InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Guilty As Charged ❯ Inner Wounds ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Guilty As Charged

Chapter Five:

INNER WOUNDS

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Kagome clenched her teeth. If he swung his foot and hit that metal chair one more time, she'd-

Thump.

That did it. That absolutely did it. If Inuyasha was a normal guy, she would have yelled at him at least five minutes ago. But now-murderer or not, he was about to get it.

She cleared her throat. "Hey…can you stop that, please?"

God, she sounded like a timid school kid with a crush.

He glared at her, the thumping not ceasing.

Kagome clenched her hands, restraining herself from bursting out with a stream of epithets. She was majorly ticked off today-she really did not want to be here right now, and now that she was going to be late coming home…getting the third degree was a given.

That little episode in the hallway wasn't Inuyasha's fault-he all but fell out of his cell, but still-he wasn't helping her mood any.

"Look," she snapped. "That's getting really annoying. I know you're anxious to tell them your side of the story, but sitting there banging on the chair isn't going to make them decide any faster."

He still didn't answer, although the thumping sound did slow a bit.

The two of them were sitting in the reception area with Miroku (who was slumped in his chair, apparently asleep, with his headphones blaring out music), waiting for the guard and the director to emerge from the Director's Office and ask them what happened.

Kagome shifted uncomfortably, unsure what to do with the sudden silence. She'd never had trouble starting conversations before… but what exactly could she and Inuyasha possibly discuss? She could almost hear the possible conversation. Nice weather we're having lately… -Yeah, too bad I'm locked up in the center most of the day. How's your love life going? -Oh not too bad-just murdered my old lover, haven't been in a serious relationship since. You have any hobbies? -As of now, just beating up other demons and terrorizing the secretary.

"So… your name's Inuyasha Takahashi?" Kagome winced as soon as the words left her mouth. Lame, lame, lame!

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Cut the act, bitch-everyone who watches the news knows my name."

"Is your last name Japanese?" One of Kagome's nervous habits was to talk. She could make small talk with everyone from the school janitor to the two year old Dennis-the-Menace if it would calm her nerves.

"Sure."

"Was that a 'yes' or a 'no'?"

"Whatever works for you, darling," he drawled.

Kagome frowned. So much for conversation making. Maybe she'd better talk for a bit. "I was just asking because my name is-Higurashi-and if two people come from the same place, it kind of, you know, bonds them."

He gave her a slanted look. "You normally go around 'bonding' with criminals?"

"I haven't met any-besides you, that is," she said honestly.

"Let me give you a piece of advice, sweetheart: we're criminals for a reason. There aren't many 'good people' in prison." He snickered.

"That's such a generic term," said Kagome. "'Good.' I think everyone has some good in them."

"Just some more than others?" he finished, a mocking smile on his face.

"Exactly," she said earnestly. She was always trying to run this theory on her friends, but hit a dead-end every time. "Everyone has good in them-but sometimes unavoidable circumstances hit a person, forcing them to take actions which are not viewed by the majority of the public as 'good.'"

"I beg to differ," he said, giving her a superior smirk. "I have known many people that throughout their whole pampered, rich lives have been bad."

"But that's a circumstance, isn't it?" Kagome countered. "Their circumstance was luxury. They took advantage of their luxury and made bad choices."

"What about me?" Inuyasha retorted. "I could have turned out good. I just chose not to."

"W-well-" Kagome hesitated. How exactly did she reply to that? "I'm sure you have a good reason for…"

He whipped his head around and glared at her with such force that she jerked back a bit. "For murdering Kikyo?" he snarled.

"Uh-"

"That's what you were going to say, weren't you?"

"Well…yeah…" Why deny it? He couldn't kill her when the director was just inside, right? And Miroku was here to protect her, being the wrestling champion that he was. Although… Kagome glanced at the bulging muscles beneath the standard-issue uniform of the juvenile center: red scrubs that looked like they'd been stolen out of an Emergency Room supply room.

"Let me tell you something, little girl," he said, crossing his arms and staring at her with an unreadable expression. "I-" He stopped and his brow furrowed; he appeared to be in deep concentration. "I'm going to try something," he said slowly, leaning back into his chair so that he was comfortable. "I'm going to tell you the truth."

". . . H-huh?" The truth? What, does that mean everything else he's been telling me was a lie?

"I'm going to tell you my side of the story-the complete truth, not leaving anything out. All I ask is that you listen. You can accept my story as the truth; you can dismiss it as complete bullshit; I really don't care what you do, considering I don't give a damn about you. Got that?"

