*Gets all starry eyed* You like my fic, you really like my fic! I'm so happy! I have fans, this is so great! I'm going to try to keep my code of honor (and not get a big ego) and update once a day, maybe every other day. But I feel so loved that today, I'm gonna do another chapter!
*puts on a pair of glasses and whips out a list* I, Jesse the Wolf Demon, would like to thank the following:
Mousas: I'm so happy you like it! Fear not for I will update as soon as I can, or I will sacrifice Kouga, my role model, to the rain god! *Kouga in a toliet paper cacoon slowly being lowered into a vat of boiling cheese*
chibi moon baby: You love it? Really? You've totally made my day. I'm trying really hard on this fic and you're support makes it all worth it!
Trina3: Thanks for the encouragement, it means a lot.
And so, this update is officially dedicated to you, my three reviewers. I'm really happy you like it and I'm not simply writing for myself. *getting all comically teary-eyed* Knowing at least one person (but I have three, tee-hee) makes it soooo much better! Arigato!
Chapter 3:
Recognitions, Roommates, and a Grand Entrance
The morning light woke me from my sleep, much as it had the day before. But it took me a few seconds of panic to realize where I was. I was not in my apartment. My clock was not blinking the time at me. I could hear voices coming from upstairs. This was Kaede's Place, the bar I ate at just about every day with Miroku. I was curled up into a little ball on one of the booths in the back of the small tavern and there was a huge creak in my back that needed a good stretch. So that's what I did; I stretched so that my back cracked really loud.
"Ow, that must have felt good," a voice and a laugh said to me. I looked up at a face leaning over the table above me. "Kaede sent me to wake you up anyway. She's opening in a few minutes." The events of yesterday flew threw my mind. The girl, the gang, the tavern. Quick flashes that left me with a headache and a lot of random thoughts left over from when I drifted off.
"'Morning to you too Kagome," I muttered, sitting up and running the back of my hand over my eyes. Still half asleep, I pulled off my hat and ran a hand threw my hair. There was a small meep and I looked up to see Kagome, her eyes wide, looking at my head. I froze, ears twitching.
"I thought so," she said after a few silent seconds. Her eyes held a look of triumph, like she had been puzzling for a while and now found the answer. "You're a half demon!"
"Glad you have eyes," I muttered rather briskly, getting up and jamming the hat back on to my head. I was not a happy camper when people started to pry. Kagome seemed undaunted by my tone, and seemed to have forgotten the tense conversation the night before.
"I felt the demonic energy around you, but it wasn't the same as a regular demon's. So you're a dog demon?" she question, poking me in the shoulder until I looked at her again.
"Yeah, what of it?" I barked. She looked a little miffed, but let it slide.
"Nothing, I was just asking." She shrugged, then went to go flip on the tavern's 'OPEN' sign. Kaede came down from her room, apron tied around her waist, and began bustling around to make breakfast. Kagome went to help her and I just sat at the bar, waking slowly. There was a tug at my sleeve and a mug was placed in my hands. I looked down at the coffee, then up at Kagome, who flashed me a lightning quick smile before getting back to her task at hand. I sipped the drink and found that she had even put sugar in it already.
"You certainly know your way around the kitchen, my dear," Kaede told her proudly, patting her on the head even though Kagome had a good foot on the old bat.
"Survival," Kagome said with a cheerful smile. "When you live with your culinary failure of a grandfather and a little brother who plays with food more then he eats it, you learn to cook really fast." They both laughed. I watched the scene like I was set apart from it, like watching it on TV. It looked really natural for them to serve the people as they started to come in for breakfast. I felt a strange feeling of contentment, sitting there, sipping my coffee, watching the two women.
At least I did until I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see my very pissed off business partner, tapping his foot, which is never a good thing, and crossing his arms. "I looked around half the city for you, Inuyasha," he said with a frown. "And where do I find you? Sitting in Kaede's Place, drinking tea like it's--"
"Coffee," Kagome corrected as she walked by, placing a breakfast plate in front of me and grabbing another for Miroku. "Would you like something?" Miroku just blinked at her stupidly.
"Pardon me?"
"I said he was drinking coffee, then I offered you breakfast. It's on me, since you seem to be a friend of Inuyasha's." She gave him that lightning smile of hers, and handed him a fork. Miroku sat in a seat, still blinking at her with a dumb expression. Never faltering for a second, Kagome refilled my coffee and handed one to Miroku. "Could I get you two anything else?"
"No, I think we're good Kagome, thanks," I said. She bowed her head and ran over to Kaede.
"Since when does Kaede have an apprentice?" Miroku finally said, eyes following the girl around. "And is it just me, or is she yummy to the point of a stomach ache?!"
I calmly sat there, drinking my coffee. "Roll your tongue back into your mouth Miroku. Her name is Kagome, she's why I didn't go home last night."
"Inuyasha, you dog! You were here, with her, all NIGHT!" Although his voice was low, he still got a few glances because of the absolutely idiotic expression on his face. I felt myself blushing hard before I whacked him over the head.
"Not like that you baka!" I yelled at him, before quieting myself. "She was getting roughed up by a few thugs last night, I rescued her, brought her back here. End of story. It got dark so I crashed until morning." Miroku looked let down, and sighed heavily before eating his breakfast. Then his face brightened.
