Thanks everyone for the encouraging reviews! I'm sorry this chapter didn't
come out as quickly as I wanted it to. But, basically, ALL of my fics have
been acquiring the annoying tendency to come out slower than I want them
to. It's all THEIR fault! Anyway, I don't own Inuyasha, and please enjoy.
Bitten
By Rio Grande
Chapter Two: Nooo, it's. Kagome The Miko.
The first time Kagome came around, she was worried, since everything was blurry around the edges, and she felt the bile rising to her throat at an alarming rate. Never a good sign, as she'd found it. Cracking her eyes open, she caught sight of an inquisitive Kaede and . what was his name? Inuyasha? (Jeez, he must have had SOME family issues.) -Staring down at her. Not exactly what she wanted to see after waking with a pounding head ache- but hey! At least she was conscious.
"Oh, you're up. Darnit." Kaede said, swiftly and efficiently pumping a clear liquid substance into Kagome's thin arm. The girl's eyes nearly bulged out of her head, she made a painful choking noise, and then everything began to swirl together to create one, ugly brown color. Okay, scratch that whole 'conscious' thing. Just what did these people think they were doing!?
The next time Kagome came around, she was really scared. Things were still kind of foggy up there, but she was sure she remembered Detective Kaede taking a syringe to her arm and pumping her full of some soporific drug! Holding her breath and carefully considering her options, as the feeling slowly but surly returned to her limbs and fingers, Kagome carefully cracked one tentative gray eye open.
There they were again, those conniving bastards. Inuyasha and Kaede were sitting off to the side now, discussing something heatedly, and they had even acquired a new partner in crime! A dashing looking young man with a small ponytail at the back of his head, and bright purple eyes. Kagome quickly snapped her eye shut again and played dead. Admittedly, not a hard feat to pull off when half of your body is still suffering the effects of heavy drug.
'I feel. different.' Kagome acknowledged, flexing her fingers. Ha! They came near her and she'd gouge their eyes out! All of 'em! 'I feel like there's something inside of me that wasn't there before. or it was. I just couldn't tell. God, I'm talking to mySELF and I still have no idea what I'm saying!'
"Rise and shine, cupcake. I can tell you're awake. I can hear your heart rate fluctuate" Inuyasha informed the girl, his tone pleasant, with definite underlying steel. He moseyed over to her with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"Well, that's creepy," Kagome said, sighing and opening her eyes, fingers alert and ready. If they'd just all get close enough she'd show them what it felt like to REALLY be in pain!
"Not really, considering Inuyasha is half demon," Kaede said, hobbling up to the pair, the young man right behind her. Kagome briefly wondered why THAT in itself wasn't creepy to the woman. "Child, I am sorry about before, but the ritual is usually performed best when the subject is not conscious. Sometimes the effects are. overwhelming."
"Oh my God! What did you do to me!?" Kagome screeched as best she could, hopefully bursting Inuyasha's stupid eardrum with the way her heart was pounding. They hadn't planted a chip in her brain or anything? Like on that show, Buffy! The Vampire Slayer!
"Oh, don't worry, nothing terrible. Nothing illegal," the young man next to Kaede assured her, quickly giving off a placating smile. Kagome let out a breath. Right, of course. Brain surgery could be done while the subject was conscious after all! AND, on Buffy, it had been a VAMPIRE who had the chip planted in his brain, by the army! To stop it from killing people!
"We just awakened your dormant mystical powers that have been polluted by the material world so that you can help us destroy a homicidal demon." Kaede explained quickly, casually. Kagome's jaw dropped. Come again?
"You did WHAT?"
"Well, you live in a shrine, you must know all about this sort of thing," the young man said, reasonably.
"First of all: How do you know where I live? Second of all: My shrine isn't part of WICCA! I don't know what you're talking about! Freaking murdering demons and dormant powers? You're all in some sort of cult!"
"That's a bit harsh," Kaede mentioned.
"No, it's accurate."
"Well, if you consider the FBI a cult. sure." Inuyasha snorted, folding his arms and leaning against a wall. Kagome glared at him, and he glared right back, though she definitely caught some playfulness in his liquid gold gaze. He was just toying with her! The jerk! How dare he toy with her when she was in such a vulnerable and weak state! Kagome sorely wished now that she had power over her legs. She could have made a real show of struggling and thrashing around!
"Let's get some things cleared up first," Kaede said, pulling up a chair, and sitting next to Kagome's bed. She looked all-serious like, and Kagome decided that since, for the time being, there was nothing better to do, she might as well listen to the old woman.
"You remembered what I told you about the demon's, and your job as a miko to help us track down the latest menace. right?" Kaede asked, hopefully.
"Yes." Kagome conceded. She remembered. She didn't believe, but she remembered.
"Well. if you were to take the case, which we, honestly, can't FORCE you to accept, these two young men here would be your partners." The woman said, nodding to the two men.
"I bet that convinced you to take the job, didn't it?" the purple eyed man said, winking suggestively.
"No." My, was he cocky.
"Ouch," he hissed, as Inuyasha laughed at him from his corner.
"That would have been Miroku Houshi, the FBI's very own slightly less than holy priest. He may not look like much, but he's one of humanities best demon trackers, he can cleanse vengeful spirits like nothing else, and knows more about the demon race and their habits than almost any other mortal on the planet." she admitted, as Miroku puffed out his chest proudly.
"Not a hard feat to pull of when you made the whole race UP yourSELF," Kagome pointed out sweetly.
"Ouch," Miroku repeated, Inuyasha really having a good time of it in that corner.
"And that's FBI agent Inuyasha, the silver haired one. Hard to miss. You briefly met him before you fainted. He's half demon, as I've mentioned, and is a formidable opponent to any true demon. Even I can say it," the woman said, as if it was giving her great pains to compliment either of the boys. Inuyasha seemed to be enjoying the praises well enough, though.
"Peachy. Really. But I'm not going to do any of this demon hunting stuff with you, since I think you're all off your rockers, and I'd like to go home now, and not think about what illegal stuff you did to me while I was under the effects of your drug, okay?" Kagome said, realizing she could sit up now, and doing so, with gusto.
"We didn't do anything illegal to you, Ms. Kagome," Miroku assured the girl once more. "It's just, since we sorely need a miko for this apprehension. and since you unwittingly have a surplus of miko blood running through your very veins, I had to awaken it, so that you could effectively begin to master your powers, and help us."
"Oh, okay then. That's not so bad." she dead panned.
"Stop being so damn selfish, girl!" Inuyasha suddenly shouted, startling everyone. "There are people dying out there, getting slaughtered by this mother-fucker we're trying to get, and here you sit refusing to have any part in helping out! You're only thinking of yourself and YOUR insecurities!" He stormed over to her, and Kagome shrunk back as he placed his hands, with what looked like claws, on either side of her, coming nose to nose. "Do you know how many people he has killed? Our guy? Make a while guess," he urged.
"Err."
"Hundreds. Just, hundreds."
"What?" Kagome asked, confused. "If he's killing so many people, why haven't you stopped him yet, shouldn't he have slipped up or something, made it easier to catch him?" Momentarily, because of the fierceness in Inuyasha's voice, she was forgetting she didn't believe any of this BS.
"Demon murderers are different, Kagome. They can kill many more people at one time, and can leave the scene faster than any mortal could," Kaede explained, sighing. "And he's not just killing humans. He's killing demons, spirits, and magical creatures, too."
"." Inuyasha had backed up, and was suddenly having her doubts about this all being a really big joke. they seemed so. serious! On the other hand, she didn't want this to all be some sort of Candid Camera deal.
Still seeing the obvious hesitance in Kagome's face, it was always hard to believe for people like her, Kaede made a decision right then and there. She could feel Kagome's strong miko powers without even touching her, and was going to have this girl work for her if it was the last thing she did, her stubborn attitude be damned.
"Kagome, I know what you need. You need proof."
"Damn skippy." Kagome said, finding herself suddenly quite out of character. She hardly ever cursed! She was the good girl! Look! Look! These people were already having a negative effect on her!
"Well, and I don't usually do this to humans we recruit off the street, but since I've just witnessed the fact that your miko powers have amazing potential, I'm going to make an exception. I'm going to show you what we're all about. Give you the grand tour of the offices, if you will." Kaede said, closing her eyes as she talked.
"What! You can't do that! Look at her! She's not going to agree with any of this! She'll spill our secrets to the whole world! She's just a-!" Before the man could go any further, and REALLY deter Kagome from becoming part of the 'team', Kaede cut him off, and Miroku stepped on his foot. Hard.
"ASIDE, from what it seems right now, Inuyasha, I think that Kagome really does have a good heart. She's just in shock. Isn't that right, girl?"
"." Kagome had a sort of glazed over look in her eyes, and her mouth was hanging open.
"See? Shock."
"Well, Ms. Kagome, if you'll let me escort you, I think it's time for that tour, and perhaps some background information on the man that we're after. It could very possibly convince you to join us!" Miroku said happily, helping her off her cot, and leading her to the door, a charming smile on his face. Kagome blushed and bit her lip. He WAS quite handsome.
"Well at least SOMEONE is being polite around here," she said, shooting a pointed look at Inuyasha, who was grouchily following the group. He snorted derisively and stuck his nose up in a very childlike manner. Kagome would have giggled if she hadn't been so swamped with fear and an overwhelming feeling of impending doom.
"Welcome to the demon sector of the FBI, Kagome Higurashi. We trust you will keep everything you see today with us a secret . or else." Kaede commented before throwing open the doors that led out of the tiny room the four had been occupying. Kagome was half sure she was just joking around.
At first glance, what Kagome saw didn't look that much different from the law firm she had interned at once, filled with cubicles and printing machines and people dashing around with coffee cups. it was just the subtle differences. The various ancient weapons hung over walls, the tranquilizer gun off to her side, the sound of an inhuman cry off in the distance, (actually, she had gotten that at the law firm, too.) the police uniforms dabbled here and there, the badges, and most notably, the fact that not everyone who worked there was totally human.
Indeed, some of the officers and detectives scattered around the large room Kagome had all but stumbled into, seemed to have an extra fang or too, eyes that, like Inuyasha's, seemed more animal like than anything else, claws, tails, odd tattoos, anomalous skin tones, (such as, for instance, green.) and some people just looked alien all together, taking the form of toad like creatures, or having wings and beaks. What WAS this? MIB?
