Chapter 15
Kimora sat in class, her leg shaking as she stared out the window. Her skin felt prickly and her stomach was queasy but she didn't want to complain to her teacher. Doing so would result in someone calling in her parents and the last thing she wanted was to cause problems for them. She looked over her shoulder sensing someone was staring at her and noticed Arahim's green eyes fixed on her with concern. The bell rang and everyone jumped from their seats. Samara waited by her desk and looked at Kimora but Denali and Lahira pulled her away. Everyone, including the teacher was gone.
"What's wrong, Kimora?" Arahim asked as he stood up and grabbed his textbook.
"Hm? Nothing, why?"
Arahim walked closer, knelt down and rested his palm on her desk. "Well, your eyes shifted back and forth five times and you were murmuring as you dazed out the window. You kept saying 'It was supposed to be me.'"
Kimora shrugged and stood up from her desk. "My eyes shifted? Great."
"No one saw. It was quick. I was the only one looking." Arahim tried to assure her. She glanced at him and he bowed his head. "I mean, I was looking at the blackboard and just…happened to notice."
Kimora didn't say anything and started to walk ahead.
"You sure you're okay?" Arahim followed behind.
"Why do you keep asking?" Kimora scoffed. "Is it because I'm some half-breed that can't control her emotions?"
"No." he frowned. "Because you're my friend. I was just…worried."
Kimora turned her head as she walked out of the empty classroom. "I'm sorry, Arahim. I'm not feeling well. I think I ate something wrong. It'll pass. Anyway, I can't wait to go home."
Arahim regarded her with a slight grin. "I heard your father is back for good. Word is spreading like wild fire. Hopefully things will be better for you now."
"Yeah," Kimora sighed. "I hope so. It would be great to shut everyone up."
Arahim nodded. "With the great and mighty Lord Sesshomaru present, no one would dare open their mouths."
"great and mighty?" Kimora cocked a brow.
"Yeah, you don't think your father is great and mighty?" he teased.
"Well, I think my father is amazing but I'm his daughter, so I'm biased."
Arahim scoffed. "I have no relation to the man and I think he's great. In fact, I used to idolize him back home and it angered my mother. She wasn't exactly a follower of your dad's, well, then again, no one in my family was. You know, competition and all."
"Right…" Kimora droned. "Can I ask you something?"
Arahim acknowledged her with a nod.
"Where's your mother?"
Arahim's face tensed and he looked down at the floor as they walked down the hallway in a slow pace. They both had a free period and were headed to the library like they've done every day for the past few weeks. Kimora grew quite fond of having him as a friend. He was the only one who really understood her and never questioned her quirkiness. There were a few times she blurted comments that should have been up for scrutiny, such as knowing what he was going to say before he said it, predicting a test to be canceled because the teacher was sick and knowing for unknown reasons that it would rain, despite the sunny forecast. Yet, he made no remark but she could see it in his face that he was curious.
"My mother…we don't talk to my mother." Arahim said, his tone low.
"We?"
"My father and I. She sort of…left us." He said.
Kimora pouted. "I'm so sorry I asked."
"No, don't be." he nudged her shoulder with his. "I've come to terms with it already. I'm aware I did nothing wrong. She's…just a lost person."
"How did your father take it?"
"Surprisingly, we both took it well. My mother…she wasn't an easy person to like. I know that sounds awful but…my father says, you can't make someone happy that does not want to be happy."
"How long ago did she leave?"
"Uh..." he tittered. "On my 7th birthday."
Kimora's head dropped back. "I'm just gonna stop asking questions now."
Arahim smirked. "Really, Kimora, I don't mind talking about it."
"Anyway…" Kimora said. "Let's talk about how lame my birthday was."
"What are you talking about? I had a blast. The cake your mom made was so good, I begged my father to have a slice just so I could eat his and don't tell anyone, but I fancy that movie Frozen."
"I'm telling everyone." She poked him.
"I'll deny it to my grave." He raised his hands in defense. They both shared a laugh and then became quiet.
