A/N: I've decided. Shorter chapters, quicker updates. I'm losing readers and reviews! Wah! (Also, read the latest chapter of OPMADP for this make sense. I'm making allusions to things that haven't quite happened in OPMADP yet, but if you read it, you'll get it.)
ALSO also, I'm working on updating Gah! Women!, which has a new name (or will, anywayÉ), the unnamed future fic, a revised version of CL (will not post until all I have is revised and I have a new chappie), the completely new Chosen and Shunned, (BtVS, HP and Inuyasha X-over) ANNND a new chapter of Dangerous Circumstances. As you can tell, I'm a bit busyÉeh heh. --; Too much to doÉCheck my bio for updates on how the chapters are going, k?
Oops. I'm going to be gone from the 7th of August to the 25th. Visiting my sis and my friend in Missouri. I'll be writing loving the laptop. Thank you, school), but I won't be able to update, unless I find a wireless connection ( I probably willÉ). So, yes. Don't expect them, k? when I get backÉ.there should be lots of chapters. For lots of stuff. Hee.
Long ANÉok, how bout you read the chapter now?
Disclaimer: looks at you blankly
Previously, On A Shot In The Dark: 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 Shot In The Dark
Chapter Eleven
Tell Me A Story
Kagome crept quietly into the warehouse. It was dark, filled with boxes, as warehouses tend to be, and Kagome felt herself getting goosebumps. It was so quiet, she almost wished she had brought her walkman. But that would've been stupid, she wouldn't have been able to hear anything. Someone could just up and kill her, without her ever noticing.
Kagome searched and searched, going over the relatively small warehouse inch by inch, finding nothing. She was beginning to get more than a little frustrated, and her anger came back with full force.
If she couldn't find the bitch this way, she'd do it another.
Kagome hadn't wanted to do it, seeing as how she didn't like rat youkai, but here she was. Striding into the old and dingy bar, attracting the stares of it's inhabitants, half of which were not human.
Kagome walked confidently up to the bartender. He leered at her.
"What can I get you, pretty lady?
"Information.
"Oh? What kind of information?" His voice was high and wheezy, and it grated on Kagome's nerves.
"I want you to tell me where I can find Kuroko.
The youkai blanched and turned away. "Sorry lady, no can do. Dunno anythin bout a Kuroko.
The next thing he knew, there was a gun at the back of his head. "Jog your memory?
He gulped, and Kagome felt an odd sort of satisfaction. "Oh, that Kuroko. Yeah, I can tell you bout her.
Twenty minutes later, Kagome was in front of an office building. She saw lights on and entered, pushing the big glass doors open. She strode past the security, and when he tried to stop her, she leveled a glare and the barrel of her gun at him.
He looked at it nervously, not because it was a gun, but because it was glowing with miko energy.
"You are going to sit down," Kagome growled, "and let me go upstairs. You will wait twenty minutes before you alert any authorities. No more, no less. Understood?
The man nodded and sat back down, his eyes still trained on the gun.
Kagome called the elevator and stepped inside, holding her gun pointed at the ground, chewing on a piece of gum she had found in her coat. She was a formidable sight, and as the doors closed in front of her, the night guard shivered.
Inuyasha pulled up at his brother's house, knowing it was late and hoping he didn't wake any of the kids. He found the spare key over the doorway and let himself in quietly. He slipped off his shoes and made his way into the living room.
Naraku was sitting on the couch, staring at a piece of paper. Inuyasha stopped dead at the sight of him. Memories flashed through his head, and he became angry. Furious. His emotions were already on edge, but to see Naraku here, in his brother's home, the man responsible for her pain, was too much for his fragile feelings.
He growled.
Naraku looked up and something like a smile played around the corners of his mouth. "Well, if it isn't Inuyasha.
Inuyasha took a swipe at Naraku's head. Naraku ducked. "A bit riled up, are we? Hurting over Kagome?" Another duck. "I heard about that. Left you, did she?
You fucking bastard," Inuyasha growled. "You don't get to talk about her!
Naraku laughed cruelly. Inuyasha was about to take another swipe at Naraku, but a strong clawed hand stopped him.
"Don't bait him, Narky. Yash, sit down.
Naraku glared at Nika. "Don't call me that.
Nika raised an eyebrow. "Another word and your out of here.
"Talk, please," said Inuyasha, his fangs bared. Nika levelled a glare at him. "Inuyasha, same goes for you.
Inuyasha shut his mouth.
"Now. Why don't you tell me why you two were intent on killing each other?
"You mean, beside the fact that he hurt Kagome on a daily basis and then kidnapped her? Oh, and tried to kill me?
Nika snarled at him, and Inuyasha reluctantly bared his throat.
"Inuyasha, your nerves are too frayed for you to be able to think straight. However, you Naraku, were purposefully baiting him. Why?
Naraku shrugged. "No particular reason. Anyway, you all should be out by now.
