DW: And I'm back for another chapter. How did you all like the prolog? I
had fun with it. And I realized that I enjoy doing the whole inner voice
thing. I also found that I have a thing for gang fics. Don't know why
really, but I like 'em.
Inu: You said that you were making this a fic about the anime me and Kagome, right?
DW: Hai, Inu-chan. Tasuki was just there to lay down the incoming plot. And, might I add, that I am a firm believer in 'love at first sight' fics. *sighs and begins to think about MJ*
Inu: *growls jealously* Who's MJ?
DW: Kuso! Uh, no one you should be worried about! He's a friend who's coming home from army boot camp in about a month. One of my best friends, Josh, is his younger brother. They're both my friends in fact. Very cute friends .
Inu: *growls* He had better just be a friend. Both of them! You are mine, you hear?!? No one else but me can have you!
DW: *sweatdrops* Yes, Inu-chan, I hear you. Anyways, would you like to do the disclaimer for me?
Inu: DW doesn't own the anime or manga me, or its characters. She does own the OC's. However, I now own her, so if MJ or Josh reads this, HANDS OFF! SHE'S ALL MINE!
DW: *sighs and shakes head* Your subtlety astounds me. I think I should put you back in the closet. Now, on with the fic!
Chapter 1
17 year old Kagome Higiraishi stepped into her old bedroom for the first time in a year. She was back home. A year out in the country had been good for recovering after Tasuki's death, but she was a city girl through and through. The country just wasn't her place.
She definitely had changed on the outside after Tasuki's death. She no longer dressed the part of a preppy or popular girl, with her sundresses, short skirts, platform sandals, and sweaters.
Kagome had her own style now, reminiscent of a raver; one that mainly consisted of tight, low-waist pants and capris and tight belly-revealing shirts, along with sneakers and enough metal jewelry to set off a metal detector 20 feet away. She had pierced her ears several times, and had also gotten her navel pierced.
But while her outward appearance had changed, parts of her on the inside had not. The very name of the Black Spiders gang or their leader Naraku sent her into a panic. She hated violence, but was not against defending or attacking if necessary. Still, Kagome was always too afraid to actually use what she had been taught, except for the one time she had needed to get away from Naraku's lackey.
She was still slightly impulsive, usually throwing herself into something without thinking. Kagome had done just that when she had first met Tasuki. Over time, he had taught her how to listen to her instincts and to look for signs, and to be patient and think things through.
And she still had no interest whatsoever in any guys. In her eyes and mind, no one could compare with Tasuki. He had been her first love, and from the way she was feeling, most likely her last. She felt as though something had died inside when Tasuki had died.
Kagome had always wondered about Tasuki. During the last month of his life, he had become incredibly busy, and Kagome had a feeling that it wasn't just because of the Black Spiders. She had let it go, although now she wished that she hadn't. Kagome figured that whatever Tasuki had been involved in, it was important.
Her room looked the same as it had a year before, only dustier. She had already been enrolled in the other high school in the city, Tokyo High, and she was starting the next day. Kagome placed her four heavy suitcases on her bed and began to unpack. The floor around her had boxes stacked up, waiting to be unpacked as well.
She, her mother, and younger brother had all left to stay with Kagome's aunt for a year. Their house in the city remained the way it was, with only some neighbors to keep watch over it. She had been saddened when she was unable to attend Tasuki's funeral. Kagome decided to go pay respects to his grave the next day, after school. In the meantime, she had some unpacking, cleaning, and rearranging to do before she was able to go to sleep.
Morning came early to the household. Kagome was awake and dressed, eager to get to school and move on with life. Her uniform consisted of a short dark blue pleated skirt, short-sleeved white blouse, light blue tie, and a dark blue jacket, along with knee high white socks and black shoes. She spritzed on some body mist in the scent of jasmine blossoms and roses. It was her favorite scent.
Kagome ran downstairs and into the kitchen. Kagome stuck some bread into the toaster and poured herself a glass of milk from the refrigerator, which she gulped down. Kagome took the time to write her mom a note, telling her that she had left early. Grabbing the toast and some money for lunch, she quietly exited the house and made her way to the driveway, where her baby sat in the driveway.
It was a gift from her dad, before he passed away when she was 14. She hadn't been able to drive it then, but it had been hers for when she learned. The car was a beautiful blue '65 GTO. (A/N: Think the GTO from XXX. Yeah, that's the one. Only minus the guns, flame throwers, ejection seats, GPS system, rocket launchers, and everything else that was added in there to make it kick ass. Now, add in a cd player and some kick ass speakers. There, now you have it.) The entire inside was done in blue flames, and the stereo and speaker system was top of the line. The engine was the best one could get, and was built for speed. (A/N: this is so my dream car. I want one when I'm older, and am able buy one and fix it up/steal one and fix it up.)
Kagome sped off in the direction of her school. Her radio was blasting, the song of the moment being 'Get Busy' by Sean Paul. Almost immediately, her body began moving to the beat of the music. She couldn't help it. One of her favorite things to do was dance, and she was good at it. Dancing was in her blood; always had been and always would be.
She took a winding route to her new school that she knew was safe. It went through neutral gang territory, so she wouldn't be endangering herself. Tasuki had showed her the borders of both gang's territories, and also the neutral parts of the city.
Pulling into the school parking lot, Kagome ignored the stares she got from other students. Grabbing her Discman from her glove box, she popped in her new Happy 2b Hardcore: Chapter 7 cd, turned it to 'Don't Cry For Me', and put her headphones on, quietly singing along to it as she walked.
Kagome headed to the office. She would need her schedule and ID card. Walking through the halls, she paid no attention to the stares that she got. If she had, then she would have immediately been put on edge, especially the stares of two people who had done a double take as they saw her walk by. It was a boy and girl, both older than she, and they watched her with great interest.
The boy had black hair to his shoulders that had been pulled back into a short ponytail at the base of his neck, and bright violet eyes. His right hand and arm had some sort of purple cloth covering it, and was wrapped with a rosary. He had a quite demeanor about him, but a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. He also had both of his ears pierced. Small gold hoops decorated both lobe, with two on the left and one on the right.
The girl had her dark brown hair up in a high ponytail and dark burgundy eyes. She had magenta eye shadow on and carried herself as if she knew that she could kick ass. She also had a necklace on. It consisted of metal tube beads and metal balls, and a tribal pendant. The tube beads had a section cut away to reveal a purple plastic string, and the tribal pendant was silver with a purple center. In the center, a name had been scratched into it. It read Miroku. The boy was wearing an identical one, only his read Sango.
They watched as Kagome made her way to the office.
"Hey, Miroku, doesn't she look familiar?"
Miroku glanced at his female companion. "Yes, Sango love, I do believe you are right. She looks very familiar."
Sango frowned, her eyes narrowing coldly. "She reminds me of that bitchy slut, Kikyo."
Miroku smiled at her. "Almost, but personally I think she is a lot more beautiful than Kikyo. Her eyes are warmer, she isn't as sluttish looking, and she doesn't walk like she has a stick up her ass. More than likely, she's just someone who happens to look like Kikyo. Kikyo isn't exactly young enough to go to high school, or smart enough."
Sango sighed. The girl was still bothering her. "Yeah, you're probably right. But I think we should call Inuyasha and ask him if we should do anything about her. I think that she might be connected to the Black Spiders, you know, like a lure for Inuyasha. He did mention something about a girl looking a lot like Kikyo that he was looking for."
"Sango, love, chill for the moment. Don't worry too much about it. It's probably just a coincidence. We're going to be late for class if we don't hurry."
The pair walked off to their first class, hand in hand. While they would never publicly admit it, they were very much in love, and everyone knew it. While out in public, they preferred to fight, but it was really their way of telling each other that they loved one another.
~~~
They reached their class and took their seats. They saw others that they knew in the class. All were wearing necklaces similar to the ones that they wore. Most were all silver and black. Very few were colored, like Miroku and Sango's.
These necklaces were a way for members of the Youkai gang to identify each other, and in this gang, the color of your necklace signified who you were, your position in the gang and security clearance, and for those who were a couple, who you belonged to.
Miroku was the Purple, which was right under Red, which in turn was under Blue. Sesshoumaru was the Blue, and Inuyasha was the Red. Tasuki, before he had died, had been a Green, which was under Purple. He had been planning on giving his girlfriend, whom no one in the Youkai had ever seen, not even a picture of, his green necklace when the time was right.
The necklace would have done for his girlfriend what it did for Sango; it allowed her to go wherever Miroku was, got her all the benefits, protection, and respect that he got, and signified that she belonged to him, as well as the gang. Had Tasuki lived, his girlfriend would have been entitled to all the benefits that he had, and she would have been protected from all harm at any cost.
But, Tasuki had died, and for the past year, the Youkai's had kept their eyes and ears open, trying to find where she had disappeared to at Inuyasha's orders. All they knew was that she had vanished the morning after his death, and that she hadn't been seen since. The only thing they knew about her was that she was young, semi-resembled Kikyo, and that her name was Kagome something or other.
That was what had been nagging Sango. The girl had looked amazingly like Kikyo, but the possibility of the girl in question just reappearing like that was kind of a long shot. She had left and if she knew what was good for her, she wouldn't come back. Tokyo wasn't a safe place for the former girlfriend of a murdered spy, especially when the murderer was Naraku.
The teacher had just started talking when the door opened. In walked the new girl from the hallway. Her headphones were around her neck but her music had been turned off. A collective intake of breath could be heard from the members of the Youkai in the classroom.
This girl looked like Kikyo's twin! But then, the Youkai were able to pick out some differences. Kikyo's hair had been waist length and straight. This girl's hair was shorter and slightly wavy, going to just below her mid back. Her eyes were a warm bluish-gray, unlike the cold dark brown eyes of Kikyo. The new girl's eyes seemed to light up from within and sparkle with life.
She was a little curvier in the figure than Kikyo, with larger breasts, a narrower waist, and slightly wider hips. She was also smaller height wise, although her legs seemed to make up a good part of her height. Her ears were full of silver hoops, at least 7 in total. All in all, Miroku was right; she was more beautiful than Kikyo ever was and could be.
The teacher looked at the piece of paper that the girl had handed to him.
