Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
I forgot to thank HahI'mBetterThanYou and lilxangelxsweetz for their reviews on Chap. 2 - Thanks, guys!
I'm sure everyone can guess what Sesshomaru's plan is by the end of the chapter. You get a brownie if you guess right in a reivew! Same goes for the stalker - if you guess right, you get a brownie AND credit in the story. Just review, and anyone who's right will make a cameo-appearence in the end of the story.
Please review if you read. Ideas, suggestions, and votes on couple is GREATLY appreciated! Pairing is decided by reviewers.
"This is the place," Naraku confirmed, as the group climbed the steps to the three-story house in the suburbs.
"Nice garden," Tori noticed, looking around at the shrubbery.
"Yeah, Mrs. Taisho is big on flowers and shrubs," Kagome told them.
"Where are the Taishos, anyway?" Miroku asked lazily, as Sango knocked on the door.
"I think they're in Germany on a business trip," Kagome thought, "Mr. Taisho has a company spanning over a large part of Asia, America, and Europe. They're gone a lot of the time, according to Inuyasha and Sesshomaru."
"Hey!" Inuyasha greeted them, and glanced at Tori and Naraku. "So you two came too? Good to see you again," he nodded, shaking their hands. Tori looked around cautiously, expecting a rowdy college party in full swing. To her inner surprise, music was on and beer was out, but the guests were well-behaved and eating the buffet.
"So, who else is here?" Miroku asked.
"Well, Bankotsu and Jak came with Hiten, and a few of Sesshomaru's fangirls showed up," Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "And a couple other people I know. That's it."
"Speaking of Sess, where is he?" Kagome realized, looking around.
"Upstairs hiding in his room," Inuyasha told them, "He doesn't plan on coming down, either."
"Hey, Tori!" Hiten noticed, and the three guys came over, "What're you doing here?"
"Hey, Naraku," Jakotsu grinned at him, and Naraku grinned back before melting into the crowd.
"I met Kagome at the library earlier today, and then ran into Miroku and Sango," Tori said, flushing a bit at seeing Bankotsu, "She invited me, and Naraku tagged along as well. Koga drove."
"Like a nutcase, I'm sure," Bankotsu added, "Koga's not the perfect driver you'll ever find, but he hasn't gotten popped by the cops yet – surprisingly."
"Hey, I'm gonna go get something to drink," Jakotsu interrupted, and slipped past. Tori didn't notice him and Inuyasha sneaking up the stairs to the second floor.
"Hey, Sesshomaru, you comin' down?" Inuyasha asked, and his brother ignored him effortlessly. Rin had gone out with her several friends, and was spending the night over at a friend's house.
"Tori and Naraku just showed up," Jakotsu added, not-too-subtly.
"And I would care…why?"
"Well, I thought you got along with Naraku," Inuyasha prodded, "And we figured you'd want to meet his younger cousin, that's all."
"Well, I don't," Sesshomaru glared at them. "Now get – out." As the two rushed out before Sesshomaru could kill them, he stared at his computer. "That would explain why she isn't on," he realized, and cringed. "Well, I did blow off meeting her. Well, maybe I'll go after all – if I feel like it."
"Naraku," Tori said, and tugged on his sleeve a bit later.
"Yeah?"
"That guy keeps watching me. I've never seen him before," she told him, and he cast a sharp glance over her shoulder. Relaxing, he grinned.
"Don't worry – that's Ayame's brother, Hakkaku. Hiten's a friend of his. He's probably trying to figure out who you are, that's all. Go say hi, and see for yourself," he reassured her, and cast the mohawk-haired twenty year-old out of his mind.
"Hey," Hakkaku greeted her, as Tori walked up to him. "I'm Hakkaku."
"Tori," she said, "Sango mentioned you work on elevators. Are you working on the one in my building?"
"Where is it?" he asked. After hearing the address, he shook his head. "Nope, never been to that place. But I know the area."
"Oh," Tori nodded, at ease again, "So, do you go to Tama U?"
"Yeah," he nodded, "I'm on TUIM as well – I'm MechW."
"I'm JigsawPuzzle," she told him, "You can IM me whenever you want, you know."
"Same here, then," he nodded, and then looked past her, "Oh, Ayame's ready to go. I better get her home, or she'll throw a fit. Talk to you later!"
"Bye!" she waved, and then turned as Bankotsu appeared next to her.
"Having fun?" he asked, grinning. She nodded, and grinned back at him.
"Sure. How 'bout you?" she teased, "Having fun keeping out of the fangirls' way?"
"Very funny, smart-ass," he retorted.
"At least I'm not a dumb one," she shot back, following their years-old routine. "Hey, what time is it, anyway? I can't find a clock, and I forgot my watch."
