InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Madman ❯ Chapter 14 - The Animal Within ( Chapter 14 )

Madman

By Rinseternalsoul

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

Chapter 14 - The Animal Within

A/N: I am thrilled to issue my thanks to all those IY fans who voted for Madman in the 2nd Qtr. 2006 Inuyasha Fanguild Awards!

It placed:

2nd for Best Characterization - Sesshomaru (Yay! This one really makes me giddy!)

3rd place for Best Action-Adventure

3rd place for Best A/U

I have to say that I am absolutely tickled that Madman was favored by so many of you. It means so much to me to have your support. I promise to do my best in meeting your high expectations of Madman as well as all of my future stories!

I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners of the IYFG 2nd Qtr. 2006 Awards. You earned it! WOOT!

"Look Kouga - you don't mind if I call you Kouga do you? - I feel a connection here between Taisho and Higurashi Kagome that go beyond what appears on the surface. Something's telling me that the connection I'm looking for could lead me to our missing girl. It's a gut feeling that only comes with twenty-five years of hard-earned experience. You say you know this girl. If you care for her life at all, you'll come clean on what you know."

Kouga leaned back on Sesshomaru's finely crafted parlor chair and studied the detective thoughtfully. How much could he trust him with? From what he had learned so far, a serial killer was collecting any young females in the area with miko powers. For whatever reason they needed them, it couldn't be good.

Then there was the Dog. How did Sesshomaru fit in this scheme? Why would someone collect and kill a bunch of miko's then kidnap an inuyoukai? Kouga's nose curled with distaste. Something stunk, and it wasn't Sesshomaru's un-fucking-believably clean penthouse suite.

The detective sitting across from him was honestly concerned for Kagome. He could see it in the graying circles under the human's dark expressive eyes. The wolf prince clenched his hands by his sides, fiercely trying to keep the rumbling growl of anger at bay. After all these centuries he finally discovers an era where Kagome is alive, and now some sick bastards had taken her from him. It royally pissed him off. Fortunately, time and age had taught him a few things, and one was to control his raging instincts. Humans could turn real ugly, real fast if they suddenly discovered that they weren't at the top of the food chain like they thought.

Secrecy was imperative for their survival. Could he risk the exposure of their species? The fact that Sesshomaru was a youkai could be very important to the investigation. It could lead them faster to Kagome.

Damn. He wished he had that super-duper mind control stuff like they used in all those vampire-werewolf novels. Then he could wipe out the guy's memory after they found Kagome. Shit. The only thing he could do was knock the guy half-senseless and make him think that he was delusional. Hey... that might work... Kouga shook his head. Nah. Can't do that. Human bodies are weak. It would be his luck that the blow would kill the guy, and for some reason, he kind of liked the detective. Maybe that was because he wanted to save Kagome? Doesn't matter.

Was the pitiful number of youkai left in this world worth the life of one human girl?

That was the real question. His answer came to him with little more thought than that.

The pure young innocent miko that he remembered so well was worth every single, sorry, youkai life. Not one of them alive was truly without sin. Hell, he himself had committed horrible atrocities on mankind with little consequence to himself. He preferred not to think on the terror and pain he and his pack, in their younger years, once delivered down to the humans in their territory.

After meeting Kagome he could never set his wolves on a human village again. As the years passed many of his clan even found their mates in mortal women. Good, honorable mothers and lovers. He was shamed to think that he once hunted such fragile, lovely creatures. He shuddered to think that one of his kind could have claimed Kagome beneath their fangs, robbing him of the privilege of knowing her.

Yes. Kagome was worth the risk. She fought for good and she had the sweetest ass he had ever seen on a female. She was worth every bit of it.

"You're right detective. I do know something that might help. Something that could put many, many lives in danger, especially yours, and mine." Kouga sought his face for signs of deceit. Anything, any reason that he should not trust this man with the secret of youkai. He found nothing. Only the eager frustration to get on with it.

Kouga began, "What I am about to tell you may be disturbing, hell, it's gonna blow your mind, but it's the tru...."