"Class, it would appear that we have a new student. She has just transferred here after a year at Shikon High School in Kyoto. This is Higurashi Kagome. Higurashi, welcome to Tokyo High School."
The girl smiled at the class, her eyes sparkling. Sango and Miroku, along with the rest of the Youkai, all stared at each other in shock, alarm bells going off as things clicked into place.
This girl, who looked like Kikyo and had the name of Kagome, matched the description of the one they had been looking for. They had to call Inuyasha, ASAP. Cause if this girl was who they thought she was, and she definitely had to be, then Naraku would most likely find out that the girlfriend of the only Youkai to infiltrate his gang was back in town. And he would not be happy that she was alive.
~~~
Kagome had been nervous as she had entered the classroom. She didn't know from what. It was just school. No one would know her. It had been a year, and yet, as soon as she had walked in, a bunch of unfamiliar students had looked at each other, almost as if they knew her, or worse, had been expecting her. But they couldn't. They didn't look like members of the Black Spiders, and if she remembered correctly, none of the Spiders ever really attended school.
'Shows what their priorities are. Or should I say, aren't.'
She smiled as the teacher introduced her to the class. He then pointed out a seat for her to take. It was right next to an older girl with a ponytail, who was sitting next to an older boy who was wearing some sort of purple cloth wrapped around his right arm and secured with prayer beads. Both of them had on matching necklaces, so she figured that they were a couple.
Sitting next to the girl, she turned and smiled, anxious to make new friends. "Hi. I'm Kagome. I just moved back here to Tokyo after spending a year with relatives."
The girl smiled back at her. "Hi Kagome, my name is Taiji-ya Sango, and the pretty boy on my right is Houshi Miroku. You can just call us Sango and Miroku. Watch out for his hands though, they have a tendency to wander, usually to the southern regions of the female body."
Miroku just smiled innocently at her, keeping his hands to himself for a change. Usually, they would be all over the new girl, but for once, he behaved himself. He didn't want to go scaring off the girl Inuyasha had been looking for.
Kagome seemed a little nervous. She could feel the stares of some of the other students while her back was turned, and it was very weird. "Um.I was wondering, since I'm new here and everything, if you two would mind showing me around the school? I don't really want to get lost or anything. I went to Sengoku Jidai High before I transferred to Shikon, so I don't know the layout here."
Kagome could have sworn that she saw relief flash across the faces of her new friends and went on edge. She shook it off, figuring that she was imagining it. 'Were they actually hoping that I would ask them to help me around today? Man, things have changed since I was last here. But I appreciate it. It's been so long since I've been able to make friends.
"Sure, Kagome. We'd love to show you around. What's your schedule? Here, let me see it so I can see what classes we have together." Sango smiled as she talked. She had seen the wary look Kagome had given them. She had to get her to trust them.
Sango checked Kagome's schedule. "This is great! We have all of our classes together! Showing you around will be a piece of cake."
Kagome giggled, happiness once again creeping back into her life. Ever since that day, one year ago, she had lived in constant fear of being found by Naraku. She had always been afraid of making friends for fear that they would somehow get dragged into her problems.
But nothing had happened for a year, and so Kagome now felt somewhat safe. She stopped, shock on her face, and then she grinned, smiling wider than ever. Sango and Miroku looked at her, puzzled.
Kagome saw their expressions. "Oh, it's nothing. I just haven't giggled or even smiled like that in over a year, ever since my boyfriend died." Her expression turned sad, and Sango could see pain in her eyes. Kagome pulled out her wallet and showed them a picture.
It was a photo of her and Tasuki that Kagome's mother had taken at one time on a weekend when Tasuki didn't have to do anything for the gang. The two of them were at a park, and Tasuki had his arms around Kagome's slim waist as they leaned up against a tree. Both had huge smiles plastered on their faces as they laughed at the camera, and they looked very happy to be with one another.
Sango could see Tasuki's green necklace peeking from beneath his black shirt. But on his neck, she could also see the Black Spider tattoo that he had been forced to get for joining the rival gang. He had told everyone back with the Youkai's though that as soon as the mission was over, he was going to have it removed. He hated it, but it was a necessary evil.
That picture confirmed it. This was the girl that Inuyasha was looking for. She was Tasuki's former girlfriend. They had to get her to see Inuyasha pronto. 'And, without attracting the attention of the Black Spiders' Sango thought.
The bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom. Kagome and Sango exited the room. Miroku told them to go ahead, and that he would catch up with them later. He didn't have the same class with them next period, and he didn't mind missing his next class, which was math, in order to inform the other Youkai of the situation.
The Youkai members all gathered around him, wanting to know what was up. The teacher was gone, and the other students had left. The classroom was empty, save for them.
Miroku spoke. "It's definitely her, Tasuki's former girl. She fits the description, has the same name, and she told Sango and I that her old boyfriend died a year ago. Not only that, but she showed us a picture of the two of them together. It was Tasuki, and he had his Green necklace on."
He gave them all a serious stare. "We have to keep her safe. Spread the word. Tell everyone that she has Green level, even though she doesn't have a necklace. If we know that she's back, then Naraku will undoubtedly find out sooner or later. We can just hope for later, until we get her with us."
The other members all nodded. As far as levels went in the gang, Blue was highest, followed by Red, and the Purple. Green was under Purple, and under Green were Yellow, then Brown, then White, and then Black, which was lowest.
Green was a pretty high color. Of Blue, Red, and Purple, there was only one main necklace given. Green was the highest level where multiple necklaces were given. In the gang, other Green members included Kouga, Nobunaga, and Midoriko.
Green was a level where only the most trusted members reached. They had proven themselves countless times, and had never failed in battle. They were excellent leaders and could be trusted to command others, and they all had some sort of special talent.
Miroku had authority over the Greens, and Inuyasha had authority over Miroku. Sesshoumaru had authority over all of them, all though he did have to be in agreement for major decisions concerning the gang.
Of the Greens, Tasuke had been the leader. He was one of the strongest and fastest, and a good friend of Inuyasha. His death had been greatly mourned by everyone, especially Kouga, who had taken over the leadership of the Greens following his death. The two had been good friends, almost like brothers.
The group left and went their separate ways. Miroku decided to skip class so that he could call Inuyasha and tell him. Ducking into an empty classroom, he pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number. It rang once before a gruff yet sleepy voice answered.
".This had better be good, Miroku, or else you're gonna die in a way that not even Sango will be able to save you from."
Miroku smiled. Only Inuyasha could know that it was him. It was like he had some kind of sixth sense. Either that, or Caller ID.
"Morning, Inuyasha. It's time to rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. Prince Charming is on the line."
"Why the fuck are you calling me so early?"
"Chill, bro. For your information, it's a little after 9, so it is not that early. And, I'm calling to tell you that we found her, the girl you've been looking for over a year now."
There was silence for a moment. Then, "NANI?!?!" Inuyasha sounded wide awake now.
Miroku smiled at his friend's response. "Yup. She apparently just moved back into town. She's going to the same high school as us, and she has all of her classes with Sango. I went ahead and informed some of the guys to treat her with Green level status, and to spread the word that she is to be protected at all costs and times."
There was silence on the other end for a moment. "You are sure that she's the one? You're absolutely sure? It's kind of strange that she would all of a sudden reappear like this."
"I know, but hell yes she's the one. She looks like almost exactly like Kikyo, answers to the name Higurashi Kagome, told us that her boyfriend died a year ago, and showed us a picture of her and Tasuki together. I'm telling you man, it's her. She said that she just moved back here from a year living with relatives. That would explain why she suddenly vanished and why no one could find her. I'm betting that her family moved to avoid any backlash from either side."
On the other end, Inuyasha silently agreed with his friends thinking. "Alright then. We've got to get her to the mansion here ASAP. When is school out?"
"3:15. You gonna be here to pick us up, or are we driving ourselves?"
"Drive yourselves. I don't want to scare her off until we explain the situation. From what we know, she was told and probably still thinks that I killed him. Call me when school's out, or if anything happens."
"Sure thing, buddy. Talk to ya later."
"Later."
Miroku hung up the phone. Looking at his watch, he saw that 3rd period was going to start soon. That class, he did have with Sango. It was time to tell her of what Inu had said.
Kagome walked into the classroom, once again seeing some familiar faces. Ever since homeroom, she had been smiled at and waved to in the halls. It was kind of weird, but she figured that it was because she was with Sango.
She once again found herself sitting next to Sango and Miroku, but this time, she had the feeling that she was surrounded. On all sides of her, she swore that the other students were looking at her. She kept looking over at them, but they would look away whenever she looked. It was making her jumpy.
Strangely enough, they all seemed to be wearing the same type of necklace as Sango and Miroku, only in different colors. That got Kagome's attention immediately, but she forced herself to calm down.
'It might just be a trend. Chill, girl. None of them have the tattoos. But then again, that too could be a bad thing. The bastard might have gotten smarter.' Her instincts were making her paranoid, but Tasuki had pounded it into her head to always be aware of things around her, so she had little choice.
Sango poked her, bringing her back to a somewhat sane reality, noticing how startled she was. "Hey, Kagome. What are you doing after school?"
Kagome lowered her eyes for a moment. "I was thinking of going and visiting my boyfriend's grave. I never had the chance to go to his funeral. I wanted to, but my mom wouldn't allow it. We.had to leave rather quickly, for a family emergency." Kagome quickly added. She didn't want anyone to know of her former connections to the Black Spiders.
Sango smiled. She silently hoped that Kagome would say yes to what she was about to ask her. "Would you mind if we went with you?"
Kagome looked at them her warily. Something was definitely up, but she couldn't place her finger on it. She tried to not let it bug her. 'She doesn't know. She couldn't. She's just trying to be friendly. She's not with them. They don't know that you're back.' But still, her voice had a bit of a suspicious tone to it. "Why?"
Sango noticed the wariness and suspicion. 'It's time for a quick lie. Well, ok not a total lie; a partial truth.' "Because we wanted to do something with you afterwards, since you've been gone for a year and could probably use some help finding things to do around the city. And also, because we want to pay our respects to a very dear friend of ours as well. He died a year ago also, and his death is still kind of rough on us."
