The sun was shining brighter than usual when Danny woke up the next morning. Rolling over onto his back with a low moan, Danny smiled and opened his baby blue eyes to the world. Flashes of last night resurfaced in his mind and Danny couldn't hold back some soft chuckles. He still couldn't believe it...
Glancing over at his cell that rested on his bedside table, Danny reached for it and quickly checked it for any messages. He was only slightly disappointed to not see any texts from Kagome. Maybe she was still sleeping? But it was after nine. She was usually up as soon as the sun rose. Should he text her then? But what if he came off clingy?
Before Danny could start to pull out his own hair, his phone started chiming loudly and Tucker's name flashed on his screen. Sitting up quickly, Danny accepted the call. "Hey, Tuck. What's up?"
"Dude! Thank God you're up for once. I've been dying to call you all morning! How'd it go last night?"
Danny chuckled as he rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. "It... was nice."
"...Nice? Just nice? Dude! You have to give me details! How am I supposed to live vicariously through you if you don't!?"
Laughing with a shake of his head, Danny tried again. "I took her to the skating rink after it closed up. I was a little worried when she said that she'd never skated before, but she was pretty quick to pick up on it. I mean, she still had to hold onto me the whole time," Danny started.
"You sly dog. I've been thinking too small. I need to try that one."
"I was about to text her when you called."
"Danny! Have I taught you nothing!? You're supposed to wait a few days before calling so you don't seem too desperate."
"Because you're such an expert," Danny replied with a roll of his eyes. Getting up from his bed, Danny walked over to his window before looking out from it. Across the street, Kagome's windows were covered by her white curtains. A small smile crept onto his face.
"I don't like to brag, but I've had my fair share of dates. Just trust me on this one, dude. Take the day to give her time to reflect and process. You see, the way to keep a girl interested is to seem unattached and semi-uninterested. Chicks love the chase almost as much as we do. They just act like they don't," Tucker advised.
"I bow to your wisdom, sensei," Danny replied with a chuckle.
"Just come over to my place today. I got some new mods on GTA. We can play 'till our fingers fall off. I guarantee that Kagome'll be texting you by lunch," Tucker said in a confident tone.
Danny rolled his eyes. "I'll come over, but I'm still texting her."
"Your choice. But don't say I didn't warn you."
"I'll see you in a few, Tuck," Danny said and ended the call. With a good natured roll of his eyes, Danny pulled up his text log with Kagome before sending a quick message.
Morning. I had a great time last night. We should definitely do it again.
~:~
Kimiko blinked her eyes open slowly before eyeing the sheets around her in suspicion. Her sheets were definitely not silk nor this shade of deep purple. Sitting up slowly, Kimiko held the sheet to her naked chest while looking around the empty bedroom. Her cheeks colored slightly when last night's events came back to her. Idly, she glanced down at her left hand. Yep. It really happened. Vlad proposed. Not only did he propose, but he did it with the largest, princess cut diamond that Kimiko had ever seen! The added weight on her had was definitely a foreign feeling. How does one confront their partner with intentions to break up and end up engaged to said partner instead?
In the middle of staring down at the ring, the bedroom door creaked open and a shirtless Vlad strode in. Noticing the tray in his arms and the delicious smell that was quickly filling the room, Kimiko smiled.
"Delivery for the future Mrs. Masters," Vlad said and rested the tray of scrambled eggs, French toast, bacon, and coffee on her lap.
"What if I want to keep my last name?" Kimiko asked with a raised brow.
"Whatever makes you happiest, my dear," Vlad replied and took her hand in his.
"While I appreciate breakfast in bed, I really shouldn't stay. I feel terrible for leaving Kagome home alone all night. Plus, I was really hoping to have some girl talk over breakfast. Last night was pretty special," Kimiko hinted.
"Yes. I couldn't agree more," Vlad grinned and kissed the knuckles of her hand.
Kimiko rolled her eyes. "Not that. I'm talking about her date with Danny. She was so excited. She'll probably have a million and one things to-"
"Kagome went out with Daniel?" Vlad questioned.
