A/N: Hey there. I just figured out that FF.net cuts off your entry if you have this one face. So I reposted it, did you guys see? Well I'm temporary without Internet, because my parents bought me a laptop, and now my sister took over our other computer and refuses to let me use it. *sweatdrop* Or she times me. Anyways, my parent are going to get a hob so we can both go online! Yay! So for now I'm just writing without the help of the internet, which means I won't get to research or check if ff.net has reloaded chapter four. Thanks for being patient!
Disclaimer: I wonder how many millions of people in the world are grateful to Rumiko Takahashi for creating such wonderful anime? Especially...well, actually, I like them all. So she owns Inuyasha, and I'm just having some fun with him.
Dedication: To narcoleptic shishkabob, who reviewed for ALL my chapters! To Alice, who didn't have time to finish but reviewed anyway, lol. To chibicherry, Inaho, Itadakimasu, vicious-wolf , Tanti, and someone who didn't leave their name for telling me so nicely and helpfully that my chapter didn't show up. I appreciate it! To BlackJaguarBaby, Regina, Lin/Lyn, Cassandra Sisenta or Krey-Zey, I figure there's no reason to apologize because I didn't make the mistake on purpose, so I'll just say thanks for reading and reviewing, and that I fixed the chapter. ^_^ To Emmi-chan: Lol! I don't like sushi because no matter how much people try to convince me otherwise, I'm ALWAYS sure it's raw. ^_^;; Hope you feel better! To Pig Shark: I watched Inuyasha last night! It was really good and I don't even think they messed up the voices too bad. And they kept the Japanese names and songs, too! I was hoping they wouldn't call the Shikon no Tama the Shikon jewel, and they didn't. Too bad it only comes on once a week! To whitewingeddragon1, who left a _lovely_ long review that made me remember why I love writing fanfiction. To hera goddess for the encouragement and to Sasal the Snowgirl, I meant that Kouga isn't like .. the father of the kids. ^__^ Haha. So yeah, thanks for reviewing!
Road Trip
Chapter Five:
"We've been driving the whole afternoon!" Inuyasha complained. "I thought this was a vacation. And aren't we supposed to have fun on vacations?"
"Well, Inuyasha, since your idea of having fun is winning at cards, I'd think you were having the time of your life." Kagome couldn't help but feel a bit bitter, as all of her Teddy Grahams were now in Inuyasha's hand, slowly traveling into his mouth one at a time. She scowled. Inuyasha scowled right back. "It's no fun playing for cookies." he snapped. "And you're not exactly a challenge, either." Kagome figured that he was being a sore winner, since she had lasted three hours against him, which was two hours and 55 minutes more than Sango had. 'Course, she knew better than to point that out when Inuyasha was in this type of mood. She hadn't known him very long but she already knew how typically male this typical male could be. Miroku, another typical male, had refused to have anyone substitute him as driver. "If it counts for anything, I'm having fun." he announced. Inuyasha growled. "It counts for absolutely nothing."
"Where are we going, Miroku?" Sango asked. They had turned off the highway a hour ago, and were now heading down a small paved road. Miroku grinned. "You'll see. It's a great place."
"How much longer? You're lucky none of us get carsick." Kagome slumped against the footrest of the armchair. The blue walls were starting to close in on her. "I'm bored. Inuyasha's no fun."
"We're there!"
"Where are we?"
"Look outside, idiot."
Kagome and Sango practically fell over each other in their haste to get out. Inuyasha waited until they were struggling to jump off the mattress before stepping over them onto the ground. "Show-off." Kagome muttered, managing to trip over the bumper on her way out. Sango made her exit more gracefully, hiding her grin from Kagome. Kagome looked around as Miroku closed and locked the doors to the van. They were standing in a small parking lot located at the back of a building. Her curiosity grew and Miroku led them around to the front. Where were they?
Kouga grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. "I didn't know you drank, Kikyou."
"I don't." The girl gave him a scathing look. "It's Kagura's. She keeps it for Naraku and Sesshoumaru-san."
"Well, she won't mind if I take one."
Kikyou gave a lady-like snort. "She'll rip your lungs out."
"Then don't tell her." As he popped the top, Kouga looked over to Kikyou, who was sitting on a kitchen chair, looking for all the world like a queen holding court. "So what have you summoned me here for?" Kouga asked, laying the sarcasm on heavy and thick.
"How are your brothers and sisters doing, Kouga?" Kikyou asked conversationally.
"They'll be fine as long as you leave them alone."
"What would I do with children? And don't you forget I'm the one who paid for their schoolbooks last year. It really is too bad you have such a large family, and that you're the only one providing the income, too. Pity you don't earn more, don't you think?" Having laid out her cards, Kikyou allowed herself a small smile as she watched the emotions war over Kouga's face.
Kouga stared at his beer, feeling weary. He knew what she was up to. It started out this way every time.
"What is it, Kikyou?"
Kikyou's voice was triumphant. "Simple, Kouga-kun. When Naraku sends you after Inuyasha, you accept the mission. Track down Inuyasha and join him. Do not harm him or lead Naraku to him. All I want you to do is keep him safe."
Kouga waited. There was more. There always was.
"If someone should attempt to harm Inuyasha, you must stop them, no matter what the cost. In return I'll see to it that your family will be provided for, in case of anything unfortunate happening to you. If not, your reward for succeeding will be a full year of outpatient care for your mother, groceries and household neccesities for a month, and new clothes and books for all your brothers and sisters for the new school year."
Kouga didn't reply for a moment, hating himself, his life and Kikyou. However, he couldn't afford to refuse to the offer. "How will you know Naraku is planning to send me after Inuyasha? Suppose the hired hands succeed?"
Kikyou scoffed. "They are experts, but no match for Inuyasha. When they are killed or return defeated, Naraku will send you." The unsaid portion was that Kouga was the least needed in the gang.
Kouga sighed. He already knew he was going to accept. "By 'no matter what the cost', you mean that if I have to defend Inuyasha's life for my own, I will."
Kikyou nodded, her face wiped clean of any expression.
