CHAPTER TWO: Editorial of the Dead

Kagome ran through the double doors, bursting into the large high school just as the bell went off. "Great! Just great," she groaned as she kicked her way to her locker and opened it, pulling her books out and stuffing them into her satchel. "This really sucks…I spent the night with a nincompoop vampire, and now I'm late. Mom's really gonna love this. 'What the hell were you doing at some guy's house; you were supposed to be at school making a better life for yourself than I could ever have.'" The raven-haired girl mimicked her mother. "'just because I couldn't make it as a whore doesn't mean you can't.'"

Kagome arrogantly slammed her locker door shut and walked off to class. "Stupid, cocky, egotistical vampire," she smiled as she hugged her notebook close to her chest. "He was cute though," she giggled. She really didn't know what to make of last night. A vampire, a myth that was so absurd and yet Kagome had found one. In all honesty, the fact that she had discovered a real live vampire and that he really did exist hadn't sunken in yet.

Kagome walked down the hall until she came to her first class: English. She took a deep breath and slowly pushed the door open, fearing the wrath of her teacher, Mrs. Takanami; the woman is evil.

Kagome peeked her head through, just in time to see the short and plump teacher blare angrily. "Well Ms. Higurashi, I'm certainly glad you decided to show up. I swear you Higurashi women are all just alike. Take your seat now!" She ordered, her shrill voice rising almost high enough to shatter glass. "Your mother was a good-for-nothing and your father was a waste of perfectly good desk space. Some people in this institution actually want to learn…though I doubt anyone in your family could even spell the term."

Kagome glared angrily as she made her way through the aisle to her seat. See I told you the woman was evil. The only reason Mrs. Takanami was so harsh on Kagome was because Kagome's dad had played a lot of mean tricks on her when he was one of her students. And Kagome's mom had made fun of her…Kagome had felt sorry for her teacher…until she had found out how rude the old toad could really act.

"Well class." Mrs. Takanami squeaked from the front of the room. "Pack your things. We will be going to the library's media center today to use the computers. You will be researching information on the Internet about a political figure in history; of your choice; who greatly influenced Salem. Then I want a two-page report; typed, about your chosen individual. Any questions?"

A girl with long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and a nose ring in her nose raised her hand. "When's this do?"

Mrs. Takanami smiled, her cheeks curling into an evil grin. "Friday."

"Friday!" Kagome squeaked. "That's tomorrow."

Mrs. Takanami wrung her hands together eagerly. "That's not my problem is it? Come on now," she herded. "Everyone line up single file at the door."

Kagome stood up and swung her book bag over her shoulder.

"This bites." The girl with brown hair groaned.

Kagome nodded. "Don't I know it, San."

San or Sango Sakamoto; was the only person Kagome even remotely considered a friend. Sango was new in Salem, she had just moved into town a little over a month ago from Sydney, Australia. She lived with her Aunt Sabrina-sama now, one of the many local gypsies.

Sango was cool, she was a little weird, but she fit in perfectly at Salem. Sango was really into witches and warlocks anything that had to do with magic she was there. She was fascinated with the Wicca culture. She especially liked old myths and legends. Kagome had a sinking feeling that Sango would fall head over heels for Inuyasha.

Sango had of course long brown hair that was dyed white at the ends, slate blue eyes that were so light that it was almost unnatural (contacts); she had a long slender and dark tanned body, a deep Australian accent, and a slightly different wardrobe than most people. Sango wore a lot of strange things. Like today, she was wearing a black sweater, a purple and black mini skirt, red and black checkered stockings, and tall lace up boots that covered almost her entire calf. Yeah she was a little weird; the girl's makeup is what sent most people over the edge; black lipstick and red mascara. She was different but she was fun to be around. She had a talent of lighting up the room.

"So," Sango giggled, her accent in full force. "How did your little adventure go last night?"

"Adventure?" Kagome questioned as she walked along the hallway, Sango beside her. "What do you mean?"

"Oh come on!" Sango exclaimed in an exaggerated tone. "You were all hyped up yesterday about going to the old Osuwari Estate and proving it's not haunted. Please don't tell me the great Kagome Hirugashi chickened out?"

