Disclaimers: I do not own Inuyasha

A/N Thanks for the reviews! Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!!

Awakened Dead

November 5th

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Kagome had returned the next day at school feeling much better and very aware. Inuyasha was of course still with her every step of the way, stating that he was just there to protect her from the monk and his wandering hands. Though she knew better and thought that maybe it still had something to do with the whole boy thing Sango had brought up yesterday at school. 'He probably thinks he'll catch the guy I have a 'crush' on and will try to beat him up or something.' Kagome thought with mild amusement.

Upon entering the school, she had found that the place was unusually quiet and had decided to search around for her friend to find out why the air felt so depressing. Even Inuyasha could feel it and had been growling ever since they entered the school. She had felt him grab her wrist and give her a small squeeze before looking down the hallway.

"There's somethin' in the school… No there's more than one thing happening here…" He growled.

"W-what do you mean?" Kagome asked in a hushed voice.

"Something—"

"Kagome-chan!!"

Said girl had jumped slightly, and felt Inuyasha pull away from her to place his hands back in his sleeves. She had given a small smile when she saw Sango rushing through the halls to meet up with her and greeted her. "Ohayo Sango-chan."

Sango had shaken her head, "I wish… Today is not a good morning. School is being canceled because of the body found earlier this morning."

Kagome gasped, "B-body?" Beside her she felt Inuyasha tense up.

"Hai, a student had apparently committed suicide sometime last night and the body was found this morning by a student. The poor girl is still talking with the police about it." Sango's gaze had dropped for a moment before she looked up at her friend again, "That isn't even the strangest part about it though."

"What do you mean?" Both she and Inuyasha had said at the same time, of course Sango only heard Kagome's voice.

"I heard a rumor about the boy who died… They say that his face is stained with black tears of grief. What do you suppose could have caused that?" Sango asked worriedly, hugging herself.

Beside her, Inuyasha had grunted, "I've got an idea."

Kagome looked to him and tilted her head. In a way she wanted him to go and check things out, however in another she didn't feel safe without him near her. Especially at a time like this.

"Don't worry Kagome, I'm not leaving you." He answered for her, giving her a small smirk of reassurance.

"Kagome-chan? What are you looking at?" Sango asked gently, touching her friend's shoulder.

Kagome had snapped out of it and given her best smile, "Nothing Sango-chan. How about we leave together?"

"Ah, sure but I'm still waiting for—" Her eye had twitched, and her mood had changed from sullen to downright pissed off. Kagome had backed off while she had the chance, however the male had no hope. In mid-grope, Sango had clenched her fist and hit the hentai over the head. "Miroku!" She yelled, deciding that hitting him wasn't enough, she had also slapped him and throttled him for a bit before dropping him on the floor, burning flames still surrounded her body and burning in her eyes.

Miroku had chuckled nervously, a dreamy smile still tugging at his lips while his hands twitched. "My dearest… How I've longed for today to happen…" He chuckled again.

"Damn pervert, even I wouldn't do that if it meant getting beaten to a pulp each time." Inuyasha muttered, eyeing the monk wearily.

Kagome had nodded in agreement, and even made the mistake of answering him, "Yeah he never seems to learn does he?"

Inuyasha had snorted, "I think he's taken one too many hits to the head… But since he is here…"

Miroku had stood up and rubbed his lump on his head, looking first at Inuyasha before looking at Kagome, "Ah, I see that I made a mistake then yesterday with you."

Sango had looked between her best friend and her male friend in confusion, "What are you guys talking about? What mistake?"

"Ah.." Kagome looked up at Inuyasha.

"Look monk, we'll deal with things later. Not that I trust you, but since Sango here can beat the shit out of you just for touching her, then I'm sure it'd be that much worse if you did anything to harm Kagome." He took his hands out from his sleeves and cracked his knuckles warningly, "So can I ask that you stay with the girls while I go check on this body?"

Miroku had thought for a moment before nodding, "I mean um… I thought that the body was er someone we knew, but it wasn't. I went and looked myself, but I'm sure if someone with some ahem better senses were to look, there may be something that I missed while I was there."

"You're not making any sense Miroku-san." Sango mumbled, "Why were you looking at Kagome and—"

"Oh he just happened to zone out a little I'm sure. Plus, you did give him a beating, Sango-chan." Kagome laughed nervously, silently ushering Inuyasha away. Once he had dematerialized Kagome had smiled and grabbed her friends arm, "How about we leave now!"

"Ah, maybe we should go shopping?" Miroku suggested with a wiggle of his brow.

Sango had smiled all too sweetly at him, "As long as you're paying…"

Miroku held in a groan, "Fine, but may I suggest—"

"No lingerie shopping," The girls said in unison, earning a whimper from the boy.

"You're all so cruel to me."

