Disclaimer: I don't own him, but I guess that was never a surprise, huh?
A/N Howdy folks! Sorry for the wait, but here's a 21 page chapter for you to enjoy! Strap in, buckle up, get ready! Here we go!
"What do you mean, you sped it up?"
"For the millionth time, I don't really know. Somehow my actions have caused your death to happen sooner than it was going to."
"What actions?"
Kagome and Inuyasha were up on the roof, talking after school as the sun slipped down over the horizon. Three days had passed since the concert and Inuyasha had continually heckled Kagome about her statements that night. Kagome was being deliberately evasive with her answers, mainly because she didn't have any, and the topic made her extremely uneasy.
"I don't know, Inuyasha. Just...me coming early to Madison College and meeting you earlier than I was supposed to...these kinds of things are making your death happen earlier as well... I guess," Kagome said. She was sitting with her back against the railing and Inuyasha was standing beside her, leaning on the top rail and looking out at the city below.
"How could your presence have just...changed all that? Just by being here?" he asked doubtfully.
"Why would I affect how quickly the killer kills you?" Kagome wondered out loud.
They were silent for a moment before a thought occurred to Inuyasha. "Maybe it's not so much you personally that affects things, but what you make me do."
"What do you mean?"
"What have you been encouraging me to do, ever since we found out I was the boy in your visions?" he asked her.
She frowned thoughtfully for a moment before meeting his eyes excitedly. "Remember the past!"
"Exactly. What if me remembering things faster is what speeds up the killer's agenda?" Inuyasha said eagerly. Then what he'd said sank in and he let out a shudder.
"Well, what do we do then?" Kagome asked worriedly. "If we stop you from remembering anymore, will you live?"
"Do you really believe that?" Inuyasha said sceptically. Kagome made a face to show she wasn't convinced. "Besides, even if that worked, that'd just mean the murderer gets to go free forever. I want the bastard caught more than anything."
"So then...what are you suggesting?"
"Your plan to do things from my past is working, slowly. I think if I do a whole bunch more stuff, it might speed it up. Then maybe, maybe we can get ahead of the prick and I'll remember before he hunts me down. One call to the police should solve everything," Inuyasha declared confidently.
Kagome gave him a doubtful look. "I don't know how sound that logic is, but there's no harm in giving it a shot. But…"
"But what?"
"What if...what if he's somehow watching us?"
Silence filled the air.
"What?"
"You know...we've reasoned that your dad at least knew the killer because he let him into the house, all the way to the study. So he could have been someone close to your dad, your family. What if he's still close to you…? What if he'll be able to find out the minute you've remembered something?" Kagome ventured.
Inuyasha had gone pale. "Do...do you really think so?"
"It's just a guess, but… What if that's why you remembering things sooner triggers your death to happen earlier? What if as soon as you remember, that's when you die?"
Inuyasha swallowed hard. "I...I don't think I much care for that idea."
"It might not be true," Kagome reasoned.
"But...just in case...let's just keep things between us and Sesshoumaru from now on," Inuyasha said warily.
"Agreed," Kagome said.
"But you know, I haven't remembered anything concrete yet," Inuyasha started, a nervous hitch to his voice.
"Yeah," Kagome agreed. "What are you getting at?"
"Well...think about it. If in the vision, my death's really sped up and it now happens while there's snow on the ground… The snow usually lasts until about the end of March. It's February 2nd. That means…"
Kagome gasped. "There are only two new moons left. And the first one…"
"Is in six days," Inuyasha finished.
This time it was Kagome's turn to swallow thickly. "That's...not good," she said faintly.
"But like I said, I haven't remembered anything yet!" Inuyasha protested. "So it can't be this new moon, can it?"
"I wish I had your confidence," the shaking in her voice betraying her trepidation. "Oh, Inuyasha, what if...what if…!"
He sat down beside her and took her face in his hands. When he had her attention, he said, "We won't let it happen, Kagome. We'll stick together for that night next week, just like we've been doing for the past few new moons. I won't dare go out for anything. It'll be fine."
She gave him a watery smile. "I hope you're right." She sighed and stood up, stretching slightly. "We should really get to bed though. It's past curfew."
Inuyasha nodded and followed her back to the trap door leading back into the school. Her earlier words rang in his head, however, bringing a fear he couldn't suppress.
What if he's watching us? What if he's still close to you…?
..:V:..
A gunshot rang out. Inuyasha's brow furrowed as he tried to wipe the scarlet from his eyes.
"INUTAISHO!"
The scarlet turned to blackness before his vision refocused on a hallway in front of him. The hallway.
He felt the familiar fear, but his determination was too strong this time. He started running, the hallway stretching out an unimaginable length before him. The longer he ran, the more his determination waned. Trepidation once again started to creep over him.
But he had to keep going. He knew the hallway wasn't this long. Any second now he would see the front door. He knew this hallway like the back of his hand.
There it was! He could see it now, coming ever closer at a pace that felt akin to a snail's. The familiar rich dark wood, intricate carving, golden handle…
This was it. This is what he needed to see. As he reached for the handle, he became aware of the footsteps pounding behind him. He yanked on the door, feeling he was on the threshold of something direly important. But he hesitated.
Just as the door was swinging open, he felt his tenuous grasp on the dream slip and his vision faded to white.
Inuyasha awoke in his darkened dorm room, sweating and panting heavily, his arm outstretched. At the realization that his memory had slipped away from him once again, he pounded his fist upon his forehead. "Dammit!"
He'd been so close this time. So damn close to seeing something substantial. But his hesitance had cost him once again. When would he be able to control his fear enough to finally confront his demons?
..:V:..
The next morning at breakfast, he told Kagome what he had seen in his dream.
"So you finally reached the end of the hallway and opened the door just to wake up?" she said, trying to get the facts straight.
"Yeah. I was totally on the verge of seeing something important, I'm sure of it!" he vented his frustration.
"But…" Kagome frowned. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the important thing you see come from behind you? Isn't the killer chasing you?"
"Yeah…" Inuyasha replied uncertainly.
"Then what could possibly be so important behind the door? It's in the wrong direction. I mean, in your memory it probably equals freedom or escape from the killer, but that's it, right?"
Inuyasha shrugged helplessly. "I can't explain it. I just know I have to see what's there. And I'm so fed up with not remembering anything, especially now that we think there's someone just watching and waiting to make their move, to kill me whenever it's bloody convenient for them." He slammed a fist on the table.
"Good morning compatriots!" Miroku's sunny tone of voice broke into their depressed atmosphere.
