Souta woke up in the morning to the sound of knocking on the door. He sat up as he heard his sister's footsteps and the eventual door opening. He went to his bedroom door in time to see Inuyasha and Taeko walking past Kagome into their small apartment. "I apologize about the dog. He and Inuyasha go everywhere together," Souta heard Sesshomaru's calm voice wavering at the nervous explanation.
"I will talk to the landlord; it shouldn't be a problem," Kagome said. Sesshomaru looked at her for a long time before calling Inuyasha back. The boy came to attention like a soldier and held his breath. The elder brother inspected him to make sure everything was in order. Seeing that everything was in its place, he approved with a smile.
"You know the rules," he said, and the boy nodded.
"Yes, boss!" he said, and Sessahmru let the smile touch his eyes.
"Goodbye Inuyasha, be good," he said, and the boy smiled and waved after his brother.
Kagome smiled at the interaction and watched Sesshomaru give her a silent thank you before walking out to the balcony and down the stairs. She looked after him long enough to watch him get into the back of a black SUV and shut the door firmly. Kagome sighed and turned to the two boys. Inuyasha, with his hair slicked back and wearing a nice jacket and muscle shirt was sharp. She shook her head at the choice of clothes but could see clearly who had taken him shopping. Souta came out of his room in his pajamas.
"Alright, have you had breakfast Inuyasha?" she asked, and the boy nodded.
"Oh yes, I've had a whole power drink and ran two miles," he said, and Kagome gasped.
"You did what?" she was flabbergasted but suspected it to be the routine of his guardian.
"Every morning," he said, and Kagome spat her hands on her hips.
"That's not breakfast!" She said, "Souta, go get in the bath. I'll make breakfast, and then we're going to the corner store." she made her demands without room for argument. the boys looked at her with some fear and they both nodded at once.
Jumping to action, Souta hurried through his morning routine and sat down to a traditional breakfast of rice and pickled vegetables. Inuyasha looked at the spread with some skepticism but didn't refuse when she set a small plate and chopsticks down for him.
He was well-mannered, eating slowly and trying everything. Souta didn't bother; he ate as much as he wanted and then stood to get dressed. Kagome stayed with Inuyasha until he was done and then cleaned up after them all before helping Souta into his coat and yelling at him to get his shoes on. Inuyasha was self-sufficient, not knowing why the woman worried about him.
When she held his coat, he nearly grabbed it from her to put it on himself, but he saw how much Souta enjoyed being coddled and accepted the small favor. Kagome turned him around and zipped his coat before getting her back and jacket.
"Okay, this will be a quick trip, and we'll be back soon," she said more to Souta than to Inuyasha. The boy reached out, and Taeko came to his side, giving him access to the leash.
"I'm ready," Inuyasha said.
Souta nodded, "Me too."
Kagome walked down the road with the two boys. The trip was uneventful, and the boys were well-behaved. She smiled at the example Inuyasha set for Souta. He was polite, and quiet, and didn't make a fuss when the shop owners asked him to leave his dog outside. He tied the leash to a bike stand and returned to it happily. Kagome got them some treats. Inuyasha was a little frazzled by the options; he didn't get many sweets at home.
Kagome applauded the discipline and self-control that Sesshomaru taught Inuyasha. It was refreshing not having to keep a close eye on two wild children. Souta wasn't one to make a scene either, but seeing the other boy's surprise at being treated so kindly, he took him under his arm and decided to show him everything. Kagome laughed as Souta walked him down the aisles
"Stick with me and I'll show you all the best snacks." He was completely serious about the topic. Inuyasha snorted at the look of triumph.
"After this, we need to go to the park. A healthy body with a healthy diet," he said mimicking his brother.
"We can definitely go to the park," she said, and Souta cheered.
"Can we go to the other park?" Souta asked, and Kagome pursed her lips.
"It's a bit further. Promise me you'll help with lunch, and I'll take you," she said, and Inuyasha grinned.
"The boss wouldn't have it any other way," he said.
Sesshomaru stood at the edge of a high rooftop. The rooftop was exposed to the hot sun and the wind from the sea. He closed his eyes and listened to the wild cries of the three thugs who had flipped them to the local police. They swore they hadn't told, but three hours passed with them in interrogation. And magically, a shipment was busted. The spiders had picked up the route immediately after his men had emerged from the police station.
He sighed and turned as he heard Koga wailing on one of them. He looked at the bloodied faces and pursed his lips.
"You made a very costly mistake," he said, holding his hands up to stop Koga. His enforcer held his next punch, and Sesshomaru sighed and put his hands in his pockets.
"We're sorry, Boss. We didn't tell them anything." They lied so easily that it made Sesshomaru see red. He didn't have to signal Koga to begin again; Koga read the clear anger at their excuse and struck him once more.
He looked for the leak, but everywhere he turned there was one crumbling venture after another. A spy was among them, and now their drivers were being busted by local police. Sesshomaru had called in his contact and signaled Koga to leave them tied up and follow him.
