InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Madman ❯ Chapter 7 - Hidden Discoveries ( Chapter 7 )

Madman

By Rinseternalsoul

**Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, and I make no profit from writing fanfiction..

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Chapter 7 - Hidden Discoveries

That shower felt absolutely sinful it was so good. Kagome smiled at the fresh clean feeling, finished toweling her long hair, and then wrapped the towel snuggly around her body. She was a little unsure how to handle the situation with her clothes, however. She had planned to put on her slacks and slip back into the satin halter-top, but unfortunately, after dusting the entire cabin, they were both filthy. Her undergarments were now hanging from the shower rod, dripping onto the porcelain tub, but at least they would be clean for tomorrow.

After combing out her hair, Kagome was startled by a low grumbling which originated in her poor empty tummy. Thinking back, she was sure that she had not eaten since breakfast, and even then it wasn't much. She had been so upset over Eri's death that her appetite was practically non-existent, but now, after such a strenuous day and cleaning the cabin, she once more found her body craving food.

Kagome walked into her bedroom, looked at the filthy clothing piled in the corner, and then glanced at the door. She really didn't want to put those dirty clothes back on, but the only alternative would be to wear the towel. With a frustrated shake of her head, Kagome argued mentally over her dilemma.

Should she waltz out there in the towel, put on the filthy pantsuit, or just go to bed hungry?

Her stomach chose that moment to throw in its two cents worth. After the second, rather loud rumble, she narrowed her choices, because there was no way that she was going to bed hungry. That arrogant jerk was torturing her enough by dragging her around at his whim. She would be darned if she suffered starvation for his sake!

So, that left the option of donning the dirty clothes or leaving on the damp towel. Finally with a very temperamental growl, Kagome decided that she was not about to put back on dirty clothing after having just had a nice refreshing bath. Sesshomaru would just have to get over it. Besides, he thought himself above all humans, and no doubt, her exposure of mortal flesh would do nothing more than disgust him.

So with her mind made up, Kagome stalked over to the bedroom door and snatched it open.

Sesshomaru was sitting in the den, taking a moment to clear his mind of all the newly stored information now floating around in there. The computer data that he gathered was mostly useless, but there were several interesting leads that could, possibly, direct him to the ones responsible for this whole sordid affair. Needless to say, after hours of searching through pages of text, his eyes were feeling the strain, and he finally decided to call it an evening.

After settling himself on the low sitting sofa, he stretched his left leg out, keeping his right bent at the knee. After pulling his shirt loose from his pants, he unbuttoned it, then leaned back before closing his eyes. He began the process of pushing all the troublesome thoughts temporarily from his mind, in hopes of getting a decent nights rest, before beginning once again in the morning. It was really all he could do at the moment, as his experience through the ages taught him that it was most advantageous to develop a battle plan before initiating the attack.

It was late, and all was quiet in the cabin, save for the sounds of crickets singing outside, accompanied by the occasional hooting of an owl. At first it was a pleasant change from the constant noisy barrage of the city, but now he found that the absence of technologies hum, honking horns, and roaring engines in the distance, had the opposite effect of lulling him to sleep. Instead he decided that it was too quiet. Strange that, because once there was a time in his life where the noise and hubbub of the city was a most unwelcome thing. It was easy to remember days of walking in vast expanses of forested lands with only the sound of a little girl's chatter, and the occasional grumbling of a ridiculous toad, to mar the silence.

His highly sensitive hearing then picked up the sounds of his latest, by necessity only, companion lightly shuffling about in her room. A smirk curved the corner of his lip when he heard her mumbling of, mostly, incoherent words. It seemed the wench was once more blaming him over her lack of wardrobe.

Just when she grew quiet, he relaxed, finally thinking the girl had given up her muffled tirade and retired to her bed. His golden eyes flew wide when she surprised him by proclaiming a growl of spiked temper. Once again he wondered at the strange human woman, who could boast a growl comparable to a small hungry predator.