"I'll take it on one condition."
"Just name it, Kouga-kun." Kikyou, sure she had already won, beamed a beautiful smile at him. He sighed. "My family has to be fully taken care of while I'm gone." Kouga said quietly. "Everything they need to be happy and comfortable. I'll be calling to check up on them. Do not try to take advantage of me."
Kikyou's expression softened slightly. "You might not believe me, Kouga, but I rather like your family. Being an only child is not as wonderful as you think."
"I know it means that you don't have to join a gang to support 11 people who are completely dependant on you. Sounds fucking wonderful to me."
Kikyou sighed. "I'll take care of your family, Kouga. Just make sure you take care of Inuyasha for me."
Kouga was already on his way out. "I will, Kikyou. I'll take such fucking good care of him that he'll return better than when he left." As the door slammed, Kikyou sighed and wondered if there was any way to take the bitterness and sarcasm out of Kouga.
"A nightclub?!" Sango and Kagome stared at Miroku. "You took us to a nightclub?"
Miroku grinned. "It's lots of fun. I promise. Lots of dancing."
Inuyasha groaned. "That is maybe the most un-fun description of fun that I've ever heard."
"And that makes no sense." But Kagome's attention was focused more on glaring at Miroku. "What's so fun about a nightclub?"
"You'll meet lots of guys."
"Oh. Well, then, what are we waiting for?"
"Hold it." Sango resigned herself to being the sensible one. "Don't you have to be over a certain age limit to get into these things? And I'm pretty sure that the limit isn't 17. And besides, Kagome-chan is only 16."
"Oh, that's right." Miroku remembered. "Kagome's birthday is coming up soon."
"So I guess we can't go in." Inuyasha said, heading back to the van.
Miroku snickered. "Inuyasha, of all people. Don't worry about it, girls. The people here know me. It'll be no problem."
"It's four in the afternoon." Sango grumbled. "What are we doing at a nightclub at four in the afternoon?"
"It'll be fun." Miroku promised again. "Come on."
Tim stared at the map, squinted out the window and looked back at the paper again. Tam, who was driving, groaned. "You're holding it upside down, genius."
"I hate maps. Usually our assignments are just to kill or capture someone. Why we gotta find them this time too?"
"More money, my friend."
"Right. So you have their descriptions?"
"Yeah, here it is."
Tim took the stapled papers and read it outloud. "Target: Inuyasha Shikon. Age 17. Height: 5 foot 11. Black hair, violet eyes. Bruised left eye. Companions: Miroku Kazaana. Age 17. Height: 6 feet even. Dark hair and eyes. Not of importance. Kagome Higurashi. Age 16. Height: 5 foot 7. Black hair and blue eyes. Not of importance. Sango Hiraikotsu. Age 17. Height: 5 foot 8. Dark hair and eyes. Not of importance. Mode of transportation not yet known. Await further descriptions and information. Instructions: Bring back Inuyasha alive. Do not harm the others unless absolutely neccesary. Payment upon delivery. Well. Sounds simple enough."
Tam sighed as he navigated the black car around a large R.V. "Always does. It's going to be hard finding them if we don't know what they're driving. I think we should find a place with a decent room and wait till morning."
"Sounds good to me."
"Miroku? Is it really you?" A girl with black lipstick and dark eyeshadow peered out from behind her cigarette smoke. "Wow, it's been a while!"
"Too long." Miroku agreed. "But you know, work keeps me busy." he grinned at her. She nodded. "Well, you go on in." She waved to the door behind her. The line of people behind them grumbled at the lack of security check. But a glare from Inuyasha silenced them quickly enough. As the group went in, Kagome noted the bright neon lighting on the outside, and the dark atmosphere inside that contrasted sharply. "Well," she said sardonically. "this should be fun."
Ten minutes later..
"This not fun." Inuyasha growled for the third time since he'd ordered his drink. Kagome looked at it suspiciously. "Are you sure that's not liquor?" she asked, also for the third time. Inuyasha simply ignored her again. "I am so bored."
"Well, that girl over there is looking at you."
"So?"
"I think she likes you! You should go talk to her."
"Right. I'll do that."
"Come on, Inuyasha. It's really your own fault you're bored."
"You have any cash on you?"
"Some. Why?"
"Let's play cards."
"You're obsessed."
Inuyasha shrugged. "It isn't as if there's anything better to do."
Kagome sighed. "Look at Miroku and Sango. They're dancing! It's so cute."
Inuyasha's gaze flickered to them, then back again. "Sango just smacked Miroku."
"Yeah, I saw. Look, he's trying to say that it was an accident."
Inuyasha winced. "He's going to be dancing with a limp for a while."
Kagome giggled. "Go Sango."
They sat in silence in the corner booth for a few minutes before a shy looking boy approached them. Inuyasha's first reaction was to snarl at him, but he contained himself when the boy headed toward Kagome. "E-excuse me? Do you want to dance?"
Kagome grinned. "Sure. Inuyasha, you don't mind, do you?"
Inuyasha lifted his glass at her. "Knock yourself out, kid."
He watched as the blond led Kagome onto the dance floor and suppressed a scowl. Inuyasha finished his drink and signaled for another one.
By the time the dance was halfway through, Kagome had learnt that she was dancing with Hojo, that he was here because his cousin had dragged him along, and that he was studying to be a doctor. She was also extremely bored. Hojo was harmless and sweet, and a good enough dancer that she didn't get stepped on. It helped that it was a fast song and hardly any touching was required. However, people didn't usually talk during fast songs. Hojo-kun did not seem to know that. Oh, he was perfectly polite, to be sure, but Kagome had to suppress yawns quite a number of times by the time the song was over. She thanked him nicely, and made a quick getaway before he could ask her for another dance.
Inuyasha was laying stretched out on the booth seat, an arm over his face. Miroku and Sango occupied the other side, arguing. Kagome pushed Inuyasha's legs off and took her seat.
"I wasn't jealous!"
"Then why were you mad that I was talking to that girl?"
"Because I saw where your eyes were, and they weren't on her face!"
"So you are jealous?"
