CG XI:
Time flew by and the weekend arrived shortly. It was early when Dr. Suikotsu and his wife Kikyo arrived at the plantation to meet Naraku and Kagome for a day on the town. The French Quarters of New Orleans was simply begging to be explored by the quartet.
Kagome was only a little disturbed about the absence of her ever-present companion, Sesshoumaru. He had promised to accompany here on the trip to New Orleans. It had taken some heavy persuasion on her part, but she had convinced him that the experience would be exciting.
Suikotus and Kikyo sat in the front seats of the good doctor's SUV while Naraku and Kagome sat in the rear. Naraku directed the neurologist where to drive and did a fine job of navigating on the cobble stone roads.
"Why aren't these roads paved?" Kagome ventured curiously as they encountered a particularly rough batch of stones.
Naraku turned to face her and grinned while drapping a casual arm across her shoulders. "Well you see Kagome, while New Orleans is a very densely populated city, it is also one of the oldest and these roads date back to when the city was first founded even. They have lasted hundreds of years where as paved roads would crack and get pot holes too often to be of use."
"That doesn't make sense," Kagome argued as she gently lifted Naraku's arm off from her shoulder and eased it back to his side. "Paved roads endure very well. That's why highways are concrete and not stone."
Naraku chuckled softly and met eyes with Kikyo who was looking back at her two pupils from her front passenger seat. "Shall I answer this or would you like the honor professor?" Naraku asked.
Kikyo looked at him silently before nodding her head that she would explain. "With the environment here being below sea level and the humidity so high, the pavement would crack and expand too often. Cobble stones date back to the Roman Empire and they still stand today. So these sorts of roads are the most durable in this sort of environment."
"She's right you know," a much missed voice whispered in Kagome's ear. She turned in her seat and grinned when she noticed Sesshoumaru sitting in the back of the SUV with his hands on either side of her, resting upon the back of the seat. His golden eyes met her sapphire before she turned back around and faced her flesh and blood companions.
Suikotsu paralleled park then on a street a few blocks away from the famous Bourbon Street in front of a Mardi Gras paraphernalia store. The front window was decked out with costumes of all sorts and feather masks and boas. Both Kagome and Kikyo had large grins at the sight while all the men happened to roll their eyes.
"I take it you would like to go in there?" Naraku asked Kagome. She turned to him and nodded excitedly while he led her inside. She walked quickly away from him and began to try on the feather masks. An amused Sesshoumaru stood beside her and enjoyed watching her sport the various costume pieces.
Currently she was wearing a blue and green butterfly shaped feather mask with gold sequence around the eye holes. "Perhaps this would go with it as well," Sesshoumaru suggested as he gestured to a blue, green, and gold feather boa.
Kagome grinned beneath her feathered mask and put the boa around her shoulders. She squealed in delight when she caught her reflection. Naraku chuckled from behind her and she whirled to face him as his cinnamon eyes twinkled in mirth. "You certainly look ready to march in a parade baby doll."
Kagome blushed under her mask at his endearment. She still wasn't sure why he kept calling her that, but it stirred sweet feelings for him. Beside her Sesshoumaru began to growl under his breath, but Kagome seemed to not notice as she began to play with the feather tips of her boa and allowed it to tickle against her cheeks.
"Come on, I'll pay for that. You can wear it on our little adventure," Naraku took her hand and began to lead her to the checkout.
"No, I'll look ridiculous," Kagome protested dragging her feet. Naraku shook his head as he grabbed a golden lion mask for himself and lead her to the cash register anyway. "Really Naraku, I don't want to look like a fool."
Naraku ignored her and paid the cashier before putting his hand on the small of Kagome's back to lead her out of the store. "Honestly Kagome, this is New Orleans, you will hardly stick out." He smiled at her. "You are expected to behave out of the norm here."
"You won't be the only one looking like a fool," Sesshoumaru informed her standing on her other side. He pointed out Kikyo and Suikotsu and shook his head. "I'm not sure how I feel about the man who has my life in his hands walking around with a rooster mask on." He muttered as he eyed the red and white rooster mask the good doctor wore and the peacock mask donned by his wife.
