Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

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
- 28
- 29
- 30
DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha and company, however I
DO own an overactive imagination...

Finding Kagome

Chapter Twenty Nine

InuYasha
sat slumped in his plush seat and picked lazily at the shreds of his
cravat which littered his lap. He'd slaughtered the annoying thing
in his sleep, obviously, and he wasn't exactly sure how Sesshoumaru
was going to react.

That
is if he hadn't already noticed.

The
activity on the stage made no sense to him, the language was foreign,
the sound of the orchestra was what had awakened him.

Not
moving, he ventured a surreptitious glance in the direction of the
Demon. His eyes met with those of his elder brother, who's contained
a mildly bemused expression.

Fisting
his hand to his mouth, he cleared his throat and pulled himself
upright, blushing.

“So.
. . what did I miss?” he asked leaning closer to his brother's
ear. The curtain closed, music stopped, and the audience rose to
offer a standing ovation.

Sesshoumaru
leaned away and quirked a brow, then stood to applaud for the curtain
call. “Oh.”

“Have
a good nap?” queried Kagura over the ovation, leaning behind
the Demon with a glimmer in her eyes.

“I
need that name, Kagura. . .” Sesshoumaru turned himself and his
attention to the demoness, effectively shutting InuYasha away from
the conversation with all the noise. “That student of your's.
And a number if you have it with you.”

“I
have the damn thing memorized. . .” She leaned toward him,
still clapping lightly, “but his voice mail is full, it won't
do you any good. The kid is avoiding me for some reason,” her
hands stopped and she peered at the Demon. “What the hell is
going on Sesshoumaru?”

“It's
none of your concern. I wish to speak with him, that should be
sufficient,” his tone contained an icy barrier that she was, as
of late, unaccustomed to, and it vexed her.

She
sat back down in irritation, folded her arms and silently counted to
125. He knew how to provoke her, and she would not allow him this
little victory. It was her student, after all. . . and the
pompous ass was not going to meddle with one of her graduate students
without her knowing exactly why. She mentally flagellated
herself for even telling him she had the number memorized.

InuYasha
observed the now silent exchange between them, his ears straining to
turn under the restriction of his head wrap. So, maybe Sesshoumaru
doesn't completely trust her, after all. . .

“Fine
then, just the name. I will get the rest on my own,”
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at her.

“Why
is it so hard for you to tell me what the hell is
going on?” she demanded. “Let me ask you this. . . does
what you have to discuss with him have anything to
do with his education? Or is it something to do with that cultural
fair project?”

“I knew nothing of the project until you
mentioned it. . .” his tone was indifferent. “. . . and
his education is of no concern to me.”

InuYasha actually found himself beginning to feel sorry
for Kagura. More than once in his life he had been on the receiving
end of that icy, emotionless mask that his brother was sporting. He
hadn't cared for it then, and he didn't care for it now knowing that
the reason for Sesshoumaru's demand for information was for his sake.
The two continued to stare at each other for a long moment, as the
sounds of the vacating patrons began to diminish. It was as though
they were reading each other's minds, and InuYasha found that
disconcerting.

“What's his name, Kagura? I'm the one that needs
to know,” InuYasha interrupted the mostly silent sparring
match that was going on.

“You?”
she leaned to stare at him dubiously.

“Yeah. . . me. I think he knows something that
will help me. . . ” He glanced at his brother. “It's
something. . . personal.”

She peered at the hanyou for a moment, in
consideration. Sesshoumaru's eyes never left her, his expression
unreadable.

“Tell
you what, InuYasha,” her eyes flicked to the Demon with a
murderous look, “ I need to talk to him, too. His name is
Michael Andrews. . . If you find him, make sure he gets in touch
with me ASAP.” She rose to leave, glaring at Sesshoumaru.
“Thank you for the choice seat, Mr. Inudono.
I will see myself out.” And she breezed out of their company.
An icy breeze it was, except for a brief, warm touch on InuYasha's
shoulder as she passed him.

“A-sapp?” InuYasha scratched at his head,
making a face.

Sesshoumaru sat staring at nothing for a long moment.

