InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double or Nothing: Take the Money & Run ❯ Trumped ( Chapter 10 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Ten: Trumped

Kagome was having the nicest dream. She'd just won the lottery and was on The Apprentice telling Trump, “No Donald, You're Fired!” It felt so good to be the one who did the firing as opposed the one who was always fired.

The veins in his face bulged and he made that face, where he pursed his lips in a half sneer, but his voice was all wrong. He sounded like…Seth Green? “And I'm gonna buy a stereo system with speakers SO loud it'll blow women's clothes off.”

Kagome leaned forward across the board room table intent on explaining to the Donald, it was impossible to afford such luxuries now that he was unemployed. Also she was planning on redecorating his gaudy penthouse apartment. Gold was so nouveau riche. She was thinking about some thing more French Provincial in dark blue.

Someone pulled on the elbow of her long sleeved shirt and pinched her elbow. She turned towards Carolyn who shook her blonde head. George too was oblivious to the intruder. The tug came again only harder. Kagome looked to her right and saw Inuyasha.

He was in a white, terry cloth, spa style bath robe, his long silver hair wound in pink curlers piled atop of his head. His furry ears stood at full attention. “Kagome!”

She sighed and asked in a whiney tone, “What? Can't you see I'm busy here?”

“Kagome, it's time to go. You can't stay here.” He was frantic with worry as he stuck his face in hers. She saw he was wearing a green avocado facial mask and broke down into uncontrollable giggles. Inuyasha ignored her laughter and pulled on her arm, “It's time to go. You're coming with me.”

Donald pounded his fist on the table and shouted abruptly, “You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!”

Doors? Something about a door… car doors? Kagome's head began to hurt. Inuyasha yanked her out of the plush leather executive chair. “You're coming with me now!”

Kagome stood. “I don't have to go anywhere with you.”

He hissed and flashed his perfect white canines. “Wench, I've got to protect you. Or else it won't work.”

Why is he always calling me wench?

She asked, “What won't work?” Then she was pissed, “I don't need your help. I can do this with out you!”

Inuyasha frowned. Then his robe melted away and fell to the ground. Sesshomaru stood in the puddle of white terry cloth. For some reason the floor was littered with bright red autumn leaves. He gave her a pointy grin, reminiscent of Batman's Joker. He dropped a deep bow; his hair fell past his shoulders in a rain of silver. “As you wish my lady.”

He turned his face then looked up at her with a dark leer on his lips, “I shall make all your dreams come true.” He was wearing his trusty black leather pants and was once again shirtless. The dried leaves with their curled edges crunched under his bare feet. Sesshomaru reached for her, his talons extended and Kagome jumped back.

She glanced over her shoulder hoping Donald would be a good sport about his termination and help her.

But where Donald should have been sitting was Oprah, the skinny version. She leaned back in the chair and propped her high heeled feet on the table that was now covered in piles of apple red leaves and pine straw.

Kagome waved at her and hissed, “Please, I love your show, help me!”

Oprah shook her well styled head and crossed her feet. Stedman stood behind her in the shadows frowning. She pointed a shiny red fingernail at Kagome. “Sorry girl, sometimes we learn more when we help ourselves.”

Kagome whimpered back, “But I'm a member of your book club…”

Sesshomaru's black painted claws brushed the bare skin of her shoulders and Kagome shuddered. But it was shame that filled her not revulsion. His fingertips burned into her flesh promising dark passions that she found appealing. She turned her chin up to him and caught him studying her from beneath his silver eyelashes. He bent his head over hers; she held her breath and waited. The heat of his breath washed over her face.

An androgynous nasal voice cut in. “Sir, that TV is entirely too loud. If you will not turn it down, then you will be asked to leave.”

Koga's voice answered, “Yeah, yeah.” He mumbled, “Fascist nurse bitch.”

“Sir, I heard that. Don't make me kick you out.”

_-_-_-_-_

Kagome opened her eyes and they were burned by an intense yellow over head light. “What the heck?” Her throat was dry and her words came out as a hoarse whisper.

Seconds passed and Koga's face appeared over hers. “Babe! You're alive.”

The nurse added, “She's just shook up we've been through this.”

