Chapter#2

Dark-Dragon-Chick

AN: hey ppl this is my first contribution to Murder He Spoke. In case u were 2 lazy to read DBW's AN last chap but for some fucked up reason decided to read mine I'd like to just tell ya that I'm the co-author of this fic. DBW wrote the first chap and I wrote this one. Ya'll better like it and review every chap or I'll be seriously pissed. And considering it aint on mi account I hafta get the reviews second hand so I don't actually hafta deal with responding to them if at all. DBW might but I won't cause I don't feel the need to.

Flamers should kno that I could care less wat the hell u think cause u lot r a waste of time to read. Hell half the time u don't even say nething helpful to us so ur flames r goin towards heating my kitchen cause it's a fucking freezer up dere cause mi mum opens the windows first thing in da morning...theres frost out first thing in da morning!

Well dat's all for now. Hope u like dis chap. It's shorter than my own chaps in my fics but dat's only cause this is a joint fic so deal wit it.

Disclaimer: don't own; don't sue. The world goes round and I don't hafta kill neone.

Kagome entered the darkened apartment nervously with Sango at her heels. Just behind them with a smug smile still in place was Miroku. Kagome squinted against the enveloping darkness and tried to spot the golden eyes from before. Unfortunately she couldn't see a thing. Both women jumped when the light were turned on suddenly in the front hall and they glared at Miroku who's hand was resting on the switch. He grinned widely and stepped ahead of them.

"Inuyasha? There are two beautiful young ladies here to see you!" he called cheerfully, casting a wink at Sango who glared in reply.

Movement was heard from an adjoining room and a door opened. A dark was silhouetted against a steady source of bluish light and it took a moment for Kagome's eyes to adjust before she could make out the figure's features.

His silver hair was long and tied back at the nape of his neck. Golden eyes peered at the women with a small frown as he took in their appearance. A red shirt hung loosely off his lean frame with the sleeves rolled up by his elbows and the top few buttons undone. Blue jeans sat on his hips comfortably and bunched up slightly over bare feet. Lightweight black rimmed glasses hung from a chest pocket. He could have been considered handsome if his skin didn't look so pale, almost sickly.

Sango gave a small breath at Kagome's right and she glanced at her friend and co-worker from the side of her eye.

"Who are they? What do they want?" The male's voice was gruff with disuse and apprehension was reflected in his eyes as he stepped back into the darkened part of the apartment slightly. He spoke to Miroku, instead choosing to ignore the women right in front of him.

"They are investigating the murder of Naraku Jinari. I didn't actually get their names..." he trailed and looked down at the two.

Sango spoke first and promptly. "This is Kagome Higurashi and I'm Sango."

"We'd heard you witnessed the murder and would like to ask you a few questions." Kagome finished quickly.

The man's gaze shifted to them and sharpened. "No." he said simply with a flash of fear in those golden orbs. "Get out."

Miroku chuckled but disguised it as a cough quickly at yet another glare from Sango. Kagome gaped for a brief moment before she spoke again. "It would be a big help to our case. We don't have very many leads so far so anything you tell us would be a blessing." She tried to plead their case with the man.

"No." he repeated. "I don't want to talk to you." He turned and entered the room, shutting the door with a sharp click followed by the sound of metal on metal as what Sango and Kagome assumed to be locks were activated from the inside.

Miroku sighed behind them. "Can't say I didn't warn you. Though that was the first time I've seen him speak more than a word to a stranger...even ones as lovely as yourselves." He grinned cheekily as they followed him out of the apartment; accepting their defeat.

"Why does he refuse to talk? He witnessed a murder for crying out loud!" Sango exclaimed in frustration. The case had barely started and already they had hit a road block.

"He just isn't very trusting." Miroku shrugged. "I never really thought about it I suppose. He barely talks to me...except when I bring him his work or when he needs help with his bills. That's my job." he added.

Sango's eyes lit up with a thought and she turned to the short-haired male eagerly. "Does your friend...Inuyasha, you called him? Have anyone else working for him?"

Miroku shrugged. "This kid Shippo delivers his groceries and stuff; for the entire floor actually. He delivers papers to this building and the one across the street. Pretty hard working kid ever since his mother died."

Kagome nodded her head slightly as she jotted his words down swiftly before shoving her notebook back in her pocket. Sango smiled in satisfaction; her disappointment slowly disappearing at the new lead. "We'll have to pay a visit to him; he might have seen something or heard something." She said.

"You wouldn't happen to know where he lives would you?" Kagome asked Miroku.

"Sure I do; I help his father out sometimes as well. He lives across the street, same floor Apartment #545. His father's name is Kuero; he works at the post office downtown. Night-shift on weekdays and courier on weekends. I wouldn't count on getting much information from either of them though."

"Seems like no-one wants to help us doesn't it?" Sango grumbled to Kagome under her breath.

"If you don't mind me asking," Kagome began shooting an amused glance at her partner ", how come you're being so helpful?"

"I was raised by a monk after my father died." he responded with a twinge of sadness that didn't show on his face. ", I was taught to never ignore a lady in need!"

Sango turned her back to him and looked at Kagome with a disgusted face to which Kagome cracked a smile and giggled. "Thank you Miroku, we appreciate the help. That'll be all for today though; my shift's almost over for tonight."

The two women departed thoroughly disappointed with their progress and neither looking forwards to reporting their findings to their supervisor; Hojo.

As they approached the cars downstairs, outside the building Hojo paced anxiously. When his workers came near he stopped pacing and fixed a smile on his face, waiting eagerly for their findings.

"Well? How it did go?" he asked.

"No luck." they replied in unison.

"We did get the address of an acquaintance who might have seen something though. A delivery boy by the name of Shippo." Kagome said in a would-be cheerful voice.

"And we met a friend of the witness; Miroku." Sango added. "Our witness refused to speak with us though. Miroku said that he's shy."

"Unnaturally shy." Kagome stated with a frown.

"That's it?" Hojo asked incredulously. "You were gone for a half-hour and that's all you got?"

"I'd like to see you do better..." Sango muttered. Kagome shot her a look. They didn't exactly have the same views on their supervisor. Kagome gave him the benefit of the doubt most of the time with the exception of her raises and vacations. Sango on the other hand only tolerated him when it came to raises and vacations since she came from a long line of accomplished analysts so he wouldn't dare to forget or neglect her personal needs. His working talents however...she never did agree with him there.

"Well he really is a special case. Just give us some more time, please Hojo." kagome asked with a pout.

"I don't think I need to remind you this is a very high profile case..." he started but Sango interrupted him.

"Which is exactly why we are making sure we don't miss a thing by paying attention to every detail we come across." Sango interrupted in a clipped tones. "I'll even speak to my grandfather and see if he has any ideas that could help." At the mention of the old veteran Hojo perked up almost like a child with a new toy.

"Well, I suppose I could let it go and we could work with the evidence we have right now until you get an interview..." he returned to his professional manners with a brief glance around him.

Kagome rubbed the bridge of her nose before smiling and looking at her supervisor. "We already scheduled to pay a visit to Kuero tomorrow and to ask Shippo a few questions once he's finished his deliveries and he's on his lunch break."

Hojo nodded. "Good job. Keep up the work."