InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Guilty As Charged ❯ Underlying Motives ( Chapter 6 )

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

Guilty As Charged

Chapter Six:

UNDERLYING MOTIVES

"Kagome, might I mention that we are on the wrong side of town?"

"No we're not-she said to cross the tracks, turn at the second stoplight…" Kagome squinted at the scrap of paper she'd scribbled directions on. "At least, I think that's what she said…"

"No, I mean this is bad. I'm pretty sure we're in the right place, but I'm just afraid we'll be jumped. Especially when they notice that my car is only two years old and both of us are dressed rather well."

Kagome looked down at her school uniform. "I hadn't thought of that… do you have any grungy clothes in your trunk or something?"

"Actually, yes, but they won't fit you."

"All the better." Stop at the nearest gas station and I'll change in the backseat."

"So all the bums can leer at you?" he said indignantly. "You can change while I'm driving. Look in my gym bag for something."

Kagome wrinkled her nose, but obeyed, climbing into the backseat. "You'd better not peek in the rearview mirror," she warned, "because if you do, we will crash."

"Ah, but I'm an expert at multi-tasking."

"Miroku-"

He sighed woefully. "I'll keep my eyes on the road."

"And off the mirror?"

"What if I need to change lanes?"

Kagome gave him a look.

"Fine, I promise not to peek," he grumbled.

"Thank you." Kagome proceeded to pull several shirts and gym shorts out of his bag. "Urgh, these all smell like a locker room…"

"Big surprise there. At least you'll blend in, right?"

"Maybe you should dress as a pimp so you can blend in, hmmm? You'd feel right at home, anyways."

"Kagome, you wound me."

She finally selected a pair of navy blue gym shorts and a light blue tee-shirt (they were the ones that smelled the best out of her limited choices), struggling to change clothes while on the floor of a moving car.

"I'm lucky you're so skinny," she said as she climbed back into the front seat, "otherwise these shorts would have never fit me."

"Thanks a lot."

"My pleasure." She glanced outside the window. "Are we almost there?"

"Nearly. If I'm reading your handwriting correctly, two more lights and we'll turn right."

"Okay."

"Out of curiosity-" Miroku drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he braked at a red light-"how exactly are we going to get this boy out of the foster home and to juvy?"

"Honestly?" she said. "I have no idea."

"Great. So basically we're just doing this by ear?"

"Pretty much."

"That's not a very good plan."

"But it's the best we've got at the moment."

Inuyasha's ears perked up. Since the time he'd arrived at juvy, his already exceptional hearing had improved. When there was nothing to do but lie around the cell all day (save from his few school classes and recreation) his senses had over developed. He could now hear the human eight cells down coughing quietly, that persistent fly buzzing around Wimpy Wolf's cell, and the tapping of a foot against the metal leg of a cot.

But atop all that, the soft singing of the kit on the cot beside him made his ears twitch in pain.

"Oi," Inuyasha broke in, not able to stand it any more. God, as if he needed to hear another depressing song. And the kit did not have that great of a voice. The high-pitched screeching was making his eyebrow twitch. "What the hell are you singing?"

"It's called 'Greensleeves', you heathen," Shippo replied. "It was written by Henry VIII of England and made into the popular Christmas Carol-"

"It could've been written by Michael Jackson for all I care. Stop singing; it's annoying me."

"Do you have anything better to do?"

"Stare at the ceiling and make up stories about water stains?"

Shippo sat up on his cot, considering. "That's a good idea. Okay, I see a turtle crossing a stream of macaroni, trying to avoid a herd rampaging ostrich demons whose faces look strangely like yours…"

Inuyasha sighed. "Why do I even try?"

"Because you're too stupid to learn from your mistakes."

In a second Inuyasha had the kit pushed up against the wall, the little fox's arms and legs flailing in protest. "Hey! Lemme go!"

"You're such a bothersome little brat…would anyone miss you if I knocked you unconscious for a few hours or so?"

"Let me go!" Shippo looked up at him with fearsome eyes. "Don't hurt me-please! I promise I'll be good!"

Inuyasha felt a little bad. He wasn't going to hurt the kid; he'd just wanted to shake him up a bit. Looks like he'd done a better job than he'd planned.

"Eh, don't worry, kid, I'm just playin' with ya." He let Shippo drop down onto the bed. "You get scared too easily. I'll bet you freak at the sight of a spider."

"I do not!" Shippo flew at him, his fists pounding futilely at Inuyasha's chest. "Big meanie!"

"Oi." Inuyasha merely bushed the fox off of him. "What's your problem?"

