Previously, On A Shot In The Dark: Naraku made no outward sign that he had heard, but walked up the stairs. A few minutes later, Nika heard the shower turn on. She went upstairs, pulled a few of her mate's old clothes out from the back of their closet and laid them at the bathroom door.

Going back downstairs, she flopped onto the couch and opened her book, picking up where she left off.

A Shot In The Dark

Chapter Ten

Mornie Utulie

Sesshoumaru knew something was wrong the second he got within scenting distance of his house. There was a foreign smell, a youkai. Sesshoumaru trusted his mate, but another male youkai in his home without his knowledge or consent-Sesshoumaru's blood ran like fire through his veins.

When he came bursting in through the doorway, he spied Nika sitting on the couch reading. She looked up as he crashed through the door, wincing.

"Hello, love." Her voice was tentative, the way it got when she was going to say something he didn't like.

"What the hell is another youkai doing in my house?!"

"Yes, well, it's a long story. No, not really, just a boring one. How was your day at work?"

Nika knew her attempts at stalling were hopeless, but she tried anyway.

"Nika," Sesshoumaru breathed out, "I love you, and I trust you, but who the hell is in my house?"

"Naraku."

Sesshoumaru blinked. He was sure he had heard wrong. "Excu-"

"You heard me."

"Naraku? The Naraku? The one who attempted to kill my brother? The one you had that fling with way back when? That Naraku?"

"Yes."

To Nika's surprise, her mate blinked and sat down on the couch. "Explain."

Nika inwardly cheered. "Well, I was reading, when he knocked on the door. He was standing out there, bloodied and looking somewhat worse for wear, so I brought him in and cleaned him up a bit." Nika sank gracefully onto the sofa beside her husband.

"I was wondering what he doing at my doorstep, seeing as how I threatened him with death if he came within fifty miles of Kagome, and the college isn't that far away. Turns out Kuroko is after him too, because of the information he has.

"He's pleading sanctuary in return for more information. I'm giving it to him, though if he makes one wrong move, Sess, he's yours."

Sesshoumaru dropped his neck down in thought, and Nika reached up to squeeze it. He let out a soft growl of pleasure and closed his eyes.

"Alright. He can stay. But he does so much as looks at you, our kids, Inuyasha or his friends-"

"Like I said, he's yours. Thank you."

Sesshoumaru gave his mate a swift kiss. "Inuyasha isn't going to like this."

Miroku shot a worried glance at his friend as he plopped down next to him in Literature. Inuyasha's hair, usually well kept, was tangled and frizzy, his shirt was on inside out, and his shoes were untied.

He flinched as Kagome walked into the room. Miroku threw her a scathing glance, and she shivered and averted her gaze. Miroku was on the edge. He had always liked Kagome, but Inuyasha came first, and this girl had damaged Inuyasha, perhaps irreparably.

Kagome walked into class, seeing Inuyasha flinch. Seeing Inuyasha like that, shrinking away from her, was like a knife to the gut. She caught a glare from Miroku and shivered. The temperature had seemed to drop drastically. She looked away.

She sat down next to Sango, but the other girl didn't even look her way. She was staring determinedly at the teacher, glancing every once in a while at her boyfriend and Inuyasha.

Kagome felt truly alone.

It was after class when Inuyasha's cell rang. "Hello?" There was no interest in his voice.

"Brother?

"Sess?

"Yes. I need to speak with you, at my home. It's is serious.

Inuyasha stiffened. He did not like the tone in his brother's voice.

"Ok. I have one more class, then I'll be there.

Inuyasha hung up.

Sesshoumaru heard the bike pull up outside his house at around four. He called Nika down just as Inuyasha knocked on the door.

"Sess?

Sesshoumaru was taken aback. His brother looked terrible, bags under his eyes, and an indescribable heavy feeling around him, like he had lost the one thing keeping his alive.

"Inuyasha. Come in.

Inuyasha walked in and plopped down on the couch. It was a matter of seconds before he was pounced upon by a gaggle of kids. Aoshi, usually not prone to pouncing, was hugging Inuyasha full on, Rin catching hold of his ears, Mariko hanging on to his leg like there was no tomorrow. A little girl was in Nika's arms, a small boy hiding behind her legs.

