Hiko waited until they had all gone to bed to get Sesshomaru. He tapped on the door lightly and was met with the fully dressed man waiting on him. "I thought you might sleep till morning. I am ready let's do this," he said and Hiko laughed quietly and held up his shoes. He sat at the edge of the porch and got them on hurriedly. Sesshomaru did the same and saw that the older man was wearing a martial arts uniform. The dobak hung to his waist and was cinched with a black belt. Sesshomaru thought it was a little overstated and was content in his tracksuit.
When he followed Hiko into the forest there was no telling what would happen there. The man was deadly quiet and Sesshoamru had to watch him closely to see where he was walking.
He stopped when they had gone into the forest and turned to him. "I will give you tonight to escape me, if you live till morning then you have figured out what you need to learn, if not you will be dead and your right-hand man will take over your position," he said and Sesshomaru was on guard for the big man to attack but he did not see him anymore.
Looking around he did not expect the unease that swelled in his chest as he began to walk. He scoffed, there was no way this man could get the better of him like this. The moon was waning, only half of the light showed through the night and he scanned the surrounding area searching for him. Hiko came out from behind him. With a breath, he stepped out of the way and Hiko chuckled as he disappeared once more into the mist.
Sesshamru was sure that this would be easy and wondered if it was a useful way to spend their time when a broken tree shot through the air and narrowly missed him. He gasped stepping aside. That could have killed him. Once more he sensed a projectile and Hiko barked a laugh as he twisted out of the way once more. Sesshomaru got his bearings and ran towards where the man stood and was surprised when he found only air lingering where he once stood.
Panting, he put his back to a tree, keeping his eyes on the area as he caught his breath and felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on edge as a branch acting as a bat broke across the place he had just been standing against the tree. "Don't stop or I will kill you," he said and Sesshomaru found him and started to engage him when a trap was set off and he was thrown backward at a branch.
"Traps? On my land?" he asked and Hiko scoffed.
"Focus on your surroundings," he said. And Sesshomaru stilled and looked for the next point of attack. If he aimed to heighten his senses and remind him what fear was, he had begun the journey. Sesshomaru remembered how easy it was for this demon to throw him around and knew that if he slipped at all the threat of his death was real.
Kagome would take care of Inuyasha and the men would take care of her. The thought brought fire to his chest. This was not his time to die, he thought.
Hiko came out of nowhere, his hands outstretched for his throat and he caught the full force of his weight. The grip on his throat took his breath. As the edge of his vision began to blacken he felt the full weight of decision, live or die. If he could have laughed, he would have.
Kagome woke in the morning to the heavy footsteps of Hiko and Sesshomaru entering the house. She knew he'd been gone all night and wondered what hell he'd been through. When she slid back the door to peer through, she gasped at the blackened eyes of her master. Sesshomaru was not much better, except for the bruising hand prints on his throat.
Hiko gathered his things and she noticed he was going to the room they had set aside for him. "Hey, what are you doing?" She asked and Hiko stopped and smiled. There was a glint in his green eyes and Kagome looked between the two not knowing what was happening.
"I'll let him tell you," he said and she turned to Sesshomaru who approached her with some regret. She knew what he was going to say just by looking into his eyes. Stealing her heart she waited.
"I am leaving to go back to Tokyo," he said and Kagome took a breath and nodded not showing the emotion that had filled her at the words. She had expected as much though she didn't want to admit the fearful knot in her stomach
"Oh," was her reply and she glanced back to see that Hiko had disappeared behind a few closed sliders.
"I want you to stay here with the boys until this is over," he said. There was a new sense of confidence that she hadn't seen before. Whatever had happened in the forest he seemed different.
"I understand. Koga left yesterday, I didn't expect you to be here, why did you stay?" she asked and he nodded toward where Hiko had disappeared.
"I needed to make one more milestone before going back. I know how to do this now," he said and she saw that he was deadly serious. "When I am done you will fear no one," he said and she nodded.
"Do what you have to, when you need, me I'll be here," she said and wanted to go back to bed suddenly. The emotion that ran through her was tiring.
