Chapter 11: Driving You Crazy

In which Kagura saves the day.

The car pulled to a screeching halt in front of the hotel. The valet leaned forward to open the door, looking surprised as a dripping wet Kagome Higurashi emerged. On the driver's side the door slammed as Sesshoumaru got out, and he tossed the keys to the valet. "Park the car. And get someone to clean it up."

"Yes, sir," the startled valet said, staring at Kagome's highly visible legs from under her thin robe. As they went inside she left a trail of water all through the hotel lobby, attracting quite a few stares from the concierge and the few guests milling around.

"Sesshoumaru!" called Jakotsu, who had been standing near the reception counters questioning the staff about Naraku. He hurried forward, halting when he saw Kagome. "Oh hey, you found her!"

"You don't say," Sesshoumaru said cynically.

"Allow me to escort you upstairs," Jakotsu said, bowing chivalrously. He swept them both into the elevator and pushed the button for Kagome's floor.

"Really, I can take the elevator and unlock my door by myself," Kagome laughed.

"I need to talk to this guy anyway," shrugged Jakotsu, turning to Sesshoumaru. "By the way, would you like us to inform your father about Naraku and Onigumo being here tonight?"

Sesshoumaru looked disinterested. "I'll leave that up to you."

"What were Naraku and Onigumo doing here anyway?" Kagome asked.

"Dealing drugs. Jakotsu and Bankotsu discovered Naraku and Onigumo were buying cocaine from a dealer at the casino."

Trust them, the dirty no-good pair. Somehow Kagome wasn't surprised. "That's terrible. Do you need to go and handle things? Don't worry about me."

Jakotsu was quick to jump in, shaking his head emphatically. "Don't worry, Kagome, we don't need Sesshoumaru, we have everything under control. Except maybe Jaken," he added as an afterthought.

They reached her room and Jakotsu opened the door for them before excusing himself. "Um, Sesshoumaru, thanks for coming to get me," Kagome said for what was probably the millioneth time. "I'll be back in a minute," she called over her shoulder as she disappeared through the bathroom door to wage war with fluffy white towels.

Like, what else was she supposed to say, make yourself comfortable? Didn't that sound a tad too familiar? Sighing, Kagome turned on the hot water and stripped off the last of her wet garments. The heat was soothing, and she stepped out feeling two hundred times better than she had before. She found Sesshoumaru standing by the window, looking out into the night view of the city. He had poured two glasses of a very lethal-looking alcohol from the mini-bar.

"Drink," he commanded. "I don't want you falling sick on me."

"Thanks, but hey, I don't want to fall sick on you either." Kagome accepted her glass warily. "Though wouldn't a nice hot cup of tea do the job just the same?"

"Tea," Sesshoumaru repeated, looking incredulous. She was suggesting that he should actually deign to brew tea. Next she would be asking him to clean the floors, or wash her clothes. "I don't do tea," he said resolutely.

"Ok, fine, heavens forbid you do menial labour," Kagome sighed dramatically. She drank quietly, and found she enjoyed the warmth that seeped through her system within seconds.

"Cheers," he said wryly, watching her down her drink greedily.

Kagome said nothing for awhile, feeling a little guilty for all the trouble she had caused tonight. He had, afterall, left a rather crucial security situation to pick her up. Maybe she would go out and get him a thank-you gift tomorrow. If she could borrow a car somehow...

"Hey Sesshoumaru, can I borrow your car tomorrow? Please?"

He arched an eyebrow. "Can you even drive?"

"Totally. You are allowed to drive when you're 18 in America," Kagome said confidently.

He wasn't fobbed off so easily. "But do you have a license?"

"Sure, I have a license!" Kagome looked at him straight in the eye, innocently. "I'll even get it converted to an International License first thing tomorrow, okay?"

Why not. He would need the day tomorrow to sort out more of Naraku's mess anyway. "Fine," he said grudgingly. "I'll tell Jaken to give you keys."

The next day Jaken was waiting for her with a scowl, a gleaming Lexus parked downstairs.

"Are these for me?" Laughing, Kagome grabbed the keys he held and waved as she launched herself into the driver's seat.