"There's nothing good about it," Sango snarled from his side. "There is never anything good about being awake at this hour."
"Now now, Sango," he admonished lightly. To the others, he said, "She's just cranky because I had to work on an essay last night and couldn't hang out with her. She missed out on some valuable Miroku time."
Sango snorted. "Yeah, I was sooo deprived. Luckily Bankotsu was able to spare some time for me instead, and helped me with my chem homework." She flipped her ponytail as she sat down across from Kagome.
Miroku choked as he half-sat, half-fell down in the seat beside her. "What? Bankotsu?" His voice was several octaves higher than normal.
"Oh yeah," Sango responded casually. "So don't worry about lil' old me being all alone and crying at night — I have plenty of people to keep me company while you're busy." She gave Kagome a surreptitious wink.
"Now hey, wait a second," Miroku said seriously. "Why is Bankotsu helping you with chem homework all of a sudden? He's like the captain of the football team...and the soccer team! What does he want with you?"
"Why does he need to want something from me?" Sango replied. "We've been in the same class since like grade four. We go waaaaay back, him and I."
"Y-you do?"
"Oh yeah. I consider him a really close, personal friend. And on that note, I'm gonna go buy my breakfast. Watch my stuff, will you Kagome?" Sango got up and cooly walked off.
Miroku scrambled to get up and chase after her. "Hang on, Sango—!" he called after her.
Inuyasha and Kagome burst into laughter once they were out of earshot.
"She sure played that up well," Kagome commented between giggles.
"It was about time Miroku had the tables turned on him," Inuyasha snorted.
When the couple returned with their food, Sango was still looking smug and Miroku slightly harried. He seemed to be trying to convince her that childhood friends were not all they were cracked up to be and that there was no one in their grade who knew more about chemistry than he did, should she ever need the extra help again.
"Anyways," Sango broke through his rambling. "What's new with you guys? You've been awfully quiet this week. Wasn't the concert any good?"
Simultaneously Inuyasha and Kagome both broke into forced laughter. "Oh, the concert! No, no, it was great," Kagome emphasized. "Sooo memorable."
"Ha ha ha, what she said," Inuyasha agreed.
Sango raised an eyebrow at their behaviour, but didn't comment on it. "Well, I'm glad to know Mimic's still got it," she said slowly. "Then if it's not that, is it the new semester? All new classes! Did you get any good ones?"
"I have Art," Kagome replied. "It's pretty fun so far. Then I have...Chemistry, Calculus and Computer Programming."
"Yeah, the only class we have in common this semester is Computer Programming," Inuyasha said. "Aside from that, I have Algebra, Biology and Business."
"Are you just disappointed you're not in more classes together then?" Sango asked the pair, still trying to ascertain what was bothering them.
"Yeah, that's what it must be," Kagome said, lying a little more believably this time. "It's too bad, really."
"Hey, I know what will lift the mood. We should all do something together soon," Miroku suggested. "How about this weekend?"
"Ah, I can't this weekend," Inuyasha said. "I have a huge Biology lab report due on Monday. Great way to kick off the new semester, right?"
He sent a glance to Kagome, and without words she knew the real reason he wanted to remain inside and alone this weekend was because it was too close to the new moon. He wanted to play it safe.
She nodded her agreement and added, "Yeah, I can't either — I have a big Calculus test to study for. How about next weekend?" Assuming we make it through the new moon okay… she added in her head.
"Ah, fair enough," Miroku said. "Yeah, I could do next weekend. How about you, Sango?"
"I'm in. What should we do? Watch a movie or something?"
"Oh!" Inuyasha cut in eagerly. "We should watch the last movie I saw in theatres before my coma. I remember it was really awesome. It was called The Mummy."
"The Mummy, huh?" Miroku mused. "That is a pretty classic movie. Yeah, I could go for that."
"Me too," Sango agreed. "I used to have a huge crush on Brandon Frasier."
"Oh really?" Miroku said, turning to her expectantly. "First Bankotsu, now Brandon Frasier. I wasn't aware I had so much competition to contend with."
"It doesn't really count as competition once you've already gotten the girl," Sango remarked dryly. "Besides, my crush on Bankotsu was over in the seventh grade when he dumped spaghetti on my head."
"Wait, you actually did have a crush on Bankotsu too?" Miroku asked, his voice rising a little higher. "I suddenly feel like there's been a serious lack of information flow between us. Is there anything else I should know about?"
Sango shrugged and gave him a secretive smile. "Why ruin the surprise? Besides, we were in the middle of discussing Mummy watching plans."
Miroku spluttered for a moment but was left no time to retort.
"Yeah," Inuyasha said. "You know, we could probably watch it at my brother's place too. He has that giant TV and entertainment system."
"That would be pretty sweet," Sango admitted. "Okay, so it's a plan!"
They ate the rest of their breakfast while chatting happily and then went their respective ways when the bell for first period rang.
..:V:..
The rest of the week passed without incident, though school alone was enough to keep Inuyasha and Kagome busy. Kagome was actually thankful for the extra workload as, as it had been in the past, it was the only thing that successfully distracted her from the terror of real life events. The dread she felt about the upcoming new moon turned her stomach to knots and she couldn't bear to think that her nightmare vision could come true within a matter of days. She tossed and turned at night, only ever slipping into sleep for an hour or two at a time, before restlessly waking up again.
As for Inuyasha, he hardly stirred from his dorm room at all. He attended classes, though in a much more subdued manner than usual, and he didn't dare venture off campus for anything. He refused to go back to Sesshoumaru's house for the weekend and instead stayed shut up in his dorm room, doing homework and watching the clock tick ever closer to the night he feared. His nights were just as fitful as Kagome's as he kept seeing flashes of his dream memories, but he never stayed asleep long enough to fully immerse himself in them.
When they met up again Monday morning for breakfast, each of them had dark circles under their eyes and looked a little worse for wear.
"I think I completed like a month's worth of homework this past week," Kagome commented dully.
"I at least accomplished a month's worth of scribbles," Inuyasha replied. "I don't know if any of it was any sort of quality. I was a little distracted by my demise tomorrow night."
"God, this can't be happening," Kagome said. "Maybe it's not this month, but next month."
"Even if it's next month, the part where it's my demise still holds true," Inuyasha pointed out.
"Arrrgh!" Kagome exclaimed in frustration. "This is so not fair! You can't die. You just can't. You hear me, Inuyasha? I won't allow it!"
Inuyasha paused. "Like ever? What if I'm like a hundred and two?"