"No. I'm disgusted." Sango turned away from Miroku and stomped off. Kagome glared. "What did you do now?"
"Nothing!" As Kagome huffed and followed after Sango, Miroku muttered a choice selection of curse words. "Stupid females."
Inuyasha reached an arm over to the table and shoved the rest of his drink at Miroku, who drained it in one gulp. "I think I'm going to need more than that."
"Sango? Sango-chan?" The bathroom was dirty and dimly lit, making it hard for Kagome to find her friend. So she followed the sounds of muttering and muffled thuds. Kagome saw Sango leaning against the counter, grumbling and kicking the wall. "Sango?"
"Oh. Hey Kagome."
"You're mad at Miroku, huh?"
"Oh, is it obvious?" Sango couldn't help but be a bit sarcastic. "He's such a jerk."
"But he really adores you, Sango."
"That's what makes him a jerk. How can he adore me and still check out other girls all the time?"
"Maybe it's because he's a teenage guy." Kagome suggested. "I'm pretty sure they're all like that."
Sango blew her hair out of her eyes. "I guess so, huh?" She grinned a little. "Well, we better get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."
"Yeah. Me too."
They pushed through the door back onto the dance floor. Before they got halfway to their seat, a young man with a sweet smile intercepted him. At first glance, Kagome thought Hojo had found her again. But to her relief, this was a different boy altogether, and his attention was on Sango. "May I dance with you?" Sango thought the offer over. She wasn't all that enthusiastic about returning to Miroku, so she grinned. Why not? "Sure." Kagome winked at her friend and slid away. A little jealousy - on Miroku's part - never hurt anybody.
Miroku was sulking when Kagome returned. She took a seat next to him, since Inuyasha had spread out over the other side of the booth again. Miroku reached for his glass, but Kagome snatched it away before he had a chance to grab it. "Don't be stupid, Miroku."
He sighed. "Is she upset at me?" Kagome looked at the dance floor. It just so happened that the band had switched to playing slow songs, and Sango and the stranger were swaying along with the music. Miroku followed Kagome's eyes and stood up abruptly. "That-"
"Sit down." Kagome said sharply. "She's just dancing with him. What's the harm in that?"
Miroku sighed and slumped back. "Sorry."
Kagome patted his arm. "What you should do is be nicer to her. She thinks you don't really like her, especially when you check out other girls."
"I don't-"
"Sure you do. You have to. It's in your DNA or something. Science isn't my best subject."
Miroku growled. "I want to apologize to her."
"Okay then."
"Where is she?"
Kagome turned to point, but Sango and her dance partner was no where to be seen. Immediately, Kagome had a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Uh-oh."
Miroku pushed past her and disappeared into the midst of the dancers.
"Great." Kagome stared after him. If Sango and the boy she was dancing with were doing something that would upset Miroku, there was no doubt what would happen. A big, messy fight in the middle of the dance floor that would end up with them all in jail. Kagome could just imagine her one phone call. "Hello, Souta? Yeah, get mom, would you? No, I'm fine. Just in jail because a couple friends of mine decided it was okay to get us into a nightclub even though we're underaged and then he got into a FIGHT and the police came and now he has to join AA." Right. That would go over big. Kagome could just imagine getting grounded until she was married. Not a pretty picture. So she leaned over the table and pulled on Inuyasha's red sweatshirt. "Inuyasha!" She must have been pretty anxious, because she accidentally pulled too hard and Inuyasha ended up on the floor. "Oops."
Ignoring the string of cuss words that followed the 'thump', Kagome crouched down to the floor. "Inuyasha, I'm afraid Miroku is going to get into a fight."
"So? He can take care of himself."
"But what if someone calls the police?"
"Shit."
Miroku pushed impatiently through the crowds that seemed determined to stand between him and Sango. Where could she be?
"Stop it!"
Miroku whirled around at the familiar voice and headed in that direction. The next voice was one of a male that Miroku thought sounded faintly familiar. Shoving aside a few stray dancers, he ended up in an unually dark corner. Sango had her hands on her hips and was glaring at a boy their age. "I don't know, okay?"
Miroku's blood froze as he saw the glint of a knife in the darkness. "What would it take to convince you that you know?"
"What?!"
Before the boy could get another word in, Miroku tackled him from behind. After a brief scuffle, Miroku sat on the boy's back and held his arms down by stepping on them. "If you try to kick me," he warned. "I'll hurt your arms so bad you'll never be able to hold a knife again." The boy stopped struggling and froze. Miroku turned to Sango. "You want to explain this?"
Kagome climbed off the table. "I see them! They're over in that corner. I think Miroku's sitting on someone."
"That would mean the fight's already over." But Inuyasha trailed relunctantly after Kagome as she walked quickly over to the far corner of the club. "What happened?" She directed the question at Sango, since Miroku was calmly listing threats to the boy he was sitting on.
"I don't know, exactly." Sango sounded puzzled. "We were dancing, and then somehow we ended up in this corner. And then he asked me something about Miroku's.. fence? Or something. But I didn't know the answer, and he got out this little knife."
Kagome gasped. "Oh, Sango-chan, are you okay? He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No, Miroku tackled him just as he got out the knife. It's over here." she nudged it with her toe. Inuyasha had been standing behind Kagome when he suddenly turned around and punched a man behind him in the face.
"What?!" Kagome rushed forward. "Inuyasha, what are you-"
Inuyasha and the dark haired man wrestled for a bit, then Inuyasha knocked him out with an easy, almost casual cuff to the head and picked up the knife. "Underestimated me." He smirked and left the man there. Miroku froze. "Holy shit."
"What now?"
"Hell no. Inuyasha, look."
Their dark little corner was now surrounded by men dressed in black. They were all holding knives, sharp, shiny things that made Kagome shiver. Inuyasha shook his head. "Tell me I'm not seeing this, Miroku."
"Sorry buddy." Miroku's voice was solemn, but there was a gleeful little smile on his face. "Looks like it's us two against the whole of the Panthers. Why do we always have gangs after us?" he asked with mock sadness.
