Agent of Silence

Chapter 5:

He watched the paramedics walk into his house. They made it look so simple. Carrying out a daily job, it happened all the time. But not to him. It didn't happen to him.

He was used to death, sure, but not one this close to him. And she had been so very close.

He didn't want to walk inside and watch them examine her and turn her over, looking at everything. It made him sick. He wanted to scream at them. This wasn't just anybody, this was Kikyou! KIKYOU!

How could they make it seem so simple? She was dead, she wasn't going to come back. Some one had shot her, and . . . and . . .

He could picture her lifeless body in his mind. He watched her blood stained lips move, telling him that she loved him. God he loved her.

But she wasn't here to say it to anymore. If he walked inside his house all he would see was a clean up crew, cleaning the chunks of glass and pottery that had been shattered in the fight.

And she would be in a bag, on her way to a morgue. Oh god he didn't want to think about that.

He didn't want to think about the tombstone that he would have to pick out. Or the black clothes that he would have to wear to a funeral, where people would talk about his deceased lover and how nice she used to be.

Used to be. Was. Isn't. Gone. Dead. Buried. Lifeless. Not . . . here. Ever again.

Revenge.

The most simple word in his vocabulary at the moment. He had to pay some people a visit.

People. Them. He had forgotten.

Inuyasha turned his head to the side and there they were, one on each side of him. They looked great. He must look like crap.

Miroku caught his eye, but for once in his life he had no witty remark or wise saying that could make his best friend feel any better. Because that's not the way it worked.

All Sango and he could do was stand there beside him, let him know that they were there. They couldn't leave him alone now, they were friends through thick and thin.

Five minutes later, Inuyasha watched both crews leave, one was carrying a black bag.

Miroku watched Inuyasha watch them leave. He reached out to his friend, hoping that he could get it together, because he couldn't bear to see him like this.

Miroku patted Inuyasha lightly on the back, a reminder that they wouldn't be going anywhere until he was ready. Inuyasha nodded his head, letting a final tear slip through his eyes, and Sango took his hand, leading him towards their car.

~ * ~

"WHERE ARE THEY!" If the whole agency wasn't awake, they were now. Kagome raced down the hall way. "OMG! I can't believe I fell asleep!" Kagome was talking to herself, that wasn't a good sign. "Sango! Miroku! Where are you guys?!"

hi} (That would be my brother, just ignore him!) "Kagome *pant* *pant* Wait up!" Kohaku called from four corridors behind. 'I knew I shouldn't have said anything' Kohaku thought to himself.

"Oh man!" he slid down the wall he had been leaning on. "Sango is going to kill me! Kagome isn't supposed to know!"

"Know what?" Kohaku whipped around. "Gosh! Kihoau! Don't scare me like that!" "Sorry man. What are you talking to yourself for? Or, dare I ask, what about?" Kihoau stared at him. He expected an answer! 'GREAT! Just what I need. I have to make something up and fast!'

"Um . . . well you see. . . okay seriously?" Kohaku asked, hoping the answer would be no. Kihoau gave him a pointed look that clearly read, YES! "Alright," Kohaku tried to sound resigned, " I caught Miroku and Sango making out." Kohaku let out a breath. Kihoau laughed out loud. "That's it?! That's all? What's that got to do with Kagome?"

'Oh crap!' "Well you see . . . Kagome has this HUGE crush on Miroku and . . . uh, she wasn't supposed to know!" Kohaku put on his frantic face. Why did he always get stuck in the situations where he had to lie and think fast. If Kagome ever heard about this, he would surely be on the receiving end of one of those knock-out punches. 'Dang!'

"So that's why she's running so fast?! I better go tell people to stay out of her way. We all know how she gets when she's mad!" Kihoau raced away.

"GAA! CRAP!" Kohaku burst out, causing a few heads to turn to the young teenager. Kihoau's reply, translated, was ' I have to go tell everyone about this right away!' This was just perfect! Now he really would be hurt. "Aw man!" Kohaku picked himself up off the floor and raced away, to find Kagome before word got out.

~ * ~

"So . . . what now?" Miroku looked between his old friend and his new partner. "We're going to have to see Keade." Sango said reasonably. "THAT HAG IS STILL HERE!" Miroku silently let out a breath that he hadn't noticed he had been holding. Inuyasha still had his spirit.

"'tis good to see ye to . . .Inuyasha." Everyone turned, Sango almost falling out of her chair.

"Don't do that!" Miroku hissed, his grip on his chair was turning his knuckles white. He could not deal with much more of this. He had had too many surprises today, he didn't need old supervisors jumping out of thin air.

