…This has been a long ride. …

The lab was cold, as usual. She tugged the coat tighter around her shoulders. There was a smirking tilt to her lips even now thinking about her previous actions on the elevator. Takarashi Sesshoumaru was infamous for his elusive and stoic personality. He was also the most eligible bachelor of the business world. Sesshoumaru was cunning, ruthless, and often housed imaginative staff to keep on top of the ever emergent field. She was slightly embarrassed by her bold movements especially since she'd taken note of the man walking in with what she assumed to be his girlfriend this morning in the lobby. The woman seemed easily discomfited judging by the redness of her face and frantically flitting eyes when he gave her the flower.

It was obvious Sesshoumaru didn't know of her or even bother to recognize her. Mokunen kind of preferred this. She didn't work fervently in this field for fame or money. She was a private person and much liked the shadows she lived in. Her outward appearance and physical endowments didn't make it simple to blend it, but that was only in college and high school. After graduating, she had reveled in the idea that it was frowned upon for co-workers to consort in relationships out of work. It allowed her to relax and not worry about dulling her looks, on purpose, in order to fade into the background. Mokunen did date, sometimes, but it wasn't a priority. She was very much appalled by the modern idea of dating. Dating nowadays was all about physical need, for men and women. Still Mokunen couldn't have helped herself in the elevator. It was merely another experiment and a slightly humorous one at that. She'd watched many flirting women in the past and was no stranger to the techniques of it.

It was just strange that she would actually come onto anyone nonetheless her employer. Sesshoumaru seemed quite used to it and no doubt determined her to be some secretary. His anger had surprised her at first. Mokunen wasn't expecting any reaction and didn't wish to irritate him further and draw out his ire. His ignorance though, if it could be called such, made sense also because he didn't hire her. His father did, right after she finished graduate school. It had taken six long years to get it, but the degree was worth all the work and for the most part the work was enjoyable. With her PhD and vast mental capacity to contain knowledge, due to many years of devouring books, it was no wonder Inutaisho hired her, but it was still an honor to be among his skilled team of scientists. It has been eight years and now Mokunen was one of seven department chiefs managing the labs at thirty-six years old.

Today she was checking in on the final products of several of their developed drugs. Mokunen passed through the doors after sliding her badge to unlock the seal. This was a restricted area after all. An attendant was waiting to meet her. He was bald; she noted, with smooth cheeks and narrow, dark eyes. They seemed hard at first, but the color changed by the amount of light reflected in them. It was like a second expression on his face. The man's eyes were almost kind, but there was darkness as well, but then again everyone had their demons. The baldness was a unique characteristic. Unlike some people who shaved their heads, this one seemed to have a well-shaped cranium making the 'hair style' actually appears appropriate on him. It brought out the thinness and sharpness of his features. He was taller than her, as were most people. Mokunen was used to such trivial matters revolving around her short stature. However this one didn't tower over her as greatly as others. He appeared to be around 5'8 and was approaching her now.

She lowered her lids a tad, but kept eye contact with him. Most Japanese women were brought up to be meek, but Mokunen had moved a few months after birth overseas following her father. He was transferred to Germany to work in a better facilitated geneticist laboratory. She didn't return to her native land until college, but had made sure to learn the Japanese language so as to not lose her heritage. Her father began when she expressed her wishes at six years of age then Mokunen turned to the internet for furthering her teachings. There was a mystery and fascination she felt deep in her heart that still attracted to this country her even today.

"Genmyou-san." He bobbed a bow, which she returned, "Please refer to me as Renkotsu."

Mokunen was minutely surprised at him as he preferred to be called by what was obviously his first name. It was odd and rare to ask of such on the first meeting of a person especially since he used a proper suffix to her last name. Mokunen stiffened her posture, straightening her shoulders. She would return the pleasure.

"Mokunen then, if you will."

He smiled softly, "As you wish. Please follow me Mokunen-san."