"Why would you think your birthday was lame? So many people showed up."
"It just wasn't my idea of a birthday, that's all. No offense, but on our birthdays, it's usually just me, Sam, Mom and Dad and then my grandparents show up with uncle Koga and Inuyasha and they like to piss my grandmother off, and it's so funny. Then we go to Adalberto's and daddy and Uncle Inuyasha argue over the past. I was hoping it was like that this year but everyone showed up and it was just to see if my father would be there because everyone is wishing that he doesn't come back to us. It's hard to turn off those negative thoughts they all have. It's overwhelming."
"Turn off their thoughts?"
"I mean; you know…" Kimora looked away. "Figuratively speaking."
"Yeah…I totally get you." Arahim rolled his eyes. "The politics behind all of this is so frustrating. I don't care to lead the throne. I don't care about the power. I just want to be left alone and do what I want and I can see the way people treat me, because their expectations for me to lead one day is so obvious, but just wait and see how disappointed they will all be when they come to find that I'll deny the throne."
"Why don't you want to lead? My dad does a good job and if Samara and I are not qualified, you'd be fit for it."
"Kimora…you're not listening to me. I don't want to do it. I have no interest in leading a clan. It may sound selfish but I just want to be…free to do my own thing."
"Like?"
"Like…travel? I want to work for Doctors without borders to help those that are sick in undeveloped countries. We demons have such strong immune systems to deal with certain diseases that plague hanyous and humans. Not enough demons sign up for it, and there are not enough human doctors brave enough for the job."
Kimora blushed. The way he spoke with such passion brought a newfound admiration for him.
"I understand. I do. I guess I'm just worried about who's going to lead because everyone else seems so concerned about it." She stopped to adjust her bag and her sketchbook fell out. The book bounced on the floor and a few loose drawings scattered around them.
Arahim frowned as he looked down, his bright green eyes flashed at her and then back down on the floor. He knelt down and grabbed one sheet and studied it. It was a black tribal symbol of the sun with two vertical arrows on either side with a paw print inside of it.
"Where did you see this?" he asked, but Kimora noticed his gaze was incriminating.
"No where…" she mumbled.
"Kimora, where did you see this?" he repeated, his voice slightly raised.
"What's the big deal?"
"This is the original crest of my tribe. It's not used anymore since we lost the throne." He said. "No one should know what it looks like, not unless you're an elder."
"Okay, maybe I saw it somewhere." Kimora added, defensively. Arahim looked down at the floor and his eyes widened as he knelt down again and snatched another loose sheet.
"And where did you see this then?" he asked, this time he looked enraged.
Kimora looked down and noticed the woman in the sketch. The woman with blue hair. Again, she couldn't explain and just shrugged.
"This looks a lot like my mother, Kimora." He spat. "You're going to tell me you saw her somewhere too?"
"No, Arahim…I…I think…"
"Are you messing with me? Is this some sick joke you and your family are conspiring? First my family crest, which no one should know. I only know because my grandfather believes I will lead one day and he showed it to me…and now you have some sketch that resembles my mother?" Arahim paced back and forth, rubbing his head and throwing the sheet back at the floor. "It's true what my grandfather says, the Shiro Inu are devious and disloyal, you connived me into thinking we were the same!"
Kimora was taken aback, especially by the tears in Arahim's eyes. She reached her hand out but he backed away from her and snarled.
"You stay away from me. I... can't believe I trusted you." Arahim bolted down the hallway.
"Wait, Arahim…please! It's hard to explain. It's not what you think!" Kimora called after him. "Arahim!"
The hallway was empty and Kimora bent down to shuffle all of the loose sheets back into her sketchbook. She felt a tear escape her eye as she sniffled. She rushed for the cafeteria, her eyes scanning the room. Arahim wasn't anywhere to be seen. She could see Samara sitting by Denali. Their eyes met and Samara could see the look of despair in her sister's eyes, she scrambled to her feet and went up to her.