His surprise quickly soared into complete and utter shock when said mortal flung the bedroom door open and stormed out.

In nothing but a flimsy towel.

This promptly brought his reclined head rigidly back up, in direct contrast to the remainder of his form, which still appeared completely relaxed, belying the truth of it all. In reality, Sesshomaru was paralyzed completely, save his head and neck, which followed the miko on her stormy path into the open kitchen.

By his ancestors, he had never seen such a brazen wench in all of his long life. She knew quite well that she was traipsing about right in front of him, exposing him to her human flesh. It was simply abhorable the way the slip of cloth rode high over her long smooth and nicely shaped legs. How dare the woman think to force the delicate slope of her creamy shoulders to his youkai eyes!

He blinked just as she turned away, depriving him from the horrible sight of her lush round breasts, bound low in nothing but a slip of white terrycloth. The temporary salvation offered when the miko turned away, swiftly morphed into a living nightmare upon the opening of his eyes only to find her reaching up toward the top shelf in an attempt to grasp a can stored there. The obnoxious towel refused to cooperate and rose high on the girls' hips, inadvertently giving him a glimpse of the disgustingly delightful swell of her round bottom.

The growl erupted deep from within his chest before Sesshomaru even realized the threat of it breaking free.

Kagome felt the blast of cool air to her butt at almost the exact moment that a deep, disturbing, growl erupted from her, otherwise, silent companion. With speed bordering on youkai ability, she reached back to snatch the bottom of the towel down and at the same time abandoned her attempt to reach beyond the limits of her flimsy covering. Unfortunately the desperate action only served to loosen the twist at the top that was keeping the towel wrapped around her body.

With a gasp of horror, Kagome moved her hands just in time to grab the darn thing at her hips and snatch it back into place. She was flaming with embarrassment. Completely mortified! But her humility only lasted a brief moment before anger set in.

"Woman, this Sesshomaru has no wish to look upon your mortal flesh!"

Kagome rounded on him in a fury, tightly grasping her towel around her slight frame. Her lovely face, which was scrubbed clean and bare of all makeup, was illuminated with a bright crimson flush. All of this he barely took in before she lashed out with a verbal snap. "You arrogant prick!"

Interesting choice of words, especially since his own 'prick' was now hard and throbbing.

Kagome was absolutely livid. She had just flashed her goods at Lord Sesshomaru, and as if that was not bad enough, the snobby youkai had to go and bark out a snide comment about it! As if she were exposing herself to him on purpose or something! How dare he?!

"You, Lord Sesshomaru, or Shuusaka Taisho, or my own personal favorite: 'stuck up jerk', are the most infuriating, self-centered, ass that I have ever had the displeasure to know! This is all your fault anyway! If you were even remotely a gentleman, you would have provided me with something to wear, or at least offered to get the stupid can of tuna down from the shelf for me! But NO, you are too good for all that, so instead I'm stuck out here in the wilderness with no clothing, nothing to do, and food that comes from a can!"

He heard enough.

Before the insolent wench could blink an eye he had her flipped around, bent, and her face planted rather roughly against the kitchen counter. With weak human nails, she clawed at the hand that was grasping the back of her neck, and struggled uselessly against his dominant power with futile struggling movements of her hips and legs.

"Wench," he growled, while trying to ignore the suddenly bent and vulnerable female body moving against him, "you will not disrespect me in such a manner unless you wish to forfeit your life!" Unfortunately his threats were rather hollow, because Sesshomaru was fast losing the battle to remain unresponsive to the wriggling little female. Despite his best efforts to control it, he could no longer hide the fact that his flesh had forsaken him, leaving him with a large, rigid, and aching erection, which was currently pressing delightfully against the miko's warm, squirming, ass.

Kagome went still, first with fright when he attacked, and then in shock.