“Where am I?” Kagome slowly sat up and the nurse passed her a plastic cup of ice chips.

Koga advised, “Hey take it slow there. You've had a knock to the head.”

She ignored him and pulled herself into a sitting position. The room swam slightly before her. “What the hell? I'm in the hospital!”

“Yeah that's what happens when you are blown five feet in the air by a car bomb. They bring you here. And guess what? They still serve green jello; it's like a mini vacation.”

Kagome turned her head and heard the vertebrae in her neck pop. “No thanks, I hate lime jello. It's just so green and wobbly. It's not natural.”

“Damn shames then, guess I'll have to eat it for you when it gets here.”

She sighed, “How kind of you. Now let's go.”

Koga pulled up a chair to the side of the hospital bed. “Go where?”

“My apartment I guess, anywhere!” Kagome began scouting the room for her clothes as she sucked on a handful of ice chips.

He shook his head. “Not an option. You've won an all expenses paid over night stay for observation.”

“Am I okay?” It was so horrible she had to ask if she was okay, most normal people never needed a second opinion on such things.

“Yeah but you knocked your head and have stitches; eight on your arms and five more on the side of your neck. You were sleeping pretty heavily after the pain shot so they just want to watch you.”

Kagome protested, “I cannot be here! I have no insurance. We've got to sneak out or something.”

Koga stood and paced the small area in front of her bed. “Not gonna happen. You're just going to accept it. Medical bills are a grim reality but your health is more important. `Sides, this was where I told the cops they could find you.”

She groaned, “Oh Gods no! The police…”

He pulled out a tiny card from his pocket and tossed it into her lap. Kagome squinted at it. “What's that?”

“Your new skip tracing license. You'll need it when they ask why someone would want to blow you up.”

She picked it up and studied the tiny print. “Is this real?”

“Almost, it'll do for now.” It'll have to.

Kagome's big dark eyes widened, “Am I going to be arrested?” Well on the bright side the jail wouldn't charge her a bill to stay there. And there was always the public defender.

He laughed so hard his chest shook with it. “Gods no, they just want to take your statement.”

She felt stupid and slumped back against her pillows. “Oh. And what do I say?”

He shrugged, “The truth but for now, leave out the part about borrowing the Jeep.”

She was outraged, “You expect me to lie!”

Koga looked up at the ceiling with an expression that said Oh Gods, why me. “Do you want to go to jail?”

Kagome bit her lip, “Not so much.”

He turned back to face her, “The Inu brothers won't report it. Inuyasha can't as he is on the lam and all. Sesshomaru won't. He might try to kill you but he'd never call the cops.”

“Do you think he's the one who shot at me and then rigged the Mazda?”

He shook his head, “Nah, too complicated for him. He's smart enough but as a powerful Taiyokai he prefers to do his business himself with his bare hands.”

Kagome preferred not to think about Sesshomaru's hands, bare or otherwise. “He's the Taiyokai of the Inu family?” This was a revelation seeing how the only things he seemed to do was smoke weed, play in his band and threaten his half brother's life.

A soft rapping knock came at the door. Koga crossed his arms over his chest. “Come in.”

The door swung open revealing Miroku in a blue police uniform.

Koga grinned and thought jackpot! He held out his hand and Miroku shook it. Then they performed a complicated guy handshake that ended with them tapping fists.

Kagome was thrilled to see Miroku. They'd grown up together and she was practically his little sister. It also didn't hurt he was engaged to her best friend Sango for three years. She kept changing the wedding date but Miroku never lost hope,

Miroku asked Koga, “So is she gonna be okay?”

Kagome called out weakly, “Hello! I'm right here; shouldn't you be asking me that?”

Miroku nodded, “Yeah you're right, sorry Kagome.” He looked back to Koga, “So?”

Kagome fumed while Koga answered, “She's got a nasty bump on her head and stitches on her arm and neck where they pulled out splinters of metal, but she should be released tomorrow Gods' willing cause she's the worst patient.”

Kagome stuck out her tongue but none of the men noticed.

Miroku leaned over the narrow bed. “So… I hear you have a new career?”

She blushed and looked away. Was there anything that happened in this pit of a town that went unnoticed? “Yeah.”