Shippo was curled in a ball on the floor. "I am not a 'fraidy-cat," he mumbled. "I'm not."

Inuyasha sighed and flopped back onto his cot. "This is why I'm never going to have kids," he muttered to himself. "What's got you so upset?" he directed to the huddled ball of nerves on the floor.

"I'm not a 'fraidy-cat."

Obviously Inuyasha had touched a nerve. The kid wasn't able to say anything else. "Okay, you're not a 'fraidy-cat. I'm sorry to have called you one."

The kit looked up at him with large, tear-filled eyes. "I'm not."

"You're not."

"I'm brave."

"Whatever you say, kid."

"I am."

"Yes." Inuyasha became suspicious. Something wasn't right here…had the kid been abused before? He was no psychologist, but this kid needed help. God, he was probably safer here at juvy than wherever the hell he was before.

Inuyasha swore silently and awkwardly leaned down and pulled the kit off the floor, placing him on the center of his chest. The hanyou sighed and closed his eyes, hoping that a nap would block out the sniffles and sobs. As he drifted off to sleep, he felt the kid curl up on his chest, his hiccups causing reverberations across Inuyasha's body.

Stupid kit…

Kagome's mouth fell open as Miroku silently put the car into park. "This is…?"

Miroku placed his hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "We can go back if you want. I'm sure Sango'd understand."

She swallowed and thought it over as her eyes took in the foster home. The place was no than a ramshackle two-story building that looked like it was built sometime in the 19th century that probably should have been condemned for razing long ago. A few kids wandered around the ill-kept yard, climbing on the old rusted car in the vacant lot, or playing with the tires strewn across the field. All of the surrounding houses looked as if a drug bust could be made any minute; Kagome half expected to see the random passerby draw a gun and point it at their car.

She looked down at herself, in Miroku's gym outfit. It looked ten times better than the clothes any of the kids in the yard were wearing. Miroku was still in his oxford shirt and nicely creased navy pants. "Miroku, maybe you should change…?"

"Nah-maybe if we look well-off, it'll give us more credibility."

"And maybe it'll get us shot!" she snapped. "Just change."

He shrugged and reached for the gym bag. "Whatever you say, Kagome dear; would you like to turn around, or does nudeness not bother you?"

"What do you mean 'nude'? Are you not wearing boxers?" she threw back, although she turned around just the same.

"Okay," said Miroku when he was done, decked out in a gym outfit similar to "Kagome's." "Let's go."

"Now we look like twins…or something. Reminds me of a kid's book where two siblings battle all hells to complete some type of mission."

"That's right, sis-come on, we've got a prince to rescue."

Miroku opened his door and stepped outside the car, waiting for Kagome to emerge as well. She did so a little more cautiously, but eventually placed her feet on the ground and closed the door. He hurriedly locked the car and looked over at her. "Well?"

She scrutinized the area around her. God, this place is so…hopeless...we probably will get shot or something. She involuntarily shivered. "Now or never, I guess."

He placed a hand on her shoulder and propelled her forwards. "The sooner we do this, the sooner we can leave."

They walked towards the dilapidated house, the dead grass making loud crunching noises beneath their feet. She noticed several kids huddled behind the back of the house, seemingly deep in conversation. Although somehow she didn't believe that was the case…

Beside her, Miroku suddenly stiffened. She looked over at him, only to find that he'd gone white as a sheet.

"Miroku? Are you okay?"

"Yup. Fine." His expression didn't change.

He was beginning to worry her. "Let's go back-we can get my mom or something to come with us-"

"No. It's fine." He grabbed Kagome's arm and steered her towards the back of the house-towards the slightly ajar back door.

"Miroku, what-?"

"Let's go this way."

"Just waltz into the house, uninvited? Do you have a death wish?"

"No…but this way there'll be no time to 'clean up' or fix things to look better."

She bit her lip. "You really think things are going to be that bad?"

He shrugged. "Hey, if you wanna do things right…" He stopped in mid-step, that blank, deer-in-the-headlights look coming over his face again.

"What now?" she said, a little irritated. Then she caught a whiff of something foul. "Ugh-what is that smell?

"Weed," he said hoarsely, his eyes never leaving the group of kids.

"What? But…they're so young!"

"Welcome to the ghetto."

Kagome swallowed hard. "Let's…let's get this over with."

Miroku nodded mutely.

Now she was getting worried about him. "Miroku, go back to the car. I can handle this by my-"

He grabbed Kagome's hand and hauled her inside the door.

The two of them stopped short at the sight of an obese women wielding a baseball bat and a young boy cowering on the floor, his cheeks stained with tears.