The pair walked side by side through another set of doors and met two hallways. One stretched straight in front of them where the other hooked to the right. Renkotsu gestured with a wave of his hand to move down the right. The area was well lit with artificial light and looked more like a quarantined hospital ward then a traditional lab. The walls were stripped of color and still of grey cinderblock. The floors were a simple white laminate. It was all very plain compared to the outside décor. It was like entering a completely different world, one she was used to viewing.

"The tests have gone appropriately. The urgency of the matter has put a rush on the development."

"I realize this." Mokunen answered irritated.

This was an obvious concept since she was the one given the order to drop everything. The Akuchi vaccine was her baby and a masterpiece. The doctors had begun testing the patients from the beginning. The intelligence department wasn't the only one working to conquer the disease. The Higurashi woman, ironically the same who was Sesshoumaru's new squeeze, was the one responsible mainly for its sectoring and categorization. Mokunen had tested all results and given dozens of analyses. After all who was it that gave the graphs and percentages to the intelligence department? That was the only problem with working in the laboratory. All credit is given to the outward party, not the team working under them. Mokunen smiled slightly. This was all fine with her. She didn't want to be bothered by press and the like. She'd rather stick to her work, help who she could, and live as peacefully as allowed.

Renkotsu sniffed in the awkward silence. He was about to speak, but he was interrupted before he could even begin.

"It's almost finished. It was really simple actually once I recovered a sample of this 'miasma.' The chemical make up is merely a transformation of coincidence in the atmosphere. Ultraviolet mutated it and a mixture of infrared, ultraviolet, and chemo will turn it back, in basic laymen terms of course."

Renkotsu stared from his peripheral. It was hard to believe that the concept could be so easy. Most things however had simple endings, in nature anyways, and the simplest solutions, uncomplicated by complexities, work the most efficiently. Renkotsu showed her into the small lab room to the rear, one of three, that was designated for the Akuchi annexation.

"It is the genetic structure that can never be fully regenerated back to its original state. That is a worrisome fact." Mokunen muttered concernedly.

However, the future was still shining brightly in the dim grey of the overcast afternoon.

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Shippou was going to visit his benefactor. This worried Kagome only a little.

That was of course the understatement of the year.

Kagome paced back and forth across the living room floor. Rin watched pensively from her perching place on the couch. Her knees were tucked comfortably underneath her. Rin had gotten a hair recently taking off two inches. The ends curled naturally on and around her shoulders framing her face cutely. Her long bangs remained and large, curious brown eyes peeked from underneath of them. Her usual ponytail was absent. Rin could still put it up, but the tail stuck out like a fountain stream of water and bobbed all the more enthusiastically, which Kagome found adorable beyond compare. Shippou however had found it hilarious, rather entertaining, and jumped at every opportunity to flick the strands every which way much to Rin's growing irritation.

"I can't believe he's going alone. Is he stupid?"

Kagome was ranting. She knew it, Rin did, and so did Sesshoumaru who was three doors away down the hall showering. Shippou had this 'secret' benefactor who paid for his education at Seikio. Kagome had only a little problem with this because she knew she could never have provided him such an ample opportunity. She was still in college after all. Technically though, within the week if everything went well, Shippou would become her son. Kagome was grateful to whoever this person was, but she'd still have preferred to go with him. She was also quite curious and only a little uneasy accepting this money from an unknown stranger. What if they expected something outrageous in return?

Kagome breathed in deeply. She was probably overreacting. It had only been a few hours since she'd left the adoption agency and already her mothering instincts were kicking into overdrive. This was certain to be one hell of a ride too.

Rin patted her hand, "I'm sure he'll be alright…Ka-san."

Kagome smiled feeling all tension leave her body at the cute nickname Rin had picked up for her from Shippou. Well, hell, maybe Rin was only seven years old, but perhaps she was right about this one.

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"He was arrested."

The room was silent as the voice on the other end of the line spoke her affirmative answer. The soft tinkling lilt to it gave away the woman's slight triumph at completed her rather difficult and secret assignment. Kanna was grateful to Takarashi's assistance in the matters. Her rescue of his adopted daughter was nothing more than her authority as a police officer. Kanna was seen to many as containing no real emotions, ironically just like Sesshoumaru was.