The shrill ring of a cell phone interrupted the silence of the room. Detective Kobayashi Naoshi grinned sheepishly, and grabbed for his phone. "Sorry. I need to get this."

Kouga suppressed the urge to knock some sense into the mortal, because he was pretty damn sure that nothing could be as important as what he was about to reveal. Naoshi said his greeting and Kouga could hear a male voice frantically speaking on the other end. Suddenly Naoshi went rigid and absently scooted to the very edge of his seat. His brows rose high, and then went deep into a frown. Then suddenly he flipped his notebook and scribbled an address.

"Stay put. I'll be there in twenty minutes." Naoshi flipped his phone shut and pocketed it thoughtlessly. He looked up and met the keen curiosity of Kouga Ookami, then said, "Kagome has been spotted." Ookami bolted up with excitement, and Naoshi stood as well, while holding his hands up in a placating manner. "BUT, she has been kidnapped again."

"FUCK! What the fucking hell?!" Kouga growled with a fury.

"Calm down! Follow me and I'll explain along the way," Naoshi called, as he headed for the front door in a flurry of beige coat-tails trailing behind him. Kouga wasted no time in catching up, and in minutes they were taking the elevator down. Kouga was impatient, and knew that he could have simply jumped to the ground level from the rooftop, but the cop was human, and thanks to the interruption, was still in the dark about the existence of youkai. Better take the elevator.

On the seemingly endless ride down it gave the detective time to fill Kouga in on what he knew.

"That call came from a man by the name of Kishimoto Rishou. He's a friend of Kagome who I've spoken to concerning her disappearance. He was pretty broken up about her kidnapping. I suspect they may have been in a relationship, but he insisted they were only friends." Kouga's eyes narrowed into a wild and dangerous blue. Naoshi noted the fact and began to wonder just how close Ookami and the missing miko had been in the past.

"Apparently, Kagome and Taisho paid Kishimoto a surprise visit earlier in the evening. Both were alive and well, but claimed to be running from - and this is the hard part to believe - a military division headed by General Matsuno Hotaka." Naoshi explained with a shake of his head.

The FYI meant shit to him. He only had one concern. Kouga cut in anxiously, unable to wait. "What about Kagome? What happened to her?"

"Hold on. I'm getting there. Approximately twenty minutes ago a group of heavily armed men busted into Rishou's apartment, shooting up the place. Kagome was taken, and Taisho's whereabouts are unknown."

"What about Kagome?! Was she hurt?" Kouga growled with increasing frustration.

"Not sure, son. We can only hope she's well."

Kagome glared daggers at the cold, evil, bitch that sat across from her on the helicopter. She was pretty sure she had never hated anyone as much as she did that woman. Juria. She was smug and demure as she confidently grazed her dark eyes over Kagome as if she were being weighed against some insane checklist. It really pissed her off.

Cussing was so not her, but at the moment she was completely furious. And scared as hell. But she refused to think on that at the moment. For now, she was just furious. Juria shot Sesshomaru. She was forced to watch him falling helplessly from the sky until his body smashed into the ground with devastating force. Did he survive? Kami, please let him have survived. He was the only one who could save her.

He looked so broken. She shuddered against her will, and something inside her began to ache. It must have been so painful. Again Kagome's eyes shot back to Juria. She was a beautiful woman, with high cheekbones set delicately beneath dark hypnotic eyes. Unfortunately, those eyes held a darkness that had nothing to do with color. She carried herself with the confidence of a seasoned soldier, and it made Kagome feel much less than adequate to defeat her in a fight.

Oh, Kagome could fight, and fight pretty well. There was no way not to learn when she was in the constant company of warriors. Sango and Miroku had taught her self-defense and even a few offensive moves, but Kagome wasn't delusional. Juria would whip her butt. So fighting was out. Not to mention, even if she did manage to overpower her, there was Mr. Creepy sitting beside her. He carried a variety of knives strapped to various parts of his black combat suit. He had empty eyes. Eyes that could kill without so much as a care.

