In the Shadows

by Super Ceech

AU. Haunted her whole life by foreseeing unnecessary deaths that she was unable to prevent, Kagome is determined to save the life of the latest boy in her visions. Inuyasha, awoken from a five year coma, has no idea of the danger that lurks at the edges of his awareness. Always there and unseen, in the shadows. IK, MS

19. Fractured Memory

Disclaimer: Mine, Inuyasha is not. Mine, this story is. Enjoy, you shall.

A/N Whoa, guys, whoa. Did you ever expect to see this story updated again? Surprise! And not only is this chapter done, but I've actually finished the whole story. I shall be uploading the remaining chapters over the next day or two. There are two more after this one, plus an epilogue. I wanted you to be able to read them all at once - who likes cliffhangers anyway? Especially after waiting this long! So enjoy!

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Inuyasha took a deep breath before entering the lobby of Western Enterprises. He could already feel his palms sweating. Kagome's heels clicked loudly on the linoleum tile beside him, reverberating inside his head.

They had come for Kagura's memorial service and Inuyasha had never felt more at odds with himself. He was expected to give weepy smiles and share fond memories with others who had known her. He was expected to suppress the knowledge of what she had done and who she really was in favour of a charade.

He wanted to be angry at this notion, that he was here to essentially act out a lie. But was it a lie? Despite himself, despite how hurt he felt by what Kagura had done...he felt sad. He had come to realize over the course of the week that she was really gone, and not coming back. Not in any capacity, be it the traitor or the loving older sister he had come to think of her as. Whoever she was, whatever she'd done...she was completely beyond his reach. She wasn't ever going to return and for that, something ached inside him.

Maybe this could help him resolve that ache, help ease the hurt he felt whenever he thought of her. Maybe it could help him come to odds with her dual personality and somehow...say good-bye.

They entered the elevator with a few other people clad in black and they all sombrely rode up together. They got off at the fourth floor and headed for a large conference hall that had been set up for the occasion. Sesshoumaru was at the entrance, greeting everyone as they came inside. Rin was clamped to his leg, burying her face from view and still refusing to speak. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha and Kagome shared a look before the latter two went in. They were all bracing themselves for what was to come.

It wasn't exactly as Inuyasha had anticipated. Though several people did muster weepy smiles, largely it was a very cold gathering. Kagura had always remained the utmost professional at work and as such, it seemed no one was especially close to her. Anyone who did get up to say a few words mostly talked about how efficient she was, how diligent and how dedicated. No one had anything to say about what kind of person she was outside of work. Or maybe they were just afraid of breaking down in front of their colleagues. Whatever the reason, the whole thing felt extremely impersonal and Inuyasha actually felt uncomfortable and out of place.

Until Sesshoumaru broke the ice a little. He stepped up to the set up podium and looked around the room at his employees. At first he looked as if he didn't know what to say, but once the first words were out of his mouth, the rest flowed naturally afterward.

"Kagura...was a valuable employee. Many of you have said as such already. She was extremely hard-working, intelligent and fiercely loyal to this company. All this is true. But more than that...Kagura was a valuable friend." He paused to swallow thickly. "She supported me through the tragedy of losing my parents, and temporarily my brother."

Inuyasha felt a random hand clap him on the shoulder, a friendly reassurance they were all glad to have him back in the land of the living.

"She supported me as I took over the company after my father's reign was cut horribly short. I was still in university at the time, hardly expecting I was ready for such a feat. When I started, I wasn't sure what kind of president I would make. But her faith in me never wavered, even though we were essentially strangers in the beginning. And in fact, she was still young herself at the time, only just finishing her undergraduate degree — a feat, I might add, she accomplished while working here full-time. But that was Kagura, a multi-tasker to the highest degree and never, ever dropping the ball. But despite her age and inexperience, somehow she just knew how to do things, what would work and what wouldn't. Her mind was as quick as a whip and she was mature far beyond her years. So when I say she had full confidence in my abilities as head of this company, you can imagine how far that endorsement took me.

"During a time when I thought I had lost everything, she was my crutch. She encouraged me to rebuild from the ashes. Rebuild my life, rebuild my company and rebuild my family. And I had honestly begun to think of her as a part of that new family. And so it is with incredibly sadness that I am standing here today, trying to pay adequate tribute and say good-bye to such an amazing woman. A dear, dear friend whose life was senselessly cut short at twenty-four years old. Please, please friends… Let's remember Kagura for the person we knew her to be, and not the robotic employee she's been made out to be thus far. I invite you to share your anecdotes with us as we each endeavour to say good-bye in our own ways. Thank you."

He stepped down to a hearty round of applause and not a few teary eyes. Almost immediately, there were a few people making there way up to the podium to share their personal memories of Kagura. Mr. Yukimori and Mr. Hirozaki whom Kagome remembered from her first encounter with Kagura were among the first.

"Kagura was a hell of a woman," Mr. Yukimori started. "She didn't come out with us often, but when she did, what a sight to see it was!"

"She could outdrink anyone in this room, I wager," Mr. Hirozaki chuckled humourously.

"Too right! And what a dart player!"

"Pinpoint accuracy every time! She took a lot of you for your money on those nights."

Several of the guests laughed appreciatively.

"Kagura and I were hired around the same time," Mr. Yukimori continued. "And I can tell you honestly that she helped me out a lot from the start. Without her support, I may not have risen to where I am today! She really meant a lot to me and I am appalled at how she was taken away. She was in a class of her own and truly deserved better."

"I couldn't agree more," Mr. Hirozaki continued. "Kagura and I also went back quite a ways and I loved watching her grow in this company and as a person. She was a diamond in the rough, a truly rare and exquisite woman. Her time was cut far too short and we've all lost a valuable friend. Though what was done is unspeakable, may she forever rest in peace and live on in our hearts."

The two men raised their glasses and everyone in the room followed suit.

Kagome wiped some tears from her eyes and sniffled. "I swore to myself I wouldn't cry for that woman… I guess you can't choose which pain to feel or not, huh, Inuyasha? ...Inuyasha?"

Kagome looked around herself only to find her boyfriend nowhere in sight.

..:V:..

"Myoga? That is you, isn't it?"

An older bald man turned around to see Inuyasha looking at him expectantly. He had squinty eyes and a beaky nose. He eyed the boy for a moment before recognition dawned on him.

"Inuyasha, my boy! I hardly recognized you. My how you've grown and changed."

"Skipping puberty will do that to you," Inuyasha responded wryly.

Myoga's face turned solemn. "Terrible business that. I'm so glad you've come out of it okay. I'm so sorry I haven't seen you since your return."

"Where have you been?"

"Out of the country, actually. I've been heading up the Western Enterprises branch in Yartic. It was in its infancy when your father was killed and I left to oversee it personally. To make sure it flourished like he'd always dreamed. He was a great man and it was the best way I could honour his memory."

"You were his vice-president, weren't you?" Inuyasha asked, trying to recall the details.

"Yes, that I was. I was with him from the beginning of the company. I watched as he built it from the ground up. I know every nook and cranny of this company, its business and its products. We worked together very closely, your father and I. We were more than boss and employee. We were great friends. When...that night happened, I was horrorstruck. I couldn't believe it. And now another tragedy has occurred within our ranks. I flew back yesterday to offer my support to your brother."

"It's...a very tough time," Inuyasha responded, clenching a fist. "One we can't really make sense of at the moment."

