Chapter Two
The resistance had changed since Kagome's parents started it decades ago. The group used to stand for justice and liberty and fought against the atrocities of Naraku. But now, after keeping surveillance of the group for so long, Kagome was confused by what she saw. First of all, they went by 'The Militia' now and Kagome couldn't tell what they stood for. They just seemed like glorified pirates. Miroku had traced numerous incidents of stolen goods back to the group but there was no rhyme or reason. They hijacked semi trucks, infiltrated cargo ships and even ransacked airplane hangers. Miroku was never able to find what they took or but the two just assumed they were items with high monetary value. All while the people of the Shikon community were still suffering, humans and youkai, and The Militia wasn't doing enough. If they were stealing from the rich, shouldn't they redistribute the wealth back to the poor? All Robin Hood style or whatever?
Despite all the negatives, they did have power-connections-and she needed those to find someone.
Moving back to the city of Shikon was step one of her plan. Miroku and her found a suitable apartment in the downtown area within walking distance to Slayers. That was step two of the plan. Although the leader of The Militia was impossible to track down, the high ranking members were not. Sango Taijiya: daughter of the owner of Slayers (the most popular nightclub in the city) and potentially the second in command for the organization. Sango spent enough time at the bar, helping run the family business, that Kagome knew that was her way in. Kagome also knew it was a central location for other members and Militia-related activities. When they posted a job listing for a bartender, Kagome knew the stars were aligning.
Kagome aced the interview process. Miroku had helped pad her resume with fake references and letters of recommendations and she spent hours learning how to make different cocktails. Kagome didn't drink herself but Miroku was happy to taste test her concoctions. It probably wouldn't have mattered because Mr. Taijiya loved her from the get go. He was a sweet man in his sixties (didn't seem like the type to run a nightclub at all) and Kagome appreciated his quick wit. He spoke of his children Sango, his oldest, and Kohaku. Both helped out around the club, Sango acting as general manager while Kohaku was more interested in the bartending side. He was only twenty-two so his father wasn't surprised.
"Sango is just going to love you, I know it!" Kagome sure hoped so. Her whole plan was kind of riding on it.
It had taken one months to befriend Sango and only two more to really earn her trust. For a high ranking member of a secret gang-like organization, she really couldn't keep her mouth shut. Sango spilled the beans to Kagome one afternoon while they were filling the shelves in the stock room.
"Did your brother tell you about that asshole who was in here last night?" Kagome asked, while opening a new shipment of tequila.
"Yes! I'm so sorry that happened to you. Kohaku said you handled yourself really well though."
"Sango, I punched the guy in the throat." Kagome deadpanned, a bottle in each hand.
Sango just laughed, "Yeah that's 'handling it well' in my opinion."
"I thought I was going to lose my job!"
"Oh please, Dad would have high five you if he were there. What did the guy even say to you?"
"I had just finished making a bunch of drinks for Ayame when this shithead chimes in with, 'Can I get some service here or are you just going to spread your legs for all these fucking demons?'"
Sango froze at the vulgar insult, "Holy shit. Kohaku left that part out."
"Yeah well he wouldn't have heard the jerk over the music. I could tell Ayame was about to step in when I told the guy he wasn't welcome in our establishment anymore and told him to get the fuck out." Kagome continued to stock the shelves as if she were talking about the weather.
Sango, however, was enthralled by the recount of what happened, "And then what?"
"He called me a fucking cunt and said he hoped I got raped by every dirty-blooded demon in the place."
Sango audibly gasped, "Fucking hell! That when you punched him?"
"That's when I punched him." Kagome replied casually with a shrug. "I can't believe these bigots just walk around town spouting their racist bullshit like it's ok. I wish I could take them all down."
Sango looked at Kagome with contemplation in her eyes. The asshat from the night before was no issue for Kagome, and it felt good to take some aggression out on someone filled with that much hate. Kagome turned back to the shelves but hoped this would be the thing that really got Sango to tell her about The Militia. Sango stopped what she was doing and grabbed Kagome's hand. She dragged her back into the walk in freezer. Kagome instantly started rubbing her arms trying to warm herself up, "What the hell Sango?"
"Ok. I think you would be a great candidate for this...group I'm a part of."
Yes, this is it. "Ok…" Kagome feigned suspicion.
"It's kind of underground. And...maybe not so legal…"
"'Not so legal' as in drug running? Or like beating up racist assholes in back alleys? Because I'm not into the drug thing but I can definitely get on board with some ass kicking."
"No drugs, and more sophisticated than back alley brawls."
"Ok, so I might be interested in something like that. But I'll need some more details."
"Let me talk to my people and I'll let you know."
That conversation was two months ago. And Kagome was growing impatient. She did her best not to bring up the topic, fearing she would seem too eager and therefore suspicious. So Kagome just kept working her shifts at Slayers by night and trained with Miroku in the day. She also continued to grow closer to Sango and other regular customers at Slayers that Miroku had confirmed were Militia members.
