CHAPTER 16
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi
It's not a crime for an adult to go missing. And the press doesn't give high priority to such stories unless there's something unusual about the disappearance, police suspect foul play or the person is sick and needs daily medication. A missing child, however, is always a potential front page story.
Sesshomaru found this out the hard way when even Kagome's newspaper declined to print a story about her disappearance. According to her editor, Kagome's sister called the office to say she was sick. He pointed out that Kagome didn't have a sister. Her fellow reporters figured she just walked out on Sesshomaru and didn't want him to know where she was staying.
The police were no better. When they found out that Kagome asked for a breather in the relationship, they tried to discourage him from filing a missing persons report.
"Don't worry, buddy. She'll be back in a day or two,'' the desk officer told him.
The look Sesshomaru gave the cop filled the man with fear. He got his report taken.
Since no one wanted to help him, Sesshomaru took matters into his own hands. He called in the private detective his company uses then he reluctantly told Miss Lemon to summon Inuyasha.
An hour later, an agitated Inuyasha barged into his study.
"What do you mean she's missing? What did you do, you bastard! Tell me what you know or I swear to God I'll kill you!''
"Do you think all this ranting would help find her? She didn't come home last night and a sister called the newspaper this morning to say she's sick."
"But Kagome doesn't have a sister..."
"Exactly."
Aside from the rose bush in the front yard and the Lexus in the driveway, the ranch-style house was no different from the other homes in this suburban cul de sac. Inside, a nervous Kagura paced and smoked her way through two packs of cigarettes. She quit smoking a year ago actually.
Whichever way she looked at it, she was in deep trouble. Thanks to Onigumo, she was now a kidnapper and an accessory to whatever he was going to do to Kagome. If she went against him, he would destroy her career. If the police found out, she'd be arrested. Her career was over either way.
She decided she would free herself from Onigumo's control then leave town. But how to do it? Who can help her? She stopped pacing and smiled slowly. Sesshomaru. She put out her cigarette, brushed her teeth and headed out the door.
Jaken looked at her with distaste when he opened the door.
"I want to see Sesshomaru."
"You're not welcome here."
"I know where Kagome is."
Jaken hesitated, unwilling to believe her.
"Tell Sesshomaru I know where she is. I'll wait out here."
Jaken closed the door and hurried off to deliver her message. She didn't have long to wait. The door was abruptly pulled open by Inuyasha who then dragged Kagura inside. He didn't release her arm until they entered Sesshomaru's study.
"Where is she, Kagura? What happened to her? Speak!,'' Sesshomaru demanded.
A glance at his burning eyes killed whatever coy comment was on her lips. She looked at Inuyasha but found no comfort there either. She felt like prey cornered by two furious dogs. Kagura told them everything.
Sesshomaru itched to kill her or at the very least, sic the police on her. But she held a trump card.
"You let me leave town without telling the police about my role in this and I'll give you the address where I took her.''
Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both nodded. Kagura fished in her bag for a pen.
Kagome woke up with a splitting headache. She couldn't possibly have a hangover since she remembered drinking only one glass of wine. She tried to move but found that her hands and legs were bound. She was lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room. But whoever tied her up didn't gag her, so she screamed as loud as she could.
The door opened and a dark-haired man in a kimono slowly entered the room. He looked familiar.
"It's nice to hear you're awake, Kikyo.''
"My name isn't Kikyo. And whoever you are, you're in big trouble! You and Kagura both. This is kidnapping."
"I know you go by Kagome Higurashi these days but you're still my Kikyo. You led me on quite a chase."
"What are you talking about? The only Kikyo I know was killed years ago."
The man sat on the bed and ran his hand through Kagome's hair. She tried to squirm away. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her up so they were facing each other.
"I killed you before but you came back. Now we'll always be together."
Her eyes widened in fear.
"Naraku."