"Wow, this is really good! Try some Inuyasha!" I did, and he was right. This was better then Kaede's usual, way better. It was because Kagome had made our food. There were murmurs around the room of how much better breakfast was. Kaede made a few unladylike remarks and Kagome laughed aloud. "So you were like what? A knight in shining armor or something? 'Oh Inuyasha, you're my hero!'" Miroku had enough sense to dodge my fist, but I caught him off guard with the backhand.
"I don't know what possessed me, I really don't. I just saw six really large demons about to assault that," I pointed to Kagome. It went without words that she was a pretty, defenseless girl. Though not totally defenseless. She gave a couple of those guys some nasty reminders, but the numbers were too great for one girl.
"I would have done the same thing," Miroku said seriously. We both watched Kagome a few minutes until she looked up at us and we quickly went back to breakfast.
"Miroku, the only reason you'd have to save a girl is that you'd hope she'd sleep with you out of gratitude!" Miroku thought this over.
"Yeah, you're probably right." We both laughed and I shook my head. The guy had absolutely no shame whatsoever.
Miroku and I hung around Kaede's Place the rest of the morning. We had a good haul the day before, there was really no rush to go out for more money today. We could survive. Kaede didn't even threaten us to get out, she was far to busy chatting with Kagome like a school girl. And Kagome looked like she was having the time of her life. The costumers in the tavern were smitten with her polite attitude and her cooking. Some flirted with her and she'd laugh and converse briefly. It was quite a sight to behold. She blended so well into the tavern atmosphere. Maybe she could stay here for a while, Kaede would love to have her stay without a doubt, since she really had no where else to go.
Once the breakfast rush was gone, Kaede shooed Kagome off to take a break. She flopped on to a stool next to me and Miroku. "Hi," she said cheerily. "You guys ok over here?"
"Yeah, we're fine," I said. Miroku had suddenly disappeared from my side and I saw that he was next to Kagome, taking her hand in his.
"Thank you so much for the most delicious meal I have ever eaten, miss," he said dramatically, but with just enough charm to usher a blush from her. Despite her words from last night, Kagome was naive to Miroku.
"I'm so glad you liked it. My name is Kagome, and you are?"
"Miroku," he replied with a dashing bow. Kagome smiled.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miroku," she said in return.
"The pleasure is all mine." And he meant it literally. That was his cue for his classic attack of lechery on any female. I awaited the outraged scream and a loud smack while sipping my coffee again, but it never came. I looked over and saw the Kagome had Miroku's hand in her own, inches from where it would have grabbed at her chest. She was bending his finger backwards, hard, and Miroku was on his knees, crying like a little girl. Kagome had a calm look on her face. Maybe she wasn't so naive after all! "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Miroku whined.
"Don't try anything funny with me Miroku. I know all the tricks in the book." Her voice was dry as she released his finger. I watched the exchange and tried my best not to snicker, but laughed into my coffee anyway. Miroku went back to his original seat, rubbing his hand.
"What a brutal chick," he mumbled.
"Serves you right. Not every girl is ready for your 'Bag of Lechery Tricks', my friend."
"Oh ha ha, did you think of that one all by yourself Inuyasha?" he asked me. I thought a moment.
"Yes, yes I did." He snickered with me. We both stopped however when Kagome jumped to her feet. "Something wrong Kagome?" I asked. Her face was a mask of horror, and her body was tense. She was looking at something outside. I followed her gaze. Standing just outside the bar were two of the reptile demons from last night, but with them were four other men. Men who were wearing jackets with a large puppet symbol on their back. Four members of The Golem gang.
"What are they doing this far from the Heart of the City?" Miroku mused aloud, seeing what we saw.
"He's found me," Kagome breathed as she bolted from the room. Kaede watched the girl run threw the tavern and up the stairs.
"Kagome, what's wrong, child?"
"Miroku," I said to my friend. "Those guys, the ones with the bruises. They were with the ones who attacked Kagome last night." He looked at me startled.
"You were fighting with Golems?" He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. In truth, I guess I did.
"I didn't know they were Golems, honest!" But that was the moment that the six thugs took the opportunity to enter the bar. I turned around quickly. It would be unlikely that the two demons from last night would recognize me, but I didn't want to take chances. "They must be looking for Kagome," I hissed at Miroku under my breath.
"Why would they be looking for her?"
"She has something they want."
"Attention everyone," one of the Golems said in a loud voice. Kaede ran up to them.
"What the meaning of this? This is a good place, I want no trouble here!" She warned them with a finger. All the gangs knew the rules about Kaede's Place, but these guys obviously didn't care.
"Shut up hag," one of the smaller ones yelled. "We're busy."
"We're not looking for trouble here, we're just trying to find someone. Our boss's sister ran away from home yesterday and he's really worried about her. Her name is Kagome." The boss of the group reached into his jacket and pulled out a photograph of Kagome and showed it too the people in the booths, even at Kaede.
"I haven't seen any such person," she barked. "Now leave!"
"In a minute," he said, brushing past her. The one holding the photograph came over to Miroku and me, one o the two I kicked the night before. He eyed me suspiciously, then flashed the picture. "You see this wench?" he asked with a snarl. I sipped my coffee, though it was cold now.
"No."
