InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lemonade, Too ❯ Out of the Mouths of Babes ( Chapter 18 )

 

Lemonade, Too

 

By Fujifunmum

 

 

Chapter 18: Out of the Mouths of Babes

 

Sango was not very enthusiastic about continuing the search for the sword on Thursday morning. She had switched to Miroku's list as soon as she had received his text message the previous afternoon. Deep in the Valley by then, she had heard enough Mall Talk to hold her for the next generation. She wanted to work the Barrio. She wanted to check out Demon Gay Bars. As an antidote, she wanted to meet biker chicks with too much makeup who thought she was there to pick up their man. Anything was better than another teenage giggle from a clueless girl wearing clothes that cost more than she made in a month.

 

Miroku's list had proved more interesting, but did not yield any results. Shippou had kept the demon names and given her the human ones. She'd talked to low riders in the Barrio and all manner of technicians who had worked on the video shoot with the sword. Video technicians, Audio advisors, Art Directors, Costumers, tradesmen, caterers, and all manner of people, spelled “g-i-r-l-s”; they had taken in with them. None of them had much of anything to report; it was the same story all around. The Artist had kept the sword closely by his side during the shoot, it disappeared immediately afterwards, and they had not seen it since. Several had randomly commented on the high quality of groupies that the Artist seemed to attract. A few expressed amazement at his total lack of interest in same. A few speculations on his sexual preference later, she had exhausted the names on Miroku's list and herself with the search.

 

Now she had to get up early and run down the rest of the Valley Girls on her portion of the original list. She had emailed her intentions and findings, such as they were, to Yash. She was still in no mood to deal with him and there did not seem to be any point in going to the beach house unless she had something to report or news to share.

 

She had spoken briefly with Kagome, and knew she was spending all of her time training with Kaede and trying to get some rest - when she wasn't barfing. Miroku was camped out there for the time being, so she had spent a long and lonely night sleeping alone. She was worried about the sword, but knew they were doing all they could and that getting enough sleep would help her search go better today. Not that she actually believed that anything about this part of the search could be other than obnoxious and irritating.

 

It was late afternoon by the time she parked in front of one of the last addresses on her list and sighed at the similarity it had to the last place. Another manicured lawn, another McMansion, another upscale neighborhood just like the last one. No doubt the name on the list, Jasmyne, would be the pampered and spoiled daughter of the house, busy doing her nails and too spaced out on her ipod nano to remember anything in detail about the video shoot except for exactly what she had worn and how much it had cost.

 

Jasmyne took her onto the deck at the back of the house to talk, and didn't bother to remove the earplug for her music or stop typing on her laptop, which was set up on an outdoor table and displayed the latest entry for her livejournal under the inventive and strikingly original name of chibi_angel. Sango rolled her eyes and suppressed another sigh. Jasmyne looked plenty chibi in her size 2 low cut jeans, but she had strong reservations about her angelic nature.

 

“I understand you were at the last video shoot the Artist held in town with your friend,” here Sango paused to check her list and her notes, scanning the precious looking misspelled names of the under twenty set with thinly veiled amusement. “Courtnee, was it?”

 

Jasmyne nodded briefly, in time to her music and without pausing in her typing.

 

Sango had immediately decided that the best way to deal with these starlet wanna bees was to appeal to their overreaching ego and dreams of discovery by hinting that this might just lead to their own personal fifteen minutes of fame.

 

“Yes, well the beautiful young ladies on the set were supposed to sign releases in order for their likenesses to appear in the Artist's video, but someone at the shoot neglected to get one for you or Courtnee.” Here, Sango pulled out a standard release form for Jasmyne and her parents to release her likeness for the video should any shot of the bouncing screaming crowd include her. Sango didn't think there was a prayer that any of these girls would actually appear in the video. The Artist had a reputation for excruciating attention to detail, so an unscripted extra showing up in his video seemed most unlikely. Still, it gave her a way to discuss the shoot with the girls in detail and ask about their connection, if any, with the sword.

