Picking Locks
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and any of the characters of the manga….
Chapter 3
Kagome was on a direct flight to Tokyo early that morning. She had black bags under her eyes having cried all night without any sleep. She kept thinking of the wonderful childhood she had with her mother and all their happy times together.
She headed out the airport and got a taxi to the central police station. Her mobile rang and Kouga's name flashed on the screen.
"Hello? Kagome? Where are you?" asked an angry Kouga.
"I'm in Tokyo" replied Kagome softly.
"What the hell are you doing in Tokyo?" came Kouga's astounded voice.
"I…my mother died" replied Kagome tears streaking down her face silently.
Kouga was aghast "I…I'm sorry darling… do you want me to come over?" he asked.
"No it's all right, I'll handle this" replied Kagome "I'll be back after the funeral."
"OK darling. I love you. If you want me to come over just give me a ring" assured her Kouga.
"Thanks darling, I will" replied Kagome thanking the heavens for giving her such a caring boyfriend. She hung up just as the taxi stopped outside the central police station.
Hours later she sat alone in what was once her home still not over the shock. Her mother had committed suicide. She had left a note for her which hadn't explained anything it just said that she loved her and she's sorry.
The doorbell rang and she found Eri and her husband Kohaku. They were old family friends who had worked with her father in their business since he'd started the company.
"We're very sorry about your mother Kagome" said Kohaku "If there's anything we can do we'd be happy to help."
"Thank you Kohaku… I'm selling the house and after the funeral arrangements I'm going back to the states… I have nothing to keep me here now" replied Kagome.
"I understand" said Kohaku patting her back comfortingly.
"Kohaku, do you know what's been going on? I still can't understand why… I … she never said anything was wrong, that things were going on splendidly back here… I…"
"That's not completely true" said Kohaku sadly "Things here have been very bad but your mother didn't won't to worry you… Your father's company is in ruins. A few months ago a man named Naraku, Naraku Kazana, approached your mother with an offer to buy the company. It seemed a very advantageous offer and your mother accepted immediately, hoping to retire quietly on a good pension. Unfortunately we did a search on Naraku but it was too late. He specializes in ruining small family owned businesses. Well Naraku immediately took over the company, fired everyone, and started working his way. He accumulated millions of debt. Creditors allowed him loans and such thinking they were still dealing with your mother. When they started calling her, she went to find Naraku who said he no longer wanted the company, and not having signed any documents he could do it legally and such. So your mother found herself with a company with millions of debt she obviously couldn't handle."
"I see" said Kagome grimly "Well, I'll find this Naraku and get a confession out him to clear out my mother's name if it's the last thing I'll do."
"Oh Kagome… I don't think there's anything you can do dear" said Eri "He left soon after the incident. He's back in Philadelphia or somewhere in his offices in America and there are rumors he's in the mafia or something and quite high up. You can't change the past so I think you should let go and move forwards. You have your whole life ahead of you."
"We'll see" said Kagome.
Two days later after the funeral Kagome waved goodbye for the last time to her friends Kohaku and Eri at Tokyo airport and headed back to the states. She didn't go to her home in New York, but made her way to Philadelphia. Somehow she managed to get the home address of this Naraku Kazana and she still intended to get that confession out of him.
She stopped at a small, obscure pawshop and bought herself a gun. The shopowner had had it loaded for her. Not that she wanted to use it… she only got it to scare Naraku. That evening she found the house she was looking for and rang the door bell. An ugly short man with long greasy hair and a horribly evil smile opened the door.
"Are you Naraku Kazana?" asked Kagome.
"Yes… and you are?" he said with a smirk looking at the beautiful young woman in front of him with lust filled eyes.
"I am Kagome Higurashi and I would like to talk to you in private" she replied.
The name Higurashi clearly hadn't rung any bells since Naraku showed her in the house and to the study to talk. Kagome got the gun out of her purse and pointed it to a very surprised Naraku.
"I am Kaori Higurashi's daughter. You ruined my father's company. I want a written confession from you to clear my mother's name and I'm not going till I have it." She snarled to gritted teeth with her hands shaking.
Naraku looked at her and laughed. "My dear girl I don't think you even know how to use a gun let alone have the courage to use it!" He stepped closer calmly.
Kagome took a few steps back "I'm warning you…" she started but found her back to the door. Narku immediately leaped and blocked her against the door. Holding her armed hand against the wall.
He laughed evilly at her "Kaori never told me she had a beautiful daughter like you!" he said pushing her harder against the door whilst tearing at her blouse with his other hand.
Kagome screamed and shoved him hard and accidentally fired the gun hitting him.
"You bitch!!!" he screamed Naraku clutching at his side in pain. Kagome panicked she ran outside the house and kept running. Then she stopped at a payphone and called for an ambulance hoping they'd be in time to save the man. She hailed a taxi and made a way to the airport for a flight to New York.
She was just about to board when she was stopped by a couple of officers.
"Are you Kagome Higurashi?" one of the asked.
"Yes" she replied faintly.
"You are under arrest... … …" she felt herself being trapped between then, hands locked and carried away.
The next morning she had been taken to the hearing. Everything felt like a blur… a bad dream… She had been accused of armed robbery, stealing a painting, and shooting Naraku Kazana when he had caught her red handed stealing. She started arguing her defence but was silenced immediately and was assigned a layer by the court and sent back to jail to wait for the trial. She hadn't even managed to call Kouga to tell him what's going on.
The layer who had been appointed by court for her case came to talk to her and heard her out. She told Kagura Red her story and by the end of it was in tears.
"Please believe me… I am innocent… I can't understand what they're accusing me of…I…I"
"I believe you" said Kagura gravely, "It's clear to me that the whole set up is to ridiculous for it not to be true. You were clearly framed. Your unfortunate, or fortunate (in Naraku's case) appearance gave the chance to frame you. The painting you're accused of stealing is obviously insured and he'll claim insurance money, and when the waters calm down hell retrieve it from its hiding place and sell it to a private collector getting two times as much it's worth. You fell into a perfect trap my dear."
"But what shall I do… Please you must help me…I am innocent…"
"I know. Don't worry you can trust me. I'll have you out in no time. I'll talk to the judge privately and tell him your story. Unfortunately Naraku's got a lot of power here. And you have no proof. In this situation all you can do is plead guilty. Having spared the state the cost of the trials the judge will sentence you to a year in prison. Then get you out in a couple of months with a pardon. Don't worry, leave everything in my hands, I'll settle all with the judge."
Kagome couldn't help but nod. She was completely in her hands. In court she pleaded guilty to her charges like she'd been told and realized only too late that she'd been once again tricked when she was sentenced to fifteen years in a women's penitentiary.
She managed to get permission for a call and finally managed to call Kouga…
"Kagome… what the hell happened?" came his angry voice. "Your case is all over the papers… this is the first ever scandal to hit my family… my parents are going bonkers."
"Please Kouga… you must help me. I've been framed and tricked… there's been a mistake… I didn't do anything. You must believe me darling?" pleaded Kagome in tears.
"But you pleaded guilty in court!" exclaimed Kouga.
"I did… I was told to do so…the lawyer and …" but Kouga cut her off.
"Did you attack that man?" he asked slowly.
"I… I threatened him with a gun… I didn't shoot him… I only wanted to scare him and –"
"Look Kagome… I'm sorry there is nothing I can do… it's best if you never call me again" he said and hung up.
Kagome stared bewildered at the phone and burst in hopeless tears.
A/N : I hope the story is to your liking so far. Please review and let me know what you think.