"They aren't. they aren't. human!" Kagome gurgled, clinging to Miroku's arm, surprised. No way! This couldn't be happening, it just wasn't real! She had been so sure this was all a prank, but it was turning out to be a pretty damn elaborate one, and something she was sure candid camera wouldn't have gone through all of the trouble just to set up for little old her.
"Yes, we have many hanyous, and full demons alike, working for this section of the government. It's law enforcement all the same to them, be it human or demon, and these folks generally seem to have an easier time taking down the demon delinquents of our world, than the normal agents." Kaede explained, leading the group forward.
"Except for me!" Miroku pointed out, beaming. "I'm one of the only human agents, except for the occasional miko, such as yourself, in this section of the FBI."
"You're mother must be so proud," Kaede mumbled, as the group neared a door at the back of the large office. Kagome held her breath as she realized that this was where those screams were coming from. they were so. primitive!
"This is where we temporarily hold our demon criminals until they can be transferred to a more secure facility!" Kaede yelled over the protesting raucous, as everyone passed through the threshold.
"Are you telling me this isn't secure?!" Kagome squeaked, glancing at just who was in the detaining cells, occupying the new room. Disgusting, slimy, skanky, dangerous and down right evil looking. things. glared out at her from their cells, some howling like there was no tomorrow (and for some, actually, there might not be,) and some mumbling ominously to themselves in corners, glaring at her like she was a fresh piece of meat they wished they could sink their sharp, irregularly big fangs into.
'Gulp.' Kagome, who wasn't even completely recovered after being drugged, felt as though she just might keel over again.
"Don't worry, they can't get out of those cells," Miroku assured her, warmly. Kagome returned the smile with a thankful one of her own. That is, until she realized where the always dashing and polite Miroku's hand was slowly but surly sliding down to. Her eyes widened, and she briefly saw red, as that LECHEROUS excuse for a PRIEST but his hand right over her butt and gave it an affectionate pinch of encouragement. "You'll be fine,"
"OMIGOD!" Kagome screeched, drawing her hand back to slap him hard across the face. Huffing, as some of the incarcerated demons laughed at Miroku's slap mark, Kagome hung back and walked with Inuyasha, who was also sniggering quietly, finding the rude brute to be a lot more appealing just then than Miroku. At least this guy was honest about his annoying attitude! The NERVE! And just went she was so freaked and vulnerable, too!
As they were about to leave the detaining room, (much to Kagome's relief) something caught the girl's eye that gave her pause. A woman. A perfectly normal looking, vaguely attractive woman, standing alone in a cell. The most heavily surveyed and secure looking cell, it's walls were made of bulletproof and she was sure something-else-proof, plastic, her hands cuffed together and connecting to a nearby wall by a chain, a picture of her on at least six monitors off to the side, watched carefully by a few agents. Kagome cocked her head as the woman (who was wearing a small leather outfit that did nothing to hid her obvious voluptuousness.) gave her a friendly little smile, her short brown hair held out of her face by a cute headband.
"What's SHE in for? She's being pretty heavily monitored, and she doesn't even look dangerous." Kagome asked of Inuyasha, all the while keeping a wary eye on Miroku, even though he was now a good two yards away, walking with Kaede.
"Something you're going to have to learn is, sometimes the most dangerous demon's are the human looking ones. That's Yura. She's a class B demon, and her favorite pastime is mass decapitating of unsuspecting mortals, such as yourself," Yura and Inuyasha's eyes met, deep black meeting fiery gold, and instantly a huffy, evil scowl formed on Yura's face, a small growl reverberating in her throat. She looked. nasty. "And she REALLY hates me," Inuyasha added.
"Why?" Kagome, still a little bit shaken over the fact that this innocent looking woman was capable of murder.
"Because I was the one who brought her in, about two days ago. She's been on the wanted list for years." Inuyasha said, casually. Kagome took a step back to get a better look at the half man she had passed off as rude and just generally mean. Maybe there WAS some bite to his incessant bark.
When they had finally reached the door, Kagome spared one look back at Yura, who stared intensely back at her, as if asking for a favor of sorts. When Kagome felt something thin and cold slide across her cheek, a bad vibe definitely in the air, she shuddered and quickly exited the room, suddenly agreeing with Inuyasha's description. That woman was odd, to say the least. And now that she had that new feeling in her, Kagome could tell she had an evil aura that was not to be trifled with. She should have noticed it before, but Yura was a tricky one, it would seem.
'Just what did these guys do to me? To give me this new awareness of everyone around me? It's as if I can feel everyone's life force, pulsating, everywhere,' She glanced at her dog eared companion, who was paying no attention to her. 'He has a very strong life force. aura. whatever.'
The new room was simple. A breath of fresh air, really. It had a few tables in it, with numerous stacks of papers thrown haphazardly around, and file cabinets lined the walls, which also had maps, diagrams, and photographic evidence tacked up on it. Kagome wisely decided NOT to look at the pictures, as she could tell a popular theme there was red. The walls were painted off white, and the flooring was scratchy blue rug. Kagome took as seat with everyone else at what looked like a conference table, listening to what everyone had to say with a bit more attentiveness now that she was pretty sure these guys weren't fibbing. She didn't want to believe it but. she was starting to give in and trust what these people were saying, acting like they really were government agents asking for her help. Though what SHE could do to help these guys, when it came to gruesome demons of the likes she had just seen, was beyond her.
"Kagome, this is the conference room where we, mainly, spend our days discussing the demonic murdered we've been telling you about. his name is Naruku, and we need you to help us find him." Kaede started out with, folding her hands in front of her. Now, this was a woman who had TACT.
"Oh, come on! I can't believe you just told her his NAME! She's not going to go along with this, and now she has all this valuable information- "
"Shut up, Inuyasha," Kaede said shortly, waving him off, and forging forward. "Kagome, ordinarily, we wouldn't be so desperate for help, but our usual miko is . out of town . and this case is in dire need of a miko with the powers you have. A lesser one just won't do,"
"Am I really that strong?" Kagome asked, looking at her hands speculatively.
"Technically, yes. However you don't know how to harness your mystical powers properly, yet. But don't worry, not only I, but Miroku can help you master these powers, if you choose to help us." Kaede said, Miroku nodding gravely in agreement. Kagome avoided his gaze.
"What would I be able to do, if I released these incredible 'miko powers' of mine." Kagome asked, curiously. Pictures of girls with short skirts and fire flying out of their fingers was what came to mind, generally. Her knowledge of miko's and their powers, for all that she used to live in Sunset Shrine with her family, before she moved out, was iffy, to say the least.
"Well, a miko's powers are very spiritual, and mainly revolve around healing and purifying. Miko's used to be famous for their healing powers, and their ability to purify demonic or evil things around them. Their general weapon used to be a bow and arrow, but since we are in the new millennium now, we'll have a semi-automatic and defense spray on hand for you." The woman said, matter-o-factly.
"Oh. But. I'm still a bit confused as to why I'm so important to this team," Kagome admitted, fully realizing she was being a nosy pain in the ass, but also deciding not to agree to anything before she knew all the details. This didn't look like one of those jobs you could just casually accept without reading all the fine print.
"Ms. Kagome, sometimes, demon's cannot simply be stopped by brute force, aside from what Inuyasha claims," Miroku said solemnly, as said hanyou rolled his eyes and made a funny face behind Miroku's back. Kagome stifled a grin. "Sometimes they need to be destroyed in a more. spiritual way,"
"Like, what, I have to pray them to death?"
"Kagome, one of the main reasons this terrible demon, Naruku, is on such a rampage, is because he has gotten a hold of a jewel that can enhance his powers tenfold. It's called the Shikon Jewel." Kaede said, as if the name of this jewel were supposed to bring shivers now Kagome's spine. It didn't, really, but Kagome pretended to be weirded out, so Kaede wouldn't be so disappointed. "He has tainted this jewel with his wicked soul, and used it to become one of the most powerful demons we have seen in many, many years. But, if we can get that jewel off him, our forces should be enough to take him down,"
"Sooo. you want me to get this jewel for you?" Everyone exchanged cautious glances.
"It's not so easy. You couldn't just waltz up to this man and take it. His powers are vast beyond anything you can imagine. which is why we need you on the 'team.' Once you start training with us, we can use your purifying skills to un-taint the jewel, possibly without even touching us. Or at least you could assist us in capturing it, and then purifying it. Once that is done, it will be useless to Naruku, and might actually destroy him, if its new, purified aura is as strong as we think it can be."
"Sounds spiffy,"
"We like to think so," Miroku admitted. "But it's not as easy as it sounds. It will take a lot of power and energy on your part, since purifying things, especially something as defiled as our Shikon Jewel, is never easy. Not to mention, that Naruku is very good at eluding us, and leaving bloody trails to follow, that usually ends up being dead ends. There is a very good reason for why we have been working on this case so long. If you join us, it could take a while, and some things you see might scare you."
"Yeah, see those pictures on the wall? Those are the more humane ones." Inuyasha said. "This man is a maniac who is simply killing people off for the pure blood lust and hell of it. He even plays games with us. Leaves clues, and marks the people he kills, like he's proud. Had to let us know that this is his handiwork." Inuyasha continued, and Kagome felt her stomach churn uncomfortably.
"What kind of marks?" she had to ask.
"Bite marks, right over the heart. We think he likes to taste his victim's blood, so that their blood, now darkened with fear, can further feed the Shikon." Inuyasha said, no emotion in his voice.
"Bleck."
"This is going to be a big obligation Kagome, and many a time you might have to put your neck on the line for someone else. Your life could be at risk constantly. but we have to get this murderer. The things he has done cannot be gone unpunished. He's slowly but surly becoming public, and that is one of the worst things that could happen. With his sort of power, the demon population, as well as a possibly good amount of the human population, would be panicked, if word got out he was on a killing spree." Kaede said, gravely.
It was obvious to the girl that they didn't want to sugar coat anything here. No false pretenses about her walking around in hot leather pants, taking out the bad guys with skill and ease. This was going to be long, hard, and nasty. And a lot of work on her part. Have fun. Well, that's at least the message she got.
"Whoa." Kagome said, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her head. "I have to think about this."