InuYasha brushed the remaining threads of his cravat
onto the floor, wondering what all that had been about. He wasn't so
sure he really wanted to know.

“It is an acronym, for as soon as possible. . .”
Sesshoumaru finally spoke, his eyes still fixed forward. “She
is obviously worried about this student. So in finding him, we can
also perform a service for her. . .”

InuYasha
narrowed an incredulous glare at the Demon. He wants to
help her? After all that??

“I
don't get it,” he announced, tone laced with astonishment and
disbelief. “First you give her the cold shoulder. . . then you
want to help her?”

“At least I didn't 'whuff' her and announce that
she stinks,” his expression remained unchanged, eyes still
locked on nothing.

InuYasha
looked abashed. He hadn't meant
to be insulting. . . he wasn't sure just what he had
meant. She's still Kagura. Without Naraku jerking her chain
. . . maybe she's changed . . . and what the hell is up with
Sesshoumaru? This can't be good, gotta snap him out of it . . .

“So . . . what now?” he asked hoping to
break the trance his brother seemed to fallen into. As if on cue,
the question was followed by a rather loud gurgling sound emanating
from his stomach.

This drew Sesshoumaru's attention away from the space
he had been staring into, to focus on the disheveled hanyou's
midsection.

“We feed you. . . as the Lady so aptly put, this
Sesshoumaru was a monster for not doing so before taking you out,”
he rose and motioned to the doorway.

“She
said that?”
Amazed, InuYasha followed him out and down the stairs.

“What would you like to eat, Caleb?”
Sesshoumaru transitioned to legal names again as they entered the
lobby area. “It is your. . . turn, now. I did not make it
condition that you stay awake for Don Giovanni.”

“Ninja
food . . .” he grinned to himself, memories of campfires and
close friends breezing through his mind. Getting closer . .
.

“And that would consist of. . .?” the Demon
waited for some kind of clue.

“Noodles . . . I want some noodles,” he
replied, with a lopsided grin.

“Ah,” Sesshoumaru's expression brightened a
bit. “I know of a place that is open late, and that happens to
be the specialty. That and imported beverages. Teas, beer, sake,
etc.”

“Just no champagne. . . right?” InuYasha's
tone held a hint of disappointment.

“No champagne,” a pointed look told
InuYasha he had more than surpassed his champagne allotment for the
evening.

At
least NOW I can get out of these STUPID SHOES!

~ooO0Ooo~

Michael held the door open for Kagome as they entered
the restaurant.

“I'm amazed this place is open this late, how did
you hear about it Mikey?” she asked as they waited to be seated
at one of the booths. The design was a retro-diner style with a
definitely Far Eastern flare, and it was packed with people.

Michael started to speak, then glancing at her, he
raised his hand and cleared his throat.

“A friend of mine told me about it,” he
replied, not meeting her eyes.

She smiled at him sympathetically. For the better part
of the last two days they and Sally had worked to clear out her old
apartment and patch up the damage. Little had been salvageable.

Kagome was certain that Michael was as tired and on
edge as she was.

Sally had left them several hours before, to go do her
special security duty at the Opera opening, letting Michael use her
car. He had suggested they all meet at this place for a midnight
supper.

As the waiter showed them to a booth, Kagome felt that
familiar sense in the room. She had felt this feeling quite a bit
since returning to the city, and though growing accustomed to the
sensation she doubted she would ever grow comfortable with it.

There were demons near.

“Mikey. . .” she started to comment.

“I know,” he interrupted her. “There's
bound to be a few around, right?” He sat facing the door then
cautiously glanced around the restaurant, unable to pinpoint anyone
specific in the crowd.

“Sure . . . I guess you're right,” she
took a seat across from him in the booth. “So . . . this place
is called The Noodle Factory? Let me guess . . .”

“Anyway you like 'em, or so I have heard,”
he grinned. “Want a beer?”

“Is that what the 'doctor' orders?” she
grinned, pressing a topic he had been carefully avoiding.

“Let's not go there, OK?” he motioned for
the waiter. He did not want to discuss anything having to do with
his degree right now.

“Have you even called the university, yet?”
She noted his difficulty in meeting her eyes. “Mikey, look at
me . . . you haven't called them yet?”

