Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha and the rest of the gang, but oh how I love to warp their world!

Chapter 4 The Boneshaker

The Doctor was the first to get her alone. He worked too quickly in Kagome's opinion, removing her bandages, cleaning up the blood that had indeed gone everywhere, recovering the wounded flesh and then he gently applied a salve to her cheek that eased the pain and reduced the swelling all at once. "You'll be as good as new in a few hours, the salve should keep the swelling and pain down but it may still be red. Your leg has stopped bleeding, but you really need to lie off of it for a while. I suggest low activity for at least a week."

He obviously didn't know she was on a time crunch and there was no time to be lazing around the house. "Yes, doctor. Thank you for coming to see me."

"You are welcome, just try and be more careful. You hurt yourself more than the circus performers I tend to." He smiled at her laugh and then left. Miroku was the first through the door and his anger was evident.

"You are going to tell me exactly what happened, and if you leave something out I'm going to put a gadjet on you that I can track so I know where you are at all times." Miroku wasn't really her big brother, but he was her protector and she appreciated his worry and respected his words.

"I spoke to Naraku, he promised us five days. I have a plan for finding out where the Jewel is." She was forcing herself up in the bed wanting to walk around, pacing always made her feel better.

"Kagome, when did you talk to Naraku?" He seethed, pushing her back into the mattress.

"He took me by surprise. I was on my way back from returning Lady Rin's lorgnette. I talked him into giving us two more days. And we got invited to Lady Rin's home this Saturday, it's perfect. We can search the house while we're there and until then I'm going to use my injury against the Marquis. I will get as close to him as I can in order to find out about the jewel." Her plans were still not perfectly thought out but the medicines the doctor had given her were making her brain slow.

"You aren't going to be spending any time with the Marquis, he's shot you and backhanded you all within one day, forget it. And on top of that you are not going anywhere alone ever. I have something for you, rather someone for you." Miroku pulled something from his pocket, it was tiny and he dropped it on the floor before flipping a switch. The gadget came to life expanding until it was the size of a small boy with a tail and tiny fang modifications. He had a head full of shocking orange hair and a smile that lit up his face with innocence.

"What is it?" Kagome eyes took in the boy with a frown.

"I call him Shippo, he's basically me, only different. He's uploaded with all of my memories and thoughts so he'll always be there to keep you in line." Miroku smiled at his robotic boy genius. "Not to mention his other attributes."

Kagome just groaned. If one Miroku was bad two was just plain evil. "Miroku, this isn't right, I don't want—what did you call it?"

"Shippo, his name is Shippo." Miroku scolded her.

"Right, I don't want Shippo following me around everywhere, I can't protect him too!" Although she would admit the small boy was quite adorable as he smiled up at her.

"You don't have to protect him. He's going to protect you." Miroku didn't let her argue she just had to accept this condition. "He goes everywhere you go, he has a stealth mode, a combat mode, and he doesn't talk unless you speak to him."

"How kind of you." Kagome muttered. "Hi Shippo nice to meet you." But Kagome found it impossible to hate the little boy as her greeting brought him to life. He jumped up onto the bed still smiling broadly at her and introduced himself. He was a happy, excited little boy but he had Miroku's intelligent eyes.

"This won't be so bad." Kagome decided, and she could always lock him in a closet if she needed to ditch him. "How do we explain his presence though?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something." Miroku winked leaving her. Sango was next and her aggression was only the half of it. Miroku must have told her—in the five minutes of silence as she waited for her next guest—that she had run into Naraku.

"What did he do to you? I want to hear it all." She paused looking at Shippo who had cuddled into the bed next to Kagome. "Who's this?"

"This is Shippo, my new guard dog." Kagome smiled and patted the boy's head still deciding on a story to tell everyone.

"I see. Miroku's idea?" Kagome nodded at Sango's question. "Now spill what did he say and how much torture do I need to inflict on him?"

"He didn't want to give the extension, but I convinced him to give us two more days." Her finger found the spot on her cheek where his nail had dug in and she shivered in disgust. She told Sango about her plan to search the Duke's house when they were there Saturday and her plot to con the Marquis into telling her its location. "He has to know something about it. I'm betting my money that his brother has it in his possession."

"Then why not work that angle, Lady Rin would be easier to interrogate, she adores you." Sango reminded her or rather she was trying to keep her away from the Marquis.

