InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lemonade, Too ❯ You're a Shooting Star ( Chapter 19 )

Lemonade, Too

 

By Fujifunmum

 

 

Chapter 19: You're a Shooting Star

 

 

Shippou pealed out from in front of Kagome's house, wondering where the hell they were headed on such short notice. He was tempted to turn on the siren, but Kagome didn't seem very amused by this sudden “field trip” Kaede had suggested.

 

“I hope you brought Yash's charge card, Kagome. We're going to need it.” Kagome checked in her wallet and then nodded affirmatively to the older Miko. “Good.” Kaede turned to Shippou. “Head North, Shippou. Wake me up when we get to Simi Valley.” Then Kaede promptly laid down in the back seat of the squad car, her back to them, and went to sleep.

 

“I wish I could sleep that easily, Shippou,” Kagome sighed. “Do you have any idea where we're going?”

 

“No fucking clue.” Shippou muttered as he got on the expressway and drove. He hit the express lane, set the cruise control and decided he might as well use this time to have a nice long and overdue chat with Kagome.

 

“So why did you marry that asshole, Kagome?”

 

Kagome laughed. “Glad I can count on you to keep me entertained, Shippou.” Then she got serious. “I never believed much in fate, you know. But with Yash….”

 

Shippou just snorted. “Sure. I can tell he's your destined soul mate by the way he doesn't let you out of the bedroom long enough to even see your friends. Geez, Kagome, let's not confuse hormones with hand grenades here.” He couldn't help laughing a bit at the comparison. “Yash is about as much fun as a hand grenade with the pin pulled and he's spiked your hormones - that's for sure.”

 

Kagome just laughed again. It was good to hear her laugh, even though they still didn't have any good reason to be encouraged. “You should have seen him at our wedding. Did I tell you it was in Las Vegas at the ever popular Elvis Chapel of Love, No Waiting?”

 

Shippou gave her a sidelong glance to see if she was kidding. No. She wasn't. Brides didn't usually kid about their weddings, did they? Sango certainly hadn't had any sense of humor at all this week. He hoped he didn't have to exchange emails again with her until after she got back from her Honeymoon with Miroku.

“The big shooter spared no expense, eh? What kind of a jumpsuit did you wear to the wedding? Spandex?”

 

“Don't ask. I fervently hope there are no pictures, even though I think Yash did hire a photographer. I gave him the finger.”

 

“Good! You should've given it to Yash, too, instead of saying `I do'.”

 

“Believe me, that's sounding like a better idea all the time. He's driving me insane with his over-protectiveness. I know this sword is very dangerous, but it can't be as bad as he says, can it?”

 

“It's probably worse. You know he doesn't like to tell you anything bad, especially now.” Shippou looked pointedly at her midriff. She wasn't showing, but the fact that she was pregnant was plainly evident to any demon that cared to sniff in her direction.

 

“Yeah. Tell me about it.”

 

Now she looked sad again. He was supposed to be making her laugh and entertaining her! “What's in Simi Valley that would interest Kaede? Any idea?”

 

“Wallmart? A K-Mart SuperStore? The only 100,000 people in California who haven't met her sister? The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library? Who knows? Maybe she's just a fan of the Chumash Indians.”

 

Kaede snorted and turned over in the back seat. “Limitation. Moderation. Compensation. Accept your limitations, take only what you need from the land and the ocean, give from the kindness of your heart without expecting anything in return. Not a bad way to live, if you ask me.”

 

“Oi, Kaede, I didn't know you were listening. If you're not asleep can't you tell us where we are going and why?”

 

It was Kaede's turn to laugh. “I could, but where's the fun in that?” She promptly turned over and appeared to go back to sleep.

 

“I better call Yash. He'll go ballistic if he gets home and I'm not there.” Kagome took out her cell and hit “1” on her speed dial. Yash had deleted the emergency numbers and replaced them with his cell phone number. Kagome hadn't even bothered to object. It seemed like a waste of time and effort. It was the least of her problems. “Yash, it's Kagome. Kaede, Shipppou and I are all headed north up to Simi Valley. I'll give you another call later, I just didn't want you to worry.” She put her cell away and settled in for the duration.

