Chapter 9. Turn Back
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The silence left behind was deafening, Kagome looked towards him, her young innocent eyes pleading for an explanation.
As if he could make it all better, foolish girl, but he was twice the fool for allowing Sesshomaru to drag her back into this.
He could've stopped this, gone off to deal with the girl himself, but the bastard wouldn't bite. Insisting there was more to this human that met the eye, Inuyasha took a quick glance at her as the elevator began to move.
She was clutching her hands together, a light tremor passing her body every now and then, he was meant to say something that would put things in perspective.
Something encouraging, he was sure; he was supposed to make what just happened okay.
'Sorry Kid, shit gets ugly sometimes' Inuyasha shook his head, as if he could excuse what she clearly saw as an everyday occurrence. An unpleasant one but still just as mundane as a Monday morning traffic jam, another inconvenience everyone had learned to deal with.
No, she wouldn't get it, she didn't belong in this world of his...
Finally, it was her that broke the tight tension, "Inuyasha?"
"What do you want?" She flinched at his cold tone, and he mentally berate himself; she was scared and here he was as insensitive as ever, none of this was her fault, he shouldn't be taking it out on her.
"Well, I was just wondering..."
Her hands twisted the hem of her shirt, eyes downcast as she stammered on, seeing her so insecure and feeble, was really starting to piss him off.
"Spit it out will ya!"
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Kagome was a mass of contradictions, her head swirled with thinks she wanted to ask, but as soon as the words would form, something inside her screamed that she didn't want to know.
It was like it had always been with her, endless questions and no right time to ask them, no person who could understand or explain. And if she asked, she revealed herself for what she really was, a freak...
But didn't she now have someone who could understand?
Provide insight to this bizarre situation, wasn't that the same person that continued to glare on as if she had been the one to decapitate a 200-pound man.
In the end, one question won above everything else, and when he had snapped at her so, it was the first thing out of her lips before she could give it anymore thought.
"Well, I was going to ask if you were planning on feeding me today. But seeing how you're in such a crabby mood, I won't bother, it's almost like you're the one that's been kidnaped."
Once more Inuyasha had to turn away from her, hand reflectively reaching up to cover his twitching lips, he gave his jerky movements some purpose as he adjusted his collar and tie to disguise his second slip.
The kid was funny...
The doors opened to reveal a dark hall, Kagome couldn't make out what's ahead from her spot within the elevator, just the long walkway that resembled a hotel hall. Just as she had taken a step towards the exit, Inuyasha had her elbow in his hand, jerking her back and away from the dark floor.
"What the-?" Looking up at him, she could see Inuyasha wore a conflicted mask, one that resembled his usual annoyed scowl. She waited for him to meet her gaze, or answer her startled question; he did neither, just standing with her elbow in his tight grasp, staring out onto the low-lit hall.
"Wrong floor" He announced, it seemed odd to her, seeing as how this appeared to be an elevator without buttons.
She had wondered how it knew where to go, now she wondered if it could even go the wrong way, wasn't each stop pre-determined? But with a shrug the young girl once again surprised him by simply going with it, the doors closed and the ride began to move once more.
Not long after, the doors slid open once more, Kagome awed as she stared at what awaited on the other side of those metal doors.
This couldn't be right. She was sure they were in a secure facility, a government building of some sort, or some fancy-shmancy office. Something that sold the latest of that, and charged you triple for it.
However, what greeted her beyond the doors was the start of a lovely home; a high-end apartment complex then? But that didn't really explain the offices and security when she first entered.
"Where are we?"
Inuyasha didn't bother replying, simply stepped off the elevator, throwing a bored glance behind him that had Kagome scurrying to fallow.
The entry way was an arched-oval room where a large-wide chandelier hung, the walls an egg-white color that only brought out the many beautiful crystals above them.
She stared with mouth wide open as he ignored her, opening the next doors that had her forgetting the dancing light between crystals, as the wide-open space greeted her.
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This place...
