Chapter 6

"The Face Of Evil"

Everything was going to plan, he would soon be rid of that annoying investigator. She had ruined one of his plans six months ago the information she had been able to give to the police had destroyed the connections he had built with the Yakuza. They didn't trust him any more and with good reason. He hadn't wanted her dead though, she could be useful in the future though she was a pretty little thing, and now she was working for that damn Inu Lord. His dark emerald eyes narrowed dangerously, as he gazed out on to the Tokyo sky line. The lord of the west was the only thing in his way, he would destroy the only real threat to his plans.

Dante was old, much older than Sesshomaru, an ancient whom had kept a low profile for a very long time. He had his time to gain his powers had time to gain his power base, being as old as he was had it's benefits after so long every one forgot about you if you didn't cause any trouble. Oh and not causing trouble was something he did best, no he got other ones to start the mischief to sow the seeds of evil, he only got his hands dirty if he had to.

Turning back to the floor to ceiling mirror in the large penthouse apartment, the dark green walls, earthy brown carpet and equally earthy coloured bedding, reflected in the mirror. His pale well muscled body standing out against the dark background, his black wavy hair cascading down his bare back to his knees. The sinfully gorgeous face with full lips, chiselled jaw, an arrogant nose and dark emerald eyes set below midnight brows.

He knew he looked like what humans thought the devil should, he had purposely allowed them to believe that. Over the past two thousand years he fostered the beliefs that he was Lord of the Underworld, with much success. Five hundred years ago the world had been ripe for the taking, his vassal, Naraku had been perfectly sadistic, sowing the seeds of his own demise so that Dante didn't have to get rid of him, himself.

If it hadn't been for that priestess whom had destroyed Naraku he would have been in control now, humans would not be ruling the world, defiling the glorious natural habitat that he once roamed free in. Though that was not the real reason behind everything, just a mild annoyance to add to the list of grievances it was just a good one for being pissed off. Striding over to the huge walk in closet, it was like a men's department store, except everything was in his size, the dark wood paneling in side giving it an elegant appearance.

Pulling off the towel that he had slipped around his waist after his shower and pulling on a pair of black raw silk dress pants and a dark green silk button down with the collar unbuttoned, a pair of black dress shoes completed the outfit. His hair falling in silky midnight waves down his back. Now fully dressed for the day he needed to find out what that fool, Akino had been doing talking to that woman. The ancient bat demon knew how ever that she had been told nothing, knew that Akino had gotten rid of her before he could reveal anything that fool of a rat demon talked too much when threatened.

He had plans for the girl though she could be useful in drawing Sesshomaru in to a trap, tacky though it seemed. Dante knew about the kiss, he had seen the whole thing, having taken Kanna's mirror after Naraku's defeat. All that had spawned from that hanyou had been destroyed, he had made sure of it, he hadn't needed that bunch wandering around gaining more power and getting it in to their heads to take over where Naraku had left off.

Smirking as an idea hit him, evil and demented, the complex intricacy with which is mind worked was amazing, he laughed as he left his bed room to implement this new plan.

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It was early morning when Kagome slipped out of the house, she would rest when she got there. The sun had been just barely up, she knew she was going to have to leave really early in order to evade Sesshomaru. The estate grounds were beautiful in the morning, the huge lawn which surrounded the house for a mile and a half, the large vegetable garden out back, the small wooded area to the left of the house, the restoration garage just behind the wooded area, all of it surrounded by a ten foot tall cast iron fence. The previous owners had been a little paranoid, not that Kagome had cared about it, it just meant that she didn't have to spend a fortune on getting a security system installed.

Entering the car garage she picked out an older dark blue truck. Driving away she felt a little guilty for leaving Kai in the dark about her whereabouts, but it was necessary she knew that when Sesshomaru stopped by to find her gone he would do what it took to find her. Hum perhaps she should have left a note for him, them. Thinking of the demon lord reminded her that he still hadn't remembered her, for a demon such as Sesshomaru you would have thought that he would have remembered a person who was a big part of his life when it came to InuYasha and the sword he had sought. It just didn't make sense to her, she should have been known to him upon first sight. Then again perhaps he didn't remember because he hadn't noticed her, hadn't been worth remembering. That thought had made her feel a little depressed, and a little angry. How dare he not remember her how dare he decide that one of his old enemies and death to the most disgustingly evil hanyou feudal Japan had ever known, was worth forgetting about. That bastard, how many times had InuYasha uttered those words about Sesshomaru, she had always told her self that he couldn't have been that bad. Now look at her. now she was on the receiving end of his...

