Kagome would admit, she liked the nightly visits from Derek.
There were certain things though that were adding far too much pressure and a girl could only take so much before the shit hit the fan. Such as Scott for starters. He was still... wary of Derek, and seeing how Derek was trying to earn her cousin's trust, he wanted to keep their relationship on the down low. Seeing as the alpha was also interested in her, for whatever reason, they didn't know how they would react should they be open with their relationship.
While it sucked, she understood. She still wasn't exactly happy about the whole thing, and it was far too... urg, Romeo and Juliet for her tastes. And look how those two ended up.
Pursing her lips, Kagome continued on with her day, or what was left of it. She had heard the others talking, she would merely offer a few of her own thoughts, nothing more. She had to concentrate on kicking her own butt into shape. More meditation, more work outs to keep herself in shape, or back into it. Sesshoumaru would have chained her to a fricken doujo if he had heard about her getting her ass kicked, which she wouldn't mind at the moment.
It wasn't like she could ask for a sparring partner. And she doubted that Derek would accept such a request. Which sucked, cause she could -really- use the practice, especially since the alpha was now including her in whatever plans he had. Something she wanted no part of and would use anything in her arsenal to keep herself out of it.
It had been a few days since the full moon, and since Derek was the favored for the suspect of all the killings, he had been laying down low. Scott and Stiles were still trying to figure things out, which set of things, she would never really know. The alpha, Allison, the Argents, Derek... She could only say they were still trying to -sort- and figure things out.
"Hey, I'm gonna go out for a jog after school..." seeing Scott's worried look and that he was about to interrupted, Kagome lifted a hand. "I know, I know, not really smart, all things considered. But it'll still be light out, and I'll have my cell with me. I'll also keep my laps within the town."
"Are you sure that's a good idea? Especially after, well, you know..."
"It's because of that night that I'm doing this. It made me realize, that I haven't been keeping up with certain... practices. The other night reminded me, that I could have done a lot more, should have. But I let myself go slack."
Seeing the he was still worried, she smiled and with a hand reached up and ruffled his hair. "Don't worry, I'll be more prepared this time. Trust me."
Pushing off on her bike, she headed home before him, thankful that she had the next few nights free. It would allow her to do what she needed in order to shape herself up.
Once she was home, she quickly made her way up the stairs and into her room, fully intended on changing into something comfy for her jog. Her lips pursed again, it would have been far more better if she had someone to spar against. Maybe she could call Kouga up and see about getting him or maybe Ginta or Hakkaku to spar with her. It would be better than jogging alone.
Changing, but also grabbing a light jacket Kagome let her mind settle into a sort of meditative state as she jogged. It would be hitting two birds with one stone.
Scott grimaced as he turned over what Kagome had said to him. While what she said was true, the alpha only struck at night, when it was dark, they still didn't know -who- the alpha was. What made it worse was that Derek had found a few leads left behind from his sister and wanted to use tonight as an opportunity.
Which would mean that Kagome would be totally alone for a while. And call him crazy, but he had a feeling that if anything happened to Kagome, for any reason, Derek would be upset. He had a feeling Stiles knew the reason why behind that. He had brought the subject up once, but Stiles had managed to redirect the topic of their conversation.
His heart skipped a beat when Allison walked by, but he felt his hope crash and burn when she continued to walk past him without so much as a glance.
The grip on the straps of his book bag tightened, to such a point that he actually heard the fabric protest the abuse. Easing up, he waited for Stiles so they could go along with this crazy plan of Derek's. Who was supposed to be laying low... No thanks to him. He was just glad that Derek had yet to mention it.
"What's up? You look like you just lost your favourite puppy, in a horribly depressing sort of way I might add."
He merely glanced at his best friend. Why did he always have to point out the obvious in such... ways? Oh right, it was Stiles.
"Kagome just told me that she would be out jogging right after school."
"She... what?!"
He was actually surprised when Stiles looked around them, his eyes darting all over the place. It made that feeling that Stiles knew something, and wasn't telling him, grow. Narrowing his eyes, it made him wonder all the more, on what exactly Stiles knew.
"Is she crazy?! What about the alpha? Didn't Derek say to keep a close eye on your cousin because the alpha might have something in mind about Kagome? Or that you said she actually had the alpha's scent all over her from that night?"
"Yes, Derek did, and yes she did. I asked Derek about it, but he wouldn't explain why that was with Kagome. And I think that Kagome may know why as well. But she isn't saying anything either."
