A/N: Hey! Finally, an update! Go Lakers!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. But there are two episodes every Saturday on Cartoon Network!
Dedication: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! If you have any questions or comments, email me or leave a review. ^_^ And to Nishikidofan177, I adore Jay! Eeeeek! So so so so so so hot! Also his music is to die for. ^_~ I can't believe I'll be in China when he comes to America! He's going to be in Las Vegas, and that's only a ten hour drive away! Wahh.. I hope he come again soon.
Chapter 9: A Luxurious Kidnapping
Sango stared at the phone in horror. She gave a shriek of frustration and slammed it down. Kagome rushed up. "Sango, are you okay? Is Miroku okay?"
"So far." Sango muttered. She pushed herself up. "I have to go find him."
"Not alone." Kagome grabbed her arm. "I'm going with you."
Inuyasha sighed impatiently and rolled his eyes. "Girls, you're being idiots. Neither of you are going anywhere except back into the hotel lobby. Kouga and I are going to go get him."
Kouga nodded in agreement. "We know what we're dealing with. You don't. Don't worry, we'll get him back."
"As if." Sango put her hands on her hips. "If you think I'm going anywhere except down whichever alley Miroku is in, then you're insane. I'm going, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"Me too." Kagome chimed in.
The three of them turned to her with identical expressions on their faces.
"What?" Kagome demanded.
"Well.." Sango said delicately. "Kagome, my dear friend.."
"Oh no." Kagome glared. "You guys are not leaving me behind. I can take care of myself!"
"You're not coming." Inuyasha said flatly. "I mean, Sango can handle it, she's used to being Miroku's girlfriend. But you... no way."
"You guys don't have to protect me. I can take care of myself!" Kagome insisted.
"We're not trying to protect you." Inuyasha popped on his sunglasses to shield the glare of the sun. "We're trying to keep Miroku alive."
"Less talking, more action." Sango cut in. "For all we know, my boyfriend could be in the middle of being cut into pieces by Inuyasha's brother while you two are arguing!"
"Okay then, it's settled." Kagome grabbed the nearest wrist-Kouga's- and walked out of the parking lot briskly. "Let's go rescue Miroku!"
Inuyasha groaned.
"I don't get it." Kagome muttered as the four of them skulked silently down the streets, following Inuyasha, who seemed to know what he was doing.
"What don't you get, Kagome-chan?"
"Sango, what did you mean by Inuyasha's brother cutting Miroku into pieces? What's his brother have to do with anything? Is he a gangster?"
Sango thought about Sesshoumaru being referred to as a gangaster and almost laughed, despite the tears threatening to overflow. "I wouldn't say that exactly. Sesshoumaru is Inuyasha's older half brother. He's very much in charge of things, but Inuyasha was the leader of their little organization, which was a really sore spot. Sesshoumaru was second-in-command, which caused a lot of dislike between the two of them. Let me tell you, there was no love lost before either. Sesshoumaru's mother was much richer than Inuyasha's, and I guess Sesshoumaru just always looked down on Inuyasha."
"That's sad." Kagome said, and sensing that Sango's fears were being contained by her talking, asked, "Tell me about the other members of the gang, Sango."
"Well, you know Kouga already. He's the youngest, besides Inuyasha. They're pretty much the same, just that Kouga is like, two weeks older or something. He's right between Miroku and Inuyasha. There's, uhm, Kagura, who's related to Naraku. She's like his cousin or sister or something. She's boy-crazy, especially if the boy is Sesshoumaru. She's basically your normal, teenage girl. A little on the goth side, though."
"Why's she into the whole organized crime thing then?"
"Ah, Naraku basically controls her. It's not as awful as it sounds, I mean, she has a total attitude, but she listens to him."
"Weird."
"Yeah. And, there's Kikyou, who you know as Inuyasha's ex. She's very classy, very dignified, and a total ice-bitch."
"Sango!" Kagome tried to suppress a giggle. "That's not like you."
"Well, she is. The couple'a times I met her, she totally looked down at me, and I'm not even sure why. She's subtle about it, but not so subtle that you don't catch it. I don't really like them."
"By the way, how did you meet all of them? Miroku was never involved with them, was he?"
"It's sorta complicated. Once they had this big job to do, and it was totally critical because Inuyasha already a client lined up, and they couldn't get past the new security system. So somehow Inuyasha remembered Miroku, who he'd gone to school with once.. remember that time Miroku got in trouble at school and his parents transferred him to the all boy's school?"
Kagome laughed. "Of course I remember! He went crazy and planned a million ways to get himself expelled."
"Yeah, that time. Well Inuyasha happened to be there then too, and they were both in detention. So Inuyasha thought Miroku looked familiar, and realized that Miroku had once stolen this necklace right before Inuyasha's people got to it. So he has total respect for Miroku. Inuyasha thought Miroku might be able to beat the security system, so he contacted him, and they finished the job. There was big celebration party, and Miroku asked me to go with him. That's how I met them. There was some other stuff too, and I met them a couple more times in social situations."