"Now you be careful!" warned the toad, looking at her with untrusting eyes. "And make sure you get your license converted first! Sesshoumaru-sama told me to set the directions on the GPS, and -"

"Yeah, yeah." Rolling her eyes, Kagome slammed the door on the toad and rubbed her hands in glee.

Cell phone? Check. Money? Check. Seat belt?

"Nah, forget that," she mumbled with a grin. She put the keys in the ignition and gripped the steering wheel tightly.

From outside the car Jaken was still yelling. "And no speeding! And watch the traffic lights!"

She stomped on the pedals. The car shot forward.

The wonders of Japanese car-making technology.

Kyoto... here I come.

Humming to herself, she followed the navigation system to what seemed like a registration centre. The tyres screamed in disapproval as she parallel-parked at a 90-degree angle. Getting out, Kagome headed for the office.

She looked at the bureaucrat sitting there and flashed him a winning smile. "I'd like to get my license converted, please." She handed him her American license.

"No problem, Miss Higurashi," he said, glancing at it. "Looks like it's in order... and what is the number plate of the car you will be driving in Japan?"

"Oh, I'm not sure." She looked out the window and gestured at the car. "There, that one."

The man looked skeptical. "You mean the Lexus?" All the other cars were parked neatly along the curb, but hers jutted out defiantly to face the road.

"Yeah, that one," Kagome said airily. She knew how to deal with these registration people. She leaned in and lowered her voice confidentially, slipping a stack of thousand-yen bills in front of the guy. "Also, thanks for looking after everything so efficiently for me."

"I'm sorry, Miss," the man said in confusion. "I don't understand."

Ah, Japan. Didn't they do bribes? Sighing, Kagome tried to recall an article in a business magazine she'd read once. Connections. That was it. It was all about connections.

"Okay," she said, smiling at him brightly. "So, you've heard of the name Akihiro Higurashi? And Sugimi Taisho?"

What on earth did one get a person like Sesshoumaru anyway? Kagome sighed as she stepped into yet another boutique. A tie was too practical. A pen? She hadn't seen Sesshoumaru use a pen since she'd arrived, with what the age of technology. She would have probably been better of getting him a Blackberry or something, if not for the fact that she didn't understand electronics one bit. You didn't buy a guy shoes, not that she knew his shoe size anyway. Socks were the territory of wives. Cuff links... were the territory of mistresses.

Maybe she'd get him a crate of tequila, at least Kagura would be able to share in the joy too.

Honestly, she had no idea what men liked. Her dad always appreciated her gifts, even if they were childish works of art or expensive sets of cologne. And Sesshoumaru wasn't her dad either.

Somehow she didn't place him as a chocolate person...

Maybe she would get him a giant crystal paperweight. Like the sort of clear, sparkling perfection she thought he might appreciate. Or something for his car, men always loved their cars, and speaking of cars -

"Shit," cursed Kagome, rushing outside in time to see a tow truck drag her car - correction, Sesshoumaru's car - away.

Groaning, she hit herself on the head before figuring self-harm wouldn't exactly help her situation. She dialled Inuyasha instead. "Hey, Inuyasha, where do towed cars get taken in Kyoto?"

"You didn't! Kagome!"

"Yeah, I'm dead, I get that," grumbled Kagome. "Don't tell your brother."

She flagged a cab, and rattled off the address Inuyasha gave her. The driver dropped her off by a centre with large tow trucks parked menacingly outside. Inside the office, a greasy, angry-looking man sat typing away at a computer.

"Hi, I'm here to pick up my car," Kagome said sweetly, flashing another huge smile.

"What car?" he said, not at all impressed.

She gave the number plate and the model. "Oh, that one," the man said dismissively. "Towed for illegal parking, and I have here on the system you've been booked thrice for speeding on the roads in the last hour so it's just as well we've towed it."

Kagome resisted biting his head off with choice words, and smiled a little more instead. "I'm sorry. I'm new to the roads, and this is my friend's car I'm borrowing. Can you release it now?"

"No, no can do." The man shook his head for emphasis. "I need the owner to come in and sign the release papers."

