InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Smokes and Mirrors ❯ Crash and Burn ( Chapter 14 )

Smokes and Mirrors

 

Chapter 14: Crash and Burn

 

The tension was high. To anyone with animal instincts, the strong scent of fear would have been beyond obvious and outright overwhelming. Frightened agents and police officers would scurry out of the way. No one dared say a word or even glance the wrong way. They all knew better than that. Just the fact that Sesshoumaru put so many emotions on display meant something was terribly wrong with the world.

 

In fact, the young cop had never been so furious in his entire life. The moment that cursed name slipped out of Naraku's mouth, every thing froze within him. His co-workers weren't in any better shape. It's was as though a wave of ice cold wind blew over the inside of them, freezing them all to their spot.

 

They should have acted, should have jumped to the occasion of closing a case long forgotten. They should have arrested him right there and then, ridding the earth of such scum.

 

However, none of them did a damn thing. They all just stood there staring as that bastard drove away with a visible satisfaction.

 

His father was right. All his suspicions were proven today with one measly talk between drug dealers. No one on the police force believed him, calling him a lunatic at some point. Even he, himself, didn't believe his own father, saying he was finally loosing it in his old age.

 

All this time they were the ones who were wrong, so terribly misguided in their assumptions. They were the idiots who didn't help their commander bring down a murderer and attempt-rapist.

 

The drive back to base was very quiet, none daring to comment on their stupidity, all lost in their own thoughts. They knew what was in store for them once they reached the office and some were worried for the well-being of their boss. That enraged Sesshoumaru further more. He didn't like to be seen weak, but a fuming Taka was something nobody should mess with. It didn't matter with of the three Taka men was in a foul mood. They all had more or less the same attitude: the end results were the same.

 

Sesshoumaru reached his father's office. His hand on the door knob, he was ready to face his father. Taking a deep breath, a minute to compose himself, he wasn't sure anymore if he wanted to face his father's wrath. The man might be a good thirty years his senior, but his mind was as sharp as ever, his physical strength never once failing him in his many years of service. The father could easily have both his sons' in a death-grip within seconds of a hand-to-hand combat.

 

“Come in.”

 

Sesshoumaru snapped out of his thoughts. `He must have seen my approach.' Not wanting to waist another second, he opened the door and stepped through before he literally chickened out. His father's gaze never left him as he made his way towards his desk and the empty chairs before it. He stopped in front of the desk and looked the other square in the eyes. Fire burned behind the older Taka's amber eyes and bits of dread slipped into the younger of the two.

 

“Sesshoumaru.”

 

The tone might have been deadly cold, but it burned him to the core. That tone meant he knew something he didn't like and it was the young one's fault. Breaking eye contact, Sesshoumaru looked out the window, longing to be out there instead of in his father's office.

 

Taking another deep breath, he settled down in one of the chairs and mentally prepared himself.

 

***

 

He's never been this relieved to be home. First things first, though. Inuyasha greeted his mother then went straight to his room. In his hast to get home, he skipped the shower at school and now he fully regretted it. His cloths clang to his moist skin and he stank of sweat. He needed to be presentable and clean; otherwise his brother would refuse to even look at him, calling him a filthy pest.

 

He learned long ago if he wanted his half-brother's help for anything, he had to be fit to be seen or else he'd be beneath him. For that simple reason, Inuyasha avoided ever needing anything from Sesshoumaru. They never did see eye-to-eye, but this time it couldn't be helped.

 

The guy was good, very good. He rivaled their father in skills, but would never surpass their old man. His cold and feeling-less demeanor was a bonus for their job. However, both Inuyasha and his mother believed that would be the older son's undoing. He's warned his sibling many times, but the other simply brushed it aside, calling it petty concern.

 

The younger Taka dropped his bag in his room and went towards the hallway closet. He grabbed a towel and went to the bathroom. He still had to figure out what to say so Sesshoumaru would take the bait and accept to help. The shower would get him clean and help him think.

 

***

 

He'd known from the start. Everyone called him crazy, but in the end he was the one who had been correct. He made sure to give an earful to his eldest son for ever doubting his old man. He even had proof now. He didn't have any physical evidence, but Sesshoumaru as well as four other officers were present. They all heard the conversation between Jade and Naraku.