"Man," Kagome griped. "I can't believe how ignorant I was about all this! How could you have kept it all a secret?"
"Well, most the parties and stuff was during Christmas, when your family went to visit that shrine your grandpa wanted to see. And I didn't even find out until later the whole story, and then Miroku swore me to secrecy. And _then_ we broke up, and all that stuff got pushed into the back of my mind. I never thought I'd meet them again, though."
"Wow." Kagome sighed. "I feel like I'm in a manga or something."
Sango murmured in agreement.
"Hey, you guys!" Kouga waved them over. "Inuyasha found something."
"Really?" Sango rushed to Inuyasha. "What?"
Inuyasha held up a purple bead. "Smart son of a bitch." He said admiringly. "This is a bead off that stupid bracelet he always wears."
"Hey!" Sango bristled. "I made him that bracelet in sixth grade!"
"Whatever."
"So now what?"
"Now we play Hansel and Gretel and get Miroku back."
Kagome stared at the bead in Inuyasha's hand. "How do we know which direction? Miroku doesn't have enough beads to last him very long, especially if they're driving or something."
"No, see? There's an arrow on the bead. It was facing that direction." Inuyasha jerked his head toward the end of the alleyway.
"There aren't any arrows on those beads." Sango picked up the bead from Inuyasha's palm.
"See? It's right there."
"No, that's a happy face!"
"Why does it have lines for eyes?"
"Not all happy faces have dots, Inuyasha. Just the kind you draw."
"Whatever. Looks like an arrow to me."
"So maybe the smile is a little pointy." Sango conceded. "Let's go."
"So," Miroku said conversationally. "where are you guys taking me?"
Naraku ignored him. "Go right." He instructed the driver, who bore an uncanny resemblence to Tin. Or maybe Tam.
"Hey." Miroku was feeling just slightly irritated. "Where are we going?! I didn't get any coffee yet today."
"Shut up! You're a hostage. You're not supposed to talk. We'll gag you if we have to."
"I'm so scared." Miroku muttered under his breath.
"We're at the last bead." Sango said fifteen minutes later. "I put fifteen beads on the bracelet, and this is the fifteenth one."
"Yeah." Inuyasha looked out over the parking strip thoughtfully. "I guess this means they took him on a car."
"This is a dead end." Kagome sighed. "How will we possibly know what car they took him in? This is awful."
Kouga smirked. "Kagome," he put an arm around her shoulders. "leave this to the experts."
"Here it is." Inuyasha, who'd been eyeing the ground critically, stood up with a piece of black cloth. "He's in a black car. The first number on the license plate is six."
Kagome's mouth dropped open. "How did you know that?!"
"Black ribbon. It's been creased six times."
"But how do you know it's Miroku's? I mean, why would he have the right color ribbon with him?"
"So naiive." Kouga grinned. "It's code, man. I mean, especially after you got kidnapped, Kagome, we started paying more attention to the system."
"What system?!" Kagome demanded, confused.
"Talk later." Inuyasha interrupted. "Who knows how far they are now?"
Moments later, Inuyasha and the girls were in the van, strapped in and ready to go. "Where's Kouga?" Kagome asked again. "How come he disappeared?"
Inuyasha turned the car violently right. "He's tailing the car."
"But he's on foot!"
"He'll find a way." Inuyasha muttered grimly. "Damn it! Where are you, Kouga?"
The phone in Inuyasha's pocket rang and Sango lunged at him. "I'll get it, I'll get--!"
Inuyasha gently shoved her away with one hand. "Whoa, watch it, girl." He grabbed the phone. "Yeah?"
"Okay." Inuyasha turned again and Sango and Kagome slammed into the side doors. "Yeah. I think so. Keep an eye on them, Kouga. I know he is. Okay. Okay." Inuyasha shut his phone and Sango was latched onto him in a second. "What'd he say? Did he find them? Is Miroku there?"
"Sweetheart," Inuyasha said dryly, "if he sees you stuck on me like that, you don't want him found."
Sango growled. "You know what I mean. Don't make me get violent."
"Sango's scary when she's mad." Kagome chipped in. "Tell us what's happening, Inuyasha."
"It's not like I wasn't going to." Inuyasha complained. "Okay, Kouga found them. They didn't go far, and a few pedestrians volunteered information on a black car they'd seen."
"Volunteered." Kagome muttered. "Right. I bet it took nothing on Kouga's part to get them to--"
"Look, do you want to hear or not?" Inuyasha asked impatiently, wheels screeching in protest as he met another corner head on. "Time is not on our side here."
"This is the weirdest vacation I've ever been on." Kagome said. "Go on."
"Anyways, they're at a beach house."
"Not an abandoned warehouse? How come Miroku gets the luxurious kidnapping?"
"He's safe though, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Kouga says Sesshoumaru has a very unbecoming bruise forming on his face. And Naraku is missing a tooth."
Sango grinned. "Go Miroku."
"Don't get your hopes up." Inuyasha warned. "I doubt he's in the best condition himself. But don't worry, the gang wouldn't gain anything from his murder."
