pried.
"Not yet."
"Well, it's got to have something to do with nano technology, maybe even bio-tech if these guys are connected to each other. Any companies that come to mind?"
He was almost proud that she was making the connection so quickly. Arms unfolding, he ran a hand through his hair like a comb, eyes drifting to the silvery strands draping between deadly fingers.
"Ninety percent of technology firms are a subsidiary of InvictusTECH. It shall take some time to determine if this falls within that conglomerate."
A soft snort came from her then, causing him to look her way once more.
"Invictus is ginormous! Their umbrella of companies and partnerships produce anything and everything from the microprocessor on my shitty smartphone to the artificial intelligence that directs public transport. They have hundreds of business relationships. If Naraku is somehow connected to them on friendly terms, I don't know how this will play out unless we have serious clout and backup."
He was impressed. "You are quite informed on the matter."
"Er, not really," she shied, a bit of the previous gusto deflating. "My father had worked in the tech industry, and he was always fascinated with the field. Guess I had just absorbed bits and pieces of information here and there from him."
"Nonetheless, you are correct on the matter. If Naraku is involved at the upper tier, then we are up against something much larger."
"What about the D.C.A.? Can they help? Provide more resources?"
"My attempts to convince them had fallen on deaf ears until confronted with more substantial evidence." At this, Sesshomaru scowled, one of the few times that she'd seen an expression other than one of indifference or intimidation. "They are adverse to intervention in human dealings."
"Wait – if the D.C.A. wasn't even looking into Naraku because he's human, then how did you get involved? What's driving the case then?" It was a question she was now itching to know the answer to. She knew her own motive well enough, but what about his? If he wasn't truly acting on behalf of the D.C.A., then what's his true motivation for wanting to take down Naraku so bad? Something was not adding up.
"That is of no consequence." He was not ready to tell her just yet, or ever. Her knowing was not prudent to the case, and it did not really matter for what reason anyway other than to take down a corrupt and evil being.
"Fine. Keep you secrets then." She made an offended face at him, though lacking all convictions. He was a demon of few words, and she had a feeling she'll find out eventually. She changed the subject to something else. "Anyway, another thing I overheard was that they are reconvening in four weeks' time, two days before the Danketsu Matsuri."
"What more do you know of Ryuga and his operations?" He resumed taking notes.
"We receive the drug shipments on a weekly basis from a warehouse down by docks. Usually four crates at a time. I'm not sure how they go unnoticed by the authorities for this long. I've never seen it in-person though – just heard it from one of the rookie meeting contacts that couldn't keep his mouth shut. By the time it gets to me, I'm just the one picking up the divided supplies that's already been packed for distribution."
"Did you get any of the names of the contacts?"
She shook her head. "No, they never give out their names, nor have I ever heard them refer to each other by name. It's always 'yo' or 'hey dude' when they're speaking with each other."
At this dead end, she could tell Sesshomaru was starting to become a bit frustrated with the lack of useful information. But then, she remembered another piece of the puzzle.
"There's something else," she added, "At one of the deliveries, I saw the side of an empty crate in the cargo hold. There was a logo of a globe with an overlapping triangle, and something with Logistics in the name."
"Continental Logistics."
Prideful of that breakthrough piece of intel and the glimmer of satisfaction on his face, she leaned forward and mocked teasingly, shooting his own words back at him. "Looks like you're quite informed on the matter as well."
He ignored her odd behaviour and continued with debriefing. "You mentioned a Bankotsu."
Kagome visibly bristled at the mention of the man, and it didn't escape Sesshomaru's notice how her legs clenched together suddenly. His brows furrowed at that. Did something happen with this man?
She remained silent, and he was about to ask again when she finally spoke.
"He was the hardest to read. I didn't get much on him other than the fact that he has a sizeable investment into the lab. It was most of the other three that had been talking about their business dealings."
Her head was cast downwards now, and he could hear the hardening of her tone. The tinge of contentment and playfulness had all but left in the span of a few seconds. His gut was telling him that something had happened with this man. Her body language was shouting in obvious relation.
Sesshomaru stopped typing, turning in his seat to face her. Reaching out, he curled a finger under her chin, urging her to look at him. Wetness tinged her lashline like a glimmer of diamonds.
"Kagome," he said softly, and she was startled at the concern that lined his voice. "Did something happen?"
She quickly swiped at her lashes while avoiding his eyes. If she made eye contact, there would be no stopping the tears from falling. For whatever infallible reason, she was starting to feel safe in the presence of this stranger-turned-acquaintance. This demon that had cornered her a month-and-a-half ago had become somewhat of a constant within a few short weeks. There was something about him; about the strength and sureness that exuded him that gave her confidence, gave her hope in escaping her depressing existence.
Sure, she had Sango by her side, but Sesshomaru was different. With him, she felt she could actually believe in achieving the unachievable. And he was helping her towards her goal – even if it was for the purpose of his own hidden agenda. His objective had aligned to hers, at least outwardly, and even if he was not doing what he was doing for her, she could still pretend that he was her knight in shining armour. As crazy as it sounded, the make-belief was a balm to her soul that she hadn't even realized she needed.
"Kagome," she heard him coax again, and she finally looked up to face him.
Molten pools of gold stared back, swirling with a question she didn't wish to answer. But beneath that usually bland exterior she had grown quite used to, was a hint of something else eddying in those gorgeous, mesmerizing eyes. She didn't dare to wonder what it could mean. It was more than likely her projection than an actuality. She sucked in a breath, and slowly reached to pull his hand away.
"It's nothing. I'm fine. Let's just get back to the case."
He eyed her warily. Something definitely had happened, but she was not ready to share, and he did not want to push. It was not his place to know. They were not friends, not lovers, nothing anything but a temporary working relationship for the sake of the investigation. If it was not important to the case, he did not need to know, despite the unreasonable compulsion to find out anyway.
He blinked, and his face was once again a mask of indifference as his hand pulled away from hers.
-X-
A/N: Remember a few years ago when Elon Musk announced the Hyperloop project? The concept is basically a giant vacuum-sealed tube big enough to transport containers of passengers or freight at up to or over 1,200km/h (according to Wikipedia). Well, Zeleros is a real company (amongst others) that are working towards making this a viable solution for transportation.
Anyway, I'd like to think Hyperloop travel is a common thing in the future. And aside from borrowing the Zeleros and Hyperloop name, I didn't really do much other research into it.
Danketsu Matsuri should mean 'Unity Festival' that I made up with the help of google translate. Its meaning will be revealed later.