InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beautiful Miscommunications ❯ The Interrogation ( Chapter 3 )

Ch. 3: The Interrogation

The two guests stared incredulously at their hosts, carefully comparing the supposed siblings' features. To Miroku's dark violet eyes, Kagome's flashed a dark blue-grey hue. Though both had black hair, Kagome's was so dark it almost looked blue in the light, while Miroku's was a dark brown gone black. Though Miroku's innocent smile was an act, Kagome's was the real McCoy. Except for the both emitting a scent of holiness, they didn't look or smell alike.

"That's impossible." Sango spoke up. "I ran a thorough background check."

"We adopted Miroku in the States…those records are sealed." Kagome replied as she took off her jacket. "Kami, my feet are killing me."

"Maybe one day you'll learn to travel with comfortable clothes." Miroku teased.

"And miss the opportunity to look good for an airline captain of flight attendant." Kagome winked at her brother as she walked towards the picture shelve. She grabbed a silver frame and gave it to Sango. The picture was of Taro with a fourteen-year-old Kagome and a sixteen-year-old Miroku on either side of him.

"Miroku's been taking care of me since before my father past." Kagome explained.

"We met through the consulate after my father died." Miroku added. "Taro took me in. He was an amazing man." There was a tinge of sadness and pride in his voice, and when Sango looked in his eyes, she could see the love still there. The young man was terribly handsome when he wasn't trying to hit on her.

She turned towards Kagome before saying, "I need to ask you a few questions about the incident."

Kagome frowned and looked away. "I rather forget the whole thing… It's bad enough I'm going to have to talk to the police."

"If you talk to me, you won't have to talk to the police." Sango insisted. Kagome looked at her warily.

"Who are you to make such an offer?"

"I work for Full Moon Enterprises…it comes with the perks of the job."

"How do I know you're not lying?" Kagome demanded; her reporter's instincts were taking over.

"Captain Myoga…"

"Myoga is running this case?" Kagome exclaimed while sitting down. She began to rub her temples as the frustration took over. Miroku walked over and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want, Kag." His voice was quiet, but strong.

"I don't want to talk to that idiot… Like it wasn't bad enough that my father was dead, he had to accuse him…" Kagome choked on her words before she was forced to take a few deep breaths. Miroku's hand never left her shoulder. "I'll talk to you, but no one else." Kagome declared as she looked Sango in the eye.

.

.

.

It hadn't taken Miroku long to get them some refreshments. He had originally planned to welcome his sister home with Champaign, but given the topic of discussion, he opted to change. The ladies had preferred lemonade, while the men chose Coronas. Inu Yasha decided that Miroku couldn't be all bad since he had good beer in his fridge and Ramen in his cabinets. He stood against the back wall, observing the interactions quietly. Most people thought him an antisocial idiot. In truth, he had a keen eye for observing reactions and nervous ticks. He could smell a lie a mile away.

The girls had gotten comfortable on the main couch with Miroku sitting not too far away. He was in Kagome's line of sight, smiling reassuringly at her. He knew some questions would be directed at him, and he had no way of using that to get a date with the sassy security guard. Just his luck: the most beautiful temperamental women he met had too much common sense to date him.

"I hadn't planned originally on going there that day." Kagome began. "After the way I was treated at his bar, I didn't want to see him again, much less try to get a quote for the evening edition."

"What happened?" Sango's voice was warm and caring.

"The order came from above."

"Your editor?" Sango asked lightly. Kagome shook her head.

"No, the big boss. My editor-in-chief knocked on my door personally and ordered me to go." Inu Yasha quirked his eyebrow when Sango bit her lip lightly. She hadn't liked that answer. "My instructions were to get a rise out him…something that would sell plenty of papers. Usually, I'm opposed to that kind of journalism, but Inu Yasha really pissed me off."

"Keh!" He grumbled indignantly.

"Not all of us liked to be told that our human scent is offensive!" Kagome retaliated.

"That's not what I meant!" Inu Yasha growled.

"But, that's what you said!" Kagome protested. Miroku quickly moved and squeezed Kagome's hand, reminding her to stay focus. "Sorry." She whispered to her brother. When she spoke again, her voice was stronger and more determined. She wanted him out of her life as soon as possible. "After getting a rise from Inu Yasha and making sure the tape recorded fine, I turned to see Sesshomaru about to give a statement. I looked at Inu Yasha…I-I saw a red dot on the back of his head…The rest you know." Kagome looked away rubbing her shoulder lightly. It felt like yesterday she had gotten shot.

