InuYasha Fan Fiction / Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Space Hanyou ❯ Four ( Chapter 4 )

Inuyasha peeked around the corner of the corridor, listening hard for the sounds of humans. He trusted his ears more than his eyes at times like this. And there was no way in hell he was letting any damn federal marshal get their hands on him. It wasn't that he feared incarceration, he could do time standing on his head if need be, but his father would absolutely murder him if he was forced to break his wayward son out of a federal lockup. Inuyasha didn't fear much, but his father's wrath was swift and to the point and the youkai pirate's annoyance at his son's colossal stupidity for getting himself into this kind of situation would be nothing less than explosive.

 

Satisfied that he was alone, he set off down the passage at a light run. Quiet, dog boy, he told himself, slowing to a gentle lope. They don't know you're out yet so no reason to go clattering around the ship when you can be quiet about it. Grinning, he reflected on his luck of at least getting caught by cowboys who couldn't secure their own prisoners better than this. Now if only they had something flyable for him to steal, preferably fast as hell. He was a little disappointed, he'd sincerely hoped for another chance at that tasty woman, but he knew when to cut his losses. She'd smelled as good as she looked once he'd gotten her a little warmed up, too bad they were interrupted.

 

He had the shittiest luck sometimes.

 

But today isn't one of those times, he thought, with a low, appreciative whistle at the gorgeous sight before his eyes. “Now that looks quick,” he muttered, running a hand over the craft's sleek hull. Not sure what kind of vessel it was, but Inuyasha was confident he could fly anything with an engine. He ducked around the side and started to climb up. “Let's see what you have, sweetheart.”

 

A strange scent reached his nose and he turned around and started looking for it in spite of himself. “What the hell?”

 

A sharp bark answered his question and he found himself looking into a pair of intelligent brown eyes. “They have a dog?” he asked wonderingly.

 

The little Welsh corgi wagged its rump politely. A sharp yip acknowledged his comment and Inuyasha found himself grinning at the little animal. He hopped off the side of the Swordfish and knelt down to pet the dog's ears. “Well, hello little guy. What are you doing here?”

 

Ein's ears pricked up and he instantly rolled over on his back, begging to have his belly rubbed. The half alien smiled and stroked the soft fur, rumbling deep in his chest. He leaned back on his heels and started to stand up when the little dog sprang to his feet and yipped again. Ein trotted over to a vent in the floor and started digging furiously.

 

Curious, Inuyasha went to inspect the metal plating. “Something down there, little guy?” His fingers touched the floor lightly.

 

Something was down there and with a growl Inuyasha dug his fingers into the vent and gave a sharp yank. The plating gave way with a groan and Inuyasha found himself staring at pair of bright eyes and rosy cheeks. “What the fuck?”

 

A foul smelling gas blasted him in the face. Inuyasha's nose was instantly overwhelmed and before he knew it he was rolling on the floor, blind and gagging from the reeking substance. Edward climbed out of the vent and started giggling. “Edward caught you!”

 

~oOo~

 

“Is he awake?”

 

“You tell me. You're the federal marshal.”

 

Higurashi glared at him, making Spike grin and lean against the wall casually. “You should just let me take him, he's already proven more than capable of escaping from this vessel.”

 

“He won't get a second chance,” Jet growled ominously. He was still smarting from the way the young punk had just ripped his restraints off like they were made of paper. That and the cute wire job he'd done on the cell door. It might take him weeks to recover from this embarrassment.

 

Jet wasn't feeling any too charitable towards the Hanyou at the moment. Being humiliated in front of feds wasn't his favorite experience. He shot an intimidating glare at the marshal's young looking second. The woman hadn't lowered her weapon since they'd dragged the unconscious bastard back up to the deck and thrown him on the couch.

 

“Lady, you wanna watch where you're pointing that?” he asked irritably.

 

She didn't glance up, her eyes trained on the criminal. “I am watching. Better than you did.”

 

“You can stand down, lieutenant,” Higurashi said in a soft voice. The petite marshal moved forward to stare at the prisoner, his mouth open and drooling over the shabby upholstery. “He's awake. I'm sure of it.” She pulled a slender rod from her waist and activated it. A high pitched whine sounded and then faded away, but the Hanyou's ears twitched.

 

Major Higurashi smiled. “Oh, I see you're acquainted with this device. Shall I demonstrate some of its more entertaining applications or are you going to quit faking unconsciousness?”