Wildly her mind tried to rationalize what was happening. Sesshomaru was threatening her life... again, and he was insulting her... again, but according to the very hard bulge now pressing against her backside, he was hiding the truth. For all the harsh words and degrading comments concerning her human body, Sesshomaru had obviously been more effected by the towel incident than he wanted her to know.

Sesshomaru, the arrogant taiyoukai, was turned on by her human body.

At first, the idea was almost laughable, but then it began to swim into a more disturbing collection of thoughts. Her body grew hot and her breathing quickened when she felt the brush of his warm breath on the exposed column of her neck.

Suddenly, Sesshomaru abruptly released her, and before she could even right herself, he was gone into his room, shutting the door rather harshly behind him. Kagome was so shaken that she slid right down into a heap in the floor. She sat there for a time, leaning against the cabinet doors and trying to still her erratically beating heart.

The comprehension of what just happened left her bewildered. He was so cold, always standoffish and untouchable, tossing insults and orders without batting harsh a golden eye, yet something had happened tonight that gave her a new view of the taiyoukai. He became aroused... by her.

Dear Kami above.

Sesshomaru snarled as he ripped open his bag, digging carelessly through the clothes that had been neatly folded there. That infuriating creature had affected him more than he had ever dreamed possible. Not only by her flagrant disregard for his authority and position, but with her smooth curves and soft swells as well. His traitorous body denied him control, leaving him with this unsatisfied need and exposing his weakness to the miko responsible!

He was doing fine, controlling his reactions, until the towel rode up, and then nearly fell to the floor completely. The vision of her soft round cheeks, perched atop smooth, firm thighs, almost caused his heart to still, but when the silly twit panicked, snatching the towel nearly off her body, he knew that she was intent on driving him mad.

Sesshomaru stopped his infuriated search and drew in a deep, calming breath, before releasing it slowly from his chest. The vision of her sculptured back, and the slim curve of her waist, swam unwelcome in his head. He could still, clearly, see the creamy mound of her partially exposed breast, as she reached to capture the slipping towel just before it fell to the floor. It was insanity that he could feel this way about a mortal. Especially this particular mortal!

It was with resigned acceptance to the torturous days ahead that Sesshomaru decided to retire to his bed.

Kagome pulled herself up from the floor, never once thinking of her still empty stomach, as her mind was bombarded with the flood of thoughts now brewing in there. The knowledge that Sesshomaru was not as completely unaffected by her human body as he claimed, was almost more than she could grasp. Had he always been this way? Did he, like Inuyasha, always spout things from his mouth that were in complete opposition of his true feelings? Did Lord Sesshomaru harbor a secret side, a side that was not cold and unfeeling?

Thoughts of a little human girl named Rin, danced merrily through her memories. Rin was such a sweet, pleasant child, happily following her beloved Sesshomaru-sama through the years. She was polite and carefree, full of unwavering confidence in her lord. She was devoted to him with every bone in her little body, even risking her life, in those turbulent times, whenever she was needed. Rin was special, accepting Sesshomaru, a full youkai, as her own personal guardian and savior, leaving everyone who crossed their path bewildered at the oddity of her choice in companions. Why did she love him? How could she love him?

The truly odd thing about it had been Sesshomaru's devotion to her. He, a full blooded youkai lord, dubbed as the Aristocratic Assassin no less, had accepted the little human girl into his pack, protecting and providing for her as if she were his own. It was a quandary that had been discussed in fervor many times around a feudal era campfire. No one understood his acceptance of Rin's presence. Inuyasha seemed very surprised at first, but then feigned disinterest in his half-brother's choice of companions. He refused to comment on it all, claiming that he, quote, "did not give a damn." It didn't stop the rest of them from gossiping about it on occasion, especially after the random run in with Sesshomaru and his entourage.

Could it be that he really didn't detest humans as much as he proclaimed?

Remembering Rin now, made Kagome wonder if Sesshomaru really did have some amount of kindness hidden deep inside his icy heart. Perhaps there was more to him than any of them imagined? Did he really consider Rin as a mere servant girl, or was she more like a daughter to the stoic and solitary man?