"I did not." Kagome protested.

"Oh really?" Sango laughed as she draped an arm around her friend's shoulder. "So did you meet any ghosts?"

"Not exactly." Kagome laughed nervously. I can't tell her about Inuyasha…I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone.

"Not exactly, hmmm?" Sango asked with a raised eyebrow. "So what did you meet?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "You know not everything has to be supernatural, San. The place was clean. I just walked in, looked around a little, and walked right back out."

"Oh." Sango sighed sadly. "So what's it look like in there?"

Kagome just shrugged her shoulders. "Like any other house that's been abandoned. Nothing really all that special."

"That bites." Sango moaned. "And here I was hoping you were going to find some poltergeist."

Kagome shook her head and laughed, "sorry, San."

The girls piled into the school's library and stared up at the large ceiling in the great room. Sango quickly ran to the computer section and grabbed two computers before they got gone while Kagome went and asked a librarian something.

"Over here." Sango exclaimed; waving her blue fingernail polished hand in the air once she saw that Kagome was done.

Kagome made her way over to the computer that Sango had reserved for her and took a seat. The two girls quickly signed onto the Internet and began their searches.

"I think I'm gonna do my report on the first witch ever executed in Salem." Sango giggled, as she typed away at her keyboard.

Kagome sighed. "San, a witch isn't a political figure."

"And I care because?" Sango laughed. "You know that old toad is scared of Aunt Sabrina-sama…she thinks my aunt'll put a curse on her or something." Sango gave her friend a thumb's up. "She ain't got the guts to fail me."

Kagome shook her head; "You're something else." She gazed down at her keyboard blankly for a few minutes until it hit her: Inuyasha. Kagome quickly typed in 'Inuyasha Osuwari' and watched as a list of sites popped up. She scrolled down the list until she saw something that looked worthwhile, "Murder of '66' Osuwari family found dead."

Kagome took her mouse and clicked on the link. She skimmed down the newspaper article until she saw something that caught her eye:

'It was a sad night in December; when the entire aristocratic family of the Osuwaris' was found dead, save for the eldest son, Inuyasha Osuwari. Inuyasha was found dead three days later in the investigation due to an anonymous tip.

It took the police little over a week to locate the missing persons, they were found already buried. According to Sheriff Shinji Sowa, the police would not have found them had it not been for the mysterious new graves discovered within the Osuwari soil. "The place had always seemed spooky to me" exclaimed Sheriff Sowa, "Inutai Osuwari had always seemed like a strange man, but he was always a very generous individual; he had donated so much of his wealth to charity. And he had been a heroic veteran in World War II. I would never have thought that such a great man would have such a grave ending."

Among the Osuwari graves there were discovered the bodies of many teenage companions of the elder Osuwari: Sesshomaru, and also the young love of Inuyasha, Kikyo Ishinomori. Kikyo's family was horrified to hear of their daughter's death; Mrs. Ishinomori was sent into a hysteric frenzy, and later was forced to end her own life. Jinn Ishinomori (Kikyo's father) sent out a $100,000 reward to anyone who had information regarding his daughter's killer, though in his mind he personally blamed Inuyasha Osuwari. "I knew that boy was trouble." Mr. Ishinomori screamed angrily. "I told Kikyo many times to keep away from him, but no she wouldn't listen." Ishinomori cried, breaking down into tears during the interrogation at the police department. "That boy killed her. I know he did. He's a murderer I tell you. He killed all those people…including his own mother, and then killed himself. That monster didn't deserve death…he should have been locked away to live with his crimes for all eternity…to have the picture of Kikyo's dead body plastered in his head…to hear my baby girl's screams for mercy…echoing in his ears."

Sure enough, all the evidence found within the case pointed to Inuyasha. From his handprints to his blood present on the bodies and the shovel used to dig the graves of the victims. But since the boy was already deceased, there was nothing more the authorities could do. The case was closed; only a month after the incident itself took place; the Osuwari Estate was given to the state and life went on. The large manor was made into not a landmark but a resting-place for those whose lives were lost in the great tragedy. "Never to be torn down," exclaimed Mayor Kyo Shito. "She shall stand as a reminder to us all."'