A chill ran up her spine.

Then there was the problem of the helicopter. She was a miko, not a darn pilot. She had no hope of landing it on her own. Who am I kidding? I would never make it that far.

Poor Sesshomaru. He must be in terrible pain. She wanted so badly to know if he was okay. Juria seemed to know this, and it pleased her. Kagome scrunched her nose up and pried the corner of her top lip up in a sneer. She would not show them how scared she was. She would not let them know how worried she was for Sesshomaru.

He survived the Wind Scar.

Common sense was telling her that Sesshomaru had suffered greater injuries than that fall, but the practical knowledge of it just wasn't helping. She had not felt such a connection with another since she was snatched from the Sengoku Jidai. Sesshomaru was stirring feelings that had grown dormant in her body since she lost Inuyasha. He felt it too. She was sure of it. The way he kissed her...

She had felt his need and his loneliness in that kiss. Where would it lead? Would they survive this to find out?

Kagome's thoughts were brought up short when Juria began shouting orders to the pilot of the aircraft. Apparently they had arrived at their destination.

Rishou placed two calls. First he called his homey, Tai and told him to grab a couple of the guys and get their asses to his apartment as fast as they could. Then, he called the Detective. He gave Kobayashi the bare facts, unsure of how much to reveal, but it was necessary to call him. Despite the fact that some kind of non-human - for lack of a better word, was, possibly, dying in his guest bedroom. By the Great Buddha, he had no explanation for that one.

After the guys arrived, he brought them out to the place where Taisho lay. He warned them about the eyes, but it freaked them out just about as bad as it had him the first time he saw them. Not human. The hair stood on the nape of his neck just thinking about the erie glow as they watched them, helplessly, while they moved his body. He never made a sound, but Rishou suspected that it had something to do with the shot he took to the chest. Whatever it was brought the big guy down hard and he had yet to move.

Of course, the answer could be that his back was broken, or neck. That could cause paralysis. Hell, he didn't know, all he knew was that the look in those eyes spelled death. If he somehow survives, there will be blood to pay for what was done tonight.

Underneath the panic and the shock, Rishou was almost insane with worry for Kagome. Those fucking bastards took her right out from under their nose! By the Gods, he hoped they could get to her in time.

Rishou looked down at the alien being lying on his bedroom floor. He realized that Taisho was regaining some amount of his mobility back, because he was soon able to blink. Rishou watched in amazement, and a little bit of fear. What was he? Was he youkai? Or some alien from another planet? The movement of those crimson slashed eyelids only served to make Taisho more formidable looking, even though he was obviously severely handicapped at the moment.

A low rumble from his chest gave Rishou's heart a start. It was like a wounded animal. One that would rip you apart if you dared to get too close. What the hell was he supposed to do with him? He needed a doctor, but what kind of doctor? Could a human doctor even help something like Taisho?

Rishou took a steadying breath and shook his head. He had to keep his wits about him. Kagome was gone. This guy could be imperative to saving her. Should he wait till the cop arrived, and let him handle it? He wasn't sure what the hell the cops would do with Taisho. Something like this wasn't an everyday thing, and that was an understatement from hell.

Maybe he should try to communicate with him? It was worth a try. Taisho couldn't kill him while he lay so wounded. What about later? Damn. Tough call. Another deep breath, and Rishou said, "I need to ask you some questions. Since you can't talk right now, maybe you could blink. Blink once for yes and twice for no, then he asked his first question. "Should I call an ambulance?" Fuck. That sounded pretty damn lame after he said it.

Shuusaka blinked twice.

"No. Okay... will you... heal yourself?"

The red eyes seemed to burn with flame before he blinked once. Rishou whistled softly in wonder. "The detective over Kagome's case is on the way. I've got my guys talking to the police right now, but I'm going to have to talk to them soon. I guess you want me to keep quiet about you being here?"

