Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

The S-android	By : Karaumea Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > InuYasha/Kagome Views: 10141 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I neither own Inuyasha or the other characters from the anime/manga, nor do I make any money by writing this story. However, the S-android belongs to me.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Author's note: I'd like to thank my dear friends Eggry and Ai Kisugi for helping me come up with ideas for this story. They are not in this chapter yet, but I'll give the due credits when the time comes. I don't know when I'll be able to update again, but I'm working on it. Now, let the adventure begin!

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Special thanks to my lovely betas Ai Kisugi and Hedanicree.

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Chapter 8: Irrevocably Altered

Deep into the forest behind the Tajiya mansion stood an elegant glass building, housing countless precious plants gathered from all across the galaxy. Inside the building, the steel door that sealed the underground passage to the mansion slid open to reveal a young girl wearing the light blue uniform of a housemaid. The long raven tresses that framed her lovely face were a tangled mess; her skin was drained of color due to distress; and her sapphire orbs shone with unshed tears.

Once the door closed behind her, Kagome took in a deep breath and started walking briskly toward the front exit. As she passed, a tall plant with yellow leaves - one of her grandfather's favorites - followed her movement. The gorgeous flower leaned toward her, and its color turned to a shimmering orange, seeking her affection. However, Kagome's eyes were glued to her destination outside the greenhouse as she made her way among the rainbow of colors.

Her erratic heart drove the girl crazy; it threatened to burst through its cage one second and dropped to her stomach in the next. The restlessness Kagome felt had been mirrored in Sango's actions as the senator's normally demure, courteous daughter cursed incessantly and demanded that they leave immediately to go after the person who started this mess. The young maid did not want to disappoint her mistress; she had already done that with her stupidity, which left her in a shameful situation. However, she didn't know if Sango's plan was the best course of action or if she should take any action at all. Luckily, Sango had been gracious enough to give Kagome the time she needed to compose herself, and the young maid was grateful for that. She had never been so confused...

...and humiliated.

...and heartbroken.

Outside the greenhouse, she took the short path to the one place that could give her peace from the chaos that was her mind. Even before she saw it, she could feel its soothing presence. Her late grandfather had always told that it was a piece of their home and that was what Kagome felt once the overgrown bushes parted before her.

The tree.

She sighed in relief and let her feet carry her to the magnificent plant towering above everything else in the forest. Its sheer size was enough to make the girl feel safe, but she could always sense that there was more to it than mere wood and leaves. She often regretted not having had the chance to ask her grandfather about it, but that wasn't why she was here today. Unfortunately today, she had bigger regrets.

Kagome looked down from the web of branches hovering over her head to the little white stone lying at the base of the tree. Large roots arched around the stone as if to protect it in a hug. She stopped a couple feet away. Her gaze followed the intricate symbols of an unknown language her grandfather requested to be engraved on the stone.

"Grandpa," the girl whispered, and hearing her voice quiver with anguish was enough to finally crack the young girl's brave façade. With a broken sob, she fell to her knees and let the tears she had kept at bay for the last couple of hours escape their prison.

"I'm sorry," she cried as she bowed her head in shame and fisted her hands over the soil covering her grandfather's remains. "I've been such a fool." Warm droplets fell down her chin and wetted the ground between her hands while sobs raked her small frame. "You told me that I'd know in my heart when I met the right person, but I..." Sniffling, Kagome bit her lip like a child embarrassed by her mistake and dreading to be scolded by her confession. "I forgot."

As if she heard the old man's reproach, the girl shook her head in defense and hurried to explain. "I don't know what came over me. He..." Her voice trailed off as pain stabbed at her heart at the mere thought of him. Releasing a choked sob, she forced herself to continue. "His very presence made me forget everything, Grandpa. I had no control around him. It was almost like a force was pulling me to him, and I wasn't strong enough to resist. And now, the same force is compelling me to go after him." She looked up at the leaves dancing over her head and chuckled darkly at her idiocy for still thinking that there was something special about him, something binding him to her beyond the convenience of her naivety.

She closed her eyes and let two more tears drop from her eyelashes. Sighing tiredly, she looked down at the grave. "Sango thinks that I should go, that we should find him and make him pay for his deception, but I don't know. He fooled me, used me and then left without a word. What can I do with that? What can I say or do if I find him?"

"Besides, it's not only about me anymore," she mumbled as she put her palms over her womb reverently, almost fearfully. "You taught me to cherish life and protect the innocent, and I will. I can't condemn a pure soul for the sins of its father. No matter who or what he is, I will love and protect my baby."

Kagome gasped at the ease her final words left her lips, and she repeated them, savoring the warmth of hope that blossomed in her heart for the first time that day."My baby."

A watery smile tugged at her lips and tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks this time. "I'm gonna have a baby, Grandpa. I'll be a mother. I wish you could see me now." Her smile froze when she considered what her grandfather would have witnessed if he had been alive, and her voice took on a somber tone again. "But, I'm also glad that you won't. I've been a disgrace to you. I lusted after a man whom I didn't even know was a man and I gave myself to him willingly."

How ironic it was that Kagome had wanted him to be real when she had thought he was a robot and now that she knew he was real, she didn't know what to do with that fact.

