A/N: Brand New Chapter, chock full of typos and straight to your living room. I'm BACK.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not Inuyasha. Not any rights to superheroes. Nothing at all but my small dose of talent and a lot of debt to the state of New Jersey.
Dedication: To the people who DIDN'T give me shit for not updating. Thanks for having some human compassion.
Capes and Crusaders
Chapter 2
It was cold that night. Cold and dark. Standing in the six-foot radius of the only lit streetlamp on the street, a lone figure kept a silent vigil at a bus stop. The light did little to peirce the damn darkness around the street, and was more like a target to show where this person stood, but she had come to the conclusion that is was better to be in the safety of the light than to lurk in the darkness with God knew what else.
Sango Nakano huddled in her long black coat, her white breath hanging in the air around her, mingling with the smoke from her lit cigarette.
Smoking was a habit she'd picked up recently, a release for stress.
At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to be snug inside her ratbox apartment, eating a horrible microwave dinner, and watching Wheel of Fortune. But no, she was out here in the frigid weather, waiting at the bus stop for her baby brother to arrive, feeling less and less like a cop and more like Nanook of the North.
Finally the headlights of the bus pierced the heavy dark of the street and it slowed its bulk down beside the curb where Sango waited. She tossed down the butt of her cigarette, stamping it out beneath her boot, and turned toward the open bus doors.
A few people got off: some elderly ladies, a couple with a kid, none who she was looking for. Her heart beat fast, her mind already thinking of the worst, until he stepped down.
A youth, tall and thin as a willow, stepped off the bus with a backpack in his gloved hand. He wore a studded leather jacket, something that went along with his studded face: a nose ring, a lip ring, a bolt through his left eyebrow and one through his tongue. His feet were incased in combat boots, his pants and backpack both made of camo material. Most teenagers took up a sport, or joined a club, Kohaku had gotten a do-it-yourself kit for body piercing. At least he didn't have any tattoos yet.
"Hey, bro," Sango called, smiling hugely. She ran the few steps forward to meet him, feeling giddy.
"Hi, Sango." He broke into his usual sunny grin. Such a sweet boy with such a mean face. "Cold as fuck out here."
"Watch your mouth," she chided, frowning at him before pulling him into a bear-hug. "I haven't seen you since Christmas. I missed you, little brother."
He returned the embrace happily. None of his friends were here to make fun of him for it, not that it had ever stopped him from being affectionate with his sister. Kohaku had always had trouble getting close to people, but never Sango. "I've been busy, doing my thing. And you've been busy, too. Bustin' some bad-guy ass."
She grinned ruefully and shook her head. "I wish it was that easy."
Kohaku slung his backpack over his shoulder and then put his arm around Sango. "Why don't we get out of this weather and eat some trash. We can stay up late and gab like old girlfriends."
"Sure. I've got all the necessities at home."
"Cherry Coke and Oreo cookies?"
"You bet."
Kohaku leaned over and kissed Sango's hair. "How I've missed you!" She laughed, hugging him around the waist again as they walked off toward her apartment.
Sango and Kohaku Nakano had a relationship that people usually saw on television, not because they had wanted it but because of necessity. They had grown up bad.
They were unwanted children. Orphans. Sango had vague memories of their real parents, but they had both died in a car accident when she was seven and Kohaku was less than a year. Since they had no other family, they had been shuffled around from home to shelter. There was neglect. There were fights. And sometimes there was hitting. As a child, Sango learned quickly to keep her head down and her mouth shut. She never had any friends and never really talked. No one cared. There was Kohaku to worry about. He was so small and helpless during those years, and he was all Sango had. She resolved to protect him from the world at all costs.
She'd done her best. Kohaku had grown up admist the same abuse, but Sango always took the hits for him. She'd give him the best hiding places when things got bad. She's say she did anything that he'd done wrong. She'd beat up other kids who'd try to pick on him. He grew up adoring her in almost every way, trusting her and loving her completely. When someone had come along, wanting to adopt one or the other, they refused if they were not together.
There had been worse things that hitting during those years. Things that happened outside on those nights when Sango never wanted to go home. There were memories she never wanted to think about, images of dark faces and cold hands that she wished she could forget. There were some things she couldn't even tell Kohaku.
She had managed to protect Kohaku from the horrors she had endured, and that was the glory of her life. He had given her a reason to live on days when she wanted to die. It gave them a bond stronger than brother and sister, something that transcended blood.