Kagome physically flinched and hid herself behind Miroku. Her stomach turned over and she swallowed hard, forcing the bile back down.

Miroku pulled in a breath. "Kohaku?"

The boy's eyes widened.

"Just who the fuck d'you think you are?" the woman snarled, dropping her bat to the ground. "I don't take kindly to trespassers!"

"I am…we are representatives from Goodwill."

"Who?"

"Goodwill. We volunteer at the juvenile reform center and just so happened to meet a nice young lady by the name of Sango."

The woman glared at them and began to inch towards the counter. "Is this supposed to mean something to me?"

"S-sango?" Kohaku whispered, his hands still covering his head.

Miroku crossed the room in two strides and kneeled down beside the boy. "Yes, I met your sister," he said. Kagome was surprised at the emotion in his voice. "She misses you very much and asked us to see if we could take you to see her."

A visible look of fear splayed across the boy's face. "No-!"

Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome saw various emotions of hate splay across the woman's face and the arm holding the baseball bat suddenly raise.

Oh my god-

She didn't even think.

Miroku was suddenly shoved aside and he hit the ground in an awkward position. Wheezing, he sat up, taking in the scene before him.

Kagome was defiantly clutching the baseball bat to her chest and lunging in front of Kohaku. "Don't you dare raise a hand against my friend," she snarled.

"I can do whatever I want, girlie. You're on my property, trying to meddle with my affairs: the law's on my side. You two thought you could just sashay in here and take this boy away? How do I know who you are? How do I know you're not gonna kidnap him?"

"How can we live easy knowing you're abusing him?" she snapped back.

Miroku was amused at her sudden violence. Clearly Kagome went into hyper-defensive mode when she was frightened.

"Who says I'm abusing him?"

Kagome looked pointedly at the bat.

The woman shrugged unashamedly. "You got no proof. We were gonna play baseball, is all." Her expression changed. "Now get the hell off my property before I call the police on y'all."

Kagome opened her mouth, but Miroku quickly got to his feet and took her arm. "Sorry to have bothered you, ma'am."

"Mir-"

He ushered her outside the door and dragged her to the car. "Get in," he commanded, slamming the door behind him.

Kagome didn't move. "Without Kohaku? We can't just leave him here with that awful woman-"

"It was a stupid plan, Kagome. I don't know what I was thinking… that the landlady would be all 'sure, let him visit his sister! No problem!'? She's right; we don't have legal rights to be on her property."

"But Sango-"

"Will understand. Hopefully."

"No she won't! She'd tell us to drag him out of there, fighting tooth and nail-"

"She'd be wrong," he said firmly. "Get in the car."

Kagome frowned but complied. "Only because I'm afraid of staying here any longer."

"With good reason." He pulled out of the lot at breakneck speed and was back in the "good" part of town within minutes.

"Now what?" she asked tiredly.

"We talk to the secretary lady about the legal grounds of bringing Kohaku to see Sango. I have a feeling there's an amendment or rule somewhere that would allow family members that are minors to be taken to visit juvy."

"You're going into law, aren't you."

"Yep."

"That figures."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, nothing."

Miroku smiled and they fell silent. He was still breathing heavily… not from nearly being beaned by a baseball bat, but from seeing those boys. He'd never felt guilty for peddling pot before… he needed extra money badly, and that was a quick way to do it, but he'd never actually seen the effects before.

Those kids would be mentally deranged before they reached puberty.

Damn it. He ran a hand through his hair, causing his ponytail holder to fall out. "Shit-find that for me, will you, Kagome?"

She gave him an incredulous look. "Yes, Milord Potty-mouth. Find what for you?"

"My…thing."

"Your thing."

"My rubber band."

She raised an eyebrow. "You can live without it for one afternoon, can't you?"

"My head feels so heavy…"

"Crybaby. Your hair looks fine; leave it that way."

"Why, thank you."

"That wasn't intended to be an ego-inflator."

He winked at her and pulled into the juvy parking lot. The guard knew them by now and merely waved. "We're here."

She sighed. "What are we going to tell Sango?"

"Hopefully we won't see her until after we have a plan…" He pushed all thoughts of the pot-smoking boys and the fiery sister of Kohaku out of his mind. "You just focus on getting those community service hours. Leave the rest to me."

"Inuyasha."

"What, kit."

"How are babies born?"

Inuyasha choked. "What?!"

"I really don't believe that storks bring babies like my foster parents said… how would storks know to make the baby look like its parents? And why would it be so stupid to make it not look like its daddy and then make the whole household go to pieces?"

"Erm…" How the hell did I get stuck with this?! "Maybe God makes the babies and the stork just delivers them."

