Escaping Death
Note- Hey! It seems like you guys are enjoying it so far. That's great.
Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha.
Summary- Kagome is an average girl. But after a strange online conversation, a psychotic killer wants HER to choose his victims. She can't escape, not without sacrificing everyone she loves. So what can she do?
I hope you all enjoy. Please review and thanks for reading. Here it goes.
Escaping Death
Chapter Thirteen
"What?" Inuyasha demanded, clearly shocked. "You mean that bastard killed Koga's friends along with Hojo?"
Kagome sniffled. "Yeah. That's what he said."
She hadn't told anyone of what she had concluded just an hour before Inuyasha called. After she had gotten off the phone with Death986, she sat and pondered about it for what seemed like an eternity. Bankotsu wasn't the person she was talking on the phone with. He couldn't be. He had been right across the room from her the other day while she talked on the phone. But today, no one had been there. It could have been him earlier. What about the other day? It had to be someone she had known for a while, since they seemed to have known her for a while. She had known Miroku for quite a long time.
The conclusion she had come to was this: There could be more than one person in on this whole thing. One could be doing the talking while the other one could be doing the killing. Even though she hated to think something like this, she decided that it could be Bankotsu and Miroku. Bankotsu could be doing the actual killing while Miroku could be doing the talking.
She didn't want to believe it -- especially when she wasn't even sure if it was true -- but it was all she had to go on.
Miroku had been acting a bit weird around her, showing her a great deal of affection despite the fact that he and Sango pretty much had a thing going. So she had every reason to suspect him, right? She had known him for a long time, and he had thought of her as a very clever person, and he had been acting weird, so there was plenty to give her reason to be mistrustful of him, wasn't there?
She wasn't so sure, so all she planned to do was keep it to herself and watch both Miroku and Bankotsu closely, while also keeping an eye out for any other hints.
"Damn him," Inuyasha growled. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, her voice shaking. But she didn't believe herself.
Inuyasha must have decided not to believe her, either, since he said, quickly, "I'm coming over. I'll bring Miroku and Sango, too. Do you want me to call Bankotsu?"
Kagome pondered for a moment. It would be a perfect opportunity to analyze her two suspects together, but then she had a horrific image pass through her mind: What if they killed Inuyasha and Sango right before her very eyes before turning their blood-thirsty gazes on her? So she instead settled on inviting just Miroku. "No, it's fine."
"All right. Just hang tight and we'll be there soon."
"Okay."
"Bye, Kagome."
She thought of the kiss they shared. "Bye, Inuyasha. Be careful."
The tone of his voice suggested to her that he was grinning. "Always." There was a click and then the dial tone greeted her. She placed the phone down into its cradle with a sigh.
"All right," she told herself sternly. "Don't think about who the killer -- or killers -- could be. Not while they are over. Just keep an eye on Miroku and everything will be fine. You don't want to let them in on your little conclusion yet. Wait until you have rock solid evidence."
It was sort of funny. She felt like a detective or something.
It took about six minutes total. She answered the front door when she heard them knock -- looking through the window to make sure it was them first, of course -- and they all took a seat somewhere in the living room. Miroku was on the couch, Sango was in the giant recliner by the window, and Inuyasha was on the two-seater love seat.
"You all right, Kagome?" Sango looked at her curiously, her eyes filled with concern.
"Inuyasha said you sounded upset," Miroku said.
Kagome smiled lightly. "I'm fine. I just hope it wasn't a problem for you guys to come."
"Oh, no, it wasn't." Sango said.
"Yeah, don't mention it." Inuyasha added.
"We're glad we can help you out." Miroku gave her a big grin.
"Especially with everything you're going through," Sango said woefully, looking down at the floor. Then she brought her gaze up to meet Kagome's. "You know. Everyone dying and stuff--"
"You mean," Kagome broke in, "Everyone dying because of me?"
"Well, Kagome, it's not your fault." Miroku said soothingly.
"Yes it is. I was the one who chose those victims. Me. Do you know how horrible that makes me feel?" Kagome was near tears, but she refused to cry. "It hurts to know that I am responsible for a city wide curfew. I am responsible for almost a dozen funerals! I am responsible for those families' suffering."
"You had no choice," Inuyasha said, stopping Kagome's rant. "He would have killed us, and I know you don't want to lose us."
Kagome looked from Sango's face, to Miroku's, then to Inuyasha's. She looked deep into his beautiful amber eyes and realized how right he was. She wouldn't know what to do if she lost them. She would die. That's it. She would simply lay down and die.
She sat beside of him on the love seat and took in a deep breath. She needed to calm down. She needed to get everything off her mind.
Almost as if sensing her thoughts, Sango asked, "Hey, guys, why don't we watch a movie or something?"
Miroku nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I could really use a comedy movie right now."
"Seriously," Inuyasha said from beside Kagome. "Not one of those chick-flicks or sappy romance movies, either."
