There Will Be Blood

Chapter 20: Visits

"I leave you in charge for less than two weeks and the whole place has gone to plot!" Inutaisho yelled. He was currently laying into Sesshomaru, Jaken, Bankotsu, and Inuyasha. They stood in the foyer of the big house on the Inzei estate. Inutaisho paced back and forth in front of them. Izayoi stood slightly behind her husband, her face somber.

Inuyasha cleared his throat softly. His father's glare shot towards his. "Um, do I have to be here for this? I haven't done anything wrong," he said. Bankotsu thumped him on the side of his head. "What?"

Inutaisho walked up to his youngest son. "You're in just as much trouble for your INACTION as if you had done something, Inuyasha."

"Inaction? I haven't done anything because I don't wanna be dragged into this mess that Sesshomaru has gotten us into! It isn't my fault he can't keep business..." Inuyasha noticed his brother's expression just past his father. It was one he had never seen in his brother's eyes before.

Sesshomaru was pleading. He was silently begging Inuyasha not to say anything. He did not know how his brother knew about Kagura, but he could tell Inuyasha was ready to spill the beans in order to stay out of trouble.

Izayoi did not miss the silent communication between the two brothers. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, but said nothing. I will get to the bottom of this on my own, she thought resolutely. She knew her husband had a tendency to blow things way out of proportion and if it was even slightly justified that he go into a rage, he would probably end of shooting one of his own sons.

Inutaisho could not understand why Inuyasha stopped. "Well? Out with it, boy!"

Inuyasha looked back at his father. "Um, he can't keep his business straight," he lied. Well, it was not completely a lie. It just was not the entire truth. Inuyasha could tell his father bought it because the older man walked away in a huff.

"You all are not allowed to leave the premises until I figure out a way to clean up this mess you've made. Get out of my sight now," the Inzei head said as he retreated back further into the house.

Izayoi continued to stare quietly at the four "boys." They all avoided her gaze. In their eyes, Inutaisho was a kitten compared to Izayoi. The real person they did not want to feel the wrath of was Izayoi Inzei.

"You may leave," Izayoi said. The four made to scurry off as quickly as possible. "Sesshomaru, stay."

Sesshomaru sighed inwardly and turned back to face his mother. He heard the others leave. His mother just stared at him, no apparent emotion on her face. "Yes, Mother?"

Izayoi approached her son. When she stood mere inches from him, she gazed up at him. "What is your brother covering up?" she asked.

Damnit, Sesshomaru thought. He stared down at the woman who gave birth to him. She knew him better than anyone on the planet; possibly better than he knew himself. She'll know if I'm lying.

"Sesshomaru, I asked you a question."

Sesshomaru looked down at his feet, suddenly very ashamed. "A girl."

Izayoi raised an eyebrow. She had certainly not been expecting to hear that. She had been expecting something a little more... illegal. She could only nod. "A girl is the reason the pool looks like a battlefield?"

"Not entirely. That could be just because Goshinki Ouken is an idiot."

Izayoi smiled at her son's words. "Why would Goshinki Ouken try to kill you?"

"We've never gotten along very well," Sesshomaru said dryly. He finally looked back up at his mother.

"What's her name?" Izayoi asked, her smile disappearing. She noticed Sesshomaru's hesitance in answering her. She got closer to him, taking his face between her hands. "Tell me the truth, Sesshomaru. I will know if you're lying."

Unable to avert his eyes, he took a deep breath. "Her name is..."

"IZAYOI!" Inutaisho yelled from his study.

Izayoi released her son. She sighed at her husband's poor timing. She stepped away from Sesshomaru. "Coming, Taisho!" she called back. Then she looked back at Sesshomaru. "I can tell already that this girl is someone I would not approve of, but also someone who you care deeply for. Make sure that she is worth it, Sessho." She went in search of Inutaisho.

Sesshomaru stood alone in the foyer. He let out a breath he had been holding. Having his mother question him about Kagura easily took about 10 years off his lifespan. Eventually, all would be revealed. He would rather that be later rather than sooner. As soon as Sesshomaru stepped outside, he was nearly tackled by Toran.

"What is it?" he asked her. She seemed frantic about something.

"My contacts at the hospital called. They said Muso is awake," she said breathlessly. "What do we do?"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. "We wait."

"STUPID! INCOMPETENT! CHILDISH! PIG-HEADED..."

Across town, Goshinki was getting the tongue-lashing of his life from Naraku. He knew his uncle would be mad, but he had no idea he would be this mad. The older man was not even speaking in complete sentences anymore.