Sango turned an unhealthy shade of white and Kagome knocked Inuyasha on the back of his head.
Kouga leaned against a rock, absently letting sand run through his fingers as the played the part of careless beach-goer. His eyes fixed on the window of the room Miroku was kept in, he still managed a subtle wink to a nearby sunbather. She blushed and tugged her sunglasses down a little. "Cut out the flirting." Inuyasha shadowed Kouga and studied the house he was watching. "This one?"
"Yep."
"How do you know? It looks exactly the same as the rest of the row."
"They took him in there. He was very cooperative though. Saw the kids too."
Inuyasha sighed. "What is the world coming to when they start using children for private matters like this?" He asked Kouga. "What's Naraku thinking?"
Kouga shrugged. "Never seemed quite right in the head after you left."
Inuyasha grinned. "He must miss me. Let's go pay him a visit."
"We're just going to storm in like that?" Kagome trotted along Inuyasha's heels. "That doesn't seem very smart. I mean, in the movies people usually have a plan. You know, strategy. Tactics. Common sense."
Inuyasha strode up the walk, ignoring her. "Naraku and Sesshoumaru never answer the door. They have too many enemies, and they're lazy enough to let others do it. That leaves either Kagura, Kikyou, or some hired person. My bet is on Kikyou. Kagura's probably somewhere sucking up to Sesshoumaru, and besides,"
"Besides what?" Kagome asked when Inuyasha paused.
"Besides," he continued. "that's the only way we'll be able to get anywhere with rescuing Miroku."
Kagome groaned. "I cannot believe that is your only plan."
"Kagome, you talk to much. I bet you'd be much more attractive if that mouth of yours closes once in a while."
"I cannot believe you just said that!"
"What?"
"That is so mean! Inuyasha, I can't believe you! You're such a jerk."
"Quiet. You're going to ruin the plan."
"What plan? There is no plan!"
"Go away."
"I can't believe it's working." Kagome whispered to Sango as they crouched in the bushes.
"Me neither." Sango agreed. "I mean, Inuyasha got in, just like that."
"I guess Kikyou has it bad for him."
"Totally. You can spot it from a mile away."
"Girls, be quiet." Kouga commanded. "Look, this is what's going to happen. Inuyasha's going to get to where Miroku's being kept. If Kikyou keeps quiet and nothing bad happens, they'll just stroll out of the house. If they're not back in five minutes, I'm going in."
"What happens then?"
"Well, there's no way we'd lose with all three of us there." Kouga grinned, obviously enjoying the thought of a fight. "So you two just wait here like good little girls."
"If you weren't going to save my boyfriend," Sango said through gritted teeth. "I would go over to that girl you were flirting with and tell her you're married to your cousin."
Kouga smirked. "Good imagination, Sango. What time is it?"
"Time?" Distracted, she looked down. "10:18. Why?"
"Two more minutes. Then I get to go in."
"Kouga, you should be hoping they're come out safe and there'll be no need for a fight." Kagome reprimanded.
Kouga was looking at his watch. "Five.. four.. three..two.. one. I'm outta here. Bye girls, wish me luck." He blew them a kiss and sauntered up the walk.
Ten Minutes Later..
"I'm getting worried." Kagome confessed. "I didn't want to say anything because I know how you can get, but shouldn't they be out by now?"
"Thank you!" Sango shot up. "I was wondering when you'd say so. Let's go."
"Okay."
Kikyou opened the door at the sound of the doorbell. She looked at them suspiciously. "Yes?"
"We're .. interior decorators." Kagome blurted out. "And you look like you could use some interior decorating."
Sango groaned.
"Kagome!" Shippou shot out and clung onto her legs. "Kagome! They locked up Miroku-san and Inuyasha-san and this one guy I don't know but he winked at Kagura and-"
"Shippou! You're okay!"
Kikyou rolled her eyes impatiently. "We wouldn't hurt _children_."
Kagome peered beyond her into the house. "So where's Inuyasha?"
"None of your business." Kikyou said icily. "Take your little toddler friend and leave."
"My boyfriend's in there!" Sango pushed forward.
"Oh." Kikyou said, bored. "Miroku. Yeah, he was sort of fun for a while. He did manage to get Sesshoumaru and Naraku a bit. But other than that, he's pretty boring. Kept going on about how'd you worry and some little girl or something."
"He's not hurt, is he?"
"He's a big boy." Kikyou sighed. "Get over it. He'll live with a split lip, okay? Now go away before Naraku or Sesshoumaru finds out."
"Too late." Naraku shoved past Kikyou. "What's going on? Who're you?"
Kikyou sighed again and left.
"Wait!" Kagome called. "Where are you keeping Inuyasha?"
"Inuyasha's here?" Naraku's eyes narrowed. "Kikyou, I want an explanation!"
"Kagome, you could be a detective." Miroku sighed and leaned his head against Sango's shoulder. "At least you're here."
"Oh, stop it." She gave him a light shove on the shoulder. "So stupid, to get kidnapped like that."
"Not my fault! I was helping a kid!"
"I know." Sango grumbled.