 

“Odd that he didn't answer. I think when it's my cell phone calling he's got his cell setting off fireworks or water balloons or some other Yash-induced idiocy.”

 

“Yeah, he must be busy with one of the demons on his list.” Shippou didn't say any more, but he thought that Yash must be really having a bad time with one of the demon “interviews” if he wasn't answering when Kagome called. “Don't worry about it. We'll do whatever it is Kaede wants us to do in Simi Valley and head back to the beach house right away. You can call him again later.”

 

“I think I'll try to get some sleep, too, Shippou, if you don't mind.” Kagome smiled and Shippou just patted her hand. He would have liked to chat with Kagome all the way there, but she probably needed the sleep more. From what he had seen of the aftermath of her visions, he doubted that she was getting much rest at all these days.

 

 

Sango headed up to the townhouse style condos, checking the addresses carefully to be certain she rang the correct doorbell. She wasn't entirely certain where the condos divided or which entrance was his, so she just buzzed Colin Farrell's number and waited for him to appear.

 

Either it was an upstairs unit, or he was upstairs when she rang, since she could hear him taking the stairs to come answer the door. It did not open right away when the footsteps stopped, so he must be checking through the peephole to see who was at the door. Evidently she passed the test for acceptable visitors because she heard him throw the deadbolt lock and then the door opened with a flourish.

 

“Who are you and why are you here?”

 

His T-Shirt said “Talk nerdy to me” but it might just as well have said “Sword Geek” in all Caps.

 

Sango smiled politely and maybe just a little flirtatiously and used the same story she had given all the Valley Girls. She might as well use it on the Geeky Boys. He scrutinized her in minute detail as she described who she was and why she was there. When she handed him the standard release, he stood there and memorized the entire thing before he seemed satisfied with her explanation.

 

“OK. I'll sign it.” He stood there impatiently waiting for her to hand him a pen.

 

“Thank you, I would really appreciate that,” she accepted the signed release and returned it to her notebook. “Could I also ask you a few questions about the shoot and where you were that day? I'm the one who has to review all the footage to make sure we have releases from everyone. Could I possibly come in for a few minutes?” Her 250 watt smile nearly blinded his geeky eyelids into closing. This was a nice condo in a good neighborhood. She couldn't really be the first woman to cross this threshold, could she?

 

“OK, I guess you can come in then.” His less than enthusiastic response made her think that either she was going where no woman had ever gone before or he was a miserable housekeeper; maybe both.

 

She was inside without any real concern for her personal safety until she heard him triple locking the door behind her. That wasn't a good sign. “Worried about something? This neighborhood looked pretty safe to me. I won't keep you long.” Her smile remained, but the wattage was down to about 100 watts now.

 

“You'd be surprised, little lady. If I didn't keep most of what I know inside here,” he knocked on his head for emphasis, “I'd be really worried! Let's go to my kitchen to talk. I can at least offer you some tea.” He started up the stairs, revealing the back of his T-shirt. It said, “Stop Following Me!” Sango felt a little better, but was still wary. There was no doubt she was in the University district and this guy was a weirdo, but he didn't seem to be visibly dangerous. Besides, she thought she could take him.

 

Two cups of China Golden Monkey tea from the Fujian Province later, Sango knew she could take him, but she wouldn't have him on a silver platter. He had, by this time, told her in excruciating detail about his entire activities for the day of the Artist's video shoot - up to and including his bowel movements. She had managed to keep her smile and sweet façade intact only by sipping the tea, which she had to admit was extraordinarily good. She had never seen a gold Russian samovar before; and while Colin's use of one seemed to be ostentatious and at the same time eccentric, she had to admit that it had made a much better impression on her than he had. His condo was immaculate to the point of looking disinfected. It did nothing to increase his attraction.

 

“So you are friends with one of the prop guys?”

 

“Friends?” He looked puzzled; as if he had never heard of the word. It took a lot of Sango's strength of will not to roll her eyes at him. Then he seemed to find his way around the word and answered, “No, we aren't exactly friends, but he needed some assistance from my company to coat the silver surfaces of one of the sets. In exchange, he invited me to come and see it.”

 

“Oh, so you're a fan of the Artist?”

 

“The Artist?”