"I... I cared about him, but he..." The girl didn't even know who he was, but he clearly didn't feel the same about her since he had left without a single goodbye. Had he been doing this all the time - playing the S-android and sneaking his way into young women's beds? Had he been laughing at her naivety while he had his fun with the unsuspecting, stupid, little maid? If that was the case, she had certainly not made his job difficult. But still, he had left. Perhaps, she wasn't any fun to be with, after all. At that thought, the knife in Kagome's heart twisted.

She willed the pain away, but it was for naught. She couldn't go back to being that carefree, happy person she used to be; she wasn't that girl anymore. Nothing was going to be the same from now on. One hand clutched the cloth over her aching heart and the other rested on her belly. She whispered, "He altered me irrevocably."

And, he obviously didn't even care.

"Oh, God," whimpered the young maid as she stuck her suddenly cold hands into her pockets for warmth. "This is so humiliating. I wish I could..." She stopped abruptly when her fingers closed around a smooth object that certainly was not the fabric of her uniform. She took it out only to see that it was a folded piece of paper. Her brows furrowed in curiosity, and she unfolded it with trepidation. She was met with a carelessly scribbled note.

Little Mistress,

Thank you for your hospitality; I really had a good time but I must take my leave now. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm not a robot. It doesn't matter who I am because you will not see me again. If people come asking about me, tell them the truth: that I deceived you and played with you until I got bored. It would be in your best interest to not try to find me and forget about what happened because, as you can see now, there's nothing for you to find but a selfish bastard who doesn't give a shit about anyone else.

I'll repeat in case it didn't register in your little brain: Don't come looking for me.

~Yash

Kagome's eyes widened a little more with each word she read, and by the time she read his name, her face was bright red in anger. "That... that... jerk!" she sputtered.

He openly admitted that he had been playing with her. He even said that he had gotten ‘bored.' It broke her heart, but more so, it doubled her anger. Every word he used was offensive in her mind. He used to call him ‘Mistress' at times even after she had told him not to. Had he been laughing at her when he had done that? Now, as if to mock her status and to rub it in her face, he was calling her ‘Little Mistress.' On top of that, he told her not to go after him as if he was sure that she would follow him like an obedient puppy. What a prick!

That settled it. She could be an insignificant maid, but he wasn't going to be ordering her around. With her mind set, she read the note once more to strengthen her resolve - or simply because she couldn't stop looking at his handwriting. She shook her head stubbornly to dispel that last thought before her eyes landed on the part of the note she had dismissed the first time.

P.S. Keep Miroku out of this if you can. He didn't mean you any harm. But if you must involve him, well like I said, I don't give a shit. The lecher can take care of himself.

Recognizing the name immediately, the girl's eyes narrowed into slits. Miroku. Sango had been right; the merchant had known the truth all along. Folding the paper, she put it back in her pocket and straightened her shoulders in determination. "I have to go, Grandpa," she said with a voice hardened with conviction. "Goodbye."

She turned on her heels and hurried down the path that led away from the greenhouse. Every step she took from the one place that had ever felt like home left her unsettled, but she had to do this. Though, she still was not sure what she was going to do if she ever saw him again...

... apart from slapping the smug look she could imagine him wearing off of his handsome face.

~*~
Thin lines of light flickered to life on the corners of the dirty ceiling, illuminating the large storeroom filled with lines of brand new robots. The droids stood lifeless like statues made of metal and plastic. Several pairs of eyes blankly stared ahead without blinking as soft footsteps announced the entrance of the young merchant.

Miroku made his way to the back of the room, carrying a box of microchips in his arms. He placed his precious cargo on the top shelf next to a stack of droid eyes in brilliant blues, vibrant greens and earthly browns. He carefully adjusted the leather glove on his right hand that had slipped slightly and almost lost his footing when he stepped on a female arm piece protruding from the bottom shelf. Cursing under his breath, he crouched down to tuck the appendage safely away before he stood up to appraise his goods.

His once large collection was now reduced to an unimpressive group of housemaids, nannies and robots designed for other trivial tasks. How boring. The lack of his various S-androids was saddening, but it was also necessary. After the unexpected visit from Inuyasha and the following search for the hanyou, the merchant had been on edge. He had been lucky that when the soldiers had come, they had been looking for someone alive. Otherwise, even the brilliant cover he had used to hide the nature of his robots could not have saved the young man from lots of trouble with the government. He knew it was a matter of time before they came back looking for more information.

The soft beep coming from his wrist alerted Miroku to an incoming call. When he didn't recognize the caller ID, he hurried out of the storeroom to take the call. Once he answered, the 3D image of a tall, young man appeared in the middle of his living room. He was dressed in an expensive business suit. His long, black hair was tied at his neck, and a pair of dark glasses covered his eyes. He looked handsome... and rich.

Miroku grinned wolfishly and wiped his hands together in anticipation. "Hello, sir," he greeted sweetly. "How may I help you?"

"Hey, Monk," said the caller gruffly.

Hearing the nickname his longtime partner-in-crime had so graciously given him in a slightly softer version of the hanyou's voice wiped the grin off of Miroku's face. He took the image in more carefully before a genuine smile broke out on his face. "Well, well. My dear puppy-faced friend, is that you?"

Inuyasha didn't seem to be entertained when Miroku reciprocated in the same manner and used the hated pet name. A low growl reverberated in his chest before he noticed what he was doing and stopped as he looked around nervously. "Cut the shit. I'm out of here. Thought you'd like to know."

"Where are you headed?" asked the merchant in concern. His friend was wanted on many planets; he couldn't just travel around and expect to not get into trouble.