Kagome relaxed. She bought what Sango said. "Sure. Sorry for getting so defensive, but I'm still kind of wary of people who try to get into my past. It's a long story that I really don't want to get into."
Miroku smiled at her. "We understand and we're sorry."
Kagome smiled back at him. It felt good to smile again.
The rest of the school day passed without mishap. Miroku had told Sango of his conversation with Inuyasha during lunch, when Kagome was waiting in line away from them. Sango was shocked to find that the slightly shy yet wary girl they had befriended really had been the girlfriend of one of their best members. She just didn't seem the type to hang around and especially date gang guys.
When the last bell rang, Miroku and Sango followed Kagome out to her car. They had gotten rides with other members that day, and had told them that they wouldn't need a ride back, and that they would see them at the mansion.
Getting into the car, Sango joined Kagome up front and Miroku sat in the back. They drove out to the local cemetery. Kagome got very quiet as she approached the section where Tasuki was buried. (A/N: She had called his parents for the location of the grave.) Kneeling down, she stared at his headstone.
"Hey Tasuki, it's me, 'Gome. I'm sorry that I didn't come sooner. My mom wigged out on me and moved us out of town right after I found out you had died. She pissed me off when she wouldn't let me come for your funeral." Kagome had tears gathering in her blue-gray eyes. She sniffed, and tried to wipe them away.
"It's been a whole year, Tasuke. I'm 17 now. You would have been 20 this year. I can still remember the crazy plans we made and everything for my graduation and afterwards. But I guess fate had something else in store for us. I miss you, babe. It's been hard without you. I still don't completely know why or how you died, and knowing your history, I'm not too sure if I want to know. Sometimes, I feel like I'm safer not knowing, but.but then I want to know, because I want to take out the sick baka who took you away from me. They say that first loves are the hardest ones to get over. Well, whoever they were, they weren't kidding. I love you, Tasuki. Never forget that. I know that I will never forget that you loved me."
Kagome thought back to a promise Tasuki had made her make for him a few days before he died.
"Kagome, I want you to promise me something." He had a serious tone to his voice.
Kagome looked over at her boyfriend. He was sitting next to her as she lay in the grass of her family's shrine. They were visiting her grandfather with her family. She was puzzled by the way he was acting. "Sure, babe. What is it?"
He looked over at her. His eyes were serious. "Listen, if anything should ever happen to me while I am with the Spiders, I want you to go with one of my friends and stay with him. He will protect you from Naraku and the Spiders."
Now Kagome was scared. "Tasuki, why are you talking like this? You're scaring me!"
Tasuki reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. "I don't mean to scare you, 'Gome. It's just that I want you to be happy and safe, even if I die, or anything else. If I should die for any reason, I want you to go with my friend. He'll be looking for you. And, I want you to find someone who will make you feel safe and happy. I don't want you forgoing love just because I am gone from this world."
Kagome said nothing. She didn't want to agree. She didn't want to think of losing him. This sudden interest in his death had her wondering if there was trouble brewing in the gang.
Tasuki snapped his fingers to get her attention. "Promise me, 'Gome! Promise me that you will go with my friend! I've already spoken to him about this and he's agreed to it. You have to promise me, babe." He reached over and took her other hand.
"Kagome, if anything happened to you because of my death, it would kill so many people inside. You mean a lot to others, like your family and friends. You need to keep on living, even after I've gone. If you love me, you will promise me to go on living and loving even after I'm gone."
Kagome finally nodded her head, accepting what he was saying. "Hai, Tasuki- kun. I promise. But, please do all that you can to make sure that I never have to fulfill this promise."
He nodded and then bent down, catching her lips in a soft kiss.
Kagome bent down and gently kissed the name engraved in the black stone. "I'm sorry. I failed to fulfill your promise. Your friend never came for me. I'm sure that my mom moving us so soon had something to do with that. And, I'm just not sure if I can go on loving after you like you wanted me to. I wish.I wish that you would give me a sign that there is someone else out there for me and that it's ok for me to move on and love again."
At that moment, Kagome noticed a strand of silver glinting on the black polished headstone. Thinking that it was just a strand from a spider web, she brushed it off. She never noticed that it was really a long strand of silver hair.
Sango and Miroku stood by silently. They had heard every word. Sango was crying, and Miroku had his arm around her. Slowly, Kagome stood up. Turning, she looked at her friends. Her eyes had tears streaming from them. She offered them a weak smile, but it fell as she let out a choked sob. Sango held out her arms, and Kagome rushed into them, sobbing.
Sango gently rubbed her back, allowing Kagome to get out all of her pent up emotions. She could understand the pain. Losing a loved one was tough. She knew. Her entire family, except she and her brother, had been killed by Naraku. That was why she was with the Youkai, so that she could get her revenge.
After a few minutes, Kagome was better. Pulling away from Sango, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry guys; I totally forgot that you had a friend that you wanted to visit here."
"Actually Kagome, we just did visit him. Our friend who died was Awajimi Tasuki."
"Huh?" Kagome was confused. Her mental alarms went off, but she silenced them. This all had to be some sort of coincidence. They couldn't be with the Spiders, could they? Those were the only friends that she knew Tasuki had.
"Kagome, will you let us take you somewhere? Everything will be explained when we get there. All I can say at this time is that it involved Tasuki and his death, and now you."
Kagome looked at them as if they were crazy. She had no idea what was going on. Sango put her hands on her shoulders. "Kagome, please trust us. We are not with the Black Spiders. Your life could depend on this. You need to come with us."
Kagome finally nodded. She allowed her two companions to pull her away from the graveyard and back into her car. Miroku took the wheel while Sango sat in the back with Kagome, holding her hands.
Kagome stayed silent the entire way. She was scared. Tears still fell from her eyes, and she had no idea why. She only broke her trance when the car pulled up to the gates of a mansion. After identifying himself at the gates, Miroku drove the car up the long driveway.
Kagome looked out the window. The grounds of the mansion that they were at were beautiful. There were trees and flowering plants of all sorts decorating the expansive lawns of the mansion. The driveway went up to the front of the house and formed a circle. In the center was a large fountain.
Out in the middle of the lawns, Kagome saw a huge weeping willow tree. A pond peeked from beneath its drooping branches, which also half covered a stone bench. She was so concentrated on the outside that she never even noticed that the car had stopped. It took Sango poking her to realize that they were waiting for her to get out. She slowly exited the car and allowed Sango and Miroku to lead her inside.
The inside was just as impressive as the outside. But it seemed empty for some reason. It was then that Kagome noticed that there were no other people there. Miroku walked into the main hall and turned a corner, disappearing. Sango stayed with Kagome.
The older girl reached down and squeezed Kagome's hand. "Don't worry. You are about to find out more about Tasuki. It should hopefully clear a lot of stuff up, like his death, and also some more of his past that you didn't know about."
Kagome looked at Sango. She finally realized what was up. This place.it reminded her of the main hideout for the Black Spiders. She had gone one time, and that was because Naraku insisted that all members and their girlfriends or boyfriends attended. Tasuki had never made her go again, and had kept her out of the Black Spiders various activities from then on.
When she spoke, her voice was surprisingly soft and even. "Sango, I want the truth when you answer this question."
"Sure, Kagome. What's the question?"
"This is a gang base isn't it? And you're part of the gang that lives here aren't you."
Sango sighed. Kagome was very observant. Tasuki had trained her well. She would need skills like that to survive, especially against Naraku.
"Hai, Kagome. You are right. You are in the main base for the Youkai's, and yes, I am a member. I am also Miroku's girlfriend, and he's a member too."
Kagome lowered her head. When her voice came out, it started cold and calm and quiet. "I knew it. I knew that this damned life would come back to get me when I moved back here. Only now, I've been taken by the gang that killed Tasuki!" The last part came out as a yell.
Sango looked at the girl. Tears and anger were blazing in her eyes. 'Shit, this is not good. She still thinks that we killed Tasuki. She knows nothing but the lies that were fed to her.' Sango had to think fast.
"Kagome, calm down and listen to me. We had nothing to do with Tasuki's death." Sango tried to explain. She reached for Kagome. The younger girl flinched and pulled away.
"Like hell you didn't! I was told that it was the Youkai's that ambushed him! The Youkai's killed him! You killed him!" Kagome screamed, tears pouring down her face.
"You were informed wrong." A new voice, one that was definitely male, broke through her screams.
Kagome looked up, tears still pouring down her face. She was very close to running out the door. She didn't think that she could handle anything else.
But one look at the speaker, and she froze. Standing there across the hall was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her life. She couldn't help but stare at him. He was.perfect. In her mind, she saw the white strand that was by Tasuki's grave. His sign to her, the one she had asked for.
He had long white hair that hung to his waist, and the most gorgeous amber eyes, well, the only amber eyes she had ever seen. He was tall and muscular. He was dressed in baggy blue jeans and a tight fitting red shirt. He had on a necklace identical to Sango and Miroku's, only his was red where theirs were purple.
And on top of his head, he had a pair of white dog ears. They flicked over in her direction, and Kagome realized that they weren't fake. Miroku stood next to him, a pained expression on his face. He had heard what Kagome had screamed.
Sango took the opportunity to grab Kagome's wrists, keeping her still. The younger girl was still shaking, but oddly enough, her attention was now frozen on the silver-haired man in front of her.
The man spoke again. "I am Inuyasha, the younger of the two leaders of the Youkai, and I can safely assure you that Tasuki was never killed by us. We Youkai never kill our own members. And I especially do not order the deaths of my close friends. You were lied to by the Black Spiders. Tasuki wanted me to find you if he died. We've been looking for you for a year now."
Her promise to Tasuki flew back into her memory. Things started clicking in her brain, until she understood. 'He was the friend Tasuki had said would come for me.' But other things stood in her way of completely understanding. 'He was the one that Naraku said had killed him. Tasuki's murderer is his friend.' She shook her head, unsure of what to believe anymore. Her brain was trying to find its way through the maze of lies that she had been fed and believed for two years.
This was it. She had had enough. All she wanted to do now was go home and forget about all of this. She wanted to go back to her aunt's house, where no one knew her past. Panicking, Kagome spun in a defense move she had learned, breaking free of Sango's hold and knocking the other girl off balance. She was out the door in a flash of blue and black.