"That's understandable. In fact, you don't have to give us an answer today, we can get in contact with you tomorrow, once you've had time to sleep on it. Just keep in mind, if we catch this demon together, how many lives we could be saving." Kaede said, staring deep into Kagome's gray eyes.
"Of course, I could be brutally murdered in the process."
"Details details," Miroku joked, standing up to help Kagome out of her seat. She quickly slid out of her seat herself, edging away from him. She knew his game now, and wasn't just about to be fooled again. Miroku looked vaguely disappointed.
"Please make the right decision Kagome. I know it's a scary idea, and that you're very confused right now. but we could use your help so much. Miko's are one of a demon fighter's greatest allies, and you don't know what sort of potential you have." Kaede said softly.
"Yes Kagome, we would be honored to work with you. And we'd help you all along the way," Miroku reminded her, enticingly. Kagome rolled her eyes.
"Feh." Inuyasha pointed out.
"Well, glad to know you're enthusiastic." Kagome huffed, folding her arms. Suddenly, Inuyasha gave her a definite once over, and she felt the heat rush to her cheeks. Well!
"Is it true, Kaede, that all mikos are somehow related?" he asked, quickly.
"Er, YOU'RE not picking from the random tree," Kagome said, raising an eyebrow. Kaede smiled, a bit wistfully, though.
"Yes. It is. I noticed it too." she said simply.
"Um?" Kagome offered, as Inuyasha and Kaede quickly got discomfited and avoided her gaze.
"Well, Ms. Kagome, I think you should go home now and get started on that sleeping we suggested. You have seen many things today that would disturb and frighten a normal human, but you've been handling it beautifully! Sleep can only help you on the process to total acceptation," Miroku said, leading her to the door, and breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled upon the room.
"Um, how will you get in contact with me?" Kagome asked, as everyone ushered her out the door, planning on following her to the exit, apparently.
"We'll call you," Kaede said, simply. "We have your home number."
"Great." she sighed. She could see herself having hard time getting out of this whole thing, even if she really wanted to. She let herself be led back down a maze of halls, and finally back into the main lobby, where she could see it was already late afternoon from the windows. Wow. how long had she spent in that hell hole? In truth, she had no idea how long they had her under, when they were doing that. awakening process. whatever the hell that was, she still wasn't sure. All she knew was, the weird, oddly aware of everything around her feeling was back, and she could almost feel the heartbeats of people around her, and effortlessly read their emotions as they whooshed past. It was disconcerting, and oddly spiritual, but on a different level then praying, or going to a shrine. It was more. powerful, seemed to be a fitting word.
"Take care Ms. Kagome, have a good night!" Miroku said politely, as he hailed her a cab. But Kagome was not to be fooled. She inched around him to get into the offered automobile. Miroku blew out a long breath, apparently, he had really ruined it with this one.
"Think on our words girl!" Kaede reminded from the doorway.
"If you don't accept, we'll kill you!" Inuyasha added, kind as ever.
"He's kidding!" Miroku and Kaede assured the uneasy college student in unison, both bopping the rude man over the head. He scowled and moved away from them. He had been SERIOUS!
"Bye." Kagome said, awkwardly, waving hesitantly as the cab roared off, and drove her back to her apartment.
*
"How do I get INTO these situations?" Kagome groaned, throwing open the door of her humble apartment, and tossing her hand bag to the side, along with her keys.
Kagome Higurashi's apartment wasn't at all impressive, in fact, it was a little un-impressive. But, for a sophomore college student? It was perfect. And Kagome was overly proud of it, since she had been saving up since sophomore year of HIGHSCHOOL for an apartment of her own, so she wouldn't have to go through the usually torturous and inhumane ordeal of which one referred to as dorms. This tiny, rickety excuse for a home was just what she needed. It made her feel older, and more responsible. Something to come back to at the end of the day and curl up with a nice pint of ice-cream with, without having to worry about her mother berating her for eating sweets before dinner. (Yeah, oh boy was SHE mature.) .Even though sometimes, living alone got. lonely. And frightening, for those nights when there was no one to chase the demons that live under the bed away. (She was feeling that much more insecure now that she had indisputable proof that there probably WAS monster or demon living down there.)
The kitchen was attached the relatively homey looking, Ikea made living room, and a small dining room of sorts was attached to that, no doors in sight. In fact, the only doors to speak of was the bathroom door, a nice sort of bathroom if you liked 70's décor and a usually clogged toilet, a closet door, and, of course, the door to her own bedroom. Her sanctuary, a clustered room filled to the brim with papers, text books, personal flotsam, clothing, and old stuffed animals she couldn't bare to leave at home. Buyo, the cat, could most days be found slumbering in the middle of her bed, leaving orange hair wherever his bit fat butt touched, and creating an awkward warm spot around her knees whenever Kagome turned in for the night, and Buyo leapt out onto the fire escape for his nightly expeditions. It was Kagome's personal opinion that he was the leader of the Tokyo kitty mafia, and had yet to tell her about it. Well, that probably wasn't true. Buyo definitely would have let her in on that sort of thing, if he really was a 'Godfather' type figure to the feline population of her neighborhood. She and Buyo were tight like that.
Kagome slowly, laboriously opened her eyes, peeling her head off the counter, and eyed the refrigerator contemplatively. It was a good possibility that she would be heading over there next, but her legs were still made of jelly, and her head was still spinning. She didn't really know if her stomach could hold down much at this point, either. God, this whole thing, from the demons to the mikoness to the murdering and partnership, was affecting her more than she had first assumed. She was a strong, resilient girl! She'd get through this!.
Why her!!??
It wasn't as if she didn't have enough problems, college a big hassle in itself, but THIS she didn't need to deal with. Even if she DIDN'T accept the job, she had a terrible feeling these people weren't just going to let her forget that she had been let in on the secret underground of the world of demons, so to speak. Damn them! They should have kept their twisted little secret to themselves! Now all she could think about was demons! Where did they live, what did they do, how come she never heard about any of them, and hadn't seen a real one in her entire life? Were they disguised, did they live in a secret part of town? Was her life at constant risk?!? God she had to KNOW!
"Calm down girl, you're going to blow a gasket." The curly raven haired, twenty year old reminded herself, eventually getting up the strength to trudge over to the fridge, and pull out a carton of strawberries. Of course, once she had her head in there, she spotted the chocolate sauce. and everyone KNOWS that chocolate sauce goes great with strawberries. and if she was going to start with the chocolate sauce, she might as well add in all of the other ramifications, and get out the whipped cream, too! Maybe some powdered sugar, and they were in business!
Food, generally, calmed her down.
'Ohhh I'm bad,' Kagome was thinking, when suddenly her doorbell began to incessantly ring, startling Kagome so much she dropped the whipped cream, and cursed lightly as it landed on her toe.
"Damn it all, I'm coming! Stop ringing the doorbell you idiots!" Kagome yelled, marching over to the front door, having a pretty good idea of who would be wanting admittance, and who would be so darn irritating about it.
Sure enough, the annoying intruders, waiting happily at her doorstep, according to the peep-hole, were Keiko and Kiki.
"Ungh, just what I need, dumb and dumber," Kagome laughed lightly to herself, opening the door for her two best friends since childhood, and accepting the fact that in mere moments they were going to have her apartment trashed. It was just their way.
"Kagome-chan! Are you okay?" Keiko asked, quickly stepping through the threshold and taking the, admittedly pale and sickly looking, girl by the hands. Kagome's eye twitched slightly. Great. She even looked sick.
"I'm. fine. I'm all right," she said, not just yet ready to admit to her friends what she had been up to that day, and why she looked like someone had driven over her with a steamroller.
"Well, if you're so great, then WHY were you not at the movie theatre today, at twelve? You should have seen Hojo! He looked crestfallen!" Kiko said, frowning, and folding her arms, as she swiftly traveled over to the kitchen and began popping KAGOME'S strawberries like they were aspirin.
"Eek! I forgot all about the movies!" Actually, she hadn't, she had just been arrested on her way there, and handed over to the FBI. but whatever. They didn't need to know that. "I'm so sorry!"
"What happened? Were you studying for that ancient Japanese exam you have coming up?" Keiko asked, sitting down in a stool by the kitchen, no longer worried about Kagome's health, and, in fact, looking vaguely bored. That was the way she worked, one extreme to the other with the snap of a finger.
".Yeah. Sure," Kagome offered, going over and joining Kiki with the strawberry chugging. "So, how was the movie?"
Kagome, Keiko, and Kiki had all been best friends since elementary school. The KKK they had proudly called themselves. until they had gotten a little older and people no longer found the name cute, but, in fact, a little disturbing, so they quickly changed their name to the troublesome trio. Until they got a little older than that and realized stupid little nicknames were generally lame.
They had lived in the same neighborhood, went to the same high school, had the same friends, and all got into the same college. Annoying, hu? Keiko and Kiki shared a dorm at the college now, Tokyo College, and Kagome getting to be the one who got her own apartment, since she was smart and had cut back on things like splurging at the mall when she was in high school, in order to save up. Of course, people had considered her a little weird and geeky for it, leaving for some. terrible. emotional scarring... but hell! Now she had her own apartment, and THEY were all cramped into icky little dorms. Mwahahahaha.
"OhhhhmiGod. it was so annoying," Keiko said, sighing despairingly as Kiki rolled her eyes behind her back. "Tai was SUCH an ASS, and he kept trying to suck face when he KNOWS I'm still pissed at him for the other night with Minako. And with Kiki and Hojo just sitting there, trying to watch the movie? It was sooo awkward, and I'm definitely dumping him. He was hot at that party. but in the light? His complexion needs to meet the pro-active plan, is all I can say," she decided firmly, waving her perfectly manicured hands around dramatically.
