Different Sides of the Track
Chapter 3: An Evil Unveiled
Kagome stared at the man, not knowing what to do. She didn't know him, and she sure as hell wasn't about to walk off with a stranger. Sango on the other hand, seemed to recognize him after a few seconds.
"Kouga, what do you want with Kagome? Actually, I don't care what you want. Why does Naraku want her?"
"I love you too Sango. All I know that Naraku wants to see the girl. He has his reasons."
Kagome turned to Sango, who nodded, signaling to her that she would be safe. She took a deep breath, and walked after the retreating form of this Kouga person.
Slowly, Sango disappeared from view, taking Shippo off somewhere while she went to work. Kagome shrugged and turned to Kouga, wanting some answers.
"Seeing as you are taking me somewhere to meet this Naraku person, could you tell me who that is? And why the hell I was kidnapped!"
"Naraku is the leader of the company I work for. He sent InuYasha and Miroku after you. They kidnapped you on Naraku's orders. As to what those are, I have no idea."
"Ok then... So tell me who you are?"
They came to a curb on the road, where a black Mercedes was waiting. Kouga held open the door for her, and then got in on the other side. He drove toward a tall dark blue building a ways away.
"I'm Kouga Tanaka. I have worked for Naraku as long as InuYasha, since I was 14. My parents died, and I was left in charge of their debts, and my little sister. I needed money badly. Naraku came to one of my sparing events in a dojo down town, where I fought for money. Naraku liked what he saw, and offered me a job. He made it clear what would happen if I refused."
"And what was that?"
He looked at her for a second, deciding whether or not to tell her. If he did, she might be scared of Naraku, and anyone who was scared was easily bent to his liking. She looked like a strong girl, and from what he had heard from InuYasha, she had seen her dad after he committed suicide, but she seemed pretty capable.
"He said he would kill my sister and make sure that I never got enough money to pay off the debts."
Kagome was stunned for a second. He made threats on the safety of the people who were closest to the people who worked for him. How did anyone stay in on this group? Why did they? Did they have a choice? More questions along those lines floated through her head, and she about to put them to voice, but Kouga unintentionally interrupted her.
"We're here. Oh, and a little advice, answer his questions, pay attention, and never take your eyes away from him."
"Uhhh…Ok. Thank you. Will I see you again?"
"That depends, most people dread seeing me. They know what my job is. I take care of traitors. But I might help out InuYasha and Miroku on a mission. Dog boy will hate that."
"Dog boy?"
"My nickname for him. He's a dog Hanyou. And I'm a wolf Youkai. Naraku will tell you he is all demon, but no one is sure. More often than not, we all think he's only a hanyou. Practically everyone in Naraku's company is demon. InuYasha is the only Hanyou who isn't afraid to lie about his origins. "
"Youkai? Hanyou? I … uh… Don't think I should be around you all."
"Why?" Kouga's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you prejudice? Do you despise any non human being?"
"Oh, nonono. My old best friend was a Youkai. Cat Youkai to be specific, but she was forced to leave me. You see…my family's ancestors were mikos. They purified evil. The special powers they were believed to posses were thought to have died out, that is until I was born. I was born with immense spiritual powers, and I only just learned to control them. My old friend, Yuri, was the first victim who suffered from my out of control powers. I started to purify her, and she came close to death. I've been locked away with an old woman named Kaede, till I was 14,when my training was complete and I was in complete control. That lasted for 3 years, till now. I am 17 and this is the first full year were I have been allowed to stay away from Kaede."
"You know what's weird? All of us had something big happen to us when we were 14. Miroku, InuYasha, and I were recruited. And you were sent to this Kaede person. Maybe there's more to this then we know. Well, I may make it a point to visit you. You seem really nice. And your looks just add to it."
Kagome blushed. Was Kouga…Flirting? The car pulled up to the dark blue building. Kouga jumped out of the car and was over to her door before she had unfastened her seatbelt. He graciously opened the door and helped out by offering her his hand. She accepted it, and walked into the building.
She was met by a tall woman with black hair pulled back in a high ponytail, and two feathers placed in it. She was elegant, and had an air about her that required respect. That or fear.
"Higurashi, Kagome?"
"Yeah, that is me."
"Naraku wants to see you."
"Yeah, Kouga told me. But he couldn't tell me why. Can you?"
"Well… I'm not supposed to, but, I'll tell you something. You are blessed with miko powers, right?"
"I wouldn't say blessed, but yeah, I am."
"Well, Naraku knows this. There was another like you, a miko, in fact she even looked like you. Any way, I think he needs to use you the way he used her. I can't tell you what he did, so please don't ask."
They entered an elevator, and the woman pushed the 13th floor button. The elevator started to rise, Kagome stood for a second, watching the different numbers light up as they went up higher.
"So tell me about you? Like what your name is and how you came to work for Naraku."
"My name is Kagura. Naraku is my uncle. Both of my parents died in a storm out on the ocean. They loved to sail. So when they died, my sister Kanna and I went to live with Naraku. I was only 12, but when I turned 15, three years ago, Naraku told me that joining his little "organization" would make sure that Kanna and I were always secured. I love my sister, so I joined to make sure we would always be taken care of."
"Oh I see."
The elevator reached the 13th floor, and the doors opened. Kagome stepped out, into the hallway. There were only five doors, and all of them were on the same side. Kagura pointed to the third door on the right. Kagome thanked her for the information and walked to the door. She knocked twice before a deep voice called out "Enter."