Kimiko shook her head with a small smile. "Don't give me that look."
"Whatlook?"
"That overprotective dad look," Kimiko explained and pointed at his face.
Vlad purses his lips before nodding once in acknowledgment. "But, you have to agree that Kagome is such a bright, well-mannered girl with boat-loads of potential. Personally, I don't think that there's a single boy in this town who's deserving of her."
"But you have to admit that Danny comes pretty close," Kimiko replied with a small smile. "He's kind, responsible, incredibly mature for his age-"
"But Daniel is still just a boy," Vlad pointed out.
"And Kagome is just a girl. Have you already forgotten what it was like to be seventeen? No one knew what they were doing, Vlad," Kimiko said with a chuckle and cut off a piece of her French toast.
"At least Judai isn't looking at girls."
"Not yet. But he's almost fourteen. I'm lucky he lasted this long with the crazy idea that girls are lame. I've gotten a little impatient waiting for him to come around after meeting a girl that's kind of, sort of cool," Kimiko said with a laugh.
"Dear God. Is that how the youth court each other nowadays?" Vlad remarked with an astonished look.
Just as Kimiko took a sip of her coffee, her eyes caught sight of that monster of an engagement ring on her finger. Really, she wasn't surprised that Vlad went above and beyond for a ring. The man thrived on being able to flash his wealth. Personally, she would have been happy with anything that he had put some thought into. Holding her hand out in front of her, Kimiko tilted her head to the side as she observed the diamond and silver band.
"Do you really like it?"
Looking up at Vlad, Kimiko paused. He looked so nervous and a bit unsure. He was such a delicate soul. All he had ever wanted was companionship- someone to share his life with and a family of his own. She couldn't ask for a better lover. Smiling softly, Kimiko replied, "It reminds me of you- larger than life and reeking of money and power."
Vlad sighed happily. "It's astounding how well you understand me, my dear."
Kimiko laughed again before slowly sobering up. With a slightly worried expression, she asked, "How am I going to tell the kids? I'm sure Kagome will take it well enough. I think she will have seen it coming. But Judai... I can only imagine his meltdown."
"I disagree. Judai and I have grown quite a bit closer recently. We go golfing every weekend," Vlad proclaimed proudly.
"Vlad? Honey, I'm only saying this because I love you, but Judai hates golfing. He only goes because I asked him to spend some time with you," Kimiko explained. Vlad's eyes widened in shock as he sputtered unintelligibly for several seconds. "But this is good. You can find something else to do together so that you both enjoy yourself."
"I suppose you're right..."
"Of course I am," Kimiko dismissed. "I'm just worried about his reaction to all of this."
Vlad smiled softly before placing a soothing hand on Kimiko's cheek. "We'll tell them
together."
~:~
After an extended stay in bed that resulted in the morning and first half of the afternoon just flying by, Kimiko and Vlad made their way towards her modest home in the back of his limo. Kimiko had attempted to get her thoughts right and decide what she would say to the kids, but Vlad's roaming hands were very distracting to say the least.
When the limo rolled to a stop, Kimiko was quick to push Vlad off of her while moving to sit up straight. The last thing she needed was for his chauffeur to find them in another compromising position. Vlad didn't even have the decency to look ashamed when it had happened the last time! He had looked more proud than anything. Once her door had been opened, Kimiko stepped out while thanking the chauffeur. Gazing up at her home, Kimiko couldn't help but feel a little off. Was that Aki barking so loudly?
After unlocking the front door, Kimiko was surprised to see Aki barking loudly at her before rushing into the kitchen and continuing to bark there. "Aki? Calm down. That's enough noise now," Kimiko chided and glanced around the home.
"What's wrong with him?" Vlad asked when he entered.
"No idea," Kimiko replied and followed Aki into the kitchen. The dog was barking at the back door while growling menacingly. Kimiko sighed and rolled her eyes. "It's okay, Aki. You're a good boy for defending the house but you didn't have to bark so loudly."