"So where shall we go to next?" Suikotsu asked. His dark eyes scanned the street at large, but there seemed so many places he was unsure of where to begin.
"A few streets South of here always have art displayed in the alley. Let us check that out," Naraku offered as he led the group in that direction. Kagome had eased a few inches away from him so that his hand was no longer upon her back and looked at all the old buildings for herself. They were quite beautiful really.
"You know, I bet that most of these places are supposed to be haunted," Sesshoumaru mused beside her.
"Can you see any ghosts?" Kagome asked, not even realizing that she was speaking to someone no one else could see.
Sesshoumaru quirked a brow. "Just because I don't have a physical body at the moment to walk around the streets with you doesn't mean I am a ghost," he informed her a bit offended by the question.
Naraku laughed at the question and put his hand back around Kagome's waist and began to play with her feather boa. "That's a good question baby doll." He told her with a wry smile. "Half these places on this particular street are said to be haunted."
He pointed to a large red painted building that was about four stories high but took up the length of the entire block. "That my dear, is the location of an all boys school that burned to the ground nearly two centuries ago. It was restored to a large fancy hotel, but it is said that it is haunted by the spirits of those children."
Kagome actually shivered.
"That's true," Kikyo confirmed, joining the conversation. She pointed to another building on the next street up. "That yellow building, the ghost of a young woman haunts there. She was newly wed and her husband wanted her to prove her love to him. He didn't believe that she was truly devoted."
"How are you supposed to prove your love?" Kagome asked. "Isn't that one of those things you just know?"
Kikyo looked at her sadly. "You would think that, wouldn't you? But the story is that it was a cold night and he told his wife that if she loved him, she would sleep on the roof through out the night with no clothes."
Kagome and Sesshoumaru exchanged stricken looks before glancing towards the haunted building. "How is that supposed to prove your love?"
Kikyo shrugged. "Well she did as he asked, I don't believe he actually thought she would do it. He was drunk at the time in the middle of playing poker games with several of his friends. He probably wasn't serious. However, the next morning they found her body on the roof without a stick of clothing on."
She exchanged sad looks with her husband. They had researched some of the more famous hauntings the night before and he continued the sad story for her. "She died of exposure. She froze to death. The husband was so devastated that he committed suicide that night. It is said that their ghosts haunt their old home now." Suikotsu explained.
"I guess they know how they feel about each other now," Kagome muttered annoyed at the two fools that so carelessly threw away their lives.
Kagome stopped in stock still and the others stopped around her. "What is it?" Sesshoumaru asked as he followed her line of vision.
"Pirates Alley," Kagome muttered recognizing the alleyway, but unsure of how she knew the identity of it since she had never been to New Orleans before, unless her and Sesshoumaru's suspicions on past lives were correct.
"Ah, yes, Pirates Alley, let's go there. They have a great deal of art down there and the church is magnificent." Naraku took hold of Kagome's wrist and guided the group in that direction.
Kagome followed absently, but it was not the present she was seeing but visions of another time clouded her mind's eye. "Why is it called Pirate's Alley?" She asked as she tried to ignore the overwhelming emotions rising.
"Ah, Jean LaFitte loved to walk down this alley and tease the Governor," Naraku explained. Kagome turned to him with wide eyes but he didn't seem to notice. "The Governor couldn't do anything to the infamous pirate while he was walking on Church grounds." He pointed to the massive cathedral on one side of the alleyway.
"The pirate enjoyed taunting the Governor, because even if the Governor did arrest him the pirate had so many connections that the hell that would ensue was too great of a risk," Naraku explained.
Kagome had tuned out her step brother and focused on the visions that were coming to her memory. She was looking out the window on the second floor of the Governor's home and talking idly with a beautiful pirate, most likely Jean LaFitte. Standing next to him was the young man from the creek. They were waving farewell to her.
She watched as the two men walked away from her down the alley and towards the shipping grounds where their ship most likely was located. There was mention of a short trip that the young man would be accompanying the notorious pirate upon.
LaFitte promised to bring him home to her and that they would leave the next day.
A tear fell from Kagome's eye as she seemed to recall that she would never see the blue eyed young man alive again.
