Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Ordinary

Chapter Three: Ghost Walk

Kagome had never been more terrified in her entire life. The mist surrounded her and a woman stood before her. She was beautiful, even in her eerie appearance, but Kagome just figured that she was eerie because she was, well, dead.

A ghost.

Kagome realized that she wished she had never actually become a full-fledged medium.

"Sasara?" Kagome whispered. She felt her body tremble. She was grateful that she was on the mattress in the real world because if she had been standing, she wouldn't be now.

The ghost of Sasara Fumito walked towards her, though it couldn't technically be called such. She moved her legs the same as any normal human, but she seemed to float in the air, her body not moving up or down with the movement of her legs. Her straight blonde hair fluttered around her and her eyes…were beautiful. Large, green cat-eyes fixed on her and she frowned.

"What?" Kagome asked, reaching towards her slowly. "What's wrong?"

Sasara just continued to frown. She stopped walking and suddenly looked around the room. Then, she too, reached towards Kagome with her hand.

"Please, talk to me."

Sasara opened her mouth to speak; her lips although rosy were very chapped. Her lips moved in fluid motions, as if she was speaking, but Kagome still felt like she was on the mute button because no sound came out.

"I can't hear you," Kagome said sadly. "Please, keep trying."

Sasara seemed to repeat what she had said earlier. Sound still never came and Kagome couldn't follow her lip movement enough to lip read. She moved her mouth too fluidly.

Kagome shook her head. "I can't…"

Sasara shut her mouth immediately, forming a tight line. She frowned again and stomped her foot, as if she was angry. She glared at Kagome and pointed at her.

"I'm trying!" Kagome pleaded. "Please, don't give up on me. I want to help. I'm trying to understand…"

Sasara spoke again but when Kagome continued to give her a blank look, she threw her hands up in frustration. The mist around them swirled and then turned violent. Sasara was still standing there, her gaze steady. Her lips were taut and her body trembled.

Kagome realized that it looked like she wanted to cry. And so did she.

"I'm sorry," Kagome whispered. "I'm so, so sorry." She reached her hand out towards the ghost, wishing that she could understand. Her arm trembled even as she held it out. Part of Kagome wanted Sasara to touch it while another part of her wished Sasara would just disappear.

Sasara looked at her, her expression softening. She reached out with her hand, walking towards Kagome again. She was now only a foot away from Kagome's outstretched arm. She went to take another step forward when her eyes flew open and she spun around.

"Sasara!" Kagome cried. "What's wrong?"

Sasara turned her head, her green eyes wide with fear. Suddenly, her lips ripped apart as she screamed, mutedly, and then she disappeared, leaving Kagome shaken and terrified.

The mist dissipated and colour returned to the sights surrounding Kagome. The first thing she was aware of was the vivid brightness of the walls, the soft comfort of the mattress and pillows below her, and the screeching sound of Inuyasha and Miroku screaming her name.

Kagome fell backwards, letting the upper half of her body fall onto the mattress. Inuyasha and Miroku were beside her in seconds, Miroku on one side with Inuyasha on the other.

"Kagome, please, talk to me," Inuyasha begged, his rough hand rubbing her cheeks.

"I'm okay," Kagome said, though she noticed her voice was hoarse and barely there. "Water?"

Inuyasha gave Miroku a look and Miroku got off of the bed to fetch some. She heard his footsteps as he entered the joint bedroom, searching for a glass and bottled water.

"What happened?" Inuyasha asked. "You were screaming. I was petrified. You looked so scared and you were shaking and you didn't want me to touch you…" He was rambling and she noticed the way his hands kept moving all over her body, as if making sure every part of her was still there.

"I…I went into the grey time," she whispered. "I saw Sasara Fumito. Her ghost."

Inuyasha's amber eyes went wide. Suddenly, he leaned forward, his clawed hand under her neck and was kissing her passionately. Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him there. After a few breathless moments, she pulled away.

"I was scared," Kagome admitted. "She looked so…unreal. I'm just thankful that a ghost looks what they should look like. Not bloody and beaten and broken."

Inuyasha sighed, stroking her hair. Miroku had returned with a glass of water and Kagome sat up slowly to take it from him. While she drank, Inuyasha explained what she had told him.

Miroku's eyes went wide. "Her ghost? You're a full-fledged medium? Do you know what this means?"

Kagome gulped the last of the water and sighed as she put it down. "Yes. Another psychic."

"And a strong one," Miroku added.

"How does that mean another psychic is here?" Inuyasha asked, wary.

