Ah. such kind reviews. it's all going to my head!
Anywho, before we start this chapter (Yes - another one!) I would like to address some things that you readers brought up, and that should be attended to seeing as you were so nice as to mention them.
The matter of the bow and arrow fitting into Inuyasha's leather jacket. (Yes, this will be the new red, fire rat jacket. And yes. It is cool.) Okay, so, I mentioned that this jacket is fairly big - I believe I pointed out it went down to the back of Inuyasha's knees, so I was thinking the bow wasn't really in his pocket, but more like inside the jacket. Like, on the inside of it. like when people are selling things and they have them on the inside of their trench coats. Okay. Maybe that made sense to me because I live in Brooklyn. Er. sorry for the confusion. But no dimensional pockets.
I know this is old, but. the Duracell Bunny! Not the Energizer Bunny. sorry!
This is also old - but I forgot to mention it before, and since almost everyone who reviewed was considerate enough to give in their two cents about the topic - I would like to bring up the matter of Kikyo and Hell.
Now, while there were numerous ideas about the idea of what happened to Kikyo when she died (It was almost like I started a forum!.. Almost!) I decided to go with the one where the very concept of Hell is different in Japan, and the translation probably screwed it all up a little. Kikyo was most likely not dwelling in a place with fire and brimstone, and this does, in fact, ruin the entire plot for my other story I was maybe thinking of starting. (It was going to be SO cool! Kikyo dies and Kagome is accidentally dragged to Hell with her because they share a soul or something, and so now Kikyo and Kagome have to fend for themselves in the underworld as Inuyasha tries to find a way to bring them back to the land of the living - all the while the two mikos are becoming sort of friends, simultaneously wondering WHO deserves to end up with their favorite hanyou. But will they kill each other first!? - Nifty, no?)
Anywho, enough babble, I know you don't really care.. Please read and review, I don't own Inuyasha, and enjoy!
*
Bitten
By Rio Grande
Chapter Six: Swordplay
*
Kagome abruptly stood, her posture stiff and unwelcoming. Enough was enough.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that, Detective Kaede," she said, addressing the old woman formally as to seem more cold. Anyone who knew Kagome Higurashi even distantly knew instantly that she was a kind, compassionate type of person. but one had to draw the line SOMEwhere. She couldn't have her life controlled like this.
"But Kagome, think of the risk you're in-!" Kaede started, looking up at the girl almost pleadingly, begging her to understand her position.
"As a student, I can't have this job completely take over my life, and I think having my partner LIVING with me is probably going to work against me in that department. Plus, Inuyasha's a guy, and living with him will make all of my friends and family suspicious - not to mention he's also not human, which will make everyone in the world suspicious.
"You're right, I am probably in a great deal of danger, but just have surveillance cars check up on my building every now and then if you truly believe it's that serious - okay? I think I can probably take care of myself with these new super miko powers, too. Don't worry about me, or Shippou. I'll be good. I'll be fine. I don't need to have Inuyasha watching me 24/7," At this point, Kagome understood she was babbling, however she was also panicking a great deal, so there wasn't much she could do about it.
Kaede rubbed her head slowly, frowning deeply and sighing. "I think you're making a big mistake by turning this offer down. It's in your best interests," she said slowly, after a minute. Kagome shook her head, already starting to back out of the room.
"No, I think this is all probably for the better." She admitted.
"But Kagome-"
"I'm sorry but I just can't deal with this okay?!" Kagome finally cried, abruptly turning towards the door and throwing it open. "This is ridiculous! I can't be living with some guy I hardly know - Naraku or no! I can do fine on my own!"
Breathing hard, Kagome left the office; gently closing the door behind her (Kagome simply didn't slam doors. She found it obnoxious.) holding her head and biting her lip. Okay. All right. She had just totally flipped out on her . more or less. boss back in there. Which meant she should probably get to work on those meditative practices she had been doing with Miroku lately since she obviously hadn't gotten the gist of them yet. Very well, okay. She'd do that then.
But honestly - the NERVE of that woman! How could she even CONSIDER having Inuyasha LIVE with her!? The idea was preposterous! It was like asking Kaede to shack up with Miroku! She'd never suggest it! Oh, so, just because she was a miko in training she had to be looked after twenty four seven by an unreasonably strong man who had, by the way, claws? Just because she didn't know how to use a gun she had to have. extra precautions taken to ensure her livelihood. Just because a homicidal freak was on her back she had to have someone. make sure she didn't get ripped into tiny little shreds. and watch over she and the child living with her. oh shit. What had she done?
Sourly traveling down the hall with a nearly visible rain cloud looming heavily above her, Kagome wandered into the usual training hall she had Miroku practiced miko instruction in, hoping to find him there and beg him for another lesson - or at least advice on what to do when you've wronged Kaede.
Luckily, she found him there. Unfortunately, Inuyasha was with him.
The two were play fighting with swords, obviously both trained in the art, and moving fluidly around the room in a powerful dance that was violent and jerky, yet graceful and planned at the same time. Miroku was using a typical, dull practice blade, and Inuyasha was using that old sword that had transformed into something powerful the other night, and which had injured Yura, and also of which she had forgotten to as him about. To be added to the list of things she needed to do.
Looking the twenty something hanyou over casually, Kagome reflected on why she so deeply didn't want to be living with Inuyasha. The man was notably attractive, strong, brave and sort of sweet when he wanted to be. Not with too many other people, but sometimes to her. Sure he was cranky, freakishly powerful and not human. but he would undoubtedly be a good bodyguard if she let him try.
On the other hand, Kagome had already made so many compromises with her life when it came to the FBI, and she didn't know if she could stand one more major alteration - even if it was in an effort to save her life. Sighing, Kagome leaned against the wall and watched her two partners spar, unconsciously following the movements of Inuyasha's body as he flipped around the room. Her eyes were glued to him.
"Heya Kagome!" a little voice chirped to the dazed woman.
"Hu?" Kagome squeaked, looking down to find a cheery Shippou smiling up at her. "Oh, hey Shippou," Kagome said, cracking a weak smile and kneeling next to the little demon.
"They're really good, hu?" Shippou asked conspiratorially, so as not to let the two fighting men hear. Kagome glanced at Miroku and Inuyasha, finding to her surprise that Miroku was almost every bit as good as his half demon counterpart when it came to fighting with a weapon, looking fully concentrated and notably strong as he exchanged blows with Inuyasha.
"Yeah, they are," she marveled. Well well, looked as though Miroku had more up his sleeves than first imagined.
"Stop!" Inuyasha suddenly commanded, coming to a halt in the fighting and raising a hand to stop Miroku as well. Miroku quickly abated his attacks, panting a little, and then the two warriors simultaneously turned to look at the girl who had barged in on their training. Kagome blushed a bit and clapped politely for the duo.
"Bravo!" she cheered. "That was amazing! You guys are really good."
"Well, it's standard training for this section of the FBI," Miroku explained, putting down his sword and grabbing a towel, dabbing at the sweat scattering his brow. Inuyasha didn't say anything, simply choosing to look over his sword, as if fascinated. Kagome hadn't seen him since last night, and had been privately hoping for a little more of a welcome. But Hell, this was Inuyasha, and Kagome already knew better than to expect anything at all from him. "Not all criminals we deal with can necessarily be affected by a bullet, so it's good to have a surplus of other ways to protect yourself." The monk continued, now approaching Kagome with a smile.
"I see," Kagome said thoughtfully, distantly wondering if Miroku would be interested in giving some lessons to a weak thing like herself. "Say, Inuyasha, I was meaning to ask you before, but what's up with that weird sword? It did this odd, transforming thing last night, and."
"Oh, now this is a good story!" Miroku quickly assured the girl, turning to Inuyasha and smiling. Inuyasha looked up from his tedious inspection of the powerful blade - which still looked a bit like an over sized letter opener currently - before just as quickly letting his golden eyes flit back down to it.
"Nothing's 'up with it'. It's the Tetsusaiga," he growled simply. Kagome frowned lightly, and Miroku rolled his eyes.
"There is MUCH more to it than that, Ms. Kagome," he guaranteed the twenty year old.
"Really? Like what?" Kagome asked, as Shippou jumped into her arms to listen, apparently already totally comfortable with these humans who had taken him in. You couldn't say the boy didn't know how to adapt well.
"Well, for starters, it was made from the real FANG of his demon father!" Miroku admitted, eyes alight at the prospect of getting to explain some of Inuyasha's dark and mysterious past. Inuyasha, for his part, had retreated to a far corner of the training hall, where had proceeded to begin to clean the sword in a fruitless attempt to get it to shine as it did so wonderfully when it was transformed.
"The fang?" Kagome asked skeptically, eyeing the sword. "But it's HUGE! How big was his father than?"
"Colossal," Miroku admitted grimly. "But all fully grown dog demons when transformed into their truest state are."
"Truest state?." Kagome repeated dumbly, trying to wrap her mind around the possibility that there were demons out their able to transform into huge somethings with swords as teeth. "Does that mean that Inuyasha has the ability transform into a huge demon as well?" At this point both Shippou and Miroku began to chuckle politely. Or tauntingly. Whatever.
"No way, Inuyasha's just a half-breed - after all!" Shippou said smartly. "Hanyous can't transform."
"Thanks for rubbing it in, Shippou!" Inuyasha, with his astute hearing, called from the other side of the room.
"Anytime!" Shippou yelled back proudly.
"Anyway," Miroku said, shaking his head. "Back to the story. on Inuyasha's father's deathbed, his last wish was to have two of his fangs forged into master blades - one for his younger son, Inuyasha, and one for Inuyasha's elder brother,"
"Inuyasha has a brother?" Kagome interjected, looking interested in learning more about her rather elusive partner. "Is he a half demon too?"
"Nope, Sesshomaru is most defiantly a true demon." Miroku said, in a somewhat disdainful tone of voice. Inuyasha snorted in agreement; apparently Sesshomaru was not a well-liked character.
"Hm," Kagome said, urging the monk to continue as she stored that piece of information in the back of her mind.
"So anyway, Inuyasha receives the blade from one of his father's many loyal friends when he came of age, around eighteen I believe. and he's been trying to master it ever since."
"Ever since?" Kagome asked quickly, raising an eyebrow. "Why - is it that hard to wield?"
"Well, it's a MASTER blade Kagome. It has special properties to it that Inuyasha has been unable to utilize,"
"Such as?" the girl prompted, infinitely unfamiliar with things like 'master blades.'
"Well, it has the ability to slay a hundred demons with one swing - and that technique is a bit hard to get the hang of." Miroku said flatly.
"No!" Kagome gasped, staring at the blade across the room with shock. "That's impossible! I mean - look at it now - it could hardly slice bread!"
"No, it's not. However, it can only do this when transformed into its more powerful state, such as the one you saw last night. And even then there's still the matter of figuring out just how to wield in the blade so that it will perform the task of slaying a hundred demons - it's really very complicated."
"And how far has Inuyasha gotten?" Kagome asked, peaking at the hanyou from the corner of her eye.
"Last night was the first time, to our knowledge, it ever transformed into its true self."
"What?" Kagome squawked, watching Inuyasha more or less flinch in his corner. "That's pathetic!"
"Uh. don't say that so loud," Miroku suggested, as Inuyasha began to simmer lightly.
"Oh. right." Kagome said, blushing apologetically. "But really, what's the problem with it?" The monk shrugged helplessly.
"No idea. If we knew what Inuyasha was doing wrong, we would have put this blade to good use long ago - is all I can say." Miroku admitted. Kagome narrowed her eyes and put one hand to her chin, the other still supporting Shippou.
"And we don't know why it worked last night, either?" she guessed.
"You got it."
"Great," Kagome sighed, sinking to the ground and sitting cross- legged so that Shippou could nest in-between her legs. Miroku followed suit, serenely kneeling on the waxed floor.
"Was there anything else you wanted, Ms. Kagome?" he asked, sensing there was something plaguing the girl's mind, even as she listened to the story of the Tetsusaiga.
"Actually. there was." she admitted, frowning. "Oh! Yes! It's, um, about Kaede."
"Kaede?" Miroku asked, leaning in and frowning. "What about her?"
"Well, I think I sort of snapped at her." Kagome admitted, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Oh?" Miroku asked skeptically, frowning. He didn't really view Kagome as the type to snap at elderly ladies, and distantly wondered what had set her off. "Why?"
"Well, we were just talking about things. having to do with the FBI. and stuff, and I got sort of defensive. And I'm sorry, but I don't know what to say to her! I still need to discuss lots of things with Kaede, but I can't agree to the things she wants me to agree to!" the girl exclaimed, finding it very hard to talk about this subject without revealing any important details. With Inuyasha so close, she doubted how wise it would be to admit that the main reason she had gotten into a fight with her superior was because she adamantly refused to have him live in her house. She got this feeling he would somehow take it the wrong way.
"Ah, I think I see. this has to do with her 'extreme measures', for protecting you against Naraku, doesn't it?" Kagome's face reddened, and she shrugged noncommittally.
"Probably," she admitted. Kagome got the distinct sense that Inuyasha was listening to her conversation very intently, even though he wasn't actually looking at her, and tried to keep her voice as low as possible, while simultaneously not making it obvious she was purposely trying to keep her answers hidden. Gosh! This FBI stuff was hard!
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it then, Ms. Kagome. I know that Kaede's methods of law enforcement for criminals can be. unorthodox, at times, so I can only imagine what lengths she would go to, to ensure that her own officers are safe. But she's not petty - I don't think she'll be angry at you for being a bit unruffled about all this Naraku stuff," Miroku admitted in one of his most calming voices. Kagome smiled at Miroku's answer - it had been just what she wanted to hear. She needed someone to tell her it was all going to be all right every once in a while, seeing as, as of late, things didn't really look like they were going to turn out all right anymore.
"That's good to know, Miroku," Kagome said earnestly, beaming. Miroku smiled in return, inching towards Kagome ever so slowly.
"Well Kagome, you're almost like my student now with all the miko training we'll be doing - and I'd do anything to ensure that my pupil is feeling comforta-"
"Whoakay!" Kagome squeaked suddenly, getting to her feet so abruptly that Shippou was unceremoniously dropped to the floor. His hand! His hand! It had been-! "Um - thanks - for your advice! Miroku! But I'm gonna go now - get ready for that Naraku conference we're having soon - um. See you there. Bye Shippou, Inuyasha!" the girl cried, dashing out of the room before anyone had a chance to protest.
