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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Rumiko Takahashi characters named here, nor do I own the rights to Charlie's Angels or Yu Yu Hakasho. Also, if I owned any illegal weapons, I wouldn't be foolish enough to leave them around where someone else could see them.
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"Sesshomaru, those three girls are working for Naraku," Agent Jaken's voice crackled over the cell phone. "The Hellsent Detective Agency is the front for the entire operation. We've been checking into this, and it looks like there's a tie-in to murder as well as counterfeiting."
"Who's Naraku?" Sesshomaru asked. He tried to concentrate on what his fellow agent was telling him, but his blood was rushing past his ears. Kagura…murder?
"Naraku is a slippery customer involved in all kinds of criminal activities. Problem is, we've never been able to pin anything onto him. Of course, you might recognize him by another name. He's also called Onigumo."
Onigumo. Sesshomaru gripped the phone tightly in his suddenly sweating palms. "If you know he's Onigumo, then why don't you have him in custody?" he bit out angrily. "Or doesn't disappearing from the scene of a crime count as grounds for arrest?"
"Sesshomaru, the guys working on your father's case don't think Onigumo is the murderer. They're hoping that if they back off and watch this Naraku for a while he'll lead them to Vicious Dragon," Jaken said patiently. "They're giving Naraku just enough rope to hang himself with."
"So you think Vicious Dragon is the mastermind, and Naraku and Lazy Panda are just puppets?" he asked Jaken.
"More like criminal associates. They don't seem to be working for VD as much as with him. Remember the Thunder Brothers? Naraku was up to his ears in that case, and walked away from it with quite a bit of cash."
"What about the girls, Jaken?" Sesshomaru asked heavily. "Are they just petty criminals themselves, or are they something more?"
"We're not quite sure. The girl Sango does have a criminal record; she and her younger brother Kohaku both served time for aggravated assault and battery. They were involved as juveniles in a clash with a rival gang. Both were originally charged with murder but plead guilty to the lesser charge in exchange for information on the gang leaders."
Sesshomaru heard Jaken shuffling some papers in the background. "Kagome doesn't have a criminal record, but she's been investigated for jewel theft. Some necklace called the Shikon no Tama disappeared from a shrine a few years ago, and Kagome was last one seen in the vicinity. When questioned, she admitted she was near the shrine when the theft occurred, but get this – she claims she spent the entire time at the bottom of a dry old well on the grounds. Said she'd fallen into it and couldn't climb out."
"And Kagura?" Sesshomaru asked reluctantly.
"She's the one we've really got our eye on. She used to work for a strip club owned by none other than Naraku. She's been arrested twice for prostitution, but was released both times because of lack of evidence," Jaken responded. "According to reports, Kagura seems to have an insatiable desire for money and will stop at nothing to get it. What really brought her to our attention was her artistic talent. Apparently, she's a skilled engraver and can copy just about anything after seeing it only once."
"That would make her an attractive addition to a group of counterfeiters," Sesshomaru noted. A sick feeling was rising in the pit of his stomach. "Jaken, are you sure this information is correct? I've dealt with all three women, and not a single one acts anything like your description."
"Sesshomaru," Jaken warned him, "these three girls are very smart. They also have a lot of experience with undercover deception. For all we know, they could be working for Vicious Dragon themselves and double-crossing Naraku. If that's the case, then they won't hesitate to dispose of anyone in their way. Be careful and whatever you do, don't underestimate them!"
"Got it. Thanks, Jaken." Sesshomaru slowly turned off his cell phone and dropped it on the floor. Closing his eyes, he slumped against the bedroom wall, his head thrown back. He cursed his blind stupidity as rage slowly unfolded inside him. She's a lying, traitorous bitch. He pulled out his automatic pistol and checked it. It was time to put her out of the way, even if it meant tipping off Lazy Panda.
He could forgive her involvement with anything, even his father's murderers. But he'd never forgive her for endangering Rin.
And if anything happened to his daughter, he'd never forgive himself.
******
"Inu-Yasha, can I borrow your shower?"
Inu-Yasha stared at Ranma suspiciously. "Why?" he asked the beautiful redhead.
"I have to get ready for the interview portion of the pageant tonight and, well, I've kind of got trouble hanging around my door."
Inu-Yasha raised his eyebrows. "Trouble meaning…"
Ranma rolled his eyes. "There's Kuno, his sister Kodachi, my un-cute fiancée, my cute fiancée, my Amazon fiancée and her mummified grandmother, my father and his best friend (who happens to be the father of my un-cute fiancée) and my father's crazed sensei," he said, ticking them off on his fingers. "They're all wandering around near my rooms. Hell, all I need is for Mousse and Ryoga to show up to make this stupidity complete."
Inu-Yasha gaped in wonderment. "Your life," he stated, "makes mine look so…stable and serene. Step inside," he opened the door and then halted as he noticed Ranma was carrying several suitcases.
"Whoa, what's with the luggage?" Inu-Yasha asked. Ranma's true intentions dawned on him. "Oh, no, you're not staying here permanently!" he protested.
