Author's Note: Whew, it's been a while, eh? I'm really sorry to have left you with a cliffie for three weeks, but this past week turned out to be a busy one too (it kind of snuck up on me…). My show went very well, for those who care, and I've been auditioning for more (already), plus I survived the AP test (it really sucked though). Anyway, there's like less than a month until summer, so I just have to keep going until then, when I can devote more time to writing (I hope)!
Oh by the way, thanks to all of you darling readers out there I broke 100 reviews! Score! Seriously, I got about 20 reviews just in the first day after posting, which is really awesome. I don't think I've ever gotten this many for a single chapter before. I feel so loved!
Soul of Kagome: You're amazing! You've been my first reviewer for like three chapters, and within about an hour of my posting, before the change even shows up on my bio page. And about Kouga, well, what can I say, he's a necessary evil in this case (I totally agree with you though – I cringed as I wrote it). Love ya!
Code Name: Anrui Yuy: 'Oh shit' is right…in fact I've nicknamed little parts like the end of the last chapter where everything's about to fall apart 'Oh shit' moments.
WindSprite: Yeah, I recognize your name so I'm pretty sure you've reviewed me at some point. Glad you like the story so much though! I love historical fiction too (obviously).
Fallen-Snow: I'm not dead! You knew that already though from Alter Ego. Oh, and I'll email you about Life Exchange if/when I get a chance (at some point here…). Also, you'll be happy to hear that this chapter is longer than the last one!
Tenken no Miko: Don't worry, I don't mind the rant, but I'm afraid I'm a bit of a Kikyo hater -- mainly because she gets in the way all the time, but also because it's just so much fun to write her as evil. I do agree, however, that she's anything but air-headed (although Rosefyre's somewhat air-headed Kikyo in 28 Days is hysterical). Anyway, glad my Kag and Kik don't annoy you – that's always a good sign! And don't worry, I know exactly where I'm going…you'll just have to wait and find out…
Mini Nicka: You're my 100th reviewer! Yay! Keep reading, it gets better…
Crystal Music: I love Midsummer Night's Dream! What part did you play? I hope it went well.
Peanut Gallery – Alaska's Own: Nope, it wasn't actually him growling, just Kag's mind playing tricks on her. That would be bad, wouldn't it?
By the way, it sounds like most of you saw the ending of the last chapter coming around the time Kouga mentioned the surprise, which is about when I intended, so that's good. I was mainly afraid that it would be obvious from the time he left or something. Anyway, love you all, and please, enjoy!
Missing in ActionChapter 10: Betrayal
In the early hours of the morning, just as dawn was beginning to break, Teiresias sat at the old, oak desk in his small, cozy little study with a book open before him. The young couple was sound asleep in the next room, but he kept an ear out for them in case they awoke. It wouldn't do to have them discover him at his work.
The candle cast a flickering light across the pages as he turned them silently, scanning for the particular code he required. The book was actually a copy of The Iliad, however it had been specially printed such that interspersed throughout the narrative were keys to some of the standard Gestapo codes.
Book eighteen, The Immortal Shield, it read; that was the one. And sure enough, just a few pages in he found the cipher he was looking for.
Taking a fresh sheet of paper before him, he began composing a message, translating as he wrote:
Major Hochstetter, Gestapo Headquarters,
I have two of them in my care at the moment, and they are out from under the eyes of Kouga's men. They suspect nothing, so with a little time I should have no trouble gaining their confidence and drawing information out of them without formal interrogation. Therefore I request that you do not interfere with my proceedings; I will deliver them to you when I can do no more with them myself.
Heil Hitler,
Teiresias
With that done he folded the letter in half and placed it inside the book just as the sounds of stirring drifted in from the next room. He'd have to wait until later on in the day for an opportunity to send it on its way, so he carefully replaced the book on one of the makeshift shelves he had built, which were now more than filled such that a great many of his books were stacked on the floor about the room.