"No, I wouldn't think you could. Kagura had only been here for a year when your parents were killed, but she was one of my assistants at the time. Even though she was so young, she came highly recommended by one of our staff. And she proved she was worth the gamble. There was no one harder working. She worked for peanuts back then, but always gave one hundred percent. She even managed to put herself through school at the same time, god knows how," Myoga smiled fondly. "Her mind was so sharp, she could do the work of five employees at once. She learned quickly and performed flawlessly. I really respected her. In fact, I personally recommended her to Sesshoumaru to be his new assistant, I was so impressed. When I heard the news of her death, I knew I had to pay my respects in person. And please know that I'm here for you and your brother during this time. If you need anything..."

Inuyasha wondered how the man would take the news of Kagura, his admired and star pupil, betraying the entire Reijiro family and having a hand in his parents' demise. Instead, he asked curiously, "How long were you planning on staying in town?"

"Obviously it's hard to stay away from the company for long, but I happen to have a very efficient vice-president of my own so I've managed to wrangle a few weeks to stay here," the old man said with a crinkly smile.

"That's great," Inuyasha said. "You must have a ton of stories about my dad. I wouldn't mind coming to see you later and talking about him."

Myoga chuckled boisterously. "Not just your dad. I could tell you about your mom, too. After all, I knew him before they ever met so I was a witness to their entire relationship. Oh, the stories I could tell…"

Inuyasha gave a small smile. "That sounds great. Could I get your number?"

"Of course, my boy." The two of them exchanged information and were just saying their good-byes when Kagome approached.

"There you are!" She watched the other man walk away into the crowd before asking, "Who was that?"

Inuyasha shrugged. "Just an old family friend. I don't know most of the people here, but he used to come to our house a lot when I was little. He was my dad's oldest friend. I hadn't seen him since I woke up so I wanted to say hi."

"Where's he been all this time?"

"Apparently running a branch of Western Enterprises in Yartic. Carrying on my father's dream and memory," Inuyasha answered.

"That's so sweet and sad. They must have been really good friends. But come on, Sesshoumaru wanted to see you. I think he wants us to take Rin home. Sesshoumaru doesn't want to let her out of his sight, but he has to stay here. She's having a bad reaction though. Too many people and stimulus too quickly. She really needs to stay home and rest. We're the only people Sesshoumaru can trust with her."

"Anything to get away from this 'party'," Inuyasha grumbled. "I had half-hoped it would bring closure, but I think I just feel more confused than ever."

"Let's go home," Kagome agreed.

..:V:..

Inuyasha descended the staircase of his parents' mansion, taking each step slowly. It was the dead of night, and as per usual, he was having trouble sleeping. A few days had passed since the memorial service and they were all still staying together, trying to sort themselves out. Inuyasha and Kagome hadn't been back to Madison College since the murder, but Kaede had been very understanding. Sesshoumaru's driver picked up their homework every day so they could keep up while they took time to recover from the incident.

As Inuyasha's foot reached the landing, he took stock of the familiar hallway. He felt like he knew its every nook and cranny after it had consistently haunted his dreams. His eyes followed its path further into the house, towards the study. He shuddered and ripped his gaze away. He hadn't dared enter that room since they'd come to stay here. He knew he would have to face it eventually, but he didn't have the strength just yet.

Instead, he looked back towards the front door, which had been the focus of all his dreams and fleeting memories. His feet followed his eyes, carrying him towards the door unconsciously. His hand reached out for the handle as he heard his mother's screams in his memory. He swallowed and opened the door, trying to ignore how it had felt when his mother's body had fallen on top of his own.

The night air hit him briskly, the chill of winter acute. It felt good as it washed over him, taking the pain of the moment away. But as his eyes adjusted to the dark, so did his memories. In his mind's eye, he could see the dark car parked at the end of the drive. Kagura was there, watching wide-eyed as he fell to the ground.

Inuyasha blew out a breath and sat down on the stoop. How did it all come to this? Murder, near-death, betrayal, more murder… How did it all start? And how was it going to end? There were too many questions swimming around in his head and not nearly enough answers.

But he was determined to get them. Now that they knew of Kagura's betrayal, he and Kagome had tried to think what new information it gave them. Everything she'd ever said or done had to be suspect now. They had to think back on anything they could remember and see if anything different could be made out of it.

Mostly they just felt as if they'd been barefaced lied to on more occasions than they could count. Or that numerous times when she'd accompanied them and seemed to care for them...she was really spying and keeping an eye on their activities. Anything they'd ever told her, she may have repeated back to the real murderer. The thought of that stung. It was a personal betrayal, and also a dangerous one. The more Inuyasha had remembered, the more he had been putting himself unwittingly at risk. Once the murderer knew he was actively trying to remember him, and making progress, it was only a matter of time until he came after Inuyasha himself. Which he supposed ended in Kagome's vision…

But why kill Kagura? In Sesshoumaru's own home, no less. It seemed messy and unplanned. It could have been a frame up, but it was a careless one. There hadn't been enough evidence to even hold Sesshoumaru for a night. He had accidentally left Rin as a witness. So it had been in the moment, just like his parents' murder. This didn't seem like the work of a professional, or someone who carefully planned his crimes. It was someone becoming unhinged, killing recklessly and making mistakes. His only saving grace had been luck, and wit after the fact. How else could he have eluded everyone for so long?

Inuyasha vowed to catch him. His murder streak would stop here. There was one thing concerning Kagura that he and Kagome had decided warranted a second look. The hospital. When they'd first gone a month ago, they hadn't been able to talk to the nurse in charge of his room during his coma. They had meant to revisit the place, but had gotten too caught up with recent events.

But one thing was certain. Kagura had occasionally visited Inuyasha in the hospital without Sesshoumaru. When they'd trusted her and she was Sesshoumaru's personal assistant who cared for the family very much, that had seemed completely normal. Now it was incredibly suspicious. Maybe she had even been looking for an opportunity to do him in while he was sleeping. Maybe only the twenty-four hour guards had stopped her.

Whatever the case, it was worth asking that nurse if she had noticed anything. They would make the trip in the morning.

For now, Inuyasha hugged his arms to his chest and let the cold February air wash over him. He might not get to feel it much longer.

..:V:..

"Is Akemi here today?" Inuyasha asked Keiko, the head nurse they'd talked to before.

"Yes, she is. I'll go get her if you'll wait a moment," she replied before hustling away.

"I hope she has some answers for us," Kagome said, shifting from foot to foot anxiously.

"Me too. The clock is seriously ticking," he responded grimly.

"You don't have to remind me. I got another play by play last night," Kagome said with a shudder.

Inuyasha looked at her with concern. "Are you okay?"

She didn't seem quite herself, but she shook it off and gave him a half smile. "I'll be fine. It's you we have to worry about, after all."

After a few more minutes, a smiling woman with shiny black hair in a bun approached them. "Hi, I'm Akemi. I was told you had some questions for me… Oh, Inuyasha! It's so good to see you!"

"Um, hi… Sorry, I don't really remember you," he said apologetically.

She waved him off. "Oh no, right. Of course not. You were after all comatose. But I did see you nearly every day while you were asleep. Had to change your bedding, freshen your room, keep you from getting bedsores and all that. I feel like we're practically related! Oh no, did that sound a bit creepy? Sorry, but I am the nurse…it's just my job!"

They felt themselves smiling despite themselves at this display of quirkiness.

"No no, it's okay," Inuyasha assured her.

"I am so glad you woke up, though!" she added. "It can be an awfully dreary job sometimes, keeping patients clean and healthy knowing they'll probably never wake up. Just waste away, or go off life support… You're really an exceptional case! I'm really happy I was able to care for you and see that happen. It was like a miracle!"

Inuyasha smiled awkwardly. "It was...my pleasure? And I suppose I really ought to thank you for taking care of me all that time. I couldn't have woken up if my body hadn't been in good enough condition. So really...thank you. I don't think I can really ever make it up."