The hanyou looked back over his shoulder as he mumbled distractedly, "Can't tell you that."

Furrowing his brows, Miroku tried again, "How are you traveling?"

The disguised fugitive shook his head slightly. "Can't tell that, either."

"Fuck," cursed the merchant in irritation. "What can you tell me then?"

"Listen," started Inuyasha as he lowered his voice. "I have a meeting with someone who's supposed to help me get rid of this fucking ball and hand me the rest of my payment. They'll probably get off my tail once I no longer have the damn thing."
Miroku nodded in understanding. His friend was right. It didn't make sense that they followed the hanyou across the galaxy just to get a measly thief no matter how notorious the thief was. They wanted the jewel back. "When?" he asked, trying to get as much information as possible.

"In a week," replied Inuyasha shortly.

Pleased that for once he got an answer, Miroku pushed his luck. "Where?"

"Told you," growled the fugitive as he ducked his head as if to avoid being seen by the passersby. "Can't tell you that."

"Of all the..." started Miroku before he clenched his teeth. He pinched the bridge of his nose against the headache that threatened to break out any moment. "Look. It's been crazy around here. I'm worried about you. Will you at least let me know how it went?"

"Will do that." The hanyou once again checked his surroundings nervously. "Gotta go now," he mumbled before he cut the connection.

Miroku stood frozen as the image of his friend disappeared from his living room. Inuyasha was leaving. That meant the pseudo-S-android he had sold to Sango had left the senator's house a few hours ago. His absence had to be noticed by now, which meant the merchant was certain to be visited by the object of his affections shortly. How could one explain the abrupt disappearance of a robot to a woman as intelligent as Sango?

The young man groaned in misery. "I'm so fucked."

~*~

The Tokyo Spaceport was a cylindrical tower with many levels. Most levels had several circular docks connected to the tower with bridges that were covered with a semi-sphere of glass. The lower levels resembled a bee hive with countless shuttles landing on and taking off from the docks every minute. On the higher levels, monstrous ships used for long trips through the galaxy hovered in the air, while the loading and unloading of passengers continued via bridges that extended from the tower on demand.

Among the throng of passengers that crowded the third floor, a beautiful young woman with strawberry blond hair struggled to make her way to her flight. The white, elegant dress she wore was a sign of her high social status, and the flirtatious smile she cast on any good-looking passerby gave away her desire for company.

She was the perfect cover.

With a well-timed step into her path, the blond crashed right into a hard chest and dropped her carry-on luggage in her surprise. When she looked up, her green eyes widened at the sight of the handsome businessman before they shone in excitement.

Inuyasha hid the knowing smirk that threatened to break out on his face and flashed the woman a charming smile instead. "Allow me to help you with that," he said in his most disarming voice and picked up her suitcase.

The blonde's gaze ghosted over the impeccable suit that complemented his tall frame, his long, dark hair that was neatly tied at the nape of his neck, his cleanly shaved jaw, and his smirking lips before it settled on his violet eyes. "Thank you," she purred and eagerly took the arm he offered.

Inuyasha was the epitome of a gentleman as he escorted her to her flight, making small talk on the way and playing the role of a protector when the crowd became too much. When he learned that she was traveling to the spaceport on Mars to visit her father, the admiral of the fleet that was based on the planet, he faked surprise and claimed that he was headed for the same flight.

It was a lie.

The businessman he had cornered in the restroom and knocked out with a simple move had a ticket for one of those huge ships. It would have been easy to hop on that ship and travel far into the galaxy, but it would have also been riskier. They would find his trail in no time once the man whose clothes and identity the hanyou had stolen awoke. To throw his followers off, Inuyasha actually checked into the ship before he sneaked out and joined the crowd to take one of the short-distance flights. If they tracked him through the ticket, they were going to be looking for him in the wrong place.

He had noticed the security guards paying close attention to the lonely male passengers; they were still looking for the fugitive. His destination was far away, but the hanyou was planning to make more than one stop before he got there. If they still came after him, he wasn't going to make their job easy. Besides, he had enough time before he had to meet Naraku's man for his payment.

Once they reached the ride to Mars, a male officer was checking the IDs of the passengers before they paid for their tickets and loaded the ship. It didn't require an ID to travel in the solar system, but apparently, the notorious fugitive's arrival had changed that. That didn't sit well with Inuyasha's plans. If he showed them the only identification he could provide, they would know where he was headed when the man he had taken it from alerted security. He would be arrested the moment he stepped foot on Mars.

While Inuyasha pondered his chances, they arrived at the cashier. The officer rather blatantly checked the blonde on the hanyou's arm out as he demanded to see their IDs. Ignoring the woman's agitated huff, Inuyasha reluctantly stretched his arm to have the chip on the bracelet he had stolen read by the tiny metal tool standing on the counter. Before he could do so, his lady friend flashed her military pass, causing the color to drain from the officer's face. Mortified by having offended someone that could have him expelled to the darkest corner of the galaxy, the man let the couple pass without further questions.

They didn't even have to pay for their tickets.

Snickering, Inuyasha thanked the return of his luck as he escorted the young woman to an empty seat and took his place next to her. She prattled on about the rudeness of the men she had encountered lately, how difficult it was to meet gentlemen like him nowadays and how much she would like to introduce him to her father after they landed. The hanyou listened half-heartedly; his eyes were glued to the scene outside his window.