Miroku answered the same and he moved on to other people. Everyone was nervous of the Golems, they were the most feared people in all the city, but if you show them no fear, they'll leave you pretty much alone. As long as you follow the rules. But people still feared them. And when a Golem gives you a murderous stare, it's only a matter of time before the weak crack like an egg.
"She was here!" one such eggs cried, curling up in a booth toward the back. "She was here, but then she run up the stairs before you came in! Please...please just leave me alone." The guy was rewarded for his stool-pigeon-ry with a slap to the face. Then three of the gang members went up the stairs.
"See here!" Kaede yelled at them, trying to block the stairs. "Coming into the bar is one thing! But going into my private property is another, I demand you leave my building at once!" They shoved her aside with much effort. Kaede feel hard to the floor. Miroku and I were at her side in a second.
"Grandma, are you ok?" Miroku asked concerned. I stared daggers at the gang, but they ignored us. All their focus was on finding Kagome. I had to admit, there was a knot in my stomach, thinking to hear her yell at any second. The seconds turned into minutes, but that yell of recognition never came. Eventually the three demons upstairs came back down, scowling.
"Well?" The leader asked them.
"A window in one of the rooms was open to the fire escape. Looks like she crawled out and got away." I let out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Kaede looked relieved too.
"Hag," the leader yelled at her. "You lied to us..." He took a few steps toward her. I got in between them. Have I recently mentioned that I am the stupidest being ever spawned?
"She's not here already, stop terrorizing an old woman," I growled. "She doesn't want any trouble. This is a neutral zone." The leader snorted at me.
"Half-demon," it was said like a curse. I trembled with the intense urge to crack him across the face with the largest, heaviest thing I could find. That would have been Miroku.
"Come on, no fighting in the neutral zone. It's the rule!" Miroku was next to me. The leader snorted at him too, but turned and the other left behind him. Kaede got to her feet and yelled at the 'pathetic little worm who couldn't hold his water long enough' that had told Kagome had been there. I could help but smirk at the old woman. She still had a hell of a lot of sand to stand up to gang members and costumers and still live the next morning.
My smile faded when I realized that Kagome was out of the frying pan, but likely back in the fire. She was out there, where the rest of the Golem gang was probably scouring the city looking for her. But now that they knew she had been at Kaede's Place, it wouldn't be safe for her to stay. She was lost outside again. I was about to go look for her when someone grabbed my arm. I looked down at Kaede. "Listen to me Inuyasha," she said in a fierce voice. One that even had me scared, just a little. "You go find that girl, and you take her somewhere safe, you hear me?"
"I was just about to do that, if you hadn't stopped me," I growled, but without malice. She let go and pointed to the door.
"My fee for having your lazy ass sleeping in my place." I grumbled as I left, Miroku following me.
"What are we going to do if we find her?" he asked me. "She can't go back to Kaede's if they know she was there."
"I guess she'll just have to stay with me then," I said without really thinking about it.
"Really?" Miroku said, then raised his eyebrows in a rather annoyingly suggestive way.
"Mind out of the gutter, you pervert! We have to concentrate on finding her first." He nodded and we began to look around all the areas she might have hidden in once leaving the bar.
We looked most of the day, and when it was getting close to sundown and we still hadn't found her, I was getting seriously panicked. Like Kaede told me yesterday, she was pretty and young. It was not a good thing to be in the city, especially at night. She wouldn't last long if a gang caught her. Not a sweet girl like her, with those stars in her eyes. Maybe she wasn't naive, but she was innocent.
"Inuyasha, what are we gonna do?" Miroku said, his voice as panicky as mine.
"How the hell should I know? We have to find her fast!" I was getting frustrated, sniffing the air for any trace of her scent. I had been doing it all afternoon, but with so many people, hers would be quickly lost.
"Anything?" Miroku asked, watching me sniff the air deeply. I was about to tell him no when I caught it, the slight touch of her.
"Wait...it's her!" I grabbed his arm and we ran down a west alley. The farther we went, the stronger her scent. It wasn't long before we a distant figure climbing over a fence, sweatshirt caught on one of the rungs, and two large figures giving chase.
"Kagome!" we yelled, racing toward her. All three people looked up at us. The smallest one, the one on the fence, was Kagome.
"Inuyasha? Miroku?" she called, looking a cross between afraid and relieved. The two people chasing her were wearing Golem gang jackets. When they saw us coming towards them, they took off down another alley. Back to tell their boss that their prey had help now most likely. Again I asked myself the question, just what did I get myself into? But we finally reached the fence now.
"Kagome, are you alright?" I asked, looking up at her as she climbed down.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, hopping the last foot to the ground. "Thanks, you two. Those guys were chasing me for six blocks. I just couldn't shake them." She was panting, hands on her knees, head bent over with all her hand curtaining her face. Then she looked up at us. "What are you two doing here?"
"Looking for you," Miroku said. Her dark eyes got wide.
"Why? You didn't have to do that!"
"Oh yeah, we're just gonna leave you out here for the night!" I almost yelled at her. "With Golems chasing you no less!" She blushed a bright red, straightening.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't want to get anyone involved in my troubles. And I really had no idea that they would find me so quickly." She sighed, fingering something at her neck again. I shook off the question and just grabbed her arm.
