Chapter 17

Hiroki collects the information from the hair that Toga provided him a few days ago. As such, it only took him two days to pull it off. He arrives at the manor to give Toga his discovery. Toga smiles to have him back so soon. "How did it go?" Toga starts off as they go into his office. "This is something for the record books, Toga." Hiroki smiles back as he pulls his brief case that not only has the sample but also a hard drive inside. He hands the hard drive to Toga. Toga plugs it onto his computer and waits for Hiroki to give him further instructions. Hiroki takes a seat by the other side of the massive desk. Toga gives Hiroki the mouse so he can show the results with the projector showing on the blank white wall of the office.

"So what were you able to find out about the hair sample?" Toga asks him. Hiroki clicks onto the folder that has the name "Sample" on it. He clicks and it looks like it's a presentation of some sort. He opens the document. "For starters this hair sample shows that it is from Kikyo Miko. But there's one thing about it though." Hiroki speaks so far. "Like what?" Toga encourages him to keep going. Hiroki clicks for the next page. "The moment I started the research, somehow the hair changed color." Hiroki explains to him. "How is it that it changed color?" Toga wonders. Hiroki clicks to the next page to show the difference. "The hair turned gray. Like as it aged rapidly within seconds." Hiroki gives the details seriously.

Toga laces his clawed fingers. "Interesting. Do you think that Kikyo is actually older than she is when Inuyasha was with her?" He glances at the researcher. "Probably. From your son's friend was able to find on her own was that Kikyo died from a drug overdose ten years ago." Toga nods. "Yes. The drug she took were opioids. Before her death, she was a smart student, had many colleges and universities wanting her to attend." He gives his information he received from Sango.

"I'm curious as in why Kikyo looks like she's at the age instead of decomposing?" Hiroki holds his chin in a thinking manner. All of a sudden, Toga's cell phone goes off. Toga sees that it's the council that's calling him. He gestures Hiroki to remain silent as he answers the phone with the speaker up. "Toga Takahashi." Toga spoke to whoever it from the council that is calling. "Toga, you need to be here immediately." A female voice speaks to him seriously. "May I ask why you need my presence at the council?" Toga asks her. "There's a problem with the Student Exchange Program. It needs your immediate attention." She said to him more frantically. "I'm on my way." Toga hangs up.

Hiroki knows fully well about Toga being the leader of the Council. "Why would they need you for the program?" He asks Toga. "Toga shrugs his shoulders. "Beats me. I won't be long. But if you want to come with me that's fine. Maybe your research could be useful to them." Toga grabs his coat as well as Hiroki gathers his stuff.

Toga and Hiroki head to the council building which happens to be pagoda temple since it was founded by Toga and Midoriko. Toga parks his car and heads into the temple with Hiroki beside him. "Master Toga. I'm relieved you're here. Oh, who do we have here?" One of the workers welcomes the two bowing to them. "Hello Fumiko. This here is my associate Hiroki Tugio. I hope you don't mind he attends this meeting with us." Toga and Hiroki bow back to her. "Oh of course. Right this way." Fumiko leads them to the assigned room where the meeting is taking place. She opens the sliding doors and steps aside to let Toga and Hiroki in. Toga can see that few members of the councils are lined up with a pathway in the middle for him to walk along with Hiroki. He sits in his chair due to his status. He instructs Hiroki to sit next to him.

"All my council members, I'm here like you requested. What is so importance that requires my presence?" Toga spoke in a business attitude. One of the members stands. "My lord. Something happened with the Student Exchange Program." Toga can see it's a demon from the dragon tribe. They are tasks to protect the archives. "What's going on with the program, Shiro?" Toga asks him. Shiro uses his power to make a projector hologram to present to the group. "From what I was able to find is that one of the students isn't really the real student." Shiro tells him. Toga hmms. "Care to explain how this happened?" He asks the dragon. Shiro nods. "The student is Kikyo Miko. And from what I was able to find out is that she's a specter." He tells Toga.