Kagome couldn't help but laugh.
---
Bankotsu rolled over onto his back. He had been thinking about everything that had been going on for hours. He hadn't called anyone, or even gone outside. It was a dreary day outside; dark, cool, and damp. He hardly saw anyone on the streets from his second story window. He was home alone and had taken this time to ponder about all the possible people who could be the killer who was stalking his cousin.
"Damn, who could that bastard be?" He asked aloud. He sat up and glanced out the window. There was no one wandering around on the streets. He didn't blame them, either. He didn't want to go out there with a killer on the loose unless he absolutely had to.
He went over to his computer and signed on. There was no one on at all, which was surprising since he figured that they would all be on, talking about the killer and what not. It was also disappointing because he had hoped Kagome would be on so he could talk to her. Oh well. He would have to give her a call.
He stood up and started heading toward the phone to do just that when the sound of an arriving instant message stopped him in his tracks. He turned around curiously to see who it was.
Death986: Hello Bankotsu.
"Who the hell?" He asked, collapsing into his computer chair.
Banryu357: Who is this?
Death986: I know you know.
Banryu357: Know what? Who are you and what the hell are you talking about?
Death986: Don't play dumb, Bankotsu. I know you. And I know you know.
Bankotsu could feel chills going up and down his spine. It was hot in his room, so there was no explanation as to why he felt cold.
Banryu357: What is it that you think I know?
But he knew. He knew what it was.
Death986: Kagome told you. She shouldn't have. Now she has to pay.
Banryu357: Don't mess with her!
Death986: I told you that I knew you knew.
Damn. Bankotsu cursed himself. How could he have been so stupid?
Banryu357: Leave her alone.
Death986: Why? She told you and she wasn't allowed to. Her close friends are an exception because I made a mistake and let them in on it. But you, Bankotsu, are not an exception. So she has to pay.
DEATH986 HAS LOGGED OFF.
Bankotsu leaped from his chair as fast as he could, slipped on his tennis shoes, and raced out the door. He had to get there before that twisted fuck did. He just had to. He needed to warn Kagome and get her to safety. If her friends were there, too, then he would have to get them out of there, as well.
He raced down the street, his lungs burning from running so much, and realized with a sickening churn of his stomach that he was the only hope Kagome and her friends had of surviving. If he didn't make it in time, then they might die. This inspired him to run faster until he couldn't run anymore. He slowed down to rest for a moment. Her house was a little ways away.
After taking a little amount of time catching his breath, he raced on until he made it to her yard. And that's when he saw it: Something in the bushes.
"I got you now, you bastard," he said under his breath, running over to the bushes. He looked in them.
Nothing was there.
'Maybe I was seeing things,' he thought sheepishly, beginning to walk away, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. He headed toward the porch.
And that's when he felt something plunge into his mid back. He yelped in pain. That's when it was pull free from his body and plunged back in a little lower. He again yelled in pain. He felt it stab into two more times before he finally fell to the ground. Pain enveloped his entire upper body and nearly immobilized him. He could move his legs, but found it difficult to lift his arms. It too much to do so.
"You're okay," a deep voice said from behind him. "They're not major wounds, so don't worry about dying."
"Bastard," Bankotsu choked. "Aren't you going to kill me?"
"No," the voice said. "I'm not even going to kill Kagome. It was all a trap to lure you out here so I could do this."
Bankotsu started crawling toward the steps that were three feet away. He needed help before he lost consciousness. If that happened, no one would know he was out there and he might end up dying.
"It's a warning to you're little cousin," the voice growled, following him as he made it to the steps. He hauled himself up them and began crawling across the porch toward the door. "Tell her she better not screw up and tell anyone else or else they're dead for sure. Tell her I'm going to hunt someone down and kill them. I'm bored and she never told me who else was on her list. So let her know that if it ends up being someone close to her or someone else's heart, that she should feel guilty. It was her fault."
Bankotsu made it to the door, but couldn't lift himself up to reach the doorknob. He was too weak.
To his astonishment, the killer knocked for him. He looked up to see if he could catch a glimpse of his face, but found that he was wearing a mask -- a hockey mask if he wasn't mistaken -- and a ball cap pulled low over his head. He looked up at the door expectantly. Next thing he knew, the door opened and Kagome was there.
"Oh, God!" She screamed. "Bankotsu! Oh, my God! What happened?"
Bankotsu looked from his cousin to where the killer had been standing. He was gone.
"Sango! Call nine-one-one! Hurry! Please!" Kagome was shrieking. She wanted to touch him, but was too frightened of hurting him more.
"Kagome," Bankotsu rasped. "I was afraid he was…I thought he was coming to…"
All went black as he fell into unconsciousness.
Note- All righty then! That blows the theory of Bankotsu being the killer. But there's still Miroku, and let's not forget the all-famous Naraku. Also, who could be the killer's next target that he spoke of? Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out! Please review and let me know what you thought. Thanks a lot!