Kagome asked Miroku for another glass of water and Miroku nodded. As he left, Kagome crossed her legs and grabbed Inuyasha's hand to hold. "Everyone has a psychic ability, remember? The vast majority of people have the ability but are never aware because they never find the 'key' or pull the 'trigger' to access it. People live and die and never know of what power they could have. Now, the minority of people happen to pull that trigger or find the key to unlock their ability. These latent abilities are usually come across after some sort of trauma."

"Like what happened with you and your father," Inuyasha pressed.

Kagome nodded. "Exactly. A very small few of this minority are born with psychic abilities, either hereditary or not. Some psychic parents have children with one of their abilities, both of their abilities, none of their abilities or an ability entirely different. This all has to do with energy and how it reacts in our brains individually. Energy is the cause of everything. The fields where people swear on their lives that they see soldiers marching is the effect of leftover energy –very strong energy– that reacts at times to produce that place's memory.

"Each psychic has their own energy field or source. Sometimes, when two different energies are in proximity of one another, they affect each other. One energy overlaps the other, or they both mix to change that individual's power. Like me, for example. Another psychic is in this hotel, and their energy is mingling with mine to evolve me. It changes me from being just a medium that only speaks to the dead to a medium that sees the dead. And somewhere, my energy is changing their abilities too."

"And is this permanent?"

Shrugging, Kagome sighed. "Sometimes, not always. It depends how strong the energy affects one another."

Inuyasha gave a crooked smile. "And what do you think?"

"There's no going back," Kagome whispered, lowering her head. "But I can't control it. She was there, Inuyasha. She was right there, trying to talk to me and tell me something… And I couldn't hear her. It was like watching television with no sound."

"Hey," Inuyasha soothed, putting his arm around her shoulders. "You will. You just need to learn to control it. You know I'll be here to help."

"And me," Miroku said, entering the room. "So what happened?"

"She was trying to talk to me," Kagome explained. "She walked close to me and tried to speak to me. I couldn't hear what she was saying, no matter how many times she said it. And then… Something bad happened." Kagome frowned, remembering the horrified look on Sasara's face when she had faced Kagome for the last time. "She turned away from me and then looked at me as if…we were in danger. Like something was going to attack us or hurt us. And then she screamed…and disappeared."

"And then you came back to us, in the real world," Miroku concluded.

Kagome nodded. "Yeah. It was all so sudden."

"Do you think you'll see her again?" Inuyasha asked hesitantly.

Kagome searched his amber eyes and found nothing but sheer compassion. He was going to stay with her, from the beginning. She remembered when they had first met, and he hadn't actually believed that she was psychic until the very end. They had a connection, the two of them did. Vaguely, she wondered if that would change too.

"I'm sure of it," Kagome murmured. "Sasara will haunt me until this is over."

"Then let's get out of here," Inuyasha told her, pulling her up. "It's late. Let's go get ice cream or something. Relax."

Miroku touched Kagome's shoulder. "You two should go. I'm going to stay here and call Sango. I want to make sure she's okay."

Kagome turned around and hugged Miroku. "Thank you," she murmured.

Miroku smiled back, his brilliant white teeth flashing. "My pleasure. Now go, you two."

Inuyasha held his hand out and Kagome took it. They walked out the door and towards the lobby. The extremely friendly receptionist greeted them as they walked past. They headed out to parking, and into Kagome's Maserati.

"So, do you like your engagement present?" Inuyasha asked, smirking.

Kagome laughed. "I love it. Thank you. So where are we going?"

"I don't know," Inuyasha shrugged. "Let's just go for a drive. Maybe we'll find a place to eat."

They drove for a while in silence, the Maserati gliding through the streets as traffic weaved by. They were used to each other's company, being together for two years. He now lived at her place in Trite, where he was Chief of police and she was a writer with many successful books. Miroku, though he had originally been staying at Kagome's house, moved in with Sango. In general, Sango and Miroku had moved a lot faster relationship wise than Inuyasha and Kagome, but since Miroku had nowhere else to live, it was slightly forced. But Miroku loved Sango, Kagome thought happily, and she hoped that their future was as amazing as she hoped.

"What are you thinking?" Inuyasha asked, turning his head to watch her expression. She was beautiful: long, wild black hair, pale face with rosy cheeks, dark chocolate eyes… He remembered when he first saw her, sitting nervously in her car with Miroku in his current seat. He had pulled her over for no reason but to see what she looked like and who she was. She had been angry with him afterwards, he had known. Just like she had been angry at him for the majority of their time together after that. But she was beautiful –is beautiful– and talented and smart… And despite her baggage she had been what he wanted.