He blinked once and the low constant rumble in his chest rose to a more threatening level. Rishou held up his hands and said, "Hey, calm down dude. I'm just trying to help." There was something wild and feral in that stare, but the thing that made him really uneasy was the intelligent calculation burning in the red flame. There was fury there. And retribution.

Suddenly, Tai shouted from the other room. "Rishou! Get your ass out here!"

In the hallway stood a dozen cops, and every one of them looked highly pissed off. Rishou turned his full attention on the policemen who wanted to know what the hell had happened here. He started to explain, but instead found himself suddenly slammed against the wall, with his hands being restrained behind him. "What the hell? This is my crib, man. You got the wrong guy!"

"Let him go."

All eyes turned to the low voice of authority. Detective Kobayashi Naoki commanded his way through the crowded hallway, glanced once at Rishou, then turned his attention to the officer holding his arms.

"This case is under my jurisdiction. This man is a key witness to my case. I'll take it from here," Kobayashi ordered with ease, as he flipped out his identification for inspection. One of the officers made a call to the headquarters and in minutes Rishou was released, and sitting on the ruined fluff of his once overly stuffed leather chair. Damn he was going to miss that chair.

It was then that he noticed the slick dressed dude following Kobayashi. The guy looked anxious, and was looking all around his place like he was searching for something. Strange as it was, he even sniffed the air several times like he could smell something that they could not.

The detective introduced him as Ookami Kouga, an old acquaintance of Kagome's, as well as Taisho's. Rishou's brows creased suspiciously. Just how well did he know Taisho?

Rishou's answer came when Ookami wondered off and sniffed toward the guest bedroom, but he only paused briefly. Then he turned toward his own bedroom, and Rishou quickly stood. "Hey man! You can't go in there."

Too late. Ookami slammed his bedroom door open, stepped inside with a growl and said, "I thought I smelled dog in here."

Rishou hurried to his bedroom and went in behind the intrusive asshole that just invaded his privacy. His anger was stilled when he spotted the red eyes of Taisho peering at him in the darkness like a dangerous predator. Some deeply ingrained instinct of self-preservation rose to the surface, and before his brain had a time to kick in, Rishou took a step back.

Taisho's low toned rumbling growl had risen in ferocity, and Rishou hoped to hell he couldn't move for awhile yet. Amazingly, Ookami didn't seem concerned at all. He just brushed the clearly threatening sound aside, and continued his taunts.

"So, old man. Look's like you've gone and done it now. I can't believe that you lost MY WOMAN!" Kouga shouted with a hard stomp of his foot that left he whole floor quaking.

It was then that Rishou realized that he was one too. Ookami was the same as Taisho. No mere human could have shaken the very foundation of the building with one angry stomp of his foot. Holy Shit, Rishou murmured as he took another step back. Things were not looking too good for what remained of his apartment. If those two went at it, things could get bad fast. One more step back and he bumped into Kobayashi who, at a glance, was staring at the scene with an open mouth gape. Obviously, he wasn't the only one in the dark about things.

Suddenly, Taisho found his voice, but Rishou quickly discovered that he liked him better when he couldn't talk.

Sesshomaru had listened to these fools long enough. He was surrounded by imbeciles, and not one of them was searching for Kagome. The impact of the fall had damaged him internally, and left him with a broken wrist and arm, but even now he could feel his youkai blood speeding through his veins searching for injury and weaving a pattern of healing throughout muscle and bone. The years had made him stronger. The last time he received such grave injuries it had taken two days to heal. Now only hours. It left him feeling strong and confident in his power. He would save Kagome. And he will then slaughter every single one of those mortals who had anything to do with taking her from him.

They will die for crossing me.

The feeling was coming back, slowly, but surely. He first became aware of the burning pain in his chest wound, where the bullet remained. His tissue refused to expel it yet, and he was suffered with the burning sting until all was working well once more. He was thankful his eyelids now worked, for he was sure his eyeballs were going to shrivel up like dry stinging prunes. He wasn't sure what hurt more, his eyes or his arm.