Keiki was the social butterfly of the group, so to speak. She was the girly girl, who was the first to kiss a guy, the first with a boyfriend, and the first to make it to second base, of all three girls, and always was catching the eye of the football players in high school. She was petite and very pretty, a bit shorter than Kagome, with dark black hair pulled back with a headband, landing in perfectly even, shiny locks around her shoulders. Her lips were perfect and pink, that went well with her button nose. She liked to wear cute t-shirts that said things like 'yield to the princess', and pea-coats, and khaki mini skirts. She wore a tiffany's bracelet, and loved glitter. All right, so the description was a little harsh, but there was definitely a reason that Kagome and Keiko had stayed friends for so long. Keiko could be nice, caring, and extremely loyal. Her attention span rivaled that of a goldfish, but at least she always kept you on your toes and liked to do fun new things. You know, the type that was the best at truth or dare. She also periodically switched boyfriends, depending on what mood she was in that morning. Kagome envied the fact that she could afford to be so frivolous. she didn't have nearly as easy a time with boyfriends as Keiko did, since she was currently still in denial over the fact that she could be equally as attractive as her friend, if she put her mind to it.
"Well, aside from the drama queen's experience, I thought the whole thing was fine. The movie was enjoyable, and I think Hojo got a kick out of it, even if you weren't there. Poor little tyke. he's really obsessed with you Kagome-chan," Kiki said, gazing lazily at the girl. Kagome bit her lip.
"I know."
"You're sort of leading him on." Kiki continued.
"Am not!"
"Yeah, she's not! Kagome is just exploring her options, isn't she?" Keiko enthused.
"Errr."
"But that's like leading him on!" Kiki pointed out, fiercely.
Kiki was the tomboy of the group. She was built like Superman, though slightly less with the bulging muscles, on account of she had been on practically every sports team she could get onto since she was very young. She was extreamly kind and supportive, even a bit like a mother hen, when she felt like it, but everyone and anyone knew not to try her patience. She had a temper that had been known to reduce her own teacher's to tears, and could even frighten Kagome and Keiki if she put her mind to it. Which she usually didn't. She really loved her friends. And even though she might not be prom queen material, like Keiko, she wasn't short on boyfriends either. Apparently some guys really found the whole sporty girl thing kinky. Though, as of late, she was boyfriend-less, claiming she had her eye on someone, and just wasn't ready to pursue it seriously. Kagome and Keiko were making bets on whether it was that cute guy who lived above her dorm, or her young English Professor.
Kiki had short brown hair styled around her face, and usually two small pigtails on either side of her head. She was pretty cute, and even though her body was practically one big muscle, she still looked really good in a dress, and was known to be pretty 'girly' herself, when she got in the mood.
Then there was Hojo. Ahhh Hojo. It was a widely known fact that Hojo had been in love with Kagome since kindergarten, and hadn't really gotten over his little 'crush', yet. He had all but stalked Kagome her entire life, but in a very friendly way. Honestly, he was a ditz who was so gullible Kagome had almost effortlessly been able to wriggle her way out of a serious relationship all of her life, since, sadly, Hojo wasn't really her type, no matter how many people thought they were destined to be. Since Hojo spent so much time hanging around the girls, he had eventually become one of the gang, Kagome thinking of him on strictly platonic levels, and Keiko and Kiki deciding they liked him well enough, so why the hell not. He hardly complained about their girlish habits, and didn't mind holding the bags when they went shopping. He was in!
Of course, that had changed some when Hojo and Kagome had started seriously dating in senior year, Kagome finally caving in to his piteous attitude, maybe liking him back just a bit, and even going to prom with the kid. things had gotten a little weird though, and by freshman year of college, Kagome was practically ordering him to see new people. She had been the only woman in his life since he was like, six! And it didn't look as though things were ever going to work out, no matter how sweet a guy he was.
Kagome made a gurgling sound into her hands at the thought of her messy relationship with Hojo who was, still, through it all, obviously head of heels for her, even though she had made it more than plain she didn't feel the same way about him. When would the nightmare end!?
"Poor schmuck, I wonder when he'll get a clue," Keiko commented, lathering some strawberries she had claimed for her own with whipped cream.
"When HELL freezes over," Kagome muttered between her fingers. Keiko snorted, and Kiki sighed, apparently exasperated.
"Listen Kagome, if you're going to mope around the house and, ugh, STUDY, I think I'm going to leave. I've got places to be you know," she said, flipping a short lock of hair over her shoulder. Keiko, the roommate, stared up at her critically.
"Yeah, like where? The only place you REALLY need to be is the library, and it doesn't look like you're itching to study for that math exam coming up, honestly," Keiko mentioned. She had Kiki's schedule committed to memory, since that's what happens when you live with someone, and wasn't just about to let her friend get away with convincing everyone she had somewhere more important to be.
"Ugh, have I mentioned it's a real pain in the ass living with you?" Kiki asked, cover blown.
"Only every day, buttercups."
"Whatever, I really should study though, and it doesn't look like Kagome's in 'lotsoffuntime' mode. Maybe we should just leave," Kiki said, watching Kagome's head hit the counter again, drool forming in her mouth.
".Hmm, good idea," Keiko agreed quickly.
"Hope you get better Kagome, see you tomorrow. or something. we'll call you!" Kiki called, grabbing back up her windbreaker, as she headed for the door.
"Yeah Kagome, drink lots of fluids! I don't know if that's going to help but you look thirsty, okay? See ya later," Keiki said, blowing a kiss on her way out. Kagome made a weak hand gesture that signaled she acknowledged they were leaving the building, and then waited a few more minutes before lifting her head back up, daring to see what they had done to her, moments ago, spotless kitchen.
The strawberry carton was empty and rolling around on the floor, the bloody looking scalps of the strawberries themselves all that was left, scattering the counter. Speaking of the counter, it was literally smattered with a mix of sticky chocolate sauce, and messy whipped cream. God, they had been in her apartment for a total of 15 minutes, maybe, and already it was going to be a task cleaning up for them.
After she had fully sponged down her counter, and even done some helpful sweeping, just because she was that kind of person, the now dead on her feet girl drifted over to her room, falling face first onto her bed, wincing as Buyo made an indignant yowling sound and scampered off.
"Swybyo" Kagome said, her voice muffled by her pillow. Buyo meowed shortly, obviously still pissed that Kagome had fallen on him, in response. Minutes after that, Kagome was pleasantly snoring herself to sleep, thankful that at least, after everything else, tomorrow was Sunday, and vacation was right around the corner, so she could really relax. Ahhh.
*
A mere three hours later, Kagome was jerked away by the sound of someone rapping urgently on her window. Groggily lifting her head up, and wiping away some drool with the back of her hand, Kagome blinked until things came into focus. Judging by the window outside her room, it was pretty dark out, and she should really get in some studying if she wanted to be read for that stupid Ancient Japan exam. ugh. School. Oh. wait a second, also judging by the window, someone was crouching on her fire escape, rapping their knuckles on her window, and looking very impatient.
Kagome made a distressed 'eep' ing sound, and toppled off her bed, frantically scrounging around for the baseball bat she kept under her bed for just such an occasion as the one she was experiencing. (Of course, more often than not she just wanted to use it to protect herself from those damn monster's under the bed, usually ending up very paranoid since the bat WAS under the bed, WITH the monsters! Now, on top of it all, they could bludgeon her to death, too!)
Jerkily standing up, still disoriented, Kagome got a better look at who was sitting on her fire escape. oh. Wait, no, but down the bat, it was just Inuyasha. But wait! He was laughing! At her, and her clumsiness! Pick the bat back up!
"What do you want? And what are you doing? Why can't you ring the doorbell like everyone else?" Kagome growled, wrenching open her window, and shivering slightly as the cool evening breeze hit her while she was only wearing her t-shirt and skirt. Inuyasha was still chuckling softly to himself, and Kagome was still holding her bat threateningly by her side.
"Sorry, sleeping beauty, but I didn't think it would be a good idea to let any of your neighbors to see me creeping up to your room at night. People might think we're in love," Inuyasha said sarcastically, all the while pointing to his ears.
"Oh. Right." Kagome said, realizing that it WOULD look weird for a half demon to be prowling her halls now. Hm. That had been surprisingly thoughtful of him. The last thing she needed was her nosy neighbors gossiping about her. They were mostly older people, anyway, who had nothing better to do than gossip about younger people, so it really was a good thing Inuyasha had used the 'back door', as much as she hoped he didn't make a habit of it. "What do you want, anyway?" she asked. As good as that nap had felt, she was hardly ready to confront people like Inuyasha, and all they stood for when it came to the demon community she had been recently introduced to.
"There's been an attack on a demon run apartment building in downtown Tokyo, and we're 90% positive it's Naruku's work," Inuyasha said, his face slipping into business mode. Meaning his face got all stony, and his posture tense. "If you hurry, we might be able to make it before he splits, so get your act together." he said shortly.
"But!-I-No!-I- . I haven't even agreed to any of this yet!" Kagome stuttered, now fully awake, and her heart threatening to go into overload and explode out of her chest. An attack? What was that supposed to mean? Lots of blood and guts splattered to a dark alley wall, with night predators lurking in the shadows? Inuyasha was shaking his head though, and Kagome was getting a bad feeling about all of this.
"Sorry, but we need you there. You're purifying powers might be the only thing that can hold him off at this point, if he's already fed off his victims. Now get your coat, I've got my car waiting for us on the street, and I'm illegally parked, so made that double quick." Kagome's head was spinning, and she groaned again.
Why her?
"I don't want to go!" she protested. "I don't want to put my life at risk just now!" Inuyasha frowned deeply, and a growl started to reverberate in his throat, making him look a whole lot more dangerous then Kagome with her dinky bat. And sexy. He definitely looked sexy, crouching down there, his long silver hair floating in the wind, his muscular body easy to see with his black tee-shirt, even his gold, catlike eyes looking vaguely mysterious, and haunting. not to mention-
"I'll just be getting my coat then," Kagome sighed, trudging out to retrieve her fleece, and wondering why she was letting herself be dragged into all this. Kaede had said no one could force her into anything here! But. looking at Inuyasha again, and hearing the distinct warning in his voice. she had a feeling he could.
'It's going to be one of those nights.' She thought to herself, understanding she was probably acting very selfish, and also wanting everyone else to understand she didn't give a damn.
*
Author's Notes:
I'm worried. Was the adding of Kagome's best friends annoying? I HATE original characters, and I have a feeling that you'll be seeing a lot more of those two girls. I just wanted Kagome to have some real friends, and a real life, outside this whole demon thing. You know, have connections, like Stephanie, in One For The Money. (Nooo, I'm NOT obsessed. Shut up.) (Has anyone else even READ that book? If you haven't you should. It's the shit.) Anyway, I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I can, but don't hold your breath. Please. I need you to be alive to review the next chapter. And this one, for that matter. Pllleeassee review! I love you all, and have a nice day,
Rio Grande
Bitten
By Rio Grande
Chapter Two: Nooo, it's. Kagome The Miko.
