Disclaimer: See chapter one for retails.
(A/N: Hello everyone! I am back from vacation and I'm ready to finally give you the next chapter that you've been waiting so patiently for. Some people have asked whom else from Inuyasha I'll be featuring in this fic And. well, I'm hoping to somehow work Sesshoumaru, Kouga and Shippo into the fic so don't worry about them.
If you readers have a favorite character from the series that hasn't been mentioned in my fic yet please feel free to suggest their names to me either by email or by review, if I can, I'll somehow work them into the story as well. Anyway, please enjoy the next chapter and the chapters to come!)
Chapter 5: Finding things and losing things…
Kagome felt her whole body go numb as she stared at the woman in the doorway. It was Kikyo, Inuyasha's old girlfriend.
She was sure that Kikyo had come back to make up with Inuyasha but if the two did get back together where would that leave her? What if Kikyo decided to move in with Inuyasha?
Kikyo's radiate smile seemed to quickly fade away when she laid eyes on Kagome, who was standing there dressed only in a large pajama top.
"Who's this? A new girlfriend?" Kikyo asked, but she didn't sound curious at all, just irritated.
Inuyasha blinked, seeming to come out of his dazed state. "The girl is just a friend."
Yes, she was just a friend but Kagome couldn't help but feel hurt. Just the other night Inuyasha had finally called her by her name but now that Kikyo had arrived she was now being referred to as "The girl".
Anyway, Kagome was having a hard time believing that Inuyasha had actually mistaken her for Kikyo when they had first met. I don't look a thing like her, Kagome thought bitterly. Kikyo was much lovelier then she was in her opinion, well that is in a cold sort of way.
Kikyo was dressed in a red, short-sleeved shirt, a short black skirt and something that looked like a lab coat. As she entered the apartment she took her index finger and pushed the small pair of reading glasses that were slipping down her nose up again. Kikyo narrowed her sharp brown eyes at Kagome and examined her from head to toe just as Sango had done, which made Kagome feel very uncomfortable.
Is there something on my face? Or…am I ugly or something? Kagome wondered and resisted the urge to reach up and pat her face just to make sure.
Oblivious to Kagome, Kikyo was not eyeing the girl because she was ugly, oh no, it was because she was simply adorable. Cute. Huggable even.
Even if you were just glancing at her for the first time her appearance would give you the strong impression that she needed someone to protect her because she seemed like such a fragile and delicate creature. Kagome had a small figure and lovely features. Her pale skin seemed to bring out her beauty more. Kikyo could see also that Miroku wasn't kidding when he had told her that this girl looked like her.
"So, you had Miroku and Sango for company recently, am I right?" Kikyo asked but clearly she had asked Inuyasha and was ignoring Kagome now. Kikyo was going to make it clear to this silly girl what her place was.
"How did you know?" Inuyasha asked.
"I ran into them on my way up here." Kikyo smiled again but it didn't seem as real to Kagome anymore. Kikyo reached out and took Inuyasha's arm then pressed her body up against him. "So, what have you been up to?" she asked innocently, still smiling.
Inuyasha and Kagome both seemed to react to this unexpected advancement by Kikyo. Kagome flinched and frowned a little while Inuyasha blushed furiously and pushed Kikyo away from him gently.
Kikyo looked at him in mild surprise. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing…I just---"
"You're worried about that girl watching us, aren't you? What are you worried about? She's not your girlfriend and I used to get a lot closer then this when we were going out."
Kagome gaped at Kikyo and Inuyasha. They were talking to each other as if she wasn't even in the room. This whole situation made her feel sick to her stomach. She didn't want to be here for this…
This doesn't have anything to do with me. Inuyasha, why didn't you let me go?
"You forget, Kikyo. We aren't going out anymore." Inuyasha stated firmly, surprising both Kikyo and Kagome this time. By the look on his face and the firmness in his voice he wasn't kidding.
