InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Closing the Case ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

AN: I'm glad everyone is enjoying this story. And don't worry, I haven't forgotten about my other stories, the plot bunny for this one has just been on a rampage.

Closing the Case

Chapter 2

Inuyasha shut the door to his car harder than he intended. Heeding Miroku's advice he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself enough to get back to Kagome's apartment without killing himself or anyone else.

As he turned on the car and pulled away from the crime scene he suddenly felt like he wanted to stay. He had never been good with the grieving, tears made him nervous. But there had always been that professional distance between him and the victim's families. This time that had been stripped away, this time it was personal. He had promised Kagome he would come back when the work was done, but the work was not done yet and they were not going to pick up were they left off.

The drive across town did not take near enough time. Inuyasha swore it was the first time he had ever hit every green light between any two given points. His stomach churned as he tried to find the right words to tell her that her last living family member was now dead.

The worst part was he knew how she would react; he had seen it two years ago. He could still see the look on her face when he told her the train wreck that took both her parents and grandparents had been no accident. A man had hijacked a train and intentionally derailed it onto a busy street. Hundreds had died and thousands more had been injured. The great irony was that the hijacker survived without any major injuries. He had not been one of the investigating officers, but he had been enlisted to help contact all the families. When his girlfriend's name had shown up on the list, he insisted on telling her himself. Now, he had to live it all over again.

Inuyasha parked his car outside her apartment and walked in. This time there was no crazy old lady to wait with him, nor did he jab impatiently at the up button. The elevator doors opened quickly and he stepped onto the lift alone. Pushing the 20 button, he started up. There were no stops on the way, and the hallway was empty. Checking his watch he found it was closing in on midnight; most of the people in this building would be in bed by now.

He stopped outside her door and paused. Taking a deep breath to gather his thoughts and courage, he knocking. Kagome answered the door a little more slowly then before. She had changed into a pink spaghetti-string top and a plaid pair of boxer shorts for sleeping. Her carefully curled hair was now disheveled and her bright eyes looked as if she needed some sleep.

She was waiting up for me. Inuyasha felt his stomach lurch. At the sight of him her eyes brightened and she pulled him in before he could protest. Her lips found his immediately and his heart sank. It was not often Kagome jumped him and he hated to give up this opportunity. Carefully, he pushed her away and looked into confused blue eyes.

"Kagome, we need to talk." The confusion turned to hurt.

"But…" He placed his finger over her lips to stop the protest before it got started. A misunderstanding now could only make things worse.

"No, nothing like that. Let's sit down." He took her hand and led her back to the couch and pulled her down into his lap. His mind was still spinning. Words had never been his forte, the reason he had always left this part of the job to Miroku's charm. But Miroku was not here, nor did Inuyasha want him to be. Taking a deep breath, he began.

"Kagome, you know I'll always be here for you if you need anything, right." She nodded, her eyes still swimming in confusion. Here came the hard part. "The crime scene I had to go to… there were two bodies… both were stabbed to death."

"Inuyasha, why are you telling me this? You are always saying you can't break confidentiality."

"Kagome," He took both her hands and lightly kissed her knuckles, "One of the boys was Souta." Inuyasha watched as the all too familiar reaction took place. He had seen it on so many faces over the years he knew what would happen, yet her's broke his heart. There was a moment as the information sank in; the disbelief that colored the eyes, that was shortly replaced by shock.

"That's impossible. Souta's with a friend. They're at the movies. He'll be home in the morning." She smiled and got off his lap "You must have been mistaken."

"Kagome…"

"You'd better get back to work, Miroku needs his partner." He could hear a strange tightness in her voice as she made her way towards the kitchen. "I can make you a sandwich before you go."

"Kag…" He caught her arm before she could get too far. He turned her to face him, to see her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm sorry." Then the tears came. The first few made their way down her cheeks in silence as she shook her head.

"No…"

"It's going to be okay."

"Ok…" She repeated, her voice cracking, "How is it going ok, Inuyasha!?" Her voice rose in pitch and volume. "You show up in the middle of the night, tell me that my brother is dead, and then say it will be ok! How is it ok?" Both of her fists made contact with his chest. He grunted, but she was not strong enough to push him back. More from habit than anything else, he caught her wrists to keep her from hitting him again. Kagome pulled back, trying to free herself from his grasp, but her heart was not in it. Afraid she would hurt herself; he drew her close to his body with an arm around her waist.

She fought the hold only for a few minutes, before letting her body go limp. She crumpled into him sobbing and shaking her head in denial. He cradled her against his body, rocking her gently as she cried. He knew there was nothing he could say or do that would make things better right now, so he offered the only comfort he could.

Inuyasha did not know how long they stood there, letting Kagome cry into his chest, but by the time that her sobs fell into the occasional whimper the front of his shirt was soaked. Carefully, he lifted her into his arms and lay her on the couch, covering her with his coat. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Pulling his cell from his belt, he moved to the back bedroom. He dialed his brother's home number and brought the phone to his ear. After three rings a very grumpy Sesshoumaru answered.

"This had better be good or you are a dead man."

"I wanted to let you know Kagome won't be coming into work tomorrow." Inuyasha answered. After the death of her parents Inuyasha had called in some favors from his brother and gotten her a job in his law office as one of Sesshoumaru's personal assistants. Sesshoumaru happened to be the criminal prosecutor for the district of Inuyasha's precinct. Kagome had taken to the job like a duck to water. In fact, after only a few months on the job, she had shown enough enthusiasm for Sesshoumaru to offer her a deal. He would cover the cost of her schooling if she would work for him for not less than five years after graduation. Kagome had been thrilled.

"And I required this information at 12:45 a.m. because…?" The older sibling drawled.

"I just came from a crime scene, her brother has been murdered."

"Oh…"

"I'm going to move her to my apartment for the time being. You can reach her there if you need to, but it better be godly important."

"Of course, little brother. Tell her she has my condolences and to take all the time she needs."

"I will." The conversation ended without a good-bye from either and Inuyasha dialed Miroku's cell.

"Hey, Yash. How did she take it?"

"Not good, but at least she's asleep now. What can you tell me?"

"Nothing you don't already know. Sango's examining the bodies now, but she won't have any results for us for a few hours."

"That'll give me enough time to move Kagome to my apartment."

"Do you need any help?"

"No, I got it."

"If you need anything just call, I'll have my cell turned on."

"Thanks."