She walked in slowly after him, barely able to shuffle forward as her eyes darted around the expanse before her.
Stone pillars separated the large open area, entering the living quarters, she could see up into a balcony that separated one living room from the other. The ceiling stretched on and on, into a large arch above them, she imagined this was the type of ceiling that made people want to paint on them.
Kagome couldn't help herself as she ran her hand across the sectional couch, entering the formal looking living area, she smiled at the luxurious looking space. A lovely navy-blue set, with plum and gray decorative cushions that matched with the love seats. For every couch corner was a marbled glass side table, some with matching lamps, others with potted plants or mosaic frames.
Gazing up she was met with another chandelier, this one hung higher and had less crystals- serving more as a light fixture rather than a decorative piece as the first one had been.
To the right of the sectioned living room homed a stone and steel bar, with flat bar stools, bridle wood light pendants which hung above the island. The back homed several bottles varying in shape and size, they ran up and down a built-in rack.
There wasn't a single space that wasn't filled, but oddly enough, no bottle had a seal broken.
Turning back to this home, she could see each decorative touch, but couldn't find the touches that spoke of him.
'Is this really his home?'
Inuyasha moved around her, attempting to mask the awkward tension that wanted to settle over him, he went to the wet bar; there he could watch as she twirled around the room, all the while quenching his dry mouth.
He grabbed some sparkling water from the minifridge behind the bar, debating with himself on whether to get her a beverage as well. He might have asked, but she was too enthralled in her musings.
The girl seemed to be determined to touch all surface areas, as if it were some strange game, she went around touching it all.
Inuyasha watched her as she inspected his home, not looking like she was trying to decipher her surroundings, more like she was just admiring his space. And without meaning to, he joined her in her scan, seeing his home through her eyes.
He never bothered to spend too much time here, needing the bare minimum of sleep to get by, this place was simply somewhere to go in between work. Never noticing the vase with flowers til' she had stopped to smell, or the portraits with obscure paintings on them until she stopped to admire one.
She walked deeper in, touching this, and running her fingers across that. The lingering stench of fear that had invaded her natural scent was slow in fleeting, no sooner had she turned the corner the scent had been completely wiped from her form, in its place was the bubbly excitement he could feel from her.
Kagome turned the corner and gasped, his curiosity the only reason why he fallowed behind her as she explored.
The kitchen was immaculate in its simplicity, a large stone-plate counter traveled from the far-left wall and around the kitchen, acting as a dining room set-up as well as a place to prep meals. The eight-burner stove tucked in between the same matching countertops was a sight of its own, with no temperature handles but touch screens instead.
Clasping her hands in excitement, Kagome turned those eager eyes on him.
"Do you know how much food I can make with a get-up like this?"
Shrugging off her excitement, Inuyasha was slow in his approach, "You cook?"
"Of course I cook! Everyone should know how to cook, at least the basics of it, lucky for you I'm an excellent cook."
"That right? Guess I can tell the staff not to bother cooking while you're here."
He hadn't meant anything bad; she was sure.
Fact was this was already old news; Kagome had already suspected as much.
But in a nonchalant way, Inuyasha had successfully reminded her of all that was secretly scaring her, and even though deep down she knew he would never hurt her...
That didn't stop the way her stomach churned at his words, the way each intake of breath sounded loud within her own ears, or the way the urge to run was suddenly very alive inside her...
"Inuyasha..." her voice came out soft and timid, already knowing the answer to her question but still feeling the need to ask.
"Hm?"
"I'm not going back home... am I?"
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Inuyasha glared at the back of her head, suddenly aware of how tense she'd gotten, the fresh tart scent of her fear slowly perfumed the air.
An unexpected rage seeped into him; why was she asking now? As if it suddenly mattered? The idiot already knew this, but just in case he hadn't made himself clear.
"No. You're not" his voice was clipped and from a few spaces behind her, he saw her flinch in response to it.
"What about my family? My friends? My school?... People will notice if I just disappear..."
