Chapter Ten
Rainbow Valley Retreat Facility
March 2004
Just as the sun's first rays of light were starting to streak through the heavy clouds of the day's dawn, the distinctive reverberations of a helicopter could be made out by both youkai and human hears. The sounds were coming closer to the retreat until they hovered just above. Children and pre-teens, those that had enough of their wits about them, scrambled from their beds to the windows to see what was going on. What they found was one raven black chopper coming to land in the expansive front yard of the retreat while six shadowed figures moved around like hurried little ants.
Below, at the front of the house Kagome shrugged hefted her duffle bag into her hands. "Sayonara, Kaede-san. I'll call you as soon as it's safe, I promise. Onegai, be careful," she embraced the older woman tightly. "Arigatou, for everything."
Sango and Miroku were already in the helicopter, fastening their seatbelts. Inuyasha had one leg propped up on the floor of the chopper, but had turned around to see what was taking Kagome so long. He threw his own duffle bag in the cockpit and growled. "Hurry up wench, lets go!"
Kagome unconsciously clenched her hand into a fist, mentally picturing him falling flat on his face into the ground with a hard 'thunk'. He'd deserve it for the attitude he'd given them since she woke up. "Gomen ne, Kaede-san, demo I really have to go."
The doctor put a hand on Kagome's arm. "Matte kudasai, child. I have something for you." She pressed a cold, metal object into Kagome's free hand, shaking her head as the girl gasped having seen it looked like a small pistol. "It is a miko's gun and it was Kikyo-nee-chan's weapon. It draws the miko powers from you and uses them to add a purifying energy to the bullet. It is no regular weapon. Only a miko such as yourself could use it."
"Demo...I'm not a miko."
"Your display earlier proves you otherwise. I've sensed the dormant powers within you as did Kikyo. She had even commented before that she wished to train you when you were older."
Kagome finally nodded and with a last hug, ran for the chopper. Inuyasha climbed in behind her and slid the door closed, jostling her slightly when the aircraft rose before they could get buckled in. Everyone was quiet. Miroku had his eyes closed, his head rested against the leather seat back. Sango also had her eyes closed, but as the chopper rose and turned, switching directions, she fell sideways, her head coming to rest on Miroku's shoulder and staying there as she drifted to sleep.
Kagome on the other hand studied the weapon in her hand, turning it over twice before dropping it into her duffle bag. She was a miko. Well, it would certainly add to her list of career options. Because of their healing abilities, a properly trained miko could enter just about any medical field with little to no trouble. They were skilled in purification and when that training was combined with police training, they were highly sought after recruits into the police force, used in dealings with youkai and hanyou criminals. Still some mikos preferred a more traditional line of work and became employed by shrines all over Japan. Adding the title of miko to her resume would be enough to impress even the stiffest psychological institute and would be a sure fire way to secure her position of choice.
Exhaustion swept over her in an unexpected wave and she put her hand to her mouth to suppress a yawn. "How far is it to the cabin?" She asked of Inuyasha.
Guessing her meaning, he shrugged. "Long enough for you to get a short nap, I suppose."
With a nod she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "Wake me when we get there, 'kay?"
"Feh."
Just after the first chopper had become nothing more than a black dot in the sky a second appeared and landed in its place. The reserved inu youkai breezed out of the retreat's front door followed by a blabbering Jaken and a very silent and yet clearly upset ningen girl. "Dr. Ten'nou, if you would kindly subdue your patient?" Sesshomaru requested with a glance at the girl. She had stumbled upon him in the hall on his way out and had been following at his heels, making slight whimpering noises in the back of her throat since then. At the moment, however, she was glaring at him with a look similar to one he gave his half brother on occasions.
Kaede nodded and wrapped her arms around the child. "Rin has taken quite a liking to you, Mr. Takahashi. When she forms them, her bonds are very strong and she fears loosing those she's bonded too." Her gaze fell to the top of the dark haired head. "But we are working on that, aren't we Rin-chan?" The little girl only whimpered again and reached out a hand to the formidable youkai.
Sesshomaru looked down at her, his thoughts unreadable. Jaken bristled. "Sir, we should get going. The plane will be waiting for us when we get to the airport," he said, sounding stressed. "The longer we stay in Japan the more peril your katanas are in!"