The first time Kagome came around, she was worried, since everything was blurry around the edges, and she felt the bile rising to her throat at an alarming rate. Never a good sign, as she'd found it. Cracking her eyes open, she caught sight of an inquisitive Kaede and . what was his name? Inuyasha? (Jeez, he must have had SOME family issues.) -Staring down at her. Not exactly what she wanted to see after waking with a pounding head ache- but hey! At least she was conscious.
"Oh, you're up. Darnit." Kaede said, swiftly and efficiently pumping a clear liquid substance into Kagome's thin arm. The girl's eyes nearly bulged out of her head, she made a painful choking noise, and then everything began to swirl together to create one, ugly brown color. Okay, scratch that whole 'conscious' thing. Just what did these people think they were doing!?
The next time Kagome came around, she was really scared. Things were still kind of foggy up there, but she was sure she remembered Detective Kaede taking a syringe to her arm and pumping her full of some soporific drug! Holding her breath and carefully considering her options, as the feeling slowly but surly returned to her limbs and fingers, Kagome carefully cracked one tentative gray eye open.
There they were again, those conniving bastards. Inuyasha and Kaede were sitting off to the side now, discussing something heatedly, and they had even acquired a new partner in crime! A dashing looking young man with a small ponytail at the back of his head, and bright purple eyes. Kagome quickly snapped her eye shut again and played dead. Admittedly, not a hard feat to pull off when half of your body is still suffering the effects of heavy drug.
'I feel. different.' Kagome acknowledged, flexing her fingers. Ha! They came near her and she'd gouge their eyes out! All of 'em! 'I feel like there's something inside of me that wasn't there before. or it was. I just couldn't tell. God, I'm talking to mySELF and I still have no idea what I'm saying!'
"Rise and shine, cupcake. I can tell you're awake. I can hear your heart rate fluctuate" Inuyasha informed the girl, his tone pleasant, with definite underlying steel. He moseyed over to her with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"Well, that's creepy," Kagome said, sighing and opening her eyes, fingers alert and ready. If they'd just all get close enough she'd show them what it felt like to REALLY be in pain!
"Not really, considering Inuyasha is half demon," Kaede said, hobbling up to the pair, the young man right behind her. Kagome briefly wondered why THAT in itself wasn't creepy to the woman. "Child, I am sorry about before, but the ritual is usually performed best when the subject is not conscious. Sometimes the effects are. overwhelming."
"Oh my God! What did you do to me!?" Kagome screeched as best she could, hopefully bursting Inuyasha's stupid eardrum with the way her heart was pounding. They hadn't planted a chip in her brain or anything? Like on that show, Buffy! The Vampire Slayer!
"Oh, don't worry, nothing terrible. Nothing illegal," the young man next to Kaede assured her, quickly giving off a placating smile. Kagome let out a breath. Right, of course. Brain surgery could be done while the subject was conscious after all! AND, on Buffy, it had been a VAMPIRE who had the chip planted in his brain, by the army! To stop it from killing people!
"We just awakened your dormant mystical powers that have been polluted by the material world so that you can help us destroy a homicidal demon." Kaede explained quickly, casually. Kagome's jaw dropped. Come again?
"You did WHAT?"
"Well, you live in a shrine, you must know all about this sort of thing," the young man said, reasonably.
"First of all: How do you know where I live? Second of all: My shrine isn't part of WICCA! I don't know what you're talking about! Freaking murdering demons and dormant powers? You're all in some sort of cult!"
"That's a bit harsh," Kaede mentioned.
"No, it's accurate."
"Well, if you consider the FBI a cult. sure." Inuyasha snorted, folding his arms and leaning against a wall. Kagome glared at him, and he glared right back, though she definitely caught some playfulness in his liquid gold gaze. He was just toying with her! The jerk! How dare he toy with her when she was in such a vulnerable and weak state! Kagome sorely wished now that she had power over her legs. She could have made a real show of struggling and thrashing around!
"Let's get some things cleared up first," Kaede said, pulling up a chair, and sitting next to Kagome's bed. She looked all-serious like, and Kagome decided that since, for the time being, there was nothing better to do, she might as well listen to the old woman.
"You remembered what I told you about the demon's, and your job as a miko to help us track down the latest menace. right?" Kaede asked, hopefully.
"Yes." Kagome conceded. She remembered. She didn't believe, but she remembered.
"Well. if you were to take the case, which we, honestly, can't FORCE you to accept, these two young men here would be your partners." The woman said, nodding to the two men.
"I bet that convinced you to take the job, didn't it?" the purple eyed man said, winking suggestively.
"No." My, was he cocky.
"Ouch," he hissed, as Inuyasha laughed at him from his corner.
"That would have been Miroku Houshi, the FBI's very own slightly less than holy priest. He may not look like much, but he's one of humanities best demon trackers, he can cleanse vengeful spirits like nothing else, and knows more about the demon race and their habits than almost any other mortal on the planet." she admitted, as Miroku puffed out his chest proudly.
"Not a hard feat to pull of when you made the whole race UP yourSELF," Kagome pointed out sweetly.
"Ouch," Miroku repeated, Inuyasha really having a good time of it in that corner.
"And that's FBI agent Inuyasha, the silver haired one. Hard to miss. You briefly met him before you fainted. He's half demon, as I've mentioned, and is a formidable opponent to any true demon. Even I can say it," the woman said, as if it was giving her great pains to compliment either of the boys. Inuyasha seemed to be enjoying the praises well enough, though.
"Peachy. Really. But I'm not going to do any of this demon hunting stuff with you, since I think you're all off your rockers, and I'd like to go home now, and not think about what illegal stuff you did to me while I was under the effects of your drug, okay?" Kagome said, realizing she could sit up now, and doing so, with gusto.
"We didn't do anything illegal to you, Ms. Kagome," Miroku assured the girl once more. "It's just, since we sorely need a miko for this apprehension. and since you unwittingly have a surplus of miko blood running through your very veins, I had to awaken it, so that you could effectively begin to master your powers, and help us."
"Oh, okay then. That's not so bad." she dead panned.
"Stop being so damn selfish, girl!" Inuyasha suddenly shouted, startling everyone. "There are people dying out there, getting slaughtered by this mother-fucker we're trying to get, and here you sit refusing to have any part in helping out! You're only thinking of yourself and YOUR insecurities!" He stormed over to her, and Kagome shrunk back as he placed his hands, with what looked like claws, on either side of her, coming nose to nose. "Do you know how many people he has killed? Our guy? Make a while guess," he urged.
"Err."
"Hundreds. Just, hundreds."
"What?" Kagome asked, confused. "If he's killing so many people, why haven't you stopped him yet, shouldn't he have slipped up or something, made it easier to catch him?" Momentarily, because of the fierceness in Inuyasha's voice, she was forgetting she didn't believe any of this BS.
"Demon murderers are different, Kagome. They can kill many more people at one time, and can leave the scene faster than any mortal could," Kaede explained, sighing. "And he's not just killing humans. He's killing demons, spirits, and magical creatures, too."
"." Inuyasha had backed up, and was suddenly having her doubts about this all being a really big joke. they seemed so. serious! On the other hand, she didn't want this to all be some sort of Candid Camera deal.
Still seeing the obvious hesitance in Kagome's face, it was always hard to believe for people like her, Kaede made a decision right then and there. She could feel Kagome's strong miko powers without even touching her, and was going to have this girl work for her if it was the last thing she did, her stubborn attitude be damned.
"Kagome, I know what you need. You need proof."
"Damn skippy." Kagome said, finding herself suddenly quite out of character. She hardly ever cursed! She was the good girl! Look! Look! These people were already having a negative effect on her!
"Well, and I don't usually do this to humans we recruit off the street, but since I've just witnessed the fact that your miko powers have amazing potential, I'm going to make an exception. I'm going to show you what we're all about. Give you the grand tour of the offices, if you will." Kaede said, closing her eyes as she talked.
"What! You can't do that! Look at her! She's not going to agree with any of this! She'll spill our secrets to the whole world! She's just a-!" Before the man could go any further, and REALLY deter Kagome from becoming part of the 'team', Kaede cut him off, and Miroku stepped on his foot. Hard.
"ASIDE, from what it seems right now, Inuyasha, I think that Kagome really does have a good heart. She's just in shock. Isn't that right, girl?"
"." Kagome had a sort of glazed over look in her eyes, and her mouth was hanging open.
"See? Shock."
"Well, Ms. Kagome, if you'll let me escort you, I think it's time for that tour, and perhaps some background information on the man that we're after. It could very possibly convince you to join us!" Miroku said happily, helping her off her cot, and leading her to the door, a charming smile on his face. Kagome blushed and bit her lip. He WAS quite handsome.
"Well at least SOMEONE is being polite around here," she said, shooting a pointed look at Inuyasha, who was grouchily following the group. He snorted derisively and stuck his nose up in a very childlike manner. Kagome would have giggled if she hadn't been so swamped with fear and an overwhelming feeling of impending doom.
"Welcome to the demon sector of the FBI, Kagome Higurashi. We trust you will keep everything you see today with us a secret . or else." Kaede commented before throwing open the doors that led out of the tiny room the four had been occupying. Kagome was half sure she was just joking around.
At first glance, what Kagome saw didn't look that much different from the law firm she had interned at once, filled with cubicles and printing machines and people dashing around with coffee cups. it was just the subtle differences. The various ancient weapons hung over walls, the tranquilizer gun off to her side, the sound of an inhuman cry off in the distance, (actually, she had gotten that at the law firm, too.) the police uniforms dabbled here and there, the badges, and most notably, the fact that not everyone who worked there was totally human.
Indeed, some of the officers and detectives scattered around the large room Kagome had all but stumbled into, seemed to have an extra fang or too, eyes that, like Inuyasha's, seemed more animal like than anything else, claws, tails, odd tattoos, anomalous skin tones, (such as, for instance, green.) and some people just looked alien all together, taking the form of toad like creatures, or having wings and beaks. What WAS this? MIB?