Akemi waved this off too. "Don't worry about it, hon. As I said, it's in the job description! And you made it up plenty just by opening your eyes."

Inuyasha didn't know quite what to say to this. She was truly amazing and he felt really lucky to have had her watching over him for all those years. Swallowing some emotion, he said, "Yeah, so...we had some questions for you…"

She looked at him eagerly. "Shoot!"

"Do you remember who visited me during the time I was in a coma? I know it was five years, but I couldn't have had that many people come…"

"Hmm...you did have a lot of people at first, I remember. A lot of people who knew your parents, or distant relatives. And people from your school. Everyone wanted to see how you were doing, and hoped you would wake up within two weeks. But as it became clear that wasn't going to happen, the visits did start to drop off… I think after a certain amount of time, everyone lost hope of you ever regaining consciousness."

It stung to hear that, but it wasn't anything more than Inuyasha expected. Who could wait that long wishing for a miracle?

"Your brother never gave up on you though. In those five years, it was like his attitude never changed. He was crushed by the tragedy, but it seemed like there was never a doubt in his mind that you would wake up. His guards were always by the door, and he regularly asked for updates on your condition."

When Inuyasha had first heard Keiko mention this, it had been with disbelief. He could never have imagined his brother showing any concern for him. But he was starting to view Sesshoumaru with new eyes. He was starting to realize the brother he'd known in the past was not the same one who he lived with now. The attitude he knew so well from the past was now being used as a smokescreen to hide his true thoughts and feelings. It was hard to figure out which parts were real and which were an act.

"Other than Sesshoumaru...who came to see Inuyasha once the first wave of visitors thinned out?" Kagome piped up.

"Hm, let me think… Really, no one else except his dark-haired assistant. Kagura, I think her name was," Akemi mused thoughtfully.

"Yes, about Kagura… Did she often come to see Inuyasha alone? Without Sesshoumaru?"

"Why yes, quite frequently. Sesshoumaru was busy trying to take over matters with the company so he couldn't always come at regular intervals. When he couldn't come himself, he sent her in his place."

"And did she ever do anything...unusual while she was here?" Kagome asked hesitantly.

Akemi looked at her dubiously. "Unusual?"

"I don't know, anything that struck you as odd at the time, or something you didn't think she was doing on behalf of Sesshoumaru?"

At this Akemi seemed to realize their questions were headed in certain direction. A few things clicked in her head as she asked, "Wait...does this have anything to do with that recent murder at your brother's house…? Whoa, hold on. Was that her?"

Inuyasha and Kagome shared a look before Inuyasha said, "Well...yes. She was killed in my brother's house last week."

Akemi just stared at him for a moment before uttering, "Wow. Holy. Wow. Just...whoa. I mean, I had heard about the murder through the grapevine, but I didn't even know if it was true. And I never would have expected it to be her of all people. She and your brother seemed so close…"

"My brother wasn't the one who killed her," Inuyasha added with emphasis.

"Oh, no...of course not," Akemi said slowly.

Seeing that her mind had become completely engaged with her new line of thought, Kagome gently steered her back on topic. "So...did Kagura do anything strange whenever she came to see Inuyasha?"

Akemi snapped back to attention. "Oh no, she was wonderful. She really cared about you, you know," she said earnestly. "She didn't just come because her boss told her too. She genuinely wanted to see you get better. Kept wishing for a miracle."

Inuyasha didn't know quite what to make of that.

"Oh, but there was one thing…" Akemi continued thoughtfully. "I'd almost forgotten now, but it was a little strange."

"What?" Kagome pressed.

"Well, I think a year or two into your coma, I found a small video camera set up in your room. It was no bigger than a button so we couldn't tell how long it had been there and been overlooked. There were no wires attaching it to another device — it must have been transmitting elsewhere."

"That's definitely strange," Kagome said.

"Kagura had made a visit not too long before that so my mind immediately went to her. As you know, electronic devices, especially those transmitting a signal, can interfere with hospital equipment. So the next time she came in, I told her about it and asked her not to bring anything like that again."

"What did she say?" Inuyasha asked.

"She denied it being hers so the hospital confiscated it. I was pretty certain she was lying though, because there was a tiny Western Enterprises logo inscribed upon the back of the camera. However, I didn't feel I could really press her on it so I let it go. Nothing like it ever happened again and I think we eventually disposed of the camera. I'd forgotten all about it until just now," Akemi said with an uncertain smile.

"Thanks, you've been a great help," Inuyasha said, mulling over her words.

As they exited the hospital, Inuyasha and Kagome discussed what they'd just learned.

"So Kagura was taping you? In the hospital? While you were comatose? Beyond weird."

"Seems that way…"

"But why?" Kagome pondered.

"I can think of only two reasons, neither of which I like," Inuyasha replied grimly.

"Which are?"

"One, she had a live video feed set up to see whenever I woke up. So she would know instantly, even if she weren't present at the hospital."

"But the nurse said as soon as she brought up the video camera to Kagura, it never happened again. If she really wanted to see when you woke up, wouldn't she have snuck in another camera?"

"Right. So I guess the second reason must be true. She must have completed her goal with the camera and so didn't need to bring in another one to finish the work of the first."

"And what was that goal?" Kagome asked, trying to puzzle it out in her head, but failing.

"She would have needed to leave the camera in my hospital room, constantly running, for at least a month…" Inuyasha hinted at the answer.

Realization dawned on Kagome. "So she could figure out when you turn human each month! The time when you're most vulnerable!"

Inuyasha nodded. "That's all I can think of. She spied with the camera so she could figure out my moon cycle. Then if I ever did wake up, she and the murderer would have the means to snuff me out quickly, quietly and with a great deal of ease."

Kagome frowned. "Assuming you didn't tell the police everything first. They couldn't have counted on you not remembering anything."

"Yes, well…" Inuyasha rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't have all the answers. Not yet, anyway…"

Kagome's frown deepened as worry set in. "Wait, so this means… They really do know your vulnerable time of month. My vision really is going to come true…"

"One thing at a time," Inuyasha said, trying to calm her. "One day at a time."

Kagome wrapped her arms around herself as a breeze blew past. "There aren't many days left…"

..:V:..

Detective Barazawa looked around the cramped apartment in consternation. The facts just weren't adding up. A whole week of investigation and they couldn't make heads nor tails of it. It wasn't that there weren't enough leads. There were too many. There were just too many possibilities, too many unexplained things.

This apartment was his biggest source of confusion for the moment. It belonged to Kagura. And it was off.

He looked up as Detective Takeda entered through the front door. He had a couple of coffees in his hands and he struggled to close the door with his foot. Striding across the living room, he handed one cup to Barazawa and then sat down beside him on the couch.

"So…why are we back here? I thought we checked everything out last week. The crime didn't happen here. Nothing happened here."

"It's amazing how much 'nothing' can tell you sometimes," Barazawa said, taking a sip of his coffee.

Takeda raised an eyebrow and looked around at the bare apartment. A small living room with an old TV set. A coffee table, an armchair and a sofa.

"I admit there's not much here to look at. But what do you think it tells us?"

"Think about it, Takeda. Why is she even living in a place so small? She makes more than enough money working at Western Enterprises. Looking at her financials, it seems she gets paid more than many of the regular employees. The actual software designers. And she hasn't been blowing that money. It's there, in her bank account. But she was just sitting on it and living on nickels and dimes. Why?"

"She grew up on very little," Takeda said, rubbing his neck and thinking back to the case file. "Mother ran off, father was a mean drunk. He also died when she was a teen. She's had to fight for everything she has. Maybe she's just used to a spartan lifestyle."