"Kimmy, what is it? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I don't know what to do! I don't know what do! He hates me now, Samara. He hates me."
Samara wiped the tears from Kimora's face and pulled her out of the cafeteria. They went up the back staircase and Samara checked to see if they were alone.
"Who hates you? What happened, Kimora, tell me! You're shaking!" Samara grabbed her sister's hands and rubbed them.
"Those pictures I've been drawing; they really mean something. I don't why it's happening to me. Arahim is pissed because he saw my sketchbook." Kimora stopped to show her the sketches. "This woman with the blue hair, the one we saw later on the internet who claimed she was dad's wife, that's Arahim's mom!"
"What?" Samara spat with disgust.
"And this symbol I keep drawing here? That's his ancient family crest that no one should know about yet I always see it in my dreams. I keep thinking of these things before I see it, Samara. It's not normal and I'm scared because I keep…having these thoughts of…mom and—"
Samara interrupted her by pulling her into a tight embrace. "Nothing is going to happen to mom. Dad's not going to let it happen and we're not going to let it happen, okay? We're telling them tonight!"
"No, Samara, please don't!"
"Kimora, please. We have to tell them!"
"Daddy just moved back home! Can we just…wait until he settles in? Can we just cut mom and dad some slack before we drop this bomb on them?"
Samara rolled her eyes. "I suppose you're right. But if it gets worse, if it's something that can't wait, I will tell them."
"Fine. What do I do with Arahim? He won't believe me."
"Are you mad? You're not telling him the truth." Samara ordered, leading her out of the staircase.
"But he thinks I was up to something. He was so nice to me, Sam. I don't want him to think of me this way."
"He's too angry right now. Give him time and try talking to him again. But you cannot tell him the truth. Whether he believes you or not, we can't have any rumors about it. It'll ruin us."
"I'm sorry I'm a freak." Kimora choked.
"I don't think you are a freak." Samara rubbed her arm. "But the clan members won't understand and it's bad enough they give mother a hard time. We need to tread carefully and figure out why this is happening to you. Maybe we should talk to gramps on mom's side. Isn't he coming to drop gifts later with grandma? We can ask them!"
"Okay." Kimora sniffed and wiped her eyes dry.
Samara scoffed. "I still can't believe that's his mother and why on earth would she say she was father's wife?"
"They're tabloids and daddy doesn't even remember her. I'm sure it's just a big lie." Kimora took a deep breath to calm her nerves. It helped that Samara gave a tight squeeze to her hand to let her know she wasn't alone.
"We need to do some research." Samara scoffed. "Why does mother and father attract such drama!"
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Sesshomaru parked his car in the garage of The Garden Hotel. Displeased that Koga wouldn't take no for an answer, he allowed him to come, after making him coffee first.
"This is awful." Sesshomaru tasted his coffee. "How can you fail at such simple tasks?"
Koga fixed his blazer and adjusted his jeans. "Dude, give me a couple of days to understand that complicated coffee machine you have in your office. I mean, what the hell is an Americano?"
Sesshomaru read his tablet as they both made their way to the lobby of the hotel. Flashing his badge to the concierge, he requested the information regarding Dmitri's credit card.
"Can I get a badge too?" Koga asked.
"No." Sesshomaru responded curtly.
"Why not?"
"Because you're just a secretary." Sesshomaru said, his lips curled into a derisive smirk.
"You're taking pleasure in calling me that, aren't you?" Koga scowled.
"Ready to quit?"
Koga crossed his arms. "I've put up with you for over 10 years. I have the patience, trust me."
"We'll see." Sesshomaru looked down at his tablet, flipping through screens and reading his emails.
"So…" Koga broke the silence between them as they waited for the concierge to come back. "What's going on? You planning to stay?"
Sesshomaru looked up from his tablet annoyed. "Secretaries aren't privy to that kind of information."
"You call me Secretary one more time." Koga lifted a finger. "Let's clear this shit out. I'm your friend and I'm helping you, and of course you're paying me. Stop acting like an ass and tell me already."