Inuyasha swore. He had expected something like this, but just not to this degree. He took off running after the panicked girl, knowing that she was in danger if she left the grounds. By now, Naraku had to know that she was back in town. As long as she was on their turf, she was fine.
But, the moment she stepped off.No, he didn't want to think about that. He couldn't let her die. Not only would he be breaking his promise to Tasuki, but, there was something else.her scent.
It was the most attractive aroma he had ever come across. A mix of jasmine and rose.pure heaven to his nose and mind. At the moment, her scent also included fear, anger, and sadness. Inuyasha wanted to help her, to explain to her.
Hell, he just plain wanted her.
The moment he had seen her, he had felt something that he hadn't felt before in his life. Total desire and attraction. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on. From her raven black hair that framed a perfect face and expressive blue-gray eyes to her long legs and curvy yet slender figure.
She was perfect in everyway imaginable and most likely ways that weren't imaginable. He could see exactly why Tasuki had gotten to her when he could. She was definitely one in a million.
Running out the door, he could see that she was almost to the end of the driveway. She had forgotten about the car, and only seemed interested in getting out of there and away from them. He ran all out, his hanyou speed allowing him to catch up to her within moments. In an instant, he was right behind her.
She was almost at the gates when a pair of strong arms grabbed her and lifted her off of the ground, bridal style. She immediately began kicking and hitting her attacker. He just stood there, letting her take her anger, frustration, and confusion out on him. She cried, cursing everything and everyone she could think of, including Tasuki, for ever getting her mixed up in gangs. Finally, her cries grew silent and she stopped hitting and kicking.
Looking up, she found herself staring into the amber eyes once more. She became lost in them, and for the first time since Tasuki, found herself feeling something that she had thought died with him; attraction. Complete. And. Total. Attraction. Oh, she definitely wanted this guy.
She again remembered her promise. And then, how she had asked for a sign. And then the silver strand at Tasuki's grave. It matched the color of his hair perfectly. The proverbial light bulb went off in her head as things clicked. 'Well Tasuki, I'm taking that as the sign I asked for.'
Looking down, Inuyasha met the stare of those blue-gray eyes. They were full of such pain and sadness. She deserved to know the truth. "Will you listen now?"
Kagome blinked. She nodded, not taking her gaze away from his. He noticed something else in her eyes. 'Why is she staring at me like that? What's that look in her eyes.attraction? Nah, I'm just imagining it. She thinks that I killed her boyfriend. She couldn't like me.could she?'
Inuyasha began to speak, ignoring the look in the girl's eyes. "Tasuki was never a true member of the Black Spiders. He was in reality a member of the Youkai; a very high member at that, and one of my good friends. I remember the day he came to me with a plan for infiltrating the Black Spiders. He would go undercover, pretend to be one of their members, and get us information. It had never been done before, and was very risky. But, I allowed him to go through with it. We needed the information badly."
He watched her expression. She was still listening, so he continued. "So, for 3 years, Tasuki played the part of a Black Spider. And then, one day two years ago, he mentioned meeting you. He had found a girl who loved him, and who he loved as well."
"But he never brought you here to us. He told us that he didn't want to involve you in the gang life, that he wanted you in it as little as possible. I commended him on that. My own girlfriend was a member of the Youkai, but she betrayed me and went to Naraku and the Black Spiders."
Kagome nodded. She remembered now, it was that Kikyo chick who looked so much like herself, who had told her about the Black Spiders. Kikyo, who was with Naraku now. Kagome didn't understand what the woman could stand or like about the creep. She personally had felt disgusted every time she looked at him. Or when he looked at her.
Inuyasha continued. "So, Tasuki continued with his spying. All was going well, until somehow, Naraku found out about him. Before Tasuki's last mission, he asked me for a favor; a promise really. He told me that if anything were to happen to him, that I was to find you, bring you to us, and keep you safe from Naraku. I told him that he would be fine, but he loved you too much to let you get hurt after he had gone. So, I agreed with him. I told him that if anything happened, I would find you, bring you to our base, and keep you safe. And I have done most of that."
"When Sango and Miroku found out who you were today, they immediately called and told me. We've been looking for you since the night Tasuki died. I told them to bring you here, so that I could tell you the truth about his death."
"Naraku had him killed. It was a trap set up to look like an ambush for the Youkais. Tasuki was actually going to be coming back to us that night, for good. And he was going to bring you to us the next day, so that you could receive our full protection. All loved ones or family members of our members are protected. You saw the necklaces that Miroku and Sango wear, and how they are the same?"
Kagome nodded.
"Well, Miroku is at Purple level in the gang. He's right below me. I'm a Red, and also one of the leaders of the Youkai. His necklace signifies that he is my second-in-command. Since Sango is his girl, she wears the Purple too, to show that not only does she belong to the Youkai, but that she belongs to Miroku as well. She gets treated with the respect given to a Purple, and she gets security clearance and benefits that only a Purple level would get, so that she can be wherever Miroku is."
"If Tasuki had lived, he would have given you his Green necklace. Green is right below Purple. The necklace would have identified you to us, so that we could protect you if trouble ever arose. Unfortunately, Tasuki never got the chance. But, in respect to his last wishes, I am offering you a spot in the gang. For your protection from Naraku, along with your family. And, for Tasuki's promise too."
Inuyasha prayed silently in his head that she said yes. He didn't want to force her into the gang, but he would if he had to. Tasuki, one of his closest friends, had been like a younger brother to him, and he wasn't about to disrespect his last wish.
Kagome weighed her options in her head. It had been a lot to take in such a short amount of time. 'Should I join? It would offer me and my family protection. And it would be respecting Tasuki's last wishes, not to mention that promise he made me make.'
'Find someone who will make you feel safe and happy.'
Kagome looked at Inuyasha again. His eyes captured hers. 'Plus.I would get to see this guy all the time. He is the most gorgeous guy I have ever seen. And those ears are so kawaii! I have never felt this way about anyone other than Tasuki. I think I may be falling for him!'
Kagome finally looked up. It was now or never. Time to be impulsive again and see where her choice led her. "Hai, I will join. For Tasuki, and for my family." 'And for you.' She silently thought. She loved Tasuki, but, he was gone now. He had wanted her to move on and find someone else. And now, she believed that she finally had, even if Inuyasha didn't realize it yet.
Kagome found herself getting rather tired very quickly. All the turmoil and stress of the day was finally getting to her. She yawned, trying to stay awake. But, she couldn't. The arms that she was currently being held in had unconsciously pulled her close, and she felt warm and safe, something that she hadn't felt in a long time.
Surprising herself, not to mention him, she rested her head against his chest, allowing his scent to overwhelm her. She slowly closed her eyes and was asleep before Inuyasha could say anything more.
He looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms, unsure of what to do. 'She's so beautiful. This feels so right for some reason. Why? Could I be in love with her? No, how could I? I just met her! This is driving me fucking insane! Well, might as well take her inside. She's one of us now, after all.'
Carefully, so as to not jostle and wake her, he ran back up the drive to the mansion, where Sango, Miroku, and about 20 other members stood waiting. They had seen the two at the end of the drive, and had wondered what the results of the explanation would be.
Seeing them come back together drew a sigh of relief from many of the members. They had been told who she was. The entire gang held and still had great respect for Tasuki. He had done the impossible, and had kept on doing it for almost 3 years. His former girlfriend would be well protected by her new family.
Sango and Miroku saw that Kagome was nestled in his arms as Inuyasha slowed to a walk as he approached. She looked so peaceful and content. There were still tear tracts down her face, but she wasn't crying anymore. Inuyasha pushed through the crowd as he made his way into the mansion. He hadn't told them what her answer had been, and the fact that she was asleep could mean that she had fainted before giving it.
Right before Inuyasha entered, he paused, and glanced back. "She's in." And with that, he was in the house. A collective sigh of relief escaped the group. Kagome was in, she would be safe. Now, the only thing on their minds was, what color would she be?
~~~
Inuyasha was wondering that same thing. 'What color should she be? I could put her at Green, but she hasn't proven herself as having the qualities of one. Plus, Tasuki never officially gave her his Green necklace, so that wouldn't work. But, if I put her at anything lower than Green, she won't have the protection that she'll need. I can't put her at Purple, cause only Miroku and Sango are allowed to wear that. And I don't think that Sessh will allow me to make a new color up just for her.'
He walked up the stairs, going to the 5th floor of the mansion. This was the floor where the higher colors lived; Red, Purple, and Green. He had his room on this floor, even though his brother was living on the floor above him. He and Sesshoumaru didn't get along that well sometimes, so having space between them was a good thing. The room across from his was empty, so he took her in there.
The room was stuffy, but clean. Inuyasha deposited his sleeping cargo onto the bed and then went to go open a window. And all this time, he was still trying to figure out what color she would be.
Looking back at her and noticing how soft her lips looked, he realized something that had been pulling at his brain since he had first laid eyes on her.
He wanted her for himself.
Tasuki had told him that if he died, he wanted Kagome to be with Inuyasha if it came down to it. But Inuyasha didn't want anyone to think that the whole reason he had given her the necklace and claimed her as his own was to honor an old promise.
No, he wanted it to be because he had feelings for her, which he now knew he did. Promise or no promise, Inuyasha felt that he would have wanted her no matter what. Deep in his subconscious, his demon instincts were telling him that she was the one. The one he had been waiting for his entire life. The one who he would someday take as his mate. He just didn't realize it yet.
And that's how he came to his decision. He would do it on the pretense of honoring the promise right now, but then ask her how she felt about it. From the looks she had been giving him that afternoon, she most likely felt the same way about him, but he wasn't totally sure. He was a hanyou after all, and no one ever really wanted to be with one.
He unclasped his red tribal Youkai necklace and gently lifted Kagome's head up so that he could fasten it around her neck. She stayed asleep the entire time.
Finished, he looked down at her again. 'She looks better with it on. It looks like it has always belonged on her neck.' Her scent wafted up as he put the necklace on. He closed his eyes and inhaled the fragrance of jasmine blossoms and roses. He would never get tired of it.
Smiling, he left the room, shutting the door behind him, and set off to find Sango. He needed her to call Kagome's house to tell her mom that Kagome would be staying the night with her. He didn't think that Kagome would be waking up anytime soon, and he didn't want anything to disturb her. She had been through enough that day, and she deserved some rest.
