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Finding Kagome	By : MetsukiKaraTen Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > InuYasha/Kagome Views: 8806 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
- 22
DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha and company, however I
DO own an overactive imagination...

Finding Kagome

Chapter Twenty One

It
was becoming apparent to Sesshoumaru that some type of event was in
the works, as he thumbed his way through the tiny date book. The
calendar section included 'construction' dates and 'rehearsal' dates,
all leading up to a date in late April. The cultural fair. Of
course. She was involved in something to do with the annual cultural
fair. He glanced at InuYasha, who's eyes were closed. No doubt
exhausted after so much exertion. It had not been his intention to
disrupt the hanyou's recuperation by sharing the small bit of
information he had. He should have known better. He did, after all,
know how stubbornly obstinate InuYasha could be. The troubling thing
was, why were the wolves also interested in this Kagome Higurashi? To
what end would it serve them to destroy her home in such a manner?
What could they possibly have been looking for? What does
Kouga know about, or suspect . . . that this Sesshoumaru does not .
. .

“The
HELLS??” Shouted InuYasha, jumping at the loud THUMP
and scratching on the roof of the limousine. Sesshoumaru brought full
attention to the ceiling above them, realizing too late his error in
the distractions of his musings. “It's Kouga . . . shit . . .
my sword . . .” InuYasha frantically grabbed at where
Tetsusaiga should be strapped to his hip.

“Nothing to be done about it now, halfbreed . . .
we must face him . . .” Sesshoumaru lowered the screen far
enough to direct the driver to pull over, and instructed him to
remain in the vehicle. As the vehicle stopped, a shape dropped off of
the roof, and fell back into shadow to become only menacing eyes
glowing in the mist.

Sesshoumaru exited, prepared for the attack and as
expected he was rushed by the Ookami, who was obviously enraged.
Barely dodging the first attack, Kouga's claws left a calling card on
the elder youkai's side, as his whip lashed brightly catching the
wolf's shoulder. At the scent of his brother's blood, InuYasha tore
out of the opposite door, to jump onto the roof growling.

“You die tonight, old man . . .” growled
Kouga, as he strafed around Sesshoumaru, paying no heed to the hanyou
on the roof.

“Guess
again, asshole . . . sankon-tetsusou!!”
InuYasha dove off the roof at the ookami, claws fully distended,
where on Kouga leaped agilely to the side. Sesshoumaru took full
advantage of the momentary distraction, and lashed his whip of yoki
directly at the neck of his target. There was a satisfying sizzling
sound when it made the connection, eliciting a gurgled yelp from
Kouga as he retreated into the shadows to regroup.

“Resorting to the help of mongrels now,
Sesshoumaru?? My how things change . . . ” came the taunt from
the shadows.

“There
once was a time when you ran in fear of this 'mongrel' . . . whelp,”
retorted the hanyou. “I
hear you are an oath breaker . . .”

“What
the . . . who the hell are you?”
Kouga raised his nose to the air, edging out of the shadows to better
see this intruder. “No fucking way!!! InuYasha is dead!! Go
back to Hell where you belong, dog shit!!”

“On who's authority?? Your's??? Don't make me
laugh!! What were your people doing at Kagome's apartment?? Did they
have to wreck the place like that??” InuYasha moved closer,
muscles taut, ready for the attack.

“You
know about that? It's nothing . . . they found nothing . . .”
his posture, initially defensive from the shock of coming face to
face with InuYasha, quickly turned. “I knew you had to have had
help, dog . . . that mess you left . . . Ayame was covered in
your stench . . . but my sentries . . .” piercing
blue eyes narrowed on the hanyou. “Where is your toy, puppy??
Is that what you used
to puree my guard??”

“Didn't need nothin' but my bare hands . . .”
InuYasha stretched his hands, bearing his claws and cracking his
knuckles, but his boast was cut off by his brother.

“InuYasha . . . enough. Your fight is with
me Kouga,” he prompted. InuYasha's health primary in his
mind, he couldn't allow him to over exert and risk relapse. The
hanyou blinked, then scowled at his brother.

“Damn
straight it's with you . . . Murdering hound . . .” Kouga
muttered and he more bravely began to stalk around Sesshoumaru. “What
kind of point could you possibly have been trying to make, by
murdering Ayame?? I'll give you one chance
only . . . to explain yourself.”

