Another chapter? A day early! WTF!
Yes- I'm good….alright. I'm hoping to make up for my disappearance.
Sango's face was serious and even Miroku was sobered as well. Sango had just finished telling her suspicions about Kagome's disappearance and about that day with the diary. Miroku was now kneeling in front of the sink where the initials were scratched into the wood. When he turned, his eyes looked almost black instantly of their usual humorous violet. Sango sighed.
"Where do you think she'd hide the key to that art room?"
"Most likely, it won't be in neither a common nor an unusual place, but rather one that is meaningful to Kagome. It would be somewhere that she would easily remember it."
Sango paused, still not used to this ponderous and solemn Miroku. They'd been dating for a few weeks now, but still she'd rarely seen this side of him. Only like three times and all three were while he was working. Or at least when he was observing his notes trying to come up with solutions to the epidemic sickness he was currently partnered with Kagome to solve. It always confused Sango because as soon as Miroku caught sight of her, the expression was lost and a lecherous grin would appear. Sango almost wanted to see him so calm like this, but not when in such hazardous situations.
Sango shook her head and moved to sit at the small kitchen table. She rested her chin on her hands and racked her brain. Sango spanned her memory of all the times she ever came into Kagome's apartment. Were their any occurrences where Kagome was acting strangely or trying to hide something? Sango suddenly sat upright as such a memory came to her.
"Miroku, we have to check her closet."
"Why would we look in the closet?"
"That's where the key is; at least I think it might be."
"Are there any other possibilities that you can think of?"
"No, not really…I just remember catching Kagome in her closet once. She was acting pretty suspicious. I thought she was hiding something, but I just forgot about it until now."
"Then let's check it out."
Miroku turned and exited the kitchen, hanging a left and began to walk down the hall towards the back of the apartment. He had just reached Kagome's do when he noticed Sango wasn't following. Instead her voice called out to him, making him stop his movement to Kagome's bedroom.
"Um…Miroku, where are you going?
"To Kagome's…closet?"
"Oh! No, I meant the hall closet, not the one in her bedroom."
Miroku's brow wrinkled in thought. He moved next to Sango and peered passed her at the hall closet which was more like a coat closet since it was near the door. Indeed, when it was opened, a variety of coats and jackets could be seen. Also in there was a pink bicycle stored behind them. Sango smiled at that bike. Kagome had had it since she was in high school. Sango had asked about it before and that was the response she was given. It was actually in pretty good condition. There were a few dents that could be scene from, no doubt, Kagome falling over or running into something when she wasn't paying attention.
Sango laughed, which caused Miroku to look at her in concern. Sango turned to look at him, humor still dancing in her eyes. However, as he watched the temporary happiness melted away like the last wax of a candle and the burning flame flickered out. Sango moved into the closet where she had seen Kagome that day. She gave Miroku a pointed look before bending over and peering into the darkness. The woman moved onto her knees pushing aside the front bike wheel a tad. Sango coughed as dust flew into her face.
"Maybe this isn't right…there's too much dust. Its like no one's been in here for weeks and I know for a fact that Kagome goes in that room at least twice a week."
"Hm…well keep looking anyways. Maybe there's something that could clue us in."
Sango nodded and, with a hand still over her mouth, brushed the dust lightly trying not to stir up too much. Cinnamon eyes wandered aimlessly over the wooden floor, as if some secret lay in the laminate planks.
"Wait…laminate?"
A look over her shoulder told Sango what she was looking for. The rest of Kagome's flooring was natural wood. Even where there was carpet put down, the wood was still beneath and still the majority of the carpet was just area rugs.
Sango ran a finger carefully along the edge of the laminate. She smiled when she saw that it wasn't glued down, just clicked and locked into place like puzzle pieces. It was easier and cheaper after all.
"If I can just get the edge…"
Sango stuck her tongue out on her upper lip in her struggle. She could only hope that this wasn't for naught. With a sharp pull, the flooring lifted with more ease that Sango had originally thought there would be. She fell back onto her butt with the laminate square in two pieces above her head.
"Great. Now I'll have to figure out how to get it back together again."
