Chapter 11: The Grand escape
.
.
Kagome groaned, throwing her arm over her eyes, nearly expiring with absolute boredom. Who would've guessed that the days following her kidnapping and disappearance from her everyday life could be so- DULL!
She lounged on the couch, tight t-shirt and small pajama shorts, maybe she would feel more self-conscious if Inuyasha ever bothered to come home.
If he came back, it was while she slept, and left promptly before she woke up. Somewhere inside Kagome knew this was only for the time being, it was as if the longer he went without seeing her, the easier it was to push this whole situation out of his mind.
Maybe she would've been grateful, but the sting from their last interlude was still fresh in her mind, not that she was waiting for an apology or even an explanation, but a part of her did worry she wouldn't see him again.
Who could have guessed he had taken her request to heart; she hadn't really meant it, when she said she never wanted to see him again. Besides, hadn't he said the same thing to her?
At this point, all Kagome could hope for was to catch him at home, give her a chance to take back her words, or even if it was just to small talk.
She wanted desperately to know when she would be going back home, refusing to believe she never would, even if they kept her under lock and key.
Even if the days slipped by with mothing more to show for it than a tally, no one to talk to break up the monotony of each day, to where Kagome felt herself becoming desperate for company.
It had taken a while to get used to turning around and finding the counter littered with food, with no one ever around to cook it. Always an array of varying foods, which was good considering there was never anything in the fridge or cupboards.
No trace of any staff, or anyone for that matter. Yet, her clothes were always washed, and folded by the next day, whatever mess she'd leave was gone by the time she'd turn to take care of it. In fact, since she'd been there, Kagome hadn't so much as lifted a finger.
It'd be nice, if the circumstances had been different.
As it stood, Kagome had yet to hear if they were done weighing her life in their hands. Not that she held out much hope, still, they had gone from threats and interrogations to straight up solitary confinement.
She tried to keep her mind busy but the number of things that kept her entertained was dwindling. Kagome sighed, putting her arm down, she stared blankly at the crystals of the chandelier; she was bored, beyond bored. Who knew the rich boy didn't own a tv, reading was fun but after three days, Kagome wasn't sure she wanted to pick up another book.
If he was going to lock her in a tower, the very least he could do was provide proper entertainment.
Maybe she could-
The sound of the elevator chiming an arrival interrupted her train of thought, sitting up on her forearms, Kagome stared at the grand doors, thinking Inuyasha had decided to break pattern and come home early for once.
She never expected the average man that wondered in, dark hair buzzed short, dark suite, and high-striking features. Kagome recognized the look as one of the many goons under Inuyasha's command, and wondered if he was here for her.
Kagome felt she should say something, at the very least manage a polite greeting, but she found herself still anchored to the couch.
"Yeah- I'll get that for you Sir, right away... Hai..."
His eyes were downcast as he shifted through a pile of mail, head bent as he balanced a phone between his ear and his shoulder.
He had yet to see her, which might be a good thing in her current dresswear or lack thereof.
"-and where might I find that?... Yes, sir."
He crossed the foyer and headed straight towards her. Stifling a gasp, Kagome shrunk down on the couch, closing her eyes in preparation of being found. But he passed by her without a glance, heading straight towards Inuyasha's office.
She waited till he entered the study before poking her head completely out, suddenly feeling silly for hiding. Surely it would be more awkward to face him when he came back, she could see that conversation turning sour.
Kagome yawned and popped her arms as she stretched, sitting up to deal with the inevitable conversation, she attempted to pat down some of her unruly hair before the stranger came back.
Her eyes lazily traveled through the area, her gaze falling on the opened grand doors, the sight beyond the mahogany doors had adrenaline pumping through her veins as her body came alive with it.
'The doors- the elevator doors- they're open!'
Heart kicking into high gear, Kagome risked a glance towards Inuyasha's door. The man was still inside, but for how long?
'I can do this!'
With that thought, she jumped the couch.