"Well come on, we can't be out here for nightfall," I began dragging her down the alley, back toward the main city streets. Miroku walked next to her, explaining how the gang members looked in the bar and then how we were searching for her. We reached the intersecting streets from where I would go south to get to my apartment and Miroku would go west.
"It's been nice talking to you Kagome, I hope to see you soon."
"Me too," she said with a smile. Miroku tried his attack once more. Kagome denied it, and nearly broke another of his fingers. Then we parted. "Um, Inuyasha," she asked me, looking at the darkening sky.
"Yeah?" I replied, forcing myself to go a slower pace then I wanted to.
"Where are we going?" It was an innocent enough question.
"You can't go back to Kaede's, at least not now. The gang will be hanging around in case you go back now that they know you've been there. So I'm taking you back to my apartment." I explained without looking at her, we were almost there.
"Oh, ok." Her voice was light and she shrugged off my hand to jog beside me. "We almost there?"
I pointed to my place. "Right here." I unlocked the door and we went in, me bolting the three locks before letting out a deep sigh and leaning my head against the door. Kagome turned on a light behind me and looked around. "I know it's small."
"It's really nice," she said. Her smile was genuine and I felt a little bit of relief. I didn't think she would like it. But what do I care if some girl I picked up off the street two days ago doesn't like my place? I shrugged and brushed by her toward a small closet near the bathroom. I grabbed the extra two blankets and tossed them to her.
"Would you mind sleeping on the floor tonight, or do you need a bed?" I know i was sounded kind of mean, but my back was still hurting from last night's booth-bed and I could really use a good night's rest.
"Floor is fine for me." Her tone expressed nothing but good-nature. It was a little strange that she wasn't upset or gonna kick me or something! I'd never met a girl who was so…not fickle.
She spread the blankets out in a little corner next to my bed, making a sort of nest. I coughed and she looked up at me. "Bathroom's in the back if you need a shower or anything," I explained. It was in the back of the place, then came my bedroom/living room with the TV, a table with my digital clock, my bed and now her nest. Further up from that was the kitchen with a small table to eat at. "Kitchen's over there." She nodded, looking around.
"It's cozy," she said with a smile. "Reminds me of the dorms I lived at in school, only bigger." This surprised me. I knew from experience that my pad was very small, but she seemed perfectly comfortable. Like part of the place even, and that was spooky.
"Yeah, I guess. Listen, I'm gonna take a shower, you get used to the place." I headed for the bathroom after she nodded. Happy to get out of my two-day-old clothes, I relaxed a little more. It's been an exciting two days. When I got out, I smelled something cooking, something making my mouth water. I followed the delicious smell to find Kagome in my kitchen, dishing out some food into two bowls.
"I figured," she began, not looking up at me. She was too intent on the job at hand. "While I'm here, I can earn my place. I'm good at cooking and I can keep the place clean and all of that." She looked up at me then, holding out a bowl. "Hope you don't mind that I made some Ramen." I drooled as I walked over to take the bowl from her hand. Ramen, the greatest invention in the history of the world. Ramen. There is nothing it can be compared to, nothing to be said about it. Ramen is just...Ramen.
"You are free to stay here as long as you want," I said, stuffing my face with as much Ramen as I could fit. "As long as you cook Ramen."
She giggled, it was a surprisingly cute sound. "No problems here," she said with a smile. "Ramen is my favorite food in the world!" I think that was when I knew I liked that girl. She smiled at me again, then continued to eat. We were in there, eating Ramen, when there was a knock at the door. I tensed, getting to my feet.
"Who's there?" I called threw the door.
"I'm looking for Kagome," a voice called back. I tensed, knowing not to answer it. But Kagome, who had come up behind me, had a strange look on her face.
It couldn't be..." she said, then unlocked the door before I could stop her. I was about to curse her stupidity (like I am really a judge of that) for opening the door, at night, when people were looking for her, when her shout cut me off. "SANGO!"
"KAGOME!" There was a moment of incoherent girl shrieking, then Kagome pulled someone inside, hugging madly. I locked the door behind them, watching with a confused look and a raised eyebrow.
"How'd you find me?" Kagome asked the newcomer. I saw it was a girl about the same age as Kagome. She had black hair held up in a high pony tail, and lighter eyes. She was pretty, a little taller then Kagome, and looked a little buffer.
"I've been looking for you for three days! I got a led that said you were at Kaede's Place. After I had a conversation with the woman herself, she said that if you weren't at this apartment with a man named Inuyasha, then she couldn't help me. I'm so happy I found you!" There were tears in her eyes, and in Kagome's too I saw. They hugged again and laughed some more.
"Ahem," I said as politely as I could. "I hate to break this up, but who exactly are you?"
"This is Sango," Kagome said in introduction. "She's my dearest friend in all the world!" We shook hands and I landed myself another houseguest for the night. Although Sango, another very polite girl, assured me that she would not be staying more then one night, I had that feeling it would take a while to pry the girls apart. Two room mates for the price of one, but at least the Ramen is worth it, right?
Behold, Chapter 3 is complete. Whatcha think my loyal fans? Was it good? Do you like it? I think that was a good chapter. Sorry I could get Shippou in, I haven't found his opening just yet. But they will be more Sango action in Chapter 4, especially when Miroku gets a grand introduction *snickers* I just love playing God! Stay tuned, I'll try another chapter for tomorrow if I can swing it!