Kagome's jaw dropped. "No way. Inuyasha didn't do it!" She slammed her fist into the table. "That's a load of crap…He's not a killer."

Sango glanced over at Kagome curiously, as Kagome continued down the article.

Inuyasha himself had also been a veteran. He had fought in the Vietnam War for approximately nine months. He had literally been handed a riffle and a uniform on his eighteenth birthday. The night of the incident Inuyasha had only been home for an estimated two days. He had returned only on a short break, but it was already too late. The war had drove him insane; forcing him to kill his own loved ones, even the girl who was allegedly carrying his unborn child (this was never confirmed.)

Inuyasha had grown up just like any other gifted boy. He had everything from the fancy car to the pretty girl. He truly had the life, thanks to his father's multi-million dollar company. I'm sure that if Inuyasha would have been told of his future crimes he would have laughed in disbelief, as most of us would have.

He had been a bright boy. "Destined for great things," sighed his ninth grade Science teacher Emiko Hitoma. "Inuyasha had always been the smartest in the class. He was a regular Renaissance Man."

But of course, not all great people do great things. So on the night of December 23, two days before Christmas, Inuyasha did the unthinkable. The police were baffled by the catastrophe; "I'd never seen anything like I," exclaimed Shinji Matsumato, the local mortician. "The markings found on the bodies of many of the victims were rather strange; two parallel puncture wounds. But it wasn't by these that the victims died. Oddly enough it was either from a severe blood loss or the breaking of the neck."

According to Hiro Asada, a specialist in weapons, the wounds were unlike anything he had ever witnessed. "It wasn't made by any weapon I'm aware of."

Mortician Matsumato believes that the lacerations might have been made by a household Chief's fork. "It's highly unlikely it was made by such a utensil. I can't help but get the feeling that this case will never truly be solved."

Mr. Matsumato has a point. The murder 'weapon' was never found. But life does go on. The kindred of those who are gone still live their lives; grieving over "The Inuyasha Incident" as Sheriff Sowa put it. Events happen every day that will never truly be explained. But the world continues to go round.

In all, the Morgue counted sixteen Bodies, first the family: Inutai Osuwari, Midoriko Osuwari, and Sesshomaru Osuwari, the young beauty Kikyo Ishinomori and the companions of the college-bound Sesshomaru, whose families have asked that they go unnamed. And Finally Inuyasha Osuwari, who was possibly the victim of his own patriotism, having the war turn him mad. "I guess it just goes to show you that things don't always happen for a reason," sighed local beautician, Chihiro Sagara. "It was never expected, what with the war and all. I honestly feel pity for that boy. I've known him and his family for years…he was a friend of my daughter's in junior high. Inuyasha was always a sweet and polite child. There wasn't a single bad bone in his body, I know for a fact...other than his mischievous boyish-ness. I don't care what the police say…he didn't do it. Just 'cause there's some blood and prints, don't mean he did it. You can't prove it," stated Widow Sagara angrily.

Strangely enough, there are a few individuals scattered about Salem, Massachusetts that believe in Inuyasha's innocence. There were many rallies that took place just outside the courthouse, demanding that Inuyasha was innocent. But despite their efforts, the court ruled Inuyasha Osuwari guilty of fifteen counts of homicide. And whether this verdict is right or wrong that will never be known…no one survived to tell the tale, and with no witness and very limited evidence that points to Inuyasha and Inuyasha alone…the likeliness of a retrial, or of his innocence being declared are slim to none. And so a tragedy that shocked the masses is doomed to never have a final chapter; it happened so suddenly, we never saw it coming.

Kagome growled angrily throwing death threats at the computer.

"Whoa now." Sango exclaimed. "Chill out, Kag." Sango stared at the computer, having read the article over Kagome's shoulder. "What's got your panties in such a bunch?" The sky blue-eyed girl sighed. "It happened along time ago."

"I don't care." Kagome snapped. "He didn't do it."

Sango eyed her suspiciously. "Who? Inuyasha? How do you know he's innocent…he's been dead for almost forty years."

"Oh he's dead alright." Kagome growled through gritted teeth.

