The black mustang was following her. She knew this because they were the only two cars on the road. And because its brights had been blinding her through the rearview mirror since she had pulled out of her driveway.
It was frightening and yet hard to believe–was it supposed to intimidate her? But who would want to follow her; she was a good girl. And yet in the past two nights she had been assaulted, almost raped, had her house broken into and was now being stalked.
Maybe she just had an overactive imagination. Glancing down at the note in her passenger seat, that seemed unlikely.
Kagome clutched the steering wheel tighter as she slowed for the stop light, the red hue washing over her pale features, blurred from the rainwater on the windshield. The mustang's lights were still painfully bright behind her, effectively blocking any view of the occupants. She listened to the heavy downpour and the whirl of her wipers as she waited for the light to change, weighing her options in the meantime. She could pull into the police station, but since she didn't have a permit to drive at night, it would cause more trouble than it was worth. Losing the car through evasive driving was out of the question. So she pulled through the intersection at a crawl, hoping the car would pass her once she didn't accelerate. When the car matched her speed–15 under the limit, she became more alarmed.
Just when she decided to go back home, the car turned onto a side street.
Kagome let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. All of this was ridiculous. Glancing at the address once more, she felt anger flush her cheeks. Did last night have anything to do with this? Now that she knew she was just being paranoid about that other car, she felt less afraid. And since she had come this far, she was going to find out what was going on. Besides, she didn't even have to get out of the car–she could just drive by and take a look.
But when she got there she realized that had been a stupid decision.
At first it looked nothing more than a shopping complex, closed for remodeling. The top lot of the parking deck was empty and pitch black in the absence of street lights, as all the other levels had been. She turned her high beams on to scan the area, but again found nothing more than some orange construction cones. Pulling into a parking space crookedly, she slammed into park and jerked the key out of the ignition in frustration. Nothing. Was this some kind of sick joke?
She climbed out into the rain, making sure to slam her car door in her anger. She sighed, shivering as the cold water soaked her clothing, holding back a bitter laugh. She clenched her fists, feeling like the queen of absurdity–that was until she spotted the man, crumpled and bleeding at the entrance to the closest department store.
She tore across the lot without a second thought, tennis shoes ripping through the puddles of water like a deafening in her ears. Even from her distance she could see the darkness that pooled around his limp form.
"Are you okay?" she cried in her approach, not for once suspecting a trap.
Kagome dropped to her knees in the diluted blood, her jeans now dyed red, as she reached out to touch the unconscious man's shoulder. She jerked away as if burned, falling backwards in an unceremonious splash. He was a demon.
How she knew this was a mystery, but she didn't bother to question it. Every bone in her body screamed at her to run away, just like it had the night before. She felt frozen as she cowered in the water, staring at his dark features–it was obvious now, from his distinct ears to his long, brown hair, thick and matted from the rain. He was dark and alluring, frightening–and bleeding.
She didn't know how long she would have sat there, torn between her instincts had she not suddenly been awash in blinding white light.
She was halfway across the parking lot and didn't remember having gotten to her feet. A girl with long, dark hair had abandoned the black mustang and was chasing her. She could hear the loud splashes which echoed her own as they each raced toward her car and the sound of her named being called. It was madness, and she had never been more terrified in her life. It didn't take a second glance to realized that bulge in her pursuer's suit jacket was probably a hand gun. Her heart thundered in her ears as she waited for the first shots to sound, time slowing as she neared the car.
But she was still too far away, and the girl was gaining on her. The rain drops seemed to hang in the sky as she tore through them, lungs screaming for air as she passed the staircase to the lower levels. In desperation, she threw her arm out unexpectedly to grab the railing, wrenching her body around from the force. For a moment, she caught a glimpse of her pursuer's startled face as she leapt over the railing, and then she was screaming as she sailed through the air, the passing stairs a blur in her descent. She landed painfully on hands and knees a few flights below and suddenly the world was once again turning as the downpour assaulted her back. There was a ringing in her ears, and she strained to hear the girl curse above her before thundering down the stairs.