Strangely enough, Kagome was beginning to see it that way.

She opened her bedroom door and slipped inside. Slowly, with heavy feet, she made her way over to the bed with all intentions of dropping the stupid towel in the floor and going straight to sleep, because now she was thoroughly exhausted. When she moved to pull the covers back, Kagome froze, her eyes refusing to believe what lay there before her.

A large, crisp, white, cotton T-shirt.

Her hand reached down, and her fingers closed around the soft material. She then looked up toward the bathroom door that joined her room to his.

Sesshomaru had come into her room and left her a shirt to wear. The taiyoukai, who minutes ago threatened her life, had given her one of his own undershirts to put on.

Now, more than ever before, Kagome understood that there was, indeed, more to Sesshomaru than anyone ever suspected.

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Detective Kobayashi Naoaki reached out and ripped the yellow police tape from the doorjamb before unlocking the brass lock and stepping inside. A whistle of appreciation slipped from his lips when he flipped the light switch and looked around. Impressive. It positively reeked of wealth and power. Taisho Shuusaka had big money, and it was obvious by looking around his penthouse apartment.

If there had been any reports of ransom requests, he would not have been surprised. That, was the problem. Not one correspondence had been passed concerning a ransom for Mister Taisho. Why? Why would he be kidnapped if there was no desire for ransom?

It could have been a hit. Yes, the possibility was there, and rather great, that Shussaka had made enemies over the years. He was renowned as a ruthless businessman, plowing over those hapless individuals who stood in his way to the top. It was entirely possible that he angered the wrong person, thus inviting an attempt on his life.

It was a scenario that Kobayashi would not completely rule out, but he was almost positive it was not the case here. If someone wanted Taisho dead, they would have found his body right alongside that of his driver, with a bullet through his head. It was too suspicious that the victim disappeared so completely, making him wonder what purpose could have been behind it all.

The man's connection to Wannabe Eri was too strong, and her own connection to the murder of the other young women, formed a chain of deception and danger that the long time detective could not ignore. They were connected, somehow. He was sure of it.

As he walked around the massive apartment suite, admiring the collection of original paintings on the walls, and briefly stopping to sweep a hand over the back of a huge white Italian leather sofa, Detective Kobayashi pondered his latest discovery. Two of the women killed were considered miko's. Not a common thing at all in modern day Japan, but never-the-less a common trait between two of the victims.

His trip to the shrine had been fruitful, but visiting the home of Kajima Chihoko's parents, was a hard thing to do. The small shrine where they resided was tucked away in a run down area of old Tokyo, and with the death of their only daughter, he imagined the place would now fall to ruin.

The elderly couple was not taking the loss well at all. Their fragile, aged faces, wore the pain like an open wound. He had been in the business too long to remain oblivious to what that kind of pain could do. It would fester and rot, draining their will to live, until one day soon, either the gentle old man or his sweet timid wife, would pass on to the next life. With nothing left to live for, the remaining member of the family would give up their soul to death, all too closely behind. The bastards that killed these young ladies did not only kill them, but they snubbed out the lives of their loved ones as well.

With an angry growl he turned his complete focus back on the task at hand. Somewhere, there had to be a lead. Something had to break, giving him the chance to stop the person, or persons, responsible for these heinous crimes. Naoaki just prayed that it would be before another dead girl was found.

Higurashi Kagome, the other miko, was still missing, with not one report coming in concerning her abduction. Just two hours ago he phoned her mother, in order to keep her up to date. It was getting pretty damned hard to listen to her sweet voice drowning in tears. He tried to relieve her fears a little, by assuring her that he was hard on the case, but nothing could put her at ease, not with her daughter still missing and a serial killer on the loose.