"Please," Ranma begged him. "You have no idea what it's like, Inu-Yasha. I can't get a minute's peace! I'll stay out of your way, I promise!" Giant tears formed in his eyes.
"Hey now, stop that! Don't cry! I can't stand to see a girl – er, a guy who looks like a girl – er-" Inu-Yasha pleaded.
Ranma only sobbed harder. "I've been so worried about my Pop," he wailed. "I know he's in some kind of trouble. And all of these people are constantly trying to pick fights with me…and…and…"
"All right, all right! You can stay here!" Inu-Yasha said exasperatedly. "Just stop the waterworks, okay?"
Ranma's tears instantly dried. "Thanks! You're a real pal, Inu-Yasha." He slapped Inu-Yasha on the back and smiled as he threw the suitcases in a corner of the living room.
"I'm a real saphead," muttered Inu-Yasha. "Look Ranma, I have to go out for a little while. My office downtown just called and needs me to check on something. If Kagome stops by, will you tell her where I went?"
"Sure!" Ranma was humming happily while gathering his things for the bath. "And I'll be sure to stay out of the way if you two want to be alone. You won't even know I'm here!"
"Right," said Inu-Yasha as he left.
He'd retrieved his car and driven halfway to his office when a stray thought crossed his brain. I wonder if I should have told Ranma about that pig sleeping in the bathtub…
*******
"The pig's gotta be around here somewhere, Yuseke," Kuwabara said as he and the rest of the group trudged through the palmettos and brush.
"Kurama, are you sure we're chasing a demon?" Hiei asked. "That girl seemed pretty certain it was someone's pet. And you did have a lot to drink last night," he added.
Kurama lifted his skirts and stepped gracefully over a fallen palm tree. "I know what I saw, Hiei. The pig changed into a man. We are clearly dealing with a shape-shifting demon."
"Hey Kurama, you lost your boob again." Kuwabara stopped and picked up the prosthetic. "Let me brush the sand off," he offered.
"Good idea Kuwabara, seeing how that's the closest you'll be getting to any breasts in your lifetime," Hiei taunted. Kuwabara threw the object at him.
"Cut it out, you two," said Yuseke, catching the false breast and handing it to Kurama. "Can we concentrate on the matter at hand? We've been here for days and we still haven't figured out who's sending those threatening letters to Tsubasa Kurenai."
"If we have a demon pig that can take human form, then he's my suspect," said Kurama.
A rustling sound came from the brush. "The demon!" exclaimed Kuwabara. The group readied for the fight.
"I'm going in after it!" Yuseke yelled. "Cover me, guys!"
The sound of a fight ensued from the brush. Suddenly, Yuseke came tearing out with a look of horror on his face. The others barely had time to react before a growling panda leaped out at them. Yelling, the group turned and ran back towards the resort.
*******
Kagura sank into the hot water with a sigh of relief. Her hair and clothes reeked of burned plastic, and Rin had accidentally splattered her with the half empty ramen bowl. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift. She was lying in Sesshomaru's bed, wrapped tightly in his arms. The soft breeze was blowing through the open window, and the gentle sunlight glinted off the steel –
Steel? She frowned at the interruption to her fantasy, trying to remember what had jarred her memory. It was something she'd spotted when she'd helped Sesshomaru into his bed that afternoon, something lying with his crumpled clothes on the floor of the bedroom.
No. It couldn't be the type of weapon she thought it was; could it? Those knives were illegal - she'd dated that weapons fanatic long enough to learn all about the dark underworld of collectors. So why would Sesshomaru have one of those? And why carry such a valuable knife around with him? It was definitely an antique…she scrubbed the shampoo into her hair, perplexed.
Time to consult with Kagome and Sango, she decided. Things were getting too confusing for her scrambled brain. She rinsed her hair and wrung the excess water from it. Wrapping herself in a towel, she climbed from the tub and stood in front of the bathroom mirror. Her reflection looked tired and worn, even through the fogged glass. She saw the bathroom door open behind her.
"Rin," she sighed. The girl had a bad habit of walking in on her without knocking.
Kagura froze at the sound of metal clicking on metal. Someone had just released the safety on a handgun. She didn't have to turn around to know the gun was being pointed at her.
"Who-?" she breathed the question.
"Enough," said Sesshomaru in a voice that seemed to come from the depths of the Arctic Circle. "It's time to end this charade. Turn around slowly, Kagura, and I might allow you to live."
*******
A/N: Bwa ha ha ha, a cliff-hanger. *ducks rotten tomatoes* :P Lavender
animegoddes-25 and drkdragnmistress: Thanks for reading! Maybe Naraku is a good guy, and maybe he isn't (evil grin). Because this is alternate universe (AU), all characters are at the bidding of your author (dance, my puppets, dance!) and her twisted imagination.
CassidyJewell and Sandalwoods: Thanks for your prompt reviews; apparently you stay up as late at night as I do :D Now get back to updating your stories *cracks whip* Just kidding, I love you guys!
Thanks to all of you who review, or even just take the time to read. I really, really, really appreciate it! *hugs computer*
