DISCLAIMER-I don't own Inuyasha.
(A/N-Thank you for the reviews, and once again I remind you to stay with me. I'm sorry it took a little longer than usual to update, but I had a few things to take care off. I still do everything I do for a reason, so please don't hate me for anything!)
Chapter 13-Another fugitive
It had been a long night so far as the silence continued to drive her nuts. Kagome sat on the leather couch in Inuyasha's apartment with her laptop in her lap, typing more information into her diary while they waited for Miroku to return with news or for Inuyasha to turn Hanyou again. She wasn't exactly having fun, either.
She had never felt so tense in Inuyasha's presence since he had first scared her to death when he grabbed her off the streets. It was definitely not a welcome feeling. The human form of Inuyasha sat as unmannerly in his chair as humanly possible with his own laptop in his lap, but his typing was more urgent as he focused on his work. His eyes hadn't left the screen as soon as the computer was on, and he was so quiet it seemed that he didn't even breathe. The only noise that was made was the urgent typing of keyboards and her occasional sigh.
It made Kagome upset to see him so worried, and since she knew that he would feel every feeling she was feeling, she decided not to try to hide it. "Calm down, Inuyasha, you're making me nervous. Nothing bad will happen to Shippo."
He was quiet for a moment before glancing at her. "Apparently, you or your books don't know Naraku." Then he turned back to the screen and started his typing again. He was emailing certain trustworthy people across the city to see if anyone knew of Naraku's whereabouts. Seeing as every email that was sent back to him said that nobody even knew he was back in town, he almost punched the screen of the computer. And he might have, too, if Kagome wasn't around.
Kagome had resisted the urge to yell at him. Sure, this was worth an argument, and he was probably waiting for it because it was so familiar to both of them that it was relaxing. Her not answering with any acknowledgement of even hearing him would drive him up the wall, and in theory, force him to calm down.
As she had thought, he shut his computer after a moment and stared at her. "All right, that's it, you've made your point. I can't find anyone who even knew he was back anyway." He sat the laptop on the floor, crossed his arms and slumped down more into the chair as if sinking into himself. Shippo was his friend, and had been there longer than anyone else for him. Inuyasha and Shippo weren't human, and Kagome's guess was that they had been friends for as long as they had lived, and for all she knew that could have been two hundred years.
Kagome sighed. "The books didn't lie about you at all." She stated quietly, carefully closing her own laptop and putting it on the floor.
"Keh, books are just junk, nothing but page after page of horribly exaggerated crap. They can't teach you anything about real life and they definitely can't tell you everything about a person." The agitation in his voice was clearly evident. Not having much strength to argue to the extent that she would have loved to, though, she let it slide and stared at her hands.
"Books are usually filled with people's thoughts, even textbooks can be exaggerated, but what in this world isn't nowadays? I found comfort in books because they told me that other people thought like me, and reading about something I liked was what I did to feel better. Everything that book had said about you was true, because I have seen it for myself."
"But you haven't seen him yet, and you're not ever going to, either. He is a dirty, filthy, tricky bastard that has something he wants specifically out of me and his reasons can be as twisted as a tornado. If he even hears about you…"
"Inuyasha, I'm not a baby." She stated as she stood and headed into his kitchen to retrieve a drink. She didn't mind arguing with him while she couldn't see him. "If Naraku poses any threat to me, I'll bring out my Miko abilities and decapitate his ass." She started pouring herself a glass of wine and looked around before taking a swig out of the bottle and closing it. She never knew why, but she loved doing that and had ever since she was fourteen and found her father's stash. She'd walk into the kitchen when he wasn't home, stand where the camera's couldn't see her and take large swigs of his alcohol. He had once accused a maid of doing it, but he dropped the subject later on. Daddy dearest never found out about it.
"Kagome, I didn't say you were a baby, did I?" He sounded tired.
"No, but you're implying it. You think I can't take care of myself, even after what you saw me do to Kikyo."
"THAT is precisely the reason I don't want you going near him!" He stood and crossed his arms by the counter so that he could watch her reactions. "Naraku has a fetish with Mikos, Kagome. If he finds out about you, he'll be after you for more reasons that getting back at me, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I don't care if you're powerful enough to bring down the city of New York, he's a lot smarter than he looks and he will find a way to capture you."
Kagome's wound burned and she sat the glass down to reach up and grip it tightly. It was just screaming for Inuyasha to heal it, but she was too busy arguing with him to ask him to hurry up and change back into a Hanyou. She wasn't even sure if then she would ask for his help.