"Yes, but I like Lady Rin, and I don't think she knows about the jewel. It's not something a husband would tell his wife." Kagome commented again she moved to sit up in bed and Shippo proceeded to give her the same look Miroku had. "Can it." She muttered running her hand through Shippo's flaming hair.

"Look, all I'm saying is I don't want you alone with that man, he's shot you and slapped you all in—" Sango got stopped by Kagome cutting in.

"In one day yeah, yeah, you sound just like Miroku." Kagome rolled her eyes drawing a small giggle from the boy beside her. "And besides I have this little guy, he's going to follow me everywhere."

"He doesn't look that impressive to me." Sango glanced down at the little boy with a skeptical frown.

"Shippo you tell her what you can do." She listened to Shippo list and explain his attributes and skills. Sango was in awe Kagome noted when she looked up from the boy.

"Are you satisfied?" She beamed at Sango and then at Shippo. "I think I'm ready to sleep now, we will go for a ride as soon as sunrise is here."

"Take another pain killer please. Koga wants to speak with you. Oh and hide the boy." Sango advised turning to leave. Shippo offered Kagome her pain pills and then obediently hid behind her changing shade as she advised him. Pulling the covers up around she hoped they would give her something to hide behind. His questions were going to be the hardest.

He came in with a scowl. "What are you doing up? Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"I thought you wanted to speak with me." She didn't like being on his bad side and she didn't dare meet his gaze.

"You need to rest, I spoke with Dr. Steel. He told me that your leg was injured further. What happened Kagome? Tell me." He sat next to her on the bed and ran his fingers over her injured cheek, it didn't hurt like it had and as the doctor had promised the redness and swelling went down.

"I fell, that's all." She murmured feeling bad for all the lies she was telling him when he really was such a good friend.

"You know I don't believe that for a second. Why do you lie to me?" His words weren't mean or upset, just confused.

"I wish I could explain—it's just too complicated, okay? There's too many things you don't know, and it's safer that way, please just trust me." She sat up and took his hands squeezing them in her own.

"You know I trust you, and you know I'm not stupid. I know Miroku isn't your brother, and I know he doesn't do research." His eyes held hers seriously. "Just please don't do anything risky." He leaned down and kissed her hard before leaving in a rush.

She pursed her lips with this new information and the new level of intricacies that she had to deal with. "Shippo, you can come out now." She called to the boy. He jumped back onto the bed and watched and waited for her to sleep, keeping watch by her side. "Wake me when the sun rises." She murmured drifting off to sleep at last.

Shippo was gone when Kagome woke hours later. It was well past sunrise and Kagome was furious. She hurried to dress and went to look for the boy, he was probably off somewhere causing mischief. Obviously he had a few flaws. She would have to speak with Miroku since he wasn't doing his job and staying by her side at all times. Kagome checked the hall and Sango's quarters but both were empty. She tapped lightly on Miroku's door but there was only silence inside. She was heading for the stairs when Koga stepped out from his room.

"Up so soon?" He greeted her politely seeming to forget their dispute earlier. "I thought for sure those pills would keep you out for the rest of the day. Breakfast is being served. Would you like help down the stairs?"

She couldn't very well refuse his offer and so she took his arm and they headed to the breakfast table. "Have you seen a small boy running around?"

"Have you lost one?" Koga asked raising an eyebrow in her direction.

"Actually I have. His name is Shippo." She couldn't lie to Koga about everything after all. "He was made for me by Miroku, a present meant to keep me safe."

"Miroku is making little boys now?" Koga pursed his lips at this bit of information. "Seems like he's making progress in his work."

"Not really, this boy was supposed to wake me at sunrise so I could go for a ride with Sango, instead he disappeared from my room and now I've lost him." Kagome grumbled as they hit the landing. She glanced around her in search of the boy.

"Perhaps Miroku knows where he is." Koga offered leading her to the breakfast room.

"I don't think telling him I lost the boy who was supposed to be permanently attached to my hip is going to fly with him." Koga laughed at her words making her grumble to herself. "Don't laugh at me, I'm perfectly serious. Also, how am I supposed to explain him to everyone? I mean isn't it a bit odd to have a small boy following one around?"

