Chapter Text
The first thing Kagome noticed was the humidity that enveloped her the moment she left the barrier.
The second was the cold green hue of everything around her. As she glanced back at the Barrier she realized, perhaps for the first time, that it was pink.
So, I’ve been living in a rose-colored world.
Kagome allowed herself one last look at the barrier. Within the safety of its bubble was the city where she was born and raised - the only home she had ever known. Her eyes lingered on the far away shapes of the skyscrapers. Then she turned away, determined to not look back until she was ready to return.
Otou-san, I’m going to find you. No matter what.
With renewed confidence, she crossed the street towards a block of newly painted buildings. Most were three stories or taller and the upper levels were all connected by a patchwork of ladders that wrapped around all sides. On the ground, a few humans and youkai went about their business.
On the corner, a group of young human boys were half-standing half-sitting over their motorbikes, in rapt conversation. They were younger than Kagome and their motorbikes looked like they had seen better days. They seemed awfully excited about something.
“Maybe it’ll be an even match, since Harpies fly.”
“No way! Did you SEE the way the thunder brothers obliterated the kitsune last time? You’re an idiot if you think they would lose to a fucking harpy.”
“Only Hiten can actually fly though. Right?”
“Manten flies on a cloud!”
“The thunder brothers are unbeatable!”
“Bu, flying isn’t really an advantage in the tower, since there isn't anywhere to go.”
Kagome straightened her spine and cleared her throat as loudly as she could.
“Excuse me,”
The boy's chatter rapidly fell to silence. Lowering her voice now, she announced,
“I need to get to Saitama Road. Can any of you take me there?”
Six pairs of eyes stared blankly at her. Kagome stood her ground, reminding herself they were just a bunch of kids - just like the first years at school. The staring contest ended when she was rewarded with two words from the tallest boy in the group.
“That depends.”
She reached into her pocket and unfolded the piece of notebook paper on which she had carefully written the address. She handed it to the boy.
“If you can take me here, I’ll pay you.”
The boy looked briefly at the address.
“Seventeen hundred.”
Kagome froze. She hadn’t been prepared for a negotiation.
“Are you joking?”
The boy eyed her with skepticism, clearly not impressed by her brown loafers and green school uniform.
“Lady, do you even know how much fuel costs out here?”
Kagome paled. She had been out of the barrier less than ten minutes and it was possible she was about to be swindled by a child.
The kid’s driving left much to be desired, as did his conversation skills. She tried to get him to talk during the ride, but the boy tended to answer her questions with one or two word responses. Eventually Kagome gave up.
At first, the road had been smooth and her driver had taken off at full speed, causing Kagome to grab onto his shoulders in fear. At some point, however, the road quality deteriorated significantly and Kagome thanked the Kami that her driver would now be forced to drive slowly.
As a particularly large pothole bounced Kagome at least four inches above her seat, she found herself reconsidering.
Every bump caused the entire motorbike to rattle loudly, giving the impression that there must be unattached pieces loose in the engine. In an attempt to distract herself from the death vehicle she was riding, Kagome chose to focus on her surroundings.
The buildings looked like bunkers to her. They were all boxy concrete structures with few windows. The first floors were often covered in black and brown stains.
They were passing under an old highway overpass when her driver finally began to slow down. Eventually the boy put his foot down and came to a stop.
“We’re here.”
Does this kid ever say more than two words?
Kagome eagerly dismounted from the rattly vehicle and bent her legs a few times to get the blood back into her butt.
“This is…”
“A laundromat," he replied in the same reticent monotone.
“You’re sure this is the right place?”
The boy handed her back her piece of notepaper until she could clearly see the address matched.
Otou-San, what’s your relationship to this place?
The dingy laundromat was freestanding on the corner of a triangle block. Though it was clearly originally two stories, several additions were tacked onto the sides and the top. The sign hung crookedly from its post and all the windows were shuttered.
In contrast to the busy street by the barrier gate, this whole street appeared to be empty.
*Ahem*
The boy held out his hand expectantly. Kagome sighed and ignored the sinking feeling in her stomach as she handed him most of her money. She knew she had no good back-up plan if the laundromat turned out to be a bust, but she would cross that bridge when she got there.
“Thanks for the ride.”
