Chapter 23

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CHAPTER 23 Interlude

WITH INUYASHA

After the unpleasant run-in with Kagome's friend, Inuyasha tried not to think about it too much. It wasn't that he found Jakotsu strange, he just wasn't used to the openly flirty attitude that man gave off. And he's always so loud. It's really obnoxious.

As if on cue, his phone rang. Loudly. Inuyasha startled, which made Koga and Miroku look up from playing some kind of strategy game Inuyasha had really no patience for.

"What is it, dog breath?" Koga shouted, while pouring over his next move.

"I'll let you know, when I know," Inuyasha grumbled and picked up the call.

"Inuyasha, I need you to come over to the café." Izayoi began without preamble. "There's a demon inside. He had a young woman under his spell. It's under control now, but I'd like you to come over and take a look at her – and him at the police station. Maybe there's more to this than we think."

"Mom, breathe," Inuyasha told her before Izayoi could say anything else. "I'm coming over. But it's going to take a while, so make sure the woman is still there and calm her down."

"She's with one of Kagome's friends. He took her to the police station, so it should be fine."

Inuyasha rubbed his forehead. And I can guess, which friend it is. Just my luck. Oh, well, on we go.He told his mother not to worry and that he would take care of the situation.

"So, another case?" Miroku asked as soon as Inuyasha pocketed his phone. "Who is it this time?"

"Young woman in a café. Apparently a demon had her under control." Inuyasha looked up. His eyes seemed to catch Miroku's attention, as he furrowed his brows. "Kagome took care of her with her sister."

Koga looked between their game and Inuyasha. His ears twitched slightly, as if detecting something close not even Inuyasha heard. "Okay," he sighed. "So let's check this out. Don't want you to get lost."

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. You just want to come along because Kagome is somehow involved. If it were anyone else, you'd just keep playing your little game.

Luckily, before either could break out into a shouting match, Miroku just got up from his seat. "Very well then. Let me take a picture of our game so we can resume after we looked into this case." Without looking at either male, he took the picture and put the game away into its pouch and then his backpack.

Both Inuyasha and Koga watched him slightly awed at how in tune Miroku was with their tempers by now. But Miroku just slung his backpack over and looked at the other two expectantly. "What? I thought we were going to check out that demon incident?"

"Uh, yeah," Inuyasha turned and lead the way towards the café.

They arrived at the café just as Kagome exited. Momoka and Caleb stayed close to her side, ears perked and attentive. The dogs noticed them, wagging their tails and hatchelling. Kagome looked up when the dogs pulled into the direction of Inuyasha. Koga on the other hand made sure to slink right up to Kagome's side. "Hey, beautiful."

Kagome's head snapped up. A surprised smile appeared on her face. "Oh, hi. What brings you here?"

"My Mom told us, there was an incident with a demon." Inuyasha scratched the back of his neck. I don't like Koga hovering over her, but I can't very well say something against it. I left her after all. Even though we've kind of grown closer over the past months? I think?

Kagome glanced at him before focussing back on Koga and Miroku. "Yes. He was in the café. We were lucky to get here when we did. Jakotsu took her to the police to speak with officer Shako. Some other officers just got the demon."

"So we came too late?" Inuyasha groaned. "Why did my mother call me, if you took care of it already?"

Kagome shot him a glare, pulling Momoka and Caleb along as she made to walk right past them. Miroku turned around with her, staying by her side. "So what happened exactly with that demon," he began, "I mean, why did he have a woman with him?"

With a look at him from the corner of her eye, Kagome stopped again. "As if I know. He had her with him under his spell, she was frightened and Rin, Jakotsu and I defeated him." She shrugged, as if that was a common occurrence.

Kouga furrowed his brows. "You defeated him? How?"

Kagome's expression switched between several emotions so quickly, Inuyasha had no hope to follow. What lingered was an obviously fake innocent smile. "We called him out and he revealed himself. Jakotsu knocked him out." She crossed her arms behind her back, pulling on the leashes of the dogs. Momoka and Caleb shifted, drawing her attention to them. "You know, I think I should get going. I promised Jakotsu that we would take a walk with the puppies. I'd hate to leave him waiting."

What is she hiding? There's something more to this than she lets on. Why wouldn't she tell us how she defeated the demon? Never mind the fact that they managed at all.Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. Momoka and Caleb didn't behave any differently than normal, as if they didn't notice Kagome's insecurity.