-- -- --
He blinked a couple of times trying to clear his vision, but the room itself was so cold and dark that it hardly seemed to make a difference whether his eyes were open or closed. He was lying on what felt like a bare sort of cot, and reaching out beside him he could feel the hard, cold surface of stone that made up the wall.
Using his arms to support him he pushed himself into a sitting position, pausing with a wince and a moan as a dull ache lanced through his skull. How the hell did he get here? The last thing he remembered he'd been walking through the woods, headed away from the village...away from Kagome. Then it came back to him; somewhere along the way he'd been attacked and hit over the head with what felt like a sledgehammer. Well, that would explain the headache, anyway...
The sound of footsteps, at least two sets, echoed in the hallway, coming closer and closer to where he sat. There were muffled voices beyond the wall, and Inuyasha's eyes narrowed in curiosity. Just then, with the sound of scraping metal, a latch was pulled back and the door to the cell creaked open.
For a moment Inuyasha blinked against the flood of yellow light streaming into his dark sanctuary, but as his eyes adjusted he saw the silhouette of a female figure in the doorway. He peered out at her suspiciously, and when she shifted into the room and flicked a switch, the light from a bare bulb on the ceiling illuminated her features. Stunned recognition and confusion sparked within him at the sight of the one woman he'd thought he'd never see again, quickly followed by a feeling of dread as she was followed into the room by a man in a crisp, grey uniform. He knew those colors all too well.
His eyes took in the officer, who was standing beside her with a possessive arm around her waist, and then slipped back to her face with a cold accusation in their golden depths. She had looked surprised for a fleeting moment but now her expression was closed and distant, making him wonder if he might only have imagined the initial reaction. He watched in growing dismay as she turned to the wolf-demon with a tender smile that wrenched at his heart.
"You've caught him! Oh how wonderful for you, darling! Now you can finally get some rest," she chided him sweetly, sounding quite unlike the woman Inuyasha had come to know -- and that only angered him further. She traced little figure eights on the man's chest affectionately and the hanyou had to suppress a growl. "I worry about you so when you get over-stressed."
"I knew you'd be pleased," he murmured and captured her lips in a kiss that made Inuyasha want to jump up and tear the man to shreds, consequences be damned. And he probably would have at that, if it hadn't been for the fact that Kagome was responding to him willingly. The sharp knife of betrayal wrenched in his gut and he was rendered speechless, motionless, as though all his anger and conviction were being sapped from him by her very presence, leaving him hollow and empty.
Releasing Kagome, Kouga spoke to the guards, who stood patiently at attention just within the door. "Keep watch; I'll discuss what to do with him with the General -- someone will be down to interrogate him before long, I should think." With that the couple swept out the door without so much as a backward glance, and Inuyasha found himself once more alone.
His voice was thick with pain and anger as he whispered into the emptiness, "Kagome..."
As the flood of mixed emotions that had assailed him upon her arrival ebbed, a cool reason took its place and he began to fully comprehend his situation. Not only had she lead him on, making him believe that she might care for him and getting him to lower his guard, but the moment he trusted her, confided in her, she turned around and stabbed him in the back. Kagome, his Kagome, had handed him over to the enemy the second she found out who he really was. Handed him over to that wolf-demon...her lover...That lying, scheming, double-crossing little whore...
His jaw clenched at the thought and his ire began to rise once more. But this time it wasn't directed at the wolf-demon; instead it was focused fully on Kagome, the second woman he had ever truly trusted, and the second to betray that trust.
Pushing himself to his feet, he began to pace the width of the small room like a caged tiger, his clawed hands flexing with the urge to inflict violence upon something, anything, to relieve the rage within him. Finally it reached a boiling point and he grabbed hold of the cot he had been sitting on and hurled it into the wall with a painful, primal roar, filled to the brim with fury and frustration. "Kagomeeeeee!" he cried in irate anguish, so loudly that it seemed the sound would forever echo off the stone walls and passages of the dungeons.
