Chapter 7
Unsurprising to Sango the Takahashis' answers to her questions gave her no leads. Rin had gone in search of her father but had tripped in the hallway. When she checked her feet she had seen Kagome, screamed and dropped her candle putting out any light it had provided. Although she couldn't see when the candle went out she heard the candlestick thunk when it hit Kagome. A new stream of tears started as Rin realized she had hit Kagome with the candlestick
Inuyasha couldn't think of a person who would want to hurt his friend and Sesshomaru agreed.
"Follow me to the dining salon then," Sango commanded. "I need to keep everyone together and start the interviews."
Rin and Inuyasha rose to their feet and shuffled slowly after the detective. Sesshomaru paused and looked about furtively.
"Now! Sesshomaru, now!" commanded Sango as she stood by the open door.
Sesshomaru followed her into the dining room.
Sango pulled Miroku to the side.
"Listen. The phones are down. I can't get through to the station yet so I'm going to start the interviews. I'll take one of them to the sitting room to interview them, but you'll have to stay in here to guard the group. Listen carefully and note any observations of nervous behavior, aggressiveness, and agitation of any kind. Try to keep them from comparing notes. The situation is not optimal but it's what we've got. You good?"
Miroku nodded. Sango was in the zone and he knew better than to distract her, but he knew she was hurting. Hell, he was hurting. He just wanted to meditate and pray for his friend's soul. Who would want to kill Kagome? He glanced over the room of people. "I got it, Detective."
"I'll start at this end of the table. I already interviewed Rin. Kikyo, come with me." Sango put her hand on Kikyo's shoulder.
Now carrying a lantern, courtesy of Myoga, Sango guided Kikyo into the sitting room. She looked about her. Mere hours ago, they were all in here laughing. Sango sighed and sat on the nearest chair that had a view of everything in the room and any who would approach it. Kikyo followed autonomously, a shadow of her earlier exuberant self.
"Kikyo, I am in search of answers to Kagome's murder so I need to ask you – Do you have any idea of who would want to kill Kagome?" Sango watched Kikyo' s micro expressions as she asked her question.
Kikyo shook her head.
"I have no idea."
The women sat in silence for a moment before Kikyo shook her head again more vigorously.
"I can't believe she's gone. Why would anyone kill my sister? Kami! She was the nicest person on the Earth!" Kikyo sobbed. She bent her head down and covered her face.
More moments passed as Kikyo wiped her nose and pulled herself together. Sango observed closely the entire time. When Kikyo was calmer, Sango pressed on with her questions.
"Kikyo, did you talk with Kagome before showing up here tonight? How would you describe your relationship with your sister? I know it was a bit strained when we were younger, but how is it now?"
Kikyo looked up and stared into Sango's eyes.
"We haven't talked in any great depth for years. We're like two ships that pass in the night. Mom keeps me posted on what goes on in everyone's life."
Kikyo picked at a piece of lint on her pants.
Sango nodded.
"I noticed there was a bit of tension between you and Kagome earlier. Can you tell me what that was about?"
Kikyo tightened up. Her eyes hardened in defiance.
"My issues with my sister are mine alone and have nothing to do with anything here tonight."
Sango smiled. Now this was the Kikyo she remembered. She fired back.
"Look Kikyo! I'm trying to find out what happened to my best friend. I know you guys weren't close growing up, but this is important. Finding Kagome's killer should be a priority with you as well. Now, stop being a bitch and answer my questions!"
Suddenly deflated, Kikyo sighed heavily and bowed her head.
"It was an old misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding? What was?"
"Look, I love Kagome. I may have been distant and cold to her, but I wouldn't hurt her."
Sango studied her for a while. "Ok, say I believe what you say. What was the misunderstanding about?"
"Inuyasha," Kikyo sighed.
Sango's eyebrow's lifted in surprise.
"What about Inuyasha?"
