Fragmentations of Our Past
Rating: M for everything, adult themes to violence to language.
Disclaimer: Property of Rumiko Takahashi and I do NOT make a profit from it
Note: Special thanks to 1kenshinlover and hasu for being reviewers. Thank you for your words and I hope I can bring ya back for some more…
General:A.) I'm lousy at updating when school is happening cause it just drains me every which way which also means that B.) I pried this chapter out of myself; oh, I hurt…I bled…I cried…but I wrote the bitch. So I hope she is fairly decent. Let me know any terrible parts. Seriously, is this moving too fast too slow...I know I have only hinted at things so far, hopefully this puppy will get moving soon...
Review please!
Act I, Scene III
Kagome sighed softly and closed her eyes, wishing away her barrier. She suddenly felt very, very tired, and older than she had any right to feel. An image of a gap-toothed smile flashed across her mind, and she sighed again.
Sango crept up slowly to where she stood, laying a concerned hand upon her shoulder.
"Are you alright Kagome?" she whispered, glaring towards the now human-looking Sesshomaru standing with his back towards them.
Sesshomaru took it upon himself to answer for her. "The bitch is unharmed." His voice had a visible amount of regret and disgust in it, which meant that he was obviously still quite unsettled if he let that much emotion into his tone.
Kagome winced and moved forward cautiously, reaching into her bodice to pull out a small metal cylinder. Inuyasha had given it to her before they left headquarters, telling her to give it to the demon who was hosting the event, and that it was vital to "wait for theanswer," whatever that meant. She had asked specifically who and what answer should she be waiting for, but Inuyasha had waved her off with a grimace, muttering about a new shipment of blank sutra papers. Kagome gripped the cylinder tightly; she had her orders, and she had to carry them out whether or not Sesshomaru cared for it. Just as she was about to open her mouth, Sango stepped in front of her, gesturing that she would do the talking. Kagome smiled in thanks and held out the cylinder. Sango looked perplexed. It's from Inuyasha, Kagome mouthed. Nodding, Sango took the cylinder from her hand and addressed the tall Taiyoukai.
"Lt. Tanaka Sango, Taijiya, and Deputy Chief Higurashi Kagome, miko. We have been authorized under Title XV to search the premises and all guests for a fragment of Shikon. Any interference with our search will mean arrest and detainment by officers waiting outside." Not missing a beat, Sango thrust forward the metal cylinder, "and Inuyasha sends you this."
Wordlessly, the Taiyoukai turned and removed the cylinder from Sango's hand. He opened the cylinder, removing the sheet of paper within. After scanning its contents, Sesshomaru nodded to several perimeter guards who had stayed nearby in order to assist their employer.
"They will help you." His words were toneless, and Kagome let some of the tension leave her shoulders. Sesshomaru had regained his control. If she was lucky, he could keep it the rest of the night, and wouldn't try to melt her into oblivion. Sango squeezed her shoulder encouragingly, and moved in the directions of the waiting guards. They looked to be a surly bunch, but Kagome knew Sango would bully them into submission.
No one knew demons better than a demon killer.
Kagome waited until Sango and the guards had left, knowing that she was still on thin ice, but she needed an answer for Inuyasha's mysterious question. It was imperative to the success of the entire operation…Kagome stood perfectly still, not wanting to provoke the silver-haired demon. She watched in silence as his eyes scanned his crowd of guests. He was not going to look at her.
After a minute or so had passed, the Taiyoukai sighed and Kagome held her breath.
"Tell the half-breed that…I accept." With that, he turned on his heel and faded into the darkness of the alcove doorway, leaving Kagome to remember how to breathe again. After a minute passed, Kagome followed the steps back down and began to search the guests for the Shikon fragment.
A sharp pain exploded behind her right eye, and Kagome reached out to grasp a chair to keep from falling. Sango, seeing her partner in distress, plucked a glass of champagne from a nearby table. Kagome downed it one gulp. It had been three hours since she and Sango had entered the youkai party. She had stretched her miko capabilities to the limit tonight, and yet not one trace of a Shikon fragment had been detected. Now, she was developing a massive migraine as proof of her exhaustion. Kagome glanced wearily at Sango.
"No luck?" Sango queried.
"None," stated Kagome. Inuyasha had sent them on a wild goose chase, and when they got back to headquarters, she would give him hell for it. Kagome held desperately onto Sango's arm as they moved towards the entrance of the building, trying to hide how badly her head was beginning to spin. When they reached the golden entrance, Kagome extended her powers one final time, hoping to catch some glimmer before they departed. Ignoring the pain that was increasing with each breath she took, Kagome stared at the beautiful crowd, and was startled to find Sesshomaru's amber eyes staring back at her. The rage and promise in his eyes was unmistakable.
Next time she would not be so lucky.