~*~*~*~
Inu: You said that you were making this a fic about the anime me and Kagome, right?
DW: Hai, Inu-chan. Tasuki was just there to lay down the incoming plot. And, might I add, that I am a firm believer in 'love at first sight' fics. *sighs and begins to think about MJ*
Inu: *growls jealously* Who's MJ?
DW: Kuso! Uh, no one you should be worried about! He's a friend who's coming home from army boot camp in about a month. One of my best friends, Josh, is his younger brother. They're both my friends in fact. Very cute friends .
Inu: *growls* He had better just be a friend. Both of them! You are mine, you hear?!? No one else but me can have you!
DW: *sweatdrops* Yes, Inu-chan, I hear you. Anyways, would you like to do the disclaimer for me?
Inu: DW doesn't own the anime or manga me, or its characters. She does own the OC's. However, I now own her, so if MJ or Josh reads this, HANDS OFF! SHE'S ALL MINE!
DW: *sighs and shakes head* Your subtlety astounds me. I think I should put you back in the closet. Now, on with the fic!
Chapter 1
17 year old Kagome Higiraishi stepped into her old bedroom for the first time in a year. She was back home. A year out in the country had been good for recovering after Tasuki's death, but she was a city girl through and through. The country just wasn't her place.
She definitely had changed on the outside after Tasuki's death. She no longer dressed the part of a preppy or popular girl, with her sundresses, short skirts, platform sandals, and sweaters.
Kagome had her own style now, reminiscent of a raver; one that mainly consisted of tight, low-waist pants and capris and tight belly-revealing shirts, along with sneakers and enough metal jewelry to set off a metal detector 20 feet away. She had pierced her ears several times, and had also gotten her navel pierced.
But while her outward appearance had changed, parts of her on the inside had not. The very name of the Black Spiders gang or their leader Naraku sent her into a panic. She hated violence, but was not against defending or attacking if necessary. Still, Kagome was always too afraid to actually use what she had been taught, except for the one time she had needed to get away from Naraku's lackey.
She was still slightly impulsive, usually throwing herself into something without thinking. Kagome had done just that when she had first met Tasuki. Over time, he had taught her how to listen to her instincts and to look for signs, and to be patient and think things through.
And she still had no interest whatsoever in any guys. In her eyes and mind, no one could compare with Tasuki. He had been her first love, and from the way she was feeling, most likely her last. She felt as though something had died inside when Tasuki had died.
Kagome had always wondered about Tasuki. During the last month of his life, he had become incredibly busy, and Kagome had a feeling that it wasn't just because of the Black Spiders. She had let it go, although now she wished that she hadn't. Kagome figured that whatever Tasuki had been involved in, it was important.
Her room looked the same as it had a year before, only dustier. She had already been enrolled in the other high school in the city, Tokyo High, and she was starting the next day. Kagome placed her four heavy suitcases on her bed and began to unpack. The floor around her had boxes stacked up, waiting to be unpacked as well.
She, her mother, and younger brother had all left to stay with Kagome's aunt for a year. Their house in the city remained the way it was, with only some neighbors to keep watch over it. She had been saddened when she was unable to attend Tasuki's funeral. Kagome decided to go pay respects to his grave the next day, after school. In the meantime, she had some unpacking, cleaning, and rearranging to do before she was able to go to sleep.
Morning came early to the household. Kagome was awake and dressed, eager to get to school and move on with life. Her uniform consisted of a short dark blue pleated skirt, short-sleeved white blouse, light blue tie, and a dark blue jacket, along with knee high white socks and black shoes. She spritzed on some body mist in the scent of jasmine blossoms and roses. It was her favorite scent.
Kagome ran downstairs and into the kitchen. Kagome stuck some bread into the toaster and poured herself a glass of milk from the refrigerator, which she gulped down. Kagome took the time to write her mom a note, telling her that she had left early. Grabbing the toast and some money for lunch, she quietly exited the house and made her way to the driveway, where her baby sat in the driveway.
It was a gift from her dad, before he passed away when she was 14. She hadn't been able to drive it then, but it had been hers for when she learned. The car was a beautiful blue '65 GTO. (A/N: Think the GTO from XXX. Yeah, that's the one. Only minus the guns, flame throwers, ejection seats, GPS system, rocket launchers, and everything else that was added in there to make it kick ass. Now, add in a cd player and some kick ass speakers. There, now you have it.) The entire inside was done in blue flames, and the stereo and speaker system was top of the line. The engine was the best one could get, and was built for speed. (A/N: this is so my dream car. I want one when I'm older, and am able buy one and fix it up/steal one and fix it up.)
Kagome sped off in the direction of her school. Her radio was blasting, the song of the moment being 'Get Busy' by Sean Paul. Almost immediately, her body began moving to the beat of the music. She couldn't help it. One of her favorite things to do was dance, and she was good at it. Dancing was in her blood; always had been and always would be.
She took a winding route to her new school that she knew was safe. It went through neutral gang territory, so she wouldn't be endangering herself. Tasuki had showed her the borders of both gang's territories, and also the neutral parts of the city.
Pulling into the school parking lot, Kagome ignored the stares she got from other students. Grabbing her Discman from her glove box, she popped in her new Happy 2b Hardcore: Chapter 7 cd, turned it to 'Don't Cry For Me', and put her headphones on, quietly singing along to it as she walked.
Kagome headed to the office. She would need her schedule and ID card. Walking through the halls, she paid no attention to the stares that she got. If she had, then she would have immediately been put on edge, especially the stares of two people who had done a double take as they saw her walk by. It was a boy and girl, both older than she, and they watched her with great interest.
The boy had black hair to his shoulders that had been pulled back into a short ponytail at the base of his neck, and bright violet eyes. His right hand and arm had some sort of purple cloth covering it, and was wrapped with a rosary. He had a quite demeanor about him, but a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. He also had both of his ears pierced. Small gold hoops decorated both lobe, with two on the left and one on the right.
The girl had her dark brown hair up in a high ponytail and dark burgundy eyes. She had magenta eye shadow on and carried herself as if she knew that she could kick ass. She also had a necklace on. It consisted of metal tube beads and metal balls, and a tribal pendant. The tube beads had a section cut away to reveal a purple plastic string, and the tribal pendant was silver with a purple center. In the center, a name had been scratched into it. It read Miroku. The boy was wearing an identical one, only his read Sango.
They watched as Kagome made her way to the office.
"Hey, Miroku, doesn't she look familiar?"
Miroku glanced at his female companion. "Yes, Sango love, I do believe you are right. She looks very familiar."
Sango frowned, her eyes narrowing coldly. "She reminds me of that bitchy slut, Kikyo."
Miroku smiled at her. "Almost, but personally I think she is a lot more beautiful than Kikyo. Her eyes are warmer, she isn't as sluttish looking, and she doesn't walk like she has a stick up her ass. More than likely, she's just someone who happens to look like Kikyo. Kikyo isn't exactly young enough to go to high school, or smart enough."
Sango sighed. The girl was still bothering her. "Yeah, you're probably right. But I think we should call Inuyasha and ask him if we should do anything about her. I think that she might be connected to the Black Spiders, you know, like a lure for Inuyasha. He did mention something about a girl looking a lot like Kikyo that he was looking for."
"Sango, love, chill for the moment. Don't worry too much about it. It's probably just a coincidence. We're going to be late for class if we don't hurry."
The pair walked off to their first class, hand in hand. While they would never publicly admit it, they were very much in love, and everyone knew it. While out in public, they preferred to fight, but it was really their way of telling each other that they loved one another.
~~~
They reached their class and took their seats. They saw others that they knew in the class. All were wearing necklaces similar to the ones that they wore. Most were all silver and black. Very few were colored, like Miroku and Sango's.
These necklaces were a way for members of the Youkai gang to identify each other, and in this gang, the color of your necklace signified who you were, your position in the gang and security clearance, and for those who were a couple, who you belonged to.
Miroku was the Purple, which was right under Red, which in turn was under Blue. Sesshoumaru was the Blue, and Inuyasha was the Red. Tasuki, before he had died, had been a Green, which was under Purple. He had been planning on giving his girlfriend, whom no one in the Youkai had ever seen, not even a picture of, his green necklace when the time was right.
The necklace would have done for his girlfriend what it did for Sango; it allowed her to go wherever Miroku was, got her all the benefits, protection, and respect that he got, and signified that she belonged to him, as well as the gang. Had Tasuki lived, his girlfriend would have been entitled to all the benefits that he had, and she would have been protected from all harm at any cost.
But, Tasuki had died, and for the past year, the Youkai's had kept their eyes and ears open, trying to find where she had disappeared to at Inuyasha's orders. All they knew was that she had vanished the morning after his death, and that she hadn't been seen since. The only thing they knew about her was that she was young, semi-resembled Kikyo, and that her name was Kagome something or other.
That was what had been nagging Sango. The girl had looked amazingly like Kikyo, but the possibility of the girl in question just reappearing like that was kind of a long shot. She had left and if she knew what was good for her, she wouldn't come back. Tokyo wasn't a safe place for the former girlfriend of a murdered spy, especially when the murderer was Naraku.
The teacher had just started talking when the door opened. In walked the new girl from the hallway. Her headphones were around her neck but her music had been turned off. A collective intake of breath could be heard from the members of the Youkai in the classroom.
This girl looked like Kikyo's twin! But then, the Youkai were able to pick out some differences. Kikyo's hair had been waist length and straight. This girl's hair was shorter and slightly wavy, going to just below her mid back. Her eyes were a warm bluish-gray, unlike the cold dark brown eyes of Kikyo. The new girl's eyes seemed to light up from within and sparkle with life.
She was a little curvier in the figure than Kikyo, with larger breasts, a narrower waist, and slightly wider hips. She was also smaller height wise, although her legs seemed to make up a good part of her height. Her ears were full of silver hoops, at least 7 in total. All in all, Miroku was right; she was more beautiful than Kikyo ever was and could be.
The teacher looked at the piece of paper that the girl had handed to him.
"Class, it would appear that we have a new student. She has just transferred here after a year at Shikon High School in Kyoto. This is Higurashi Kagome. Higurashi, welcome to Tokyo High School."