"Yeah," she said, a tad resentful about that last statement. She was a little befuddled at his sudden declaration, and, truth to be told, at the moment she thought him to be more guilty than innocent, but what could it hurt to listen? "Tell away."

He took a deep breath before starting. "First off, I need you to understand something: Kikyo Ito was a normal girl-she was no different than you, or any friends you may have. She was probably better than all of you combined. The only different was she was a prostitute. But before you start jumping to hasty conclusions," he gave her a look as he said this, "the only reason she 'defiled herself' in this way was so she could survive. Her abusive dad left her when she was a kid, and her mom worked minimum wage at some dumpy company. It was either do that or starve. That supports your choices theory, right?"

He didn't wait for her to answer. "I met her in a church. My suck-up bastard of a brother was trying to impress his boss and get a promotion, so I hung around that place a lot. Met her there one day, listening to the choir sing. The look on her face was one of…rapture, I guess you could say. She was-ashamed of herself. Ashamed. She had nothing to be ashamed of. She was the only real person I'd ever met."

"Real?" Kagome couldn't help but interrupt.

"She didn't play games. She didn't hide behind a mask to make people like her. People hated her-there was nothing she could do to change that." He frowned. "Tell me, girl, what would you do if people hated you? Would you try and make them like you, or keep doing what you've always been doing?"

"In…my situation? Or in hers?"

"Yours. Hers. Does it really matter? Does it matter if she didn't stop being a prostitute, or if you don't stop lying to your mother? What's the difference, really?" He stared at the wall.

So did he kill her or not? Kagome thought.

"I asked her to marry me," he said, "after I found out that the pimp was taking advantage of her."

Kagome squeaked.

"Sorry, little girl, am I putting bad thoughts in your head? Apologize to your mommy for me."

"I'm not offended," she said hurriedly, annoyed that he persisted in calling her a "little girl." They were the same age, after all. "Go on, please."

"I asked her to marry me. She didn't think I was sincere-she rejected me. I stormed out of her room and made it out onto the street before I was struck with a conscience." He laughed bitterly. "So I ran back upstairs, ready to apologize to her and found her face down on the bed. Stabbed to death." He expelled a breath. "The ring I'd offered to her was crushed-ground into fine powder. The police stormed into the room and found me there. You know the rest."

"How do you know she was murdered?" Kagome asked. "What if it was suicide?"

"It didn't look like suicide," he said. "The stab wounds were at an angle that would have been impossible for her to do to herself. Believe me, that was the first tactic my lawyer tried."

"Then how do you explain the ring?"

"No one knew about the ring."

"You mean you didn't tell them?"

He gave her a look. "No."

"Why not? That could have been your saving grace; maybe the person who killed her was mad that you proposed to her. Maybe they wanted her all themselves."

"Or perhaps the prosecutor would use it against me, saying that I was so enraged by her refusal that I was driven to murder. Use you brain, girl."

Kagome saw his point. But then… could she really believe him? How could she possibly know if he was telling the truth? He sounded candid and honest-but like he said, he wasn't in a juvenile reform center for nothing.

"Maybe it was the pimp," she tried. "Perhaps he didn't like you infringing on his…goods…"

"Aren't you the clever one?" he said mockingly. "Fancy yourself to be the next Nancy Drew, huh?" He rolled his eyes. "Onigumo was the first suspect that came to mind."

"Onigumo…" she repeated. Why did that name sound so familiar? "Wait…" she said hesitantly. "Wasn't he the guy that was involved in that scandal a few years ago for illegally importing children from orphanages in Asiaand putting them in his brothels?"

He gave her a sharp look. "What?"

"I read it in the newspaper a year or two ago. It said that this man by the name 'Onigumo'-supposedly that wasn't his real name, no one knows what that is-was buying orphan girls around thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen for obscenely low prices and putting them in his brothels. Sick monster," she said, shuddering. "But I thought he'd gone to jail."

"Really. I hadn't heard about that one." Inuyasha had that distant look in his eyes again. "Interesting…"

"So…you think it was this man who murdered Kikyo?"

Inuyasha smirked at her, his golden eyes flashing. "Girl, it coulda been anyone. Hell, it was probably some random person off the street who'd seen her the night before and felt like killing someone. No one knows who it was."

"But you want to find out, don't you," she stated.

He gave her another one of those God-you're-stupid looks. "Duh."

"Mr. Takahashi." The director stepped out of his office. "You may tell your side of the story now."