"I've had a crush on him forever, since junior high, and I told her about it. The next thing I know she's all over him. When I confronted her, she laughed at me and told me that she wasn't my competition. Such a liar."
Kikyo pouted.
Sango laughed.
Kikyo's eyes shot daggers at her.
Sango put up her hands in defense.
"I'm not laughing at you, just the situation. Inuyasha's gay, Kikyo. He's not interested in women."
"YOU LIE!" She yelled, standing from her chair so fast, she knocked it to the floor.
"There's no way, NO WAY IN HELL InuYasha could be gay! I would have known it! He doesn't even act it or look gay! It's a complete lie! You're just covering it up for Kagome's sake! She's, she's gone now. So, you can stop with your vulgaris slander. Humph...InuYasha gay, the very idea! He doesn't even look at other guys!"
Sango waited for the end of her tirade. Wow, this poor fool really never knew InuYasha or Kagome. Talk about walking through life with blinders on.
"Kikyo, have a seat."
Kikyo, highly agitated, took several calming breaths as she ran her fingers through her hair. Slowly she bent down and righted her chair. Sango waited until she'd finally sat down and calmed before she spoke.
"Kikyo, InuYasha IS gay. The reason why I know this is because of Kagome. You of all people should know how nosey she is...was."
Sango's eyes glazed with unscheduled tears speaking of her friend in the past tense.
"You knew Kagome. When she was on a mission, she went full throttle until she found out what she wanted. You said you told Kagome about your feelings for InuYasha?"
Kikyo nodded.
"Well, Kagome was on a scouting mission. She was trying to find out if Inuyasha was interested. She hung around him to see where his head was at for you, Kikyo. When she found out InuYasha was not only gay, but he was in love with someone. A guy. She couldn't tell you, because InuYasha swore her to secrecy. She couldn't even tell me who the guy was."
Kikyo faced with the truth, crumbled. She thought back on all the arguments, all the hurtful things she accused her younger twin. Trying to steal InuYasha's affections, when it now seems that Kagome was trying to protect her. Then she thought back on the letter she intercepted for InuYasha. All this time, she thought Kagome wrote it to him. Now, she knew it was from InuYasha's secret lover!
Kikyo's mouth opened and closed. She was stupefied.
"But he was always with Kagome after that," Kikyo stuttered.
"Yeah, it wasn't cool to be gay twenty years ago. Kagome was his pretend girlfriend. The homophobes would have ostracized him or worse. It's still hard today but not like then," Sango sighed.
Sango watched her face as Kikyo processed the news. A myriad of emotions were reflected on her face. Finally, she spoke.
"You mean I've been angry with my sister over a misunderstanding for half our lives? Oh gods, oh gods…"
Kikyo started crying again only this time even more heartbroken. In between sobs, she whispered, "I'm such a fool." "My sister could have stayed as my best friend." "I can't apologize." "Kami, forgive me."
"Oh Kami, Kags! What have I done? I can't make it right! I'll NEVER be able to make it right!"
Sango watched her friend's sister. 'If she's guilty, she's a damn good actress.'
When Kikyo got it together enough Sango took her back to the dining room. As she opened the door to return Kikyo to the group, Kaede walked up to her with a teapot and fresh cups.
"May I pour you some fresh tea Detective Sango? I'm sure you're getting thirsty."
"Thank you Kaede. Join me in the sitting room. Will you answer a few questions?"
"Of course, my lady—oh I mean detective," Kaede stuttered.
Sango smiled at the kindly woman.
"Don't worry. I'm just trying to get some information. Tell me what you know about tonight's event."
Kaede relaxed.
"Oh Miss Sango! We were so happy. The mansion was going to be full of people again! We were given menus and guest lists and were busy preparing rooms and grocery shopping. It was such a happy day when our Lord told us to prepare for a weekend party. We weren't told what the occasion was for, but when we heard our precious Rin was returning - The joy in our hearts bubbled over. I even made sure we had some of her favorite treats on hand." Kaede beamed with joy as she recounted the details.