Barazawa stood up and frowned. "People who fight for a better life usually want to live that life. Not continue living in the one they fought so hard to leave behind. Look at this kitchen. Not even a dishwasher. No one loves poverty that much."

"She's had the place for six years, ever since she turned eighteen. You think something was keeping her here?"

Barazawa wandered over to her bedroom and took in the sight. A twin-sized bed, desk, chest of drawers and bookshelf. He examined the books, carefully reading each title. "Most of these are textbooks. Not a single scrap of fiction. Six years, you said?"

"Yeah, why?" Takeda asked, coming in beside him.

"This is a student's apartment," Barazawa concluded. "She must have moved in here as soon as she was of legal age, started university…and never left, even after she was finished school."

"Something must have happened during her university days to make her stay in this tiny place after she was done and actually making money. Something such as…"

"The murder of the Reijiros. I agree. The kid must not have imagined it. She was somehow in on the murders. It would have been soon after she first moved in here."

"She witnessed the murders, helped cover them up and then never moved on. She was trapped here," Takeda said in realization. "Trapped by—"

"Guilt," Barazawa finished grimly.

Takeda looked around in wonder. "She imprisoned herself here. A self-imposed sentence. No matter how much money she made, she could never let herself move on and forget what she'd done. If she changed her lifestyle, it would be like accepting her role in the murders."

"Yeah. Interesting girl we've got here. Seems like she wasn't a very willing co-conspirator…"

"But she was too much of a coward to come forward," Takeda reminded him.

"Very true. Unless six years of weighing on her conscience was long enough. Remember that Sesshoumaru told us she was coming to tell him something important that night?"

"You think she was going to tell him the truth?" Takeda said incredulously. "That's pretty much asking for a death sentence right there."

"Yes, but Sesshoumaru isn't likely to be her killer. You know the facts as well as I do, as well as how he reacted when his brother told him the news. But there's of course someone else who would have a motive to kill her if he knew she was going to let the secret slip."

"The original killer, I know. You think he's still wound up after all these years?"

"As tight as he's ever been, I'd imagine. Considering the fact Inuyasha woke up from his coma last year."

"It would definitely account for the savagery of the attack against Kagura. That was not done by a man in control of himself. If it is the original guy…"

"He's becoming unhinged."

..:V:..

"Hey Rin, do you want some popcorn?" Kagome asked the younger girl gently.

The two of them were sitting on the couch watching some cartoons. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were both out of the house so she was left to babysit Rin, under the watchful eye of several hired bodyguards.

Rin shook her head in silence, eyes fixed on the TV screen. Kagome doubted she was actually taking in any of the television show, but the cheerfulness of it seemed to distract her. Any time Rin was left with time to think by herself, her mood deteriorated rapidly. More than once, they had had to calm her in the midst of a panic attack.

She wouldn't go anywhere alone, always clinging to one of them. Sesshoumaru was her clear favourite, but while he was at work, she would follow one of the other two around.

Which was turning out to be mostly Kagome. Kagome swallowed her own anxiety when she thought about Inuyasha's frequent absences this past week.

"I'm going to just make us some hot chocolate, okay, Rin? I'll just be in the kitchen – you can see me from the couch."

Rin looked at her and gave a quick nod, then turned her attention back to the TV.

Kagome stood up and walked to the kitchen. She rifled through some cupboards and took down the chocolate powder packets. As she set the kettle to boil the water, she glanced back at the girl on the couch.

She seemed so small, so fragile. Like she would break with the slightest touch. If someone went too far away or left her for too long, she would start to whimper and shake. She had crying fits at night. The only time they heard her voice was when she woke, screaming.

Kagome's knuckles went white as she gripped the edge of the counter. Is that what she had been like when her parents had been killed? When Kikyo and Hojo had died and she couldn't prevent it?

She remembered being in so much pain. She not only hurt because she'd lost her family and friends, but she felt personally responsible. No one could understand because no one knew the full story. She wanted someone to fix everything, but also knew no one could.

Looking at Rin, she wanted to fix everything for her. But the equal realization was there that she couldn't. She could never erase what Rin had seen that night. That would stay with her and haunt her forever.

And she looked so small and broken.

Kagome had always thought no one had understood how much pain she was feeling when her loved ones were killed. But looking at Rin, she realized everyone knew. It was so obvious. You couldn't hide brokenness like that. But seeing it and being able to do something about it were two very different things.

And now Kagome knew what everyone else had felt when they looked at her. Helpless.

The water in the kettle started to whistle and she started mixing the hot chocolate in the cups. She added a few marshmallows before carrying them back out to the den.

"Here you go, munchkin," she said, handing Rin a mug.

A sound by the door made Rin perk up. Kagome listened closely then gave her a rueful smile. "I think it's just the mail. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha shouldn't be home for another hour yet."

Rin's face fell and she turned back to her show once more.

Speaking of Inuyasha…she really hadn't seen him much this week. He seemed to be taking more and more trips with Sesshoumaru to work. He kept evading her when she asked questions about what he was doing. He knew this was the most dangerous time for him and he knew they were in this together so why was he suddenly avoiding her?

When she woke up in the mornings, he was frequently gone out of the house, joining Sesshoumaru at the offices. When he came back, he acted as if nothing was wrong. She asked him why he was going, but he just said he wanted to familiarize himself better with the company.

Why that was something he had to do now of all times was beyond her.

But didn't he know it made her anxious? She wanted to be glued to his side, looking out for him. But whenever she turned around, he was gone again.

And there was no way she could leave Rin alone to chase after him.

Kagome gulped down some hot chocolate, nearly scalding her tongue. Maybe she should just take a cue from Rin and numb her brain with cartoons.

..:V:..

Later that evening, Kagome brought some cookies up to Inuyasha's room.

"Inuyasha? I thought we could pig out a little before bed—"

She stopped short. Inuyasha was sitting on the edge of his bed, fingering a small pin in his hand.

"Why do you have that?" her voice came out sharper than she'd intended.

Inuyasha looked up abruptly and pocketed the object. "No reason," he said with an easy smile. "I was just clearing out my backpack and found it."

"That was the Madison College pin. I've told you it's in my vision. You should just throw it away." Then maybe none of it will come true.

"Relax!" Inuyasha said, standing and taking her by the shoulders. "A silly little pin won't make a difference."

"It could," she said, trying to force conviction in her voice. "Anything could… You never know."

Instead of answering her, Inuyasha took a cookie from the plate and went to sit down at his desk. Kagome crossed the room to sit on the bed.

"So…what do you think we should do next? What would help you remember?" Kagome ventured.

"Why do you think Kagura was killed?" Inuyasha asked, ignoring her question.

Kagome was taken aback. "Well…she was probably killed by your parents' killer…right?"

"Yeah…" Inuyasha said, chewing his cookie thoughtfully. "But why? I mean, isn't it strange? Weren't they supposed to be working together?"

"She was spying on you all this time," Kagome conceded. "She even set up a video camera in your hospital room to learn your weakness."

"So why kill her now? What made him so angry – and he was angry – to murder her like that? They both fought hard…and she lost."

They were both silent for a few minutes before Inuyasha spoke up again. "Sesshoumaru told me that she was going to tell him something that night. Something important that she didn't want to talk about at the office. And that she seemed anxious and sad."

"You think…she was going to tell him the truth? About being involved in your parents' murders? In your being shot? Do you really think that's possible?" Kagome asked incredulously.

"I think it's more than likely," Inuyasha responded grimly. "What else would set off the killer? What else but a major betrayal of the partner he trusted most?" His voice quieted, "That's what he's willing to do to prevent the truth from coming out."

Kagome shuddered. "To think there's someone out there capable of something like that… We have to stop him as soon as possible!"