"What made you think the red dot came from a gun? It could have been a dozen of other things…like a kid playing with a laser pointer." Sango questioned.

Kagome shrugged. "Miroku was on a date the night before…I was alone watching movies all night…there was a James Bond marathon…when I saw the light, my first thought was assassination attempt."

"What happened at the hospital?" Sango pressed.

Kagome nervously took a sip of her lemonade, trying to hide the tears that were threatening to fall. The hospital… "When I woke up, I was really disoriented. Then I heard someone say he-he was Souta…I thought I was dead and he had come to help me cross over." A tear escaped her eyes. "When I saw the man talking was not a little boy, I realized something was wrong. Every-every instinct in my body told me to run. So, I did, or at least I tried." She took another sip before continuing. "I fell and saw the gun… I don't remember taking it, but I do remember running with it. Then, I heard shots… The elevator seemed so far away, while the bullets were getting closer." She was shedding silent tears. "I turned and shot…and next thing I know, I'm on the floor of the elevator and there is all this banging." She took another sip of her drink. Miroku was holding her hand tightly. Sango rubbed her arm reassuringly, waiting for her to finish.

Kagome wiped her tears away. "When Inu Yasha started yelling at me, I realized I needed to get out of there…that they were after me. So, I convinced him to let me borrow his pants and jacket…"

"You mean you stole them…at gun point." The hanyou added in afterthought.

"I just wanted to get out of there. There was no way I could do that in a hospital gown." Kagome defended, and Sango nodded in understanding.

"How did you know where to find her?" Sango turned to Miroku. "Tokyo Central isn't the closest hospital to the scene."

"I saw what happened in the afternoon news…I figured Sesshomaru would insist on a bigger hospital…one that was used to housing famous people being chased by reporters." Sango nodded before asking Kagome.

"How did you get out of the country without running through immigration?"

"I have a diplomatic passport, courtesy of the Spanish Royal Family."

"I let them know she was on her way." Miroku explained. "After she stumbled into my cab crying, I knew something was wrong. I didn't want to chance it. I drove her straight to the airport."

"From the hospital?" Sango inquired. Miroku nodded.

"If all her personal belongings were at the hospital, how did she get aboard a plane? She had no ID. How did anyone let her fly in her condition? It hadn't been more than an hour since three bullets were removed from her shoulder?"

"I keep a spare set of documents in Miroku's cab from when I was on call." Kagome explained. "They used to call me an hour before my flight left and tell me to go someplace or another. I didn't tell anyone I was injured. I slept the entire way to Amsterdam, and quickly transferred to a plane heading for Madrid. The ticket was purchased at the airport."

"I used an ATM and paid cash… If someone was trying to kill my sister, I didn't want them finding her." Miroku added.

"Why would anyone try to kill you?" Sango inquired.

"I thought it was whoever shot at Inu Yasha…in retaliation for pushing him out of the way. I didn't come back until I felt things had calmed down."

"Did your station manager know where you were?"

"No one knew where I was…unless they watch Spanish television. We let my producer and editor know I was alive. That's it." She seemed to have regained control of her emotions.

Inu Yasha chose that moment to move towards the reporter. She didn't sense him until he had grabbed her hair with one hand and pulled at the back of her shirt with the other. She yelped in protest. Miroku grabbed Inu Yasha's arm, and the hanyou felt the sting of purification. He also noticed the prayer beads and glove for the first time. "You're a monk?" He questioned in surprise.

"And I won't hesitate in purifying you if you don't take your hands off of my sister!"

"Inu Yasha!" Sango scolded. What had gotten into him?

Inu Yasha rolled his eyes as he pushed the shirt away examining the light bruise on her shoulder. It was the only thing that remained of the bullets. "You used your miko powers to heal yourself."

"It's an instinctual reaction!" She defended herself as she pulled away. Miroku let go of his arm, while giving him a silent warning. "I think you should go." Kagome continued

"I got one more question!" Inu Yasha protested. Sango stood up and started to lead him away.

"Thank you for your time." She added, a bit embarrassed by his reaction.

Inu Yasha broke free from Sango and turned to Kagome. His eyes were intense as he walked up to her. Miroku tried to block him, but Inu Yasha pushed him away. Moving until he was only inches away from her, he took a discreet sniff of her scent before asking, "When am I getting my jacket back?"

Kagome's cheeks flushed with anger as she rose to her full height. "Whenever I get my bags back!" She fisted her fists to keep from strangling the self-serving hanyou.