When she turned eighteen, Sango had petitioned social services for custody of Kohaku. She didn't win, but she helped them to place the then ten-year-old with a good family. One that respected her wishes and loved her brother. Now that he was twenty, Sango helped him pay for college, and he spent every vacation with her in the City.
As a cop, Sango saw their scenario a lot more often than she would have liked. It was her main motivation, to fight the world and protect kids like her from the childhood she'd had. Her dream was to change the system from the inside out.
"How's school going?" she asked when they were back at her apartment and thawing out.
"Okay," he admitted. "Been working on some tough assignments, but I'm confident."
"Good," she said with a smile, handing him a hot chocolate. "Any girls yet?"
He blushed and shook his head. "No. Not enough time for girls."
"That's okay. You'll find one soon, little bro." She's be a little sad when he finally went out into the world, find a girl and a career. But that just meant she'd have to do the same.
"What about you? Any guys?" He lifted his brows suggestively. "What about that partner of yours?"
Sango twitched. "Kouga? No way. We're...so not going there." She shivered and made a face.
Kohaku laughed. "Okay. But there's no one else?"
"Not right now." She sipped her own drink and reached for a cookie. "I'm focused on my work. Right now, we're trying to dismantle the biggest gang in the city."
"The one with the bug name, right?"
Sango laughed. "Yeah, the Spiders."
"Good luck." He raised his glass for a toast.
"I'd rather we hope for something more mundane. Like a good visit."
"Afraid of a jinx?"
"You know I'm the superstitious one."
Kohaku grinned and nodded. "Okay, here's to a great weekend."
"I'll drink to that."
They clinked their glasses and drank deeply.
A pair of young men walked along the dark streets of their city, joking and laughing about what they'd done during the day. They were late teens, clean and well-fed, so those who saw them pass knew they weren't boys from the street despite their meager clothing. The taller of the two had a camera around his neck while the smaller carried a backpack that contained their stake-out kit.
One boy was named Souta.
The other, Shippou.
"At least she finally sent us on an assignment today," Souta said with a shrug
"Yeah, to get some photos of a cheating husband. Nothing important." Shippou stuck his hands in his pockets. "I want her to take us on some of the murders or even the government cases!"
"You know she's too paranoid to let us get involved in anything high profile."
"It bites being an assistant."
"Tell me about it."
They were so deep in their conversation that neither boy noticed they were being followed. Or at least they pretended not to notice. It started as one, then two. Soon five large men were trailing them from the alleys, in the dark. All of them wore similar jackets with a spider's insignia in the back. They didn't speak to each other as they stalked the two boys, because they all knew the routine. Pick a target, trail them into a safe location where no one would be around with a hero complex to try and interfere, then beat the target until they couldn't defend themselves. These boys probably had some cash and a card or two on them. Enough for some fun in the slums for the gang members.
"I hate being downtown," the smaller boy sighed, tugging on a piece of red hair.
"Me too. Too many pests on the streets."
"Do you think this plan will really work?"
The boy shrugged and smiled. "If not, I guess we're screwed."
"You're a Precog, can't you tell what's going to happen?" Shippou shot back.
"You know I don't have visions when I'm awake."
"I hate being your best friend."
They turned a corner on to a dark and secluded street. One that they knew was a dead end. The gang members following them blocked the exit of the street, moving in after them. The boy's turned and saw that they were cornered for the first time, but they were not afraid.
"Hey, hand over the cash," one of the bangers said, flexing his arm in a threatening manner.
"We don't have any," Souta said, pulling the insides of his pockets out as proof.
Shippou did the same. "We're just on our way home."
The leader of the bangers was not amused and nodded toward them. "Check them out, boys." The other four smirked and chuckled, advancing on the two boys.
"Uh-oh," Shippou said, sliding the backpack off of his shoulder. "Looks like we're in for some trouble."
"When are we ever not in trouble?" Souta shot back. Both remained calm as the thugs advanced on them. When one grabbed Souta's shoulder, he quickly spun out of the hold and grabbed the man's wrist. "We don't have anything."
The thugs laughed. "Look, he's trying to fight back."
Shippou laughed, backing up a little. "They're making fun of you, Sou."
Souta responded by giving his assailant a swift kick to the jaw, falling backwards and rolling back a few feet. He was up again a second later, pulling the camera off of his neck. "I noticed. But you know, you could help."
"I'm getting to it," Shippou said. He kicked an empty soda can up with the toe of his shoe, grabbing it into his hand. "What did you have in mind?"
The thug had gotten back to his feet then, rubbing his jaw. "That's it!" he growled. "Take them down!" The other four rushed at the boys.
