Author's Notes: This chapter was revised on January 24, 2006.

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-June 8th-

Entry at 11:37AM

As the reporters began to set up their equipment, my brain finally processed something. I was still in the tattered, burnt and ash-covered outfit from last night.

"Um…can this live report wait just a bit longer?" I asked tentatively.

Ayame glanced at her watch, "Definitely not. I'm already running behind on time."

"But my mom will be here very soon with some clean clothes for all of us to change into. We're still in what we wore during the capture last night," I explained, hoping to buy us some time.

The female reporter looked from Sesshoumaru's tattered, bloody, blue shirt and white pants, to Kagura's red oriental blood stained dress, to my own green blouse and black skirt that were covered in ashes and a bit of blood. Inuyasha was the best off, having just a few dirt smudges on his baggy khaki pants and a rip or two in the sleeves of his white shirt.

"Don't worry, it'll add to the appeal of the viewers to see how badly you were injured," Ayame said with a shrug, turning back to Kouga and adjusting the camera he balanced on his shoulder.

While her back was turned the quiet duo of Rin and Bankotsu, who'd been coloring, finally make their presence known.

"It's done! Mr. Sesshoumaru, the picture's done!" She said jumping up from where she sat on the other side of the bed, and shoving the drawing into the less than amused face of the elder Taiyoukai brother.

He raised an eyebrow in observation, and replied simply. "It's…nice."

Bankotsu stood then, brushing himself off from sitting on the floor. He smiled as the little girl began to point to all the people and ramble about them, and then looked down to the hairpin he held in his right hand.

"You're…you're…that gang leader!" Kouga spluttered, catching sight of Bankotsu, and almost dropping the camera in the process.

Bankotsu blinked innocently, as Kouga shoved the camcorder into Ayame's arms and stormed over to face off with him. I was about to go stop them, but Inuyasha put his arm out to stop me.

"I wouldn't try it, Kagome. If they get rough, I'll step in," He muttered to me, watching as the two glared at each other.

"What are you doing here? Are you spying on us? You're in with Naraku too, right?" The male reporter inquired, grabbing Bankotsu up by his collar.

Eyes narrowing, the Kotsu gang leader used his left hand to grab unto Kouga's upper arm and began to apply pressure, "Let go of me. Now."

Kouga loosened his grip slightly, but still held his collar, "Why are you with these detectives? Answer me."

"There was that report of one of the gang members going missing, now that I think about it," Ayame pondered aloud.

"Oh, getting Naraku to kill off your unwanted men is that it?" Kouga accused.

I cringed, already dreading Bankotsu's reaction.

Sure enough, the young leader released the hold on the reporter's arm and threw a quick punch, landing square on Kouga's jaw.

His voice seethed, "Don't you ever say I killed my men. I'm not like that. And I would have never hurt Jakotsu, ever! Do you hear that you bastard!"

Looking up from where he'd skidded onto the floor, Kouga spat, "And why am I supposed to believe you?"

Bankotsu was about to go over and pummel some sense into the reporter, when none other than Ayame herself stepped in.

Storming over, she shoved the camera into Bankotsu's arms, "Hold this."

She pushed up her sleeves, pulled Kouga up by his tie, and landed a sound smack across his face.

The room fell silent, even the once angered Bankotsu was looking on with widened eyes at the scene before us.

"Stop it Kouga," She said quietly, "Don't hold it against him for the past."

"Ayame…" He said quietly standing.

Hanging her head down, her reddish hair covering her face, she spoke softly, "I don't want you fighting with him because of what happened to me, okay?"

Curiosity getting the best of me, I hesitantly spoke up, "Um…can I ask what happened to you. It wasn't anything involving the Kotsu gang, was it?"

She shook her head in the negative, and mumbled a reply; "I just lost some of my family when two gangs got in a gun fight when I was younger. Kouga's never trusted any of them since."

"I see," I responded, not quite sure what else to say.

"Sorry, I slapped you Kouga. I…"

He quietly embraced her, pushing the hair back from her face, "It's okay. I was being an idiot again."

She smirked, caressing the red mark on his cheek, "You admitted it this time."

"What?" Kouga asked blinking.

"That you're an idiot," She whispered, toying with the end of his ponytail.

"I did not!" He protested.

"You're being forgetful again," She retorted, giving a slight tug to the black hair.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Keh, save your foreplay for later. This is disgusting."