As he took the money from her hand, the boy eyed her with the same skeptical look he’d given her earlier, though Kagome thought she briefly saw a flash of concern.
“...be careful.”
Kagome frowned as the boy sped off.
So far her first experience outside the barrier had been less friendly than she’d hoped, but she had bartered with an outsider, survived his driving, and made it to her destination in one piece.
She was counting that as a win.
Kagome had always suspected the rumors about the outside districts to be exaggerations. People in the barrier city acted like you would be murdered the second you left the barrier.
Hoisting her yellow backpack back onto her shoulders, she walked up to the laundromat door and grasped the handle. The door was locked.
Are they closed?
She knocked loudly a couple times and, by the sound, the door was surprisingly thick. A previously hidden slot opened in the door slightly above her eye level and Kagome saw an unusual pair of purple eyes peering back at her.
“State your business.”
“Um, I’m looking for Byakuya-san?”
“State your business.”
“I would like to talk to Byakuya-san.”
“Unless you actually have business with him, Byakuya-san will not see you.” The youkai stepped away from the door.
“Wait! … I am here to discuss business! I need to discuss..a payment… to Suikotsu-san!”
The youkai halted with the slot half open. After a half second, the slot was slid the rest of the way closed, and the door opened.
The youkai had purple eyes, purple hair, and a gray skin tone. He held the door open and stood aside. As she entered, Kagome wondered briefly if he might be bat youkai. Though she knew there were youkai living in the barrier city, there were not many and she had only seen a few in her life.
“Please wait here.”
The youkai disappeared up a set of stairs and Kagome found herself looking at rows and rows of retro washing machines. It was clear they had been raided for parts and most were in various states of falling apart.
Black stains and mineral deposits spread across the floor in fractal patterns.
The youkai returned and gestured for Kagome to follow him. As they climbed the stairs, Kagome noticed a pair of bulky black wings tucked into the back of his shirt. Remembering that it was rude to stare, Kagome quickly averted her eyes from the demonic appendages and hurried after him.
They arrived at another room lined with washing machines, but these were all intact. The doors to the upstairs machines were all intact, had been painted black and appeared to be reinforced.
Sitting behind a large table, stood a beautiful, pale man, with pointed ears, and long black hair. On each side of him were more youkai. As Kagome entered the room, her bat youkai moved to stand behind her and Kagome had the distinct feeling of being surrounded.
For a moment the man seemed to take her in, looking her up and down. His eyes lingered briefly on her green and white school uniform, though his expression remained neutral.
“I am Byakuya” The man said finally. “What is it that you want?”
“My name is Kagome. I am looking for Suikotsu-san.”
Byakuya’s lips turned upwards into a small, polite smile. “What for?”
“I need to find him.”
“I am afraid I do not know Suikotsu-san. You must have come to the wrong place. See this girl out.”
As the bat demon approached her, Kagome took a step closer to Byakuya.
“Suikotsu-san received a payment in cash from you Byakuya-san. I have the invoice right here.”
She pulled a folded, crumpled, piece of paper out of her skirt pocket.
“Please tell me where I can find him.”
Byakuya held up his hand, stopping the bat demon from reaching Kagome.
“And why do you have an invoice that was meant to be a private business transaction?”
“I…Please, just tell me where he is.”
“I am not at liberty to share business information with just anyone. Of what interest are Suikotsu-san’s transactions to you?”
“I need to find him for personal reasons. If you don’t know where he is, perhaps you could tell me the last time you saw him? Any information is helpful!”
“Again, I am not at liberty to share information with just anyone.” Byakuya waited expectantly for a few moments, before continuing. “If you have nothing else to say, leave.”
The bat demon approached her once more and wrapped one hand around her arm. As he pulled her back towards the stair, Kagome shouted. “Wait!”
Byakuya didn’t show any sign of hearing her, instead turning away.
“Suikotsu is my father!
I am looking for him because he has been missing for almost two months.”
Finally, Byakuya looked up in interest. The bat youkai stopped dragging her to the stairs, but kept his arm firmly in his grip..
“Your father you say… Please wait a moment.”
Byakuya said, picking up his phone from his desk. Byakuya turned his back to her as he spoke into the phone.
“Boss.
I wouldn’t call your direct line if I didn’t think it was something you’d be very interested in. I have a girl here at the laundry. She says she’s Suikotsu’s daughter.”