-- -- --
There was a small, white statuette made of flat-glazed porcelain that sat upon one of the antique tables near the door of the parlor, and it was one of the few pieces in Kouga's collection that Kagome actually liked, though she was never sure exactly why. It was of an elegantly slender and beautiful woman, arms crossed modestly over her chest, glancing back over her right shoulder with her long hair cascading to her waist in graceful waves. For some unknown reason something about that statue had always intrigued her, and she often found herself gazing at it, trying to contemplate the secretive yet deeply despairing, longing expression on the woman's face.
Today, once again, she was looking into the woman's face and saw reflected there the very image of the turmoil in her own heart. Inuyasha was here; Kouga had caught him. She'd known it was bound to happen, and yet as long as he remained free there had been a chance that he would make it home safe, without ever having to be mixed up in the web of lies she had woven to protect herself, to serve the cause. Now he was caught in it as well, even if he didn't know it yet.
If only she could get to him and explain everything, maybe he could forgive her. She wanted more than ever to make him understand, for the look of utter betrayal she had seen in his golden eyes had been like a knife to her own heart. She couldn't let him go on believing that she had trapped him, but first and foremost she had to maintain the illusion for Kouga, as much as it killed her to do it. But how could she reach him? How could she tell him the truth without being caught in her own web?
There was a very faint, far off sound, like an indistinct cry that she couldn't quite make out, but it seemed to be coming from far below the floor -- from the dungeons. Inuyasha... she thought miserably.
"Kagome," Kouga's voice snapped her back to reality as he entered the parlor, closely followed by Naraku, "You remember the General."
"Yes, of course," she replied with a smile and a polite nod in the direction of the man in question.
"My dear, the General and I have some business to attend to, so if you would excuse us please...?" he indicated the door and she caught his meaning immediately.
"Oh yes, of course, I'll just leave you to it then." Just as she was on her way out a thought occurred to her, and she paused, turning back to Kouga and trying to sound off-hand. "Say, would it be alright if I went and spoke to the prisoner a bit further? He fascinates me so, and who knows, perhaps I can get a bit of information from him for you."
Kouga raised an eyebrow at that, and she trailed a reassuring hand lovingly down his arm, subtly coaxing him into agreement. "Oh come know, don't tell me you're jealous. You know there's only one man for me. Please?" she pouted cutely and he gave in right on cue.
"Alright, but just for a little while. And call the guards if he starts to get fresh," he added in a half-growl.
"Thank you darling," she said with a bright smile and a peck on the cheek before turning to leave once again. Unfortunately she'd misjudged her position and accidentally bumped into the table behind her, sending the small porcelain statue crashing to the floor.
She gasped as the figure shattered into a million pieces at her feet, and quickly knelt to begin collecting them. "Oh no... Oh Kouga, I'm so sorry, it was an accident!" she said frantically.
"It's alright sweetheart, don't worry about it," he said soothingly, crouching down just behind her, and she glanced back at him with troubled eyes.
"But it was a priceless piece of art, wasn't it? And it was one of your favorites!"
"Ah, well, it's not that important really. I can easily find another equally lovely piece to replace it."
"Are you sure? You're not angry?" she asked.
"I'm sure, really," he replied with a reassuring smile that somehow vaguely seemed to her to serve the opposite of it's intent.
She breathed a sigh of relief nonetheless, and allowed him to help her to her feet, a small piece of the broken statue still clutched in her hand. "Thank you, for not being angry. I'm so sorry."
"Don't give it another thought. Now run along, the maid will clean up the rest."
With a nod she did as he bade, careful to watch her step this time. Once out in the entrance hall she noticed the porcelain shard that remained in her hand. It was a piece of the woman's head, with half of that beautiful, mysterious face missing. One haunting eye gazed back at her, as though seeing into her very soul, and she slowed to a stop, nearly entranced. A cold shiver ran down her spine before she recalled her original intent. Dread mingled with hope in anticipation of her encounter with Inuyasha, and she pocketed the statue shard as she headed toward the stairs that led down to the dungeons.