"What did I tell you, Goshinki?" Did I not tell you to be vigilant but NOT a vigilante? What about those words couldn't you understand? Was I asking too much for you to be discreet?" Naraku continued to rant.

After awhile, Goshinki tuned his uncle out. He started wondering about what Muso would say when he went to see him. Surely he can shed a little light on Kagura's whereabouts.

"Goshinki! Are you listening to me?" Naraku yelled.

Goshinki blinked Naraku back into focus. "Yeah," he replied.

"Good. I don't want you leaving the compound until I say so. Do you understand that?"

Goshinki frowned. "But I have to go see..."

"NO! You are not to leave this compound even if it burns to the ground. Do I make myself clear?" Naraku stepped up to Goshinki. The younger man looked away, childishly pouting. Naraku slapped Goshinki, snapping his face back to look at him. "Goshinki, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes." Goshinki rubbed his cheek as Naraku turned and stalked away from him. The older man was still mumbling about Goshinki's foolishness.

Yura came out from the shadows. She walked up behind Goshinki and just stood there. She had never seen anyone have a successful attempt at striking Goshinki and getting away with it. Naraku must be a real nasty piece of work for Goshinki to let that go unchecked. Others have felt his wrath for less, she mused.

Goshinki turned and faced who he would call his lover. He saw her inhale deeply and continue to look at him. "Enjoyed the show?" he asked.

Yura knew that tone. She only managed to take a step back before he was holding her by her neck. "I didn't enjoy anything! Let me go, Goshinki!" she whispered loudly.

Goshinki smirked, enjoying watching Yura squirm in his grip. He loosened his hold on her and she threw his hand away from her. Frowning, she started to walk past him. Goshinki grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him.

"What?" Yura asked, exasperated.

"I need you to go talk to Muso for me." He put his forehead against her temple. "Please?"

Yura rolled her eyes. Amazing. Ten seconds ago he was attempting to strangle me. Now he's asking me to do something while trying to simultaneously seduce me, she thought. It's scary how much he's like Suikotsu.

"Fine. Just let me go." Yura shoved him away. Cursing him under her breath, she walked away in the direction of his room.

Goshinki watched her go. Yura entertained him to no end.

Kagura's eyes fluttered open. She inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly. She noticed that she was on her futon. Her eyes widened and she looked around. Through the small window she could see that the sun had set. How long had she been out? She threw her legs over the side of the futon and got to her feet. A wave of euphoria passed over her. She put a hand to her chest, feeling the contents of her stomach coming up. Kagura stopped all movement, waiting for the nausea to pass.

Where did that come from? she mused. Then she remembered something. Sesshomaru! What happened? Kagura searched around for her phone. The last thing she remembered was hearing the sound of an explosion while she was talking to Sesshomaru.

"I see you're up," said a voice from her door.

Kagura whirled around to face Totosai. The nausea came back briefly. She took a deep breath, managing to keep the feeling at bay. "Hello, Totosai. How long was I asleep?" she asked.

"About a day. Have you been getting sleep, Kagura?"

"Sleep?" Kagura sat back down on the futon, feeling as though the nausea would not go away. "I sleep enough."

Totosai walked further in the room. "You sleep enough, eh? Kagura, you need to rest. Myoga and I confiscated you phone."

Kagura almost stood up, but immediately decided against it. She just shot Totosai a vicious glare. "Why? I need that!" she yelled at him.

"You will do yourself or Sesshomaru any favors. If anyone cared to trace the call you made to him, then you will surely be found out. I can guarantee you that such a situation is not conducive to the situation we all find ourselves in," Totosai said plainly.

Kagura's lip trembled and looked away from the older man. She drew her knees up to her chest on the futon. "But how will I know what's going on there? How do I know everyone will be ok?" she whispered.

Totosai took a deep breath. "You'll just have to trust that Sesshomaru can take care of himself. However, if provoked Sesshomaru will and must act."

"I don't doubt Sesshomaru can protect himself. I just worry about him AND my cousin. Goshinki is such a loose cannon. I don't want either to get hurt." Kagura put her head down. "This is all my fault. I should've never gone to that party..."

"Hmm... Now is not the time for regrets. You are far too young to regret anything in your life yet. I suggest you have more faith in both your cousin and Sesshomaru." Totosai turned to leave the room. Before he exited, he looked back at Kagura. "You should eat, Kagura. It will do you no good to starve yourself." Then he left.

Kagura sat there for a moment, just listening to herself breathe. She raised her head and gazed out the window and at the stars. This is going to be so hard.