Surprisingly, Sango was actually a good person. That was not what Kagome was expecting from what she knew about The Militia. Sango was selfless and kind and it made Kagome feel slightly bad about lying to her. She felt even worse when Miroku would come around Slayers and hit on the woman. But Sango could handle herself. Kagome took solace in the fact that most of what she told Sango was the truth. They're discussions about life and morality and politics were authentic and Kagome never laughed harder than when Sango got going on one of her drunken stories. Miroku had been Kagome's only friend and confidant for so long, having a woman to talk to was refreshing.
Then, one morning, Sango texted her asking her to meet her in an hour with a location attached. She told Kagome to dress in workout clothes.
Her phone map took her to a location on the edge of town in an industrial district. The row Kagome was driving down looked run down and mostly abandoned. When her GPS announced she had arrived, Kagome couldn't see Sango's car parked anywhere. Using her reiki, she scanned the buildings for anyone she knew. She immediately recognized Ayame's youki and one other demon, a strong one she had not met yet, coming from the warehouse to her left. She assumed Sango was there too but without any identifiable energy of her own, Kagome couldn't be sure. But Ayame was a friend, and a member of The Militia, so Kagome got out of her car.
Kagome was happy to see Sango and Ayame standing at a table across the open floor from the door she had just walked through. The pair turned and greeted her. The second demonic aura was coming from somewhere above Kagome, on the second floor of the warehouse. Kagome casually looked around and pinpointed the youki in the shadows of one of the corners. She did not let her eyes linger to give away her knowledge. Ayame would have easily sensed it too, and if she wasn't worried, neither was Kagome.
"Think of this as your first test. Pick anything from the table." Sango waved her hand at the items covering the tabletop. Katanas, knives, axes, even brass knuckles.
"You can't be serious. And I'm going to do what? Stab Ayame?" Kagome was good at playing the innocent little flower but honestly she was intrigued by this recruitment process.
"You'd be lucky if you could get that close to me Kags." Ayame smirked confidently walking to the center of the mat lining the floor.
"I do love a challenge. Ok let's go." Kagome grabbed two daggers and slipped two throwing knives into her waistband when neither girl was looking. "Any ground rules I should know?"
"You both have to stay within the perimeter of the mat," Sango gestures to the large wrestling mat Ayame was already stretching on. It was probably a twenty by twenty foot square with a large white circle painted on it. "Your goal is to draw blood from Ayame. Her's is to render you unconscious. But hopefully you would tap before that happened."
"Seems fair. Ayame, any place you don't want me to aim for?" Kagome chidded at the woman as she stepped up onto the mat.
"The face is the money maker but I'll let it slide this one time." She gave a grin that accentuated her wolfish features.
The fight started with a clap of Sango's hands. Kagome waited at her side of the mat, she knew Ayame had to get close to her if she wanted to knock her out. And even though Ayame was a wolf youkai, Kagome was only slightly weaker than her in overall strength. It was her speed that was going to be the problem. Ayame was fast. Kagome's reiki helped anticipate Ayame's moves but if she couldn't get a shot off it would be all for nothing.
Ayame striked first, just as Kagome expected. She did her best to dodge the woman's punches but soon she took on a more defensive stance. Ayame was close enough to cut but Kagome was never given the opportunity to grab her dagger. Instead she opted for kicks and punches. Few landed, but they had enough force behind them that Ayame was affected. The two continued for far too long and sweat was dripping down Kagome's neck. She could tell Ayame was holding back and it was annoying her. The next time Ayame stepped back, Kagome pulled out one of the knives and flashed it. Either Ayame was going to step her game up or Kagome was going to finish this test. Kagome lunged forward, trying to make the redhead react. Ayame went for Kagome's right arm that held the knife; she gripped her forearm, ducked under her and pinned it behind Kagome's back. Ayame's other arm curled around Kagome's throat, cutting off her air supply. Exactly what she wanted. Kagome's left arm was still free and went up to grab the back of Ayame's head. She threw her weight forward, bent over and flipped the wolf over to land on her back on the mat. With Kagome standing over her. The wind leaving Ayame's lungs was enough of a distraction that Kagome was able to slice the knife across the wolf's arm. Blood pooled from the laceration and Ayame cursed. Kagome took a few steps back from Ayame and steadied her breathing.
Wiping the blood from the cut, Ayame narrowed her eyes and gave a determined snarl, "Best two out of three?"