"Who left the door open?" Vlad questioned as he watched Kimiko shut and lock the door.
"Probably Judai. That boy is always rushing out of here. I'm tired of reminding him to close the door properly when he leaves," Kimiko said with a shake of her head.
Vlad nodded in acceptance before turning to leave the room. While he was gone, Kimiko went about preparing some tea. When she heard Aki's low whines, Kimiko glanced over at the dog. "Aki! No! Stop scratching the door!" Kimiko shouted when she spotted Aki clawing at the door. "If you want to go outside, you don't have to scratch the door. You know better," Kimiko said and opened the door for Aki. Instead of rushing out into the backyard like she had expected, Aki just stared up at her expectantly. "Well? Go on. I don't think you need me to hold your hand."
Reappearing in the kitchen, Vlad announced, "Neither of the children are home."
"Judai probably went back out. I'll call him to tell him come home early. Kagome is probably across the street," Kimiko explained and went back to the kettle she had on the stove.
"She's at the Fenton's? Without supervision?"
"Jack and Maddie are always home, Vlad," Kimiko answered with a roll of her eyes.
"In their lab which is located in the basement. Daniel's room is on the second floor," Vlad stressed.
"You're overreacting. Kagome's responsible and so is Danny. Besides, it took them a year to go out on a real date. I don't think they're rushing into anything," Kimiko dismissed and poured the water into some tea cups. When Aki tugged on the back of her pants leg with his teeth, Kimiko accidentally spilled some hot water on the counter. "Aki! Stop that! What's gotten into you?"
Vlad and Kimiko watched Aki whine lowly before dashing out into the backyard. Just as they were about to follow the canine into the yard, they heard the front door open and shut loudly. "Mom! I'm home!"
"We're in the kitchen, sweetheart!" Kimiko shouted back.
When he appeared in the kitchen doorway with his skateboard tucked under his arm and his unfastened helmet on his head, Judai glanced between Kimiko and Vlad. Aki started barking and howling from outside. "What's with Aki?"
"I have no idea. He was barking up a storm when we got in. Which reminds me," Kimiko started and rounded on her youngest son. "Judai, I've told you countless times to make sure that you shut the door behind you after you leave."
"What are you talking about? I closed the door," Judai said and pointed behind him to where the front door was located.
"Not that door. The back door. It was wide open when I got home. Aki was practically having a panic attack."
"I left through the front door yesterday, Mom," Judai replied.
"What about today?"
"This is the first time I'm getting home! See? I still have my backpack from yesterday and everything!" Judai exclaimed and turned around so she could see the pack full of clothes on his back. "Geez. Maybe Kagome left it open when she went to go play tonsil hockey with Danny. Did you ask her?" Judai replied with a teasing smirk.
"Tonsil hockey?" Vlad repeated with a look of disgust. Judai nearly rolled over in laughter at the expression on the older man's face.
Kimiko rolled her eyes with a sigh. "I'm calling your sister. I have something to tell you both," Kimiko said and pulled out her cellphone.
Judai exchanged glances with Vlad. The old man kept up a good mask, however. Narrowing his gaze suspiciously, Judai set his bag and board down before taking off his helmet. "About what?"
"Kagome didn't answer. That's weird. She always answers her phone," Kimiko said and tried again.
"I told you, Mom. She's with Danny. She's too busy to answer the phone," Judai said with an amused roll of his eyes.
"I highly doubt that," Vlad interjected with narrowed eyes.
"Geez. What era are you living in, Vlad?" Judai remarked with a scoff.
Kimiko exhaled loudly and slipped her phone back into her pocket. When Aki started barking again, Kimiko cursed softly in Japanese. "Aki!" she shouted and walked out into the backyard. Once she had stepped onto the grass, a feeling of ill unease swept through her and Aki immediately quieted.
"Is everything alright?" Vlad asked when he followed her out. He watched Kimiko look around the yard suspiciously while Aki sniffed at the ground.
"Mom?" Judai questioned curiously.