Inuyasha immediately adopted a lazy look, crossing his legs and folding his hands behind his head. "Sure. Whatcha want to know?"

"From the eyes of the guard, you were assaulting this young woman right here; you were found on top of her, after her screams had echoed down the hallway a few moments before. What have you to say to this?"

"Sir." Kagome hastily jumped out of her chair. "May I say something please?"

"After Mr. Takahashi has finished, Miss Higurashi."

"But sir-"

"Sit."

Kagome's legs buckled and she sat down hard in her chair. Inuyasha snorted. "Sit, girl!" he mimicked.

"I'm doing this for you, moron," she hissed.

"Continue, Mr. Takahashi."

"I heard a big ruckus in the hallway. Leaned against the bars to see what it was. Saw that wolf trying to force himself on the girl. The door swung open and I fell on top of the girl; the Wimpy Wolf ran away with his tail between his legs."

"The door popped open?" The director raised a brow. "The cells are locked at all times."

Inuyasha shrugged. "I'm tellin' my side of the story."

"I see." He turned to Kagome. "And you, Miss…?"

"Just like he said: the wolf boy was hugging me-not assaulting me, just being a little too forward-his cell door flew open and he fell on top of me."

"The wolf boy? You mean Koga?"

"I believe that's his name," drawled Inuyasha.

"And he…was not assaulting you," the director said slowly, as if speaking to a retarded child.

Kagome simmered. Why was it that everyone here assumed she was an airhead? "No, sir. Just hugging me."

"Which is out-of-bounds for any inmate. They are not allowed to touch volunteers under any circumstances. I will deal with him accordingly." He turned to Inuyasha. "You are free to leave, Mr. Takahashi."

"Thanks, Baldy."

Kagome quickly turned her laugh into a cough.

Inuyasha gave her an inscrutable look and saluted her with two fingers. "Later." Then he turned and sauntered out of the waiting room.

The director's face darkened as he watched the hanyou exit. "I believe you have fulfilled your requirement for the day, Miss Higurashi. You are free to leave as well."

"Thank you, sir."

"I will make a call to Ms. Johnston explaining the situation."

"Um…thanks…" she said suspiciously. Just how would he make the situation sound? "Should I have you sign my paper now…?"

"Give it to Ms. Ursuae next week; she'll fill everything out." He motioned for the guard to return to the office and the two of them disappeared.

Kagome sighed and moved to wake Miroku. What stories she'd have to tell to her friends tomorrow…

Shippo bounced off the bed the minute Inuyasha entered the cell. "What happened, Inuyasha?" he yelled. "Didja get in trouble? Are you gonna be thrown out? What happened to the girl?"

"Koga's busted. I was let off the hook. Stop bothering me, runt, I'm tired."

Shippo refused to let the hanyou's cool manner discourage him. "What happened to Kagome?" he repeated.

"The girl? She went home."

"Is she ever gonna come back?"

"I doubt it. She's probably scarred for life." He flopped onto the mattress-if it deserved to be called even that-and closed his eyes. He probably scared the living daylights out of her. What had prompted him to go and tell his sob story like that? He didn't expect her to believe it-she probably still thought him a heartless murderer.

Still, it was amusing to see her try and find evidence to prove him innocent. Looked as if she had some brains underneath that beauty. Although it was more of a cuteness-Kikyo had been coolly beautiful-the similarity between her and his love was remarkable.

He fleetingly wondered if she was coming back. If she was foolish enough to return, he'd make sure to stay out of her way. That girl was walking trouble.

Shippo watched his cellmate drift off to sleep. He'd never met anyone so closed off to the world before. "Wonder what happened to him to make him such a meanie?" he muttered to himself.

Her homeroom seemed to be louder than usual the next day. Kagome had the biggest headache in the West Coast. Maybe it was all the stress from the day before?

"Morning, Kagome."

"Kags! You're alive! You survived juvy?"

"Barely." She dropped her books down on her desk with a thud. "Thank god it's only until graduation."

"That's what you get, you slacker," Yuka chided playfully, eating dry cereal out of a plastic baggie. "Tell us all about it."

"Erm…I'd rather not, actually…"

All three friends zeroed in. "What happened? Did you see that Inuyasha guy again?"

Damn, why did they have to be so perceptive…? "Maybe…" she evaded. "I can't really remember. It was very boring, actually. I just did more cleaning and crap." Under the desk, she crossed her fingers.

"Aww…" the three girls sighed.

