Author's Note
I know what you're going to say…and I know making you wait four-ish years for an update is a tad unreasonable and unfair. Can I say "my bad" so we can kiss and make up quickly? In case it makes you feel better, this story has been nagging on my mind off and on again this entire time. I've gone back and re-read it, started a new chapter, stopped then deleted said chapter. I'll chalk it up to 50% writer's block, 50% life getting in the way.
Needless to say…sorry. I'm back. Let's get this show back on the road.
Lead Me Down the Garden Path
The Descent into Hamamatsu
"Ms. Toppū will see you now."
Six words had never terrified Kagome more.
Chewing on her lower lip, her stomach ravaging itself with tumultuous waves of nervousness and nausea, Kagome arose from the bench on shaky, unsure legs. Her buttocks tediously ached from the 40-minute wait, from where she had loitered and lingered on the uneven wooden slats, festering with concern and paranoia, adjusting her body weight periodically to dispel the numbness that overtook one side of her lower torso at a time. Kagome had spent her time conflicted between weighing the lesser of evils—was it better to stay on the bench, ignorant to what would follow during and immediately after her conversation with Kagura? Or would it be better to go, like ripping off a band-aid, and just get it over with?
Who knew…maybe it wouldn't be as bad as Kagome worried it would be…
Kagome wiped her fingernails against the thighs of her jeans upon noticing tiny red spots of blood that coloured, tinged and smeared across several of her cuticles. Her mind was so wrought with spinning thoughts and churning worries that she hadn't even noticed the siege she had lain to her own body in the process. Kagome stuck a pensive thumb between her teeth, sucking away the largest pool of blood so it wouldn't stain her clothes.
Why had Kagura wanted to see them all separately? Why did Kagome have to be the one who went last? Why did she even agree to make this stupid trip out to Hamamatsu?
Even though I didn't really seem to have much choice in the matter…
Kagome's eyes absorbed the glossy nameplate on the door in front of her, and she swallowed a mouthful of coppery-tasting saliva, hoping the action would steel her emotions and quell the rising dread that threatened to erupt from her core. Kagura's assistant, Kanna, had long disappeared back into her own office after announcing that Kagura was ready for her, leaving Kagome alone again with her disquiet. Kagome's eyes roamed upwards, heavy and unhurried, as she inspected the 12-foot behemoth of Kagura's office door. The sight of this door alone, over the past 40-minutes, had been enough to colour Kagome's opinion of the person she'd soon meet. Without a doubt, much to her dismay, Kagome realized she felt intimidated by this door, and by the woman beyond it who had specifically requested this interview with Kagome. Only a formidable, imposing sort of person would dwell behind a door like this.
Was it possible Miroku was still in there having his one-on-one with Kagura? Had Kagome been so wrapped up in her own head that she completely missed his leaving? A fleeting whisp of hope flashed through her chest at the premise of not having to face Kagura alone, that maybe she'd open the door to find Miroku's boyish grin awaiting her.
Taking a hesitant step towards Kagura's office, her teeth chewing anxiously on the inside of her cheek, Kagome's mind resonated loudly with Miroku's previous words and the reverberating echoes of the previous night.
"The Deputy Director is personally overseeing this newly reassembled task force, and she's keen to ascertain from all impacted parties exactly the extent of Naraku and his kobuns' involvement. My previous colleague and mentor, Mushin, is a Senior Analyst on Kagura's task force. He is directly monitoring the algorithms he and I created back in the day to track known Kuzawari members as well as the oyabun himself. The reports, alas, are spiking with newfound activity in many of their old stomping grounds. It's irrefutable that Naraku's trafficking efforts have picked up again—we need only to catch him red-handed. Plus, it would be foolish of us to downplay how much public attention Inuyasha's past bandmates have drawn to themselves, as well as to you and Inuyasha, Kagome. Even if Kagura was wont to turn a blind eye to Naichō's reports and findings, it would surely be negligent of her to willfully ignore the attention you both have attracted, following each band members' resurgence from prison.
"Unfortunately, Kagome," Miroku had paused with a sigh, his tone gentle and eyes empathetic. "With all that said, you've been at the centre of much of the Kuzawari's ire and attention ever since you came to Sengoku Manor. Because of this, Kagura has specifically requested your presence."
"But…" Kagome began to protest, and not for the first time that night. Her exploring eyes burned figurative holes in the table from the intensity of her gaze. The meal Kaede had prepared had long since gone cold and untouched in front of Kagome. "But, Miroku, you both have been there with me every step of the way. There's nothing that I could possibly tell her, tell these Naichō people, that you don't already know, that either of you couldn't say for me. I—I don't understand why Kagura needs to meet with me, why I'm such a person of interest…I—"
"We believe Naraku has identified you as Inuyasha's weakness, and they are using you to get to him."
The memory of Miroku's words from nights before had rung noisily throughout her mind, distracting her from her unfinished comment, and from the ongoing conversation happening around the table despite her withdrawal from it.
The Kuzawari used the car chase to test their hypothesis that Inuyasha will come after me if I'm in danger…and, once that suspicion was confirmed, they sent Jakotsu after me, hoping to set a trap for Inuyasha…I know that I'm a huge target here, that the Family is convinced I'm their golden ticket to getting revenge on Inuyasha…but that doesn't mean I have insider information that will help. The only stuff I know about the Kuzawari is what Inuyasha or Miroku told me…what does Naichō expect to learn from me? Some sorta secret information about Inuyasha that they can use to their advantage against the Family?
Kagome had sighed to herself while pushing food around her plate with her chopsticks.
It'll be like that police investigation all over again, where I just stumbled my way uselessly through their questions, her mind lamented. What value could I possibly add to this head of government's task force? I don't know anything special!
"Yeah, well, Kagura's always been a manipulative bitch as long as I've known her," Inuyasha had scoffed in response to something Miroku just said. Inuyasha's harsh tone grabbed the attention of his peers around him, Kagome included. "I wouldn't be surprised if she has something in mind for you, Kagome. Feh! I'm personally expecting her to treat you like bait, knowing her. Over my dead body that would ever happen."
"There's no need to frighten Kagome unnecessarily, Inuyasha," Miroku chastised, irritation furrowing his brow. "You don't know Kagura's intentions any more than I. She stated she has questions for Kagome. That's it. There's no reason to jump to these types of conclusions."
Inuyasha had snorted in response. "Kagura's not your boss anymore, Miroku. You don't gotta play the kiss-ass, y'know."
Following the tense remainder of their dinner, the four friends disbanded quickly from the table, the untold future of the next few days hot on their minds. Totosai had chauffeured Sango back to her apartment to pack for their upcoming departure. While her presence wasn't necessary on the excursion, Sango had put up quite a verbal sparring with Inuyasha that she would not allow Kagome, in her present anxious state, to travel anywhere without Sango going as well. Inuyasha reluctantly agreed after a stubborn bumping of heads, while Miroku, meanwhile, was quite pleased to claim Sango as his personal travel companion.