He noticed how Stiles fidgeted with worry. His suspicions grew about whatever secret that Stiles was obviously keeping when he wouldn't look him in the eye. Narrowing his eyes lightly, he shook his head and moved towards his own bike.
"Well, it could be they don't actually know why the alpha did what he did, you know. It could be they have a few ideas, but don't want to say anything until they have something a little more solid to go on. It happened only once, whose to say it'll happen again? I mean, the alpha could end up killing Kagome the next time the two meet, or perhaps turn her like he did you..."
Scott glared at Stiles, not liking what his best friend was saying. It was true though, it had only happened once, and it wasn't a known fact how the alpha was operating at this time. In fact, Scott didn't want to know why the alpha was doing what he was doing. He simply wanted to find a cure and get Allison back.
But first things first, tonight's plan.
It felt odd to be in Derek's car, behind the front wheel, without the guy himself present. But, it was part of the plan. Lead any and all away from him, should something go wrong. Derek was still the favorite as the main suspect in the killings. Which made him question, why they were doing this to begin with.
Stiles was more concentrated with admiring the interior than the reason why they were in there to begin with.
"I wonder if this Italian leather." the sudden comment from Stiles broke the heavy silence.
Furrowing his brows, Scott turned to his best friend. Though one of them shot up at what Stiles was doing. "Italian... leather?"
Not really paying attention to Scott, Stiles continued to stroke his seat. "Yeah, I hear that stuff is really expensive."
"Are you... actually petting your seat?" frowning at his friend, he wondered how he could enjoy their current situation.
"Have you felt this stuff?! It's what dreams are made of!" Stiles didn't even look up as he explained himself.
Rolling, his eyes, Scott readjusted his hold on the steering wheel."I thought Lydia was the one that made your dreams."
Stiles looked towards Scott, blinking wide eyes. "Well, yeah, of course she is. Just imagine, Lydia -and- Italian leather!"
Scott grimaced at the look Stiles was now wearing, or the scent that was quickly filling the car. He remembered that same scent when Stiles had asked him if he could actually scent desire. He had picked it up from Stiles when he had started talking about Lydia.
Trying to focus on something else, Scott started up the car.
"Oh, we're going?" Stiles stopped petting his seat and began to pay actual attention.
"Yeah, so turn that on." Scott indicated the police radio that Stiles 'borrowed' from his father.
Stiles grumbled under his breath, not happy to having his fantasy time interrupted because of werewolf and alpha issues. And his last one had really been a good one. Really, it was Lydia and Italian leather! Maybe a car that was just as hot at this one.
They were driving around for less than five minutes before the police radios were going at it, talking how there had been a disturbance at the school. They kicked it into over drive, speeding down the streets, whipping their heads, when they saw that they were no longer alone.
"Well, they sure didn't wait long." if Scott didn't know any better, he would have questioned at how easy Stiles just said that.
"Can you tell which one it is?"
"No, I can't. I'm trying to keep my eyes on the road so we don't crash!" Scott gritted his teeth as he tightened his hold on the steering wheel.
"Sheesh, no need to bite my head off." Stiles slouched while muttering under his breath.
After a few more minutes of being chased, Stiles looked back behind them taking in the jeep that was keeping up with them. A little too easily at that. Turning to his best friend, he took in the serious and concentrated look on his face for a second, before taking in the jeep once more.
He eyed the speedometer and mentally rolled his eyes. "I'm seriously starting to think you don't understand the concept of a car chase. Go faster!"
"If I go any faster, I'm going to kill us." Scott let his own eyes fall to the speedometer before turning them back to the road.
"Well, if you don't go any faster, they'll kill us!" Stiles waved a arm wildly to indicate the jeep behind them.
Seeming to need no more encouragement, Scott pressed down on the gas making the tires screech against the pavement at the sudden increase in speed.
Pushing himself into a twisted position in his seat, Stiles glanced back again, blinking suddenly that the jeep was no longer behind them. Leaning a little and checking the sides as well, he wanted to make sure before.
"They're gone." even though he said that, he continued to search for the jeep a little longer before turning around and facing forward once again, heaving a relieved breath.
Scott took a quick glance, obviously shocked at the sudden change in their current situation. Blinking confused eyes towards Stiles, he took another glance behind them before turning his eyes back onto the road. He was just about to relax, now that they were no longer being chased, but that changed when Stiles took up the police radio and hit the on button.
"All units, the suspect is on foot and heading into the iron works."