"Only then will I allow you to pack it in!" Kagome declared. The two paused for a moment and then burst into giggles, the result of the high stress situation. When they passed, Kagome moaned anew. "Oh, what are we going to do? We can't stop an attack when we don't know where it's coming from…"
Inuyasha rubbed his face with his hand. "Tell me about it. I guess we just have to hope that tomorrow night's not the night and then do all we can to figure out this mystery in the remaining month."
"But will it be enough time?" Kagome said quietly.
"It'll have to be," Inuyasha said grimly. "It's all we've got. Or rather, if I survive this new moon, then it's all we've got."
"Not much of a fighting chance," Kagome said, making a face. "Okay, but seriously — I can't spend another night doing homework. We should do something together tonight. If tomorrow really is your last day, we can't spend tonight doing math problems. We need to do something to take our minds off everything. Something a little more...fun."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "Just what did you have in mind?"
..:V:..
"Right hand, blue."
Inuyasha groaned as the only available blue circle was far out of reach. He already felt like a pretzel and he was wondering why Kagome ever thought a game of Twister would be fun. He made an attempt for the circle anyway, but spectacularly failed, falling and taking Kagome down with him.
Souta looked down at him from his bed where he had been spinning the colour wheel. "You kind of suck at this game, Inuyasha," he informed him solemnly.
"Yeah, thanks kid. Real helpful," he grumbled, picking himself and Kagome up off the mat.
What resulted next was a series of board and card games which Souta continuously won. For although Kagome and Inuyasha were trying to take their minds of things, they couldn't help but be bothered by what might happen the following night. Therefore Inuyasha's "last night" was spent neither enjoyably nor memorably.
They hadn't told Souta of the change in vision so though he knew a new moon was approaching, he had no idea of its inflated importance. He assumed they were just a bit on edge because they always were around a new moon, and didn't know this could be the last one they dealt with.
Kagome felt guilty about not informing her brother, but she felt as though the more people who knew, the more real the possibility of Inuyasha's death the following night would become. She swore that if they made it through this, she would tell him everything.
As it was, they decided to wrap up their "fun" around eight o'clock and Kagome headed back to her own room. Now they had only to wait.
..:V:..
"Snacks, games, energy drinks… I think we're all set for another long stakeout," Kagome said, unloading items from her bottomless bag.
"The longest yet," Inuyasha muttered, playing with his newly black hair.
"Let's not think about that," Kagome said breezily, focusing her attention on the things she brought with her. "What's first?"
"Oh boy, more games!" Souta said excitedly. "This time I say we gamble with the candy so I can win something worthwhile."
"Gambling's wrong," Kagome said mildly. "..But I say let's go for it."
The three broke into the pack of cards and started playing a series of games which again, Souta won most of. The past week of stress and lack of sleep started to catch up to Inuyasha and Kagome, however, and before too long, they both felt their eyes drooping.
Souta excused himself around one in the morning and crashed on his bed. The other two tried to stay awake, but even the energy drinks were having no effect. Kagome pinched herself several times, but it was no use. She finally had no choice but to give into the black void of sleep.
She awoke slowly, light from the sun piercing her eyelids until she could no longer remain in slumber. She groggily raised a hand to shield her face as she opened her eyes into a squint. It wasn't until a minute later when full realization hit her and she looked around in a panic.
Her dismay was misplaced, however, since Inuyasha was sleeping soundly beside her on his bed, a peaceful expression on his face. Before her eyes, his hair was spinning itself back into silver and his ears slid up into his hairline to resume their furry shape atop his head. His fingernails lengthened and hardened and she knew his eyes had changed colour under his lids. She breathed the biggest sigh of relief of her life.
This hadn't been the new moon of her vision.
She flopped back on the bed, her head resting on Inuyasha's shoulder as she laughed softly to herself. They had more time. She turned on her side so she could rest her head over his heart and hear it beating strongly as his chest simultaneously rose with every breath. The sound and rhythm gave her comfort and she closed her eyes and drifted into sleep once more.
When she awoke next, it was to Souta's alarm, indicating it was time to get up and get ready for school. She groaned when she realized that the world going on past this night meant...the world went on past this night. And in reality, it was a Wednesday morning, only the middle of the school week. Failing to show up for school was so much harder when you lived on campus.
Inuyasha stirred beneath her and she lifted her head as he blearily opened his eyes. "Good morning," she said with a smile.
"Good morning…" he said slowly, before bolting up in bed and grasping his long silver hair in amazement. "Nothing happened! I'm still here! I'm demon again. Most importantly, I'm not dead!"
"Yes, I know. Thank god for that," Kagome said, stroking his cheek.
"Yay, chalk another one up to the good guys," Souta said, shuffling out of bed. "At this rate, your vision will never come true, Kagome. Now I'll let you two celebrate another victory while I steal the shower first."
He traipsed into the bathroom and the couple looked at each other.
"He really doesn't know that there's only really one victory left to win," Kagome said with a depressed sigh. "But I'll tell him all about it after school. I hate keeping him out of the loop. He's always been with me through everything."
"Yeah, I agree," Inuyasha said with a nod.
Kagome looked around the room for a minute, adjusting to the idea that they had another month to work with. And that, for now anyway, life went on. "Well, I suppose I should get back to my room and get ready for, of all things, school."
"Yeah," Inuyasha replied sarcastically. "Wouldn't want to miss that."
"See you at breakfast, Inuyasha," Kagome said, giving him a lingering kiss before gathering her stuff and heading out the door.
..:V:..
"Soooo, we're still on for this weekend, right?" Miroku broached the subject Thursday at lunch.
"Yeah, totally," Inuyasha confirmed. "I asked my brother and he even agreed to letting everyone stay overnight if we weren't too loud after ten o'clock."
"That's awesome," Sango enthused. "Your brother rocks."
"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that," Inuyasha said quickly. "More like he has to go to a conference over the weekend and he wants someone to babysit Rin and the more bodyguards the better."
"Ah, ulterior motive," Miroku said knowingly.
"There's no other motive when it comes to my brother," Inuyasha retorted.
"And what is your brother going to do this weekend?" Miroku asked Kagome. "Is he staying here in the dorm alone?"
"Souta and Kohaku have a scheme to hang out this weekend at Sango's place," Kagome answered. "They seem awfully excited about it and I may have overheard plans of bothering some girls in their classes who live in the neighbourhood. But I refuse to assume any responsibility on that matter."
"Speaking of bothering neighbourhood girls, I remember when—"
"Whatever you did, I think I can safely say that no one here wants to hear about it, Miroku," Sango cut in. "I hereby declare this a PG table."
Miroku pouted but stayed silent. "Oh, fine… It was a great story too."