 

He sighed. The moment he got that phone call saying the arrest was a bust, he knew something was going on. Sesshoumaru must have froze, and not only him; the other four that were with him as well. Naraku must have said something and it's that same something proved every single one of his suspicions correct.

 

Tired hands rubbed his aching temples. He was tired and irritated. For the past hour he's been sifting through the old Higurashi case. He's verified every single fact found a good fifty thousand times, but was positive he kept missing something. And it was that little something that could solve the case now that they had a huge clue who was behind it.

 

Digging in the big box once more, he found a picture. Looking at it brought memories flooding back in waves. The little girl was beautiful and elegant, even at the age of ten. In the picture, she seemed so full of innocence and curiosity, smiling at the photographer taking her school year picture. That same picture morphed into every little girl's nightmare right before his eyes.

 

Bruised face, broken nose, cracked skull. More bruises and cuts all over her delicate body. She shook in pure fright as pain shot through her every limb, each broken bone letting themselves be known to their carrier. Her weak cries and screams filled his ears and he could take it no more.

 

The picture dropped from his shaking grasp. He ran both hands across his face, hoping his happy ending will come save him from the hell hole he's put himself in. The sight that greeted him in that cursed house was horrendous. If they had been just a few minutes late… That little girl wouldn't have just lost her memory. She could have lost her purity, not that the damage hasn't be done thanks to the press. He had nightmares about it for weeks with no end in sight.

 

“Toga?”

 

A woman's voice interrupted his thoughts. No one called him by name at work and she sounded so familiar. He looked up and his golden orbs found dark violet eyes.

 

“Izayoi. What are you doing here?” His wife never came to see him at work knowing he'd be too engrossed in some unsolved case.

 

The woman's concerned gaze never left his face. “Sesshoumaru told me.” That was enough for him to understand. He had sent their son home a while ago, yelling at him about how useless he'd been on such an important mission. Pride hurt, he found solace with the only person he opened up to. Izayoi now stood before her husband waiting for something, but not quite sure what.

 

Toga buried his face in his hands in shame. Izayoi quietly closed the door and made her way over to her husband. The man never let his work get the best of him, nor would he bring any case home no matter how urgent they were. However, this case was different. It touched him in more ways than he liked to admit. It played with his nerves and made him emotionally unstable. He refused to explain why and she hadn't pushed for answer either.

 

And now, it seems they were back at square one. The only person ignorant of all this was Inuyasha and Toga went to great lengths to keep it that way. He knew the youngest of the Higurashi's attended the same school as his son back then and still is to date. He didn't want any strained relationship between the two boys, age difference meaning nothing to him. Besides, keeping the boy out of the loop was just easier to handle than having to explain to a ten year old why the other child was mentally unstable thanks to what happened to him and his family.

 

Izayoi stopped beside her husband. She stood there for a while, leaning against his desk, just looking at him, silently asking him to look at her, talk to her. Toga finally turned in his seat and lifted his head up to his wife. His silky white hair was in disarray, no longer well kept in a high ponytail. His amber eyes had lost their usual spark and his battered features made him look older than he truly was. For a moment he looked like a lost child.

 

Izayoi gracefully fell to her knees. Using her hands, she turned her love to fully face her. Crawling her way between his legs, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him as best as she could in such a position. Closing her eyes and resting her head on his chest, she let her husband's heartbeat guide her own.

 

Toga returned the embrace, grateful to have such a wonderful person in his life. He kissed the top of her head and rested his chin on the same spot. Closing his eyes, he wished for the returned nightmare to end quickly.

 

***

***

 

A.N.

 

Hey there. Another filler… I know… But these things are necessary otherwise you peeps might bombard me with tons of questions. I'm proud at how quickly I got to post this up. Hopefully I'll have another chapter done by the end of this week! ^_^

 

Shout-Outs!

 

Miaa Hiaa: That ain't no fun :( Thanks for the review. Hopefully I haven't disappointed anyone with another filler. These things are necessary from time to time.

 

Thanks to those who read. C-ya next time, Take Care ^_^ PLEASE REVIEW!!

 

Quote: The things that count most in life are usually the things that cannot be counted. - Bernard Meltzer.