A/N: Well, I must say, I'm sorry that this chapter took so long. But I've been playing Need For Speed Underground 2 lately, and well, I was inspired. I wrote this up pretty quick, but then had to go back and edit a little. Hope you all enjoy!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. I don't own any cool night clubs, either. T-T
Last Chapter: Kagome chills out and has some fun with Sango, Miroku and Shippo before she and InuYasha have to go back to school. Sesshomaru talks with InuYasha about Kagome and her relation to their father's 'business', and Sesshomaru tells InuYasha that for the better good, they should try to get Kagome to work with them. Rather upset about Kagome seeming to just step in and take a position InuYasha didn't want filled, he mopes all the way back to school. Kagome then introduces InuYasha to her best friends in the world; the charismatic brothers that she works with in Auto Shop.
Summary: A.U. Kagome, just like her missing father, is a genius. Racing was in his blood, and it's in hers too. In meeting InuYasha, new roads are opened up to her. But does Kagome really like where they're headed?
Placing First
Chapter Six: Schinintai no Sengoku [Jidai
By ancient-relic
Kagome puttered around happily, working in perfect synchronization with the boys. Their teacher remained in his office for the whole time, not bothering to do a thing with his students.
InuYasha sulked, sitting here, brooding there, and frowning every time Kagome touched that stupid Bankotsu.
Bankotsu- more affectionately known as "Ban-chan"- was almost hanging off Kagome, which was because InuYasha suspected that Bankotsu suspected that it irritated him, which it did.
So of course, it only fueled to his dislike of the braided wonder. That Jakotsu was no better, and was gayer than the gayest person he knew, which wasn't really saying a lot, because he didn't really know anyone who was actually gay. It didn't help that Jakotsu seemed more than adept at sensing negative emotions, and seemed to hang off him, thinking that it might just make him feel better.
It made him want to gag.
"Oi! Kagome! Want to see our newest project for Mr. Lee?" Bankotsu called, finally separating himself more than a few yards from Kagome's side.
"Definitely! Then, maybe, I'll treat you to a ride in my car." Kagome laughed, throwing her rag at Suikotsu, who caught it without even looking up from under the hood of an old mustang he was trying to bring back.
"Thanks," he replied with a laugh, and Kagome chuckled, before dancing away.
"You know it!"
"Hurry, Kaggsie!" Jakotsu called, stuck on prancing over to Kagome, and prancing after Bankotsu, who had disappeared behind a lift.
"Come on, InuYasha!" Kagome called, turning to him. "Stop moping around, and come see Ban's hard work!"
InuYasha grumbled something indistinct, but followed her, regardless, rather curious about whatever Bankotsu was raving about. He followed Kagome as she rounded the corner, and stood beside her with his arms folded as she waited rather impatiently for Bankotsu to lift the big tarp off the little car, that looked suspiciously like a Porsche.
"Ready?" Bankotsu grinned, and Kagome nodded eagerly, which was accompanied by Jakotsu's squeals.
"Come on, already Ban!!" he cried, squeezing Kagome's arm.
Bankotsu lifted a lever, and a chain pulled the tarp up, leaving behind a little Ford Solstice behind. They were really popular in North America, but they weren't very common in Japan, seeing as how it was an American car company.
InuYasha scoffed. It wasn't even that fuel efficient! However, his eyes were drawn to what Bankotsu was gesturing to- it wasn't that he had tried to fix up the car; it was the paint job that he was being marked on.
Long, delicate vines were etched into the body of the car, and they were painted to make them look like they were raised out of the doors of the car, when in fact, it was the opposite. Foliage, and delicate skies, which trailed into a gorgeous sunset, decorated the car. The detail that had been put into the painting must have taken months. The changes between colours were so even, that it was hard to tell where one colour ended, and another began.
Whipping out his cell phone, InuYasha snapped several pictures, before sliding it out of sight again. He needed to talk to his father, as they had been looking for someone to re-do their cars, without investing in whole new ones. They needed what they had under the hoods, but they needed a new look that would be different enough, and a little more unrecognizable. Most certainly, these buffoons would get the job done. And done well.