Yura knocked softly on the Muso's door in the hospital. She heard a muffled reply and opened the door. She saw Muso, sitting up in bed. His hair was disheveled. He was staring disdainfully down at the hospital food placed before him. When he noticed Yura his face softened a bit and he gave her a small smile.

"I was expecting to see Goshinki before I saw you," he said.

Yura shrugged and sat down in a chair next to his bed. "Goshinki is kind of grounded at the moment. Naraku wasn't too happy with his recent antics. So he sent me instead."

Muso raised an eyebrow. "What did he do?"

"Attempted murder is one thing." Yura noticed the look on Muso's face. "He tried to kill Kagura's best friend, Enju I think her name is, not too long after you got shot. He instead ended up putting a bartender who works at Euphoria in the hospital..."

"Jakotsu?"

"Yep. Then he tried to have Enju killed again after she confronted him on it. Then he sent a bomb to the Inzei compound. Apparently, it destroyed the pool. Somehow, no one got seriously injured during that." Yura sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Goshinki has been quite the busy, busy bee since you've been out of it."

Muso frowned as he listened to Yura. "All that's happened?"

"Yep. Goshinki wanted answers to how you ended up in that position. At least, that's what he said. Personally, I think he's just using you as a way to justify his homicidal actions." Yura ran a hand through her hair. "It's hard trying to keep him out of trouble."

Muso nodded slowly. He looked down at his hands. He timidly touched his bullet wound. "Where is Kagura?" he asked.

Yura simply sighed and sat forward. "No one knows. At least, no one on OUR side knows. Goshinki isn't too pleased about that, either. She disappeared a little after you got shot. By the way, think you could shed a little light on how you got shot? Do you know who shot you?"

Muso's face changed to one of pure confusion. He tried to remember everything about the day he got shot. "I went to see Kagura. I talked to her. I can't remember what we talked about. I actually don't even remember leaving. The next thing I know, I woke up here. Everything just seems like a big blur."

"You really can't remember anything?"

"No. I just remember Kagura. I also remember being angry about something." Muso shook his head. "I'm sorry. I can't remember. Maybe it's a side effect of all these drugs they've got me on," he said with a slight chuckle.

"Well, Enju brought you here. She told us that you were with her when you were shot. She said that she didn't see who shot you." Yura stood up. "Well, Goshinki isn't going to like this..."

"What? What won't he like?"

Yura sighed and looked at Muso. "He's looking for any reason to justify his actions against Sesshomaru Inzei. It amazes me that Inzei hasn't responded back in any way. Goshinki's all but said that he wants him dead," she replied.

Muso nodded. "I'll try to remember. Until then, tell Goshinki that I said not to do anything rash. Wherever Kagura is, I'm sure she won't appreciate coming back to find her cousin dead. By the way, how's Hakudoshi?"

Yura smirked as she headed for the door. "He's just fine. He's been quiet, but he's just fine," she said as she left.

As she walked out of the hospital, Yura could not help but feel relieved that Muso's memory was shot. She knew it would most likely return. Anything could trigger his memory to return to him. Even though she had no idea where Kagura was, she knew that Sesshomaru Inzei most likely did.

How many people knowabout their relationship? I think it would be safe to say that everyone except the family patriarchs and Goshinki know, she thought as she stepped out into the parking lot. Well, this is going to be interesting.

Almost two months later, Totosai's keen ears picked up the sounds of a car pulling up to their home. He looked a Myoga.

"Expecting someone?" he asked.

Myoga shook his head. "Not that I know of. Perhaps it is Sesshomaru to check up on Kagura," he said. He peered out one of the front windows. He saw a figure dressed in a cream flare pea coat. She wore a pair of large sunglasses. It did not take Myoga long to figure out who the woman was. "Izayoi..."

Kagura jumped when she heard the loud knocking at the door. She turned her head away from the small window in her room. Myoga and Totosai had not informed her of visitors. They never got any aside from the guy who delivered groceries to them and he only passed by once every Saturday. It was Wednesday.

Odd. I wonder who it could be, she thought. Deciding it was in her best interest to pretend like she was not there, she turned her attention back out to the view of the ocean. It was almost February and it still looked very cold and uninviting even though it was the beach. I'm so bored here. And THIS certainly doesn't help my mood. She glanced down at her body with a despondent face.

Myoga opened the front door slowly. He cleared his throat when he saw quite possibly the scariest woman on the planet standing before him. Gentle as she was, Izayoi was very frightening in a motherly way. He just smiled lamely up at her and she smiled back.

"Hello, Izayoi," Myoga said, his voice a bit shaky.