Sesshomaru followed her when she backed into the room. He took her with him to the low bed and dropped her in the middle before descending onto her. He needed this after he had found his resolve, and wanted to remember this moment when the warmth seeped from his soul and he was once more enveloped in darkness.
Kagome was swept up in the frenzy. He was everywhere all at once his skilled hands rendered the night clothes from her body leaving her bare. She didn't know how he had done it so quickly but his lips dragged over her sternum and at once his hands grasped her chest.
When he had feasted on her flesh and was filled, he ripped away the cloth of his nearly destroyed shirt and she saw the bruises that littered his chest and arms. He looked like he'd been beaten with a bat, she gasped, alarmed by the sight but he pushed aside her worries.
"I am fine," he said, muffled against her neck and ear. She grasped his shoulders not able to resist the pull of his need and felt his ready form pressed against her.
Sesshomaru did not hold back, grasping her and stilling her for his invasion. He pressed to her entrance and was granted access slowly. Moving onto his knees he felt the strain of muscle and ignored it, closing his eyes to enjoy the feel of her.
When he started to move he felt her immediate response. She grasped him, wrapping her legs around his waist and holding on. Her quiet gasps went straight to his head, and he let himself fall into the stark sensation of release.
When he had stilled Kagome let her head fall back onto the pillow. Sesshomaru leaned down and took her mouth with his. He groaned into the kiss and was loathe to let her go. He wanted to memorize this feeling. She and everything that had led up to this moment would carry him forward.
He felt naive to have taken their time for granted. The peaceful days and youthful wishing had almost convinced him that he could steal that happiness for himself. Perhaps, it was the mock family setting, or playing house with a beautiful woman, but he should have known better.
Kagome surprised him the most. Her light had blinded him, brought him begging for a chance to have what she was offering. Peace. But he didn't deserve peace. He didn't deserve her, and for what he was going to do to avenge them all, he would be fit only for the pits of hell.
Kagome felt it when he was about to leave. His strong arms encircled her as if never to let her go and he held her for a long time before she felt his arms loosen and he sat up to go.
"Goodbye, Sesshomaru," Kagome said and could. not watch as he walked to the doors and disappeared behind them.
Six hours later
Sesshomaru found Koga at the edge of the small apartment complex. He held back the rage that threatened to blind him and nodded to the three other men who watched for his signal. Bonkatsu, Ginta, and Jekotsu were ready. Whatever Koga had said there was no doubting their men's belief in him. They greeted him with cheers though he was brandishing fresh bruises.
"We just got confirmation from the lookout they are inside," Bonkotsu said and Sesshomaru nodded. His senses were heightened and his eyes absorbed every detail of their surroundings.
"Three minutes are all that we have. Don't waste them," he said and the men nodded. He strode casually, so as not to alarm anyone in the complex and found the right door. He knocked rhythmically and covered the peephole with his finger. Koga was behind him with the others.
"The code," a voice came from the other side of the door and Sesshomaru spoke clearly.
"Venom," he said and the door opened.
Sesshoamru reached through the door and gripped the man's neck with every fiber of strength he possessed. The vertebrae cracked in his hands and he moved forwards with his corpse into the bigger room. Bonkatsu and Jokotsu looked at each other with some horror and did not doubt any longer that he had gotten more powerful. His aura was black,
When the corpse hit the floor Sesshomaru simultaneously saw the six men in the room draw their weapons and rushed the nearest one at once. Koga kicked the gun from one of their hands and Bonkostu and Jokotsu disarmed the others. Sesshomaru grasped the man he had caught within his grasp and felt the deadman switch within his vest pocket. It was not engaged and he nodded to Jokostu to remove it from the man's possession. The man worked quickly, his skilled hands unfastened wire after wire and traced it to some explosives near the front of the apartment under the cabinet.
"You will never make it out of here alive. Once the boss knows about this every one of our assassins will come for you," they warned and Sesshomaru approached the group. He was sickened by them. He knew what kind of business these men indulged in and gestured to the back room to look in on the lab. Koga gagged and Sesshomaru knew it was bad. The wolf had a strong stomach after all that they'd done together.