 

Jasmyne just shrugged. She barely looked at the paper. Sango put an “X” where she needed to sign and then pointed to the line for her parent or guardian's signature. “When you and your parent or guardians have signed, just mail it to me in this stamped envelope, ok?” Sango placed the stamped self-addressed envelope on the table, with a pen. Jasmyne just signed her name with typical teenage flourish and handed the paper back to Sango.

 

“I'm over eighteen, so you can take this now.” She managed to look even more bored, if that was possible. Sango picked up the paper, envelope and pen and returned them to her file. She made as if to leave, and then stopped to ask another question. It was designed to look like an off-handed sudden remembrance, but was actually the more important part of the interview.

 

“I'll be the one reviewing the final footage for the video to be sure all the releases are in order. Can you give me an idea where you were during the shoot?” Sango said this in her own most bored voice. It wasn't hard since she didn't expect to glean any real information from either Jasmyne, Courtnee or the next five names on her list, either.

 

“We were mostly back with the props guys. Countnee hangs with one of them sometimes, that's how we got onto the shoot in the first place. Maybe we were in one of the concert crowd scenes, …maybe in that one street crowd scene…” Jasmyne's voice trailed off, but Sango was barely listening. This was the first groupie who had even mentioned the props. Jasmyne might actually have seen something.

 

Sango just pulled out her notes again and smiled slightly as she prepared to write down exactly where Jasmyne was during the shoot. She kept her expression bored and her tone neutral. It wouldn't do to get Jasmyne's hopes up for an appearance in the Artist's video. “Can you tell me which props you saw being used? That might help me to place you when you appear.” She looked at Jasmyne expectantly and tried not to get her hopes up.

 

“Let's see. There was the antique Avanti. Wicked cool car that the Artist arrived in. The prop guys cleaned it just in case the Director wanted to use it. Then there were the two sets. The one with the historical Japanese teahouse scene, and then the futuristic one with all the silver surfaces. The guys were in charge of all the tables, tea stuff, pillows, even the scrolls on the walls.” She stopped typing long enough to think a bit before adding, “There wasn't much for the futuristic set, just a couple of fans …..and of course the sword.”

 

Sango stopped trying to appear bored and sucked in an audible breath. Fortunately, Jasmyne was still connected to her music, so she probably didn't notice. “Did the prop guys handle the sword?”

 

Jasmyne looked up and rolled her eyes at Sango. “Of course they did. Just like any other prop, once the Artist set it down, they collected it and brought it back to the prop area. I was amazed at how big the sucker was close up. It didn't look like much of a sword when he was waving it around during the shoot, but in the prop room, it seemed…..bigger.”

 

Sango smirked. “Did you get a good look at it, or did the prop guys just put it back in its case right away.”

 

Jasmyne thought for a minute before responding. “Case? I don't think I saw a case for it while I was back there.” She tapped a finely manicured nail against one of her perfect teeth - not a good habit for a starlet wanna bee. “In fact, one of the prop guy's buddies went ape shit over it as soon as they brought it off the set. He was nearly drooling over it and going on about `Japanese folded' crap and `lost smithing arts' bullshit.” She rolled her eyes again, stretching both arms up over her head and arching like a cat, and baring more than just her midriff in the process. Sango was thankful that Miroku had gone back to check that crazy geek bar again today instead of coming with her. He'd be enjoying this chick way too much.

 

Sango just waited. Hopefully the chick would keep on talking to avoid an awkward pause in the conversation. Sango counted internally….one, two, three….

 

“Yeah, the guy was semi-creepy and all sword fixated and stuff. The shoot ended right after that, and we split. Had to see if we could get a good look at the Artist before he left.”

 

“Do you know this guy's name? The one who was so fascinated with the sword?” Sango held her breath. It seemed unlikely Jasmyne would remember it if she ever did know it.