"Indeed, quite odd." He affirmed as a footman opened the doors for them. He helped her to her seat then took the one next to her. "Perhaps you can ask him to keep his distance and then everyone will just assume you have a stalker."

This Kagome laughed at. "Perhaps I can. That would certainly make me feel much better."

"Where is Shippo?" Miroku stepped through the doors and instantly noticed the missing boy.

"He's disappeared, it isn't my fault." Kagome claimed taking up her fork and starting in on her first plate of Danishes. She'd missed quite a few meals over the past few days and was just starting to feel her hunger.

"How is it that you lost a small boy?" Miroku wondered sitting down across from them.

"She didn't lose him, I took him out to test out his skills. He is quite impressive, and plus he said Kagome wanted him to wake her at dawn and I had no intention of letting that happen." As Sango entered she winked at Kagome who was glaring up at her like the traitor that she was.

Shippo crawled into the seat next to Kagome and Sango took the seat by Miroku. "Sango tried to kill me." The boy grunted as he pulled a sausage onto his plate.

"Since when do robots eat? And since when do you speak without me speaking to you?" Kagome frowned down at the boy and across to his maker.

"I may have altered his brain a bit this morning." Sango shrugged innocently.

"You mean corrupted? You can fix this can't you Miroku?" Kagome finished off her Danish and sipped at her milk.

"I'm afraid it's unfixable. Sango is my weakness and therefore his." Miroku's confession brought a blush to Sango's face that was enough of a consolation prize for Kagome.

"Wait. He and you are of the same mindset?" Leaning across the table for a roll Koga gave Miroku a warning glance.

"Yup, same thoughts and same smarts." He smiled sheepishly and Kagome could tell he was enjoying himself.

"Uh huh, Kagome is safer with someone who doesn't think like you do." Koga was right on that one, but there was nothing Kagome could do. Being in Koga's presence all the time would only enrage the rumors of their relationship and besides Koga wasn't in on the scheme.

The butler interrupted their conversation as he went to Koga and handed him a small card. "Lady Rin wishes to go riding with Lady Kagome and Lady Sango."

Koga held the card in his hand and kept his eyes trained on the black lettering then nodded. "If that is okay with them." He turned his questioning glance to Kagome raising his brows uncertainly.

"Of course we'll go. Would you have the stable boy bring round our horses, and one for Shippo here?" Kagome knew without the boy Miroku wasn't going to let her out of the house.

"Of course madam." Bowing he left and Kagome rose from her chair.

"I must go change. Sango? Could you come help me up the stairs?" She left Shippo behind and laughed as Koga muttered about taking out the stairs.

"Do you think Lady Kikyo is with her?" Sango took her arm and they made it to the top in no time.

"Possibly." Kagome returned to her room and changed making sure to add a new hat to her head. Sango went to her room to do the same. Before she left she took one more pill and applied a bit more of the salve that the doctor had left. Her cheek felt good enough but she didn't want to risk upsetting the duchess.

"Where do you think we are going? It's quite chilly outside, perhaps we'll go for tea at Mainspring." Sango speculated as they hurried back down the stairs. They retrieved Shippo before bidding the men farewell and heading off with Lady Rin—who was not alone but also not accompanied by Lady Kikyo.

"My Lord." Kagome bobbed a small curtsy as the Marquis dismounted his horse in order to help her onto her own.

"Please don't call me that, it is the title my brother goes by and he loves so much. You may call me InuYasha." He sat her in her saddle with little effort and smiled up at her appraising her cheek with a nod of approval.

"Well, I wasn't expecting you to be out riding with us this morning." Kagome commented lightly feeling the strain of her little body guard. "This is Shippo, he is a cousin of mine and my ward for a short time while his parents are away to the Americas. There has been a tragedy within the family and he is too young for travel. They worry over his health and so I offered to keep him."

Lady Rin was all too happy to accept the boy on their journey. "That is kind of you Lady Kagome. You are looking quite lovely today and I see your doctor is an excellent one at that." Her smile was contagious and Kagome found herself smiling in return. She noted that the duchess was wearing a new hat today too. She supposed sometime during their ride the girl would want to exchange them. Kagome would wait for her signal instead of bringing it up herself.

