InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double or Nothing: Take the Money & Run ❯ Turning Points ( Chapter 11 )

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

In fact the longer Kagome watched Inuyasha as he leaned back against the wall in the tight t-shirt with one hand in the pocket of his torn jeans she felt an incurable case of bad boy syndrome taking full effect.

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.01.2006 | Updated On: 01.01.2006 | Pages: 5 | Words: 6.3K | Visits: 477 | Status: Completed

Chapter Eleven Turning Points

Kagome sat in the hospital bed contemplating a white plate of wobbly Day-Glo green Jello. Koga's pager had called him away before he could eat the funky, institutionalized gelatin and now the fascist nurse was back. She shooed Miroku away then insisted Kagome eat the Jello. Presently the two women were locked in a staring contest, a strange struggle for power over Kagome's right not to eat the trembling dessert.

A knock came at the door and Kagome was filled with hope that whoever was at the door would distract the jello obsessed nurse. And her prayers were answered…well sort of.

Myoga stood in the doorway looking very disappointed that the nurse bore a closer resemblance to a wilder beast than she did the stereotypical nurse on that ER show he watched religiously. He held a thick manila folder under one hairy arm and used his other arm to force his way into the cramped hospital room. His clothes were wrinkled as though he'd slept in them and his comb over was sticking out over his shiny bald scalp.

Nurse Ratchet, Ratchet being the name Kagome had given her, had a vice grip on his arm before he even crossed the threshold, “Sir visiting hours are over. You must leave.”

Myoga was short but he was a man of some girth and he shoved the nurse aside with his belly. “Too bad toots, cause I'm staying.”

She picked up the phone to dial security, “Only family is allowed in after hours!”

Kagome sighed and leaned back against the flat white pillow. She'd rather eat the nasty Jello than confess she was any relation to this horrible man. Thank God it was only by marriage. “Mam, it's okay. He's my uncle.” Toots? Who even uses that word anymore?

Ratchet tapped the glass casing of her watch with one long plum colored finger nail. “Ten minutes then and that's it.” She shut the door loudly behind her and Kagome was able to make out the sound of her white heels, not cloven hooves, clicking on the linoleum floor on the other side of the wall.

“So I don't suppose you're here because you're worried about me?” asked Kagome who knew better than to assume Myoga had any once of an unselfish motivation.

Myoga frowned and wondered why everyone always assumed the worst about him. It wasn't as if he'd stopped using deodorant, “Well I was but you seem to be a tough cookie.”

He lifted his arm to toss her the folder than remembered he'd forgotten to even purchase antiperspirant, much less use it. He lowered his arm just to err on the side of caution. “I'm here because you left this at my office and I was in the neighborhood visiting an old friend.” He gave the folder an underhanded toss and it landed on Kagome's lap.

She picked it up and a black and white mug shot slipped out. The photo depicted Inuyasha with his mouth open displaying the points of his canines, as if he were threatening the photographer. Not a flattering picture for a man who protested his guilt. More than likely he probably knew the mug shot officer and was still objecting his arrest.

Kagome looked back up at her uncle. “So is this old friend recovering from a breast augmentation surgery?”

Myoga sat in the blue chair next to her bed and it squeaked under his short bulk. “I don't know what the hell you are talking about. But if you're gonna have a chance in hell of bringing this guy in you should read his file.”

Good point. Kagome opened the file and was pleased to see a mini biography, copies of his arrest warrant, addresses of friends, relatives and the bond papers. Myoga had even tossed in an old report card. She gave it a fast glance and saw he'd been forced to repeat the tenth grade.

Myoga continued while she investigated the folder, “You know he shot the other cop in the back. The guy was completely unarmed so the force wants Inuyasha back something fierce. If you fuck this up I could lose the business.” He waited for his words to sink in then added, “So I figured I'd drop by and see how you're doing.”

Kagome nodded and continued flipping through the file. Myoga squirmed in his chair. “So girlie, how ya doing, anything new?”

She answered without looking up, “Not so much. But I do have his Jeep.”

Myoga swallowed and seemed to age, the bags under his eyes were fast becoming carry on luggage. “His Jeep eh? I don't suppose you can forget the Jeep and find him instead?”

“I'm working on it. But someone really doesn't want me to find him.” She must be on to something because somebody really wanted her out of the picture. But who? After all she'd never admit it aloud but Inuyasha was right. She was a horrible skip tracer.

Myoga propped his dirty shoes up on the side of the clean hospital bed. “Well with his family he probably has all sorts of connections.”