"It's been so long, Myoga. Is Totosai in as well?" she asked as Myoga stepped aside to let her in. When she came in, she saw Totosai waving at her. "Why are you hiding from me, Totosai?"

Totosai cleared his throat before speaking. "No reason, Izayoi. Come. Tell me why you've called upon us. Myoga, would you mind fixing us some tea?" He gestured for Izayoi to follow him. Myoga mumbled something under his breath and headed to the kitchen.

When they got to the living room, Totosai sat across from Izayoi. He watched the younger woman closely. She seemed somewhat distracted. She looked a bit fatigued. Through her odd appearance, Izayoi still managed to look regal and like a woman in charge. They sat in silence until Myoga served them both tea. He took a seat next to Totosai and both men watched Izayoi fiddle with her tea. Then she looked up at both of them.

"It's insane back in the city. Both families are ridiculously on edge. This whole situation is working my nerves. The boys have been reckless. I shouldn't expect anything less of them. But, Inutaisho is doing nothing to help solve the conflict. Naraku is no better. At first he reined his unruly nephew in. Then he..." Izayoi was talking so fast that Totosai and Myoga could barely understand her.

Myoga raised his hands and motioned for her to slow down. "We can't understand you if you use your auctioneer voice," he said with a smile.

Izayoi took a deep breath and finally sipped her tea. She cracked a smile at Myoga reminding her of her days working as an auctioneer. That was before she met Inutaisho; when she was just Izayoi, Midoriko Zen's baby sister. Things had been so much simpler then.

"Now, tell us what exactly has happened," Totosai said calmly.

The younger woman took a deep breath. "It's hell. After we came back from the conference, the city turned into a battlefield for the men. No, that's not right. They're all acting like BOYS. It's like one long pissing contest. Inutaisho won't listen to reason. All plans of business have gone out the window. The only thing Inutaisho and Naraku are set on is seeing who can destroy more of the other's territory." She completed her tale with a long sigh.

Totosai and Myoga exchanged knowing glances. Then they looked back at the troubled matriarch. By the sound of it, Izayoi had abstained from the fighting. This was surprising, seeing how she was the most feared and respected woman in Houken City; the only other was her elder sister.

"Mayor Zen has done nothing?" Myoga asked.

"Pfft! She's of the opinion that it'd be best if Taisho and Naraku destroy one another. Seeing how one of them is my husband, I can't stand by and let that happen." Izayoi downed the rest of her tea. "Even my own sons won't listen to me any longer. Inuyasha never was that obedient, but now even Sesshomaru is disregarding everything I say. He's even hiding things from me."

"Oh? Like what?" Totosai asked as if he did not know the answer.

Upstairs, Kagura had managed to move silently towards the door to her room. She could hear the voice she recognized as Izayoi Inzei. When the matriarch brought up her father, she had decided to get a better seat to eavesdrop from. It baffled her that such a strong woman would sound so distraught. Then Izayoi had said Sesshomaru's name.

Please give me something that gives me hope, Kagura said, squeezing her eyes shut and leaning closer out of her door.

"He told me a girl is the reason why my backyard looks like a combat zone. A GIRL is what he and Goshinki are possibly fighting over. Can you believe that?" Izayoi let out a sarcastic laugh.

"Yes. Actually, I can," Totosai said calmly.

Izayoi glared at him menacingly. "You really think both Goshinki Ouken and my Sesshomaru would argue over some random girl?"

Myoga shrugged. "Isn't that what happened before?"

Izayoi's eyes widened. Now that she really thought about it, the situation made perfect sense. The thing about it was that Sesshomaru and Goshinki always fought over girls that were related to one of them. They both seemed to be irrationally protective of the females in their respective families. It almost made no sense.

"Let us hope that this girl does not suffer the same fate as my niece." Izayoi sighed again. "I really wonder who she could be. Right before he was about to tell me a few months back, Taisho called my name. I never got back around to asking again because he's been avoiding me like I carry some sort of disease. He's gone before I rise and back after I've retired."

Totosai cleared his throat softly, ready to get the topic off of Sesshomaru and Goshinki's war. "What about those business ventures I was hearing about? Inutaisho and Naraku have not ventured forth with those?"

"The Ouken girl has made the Trifecta, or what's left of the three, more nervous about continuing the endeavor. After killing one of their members, they're even more apprehensive than they were before." Izayoi's face contorted for a moment as she looked away. "The Ouken girl... I wonder what Naraku did do with her. He most likely sent her away like he did Goshinki."

Myoga noticed how Izayoi had drifted off into her thoughts. "And what might you be pondering, Izayoi?"