Once the ship took off, he watched the Tokyo Spaceport reduce to a dot in the distance. His ears twitched, hearing the girl sitting next to him munch on her snack. "These are delicious!" she exclaimed. "Want one?"

He looked at the blonde with green eyes, but what his eyes saw were gorgeous raven hair flowing down in large curls and brilliant sapphire orbs gazing at him in adoration.

"Hmm," moaned Kagome as she bit into the strawberry in her hand. "Delicious." Licking her lips, she fed the remaining half of it to his awaiting mouth. "You like it?" she asked a little breathlessly while he sucked on the juice coating her finger.

Inuyasha chewed slowly to regain his composure so that his voice wouldn't crack. "I wouldn't know," he said finally. "I'm a robot, remember?"

Her smile dimmed considerably at his reminder. "Oh, of course," she mumbled as she fiddled with the sheet covering her otherwise naked form. "I forgot again. You can't taste... and you probably don't feel other things as well. Silly of me." She gave him a fake grin before she abruptly stood up. "I better take a shower and head to work."

Watching Kagome walk away from the bed and away from him, Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably. He knew why she was so down all of a sudden. He was well aware that the stupid girl fantasized about him as a real person and he didn't like it. Surely, he was enjoying her attention, but she was getting attached and it would only break her heart in the end. But, what was worse for her? Believing that he was a robot only to find out that she had been fooled when he was gone for good, or considering him as real and getting attached only to be abandoned in the end?

It seemed that no matter what, she was going to be heartbroken. At least, he didn't have to witness it before it was unavoidable. Right?

Oh, fuck it!

With a snap decision, Inuyasha jumped out of the bed. Before she reached the bathroom door, he whirled the girl around with his hold on her arm and trapped her against the wall.

"What," she started to ask but was silenced by his lips on hers.

Always soft and warm, she instantly melted against him, greeting him with the skip in her heartbeat. He liked it a little too much for his sanity and pulled away slightly before he forgot why he was kissing her. "Who cares about food?" he mumbled, smiling when she helplessly leaned up to reestablish the connection of their lips. "Now this..." He licked her upper lip playfully, savoring the taste of strawberries and the unique flavor that only she emitted. "...tastes absolutely delicious."

With a delighted giggle, Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck and attacked his mouth greedily.

It was all consuming: The way her lips molded to his so perfectly; the smoldering look she gave him from between her half-closed eyelids; the way the flush on her skin ignited a fire on his own...

She never made it to work that day.

Inuyasha blinked in surprise when the blonde's voice broke through the fog of his memories.

"I hate these trips," the woman whined. "They are always boring." She bit her lip with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes before she asked suggestively, "Do you want to do something to pass the time?"

Disoriented, the hanyou shook his head to clear his mind. Ignoring the pout that formed on his companion's full lips when she thought she was rejected, he turned his gaze to the small window.

How long was it going to be like this? Why did every single thing remind him of her?

Inuyasha scratched his head agitatedly while he watched the Earth shrink fast as the ship traveled farther into space. He groaned once his fingers encountered the scar Kagome had given him on his currently invisible ear - yet another reminder of her. He had noticed that it had taken a silver color lately. Not for the first time, he wondered if it would completely heal like every other injury he had had or if it would stay permanently.

He was absentmindedly stroking the scar with his fingertips when a wave of sorrow hit him hard - a feeling that was familiar but also alien in the sense that it didn't belong to him. He immediately released his ear as if it had burned his hand.

What the fuck was that?

The hanyou scoffed as his feelings took on a more somber tone in response; he didn't like feeling like this. It was entirely his fault. He had been cooped up in that room for too long and he had let himself become lost in the illusion of being with her. But, the fact was that none of it had been real. No matter how much Inuyasha enjoyed the time he had spent with Kagome, she hadn't been with him. She didn't even know him, and that was probably for the best; she would have wanted nothing to do with him if she had known the truth.

In the end, it had been nothing more than an illusion. It wasn't like he wanted it to be more than that, anyway. He was free at last and he would be damned if he let his mind be trapped in that little room. He couldn't help it if the fucking scar stayed on his ear forever, but he refused to be altered in any other way.

He had fought for too long to be free of his chains; he wasn't going to let anyone enslave him again, even if it wasn't by force.

"Goodbye, Little Mistress," whispered Inuyasha as the planet became an insignificant dot in the distance before he turned his attention to the woman beside him. "Well," he started as he pointedly checked her out. What did she say her name was? Lily? Lola? Lulu? Oh, hell. Who cares? He smirked when his ears caught the increase in her heartbeat. "What did you have in mind?"

~*~

Sesshoumaru had been lurking in the shadows of the trees that surrounded the senator's house. All his senses were tuned to his target to catch something - anything - that could give him a clue as to the whereabouts of the hanyou. After hours of waiting, the wind changed direction, carrying a scent that made Sesshoumaru spring into action and leave his post overlooking the main entrance of the Tajiya mansion.

Following his nose, he passed by a large greenhouse and flew down an old path partially covered by bushes only to stop dead in front of a magnificent tree. The scent trail ended there and was the most intense around the little white stone lying at the base of the tree. When his gaze landed on the symbols carved on the stone, the dog demon's eyes widened in surprise. Crouching on one knee, he traced the intricate patterns with one clawed finger.

‘Love will persevere.'

