A/N: I apologize for my mini meltdown in Chapter Three's author's note wherein I literally begged for reviews. I've gotten a hold of myself now and I promise no more dramatics. :) I'm a drama-free girl now...for a few days at least. But thank you all for answering! Review comments at the end!

Request: I was considering actually bringing in Shippou, but I haven't decided how. If any of you have any good ideas, please let me know! Thanks!

Chapter Five

General Hospital

Tokyo, Japan

The cavern was dark. The only light was from a small hole in the sealing that let in a small, steady stream of sunlight. If he had been paying attention to the light he would have realized that in all the time he had been there not a single day had passed, but he wasn't paying attention to that. He was completely controlled by the dank stench of death that surrounded him. No matter how deep inside of the cave he went, he could not escape the smell, it covered him until he thought he would die from it.

That's when he heard the voice. Her voice.

Only when he heard her voice, only when she spoke to him, did the odor disappear. Only when her voice, young and filled with innocence drifted over him was he able to forget what had driven him to that cave in the first place and feel the peace start to edge on him.

Her voice kept him sane.

And when it disappeared it took with it his only hope of survival.

Inuyasha groaned as he came too and found himself the emergency room of the General Hospital. He was lying on his stomach with several doctors around. One nurse was currently trying to stick an iv. in his arm and he growled low in his throat, causing her to back up. "What's that for?"

Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes, sitting in the bed next to his, the curtain that was supposed to separate them had been pushed back. They had insisted that she get checked over too. "You got hit by a piece of metal or something and your back was all cut up," she explained, coming into his line of vision. "They're just trying to help. You need to be bandaged up and they need to take you to the hospital."

"This ain't nothin'," he retorted, his voice low and harsh, tinged with pain. "It'll be nearly gone by tomorrow. I don't need to go to the hospital."

Kagome took a deep breath. He saved your life and he got hurt doing it. Have a little sympathy for the boy. She tugged out her cell phone. "Do you have someone you want to come for you? I'll call them, if you want."

He snarled, looking from the phone to her. "I take care of myself. I don't need to call anyone."

She gave him a skeptical look, but shrugged. "If you say so. My mom and I'll take you back to the dorm, if you want. It might be uncomfortable driving and those pain killers they're giving you are gonna make it hard to think right so it'll be really dangerous for you to be behind the wheel. It's the least we can do seeing as you saved my life." She smiled shyly. "I want to thank you. I'm very grateful for what you did and if you ever need anything - anything at all - let me know and I'll do my best to help you."

"Feh."

Kagome rolled her eyes, trying to not let him get on her nerves. He saved you. He saved you. He saved you, became her mantra as she slid off of her hospital bed and headed for the hall to find her mother. If he wants to get an attitude, then he can get an attitude. She found her mom talking to the several police officers. One of them nodded to her and left the way she had just come, she guessed to talk to Inuyasha. Miroku and Sango were also there, keeping her mom company. When they spotted her, she was immediately tackled and embraced by a near distraught Keiko Higarashi.

"Oh, Kami-sama, Kagome! When the police called and said you were being rushed to the emergency room, that your car had been bombed, I thought I'd lost you for good!" The elder woman exclaimed, gripping her daughter tight, then pulling back to check her for injuries, her hands going to Kagome's cheeks. "Are you hurt? What happened, Kagome?"

Kagome smiled even though her eyes had started to water, the fear and absolute relief to still be alive that she had felt before coming back to her full force. "Mama, I didn't even know what happened at first," she told her, noticing that the police officers were coming closer, listening to her story. "I was going to the car to get our cooler because I knew we'd be getting thirsty soon and I unlocked the door from a few feet back. I just happened to notice Inuyasha-kun on his way back to the soccer field. Before I could even say anything he grabbed me and jumped into the air." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and then glanced back down the hall before looking back at her mom. "Mama, he's so fast! We were still in mid air when the bomb went off. He cushioned my fall and then protected me from the debris - that's how he got hurt. He saved my life."