Sango shook her head in dismay, almost fearing the headache that was no doubt soon to come. However, brown eyes lightened when they alighted upon a manila folder laying flat on the bottom of the closet.
"It…was beneath the laminate? Kagome what could you be thinking?"
Sango slid onto her knees and picked up the folder as if it were some excavated artifact from centuries past. Plopping down onto the couch, Sango halted at the seal. What was wrong with her? This wasn't hers! She was so invading Kagome's privacy! Sango's eyes glanced in the general direction of the kitchen and then back to the envelope. With a sigh and a growl Sango tore open the seal.
"Screw this."
Sango pulled out its contents. She was shocked to find…photographs? Sango flipped them over and immediately felt guilty. At first, she thought it may mean Kagome's future rescue, but this was something she should never had seen. The first picture she flipped to was of a little Kagome holding hands were a handsome man with short black hair and bright blue eyes.
"Her dad…"
Throughout the entire set, each one held Mr. Higurashi. Sango stuffed the pictures back into the envelope. She then walked the short distance across the room and tossed it back on the floor. She recovered the flooring from where she threw it near the name and replaced it with much more ease than she ever thought possible.
"She doesn't want to see them. It must be too hard for her to remember. I always wondered why there were never any pictures of her dad."
Her cinnamon eyes laced with sadness as she situated the bike back over to the center of the closet. Sango dusted off her hands and turned her back to the closet with her hands on her hips. Kagome would be really mad if she ever found out Sango discovered those. Sango would tell her about it if it was important…or ever came up in normal conversation. Obviously this was something Kagome wanted to keep hidden, even from herself judging by the lengths she took to put it there. But…maybe Kagome didn't stick it there? It was possible Kagome's mother did.
"Nah, no one but Kagome would think to do something so stupid."
Sango looked around and saw no Miroku in sight. She heard scuffling coming from Kagome's bedroom. Sango's face flushed and hoped the pervert wasn't going through Kagome's underwear drawer because he was really going to get it this time if he was. With that, Sango stomped off with murder in her eyes.
With Sesshoumaru-
The night was falling fast as a solemn sleeper slumped in his desk chair. Long silver hair fell loose around his shoulders. Sesshoumaru's weary eyes had finally shut in exhaustion. The entire day was filled with paperwork. He had resigned himself to personally reviewing the epidemic coursing through Tokyo's streets. Case after case he searched for a link to tie the entire piece together, but there was none that even his trained eyes could see. Besides the common symptoms and ages there was little to be learned of their similarities. Each person's background was different. A few had diabetes, but not all and so that seemed as if it was pure coincidence.
It was now past ten o'clock. He should have been home hours ago, but a quick call two hours ago had alerted Kaede to his late return. The old woman had been more than happy to look after his ward. The lights of the city blazed in neon behind his shuttered window panes. Sesshoumaru's head lolled to one side as his bangs fell over his eyes. Long lashes caused even more shadows on smooth, pale cheeks that any woman would dream to possess. However, deep in the mind of the slumbering man, all was not well. Unexpected dreams arose in his subconscious and took him for quite the meandering ride.
Dream-
"Sesshou…mmph"
Kagome bit her bottom lip drawing the tender flesh into her own mouth. Her chin rose to expose more of her slender neck. Kagome moaned once again no longer holding back. There was no one here; they were all alone in the dark office. The woman drew her delicate fingers strikingly through his long hair. Kagome clutched him closer, not wishing to ever let him go.
"Uhn."
Sesshoumaru's voice was muffled against the soft skin of her stomach. He kissed a soft path from her ribs to her belly button. Golden eyes observed it curiously, as if he'd never seen one before. He opened his mouth and drove his tongue into the shallow hole nipping the upper edge as he did so. The woman above him responded instantly, loving his fiery touch, by arching further into his mouth. Sesshoumaru smirked, this woman was so easy. It was taking candy from a baby…and the candy was oh-so-delicious.
Kagome's mind was blurred. A haze of colors as her eyes blinked furiously trying to focus on something other than the male between her legs. She quivered beneath him. His soft skin tight and smooth against his hard body was a pleasant contrast to the stiff desk below her. Currently she was laid out on the mahogany desk with her legs hanging loosely spread next to Sesshoumaru's thighs. Her hands moved swiftly since her mouth was desperately seeking his. Fingers reached around his ears drawing him up away from her torso.