He sighed deeply. "Just listen to me this time, Kagome. Naraku is a Spider Demon; a full fledged one with all the powers like Fluffy. I don't know if he can stand Miko power or not but he's probably a lot more bullet proof than I am. No matter what you are to me, he'd find a way to hurt you and get back at me. And if he did manage something like that, it would probably kill me!"
She turned and stared at him. "Inuyasha, I may be your mate, and you may worry all you want, but I am an adult who is perfectly capable of making her own decisions. Naraku may be a threat to me, but I'm not worried about it because I can take care of myself."
Inuyasha groaned with incredible force. "Kagome, you're doing it again! I am asking one thing of you and you are going to disobey me no matter what, even if it gets you killed! I don't DO this crap to be mean! I do it because I DON'T WANT YOU HURT!"
Kagome just stared at him for a moment while he met her gaze without hesitation. She closed her eyes and counted mentally to herself. "Inuyasha…I'm more worried about you. If he manages to hurt you or anger you enough for you to loose control, how are you going to control yourself without me around?"
He gave her an almost dull look. "If he finds out about you then you won't be around…"
She sighed and continued on as if he hadn't said a thing. "If I remember correctly, you're worse than before I got here when I'm not around. If you have the need to kill, you'll kill anyone in your way and think nothing of it."
"Something like that is better than watching that bastard even see you, Kagome. You don't understand why I'm so concerned about this, and I don't think you would unless you saw it for yourself."
"Then tell me and see if I don't understand, Inuyasha. I don't want to be left out of everything."
"He's attracted to power…" he continued. "…if you are even in the same building as him he will know what you are and do everything it takes to capture you." He sighed and his voice became extremely annoyed. "You add that to how beautiful you are, and then the bond to me and it will just ice his cake. He'd do EVERYTHING in his power to have you, Kagome, even if you are already mated."
She sighed deeply as she considered the situation. "But Inuyasha, your thoughts earlier were that you didn't know much about him and that he had never dealt with you before. If you don't know him, then why do you act like you've been part of his plots before?"
"I've seen him work his magic, he's just heartless and could care less about the feelings of another person." He shook his head to move his black hair out of his face and opened the cabinet he had been leaning against, pulling out a bottle of wine and opening it carefully.
Kagome sighed. "Don't drink too much, Inuyasha, you are human tonight."
Only his eyes rose to look at her and then he put the bottle down. "Damnit…" He muttered, putting his gloved hand over his mouth in thought. Apparently, he wasn't thinking of holding back on the inhaling of the alcohol out of pure habit, most likely. He could have been sick for the one night he would be able to the entire month, and getting sick is not something that the club needed right now. He could barely protect Kagome as it is, he didn't need to become ill.
Kagome sighed deeply and walked over to him, bringing her arms slowly around his chest and hugging him tightly. "Why don't you like being human, Inuyasha? I know you hate it, but it's only for one day a month."
He closed his eyes and slowly wrapped his arms around her shoulders, leaning his head on hers as he thought of a good answer. "I guess, when I'm Hanyou, I can really do much more. I'm still human enough to control myself, yet I can still hear, smell, and see with the accuracy of my father. Even though it seems I have a curse, I like playing my cards and keeping it that way. Besides, it's fun when I'm Hanyou, I can drink all I want and never get drunk."
She huffed and squeezed her arms. "I swear, you and that alcohol. And being a Hanyou is not a curse, Inuyasha. Having a little of both worlds is a good thing."
"People of this world has always thought it a curse and they shunned me for it."
Kagome snorted. "Well people talk and no matter what other people do they believe whatever they want to. All I know is I believe that you are you and I love you that way. You don't have to change for anyone."
He smiled softly and began rubbed her back. "How is it that even when I'm in the worst mood possible you manage to cheer me up?"
"Well I would blame it on the bond, but you're human now so…hmm…I guess I just affect people that way."
He laughed softly and held her tighter so that he could bathe in her comforting warmth. She was in his arms, completely safe even if he was Hanyou. Kagome was anything but weak, he knew that, but he refused to take any chances of loosing her. No, he had lost his mother and he wouldn't loose another.
Kagome pulled back and looked into his eyes. She had never seen that color of eyes before, she had never even heard of it. She reached up and cupped his cheek, but he had to resist closing his eyes because he knew that she was inspecting them. After a minute of gazing at him, she smiled warmly. "Human or Hanyou, you're still the most unique person I have ever met." She pushed the bangs out of his face. "Your eyes are so beautiful both ways."
He smirked and kissed her chastely. "Yea I know, they're the only feature I truly enjoy when I'm human. I haven't seen another human walking around with violet eyes."
