We are so close to the end...

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter Twenty-Five: Surprises

"…What?" Kagome asked, looking at Kaede. "You're Kikyo's sister?"

Kaede nodded her head. "Yes. My sister and I had lived apart. I live four hours away from here, in the city." She shook her head sadly and hastily tucked a strand of black almost violet hair behind an ear. "We weren't close. I only truly knew her as a child."

Sango gave a rueful smile. "I'm sorry to hear that and I'm sorry for your loss."

Kaede shook her head. "It's been a long while. Please, it's not needed."

"So if I may ask," Inuyasha said, giving a skeptical look at the woman, "what are you doing here?"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome scolded and huffed. He could just be so rude sometimes.

"To see Kagome, of course," Kaede said evenly, dismissing the chief's discourtesy. "There is much to talk about."

"Then why don't we go in the conference room," Sango suggested, looking towards Inuyasha. "Okay?"

When Inuyasha did nothing but grumble, they all made their way into the spacious room. Everyone took their place at the desk and Kaede reluctantly took a seat next to Sango.

"Kagome, you can hear the dead, can you not?"

Kagome look bewildered, her eyes widening. "What…? How did you know?"

Kaede looked around the room, a small smile on her face that echoed the vast knowledge she held. Her grey eyes hovered over at Kagome and then lowered to the desk. "It is because I am a healer -one who has psychic powers as well. I can feel your power radiating off of you. Any psychic can really only I have a secondary ability that is able to tell which kind."

Inuyasha sighed and rested his head in his hands. "I'm just going to pretend I have a clue what this is about."

Kagome instinctively touched the jewel that hung around her neck. "She's psychic Inuyasha, it's that simple."

"Uh-huh. Well, that's the last thing I needed, another damn psychic."

"You only know two Inuyasha," Kagome commented but Inuyasha snorted.

"One psychic is enough, thank you very much."

Rolling her eyes and turning her attention back to Kaede, she warily watched as the young woman grinned. "Ah, lovers?"

Kagome coughed, her chocolate eyes wide and Inuyasha, beside her, wasn't doing so well either.

"No," Kagome said finally, unable to look at Inuyasha. "We're not."

Kaede frowned. "Then why such a strong connection?"

Miroku leaned forward, licking his lips. "You can tell?"

"Of course I can," Kaede said. "It's so strong that I can practically see it."

Miroku rubbed his nose, sighing and closing his eyes. "Can you tell us more about it? This connection they have is apparent, since when they hold hands and Kagome goes too deep, he goes with. Or if Inuyasha wants to, he can just touch her and drag them both into the void."

Kaede's brows rose high. "Really now? That's new to even me. I may only be thirty but I have met many psychics though I have to admit, I have never come across this before. Well, what will be, will be."

About to ask what she meant by that, Kagome was cut off by Inuyasha who growled. "So you came hear just to talk to Kagome? About her abilities? In case you haven't noticed we're in the middle of an ongoing investigation."

Kaede nodded. "Oh, I know all about it. Three women are dead, each killed for a specific trait."

Inuyasha's growl, if anything, became louder. "And how the hell would you know?"

"I am also clairvoyant," Kaede murmured, just loud enough for them to hear. "I know things without purpose or need. You see, I have two abilities and one smaller ability. I am a healer primarily, a clairvoyant and I also have the power to read what other psychic's abilities are." Kaede's eyes narrowed at Inuyasha, as if studying him but then merely turned away and looked at Kagome again. "But as I received these three powers, Kikyo only got one. A unique ability it was and the only other person known to have it is Kagome. It's the ability to not see the dead, but be able to speak and hear them always. Surely mediums can talk to them but they have to open themselves up to actually see. Kagome and Kikyo, on the other hand, are always open which makes it not only more dangerous but more mentally draining. Kagome cannot stop the voices, no matter what she tries."

"Well we already knew that," Kagome said quietly. "I was able to write their murders. While the victims were being brutally killed and tortured, I write their life story."

"Another interesting ability," Kaede agreed. "One Kikyo did not have I'm afraid and I don't believe another has it."

Kaede checked her watch and frowned slightly at the time. "It figures," she murmured and then addressed the group. "I'm terribly sorry but I have to go. Duty calls."

Ami lay down in the hospital bed, rubbing her face gently. For the past couple days, everything had seemed that much harder. But of course, things that she couldn't explain had just popped into her life and now she had to deal with them.

Dr. Bouma walked into the room, checking on the other patient the hospital room provided and talking to the young man briefly. Ami just sighed and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. She didn't want to talk to Dr. Bouma at the moment too much was on her mind.

Sadly, it seemed to be inevitable.

"Miss. Dai?"

Ami groaned and looked at the doctor with bored eyes. She really wasn't up to this.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you but I just came to tell you that in an hour your psychiatrist is coming to visit. She just wants to talk."

Ami nodded and closed her eyes again. Even though she couldn't see, she could tell that the doctor hesitantly left, looking at her for a long while before actually doing so.

Talking to someone and sharing her feelings was the last thing she felt like doing.

"Don't you agree?"