"It wasn't my fault!" Kagome defended herself. "I've never done something like this before."
"Agreed." Kouga said. "I think you did great, Kagome. How about a hug?"
"Cut the crap." Inuyasha interrupted. He leaned against the wall. "Let's all agree that my plan was better than Kagome's, okay?"
"Oh yeah? If your plan was so great, why did you three all end up locked in this little room?" Kagome wanted to know.
"We could have left! But Miroku wouldn't leave without the kids. God, what a jackass."
"Kikyou didn't know where Rin-chan and Shippou-chan were." Miroku explained. "Or we could have left in a million different ways. But how am I supposed to go back to the shelter without them?"
"How did Rin-chan and Shippou-chan end up with Sesshoumaru and Naraku in the first place?"
"Well, you know the shelter is desperately overcrowded. They can't watch over every kid at every time. And neither of these two kids have fathers, so it's easy for them to believe that someone, specifically a young male, could care about them enough to take them out for ice cream or something."
Kagome sniffled. "That's so sad!"
"Bastards." Kouga agreed. "Who would use little kids for something like this?"
"Look," Inuyasha interrupted. "we've all agreed that this was an awful thing for them to do and they should burn in hell. But can we leave now?"
"Not until after we find Rin and Shippou." Miroku said stubbornly.
"Agreed." Sango said, her hand linked with his. "We're not going anywhere without those two innocent little babies."
Inuyasha groaned in frustration and banged his head against the wall. "You are all idiots. You realize we're sacrificing five lives for two."
"They might not kill us." Kagome said hopefully.
"They're not going to kill us." Inuyasha muttered darkly. "I'm sure they have more vivid imaginations. Or maybe not. But probably we'll all get beaten up pretty badly. Not a pretty picture, guys."
"This road trip has sure been tons of fun." Kagome remarked. "Let's do it again next year."
"Are you being sarcastic?" Inuyasha asked. "Because that tone is so not helping."
Kagome looked around. "Let me see. The five of us are locked in a room with not a stick of furniture, we don't know where Shippou and Rin are.. what else do you want me to do? Tell you the meaning of life? Because that's not going to happen. I'm going to complain and there's nothing you can do about it because you got us in this mess."
"What?!" Inuyasha asked, enraged. "How can you possibly blame this on me?"
"Well, you're the reason these people are after us!" Kagome said. "I mean, this was supposed to be a relaxing trip and--" She stopped, but it was too late.
Inuyasha already had a violently upset look in his eyes. "You know what?" he asked, his voice so soft that Kagome had to strain to hear. "That's just fine. As soon as we get out of this, I'm out. You guys can go and visit more giant ice cream cones and buy more tacky souvenirs, and you won't have to worry about any people after you, okay? I'll be out of your way."
The room was silent after this. Kagome glanced around the room. Miroku and Sango were seated in one corner, looking at each other worriedly. Kouga was in the second corner, avidly wishing he was someplace else. And Inuyasha was sulking in the third corner, his hood pulled over his head, shadowing his eyes. Kagome sighed and wondered if her big mouth would be the end of her. She sidled across the room and sat next to him. "Inuyasha?"
He ignored her and she nudged him gently. "Inuyasha, hear me out."
He pulled back his hood impatiently. "What?"
"First of all," she began, "the souvenirs I buy aren't tacky. Second of all, I'm really sorry about what I said. It's not your fault. I'm just sort of scared because of how this has never happened to me and all."
Inuyasha leaned back, his gaze brooding. "Fine. Happy now? Your conscience is clear."
Kagome placed her hand on his arm. "So difficult to deal with." She murmured. "Inuyasha, I'm really sorry. And I think that this trip wouldn't be half as fun if you weren't here. So don't leave us. Really."
"Make up your mind, woman."
"Don't call me that!"
"Why? That's what you are, right?"
"But the way you say it makes it sound demeaning!"
"They're at it again." Miroku whispered to Sango. "Does this mean they've made up?"
"Duh." Sango replied, shaking her head. "Guys are so dense."
"Hmm." Miroku wrapped his arms around her. "Thanks for rescuing me, by the way."
Sango laughed.
"Fine, fine." Inuyasha studied Kagome. "I'll stay."
"Really?" She brightened. "Yay!"
Inuyasha shook his head. "I will never understand females."
Kagome leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You're so fun."
"Whatever." He tugged her hair gently. "Now all we have to do is find a way out."
Miroku grinned at Sango. "This is good, right?"
But Sango was noticing the troubled look on Kouga's face and didn't answer.
Ending Notes: Hope you enjoyed this! I tried to keep it realistic but I'm not sure how that worked out. Haha. Well, review, please! I'm going to go watch the next episode of Inuyasha on Adult Swim now. ^__^ I love the two episode/night thing, but they changed Yu Yu Hakusho's time to so late! I'll be sleepy when I watch Yusuke. ;__; Merry Christmas early, since I might not be able to update before then! But I am going to be on a plane for 10+ hours, so there are boundless possibilities. Haha. Jaken is funny.