"Inu Yasha!" Sango insisted as she dragged him to the door. He smirked at Kagome before he turned and left.

"I don't like the way he was looking at you." Miroku mentioned after they had left.

"The place is bugged."

"Huh?" Miroku looked at her bewildered.

"She bugged the apartment."

"How do you know?" Miroku asked as he walked towards the closet.

"Because that's what I would have done." Miroku pulled out a handheld sensor and went to work sweeping the apartment.

.

.

.

*-*-*-*

.

.

.

"What the hell was that all about?" Sango demanded as she returned to her car with Inu Yasha.

"I needed a clean scent." Inu Yasha growled.

"I could have told you she was lying." Sango rolled her eyes as they stepped out of building.

"No, telling half truths. She could have passed a polygraph with those answers." He grumbled.

"Yes, but now, she won't want to speak to us!" Sango complained. "It's obvious she knows she's in danger. She must know who her attacker is." Sango complained as she unlocked her car and got in. "I could have gotten her to confide in me…I know she wants to tell someone… to ask for help, but she doesn't know who she can trust."

"Keh, she should know she can trust us!"

"A youkai exterminator that works with a hanyou? Wouldn't you find it the least bit suspicious?" Sango demanded as she rolled her eyes and grabbed something from the back seat. "Lucky for you, I'm always prepared." Inu Yasha gave her a confused look.

"I bugged their couch. Now, when they sit down and discuss what they should do, which they are going to do immediately, we will know what's going on." Sango turned the box on. Miroku's voice was heard first:

"What's this?"

"Full Moon Enterprises' newest member of the bug family." Kagome replied with an annoyed voice. "It provides the clearest sound in the entire family, but it has one problem."

"What?"

"It's not foot-resistant." Sango and Inu Yasha cringed as the sound of the crushing microphone reached their ears.

"There goes that idea!" Inu Yasha complained as he rubbed his sore ears. Sango didn't reply as she looked at the building suspiciously. She scratched her nose in thought as Inu Yasha gave her a questioning look.

"I don't know yet…" Sango replied as they drove off.

.

.

.

*-*-*-*

.

.

.

The office of the Onigumo Naraku was dark the following Monday morning as all of his five flat screen televisions were tuned in to the same station. As the dark haired hanyou sat behind his steel and glass desk with an eyebrow raised in distaste, his televisions weren't showing him the state of the NASDAQ or the American Stock Markets. He wasn't watching Bloomberg Television, or even CNN. The program was more local than that, though it had nothing to do with morning business. It had everything to do with leftover Friday business: business that should have been taken care of two weeks ago.

But, it hadn't, and it displeased the corporate hanyou. How could he take over the world when she sat there smiling, greeting Japan, like nothing had happened. The morning jingle ended as the young reporter spoke up. "Good Morning Japan! It is October 12, 2004, and you're watching the Morning Scoop! I'm Kagome Higurashi."

"And I'm Eri Tama." The bottle blond next to her spoke up in a bubble gum voice. "Welcome back Kagome! I hear you were vacationing in Spain!"

"Hardly," Kagome smiled at the camera. "I was granted a personal interview with Princess Leticia of Spain, and I couldn't let our viewers down. We will have that report for you later in the show, but first, traffic…" Naraku turned off the screens. He was close again. He hadn't been this close since eight years ago, when Taro took the answer to the grave.

Taro's daughter was going to be a problem. The nosey reporter had been a thorn at his side for many years. She had the audacity to tell the cops she had seen him shoot her mother. She dared report on his illegal oil dealings in the Middle East, and when he had tried to destroy the evidence, she had the nerve to survive the explosion. He didn't want to risk her bumping into his latest plan. The Shikon no Tama was close, he could taste it. He wanted that lousy reporter removed before she compromised his position.

It hadn't been easy evading her. He had been lucky that Myoga had alienated the young girl, forcing her to tell her story to a different officer. One on his payroll…one that made it blatantly clear that if she repeated her story, she would become whale food. He wanted her killed then, but Taro had the foresight to run. Once they were in the United States, they became harder to track. Though, he always kept an eye on them.

He had spent a small fortune to have CNN lose her report on his dealing with the oil companies. The school incident had been designed specifically to eliminate her. They even took a small boy that looked like her brother to the basement, ensuring she wouldn't leave without him. He had played every cord, but the symphony had failed. By a stroke of luck, she had survived, relatively unharmed. By the time she returned to Japan, her oil series had been forgotten.