"Uh…it's 'bout ten," he answered, "Why? Tired?"
"Not really," she shrugged, "Where'd Naraku go? I can't find him anywhere."
"Well, Kanna came as well, and the two of 'em left for a while," Bankotsu told her, and noticed her frown. "What's the matter? Was he your ride home?"
"Well, he's staying at the flat until Renkotsu comes back," she told him, "We were gonna catch a cab when we left – and he's got the money on him."
"How come you didn't drive?" he asked, "Thought you loved it."
"I didn't know where the Taishos lived, so Koga picked us up," she admitted.
"Well, I'd offer a ride, but the car just burnt out this morning," he sighed, "And anyway, Jak and I are spending the night with Hiten, who's staying here."
"What, a guy get-together?" she teased him, laughing. Shrugging, she sighed. "I'll find a ride – don't worry about it, Bank."
"I can take you home," a voice offered, Turning around, the pair was surprised to see Sesshomaru Taisho next to them, eyeing them.
"I don't want to be problem," she stammered, wanting to avoid the arrogant brother at all costs. She avoided looking up at him, which Bank quickly picked up.
"Well, we drove here in Hiten's car, so I'm sure he can give you a lift," he said, glaring at the intruder. Sesshomaru ignored him, and looked at Tori.
"Let me know when you're ready to leave, and be ready to give me directions," he ordered, and strode away.
"Arrogant asshole," she muttered, those two words quickly becoming her favorite expression for the older Taisho.
Jakotsu and Inuyasha watched the scene with smug expressions, and high-fived each other before Sesshomaru could see. Hiten shook his head, still convinced that their idea wouldn't work.
"Hiten was more than willing to give me a lift," she grumbled, climbing into the convertible.
"I had nothing better to do," he said shortly, and started the car. "Do you want the hood up?"
She looked at him, surprised that he was even asking her opinion. "No, thanks, I'm used to the wind," she shook her head, and buckled her seatbelt.
"I overheard you telling Hakkaku that you are JigsawPuzzle on TUIM," he said, as they pulled out into the street.
"Yeah, I am."
"I am LordYoukai," he informed her, "I apologize for missing our meeting – I lost track of time while studying."
"You're LordYoukai?" she repeated, and flushed as she remembered how she had described Sesshomaru to her chat buddy.
"Are you disappointed to discover the LordYoukai is the 'arrogant asshole' that helped you?" he asked, smirking to himself at her discomfort.
"I'm sorry," she said finally, "I was just annoyed, that's all."
"I took no offense – I have been called worse," he told her, and frowned, "I'm glad to get out of the party. My idiot brother has decided that I am need in of a constant female companion."
"That sucks," she agreed, and sighed. "But at least the person you like doesn't treat you like a little sister – especially when you're the same age!"
Sesshomaru realized she was referring to Bankotsu, and said so.
"How'd you know?" she asked in amazement.
"Jakotsu has a big mouth, and Inuyasha an even bigger one," he replied, and she sighed.
"Oh, well. I wish I could meet a guy, and try to get Bankotsu jealous, but I hate meeting new people – especially guys," she admitted.
"And I wish there was a way to get Inuyasha off my back," Sesshomaru thought, and began to form a plan in his head.
"Turn here," Tori said, breaking the silence. He complied, and they continued to drive.
"I will come up with you," he announced, as he parked the car.
"Excuse me?"
"No man should let a young woman walk into an apartment – no matter how well-locked – alone, not knowing what will be on the other side," he informed her, and followed her into the building.
"I guess," she shrugged, but was secretly relieved. They climbed the stairs, and Tori noticed enviously that Sesshomaru didn't even break a sweat on the steep steps.
"Is this it?" he asked, as she took out her keys.
"Yeah. I hope Naraku's here," she told him, unlocking the door. Walking in, she looked around while Sesshomaru strode down the hall, checking the rooms.
"You certainly keep a messy room," he commented, as she sighed.
"I guess he hasn't gotten back yet…what did you say?" she asked, his remark registering in her mind.
"I said, you certainly have a messy room. I previously believed that only people like my brother kept a room like that, I was proved wrong," he repeated, and noticed her face pale. "What's the matter?"
Tori ignored him, and rushed to the cabinets under the counters, where she and Naraku had locked the box her stalker had sent. She found the door unlocked, and the cabinet empty.
"Is everything all right?" Sesshomaru pressed, following her down the hall. Tori gasped when she saw her ransacked room, and rushed back out to the main room. Glancing around, she froze when she saw all the pictures.
They were all in their frames, and all in their proper place, but on closer inspection something was missing. All the pictures that showed Tori with one of her male friends, Renkotsu, or Naraku had been cut up, and showed her with a shadowed figure.
