Author's Notes: Uh…hi. Back from the dead you might say. Let's see after a few weeks of writer's block, coming down with the flu and finding myself irritated with some very forceful 'requests' by some of the reviewers, I finally was able to write again.

But since I feel it needs to be addressed, I do want to make note of this. Week after week, I get reviews begging "Have them kiss more. Have them make-out. When's the hot-steamy action?" Well, sorry- but I'm not turning my story into an OOC dime-store smut novel just because a few horny fangirls want that. I might mock romance novels in this story, but since I'm trying my hardest to keep Sesshoumaru and Kagura as true to Takahashi's characterization of them I will not go out of my way to make them engage in OOC actions. I guess I just found it very disheartening that people cannot consider something a "romance" unless it has that "hot-steamy action." To me- romance is about falling in love- not about sticking your tongue down your lover's throat. And that's the spirit with which this story is being written. It's about two very unique characters falling for one another, and if you're looking for that "hot-steamy action" then I must tell you to look elsewhere. As I said before, I want to keep these characters as true to their original series counterparts as I can, and in order to maintain that- I cannot have them acting OOC just because a few people want "action".

Okay, that out of the way, we're getting into yet another part of the story that I have fun writing not so much due to the humor but in part to my love for a good suspense/mystery. If any of you follow my other story, "The Case of the Missing Kotsu" you know I love a good mystery, and so of course- I couldn't help but let a little of that mysterious tinge seep into this story.

Well, that all being said- I ask that you read, review and enjoy

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Everyone wants to be a hero. You don't realize it- but you do. Whether you think about it or not, the actions and choices you make are never as conceited as you think they are.

So the stage for a tragedy was set- and whether you like it or not, you've been cast as the tragic heroine. Well shit, what do you do then? If you're fated to be screwed over, then- you might as well just let the ending hit you with full force and get it over with.

The problem here was- I don't like those tragic stories. Who the hell in their right mind does? So- I took the role of a hero- I said I'd leave to save the people around me who might get harmed if I screwed up and my asshole Father got involved.

Sure, it's stupid of me to try. I knew how my life went and the fact that I was a walking target for my Father's anger was nothing new to me. Yet, I had to go and get someone else involved.

Now normally, I'd say- the hell with them. It's their own problem if they're stupid enough to help me. I mean- my forehead might as well have "Danger" stamped all over it thanks to my bastard of a father. So if someone couldn't see that and got hurt because they decided to step in- who was I to worry?

But this time, I did care.

This time- I wanted to be the hero.

But- as I said, everyone wants to be a hero.

Even though, that hero claims that it's 'not of his concern.'

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Chapter 23: You Have One New Message

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Kagura sighed, her eyes skimming around the room before settling back on the clock. The same clock that mocked her by revealing that only one minute had passed since she'd last looked at it.

"Some gentleman he is- he just unceremonialessly drops me in his room before disappearing back downstairs into his study to write. Shit- what does that bastard expect me to do for a few hours?!"

Sitting up, she glanced about, "No books, no TV, no- nothing."

Shaking her head in exasperation, she stood slowly and walked over towards the dresser.

"What was it that Sesshoumaru sat over here before he left?" Kagura thought to herself, her curiosity and boredom getting the best of her.

Finally, her eyes caught sight of a small piece of paper that was slid under the picture frame.

Picking up the frame, she pulled the paper out. Looking about to make sure that Sesshoumaru wasn't watching her from the doorway again, she slowly opened the note up.

Eyes skimming the words written there, she froze.

"Sesshoumaru- It seems that Kagura's father has contacted many establishments and the police. He seems intent on finding her. You must protect her if you wish her to stay. Her life is not her own. Naraku has all her rights secured in his name. I know you have taken a liking to her, so I thought that his information might be relevant. Also, as I am certain you have already realized- if he finds her- she could be killed."

And as she read those last words, the paper slipped from her fingers and fluttered to the ground. Her own written mockery of Naraku flashed in her mind.

