#rou update

Remnants of Unity Ch. 25: Time to Go, is up on AO3 |&| FFN

Kagome listened as the click of heels on the tile floor grew closer. She eased the door shut and backed away, her heel catching on something and almost sending her sprawling. The clicking stopped outside of the door and Kagome tensed, frozen in place and holding her breath like that would do her any good. The door swung open and Kagura sauntered in, a deep scowl twisting her features. She didn’t bother shutting the door behind her.

Looking at Kagome expectantly, Kagura pursed her lips and tapped her fan against her shoulder. “It’s time for you to go,” she said quickly. “You’ve overstayed your welcome.”

Kagome could only stare in stunned silence wondering if she’d heard correctly. When Kagura continued to stare her down, Kagome fought to find her voice. “Wh-What do you mean, time to go? I’m kind of a prisoner here, in case you forgot.”

Chapter 22 of Remnants of Unity is up on AO3 |&| FFN

Maybe now that I’m back on my regular work hours I can start writing at my normal pace again.

As usual, here’s a little preview to get you started:

Kagome eyed the only locked door in the little cabin. “Do you have the key?” she asked, looking over at Inuyasha. His ear twitched in her direction and he shook his head.

“Don’t need one.” He motioned for Kagome to stand back then turned and threw his shoulder against the aged wood. It didn’t budge.

“I feel like you might need a key,” Kagome said, earning herself an eye roll and a frustrated huff from Inuyasha. She suppressed a giggle and waited.

He scowled at the door and shook out his shoulder. “I got this, don’t worry.” This time, he raised his leg and delivered a swift but powerful kick near the doorknob. Which did nothing but knock Inuyasha on his ass, the door unscathed.

Kagome fought the urge to laugh and gave him a solemn look. “That’s not going to work,” she said and motioned at the hinges. “Unless you plan on kicking out the entire frame.”

Inuyasha followed her motion and swore as he caught what she’d already noticed. “You know, you could’ve said something.” He pushed himself to his feet and shot a betrayed look in Kagome’s direction. “And I thought you loved me.”

Chapter 18: Barrier on AO3 || FFN

“An abandoned warehouse, that’s not cliche at all. No way this could possibly be a set-up,” Inuyasha grumbled to himself as he followed Koga down the cramped walkway between a large, rundown building situated only feet from another large, rundown building.

Koga growled and waved a hand to shush him. “You want answers or not, shit-breath?” Koga asked just loud enough for Inuyasha to hear.

Inuyasha grunted but kept quiet. They stayed low and hugged the graffiti-laden wall as they crept towards a worn metal door. The bright morning sunlight highlighted the very tops of the buildings, not coming anywhere near the cracked and overgrown path. When they reached the door, Koga craned his neck to look through the cracked glass window then, seemingly satisfied by what he saw, pushed it open enough for them to squeeze through.

They both wore their (apparently illegal) concealment charms to hide their yōki so as not to alert anyone of their approach. Koga still looked like himself but Inuyasha had opted to go with his human form, his long black hair tied back in a long ponytail. According to two of Koga’s best men, the wind yōkai from the alley was seen loitering around the area and entering and leaving the warehouse they were currently sneaking into. She was connected in some way to Kagome’s assault and he wanted to know how and why. If she was here, he’d get his answers.

Remnants of Unity Chapter 10: Truth is up on AO3 and FFN

“Why the fuck am I in handcuffs?!”

“Calm down, mongrel. You know exactly what you did.” The officer that answered him gave him a cold look before turning away.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Inuyasha tugged at his restraints but they didn’t budge; fucking yokai handcuffs. He was still in the woods, leaned against a tree, officers swarming around him. He wasn’t sure how long he was knocked out but his father’s body was already gone, or maybe they’d moved him away from the scene. His head was still spinning, his thoughts a jumbled mess as he tried to figure things out.

Gunshots, his father dying, Koga, a distraction, hit hard enough to knock him right the fuck out.