Sesshomaru sighed. "Yes, I'm staying."
Koga cackled. "Mmhm, you freaked, didn't you, when that dude Sasuke was around a lot?"
"I didn't…freak." Sesshomaru remarked, his tone defensive. "Why would I freak?"
"Because the dude's handsome? He's dad of the year and oh yeah, more importantly, he is totally in love with your wife." Koga teased.
"That's it. You're fired. You can go home now." Sesshomaru closed his tablet.
Koga cackled. "I'm messin'. Chill! Look, it's about time you made this decision. It's definitely for the best."
Let's hope so, Sesshomaru thought. The concierge came back with the information and handed him an invoice. Sesshomaru scanned it and flashed his amber eyes at the man behind the desk.
"He hasn't checked out yet?"
"No, sir, he hasn't." The concierge replied.
"Dmitri lives in Harlem. Why would he book a hotel room in midtown for a week?" Sesshomaru muttered under his breath.
"An affair?" Koga guessed.
"No, he's 19." Sesshomaru shook his head. "Even if he had a girlfriend, a week?" Sesshomaru turned to the concierge. "Did he have company?"
The concierge nodded. "He had plenty of company. It seems he is a popular man. It was never the same people that visited him."
"We'll need to speak to him privately. His room number?"
"Yes, sir." The concierge tapped away at his laptop. "He's in room C301 located on the third level. I can assist you there."
"We rather you not." Sesshomaru retorted and turned around. Koga hesitated for a moment, smiled his thanks at the concierge and followed Sesshomaru to the elevator.
When they got in, Sesshomaru lifted his jacket to check his holster. He pulled out his gun, checked the clip and clicked it back in.
"Can I get a gun?" Koga asked.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you…"
"Alright, forget it." Koga grumbled. They stopped on the third floor, got out and followed the numbers on the door to Dmitri. Up ahead, a very tall, slender man in uniform opened the door and got out. Sesshomaru quickly noted how unkempt his ginger facial hair was and the dirty converse sneakers peeking out of his crisp white pants. The man gave them a quick look, forced a smile and casually walked down the hall.
"I certainly don't miss hotels when I was on tour." Koga rambled. "But I do miss the girls."
They stopped in front of room C301, which ironically was the same door the room service attendant came out from. The door was ajar.
"Something's not right." Sesshomaru paused and looked back down the hallway. The attendant kept a slow pace and looked over his shoulder.
Sesshomaru opened his senses as he pushed the door open slowly and smelled blood.
"Call the DDC." Sesshomaru said calmly in a low voice, noticing Koga sniffing himself.
Sesshomaru drew out his gun and charged down the hallway. The room attendant jumped in his place and started running. Koga faltered, debating if he should follow after to help but he needed to comply. He pushed the door open as he took his cell phone out and called for backup. His eyes darted all around the room and he noticed a convulsing body on the floor. Dmitri was choking on his own blood as he clutched his neck to press on the wound. He tried to talk but only blood could come out. He looked at Koga with pleading eyes as he reached his hand out for help. Koga knelt down, pressed his hands over his neck.
"Ok, just…try to calm down." Koga advised. He did his best to remain calm but he realized he was shaking. The man was not going to survive and he didn't know what to do. He was immediately dispatched to an operator who confirmed his location and was told they were on their way. Dmitri still made attempts to talk and locked his brown eyes with Koga's blue orbs. Dmitri released one of his trembling hands and started tracing a symbol on the floor beside him in his own blood. Koga watched, his breathing labored, as he looked at Dmitri then the floor.
Koga racked his brain as he tried to make out the symbol.
"Bird?" he said, unsure and Dmitri glared and mustered the strength to shake his head. With his shaky index finger, he drew a halo over an illegible drawing of wings. "Angel?"
