Let the fun begin.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Ordinary

Chapter Four: Interrogations

Soten Mizutani or Koryo Saeko.

It was the second day in a row that the two had been fighting over a picture. It was the second time in a row that she had confiscated it. And it was the second time that she saw that ugly face.

As the last recess bell rung, Tsuya Atsuko ushered the kids out to run around while she checked the two students' desks out. When they were all gone, she did exactly that. First, she checked Koryo Saeko's desk and his pencil case, feeling all of the pencils, one by one, until she knew what she wanted to figure out. It wasn't him.

There was…confusion and…understanding. But no pain.

Tsuya put Koryo's pencils down slowly, her eyes looking towards the desk just across from her: Soten's. When her other student's stuff was away, she spun around and pulled out Soten's pencil case. Automatically she shivered. She didn't even need to pull out the pencils. The absolute torture and pain that she felt was imminent.

She was too scared and she knew it. She didn't want to open the pencil case and feel all of those emotions, so raw and pure. She didn't want to, but she had to. She did so slowly, taking her time as she sacrificed her mind and broke down her psychic shield to read the energy signatures. Tsuya was psychic but she was gifted with two abilities. Primarily, she was an empath, which is the only reason she was able to discover that her life was in danger. She could read and understand the emotions of others without question. The only problem with being an empath was that people played up their emotions all the time. Usually she could tell if they were lying, but if that one person was so caught up in their lie that they believed it to be true, she wouldn't be able to sort the emotions out. Her second gift was psychometry, or the ability to read objects. Like everything in the world, energy surrounds us. Energy is apart of us and is who we are. Our energy, and our energy signature, can be transferred to objects that we hold. This energy that was transferred, either during a time of hurt, happiness, worry, and so on, can tell a story. Only a psychometric would be able to read it.

And she was.

So now, as she felt one by one the painful emotions of Soten Mizutani, she knew that she had to do something.

Quickly, she glanced at the clock. The bell to end recess was only a few moments away. Putting the instruments away, Tsuya ran to the phone and made a call.

Takeda Kuranosuke sat in the interrogation room all alone. In some part of his mind, he knew that this was standard protocol, that they were just checking every angle and deciding if he held any vital bits of information or not. He had watched enough CSI shows to figure that out. But even so, Takeda feared the worst. What would they ask him? Would it be personal? Of course, it would be personal. Dumb question. But would he be able to answer it? What if he couldn't?

Would he become a suspect?

Sasara always told him that he sometimes way too paranoid.

Sasara… Takeda shook his head fiercely, fighting tears he refused to shed. He wouldn't cry, he told himself, he wouldn't cry.

But he cried last night. Last night, after he had been told about what happened to his love, his life, he cried. He cried for hours, lying in his bedroom like a pitiful fool. He was weak… But everyone had to grieve, didn't they?

He loved Sasara, he still did. He always would, forever.

The opening of the door startled him out of his thoughts. In walked a tall man with sea-blue hair and bronze eyes. His face was extremely pale, almost chalky looking, and he walked in with a sombre look.

"You must be Takeda Kuranosuke," the man said quietly. "My name is Menomaru Seki. I'm the Captain of BPD, and the lead investigator on this case. I'm sorry for your loss…"

Menomaru held eye contact, watching Takeda's every move. Takeda realized that Menomaru was judging him and his reactions. When the captain looked away, he wasn't sure if that meant he passed or failed. Could he fail?

"Thank you," Takeda finally managed out. "You're going to find who did this, aren't you?"

"Of course," Menomaru said with determination. "I'm not going to let this go until I catch this monster. I was hoping," he said slowly, "that you might know something or remember something that could help."

"Anything I can do, I will do," Takeda vowed.

Menomaru nodded and consulted his notes, taking his time. "She called you," he started slowly. "She called you at ten-thirty pm the night she died; did she sound nervous at all? Worried about anything?"

Takeda shook his head. "Not at all. She was natural, just like she always is. We talked about her day, the people she met, what she was doing, how much longer until she came home, and so on. It was just a normal conversation."

"And you talked for how long?"

"About an hour and a half. I'm pretty sure we hung up just before midnight. Even then, she seemed absolutely fine. Usually she doesn't like being alone at night, just because of some stuff that happened with her parents, but as I said, she seemed okay."

Menomaru frowned. "What about her parents?"

"They used to fight a lot," Takeda said simply. "She used to stay up at night to listen to them because she was worried something bad would happen."

"And when did they pass away?"

Takeda shrugged. "Less than a year ago. Her father had a heart attack and her mother…didn't last long afterwards. They fought a lot, but I guess they loved each other."