"I think it has something to do with the necklace we stole from them last month."
"What would a gang like this be doing with a beautiful sapphire necklace?" Miroku wanted to know.
"Worship it under the full moon, I'd think." Inuyasha cracked his knuckles and grinned out at the approaching men. "This is gonna be fun."
"Hell yeah."
"Hey Sango."
"Yeah, Kagome-chan?"
"Are we the damsels in distress type?"
"I hardly think so."
"So are we going to stand here and watch Miroku and Inuyasha single-handedly take down a gang?"
"Since when have we let them have all the action?"
"Exactly."
Kagome changed her mind a few minutes later when the first man she kicked sliced at her with a knife. It was a good thing the lights in the club were so dim, because he missed her completely. However, Kagome noted the damage the knife did on the booth that it struck. The stuffing piling out made Kagome picture herself with her intestines falling out. Panicked, Kagome clubbed the man's wrist. The knife flew out of his hand and made a small arc in the air. Inuyasha grabbed it before it could manage to stab him and glared at Kagome. "Before you kill me," he yelled over the din. "Can you go get Kimi?"
Kagome was more than glad to get away from the very angry man who looked as if he could pick her up and step on her. She dodged just as the man lowered his head and charged at her. Kagome heard a sharp crack as she made her way out of the fighting. She winced and wonder if the man had split his skull. Amazingly, the dancers had simply cleared over to the opposite half of the dance floor, so that on the left side one could see three figures in red, black and purple enthusiastically fighting with fifteen large figures in ninja black. On the left side, about forty people were still dancing, taking the sounds of fighting as part of the rock song the band was playing. Kagome pushed and shoved her way until she spotted a waitress flirting with a boy who looked hardly old enough to drink. "Excuse me, miss. Can you tell me where I can find Kimi?"
The waitress looked over, annoyed that her overtures were being ignored, and that she was now interrupted by a girl that the object of her flirtations seemed more interested in. "By the front door." she snapped.
"Thanks." Kagome practically flew on her way there. She didn't know who this Kimi was, but hopefully she could stop the fight before Inuyasha and Miroku figured out that it wasn't a game and got seriously injured. The only person at the front door was the heavily made up girl, who was still chain-smoking.
"Excuse me, are you Kimi?"
"The one and only. Aren't you the kid with Miroku?"
"Yeah. He and Inuyasha and my friend, Sango got into a fight with the uh... Panthers, I think it was. And they have knives and Inuyasha told me to get you."
"The Panthers? Oh, they're regulars. And they're probably so drunk they can't see straight. My guess is that Inuyasha wants me to get there before he and Miroku lose their tempers and cause damage to my property."
Kagome thought about the seat leaking stuffing. "I think some stuff has been damaged already."
"No shit?" Kimi pushed off the wall she was leaning against. "Well, let's go stop those idiots then."
"Okay."
Kimi stormed through the club, people making way for her as if by magic. Kagome sighed. She hadn't gotten this special treatment. When they reached the fighting masses, Kimi grabbed a chair and smashed it over the head of the nearest person. As the unfortunate victim dropped to the ground, the people fighting froze. Kimi treated them all with an icy glare. "And WHAT do you think you're doing?"
There were some scattered mumblings as the gang members began to shuffle their feet. "I let you come in here." Kimi continued. "When all the other bars and clubs have banned you. And I give you people TABS, for God's sakes. And you repay me by coming in here, harrassing my customers and wrecking my furniture?"
Someone tried to say something, but Kimi raised a hand and the voice was silenced. "I want you to stop this nonsense right now. I don't want to hear excuses. What I DO want to hear are sounds of YOU people cleaning up and putting those knives away. Knives," she muttered, glaring at them. "what in the world were you thinking? You're lucky I didn't call the police. And leave those poor kids alone."
Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha couldn't help but smirk smugly as the Panthers began picking up what they knocked over and shooting nasty looks their way.
"You three are no better." Kimi lectured as they came up. "Taking them on even though you knew you would win. Look! There are only six of them left standing."
Inuyasha grinned. Kimi sighed. "Okay, where'd you put the knives? Empty 'em out."
Miroku and Inuyasha turned their pockets inside out, revealing a total of seven knives, all sheathed.
"I should give this back to them." Kimi kicked at the pile. "It took the gang a long time to earn enough money for this. Or maybe I'll hold it hostage a while. Make sure they replace my stuff."
Miroku wrapped his arms around Sango. "I think we should leave now."
Kimi grinned at him. "Always an adventure having you here, Miroku. Come back and bring your pretty girlfriend with you."
Miroku kissed Sango. "She is pretty. Even prettier when she's knocking out a two hundred pound guy with a glass."
Inuyasha made a gagging face. "Can we go now? The funnest part of the evening is over."
Kagome fell in step with Inuyasha as they made their way out of the club. "I can't believe you think the best part of the day was when we got into a fight. With a gang. Who had knives."
"Yeah." Inuyasha grinned. "It was great."
"You're impossible."
"And hungry. Miroku, when're we going to get to the hotel?"
"Soon. I'm hungry."
"Me too."
"Me too."
"I'm not. I had all those Teddy Grahams."
"It was your fault I lost to Inuyasha! I could have borrowed from the bank and won my money back but you finished the whole box!"
"You could never have won your money back. I played easy on you."
"Hey!" Sango said indignantly. "How come you didn't play easy on me?"
"I did. But you're really bad at cards."
"Hmph."
"Well, you are." Kagome chipped in cheerfully. "You should never play strip poker or anything."
"Strip?" Miroku's interest was caught as they clambered into the car. "Good idea. Think we can try it at the hotel?"
"Pervert!"
"Okay. Next stop: Hotel Excavier!"
Ending Notes: Well, there concludes CHAPTER FIVE. Dundundun. ^_^ Fast, wasn't it? Well, annnyways, I don't think you should be expecting a strip poker episode because well, I don't know how to play poker. Sorry. ^_^ Teeehee. So anyways, you will review, won't you? Pretty please? School is starting soon and I need inspiration, which always comes hand in hand with reviews! Okay? Thanks! So some of the questions from the previous chapter weren't answered, eh? Well they'll just have to be carried over! When will the girls call home? What obstacles await them next? Why does Kouga have to earn money and what are Tim and Tam up to?