Koga jumped when he saw the signal. Their movement was in sync as they descended the stairs and walked out to the parking garage. When they opened the door Hakkaku was there waiting. Ginta took their weapons and moved back from the door to let them in.
"Hello," he heard Miroku's voice through his phone.
"S. Three more shops got hit, I'm at the site of the second double homicide today. There's a symbol cut into their skin." He said, and Sesshomaru cringed and clenched his fist.
"What symbol," he asked, and the detective sighed.
"It's a spider,"
Sesshomaru hung up the phone and threw it out the window. Growling under his breath, he crossed his arms and let his head fall back to the leather seat.
"Damn it all, four more of our men were killed by the spiders."
Koga sobbed, and Hakkaku and Ginta cried out at once. Sesshomaru felt their pain and held it inside himself. He was failing them. At every death and every territory lost, he was failing.
They drove through the city to the neighborhood where Sesshomaru lived. They drove slowly around pedestrians, a large black SUV was not uncommon in the area and garnered little attention. As they drove, Sesshomaru caught sight of Inuyasha walking with Kagome and Souta. She held his hand, and the leash trailed behind them as they talked excitedly.
Sesshomaru watched them walk for as long as he could see them. "Hey, boss. Isn't that Inuyasha?" Koga said, seeing Kagome.
Sesshomaru found his interest slightly annoying, "Yes, that's them." He said, and Koga shook his head.
"You're so lucky, Boss. I feel empty from our fallen brothers, but seeing her and the boys makes my heart all fuzzy." He said this meaning it. Sesshomaru tried not to openly mock himself, as he felt the same feeling pulsing through his chest. They looked happy. Inuyasha was grinning and holding the woman's hand, letting his eyes linger on her. He wanted to stop and greet her, but he still had one more thing to do before he was done.
Kagome felt eyes on her as she walked with the boys to the park. She kept her wits about her but did not miss the slowing of the black SUV on the road beside them. Clutching Inuyasha and Souta close, she could tell when the dog perceived her nervousness and he raised his hackles. The people around them backed away, giving them more space until Kagome no longer felt their eyes.
She sighed as her heart rate slowed and they arrived at the park. She sighed and saw that there were several families at the park. The climbing toys were different, and the play area was generally bigger for the boys who looked out at the playground for a few amazed seconds before running madly to the play area. With the other children, she held Taeko's leash and walked with them.
The dog wanted to stay close, so she let him choose the distance from the boys as they ran through the park.
They spent two hours there. By the time the boys were ready to leave, they had tired themselves out completely.
The walk to her apartment was uneventful, and when they went inside, Kagome watched the boys lean heavily on the arms of the couch at either end. She closed the door behind her and went through the house to make sure they were safe before taking the opportunity to sit between them. She felt them both lean against her.
Kagome felt loved. Souta put his head on one knee and Inuyasha had the other. Their soft snores lulled her to sleep
Sesshomaru's black SUV stopped at the back alley behind the Tokyo National Bank. He opened the door and casually peeked around before spotting the man leaning against the wall.
Miroku held his hand up in greeting, and as if by chance, he said "Hello" with his coat pulled tight and his hat low.
Sesshomaru didn't like the look in his eyes when they finally spoke. the man was normally reserved but there was an urgency in his eyes that created a sense of dread in the two. koga looked at Sesshomaru. they had known each other long enough to converse without a word. Koga saw the fear in the detective and signaled Sesshomaru to watch his hands. a fearful contact could draw attention. Sesshomaru told him he understood and glanced at the mouth of the alley and Koga turned and kept his eyes on the surroundings.
"I'm sorry about your men. There was evidence of a struggle; they fought hard, but the spiders have a trump card." He said, reaching into his pocket to withdraw a pack of cigarettes. He took one and offered it to Sesshomaru, who accepted. He drew it to his lips, and Koga had a lighter ready
"Unfortunately, they've decided to strike now," he said, looking at the detective. He noticed the gun on his belt and took note of the extra caution. He was afraid.
"Yes, without a doubt, with your father's untimely death, there is a question about who should take over his empire."
"No one has openly opposed me, but as you can see, I have found a cowardly rival," he replied, and Miroku nodded.
They are certainly reckless, there has been a string of killings I can't explain. They are connected. All of them have been university students in the medical department. Theyre being strangled. There have been five such deaths in the last four months." Miroku put his cigarette out and pushed himself away from the wall. "They're looking for something."
"Why do you say that?" Sesshomaru asked, taking a last drag of his cigarette and putting it out.
"All of the women had their pockets turned out and all of their jewelry was missing. We would chalk this up to a robbery, but all of their things were found within a few feet of the bodies." Miroku looked around as he spoke and then shifted as if to walk away. "I see you've been working." He observed.
"Hn,"
"There's a little blood on your collar," he said before Sesshomaru brought a handkerchief up to wipe it away. "I haven't known you to get your hands dirty,"
"These are desperate times," Sesshomaru said so casually that Miroku wondered if he was serious or not. He made a mental note to ask him about the bodies, but he would save that for a time when his eyes didn't stare off so distractedly into the distance.