Toga nods. "I see. Well for what you were able to find would actually match what my associate here was able to find out about her." Toga smiles as he looks up at Hiroki to show his results. Hiroki nods and shows the results with the projector sheet falling down slowly and putting the hard drive and show the group what he showed Toga earlier. "For what I was about to discover about Kikyo is true on your part. As you can see that the moment, I began my research with the hair sample Toga's son's friend was able to achieve, it changed color within seconds from black to gray. For her to be specter could be a result of a dead body to decompose with the hair being the first to lose their color." Hiroki explains his research.

Shiro can understand the information as well as the other members of the council. "Tell me, Hiroki do you know how long that Kikyo died?" Shiro asks him. Hiroki shows the room the article about her death. "According to this news article, Kikyo died from a drug overdose ten years ago. The drug was opioids." He answers adamantly. That made the members murmur among themselves quietly. "Silence." Toga shouts to quiet down the room. "As you all should know, Hiroki was with me before you called me over. As such I'm fully informed about what Hiroki showed back at home. Shiro what you provided me has confirmed my suspicious for Hiroki's work."

"Now the only thing we need to know how Kikyo was revived and remained the age she died." Toga spoke to the group. A different member of the council stands up. "I'll volunteer." The member said as he raised his hand. Toga looks at him with an uneasy look. "Are you sure you can do this, Onigumo?" Toga questions him. He learned that Onigumo is the newest member of the council and there isn't much about his background other than being a human. Onigumo bows down. "If you allow me to do this task, I'll give the information as soon as possible." He vows to Toga.

Shiro doesn't seem to like him. "We cannot trust him. He may be new, but he didn't provide his information like the rest of us have. Which is a required to be a member." Shiro sad angrily with his arms crossed. Toga can tell how Shiro is with anyone else who would try to do something that is necessary to get to the bottom of the issue. Hiroki can feel the intensity in the room. "Master Toga. What is your recommendation? Shiro turns to Toga.

Toga narrows his eyes. "Onigumo, when you signed up to be a part of this council, you were supposed to fill in the files that is required for us to know your identity, contact information as well as your address. And since you didn't fill it, I'm going to have to remove you from the group due to the lack there of." He said that seriously. Onigumo doesn't seem surprised of disappointed. That made Shiro look at him with suspicion. "It was never my intention to provide the information because it's classified. It's a personal manner." Onigumo explains his reason.

"I'm sorry, but there's something I might consider." Toga said to him. "If you can find out how Kikyo is revived, I'll make an exception about your documents." Onigumo smiles gladly. "I'm deeply honored." Toga doesn't return the gesture. "But you will not do this task alone." Onigumo didn't see this coming. "You will be accompanied by my associate Hiroki. He's very knowledgeable for what he was able to discover about Kikyo Miko. As such you are to gather as much detail as you can." Toga orders him. "Yes sir." Onigumo bows to him. "This meeting is dismissed until you and Hiroki are summoned back here." Toga calls out to the room.

The room empties out, Toga and Hiroki get into his car to head back to the manor. "Hiroki, Onigumo isn't one to be trusted due to his seclusive behavior. Shiro was sure of it." Toga explains so far. Hiroki nods. "Yes, Shiro wasn't agreeable about his suggestion." Toga keeps his focus on the road. "Exactly. And due to the application that he didn't fill out, I was skeptical about him. And due to your technology to get DNA samples, I thought that you could go undercover to get as much information as well." Toga gives his idea at hand.

Hiroki gets it now. "I guess no one really trust Onigumo." He comments to Toga. "He's human. I can tell you that. But there's something off about him though." Toga said to him as he pulls into the garage. Hiroki asks him. "How can you tell the difference between human and demons?" Toga taps his nose. "This tells me by their scent. For demons they have a rougher scent. Humans are more smoother." Toga gives him the fact. Hiroki. "You have my word." He bows to Toga and heads back home. Toga knows for sure that this task is not going to be easy.