“Too
much guilt for leaving her vulnerable, Kouga? She asked for what was
handed to her. Where were you??” Sesshoumaru's eyes never left
his opponent, his claws beginning to drip. “This Sesshoumaru
sought you, that night
. . . but, where were you? What was so important . . . that you
left your mate defenseless?”

“She wasn't fuckin' defenseless!! She had the
guard, I saw to that . . . where I was . . .” he snarled “.
. . is none of your damn business, Bastard!”

“It should be someone's business . . . your pack
runs rampant, Kouga . . . too many humans are dead because of their
antics. You endanger all of us with your lack of . . . discipline.”
With this said, Sesshoumaru stopped moving. “You better than
anyone should know that it is a different world now.”

“I refuse to lay down and play dead . . . I am
Youkai!!” And Kouga lunged at Sesshoumaru with a snap of the
jowls, twisting away narrowly from the claws that swept at him.

“This
is bullshit . . .” grumbled InuYasha as he yanked off his
shirt. “Hijin-ketsusou!!”
Slashing at his chest he threw his own blood at the ookami-youkai,
watching it turn to daggers that tore into the youkai's exposed
flesh. There was an initial yelp of shock, then deathly quiet.

“So the puppy wants to play . . .” Kouga
snarled, licking at a rather prominent gash on his forearm.

“I'll take you apart, one piece at a time . . .”
InuYasha cracked his knuckles, eyes agleam. “I owe that to
Kagome, you said you would lay off eating humans . . . Oath
breaker!!” And the two lunged at one another so viciously the
air around them crackled with the energy, along with snarls and the
occasional yelp when a mark was scored. So fast and violent were the
attacks that it could not be discerned where one combatant ended and
the other began.

Sesshoumaru looked down at the black stain spreading on
his side, and sighed. His favorite white trench was now ruined, and
InuYasha's intervention had prevented him gleaning any more
information from the arrogant wolf. Walking back to the vehicle, he
motioned to the driver to lower the window.

“Sir?” the driver inquired, glancing with
only casual interest toward the fray.

“It's time...” was all he had to say, and
the driver passed through the window the one and only firearm
possessed by the Demon Lord , an antique .44 magnum revolver. “I
hate to resort to this...” he sighed as he checked the
cylinder, “InuYasha really shouldn't be exerting himself like
this.” Slapping the cylinder closed, he raised the pistol and
fired twice into the air.

The shock wave of the gunfire had an immediate effect
on both of the combatants, as they reeled from the sound, separating,
each shaking their heads against the ringing in their respective
ears.

Casting a glance at his hand, Sesshoumaru swore under
his breath, seeing where traces of the poison from his claws had
marred the surface of the pistol, which he quickly lowered to aim
directly at the Ookami-youkai.

“As has already been stated,” his voice was
raised, though his expression remained impassive, “it is a
different world now, Kouga . . . Either adapt with the times, or
disappear . . . I would be happy to assist in the latter,” his
hint of a smile did not reach his eyes. “The terrorizing of
humans will stop, is that clear?” he pulled back the hammer,
waiting for an answer.

InuYasha glowered at Sesshoumaru, then moved out of the
line of fire to grab his shirt off of the ground and violently slap
the dust off his hat against his knee, ignoring the multiple
abrasions on his torso and arms.

“Who died and made you God, Asshole?”
growled Kouga as he backed away, unsure of his ability to dodge the
next bullet.

“I
will say it so you can understand it, wolf.
. . He who wields the power, and right now that power is this Smith
and Wesson . . . also issues the edicts. Ningen are off limits.
Humans are not your enemy . . . Is that understood?”

“Just
fuckin' use that thing and get it over with, Jackass . . .”
hissed InuYasha, “He's an oath breaker! He promised to never
do that again . . . he promised Kagome!”

“Give me a break!! She's been dead over 500
years!!” Kouga countered. “As your dear brother here just
said . . . it's a different world now . . .”

“An
oath is an oath, Kouga!! How many have you eaten
. . . I mean personally??”
InuYasha waved a hand, “No. . . never mind . . . don't answer
that, I really don't fuckin' wanna know.” He scowled with
disgust as he slipped the hat on his head and crossed his arms across
his chest.

“If only I could get inside your mind, wolf . .
.” his voice but a whisper, Sesshoumaru lowered the weapon,
carefully dropping the hammer. “All this bloodshed could be
avoided.”

“It's a little late for negotiations, bastard . .
.” Kouga bared his fangs, “You made sure of that when you
murdered Ayame.”