"Dang it woman!" Inuyasha cursed under his breath. " It seems we are one member short," Keade said, ignoring Inuyasha's outburst. She turned to look at the occupants of the room. She didn't miss Inuyasha's pale face. He leaned back. He couldn't take this right now, he needed time.

Revenge was just a way to take his mind off of Kikyou, but it couldn't stay like that. He knew it too.

She had been there, only some seven or so hours before, taking her sleeping pills and climbing into bed, looking beautiful. She hadn't been sleeping well lately, neither had he for that matter. There were other things on their minds, but where Kikyou couldn't stand thinking about them, hence the pills, Inuyasha couldn't STOP thinking about them.

He had missed this place. He had been doing this for too long, it was in his blood. He lived for the adrenaline rush, the explosive exits after a mission. He NEEDED it. Teaching was great, but it wasn't for him. They hadn't had room for another chemistry teacher, so he had taken up science. Sure you couldn't teach how to blow things up, but it was as close as he got.

He didn't do much better with physical education. The kids were a bunch of wusses! They couldn't run to save their life!

And that was part of the problem. Because, that was the only way that Inuyasha liked to run . . . to save his life. At the school, his heart was never into it. He was still fast that way, and nobody could tell. But inside, it was hurting him.

He needed time to grieve. But he knew that time wasn't on his side. He might have called it a sign that Kikyou was killed and he was destined to come back to the agency, but he didn't believe in that stuff, myths, legends, superstitions. Well he didn't believe in ALL of those things, after all, he was a legend around here.

. . . And it felt so good to be back. So good. But not good enough to jump right back into things.

He had just lost the love of his life . . . god. It hit him. He had just lost the love of his life . . . and there were people surrounding him that he hadn't seen in two years that were trying to get him to plot revenge.

Okay so maybe he had been the one to suggest revenge, because it was his revenge and their enemy. But he couldn't do this right now.

"—but he left this note and-" they were just chatting away. Suddenly everything around him seemed surreal. 'Get it together Inuyasha! Kikyou wouldn't want you to be like this!' he stopped his train of thought.

He didn't believe that. Kikyou wasn't here to tell him anything anymore. She wasn't here to cook him breakfast or to drive with him to school. She wasn't here to eat lunch with or to grade papers with. She was- . . . she wasn't here at all.

She was gone. Gone from here. To hell or heaven but not here. But even if she was here, she loved him for who he was- grieving or not.

Not that this helped his predicament any. None of this did. Not his grieving-or lack there of-, or their talking and plotting, or the fact that he had gotten here at on one the morning, it now being around six, and he hadn't left the room. It was time for this to stop.

"That's IT! SHUT UP! If you haven't gotten it through your thick skull yet, old hag, Kikyou's dead, she's not coming back, I can deal with that. Naraku's at fault- besides me of course, not being able to stop the freaks who shot her. Miroku, I'm hungry. Sango, I just have a question. Are you going to let me out of this room?"

He had everyone's attention. Sango shook her head, signaling no, and Inuyasha didn't bother to argue. He was tired and weary from his day, he still remembered how stubborn Sango was and he didn't want more to deal with right now.

Miroku was going to slip out, thought better of it, and used his cell to call for room service. Oh how he missed this place. Keade was giving him her 'look'. He never had like that too much, and he had a feeling that she knew it.

"Look guys, I get that you want to just get this over with, but I need some time. I'm not going to go all sap like and mourn for six months, but . . . she's dead guys. And anything I do can't bring her back. Do you know what that's like . . . I couldn't stop them. Everything seems so simple now. I could've done a million things differently and maybe I could have saved her, but I didn't and it's over. She's not going to be here anymore and I just need time to deal with that fact. So just give me a break okay," Inuyasha looked at their faces, they understood, and he knew it. "God I missed you guys!" Inuyasha whispered.

That was all it took. Miroku and Sango joined Inuyasha in a group hug. This was what it was supposed to be like. So perfect . . . almost. There was one missing. And she wouldn't be back. Sango let her tears escape. Sweet tears of redemption, Inuyasha was back.

Miroku pulled back at the sound of her sniffle, tears were evident in both men's eyes. Miroku pulled Sango into another hug for comfort, and Inuyasha placed a light kiss on her head. He turned to Keade who waited patiently for them to finish.

"I'm glad you're still here Keade," Inuyasha said earnestly, putting his head down. He could here Keade walk over to him. He lifted his face just in time to get smacked in the head. "Freak! Woman what's your problem!?" Inuyasha screeched at the unexpected stinging in his head.

"Now that's more like it Inuyasha! My agents aren't mushy! Shape up!" Keade said with a small smile. This was the Inuyasha she knew. Screeching and yelling, being arrogant and domineering.