A fleeting memory flashed into his head… that of Hakudoshi's car; white, silver, and purple. His would definitely be better. A plan formulating in his head, he slinked over to the garage door, and stepped outside, his fingers already moving rapidly over the little keys on his phone, texting his brother and father.
Kagome's eyes shone in delight as she watched the overhead light glance off the gleaming car, and as Jakotsu danced happily around Bankotsu (much to his consternation).
"Well, I guess this deserves some praise," Kagome giggled, and Bankotsu sidled over to her, his eyebrow raised with a suggestive look.
"And… what kind of praise are you offering?" he said, his voice low. Jakotsu looked up from his inspection of Bankotsu's painting job to shake his head with a grin.
"Well, I was thinking I just might let you drive my new car," Kagome said with a shrug, but turned away. "But then you made a lewd comment…"
Bankotsu looked like someone had shot him. He acted like it too, staggering away, his hand to his chest, until he collapsed; only to be caught by a towering Kyokotsu as he walked past, hauling a toolbox that was almost as big as Bankotsu.
Kagome giggled, but took Bankotsu's hand, and led him to Mr. Lee's office, where the man was doing work to Ayumi Hamasaki's newest song.
"Uh…" Kagome cleared her throat. Mr. Lee looked at her and Bankotsu, not shy at all about his choice in music, or his warbling singing voice.
"Yes, Kagome?"
"Me and Ban are just going to my car. There's something that I want to show him. We'll be back in 10?" she said, grinning as Mr. Lee continued to bob his head to the song.
"All right, I guess." He finally said, "Just don't be too long, now."
Kagome nodded sagely, while behind her, Bankotsu was grinning like the spawn of the devil.
With a wave to the boys, Kagome and Bankotsu were gone, and down the hall.
Bankotsu watched as Kagome touched her ear lightly, and her car's lights flashed in response.
"An ear piece?" he asked, curiously. Kagome nodded, and he came closer, turning her around until he could get a good look at the piece that hung from her ear like an earring, but sat plugged in her ear like a hearing aid.
Kagome laughed and shied away as Bankotsu pressed his nose into her neck, and Bankotsu pouted at her before she turned to open the car door. While her back was turned, his playful pout turned into a wide grin, as he ambled over to her.
Turning to bring Bankotsu over, she was surprised when she walked right into his chest. Letting him hold her for a moment, she stepped aside, and gestured to the driver's seat.
"Well, here you go. Be sure you don't do anything overly reckless." Kagome grinned, before moving around the hood and slipping into the passenger seat.
Kagome and Bankotsu spent a few moments going over all the special features that Kagome had added and adapted, though it didn't take long for Bankotsu to figure out how to adjust the seat, start the radio, and start the ignition.
With a glance over his shoulder and a grin at Kagome, he backed out of Kagome's parking space, and zoomed out of the driveway, like a bat out of hell.
Kagome sat comfortably in the passenger's seat; not at all alarmed by the way Bankotsu was driving. Rather, she was pleased with him, as he tested the limits of her car; and of the speed limit, and crossed her arms, letting the steady thump of the base pulse through her from the speaker in the door.
"Hey, Kagome," Bankotsu said quietly, catching her attention.
"Yeah?" she replied, looking at him curiously. One of his arms was resting around the back of her chair, but he was focused on the road.
"I was just wondering about that InuYasha guy." He said, slowing at a stop sign, and turning right, so that they were cruising through a rather residential area.
With the car on cruise control, Bankotsu glanced away from the road, and looked at Kagome with a glance that was so fierce she faltered.
"Uh…" Kagome said smartly, suddenly unsure of where Bankotsu wanted to take the conversation. "What about InuYasha?"
"Do you have any idea who he is?" Bankotsu said, turning away, to signal left onto another street.
"Umm. InuYasha Taisho, yeah? The son of the famous Touga Inu no Taisho?"