Inuyasha smiled softly at her. "We're not going to stop him. We're going to stop this."

Kagome cocked her head in confusion. "This?"

"Our 'adventure'. Our sleuthing. This whole mystery-solving nonsense. It has to come to an end, Kagome."

Kagome carefully set the plate of cookies down on the bed beside her. "…What do you mean? Why would we ever stop?"

"Can't you see that this killer is a madman?" he asked, his eyes piercing hers. "Haven't you seen what he's capable of firsthand?"

Kagome gritted her teeth. "Of course I have. Even if I hadn't seen Kagura's body, I see what he's capable of every time in my visions. That's why we have to continue what we started. That's why we have to stop him. We have to save you!"

"Have you ever considered we're the ones putting me in danger? Why do you think the timeline of my death was bumped up? Why do you think Kagura was killed? It's all because of you and me!"

Kagome gasped. "That's not true!"

"Don't you realize what kept me alive until now? I didn't remember anything! It was like a protective shield, keeping the killer from having a motive to come back for me. But we've been ripping down that shield for months now. I've been trying to get a good look at his face in my memories and the closer I get, the more danger I'm in!

"Kagura felt guilty. She was going to tell my brother. She was the only one with a conscience in that murderous partnership and now she's dead. The truth is not going to set me free, Kagome. It's only going to kill me faster."

Kagome sprang up, tears in her eyes. "It's not! You know it's not! We already talked about this. Remembering before he comes for you is the only way to survive – to stop him before it's too late!"

Inuyasha shook his head. "I'm giving it up. I'm not going to try to remember any more. It's the only thing that can save me."

"You don't believe that," Kagome protested in frustration. Why was he so damn calm about this?!

"Look," Inuyasha said, standing up. "Thanks for all you've done for me…"

"Inuyasha—"

"This year has been awful, and I wouldn't have gotten through it without you. You've cared for me more than anyone else and I'm not sure what I did to deserve it. I know we promised to see this through to the end, but I'm afraid if we do, it won't be a happy ending. It's my life, Kagome. And I've never been that brave. I'm not a man. I'm just a boy. Giving up is the only way I can think of to keep on living…"

Kagome stifled a sob. "Don't do this. You're signing your own death sentence!"

"I don't see it that way." He stood up and walked to the door. He looked at her expectantly.

"Y-you want me to leave?" she asked in bewilderment.

"I'm tired. I think we should both get some rest."

Kagome sniffled before picking up the plate of cookies and slowly walking to the door.

"You should probably head back to the school tomorrow too," he suggested as she passed him. She spun and looked at him, stunned. "I'll come back in a few days too. I think we both need to get back to our normal lives."

"This is a mistake," Kagome warned, a hard edge in her voice.

"It's for the best."

"You don't know what you're talking about," she spat. "You don't get to make that call. Doing nothing has always guaranteed my visions coming true. Don't delude yourself into thinking this time will be different just because you're scared. I'm scared. I've always been scared. But fate doesn't care about your feelings. The only way to change it is to fight back."

"Good night, Kagome," he said blandly, starting to close the door.

She stamped her foot in angry frustration. "I don't know what game you're playing at, Inuyasha, but I'm not buying it! I don't care what you say, I won't give up on you. Don't you dare think I will give up on your life as easily as you have!"

The door clicked softly closed in her face.

..:V:..

"Kagome!"

Miroku and Sango sprang up as Kagome entered the dorm room, dragging her suitcase behind her.

"Hey guys," she said, smiling ruefully.

"You're back! How…how is everything?" Sango asked.

Kagome turned her face from them and with a waver, said, "Not great."

"Do…you want to talk about it?"

Kagome sat down heavily on the bed and gave a helpless shrug. "What can I say? It's been awful. Kagura…"

"She was Sesshoumaru's secretary? We can't believe what happened. We've been following the news," Miroku supplied.

"Yeah…" Kagome shuddered. "I can still see her face in my mind. Frozen and scared, her eyes wide open—"

Sango sat down beside her and gave her a hug. "That must have been awful. I can believe you guys walked in on that. Did you know her well?"

Kagome shook herself out of her reverie. "Not as well as I thought," a bitter tone lacing her voice. At her friends' questioning looks, she continued, "If you're following the news, it's bound to come out sooner or later. Kagura…turned out to be a traitor."

"A traitor?" Miroku and Sango echoed.

"Inuyasha remembered. She was there on the night he was shot and his parents were killed. She watched the whole thing happen."

"What?!"

"She saw the whole thing and didn't say anything. She knew the murderer and kept his secret all these years. She stayed close to Sesshoumaru. Then pretended to be Inuyasha's friend when he woke up. She was…a hateful woman!" Kagome said angrily.

"Holy hell…" Sango blew out a breath.

"And what about Inuyasha? Did he come back with you?" Miroku asked.

Kagome clenched a fist. "No…he sent me away. Said he would follow in a few days."

"I guess he needs time to grieve with his family," Sango suggested.

"No one should grieve for that woman! This whole thing could have been prevented if she'd just had the guts to come forward before it was too late!" Kagome snarled, standing up.

Sango and Miroku shared a look across the room. "What whole thing?" Miroku asked gently.

"Inuyasha! It's always been about Inuyasha. And now he's going to die because she lied to us and spied on us and never grew a spine," Kagome ranted.

"Whoa, hold up!" Sango said, standing up and stopping her tirade. "Why is Inuyasha going to die?"

Kagome rubbed her temples. "Because he's been trying to remember. Remember that night. He's always been in danger, don't you see? Ever since he woke up. The killer was still out there, somewhere. Waiting and watching, making sure Inuyasha wouldn't remember who he was and what he'd done."

"Whoa, hey now," Miroku cut in. "You don't know that. For all we know, the killer got out of dodge long ago—"

"I know," Kagome said savagely. "He's always been out there. And now he's killed Kagura. And Inuyasha is next."

"You think he killed Kagura? Is that what the police think too?" Miroku asked, a worried look on his face.

Kagome waved him off dismissively. "They'll get there eventually. They're just a bit slow. And who can rely on them anyway? They're the ones who never caught the killer in the first place."

"Yeah, but Kagome, do you hear yourself? A killer is coming for Inuyasha? That can't be true…" Sango said gently. "This whole ordeal with Kagura has just shaken you."

"It has not," Kagome emphasized. "I know what I'm talking about. Inuyasha's in real danger. And now… and now he's being stubborn."

"Stubborn?" Miroku ventured.

"He's decided to stop trying to remember! Ha! It's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard!"

"Um…idiotic?" Sango asked. Clearly Kagome was frustrated about something and wouldn't calm down until she'd vented.

"He can't just stop. The killer is coming, one way or the other. The only way to survive is to remember before he does. Inuyasha knew that. But now Kagura's death has scared him stupid. He thinks if he never remembers, the killer will never come for him. What kind of naïve, wishful thinking is that?"

"Kagome, Kagura was murdered. Brutally. That's enough to scare anyone…"

"So what? She deserved it."

"Kagome!"

The shocked tone in Sango's voice brought Kagome up short. She looked between Miroku and Sango's horrified faces and felt tears brimming in her eyes. Grasping Sango's sleeve, she pleaded, "She could have saved him. All this time, she could have saved him."

"But you're not glad she's dead," Miroku said firmly.

A sob escaped Kagome. "No. Of course not. But…he sent me away. He's in so much danger, and he sent me away. He's giving up on himself and now…I can't save him. I can't save him!"

The panic in her voice was palpable. She clung to Sango, her fingernails leaving impressions through the sleeves. Sango looked into her tearful eyes and only saw fear.

"It's okay, Kagome. It'll be okay," she soothed, wrapping her arms around the girl.

