InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Makeshift Superheroes ❯ The Stripper ( Chapter 4 )

“So now I guess we really have to stay at my place,” Miroku sighed with a pitiful look.

 

“No we don't. We still have my place.”

 

“I want to stay with her,” Kagura added, “if it's all right with you Sango.” The mentioned girl shook her head.

 

“Ah… how sexist. I thought you of all people would understand Kagura. I am a mere peddler, and you accuse me indirectly of all these falsehoods. I am wounded dear women, I am wounded.”

 

“…I bet you talk yourself out of a lot of troubles 'peddler'. Besides, do you happen to have things a woman would need?” Sango chuckled at this.

 

Strangely - Miroku did too.

 

“Yes my dear lady, I have all the necessities a woman could want for. A giant screen TV, an enormous bathroom, and well-stocked fridge, and satin sheets for your liking.”

 

Sango's face became more pained with everything Miroku said until she finally couldn't bear it anymore. She started laughing, and her whole body frame shook, with her hand hitting the dashboard. Kagura turned around and gave Miroku a look before shaking her head and burst out laughing.

 

After a few moments of awkwardness for Miroku, he couldn't help but think `I'm just glad she parked the car before starting this conversation.'

 

Makeshift Superheroes

 

Chapter Four

 

The Stripper

 

“I meant tampons.”

 

“Oh.”

 

That was the awkward sentiment that Kagura informed Miroku of before Sango, still chuckling slightly, started the car and began to drive towards her apartment.

 

“Tomorrow we'll go find the other one. M'kay?” Sango asked as they began their descent to her apartment. Miroku nodded, but frowned slightly.

 

“Why am I not going home?”

 

“That's a good question.”

 

0-o-0-o-0

 

Standing in Miroku's apartment, the shadowy figure peered out the window to confirm the return of the three.

 

As she had suspected, Mitsukai had shrugged them off. It would only be time before he received her message. As Miroku, the only one to leave the car, started to enter the building, she gave the room a satisfied glance before returning the way she came.

 

0-o-0-o-0

 

Frozen in the position of holding the phone next to his ear, Sesshoumaru thought in shock how such a short and simple message could make him react in such a strange way.

 

Sesshoumaru, do as they say. They may be the answer to getting your life back in order.

 

0-o-0-o-0

 

“What the - Oh that's not fair man. That is so not fucking fair man.” Miroku groaned to himself, grasping his head with both hands in frustration. His apartment looked like a wreck. Everything had been trashed.

 

“Oh man… so fucked up man… I know I locked my door. Who broke in?”

 

Then a feeling of paranoia struck over him… and he searched every single room thoroughly before he sat down, still with the creeping sensation that someone was watching him.

 

And indeed they were.

 

0-o-0-o-0

 

“I said maneuver it a little to the left - no you numbskull! Not to the ­ right! The left! The LEFT! I don't want to see his fridge, I want to see where HE is!”

 

“Having some trouble?”

 

“You just shut up. You two shut up. I told you we should've left those brats Bankotsu, but noooo, you just had to go and be pitiful.”

 

“They're stuck in that small room all day! What else could I do?”

 

“We can let the hospital take care of them.”

 

“I'm not letting your weird fetish influence them.”

 

“Fine, but you still need to turn it a little to the left.”

 

“Fine. Just shut up for a second.”

 

“…that's not left!”

 

0-o-0-o-0

 

“Hm? Okay, just check to see if they took anything. No? Nothing? You did? Alright, just go sleep and come over tomorrow. We'll figure it out.” Sango sighed and put the phone back on its hook.

 

Kagura looked up at her from the couch, already relaxing with a coke in one hand and the TV remote in the other. “Was that Miroku?”

 

“Yeah, and it seems like someone broke into his house while he was gone.”

 

“Might've been Hakudoshi,” suggested the woman who was now propping her feet onto the wooden coffee table.

 

The rather expensive coffee table.

 

“Ahem… Kagura, we should really get to sleep now. We need to go try and convince - Oh, who the hell is calling so late?” The phone rang, and Sango glared at it.

 

Housing a complete stranger was one thing (she didn't really have a choice, Miroku wasn't very… dependable in this situation) and having the phone ring constantly in the middle of the night was just not a happy sunny day for her.

 

In fact, it was nighttime. And it looked like it was going to pour.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“You really should be more pleasant when answering the phone Ms. Ishinaga?”