9/1/2oo2
Disclaimer: I wonder how many millions of people in the world are grateful to Rumiko Takahashi for creating such wonderful anime? Especially...well, actually, I like them all. So she owns Inuyasha, and I'm just having some fun with him.
Dedication: To narcoleptic shishkabob, who reviewed for ALL my chapters! To Alice, who didn't have time to finish but reviewed anyway, lol. To chibicherry, Inaho, Itadakimasu, vicious-wolf , Tanti, and someone who didn't leave their name for telling me so nicely and helpfully that my chapter didn't show up. I appreciate it! To BlackJaguarBaby, Regina, Lin/Lyn, Cassandra Sisenta or Krey-Zey, I figure there's no reason to apologize because I didn't make the mistake on purpose, so I'll just say thanks for reading and reviewing, and that I fixed the chapter. ^_^ To Emmi-chan: Lol! I don't like sushi because no matter how much people try to convince me otherwise, I'm ALWAYS sure it's raw. ^_^;; Hope you feel better! To Pig Shark: I watched Inuyasha last night! It was really good and I don't even think they messed up the voices too bad. And they kept the Japanese names and songs, too! I was hoping they wouldn't call the Shikon no Tama the Shikon jewel, and they didn't. Too bad it only comes on once a week! To whitewingeddragon1, who left a _lovely_ long review that made me remember why I love writing fanfiction. To hera goddess for the encouragement and to Sasal the Snowgirl, I meant that Kouga isn't like .. the father of the kids. ^__^ Haha. So yeah, thanks for reviewing!
Road Trip
Chapter Five:
"We've been driving the whole afternoon!" Inuyasha complained. "I thought this was a vacation. And aren't we supposed to have fun on vacations?"
"Well, Inuyasha, since your idea of having fun is winning at cards, I'd think you were having the time of your life." Kagome couldn't help but feel a bit bitter, as all of her Teddy Grahams were now in Inuyasha's hand, slowly traveling into his mouth one at a time. She scowled. Inuyasha scowled right back. "It's no fun playing for cookies." he snapped. "And you're not exactly a challenge, either." Kagome figured that he was being a sore winner, since she had lasted three hours against him, which was two hours and 55 minutes more than Sango had. 'Course, she knew better than to point that out when Inuyasha was in this type of mood. She hadn't known him very long but she already knew how typically male this typical male could be. Miroku, another typical male, had refused to have anyone substitute him as driver. "If it counts for anything, I'm having fun." he announced. Inuyasha growled. "It counts for absolutely nothing."
"Where are we going, Miroku?" Sango asked. They had turned off the highway a hour ago, and were now heading down a small paved road. Miroku grinned. "You'll see. It's a great place."
"How much longer? You're lucky none of us get carsick." Kagome slumped against the footrest of the armchair. The blue walls were starting to close in on her. "I'm bored. Inuyasha's no fun."
"We're there!"
"Where are we?"
"Look outside, idiot."
Kagome and Sango practically fell over each other in their haste to get out. Inuyasha waited until they were struggling to jump off the mattress before stepping over them onto the ground. "Show-off." Kagome muttered, managing to trip over the bumper on her way out. Sango made her exit more gracefully, hiding her grin from Kagome. Kagome looked around as Miroku closed and locked the doors to the van. They were standing in a small parking lot located at the back of a building. Her curiosity grew and Miroku led them around to the front. Where were they?
Kouga grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. "I didn't know you drank, Kikyou."
"I don't." The girl gave him a scathing look. "It's Kagura's. She keeps it for Naraku and Sesshoumaru-san."
"Well, she won't mind if I take one."
Kikyou gave a lady-like snort. "She'll rip your lungs out."
"Then don't tell her." As he popped the top, Kouga looked over to Kikyou, who was sitting on a kitchen chair, looking for all the world like a queen holding court. "So what have you summoned me here for?" Kouga asked, laying the sarcasm on heavy and thick.
"How are your brothers and sisters doing, Kouga?" Kikyou asked conversationally.
"They'll be fine as long as you leave them alone."
"What would I do with children? And don't you forget I'm the one who paid for their schoolbooks last year. It really is too bad you have such a large family, and that you're the only one providing the income, too. Pity you don't earn more, don't you think?" Having laid out her cards, Kikyou allowed herself a small smile as she watched the emotions war over Kouga's face.
Kouga stared at his beer, feeling weary. He knew what she was up to. It started out this way every time.
"What is it, Kikyou?"
Kikyou's voice was triumphant. "Simple, Kouga-kun. When Naraku sends you after Inuyasha, you accept the mission. Track down Inuyasha and join him. Do not harm him or lead Naraku to him. All I want you to do is keep him safe."
Kouga waited. There was more. There always was.
"If someone should attempt to harm Inuyasha, you must stop them, no matter what the cost. In return I'll see to it that your family will be provided for, in case of anything unfortunate happening to you. If not, your reward for succeeding will be a full year of outpatient care for your mother, groceries and household neccesities for a month, and new clothes and books for all your brothers and sisters for the new school year."
Kouga didn't reply for a moment, hating himself, his life and Kikyou. However, he couldn't afford to refuse to the offer. "How will you know Naraku is planning to send me after Inuyasha? Suppose the hired hands succeed?"
Kikyou scoffed. "They are experts, but no match for Inuyasha. When they are killed or return defeated, Naraku will send you." The unsaid portion was that Kouga was the least needed in the gang.
Kouga sighed. He already knew he was going to accept. "By 'no matter what the cost', you mean that if I have to defend Inuyasha's life for my own, I will."
Kikyou nodded, her face wiped clean of any expression.
"I'll take it on one condition."
"Just name it, Kouga-kun." Kikyou, sure she had already won, beamed a beautiful smile at him. He sighed. "My family has to be fully taken care of while I'm gone." Kouga said quietly. "Everything they need to be happy and comfortable. I'll be calling to check up on them. Do not try to take advantage of me."
