A.N. Okay this is late only because my computer decided it would save documents... without the words. So I wrote up everything only to have it erased. Instead though of trying to recreate the chapters I went to sleep. But can you blame a girl?
I know I don't say this often, but thank you all so much for the reviews! I love you all!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, I am merely borrowing the characters. I do however own the Shi no Kirei which will be explained next chapter.
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I also have a yahoo mailing list is anyone's interested PM me!
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Delightfully Disastrous
Chapter 20
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The sky, with each and every passing moment, was becoming lighter and lighter by a mili-shade. It would be awhile before sun rise.
But by that time some if not all of them would be dead.
Sesshoumaru glanced around his debris ridden front yard.
The fact that his house was basically decapitate meant nothing to him. He had all the money in the world to rebuild or if he wanted simply pack up everything and one of his other homes.
But he had lost something that was not buyable, and every second they wasted the more there was a chance of his never being able to get it back again.
His amber eyes scanned the grounds for the car.
There.
Mirouku had simply chosen a large van. The back doors were wide open and coolers were being placed inside.
He closed his eyes, red threatening to over take amber. Replaying of the scream he knew she would have let out once she woke up.
The taste of her fear was already on his tongue.
How is it that he allowed this to happen?
A dull sting pricked his cheek in remembrance of Sango's little stand. He suddenly stiffened a bit.
He had to stop this. It was pathetic.
There was no use in living in the past. Thoughts needed to be on the present.
Sesshoumaru scanned the group once more.
This certainly would not do.
Three exhausted humans, a hanyou, and himself. If did not keep up to par there would definitely be no hope for them.
Inuyasha could not handle everything.
He rubbed his forehead, as Inuyasha came forward, "Oi... You okay, Sesshoumaru?"
A wry chuckle escaped his lips, "Far from."
No use lying, now was there?
Inuyasha looked as if he wanted to say something, but Sesshoumaru suddenly tensed. He indiscreetly sniffed the air, and frowned. This was no good!
"Just what we need."
A white jeep pulled into the driveway, and as soon as it stopped, a scowling, and slightly scuffed up Kouga hopped out.
He wore simply a pair of loose black pants and a sweatband to keep his hair out of his eyes, and a gray singlet.
He walked over to the group with a noticeable limp.
The driver's side was flung open and Ayame exited the car. She was fully dressed in a turquoise skort and a white tank top. A button up sweater was loosely adorned and was sliding off her shoulders.
She lost her annoyed expression as soon as she looked around, "Oh my...W-what the hell happened?"
Her eyes were wide as she stared in horror at the villa.
Black smoke curled from random areas in the villa, and the crackling of breaking wood sounded out from somewhere inside.
Ayame put a hand over her mouth in shock.
Kouga scanned the group somewhat pale, "Where's Kagome? Did she go home already?"
Sango winced and turned away hiding refuge away in the car. Mirouku followed her.
Kikyou shook her head sadly, "No." Inuyasha stayed close to her in case she needed him to be a shoulder to cry on.
Kouga looked desperate as he started to sniff around, "Then where is she!"
Ayame hid her hurt expression. Was that all he ever thought of? Granted it was the wrong time for jealousy, she couldn't help it. Kouga was hers...
But the villa could have crashed down over his head, and he still would be searching for the raven haired girl.
Sesshoumaru looked past him to some point beyond the mangled gates.
News cars were speeding their way towards the villa, and sirens screeched their familiar blare in a warning song.
His eyes refocused on the van, "Get in, and everything will be explained. We have to go. Now."
After saying that, both he and Inuyasha with Kikyou soundlessly got in the car.
Seeing as the van was designed to have only the first two seats and then the hollow inside, for comfort's purpose, Sesshoumaru had placed two cushioned benches parallel to each other, as a just incase thing for if he had to fit multiple people in the car.
Mirouku and Sango and Ayame took to one bench while Kouga, Inuyasha and Kikyou filed onto the other.
The coolers and containers were placed in the back, but the Shikkon no Tama was in the front with Sesshoumaru in a very small case.
The first ten minutes were spent eating and questioning—the latter which was mostly done by Kouga.
Mirouku had first asked why the two were out at the time. It wasn't exactly a sane hour to be up at.
Kouga had simply shrugged.
"I couldn't sleep. So I did what I always do, when I get hit with insomnia. I ran."
And (though he didn't get farther than a lap) run he did.
Right into Ayame...
Literally.
Her car had the dent to prove it.
Many of the students lived in a small cul de sac the school bought for any students that went there, to reside (as long as they met the monthly quota).
Ayame had also had a similar story of not being able to sleep, however, instead of running, she drove.
And (though she didn't get further than her driveway) drive she did.
Right into Kouga.
Literally.
His ribs had the dent to prove it.
So as an apology, she drove him up to the villa, rather reluctantly. He said he needed to talk to Kagome before she left for home (further inquiry on his part had gifted him with information of her grandfather) It was late... or early-which ever way anyone wanted to look at it, but he seemed completely certain that he could get into the villa and to his current infatuation.