"Mrs. Higarashi, is there anyone who might hold a grudge against your family or against your daughter? Do you know of any reason someone would want to plant a bomb in her car? Anyone who has threatened you in the past?" One of the officers, a shorter, heavy set man with beady brown eyes.

Keiko frowned. "No, my family has never been very public. My father-in-law runs a shrine here in Tokyo...we have never done anything to elicit such a violent act towards ourselves. I don't know why anyone would want to do such a thing."

"Keiko Higarashi? That's your name, correct?" The other officer, younger than the first and a head taller, was thin with light brown eyes. "Your husband was murdered some years back in a breaking and entering that went wrong, is that right?"

Sango put her hand on Kagome's shoulder, having seen the other girl tense at the mention of her past. Kagome glanced back at her friend and offered a small smile to show that it was okay. She had long ago come to terms with what had happened even if it still saddened her.

"That's right. It was believed that the intruder was after an heirloom of my husbands. He didn't get it."

"The murderer was never caught?"

"Never identified and never captured. There was no evidence to lead to identification of the man and Kagome was not able to give an accurate description." Keiko sighed and looked at her daughter, sympathetically. "She was barely four years old. Haruki had just given her the Shikon Pearl for her birthday and then to have to see that...She was traumatized. There was a time when I thought I would loose her too." She wiped the wetness gathering beneath her eyes with her index finger and took a deep breath. "It was three years before she was able to even give a statement and by that time the case was considered cold."

"I wasn't much help, either," Kagome added softly. "All I remembered was his red eyes."

The older man nodded. "And the first officer on the scene wasn't able to give an accurate description either."

"Pardon my interruption, but may I ask what this has to do with Kagome-chan's current situation?" Miroku intervened, coming up on Kagome's other side. He frowned slightly, looking a little confused.

The younger officer nodded politely. "The man was never caught and there is a slight possibility that this attack would be linked the cold case." He glanced at the palm pilot in his hand. "The theory was that the intruder was after the Shikon Pearl and thought that it would be on Mr. Higarashi's person or that he would be able to get the location out of him, but failed. Perhaps he was giving it a second chance."

The one officer that had gone in to question the hanyou came back down the hall to join his fellow officers looking extremely agitated and muttering to himself. Bet Inuyasha wasn't too forthcoming with information, Kagome thought, a slight smirk pulling at the corners of her mouth. It was enough to draw her attention away from the unpleasant conversation around her.

The three men huddled together and spoke quietly before the older one turned back and bowed slightly to the four of them. "Thank you for your help Mrs. Higarashi, Miss Higarashi. We will be contact you as soon as we know anything. Until then, perhaps Miss Higarashi should remain at home. We will have a car keep an eye on the shrine."

"If they're after me, I can't stay at the shrine," Kagome argued, sounding irritated. "That'll put my family in danger!"

Sango and Miroku nodded silently. "There is security at the university. The dormitories are under strict surveillance after some problems between youkai. It is highly unlikely that anyone would be able to slip in unnoticed," Miroku put in.

There was a commotion down the hall and for a second their attention was turned in that direction only to see an angry hanyou trudging towards them with an irate nurse hot on his heels. His chest was wrapped in white gauze and he was shrugging his shirt back on. "I ain't staying in some fucking hospital, so lay off already!" He had turned back to the nurse. His voice wasn't quite as loud as a normal yell, but held a threatening tone to it that caused her to back off a few paces. Having rid himself of that annoyance he turned to Kagome. "You offered a ride earlier. That still stand?"

"Hai, demo...shouldn't you be in bed?" Kagome put one hand on her hip as she looked up at him. "You were badly hurt."

"Feh."

The Dance of the Sugar Plumb Fairies interrupted the scene and Kagome sighed, clicking her phone on. "Konnichiwa, Kagome here." The irritation quickly drained from her face along with the color. Kaede-sama, slow down...wait, what happened? I can't...you have to breath...take a deep breath...slowly, Kaede-Sama...Where? Hai...I'll be right there." She hung up the phone and blinked several times, trying to digest what was happening.