Kagome had floated listlessly throughout the rest of the evening, her mind a chaotic swirl of doubts, reflections, and fears. She robotically stood by to observe two of Inuyasha's maids packing suitcases for Kagome, having received Inuyasha's keen and curt instructions. She barely paid any attention to Miroku's recitation of their trip itinerary, and Inuyasha's impetuous orders that they'd be taking his private plane to travel to their destination. Kagome stood by mechanically as Miroku threw numbers at Inuyasha, the two arguing over Inuyasha's decision, Miroku stating that a bullet train was the more sensical mode of transportation. However, Inuyasha wouldn't have it, and Miroku, exhausted, acquiesced in the end. Kagome stood alongside Inuyasha and Miroku, amongst piles of luggage and an entourage of Miroku's guards that Miroku saw as necessary, and began piling into multiple vehicles upon Totosai and Sango's return. Their departure was harried and swift, promptly setting off for the gang hanger where Inuyasha's plane was housed, his pilot on standby for their arrival.
All evening, Kagome had been amongst the whirlwind of spoken plans, plotting, and decision making; yet, as she set foot onto the tarmac, her eyes taking in the sharp, white contoured elegance of Inuyasha's private plane, she couldn't for the life of her give voice to their destination. She knew she was being whisked off, against her will and better judgment, to Kagura's private office. The city itself, the length of the "trip", where they'd be staying—it was all an anomaly to her. It wouldn't be until they landed that Kagome came to, that she really emerged from her chaotic flurry of thoughts, to finally surface from her introspection to learn they had arrived at Hamamatsu.
Exiting the aircraft's cabin, a shrewd gust of wind provoked Kagome to clutch at her jacket collar, her hair splaying out in every direction all at once. Sputtering and spitting strands from her mouth, Kagome absentmindedly had scratched her chin with the fiberglass material of her cast, prompting another exasperated groan to curdle from her throat. Kagome couldn't help the bad mood that had overtaken her, and the drab, cool wind that shot through her core made her shiver in more ways than one.
"I hope those idiots at the house packed you more than that sorry excuse for a jacket you're wearing," Inuyasha's blunt voice called immediately behind her. The sudden proximity of him made her jump in surprise, her heart lurching into her throat. "Hamamatsu isn't rumoured to be the windiest city in Japan for no reason," he snorted. "Even in the middle of summer, the breeze that rips through this place can leave a person stone cold."
Watching another shiver erupt through Kagome, Inuyasha snorted a curt laugh and dropped a hoodie around her shoulders. A duffel bag hung limply over one shoulder of his t-shirt, dangling from a lone index finger.
"Here, dummy," he chortled with a soft laugh. "You look like you need this more than me."
Inuyasha's scent had overwhelmed Kagome in that moment, as they made their way towards the vehicle that awaited their arrival on the tarmac. A furious blush had overtaken Kagome's neck and cheeks as she mumbled a coy thank you to Inuyasha. The material around her neck emanated with his musk and aroused her senses. She was suddenly back in bed with him, back in his arms, back in the jacuzzi, back on the clearing. She could feel the touch of him, the phantom limb sensation of kisses long grown cold. She wanted to feel his body heat, craved to be cradled up against every part of him, safe, secure, secluded. Her body had shivered, but this time, not from the cacophonous breeze that whispered through distant trees in the nighttime air.
Sliding into the backseat of the limousine beside Inuyasha, Kagome would have resolutely confirmed she was still in a bad mood; however, maybe she was willing to admit that Inuyasha's courteousness—if she could even call it that—had slightly helped.
Unsurprisingly, and certainly not for the first time, Kagome found it all too easy to get lost in thought at the premise of Inuyasha and the reality of how much she desired him, emotionally and physically.
"The fact that you're still standing there with your mouth open, completely oblivious to your surroundings, gives me absolutely no doubt of mind that you make an easy target of yourself, Ms. Higurashi."
Kagome shook her head violently in response to the sharp, alto tone of the woman's voice addressing her. Kagome hadn't registered she took the steps to enter Kagura's office, passing the threshold of the intimidating door. How could she possibly not have realized she had entered the room? How could Inuyasha be that distracting? To think she had been lost to her own thoughts for a few lingering seconds, completely oblivious to Kagura's stares, eyerolling, and impatience…
Oh, for crying out loud…her mind chastised, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Way to make a first impression, Kagome…
"Suh—sorry, Kag—uh—Ms. Toppū."
Kagome hurried into the office while the door slowed to close behind her. She tucked a frantic strand of hair behind her ear, sitting herself down heavily in one of two plush armchairs perpendicular to Kagura's large L-shaped desk. A loud gush of air came shushing from the cushion underneath Kagome with the sudden plummet of her body weight into it. Somehow the noise itself caused Kagome's cheeks to roast even more. She laid her jacket across her lap like a diminutive blanket, desperate for a shred of comfort.
The silence that followed Kagome's being seated was almost unbearable. Kagura spoke no further words to her, the Deputy Director clearly obsessing over the contents of her desk and computer. It's like Kagome could have completely imagined the whole exchange…if not for the burning warmth her mortification continued to pulse and sustain throughout her core. Upon receiving no further response or acknowledgement from Kagura, Kagome bowed her head with another self-conscious and mumbled apology.
"Just Kagura's fine," the sultry female voice curtly beckoned, apparently ignorant to Kagome's apologies.
The woman, Kagura, was observably distracted and arguably more interested in whatever was on her computer than she was in Kagome's newfound presence. The side of Kagura's face was barely visible behind multiple stacked computer monitors that shielded most of her from Kagome's view. The heathered grey of Kagura's suit jacket poked out around the monitors, golden bangles clinking against the desk as Kagura moved her wrists for the odd keystroke on her keyboard. Kagome could hear the impatient ticking of a heel on the wooden boards below them. The regularity of the sharp tapping built a growing unease within Kagome's torso.
Kagome licked her lips to dispel her discomfort and the heavy balloon of awkwardness from her chest. The fast tempo of Kagura's double mouse-clicking was loud in the space around Kagome, an unwelcome companion to the tap-tap-tapping of Kagura's impatient high heel.
The echo of a small trickle of water behind her prompted Kagome to turn in her seat to observe a small Koi fountain in the corner of the room. The shimmering orange, red, white, and purple scales of medium-sized fish entranced Kagome's attention.
"Is my Koi Pond distracting to you now, Ms. Higurashi?"
Kagome spun back in her seat, facing forward, a flustered pink tinging her neck and jawline.
"I was just admiring them," Kagome proffered quickly. "I can't say I've seen many purple Koi before."
"That would be due to them being exceptionally rare," the woman retorted on the breath of a lazy sigh. "The perks of being me, I suppose. High friends, high places, all that. Anyway," she sighed once more, "enough with the small talk and pleasantries."
Kagura wheeled herself away from her previous position behind her monitors and rested her elbows heavily on the desk in front of her, steepling her fingers in front of her chest. Kagome felt spellbound from the fierce ruddy pupils that bore into Kagome's features. She was mesmerized by the stark contrast of pale features juxtaposed with dark lips, even darker hair, and an infernal stare that made a lump develop in Kagome's throat. Kagura's narrowed irises juddered sharply as the black-haired woman took in the sight of Kagome, lingering for a few seconds on the cast encasing Kagome's left wrist, which Kagome tried to obscure beneath her jacket self-consciously. Kagome's chest grew hot under every second of the inspection. The judgment and condescension that poured from Kagura's appraising leer was palpable.