Sango stared at the photo of Inuyasha and Kikyo under the article. "Ooh! He's cute…too bad he's dead." She giggled

Kagome just ignored her friend's comment as she hastily clicked the print button and ran up to the front desk to collect her papers.

"May I help you?" The cheery old woman asked from behind the counter. "Do you need a library card, sweetie."

Kagome shook her head, no. "I need the papers I just printed."

The woman readjusted her bifocal glasses as she turned around to face the large expensive printer behind her. She shifted through the freshly printed pile. "What was it that you printed, honey?"

"An article on the Osuwari Murder."

The woman gave a small gasp before she handed over the papers. "A very sad story indeed." She sighed. Kagome got a sudden glimpse of the librarian's nametag. 'Kaede Ishinomori.' Kagome's heart stopped…Ishinomori was Kikyo's last name. "I was twenty when that incident happened. It caused quite an uproar."

Kagome nodded. She didn't know why but she had a sinking feeling that 'Kaede' was related to Kikyo. But Kagome just pushed that thought out of her mind as she ran back to where Sango was and grabbed her stuff.

Kagome smiled at her friend. "I gotta go, San."

The elder girl nodded, "where ya going, Kag?

"To see a friend." And with that, Kagome ran out the door.

The teacher called out after her, screaming threats. "If you don't come back here, Higurashi!" Mrs. Takanami bellowed. But it was too late; Kagome was already gone.

Sango stared after her friend. "I knew it." She giggled. "She found something…Inuyasha…perhaps?"

Kagome ran down the street; she was almost there. She turned the corner and ran along the dirt driveway that sloped downward as it led to the mansion. During the day the place was beautiful, unlike its spooky appearance at night. The mansion was slightly hidden by a miniature forest. All the trees in the front yard were so gigantic; most of them were Weeping Willows, the long vines draping down to arms' reach. Kagome pushed open the black picket fence and rushed past the greenhouse. Unfortunately, the house itself was at the very edge of the property…the sixty-acre property. The place was so shaded from the trees that it gave the feeling of going into a cave with bright green walls. But all this was well to Inuyasha; it kept him separated from the nosey town.

"Oh God!" Kagome gasped as she reached the front porch, huffing and puffing all the while.

She stared up at Inuyasha as he was just finishing the repairs on his front door. "What is it this time, Ms. Higurashi?" He groaned under his breath as he took the hammer in his hand and gave it a good swing at the last nail. "Please don't tell me you're here to break down another door."

Kagome held up her hand, signaling him to just give her a second before she hunched over and rested her hands on her knees. "I…I…God that was…a long run."

Inuyasha chuckled as he disappeared into the house and returned with a glass of water. "Here." He offered, handing her the cup.

The human girl took it graciously and downed it with one sip. "Thanks." She sighed.

He nodded. "Shouldn't you be at school, kid?"

Kagome glared at him. "I'm not a kid." She protested, still sounding slightly winded.

Inuyasha just smirked as he twirled the hammer around in his finger carelessly, contemplating on throwing it at her for coming back to haunt him again. "We're not going to make these visits of yours a habit are we?"

Kagome ignored his comment as she held up the papers she had printed from the library. "Is this her?"

Inuyasha gazed down at the picture, his dormant heart kicking in; pounding in his chest. "Yeah." He reached up and gingerly took the black and white photo from Kagome treating the paper as if it were precious. "I haven't seen her in years. I hardly ever have the heart to look at her pictures any more. I destroyed most of them." He laughed sadly to himself. "She was so beautiful."

Kagome looked up into Inuyasha's eyes. He looked so sad as he stared down at Kikyo.

"I thought so." Kagome whispered. "I read the article…and I knew how much you loved her…I thought you might like to have a picture of her."

Inuyasha nodded never tearing his eyes off Kikyo's innocent smile.

"Inuyasha," Kagome sighed quietly. "I didn't know they blamed you like that. I know you didn't do it…I can't believe they'd think you would do something so horrible. I'm really…s…so…sor…sorr…sorry." She stuttered, trying to get the word out.

Inuyasha glanced down at her and smirked. "You don't apologize often do you?"