Sesshoumaru knew that saying well. How could he not? It had been his father's mantra. Inutaisho had been a fierce leader and Sesshoumaru's hero until the day he had met Izayoi. A single glance was all it had taken to turn the great dog demon into a lovesick puppy. In one day, he had started talking about peace and unity and how all their problems could be solved by love and kindness.

Inutaisho had been a fool, and the love he had put on a pedestal had brought about his end.

Sesshoumaru scowled at the disrespect in his mind's voice. Regardless of his mistakes, Inutaisho had been a good father and an honorable king. As a son, it was Sesshoumaru's job to avenge his death and to clean up his name.

Letting his eyes follow the path his finger had taken, the dog demon read the next symbols aloud, "Higurashi Genma." Recognition lit his golden gaze, and he muttered almost inaudibly, "Well, I'll be damned."

The old man hadn't died back then, after all. He had survived the fall, so had his granddaughter, which explained the scent Sesshoumaru had been sniffing around. It all made sense now. They all had survived. But, how? Why hadn't he known? How come he hadn't realized it before?

Releasing a frustrated breath, Sesshoumaru stood up and punched the tree's bark. Pieces of wood splattered around him, but the tree stood intact. Tingles ran up his arm from where it connected with the tree; however, it wasn't due to the force of his strike. Intrigued, he placed his palm on the large trunk. He could feel the telltale remnants of ancient magic coursing through its core; it was not enough to make a difference, but it was still there. There was no doubt as to the source of that power.

"Goshinboku," he reverently whispered the sacred name of the God tree, the tangible manifestation of magic in his world. He could vaguely recall a time when his father had tried to reanimate the God tree on other planets in hopes of recreating the magic that had been slowly diminishing for years. This tree was a child of the Goshinboku, a failed attempt to secure the future of his home.

Unlike its ancestor - which was a sight to behold with its silver and red leaves, and its brilliant aura and incandescent fruits - this tree showed no outer signs of being extraordinary. Any human would think that its magnificence came from its size; Sesshoumaru knew better.

While he mused in silence, his ears caught the distinct sound of engines in the distance. A ship was on its way to the mansion, and that meant the gates would open soon. In a flash, he flew back to the front of the building and reclaimed his original post among the shadows.

The main gate opened to reveal the small figures of two women. Their dark cloaks fluttered behind them as they strode out of the building and toward an awaiting shuttle. In the mean time, a larger ship appeared on the horizon, heading for the senator's house.

A strong gust of wind brought Sesshoumaru the scent of the girls, confirming his suspicions; one of them was Genma's granddaughter and she reeked strongly of the hanyou. He didn't need his nose to tell which one was her; her pale complexion and raven hair gave her away easily. That explained why he had been smelling the hanyou even though the bastard was nowhere to be seen.

But, what about the aura he had sensed? A soft brush of his aura against the girl's answered that question. What he had felt earlier in the day hadn't been the hanyou, after all.

It had been his planted seed.

Just as the girls loaded the shuttle and the doors closed behind them, the other ship landed next to it and a group of stinky wolves spilled out. The dog demon's nose wrinkled in disgust as he watched the girls' shuttle take off and the traitors look around in confusion. "He's here!" shouted the wolf demon with long, dark ponytail before drawing out his gun and running into the establishment. His cronies followed suit.

Sesshoumaru snorted at the wolf's misjudgment, but knowing that he was one step ahead of his competition pleased him nonetheless. "Jaken," he said to the transmitter on his wrist. "Be ready to take off." With an amused glint in his normally cold eyes, he didn't wait for an answer as he took off after the shuttle in a blur of white light.

He had found his compass and he had no intention of losing her trail.

~*~

Following his nose, Kouga ran through the halls of the senator's mansion with his gun in his hand, ready to blow the hanyou's head off the moment he caught sight of the bastard. The stench got stronger as he moved in a whirlwind until he stopped dead in front of a door. Unlike the previous ones he had passed through on his way there, this one stayed closed, earning an agitated growl from the demon.

While Kouga mindlessly poked at the control panel on the wall, the brown-haired human soldier that had been following him around cried out, "Sir! You can't go in there unannounced!"

When the wolf demon had stepped into the building with his men about an hour ago, the same soldier had blocked their way and introduced himself as Captain Houjo. He had claimed that he had been assigned to assist the wolves in their search.

"Assist me, my ass," grumbled Kouga in annoyance. So far, all the measly human had done was slow him down and whine like a pup as he struggled to keep up with the demon.

"Open it," the wolf growled when the young man finally caught up with him in front of the door.

"But, sir!" protested the captain as he tried to catch his breath.

Kouga was having none of it, though. He had already lost enough time. "Open," he growled out between clenched teeth, leaving the frightened human no choice but to heed his command.

"This is Lady Sango's private chambers," said Houjo as he proceeded to enter a long series of numbers into the panel. "It's always locked when she's not around and it requires a special code to enter." The young man glared at the wolf once he was finished and added seriously, "A code we can only use in case of emergencies."

Kouga rolled his eyes in annoyance. "As if I care," he grumbled right as the door slid open. Even before he stepped into the room, he knew this was not what he was looking for. The scent was strong here, but it was old. Besides, something was wrong with it; it had been this way since the first moment he caught it. But, he couldn't place what it was.

Growling in frustration, he turned on his heels and took to the halls once again.

"You won't even search the room?!" squeaked the captain from behind him.

"There's nothing in there, you moron," hissed Kouga as he followed the hated scent down the hall.