Why the fuck was he the one in handcuffs?

“Oi, where the fuck is the asshole that shot my old man? Koga better be in a fucking matching set.”

Chapter 17: Making Amends

Up on AO3 || FFN

Inuyasha leaned against the hood of Kagome’s broken-down car, fidgeting and sighing. The streetlight above him hummed and flickered, struggling to illuminate the deserted side street. In front of him, Shippo sat on the curb staring at his phone and shooting occasional glances toward the nearby intersection where, any minute now, they were expecting to see Koga’s car. The impending encounter had Inuyasha’s instincts begging him to run, disappear before the threat was upon him; he was doing his best to ignore his instincts.

Because now he knew what was in the box. Now he understood Kagome’s frantic phone call. Now Kikyo’s insistence that Kagome learn to hide her powers made a lot more sense. Now Kagome’s life may always be in danger and he was the only one who could protect her. Now he was determined to be by her side at all times so that today never happened again.

She could have died today. Despite what that breezy bitch said, Kagome could have died. And where was he when she needed him? Pacing around, waiting, delaying. Every one of Kagome’s injuries weighed heavily on his conscience because he knew he should have been there. He’d do anything to protect her and facing Koga was a small price to pay to make sure he didn’t fail her again.

Chapter 14: Two Truths and a Lie

Up one AO3 || FFN

She should have been paying more attention. She should have noticed how alone she was in the garage. The white van next to her car that wasn’t there when she parked should have set off alarm bells in her head. The sound of light footsteps behind her should have made her look over her shoulder. The gentle prickle of her reiki under her skin should have been enough of a warning. She should have heeded Inuyasha’s advice to watch her back, stay alert, and make her trip quick.

She should have noticed and done a lot of things but she didn’t and now she was faced with a problem.

Chapter 16: Guilt is up on AO3 and FFN

Just past sunset, using the waning light to his advantage, Inuyasha hurried down a dark alley. The scent of Kagome’s blood, her fear, and her two hanyo attackers was still fresh as he followed the stomach-churning smell. He found her phone first, lying on the grimy brick near the back of the dead-end alley. It was cracked in several places but turned on with no issue, showing several missed calls and texts. He would need to contact her friends...their friends, to let them know what happened. He also needed to get to her car and retrieve the box, at her insistence. Luckily, her keys stayed in her pocket through her attack.

He never should have let her leave the shrine by herself. He should have gone to get her the second she called him, panicked and sobbing. He should have left to find her earlier when she took too long getting home. He should have fucking been there to protect her!

He scoured the rest of the area but came up empty-handed. Whoever cleaned up after the attack was thorough, leaving only scents and her phone behind. His blood boiled as his mind pictured what they may have done to her. He hadn’t wanted to push her, as weak and hurt as she was, to give him details. His only concern was getting her to someone to tend to her extensive injuries. So now his imagination was left to run wild and he didn’t like anything it came up with.

His arm shot out and the brick on the wall to his left cracked and crumbled as he slammed his fist into it.

Chapter 6: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Posted to AO3 and FFN

Kagome has an odd encounter and Inuyasha is not happy about it, causing him to make a decision.

“Hey,” he greeted, “you sure everything’s alright?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. It was just some creep being weird, no big deal.”

He started grabbing bags and managed to get all but two. She grabbed the last two bags and followed him down the hallway and into the kitchen, shutting the door behind her.

“How weird? Like, ‘trying too hard to flirt’ weird or ‘I’m going to murder you and keep your nipples as a keepsake’ weird?”

“The flirting one and now I’m regretting showing you those serial killer documentaries. Seriously, my nipples? Gross.”

“Are you telling me your nipples are gross? No wonder your single.”

“You know that's not what...nevermind, you’re an ass. Anyway, he tried to get my number then gave me his business card when I refused.” She shivered, remembering how his eyes had raked up and down her body.

“Hey.” Inuyasha stopped putting things away and looked at her. “You sure you’re alright? He didn’t touch you, did he?”