Kagome picked up his bio, “Says here he was assigned to the Force's special Gang unit. Isn't that odd considering his father ran the biggest organized crime family in this city? Kinda like letting the cat mind the goldfish bowl.”

Myoga shrugged, “Maybe they thought being an insider might have given him an edge.”

She shuffled the papers. “But this was an undercover assignment.” It seemed ridiculous to have someone as well known as Inuyasha be a covert operative. Kagome began making notes on the hospital message pad she found on the bedside table. “Maybe his cover was blown and someone framed him. He would've been seen as a traitor to the family so it's possible.”

Sesshomaru's face appeared in her head as the first obvious suspect. He was very open about his feelings towards his half brother. However he seemed to prefer a more hands on approach. Locking Inuyasha away in prison didn't fit his style; according to the rumors, jumping rope with someone's small intestine was more Sesshomaru's speed. Yet for all his posturing, Kagome never knew him to be personally involved in a violent crime. Maybe it was all that weed he smoked.

Myoga broke into her thoughts, “We aren't here to solve the crime, though personally until now I liked the guy. Just find him. Let the cops worry about a frame up.”

He narrowed his bug eyes at Kagome who looked down at her hospital robe to make sure everything was covered. “You ain't getting soft on him are you?”

Kagome remembered how he handcuffed her to the heater than trussed up her apartment. “No. I just don't think this whole thing makes sense.”

He pulled out a fat stogie from his jacket pocket; left it unlit and clenched it between his teeth “Just checking because after what he wrote about you in that bathroom stall, I figured you'd enjoy hauling him in.”

Kagome groaned at the mention of the infamous graffiti and Myoga laughed as he puffed on the fat end of his cheap cigar, “What? You think I'm the only one in this family with sexcapades? Girlie you are loads more famous than I'll ever be.”

“You don't even know what you're talking about.” Kagome returned her attention to the file in front of her. It was over two inches thick; much thicker than when she'd last seen it, so Myoga had been holding out on her.

“Uncle, why are you really here?"

Myoga sniffed and said nothing. Then he blew his nose on his polyester sleeve and lifted his head. “I'll never be able to cash in on this bond and take his row-house. First of all it ain't worth the hundred grand bond that's out on it and even if it was I'll never get the house, not without getting killed. So I'm gonna lose the business and go under. You gotta find Inu or I'm through.”

Kagome was surprised and terrified all at the same time. “So are you saying that I am your last hope?'

Myoga pressed his face into his oversized hands and for a moment sounded as though he might be shedding actual tears. “Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying.”

“Surely you are exaggerating. It'll be bad but not that bad.” She didn't know why she was comforting him when she was the one in the hospital bed.

“Yeah it will be and maybe even worse.”

Kagome was skeptical, “Then why did you take on the bond if you knew it was so risky?”

Myoga blinked his blood shot eyes and Kagome noticed the stench of cheap bourbon on his clothes. “And say no to the Inu clan? I know the old man is gone and all but saying no didn't seem to be a healthy decision. I could've ended up with my feet out in concrete or my head on a platter. Besides I knew the kid, I didn't figure he'd split, but I should've known better. After all he could be the Taiyokai for all I know.”

Kagome said, “He's not though. I spoke to Sesshomaru. He's got the markings. Not Inuyasha, he's clean.” As much as it killed her to stand up for him, it was the truth.

Her uncle cut her a fast glance, “Well I guess you would know all about that guy's bare skin.” Then he chortled, “but then so would most of Reading if the rumors are true.” He was crying and cracking on her all at the same time.

Kagome glared at him. “Whatever. But doesn't the stripes and crescent moon on Sesshomaru mean that he's the head of the family now?”

He shrugged and hunched over in thought. He'd never had good posture and it only served to accentuate his hefty paunch. “Could be a tattoo, but its unlikely cause only an idiot with a death wish would agree to tattoo a fake taiyokai mark. So you talked to Sesshomaru huh?”

She nodded and felt the bump on her head with her fingertips. Damn thing only seemed to be growing. “Yeah, I went to the house.”

“Really and you have all your limbs intact. He must like you. Get any dirt?” There was no denying it. Her uncle's mind lived in the gutter.

Kagome wondered how dangerous Sesshomaru really was. She'd approached him knowing he was an unsavory character but would he really kill an unarmed woman in broad daylight? “Yeah actually, he really hates Inuyasha and claims to want him dead. It's an old feud but he can't be serious.”

Myoga asked, “And why's that?”