In her discomfort, not knowing why she silently gave Kagura the space and time to objectify and inspect her so blatantly, Kagome toyed with the hem of her shirt, her lips puckering so she could simultaneously chew on both cheeks. In an effort to distract herself, Kagome tried to distinguish what was written on the papers cascaded so loosely across Kagura's desk.
"Finally, having had the chance to meet you for myself, I must admit I'm quite shocked that it's you who has been the source of so much work and subterfuge for my department as of late. My first impression is that you're a plain sort of girl, almost borderline uninteresting, easily distracted, naïve. It's puzzling how someone like you has Inuyasha so bent out of shape that those Kuzawari fools are running around like a bunch of headless, dolt chickens."
Kagome's nostrils flared and eyebrows furrowed with the chain of insults. Her cheeks became engulfed in red with a spitfire that curdled in her gut. Kagome opened her mouth for a quick admonishing rebuttal, but Kagura's sharp tongue was faster.
"You certainly look like you play the sweet and demure card to the letter, there's no doubt in my mind about that. A boorish sort of person like Inuyasha must just eat that innocence up. Although, from the look of you, I can't say I would have had you pegged as his type. Hmm—maybe I'm just guilty of having given too much undue credibility to all that media nonsense about him and that ex of his. I mean, honestly, I of all people should know better. What sort of idiot sees the media as a reliable source of information? Hah! But I'm sure your disposition has made Naraku believe you'd be unthreatening, easy prey. For as vexed as I am by the volume of work Naraku and all his nonsense has caused me, I must say I've been entertained by the recent runaround you and Inuyasha have given him and his kobuns."
Kagura grunted a laugh at the narrowing scrutiny Kagome's distrustful gaze directed at her. Kagura could feel the bitterness in Kagome's glare, and she chuckled in amusement upon having pushed the girl's buttons so easily. Getting under Kagome's skin was presenting as far too easy.
"Unthreatening prey, indeed…" she chortled, a laugh caught in her throat while reveling in the heat of Kagome's stare. "Perhaps it is possible that there's more to you than this shell of a sweet, naïve girl. There is a blatant delicateness to you, Kagome, which certainly fits the persona of an elementary teacher. Grade three, if I'm not mistaken—"
"—Two, actually—!" Kagome interrupted to correct, unable to keep at bay the hardening of her tone.
"—with a degree in Art and History—straight A's, I understand from your transcripts. I see one of your previous professors wanted you to consider a PhD, which you declined to pursue Teachers' College. That's an interesting academic decision, I must say. Although, I understand your pursuit of academia was a hard pill for your family to swallow; I believe I read it was the hope of your grandfather that you would take over as shrine maiden for your family's Shinto shrine—"
"—How—How did you know tha—?"
"—And speaking of your family, I'm sure you'd be interested to know my field agents have reported your family seem to be managing surprisingly well, despite all the unwanted attention they've received as of late. You seem to come from a hardy stock, Kagome.
"Although," Kagura mused, rocking her office chair on its casters, "anyone with half a brain cell could see that your popularity is only from your association with Inuyasha, and your family's a domino effect from you. There's certainly no denying the communicable fame that radiates from our Inuyasha. Did you know his father's political career is what first generated public interest in Sesshoumaru? It seems fame is a hand-me-down in that family; as Inuyasha grew to look more like his brother, well, no wonder the public couldn't keep their eyes off him. One could consider it unfair…the genes in that family…Wouldn't you agree, Kagome, that the sexual appeal of Taisho masculinity is a whole other force to be reckoned with?"
Kagome willfully turned her flushing gaze away from Kagura's direct stare. She busied herself with overseeing her fingers as they poked and picked at her cast. Kagura's lips curled deviously before she continued, deliciously pleased with herself for the response she evoked from the younger woman.
"Sexual attractiveness aside," Kagura continued with a facetious smirk, "suffice to say the public's true obsession with Inuyasha originated from my department's façade, which successfully made Inuyasha the woefully enigmatic luminary he is today. It is fascinating how the public can't seem to help themselves with him. It appears human nature to be helplessly sucked in by the sexiness of an unsolved mystery. In hindsight, though, despite the mission's success, I will never again put myself or my career on the line for legal asylum. Too many risks, too many opportunities for loose ends. And when you're in my line of business, Kagome, a loose end that isn't snipped has a nasty habit of becoming your noose."
Kagura exhaled heavily, leaning back in her chair, inspecting a cuticle as she became lost in her recollection and rambling oration.
"It's honestly a miracle how the former Director's debacle of a task force wrangled up Kyokotsu, Bankotsu, and the rest of those kobun bozos. And unsurprisingly, once the idiocy of man's work was completed, it's up to Kagura, the only woman in leadership, to clean up the mess." She sighed heavily. "You see, in the aftermath that followed, it was my job to ensure the truth was buried so deep in lies it hardly resembled the truth—altered court records, bribing the media, calling in favours across the system. Ugh, you have no idea, Kagome, just how much work is involved to keep the public blind to the truth of certain things. The guise of ignorance is hard, thankless work. While I do love my job, it certainly can be quite tedious at times."
Kagura fingered one of her earrings, her fingertips running the length of a silvery-grey feather that dangled from her earlobe. Much to Kagome's frustration, Kagura's musings continued.
"Sometimes my professional self can't help but marvel over how well Naraku hid the true nature of his industry with that whole band business. A Band of Thieves, indeed…too tongue in cheek if you ask me. What are the odds of even being able to find and foster that type of talent within his underground network? I suppose that was Inuyasha's doing after all—their little group could never have been as big as they were without him. Again, considering his brother, looks and creative genius certainly appear a family trait. And Naraku had poor Inuyasha in the palm of his hand the whole time."
Kagura concluded her remark with a condescending tsk, tsk, tsk before exhaling a lamented, pitying sigh. Kagome couldn't help but feel her shoulders stiffen at the sound of another of Kagura's continuous, laboured sighs. It was beginning to aggravate her as easily as one became from nails on a chalkboard.
"When one is forced to navigate a lifestyle entrapped in a cage, freedom is such a deliriously alluring force to be reckoned with. Well, you could certainly empathize, I'm sure, with how stifling it must have been being restricted to that old house while you tried to maintain a low profile from both fame and danger. Yet, for Inuyasha, desperation for freedom was far too overpowering, I'm afraid. Despite the grotesque consequences of betraying the Kuzawari, Inuyasha's yearning for escape made it quite easy for Naichō to entice him to join us and betray Naraku. So, naturally, here we are, navigating the aftermath of Naraku's hunger for vengeance on Inuyasha."
Kagura sighed once more before she took stock of the unimpressed look on Kagome's face. A throaty giggle escaped as Kagura played with the loose bracelets on her wrist.