Shippo gave him a look. "Does it look like I was born yesterday?"

"I do recall seeing a stork hovering by our window…"

"Come on, Inuyasha, just tell me!"

"Since when were the paternal duties heaped upon me?" he complained.

"C'mon, c'mon, I wanna know!" Shippo bounced on Inuyasha's cot… or as much as someone could bounce on the pathetic excuse for a mattress.

"There's a surprise."

"It's your innocence." He sighed and stretched out on his mattress. He had nothing better to do, anyhow. "Chapter One," he intoned, "'The Birds and the Bees.'"

"Welcome to… oh, it's you." The secretary's fake smile immediately disappeared and she bent over her calendar again.

Kagome looked at Miroku in amusement. "I'm just checking in."

"'Kay." She didn't look up.

"I'll be done in two hours," she whispered to Miroku. "Find out about breakin' out Kohaku, okay?"

He nodded. As Kagome walked into the hallway, he turned to the secretary. "Out of curiosity… are there any laws protecting siblings of juvenile delinquents who are orphans and are being abused in foster homes?"

The secretary gave him a look. "You even have to ask? An orphan is completely under the supervision of the foster parent. A sibling in juvy doesn't change anything. A sibling in the hospital doesn't change anything, either."

Damn. Even worse than he thought. "So, theoretically, two teenagers would have no way of transporting a younger sibling to visit a sister at juvy without the foster parent's permission?"

"Naturally."

He ran a hand through his hair again. "So…what exactly are the consequences for that?"

"If you're caught? Kidnapping. Jail. Are you really that desperate to come join us, boy?"

He started. Was that actually a twinkle in her eye?

"What if the two teenagers couldn't be identified?"

The secretary shrugged. "Nothing would happen. But that's a dangerous risk to take, boy. Now matter how attracted you are to Miss Sango, stealing her brother away in the middle of the night could land you in serious trouble. Then you could kiss your dreams of Law School goodbye."

Miroku's eyes widened and visibly started. "How-?"

"I am not an inanimate object with no eyes and ears. After sitting behind this desk for twenty years reading romance novels while no one's looking, I've become adept at reading people."

He peered over the desk and noticed the worn novel shoved between the computer and the wall. "Ah."

"My advice? Don't do anything rash. At least until Sango gets herself a good lawyer. And get the hell out of the waiting room before I throw you out myself."

"What am I supposed to do, sit in the car for two hours?"

"Ever heard of napping? Or go to something useful and help the librarian sort books-there was a youkai brawl in there the other day and now the place looks like a hurricane of books flew through."

He groaned. "Why can't I just stay in h-"

"Because you're annoying me. And I want to finish this book." She waved the trashy romance novel in his face. "And unless you want me to read it out loud, I'd suggest you get out of here."

Sango wandered up and down the aisles of the library-or at least the piles of books heaped in the far corner of the room-scrutinizing the books carefully. One of her teachers had nearly broken down into tears after a class full of rambunctious, cursing delinquents, so Sango had remained after class to clean up the room. Really, she just hadn't wanted to return to another boring afternoon of sitting in her cell, but the teacher's tears of despair had turned to tears of joy and she'd smothered Sango in a bone-crushing hug, telling her that she could go to the library and pick out any book she wanted and keep it for a week.

Sango thought she would die of happiness.

Now she was intent on finding the biggest book in the library. She read rather quickly, which she now saw as a curse rather than a blessing, but she had no qualms about reading a book more than once. Plus, a boring book would take her twice as long to read.

I wonder if they have War and Peace? she thought. That would probably take me a month to read. "Yeah, and put me to sleep in the process," she said aloud. Long books, long books… "The Count of Monte Cristo is long, right? And that Tolstoy book… Anna Katrina?" she muttered to herself.

"I believe the title you're looking for is Anna Karenina."

She jumped and found herself face-to-face with that friend of Kagome's. He was smiling at her, his purple eyes shining. "Um…yeah…that."

"Sango, right?"

"Yes." She resumed her perusal of the books, searching for Tolstoy. "They couldn't have knocked down each shelf down systematically?" she muttered.

"Youkai brawls are rarely methodical," he said.

She shot him a look. "Well, aren't you Mister Sarcasm today," she murmured, not really upset. As long as he left her alone, she really had no problem with him. She could forgive a lewd look or two-he was a horny high-school boy after all; his hormones were all out of whack-as long as he didn't try anything else…

"Could you possibly tell me where I can find the librarian?"

She shrugged. "No idea. I'll worry about that once I actually find the book I'm looking for."

"You mean this one right here?" He held out a book bearing the title Anna Karenina on the spine in faded gold lettering.