- - - "Good my child. You must remember your place and that…' He looked to the red orb, 'I hold your life in my hands.'" - - -

Shakily, she braced herself- her body tense as her hand constricted into a fist.

"Naraku…" She seethed, before she reared her arm back and lashed out against the wall.

"That fucking asshole! Why the hell must he do this to me?!"

Kagura's arm managed two more punches- each causing the dresser and its contents to jostle about, before a sob caught itself in her throat. Finally, her strength wavering, she sank to her knees.

"I can't…I can't die. I can't do that to…" She paused as she slowly glanced up at the toppled picture frame.

"Why am I worrying about him at a time like this? He can take care of himself."

In a rush, pieces of the note and of the newspaper clipping she'd read before raced through her mind.

- - - "I know you have taken a liking to her."

"If he finds her- she could be killed."

"It is said that he young boy tried to tend to his Mother's wounds before the ambulance arrived on the scene. Due to a severe head injury, she passed away at 4am this morning."

"My hope is that someday my son might be able to put this behind him and follow in my path." - - -

"I can't…do that to him," She relented, "Not after all he's done for me. I've got to make sure he's not brought into this any further. It's better I disappear before we both get hurt…"

Pulling herself to her feet, Kagura frowned on noticing the cuts across her knuckles. With a glance towards the bathroom, she sighed and went to find some more gauze.

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Downstairs, Sesshoumaru's eyebrows creased in though as his eyes glanced over the paper before him. His pen moved across the page, producing two more sentences before he once again came to a stop.

Figuring that this sort of writer's block was natural, he tried to remember what his Father had advised him to do in case of such a situation.

"If you find yourself stalled, you need to seek out what inspires you or drives you onward. Writer's block is merely a case of your muses not being there. Once you locate them, your words will come back to you."

Golden eyes darted over to the chair in the corner.

"How can the lack of one volatile female be hindering my progress so severely?"

Sitting down his pen, he stood, his mind uncertain of his impulsive decision, yet logically reasoning that her presence was merely a solution to his problem. It was that and nothing more.

But before he cold take another step, the familiar ring of the telephone caught his attention. Looking back to the receiver atop his desk, Sesshoumaru finally reached over to answer it.

"Hello?"

"How's the evening going?" The smug female voice intoned.

Sesshoumaru frowned.

"Kaguya. Have you not irritated me enough today?"

Her laugh echoed over the phone-line, "Actually, I was calling about something else."

He quirked an eyebrow and waited for her explanation.

"Your Father mentioned something to me about Kagura that I found interesting. Or should I say- Kagura's father."

Sitting back down, Sesshoumaru knew she was addressing the same thing his Father's note had.

"And?"

"Well I just thought if some psychopath was after her, you'd better do something to keep her from finding her."

Idly tapping his pen on the paper as if it might spark an idea, Sesshoumaru's frown deepened.

"Let me guess- you want me to be some knight in shining armor that rides in on a white horse and saves her from the wicked witch that's after her, right?"

Kaguya allowed herself a smile, "Actually, since it is her father, I don't think "witch" is the proper term."

"Kaguya," He said simply, the tone being enough to convey his irritation.

"Right, right. So anyways, I was thinking of ways for you to properly watch over Kagura. First of all, don't leave her alone. Not even for a moment. You never know when or where he might attack. Secondly, have you considered having your phone lines checked for anyone possibly tapping them? Even now- someone he's hired could be listening in," She paused a moment, "And if you are listening in, consider this a friendly 'Fuck you' for the trouble you've caused."

Sesshoumaru cleared his throat.

"Ah, sorry Sesshoumaru. I was also thinking, perhaps he's hired a private investigator to find her and follow her whereabouts- so look out for suspicious cars and keep your curtains pulled. And also- since I know you have the extra cash, I'd advise that you get the security system on your house upgraded to the best you can buy."

"Kaguya."

"Oh don't worry; no need to thank me. Only looking out for my favorite author and his muse."