"I know what you're thinking: shame on me for applauding Naraku's success with public deceit and subterfuge. But even someone as prim and proper as yourself can't deny that his lie was masterfully and beautifully orchestrated. Someone in a position such as myself can certainly appreciate and respect the amount of work and energy he must have utilized to maintain a pseudo-truth, especially on a global scale."
Kagome leaned forward, licking her lips, opening her mouth to speak. She was growing weary of Kagura's one-sided tirade. However, Kagura let out a single short burst of a laugh, stealing the words from Kagome's throat.
"You wear your emotions on your sleeve, Kagome. I can feel the frustration emanating off you. You'd like to understand the point behind all of this, I presume. In a roundabout way, Kagome, my point is your presentation of self and how your demeanour has both influenced Naraku and will benefit me. The prudish and dainty picture you have presented of yourself has been surprisingly contradictory, and I believe it's this inconsistency that has made it so difficult for Naraku to be successful with his attempts at capturing both you and Inuyasha in his most recent revenge plot."
Kagome raised an unimpressed, questioning eyebrow while she bit her tongue to avoid releasing a harsher response. She couldn't help but feel her curiosity piqued by Kagura's statement that Kagome, simply being herself, was contradicting to the picture of Kagome that Kagura had created for herself. Kagura smirked, understanding Kagome's facial encouragement for Kagura to proceed and elaborate further.
"You wear a dubious expression because of my word choice," the older woman laughed. "Let me elaborate, shall I? Look at your background, Kagome. You've been an aloof little lamb eager to find her path in life; coy, reserved, desperate for approval yet stubborn enough to toe the line. To successfully escape from Jakotsu and fight back? Unexpected. To not leave Inuyasha's side despite the constant danger it's brought you? Bewildering. To secure a job as a landscaper? Seemingly out of character. Looking at you, who would associate general labour with your personage?
"But—" Kagura shrugged with a single shoulder, flicking her wrist condescendingly to accentuate her point, "—Landscaping is a…type of occupation, I suppose. And schools are closing at an alarming rate these days." She concluded with a heavily exhaled breath. "What can you do when people are deciding not to breed, and poor distribution of government resources are prompting a lack of viable federal funding to schools?
"All things considered, though, Kagome," stated Kagura, pausing the motion of her rocking and chair-leaning to rest her elbows heavily on her desk. "I would almost consider commending you for how well you've appeared to hold up. Well—" she paused, her tone slick with sarcasm, her eyebrow propped upwards as her gaze turned downwards to view Kagome's wrist. "Most of you at least. The Kuzawari have shamelessly made multiple attempts on your life and the media has held a microscope to you, and yet, you somehow seem to thrive. Perhaps it's stubbornness, or resilience, or maybe it's all in the name of love," Kagura patronized, throwing her voice. "Regardless the reason, your recent behaviours have demonstrated you are capable of more than what your past makes you appear to be, which I believe will work out to my advantage just nicely."
Kagura paused to inspect Kagome's appearance following her monologue. The girl's cheeks were flushed, likely a combination of embarrassment and anger, and Kagura certainly wasn't ignorant to how Kagome's un-casted hand was clenched into a fist above her knee. The corners of Kagura's dark plum lips upturned into an amused smirk as she acknowledged the frantic churning of Kagome's mind, evident through the girl's unamused facial expression.
"You seem troubled, Kagome," she smiled duplicitously. "I do hope I haven't upset your delicate sensibilities. Or are you surprised that I did my homework prior to your visit?" Kagura paused to deepen her grin. "That reaction I'd find rather comical given I'm second in command for our country's intelligence agency. Naturally, information is my greatest asset and strength. It would be quite obtuse of you to be surprised I'd have my ways of looking you up, of knowing things."
Kagome's back stiffened as she adjusted her posture in her seat. She had had enough of this one-sided conversation. She was just about sick of Kagura's obvious attempt at intimidating Kagome with her use of research, accessibility of information, and abuse of their power dynamic. Kagome took a deep breath to collect herself before projecting her thoughts outwards.
"Why am I here, Kagura? Just so you can size me up and judge me by the choices of my past? Miroku said you had questions for me. Why don't you just go ahead and ask whatever you wanted to ask so we can get this over with. What do you want with me?"
Kagura cackled within her throat and leaned forward, clasping her hands together atop her desk.
"Oh, there is a bite to you," she condescended. "Naïve, yet with spirit. Feisty. Yes, that trait would be received well by Inuyasha. You'd like to cut to the chase," Kagura laughed, adjusting her attention to focus on the documents underneath her fingers. She tapped her nails against the desk loudly. "Very well then. Yes, questions. I do certainly have questions for you, Kagome."
"Then shoot."
And don't take all day about it either, Kagome's internal voice grieved.
Kagura bit back another rich laugh in her throat and turned her eyes towards her desk, as if she were making up her mind. The sudden silence of Kagura discontinuing her nail-tapping left a worrying sensation in Kagome's gut.
"I suppose I should start with the easy ones first," she sneered with an eyeroll. Then, after a pause, finally shared her inquiry. "How far would you say you're willing to go for Inuyasha, exactly? Is your love for him enough to throw yourself into even more danger?"
Kagome's guttural, sputtering reaction and instantly enflamed face as she tripped over words prompted a choked laugh to escape between Kagura's teeth. The older woman raised a hand to her chest while she chuckled.
"How charming! I wouldn't have expected such a visceral response to such a simple question."
Kagome chewed on her lower lip angrily before speaking. "What sorta question is that? What business is it of yours how I might feel about Inuyasha?"
Kagura smirked, leaning towards Kagome. The woman's look made Kagome lick her lips uncomfortably, swallowing past a lump in her throat.
"And I'd beg the question what sort of answer is that? It was a simple enough question, Kagome. I don't need to ask if you want to help Inuyasha, nor did I ask you about your feelings—which are laughably obvious, by the way. Logically, you wouldn't have answered my invitation to meet me if you didn't desire to help him, and you wouldn't be so willing to help him if you weren't in love with him. What I need to understand is how much deeper you're willing to involve yourself for him?"
Kagome's cheeks flushed. "Okay, well first off, I wasn't really given much choice to be here today; Miroku made it seem like you wouldn't take no for an answer."
"That's not incorrect of him." Kagura bowed her head at Kagome with a coy, amused smirk.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "And second, of course I want to help Inuyasha—the problem is getting him to accept help. He's so stubborn it took him months just to let me in on what's going on in the first place. Even Miroku didn't want me learning the truth for fear of whatever consequences it would bring. I'm obviously already involved because I've been attacked multiple times. I don't know what else I could do other than try to help. Would I even have the choice to walk away from this?"
"Likely not."
Kagome took a deep breath to steady her rising temper. "So again, I ask, what sorta question is that? How far am I willing to involve myself? I'm clearly involved whether I like it or not, so obviously I'm going to help my friends, whatever it takes. If you asked me here today just to hear me say it out loud then this meeting was a waste of everybody's time."
"Friends," Kagura mimicked, her tone dripping with mockery and a twisted delight. "Is that how Inuyasha reciprocates your feelings for him? Friendship?"
Kagome's eyes widened while her cheeks pinkened, quickly diverting her gaze from Kagura's.