But Ayame was sure he wouldn't have made it after flying about two feet in the air. And there definitely was no way she would let him walk a thirty minute drive.
So after that little tale, the more private things left unsaid, leaving simply two stories of insomnia, running/driving into each other (not literally they stressed), Ayame offering him a ride, getting there, the holy shit moment, and the present: so now what happened to the villa?
Which led Mirouku to have to explain the past, and present that brought them all to the point at which they were.
Kouga had taken everything in strides.
His face was still slightly tinged with red, but that was all residing. The good thing was, however, that he started breathing again.
(Tsuki)
Kagome shivered a bit, and curled into a ball. It was getting a bit colder. "Why do you think we're here?"
Her voice seemed to echo off the mold covered walls.
Kagura was beside her in with her legs crossed and her hands idly twirling her frayed lavender kimono.
Naraku had made her reconstruct their old garbs as she had done for Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha.
It was to help further 'bring back old times.'
Kagura shuddered. Finally after a moment, she remembered that Kagome had asked a question. She shrugged, "I don't know..." She did know, but there was no need to scare the poor girl.
They had spent the last twenty or so minutes talking. Kagura, herself had asked several questions about her, about Sesshoumaru, and everyone else at the villa.
This next one was the last she needed, "Do you think Sesshoumaru will come for you?"
Hesitation.
She hesitated but then she smiled as brightly as if she were told she had won a million dollars, "Yes. Yes I do."
And then Kagura realized just how human she actually was.
In youkai society, she was the lowest considered beings. Not just because of her ties to Naraku, but because of her unorthodox birth.
But even if she was spawned in such an unheard of way, she had a beating heart. Somewhere.
And she felt.
She suddenly gave an inward snort.
'I need sleep. I'm talking as if I were some romanticizing twit. I am an incarnate, nothing more. We live only to do as our master pleases.'
She lowered her eyes to the floor in defeat. There was no other way.
Juromaru entered the cell, Kanna at his side. Neither said a word to either girl. Kanna moved to the far side of the cell and Juromaru looked at his sister, "Naraku wishes to see you."
Kagome shuddered at the name, and wearily eyed Kanna, as she took watch over the girl.
Kanna looked at her, "I am...sorry."
Kagome gasped.
Why was she apologizing?
She almost sweat dropped, yeah, she was in cahoots with the people who had kidnapped her, but it wasn't everyday that your abductor apologized for it.
She voiced her question, "But why?"
Kanna's hollow eyes looked into her, "...It is not by choice that any of us do this..." Kagome weakly frowned.
"Those two at the house I don't think minded too much!"
She referenced to Hakadoushi and Kageromaru.
Kanna closed her eyes for a bit, "...I exclude them from my generalization... They are different cases."
"How so?"
Kanna did not answer. She merely turned her eyes away from her to her mirror, "... You would not understand... "
Kagome decided to trust her on that.
There was really a lot she had no idea of.
Who exactly was Naraku?
Who exactly were these ...people?
Why was she here?
Only the first two had been answered, but vaguely, and by Kagura. Kagome felt a little hurt. If Kagura knew all this, and she was simply dragged in the situation that night, then everyone else knew.
But they just hadn't trusted her enough to tell her anything.
She sighed, leaning back.
Nice thing to know.
Why was she feeling so depressed?
Other than the fact that she was in a cell and she knew little to nothing as to why.
Kanna moved in front of her, "...What is freedom like?.."
Kagome's eyes swiveled quickly to the incarnate's. So fast in fact her eyes nearly got whiplash.
"Excuse me?"
Kanna looked as if she were in fact as seven years old as her body looked.
"...What is it like to be free?..."
Kagome was to give some snide answer, but the look on Kanna's face told her just how serious, she was.
Freedom was choice, life, love...
Freedom was basically in everything she did.
"It's ...wonderful." Kanna looked suddenly fearful, "If ...there came a chance to help us...would you take it?..."
Kagome looked at the pleading in her eyes then smiled, "In a heartbeat."
(Tsuki)
Everyone was basically asleep or bordering on unconsciousness, save for Kouga, Inuyasha, and the designated driver.
Ayame was nodding off on her side of the benches, much to Inuyasha's incredibility. She was just seething at the villa.
Kouga had nonchalantly shrugged and said that she was out light a light any time she was being driven. It took but five minutes and she was out.
The only time she didn't sleep in a car was when she was driving. But she was pretty close then too.
And that was really the last time anyone every spoke in the car, but the strain was still very alive and well.
Every now and then, there would be a spike in tension.
Kouga suddenly leaned back and smirked. His arms crossed and his eyes closed, "So pretty boy... I'm guessing you have a wittle crush on my Kagome, eh?"
Inuyasha blushed.
Damn his inability to sleep!
Damn it to hell!
Why did they have to have that talk right now?
While he was still conscious, too.
Sesshoumaru's hands tightened around the steering wheel. He met Kouga's gaze head on, "So?"
Inuyasha's blush rose a little higher.
His smirk faltered a bit.
"So you like her, huh?"
And his blush crept ever higher.