She pursed her lips, “Because he hasn't killed him yet and I know he's had ample opportunity. I think it's a sibling rivalry thing.” She decided to leave out the part where she'd spoken to Inuyasha when he'd held her hostage in her apartment. There were just some things Myoga didn't need to know about.

He scoffed, “Yeah but those yokai aren't like us. He hates his brother because he's half human and probably will kill him if he can. He's just waiting for the perfect moment. So how'd he treat you?”

Kagome was tired and misunderstood the question. “Inuyasha?”

“I meant Sesshomaru but why, have you see our man Inu?” He leaned forward on the rickety chair in hopeful anticipation. A sighting of Inuyasha meant that he hadn't left town and that would be a world of good news for Myoga.

Opps, she'd let more slip than she'd meant to, Kagome was quick to lie, “No, of course not. Sesshomaru was rude but he wasn't violent.” Yet, course once he catches up to me in the Jeep that could all change.

Myoga commented, “So you ripped off Inu's Jeep. I know big bro wasn't too happy about that. Bet he was planning on keeping it for himself.”

“I'll just bet he was. But it's too late to worry about that now.” Kagome closed her eyes.

The cutting tone in Myoga's voice pried her heavy lids open. “You wanted this and I went along with it but you don't know.”

“Don't know what?”

He whispered, “How dangerous that family is, way too much for you to get mixed up in. I never should've agreed to this. Your ma is so gonna shit a brick over this one.”

“I grew up only a few streets over from them, remember? I know how bad they think they are but I doubt they really are paid killers.” Kagome thought back to all the rumors, whispers and calls on the police scanner her grandmother Kaede listened to.

The Inu boy's escapades were infamous. Petty drugs, alcohol, ticket scalping, racing, fight clubs and good old fashioned extortion via protection money scams, they'd tried them all and gotten off each time because of their `family' connections.

Myoga cleared his throat. “Well we are in this together as a family. That's what counts.” He was hoping to tug at her heart strings but they were much shorter than he knew. Two attempts on a girl's life in one day tended to toughen her pity reserves.

Watching him trying to assuage his guilty conscious was the last straw. Kagome put the folder on her bedside tray. “I'll go over these later.”

Nurse Ratchet appeared in the doorway. “Time's up!” She crossed her arms, tapped her white shoe against the tile floor and waited for him to vacate the room.

Myoga stood and pulled his the waist of his pants up. “Guess that's my cue.” He put a thick hand on Kagome's shoulder. “Hang in there girlie and I'll see ya in the office tomorrow.”

She nodded and watched Ratchet shut the door behind him. The nurse, whose real name was Hope, shut the blinds and left Kagome to sit in the blissful darkness.

_-_-_

Once Kagome was alone her mind wouldn't shut down and let her rest. Frantic thoughts beat against the inside of her skull. Whatever trouble Inuyasha was up to his ass in was much worse than just skipping bail. Now people were shooting at her and blowing up her crappy POS car.

What was the worst thing that could happen if she quit this gig?

She'd lose her apartment, her independence and what was left of her credit rating. She'd move back in with her mother into her old room. If she kept perusing Inuyasha she might end up dead. In fact she was certain of it. After all two attempts on her life in less than four hours, it was unlikely she live through another day. As she had no life insurance and poor Bartleby couldn't be left to face the cold, cruel world on his own; the decision was an obvious one.

Screw this, I quit!

Kagome pushed down a small tinge of guilt about Myoga going under. It wasn't her fault he made the bad decision to fund the Inu deal. He would've gone under even if she'd never asked him for a job.

She sunk down deep into the crisp hospital pillows. For someone who was a complete failure she was filled with…relief. Just the act of giving up was freeing. The fight didn't matter anymore. Her car was destroyed; most of her possessions were already pawned. She still had her hedgehog, clothing and her shoes. What more did a girl need?

_-_-_-_

High school senior year:

The door bell rang as she was sitting at the kitchen table trying to decipher her chemistry homework. Kagome opened the old front door and was surprised to see a boy standing on her brick stoop.

He lifted his golden eyes to hers and she recognized him instantly.

Inuyasha.

His jeans were torn and his long shock of silver, hair shone against the old, cracked, black leather of his jacket that was the very definition of cool rebellion.

“Ka-go-mae right?” He sounded out her name as though it was the first time it'd passed his lips, though surely he knew her from school. He was in her gym class for Christ sakes and only lived maybe three streets over. The afternoon sun glinted off his long canines but that may have been only in her imagination.