Kagura chuckled. "Your reaction and circumvention of the question are more revealing of your desires than your words could have been, Kagome; I hope you know that. But if you must know, the reason I asked you here today is because you are in one deep, heap of shit. I, firstly, needed to ensure you understood that so I can grasp how compliant you're willing to be with my requests moving forward. Because from where I see it, there are only two ways out of this mess you've found yourself in with the Kuzawari: you follow my direction to the letter, or you go home in a body bag. It really is that simple. Our little conversation today is going to help us determine the path ahead."
Kagome snorted in response, crossing her arms across her chest. "And what makes you think I would help you at all?"
Kagura raised her eyebrows at Kagome in a condescending gesture before irritation and impatience overcame her. She rolled her eyes in response to Kagome's remark.
"Because of Inuyasha, naturally, you silly girl. Your feelings for him, as obvious as they are, are exactly what is going to push you towards action. You cannot help Inuyasha without heeding my instructions; these are not mutually exclusive. The fact that you're even here today, meeting with me, that you even know about the Kuzawari and of Inuyasha's past, is a testament to how deeply you care for Inuyasha and how deeply you're involved. You said it yourself: you want to help," concluded Kagura with a nod of her head. "You're just too sweet and inexperienced to know how. That, dear lamb, is where I come in."
Kagome bit her bottom lip before narrowing her eyes at Kagura distrustfully.
"I'm assuming you already have something in mind, so feel free to spill the beans at any time. How, exactly, do you expect me to help you?"
Kagome felt herself transfixed by observing Kagura's facial expressions transform rapidly from a bemused grin of triumph to a disgusted grimace after a moment's pause for thought. Kagome furrowed her brow in confusion while Kagura groaned in frustration, rubbing at her forehead.
"It agonizes me to my core to admit this out loud...however, for my task force to be successful in taking down Naraku, I am in need of your help and compliance. I don't trust I can exclusively rely on Miroku or Inuyasha any longer. They're too foolhardy, too involved, too jaded by their previous experiences with the Kuzawari to be of any use to me. While Miroku once proved to be a reliable employee, he's grown unserviceable, too jaundiced by his history with Naichō and his resentment over the loss of his father to put aside his past and view the path forward clearly. Both he and Inuyasha have demonstrated they're more likely to act first out of irritation, impatience, or aggression."
Kagura's eyes narrowed in on Kagome, like a predator appraising its quarry. "Which means I need a new accomplice, informant, collaborator, coordinator on the frontline, whatever you'd wish to call it. I've had enough of sitting on the sidelines, watching Inuyasha and Miroku act and react time and again. My task force is irrevocably dependent on their involvement and cooperation to successfully put a stop to Naraku's illegal activity; however, I've lost control of my two men on the ground. I need a new player and cohort to help me regain control of my pawns and operation. No longer will I feel more like a housekeeper rather than the distinguished leader of an intelligence agency. You are going to help me accomplish this, Kagome."
Kagome snorted obstinately. "If you think Inuyasha or Miroku will listen to me, you're in for a rude awakening. Inuyasha barely wants me involved and has refused my help every step of the way. You really think I'll be able to influence anything?"
"You can influence everything, Kagome," Kagura smirked. "Let's not forget whose fluttering pair of brown eyes Inuyasha has chased headfirst recently into more trouble."
Kagome paused to flush at Kagura's comment, leaving the older woman the space to continue her commentary.
"I've enjoyed Inuyasha in the time I've been able to keep him on a relatively short leash, if you'll pardon the pun," Kagura stated, leaning back in her chair, inspecting a long fingernail. "He's got a spark and a thirst for life that's infectious. I also appreciate a man who's not afraid to get his hands dirty. But he's brash, hotheaded, ignorant. Inuyasha wants Naraku dead, which, from where I sit, I can certainly appreciate, but Inuyasha would have gone straight into the demon's lair, guns a-blazing, if I let him.
"It's honestly a miracle my coverup story about his band involvement even took in the first place. Inuyasha isn't one for strategic planning, discretion, or discipline, which is fascinating when you consider he was raised—if you can call it that—under the tutelage of Naraku and the practices of the Kuzawari, a group who have been arguably successful in their underground endeavours to date because of their discipline and extreme patience to act when the time is right for the greatest gain."
Kagura snorted in contempt. Her clasped hands shook, and fingers turned white from the strain of her frustrated grasp.
"Inuyasha has set the recent precedence that he'll go and do the opposite of my instructions and, like a little boy, throw a tantrum when he doesn't get his way or doesn't like what I tell him to do. He's a bloody liability on my hands," Kagura griped. "I refuse to continue to butt heads with his impetuousness or collaborate with him on strategy.
"Since all those band idiots have miraculously been discharged from prison—you can thank Naraku's judicial peons for that—do you realize how many machinations of the truth I've had to dispatch in the wake of the latest conflict he's had with the Kuzawari? How many local authorities I've had to buy off? How many settlements and insurance payouts I've had to dish out for those poor saps who got caught in the middle? His sheer disregard for public order has been making my life a living hell, Kagome! I won't stand for it any longer!"
"So, what's changed, then?" Kagome questioned; her eyebrow raised. "If you were previously able to work with Inuyasha, why can't you anymore? From where I see it, he's been the same stubborn, hotheaded Inuyasha since day one."
Kagura harrumphed. "For one thing, Kagome, you entered his life. I believe Inuyasha has dug his heels in and is now refusing to re-engage with Naraku for fear it will put you in even graver harm. Inuyasha's never been one to be passive, but his recent behaviour has proven he is willing to be obstinate and not follow instructions because he doesn't want to get Kagome involved or he doesn't want to get Kagome hurt. Like doing nothing is the appropriate choice…the fool!"
Kagura paused to sigh. To Kagome's alert eyes, the woman suddenly appeared tired.
"If you willingly engage yourself in my task force, Kagome, participate, do what I tell you to do, I'm confident Inuyasha will follow along."
Kagome slumped back into her chair, Kagura's comments swirling in Kagome's mind as she tried to make sense of them. Kagome chewed the inside of her lip while her eyes searched the desk in front of her.
"You say that, but I'm still not convinced he'll go along with what you want just because I mimic your desires."
"But it won't be mimicry at all, Kagome!" Kagura cried with a deceitfully sweet grin. "Not when the plan or idea is birthed from your lips. I will consult you on my task force's intentions, and you will relay the plan to Inuyasha and convince him to play his part. Pillow talk is a surprisingly convincing tactic; you'd be surprised how likely a man will buy into an idea that's presented to him in the intimate cover of darkness."
Kagome flushed at the insinuation of Kagura's words. Her heart also raced upon feeling like she was being intentionally sneaky behind Inuyasha's back, tricking him into doing Kagura's bidding, if she went along with this.
"But what about your earlier comments that Inuyasha desires freedom from Naraku?" Kagome questioned. "Inuyasha doesn't strike me as the changeable type. If he is so keen to end his situation with Naraku, it doesn't seem in his nature to refuse to do anything about it…his recent excuses aside," Kagome added with blushing cheeks, recalling that Kagura had blamed Kagome for being Inuyasha's recent reason for inaction.