Then she became a tabloid reporter. He had made the mistake of thinking he could relax. She didn't stop. She used her new status to attack all sides of his life, even reporting that his children had suffered from abuse. His daughters read a statement for the press denying the accusations, but no one seemed to believe them. Kagome's credibility was only outdone by Kami's. By that time, it was too difficult to kill her. She was too much of a public figure. If she died, there would be questions, and too many reporters trying to write books on her life. The last thing he needed was a swarm of reporters digging up her past. It was bad enough the Kizu girl had done it.

That was why when the opportunity arouse itself two weeks ago to have her taken care off, he couldn't resist. He knew his partner would not stop investigating until he found out who had targeted his brother, laying the entire blame of her death on whoever tried to kill Inu Yasha. The Thunder Brothers were suppose to finish the job…they were now both dead. He had planned for that, but he had also planned for her to be dead as well. He didn't want any loose ends.

Naraku stood up and walked across the white fluffy carpet. It reminded him of walking all over the Takahashi brothers. They would be the first he would destroy. He had only allied himself to them to keep the family under close watch, and to use their company to cover his illegal dealings.

His office was a wide open space decorated in silver and glass. On one wall there hung his collection of katanas and Feudal Japanese art. On the one behind his desk was a wall to wall window. The wall facing his desk was decorated with different sized flat screen televisions. And, on the last wall, the wall he was currently walking to, there hung from steel shackles the last Ookami prince.

"Aren't you afraid someone will see him there?" Naraku turned in annoyance towards his daughter as she entered his office without knocking. A habit he would have to break along with some of her bones.

"Who else besides you and Kanna come visit me here? No, this is the last place anyone will come looking for the prince." Kagura rolled her eyes at her father trying to hide the tightening of her stomach. She still had a soft spot for the wolf prince…they had been very young, but love knows no age.

He probably still hated her for her betrayal, but she didn't have much of a choice. Betray him or see him killed. It had been better this way… He had moved on and met a nice girl, one without a psychopathic father to worry about.

"If Sesshomaru…"

"Sesshomaru avoids my office like he avoids intimacy. He believes they are both related to the bubonic plague."

Kagura shrugged while taking her seat at the far left of her father's table. "You're the criminal mastermind." She replied sarcastically, watching her words carefully. Normally, any form of backtalk would have gotten her whipped, but the addition of the compliment, would make his ego forget her trespass. "Has he said anything?"

"I have Akago reading his mind and heart, but the wolf is strong. He will bend soon enough." Kagura couldn't help but shiver at the mention of her younger brother. The derange child with lavender hair she was forced to take care off. He knew her too well. He knew what was in her heart, and used it against her.

"And this will tell you where the Shikon lies hidden?" Kagura pressed.

"New research revealed that the wolf tribes were involved in the protection of the jewel before it was lost. If there is something I know about these fleabags is that they remember family. His tribe would have kept the secret from generation to generation. He knows, and he will tell me." Kagura looked away, unable to watch the immobile prince any longer. In her heart, she whispered,

"I'm sorry, Kouga."

.

.

*-*-*-*

.

.

Sesshomaru had decided to work from home today, not because his daughter had woken up with the flu, but because he wasn't in the mood to be in the same building as his partner, or so he said. There was something strange going on in his company. He may act oblivious to Naraku's dealings, but he wasn't stupid. Kagura had been edgy the last couple of days, ever since Kagome had reappeared as mysteriously as she disappeared. Sango's report rose as many questions as it left unanswered, leaving Sesshomaru dissatisfied with the current situation.

His home office was cold, decorated with dark wood and art. It was covered wall to wall with bookcases filled with books and scrolls. The only things that were from this century in the décor were his laptop and television.

He was watching Kagome as Rin sat on the floor before the television coloring. She coughed once in a while. Sesshomaru made a mental note to have his scientist work on a better children's medicine. The segment was on famous dogs. It was an article prepared by her co-host…the one with more breasts than brains, which was also the only reason they kept her. Kagome had accompanied the blond on stage when a St. Bernard knocked Kagome down. The big dog proceeded to lick the young girl's face. She laughed as they pulled the dog off her.

"Well that's the last time I wear fruit flavored lip gloss." She laughed as she straightened herself. Her guests relaxed as well. It wasn't surprising Japan had fallen in love with her. She had such a good and open heart. Someone you can trust.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" The said Lord turned towards the young girl. Her voice was hoarse and her nose was red. Her hair was in a giant knot on top of her head as she wore pink Power Puff Girls pajamas. "Is she going to talk to the Princess now?"