As he growled his warning, with his beast free to rule, he could feel the bone melding back together, mending the breaks, and giving him much needed relief. Oddly enough, he wondered if perhaps the bullet's poison had a double, hidden effect. Could the foul substance not only leave him helplessly, and shamefully immobile, but is it possible that it may aid in speeding up his natural healing abilities?

It was possible. The research Hotaka is working on could provide for any number of possibilities.

When the wolf barged in Sesshomaru felt a curious sense of relief, although he enforced his warning by pumping up his growl. Even though Kouga was considered an ally, and even possibly a friend, he had no trust of a youkai coming so close while he lay unable to defend himself. Youkai were notoriously untrustworthy. Especially wolves.

When the wolf began a tirade about Kagome belonging to him, Sesshomaru felt sure that a blood vessel had just popped in his head. It infuriated his riled beast to an extreme that left even him taken aback. The rumble in his chest exploded into a terrifying growl, while his lips drew back in a fierce snarl that revealed all four of his long, sharp, canines.

Unfortunately the wolf was never that smart. The warning was completely ignored.

"You let them take her. If she's hurt, I'm gonna kick your ass, Sesshomaru!"

Rishou looked to Taisho curiously. Kagome introduced the man as Shuutaka. Why did Ookami call him by 'Sesshomaru'? Odd name. He looked up to the detective standing by his side, and found him watching with keen interest. Rishou didn't want to be in the detectives shoes. Cops had to try and break up fights, right? How the hell would Kobayashi pull those two apart? He would probably end up tore to shreds.

Sesshomaru was so furious with the idiot wolf that he actually had a moments reprieve from worrying over Kagome. It certainly didn't last, because the wolf was still just as crass as usual. Sesshomaru flexed his claw tipped fingers. If he could just move his arms, then he could reach out and strangle that fool where he stood. Damn!

When he felt the welcome tingle of his tongue he wasted no time in growling a vicious "SILENCE!", which came out in a deep jarring rumble that shook the walls, as his beast still reigned free. The fear in the air emitted by the mortals turned up a notch with his shout, but at that point, he could have cared less if they had defecated themselves. He was not going to listen to another delusional declaration of bonding between Kagome and the barbaric wolf. She did not belong to Kouga.

She belonged to him.

He knew it then, as clearly and precisely, as anything that he had ever known. His feelings toward Kagome had grown beyond a simple fondness and respect. He cared for her wellbeing. He wanted to see her smile, and he longed to inhale a deep breath full of her sweet spicy scent. He wanted to run his hands through her thick hair, and watch her face as he taught her the pleasures of the flesh.

And the idea of another male doing the same brought out a raging possessiveness that left him shaken.

"Wolf, take care your blabbering mouth, for I will gladly relieve you of your tongue if you do not cease your yapping." There, his voice was settling down, smoothing out. He could feel the beast receding as his body healed his wounds. Soon he could move his hands, then his feet. He waited impatiently, plotting the next steps to retrieving from his enemy something precious that was stolen.

It had been a long lonely life, and for the first time in centuries Sesshomaru felt an excitement for living. It came to him in an unexpected package, but he would cherish it none-the-less. Kagome belonged to him. Those who took her would pay with their lives.

Kouga finally eased up on the insults, and turned back to the wide-eyed humans standing behind him. "What? You haven't ever met a youkai?"

On the landing pad, with her long ebony strands of hair flying wildly about, Kagome took a good look around, and from the descriptions she had heard from Rishou, she guessed that she was now in the military research base ran by Matsuno Hotaka. Rishou's friend was right. There were soldiers with guns everywhere. One guard was holding two ferocious dogs that snarled and lunged toward her with long teeth bared. Kagome hoped that leash the guard was using held strong or she would be minced meat. Several soldiers glanced her way, but none of their gazes lingered when they spotted Juria by her side.