Dmitri nodded ferociously and sobbed as he continued to trace his finger across the floor. Koga observed, noticing Dmitri's efforts become weaker, he looked back into Dmitri's eyes and he swore he saw light flicker in them. He was going to die. Dmitri looked back at Koga then toward the bedroom as he tried to finish tracing but he barely finished the last letter before he suffocated on his last breath.
Koga knelt back on his knees as Dmitri's body went limp. He stared at his blood filled hands and gulped. He took a few deep breaths, summoning the courage to keep a level head as he wondered what the hell he got himself into. He'd never seen someone die in front of him and he was unsure of what the proper reaction to this would be. Taking one more deep breath in, he looked back down at Dmitri's message. The last letter was unfinished but he knew it was supposed to be a K. 'Book'. That was Dmitri's last message. He remembered he looked toward the bedroom. He forced his shaky legs up, wiped the blood on his shirt and started searching the room.
Sesshomaru came back into the room, cursing under his breath and scowling around the room. He looked down at Dmitri's lifeless body and clenched his teeth.
"What happened?" Koga said, still searching around the room.
"I almost had him," Sesshomaru gritted. "But as soon as I followed him downstairs into the kitchen, I lost his damn scent and now my only lead is dead."
"He just died." Koga's voice was hoarse.
"Did he say anything?" Sesshomaru asked, his tone desperate.
"He didn't say anything. His throat was slit. But he drew something on the floor."
Koga rubbed his neck, his strained eyes met Sesshomaru's as he pointed to the bloody message beside Dmitri's body.
"He drew some symbol that meant 'Angel'." Koga revealed. "And then he looked over this way and tried to write the word 'book'."
Sesshomaru knelt down beside Dmitri's body and grabbed his wrist. He rolled up Dmitri's sleeve to reveal a tattoo. The tattoo of his crest with the sword of heaven impaled into it. Frowning, he rummaged through Dmitri's pockets and pulled out his wallet and cellphone.
"He's one of them." Sesshomaru stated, while Koga rummage through the closet.
"One of who?" Koga asked, still trying to acknowledge the dead body on the floor beside his friend.
"Angelos…" Sesshomaru whispered.
"And they are?"
"Some underground sect with delusional perspectives on righteousness." Sesshomaru spat as he stood up. "That other man I chased also had a tattoo on his wrist."
"So Dmitri was killed by his own people?" Koga surmised then stopped to look at Sesshomaru. "Why are you following this investigation? You have people who do this job for you. Risking your life on the field when you have a family is stupid."
"Everyone has a family." Sesshomaru uttered. "I had a team investigating this for over a year. They either found nothing or ended up dead. I'm getting impatient and just so you know, I am doing this because of my family."
"Alright…" Koga replied. "My bad. So why are we here? Who is this guy Dmitri?"
"Dmitri stole a gun from his sister. That gun shot and killed Naraku."
"Hold up, hold up…Naraku's dead?" Koga's eyes peered into his with massive confusion. "when?"
"Over a month ago." Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and turned around. He paced around the room, his eyes scanning every little detail.
"Dude! You didn't tell me? Shit…" Koga ran a hand through his hair. "I mean; I wasn't too fond of him but I know you guys were friends. I mean, sorry, dude."
Sesshomaru waved his hand and continued examining the room. He bent down to look under the bed and used his cell phone as a flashlight. Underneath the box spring was a small black leather book duct taped into a crevice. He ripped it off, studied it and showed it to Koga.
"Awesome." Koga muttered. "Now what?"
"The DDC will be here shortly. Let's get some lunch so I can go through this journal. What are you in the mood for?"
Koga blinked, looked at the dead body beside him and gulped down bile forming in his throat.
"You seriously hungry?" Koga questioned.
Sesshomaru shrugged as he leafed through the journal. "I could eat."
Koga shook his head and let his gaze drop back to Dmitri. Sesshomaru quickly looked up from the journal and studied his friend.
"Listen, you really don't have to be with me while I'm doing this. It... doesn't get easier."
"No, man. I'm good." Koga shrugged but Sesshomaru knew he was lying.