-- -- --
"Kouga sent me," Kagome explained to the guard before the heavy, metal door in the dim passageway. "He said it would be alright if I came down to talk with the prisoner a bit, see if I can draw any information from him while they're deciding what should be done."
The man gave her a patronizing smile that almost bordered on lewdness -- came with the territory of being the colonel's mistress -- and an overly polite nod. "Of course, Miss Kagome. Go right ahead." He unlocked the door with a series of clanking sounds and a jingle of keys before pushing it aside and bowing her past mockingly.
She was quite used to such treatment and frankly she had more important things to attend to than this man's attitude, so she ignored it and simply turned to him saying, "Oh, and would you please stand at the end of the hall while I'm in here. Kouga's orders, due to the sensitive nature of the information we might be dealing with -- you understand."
"I'm afraid I'm under direct orders to stay right here and see that the prisoner is secure," he replied, sounding somewhat irked at the idea of taking orders from Kouga's woman.
But she didn't back down. "You needn't be that far away. He'd still have to get past you, unless you think he's capable of digging through stone walls, but in that case the room itself wouldn't be secure, now would it?"
He narrowed his eyes and sneered, but said, "Very well, Miss Kagome," as if to reemphasize her lack of rank, before heading off down the hall.
Finally she entered the room fully, closing the door behind her and turning to Inuyasha with some trepidation. She found him sitting on the cot (which had been righted once again) with his back to the wall, one arm propped up on his knee and his head bowed so that the thick, snowy bangs hid his eyes in shadow.
"Inuyasha," she said in a voice so small it was almost a whisper. He made no indication that he was even aware of her presence. "Inuyasha," she tried again, almost pleadingly, as pain and a strange sort of fear slipped into her voice, yet again there was no response. Summoning her courage she crossed and took a seat before him on the cot. "Inuyasha, please speak to me..."
At last he raised his head slowly, and the look of utter hatred in his eyes gave new focus to her fear. It wasn't that she was afraid he would hurt her -- in fact a part of her even thought that would be better -- but that he could look on her with such spite, such...betrayal. She couldn't speak, couldn't break the silent hold of those beautiful amber eyes fixed upon her in disgust.
"I have nothing to say to you," he said coldly, with an icy calm that was terribly unlike him. Yet she could sense that it was a mere cover for the rage that boiled beneath the surface.
"Then at least let me explain, please, Inuyasha," she begged in a whisper.
"It's not as if I can stop you, is it? I'm your prisoner here, so go on, explain yourself," he spat, the cool facade quickly deteriorating as he shoved off the cot and began to pace, "Explain why you betrayed me to the Nazi's, for god's sake, the people who are destroying your homeland as we speak. Explain why you led me to believe you gave a damn about me and then let me walk right into a trap! Explain why you let me kiss you when you've been fucking that Nazi for god knows how long! Explain that!" By the end of the speech he was half shouting, half growling, and his eyes were blazing with temper.
She leapt up and grabbed at his arm but he shook her off. "Please, Inuyasha, I swear, I didn't betray you, at least not in the way you think-"
He interrupted her. "I suppose you think it's fun, eh? Seducing passing soldiers, playing them like fools for your own amusement and then feeding them to the wolf when the time is right! Was I enough of a fool for you Kagome? Was it fun to watch me run around in circles trying to figure you out? How many guys fell for that story about Hojo, huh?!"
There was a ringing 'smack' as Kagome slapped him across the face and he caught her wrist and growled at her, but she refused to be intimidated. "Don't you dare throw that in my face," she warned with a glare. "I didn't lie to you, Inuyasha, and I never intended for this to happen, I swear. I do care for you, honestly, and I never told Kouga about you. I should have told you to leave weeks ago, but I didn't want...I couldn't stand the thought of never seeing you again..."
