InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Uptown Girl ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 7 )

Outside of the bar, a back Ford Explorer pulled into the parking lot. “Are you sure that this is a good idea, Miroku? I feel a little guilty for having lied to Kikyo about being ill, just to go bar hopping with you,” Inuyasha whined as they exited the SUV.

 

Miroku looked over at his anxious friend, knowing that he'd just saved his comrade from another miserable, boring dinner party with Kikyo and her click. “Trust me, Inuyasha. This is the best bar in town. They supply the tastiest stakes, served your way. The beer is always flowing from around the world and it's all reasonably priced,” he replied, trying to quell the nerves of the hanyou.

 

“I guess, but if I get found out by Kikyo, then I'm blaming you, you know,” Inuyasha countered, looking still uneasily at the front of the bar.

 

Once inside, the first thing they noticed was a huge group of people clustered around a couple of others. Carefully, Miroku and Inuyasha eased their way into the crowd, moving toward the front for a better view. At first all they saw was the tall, dark haired man, facing off against the young strawberry-blond woman, and then Miroku's eyes landed onto the dark haired woman lying on the floor, vaguely recognizing her, but unable to remember her name.

 

Unsure of what he was seeing, Inuyasha leaned toward Miroku as he asked, “What's going on?”

 

In just hushed tones, Miroku replied, “This guy is going to get bounced out of here. Watch and wait. This won't take very long.” He crossed his arms as he silently rooted for the wolf demoness, followed by Inuyasha.

 

Jade relaxed her body as she saw him make his first move, a right hook followed by a left cross. Easily dodging the hastily thrown punches, Jade quickly dropped the vile person with a swift kick to his head from her years of Muay Thai kick boxing. As Naraku lay on the floor, dazed from the kick to his head, Jade approached his supine form as she said, “Now get out before I call the authorities. You are now trespassing on private property, and are no longer welcome here.” She turned toward the injured girl who was holding a bag of ice to her black eye, sitting at the bar with Sango as Ginta and Hakkaku with two others assisted removing Naraku from the bar.

 

As Miroku and Inuyasha assisted the wolf demon brothers with removing the limp form of Naraku from the bar, Inuyasha exclaimed, “Who the hell was that? She showed no fear in fighting this scum, despite the height difference!”

 

Ginta looked at the hanyou, with a `are you stupid' look on his face as Hakkaku answered matter-of-factly, “That was Jade, our undercover bouncer. If it gets to rough for the regular guy, she steps in.”

 

“Oh, is she a regular here?” Inuyasha asked, sounding a little overjoyed at the news, once they threw the offending scum into the parking lot near his supposed vehicle.

 

Ginta and Hakkaku looked questioningly at each other over the sudden interest of this hanyou toward their beloved `sister.' “Um…she does come in quite often with her friends, but only on Fridays is she ever a regular,” Hakkaku replied, until he felt the sharp stab to his ribs from his brother.

 

“We'd best get back in there to settle the crowd, nice to have met you,” Ginta continued as he led the way back into the bar, squabbling with his brother about keeping Jade as their secret bouncer a secret.

 

Inuyasha glanced at Miroku as he commented, “I've never seen a fight end that fast before. What is she?”

 

“Well, I know that she's three quarters wolf demon, but other then that, not much else. She knows my fiancé, Sango,” Miroku replied, also heading back into the bar, followed closely by the even more curious hanyou. Once inside, they moved toward the vacant pool tables and ordered some drinks as they played pool, glancing occasionally toward the bar where the injured woman and Jade were.

 

“Are you okay, ma'am?” Jade asked as she moved closer to the injured girl.

 

With her good eye, the young woman looked at Jade, contemplating her next move. “I guess I'll be fine, he just startled me is all. Thanks for taking care of him. Now I just need to get a lift home, he, unfortunately, was my ride here,” she said.

 

At that time, Ginta moved over to the trio of women as he heard her plight, “I'm sure that we can arrange a ride for you, ma'am. After what you went through, it would be at no cost, consider any of your drinks this evening on-the-house for all your troubles.”