Inuyasha looked up from his work to stare at the empty space Kagome had just recently occupied.
"You tried to grope her - didn't you?" he asked flatly, a hint of steel in his tone.
"Me?" Miroku asked innocently. "No! Of course not! How dare you even suggest the notion! I'm a monk!" Inuyasha snorted and shook his head, looking pained.
"Right. A monk." Now why did it bother him so much that Miroku had just tried to cop a feel on Kagome? He did it to every vaguely attractive woman within a twenty-mile radius, so why should Kagome be an exception to the rule?
'I gotta get a life. What sort of an agent develops childish crushes on their partners after only knowing them a week? Oh, right. Me. Twice.'
"Inuyasha? Inuyasha! Stop banging your head against the wall!"
*
Kagome sat in her little office, hands folded, computer monitor glowing happily, blankly, in front of her. She had sat herself down at her desk but a minute ago with the full intention of getting a head start on her report for Kaede - but had soon found her mind to be overwhelmed with far too many other things, and could hardly focus on the task at hand. There were five minutes until she had to go down to the conference room for an emergency meeting about Naraku and the latest developments on his case, organized yesterday by Kaede, and she wanted to clear her mind before she left her office.
Damn it all - she STILL hadn't asked Kaede about her pay! She knew she would be getting salaried at the end of the week, as had been promised in the very beginning, but the amount was still a mystery to Kagome. And that fact was starting to bother her. But what bothered her FAR more was the fact that her mother was dying to see the little 'boy' who was temporarily living with her while her elusive friend from college was getting bunion surgery in England - and she didn't know what to say when her mother noticed some. anatomical differences in the child. Namely a tail. And paws. And yellow eyes. And fangs.
Kagome sighed and rubbed her temples, glancing up at the clock briefly, before delicately taking a sip of her steaming black coffee.
And then there was Naraku himself - the embodiment of every single problem that had happened to her for nearly the past two weeks - and currently the epicenter of one of her biggest fears.
She wasn't afraid to admit it anymore - the Yura incident had scared her, and for a second back there, she had seriously considered taking up Kaede on the offer to have Inuyasha live with her. It had only been for an instant, a flash of fear induced insanity, before her common sense took over and told Kagome that her family/social/school life couldn't stand the pressure of living with a male half demon now - but it had been there, and she had been very conscious of it. Not to mention she STILL didn't know what to make of it.
The main fear was - would her newly awakened miko powers truly be enough to protect Shippou if another random freak set out to maim her? If it was just her in the apartment, Kagome was fairly sure she could handle living alone for a little while longer. Keep a little pepper spray by her bed, a bat at her side, and she'd be good. But if it was Shippou too. did she have enough confidence in herself to keep him safe at night?
The answer was really a big fat 'no', but Kagome was trying not to think about that. It made her sad.
It had been so easy to dismiss the notion of living with Inuyasha when she was still recovering from the initial shock of it all, but now that she actually had some time to seriously dwell over the idea - the possibility was becoming more seductive by the second.
"Noo." Kagome muttered into her hands, shaking her head. But she couldn't do this! The girl had this terrible feeling that a large part of her was suddenly really starting to appreciate this idea because of her undeniable physical attraction to her partner, and she truly didn't want this idea clouding her judgment. A nicely sculpted, strong, handsome hanyou in just the next room. all night. Kagome sighed and turned to look out the small window of her office. Honestly, the decisions she faced everyday. It was crazy. Just crazy.
Bottom line: Did she really NEED Inuyasha? Was it that big a deal if she didn't have a bodyguard to protect her 24/7? She had her own powers now, and was fairly positive they would protect her in life or death situations. Not to mention, no one had even considered the fact if Naraku actually KNEW where she lived, too! Probably Yura had just sniffed out her scent when she went out to get dinner that night, and didn't actually know where her apartment was. Probably.
So, could she survive without Inuyasha, and Shippou to watch over? Damn straight she could! She wouldn't be lured in by the FBI agent's ridiculously good looks and breath taking smile - she could do this on her own, and if this strong determination also happened to be related to the fact that it would make her life with Kiki and Keiko and her mother easier. well so be it! It was just an added bonus in this big package of non- Inuyasha-ness, really. Nodding her head once, eyes flashing with a sense of finality, Kagome got her feet and marched out the door, heading to the meeting with a grim expression on her face - Microsoft Document left untouched. ((--- story of my life.)
Who needed Inuyasha?
*
Kagome barely stifled a yawn as she continued to flick her pen back and forth on the desk, eyelids drooping despite her valiant attempts to keep them open. She was still having trouble comprehending how Kaede could manage to make a meeting where they were to discuss one of the most ruthless, sadistic and eccentric homicidal maniacs this city had seen in decades, BORING - but there it was. Fifteen minutes into the conference and already Kagome felt her head slowly migrating to long table in front of her. Which was bad. Because she wanted to look totally wrapped up in the meeting so as to impress Kaede with her attentiveness, so that hopefully the woman would forgive her for the performance earlier. Hopefully.
The meeting was being held in the official Naraku investigations office, a place Kagome had been to once before, and sitting at the long, silver table in the middle of the room were a collection of Demon Agents Kagome had only seen briefly around the office, but had never actually talked to - Apparently they were also working on this case. And they also happened to be the only ones who appeared to be really getting something out of Kaede's lecture about Naraku's most recent activities, and the steps that would be taken to stop him form here on out.
Kagome knew it was important to listen to Kaede - knew her words would really affect her future - but she just couldn't manage it. And while the other agents were taking notes on their laptops and nodding encouragingly at Detective Kaede, Kagome's little yellow writing pad was covered in little, childish doodles. The only thing Kagome took comfort in was that her two partners, Miroku and Inuyasha, were in no better shape.
Inuyasha was sitting with his shoulders hunched, staring off into the distance with a slightly despondent expression on his face, looking in the direct opposite direction of Kaede.
Miroku, while appearing to be listening intently with his eyes closed, nodding and making little appreciative sounds. also happened to be snoring, if you listened closely enough.
Kagome sighed. She supposed all of these people with large folders and packets were the agents who did paper work for the Naraku case, and she, Inuyasha and Miroku were more the people who took care of all the nasty, bloody things she saw pictures of on the wall.
In fact, there were many cases on the wall, all different ones that had involved Naraku over the long months this investigation had been documenting the demon's moves. And as Kagome forced herself to look over all of them, taking in brief summaries of some of Naraku's exploits, she spotted Yura's case towards the end.
It had a mug shot of Yura, and below her, a shot of she and Inuyasha. It had obviously been recently posted. There was also lots of writing around all the pictures, but she sort of ignored it. Kagome bit her lip and rested her cheek on her hand, trying to figure out how she felt about being directly involved in a murder attempt now. The incident on the roof with Shippou had hardly involved her; she just showed up to save someone. This was a lot different - this time she had been a direct victim, and the thought sent little shivers down her spine. The idea was definitely going to take some getting used to.
"Now is the time to go all out," Kagome heard Kaede announce in her scratchy voice, standing at the head of the table and regarding everyone solemnly. She got a vaguely pained look on her face as she spotted Inuyasha - still not paying her any attention whatsoever - but forged onwards. "Naraku is being allowed to run free and kill as many people as he wants, while we stand by, lost - and the more we let him slaughter and defile innocents, the more tainted blood he can take from his victims to fuel the shikon no tama. He is getting stronger as the days go by, and I fear time is of the essence."
Frowning, Kagome forced herself to listen to more of Kaede's boring dribble, finding it, suddenly, at least a tiny bit interesting.
"As we all are aware of, Naraku's power took a dramatic leap after stealing the shikon no tama from its protectors, and slaying a being with immense power to give the shikon a jump start. Since then, Naraku has been targeting beings with much spiritual, or demonic power to slay - going for the blood that is most potent, and sometimes pure - because powerful blood tastes the best when tainted." Kaede admitted bluntly. "And so - working off this information - I have decided the next course of action we should take is to monitor potential victims in the area. This meaning strong demons and mortals with extraordinary powers who would be the most enticing for Naraku to kill,"
At this announcement Miroku's eyes opened a bit, and even Inuyasha's ears flicked backwards to catch the old woman's words.
"Excuse me, Detective Kaede," one of the note-taking, demon agents asked, raising his hand briefly. "Excuse me, but, how are we going to figure out which demons and mortals Naraku will be targeting? There are many powerful beings in the area of Tokyo, since it is an epicenter for demonic activity. How can we possibly figure out which demon he will attempt to kill next?"
"Good question," Kaede said, nodding her head. "And to this I must say, our tactics are going to be a little vague, and we may have to spread ourselves out for this new idea to work. But the answer is this - there are definite patterns that we've seen, in Naraku's killings. For instance, he particularly enjoys pure blood. Demons who are ruthless and have reputations to be malicious in their ways simply won't do for him. He likes to go after humans who have spiritual powers, and demons who have pure hearts, or dedicate themselves to good. It makes the kill all that much better for him. we have seen even recent examples of this pattern lately as well. The Kits were perfect illustrations of this idea. They were compassionate, good demons in their neighborhood, and had guarded that demon owned building and its inhabitants for as long as anyone could remember. They were role models - and prime examples of a good meal for our killer.
"Next, we have recently seen Naraku attempt to murder a miko." At these words Kagome paled a bit, and looked at her clenched hands in her lap, trying to feel disconnected from this discussion, but finding it notably hard to do so. "And one of our own at that. Kagome Higurashi was recently a near victim of Naraku, and she has spiritual powers of the like we have not seen in these parts for some time. He was obviously drawn to her - but this time sent someone else to do his dirty work, which is something we have seen often from him. Naraku likes henchmen, or allies. He loves to have his victims brought to him, or watch someone else destroy a person's life at his order."
Kagome closed her at Kaede's suggestive words, heart rate speeding up as she wondered what would have happened if Yura had really killed her. What would happen to her family? To her friends? Would her death have truly ruined their lives? She bit her lip and tried to stop thinking about it, attempting to simply focus on Kaede's words at their most basic level. when she felt someone take her hand, and squeeze it firmly.
Eyes widening, Kagome's head whipped to the side, only to discover that the hand covering her pale one was connected to none other than Inuyasha. The half demon had focused all of his attention on Kaede now, and didn't even spare the miko in training a glance as he continued to discreetly comfort the girl. Kagome smiled warmly at Inuyasha's attention, something in her heart igniting at the feel of his large, strong hand wrapped around her smaller one. Filled with a new confidence, she turned back to Kaede.
"On top of all this, it shows that Naraku is no longer afraid to make an attempt on an FBI agents - and THIS means that you will all have to be extra careful from now on. No one is safe anymore! Unless, of course, you happen to be incredibly evil. Unfortunately, we all know that none of you are. We have to watch our steps from now on - as Naraku's power grows so does his maliciousness." Kaede's grave words obviously discomfited a number of demon agents in the room, who all paused in their note taking to cast wary glances around the room. They had seen first hand what Naraku was capable of, and obviously no one had any desire to be one of his fatalities.
"We will be sending reports to everyone via e-mail as soon as we discover which civilians we will be monitoring, or even guarding, first. Since there are many potentials, we might have to split ourselves up and spread out all over the city. Many of you who have worked at a desk thus far will have to take to the streets. This, hopefully, will all be the final faze of this case. We can't let the butchery go on anymore, and it's time to get serious. Everyone will lend a hand when it's time to incarcerate this monster. No longer can we afford to be the people who arrive at the scene only to clean up the messes this maniac leaves in his wake. We have to seek out his next victims before even HE does, and take the initiative on this case. If we follow this flawless plan - we are sure to catch the bastard. You are dismissed." She finished quickly, gathering her folders and paper and abruptly turning to exit the room, before Kagome had a chance to approach her. Not that she really would have had the guts to go up and apologize to the woman, but still.
There was immediately a collection of buzzing murmurs as everyone got to their feet and nervously started discussing the latest developments on the case with their co-workers. EVERYONE was going to have to be a field agent? Bleck.
"Well, that was cheerful," Miroku commented dourly as he, Inuyasha and Kagome made their way our of the dark conference room, and past the cages of howling, enraged and captive demons in the containing room, to the main office area with sad little expressions on their faces. Things were really starting to heat up.
"I'll say," Kagome muttered, sparing a quick glance at Inuyasha, suddenly missing the comforting feel of his hand on hers. He had drawn away without a comment when everyone had stood to leave, and now she sorely missed his presence. Which wasn't a good sign. She had said she didn't NEED him! Dammit.
"Don't you have a class now Kagome?" Inuyasha wanted to know, as he and Miroku headed back towards the training hall for some more, afternoon sword fighting.
"Yeah, I better go get my stuff. I've got studies of Modern Civilization now, but it's basically just a useless class since the finals over." She admitted with a sigh. "I take it you're going to go practice with the Tetsusaiga some more?"
"Yep - and I'm not gonna stop until I figure out how to convert it to the steal cleaving fang again!" he said firmly.
"This could take awhile," Miroku said dryly, slipping into the training room.
"Good luck!" Kagome chuckled as she waved goodbye with a smile, and headed towards her office to retrieve her messenger bag. Inuyasha stayed in place for a little longer than was really necessary after she had departed, staring at Kagome's retreating back with an odd expression on his face.
He . didn't know why he had taken Kagome's hand in the conference room earlier. It had been sort of a compulsive, almost unconscious move, and once he had done it, the hanyou had found it notably hard to draw back. He had just felt so terribly as he listened to Kagome begin to breath heavily, and her heart start to beat erratically as Kaede described Yura's attack. He had felt compassionate, and before he knew what he was doing, and taken her small, soft had in his, squeezing placatingly, and hoping that she would hurry up and calm down because it made him feel sad to listen to her worry.
Shaking his head in confusion, Inuyasha sighed and entered the training hall after Miroku, trying to focus his thoughts on his powerful blade - where they really should be, anyway.