Having had quite enough of Kaguya's antics for that night, Sesshoumaru spoke up, "You've been reading too many suspense novels."

Sighing at his usual type of reply, she shook her head, "Sesshoumaru, I'm serious. If that father of hers is as bad as it seems, you'd better stay on top of things."

"I can take care of myself," He replied, aimlessly jotting down another sentence on the page.

"But what about Kagura?"

"She is not of my concern."

Kaguya frowned and resisted the urge to yell at Sesshoumaru over his usual excuse. Instead, she knew just what to do, "Do you want her to get hurt again?"

The white-haired man fell silent a moment before replying, "I have writing to attend to."

He hung up the phone abruptly, and glared at the manuscript before him.

"Irritating woman. There is no reason to…"

Sesshoumaru's thoughts halted and he subconsciously tensed as he heard a loud pounding noise coming from upstairs and Kagura's voice yelling something.

Without a word or thought more, he hastily headed in that direction.

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On reaching the doorway to his bedroom, Sesshoumaru's eyes quickly took in the current scenario.

The dresser was askew, some items toppled over or on the ground. On the wall next to it was a smear of blood- and that was all it took for Sesshoumaru's blood to run slightly colder.

"Kagura," He whispered quietly before walking into the room.

Slowly, he glanced about- trying to see if anything else was out of place. It was then that he noticed the light on in the bathroom and the open door.

Hastily making his way in that direction, he paused dead in his tracks as he looked into the bathroom.

Golden eyes widened and his breath caught for a second in his throat as he saw Kagura on the ground. She sat on the bathroom floor, her back against the side of the bathtub and her head hung limply forward.

"She looks just like…"

- - - "Mother?! Mother- what's wrong?" - - -

He tensed as the memory invaded his mind, his eyes taking in the blood on Kagura's side and on her hand.

Walking into the small confines of the room, he knelt beside her. Reaching out, he tilted her head upright.

"Sesshoumaru…" Kagura's voice caught in her throat at the sudden intrusion.

"When did he…"

"What happened?" His voice was firm, yet with a sense of urgency.

"What…happened?" She echoed, her mind still shaken and her body just beginning to process things.

"You're bleeding."

"Oh I…um…" Hanging her head, she continued, "I just hurt my hand."

He quirked an eyebrow as his mind easily surmised what had occurred.

"Angered by something. She punched the wall. Injured her fist. Then, while reaching up for the bandages, she opened the wounds on her side. There was no reason for me to be worried. She was merely being troublesome as always."

Pausing then, he stood and regarded her, "Can you stand?"

Kagura scowled and defiantly gripped the sink ledge to brace herself.

"I don't need your help," She shot back.

Finally making it to her feet, she forced a smile through the pain, "See? I'm fine."

But after two awkward steps forward, her strength wavered and she found herself falling forward.

It was all a blur until she registered the arms around her waist and the warmth against her cheek.

"Sesshoumaru…"

Pushing back her thoughts, and not about to let her pride be wounded, she glanced up at him.

"It seems that we all have something pitiful about us."

Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow at her insult. But, Kagura didn't stop there.

"You're worrying about me again- aren't you?"

He frowned, not certain from her tone if she was still mocking him or if she was pointing out his 'pitiful flaw.'

"I am worried about you creating a blood stain on my bathroom floor."

She smirked, "That's just like you, Sesshoumaru."

Red eyes locked with gold for a moment before Kagura bit back a wince. Subconsciously, Sesshoumaru's eyes flickered with the concern he denied as he tightened his hold on her to keep her from falling.

"I'm bleeding on your clothes…" The weak voice murmured, her vision once again blurring.

Sesshoumaru seemed silent, but as Kagura found her mind drifting to black- she heard his quiet reply.

"It's not of my concern."

And as her eyes fell closed and her body finally fell limp, a single thought crossed her mind.

"Bullshit, you liar."

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Preview for Chapter 24:

With the issue of Naraku looming in their minds, being able to go to sleep peacefully might be quite the task for the two.