"Oh, there are a few things at play. First, as I've said, Inuyasha knows that Naraku won't go down without a fight. Going after Naraku naturally implies there will be collateral damage, and I think Inuyasha has recently decided he's unwilling to risk anyone else getting hurt, especially not you, Kagome. I think there's also his fatigue with this entire situation at play—the boy is simply tired of playing along. But, what I'd argue has been the primary reason for his compliance to date, is that Naichō has information Inuyasha desperately wants but he knows will only be provided to him if he plays along with how I want to run my operation."
Kagura sighed, rubbing at her temples. "But blackmail and enticement can only go so far, unfortunately. I've been using the same excuse with him for so long I believe he's started to call my bluff."
Kagome shook her head with disbelief, taking a moment's pause to let the awful truth of Kagura's last comment sink in.
"You've been blackmailing him to do what you want this whole time with the ploy of sharing information you don't actually have?" Kagome scoffed incredulously, her nose wrinkling with disgust.
Manipulative bitch, indeed…her internal thoughts grieved, echoing Inuyasha's dinnertime sentiment from the evening before.
"If I didn't want to work with you before, Kagura, now you're really not making a good case for yourself. I refuse to participate in any of this if that is your path forward. The fact that you'd resort to blackmail just to get your way? How is that anyway for someone like you, in a position of power, to behave?"
Kagura laughed boisterously and resumed the irritating tapping of her high heel. She narrowed her eyes at Kagome.
"Oh child, you are naïve! The amount of corruption that flows through my reports and monitors on an hourly basis would astound you. Exploitation is a necessary and fundamental political practice; I wouldn't be nearly so established and exceptional at my job without it. Why do you think we hear about so many global leaders facing impeachment, indictment, or criminal prosecution? Blackmail to ensure one gets what one wants is the natural beneficiary of the investigative business."
Kagome narrowed her eyes at Kagura, bewildered by how easily the woman could condone the actions about which she spoke.
"I'll likely regret asking this," Kagome sighed with exasperation, "but what information, exactly, have you been pretending to withhold from Inuyasha?"
Kagura shot Kagome a toothy grin and ceased her heel-tapping to cross her ankles. Kagome felt mesmerized by the sway of Kagura's golden bangles that clinked about her wrists with the woman's resumed rocking motions while she thought, her fingers steepled.
"About his father mostly. Inuyasha has questions and I've assured him that, if he behaves, I'll give him answers."
Kagura absentmindedly shifted some of the documents around her desk before sharing her next thought.
"Miroku recently brought to my attention that Tōga had a very interesting little file amongst his possessions, and I must admit the data we found was fascinating. Since I made that transactional promise to Inuyasha years ago, I had merely discarded Inuyasha's interest as a pining son desperate to know the ghost of his father. However, since the discovery of that file—the one I believe your brother found, if I'm not mistaken, Kagome—I've assigned a special project to one of my research analysts, you see, to properly investigate Inuyasha's father.
"The more I look into him, the more gaps and question marks I find surrounding the late Honourable Tōga Taisho. Truthfully, Kagome, I'm not too fond of the big picture the puzzle pieces of information are building. I, personally, want to get to the bottom of those queries, especially given Tōga's working history with Naichō and how closely he worked alongside some questionable characters, people who have since been proven accomplices of Naraku's."
Kagome tried to lick the sudden dryness from her lips. She could feel her heart beating in the base of her throat.
"But—how can that be? What you're saying, though, implies that Inuyasha's dad was associated with Naraku."
Kagura rolled her eyes. "I'm not implying it, Kagome. Were you even listening? I'm stating it. It's been proven from eyewitnesses and investigative findings that my team has found to date. Tōga had dealings with Naraku, I'm sure of that."
Kagome's eyes scoured the floor in front of her, momentarily speechless from the shock. "But, proving that he was a corrupt man…I can't even imagine what knowing that would do to Inuyasha. He idolizes his dad…"
"I don't create the information, Kagome," Kagura responded coldly, "I seek it out."
"So, why are you telling me any of this then?" asked Kagome with a resolute tone, her eyes narrowing. "Aren't you worried the things you're sharing with me here I'll turnaround and tell Inuyasha?"
Kagura smirked, as if knowing Kagome would bring this up. "And risk being the one who breaks poor Inuyasha's heart when he finds out that dear ol' dad wasn't the remarkable, admirable role model Inuyasha wished him to be? No, Kagome. I don't believe you would want to be the one to deliver that crushing blow to your beau. I believe your desire to have Inuyasha think of you fondly will entice you to hold our present conversation in the strictest confidence."
Kagome bit her lip to stave off the blush that erupted within her chest. She hated how transparent she felt in that moment, for how easily Kagura could read Kagome like an open book. Frustrated for so easily walking into Kagura's trap, Kagome was quick to change the subject and focus on the topic of their previous discussion.
"Does your information—your reports, people, or whatever—directly say who Inuyasha's dad dealt with? Were they just kobuns? First Sons? Naraku directly?"
Kagura smirked. She was two for two; she loved when she was accurately able to read people. She knew Kagome would be interested to go deeper, to get more involved. Not even Kagome could deny the allure and appeal of information and the conquest of knowledge.
"To answer your question," stated Kagura, "understanding the context first is important.
"One of the largest cases I've supported to date in my career was the indictment of our previous Minister of Justice. At one point of his career, Tōga, Inuyasha's father, reported to that man, Haku Mōryōmaru. Later in his career, once suspicions of Mōryōmaru's behaviour escalated, Tōga was hired by Naichō temporarily as the acting chairperson of our board of directors to help us bring Mōryōmaru down. After all, Mōryōmaru had been caught in fraudulent activity that warranted further investigation, and Tōga had insider information on how Mōryōmaru conducted his business. Bringing Tōga inside our operation was a necessary first step to comprehend the extent of Mōryōmaru's wantonness. We needed Tōga's insight, direction, and position of judicial power to help us infiltrate, exploit, and expose.
"It's human nature to fear disclosure, Kagome," Kagura continued, "especially when one knows they're in the wrong. Mōryōmaru was willing to talk, to expose his working relationship with Naraku, when Tōga offered Mōryōmaru a lighter sentence. Unfortunately, as it played out, Tōga's promise was merely a front to secure Mōryōmaru's confession. The Japanese judicial system doesn't take kindly to multiple counts of fraud and bribery from a key political figure—Tōga saw to that."
"Was Naraku the head of the Kuzawari when Mōryōmaru engaged with him?"
Kagura nodded. "Ever since Naraku has been a known name in this department, he has been the oyabun of the Kuzawari."
"Okay…so what would someone in a political seat like Mōryōmaru have wanted from a relationship with the Kuzawari?"
"Power, mostly," shrugged Kagura. "Naraku apparently loves to make promises about never-ending power. Freedom from limitation if you do his bidding. A power-hungry public servant like Mōryōmaru certainly jumped at the opportunity to never have to give up his seat of power, especially if Naraku promised he'd use his influence to make it possible."
Kagome shook her head, incredulous. "How could Naraku even grant such a promise? How could one person possibly be that powerful?"