Kill me now, screamed Kagome in her head. "Okay, look," she said, "have you heard of the name Akihiro Higurashi?"

The guy look bored. "Is he the owner?"

"No - well, um..."

"I can't release the car to anyone except the owner."

Kagome bit her lip. There was no way in hell she was getting Sesshoumaru to come here. She might as well book herself a flight home at the same time. She looked at the guy in annoyance. "I'm going to make a phone call, okay?"

Kagura got out of her own car, not sure whether to look worried or amused. "Kagome?"

"Kagura!" Kagome looked relieved to see her. "Thank goodness you're here."

"The Automobile Bureau?" Kagura said, glancing at the officer behind the counter disdainfully. "They're real sticklers for the rules. I doubt you'll be able to get any car out of them without an owner's signature and a good slap on the wrist. And a fine."

"Great!" sighed Kagome. "Now what?"

Kagura smiled sympathetically. "Short of buying a new car, I think you're going to have to call Sesshoumaru."

Kagome paused. "You know," she said slowly. "Why not?" She had meant to get him a gift anyway, right? Why not a car?

"Well, problem being, that's a Lexus you're talking about. Custom-order. Which will easily take two months even if you prostitute the names Taisho and Higurashi mercilessly in front of the car salespeople," Kagura reminded her.

Right, damned luxury cars. "And I guess I don't know what sort of car he'd want, either," Kagome said, defeated.

It was Kagura's turn to pause. "Well, actually..."

"Yes?" Kagome said hopefully.

"My parents bought me a BMW for my birthday next month. It arrived last week and is sitting in the BMW showroom..." She looked at Kagome straight in the eye. "I know Sesshoumaru wants the same model. He helped me pick it out. I can sell it to you, but -"

Kagome's jaw dropped. "Kagura, I can't, it's yours -"

"Yes, you can," Kagura said firmly. "I already have two cars anyway, I can always order another one."

"Are you sure it's okay?" Kagome asked.

"Of course it's okay!" Kagura said, smiling at her. "Well, except for one thing..."

"Miss Kagura!" exclaimed the salesman, bowing deeply to her and Kagome. He ushered them onto a comfortable sofa where immediately sales staff with trays of champagne and mini fruit tarts descended on them. "Please, have a rest while I call Houjo-san."

"The manager," Kagura explained, reaching gleefully for a fruit tart. "Very cute, very helpful."

Houjo turned out to be quite cute, as Kagura had said. "Miss Kagura?" He said with a smile. "How can I help you today?"

"We have a problem, Houjo," Kagura said with a sigh. "I'm selling my car to my friend Miss Kagome here, and we need to pick it up today."

He looked surprised, but quickly recovered. "Of course. Shall I get someone to draw up the papers?"

"If you could, please," Kagura said.

He waved at someone, who came over. Houjo nodded some instructrions, and the person bowed and left. "Would you like to see the car then, ladies?"

"See, this is the small problem I was telling you about," warned Kagura as Houjo led them to a covered car.

With a sharp tug he pulled the silver sheet from it.

Kagome gasped slightly. It was beautiful. But she could see what Kagura meant by 'small problem'.

Kagura, being Kagura, had commissioned a stunning, sleek BMW in the latest model, in hot pink.

"Yeah, I don't think he'd like the pink," Kagome said after awhile, trying not to crack up.

Kagura didn't have as much self-control; she was shaking with silent laughter. "You don't say."

"Can you repaint it?" Kagome asked Houjo.

"Certainly," he said. "I can show you colour samples, silver is popular, as is red."

"Dark blue," Kagura said authoratively. "He's got silver already, and red's positively gauche."

"We need this done by this evening, Houjo, thanks," Kagome said. "Never mind the cost, of course. I need you to pay as many people overtime as you need."

He bowed again. "Of course." One of his staff appeared with a stack of papers in hand. "Would you like to sign the contract, ladies?"

Kagura grabbed the pen he held and signed with a flourish, holding it out for Kagome.

"Thank you again," Kagome said. "I'll get my bank to transfer money into your bank account tonight. How much do I owe you?"

