InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Uptown Girl ❯ Chapter 45 ( Chapter 46 )

Onigumo followed the Bronco since early in the morning, fearing to get to close and being spotted, and yet afraid of loosing the speed demon if he fell too far behind. “Why hadn't I attached the tracking device when I had the chance?” he thought as he drove a mile behind Koga's Bronco, barely able to keep it in sight on the twisting, country road. He glanced over at his laptop, glad that he'd grabbed it, as well as his surveillance, equipment.

 

Within a few minutes, he'd caught up with the Bronco as it pulled into the parking lot of the only establishment visible on the road. “Must be stopping for a bite to eat or something,” Onigumo thought as he drove past, to circle the block and pull into the parking lot from a different direction. He watched Koga enter the bar before pulling alongside the Bronco.

 

Once he was sure that he didn't have any witnesses, Onigumo pulled the little transmitter from his pocket and attached to it the back bumper, to where it was out of sight. After a few minutes, he checked his laptop and verified that the transmitter was working. Verifying that the transmitter was working, Onigumo closed the laptop and ventured into the bar to use the pay phone.

 

 

Koga walked into the Waterhole Bar and Grill, looking for a drink and directions to the little ranch up in the mountains. After a seven hour drive, Koga needed to get out of his Bronco to stretch his legs and take a leak, but more importantly he needed directions. This was as far as the map went that Jade had provided.

 

“Damn it… I wish that I hadn't have slept on the way up here the last time,” he thought as he walked toward the back of the bar past the lone pool table. His boots thumped with each step across the hard wood floor as he reached the restrooms. `Desperado' played in the background on an old worn out juke box.

 

Having relieved himself, Koga moved back to the bar, spying a couple of older gents nursing their beers as they talked of days long gone, as well as a younger guy, about his age sitting off by himself, staring at the lone glass of beer sitting before him. The bar tender, apparently in his late forties, wiped the inside of a glass, absentmindedly as he listened to the old timers. Koga shook his head a moment as he approached the old coots sitting at the bar.

 

Once he sidled next to the old coots, the bar tender asked, “What can I get you?” as he continued to clean the glass.

 

“I'll take a Pepsi, no ice please,” Koga replied as he took a seat. Quickly, a glass of the dark caramel liquid was set in front of him. As he paid for the drink, Koga asked the bartender, “Could you help me? I'm trying to find the Hacienda El Matador.”

 

Still wiping the glass down, the bar tender motioned toward the younger guy at the end of the bar. “That guy down there is the ranch foreman. He'd be able to help you,” he replied.

 

Taking his drink, Koga thanked the bar tender and moved to sit next to the younger guy who slowly picked up his partial glass of beer, taking a sip as he continued staring off into space. “Hey, is this seat taken?” Koga asked pointing to the seat on the guy's right.

 

Ban looked at the lanky stranger briefly as he replied, “No… feel free to take it.” As Koga took the seat, Ban commented, “Nice set of shiners,” as he took a sip of his beer.

 

With a lop-sided grin, Koga replied, with a slight chuckle, “Thanks, nice one that you got too. I'd hate to see what the other guy looked like.”

 

Ban corrected sheepishly, “Actually it was a she, and she has a wicked right hook.” he laughed.

 

Koga laughed as well, “I hear yea, and some of those women can be pretty tough.”

 

After taking another swig of his beer, Ban inquired, “What's your story?”

 

With a slight chuckle at the sight of the distant stranger who'd been hit by a girl, Koga replied, “It was over a girl, the guy I thought she was cheating with and I got into a fight. He was in worse shape than I was, but he broke my nose.” He took a drink as he thought back about his fight with Inuyasha.

 

A lop-sided smile crossed Ban's lips as he surmised, “Isn't that always the case? Two guys, sitting in a bar, were sporting black eyes because of a girl.”

 

Koga laughed a bit as he replied, “You've got that right, buddy. Although, I'll say my girl is worth every black eye and stitch that I received. She's one hell of a kisser and easy on the eyes.”

 

“I know what you mean. My ex wasn't bad in the sack, either," Ban winked, taking another sip of his drink. "She just came back into town recently, was sparring with me earlier and gave me this black eye. I guess that I should have been paying better attention,” Ban recalled, as the memory of the fight that morning flashed across his eyes.

 

"Oh? Your ex does some sort of martial arts or something?" asked Koga.