"Fine. Have it your way." Kikyo said and then made her way over to one of the couches in the living room. She took a seat then opened her briefcase, skimming through her paper work and ignoring Inuyasha and Kagome completely.
What's wrong with this woman…? Kagome wondered. She definitely didn't seem normal but for all she knew this was the way that normal women in the outside world behaved. Kagome glanced over at Inuyasha only to find that he was staring hopelessly in Kikyo's direction. His eyes seemed blank and he looked tired.
Kagome knew this must be hard for him. He must have really loved Kikyo and it must have really torn him up when they broke up. It confused Kagome though as to why Kikyo was here. Apparently she wasn't here to get back together with Inuyasha…at least not anymore, why was she still here?
"Inuyasha."
He looked up and Kikyo stood to her feet. "I have a few documents I'd like to show you, it's about something important but it seems that I don't have them here. Would you mind getting them for me?" she took out her car keys then tossed them to Inuyasha. "My car is outside, it's a small black Toyota."
Kagome's eyes wandered from Inuyasha to Kikyo then back again. Inuyasha stood where he was for a while, clenching the keys in his hand. It seemed apparent that he didn't like running errands for anyone, especially his old lover as if he were some kind of dog.
Maybe he had been expecting to talk quietly with Kikyo when she had arrived and settle things once and for all, or maybe not.
"Fine." Inuyasha turned and left the apartment without another word. Kagome watched him leave and suddenly became nervous. Now she was alone with Kikyo. What could she say?
"Girl, get me some tea, would you?" Kagome heard Kikyo say.
Kagome frowned. What did she look like? A servant? This woman was already beginning to get on her nerves and she hadn't even known her for five minutes. Nonetheless, Kagome did as she was told and prepared a pot of green tea. She brought it into the living room along with two small teacups and set them onto the table.
Kikyo looked up from her paperwork and at her teacup then at Kagome. "Fill it up."
Kagome frowned again but again did as she was told. She picked the teapot up then went to pour the tea.
"It's a pity you don't know your own last name, Kagome."
Kagome immediately dropped the teapot. It shattered into pieces and spilled hot tea all over the table and onto Kikyo's papers. Kikyo stared at the mess with am angry frown. "My, look at the mess you made."
"H-how do you know my name?" Kagome immediately asked.
Kikyo ignored her and picked up her soaking wet papers then put them back into her briefcase.
"Please, tell me! Do you work for Naraku? You won't tell him where I am will you? I beg of you! Please don't tell him where I am!" Kagome knew what she was saying then at the same time she didn't. She was losing control of her emotions. What if Kikyo didn't work for Naraku? Then she would undoubtedly want to know the whole story or she would probably call the police or maybe she would just smile and say she didn't know what Kagome was talking about and leave it at that, yeah, right.
Kikyo's face remained emotionless and she still refused to talk to Kagome. Oh, what was she going to do? What if she had made a mistake? Kagome wanted to slap herself for having such a big mouth.
"That collar…it makes you look like a slave."
Kagome reached up and touched the black choker around her neck. She had forgotten about that. "I was a slave."
"Why don't you take it off, rid yourself of Naraku once and for all?"
"I would if I could, but I can't remove it. I just can't." She did want to take it off but she really couldn't remove it from her neck. Naraku had designed it himself and had a small electronic chip installed. If Kagome tried to remove the collar it would give her a nasty shock, so, she was stuck with it.
"You really are a stupid girl. Pretty but stupid." Kikyo said, glaring at Kagome.
What is that supposed to mean? Kagome thought, feeling insulted.
"Someone in your position shouldn't trust anyone, not even a guy like Inuyasha and you shouldn't go around babbling that nonsense you just mentioned. I might be working for Naraku but then again I might not."
Kagome stared at the woman sitting in front of her. Was she trying to give her advice or was this a warning? Whatever it was she was still frightened.
"My advice to you is to get moving. Leave. Just leave and don't tell Inuyasha where you're going. It will be better for you both that way."