"Me either, and that's what makes it so awesome."
Inuyasha laughed slightly, moving on hand to rest on the curve of her hip as the other gripped the back of her neck softly. He would love to be alone with her for the rest of the night, without any interruptions and problems. If he were to attempt to lower her to the ground he probably wouldn't stop, but he was reluctant to start something in the middle of a club crisis when they are supposed to be waiting for news until morning. Oh yea, that would go over real well, Miroku opening the door to find his boss and tell him news, only to find him in a rather compromising situation on the kitchen floor that he would never hear the end of, even if he killed the monk. Nope, people in his club really knew how to interrupt at the wrong time every time.
He sighed heavily. Being the leader of a gang really sucked sometimes. You couldn't have any fun; it was all work and no play if you wanted to run it properly. He could barely have a sex life with Kagome, and even when he could Miroku and Sango managed to find out about it, but did keep their mouths shut when the monk was nearly mauled.
He hadn't had a problem starting the club because he was pretty sure he would never have cared about someone like that, but when Kagome came along everything changed. Kidnapping her was the best thing he ever did, and now that they were together, they could barely spend any time with each other.
Somehow, that angered him. No matter how long they both lived, it seemed that something would always come in the way of Kagome and himself. Something was always trying to stop them, or always interrupting when he tried to talk to her. One of these days he was going to get really angry.
But no matter what, the few moments that it was just her and him were priceless. She would make him laugh, feel obnoxious, and he would always love arguing with her. It seemed tense and harsh, but he knew that both of them really enjoyed it because it was something they both were good at. But no matter what she did, he felt like a boulder had been lifted off his chest, just knowing that she was here and still with him. Even if they spent a few minutes together and it didn't seem like long, he would always feel he would give up his Youkai side if just to spend another few with her.
He kissed her cheek and buried his face more in her hair. He sighed deeply. "I don't know what I would do without you, Kagome."
Kagome giggled slightly. "You'd probably be in a lot less trouble, that's for sure."
"I don't care what you cost me, it would all be worth it." He smiled slightly at a strange new thought. It didn't feel any different, his human compared to his Hanyou. Sure, he couldn't use his hyped up senses, or jump from building to building without falling, or scare the living daylights out of anyone who dared to gaze upon him (Kagome, of course, still thought he was the most beautiful person she had ever seen), but holding her and being with her didn't change at all. In fact, he swore he could still smell the intensity of her spring rain scent in her hair. She was right, he realized being human for such a short amount of time might not have been as bad as he had thought. Especially not if she enjoyed it.
"That's sweet, Inuyasha." She said quietly, hearing his thoughts. "Being human is what I have been all my life, although I wouldn't know what it's like to be Hanyou. You're cute in both forms, so don't worry about it." She grinned against his chest as she felt his chuckle.
"Yes, who could resist me? Well, when I'm not being deadly, that is."
She laughed and then frowned instantly when her computer seemed to beep. After remembering carefully, she knew that meant that she had a new message. And it started to give her a bad feeling…
She hesitated before pulling away from Inuyasha and walking over to the computer as he followed suit. His eyes were filled with concern, because he too had a bad feeling. He really sometimes wished that he didn't get feelings like that.
Kagome sat on the couch and opened her computer after gracefully sitting it on her lap. She opened the new message, which had not been signed, and read carefully.
A message for you, my dear Miko:
Worried are we? I have heard that you have taken out that other Miko woman, Kikyo I believe. Well done, but now that you are discovered, I would watch my back very carefully if I were you.
Not like I could do anything, as Inuyasha seems to think that nothing will take you away from him. Tell him not to worry, I'm already working on it.
As for your friend, Shippo, you will only get him back safe and unharmed if you cooperate with me. This would be a full test on how much you really care about your friends, Kagome Higurashi.
Don't worry, as I have already made my plans and the actions of the future have already been made. Nothing is going to stop me this time, my revenge will make me come in first! I will let you know when the time to decide will be, Kagome, but until then I have given you plenty of time to decide.
Ah, see you soon,
NARAKU (SLY)
Kagome put a hand over her mouth and closed her eyes, denying her voice of the scream it wanted to unleash. WHY is it that I am the one the demons are after!!! What did I do to them!
Inuyasha stared at the screen wide-eyed behind her. So that's his plan, is it? He already knew about Kagome! Doing the next thing possible, he called Miroku. "I want you and Sango to come up to my apartment for a meeting. Be quick about it."
"Right away, Inuyasha."