A few wrong turns and several more rooms later, he was standing in front of yet another closed door. His nose assured him that this was what he had been looking for. Once his men joined him, he signaled two of them, Ginta and Hakkaku, to stand by the sides of the door and be ready to dive in while the rest of them covered the hall in case the hanyou escaped. He tightened his grip on his gun and smirked in anticipation while he waited for the captain to open the door.

When the metallic contraption slid open, Ginta and Hakkaku were the first ones to enter the small room, followed closely by their leader. The stench of the fugitive hit Kouga hard on the nose, causing the demon almost gag in disgust. But, what made him growl in frustration next was that it was old.

The room was empty.

Kouga's face scrunched up in disdain as he sniffed more than he had wished for. The hanyou hadn't been alone in this place, and the bastard certainly had had a good time here.
"What is going on here?" asked an elderly man's voice from the hall.

The captain was quick to reply. "They think the fugitive was here, Senator."

Ignoring the humans, Kouga made his way to the back of the room while his men piled in and started searching for clues. Another door slid open in front of him to reveal a tiny bathroom and a pile of laundry left on the floor. "Someone must have been in a hurry," he mumbled.

"Sir? Is that true?" asked Senator Tajiya as the wolf demon returned from the bathroom with a piece of cloth in his hands.

Kouga raised the garment to his nose and made a show of sniffing. His eyes rolled back, eliciting an angry blush from the senator and loud snickers from his comrades. "Delightful," he murmured distractedly. "But tainted, unfortunately."

The uncomfortable clearing of a throat brought his gaze back to their host, and a smirk tugged at his lips at the horrified look on the elderly human's face. "Tell me, Senator," he started as he swung the pink garment left and right on his forefinger. "Where's the girl that wore these panties?"

~*~

The elevator chimed their arrival, and not for the first time, Sango marveled at the fact that the ancient contraption still functioned. She sighed in relief once she stepped out of the confined space and into the hall leading to her destination. Being in this worn out building always unnerved her, but not so much as the ride she had to take upstairs. The hum of the archaic engine and the occasional squeak of the rusty wires that held the large box off the ground put her on edge whenever she visited her favorite merchant.

Well, her ex-favorite merchant.

She took two steps into the hall before she realized she wasn't being followed. She whirled around to see that her companion was still in the elevator, glaring at a piece of paper in her hand.

When the doctor had announced the ‘good news' that morning, Kagome's face had registered a myriad of emotions in the span of a few seconds. But then, her expression had turned blank, and no matter how much Sango had tried, she couldn't draw out a single word from the young maid's ashen lips. After the visit to her grandfather's grave though, something shifted in the girl's demeanor. Now, her normally comforting blue orbs were fierce with an emotion the senator's daughter knew very well.

Fury.

Sango could feel it reciprocated in her own heart. Unfortunately, part of her anger was directed at herself. None of this would have happened if she hadn't been stupid enough to believe Miroku's lies or if she hadn't insisted on buying the fake S-android for her friend. To make matters worse, there wasn't much the young woman could do to amend her mistakes. She couldn't go to her father, the highest legal authority on the planet, and complain about a S-android she had bought illegally. She was the only daughter of the most powerful man on the face of the Earth, and it infuriated her that her hands were bound when it came to an insignificant impostor.

That didn't mean she was going to give up.

It wasn't going to be easy without her father's help, but she could still try and she knew where to start.

With a snarl meant for the man residing at the end of the hall, Sango stepped forward and took a hold of the young maid's elbow. "Come on, sweetie," she said as she gently coaxed the girl out of the elevator.

"Huh?" murmured Kagome, looking around in surprise. "We're there already?"

Leading the way to their destination, Sango flashed an encouraging grin over her shoulder. She stopped in front of the apartment where everything had started and glanced at her companion. Seeing the girl nervously biting her lip, Sango gave her a half hug. "I'll handle this, okay? You don't need to worry," she reassured her friend.

At Kagome's nod, the senator's daughter announced their presence with three decisive knocks on the door. She kept her expression neutral, knowing that the merchant would be watching them through the security camera.

Several moments later, the door opened to reveal a smiling Miroku. "Lady Sango! Kagome!" he exclaimed as if he hadn't been expecting to see them. "What a pleasant surprise!"

Is it, really? Sango had to bite her tongue too keep from lashing at the man right away. She walked in, dragging Kagome by her hold on the girl's wrist. She didn't miss the chance to knock onto Miroku's shoulder on her way. "Oops! So sorry," she apologized lightly, not feeling the least bit regretful.

As the door closed behind them, Miroku turned to his guests, massaging his shoulder. "Please, don't worry. It didn't hurt," said the young man, but the wince that escaped him betrayed his pain.

Good, thought Sango with satisfaction. That had to leave a bruise. It better!

"To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you today?" asked the merchant, bringing Sango out of her thoughts about the various ways she could torture the man. "Would you like to browse the newest additions to my collection? I'm afraid there isn't much, but..." Miroku's voice trailed off as he waited for a response.

Sango looked at him for a few seconds, searching his face for any signs of discomfort. However, the merchant seemed completely at ease. If he wants to play, I'm game. Her eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second before she forced them wide open to give him her most innocent expression. "Miroku," she said with a well-placed pout as she stepped forward and trailed her finger up the front of his shirt. "The weirdest thing happened this morning."

It wasn't the first time Sango shamelessly flirted with the merchant. It always worked, and now was not an exception. His eyes glazed over as they followed her movements. "Oh, really?" he asked dreamily.