Ayame didn't go easy on her the second time around. Her barrage of punches and kicks sent Kagome retreating backwards until she came to the edge of the mat. Not wanting to step off of the boundary, Kagome was off balance and tried to duck under Ayame to the open space. But Ayame caught Kagome with an elbow to her shoulder blades. Kagome stumbled and it was all Ayame needed to secure her dominance on top of her friend's back. Kagome was pinned with her face in the mat. She could feel Ayame's knees pressing into her biceps immobilizing her upper body. Kagome's only hope was trying to flip the wolf with her legs but Ayame was too strong. Her arms caged Kagome's head and she could feel her vision blurring. Begrudgingly, she tapped the mat with the back of her hand. Ayame released the woman and stepped back grinning.
Kagome took a moment to regain her bearings. Shaking her head to clear the fuzziness, Kagome looked over at Sango. She hadn't moved from her position ten or so feet from the mat. Her arms were folded with one hand covering her mouth. If this was Kagome's tryout to be accepted into The Militia, she couldn't fuck it up.
Kagome knew she could easily win if she used her reiki. She also knew it was fairly difficult to simultaneously use her spiritual energy and shield it. But that's what she trained for. She did not want Sango, Ayame or the hidden youkai above her to know of her miko abilities. As Ayame circled her, Kagome released a minute amount of her energy to flow from her center down into her arms and legs. When Ayame was in Kagome's blind stop, she pounced. And Kagome was ready for her. She dodged her claws and kicked her leg out. Her foot hit the side of Ayame's knee with a satisfying crunch. Ayame's bright green eyes shot daggers at Kagome.
"No hard feelings right?" Kagome taunted.
Anger clouded Ayame's judgement and her technique suffered. Playing right into Kagome's hand again. Ayame clearly wasn't a seasoned fighter. But Sango must have thought her youkai blood would be enough of a challenge for Kagome. She was sloppy now and Kagome was able to land multiple hits weakening her even more. Taking the opportunity to grab her knife again, Kagome smirked at Ayame's frustration. She ran at Ayame, being sure to stick to her injured side. Just as Kagome was bringing the blade down, Ayame jumped over her head. Turning quickly, expecting an ambush, Kagome was confused to see the mat empty. She could still feel Ayame's youki near but she no longer stood on the mat with her. A laugh from above her drew Kagome's eyes upward.
"You still in the perimeter of the mat?" Kagome asked indifferently.
"I am." Ayame was hanging from a rafter forty feet above Kagome, her legs swinging teasingly. "What's the matter Kags, why don't you-UH." Ayame's sentence was cut off by a loud grunt. Which was due to the small knife lodged into her thigh. Ayame released her grip on the metal beam falling back down to the floor and landing across from Kagome. It was clear she was favoring her right leg. The wolf demon yanked the knife from her left thigh and examined it. The weapon was slender, perfectly balanced and made of black steel. There was a finger ring at the end of the handle and when Ayame looked back to Kagome, she was twirling an identical knife around her index finger with a confident smirk on her face.
Ayame ran her tongue over her fangs and flared her nostrils, "I'm heading to the bathroom to clean up." She gritted out. "Good fight Kags." She added as she walked away.
Kagome turned to Sango and walked towards the table to deposit her borrowed weapons.
"You think she's mad at me?"
"If anything, she's mad at herself. She knows she's got work to do."
"So...did I pass?"
"I'll talk to my superiors and let you know."
Kagome rolled her eyes, finding it hard to hide her irritation. "You've gotta be fucking with me Sango. You bring me to a shady ass warehouse, make me fucking stab my friend and then nothing? I don't know about this shit." Kagome turned to leave, hoping her bluff would draw more information out the girl.
"Ok! Ok!" Sango's voice called out.
Kagome turned back to Sango just in time to see the other woman shoot a glance to the shadowed corner where the hidden youkai was.
"Let's sit." Sango gestured to the mat. Avoiding the bloodied spots, the two friends sat down across from each other.
"We've discussed human and demon segregation in length. We've discussed social justice and political corruption. And you've mentioned a few times you wish you could do something about it all. Well, this group...we do something." Kagome stayed silent, wanting more. Sango continued, "It's an old organization. My father was a part of the founding members decades ago and he instilled the core values into Kohaku and I as we grew up. And you seem to share those values. They fought against Naraku back then and sadly, we're still fighting him today."
Kagome's body was on fire. Sango's father was a founding member. That means he knew her parents. Kagome knew he wasn't the one who murdered them but maybe he had answers. This was her first real break. And then there was Naraku. So The Militia did stand for something. Maybe all those heists were to thwart Naraku's plans. That would be pretty amazing if you asked her. And something she could get behind.
"You know how I feel about Governor Naraku. If you're trying to take him down, sign me up."
"So it's a little more complicated than that."
Kagome sighed in agitation.
"Today was a step in the right direction. You greatly exceeded our expectations. But there is a process for these things. And I should tell you…your official initiation...if you choose to accept…" Sango grimaced and broke eye contact with her friend.
"What?" Kagome asked. Did she have to get a tattoo? Kill someone?
"You have to sleep with an active member."
Oh.