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~
*puts on a pair of glasses and whips out a list* I, Jesse the Wolf Demon, would like to thank the following:
Mousas: I'm so happy you like it! Fear not for I will update as soon as I can, or I will sacrifice Kouga, my role model, to the rain god! *Kouga in a toliet paper cacoon slowly being lowered into a vat of boiling cheese*
chibi moon baby: You love it? Really? You've totally made my day. I'm trying really hard on this fic and you're support makes it all worth it!
Trina3: Thanks for the encouragement, it means a lot.
And so, this update is officially dedicated to you, my three reviewers. I'm really happy you like it and I'm not simply writing for myself. *getting all comically teary-eyed* Knowing at least one person (but I have three, tee-hee) makes it soooo much better! Arigato!
Chapter 3:
Recognitions, Roommates, and a Grand Entrance
The morning light woke me from my sleep, much as it had the day before. But it took me a few seconds of panic to realize where I was. I was not in my apartment. My clock was not blinking the time at me. I could hear voices coming from upstairs. This was Kaede's Place, the bar I ate at just about every day with Miroku. I was curled up into a little ball on one of the booths in the back of the small tavern and there was a huge creak in my back that needed a good stretch. So that's what I did; I stretched so that my back cracked really loud.
"Ow, that must have felt good," a voice and a laugh said to me. I looked up at a face leaning over the table above me. "Kaede sent me to wake you up anyway. She's opening in a few minutes." The events of yesterday flew threw my mind. The girl, the gang, the tavern. Quick flashes that left me with a headache and a lot of random thoughts left over from when I drifted off.
"'Morning to you too Kagome," I muttered, sitting up and running the back of my hand over my eyes. Still half asleep, I pulled off my hat and ran a hand threw my hair. There was a small meep and I looked up to see Kagome, her eyes wide, looking at my head. I froze, ears twitching.
"I thought so," she said after a few silent seconds. Her eyes held a look of triumph, like she had been puzzling for a while and now found the answer. "You're a half demon!"
"Glad you have eyes," I muttered rather briskly, getting up and jamming the hat back on to my head. I was not a happy camper when people started to pry. Kagome seemed undaunted by my tone, and seemed to have forgotten the tense conversation the night before.
"I felt the demonic energy around you, but it wasn't the same as a regular demon's. So you're a dog demon?" she question, poking me in the shoulder until I looked at her again.
"Yeah, what of it?" I barked. She looked a little miffed, but let it slide.
"Nothing, I was just asking." She shrugged, then went to go flip on the tavern's 'OPEN' sign. Kaede came down from her room, apron tied around her waist, and began bustling around to make breakfast. Kagome went to help her and I just sat at the bar, waking slowly. There was a tug at my sleeve and a mug was placed in my hands. I looked down at the coffee, then up at Kagome, who flashed me a lightning quick smile before getting back to her task at hand. I sipped the drink and found that she had even put sugar in it already.
"You certainly know your way around the kitchen, my dear," Kaede told her proudly, patting her on the head even though Kagome had a good foot on the old bat.
"Survival," Kagome said with a cheerful smile. "When you live with your culinary failure of a grandfather and a little brother who plays with food more then he eats it, you learn to cook really fast." They both laughed. I watched the scene like I was set apart from it, like watching it on TV. It looked really natural for them to serve the people as they started to come in for breakfast. I felt a strange feeling of contentment, sitting there, sipping my coffee, watching the two women.
At least I did until I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see my very pissed off business partner, tapping his foot, which is never a good thing, and crossing his arms. "I looked around half the city for you, Inuyasha," he said with a frown. "And where do I find you? Sitting in Kaede's Place, drinking tea like it's--"
"Coffee," Kagome corrected as she walked by, placing a breakfast plate in front of me and grabbing another for Miroku. "Would you like something?" Miroku just blinked at her stupidly.
"Pardon me?"
"I said he was drinking coffee, then I offered you breakfast. It's on me, since you seem to be a friend of Inuyasha's." She gave him that lightning smile of hers, and handed him a fork. Miroku sat in a seat, still blinking at her with a dumb expression. Never faltering for a second, Kagome refilled my coffee and handed one to Miroku. "Could I get you two anything else?"
"No, I think we're good Kagome, thanks," I said. She bowed her head and ran over to Kaede.
"Since when does Kaede have an apprentice?" Miroku finally said, eyes following the girl around. "And is it just me, or is she yummy to the point of a stomach ache?!"
I calmly sat there, drinking my coffee. "Roll your tongue back into your mouth Miroku. Her name is Kagome, she's why I didn't go home last night."
"Inuyasha, you dog! You were here, with her, all NIGHT!" Although his voice was low, he still got a few glances because of the absolutely idiotic expression on his face. I felt myself blushing hard before I whacked him over the head.
"Not like that you baka!" I yelled at him, before quieting myself. "She was getting roughed up by a few thugs last night, I rescued her, brought her back here. End of story. It got dark so I crashed until morning." Miroku looked let down, and sighed heavily before eating his breakfast. Then his face brightened.