The inu youkai shushed him with a mere kick of his foot, sending the toad youkai flying across the yard to land with a thud just in front of the chopper. His hand raised to the pocket of his suit jacket and lifted a blue and red silk handkerchief which he handed to the girl. The girl grasped onto it with both hands. Her eyes spoke the gratitude her voice could not and he simply nodded, turning his back to her and went to the chopper, leaving Jaken stumbling over sentences trying to figure out the reasoning between his employer's actions.
A young woman with black hair pulled up in a tight bun stood on a tree branch watching the two helicopters descend and leave with the group. She frowned and pulled out a cell phone, dialing as quickly as possible. (A/N: Yep, no Saimyoushou here. These modern day youkai use cell phones!) "Naraku-san, it's Kagura. They've left the retreat. The girl and her friends headed in one direction, the inu youkai and his toad in the other."
"Follow the inu youkai and take his katanas. I'll deal with the girl."
She closed the phone and dropped it back into her pants pocket, taking a feather from her head. As she dropped it, it grew in size and hovered in front of her. Jumping on she guided it so that it followed the second helicopter at a not-so-obvious distance..
Somewhere in the Mountains
Japan
Darkness surrounded her. She was running. A flash of light and she could see blood.
No, but there was darkness again.
She ran faster. A flash of light and she came to a stop. Inuyasha stood several yards ahead of her, his back to her. Then she couldn't see him for a few minutes till another flash of light illuminated the area. Something shot out of the darkness and embedded itself in his heart.
NO!
When the light flashed again he had fallen in a crumpled heap on the ground.
Kagome woke with a start to find her head pillowed on something soft and firm. At some point during the flight she'd slid to the side until her head rested on the hanyou's arm. She sat up and stretched, blushing slightly. "Gomen...I didn't realize..."
"Feh, don't worry about it. We're here."
Sure enough the chopper was descending into a clearing. Miroku and Sango drifted awake slowly and looked around. The inu hanyou led them from the chopper which had landed in a clearing and waited just long enough for them to grab their bags before heading off towards a path through the trees. The piglet waited until they were a safe enough distance away and then lifted back into the air.
They walked single file, Miroku behind Inuyasha to keep him from being tempted to grope the girls rumps, then Sango and Kagome bringing up the rear. Each one kept close watch of their surroundings, wanting to memorize the trail back, just in case, though none thought they might need it. The place was much to secluded to be found.
"Inuyasha? What's that?" To their right and down another little pathway was a small building, looking to be only about two room big. It was done in the traditional Asian style with dark wood planks, black roof with curved edge to it and bright red trim. The tiles of the roof looked to be made out of clay and the front door was painted with bright red lacquer.
"It's a shrine. My great great great great grandfather built it when he built the cabin. It houses part of the remains of the first Inutaishou, my ancestor and the one who ordered that the two fangs be forged."
"Part of his remains? Where's the rest?" Miroku asked curiously.
Inuyasha shrugged. "Somewhere. Probably buried in some old tomb or something, likely to become some archeologists big break. According to Oijii-san, the first Inutaishou was too large to be burned on a funeral pier so they improvised and his skeletal remains were too large to be housed in a family shrine so they improvised and took only a part of it for the shrine. The first shrine was at the family estate, but as time went on and children started arguing over the property and it eventually got should, they had to improvise and transferred the shrine here."
That had piqued Kagome's interest. The skeletal remains were too large to be housed in the shrine? Too large to even been burned? How big was this guy?
"Big." Inuyasha seemed to sense her unspoken question and looked over his shoulder at her. "So large, in fact, that the only remains left in the building was his skull and even that had to be magicked down so that it would fit in the building. It is still rather large though."
"Will you show me later?"
He made a face. That interested her? "Doshite?"
She shrugged. "I'm just curious to know about this larger than life skeleton...and to see if you resemble your oijii-san in anyway." She grinned on the last part while he just glared and turned his back towards her again.