"They aren't. they aren't. human!" Kagome gurgled, clinging to Miroku's arm, surprised. No way! This couldn't be happening, it just wasn't real! She had been so sure this was all a prank, but it was turning out to be a pretty damn elaborate one, and something she was sure candid camera wouldn't have gone through all of the trouble just to set up for little old her.
"Yes, we have many hanyous, and full demons alike, working for this section of the government. It's law enforcement all the same to them, be it human or demon, and these folks generally seem to have an easier time taking down the demon delinquents of our world, than the normal agents." Kaede explained, leading the group forward.
"Except for me!" Miroku pointed out, beaming. "I'm one of the only human agents, except for the occasional miko, such as yourself, in this section of the FBI."
"You're mother must be so proud," Kaede mumbled, as the group neared a door at the back of the large office. Kagome held her breath as she realized that this was where those screams were coming from. they were so. primitive!
"This is where we temporarily hold our demon criminals until they can be transferred to a more secure facility!" Kaede yelled over the protesting raucous, as everyone passed through the threshold.
"Are you telling me this isn't secure?!" Kagome squeaked, glancing at just who was in the detaining cells, occupying the new room. Disgusting, slimy, skanky, dangerous and down right evil looking. things. glared out at her from their cells, some howling like there was no tomorrow (and for some, actually, there might not be,) and some mumbling ominously to themselves in corners, glaring at her like she was a fresh piece of meat they wished they could sink their sharp, irregularly big fangs into.
'Gulp.' Kagome, who wasn't even completely recovered after being drugged, felt as though she just might keel over again.
"Don't worry, they can't get out of those cells," Miroku assured her, warmly. Kagome returned the smile with a thankful one of her own. That is, until she realized where the always dashing and polite Miroku's hand was slowly but surly sliding down to. Her eyes widened, and she briefly saw red, as that LECHEROUS excuse for a PRIEST but his hand right over her butt and gave it an affectionate pinch of encouragement. "You'll be fine,"
"OMIGOD!" Kagome screeched, drawing her hand back to slap him hard across the face. Huffing, as some of the incarcerated demons laughed at Miroku's slap mark, Kagome hung back and walked with Inuyasha, who was also sniggering quietly, finding the rude brute to be a lot more appealing just then than Miroku. At least this guy was honest about his annoying attitude! The NERVE! And just went she was so freaked and vulnerable, too!
As they were about to leave the detaining room, (much to Kagome's relief) something caught the girl's eye that gave her pause. A woman. A perfectly normal looking, vaguely attractive woman, standing alone in a cell. The most heavily surveyed and secure looking cell, it's walls were made of bulletproof and she was sure something-else-proof, plastic, her hands cuffed together and connecting to a nearby wall by a chain, a picture of her on at least six monitors off to the side, watched carefully by a few agents. Kagome cocked her head as the woman (who was wearing a small leather outfit that did nothing to hid her obvious voluptuousness.) gave her a friendly little smile, her short brown hair held out of her face by a cute headband.
"What's SHE in for? She's being pretty heavily monitored, and she doesn't even look dangerous." Kagome asked of Inuyasha, all the while keeping a wary eye on Miroku, even though he was now a good two yards away, walking with Kaede.
"Something you're going to have to learn is, sometimes the most dangerous demon's are the human looking ones. That's Yura. She's a class B demon, and her favorite pastime is mass decapitating of unsuspecting mortals, such as yourself," Yura and Inuyasha's eyes met, deep black meeting fiery gold, and instantly a huffy, evil scowl formed on Yura's face, a small growl reverberating in her throat. She looked. nasty. "And she REALLY hates me," Inuyasha added.
"Why?" Kagome, still a little bit shaken over the fact that this innocent looking woman was capable of murder.
"Because I was the one who brought her in, about two days ago. She's been on the wanted list for years." Inuyasha said, casually. Kagome took a step back to get a better look at the half man she had passed off as rude and just generally mean. Maybe there WAS some bite to his incessant bark.
When they had finally reached the door, Kagome spared one look back at Yura, who stared intensely back at her, as if asking for a favor of sorts. When Kagome felt something thin and cold slide across her cheek, a bad vibe definitely in the air, she shuddered and quickly exited the room, suddenly agreeing with Inuyasha's description. That woman was odd, to say the least. And now that she had that new feeling in her, Kagome could tell she had an evil aura that was not to be trifled with. She should have noticed it before, but Yura was a tricky one, it would seem.
'Just what did these guys do to me? To give me this new awareness of everyone around me? It's as if I can feel everyone's life force, pulsating, everywhere,' She glanced at her dog eared companion, who was paying no attention to her. 'He has a very strong life force. aura. whatever.'
The new room was simple. A breath of fresh air, really. It had a few tables in it, with numerous stacks of papers thrown haphazardly around, and file cabinets lined the walls, which also had maps, diagrams, and photographic evidence tacked up on it. Kagome wisely decided NOT to look at the pictures, as she could tell a popular theme there was red. The walls were painted off white, and the flooring was scratchy blue rug. Kagome took as seat with everyone else at what looked like a conference table, listening to what everyone had to say with a bit more attentiveness now that she was pretty sure these guys weren't fibbing. She didn't want to believe it but. she was starting to give in and trust what these people were saying, acting like they really were government agents asking for her help. Though what SHE could do to help these guys, when it came to gruesome demons of the likes she had just seen, was beyond her.
"Kagome, this is the conference room where we, mainly, spend our days discussing the demonic murdered we've been telling you about. his name is Naruku, and we need you to help us find him." Kaede started out with, folding her hands in front of her. Now, this was a woman who had TACT.
"Oh, come on! I can't believe you just told her his NAME! She's not going to go along with this, and now she has all this valuable information- "
"Shut up, Inuyasha," Kaede said shortly, waving him off, and forging forward. "Kagome, ordinarily, we wouldn't be so desperate for help, but our usual miko is . out of town . and this case is in dire need of a miko with the powers you have. A lesser one just won't do,"
"Am I really that strong?" Kagome asked, looking at her hands speculatively.
"Technically, yes. However you don't know how to harness your mystical powers properly, yet. But don't worry, not only I, but Miroku can help you master these powers, if you choose to help us." Kaede said, Miroku nodding gravely in agreement. Kagome avoided his gaze.
"What would I be able to do, if I released these incredible 'miko powers' of mine." Kagome asked, curiously. Pictures of girls with short skirts and fire flying out of their fingers was what came to mind, generally. Her knowledge of miko's and their powers, for all that she used to live in Sunset Shrine with her family, before she moved out, was iffy, to say the least.
"Well, a miko's powers are very spiritual, and mainly revolve around healing and purifying. Miko's used to be famous for their healing powers, and their ability to purify demonic or evil things around them. Their general weapon used to be a bow and arrow, but since we are in the new millennium now, we'll have a semi-automatic and defense spray on hand for you." The woman said, matter-o-factly.
"Oh. But. I'm still a bit confused as to why I'm so important to this team," Kagome admitted, fully realizing she was being a nosy pain in the ass, but also deciding not to agree to anything before she knew all the details. This didn't look like one of those jobs you could just casually accept without reading all the fine print.
"Ms. Kagome, sometimes, demon's cannot simply be stopped by brute force, aside from what Inuyasha claims," Miroku said solemnly, as said hanyou rolled his eyes and made a funny face behind Miroku's back. Kagome stifled a grin. "Sometimes they need to be destroyed in a more. spiritual way,"
"Like, what, I have to pray them to death?"
"Kagome, one of the main reasons this terrible demon, Naruku, is on such a rampage, is because he has gotten a hold of a jewel that can enhance his powers tenfold. It's called the Shikon Jewel." Kaede said, as if the name of this jewel were supposed to bring shivers now Kagome's spine. It didn't, really, but Kagome pretended to be weirded out, so Kaede wouldn't be so disappointed. "He has tainted this jewel with his wicked soul, and used it to become one of the most powerful demons we have seen in many, many years. But, if we can get that jewel off him, our forces should be enough to take him down,"
"Sooo. you want me to get this jewel for you?" Everyone exchanged cautious glances.
"It's not so easy. You couldn't just waltz up to this man and take it. His powers are vast beyond anything you can imagine. which is why we need you on the 'team.' Once you start training with us, we can use your purifying skills to un-taint the jewel, possibly without even touching us. Or at least you could assist us in capturing it, and then purifying it. Once that is done, it will be useless to Naruku, and might actually destroy him, if its new, purified aura is as strong as we think it can be."
"Sounds spiffy,"
"We like to think so," Miroku admitted. "But it's not as easy as it sounds. It will take a lot of power and energy on your part, since purifying things, especially something as defiled as our Shikon Jewel, is never easy. Not to mention, that Naruku is very good at eluding us, and leaving bloody trails to follow, that usually ends up being dead ends. There is a very good reason for why we have been working on this case so long. If you join us, it could take a while, and some things you see might scare you."
"Yeah, see those pictures on the wall? Those are the more humane ones." Inuyasha said. "This man is a maniac who is simply killing people off for the pure blood lust and hell of it. He even plays games with us. Leaves clues, and marks the people he kills, like he's proud. Had to let us know that this is his handiwork." Inuyasha continued, and Kagome felt her stomach churn uncomfortably.
"What kind of marks?" she had to ask.
"Bite marks, right over the heart. We think he likes to taste his victim's blood, so that their blood, now darkened with fear, can further feed the Shikon." Inuyasha said, no emotion in his voice.
"Bleck."
"This is going to be a big obligation Kagome, and many a time you might have to put your neck on the line for someone else. Your life could be at risk constantly. but we have to get this murderer. The things he has done cannot be gone unpunished. He's slowly but surly becoming public, and that is one of the worst things that could happen. With his sort of power, the demon population, as well as a possibly good amount of the human population, would be panicked, if word got out he was on a killing spree." Kaede said, gravely.
It was obvious to the girl that they didn't want to sugar coat anything here. No false pretenses about her walking around in hot leather pants, taking out the bad guys with skill and ease. This was going to be long, hard, and nasty. And a lot of work on her part. Have fun. Well, that's at least the message she got.
"Whoa." Kagome said, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her head. "I have to think about this."
"That's understandable. In fact, you don't have to give us an answer today, we can get in contact with you tomorrow, once you've had time to sleep on it. Just keep in mind, if we catch this demon together, how many lives we could be saving." Kaede said, staring deep into Kagome's gray eyes.