Ayame coughed, composing herself, "That's right we have to get this report done."

Kouga, on the other hand just glared at Inuyasha, "What's the matter you stupid detective? Having problems seeing that someone can be romantic and you can't?"

"Hmph," My partner snorted, "All I'm seeing is that you fight like a married couple."

"Oh yeah, well…" Kouga grabbed up Ayame about the waist, and dipped her down as he kissed her.

"Blech…mush." Inuyasha muttered, turning to look away.

I sighed; my partner could be such a giant kid when it came to romance.

Kouga returned his fiancée to her upright position and leveled a smug grin at Inuyasha.

"See. I can be romantic, so there!"

Ayame just blinked at the sudden affection, interesting herself in fixing the iris in her lapel again.

"Keh," Came the only reply from Inuyasha.

"Neh Ayame, the time…" Ginta muttered from by the wall.

"Aw shit! Kouga- the camera now!" She ordered, bustling back into place.

"Huh? Ah okay," He replied, lifting the piece of equipment back out of Bankotsu's arms.

"Rin. Go over with them," Sesshoumaru stated simply, gesturing to where Miroku and Sango stood in the corner.

"Okay!" She responded, jumping down from her seat on the bedside and picking up her coloring pad and colors before going over.

Ayame paused from her task of assuring the cameras, cords and lighting were set up properly when she caught sight of Bankotsu standing nearby, "Okay, I have to know. Why are you here, sir?"

Bankotsu gestured to Inuyasha and I, "They're trying to help me find that missing member you'd heard about. Jakotsu and I were kind of…close," He explained, hanging his head.

Nodding in reply, she apologized for the earlier incident, "You'll have to pardon what happened earlier. I had no idea the full extent of the situation."

"It's all right." He said with a shrug, walking over and leaning against the back wall.

"Miss Ayame, it's almost noon, the station's going to do a live feed on this," Hakkaku called over from a small monitor he was observing, a headset sitting on his head.

"Just give me the countdown when it comes then," She turned to back to all of us and smiled a bit, "We'll go on the air in just a moment. Kouga is the camera level?"

Kouga pressed the focus button and lined it up with Ayame. "It is now."

"Good."

"Countdown Miss Ayame, in 3, 2, 1. Go!" The crewman called out and the light the other man held flashed on.

"Good afternoon. I'm Ayame Shoubu reporting live from the Ijutsu Hospital and I have with me the four detectives that early this morning managed to finally bring in the infamous Naraku Sarudoushi. Having been associated with everything from murder cases to theft and drugs, Naraku is a name widely known in this town and it is a proud day to know that he is finally in jail where he belongs. Now, let's find out what each of the four who were able to bring him in have to say about it." She turned to Sesshoumaru first, "Mr. Taiyoukai, you've been on the Naraku case the longest, what are you feelings now that you've captured him? And how do you plan to cope with the arm you lost doing so?"

"My feelings?" He asked, eyebrow quirked.

"Yes sir."

"Satisfied. As for the arm- I'll make do."

Ayame blinked at the blunt simplicity of the reply, "Okay what about your partner? Reports say you might not have been injured if she'd not made a mistake. What was this mistake, and would have it have changed things?"

"Now just a damned minute…" Kagura began to protest, obliviously upset at the implication it was her fault.

Sesshoumaru raised a hand to silence her and leveled a glare at the reporters, "And what's to say this 'mistake' didn't aide us in capturing Naraku?"

They all fell quiet.

He continued, "Neither I or my partner consider anything that results in a successful result to be a mistake. Correct Kagura?"

She smiled smugly since Sesshoumaru, had perhaps inadvertently, defended her.

"Correct Sesshoumaru. Given the scenario, had the plan gone as intended, Kagome and Inuyasha wouldn't have stepped in to assist us. Without their backup, it's anyone's guess as to what the result could have been."

The reporters took it all in and Ayame glanced at her notes, "There are rumors that you two are romantically involved. Is this true?"

Kagura blinked, and turned to Sesshoumaru.

Unfazed as usual, he replied, "We share the trust two members of a detective team should. Rumors are what they are."

Sighing, and realizing she wasn't getting anywhere with those two, she turned the camera to Inuyasha and I.

"Miss Higurashi, the police informed us it was a bullet from you that saved both Mr. Taiyoukai's and Miss Nishikaze's lives. How do you feel about that?"