Miroku came over and put a comforting hand on her back. "Nothing will happen to that silver-haired punk. He's too much of a scrapper. He'll be back in a couple days and everything will be fine. You'll see."

Kagome didn't answer but to let out another sob and bury herself in her friends' arms.

..:V:..

Inuyasha padded lightly down the upstairs hallway. He peeked into Rin's room to see her tossing restlessly, but asleep. He gave a small smile before moving on. Sesshoumaru's door was open, but his room was all dark. Light breathing was the only hint he was inside. Inuyasha passed it silently.

Next he came to the guest room where Kagome had been staying. He turned on the light and looked around with a sad expression.

"Sorry, Kagome…" he whispered to the room. "I'm so sorry, but I just can't involve you anymore. I know you're going to hate me for it, but I hope some day you'll be able to understand. I have to keep you safe. I have to keep you out of it."

Exhaling softly, he turned off the light and exited the room. He continued his trip down the hallway until he came to a final room. With a shaking hand, he reached out, opened the double doors and walked into his parents' bedroom.

He turned on the light and steeled his resolve. He hadn't been back into this room since he'd woken up. But it was just as he remembered it, trapped in time. A large king-sized bed filled up the middle, framed by antique bedside tables. Heavy drapes hung over the windows and rich rugs lined the dark hardwood floors. Two dressers lined one wall while a walk in closet was set into the opposite. An ensuite bathroom opened beside the latter.

"Ow, Mom, geez!"

A memory flashed through Inuyasha's mind of the last time he was in this room. The night of the murders. For so many months now, his memories had hovered, just out of reach. He had simultaneously been trying to remember them, and dreading doing so.

Now nothing was holding him back. He had told Kagome he was going to stop trying. The truth was, it was too late. He needed to know. He was ready to know.

He crossed the room to sit on the bed. He let his memories wash over him of all the times he'd sat here before. He tried to focus his mind on the one that was truly important.

"Really, Inuyasha. It's as if you've never had a band-aid ripped off before," his mother teased, making a face at him.

"Not like that," Inuyasha pouted. "Good thing you're not a nurse. You'd hurt more patients than you'd help."

"Ha ha." She took his face in her hands and kissed the cut on his temple. "There, is that better?"

Inuyasha pushed her away, but couldn't hide his smile. "I'm not five, Mom."

"Then I don't know why you keep getting into these childish tussles at school. Honestly!"

Inuyasha pouted again. "It's not my fault," he insisted. "The kids at school are jerks. And they were picking on Jinenji again. What was I supposed to do?"

His mother smiled ruefully and tweaked his nose. "Be a good boy and focus more on your school work than picking fights."

"You're saying I shouldn't defend my friends?"

She put her hands on her hips. "Did you win?"

"Well…no. But Dad's always saying to stand up for myself!"

She sighed. "That father of yours… Well, never mind. What's done is done. Now, have you finished your book report yet?"

"No…" Inuyasha grumbled.

"And it's due when?"

"Thursday."

"Then I'd say you'd better get working, wouldn't you?"

"I guess… But Dad said he'd help me with my math homework first."

"That's going to have to wait for a bit. You know he's having an important meeting downstairs," a note of worry crept into her voice.

Inuyasha cocked his head. "What's wrong?"

She gave a weak smile. "Nothing, honey. It's just that he might be busy for a while. Why don't you start your book report and he'll come help you whenever he's free?"

"Yeah, alright."

Inuyasha stood up from the bed, feeling his eyes prick with moisture. To remember his mother like that, as warm as she had always been, made the knowledge of what would happen next that much more painful.

He followed in his past self's footsteps as the memory continued to come back to him.

They both crossed the room and went out into the hallway. They suddenly heard loud male voices coming from downstairs. Inuyasha looked at his mother. "What's going on?"

She couldn't hide the concern on her face this time. "I'm sure it's nothing…"

Inuyasha grasped her arm. "Mom? Why's he really here? It's not just a late night business emergency, is it?"

"Inuyasha, I think you should go to your room and do your homework," she said sternly.

He looked at her suspiciously before bounding down the stairs.

"Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha looked down the darkened staircase. The floor below held the answers for him. He just had to follow where the memory led. He glanced back at the hallway, at Sesshoumaru and Rin's open rooms. Sighing sadly, he looked forward and descended.

His hand ran along the banister, just as it had that night. He remembered his eagerness to reach the bottom before his mother stopped him. His father had been arguing with someone. Someone he'd invited for a business meeting after hours. To their house. Someone who'd been there before. Who was it?

He walked along the downstairs corridor slowly. He traced his fingertips along the wall and closed his eyes in order to open his mind's eye.

He reached the middle of the downstairs hallway before his mother caught up with him. Taking hold of his hand, she stopped him short.

"Inuyasha, don't you dare interrupt them. This is extremely important!" she urged in a whisper.

Suddenly, his father's voice drifted clear as a bell from the open study door.

"I just can't understand it. After years at my company, why would you betray me like this? Betray everyone?"

"Oh, please. Get off your high horse, Inutaisho! You're such a sentimental fool. What, did you think we were a big happy family? Everyone in this world is only out for themselves!" The voice was snide, derisive. It held such contempt in it that a shiver involuntarily went down Inuyasha's spine.

He was frozen in place and looking up, saw that his mother was too. She wasn't looking at him anymore, but rather down the hall towards the study. She bit her lip and let go of his hand distractedly.

"I invited you here as a courtesy! I wanted to give you a chance to explain yourself. I thought it must have been a mistake. I can't believe this is how you treat my generosity!"

A snort. "Generosity? More like you wanted to settle this quietly, without you losing face. As expected of the great Inutaisho – only concerned with his magnanimous reputation!"

A fist slamming on a desk. "I am trying to be patient with you. But you are sorely testing me. Just tell me why!"

"Why? WHY?! Because I bloody well could, that's why! The amount of goddamn money this company makes and we only see a fraction of it—"

"What I pay you is MORE than fair—"

"I'm talking about the big picture, Inutaisho! I get to see the intake of money every goddamn day and do you know how hard it is to just see it wasted on banal charities or 'community events'? But you're not donating your share away, are you? No, you made sure to cut out enough for yourself. No one would ever accuse THIS house of being conservative."

"Are you kidding me? I am the president and founder of the whole damn company. I built it brick by brick. I am its life's blood. I have earned the right to use my money as I see fit. You, on the other hand, you haven't earned anything. You stole it!"

"I EARNED EVERY PENNY!" the other voice boomed. "The amount of work I do for this company—"

"For which you are compensated!" Inutaisho argued back. "Generously, I might add! Most people would kill to have a salary like yours!"

"Well then maybe I'm just a greedy bastard! Or maybe I'm just taking what I know I deserve!"

"It wasn't yours to take!" Inutaisho snarled. "You've committed a crime. And I can see you have no remorse at all. I asked you here as a courtesy, a friendly gesture to someone I'd known a long time and trusted. But I can see that was wasted on you. I'm calling the police." The sound of a receiver being lifted.

"Don't you dare!" A loud clatter as the phone crashed to the floor.

"What are you doing?!"

"You think I'm going to let you turn me in that easily? Dream on, Inutaisho!"

"And just how are you going to stop me? You can knock that phone down all you like, but you can't keep me from exposing you. You are fired effective immediately, and I expect to see your ass in jail by the end of the week!" Inutaisho snarled.

A loud smack as flesh met flesh and the crash of a body to the floor. Inuyasha's mother instinctively started moving forward, startled out of her shock. Inuyasha followed close behind her.

"W-what are you doing? Hey, no, those are—"

"I am NOT going to jail! And since no one else knows about this, I guess it's just a matter of getting rid of you."