She was up once more, running down the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her–pain could come later. After clearing one more flight to be certain she was out of sight, she raced across the parking lot to the other set of stairs. She stopped, back pressed against the cold, concrete wall as she listened, hidden from view, for her pursuer's footfall. As she caught her breath, she felt the sweat trickle down her neck, mixing with the cold water that drenched her back. And then once the girl had passed her level, she was running once more, forcing herself up the stairs back to the top level. She felt as if she would collapse, but pushed herself harder, sure that the woman would be on her heels any moment, terror driving her harder at the thought.
And then she was in the car, peering out of the fogged window at the empty parking lot. She had made it, and the girl was no where to be seen. She gripped her keys shakily, trying once more to catch her breath. She didn't care that her seats were soaked or that she would have ugly bruises in the morning. She did care that there was still a man bleeding on the other side of the parking lot. From this distance he looked dead, and she found herself staring, the image burning itself into her memory. But he's not dead. The thought came to her from no where, and she suddenly felt guilty. But there was nothing she could do for him now, except go to the police. She let out a sigh and reached for the ignition.
"I had hoped you'd be less predictable."
She yelped at the voice, turning with wide eyes to the man in her passenger seat. He sat with his legs crossed and his hands folded on his knee, a smug smile of victory gracing his face. She took in his short, black hair and indigo eyes, feeling her mouth gape slightly, the keys slipping quietly from her fingers.
Finally, she let her shoulders slump in defeat. "Who are you?"
Inuyasha licked the blood from his claws slowly, deliberately. It was times like these when his body sang with the need to kill. Absently, he thought that he was losing control. But the primal part of him laughed at this thought. More.
Somehow, he hadn't meant to kill the lesser demon; it had merely been a reflex when he was ambushed. But now the bakery was painted with blood stained flour, and he couldn't wipe the grin from his face. The bastard had probably deserved it.
But there was a purpose for his presence here. That thought alone helped to slow his racing heart and add resolve to his resistance. He had come for a fox demon.
Most of them had been wiped out weeks ago when the small group decided to side with the Ookami pack. And yet one had gotten away; a very important one. So here he was about to earn his keep by executing the Kitsune dynasty's only remaining heir. He smiled languidly at the thought. "I know you're here. You stink of the grave already, so you might as well come out and face your death bravely."
"I'll take my revenge!"
Inuyasha grinned, flexing his bloodstained claws as he turned toward the direction of the voice. He could already feel himself slipping away. He was going to enjoy this.
The air before him was swirling darkness, and suddenly he was on fire. For a moment his concentration broke and he was himself once more, panic sweeping his body before he realized the flares weren't hot to the touch. He held out his hand, watching the tiny flames lick at his skin in fascination. Was this some kind of trickery, that he was unable to feel the pain until it killed him? He reached up to scratch his head, staining a tuft of his hair red. And then he yelped, finally feeling pain. But it wasn't what he expected. In surprise, he glanced over his shoulder to the fox clawing at his back, teeth embedded in his skin. He reached back to get a firm grasp before ripping the demon from his shoulder.
And suddenly his head was all too clear. It was just a little kid.
For the first time he felt nauseated, his own unwanted memories flooding his mind. He had become his own nightmares, a monster hunting for a child's blood.
"Look, kid, if you know what's good for you, you'll get out of here and never look back."
The kit struggled in the air, hatred gleaming in his tear-streaked face. "I'll kill you for what you did to my parents!"
Inuyasha sighed and tossed him across the room hard enough to keep him from attacking again. "I'm not the one you want. Leave the state and forget about your life here; it's gone."
He walked off, ignoring the sniffles of the little fox, a feeling of guilt clenched tight in his gut.
It was strange to look upon the man handcuffed to the hospital bed. Well, maybe hospital bed was the incorrect term. They weren't in a hospital–they were in an underground, government medical facility. And it was a hell of a lot dingier than the movies would ever portray.
Kagome thought the handcuffs seemed a little silly. Weren't demons supposed to possess superhuman strength? Absently, she reached out to touch one of his wrists and jerked back in surprise. Had the metal somehow tingled? It wasn't exactly a painful shock, but there was an almost electric hum to the restraint. She huddled deeper in the scratchy, wool blanket, trying to get warm. But secretly she suspected her chill wasn't just skin deep.
They hadn't wanted her to be in his room in case he was violent when he awoke, or so they had said. She suspected that the real reason was still hidden, which was exactly why she was in his room now.