*
"God, I was SO totally shocked when I heard about your new job!" Keiko gushed quietly, leaning over and whispering to Kagome while both college students pretended to look interested as their elderly professor rambled on about what next semester would hold for the sophomores, and how good study habits were important, blahdy blah. Whereas Kaede's talk had quickly gained some interest once she delved into the more interesting aspect of what the agents were 'studying', this man seemed to have not one iota of fun in him, and spoke in a monotone that put even the most hyper student to sleep. Luckily, Kagome had an enthusiastic, excited Keiko to keep her up all class!
"Yeah well, I'm sure Kiki just made it sound cooler than it was." Kagome admitted with a little laugh. "I'm just doing a desk job!" Saying that little white lie was getting unnervingly easier to say as the days went by.
"Well, whatever, at least you have a good job. My parents have been bugging me about getting a part time one for AGES, and I've just been avoiding it because I don't want to end up a waitress or something!" she whispered despairingly, flipping her silky raven hair over her shoulder, and adjusting the pink spaghetti strap of her tank top.
"What's wrong with being a waitress? Hojo was a waiter at the noodle house on 5th for a while." Kagome reminded her.
"Ha! Like THAT says anything. Sure Hojo could pull it off. He's a GUY! He doesn't have to worry about his creamy complexion getting oily, or his perfectly moisturized face breaking out!" she whispered fiercely. Kagome rolled her eyes but smiled anyway, shaking her head.
"Right."
"Oh, and what's this I hear about you adopting an illegitimate child from England?"
"Hey- It's not like that!" Kagome quickly whispered back, mentally sighing as she wished her mother were easier to understand, and that she didn't fill her friends in on everything that happened in her life. It would make everything so much easier! "He's just staying with me until his mother gets back from England - she's having surgery," That lie was becoming easier to say, as well.
"Oh, well that's not half as interesting. But does he like, stay there all day?" Keiko asked, sounding a little bit disgusted. Keiko did not like kids, for starters - and having one would truly interfere with her wild sex life.
"No, only in the evening."
"But - that's worse!"
"It's all right," Kagome admitted with a small shrug. And honestly - it was. Shippou had been anything but a bit hassle since he'd come to stay with her, and he was surprisingly self sufficient for a three year old. Demon children truly were more mature than human ones, and Shippou had no problems looking out for himself at home. Which was wonderful for Kagome.
"Well, whatever. Kiki wanted to know if you were going to come to the sushi bar with us Friday since you couldn't make it last night." Keiki said, waving off the disturbing topic with a flick of her manicured hand. "Or will you be babysitting?"
"No - I can probably make it," Kagome said, figuring she could almost certainly find an agent who would house Shippou for just one night - maybe she'd ask Miroku to watch over the little guy. He seemed to get along with him well enough. "What time?"
"Be there around seven. We TOTALLY have to drill Kiki for information about this new guy she's interested in!" Keiko reminded Kagome, looking grave. School work, family life and international affairs might be trifle annoyances flitting around the atmosphere of her far more important worries in Keiko's mind- but when it came to people's social lives - The girl did not monkey around. This was serious! "I'm going to be honestly worried for her if it's the Lit Professore!" Kagome replied in a hesitant tone, having no idea how it was Kiki had been acting lately, seeing as she hadn't seen her in around four days.
"Well, me too. but what can we do? You know how determined Kiki gets," Kagome reminded her. "It's like a game to her - she refuses to loose."
"I know, I know," Keiko said loftily, leaning back in her chair, and folding her bracelet encrusted arms. "But I feel like something's off about it all, and it bothers me." Knowing better than to doubt Keiko's impressive sixth sense when it came to people's complicated love lives, Kagome frowned softly, before firmly turning her attention back over to the professor, just catching his parting words, something about it being wise to study over winter break (ha!) before the class ended.
*
Juggling a bursting bag of groceries with both hands, Kagome found herself traveling the five blocks back to her apartment later that day- the blocks which suddenly seemed curiously long as she strained her arm muscles to support the numerous boxes of Easy Mac, bags of broccoli and cartons of milk. She was so ready to house a three year old now. Oh yeah.
However, all of the days activities weighing upon her heavily now that she was finally alone, and in no real rush to be anywhere but in her cozy little apartment - Shippou due home in about an hour. At last she had some time to herself with which to sort things out, and she was suddenly realizing there was a whole lot to think about. Again
First off - Kaede. Okay. So. She still had to make up with her for that whole refusal thing - and on top of that there was her new plan to take down the bad guy. Guarding potential victims, hu? Suddenly, Kaede's random bout of protectiveness was making a whole lot more sense. Kagome WAS one of the potential victims, and Kaede really had been looking out for her. The thought made Kagome groan with despair and self-abhorrence, but she held it in as she continued to travel down the street, flicking a lock of curly raven hair behind her shoulder with a violent jerk of her head.
Then there was Inuyasha and the Tetsusaiga. The sword was obviously a very coveted weapon, and Inuyasha father obviously had been an unreasonably large demon, but for some reason Kagome felt herself thinking about the sword a lot. What was it's secret? It was clearly ridiculously powerful, but what were the magic words that made it transform into its true self? And why couldn't Inuyasha, true heir to its power, harness it? To that - at least she could honestly say that it wasn't HER problem.
On the other hand - thinking of the Tetsusaiga left her with thoughts of Inuyasha who was, of course, her problem. The extremely attractive, strong and endearing partner she was developing feelings for - and of whom she desperately wanted to look at in the most platonic of ways. Were her feelings for him really clouding her judgment when it came to she and Shippou's safety? Did she really need someone more experienced, and strong to be around and defend her from the big bad monsters in the shadows? The mere thought made her wince. Inuyasha was the sort of cocky bastard she could see really being frustrated with if forced to depend on him for her well-being.
Drifting back to more comfortable territory, there was now, of course, Kiki. And her Lit professor. Either that or some random schmuck she'd encountered on the streets, at a bar or at one of her soccer meets. Well, honestly, as much as Kagome loved her friend, she had enough to worry about without meddling in Kiki's love life. Kiki was a big girl, and knew how to take care of herself. Even if the secret lover DID turn out to be her professor, she was sure Kiki would be able to think of an intelligent, and legal way to continue (or hopefully end.) the relationship. Besides, Keiko getting mixed up in that mess was probably more then enough help for poor Kiki.
Dusting off her maroon sweater, and dumping the groceries on a random stoop, Kagome let out a big sigh and took a breather. She definitely had to work on that upper body strength she was severely lacking. Frowning, and snatching her cell phone out of her jeans pocket, Kagome quickly dialed the offices number, a pensive expression on her face as she stared up at the sky and waited for someone to pick up. She may be in a whole lot of trouble, but that didn't mean she couldn't start to work out her problems. Apologizing to Kaede seemed like a good start, and as they say - there's no time like the present!
"Hello?" Kaede's distinct, elderly rasp could be heard through the scratchy reception of the phone. "Who is this?"
"Hello Detective Kaede - it's Kagome," Kagome said in a rather sheepish tone, scratching the back of her head awkwardly.
"Oh, hello. Did you have any questions concerning the meeting today?" Kaede asked in a totally neutral tone.
"No, not really. I actually just called to formally apologize." Kagome admitted, sounding resigned. "I wanted to say sorry for my actions earlier today, with the whole suggestions concerning my safety. I was totally rude and I realize you were only looking out for me," she quickly blurted.
"Kagome." Kaede sighed.
"No - please, I'm really sorry. Every since I - well, I mean, since you made me join this organization - you HAVE only been trying to make things easier for me, and I know I'm not the quickest person. When you have a miko so untrained it must be a burden, I understand, and I know that you only want to make sure I don't end up like Kikyo. but I just freaked out a little today, I guess," Kagome finished, biting her lip and waiting for Kaede's reply.
"Kagome. you're not a burden. You're one of the fastest learners I've ever met, in fact. And further more, it's an honor to have you working with the FBI, if only temporarily. You've been doing marvelously for someone in your position, and even I can admit that suggesting you have Inuyasha LIVE with you was a little over the top, even if it was for your safety. We've all been throwing a hell of a lot at you recently, and honestly, I'm surprised you haven't cracked. You've been doing really well, and you've been truly brave. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise,"
"Detective Kaede." Kagome said, getting a little dewy eyed as she listened to Kaede shoot out compliments she sorely felt she didn't deserve.
"Really Kagome, no hard feelings about this morning, all right?" Kaede pressed, sounding companionable and not at all like the scary, angry boss Kagome had thought she might be in retaliation the impertinent college student's performance. The girl smiled widely.
"Sure thing."
"Of course. you still have a long way to go."
"Um- yeah, I know that," Kagome admitted with a small sigh.
"And things ARE going to start to get pretty dangerous."
"Thanks for the reminder."
"But I take it you're STILL not going to let Inuyasha stay with you."
"That'd be a strong no."
"Hmmmm." Kaede rumbled, that disapproving tone back, but not half as strong as earlier, as she now realized it was probably best just to let things be. Kagome would know when to ask for help if things got too tough - right? "You wanted to know about something else as well though, didn't you?" she said suddenly, remembering Kagome trying to bring up another subject earlier that morning. "Something about payments, and Shippou."
"Oh! Yes!" Kagome chirped, gleeful at the prospect of getting to cross off something else she had to do from her dauntingly long list. "Um - not to sound rude or anything, but you told me that as long as I worked with the FBI I would be getting paid regularly - but you never got around to an amount,"
"I didn't? Terribly sorry about that! Well, you'll be getting paid per week, including this week, and I've had the amount for any prospective miko I might find since the beginning, so you'll be getting the standard amount. It's about. 2,000 a week. For starters. I might raise it, depending on how long this case runs," Kagome blinked, staring forward, awed.
"2,000?" she squeaked. "Really?!"
"Goodness girl, it's not that much! Just about as much as any good secretary would be paid! Why - I'm surprised you aren't demanding more, considering the sort of work you've been doing! But you know how it is - we officers of the law never get remunerated properly for our sacrifices, is my opinion." Kaede mumbled, one hand drifting up to the patch covering her bad eye.
"It's a lot for me!" Kagome protested. "It's tons for me! Wow - thanks Kaede! This is so cool!" she chirped, hopping around on the street gleefully.
"Um - no problem," Kaede offered, smiling in spite of herself. "But there was one more thing you wanted to ask, correct?"
"Yes. Yes there was," Kagome said, getting a hold of herself long enough to calm down and ask about Shippou's appearance, and how she might be able to avoid having him seen my family and friends. 2,000 a week! A week! Wait until she told Kiki and Keiko! "It's about Shippou, he's-" Kagome began, calming down and beginning to explain her predicament. "He's." she paused, frowning at something, and cocking her head lightly.
"Kagome?" Kaede asked, urging the girl to continue as she hesitantly trailed off. However, Kagome barely heard the elderly woman as she continued to stare at what appeared to be an injured animal of some sort, a cat perhaps, scuttling around the edges of an ally that started right next to Kagome's local, grubby looking drug store. It was dark and furry, with lighter brown designs on it, and it appeared to be wounded in some way, because it was carrying itself oddly. but what really got Kagome was that it was emanating an aura that was one of an animal and something darker. something unnatural. Kagome couldn't understand what sort of a combination this was, since she knew what normal animals felt like, knew what her own cat, Buyo felt like, but she simply couldn't figure out what was up with this scraggly ally cat, lingering in the shadows. Squinting at it, and tuning out Kaede's incessant questions, Kagome hesitantly stepped forward, swallowing her hesitance in favor of her curiosity, and slowly approaching the wounded creature.
"Hold on. Kaede." she mentioned, stopping a few feet away from the cat. Biting her lip, and distinctly feeling something evil rolling off the animal, who had its dark back turned to her, Kagome called out shortly - "Here. kitty kitty!"
Then, to Kagome's total horror, the cat began to speak back to her in a low, throaty whisper.
"Kitty kitty?" it hissed, shaking with what could have been laughter, but just as likely rage - the small, mangled thing slowly turned around. and revealing its true self with one horrifying jerk of its head, an insane gleam in its eye. "I'm not a kitty kitty."
It couldn't have been any more right. Kagome felt her mouth go dry, and her hand nearly crush her cell phone, as the 'cat' turned around, revealing a pale, shrunken human head with a bright red mouth full of fangs. not to mention eight legs and a hairy body to accompany it. That was no cat body.. It was a tarantula! A HUGE tarantula!
"I'm an itsy bitsy spider!" it hissed in a voice that dripped with pain and hunger. The ugly thing's purpose became that much clearer to Kagome as it let out a terrifying, final hiss and launched itself at Kagome. Kagome screamed and recoiled with disgust, leaping to the side, eyes wide and disbelieving. What they Hell was that thing?
Not giving the half human, half spider demon a chance to recover from its pounce, Kagome threw herself forward, her entire frame shaking. This was the second attack in two days. and she didn't have any weapons on her once more. 'I really have to start packing', Kagome admitted with a mental sigh of acquiescence.
"K-Kaede!" she hollered into the phone, trying to regain control over her vocal cords as she heard the distinct scratching of eight, hairy legs chasing after her, gurgling with anger.
"No need to yell child, I'm right here!" Kaede replied agitatedly on the other end.
"Call Inuyasha! Tell him to come to my neighborhood - I'm being attacked!" Kagome continued to shriek, the only person coming to mind who could save her when in a situation such as this one being her silver haired, incredibly strong partner.
"What - again? Already?" Kaede asked skeptically.
"Yes!! Please hurry! It's a spider - human thingy! And it's freaking me out, and I don't have any weapons. help me! Get Inuyasha!" Kagome was near tears as she threw herself down a new ally, just missing the spider demon as it flung itself at her back. Stumbling into the ally way, and panting with fear, Kagome hung up on Kaede before she had a chance to ask any more questions, tucking the cell phone away and coming to a screeching halt. She looked over her shoulder to see if the spider was anywhere in sight - but apparently it hadn't followed her down the ally. Letting out a tiny sigh of relief, Kagome ran a shaky hand through her hair, gathering her wits. Just as she heard a familiar scraping behind her. But this time it was a bit. louder.
"Ah." was just about the only word Kagome could form as she spotted the horrid sight behind her, lip quivering with disgust.