 

Slowly, he put his hands under him and pushed his chest off the couch. It smelled of rancid cigarettes and age, but it was preferable to being zapped by a sadistic witch of a fed. He rolled over and looked at her, his eyes widening appreciatively. “Hello sweetheart,” he rumbled, fixing her with a speculative leer. “You come all this way just for little me?”

 

Spike noticed that the woman's back stiffened considerably at his suggestive tone. “You are the wanted criminal known as the Hanyou, also known as Inuyasha, son of the pirate Inutaisho?”

 

Insolently, he leaned his head on his fist and stretched out on the couch. “Yeah, that's me. Like what you see? It's your lucky day, babe.”

 

Her fist tightened and a bright bolt of blue light shot from the slender wand and struck the silver-haired hanyou. He yelped in pain and flipped over the side of the couch and landed hard on the deck.

 

Jet's eyebrows raised in surprise. “Whoa, that packs a punch!”

 

She smiled sweetly. “Special issue stun wand, that was the lowest setting.” She focused her gaze on the young man who was getting to his feet with an expression of pain. “Care to test my patience again, Hanyou?”

 

He growled angrily, his eyes darkening with fury. “Kiss my ass, you fucking bitch!”

 

Higurashi hit him again, this time holding the blue beam on him until he fell to the floor in agony. “Your penchant for stupidity precedes you. I think you need a lesson in manners.”

 

“Hey, knock it off,” Jet snarled, his hands forming into tight fists. Spike and Faye both looked at him with some surprise. Jet ignored them and matched the marshal's glare.

 

“Nobody tortures prisoners on my ship!” He'd seen more than his share of sadistic cops, ones who got off on having power over their prisoners and enjoyed humiliating them. It sickened him then and it sickened him now.

 

“Torture?” Major Higurashi raised her eyebrows. “I think that's a little strong. That was simply a polite request for attention.” She turned back to the hanyou who was slowly getting to his feet.

 

Inuyasha's face was pure murder, his clawed hands were clenching in angry fists. “You got my attention, you fucking federal whore.”

 

“Good,” she snapped. “I'd hate to think I've been wasting my time.” She spun around crisply and faced Jet. “I have determined that you are completely incapable of restraining this prisoner. Not only do you lack the adequate facilities, it's obvious that you harbor sympathy for him. That is a dangerous combination and under the circumstances I cannot allow him to remain in your custody.”

 

“That wasn't our deal,” Spike said softly. Lieutenant Sango twitched at the dangerous tone in his voice and swung the muzzle of her weapon in his direction. Higurashi looked at him seriously.

 

“I understand your concern,” she said quietly. “I will do everything in my power to see that your payment is expedited.”

 

“That's not good enough,” Jet hissed at her. He glanced over at Spike and Faye before looking the marshal in the eyes. “We won't let him go. Call your superiors, just get us our money and we'll turn him over.”

 

Tension filled the room as Jet and Higurashi faced off. Inuyasha looked interested, smirking a little, and sat back down on the couch to await the outcome. Both Faye and Spike made subtle moves that indicated they were a moment away from drawing weapons themselves. Higurashi's fingertips drummed on her pristine white sleeves, her dark eyes flashing as she refused to let Jet's anger intimidate her. Pushing the situation to a confrontation and bloodshed would serve no one. Force was not the answer in this case.

 

“Lieutenant Sango,” she said softly, never taking her eyes from Jet's. “You may return to the ship. I want you to proceed to the nearest enforcement center and download our reports to headquarters. Make sure they have detailed information regarding this particular ship and its crew. Give them our estimate for arrival and make sure they're ready to take the prisoner into secure custody the moment the Bebop docks.”

 

“Ma'am?” Sango asked, looking questioningly at her. She could hardly believe the major had any intentions of backing down. Even if they followed at close range there was no guarantee that the Hanyou wouldn't have another opportunity to escape.

 

Higurashi gave her a crisp nod. “I am going to stay aboard to personally supervise his security.”

 

“You're what?” Jet exploded, exchanging horrified looks with Spike. Bad enough they'd been boarded in the first place, the idea of a marshal staying on Bebop, snooping her nose into their business and making a pain in the ass of herself was enough to upset his stomach. “I don't think so.”