Skyweaver
12/14/02
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. But there are two episodes every Saturday on Cartoon Network!
Dedication: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! If you have any questions or comments, email me or leave a review. ^_^ And to Nishikidofan177, I adore Jay! Eeeeek! So so so so so so hot! Also his music is to die for. ^_~ I can't believe I'll be in China when he comes to America! He's going to be in Las Vegas, and that's only a ten hour drive away! Wahh.. I hope he come again soon.
Chapter 9: A Luxurious Kidnapping
Sango stared at the phone in horror. She gave a shriek of frustration and slammed it down. Kagome rushed up. "Sango, are you okay? Is Miroku okay?"
"So far." Sango muttered. She pushed herself up. "I have to go find him."
"Not alone." Kagome grabbed her arm. "I'm going with you."
Inuyasha sighed impatiently and rolled his eyes. "Girls, you're being idiots. Neither of you are going anywhere except back into the hotel lobby. Kouga and I are going to go get him."
Kouga nodded in agreement. "We know what we're dealing with. You don't. Don't worry, we'll get him back."
"As if." Sango put her hands on her hips. "If you think I'm going anywhere except down whichever alley Miroku is in, then you're insane. I'm going, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"Me too." Kagome chimed in.
The three of them turned to her with identical expressions on their faces.
"What?" Kagome demanded.
"Well.." Sango said delicately. "Kagome, my dear friend.."
"Oh no." Kagome glared. "You guys are not leaving me behind. I can take care of myself!"
"You're not coming." Inuyasha said flatly. "I mean, Sango can handle it, she's used to being Miroku's girlfriend. But you... no way."
"You guys don't have to protect me. I can take care of myself!" Kagome insisted.
"We're not trying to protect you." Inuyasha popped on his sunglasses to shield the glare of the sun. "We're trying to keep Miroku alive."
"Less talking, more action." Sango cut in. "For all we know, my boyfriend could be in the middle of being cut into pieces by Inuyasha's brother while you two are arguing!"
"Okay then, it's settled." Kagome grabbed the nearest wrist-Kouga's- and walked out of the parking lot briskly. "Let's go rescue Miroku!"
Inuyasha groaned.
"I don't get it." Kagome muttered as the four of them skulked silently down the streets, following Inuyasha, who seemed to know what he was doing.
"What don't you get, Kagome-chan?"
"Sango, what did you mean by Inuyasha's brother cutting Miroku into pieces? What's his brother have to do with anything? Is he a gangster?"
Sango thought about Sesshoumaru being referred to as a gangaster and almost laughed, despite the tears threatening to overflow. "I wouldn't say that exactly. Sesshoumaru is Inuyasha's older half brother. He's very much in charge of things, but Inuyasha was the leader of their little organization, which was a really sore spot. Sesshoumaru was second-in-command, which caused a lot of dislike between the two of them. Let me tell you, there was no love lost before either. Sesshoumaru's mother was much richer than Inuyasha's, and I guess Sesshoumaru just always looked down on Inuyasha."
"That's sad." Kagome said, and sensing that Sango's fears were being contained by her talking, asked, "Tell me about the other members of the gang, Sango."
"Well, you know Kouga already. He's the youngest, besides Inuyasha. They're pretty much the same, just that Kouga is like, two weeks older or something. He's right between Miroku and Inuyasha. There's, uhm, Kagura, who's related to Naraku. She's like his cousin or sister or something. She's boy-crazy, especially if the boy is Sesshoumaru. She's basically your normal, teenage girl. A little on the goth side, though."
"Why's she into the whole organized crime thing then?"
"Ah, Naraku basically controls her. It's not as awful as it sounds, I mean, she has a total attitude, but she listens to him."
"Weird."
"Yeah. And, there's Kikyou, who you know as Inuyasha's ex. She's very classy, very dignified, and a total ice-bitch."
"Sango!" Kagome tried to suppress a giggle. "That's not like you."
"Well, she is. The couple'a times I met her, she totally looked down at me, and I'm not even sure why. She's subtle about it, but not so subtle that you don't catch it. I don't really like them."
"By the way, how did you meet all of them? Miroku was never involved with them, was he?"
"It's sorta complicated. Once they had this big job to do, and it was totally critical because Inuyasha already a client lined up, and they couldn't get past the new security system. So somehow Inuyasha remembered Miroku, who he'd gone to school with once.. remember that time Miroku got in trouble at school and his parents transferred him to the all boy's school?"
Kagome laughed. "Of course I remember! He went crazy and planned a million ways to get himself expelled."
"Yeah, that time. Well Inuyasha happened to be there then too, and they were both in detention. So Inuyasha thought Miroku looked familiar, and realized that Miroku had once stolen this necklace right before Inuyasha's people got to it. So he has total respect for Miroku. Inuyasha thought Miroku might be able to beat the security system, so he contacted him, and they finished the job. There was big celebration party, and Miroku asked me to go with him. That's how I met them. There was some other stuff too, and I met them a couple more times in social situations."
"Man," Kagome griped. "I can't believe how ignorant I was about all this! How could you have kept it all a secret?"