“It was not my first attempt to discuss these
issues with you. You refusals only escalate the problem, Kouga,”
Sesshoumaru was a testament of calm. “It is not going to go
away... unless you make it so by co-operating. This Sesshoumaru is
not the only voice here, I represent many . . .”

“Cut the crap, Sesshoumaru!!” Interjected
InuYasha, his irritation tangible. “All your fancy words are
worthless . . . The only way to stop this mangy fuck is to kill
him!” And he stepped forward menacingly.

Crouching on the ground, Kouga eyed the weapon that was
still in the inu-youkai's hand. This had not gone as planned, not at
all. But he would be damned if he was going to roll over and play
dead.

There
was too much at stake. The quality of life for all youkai was in the
balance here, and he could not . . . would not budge.

“This isn't over, mutt . . . Not by a long shot
. . .” he hissed as he jumped back and up to a low branch of a
nearby pine. “This is bigger than you can possibly imagine,
Sesshoumaru . . . and you better watch your back, old man . . .
because I am watching you . . . your hide will grace the floor of my
great hall once this is done, I promise you that!” With the
parting threat, he transformed to an image of dark wind, briefly
disturbing the fog that surrounded them as he bolted down the
hillside.

“Why the fuck didn't you kill him??”
demanded InuYasha as he stood arms folded across his chest, glaring
at his brother.

“He challenges this Sesshoumaru for a position
that is actually . . . nonexistent in this era. Use of a firearm
would be wholly inappropriate in this circumstance. Get in the car,
halfbreed. . . you are bleeding.”

“Bah! It's just a scratch . . . what the fuck
are you talking about? What position?” His gaze fell on the
blackened area of the youkai's left side. He opened the door and
motioned for Sesshoumaru to get in first.

Sesshoumaru settled himself into the seat,
unsuccessfully masking his annoyance at the injury. “Treaties
have been in place for centuries among the native youkai of this
area. There is no singular authority, no individual ruler for our
kind. Kouga seems to feel that this arrangement is . . .
unsuitable, or so it appears.”

“So
what you are saying is . . . he wants to be King Shit, and he thinks
if he kills you he'll
get it?” InuYasha snorted.

“Something tells me there is more to it than
that. There is something that he is hiding.” The limousine had
reached the gates, and Sesshoumaru heard the driver pass the word
that they were in need of the healer. He watched as InuYasha once
again became completely absorbed in the old, scratched image of the
young miko.

“There is something you must realize, InuYasha,”
he ventured.

“Nani...” the hanyou's response was vague,
as though he wouldn't hear what he was being told.

Sesshoumaru leaned forward to try to catch his eye.
Reaching his hand out, he touched his brother's leg lightly. InuYasha
finally looked up into his intense gaze.

“The Miko . . .” the demon nodded toward
the picture. “She is not that person, now . . . That image
that you treasure is a thing from the past.”

“What's your point, Jackass?”

“You realize, she can't possibly look the same.”

“Huh?” InuYasha grasped the picture more
tightly, looking at it, then glaring at his brother.

“You once told me that the Miko was also the one
who pinned you . . . correct?”

“Yeah . . . when she broke the seal she was
fixing her own mistake...”

“So . . . tell me, little brother . . . Did
your Kagome . . . look like Kikyou?”

“What kind of question is that??? Of course she
didn't look like Kikyou . . . much.”

“It's a relevant one, be assured.”
Sesshoumaru sat back heavily on his seat.

“At
first, I thought she
was Kikyou . . . I wanted to kill her . . .”

“Hn,” the demon grunted. “what
changed your mind?”

InuYasha
thought on this for a moment, remembering that first meeting, playing
it out in his mind. He remembered the conflict . . . those
eyes . . .

“Her
scent was off. But it's not like I had a lot of time to think about
it, the damn centipede was trying to kill her. All I cared about was
getting rid of it and getting the jewel.” He cast his eyes down
at the old photograph. That damn jewel. . . it brought
nothing but pain . . .

The limousine had reached the mansion, and a group of
people rushed down to the car, to assist their Lords into the house
and back to the healers wing. InuYasha shrugged off the offers of
assistance up the steps with a growl, as he watched the Great Bear
practically haul the Demon Lord up and in with great haste, asking
questions about how the wound came about. As they disappeared down
the hall, the hanyou waved off the concerned questions of the
remaining servants, and turned to look out into the foggy night.

Where the hell are you, Kagome? Don't you know that
I need you here . . . by my side?

