Watashi wa Johatsu by idreamofinuyokai

Evaporation process

One in ten people disappears from the streets of Japan. Out of the 85 thousand people who disappear annually, 11 thousand are never found. Among these are the Johastu, the evaporated or spirited away. Though no one can say for sure whats happened to the disappeared of japan, those that go voluntarily have their own reasons for picking up and moving. This is only one. 

 The corner street house just outside Tokyo’s city limits was the picture of modern living. The garden, home, and even the lovely couple only showed grace and respectable distance as they continued. from the outside, no one would know that one of the household members was living in hell. 

For over two years, the neighbors had seen the husband’s daily appearances. He left each morning to his job at a technology firm while the wife frequented trips to the market. They were quiet people, never making themselves stand out as the people around them worked and lived alongside them each day. Kagome wore long sleeves and long skirts most days. She kept her hair trimmed perfectly and wore pretty makeup, causing some envy among the other housewives who strived to appear as causally appealing as Kagome was. Though she never noticed the small comments or invitations she got from others to share her secrets. “I can’t,” she would always say. “ I’m in a hurry to get home. My husband is waiting on me," 

It was rare to see them together. But once a week, they would walk to the park in the morning and then return home. On one of these occasions, they passed an elderly neighbor. She smiled and stopped them to say hello, though Naraku had tried to walk around her.

"My dear, you are just darling," a neighbor commented on the wife's small ladylike appearance as she passed on the street. She noticed a slight discoloration at the collar of her blouse and stepped closer to point out the spot. Naraku cleared his throat. Looking up at the delicate features and dark eyes of Naraku, the older woman was dazzled as he smiled in return.

"Your praise honors us," Naraku answered. His short hair was trimmed perfectly for a business executive, and the suit he wore showed no visible wrinkling. Nodding at his appearances, the elderly lady saw that he was not in the mood to talk but appreciated the small words they had exchanged.

“Be sure to come by one day Kagome, I would love to see you at one of our lunches. The gals ask about you,” she said, looking around the broad frame. Naraku stepped in front of her again.

“She will be by in a day or so after our schedule clears,” he said, putting his hand on his wife’s low back and guiding her forward. They continued walking, leaving their elderly neighbor looking after them. There was a small bit of pride that the older woman felt to the soles of her feet.

“So respectful," she smiled.

Walking away at a slightly faster pace, Naraku grabbed Kagome’s arm hard as they entered the small walking park’s gates. “What did I tell you?” his severe tone and hard eyes no longer frightened her. Kagome looked at the man she had married, feeling nothing but resignation. She didn’t answer. “I said repeat my words!” he hissed, squeezing her arm through her sleeve until she winced in pain.

“You said don’t stop for anyone. We are going there and coming home, that is all,” Kagome said slowly. It was hard to focus on her own words when watching his hands flex like he was about to strike her. She was glad that they were in public. He wouldn’t dare risk having the police called for causing a scene, again. Taking a breath, Naraku nodded.

“Remember that this is our life. We have a new chance to start again here, don’t mess this up like you did last time…” Kagome cringed when he brought up the incident that had caused the move. She remembered the woman who had helped her change her clothes before a corporate party. She had only complained of a sore muscle but could not hide the bruises around her body. “They had the nerve to get into our business. We are not giving them that opportunity again, are we?” he asked, and she shook her head hurriedly. He smiled gently and leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. “Kagome. You know you were the woman I always wanted to marry. Our life will be better here. I swear," he said and took her hand to walk with her through the park.

“I know you don’t mean to lose our temper," she felt his hand like an anchor. “I love you,” she said. Kagome felt hollow as the words came out of her mouth. They were expected, needed to keep his temper from simmering once more. But it had been a long time since she meant them.

When they had returned home, Naraku pushed her through the entrance, and she stumbled over her shoes as she reached out to catch herself on the step. Closing the door behind her, Kagome hurried to get her shoes off as she felt his hands at the back of her collar. Standing before he could pull, Kagome went with him to the bedroom. She endured the false affection that he used to get her through the next necessary moves. Cole, black eyes, watched her as she tried to feel anything but disgust as he finished and left her lying on the futon. 