He met her gaze with reluctance. Sighing, he took a sip
of his water.

“No,” he set the water down, idly turning
the glass in it's place. “I honestly don't know what to say to
Windham. I don't know how to explain it . . . so it will make sense
to her.”

“Oh . . . “ she was at a loss, herself.

The waiter approached and Michael ordered for both of
them, unaware of the scrutinizing gaze that was on him from several
booths down.

“Fuck
me!” InuYasha hissed,
adjusting his hat, his golden eyes gone wide.

“I would rather not,” replied his brother
with a look of distaste. “Eat your food . . . you have hardly
touched it.” Pouring tea into his cup from the pot on the
table, he looked up at the hanyou.

“It's
him . . . the guy
from the car!” InuYasha was becoming agitated, his voice barely
in a whisper. He nodded his head forward, toward the pair in the
booth that was some distance from them.

Sesshoumaru turned to glance back over his shoulder,
past the full booths to see the man with the long black hair.
Noticing the woman with him, he closed his eyes for a moment, turning
back around to face his brother, who was stiff as a statue across
from him.

“Relax, halfbreed. . .” he whispered. “They
have just arrived, correct?”

“Yeah, they just walked in . . . the girl . . .
she's . . .” he found himself at a loss for words. Could it
really be her?

“Eat, Caleb . . . they aren't going anywhere
soon,” Sesshoumaru sipped casually at his tea.

InuYasha
dug into his bowl, keeping one eye on the pair, unable to hear them
over the drone of the others in the restaurant which made him frown.

Michael sipped at his beer, still having trouble
meeting Kagome's eyes.

“How long until Sally will get here? Do you
know?” She asked him, idly picking at the label of the half
empty bottle, her poured glass of beer untouched.

“She said that she would meet us as soon as she
can,” he glanced up to watch someone come in the door, then
head toward their table. “Something about a meeting afterward
at the precinct.” He took a deep breath, like he was about to
dive into a cold pool.

“What about?” Kagome asked in reaction to
his tone, glancing at him to notice a figure approaching out of the
corner of her eye.

Turning her head, her eyes caught a casually dressed
young man, jeans and a dark brown Berkley sweatshirt. Her eyes
followed up the tall form to fix on a pair of the warmest brown eyes
she had ever seen.

He smiled at her, and she couldn't help but smile back.

“Fancy
meeting you here!”
Michael rose out of the booth to shake his friend's hand. He beamed a
smile when the handshake was returned, but the eyes were only for
Kagome.

“Care if I join you? I hate to eat alone,”
the Berkley man's voice was low and just as warm as his smile. She
blushed lightly and looked down at her hands which were still
fingering the bottle's label.

“I don't see why not . . . Kagome, this is my
buddy Hojo from Engineering. Hojo, this . . .” he motioned
toward her with a flourish, as though presenting a game show prize,
“. . .is Kagome Higurashi.”

On hearing the name and the field of study, Kagome's
jaw dropped and her eyes narrowed.

“Michael.
. .” through clenched teeth, it was very nearly a growl.

Michael backed up a step, knowing what was coming.

“I need to go call Selene. . .” motioning
toward the hallway, his offered excuse did nothing to curb her ire.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Kagome. . .”
Hojo's semi formal greeting was postponed by Kagome's hand, held
up and effectively staying further conversation as she rose from her
seat .

“No
you DON'T Michael
Andrews . . .” her seething tone seemed to have little effect
on Hojo's admiration, as he stepped back to
observe the goings on, grinning with his
arms folded.

“Sit you ass back down here!” She pointed
at the seat Michael had vacated.

Several
booths away, InuYasha heard a female voice and a familiar name.
Stretching to see, he found the man and woman were both out of their
booth and apparently discussing something heatedly in the aisle.
That's the guy Kagura wants to talk to . . . same guy as
the car . . .

Michael
raised his hands, in an attempt to wave off any misunderstanding.

“I
mean it, Mikey! Sit down!” Kagome's anger was palpable, and
beginning to draw attention from others. “You are going to
explain yourself, DAMNIT!”

Hojo smirked and settled in for the show, taking
Kagome's seat in the booth and helping himself to her untouched beer.