"From the audio recordings of Mōryōmaru's interrogations, one of the things he confessed to was allowing Naraku's First Sons and kobuns to infiltrate not just Naichō, but all levels of public governance. Referrals, Mōryōmaru had called them. Naraku presented a name for an open position, and Mōryōmaru used his influence and position to hire the referral with no questions asked. You'd be amazed how many times government and public positions were filled with no formal recruitment process or background check conducted. However, when you follow the paper trail, most of those hires can be tied back to Mōryōmaru. As long as Mōryōmaru kept his word and hired Naraku's referrals, Naraku used his kobuns to pull strings to keep Mōryōmaru in office."
Kagura's words resonated with Kagome so strongly a memory rang clearly in her mind.
"They're everywhere, Kagome," Inuyasha had said to her. "They have their hand in every bank, in every stream of government. They're the dirty cops, the corrupt governors. They may as well own this place."
Kagome's head was spinning.
"How was Naichō able to connect those hires, those referrals, to the Kuzawari?"
"Through trends observed in employee relation investigations mostly," replied Kagura in a matter-of-fact tone.
Kagome furrowed her brows at the response. "And what does that mean, exactly?"
Kagura sighed and rolled her eyes at Kagome's apparent daftness, irritated she had to explain herself.
"No records are confidential for my department, Kagome. My team and I have access to every level of document and record; some of the juiciest findings can be discovered in confidential HR files. Going back through years of HR data files, we have found multiple accounts of complaints lodged against certain employees where no action was taken against the employee. When the complainant follows up with the issue? Termination of the complainant. Consistently. Another example. Multiple instances of HR personnel who investigate a reported privacy breach or disclosure of sensitive trade secrets. What do you think happened to that associate who launched the investigation? Termination. And I don't mean this occurred for the odd person, here and there, Kagome. This is consistent, large-scale, has been happening for years, has happened to hundreds of associates. When my analysts then look into the accused, it's easy enough to see the connection, that the person being investigated was one of Mōryōmaru's referrals. Likely either Mōryōmaru or a First Son was responsible for ensuring the investigator into the referral was properly sacked. There are likely still First Sons or kobuns, perhaps even Naraku directly, ensuring the longevity of this practice to avoid attention or possibility of exposure."
Kagome sunk into her seat, a hand to her cheek while her brain digested what Kagura just shared.
"I just don't understand how this can be known, how all of that can be recorded information, and yet it happened so blatantly." Kagome shifted in her seat, her discomfort too palpable to ignore, picking at her cast while her thoughts spun in circles. "This is so wrong."
"Happens," Kagura corrected. "This isn't a thing of the past, Kagome. Just because Mōryōmaru is no longer the Minister of Justice doesn't mean these trends have stopped. These referrals are still at large. Naraku still has his hand in various institutions and agencies. The serpent's fang will continue to inflict poison until the head is severed. Until Naichō can take Naraku down, can sever the head of the Kuzawari, there's no avoiding the internal corruption we experience because of the Kuzawari's influence and infiltration."
Kagome licked her lips, taking a few moments of silence to fully embrace the enormity of the task, of Kagura's request for help.
"To know who Inuyasha's dad interacted with, you said the context is important. So…?"
Kagura nodded, appearing slightly appreciative of Kagome for keeping the older woman on track. "Yes, that's right: you wanted to know which Kuzawari members Tōga was affiliated with. The answer Kagome is a lot of them. A review of Tōga's previous work diary revealed he had a multitude of meetings with Mōryōmaru's referrals. Some have since been identified as kobuns. For a period of time, Tōga had one recurring after-hours meeting with a now-known First Son. The most alarming, by far, is that once per quarter, Tōga had an early morning phone call scheduled with someone Tōga referred to as 'O'. I want my analysts to expose this 'O', to determine whether this could be Naraku, and to reveal why Tōga spoke with this person for only fifteen minutes, four times per year for the almost twenty-five years Tōga held a position within the judicial branch of government, not just when he was Chief Justice. It's suspicious and concerning to say the least."
Kagome's fingers felt cold to the touch, and she gripped her un-casted hand into a tight fist in hopes it would dispel the frost that had tinged her being. She felt detached, she felt disoriented. She couldn't believe this could be true, that Inuyasha's dad could be so closely linked to Naraku, the person who had abducted Inuyasha and led him down the monstrous path he had.
"So, where do we go from here?" Kagome asked after a heavy moment of silence lingered. Her throat was dry, and a headache was threatening to erupt from behind her eyes. She was desperate for a sip of water.
"We?" Kagura mimicked with a hint of sarcastic amusement on her tongue, straightening in her seat. "Does that mean you're willing to comply with my wishes and participate in our little task force?"
"It means I'm willing to help," Kagome corrected with a snort. "The more I learn about Naraku and how messed up our country is because of him, the more I want him out of Inuyasha's life and gone for good. If I can help you accomplish that, then I'll do what I can. I'm still not convinced I can do much," Kagome added with a self-defeated shrug, "but you seem pretty confident that I'm the ticket you need to make a positive step forward so…" she shrugged again, "I'm willing to help as best I can. What do you need me to do?"
"Very good, Kagome," Kagura chortled. "Very good, indeed."
Kagome watched with skeptical eyes as Kagura leaned over to the other side of her L-shaped desk to push a button on the corded desktop phone that sat there. A single dial tone ring was audible before the call was promptly answered.
"Yes, Kagura."
"Are Inuyasha and Miroku still in Conference Room B?"
A momentary pause occurred before Kanna responded, "Miroku is, yes. Inuyasha appears to be outside having a cigarette. He's pacing. I believe he's anxious."
Kagura shriveled her nose and from the corner of her eye shot a judgmental "That's a disgusting, lingering habit" towards Kagome, as if Kagome could do anything about it. Kagome merely shrugged in response, her eyes not leaving the telephone with which Kagura used to speak with Kanna. Kagome felt spellbound to hear that Inuyasha and Miroku were still local, were still present somewhere within the building while Kagome had sat here with Kagura this entire time.
"Get Inuyasha back inside. Have him spray himself with something so he doesn't stink up my building, and then tell them both I will call for them soon. Kagome and I are almost done here."
"Yes, Kagura."
"I'll let you know when I'm ready for them to join us."
"Yes, Kagura."
Kagura lifted her finger from the button she held and rolled herself back into position in front of Kagome.
"I must give you credit for your powers of deduction, Kagome," Kagura facetiously quipped with a suspicious grin. "Earlier you acknowledged that I likely already have a plan in place for what I'd like you to do, how I plan to have you help me. You were correct."
"I'm so surprised…" retorted Kagome with an eyeroll. "Inuyasha thinks you'll want to use me as bait." Then, with a more hesitant tone added, "It's not that, is it?"
Kagura laughed boisterously before crossing her legs and clasping her hands together atop her desk. "I do enjoy Inuyasha. That boy is sure to surprise me from time to time. In some degrees, he isn't entirely incorrect. However, it's not just you, Kagome, that I plan to use as bait, it's the both of you."