"He's also a member of a gang, Kagome." Bankotsu said, pulling into a driveway of a rather large complex. Kagome recognized it as his. "He, his father, and his brother run a gang that competes with Naraku's."
Kagome looked at him, wide-eyed. Her look of surprise quickly turned to anger, and she hissed, "Naraku?!"
Bankotsu made a noise of affirmation. "When Naraku hired us that month, Mukotsu did a little espionage. He found out that they were competing with this other group. Remember the explosion?"
"The one at the mall?!" Kagome gasped, remembering the newspaper article. A series of bombs had gone off in the sewer systems underneath the mall, and several of the complexes had completely collapsed due to it. It was still closed for repairs, and it had happened six months ago. The police report had said that the cause of damage was gang activity. Kagome remembered all this with a startling clarity, because she and her brother had been at the mall at the time, and she had hacked the police report.
"Yeah. It was Hakudoshi versus InuYasha."
"Who's Hakudoshi?"
"He's not important. The important thing is, is that InuYasha's father sent him to 'school' today as punishment. He's supposed to be toning it down, and acting more normal."
Kagome was silent. Her mind wandered back to Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Sesshomaru, whom she had met at InuYasha's beach house. Did that mean they were all in it too? What else had InuYasha been lying about?
"I'll be right back." Bankotsu said, and ran inside to come back out with a file-folder for his next class.
As soon as he swung back into the car, Kagome looked at him.
"How do you know all this?"
"Mukotsu."
"I can't believe it." Kagome replied stubbornly.
"Kagome," Bankotsu pressed, his voice firm. "How can you ignore it? You were at the mall. This is why your father disappeared!"
"You don't know that!" Kagome snapped furiously, her face distorted. Bankotsu flinched away- he was so shocked by Kagome's sudden change in attitude.
She unbuckled her seatbelt, and climbed out of the car, her back to Bankotsu. Bankotsu watched as she wrapped her arms around herself, and her shoulders shook. He berated himself for bringing up such a sensitive topic, but he knew that it had to be done. He needed to keep her out of trouble… he had promised Hosui that much.
Moving out and around the car, Bankotsu came slowly to Kagome's side, where her bangs hid her face from view. Not saying anything else, he wrapped his arms around her in apology. Kagome buried her face into his shoulder, and Bankotsu pressed his cheek to Kagome's head as her tears soaked his shirt.
He stood there silently with her as her sobs slowed, until finally she pulled away, and looked up at him with wet eyes.
"Sorry, I didn't-" he started, but Kagome smiled up at him, and he felt forgiven instantly.
"I know. You're just trying to protect me, right?" Bankotsu nodded.
Kagome smiled again, and placed her head back on Bankotsu's chest, and stood there before dashing away, and sliding into the drivers' seat. "Come on now, we're already over 10 minutes!"
Bankotsu smiled at Kagome's change in mood, and joined her in the car. Kagome wasted no time in speeding back to school, with luck again on her side as they came across no cops.
"Look. Why don't you and InuYasha come to the club after school? Jak could use your help with some of the stage stuff, and you'll see if I'm right. If I am, the rest of InuYasha's crew will show up." Bankotsu said.
Kagome looked at him for a moment, before sighing. "Okay. But I have to be home for dinner… Hojo and Akitoki-san are coming over tonight."
"Hey!" Bankotsu grinned. "No problem. I'll drive you home myself!"
Kagome laughed, and pulled into the school parking lot. Kagome grabbed Bankotsu's free hand, and pulled him back to auto, locking the car with her earpiece.
"Hey," Bankotsu said, and InuYasha looked up from his phone.
"What?" he replied, standing and almost towering over Bankotsu. However, Bankotsu wasn't intimidated.
"I've invited Kagome over to the club tonight, and I'm extending the invitation to you."
InuYasha looked rather surprised as Bankotsu continued on.
"It's the Schinintai no Sengoku Jidai. Downtown, first left past Concession 6." Bankotsu walked away, not bothering to wait and see if InuYasha replied.
But that was okay, because InuYasha wasn't replying. He was grinning.