Sango nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"Jaken guarded the list only telling us of the number of people until Myoga let it slip that he saw Master Inuyasha's name. My heart was all a flutter. The young lord was expected! He has been missed so much by all of us. His abrupt departure all those years ago left a hole in our world. From his crazy antics to his thoughtful words and deeds, the world seemed so drab without him here." Kaede sighed as she got lost in her memories.
Sango cleared her throat and Kaede blinked.
"Oh my. Forgive this old woman," Kaede blushed. "Master Inuyasha was always my favorite. Those darling ears."
Sango snickered. "Yeh, but don't let him hear you say that."
Kaede nodded.
"But my poor lord seems so sad. I just want to give him a hug."
"I didn't notice," Sango replied. "What makes you say that?"
Kaede answered. "I made his favorite soup, and he didn't eat a drop of it. I watched from the doorway. He just moved his spoon back and forth. I collected the bowls. His was still full."
"Interesting," Sango rubbed her chin. "I didn't notice."
Kaede sat silently. Finally, Sango asked another question.
"Kaede, who would want Kagome dead?"
"I have no idea," the old maid shook her head sadly. "Such a nice friend she was for my young lord. I don't know what he'll do without her. I heard him cry to her over the phone more than once before he left. She was his rock."
Sango processed the information as she sipped from her now cold tea. She pondered. 'Interesting. Why did Inuyasha leave? Does that have anything to do with Kagome's death? Did someone kill her because he came back?'
"Thank you Kaede. I'll go get someone from the dining room now. If you could have Myoga, Shoga, and Jaken join the group in the dining room—"
"But Miss Sango, that's highly inappropriate."
"And so is the murder. We need you all together. I will explain it to Sesshomaru when I go back to the dining room."
"Yes Ma'am," Kaede shuffled out of the sitting room toward the kitchen.
Sango remained seated for a moment longer as she sipped the refreshing tea. After a moment she returned to the salon.
While Sango talked to Kaede, Miroku had his own hands full keeping the other guests in line as they waited to speak to Sango.
Miroku wasn't fond of "babysitting" but generally it was an easy job. However, this evening it was anything but. First, right after Sango left with Kikyo, Kanna started whining. It was easy enough to block at first. Naraku had her move to his side and held her hand. That kept her calm for five to ten minutes. When Kanna moved close to Naraku, Kagura got up and wandered about the room stopping first at the fireplace.
Miroku sighed. He couldn't stop them from moving about but that meant he had to watch more closely.
Naraku's nurse whispered in Naraku's ear, but Naraku dismissed him. Miroku wondered what that was about. He'd make a note in his mini notepad.
Kagura had stopped to stare at the flames. Miroku watched her for a moment and then turned his attention to Sesshomaru and Rin. They were both comforting Inuyasha. Miroku made a note of how tender they were with him. Funny, he understood from Inuyasha that Sesshomaru hated him.
Kagura was mesmerized by the leaping flames. The wood popped, the colors of the fire twisted and entwined with each other. A flame mounted and then the tip appeared to drift off leaving the body of the flame smaller. The flame bowed and increased in girth again, elongating and breaking off, over and over. The flames were yellow for the most part but Kagura noted some were orange and red. Red appeared to be the hottest. 'Wait, what was that?'
While Miroku was making notes, Kagura took the fire tongs and grabbed a piece of burning paper from the flames. Pulling it to the edge and patting out the flames she retrieved the mystery item. It was Takahashi stationery. A small letter was partially visible still.
'Sango will want this,' she thought.
As Kagura returned the tongs to the equipment rack, she noticed the poker was missing.
'Sango will want to know this too,' she guessed.
Kagura made her way to her fiancé, but Sesshomaru didn't notice her. She went to the wall behind him and leaned against it. It was a great place to watch the room.
Just then Sango returned.