She hummed. "Nothing, really. I just had the strangest idea that everything could be settled with a simple arm wrestling match." She stood up. "I suppose I've talked your ears off enough. Thank you for putting up with my complaining."

Totosai rose and showed her to the door. "Not at all, Izayoi. We are only here to help and listen when needed. But, I want you to promise me one thing," he said.

They reached the door and Izayoi faced him again. "What is it?"

"Stay out of the fighting. No matter what, stay out of the fighting. If something were to happen to you like what happened to Kaguya..."

Kagura had to catch herself from falling at the sound of her mother's name. She heard Izayoi assure Totosai that she could take care of herself. She waited until she heard Izayoi's car drive off. She got to her feet and stormed down the stairs as fast as she could.

Myoga and Totosai looked up when they saw Kagura glaring threateningly at them. They exchanged glances before looking back at her. She stomped forward, and sat down roughly.

"What happened to my mother?" Kagura asked. She was the only one who could remember her mother clearly. Hakudoshi had only been 3 and Kanna was only a few months old when their mother died in a car accident.

At least, that's what they'd been led to believe.

Totosai swallowed. Clearly no one had told Kagura the truth. He was not sure he wanted to be the one to tell her. Still, she had a right to know. "She was killed by mistake; a botched hit. It was meant for Naraku, not your mother."

Kagura's face did not portray much emotion. "Who?"

Myoga shrugged. "No one knows to this day who sent the hit out."

"Then how do you know it was a botched hit?"

"No one had any reason to go after your mother. Inutaisho's fight was with your father. You and your siblings were never targeted. There was no reason to go after your mother, either. She was a kind woman," Myoga said.

Kagura nodded slowly. She had always been suspicious about the circumstances surrounding her mother's death. She knew Naraku had lied about the car accident. She figured he did it to protect her; she was only 5 when it happened. Up until this day, she had pushed it out of her mind. She still remembered the last thing her mother told her:

"When I come back, I'll take you and your brother and sister to a place where the sun always shines. Some place far, far away from here."

Sesshomaru had been on edge since he found out Muso was awake. In the two months since Muso's return to the Ouken estate, Sesshomaru had been waiting for the day when Muso spilled the beans about the night he got shot. According to Enju, he had suffered from some form of amnesia. He couldn't recall very much from the time he arrived at Kagura's to the time he woke up in the hospital.

But that in no way meant he would not eventually remember.

At the moment, all he wondered about was where his mother had gone. She'd gotten up early that morning and just left without a word. Inutaisho was convinced that she would be fine, but Sesshomaru did not want to take any chances. He stayed up watching the gate, waiting for her.

It was around 1am when Izayoi finally pulled up. Sesshomaru was alert as she drove through the open gate. He stood up in the cold air and walked towards his mother's car as she exited it.

"Sesshomaru, it's late and freezing out here. Why are you still up?" she asked as she came around the car. She noticed his droopy eyes. "You're exhausted, Sessho. Go get some sleep."

Sesshomaru followed his mother inside the big house. "Where did you go this morning?" he asked.

Izayoi laughed lightly as she headed into the big kitchen. "I'm not allowed a little ME time, Sessho? I was unaware you kept tabs on even me."

"Mother, you know it's not safe to be out alone without a bodyguard."

"Sessho, no one is going to harm me and even if they were so bold to try, I can also fie a gun with impeccable accuracy." Izayoi filled a teapot with hot water and sat it on the stove. She turned to look back at her son. He was sitting at the island, just staring at her. "You are so adorable when you're sleepy. Go upstairs and get some rest."

Sesshomaru blinked a few times. He began to stand up but relaxed back in his seat. "You never answered my question, Mother."

Izayoi smiled and crossed her arms. "That is true. If you must know, I went to see Totosai and Myoga."

Sesshomaru had been in the middle of a yawn when his mother answered his question. It was cut short with a snort and he looked over at her. "Why... would you go all the way out there?"

"I just needed someone to talk to. Totosai and Myoga are good listeners." The teapot began to whistle. Izayoi removed it and started fixing her cup of tea. "Now you should answer a question for me," she said.

"What's that?" Sesshomaru asked as she passed him a cup.

"Who's this girl you're keeping hidden from me?"

Sesshomaru stared down at the lemon that floated in his tea. He then looked back up at his mother. He could not lie. She always knew when he lied. He didn't know how she would react, either. There was only thing he could do, though. He had to tell the truth.

"Kagura Ouken."

Izayoi stirred her own tea. She nodded as she took in her son's words. She started to saunter past him, tea in hand. "Let's hope she's worth it, Sesshomaru."

With that, she was gone.