When he arrived at the woman's apartment, Sesshomaru didn't know what to do when he found the door unlocked. His mind flashed to the conversation he just had with the head detective and felt his heart sink. He didn't hear Taeko bark but saw the giant dog lying at the woman's feet, his head raised to acknowledge his master, but there was no further movement.
When he realized the trio was sleeping, he smiled and stepped back outside to knock a little louder. Kagome started, he saw her frightened surprise and saw that she reached for something she didn't find. The relief he saw after such fear made him pause.
"Sesshomaru, how was your trip?" She asked sleepily.
Sesshomaru couldn't help but recall how happy the three looked when he passed them earlier. "May I come in?" She nodded, waving him in.
"Yes, the boys have been sleeping a while. They played hard." She tried to get up but found herself unable to until he stretched out his hand to help her.
"I had to finish some business, or I would have been here earlier to help," he said. She shook her head and went with him to the kitchen, where she put in some water to boil and brought out her tea.
Kagome saw that he was a little sad, his eyes held the edge of anger but not at her. "Are you hungry?" She asked, and he shook his head slowly.
He didn't want to talk about it, but the whole day had been one disaster after another. He looked over at the sleeping boys. Taeko was at ease, guarding the sleeping children. Sesshomaru let his eyes absorb Kagome. She wore a small apron over modest clothes and her hair was covered by a bandana.
"Kagome," he said, waving her over to sit with him. She grabbed the two teacups and brought them to the table.
"Here," she set one down in front of him and he thanked her softly. "What happened today, you don't have to tell me, but I can tell you are feeling a little down."
"It was a difficult day," he said before taking a sip of tea.
His hair was tousled, as if he'd run his hands through it a few times. There was something that had happened today; she could see the bruising on his knuckles and then noticed a speck of blood near the collar. She stood.
"Are you hurt?" She went over to him with a napkin and stood over him to examine the area. No injury.
From this angle, she could see the tattoo and knew the unmistakable symbol of the demon gang. She had suspected as much from his clothes, attitude, and the constant praise from his men who referred to him as "Boss". But Kagome didn't care. He grabbed her wrist to stop her from stepping away from him.
"Don't be afraid," he said, and she shook her head.
"I'm not," she said, and he looked at her in wonder.
"Why?" he asked, and she shrugged.
"I'm just not," she replied.
Sesshomaru saw that she wasn't going to say anything more about the subject and looked up at her with some wonder. Why wasn't she afraid? The symbol was clear, and it had sent most people running upon sight.
"I'm a bit relieved," he said honestly. "When did you know?" He asked, and she laughed just a little before using the napkin to clean up another spot.
"As soon as I saw you," she said, and he was amazed.
"You knew and still agreed to watch my brother?" He was confused, but she shrugged.
"Everyone needs care," Inuyasha is a sweetheart, he is no trouble to watch," she said. And looked down at his hand that gripped her wrist. "Want to let go now?" She asked and he dropped his hold like he'd been zapped.
"I appreciate it," he said, and she frowned.
"Most people wouldn't help someone dying on the street corner. But we aren't 'most people,' are we?" She questioned, and he nodded.
"Kagome, you aren't like anyone I've ever met," he said, and she felt the warmth in his eyes. Smiling softly, she took a seat next to him and reached out to touch his shoulder. Surprised by the solid muscles, she let her hand linger a moment longer than she intended. He smirked at the pressure of her hand and she apologized before getting back to her point.
"I didn't expect you to be like this either," she said, blushing, and Sesshōmaru took the opportunity to lean forward and kiss her. She was caught off guard, but he felt her hands on his shoulders, gripping him.
Souta peered up to see the kiss. He was pretending to sleep, knowing that they needed some time to talk. He grinned and elbowed Inuyasha, who rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up. The color drained from his face. He was seeing the explosion all over again. Kagome was not supposed to like Sesshomaru, they weren't supposed to fall so easily into this trap that she could be swept into their troubles but there she was. He threw himself off of the couch and stood. With his fists clenched. His rage-filled eyes turned on them.
"No!" He shouted, and Sesshomaru jerked back from Kagome to look at his brother. The angry eyes of the boy surprised him.
"What's going on, Inuyasha?" He asked, his mind was still on the kiss. Her blushing cheeks and lips were calling him back, but Inuyasha fumed.
"Yasha, this was the plan," Souta whispered and Inuyasha turned to him.
"I didn't think it would work!" he yelled. Sesshomaru was at a loss for words.
"Inuyasha, do you want to go for a walk and clear your head?" Kagome offered. The boy looked at her as if she'd betrayed him, but Kagome didn't mind his anger and stood to put on a jacket. "Come on, you can tell me all about it," she said. Inuyasha glared at his brother but stood and got his coat.
"Take Taeko with you," Sesshomaru said, and Inuyasha growled but grabbed the leash and stomped to the door.
When they were gone, Sesshomaru looked at the other boy and shrugged.
"Looks like it's you and me," Souta yawned.