-X-

Later on that day, Kagome had been dropped off at her shrine with several bags of new clothing, courtesy of Miroku. When she had finished putting her clothes away, Inuyasha had reappeared just as the doorbell had been rung. Looking up at him she had felt him pull her to him and embrace her gently.

"Listen to me, one of them is here, we need to get you out of here before he comes up."

"One of whom--?" Kagome asked in confusion, but instead was ignored as Inuyasha darted his head around to look for a way out. "Inuyasha—"

He had dragged her to her window and opened it telekinetically, "Get on the roof, and sit there until I tell you to come back in."

"B-but—"

"Don't argue with me wench! Just do it!" He barked, pleased to see that she was actually climbing out of the window now. He had just barely enough time to close the damn thing when the visitor had come in. Giving him a dirty look, he had cracked his knuckles and snarled at him.

Outside, Kagome shivered from the cold weather and grabbed her arms to help warm herself up. She wasn't quite sure what was happening or why Inuyasha was acting the way he was, but she knew one thing… It had felt nice to be hugged by him. Her cheeks turned pink at the thought, but she shrugged it off as the cold getting to her and her brain. Looking out, she noticed that despite the sun being out, she couldn't feel any warmth from it, and shivered more. 'I'm going to turn into a Popsicle.' She thought sourly.

While she kept her gaze ahead, she noticed that someone was coming up the shrine steps. At first it was slowly, but then he had started to run and make his way to her house. 'Miroku-san?' She thought, feeling the need to call out to him but held back her voice. She opted to smile instead since he had caught her gaze, but he didn't return the smile. Instead he just ran faster until she heard the doorbell ring again and he entered her house.

Next thing she knew, she was seeing a black shadow burst out of her window and disperse. She had squeaked in alarm and stared at the spot where it had disappeared for some time before her window had been opened and she had been greeted by Inuyasha's concerned face. He had held out his hand for her and she had gripped it and climbed back inside her bedroom, still keeping a firm hold on his hand as she steadied herself.

"Um, what was that about? What was that thing?" She found that Miroku was in her room as well and holding onto a person that was dressed in their school uniform. "Who's he?"

Miroku had put the guy down and peeled off the sutra that was on his back, tucking the paper back into his pocket, "This is someone from our school."

"I gathered that, but what was with the whole hiding me thing and why is someone I don't know here?"

Inuyasha had squeezed her hand, "That kid was being possessed by another poltergeist. He was here to kill you since you have strong spiritual powers. It sensed that you were a threat and decided to take you out."

Kagome gasped, "Does this have anything to do with the suicide? And those 'black tears'?"

Miroku nodded, "Those black tears were ectoplasm. Only the nastiest of spirits can create ectoplasm. This one in particular seems to like taking students as its host and killing them."

"Any thoughts as to the connection between the victims?" Inuyasha asked.

"None that I know of besides the fact that their seniors and males," Miroku replied.

Kagome looked between the two, "Since when have you guys been buddy buddy?"

Miroku smiled apologetically, "Since I found out that you could see ghosts and that you were friends. I do apologize for yesterday, I thought you were a spirit trying to attack Kagome." He looked at Kagome, "I never knew you were aware of your spiritual powers, so I took upon myself to try and rid you of your ghost friend."

"The names Inuyasha, monk." Inuyasha tugged Kagome to his chest and wrapped his free arm around her waist, "And she's mine, ya hear?" Those were his male youkai instincts talking, something that he couldn't believe he just said.

"A-ah, of course." Miroku replied.

Kagome on the other hand had blushed and looked away from them, 'Oh boy, did he just say I was his? As in… he's placing claims on me or something?' She thought. "A-about the poltergeist.."

Inuyasha had blinked, "Oh yeah, you weren't the only one who investigated the body either, monk. I caught the scent of ones with killers instinct there too. Looks like everyone is after this thing."

"You mean there are still hunters in this day and age? I had no idea." Miroku crossed his arms in thought, "I was always under the impression that the lines had died off hundreds of years ago."

"By my count, there's two line still alive." Inuyasha grunted, holding Kagome even more tightly, "One of them active while the other one is still slumbering. Your friend, Sango, is part of the Taijiya clan, isn't she?"

Miroku nodded, "Yes, her full name is Taijiya Matsui Sango, but she mostly refers to herself as Matsui Sango."

Inuyasha snorted, "That woman reeks of 'hunter' blood as you put it. But it isn't awake, her instincts are still slumbering. However the other clan, one that I don't know much about, is awake and they've been around here keeping an eye on this place while taking care of other supernatural problems."

"So these guys with killers instinct, they're humans?" Kagome asked.

"Yes, now commonly known as hunters, they have super human strength and an incredible tolerance for pain. Their bodies are strictly made to fight spirits and demons, so they aren't easy to kill." Miroku answered, "I had no idea that Sango carried the gene. Well, then again I always thought that the hunters were all killed off." He gave a soft, nervous chuckle and looked away.