 

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

 

"Well, my girl's a pretty tough one herself. Yeah, she's kicked my ass a couple of times."

 

"I hear you man."

 

 

After placing his call to Naraku, more like receiving his orders to continue tracking the wolf and capture the wolf bitch, he moved toward the bar, looking for something to drink. It had been a hell of a day, especially when he spent the night before in his car. Taking a seat on the other side of the old coots, near the restrooms, Onigumo ordered his beer as he kept an eye on Koga and the rugged looking stranger he'd struck up a conversation with.

 

 

As they sat in silence for a bit, each deep in thought of their girl, neither realizing that the other was thinking of the same girl, Jade, Koga looked at Ban as he asked, “So… you work at the Hacienda El Matador?”

 

“Yeah, what's it to you?” Ban replied, still looking at his nearly empty beer, a scowl crossing his face.

 

Looking back at his own drink, Koga replied, slightly embarrassed about asking for help, “I need directions to get up there. It's been a while since I visited the ranch, but I slept on the way up there… you know all this clean mountain air kind of gave me a case of fresh air poisoning.”

 

“Yes, the air has a tendency to do that if you're not careful,” Ban remarked as he swigged the rest of his drink. “It just so happens that I need a ride there my self. My good for nothing bro left me here so he could do something.” He put the now empty glass down as he stood from the stool. Koga swigged the rest of his Pepsi before following Ban out the door.

 

 

Several minutes later, having finished their drinks, Koga and the stranger left. Not wanting to loose the wolf, despite the transmitter having a five mile range, Onigumo pulled out of the parking lot, a little ahead of the two, before burning a U-turn in a vacant lot a mile or so down the road before flipping open his laptop.

 

“Come on… come on…” he thought as the computer loaded, before the welcoming blip of the transmitter showed on the screen. It marked Koga's location at the bar on a large area map. Once the Bronco started moving, the blip moved along the map, bringing a smile to Onigumo's lips as he thought of all the night classes he'd taken for surveillance equipment installer and repairman.

 

 

The bar tender watched as the two gents left his establishment, closely followed by another who had come in behind Koga. Turning toward the phone, the bar tender called Ban's eccentric brother, explaining that Ban had found a new ride home.

 

A smile crossed Jak's lips as he turned back to look at Jade as she tied down her duffle bag on Kami's saddle, he thought, “This worked out better than Jade could have planned it.”

 

As Koga walked toward his Bronco, his breath caught in his throat once more how beautiful his ride was. Seeing it now in the light of an afternoon sun was a sight to behold. The shade of blue that Jade had selected for the body glistened as the sun reflected off the high polish. A tear came to his eyes as he thought of all the money and work that had gone into his Bronco, knowing that this had been Jade's therapy while she was separated from him, before the auto shop opened up.

 

Seeing the distracted look in Koga's eyes, Ban asked, “Hey man… are you alright?'

 

As he returned to the present, Koga replied, “Just thinking is all. I just got my ride back and I'm still a bit overwhelmed is all. Come on… hop in.” Ban slide into the passenger seat, taking notice of the immaculate interior of the Bronco as he fastened his seat belt.

 

Once Koga started up the Bronco and pulled out of the paring lot, Ban directed him to the lone mountain road that led to the ranch. As Koga drove, Ban asked, “You said that you just got your ride back, what happened to it?”

 

With a slight grin, he replied, “My girlfriend had it refurbished for me, something that she was going to save for our anniversary, but apparently she decided to give it to me a little early.”

 

“So what does your girlfriend do?” Ban asked, settling into the lush upholstery for the hour long drive.

 

Focusing on the winding mountain road, Koga replied, “She's an awesome mechanic actually. That's kind of how we met up.” He turned an eye toward Ban as he inquired, “What about your ex? How'd you meet up?”

 

Ban sighed as he replied, “She came out to the ranch a few years back, being all high and mighty, or so I thought. Once I saw her in action, riding and roping with the best of the cowhands, I knew that she'd be the one for me.” His eyes kind of hazed over as he thought back to the first time he'd seen Jade straddle a horse, a sigh escaped his lips as he continued, “It wasn't long after that we found out that we had a lot more in common then working on a ranch.”

 

“I know what you mean. My girl impressed me before we even started dating by dropping a guy twice her size during a hand-to-hand combat exercise. From that point on I just couldn't get her out of my head, those lips, her eyes, the way she swayed her hips in just the right way… that ass that you could just devour,” Koga commented as he licked his lips, remembering the curvaceous butt Jade possessed.