"I knew you'd remember me,'' he said and claimed her lips in a bruising kiss.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi
It's not a crime for an adult to go missing. And the press doesn't give high priority to such stories unless there's something unusual about the disappearance, police suspect foul play or the person is sick and needs daily medication. A missing child, however, is always a potential front page story.
Sesshomaru found this out the hard way when even Kagome's newspaper declined to print a story about her disappearance. According to her editor, Kagome's sister called the office to say she was sick. He pointed out that Kagome didn't have a sister. Her fellow reporters figured she just walked out on Sesshomaru and didn't want him to know where she was staying.
The police were no better. When they found out that Kagome asked for a breather in the relationship, they tried to discourage him from filing a missing persons report.
"Don't worry, buddy. She'll be back in a day or two,'' the desk officer told him.
The look Sesshomaru gave the cop filled the man with fear. He got his report taken.
Since no one wanted to help him, Sesshomaru took matters into his own hands. He called in the private detective his company uses then he reluctantly told Miss Lemon to summon Inuyasha.
An hour later, an agitated Inuyasha barged into his study.
"What do you mean she's missing? What did you do, you bastard! Tell me what you know or I swear to God I'll kill you!''
"Do you think all this ranting would help find her? She didn't come home last night and a sister called the newspaper this morning to say she's sick."
"But Kagome doesn't have a sister..."
"Exactly."
Aside from the rose bush in the front yard and the Lexus in the driveway, the ranch-style house was no different from the other homes in this suburban cul de sac. Inside, a nervous Kagura paced and smoked her way through two packs of cigarettes. She quit smoking a year ago actually.
Whichever way she looked at it, she was in deep trouble. Thanks to Onigumo, she was now a kidnapper and an accessory to whatever he was going to do to Kagome. If she went against him, he would destroy her career. If the police found out, she'd be arrested. Her career was over either way.
She decided she would free herself from Onigumo's control then leave town. But how to do it? Who can help her? She stopped pacing and smiled slowly. Sesshomaru. She put out her cigarette, brushed her teeth and headed out the door.
Jaken looked at her with distaste when he opened the door.
"I want to see Sesshomaru."
"You're not welcome here."
"I know where Kagome is."
Jaken hesitated, unwilling to believe her.
"Tell Sesshomaru I know where she is. I'll wait out here."
Jaken closed the door and hurried off to deliver her message. She didn't have long to wait. The door was abruptly pulled open by Inuyasha who then dragged Kagura inside. He didn't release her arm until they entered Sesshomaru's study.
"Where is she, Kagura? What happened to her? Speak!,'' Sesshomaru demanded.
A glance at his burning eyes killed whatever coy comment was on her lips. She looked at Inuyasha but found no comfort there either. She felt like prey cornered by two furious dogs. Kagura told them everything.
Sesshomaru itched to kill her or at the very least, sic the police on her. But she held a trump card.
"You let me leave town without telling the police about my role in this and I'll give you the address where I took her.''
Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both nodded. Kagura fished in her bag for a pen.
Kagome woke up with a splitting headache. She couldn't possibly have a hangover since she remembered drinking only one glass of wine. She tried to move but found that her hands and legs were bound. She was lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room. But whoever tied her up didn't gag her, so she screamed as loud as she could.
The door opened and a dark-haired man in a kimono slowly entered the room. He looked familiar.
"It's nice to hear you're awake, Kikyo.''
"My name isn't Kikyo. And whoever you are, you're in big trouble! You and Kagura both. This is kidnapping."
"I know you go by Kagome Higurashi these days but you're still my Kikyo. You led me on quite a chase."
"What are you talking about? The only Kikyo I know was killed years ago."
The man sat on the bed and ran his hand through Kagome's hair. She tried to squirm away. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her up so they were facing each other.
"I killed you before but you came back. Now we'll always be together."
Her eyes widened in fear.
"Naraku."
"I knew you'd remember me,'' he said and claimed her lips in a bruising kiss.