Gripping the wheel tighter and letting out a harsh breath, Scott turned the wheel sharply and headed towards Derek's location. Shaking his head, this entire plan was going down hill, and fast. As they quickly approached the iron works, Stiles climbed into the back, gripping tightly onto the passenger seat as Scott steered them through the maze of the factory.
Leaning between the passenger seat and the front door and opened it up and leaned out when they saw Derek ducking behind tractor as Chris held an armed bow as he watched what was going on.
"Get in!"
Waiting a few moments, Derek got up and ran for the open car door, his shoulders hunching on instinct when the hunter open fired now that he was out in the open. The sound of the gun firing and bullets hitting the ground echoed in the still factory.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Scott once again pushed as far down as he could on the gas, flinching when the first bullets hit the car. He was a little surprised that they were merely bouncing off the car, not actually penetrating the doors or breaking the windows.
After leaving the factory and once again on the road, Scott spoke up, his ire more than easy to read in his voice. "What part of laying low, do you not understand?"
Apparently, the feeling was infectious, as Derek hit the dashboard in front of him. "Damn it! I had him!"
"You mean the alpha?" Stiles excited question, an underline of hope sounding through felt out of place in the tense car interiour.
Derek turned to face Stiles as the boy leaned forward between the two front seats, his face momentarily blank. Or bewildered, it was hard to tell at the moment.
"Yes! He was right in front of me. Then the, fricken police showed up."
"Whoa, hey. They're just doing their jobs." the words were spoke before he even thought about it, feeling the need to somewhat defend his father's profession and those he worked with.
Turning to face Derek, something he mentally questioned himself on why he did so, froze at the sheer pissed off look that was directed towards him. Cowering slightly, not that he would admit to such, Stiles pulled back for the male and sunk down till he was more or less crouching on the back floor of the car.
It was then that Derek turned his irritation towards Scott. "Yeah. Thanks to someone that decided to make me the most wanted fugitive in the entire state."
"Can we seriously get past that? I made a dumb ass mistake, I get it." Scott checked in the rear view mirror, as his hands get re-gripping the wheel in agitation.
The tension quickly rising, Stiles figured is was best to change the topic before things got out of hand and the two went all werewolf in the tiny space of the car. So, waving his arms about as if trying to clear the air, he spoke up."Alright! How did you find him?"
It was a logical question to ask. Really, after all this time, and they finally had the alpha in their sights, meaning identity within their grasps? Something was up, and so far with the alpha, that never really meant good things.
Derek and Stiles stared each other down, one wanting to know the answer, the other in irritation at the entire situation. Derek finally turned away, letting out a huff. Sensing that they weren't about to get an answer, Scott turned to the other werewolf.
Having enough with the silence to their questions when it involved the alpha, Scott spoke up. "Can you try and trust us, for at least half a second?"
"And -both- of us." at Derek's glare, Stiles felt the corner of his lips automatically turn down. "Or just Scott. I'll be back here."
"Look the last time I talked to my sister, she was close to figuring something out. About two things. The first was about a guy named Harris." Derek rolled his shoulders, attempting to get as comfortable as he could while discussing such matter with outsiders.
Stiles pulled himself between the front seats, confusion and disbelief on his face as he asked Derek. "Our chem teacher?" things were just getting weirder and weirder, and far too confusing with the randomness that, obviously wasn't random to the alpha. They just couldn't seem to put the pieces together.
Turning to face the two, Scott furrowed his brows. "Why him?"
"Look, I don't know yet." furrowing his brows, even Derek couldn't see how everything fit together.
"Well, what's the second?" Scott asked, thinking perhaps they could work on this other piece of evidence and then see how their teacher fit into the whole thing.
Derek pulled out a folded piece of paper, quickly unfolding it showing a very familiar pencil sketch on it. "Some kind of symbol."
Taking a quick double look at it, Scott felt his stomach not only drop, but twist in on itself. He couldn't of held back the groan of shock and disappointment if he wanted to. He prayed to god and any other that was willing to listen to him, and hopefully help him, that Allison was not going to be dragged into all of this.
"What? You know what this is?" Derek seemed a little shocked that he recognized symbol, with as clueless as he was about the rest of his life.
"I've seen it on a necklace. Allison's necklace." Scott slapped the steering wheel in his agitation before pushing down on the gas.
First their chemistry teacher and now Allison, two people that wouldn't be giving him answers to his questions. One was somehow involved in the deaths of Derek's family, so they wouldn't answer his questions as to how or even admit to their involvement. And the other one didn't want to give him the time of day currently.