"Which probably ended with you in handcuffs," Inuyasha said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh please, I've never been in handcuffs in my entire life," Miroku snorted derisively.
"Doesn't mean you shouldn't have been," Sango retorted.
"This is totally unjustified hostility," Miroku sniffed, picking up his tray and standing. "I'm going to go get ready for fourth period."
"Right behind ya, sex offender," Sango hassled, the rest of the group rising from the table as well.
"Aw, come on!"
..:V:..
"Listen Rin, you think that just because Sesshoumaru's away and I'm in charge, that I'm just going to let you dump that whole extra cup of melted butter all over the popcorn?"
Inuyasha and Rin stared each other down over the kitchen island. Rin tilted her head to the side at his question.
"Because you'd be absolutely right!" he continued, holding out the popcorn bowl. "Come on, load 'er up!"
The girl gleefully seasoned the snack as the others called for them to hurry up from the next room. "It's starting!" Kagome called.
The pair hastened out to the living room and found themselves seats as the opening scene started to play.
Inuyasha watched the movie unfolding before him, feeling a deeper emotion tug at him from inside. What was occurring onscreen was causing him to remember the pure joy he had felt from seeing the movie for the first time in theatres. It had felt larger than life to him, the greatest adventure. He remembered being overtaken by the desire to travel to Egypt and track down ancient tombs, unearthing all their secrets. He recalled that after having left the theatre, he had been blabbering on and on about the movie, thinking it had been the best thing he'd seen recently.
When he'd gotten home, he had ranted to his mother how much he'd loved the movie and she'd listened with a patient smile, saying the two of them would have to go see it together another time. Inuyasha smiled sadly at the memory, thinking how that would never happen now.
Next he frowned, however. Who had he gone to the movie with? His mother and father had stayed home. He cocked his head to the side as he thought about it.
"...kidding me? Why do I…?"
A snippet of a memory came back to Inuyasha and he slowly realized what he'd been forgetting. His brother had been with him that night.
"Sesshoumaru took me to see this movie," he said aloud without thinking.
The other heads in the room turned to look at him. "Really, Inuyasha? That's cool of him," Sango remarked.
"I don't think he wanted to…" Inuyasha said, trying to recall. "But I can't quite remember. I think my focus on the movie was so strong it overpowered the rest of the night."
"Understandable," Miroku shrugged. Turning his attention back to the movie, he winced as Rick O'Connell dodged what would have been a particularly painful blow. "This movie still rocks, even after six years."
"Yeah, it totally does," Inuyasha agreed. "Though it only feels like one year for me."
"Even better," Miroku enthused. "Less time between the awesome."
Inuyasha grinned at that — the first time someone had suggested there was an upside to losing five years of your life.
Still, as the rest of the movie played out, he wondered how he had forgotten that Sesshoumaru had been home from university a week before their parents' murders.
..:V:..
Inuyasha tossed and turned that night, unable to sleep. The group had decided to camp out on the living room floor, moving the furniture and spreading out their sleeping bags. Rin and the others had dozed off hours ago, but despite his efforts, Inuyasha couldn't follow their example.
Finally he quit trying and lay flat on his back, looking up at the darkened ceiling. The more he thought about the night he went to see the movie, the more it came back to him. It wasn't like his repressed memory of the night his parents were killed. It was just something he hadn't really thought about before, and forgotten about. But he was remembering it now.
Sesshoumaru had come home from university for the weekend, May seventh to ninth. Inuyasha had been waiting to see The Mummy for several months and it came out that Friday. His mother wanted Sesshoumaru to take him to see it Saturday night. He had overheard their conversation in the kitchen.
"Are you kidding me? Why do I have to take the little runt? I've got plans tonight."
"Now, now, Sesshoumaru. Please just do this. He's been waiting months to see this movie."
"So you take him."
"Use a little nicer tone when speaking to me, please. And I would really appreciate it if you would take your little brother. The two of you should spend more time together."
"I'd rather spend the least amount of time with him as possible."
"Don't you think your childhood bickering has gone on long enough?" Her tone was exasperated. "You're twenty-one years old now, Sesshoumaru. Time to be the mature one and set this silly feud aside."
"Tch."
"Come on. Don't disappoint your younger brother. To you, he may only be your half-brother, but he's still family. Family's important. You and I may not be related by blood, but you know I consider you to be my son."
"I know that."
"Then extend your brother the same courtesy. If you lose touch with your brother now, you'll regret it down the line."
"It's one stupid movie, Mom. It's not like it going to miraculously salvage our relationship, no matter what you're hoping. We're never going to 'get along' and have some lame brotherly bond or something."
His mother sighed. "Then please just indulge me. You never know. You may think it's just a stupid movie, but it may be the start you need to begin mending bridges."
"But what about my plans tonight? I never get to see my high school friends except when I come home!"
"And you never get to see your brother except for these times too. I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru, but I'd really like you to do this. You can meet up with your friends tomorrow."
There was a tightly controlled tone to his voice that Inuyasha recognized to this day as Sesshoumaru veiling his anger. "Fine. This one time only. And for you, not him."
As Inuyasha thought about it now, he remembered that the conversation hadn't bothered him too much back then. He knew Sesshoumaru hated him. That had always been true, no matter what his mother hoped for. But in the end, it meant he got to go see the movie he had been waiting forever for so all he felt that night was excitement.
And Sesshoumaru's foul mood as he drove him to the theatre didn't bother him either. He didn't say anything to Inuyasha on the way over, not even to insult him. But Inuyasha chose not to care. Enough of Sesshoumaru's disdain had already been thrown his way to last a lifetime.
As they alighted from the car, Sesshoumaru had whipped out his cellphone and dialled a number. Soon he was talking to one of the high school friends he was supposed to have hung out with that night.
"Yeah, I have to babysit my half-brother," he was saying.
Inuyasha winced. That "half" always stung, whether it was followed by brother or breed. It always meant he never fully belonged.
"I don't know why I got stuck with the mutt — my mom wanted me to take him to see this movie. I'd much rather go out with you guys."
Inuyasha refused to be upset by that comment. Sesshoumaru said it so casually, as if he weren't even there. He reminded himself that he would also much rather if Sesshoumaru went out with his friends and his mother or father had taken him to the movie instead.
As they approached the theatre, Sesshoumaru kept talking on his cell. "No, I didn't come down this morning… yeah, I got in early last night. And listen to this. I swung by my dad's work because he was working late — as always — the man's a robot! … ...Oh, because my mom wanted me to take him his dinner. … …Yes, yes," he rolled his eyes in annoyance. "My parents are flipping precious, now can I finish? Alright so instead of buzzing security, I decided to take it up to him myself— Yeah, I'm precious too, okay? Can you shut up now?