“Now, Kagome . . .” Michael put up his
hands again, “It's just a misunderstanding!”

Sesshoumaru twisted around to see the girl pointing to
the booth, just as InuYasha rose from his seat, transfixed on the
scene.

“That's
fuckin' Miroku! And
he's with Kagome!”
his jaw was slack, eyes wide, but his shock only brought a nanosecond
of hesitation. Stepping toward them, he started to call to them,
“Kago..!!”
and was stopped abruptly by a clawed hand fiercely gripped over his
mouth.

“Not
like that, halfbreed!!” hissed his brother, urgently. “You
may know who they are, but do they??”

InuYasha swallowed, his eyes narrowing as he tried to
pull air past the nearly suffocating grip. He watched as the woman
continued to point at the seat, stomping her foot.

“OSUWARI!! DAMNIT!!” she shrieked, her
hands in fists at her side..

InuYasha felt a familiar tingling on his neck, his eyes
became saucers as one heartbeat later he crashed to the floor,
leaving an uncharacteristically puzzled Sesshoumaru standing with
hand poised where the hanyou's mouth had been only a second ago.

His eyes shot around the room, barely noting the
curious stares he was getting, before looking down to find his
younger brother face down on the linoleum tiled floor, his hat askew.

“What??
I'm a damn DOG now??”
Michael demanded with an indignant look, oblivious to the disturbance
on the other side of the restaurant.

Kagome turned briefly toward the crashing sound,
followed by a residual tinkling of service ware, and noted that
someone obviously had had too much to drink. Dismissing it, she
immediately turned her attention back to Michael.

“NO!! DOGS are LOYAL!!” glowering at him,
she knew she had made her point. “We talked about this . . . I
told you NO!! FINE! Go make your damn phone call . . .” She
waved him away then ventured an embarrassed glance at the grinning
Hojo, before taking Michael's seat.

Sesshoumaru
knelt by the hanyou, adjusting his hat to a muffled “thanks
a lot”

“Are you injured?” his shock at the power
of the subjugation was apparent. He had seen the spell work before,
but had forgotten just how forceful it was.

“Only my pride, asshole. . .” InuYasha
grumbled, struggling against the hold the spell had on him. “Oi,
guess what?”

“Nani. . .” the Demon reached to assist his
brother.

“The fuckin' rosary still works,” he
groaned, as the spell diminished and he allowed his elder brother to
help him up. He ventured a pained smile and nod to the closest of the
curious onlookers.

“You, little brother, have a knack for stating
the obvious,” Sesshoumaru pointed to the booth, “Now sit,
and listen to what I have to say, before you destroy your chances of
winning this woman.”

InuYasha offered him a customary glower, then did as he
was bid, stretching to watch the goings on at the other booth where
things seemed to have calmed down.

The two disturbances having become nothing more than
history with the after hours crowd, the drone in the room picked up
again, effectively deafening the hanyou to the conversation.

“I'm sorry, Hojo. . .” Kagome looked at him
sheepishly. “I know that Mikey dragged you out here in the
middle of the night to meet me, and I'm being a bitch. . . I told
him no matchmaking. . .”

Hojo smiled at her warmly, his eyes sparkling.

“I love a woman with a fiery spirit. . . Is
your family really from Tokyo?.”

“Yes, they are. I am second generation America
though,” she found his smile infectious.

“ Me too, I am named after my great grandfather
Wait. . . The Higurashi shrine!” his eyes lit up even more, if
that was possible. “Of course! I was there last New Year!!”
his smile faded to a look of concern. “Wasn't it terrible about
the vandalism?”

“Vandalism?” her brow knit, not
understanding.

“You mean you haven't heard?” he leaned
forward conspiratorially on his elbows, to discuss this homeland
news. “Last week, my cousin called me to tell me about it.
They think it was a gang prank, teenagers. . . They broke into a
couple of storehouses and tossed things around mostly, and a grave
was desecrated. That was the most upsetting, to say the least.”

“A grave? Oh. . . Kami. . . not. . .” she
stuttered, horrified.

