InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ This Wasn't In The Job Description ❯ It's Chinatown, Kagome ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter 20

 

It's Chinatown, Kagome

 

After breakfast the next morning, Kagome was pensive. Yesterday's events kept replaying in her mind and she was troubled. She decided to be more prepared if ever she went with InuYasha to follow up on another lead. The incident at the pachinko parlor could have been a lot worse, and she shuddered to think about what else might have happened. She went upstairs and got her backpack, and then went back to the kitchen, where Kaede was bustling about.

 

“Kaede, I would like to have a first aid kit that I can take when I go with InuYasha in pursuit of a lead,” Kagome said, placing her backpack on the kitchen counter. “Is there one available that you can spare?”

 

“Well,” said Kaede, “let me look. I think I used to have one around here somewhere.”

 

The housekeeper began to open cupboards, and when she opened one particular cupboard, a bunch of instant ramen cups fell out and nearly hit her on the head. Kaede huffed and began picking them up off the floor. Quickly, Kagome bent down to help her.

 

“That InuYasha, I swear,” sighed Kaede. “He has to go digging through the cupboards and leave them in such a state that this happens.”

 

“Say,” said Kagome, “maybe I should put some of these in my backpack as well, seeing as he likes them so much.”

 

“Be my guest,” said Kaede, turning and handing her what she had in her hands. “He always gets hungry.”

 

While Kagome put some of the instant ramen in her backpack, Kaede finally found a first aid kit. Gratefully, Kagome added that to her pack.

 

“Hey, can I get some breakfast around here?” said InuYasha, leaning on the kitchen's door jambs with his arms raised.

 

Kagome turned and looked up at InuYasha. Their eyes met and held for a moment. They were silent as they regarded each other, and then Kagome flushed and looked away.

 

“One moment, InuYasha,” said Kaede. “Where would you like to eat?”

 

“My office,” said InuYasha, and curiously watched what Kagome was doing.

 

“Kagome, what are you putting in that backpack of yours?” he asked.

 

Without turning to look at him, she said, “Just a few things I thought we might be able to use if we get another lead.”

“Huh,” said InuYasha. “Well, meet me back in my office in thirty minutes and we will get started on the day's work.”

 

“Okay,” said Kagome and turned to give him a brief smile.

 

For a split second, InuYasha smiled back and was gone. It took a moment for Kagome to regain her composure. Since yesterday, it was hard to look at InuYasha without feeling a longing in her heart, and a churning anxiety. But she believed that it was just the shock of first setting eyes on him this morning that set this off inside her. With time, she would feel better. Taking a deep breath, she tried to relax and soothe her inner turmoil.

 

Later that morning, Kagome sat at her desk doing her work. She was acutely aware at first of InuYasha, who sat at his own desk, going through what she had given him. They were fairly quiet as they worked, and eventually she settled down, losing herself in what she was doing once more.

 

The phone rang. Kagome heard InuYasha drop the papers he was holding and push others off his desk, grumbling as he looked for the phone.

 

“Yeah?” said InuYasha irritably, then he jumped from his chair, leaning one arm on his desk.

 

“You sure?...Where are you?...Uh, huh,….Chinatown, huh?...Okay…we're on it!” InuYasha slammed down the phone and looked up at Kagome.

 

“We got another lead,” said InuYasha. “I have to call Miroku and Sango. Go get changed and get your bow and arrows.”

 

“All right,” said Kagome, getting up from her desk, her heart hammering.

 

InuYasha hit the speed dial for Miroku's office.

 

“Hey, Yumi,” said InuYasha, “the pervert there?... Tell him to wrap up his meeting, get Sango and get his ass over here! Tell him I got another lead!”

 

As Kagome headed out of the office door, InuYasha hung up the phone. Hurriedly, she went upstairs and changed, her hands shaking a bit from the adrenaline rush that hit her. Thank goodness she had thought to pack her backpack this morning. Who knew what they would be up against this time - at least she felt she might be more prepared.

 

“Miroku and Sango are on there way over,” said InuYasha to Kagome as she came back into the office.

 

“Where are we going this time?” asked Kagome, as she put down her things and sat at her desk.

 

“Yokohama,” said InuYasha. “The lead came from the Chinatown area.”

 

Kagome nodded, looking thoughtful.

 

“Not worried are you?” asked InuYasha.

 

“No, actually I feel safe knowing we will all be going together,” said Kagome. “I was just wondering if there was anything else I should bring in my backpack.”

 

InuYasha gave a bark of laughter and shook his head. Kagome blushed, looking at her lap, and then darted a look up at him and saw he was grinning at her. He shrugged.

 

“Whatever you feel you may need, you are welcome to take with us,” said InuYasha. “But no furniture, huh? Won't fit on the back of the bike.”

 

It took Kagome a moment to realize he had made a joke. Then she started to laugh, covering her mouth with her hand, and he along with her. They looked at each other smiling broadly.