Kikyou's expression softened slightly. "You might not believe me, Kouga, but I rather like your family. Being an only child is not as wonderful as you think."
"I know it means that you don't have to join a gang to support 11 people who are completely dependant on you. Sounds fucking wonderful to me."
Kikyou sighed. "I'll take care of your family, Kouga. Just make sure you take care of Inuyasha for me."
Kouga was already on his way out. "I will, Kikyou. I'll take such fucking good care of him that he'll return better than when he left." As the door slammed, Kikyou sighed and wondered if there was any way to take the bitterness and sarcasm out of Kouga.
"A nightclub?!" Sango and Kagome stared at Miroku. "You took us to a nightclub?"
Miroku grinned. "It's lots of fun. I promise. Lots of dancing."
Inuyasha groaned. "That is maybe the most un-fun description of fun that I've ever heard."
"And that makes no sense." But Kagome's attention was focused more on glaring at Miroku. "What's so fun about a nightclub?"
"You'll meet lots of guys."
"Oh. Well, then, what are we waiting for?"
"Hold it." Sango resigned herself to being the sensible one. "Don't you have to be over a certain age limit to get into these things? And I'm pretty sure that the limit isn't 17. And besides, Kagome-chan is only 16."
"Oh, that's right." Miroku remembered. "Kagome's birthday is coming up soon."
"So I guess we can't go in." Inuyasha said, heading back to the van.
Miroku snickered. "Inuyasha, of all people. Don't worry about it, girls. The people here know me. It'll be no problem."
"It's four in the afternoon." Sango grumbled. "What are we doing at a nightclub at four in the afternoon?"
"It'll be fun." Miroku promised again. "Come on."
Tim stared at the map, squinted out the window and looked back at the paper again. Tam, who was driving, groaned. "You're holding it upside down, genius."
"I hate maps. Usually our assignments are just to kill or capture someone. Why we gotta find them this time too?"
"More money, my friend."
"Right. So you have their descriptions?"
"Yeah, here it is."
Tim took the stapled papers and read it outloud. "Target: Inuyasha Shikon. Age 17. Height: 5 foot 11. Black hair, violet eyes. Bruised left eye. Companions: Miroku Kazaana. Age 17. Height: 6 feet even. Dark hair and eyes. Not of importance. Kagome Higurashi. Age 16. Height: 5 foot 7. Black hair and blue eyes. Not of importance. Sango Hiraikotsu. Age 17. Height: 5 foot 8. Dark hair and eyes. Not of importance. Mode of transportation not yet known. Await further descriptions and information. Instructions: Bring back Inuyasha alive. Do not harm the others unless absolutely neccesary. Payment upon delivery. Well. Sounds simple enough."
Tam sighed as he navigated the black car around a large R.V. "Always does. It's going to be hard finding them if we don't know what they're driving. I think we should find a place with a decent room and wait till morning."
"Sounds good to me."
"Miroku? Is it really you?" A girl with black lipstick and dark eyeshadow peered out from behind her cigarette smoke. "Wow, it's been a while!"
"Too long." Miroku agreed. "But you know, work keeps me busy." he grinned at her. She nodded. "Well, you go on in." She waved to the door behind her. The line of people behind them grumbled at the lack of security check. But a glare from Inuyasha silenced them quickly enough. As the group went in, Kagome noted the bright neon lighting on the outside, and the dark atmosphere inside that contrasted sharply. "Well," she said sardonically. "this should be fun."
Ten minutes later..
"This not fun." Inuyasha growled for the third time since he'd ordered his drink. Kagome looked at it suspiciously. "Are you sure that's not liquor?" she asked, also for the third time. Inuyasha simply ignored her again. "I am so bored."
"Well, that girl over there is looking at you."
"So?"
"I think she likes you! You should go talk to her."
"Right. I'll do that."
"Come on, Inuyasha. It's really your own fault you're bored."
"You have any cash on you?"
"Some. Why?"
"Let's play cards."
"You're obsessed."
Inuyasha shrugged. "It isn't as if there's anything better to do."
Kagome sighed. "Look at Miroku and Sango. They're dancing! It's so cute."
Inuyasha's gaze flickered to them, then back again. "Sango just smacked Miroku."
"Yeah, I saw. Look, he's trying to say that it was an accident."
Inuyasha winced. "He's going to be dancing with a limp for a while."
Kagome giggled. "Go Sango."
They sat in silence in the corner booth for a few minutes before a shy looking boy approached them. Inuyasha's first reaction was to snarl at him, but he contained himself when the boy headed toward Kagome. "E-excuse me? Do you want to dance?"
Kagome grinned. "Sure. Inuyasha, you don't mind, do you?"
Inuyasha lifted his glass at her. "Knock yourself out, kid."
He watched as the blond led Kagome onto the dance floor and suppressed a scowl. Inuyasha finished his drink and signaled for another one.
By the time the dance was halfway through, Kagome had learnt that she was dancing with Hojo, that he was here because his cousin had dragged him along, and that he was studying to be a doctor. She was also extremely bored. Hojo was harmless and sweet, and a good enough dancer that she didn't get stepped on. It helped that it was a fast song and hardly any touching was required. However, people didn't usually talk during fast songs. Hojo-kun did not seem to know that. Oh, he was perfectly polite, to be sure, but Kagome had to suppress yawns quite a number of times by the time the song was over. She thanked him nicely, and made a quick getaway before he could ask her for another dance.
Inuyasha was laying stretched out on the booth seat, an arm over his face. Miroku and Sango occupied the other side, arguing. Kagome pushed Inuyasha's legs off and took her seat.
"I wasn't jealous!"
"Then why were you mad that I was talking to that girl?"
"Because I saw where your eyes were, and they weren't on her face!"
"So you are jealous?"
"No. I'm disgusted." Sango turned away from Miroku and stomped off. Kagome glared. "What did you do now?"
"Nothing!" As Kagome huffed and followed after Sango, Miroku muttered a choice selection of curse words. "Stupid females."