"Kagura? Join me," Sango called as she spotted the female standing in the corner observing the room.
"Oh, and Sesshomaru—I have ordered your servants to join us in this room."
Sesshomaru nodded but failed to make eye contact as he was focused on his sibling and his daughter who still were in need of comfort.
Kagura regarded her fiancé. As she walked out she touched him on the shoulder, but he didn't move or even look at her. Her face fell and she followed Sango out the salon door. Once in the hallway, Kagura spared a glance at the sheet covered body.
"Poor girl," she whispered.
She walked into the sitting room and sat down on the sofa.
"Detective, I have no idea who would want that poor girl to die. She was such a pleasant person."
"Did you know her?" Sango inquired.
"Not personally. Sesshomaru indicated she was Inuyasha's girlfriend but that's all I knew. I can tell Inuyasha is heartbroken just by the way Sesshomaru is focused on him."
"I understand you are a grief counselor. Is that correct?"
"Yes, I am."
"And that's how you met Sesshomaru?"
"Yes. He was in my group, dealing with his father's death. But I have actually known him since we were children. My father and his father were business partners. We weren't close. I liked dolls and he liked books and playing with his brother. Still, I remember his father was nice to me and my daddy. I was sad when I heard Toga had died. After Toga's death, my father's health was even more fragile and his eventual death even more real. Sesshomaru had reached out to my daddy. I reintroduced myself to Sesshomaru. We mourned together. Then we just were together. It made Daddy happy that I was "taken care of" so our friendship became a relationship and he proposed."
"'Kagura, I noticed that you seemed to be watching the room before and after dinner. Seeing as you barely knew Kagome, in your professional opinion, did you notice anyone looking strangely or acting aggressively towards Kagome?"
"I didn't observe anything."
"Where were you when Kagome was killed?" Sango pressed.
"I was sitting next to my father. I was holding his hand. I still don't like lightning. Silly, I know, but I felt better holding his hand."
"Did you hear anything?"
"Besides the thunder?" Kagura confirmed.
"Yeah," Sango articulated.
Kagura thought for a second. "Well, I thought I heard someone pick up the poker from the fireplace, but it might have just been Myoga restarting the fireplace."
"Kagura, as you reflect over the evening's events do you have anything you want to point out to me?"
"I did think it was odd how cold Jakotsu was toward Kagome and how possessive he was being towards his brother. I might need to point that out to my sister, so she uses some tact with her future brother-in-law."
With all the thoughts rolling around in her head Kagura forgot to tell Sango of her find in the fireplace.
As Kagura and Sango were talking, discontent was mounting in the salon.
Kanna could no longer be pacified by sitting next to her father. The thunder and lightning had continued and were frightening her. In addition, the four servants had come into the dining salon and were standing behind her. She made no bones about telling everyone in the room that it was not the place for servants.
"Lady Kanna," Miroku called, stopping only a millisecond as he thought the term inappropriate, "Detective Sango required they be in the same room with us for the sake of the investigation."
"That's just stupid," Kanna pouted.
"Now, dearest," Bankotsu smiled at her. "I know you understand the reason. We will all get through this. It's just a bad quarter in the football game. You have to keep up your spirit. I remember you cheering for me when our team was down a point…" Bankotsu went on with the football analogy. Jakotsu, Miroku, and Naraku followed smiling and nodding as they recalled memories of yesteryear.
Kanna was placated briefly.
"I loved cheering for you, Bankotsu," Kanna cooed. "You were so valiant, my knight in shining armor."
Jakotsu gagged loudly.
"You are such a spoiled brat."
Kanna stood and pushed back her chair. Leaning forward toward the seated Jakotsu she raised her voice at him.
"You have no idea what I'm going through here! You only care about yourself."
"Oh, My Gods! You are such a twit! Is there anything in that skull of yours except flowers and money! I really hate you. The only reason my wonderful brother sticks around you, is because he humors your poor sickly Ole dad! Don't think for a minute that MY brother could EVER love you for real."