 

This time Sango nearly choked on her Golden Monkey. “Yes, the Artist was using the set for his video that day? He was the one singing.” Or pretending to sing, or doing whatever it was he was doing in the video. The video had not yet been released and Sango really wasn't sure what the Artist had been doing.

 

“Oh. Didn't see him. I stayed in the prop room most of the time. I inspected the set pieces to see that they were sufficiently silvered and that our product was adhering properly to the finish. It buffered the shine to be more camera friendly due to the chromatics. I used the Chomaticity Diagram and Gamut Applet to design it. It introduces the notions of the chromaticity diagram and the color gamut to identify a range of colors defined on the chromaticity diagram so you can explore the effect of adding colors together. Since the eye has only three types of cone receptors in the retina that respond to light of various wavelengths, the brain receives only three signals for each spectrum and that's what gives us the perception of color. Therefore, it is possible to represent a perceived color by three numbers or coordinates, for example: red, green and blue….

Sango upped the volume on her smile wattage because she knew her eyes were glazing over while he droned on about the values of the coordinates of the three numbers assigned to silver and how he manipulated them to achieve the appropriate and most advantageous hue for the lighting conditions on the photo shoot. Resisting the urge to respond with, “Just shoot me now,” she waited a long time before he paused enough to allow her to interject anything.

“Oh, do you use the color spectrum in your work?” She tried to sound interested, but it was getting more difficult as this interview wore on without any useful information surfacing. Nor did he mention the sword.

“Work?”

This time she nearly fell off her chair.

Then he began to laugh. It was such a high pitched giggle from a man of his height and age that she couldn't help blinking in surprise and revulsion at the sound of it.

“No way. It's just a hobby of mine on the side. I sometimes do some work for a couple of the studios if they are having color or lighting issues,” he paused to take a sip of his tea, then frowned to discover it had gone cold while he was droning on. “You wouldn't understand my work. Not that I would even try to explain it to you. Classified.” He got up and added more hot water to his cup from the samovar.

As he returned to the table, she continued, “One of the other people present at the shoot did mention to me that you were excited to see the sword the Artist used in the video.” She had nothing to lose by bringing it up herself at this point.

Instantly, there was a silence behind her. She turned to see that Colin had stopped walking towards the table. He was looking at her in a most unfriendly way, with his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed. The cup in his hand had tilted and tea steadily dripped down onto his spotless floor. She must have been holding her breath, because the sound of the steady drip was the only sound in the room. He didn't seem to notice. She felt his gaze drilling into her, and felt behind his stare the unseen ferocity of his mind frantically processing all the data to decide how to answer this unexpected and impertinent question about the sword. The aura rolling off him was filled with anger, but was also calculating and cunning.

Self preservation drove her to stand. “Thank you for the tea, it was very good.” It took every ounce of her deep well of serenity and self control to turn and walk calmly and without a trace of fear toward the stairs. She called back as she walked, “Maybe you don't remember the sword. It seemed to have made a big impression on the others.” Then she shrugged and kept walking, pausing to give him another smile when she reached the top of the stairs.

If looks could kill, he'd have conducted her autopsy by now. “No, I don't recall seeing it.” There was no doubt he was lying. But why?

When he made no immediate move to follow, she fled down the stairs, faster than she had intended. She had all three of the locks released before she heard him charging down behind her.

“I'll be looking for you in the video, but if you didn't leave the prop room you probably didn't make it into the footage. Thank you for your time.” She called this back, breathlessly, as she tore the door open.

He was only half way down the stairs and seemed conflicted about what to do or say about her abrupt departure.

She slammed the door behind her and took off across the lawn towards the street where she had parked without so much as a backward glance to see if he was following her. She could only imagine the expression of abject fear that graced her features when she slammed into a very surprised Miroku as she rounded the hedge, knocking him over and landing on top of him in a jumbled heap of tangled limbs.

“You're late,” she snarled. “Get the fuck up and let's get out of here before he comes after me.”

“Who?” Miroku could see by the look on Sango's face that she was in no mood to discuss whoever “he” was. He took a quick look around as he got up and gave her his hand to help her to her feet. No one else was in sight. The doors of the nearby condominiums were all closed and there did not seem to be anything amiss in this peaceful neighborhood, but the look on his beloved's face said it all. There was nothing in sight, but there was something about one of the doors, something like an aura of evil that was shadowed and lingering.

