Disclaimer: ::Jabs at lawyers with a pointy stick:: Back! Back evil fiends!
I don't own Inuyasha, alright!?! Now back off! ::sighs as the lawyers
leave::
Chapter 4
"So where does your grandfather live anyway?" Inuyasha asked approaching his car, and the girls standing next to it. He saw Miroku a little ways off, trying to hit on another girl. Shaking his head, he unlocked the passenger side doors and circled the car. Kagome opened the backdoor and slid into the seat.
"Three hours south of Tokyo." She replied, and then added to Miroku, who was trying to get in back next to her. "No way. Sit up front, you perv."
Miroku jumped back as her foot lashed out at him. "But Inu drives like a complete maniac. He'll kill me!"
"Would you rather have him kill you, or me?" Kagome asked in a frighteningly innocent way. "Good choice." She said as Miroku hesitantly climbed in front. Sango said nothing as she climbed in the car, just shook her head.
15 minutes later, both Kagome and Sango were getting very pissed at the two men fighting over what station to listen to on the radio.
"Rock!" Inuyasha yelled, smacking Miroku's hand away.
"Pop! The singers are much cuter!" Miroku replied, switching to a J- Pop station.
"Rock!"
"Pop!"
"Rock!"
"Pop!"
"God damnit! Just listen to a CD already!" Sango yelled, sticking her head between the seats.
"Fine! We'll listen to Led Zepplin." Inuyasha snorted, reaching for said CD.
"Hikaru Utada!"
"Zepplin!"
"Hikaru!"
"Oh, shut the hell up already." Kagome hollered, and stuck her CD in the car's CD player.
"Oi, what was that?" Inuyasha asked, looking at a furious Kagome in the rearview mirror. His eyes went wide as techno came out of the speakers. "What the fuck?! I don't want to listen to this!"
"Too bad. And don't you dare touch it." Was the response.
"Actually, this isn't too bad. Turn up the bass, Miroku." Sango said, Miroku nodding in agreement.
"...Keh."
"Bless you." Kagome said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, receiving a growl from Inuyasha and laughter from Sango and Miroku. "What?"
"He always says that when he knows he lost an argument, but doesn't want to admit it." Miroku laughed.
"Oh, I see. Well, 'Meh' right back at you." Kagome said dismissively. "That's my word for 'I win'."
Sango tapped Kagome on the shoulder. When she turned to look at her, she said, "I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Agent Sango Hiraikotsu, age 19; one kid brother, Kohaku, age 13; and one demon cat, Kirara."
"Kagome Higurashi, age 19; one annoying brother, also 13; an insane grandfather and one extremely fat cat, Buyo. Parents, Toshima and Kiri, both deceased." Kagome said, rattling off her stats, shocked it was so easy.
"My parents are dead, too. Murdered, actually." Sango said bitterly.
"By who? Sorry, you don't have to answer..." Kagome asked, suddenly saddened by the other girl's news.
"It's alright. You should know. The were murdered buy the same bastard that killed your mom." Sango sighed, then added in her head, 'And your Dad.' She knew all about Kagome and her unknown tragic past. She also knew everyone in the car had something in common, but she was going to keep that little tidbit of info to herself for now.
"Miss Higurashi," Miroku said trying to break the oppressive mood, "what's this song called?"
"Water Rave. It's one of my favorites, mainly because of the creative combination of classical violins and techno." Kagome smiled. "Please, call me Kagome. Just Kagome. 'Miss Higurashi' sounds so...old." She said, making a face.
One hour later, everyone had fallen into a comfortable silence, the only noise was the techno coming from the speakers, and the occasional tapping of Inuyasha's fingers against the steering wheel during a particularly good song. Miroku had settled down in his seat, propping his feet up on the dashboard, and let out a soft snore every once in a while. Sango had also dosed off, drawing her knees up and was using the window as a pillow. Kagome, as tired as she was (she hadn't slept very well after the shooting), was extremely restless, often switching her attention from the scenery outside to Inuyasha's red hat poking into sight over his seat, and back again.
"You still awake?" Inuyasha asked, looking in the mirror to see Kagome staring out her window.
"Yeah." She sighed, meeting his gaze then looking over at the sleeping two. "It makes me jealous that they can just sleep like that."
"I'm not sure about Sango, but Miroku can sleep through anything." He chuckled.
"The way he's laying there sure looks uncomfortable." Kagome said, shaking her head at Miroku, who had shifted in his seat so he now faced Inuyasha and Kagome. "Watch, we stop somewhere and he be whining about all those kinks he's gonna get." She chuckled.
"Nah. He never gets kinks, even if he sleeps in the space under his desk. And believe me, he's done it, too." Inuyasha laughed.
"Why don't you draw something, if you're so bored?" He suggested. The only response he got was the sound of her rustling through her bag.