"Oh, take your time," Kagura said unhurriedly. "Don't worry about it, I can get the papers sent to your bank for you. And when will the car be ready, Houjo?"

"By this evening," he promised. "I can get it delivered to your home for you."

"That would be fantastic. Please deliver it to my hotel," Kagome said, scribbling the address down. "I owe you a meal, at least. Have you had lunch?"

Kagura eyed her watch. It was past three. "Yeah, I know a good place."

"I'll give you a call when it's delivered anyway," Houjo said.

"Thanks. Let's go, Kagome."

At least at the end of it all she had gotten something done today. Things were starting to look up, Kagome thought positively.

Unfortunately for her, on the other side of town Sesshoumaru's cell phone rang as he sat with Bankotsu, Jakotsu and Jaken pouring over a mountain of recruitment paperwork. It was an unknown number. He tossed it to Jaken to pick up.

"Yes?" coughed Jaken.

"Good afternoon, this is the Japan National Automobile Bureau..."

Jaken listened intently, face turning greener than usual with rage.

"Who is it?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"Illegal parking!?" Jaken was practically yelling into the phone. The person on the other end spoke a few more words, to which Jaken grew even more indignant. "What do you mean, you towed it away?"

"You have my car?" Sesshoumaru questioned icily.

"Er, yes," the man from the Bureau said, rifling through his file of papers. "Illegal parking. Sign here, please. Also there's a penalty fee of fifty thousand yen, if you don't mind. Also, I'll need to take a photocopy of your driver's license. If you don't mind," the man told him.

"No, I don't mind. After all, you've already interrupted me from far more pressing business," Sesshoumaru said coldly.

"And here's your receipt for the fine," the guy said cheerily, unaware of the death glare he was getting. "I still need your license, thank you."

"I don't see why you need it when I wasn't the one driving. Stop wasting my time," snapped Sesshoumaru.

The man sighed falsely. "Procedure, you know -"

"So call my lawyers. I don't care. Good day." He stalked outside where a junior staff member, under the threatening presence of Bankotsu and Jakotsu, had already goten the car out.

Nothing a few threats of litigation or bodily harm couldn't solve. Sesshoumaru approached his car, his eyes narrowing as they noted the scuffed tyres, dent on the fender and scratch on the paintwork.

No, he wasn't angry at all. More like, numb. Blank. Yes, blank. His mind was a calm, blank slate. Calm, blank slate. Calm, blank -

"Um, boss?" Bankotsu waved his hand in front of Sesshoumaru's face. "Do you want us to book the car repairer?"

Sesshoumaru looked at the vehicle with distaste. Was he supposed to even touch the steering wheel of a car that had gotten towed before?

"Send it to the junk yard once we get back," he ordered.

"What!" exclaimed Bankotsu. "What a waste!"

"Yeah," echoed Jakotsu. "Give it away, man! Give it to me!"

"Or me," Bankotsu said. "Oh, can I drive?"

"Whatever. Let's move, please."

"Hey, Sesshoumaru?"

"Hello," he said, glancing at her with his usual look of calm. It was late in the evening and Kagome looked like she'd just returned. "Did you have a good day?"

"At the car yard, you mean?" Jaken interrupted nastily, though Sesshoumaru shot him a look that shut him up quickly.

Kagome drew in a deep breath, hands clutching something behind her back. "Okay, sorry about your car. I didn't know it was illegal to park in two spaces," she said to Sesshoumaru, sweating slightly.

"Didn't you?" he asked, mildly sarcastic.

"I'm sorry. Now you're all mad at me."

"I'm not mad," he said.

"Well, anyway," Kagome continued, "they wouldn't let me get the car out without you being around, so I decided to get you a new car. As a thank you and a sorry present."

Whatever he had been expecting her to say, it wasn't this. "I beg your pardon?"

"Yeah, Kagura mentioned there was a BMW you liked." Kagome placed a new set of keys in front of him, feeling somewhat like a reprimanded child even though he'd hardly say anything. "Um, I'm just going to go now, okay?"

He paused. "Fine. Oh, and Kagome." He held out the second set of keys to the Lexus. "Keep it."