"Oh…thanks…" She took the book and tucked it under her arm. "Now to find that librarian…" She wandered out of the aisle and out into the open room, looking for a scowling person with a staff nametag.

"Are you mad at me?" He'd followed her out of the aisle.

"You? No. Why?"

"You seem rather distant."

"I don't normally make a point of drumming up conversation with strangers."

"Don't you remember me?"

"Sure. You're Kagome's friend that gave me a rather purposeful once-over in the waiting room. Thankfully you hadn't done anything more, or you would be seriously hurting right now."

"Excuse me for having eyes."

"You could at least try to control your primitive male instincts."

"That's like asking you to try to not flaunt your assets."

Sango stopped short and slowly turned, her eyes full of murderous rage.

Miroku winced. Wrong thing to say…?

"I do not flaunt my ass-ets," she hissed. "You pig."

"S-sorry-"

"No, you're not. You're a male: you're all the same." She huffed and stalked away.

"Hey-wait-Sango!" He caught up to her. "Don't be like that."

She shrugged his hand off her shoulder. "I love it how you guys think it's the girl's fault for your lustful actions. Here I am wearing pink scrubs and you claim I'm 'flaunting my assets.'"

"Like women are any better-gong to the mall just to ogle men. I know many, many friends that have had their hearts broken by girls who went out with them on flings. And you-you don't even know my name, do you?"

She gave him a look. "I deliberately do not use it. Miroku."

"Why not?" He said oh-so intelligently.

"It's like naming a stray puppy…one you start using a name, you become attached."

Miroku laughed incredulously. "Lord, woman, you're bitter."

"And I have every damn right to be!" she nearly shouted.

"What's going on here?" a new voice joined the conversation.

Miroku jumped guiltily, but Sango merely regarded the woman with a bored look. "Are you the librarian?" she asked.

"Yes, and my library is in enough chaos without you two hooligans adding to it." She gave Miroku a hard look. "Who are you? Why aren't you in your uniform?"

"I'm a volunteer, ma'am," he hurriedly replied, not too happy at being mistaken for an inmate.

"And you volunteer by fighting with the inmates, is that it?" she huffed, her frizzy gray hair bobbing up and down every time she took a breath. "Go on back to your cell, Sango-I need to be able to clean this place in peace."

"But I want to check out this book."

The librarian grabbed the book and scribbled a date on the title page with a pen she'd pulled from behind her ear. "There. Now go. No-wait. Boy: you're a volunteer. Be a gentleman and escort this young lady back to her cell."

"I can find my room by myself!" Sango snapped, refusing to look at Miroku.

"I'm certain you can, sweetheart, but I don't want this strange boy lurking around in my library." She eyed Miroku suspiciously and began to shove them out the door. "There you go now, that's a good boy. Goodbye Sango, dear, come back whenever you'd like-when this place is back in order, that is."

"Bye," she echoed dully.

"Goodbye…?" Miroku added in, still rather disoriented.

The door to the library resolutely closed behind them, and they found themselves in a silent, sanitary hallway that led out to the rows of cells.

Sango turned on her heel and began to walk away. "I really can find my room by myself."

"I know you can," said Miroku, hurrying to catch up to her. "But I have no idea where I'm going."

"Well that's your problem, isn't it?" she retorted, although she slowed down a bit to allow him to catch up. "Some volunteer you are."

"I'm actually just the chaperone/chauffer… the secretary kicked me out of the front office."

"Ah. That explains it then."

"I think she was just mad at me badgering her about legal activities," he grumbled. "She didn't mind me hanging around in there before, she just didn't want to have anything to do with the foster home bust because she doesn't want a lawsuit hanging over her head-"

Sango's head turned so fast he was afraid she'd gotten whiplash. "Foster home bust?"

"Erm…" He focused his eyes straight ahead. That was brilliant, Miroku. Way to leak information. And you're planning to become a lawyer?

"You've seen my brother haven't you?" She grabbed ahold of his chin and forced his eyes to meet hers. "Haven't you?"

"…Yes."

"And...?!"

He sighed and gently placed his hands on her arms, realizing that she wouldn't leave him alone until he'd told her the truth. "I'm sorry, Sango, but nothing came of this visit."

She impatiently brushed his hands aside. "What do you mean? Wouldn't the foster mother let him visit?"

"She exploded at the idea; she called us trespassers and said that only she would be able to give him permission to leave."

"Bitch," said Sango vehemently. "Abusive whore. She wouldn't be fit to run an animal shelter."

Miroku's stomach turned. "So she does abuse them-the kids, that is."