"Nothing really," Kagome said, shrugging slightly. She leaned over to check her blind spot as she switched lanes. "Do you feel like a sundae?"

Inuyasha raised a brow. "Me and food? Are you asking if I want food?"

Laughing, Kagome shook her head. "Okay, bad question. What would have been a better one?"

Inuyasha smirked but didn't say anything. Her question had been rhetorical, he knew, but he couldn't help but think of something else… Some other question…

"Are you happy?"

The question took Kagome by surprise. She frowned and spared a quick glance at his face. He looked absolutely serious, so she answered him as such. "Besides the murder?"

"Besides the murder."

She was confused, and he knew it. He analysed her face; her frown, her curious eyes. He wondered if she understood what he really meant.

"Of course, I am. What a stupid question."

"Yeah," Inuyasha mumbled, too low for her to hear. "Stupid question."

He sighed and watched the traffic slide by.

Captain Menomaru Seki walked into the Briscoe Police Department in a hurry. His office was situated across from the doors. Cubicles and other offices surrounded his, but his office was a clear, straight path from the door.

Thank goodness.

Usually, as a captain and an investigator, he had a very high tolerance level for slow moving cases. Briscoe had experienced a few murders in its time and Menomaru had dealt with most of them. He had been one of the youngest captains Briscoe had ever had, and he had held the position of captain for almost ten years.

But the lack of information that Menomaru was getting from this new murder was upsetting. He was getting nothing –nothing– out of what he was putting in and he was getting tired of it.

"Ruri! Hari! Get in here now please," he shouted, not angry, just frustrated.

He walked into his office quickly, sitting at his large wooden desk and banging his curled fists into it. Ruri and Hari entered simultaneously, just as they always had. They approached his desk cautiously, as Menomaru's head was already lying there.

"Are you okay?" Hari asked, wincing slightly.

Menomaru sighed. "Please tell me you have something."

"Well," Ruri started, "the boyfriend called back. His name is Takeda Kuranosuke. He's on his way to ID the body."

Menomaru looked up, his eyes glistening with the first signs of hope. "And what was he doing last night?"

"He had a boys' night out. Since Sasara was here, he went out and spent the night at a pub with a couple of friends. I can get the names when he arrives and check out his alibi."

"Do that," Menomaru agreed. "Is he bringing anything of hers for comparative DNA?"

"Yes, he said he would bring several different objects."

"Her parents?"

"Boyfriend claims they're already dead. They had her late in life and passed away less than a year ago."

Menomaru sighed. "Check in on that as well. Hari?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. As per usual, forensics is backed up out the wazoo. I put a rush on it, but so has several different stations. He said within a few days."

"Fuck," Menomaru groaned. "And what Maiho?"

"Last I heard, he was still trying to trace it. He's having trouble with the company. He's trying."

"Try harder, goddammit!"

The two sergeants looked at him with raised brows.

"Oh for fuck's sake," he cursed. He looked around his office, the neat and organized desk showing signs of dust but other than that, it was spotless. "The FBI will be in tomorrow. We have two agents coming down."

"I still think it's a bad idea," Hari pressed. "They always take over."

"But we don't have the resources to match this murder with the others. Hell, we don't even have access with the case files. It's been with the FBI for a year now. I wasn't the one that started their involvement. With the little information that I have, it matches the same M.O. And they've been looking." Menomaru shook his head. "The last thing I want is to have this messed up psychopath in my region and having the FBI up my ass when they discover it is him."

"Safe than sorry," Ruri mumbled.

"Exactly."

Suddenly, a knock came from the door.

"Come in," Menomaru yelled, watching as another officer by the name of Minori Kobayashi came in. She was tall and slender, but Menomaru had seen her train. She was extremely strong and more than capable for her size. She had long black hair that was always kept in a neat ponytail and her blue eyes were very light, with white pins in them. She entered the room and nodded towards Hari and Ruri.

"Sorry to disturb you," she said slowly, "but I have news."

"Let me hear it. It has to be better than what I've already heard," Menomaru welcomed.

Minori smiled. "I ran the background checks on every staff member of the hotel. All of them have good records. There are a few parking infractions, but other than that, spotless."

"And that's news?" Menomaru asked. "Do not come back in here if that's all you've got. I need something I can work with."