Tucked away in the back of the dank ally, swarming and scuttling like many overgrown cockroaches, a haze of ugly brown and black. was a nest of demon spiders. All of them about the size of roughly Kagome's torso, with different demonic human like heads, fangs dripping and beady eyes swiveling around sporadically, and all were clambering around a thick web that stretched from either side of the stone ally. The web was eerily large a flesh colored. Currently there were around thirty of the spider demons, all now staring directly at the young miko who had stumbled into their clutches. And at the center of the thick, fleshy web, smiling sadistically, and even chuckling lightly. was an elderly mans' head, red eyes flashing merrily, and emanating an evil vibe to be reckoned with.
"Greetings, dear maiden," it growled cruelly, eyeing Kagome as a cat my eye an errant mouse.
And as Kagome let out an ear piercing screech, terrified beyond belief, she simultaneously, dimly decided she would much rather be facing Yura once more. Why did they have to be. spiders?
*
"Damn girl - can't she go one freaking day without being accosted by a blood thirsty demon?" Inuyasha grumbled to himself, cursing Kagome on his way to her apartment in a colossal effort to shrug off his immense worry for her health.
When Kaede had called him, a mere ten minutes ago, she had babbled something about Kagome being attacked by a spider demon that was chasing her down the street - and immediately Inuyasha's heart had stopped. With no questions, he had immediately leapt up from his desk, and pulled himself out the window of his office to roof hop it down to Kagome's place - taking a fast route he had already begun to memorize within a week of knowing the girl. Kagome had the immensely frustrating ability to make Inuyasha into some sort of mother hen whenever she was in danger, and currently he could picture nothing but her being ripped apart by a large, angry spider demon, sent by Naraku.
Why did things like this have to happen to someone as sweet, and pure hearted as Kagome?
Brushing that surprisingly heart wrenching thought aside, Inuyasha leaped the gap between two buildings with a powerful bound, keeping his eyes peeled an his ears alert for any signs of Kagome. Where was she? Would he find her in time, or-
"HEEEEELLLLPPP!" Came the intolerably familiar shriek of a twenty- year-old girl about to be torn in two. Swiftly throwing himself over to the next roof, Inuyasha peered down into the ally below the old apartment building he stood upon, hardly prepared for the sight that greeted him in the dark ally way.
"Kagome!" he called, golden eyes wide as he spotted the demon web, and the many spider head demons that swarmed around the ally, centering around a frightened, pretty girl who was desperately defending herself from each spider as it launched itself at her, pulling at her skirt and snapping at her legs. Kagome was currently on her knees, a pink glow seeping from her fingers as she swiped blindly at spider demons that threw themselves at her, effectively burning the suckers if she came in contact with them. However, there were many scrapes decorating her arms and legs none the less, and one particularly determined spider demon was currently latched onto Kagome's thigh, prepared to sink it's knife like teeth into the muscle just below it's hairy feet. The sight made Inuyasha's blood boil. "NO!" he roared with fury, hurling himself from the roof, and coming to land in a graceful crouch in the ally, growling threateningly.
"I-Inuyasha!" Kagome sobbed, finally sinking her glowing fingers into the spider head on her thigh, so it was thrown to the side with a final hiss.
"Who ARE you?" rumbled the elderly head of the web demon from his corner, obviously the brains of the operation, and the demon who had been goading his little spider minions on as Kagome fought for her life.
Silently leaping towards Kagome, and throwing a protective arm over her, Inuyasha addressed the web demon with no small degree of primal rage.
"Call your spiders back, demon!" Inuyasha ordered, not bothering to answer the demon, and reaching for the blade at his side. Looking at it, the shaking Kagome realized immediately that Inuyasha had brought the Tetsusaiga with him.
'Great - he brought a blade he can't use!' she thought sarcastically, clutching her arms and huddling close to her tall savior, hyperventilating.
"Are you an assassin of Naraku?" Inuyasha continued.
"What concern is it of yours if I am - pup?" the demon asked archly, some of his spiders swiftly scuttling up the 'arms' of his web, and crouching in defensive positions all around him, like a barricade.
"Damn it," Inuyasha sighed, taking that as a positive response. "What does Naraku have against you Kagome?" he sighed, shooting Kagome one despairing glance. Feeling compelled to answer, Kagome quickly got her voice back, feeling somewhat more calmed now that her protector was here. Wait a second. her protector?
"I - I don't know. Maybe it's because-"
"No more talk, children!" the demon roared agitatedly, and with a manic jerk of his head, sending a hoard of spider demons down on the couple, Kagome immediately shrieking with fear and covering her head. Standing in front of her, naked Tetsusaiga in hand, Inuyasha began to skillfully bat away at the spider demons, smiling in satisfaction as his blade cut through most of them quite effectively - even though it had yet to transform. The blade had obviously gotten stronger since the battle with Yura.
"You're going to DIE demon!" Inuyasha howled passionately. He had planned on possibly waiting for the backup he knew Kaede would be sending before partaking in any serious battle earlier, but it didn't seem as though there was going to be much of a chance of that now. He was the fastest demon on the force, and who knew how long it would be before anyone found them in this ally? He had to protect Kagome, especially when this guy was deathly serious. And, as he always said, when in Rome.
Cutting away at all the spider heads that threw themselves chaotically at Inuyasha, jagged fangs extended, Inuyasha frowned at the fact that the Tetsusaiga was still in its lesser state. What was it that triggered its transformation? What did he have to do? Yelling out his frustrations, and slashing through a particularly fat spider, Inuyasha was only brought away from the gruesome task of slaughtering every spider that got in the way of the demon web he knew to be the boss of the operation, by Kagome's panicked cry for help.
The girl had been standing just where Inuyasha had left her, watching him take out demon after demon with a fluidity and skill she had sorely lacked when defending herself. when something hard and clammy wrapped itself firmly and quickly around her right ankle, tugging harshly.
Screeching with terror, Kagome found herself being dragged toward the large web by one of the web demon's arms. Kicking and screaming, she tried to reach for the web piece, fingers poised and glowing with miko power she knew almost nothing about how to harness. Clamping one hand firmly around the web, much as she had done last night with Yura when in her clutches, Kagome watched the skin begin to sizzle uncomfortably. Gross.
"Agh! You insolent little lass!" the web demon hissed, wincing at the feel of his skin beginning to melt away and be purified. Decidedly, he swung his limb up, Kagome still firmly trapped, and slammed her against the web. The girl sucked in a sharp breath and was silenced, landing so that she hung on the trap limply, stunned.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha roared, his voice going up an octave or two in horror at the sight of his partner being brutally smashed against the web, her head snapping back painfully.
"Ah." Kagome groaned softly, finding herself stuck in the web. "AH." she said a little louder, spotting three hungry looking spider demons leaving their perches on the web to scuttle towards her, smiling gleefully at the sight of her deliciously prone form. Tears formed in Kagome's eyes as she struggled to be free of netting that held her firmly, but she was trapped by its powerful, bony grip, and her world was spinning slightly from the attack.
"Let her GO!" Inuyasha demanded harshly, addled by the many spider demons throwing themselves in his way en route to Kagome. His eyes flashed red as he watched her struggle vainly, the three spider demons almost on top of her.
"Nooo!" Kagome burbled, fighting the urge to vomit as she felt the hairy, twitchy bodies of the spiders clamber around her form, scrambling up her legs, fangs grazing her arms and scrapping at her neck. She squeezed her eyes shut and focused on trying to get her arms free, using all of her mental energy to block out the feel of the tarantula like demons battering her. If only she had her hands loose!.
Inuyasha halted at the sight of one of the demons sitting on Kagome throwing its head back - poised to bight her with what he was sure were venomous teeth. And, like a shockwave running through him, he grasped his rage and used it to propel him forward, hacking through the demons in his way suddenly as though they were nothing more than paper, his focal point being Kagome, crying vainly for help.
"HYAAA!" he shouted triumphantly, the Tetsusaiga, in a blinding flash of gold, shooting up and becoming immediately heavier, slamming down just next to Kagome so that the spiders shrieked in terror and were thrown from the web, cutting away at Kagome's confines. Kagome gasped sharply as she felt herself be released, falling to the ground and rolling to the side. She looked up at Inuyasha, shocked, as he slung the Tetsusaiga over his shoulder. He was smirking happily; obviously joyful over the fact that he had once more transformed the steel-cleaving fang. However his eyes still glimmered intensely with worry and compassion.
"Are you okay?" he called down to her, currently standing on the now torn web. Still shaking with total horror and disbelief, Kagome could only nod mutely in response, unable to pick herself up. Realizing fully that she wasn't okay; Inuyasha hesitantly tore himself away from her concentrated gaze, coming to face the web demon, and prepared to finish him off for good. As long as she wasn't in any immediate danger. "Now I'm really going to have to kill you!" Inuyasha roared at the slightly fearful looking head of the web demon.
"You little upstart!" it yelled unconvincingly, shrinking back and calling upon more of its minions to defend it from the livid hanyou. "You don't know how to wield that blade properly - Naraku told me as much! We'll be the victors of this battle, and your little miko will be dust!"
"Shut UP!" Inuyasha yelled, swiping away the little spider heads with an almost casual swing, and coming to stand just above the web demon's head with the blink of an eye, moving so fast even Kagome, still on the ground, had a hard time following the silver haired agent. "You die NOW!"
"No!" the web demon snapped back, two of its thicker limbs slamming forward, and hitting Inuyasha on either side so that he was squished between them, immobile. "I am far to powerful to be destroyed by a young thing like you!"
For a second Inuyasha looked extremely uncomfortable, both arms pinned to his side, and the Tetsusaiga still firmly clutched in his clawed hand. But then he seemed to tense for a second, closing his eyes and concentrating - and when his vibrant gold eyes were open once more, he snapped himself out of the web, muscling through it and smiling evilly. The remains of the limbs were thrown to the side violently.
"I don't think you should be so cocky, old man," he said simply, lifting the Tetsusaiga above his head, and, averting his gaze at the last moment, slamming down upon the demon's balding head.
"NOOOO!" it screamed, the entire web tearing apart at the seams as the head was split in two. The web ripped apart, glowing purple at the cracks, and was quickly spewed all around the ally, throwing spider heads so violently against the cold stonewall that many of them snapped their necks and slid to the floor, dead.
Inuyasha leaped away from the explosion of flying flesh and spider, kneeling a few feet away from Kagome as he looked on, expression grim as he stayed to make sure the job had been pulled off properly. One could never be too sure that the demon was actually dead, was what he had learned after around three years on the force.
Once the dust had settled, and the spider demons lay silent, the web was left in gooey little pieces dripping of the walls and sitting in puddles on the dirty floor of the ally. Inuyasha finally let his guard down, closing his eyes briefly and letting out a little contented sigh, clutching the Tetsusaiga, as if congratulating himself on a battle well fought. Yes! He had transformed the Tetsusaiga once more! He was da man!
"Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped sharply, off to the side, one hand clutching her chest as she stared fearfully upwards. Following her gaze almost despairingly, Inuyasha let a small snarl resound in the back of his throat as he spotted one last, surviving demon head, using its own webbing to swing down from a fire escape above Kagome. It looked terrifically ugly, howling with fury and launching itself at the miko. Kagome looked too shocked at this point to do anything about the new threat but stare, so Inuyasha quickly leapt to his feet, coming to her rescue as he felt the Tetsusaiga vibrate under his firm grasp, arching upwards to cut the spider demon in two before it came anywhere near Kagome.
And as the remains of the demon splattered to the ground some yards off, Inuyasha calmly came to sit near Kagome, searching her face cautiously as she stared at her clenched fists, shaking ever so slightly, and her heart beating like a drum to Inuyasha's sensitive ears. He didn't think he had ever seen her so terrified, and THAT truly scared him - more than any God- awful tarantula demon.
"Kagome." he started hesitantly, one hand going out to touch her shoulder gently, as the sound of police cars howled in the distance, no doubt the cavalry from the agency finally there to help clean things up. No WAY was Inuyasha going to be responsible for mopping up the mess of the dead demons. "Say something," he urged, hoping she wasn't too badly frightened. He knew things like this scared mortals, but Kagome always seemed to be so brave during other expeditions.
"Please - don't leave me!" she cried abruptly, throwing herself at Inuyasha and wrapping her arms around him so forcefully the agent was pushed onto his butt. Inuyasha stared down, shocked, at the pretty girl burying her face in his chest, tears pouring down her face as she sniffled pathetically. "Please stay with me. I was so scared! I can still f-feel them all over me! God - and I. I can't be alone, I have to. please stay!" she ended up sobbing, shaking her head. Inuyasha hesitantly placed both of his arms around her, frowning deeply, and resisting the overpowering urge to growl with anger. Poor Kagome. she shouldn't have to. it wasn't really her responsibility to!-
"It's all right. I'll stay. I'll stay. I'll do whatever you want." he agreed softly, hardly thinking over the depth of his words as Kaede and Miroku jumped out of the police cars that came to a screeching halt on the street, along with many others that totally barricaded the street, which was now officially a youkai crime scene. The two agents jogged over to the bloody ally in time to see Inuyasha pick Kagome up in his arms, ready to take her back to the apartment for some quick treatment of her, luckily minimal, wounds.
*
Author's notes:
Only sixteen pages after almost a month of no updating? Sorry - that hardly seems adequate - but it will have to do for now. The problem is I've really been focused on other things lately, if you want to know the truth.
I guess this chapter made a lot of hard-core Inu/Kag fans happy, and I told you I would do my best to get them to live together - so here it is! Admittedly, I made Kagome a little wimpy in this chapter, but I think that may have come from the fact that I am a total arachnophobic, and it may have rubbed off on her personality. Also, having her experience a total mental breakdown over the experience of being violently attacked by two total freaks with the intent to kill within the span of two days was essential for my plot, and one of the only ways I could get Inuyasha in her apartment. She'll get stronger after this though - things can only go up from here!
Anyway, for those of you who were wondering, next chapter - Sango enters the story! (And I'm a big Sango/Miroku supporter, in case you were wondering.) And possibly Sesshomaru will make an appearance if I so feel the need. The two are going to be, of course, totally transformed into modern day versions of themselves, and hopefully that will be amusing to all.
Next time: Chapter Seven - My Boyfriend the Homicidal Maniac. When will this chapter be out? Before Easter, not before early April. Probably. Wait - when's Easter. did that deadline make ANY sense? If I'm going to commit myself to having a definite due date for the next chapter, one hopes that the date actually exists, but I suppose I shall have to work around it. Have a wonderful day!