"Lady Rin where is it we are going? Have you heard of Mainspring? They serve excellent tea. Perhaps if it gets too cold we can stop there." Kagome laughed at Sango, who so hated the cold. She would try all morning to get them inside to the warmth. As her friend looked over she knew she was none too thrilled at having the Marquis along.

"That sounds lovely Lady Sango, perhaps after a jaunt through the park we shall stop." Lady Rin was all too obliging and as they took off Kagome glanced behind her and noticed Koga standing in the doorway with a blank expression on his handsome face.

"Lady Kagome, I love your hat." It appeared Lady Rin was going to start the game today.

Kagome had a feeling InuYasha was only along as a guard dog. Although she had never met the Duke Kagome imagined he was a bit possessive—especially with such a lovely young wife. "I thought you might like this one. I quite adore yours. I might have to steal it from you." She offered the Duchess a wink as she giggled.

Kagome kept the conversation light and found that for once Sango had something to talk about. She complained about the weather quite ardently. InuYasha humored her asking her just why she didn't like the snow, and then asked why she insisted on staying here if she didn't like the weather. That seemed to shut her up and then Kagome had to fill the silence—until Lady Rin got their approval for escape.

"Shippo stay with Sango." She whispered as the Duchess gave her the nod she'd been waiting for. She knew Sango wouldn't pursue them, she hated to gallop.

"We'll be back." Glaring at InuYasha meaningfully the Duchess then kicked her horse into a trot and then into a gallop, Kagome was close on her tail.

They raced hard and long until they felt they'd given themselves enough distance. Slipping off their mounts they led them off the trail and among the trees. Leaving the horses to graze in the grass they sat gently on the ground careful not to stain their dresses. "I'm sorry I had to bring him. I'm sorry if it upsets you. It's just that Sess-my husband he doesn't like me out alone and he doesn't trust my maids to keep up with me."

"It's alright. I'm not upset by it. Perhaps I should get to know him better anyway if we are to be close friends." Working this angle might get her the information she needed, Kagome thought for a moment.

"Oh that's wonderful Kagome!" Lady Rin reached forward and hugged her earnestly. "Now, I must try on that hat!"

Kagome grinned and pulled the ribbon under her chin releasing the hat from her head. The pins pulled free cascading her hair down her back. Lady Rin was unpinning her own hair away from her hat. She helped get her own on Kagome first pinning it in place and pulling her long hair around one shoulder. "You are so lovely."

"Thank you, you are quite beautiful yourself." Kagome winked leaning up to perch the hat on her head and tie the ribbon under her chin. Her small face tilted up and her lips split into a grin.

"I hope you stay here forever Kagome. Although I may run out of hats if we do this on a daily basis." She admitted lifting her hands to feel where the hat sat on her hair.

"Then we start trading back, until we each have our own collection back." Kagome brushed her finger through her hair letting the wind catch the ends and pull them around.

"Well our alone time is over." Lady Rin nodded at Sango and Shippo as they led their horses over. Kagome rose to her feet searching for the Marquis.

"He'll catch up, we wanted to take a gallop too." Sango gave her best friend a glare and then rushed to her side catching notice of something on her neck. She pulled her hair over covering the crim marking.

Kagome's eyes widened as she realized what she had almost let escape. "A bug?"

"Yes, big one." Sango nodded keeping calm.

That was all it took to get Lady Rin to her feet though. "Bugs? Where?" She screamed a little brushing her skirts down with her hands.

"Let me check you." Kagome gave her some pity, and pretended to check her for bugs. "You're bug free."

Lady Rin hugged her in thanks and about that time the Marquis rode up. "Having a party are we?"

"No just stopping for a moment to enjoy the trees." Kagome couldn't stop the smile as she looked up at him. His returning smile had her looking away.

"Now on to Mainspring?" Sango gave a hopeful look at Lady Rin.

"Absolutely, I'm feeling like I've had quite enough of nature for one day." Lady Rin agreed and went to mount her horse. Approaching her own mount Kagome judged how well her leg was feeling and then she worked to push herself into the saddle. A hand found her waist before she fell back and pushed her into the saddle. "Sango, thanks, I would have-" InuYasha stood below her his hand still on her hip a look flashing over his face that she didn't catch fast enough to understand. "Oh."