"How about an escape route?" Souta said, feeling nervous. He was good, but he wasn't cocky. Five against two wasn't favorable odds.
Shippou gripped the can in his hand, the aluminum glowing a faint green. Then he tossed it to the ground and there was a flash of light and smoke. There was the sound of shuffling as the bangers ran into the thick of it. They coughed and cursed and groped around for the boys. Meanwhile, they grabbed their belongings and were heading out of the alley mouth.
"Go, go, go!" Souta shouted, seeing that the leader noticed their escape.
"This is as fast as I go!" Shippous shouted back. He hugged the backpack to his chest as he barreled on.
"They're getting away!" the gang-banger shouted. "Get them you idiots!"
"You could have taken them," Shippou said.
"And you could have helped!"
"This is all your fault! You were the one who said 'let's take the shortcut through downtown and try to see the White Dog!' Why the hell do I listen to you?"
Souta was about to reply when he saw a streak of silver in the corner of his eye. "Shippou, look!"
"I don't want to look," Shippou squealed. "I want to enjoy my last few minutes of life!"
"No, you idiot! Look! It's him!" Souta pointed up as the lithe figure of the city's vigilante dropped from the roof of a nearby building and put himself directly between the two boys and the group of bangers. Souta slowed to watch, grinning. "Things are going to get good, now."
Shippou shivered. "We should take the opportunity to, you know, make a get away?"
"And miss the Dog in action?"
"Damn you and your hero-worshipping!"
"Shh, he's talking!"
The gang members had halted when the masked man had appeared. Of course they knew him, everyone in the gang did. It made them apprehensive, but they didn't back down. It was a matter of pride. "Get out of the way," the leader shouted.
He smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. "Make me."
With a war-cry, the five thugs fell on to the slender figure of the hero. Souta held his breath and Shippou grasped, hugging his backpack even tighter. "They're gonna kill him!"
There was a flurry of motion that even Variant eyes had trouble following. The White Dog dodged the initial onslaught, leaping backwards, then he rushed back into the fray. He took out the first banger with a sweeping kick, knocking him off his feet. The second he sent down with an uppercut right into the jaw. One of the others grabbed him from behind, but he slipped out of the hold and elbowed him hard in the gut, following it up with a punch to the side of his head. The leader of the gang, who hung back as he saw his men getting pummeled, just shouted orders as he pulled a gun out from his waistband.
"He's got a gun!" Souta said, noticing it first.
"We've got to do something," Shippou said, tossing down his backpack. Thinking quickly, he grabbed a quarter from his pocket and charged it. "I'll distract him, you get that piece."
Souta cracked his knuckles and braced himself. "Go!"
Shippou hurled his charged metal, which exploded at the feet of the gang leader into a flash of bright light. He cried out, covering his eyes for the brief second. It was all Souta needed to get in there and grab the gun. He then punched the guy in the gut and followed up with a knee to his face, breaking his nose and sending him to the ground.
In the time it took the two boys to disarm the leader, the White Dog had finished off the other four. He came up behind Souta and took the gun out of his hand. "You shouldn't play with guns, boys," he quipped.
Souta pouted. "We weren't playing. We just saved your life."
He smiled behind his mask and patted Souta on the head in a patronizing manner. "I could have handled it."
"Not from where we were standing," Shippou said, hurrying over.
The hero scoffed and frowned at them. "What are you two doing in this part of town after dark anyway? Don't you know it's dangerous?"
Souta pulled himself up. "It's our job."
Shippou nodded and grinned. "We're assistant PIs."
"PIs...like Private Investigators? You?!"
Both boys growled. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," the hero said, holding up his hands and taking a step back. "You just...look like school boys."
"Normally we are," Shippou said. "Which is why we're only assistants."
"We work for a real PI," Souta said, feeling pride in his sister's work. "It's a part-time gig for us."
"It's still dangerous out here, assistant PIs or not." The White Dog got into his lecturing voice. "It's irresponsible of your boss to send you out here by yourselves."
"We can take care of ourselves," Souta said. "We're Variants, after all."
The White Dog started at that. "You're what?"
"Variants." Neither boy showed the least bit of hesitancy to admit it. "Like you."
"And who says I'm a Variant?" The two boys stared at him until he sighed. "Yeah, okay. But it's still dangerous. You two need to be more careful."
Souta smiled and nodded. "Thanks, we'll keep that in mind."
Shippou nudged him. "Come on, Sou. Before Kags freaks out."