"But, Inuyasha…he…I need him. I really--"
Kikyo interrupted her. "Silence! You don't need Inuyasha or anyone else for that matter. This is your problem. You have no right to drag Inuyasha into this. You know that if he gets killed by Naraku or his men it will be your fault."
My fault…?
Those words echoed through her mind. Kagome had never stopped to think of what the consequences would be if Inuyasha were caught with her. She didn't want to put him in danger that was the last thing she wanted to do. Maybe Kikyo was right; maybe it would be better if she just…disappeared.
"Maybe you're right…"
"Of course I'm right."
Kagome looked up and stared right into Kikyo's eyes. Yes, she understood what she had to do now but what part did Kikyo have to play in all this? How did she know about Kagome? Was Kikyo working for Naraku or not?
"Who are you? Really?"
Kikyo smiled slightly and opened her briefcase again, taking a small object out and holding it in her hand. "That isn't important. Sorry, but you have to sleep now." She reached out and firmly grabbed a hold of Kagome's wrist. Kagome reacted and tried to pull away but Kikyo wouldn't let go. She held something up in her hand, which gleamed in the light. It was a needle. Kikyo quickly forced Kagome's arm onto the coffee table and stuck the needle into her.
Kagome winced in pain then pulled her arm away and held it to her chest. She wanted to demand that Kikyo tell her what she had done but Kagome suddenly began to feel dizzy and lightheaded. Her whole body began to feel cold and before she knew it, everything went dark.
. . .
Kagura was up to her neck in paper work, not mention the fact that she had Naraku breathing down her neck because he still didn't have Kagome back. Needless to say, she was not in a good mood.
The door to her office opened and one of the guards poked his head through the opening. "Miss Kagura?"
"What is it?" she grumbled.
"There is a man named Myoga outside and he wishes to speak with you."
Kagura narrowed her eyes at the guard then looked back down at her paperwork. "Idiot, I'm busy. Send him away."
"But, miss, he says he is a distant relative of Inuyasha's. He might know something"
Kagura's head shot back up. That got her attention all right. They had been searching for two or three days but they had come up with no leads. Maybe this Myoga would be able to give her the information she needed to track Inuyasha now. "Send him in."
The guard nodded then soon after he had disappeared a round, short, balding man came walking into Kagura's office wearing a business suit and carrying a large suitcase.
Oh yes, she remembered who he was now. Myoga Jiji was a lawyer and he belonged to a small firm in downtown Tokyo. He wasn't one of the most popular lawyers but he wasn't bad.
Myoga had also spent a lot of time with the Hanyou family and became one of their oldest and closest friends. Even after he had swindled the family out of thousands of dollars and betrayed their trust.
Kagura snorted. Distant relative my ass, She thought. He probably thought that would be the best way to get inside the building and he was right. The guards had been instructed to let no one except the employees of Shikon be allowed to enter the building. Myoga wasn't a genius but he had guessed right.
"Please, have a seat." Kagura motioned to one of the two chairs in front of her desk. Myoga bowed his head then took a seat, drabbing the sweat from his forehead with a small handkerchief.
"Why have you come here, old man?" Kagura asked. She wasn't about to waist any time being polite to this guy. She wanted to know why he was here, if he knew anything of Inuyasha's whereabouts and if he would cough up the information voluntarily or would they have to force it out of him, which was really much more fun.
Myoga took a deep breath and drabbed his forehead again. "I'm here at Sesshoumaru-sama's request. He would like to know why your targeting Inuyasha and on what charges."
Kagura smiled wickedly at the old man. So, the eldest of the Hanyou family has finally become concerned about his reputation.
Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had been the only remaining of the Hanyou family with the death of both parents and having no other living relatives. The brothers had both received a handsome amount of money from their father after he had died but it seemed that Inuyasha didn't care for money so he gave it up and it all went to Sesshoumaru. Using that money Sesshoumaru built a business that grew more successful over the years and he made him richer. Kagura knew the only reason why Sesshoumaru had sent Myoga was because he was worried that if this whole business with Inuyasha got out it would somehow affect his business. Stupid, yes, but Sesshoumaru was a very careful person and he wasn't about to let his kid brother ruin him.