88*88*88*88*88*88*88

The sounds of the surf brought a serene sense of
comfort as she lit a stick of incense, using caution to avoid the
long wide sleeves of her caftan. Gently sliding the incense into the
feather shaped holder on her mantle, she adjusted her wireless
headset. It tended to hook into her long chestnut locks, and pulled
uncomfortably at the most inconvenient times.

The calls had been slow, but then the full moon always
made up for that. At that thought she smiled, and she picked up her
cards and wandered to her reading table. There was a slight
fluctuation in the flickering candle light, as though a breeze had
brushed through the room, and this caused her to look up from the
layout she had begun. Glancing at the candelabra on the table, she
noticed a shifting in the fog just outside the sliding glass door.
The elven face that formed beyond in the mist gave her a shock and
she nearly squeaked. Moving to her computer to log off the network
and her availability for incoming calls, she quickly made her way
through the kitchen.

“You look like hell,” she observed as she
slid open the door to see her number one client leaning against the
rail of the deck outside.

“Your house stinks . . .” came his reply,
as he sauntered into her kitchen glancing around. “How can all
these damn plants breath when you burn that shit??”

“They seem to like it just fine, Kouga . . . you
are the one with the skewed olfactories. That's Nag Champa, it's
delicious! Wards off evil too.” She backed up to scan the
wounds he was sporting, as she pulled the headset free and set it on
the table. “I think we better clean you up . . . bad night?”
She went to the cupboard to pull out the box she used for first aid
supplies.

“Feh . . . fucking dogs,” he lowered to
his haunches, watching her. Catching this she had to let out a sigh.
The man seemed to really dislike furniture for some reason, to the
point of obsession. He always sat on the floor during their
sessions, or would stand hovering over her back to look at the cards.
But she really wasn't in the mood to sit on the floor in order to
dress his wounds.

“Use a chair, I can't reach you down there . . .
what dogs?” She motioned toward the table.

“I really can't stand that stench, Miranda . . .
where are my fucking cigarettes?” He snarled, standing to his
full height. She steeled herself against his surliness and narrowed
her eyes.

“On top of the fridge, where they always are . .
. you're in a foul mood tonight . . .”

Kouga reached over for the pack of Marlboro reds she
kept for him. He was always complaining about the smell of her house,
and something about the smoke masked the odors, so she had taken to
keeping a pack around for when he decided to show up. Shaking one out
he stalked over to the candelabra and lit it off one of the flames.

“The Goddess doesn't like that, you know . . .”
she commented offhandedly as she moved in closer to examine the
damage. “This one on your neck . . . no dog did this, this
look like a whip mark, or a burn of some kind.”

“So the dog had a whip . . . he also had a gun .
. .” he glared at her. “You didn't mention the
competition I would be encountering, Miranda . . .” he grabbed
the hand that was gingerly tracing the area around his neck wound.
“Why is that?”

Miranda knew this temper, she refused to cower to him.
Matching his glare with her own intensity, she grimaced at the
pressure on her wrist.

“I've held nothing back from you, Kouga . . .
you know the readings aren't exact. I've said that from the
beginning. Let go, please, you're scratching me . . . you really
should get a manicure,” and she twisted her arm away from his
grasp.

“You foretold the return of the Priestess . . .
and the ancient Jewel . . . we learned of a girl, she has the same
name as the Priestess . . . She has power too, according to the
reports I've gotten.”

“So find her, and you will most likely find your
Jewel,” she cast off glibly. She opened her box to pull out
disinfectant wipes. “Strange that she'd have the same name, but
it just makes it easier for you, don't you think?”

Kouga tossed the cigarette into the unused fireplace,
and went to sit in one of the chairs by the table. She began to
gently wipe at his neck and then at his arm, glancing periodically
at his calculating expression. The guy was always chewing on
something, mentally. But rarely would he share his plotting with
her. That was fine, in fact she knew it was for the best. The less
she knew, the less she might be held accountable should he make a
wrong move. Though she had to admit the mysteriousness of him had
her intrigued.

“What do you know about a Seth Inudono?” he
asked, bright blue eyes narrowing on her.

“Triple D Enterprises? He's a recluse, very few
have ever actually seen him,” she looked up into his eyes,
which glowed with the candle light. “I don't know him,
personally. I have invested in some stocks in one of two of his
subsidiary companies. Decent return, too . . . why do you ask?”
and she returned to her ministrations.