"Anyway I took it up myself — I like checking in on my future holdings every now and again. You know, to get a feel for the workers, and let them gaze on the face of their future Lord and Master," his tone began to brim with smugness. "Also, to scope out the best offices to see which one I'll take when I graduate... ..." the smugness disappeared with an eye roll. "No I can't take my father's office! ... ... Because he'll still be working, you asshat! ... ... No he won't retire! Have you met the man? He'll probably work himself into his grave, and only then give up his hold on the company. If we're lucky." He chuckled darkly at a joke on the other end of the line.
"But the whole point of this story was to say that it seems like my dad got a new intern in the office a little while ago," his tone turned to slyness. "She's still in college and for the time being, she's acting as an assistant to his secretary." A pause. "Oh, I'd definitely rank her as at least an eight. Personally, I'd even give her a nine, but then I go for smart corporate type chicks. They usually have something more between the ears than just fluff. And this girl's quick as a whip, let me assure you." He chuckled knowingly to something said on the other end of the line. "Well, let's just say that from now on, whenever I'm home, I may find more excuses to swing by the office and visit Daddy Dearest. There's even more reason to check out my future 'assets' now," he concluded with a very satisfied smirk.
A second later, he blinked and glanced negligently over his shoulder at Inuyasha. "No, he hasn't wandered into traffic," adding snidely, "No I'm as shocked about it as you are!"
After a few more exchanges of words, Sesshoumaru had ended his phone call and they had entered the theatre. They purchased some tickets before heading over to the concession stand. Sesshoumaru made a vague effort to be cordial.
"Did you want a kiddy combo or something?"
Inuyasha glared up at him. "I'm twelve, not seven."
Sesshoumaru snorted. "Could have fooled me."
"I'll have a regular popcorn, thanks. And a coke."
"Hope you brought some money with you then."
"Argh! You're such a jackass!"
"Just remember it was never my idea to bring you here. Don't expect me to be the big loving brother you've always wanted," he said mockingly.
"No, don't worry about it," Inuyasha retorted. "I gave up on that idea a long time ago."
With that, he had stormed up to the concession counter, Sesshoumaru staying strangely quiet behind him.
As Inuyasha thought back on it now, he remembered that as soon as the movie had started, all irritating thoughts of his brother had vanished. Their rude exchanges were nothing unusual — they happened constantly. But this night was about a movie he'd been wanting to see for a while. And it didn't disappoint. So whatever douchebag attitude Sesshoumaru was treating him with was easily brushed to the side, if only for the night.
They'd returned home pretty well without incident. Sesshoumaru seemed to have become less ticked off during the course of the movie, presumably being well enough entertained by it. He even let Inuyasha rant about it for a solid five minutes in the car before firmly telling him to shut up or walk home.
In the end, they arrived home much the same as how they'd left — not talking to one another. Their mother saw their cold distance as they reentered the house and sighed dejectedly. But she hadn't had that much time to lament it since Inuyasha immediately launched into a retelling of the movie, which Sesshoumaru had been too impatient to hear.
Inuyasha rolled onto his side in his sleeping bag, coming face to face with Rin. As he gazed upon her tiny face, he once again tried to reconcile the brother he knew with this selfless act of adoption. He once again found no answers.
He sighed and tried once more to find sleep, his mother's words about the importance of family bouncing around in his head.
..:V:..
The next morning, Kagome woke up slowly to find everyone save Inuyasha still asleep. In fact, the silver-haired boy was nowhere to be seen. She rubbed her eyes and wormed her way out of her sleeping bag before getting up to hunt for him.
After searching most of the house, she finally spotted him outside, of all places, perched on the railing of the back deck. She grabbed her boots from the front hall and headed out to speak with him.
She shivered as the winter air hit her and her boots crunched in the snow as she made her way towards him. "Oooh, jeez it's freezing! What are you doing out here, Inuyasha?"
He turned to look at her with a half-smile and she saw he was holding a mug of hot chocolate in his hands. "Hey, Kagome. I couldn't sleep."
Kagome frowned. "Why not?"
He took a sip of the drink and then passed the cup to her. She accepted it gratefully.
"I don't know," he said with a shrug. "First it was memories bothering me. Not those memories—" he amended at her sharp look, "—but memories of when I saw The Mummy for the first time. Memories of my brother before the murders."
Kagome tried to see where this was going. "Was he different back then?"
Inuyasha was silent for a moment. "...Yeah. I guess he was. But still a jackass," he assured her quickly.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "I never had any doubt."
"Anyways, after that...I can't explain it, but I just felt awful."
"Awful? Why?"
"I… I—" he seemed to not know how to continue. "I don't know why, but I just...I just have a really bad feeling."
"There has to be a reason." Once again, she couldn't tell what he was getting at.
"I wish I could tell you. And that's almost what makes it worse. There's this dread building inside me, and I don't know for the life of me why. But I can tell you what I'm dreading."
"What, Inuyasha?" She reached out a hand to lay on top of his.
"The door in my dream. The one I couldn't get to, and now the one I can't open. I don't know what made me think about it last night, but as soon as I did, I suddenly I couldn't bear the thought of falling asleep and facing it," he said with a shudder.
"I don't get it," Kagome said, her brow furrowing. "Is what's behind the door connected somehow to the night you went to the movies?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "I don't know. But that door...suddenly I really don't want to open it anymore."
"But, Inuyasha—"
He cut in. "Up 'til now, I've always hesitated when I get to it and I think it's because I'm dreading what I'm going to find, no matter how important it is. Because somewhere deep inside I know what's there and I don't want to see it again. I don't want to remember what I saw that night."
Kagome was silent for a moment before her hand closed around his and gave it a squeeze. "But you have to," she said softly.
Inuyasha sighed heavily. "I know I do. Because if I don't, I'll be dead in a month's time."
They stared out at the snowy backyard for a while before Kagome ventured to take a sip of the hot chocolate. She nearly spit it out once she did. "Inuyasha, this is cold! How long have you really been out here?"
He shrugged. "A while. I told you I couldn't sleep."
"Well, come on. Let's get you back inside before you get frostbite or something. I haven't been out here ten minutes and already my fingers are numb."
He ceded to her heckling and climbed down off the railing, draping an arm around her shoulders as they headed back inside.
..:V:..
