Author's Note: Wai! 100 Reviews! Thank you to all who reviewed. I feel so loved! Now, onto the story!
Disclaimer: Still don't own.
Chapter NineEri glanced up at the clock mounted on the wall. It was almost midnight and Kagome was still not home. She almost called the police to file a missing persons report but something told her that Kagome was safe. Still, when her best friend didn't come home yesterday, she couldn't help but wonder what happened.
"Kags, you are so dead when you get home," she said to the empty house, as if the house would transfer her message to her friend.
Kagome dressed quickly, knowing she was going to get an earful from Eri. Oh man, I just hope Eri won't bust my eardrums with her screaming. Kagome thought. Throwing open the door, Kagome was surprised to see Sesshoumaru waiting patiently for her.
"We are departing," Sesshoumaru announced.
Kagome nodded. "Arigatou," she said.
Sesshoumaru dismissed the statement with an impatient wave of his hand. "You need not offer me gratitude. I am merely fulfilling my duty," he said.
"Duty?" Kagome asked.
"You are a guest," Sesshoumaru said simply.
Jaken chose that time to interject. "Sesshoumaru-sama has shown you more hospitality than he did to any other of his 'guests'," Jaken croaked, then mumbled. "Don't know why milord would be so courteous to such a vile creature."
Sesshoumaru's superb hearing caught Jaken's mumbling and his face barely concealed the disgust and annoyance he felt for his servant. Insolent clod. Sesshoumaru thought. Instead of voicing his feelings, Sesshoumaru managed to allow himself to squash the toad under him when he turned to lead Kagome to the car. Deciding to take a little revenge, Kagome also stepped on Jaken, adding to his pain by slightly grinding the heel of her shoes onto his back. The two of them left the trampled servant where he lay, twitching on the ground from the pain that was inflicted.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, what… did this… lowly one do… to… deserve this?" he said brokenly.
Sesshoumaru's voice echoed in his head. 'You have insulted the one I deemed worthy.' Jaken shivered a little at the bitter tone of his master. He didn't think he would try insulting Kagome anymore. It just wasn't worth feeling his master's wrath upon him.
Kagome sat beside Sesshoumaru quietly as they made their way to Kagome's abode. Every few moments, Kagome would steal a quick glance at Sesshoumaru, who was just staring at the road in front of him.
"There is something you wish to ask," Sesshoumaru said, breaking the silence.
"H-how do you know?" Kagome asked. She didn't anticipate that he would catch her staring at him.
"If you wish to ask, merely voice it," Sesshoumaru told her.
"You didn't answer my question," Kagome pointed out.
"Your incessant glancing led to my conclusion," Sesshoumaru said.
"Oh, so you did notice. Darn it!" Kagome mumbled.
Sesshoumaru stayed quiet. Let her believe what she will. He said. It is not wise to inform her of her position quite yet.
"Your question?" Sesshoumaru asked, a bit impatient.
Kagome blushed slightly. "Oh, um… earlier you said that Jaken hates humans and that you were an 'exception.' What did you mean by that?" Kagome asked.
Sesshoumaru remained quiet for a time, contemplating how to answer that question. Upon reaching his decision, he answered.
"I am not what I appear to be," Sesshoumaru said cryptically,
Kagome's eyes narrowed in thought as she tried to process what he had said.
"That makes no sense," Kagome cried out.
"Everything you must know will be revealed," Sesshoumaru said. Cryptically as well this time.
Kagome let out a small sigh. Well, what did you expect Kags? A mysterious answer from a mysterious guy. Cute too! Kagome's cheeks tinted a little with her thoughts. Come on Kags, we've been through this before!
As Sesshoumaru listened to the conversation inside Kagome's head, he allowed a brief glint of amusement to filter into his eyes. Kagome was too busy in her own world to notice.
Sesshoumaru pulled up to Kagome's house, watching as a panicky Eri greeted them.
"Higurashi Kagome! Where have you been?" she screamed.
Sesshoumaru frowned the slightest bit at the decibels that Eri's voice went up to, abusing his sensitive ears. Kagome cringed at the harsh voice her friend was using.
"Calm down Eri, I'm fine," Kagome said.
"Fine? FINE! You come home after disappearing for a whole night and…" Eri broke off her tirade when she saw Sesshoumaru, still in the car. A mischievous smile formed on her face as well as a particular gleam in her eyes. "Ah, never mind. I see that you were 'well taken care of.'"