"And where were you last night?"

"After we hung up, I promised my friends I would meet them at a bar. I stayed until two-thirty, three in the morning. I already gave Sergeant…Ruri, I believe, their names and the place I went."

Menomaru nodded and paused for a moment rationalizing the information he was given. Everything that he had said, so far, was exactly the information that they had gained. Ruri had already double-checked his whereabouts and his friends had all verified that he had been with them all night. It didn't really matter anyways because it would've been impossible for Takeda to hang up with her, fly over here, drive to Briscoe, and then kill her in at most five minutes. It just wasn't possible.

"Why was she in Briscoe in the first place?"

"She's an artist," Takeda said, his voice rough. "She came here to sell some of her paintings and try to make a connection. She does exceptionally well back home but it's still a small town, and she wanted to broaden her range."

"Who did she talk to?"

"I'm not sure. She never really said. I know she made a few deals but usually we didn't talk about her work to much. She's shy and doesn't like to put herself out there. She was supposed to be coming home –to me, so I…I…" Takeda choked up and he lowered his head painfully.

Menomaru waited patiently, sympathizing with him. He had seen a lot of loved one's cry and torture themselves over another's death. It was sad, tragic and more angering of all, potentially avoidable. If there weren't psychos in the world, people wouldn't die like this. Not with seven bloody stab wounds. At least when Takeda IDed her body, he didn't see that. He only saw her white colourless face, never to move again.

It must be hard, to see that.

Menomaru had never been put into the position. He had seen a lot of death and a lot of pain. But all of it was subject to his job. He had to see it and he had to get over it, so he pushed his emotions aside and got his job done. But none of the victims he had even been particularly close with. He knew a few offhand, meeting them once or acknowledging their presence. He knew a lot of people because of his line of work. But no victim, no matter if it was a natural death or cold-blooded death, was close enough to him to destroy him like that.

He wondered what that would be like.

But just looking at Takeda Kuranosuke, he knew that he never wanted to find out, ever. The man was sitting in a chair, alone in a room with a detective and the only thing he could do was sob. It was heartless to say that men didn't cry, or shouldn't cry, because that shows a lack in emotion, in caring. Isn't that what all women want? A man that will feel for them, love them eternally? And yet, women sometimes tended to stray from their men if they showed that sort of emotion because they were no longer the strong, stoic figure they pictured in their minds.

The world was fucked up. That was all there was to it.

"How about I come and talk to you later? Not in here, of course, you're free to go. But I'd still like to ask you a few questions," Menomaru said carefully.

Takeda looked up, tears lining his face. "I was going to propose to her," he said brokenly. "The night she got back. I made reservations at the restaurant I took her to on our first date. I bought a ring and organized everything with their manager and…" His voice faded away as he grew in memory. For a long moment, Takeda just sat there staring into space.

Menomaru was about to leave, wondering if he should or not. Takeda never really agreed or disagreed with what he had said a few moments ago. But he did speak in response to Menomaru's talking. Did that mean he wanted to finish with the questioning now? Or was Takeda just lost in thought, revelling in the painful memories? All of it was possible, especially since he was going to propose to Ms Sasara Fumito. A part of Menomaru reached out for him, but it wasn't enough because Menomaru couldn't empathize with him.

"I want to help," Takeda whispered, still staring into space. It took another moment for him to blink and focus his eyes on Menomaru. "I'll do anything."

"I believe you," Menomaru said.

"Ask me anything."

Menomaru hesitated. "Are you sure you want to continue this? If it's better for you, I would rather do this at a different time, when you're comfortable."

Takeda shook his head fiercely. "That will only take your investigation longer. Ask me now."

Just then, a knock came from the only door into the interrogation room. Officer Maiho walked in, his face flushed with excitement. "Captain, I found it. I found the trace."

"The anonymous phone caller?" Menomaru asked, turning his attention away from the broken man beside him.

"It came from the Palace Hotel, same place Sasara was murdered. I fixed it to the fifth floor. I called the hotel and matching the time with the floor level, they were able to give me a room number."

"Which is?"

"10-E. It's registered to a Miroku Tsujitani."

Menomaru smiled for what was possibly the first time in the past few days. "Good, bring him in immediately. Send a few cars. I want him in here within the half-hour."

"Yes sir," Maiho said and left the room.

Menomaru Seki stood up, gathering his papers and preparing to leave the room.

"Wait!" Takeda called. "What about my questions?"

"We'll have to post-pone them," Menomaru said. "I have a lead that will make this investigation go even faster."

Takeda sat there, dumbfounded and watched as Menomaru left.