The others rose one by one that morning and they cleaned up the living room. Sesshoumaru was due back in the evening so everyone stayed for the day, playing video games and watching two more movies. They went outside and played in the snow, helping Rin to make a proper snowman. If anyone noticed Inuyasha's distracted behaviour and forced cheerfulness throughout the day, they had the courtesy not to mention it. The worries from the previous night still plagued him, and the lack of sleep stole away his energy. But he carried on with the rest of them, and enjoyed the day despite himself.
They hastily cleaned the house to sparkling perfection before Sesshoumaru was expected to arrive back and had just flopped down on the couch when they heard him pull up in the driveway.
As he opened the front door, Rin rocketed to him, tackling his midsection with a gleeful shout. He absorbed the impact with ease, obviously being used to it by now. "Yes, yes, Rin — I'm glad to see you too."
Inuyasha found himself watching his brother's movements more than he ever had before. He scrutinized him as he pried himself free of Rin, as he hung up his jacket and took off his shoes, and as he turned to examine the house for dirt stains.
His brother had changed since the murders. Maybe he hadn't noticed it because he'd never really known his brother to begin with. But his smug and carefree attitude of the past was gone now. His face was a cold mask. There was no way to know what he was thinking, unless it involved disdain or anger — but even those were carefully controlled. Really, if Inuyasha thought about it, the only time Sesshoumaru seemed like his old self was when he was openly insulting him.
For some reason the words of the nurse at the hospital came rushing back to him. Just...empty. …like a shell.
Eventually Sesshoumaru caught him staring at him and raised an eyebrow. "From a cursory glance, it seems you haven't destroyed the house in my absence. Further inspection may prove otherwise, however."
Inuyasha scoffed in response. "Yeah, 'heaven forbid' we leave a stray fingerprint lying around."
"Indeed," was all Sesshoumaru said in response and Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Whether or not he had changed, he was still impossible to deal with.
The four friends started to pack up their things and get ready to head back to the school for the night. Inuyasha kept sneaking looks back at Sesshoumaru, noticing how fondly he interacted with Rin. A strange pang hit him inside and he had no idea what it was. All he knew was that Sesshoumaru had never spoken to him like that, and likely never would. But that's how he wanted it, right? He hated the jerk, after all.
Inuyasha hoisted his overnight bag over his shoulder, feeling more confused than he'd felt in a while. And it didn't help that his feeling of dread was starting to overtake him again. It seemed to be tied to Sesshoumaru for some reason. Whenever his thoughts strayed to his brother, the feeling returned. But why?
The others took their bags out the front door to pack them into the awaiting limousine. Inuyasha deliberately dragged his heels as another thought started niggling at him. Sesshoumaru noticed his slowed steps and detached himself from Rin. He was about to say something when the questioning, unsure look in Inuyasha's eyes stopped him.
Hesitantly, Inuyasha began, "You know...Sesshoumaru… I was remembering last night about how you took me to see The Mummy…"
Something flickered behind Sesshoumaru's eyes. "That was a long time ago, brother," was all he said.
"We can go into how much you hated taking me and everything another time, but I was just wondering… You were talking on the phone that time with a friend. You mentioned a new intern in Dad's office. ...That was Kagura, wasn't it?"
Sesshoumaru passed a hand over his face like he was suddenly weary. "Yes, I suppose it was. Is there a point to this little dialogue?"
"Just one more question," Inuyasha promised with a hint of a smirk. "Is she still a 'nine' in your books?"
"What absurdity," Sesshoumaru snorted at this. "Now hurry up and get out to the limo. Your friends are waiting."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. I'm going already."
"And Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha turned back in the doorway.
With a flat look, Sesshoumaru stated, "The woman is clearly a ten."
Inuyasha gave another smirk before heading out the door, but it slid away as soon as his back was turned. His anxiety had returned full force and this time he couldn't shake it off.
..:V:..
"Good night, Inuyasha."
"Good night, Souta," Inuyasha said, reaching up to turn off his bedside light.
He lay back on his pillow, feeling exhaustion sweep over him. The fact that he hadn't slept at all the night before was really catching up to him now. But at the same time, he knew what was waiting for him if he succumbed to sleep. He instinctively knew he would get his answer the next time he entered that dream. It scared him more than he wanted to admit.
But he needed to know.
He needed to know.
The sound of a gunshot startled him and he frantically swiped at the red material covering his eyes.
"INUTAISHO!"
Scarlett faded to black and then...the corridor lay before him. His mother's voice urged him forward, "Run, Inuyasha, run!"
His feet started to move, pounding on the floor as he charged down the hall. He could hear his mother's ragged breathing match his own as she ran behind him.
And then the terrifying sound of someone chasing after them reached his ears. The weight of those harsh footfalls was chilling. A deep voice cried out, but Inuyasha's focus was on the front door ahead of him. He was sure if he could only reach it...he and his mother would have a chance of survival.
His heart thumped painfully in his chest and tears of sheer fright stung his eyes. The door, it was right there. How could it seem so close and yet so far away at the same time?
He slammed into it at an alarming speed. Frantically, he unbolted the lock and yanked at the door handle.
In his sleep, Inuyasha's brow furrowed. Hesitation would wake him, he knew. Hesitation could bring him out of this before he saw anything important. But hesitation couldn't hide the truth from him any longer.
Just as the door swung wide, two shots rang out and he was bowled over by a heavy weight. He chanced to do what he had not dared to before — look behind him.
His mother's body was pining his legs to the ground, two fresh bullet holes in her back. Her hair was splayed wildly around her, mixing with the rapidly spilling blood. She moved not an inch. Inuyasha's eyes were wide as his mind refused to process the scene before him. "M-Mom!"
The sound of a click made Inuyasha start and frantically wriggle himself out from under his mother. He launched himself to his feet and turned to dash out the door, only to hear another loud bang. The next thing he knew, he felt a searing pain in his back. A gasp for air stuck in his throat as he staggered a few more steps forward. He tripped on the front steps and crashed through the shrubberies to the side. Everything felt heavy. He wanted to get up and keep running, but his body wouldn't obey him. Pain racked his body. Something was horribly wrong.
Darkness began to seep into his vision and with it, fear. With great effort, he managed to raise his head slightly, but it was less than a second before his control slipped. He fell back into the grass once more with a soft thud. The last thing he saw before his sight faded to black was a dark car waiting at the end of his driveway with a startled woman inside…
Inuyasha awoke with a start, panting heavily and clutching his chest. His heart was beating wildly and his mind was racing. All he could see was that last image of his dream.