"No, stop! You can't—"

Two loud gunshots rang out.

Inuyasha's breath was coming out in short rasps, but he forced himself to stay focused, stay in the memory. Willing himself to move, he took one step forward, then another, bringing him to the door of the study. He turned on the light and looked back on that crucial moment in time.

Inuyasha and his mother skidded into the entry way of the study just in time to see Inutaisho's body slump to the floor.

He stood there in shock, staring down at his father's lifeless body, blood pooling in every direction. His golden eyes stared unseeing back at his son, a fresh bullet hole in his forehead.

Jerkily, Inuyasha looked up to see who stood over his father's body, but his mother was blocking his view. All he could see was her red dress as she stood still as a statue in front of him.

He ducked to the side, however, and finally saw.

The man was standing across the room, clad in a black business suit. His long black hair was barely contained in a thick low ponytail and his eyes were as red as blood. They glowed with hatred as they looked upon the fallen Inutaisho. In his hands, he held Inutaisho's prized pistols, one pointed at its latest victim.

At this sight, Inuyasha's mother let out a despairing scream which echoed in Inuyasha's sensitive ears, "INUTAISHO!"

The man looked up and noticed their presence. From the panicked look in his eyes, it was obvious he hadn't realized they were there.

But all it took was a split second for that panic to harden into decision. His lip curled and he whipped up the other pistol.

Inuyasha's mother grabbed him, her skirts rustling and snapping as they started running frantically down the hall. She pushed him in front of her, yelling, "Run, Inuyasha, RUN!"

Their feet pounded on the floor as multiple gunshots rang out behind them, the bullets whizzing where they had been only seconds before. Inuyasha's mind flew into a panic, he didn't understand what was going on.

Only that he needed to reach the front door. It was right in front of him and yet so far away.

His mother's frantic breathing behind him matched his own as they charged down the hall. He could see the designs on the front door become clearer. They were almost there. But then Inuyasha realized with dread, a third set of footsteps was pounding after them.

"Get back here!" the man cried out in frustration.

His heart thumped painfully in his chest and tears of sheer fright stung his eyes. He was so close now. It was their only chance of getting away!

He slammed into the door at an alarming speed. Frantically, he unbolted the lock and yanked at the handle. He felt the fresh air slam into him and felt exhilarated. They had made it!

A snarl, and then two more shots rang out. Inuyasha, in the midst of crossing the threshold, was suddenly bowled over by a heavy weight. He chanced to do what he had not dared to before – look behind him.

His mother's body was pinning his legs to the ground, fresh bullet wounds in her back. Her hair was splayed wildly around her, mixing with the rapidly spilling blood. She was completely still. Inuyasha's eyes were wide as his brain tried to process the unthinkable. "M-Mom!"

The click of the empty gun chamber made Inuyasha start and remember he was still in danger. He frantically wriggled himself out from under his mother's body. He launched himself to his feet and turned to dash out the door, only to hear another loud bang.

His back seared with pain and he staggered. His breath caught in his throat, his limbs going numb. He stumbled onto the front porch, but tripped and crashed through the shrubberies to the side. Everything felt heavy.

His mind was screaming at him to get up and keep running, to get away from the madman. But his body wouldn't obey him. Pain racked his body. He felt weaker by the second. Something was horribly wrong.

Darkness began to seep into his vision and with it, fear. He didn't want to die. Not this way, not at the hands of this lunatic. He needed to…he needed…

His head was woozy and faint. He couldn't form any more coherent thoughts. All he could do was raise his head slightly before losing control again.

As his vision went black, he stared back at the woman in the car at the end of the driveway. She looked startled and horrified. What was she doing there?

Then Inuyasha knew no more.

Inuyasha blew out a long slow breath. He was standing on the front porch, letting his memories wash over him. The old wound in his back burned in recollection. Tears stained his cheeks as he remembered his parents' final moments.

Was there anything he could have done?

No.

Inuyasha finally felt confident of that. There was nothing his twelve year old self could have done to change the events of that night. Some events were just too random, some people just too unaccountable for…

He clenched his fist and glared out at the darkened street. Kagura had stared back at him from that spot. Why had she been there? Why had she just sat there and watched him bleed out?

He shook his head. It didn't matter.

What mattered was that even though he couldn't have done anything in the past, he could do something now.

It wasn't the new moon. He knew who the killer was. He held all the power.

And he would use it all if it meant taking that bastard down.

..:V:..

Trembling, he put the phone to his ear.

He had snuck into Sesshoumaru's room and swiped his blackberry. Browsing through the contacts was all it took to find the number he was looking for.

Now he was back in the study, hearing it ring in his ear.

A soft click. "Hello?"

That voice. It was lighter-toned than that in his memory, but still unmistakable. Inuyasha froze upon hearing it, hesitating with his next words.

"Hello? Sesshoumaru?" the man said, impatience clear in his voice this time.

Inuyasha steeled his nerves. "Not Sesshoumaru."

There was a beat of silence. "Who is this?" the man asked carefully.

"You know who. This is the moment you've been dreading ever since I woke up."

"I'm sorry, I don't know who you are or to what you're referring—"

"Nice try, jackass. But I remember. Everything. And unless you want to rot in prison for the rest of your life, you'll listen to what I have to say."

There was nothing on the other end except soft breathing. Then, "And just what is that?"

Inuyasha stared down at the floor, picturing his father's body laying prone and lifeless. He gritted his teeth. "I want to make a deal. Something that will get us both what we want."

A short bark of a laugh. "A deal? Are you yanking my chain, boy?"

"No. But if you don't wish to take me seriously, I can always go down to the police station right now. You'll be fired effective immediately and I expect to see your ass in jail by the end of the week," Inuyasha said coldly, echoing his father's words.

He waited as the implication sank in.

Finally, "Just what is it you want?"

"Not over the phone," Inuyasha replied. "Let's meet."

"Awfully trusting, aren't you?" he asked suspiciously.

"You're going to want to hear what I've got to say. Pick a place."

"Look brat, I'm going out of town tomorrow for business. I will be back next week. How about you come to my house next Thursday and discuss your brilliant deal?"

"Do you think I'm stupid? Or are you just a coward?" Inuyasha countered. "We're not meeting on the new moon. We're meeting tonight. And I'm not going to your house. Pick somewhere in the city. Outside."

There was another long pause. "Fine." The man's voice was lower, menacing. Just like Inuyasha remembered it. "Let's meet at Whitaker Bridge, on the east side."

"See you in twenty minutes," Inuyasha said before hitting the end call button.

His hand shook as he lowered the phone.

He took a moment to look around the room, the scene of so much tragedy. Then he abruptly crossed it and went to get ready.

..:V:..

After the taxi dropped him off, Inuyasha crossed the street and approached the snowy bridge. He could see the man waiting for him.

He wore a long black coat and had his hands stuffed into his pockets for warmth. His dark hair was in that same thick ponytail which was now whipping in the cold winter air. His scarlet eyes gleamed in contrast to his pale skin and he watched Inuyasha approach with a cold, calculated stare.

The silver-haired teen stopped a few feet away and the two of them studied each other. Sizing each other up, the only two who knew the truth of a long dead secret.

"Mr. Hirozaki," Inuyasha greeted, trying to keep his emotions in check.

The man gave Inuyasha a feral grin. "Oh come now, Inuyasha. You and I go back quite a ways. Feel free to call me Naraku."

..:V:..

A gunshot echoed and Inuyasha fell to his knees. He clutched at his chest, trying to stop the rapidly flowing blood. Instead, it gushed over his fingers and dripped down to the pavement.