"Judai, when did Kagome say that she was coming home?" Kimiko asked as she followed Aki around the yard.
"She was supposed to be home last night. I haven't talked to her since yesterday. Just call Danny," Judai suggested.
"Do that. Go next door and see if your sister is there," Kimiko ordered without looking up from the grass.
Vlad watched the boy leave after a few seconds before he stepped out to join Kimiko. "Kimiko, what are you looking for?"
"Something feels off out here, Vlad. I don't know if it's paranoia or motherly instinct, but I'm getting a bad feeling," Kimiko said and glanced over at where Aki was intently sniffing the ground. Walking over to the dog, Kimiko's eyes narrowed at the sight of four, hoof-prints that were burned into the lawn. A flaming cow?
"You think something happened to Kagome?" Vlad guessed with a serious expression.
"Something happened last night. Can you go up to her room and see if you find anything? I'll try calling her again," Kimiko said. She watched Vlad change into his ghost half before flying up to the second floor of the home. She quickly called Kagome's cell again and held the phone up to her ear. Several seconds later, Vlad returned with Kagome's pink phone ringing in his hand. In that second, Kimiko's blood ran cold. "Now I'm convinced that something's wrong. She never forgets her phone. It's practically attached to her hip."
"Mom!" Judai shouted when he ran out into the yard. "She's not there. Neither is Danny. But his parents said he was with his friend Tucker today."
Kimiko frowned deeply. "Okay. Judai, take Aki and search the neighborhood for any sign of her. Vlad, find Danny and see if he knows where she is. I'm getting my spell book," Kimiko commanded.
~:~
"Oh...Oh!...OH! Yes! First place!" Tucker exclaimed loudly as he jumped up from his seat. Danny groaned loudly before letting the controller clatter from his hand. "Can you believe that!?"
"You only won cause I let you win, Tuck," Danny said and took a sip from his soda.
"That's a complete load and you know it," Tuck replied with a roll of his eyes. "But, hey. Come on. Best three out of five?"
"No thanks. How 'bout we play a different game?" Danny suggested. He was in the middle of looking through Tucker's collection of games when his ghost sense went off. Danny didn't have enough time to change into his ghost form before a gloved hand was gripping his throat and pinning him against the wall.
"Danny!" Tucker shouted in surprise.
Cracking an eye open, Danny came face-to-face with an irate Vlad Plasmius. Growling lowly, Danny said, "Plasmius. What do you-"
"I haven't come for pleasantries, Daniel. I've only come to see whether or not you've been with Kagome today," Vlad interrupted.
"I don't think that's any of your business," Danny smartly replied.
Fangs bared, Vlad clenched his hand to leave bruises around the boys throat. "I don't have time for games, Daniel. Where is she?"
Changing into his own ghost half, Danny was quick to push Vlad back with a two eye blasts of ecto-rays.
"Dude, can you not fight in my room? I kinda want to keep my stuff from getting destroyed," Tucker inputted as he retrieved his stash of ghost hunting equipment.
"I didn't come for a fight, but I will if I must. But one way or another, you will tell me what you've done with her, Daniel," Vlad promised while menacingly squaring his shoulders.
"I haven't done anything! I haven't seen her all day," Danny responded heatedly.
Immediately, Vlad deflated. "You haven't seen her?"
"No! I texted her this morning, but she never replied," Danny admitted.
Blinking owlishly, Vlad quickly pulled Kagome's phone from his pocket. He quickly checked the messages and saw all the proof he needed. Daniel was telling the truth...
"Hey. Wait a minute. That's Kagome's phone. Why do you have her phone!?" Danny accused while pointing a finger.
Vlad ignored him, however. Instead, he used his own phone to quickly call Kimiko. "Kimiko? I just spoke to Daniel. He hasn't seen her."
Danny balked in confusion before exchanging glances with Tucker. Tucker shrugged once before turning back to Vlad. Danny frowned deeply while glancing down at Kagome's phone.
"...Alright. I'm coming back now. Don't worry. We'll find her," Vlad said and tucked away his phone.