"Well um…" I fidgeted with my hands. "It was luck really. I'd snuck in and they noticed me. They gave me a signal before Naraku detected my presence and I was able to get the shot in while they distracted him."

Ayame nodded and turned to Inuyasha, "Mr. Taiyoukai, your jumping Naraku may have spared your half-brother's life. What were you thinking when you tackled Naraku to the ground?"

"I hope this works," He admitted with a shrug.

I could tell the lack of cooperation was getting to Ayame, "Anything else?" She inquired.

"Sesshoumaru owes me for saving his sorry ass," Inuyasha said haughtily, crossing his arms.

"Well aren't we mature," Sesshoumaru retorted.

"Eheh…okay, a question for both of you," Ayame said turning to the two brothers, "Your father died while trying to solve the Naraku case, and you Sesshoumaru now bear scars on your face that parallel those discovered on your father's body. Do you have any bittersweet feelings of justice now that the case is over?"

"I just did my job," The elder brother stated simply.

"Well, Sesshoumaru had been hogging the case," Inuyasha butted in, "But thanks to me we finally were able to avenge Dad."

I could see Hakkaku holding up his fingers in the background, most likely signaling the time remaining.

"As I'm certain our viewers can see you all received some various injuries in this endeavor. Any regrets?"

Before any of us could reply, a very familiar voice caught my attention coming from the doorway.

"Kagome Dear, I brought your clothes. Sorry for the delay, Buyo got stuck under the sofa again!" My mother called out.

"Shh…Mom, I'm on TV…" I whispered in reply.

"Oh my, my baby's on TV!" She said with delight, turning to my younger brother who was with her, "Did you hear Souta, your sister is on TV now."

"Really? Cool! Is Inuyasha going to be on TV with her?" He questioned.

I knew I was blushing from embarrassment as my family rambled in the background. Luckily, it looked as if Ayame was talking to Kagura and Sesshoumaru about the arm and their other bullet wounds, so I quickly dashed over to talk to my mom.

"Mama, there's a live interview going on. Shh…" I whispered to her.

"Oh, sorry Kagome. I didn't know," She replied with a smile, "I'll just wait here until you're finished then."

"Okay Mama," I replied, going back over to where Inuyasha was.

"One minute!" Hakkaku called out, and Ginta adjusted the light yet again.

Ayame turned back towards us, "Okay, one last question. You two are currently still seeking a missing person associated with the Naraku incident am I correct?"

"Yes, one of the Kotsu gang members was reported missing and we've traced a connection to Naraku."

"Any progress so far?"

"We have several clues, and we'll hopefully wrap things up soon now that Naraku is out of the way."

"Okay, thanks to all of you for your time." She turned back to the camera, "That's all from here, back to you."

And with that, the light went out, and Hakkaku finished counting off the last seconds.

Kouga sighed and took the camera off his shoulder, handing it over to Ginta. "All clear, right Hakkaku?"

"Yup, they got the feed just fine and I was able to minimize that background noise." He explained.

"Good," Ayame said walking over and leaning against the wall, "Can someone get me some water?"

"Um, there's some around here somewhere…" I said looking about.

"Here you go Miss," My mother said handing her a glass. "The pitcher is right on this table if you need more."

"Thanks," The reporter said, taking a few sips.

I slumped down into a nearby chair, suddenly feeling very exhausted.

That's when Souta ran over and started rattling off questions about how we "kicked Naraku's ass." I sighed, almost wishing I was back in the warehouse lurking around. At least it was quieter.

A slight knock on the door was somehow heard over all the chaos in the room. It was Kaede.

"Well I'm glad that we didn't put another bed in this room or I'm afraid we wouldn't have room for everyone," The elderly nurse remarked on seeing the amount of people we had crammed in there.

"What did you need, Kaede?" I said standing.

"The police chief and a little girl were asking around for you, I wanted to know if you wanted to be found."

I saw Sango move from where she stood, and I knew what she was thinking. Mr. Takeda was a nice guy and all, but he still thought that there was something between him and Sango- which there wasn't.

"Give us about twenty minutes, Kaede." I replied.

She nodded and went back out, and I just shook my head, mumbling to myself, "Just when I thought things were going to calm down at least a little…"

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Preview for Chapter 21-

With the Police chief coming, it's true some more clues about Naraku might be revealed. But with all the people still around the hospital room and the fact the Chief has a crush on Sango it's sure not going to be a simple discussion.