He snapped the phone shut and stood in silence as Kagome fought the urge to go into hysterics. She just didn't understand…it seemed like people didn't want her happy. She had come to be with Inuyasha, which is everything she could have ever dreamed of, except now people all over want her dead and Inuyasha to suffer. And Naraku had taken an insane interest to her, which she wasn't very comfortable about…
Inuyasha closed his eyes and counted slowly. Fifty one, fifty two…then the door opened and he sighed in relief. Somehow I knew that it wouldn't take very long.
Miroku and Sango looked slightly concerned. "What's happening?" Miroku asked quickly.
Inuyasha pointed to Kagome's screen. "She just got an email from Naraku. Read it." They both bent down over Kagome's shoulder and read the message, and Miroku finished just a few seconds before Sango.
He sighed deeply. "He already knows about Kagome, which means he has been watching us for a good amount of time."
Inuyasha wanted to hit something, but refrained from doing so. "Why? Why do the demons always come after Kagome?" He asked.
Sango stared at him. "You were one of them, Inuyasha."
"Shut up. She's my mate now, I want to know why everyone still wants her dead."
Miroku crossed his arms. "Kagome is now yours, Inuyasha, and you are the enemy to many in this city. Perhaps you being happy is what everyone hates."
He suddenly looked uncomfortable and kept his arms crossed to block everyone else off. "That isn't fair to her." He said quietly. He now wondered if he had left her alone, would she have a better life? Would everyone still be after her? Sure, Fluffy wanted to blackmail her father into money, but he was quite honorable with his hostage situations and her father would have happily paid up. Then Kagome would have been back home and heavily guarded, out of harm's way and away from him.
Kagome stared up at him almost in a hurt way. "Inuyasha, don't think things like that. I'm happier than I have ever been, I don't care if my life is at risk."
He stared at her. "If you were still at home with your father, no one would know what you are and they would probably leave you alone."
"That's a load of bull, Inuyasha!" She screamed and stood to glare at him. "Fluffy would STILL have killed my father and went through our things, Kikyo would STILL be alive and bothering you, I would STILL be miserable and want nothing more than to fall off a cliff and you would STILL be the uncaring person you were when I got here. What, do you regret taking me or something?" It felt like he didn't want her here anymore, even though she knew that's not what he was saying.
He stared at her. "I regret nothing I have ever done except not being able to help my mother in time. I am saying that if I hadn't taken you, you would probably be safer, I do not want you to go anywhere and it would be impossible for you to now." He kept his voice under perfect control, which almost confused Kagome. He was really good at arguing back and really good in raising his voice, mainly because Inuyasha hated being wrong.
"Then don't think things like that. Don't think 'what if' because it won't ever happen that way." Kagome closed her computer and walked into the spare bedroom in back, closing the door and locking it behind her. She had been completely calm, as if sneaking into her room instead of storming into it.
He sighed. Miroku scratched his head. "Sometimes she takes things too seriously."
Sango smacked the back of his head. "Miroku, leave her alone. We all have to decide how to deal with Naraku."
Inuyasha snorted. "There's nothing we can do, not right now. He's known about Kagome for a while, he knew that she defeated Kikyo and he knew what she was from the start. He's had this planned out, and he took Shippo as a test factor. But we can't let her go anywhere near him."
"Inuyasha, could you possibly be overprotecting again? Worrying about her too much, maybe? I mean, we all saw what she did to Kikyo, I'm perfectly able to say that she can take care of herself."
Miroku grabbed Sango's shoulder as he talked. "He's not overprotecting her, Sango, Kagome has to be protected from Naraku. He's a rather perverted demon, if you ask me that is."
Sango sighed. "Well nobody asked you. The only thing I'm worried about is what he has planned. He's going to ask Kagome to make a decision that will affect Inuyasha and the entire club either way that she does it. If she does it, he takes her and uses her, if not, then chances are he'll kill Shippo. She'd never forgive herself for that."
Inuyasha sighed. "He's so sly it's not even funny. He's bending everything to work out his way."
Sango nodded. "So we must fight fire with fire, ne?"
"I'm not as good at this game as he is, though."
Miroku put a hand on his heart. "Inuyasha, do you not enjoy the challenge?" He seemed to be teasing him and Sango rolled her eyes. Great timing Miroku.
"A challenge that will put the ones I care about in danger does not appeal to me as much as, oh lets say, the electronic store robberies. They don't live, they can be rebuilt, but Kagome will only come around once in a life time."
Miroku smiled softly. "I can see why some women can really get to know you when you're not trying to kill everyone."
