AN: Sorry for my lack of enthusiam last time.... my sincere apologies to anyone who noticed.... which was probably no one....
Anyway, here's the next chapter... and Keyo, some of your questions concerning Kouga will be answered. Chapter 10, for all who are concerned, is going to be another long one, but I think I'm over halfway through it now and will hopefully finish it before I go to work tonight!
hEyKyRa13
Protect Me
Chapter 7
Surprise!
"Mutt-face!"
"Flea-bag!"
"Asshole!"
"Butt-sniffer!"
And so, this was how the three humans found them inside the alley behind 'The Bean'.
Kagome rolled her eyes, arms folded across her chest. "Will someone please pause from their invigorating verbal abusing to tell me what the heck is going on?"
Neither demon was willing to fess up, but it was someone else who smacked their face, groaning.
"Duh!" Sango said angrily. "Kouga Ookami. It's you, of course! He was the one who did it!"
"Sango?" Kagome questioned.
Sango was still busy berating herself. "Idiot! This was in his file! I should have realized this!"
"Sango!" Kagome repeated, a little irritated.
"Huh? Oh, yeah…" Sango shook her head, regaining her thoughts. "Kouga Ookami, the principal officer of the team that directed Inuyasha's arrest."
"Oh, okay, that makes se-ARREST!? What do you mean arrest!?"
Sango looked at Kagome, surprised. "Yeah, remember? Inuyasha was arrested for suspected murder two years ago."
Kagome's eyes widened and she stole a glance at the hanyou in question, who merely sniggered at Kouga. "What do you mean, remember!? I never knew I was being protected by a murderer!"
Sango frowned. "But, you were supposed to be told by…" Realization finally hit her as she slowly spun around to find Miroku quietly inching away. "Miroku!"
The young man froze, face paling as he realized he was caught. Of course, it took only a few moments for his brilliant counter strategy to be put into play- he grinned sheepishly. "Sango, my dear, have I ever mentioned how cute you look when you're angry?"
"Miroku, you idiot! You were supposed to tell Kagome about Inuyasha before they even met! Why didn't you!?"
"Um, I forgot?"
"Try again."
"Hello!" Kagome called impatiently. "Little Kagome is still way confused, over here!"
Kouga broke his eye contact with Inuyasha to look at the girl strangely. "Kagome? Didn't you say your name was Kikyo?"
Kagome's eyes widened as she realized what she did, and her hand came up to smack her face, muttering to herself.
Inuyasha snorted. "Good going, wench."
Kouga spun to glare at him, but was unable to lose the overwhelming sense of confusion. "Would someone like to explain to me what the hell is going on? Why are you giving out a false name, and what the fuck are you," he thrust an accusing finger at Inuyasha, "doing out of jail when I worked so hard to keep you in there?"
"And while we're making a list," Kagome added, "Would it be too much to ask to find out why he was put in there in the first place?"
Sango sighed, reaching up to cup her forehead. If harping on Miroku didn't give her a headache, this long drawn explanation surely would.
Or the fact that she was beginning to develop a sixth sense when it came to her partner. Without looking, she reached behind her and grabbed the young man by the collar and felt satisfied when she heard his clear squeak of surprise at being caught as he tried to sneak away. Dragging him around in front of her, she said wearily, "Miroku, explain."
"Me? Why me?" he whined.
"Because I said so," Sango replied in a tone that dared him to contradict her.
With no other option, Miroku frowned and turned toward the frustrated girl, confused looking police officer, and pissed off hanyou, wondering where to start.
"Um…"
"The beginning, Miroku," Sango snapped.
"Oh, right," he replied, laughing sheepishly. "Well, uh, let's see. Inuyasha was arrested two years ago."
"Old news, buddy," Kouga stated.
"But why?" Kagome asked, unable to stop throwing nervous glances at Inuyasha who simply responded with irritated growls.
"He was the lead suspect in an investigation on a murder back in LA," Kouga replied, ignoring Inuyasha's glowering. "A young woman went missing for about six months when we received an anonymous tip on a local delinquent half-breed. He already had a record for petty theft, and this girl was the daughter of a pretty wealthy family. Had the motive, had the witnesses, lacked an alibi, and after we got a warrant, we found the weapon and traces of the girl's blood all over his place. The trial was organized, and in no time, he was thrown behind bars."
"Just like that?" Kagome repeated, amazed.
Kouga shrugged. "He was guilty. Not much more to say."
Stunned, Kagome turned to the sulking Inuyasha. "Were you really guilty?"
The hanyou snorted, glaring. "No, I just happened to be sitting in jail with the most pleasant of company simply to pass the time!"
Kagome jumped, startled by his tone. Kouga instantly stepped up in front of her, shielding her from Inuyasha's glare.
"Come on, boys," Sango called, snapping her fingers to regain their attention. "Let's all get along, now, shall we?"
"But I still don't get it," Kagome confessed meekly. "Why did Mr. Sesshoumaru assign him to watch me if he knew he was in jail for murder?"