Inuyasha reached an arm over to the table and shoved the rest of his drink at Miroku, who drained it in one gulp. "I think I'm going to need more than that."
"Sango? Sango-chan?" The bathroom was dirty and dimly lit, making it hard for Kagome to find her friend. So she followed the sounds of muttering and muffled thuds. Kagome saw Sango leaning against the counter, grumbling and kicking the wall. "Sango?"
"Oh. Hey Kagome."
"You're mad at Miroku, huh?"
"Oh, is it obvious?" Sango couldn't help but be a bit sarcastic. "He's such a jerk."
"But he really adores you, Sango."
"That's what makes him a jerk. How can he adore me and still check out other girls all the time?"
"Maybe it's because he's a teenage guy." Kagome suggested. "I'm pretty sure they're all like that."
Sango blew her hair out of her eyes. "I guess so, huh?" She grinned a little. "Well, we better get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."
"Yeah. Me too."
They pushed through the door back onto the dance floor. Before they got halfway to their seat, a young man with a sweet smile intercepted him. At first glance, Kagome thought Hojo had found her again. But to her relief, this was a different boy altogether, and his attention was on Sango. "May I dance with you?" Sango thought the offer over. She wasn't all that enthusiastic about returning to Miroku, so she grinned. Why not? "Sure." Kagome winked at her friend and slid away. A little jealousy - on Miroku's part - never hurt anybody.
Miroku was sulking when Kagome returned. She took a seat next to him, since Inuyasha had spread out over the other side of the booth again. Miroku reached for his glass, but Kagome snatched it away before he had a chance to grab it. "Don't be stupid, Miroku."
He sighed. "Is she upset at me?" Kagome looked at the dance floor. It just so happened that the band had switched to playing slow songs, and Sango and the stranger were swaying along with the music. Miroku followed Kagome's eyes and stood up abruptly. "That-"
"Sit down." Kagome said sharply. "She's just dancing with him. What's the harm in that?"
Miroku sighed and slumped back. "Sorry."
Kagome patted his arm. "What you should do is be nicer to her. She thinks you don't really like her, especially when you check out other girls."
"I don't-"
"Sure you do. You have to. It's in your DNA or something. Science isn't my best subject."
Miroku growled. "I want to apologize to her."
"Okay then."
"Where is she?"
Kagome turned to point, but Sango and her dance partner was no where to be seen. Immediately, Kagome had a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Uh-oh."
Miroku pushed past her and disappeared into the midst of the dancers.
"Great." Kagome stared after him. If Sango and the boy she was dancing with were doing something that would upset Miroku, there was no doubt what would happen. A big, messy fight in the middle of the dance floor that would end up with them all in jail. Kagome could just imagine her one phone call. "Hello, Souta? Yeah, get mom, would you? No, I'm fine. Just in jail because a couple friends of mine decided it was okay to get us into a nightclub even though we're underaged and then he got into a FIGHT and the police came and now he has to join AA." Right. That would go over big. Kagome could just imagine getting grounded until she was married. Not a pretty picture. So she leaned over the table and pulled on Inuyasha's red sweatshirt. "Inuyasha!" She must have been pretty anxious, because she accidentally pulled too hard and Inuyasha ended up on the floor. "Oops."
Ignoring the string of cuss words that followed the 'thump', Kagome crouched down to the floor. "Inuyasha, I'm afraid Miroku is going to get into a fight."
"So? He can take care of himself."
"But what if someone calls the police?"
"Shit."
Miroku pushed impatiently through the crowds that seemed determined to stand between him and Sango. Where could she be?
"Stop it!"
Miroku whirled around at the familiar voice and headed in that direction. The next voice was one of a male that Miroku thought sounded faintly familiar. Shoving aside a few stray dancers, he ended up in an unually dark corner. Sango had her hands on her hips and was glaring at a boy their age. "I don't know, okay?"
Miroku's blood froze as he saw the glint of a knife in the darkness. "What would it take to convince you that you know?"
"What?!"
Before the boy could get another word in, Miroku tackled him from behind. After a brief scuffle, Miroku sat on the boy's back and held his arms down by stepping on them. "If you try to kick me," he warned. "I'll hurt your arms so bad you'll never be able to hold a knife again." The boy stopped struggling and froze. Miroku turned to Sango. "You want to explain this?"
Kagome climbed off the table. "I see them! They're over in that corner. I think Miroku's sitting on someone."
"That would mean the fight's already over." But Inuyasha trailed relunctantly after Kagome as she walked quickly over to the far corner of the club. "What happened?" She directed the question at Sango, since Miroku was calmly listing threats to the boy he was sitting on.
"I don't know, exactly." Sango sounded puzzled. "We were dancing, and then somehow we ended up in this corner. And then he asked me something about Miroku's.. fence? Or something. But I didn't know the answer, and he got out this little knife."
Kagome gasped. "Oh, Sango-chan, are you okay? He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No, Miroku tackled him just as he got out the knife. It's over here." she nudged it with her toe. Inuyasha had been standing behind Kagome when he suddenly turned around and punched a man behind him in the face.
"What?!" Kagome rushed forward. "Inuyasha, what are you-"
Inuyasha and the dark haired man wrestled for a bit, then Inuyasha knocked him out with an easy, almost casual cuff to the head and picked up the knife. "Underestimated me." He smirked and left the man there. Miroku froze. "Holy shit."
"What now?"
"Hell no. Inuyasha, look."
Their dark little corner was now surrounded by men dressed in black. They were all holding knives, sharp, shiny things that made Kagome shiver. Inuyasha shook his head. "Tell me I'm not seeing this, Miroku."
"Sorry buddy." Miroku's voice was solemn, but there was a gleeful little smile on his face. "Looks like it's us two against the whole of the Panthers. Why do we always have gangs after us?" he asked with mock sadness.
"I think it has something to do with the necklace we stole from them last month."
"What would a gang like this be doing with a beautiful sapphire necklace?" Miroku wanted to know.
"Worship it under the full moon, I'd think." Inuyasha cracked his knuckles and grinned out at the approaching men. "This is gonna be fun."