Kagome slid over in her seat. "Can I draw you?"
Inuyasha jumped. "Why?" He asked, looking at her.
Kagome only shrugged. Inuyasha's eyebrow shot up, but he nodded. Kagome grinned and started immediately. The feel of her gaze and the sound of the pencil moving across the paper made Inuyasha squirm, and was very glad when she finally turned her attention to the two sleeping agents.
When her drawings were done, Kagome slid back into her seat and re- buckled with a yawn. After tucking her sketchbook into her bag, she settled into her seat, careful of her arm, and dosed off.
Inuyasha looked in the mirror, and grinned when he saw her curled up against the arm rest, sleeping. He then shook his head and removed his hat, triangular ears twitching in relief. He absently scratched an ear as he pondered over the case and his new charge.
Kagome was dreaming peacefully about her childhood before both of her parents' deaths, when she woke to someone shaking her good shoulder. Lazily, she swatted the hand away, and growled sleepily as the person resumed their shaking. Cracking an eye open, she saw a fuzzy peach dot surrounded by white and capped in red. Yawning as she sat up, she rubbed her eyes several times, trying to get them to focus.
"Where are we?" She yawned, blinking at Inuyasha.
"At a gas station about half an hour away from your grandfather's town." Inuyasha replied.
Kagome unbuckled and got out of the car. "Why are we here?"
"Mainly three reasons. One, Miroku woke up complaining about how sore he was." Kagome laughed. "Two, Sango had to take care of some, um, business. And three, I thought we could all needed to stretch our legs a bit." Inuyasha said, watching Kagome stretch, and turn this way and that.
"Yep. I definitely needed to get out of that car for a while." Kagome said, wincing as a muscle twinged in her back. Rubbing the spot fiercely, she turned towards the gas station's building and began walking.
"Where are you going?" Inuyasha called.
"To find Sango. I really shouldn't of had all those extra drinks." Kagome called back. Inuyasha laughed and watched her walk away.
He took off his hat and scratched his ears again, his ears twitching as he heard someone behind him. "Don't even think about it, Houshi."
"Man, you and those damn ears ruin all my fun." Miroku sighed, recapping his water bottle. "Speaking of ears, does she know about them yet?"
"Nope. And if I can help it she never will." Inuyasha replied, putting his hat back on. 'I don't want her running from me like everyone else..." He added, thinking. Both men turned when they heard the girls call them.
Sango and Kagome were walking towards them, Sango lagging slightly behind. "Come on, Sango." Kagome said, turning to look at the lagging girl. Kagome froze as something very hot passed her temple and exploded in the dirt in front of her. She squeaked in surprise as a red and white blur tackled her to the ground. Inuyasha quickly stood up, pulled a gun out of the waistband of his jeans and fired four shots into the woods behind them. Everyone was silent as they heard an unmistakable 'thump' about five yards into the woods.
"Stay here. Miroku, come on." Inuyasha ordered, and stalked off.
"Are you alright, Kagome?" Sango asked shakily, kneeling besides the stunned girl. She recoiled in surprise when she saw Kagome's pale face and blank, yet tear-filled, eyes.
"They tried to kill me, didn't they?" Kagome asked, the tears spilling over. She gave Sango a panicked look. "Didn't they?!?"
"It's alright now. Inuyasha got him, so don't worry." Sango hushed, trying to calm the shaking and sobbing girl.
"Is she okay?" Miroku asked, tucking a photo into his pocket.
"No, I'm not. I was just shot at, for God's sake!" Kagome said, quickly wiping her eyes and hiding her face.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Inuyasha got the guy. The guy's dead as a doornail." Miroku sighed, helping Kagome off the ground, who quickly dusted off her pants, incase Miroku decided to do it for her.
"The bullet's up there." Sango said, pointing to a small crater. Miroku nodded, and bent over to pick up with a small plastic and stuck that in his pocket, too.
"Clean up crew's on their way." Inuyasha said, closing a cell phone and stuffing it into his pocket.
"Clean up crew?" Kagome echoed, utterly confused.
"A medical team reserved for the removal of bodies. A very discrete group, and very good at their job." Sango responded.
"Would you stop it?" Kagome half growled, half sighed to Inuyasha, who was circling her to check for injuries. "They missed, alright? I'm not hurt, well at least not anymore than I already am..."
"I'm just checking. It's my job to make sure you stay alive." Inuyasha paused, suddenly looking guilty. "I'm sorry you almost got shot. I wasn't paying close enough attention."
Kagome grinned then frowned quickly. "You better be sorry! I almost died. Again! Humph, some body guard you are..." She said, before walking to the car.
Inuyasha's face turned from surprise to anger. He hadn't seen the grin, or he would have caught the sarcasm in her remark. "Oi, I said I was sorry. What do want me to do, grovel?" He yelled, stalking after her, leaving Miroku and Sango behind.