"Detective, if that's all, I really want to get back to help Sesshomaru and his family get through the night's misfortune. Sesshomaru seems so distracted taking care of Rin, and especially InuYasha. As his fiancé, I should be there with him. I'm sure you understand," Kagura's eyes reflected her compassion.
Sango nodded. "That's all for now. I'll take you back to the salon."
Upon their return to the dining salon, they were assaulted by a verbal and physical barrage. Kanna was beating Jakotsu with her fists. Bankotsu and Miroku had just started moving from the opposite side of the table to pull the two apart. Kanna was screaming like a banshee and Jakotsu had found new ways to insult her.
"I'M TIRED and So done with this Kagome BEING DEAD stuff! It's all HER FAULT!"
Inuyasha and Rin sucked in a shocked breath as did several others.
"Now Kanna!" Naraku's soft voice attempted to get her attention.
"BANKOTSU! Take me home! Now!"
Miroku was standing and trying to talk to her but Kanna wasn't having it.
"My father and fiancé are very important men! They own this town! You will have to answer to them!"
"KANNA!" Naraku's voice was sharp for a second then a coughing attack followed. He looked to Bankotsu.
"Kanna, sweet one. Come here. You need to calm down." He was near her now. He opened his arms to receive her. She started to move toward him.
"Bitch," Jakotsu whispered.
Everyone's eyes opened wide! Kanna turned back around and increased her assault on Jakotsu's chest. He was laughing at her which only made her madder.
Sango and Miroku moved in and pulled the two apart. Miroku pushed Jakotsu back away from the table where they had been fighting. Sango had pulled Kanna's arm behind her back and locked it so she couldn't move. Sango looked at Miroku.
"Sorry Ma'am. That just climaxed when you walked it."
"Fine. Kanna, you are with me," and she pushed Kanna out the salon door.
As they walked by Kagome's body Kanna kicked it. "It's your damn fault, bitch!"
That pissed Sango off and she pulled out her handcuffs. "You are under arrest for disturbing a crime scene. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you…"
As she finished the Miranda rights, they arrived in the sitting room. Sango sat Kanna down.
"A crime has been committed. A woman has been murdered. You are guilty of disturbing a crime scene. Now I need to know if you committed the murder." Sango was holding back her anger, but just barely. "Did you murder Kagome?"
Kanna sat on the sofa quietly for several moments.
"It wasn't me. If it was anyone in this group it must have been a servant."
Sango stared at her incredulously.
"Even Jakotsu's hatred for Kagome wasn't enough to commit murder," Kanna continued. "That guy is so clueless about women. I mean Kagome's just trying to be friendly and he ignored her at dinner. He's such a loser. Seriously, he's all about Bankotsu. Bankotsu did this and Bankotsu does that. Really, he's got to know I'm going to marry Bank and take him away from that loser. Can you loosen these cuffs? They're hurting my wrists. I might have chipped a nail. It was an expensive…."
Sango was at her limit. This bimbo was so obnoxious. She would just take her back into the salon for now.
It didn't surprise Miroku that Sango had returned so quickly with Kanna, but he did lift an eyebrow in surprise at the handcuffs.
"Take this," Sango said as she led Kanna to Miroku's side, "and keep IT from the others. Threaten IT with duct tape if you have to. She is under arrest for disturbing a crime scene."
"Yes, Ma'am," Miroku responded sharply. He took a dining room chair to the corner Kagura had been standing in and placed the "entitled princess" on it. As he did he whispered, "I have industrial strength duct tape. Keep that in mind."
Kanna's eyes opened wide and her mouth shut firmly.
Miroku walked back to the table wondering where he would find the duct tape he had just threatened her with. Hopefully she would obey for a change.
Sango stood still looking through the crowd. Kami she was already sick of this and no closer to the truth. She wondered if Miroku had any observations that would help. She started looking through his mini note pad.