The young pale woman was far from so. Unlike like Sesshoumaru she expressed these internal battles to no one. Even as a child she was ridiculed for her absence of expressions and, supposedly, feelings as well. Kanna was just highly reserved and these 'feelings' others were so content on having were more dilute in their holdings over her attitude and life decisions. She preferably stepped back into a more general outlook without any outside sources to disturb her choices. It wasn't inhuman to do so or stoicism at all. Kanna saw the world in only shades of grey. There was no black or pure white. No soul was completely pure or evil. In this natural world, no black or white could truly be created or even if synthetically manufactured could such entities exist for very long.

Sesshoumaru hung up the phone. He heard the exact circumstances and that was all that was needed. No goodbye was necessary. He was sure to see her again, most likely in a courtroom. Naraku was caught leaving his apartment. Apparently he put up quite a struggle. However, in the end, all he did was add more things to his already graciously long rap sheet. Sesshoumaru sighed, dragging his fingers through his long and still damp hair. At last this chapter was closed.

Sesshoumaru massaged his temples. Kikyo and Inuyasha were still sort of at odds, but that didn't matter much. They were in the same room and getting along, most of the time. Kagome told him that the trust between them just needed time to replenish. She was certainly confident of a happy future for them. Despite all the horrible things that had happened to her, his Kagome was still ever the optimist. It was impressive.

There was laughter. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at it. He shook his head and decided it was time to join the two females in his living room. The future for Kagome and he was much more clouded. It would be a decent amount of time before anything was decided too. Something about that just sounded alright to Sesshoumaru. With a smirk, he opened the door. A sudden chime halted his progress. Sesshoumaru turned his head looking about the room and then down the hall. He listened for a moment, but the noise never repeated. Sesshoumaru wasn't sure now if he even heard it, which was odd because he was always sure. He also never doubted his senses. He just heard the sound of bells there for a second. Sesshoumaru shrugged, disregarded it for the nonsense it was and continued on his way out.

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Naraku folded his arms across his chest. He was sitting on the floor with one knee bent out in front of him. The other was tucked neatly underneath the one bent. His hands were resting loosely, calmly in his lap. Dark maroon eyes shined dully in the darkness. Long black curls framed his face and flooded his shoulders. Naraku's expression was blank, but it was obvious that beneath the cool exterior, a plot was brewing. Naraku's thoughts continued to boil, but the product was almost complete. He'd need to set everything up, but it was simple enough. The authorities would be bribed to smooth his escape over so that the public would forget all the sooner. Foreign governments would push, but none were more secretive than the Japanese, or so it was in Naraku's opinion.

"Sagakara, you're up."

Naraku lifted himself with stagnant grace. His stance was played to be one of disgraced and defeated. Naraku's bang hung heavily downward to cover the ironic humor hovering in his ruby orbs. The cuffs in place on his wrists, Naraku walked on. His step was so silky with small undulations that it was magnetic to the eye. Naraku was a villain. His heart was darker than onyx, but his sheer charisma and use of manipulative language could not be denied nor denounced of his person. It was one reason why the guard was thick and alert during his escort. It would be even at his future confrontation with death as well.

Unknown to the prisoner, the government was in a stifling corner with a rusted blade at their throats regarding his activities, one they couldn't walk away from cleanly. They were only in it for their own personal benefits, so it's obvious they wouldn't protect the criminal any longer. Naraku would be put to death for his transgressions against humanity. The chemical would gradually decompose in, as it is believed, over a year and under two while still in the middle and lower atmosphere. Eventually the air will recycle upwards and, since it is an unnatural compound, will be destroyed by natural forced. However, the disease would spread until that time was passed. This could not be meandered around or buried in legal debates, etc. It is a worldwide affair. The event could not be avoided.

Naraku walked down the hall to a fork where there was only left and right. He expected to bend to the right and be led to the outside world where Hakudoushi would be waiting as his driver in disguise. They would leave as normal, but after a half hour Kaijinbou would cause a distraction by jumping in front of the bus. Hakudoushi would miss him and then the caper would begin. Naraku smirked beneath the veil of his inky black hair. His feet moved to the right, but those holding him tugged him to the left. His expression faltered for a moment. There was another set of guards down the hall armed with different types of weaponry from nightsticks to guns.