"Wow, this is really good! Try some Inuyasha!" I did, and he was right. This was better then Kaede's usual, way better. It was because Kagome had made our food. There were murmurs around the room of how much better breakfast was. Kaede made a few unladylike remarks and Kagome laughed aloud. "So you were like what? A knight in shining armor or something? 'Oh Inuyasha, you're my hero!'" Miroku had enough sense to dodge my fist, but I caught him off guard with the backhand.
"I don't know what possessed me, I really don't. I just saw six really large demons about to assault that," I pointed to Kagome. It went without words that she was a pretty, defenseless girl. Though not totally defenseless. She gave a couple of those guys some nasty reminders, but the numbers were too great for one girl.
"I would have done the same thing," Miroku said seriously. We both watched Kagome a few minutes until she looked up at us and we quickly went back to breakfast.
"Miroku, the only reason you'd have to save a girl is that you'd hope she'd sleep with you out of gratitude!" Miroku thought this over.
"Yeah, you're probably right." We both laughed and I shook my head. The guy had absolutely no shame whatsoever.
Miroku and I hung around Kaede's Place the rest of the morning. We had a good haul the day before, there was really no rush to go out for more money today. We could survive. Kaede didn't even threaten us to get out, she was far to busy chatting with Kagome like a school girl. And Kagome looked like she was having the time of her life. The costumers in the tavern were smitten with her polite attitude and her cooking. Some flirted with her and she'd laugh and converse briefly. It was quite a sight to behold. She blended so well into the tavern atmosphere. Maybe she could stay here for a while, Kaede would love to have her stay without a doubt, since she really had no where else to go.
Once the breakfast rush was gone, Kaede shooed Kagome off to take a break. She flopped on to a stool next to me and Miroku. "Hi," she said cheerily. "You guys ok over here?"
"Yeah, we're fine," I said. Miroku had suddenly disappeared from my side and I saw that he was next to Kagome, taking her hand in his.
"Thank you so much for the most delicious meal I have ever eaten, miss," he said dramatically, but with just enough charm to usher a blush from her. Despite her words from last night, Kagome was naive to Miroku.
"I'm so glad you liked it. My name is Kagome, and you are?"
"Miroku," he replied with a dashing bow. Kagome smiled.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miroku," she said in return.
"The pleasure is all mine." And he meant it literally. That was his cue for his classic attack of lechery on any female. I awaited the outraged scream and a loud smack while sipping my coffee again, but it never came. I looked over and saw the Kagome had Miroku's hand in her own, inches from where it would have grabbed at her chest. She was bending his finger backwards, hard, and Miroku was on his knees, crying like a little girl. Kagome had a calm look on her face. Maybe she wasn't so naive after all! "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Miroku whined.
"Don't try anything funny with me Miroku. I know all the tricks in the book." Her voice was dry as she released his finger. I watched the exchange and tried my best not to snicker, but laughed into my coffee anyway. Miroku went back to his original seat, rubbing his hand.
"What a brutal chick," he mumbled.
"Serves you right. Not every girl is ready for your 'Bag of Lechery Tricks', my friend."
"Oh ha ha, did you think of that one all by yourself Inuyasha?" he asked me. I thought a moment.
"Yes, yes I did." He snickered with me. We both stopped however when Kagome jumped to her feet. "Something wrong Kagome?" I asked. Her face was a mask of horror, and her body was tense. She was looking at something outside. I followed her gaze. Standing just outside the bar were two of the reptile demons from last night, but with them were four other men. Men who were wearing jackets with a large puppet symbol on their back. Four members of The Golem gang.
"What are they doing this far from the Heart of the City?" Miroku mused aloud, seeing what we saw.
"He's found me," Kagome breathed as she bolted from the room. Kaede watched the girl run threw the tavern and up the stairs.
"Kagome, what's wrong, child?"
"Miroku," I said to my friend. "Those guys, the ones with the bruises. They were with the ones who attacked Kagome last night." He looked at me startled.
"You were fighting with Golems?" He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. In truth, I guess I did.
"I didn't know they were Golems, honest!" But that was the moment that the six thugs took the opportunity to enter the bar. I turned around quickly. It would be unlikely that the two demons from last night would recognize me, but I didn't want to take chances. "They must be looking for Kagome," I hissed at Miroku under my breath.
"Why would they be looking for her?"
"She has something they want."
"Attention everyone," one of the Golems said in a loud voice. Kaede ran up to them.
"What the meaning of this? This is a good place, I want no trouble here!" She warned them with a finger. All the gangs knew the rules about Kaede's Place, but these guys obviously didn't care.
"Shut up hag," one of the smaller ones yelled. "We're busy."
"We're not looking for trouble here, we're just trying to find someone. Our boss's sister ran away from home yesterday and he's really worried about her. Her name is Kagome." The boss of the group reached into his jacket and pulled out a photograph of Kagome and showed it too the people in the booths, even at Kaede.
"I haven't seen any such person," she barked. "Now leave!"
"In a minute," he said, brushing past her. The one holding the photograph came over to Miroku and me, one o the two I kicked the night before. He eyed me suspiciously, then flashed the picture. "You see this wench?" he asked with a snarl. I sipped my coffee, though it was cold now.
"No."