"I think you mean to ask if Sesshoumaru's good name will be tarnished because of his little brother's actions, am I right, Myoga?"
Myoga clutched at his briefcase and sweat began to pour down his face. Poor old Myoga didn't take pressure very well, even though he was a lawyer and was supposed to welcome a challenge.
"He won't have to worry about anything. That is unless he offers to help us find Inuyasha." Kagura said without waiting for Myoga's reply.
The tubby old man coughed into his handkerchief. "I-I will have to discuss this with Sesshoumaru-sama…" he stuttered out.
"Right, right. Just remember to tell him that he has two days to make up his mind." Kagura said and waved her hand. "Now, get out."
Myoga got to his feet and stumbled out of the room like a frightened child. She smiled to herself as she watched him go. Men are so easy to manipulate.
. . .
Outside the building, a limo was waiting to pick up Myoga. He opened the door and clumsily got into the car but not before he bashed his head against the roof of the car. He muttered curses and rubbed his head. "Ah…that accursed woman…I don't know how I'm going to tell Sesshoumaru-sama…" he mumbled.
"About what, may I ask?" a voice asked from somewhere in front of Myoga inside the car. It was dark so it squinted to see. "W-who…?"
A light flicked on and there before him sat Sesshoumaru, with an emotionless face, legs crossed.
"S-s-sesshoumaru-sama…!"
"Yes, it's me you bumbling fool, what did you find out?" Sesshoumaru snapped.
Myoga dropped his briefcase and bowed his head. "Y-yes. So sorry. So sorry." He raised his head and wiped his sweaty brow before telling his boss of his encounter with Kagura and what she had told him. He had hoped that Sesshoumaru would be pleased with him but that didn't appear so at all.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the round man. "You forgot to get information about that girl. The one that Inuyasha supposedly stole from Naraku."
"A-ah, I apologize. Next time I will not fail!"
The silver haired businessman glanced at Myoga and frown. "Oh, you really think there will be a next time, do you?"
Myoga's eyes went wide in horror. "N-no, Sesshoumaru-sama! P-please, give me another chance. I beg of you!" the old man was now on the floor of the limo, on his hands and knees pleading that his life be spared. He knew that Sesshoumaru hated failure and that if one word he could take away his very life.
"Get up." Sesshoumaru ordered.
Myoga got up and the car came to a stop. "Get out. And don't come back again until you've found out about the girl."
The door opened and a strong arm grabbed Myoga by the shirt, pulling him out of the car and throwing him onto the sidewalk. The driver closed the door again then made his way over to the driver's door.
The limo started again then drove off into the distance.
. . .
"…gome…!"
"Kago…!"
"Kagome!"
Kagome's eyes slowly opened and she looked up. Inuyasha was staring down at her with a worried look on his face. Her head was pounding and she couldn't really remember what had happened. One moment she was talking to Kikyo then the next she found herself looking up at Inuyasha…
"Inuyasha…?"
He breathed a sigh of relief and helped her sit upright again. Kagome groaned and held her head in her hands. "What happened?" she asked.
"I was about to ask you the same question. I came back here and found you lying on the floor, alone."
"Alone? Kikyo left?"
It was all coming back to her now. Kikyo had confronted her, letting Kagome know that she knew about her past but Kikyo hadn't revealed much about herself. Kikyo was still a mystery but she remembered what Kikyo had told her to do. Leave and don't look back. Yes, she had decided that this was the best thing to do…Inuyasha he…
Inuyasha nodded. "Can you remember what happened?"
"Not really…it all seems like such a blur." Kagome lied and she didn't like lying to Inuyasha but if she was going to disappear he couldn't know a thing that went on between her and Kikyo while he was away.