 

A smile slipped across Ban's lips Koga described his unknown girl friend, “I know what you mean. My ex had the most perfect set of tits that you could imagine. I could feed off them for hours if given the chance. Hell, that's one of the things I miss the most,” he winked.

 

They slipped into an easy silence as Koga continued the drive up the mountain road, moving from the foot hills to a high mountain pass or two, then down into the wide mountain valleys. As he drove, Koga thought of Jade and all that they had meant to each other, after the accident and her recovery, as well as beyond. “How could I have been so blinded by the past… the past with that mutt not to see what Jade had been trying to tell me?” he thought.

 

Ban saw the look on the stranger's face, one of deep thought and regret. “I bet his girlfriend really messed him up,” he thought, as he reflected on his own experiences lately with Jade and how she had messed with his head as well.

 

To break the silence, Koga reached over to the radio, surfing for a station to listen to on the remainder of the trip to the ranch. As he moved from one station to another, he stopped long enough as the news came on briefly, albeit a little broken, “This just in… the southeastern… town of… a young woman… kidnapped… not sure… The only… that we… is that she was… a friend who… home at the time…” Getting a little upset over the broken news cast, Koga just shut off the radio, not having found a single station worth the hassle.

 

“That sounded kind of interesting,” Ban commented as Koga has shut off the radio.

 

Returning his attention to the road, Koga replied, “Maybe it will be on the news tonight, or we can get the information from the Shina once we get there.”

 

Ban scowled a bit as Koga mentioned the owner of the ranch. Not wanting to be suspicious, because there have been many people out to the ranch, as well as those who knew Shina Matador, Ban asked, “What is your reason for visiting the ranch, my friend?”

 

Koga looked at Ban, gauging his demeanor as he replied, “I've some business with the widow Shina Matador. She's requested my assistance in a personal matter.” Ban knew that the guy was lying but he wasn't sure of how deep the lie went. He'd been able to judge everything from people, humans and demons alike, to animals.

 

There was something about Koga that he liked, but all his senses screamed that there was something about Koga that he should fear, whether it was Koga's full blooded wolf demon appearance, or the fact that he blatantly lied to Ban about his reason for going to the ranch. Ban shook it off, knowing that it was another twenty or so mile walk back to the ranch, if he wanted out at this time. “Damn it… I should have asked about his intentions before I got into his Bronco,” Ban thought as he settled next to the door once more.

 

A few minutes later as Koga continued down the winding road, Ban pointed to a turn off, that headed farther into the unknown wilderness, a short cut of sorts to the ranch house he claimed. It was the truth, in about ten minutes after topping a little bit of a rise, Koga's Bronco headed down the dirt road toward the rambling spread of buildings and corrals that consisted of the Hacienda El Matador.

 

Koga let out a low whistle as the spread came into view. “Man… I'm glad to be awake this time around. I missed out on one hell of a view the last time I as out here,” Koga commented as he eased the Bronco down the road, past the fields of cattle, and corrals of horses to pull in front of the main ranch house.

 

As Ban and Koga eased out of the Bronco, Ban looked at the stranger and offered his hand as he said, “Thanks for the ride…” trying to recall what the guys name was.

 

Taking Ban's hand in a firm grip, Koga replied, “Koga… Koga Solobo. And thanks to you as well for helping me get out here. By the way, I never caught your name.” Upon recognizing the name of Jade's fiancé, Bankotsu's eyes widened in shock which he quickly recovered before Koga took notice.

 

Ban seethed under the fine veneer of politeness as he replied, “Nice to have met you.” Even though he knew who the man was, he decided not to antagonize the situation for now. “I'm Ban Temerario. I assume you know your way from here?”

 

“Yeah, I'm headed over to the main house to see Shina and see if she knows where I can find Jade,” Koga replied, as he turned his back on the furious foreman.

 

Glaring daggers at the back of Jade's fiancé, Ban cursed himself for what he'd done, unknowingly helping Jade in her quest to make amends with the man who'd hurt her… a demon… a wolf demon at that. If there was one thing that Ban hated more than anything it was male wolf demons, after one had attacked Jade and nearly killed her four years ago. “Damn her… damn her to hell,” he thought as he stormed toward his cabin, looking for something stronger than beer to quench his nerves.