"Well, most the parties and stuff was during Christmas, when your family went to visit that shrine your grandpa wanted to see. And I didn't even find out until later the whole story, and then Miroku swore me to secrecy. And _then_ we broke up, and all that stuff got pushed into the back of my mind. I never thought I'd meet them again, though."
"Wow." Kagome sighed. "I feel like I'm in a manga or something."
Sango murmured in agreement.
"Hey, you guys!" Kouga waved them over. "Inuyasha found something."
"Really?" Sango rushed to Inuyasha. "What?"
Inuyasha held up a purple bead. "Smart son of a bitch." He said admiringly. "This is a bead off that stupid bracelet he always wears."
"Hey!" Sango bristled. "I made him that bracelet in sixth grade!"
"Whatever."
"So now what?"
"Now we play Hansel and Gretel and get Miroku back."
Kagome stared at the bead in Inuyasha's hand. "How do we know which direction? Miroku doesn't have enough beads to last him very long, especially if they're driving or something."
"No, see? There's an arrow on the bead. It was facing that direction." Inuyasha jerked his head toward the end of the alleyway.
"There aren't any arrows on those beads." Sango picked up the bead from Inuyasha's palm.
"See? It's right there."
"No, that's a happy face!"
"Why does it have lines for eyes?"
"Not all happy faces have dots, Inuyasha. Just the kind you draw."
"Whatever. Looks like an arrow to me."
"So maybe the smile is a little pointy." Sango conceded. "Let's go."
"So," Miroku said conversationally. "where are you guys taking me?"
Naraku ignored him. "Go right." He instructed the driver, who bore an uncanny resemblence to Tin. Or maybe Tam.
"Hey." Miroku was feeling just slightly irritated. "Where are we going?! I didn't get any coffee yet today."
"Shut up! You're a hostage. You're not supposed to talk. We'll gag you if we have to."
"I'm so scared." Miroku muttered under his breath.
"We're at the last bead." Sango said fifteen minutes later. "I put fifteen beads on the bracelet, and this is the fifteenth one."
"Yeah." Inuyasha looked out over the parking strip thoughtfully. "I guess this means they took him on a car."
"This is a dead end." Kagome sighed. "How will we possibly know what car they took him in? This is awful."
Kouga smirked. "Kagome," he put an arm around her shoulders. "leave this to the experts."
"Here it is." Inuyasha, who'd been eyeing the ground critically, stood up with a piece of black cloth. "He's in a black car. The first number on the license plate is six."
Kagome's mouth dropped open. "How did you know that?!"
"Black ribbon. It's been creased six times."
"But how do you know it's Miroku's? I mean, why would he have the right color ribbon with him?"
"So naiive." Kouga grinned. "It's code, man. I mean, especially after you got kidnapped, Kagome, we started paying more attention to the system."
"What system?!" Kagome demanded, confused.
"Talk later." Inuyasha interrupted. "Who knows how far they are now?"
Moments later, Inuyasha and the girls were in the van, strapped in and ready to go. "Where's Kouga?" Kagome asked again. "How come he disappeared?"
Inuyasha turned the car violently right. "He's tailing the car."
"But he's on foot!"
"He'll find a way." Inuyasha muttered grimly. "Damn it! Where are you, Kouga?"
The phone in Inuyasha's pocket rang and Sango lunged at him. "I'll get it, I'll get--!"
Inuyasha gently shoved her away with one hand. "Whoa, watch it, girl." He grabbed the phone. "Yeah?"
"Okay." Inuyasha turned again and Sango and Kagome slammed into the side doors. "Yeah. I think so. Keep an eye on them, Kouga. I know he is. Okay. Okay." Inuyasha shut his phone and Sango was latched onto him in a second. "What'd he say? Did he find them? Is Miroku there?"
"Sweetheart," Inuyasha said dryly, "if he sees you stuck on me like that, you don't want him found."
Sango growled. "You know what I mean. Don't make me get violent."
"Sango's scary when she's mad." Kagome chipped in. "Tell us what's happening, Inuyasha."
"It's not like I wasn't going to." Inuyasha complained. "Okay, Kouga found them. They didn't go far, and a few pedestrians volunteered information on a black car they'd seen."
"Volunteered." Kagome muttered. "Right. I bet it took nothing on Kouga's part to get them to--"
"Look, do you want to hear or not?" Inuyasha asked impatiently, wheels screeching in protest as he met another corner head on. "Time is not on our side here."
"This is the weirdest vacation I've ever been on." Kagome said. "Go on."
"Anyways, they're at a beach house."
"Not an abandoned warehouse? How come Miroku gets the luxurious kidnapping?"
"He's safe though, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Kouga says Sesshoumaru has a very unbecoming bruise forming on his face. And Naraku is missing a tooth."
Sango grinned. "Go Miroku."
"Don't get your hopes up." Inuyasha warned. "I doubt he's in the best condition himself. But don't worry, the gang wouldn't gain anything from his murder."