"What?!" Sesshomaru snapped irritably, picking up his phone and silencing the horrible ring tone that his brother had selected for himself. However, his ears were not spared as instead of the ring tone; InuYasha's voice came flooding into his ear.
"Chill, man." InuYasha said, a smile in his voice. "I've just made the greatest discovery."
Sesshomaru resisted the urge to groan, but something in the back of his mind told him that this might be the thing that would make his bad day back into a bordering-on-bad day.
"And?"
"I've found this group of guys," InuYasha started, but Sesshomaru cut him off.
"Are you not supposed to be at school with Kagome? We can't have you disappearing and causing another fuss for father." Sesshomaru said briskly.
"Man! Chill!" InuYasha snapped. "If you'd just let me finish this,"
"Then continue- I don't have all day." Sesshomaru replied, his voice forced and cold. He loathed his brother. His voice was one of the things that could set him off at the drop of a hat.
"These guys, Kagome's friends with them. They're all auto-fanatics, and they do a fine tune-up and paint job."
"From your text?" Sesshomaru connected the picture InuYasha had sent him… and he remembered the amazing detail.
"Yeah," InuYasha replied, his voice a different tenor for a moment. "I'm going to their club. They invited me and Kagome. You should bring everyone down."
"We were not invited, InuYasha." Sesshomaru replied, his tone condescending.
"I know that, Sesshomaru." InuYasha replied, his voice mocking. "But what about striking up a business deal? I'm sure you could put their talents to good use. Besides. It's a club. You could just be there to party."
Sesshomaru remained silent for a moment, wondering just how InuYasha had come across such a good idea. And a good idea it was… they were looking for someone to handle their cars. They needed to clear out for a while- until their most recent activities were pushed to the back of the police's list of important crimes to solve.
"Very well. 6 o'clock, InuYasha. Look sharp."
With that, Sesshomaru shut his cell with an abrupt snap, and set to emailing Sango and Miroku, who would no doubt be as excited about this as InuYasha was. After, he would call his father.
Kagome sat in math, listening to her teacher drone on about something that she had already covered. InuYasha was sitting beside her, twirling his pen and staring out the window.
Frowning at him, Kagome opened a search engine program, and typed in "Taisho".
Several different pages of links popped up, and Kagome was surprised with where some of them were coming from. There was everything from individual's opinions on the famous Taisho three, but there were also some rather important sites, and Kagome bookmarked the search, planning on going over them when she was alone. The last thing that she needed was InuYasha watching her over her shoulder while she was searching his family.
Before she closed her window, her eye caught an email address. Quickly opening the link, she found Sesshomaru Taisho's business contact page, complete with his email address.
Copying and pasting, she opened her email, and composed a quick email to him.
Subject: N/A
From: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
To: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
So you're big dog on campus, eh? Next in line for the throne?
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
To: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
I must assume that you know the kind of trouble you can get yourself in talking like that to me. That is, if you know exactly who you're talking to.
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
To: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
I do believe I have an idea. A more appropriate question, is do you know who I am? I know more about you than you would care to admit. I know what you actually do…
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
To: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
What I actually do? I work for my father, Miss. Higurashi. We own one of the largest world-wide shipping and handling companies in the world. And yes, I am being trained to take over my father's position as head of the company.
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
To: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
Don't play smart with me, Sesshomaru. You are well aware of what I'm talking about.
I've just been informed why InuYasha is actually here at my school. And I can attest to this, because I was at the mall when the bombs went off. I was shopping with my little brother for an engagement gift for my mother.
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
To: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
You should not be discussing such things over something faulty and unprotected like the internet. You should also watch who you accuse, Miss. Higurashi.
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
To: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
Do you think I would be stupid enough to let anything of mine go unprotected? There are few people who can get at me as I am now. I am no fool- I am my father's daughter.
Are you coming to the club? InuYasha has told you- I know. But are you coming?
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
To: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
Aren't you the clever one, Miss. Higurashi. Very much like your father indeed.
Yes, I will be making an appearance later tonight. Perhaps we can talk face to face then.