"Boss you have to see this for yourself. This is sick," he said and Sesshomaru went to the back room. It had been sealed in clear plastic. He stole his heart for the sight ahead. When he came back to the group he grasped the blade he kept tucked in his belt.
"When did the spiders start organ harvesting?" he demanded and was met with defiant eyes. He sighed and let a hollow laugh escape. "I was told this was where you were running your money laundering scheme, come to find out you're trading in body parts," he said. "I am sure the inner circle has not permitted this so close to the neutral zone," he said and a few of them seemed to blanch at his words but none of them spoke.
"Boss they don't have it, this was a false lead," Koga said frustrated and Sesshomaru held up his hand.
"Oh, I think I could still get what I want here. Where is Naraku? Who killed my men in the warehouse district?" he asked and knew they would remain silent. He looked through the six men and saw that one was trembling, he smelled fear. "Koga, hold that one," he said and Koga grabbed the man and forced him into a kneeling position.
The man's eyes took in the wrath of Sesshomaru, when blood sprayed his face he could not scream before those killer eyes turned on him. "He's gone out of town, I don't know where but since his incident no one knows where he is. The ones that lead the raid on the warehouse of the inu gang are staying in the riverside hotel, " he vomited his words, and Jokotsu and Bonkotsu grabbed his arms.
"We got this one boss," they said and Sesshomaru nodded and let the brothers work. He held his hand out and Koga gave him a handkerchief. His hands were covered in blood past his wrists. Koga looked at him and could feel the familiar black energy that had brought him this far. They didn't hear the screams of the man behind them but they both knew that jokatus and bonkatsu were the masters of making an example of someone.
When they emerged, Sesshomaru made sure they didn't touch anything on the way out and left quietly. Hakkaku met them at the front and they got into the car. Hakakku took them to the next place as Sesshomaru directed.
Sesshomaru called in the next directions to his men and was not disappointed to find that they had moved forward through the first checkpoint of the spiders. They had met a party of thirteen men at the shop where they fronted an information center.
The inu were ready, all of their men were conditioned to move faster and shoot more accurately than their opponents. Getting the casualty report he was satisfied that none of his men had fallen that morning.
The riverside hotel greeted them on the horizon. The stark luxury of the building was agreeable to the stoic man and he knew as they traded vehicles that his target would be er suspect such a direct attack.
As he moved from the vehicle and closed the door Sesshomaru felt the threat that greeted them. "Sesshomaru, I am almost disappointed to see you here. Only groups one and four knew we were here so you must have taken one of them.
He looked for the familiar voice and was a little surprised to find Kagura standing against the back door. She held it open half blocking herself from the potential threat.
"I see you have given your skills to the spiders then, how unsurprising. You always preferred bloodshed to the work it takes to keep an empire strong," he said and she scoffed.
"You made a lousy lover, I heard you got yourself a new girlfriend. I feel bad for her," she taunted him. Kagura brought out a bloodied bag and threw it to him. Koga intercepted it and looked into the sac.
"Boss, it's Jinenji," he said to Sesshomaru who took in a sharp breath. The man's head peered up out of the sac and Sesshomaru saw the glint of glee in her eyes as she shut the door.
"They knew we were coming, this is a trap," Koga said and Sesshomaru nodded knowing it was true, and was still going to the door.
"This is what I trained for, if you fear for your life, then come with me and use it to fuel your bullets," he said and reached for the door and stepped to the side. The scattershot pierced the door and sprayed through the entrance. He waited, she would check her kill and when she reached for the door he yanked it open and drew the blade he had taken from Kagome's collection.
With it, he devastated the three men behind the door. They did not expect a second attack and so were staring wide-eyed into the glint of steel.
Down the hallway, he heard Kagura's laughter. He felt his blood chill at the sound and he grasped the blade.
"There is no escaping, you will die today," he said and again he heard her chilling laughter. She had always been quiet as the wind and just as treacherous.