Sango turned an unhealthy shade of white and Kagome knocked Inuyasha on the back of his head.
Kouga leaned against a rock, absently letting sand run through his fingers as the played the part of careless beach-goer. His eyes fixed on the window of the room Miroku was kept in, he still managed a subtle wink to a nearby sunbather. She blushed and tugged her sunglasses down a little. "Cut out the flirting." Inuyasha shadowed Kouga and studied the house he was watching. "This one?"
"Yep."
"How do you know? It looks exactly the same as the rest of the row."
"They took him in there. He was very cooperative though. Saw the kids too."
Inuyasha sighed. "What is the world coming to when they start using children for private matters like this?" He asked Kouga. "What's Naraku thinking?"
Kouga shrugged. "Never seemed quite right in the head after you left."
Inuyasha grinned. "He must miss me. Let's go pay him a visit."
"We're just going to storm in like that?" Kagome trotted along Inuyasha's heels. "That doesn't seem very smart. I mean, in the movies people usually have a plan. You know, strategy. Tactics. Common sense."
Inuyasha strode up the walk, ignoring her. "Naraku and Sesshoumaru never answer the door. They have too many enemies, and they're lazy enough to let others do it. That leaves either Kagura, Kikyou, or some hired person. My bet is on Kikyou. Kagura's probably somewhere sucking up to Sesshoumaru, and besides,"
"Besides what?" Kagome asked when Inuyasha paused.
"Besides," he continued. "that's the only way we'll be able to get anywhere with rescuing Miroku."
Kagome groaned. "I cannot believe that is your only plan."
"Kagome, you talk to much. I bet you'd be much more attractive if that mouth of yours closes once in a while."
"I cannot believe you just said that!"
"What?"
"That is so mean! Inuyasha, I can't believe you! You're such a jerk."
"Quiet. You're going to ruin the plan."
"What plan? There is no plan!"
"Go away."
"I can't believe it's working." Kagome whispered to Sango as they crouched in the bushes.
"Me neither." Sango agreed. "I mean, Inuyasha got in, just like that."
"I guess Kikyou has it bad for him."
"Totally. You can spot it from a mile away."
"Girls, be quiet." Kouga commanded. "Look, this is what's going to happen. Inuyasha's going to get to where Miroku's being kept. If Kikyou keeps quiet and nothing bad happens, they'll just stroll out of the house. If they're not back in five minutes, I'm going in."
"What happens then?"
"Well, there's no way we'd lose with all three of us there." Kouga grinned, obviously enjoying the thought of a fight. "So you two just wait here like good little girls."
"If you weren't going to save my boyfriend," Sango said through gritted teeth. "I would go over to that girl you were flirting with and tell her you're married to your cousin."
Kouga smirked. "Good imagination, Sango. What time is it?"
"Time?" Distracted, she looked down. "10:18. Why?"
"Two more minutes. Then I get to go in."
"Kouga, you should be hoping they're come out safe and there'll be no need for a fight." Kagome reprimanded.
Kouga was looking at his watch. "Five.. four.. three..two.. one. I'm outta here. Bye girls, wish me luck." He blew them a kiss and sauntered up the walk.
Ten Minutes Later..
"I'm getting worried." Kagome confessed. "I didn't want to say anything because I know how you can get, but shouldn't they be out by now?"
"Thank you!" Sango shot up. "I was wondering when you'd say so. Let's go."
"Okay."
Kikyou opened the door at the sound of the doorbell. She looked at them suspiciously. "Yes?"
"We're .. interior decorators." Kagome blurted out. "And you look like you could use some interior decorating."
Sango groaned.
"Kagome!" Shippou shot out and clung onto her legs. "Kagome! They locked up Miroku-san and Inuyasha-san and this one guy I don't know but he winked at Kagura and-"
"Shippou! You're okay!"
Kikyou rolled her eyes impatiently. "We wouldn't hurt _children_."
Kagome peered beyond her into the house. "So where's Inuyasha?"
"None of your business." Kikyou said icily. "Take your little toddler friend and leave."
"My boyfriend's in there!" Sango pushed forward.
"Oh." Kikyou said, bored. "Miroku. Yeah, he was sort of fun for a while. He did manage to get Sesshoumaru and Naraku a bit. But other than that, he's pretty boring. Kept going on about how'd you worry and some little girl or something."
"He's not hurt, is he?"
"He's a big boy." Kikyou sighed. "Get over it. He'll live with a split lip, okay? Now go away before Naraku or Sesshoumaru finds out."
"Too late." Naraku shoved past Kikyou. "What's going on? Who're you?"
Kikyou sighed again and left.
"Wait!" Kagome called. "Where are you keeping Inuyasha?"
"Inuyasha's here?" Naraku's eyes narrowed. "Kikyou, I want an explanation!"
"Kagome, you could be a detective." Miroku sighed and leaned his head against Sango's shoulder. "At least you're here."
"Oh, stop it." She gave him a light shove on the shoulder. "So stupid, to get kidnapped like that."
"Not my fault! I was helping a kid!"
"I know." Sango grumbled.