"He's so hot," Eri sighed.

"And so a murderer," Ayumi reminded her.

Or maybe not… Kagome thought.

Yuka was watching her. "What's that look for?"

"Huh? What look?" She knelt down and rummaged through her backpack, producing a paperback novel.

"I dunno, it was just a funny look… oooh, what chapter are you on?" Yuka snatched the book out of Kagome's hands. "Have Fernando and Juana run into each other at the bus stop yet?"

"Uh…no…"

"Oops! I won't spoil it then!" Yuka placed the book back on the table. "I better go finish my Trig homework." She retreated to her desk on the other side of the room. Eri followed her, begging for spoilers to the end of the romance novel.

Ayumi leaned against Kagome's desk. "So how did it really go, Kagome?"

"Huh? I told you-"

"Yeah, you saw Inuyasha again. It's so obvious. What'd he do this time? Insult you again?"

"Well, yeah, of course. But he did tell me his side of the story."

"What do you mean?"

"Like, he told me about Kikyo. And how he didn't kill her."

Ayumi shook her head. "Probably trying to convince himself of his guilt. My dad says it's common, actually-sometimes the quilt is so much to bear that convicts will start fabricating stories to support their so-called 'innocence.'"

Is that what Inuyasha was doing? Kagome didn't want to think so. Although he was crass…and rude…and cynical… she wanted to believe that inside he was a good guy. She thought back to their conversation. After a while, he had lost a bit of his defensiveness. He'd still been insulting and rude…but he'd been more open. More like a normal guy.

"Kagome-chan?" Eri appeared by her side. "You have a dreamy look on your face," she said in Japanese.

Ayumi sighed. "C'mon, Eri, not that Japanese stuff again. You keep doing that and I'm going to burn off your ears with Yiddish."

"I do not have a dreamy look on my face," Kagome answered in a less perfected Japanese, not wanting Ayumi to understand her.

"You were thinking of Inuyasha weren't you?" Eri grinned.

"God, no! At least not in the way you're suggesting. Get it through your head-he's a criminal!"

"He's really hot though. And Fernando was a criminal too-but once Juana saw through his façade and came to know the real him…"

Kagome felt her cheeks begin to burn. The scenario was too close to her own thoughts for comfort. What were you thinking, girl? That you could possibly get under his skin and be his "saving grace"? Yeah right. Time for a good dose of reality, Kagome.

"He's a criminal. I'm volunteering. I'm going to off to UCLA in two months time and then I'll never see the idiot again. End of story."

As if asserting its agreement, the bell rang, sending students scrambling for their desks.

Ayumi and Eri ran back to their seats, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts.

Really, Kagome, she scolded herself as the teacher began to take roll, you need to get a hold of your foolish musings. He's dangerous-you don't know what he's really like inside. Be careful around him…there's just something about him that spells trouble.

Sango dully picked at her cold oatmeal. The girl beside her was wolfing down the glop like there was no tomorrow. Slightly sickened, Sango pushed the bowl away. The little pig turned calculating eyes on Sango's bowl.

"It's all yours." Sango pushed the bowl towards the fat girl, who clucked in glee and started spooning oatmeal out of both bowls…at the same time.

Urgh. Sango leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling, fully aware that she still had 25 minutes until breakfast was over and morning lessons would begin. She wished she could go sit in the library until the 25 minutes were up…but that was absolutely forbidden. Verboten, she thought dryly, her mind dredging up unwanted history lessons on World War Two. Normal school was bad enough, but these "classes" they held put her to sleep-especially since she'd already learned most of the curriculum they taught.

She apathetically looked around the cafeteria, her eyes scanning over the inmates. Her gaze fell on one boy who was sitting at the farthest table towards the wall, sullenly eating his oatmeal. He looked angry. Very angry. Sango followed his gaze and found it was resting on a hanyou who was idly stirring his spoon through his bowl. If eyes were lasers, the hanyou would be pierced full of holes by now.

Wonder what he did to piss the wolf demon off? she thought absently. She scooted as far away from the piggish girl as she could, counting the minutes until breakfast was over.

"Bye guys-see you tomorrow." Kagome waved to her friends and looked around for Miroku's car. She heard a honk behind her; Miroku was waving at her out of his window. She smiled and waved back, walking towards his car, when she noticed her friends.

They were standing stock still, their eyes wide and mouths hanging open.

Kagome was perplexed for a minute, and then understanding dawned. "N-no!" she cried, holding up her hands. "This isn't what it looks like!"