More startling images came to mind. She heard a pounding on the door of the balcony outside her bedroom. She rushed to it, mindful that only the young man even knocked on her balcony door. However, it was not Kouga that was knocking but Jean LaFitte and his emerald eyes were apologetic as he explained the situation and helped her leave the Governor's mansion and enter the docks.
The fearless pirate was angry and cursing about betrayal. He vowed to find the guilty culprit and have him punished for the crime, but Kagome didn't understand until they arrived.
Laying on the ground with his head in the lap of a somber woman, LaFitte's mistress, was Kouga. The blood pooled around him and several of LaFitte's men stood in a circle around the young man all wearing the same expression.
Kagome had rushed to his side and LaFitte's mistress, Jasmine, moved aside for Kagome to take her place. She placed her hands upon Kagome's shoulders and hugged the young woman from behind in an attempt to comfort.
No comfort would be found. For Kagome's beloved Kouga had been murdered. Even the vengeance sworn by the great Jean LaFitte would never bring him back to her.
A sob escaped Kagome's throat and she felt her throat contract. She remembered. She remembered Kouga vividly and she recalled his death. "Are you okay? What did you see?" Sesshoumaru demanded, his eyes trying to follow the sightless vision she was staring at.
"Kagome are you okay?" Suikotsu asked concerned. He stood in front of her and waved his hands in front of her glazed over eyes. "Can you hear me?" He demanded, his medical skills kicking in.
Kagome blinked and cleared her throat. "I'm fine, I just was day dreaming I guess." She finished lamely.
Naraku frowned at her and his cinnamon gaze drifted to where had been staring off towards. He wasn't sure, but that seemed to be the direction where Kouga had been murdered nearly two centuries before.
"Why don't we go on one of those tours?" Kikyo suggested, effectively breaking the tension.
"You will find an excuse to get away from these fools and speak to me privately," Sesshoumaru informed Kagome with no room to argue.
"Um, actually, I need a restroom," Kagome informed her companions with an apologetic smile.
"No problem, there's a public restroom near the place I plan to get our tour tickets from," Naraku assured her.
"I don't recommend public bathrooms here," Kikyo mentioned. "But, I have some disinfectant in my purse in case there isn't any soap, you just let me know if you need it," she offered Kagome.
The drive to the plantation was endless. After a pleasant drive to Louisiana with no troubles the trio discovered that the actual plantation Kagome lived at was nearly impossible to find.
"Are we there yet?" Inuyasha asked for the umpteenth time.
Sango glared at him from her position in the passenger seat while Miroku's hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, turning his knuckles white in frustration.
"If you ask again, I'm going to pull over and then leave you stranded in this god-forsaken swampland," Miroku warned as he gritted his teeth.
Inuyasha threw his hands in the air. "Shesh, it was a simple question."
"Well when we get there we'll be sure to announce it," Sango assured him. "At this rate, I doubt if we'll ever find it. Maybe we should ask for directions." She suggested with a pointed look at Miroku.
"I do not need directions. I know where I'm going." Mirkou informed her sharply.
"Does that mean we're close then?" Inuyasha persisted. It wasn't exactly the same question he had been asking, so surely that threat wouldn't hold up.
Miroku pulled over. Inuyasha tensed. Sango began to drum her fingers on the dashboard ready for a show.
Miroku cleared his throat. "I do not need directions because we are here," he pointed proudly through a thicket that led to a large white manner that could barely be seen in the distance.
"So, are you going to drive any closer then?" Inuyasha asked as he peered between the two front seats to the large plantation.
"Certainly, I just wanted the two of you to stop nagging," Miroku supplied as he began to drive towards his destination.
"I wasn't nagging," Inuyasha muttered as he crossed his arms.
Minutes later, Miroku parked beside the vehicle he recognized as belonging to Kagome's step father. The ensemble made it to the front porch when the door opened and an angry Onigumo stood glaring at them with a shot gun in his hands and an fearsome expression to boot.
Miroku smiled placatingly at the man, hoping to charm him like he did all other parents. "Good afternoon, Onigumo. I was hoping that we could visit Kagome."
Onigumo's dark eyes narrowed. "She's not here and you are trespassing."