Miroku answered the same and he moved on to other people. Everyone was nervous of the Golems, they were the most feared people in all the city, but if you show them no fear, they'll leave you pretty much alone. As long as you follow the rules. But people still feared them. And when a Golem gives you a murderous stare, it's only a matter of time before the weak crack like an egg.
"She was here!" one such eggs cried, curling up in a booth toward the back. "She was here, but then she run up the stairs before you came in! Please...please just leave me alone." The guy was rewarded for his stool-pigeon-ry with a slap to the face. Then three of the gang members went up the stairs.
"See here!" Kaede yelled at them, trying to block the stairs. "Coming into the bar is one thing! But going into my private property is another, I demand you leave my building at once!" They shoved her aside with much effort. Kaede feel hard to the floor. Miroku and I were at her side in a second.
"Grandma, are you ok?" Miroku asked concerned. I stared daggers at the gang, but they ignored us. All their focus was on finding Kagome. I had to admit, there was a knot in my stomach, thinking to hear her yell at any second. The seconds turned into minutes, but that yell of recognition never came. Eventually the three demons upstairs came back down, scowling.
"Well?" The leader asked them.
"A window in one of the rooms was open to the fire escape. Looks like she crawled out and got away." I let out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Kaede looked relieved too.
"Hag," the leader yelled at her. "You lied to us..." He took a few steps toward her. I got in between them. Have I recently mentioned that I am the stupidest being ever spawned?
"She's not here already, stop terrorizing an old woman," I growled. "She doesn't want any trouble. This is a neutral zone." The leader snorted at me.
"Half-demon," it was said like a curse. I trembled with the intense urge to crack him across the face with the largest, heaviest thing I could find. That would have been Miroku.
"Come on, no fighting in the neutral zone. It's the rule!" Miroku was next to me. The leader snorted at him too, but turned and the other left behind him. Kaede got to her feet and yelled at the 'pathetic little worm who couldn't hold his water long enough' that had told Kagome had been there. I could help but smirk at the old woman. She still had a hell of a lot of sand to stand up to gang members and costumers and still live the next morning.
My smile faded when I realized that Kagome was out of the frying pan, but likely back in the fire. She was out there, where the rest of the Golem gang was probably scouring the city looking for her. But now that they knew she had been at Kaede's Place, it wouldn't be safe for her to stay. She was lost outside again. I was about to go look for her when someone grabbed my arm. I looked down at Kaede. "Listen to me Inuyasha," she said in a fierce voice. One that even had me scared, just a little. "You go find that girl, and you take her somewhere safe, you hear me?"
"I was just about to do that, if you hadn't stopped me," I growled, but without malice. She let go and pointed to the door.
"My fee for having your lazy ass sleeping in my place." I grumbled as I left, Miroku following me.
"What are we going to do if we find her?" he asked me. "She can't go back to Kaede's if they know she was there."
"I guess she'll just have to stay with me then," I said without really thinking about it.
"Really?" Miroku said, then raised his eyebrows in a rather annoyingly suggestive way.
"Mind out of the gutter, you pervert! We have to concentrate on finding her first." He nodded and we began to look around all the areas she might have hidden in once leaving the bar.
We looked most of the day, and when it was getting close to sundown and we still hadn't found her, I was getting seriously panicked. Like Kaede told me yesterday, she was pretty and young. It was not a good thing to be in the city, especially at night. She wouldn't last long if a gang caught her. Not a sweet girl like her, with those stars in her eyes. Maybe she wasn't naive, but she was innocent.
"Inuyasha, what are we gonna do?" Miroku said, his voice as panicky as mine.
"How the hell should I know? We have to find her fast!" I was getting frustrated, sniffing the air for any trace of her scent. I had been doing it all afternoon, but with so many people, hers would be quickly lost.
"Anything?" Miroku asked, watching me sniff the air deeply. I was about to tell him no when I caught it, the slight touch of her.
"Wait...it's her!" I grabbed his arm and we ran down a west alley. The farther we went, the stronger her scent. It wasn't long before we a distant figure climbing over a fence, sweatshirt caught on one of the rungs, and two large figures giving chase.
"Kagome!" we yelled, racing toward her. All three people looked up at us. The smallest one, the one on the fence, was Kagome.
"Inuyasha? Miroku?" she called, looking a cross between afraid and relieved. The two people chasing her were wearing Golem gang jackets. When they saw us coming towards them, they took off down another alley. Back to tell their boss that their prey had help now most likely. Again I asked myself the question, just what did I get myself into? But we finally reached the fence now.
"Kagome, are you alright?" I asked, looking up at her as she climbed down.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, hopping the last foot to the ground. "Thanks, you two. Those guys were chasing me for six blocks. I just couldn't shake them." She was panting, hands on her knees, head bent over with all her hand curtaining her face. Then she looked up at us. "What are you two doing here?"
"Looking for you," Miroku said. Her dark eyes got wide.
"Why? You didn't have to do that!"
"Oh yeah, we're just gonna leave you out here for the night!" I almost yelled at her. "With Golems chasing you no less!" She blushed a bright red, straightening.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't want to get anyone involved in my troubles. And I really had no idea that they would find me so quickly." She sighed, fingering something at her neck again. I shook off the question and just grabbed her arm.
"Well come on, we can't be out here for nightfall," I began dragging her down the alley, back toward the main city streets. Miroku walked next to her, explaining how the gang members looked in the bar and then how we were searching for her. We reached the intersecting streets from where I would go south to get to my apartment and Miroku would go west.