"FBI chief, Sesshoumaru Taisho? Assign?" Kouga repeated, looking back at Kagome. "Does this have to do with your fake name thing?"
Sango sighed again. Yup, there goes that headache.
So, a pause was made in the entire recollection to explain to Kouga the situation- after, of course, conferring upon Sesshoumaru for permission, which he reluctantly gave with plenty of admonishment on his younger brother for his stupidity.
"The head of the FBI is your brother?" Kouga exclaimed, staring at Inuyasha, stunned. "You run around the streets of LA for years while your brother was running the bureau!?"
"It conveniently happened to slip my mind at the time," the hanyou muttered.
"And its because of his brother that Inuyasha's here now, protecting Kagome from Naraku," Miroku pointed out.
"And you're sure it was Naraku?"
"We've been trailing him for years," Sango told him. "Kagome's the first witness ever."
"I suppose it makes sense. The guy's one of the most popular businessmen in the world. Everyone wants to be his best friend- from the President to mob bosses to terrorist leaders."
Miroku nodded. "The Queen of England doesn't have that much power, yet no one has thought to stop him. 'Sure, we'll give this dude all the money and power in the world, I'm sure he won't try anything stupid'."
Kouga nodded. "Good point. But the question is, why send in the mutt to watch Kagome?"
"That's what I don't get," Kagome agreed.
Inuyasha shrugged. "Don't know. Don't care. I keep the wench alive, claim the benefits, then get rid of her after the trial."
"What!?" Kagome squeaked.
"You heard me," Inuyasha replied, smirking. "At first, I was planning on just getting by and then ditching you at first chance, but after a while, I discovered I just don't like you, so I'm going to do the world a favor and do you in."
"You're one to talk, jerk!" Kagome exploded, temporarily forgetting about the subject of the conversation. "You treat me as if my life means nothing to you!"
"The girl has a brain after all. Miracles do happen."
"I'm failing to see the miracle," Kagome spat. "No matter how many times I close my eyes, you're always still there when I open them."
Miroku leaned over toward Sango. "By now, shouldn't we be keeping score?"
Sango nodded. "Yup. I think it's three to zero, now, in Kagome's favor."
"Why don't you two shut up?" Inuyasha sneered.
"Why don't you two shut up?" Kagome mimicked. "Both your mouth and ego have been overworked, so why don't you give them both a rest?"
"Point four," Miroku whispered.
"I said, hush!" Inuyasha snapped.
"And I said leave them alone!" Kagome returned.
"And what makes you think I'd listen to whatever a weakling little human like you'd have to say?" the hanyou hissed.
"Because I say you had better," Kouga said warningly.
"Oh, look, it's the big bad wolf. I'm so scared."
Kouga smirked. "Rather a big bad wolf than a wimpy little mutt."
Inuyasha growled, flexing his claws. "You wanna bet your life on how wimpy I am?"
"Enough!"
All eyes turned to the new voice that suddenly introduced itself into the conversation. Grandma Kaede stood with her hands planted on her hips, glaring down every person out there.
"Now, I may be an old woman," Kaede began, "but do not doubt that I won't skin you young ones alive for stealing my help just for her to serve as little more than audience to you demons' display of manhood!"
Sango choked back a chuckle. Miroku grinned. "Point to Kaede."
"Kaede, I-" Kouga began guiltily.
"I don't want to hear it," the woman replied sharply. "Kouga, you've got your order, so either you get back to the station or go home. Sango, Miroku, either keep your friend out of trouble, or keep him occupied elsewhere. You know you're welcome here at all times, but trouble like the kind you two are trying to stir up is not. Kagome, if you're done, I need you back in there."
All heads hung low (except for Inuyasha, who merely crossed his arms over his chest and snorted indifferently) and pairs of feet shuffled across pavement to do as they were told. Kaede supervised the movement with a stern face, eyeing all who dared to even hesitate in their procedures.
After everyone else had solemnly left, Kaede gave a Kagome a long look that sent the girl scurrying back into the kitchens.
Kaede paused, making sure everyone else was gone, before allowing herself to smile in satisfaction, slowly sauntering off into the shop.
AN: Okay, so add Kouga to the list of people who know Kagome's "secret". Naturally, more will develop involving Kouga, including his increasing interest in Kagome and Inuyasha's increasing displeasure at the wolf's increasing interest in Kagome.
Review Responses:
chibi moon baby: Thank you very much, and I'm sorry I haven't updated sooner.
Keyo-Red Angel of Hope: well, suffice it to say, I did receive your email about your perceptions, so I thank you...and the whole "Charles" thing, as you put it, will.... well, hopefully not be too complicated.... heh, key word, hopefully..... dot dot dot...
kyoko-the-lonely-demon626: thank you for all of your assistance and for being an awesome reviewer.... you review almost every chapter and make me feel like someone out there actually likes this thing!
Next Chapter: Kagome and Inuyasha fight... several times, you get introduced to Shippo, Kagome is still in the lead and Sango unveals Sesshoumaru's secret identity... hee hee....