The moment her feet touched ground, Kagome went into a dead run, sprinting as fast as she could towards the double doors. She didn't stop till her hands touched the elevator wall, turning around she could feel her heart thundering against her ribcage, wildly her eyes tried to find the floor buttons, anything that would take her to the lobby floor.
But the slick metal insides lacked any levers, or buttons, or emergency call; how the others managed to operate this machine was unbeknownst to her.
For a terrible second, all Kagome could focus on was the sound of her erratic breathing from her sudden sprint, her whole being shaken as she stared at the entryway in front of her, thinking any moment now a large hand would reach for her and drag her out.
Her frustration tangible; she only had this one chance and she failed before she even started, all because this damn thing didn't have a way for her to go to the Lobby floor!
It was a sweet moment when the doors closed her in, a shaky smile blossoming, till a thought had the smile and color fading from her face.
"Inuyasha is going to be so pissed"
The image of his stern face and blazing eyes popped into her mind, sending a shiver of trepidation down her spine, but it would not be enough to sway her.
Shaking her head, Kagome dispelled those wayward thoughts. He more than said it himself, Inuyasha wasn't going to let her go anytime soon; this could be her only chance.
Steeling herself, Kagome rounded her shoulders and took a deep steadying breath, attempting to tame her hazard pulse.
The doors opened for her, and she was greeted with a swarm of the business class rushing away a few feet out, going about their day without a second glance her way. Slowly Kagome stepped out of the elevator, frozen in place when the doors shut behind her, sealing her only way out.
'Well... Can't go back now...'
She stood stuck still, eyes scanning for the exit, she found it past the sea of wealthy; back and away from the section of building she seemed to occupy.
The only exit it seemed...
.
There it was, awaiting her; through the crowded floor, bypassing the security line, pass the big and well-off. All the while there she was, barefooted and in PJ's, standing out in the worst way imaginable.
As it were, it was a miracle no one turned her way, all eyes on mobile devices or straight ahead. Her mind worked quickly to find another way out, inspiration hitting her as she spotted a towering plump man sporting an ostentatious fur coat.
Before any more doubt could seed itself inside of her, Kagome tip-toed across the large space, once more surprised when no one turned. There was no guard or markings to keep people away, yet they did.
Not one of the many finely dressed crept over to where she came, no one even bothered to look up as she crossed the empty floor.
Slinking her way through the crowd, making herself as small as she could, Kagome reached the tall man. He was busy chattering away on the phone, her eyes greedily traveled over his gauzy fur coat.
'Here goes everything-'
"May I take your coat, sir?"
Kagome held her breath, hoping her customer voice would sell the bit. She exhaled when the man began to shrug off his coat, not bothering to look behind him, he kept blabbing on about numbers and margarines. He practically dumped his coat on her, forcing Kagome to struggle with the weight of it.
"I'll just check this in for you."
He waved her off, jabbering away on his phone, and Kagome nearly tripped over herself to get away before he noticed.
With trembling fingers she shrugged the fury beast on.
It nearly drowned her, ending just above her ankle.
'Let's just hope no one looks down...'
.
Kagome wormed her way into the crowd, hoping she'd blend into the masses of designer suites and skyscraper heels. Even incased in the large beast as she was, Kagome managed to look less than, in this case that was a good thing as it helped in blending her amongst the crowd.
Kagome moved as quickly as she could without being conspicuous, constantly stealing glances behind her, though she berated herself every time she did. She managed to get across the large over-populated area without a single accusatory glance.
Damping down her panic, Kagome squared her shoulders and lifter her jaw, striding towards the metal detector and armed guards. She didn't spare them a glance, copying the impassive look the high business class sported.
There were few people in front of her, she needed to pass through the detector, then it was a short stride from there to the front entrance.
Kagome took a steadying breath, with one person behind, she felt her scalp prick with the nerves, the feeling that at any moment someone was going to reach for her was staring to make her sweat- or maybe it was the coat.
'Here we go-'
There was nothing for the detector to pick up, she got through it without a hinge, although there had been a terrible instant when she had stepped out of the metal detectors and the thing had gone off. She could almost see the gang of armed men making their way towards her, when very politely an employee had asked her to keep it moving.