Sitting up, Kagome took a breath, stifling the frustrated scream that threatened to erupt, and swallowed down the emotion one last time. She went to the washroom, Naraku was already in the shower, and going to the faucet, she filled a pale with some water and sat on the small stool beside the tub. Dumping it over her head, she reached for the soap and began to cleanse away every trace of the man she had once loved. But it wasn't enough as she washed away the last of the soap and got into the tub. She let the water touch her skin with some relief, and for a few precious moments, she relished the sound of water and the quiet. 

Naraku dressed for work and left within a few minutes of leaving the shower. She followed him down to the door and opened it for him to go. Bowing low, she said her goodbye fighting tears as she did. He turned and set his hand on her head. Feathering his fingers through her hair, he sighed. “I will be home again soon,” he reassured her, and she nodded. 

 Sighing, Kagome closed the door behind him as he went and waved when he was at the front gate. He turned and waved, just like every day, and Kagome hated the smugness in his eyes when she closed the door and locked herself in. leaning against the door, she let her weight drop to the floor—sliding until her knees were at her chin. She could not stop them, could not think about what would happen if he found out.

Taking a steadying breath, Kagome picked herself up and went to the house phone. She dialed in the number she had committed to memory and waited as the dial tone turned into key tones.

“Ren here," a woman’s voice came through the receiver, and Kagome could not stop the sob that escaped.

“He’s gone,” Kagome said.

“We are right here,” she said, and Kagome hung up as she rushed to get her bags.

Two hours earlier.

Ren sat behind the desk at her office. She was getting ready for the latest of moving gigs. Looking through all of the details she had gone over with the client, Ren was almost sure that there would be an issue with the husband if he came home early. Reaching for her cellphone, she found the contact she wanted and dialing in, she waited.

“Sesshomaru," 

“Yes, it’s me, Ren. We have a job that I’m going to need our help for," Ren explained, expecting his usual response. When she didn’t get it, she sighed. “I’ve got your 60 thousand yen from the last job right here. I’m counting it,” she said, lying but knowing that at least mentioning the debt would warrant a reply.

“What’s the job,” he said, still not giving any sign that he would bend. Ren took the phone back from her ear and made faces at it.

“We’ve got a DV. the husband is controlling and abusive, it seems like an emergency, or I wouldn’t call you,” she said and knew she had him then.

“I’ll be there," he hung up the phone without saying goodbye, but Ren put hers down, feeling satisfied with herself. 

“I’m mercenary Ren. I only do this for the money," Ren mocked Sesshomaru in a stoic tone and laughed. Ren leaned back. She returned to her paperwork feeling real pride in herself, knowing that it was one more person she could help spirit out of the hands of an abusive partner. She recalled her own escape, looking down at the hands and arms that used to stay bruised for months at a time. Ren pushed aside the thoughts she had about her former husband, and standing, she got the crew together. “It’s time,” she said.

When the knock came at the door, Kagome was ready. She had three bags from the entire house on her back. Opening it to reveal the mover’s Kagome was again in tears. Two people went inside looking for boxes while Ren talked to her, trying to keep her calm. 

“This is all you want from your life?” Ren asked, surprised. “I’ve had people bring as much as a hundred boxes,” she said, and Kagome shook her head.

“Nothing here is mine, except for this.’ she said, grabbing onto two heavy suitcases. 

“Are you sure because I think we need to take a few things, to remind this asshole who is leaving who," one of the movers came to their side and, cringing at the unexpected presence of a man beside her, the man nodded again. “Yes, we need to take more from this guy,” he said.

“Inuyasha, don’t go overboard. We are on a schedule. Sesshomaru, how are we doing?” she called behind her.

“It seems like we have some company,” he said, and Ren groaned.

“You want to stay here. These can get messy,” she said, and Kagome felt her heart chill.

“You have to get away to safety. I don’t know what he will do,” Kagome said as she began to hear Narakus’ angry words.

“This must be a mistake. There is no one moving!” Naraku was irate, and seeing that he was beginning to draw eyes from the neighbors, he tried again to get around the truck parked in the middle of the path. 