The cabin, it turned out, was a wood slatted structure, the wood stained a dark almost black color. The roof pointed and curved out in a traditional style with black clay tiles, accented with red clay tiles on the edges. The door was heavy wood, painted with bright red lacquer. It was like a larger version of the shrine they had seen some time back. Inside was a different matter. The interior walls were fusama with shoji to separate the rooms from each other. There were really only five rooms it looked like...Kagome only counted five doors including the one they entered through which had opened into a very spacious room, traditional in structure but filled with modern amenities such as a television, a radio, couch and chairs, and writing desk. To their left, tucked in a nook was a stove, sink and refrigerator and an eating area with a low table surrounded by floor cushions. Cabinets held non perishables items and eating utensils, she supposed. In another little nook was situated a washer and dryer. On either side of them were two shoji which opened up into another room which housed another shoji that was slid shut.
"There's two bedrooms and each bedroom has a bathroom. Everything else is in here," Inuyasha explained. He carried the extra bag with their supplies to the kitchen and sat it on the counter.
"Perhaps we should draw straws to see who shares with who?" Miroku suggested. Sango grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be the TV remote, and smacked him on the head.
"The girls will be in one room and we'll be in another." The hanyou left no room for argument. "We'll be in a the room to the left. It's got bunk beds from when Sesshomaru and I had to stay here with our parents. The girls can have the master bedroom to the right. It's only got a single bed, but it's large. That alright?"
Sango nodded. "We've been sharing anyway. No need to complain now...even if Kagome-chan does hog the covers..."
"And far be it from me to say anything about Sango-chan's snoring..." Kagome giggled.
The brown haired girl turned red. "I do not!"
"Sure, whatever you say, Sango-chan."
Western Lands Casino
Morocco
Kagura, dressed in a short red halter dress and red strapped heels approached the front desk of the Western Lands Casino owned by none other than Sesshomaru Takahashi, lord of the Western Lands gambling chain. She smiled sweetly at the receptionist and handed her a small white card. "I'm here to talk to Sesshomaru Takahashi. I heard that he was staying in this casino."
"Mr. Takahashi has requested not to be disturbed by anyone, ma'am," a short blonde man answered looking more than a little nervous. "I'm sorry, you will just have to talk to his secretary and make an appointment."
Kagura resisted the urge to threaten the human. He is only doing his job, no different than you. "I assure you that he will see me. You need only mention the name on the card."
The young man gave the card a wary look and finally shrugged, going off to a back room to buzz the inu youkai. He returned a few minutes later with an even younger young man with dark curly hair. "Ralf will show you to Mr. Takahashi's door. "
The wind youkai gave him a smug I-told-you-so smile and walked off following the curly haired boy to the elevators which lead to the private pent-house suite. "Just knock on the door and Mr. Jaken will let you in. If you need anything just give me a ring, ma'am."
It was unnerving how those humans kept calling her that. Did she really look that old? The woman frowned at that thought. Sure, her appearance was older than her sisters, Varsha and Kanna, but she didn't think that she appeared to be that much older. "Arigatou gozaimazu." When the boy's brow furrowed in confusion she sighed a deep sigh of disgust. The owner of their casino was Japanese, one would think that the employees would be required to be at least bilingual. "Thank you, young man." He nodded, understanding finally, and hurried back to the elevator, leaving her alone in the short entry hall. Society is much to nice these days .It would be so much easier to just unleash my Dance of the Dragon and rip the Tenseiga from his dead fingers, she thought as she lifted one hand to knock on the door.
Before her knuckles could connect with the cream colored wood, however, the door was opened to reveal a very tall, very lean, very handsome white haired man who stared down his nose at her with unrevealing golden eyes. Where was the short little toad that she had seen with Sesshomaru...This was Sesshomaru! She hadn't been able to get a good luck at him until then.
Personally, she liked what she saw.
"Mr. Takahashi, I presume?"
"You are correct." His voice was low and cold. It sent shivers down her spine.
"I was sent by Naraku."
Not even a hint of a flicker of emotion passed his features. "The only reason you were allowed entrance."
She couldn't fight the tug at the corners of her red mouth. "I have not been allowed entrance yet, however. I am, after all, still standing in the hallway. Entrance would entail being invited into your suite."