"Kagome!" Ayumi shrieked. "Are you out of your mind?!"

"You're Miroku's flavor of the week?" Yuka spluttered. "I don't believe you!"

"Is this why you've been so 'blah' about Hojo?" demanded Eri. "Not to mention Inuyasha?!"

"Inuyasha?" Miroku quirked a brow. "Is there something going on between you and the delinquent?"

"NO!" Kagome shouted. "My friends think he's hot! It obviously hasn't penetrated through their heads that he's a murderer-" She stopped. Did she really believe that? She so wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt… after all, he was human. Well…sort of. She didn't like him all that much aside from his looks… but he just had this lost air around him…

"Let's just go," she muttered, going around the car to climb in the passenger seat. She'd leave her friends to come to their own conclusions. If she was lucky, they'd all go crazy with speculation before she returned home and she could purposely turn off her cell phone and stay offline, just to get them back.

"What was that all about?" Miroku asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"Just get me to freaking juvy."

"Hello." Renkotsu listened carefully to the man on the other side of the line. "Ah… I see. You took care of him, naturally?... Yes, yes, we wouldn't want that to happen. Good work, Kuykotsu, you'll be rewarded." He placed the phone in the receiver and smiled sadistically. "Perhaps once Inuyasha Takahashi is told that his beloved lawyer is dead, he'll be content to stay in juvy for the duration of his sentence… or longer?"

Shichi tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Now… how to possibly convince the judges to extend his sentence?" He glanced down at the safe beneath his feet. "Actually, the more appropriate question would be: how much money will it take?"

Sango casually strolled down the corridors of the center, looking as if she had a destination. If you looked safe, confident, and moody, no one bothered you. It was only those inmates that jumped at the sound of a door closing or whose eyes shifted a mile a minute.

She nodded to the security guard and shoved her hands in the pockets of her pink scrubs. Pink. They had to give her pink. That was a higher indignity than being put in juvy in the first place.

Kohaku…how are you doing? Is that monster of a woman hurting you? She bit her lip as she pushed the door to the office open. No, Sango, don't think about that.

Two surprised faces turned to look at her as she pushed the door open. Sango froze in the doorway, unsure of what to make of these two teens. The girl looked vaguely familiar; the guy she hadn't seen at all. But from the look in his eyes, she was certain she wouldn't want to run into him again.

"Hello," she said cautiously.

"Good afternoon," the girl replied cheerfully.

"He-e-ey," the guy said, stretching out the word as his eyes ran up and down her body.

She blanched and took a step backwards. Oh no you didn't…

"Are you all right?" the girl asked, her brown eyes wide with concern.

"Fine." Sango shot the guy an icy glare, hoping that he'd get the message to stay away.

He didn't. "My name is Miroku," he said, reaching for her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you-"

"Touch me and I will personally make sure you cannot reproduce," she said coldly. "Capisce?"

His eyes widened in shock, although he recovered quickly. "Understood."

The girl was now looking at her companion with incredulity. "Miroku-is it possible for you to go a whole day without groping a female? Just one?"

"That's twenty-four hours," he replied seriously. "Don't you think that's a little cruel?"

"You spend at least eight hours sleeping!"

"And even then I get slapped; I never have pleasant dreams, only nightmares," he sighed.

"Hopeless," she muttered. "I apologize for his behavior-he has a severe lack of willpower. I think someday they'll make a special condition, named just for him."

Sango smiled tightly. "It's okay." At least the girl was friendly. Come to think of it, she hadn't acted arrogant or superior at all; Sango hadn't been treated like a normal person in days. It was a nice breath of fresh air, she realized.

Her eyes darted to the male, who was looking at her again. I guess every silver lining has its cloud…

The front door opened and the plump old secretary waddled in. "Good gracious," she groused, shuffling behind the counter. "I leave for five minutes and there's already a line of people. Miss Taijiya, what are you doing out of your cell? It's not recreation hour."

"I'd like to speak with the Director, please."

"You spoke with him yesterday."

"He said to come back today."

"Mr. Takahashi has an appointment today. You'll have to wait." She rubbed her forehead. "My word, the two of you are persistent. I think you'd drive the devil himself insane."

"The accusation's not far off," said Sango under her breath.

The girl giggled appreciatively. The lecher hid a smile behind his hand.

"And what do you two want?" the secretary snapped, focusing her beady eyes on the two teens.