Inuyasha shook his head and sighed. "You can but not me. I need to work on this case Kagome. Naraku isn't the killer and the real one is out there making a fool of us all. There's only one more victim left and who knows when he's going to kill?"

"Not now!" Kagome exclaimed. "Nazuna was only murdered two days ago. Surely he wouldn't-"

"And how would you know?" Inuyasha snapped. "Are the voices telling you when the next kill is going to be? Are they telling you that this is hopeless?"

Kagome was taken aback. "Well, no, but-"

"Then I can't stop."

Kagome looked at Inuyasha for a moment and then realized how hard this was for him. Three murdered women, no answers, no leads, no breaks and knowing the fact that there is only one more left couldn't help. He couldn't just let this killer get away and not do anything. Trite would go into a bigger frenzy then they were now.

The town had been unusually quiet as of last, the murders the only thing come out of people's mouths. Everyone woke up and got outside around eight and went home at six. Shops weren't open as long; people didn't roam the streets…

It was a nightmare.

"Look," Inuyasha said suddenly. "I'm sorry but I can't stop. I can't let him get away. But you need to get some sleep. I'm half-demon so I can last with fewer hours so please, go home with Miroku and/or Sango and get a good rest."

Kagome felt bad. She couldn't believe she had argued with him about his job and what he had to do. He didn't have to do anything she said. And she certainly couldn't tell him how to do his job.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha," Kagome whispered. "I think I'm going to go home for a bit, rest up and then be back around six, okay?"

"Sounds fine. Make sure you have Miroku with you at all times. I don't want you left alone," Inuyasha said as he looked down at a bunch of papers.

Kagome found Miroku in Sango's office and asked if he could accompany her home and stay with her for a bit.

"Sure," Miroku said. "Let me just tell Sango."

Kagome winked and smiled. "Oh of course, don't leave without telling your lover."

Miroku grinned from ear to ear but shook his head and ran off. Five minutes later he caught up with Kagome and they made their way back to the house. By three o'clock, Kagome was settling down for her afternoon nap and it took her only mere seconds for sleep overtook her.

If only Kagome knew the danger that was to follow.

If only Kagome knew the consequences.

If only Kagome knew the blackness that surrounded her would soon be permanent.

If Kagome knew that, maybe she wouldn't have left the station.

Because ten minutes after Kagome fell asleep, a dark figure slipped out of Kagome's closet, the haunted face looking her features over before gently bringing her into their arms and smuggling her out after narrowly being missed by her companion.

Shifting Kagome's position while sliding through one of the large windows, Kagome started to stir.

"Hmm," she asked groggily and started to open her eyes.

She didn't get a chance to scream though as a cloth was draped over her nose and mouth and she was knocked out.

Kagome didn't get a chance to struggle or fight but Kagome did get one thing.

She saw her capturer –the killer.

And couldn't believe her very eyes because suddenly, it all made sense.

"Bye, bye princess," the dark and luring voice of the monster carrying her whispered. "Bye, bye."

"Is this Mr. Taisho?" a polite female voice on the other end asked.

"Yes it is," Inuyasha said, rather tightly. He just wanted the information, nothing else.

"I'm calling you back regarding the request of information of Ayomi Higurashi. Now normally we wouldn't give this information away but because of-"

"I'm very sorry," Inuyasha said curtly, "but if you could just give me the information, that would be great. Since you are aware of the current situation, we just need the basics and nothing else."

"Um, sorry sir," the woman said. "I got the information you needed. You asked if a jewel was buried along with Ayomi Higurashi's body and I have to tell you that it wasn't. Papers, a couple toys and necklaces… but other then that there was nothing. Nothing even resembling a jewel."

"Thank you very much."

"Have a good day," she said and then hung up.

She was lucky she did hang up because if she had waited a split second longer she would've gotten an earful about Inuyasha's day so far.

Just then, Sango rushed into the room. "Chief! I got a hold of Kagome's mother's executor! He says that if you call in about twenty minutes he'd answer any questions you had."

Inuyasha sighed, relieved. "Great. Thanks Sango. Where's Ayame? How's she doing with that picture of Kikyo?"

Sango shrugged. "I don't know but last I heard she thought she might be able to get it tonight. She asked Kaede when she was here but she didn't have any."

Inuyasha cursed. "Figures. I wonder why that broad was here anyways."

Once again, Sango shrugged, saying, "Beats me."

IT was then that Kouga peeked his head in the conference room. "Sango, chief, news. Korari Takeda is fine. Dr. Nogami called saying that she's been taken out of critical condition and that the bullet has been removed."

Sango gave a short, relief-filled laugh. "Seriously?"

When Kouga nodded, that wolfish smile covering his features, Sango smiled and put a hand to her heart. "Oh thank God. Remind me to tell Miroku later," she told Kouga and when he nodded and left the room, she sighed.

"Alright," Inuyasha said, checking the clock on the wall. "It's been around twenty-minutes. I'm going to give that executor a call. Where did you put his number?"

"On your desk," Sango said and then Inuyasha left the room.

He easily found a small purple post-it note that contained a phone number in dark blue ink and praying that this was his lucky break, Inuyasha dialled the number.