He stared at her for a long moment, red eyes evened out with golden before he finally stepped back and held the door open farther for her to pass through. He was dressed in tan dress slacks and a white, button up dress shirt. A dark blue tie was tied loosely around his neck and she could see the matching dress coat hung neatly over the back of a desk chair. The interior of the suite was done in mostly creams with golden accents and expensive floral prints on the walls with stone statues for decorations. She could see the toad youkai pouring over what looked to be an accounts ledger. Just one look at the little creatures sheer...ugliness...gave her goose bumps and her red gaze returned to something far more pleasing to the eyes: the inu youkai. "Now, what is it that you want."
This time her smile was full, revealing two fang-like canines. "That, Mr. Takahashi is simple. I want my freedom, however, in order to gain that I must first complete several tasks for Naraku - the first of which happens to be relieving you of the katanas."
Cabin in the Mountains
Japan
"Sango-chan?" Kagome called from the bathroom. She had just come out of the shower to discover that the overnight bag she'd brought with her was not her overnight bag, but belonged to one hentai radiology student. Both bags were small and black and they had been piled on top of each other in the helicopter...
She turned her back to the door and zipped the bag back up so that she could hand it to Sango when she got the friend to take to the boy's room. Because she had called Sango, she didn't think twice when she heard the bathroom door open...that is until she heard a distinctive male voice start apologizing.
"Gomen ne...Honto ni sumimasen...I...you...she..." he stuttered over his words in a most embarrassing manner and quickly stepped out, slamming the door behind him. He stayed at the by the door to apologize, however. "Sango went outside to try and get a signal on her cell phone." Kagome was bright red from her shoulders up as she gripped the blue cotton towel tighter around herself. He was just as flustered as she was, she realized. "I thought you were already dressed...the door wasn't locked."
"It doesn't work!" Kagome exclaimed in self defense although his tone hadn't been accusing at all. "I tried to lock it and the screws fell out of the bolt..." Her voice trailed off and she sighed.
"Well, the place is old. I'll see if I can't fix it when you're done."
She could hear him starting to move around and she bit her lip. "Inuyasha, matte kudasai!" The movements stopped. "I was trying to get Sango to get my bag...I grabbed the wrong one when we got off the helicopter and I brought Miroku's in accidentally...can you get mine out of your room, onegai? All my stuff's in there..." She slid the door open, trying to stay hidden behind it while kicking the overnight bag into the main room. "Just knock first, okay?"
"Fine." Staining her ears she could hear the rustle of fabric that indicated he'd picked up Miroku's bag and stomp off. Minutes later there was a knock and she carefully slid the door open again taking the bag he passed through to her.
"Arigatou, Inuyasha."
Miroku stood at the stove, stirring the contents of a pot which was to be part of their dinner. His grin gave away his thoughts. "Was she as cute undressed as she is dressed."
The hanyou's growl was answer enough for him.
Hilton Hotel
Morocco
"Sesshomaru was quite surprised to find out that he's only in possession of one katana - the Tenseiga." Kagura stood on the balcony of her hotel room in Morocco with a cell phone to her ear. "It was his guess that his hanyou half brother managed to steal the other."
"And he took the payment for the one katana?" The smooth baritone on the other end belonged to none other than her employer.
The wind youkai tensed knowing the quasi hanyou would not appreciate her answer. "Iie. He refused to hand over the Tenseiga. Actually, I think his exact words were somewhere along the lines of having to pry it from his cold, dead fingers."
"Then you will have to resort to other measures, won't you Kagura?" It was not a question. "I want the Tenseiga before Varsha manages to find the little girl and her friends. Once I have all of the items in my possession you and your siblings will be set free, wakarimasu ka?"
"Hai...Wakarimasu."
Cabin in the Woods
Japan
"Well, I'm turning in, Kagome-chan." Sango stretched and yawned as she stood up off the bench that leaned against the house. The two had come outside for some fresh air and to get away from the boys. If they were going to have to spend an extended about of time with the two, they were going to have to be able to get some privacy and some time to themselves.
Kagome nodded. "Oyasumi nasai, Sango-chan. I think I'll stay out here for a bit longer."
"Okay. Oyasumi nasai, Kagome."
Kagome drew her knees up so that her heels rested on the edge of the bench as Sango got up and went in. She didn't know how long she sat there staring out at the stars that twinkled down at them. It wasn't very often she got to see such a sight in Tokyo, not even at the shrine and she enjoyed the peaceful and tranquil feelings that washed over her in the secluded mountain cabin. So engrossed was she in the serene atmosphere that she didn't realize someone else had joined her at first and when she did, she barely acknowledged their presence. "It's beautiful out here, isn't it?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "I guess."