Kagome tried to hold his gaze, to show that she was not afraid, but the same gap-toothed image that haunted her earlier flared up again. Her hand crept up to her bodice where she kept the single lock of hair, carefully wrapped, and felt the guilt of it burn her. She dropped her hand and dropped his gaze. Sango tugged impatiently at her arm, and Kagome turned her back upon the party and its occupants.
When they arrived back at TSTF headquarters, Kagome immeadiately headed towards Inuyasha's office, throwing open the door without so much as a knock in greeting. Inside, Lt. Yamada Miroku and the deep-in-dog-shit-though-he-didn't-know-it Deputy Chief Inuyasha were pouring over a case file.
"YOU BAKA." Kagome didn't even flinch as her dramatic entrance caused a picture frame to slide of the wall and shatter upon the ground. Miroku stood quickly and shut the door behind Kagome. It wouldn't do for the entire department to hear this.
"Feh."
The dismissive word, exposing the side of Inuyasha she liked least, caused Kagome to explode completely.
"Inuyasha, he almost…he almost ripped my head off and melted my bones with his acid… you STUPID BAKA! HE SHIFTED! You KNEW he would be there? Didn't you? DIDN'T YOU!"
Inuyasha's ears flattened against his skull as Kagome paused momentarily, her mind trying to come up with a suitable insult.
"You, you…YOU ARE A BAD DOG!"
From behind the enraged miko, a snicker could be heard coming from the charmingly handsome Miroku, who covered his mouth as another laugh threatened to erupt. He could tell that Kagome was wishing she had never removed the subduing spell, but what was done was done. Now, all she could do was yell, but from the look on Inuyasha's face, it was as good as a 'SIT' anyday…well…almost.
Just then, a timid knock sounded on the door to Inuyasha's office. Miroku hastened to answer it before Kagome could pounce upon the unsuspecting officer who had dared intrude her chewing out of a fellow Deputy Chief. He smiled as the door swung open to reveal a lovely brunette patrolwoman. Batting his eyelashes at her, Miroku felt his hand quiver in anticipation of caressing her beautiful-
"Ahem."
Miroku snapped out of his reverie to notice another beautiful woman behind the first. It was Sango, and she looked pissed. The brunette,whether nervous about being in the presence of so many of her superiors or sensing the imminent danger her beautiful 'person' was in, stammered out her missive.
"Orders from Chief Takahashi. He's requested a meeting of the senior staff." Sango thanked the young officer politely and handed her a stack of paperwork. The brunette headed off quickly seemingly thankful that she had escaped from the fury and tension palpable on that side of the building.
"Miroku…" Sango began warningly, "one of these days you'll get arrested for your wandering hands."
"But Sango," Miroku interjected, "only my eyes wandered that time." He batted his eyelashes again.
Sango snorted in response, shoved the rest of her paperwork into the monk's arms, and turned her attentions to the furious battle that had resumed once the door shut.
"-That CANNOT be permitted to happen again. HE WILL do it Inuyasha. Laws or no laws. He won't be stopped." Kagome paused to underscore her final comment, "He will kill me."
Inuyasha jumped to his feet, slamming his crimson desk chair into the wall.
"No he won't; I won't-"
"Yes, yes, yes, Inuyasha. You'll protect me. You've said that a thousand times…but guess what? YOU are not my partner. Sango is my partner. That means it is Sango's job to protect me. So next time you take it in your head to not fully inform me about an assignment, you can explain to her why she will suddenly find herself battling the most powerful youkai in centuries for my life. We're not in the feudal era anymore!"
The implications of her words hung in the air as Kagome reminded herself that Inuyasha was not in the feudal ear anymore, because she had caused it to be so. If she was to be angry, she should be angry at herself as well
He didn't belong…none of them did.
The three friends watched as the fire left the miko's eyes to be replaced by something that looked suspiciously like tears.
"Just don't do it again Inuyasha." With that, she headed out the door towards the staff meeting, Sango in hot pursuit.
Inuyasha ran a clawed hand through his unruly silver hair.
"Watch your Form Inuyasha," Miroku warned.
Inuyasha glanced down, muttered a 'feh', and the claws vanished. Then, he headed out the door after the two women, leaving Miroku to wonder why the always volatile Inuyasha was being so quiet all of a sudden. He had barely even interrupted Kagome.
This did not bode well for the staff meeting. This did not bode well at all.
The monk uttered a brief prayer to the kami before following the other three senior officers to meet with their boss.
Till then,
Aidyn
So the next chapter should explain the structure of the TSTF and some of why Kagome had to bring all her friends to the future. I hope it's easier to write than this one cause...that was REALLY HARD, but I did push through. Please oh please lemme know what you think. Now, I've gotta try to work on my other story...I have a feeling that one is gonna be an even bigger pain in the ass...ARGH! Wish me luck!