 

She tapped her teeth again. This girl really needed to find a new way to convey “thoughtful”. Then she giggled. It startled Sango to hear such a tittering little girl laugh from the bored late teen who spoke in an adult voice. It was a high pitched whine of a laugh that needed as much work as the teeth tap.

 

“Get this,” she started, as soon as she had recovered her composure and her boredom. “His name is really Colin Farrell. Unbelievable, isn't it. Here's this tall skinny geek fogging up his glasses over a stupid sword and his name is Colin Farrell.” With that, Jasmyne rolled her eyes, and reached to turn up the volume on her ipod. This interview was clearly over.

 

Sango said a quick goodbye and left. She was amazed that she'd gotten what she came for and quickly scanned the rest of her list. There it was, nearly at the bottom: Colin Farrell. “Send that geek to the head of the class,” Sango thought as she hopped in her car and was off like a shot. It was time to see if a certain geek had sticky fingers.

 

 

Shippou parked his black and white in front of the beach house, blocking one of the entrances to the circular driveway. It was a move calculated to piss Yash off as much as possible. Being married to a policewoman had done nothing to either increase his respect for authority or increase his tolerance for the presence of the LAPD at his home. It couldn't be very good for his P.I. business in general, now could it? That thought seemed to please Shippou more than anything. He'd even used his flashers approaching the house. He'd been tempted to use the siren, too, but feared that Kagome might take a dim view of that much abuse of his authority, especially if she was trying to concentrate on her Miko training.

 

“Yeah, don't piss off the pregnant Miko,” Shippou mutter under his breath as he approached the house. He was pretty sure that Yash wasn't here. The Jag wasn't in the driveway - or any other cars for that matter. In fact, he was so preoccupied wondering if the Jag was in the garage, that he forgot and got too close to the barriers Kaede and Miroku had constructed to protect the house from humans and demons.

 

“Ouch!” Shippou landed flat on his ass in the middle of the driveway directly in front of the front door. He hadn't even gotten close enough to ring the doorbell before the barrier had tossed him backwards, lifting him a couple feet in the air in the process. “Shit! What is that smell?” Shippou sniffed and decided it was his own singed hair! Sure enough, even his eyebrows seemed to have a fine touch of blackened and burnt hair around the ends. His fur was still standing on end from the shock of the strong magic to his system. If this was just a taste of what it felt like to be purified by a strong Miko or Monk, Shippou was determined to avoid the full impact of that experience!

 

He hadn't had a chance to get up before the front door opened and Kaede stood there assessing the damage.

 

“Come in, Shippou. I'll raise the barrier enough to permit you to enter. Did you forget you were supposed to call us first to let us know you were coming? We don't want to hurt our friends, just those who might threaten us or other innocents with the sword.”

 

Shippou dusted off his butt and made his way up the porch, shaking off the last effects of lingering magic as he went. Magic was not the way any demon would chose to clear his mind and try to think of new and different ways to apprehend the thief and the stolen powerful sword. That was why he was here, since he'd completed his portion of the list of possible contacts with the sword and had nothing new to report.

 

“Where's Kagome, Kaede? I don't have any good news, but I'd still like to see her and make sure she's ok. Maybe she'd be safer back in her apartment?” Away from Yash. The sword was trying to find its way to Yash, wasn't it? So, shouldn't Kagome get away from that asshole before his long lost enemies made her life miserable, too?

 

“We're just breaking for a late snack, Shippou. Come and join us. Kagome will be glad for the distraction.” Kaede reset the magic barrier after Shippou was safely inside and they went into the kitchen. Kagome had her back to them and her face in the fridge. Maybe she was hungry instead of blowing chunks for a change?

 

“Hey, Kagome. Are you feeling any better today?” Shippou sat on a stool at the counter and waited for Kagome to turn around. Kaede joined her in the kitchen, putting on some water for tea and getting out some dishes and napkins for their snack.

 

Kagome turned around. She looked a little pale and seemed very tired, but she gave him a weak smile and her eyes looked happy to see him. “No way, Shippou. This kid doesn't like anything I eat. I'm ready to give dog food a try - if I could only tolerate the smell.” Just the thought of that seemed to turn her stomach and her face paled even more as she swallowed hard.