Sesshoumaru allowed his attention to be drawn away from that delectably ticklish navel. His little vixen kissed him hard as soon as he was within reach. Her arms slithered under his and yanked him harshly against her. The pads of his fingers ran over the ridges of her hips to her lower back. Sesshoumaru lifted her up lightly and Kagome arched back making Sesshoumaru come even closer.
The entwined couple fell over onto the poor piece of furniture. However the sturdy piece didn't even creak under the added weight. Sesshoumaru was still partly standing on the floor and he was supported on his elbows. He searched the face of his beloved feline. She was indeed like a cat. Kagome acted as if he was the one to come to her, but all the while he was being manipulated. Each look or random touch was calculated whether it be by fate or Kagome's planning, the two always seemed to be in the most interesting situations. Even so, slowly Kagome sank her claws in more than just his fortune and gradually Sesshoumaru became addicted to her innocently alluring ways.
Kagome lifted her hips wanting the completion only he, Sesshoumaru, could give her. An exasperated groan met his eyes and he untangled their dancing tongues. A frown marred his glass-like features. Lust still reigned in his molten orbs, but something else twitched in the depths. Sesshoumaru hauled both of them up. With a single lift, he moved Kagome to straddle his hips and Sesshoumaru sat in his nearby chair. Kagome tilted her head as she towered over him for once.
Sesshoumaru ran his hands along her bare thighs, the skirt hoisted up revealing some of her rear as well. A soft hand ran through his bangs and then down to cup his cheek. Kagome placed a soft kiss on his brow, still warm from their encounter.
The male leaned back from her. Gold melded with blue as the intensity of each increased. Something deep inside him was searching for an answer. What answer that was, Sesshoumaru didn't know. Warm, sparkling sapphire shimmered elegantly as shadows from the shaded windows passed over her face. A small smile, one so delicate, it was only ever meant for him tilted her lips. Kagome leaned down and pressed her forehead against his. Their bangs intermingled freely. One whisper spread through the veiled silence of the interior.
"Aishiteru."
Kagome then hugged her beloved close to her. His head rested against her ample chest. Normally this would have embarrassed her terribly, but it was Sesshoumaru.
I love him completely. Just the smell of his hair sets me at ease. The softness of his eyes that I know is only for me. I love his dry humor, the strength and dignity he always carries himself with. The stern gentleness he raises Rin with, and even that stupid arrogance that always makes me so mad. No matter how much I tried to stop it, I've fallen for him.-
Kagome clutched him tighter in that darkness with Sesshoumaru's arms around her waist holding her evermore.
End Dream-
Sesshoumaru didn't awake with a start. Rather his eyes opened slowly as if clearing for the first time in his life. Those thoughts were Kagome's, but they were almost spoken in his mind. In the dream, they echoed across his mind in a kind whisper. At first they were distraught and almost confused, but towards the end…the warmth and force their meaning carried was still left within his being, even now.
Sesshoumaru stood from his seat, noting the slight shakiness in his knees. A finger slipped between the blinds, moving them aside. The dancing lights characteristic of Tokyo blazed across his face. Sesshoumaru turned away rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. This wasn't good, not at all. They say one's dreams represents your heart's true desires, the ones you may not even be aware of. Is that truly what he wanted to hear? Or was it just a passing infatuation as he first assumed? Did he want her to love him? Was it Kagome he wanted to love him, or was she just his desire manifesting itself in his dreams?
Sesshoumaru slipped around his desk, turning off his computer's switch as he went. No more work would be accomplished tonight. Dangerous thoughts he'd long ago banished from his soul swelled in his heart once again. However, with these thoughts…also brought the unbidden remembrance of his mother's broken dream of love.
This is per Ami Mizuno's request: Though its not really what you wanted I think…but I'm starting to set up a connection for the pairing. That's always good news, right!
Much appreciation goes out to my mechanical beta, Wolf Jade, and my content beta, Tsuki Yume!