Miroku frowned but quickly hid his expression behind a neutral mask. "When might she return?"
"It's none of your damn business." Onigumo cocked the shot gun and kept Miroku in the sights. "I suggest you leave now, I won't warn you again."
"Sorry to have disturbed you," Miroku gave a brief bow and grabbed hold of Inuyasha and Sango's elbows and pulled them alongside him, trying to keep either of them from doing something stupid.
They reached Miroku's vehicle and immediately began to converse. "Some reception," Inuyasha muttered.
"Kagome is obviously in danger," Sango decided.
"We can't leave until we find out exactly what is going on. It looked as if the step father was the only one even here. I saw no signs of Mrs. H, Souta, or even Naraku." Miroku told them as he began to pace. He felt a chill wind and was urged to look towards the forest.
Inuyasha followed his line of sight. "What?"
"I think we should check out the forest for some clues," Miroku replied as he was drawn towards a certain area of trees.
"Maybe we should go and find a hotel and come back later," Sango disagreed with a grim expression.
Miroku raised a brow. "Why Sango, I never thought you would be the one to suggest we hurry to a hotel," he questioned aghast.
Sango blushed furiously and whacked him upside the head. "That's not what I meant you pervert."
Miroku absently rubbed his sore head but continued to lead his friends deeper into the forest.
"Awesome!" Inuyasha shouted as he took off at a run towards a giant tree that was growing near a beautiful creek. He began to climb the tree and perched himself at an upper bough and swung his legs back and forth.
"That's bit juvenile," Sango retorted at his behavior.
"Whatever, I love big trees but we've been living in the city so long, I haven't seen a good climbing tree since I was a kid," Inuyasha exclaimed as he leaned against the tree trunk and relaxed.
"We can wait here," Miroku informed them feeling an odd sense of peace at this location. "We can hear the sound of vehicles coming to the plantation from here, so we should be good."
"What if Onigumo discovers us trespassing again?" Sango asked worriedly.
Miroku walked towards her and wrapped his arm across her shoulder, drawing her close. "Don't worry, I have a feeling that we'll be safe from that man here."
"What did you see?" Sesshoumaru demanded the moment that the bathroom door was shut and locked.
Kagome looked up at him, tears in her eyes that refused to fall. More than ever, Sesshoumaru wished that he was in his body so that he could hold her.
"I think you were right when we were talking about past lives before." She began as she worried her bottom lip.
Sesshoumaru's attention was riveted to that bottom lip. He really wished he had his body right now. He could think of a million better things for her lips to be doing that being chewed on in her nervousness. He forced himself to pay attention. "Do explain."
"I saw myself living in the Governor's mansion; which would make sense if I was his daughter. I also saw Kouga and Jean Lafitte. Kouga was murdered."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "I thought that he was murdered."
"Do you think you and I are supposed to figure out who killed him?" She asked as her hand involuntarily reached out to touch his face. Her fingers were inches from his alabaster cheek before she realized that he wasn't really there and her hand dropped to her side.
Sesshoumaru was watching her hand. He closed his eyes briefly so she wouldn't see the disappointment. When he opened them again, they were molten gold with passion and possession. "I don't want Naraku touching you."
Kagome's hands fell to her hips. "What is that supposed to mean? You don't own me."
He took the step required to stand before her and bent so that they were nose to nose. "But I do. And damn it, I'm going to wake up and I'm going to take you far away from that damnable plantation!" His hands fell to her shoulders and passed right through. He took a step back and took a deep breath.
"And when I come, I'll finally be able to touch you."
Kagome smiled. "That certainly would be nice," she agreed. "I better go, Kikyo will think some alligator crawled out of the toilet and ate me."
Sesshoumaru blocked her path to the door. She could have walked through him, they both knew that, but she paused anyway. The expression in his eyes told her it was serious. "I don't trust him and I don't want him touching you."
"Then you best wake up," Kagome told him and she walked through him and left the restroom. Sesshoumaru followed her silently for the rest of the time in the French Quarters. He wouldn't admit it, but he felt a little better since Kagome kept just enough distance away from Naraku to not be obvious that she was avoiding him.
TBC