"Um, I'm Kagome, remember? I'm here to volunteer-"

"Oh yes, that's right. Welcome to the juvenile reform center, enjoy your stay here, and all that shit."

Beside her, the guy named Miroku snorted.

"Sign in here." The secretary nearly threw a pen at Kagome, who fumbled to catch it. "Clipboard's hanging on the wall."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And you." She nodded at Miroku. "What're you here for, boy? Please don't tell me you're volunteering too-I'll have to kill myself."

"That would be a shame. No, I'm just the chauffer. I'll hang out in the waiting room until Kagome's done, if that's all right with you."

"Sorry, no loitering," she said immediately. "Go wait in the car."

"But…you said it was okay yesterday."

"That was yesterday. Things change. I have a migraine. You're annoying me. Go."

"I won't make any noise," he protested.

"Boy-"

The door from the hall banged open and a striking hanyou with piercing gold eyes walked in. Sango recollected seeing him once or twice at mealtimes.

"Yo, Witch," he said, strolling up to the counter. "I'm here to see the Director." He then noticed the girl named Kagome, who suddenly looked very nervous. "You again?" he demanded.

"Yeah, me again," she said defiantly, sticking out her chin.

He regarded her for a moment or two and then turned back to the secretary. "Is he ready?"

"Is…who ready?"

"The Director, dimwit."

Rather rude, Sango thought absently. She was busy trying to keep her distance from the lecher, who was watching the exchange with interest.

"He's having his lunch."

"But I made an appointment."

"And you shall have it-just a few minutes late."

"Look, lady, if someone as anal as the director schedules an appointment, I expect it to be kept-"

"Mr. Takahashi." The director stood in the doorway to his office. "You may come in now."

"Bout time." Without a backward glance, the hanyou ambled into the office.

The door closed.

The secretary sighed and turned to Sango. "You may as well leave; I doubt you'll be seeing the director today."

"But yesterday he told me to-"

"You really think he's going to be in the mood to see anyone after talking to that terror? Leave, Miss Taijiya. Miss Higurashi, your first task of the day will be to escort Miss Taijiya to her…literature class, is it?"

"If that's what you want to call it." More like an incompetent teacher rambling about complete bullshit.

"Go on now." The secretary waved her hand towards the door.

Kagome stood awkwardly by the door. "Shall we…go then?"

"Whatever." Sango threw open the door and walked out into the hallway. She didn't need an escort, but as long as it made the girl feel useful…

Kagome trailed behind her a bit. "Um…my name's Kagome."

"I know."

Silence.

"What's your name?"

"Sango."

"That's pretty."

Sango grunted. They turned the corner.

"So…um… how old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Really? I'm seventeen."

Sango didn't answer. Kagome was trying her best to be friendly and make conversation, but really, what did they have in common to talk about? Not school, not classes, not boys, not TV, not music… And if that girl asked what she was in here for, Sango thought she would backhand her.

To her credit, Kagome didn't ask.

Although…

"So, you have any siblings?"

Sango stopped at a dead halt. Kagome slammed into her back. "Are you okay-?"

"I have one brother," Sango said in a hushed voice, with her back still turned to Kagome. "Named Kohaku."

"Oh. I…"

"I should be with him right now, taking care of him, but instead I'm stuck in this hellhole because some son-of-a-bitch tried to rape me and I killed him in self defense, only the judges are too stupid to see who the real villains are around this town."

Kagome gulped. "I'm…sorry…"

"Not your fault," she grunted, resuming her original pace.

Kagome hesitantly trailed behind. "Is this…uh…does you brother have anything to do with…why you want to see the director?"

Sango tensed. "Maybe," she hedged. Why is she so interested?

"You want to see him don't you?"

"No, of course I don't," Sango said sarcastically.

Kagome would not be deterred. "Won't they let you call him? Maybe he could come during visiting hours-"

"That's what's killing me!" Sango whirled around. The two girls were standing in a hallway of half-empty cells. The occupants of the cells looked at the exchange with mild interest. "He doesn't know where the hell I am or what's happened to me! I stayed in a cell the night before my trial and then I was transported directly here. They wouldn't let me contact him. He's probably worrying his brains out, wondering why I haven't come to see him for over two weeks; that or he's lying on his bed, gasping for breath because the damn Foster Mother beats her 'kids.'"

The only sound Kagome made was a sharp intake of breath. "That's…awful…" she finally said. "But can't you call him now?"

"Prisoners aren't allowed to make contact with the outside world," she said bitterly. "Only they can come see us."