"Why do you think I fought so hard to get him out of that place? I'm eighteen-a legal adult! I should have control of him, I should be able to take care of him-" She cut off abruptly and spun around, breathing hard.

She was crying. Miroku shifted uncomfortably. Something told him she wouldn't take kindly to him trying to comfort her… but he couldn't just stand here and let her grieve like that.

"Hey," he said softly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back against him. "It's okay-both Kagome and I are working to get him out of there. I'm looking for every loophole possible."

She pulled away from him, shaking her head. "I know you mean well…"

"But?"

"You both are going to graduate soon, right? This is just a way to get community service hours. I'm not disillusioned; once the next month is over, you two will never return here. If nothing happens before then…"

She thought they'd abandon her. And why not? That's what people would normally do.

"I'm planning to become a lawyer," he said suddenly. "This is good practice for me. If this isn't resolved by the time we leave for college, I assure you my professors would love to hear I'm getting 'hands on' experience." He gave her a small smile. "I won't desert you now that I'm involved… Sango."

She regarded him seriously, searching his face for any signs of lying. He kept his face neutral, letting her see that he was completely serious.

She's… actually very pretty, he thought in surprise. Her hair is gorgeous and I could get lose in those eyes. I'm sure if she actually smiled, her face would light up. It's just hard to tell when she's scowling all the time like that-

Her face suddenly broke into a genuine smell, and Miroku's breath was momentarily taken away.

"Thank you," she said gratefully, her entire demeanor becoming more relaxed. "I think I should go back to my room now, or they'll send the police after me." She threw him another beaming smile, and disappeared around the corner. "Take a left and continue down the hallway and you're bound to run into Kagome," her voice floated around the corner.

"Thanks," he called back, following her instructions, his head still in a cloud.

I promise you, Sango-I'll do anything to get your brother back for you.

"So then the man and the woman-they-ewww…" Shippo covered his eyes and began to bang his head against the wall. "Bad…images… gross, Inuyasha, why'd you have to tell me?!"

"Because you were begging your little ass off for it!" he huffed. "I've done you a favor, kid; now if your foster parents try to give you the abridged and awkward version of the talk, you can proudly tell them that you know everything you need to know. And more."

"Much more," he said hollowly, resuming his head banging. "I'll never look at two people the same way again."

"Are you okay…?" another voice said.

The two males in the cell swung their heads to look at the young woman standing in front of the door. "What are you doing?" Kagome asked, staring at Shippo.

The kit looked at Kagome, and then at Inuyasha. His face turned beet read and he started banging his head more frantically. "Ew-ew-ew-"

Kagome sent Inuyasha a strange look. "What did you do to him?"

He shrugged. "Nothin'."

"Right…" She held up her pail and sponge. "They've relegated me to scrubbing again. Um-could you let me inside your cell so I can clean?"

"Why don't do you another first?"

"I've already done six already-yours is next in line. I promise, it's not a conspiracy against you."

"If you say so," he grumbled. "Come on in-you have the power to unlock the doors."

"Oh. Right." She placed her hand on the lock, but hesitated for a minute, remembering the last time she'd tried to clean in his cell.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I promise I won't assault you or rape you or do naughty things to you. In fact, just for your peace of mind-and my sanity-I'll go to sleep." He rolled over on his side and did just that.

Not any more at ease, Kagome reluctantly entered the cell. "Shippo, please stop banging your head against the wall. You'll permanently damage your brain."

"Good, that's what I'm going for." Although he did pull away from the wall, his eyes slightly crossed.

Kagome smiled a little at his face and got down on her hands and knees. "Why were you banging your head?"

"Inuyasha told me about the 'birds and the bees.'"

She startled and sent a look towards his "sleeping" profile. "Did he really."

"Yeah… spared no detail." Shippo shivered. "Ew. Ew.

"Inuyasha, what are you filling this child's mind with?" she asked. He didn't answer, although his ears were twitching suspiciously.

Having finished scrubbing one corner she scooted back a bit and scrubbed the spot where she'd just been kneeling. So glad I didn't wear my skirt today.

As if reading her thoughts, Shippo suddenly piped up, "Where's your skirt, Kagome? Don't you come straight from school in your uniform?"

She was surprised he'd noticed. Maybe male denseness only increased with age. "I was tired of trying to maneuver in a skirt," she explained, "so I put on something of my friends. That's why these shorts are practically falling down."

"Your boy friend?"

"Er… my friend. The boy. Yes."

"Are you dating?" Shippo's mind apparently reached another thread from that question and his face went red again. "Never mind. I don't wanna know."

Kagome began to blush a bit as well. "No, we're not dating. He's just my ride here."