“Yeah?” She leaned against the doorway feeling silly in her faded jean skirt and old New Kids on the Block, Hanging Tough tour t-shirt. The danger she'd longed to court a taste of had finally come knocking at her door and here she was wearing an old boy band T-shirt.

He popped a wad of chewing gum and his white furry ears twitched as he studied her face. Kagome's fingers itched to touch those ears. “I wanna use your phone.”

“Umm what for?” It was a silly question but her mom would kill her if she came home and found a strange boy in the house.

“Well actually I'm going house to house taking a phone census… what the fuck do you think I need it for?”

She licked her bottom lip, “I meant is there some kind of emergency?”

His golden eyes flashed and he pulled his eyes away to her dad's faded garden gnome that guarded the front door. “That thing is so gay.”

“Yeah it is but…is something wrong?” Kagome nervously wound a strand of hair around her finger, “do you need help?”

He sighed, “Nahh. The old man's in a rut and I need to call… our uncle. Can't do it at home. Saw you in the window and remembered we got a class together.” He lifted a quizzical black eyebrow.

“Right?”

“We do, gym class, but you're never there.” Kagome didn't know why she'd said that. She crossed her arms over her ridiculous t-shirt trying to appear smug and superior.

He laughed. “You're right. It sucks so I don't go. So can I come in already?”

She gave in. He was obviously in some kind of trouble and it was only one phone call. What could go wrong? “I guess so, but hurry up.”

Kagome led him into her family's tiny town house kitchen and directed him to the lonely beige phone that hung on the wall next to the side by side fridge.

Inuyasha's call was short and contained so many expletives she was reminded how lucky she was to have a somewhat sane family life. Whoever he was speaking to it wasn't an uncle, at least not one he liked or needed help from.

Kagome turned her back to him and washed dishes pretending not to listen but like a car wreck it was impossible to miss. The boy's life was a living hell; now wonder he was always in trouble. She had to remind herself the `boy' was two years older than her and more man than boy. In fact the longer she watched him as he leaned back against the wall in the tight t-shirt with one hand in the pocket of his torn jeans she felt an incurable case of bad boy syndrome taking full effect.

Finally the call was finished and he replaced the receiver with a clang. Inuyasha slumped against the fridge and sighed. Then he asked, “Got anything round here to drink?”

Before Kagome could offer him soda or tea he had the fridge open was pulling out a bottle of her father's Yuengling lager. He popped the cap off on her counter and drank deeply.

She protested, “No! You can't drink my dad's beer.” Her heart sped up in her chest as she imagined the trouble she was heading for if they got caught. The possibility of getting busted was a surprising head rush.

“Shit, you really are a pussy aren't ya?” He watched her from the corner of a half closed eye as he once again tilted back the beer.

“I am not!” She knew she was but it still hurt to be accused of it out loud. This Kagome, the seventeen year old version didn't believe in taking risks. But wasn't letting this guy into her home a risk?

“Then prove it.” He pulled out another beer and tossed it gingerly to Kagome who caught it. When it became obvious she didn't know how to open it he retrieved it and pulled off the cap with a key from his pocket. Inuyasha passed it back to Kagome. “Now drink.”

As usual she did as instructed. The beer was lukewarm because her father had only placed it in the fridge an hour before leaving for the store. The warm, foamy bitter beer filled her mouth and she forced herself to swallow the vile liquid. It'sso horrible, what did anyone see in this stuff?

Kagome made a face and Inuyasha laughed. “Don't like it huh? It's an acquired taste.”

He pulled out a few more beers and stuffed them in the inner pockets of his jacket. Kagome resented his theft of the beer but didn't know how to protest. “Shouldn't you be going?”

He took one swaggering step towards her. “Not just yet; might need a few more of these first.” He frowned then reached out and ran a rough fingertip down the bridge of her nose. “Hey, you're kinda pretty.”

No boy had ever said such a thing to her before. She blushed and Inuyasha leaned in close then brushed his warm lips against hers in a fast chaste kiss. A heat Kagome wasn't familiar with trickled down her body filling her belly. She'd kissed other boys before but none of the other kisses had felt like this.

He kissed her again and she felt the sharp tips of his fangs brushing over the softness of her bottom lip. The sensations were completely new and instantly addictive. Suddenly it didn't matter so much that they were drinking her father's beer and breaking all the rules. His clawed fingertips skimmed her belly just under the hem of her shirt. All Kagome wanted now, was more.

She said nothing and when Inuyasha took her human hand in his pulling her towards the squeaky back door that led to the backyard she went willingly.

_-_-_-_

Notes:

Nurse Ratchet is a famous character from the Oscar winning movie and book One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.