"The signing went very well," Miroku said, relaxing in the back seat. "Which is a good thing, considering everything that's going on."

Kagome nodded, focusing on driving. She had been quiet since last night, when Inuyasha flipped out over her slip. The killer had gotten into her voice, she was sure of it, but she had convinced Inuyasha of another story. She told him that it was just the voices in her head, not the killer.

Inuyasha didn't believe her and he made that loud and clear. Kagome refused to budge from her story however, and Inuyasha wasn't happy about it. Miroku noticed the little tension that morning, when he realized that Kagome wasn't as peppy as she always was when Inuyasha was around. Miroku merely watched the two interact though didn't comment. With Inuyasha, it was usually safer that way.

"How much longer?" Inuyasha breathed, sighing as she pressed his head against the window. "I'm tired."

"You're bored," Kagome corrected. "I told you that the signing wasn't going to interest you in the least bit."

Inuyasha shot her a look. "Actually, I'm glad I was there. 'Oh Kagome, I love you! You're amazing! Are you single?' says the guy who waited since the morning to see you."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Come on, Inuyasha. As if I would even reconsider."

Inuyasha muttered something under his breath.

"What was that?" Kagome asked, a smile playing on her lips. It wasn't a smile of happiness, either.

"Nothing," Inuyasha answered.

"Miroku?" Kagome asked.

Miroku shrugged. "I'm not getting into this lover's spat."

"I'll tell Sango about the receptionist that keeps flirting with you."

Miroku frowned. "He said 'Damn right'."

Kagome shook her head and rolled her eyes once more. She pulled into the parking lot of the Palace Hotel just as Inuyasha sighed once more.

"The police are still here," Inuyasha commented. "There're three cop cars now, not one. I wonder what they found."

"The weapon maybe?" Kagome asked.

"Or another suspect," Miroku added.

Once Kagome parked the Maserati, Inuyasha and Miroku got out immediately. They walked through the parking garage and into the Palace, scoping out the lobby. Instantly, Kagome saw four policemen look at them. They were talking to each other in hushed voices. One nodded and started to walk towards them. Soon, all four policemen were headed there way and Inuyasha cursed silently.

"Say nothing," he whispered fiercely. "No matter what, say nothing. If they interrogate you, you speak only what needs to be said, but nothing that could incriminate you, got it?"

He said it to no one in particular, but Inuyasha had a funny feeling that the Captain of BPD had finally traced the anonymous call.

"Miroku Tsujitani?" one of the policemen said.

Miroku stood forward, his face expressionless. He knew it was coming too. "Yes?"

"We'd like to bring you down to the station for some questions."

Miroku looked between the four officers and then at Inuyasha and Kagome. "Do I have a choice?"

"No," another of the policemen said. "Not exactly."

"On what grounds?" Kagome demanded, stepping forward. "You can't just take him without a reason."

"He called in the murder of Sasara Fumito, and Captain Seki would like to ask him questions regarding the call, and his knowledge."

Kagome's head was spinning. Hadn't their plan been to not involve themselves with this? Of all the people that were to get involved in the murder investigation, she was the most likely. She was the one that heard the dead voices, she was the one that saw the ghost of Sasara Fumito, she was the one that wrote her murder…

But none of them knew that. None of them had any idea of what she could do. And again, she couldn't exactly tell them. Being psychic was a curse. It was so highly disbelieved that you couldn't use it for anything but your own self-torture.

"Miroku, I'll come get you, I promise," Kagome vowed.

The voices in her mind were screaming at her. Her own conscious was screaming at her. This wasn't right. Miroku shouldn't be the one to pay for her curse. He had done what he thought was right. Sasara's dead body wouldn't have been found for another two days if Miroku hadn't called. But Kagome couldn't tell them that.

She didn't know how Miroku was going to escape the situation. She didn't know how she could help him. The best thing she could do in the immediate future was to get a lawyer and prepare for the worst. Miroku wasn't under arrest, but if he couldn't provide answers, the police department would start to find ways to connect him to the murder. It was only a matter of time. Time… It was running out.

Come find me…Please find me…Dear God, I haven't done anything wrong…Help me! Holy shit, help me!

Kagome started shaking as the police surrounded Miroku. No one seemed to notice that she needed the chair beside her for support. The voices were screaming in her head, telling her of things she didn't want to know. Who was that voice in her head?

Please, help me! He's going to do it again, and again, and again… I can't stop him! Please help me! Oh God, help me!

"Help me!" Kagome screamed, her voice not her own. "Help me, please God, help me. He's going to kill again, he's going to kill again… I can't do anything to stop him… Anything! Help!"