“Let's go. We can talk in my car.” Sango didn't bother to brush herself off or even make any pretense at small talk. She kept his hand in hers and started off towards her car, dragging him along behind her. What begab as a hurried walk quickly turned into a run after only a few steps. She didn't stop until she reached her car, which was parked very near Miroku's. She was wild-eyed and in her distress seemed a little unsure of what to do next.

Miroku put an arm around her, and quickly led her to his car, where he unlocked the door and handed her in with a great deal of care and gentleness. His hands only slipped below her waist once or twice, almost accidentally. She sat there, looking shell shocked, as he came around to the driver's side. Before he got in, he took his staff out of the back seat. For some reason, he felt that he had better have it within arm's reach. The aura from the condos was very unsettling and Sango herself seemed so shaken.

 

Shippou didn't know what he had expected to be doing with Kaede and Kagome in Simi Valley, but pulling into the parking lot of Paintball USA wasn't it. He had to turn around and come back to the entrance he'd missed the first time when Kaede had suddenly said “Turn here.” She had to be kidding, right? Apparently she wasn't.

They went into the main building to get their gear and both Shippou and Kagome were shocked to discover that most of the staff knew Kaede by her first name.

“Got your favorite gun right here, ma'am. You going to let any of us newbies shoot with you today? We promise not to whine too much when you take us out in the first five minutes.” The guy behind the counter, “Chad” according to his nametag, was all smiles as he said this. Kagome and Shippou just continued to stare, unbelieving.

Kaede merely laughed and took her gun. She ordered up 500 paintballs for them and picked out guns for both Shippou and Kagome. “We're not going out on the course today, fellas. I'll come and give you guys some training next time, k?” They looked genuinely disappointed.

“Today it's just target practice for the young 'uns here.” She cocked her head in their direction and the guys looked at them with sympathetic eyes. Kaede asked for the “usual firing range conditions” and Kagome paid for it with Yasha's charge card. Then Kaede loaded up their arms with gear and herded them off towards the practice range. They followed her like ducklings chasing after their mother in a new pond.

Kagome was the first to recover her composure. “Kaede, both Shippou and I are trained members of the LAPD. We know how to shoot.” When Kaede didn't slow her pace or respond, she continued. “In fact, both of us have won shooting awards at the firing range. We didn't need to come out here to Simi Valley to learn how to shoot! We know how!”

Kaede merely called back in an even voice, “We shall see.”

Once they got to the range, they were surprised to discover they had it all to themselves. Or maybe it wasn't such a surprise. They could see that some of the employees were still helping other customers clear out their gear and taking them off to another area of the large compound. On the way over, they had passed the entrance to a large wooded area that had to be the “games” field. Shots were a common sound in the distance.

Kaede handed each of them a gun and a supply of ammunition. She showed them how to load and reload the semi-automatic air rifles and paced off the distance between them to make sure there would be no interference between them and that she could stand in between them comfortably. “These are PMI Piranha BL's, an excellent gun for newbies.” She tucked her own gun off to the side with her own supply of ammunition and positioned herself behind them. She was fairly close, so she could scrutinize their aim and accuracy, but not close enough to disturb their peripheral vision.

“Now, children, the point of the first part of this exercise is for you to show me just how accurate the LAPD has taught you to shoot. Once we establish your capabilities, the real work will begin.”

Kagome and Shippou took aim, looked at each other briefly, and began using their ammunition rapid fire towards the various targets on the field. They were each certain of their capabilities, and wondered what in the world Kaede was thinking by imagining she could teach them about gunfire. They couldn't hear her behind them, so they just kept shooting until the initial supply she had given them to use was exhausted. Then they assessed their success, smiled at each other and winked before turning back to face her.

“How was that, Kaede? Did we do well enough for you?” Kagome's voice had a little more sarcasm in it than she intended. She usually saved her smart ass remarks for Yash, but Kaede was trying her patience and she was still pretty tired.

“Not bad for amateurs, but it's only the first step for you to learn to use this skill to transport the purifying power of a Miko.”

Shippou paled under his fur. “Kaede, I don't want to be anywhere the hell around if you and Kagome are going to be purifying anything or anyone!” Just the thought of being close to a power that he knew from the demon tales his parents had told him could purity any demon into nothingness was enough to make him want to wait for them in the car.