Kagome shook her head and giggled. "Nope."

"Here," He laughed handing the papers back to her. "No use bringing back old ghosts. I think you should have it." Kagome took the papers and nodded as he smiled down at her. "You look a lot like her…exactly like her."

Kagome glanced down at the image of Kikyo. She was a pretty girl, with bright green eyes with long, thick eyelashes, and long silky black hair, a petite heart shaped face, a tiny rounded nose, simple lips. "She looks just like me," Kagome gasped.

"Come on in, Higurashi." Inuyasha opened the now fixed door allowing Kagome to enter. "We'll get you something to eat."

"Oh! Food." She drooled. "God bless you, Inuyasha…I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon."

Kagome sat happily at the kitchen table, taking in her surroundings. "Do you ever clean?" She asked as she eyed a large spot of rust on the stove door.

"Nope."

She sighed as she rested her elbows on the table's surface and her chin in her palms.

"Here you go." Inuyasha announced as he placed a sandwich in front of the young girl. "Grilled cheese, my specialty."

Kagome smiled before she took a bite. "Pretty good…for a dead guy. My complements to the chief."

Inuyasha bowed jokingly before he took a seat at the table diagonal from her. "So you ran all that way just to give me a picture and apologize huh?" He had to admit that was impressive, not just for the integrity of her actions…but for the distance of the run itself. She had a lot of hidden strength in her.

She nodded, her mouth it was too full of food to speak.

And so the two sat in silence until Kagome finished her sandwich.

"That was good." She smiled as she swallowed the last bit of her snack. "Inuyasha?"

"Hmmm?" He groaned; she talked too much in his opinion. Embrace some freaking silence for once, wench.

"I was wondering…."

"Yeah?" Groan.

"If it's not too much trouble…could I come hang out here everyday after school?"

Inuyasha looked over at Kagome with a raised eyebrow. "Having a change of heart are we?"

"Well…I've got nothing else better to do, and since you're lonely…I thought maybe we could…be lonely together."

Inuyasha smiled genuinely at her, a rarity in itself. "You want to befriend a vampire?"

Kagome nodded excitedly. "Yeah, I don't care about that kind of stuff."

The vampire sighed and shook his head. "Even though I was accused of murder, you read that article on me, 'I'm a dangerous man'."

She giggled. "No dangerous man would ever make a grilled cheese sandwich."

Inuyasha snorted. "You even act like Kikyo…criticizing my cooking. Alright then, I suppose you could stay here after school sometimes. But, don't you have any other friends?"

Kagome shook her head. "Only Sango, and she has to work at her aunt's magic shop, she never has any free time. Other than her…I've got nobody."

"Well then…If you promise not to steal any of my things or break down anymore doors, I guess I could learn to put up with you."

"Great!" Kagome cheered. "But first…this place seriously needs a woman's touch, I'll clean your house…as like a thank you gift; if that's okay with you."

Inuyasha smirked as he collected the dishes and laid them in the sink for him to clean later. "No arguments here." He chuckled. This girl's something else…she acts so much like her, its almost like Kikyo's come back to me…maybe that's why I don't have the heart to tell her to go away…

Inuyasha sat back down at the table and grabbed the checkerboard he had put aside, placing it in the center of the small circular table. He had made sure to get the game out just to spite himself.

"Hey, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked subconsciously as she watched the vampire set all the small pieces in place.

"Yeah?"

"I was just wandering…" she sighed as she gazed down at the table's wooden surface." Can vampires turn into bats?"

Inuyasha snorted. "Are you kidding me? I have just as much of a chance of sprouting wings as you do."

"Oh," Kagome moaned as she traced her fingers around one of the circular game pieces. "But you do get like super powers right? Don't you get like some kind of super speed or keen eyesight or something? I mean if you didn't that would suck."

"Yeah we get powers," He took the piece the mortal was playing with and placed it in a red square on the board game's surface. "Flying and animal morphing just don't come in the package."

Kagome looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You said you 'died' when you were eighteen right?"

Inuyasha nodded. "I did."

"But yesterday you said you bought beer…if you look eighteen, then how do you get it? I mean you can't say you're in your fifties 'cause, well look at you."