Before he could interrogate her further, Koga stepped up. With a wide grin, he slung an arm around her shoulders. "Let us accompany you to the police then. We meant to go in the same direction anyway."

"No, you didn't," Kagome replied easily. "But I can't stop you either way, so come along."

Inuyasha looked between the others and thought about the tiring way to the police station. Koga would try and hog her attention while Miroku would have to balance between Koga and Inuyasha.

"I don't think we all need to talk to the officer. So how about we split up. You could inspect the café and surrounding area for any hints on where the demon came from. I talk to the officer and we meet back here in about an hour."

"And why would you go meet with the officer and not one of us?" Koga narrowed his eyes. He shifted to hover slightly in front of Kagome and stretched to his full height. A low growl emanated from his chest, threatening Inuyasha's status as the alpha of their group.

Who does he think he is? Inuyasha matched the stance with his own growl rolling off his tongue.

Kagome's sigh broke them out of their staring contest. She stood a few paces away with an amused looking Miroku by her side. "How about you both check the area and Miroku gets me to the police station. At least he doesn't stress out the Akitas or make people stare at me."

Sure enough, a few passersby looked with interest at the stand-off of their little group in the middle of the street. Shortly after the police arrested a patron of the café. Inuyasha relaxed his posture with a blink. The people continued to walk. He looked back at Kagome.

The grin that lit up Miroku's face was one of pure insolence. "I must say, I agree with the lady."

"Careful or I'll go alone," Kagome teased.

And without even waiting for another word, the two humans turned around and left the demons staring after them with open mouths.

WITH KAGOME

Walking with Miroku was a welcome change. He took Momoka's leash from her hand to allow the dog to explore to her pleasing without tugging on Kagome's arms while Caleb stayed by her side, not interested in much of anything.

"So, how are you?"

Kagome tilted her head thoughtfully.My best friend found out what I use his wigs for, I defeated a demon without my wig on, my little sister got appointed to the same cause as me."I'm good. And you?"

Miroku huffed a laugh. His eyes quickly scanned Kagome from head to toe. "No, you're not 'good'. Something happened and it left you shook. I can tell. You were a lot less hostile towards the other two than you would have been normally." He gave Kagome's shoulder a friendly shove. "You fought against a demon for the first time. You can't tell me that didn't leave a foul taste. I can still remember my first fight. It was frightening."

"Yes, it was," Kagome mumbled. "I was afraid he would do something to the poor woman. What, if he had done anything to Rin?"

"But you survived. The demon is to be dealt with by the Lord of the West himself. Maybe you even dealt a blow to the attacking forces Inuyasha and Sesshomaru couldn't deliver for months."

Kagome looked to the ground, mulling the thought over. Did I really accomplish something? It doesn't feel like it. It just feels as if I put our lives in unnecessary danger… She looked between the dogs, which were happily trotting alongside their humans. My life just got a whole lot more complicated.

"Did you know Sesshomaru's mother showed back up?" Miroku said almost matter of fact.

A couple steps in silence followed that revelation. They turned a corner, the police station appearing at the end of the street.

Finally, Kagome took a deep breath. "His mother? Where did she come form?"

Miroku shrugged. "We don't know. She showed up, she says she missed her son. According to Inuyasha and reading the brothers' mood, she is not making herself very likable. Seems nice enough to me from what I saw, but then again-"

"Every woman you meet seems nice enough to you," Kagome finished with a laugh. "And Sango is not pleased with it."

Miroku had the decency to blush at that. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I am working on it. Plus, I would never betray her trust. Never ever."

"She knows that," Kagome assured him. "And she appreciates it. The effort doesn't go unnoticed. I think you two are really a great couple."

The mischievous look Miroku shot her made Kagome blush. He didn't even need to say anything to remind her of her own slowly teetering towards something-more-than-friendship with Inuyasha. And to think just a few months ago we were total strangers and didn't even like each other all that much. And all that thanks to Sesshomaru making me dog sit Momoka and Caleb. And then Kikyo had to come back to fight demons…

Miroku shoved playfully at her shoulder. "Hey, don't make that face. It'll all turn out alright, you'll see."

With a smile, Kagome turned back towards the street. They were almost at the police station. There was no turning back now. They were going to meet with Jakotsu, the woman and Officer Sako. Everything will turn out alright, huh? Then why do I feel like it's all going to change once I enter the police station, meet Sesshomaru's mother or turn into Kikyo the next time?