Before Inuyasha had left he had had a bad feeling about leaving the two women alone together but he had figured that he would only be gone a few minutes, nothing would happen.
Kikyo was a very unpredictable person and there were still a lot of things that Inuyasha himself did not know about her. He wanted to know if Kikyo had hurt Kagome in any way but she seemed all right. He was more curious about what had gone on while he was gone. Inuyasha knew that Kikyo had planned to get rid of him. She had sent him on a wild goose chase for that stupid car of hers, which didn't exist. He had found this out after a good hour of searching and that the pair keys Kikyo had given him were fake.
Kikyo…what are you up to?
"You loved her didn't you?" Kagome said out of the blue but she didn't look at Inuyasha, instead she decided to stare out the window.
"Once. I did, yes, but that's all in the past now. Kikyo and I have both changed over the past year. We aren't the same people we used to be."
"…I thought…that if you truly loved a person it wouldn't matter how much they might change in appearance or attitude over the years, you'll always love them no matter what. But I guess it seems I was wrong, wasn't I?"
Inuyasha stared at Kagome in surprise, he didn't know how to reply to her statement.
Kagome seemed different to him then before, he really couldn't put his finger on it but he just knew something was wrong, something she wasn't telling him. Inuyasha leaned over towards her and was about to demand that Kagome tell him what really happened with Kikyo when Kagome suddenly moved. She reached up wrapped her small arms around Inuyasha's neck and enveloping him in a warm, gentle embrace.
This stunned Inuyasha but again before he could say anything Kagome mumbled something into his shoulder. He strained to hear what she was saying but her wonderful scent was distracting him. Kagome smelt of red roses and spices and her touch excited him. Get a hold of yourself! This is no time for…that. He told himself.
"Kagome…?"
She froze a moment when he had said her name again then mumbled again: "I'm grateful for what you've done for me…Inuyasha. I know we haven't spent a lot of time together but believe me when I say that I will miss you."
Kagome tightened her grip on Inuyasha; her heart was pounding violently against her ribcage. She knew that Inuyasha would probably hate her but she just couldn't stand the thought of leaving him without saying a word to him but she knew she must leave.
It's for the best. It's for the best. She kept trying to tell herself.
Kikyo was right. If Kagome stayed then it would just put Inuyasha in more danger and she didn't want that. This was her problem and she alone must deal with it.
No words could describe how grateful she was to Inuyasha. It had been short but it had been fun.
Oh, why did she feel this why? Why did her heart feel like it was going to burst? Why didn't she want to let go of him?
Kagome knew she would never forget the way Inuyasha helped bring her true self out and how he gave her the one thing she had wanted more then anything else, her freedom. Inuyasha had helped her as much as he could it seemed and now it was time for Kagome to start living her own life, not depending on others to help live it for her.
"What are you saying?" Inuyasha was confused. What could Kagome possibly mean? She wasn't going to leave was she? He pulled her gently away from him so he was able to see her face but she refused to look at him. "Kagome, answer me!"
Kagome shook her head. "I can't tell you anything. I'm sorry." She pushed him away from her. She stood to her feet then ran down the hall.
Inuyasha stood up as well and chased after her. His bedroom door was slightly open. He entered the room and expected to see Kagome trying to hide somewhere but she wasn't anywhere to be found.
Inuyasha slowly walked over to the window in his room and found that it was wide open. Rain immediately began to fall outside, the sky turned dark.
Kagome was gone.
To be continued…or not. =P
(A/N: Ohohohohohoho! I'm so evil aren't I? I apologize about giving you guys another nasty cliffhanger. *reads her chapter* I don't know…this chapter seems a little rushed, maybe I should space it out a bit more? What do you guys think?
Anyway, I'm planning on giving Sesshoumaru a big role in the next chapter. I am a big Fluffy lover after all. *thinks up many evil things to do* XP)
Next Chapter
Chapter 6: A New Keeper.