The girl smiled at the class, her eyes sparkling. Sango and Miroku, along with the rest of the Youkai, all stared at each other in shock, alarm bells going off as things clicked into place.
This girl, who looked like Kikyo and had the name of Kagome, matched the description of the one they had been looking for. They had to call Inuyasha, ASAP. Cause if this girl was who they thought she was, and she definitely had to be, then Naraku would most likely find out that the girlfriend of the only Youkai to infiltrate his gang was back in town. And he would not be happy that she was alive.
~~~
Kagome had been nervous as she had entered the classroom. She didn't know from what. It was just school. No one would know her. It had been a year, and yet, as soon as she had walked in, a bunch of unfamiliar students had looked at each other, almost as if they knew her, or worse, had been expecting her. But they couldn't. They didn't look like members of the Black Spiders, and if she remembered correctly, none of the Spiders ever really attended school.
'Shows what their priorities are. Or should I say, aren't.'
She smiled as the teacher introduced her to the class. He then pointed out a seat for her to take. It was right next to an older girl with a ponytail, who was sitting next to an older boy who was wearing some sort of purple cloth wrapped around his right arm and secured with prayer beads. Both of them had on matching necklaces, so she figured that they were a couple.
Sitting next to the girl, she turned and smiled, anxious to make new friends. "Hi. I'm Kagome. I just moved back here to Tokyo after spending a year with relatives."
The girl smiled back at her. "Hi Kagome, my name is Taiji-ya Sango, and the pretty boy on my right is Houshi Miroku. You can just call us Sango and Miroku. Watch out for his hands though, they have a tendency to wander, usually to the southern regions of the female body."
Miroku just smiled innocently at her, keeping his hands to himself for a change. Usually, they would be all over the new girl, but for once, he behaved himself. He didn't want to go scaring off the girl Inuyasha had been looking for.
Kagome seemed a little nervous. She could feel the stares of some of the other students while her back was turned, and it was very weird. "Um.I was wondering, since I'm new here and everything, if you two would mind showing me around the school? I don't really want to get lost or anything. I went to Sengoku Jidai High before I transferred to Shikon, so I don't know the layout here."
Kagome could have sworn that she saw relief flash across the faces of her new friends and went on edge. She shook it off, figuring that she was imagining it. 'Were they actually hoping that I would ask them to help me around today? Man, things have changed since I was last here. But I appreciate it. It's been so long since I've been able to make friends.
"Sure, Kagome. We'd love to show you around. What's your schedule? Here, let me see it so I can see what classes we have together." Sango smiled as she talked. She had seen the wary look Kagome had given them. She had to get her to trust them.
Sango checked Kagome's schedule. "This is great! We have all of our classes together! Showing you around will be a piece of cake."
Kagome giggled, happiness once again creeping back into her life. Ever since that day, one year ago, she had lived in constant fear of being found by Naraku. She had always been afraid of making friends for fear that they would somehow get dragged into her problems.
But nothing had happened for a year, and so Kagome now felt somewhat safe. She stopped, shock on her face, and then she grinned, smiling wider than ever. Sango and Miroku looked at her, puzzled.
Kagome saw their expressions. "Oh, it's nothing. I just haven't giggled or even smiled like that in over a year, ever since my boyfriend died." Her expression turned sad, and Sango could see pain in her eyes. Kagome pulled out her wallet and showed them a picture.
It was a photo of her and Tasuki that Kagome's mother had taken at one time on a weekend when Tasuki didn't have to do anything for the gang. The two of them were at a park, and Tasuki had his arms around Kagome's slim waist as they leaned up against a tree. Both had huge smiles plastered on their faces as they laughed at the camera, and they looked very happy to be with one another.
Sango could see Tasuki's green necklace peeking from beneath his black shirt. But on his neck, she could also see the Black Spider tattoo that he had been forced to get for joining the rival gang. He had told everyone back with the Youkai's though that as soon as the mission was over, he was going to have it removed. He hated it, but it was a necessary evil.
That picture confirmed it. This was the girl that Inuyasha was looking for. She was Tasuki's former girlfriend. They had to get her to see Inuyasha pronto. 'And, without attracting the attention of the Black Spiders' Sango thought.
The bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom. Kagome and Sango exited the room. Miroku told them to go ahead, and that he would catch up with them later. He didn't have the same class with them next period, and he didn't mind missing his next class, which was math, in order to inform the other Youkai of the situation.
The Youkai members all gathered around him, wanting to know what was up. The teacher was gone, and the other students had left. The classroom was empty, save for them.
Miroku spoke. "It's definitely her, Tasuki's former girl. She fits the description, has the same name, and she told Sango and I that her old boyfriend died a year ago. Not only that, but she showed us a picture of the two of them together. It was Tasuki, and he had his Green necklace on."
He gave them all a serious stare. "We have to keep her safe. Spread the word. Tell everyone that she has Green level, even though she doesn't have a necklace. If we know that she's back, then Naraku will undoubtedly find out sooner or later. We can just hope for later, until we get her with us."
The other members all nodded. As far as levels went in the gang, Blue was highest, followed by Red, and the Purple. Green was under Purple, and under Green were Yellow, then Brown, then White, and then Black, which was lowest.
Green was a pretty high color. Of Blue, Red, and Purple, there was only one main necklace given. Green was the highest level where multiple necklaces were given. In the gang, other Green members included Kouga, Nobunaga, and Midoriko.
Green was a level where only the most trusted members reached. They had proven themselves countless times, and had never failed in battle. They were excellent leaders and could be trusted to command others, and they all had some sort of special talent.
Miroku had authority over the Greens, and Inuyasha had authority over Miroku. Sesshoumaru had authority over all of them, all though he did have to be in agreement for major decisions concerning the gang.
Of the Greens, Tasuke had been the leader. He was one of the strongest and fastest, and a good friend of Inuyasha. His death had been greatly mourned by everyone, especially Kouga, who had taken over the leadership of the Greens following his death. The two had been good friends, almost like brothers.
The group left and went their separate ways. Miroku decided to skip class so that he could call Inuyasha and tell him. Ducking into an empty classroom, he pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number. It rang once before a gruff yet sleepy voice answered.
".This had better be good, Miroku, or else you're gonna die in a way that not even Sango will be able to save you from."
Miroku smiled. Only Inuyasha could know that it was him. It was like he had some kind of sixth sense. Either that, or Caller ID.
"Morning, Inuyasha. It's time to rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. Prince Charming is on the line."
"Why the fuck are you calling me so early?"
"Chill, bro. For your information, it's a little after 9, so it is not that early. And, I'm calling to tell you that we found her, the girl you've been looking for over a year now."
There was silence for a moment. Then, "NANI?!?!" Inuyasha sounded wide awake now.
Miroku smiled at his friend's response. "Yup. She apparently just moved back into town. She's going to the same high school as us, and she has all of her classes with Sango. I went ahead and informed some of the guys to treat her with Green level status, and to spread the word that she is to be protected at all costs and times."
There was silence on the other end for a moment. "You are sure that she's the one? You're absolutely sure? It's kind of strange that she would all of a sudden reappear like this."
"I know, but hell yes she's the one. She looks like almost exactly like Kikyo, answers to the name Higurashi Kagome, told us that her boyfriend died a year ago, and showed us a picture of her and Tasuki together. I'm telling you man, it's her. She said that she just moved back here from a year living with relatives. That would explain why she suddenly vanished and why no one could find her. I'm betting that her family moved to avoid any backlash from either side."
On the other end, Inuyasha silently agreed with his friends thinking. "Alright then. We've got to get her to the mansion here ASAP. When is school out?"
"3:15. You gonna be here to pick us up, or are we driving ourselves?"
"Drive yourselves. I don't want to scare her off until we explain the situation. From what we know, she was told and probably still thinks that I killed him. Call me when school's out, or if anything happens."
"Sure thing, buddy. Talk to ya later."
"Later."
Miroku hung up the phone. Looking at his watch, he saw that 3rd period was going to start soon. That class, he did have with Sango. It was time to tell her of what Inu had said.
Kagome walked into the classroom, once again seeing some familiar faces. Ever since homeroom, she had been smiled at and waved to in the halls. It was kind of weird, but she figured that it was because she was with Sango.
She once again found herself sitting next to Sango and Miroku, but this time, she had the feeling that she was surrounded. On all sides of her, she swore that the other students were looking at her. She kept looking over at them, but they would look away whenever she looked. It was making her jumpy.
Strangely enough, they all seemed to be wearing the same type of necklace as Sango and Miroku, only in different colors. That got Kagome's attention immediately, but she forced herself to calm down.
'It might just be a trend. Chill, girl. None of them have the tattoos. But then again, that too could be a bad thing. The bastard might have gotten smarter.' Her instincts were making her paranoid, but Tasuki had pounded it into her head to always be aware of things around her, so she had little choice.
Sango poked her, bringing her back to a somewhat sane reality, noticing how startled she was. "Hey, Kagome. What are you doing after school?"
Kagome lowered her eyes for a moment. "I was thinking of going and visiting my boyfriend's grave. I never had the chance to go to his funeral. I wanted to, but my mom wouldn't allow it. We.had to leave rather quickly, for a family emergency." Kagome quickly added. She didn't want anyone to know of her former connections to the Black Spiders.
Sango smiled. She silently hoped that Kagome would say yes to what she was about to ask her. "Would you mind if we went with you?"
Kagome looked at them her warily. Something was definitely up, but she couldn't place her finger on it. She tried to not let it bug her. 'She doesn't know. She couldn't. She's just trying to be friendly. She's not with them. They don't know that you're back.' But still, her voice had a bit of a suspicious tone to it. "Why?"
Sango noticed the wariness and suspicion. 'It's time for a quick lie. Well, ok not a total lie; a partial truth.' "Because we wanted to do something with you afterwards, since you've been gone for a year and could probably use some help finding things to do around the city. And also, because we want to pay our respects to a very dear friend of ours as well. He died a year ago also, and his death is still kind of rough on us."
Kagome relaxed. She bought what Sango said. "Sure. Sorry for getting so defensive, but I'm still kind of wary of people who try to get into my past. It's a long story that I really don't want to get into."