Miroku smiled at her antics. This was why Keade was in charge!

~ * ~

"EEP!" "AHH!" Twin shouts were heard from the corner of the eighth corridor. "Kohaku!" "Kagome!"

"I've been looking all over for you!" Kohaku screamed at her. "You just ran off without even a second glance back to see if I was still there!" Kohaku tried to sound upset while searching for any clue that she had heard the 'news'.

"GAH! Kagome!" Kohaku suddenly found himself in the air, pushed against the wall.

"I know you know where they are Kohaku! Tell me before I beat the-"

"I know you're upset, but you don't have to take it out on him!"

"Who said that!" Kagome looked around and noticed that she seemed to have acquired a crowd. 'Gah! I just want to know where they are, what's with everyone? I've been getting crazy looks all morning!'

Kohaku laughed nervously. He noticed Kagome seemed to be in thought with her grip loose on his shirt. He hurriedly pulled himself away and grabbed Kagome's hand.

"Let's go now Kag! Wouldn't want to miss your briefing!" 'I'm getting too good at lying.' Kohaku thought.

~ * ~

Kagome stopped him when they were far enough away. "What the heck was that!" she screeched. Kohaku scratched the back of his head nervously.

"I guess everyone is either concerned for your health or concerned for my safety," Kohaku said, trying to make it into a joke.

Kagome glared at him silently. Like she would actually buy that! "I'm getting impatient Kohaku!" Kagome said, getting slightly annoyed at her young friend.

"Oh My Gosh! Was that Sango!" Kohaku pulled away from her and raced to the end of the corner. "Where! I don't see h-"

Kagome turned on Kohaku. "Why you little," she started. "Kagome I swear I saw h-" *Wham!* "He he . . . he hhh."

With a humph Kagome walked away.

"Looks like I got hit either way, but there'll be heck to pay for when she finds out." And with that, Kohaku was unconscious.

~ * ~

"I have to go report in now," Miroku stated. Inuyasha needed some alone time. Sango was in the bathroom and he was going to get out of this ROOM! It smelled stale and it was starting to make him sick.

"Feh," was Inuyasha's reply. It finally struck Miroku how much Inuyasha hadn't changed. He wasn't different at all. It had been two years and he didn't even look older!

He silently slipped out of the door. He needed to find Sango, to tell her to leave him alone for a while. A fight would definitely pursue. 'Oh, that will be fun'.

~ * ~

Finally! They were gone. He needed to get out of here! Sango was like a viscous guard dog. She wouldn't put him out of her sight. He swore, it took Miroku an hour and a half to convince her that it was okay to go to the bathroom!

He loved his friends, he really did, but he needed to get out of this stuffy room.

Miroku's thoughts were probably somewhere along the lines of, 'he needs time to think to himself and deal with this.' In a normal circumstance, that's what he would do, but this wasn't normal.

It wouldn't become better with him sitting on his butt and thinking about all of his regrets. He needed some action! How rusty could he be?

~ * ~

"And she caught them making out!?" "YES!" "Ohh! I'd be mad too! He's so hot!"

"Who are you guys talking about?" Sango said. She had exited the bathroom and decided that Miroku could handle Inuyasha for a little while longer, she needed a break!

"OH! Hi Sango!" A petite girl with plain brown hair blushed and turned her head away. "Hi," Sango said cautiously. Usually everyone was friendly and talkative. Something was going on.

"What's up you guys?" she asked simply. Better get to the point.

The two female agents looked at each other. "How can you be so normal after something like that! I thought you guys were friends!" One of the girls said indignantly.

"What are you guys talking about!" Sango was getting VERY annoyed. She hated being left out and it looked like she was supposed to know what they were talking about.

"You know! Making out with Miroku!"

"WHAT!"

~ * ~

Oh that was Sango's voice all right. Miroku entered the café, and saw that a crowd had seemed to gather, and at the middle of it was his Sango.

"WHAT KIND OF FREAK DO-" Yep that was Sango all right.

"Ladies, Ladies! What seems to be the matter?" Miroku stepped into the middle of the circle.

Sango rounded on him. "You started this! IT's all your FAULT! You're such a perv. Going-" Miroku's hand was on Sango's mouth. He put on a strained smile.

"Ladies, would some one like to explain to me what my dear Sango here is talking about?" Miroku looked around politely. One girl stepped forward and blushed when he gave her a wink of encouragement. Sango held back a groan of disgust.

"Well we were getting upset because Kagome was taking out all of her anger on Kohaku. So when Sango came up and acted like she didn't understand, we understood. She's being the inconsiderate one!" All the girls nodded their agreement.