Her voice was strained, and when she turned to face him, her eyes glistened in the light as if she were battling tears; the thought alone was enough to push his ire, although he didn't understand it, he was helpless to follow the line of fire.
"Don't worry, we have ways to make sure they don't go asking any questions."
The wolfish grin didn't reach his eyes, and for a split-second Kagome felt afraid of that icy-detached-look that took over his usual fiery gaze.
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Kagome clenched her hands over her lap, she tried, honestly tried to be okay with that answer. Deep down she knew it would end like this at the sight of those men surrounding the shrine, even before then, when she saw him alone and huddled against the cold.
She already knew what getting involved would result in, Kagome had come to terms with her decision and its consequences.
Even so, nothing could stop the bitterness that settled over her tongue.
Without a second thought, and a push of her feet, Kagome had turned tail, tears burned in her eyes yet there was no time to let them flow.
Her vision tunneled in front of her to where only the next step she took was visible, her mind focused on one thing.
Get to the elevator, get out of the building, get home.
She made it to the doors, knowing fully he allowed her to get this far; his arm came around her waist, halting her stride and breaking the damn to her tears at the same time.
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Inuyasha steeled himself, hauling her up when the girl's legs gave out from beneath her. The saltiness of her tears mixed with the tartness of her fear, the scent growing by the minute, it stirred a foreign anger banked inside of him that he did not recognize.
Much rougher than he intended to be, Inuyasha threw her over his shoulder, turning to take her back into his home.
The light mood from earlier, her easy acceptance, the natural calmness he felt whenever near her, all of it was gone.
"No! Let me go, put me down Inuyasha!" The girls' frustration was a tangible thing, angry tears ran down her face as her fists pounded on his back.
"Not a chance little girl!" He shifted his hold on her, tightening his arm around her legs when she began to kick. Moving with ease he dragged her back to the main foyer; her anger was a front, and he knew this, trying to reason his way away from the fierce pull of his anger.
'Just a kid. Caught up in all of this.' He practically dumped her on the couch, fully prepared when she launched back up and tried to flee again.
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One moment he was on the other side of the couch, the next he stood beside her; catching her as she launched herself towards the grant doors once more.
"Stop this. Now."
Her face was red, scrunched up and wet from the stream of tears that didn't slow down.
"No! You said I'd be fine, what part of this is fine?!"
Her anger released his own and before he knew it, he was growling down at her, fangs out in warning even if she wouldn't see pass his illusion of normalcy.
"The part where you're still breathing! Keep it up though cause that can change real quick, little girl! Just fucking try me!"
His menacing scowl sent chills down her back, for the first time the fear she felt shifted from the situation to this man in front of her. This man with incredulous strength, who could move in silence, this man whom not even bullets could stop; he could, and most likely would, kill her.
She felt her heart thundering in response to the threat he could be, starting to see him in a different light, "I- I thought you were the good guy."
He leaned in close, and she shrunk on the couch as response, her reactions enticing his predator blood to keep going, even if the scent she produced burned his nose.
"Now who said that?"
Her fear grew, and it only enticed his anger to follow along this dangerous path.
"You've done nothing but make one bad decision after another but trusting me was by far the worst mistake of your life."
"I- I thought..."
"What? You actually thought I was some kind of hero in distress?" His scoff was mocking, she blushed and lowered her gaze under his scrutiny, "What does that make you Kagome? My savior? HA!"
His smile was cruel as he regarded her coldly, knowing fully well what he was doing to her, and taking some small thrill out of it. "Face it, you're only alive because you hold some valuable information. But don't get it twisted, with or without it, your life is up for grabs."
"Valuable information?" Kagome repeated the words as if they were new to her, her head shaking in denial as the flurry of words rushed out of her mouth "I don't know anything! Please, can't you see that? I don't have any valuable information!"
"Feh! You and I both know that ain't true, if it were, He wouldn't be looking for you."