"I swear, you guys should've been rabbit demons." Nika rolled her eyes.

"This is Sakura," The little girl cooed as she was lowered to Inuyasha's eye level, and he tickled her belly lightly.

Sesshoumaru was relieved to see some of the sadness melt off his brother as he gazed upon the baby.

"Hey, sweet thing. Aren't you pretty?" Inuyasha let the baby curl a hand around his finger.

"And this," said Nika proudly, "Is Inuyasha." The little boy, barely able to walk, peered around his mother's leg. The grown Inuyasha looked shocked. "You didn't!" Shock bled away to immense pride and love as Inuyasha stared at his namesake.

Nika prodded him forward. "Well, go on love, meet your uncle.

Inuyasha held out his arms, and the boy slowly climbed into them. The adult hanyou gaped at him in amazement, smoothing down his hair, looking like he'd been hit by a particularly large truck.

"I-wow. I mean, thanks. I mean-gah.

Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrows. "As ever, it does not take much to rob you of words little brother. As much as I love watching you with my children, there is more to this visit than pleasure.

Nika nodded. "C'mon lovies. Time to go upstairs. Daddy's got some important stuff to do." She led her flock of kids out of the room.

Sesshoumaru stood in front of his brother. "We have problems.

Inuyasha snorted. "Do we everÉwhat now?

"Naraku's back.

Inuyasha just stared, his brain not comprehending what his brother had just said. "Huh?

"Naraku. He's being chased by the same people who want Kagome." Sesshoumaru didn't miss the darkening of Inuyasha's eyes when he mentioned Kagome.

"So? Let them get him.

"We can't. He's got vital information.

"Screw vital information! I don't want him anywhere near my friends or Kagome." The way he'd said my friends or Kagome made it clear that Inuyasha did not consider Kagome a friend.

"Look, I don't know what happened between you two, but this is not just about her. This woman, Kuroko, she's dangerous. And if Naraku can help us get her out of the picture, then I am by god going to let him!" Sesshoumaru's voice was quietly fierce.

Inuyasha glared. "Fine. But he does anything-

"Then he is a dead man.

"Glad to know you both place such faith in me." The smooth voice raised Inuyasha's hackles. He turned slowly to see Naraku standing on the stairs, looking a bit amused. "I have no intention of Ôdoing anything', as you say. I merely want a place where I will be safe until they put Kuroko away.

"Ah, well, you may not have come to the right place," growled Inuyasha.

Naraku shrugged. "I have Natsuko's word. She will not break it.

Sesshoumaru snarled. "You do not call her that.

Naraku's eyes sparkled. "And why not? That is the name I know her by.

Fortunately, before either of the two brothers could rip Naraku apart, Nika walked into the room. "Naraku, stop baiting them," she said in a voice like poisoned honey. "Go back upstairs." To Inuyasha's surprise, he turned and left. "I'm taking Rin to voice lessons. Aoshi is staying over at a friend's house. Sakura, Mariko and Inuyasha will be coming with me. Don't kill Naraku, and don't wreck the house." She bustled over to Sesshoumaru and gave him a quick kiss. "Love you.

She left, surrounded by children.

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were left in a very quiet house. Sesshoumaru turned to his brother. "Now is as good a time as any to ask you what's up with you and Kagome.

Inuyasha flinched. "Nothing.

"Bullshit.

"No, really. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She left me.

Sesshoumaru was sure he'd heard wrong. "What?

"She left me. Got a weird and distancy after Sango got shot, and when I tried to talk to herÉshe broke it off.

"Do you want to talk about it?

"I am, aren't I?" Inuyasha snapped at his brother, then sighed. "Sorry. It's justÉIt hurts. A lot. Like someone's reached into my chest and pulled out my heart and has it in a jar somewhere, poking in with a sharp stick.

"Was there any warning? Any reason to believe she was going to leave?

"No! I don't get it." Inuyasha collapsed onto the couch.

Sesshoumaru frowned. "That's not right.

"Tell me about it.