"Of course, I could be brutally murdered in the process."
"Details details," Miroku joked, standing up to help Kagome out of her seat. She quickly slid out of her seat herself, edging away from him. She knew his game now, and wasn't just about to be fooled again. Miroku looked vaguely disappointed.
"Please make the right decision Kagome. I know it's a scary idea, and that you're very confused right now. but we could use your help so much. Miko's are one of a demon fighter's greatest allies, and you don't know what sort of potential you have." Kaede said softly.
"Yes Kagome, we would be honored to work with you. And we'd help you all along the way," Miroku reminded her, enticingly. Kagome rolled her eyes.
"Feh." Inuyasha pointed out.
"Well, glad to know you're enthusiastic." Kagome huffed, folding her arms. Suddenly, Inuyasha gave her a definite once over, and she felt the heat rush to her cheeks. Well!
"Is it true, Kaede, that all mikos are somehow related?" he asked, quickly.
"Er, YOU'RE not picking from the random tree," Kagome said, raising an eyebrow. Kaede smiled, a bit wistfully, though.
"Yes. It is. I noticed it too." she said simply.
"Um?" Kagome offered, as Inuyasha and Kaede quickly got discomfited and avoided her gaze.
"Well, Ms. Kagome, I think you should go home now and get started on that sleeping we suggested. You have seen many things today that would disturb and frighten a normal human, but you've been handling it beautifully! Sleep can only help you on the process to total acceptation," Miroku said, leading her to the door, and breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled upon the room.
"Um, how will you get in contact with me?" Kagome asked, as everyone ushered her out the door, planning on following her to the exit, apparently.
"We'll call you," Kaede said, simply. "We have your home number."
"Great." she sighed. She could see herself having hard time getting out of this whole thing, even if she really wanted to. She let herself be led back down a maze of halls, and finally back into the main lobby, where she could see it was already late afternoon from the windows. Wow. how long had she spent in that hell hole? In truth, she had no idea how long they had her under, when they were doing that. awakening process. whatever the hell that was, she still wasn't sure. All she knew was, the weird, oddly aware of everything around her feeling was back, and she could almost feel the heartbeats of people around her, and effortlessly read their emotions as they whooshed past. It was disconcerting, and oddly spiritual, but on a different level then praying, or going to a shrine. It was more. powerful, seemed to be a fitting word.
"Take care Ms. Kagome, have a good night!" Miroku said politely, as he hailed her a cab. But Kagome was not to be fooled. She inched around him to get into the offered automobile. Miroku blew out a long breath, apparently, he had really ruined it with this one.
"Think on our words girl!" Kaede reminded from the doorway.
"If you don't accept, we'll kill you!" Inuyasha added, kind as ever.
"He's kidding!" Miroku and Kaede assured the uneasy college student in unison, both bopping the rude man over the head. He scowled and moved away from them. He had been SERIOUS!
"Bye." Kagome said, awkwardly, waving hesitantly as the cab roared off, and drove her back to her apartment.
*
"How do I get INTO these situations?" Kagome groaned, throwing open the door of her humble apartment, and tossing her hand bag to the side, along with her keys.
Kagome Higurashi's apartment wasn't at all impressive, in fact, it was a little un-impressive. But, for a sophomore college student? It was perfect. And Kagome was overly proud of it, since she had been saving up since sophomore year of HIGHSCHOOL for an apartment of her own, so she wouldn't have to go through the usually torturous and inhumane ordeal of which one referred to as dorms. This tiny, rickety excuse for a home was just what she needed. It made her feel older, and more responsible. Something to come back to at the end of the day and curl up with a nice pint of ice-cream with, without having to worry about her mother berating her for eating sweets before dinner. (Yeah, oh boy was SHE mature.) .Even though sometimes, living alone got. lonely. And frightening, for those nights when there was no one to chase the demons that live under the bed away. (She was feeling that much more insecure now that she had indisputable proof that there probably WAS monster or demon living down there.)
The kitchen was attached the relatively homey looking, Ikea made living room, and a small dining room of sorts was attached to that, no doors in sight. In fact, the only doors to speak of was the bathroom door, a nice sort of bathroom if you liked 70's décor and a usually clogged toilet, a closet door, and, of course, the door to her own bedroom. Her sanctuary, a clustered room filled to the brim with papers, text books, personal flotsam, clothing, and old stuffed animals she couldn't bare to leave at home. Buyo, the cat, could most days be found slumbering in the middle of her bed, leaving orange hair wherever his bit fat butt touched, and creating an awkward warm spot around her knees whenever Kagome turned in for the night, and Buyo leapt out onto the fire escape for his nightly expeditions. It was Kagome's personal opinion that he was the leader of the Tokyo kitty mafia, and had yet to tell her about it. Well, that probably wasn't true. Buyo definitely would have let her in on that sort of thing, if he really was a 'Godfather' type figure to the feline population of her neighborhood. She and Buyo were tight like that.
Kagome slowly, laboriously opened her eyes, peeling her head off the counter, and eyed the refrigerator contemplatively. It was a good possibility that she would be heading over there next, but her legs were still made of jelly, and her head was still spinning. She didn't really know if her stomach could hold down much at this point, either. God, this whole thing, from the demons to the mikoness to the murdering and partnership, was affecting her more than she had first assumed. She was a strong, resilient girl! She'd get through this!.
Why her!!??
It wasn't as if she didn't have enough problems, college a big hassle in itself, but THIS she didn't need to deal with. Even if she DIDN'T accept the job, she had a terrible feeling these people weren't just going to let her forget that she had been let in on the secret underground of the world of demons, so to speak. Damn them! They should have kept their twisted little secret to themselves! Now all she could think about was demons! Where did they live, what did they do, how come she never heard about any of them, and hadn't seen a real one in her entire life? Were they disguised, did they live in a secret part of town? Was her life at constant risk?!? God she had to KNOW!
"Calm down girl, you're going to blow a gasket." The curly raven haired, twenty year old reminded herself, eventually getting up the strength to trudge over to the fridge, and pull out a carton of strawberries. Of course, once she had her head in there, she spotted the chocolate sauce. and everyone KNOWS that chocolate sauce goes great with strawberries. and if she was going to start with the chocolate sauce, she might as well add in all of the other ramifications, and get out the whipped cream, too! Maybe some powdered sugar, and they were in business!
Food, generally, calmed her down.
'Ohhh I'm bad,' Kagome was thinking, when suddenly her doorbell began to incessantly ring, startling Kagome so much she dropped the whipped cream, and cursed lightly as it landed on her toe.
"Damn it all, I'm coming! Stop ringing the doorbell you idiots!" Kagome yelled, marching over to the front door, having a pretty good idea of who would be wanting admittance, and who would be so darn irritating about it.
Sure enough, the annoying intruders, waiting happily at her doorstep, according to the peep-hole, were Keiko and Kiki.
"Ungh, just what I need, dumb and dumber," Kagome laughed lightly to herself, opening the door for her two best friends since childhood, and accepting the fact that in mere moments they were going to have her apartment trashed. It was just their way.
"Kagome-chan! Are you okay?" Keiko asked, quickly stepping through the threshold and taking the, admittedly pale and sickly looking, girl by the hands. Kagome's eye twitched slightly. Great. She even looked sick.
"I'm. fine. I'm all right," she said, not just yet ready to admit to her friends what she had been up to that day, and why she looked like someone had driven over her with a steamroller.
"Well, if you're so great, then WHY were you not at the movie theatre today, at twelve? You should have seen Hojo! He looked crestfallen!" Kiko said, frowning, and folding her arms, as she swiftly traveled over to the kitchen and began popping KAGOME'S strawberries like they were aspirin.
"Eek! I forgot all about the movies!" Actually, she hadn't, she had just been arrested on her way there, and handed over to the FBI. but whatever. They didn't need to know that. "I'm so sorry!"
"What happened? Were you studying for that ancient Japanese exam you have coming up?" Keiko asked, sitting down in a stool by the kitchen, no longer worried about Kagome's health, and, in fact, looking vaguely bored. That was the way she worked, one extreme to the other with the snap of a finger.
".Yeah. Sure," Kagome offered, going over and joining Kiki with the strawberry chugging. "So, how was the movie?"
Kagome, Keiko, and Kiki had all been best friends since elementary school. The KKK they had proudly called themselves. until they had gotten a little older and people no longer found the name cute, but, in fact, a little disturbing, so they quickly changed their name to the troublesome trio. Until they got a little older than that and realized stupid little nicknames were generally lame.
They had lived in the same neighborhood, went to the same high school, had the same friends, and all got into the same college. Annoying, hu? Keiko and Kiki shared a dorm at the college now, Tokyo College, and Kagome getting to be the one who got her own apartment, since she was smart and had cut back on things like splurging at the mall when she was in high school, in order to save up. Of course, people had considered her a little weird and geeky for it, leaving for some. terrible. emotional scarring... but hell! Now she had her own apartment, and THEY were all cramped into icky little dorms. Mwahahahaha.
"OhhhhmiGod. it was so annoying," Keiko said, sighing despairingly as Kiki rolled her eyes behind her back. "Tai was SUCH an ASS, and he kept trying to suck face when he KNOWS I'm still pissed at him for the other night with Minako. And with Kiki and Hojo just sitting there, trying to watch the movie? It was sooo awkward, and I'm definitely dumping him. He was hot at that party. but in the light? His complexion needs to meet the pro-active plan, is all I can say," she decided firmly, waving her perfectly manicured hands around dramatically.
Keiki was the social butterfly of the group, so to speak. She was the girly girl, who was the first to kiss a guy, the first with a boyfriend, and the first to make it to second base, of all three girls, and always was catching the eye of the football players in high school. She was petite and very pretty, a bit shorter than Kagome, with dark black hair pulled back with a headband, landing in perfectly even, shiny locks around her shoulders. Her lips were perfect and pink, that went well with her button nose. She liked to wear cute t-shirts that said things like 'yield to the princess', and pea-coats, and khaki mini skirts. She wore a tiffany's bracelet, and loved glitter. All right, so the description was a little harsh, but there was definitely a reason that Kagome and Keiko had stayed friends for so long. Keiko could be nice, caring, and extremely loyal. Her attention span rivaled that of a goldfish, but at least she always kept you on your toes and liked to do fun new things. You know, the type that was the best at truth or dare. She also periodically switched boyfriends, depending on what mood she was in that morning. Kagome envied the fact that she could afford to be so frivolous. she didn't have nearly as easy a time with boyfriends as Keiko did, since she was currently still in denial over the fact that she could be equally as attractive as her friend, if she put her mind to it.
