InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Closing the Case ❯ Chapter 22 ( Chapter 22 )

Closing the Case

Chapter 22

 

Naraku's sentencing date was set, though Kagome flatly refused to go or watch it on TV. When Inuyasha asked, she simply said she wanted to put the whole ordeal behind her and get on with her life. He had nodded and not pressed further.

 

It was Inuyasha's last week of work before his scheduled vacation when Miroku brought Kanna over for a visit, or so Kagome thought. The child that had been so happy and lively had become quiet and scared. She clung to her uncle's leg and hid her eyes against his thigh. When Miroku picked her up and handed her to Inuyasha, she went completely limp and made only the barest of whimpering sounds. Miroku sighed and took his niece back with apologies. With much coddling, cajoling, and promising, Miroku finally got his niece settled in the living room with a movie and a bowl of popcorn.

 

“So, how do you want to do this?” The dark-haired detective asked, tucking his hands into his pockets.

 

“In the dining room I guess,” Inuyasha answered. “Kagome, why don't you stay with Kanna and watch the movie.”

 

“What's going on?”

 

“We have an… interview.” Miroku provided. Kagome raised an eyebrow, knowing there was more to it than that.

 

“With?” She prompted when neither detective was forthcoming with further explanations.

 

“Kouga Prince.” Inuyasha replied with a resigned sigh, “He kind of got wind of what was happening and was going to go public. I promised him the exclusive to keep his trap shut.”

 

“Kouga Prince, from Pack News? Isn't he the one who…?”

 

“Hates our guts? Would love to see us canned? Is a supreme bas-” Inuyasha glanced at the little girl, “bassinette? Yeah, that's the one.”

 

“Why?” Kagome looked at him like he had lost his mind.

 

“Told you she would be mad,” Miroku cooed.

 

“Bite me.”

 

“Inuyasha?!” The white-haired detective flinched.

 

“If he went public, it could have blown the whole case,” Inuyasha defended. Kagome crossed her arms and fixed him with `the look.' Both detectives instinctively shrank away.

 

“He really had your best interests at heart, Kagome,” Miroku pacified. Kagome turned her glare on him. But after a minute she sighed and relented. There was nothing she could do to change the situation.

 

“What do you want me to do?” she asked. Inuyasha smiled gently and placed his hands on her arms. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, before resting it against his own.

 

“Just stay with Kanna and don't say anything to him,” he answered softly. She nodded and received another kiss, this one on her lips. The sound of someone knocking interrupted anything else from being said. Kagome gave him an encouraging smile, before turning and moving to sit on the floor with Kanna. Miroku turned and opened the door.

 

Kouga and his cameraman stood on the doorstep. The reporter was dressed in a crisp blue shirt and black slacks. His hair was held in its usual high ponytail, and his blue eyes sparkled. The cameraman was a squat, round little man with watery black eyes. While Kouga swept into the apartment, his cameraman shuffled.

 

Inuyasha led them into the dining room, taking the long way so Kouga would not have the chance to pass Kagome and Kanna. The table had been covered in a clean white cloth to mask the nicked and marred surface. Kouga snorted, making a comment on how much nicer his own flat was. Inuyasha flicked him off. The cameraman scurried about, setting up his equipment and the two chairs for the shot.

 

Finally, everyone was settled. Miroku stood off to the side, waiting his turn while Inuyasha and Kouga sat at the table facing each other. They both plastered present smiles on their face as the camera came on and focused on Kouga.

 

“Thank you, Walter. I'm here now with Detectives West and Priest, the lead investigators of the `Kop Kid Killer' case. Pack News has been granted the exclusive interview with these two men, to get their insight on such a tragedy.” Kouga turned and the cameraman refocused on Inuyasha. “Detective West, this case must have been very hard on both you and your partner, having children close to both you being involved. I'm told you are the one who broke the news to your girlfriend when her brother's body was found. What was that like?”

 

&&&

 

Inuyasha stretched his arm out and wrapped it around Kagome's shoulders. She leaned her head against him as they sat on the couch, watching as the opening music began to play the Pack News theme song for the six o'clock news. Inuyasha had insisted on seeing `how badly Kouga had fucked up what he said.' Kagome just went along with it because she did not want to fight with him.

 

The leading story was a P.R. piece about an SPCA adoption drive. The picture showed a panning shot of happy puppies, dogs, kittens, and cats, all sitting in their cages looking adorable, before focusing in on a bouncing chocolate Labrador. The sign on her cage read `Daisy.'

 

“Here at the SPCA, we think all animals deserve another chance,” a woman's voice overlapped the film. “This is Daisy. She's a two-year-old Chocolate Lab and was found with a gunshot wound to her hip. She has made a full recovery and is ready to go to a good, loving home.”

 

“Aww, she's so cute! Inuyasha, can we get a dog?” Kagome turned hopeful eyes on him.

 

Inuyasha swallowed. “No.” Kagome's lips turned down in a pout before she opened her mouth to protest. “We are about to go on vacation.” he reminded her.

 

“Well, how about when we get back?”

 

“We'll talk about it,” was his evasive answer. Kagome gave him an incredulous look, and he focused on the TV. She huffed, but relented. The next story was about a three car pile-up on some main road. This was followed by the weather. Finally, Kouga's piece came up. Inuyasha shushed her even though she was not speaking at the time.

 

“We all remember the tragic events that swept through the police department this month.” The anchor spoke solemnly into the camera. The picture switched to one of the courtroom with Miroku on the stand, though the sound was overlaid with the news personality's voice. “The killer left three children dead, one in the hospital, and two with mild physical injures and mental trauma.” The picture again switched to a helicopter's eye view of the stand-off when Naraku held Rin hostage. “We go now to Kouga who was granted an exclusive interview with the two leading detectives in the case.”

 

“Let's see what that fucker did this time,” Inuyasha growled. Kagome rolled her eyes. The screen cut to Kouga, smiling into the camera, as he echoed the words from the interview.

 

Inuyasha and Kagome sat silently as they watched. The report had been cut and pasted together so that both Inuyasha's and Miroku's answers were given to a single question. Occasionally, only one of their answers was shown and some questions and answers were not shown at all. Kagome glanced at Inuyasha out of the corner of her eye. His face was thoughtful and had lost its hard defensive edge. The camera focused on Kouga again, only now the background had shifted to somewhere outside the apartment.

 

“The police have always been a distant figure, silent guardians of the peace, watching us from afar. We tend to forget that they are human, that they, like us, feel pain, sorrow, and regret. I think sometimes they forget that as well. It is terrible that it took a tragedy such as this to remind us of that. It is this reporter's hope that everyone involved can move forward from the unfortunate events. Back to you, Walter.”

 

Inuyasha sat, staring at the television, his mouth open slightly in shock. Kagome giggled and elbowed him lightly in the ribs.

 

“What's the matter? Surprised he has a soft side?”

 

“Feh!”

 

“Can we go on vacation now?” She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him. “They won't hold that room forever.”

 

“Sure, Kag.” His eyes softened, “Whatever you want.”