InuYasha could smell the anxiety emanating from the
booth that Kagome was in. He had noted that she was speaking to
another male now, who had his back to him. What he was saying was
obviously upsetting her, and that caused the hanyou his own distress.

He hadn't even spoken to her yet and he felt an
overwhelming need to protect her.

“Sit back, Caleb. . .” Sesshoumaru's tone
was commanding, and this drew InuYasha's attention. “Remember
what I said to you. . . you cannot move too fast or you will
frighten her.”

“Whoever that jerk is, the one that's with her
now. . . he's upset her. I can't just sit here and let some baka
upset Kagome. . .” he moved to rise again, and the Demon kicked
his legs out from under him, effectively seating him.

“Watch
and learn, halfbreed,” he locked eyes with his brother. “An
introduction must be orchestrated first.
Without it, she will think you are nothing more than a common
lecher.”

Sesshoumaru raised a signaling hand to their waiter.

“Oh God, I am so sorry Kagome. . .” it
was Hojo's turn to be embarrassed. “I am so thoughtless, she
is your namesake. . .” he slapped the palm of his hand against
his forehead.

Kagome
just stared at him. What a goofy thing for such an intelligent,
poised and handsome guy to do. She would have laughed if she hadn't
been so upset at the news. It's not the messenger's fault
. . .

Instinctively
needing to comfort him, she reached across the table to take his
hand.

“Don't . . .” she pulled a reassuring smile
out of nowhere. “Its just one more thing to add to the list
Hojo. It's been a rough week for me, and I over reacted. I'm sorry.”

“You are . . . amazing, Kagome Higurashi,”
his smile returning, he ran his thumb across the top of her hand in a
soft caress. This brought a blush high in her cheeks.

Neither
of them noticed Michael, who was leaning against the wall in the
shadows of the hallway, a satisfied grin on is face. Mission
accomplished.

A waiter approached carrying a tray with a carafe and
two small cups. Smiling at Kagome he placed it on the table.

“From the gentleman in the white tuxedo,”
and he nodded toward the Inudono brothers.

As Kagome had never seen them before, she peered in
their direction to note the two at the table down the aisle seemed
different as night and day. The one facing her was the drunk from
earlier, wearing a broad rimmed leather hat . . . the other had an
impossibly long braid of white hair.

It was then she realized the source of her anxiety when
first entering the restaurant.

One of them, was youkai, she was certain of it.

“Wow! Kagome. . .” Hojo had picked up a
business card that was on the tray with the sake and cups. “Do
you know this guy?”

Michael rejoined them, having seen the waiter deliver
the sake. He took the card from Hojo, who had an expression of wide
eyed respect on his face.

“Still mad at me?” he asked Kagome, looking
at the card.

“Yes, but I'll get over it . . . Mikey. . .”
she hesitated, then nodded to the pair far down the aisle.

“Yeah, I know . . . Inudono huh? Strange name .
. .” he peered at the pair, noticing the glower on face of the
one in the hat facing them.

Hojo whispered, as he reached to pour sake into the two cups, “Trust
me, with the money he has, no one questions his name . . . Not sure
of his ethnicity, but in Japanese it would be something like Lord
Dog.” He chuckled. “More like Top Dog, he's worth at
least a couple Billion. He never
comes out in public! You two look like you need this . . .” and
he pushed the cups of sake in front of them.

The two of them sat frozen in their places, staring at
the cups.

“Kagome . . .” Michael ventured, caution in
his tone, “are you thinking what I am thinking?”

“Um
. . .” she responded stupidly. Kami!! If he's youkai,
then it could be poisoned!!

Hojo
watched them for a minute curiously, then glanced back at the pair in
the far booth, then turned around and shrugged.

“Well if you aren't going to have any, I think I
will,” and he picked up the cup in front of Kagome. Grinning he
raised it in a silent toast. Just as it was about to reach his lips,
she slapped it violently out of his hand causing the cup to bounce
off the wall with a clatter as the sake sprayed all over the table.

Hojo blinked, his lips still pursed to accept the
beverage, his hand still in the air.

“You don't know where that's been!” hissed
Kagome.