Koga and the others gathered their wits and entered behind him. Their killer stares found him already treading through the building and out to the lobby. It was deathly still, Sesshomaru felt the moment like he was still in the forest. These men were nothing compared to the deadly aura of his trainer.
"I can hear you breathing," he said, listening to the wheezing breaths behind the receptionist counter.
"I'm not a part of this, I am no yakuza, you have to believe me," it was a girl's voice. Sesshomaru saw Koga start towards the desk. He reached out to stop him and pull him back as another shotgun blast peppered the place he had been standing. Drawing his pistol, Sesshomaru took her out with one blast. Koga gasped, his panting form reached Sesshomaru and steadied himself.
"Don't trust what you see. The spiders are cunning," he warned and Koga nodded, grasping the hilt of his weapon.
"Thanks, boss."
Koga looked at him then, he hadn't seen this level of violence since he had started seeing Kagome. He hadn't realized how much the woman's presence had dulled the blackened rage that filled this man. It was terrifying. His hands were already coated in blood and they had only just started.
Kagome stared through the large window. She felt sick, every second Sesshomaru was gone she felt the possibility of his demise or worse.
"Stop worrying," Hiko said and she turned to him, not knowing why he had decided to stay.
"Why should I?" She asked and Hiko scoffed.
"Because that one will not be killed so easily. The fact that he's loosed on a direct enemy scares me just a little," he said and she looked at him.
"You want to tell me how he blackened your eyes?" She asked and Hiko crossed his arms and scoffed
"Not a chance," he said and she nodded.
Inuyasha didn't need to ask to know what his brother was doing. He had seen this all many times before. It was strange thinking of it now that his eyes had begun to show the light of hope almost like he had been pretending to want a normal life. Like that might become a normal family for once. But no.
At times like this, when his brother disappeared to finish some business, he always returned with dead eyes. The quiet rage and whatever horror he had committed would stay with him as he rested and then he would go back to the men and do it all again.
He watched her statedly not looking down the driveway or checking the time, but he knew she was waiting for any sight or sound of his brother's return.
Souta stayed close to her, offering her some comfort and stepping back from his usual cons to get his way.
The trainer had stayed, much to Inuyasha's relief. With Kagome's sullen quiet and the suppressed energy of his closest friend, Inuyasha was glad to talk to someone else. The man had not asked about his scar, he appreciated that but it did not mean that his eyes didn't glance down at the place it was. He wasn't surprised, many people found it unsettling to see what he had won for his loyalty to his family business.
"Inuyasha, Kagome won't be able to cook for us today, do you want to help me gather wood and start a cookfire?" Hiko asked and Souta looked over but he did not move from his sister's side.
"Yeah, grandfather put a great woodshed out in the back, I'll show you!" He said and Kagome watched them go but did not stand to follow them.
When the other two were gone, she turned to Souta. "Do you still have it?" She asked and the sullen boy looked at her with some hesitation but nodded slowly,"
"It's somewhere safe, no one will ever find it," he said and she nodded.
"We will need it soon," she whispered and leaned to hug him. Souta grasped her.
"Don't worry about Sesshomaru," he started and she shook her head.
"I'm not, umm worried about us, with Sesshomaru focused on the things in the city Naraku will be searching. Hiko found us, he can too," she said and Souta whimpered. "When I see him again, I'll kill him, if I can," she said.
Souta felt at a loss. It wasn't supposed to be like this. The image he had pictured in the beginning had almost come true. They were happy, she was being taken care of and their happy little life had been undisturbed. Now that Naraku was searching, Kagome had slipped back into the constant fear that had battered her from the beginning. "I hope you won't have to," he said.
AN; I have resisted the author's notes because I feel it breaks up the story, especially for anyone listening on audio. This is the halfway point though so I thought an intermission was due. the last couple of chapters were a little fluffy, even to me, but I assure you there is going to be a lot of crime and violence and citrus ahead. the characters and storylines I have written for this one are pretty wild. if you have any thoughts on the plot or comments about the story flow I would be happy to hear them. Thank you as always, and I hope you enjoy the second half of my newest work.