"Yes, really," cooed the senator's daughter. "Remember the last S-android you sold me?"

"I can't honestly say that I remember," he said with a misleadingly innocent expression on his face.

"Let me remind you then." She traced random symbols over his pounding heart as she listed the impostor's most striking features. "Long, silver hair, golden eyes, the strangest ears for those with different tastes as you nicely put it, and the latest technology with real skin that requires organic energy resources to maintain?"

Miroku was giving her no signs apart from his rapid heartbeat, and Sango couldn't tell if that one was due to her actions or his lying. "Oh, that one," he mumbled with a slight raise of his eyebrows. Then, he furrowed his eyebrows as if concerned. "What about it? Is there something wrong?"

He sounded so clueless that Sango actually wondered for a moment if he honestly didn't know the truth before banishing that thought stubbornly. Not bloody likely. The fact that she almost fell for his façade again infuriated the young woman, and her voice gave away her irritation when she spoke.

"Unfortunately yes, there's something very wrong about it," she said. She fisted his shirt unconsciously, eliciting the first genuine reaction from the merchant as he gulped nervously. "It disappeared into thin air sometime last night." She eyed Miroku before asking, "Do you have any idea where it might have gone?"

"Oh, but robots do not wander on their own volition, my dear Lady Sango."

Sango's shoulders relaxed at Miroku's words. Of course, robots didn't wander on their own, but this one did since it was not a programmed machine. The merchant was about to confess to his wrongdoing. From that point on, it wouldn't take much to make him give away the fake S-android's location, and then, she would find a way to take care of him. She knew most of the diplomats in the galaxy, after all. She could always make up an excuse to get him arrested and once she got her hands on him, that little fucker was going to pay for messing with Kagome.

The senator's daughter could feel the expectant smile tug at the corners of her mouth as she waited Miroku to continue.

"So..." drawled Miroku before he fixed his questioning gaze on Sango. "Have you checked to see if anyone suspicious entered the house? Because, I'm pretty sure your S-android's stolen." At her incredulous look, he added jovially, "Oh, but don't worry! For the hefty price you pay, these S-androids come with a ten-year warranty and insurance by the manufacturer! We can ask for a replacement if you like! But, I'm afraid that we'll have to wait for a few months until they have a sufficient amount of orders to start producing the next batch."

Even though the merchant put on a good show, Sango instantly saw through his façade. The asshole's trying to buy his time! At that moment, even the charming smile Miroku gave could not save him from the young woman's wrath. Her features contorted into a frightening scowl as she advanced on him. "Cut the shit, Miroku. We know that bastard was not a robot." She raised her fist threateningly when Miroku opened his mouth. "If you know what's good for you, you will not try to deny it."

Miroku sighed and closed his eyes in defeat. "How did you find out?"

Sango glanced at Kagome. She was too silent, looking out of the window to the wretched parts of the city. "It doesn't matter," the lady muttered as she focused back on her prey. "What matters is that you'll tell us who the hell he was and where we can find him. Or, so help me, God, I'll make sure that you regret ever knowing my name, Miroku."

Seeing that she was serious, the merchant looked away from her intense gaze. "Umm, I don't think you'd really want to know who he is."

"Why is that?" snapped Sango in irritation. The young man's reluctance was testing the limits of her already volatile temper. His silence could only mean one thing: their pseudo-S-android was someone terrible, someone bad enough to lie to an innocent like Kagome... or someone desperate enough to do so. At that thought, pieces of the puzzle fit in perfectly in Sango's mind, and she gasped in horror. "Oh, God. He is that fugitive everyone has been looking for, isn't he?"

Miroku gulped and barely nodded his head.

"Oh, for the love of...," growled the enraged woman as she pushed the merchant roughly, causing him to stagger back. "What were you thinking when you sent a criminal back home with us, you idiot?!"

"Calm down," said Miroku slowly with his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Inuyasha... He is harmless."

"The hell he is harmless!" screeched Sango even as her attention was drawn to her friend that still stood by the window.

"Why?" Kagome's question sounded more like a plea as she turned to face the duo. Wrapping her arms around her belly protectively, she fixed the merchant with her agonized gaze. "Why did you do it?"

Miroku sighed tiredly and raked his hand through his hair. "It wasn't planned, believe me. He showed up right before you arrived that day. He needed a place to hide and..."

Before he could finish, Sango interrupted him with a scream. "And, you thought we would be the perfect cover for a damned criminal! Are you out of your mind?! For God's sake, he could have killed us!"

"Really, Sango," grumbled Miroku with a roll of his eyes, increasing Sango's ire even more by his casual use of her name. "He's my friend and he's just a thief. It's not like..."

"He stole from me."

At the sound of Kagome's timid voice, Miroku's words died in his throat. "What?" he asked in confusion. He looked the girl up and down, clearly sizing her up. "That's highly unlikely, my dear Kagome," he finally stated with an amused chuckle. "Inuyasha might be a thief, but he doesn't take from the poor and he certainly wouldn't steal anything that is not worth a fortune." When he noticed Sango's death glare, he added hurriedly, "Well at least, not since I met him." Clearing his throat in discomfort, he turned to the younger girl. "I mean no offense, but I don't see what a poor maid like you could possess that could peek his interest."

Seeing Kagome's eyes shine with tears, Sango's fists clenched in rage. How dare he insult her like that?! She was ready to bust the insolent merchant's face up when her friend's soft voice broke through her red haze.