"Yes"
Higher...
The smirk came back, albeit a bit colder. "Then how is that you let her fall into the hands of this Naraku person?"
And the embarrassment made way to anger.
It was a wonder that Kouga had not died right there and then for all the rage pouring out from every single pore of his being at that moment.
Before Sesshoumaru could even get out his own threat, Inuyasha stepped up.
"Look you fucking disgrace for a youkai, back the fuck off and leave my brother alone! It's true he can be so fucking stupid at times but he's a lot more of a fucking man than you are. I don't see Kagome any fucking safer in your arms, buddy. And it wasn't even his fucking fault! You weren't even fucking there! You don't fucking reek of blood and demon shit, and fucking will for weeks! So I don't even want to hear another fucking word come out of your mouth or I'll fucking cut it off, with my own two fucking hands. Dipshit."
For the first time in a decade, Inuyasha had left his brother absolutely speechless.
'His vocabulary is horrendous...I knew it was bad, but...' he shuddered. 'He must have used the word fuck at least a dozen times...'
Kouga himself was also speechless.
He blinked at the seething hanyou.
'So maybe I shouldn't mess with the prick while his brother's around...' He swallowed at the burning rage in Inuyasha's eyes. 'Sounds like a very good idea.'
(Tsuki)
"Sess? Do...do you think we'll get Kagome back?"
Inuyasha felt like so childish at that moment. Like a boy would had lost his favorite toy in the mall.
But he just felt so guilty. There was a chance that he would never see Kagome again.
Sesshoumaru looked up from the jewel, his eyes holding uncertainty.
Then there was hesitation.
Pure, unbridled hesitation from the taiyoukai who never second guessed anything and always knew what to do.
And then his face steeled and confidence seemed to emit from every pore. His trademark cockiness returned with vigor, "I do."
And then both packaged the jewel, and a few surprises to go with it.
If they went out, they would go out with a bang.
(Tsuki)
Kouga dosed off first, and Inuyasha followed. That was a long time ago. They'd be there soon. The sky was still murky and dismal, but it seemed to be clearing, but control always seemed to be fluctuating.
An omen maybe?
He snorted.
Hardly.
It was almost the designated time. Sesshoumaru stepped on the gas. He was never one to be late, and there was no reason to mar his immaculate record, so why start now.
They had made several stops at gas stations to ask for directions and to make rest stops, so that ate up time, unbelievably.
In ten minutes they'd get there, but they had an extra few minutes before then to get their bearings after the long car trip.
He stopped the car for a moment.
"Inuyasha."
His half brother was the closest to his seat. He stirred easily, having been in a light sleep. That was one thing he had to credit his sibling for. He knew what an important situation called for—to be on his feet.
Inuyasha rubbed his eyes, looking evermore the part of a puppy. "Hn?"
Sesshoumaru kept his eyes ahead on the dark shrouded night. The streets were deserted and run down, and in the horizon, there was a menacing looking dilapidated castle. "We will arrive at Naraku's in several minutes. Wake up the others."
Inuyasha bolted awake and his sharp movements woke Kikyou, she glanced around sleepily and yawned out, a little frightened, "Inuyasha?"
It was extremely dark in the car.
Inuyasha tightened his arm around his girlfriend, "I'm right here..." He woke up everyone else as asked his arm never leaving Kikyou's person. Kouga groaned, "Oi... What's the deal?"
Inuyasha looked at him grimly, "Were almost there." That seemed to stir up everyone in the back. Sesshoumaru allowed them a moment to get their standing before commanding, "Mirouku... bring out a flashlight."
The manager paused a moment, his was mind still fogged with the cobwebs of sleep, then dug under his bench and produced the source of light. He found it quickly.
After turning it on, he flashed it around the interior of the van, carefully as to not temporarily blind anyone. "What's the plan, Sesshoumaru?" The before mentioned, smirked and opened the box in the front.
"The Shi no Kirei. The Death of Beauty, named by my father, since it was he who used centuries ago to trick territorial enemies."
Sango looked it up and down, "Sesshoumaru no offense, but it's definitely no bigger than the palm pf my hand. What exactly are you planning to do with it? Throw it at Naraku and make a grab for Kagome while he's rubbing his bruise?"
Sesshoumaru snorted, "Wonderful to see that my employees seem to belittle my intelligence."
Mirouku flashed the light over to the box, "Well I don't blame her... what exactly are you planning to with it?"
Inuyasha smiled toothily, "Well in this case we've used it for storage."
(Tsuki)
Okay so I lied. Not intentionally of course, but I did. There will be one extra chapter. An Epilogue. You may now go crazy...
Oh... and another thing. If you read Truly, Madly, Deeply... I have never watched a movie with that title. It's a song. Think Savage Garden. I credit where I borrowed the title from and disclaimed any ownership. It's become a pet peeve to find out that people skip over my notes and then question something I explained in there.
It drives me off the wall.
And I know I just came out with Truly, Madly, Deeply, CA, and UBW, but I have a new one in the making so look out for it. And yes I do plan to update everything and anything that is under my stories lol.