"Turn Around Again" by Jezunya

Disclaimer: Come on, people! I think we all know who owns Inuyasha and who doesn't… ;_;

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Inuyasha peered out through the blinds, watching the detective climb back into his beat-up police car and pull away from the curb, not taking his eyes off it until he was sure the wolf was gone. Once he was satisfied that he wouldn't bother them anymore, he turned back from the window to look at Kagome where she still sat on the couch. She glanced up from her knees when she felt his eyes on her, her gaze questioning.

"Well, come on," Inuyasha said gruffly, gesturing with his head as he led the way out of the living room and into the entry by the front door. He pulled his black Armani jacket off the coat rack behind the door as Kagome sat quietly and pulled her shoes on.

"Where are we going?" she asked as she stood, stamping her feet lightly to adjust her shoes.

Inuyasha cast her a sidelong glance, hesitating as he stuffed his car keys in his pocket. "We're going to see Miroku," he said slowly. "I think I know who's after you, but Miroku's really better at gathering information and that sort of thing.."

"So..?" Kagome prompted, following him out of the apartment into the hallway.

"So.. We're gonna find the bastard, and take him out."

Kagome nodded, walking slowly after the white-haired man as he led the way to the elevator again. Suddenly though, he stopped mid-step, almost making Kagome run into him, his head snapping up to look around warily.

"Hey…" Kagome began, glaring up at him, but he silenced her with a sharp wave of his hand, his eyes distant, with a suspicious, almost worried look on his face. After a moment he relaxed again, his face changing from tense concentration to a slightly confused expression.

"Huh…" He exhaled softly, shrugging and shaking his head.

"What?" Kagome asked when he began moving again.

He shook his head again, reaching to push the 'down' button by the elevator. "Just.. thought I heard something…" he mumbled, scowling down at the pristine tiles around the elevator doors. He could've sworn he'd just heard a helicopter flying through the air near them. While it was entirely possible that it was just a news or weather chopper, he was ready to suspect anything, especially since he knew for a fact that one of Naraku's underlings was a pilot.

He could feel Kagome watching him, but he ignored her, only shooting her a glare when the elevator doors opened to let them in.

A few seconds later they were emerging on the floor just below Inuyasha's apartment, the silver-haired man once again leading the way down the hall. He stopped in front a door about halfway down the hall and pounded on it loudly, making Kagome jump and glare at him. There was the muffled sound of someone slowly moving around inside, followed by shuffling footsteps approaching the door before the bolt was flicked back and the door opened a crack.

Inuyasha's friend from the night before peered out, before recognizing them and opening the door further. "There you are," Miroku said, sounding slightly exasperated. "I was about to go up and see what was taking so long.."

Inuyasha scowled and hooked a thumb in Kagome's direction. "The wench here had to sleep a full 28 hours last night," he grumbled, ignoring the furious look Kagome gave him. Miroku just chuckled as he stepped out and pulled his door closed behind him, turning around to lock it with his key. "Not to mention a certain wimpy-wolf decided to come and hold us up," Inuyasha continued, scowling as he studied the designs in the wallpaper across from him.

Miroku looked at him sharply, suddenly not quite so carefree. His mouth compressed into a grim line, as he straightened and gestured for them to return to the elevator. "Great. Just what we need, the police breathing down our necks," he sighed, running a hand through his short hair as they boarded and began to descend to the ground-level of the apartment building. Kagome glanced at him unsurely, but decided not to ask about that comment.

When they came out into the main lobby, Miroku began to lead the way out toward the front doors, Kagome following slowly behind him. Inuyasha, however, froze on the threshold of the elevator, his eyes widening. He sniffed, then gagged at the burning scent that flooded his lungs. "Miroku!" Inuyasha rasped, running after the two humans, who turned to look back at him with surprised expressions.

"What is it?!" Miroku asked, reaching out a hand toward the staggering silver-haired man.

Inuyasha slapped it away and instead pushed both of them toward the doors. "Go! Gas!!"

Miroku took a sharp intake of breath but didn't question any further as he grabbed Kagome's arm and ran for the doors, Inuyasha not a step behind them. Just as the automatic doors sealed behind them, they could see people at the reception desk and around the lobby beginning to fall to the ground, unconscious.

"What.. What was that all about?" Kagome questioned anxiously, breathing hard, staring in at the now-still apartment building.

"Sleeping gas," Miroku answered gravely, thumping Inuyasha on the back when the other man bent over, hacking and coughing. "I suppose we should have expected him to play dirty.."

"Him?" Kagome asked, looking at Miroku, then down at the still-coughing Inuyasha with a slightly worried expression.

"The person who's trying to kill you – a man called Naraku," Miroku replied. "He-"

Inuyasha abruptly elbowed him hard in the stomach. "Shut up, Miroku," he wheezed, glaring up at the other man as he finally got some hold on his breathing. "She doesn't need to know.." he trailed off as he straightened and looked up toward the top of the building, just in time to see an unmarked black helicopter take off of the roof of the apartment building. "Fuck. I knew it.." he growled, glaring up at the helicopter as it flew off. He turned to lead the way down the sidewalk. "Well, come on, no use just standing here.."