"What? Why?
As an answer, Naraku held out the paper he had been holding when Inuyasha came into the room. Nika took it, her eyes speeding across the page. When her eyes widened and she gasped, Inuyasha grabbed it from her.
He blanched.
Miroku woke with a start and fumbled for his cell phone, waking Sango in the process.
"This had better be good, whoever you are.
Sango yawned and looked at her boyfriend, who was becoming steadily whiter. She frowned, but felt a clenching sensation in her stomach when Miroku let out a soft, heartfelt Ôshit'.
"Miroku? What's wrong?
He held up a hand. "My god. She wouldn't. A pause. "You're sure?" another pause. "Yeah. Hold on.
He handed the phone to Sango. "Hello?" Miroku watched as her worried expression melted into shock. "Holy-no! She wouldn't!
Miroku dropped his head onto her shoulder, one hand stroking her belly comfortingly.
"We'll be right there.
Sango hung up, white as a sheet. She slipped out of bed, pulling on pants and a bra frantically. She stilled for a moment when she felt Miroku's arms envelop her from behind. She slumped into him. "She couldn't have. This has to some sort ofÉof joke. Right?
The pleading note in her voice struck Miroku to the bone and he tightened his grip. He placed a light kiss on the base of her neck.
"When I think about itÉremember with Naraku." Sango nodded. "She was capable of doing that, but I'm worried that she's not capable of coming out of this one alive.
Miroku let go and Sango grabbed a shirt, throwing it on. Miroku found his discarded clothes from earlier that night and put them back on, grabbing his jacket and keys on the way out.
Kagome stepped out of the elevator into a large room with a deep red plush carpet. Dark mahogany and scarlet draperies was her first impression. The only spot of light was the person sitting in the large leather chair, her fingers steepled under her chin and a smirk on her face.
Her hair was the silver of Inuyasha's and she wore all cream colors. Her eyes, in contrast, were black and devoid of any white.
"Welcome, Higurashi Kagome." Kuroko's voice was smooth and surprisingly deep. It had a texture like the finest silk sliding over skin.
Kagome made an effort not to shiver. Proud when she did not, she let herself smirk evilly. She reached into her jacket, pulled out her gun and aimed it between the woman's eyes with an unwavering hand.
Sergeant Watanabe picked up his phone. His eyes widened, and he blurted out a disbelieving ÔNani?!' before hanging up and rushing out to his superior.
A team of twenty men left the station in a blaze of lights and sirens, on their way to downtown Tokyo.
Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Nika and Naraku met Miroku and Sango outside the house. Nika nodded to the last minute babysitter she had called in and slid into her mate's car, moments before he pulled out of the driveway, tires screaming.
Inuyasha tapped Miroku's shoulder, and he followed Sesshoumaru.
"When did you get the letter?
"Naraku said just a few minutes before I showed up.
"What time is it?" That was Sango, the only one without a watch.
Inuyasha glanced at his. "Nearing three.
"I hope we get there in time.
There was silence as images raced through their heads of what they could find if they weren't.
Sango gasped.
"What?
"Eve!
Inuyasha blinked. "Huh?
"Eve! We have to call her! She has to know! And Kouga!" Sango pulled out her cell phone and called Eve's apartment. She let out an aggravated sigh and dialed again. "Wasn't there. Trying Kouga's place." Another grunt on annoyance. "Right. Eve's cell.
This time Sango got an answer. Eve's voice was perky, and the sounds in the background suggested she was at a party.
Sango explained to her what was happening, and had to stifle a hysterical giggle when Eve started cursing. A male voice she identified as Kouga was asking what was wrong, and Eve said goodbye, hanging up before Sango had a chance to say a thing.
Sango slipped the phone back into her pocket. "They're coming," she commented unnecessarily.
Sesshoumaru's tight grip on the steering wheel was the only thing that gave away how tense and afraid he really was. Nika put her hand on his arm and squeezed gently. He shot her a small grateful smile, but she could see he didn't have much hope.
Neither did she, and a quick glance at Naraku told her he didn't as well. He wasn't as unaffected as he wanted them to think. His worry showed on his face. In his own twisted way, he loved Kagome still.
Nika bit her lip and inhaled, feeling her blood rise up and her irises bled red as she remembered the carnage Kuroko had left the last time she had reared her ugly head.
Good men were gone because of her, friends, lovers. People Nika had known and trusted.
She would die before she let that bitch do it again.
The police, the Nashimura family, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Eve, Kouga and Naraku arrived at the same time, pulling up in front of the thirty storey office building.
Sesshoumaru got out of the car and slammed the door, snarling at the officer who tried to forbid him entrance. Naraku raised an eyebrow.
Inuyasha muscled his way past everyone, his eyes flickering red and gold. Just as everyone made it to the door, there was a gunshot, light flaring for a brief second from the top floor.