 

Sango choked, creating a rather violent cough. “Se-sesshoumaru?”

 

“Meet me at myhouse tomorrow,9:00 AM sharp. Don't be late.”

 

Sango just stared at the phone in disbelief.

 

“Who was it now?” She turned to look at Kagura, but just stared.

 

This stuff is just getting weirder and weirder… where the hell did she get that turkey sandwich?

 

0-o-0-o-0

 

“I have a proposition for you.” Sesshoumaru stared at them, sitting straight with his hands folded. His figure gave off a sense of… if you bother me, I won't hesitate to get rid of you air that made Miroku nervous. Kind of reminded him of a cop… a cop he mistakened for a customer…

 

Miroku gave a casual glance around the room, noting all the medical degrees that Sesshoumaru had. He was quite the hard worker, and those books set up behind him in an elaborate bookcase just added to his aura.

 

“…you wanna tell us what the proposition is?” Sango awkwardly stated after a few moments of silence, giving Miroku a flashback to the car ride here. Very quiet. For women, these two were not particularly chatty.

 

But then again, they weregoing around completing tasks for someone they did not know and for what reason they had no clue.Well, at least Miroku had no clue. Everyone in the room (excluding him) knew something about this Naraku person… except him. Why was that? Perhaps he knew this man, only by another name.

 

He would have to get a description of Naraku to see if he had been acquainted with him in the past.

 

“I will play along with this little game you have, only if you owe me a favor.”

 

“Hell no!” Kagura slammed her fist on the table. Sango cringed, thinking of her poor abused coffee table back home. “We don't even have a fucking inkling of what the hell is going on. Why should we owe you a favor?”

 

“Ah, Ms. Kaze I suggest you calm down so we can continue this in a calmer manner and - “

 

“Fuck it Miroku! I'm not going to let some pompous airbag let himself inflate his over-weighted head with us owing him favors!”

 

“I see why you were fired repeatedly for insolent behavior. Your temper is quite a short fuse.” This response caused Kagura to leap out of her seat with almost an inhuman agility.

 

“What the hell is it to you, what the fuck my temper is?”

 

“Calm down Kagura, we need to focus. Just sit and relax,” came the soothing tone of Sango. No wonder she was a successful woman of her business. She was able to easily persuade people to do what she wanted with her voice.

 

Kagura's chest heaved from being so wound up, her back rigid and her eyes set in deep furrows. A wicked scowl was set upon her face. At Sango's words she turned and gazed sharply at the calm assassin. She made what seemed to be a low growl, but turned and roughly, as if she had to force her own body, and sat down.

 

“Back to the proposition. What do you have in mind, these favors…?” Miroku sat with a confidant posture, trying to see if he could read anything into Sesshoumaru's body language.

 

“One from each of you. Obviously all three of you have a great need for listening to this anonymous person. If you want my co-operation you will need to give me something in return.”

 

“Okay, THAT'S IT! I'm not going to take this from a big shot like the one you obviously are. We're all in the same fucking boat. And guess what? IT'S SINKING. Now YOU - “ Kagura had managed to make her way around the table by going through it and was currently invading the stoic man's personal space while pointing a finger at him. “ - yoouuu are trying to manipulate us to get what we need and what YOU also need. Don't fucking forget. I saw that look in your eyes when we said his name. What is he to you anyway? A lost lover? An old flame you're still in love with? WHAT? Or is he your brother, you incestuous pervert of an imitation man? You're just a pathetic piece of trash and I hope that your - “

 

“That is quite enough!” Miroku was impressed the by lungs on the seemingly docile doctor (albeit his aura was rather intimidating). “I will not tolerate such insolence in my house.”

 

“Well then, now I can't be making you tolerate that now can I?” Kagura snapped, standing up again. Sango sighed, and leaned towards Kagura in her chair.

 

“Kagura - “ she began

 

“Don't `Kagura' me Sango. I'm done here, and if you want me, I'll be in the car.”

 

True to her word, Kagura stood up and stormed out of the room. The three remaining occupants sat awkwardly, listening to her stomp down the stairs and Sango winced when she heard the car door being slammed harshly.

 

“Look Mitsukai, I'm not going to be disrespectful, but what you're asking of us is completely out of line,” stated Sango. She gave Sesshoumaru an intense stare, watching his actions. To her surprise, he nodded.