"I only kill when people bother me." He glanced back down the hallway that Kagome disappeared into. "Miroku…" He said quietly.
"Yes, Inuyasha?"
He straightened up and started popping his knuckles. "I want double security on her whenever she leaves this room. If Naraku knows about her then he's definitely planning on getting her from me, and I can't let that happen. We'll find a way to rescue Shippo and get Naraku off our back."
"But Inuyasha…" Sango started, and the glare he gave her was all it took to quiet her.
"I have to do this, Sango, until I figure out how to stop all of my enemies from wanting me miserable." Pondering for a moment, Inuyasha made a hard decision. He quietly walked back into the hall and started knocking on the door.
Kagome turned off her computer and opened the door to stare at him. "Yea?"
"Get your coat, we're going out."
"Out?" She was clearly puzzled. "Why would we be going out? I figured you wouldn't let me go anywhere."
"The only way that you're going anywhere is with me, and while no one can really recognize me it'll be easier to get around. Now hurry up, we're all going out." He left the room and left Kagome to get ready while puzzling where in the world they were going.
"Miroku, call the snipers and tell them to watch Kagome when she leaves the building. They're usually somewhere outside nearby, so they'll have a target."
Sango snorted as Miroku got on the phone. "You mean to tell me you're actually going to let her go out of the club?"
"I have an idea, and she'll be with me the whole time."
She eyed him carefully. "I don't like that tilt in your voice, Inuyasha. What are you going to do?"
"You'll just have to see, now won't you?" He almost smirked. This is very amusing.
Miroku hung up and gave him the 'come on' look. "You never do anything like this when you're human. You don't even leave the safety of your room."
"Keh, shove it. I know what I'm doing, now you two go and get your motorcycle gear. We're all going on a drive."
Sango didn't look away as she tugged Miroku's shirt and whispered in his ear. "He's scaring me, is he drunk?"
Miroku whispered back in the same manner. "No, he must really have a plan that he's certain is going to work."
"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" Inuyasha snorted, watching his third and fourth scurry out of the room to fulfill the orders they were given.
Kagome leaned heavily on the doorway of her room, observing Inuyasha with the greatest of care. "Just what are you up to? You're even worrying Sango and Miroku."
"I'm not going to say anything until we get there, and when we do you'll understand why. You ready to go?"
She sighed deeply and held her arms out, spinning around in a circle so that her coat spun. "If you consider this ready, I am."
He smiled weakly. "Good." He put very dark sunglasses on to cover his beautiful eyes, and managed to stuff all of his hair into a beanie. After he left the club, he would let it loose again, but he didn't want any of his members to see him in his human form. There is no need to chance another mouth blabbing to the enemy about when he's vulnerable.
Making sure that he had chains all in place, he walked over to the door and watched her as she put on her sunglasses. "Keep those on for a while, ok?"
"Whatever you say." She said quietly. It was bugging the hell out of her that she didn't know where they were going, and by god she wanted to find out!
*~*~^_^~*~*
Kagome held on tightly to Inuyasha as she had throughout the entire trip, constantly searching the darkness of New York to find out where they were going. It had to be about three in the morning by the look of the sky and the lack of cars on the highway. The lights were somewhat dimming down, and try as she might Kagome wasn't really sure where they were. She had been to New York hundreds of times before she moved here for good, and she still didn't know where the heck she was. She suddenly felt a little stupid, but Miroku and Sango almost looked just as clueless.
The formation had been the same as they weaved in and out of traffic; Inuyasha's motorcycle in front, Sango behind him and Miroku behind her. It was only like that because no one knew where Inuyasha was going, otherwise Miroku would be in front to help disguise Inuyasha's human outfit, as he now showed off as much human as he was comfortable with. He had removed his sunglasses and beanie and had Kagome stuff them into his coat pockets so that he could hold on tightly to the bike. She had stuffed her sunglasses into her own pocket so that she could get a better view, but nothing was helping.
The helmets, however, were a must, and it had almost seemed that Inuyasha had turned his microphone off due to all the questions about where they were going. Sango and Miroku were nagging him like crazy, and talking between themselves when they thought that no one else was listening. Kagome, however, was listening intently.
"Miroku! What the hell are you doin?"
"Nothing at all, Sango, why do you ask?"
"GET on your own side of the road and keep your hands to yourself. Don't make me hit you and run you off the road."
He chuckled. "Inuyasha wouldn't like that."
"Does this look like I care?" Kagome glanced back and witnessed Sango show Miroku a rather obscene gesture involving her middle finger.
He continued to laugh. "Ah, you're right, Sango."