Souta nodded. "We, uh, need to get going. But...thanks, White Dog." Both boys beamed at him and waved as they hurried off back to a safer part of town.
Inuyasha watched them go and felt a little proud. He was becoming a role model for other Variants, and it gave him that warm, fuzzy feeling inside, until he squashed it when the leader of the pack groaned and tried to get up. Inuyasha walked over to him and kicked him back down, resting his boot over his chest. "Hey there," he said with a smirk. "What are you doing out here?"
"Bite...me," the man panted, spitting out some blood from a cut lip.
Inuyasha pressed down harder with his foot. "We'll try again. What are you doing here?"
"Kiss...my ass!" he said, spitting blood on to Inuyasha's boot.
The hero cringed and moved his boot to the banger's neck, pinning him down like a bug. "One more time. What are you doing here?"
He writhed, then squealed, "recruiting!"
"Recruiting?" Inuyasha let him breathe, moving his foot back to the man's chest. "Members?"
"Yes," he panted. "We were just gonna jump those little fuckers. They ain't what we're looking for."
"Why are you recruiting now?"
"Cuz half our members have ended up in jail!" he said, glaring.
Inuyasha smirked. "Well, that's their own fault."
"Naraku sent us up to find new members. Replenish."
"Why? What's he planning?"
The banger laughed. "Even if I did know, I'd be dead before I got back...if I breathed a word." Disgusted, Inuyasha removed his foot and growled. Another dead end. He turned and kicked the laughing man in the head, knocking him out cold. Then he went to round up the cops.
Kagome walked into the District Attorney's office with only a slight limp. No one would notice if they weren't watching her closely. She was dressed nicely in her second-hand suit, her hair held back neatly and her bruises cleverly masked, holding a large manilla envelope that contained the information she had gathered. She walked past the front desk with her head held up, not even glancing at the lawyers milling around. Several turned to stare at her as she walked into the DA's office without knocking.
"Always with the entrances," a smooth female voice commented as Kagome closed the door behind her.
"I didn't want to waste time with your receptionist," the PI replied. "Then it might get around why I'm here."
"Smart."
Kagura Deveroux stood up from behind her desk and moved around to the front. She was dressed immaculately in a black and red suit, her hair tied up behind her head. She was tall and slender, with legs that went on forever and a confident smile that could make men sweat. Kagome felt a bit of jealousy when looking at such a professional, beautiful woman, but her feelings for Kagura were mostly those of admiration.
"I got the goods you were looking for," she said, handing the envelope over. "Although the messenger was arrested last night and is probably already singing."
Kagura smiled as she pulled out s few blown up photographs and a cassette tape. "Yes, I heard about your run-in with the Dog."
Kagome snorted. "He'll put me out of a job if he just beats up all the suspects."
The attorney laughed. "He might put them in the cell, but this is going to keep him there. And that little typist bitch too." Her smile was cold. "Thank you for this. You might have just saved my case for me."
"I highly doubt that," Kagome said with a grin. "You're the best."
Kagura nodded. "Too bad I've lost every case I've had against Sesshomaru Morita this year."
"That's because he's dirty," Kagome said fiercely. "Naraku pays off judges and juries. But you make a difference, Kagura."
She smiled and patted Kagome on the shoulder. "Thank you. Sometimes I need a little reminder."
Kagome grinned. "I'm usually available."
Kagura nodded and tossed the envelope down on the desk, picking up a check before handing it to the PI. "Your work is always the best."
Kagome accepted it with a smile. "I do my part."
Kagura hesitated, then looked at the door. "Kagome, I have another job for you." She moved over to the window of her office, closing the blinds, and then made sure her door was locked. "I could never trust it to anyone else, and I need the upmost discretion."
Kagome nodded and sat in one of the chairs facing the desk. "Of course. You know my work is confidential."
The attorney took her seat at the desk again. "It's very important that this remains strictly between you and me. No one else can know, not even your assistants. It's for their protection."
Kagome nodded, leaning forward. This was sure to be dangerous, and the pay would be great. "What is it?"
"I have an informant," she said slowly. "Someone deep in the underground of the Syndicate."
Kagome's blue eyes widened. "You turned a Spider?"
Kagura nodded grimly. "In a manner of speaking. It's...complicated, but unimportant right now. This girl has been vital to more work. Thanks to her, we were able to arrest Kanna and deal a direct blow to Naraku."
"But?"