Kagome just stared. "What are you talking ab…" Kagome trailed off when the special meaning behind her friend's statement hit her. "ERI! It's not like that!" she said forcefully, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Oh man, I hope Sesshoumaru didn't catch that meaning. Stupid Eri! Kagome's mind whirled.
Sesshoumaru almost smiled at this. Amusing. He thought. Then he stepped from the car to face Eri.
"Kagome was attacked at her office," he said, a glint of hatred flashing quickly through his gold eyes as he remembered Akiyo and his men.
Eri gasped, all traces of her teasing were gone. "Oh my god! What happened?" she demanded.
Kagome put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "It's okay Eri, I'm not hurt. Sesshoumaru managed to save me before they could try anything," Kagome said.
Eri whirled on her. "How can you be so calm?" she said.
Kagome sighed. "I don't need anymore stress in my life," she said.
"That's it! You're staying home tomorrow," Eri said.
"What? No way, I've still got plenty of work to do!" Kagome exclaimed.
"You can take one day off! I'm not going to allow you to go to work until that creep goes away," Eri said. "He's dangerous. From the way he keeps stalking you, if I didn't know the circumstances, I would've thought he was a jealous ex or something."
At Eri's comment, Sesshoumaru paid a little more attention. It seems the human has a point. Five hundred years ago, a mortal also dared to challenge me. Perhaps he is the reincarnation of the one who ruined everything. Sesshoumaru's eyes darkened as his mind briefly flashed back to the past. It would not be wise to conclude anything before a proper assessment has been done. However, if this mortal is indeed his reincarnation, nothing will save him from my wrath!
"Oh come on, Eri. I need to go to work tomorrow! I'll be fine, I promise," Kagome said.
Sesshoumaru decided to voice his opinion. "You shall have a bodyguard with you at all times," he said.
Kagome turned to face him. "Not you too, Sesshoumaru," Kagome complained.
"It is best that you have someone," Sesshoumaru said. "It will be taken care of."
Eri pounced on this opportunity. "See, even he agrees with me," she gloated.
Kagome made a little growling sound in the back of her throat. "I'm FINE! Yeesh, what will it take for you people to understand that?" she asked, throwing her hands up in the air.
"When that creep's in jail."
"When the foolish human has been apprehended."
Both Sesshoumaru and Eri answered her. Kagome groaned and started to stomp towards the house.
"You two are impossible!" she said.
Sesshoumaru merely raised an eyebrow and then turned his attention to Kagome's smiling friend.
"You will see to it that Kagome does not depart from this place until she is escorted by a bodyguard." Sesshoumaru ordered. "No harm will come to her." The last sentence was punctuated with an intense stare from Sesshoumaru. Eri felt a shiver crawl up her spine.
"Yeah, sure," she said.
With a curt nod, Sesshoumaru got back into his car and sped away, he needed to make an urgent phone call. Sesshoumaru had gotten to like the modern world with its technologies.
Eri stared after the car, the shiver still present. "Cute guy but way too cold and what's with the stone face?" Eri asked to no one in particular
Ring…ring…ringThe phone sounded harsh against the quietness of his study. A bit irritated, he snatched up the cordless phone and growled.
"What?" he demanded.
"You have a mission to fulfill," a cold voice said.
"What the…what mission?" confusion laced his voce.
"You will find out tomorrow, follow my instructions,"
"No fucking way. I'm not listening to you. Whatever job you have, you can fucking do it yourself,"
"Watch your tone with me," a strained voice said.
"Aw, shut up! I'll talk to you however I fucking please."
"Arrogance will get you killed."
"Oh yeah? You're the one to talk,"
"Know your place, half-breed."
"It's right here, away from you!"
"Protect Kagome. If she is injured in anyway, you will wish you were never conceived."
"Is that a threat?"
"It is merely a warning and a prompt for you to accomplish your task."
The line went dead.
"Fucking bastard. What's he mean 'protect Kagome'?" he asked. "Oh well, might as well. It's not like I have any choice."
Ring…ring…"What now?" his voice was full of complaint.
"Do not fail… Inuyasha,"
"Don't worry Sesshoumaru, I won't." Inuyasha said, rolling his eyes.
The line went dead the second time that night. Inuyasha sighed. I don't think Kagome's gonna be happy 'bout this. Shit!
Author's Note: Wai, I hope this chapter was okay. Sorry if it was a little boring!
Read and Review! Arigatou!