There was a long pause and Kagome gave a gentle tug to her arm. The youkai’s grip was unforgiving and Kagome got the sense that she would not be getting her arm back by her own strength.
“Yes.
Of course. Immediately.”
Byakuya put his phone away with an unexpected speed, he was suddenly standing directly in front of Kagome with his hand over her mouth.
Kagome’s eyes widened in surprise and she seemed to both smell and taste something acridly bitter. She found she couldn’t move.
When Byakuya slowly removed his hand, Kagome gasped for air, and then started coughing. The room swam in her vision, and she saw her feet and the floor stretching further and further away from her eyes.
Byakuya’s face melted and marbled before her and Kagome felt herself falling.
It was Inuyasha’s lucky day. He had been coming back from a delivery when he caught the scent of one of Naraku’s minions. Goshinki was nearby, and coming closer.
He quickly leapt out of the street and onto a nearby powerline.
With no new leads in weeks, Inuyasha had been getting antsy. He wasn’t the type to stay low, strategize, do reconnaissance, whatever it was the Monk wanted him to do. He was a fighter and, finally, here was an opportunity to settle things his way.
As Goshinki’s scent grew stronger, he could hear the rumbling of a car slowly making its way over the dips, cracks, and potholes.
There was the scent of a human with him, clouded in with the scent of cigarette smoke. Inuyasha hoped the human was smart and would run away. He didn’t want to be responsible for spilling human blood.
Inuyasha could see the car now. Soon it would hit the new section of road and start putting on speed, towards the Tower and Naraku. But he wasn’t about to let them get that far.
The engine roared to life, signaling the end of the old road. As the car accelerated towards him, Inuyasha cracked his knuckles. Excitement thrummed through his body. It’d been far too long since he’d felt this way, not since his last fight in the ring, and that had been years ago.
At just the right moment, Inuyasha launched himself into the air and plummeted down towards the road. He landed fist-first in the hood of the car.
The rear of the car launched into the air, flipping over Inuyasha’s head, the entire vehicle landing on its side and sliding several feet away.
Inuyasha took a calming breath, preparing for a fight. He stepped one foot back, shifting his weight into a fighting stance.
The car rocked back and forth a few times, before all four wheels fell back down to the ground and the driver’s door opened.
A human man stumbled out, gun in hand, aimed at Inuyasha. But Inuyasha was prepared. With deadly precision, he hurled a medium sized chunk of asphalt, knocking the gun out of the man’s hands and probably breaking some fingers in the process.
The man cried out in shock and stared at him wide-eyed for just a moment, before taking off in the opposite direction.
Inuyasha smirked.
As the human rounded the far side of the car, the passenger door was suddenly and violently kicked off its hinges by a large, clawed foot. The door flew right into the man, smashing him into a nearby building.
Inuyasha heard the sickening crunch of metal and bone, and knew the guy was a goner.
Setting his foot down, a youkai slowly emerged from the passenger seat. He had arcing horns, red skin, blue piercing eyes, and long arms that ended in protracted claws.
He spared a moment to look towards the place where the human man lay slumped against the wall. Blood spatter dripped down the wall around him.
“Coward.”
The youkai spat on the ground, before turning to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha lowered his fighting stance, and bared his claws.
“Well that was cruel and unnecessary.”
“Have you a soft spot for humans? I guess I’m not surprised, since you smell a little human yourself.”
Inuyasha growled in response.
“But I’m guessing by your growl and those ears, you must be a dog? Are you looking for a fight, little dog?”
“I’ve some questions for you Goshinki.”
“You know my name? I’m afraid I don’t know yours. Shall I call you doggy? Or maybe dog-man? Or just hanyou .” He sneered the last word.
Inuyasha was used to the name-calling, but the words still went down with a bitter taste. His hand went to the hilt of Tessaiga on reflex.
“I want to know why you share the same scent as Naraku?”
Goshinki had the audacity to ignore him.
“Cute sword. Are you a samurai too? Anyone tell you it’s the 22nd century?”
Goshinki laughed. Inuyasha had had enough.
“Have it your way! I’ll ask questions AFTER I’ve slaughtered you! Sankon Tessou!”
Charging forward, his claws struck the ground as Goshinki leapt out of the way.