"Wait. Vlad,what's going on?" Danny asked.
"I can't stay to chat, Daniel. But if you see or hear from Kagome, you must call me or Kimiko immediately," Vlad stressed while pointing an authoritative finger at Danny's nose.
"Wait. She's missing? How can she be missing? Where is she!?" Danny shouted.
Vlad rolled his eyes. "If I knew where she was, she wouldn't be missing now would she? Ugh. I don't have time for this," Vlad dismissed before quickly flying through the roof.
"Hey! Get back here!" Danny shouted after him and quickly took off in pursuit. As he watched Danny chase Vlad, Tucker pulled out his phone and sent a text to Sam.
Something's up with Kagome. Following Danny to her house now.
~:~
Kimiko tried her hardest to find Kagome's energy. With the amount of effort she was putting in, she should be able to detect Kagome's presence anywhere in the county. And yet, nothing. It was frustrating. Judai hadn't been able to find any sign of her and Danny hadn't seen her. Where could she be? Kimiko rubbed her hands along her face with a deep sigh.
"Don't worry, Mom. We'll find her," Judai said and rubbed a hand along his mother's back. Kimiko didn't respond. Her only daughter was missing and she had no idea where to begin looking for her. It couldn't have been a normal burglar. Kagome was more than capable of defending herself. What if it was another ghost? Those burned hoof-prints would make sense then...
"Kimiko! Have you heard anything?" Vlad asked as he suddenly dropped into the kitchen from the roof.
Before she could answer, Danny flew in with an urgent expression. "What happened to Kagome?"
"She's missing. She left her phone upstairs and the back door open," Kimiko explained. "Danny, when was the last time you saw Kagome?"
"Last night. I dropped her off around eleven. I stayed with her for like an hour, but then I left and she went to bed," Danny admitted. Of course he had been with her in her room for that hour, but that was irrelevant right now.
Kimiko sighed and stared down at her feet. When she felt Vlad wrap his arms around her in a comforting embrace, she gratefully leaned into him. "I can't find her. I tried every locator spell that I know and I can't find her."
"Well, what does that mean?" Danny asked fearfully.
"She's too far away for mom to find her," Judai answered. She was just too far away. Even if she was...not alive... they'd be able to find her (if she was close enough).
"Should we call the police? If this is a kidnapping, they would be able to help find her," Kimiko asked as tears started to gather in her eyes.
"She's not... kidnapped. Maybe she's just cloaking herself? Like I did when I ran away," Judai offered hopefully. His sister wasn't kidnapped. She couldn't be!
"I'm calling the police," Kimiko said and grabbed the landline.
Danny frowned down at the tiles. Kagome wouldn't run off and it was hard to believe that anyone could get the drop of her. Walking over to the back door, Danny kneeled down to inspect the lock. It didn't look like anyone had broken in. So... Either Kagome left on her own or someone got in without using the door. "Kimiko, would you know if any ghosts got in the house last night?" Danny asked. Slowly, everyone straightened as they exchanged serious looks.
"Ginger snaps! It's so obvious!" Vlad growled.
"Where would a ghost take Kagome?" Judai asked with a shrug. "Witches are totally forbidden in the ghost zone so it has to be somewhere in the mortal realm."
"I'm not ruling anything out," Kimiko said. "If it was a ghost, the police wouldn't be able to do much to help, but the extra eyes would be helpful. Vlad, you're in charge of the police. Danny, head to the Ghost Zone. You have more allies there. I know it would be a long stretch, but do whatever you have to to find my baby."
"I'm on it," Danny said and took off.
"We'll find her," Vlad said and pulled out his cell to make a few calls.
"Judai, help me get in contact with friends and family so that they can keep an eye out. We'll need as many witches as possible on alert," Kimiko commanded.
~:~
Moi-Moi: I didn't do a very good job of describing the engagement ring. I know. But if you need a better picture, I was basing it on (and by that I mean stealing) the design off of Beyoncé's engagement ring. Not just the design- the price tag too. ;)
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