Inuyasha smiled; he grabbed his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out his license. "I got a fake ID."

Kagome grabbed the laminated card and eyed it in amazement. "How did you get this?"

He smirked. "I have my ways."

"Can you get me one?"

He gave her a funny look before he rolled his eyes. "I'm afraid not, Missy."

She moaned before she resulted back to sitting quietly, deep in thought until: "Hey. I thought you killed vampires with stakes?"

"You can," Inuyasha answered curiously.

"Well then why do you have a pile of them on your bedroom floor upstairs? I saw them yesterday."

Inuyasha chuckled to himself. "I have to have some kind of weapon don't I? Most people think all vampires are in like some kind of brotherhood or something, where we all get along. But the truth is…most vampires can't stand each other. In fact many vampires will form little gangs and go out and kill other vampires, just to take over their territory." He smirked at Kagome's reaction. "Sounds like something an animal would do, doesn't it?"

She nodded. "So you're scared that a bunch of 'vamps' will break into your house and kill you just to get the mansion?" I knew he was a big baby.

He smirked as he put the last piece in place. "Scared? I'm not afraid it's going to happen…it's already happened before. They just didn't make it past the front door."

"Oh. Well that's rude…trying to break into your home." Kagome frowned. "Hey…do vampires feel pain?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Very much so, Missy."

"That sucks…hey if the stake rumor's true…is the holy water rumor true?"

He flinched. "Oh God, that crap stings like hell." He pulled his shirtsleeve up revealing a spider shaped scare on his shoulder. "That's where I got this from."

"Ouch." Kagome winced. "What about the cross thing? You guys aren't able to go near them aren't you?"

"Only ones without souls. I myself am very religious." He pulled the chain hanging around his neck out from under his shirt revealing a small silver cross dangling carelessly.

"Ooh, that's pretty. Where'd you get it?"

"Kikyo…as an early Christmas present."

"Oh I'm really sorry." The green-eyed teenager gasped.

"It's fine." He huffed.

"I suppose the coffin story is true, seeing as you have one upstairs." Kagome added trying her best to change the subject.

Inuyasha chuckled. "Actually the coffin rumor's false too…I saw that one for sale one night while I was prowling and I just couldn't help myself. But nah, we don't sleep in coffins, we really don't sleep at all."

"That's got to be weird."

Inuyasha took the cigarette he had left lying in an ashtray beside him and stuck the 'cancer stick' as Kagome put it, in-between his lips.

"Hey Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?"

"Vampires have no pulse or need for oxygen right, that's what you said yesterday." She asked glancing timidly at the cigarette.

"True…I did say something like that."

"Then if you can't…don't breathe, what's the point of smoking?"

Inuyasha sighed. "I learned the hard way, sweetheart. Old habits die hard."

"…"

"So…are you ready to have your ass beaten at checkers?" the vampire joked cracking his knuckles threateningly.

"Bring it on," Kagome laughed.

"I have to warn you, honey. I'm the undefeated champ…you have no chance."

Kagome stayed over at Inuyasha's house for the rest of the day talking about all kinds of things from pets to boy-bands. Don't ask. She even got to humiliate a vampire at checkers.

Kagome smiled as she strolled around the sidewalk. She stared up at the dark night sky and watched as the clouds rolled in, covering the bright stars. It had been a fun day today. And as she stood there staring up into the sky, she knew that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get Inuyasha's pale skin and bright amber eyes out of her mind. When Kagome had first met Inuyasha his eyes had seemed so dark and dead…but now they were brilliant. Oh great…I have a crush on a dead guy. Little did she know; her future with Inuyasha…would never be like a fairy tale.

That night when the seventeen-year-old girl returned home to her singlewide trailer in the center of the trailer park she found her mother drunk on the couch, laughing at a Scooby-doo rerun.

Inuyasha sat silently on the rooftop of his mansion and stared out at the city's night-lights as the rain slowly started pouring around him. His eyes stayed glued to a slow moving figure heading towards the Garden of Eden Trailer Park, his keen eyes peering through the dark night. He made sure she made it home safe…if she was safe there.