Kagome nodded, "Alright, so we have these guys watching us, on top of which we have another ghost that wants to kill me and probably you now, Miroku-san. This means we're going to have to find out who it is and burns its remains."

Miroku shivered, "I was never one to enjoy this sort of thing. Generally I would purify the soul with one of my sutras… But seeing as this spirit is particularly dark, I see we have no choice."

"How about we go to the library and look through some records Miroku-san? We might be able to find some clues as to why this ghost is even here, and who it may be. While we do that, Inuyasha can go look through the student records at school and find out more about who died today." Kagome looked up at Inuyasha, a tinge of blush staining her cheeks, "Do you think you can do that? The records would be in the office either in a cabinet or on the computer."

The inu hanyou had subconsciously begun to rub circles with his thumb against Kagome's hip, grunting when she gave his hand a small squeeze in return. 'Why does this feel so good? I've never felt like this before.. I'm having a difficult time focusing on everyone.' He thought. "I'll figure somethin' out. I'm sure I can find something useful," He said, finally looking into her eyes. 'Gods, her scent is driving me crazy… If I don't leave…'

Tentatively, he had unwound himself from the girl and gave her a small grin, "I'll go look now. You guys go do your thing. I'll come find you later, or you can call me back if there's trouble. Alright wench?" He looked between the two and received nods, though he could have sworn he saw a hint of disappointment in the girl's eyes. Maybe she actually liked being held by him? All the more reason for him to hurry his ass up then he supposed…

He had dematerialized with a shimmer, leaving Kagome, Miroku, and the slumbering student in silence for a moment before Miroku had spoken, "Well, shall we leave?"

"What about him," Kagome pointed to the unconscious boy.

"We'll take him out to the shrine," Miroku responded, hoisting the boy up and half dragging him out of Kagome's room. They had made up a lie saying that he had been drinking away his grief from the suicide this morning and has passed out in Kagome's room. Though Kagome's mother seemed skeptical, she had waved them off and told them to be safe and return soon.

Once they got to the library, Kagome had settled herself at a computer strictly to look at old newspaper clippings while Miroku looked over on the Internet. As time went by, Kagome found herself falling asleep, so had asked Miroku if he could get them some coffee. Once he was gone, she had continued through the clippings until she had finally stumbled upon something of interest.

"…Student Hachu Shiba died of a drug overdose in the boys washroom…"

" …November 4th 1999…"

"… Leaves 43 year old father in grief…"

"…Will be missed…"

Kagome gaped at the screen, a photo of the deceased appearing on the screen. He was fairly handsome in a nerdy kind of way. He looked like the type of guy she would befriend, but never date. Looking at the location, she found that he had died in her school, in the boys' washroom on the second floor. 'Oh my god…' She practically jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, but remembered that she had sent Miroku out for coffee. Turning, the smile she had had been dropped and instead replaced with a horrified look.

There stood another boy, whom she didn't recognize but wore the same uniform from her school. What frightened her most was the black ectoplasm leaking from his nose, and the dark grin that was on his face.

"Sh-Shiba," Kagome stuttered. 'I'm in trouble!! Someone! Anyone! Oh my god…'

The boy had chuckled, "Now then, why don't I kill you now, miko—"

Before he could lift a finger to hurt her, a fist had flown towards him and smashed the boy in the face. He was then tossed into a bookcase, several novels falling on his head causing him to fall flat on his ass while her savior had tugged Kagome out of the chair. Looking up, her eyes had shone with recognition and she had spoken, "Bankotsu-san?"

Said man had smirked and winked at her handsomely, "Hey there, Kagome-san. Thought you could use a hand. He seemed to be bothering you and all." He had shot nervous looks back at the boy before looking at her again, "So, should we get out of here then before this guy gets up again?"

She was about to answer when Miroku had returned with coffee cups in both hands and a somewhat quizzical look on his face. Instead of introducing them, she had just taken her coffee and explained that she was just leaving, and had dragged the monk out roughly. When they had reached a safe distance Kagome had let out a breath that she didn't know she had been holding and had looked at Miroku, "You came just in time."

Miroku had chuckled, "Were you being asked out by him?"

Rolling her eyes Kagome had shot him a look, "Did you not notice the boy on the floor?"

"Ah, so he was defending your honour then?"

Kagome had growled, "It was the ghost! He was g-going to attack me… Until Bankotsu-san had showed up and taken him out."

"Oh, how convenient of him…" Miroku had frowned, but then shrugged unconcerned. "A stroke of luck I guess."

"I guess," Kagome mumbled, not at all convinced.

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A/N MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I hope you guys like this chapter! I know it wasn't long, but at least a new one is up! R&R please!