"No, I mean that doesn't sound right," Sesshoumaru said. "She wouldn't do something like that for no reason.

"Well, she did, unless I did something terrible without my knowledge.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the wall. "I'll talk to her.

Inuyasha looked up. "What? No. She left. If she wanted me in her life, or even as a friend, she wouldn't have ripped out my soul and stomped on it gleefully.

"Inuyasha. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. And I doubt she stomped on your soul gleefully.

"It was a figure of speech. And I have every right to feel sorry for myself. She was going to be my mate.

Sesshoumaru looked at his brother in unadulterated shock. Inuyasha was staring intently the floor, his wrists resting on his knees. Silver bangs covered his eyes, making it impossible to read his expression.

"What?

"I was going to tell her on her birthday," Inuyasha said bitterly. "I would've stayed with her forever, Sess. I would have died for her.

Sesshoumaru, for once, had nothing to say, and instead sank gracefully onto the couch beside his brother and pulled him into a rough hug. Inuyasha put his arms around his brother and did the one thing he didn't ever think he'd be doing in front of his brother.

He cried.

Phoebe ran through the maze of halls, looking for her beloved. He had been whisked away by the Evil Lady Alegra, hidden in her castle.

Her moist orb heaved against her shift and she ran into what was obviously a bedroom.

Sebastian was laying on the bed, looking quite relaxed and handsome in a silk bathrobe, eating grapes.

"Oh, my love! Sebastian!" Phoebe ran to him and threw herself on the bed beside him.

Sebastian's eyes opened suspiciously wide, and he looked blankly at her. Phoebe threw back her mane of hair, shining like obsidian in the low torchlight.

"Oh, er, Phoebe! Whatever are you doing here?

"Looking for you of course, beloved. And now I have finally found you!

Sebastian looked nervous. "Er, yes, that you did. You can go now. I'm quite fine here.

"Oh no, I couldn't! I couldn't leave you to the Evil Lady Alegra!

"I'm afraid you must," came a deep, sultry voice from the doorway. Sebastian turned his head to the woman standing seductively against the doorjamb with adoration in his eyes.

The Evil Lady Alegra wore a black corset with thigh high leather boots, holding a whip in one hand. Her long red hair fell past her hips, shining as fire in the light. She sauntered towards Sebastian and Phoebe, her cape flying beautifully behind her.

Sebastian wriggled out of Phoebe's hold and ran to Lady Alegra, and it was only when he began to kiss her passionately that Phoebe thought that something was a bit off-

"Natsuko, if you must read trash, would you kindly not read it out loud?

Nika stuck her tongue out at Naraku and placed a bookmark in Forbidden Trousers.

"I was just getting to the good part.

"Don't let me stop you.

Nika opened her book and took a breath.

"Nevermind. Let me stop you.

"But we're at the part where-

"I do not care.

Nika scowled and left the room.

Kagome could not take much more. Sango wasn't speaking to her, and it made for very quiet dorm time. Miroku glared at her every time he saw her, and Inuyasha was avoiding her altogether. But that's what you wanted, right?

Kagome drew out her sketchbook and looked through it. There were a lot of drawings in it. Mostly of Inuyasha. She nearly broke down when she came upon the one she drew of him one morning, still in bed.

She flipped the book to a new page and took out a pencil.

But try as she might, she couldn't draw anything. She tried and tried, but nothing came to her.

Finally, she drew a line. And another, and another, forming a wing. She continued feverishly, until she had a rough sketch of herself suspended in the air, her head thrown back, and below, a close up of her face.

Tears ran down her face, both sketched and in real life, as she shaded the lips, drew the fine eyelashes, wrote the few lines underneath.

My eyes close in prayer/ As a voice rises/ In rapturous beauty/ A crimson river flowing over my face/ Blinded eyes crying blood/

It was past one when Kagome fell into bed, the picture on her desk.

The next morning, Kagome woke late. Her alarm clock had failed to wake her, and as she grabbed her things from her desk, the drawing from the previous night, in all it's black beauty, fell to the ground, forgotten.

Kagome was confronted after class by none other that Sesshoumaru. She avoided his eyes, knowing he'd probably come to yell at her for hurting his brother.