Naraku didn't struggle outwardly, but there was chaos overflowing inside. The guards all looked at him with cruel humor. Naraku could feel a cold sweat forming over his body. Their eyes were all narrowed and glowing with the sadistic amusement they were feeling at his expense. Naraku was to be put to death. His hands shook a little at the mere suggestion. Suddenly a smooth, feathery sensation overrode his other senses. Calm once again defeated his weaker emotions. Rage was a fierce and fiery opponent, but energy was quickly wasted under that influence. If he wanted to win, he'd have to remain as steel, like the one person who was becoming an increasingly annoying thorn in his side. Thoughts of Sesshoumaru brought forth memories of her. Naraku smirked. It couldn't be withheld. He laughed. The sound rich and invigorating, but it set everyone on edge. Naraku laughed so hard he bent backwards in his craze.

He had been so close, so close to having her. That impenetrable spirit had nearly broken, he was sure of it. One more day was all it would have taken. He still remembered the feel of her body the first time he had her. So tight, so warm, so perfect it was delicious. She was a pure mix of pain and pleasure. She had scratched at his back, then rubbed it soothingly. She had screamed then moaned. She was wild and yet contained. She was his forbidden fruit and for a minute, he'd taken a taste. Then it was all down the drain. He was thrown from Eden and sanity. No woman could compare. Then there was that bastard who took away his angel, his wildcat.

The captain of the guard watched with unveiled disgust. This monster dared to laugh; well he can die laughing if he wants. Naraku could die all the way to hell, but he would be leaving this earth just as planned. The captain gave the order by opening the door he was standing in front of. Naraku was dragged towards it. His legs had given out and there were actual tears running down his face. His smile, normally maniacal, was widened and screaming with full insanity.

Naraku was lost. His red eyes were shining more brightly than ever. His laughter turned to harsh cackles. They tore at his throat and shook his body down to the marrow. Naraku knew not himself. He knew nothing. He only knew the true helplessness wrestling at his soul. They belonged together. He was her Romeo and she his Juliet. Now they only needed to die to complete the story. Naraku had put that as plan C, but he never even made it past plan B in his arsenal of devious plots. He had been so close, so close, but it all felt wrong. He could have taken her, but that wasn't what he wanted. Was it? Yes, actually in some part of his soul he wanted her to scream, but he also wanted that blissful moaning too. If he simply raped her, he would never have a second chance to hear that loving mewl. There was a pain in his chest and his arm. Naraku shivered and fell silent finally. It wasn't sudden, but more like a song that faded softly in the sound waves.

Naraku's tears continued to fall. It was like he didn't even know they were there. His eyes were at half-mast, his brows were lax, and for once in his life Naraku appeared vulnerable. Naraku had long since been put on the table and strapped down. The injection was now complete. Naraku's skin was turning an eerie bluish white. His body was turning cold. It was only mere minutes until those horrid red eyes lost their life. The tears froze on the criminal's face before trailing into his long hair. Those ebony tresses fell over both sides of the gurney brushing the floor. His death was swift and in silence. The media would hear of it, but only long after it was concluded. The villain's eyes were left open. It was a privilege too high for the evil man.

Somewhere in an apartment, a woman was crying tears of ironic sorrow. She may have once loved him, or thought she did, but Naraku deserved his faith. However every man deserves some tears for his soul. Blue eyes search the sky outside the window from the arms of her lover. Her only hope is that Naraku might, for once, be satisfied and at peace with himself. He always searched for more than he had and did anything to acquire it. In the end, all his jealousy and greed won him was a prize hotter than the sun and darker than space. Today was the death of a tortured soul that had burned and spurned, hated and rarely elated. Naraku had finally left the earth broken down and bared.

…Lucy! I'm home! I have no excuse. Up next is the epilogue, at least that was what I'd planned. Do my reviewers want me to continue this? For how long because there aren't many threads left to sew together. Let me know, I can go a few more chapters...