He’s fucking fast!
Strike after strike, Goshinki dodged all of Inuyasha’s blows. But Inuyasha was just getting started.
“Tell me why you share a scent with Naraku?” Inuyasha shouted, striking the ground again.
“You’re not in a place to be asking questions, dog man. You’re the one who’s about to be eaten!” Goshinki roared as he took his first swipe at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha jumped back in time to avoid the majority of the strike, but the tip of Goshinki’s claw gouged a deep gash in his forearm. Grabbing at his wound, Inuyasha sent forth a volley of youki and blood.
“Hijin Kessou!”
The blades flew towards Goshinki’s head. He narrowly dodged.
“Answer me!” Inuyasha shouted, claws slicing through air again.
“Why do you care?” Goshinki replied. “Are you an old enemy of Naraku’s? I thought he’d killed you all!”
Goshinki charged Inuyasha horns first. Inuyasha had just enough time to grab them before he was slammed into a concrete pillar. His back and ribs exploded in pain. Inuyasha grit his teeth and shook it off.
Holding Goshinki’s head in place, Inuyasha jerked his knee up, ramming it into Goshinki’s chin. The move was effective. Taking advantage of Goshinki’s shock, Inuyasha leveraged his weight against the pillar, planted both feet into his enemy’s forehead, and kicked as hard as he could.
Goshinki flew through the air, bounced a few times, then crashed into the broken up asphalt. He rolled to a stop near the totaled car.
Inuyasha guessed he had a few cracked ribs. But right now, his whole body was humming with adrenaline. Rather than pain, he felt good and in his element.
He cautiously approached Goshinki’s body, observing the slow rise and fall of his chest.
Inuyasha placed a foot on Goshinki’s chest and applied some downward pressure. Goshinki groaned.
“But the thing I really want to know, Goshinki,
more than I want to know why you stink almost exactly like Naraku,
Is this”
Inuyasha increased the pressure on Goshinki’s chest.
“Where is Naraku’s heart?”
Goshinki opened his eyes and glanced sideways at Inuyasha.
“So that’s what you’re after” he said as his arm shot up and grabbed Inuyasha by the throat.
Inuyasha grasped at Goshinki’s fingers, trying in vain to pry them open.
“You thought you could defeat me? You, a pathetic half breed!”
He dug his claws into Goshinki’s fingers, but Goshinki’s grip didn’t loosen.
“I should ask you how you know about Naraku’s heart, but I think I’ll let Naraku ask you himself.”
Goshinki slowly stood, without releasing pressure on Inuyasha’s throat. He lifted Inuyasha in the air until they were eye to eye. Inuyasha’s feet kicked helplessly.
“How much do you think Naraku will reward me for bringing him the body of an enemy? Though, maybe you’re not worth much, hanyou and all.”
If only Tessaiga wasn’t so fucking useless! If only I had a weapon…
Inspiration struck - Inuyasha had an idea. But he needed Goshinki to come a little closer first. He mumbled something under his breath.
“What’s that little dog?”
Inuyasha grumbled again.
“Is it your last words? Tell Goshinki, and then I’ll put you to sleep forever.”
Goshinki brought his head down to Inuyasha, turning his ear towards Inuyasha’s mouth.
“You smell like shit.”
In an instant, Inuyasha had one of Goshinki’s horns in his hands. With all of his strength, he broke the horn off and plunged it deep into Goshinki’s eye socket.
In shock, Goshinki dropped Inuyasha. Falling on his hands and knees, Inuyasha took a deep lungful of air before jumping back to his feet with his fists raised above his head.
He shouted as he brought both fists down like a hammer onto the broken horn, plunging it deep into Goshinki’s skull.
There was no sound other than a sharp exhale from Goshinki as he teetered in place for a few seconds. Finally he fell backwards and collapsed, with the heavy finality of a fallen tree.
Inuyasha took a few more deep breaths.
That asshole didn’t even answer any of my questions!
As he stood there, catching his breath, he was suddenly aware of a new scent. He thought it was the scent of the human man, but from this proximity to the car he could tell this scent was female.
Inuyasha stepped slowly over Goshinki’s body to the back of the car, where the damaged trunk was slightly opened. Through the small opening, he could see part of a leg, and a green and white uniform.
Shit.