At the rear entrance Juria stopped and entered a code. Kagome tried to remember the numbers, but there were too many of them and she pushed them too fast. The thick metal door opened with soundless gears. The door was quiet, but what lay beyond was not. She heard the awful wails of creatures long denied their freedom. Their mournful cries helped to strengthen her resolve to stop the ones responsible, with or without help. She had to figure out a way. She just had to.

The long white halls were well-lit with nearly blinding lights. Juria reached out at a corner and roughly grabbed hold of Kagome's arm to guide her way. Kagome snatched her arm back. "Don't touch me!"

Juria looked down at the much shorter woman and chuckled menacingly. "You sure are a feisty one. Different than the others. You are the one. I feel it in my gut. You put up a brave front, but I'll wager that you're hoping your youkai lover will come and save you from your fate. Even if he did live through that plunge to the hard ground below, he will never succeed. This facility is impenetrable. Nothing can get past our defenses. We will have your power, miko. Accept you destiny."

Kagome hissed, "He is not my lover!" Not that it was relevant. She just didn't appreciate people thinking she was loose.

These people were insane. They held no moral value of life. Evil. She was in big trouble this time. Don't panic. Keep it together. They want her power? So what else is new, Kagome silently grumbled. Ever since she fell through that well so long ago, there has been someone trying to kill her for her power. The fun never ends, she thought with resentful sarcasm.

Suddenly she was jerked to a stop, again, by Juria. Kagome shot her a death glare before pulling against her viselike grip. Juria wasn't just a pretty face. She was strong, and Kagome's struggle was futile. The creepy guy that held the knife to her throat punched a code on a small panel mounted beside of a shiny steel door. The door opened, and Kagome was shoved roughly inside. Juria gave her a smile that didn't reach her eyes and said, "Make yourself at home, miko." Then she slammed the door behind her.

Kagome looked around her cell, because that's exactly what it was even with all of the shiny metal and medical grade white walls. There was a small cot in the corner and a shiny steel toilet beside a small, matching sink. There wasn't even any tissue. Jerks!

With a heavy sigh, she sat down on the cot and tried to decide what to do. If they were youkai, she could purify them into dust. Unfortunately, the bad guys this time were human. Sometimes the human heart can be as dark and corrupt as any youkai. Evil came in many forms and it wasn't race, or species, specific.

Her mind drifted to Sesshomaru. She was really worried about his injuries. How long would it take a full youkai to heal from such a horrible ordeal? For Inuyasha, it would have taken about three days, but he was half-demon, so she couldn't judge by that. Would she still be alive in three days?

Stop it! I can't think like that. I have to think positive. I will get out of this... somehow.

Juria found Hotaka-sama just outside of his office. She jerked her lean frame to a halt and gave her commander a crisp salute.

"At ease," Hotaka swiftly ordered. He was anxious to know the results of their latest attempt to capture the miko. "Report."

Juria relaxed her stance and smiled assuredly at her mentor. "Mission successful, sir. The miko is currently housed in cell H-3."

Hotaka visible relaxed before catching himself and regaining his somewhat stiff military composure. "Wonderful. And the youkai?"

Juria frowned and clenched her teeth before answering his question. "Possible kill, sir, but the death could not be confirmed. We had unexpected return fire, and our first priority was to bring in the miko alive, so we evacuated the area as soon as we had her."

Hotaka wasn't too pleased with that answer, but the fact that Juria acquired the miko made up for that particular failure. He decided to let it pass. "I have faith that you will bring him down."

Juria smiled with knowing confidence then gave another respectful salute, and with the stomp of her foot she loudly announced her allegiance. "Hail Hotaka!" A chorus of male affirmation followed from all near and Hotaka beamed with glory. Finally his plan for a greater world was underway. He will bring an end to hunger and poverty for all that bow before him. It will be the fall of structured government in every land, and from the rubble a new world order shall appear. One lead by him.

A/N: Things are really coming together now! Soon to come.... Kagome meets General Matsuno Hotaka face-to-face and he reveals his warped plan for conforming the world to his rule. Watch out Hotaka! Sesshomaru sets out to get his miko back. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Ja ne