"That will happen next."

"And…it's going to be with a real Princess, right? Like in my story books?"

"Yes." The young girl smiled and turned back to her drawings. Rin had been living with Sesshomaru since she was born. Her parents had been faithful employees, teaching their daughter to respect their master. He had adopted her two years prior, when a car bomb killed her parents. Though Sesshomaru was certain Naraku had planted it for him, there was no way to prove it. He took on the care of their daughter as a reward for their faithful service. Besides, Rin was the only one who dared bring him flowers every morning. That deserved a reward itself.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" The girl inquired again.

"Yes, Rin."

"When is she going to marry uncle Yasha?"

"That depends on how stupid your uncle is." The girl made a thoughtful face, to which the Lord replied, "It will be a long time."

"Will she come to play with me then?"

"Most likely." Rin smiled brightly revealing her missing tooth. Sesshomaru made a mental note to take her to see the dentist sometime next week.

"I can wait." The girl turned towards her drawing again. The demon lord raised the volume of the television as Kagome introduced the next segment.

.

.

.

*-*-*-*

.

.

.

As much as Kagome loved hearing from her old college pals, she hated their timing. Ayame was one of the worst. Kagome was still filming on the set when her cell phone rang. The girl was upset, so Kagome didn't have the heart to turn her down, even though, Ayame wanted to meet at The Fang.

As Kagome parked her car she silently prayed not to run into the rude bartender. It was his bar, but it was early evening. He might not be in. The sun was beginning to set as she walked into the establishment. She was happy to have found parking close to the entrance. The neighborhood wasn't the greatest, so it allowed her to keep an eye on her baby.

The minute Kagome walked into the bar, she noticed two things: Everyone turn to stare at her, and Ayame sobbing at the end of the bar. A quick scan of the place revealed her prayers had been answered. Inu Yasha was no where in sight. She held her duffle bag tightly as she made her way to the bar. She smiled at the young bartender with red hair and freckles. "Baileys on the rocks." Kagome ordered as she sat next to Ayame, missing the blush from the young bartender.

"Thank you for coming." Ayame whispered.

"That's her fifth." The bartender informed Kagome pointing to the glass of whiskey in the girl's hands.

"Why here? You know my feelings about the owner and this place." Kagome asked as soon as the bartender was out of hearing range.

"It's the only safe place I could think of…I'm in trouble."

"Have you been threatened?"

"No, it's Kouga." The girl confessed.

"Has the idiot hurt you?" Kagome asked indignantly.

"No…something's happened to him. Kagome he's been missing for three days now. His tribe has no clue…" She broke down in tears, muffling the rest of her words. Kagome broke down and hugged the girl.

"Have you contacted the police?"

"Yes, but they said there wasn't much they could do… Kagome, I know you have connections…you're a reporter! Can't you do anything? I don't know who else to turn to."

"I don't know Ayame…missing people isn't my area of expertise."

"Kagome please!" The red head pleaded with tears in her green eyes. Kagome noticed her stained t-shirt and wrinkled jeans. It was obvious the girl wasn't functioning properly.

"I'll do whatever I can." Kagome promised as she summoned the bartender. "Can you do me two favors?"

"Sure." He blushed lightly at the young woman. She smelled nice. She handed him a few bills.

"Make sure she gets into a good cab tonight."

"No problem." He smiled brightly. He had been planning on doing it anyway.

"And, can you give this to Inu Yasha?" She handed him the duffle bag.

"Sure, what is it?"

"His pants and jacket. He really needs to take better care of where he leaves his clothes." Kagome smiled and left. The guys on the bar were laughing lightly at the poor kitsune, who thought he had a chance with the older woman. It was just like Inu Yasha to take first picks.

Kagome got into her car very pleased not to have run into the hanyou. She smiled, relaxed and pulled out of her parking spot and drove to the first light. Red, her luck was running out. She sighed and sat back when her passenger side door was swung open. Before she had time to react a dark figure had entered her car. "Drive!" He barked as she stared in horror.

.

.

.

.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ///// ///////

Another chapter edited. I'm always shocked at what I missed in my previous revisions. Well, for those of you that started to read this a bit later, you're in luck. I think I got all the mistakes, though I'm sure if I take another look at this next month, I'll find another hand full of editorial notes. Anyhow, I'm going to lose computer access for a couple of weeks, so be prepared not to hear from me in a while.