Kagura played ignorant to the look of exploring confusion Kagome cast her. Instead, Kagura busied herself with rummaging in a desk drawer, taking only a moment before placing a magazine on the desktop in front of Kagome.
"Tell me, does this bring back any warm memories?"
Kagome was instantly brought back in time to the night she first became close with Inuyasha at Kobura. Sitting in front of Kagome was the tabloid cover from Arama! Magazine, the picture of Kagome and Inuyasha stepping onto the patio from the club, the look of adoration on Kagome's face not entirely subtle; it was the photograph that first launched the public's interest into Kagome.
Kagome nodded, swallowing past a lump in her throat. She felt nervous for where Kagura was taking this.
"One of my analysts reminded me of this. You certainly appear to clean up nicely, Kagome," Kagura patronized, snatching back the tabloid to review it over herself once more. "I'd hardly even recognize you when you're all dolled up like this."
Kagome released a pent-up sigh of irritation. "Why are you showing me this, Kagura?"
"Once again, cutting to the chase. I do enjoy that no nonsense routine of yours," Kagura chuckled. "I show you this because we're going to recreate the level of public interest that this photograph inspired. Why do you think, Kagome, that the Kuzawari became so attached to you as their means to secure revenge against Inuyasha?"
"Because of the media," Kagome answered nonchalantly. She searched her lap for the words to express before continuing. "Back at Sengoku Manor, when the three kobuns broke in after getting released from prison, one of them had referenced this picture. He referred to me as 'Inuyasha's new girl.'"
"An excellent memory!" commended Kagura. "Yes, precisely. You have this image to thank for your present circumstances. The public was apparently devastated—their word, not mine—that Inuyasha and his super model ex-girlfriend broke up instead of getting engaged. The media surely saw dollar signs when the two of you appear like this together a short time later."
"I've talked about this with Miroku and Inuyasha before," Kagome conceded with sagging shoulders. "We all agreed that the media's obsession with Inuyasha, and then me, is the reason the Family—sorry, the Kuzawari—became fixated on me as Inuyasha's weakness."
"Precisely, Kagome!" Kagura praised. "I knew a smart girl like you could connect the dots quickly. I need you and Inuyasha to be visible, Kagome, to be public. I need the two of you to, once again, capture the media's attention and reignite their interest."
Kagome's cheeks began to pinken as Kagura's words sunk in. She rung her jacket between nervous fingers as she felt her heart begin to race.
"You want Inuyasha and I to go public? With what? A relationship? Just go outside together and let people follow us around and take selfies?" Kagome couldn't stop the heated flush that enraptured her face as each word left her lips.
"I want it to be more calculated than that, Kagome. I want the media all over the two of you. I want you to feed them information and make it as organic as possible. I want you on magazine covers. I want videos of you two online. I want Kagome and Inuyasha to be a widely recognized and celebrated romantic duo. I want you to go public, and then I want you to be secluded. I'm thinking a trip. I'm thinking a remote location. I want the media to reignite an obsession in the two of you that the Kuzawari cannot ignore. I want it publicized that the two of you are going somewhere alone, and I want the Kuzawari to buy it."
"You want to send us to some remote location to be bait for Naraku?"
"No, Naraku wouldn't so recklessly come after Inuyasha to exact his revenge; he's more calculated than that. He's too sentimental for that. However, I do believe it would be within reason to assume the Kuzawari would send other key players, like First Sons or perhaps even Renkotsu or Bankotsu. Miroku shared with me earlier today that they had spotted Renkotsu at Aokigahara during their valiant rescue of you from Jakotsu. If Naraku is willing to send Renkotsu on a fool's errand once, I am confident he'll do it again."
"So, let me get this straight," Kagome squeaked out, trying her best to overcome the swelling embarrassment and anxiety, maybe even excitement, that aroused her. "You want Inuyasha and I to draw attention to ourselves, to then advertise we're going on some kind of lover's retreat—" she paused to catch her breath after this remark, her cheeks a furious red, "—to then lay in wait for kobuns or whoever to come after us? And then what?"
"And then my undercover field agents will capture the lured out Kuzawari members and bring them in for questioning."
"I—I don't know that I can—"
"—Are you trying to disappoint me already, Kagome?" Kagura interrupted hotly with a curt, loud exhale. "I was just starting to think highly of you for offering your assistance with my task force. How naïve of me to believe you could put aside your asinine schoolgirl feelings to see the broader scenario. I merely share with you the outline of our next endeavour and you're backing out already?"
Kagome continued to wring and twist her jacket in her grip.
"It—it's just that…What you're suggesting…I don't know that Inuyasha will…That I can convince him to—"
"—I've had enough of your waiting room bullshit, Kagura! I'm not stickin' around all day just for you to bully Kagome into whatever garbage you—"
"—Inuyasha!" Kagura greeted with a sneer to the brusque interruption, slowly getting to her feet, both palms on her desk. "While it's always a pleasure, I distinctly recall telling Kanna that I would advise you when I was ready for you. Once again, you've demonstrated your astute ability to follow my instructions to the letter."
Inuyasha growled in response to Kagura's sarcasm; however, she paid him no mind as she watched Miroku quickly appear, following on Inuyasha's heel, sliding his torso through the doorway before it slowed to a close.
"Apologies, Kagura," Miroku breathlessly offered in a rushed statement. "Inuyasha and I were just—"
"—And of course," Kagura scorned decisively, cutting off Miroku mid-sentence. "Miroku. Quick to immediately come to Inuyasha's defense with a cleverly devised excuse or two. Gentlemen…you're as predictable as ever."
Kagome observed the slight tinge of Miroku's cheeks upon being admonished by Kagura so blatantly. Kagura sighed in frustration, leaning her body weight into her palms atop her desk.
"Whatever she's told you, Kagome, you don't gotta listen to any of it!" Inuyasha exclaimed, walking briskly to her side. "She's probably spouted nothing but lies and tricks this whole time to get her way."
The comment brought a laugh to Kagura's lips.
Being the only one still seated, Kagome tucked her jacket into the crook of her arm and quickly got to her feet. Her face was still flushed and chest blotched with red from the heavy awkwardness, arousal, and self-consciousness Kagome felt moments ago with Kagura's proposal.
"You make it seem like I'm the wicked beggar woman trying to ensnare Kagome with a poisoned apple. Calm yourself, Inuyasha." Turning her sights to Kagome, one corner of Kagura's lips upturned into a partial smile. "You'd be surprised to know that Kagome and I have had an enlightening conversation this afternoon. Wouldn't you agree, Kagome?" Then, turning her eyesight back to Inuyasha, Kagura smiled broadly. "She's agreed to help us move things forward."
"Move what forward, exactly, may I ask?" Miroku cautiously inquired, taking a step towards the trio around Kagura's desk.
"Gentlemen," Kagura crooned, her untrustworthy smile static upon her face. "Do sit down," she gestured. "There is much Kagome and I must share with you to bring you up to speed."
Author's Note
Worth the wait? Sorta, maybe, kinda? Do you think Inuyasha will go for it? The part of my brain that still ships Kagome & Inuyasha as my OTP certainly hopes so – lol!
As always, feedback and comments are greatly appreciated.