Both agents shook their heads and followed the bickering couple. 'There they go again...'
Chapter 4
"So where does your grandfather live anyway?" Inuyasha asked approaching his car, and the girls standing next to it. He saw Miroku a little ways off, trying to hit on another girl. Shaking his head, he unlocked the passenger side doors and circled the car. Kagome opened the backdoor and slid into the seat.
"Three hours south of Tokyo." She replied, and then added to Miroku, who was trying to get in back next to her. "No way. Sit up front, you perv."
Miroku jumped back as her foot lashed out at him. "But Inu drives like a complete maniac. He'll kill me!"
"Would you rather have him kill you, or me?" Kagome asked in a frighteningly innocent way. "Good choice." She said as Miroku hesitantly climbed in front. Sango said nothing as she climbed in the car, just shook her head.
15 minutes later, both Kagome and Sango were getting very pissed at the two men fighting over what station to listen to on the radio.
"Rock!" Inuyasha yelled, smacking Miroku's hand away.
"Pop! The singers are much cuter!" Miroku replied, switching to a J- Pop station.
"Rock!"
"Pop!"
"Rock!"
"Pop!"
"God damnit! Just listen to a CD already!" Sango yelled, sticking her head between the seats.
"Fine! We'll listen to Led Zepplin." Inuyasha snorted, reaching for said CD.
"Hikaru Utada!"
"Zepplin!"
"Hikaru!"
"Oh, shut the hell up already." Kagome hollered, and stuck her CD in the car's CD player.
"Oi, what was that?" Inuyasha asked, looking at a furious Kagome in the rearview mirror. His eyes went wide as techno came out of the speakers. "What the fuck?! I don't want to listen to this!"
"Too bad. And don't you dare touch it." Was the response.
"Actually, this isn't too bad. Turn up the bass, Miroku." Sango said, Miroku nodding in agreement.
"...Keh."
"Bless you." Kagome said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, receiving a growl from Inuyasha and laughter from Sango and Miroku. "What?"
"He always says that when he knows he lost an argument, but doesn't want to admit it." Miroku laughed.
"Oh, I see. Well, 'Meh' right back at you." Kagome said dismissively. "That's my word for 'I win'."
Sango tapped Kagome on the shoulder. When she turned to look at her, she said, "I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Agent Sango Hiraikotsu, age 19; one kid brother, Kohaku, age 13; and one demon cat, Kirara."
"Kagome Higurashi, age 19; one annoying brother, also 13; an insane grandfather and one extremely fat cat, Buyo. Parents, Toshima and Kiri, both deceased." Kagome said, rattling off her stats, shocked it was so easy.
"My parents are dead, too. Murdered, actually." Sango said bitterly.
"By who? Sorry, you don't have to answer..." Kagome asked, suddenly saddened by the other girl's news.
"It's alright. You should know. The were murdered buy the same bastard that killed your mom." Sango sighed, then added in her head, 'And your Dad.' She knew all about Kagome and her unknown tragic past. She also knew everyone in the car had something in common, but she was going to keep that little tidbit of info to herself for now.
"Miss Higurashi," Miroku said trying to break the oppressive mood, "what's this song called?"
"Water Rave. It's one of my favorites, mainly because of the creative combination of classical violins and techno." Kagome smiled. "Please, call me Kagome. Just Kagome. 'Miss Higurashi' sounds so...old." She said, making a face.
One hour later, everyone had fallen into a comfortable silence, the only noise was the techno coming from the speakers, and the occasional tapping of Inuyasha's fingers against the steering wheel during a particularly good song. Miroku had settled down in his seat, propping his feet up on the dashboard, and let out a soft snore every once in a while. Sango had also dosed off, drawing her knees up and was using the window as a pillow. Kagome, as tired as she was (she hadn't slept very well after the shooting), was extremely restless, often switching her attention from the scenery outside to Inuyasha's red hat poking into sight over his seat, and back again.
"You still awake?" Inuyasha asked, looking in the mirror to see Kagome staring out her window.
"Yeah." She sighed, meeting his gaze then looking over at the sleeping two. "It makes me jealous that they can just sleep like that."
"I'm not sure about Sango, but Miroku can sleep through anything." He chuckled.
"The way he's laying there sure looks uncomfortable." Kagome said, shaking her head at Miroku, who had shifted in his seat so he now faced Inuyasha and Kagome. "Watch, we stop somewhere and he be whining about all those kinks he's gonna get." She chuckled.
"Nah. He never gets kinks, even if he sleeps in the space under his desk. And believe me, he's done it, too." Inuyasha laughed.
"Why don't you draw something, if you're so bored?" He suggested. The only response he got was the sound of her rustling through her bag.
Kagome slid over in her seat. "Can I draw you?"
Inuyasha jumped. "Why?" He asked, looking at her.