"I haven't heard from her in almost two weeks, and I'm nervous." Kagura laced her fingers together and sighed. "Normally, she contacts me at least once a week. And I gave her an emergency number, but I'm still worried."
Kagome nodded in understanding. "She's important to your investigation."
"More than that," Kagura said. "This girl is important to me, and I need to know that she's safe."
Kagome smiled. "You want me to find her."
"You're the best. And I trust you."
For Kagome, there was no higher compliment. "I'll do it."
"It'll be dangerous, Kagome. She was deep inside, in the worst circles and the worst part of town."
"I'm familiar with the Pit," Kagome replied. "I've been there several times looking for lost teenagers. What's her name?"
"Rin." Kagura reached into her desk and pulled out a Polaroid photo of herself and a girl no more than eighteen. "Money is no object, of course," Kagura said. Kagome studied the photo. They looked happy, and her heart twinged with pity.
"I'll find her, Kagura. Don't worry."
"Thank you, Kagome."
Inuyasha paced around his room. There were weapons and training materials all over the floor, even though Mirkou had just cleaned that morning. He maneuvered his way around them easily as he stared at the business card in his hand.
Higurashi Investigations.
He grunted and continued to pace. He didn't know why this was bugging him so much. Normally he'd crush people who annoyed him, but that girl had interested him. She had actually yelled at him after he rescued her. That was not your everyday thing. It made him curious about her, in a completely scientific manner.
"You're going to wear a hole in the carpeting if you keep doing that," Miroku commented as he entered the room. He carried in a load of dry cleaning, hanging them in Inuyasha's closet.
"I'm thinking."
"Ah, that's right. You're the kind of guy who can't think without moving." It amused Miroku more than anything.
"Shut up."
Unphased, the butler approached him. "What are you thinking about?"
"Remember a few nights ago, I told you about that girl I saved?"
"Ah, the one who cursed you out?" Miroku grinned, perching himself on Inuyasha's bed and folding his arms. "I like her already. What about her?"
"She dropped a business card during her grand escape." He waved it at the butler. "I'm thinking about how I can get her back for insulting me."
Miroku blinked violet eyes. "Insulting you? Just because she didn't want to be rescued?"
Inuyasha snorted. "I went through the trouble and she didn't even say thanks. It pisses me off."
Miroku was even more amused now. "Aw, I think someone has a crush."
Inuyasha growled. "You want to get fired?"
"You can't fire me," Miroku said casually, yawning. "No one else would put up with you." Inuyasha huffed, crossing his arms. "Don't pout."
"I'm not. I am indignantly ignoring you."
"Okay, well, you can ignore me after you tell me what you want for dinner. The meeting was pushed back until eight, so the board only wants drinks with you."
Inuyasha groaned. "But I was going to patrol early tonight."
"It's hard running a multi-billion dollar corporation," Miroku commented. "Sometimes you have to put your other activities on hold."
"Don't lecture me."
"Just an observation."
Inuyasha grunted. "They were pretty mad that I left the dinner early last week."
"Yes."
"I guess I can go for a few hours."
"That would be best."
Inuyasha trudged over to his dry cleaning, grumbling at the tuxedo that Miroku had laid out for him, anticipating his answer. "You know me too well."
"I know," Miroku said with a grin. "So what are you going to do about that girl?"
Inuyasha fiddled with the card, and then smirked. "Maybe I'll hire her."
Kagome puzzled over her new case, wondering how she was going to make excuses to the boys about why she was going to the Pit alone. She promised Kagura she wouldn't tell anyone, and it really was safer that no one else knew about it. Still, they were assistant PIs, and a secret was a hard thing to keep in the office.
"Uh, Kags?"
She looked up quickly from her desk, closing the file. "What's up, Shippou?"
The red-head looked behind him nervously. "There's this guy out here who wants to talk to you."
"A customer?"
"I don't know. He said he won't talk to anyone but you." Shippou leaned in a littler further and finished in a whisper. "He's in a suit and carrying a briefcase, definately not our kind of people."
Kagome nodded. "Still, he might be offering a check. Send him in."
Shippou nodded and headed out, and a minute later, a tall man in a black suit walked in. His hair was as black as the suit, and his eyes were dark violet. He was handsome, and he smiled politely at her. "Miss Higurashi?"
"Yes, that's me." Kagome got up from her desk and offered him a chair, shaking his hand. "Welcome to my office. How can I be of service to you?"
"My name is Mirkou Baudelaire and I represent Mr. Inuyasha Hitoshi. He wishes to hire you for a private job."