"It's been nice talking to you Kagome, I hope to see you soon."
"Me too," she said with a smile. Miroku tried his attack once more. Kagome denied it, and nearly broke another of his fingers. Then we parted. "Um, Inuyasha," she asked me, looking at the darkening sky.
"Yeah?" I replied, forcing myself to go a slower pace then I wanted to.
"Where are we going?" It was an innocent enough question.
"You can't go back to Kaede's, at least not now. The gang will be hanging around in case you go back now that they know you've been there. So I'm taking you back to my apartment." I explained without looking at her, we were almost there.
"Oh, ok." Her voice was light and she shrugged off my hand to jog beside me. "We almost there?"
I pointed to my place. "Right here." I unlocked the door and we went in, me bolting the three locks before letting out a deep sigh and leaning my head against the door. Kagome turned on a light behind me and looked around. "I know it's small."
"It's really nice," she said. Her smile was genuine and I felt a little bit of relief. I didn't think she would like it. But what do I care if some girl I picked up off the street two days ago doesn't like my place? I shrugged and brushed by her toward a small closet near the bathroom. I grabbed the extra two blankets and tossed them to her.
"Would you mind sleeping on the floor tonight, or do you need a bed?" I know i was sounded kind of mean, but my back was still hurting from last night's booth-bed and I could really use a good night's rest.
"Floor is fine for me." Her tone expressed nothing but good-nature. It was a little strange that she wasn't upset or gonna kick me or something! I'd never met a girl who was so…not fickle.
She spread the blankets out in a little corner next to my bed, making a sort of nest. I coughed and she looked up at me. "Bathroom's in the back if you need a shower or anything," I explained. It was in the back of the place, then came my bedroom/living room with the TV, a table with my digital clock, my bed and now her nest. Further up from that was the kitchen with a small table to eat at. "Kitchen's over there." She nodded, looking around.
"It's cozy," she said with a smile. "Reminds me of the dorms I lived at in school, only bigger." This surprised me. I knew from experience that my pad was very small, but she seemed perfectly comfortable. Like part of the place even, and that was spooky.
"Yeah, I guess. Listen, I'm gonna take a shower, you get used to the place." I headed for the bathroom after she nodded. Happy to get out of my two-day-old clothes, I relaxed a little more. It's been an exciting two days. When I got out, I smelled something cooking, something making my mouth water. I followed the delicious smell to find Kagome in my kitchen, dishing out some food into two bowls.
"I figured," she began, not looking up at me. She was too intent on the job at hand. "While I'm here, I can earn my place. I'm good at cooking and I can keep the place clean and all of that." She looked up at me then, holding out a bowl. "Hope you don't mind that I made some Ramen." I drooled as I walked over to take the bowl from her hand. Ramen, the greatest invention in the history of the world. Ramen. There is nothing it can be compared to, nothing to be said about it. Ramen is just...Ramen.
"You are free to stay here as long as you want," I said, stuffing my face with as much Ramen as I could fit. "As long as you cook Ramen."
She giggled, it was a surprisingly cute sound. "No problems here," she said with a smile. "Ramen is my favorite food in the world!" I think that was when I knew I liked that girl. She smiled at me again, then continued to eat. We were in there, eating Ramen, when there was a knock at the door. I tensed, getting to my feet.
"Who's there?" I called threw the door.
"I'm looking for Kagome," a voice called back. I tensed, knowing not to answer it. But Kagome, who had come up behind me, had a strange look on her face.
It couldn't be..." she said, then unlocked the door before I could stop her. I was about to curse her stupidity (like I am really a judge of that) for opening the door, at night, when people were looking for her, when her shout cut me off. "SANGO!"
"KAGOME!" There was a moment of incoherent girl shrieking, then Kagome pulled someone inside, hugging madly. I locked the door behind them, watching with a confused look and a raised eyebrow.
"How'd you find me?" Kagome asked the newcomer. I saw it was a girl about the same age as Kagome. She had black hair held up in a high pony tail, and lighter eyes. She was pretty, a little taller then Kagome, and looked a little buffer.
"I've been looking for you for three days! I got a led that said you were at Kaede's Place. After I had a conversation with the woman herself, she said that if you weren't at this apartment with a man named Inuyasha, then she couldn't help me. I'm so happy I found you!" There were tears in her eyes, and in Kagome's too I saw. They hugged again and laughed some more.
"Ahem," I said as politely as I could. "I hate to break this up, but who exactly are you?"
"This is Sango," Kagome said in introduction. "She's my dearest friend in all the world!" We shook hands and I landed myself another houseguest for the night. Although Sango, another very polite girl, assured me that she would not be staying more then one night, I had that feeling it would take a while to pry the girls apart. Two room mates for the price of one, but at least the Ramen is worth it, right?
Behold, Chapter 3 is complete. Whatcha think my loyal fans? Was it good? Do you like it? I think that was a good chapter. Sorry I could get Shippou in, I haven't found his opening just yet. But they will be more Sango action in Chapter 4, especially when Miroku gets a grand introduction *snickers* I just love playing God! Stay tuned, I'll try another chapter for tomorrow if I can swing it!
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~