Kagome was silent for a minute, with a look of concentration on her face. "What if," she said slowly, "I found your brother for you and brought him here? Or at least explained to him what's going on?"

Sango stared at her. "How would you find him?"

"I can drive. Tell me where he lives-I'll relay a message to him. Or pick him up and drive him to visiting hours."

"You'd…do that?"

She shrugged. "More community service hours for me."

Sango got the distinct feeling that Kagome was playing things down. "I don't think you'd want to go to that neighborhood."

"I took a self-defense class."

Sango laughed derisively. "Right. I practiced my self-defense skills every day and look where I ended up."

"I'll bring my friend along; he's captain of the wrestling team."

"I'd feel better if he was the head of a street gang."

"He knows hand-to-hand combat."

"Does he have a gun?"

This gave her pause. "I can ask him…"

"Look, Kagome, I'm sure you mean well, but-"

"No. I want to do this. I have a little brother too, and I can't imagine not knowing if he's okay, or being helpless to protect him. Tell me where to find him."

She hesitated, but presently gave in to the determined look on Kagome's face. "It's in the bad part of town. The west side of the tracks."

"Okay."

This girl is either a saint or an idiot. Sango gave her directions to the foster home and the "Please, please do not forget to bring your boyfriend," said Sango. "I don't think I could forgive myself if you got killed. Or worse."

"What's worse than being killed?"

Lord, you are an innocent. "Don't worry about it. Just…be careful."

"I will. Don't worry."

"Hey now…what's going on here?" A security guard appeared from around the corner and frowned in their direction.

"Escorting Sango back to her cell," Kagome said, giving the guard a smile. "At least, that's what the receptionist told me to do. Is that satisfactory?"

The guard shrugged stupidly. "If Miz Ursue told ya, I guess it's good."

Kagome looped her arm through Sango's. "Let's go, shall we?"

Sango managed a smile smile.

It was humiliation like Sango had never known to have Kagome lock her into a cell. A girl her own age. She'd never felt more like a delinquent.

"Guess this is it for today," said Kagome, giving Sango a smile. "I'll come and visit you tomorrow, okay? Hopefully the guards won't yell at me for talking."

Sango smiled wanly.

"I'll try and get your brother tomorrow after school. My friend's driving me here anyhow, so that'll kill two birds with one stone."

She only nodded this time.

"Well…bye!" Kagome waved and walked away.

Sango watched until she disappeared around the corner.

"Don't get your hopes up," she whispered to herself, resting her head against the barred door. She means well, I'm sure…but she'll forget about her promise-the next time she comes, she'll apologize, again promise to try and find him…but nothing will actually be accomplished. Surely her mother won't willing let her go into that part of town.

She sighed and slid down into a sitting position, languidly gazing at nothing.

I wonder why she was so nice to me?

"I'm afraid I have some regretful news, Mr. Takahashi."

"Oh?" Inuyasha leaned back in his chair, crossing his ankles. The girl-Kagome. She'd come back. She must really need those hours. Strangely, it comforted him to see that she came back. He scowled and forced her out of his mind. Think about intimidating this bastard, not the girl. "And what would that be?"

The director had pasted a forced frown on sympathy on his face. "Your lawyer, Mr. Myoga McCormick, passed away about a week ago. This would explain why he hadn't contacted you."

Inuyasha's chair crashed down on the floor. "What?"

"Heart attack. The old age and obesity got to him, would be my guess."

"Don't disrespect a dead man, you scum!" Inuyasha slammed his fist down on the director's desk, seething.

"No need to lose your temper, boy," the director said coolly. "People die; it's a natural part of life." His eyes gleamed evilly. "Or perhaps not so…natural…sometimes, no?"

"I will ignore that insinuation," Inuyasha said through gritted teeth. "Find me another lawyer."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Mr. Takahashi."

"And why not?"

"You and every other person in this center wants a lawyer to bust them out on some line in a legal code that was deceptively twisted and bent. There is a long line of inmates whose circumstances grant that the center can find them lawyers…but I don't see you getting one in the near future."

"You can't refuse to find me a lawyer."

"I'm not. I'm simply saying that I cannot, at the present time, find you one; and I suspect you do not have the funds to hire one, anyhow."

"Wanna bet? My half-brother is Sesshomaru Takahashi. He has money and influence."

"Naturally we will contact him regarding his attachment to you," he said smoothly, "but at the moment, Mr. Takahashi, all you can do is wait. I will send your condolences to Mr. McCormick."