"Well, aside from the drama queen's experience, I thought the whole thing was fine. The movie was enjoyable, and I think Hojo got a kick out of it, even if you weren't there. Poor little tyke. he's really obsessed with you Kagome-chan," Kiki said, gazing lazily at the girl. Kagome bit her lip.
"I know."
"You're sort of leading him on." Kiki continued.
"Am not!"
"Yeah, she's not! Kagome is just exploring her options, isn't she?" Keiko enthused.
"Errr."
"But that's like leading him on!" Kiki pointed out, fiercely.
Kiki was the tomboy of the group. She was built like Superman, though slightly less with the bulging muscles, on account of she had been on practically every sports team she could get onto since she was very young. She was extreamly kind and supportive, even a bit like a mother hen, when she felt like it, but everyone and anyone knew not to try her patience. She had a temper that had been known to reduce her own teacher's to tears, and could even frighten Kagome and Keiki if she put her mind to it. Which she usually didn't. She really loved her friends. And even though she might not be prom queen material, like Keiko, she wasn't short on boyfriends either. Apparently some guys really found the whole sporty girl thing kinky. Though, as of late, she was boyfriend-less, claiming she had her eye on someone, and just wasn't ready to pursue it seriously. Kagome and Keiko were making bets on whether it was that cute guy who lived above her dorm, or her young English Professor.
Kiki had short brown hair styled around her face, and usually two small pigtails on either side of her head. She was pretty cute, and even though her body was practically one big muscle, she still looked really good in a dress, and was known to be pretty 'girly' herself, when she got in the mood.
Then there was Hojo. Ahhh Hojo. It was a widely known fact that Hojo had been in love with Kagome since kindergarten, and hadn't really gotten over his little 'crush', yet. He had all but stalked Kagome her entire life, but in a very friendly way. Honestly, he was a ditz who was so gullible Kagome had almost effortlessly been able to wriggle her way out of a serious relationship all of her life, since, sadly, Hojo wasn't really her type, no matter how many people thought they were destined to be. Since Hojo spent so much time hanging around the girls, he had eventually become one of the gang, Kagome thinking of him on strictly platonic levels, and Keiko and Kiki deciding they liked him well enough, so why the hell not. He hardly complained about their girlish habits, and didn't mind holding the bags when they went shopping. He was in!
Of course, that had changed some when Hojo and Kagome had started seriously dating in senior year, Kagome finally caving in to his piteous attitude, maybe liking him back just a bit, and even going to prom with the kid. things had gotten a little weird though, and by freshman year of college, Kagome was practically ordering him to see new people. She had been the only woman in his life since he was like, six! And it didn't look as though things were ever going to work out, no matter how sweet a guy he was.
Kagome made a gurgling sound into her hands at the thought of her messy relationship with Hojo who was, still, through it all, obviously head of heels for her, even though she had made it more than plain she didn't feel the same way about him. When would the nightmare end!?
"Poor schmuck, I wonder when he'll get a clue," Keiko commented, lathering some strawberries she had claimed for her own with whipped cream.
"When HELL freezes over," Kagome muttered between her fingers. Keiko snorted, and Kiki sighed, apparently exasperated.
"Listen Kagome, if you're going to mope around the house and, ugh, STUDY, I think I'm going to leave. I've got places to be you know," she said, flipping a short lock of hair over her shoulder. Keiko, the roommate, stared up at her critically.
"Yeah, like where? The only place you REALLY need to be is the library, and it doesn't look like you're itching to study for that math exam coming up, honestly," Keiko mentioned. She had Kiki's schedule committed to memory, since that's what happens when you live with someone, and wasn't just about to let her friend get away with convincing everyone she had somewhere more important to be.
"Ugh, have I mentioned it's a real pain in the ass living with you?" Kiki asked, cover blown.
"Only every day, buttercups."
"Whatever, I really should study though, and it doesn't look like Kagome's in 'lotsoffuntime' mode. Maybe we should just leave," Kiki said, watching Kagome's head hit the counter again, drool forming in her mouth.
".Hmm, good idea," Keiko agreed quickly.
"Hope you get better Kagome, see you tomorrow. or something. we'll call you!" Kiki called, grabbing back up her windbreaker, as she headed for the door.
"Yeah Kagome, drink lots of fluids! I don't know if that's going to help but you look thirsty, okay? See ya later," Keiki said, blowing a kiss on her way out. Kagome made a weak hand gesture that signaled she acknowledged they were leaving the building, and then waited a few more minutes before lifting her head back up, daring to see what they had done to her, moments ago, spotless kitchen.
The strawberry carton was empty and rolling around on the floor, the bloody looking scalps of the strawberries themselves all that was left, scattering the counter. Speaking of the counter, it was literally smattered with a mix of sticky chocolate sauce, and messy whipped cream. God, they had been in her apartment for a total of 15 minutes, maybe, and already it was going to be a task cleaning up for them.
After she had fully sponged down her counter, and even done some helpful sweeping, just because she was that kind of person, the now dead on her feet girl drifted over to her room, falling face first onto her bed, wincing as Buyo made an indignant yowling sound and scampered off.
"Swybyo" Kagome said, her voice muffled by her pillow. Buyo meowed shortly, obviously still pissed that Kagome had fallen on him, in response. Minutes after that, Kagome was pleasantly snoring herself to sleep, thankful that at least, after everything else, tomorrow was Sunday, and vacation was right around the corner, so she could really relax. Ahhh.
*
A mere three hours later, Kagome was jerked away by the sound of someone rapping urgently on her window. Groggily lifting her head up, and wiping away some drool with the back of her hand, Kagome blinked until things came into focus. Judging by the window outside her room, it was pretty dark out, and she should really get in some studying if she wanted to be read for that stupid Ancient Japan exam. ugh. School. Oh. wait a second, also judging by the window, someone was crouching on her fire escape, rapping their knuckles on her window, and looking very impatient.
Kagome made a distressed 'eep' ing sound, and toppled off her bed, frantically scrounging around for the baseball bat she kept under her bed for just such an occasion as the one she was experiencing. (Of course, more often than not she just wanted to use it to protect herself from those damn monster's under the bed, usually ending up very paranoid since the bat WAS under the bed, WITH the monsters! Now, on top of it all, they could bludgeon her to death, too!)
Jerkily standing up, still disoriented, Kagome got a better look at who was sitting on her fire escape. oh. Wait, no, but down the bat, it was just Inuyasha. But wait! He was laughing! At her, and her clumsiness! Pick the bat back up!
"What do you want? And what are you doing? Why can't you ring the doorbell like everyone else?" Kagome growled, wrenching open her window, and shivering slightly as the cool evening breeze hit her while she was only wearing her t-shirt and skirt. Inuyasha was still chuckling softly to himself, and Kagome was still holding her bat threateningly by her side.
"Sorry, sleeping beauty, but I didn't think it would be a good idea to let any of your neighbors to see me creeping up to your room at night. People might think we're in love," Inuyasha said sarcastically, all the while pointing to his ears.
"Oh. Right." Kagome said, realizing that it WOULD look weird for a half demon to be prowling her halls now. Hm. That had been surprisingly thoughtful of him. The last thing she needed was her nosy neighbors gossiping about her. They were mostly older people, anyway, who had nothing better to do than gossip about younger people, so it really was a good thing Inuyasha had used the 'back door', as much as she hoped he didn't make a habit of it. "What do you want, anyway?" she asked. As good as that nap had felt, she was hardly ready to confront people like Inuyasha, and all they stood for when it came to the demon community she had been recently introduced to.
"There's been an attack on a demon run apartment building in downtown Tokyo, and we're 90% positive it's Naruku's work," Inuyasha said, his face slipping into business mode. Meaning his face got all stony, and his posture tense. "If you hurry, we might be able to make it before he splits, so get your act together." he said shortly.
"But!-I-No!-I- . I haven't even agreed to any of this yet!" Kagome stuttered, now fully awake, and her heart threatening to go into overload and explode out of her chest. An attack? What was that supposed to mean? Lots of blood and guts splattered to a dark alley wall, with night predators lurking in the shadows? Inuyasha was shaking his head though, and Kagome was getting a bad feeling about all of this.
"Sorry, but we need you there. You're purifying powers might be the only thing that can hold him off at this point, if he's already fed off his victims. Now get your coat, I've got my car waiting for us on the street, and I'm illegally parked, so made that double quick." Kagome's head was spinning, and she groaned again.
Why her?
"I don't want to go!" she protested. "I don't want to put my life at risk just now!" Inuyasha frowned deeply, and a growl started to reverberate in his throat, making him look a whole lot more dangerous then Kagome with her dinky bat. And sexy. He definitely looked sexy, crouching down there, his long silver hair floating in the wind, his muscular body easy to see with his black tee-shirt, even his gold, catlike eyes looking vaguely mysterious, and haunting. not to mention-
"I'll just be getting my coat then," Kagome sighed, trudging out to retrieve her fleece, and wondering why she was letting herself be dragged into all this. Kaede had said no one could force her into anything here! But. looking at Inuyasha again, and hearing the distinct warning in his voice. she had a feeling he could.
'It's going to be one of those nights.' She thought to herself, understanding she was probably acting very selfish, and also wanting everyone else to understand she didn't give a damn.
*
Author's Notes:
I'm worried. Was the adding of Kagome's best friends annoying? I HATE original characters, and I have a feeling that you'll be seeing a lot more of those two girls. I just wanted Kagome to have some real friends, and a real life, outside this whole demon thing. You know, have connections, like Stephanie, in One For The Money. (Nooo, I'm NOT obsessed. Shut up.) (Has anyone else even READ that book? If you haven't you should. It's the shit.) Anyway, I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I can, but don't hold your breath. Please. I need you to be alive to review the next chapter. And this one, for that matter. Pllleeassee review! I love you all, and have a nice day,
Rio Grande