“He's the dog . . . and I want him dead.”

Miranda's hand froze. He felt warm to her touch, but
he didn't seem to be flushed. The compound statement he had just made
suggested he had a fever, because it certainly didn't make any sense
to her. On more than just one level.

“What
in the world are you talking about? You sound like you are
delirious.” She backed up to peer at him. “Kouga, the
man shits money, his
security has got to be better than the White House. What's this
grudge you have with him?”

“He is the competition I told you about . . .
he's made moves . . .” she could have sworn that he growled
around that statement.

“That's ludicrous. . .” she waved off the
intensity he was emanating. “What use could he possibly have
with this rock you are looking for?”

“Miranda . . .” he reached out to put a
hand on her shoulder, a hollowness behind the anger in his eyes. “The
son-of-a-bitch murdered Ayame.”

She dropped the little disinfectant towel onto the
table, her jaw slack as she stared at him in disbelief. The situation
had grown to proportions that she was unsure she could deal with.
She knew Ayame. Had met her first, then later worked only with
Kouga. She had never actually known someone who had been murdered
before.

“When?”

“Last weekend, while I was . . . overseas,”
he snarled, looking away.

Miranda's hand shook as she reached for the pack of
cigarettes, drawing one out, she stretched to light it off of the
candelabra.

“Thought the Goddess didn't like that . . .”
Kouga muttered.

“She'll get over it . . .” Miranda
responded with agitation, her face pinched against the smoke.

“How?” she asked simply.

“By his own hand. Or maybe teeth would be a
better description . . .” his voice was raspy.

“Why didn't I see it? Surely something this final
would show it's self . . . what do you mean . . . teeth??” her
eyes widened as she visualized horror movie attacks, werewolves and
vampires, all things fantastic that she and her only female cousin
used to eat up as kids. But that was movies.

Her
expression became incredulous. “That's a bit over the top . . .
what kind of monster is this guy??”

“The
worst kind . . . the kind with money, power and . . .” he
hesitated, “Some kind of god complex. The scariest part is .
. . he actually believes
he's right,” he shook his head.

“What did the police say? Surely he left some
kind of evidence . . . or do you think he can buy himself out of
trouble with the law?” she made a face at the cigarette, and
rose to dowse it at the faucet.

“No police . . .” he answered too quickly,
raising a hand. “She's gone, I know who did it . . . there is
nothing they can do.”

“So now you are going to take it upon yourself to
avenge her . . . against Inudono? Do you really think that is wise?
From what you've said, he really sounds like a lunatic . . .”
she trailed off, shaking her head, as she tossed the waterlogged butt
into the trash.

“You don't know the half of it . . . he's
looking for the Priestess too. But I don't think for the same
reasons.”

“So he isn't after the Jewel? Do you think he
even knows about the Jewel? Gods Kouga!! Does the same fate await the
Priestess as your Ayame met?” Suddenly feeling a sense of
urgency, her barrage of questions seemed to pound against him, and
she stopped, eyes moistening with her sympathy for his situation.

She didn't fully understand the situation, she knew.
But to lose one's spouse had to be terribly painful, yet here he was
with dry eyes and a calculated rationality to his anger. If he
couldn't mourn, she would for him. It was her natural empathic
response. It was why she worked primarily over the phone with the
network, and rarely directly with a client. But this man had become
more than a client. She had broken her own rules and begun to think
of him more as a friend. And obviously, despite appearances, he
wasn't rational right now. She resolved to do what she could to help
him get through this. To help him to stay out of trouble.

“Can I stay here tonight? I really don't want to
be alone right now,” the mournful look in his eyes pulled at
her heart even more.

“Of course, Kouga. But I think you should have
that arm looked at . . . want me to run you to the ER?” she
grimaced at the open wound on his arm.

“Just wrap it tight, Miranda . . . it'll be fine
by morning,” he reached over to the box and pulled out a roll
of gauze and handed it to her. Sniffling back her emotion, she
offered him an astonished grin, shaking her head.

“Have I told you lately how very strange
you are?” she asked as she began winding the gauze around his
forearm.

“Not for at least a couple of weeks . . .”
he muttered watching her bind his wound.

“That long? I must be slacking . . .” their
eyes locked momentarily as she smoothed the dressing.

“Or maybe. . .” he lay a hand on hers, his
smile grim. “. . . you are growing accustomed to my ways . .
.”

88*88*88*88*88*88*88
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Finding Kagome