He kicked off his tangled sheets in the darkened dorm room, seething.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" he cursed as he sat up, angrily swiping away the hair from his face. He pushed himself out of bed and stalked to the bathroom, indifferent to how loud his steps were. "What the hell! What the hell?" he demanded his reflection in the mirror.
He turned on the tap and splashed cold water on his face, scrubbing the skin raw. He looked up at himself again, calculating what to believe. "It can't be true, can it?"
The image of his seventeen year old self glared balefully back at him as if in admonishment. As if to say, "you know better."
There could be no mistake.
"Dammit!" Inuyasha kicked the wall in frustration. "What was Kagura doing at my parents' house that night?"
..:V:..
Kagome spotted Inuyasha walking briskly towards her in the hallway. He quickly swatted a Valentine's Day decoration out of his way, frowning as if it had no right in being there. But it was Valentine's Day, Kagome mused to herself. The Student Council had littered the school with red, pink and white decorations, hanging from the ceiling and covering the walls. Apparently everyone really wanted to celebrate love this year.
Well, the Student Council anyway. Kagome had noticed more than one student glaring menacingly up at the decorations as if they were mocking them, judging them for being single. Kagome pondered for a moment at how Valentine's Day seemed to divide people into deliriously happy or hatefully bitter before her attention was drawn back to her own boyfriend charging up to her, looking none too happy himself.
"Hey, sorry I missed you at breakfast," she greeted him. "Sango insisted on me helping her pick out the perfect Valentine's Day outfit which of course made us beyond late. I myself had to thrown on whatever was closest at hand so I'm sorry if I haven't stunned you with the perfect dress today."
"Come with me," was all Inuyasha said, gripping her upper arm painfully and pulling her into an empty classroom. He shut and locked the door behind them before letting go of her arm.
She rubbed her arm as she looked more carefully at his face. There was barely controlled emotion there. "Inuyasha, what's wrong? What's going on?"
"It's Kagura! Kagura's going wrong! She's what's on!" he exploded suddenly.
Kagome blinked. "Come again? And maybe a little slower this time?"
"Kagura! She—she—!" He lapsed into fuming silence.
"Inuyasha, I don't understand. What is it about Kagura that's got you so upset?" Kagome reached out a calming hand to touch his arm.
He brushed her off and began to pace. "She was there! She was there."
"She was where?" Kagome asked in exasperation. "Please, I don't—"
"SHE WAS AT MY HOUSE WHEN MY PARENTS' WERE KILLED!" he yelled.
Kagome felt the blood drain from her face and her knees suddenly felt too weak to support her weight. In shock, she collapsed into one of the free seats. "K-Kagura? A-are you sure?"
"I saw her. She was there."
Kagome felt a wave of heat rush through her body. This was too surreal. What was he saying? It couldn't be true. Kagura was their friend, she wanted them to catch the murderer as badly as they did. "This can't be right," she heard herself saying. "Kagura wouldn't… She's our friend, she helps us. She couldn't have—"
"—been lying to us this entire time?" Inuyasha supplied.
"I-I don't understand," her voice was weak and her head felt light. "What are you saying? That...she killed your parents?"
Inuyasha frowned and continued to pace. "I've been thinking about it all morning. But I don't think it's possible. She was in the car, out on the road. She was the last thing I saw before I fell unconscious."
Kagome frowned to herself for a minute before responding, "And you were shot in the back, from inside the house… But...what does this mean?"
"There was more than one person involved in my parents' murder," Inuyasha said grimly.
"God." Kagome swallowed. "How is this possible? How could this be happening?"
"It's not happening, it happened. There were two people there that night. Kagura's one of them. And she knows who the other one is."
"But...but... How could she deceive us all like this? She and your brother—"
Inuyasha felt a pang in his gut. "She's been lying to us. She must have been lying to him too. We can't trust anything she's told us."
"Nothing?" Kagome dropped in her head in her hands. "This is all too much. I don't even know what to think. And you're saying not only is Kagura involved somehow in your parents' death, but there were two people there that night all along? How could we have missed that?"
"How could we have known?" Inuyasha countered. "Maybe she just stayed outside in the car the whole time. There was never any evidence of another person in the house."
"There was hardly any evidence of even one person in the house," Kagome reminded him. Then she blew out a breath in frustration. "But why? Why was she even there?"
"I don't know," Inuyasha answered. "But I intend to find out. We've been running around everywhere trying to find clues as to what happened that night. I've been trapped in the dark, struggling to remember what happened that night for an entire year now. There are so many questions. And all along, she's had all the answers. It's time she gave them to us."
"What are you going to do?"
"We're going to go see her after school today. They won't let us off campus until school lets out, but as soon as we're free, we're going straight to Western Enterprises," Inuyasha said, determined.
Kagome nodded slowly. "I can't believe it until I hear it straight from her mouth. The sooner we figure this out, the better."
"I'll call the taxi company at lunch so there's one waiting for us after school," Inuyasha said, heading for the classroom door. "Be ready to go as soon as the bell rings."
He unlocked the door and left without another word, leaving Kagome to try and think through all of what he'd just told her. She only moved when the next period started and a class started filing into the room. Even then her movements were mechanical and she exited the classroom woodenly, wondering how she was going to get through the rest of the day with a semblance of normalcy.
..:V:..
"Kagura, could you send those papers in from Friday's marketing meeting?" Sesshoumaru asked through the intercom on his desk.
"R-right away, sir."
A minute later, Sesshoumaru's office door slowly eased open and Kagura shuffled inside, hugging a portfolio to her chest. She slipped the document on the corner of his desk, though he didn't bother to look up from his writing. The door closed a moment later.
But a soft clearing of the throat alerted Sesshoumaru to the fact Kagura had not yet left. He looked up finally. He frowned at her dishevelled appearance. It was not so much that she had rumpled clothing or mismatched shoes or something of that sort. No, she was as impeccably dressed as ever. But the dark circles under her eyes bespoke of a lack of sleep. Her hair bore signs of her repeatedly fiddling with it, gradually pulling it out of its usually flawless french twist. And she was so restless lately that even the slightest movement could startle her.
Sesshoumaru put down his pen slowly. "Was there something else?" he asked softly.
Kagura's eyes flickered up to meet his for a brief second. "Yes..." She took a few steps farther into the room.
He scrutinized her for a moment. "Work related?"
She lifted her gaze once again, this time giving him an unwavering stare. She could speak volumes with those crimson eyes. Even across a crowded boardroom, a single glance between them had often been enough to synchronize their thoughts. He was familiar with the discreet request for a conference her eyes were now exuding.
Sesshoumaru rose from his chair and walked around his desk to come face to face with her. "What is it?"