Miroku smiled at her. "We understand and we're sorry."
Kagome smiled back at him. It felt good to smile again.
The rest of the school day passed without mishap. Miroku had told Sango of his conversation with Inuyasha during lunch, when Kagome was waiting in line away from them. Sango was shocked to find that the slightly shy yet wary girl they had befriended really had been the girlfriend of one of their best members. She just didn't seem the type to hang around and especially date gang guys.
When the last bell rang, Miroku and Sango followed Kagome out to her car. They had gotten rides with other members that day, and had told them that they wouldn't need a ride back, and that they would see them at the mansion.
Getting into the car, Sango joined Kagome up front and Miroku sat in the back. They drove out to the local cemetery. Kagome got very quiet as she approached the section where Tasuki was buried. (A/N: She had called his parents for the location of the grave.) Kneeling down, she stared at his headstone.
"Hey Tasuki, it's me, 'Gome. I'm sorry that I didn't come sooner. My mom wigged out on me and moved us out of town right after I found out you had died. She pissed me off when she wouldn't let me come for your funeral." Kagome had tears gathering in her blue-gray eyes. She sniffed, and tried to wipe them away.
"It's been a whole year, Tasuke. I'm 17 now. You would have been 20 this year. I can still remember the crazy plans we made and everything for my graduation and afterwards. But I guess fate had something else in store for us. I miss you, babe. It's been hard without you. I still don't completely know why or how you died, and knowing your history, I'm not too sure if I want to know. Sometimes, I feel like I'm safer not knowing, but.but then I want to know, because I want to take out the sick baka who took you away from me. They say that first loves are the hardest ones to get over. Well, whoever they were, they weren't kidding. I love you, Tasuki. Never forget that. I know that I will never forget that you loved me."
Kagome thought back to a promise Tasuki had made her make for him a few days before he died.
"Kagome, I want you to promise me something." He had a serious tone to his voice.
Kagome looked over at her boyfriend. He was sitting next to her as she lay in the grass of her family's shrine. They were visiting her grandfather with her family. She was puzzled by the way he was acting. "Sure, babe. What is it?"
He looked over at her. His eyes were serious. "Listen, if anything should ever happen to me while I am with the Spiders, I want you to go with one of my friends and stay with him. He will protect you from Naraku and the Spiders."
Now Kagome was scared. "Tasuki, why are you talking like this? You're scaring me!"
Tasuki reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. "I don't mean to scare you, 'Gome. It's just that I want you to be happy and safe, even if I die, or anything else. If I should die for any reason, I want you to go with my friend. He'll be looking for you. And, I want you to find someone who will make you feel safe and happy. I don't want you forgoing love just because I am gone from this world."
Kagome said nothing. She didn't want to agree. She didn't want to think of losing him. This sudden interest in his death had her wondering if there was trouble brewing in the gang.
Tasuki snapped his fingers to get her attention. "Promise me, 'Gome! Promise me that you will go with my friend! I've already spoken to him about this and he's agreed to it. You have to promise me, babe." He reached over and took her other hand.
"Kagome, if anything happened to you because of my death, it would kill so many people inside. You mean a lot to others, like your family and friends. You need to keep on living, even after I've gone. If you love me, you will promise me to go on living and loving even after I'm gone."
Kagome finally nodded her head, accepting what he was saying. "Hai, Tasuki- kun. I promise. But, please do all that you can to make sure that I never have to fulfill this promise."
He nodded and then bent down, catching her lips in a soft kiss.
Kagome bent down and gently kissed the name engraved in the black stone. "I'm sorry. I failed to fulfill your promise. Your friend never came for me. I'm sure that my mom moving us so soon had something to do with that. And, I'm just not sure if I can go on loving after you like you wanted me to. I wish.I wish that you would give me a sign that there is someone else out there for me and that it's ok for me to move on and love again."
At that moment, Kagome noticed a strand of silver glinting on the black polished headstone. Thinking that it was just a strand from a spider web, she brushed it off. She never noticed that it was really a long strand of silver hair.
Sango and Miroku stood by silently. They had heard every word. Sango was crying, and Miroku had his arm around her. Slowly, Kagome stood up. Turning, she looked at her friends. Her eyes had tears streaming from them. She offered them a weak smile, but it fell as she let out a choked sob. Sango held out her arms, and Kagome rushed into them, sobbing.
Sango gently rubbed her back, allowing Kagome to get out all of her pent up emotions. She could understand the pain. Losing a loved one was tough. She knew. Her entire family, except she and her brother, had been killed by Naraku. That was why she was with the Youkai, so that she could get her revenge.
After a few minutes, Kagome was better. Pulling away from Sango, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry guys; I totally forgot that you had a friend that you wanted to visit here."
"Actually Kagome, we just did visit him. Our friend who died was Awajimi Tasuki."
"Huh?" Kagome was confused. Her mental alarms went off, but she silenced them. This all had to be some sort of coincidence. They couldn't be with the Spiders, could they? Those were the only friends that she knew Tasuki had.
"Kagome, will you let us take you somewhere? Everything will be explained when we get there. All I can say at this time is that it involved Tasuki and his death, and now you."
Kagome looked at them as if they were crazy. She had no idea what was going on. Sango put her hands on her shoulders. "Kagome, please trust us. We are not with the Black Spiders. Your life could depend on this. You need to come with us."
Kagome finally nodded. She allowed her two companions to pull her away from the graveyard and back into her car. Miroku took the wheel while Sango sat in the back with Kagome, holding her hands.
Kagome stayed silent the entire way. She was scared. Tears still fell from her eyes, and she had no idea why. She only broke her trance when the car pulled up to the gates of a mansion. After identifying himself at the gates, Miroku drove the car up the long driveway.
Kagome looked out the window. The grounds of the mansion that they were at were beautiful. There were trees and flowering plants of all sorts decorating the expansive lawns of the mansion. The driveway went up to the front of the house and formed a circle. In the center was a large fountain.
Out in the middle of the lawns, Kagome saw a huge weeping willow tree. A pond peeked from beneath its drooping branches, which also half covered a stone bench. She was so concentrated on the outside that she never even noticed that the car had stopped. It took Sango poking her to realize that they were waiting for her to get out. She slowly exited the car and allowed Sango and Miroku to lead her inside.
The inside was just as impressive as the outside. But it seemed empty for some reason. It was then that Kagome noticed that there were no other people there. Miroku walked into the main hall and turned a corner, disappearing. Sango stayed with Kagome.
The older girl reached down and squeezed Kagome's hand. "Don't worry. You are about to find out more about Tasuki. It should hopefully clear a lot of stuff up, like his death, and also some more of his past that you didn't know about."
Kagome looked at Sango. She finally realized what was up. This place.it reminded her of the main hideout for the Black Spiders. She had gone one time, and that was because Naraku insisted that all members and their girlfriends or boyfriends attended. Tasuki had never made her go again, and had kept her out of the Black Spiders various activities from then on.
When she spoke, her voice was surprisingly soft and even. "Sango, I want the truth when you answer this question."
"Sure, Kagome. What's the question?"
"This is a gang base isn't it? And you're part of the gang that lives here aren't you."
Sango sighed. Kagome was very observant. Tasuki had trained her well. She would need skills like that to survive, especially against Naraku.
"Hai, Kagome. You are right. You are in the main base for the Youkai's, and yes, I am a member. I am also Miroku's girlfriend, and he's a member too."
Kagome lowered her head. When her voice came out, it started cold and calm and quiet. "I knew it. I knew that this damned life would come back to get me when I moved back here. Only now, I've been taken by the gang that killed Tasuki!" The last part came out as a yell.
Sango looked at the girl. Tears and anger were blazing in her eyes. 'Shit, this is not good. She still thinks that we killed Tasuki. She knows nothing but the lies that were fed to her.' Sango had to think fast.
"Kagome, calm down and listen to me. We had nothing to do with Tasuki's death." Sango tried to explain. She reached for Kagome. The younger girl flinched and pulled away.
"Like hell you didn't! I was told that it was the Youkai's that ambushed him! The Youkai's killed him! You killed him!" Kagome screamed, tears pouring down her face.
"You were informed wrong." A new voice, one that was definitely male, broke through her screams.
Kagome looked up, tears still pouring down her face. She was very close to running out the door. She didn't think that she could handle anything else.
But one look at the speaker, and she froze. Standing there across the hall was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her life. She couldn't help but stare at him. He was.perfect. In her mind, she saw the white strand that was by Tasuki's grave. His sign to her, the one she had asked for.
He had long white hair that hung to his waist, and the most gorgeous amber eyes, well, the only amber eyes she had ever seen. He was tall and muscular. He was dressed in baggy blue jeans and a tight fitting red shirt. He had on a necklace identical to Sango and Miroku's, only his was red where theirs were purple.
And on top of his head, he had a pair of white dog ears. They flicked over in her direction, and Kagome realized that they weren't fake. Miroku stood next to him, a pained expression on his face. He had heard what Kagome had screamed.
Sango took the opportunity to grab Kagome's wrists, keeping her still. The younger girl was still shaking, but oddly enough, her attention was now frozen on the silver-haired man in front of her.
The man spoke again. "I am Inuyasha, the younger of the two leaders of the Youkai, and I can safely assure you that Tasuki was never killed by us. We Youkai never kill our own members. And I especially do not order the deaths of my close friends. You were lied to by the Black Spiders. Tasuki wanted me to find you if he died. We've been looking for you for a year now."
Her promise to Tasuki flew back into her memory. Things started clicking in her brain, until she understood. 'He was the friend Tasuki had said would come for me.' But other things stood in her way of completely understanding. 'He was the one that Naraku said had killed him. Tasuki's murderer is his friend.' She shook her head, unsure of what to believe anymore. Her brain was trying to find its way through the maze of lies that she had been fed and believed for two years.
This was it. She had had enough. All she wanted to do now was go home and forget about all of this. She wanted to go back to her aunt's house, where no one knew her past. Panicking, Kagome spun in a defense move she had learned, breaking free of Sango's hold and knocking the other girl off balance. She was out the door in a flash of blue and black.
Inuyasha swore. He had expected something like this, but just not to this degree. He took off running after the panicked girl, knowing that she was in danger if she left the grounds. By now, Naraku had to know that she was back in town. As long as she was on their turf, she was fine.