 

“No shit,” Faye muttered. She was completely on edge herself, both from their prisoner and the presence of law enforcement. Right now hiding in her room seemed the only viable option.

 

Spike only shrugged and lit a cigarette. Blowing a thin cloud of blue smoke into the air, he favored Higurashi with a grin. “Why not? We aren't the ones she's after. If she stays here it will be one more set of eyes to watch him.”

 

Inuyasha yawned, scratching his chest. That damn stun wand hurt, goddamnit. “Damn, but I hate to be such a problem. Story of my life.”

 

“You shut up,” Higurashi snapped, giving him a meaningful look. “You have no say at all in this discussion.

 

He smirked. “You're pretty ballsy when you've got that toy in your hand, bitch.” He met her gaze with a ruthless expression of his own. “I bet I could make you sing a different tune if you want to go a few rounds without it. It might even be fun.”

 

The marshal's face flushed. “Keep your perverted thoughts to yourself, filth. And keep your mouth shut or I'll do more than just tickle you next time.”

 

Inuyasha bared his teeth at her. “Bitch, I'll do more than tickle you if I get the chance. I'm not going to forgive that little zap either. You better pray I don't get the opportunity to pay you back.” His eyes roamed over her appraisingly. “Although I have to admit you're a lot better looking than most fucking cops. I'd have to take my time and think up something special for you.”

 

Higurashi looked like she was about to go nova, Spike thought. Moving with a deliberate casualness, he worked his way between them. “I think you should both calm down,” he said quietly. This could get extremely ugly, extremely fast.

 

She took a deep breath and controlled herself with a visible effort, obviously aching to fry the bastard where he sat. Instead, she slipped the wand back into her belt and turned to her second. “Go, lieutenant. I can handle this from here.”

 

Sango didn't hesitate, reacting to the dangerously calm tone of her superior's voice. “Yes, ma'am. I'll see to it immediately.” The pretty officer swung her weapon back on her shoulder and went at a brisk jog back to her ship.

 

Inuyasha watched her with an obvious sneer. “Too bad, I liked the way she filled out her uniform.”

 

Faye couldn't take it anymore. She whirled around and grabbed him by his vest and glowered into his face. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” she snarled. “Do you have to treat every woman you see like some kind of fucktoy? I swear to God if it wouldn't cost us twenty million I'd kill you myself, you disgusting degenerate.”

 

“I'll second that,” Spike muttered. He was starting to understand how this Hanyou seemed to generate disturbances wherever he went. He knew mercenaries with better personalities and more tact. Even his calm was starting to fray and Spike felt the uncharacteristic desire to pound the silver haired prisoner into the deck. Unpleasant didn't begin to cover the mood that was filling Bebop's hull.

 

Inuyasha met Faye's anger without a trace of reaction to her words. “What's it to you?” he whispered, his deep gold eyes fixing on her with suspicion. “Since when do bounty hunters give a rat's ass what a criminal like me says to a fucking cop?”

 

She shoved him hard into the couch and stalked away. “I don't care what you say or what you think,” she said harshly. “The way you talk makes my stomach turn, that's all. Is that how you think of all women? What about your mother, do you treat her like garbage too?”

 

A flicker passed over his face and to her surprise, Inuyasha flushed and looked away. “No. She's been dead a long time.”

 

He was embarrassed, even he didn't normally behave this badly, not without a lot of liquor to fuel his temper. And he never treated women like trash, he didn't know why he was being even more of an asshole than usual. It had to be that bitch marshal, using that joy stick of hers on him like a goddamn cattle prod as if he was some dumb animal she could force into submission.

 

He looked up and took a deep breath. This was probably one of his least favorite things to say. “I'm sorry, Faye.”

 

There was a moment of shocked silence. The Hanyou just sat looking at his feet with his hair hiding his eyes. The marshal's face was impassive, only a slight softening of her dark eyes impressed that she'd been even heard his words. Faye blinked for a moment and shut her mouth so she wasn't gaping like a fish.

 

“Thanks,” she said softly. It was rare enough that anyone apologized to her for anything, usually it was the other way around and she was the one who had to eat her words. Just for a second, she felt like wanted to smile at him, but resisted the urge when she felt Jet and Spike watching her. Embarrassed, she ignored them and left the room.

 

Jet turned to look at Kagome Higurashi. “Are you seriously going to stay aboard and guard him?” A faint smile surprised him and he scratched his head as she nodded.