"It wasn't my fault!" Kagome defended herself. "I've never done something like this before."
"Agreed." Kouga said. "I think you did great, Kagome. How about a hug?"
"Cut the crap." Inuyasha interrupted. He leaned against the wall. "Let's all agree that my plan was better than Kagome's, okay?"
"Oh yeah? If your plan was so great, why did you three all end up locked in this little room?" Kagome wanted to know.
"We could have left! But Miroku wouldn't leave without the kids. God, what a jackass."
"Kikyou didn't know where Rin-chan and Shippou-chan were." Miroku explained. "Or we could have left in a million different ways. But how am I supposed to go back to the shelter without them?"
"How did Rin-chan and Shippou-chan end up with Sesshoumaru and Naraku in the first place?"
"Well, you know the shelter is desperately overcrowded. They can't watch over every kid at every time. And neither of these two kids have fathers, so it's easy for them to believe that someone, specifically a young male, could care about them enough to take them out for ice cream or something."
Kagome sniffled. "That's so sad!"
"Bastards." Kouga agreed. "Who would use little kids for something like this?"
"Look," Inuyasha interrupted. "we've all agreed that this was an awful thing for them to do and they should burn in hell. But can we leave now?"
"Not until after we find Rin and Shippou." Miroku said stubbornly.
"Agreed." Sango said, her hand linked with his. "We're not going anywhere without those two innocent little babies."
Inuyasha groaned in frustration and banged his head against the wall. "You are all idiots. You realize we're sacrificing five lives for two."
"They might not kill us." Kagome said hopefully.
"They're not going to kill us." Inuyasha muttered darkly. "I'm sure they have more vivid imaginations. Or maybe not. But probably we'll all get beaten up pretty badly. Not a pretty picture, guys."
"This road trip has sure been tons of fun." Kagome remarked. "Let's do it again next year."
"Are you being sarcastic?" Inuyasha asked. "Because that tone is so not helping."
Kagome looked around. "Let me see. The five of us are locked in a room with not a stick of furniture, we don't know where Shippou and Rin are.. what else do you want me to do? Tell you the meaning of life? Because that's not going to happen. I'm going to complain and there's nothing you can do about it because you got us in this mess."
"What?!" Inuyasha asked, enraged. "How can you possibly blame this on me?"
"Well, you're the reason these people are after us!" Kagome said. "I mean, this was supposed to be a relaxing trip and--" She stopped, but it was too late.
Inuyasha already had a violently upset look in his eyes. "You know what?" he asked, his voice so soft that Kagome had to strain to hear. "That's just fine. As soon as we get out of this, I'm out. You guys can go and visit more giant ice cream cones and buy more tacky souvenirs, and you won't have to worry about any people after you, okay? I'll be out of your way."
The room was silent after this. Kagome glanced around the room. Miroku and Sango were seated in one corner, looking at each other worriedly. Kouga was in the second corner, avidly wishing he was someplace else. And Inuyasha was sulking in the third corner, his hood pulled over his head, shadowing his eyes. Kagome sighed and wondered if her big mouth would be the end of her. She sidled across the room and sat next to him. "Inuyasha?"
He ignored her and she nudged him gently. "Inuyasha, hear me out."
He pulled back his hood impatiently. "What?"
"First of all," she began, "the souvenirs I buy aren't tacky. Second of all, I'm really sorry about what I said. It's not your fault. I'm just sort of scared because of how this has never happened to me and all."
Inuyasha leaned back, his gaze brooding. "Fine. Happy now? Your conscience is clear."
Kagome placed her hand on his arm. "So difficult to deal with." She murmured. "Inuyasha, I'm really sorry. And I think that this trip wouldn't be half as fun if you weren't here. So don't leave us. Really."
"Make up your mind, woman."
"Don't call me that!"
"Why? That's what you are, right?"
"But the way you say it makes it sound demeaning!"
"They're at it again." Miroku whispered to Sango. "Does this mean they've made up?"
"Duh." Sango replied, shaking her head. "Guys are so dense."
"Hmm." Miroku wrapped his arms around her. "Thanks for rescuing me, by the way."
Sango laughed.
"Fine, fine." Inuyasha studied Kagome. "I'll stay."
"Really?" She brightened. "Yay!"
Inuyasha shook his head. "I will never understand females."
Kagome leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You're so fun."
"Whatever." He tugged her hair gently. "Now all we have to do is find a way out."
Miroku grinned at Sango. "This is good, right?"
But Sango was noticing the troubled look on Kouga's face and didn't answer.
Ending Notes: Hope you enjoyed this! I tried to keep it realistic but I'm not sure how that worked out. Haha. Well, review, please! I'm going to go watch the next episode of Inuyasha on Adult Swim now. ^__^ I love the two episode/night thing, but they changed Yu Yu Hakusho's time to so late! I'll be sleepy when I watch Yusuke. ;__; Merry Christmas early, since I might not be able to update before then! But I am going to be on a plane for 10+ hours, so there are boundless possibilities. Haha. Jaken is funny.
Skyweaver
12/14/02