 

“I know.”

 

“…”

 

“I checked all three of you out - “

 

“How?”

 

“ - I had your images and I merely tracked down the basic information on you three. Now concerning Ms. Kaze, I'm going to pretend she doesn't exist to release the tension."

 

"What t-tension?" Miroku grinned. Sango was sitting on the edge of her chair, with her fingers gripping the sides of her chair so tightly that her knuckles were white. Miroku himself had stiffened his back and sat in a very uncomfortable looking position.

 

"I apologize if the fact that I have gathered information on the three of you completely rattles your bones like that, but I assume since we're going to be doing such a task together I should try and see if the three of you were con-artists."

 

"So... are we con-artists?" Sango smirked.

 

"No. Actually, I'm quite confused at what we all are. I'm a doctor, you're a mercenary, you're a drug dealer, and she's a prostitute. There is absolutely no connection between any of us. Have either of you met anyone else involved with this before?"

 

Miroku and Sango both shook their heads, taking in everything that Sesshoumaru was saying. They had all been thinking it, but no one wanted to bring the topic up and discuss what maybe in store for them.

 

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Well, it may be that this is exactly the situation the people behind this... uniquequandary they wantus to be in. When are we to be informed of the next step?"

 

Sesshoumaru looked quizzically at Miroku, who chuckled nervously, and then at Sango, who rolled her eyes.

 

"Well... see, there's another person we're going to go look for."

 

"...and?"

 

"Um... we're going tonight?"

 

Sango stood up and pulled Miroku out of his seat. She began walking out the door, dragging an obliging Miroku with her. Before going out the opened door, she turned back. "So, you wanna come with us or not?"

 

Sesshoumaru stared at the bold woman for a moment before shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly and getting out of his chair. He grabbed a jacket and glanced out the window at the three figures out in his front lawn chattering quietly. It actually looked more like bickering, but who was to know?

 

He pulled out a cell phone from his jacket's inner pocket and dialed a number.

 

"Hey - can you come and housesit? Yeah, I've taken the whole scenario into actual consideration. No - no. No more cable porn. No, I'll hide the remotes. No! You made my bill go insane last time! No!"

 

Sesshoumaru snapped the phone shut and rubbed his temples.

 

Dammit... and he's the only one who'll housesit for me...

 

0-o-0-o-0

 

"So... remind me again what we're doing here." Sango stated as she craned her neck back to look at the neon sign they were standing in front of.

 

FLASHY GIRLS GO D BEER

 

Miroku chuckled. "This is... quite a place isn't it?"

 

Sesshoumaru and Kagura just forced themselves to enter the dimly lit (the neon sign was not much comfort) and rather sketchy looking building.

 

Miroku was about to join them, when he looked back at Sango, who had her head looking at the ground.

 

"Sango, you coming?"

 

"I... no. This place is gross," Sango muttered. "It's humiliating to even be near this damned place."

 

"Psh!" And Miroku, with the stubborn struggles of Sango, gently guided her through the wooden door.

 

As they entered the dingy building, Sango noted that it was the complete and polar opposite of the appearance outside.

 

Before her was a massive room, full of men and strippers dancing erotically on poles, and it all seemed so...

 

"Looks pretty high-class when you look at it eh?" Miroku grinned and tugged on her forearm, letting his hand slip into hers as he pulled her along looking for Sesshoumaru and Kagura.

 

He located them sitting at a table near the catwalk.

 

The music was sassy and loud. Sango didn't like the situation one bit. How would the find the girl they were looking for anyway? She would obviously be in a different attire, and perhaps wearing a mask. Or maybe make-up... Sango pondered as the room suddenly dimmed its lights, sending the people inside into a mild panic.

 

"What's going on?" Sango hissed. Miroku looked at her with a teasing look in his eye.

 

"You've never been to one of these places before?" he asked her with a playful quality in his voice. Kagura snorted and Sesshoumaru just stood there.

 

"What! And you have?" Kagura shuffled her chair closer to the girl.

 

"No need to freak out here, and don't worry. It's nothing like sex on stage. They just tease."

 

"..." Sango turned slightly paler and tightened her grip on Miroku's hand. Miroku didn't mention anything but he had a smile on his face.

 

"For some reason I don't think that comforted her," Sesshoumaru observed.

 

"You shut up smart ass! I bet you've never been in one of these places either!"