~ Rio Grande.
Anywho, before we start this chapter (Yes - another one!) I would like to address some things that you readers brought up, and that should be attended to seeing as you were so nice as to mention them.
The matter of the bow and arrow fitting into Inuyasha's leather jacket. (Yes, this will be the new red, fire rat jacket. And yes. It is cool.) Okay, so, I mentioned that this jacket is fairly big - I believe I pointed out it went down to the back of Inuyasha's knees, so I was thinking the bow wasn't really in his pocket, but more like inside the jacket. Like, on the inside of it. like when people are selling things and they have them on the inside of their trench coats. Okay. Maybe that made sense to me because I live in Brooklyn. Er. sorry for the confusion. But no dimensional pockets.
I know this is old, but. the Duracell Bunny! Not the Energizer Bunny. sorry!
This is also old - but I forgot to mention it before, and since almost everyone who reviewed was considerate enough to give in their two cents about the topic - I would like to bring up the matter of Kikyo and Hell.
Now, while there were numerous ideas about the idea of what happened to Kikyo when she died (It was almost like I started a forum!.. Almost!) I decided to go with the one where the very concept of Hell is different in Japan, and the translation probably screwed it all up a little. Kikyo was most likely not dwelling in a place with fire and brimstone, and this does, in fact, ruin the entire plot for my other story I was maybe thinking of starting. (It was going to be SO cool! Kikyo dies and Kagome is accidentally dragged to Hell with her because they share a soul or something, and so now Kikyo and Kagome have to fend for themselves in the underworld as Inuyasha tries to find a way to bring them back to the land of the living - all the while the two mikos are becoming sort of friends, simultaneously wondering WHO deserves to end up with their favorite hanyou. But will they kill each other first!? - Nifty, no?)
Anywho, enough babble, I know you don't really care.. Please read and review, I don't own Inuyasha, and enjoy!
*
Bitten
By Rio Grande
Chapter Six: Swordplay
*
Kagome abruptly stood, her posture stiff and unwelcoming. Enough was enough.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that, Detective Kaede," she said, addressing the old woman formally as to seem more cold. Anyone who knew Kagome Higurashi even distantly knew instantly that she was a kind, compassionate type of person. but one had to draw the line SOMEwhere. She couldn't have her life controlled like this.
"But Kagome, think of the risk you're in-!" Kaede started, looking up at the girl almost pleadingly, begging her to understand her position.
"As a student, I can't have this job completely take over my life, and I think having my partner LIVING with me is probably going to work against me in that department. Plus, Inuyasha's a guy, and living with him will make all of my friends and family suspicious - not to mention he's also not human, which will make everyone in the world suspicious.
"You're right, I am probably in a great deal of danger, but just have surveillance cars check up on my building every now and then if you truly believe it's that serious - okay? I think I can probably take care of myself with these new super miko powers, too. Don't worry about me, or Shippou. I'll be good. I'll be fine. I don't need to have Inuyasha watching me 24/7," At this point, Kagome understood she was babbling, however she was also panicking a great deal, so there wasn't much she could do about it.
Kaede rubbed her head slowly, frowning deeply and sighing. "I think you're making a big mistake by turning this offer down. It's in your best interests," she said slowly, after a minute. Kagome shook her head, already starting to back out of the room.
"No, I think this is all probably for the better." She admitted.
"But Kagome-"
"I'm sorry but I just can't deal with this okay?!" Kagome finally cried, abruptly turning towards the door and throwing it open. "This is ridiculous! I can't be living with some guy I hardly know - Naraku or no! I can do fine on my own!"
Breathing hard, Kagome left the office; gently closing the door behind her (Kagome simply didn't slam doors. She found it obnoxious.) holding her head and biting her lip. Okay. All right. She had just totally flipped out on her . more or less. boss back in there. Which meant she should probably get to work on those meditative practices she had been doing with Miroku lately since she obviously hadn't gotten the gist of them yet. Very well, okay. She'd do that then.
But honestly - the NERVE of that woman! How could she even CONSIDER having Inuyasha LIVE with her!? The idea was preposterous! It was like asking Kaede to shack up with Miroku! She'd never suggest it! Oh, so, just because she was a miko in training she had to be looked after twenty four seven by an unreasonably strong man who had, by the way, claws? Just because she didn't know how to use a gun she had to have. extra precautions taken to ensure her livelihood. Just because a homicidal freak was on her back she had to have someone. make sure she didn't get ripped into tiny little shreds. and watch over she and the child living with her. oh shit. What had she done?
Sourly traveling down the hall with a nearly visible rain cloud looming heavily above her, Kagome wandered into the usual training hall she had Miroku practiced miko instruction in, hoping to find him there and beg him for another lesson - or at least advice on what to do when you've wronged Kaede.
Luckily, she found him there. Unfortunately, Inuyasha was with him.
The two were play fighting with swords, obviously both trained in the art, and moving fluidly around the room in a powerful dance that was violent and jerky, yet graceful and planned at the same time. Miroku was using a typical, dull practice blade, and Inuyasha was using that old sword that had transformed into something powerful the other night, and which had injured Yura, and also of which she had forgotten to as him about. To be added to the list of things she needed to do.
Looking the twenty something hanyou over casually, Kagome reflected on why she so deeply didn't want to be living with Inuyasha. The man was notably attractive, strong, brave and sort of sweet when he wanted to be. Not with too many other people, but sometimes to her. Sure he was cranky, freakishly powerful and not human. but he would undoubtedly be a good bodyguard if she let him try.
On the other hand, Kagome had already made so many compromises with her life when it came to the FBI, and she didn't know if she could stand one more major alteration - even if it was in an effort to save her life. Sighing, Kagome leaned against the wall and watched her two partners spar, unconsciously following the movements of Inuyasha's body as he flipped around the room. Her eyes were glued to him.
"Heya Kagome!" a little voice chirped to the dazed woman.
"Hu?" Kagome squeaked, looking down to find a cheery Shippou smiling up at her. "Oh, hey Shippou," Kagome said, cracking a weak smile and kneeling next to the little demon.
"They're really good, hu?" Shippou asked conspiratorially, so as not to let the two fighting men hear. Kagome glanced at Miroku and Inuyasha, finding to her surprise that Miroku was almost every bit as good as his half demon counterpart when it came to fighting with a weapon, looking fully concentrated and notably strong as he exchanged blows with Inuyasha.
"Yeah, they are," she marveled. Well well, looked as though Miroku had more up his sleeves than first imagined.
"Stop!" Inuyasha suddenly commanded, coming to a halt in the fighting and raising a hand to stop Miroku as well. Miroku quickly abated his attacks, panting a little, and then the two warriors simultaneously turned to look at the girl who had barged in on their training. Kagome blushed a bit and clapped politely for the duo.
"Bravo!" she cheered. "That was amazing! You guys are really good."
"Well, it's standard training for this section of the FBI," Miroku explained, putting down his sword and grabbing a towel, dabbing at the sweat scattering his brow. Inuyasha didn't say anything, simply choosing to look over his sword, as if fascinated. Kagome hadn't seen him since last night, and had been privately hoping for a little more of a welcome. But Hell, this was Inuyasha, and Kagome already knew better than to expect anything at all from him. "Not all criminals we deal with can necessarily be affected by a bullet, so it's good to have a surplus of other ways to protect yourself." The monk continued, now approaching Kagome with a smile.
"I see," Kagome said thoughtfully, distantly wondering if Miroku would be interested in giving some lessons to a weak thing like herself. "Say, Inuyasha, I was meaning to ask you before, but what's up with that weird sword? It did this odd, transforming thing last night, and."
"Oh, now this is a good story!" Miroku quickly assured the girl, turning to Inuyasha and smiling. Inuyasha looked up from his tedious inspection of the powerful blade - which still looked a bit like an over sized letter opener currently - before just as quickly letting his golden eyes flit back down to it.
"Nothing's 'up with it'. It's the Tetsusaiga," he growled simply. Kagome frowned lightly, and Miroku rolled his eyes.
"There is MUCH more to it than that, Ms. Kagome," he guaranteed the twenty year old.
"Really? Like what?" Kagome asked, as Shippou jumped into her arms to listen, apparently already totally comfortable with these humans who had taken him in. You couldn't say the boy didn't know how to adapt well.
"Well, for starters, it was made from the real FANG of his demon father!" Miroku admitted, eyes alight at the prospect of getting to explain some of Inuyasha's dark and mysterious past. Inuyasha, for his part, had retreated to a far corner of the training hall, where had proceeded to begin to clean the sword in a fruitless attempt to get it to shine as it did so wonderfully when it was transformed.
"The fang?" Kagome asked skeptically, eyeing the sword. "But it's HUGE! How big was his father than?"
"Colossal," Miroku admitted grimly. "But all fully grown dog demons when transformed into their truest state are."
"Truest state?." Kagome repeated dumbly, trying to wrap her mind around the possibility that there were demons out their able to transform into huge somethings with swords as teeth. "Does that mean that Inuyasha has the ability transform into a huge demon as well?" At this point both Shippou and Miroku began to chuckle politely. Or tauntingly. Whatever.
"No way, Inuyasha's just a half-breed - after all!" Shippou said smartly. "Hanyous can't transform."
"Thanks for rubbing it in, Shippou!" Inuyasha, with his astute hearing, called from the other side of the room.
"Anytime!" Shippou yelled back proudly.
"Anyway," Miroku said, shaking his head. "Back to the story. on Inuyasha's father's deathbed, his last wish was to have two of his fangs forged into master blades - one for his younger son, Inuyasha, and one for Inuyasha's elder brother,"
"Inuyasha has a brother?" Kagome interjected, looking interested in learning more about her rather elusive partner. "Is he a half demon too?"
"Nope, Sesshomaru is most defiantly a true demon." Miroku said, in a somewhat disdainful tone of voice. Inuyasha snorted in agreement; apparently Sesshomaru was not a well-liked character.
"Hm," Kagome said, urging the monk to continue as she stored that piece of information in the back of her mind.
"So anyway, Inuyasha receives the blade from one of his father's many loyal friends when he came of age, around eighteen I believe. and he's been trying to master it ever since."
"Ever since?" Kagome asked quickly, raising an eyebrow. "Why - is it that hard to wield?"
"Well, it's a MASTER blade Kagome. It has special properties to it that Inuyasha has been unable to utilize,"
"Such as?" the girl prompted, infinitely unfamiliar with things like 'master blades.'
"Well, it has the ability to slay a hundred demons with one swing - and that technique is a bit hard to get the hang of." Miroku said flatly.
"No!" Kagome gasped, staring at the blade across the room with shock. "That's impossible! I mean - look at it now - it could hardly slice bread!"
"No, it's not. However, it can only do this when transformed into its more powerful state, such as the one you saw last night. And even then there's still the matter of figuring out just how to wield in the blade so that it will perform the task of slaying a hundred demons - it's really very complicated."
"And how far has Inuyasha gotten?" Kagome asked, peaking at the hanyou from the corner of her eye.
"Last night was the first time, to our knowledge, it ever transformed into its true self."
"What?" Kagome squawked, watching Inuyasha more or less flinch in his corner. "That's pathetic!"
"Uh. don't say that so loud," Miroku suggested, as Inuyasha began to simmer lightly.
"Oh. right." Kagome said, blushing apologetically. "But really, what's the problem with it?" The monk shrugged helplessly.
"No idea. If we knew what Inuyasha was doing wrong, we would have put this blade to good use long ago - is all I can say." Miroku admitted. Kagome narrowed her eyes and put one hand to her chin, the other still supporting Shippou.
"And we don't know why it worked last night, either?" she guessed.
"You got it."
"Great," Kagome sighed, sinking to the ground and sitting cross- legged so that Shippou could nest in-between her legs. Miroku followed suit, serenely kneeling on the waxed floor.
"Was there anything else you wanted, Ms. Kagome?" he asked, sensing there was something plaguing the girl's mind, even as she listened to the story of the Tetsusaiga.
"Actually. there was." she admitted, frowning. "Oh! Yes! It's, um, about Kaede."
"Kaede?" Miroku asked, leaning in and frowning. "What about her?"
"Well, I think I sort of snapped at her." Kagome admitted, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Oh?" Miroku asked skeptically, frowning. He didn't really view Kagome as the type to snap at elderly ladies, and distantly wondered what had set her off. "Why?"
"Well, we were just talking about things. having to do with the FBI. and stuff, and I got sort of defensive. And I'm sorry, but I don't know what to say to her! I still need to discuss lots of things with Kaede, but I can't agree to the things she wants me to agree to!" the girl exclaimed, finding it very hard to talk about this subject without revealing any important details. With Inuyasha so close, she doubted how wise it would be to admit that the main reason she had gotten into a fight with her superior was because she adamantly refused to have him live in her house. She got this feeling he would somehow take it the wrong way.
"Ah, I think I see. this has to do with her 'extreme measures', for protecting you against Naraku, doesn't it?" Kagome's face reddened, and she shrugged noncommittally.
"Probably," she admitted. Kagome got the distinct sense that Inuyasha was listening to her conversation very intently, even though he wasn't actually looking at her, and tried to keep her voice as low as possible, while simultaneously not making it obvious she was purposely trying to keep her answers hidden. Gosh! This FBI stuff was hard!
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it then, Ms. Kagome. I know that Kaede's methods of law enforcement for criminals can be. unorthodox, at times, so I can only imagine what lengths she would go to, to ensure that her own officers are safe. But she's not petty - I don't think she'll be angry at you for being a bit unruffled about all this Naraku stuff," Miroku admitted in one of his most calming voices. Kagome smiled at Miroku's answer - it had been just what she wanted to hear. She needed someone to tell her it was all going to be all right every once in a while, seeing as, as of late, things didn't really look like they were going to turn out all right anymore.
"That's good to know, Miroku," Kagome said earnestly, beaming. Miroku smiled in return, inching towards Kagome ever so slowly.
"Well Kagome, you're almost like my student now with all the miko training we'll be doing - and I'd do anything to ensure that my pupil is feeling comforta-"
"Whoakay!" Kagome squeaked suddenly, getting to her feet so abruptly that Shippou was unceremoniously dropped to the floor. His hand! His hand! It had been-! "Um - thanks - for your advice! Miroku! But I'm gonna go now - get ready for that Naraku conference we're having soon - um. See you there. Bye Shippou, Inuyasha!" the girl cried, dashing out of the room before anyone had a chance to protest.