"I don't know wh-"
"Are you acting dumb or just good at hiding it? Naraku, or have you forgotten? You took away his kill, you really think you're coming out of this one whole?"
Her scent spiked, anxious bitterness swirling with the tartness of her fear at the mention of his name, "Don't get it twisted girl. Naraku would hunt you down and kill you in cold blood. I might be more inclined in keeping you alive, but don't test me kid, I could kill you even now if I so wished."
She was quiet then, head bent down so that her eyes were hidden from his view, her voice a breathless whisper "Y-you wouldn't do that, you said you'd keep me safe..."
He leaned in closer to where she could feel his hot breath on her skin "And you were foolish enough to believe me?"
With that dark remark, he withdrew, stepping away from her to try and catch his breath. She blinked up at him, a few tears running freely down her cheeks.
"You-you said..."
Inuyasha growled low, running his hand through his hair, "You don't know me, know what I could do to you, here and now. How much pain I could inflict on you... I could wipe off anyone that ever knew you on a whim if I wanted.
Everyone you love gone under my hands, or do you think I've never killed before? That I wouldn't go through with it, all cause I said so? Fah!"
Kagome rubbed her eyes with the pad of her palm furiously, steadying herself as she jumped up, taking the three steps needed to be on him.
"You wouldn't dare!"
She was terrified, yet there she stood; face blotched and shaky limps, but steeled in her spot.
"Try me, little girl, you'd be surprised at what I'm capable of doing."
Kagome lifted her chin and set her jaw, not the response he had wanted, "I want to be taken home. If what you say is true, and you two plan on holding me hostage till you're satisfied in what I've told you. Then you can't do a thing to me, face it, you don't have any motive for killing me. Minus well just let me go, I'll take my own chances with Naraku."
Any other time he would've been impressed with her fortitude, found her fiery spirit and steel spine amusing.
Not now, now her strength would do her no good, and her stubborn disposition would only make things worse for her.
"You're not going anywhere; I'll see to that myself."
Kagome bit the inside of her cheek, scream barely held in check, "And just how are you planning on doing that?"
His smirk was the only warning she received before he was on her.
Throwing her over his shoulder, Inuyasha crossed the foyer and headed down a long hall, opening a door to a random bedroom, he threw her on the bed before turning on his heel. She jumped out of it but reached the door a fraction too late, the door slammed in her face, frustrated and driven by her anger, Kagome tried and tried again to open the door.
All her efforts were futile, he had locked her in.
"LET ME OUT!"
She pounded on the door for what felt like hours, but had only been angry minutes, till her hands stung with the effort to keep going. Kagome was left panting at the end, her anger gone leaving behind the fear that had fueled it.
The tears didn't stop, turning around she looked at the room for the first time. It was lovely really, a large suite with enough room for a small sitting area. But the soft whites and careful decoration were lost to her then, the room appearing large and empty instead.
Knowing that she would never see her childhood bedroom had fresh tear springing to her eyes, no small bed with quilted comforter, just the large king-sized monstrosity in front of her.
No scattered desk with the framed pictures of her friends and family, just the useless corner desk with the shiny-new computer Kagome swore to never touch.
Suddenly she was cold, Kagome wrapped her arms around herself to keep some of the warmth she had felt only moments ago. Sniffling, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and tried to get herself together.
She was tired, really tired.
The bed looked awfully soft and inviting...
The more she stared at it, the more her body sagged with exhaustion. In an act of rebellion Kagome walked up to the bed, tugging the sheets off she dragged them towards the door; Kagome wrapped herself up and slouched against the frame, head resting in between her knees.
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The day turned to night and her soft whimpering continued; his ears flatten themselves in an effort to escape the sound. He should've walked away; nothing kept him here yet, here he stood. Rooted to the ground, forehead pressed to the door as her cries filled his empty home.
Remorse unlike anything he'd ever felt before filled him, unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
"Damn it..."
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Author's Note: Thank you for the new reviews, ya'll have no idea how much they are appreciated!