 

"Shhh!" Miroku held a finger up to Kagura's mouth, indicating she should lower her voice. He then turned to the stage and watched as the spotlights redirect themselves to the center of the stage, where curtains lay.

 

The music that had been playing in the background screeched to a halt, and the room was full of quiet whispers before another song started to play.

 

A slow beat filled the room, quieting the audience. The red curtains drew open slowly, revealing a girl standing in a model pose. She was dressed in as much fabric as it seemed was on Miroku's shirt. The cloth hung tightly on her figure.

 

Perhaps the most modest thing she had was the two giant feather fans she held. The music started up, and the girl strutted to the end of the catwalk, singing along to the song that was playing.

 

I'm not ashamed of the things that I dream

I find myself flirting with the verge of obscene

Into the unknown I will be bold

I'm going to the places that I can be out of control

 

She drew the fans provocatively across her body and slowly slinked to the pole.

 

"Miroku!" Kagura hissed. "That's our girl."

 

Miroku blinked and turned to Kagura. "Are you sure? She doesn't really..."

 

"Trust me. I can see past the dress up."

 

Miroku nodded. Did they mention her name?

 

She finished dancing for the rest of the song, and bowed before leaving the stage.

 

"GENTLEMEN GIVE IT UP FOR MS. TAMA!" A round of cheers, hoots, and catcalls erupted from the club.

 

Sango, who had apparently decided that if she was going to be stuck in such an abmysal place she might as well get slightly wasted.

 

"I'm going to go get a drink," she said as she slinked out of her chair, loosening her grip with Miroku's hand and standing up. Was.. I holding his hand the entire time? She blushed slightly as Miroku turned to her.

 

"Will you get me a shot of Bacardi 151?"

 

"Sure."

 

"And a Bloody Mary for me."

 

"Sure..."

 

The three figures turned and stared at Sesshoumaru, who stared back dully in return. "What?"

 

"Aren't you going to get anything?" inquired Kagura.

 

"No."

 

She smirked. "Oh, so what? Can't handle alcohol?"

 

"It kills you."

 

"Psh. That's what wimps say." she smirked. "Hey, get him a shot alright?"

 

Sango nodded and went to the bar. Kagura turned her attention back to Sesshoumaru. "So what else can't you stomach? Snakes? Lizards? Buggies? Or are you just a big teddy bear who's afraid of the daaark?"

 

"Your babyish tone of voice is trying on my nerves Ms. Kaze." Sesshoumaru gritted out.

 

"Oooooooh... am I making Mr. Mitsukaaai angryy?" Kagura grinned and gave him a pouty face when he glared at her.

 

"For your information alcohol is a bad addiction. I bet you've used it many times to dull the pain of an emotional tear you do not wish to deal. You've probably, in this life you live, drank enough to permanently cause your liver serious issues."

 

"...you're a very bitter man Mitsukai."

 

"The taste does not make up for the damage it's going to do to your body." Sesshoumaru noted as Sango arrived with their drinks. Kagura scoffed and took a big swig of her drink to spite him.

 

Sango put a glass on the table and slid it over to Sesshoumaru.

 

"I didn't want anything."

 

"It's water."

 

"..thanks."

 

"Well I'm way too hot to die from alcohol poisoning!" Miroku declared, downing his shot glass. He then coughed violently, making wheezing noises.

 

"...that doesn't sound very good." Sango watched as Miroku shook his head around to clear his throat.

 

Sesshoumaru handed the glass of water to Miroku, who greedily gulped it down. "Thanks..."

 

"So when should we talk to Ms. Higurashi?" Sesshoumaru asked after Miroku's face color returned to normal.

 

"Now would be a good time. We don't know if she has a shift after that little act so we'd better act fast. Sango and I'll go talk to her."

 

"No... we're all going."

 

"You just want to get backstage you dolt."

 

"I agree. We all go." Sesshoumaru stated as he stood up. When the others failed to follow him, he stared at them. "Don't waste time."

 

0-o-0-o-0

 

AN: Alrighty. I was going to go on and on forever but no one likes that don't they :D yeah. okay. i finally updated. wheeeeee. Fyi: the song is "touch of my hand" by britney spears. Really provocative lyrics. Erk.

 

Oh yeah - and I've never been inside a strip club, contrary to popular belief… so I'm sorry if that's weird or anything… :D