"Hello? Haru Sato here."

"Hello Mr. Sato, this is Inuyasha Taisho, chief of Trite police. I'm calling in request of some information from a woman named Ayomi Higurashi's will."

"Ah, yes. Now, I'm doing you a favour here but I'm afraid that I can't give you any information that you can take to court without a beneficiary at hand. Things like this cannot be leaked out…"

"I'm actually engaged to Ayomi's daughter, Mr. Sato, her name is Kagome Higurashi," Inuyasha lied, but he needed the information now and time was running out. He could feel it.

After sorting through a couple obstacles, Inuyasha was finally able to get the executor to concede.

"The only beneficiary in this case was her daughter Kagome. Some money went to charities and such but house, furniture, belongings…it all went to her."

"Anyone else?"

"No."

"You lie." It was a wild guess and quite a risky one too, but he needed to try. "Are you sure that there wasn't any secret wishes that you were to fulfill, even behind Kagome's back?"

Hesitation filled the phone and Inuyasha continued, knowing he was right. "Please Mr. Sato, that information may be crucial for this investigation."

Mr. Sato on the other end sighed. "Yes, I feared it would. There was…one thing that Ayomi asked me to do for her without her daughter's knowledge. A small jewel –a family heirloom I presume- was to be brought and given to her other daughter."

"Other daughter?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes. Her name wasn't mentioned but an address was given. If you want I can give you the address and the orphanage she got it from."

"Yes," Inuyasha said, numbly scribbling down the information. "Thanks."

When he hung up his phone and cradled it, he yelled out for Sango. "I want you to research this address," he ordered harshly, giving her a slip of paper. "ASAP."

"Yes chief," Sango said and left for her office, the computer already on.

Turning on his own computer, Inuyasha waited impatiently as it booted up, going on the Internet several minutes later and looking up the orphanage. It took a while to get anything about it because it was so small and hadn't got enough funding so eventually it was shut down.

"Chief," Sango called; running back into his office. "The address you gave me has now been renovated. At one point it was a small house in a subdivision but they destroyed it and turned it into a shopping mall. The address is about ten years old."

"Shit," Inuyasha cursed and then highlighted with his mouse the name and cell number of the old orphanage owner. "Bingo."

Knowing that getting anything at all from the small lead would be far-fetched, Inuyasha knew he had to try.

Dialling up the number, Inuyasha waited as it rang and was extremely surprised to hear someone answer it.

"Yes?"

"Uh…Mrs. Yanaka?" Inuyasha asked hesitantly.

"Yes?" The voice was of an elderly lady.

Thank the Lord. "I'm Inuyasha Taisho and I'm the chief of the Trite police. We're investigating a murder at the moment."

"Oh, I've heard all about that."

"Yes ma'am, well I was wondering if you could try and help me."

"Shoot."

"This is about the orphanage you used to run. I don't know when the time was, maybe around seven years ago but an executor named Haru Sato called to get the address and phone number of a girl you used to take care of."

"Oh, yes I remember that. It was a very strange day."

Inuyasha couldn't help but smirk at the old lady's comments but didn't say anything. "Do you remember the name of the girl he was looking for?"

"Nope, can't say I do," the woman said. "But I do remember that child. She was a strange one, always staying to herself and not playing with the others. But I guess that's to be expected considering what he mother did to her."

"Mrs. Yanaka, could you please tell me?" Inuyasha practically begged.

"The woman was a caretaker of some sort and I remember getting the feeling that she got knocked up one night. She didn't come in with her husband though she had a wedding ring on."

"Thank you very much," Inuyasha said politely, taking in all the information and looking at Sango who just stared at him. When he cradled the receiver, Sango asked what he learned.

"Kagome has a half-sister."

"What?" Sango asked. "But why wouldn't she tell us?"

"Because I don't think she knew," Inuyasha whispered, trying to piece it all together. "And whoever this half-sister is has the other half of Kagome's jewel."

"Ami Dai?"

Ami sat in a chair that sat beside a window. Without turning around, Ami answered. "Yes?"

"Your doctor, Shiori Bouma, asked for me to take care of you for a bit considering everything you've been through."

"Yes, I know she has," Ami said; her voice quiet. "I've been expecting you. You're late."

"Yes, I know I am," the woman behind her said. "I had business to take care of and ended up running late. I apologize. All I want to do today though is talk."

"About what?" Ami asked.

"Anything. Your favourite colour, if Pepsi is better then Coca Cola…whatever you feel like."

It was then that Ami turned around to face the woman, her psychiatrist. She had long black hair and a startling patch over one eye. "What is your name?"

"My name is Kaede Hidaka. So, do you mind if I sit down to talk?"

"Yes, yes that's fine."

"And what would you like to talk about Ami?"

"The paranormal," Ami said after a bit. "I would like to talk about psychics."

Next Chapter: Only Hope- "Wait a minute…" Kaede whispered, looking over her client a little more carefully. "You're-"

Only two more chapters until the end! And YES we're getting closer to the killer! Who thinks they know who it is? I'd like to hear your guesses because I know I've twisted this so bad for you! Thanks for all of your support guys, I really appreciate it!