It was then that Kagome realized the sound had come from the machine next to her, and the man in question was already being patted down.
However, she didn't exhale till she got outside, the cold air hitting her face and enticing a grin from the girl.
'I did it...'
Risking a glance behind her, Kagome stared at the glass doors, chewing her bottom lip; she hated herself for thinking of going back, wondering what the tycoon would think once he found her gone.
'Inuyasha won't be happy I did this...'
Shaking her head, Kagome grounded herself; there would be no going back, not after making it this far out.
Scanning the streets, she began walking. The building had its own plaza that stretched out and around it. An intricate chrome statue centered the plaza, abstract art pieces of metal spikes that meant nothing to her, but caught the sun with a beautiful gleam. The other offices paled in comparison with the white stone, steel and glass, monstrosity that was this building.
If she ever came back of her own free will, Kagome vowed to walk around and admire the place. But now, she merely continued to powerwalk away, creating as much distance between herself and this place.
A block away, she nearly ran when she saw a bus boarding. Kagome arrived just in time, being the last person to board. Then she was hit with a different problem, staring blankly at the bus driver who stared impassively at her.
"Uh- I sort of don't have any money, but I'm a student!"
His eyes traveled over the very expensive fur coat, lifting a single brow as if to say, 'Yeah right'
"I know what it looks like but you gotta believe me, I don't have any cash."
He paused to consider, "My wife likes fur coats"
Kagome felt her jaw drop, rolling her eyes she shed off the coat, ignoring the driver when his eyes traveled her barely clad body. "Here" she mumbled, throwing the coat at his head to dispel his wondering eyes.
Walking towards the back, Kagome felt once more severely under-dressed, worst of all there was no available seats which meant she had to stand there for all to judge.
She focused her mind on bigger worries, Kagome stared at the building through the windows, not wanting to break eye contact as if it were a living thing.
Like it was some sort of monster house that would grow limbs and haul the bus into its sharp teeth, dragging her back in if she didn't keep careful watch.
.
The image was ruined when the bus kicked into action, Kagome watched the monster get tinnier and tinnier, until the building was completely out of view.
She sagged in relief, or forlorn, the mix feelings confused her.
There was a part of her that whispered all this was temporary, once Inuyasha found her gone-
She was just running a time game, with nowhere to hide and no place to run that Inuyasha would not look.
Which meant she couldn't waste her time sorting through her complicated feelings, there was only one thing she wanted to do- needed to do, before disappearing behind a missing person's flyer.
Making her way through the other passengers, she squirmed her way towards the map, it took only a moment to find the route she was on.
'Oh Totoro, we are far away from home alright.'
Reaching towards the handlebar, Kagome resolved herself to hold tight for the very long ride.
The further away from the asphalt jungle, the thinner the crowd became, soon there might even be a seat for her. Next thing she knew Kagome was but a few miles away, fifteen minutes tops from her destination.
When the bus stopped abruptly, not at any sectioned spot, and with nothing in its way that would cause such a sharp break. Her heart stopped in trepidation along with it, eyes scanning the windows for any clue as to why they stopped, already suspecting the reason and not liking it.
Thankfully, less than a pause later, the bus kicked back into action. Kagome took a steadying breath, telling herself it was her foolish nerves acting up to this peculiar situation.
'It's not like he gave me another choice.'
Kagopme thought nervously, wringing her hands together and stealing glances around the bus. This was the only way really...
Her worries would have to wait, as a shadow fell over her from behind, Kagome startled at how close the person behind her seemed to get. She could feel the rough material of clothes against her bare legs, and without much thought, Kagome reacted on instincts alone.
Her elbow shot out and up, aiming to hit whomever had decided to crowd her, with a much-deserved elbow to the face.
The blow never struck, someone had grabbed her elbow and bent it behind her back forcefully, pulling her back up, flush against a hard body. She was seconds away from screaming the roof off, when a familiar sound emitted from behind her.
'A growl?...
Ah crap!'