"Perhaps maybe you should go back to- "
"I said I'm good." Koga repeated. "Let's get something to eat."
Sesshomaru sighed as he followed Koga out of the room.
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Sesshomaru and Koga sat quietly in a booth of the Moonlight Tavern by Central Park. The waitress walked over to them to take their drink order.
"Two Macallans' 25, neat." Sesshomaru said, not giving the waitress any other acknowledgement. Koga peered up from the menu as she left.
"Dude, double fisting before noon?"
Sesshomaru sighed. "One's for you."
"What?" Koga snapped. "No way. I've been sober for six years."
"Congratulations." Sesshomaru muttered sarcastically. "But I think you need it."
"I'm fine." Koga spat.
"No, you're not." Sesshomaru responded annoyingly. "Your leg is shaking the table and you've been staring vacantly at the menu but I can see the trauma in your eyes."
Koga leaned back shooting a defensive gaze at him. "A guy died in my hands, sorry that affected me somehow. You know what, I do need a drink. What a terrible way to die."
"I've seen worse." Sesshomaru shrugged, his eyebrows furrowing as he attempted to read Dmitri's journal.
Koga bit his lip and looked around the restaurant. The waitress set down their drinks, took their food order and walked away.
"I don't know how you do it." Koga stared down at his drink.
"I don't really have much of a choice." Sesshomaru said, taking a sip of his scotch, urging him with a nod to drink. "You'll feel better."
Koga shook his head and brought the scotch to his mouth. "You're such a bad influence. I fear reverting back to my old self."
"Maybe it isn't such a bad idea. You've gone soft." Sesshomaru teased and Koga's eyes went ablaze. Sesshomaru chuckled under his breath as Koga guzzled the shot. He almost choked from the spicy aftertaste. He glared at Sesshomaru with watery eyes and cringed.
"Wow, that was good. I forgot how good that was. You're right, I feel better. Great advice, using alcohol to cope with problems."
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "I didn't advise that. One drink is enough to take the edge off. I wasn't implying that you take on a life of alcoholism."
"I know." Koga pursed his lips. "I was messin'. I'm confident I won't go back to the way I used to be. Anyway, what's in that book?"
Sesshomaru frowned, shaking his head as he turned each page. "Nothing yet. A lot of it is…wait, I think we're getting somewhere."
Koga leaned over the table and craned his neck to the side to read.
"I think my cover is blown. They used my sister's gun to frame me. Now I fear she will get in trouble. I have to make this right. If they don't come for me, I'm sure the General will eventually. He's mad; the archangel. I've never seen such hate in someone's eyes. He despises him and the power he holds on people to do his bidding; I am at a loss. Trust no one. I can't believe I trusted her. The blood in her eyes should have been a red flag." Koga stopped reading. "Who's Archangel?"
Sesshomaru lifted his hand and the journal flipped to the last page. They both looked down at the book. The entry was today's date.
"If you are reading this, I am dead. If you are Natasha, I am so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing. Forgive me. If you are Archangel, know that you may have ended my life but someone will stop you and I am hoping it is the General. General, if this is you reading, I didn't know who you really were before I joined the cause. I know now that you're not just a demon. You are a man, a man with a family and children and a man protecting his people. Your image has been tainted by the Archangel. Many don't know that the fatalities are caused by his hands but under your name. He is trying to start a war. The only thing I will tell you is that you and the Archangel know each other and he is hell bent on destroying every thing you have. You are a powerful man, please use that power and protect my sister. Tell Natasha this…I finally grew up.'"
Koga rolled his eyes. "This is so frustrating. Couldn't he just tell us who the dude is?"
Sesshomaru sighed. "That would be too easy."
"I guess I'll call the DDC and tell them to get Natasha in our custody?"
Sesshomaru smirked. "Look at you being a good little secretary."
Koga tightened his jaw. "I swear to God, I'm gonna use your own gun and shoot you."
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***Please Review***
Thanks for your patience ^^