They drove to his place first, why, he wasn't sure. It seemed some how that his home was home base while they went about trying to solve the mystery that involved the alpha. Though it wasn't really that great of an idea, since he blamed Derek for the murders making him most wanted in all of the state. So having him over was not all that great.
"So, do you have any idea on how to get that necklace from Allison?" Stiles asked out loud as they made their way up the stairs, pausing to look as they walked by Kagome's room.
"No, Allison doesn't really want anything to do with me at the moment. Or did you forget that." Scott grumbled under his breath, not paying attention to his two guests.
"What about Harrison? He's your teacher." Derek growled lowly under his breath when he saw what Scott's friend was doing. Dropping his hand heavily on the back of his neck, he took hold of collar and pulled him away from the door with more force than the boy had been expecting.
"Oh, yeah, like he's going to admit to being involved in arson and murder." Stiles muttered as he rubbed the back of his neck and shoulders.
Derek threw him another well patented glare that had him drawing back half a step and waited until Derek was once again facing forward. Stiles muttered something about sour-wovles under his breath which had Derek releasing a low growl in his direction. Gathered in Scott's room, uncomfortably at the tense situation, they discussed on how they could get the information needed. And by they, it really meant Scott.
Despite knowing the late time the boys came in, Kagome had let them to their own devices. Boys would be boys, no matter how old or what they were. And even though she had a good night's sleep, she trudged down the stairs and dropped heavily into a seat at the table. Burying her face into her arms that were folded across the table, her brows furrowed when she realized why she felt like crap. Her damn time of the month was finally rolling around.
Letting out a pained groan and cursing in Japanese, she ignored her cousin's question for breakfast she instead whimpered when her aunt patted her head in sympathetic understanding.
"I hear ya kid. There anything you need, or I can do for you?" the words were whispered, causing Kagome to turn her head to head a give the woman a more than likely pathetic look.
"Knock me out for the rest of the week?" Kagome blinked her eyes in a lazy fashion at the small smile her aunt threw her.
"Sorry kiddo. Other than that?" warm brown eyes took in her state.
Pushing herself up, Kagome quickly combed a hand through her hair. "Some tea would really be great, nothing with caffeine though."
Another warm smile was her answer as Melissa turned into the kitchen and began puttering about on getting that done as Scott took a seat and watched her with confusion. He munched on his cereal, his spoon clinking against the bowl each time he scooped for more food. Feeling his stare beginning to burn holes into the side of her head and growing easily irritated at hearing ever detail of Scott eating his breakfast, Kagome finally snapped.
"What!" her snap ended up startling Scott into dropping his spoon with a splash into his bowl, leaving a slight mess of spilt milk.
Scott blinked wide eyes, obviously startled at her sudden out burst. Floundering about, it took a while to recollect himself as Kagome continued to stare at him through narrowed eyes. "Uh, I was just wondering if everything is alright..."
The corner of her lips dipped down, an obvious sign that she was upset. Mentally, she knew how she was reacting wasn't all that great, but every little thing at this moment was seemingly the last straw of her hair-trigger happy roller coaster of emotions. Usually they weren't so bad, but every now and then she got the crappy end of the stick. Looks like she would be writing for another care-package to help keep the symptoms to a minimum.
"Fine, just... fine." she turned away, not really in the mood to explain anything to her cousin. She loved him like a baby brother, but if he couldn't figure it out on his own, it wasn't her job to say anything.
A thermos was place in front of her and following up the arm that placed it there, Kagome offered a tired smile in thanks as she took it and left. She hoped the ride alone in the still agreeable autumn weather would help.
As for Scott, he watched in a confused daze as Kagome flipped-flopped her emotions before leaving. He looked up when his mom handed him a piece of paper towel, and absently took it to clean up the spilt milk. "What was that all about?"
His mom raised a brow in his direction, looking like she was surprised and somewhat disappointed that he asked that question. "Are you really asking me that?"
Eyes darting to the side for a moment, Scott was having a hard time figuring out if she was serious or being sarcastic. As if sensing his dilemma, his mom walked over to him and gave him a hug around the shoulders.
"Honey, you've learned about this in school. And then asked me about it when you were confused. Just, go easy around Kagome is all I'm going to say. If you're still confused, then you have a lot of work ahead of you." she planted a kiss atop his head before ruffling his hair and moving back into the kitchen.
It took him a few moments after his mom left for it to finally click into place, and when he did, his face flushed before just as quickly paling as his face screwed up. Knowing that girls went through that was one thing, but knowing your cousin was currently suffering from... that... was all too much information.