 

Kaede handed her a small dish of saltines and pointed to the chair next to his. Kagome obeyed without another word. She must really feel like shit if she was not eating, not sleeping and worrying non-stop about the sword. Shippou patted her on the arm. “Don't worry, Kagome. We'll find the sword and make sure it doesn't hurt anybody else.” Not that he had a clue how they might accomplish that at this point.

 

“It's Thursday, Shippou. We need to find that sword now; today. Sango and Miroku are getting married tomorrow and I am going to be Sango's Matron of Honor, just like I promised her.” Kagome munched on a cracker and her chin came up in a very familiar way that Shippou recognized all too well. Kagome had made up her mind and would not be persuaded to stay here safely while her friends celebrated their marriage. Yash would have to physically restrain her to keep her from attending, and he did not want to be anywhere around when the two of them had that discussion! Talk about a rock and a hard place; he wasn't sure which was which, but both would be implacable.

 

Kaede placed some cheese slices and apple slices on the counter, and offered them some soft drinks or tea. The tea kettle whistled and Kaede got up to fix the tea.

 

“How is your training going? Is Kaede helping you to learn to use your Miko powers?” He smiled gently at her, encouraging her to think about the positive side of things. His whole face lit up when Kagome returned his smile and her eyes softened just a bit.

 

“Yes. Kaede has been very patient with me, but I think I am beginning to be able to focus and use my powers more every day.” She covered Shippou's hand on her arm for a moment, and then she went back to eating some crackers.

 

“She's doing much better than that, Shippou. She's channeling her powers very well now.” If she understood how significant her own powers were, she might be able to protect them all from the sword should it find its way to their door. “Still, we need to find a way for Kagome to practice. An archery range would be ideal. Does the LAPD have one for the use of their officers?”

 

Shippou couldn't help but laugh. The idea of his fellow officers pulling over a felon and then instructing them to get out of the car while aiming a bow and arrow at them was just too absurd. “No, archery isn't considered a very effective weapon in Los Angeles these days, Kaede.” He thought for a minute. “You'd need a private club or a university to find an archery range. I don't think there are many around. Isn't there a more modern alternative that might work just as well; or even better?”

 

Kaede seemed to stop and think for a minute, and then she began to smile. Her smile grew and grew until she was actually laughing out loud; clearly pleased with her own ingenuity for whatever she had just come up with for Kagome's next training exercise. Both Kagome and Shippou waited expectantly, figuring she'd tell them her plan as soon as she stopped enjoying it so much. Instead, she only finished her tea and said, “Finish up, children; we're going on a field trip.”

 

 

Miroku put in about as much time waiting for The Reaper to show up as he could stand. All the regulars at the Kinky Kats Korner seemed to be expecting him. They noticed him come in, but didn't seem to be including him in their calculations for whatever data their robotic minds were collecting today. Instead, most of the guys found a reason to come over and try to get a look at his laptop. Not the screen, mind you, but the lap top. Seems it was high tech enough to get them out of their chairs, but not spiffy enough to warrant further consideration once they got a closer look.

 

After the first one came up, ostensibly to get a clean glass from the barkeep, he felt like announcing to the group, “Yes, this is a brand new Mac. No, it doesn't have the extras you guys want - and I don't need.” Heh. It had all the graphics capability Miroku could want. For his seminary studies, of course. There was no need for Sango to know anything about his “special” files….

 

Towards the end of the afternoon, it seemed pretty clear that the Reaper was not going to show up. The bartender had been paying a little too much attention to Miroku all day. Yesterday, the guy had been helpful and a little suspicious. Today, the guy seemed to be on a mission. It was not a mission that interested Miroku at all, since he wasn't interested in a new relationship with a guy the day before his wedding. At least it explained why there weren't any women working there.