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm bored, I'd like to know what Inuyasha is going to do but he won't talk. Kagome's more stumped than we are."
"Well he's so caring towards her. Did you ever notice how his entire life has changed to revolve around her?"
"Of course, Sango, that's probably why he's doing whatever he's doing now."
It was quiet for a moment before Sango almost gasped. "Are we leaving New York?"
Kagome glanced around and observed their surroundings. Inuyasha tuned into the microphone. "What are you babbling about?"
"Inuyasha, why are we leaving the city?"
"I told you to shut up about it, and I meant it. And you two can wait until later to have private conversations because I don't want to hear it and I imagine that Kagome doesn't either."
Miroku snorted and muttered something while Sango sighed and looked dully at Kagome's back. We sure can't hide anything from you, can we?
Kagome absently moved closer to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, where are we going?"
He sighed. "We're almost there." His tone dismissed the conversation, and so they all remained silent as he started heading down the back roads. Kagome was slowly growing suspicious as she slowly noticed that everything she was viewing was becoming more and more familiar.
Finally, he had parked along the side of a large building right outside the city, and if Kagome's eyes would have gotten bigger they could have. He hopped off the bike and Kagome grabbed his shoulder while staring at the building intently. "Are you ILL?"
Miroku and Sango jumped off the bike and Sango shook her head as if not accepting. "You have GOT to be kidding, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha sighed as he gripped Kagome's elbow and began to slowly pull her off the bike to start into the building. Miroku and Sango slowly followed them, and they were suddenly wondering why?
…WHY in the seven hells would Inuyasha come into a police station?
*~*~^_^~*~*
"Uh…Inuyasha? Just so you know, I'm not going anywhere near a person in this building until you tell me what you're doing." Kagome stated.
He messed with his coat as he glanced at the clock on the wall. The 'police station' seemed rather abandoned for a station in New York. In fact, there was only one person there, and Inuyasha had to ask him how to find somebody important. To Kagome's surprise, the person didn't run screaming or didn't push any alarms to alert the others to his presence. He treated Inuyasha like any other person, except the look in his eyes told them that he was a little disturbing…of course, Inuyasha wouldn't have it any other way, human or not.
Kagome, however, was a different story. She stood behind Miroku and Sango the whole time, trying to figure out why in the world Inuyasha had come here and why he wasn't the one blocking her off from view. Inuyasha hadn't seemed hesitant to come in here at all, which was really driving her mad. That's it, he's going to get the nagging session of his life when we leave. Of course he chose at that moment to give her the 'just trust me' look, and who was she to resist?
She had to admit that he was right, and in a way that it was rather funny. Everyone knew what Inuyasha looked like as a Hanyou, it was his unmistakable trademark that everyone had grown to know and fear throughout the city. In his human, however, no one was going to know who he was unless they were in the club and he started talking to reveal his voice, and he wasn't one to give away good opportunity. Outside, no one would really recognize him because the only thing that would give him away was his attire, but since everyone in the club dressed like him anyway, he wasn't all that worried.
When the man behind the desk left and into a different room, Inuyasha started messing with his hair and smirked.
Sango sighed. "All right, Inuyasha, you have us stumped, now why are we here?"
"We're meeting someone."
"Why? Who's here that we need to talk to?"
Inuyasha smirked, genuinely proud of himself. "Clever ain't it? No one would ever think of me doing business with someone that actually works for the force, now would they?"
Kagome pulled away from the little cell that Miroku and Sango had cocooned her in and stood in front of him. "You mean that someone here actually helps you? This is a police station, you're the most wanted person in the state."
He snorted. "Actually, deary, you are. They would pay big money to find you."
She rolled her eyes. Damn his retarded pet names… "Don't call me that..."
"It's true, and you know what? The person that I have come to see has been helping me secretly for years, and no one else in the gang knew it. It's been a secret, and a well kept one, and besides you four I intend to keep it a large secret so she can continue working for the force."
Kagome stared at him. "You do know that brining me here is going to be risky?"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and wrapped an arm protectively around her waist. "Don't worry about anything, you know I wouldn't have brought you here if I thought it was unsafe."
She nodded. "I just don't want to be accidentally brought into custody and terrorized for days on end about where I've been."
"And you won't be, not here."
The man came back from the back room and Inuyasha turned slightly so that Kagome was out of sight. "So can we see her?"
"Yea, sure, but be quiet because I'm about ready to take a long needed lap."
Before saying the first thing on his mind, he just cocked his eyebrow and nodded, leading Kagome away and waiting until Sango and Miroku followed.