With a scowl still on his face, he pushed the rest of his breakfast aside having lost his appetite. Knowing with how Kagome currently was feeling, he wasn't about to ask her with any questions for answers or help with him and Allison. Taking his half empty bowl back into the kitchen, he offered the rest to his mom before offering a quick good bye and heading off to school himself.
The ride was surprisingly quiet, he wasn't used to not having his cousin next to him on the ride. But it allowed him time to think things through, or so he thought. He had to figure out a way on how to getting that necklace from Allison, and how his chemistry teacher was involved in all of this. To be honest, he pretty much went around in circles until he got to the point he was thinking nothing but Allison.
Turning into the school parking lot, Scott moved his bike to the free spot that was next to Kagome's and then met with Stiles outside the door. While the current situations were more or less weighing him down, Stiles looked stoked. Then again, the was the night of the big game and Stiles was going to be actually playing. It was something he had been looking forward to since joining the lacrosse team.
Kagome was keeping mostly to herself, her tea had run out by the end of first class. And while it had helped, she could tell the effects of the tea wouldn't keep her... symptoms at bay that long. Leaning her chin heavily in her hand that was propped up on her desk, she barely paid attention to the current class. History had always been her favorite for obvious reasons, but right now, she was more or less dreaming about hot springs and wanting to allow herself to soup in one for hours. They had always been blissful in dealing with the-!
Rearing back in her seat, she shook her head after feeling a light object sharply hit her in the forehead. Blinking down at her desk, she blinked at the piece of chalk the slowly rolled to a stop atop her note book. Looking up, ignoring the snickers and chuckles of her classmates, she took in the slightly amused expression her teacher was wearing.
"Good to see you've returned to us, Miss. Kagome." he smirked as he walked down the aisle and reclaimed the piece of chalk.
"Sorry, Sir." she rubbed at her forehead, the spot where the chalk hit her. "It's just, has not been a good so far."
When he returned to the front, he eyed her for a moment. "I'll let it slip this once, but only this once. Now, about my question."
A blush stole across her cheeks when she realized she didn't know what question he was talking about. "Could you please repeat the question?"
Another round of snickers and chuckles filled the room as the teacher pointed to the chalk board. "Genealogy came up. We were wondering what you can tell us about your family genealogy."
Nodding her head, Kagome sat up straighter. "Well, we can trace our family line back five or six hundred years and have been shrine caretakers for about four to five hundred years."
The teacher nodded his head, seemingly impressed with her answer. "Is that all?"
Humming, Kagome thought about what else she could share about her family. "Well, with running a shrine, we also keep documents of each birth and death of the families that live in the community of the shrine. So I guess we can also trace back various family lines that were start of the community, when they joined and which generation left. My family name can be translated into sunset, twilight, evening, dusk. It's a matter of preference I guess.
According to my grandfather, some of my ancestors were some of the most powerful mikos, priests and monks to ever have lived, along with many legends tied to our home. But I'm not to sure about that, since he once scared me into doing my chores by saying dust demons would get me unless I cleaned them. And giving me certain 'ancient and holy' artifacts as birthday gifts, where were nothing more than trinkets and knock offs." she shrugged her shoulders as the class laughed at her confession about her grandfather.
"Nice. Very nice. Now I'm not too familiar with Japanese traditions, but does your family have a crest?" he leaned against his desk as Kagome prepared her answer.
"I'm not to sure about that. And that's because of the shrine, so I'm not sure if the kamon belongs to the shrine, or to our family. I'd have to ask my mom or grandfather to be sure." Kagome shrugged her shoulders.
"Alright. Now since genealogy seems to be such an interesting topic, I've already prepared a small packet of questions I want you to answer as best as you can on your families. Expect, for you Kagome. Since you already have such knowledge on your own family history, I'd like for you to chose a different family."
Sighing through her nose, she could understand the lack of challenge compared to the rest of her classmates, but still! "Does it have to be someone out of the class, or can it be a family of my own choosing?"
"It may be a family of your own choosing." he handed her the small packet to which she instantly leafed through the pages on what was wanted from her and the list of questions.
Well now, it looked like things were in her favor. Find out what she could about the Argent family to help Scott and Derek while also doing her latest history homework at the same time. What were the odds? First, she'd have to survive the rest of the day. Slouching in her seat, Kagome let out a groan when her body was hit with some cramps. The day was beginning to look long indeed.
AN: Been a while, I know, but I hope you can all forgive me. I just ended up getting so hooked on Daddy Dearest! And now that that story is done, plan on finishing Moon Afterlight and Fairy Tale Syndrome! Read, enjoy, and review!