 

Miroku had tried to politely decline the guy's thinly veiled attempts at more personal conversation. He became a little more direct when the guy tried to find out where he lived and wanted to “get together” later. Evidently, the guy thought Miroku was just playing hard to get. Next, the bartender brought over some “free” fries and tapped Miroku's hand to say, “Just the way you like them - they'll slide right in.” The guy's hand lingered just a little bit too long on his, and Miroku decided then and there it was time to give up on waiting for the Reaper. He had a fiancée to find!

 

He hit Sango's speed dial before he'd made it the few steps from the back door of the bar to his car. Fortunately, she answered on the third ring, because he was in no mood wait to call her back, and didn't want to leave her a message that might piss her off this close to the wedding. If the Bride isn't happy - then he knew the groom didn't have a prayer! He was relieved when she picked up and greeted him with a smile in her voice.

 

“Miss me?”

 

“You bet, babe.” I wish I was there so I could show you exactly how much, and exactly which parts. “The Kinky Kats Korner got just a little too kinky for this monk. The Reaper didn't show, probably won't, so I thought I'd come and help you finish your list, keep you company.”

 

“Company? In the car or contacting the names on the list?”

 

“Very funny.” Not a bad idea either! “Where are you now, Sango? Can I meet you before your next stop?” Ogling cheerleaders sounded pretty good after spending two days with geeks, not that ogling Sango wasn't plenty of fun, too! With any luck, she might let him do more than look.

 

“Actually, this is good timing Miroku. I just got what might be a real lead from the last bust-enhanced Valley Girl on my list. I think she'd had her eyes done, too.”

 

“Shall I meet you there?” Might as well enjoy the Valley View.

 

“You wish.” Sango set down the phone and pulled out the address. “I'm at a stop light. Meet me here.” She gave him the address for Colin Farrell but not his name. She might as well let Miroku be surprised, too. His famous name was probably the only reason Jasmyne had remembered this guy. Were there any really cute sword freaks? Maybe. This on probably was not one of them. “I'll be there in about ten minutes with traffic this heavy. If you're not there, I'm going in alone.” She hung up on him. If that didn't get him there in short order, nothing would. Sango hadn't seen Miroku nearly enough in the last few days. It was a good idea for him to spend some time with her, even if it was focused on finishing up this list for K-girl and Yash the Destroyer. The Destroyer of quality time with her lover, that is.

 

She took her time driving the rest of the way to Farrell's house. It was near the University, but not too close; in an upscale neighborhood of single family homes mixed with condominiums. She started looking for his street and his address, and realized that parking was at a premium here, especially this late in the afternoon. She glanced at the clock on her dashboard. Yes, it was late enough that some folks would already be coming home from work. She rounded the right block of condos for the second time and realized she was going to have to walk a few blocks in order to find a decent place to leave her car. Even then, it wasn't easy to find a parking spot.

 

She waited in the car for about five minutes, taking time to brush her hair and check her makeup before she Miroku arrived. When he had still not arrived, she got out, locked the car and started towards Farrell's condo.

 

 

Yash arrived home after the end of a long afternoon. He was tired of this futile search. This second day of hunting down the more slippery and dangerous demons on his list had not gone any better than the first. Feathers were ruffled and bones had been broken along the way. He sincerely hoped that he did not have to do a job in the demon community any time soon. It would take some time to mend all of the fences he had ripped down with little regard for the future. If he didn't find Toukijin before it found his blood, there would be no future; at least not one he cared about.

 

He climbed out of the Jag, sniffed and stopped thinking about the sword for the first time in days. There was something very wrong.

 

He stood, in front of his own front porch, and realized that the barriers were in place, but there was no one inside his house. He was ready to rip the front porch off of his house, but instead he decided to walk around the perimeter. Maybe Kaede and Kagome were down by the beach. He rounded the back of the house, checking the barriers as he went and affirming that nobody was home. He headed for the beach at a dead-on run. Kagome was not in sight, neither was Kaede.

 

They had to be here. They had to be ok. They had to….

 

 

February 18, 2006