 

“Thanks, I'd appreciate that. You don't need to call me ma'am. My name is Kagome…Kagome Higurashi,” she replied, thankful for the friendliness of the people who had come to her rescue.

 

Jade furrowed her brow for a second, trying to recall a past memory. Finally it dawned on her. “Did you graduate valedictorian from Shikon Academy about four years ago?” Jade asked, with a bit of enthusiasm in her voice.

 

Kagome blinked her good eye a couple of times, a look of pure shock adorning her bruised face as she replied, “Yes, I had, but how would you know?”

 

“I graduated with honors the same year. We were classmates, Kagome,” Jade replied. A bit of a smile crossed her face at the few `good' memories from her four years at the horrific school that her parents insisted that she attend.

 

Kagome looked closer at the woman before her, noticing for the first time her demonic look, although it was barely noticeable. Her slightly pointed ears and inquisitive eyes spoke volumes as to her wolf demon heritage, but with a hint of human in there as well. Suddenly it dawned on Kagome that she had known this woman from high school and had considered her as a close acquaintance during their time in school. “Acacia… Acacia Matador… is it really you?” Kagome whispered, not really believing that the woman before her was her friend of long ago.

 

Jade smiled as Sango took a confused look at the question, having heard the name before, but only in reference to the daughter of the most prestigious and obscenely wealthy orthopedics and psychology doctors in the area. She placed a hand gently on Kagome's shoulder as she replied, “I've changed a bit since we were in high school Kagome. I go by Jade now, Jade Solobo.” Carefully she pulled up a bar stool next to Kagome, as the others also found chairs, wanting to get to know their new friend.

 

“So what brings you to this wonderful town, Kagome?” Sango asked from her chair on the opposite side of Jade.

 

Pulling the ice pack from her face, being able to look both women in the eye, she replied, “I came here to get away from my past. After I graduated high school, my parents forced me into a college that I hated because it was their alma mater, expecting me to be top of my class there as well. However, I had other, more rebellious ideas and got thrown out in the first year. Since then, my parents basically disowned me, until I came to my senses, as they called it. Ever since then, I've been going from one job to another. I came here to see if I could reconnect with my old boy friend, but I've not been able to get up to his estate to see him.” A rim of tears began to form under her eyes as she thought of her lost love.

 

Jade looked at her long lost friend as she asked, “How long are you going to be in town for?” as she reached over the highly polished bar, to pull a wad of napkins for the now crying woman.

 

Taking the proffered nose wipe, Kagome wiped her tears from her face as she replied, “I had hoped for a few days, but now, I'm thinking that it wouldn't be so bad living here for a while. I just need a job.”

 

Feeling a sharp pain to her ribs from Sango, Jade glared at her fellow mechanic. In response Sango kind of gave her a `give her a job' type look that was not lost on Jade. Taking a breath, trying to find the right way to address Kagome, Jade stated, “I own an auto shop on the other side of town. We've been short handed for the past few weeks. Would you like to help out?”

 

Taking a hesitant breath, almost fainting at the proffered opportunity, Kagome replied, “You know that I'm not a mechanic, Aca…er…Jade. What good would I be at an auto shop?”

 

“You would be perfect as a secretary. This would help free up one of my mechanics to actually do their job, instead of helping customers. Either Sango or I could show you the ropes on Monday. How `bout it?” Jade countered.

 

Kagome thought a few minutes more before he finally responded, “It's better than trying to ask my parents for money. When do you want me to start?” After a few more minutes, the two haggled over the hours, pay, benefits, of the new job. Once both parties were satisfied, Sango offered to drive Kagome back to her hotel room as the bar patrons began to leave for the evening.

 

Slowly, Kagome took her new friend up on the offer as Jade began to look over the crowd, noticing for the first time a silver haired young man leaning over the nearest pool table with a tall, short brown haired youth holding a pool cue and a cold bottle of beer. She tilted her head toward the brown headed guy, acknowledging his presence; as Jade turned her eyes back to the man shooting pool. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as she anticipated a confrontation with the silver haired man. Quickly, she moved toward the entrance of the bar, wanting to avoid Inuyasha at all costs.