Disclaimer: I don't own much more than a guitar anda disfunctional computer-- leave me alone!

Slay The Music

Scene Thirty-Six: This is Downfall

"We're going back to Japan tomorrow," Kikyô said, placing the plane tickets on the table.

"So soon?" Sango picked them up.

"We've been away for almost a month or so now," Kikyô replied, "You knew it was coming."

"Oh..." Sango replaced the tickets on the table; "I was enjoying it here in Korea."

"Our visas are going to expire soon, we have to go back."

"Is Sesshômaru well? He's out now right?"

Kikyô nodded, taking a seat at the table.

"And Naraku?"

"I'm afraid I don't know of Naraku's whereabouts."

Sango looked down into her palms, "Figures... the bastard always gets away."

"Next time, I'll take care of him," Kikyô's voice was cold.

Sango glanced over to her manager then her eyes flicked back downwards and almost with guilt in her voice she said, "I will too."

Ayame glanced back across the table, doubt dancing freely in her emerald eyes. "You what?"

"Ayame, I'm in love with you, truly," Kôga said with more confidence in his voice.

"I don't know what to say—"

"Don't worry about it—I know you and I haven't exactly been best of friends, and most of the group thinks we're rivals, so I wouldn't have anything to say either," Kôga said haughtily masking the hurt in his voice.

"So how do I say 'I love you too' to the person I'm supposed to be rivals with?"

It was Kôga's turn to snap a shocked expression onto his face.

"I guess I would just go ahead and say it..." Ayame replied to her own question.

There was a silence as Kôga stared shocked and hopeful over to Ayame who was averting her eyes from his gaze.

"Kôga, I love you too."

"You seen Inuyasha?" Miroku asked Kôga as Kôga returned that evening.

"No, why?"

"Haven't seen him all night—speaking of all night, where have you been?"

"Out," Kôga replied.

"Doing what?" Miroku questioned.

"None of your business," Kôga said. "Call Myouga, he probably knows where the half-blood went."

"Ah, that would be a good idea," Miroku set down his tea and picked up his cell phone.

Kôga didn't pay attention to the conversation as he hung his coat neatly in his closet and switched his shoes to indoor slippers.

"Inuyasha's back in Japan," Miroku called over to Kôga as he hung up the phone.

"What? So soon? Why?"

"Something about seeing his brother, we'll be traveling back tonight as well."

"Tonight?" Kôga asked.

"That's what the old man said," Miroku nodded.

"I've got plans for tonight."

"Like what? A photo shoot? A secret interview?"

"None of your business," Kôga replied.

"Nothing's my business, but I like to know anyway. So what is it?"

"None of your business," Kôga said with a more defined tone this time.

"Oh, that kind of business," Miroku nodded approvingly.

"No not that kind of fucking business! If you must know, I promised Ayame that I'd help her with her band."

"Whatever, dude, it's that kind of business, and you know it."

"Call Myouga and tell him to schedule the flight for tomorrow afternoon, I'll be busy all morning."

"Man, I wish I was getting laid tonight too," Miroku sighed. "I've been having such terrible luck lately."

"Shut up you damn monk!"

"Wow, I think hear Inuyasha..."

"Miroku!"

"Yes?"

Kôga let out a loud growl before slamming the door to his room; Miroku remained on the bed with a somewhat pleased smile on his face.

"In here, Inuyasha-sama."

"How was jail time?" Inuyasha said as he stepped through the doors into Sesshômaru's office.

"I've found a way to locate Naraku," Sesshômaru replied, ignoring his brother's comment.

"I'm listening," Inuyasha sat down.

"Finding him will be easy," he pushed an old looking map with a crystal on it across the desk, "however, a warrant for his arrest may prove difficult."

Inuyasha picked up the crystal, "This is one of those youki crystals right?"

Sesshômaru nodded, "Kagura bestowed it upon me. Using it, I was able to locate Naraku—somewhere in Yokohama now."

"How to we tie him to the murders?"

Sesshômaru remained silent, obviously still contemplating the same question himself. Inuyasha glanced about the desk.

"What's this?" he picked up a manila folder.

"Case files," Sesshômaru replied.

Inuyasha opened the folder and read through the contents. The two brothers sat in a thick silence as Inuyasha continued to scan through all the little details.

"Wait—what's this about a 'not able to process blood type?'"

Sesshômaru's eyes carelessly drifted towards the folder... they narrowed as his cold voice carried the name, "Naraku", through the air.

"We need to get Naraku's employee file," Inuyasha said.

Sesshômaru pulled it out of a drawer as if it had been planned.

Inuyasha tore threw its contents immediately. "Here, blood type... unknown. That's against company policy to withhold medical information, isn't it? We can get him arrest for that and then pin him to his other crimes later. What do you think, you think we can make it work?"

"It's not a matter of making it work, Inuyasha," Sesshômaru said, "It's a matter of making it known to the public. Don't forget, little brother, that Naraku was a popular musician—he still has numbers of people who would gladly jump to his side to help him."

"Well let's not forget that I'm a popular musician also and that I have a million more devoted fans than he could dream of."

"I'll see what I can do," Sesshômaru nodded, "Your band should be arriving sometime tonight or tomorrow night. You are scheduled to have an interview with a couple of magazines so get your stories straight. Myouga will take care of the public relations."

Inuyasha grimaced, and then gave a small nod. "By the way, Kagura's been really worried about you," he said as he departed.

"You're resigning?"

"Yeah, I can't go on with this anymore—I feel to guilty," Kagome twisted her hair around her finger, "I'm gonna try to get into a university or something—become a doctor maybe, or a nurse... I could always just be a shrine maiden like grandpa wanted me to—"

"Kagome..." Sango looked into Kagome's eyes which were darting about the room like a young child's, "Whatever you do, I know you'll do fine."

"You're not mad at me are you?"

"No, I couldn't be mad at you for wanting a different job. I sometimes want out myself, but the only other thing I'm good for is killing rats with poison gas."

Kagome laughed, "You're good for a lot of things... But I'm glad you're not mad at me, you're a good friend, Sango-chan."

"You too Kagome," Sango nodded, "I don't know how Inuyasha will take this though..."

Kagome suddenly became quiet with guilt as she stared at her toes, "You don't think he'll hate me do you?"

"Don't worry, Kagome, he's stubborn sometimes but—on the inside, I know he really does see you in a good light."

"What do you mean?"

"You're so innocent Kagome," Sango smiled, "Inuyasha is a tough guy on the outside as well as in—but within his heart is where his soul really lies, and I think you're the only person in a long time who's been able to bring that side of him out."

"Is that the truth?" Kagome asked as Sango nodded, "I guess... I never really paid attention."

"He's as readable as a book is Kagome, you just have to take the time to understand his language."

"He's in Japan now, right?"

"That's what Bankotsu tells me."

"I'm going back in the morning," Kagome said, "...I want to see him."

I'm getting lazy with this story I can feel it. Just about ready to put the final touches on this story, a few more chapters and it should be done. Good thing to—just about running into the forty-chapter mark.

ever free's status: メリークリスマス! (...haha it came early this year: in the form of extra sleep time—ZzZzZz...)