"Nice try," he said, releasing her wrist with a shove. "You must really think I'm an idiot. You think I'll fall for the same trick twice? I suppose this time I'm supposed to confide in you all my great military secrets, right? Then you promise you'll get me out of here and go running back to the wolf while I pine away down here. Sorry bitch, I don't think so," he scoffed, turning away.
"No, Inuyasha, you don't understand." she put a hand on his shoulder but he shrugged her off again. "Inuyasha," she said firmly, "Look at me, alright? Just let me explain."
Reluctantly he turned to face her, arms folded in a closed position. It wasn't perfect but it was the best she was going to get. Taking a deep breath she began speaking, quietly so as not to be overheard. "I'm in the French Resistance." His eyes narrowed skeptically, but she pressed on. "So are Miroku and Sango. We...we gather and pass on German secrets to the allies through a spy network. That's why I'm with Kouga -- he's my source, nothing more, though he doesn't know anything about it of course. Inuyasha," she took a step toward him, and he didn't back away, which she took as a sign that he was considering her, "I wanted to tell you the truth, I swear, but I just couldn't. Not only would it have put our lives and our work in danger, but your life as well. I knew all along that Kouga was looking for a downed pilot, but I never realized it was you until you told me, and by then it was too late. If you'd stayed..." she trailed off, unable to put her confused thoughts and feelings into words.
But his voice was softer, less harsh when he spoke. "What? What if I had stayed?"
She swallowed, looking away. "I...Kouga suspected me already, and if you'd stayed I would have been...distracted. The only way I could keep it together was if you weren't there, and if you had stayed and I failed, eventually you would have been caught along with us anyway. I knew they would catch you...I just never thought it would be so soon. I hoped they wouldn't..."
"Kagome," he began, and she looked up with hope at the tone of his voice. "I believe you," he murmured.
Those three words were more glorious to her ears than any other's she could imagine. A smile spread across her face and she breathed a sigh of relief moving to throw her arms around his neck and press her lips to his, but the happiness melted from her body when he didn't kiss her back, only pulled away with a shake of his head. "No," he said simply, and turned away again, leaving her to stare helplessly at his back.
"Inuyasha...?" she questioned weakly. "I thought...I thought you said you believed me..."
"I do."
"Are you still angry with me?" she asked quietly.
"No."
"Then why...?"
"I don't know..." he replied, trying to reason for himself why exactly he was pushing her away.
A silence fell between them, and Kagome's gaze lowered to the floor. He was right to stop her; she knew it. Nothing had changed from before; she still had a job to do and he was still a prisoner; that was that. There could be no happy ending in all of this, from where they now stood -- only the best of a bad situation.
Tears threatened to spill, but she blinked them back. Slowly she approached him once more. "At least...kiss me once Inuyasha...please..." she whispered.
The sound of sadness in her voice broke his will and he gave in to her request. He took her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers, deepening the kiss when her arms wound around his neck. He tasted her hungrily, the way he'd always wanted to, and his mind began to muddle. He nearly forgot what it was they had been arguing about, so surrounded by her was he -- her scent, her flavor, her spirit.
But the real world came crashing down upon them when a voice from behind Kagome spoke up sharply. "I knew you couldn't be trusted, you backstabbing little whore."
They broke the kiss abruptly and Kagome whirled around to see none other than Kouga standing in the doorway.
-- -- --
A/N: Well, what'cha think? I'll do my best to update in a timely fashion this time, but you know how it is. Anyway, review please – it's the highlight of my day!
P.S. Not that anyone really cares (except obsessive compulsive little me, that is) but in the notes at the end of chapter 4 I said that the line "Search your feelings; you know it to be true," came from Return of the Jedi. Well, I was wrong; it's from The Empire Strikes Back. Vader says it to Luke during the scene where he cuts off his hand and tells him he's his father (like I said, not that anyone cares). Ahh, now I feel better…