Inuyasha looked up from his work to stare at the empty space Kagome had just recently occupied.
"You tried to grope her - didn't you?" he asked flatly, a hint of steel in his tone.
"Me?" Miroku asked innocently. "No! Of course not! How dare you even suggest the notion! I'm a monk!" Inuyasha snorted and shook his head, looking pained.
"Right. A monk." Now why did it bother him so much that Miroku had just tried to cop a feel on Kagome? He did it to every vaguely attractive woman within a twenty-mile radius, so why should Kagome be an exception to the rule?
'I gotta get a life. What sort of an agent develops childish crushes on their partners after only knowing them a week? Oh, right. Me. Twice.'
"Inuyasha? Inuyasha! Stop banging your head against the wall!"
*
Kagome sat in her little office, hands folded, computer monitor glowing happily, blankly, in front of her. She had sat herself down at her desk but a minute ago with the full intention of getting a head start on her report for Kaede - but had soon found her mind to be overwhelmed with far too many other things, and could hardly focus on the task at hand. There were five minutes until she had to go down to the conference room for an emergency meeting about Naraku and the latest developments on his case, organized yesterday by Kaede, and she wanted to clear her mind before she left her office.
Damn it all - she STILL hadn't asked Kaede about her pay! She knew she would be getting salaried at the end of the week, as had been promised in the very beginning, but the amount was still a mystery to Kagome. And that fact was starting to bother her. But what bothered her FAR more was the fact that her mother was dying to see the little 'boy' who was temporarily living with her while her elusive friend from college was getting bunion surgery in England - and she didn't know what to say when her mother noticed some. anatomical differences in the child. Namely a tail. And paws. And yellow eyes. And fangs.
Kagome sighed and rubbed her temples, glancing up at the clock briefly, before delicately taking a sip of her steaming black coffee.
And then there was Naraku himself - the embodiment of every single problem that had happened to her for nearly the past two weeks - and currently the epicenter of one of her biggest fears.
She wasn't afraid to admit it anymore - the Yura incident had scared her, and for a second back there, she had seriously considered taking up Kaede on the offer to have Inuyasha live with her. It had only been for an instant, a flash of fear induced insanity, before her common sense took over and told Kagome that her family/social/school life couldn't stand the pressure of living with a male half demon now - but it had been there, and she had been very conscious of it. Not to mention she STILL didn't know what to make of it.
The main fear was - would her newly awakened miko powers truly be enough to protect Shippou if another random freak set out to maim her? If it was just her in the apartment, Kagome was fairly sure she could handle living alone for a little while longer. Keep a little pepper spray by her bed, a bat at her side, and she'd be good. But if it was Shippou too. did she have enough confidence in herself to keep him safe at night?
The answer was really a big fat 'no', but Kagome was trying not to think about that. It made her sad.
It had been so easy to dismiss the notion of living with Inuyasha when she was still recovering from the initial shock of it all, but now that she actually had some time to seriously dwell over the idea - the possibility was becoming more seductive by the second.
"Noo." Kagome muttered into her hands, shaking her head. But she couldn't do this! The girl had this terrible feeling that a large part of her was suddenly really starting to appreciate this idea because of her undeniable physical attraction to her partner, and she truly didn't want this idea clouding her judgment. A nicely sculpted, strong, handsome hanyou in just the next room. all night. Kagome sighed and turned to look out the small window of her office. Honestly, the decisions she faced everyday. It was crazy. Just crazy.
Bottom line: Did she really NEED Inuyasha? Was it that big a deal if she didn't have a bodyguard to protect her 24/7? She had her own powers now, and was fairly positive they would protect her in life or death situations. Not to mention, no one had even considered the fact if Naraku actually KNEW where she lived, too! Probably Yura had just sniffed out her scent when she went out to get dinner that night, and didn't actually know where her apartment was. Probably.
So, could she survive without Inuyasha, and Shippou to watch over? Damn straight she could! She wouldn't be lured in by the FBI agent's ridiculously good looks and breath taking smile - she could do this on her own, and if this strong determination also happened to be related to the fact that it would make her life with Kiki and Keiko and her mother easier. well so be it! It was just an added bonus in this big package of non- Inuyasha-ness, really. Nodding her head once, eyes flashing with a sense of finality, Kagome got her feet and marched out the door, heading to the meeting with a grim expression on her face - Microsoft Document left untouched. ((--- story of my life.)
Who needed Inuyasha?
*
Kagome barely stifled a yawn as she continued to flick her pen back and forth on the desk, eyelids drooping despite her valiant attempts to keep them open. She was still having trouble comprehending how Kaede could manage to make a meeting where they were to discuss one of the most ruthless, sadistic and eccentric homicidal maniacs this city had seen in decades, BORING - but there it was. Fifteen minutes into the conference and already Kagome felt her head slowly migrating to long table in front of her. Which was bad. Because she wanted to look totally wrapped up in the meeting so as to impress Kaede with her attentiveness, so that hopefully the woman would forgive her for the performance earlier. Hopefully.
The meeting was being held in the official Naraku investigations office, a place Kagome had been to once before, and sitting at the long, silver table in the middle of the room were a collection of Demon Agents Kagome had only seen briefly around the office, but had never actually talked to - Apparently they were also working on this case. And they also happened to be the only ones who appeared to be really getting something out of Kaede's lecture about Naraku's most recent activities, and the steps that would be taken to stop him form here on out.
Kagome knew it was important to listen to Kaede - knew her words would really affect her future - but she just couldn't manage it. And while the other agents were taking notes on their laptops and nodding encouragingly at Detective Kaede, Kagome's little yellow writing pad was covered in little, childish doodles. The only thing Kagome took comfort in was that her two partners, Miroku and Inuyasha, were in no better shape.
Inuyasha was sitting with his shoulders hunched, staring off into the distance with a slightly despondent expression on his face, looking in the direct opposite direction of Kaede.
Miroku, while appearing to be listening intently with his eyes closed, nodding and making little appreciative sounds. also happened to be snoring, if you listened closely enough.
Kagome sighed. She supposed all of these people with large folders and packets were the agents who did paper work for the Naraku case, and she, Inuyasha and Miroku were more the people who took care of all the nasty, bloody things she saw pictures of on the wall.
In fact, there were many cases on the wall, all different ones that had involved Naraku over the long months this investigation had been documenting the demon's moves. And as Kagome forced herself to look over all of them, taking in brief summaries of some of Naraku's exploits, she spotted Yura's case towards the end.
It had a mug shot of Yura, and below her, a shot of she and Inuyasha. It had obviously been recently posted. There was also lots of writing around all the pictures, but she sort of ignored it. Kagome bit her lip and rested her cheek on her hand, trying to figure out how she felt about being directly involved in a murder attempt now. The incident on the roof with Shippou had hardly involved her; she just showed up to save someone. This was a lot different - this time she had been a direct victim, and the thought sent little shivers down her spine. The idea was definitely going to take some getting used to.
"Now is the time to go all out," Kagome heard Kaede announce in her scratchy voice, standing at the head of the table and regarding everyone solemnly. She got a vaguely pained look on her face as she spotted Inuyasha - still not paying her any attention whatsoever - but forged onwards. "Naraku is being allowed to run free and kill as many people as he wants, while we stand by, lost - and the more we let him slaughter and defile innocents, the more tainted blood he can take from his victims to fuel the shikon no tama. He is getting stronger as the days go by, and I fear time is of the essence."
Frowning, Kagome forced herself to listen to more of Kaede's boring dribble, finding it, suddenly, at least a tiny bit interesting.
"As we all are aware of, Naraku's power took a dramatic leap after stealing the shikon no tama from its protectors, and slaying a being with immense power to give the shikon a jump start. Since then, Naraku has been targeting beings with much spiritual, or demonic power to slay - going for the blood that is most potent, and sometimes pure - because powerful blood tastes the best when tainted." Kaede admitted bluntly. "And so - working off this information - I have decided the next course of action we should take is to monitor potential victims in the area. This meaning strong demons and mortals with extraordinary powers who would be the most enticing for Naraku to kill,"
At this announcement Miroku's eyes opened a bit, and even Inuyasha's ears flicked backwards to catch the old woman's words.
"Excuse me, Detective Kaede," one of the note-taking, demon agents asked, raising his hand briefly. "Excuse me, but, how are we going to figure out which demons and mortals Naraku will be targeting? There are many powerful beings in the area of Tokyo, since it is an epicenter for demonic activity. How can we possibly figure out which demon he will attempt to kill next?"
"Good question," Kaede said, nodding her head. "And to this I must say, our tactics are going to be a little vague, and we may have to spread ourselves out for this new idea to work. But the answer is this - there are definite patterns that we've seen, in Naraku's killings. For instance, he particularly enjoys pure blood. Demons who are ruthless and have reputations to be malicious in their ways simply won't do for him. He likes to go after humans who have spiritual powers, and demons who have pure hearts, or dedicate themselves to good. It makes the kill all that much better for him. we have seen even recent examples of this pattern lately as well. The Kits were perfect illustrations of this idea. They were compassionate, good demons in their neighborhood, and had guarded that demon owned building and its inhabitants for as long as anyone could remember. They were role models - and prime examples of a good meal for our killer.
"Next, we have recently seen Naraku attempt to murder a miko." At these words Kagome paled a bit, and looked at her clenched hands in her lap, trying to feel disconnected from this discussion, but finding it notably hard to do so. "And one of our own at that. Kagome Higurashi was recently a near victim of Naraku, and she has spiritual powers of the like we have not seen in these parts for some time. He was obviously drawn to her - but this time sent someone else to do his dirty work, which is something we have seen often from him. Naraku likes henchmen, or allies. He loves to have his victims brought to him, or watch someone else destroy a person's life at his order."
Kagome closed her at Kaede's suggestive words, heart rate speeding up as she wondered what would have happened if Yura had really killed her. What would happen to her family? To her friends? Would her death have truly ruined their lives? She bit her lip and tried to stop thinking about it, attempting to simply focus on Kaede's words at their most basic level. when she felt someone take her hand, and squeeze it firmly.
Eyes widening, Kagome's head whipped to the side, only to discover that the hand covering her pale one was connected to none other than Inuyasha. The half demon had focused all of his attention on Kaede now, and didn't even spare the miko in training a glance as he continued to discreetly comfort the girl. Kagome smiled warmly at Inuyasha's attention, something in her heart igniting at the feel of his large, strong hand wrapped around her smaller one. Filled with a new confidence, she turned back to Kaede.
"On top of all this, it shows that Naraku is no longer afraid to make an attempt on an FBI agents - and THIS means that you will all have to be extra careful from now on. No one is safe anymore! Unless, of course, you happen to be incredibly evil. Unfortunately, we all know that none of you are. We have to watch our steps from now on - as Naraku's power grows so does his maliciousness." Kaede's grave words obviously discomfited a number of demon agents in the room, who all paused in their note taking to cast wary glances around the room. They had seen first hand what Naraku was capable of, and obviously no one had any desire to be one of his fatalities.
"We will be sending reports to everyone via e-mail as soon as we discover which civilians we will be monitoring, or even guarding, first. Since there are many potentials, we might have to split ourselves up and spread out all over the city. Many of you who have worked at a desk thus far will have to take to the streets. This, hopefully, will all be the final faze of this case. We can't let the butchery go on anymore, and it's time to get serious. Everyone will lend a hand when it's time to incarcerate this monster. No longer can we afford to be the people who arrive at the scene only to clean up the messes this maniac leaves in his wake. We have to seek out his next victims before even HE does, and take the initiative on this case. If we follow this flawless plan - we are sure to catch the bastard. You are dismissed." She finished quickly, gathering her folders and paper and abruptly turning to exit the room, before Kagome had a chance to approach her. Not that she really would have had the guts to go up and apologize to the woman, but still.
There was immediately a collection of buzzing murmurs as everyone got to their feet and nervously started discussing the latest developments on the case with their co-workers. EVERYONE was going to have to be a field agent? Bleck.
"Well, that was cheerful," Miroku commented dourly as he, Inuyasha and Kagome made their way our of the dark conference room, and past the cages of howling, enraged and captive demons in the containing room, to the main office area with sad little expressions on their faces. Things were really starting to heat up.
"I'll say," Kagome muttered, sparing a quick glance at Inuyasha, suddenly missing the comforting feel of his hand on hers. He had drawn away without a comment when everyone had stood to leave, and now she sorely missed his presence. Which wasn't a good sign. She had said she didn't NEED him! Dammit.
"Don't you have a class now Kagome?" Inuyasha wanted to know, as he and Miroku headed back towards the training hall for some more, afternoon sword fighting.
"Yeah, I better go get my stuff. I've got studies of Modern Civilization now, but it's basically just a useless class since the finals over." She admitted with a sigh. "I take it you're going to go practice with the Tetsusaiga some more?"
"Yep - and I'm not gonna stop until I figure out how to convert it to the steal cleaving fang again!" he said firmly.
"This could take awhile," Miroku said dryly, slipping into the training room.
"Good luck!" Kagome chuckled as she waved goodbye with a smile, and headed towards her office to retrieve her messenger bag. Inuyasha stayed in place for a little longer than was really necessary after she had departed, staring at Kagome's retreating back with an odd expression on his face.
He . didn't know why he had taken Kagome's hand in the conference room earlier. It had been sort of a compulsive, almost unconscious move, and once he had done it, the hanyou had found it notably hard to draw back. He had just felt so terribly as he listened to Kagome begin to breath heavily, and her heart start to beat erratically as Kaede described Yura's attack. He had felt compassionate, and before he knew what he was doing, and taken her small, soft had in his, squeezing placatingly, and hoping that she would hurry up and calm down because it made him feel sad to listen to her worry.
Shaking his head in confusion, Inuyasha sighed and entered the training hall after Miroku, trying to focus his thoughts on his powerful blade - where they really should be, anyway.