“Sango's gonna have a whole cow when she hears about this. And have you told your ma?” He blinked and waited for her answer.

“Not yet.”

Koga added helpfully, “She'll know soon enough when the six o clock news comes on.”

Kagome closed her eyes. Great! Just great. “Most of the other crap that goes on in this town is hushed up. Why would this make the news?”

Miroku replied, “Maybe it was the big boom, flashy lights and fire or the fact the explosion blew a mail box through Barney's front window.

Kagome winced. Damn it! Why couldn't the car have blown up in a nice Amish field? Why did it have to be down town in broad day light?

Miroku laughed, “Don't worry kiddo; I still owe you for writing my college term paper. I'll call her for you and tell her you're fine.”

Kagome relaxed but her relief was premature. Miroku asked, “So the state law of Pennsylvania says to be a bounty hunter you gotta have a license so cough it up.”

She picked up the laminated card from her lap and handed it to him. He opened his hand to accept it and she saw the large brown birthmark that graced the palm of his left hand. He held the license up to the bright light and groaned. “Kagome, this is good but not good enough.”

Koga was studying the tiles on the floor while Kagome asked, “Miroku...please!”

“So you just expect me to turn a blind eye to this.”

She whispered, “Not exactly a blind eye but maybe you could just advert your gaze for a week or two.”

Miroku sighed and shook his head. He tossed the fake license on her lap, knowing full well how she'd come by it. “So, why is someone out to kill you?” He pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil nub.

“I don't know.” She answered honestly.

“Who are you after?”

“Inuyasha.”

Miroku's pencil tip broke on the paper, “Damn it! Now why the hell would you get involved inthat mess? Do you have death wish?”

Koga coughed into his fist barely disguising his laughter.

Miroku frowned, “This ain't a joke. She's gonna be killed.”

Koga shrugged, “I've already been there with her. She doesn't seem to care.”

Kagome decided it was time for a new subject. “Miroku, how well did you know Inuyasha?”

“Pretty good, we'd go out for drinks and we played pick up games of basketball after work.”

She continued, “Do you think he shot the other cop?”

Miroku scratched his neck. “No, but you can never truly know someone. What matters is that his family is dangerous. You should find a nice drunk to bring in instead. The worst thing that could happen then is that he'll puke on you.”

The preview for the six o clock news flashed across the muted screen of the tiny TV on the wall. Koga turned up the volume.

A perky blonde with helmet hair spoke rapidly into the camera. “Local unemployed woman Kagome Higurashi was injured when her car mysteriously exploded in front of Barney's Pawn and Tanning earlier today. The incident is still under investigation and the young woman has been hospitalized. More on this at six.”

Koga turned off the TV and the anchor's fake smile faded to black. Kagome groaned, “Did they really have to mention I'm unemployed?”

Miroku pulled his cell phone from his jacket. “Guess I'd better call Mama Higurashi that is if the line isn't already tied up from everyone in town who also saw the breaking news.” He stepped out in the hall.

Koga stood beside her in silence. Kagome asked rhetorically, “What do I do now?”

He gave it to her straight. “You should quit.”

“I need the money so bad…” Kagome bit her lip.

Koga leaned against the wall. “The money is nice but I think you're in it for the revenge.”

Kagome blinked at him, “Revenge?”

“You know for what he wrote on that bathroom stall.”

She slid down under her bed covers and was tempted to pull them over her head. “Is there anyone who doesn't know about that?”

Koga laughed, “I don't think George W Bush knows yet but I could write him if you like.

She bit back, “Screw you wolf.”

Miroku stepped back inside the room. “It's settled.”

Kagome didn't trust him. “How?”

“I told her you are fine and that you'll be home for dinner tomorrow. She's making pot roast.”

Kagome's stomach growled and she cursed it. Then she asked, “And?”

“I promised I bring you. It was the only way to get her off the phone.”

Well it was better than calling her mom herself. “Thanks Miroku.”

“Don't mention it Kags.”

_-_-_-_-_-_

Notes: I don't own any part of the Trump name (please God Donald it's just a small joke), Oprah or Seth Green (but I'd like to!) Donald was quoting random things from the 2003 movie The Italian Job.