Kagome only shrugged. Inuyasha's eyebrow shot up, but he nodded. Kagome grinned and started immediately. The feel of her gaze and the sound of the pencil moving across the paper made Inuyasha squirm, and was very glad when she finally turned her attention to the two sleeping agents.
When her drawings were done, Kagome slid back into her seat and re- buckled with a yawn. After tucking her sketchbook into her bag, she settled into her seat, careful of her arm, and dosed off.
Inuyasha looked in the mirror, and grinned when he saw her curled up against the arm rest, sleeping. He then shook his head and removed his hat, triangular ears twitching in relief. He absently scratched an ear as he pondered over the case and his new charge.
Kagome was dreaming peacefully about her childhood before both of her parents' deaths, when she woke to someone shaking her good shoulder. Lazily, she swatted the hand away, and growled sleepily as the person resumed their shaking. Cracking an eye open, she saw a fuzzy peach dot surrounded by white and capped in red. Yawning as she sat up, she rubbed her eyes several times, trying to get them to focus.
"Where are we?" She yawned, blinking at Inuyasha.
"At a gas station about half an hour away from your grandfather's town." Inuyasha replied.
Kagome unbuckled and got out of the car. "Why are we here?"
"Mainly three reasons. One, Miroku woke up complaining about how sore he was." Kagome laughed. "Two, Sango had to take care of some, um, business. And three, I thought we could all needed to stretch our legs a bit." Inuyasha said, watching Kagome stretch, and turn this way and that.
"Yep. I definitely needed to get out of that car for a while." Kagome said, wincing as a muscle twinged in her back. Rubbing the spot fiercely, she turned towards the gas station's building and began walking.
"Where are you going?" Inuyasha called.
"To find Sango. I really shouldn't of had all those extra drinks." Kagome called back. Inuyasha laughed and watched her walk away.
He took off his hat and scratched his ears again, his ears twitching as he heard someone behind him. "Don't even think about it, Houshi."
"Man, you and those damn ears ruin all my fun." Miroku sighed, recapping his water bottle. "Speaking of ears, does she know about them yet?"
"Nope. And if I can help it she never will." Inuyasha replied, putting his hat back on. 'I don't want her running from me like everyone else..." He added, thinking. Both men turned when they heard the girls call them.
Sango and Kagome were walking towards them, Sango lagging slightly behind. "Come on, Sango." Kagome said, turning to look at the lagging girl. Kagome froze as something very hot passed her temple and exploded in the dirt in front of her. She squeaked in surprise as a red and white blur tackled her to the ground. Inuyasha quickly stood up, pulled a gun out of the waistband of his jeans and fired four shots into the woods behind them. Everyone was silent as they heard an unmistakable 'thump' about five yards into the woods.
"Stay here. Miroku, come on." Inuyasha ordered, and stalked off.
"Are you alright, Kagome?" Sango asked shakily, kneeling besides the stunned girl. She recoiled in surprise when she saw Kagome's pale face and blank, yet tear-filled, eyes.
"They tried to kill me, didn't they?" Kagome asked, the tears spilling over. She gave Sango a panicked look. "Didn't they?!?"
"It's alright now. Inuyasha got him, so don't worry." Sango hushed, trying to calm the shaking and sobbing girl.
"Is she okay?" Miroku asked, tucking a photo into his pocket.
"No, I'm not. I was just shot at, for God's sake!" Kagome said, quickly wiping her eyes and hiding her face.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Inuyasha got the guy. The guy's dead as a doornail." Miroku sighed, helping Kagome off the ground, who quickly dusted off her pants, incase Miroku decided to do it for her.
"The bullet's up there." Sango said, pointing to a small crater. Miroku nodded, and bent over to pick up with a small plastic and stuck that in his pocket, too.
"Clean up crew's on their way." Inuyasha said, closing a cell phone and stuffing it into his pocket.
"Clean up crew?" Kagome echoed, utterly confused.
"A medical team reserved for the removal of bodies. A very discrete group, and very good at their job." Sango responded.
"Would you stop it?" Kagome half growled, half sighed to Inuyasha, who was circling her to check for injuries. "They missed, alright? I'm not hurt, well at least not anymore than I already am..."
"I'm just checking. It's my job to make sure you stay alive." Inuyasha paused, suddenly looking guilty. "I'm sorry you almost got shot. I wasn't paying close enough attention."
Kagome grinned then frowned quickly. "You better be sorry! I almost died. Again! Humph, some body guard you are..." She said, before walking to the car.
Inuyasha's face turned from surprise to anger. He hadn't seen the grin, or he would have caught the sarcasm in her remark. "Oi, I said I was sorry. What do want me to do, grovel?" He yelled, stalking after her, leaving Miroku and Sango behind.
Both agents shook their heads and followed the bickering couple. 'There they go again...'