Michael cast an apologetic look at his buddy, just as
he saw Selene walk in and glance around the restaurant, still in her
uniform. He stood and motioned to her and she swiftly joined them.

InuYasha also saw Selene walk in, and ducked lower into
his seat swearing under his breath.

“Oi, jackass. . . I gotta news report for ya . .
.” he muttered low. “That law enforcement bitch just
walked in and is sitting with them.”

“That complicates matters considerably,”
there was a hint of a frown on Sesshoumaru's face.

“Wow, prestigious bunch in this place tonight,”
she commented after kissing Michael on the cheek. She took the seat
next to Hojo. “Hey Hojo, how's it goin'?”

“Hi Selene,” he watched Kagome dabbing at
the mess on the table with a napkin.

“That guy over there in the white tux, ”
she commented, nodding toward the brothers, “is Seth Inudono .
. .”

“Yeah, we know,” Kagome and Michael said
simultaneously. Michael handed her the business card.

“The younger guy with him is his brother, Caleb.
I guess Caleb's the reason he's out and about these days. It's said
that he's rarely seen in public.” As she looked at the card,
Kagome saw that there was writing on the back of it which she had
somehow missed before.

“So Kagome, can you tell me what this guy would
want in your neighborhood?” Selene asked, indicating the card..

Kagome took the card back, and turned it over.

“What do you mean?” she asked absently,
reading the note. She then handed it to Michael.

Michael read the script on the back then blanched.

“Well, I think the guy got the message, one down
and one to go,” InuYasha commented, pulling the brim of his hat
down low on his brow. “That's her, damnit . . . Why can't I
just go talk to her??”

“You would wish to jog the officer's memory? Do
you recall the condition we left that apartment in?”
Sesshoumaru fixed his gaze on his brother's eyes, “Our presence
there was not sanctioned, it could get ugly . . . Caleb.”

“Those two were hanging around outside your place
on Wednesday.” This statement got Kagome's attention. “I
saw them there as I was leaving to go make the report and pull a
forensics team together. Ooo. . . Sake!”

Selene grabbed the full cup in front of Michael, and
almost got to drink it.

“NO!” He knocked the cup out of her hand,
spraying Hojo and the table.

“Hey! You didn't want it. . . ” she then
realized the mess the table had become.“ So. . . you guys
holding a frat party here, or having dinner?” she inquired.

“The sake was sent to Kagome from Inudono, but
either she really doesn't like sake or there's something these guys
haven't told me.” Hojo looked at the two across from him, his
confusion evident.

“I'm not very hungry anymore,” Kagome
frowned. “Can we just go home?”

“Sure, honey. We can do that . . . “ Selene
watched Kagome worriedly. “Hojo, you and the monk come too, I
think an explanation is in order.”

“So, jackass. . .” InuYasha narrowed his
eyes on his brother, “ you got a plan 'B'? She obviously didn't
care for the sake. She wont let anyone else drink it either.”

“That other woman's arrival makes it impossible
now. However,” he reached to touch his brother's arm, “it
is still a first step, she now has our contact information.”

“But
we don't know where to find her .
. . DAMNIT!!” InuYasha sat up in his seat. “I can't win
her if I can't find
her, Sesshoumaru . . . SHIT!”
he banged his head on the table in frustration, “Seth. . .
OH what-the-fuck-ever!”

“Calm down, Caleb . . . it's only a small snag,”
the Demon narrowed his eyes, watching his brother with concern. “We
know now, there is no doubt who she is.”

InuYasha watched the foursome rise from the booth, and
head to the door. A low growl emanating from him involuntarily as he
watched the man with the brown sweatshirt put his arm around Kagome.

This
caused Sesshoumaru to turn, and for a moment as they were leaving his
eyes met with those of the miko, and he nodded. So . . .
she knows what I am . . . interesting. . . very interesting
indeed.

Kagome
tried to smile at the strange man with the even stranger tattoos on
his face, but she shuddered instead. He knows. . . and
he knows that I know. . . but is he a threat? Or is he a new ally?

She
glanced at the card again as Hojo held the door for her.

InuYasha cracked his knuckles, then flexed his claws.

~ooO0Ooo~
- 28
- 29
- 30
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Finding Kagome