“No," the other man there had a chillingly direct voice, and feeling like she heard Naraku falter, began to pick up her bags. The movers took them from her hands, and with Ren behind her holding her shoulders to keep her moving forward, Kagome could see Naraku. They locked eyes, and seeing that she was genuinely leaving, Kagome witnessed the pure rage that erupted in her husband.

“You bitch. I should have taken care of you sooner,” he said, lunging at the small dark-haired woman.

A hand reached out to stop him. Naraku threw off the stranger's hand and turned to land a hard hit on his jaw when he found himself off of the ground by the throat. “There is no need for such violence against women," he hissed and threw him into his front yard. Naraku watched as the crew got into the van and drove away. Raceing into his car, he realized that the tires had been slit and he was sitting seething as he got out of his car and started towards his house. “If you think this is the end, you are mistaken, Kagome," he spat into the ground.

Kagome was quiet as she sat behind tinted windows. The one they called their enforcer was on the other side of her. He was silent. His demeanor was closed, though she could tell from his anger before that he was one of the others. He was a mover, too, and seeing how he had handled Naraku. She was glad that he had come. 

“Where do you want to go?” Ren asked, and Kagome thought for a moment.

“I don’t think he would look for me in Kyoto,” she said, and Ren nodded.

“Good, the farther, the better, she said and reached back to pat her on the arm. Kagome winced. She hissed when the smaller woman squeezed her affectionately. “What?” she asked, and Kagome drew up her sleeve showing the yellowing bruise that appeared in the shape of Naraku’s hand.

“It still hurts,” she said.

Sango was behind her in the van, the sight of the bruises revolted her, and sighing, she leaned forward to address the woman. “It will be better once you’ve had some time away from your husband. Have you contacted your lawyer?” she asked, and Kagome shook her head. 

“I will have to do that in Kyoto,” she said.

“We have people in Kyoto that would help you,” Inuyasha interjected. 

Kagome was quiet. She didn’t know what to say yet, but knowing that miles were separating her from Naraku made her feel a little better. Taking a breath, she began to feel free, as she had been pushing against a wall for so long now, and it was now gone. She smiled. “I’m getting divorced!” 

Kagome felt relief flood through her like a wave, and before she could stop it, she had tears running down her cheeks. Embarrassed, she moved to hide them. Ren stopped her. “It’s okay. We have all been through this before,” she said, and Kagome let herself fall into that relief. 

“Don’t worry. He won’t hurt you anymore," Sesshomaru was the last one to speak to the crying woman. There was something more unsettling about this case than the others had been. He had faced husbands before, even had to fight a time or two to keep his crew safe, but there was something truly evil about the way this one had shown his temper even as his neighbors began to gather. 

Locking eyes with Ren, he could see a small smile forming on her lips. She was scheming and knowing her. He was not going to like it. “We are going to leave our enforcer with you through the next few days. He will make sure that all of the contacts you need are available for you. And he'll help you set up a new identity. Any name you want, just let us know, and we will have the documents needed.

“Well. My great grandmothers’ name was Kikyou. My family name is common enough," Kagome said. She had been thinking about it for a while. Knowing that she would have some help, Kagome allowed herself to smile genuinely for the first time. 

She looked at the person sitting next to her. He did not look like he was an enforcer, though he was big enough to give most people pause and strong enough to have taken Naraku off his feet.  His face was regal, almost like she had expected him to be an actor or a model, but his eyes were hard. When he returned, her glance, Kagome saw that it was not the same bitterness that Naraku had. This edge he wore was a skin made of steel. Impenetrable. Kagome suspected that he had seen more than he said as his dark eyes shifted away without revealing any more. 

“Kikyou is a good name," Sesshomaru said.

AN; Hello to all my regular readers! this is something new for me, I've never tried fiction before, all of my other stories have some element of magic and for this topic, I wanted to try some realism. this story IS finished, but I will be posting chapters daily at 7 am through the next week for your serial delight. hope that you all enjoy the story. leave a review and let me know what you think. see you all tomorrow

inuyoukaidreamer, out