*
"God, I was SO totally shocked when I heard about your new job!" Keiko gushed quietly, leaning over and whispering to Kagome while both college students pretended to look interested as their elderly professor rambled on about what next semester would hold for the sophomores, and how good study habits were important, blahdy blah. Whereas Kaede's talk had quickly gained some interest once she delved into the more interesting aspect of what the agents were 'studying', this man seemed to have not one iota of fun in him, and spoke in a monotone that put even the most hyper student to sleep. Luckily, Kagome had an enthusiastic, excited Keiko to keep her up all class!
"Yeah well, I'm sure Kiki just made it sound cooler than it was." Kagome admitted with a little laugh. "I'm just doing a desk job!" Saying that little white lie was getting unnervingly easier to say as the days went by.
"Well, whatever, at least you have a good job. My parents have been bugging me about getting a part time one for AGES, and I've just been avoiding it because I don't want to end up a waitress or something!" she whispered despairingly, flipping her silky raven hair over her shoulder, and adjusting the pink spaghetti strap of her tank top.
"What's wrong with being a waitress? Hojo was a waiter at the noodle house on 5th for a while." Kagome reminded her.
"Ha! Like THAT says anything. Sure Hojo could pull it off. He's a GUY! He doesn't have to worry about his creamy complexion getting oily, or his perfectly moisturized face breaking out!" she whispered fiercely. Kagome rolled her eyes but smiled anyway, shaking her head.
"Right."
"Oh, and what's this I hear about you adopting an illegitimate child from England?"
"Hey- It's not like that!" Kagome quickly whispered back, mentally sighing as she wished her mother were easier to understand, and that she didn't fill her friends in on everything that happened in her life. It would make everything so much easier! "He's just staying with me until his mother gets back from England - she's having surgery," That lie was becoming easier to say, as well.
"Oh, well that's not half as interesting. But does he like, stay there all day?" Keiko asked, sounding a little bit disgusted. Keiko did not like kids, for starters - and having one would truly interfere with her wild sex life.
"No, only in the evening."
"But - that's worse!"
"It's all right," Kagome admitted with a small shrug. And honestly - it was. Shippou had been anything but a bit hassle since he'd come to stay with her, and he was surprisingly self sufficient for a three year old. Demon children truly were more mature than human ones, and Shippou had no problems looking out for himself at home. Which was wonderful for Kagome.
"Well, whatever. Kiki wanted to know if you were going to come to the sushi bar with us Friday since you couldn't make it last night." Keiki said, waving off the disturbing topic with a flick of her manicured hand. "Or will you be babysitting?"
"No - I can probably make it," Kagome said, figuring she could almost certainly find an agent who would house Shippou for just one night - maybe she'd ask Miroku to watch over the little guy. He seemed to get along with him well enough. "What time?"
"Be there around seven. We TOTALLY have to drill Kiki for information about this new guy she's interested in!" Keiko reminded Kagome, looking grave. School work, family life and international affairs might be trifle annoyances flitting around the atmosphere of her far more important worries in Keiko's mind- but when it came to people's social lives - The girl did not monkey around. This was serious! "I'm going to be honestly worried for her if it's the Lit Professore!" Kagome replied in a hesitant tone, having no idea how it was Kiki had been acting lately, seeing as she hadn't seen her in around four days.
"Well, me too. but what can we do? You know how determined Kiki gets," Kagome reminded her. "It's like a game to her - she refuses to loose."
"I know, I know," Keiko said loftily, leaning back in her chair, and folding her bracelet encrusted arms. "But I feel like something's off about it all, and it bothers me." Knowing better than to doubt Keiko's impressive sixth sense when it came to people's complicated love lives, Kagome frowned softly, before firmly turning her attention back over to the professor, just catching his parting words, something about it being wise to study over winter break (ha!) before the class ended.
*
Juggling a bursting bag of groceries with both hands, Kagome found herself traveling the five blocks back to her apartment later that day- the blocks which suddenly seemed curiously long as she strained her arm muscles to support the numerous boxes of Easy Mac, bags of broccoli and cartons of milk. She was so ready to house a three year old now. Oh yeah.
However, all of the days activities weighing upon her heavily now that she was finally alone, and in no real rush to be anywhere but in her cozy little apartment - Shippou due home in about an hour. At last she had some time to herself with which to sort things out, and she was suddenly realizing there was a whole lot to think about. Again
First off - Kaede. Okay. So. She still had to make up with her for that whole refusal thing - and on top of that there was her new plan to take down the bad guy. Guarding potential victims, hu? Suddenly, Kaede's random bout of protectiveness was making a whole lot more sense. Kagome WAS one of the potential victims, and Kaede really had been looking out for her. The thought made Kagome groan with despair and self-abhorrence, but she held it in as she continued to travel down the street, flicking a lock of curly raven hair behind her shoulder with a violent jerk of her head.
Then there was Inuyasha and the Tetsusaiga. The sword was obviously a very coveted weapon, and Inuyasha father obviously had been an unreasonably large demon, but for some reason Kagome felt herself thinking about the sword a lot. What was it's secret? It was clearly ridiculously powerful, but what were the magic words that made it transform into its true self? And why couldn't Inuyasha, true heir to its power, harness it? To that - at least she could honestly say that it wasn't HER problem.
On the other hand - thinking of the Tetsusaiga left her with thoughts of Inuyasha who was, of course, her problem. The extremely attractive, strong and endearing partner she was developing feelings for - and of whom she desperately wanted to look at in the most platonic of ways. Were her feelings for him really clouding her judgment when it came to she and Shippou's safety? Did she really need someone more experienced, and strong to be around and defend her from the big bad monsters in the shadows? The mere thought made her wince. Inuyasha was the sort of cocky bastard she could see really being frustrated with if forced to depend on him for her well-being.
Drifting back to more comfortable territory, there was now, of course, Kiki. And her Lit professor. Either that or some random schmuck she'd encountered on the streets, at a bar or at one of her soccer meets. Well, honestly, as much as Kagome loved her friend, she had enough to worry about without meddling in Kiki's love life. Kiki was a big girl, and knew how to take care of herself. Even if the secret lover DID turn out to be her professor, she was sure Kiki would be able to think of an intelligent, and legal way to continue (or hopefully end.) the relationship. Besides, Keiko getting mixed up in that mess was probably more then enough help for poor Kiki.
Dusting off her maroon sweater, and dumping the groceries on a random stoop, Kagome let out a big sigh and took a breather. She definitely had to work on that upper body strength she was severely lacking. Frowning, and snatching her cell phone out of her jeans pocket, Kagome quickly dialed the offices number, a pensive expression on her face as she stared up at the sky and waited for someone to pick up. She may be in a whole lot of trouble, but that didn't mean she couldn't start to work out her problems. Apologizing to Kaede seemed like a good start, and as they say - there's no time like the present!
"Hello?" Kaede's distinct, elderly rasp could be heard through the scratchy reception of the phone. "Who is this?"
"Hello Detective Kaede - it's Kagome," Kagome said in a rather sheepish tone, scratching the back of her head awkwardly.
"Oh, hello. Did you have any questions concerning the meeting today?" Kaede asked in a totally neutral tone.
"No, not really. I actually just called to formally apologize." Kagome admitted, sounding resigned. "I wanted to say sorry for my actions earlier today, with the whole suggestions concerning my safety. I was totally rude and I realize you were only looking out for me," she quickly blurted.
"Kagome." Kaede sighed.
"No - please, I'm really sorry. Every since I - well, I mean, since you made me join this organization - you HAVE only been trying to make things easier for me, and I know I'm not the quickest person. When you have a miko so untrained it must be a burden, I understand, and I know that you only want to make sure I don't end up like Kikyo. but I just freaked out a little today, I guess," Kagome finished, biting her lip and waiting for Kaede's reply.
"Kagome. you're not a burden. You're one of the fastest learners I've ever met, in fact. And further more, it's an honor to have you working with the FBI, if only temporarily. You've been doing marvelously for someone in your position, and even I can admit that suggesting you have Inuyasha LIVE with you was a little over the top, even if it was for your safety. We've all been throwing a hell of a lot at you recently, and honestly, I'm surprised you haven't cracked. You've been doing really well, and you've been truly brave. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise,"
"Detective Kaede." Kagome said, getting a little dewy eyed as she listened to Kaede shoot out compliments she sorely felt she didn't deserve.
"Really Kagome, no hard feelings about this morning, all right?" Kaede pressed, sounding companionable and not at all like the scary, angry boss Kagome had thought she might be in retaliation the impertinent college student's performance. The girl smiled widely.
"Sure thing."
"Of course. you still have a long way to go."
"Um- yeah, I know that," Kagome admitted with a small sigh.
"And things ARE going to start to get pretty dangerous."
"Thanks for the reminder."
"But I take it you're STILL not going to let Inuyasha stay with you."
"That'd be a strong no."
"Hmmmm." Kaede rumbled, that disapproving tone back, but not half as strong as earlier, as she now realized it was probably best just to let things be. Kagome would know when to ask for help if things got too tough - right? "You wanted to know about something else as well though, didn't you?" she said suddenly, remembering Kagome trying to bring up another subject earlier that morning. "Something about payments, and Shippou."
"Oh! Yes!" Kagome chirped, gleeful at the prospect of getting to cross off something else she had to do from her dauntingly long list. "Um - not to sound rude or anything, but you told me that as long as I worked with the FBI I would be getting paid regularly - but you never got around to an amount,"
"I didn't? Terribly sorry about that! Well, you'll be getting paid per week, including this week, and I've had the amount for any prospective miko I might find since the beginning, so you'll be getting the standard amount. It's about. 2,000 a week. For starters. I might raise it, depending on how long this case runs," Kagome blinked, staring forward, awed.
"2,000?" she squeaked. "Really?!"
"Goodness girl, it's not that much! Just about as much as any good secretary would be paid! Why - I'm surprised you aren't demanding more, considering the sort of work you've been doing! But you know how it is - we officers of the law never get remunerated properly for our sacrifices, is my opinion." Kaede mumbled, one hand drifting up to the patch covering her bad eye.
"It's a lot for me!" Kagome protested. "It's tons for me! Wow - thanks Kaede! This is so cool!" she chirped, hopping around on the street gleefully.
"Um - no problem," Kaede offered, smiling in spite of herself. "But there was one more thing you wanted to ask, correct?"
"Yes. Yes there was," Kagome said, getting a hold of herself long enough to calm down and ask about Shippou's appearance, and how she might be able to avoid having him seen my family and friends. 2,000 a week! A week! Wait until she told Kiki and Keiko! "It's about Shippou, he's-" Kagome began, calming down and beginning to explain her predicament. "He's." she paused, frowning at something, and cocking her head lightly.
"Kagome?" Kaede asked, urging the girl to continue as she hesitantly trailed off. However, Kagome barely heard the elderly woman as she continued to stare at what appeared to be an injured animal of some sort, a cat perhaps, scuttling around the edges of an ally that started right next to Kagome's local, grubby looking drug store. It was dark and furry, with lighter brown designs on it, and it appeared to be wounded in some way, because it was carrying itself oddly. but what really got Kagome was that it was emanating an aura that was one of an animal and something darker. something unnatural. Kagome couldn't understand what sort of a combination this was, since she knew what normal animals felt like, knew what her own cat, Buyo felt like, but she simply couldn't figure out what was up with this scraggly ally cat, lingering in the shadows. Squinting at it, and tuning out Kaede's incessant questions, Kagome hesitantly stepped forward, swallowing her hesitance in favor of her curiosity, and slowly approaching the wounded creature.
"Hold on. Kaede." she mentioned, stopping a few feet away from the cat. Biting her lip, and distinctly feeling something evil rolling off the animal, who had its dark back turned to her, Kagome called out shortly - "Here. kitty kitty!"
Then, to Kagome's total horror, the cat began to speak back to her in a low, throaty whisper.
"Kitty kitty?" it hissed, shaking with what could have been laughter, but just as likely rage - the small, mangled thing slowly turned around. and revealing its true self with one horrifying jerk of its head, an insane gleam in its eye. "I'm not a kitty kitty."
It couldn't have been any more right. Kagome felt her mouth go dry, and her hand nearly crush her cell phone, as the 'cat' turned around, revealing a pale, shrunken human head with a bright red mouth full of fangs. not to mention eight legs and a hairy body to accompany it. That was no cat body.. It was a tarantula! A HUGE tarantula!
"I'm an itsy bitsy spider!" it hissed in a voice that dripped with pain and hunger. The ugly thing's purpose became that much clearer to Kagome as it let out a terrifying, final hiss and launched itself at Kagome. Kagome screamed and recoiled with disgust, leaping to the side, eyes wide and disbelieving. What they Hell was that thing?
Not giving the half human, half spider demon a chance to recover from its pounce, Kagome threw herself forward, her entire frame shaking. This was the second attack in two days. and she didn't have any weapons on her once more. 'I really have to start packing', Kagome admitted with a mental sigh of acquiescence.
"K-Kaede!" she hollered into the phone, trying to regain control over her vocal cords as she heard the distinct scratching of eight, hairy legs chasing after her, gurgling with anger.
"No need to yell child, I'm right here!" Kaede replied agitatedly on the other end.
"Call Inuyasha! Tell him to come to my neighborhood - I'm being attacked!" Kagome continued to shriek, the only person coming to mind who could save her when in a situation such as this one being her silver haired, incredibly strong partner.
"What - again? Already?" Kaede asked skeptically.
"Yes!! Please hurry! It's a spider - human thingy! And it's freaking me out, and I don't have any weapons. help me! Get Inuyasha!" Kagome was near tears as she threw herself down a new ally, just missing the spider demon as it flung itself at her back. Stumbling into the ally way, and panting with fear, Kagome hung up on Kaede before she had a chance to ask any more questions, tucking the cell phone away and coming to a screeching halt. She looked over her shoulder to see if the spider was anywhere in sight - but apparently it hadn't followed her down the ally. Letting out a tiny sigh of relief, Kagome ran a shaky hand through her hair, gathering her wits. Just as she heard a familiar scraping behind her. But this time it was a bit. louder.
"Ah." was just about the only word Kagome could form as she spotted the horrid sight behind her, lip quivering with disgust.