"You're welcome." He whispered removing his hand from her hip and returning to his own mount. Once he was up in the saddle he moved them along. Mainspring was a popular luncheon spot that wasn't yet crowded with hungry shoppers. As the group stepped through the door they were greeted by a maître d who seated them and brought them their first round of earl grey tea.

"Now this is my idea of a nice morning." Sango sighed over her first cup of tea, the steam rising up over her face in silky curls.

"I prefer dancing, at all hours of the day." Lady Rin twirled her spoon around in her porcelain cup indulging in a bit of simple syrup.

"I enjoy creating gadjets." Shippo added speaking without her permission again, but Kagome didn't mind. She was glad he was helping to move along the conversation, as she could think of nothing to say.

"I'd rather be out riding, tea is a bit weak in my opinion." InuYasha teased Sango draining his cup and waiting for a refill.

"Riding is an excellent activity, second best to shopping of course." Kagome didn't think revealing her actual hobby would be healthy for this group. Their server returned with two press pots and some cucumber sandwiches and then left again.

Kagome was thankful for Lady Rin who launched into an explanation of her favorite shops and some of the more popular fashion designers she enjoyed—the Queen topping the list despite the fact that the Queen only started trends she didn't design them. Kagome didn't point this out she just let the girl ramble.

At one point she reached out for a sandwich and InuYasha stole the one she was about to take. She glanced over at him and he smirked at her waving the sandwich at her before taking a healthy bite.

She laughed despite herself and that gained the table's attention. "Sorry." She dropped her head hiding a grin.

Chattering filled the air as more people filed into the building and Kagome felt immediately surrounded. "Please excuse me, I need some fresh air." Sango and Shippo began to stand up with her but she motioned for them to stay. "I'll be just outside, no further." She promised. They both returned to their seats and took another sandwich at ease with her because she showed no signs of lying.

She heard Lady Rin ask after her health as she slipped out of the room but she didn't worry about what was said after that. Big crowds never worked out well for her, feeling trapped was one thing a thief didn't enjoy.

"Hey, are you alright?" It was InuYasha, Sango would love this. After all she did to keep her from being alone with the man here he was standing beside her. Granted it was a busy sidewalk with plenty of people to keep them from being alone, but still that was hardly the point.

"I'm fine, just felt a bit crowded." The street was filled with luncheon crowds dressed warmly and Kagome pushed further away from the entrance InuYasha following her.

"You want to see something incredible?" He offered his arm to her and despite what she should have done, she took it.

"What is it?" Curiosity killed the cat, and if Kagome was the cat she hoped she had more than one life.

"They are called fireworks, ever heard of them?" He looked hopeful like maybe he was wishing she hadn't.

"I've heard of them yes, I've never seen them before though. Koga tells me about them sometimes." She faltered running into a wall with nothing else to say. She was starting to get into dangerous ground, she could tell, as he growled at her words. "Will you show me?"

That seemed to get his approval. "First tell me how your leg is, are you okay to walk a few blocks? Old Willie can give us a few to shoot off. They won't be big ones of course, too dangerous for a rookie." He rested his hand over hers as he looked down at her.

"My leg is fine. You don't mind my leaning do you?" She tried to use her own legs and lean a little less.

"No it's fine, if you need to lean please do." He paused until she leaned into him again. "What happened? How bad is it?"

"One of my brother's gadjets backfired. It hit me in the back of my leg, one piece penetrated to the bone and there were metal pieces lodged all around that." She kept the same lie as the one she'd told Koga since it was actually a pretty good story.

"Sounds like your brother needs a beating." InuYasha noted keeping their pace slow enough that she wouldn't have to challenge herself to keep up.

"He's really smart, it's just some things don't go as planned." That was the story of her life right there, and if she didn't find her jewel life was going to come to an end.

"Here we are. Wait here, Willie is a bit crazy. He doesn't like meeting new people." InuYasha winked before slipping into the back alley that didn't look like a shop. He returned quickly with two round tubes and a matchbox. "Come with me." Around the corner was an open area with no trees and fewer people.

Her instincts were on fire telling her to go back but InuYasha smiled reassuringly and sat the two tubes on the ground. "Back up to that grate." He pointed to a water drain and she stood behind it and waited. He lit the fuses and backed up to stand beside her. "Look up." He whispered as they shot off the right one going off seconds before the left.