Miroku's smile became more strained. They were accusing Sango of something that she obviously had no clue about. Then again, she did accuse him of understanding.

"Beg your pardons, but I have no idea as to what you are all talking about," Miroku stated through clenched teeth. He turned to the left when he heard an exasperated sigh. He gave the girl a pointed look that said, 'do continue please'.

"Kagome saw you guys make out!"

~ * ~

Inuyasha slid open the door carefully and looked both ways. It was all clear. First he had to figure out what wing he was in. He looked at the door handle.

A snake engraving – D wing.

He crept down the corridor and went left. He ran stealthily towards the door to the common corridors and the café.

He could hear shouting but decided that it would be best to stay away from the gathering of people. Wouldn't want to blow his chance at a big entrance.

He made his way into a deserted side room to wait out the crowd. He was hungry!

~ * ~

"I assure you ladies that their has been no making out on my part. It seems a talk is in order. If you will excuse us," Miroku pushed through the onlookers and dragged Sango to a room right outside of the café.

He closed the door silently behind them and slipped his hand away from Sango's mouth.

Mistake.

" WHAT THE FREAK IS YOUR PROBLEM! I can speak for myself, now you made it look as if I've had some tryst with some secret man! HOW DARE YOU!" Sango glared at Miroku.

"Why did you accuse me of the rumor?" Miroku asked quietly. Sango held back her biting comment. She didn't have an answer.

"I guess I was just angry. I didn't mean anything by it- well no, I can't say that," Sango looked around pointedly than let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm sorry! This is just too much right now.

"I want to talk with Inuyasha and catch up. I want to know about his life. I want to hang with you guys and be able to laugh . . . but I-we can't. Because . . . she's not here anymore. And I don't know if Inuyasha can laugh without her." Sango looked up at Miroku and saw him break. This hurt.

~ * ~

Inuyasha perked up from his hiding spot. Some one was in here. He let out a silent thank you that he had had the sense to hide.

"OMG! That's Miroku and Sango!'

He listened to their conversation. 'They really care. Even after all this time. God I wish I could laugh.

~ * ~

Miroku exited the room. Sango needed a break. He would take care of Inuyasha now.

~ * ~

"Sango! Is that YOU!" Kagome ran towards her friend and pounced on her. "Aha!"

"Un! Ca- aaug . ." "Sango? . . . Sango? Are you okay?" Kagome looked down at her friend curiously.

"Oh! Dense! I'm sorry!" Kagome got off and helped Sango sit.

When she could see her breathing even and the color return to her face she went in.

"WHERE THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN!!!" Kagome screamed. She ignored the few people who shook their heads at her. They were acting really weird today.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!!!" Kagome continued. "I've been around this entire agency at LEAST four times! FOUR TIMES!" she was calming down a bit now. She had just needed to let that loose.

"Are you done yet?" Sango looked at her friend quizzically. "Well I was going to go into the finer points, but I figured you understood," Kagome smiled saucily. Sango couldn't help but smile back.

Her weariness showed through that smile. "Gosh Sango! Where have you been?" This time Kagome's voice held concern and worry, not vehemence and curiosity. "Are you okay?"

Sango looked around and notice that they were in a crowded hallway, with quite a few people staring. Everyone would find out, but now was not the time.

Sango pulled Kagome up and grabbed her hand, dragging her friend to the deserted room she had just left.

"Okay. I don't- can't tell you where I've been . . . yet," Sango looked tired. Kagome held back her growl. Her friend obviously needed some one right now.

"If you're not going to let me help you, at least let Miroku!" Kagome finally said. "You won't tell me what's going on, but he knows. You guys can get through this together," Kagome locked eyes with Sango and then pulled her into a hug.

"You look tired, you should sleep," Kagome let go and walked away.

~ * ~

Inuyasha watched Sango renter the room with some one else. It was a girl and she sounded so DANG familiar! But she was hidden by the shadows of the room and he couldn't see her face.

She had one nice body though! The light from the window in the door showed him that much.

He watched as they embraced and she walked away. He made up his mind.

He was going to follow her!

A/N YAY! IT's finally out!

I need to know if you guys want and Miroku/Sango in here. Because I can do that.

Emotional here! I hope everyone thought this chapter was okay!

I really need feedback to see if I'm going in the right direction with this death! What do you all think!?

This took soooo long to type so you had all better be HAPPY with it! This is 11 ELEVEN pages long!!!!! IT's LONG!!!!

I need to know if you guys are understanding everything too.

IS THIS MOVING TOO FAST? PLEASE TELL ME! I CAN SLOW IT DOWN!