Turning off the main highway and onto a dirt road, she continued her drive up the mountain.

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Looking out to on the azure blue sea, InuYasha hung up the phone. Things had changed for him he knew, he had to stop running, he had been running from his feelings for too long. years ago he had come across the shrine from his youth, had watched from afar as the younger version of him self come and go from the shrine grounds, bringing back old memories. He had wanted to see Kagome again, to talk to her, hold her in his arms one last time, he couldn't mess with the past though dangerous things happened when you, did he knew that.

He had went back to the shrine three times, just to see her, he witnessed the moment he had mangled her bike then tried to create adamant shards to buy her a new one. Watched her seventeenth birthday party with her family, and his younger self as they wish her a happy birthday. Watched as his younger self brought her the soup her mother had sent him up to her room with when she was sick. He had liked taking care of her, liked even more when she had ridden on his back to where ever they were going that day. He missed her scent, that sweet smell of rain and spicy vanilla, he remembered the day she had given him that heart shaped locket with their pictures in side. He still had it actually, the pictures long since turned to dust, though he did morn the loss of the picture, the memory of her face was still kept in his heart.

He had lied to Sesshomaru, well not lied exactly, more like not told him the whole truth. The truth like where exactly or rather when Kagome was from. He had kept it from him as well as details about her like where she lived, he knew that the Inu lord was still looking for a reincarnation even thought all he had were very fleeting memories of the girl. He had wanted things to turn out they way they were supposed to even though it had broken his heart to allow it to happen again.

He hadn't gone back to the shrine since, knowing that if he were to, he would try to change the events leading up to Naraku's destruction and Kagome's death. He had grieved all over again, but had found solace in the fact that her family was well taken care of. InuYasha had funded the shrine's keeping over the past hundred years through Sesshomaru's company. Through the ages he had protected the shrine knowing that if Kagome wasn't born they would have never have met. Temporal paradoxes were not his forte, but knew that Kagome's mom couldn't be allowed to find out who was funding the shrine though he would eventually have to return to find closure.

'Soon' he thought, Mrs Higarashi would be surprised to see him, he felt guilty for not going back sooner to tell her of Kagome's death though he thought she had figured that out by now, it had been ten years since the well closed for good.

"Kagome" he said to the empty room "I'm sorry, I hope your in a better place"

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Parking in the large field off the side of the road, Kagome got out of her truck pulling on her hiking pack full of cloths and supplies for a few days, before making sure that every thing was closed and locked. Turning towards the path she started the three hour hike up to the plateau where the ancient village of demon slayers lay.

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It was late morning by the time Sesshomaru arrived at the Higarashi estate. He had wanted to stay last night and guard over her, she had been injured but he could tell that if he had she wouldn't have gotten the sleep she needed regardless of how badly she needed it, she had wanted him to leave pretty bad and had tried her best to convince him to leave. He realized that he had not acting like himself around her, he had been too easily swayed by her argument. It didn't help that over the past five hundred years he had to act more and more human, though the stoic arrogant Inu Taiyoukai lord was still there he had become more in touch with his emotions, had become more human in demeanour.

Though not a bad thing the only time he was the ruthless lord was at work and to a lesser extent with InuYasha, but when he was around Kagome he lost his stoic mask. He lost the ability to remain aloof around her. He didn't like it, he was feeling things around her that he had never felt before even when he had taken Rin as his ward. The little girl had melted his heart but Kagome was making it beat, he didn't understand how she could do that with out doing anything.

Shaking him self out of those thoughts Sesshomaru glided up to the front steps of the ten bedroom house, ringing the door bell he waited.

The door opened a few moments later to reveal a very sleepy Kai, his dark hair tousled wearing a pair of sleep wrinkled boxers and a tee shirt.

"I am here to see Kagome" Sesshomaru said his own fabulous body clothed in a pair of dark blue jeans, black boots, and a black long sleeved crew neck sweater that showed off his build.

His long silver hair caught up in a long braid that hung down his back and contrasted sharply against his dark cloths.

"Uh, she, uh she's not here" Kai said a little sheepishly.

"What do you mean she's not here? She's supposed to be resting" he demanded golden eyes narrowed dangerously as he stared at Kai.

"I think I heard her leave a few hours ago"

Grabbing the young man by the throat, Sesshomaru pinned him against the wall his nose almost touching Kai's as a growl emanated from his throat.

"Where is she?" he asked again with quiet menace.

"I...I don't know" Kai choked out as Sesshomaru's claws put more pressure on his throat.