Inuyasha rushed up to her the moment he heard the eerily familiar voice. He hugged her tightly and put his hand around her face, shushing her. "Kagome, Kagome look at me. It's going to be okay. Miroku's is only going to talk to the captain, he's not under arrest or in any trouble, okay?" Inuyasha was merely lying, trying to divert the policemen's attentions away from Kagome's antics.

Miroku coughed slightly. "I might as well get this over with."

The policemen lead Miroku away and soon, Inuyasha and Kagome were left in the lobby with quite a few onlookers.

"Kagome, are you okay? Kagome, come back to me love," he whispered, his face inches from hers. He kissed her softly on both cheeks, forgetting last night's situation. The only thing that mattered was what was happening here and now.

"Help me," she repeated over and over, trembling. The voices were still speaking for her, taking over her voice and her body. "Please, he'll kill again."

Inuyasha whispered comforting words as he scooped her up bridal style. She hugged him close to her and shivered uncontrollably. She still mumbled words that she didn't have the power to not say, but Inuyasha continued to speak gently to her as he brought her to the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed after struggling to open the hotel room's door and lay beside her, stroking her hair. "Who, Kagome, who?"

Inuyasha knew that he had to help Miroku, but right now, he had to take care of Kagome.

"The killer," she mumbled, her voice rising frantically. "He's coming! Oh God, he's coming! He's taking over! He –He's going to kill again, I know it. Soon. Now. I don't know. Help me!"

Inuyasha kissed her softly, over and over. "Kagome, you're safe. It's okay Kagome. I'm right here. I'm going to protect you, forever. I promise."

Kagome was silent for a moment, and Inuyasha watched as her eyes started to return to normal. Her dark chocolate eyes fixed on him more clearly. "Inuyasha?" she whispered.

"I'm right here," he mumbled. He held onto her as he watched her eyes roll to the back of her head.

Kagome passed out instantly and Inuyasha watched for a long while the rise and fall of her chest. Once he was sure that she was just sleeping, he tucked her under the covers and made a phone call. It didn't last long however, and Inuyasha returned to the sleeping Kagome confused and more worried than ever about her safety.

Miroku sat in the interrogation room without complaint. He was worried –extremely worried– about what would happen to him. However, he was terrified of facing Sango's wrath, when she found out, a whole lot more. Maybe that was a bad thing to say since the amount of trouble he was probably in was huge, but Miroku couldn't shake the thought of Sango from his head.

The door opened, and in walked the Captain of Briscoe PD. Miroku recognized him from the lobby, when they had passed by on the first day. The man held a strong presence, but there was something about him that was off. He looked to…subtle. There wasn't anything strong about him. Nothing that stood out. He was a cop, but he sure didn't look like one. Maybe that was because Miroku was used to the characters Kagome painted in his head: the police officers that were rugged, torn, and usually overcome with some sort of personal dilemma. Every story had to include a personal dilemma. It was almost impossible these days to read a book that didn't include one.

"Miroku Tsujitani, correct?" the captain said, shaking him out of his thoughts.

"Yes, that's me," Miroku said awkwardly. "How can I help?"

"I'm Captain Menomaru Seki," the man said. "You can tell me why you made that phone call."

"I heard her scream," Miroku said instantly.

Menomaru shook his head, laughing. "Really? Because my men talked to every single person in this hotel and no one, even the people who admitted to being awake, heard anything."

"I have good hearing then," Miroku said casually. "I thought there was trouble."

Menomaru sighed. "You claimed in the phone call that there had been a murder. Do I need to replay the conversation for you? I have it right here."

"My mind got the best of me," Miroku defended himself, feeling hot all over. "I watch a lot of cop shows, plus I'm an agent for one of the best murder writers of the decade. It's bound to happen." Miroku watched the man glare at him, and his usual not-there temper suddenly flared. He wasn't under arrest for anything, so why the accusation?

"Are you sure you didn't do it yourself?"

Miroku was about to yell. His temper had been reached. The captain had no right to hold him there, throwing accusations at him, although he admitted it was suspicious. Menomaru was throwing accusations wildly and Miroku was going to leave.

"It's not him," a familiar voice said and Miroku turned his head sharply, watching the intruder enter the room. Immediately, Miroku's anger dissipated.

"Sesshomaru?"

Alright. Another end to another chapter. Things are going to come a lot more together now, with Inuyasha and Kagome in the more main plot with the sub-plots only there for added purposes. It took awhile, but I had to get things rolling.

Please review and tell me what you think, WitchyGirl99.