 

As Ban approached his cabin, Jak came running out worry etched into his features. “I just heard on the news that a young woman was kidnapped,” Jak practically screeched.

 

“Yeah, I heard something to that effect on the way here,” Ban replied abruptly, still scowling that Koga was here and that would mean that Jade would be gone again from his life forever. He failed to see the look in Jak's eyes as he continued, “The report was so broken that we weren't able to hear what had actually happened.”

 

“Ban… the girl is staying at Jade's place,” Jak said in near hysterics, gripping his brother strongly by both arms, shaking him as he continued, “And Jade hasn't returned from her ride earlier either.”

 

As the realization of what Jak was trying to say, Ban's eyes went wide as he asked, his voice dropped to nearly a growl, “Where did she go?” as he clenched his fists to his sides.

 

“I don't know… she said something about the cabin, but Ban that has been over three hours ago. She should have been back by now!” Jak replied. Without another word, Ban rushed toward the barn and his beloved truck, hopping in and taking the twenty minute long drive up to the cabin where so many memories awaited him.

 

As Ban moved up the nearly invisible mountain road… more like two cow trails really, he slammed his fist onto the steering wheel in frustration. “Who could be after Jade? Why would they kidnap this other girl… Kagome, it they were initially after her?” He thought furiously as he recalled the news story a month back of Jade's assault.

 

“Could that bitch… the one who attached her, be a part of this? Is she still looking for revenge against Jade?” The questions flowed through his mind as the answers refused to surface. Then it dawned on him… “What if Koga's behind all this and I've led him right to her?” As the thought of his beloved Jade, being kidnapped, raped or even worse, sent chills down Ban's spine as he floored the gas, making the truck lurch down the uneven, rock filled road.

 

About ten bone jarring minutes later, Ban pulled to a stop outside the cabin, breathing a slight sigh of relief seeing Kami munching on some hay in a corral nearby. “Well,” he thought, “At least I was right about where she had gone to.” He exited the truck and quickly made his way to the door. As he entered the cabin, slightly miffed that the door was left unlocked, Ban quickly searched the cabin, calling out to Jade. Without her sweet reply, Ban became nearly frantic as he sprinted up the stairs to search her room. As he stormed into her bedroom, he was brought up short as a ghostly figure wrapped in white appeared at the bathroom door. His eyes opened wide in shock as his jaw dropped to the floor at the sight before him.

 

 

As Ban stormed toward his home, Koga approached the large main ranch house, feeling a little apprehensive as to who would answer the door. He steeled himself in hopes that it would be his Jade, but something told him that wouldn't be the case. After a few tentative moments, he knocked on the door, a resounding thud that was quickly answered by the gray haired, steel eyed Shina.

 

Once she set her eyes upon the wolf, a slight smile crossed her lips as she said, “She said that you'd come.”

 

With a slight smile of reassurance, Koga commented, “That's good to hear that I'm predictable. Where is she?”

 

Shina shook her head as she replied, “Impatient as ever, I see. If you follow your nose, you'll be able to find her.”

 

Sadly, Koga replied, “In which case, I won't find her for a bit.” Shina looked at him a little intently, as she looked upon his face, noticing for the first time the two slightly blackened eyes.

 

“Oh… my poor dear… what happened Koga?” Shina asked placing a gentle hand upon his cheek.

 

Wincing a little at the tender touch, Koga replied softly, “A little misunderstanding. If you could just point me in the general direction, I'll be able to find her… it will just take me a little bit.”

 

“I'm sure that I can help you there,” she replied as she pointed in the general direction of the hidden mountain cabin by the lake. With a shy kiss to her cheek, Koga took off at a near dead run, moving as quickly as his blinding demon speed could carry him toward his beloved Jade.

 

“I'm almost there Jade. We'll be together again soon,” he thought as he took tentative whiffs of the air, finding that his sense of smell was returning, but still was limited to just short distances. Spurred by the revelation, Koga moved quickly toward his beloved, eager to have her in his arms again.

 

 

At the pass leading down into the valley of the Hacienda El Matador spread, Onigumo watched the wolf running into the surrounding forest. A devious smile crossed his lips as he thought, “I've got her now. Just to follow the wolf and she'll be mine.” Slowly he moved his vehicle down into the valley, driving past the road to the ranch house; he stayed within visual contact of the wolf, noticing that he wasn't moving as fast as he'd been known to. “Must be something wrong with him,” he thought as he parked his car, tracking the wolf on foot.