"Hell yeah."
"Hey Sango."
"Yeah, Kagome-chan?"
"Are we the damsels in distress type?"
"I hardly think so."
"So are we going to stand here and watch Miroku and Inuyasha single-handedly take down a gang?"
"Since when have we let them have all the action?"
"Exactly."
Kagome changed her mind a few minutes later when the first man she kicked sliced at her with a knife. It was a good thing the lights in the club were so dim, because he missed her completely. However, Kagome noted the damage the knife did on the booth that it struck. The stuffing piling out made Kagome picture herself with her intestines falling out. Panicked, Kagome clubbed the man's wrist. The knife flew out of his hand and made a small arc in the air. Inuyasha grabbed it before it could manage to stab him and glared at Kagome. "Before you kill me," he yelled over the din. "Can you go get Kimi?"
Kagome was more than glad to get away from the very angry man who looked as if he could pick her up and step on her. She dodged just as the man lowered his head and charged at her. Kagome heard a sharp crack as she made her way out of the fighting. She winced and wonder if the man had split his skull. Amazingly, the dancers had simply cleared over to the opposite half of the dance floor, so that on the left side one could see three figures in red, black and purple enthusiastically fighting with fifteen large figures in ninja black. On the left side, about forty people were still dancing, taking the sounds of fighting as part of the rock song the band was playing. Kagome pushed and shoved her way until she spotted a waitress flirting with a boy who looked hardly old enough to drink. "Excuse me, miss. Can you tell me where I can find Kimi?"
The waitress looked over, annoyed that her overtures were being ignored, and that she was now interrupted by a girl that the object of her flirtations seemed more interested in. "By the front door." she snapped.
"Thanks." Kagome practically flew on her way there. She didn't know who this Kimi was, but hopefully she could stop the fight before Inuyasha and Miroku figured out that it wasn't a game and got seriously injured. The only person at the front door was the heavily made up girl, who was still chain-smoking.
"Excuse me, are you Kimi?"
"The one and only. Aren't you the kid with Miroku?"
"Yeah. He and Inuyasha and my friend, Sango got into a fight with the uh... Panthers, I think it was. And they have knives and Inuyasha told me to get you."
"The Panthers? Oh, they're regulars. And they're probably so drunk they can't see straight. My guess is that Inuyasha wants me to get there before he and Miroku lose their tempers and cause damage to my property."
Kagome thought about the seat leaking stuffing. "I think some stuff has been damaged already."
"No shit?" Kimi pushed off the wall she was leaning against. "Well, let's go stop those idiots then."
"Okay."
Kimi stormed through the club, people making way for her as if by magic. Kagome sighed. She hadn't gotten this special treatment. When they reached the fighting masses, Kimi grabbed a chair and smashed it over the head of the nearest person. As the unfortunate victim dropped to the ground, the people fighting froze. Kimi treated them all with an icy glare. "And WHAT do you think you're doing?"
There were some scattered mumblings as the gang members began to shuffle their feet. "I let you come in here." Kimi continued. "When all the other bars and clubs have banned you. And I give you people TABS, for God's sakes. And you repay me by coming in here, harrassing my customers and wrecking my furniture?"
Someone tried to say something, but Kimi raised a hand and the voice was silenced. "I want you to stop this nonsense right now. I don't want to hear excuses. What I DO want to hear are sounds of YOU people cleaning up and putting those knives away. Knives," she muttered, glaring at them. "what in the world were you thinking? You're lucky I didn't call the police. And leave those poor kids alone."
Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha couldn't help but smirk smugly as the Panthers began picking up what they knocked over and shooting nasty looks their way.
"You three are no better." Kimi lectured as they came up. "Taking them on even though you knew you would win. Look! There are only six of them left standing."
Inuyasha grinned. Kimi sighed. "Okay, where'd you put the knives? Empty 'em out."
Miroku and Inuyasha turned their pockets inside out, revealing a total of seven knives, all sheathed.
"I should give this back to them." Kimi kicked at the pile. "It took the gang a long time to earn enough money for this. Or maybe I'll hold it hostage a while. Make sure they replace my stuff."
Miroku wrapped his arms around Sango. "I think we should leave now."
Kimi grinned at him. "Always an adventure having you here, Miroku. Come back and bring your pretty girlfriend with you."
Miroku kissed Sango. "She is pretty. Even prettier when she's knocking out a two hundred pound guy with a glass."
Inuyasha made a gagging face. "Can we go now? The funnest part of the evening is over."
Kagome fell in step with Inuyasha as they made their way out of the club. "I can't believe you think the best part of the day was when we got into a fight. With a gang. Who had knives."
"Yeah." Inuyasha grinned. "It was great."
"You're impossible."
"And hungry. Miroku, when're we going to get to the hotel?"
"Soon. I'm hungry."
"Me too."
"Me too."
"I'm not. I had all those Teddy Grahams."
"It was your fault I lost to Inuyasha! I could have borrowed from the bank and won my money back but you finished the whole box!"
"You could never have won your money back. I played easy on you."
"Hey!" Sango said indignantly. "How come you didn't play easy on me?"
"I did. But you're really bad at cards."
"Hmph."
"Well, you are." Kagome chipped in cheerfully. "You should never play strip poker or anything."
"Strip?" Miroku's interest was caught as they clambered into the car. "Good idea. Think we can try it at the hotel?"
"Pervert!"
"Okay. Next stop: Hotel Excavier!"
Ending Notes: Well, there concludes CHAPTER FIVE. Dundundun. ^_^ Fast, wasn't it? Well, annnyways, I don't think you should be expecting a strip poker episode because well, I don't know how to play poker. Sorry. ^_^ Teeehee. So anyways, you will review, won't you? Pretty please? School is starting soon and I need inspiration, which always comes hand in hand with reviews! Okay? Thanks! So some of the questions from the previous chapter weren't answered, eh? Well they'll just have to be carried over! When will the girls call home? What obstacles await them next? Why does Kouga have to earn money and what are Tim and Tam up to?
9/1/2oo2