They followed him quickly down a path of stairs in a back room, watching him as he searched the darkness for a something in specific. Kagome sighed deeply. I'm glad he knows what he's doing because I honestly don't have a clue.
Inuyasha squeezed her hand once as they hit the bottom of the stairs. "Anyone here?" He stated carefully. They all looked around in the dark, trying to find anything that was down there, but it was very hard to see anything at all, even Inuyasha couldn't quite see.
"Are you alone?" A quiet, feminine voice asked out of the corner.
Inuyasha stood straighter. "Hai, just us four."
"I want the names, I'm not risking anything."
No one could still see anything, but Inuyasha turned and pointed at the person he was talking about. "That's Miroku, my third, that's Sango, head of the defensive department…" He paused and pointed at Kagome. "And meet my second, Kagome Higurashi."
The voice laughed slightly and the dim lights turned on, revealing a rather extraordinary looking woman walk away from a desk in the middle of the room. She was unique, and just by looking at her you could tell she wasn't human. Her long true red hair flowed down past her waist, braided in an excellent braid. She had brilliant green eyes, and a symbol of fire on her forehead. She had very noticeable fangs and claws that grazed her hips as she sat her hands there, studying Kagome as if she were an interesting picture. She wore a strange black and red vest, and skin tight black pants so that all her features stood out more and made her even more exotic.
Kagome glanced around her. "Why dim lights?"
"She's sensitive to light..." Inuyasha said quietly.
The woman smirked. "Inuyasha, you didn't tell me that you were the one to kidnap the great lawyer, Miss Kagome Higurashi. How'd you manage to get her on your side without her ratting you out?" She trailed around and stood in front of Kagome, both studying each other carefully.
"My business, not yours." He stated gruffly.
Kagome smiled when she realized what this woman was. "You're a Kitsune, like Shippo."
The woman smiled and held out her hand for Kagome to shake. "Very good, I'm impressed. It usually takes people a minute or two to figure out what I am, but I don't mind because I like to encourage the illusion of being a dangerous demon. My name is Kirara, but you may call me Kira. I am a fire cat Kitsune. Nice to meet you, Miko."
Inuyasha sighed. "Kira, I need some information, and back off the Miko crap."
"That's all you ever need when you talk to me, Inuyasha. I figured that much, and I also figured it was important if you had to come in the dark while in your human form." She turned and walked back to her desk, sitting down like a professional with her back straight and her ankles crossed. "What can I do for you this time?"
He sighed. "I have many things to ask you, Kira, so do me a favor and hand the stuff over."
The woman sighed and threw a folder at him, in which even without his Hanyou abilities he caught with no sweat and started looking through it. "That is everything you want that I can provide you on Naraku. He is still as sly as ever at keeping all his information out of hands of others, and what he plans to do with Shippo is one thing that he's planning on taking to the grave if he doesn't act on it soon. The Miko business, however, is not something that I can ignore, no matter how much you ask it of me."
Kagome crossed her arms and stared at her. "What do you mean?"
"You are a fine woman, Kagome, and I like the fact that you were able to take out psycho bitch. Well done, but that has only brought Naraku's attention to you closer. He wishes to meet you and much more." She pointed at the chair in front of her desk and commanded Kagome to sit. After Kagome hesitated and did as she was told, Kira leaned forward as if a girl soaking up some juicy gossip. "What do you plan to do?"
Kagome sighed and leaned back when she felt Inuyasha put his hands on the back of the chair. She put a hand on her chin and sighed. "I don't know." She said after a minute. "I guess I was seriously considering it for a while, but…I don't know, maybe there's another way."
Inuyasha sighed. "Good girl." He muttered quietly.
Kira leaned back and placed her red boots on the table. "That's quite the predicament you've got there, Kagome. Either way you have it, Naraku will make Inuyasha miserable. And he knows that if Shippo does die because you refused him, you would never forgive yourself. That is something that you don't want to live with, ne?'
She nodded. "But we can't just do nothing, it's me he's wanting and I have to find a way to get him out of it."
"But you can't do it alone like I know you're planning. You may be powerful, but that bastard's tricky. He plans ahead of time for all the outcomes he can think of. You have to be prepared."
She sighed. "I'm guessing since everyone is saying that I can't do it on my own, apparently I can't. So then what do you propose?"
Inuyasha glanced at her. "I want you're help on this little mission, Kira. We are taking that bastard down, but you have more information on him than anyone. You're the best tracer in the city, isn't that why you're in the force?"