 

“Okay, I guess the bed in my room is out of the question then,” said Kagome. “I'll be right back.”

 

While Kagome got her backpack ready, InuYasha went and got Tessaiga. No way he was ever leaving without his sword again. From now on, it would go wherever he did.

 

A half hour later, they heard a rumble outside, as if a motorcycle was parking in front of the house. Then the intercom went off in InuYasha's office.

 

“Hey, we're here,” said Miroku.

 

“Kagome and I will be right out,” said InuYasha. “And did I hear a motorcycle just now?”

 

“Yeah, yeah,” said Miroku. “I got tired of trying to keep up with you in my car, so I broke down and got one.”

 

“About time!” said InuYasha.

 

“Well, a motorcycle has…other advantages,” said Miroku smugly.

 

Kagome looked at InuYasha as he rolled his eyes, and shook his head and smirked at her. They both knew what Miroku was probably getting at. Sango had to ride on the back of the motorcycle with him.

 

Soon, Kagome was holding snugly to InuYasha on the back of his bike. It was amazing how quickly she was getting used to this, especially since it gave her a reason to be holding him. She let herself openly enjoy the feeling of being so close to him. They pulled into the street, and Miroku started up his bike and followed behind them. The two bikes roared out of town and onto the highway.

 

As they sped on their way, Kagome began to daydream a little. She indulged herself in a little fantasy that InuYasha was her boyfriend and they were going on a date. A little thrill went through her, and she clutched him tighter. To her amazement, he let go of one of the handlebars a moment and gave one of her hands a quick, reassuring squeeze. Pressing her cheek into his back, she smiled, forgetting for a moment that they were on a dangerous mission and just enjoying being with him.

 

They reached Yokohama, and InuYasha weaved the bike through the streets, with Miroku doing his best to keep up. Finally, they reached Chinatown, and entered its narrow streets through one of its colorful gates. The sights, sounds and colors, and chatter in Chinese surrounded them as InuYasha tried to get his bike through the crowds. They stopped in front of a Chinese restaurant. It looked closed.

 

“This is it?” said Sango wonderingly as she and Miroku got off his bike and joined them.

 

“Yes,” said InuYasha, wrinkling his nose. “This town fucking stinks - I can't smell where we need to go.”

 

Growling in irritation, InuYasha began to stalk around the building, which looked like a pagoda painted in brown, red and green. The others followed, but tried to stay out of his way. After circling the building a couple times, InuYasha finally stopped abruptly. Kagome stopped and Miroku bumped into her from behind, and Sango into him.

 

“Whoa! Careful please!” said Kagome, as she was jostled.

 

“Hey, I could get used to this!” said Miroku happily.

 

“Not if I can help it,” Sango grated, pushing off his back.

 

InuYasha spun around just as Miroku's hand went out to grope Kagome's butt. The hanyou saw it and his eyes narrowed and he began to growl dangerously. Looking all innocent, Miroku raised his hands, palms forward.

 

“It was an accident,” said Miroku, trying to look sincere.

 

“If I ever catch you touching Kagome again, friend and agent or not, I swear I will put a matching hole in your other hand!” InuYasha roared.

 

Kagome looked at InuYasha in astonishment, and then blushed a little as he took her hand and pulled her gently away from Miroku. Glancing back at Miroku and Sango a moment, she caught the smile and the warm twinkle in Sango's eyes as she looked back at her.

 

“Okay, Okay,” said Miroku placatingly. “Have you decided where we are to enter?'

 

“Over here,” said InuYasha, and ripped off some doors that looked like they led to a store room.

 

The room was empty, but InuYasha kept sniffing, and then stopped at a wall. He rapped the wall with his knuckles a moment, and then gave another sniff.

 

“Stand back,” said InuYasha. He made a fist, pulling it back and slamming a hole into the wall.

 

“Was this really the only way in?” said Miroku as InuYasha began to pull the wall apart.

 

“The only way I could find,” InuYasha grated.

 

Kagome and Sango stepped back fastidiously, as dead bugs, live bugs, dust, and other debris poured out of the wall. They all waived their hands in front of their faces, coughing, as the stuff settled.

 

“Shit!” spat InuYasha, “I smell - .”

 

Before InuYasha could finish his sentence, a tall, dark, and handsome blue-eyed wolf youkai had jumped through the hole in a blur and taken Kagome's hands in his.

 

“Kagome,” said Kouga. “Hey! I'm so happy to see you again.”

 

Kagome gulped, and turned to look at InuYasha. The hanyou was growling menacingly, baring his fangs, flexing his claws, his eyes blazing. Nonchalantly, Kouga turned to look at him.

 

“Who's this hanyou mutt you're with?” said Kouga.

 

“Get your filthy fucking hands off her!” InuYasha yelled, and pounced.