Tucked away in the back of the dank ally, swarming and scuttling like many overgrown cockroaches, a haze of ugly brown and black. was a nest of demon spiders. All of them about the size of roughly Kagome's torso, with different demonic human like heads, fangs dripping and beady eyes swiveling around sporadically, and all were clambering around a thick web that stretched from either side of the stone ally. The web was eerily large a flesh colored. Currently there were around thirty of the spider demons, all now staring directly at the young miko who had stumbled into their clutches. And at the center of the thick, fleshy web, smiling sadistically, and even chuckling lightly. was an elderly mans' head, red eyes flashing merrily, and emanating an evil vibe to be reckoned with.
"Greetings, dear maiden," it growled cruelly, eyeing Kagome as a cat my eye an errant mouse.
And as Kagome let out an ear piercing screech, terrified beyond belief, she simultaneously, dimly decided she would much rather be facing Yura once more. Why did they have to be. spiders?
*
"Damn girl - can't she go one freaking day without being accosted by a blood thirsty demon?" Inuyasha grumbled to himself, cursing Kagome on his way to her apartment in a colossal effort to shrug off his immense worry for her health.
When Kaede had called him, a mere ten minutes ago, she had babbled something about Kagome being attacked by a spider demon that was chasing her down the street - and immediately Inuyasha's heart had stopped. With no questions, he had immediately leapt up from his desk, and pulled himself out the window of his office to roof hop it down to Kagome's place - taking a fast route he had already begun to memorize within a week of knowing the girl. Kagome had the immensely frustrating ability to make Inuyasha into some sort of mother hen whenever she was in danger, and currently he could picture nothing but her being ripped apart by a large, angry spider demon, sent by Naraku.
Why did things like this have to happen to someone as sweet, and pure hearted as Kagome?
Brushing that surprisingly heart wrenching thought aside, Inuyasha leaped the gap between two buildings with a powerful bound, keeping his eyes peeled an his ears alert for any signs of Kagome. Where was she? Would he find her in time, or-
"HEEEEELLLLPPP!" Came the intolerably familiar shriek of a twenty- year-old girl about to be torn in two. Swiftly throwing himself over to the next roof, Inuyasha peered down into the ally below the old apartment building he stood upon, hardly prepared for the sight that greeted him in the dark ally way.
"Kagome!" he called, golden eyes wide as he spotted the demon web, and the many spider head demons that swarmed around the ally, centering around a frightened, pretty girl who was desperately defending herself from each spider as it launched itself at her, pulling at her skirt and snapping at her legs. Kagome was currently on her knees, a pink glow seeping from her fingers as she swiped blindly at spider demons that threw themselves at her, effectively burning the suckers if she came in contact with them. However, there were many scrapes decorating her arms and legs none the less, and one particularly determined spider demon was currently latched onto Kagome's thigh, prepared to sink it's knife like teeth into the muscle just below it's hairy feet. The sight made Inuyasha's blood boil. "NO!" he roared with fury, hurling himself from the roof, and coming to land in a graceful crouch in the ally, growling threateningly.
"I-Inuyasha!" Kagome sobbed, finally sinking her glowing fingers into the spider head on her thigh, so it was thrown to the side with a final hiss.
"Who ARE you?" rumbled the elderly head of the web demon from his corner, obviously the brains of the operation, and the demon who had been goading his little spider minions on as Kagome fought for her life.
Silently leaping towards Kagome, and throwing a protective arm over her, Inuyasha addressed the web demon with no small degree of primal rage.
"Call your spiders back, demon!" Inuyasha ordered, not bothering to answer the demon, and reaching for the blade at his side. Looking at it, the shaking Kagome realized immediately that Inuyasha had brought the Tetsusaiga with him.
'Great - he brought a blade he can't use!' she thought sarcastically, clutching her arms and huddling close to her tall savior, hyperventilating.
"Are you an assassin of Naraku?" Inuyasha continued.
"What concern is it of yours if I am - pup?" the demon asked archly, some of his spiders swiftly scuttling up the 'arms' of his web, and crouching in defensive positions all around him, like a barricade.
"Damn it," Inuyasha sighed, taking that as a positive response. "What does Naraku have against you Kagome?" he sighed, shooting Kagome one despairing glance. Feeling compelled to answer, Kagome quickly got her voice back, feeling somewhat more calmed now that her protector was here. Wait a second. her protector?
"I - I don't know. Maybe it's because-"
"No more talk, children!" the demon roared agitatedly, and with a manic jerk of his head, sending a hoard of spider demons down on the couple, Kagome immediately shrieking with fear and covering her head. Standing in front of her, naked Tetsusaiga in hand, Inuyasha began to skillfully bat away at the spider demons, smiling in satisfaction as his blade cut through most of them quite effectively - even though it had yet to transform. The blade had obviously gotten stronger since the battle with Yura.
"You're going to DIE demon!" Inuyasha howled passionately. He had planned on possibly waiting for the backup he knew Kaede would be sending before partaking in any serious battle earlier, but it didn't seem as though there was going to be much of a chance of that now. He was the fastest demon on the force, and who knew how long it would be before anyone found them in this ally? He had to protect Kagome, especially when this guy was deathly serious. And, as he always said, when in Rome.
Cutting away at all the spider heads that threw themselves chaotically at Inuyasha, jagged fangs extended, Inuyasha frowned at the fact that the Tetsusaiga was still in its lesser state. What was it that triggered its transformation? What did he have to do? Yelling out his frustrations, and slashing through a particularly fat spider, Inuyasha was only brought away from the gruesome task of slaughtering every spider that got in the way of the demon web he knew to be the boss of the operation, by Kagome's panicked cry for help.
The girl had been standing just where Inuyasha had left her, watching him take out demon after demon with a fluidity and skill she had sorely lacked when defending herself. when something hard and clammy wrapped itself firmly and quickly around her right ankle, tugging harshly.
Screeching with terror, Kagome found herself being dragged toward the large web by one of the web demon's arms. Kicking and screaming, she tried to reach for the web piece, fingers poised and glowing with miko power she knew almost nothing about how to harness. Clamping one hand firmly around the web, much as she had done last night with Yura when in her clutches, Kagome watched the skin begin to sizzle uncomfortably. Gross.
"Agh! You insolent little lass!" the web demon hissed, wincing at the feel of his skin beginning to melt away and be purified. Decidedly, he swung his limb up, Kagome still firmly trapped, and slammed her against the web. The girl sucked in a sharp breath and was silenced, landing so that she hung on the trap limply, stunned.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha roared, his voice going up an octave or two in horror at the sight of his partner being brutally smashed against the web, her head snapping back painfully.
"Ah." Kagome groaned softly, finding herself stuck in the web. "AH." she said a little louder, spotting three hungry looking spider demons leaving their perches on the web to scuttle towards her, smiling gleefully at the sight of her deliciously prone form. Tears formed in Kagome's eyes as she struggled to be free of netting that held her firmly, but she was trapped by its powerful, bony grip, and her world was spinning slightly from the attack.
"Let her GO!" Inuyasha demanded harshly, addled by the many spider demons throwing themselves in his way en route to Kagome. His eyes flashed red as he watched her struggle vainly, the three spider demons almost on top of her.
"Nooo!" Kagome burbled, fighting the urge to vomit as she felt the hairy, twitchy bodies of the spiders clamber around her form, scrambling up her legs, fangs grazing her arms and scrapping at her neck. She squeezed her eyes shut and focused on trying to get her arms free, using all of her mental energy to block out the feel of the tarantula like demons battering her. If only she had her hands loose!.
Inuyasha halted at the sight of one of the demons sitting on Kagome throwing its head back - poised to bight her with what he was sure were venomous teeth. And, like a shockwave running through him, he grasped his rage and used it to propel him forward, hacking through the demons in his way suddenly as though they were nothing more than paper, his focal point being Kagome, crying vainly for help.
"HYAAA!" he shouted triumphantly, the Tetsusaiga, in a blinding flash of gold, shooting up and becoming immediately heavier, slamming down just next to Kagome so that the spiders shrieked in terror and were thrown from the web, cutting away at Kagome's confines. Kagome gasped sharply as she felt herself be released, falling to the ground and rolling to the side. She looked up at Inuyasha, shocked, as he slung the Tetsusaiga over his shoulder. He was smirking happily; obviously joyful over the fact that he had once more transformed the steel-cleaving fang. However his eyes still glimmered intensely with worry and compassion.
"Are you okay?" he called down to her, currently standing on the now torn web. Still shaking with total horror and disbelief, Kagome could only nod mutely in response, unable to pick herself up. Realizing fully that she wasn't okay; Inuyasha hesitantly tore himself away from her concentrated gaze, coming to face the web demon, and prepared to finish him off for good. As long as she wasn't in any immediate danger. "Now I'm really going to have to kill you!" Inuyasha roared at the slightly fearful looking head of the web demon.
"You little upstart!" it yelled unconvincingly, shrinking back and calling upon more of its minions to defend it from the livid hanyou. "You don't know how to wield that blade properly - Naraku told me as much! We'll be the victors of this battle, and your little miko will be dust!"
"Shut UP!" Inuyasha yelled, swiping away the little spider heads with an almost casual swing, and coming to stand just above the web demon's head with the blink of an eye, moving so fast even Kagome, still on the ground, had a hard time following the silver haired agent. "You die NOW!"
"No!" the web demon snapped back, two of its thicker limbs slamming forward, and hitting Inuyasha on either side so that he was squished between them, immobile. "I am far to powerful to be destroyed by a young thing like you!"
For a second Inuyasha looked extremely uncomfortable, both arms pinned to his side, and the Tetsusaiga still firmly clutched in his clawed hand. But then he seemed to tense for a second, closing his eyes and concentrating - and when his vibrant gold eyes were open once more, he snapped himself out of the web, muscling through it and smiling evilly. The remains of the limbs were thrown to the side violently.
"I don't think you should be so cocky, old man," he said simply, lifting the Tetsusaiga above his head, and, averting his gaze at the last moment, slamming down upon the demon's balding head.
"NOOOO!" it screamed, the entire web tearing apart at the seams as the head was split in two. The web ripped apart, glowing purple at the cracks, and was quickly spewed all around the ally, throwing spider heads so violently against the cold stonewall that many of them snapped their necks and slid to the floor, dead.
Inuyasha leaped away from the explosion of flying flesh and spider, kneeling a few feet away from Kagome as he looked on, expression grim as he stayed to make sure the job had been pulled off properly. One could never be too sure that the demon was actually dead, was what he had learned after around three years on the force.
Once the dust had settled, and the spider demons lay silent, the web was left in gooey little pieces dripping of the walls and sitting in puddles on the dirty floor of the ally. Inuyasha finally let his guard down, closing his eyes briefly and letting out a little contented sigh, clutching the Tetsusaiga, as if congratulating himself on a battle well fought. Yes! He had transformed the Tetsusaiga once more! He was da man!
"Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped sharply, off to the side, one hand clutching her chest as she stared fearfully upwards. Following her gaze almost despairingly, Inuyasha let a small snarl resound in the back of his throat as he spotted one last, surviving demon head, using its own webbing to swing down from a fire escape above Kagome. It looked terrifically ugly, howling with fury and launching itself at the miko. Kagome looked too shocked at this point to do anything about the new threat but stare, so Inuyasha quickly leapt to his feet, coming to her rescue as he felt the Tetsusaiga vibrate under his firm grasp, arching upwards to cut the spider demon in two before it came anywhere near Kagome.
And as the remains of the demon splattered to the ground some yards off, Inuyasha calmly came to sit near Kagome, searching her face cautiously as she stared at her clenched fists, shaking ever so slightly, and her heart beating like a drum to Inuyasha's sensitive ears. He didn't think he had ever seen her so terrified, and THAT truly scared him - more than any God- awful tarantula demon.
"Kagome." he started hesitantly, one hand going out to touch her shoulder gently, as the sound of police cars howled in the distance, no doubt the cavalry from the agency finally there to help clean things up. No WAY was Inuyasha going to be responsible for mopping up the mess of the dead demons. "Say something," he urged, hoping she wasn't too badly frightened. He knew things like this scared mortals, but Kagome always seemed to be so brave during other expeditions.
"Please - don't leave me!" she cried abruptly, throwing herself at Inuyasha and wrapping her arms around him so forcefully the agent was pushed onto his butt. Inuyasha stared down, shocked, at the pretty girl burying her face in his chest, tears pouring down her face as she sniffled pathetically. "Please stay with me. I was so scared! I can still f-feel them all over me! God - and I. I can't be alone, I have to. please stay!" she ended up sobbing, shaking her head. Inuyasha hesitantly placed both of his arms around her, frowning deeply, and resisting the overpowering urge to growl with anger. Poor Kagome. she shouldn't have to. it wasn't really her responsibility to!-
"It's all right. I'll stay. I'll stay. I'll do whatever you want." he agreed softly, hardly thinking over the depth of his words as Kaede and Miroku jumped out of the police cars that came to a screeching halt on the street, along with many others that totally barricaded the street, which was now officially a youkai crime scene. The two agents jogged over to the bloody ally in time to see Inuyasha pick Kagome up in his arms, ready to take her back to the apartment for some quick treatment of her, luckily minimal, wounds.
*
Author's notes:
Only sixteen pages after almost a month of no updating? Sorry - that hardly seems adequate - but it will have to do for now. The problem is I've really been focused on other things lately, if you want to know the truth.
I guess this chapter made a lot of hard-core Inu/Kag fans happy, and I told you I would do my best to get them to live together - so here it is! Admittedly, I made Kagome a little wimpy in this chapter, but I think that may have come from the fact that I am a total arachnophobic, and it may have rubbed off on her personality. Also, having her experience a total mental breakdown over the experience of being violently attacked by two total freaks with the intent to kill within the span of two days was essential for my plot, and one of the only ways I could get Inuyasha in her apartment. She'll get stronger after this though - things can only go up from here!
Anyway, for those of you who were wondering, next chapter - Sango enters the story! (And I'm a big Sango/Miroku supporter, in case you were wondering.) And possibly Sesshomaru will make an appearance if I so feel the need. The two are going to be, of course, totally transformed into modern day versions of themselves, and hopefully that will be amusing to all.
Next time: Chapter Seven - My Boyfriend the Homicidal Maniac. When will this chapter be out? Before Easter, not before early April. Probably. Wait - when's Easter. did that deadline make ANY sense? If I'm going to commit myself to having a definite due date for the next chapter, one hopes that the date actually exists, but I suppose I shall have to work around it. Have a wonderful day!
~ Rio Grande.