Kagome slowly pushed open the door and walked inside. A man sat at a leather chair, facing towards her. His face was in shadow, but kagome could make out one red eye staring at her through the darkness. Across from him sat two men. One of them had white hair and dog-ears while the other had dark hair and purple eyes.
"Ah… Miss Higurashi. We've been waiting for you. May I introduce misters InuYasha and Miroku? They are the top two members of my organization. And I am Naraku, though I am sure Kouga and Kagura have already told you that. Please sit."
Kagome recognized InuYasha, and the name Miroku Sango had told her earlier. She sat down in the third chair next to Miroku. The second she sat down however, she felt pressure on her thigh. She looked down to see Miroku's hand rubbing the spot right after her knee. Now, Kagome had never been handled like this before, and she didn't know how to react. InuYasha however, did.
"Miroku! You pervert! What will Sango think when I tell her this?"
"InuYasha don't you dare! Look I'll apologize right now see? I'm sorry miss Higurashi. It's in my nature feel up any attractive lady I meet."
Kagome was still a little stunned, but managed a weak little "that's alright." Naraku cleared his throat, and every one shut up. Though InuYasha seemed a little mad at being told what to do.
"I have a feeling that you all want to know why it is that I called you here. Miroku and InuYasha, you will be assisting Miss Higurashi. She comes from a long line of miko blood, and her powers have recently been trained. Am I correct Miss Higurashi?"
"Yes Naraku-sama."
"Please, just Naraku. Any way, her powers could rival even Kikyo's. InuYasha, you and Miroku already know who Kikyo is, so you don't have to pay attention to this part. Kikyo was a member of my group. While everyone in my group was born with a special power that they had no choice in deciding on, Kikyo had the chance to give up her powers. There is a person that I know that can steal away a miko's powers, but only if I ask them to. Kikyo had worked for me since she was a toddler, and she had done everything I asked of her without question. So I decided to put her to the test. There was one key detail that I left out of the process. If she decided to do this, then her life force would be drained as well, thus killing her. She didn't know this, and I thought she would be faithful to me, thought she wouldn't jump at the first chance I gave her to escape. That was the only time I have ever been wrong in my life. As you can probably guess, she went through with the power reduction, and died. InuYasha here was devastated."
Kagome took a quick glance past Miroku to InuYasha. He looked extremely pissed off. He glanced up as if he sensed Kagome looking at him. She could tell that he was remembering something, or, Kagome guessed, someone. His eyes may have tried to mask his feelings, but Kagome was the best at removing masks. He glanced away then looked back. He bared his…Fangs? Then Kagome remembered what Kouga said. Practically everyone in Naraku's company is demon. InuYasha is the only Hanyou who isn't afraid to lie about his origins. So it would make sense for him to have fangs. Half dog Youkai right? She gave him a small smile, which seemed to startle him, then turned back to Naraku.
"What all of that has to do with you however, is this. Kikyo's powers were very useful to me. Getting my jobs done has been harder then it used to be, so I need your help. As I previously stated, your powers are stronger than Kikyo's, so I want you to take over her old job. Miroku and InuYasha can fill you in on what you have to do in detail, but I can give you the basics. What I would require for you to do is use your powers to get past security, past the demon and miko warded items, kill anyone that stands in yours, InuYasha's, or Miroku's way, and ward of my enemy's from being able to get into my stash or near me."
Kagome was a little stunned. Naraku wanted her to kill people? That was the reason why she had to train with Kaede. And why should she do this? What could Naraku possibly do to her? Her father was dead and they were broke. But they were in debt, and her mother and brother… It seemed that Naraku was able to read her mind.
"Your mother and brother are staying your beach house. You own a boat right? Well it would be a shame for there to be an…. accident. Of course, with the amount of debt you have, it would be hard to give them a proper burial. Don't you think?"
"H…How do you know where my mother and brother are? And how did you know about our boat?"
"That is simple. I've had spies watching you and your family for the last six days. In fact, I know just about everything about you and your family."
Now Kagome was really stunned. She hadn't even sensed anyone. Well, not any demons. But, come to think of it, she couldn't sense anything off Miroku either. She would have to ask him about it later. Right now she needed to figure out what to do about Naraku. She didn't want to work for him, but there was no way she would ever put her family in danger, but killing people? She was so deep in thought that she missed Naraku assign Miroku and InuYasha to take care of her until her training could start next week. Meaning they got the whole week off with pay, which they were very happy about. Kagome stood with them, and bowed to Naraku. She followed InuYasha and Miroku to the door, still so deep in thought that she missed the retreating aura of a very familiar wolf demon.
InuYasha was a bit surprised to find out that Kagome might actually be more powerful than even Kikyo, but he was elated to get the week of, even if it meant that he had to take care of this Kagome girl. When he left the room, Miroku and Kagome right behind him, he saw Kouga walk down the hall to the elevator. Kouga turned to face him for a second, and said in a voice only InuYasha hanyou ears could pick up;
"I'll get Sango, go to Wacdonald's. I don't think Naraku's plan will work and it's about time we all got away from him."
InuYasha gave a curt nod, and turned to Miroku. He wasn't at all surprised to find out that Miroku had caught all of that information. Sometimes InuYasha wondered if Miroku was really human.
When they got to the car, InuYasha told Kagome where they were going. She simpley said:
"Good I'm starving."