"Oh God…" she breathed, and Sesshomaru caught her elbow as she sank to the floor. Following her gaze, he frowned when he noticed that problem.
"I will call Naraku," he told her, and dialed the phone. Unfortunately, her cousin had turned his cell phone off, much to Sesshomaru's aggravation.
"He's not answering," he said, after leaving several messages threatening painful deaths if he didn't call back soon. Crouching next to her, he peered at her white face. "Are you all right?"
"Not…really," she replied faintly, and he pulled her up by her shoulder and guided her to a chair.
"Wait here," he said unnecessarily, and proceeded to check the windows. Coming back, his face was crestfallen. "All your windows are still locked, as was your door, obviously. Is there any other way to enter your flat?"
Tori shook head, still absorbing what had happened. She had received several calls where no one had said anything for a few months, and Renkotsu had decided – with disgust – that they had been crank calls. Other than that, there had no incidents to suggest she had a stalker until the package had arrived.
"What is your brother's number?" he asked, and she looked at him with fright apparent in her eyes.
"He's in Holland. Even if you got a hold of him, he wouldn't be able to come back for a while," she said, and buried her face in her hands. Sesshomaru joined her on the loveseat, and put his arm around her.
"I'll stay until Naraku arrives," he assured her calmly, and then reached for the phone. After calling his house and letting Inuyasha know he was staying later – which Sesshomaru didn't expect to hear the last of for a long time – he returned his attention to the stricken girl.
"Is there anyone else you'd like me to call?" he asked, as Kirara jumped into Tori's lap. She shook her head, absently stroking her cream-colored cat.
"No, no one else," she said, and looked at him again, "You don't have to stay, you know. You hardly know me – this isn't your problem."
"Of course it is," he replied, "For one thing, you are one of Inuyasha's friends, and – as much as I detest him – I have a certain duty to his friends. And for another thing, the last thing I'd do is leave you alone and have you discover the intruder is still here."
At this Tori paled, and Sesshomaru instantly regretted saying the last part.
"What did you look for, when you dug under the counter?" he asked quickly, trying to distract her. Tori told him hesitantly, and then stood up.
"Can you come with me?"
"Where?"
"I'm going to check the flat," she said determinedly, "And if he's still here, I'm gong to beat the crap out of him for this." Holding Kirara, she began to systematically search the flat, with Sesshomaru's aid.
"Are you sure we checked everywhere?" he asked, slightly out of breath from moving furniture.
"Yeah," she nodded, discouraged, "I used to play hide-and-seek all the time with Renkotsu, and I know every possible hiding spot in this place like the back of my hand."
"I suspected," he told her, having noticed how easily she had thought of hiding places.
"I'm going to change," she said suddenly, and looked at him, "Do you want to borrow a pair of my brother's pajamas? You're taller, but they should still fit, for the most part."
"No, I'll be fine," he shook his head. To her amazement, he began to follow her to her room.
"Uh…what do you think you're doing?" she demanded, and he smirked.
"We may have searched everywhere, but he could still return," he informed her, "I wasn't planning on leaving you alone, Tori."
"You're not going to watch me change!" she protested, and his smirk widened.
"I was going to close my eyes, never fear," he assured her, and her flush deepened, and she glared at him.
"I guess…but I'm gonna keep an eye on you!" she decided, "If you open them even a slit, you'll regret it."
"I highly doubt I would," he teased her calmly, enjoying the various emotions that crossed her face before she settled for embarrassed rage.
"Well, close 'em!" she ordered, both of them in her room. He obeyed her without comment, and tried to ignore the sounds of fabric moving over her skin as she quickly changed into flannel pants and a shirt.
"All right, you can look now," she told him, and he opened them. "Are you sure you don't want to borrow a pair?" she asked again, as they walked to the couch.
"No," he said firmly. Holding Kirara again, Tori slid onto the couch, and settled herself in-between the armrest and a pillow.
"You can go to sleep, if you're tired," he told her, "I slept the better part of the morning, so I have no need of sleep at this point."
"I'd rather not," she replied shyly.
"If you're afraid that I would take liberties, I assure, I would not," he said bluntly, and she averted her face from his gaze.
"I know," she shrugged, and curled up further. Within minutes, she was sleeping soundly, and had shifted into Sesshomaru's chest. Sighing, he wrapped an arm around her, and kept the other one on his lap.
Aw...and if anyone's wondering, TUIM is Tama Univeristy Instant Messanger. Since no one's given their opinion yet, I'm leaning toward SesshomaruXOC. Vote for him, Bankotsu, or anyone else that you'd like to see!