"This is bullshit," Inuyasha growled.

"Welcome to jail, punk. Glad you've finally made it to reality."

Kagome paused her scrubbing when the door behind her banged rather forcibly. A pair of angry footsteps stopped just behind her. She swallowed and continued scrubbing the filthy drain in the middle of the concrete floor. She was suddenly thankful that she'd changed into jeans before coming here-for more reasons than one.

"Still here?" the voice behind her growled.

She stilled. "Inuyasha."

"What up," he said sarcastically. He leaned against the bars of the cell.

"N-not much," she said. "Is this your cell?"

"Hasn't changed since the day I got it." He looked down at her. "How come you're still here?"

"I need hours, remember?"

"You haven't gotten them all yet?"

"So I'm a slacker. Sue me."

"Only if you have a lawyer that you're sure won't croak on you."

"Huh?" She looked up at him.

He was scowling at his feet. "Damn…that's one I hadn't planned on…"

"Your lawyer died?"

"Yeah. There goes my chance of getting out of this place."

"Can't you get another one?" she tried. Honestly, she knew nothing about the logistics of hiring lawyers, but it was worth a try. As long as he wasn't insulting her…

"Could," he grumbled, "if my half-brother didn't hate me so much. He controls my bank account."

"Oh…"

He moved closer to her, seemingly…sniffing?

"H-hey," Kagome said, jumping to her feet. "What are you doing?"

"You smell like fresh air," he murmured. His golden eyes were fixated on her. Kagome stood stock still, unblinking, ready to defend herself if he tried anything.

Then he broke eye contact and pushed the door to his cell open, shutting the door behind him.

That's…it? Kagome bit her lip. Where was the small kit that was usually in the cell? "Hey…" she ventured. "Where's that little kid?"

"The runt? Library, probably." He was lying on his cot, now, his eyes closed. "Go away. I'm tired."

Disheartened a bit, she shrugged and moved on her way. "See you tomorrow," she called as she moved down the hallway.

A small part of her wished that he would have stayed and talked to her longer. She'd made the acquaintance of that girl, Sango today-and as odd as this sounded, she hoped that the two of them could become friends. She didn't seem like a bad girl; and talking to her could knock out a good chunk of time.

Inuyasha, on the other hand…he was just too closed off to the world. Kagome's mother had always called her a healer-Kagome tried her hardest to fix problems: both her own, and other's.

It looked as if it would take more than a small band-aid to heal Inuyasha's wounds, though… His eyes spoke of a hurt that went deeper than the surface.

She pulled the loose strands of hair away from her face, wishing she'd thought to put her hair up ina ponytail. Maybe with time he could open up to her…?

Probably not. She was only going to be volunteering another two-and-a-half weeks. That wasn't enough time to gain his trust and heal his wounds.

Right, Kagome. And just how were you planning to "heal" them? Just go home and take a nap. She checked her watch. Officially, she still had three minutes left… but she figured it would take her that long to get to the parking lot anyhow.

He'd always hated his window. In his opinion, if he was going to be given a window cell at all, wouldn't it be better to have one that faced towards the back lot of the property that had actual greenery, rather than the stunning view of a dirty highway?

But now, he was oddly grateful for his wondow…

Inuyasha watched as the girl and her friend (her boyfriend, maybe?) walked out of juvy and into the parking lot. He smirked as she batted away the guy's wandering hands. That's right, girl-give the perv what for.

They climbed into the car parked nearest to the exit and drove away. Through the open window, he could see Kagome's hair flying around her face. Midnightblack hair that looks almost blue in the light. Like Kikyo's…was.

He quickly retreated from the window and returned to his cot, prepping himself for the stimulating activity of napping and lazing.

I wonder if she'll be back tomorrow? he idly wondered as he tried to form pictures out of the water stains on the ceiling. The thought of seeing her again pleased him, but at the moment, he felt too lazy to try and figure out why.

Author's Notes: ah, the sleep I lose for my readers and my muse. ^_~ Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Sorry for the long wait. I work in a cycle, focusing on updating only one fic at a time-otherwise nothing would happen. Believe me. Thanks so much to all my reviewers-I love you all!!

Next time at juvy: Kagome and Miroku go to sneak Kohaku away from the evil clutches of the foster mother for an afternoon so he can visit his sister. The following day, Miroku, escaping the wrath of a PMS-ing secretary, hides out in the library…only to find that another person is taking refuge there as well. Will she castrate him for his lecherous ways, or will he be able to convince her that not all men are of the devil?