“We'll need your help, Shippou. But you are quite right to be wary. Take care to keep behind Kagome whenever she is practicing. Her control will probably be rather uncertain at first.” Kaede thought this was a huge understatement, but she didn't want to say anything discouraging to the young girl beside her. She knew so little about her own power, and even less about what it could do to the unsuspecting demon she might use it on.

At first Kagome had been scowling at them and looking skeptical. Now, she seemed unsure of what to expect and more than a little uncertain.

“Purifying power? Why is Shippou scared of it? What are you asking me to do, Kaede? And what does it have to do with paintball?”

Kaede sighed and just patted Kagome's arm. “You need a way to transport your power for the greater good, Kagome child. The traditional way is by bow and arrow. Paintball is a better substitute for our times. Don't want to use real bullets now, do we? That would just kill anyone we aimed at, not purify demons.” Kaede really didn't want to get into a debate with the young Miko over her powers. Right now, all she wanted was for Kagome to master enough of the ability that was her gift to send it soaring in a paintball towards her intended target. Her power combined with her shooting skills could be very important in immobilizing the evil sword, and whoever might be wielding it.

Kagome looked unsure, but complied when Kaede started explaining to her that she should tap into her own internal Miko powers and focus them into the rifle - more specifically into the paintball that was inside the rifle.

“Center yourself. Close your eyes and feel your breath becoming steady and sure. Then try to transfer a little of your own tranquility, your feeling of well-being into the paintball.” Kagome closed her eyes and tried.

“Good. Now open your eyes, take aim, and fire at that hay bale to the left of the main target. Shoot!”

Two seconds after Kaede said the word, Kagome's gun spewed out a rocket of shimmering power that blew her off her feet. The paintball went a full 50 yards beyond the intended target, hitting a tree at the back of the firing range.

“Holy Shit!” Shippou yipped in fear and awe. Helping Kagome back on her feet.

Kaede looked as startled by the action as Shippou did. “Are you all right, Kagome?” She reached for the younger girl to steady her on her feet and make sure she didn't fall again. A fall in her condition was not a good thing and Kaede intended to make certain it did not happen again.

“Shippou, stand behind Kagome and catch her if the recoil sends her backwards again.” Then she patted Kagome's arm and continued. “I don't want you to fall down when you shoot. You don't need to use that much of your power. Don't over think it, just shoot.” Kaede was more worried than she let on. She knew Kagome's power would manifest itself as fully mature since she was an adult, but it was impossible to factor in the presence of the jewel she wore hidden at her throat. Was the Shikon Jewel enhancing her power even without an attempt by Kagome to channel through it?

Kagome brushed off her backside and smiled her thanks to Shippou. “I'm fine, just startled. I wasn't expecting that big of a recoil.” Then she held her breath and shot again, this time hitting the target easily. Shippou stood safely behind her, one hand on her shoulder and one at her waist. He was not about to be the one to explain to Yash that Kagome had fallen and hurt either herself or their pup. Some things were much scarier than purification.

 

Colin Farrell's Lexus almost sideswiped Miroku's car as he sped out of the parking lot from the back of the condominium complex. He didn't seem to be aiming for them, nor did he seem to notice either Miroku at the wheel of the parked car, or Sango in the passenger seat. Out of pure habit, Miroku raised his staff as the car came perilously close to them, and it seemed to reverberate in response to the nearness of the other car. Miroku also felt a sudden and overwhelming sweep of power sweep across the car.

Sango seemed to sense it, too. “He's got the sword, Miroku! I don't know why I'm so sure, but he went ballistic when I mentioned it, and now he's driving like a madman. Maybe he has it with him in the car?”

“Yes. That could explain the sudden power surge I felt as he drove by. Let's try to follow him.” He started up his car and pulled into the street as fast as he could, but Farrell's car had already sped away. They weren't sure where he was headed, but they did know that Yash and Shippou needed to be alerted. Maybe Shippou could get the LAPD to help them track the silver Lexus.

“Did you get the License plate babe?”

Sango just glared at Miroku. “REAPER. What else?” She already had her cell phone out and was calling for backup.

 

February 26, 2006