She looked stunned and embarrassed. "How did you -"

"They called my phone," Sesshoumaru said matter-of-factly. "You can take it to the showroom to get the scratches and dents fixed tomorrow, if you want."

"Oh, right." Kagome laughed, cheeks blushing. "Yeah, sorry about those. I really am. In fact, I'll buy you a drink! Kagura took me to this awesome cafe for lunch and they open as a night club in the evening. I'll even drive us there!" she volunteered, so enthusiastically he'd barely had the chance to decline.

There would be fewer cars on the road now it was evening, but there were a lot more people walking around.

"Ready?" Kagome asked, hitting the pedals before really waiting for a reply. The car jerked forward, causing him to narrowly miss being hit by the front mirror. "Er, sorry," she said, blasting her horn and some idiotic pedestrian who had cut across them.

Sesshoumaru wore a vaguely horrifed expression. "Who approved your license?"

"Eh? Well, that." Kagome chuckled nervously.

"Kagome," he said warningly.

"Um, I sorta... bribed the instructors when I was doing the test..."

"You what?"

She turned to glance at him sheepishly. "Cars and I have this strange, unpredictable relationship, it's like, they never do what I want them to."

"Eyes on the road, please, Kagome!" he cut in, reaching out to steer from his side of the car, swerving sharply to avoid hitting a sign board. "And for god's sake put on your seat belt."

"Oh, cool, can you steer for me then?" She said, letting go of the wheel to grasp at the seatbelt, tugging it towards the buckle.

"Okay, stop." Sesshoumaru looked traumatized. "I'm driving." In case she hadn't realized, he wanted to live a few more years.

"Yeah, okay, sorry." Kagome pulled up by the side of the road, braking hard. A loud, high screech of paintwork on sidewalk told her she had perhaps pulled up a little to close. "Oops."

He looked pained. "Promise me, Kagome, you will never drive a car in your life again."

She shrugged, grinning at him mischievously. "Hey, what do you know, maybe you should teach me driving."

"Absolutely not," he said immediately.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean? You know, consider it etiquette teaching. Like, driving etiquette."

"Yeah, whatever. No."

"You're horrible," she said, tossing her head lightly.

"The day you learn to drive properly, Kagome Higurashi, I will become your personal chauffeur."

"Ooh, is that a bet?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "You never win your bets against me."

Which was true. "Fine, no bets, but I'll prove you wrong someday," she sighed.

"Sure you will," he said. "Now, I believe you wanted to get a drink?"

A/N: To all my reviewers, thank you again for your support, especially:

Gothic Lust: Hope your exams went okay. =D

twilightrose07: Thanks, hope you enjoyed this chapter!

ishala8: Haha, Sesshoumaru needing therapy? He definitely needs it, though I can hardly see him on a psychiatrist's couch. xD

Dana Daidouji: Glad you like it ^__^ And I do rather like Sesshoumaru in this one myself, heh.

Aiyoku Saotome: Yeah, I hope Naraku and Onigumo get caught too. xD

mychicagostars: Thank you, glad you like. ^^

Mey: Aww, that's so sweet. Hope you liked this chapter.

inuyashaxkagome321: In Japanese, Naraku and Onigumo are spelt Na-ra-ku and O-ni-gu-mo, so 'spelt backwards' as such will be Ku-ra-na and Mo-gu-ni-o, not Ukaran and Omugino. =]

kashiangel07: No, Kagome didn't catch the flu, unfortunately. xD I would have liked to see Sesshoumaru's reaction, though.

ZeraKayl: Thank you dear, hope you liked this chapter!

cowgirlkitten2000: Thanks for the review, it was great hearing from you! =)

Wolf's_Rain: Thanks XD Here's the update so you don't have to come to my house, but if you did I'd invite you in for a cup of tea (not made by Sessh).

Amputation: Hehe thanks! I like AUs too.

Heiress of the House of Moon: Thanks, hope you liked this chapter!

And to GurlOfTheNight, Rhianna224, Azumigurl, Stargazer and the rest of all you wonderful readers and reviewers, thanks for reading and I'll see you next time. =) Feedback and suggestions always welcome.