InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Living The Promise ❯ Investigation Begins ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5: Investigation Begins

 

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Kagome sighed as she stood in front of a dilapidated building. It had been several days since she had sent word out to her contacts, and she hadn't heard anything back yet. Kagome double checked the address in her notebook, hoping that she had not found the correct place.

 

`This surely can't be the correct place,' she thought sadly to herself. The address in front of her was supposed to be the children's shelter, but it looked like it should have been condemned years ago.

 

The building in question was a two story brick building with over half of the windows broken out and boarded over. The mortar was crumbling, and Kagome could see quite a few bricks missing from the edge of the roof, and the corners of the building. She saw that the “yard” was nothing more than a strip of broken concrete surrounding the building.

 

Taking a deep breath, Kagome walked up the crumbling stairs and rang the bell, receiving a mild shock of electricity. `Bad wiring,' she mentally noted. She could hear someone approach and unlock the door, allowing it to open and giving Kagome a glance at a dingy hallway. Kagome gasped as her eyes focused on the person standing before her in the doorway.

 

“Hojo?”

 

“Hello Kagome, long time no see. Suki said that you were coming by this afternoon.” The tall, brown-haired man smiled at her and invited her inside where he led her to a small office. “Please, have a seat,” he said, as he indicated one while he took the other for himself.

 

“So, how have you been? I haven't seen you since high school graduation.” Hojo studied Kagome curiously.

 

“I have been doing well. Inuyasha and I married after college; he's teaching middle school history, and I work for the Tokyo Sun.” Hojo nodded.

 

“I remember seeing some of your articles; they were really good.” Kagome blushed slightly as he continued. “I met and married Suki during our second year of college. We took over management of the shelter, but have had problems getting government aid to do the needed repairs and maintenance.”

 

“That is why I am here. I am checking out allegations of building safety violations and wanted to start here.” Hojo stood with a smile on his face.

 

“Great! Maybe you will be able to help us get our funding. Let me give you the grand tour.” Kagome stood and followed the young man from the office. He started the tour at the top floor, and pointed out the areas in need of repair. Kagome wrote down everything in her notebook, trying not to blanch at the numerous code violations she saw. As the tour continued, she felt a growing unease. Even though there were many rooms in the building, only a half dozen or so showed signs of recent occupation.

 

As Kagome and Hojo passed through a hallway, she saw several rooms where children were playing or sitting for lessons. The rooms seemed too small for the number of children crammed into them. “Why are the children confined to these rooms? Why not make use of the empty ones that we have passed to give them a little more room?”

 

Hojo ran a hand through his hair and looked uncomfortable. “There are only a handful of rooms that are habitable at this time. We have over 50 children and have to keep them to these rooms.” Kagome looked shocked. Hojo hurried to assure her, “We usually take them out on field trips or to the park as often as possible, but sometimes they have to stay here, like today.” Hojo sighed and gazed sadly at a group of children reciting their lessons. “Truthfully, this building should be condemned. But if it were, these children would have nowhere to go; most of them would end up on the streets. When Suki and I took over, we were promised that we would receive appropriate funding to help these kids.” Hojo laughed bitterly. “You can see how that has turned out.”

 

Kagome touched a hand to his arm, “This is why I am here. It is my hope that once my story comes out, you will be able to get the help you need.” Hojo smiled sadly at her and patted her hand.

 

“Thank-you, Kagome. You don't know how much this means to me.” A pretty, dark-haired woman came up and excused herself for interrupting before informing Hojo that he had a phone call. “Pardon me Kagome, but I need to take this call. Kagome, I would like to you meet the love of my life, my sanity, Suki. Suki, would you please continue to show Kagome around?” His wife smiled and nodded. The two women watched as he hurried off.

 

Suki turned and grinned at Kagome. “So you are the Kagome that Hojo keeps talking about?” Kagome blushed; Suki laughed lightly. “Don't worry. He told me that he had a crush on you in school, but he was over it. We are happily married, and I know that he is totally faithful to me.” She continued to talk as they finished the tour.

 

As they passed another occupied room, a small, dark-haired blur ran out and crashed into Kagome's legs, falling to the floor. Kagome knelt and touched the child on the shoulder. “Are you okay, honey?”

 

The little girl looked up and launched herself tearfully into Kagome's arms. Kagome looked questioningly over at the other woman.

 

“Rin? What is the matter?” Suki tried to take the sobbing girl from Kagome's arms, but the child wrapped her arms tighter around her neck and wouldn't let go.

 

Kagome shook her head. “It is okay, I don't mind.” Suki nodded and turned to the faces staring from the doorway.

 

“What happened to Rin?” she asked them. The children fidgeted and looked away.

 

Finally a small voice spoke up, “Tori was teasing her again, and Rin started crying.”

 

Suki sighed. “Tori.” A young girl with long black hair tied in ponytails stepped forward. “Hojo and I will talk to you at dinner.” The child nodded and looked down at the floor.

 

Kagome managed to calm Rin down, but the girl refused to let her go. She smiled softly at the child as she adjusted her weight more comfortably on her hip. Suki turned back towards the pair and smiled.

 

“Rin does not take easily to people. She really likes you.” The young girl tightened her hold on Kagome and buried her face in the woman's neck.

 

“What brings her here?” Kagome asked as the two women walked back towards the office, Kagome still carrying the child.

 

“She was left on the doorstep about three years ago. Rin was only about 2 or so, but she had been severely neglected. She couldn't walk and was extremely thin. She doesn't talk much and doesn't open up to people.” Kagome looked down at the girl in her arms, only to see the child staring at her with large brown eyes. Kagome smiled tenderly; Rin returned it with a gap-toothed grin of her own.

 

“Are you okay now, Rin?” Kagome asked. The little girl nodded. “I am glad. Can I put you down now?” Rin thought for a moment and then nodded. Kagome set her on the ground and Rin reached out and grabbed Kagome's hand.

 

“Rin, you need to go back to the room with the others,” Suki said softly. Rin only shook her head and held on to Kagome's hand. The two women shared an amused glance before continuing to walk back to the office; a smiling Rin walking beside them.

 

They met back up with Hojo and he escorted them to the front door. “Thank-you for your time. I will do what I can to get you the help that you need. It was great seeing you again, Hojo and I am glad to have met you, Suki.”

 

“It was our pleasure, Kagome. Hopefully, your article will bring us some much needed aid. If there is anything you need, just call.”

 

Kagome nodded and looked down at the child who still held her hand. She kneeled down and smiled gently at the young girl. “Rin, I have to leave now. I will come back and see you, okay?”

 

Rin studied the woman kneeling in front of her for a moment before smiling. She threw her arms around Kagome, hugging her tightly before stepping back beside Suki. Kagome stood and gave a wave good-bye as she walked down the steps to the street.

 

`I hate the thought of those kids living in those conditions, especially Rin. I wonder if there is anything I can do to help out with immediate needs.' Kagome, lost in thought, looked briefly for oncoming traffic before she started across the road to her car.

 

She was about halfway across when the sound of screeching tires caught her attention. Looking up, Kagome saw a dark colored car heading right for her. Her minding screaming in fear, Kagome felt as if her body was frozen in place. The car showed no signs of slowing. The young woman closed her eyes in expectation of the collision.

 

`Inuyasha…'

 

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TBC

 

A/N: Evil Cliffy! The more reviews I get, the faster I will update! Thank-you to my beta reader, Breezie for her help. As always, Please Read, Enjoy, and Review!