"Kagome?" Sango and Miroku's voices rose in unison, curious as to what was wrong now.

Inuyasha was less concerned, but was certainly curious. "What's wrong with the old bat? Why is she calling your phone?"

Kagome frowned, looking at the pavement under her feet. "I don't now...she's really upset. I can barely understand what she was saying, but she wants me to meet her over at Kikyo-san's apartment building," she said quietly. "She was crying...I'm really worried and I'm really scared. I've never heard Kaede-san like that." She looked up at Inuyasha, her cobalt blue eyes clouded. "I think you're going to have to wait on that ride. I...I have to go...I have to...go..." Panic seeped in slowly and her friends gave each other worried glances.

Keiko looked worried too. She bowed to the officers and took her daughters hand. "Let's go then. Bring your friends."

Apartment Building

Tokyo, Japan

The police cars that surrounded the apartment only helped to fuel Kagome's panicked state as they pulled up and she was opening the car door and jumping out before Keiko had come to a complete stop. Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha followed suit close behind.

Kaede was waiting for them, obviously distraught, at the front door of the building and Kagome ran for her. The elder, shorter woman closed her eyes and took her hands in her own. "Kagome...Kagome..." Her normally tanned skin was pale and her touch was cold. For the first time since Kagome was a child she could see the wrinkles that lined Kaede's eyes and mouth, showing her age.

"Kaede-san?" Her voice was soft and pleading, sounding much like it had those first few days after she had woken up. "Nani desu ka? Onegai, tell me. Where is Kikyo-chan?"

The older woman shook her head. "Kikyo-nee-san...her neighbor heard a scream and went to check on her. When they got to the apartment, nee-san didn't answer the door...Kagome...Kikyo-nee-san is dead."

"Iie...iie...masaka..." Kagome shook her head emphatically and bit the inside of her cheek, knowing it had to be true. Kaede would not say something so horrible if it were not true. "How? Doshite? Doshite Kikyo-chan? She never did anything to anyone...Why would anyone want to hurt her?" She threw her arms around Kaede's shoulders and sobbed right along with the old woman.

Miroku and Sango lowered their heads. They had heard Kagome speak of Kikyo and new the two had been close. Keiko took several deep breaths and blinked as her own tears fell silently. She and Kikyo were near the same age and had developed a friendship during Kagome's recovery that had lasted through the years. The news of her death was a hard blow to take. Even the hanyou managed to keep his mouth shut and look mournful. The sorrow filled sent that came from those near him was enough to sober even the roughest youkai.

Kaede allowed herself to be comforted by her young patient for a moment and then dislodged herself from the girl's grip, taking her hands once more. "Kagome, nee-chan never stopped searching for that man. She was very close to finding the answers. I looked for her notes, for her research and found it missing. Whoever did this knew she was on to him and wanted to make sure his identity remained unknown."

Her lower lip trembled as Kagome looked down at Kaede. "Demo...Kikyo-chan never said...I didn't know..."

The doctor nodded slightly. "She did not want you to worry or to get your hopes up until she knew something for sure. I think Kikyo knew something like this might occur. She...she left a copy of everything with me...said it was in case the apartment caught on fire or some other natural disaster occurred."

"She didn't want you to worry." Kagome squeezed her eyes shut and took a shuddering breath. "Honto ni sumimasen...Yurushite kudasai...this happened because of me. Doomo sumimasen, Kaede-san."

"No, child, no. Nee-chan knew what she was doing and she wanted to do it. She could not rest knowing that she had allowed someone so horrible to escape and continue to roam free. Despite her occupation, her duty was to serve and protect. This was her way of continuing that duty."

It was too much. Between the nightmarish predictions, the bomb, and now Kikyo's death, it became to much for Kagome to handle and without warning her eyes widened, rolling back into her head and she fell forward into the comfort of darkness.