"Why haven't you been out here in so long? I can't believe anyone could stay away from here." She sighed and smiled slightly. There was a long silence and Kagome shrugged, figuring the secretive hanyou wasn't going to respond. "Well, I like it, anyway."
"It's just not a pleasant place for me." His voice was quiet as if it strained him to talk about it. "My parents and I were on our way back from a weekend trip here."
Kagome frowned, her sad blue eyes turning to look at him in understanding. She had decided a long time ago that she was glad her grandfather had invited them to live with him after the incident. If she'd had to grow up in the house where it happened, she wouldn't have been able to deal. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want too."
He shrugged. "It's not like it matters or anything."
She nodded and stood up, looking directly at him. "You can tell me anything you want too, but you don't have to tell me if you don't want too. Just remember that I can understand what it's like and you're not the only one." She gave him a slight smile as she passed him. "Oyasumi nasai, Inuyasha."
"Feh."
The insistent ring of a cellular phone drug Kagome out of her sleep and she groaned, stuffing the pillow over her head while Sango rolled over, searching for the flip phone that was supposed to be on the nightstand.
"Moshi moshi?" There was silence and then a shriek. "Nani!"
"Oi, Sango! I'm trying to sleep!" The raved haired girl groaned lifting the pillow just far enough to glare at her friend.
"Shh, Kagome. What were you saying, Otou-san?" Again silence and then another squeal. "Hai! We'll find a way to Kyoto. Arigatou Otou-san!" The phone clicked shut and Sango bounced off the bed. "Kagome, get up! We have to wake the boys -"
"I think you already did that."
"- my father says that some private investigator friend of his got in touch with another friend who has a friend who knows a guy who's brother is on the Kyoto police force. There was a fire five nights ago at some factory and they found a bunker underneath and guess what was stored there? Go on guess!"
"It's really too early for this..."
"The Haraikotsu!" Sango was already up and running a brush through her hair, getting ready for the day and Kagome was just throwing back the covers and dragging herself out of bed. "Otou-san says that he's got work and can't get away to go to Kyoto to recover the Haraikotsu and he asked that I get it. Do you think I can talk Inuyasha and Miroku into going to Kyoto with us?"
"Can we discuss it at a more decent hour?" Kagome managed a smile when Sango turned her head to glare at her.
A/N: Takahashi Sesshomaru, lord of the Western Lands Casino gambling chain. I couldn't help myself. I had to think of something to call his casino and...well...he is the lord of the Western Lands...
Okay, this chapter is just slow. I know that, you know that. I apologize. I've gotten a bit of writer's block. HELP ME!
Glossary:
Youkai - Daemon
Sayonara - Goodbye
Onegai - Please
Arigatou - Thanks
Gomen ne - I'm sorry
Matte kudasai - Wait a moment
Demo - But
Miko - Priestess
Hanyou - half daemon/half human
Katana - sword
Inu youkai - Dog daemon
Doshite - Why?
Fusama - wall panels
Shoji - sliding wall panel, door
Arigatou gozaimazu - Thank you
Wakarimasu ka - Do you understand?
Wakarimasu - I understand
Oyasumi nasai - Goodnight
Iie - No
Moshi Moshi - A telephone greeting from what I've gathered.
Nani - What
Oi - Hey
Otou-san - Father
Hai - yes
Reviewer Comments:
Agent Doo - ((Hands over prettily wrapped Inu plushie)) Hmmm...is it the cabin from Kagome's dream? ((taps chin thoughtfully)) Oh, I know! Don't you just hate that? Or like when the bad guy comes in and they have a clear shot to the door, to an exit, but they run upstairs instead.
Kirei Kitsune - I wanted to focus a little bit more on the fluffiness and the relationships for the moment since I spent so much of the first part with the action. But the heart pumping gut wrenching action will start again in the very near future. :)
Yashafan1 - Now if they could just get the awkwardness of the relationship out of their situation.
Sara - hmm...more than one night...I suppose since you are so far away and since you don't have a car and you depend on me to keep you entertained with my excellent writing, I suppose I could see what I can do.