She straightened her posture and steeled her voice. "I need to talk to you." She spoke the words softly, but the importance of each syllable was clear.
Sesshoumaru kept his silence, waiting for her to continue on her own. He crossed his arms and leaned back against his desk as if inviting her to speak.
She took a hesitant step forward and opened her mouth to talk. Then she seemed to think better of it and shook her head. "No… Not here."
He narrowed his eyes, calculating.
"I—please…" she didn't seem to know what words to use.
Despite himself, Sesshoumaru reached out a hand to lay on her shoulder. He felt a tremor underneath his palm and realized she was shaking ever so slightly. He straightened up from his desk and closed the distance between them. He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze and gazed intently into her eyes.
"Leave work early and pick Rin up after school. Take her to my house and wait for me there. Then, we can talk as much as you'd like," he told her in a no-nonsense tone.
She bit her lip and nodded, never breaking eye contact.
He looked down at her a moment longer, suddenly finding himself unable to pull away. As the moment stretched on, he felt her shaking slowly subside under his touch. When she'd stilled completely, she reached up to cover his hand with her own, smiling sadly. Sesshoumaru's expression softened as she interlaced their fingers and then urged his hand upwards. His fingertips traced the column of her neck lightly before his palm came to rest against her cheek.
Kagura closed her eyes, leaning into his touch as his thumb caressed her skin. When she opened them again, they were shining with an emotion that, for once, Sesshoumaru wasn't sure he could identify.
Before he could say or do anything else, she pulled away from him and made for the door. Looking back at the entranceway, she said softly, "I'll be waiting for you tonight," before disappearing from sight.
Sesshoumaru leaned back against his desk, reeling from what had just transpired. After a moment, he frowned slightly and looked down at the thumb with which he had stroked Kagura's cheek. He found a single teardrop glistening on the pad.
..:V:..
The bell rang shrilly throughout the school and Kagome grabbed her books and darted from her desk. Calculus was a terrible way to finish the school day, but she had more important things to worry about. She left the classroom as quick as humanly possible, vying to get to her locker in record time.
Despite her greatest efforts, Inuyasha was already waiting for her when she arrived. "How did you get here so fast?" she wondered aloud as she fiddled with the combination.
"Never mind that — just hurry up, Kagome! I want to get out of here," Inuyasha urged her.
"I know, I know. I'm going as fast as I can," she said, stuffing her books on the top shelf and hastily putting on her winter jacket. She grabbed her backpack off the hook and slammed her locker shut. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's go."
Inuyasha grabbed her hand and pulled her along after him. "I can't believe I had to wait all day for this," he said.
"I still can't believe this is really happening," Kagome responded. "I'm pretty sure I didn't hear a word that was said in all my afternoon classes. None of this makes any sense!"
"I agree, but I know what I saw was real," Inuyasha told her firmly.
"But why? Why would Kagura—" Kagome suddenly felt the breath rush out of her and her vision snap away from her.
A bloodied woman was coming towards her, clutching her side. "Stop…" she begged, reaching out a hand. "Please…"
Kagome felt abject fear seep through her as she recognized the very woman they were headed to see.
She could only watch helplessly as Kagura was suddenly flung away, her head snapping back. Kagome felt as if she were being punched in the gut as the older woman crashed through a glass coffee table.
She tried to reach out her hands to help, but to her horror they wrapped around Kagura's throat instead. Kagura tried to claw furiously at the arms holding her down, but she stood no chance. In a matter of seconds, her efforts weakened and soon after, she went limp, her eyes rolling back in her head.
"Kagome, come on! Hurry up, let's get going already."
Inuyasha's voice came crashing in, awakening Kagome to reality. She stared at him for a moment with wide eyes before jumping into action. She gripped his wrist and reversed their positions, dragging him insistently behind her.
"Come on, Inuyasha! We have to go now. There's no time to lose!"
Inuyasha gave the back of her head a confused look. "That's what I've been saying…"
"Kagura's in danger!" she told him frantically over her shoulder.
"Kagura? Wha—?"
"I just had a vision, Inuyasha! She's about to be attacked!"
Inuyasha felt his stomach drop. "What? By who?"
"I don't know! But I know where. I recognized the coffee table and the room she was in," Kagome said, sure of herself.
"Where is it?" Inuyasha asked, keeping pace with her now.
"Your brother's house! In his living room!"
Inuyasha's face blanched. "W-what the hell?"
They finally reached the school doors and rushed through them. They spotted the taxi they'd called earlier and ran towards it. Jumping inside, they gave the driver Sesshoumaru's house address and told him to step on it.
Kagome twisted the hem of her shirt in her hands. That terrifying vision was still in her mind's eye. The image had faded from her sight and yet she could still remember every detail, every expression Kagura had made. It was so real. So real she couldn't shake the feeling of utter dread within her.
But she had saved Sango before. She would save Kagura too.
"In my brother's house?" Inuyasha was muttering. "Why—what…? Y-you're certain, Kagome?"
"I wish I weren't," Kagome said shortly.
"Bloody hell," Inuyasha cursed, raking a hand through his hair. "What's going on?"
As soon as the taxi rolled up in front of Sesshoumaru's house, they jumped out and dashed up to the house.
Kagome stopped short on the landing, gripping Inuyasha's arm hard. "Inuyasha…" she said, indicating the door. It was ajar.
Inuyasha pushed her behind him and steeled himself. He nudged the door open and cautiously proceeded within, Kagome at his back.
The entranceway seemed undisturbed, everything in its place. As he passed, Inuyasha noticed the security alarm was disarmed. They couldn't hear a sound as they made their way down the hallway, coming ever closer to the living room.
When they finally turned the corner, it was like stepping into another world. The room lay in ruin. It was hard to recognize it for what it once was, since it had obviously been the scene of a recent and violent altercation. The couch was overturned, along with one of the sitting chairs. Knick-knacks and family photos lay dashed on the floor, having been knocked from their usual resting places. A vase was broken, its fragments strewn across the floor.
The large flat screen TV bore a circular cracked pattern, blood seeping away from the point of impact. More blood lay splattered erratically about the room, occasionally smeared by the struggle.
But everything noted was peripheral, none of these details could capture their attention. There was only one point of focus in the room. Their eyes were locked onto what had once been the coffee table, and was now only shattered remains.
And there, kneeling in the crushed glass, was Sesshoumaru, cradling Kagura's body in his arms.
They were too late.
Inuyasha gulped at the sight of his brother's bloodstained hands, hardly trusting his eyes to believe it. "S-Sesshoumaru… What have you done?"