To her surprise, he did no such thing.

"Kagome," his voice was unwavering and carried no anger in it.

"Yes?

"I want to know why.

Kagome was at a loss. "It just wasn't working.

"Bullshit." Kagome flinched at his tone. "This isn't like you, and I want to know why you've destroyed my brother. I have the right, don't you think?

But I can't tell you.

Kagome didn't meet his eyes.

"You love him, don't you." It was not a question. "I can tell. But if you love him so much, then why, I quote, Ôrip out his soul and stomp on it gleefully'?

Kagome flinched. "He said that?

"Yes. Along with feeling like someone Ôripped out his heart, stuck it in a jar somewhere and is now poking it with a sharp stick'.

Kagome bit her lip. "I don't want to hurt him, but I had to.

"Why?

Kagome remained silent.

"I thought more of you than this. I didn't know you were capable of completely wrecking a person's life with no explanation as to why. He will never be the same, and it is your fault." Kagome felt her eyes tear up. "If you decide to be a decent excuse for a human being and tell him why, I might let you come near him.

Sesshoumaru turned away and left, his long stride echoing in Kagome's ears, along with his words, long after he was actually gone.

I might let you come near himÉ.It is your faultÉDecide to be a decent excuse for a human beingÉ.

But I can't! Kagome thought desperately. I can't, they'll kill him!

Kagome made a decision. This Kuroko woman had made the biggest mistake she could've. She took away Kagome's reason to live. She had made herself an enemy with nothing to lose, and that is the most dangerous kind.

Kagome knew she where the files were, the old reports. She could easily get to them, the officers knew her.

Kagome straightened her shoulders, wiped her eyes and walked briskly back to her dorm. Classes were not important anymore.

She would find Kuroko, and she would take her down. Kagome knew how to fight, how to work a gun, how to move stealthily. She knew how to mask her scent.

All she had to do was find the bitch.

Kagome stood in front of her closet clad in a bra and a thong. Sango wasn't there, thank god. Kagome reached in a pulled out a pair of yoga pants, black and stretch, allowing for movement. She pulled them on. Next, a shirt. She chose an old muscle tee of Inuyasha's she had stolen, black as well. She sat on her bed and laced up her boots. The long knife she had purchased the other day lay next to her, along with it's thigh band. She secured it right above her knee, at finger level.

The gun she had stolen from the station, along with the blueprints for one of Kuroko's old haunts and several informational files, went to her hip, extra clips next to it.

Kagome shrugged into a black jacket and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. It felt oddly like a ritual, getting ready. Perhaps it was, of a sort.

Grabbing her shoulder bag that held the files, she slung it over her back.

Kagome surveyed herself in the mirror. No makeup for once, and a determined look on her face.

She was ready.

Sango curled further into Miroku, looking at their entwined hands. He stared at the ceiling, his profile sharp in the moonlit room.

Sango missed her. They had been friends for four years, and even now, Sango had a hard time believing Kagome had done what she did. Kagome had been Sango's confidante, her closest friend.

She missed her dearly.

Miroku, as if sensing her thoughts, said calmly, "It doesn't seem right, does it?

Sango shook her head. "No. It's just not something she would do.

"I didn't know her as well as you, but stillÉsomething is off. Inuyasha told me he was going to ask he to be his mate.

Sango gasped. "What?

"Yeah.

They lay together in silence, Miroku's arm lazily stroking Sango's.

"I hope they'll be alright.

"Me too.

Inuyasha sat at the library table, staring unseeingly at his textbook. He hurt all over. It was so strong it was almost physical. He pushed his chair back forcefully, and stood. Sango was with Miroku tonight. Normally, he'd just go to Kagome'sÉbut nowÉ.

Inuyasha strode outside and to his bike, taking off for his brother's house.

Naraku stared at the letter that had come only a few moments ago, slipped under the doorstep.

Kuroko, he thought, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, what have you gotten yourself into now?

A/N: Yes, well. ahem Don't kill me. Please. The next bit is going to be too long to put in this chapter.

Sorry I haven't updated inÉwell, monthsÉeheh. ;