"Kagura?" Miroku asked, jogging to catch up with the other man. Inuyasha nodded once. He'd recognize that chopper anywhere – after all, he'd practically spent all his waking hours (which were quite a few) in that helicopter when he'd worked for Naraku.. And he knew the maneuver she's used well too – put everyone to sleep, then dash and take what you want. He half-smirked to himself. She was gonna get hell from Naraku when she came back empty-handed.

They made their way around the building, coming to the outdoor entrance of the car garage, where Inuyasha announced that they'd have to take Miroku's car, since he had left his parked several blocks away in front of Myouga's bar the day before.

"So, where to?" Miroku asked as he backed out of his parking place and headed out of the garage.

"Just drive west, I need to make a phone call," Inuyasha replied, flipping a cell phone out of his jacket pocket. He punched in a few numbers quickly and pressed the phone to the forelock on the side of his head – and, presumably, so the ear hidden somewhere beneath it. Kagome watched silently from the backseat of the car as he waited for the other end to pick up, his free hand distractedly rapping his abnormally-long nails against the car door.

Inuyasha's eyebrows kicked up the tiniest bit in that way that signals a person going from 'on hold' mode to alert talking. "Sess."

A quiet voice sounded on the other end, calmly asking what the hell he wanted.

"I need a favor…" Inuyasha said slowly, casting a sidelong look at Kagome.

***

"You have got to be kidding," Kagome half-pleaded, looking back at Inuyasha. She tried to ignore the way the tall silver-haired man beside her raised one eyebrow almost amusedly as he looked between her and her so-called protector.

Inuyasha glared at her, making that strange growling noise again. "What are you whining about? You wanna get killed?"

"No.. but I don't see how this helps at all!"

"I can't have you tagging along the whole time. You'd just get in the way," Inuyasha replied, his face scrunching up even more, if that were possible. "Besides, Sesshoumaru's place is the most secure place in Tokyo, probably all of Japan," he admitted, somewhat grudgingly.

"Ah, so it seems you have finally admitted who is the stronger of us," the tall man finally spoke up, directing a small superior smile down at Inuyasha. The shorter man growled, turning his scowl on him.

"Shut up, asshole. It's just 'cause your wife's a fucking miko that I'm even willing to leave her here," he snarled, fists clenching at his sides and practically shaking with the urge to swing at his half-brother.

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, his lip curling slightly to reveal long, fang-like teeth. "You should watch your words, bastard. I might change my mind about taking your bitch into my care if you insult my mate."

"Keh," Inuyasha scoffed, ignoring Kagome's rather offended outburst at being called a bitch. "Nice bluff, but you owe me a favor, remember?" He smirked as the older man's face darkened with a scowl, then turned to leave. "Just.. stay inside, and out of sight," he growled as he passed Kagome on the way to the door. She nodded once, slowly, and with that, he left.

The two stood in an awkward kind of silence once the huge banded doors had swung closed behind Inuyasha's retreating figure, until Sesshoumaru slowly turned to regard her. He looked about to make some kind of cool, sarcastic remark, when a ball of white fluff came whizzing in from a side hall and rammed into Kagome's stomach, completely bowling her over.

"Where's Uncle Inuyasha?! You're not Uncle Inuyasha! But you smell like Uncle Inuyasha!! How come you smell like Uncle Inuyasha?!" Kagome could only stare up at the white-haired child sitting crouched on her chest and stomach. And of course her eyes were drawn to the rather husky-like ears perched atop the child's head, both of which were tuned toward her like a dog on full alert.

"Sakura," Inuyasha's brother said sternly, picking the child up beneath her arms.

Sakura, in turn, beamed up at him, "Father!"

Sesshoumaru turned the child around to give her a firm glare. "What did we discuss?"

She just continued to smile at him, even as she repeated the words that condemned her behavior. "'It is undignified to run in the house, to jump on visitors, and to bark, howl, or whine like a common pup.'" Sakura smiled broadly at her father once she had finished reciting what had probably been meant to be a hard-learned lesson, completely oblivious to the slight twitch in Sesshoumaru's left eye as she seemed unfazed by the words she had just spoken.

Sesshoumaru finally just sighed and set the small dog-eared girl on her feet, turning her back to face Kagome, who was still sitting dazed on the polished marble floor. "Now, introduce yourself properly," he commanded, giving Sakura a small nudge toward the human girl.

Sakura looked up at her father and then stepped forward and clasped her hands in front of her, bowing low. "I am Inutai Sakura, daughter of the Great Inutaiyoukai Lord Sesshoumaru and the Lady Rin, Ruler and Mistress of the Western Youkai domains. Douzo yoroshiku!"

"Higurashi Kagome, douzo yoroshiku…" Kagome managed softly, her eyes still glued on the living, moving dog ears on top of the little girl's head.