Minori's smile faltered. "I have more; hold on. None of the names rang any bells, however, since we took fingerprints I had it run through AFIS. I managed to get it slipped under the table." Her smile returned and she shrugged self-consciously. "One of the fingerprints came up to a Shinta Ren."

"And?" Menomaru probed.

"No Shinta Ren works at the hotel."

Menomaru's face changed colour. Ruri and Hari stood to the sides, exchanging wary looks. Menomaru looked like he was about to lose it, and lose it fast. His patience was so far gone that obviously, he couldn't understand the basic knowledge that Minori was providing.

"That's the point," Ruri interrupted, before Menomaru could scream.

"If no Shinta Ren works at the hotel, then why did fingerprints from an employee match him?" Hari continued.

"Exactly," Minori agreed. "The fingerprints were given from a Kai Reiko. He's one of the bellboys that currently work there. He's worked at the hotel for just under six months now. His record with his new name is spotless, but after checking Shinta's rap sheet, I understand why. He has two counts of aggravated assault in 2001, three sexual assault charges in 2003 and attempted rape in 2007."

"He's escalating," Menomaru thought out loud. "Alright, bring him in. Hari, I want you to bring me an in-depth profile on him. I want everything that you can find."

"Got it, boss," Hari said, already walking out of the door.

"Ruri, check with the doc. I want that post-mortem."

"Understood," she called as she followed her friend.

"And Kobayashi?" Menomaru started.

Minori straightened. "Yes sir?"

"Amazing work. Thank you."

She smiled one of her brilliant smiles. "No, thank you."

They found it. Goddammit they found it.

And they're coming.

Fuckers.

They just never drop it, do they?

And then there's that bitch.

Fucking bitch.

She has to die. Now.

And tomorrow is a new day.

Tomorrow, tomorrow…

I'll love ya, tomorrow…

It's only a day away…

Kagome and Inuyasha were enjoying their time at the little café on the corner of the busy street. Briscoe was a bustling city and even as night settled in, many were still wandering the streets and shops. They sat in an isolated corner, splitting a large triple-scoop sundae with hot fudge sauce and brownies. Currently, there was only one scoop left and Inuyasha had already eaten one and a half scoops of the three-scoops ordered.

"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing her lack in eating. "You love chocolate and you've hardly touched the dessert."

Kagome sighed and leaned against the wall their table sat against. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm just…thinking."

Inuyasha tentatively reached across the table, his palm facing upwards. His amber eyes searched her chocolate ones, and he gave a crooked smile. "Show me," he whispered.

Kagome stared at his hand for a moment, wondering if it was a good idea to let him in on her thoughts. As much as she adored him, loved him with everything that she had, she sometimes wanted her thoughts to be her own. He certainly would only worry if he knew her thoughts, but as her gaze met his, she couldn't refuse.

She placed her hand on top of his.

Like always, their eyes dilated and although to onlookers it merely seemed like a staring contest, it was so much more.

Inuyasha walked through her dark mind, entering the door that she had provided for him. In it was her thoughts and what she had just been thinking about. He opened it and succumbed to the emotions.

His voice… That dark evil voice filled his ears. A song, slow and out of tune hummed in the background. It was the dead, he realized immediately. The dark voice was the voice in her dreams, the one she was sure was the killer. But he was not there currently, it was just a memory. Long and faded. And the background noise was the steady noise of the dead, always there, like a party in the next room.

Inuyasha closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he was back in the present. Kagome's hand was warm in his and he grasped it tighter.

"I won't let him hurt you," he whispered. "I'll protect you with my life. Last time…"

"There was nothing you could do," Kagome interrupted. "You were working and I was sleeping. No one had heard any trouble. There was nothing you could've done."

Inuyasha growled anyways. "He's never going to touch you. Not today and certainly not tomorrow. Never." His voice was thick with promise and determination.

And suddenly, an overwhelming sense of being taken over filled Kagome. Her mouth opened and words that were not her own, in a voice that was not her own, flew out.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow…I'll love ya, tomorrow… It's only a day…away…"

Please review!

Also, if you like this story, I have just come out with another. I finished Loyal Traitor, and as promised, I came out with another. It's called Target Locked. I've just posted the first chapter, so please review and let me know what you think! I have more stories coming up in the future. Enjoy your March Break!

Target Locked Summary: Kagome Higurahsi has the story to make her career, but the mafia doesn't take kindly to leaks. Trapped with nowhere to go, Kagome is forced to work with FBI agent Inuyasha Taisho. Together, they are the biggest target in history. Because not only does the mafia want them dead, but the world does too. Obviously, InuKag.