She smiled. "I'm in the force by force, as a way of getting out of a jail sentence. They knew I was very good at what I do and that's why they made me work down here on certain hours. I can't just disappear without notice, and that'll be the only way I can help, ne?"
"Hai, but Kagome did it and the police don't know about it."
Kira held up her wrist to show what looked like a single shackle, tightened around her wrist enough that it couldn't come off. "This is my tracer, I've got a couple more months until they take it off."
He sighed. "Damn it…"
Miroku, who had been strangely silent throughout the conversation, decided to pitch in. "Couldn't you remove that with a welder?"
She smirked. "If it were normal, I could, but I'm a FIRE cat Kitsune, fire would be my first method of escape and they knew that. This cannot simply be welded off my hands."
"How about drilled off?" Kagome stated with a rather interesting lilt to her voice. It sounded like if that had to happen, she would greatly enjoy it.
Kira laughed. "And what? Let my arm get hacked off? You would enjoy it, no doubt."
"I'm sorry, but once in a while I enjoy seeing something violent. It helps me calm my nerves."
The Kitsune laughed again. "I wonder what kind of a lawyer you were, Higurashi. You must have been miserable if you now think differently about the world."
"I've thought like this my whole life, I just never showed it until I was 'kidnapped'." She leaned back. "If you know everything, then why don't you help out with something?"
"I have puzzled about it my entire sentence. By the time I figure it out, I'll be free."
Inuyasha snorted. "Woman, I thought you knew a lot about technology."
"I do, but I can't work with something that's on myself. If I could use two hands, I could get it off."
Inuyasha glanced down at Kagome. "It's a simple alarm system, why don't you just deactivate it and take it off her?"
Kagome looked down. "Where the hell's the buttons?"
"They're all underneath it, facing her wrist."
Kagome stood and walked over to the desk while the Kitsune laid out her wrist. She leaned back and watched in fascination as Kagome began to fiddle with the buttons on the bottom and she mused. "If this woman can get this thing off, I'm in dept to you."
After Kagome had used one of her handy hair pins that she stored in her pockets, she managed to unhinge the clips of the lock and allowed it to slide off her wrist. Kira smiled and rubbed her wrist. "Well, well, aren't we impressive? I'm grateful to you."
"No problem." She turned and glared at Inuyasha. "Why'd you let us sit here and argue about it if you knew how to take it off?"
He crossed his arms and smirked. "It was entertaining."
"Oh I hate you so much." She clenched her eyes shut and fumed.
"No you don't, you can't, remember?"
Kira grinned. "Ah, the woman is your mate, ne? I didn't know that the great Inuyasha had finally chosen someone to care about."
"Shut up, Kira. When does the cop upstairs leave?"
"He should be taking a nap about now. If we're lucky we can sneak out."
Inuyasha glanced at Sango. "She'll be riding with you, for some reason I don't trust Miroku, at least not after what I heard on the way up here."
Miroku snorted. "Why don't she ride with you and Kagome ride with Sango?"
"Don't even think about something like that, as long as I'm one of the drivers, Kagome rides with me and me only. Not that I don't trust you two, but I'd rather be sure of her safety." Kagome gave a loud exhaling breath and rolled her eyes. When will it end?
Inuyasha checked his watch. "We only have an hour until sunrise, we need to get back to the club. Kira, as long as you stay with us in the club you shouldn't be found, so let's go."
She crossed her arms tightly. "And ride on one of those contraptions? How can you even stand it, Inuyasha? The smell of exhaust is so strong my senses will be rendered useless for hours."
"I've gotten used to it, and I'm surprised that you haven't. You do live in New York."
She rolled her eyes. "Hai…"
"Then quit bitching. You're riding with Sango because it's easier that way and I said so. While you're in my club, you listen to me."
"Of course. Let's hurry up so that we can find a solution and bring Shippo back."
Kagome glanced at her. "Shippo's your friend, too?"
Inuyasha snorted. "He's more than that to her, Kagome, but while she was in jail he couldn't see her."
She smiled and patted the Kitsune's arm. "That's sweet, I'm glad Shippo has someone to rely on."
Kira only grinned. "And I'm glad that Inuyasha has finally found the perfect stubborn match for himself. You're no doubt in my mind perfect for each other."
No other words were passed as they managed to get out of the building without being seen. The guard was indeed sleeping, and so simply walking out wasn't a problem. They'd have to be more careful now, as they were all fugitives and any cop that happened to be awake and driving around at this hour could spot them and follow them back to the club. Come on, get real, Inuyasha's not ever going to stop so a cop can give him a ticket and a life sentence to jail.