He was simply called Kouga, and was the young leader of the Ookami tribe. He was also the man she had found in the parking lot. Kouga's wolf tribe was the only current opposition to Onigumo, the largest demon mafia in the state. In truth, all of it made her head spin.
She had never seen him before in her life, but apparently it was him who had placed the note in her kitchen. So now she wanted answers. She should be angry that he put her in a dangerous situation, but seeing him now bandaged in the bed softened her. She reached up, brushing her fingers across the tan skin of his cheek. "Why were you there alone?"
He stirred at her touch, opening his eyes slowly. She felt surprised when she saw their coloration; she had expected brown eyes to match his dark features, but instead she blinked into bright blue pools which shown from his intensity.
"Kagome."
His use of her name startled her. All of her questions pressed against her in that one moment, threatening to overflow her if she didn't express them. "Why?"
That one word covered everything, and at the same time it was all she could manage.
"I'm just an ordinary girl."
He laughed at her, and it was rich and deep like his features. "Kagome, Kagome. You're anything but ordinary."
She frowned, suddenly not liking the way he used her name. "Please, don't condescend to me."
She let her bitterness at the past days' events leak into her voice and watched as he responded to it. He looked away slightly, examining the small room's furnishings, his eyes distant. "I'm sorry."
She didn't think a man like him was used to apologizing often so she let it go. Besides, there were more important things that needed discussing. "If you wanted to meet with me, why didn't you just do it when I was at school or at home. You could have easily when you broke into my house. Why go to the trouble you did?"
He smiled but it held no humor. She really didn't understand. "I knew they were watching you. I thought maybe if you could sneak away–I needed to talk to you alone." He sighed deeply, "but I guess they knew all along."
"Who?"
He let the smile slip from his face, lifting the metal cuffs weakly as an explanation.
She sighed in response, raking her fingers through her damp hair. Yes, that's why they were there. They had been watching her. But why? They said they were protecting her, but didn't disclose from what or who. Had they been protecting her from Kouga? He didn't seem like he had planned on hurting her. But then, who had hurt him?
"The Patrol."
She let the words slip from her mouth, and he nodded in affirmation. In all of her 18 years, she had never before seen any member of the elite demon control force, but now she was on a first name basis with at least two agents. It seemed very surreal.
Miroku, the man from her car, entered the room then, his smug smile firmly in place. Not one to waste time, he greeted, "Ready for a little talk, Kouga?"
Kouga didn't seem happy to see the agent, and she couldn't blame him. Who knew what a questioning session might involve. There was no public eye here.
The female, Sango, was ready to usher Kagome from the room, already flooding her with concerned questions: did she need another blanket, she should get some sleep, how about some coffee or a snack. Obviously, the agents had been hoping to prevent any conversation between the two.
Kagome frowned, feeling frustrated and stressed at the situation. She still didn't have any answers. A part of her was scared to be in a government facility, and part of her just wanted to go to bed. But mostly she felt emotionally drained and at the end of her patience. "I want some answers." When the two looked at her skeptically she scowled, "Now."
It was early morning by the time Inuyasha returned to Kagome's house. It had taken time to convince Yura of his success without the aid of a body. Plus, she had an eerie knack for knowing when he was lying. He hoped for his sake at least, that the kid took his advice and ran for his life. He still felt a little sick about the whole affair; Kagome would be horrified if she knew what he had almost done.
Monster, he heard her voice cut through his mind. He cringed. But it was the truth; he was a monster. Glancing at his claws now, he couldn't deny that he had enjoyed the feel of thick blood as it coated his hands. But she hadn't been what stopped him. He didn't want to be a mindless animal that killed simply for the pleasure. He wanted to feel things as only a human could and have control over his own body. But humans were so damn weak. And he couldn't change what he was any more than he could change the stars.
She was sleeping in her bedroom now. The sight of her made him snort; at least she had finally had sense enough to climb into her own bed. He smiled, brushing away his sudden feeling of loneliness. Now that he could see that she was safe and sound, he could rest. As he drifted off to sleep he thought that it was nice to have someone to look after. It was better than when he lived in fear alone in the streets, better than when he had been hunted for simply being alive. That's why he joined Onigumo; so he could live. But of course in it he found only death.