But, the moment she stepped off.No, he didn't want to think about that. He couldn't let her die. Not only would he be breaking his promise to Tasuki, but, there was something else.her scent.
It was the most attractive aroma he had ever come across. A mix of jasmine and rose.pure heaven to his nose and mind. At the moment, her scent also included fear, anger, and sadness. Inuyasha wanted to help her, to explain to her.
Hell, he just plain wanted her.
The moment he had seen her, he had felt something that he hadn't felt before in his life. Total desire and attraction. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on. From her raven black hair that framed a perfect face and expressive blue-gray eyes to her long legs and curvy yet slender figure.
She was perfect in everyway imaginable and most likely ways that weren't imaginable. He could see exactly why Tasuki had gotten to her when he could. She was definitely one in a million.
Running out the door, he could see that she was almost to the end of the driveway. She had forgotten about the car, and only seemed interested in getting out of there and away from them. He ran all out, his hanyou speed allowing him to catch up to her within moments. In an instant, he was right behind her.
She was almost at the gates when a pair of strong arms grabbed her and lifted her off of the ground, bridal style. She immediately began kicking and hitting her attacker. He just stood there, letting her take her anger, frustration, and confusion out on him. She cried, cursing everything and everyone she could think of, including Tasuki, for ever getting her mixed up in gangs. Finally, her cries grew silent and she stopped hitting and kicking.
Looking up, she found herself staring into the amber eyes once more. She became lost in them, and for the first time since Tasuki, found herself feeling something that she had thought died with him; attraction. Complete. And. Total. Attraction. Oh, she definitely wanted this guy.
She again remembered her promise. And then, how she had asked for a sign. And then the silver strand at Tasuki's grave. It matched the color of his hair perfectly. The proverbial light bulb went off in her head as things clicked. 'Well Tasuki, I'm taking that as the sign I asked for.'
Looking down, Inuyasha met the stare of those blue-gray eyes. They were full of such pain and sadness. She deserved to know the truth. "Will you listen now?"
Kagome blinked. She nodded, not taking her gaze away from his. He noticed something else in her eyes. 'Why is she staring at me like that? What's that look in her eyes.attraction? Nah, I'm just imagining it. She thinks that I killed her boyfriend. She couldn't like me.could she?'
Inuyasha began to speak, ignoring the look in the girl's eyes. "Tasuki was never a true member of the Black Spiders. He was in reality a member of the Youkai; a very high member at that, and one of my good friends. I remember the day he came to me with a plan for infiltrating the Black Spiders. He would go undercover, pretend to be one of their members, and get us information. It had never been done before, and was very risky. But, I allowed him to go through with it. We needed the information badly."
He watched her expression. She was still listening, so he continued. "So, for 3 years, Tasuki played the part of a Black Spider. And then, one day two years ago, he mentioned meeting you. He had found a girl who loved him, and who he loved as well."
"But he never brought you here to us. He told us that he didn't want to involve you in the gang life, that he wanted you in it as little as possible. I commended him on that. My own girlfriend was a member of the Youkai, but she betrayed me and went to Naraku and the Black Spiders."
Kagome nodded. She remembered now, it was that Kikyo chick who looked so much like herself, who had told her about the Black Spiders. Kikyo, who was with Naraku now. Kagome didn't understand what the woman could stand or like about the creep. She personally had felt disgusted every time she looked at him. Or when he looked at her.
Inuyasha continued. "So, Tasuki continued with his spying. All was going well, until somehow, Naraku found out about him. Before Tasuki's last mission, he asked me for a favor; a promise really. He told me that if anything were to happen to him, that I was to find you, bring you to us, and keep you safe from Naraku. I told him that he would be fine, but he loved you too much to let you get hurt after he had gone. So, I agreed with him. I told him that if anything happened, I would find you, bring you to our base, and keep you safe. And I have done most of that."
"When Sango and Miroku found out who you were today, they immediately called and told me. We've been looking for you since the night Tasuki died. I told them to bring you here, so that I could tell you the truth about his death."
"Naraku had him killed. It was a trap set up to look like an ambush for the Youkais. Tasuki was actually going to be coming back to us that night, for good. And he was going to bring you to us the next day, so that you could receive our full protection. All loved ones or family members of our members are protected. You saw the necklaces that Miroku and Sango wear, and how they are the same?"
Kagome nodded.
"Well, Miroku is at Purple level in the gang. He's right below me. I'm a Red, and also one of the leaders of the Youkai. His necklace signifies that he is my second-in-command. Since Sango is his girl, she wears the Purple too, to show that not only does she belong to the Youkai, but that she belongs to Miroku as well. She gets treated with the respect given to a Purple, and she gets security clearance and benefits that only a Purple level would get, so that she can be wherever Miroku is."
"If Tasuki had lived, he would have given you his Green necklace. Green is right below Purple. The necklace would have identified you to us, so that we could protect you if trouble ever arose. Unfortunately, Tasuki never got the chance. But, in respect to his last wishes, I am offering you a spot in the gang. For your protection from Naraku, along with your family. And, for Tasuki's promise too."
Inuyasha prayed silently in his head that she said yes. He didn't want to force her into the gang, but he would if he had to. Tasuki, one of his closest friends, had been like a younger brother to him, and he wasn't about to disrespect his last wish.
Kagome weighed her options in her head. It had been a lot to take in such a short amount of time. 'Should I join? It would offer me and my family protection. And it would be respecting Tasuki's last wishes, not to mention that promise he made me make.'
'Find someone who will make you feel safe and happy.'
Kagome looked at Inuyasha again. His eyes captured hers. 'Plus.I would get to see this guy all the time. He is the most gorgeous guy I have ever seen. And those ears are so kawaii! I have never felt this way about anyone other than Tasuki. I think I may be falling for him!'
Kagome finally looked up. It was now or never. Time to be impulsive again and see where her choice led her. "Hai, I will join. For Tasuki, and for my family." 'And for you.' She silently thought. She loved Tasuki, but, he was gone now. He had wanted her to move on and find someone else. And now, she believed that she finally had, even if Inuyasha didn't realize it yet.
Kagome found herself getting rather tired very quickly. All the turmoil and stress of the day was finally getting to her. She yawned, trying to stay awake. But, she couldn't. The arms that she was currently being held in had unconsciously pulled her close, and she felt warm and safe, something that she hadn't felt in a long time.
Surprising herself, not to mention him, she rested her head against his chest, allowing his scent to overwhelm her. She slowly closed her eyes and was asleep before Inuyasha could say anything more.
He looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms, unsure of what to do. 'She's so beautiful. This feels so right for some reason. Why? Could I be in love with her? No, how could I? I just met her! This is driving me fucking insane! Well, might as well take her inside. She's one of us now, after all.'
Carefully, so as to not jostle and wake her, he ran back up the drive to the mansion, where Sango, Miroku, and about 20 other members stood waiting. They had seen the two at the end of the drive, and had wondered what the results of the explanation would be.
Seeing them come back together drew a sigh of relief from many of the members. They had been told who she was. The entire gang held and still had great respect for Tasuki. He had done the impossible, and had kept on doing it for almost 3 years. His former girlfriend would be well protected by her new family.
Sango and Miroku saw that Kagome was nestled in his arms as Inuyasha slowed to a walk as he approached. She looked so peaceful and content. There were still tear tracts down her face, but she wasn't crying anymore. Inuyasha pushed through the crowd as he made his way into the mansion. He hadn't told them what her answer had been, and the fact that she was asleep could mean that she had fainted before giving it.
Right before Inuyasha entered, he paused, and glanced back. "She's in." And with that, he was in the house. A collective sigh of relief escaped the group. Kagome was in, she would be safe. Now, the only thing on their minds was, what color would she be?
~~~
Inuyasha was wondering that same thing. 'What color should she be? I could put her at Green, but she hasn't proven herself as having the qualities of one. Plus, Tasuki never officially gave her his Green necklace, so that wouldn't work. But, if I put her at anything lower than Green, she won't have the protection that she'll need. I can't put her at Purple, cause only Miroku and Sango are allowed to wear that. And I don't think that Sessh will allow me to make a new color up just for her.'
He walked up the stairs, going to the 5th floor of the mansion. This was the floor where the higher colors lived; Red, Purple, and Green. He had his room on this floor, even though his brother was living on the floor above him. He and Sesshoumaru didn't get along that well sometimes, so having space between them was a good thing. The room across from his was empty, so he took her in there.
The room was stuffy, but clean. Inuyasha deposited his sleeping cargo onto the bed and then went to go open a window. And all this time, he was still trying to figure out what color she would be.
Looking back at her and noticing how soft her lips looked, he realized something that had been pulling at his brain since he had first laid eyes on her.
He wanted her for himself.
Tasuki had told him that if he died, he wanted Kagome to be with Inuyasha if it came down to it. But Inuyasha didn't want anyone to think that the whole reason he had given her the necklace and claimed her as his own was to honor an old promise.
No, he wanted it to be because he had feelings for her, which he now knew he did. Promise or no promise, Inuyasha felt that he would have wanted her no matter what. Deep in his subconscious, his demon instincts were telling him that she was the one. The one he had been waiting for his entire life. The one who he would someday take as his mate. He just didn't realize it yet.
And that's how he came to his decision. He would do it on the pretense of honoring the promise right now, but then ask her how she felt about it. From the looks she had been giving him that afternoon, she most likely felt the same way about him, but he wasn't totally sure. He was a hanyou after all, and no one ever really wanted to be with one.
He unclasped his red tribal Youkai necklace and gently lifted Kagome's head up so that he could fasten it around her neck. She stayed asleep the entire time.
Finished, he looked down at her again. 'She looks better with it on. It looks like it has always belonged on her neck.' Her scent wafted up as he put the necklace on. He closed his eyes and inhaled the fragrance of jasmine blossoms and roses. He would never get tired of it.
Smiling, he left the room, shutting the door behind him, and set off to find Sango. He needed her to call Kagome's house to tell her mom that Kagome would be staying the night with her. He didn't think that Kagome would be waking up anytime soon, and he didn't want anything to disturb her. She had been through enough that day, and she deserved some rest.
~*~*~*~