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
To: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
I do suppose I can manage that. I will look forward to talking with you then, as there are lots of things I need to talk with you about. Can you bring your father as well?
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
To: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
I don't see why not. Until tonight then, Miss. Higurashi.
-----
Subject: Re: N/A
From: kagome.the.brain (at) tokyouniversity.cla
To: sesshomarutaisho (at) tcorps.aim
My name is Kagome.
Kagome smiled as she shut her computer. Students were filing out of the room, and InuYasha was looking curiously at her.
"Weren't you paying attention?"
"Nope. I've already done this work."
"Nerd," InuYasha muttered. Kagome tripped him as he moved around her chair.
"Who were you so busy talking to?" InuYasha asked, as he trotted beside Kagome as she made her way to her locker.
"What?"
"You were sending emails back and forth with someone, weren't you?" InuYasha asked, his tone accusing.
"Yes."
"Who was it?"
"None of your business!" Kagome snapped, and slammed her locker shut after dumping her textbooks. "Look. The day is over, and you're not here tomorrow, or for the rest of my life. The last time that I ever have to come in contact with you will be tonight. So why don't you think about leaving me alone, okay?"
With that, Kagome walked away, leaving InuYasha standing rather helplessly as girls flocked around him since Kagome was gone. He frowned, and shoved them out of the way.
If Kagome was going to be such a bitch, then he really didn't want to spend time with her, anyways.
Kagome frowned at herself in the mirror. Was what she was wearing really appropriate for a meeting with Sesshomaru and his father? She spun.
But a more appropriate question… was what she was wearing appropriate for a club?
Kagome pulled out black mid-calf stiletto boots, and pulled them up over her black, stocking-clad legs. She had on a pair of jean mini-shorts on top of the stockings, and a sparkly black shirt with lots of fabric at the neckline, so it looked like there was some kind of shimmering scarf around her neck. Completing her dark look with some black eyeliner and some silver earrings and bracelets, she hurried down the stairs.
"Bye, Kaa-san," Kagome cried.
"Don't be late for our dinner, Kagome-chan." Her mother replied from the kitchen.
"I won't!" Kagome cried, picking up her rarely used, sparkly silver purse. She was going to a club. She wanted to look the part. Was that a crime?
"Ooh, nee-chan!" Souta whistled. "Who are you going out with, dressed like that?"
"Dressed like what?!" Kagome's mother shouted. Kagome heard her turning off the water. If she didn't leave now, her mother would stop her before she left the house.
"I'll kill you later, brat." Kagome grinned, giving her brother a parting nougie before she left. "I'm just going out with Ban-chan, Kaa-san. He wants to show me something. Bye!!"
And with that, Kagome was gone out the door and down the shrine steps that led to the driveway, where Bankotsu was waiting, in a sleek dark purple Porsche 933 Cabriolet.
"Well isn't this a cute little car." Kagome grinned cheekily. Bankotsu smiled back.
"Perfect for my cute little friend," he chuckled.
Kagome had the decency to blush as Bankotsu pulled out of the driveway, and took off down the street.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Bankotsu asked, turning to look at her while they were stopped at a light.
"Yeah. They're all going to be wrapped around my little finger, and none of them are going to know it." Kagome stated, the saintly smile on her face belying her darker words.
"Damn," Bankotsu laughed. "That's kinky."
Kagome laughed too. She could feel the pounding of the music coming from Bankotsu's club while they were still down the street, and she knew that even if things didn't go the way she wanted them to, she was still going to have a little fun.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Oooookay. That's done. That was a loooong chapter. Or at least, it took long to write.
That all being said, some important news about the voting!! Sesshomaru is in the lead, with Bankotsu in close second, down by one vote!! And then there's poor Hakudoshi and Inu, who are moping because they haven't gotten even half of what Sesshomaru and Ban-chan have...
So! Voting will continue for at least two more chapters!! That way, I get to plan my story around the 'men' in Kagome's life, and you get to keep voting. Once a chapter, please and thanks.
That being said, MERRY CHRISMAS, and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Until next time,
ancient-relic