 

“I certainly am.”

 

Spike glanced over at the sullen looking prisoner. “To be truthful, I don't mind,” he told the marshal, smiling slightly at her curious expression. “I'm not sure we have a cell that can hold him.”

 

Inuyasha snorted. He seemed to have recovered from his brief moment of humility. “I'm sure you don't,” he said with a grin. He looked around at them and his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

 

“Don't get any ideas either. I have no intention of letting you people take me in.” Just because he felt guilty about his trashy mouth for a moment in no way indicated that he was done with fighting. Leaning back, he crossed his arms behind his head and gave the marshal a directly challenging gaze. “What you got in mind, sweetheart?”

 

To his utter surprise, she laughed lightly. Her eyes were twinkling with mischief. “I guess I'll just have to watch you very closely, won't I?”

 

Spike and Jet both felt their jaws begin to drop. The Hanyou apologized and now the marshal was smiling. Could life on Bebop get any more twisted?

 

Inuyasha noticed that smiling made the marshal look much more approachable and damn, but she was fine. “If you're going to be friendly about it, I don't suppose I mind you watching me very closely indeed.”

 

Higurashi actually giggled. “I'm sure you don't,” she cooed, her voice sickeningly sweet.

 

Jet actually felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Even Inuyasha looked surprised at the abrupt change in her demeanor. He grinned, guessing she wasn't impervious to his charm after all. Jet and Spike stared in complete shock when Kagome Higurashi moved closer to her prisoner, still smiling softly. She bent over to look right into his pretty eyes.

 

“You're not going to give me any more trouble are you, Inuyasha?”

 

“Depends what you mean by trouble,” he whispered thickly. Goddamn, she had to be the best looking cop he'd ever been assaulted by. Suddenly even federal lockup didn't look like that bad of an option. “If I do give you trouble, I guess you'll just have to keep me in line.”

 

She leaned even closer, both her tiny hands on his shoulders and her face only inches from his. He leaned forward a bit, licking his lips in anticipation. She had to taste sweet.

 

Something cold clipped around his throat and his eyes widened at Kagome's smirk. “I can keep you line quite easy,” she whispered mockingly.

 

Inuyasha scowled as she drew back and his hand touched the metal band she'd put on his neck. “What the hell is this?”

 

“Just a little insurance,” she said brightly.

 

Jet peered at it, didn't look like any restraint he'd ever seen before. It was a light metal, studded with dark purplish diodes. Every fourth light was white instead of purple. “Major, what is that thing?”

 

Kagome didn't answer immediately, drawing a small unit from her pocket and touching buttons. “You'll see.”

 

Inuyasha was pissed. First of all that she'd tricked him by flirting so cutely, then that she'd stuck something on him. He stood up and folded his arms confidently. “I can rip this off without hardly trying.”

 

She flashed him a smile. “Then try.” She was still fiddling with the control, her lips curved in what Spike couldn't help but call a damn sexy grin. Inuyasha raised his eyebrows, enjoying the challenge.

 

“You asked for it,” he said and grasped the edge of the collar.

 

He was promptly rewarded with a flash of light and a burning sensation in his fingers. The air smelled singed. “Damn it!”

 

Kagome's laugh rang merrily. “Only the latest innovation in non lethal restraint.” With a flash of a smile, she held up her control. “Sit boy!”

 

Nothing happened and Inuyasha glared at her, catching the insult. “Was that supposed to impress me, bitch?”

 

The marshal had stopped smiling and looked at him seriously. “No, that was to set the voice command. That collar is now cued to my voice and my voice alone. Only an enforcement center can reprogram it.

 

“Sit boy.”

 

Inuyasha slammed face first into the deck and both Jet and Spike flinched in sympathy. Higurashi had turned back into the icy authority.

 

“That's what you'll get if you aren't cooperative,” her voice hard as the steel plates of Bebop's deck. “If you escape and get farther away from me than a klick, it will detonate the failsafe and your head will be forcibly separated from your body. The same will happen if my vital signs are interrupted at any time. I suggest you pray for my good health until the end of this trip.”

 

“How do I know you aren't bullshitting me?” he snarled.

 

Her eyes glittered at him dangerously. “You don't.”

 

“You miserable, vindictive, sadistic...”

 

“Sit boy.”