"Hey there little one," said a cheerful voice from her doorway. She turned to see a smiling woman, about her mother's age, standing there, waiting for permission to come in. She was pretty. Like an angel, she thought and found herself smiling in return. Her dark hair was pulled back in a braid, but she could see that it was long, falling below her waist.

"Hi." Her own voice was rough and cracked from misuse. "Who are you?"

The woman came in and sat on the edge of the bed, her smile still there, but not as bright. "I met you once before, but we were never introduced. My name is Kikyo Ten'nou. I'm Dr. Kaede's nee-san."

She turned to get a better look at her, scrunching her face up thoughtfully. "You're the woman with the strange gun...you scared the monster away."

Kikyo nodded. "That was a miko's gun. I'm a miko, you see." She brushed the hair out of the little girl's face.

Kagome groaned as she came to and put a hand to her head. "Mama?" She looked around and found her mother and Kaede to her right. Sango and Miroku were to her left and her head rested on something soft and yet firm. Where was she? When her curiosity got the better of her, she leaned her head back to see who or what was behind her only to meet a pair of large golden eyes. Immediately she stiffened and bolted upright with a light squeak.

And then things came back to her. The dream the night before. The soccer game. The car bomb. The phone call. Kikyo...She looked to Kaede with wide blue eyes only to find her worst fears confirmed. "No..." She wrapped her arms around her mother and buried her face in her shoulder as she cried.

"Keiko-san," Kaede said softly, her own dark eyes rimmed with red and shimmered with her own tears, "I think that perhaps Kagome and the other children should consider visiting the retreat. There are things that must be discussed and I believe that may be the safest place at the moment. Unfortunately this matter now concerns all of you and not just Kagome."

Definitions

Kami-sama - god

Shikon Pearl - my version of the Shikon no Tama

Hai - yes

Demo - but

Konnichiwa - hello

Nani desu ka? - What is it?

Onegai - please

Nee-san - sister

Iie - no

Masaka - impossible

Doshite? - why?

Honto ni sumimasen - I am sorry

Yurushite kudasai - Forgive me

Doomo sumimasen - I'm very sorry

Punkgoddess - Thank you! I'm currently working on the next chapter. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with some idea to convey some sort of explanation of who the red eyes are and what Kagome's connection with Inuyasha and the others is.

Yami112123 - Ano…Domo arigatou gozaimazu! My knowledge of the Japanese language comes from reading translated mangas on the internet and those few fanfics that actually have translations in them. I'm working on it, but I'm not very good and I appreciate all the help I can get!

Tenma - I'm glad you like it. :)

Yashafan1 - Thank you! While a slower paced fic has more time for in depth character development, I think that a faster pace keeps people interested longer and can also allow the same character development a slower one does. I kinda wavered on the idea of killing Kikyo, but…in the end it was just right. Unlike a lot of Inuyasha fans, I don't hate Kikyo. I just don't like the Kikyo/Inuyasha pairing. As for Naraku…we'll just have to see! I thought about doing one of those stories like Iris Johansen's The Killing Game where there's all these murders and stuff taking place, but you don't know the name of the killer - all you know is his alias, just like the characters. And every time you think you know who it is, they end up getting killed and you don't find out who it really is until the very last few pages and then it's someone you would so totally never expect, but I decided on this style instead. You'll find out who it is in the next chapter or two.

MintyFresh - Thanks! I'm glad you liked that artifact idea. I needed some way to tie the four of them in to each other. Of course Inuyasha and Kagome will have a more in depth connection to one another. Bows to Rumiko Takahashi I think Takahashi-sama did a very good job in her character development and I want to stick as close to her genius as possible.:) falls off chair Poor, sweet, misunderstood Inu-kun? A murderer? tweaks Inu's ears Never!

kirei-kitsune - Thank you! I'm glad you like it.

Josie'n the P.cats - hehe! Thought it needed a cliffie. Thank you!