Kagome sat hard in her chair, staring at him. "You mean...the Inuyasha Hitoshi?"
"Yes."
"The billionaire?" Shippou piped in.
"The multi-billionaire?" Souta chorused.
Both boys were eavesdropping at the crack in Kagome's door. Frowning, she quickly got up and shut it. "My assistants. They're nosy, and are obviously finished with all their other work!" They grumbled and headed back to their desks. Kagome blushed and headed back to her own. "I'm terribly sorry."
Miroku smiled and shook his head. "Please, it's not trouble. They obviously look out for you."
Kagome smiled. "Yeah. My little brothers." Then she straightened in her chair. "Now, what is this job you mentioned?"
Miroku grinned and placed his briefcase on the desk. "Several years ago, when my employer's parents were still living, an heirloom was stolen from their home and has never been recovered. Recently, we have heard good things about your company."
Kagome blushed darkly. "I had no idea that my reputation reached anyone like Mr. Hitoshi." She felt her heart soar to think of it. "He wants me to try and find this heirloom for him?"
"Yes. Over the years, he's hired several investigators to try and find it, but there has been no luck."
Kagome took on a serious expression, determined now to prove that she was worth the hype. "What kind of item is it? Jewelry?"
"A sword, actually." Miroku produced a photograph and passed it to Kagome. "Mr. Hitoshi's father had it custom created the day that he was born, and it has enormous value."
Kagome stared at the picture. "It's very beautiful. How was it stolen?"
"A professional job. Nothing else was taken from the home during a break-in, just that sword."
Kagome nodded and placed the picture down. "Before I accept any job, there are a few routine questions I need to ask."
Miroku smiled and nodded. "Of course."
Kagome cleared her throat. "It must be understood that my office contains only my assistants and myself, so our manpower is limited. Is there any kind of time limit before the job is revoked?"
Miroku shook his head. "Of course, Mr. Hitoshi would appreciate speed, but we have no set limit."
Kagome nodded, pleased. "I have to inquire after a level of danger for this job. I reserve the right to cancel a job mid-way if I judge it to be too dangerous for myself or my assistants. Is that a problem?" Granted, she had never turned down a job because of danger. She usually just kept the boys out of it.
"Of course, we would never ask you to engage in something you judge unacceptable."
"On that note, I want to be up front with the fact that I don't break the law, or condone it in any form."
Miroku smiled. "That is very admirable of you, Miss Higurashi. I know that my employer would appreciate your sense of justice."
Kagome smiled, and then colored a bit. "Lastly, there is the question of payment."
Miroku broke into a grin. "Naturally. Mr. Hitoshi offers a reward of fifty thousand dollars with the return of his sword. In the event that you don't find it, he will offer compensation to any expenses you might have accumulated for his case."
Kagome felt her jaw drop and tried to recover herself. "D-did you...fifty grand?"
Miroku laughed and nodded. "Yes."
Kagome swallowed and nodded dumbly. "T-tell Mr. Hitoshi that I will consider his offer...and I'll get back to you tomorrow."
Miroku nodded and rose, removing a few other things from his briefcase. "This is some of the information that was gathered by other investigators. Please look that over before making your decision."
Kagome accepted it. "I will." Then she shook his hand and led him toward the door. "I think there is a high probability that I will accept this job."
Miroku smiled and nodded his head. "He had the feeling you would. Have a good evening, Miss Higurashi." He shook her hand again and saw himself out.
"Did we hear right?" Souta asked, looking up from the desk where he was pretending to do work.
"Fifty...thousand dollars?" Shippou asked. There were still stars in his eyes. "That's enough to pay off Sou and my tuition for two years!"
"I've got to do it," Kagome said with a nod. "How could I say no to that?"
The boys nodded and grinned, but Kagome wasn't smiling. If other investigators, probably ones with more experience and training than she had, had failed, it wasn't going to be easy. Still, she doubted any of those others had her Variant ability or tenacity.
"You can do it, Kags!" Souta cheered.
"Yeah, you've never lost a case yet," Shippou encouraged.
"And I'm not about to start now."
As they talked over what they would do to get started, Miroku exited the office on the bottom floor. He pulled a cell phone out of his suit and dialed the number of his employee, smiling a little. "It was like you thought. I have every confidence that she'll do it."
"Excellent. There's no way she'll find it."
"You don't know. She might surprise you."
A/N: Yes, an update. You are not seeing things. I hope to get a WF chapter up and out by the end of the month, or maybe early June. I've been tinkering with it for a few weeks now.