"Sure he is," Inuyasha said.

"Hah! I knew you weren't sleeping!" Shippo crowed gleefully. "You were listening to us, weren't ya? Huh?"

"Impossible to sleep with you two babbling on like that," he mumbled, abandoning all pretense of sleep and turning over to look at them. "And you coulda fooled me-a guy like that doesn't just want friendship."

Kagome frowned at him and scrubbed harder. "Not every guy is obsessed with sex, Inuyasha." Lie, lie, lie.

He snorted. "You're kidding, right? That 'friend' of yours literally reeks of lust."

"Hey! Don't insult my friends like that!" Though what he said is right on the money…

"You're defending him?"

"He's my friend! I don't let people talk bad about my friends!"

"Whatever works for you," he smirked.

"Kagome!" Miroku's voice echoed down the hallway.

Oh no…what now?

Inuyasha and Shippo looked at her expectantly.

"Kagome-" Miroku skidded to a stop in front of Inuyasha and Shippo's cell and ran in. "Kagome! It just hit me!" He grabbed her hands and hauled her to her feet. "What if the director intervened on Sango's behalf? That foster mother couldn't refuse if he persuaded her to let Kohaku come here for an afternoon!"

"And just what would make the Director agree to this?" She glanced at Inuyasha, who was looking rather murderous. "The Director does not help people out of the kindness of his heart."

"Which is why we get dear Principal Johnston to help us. The two seem rather close, haven't you noticed? Maybe they were lovers once, I don't know. But if we rave about how much this juvy experience has touched our hearts and how we so want to help this poor girl and her brother, how can she refuse?"

Kagome sighed. "You do the smooth talking, Miroku; I'll just stand off to the side and back you up."

"Thank you, Kagome!" He pulled her into a tight hug.

"And just why does this mean so much to you?" she asked.

"Maybe I feel sorry for Sango and her brother?"

"I think this has more to do with Sango than her brother," she muttered.

"Hey, now-"

"Eeep!" Kagome pushed Miroku away and glared. "Don't touch my ass, moron!"

"Like I said-" Inuyasha drawled.

"And I don't need any comments from you, mister!" she said, whirling around to turn her glare on Inuyasha.

He blinked at her lazily. "Whatcha gonna do about it?"

"I'll never clean your cell again, for starters."

"Sounds good to me."

"Inuyasha, stop acting so jealous," said Shippo.

"Who's jealous?!" he snarled.

"Don't try to pull that one on me after having just explained the facts of life!"

While Inuyasha spluttered, Miroku stealthily slipped out of the cell. "Meet you in the lobby," he said aside to Kagome.

She nodded and resumed her scrubbing, not going anywhere near Inuyasha.

"Oi, bitch, aren't you done yet?"

"Nearly," she said, her words clipped. "There." She sat back on her heels and threw the sponge back in the pail. "You're so unappreciative, I don't know why I even try."

"Keh, I never asked you to come clean-the cell's fine."

"Unfortunately for you, I still need a heck of a lot of hours to get, so deal with it." She stood and jerked the bucket up, causing the water to slosh over the edge and splash her legs. "Aw… gross…"

"Look what you did," Shippo said to Inuyasha, sighing.

"How is that my fault?"

"Never mind," Kagome said wearily, her head aching. "See you guys tomorrow." She exited the cell, feeling like she'd regressed in her progress with Inuyasha. She laughed jadedly. "And you hoped that you could eventually be friends with him?" she murmured. "Nice to know you're living in reality, Kagome."

She pushed open the door of the next cell and entered, sighed, preparing to scrub.

She checked her watch and realized she'd only been here an hour.

It was going to be one of those days…

"Why do you go out of your way to be mean to her, Inuyasha?"

"Whaddya mean?"

"Any other female that walks by you just ignore-but with her, you make a point of being nasty and rude. Why? Is it because she looks like Kikyo?"

"I told you not to talk about her!"

"Are you really so superficial that you'd punish an innocent girl for merely looking like the one that caused you so much pain?"

"That's not it at all," he huffed, leaning against the cold stone wall. "Give it up; Dr. Phil you're not."

"Or maybe it's because you like her?"

He laughed humorlessly. "Right, that's it. Good one." His gold eyes hardened and he stared out the window. "Women are nothing but deceitful, simpering, heart-breakers."

"You don't really believe that."

"How would you know what I do and don't believe?" he snapped.

Shippo looked at him, unaffected by his anger. "Because otherwise you wouldn't care so much about Kikyo. That's it, isn't it? You can't forget her-and that's what drives you insane. And this girl Kagome reminds you so much of her that you're in a constant state of hurt."