Kagome gasped when they burst in the sky fifteen feet in the air cracking and sizzling as their fire died out. "Oh my!" She laughed elated. "Those are lovely."

"They're even better in the dark." He murmured darkly taking her hand and placing it over his arm. "Time to get you back, I'm sure Lady Sango will have a fit of the vapors if she finds you gone."

"Oh, just a few more please?" Kagome pressed using her eyes to get her way. She couldn't pass up this chance to get closer to him.

He gave in too easily and they walked together back to Old Willie's. This time InuYasha allowed her to go along and Willie gave her a special firework. "You just hold it in your hand and point it to the sky." He instructed. She took it and InuYasha picked out two more of the tube shaped ones. They returned to their open area and InuYasha lit off his first.

Having been careful with her own firework while they walked, Kagome now held it in her hand and pointed it up in the air as she'd been instructed, but nothing happened. "I think mine is broken."

InuYasha took her hand that held the firework and examined it. "We'll take it back. Willie will know what to do."

As they went Kagome smacked her hand against the butt of the firework she'd been given. Worthless thing wasn't working. She grumbled and gave up and just as her hand dropped to her side it went off. Holding it out away from her it shot off four times before stopping at last. InuYasha had spun around and dodged the four flaring fireworks but the tree to his right didn't have the luxury of legs.

"Oh no!" But as Kagome ran to the tree that was smoldering it was the body beside it that next caught her attention. She'd hit someone with her foolish firework. "InuYasha!" She cried kneeling next to the man's body. "Go get help!" Before InuYasha could return with help though a patrol guard found her.

"What has happened here?" He stepped over the man and knelt down beside her.

Kagome was too panicked to explain. Her heart was racing and pounding in her ears creating an unreal deafening around her. Koga was going to be so disappointed in her. Before she knew what was happening the patrol guard was taking her wrists and pushing them behind her back. "What's going on? I don't understand." She tried to break free, to find the words to explain, but the patrol guard was only holding tighter and binding her wrists together.

InuYasha was back another patrol guard with him and then he was vicious. "What is the meaning of this? It was an accident, a misfire on a firework. I demand you release her."

"I don't care who you are or what happened here. This woman is a crim." The first patrol guard cleared up the confusion in Kagome's head. The small brand on the back of her neck gave him the obligation to treat her as dirt. Crims couldn't be trusted, even if they were freed from their prisons.

"Kagome, I'm sorry, I'll go get Lady Sango and we'll have you out before they book you." He promised. He must have known there was nothing he could do to get her out of this now.

Kagome was only shocked by the fact that he could even stand to look at her. She remained silent as the patrol guard led her away, leaving the other there to help the man she'd hit with the firework. She was glad to see as she was led away that the man was not dead. He sat up and shook his head and she saw the burn marks on his face. He would be forever scarred because of her.

(O.o)

"You what?" Sango was none too happy with InuYasha when he returned to the Mainspring alone.

"I know what she is, and she's being taken to the Boneshaker." InuYasha told her taking her arm and pulling her to their mounts.

"What happened? Why did they arrest her? I don't understand!" Lady Rin being the genteel woman that she was didn't know what it meant to be a crim.

"There was an accident with a firework, someone got hit." InuYasha hoped that would explain it enough for his sister.

"Oh, is everyone alright? I thought it was such a good idea too, and it turned out so wretched." Her voice broke and a tear started in her eye she was going to break down soon. "I must go home, I must speak with Sesshomaru, he'll know just what to do."

Sango made Shippo go with her as an escort and then she turned to InuYasha. "You're explaining this to Miroku and Koga, I hope you know that." She mounted and took off towards the Boneshaker.

(*.*)

The Boneshaker was the only existing prison in Westerfield, and it had a bad reputation. There was a small holding area outside of the prison walls and that's where she was taken first. The air was smoky in this part of town and even the insulated walls of the building couldn't keep the smoke out. With undecorated walls and less that the worst furniture Kagome was sure this wasn't anything like the crim shop she'd sprung Sango from.

She was pushed into a chair and landed on her bound hands. Her dress did nothing to soften the landing. "This isn't so bad."

"Not anymore it isn't." It was a familiar voice that spoke the words, and the chills that went down her spine were all too real.

The boy she once knew was no longer there in the man sitting across from her. "Hojo?"

End Chapter