He tried to gasp for air, but only choked sounds came out of his mouth. His eyes were wide as he looked up. There was a fear, a begging question in his eyes as his fading mind searched for answers.

Whatever he was looking for, he didn't find it. The shock of the moment passed and only pain and a desperation for life remained. But it was a losing battle.

Inuyasha toppled over at the base of the bridge sign, staining the white snow crimson. He clutched at the icy substance as if expecting it to offer a comforting hand.

But no one was there. And the snow could offer him no respite. The cold bit into him and his ragged breaths slowed.

"Ka-Kagom-me… I-I'm sor-ry…" he choked out before expelling his last breath.

Kagome awoke with a loud gasp. Fear lanced her heart as she gulped for air and kicked off the covers. W-what was that?

It was her vision. The vision of Inuyasha dying. But why was it so different?

His hair had been silver. She hadn't been there by his side. Why? Why? What was happening?

Her mind started to panic and she couldn't calm down enough to think. She sprang out of bed and went to the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face and tried to slow her breathing.

What was going on? Why was the vision so different? His hair was silver. That couldn't mean—

Kagome took a deep calming breath. Were all bets off now? His death was no longer tied to the new moon?

Despite her efforts, she could feel her heart pounding and she was overcome with the need to move, to do something. Her visions didn't usually give her that feeling. Only when—

Kagome gasped. It couldn't be. She was only struck with this level of anxiety when someone was in immediate danger. Sango in the pool, Kagura in the house…

If she was seeing this new vision now – was it going to happen tonight?

Without a second thought, she dashed back into the room and grabbed her phone from the night stand. Without waking Sango, she darted out into the hall.

She rang Inuyasha's number and waited anxiously for a reply. She paced up and down the hall as it rang and rang, but there was no answer.

Raking her bangs out of her face, she pleaded, "Come on, come on… Pick up, Inuyasha!"

The other end clicked and then went to voicemail.

Kagome let out a little moan before leaving a message, "Inuyasha? Are you there? Please tell me your phone's just on silent and you're asleep. Oh god, please tell me you're okay. Inuyasha? Just…just call me as soon as you get this."

She hung up and stood still for a moment. She felt so helpless, but the pit in her stomach wouldn't go away.

How was she supposed to save him now if she wasn't even present in the vision? He had stupidly gone off without her. Is this why he had been so distant lately, and why he'd been so insistent she come back to Madison College without him?

Stupid, stupid! Kagome admonished herself. She should have seen through it, she shouldn't have let him push her away.

Losing him wasn't an option. She had to find a way to help him.

Suppressing the anxiety in her gut for a moment, she thought back to the vision, trying to remember every new detail.

He had been wearing jeans and his red winter coat, open at the front. His silver hair shone in the moonlight.

He had fallen into the snow which looked freshly fallen. He had fallen…near a sign. Kagome breath hitched. That sign had to be important, she had to remember every detail.

She closed her eyes and focused. What colour was it? Green. What had it said? "Closed…nights." Why was that so familiar? There had been something else, another line underneath the first. "Please…" Please what? "Please use alternate bridge."

Kagome's eyes popped open. Slowly, she said out loud, "Closed nights. Please use alternate bridge. Bridge."

Inuyasha was going to die near a bridge. Which bridge? Somehow, she knew she knew the answer. Somewhere in her head, she knew.

"Closed nights. Please use alternate bridge… I've read that before. But where?"

Her mind started to panic again, but she stomped her foot and forced herself to calm.

"Focus, Kagome, focus," she berated herself. "A bridge that's closed nights. One that I've been to before…"

She had been across several bridges in the city, usually while on the bus or riding in one of Sesshoumaru's cars. But somehow, she knew that wasn't right. She hadn't seen that sign from a moving vehicle.

The uneasiness in her stomach grew, making her feel that time was running out. She had to remember. As the gnawing sensation intensified, she started to feel sick. It started to build and build until suddenly, the memory of another bout of nausea hit her.

She had been going to the library. Back when she didn't know anything about Inuyasha. Back when she went to research him and his family in the old newspaper archives.

She had walked across a bridge. The…Whitaker Bridge, she recalled dimly. Halfway across, she'd gotten sick to her stomach. She'd vomited over the side.

She had never figured out why she'd had such a violent reaction to that place.

Was it where Inuyasha was to be killed all along?

Suddenly there was no doubt in her mind. The Whitaker Bridge was exactly where Inuyasha was headed to. And where he'd meet his end, if she didn't do anything about it.

She hurriedly dashed back into her room, throwing on some jeans and grabbing her coat. She shoved her feet into her boots and left without looking back.

As she dashed down the hall to the staircase, she hurriedly called for a taxi, urging them to be quick. Once she got outside, she tried calling Inuyasha's number again. She stomped her feet in the cold, praying he would just pick up. No such luck.

Frantically, she dialled the Reijiro home phone number. On the fifth ring, Sesshoumaru picked up.

"Hello?"

"Sesshoumaru! Thank god!"

"Kagome?"

"Is-is Inuyasha there? It's really important!"

"He should be in his room… Let me go check." Kagome felt a burgeoning hope. Maybe Inuyasha was still there, asleep in his bed. Safe.

She waited impatiently as footsteps carried Sesshoumaru down the hall and the creak of a door indicated he was entering Inuyasha's bedroom.

A beat of silence.

"He's…not here," Sesshoumaru's voice cracked.

Kagome's worst fears were confirmed. "S-Sesshoumaru, listen to me. Inuyasha's in terrible danger. He's gone to confront the killer."

"No…!" Sesshoumaru rasped.

"He…he must have remembered who it was. He didn't tell me who it was, but he's gone to see them tonight. And he's going to get himself killed!"

"Foolish brother! I'll kill him myself!"

"Sesshoumaru! There's no time for that! We need to stop him," Kagome urged.

"Do you know where he's going?"

"Yes! To the Whitaker Bridge. He'll be there any minute now." Kagome sighed in relief as the taxi pulled up in front of her. "I'm on my way there. Please hurry!"

Without waiting for a reply, she hung up and flung herself into the cab.

The ride was tense and Kagome kept shifting restlessly. She urged the driver five separate times that this was important and she had to get to the bridge as soon as possible. He raced through traffic, which was luckily scarce this time of night.

After what seemed like a decade but was only ten minutes, he pulled up by the bridge and dropped her off. She got out hurriedly, looking all around.

There was nobody here.

"What? No!" she cried desperately to the empty street. "Inuyasha, where are you?"

She glanced down the lamp-lit street first one way, then the other. She only saw a couple walking together in the distance and a car pull around a corner, driving away from her. Then she looked at the bridge.

Something clicked as she studied the arching structure that stretched over the frozen river.

"I'm on the wrong side," she whispered to herself.

Without hesitating, she took off across the bridge, her boots crunching in the snow. She reached the peak of the bridge panting and looked down to the other side. She could see two figures in the distance at the foot of the bridge. She could see Inuyasha's silver hair and sucked in a breath. She wasn't too late.

She started down cautiously, crouching down when she got closer. She was walking on the sidewalk portion of the bridge, with a barrier between her and the street. She kept low to keep her presence from being known as she neared them.

"…you honestly expect me to buy that?" her ears picked up a voice, laced with scorn.

She reached the foot of the bridge. Inuyasha was mere feet from her. She peeked between the rails of the barrier to see Mr. Hirozaki standing across from him and stifled a gasp.

Before she could process what she was seeing, an image of Inuyasha on the ground and bleeding flooded her mind's eye. Her sense of panic hit full force and before she even knew what she was doing, she rushed forward.

"Good-bye, Inuyasha. And good riddens."

The muzzle of a gun came into sight, levelled at the silver-haired teen.

A gunshot rang out in the night.