"Everything," whispered Kagome. "My dignity, my honor, my innocence, my..." She closed her eyes, and her jaw clenched. "Everything," she gritted out forcefully this time. "I need them back, Miroku."

Miroku's eyes widened as the rest of him froze, and Sango knew that he figured out what the girl left unsaid. Oh yes, bastard. He stole her heart. Even an idiot can see that!

Unfortunately, Kagome's unintentional declaration did not bring out the desired response. The merchant said nothing as he continued to stare at the girl.

Sango sighed in exasperation and closed her eyes. For a few seconds, she tried to calm herself by taking deep breaths. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she asked, "Where did he run off to?"

"I can't tell you that," was Miroku's quick reply.

"Oh yes, you will," snarled Sango before she took out the gun she had hidden beneath her cloak and poked the merchant's guts with it. His eyes widened in both surprise and fear. Satisfied with his reaction, she gave him a sickeningly sweet smile as she waited for him to talk.

"Y-you don't understand," sputtered Miroku, looking down at the small but deadly laser gun aimed at the most precious part of his body. "I-I can't tell you th-that, because I honestly do not know."

"You lie!"

"No!" Miroku cried out desperately. "I'm telling the tru-..."

The rest of his words were drowned out by a loud crack followed by the sound of something heavy hitting the wall.

The trio whirled around in shock. Sango's gaze first landed on the ruined door of Miroku's apartment as it toppled off the wall it had crashed against. She heard the merchant groan, "Not again! I had that door installed this week! Dammit!"

She would have laughed at his misery, but her attention was drawn to the man standing by the door. He was tall with a dark cloak concealing his lean frame. His pale face was sculpted to perfection, and Sango thought that he looked handsome.

And, dangerous.

What peeked her curiosity above her concern for her safety was the intruder's remarkable resemblance to the pseudo-S-android with his long, silver hair and striking, golden eyes. And, that curiosity was what compelled her to ask, "Who the hell are you?"

The stranger's gaze swept over her quickly as if she wasn't worth his attention before it landed on Kagome. He looked her up and down, making the girl squirm and inch closer to Sango. Then, he dismissed her too and glared at the merchant, who was now silent as a stone behind the senator's daughter.

Never looking away from Miroku, he walked in. Sango could see his black leather-clad legs with each silent but determined step he took. She was frozen in her place despite her growing fear until he stopped in front of her.

"Move," he growled under his breath, and thrown off by the command in his voice, Sango obeyed without a second thought. In the blink of an eye, he was next to Miroku with his long, clawed fingers around the merchant's neck.

Miroku's legs kicked the air futilely as they hovered a few feet off the ground. "Shit!" he cried out.

The S-android's look-alike didn't even flinch at the human's attempts to get free. "It's obvious that these bitches are too soft to make you talk."

"Hey!" cried out Sango indignantly. The way he referred to the women in the room was offensive enough to snap the lady out of her trance.

However, the intruder acted as if she wasn't there. He narrowed his eyes and - to Sango's surprise - sniffed his captive before snorting in disdain. "Where is the hanyou headed, half-breed?" he snarled.

Sango moved closer to Kagome protectively, shielding her frozen friend from the man's sight. While her body moved on autopilot, her mind was trying to process the new information. If he wanted us to make Miroku talk, he must be after the fugitive as well. He called him what? Hanyou? What is a hanyou? And why the hell did he call Miroku a half-breed?

Her confusion was reflected by Miroku as he sputtered out, "H-half-breed?"

Disregarding the merchant's question, the intruder snarled, "Speak. Now." His hold on Miroku tightened, and the young man's feet rose higher off the ground.

Clawing at his attacker's hand, Miroku cried out, "I don't know, I swear!"

The stranger was about to break the merchant's neck; Sango could tell by the way his fingers turned even whiter around the captive's throat. Without thinking, she turned her gun on him and yelled, "Stop it! Release him or I'll shoot!"

Unexpectedly, the silver-haired man stopped choking Miroku to death but kept his hold on him. Sango was surprised for a moment, thinking that he finally acknowledged her presence. But then, it turned out that his change of mind had nothing to do with her threat; his attention was captured by something else. She could almost see his nose twitch as he leaned closer to the merchant and sniffed at the hands gripping his wrist for dear life. "It looks like there's more to you than meets the eye," he mumbled, staring at Miroku's gloved right hand.

Then, his mouth turned down in disgust. "Pathetic," he spat out before releasing the human to crumble in a heap against the wall. "I don't have time to waste with the likes of you." The intruder growled his annoyance as he headed to the door. Before he stepped out, he stopped as if he had forgotten something and looked back over his shoulder. "I'm going after him," he said.

Sango didn't understand what this strange creature really wanted or why he even bothered to inform them of his intentions. She was even more confused when she followed his gaze to Kagome.

The girl was watching him with a curious look. Then, she did something that shocked the senator's daughter to the core: without a word, she followed him out the door like an obedient puppy.

"The hell?!"cried out Sango as she watched her friend leave with the dangerous stranger. "Kagome!" she called out but was met with silence. She moved to go after her but stopped after taking two steps. She whirled around and narrowed her eyes at the merchant before a smirk tugged at her lips. Pointing the barrel of her gun at his groin, she raised an eyebrow at the confused man. "After you," she sneered.

End of Chapter 8
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The S-android