He had been surprised at his own strange reactions to the lady. Higurashi Maya was a beauty in her own right. He had to admit that her gentle demeanor, and her passionate love for her children, affected him more than he would like. He felt the need to comfort her for some damn crazy reason. It was pretty odd, because he dealt with the family of victims all the time, but never before was he willing to step beyond the boundary of detective in order to offer a little strength to a distressed woman. She was different somehow. Her big brown eyes, lit up with tears, had given him a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, and for some reason he wanted to take them away and see her smile.

"Rubbish," he grumbled at his stray thoughts, before kneeling down to look beneath the massive cherry wood bed. The rooms were kept immaculately clean, but there was clutter spread here and there as a result of the police search that had already taken place. An effort that came up blank, but Kobayashi refused to give up on the notion that they may have missed something somewhere. He opened the door leading to a bathroom fit for a king, but moved to the next door, which led to a monstrous walk-in-closet. Along the walls were dozens of dark suits, shirts, and silk ties in an abundance of colors. Along the floor, neatly aligned, were rows of shiny dress shoes in black, as well as several shades of brown. On the right, there were three black umbrellas, leaning neatly in the corner. Up on the shelves were a variety of scattered items, all of which had been plundered through in the search for clues. Naoaki ignored that mess, and continued his perusal.

He slipped his hand into the breast pocket of several high quality men's jackets, finding nothing at all. He skipped a few then tried again, and in one he pulled out a phone number with the name 'Sakira' scribbled beneath it, and smelling of expensive perfume. Obviously a feminine interest. In the gossip scene, Taisho was known to be a well sought after bachelor, and Naoaki didn't doubt one bit that he had women falling at his feet. Never-the-less, he pocketed the number, just in case. He would have someone check it out later.

He stooped down to pickup a bag of very expensive golf clubs. Hell, he didn't play golf himself, but any idiot could see that the ones he held in his hands were very well made. Heck even the damn bag looked like it cost a small fortune. With a huff he started to lay them back against the wall, when something odd caught his eye. On the floor, in the right corner, where the clubs had been resting, was a small cylinder the exact same color of the floor. It was almost unnoticeable, and had he not stood here looking at the clubs, he would never have seen it at all. What was it, and why was it here? He put the bag of clubs to the side, pulled out a tiny flashlight from his pocket and flipped it on, before kneeling down to get a closer look.

Odd. It looked like a button or something. A button to what? What did it do?

Half hoping that it wasn't some sort of secret alarm that the department overlooked on their previous trip, Detective Kobayashi Naoaki stood up and pressed his foot down on the mysterious button.

He jumped when the wall at the end of the closet began to mechanically move, sliding away before his eyes. When it stopped, with a barely audible click, a dim light automatically switched on leading into a short narrow corridor. Kobayashi cautiously stepped inside, searching the space with inquisitive eyes. He looked for any signs of danger, switch wires, or anything that could basically get his ass killed. Seeing nothing, he continued inside the passageway that led to another door. This one was made of bamboo and stretched across it was a delicate and intricately painted shoji door.

He slowly slid the door open and stepped into a hidden room and his mouth gaped open when he looked around. Here, in this secret room he found the most amazing things.

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Juria stepped up to the edge of the cliff overlooking the vast forest and mountains beyond. Somewhere out there was her miko, and she was determined to find her.

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A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter of Madman. I really, really, appreciate all of you who have been reading it, and those of you who have reviewed receive my most humble gratitude. I love to hear from you. Your comments give me inspiration and the excitement needed to go on. Thank you all so much!

In case any of you are interested, I posted a new short story last week. It is a Rin/Sess 3-chapter fic, full of very naughty hentai fetish fun. The title is 'Club Fetish', Rated NC-17, and it's posted on both Mediaminer and Fichaven, so hop over there and check it out for a panty drenching good time.

Next update: The search for the miko continues, and Juria is faced with traipsing through the wilderness. Detective Kobayashi is astounded at what he finds in Shuusaka Taisho's hidden room, and Sesshomaru is disturbed from his rest when Kagome has a strange dream. Until then~

Rinseternalsoul@msn.com