"It is rude to stare," Sesshoumaru rumbled, his voice only slightly reproachful as he watched her coolly.

Kagome immediately snapped her gaze away from the small girl before her up to the tall silver-haired man standing behind her, looking both confused and a little frightened. "What.. what does she mean by 'Lord' Sesshoumaru..? A-and 'youkai'?! And… And what's with those ears?!" she demanded, casting a shaky glance back at Sakura, who simply blinked her wide gold eyes up at the human girl.

Sesshoumaru arched one slender brow, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. So Inuyasha had not revealed his demonic heritage to this bitch? How.. interesting. Well, his half-brother was sure to receive quite a surprise if he intended to keep her ignorant of their youkai blood...

***

Inuyasha pulled out the files they'd managed to find on Naraku the night before as Miroku made his way through the down-town traffic on the path to the Tokyo harbor. With any luck they'd be able to find the warehouse where the bastard had last been known to be holed up.

"So what, exactly, is it that this Naraku does?" Miroku asked after a while. Inuyasha snorted and tucked the files away again, peering out the windshield. He'd always been purposely vague about his past careers, particularly the dark days of working under Naraku, but now it was beginning to seem that Miroku would need to know what he was capable of. Still…

"Weapons. Drugs, sometimes," he mumbled. "Good business, too. Better than you'd expect."

"Oh?"

The dog-demon half-smirked. "It takes a hell of a lot of crack to get the average demon high, Miroku. So just think, if you're catering to Great Demons and their kin. That's some damn big money."

Miroku whistled low. "I bet. You must've had a nice life, wallowing in cash and all the powder you could ask for…"

Inuyasha grimaced, sounding almost like he was choking on something vile. "Ugh, you gotta be kidding.. I can't even stand to be in the same room with the stuff, much less voluntarily inhaling it." He shook his head, shuddering. "No, I'll leave that to the humans and lizard youkai, thanks…"

Miroku glanced at him, quirking an eyebrow. "Lizard youkai?"

"Don't ask.. They just have this weird thing for the stuff…"

"So what did you do for him, if not actually working with the merchandise?" Miroku asked conversationally, keeping his eyes on the road as they turned a corner.

Inuyasha didn't reply, his face darkening somewhat. What he'd done for Naraku hadn't been much different from what he did on his own now: mercenary work, assassinations. Interesting that what was supposed to be the biggest job of all time had actually ended his career as a killer… He shook his head. "Nothing big," he lied. "Just, ya know, basic body guard stuff… Pull over here."

Miroku did as he was instructed, trying not to frown too much at Inuyasha's explanation. Him, a body guard? Right, and the sky was purple. It just wasn't in his character to work like that, he thought, glancing at his friend out of the corner of his eye. The only person Inuyasha had ever been interested in keeping safe was himself.

At least until Kikyou, anyway. And now he's protecting that Kagome girl, too… I just hope things end better for him this time around…

***

They approached the warehouse from a back alley, sticking to the shadows and trying to stay as out of sight as possible. As it was, their efforts were wasted. There was nobody there.

"Well, that was fun," Miroku remarked dryly, leaning in the doorway of one of the offices inside the building. Inuyasha just growled at him, stalking off into the bowels of the storage building, muttering to himself. Miroku rolled his eyes and followed after him.

"There has to be something here!" he heard the dog-demon snarl from within one office as he rooted through some old filing cabinets. Papers and portfolios flew everywhere as he finally just began yanking the drawers out of the cabinets and tossing them onto the dust-covered floor and desk.

Several papers fluttered down in front of Miroku as he was just coming in through the doorway. He frowned and bent to retrieve them. What idiot would leave this much paper evidence lying around in an old abandoned hideout? He turned the papers over his hands, scanning their contents.

Miroku felt his eyebrows shoot up and quickly glanced up to make sure Inuyasha still had his back to him. Luckily, the dog-demon was still tearing through the cabinets on the far wall, and he was able to go back to reading the sheet in his hand, his eyes darting across line after line, growing more shaken with each one.

Glancing up at Inuyasha once more, he knelt and began gathering up as many of the paper files as he could manage and then stuffing them inside his jacket. He quickly straightened when his half-demon companion turned back and stalked past him out of the office.

"Come on," he growled, "There's nothing important here. Let's go."

Miroku just nodded vaguely and followed after his friend, still dazed by what he had read and determined to find out more about it as soon as he could.

All the while, three little words from the papers chased each other around and round inside his head:

Shikon no Tama.

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Well.. that ending sorta caught me by surprise. When I started working on this again today, I was honestly expecting to get only a little further, but then I was like, 'hey, that's a good place to stop!' And so I checked how long it was, and it was already about 6 pages! Yay! ^_^ So there ya are, another chapter! ^__^

Douzo yoroshiku – "Pleased to meet you."

Inutaiyoukai – Inu: dog; Taiyoukai: Great Demon. So, Great Dog-demon (as in, the Lord of dog-demons)

Miko – Shinto priestess/shrine-girl.

Youkai – demon

Review please!!! ^___^