Inuyasha's chest lifted and fell. He didn't look away from the window. "Maybe," he murmured.

Shippo bounced onto his cot and leaned against the wall as well. Inuyasha was hurting more than anyone realized… and now he was beginning to doubt that even Kagome could heal those wounds.

Tired and sore, Kagome trudged back down the hallway, her bucket filled with water so disgustingly dirty that she couldn't even see the sponge anymore. She'd been here for exactly two hours and seven minutes, and she was ready to go home.

As she passed Inuyasha and Shippo's cell, she kept her eyes straight ahead, willing herself not to let them slide to the side-

Oops.

She slowed a bit, taking in the scene with confusion. Inuyasha was just… sitting there, staring out the window at nothing in particular. Shippo was curled up at the head of his cot, sleeping soundly.

But the hanyou boy looked so… sad…

She gently set the bucket down on the ground and opened the cell door. "I-Inuyasha?" she called softly.

When he didn't respond, she pulled the door open a little wider and slipped inside. "Hey… are you okay?"

He didn't even look her way. Not even to make a snide remark.

Frowning a bit, she made her way over to the cot and sat down next to him (but making certain to leave a good amount of space between them). "What's the matter?"

He still didn't move. "Did… did I upset you?"

After a moment, he shook his head.

"Oh, good," she said with relief, feeling like a fool for talking to someone that wasn't responding. "Then what's bothering you?"

"Nothing," he said shortly, still not turning around.

She bit the inside of her lip and reached out, laying her hand on his shoulder. He flinched at her touch. "It's okay to talk about it," she said, "whatever it is. I'm willing to listen-"

He brusquely pushed her hand off his shoulder. "I said it's nothing, dammit-" He stopped at her quick intake of breath and quickly turned around, wondering what had frightened her.

He'd cut her hand with his sharp nails. The palm was already bleeding. "Hell," he muttered darkly, taking her hand and pressing his thumb onto the wound. "You humans are so fragile."

"Well excuse me," she muttered sarcastically. Great, one more thing to add to her bad day.

"Just a bit of pressure and it'll stop bleeding." He hesitantly met her eyes, a guilty look on his face. "Um… sorry…"

Her eyes widened, but she composed herself quickly. "That's… okay. Don't worry about it."

"Never mean to hurt anyone," he was saying to himself. "But it always ends up happening anyways. Then it's my fault. Go figure."

The pressure of his hand on hers was making it difficult to breathe. Being near him made Kagome realize how… masculine he was-his half demon strength apparent through his muscles and strong hands.

"I'm sure you don't mean to," she said lamely.

"Not most of the time, anyway," he said ironically. "Being cooped up in this stupid box drives me crazy-it'd drive you crazy too."

"Yeah… I'm sure it would…" She felt guilty now, aware of the inadequacy of her words. She didn't really know what it was like-and personally, she didn't want to. I really am a hypocrite, she thought. All I want to do is leave this place and never come back-and yet I'm claiming to want to help him? Do I really believe he's innocent? I still harbor some thoughts that he's guilty… I mean, why else would he be thrown in here?

There have been cases where the law was derelict,she reminded herself. You don't know the full story, so you're in no place to judge.

"Don't think so hard-you'll hurt your brain."

Kagome's head snapped up, ready to snap off an indignant reply, but caught the teasing glint in Inuyasha's eye. "If I were smart, I'd take that advice."

"Unfortunately, you fiery, independent girls never listen to the voice of reason." He smirked and her hand. "There-the bleeding's stopped."

She looked down at her hand in surprise, mildly surprised that he'd known what to do. "Thanks."

"Yeah. Now get out of here-I'm tired."

"Since sitting in a cell all day is so strenuous," she returned, though her smile took the sting out of her words.

He gave her a glimmer of a smile and promptly closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall.

Kagome quietly slipped out of the cell, feeling better than she had all day-even though she hadn't discovered what was bothering him.

She smiled to herself and walked a little taller. No matter-she'd elicited a smile from him. From Inuyasha. A smile.

A giggle escaped her as she deposited the cleaning supplies into the hallway closet. She needed to get out of here-two hours and fifteen minutes (plus one cut and some serious heart-skipping) was enough for one day.

Author's Notes: Mwahaha, finished! Aren't you proud of me? I braved AP homework, band stress, and holiday homework to bring you this next installment of Guilty As Charged. Hope you enjoyed the chapter-please tell me what you thought of it. Thank you thank you to everyone who reviewed!! I love you guys so much! --tears of joy-- Sorry for the long wait… I'll try to make it shorter next time. Press that little "REVIEW" button down there… Ja ne!