Undercover Romance

Chapter 12: For Every Gain, There's a Lost

Damn him.

Damn him and his cursed electrical searing lips.

Inuyasha stroked the side of his face, trying to erase the mild tick on his cheek. No matter how much he scrubbed, rubbed, and scratched his cheek, that damn tingling wouldn't vanish. He was almost positive Sesshomaru had used some type of Chap Stick laced with menthol. Nah playing pranks was way below the inuyoukai's standards.

"You know," Kagome began in a bored yawned, as she clicked through more shots. "If you keep rubbing at your cheek like that, you're going to look that freaky guy on Elm Street."

Inuyasha scratched his cheek again, grinning from ear to ear. She so left herself wide open for this. "Yea you're right. I'd hate to look like you."

"Yep—wait." She blurted angrily, catching onto the sly comeback. "Hey you jerk. I'm not ugly."

Could've fooled him. Stretching out his limbs, Inuyasha released a jaw cracking yawn rising from his chair. "Yea whatever. I'm going to fix myself something to eat. You keep looking through the shots and don't get up until you recognize someone."

"I'm hungry too." Kagome pouted to his retreating back. "What are you going to fix me?"

"A knuckle sandwich if you don't keep lookin'."

Kagome sucked her teeth, returning to her previous task. "Jerk." She cursed quietly. This was getting annoying. Four days going on five, and still they haven't found a damn thing to go on. Why did she have to do all of the work anyway? It wasn't like she could go after the jerks, once she identified them. But if it would help with Sango's unjust death, she'd continue onward without question. Even if her eyes were swelling to the point of combusting of her sockets.

Inuyasha's frustrated annoyance with the lack of information easily worked him up an appetite for something sweet. Ice cream was off limits since neither dog could handle the icy sting to their fangs. Besides that was their little bride to get Kagome focused on the work. Seeing nothing interesting in the fridge, he flipped open and closed most of the cabinets, still not finding something to sate his taste buds.

Damn what did Sesshomaru keep in his cabinets. There was nothing in there but health nut nonsense. "Tsk, that's so like the bastard." He grunted quietly, pushing around different articles of weirdly pronounced products. While still in search of his treasure, a tiny sparkle caught his eye from the far deep end of the cabinet. What in the world could be winking at him from inside of his high space?

Ever curious and highly mischievous, the hanyou shoved everything aside that spelled unsatisfyingly healthy foods and reached for what he now discovered to be a container of—a dark eyebrow rose over his right eye. "What the hell?" Sesshomaru…he ate…what in the world? Since when? Sesshomaru never came off as the type to eat these things. These were more up Inuyasha's ally in the yummy kingdom.

On cue, the real Sesshomaru graced his elegance into the kitchen in search of something to find edible as well. The main thing he came for being, what Inuyasha discovered hidden deep within his hiding place. "Curiosity killed the feline Hanyou." He mumbled walking pass the perplexed half breed.

"Keh, glad I'm not a cat then." Inuyasha reread the label once more to be positive of what was in his claws. "So you eat…Chilli Flavored Dog Snacks huh?" Although they were still gaining grounds between each other, he couldn't help feeling awkward in carrying a safe conversation with his older brother. Over time perhaps they'll get to where the tension will shimmer down to regular aura but until then, it was going to take some time. But let's see how this turns out.

Sesshomaru pulled out the bottle of water he aimed for in his fridge and uncapped the top, taking a long swig. One eye trained on his secret weakness of dog snacks, held between Inuyasha's claws, until he finished off the water. "I seldom acquire the taste for a simple snack every now and again. So don't be surprised to find at least one or two items out of the ordinary here." Came the reasoned explanation.

Bullshit was written all over the hanyou's expression. "So that's why the bags half empty?"

"It's half full."

Right. Being the typical asshole this afternoon? Now that he could deal with. "Whatever." At least this made it easier to communicate with 'em. Being nice and sweet with cuddles just wasn't in either of the brothers' personalities. Bonding wasn't achieved overnight. Not they wanted to Bond to one another. Just to find more equal ground.

Sesshomaru finished off his water, tossing it in the bin. His eyes read suspicion as to why the hanyou was in the kitchen, instead of with the girl. Inuyasha, knowing that alleged stone-like glare, answered, "I needed a break. You got a problem with that?"

"You may break once this case is resolved. Until than I advise you returning to the human for assistance."

Inuyasha's nose crunched at his brother still insisting on ordering him about. The instant his brain started working into sarcasm mode, he reached under his neck looking for an invisible object only he could see. After not finding it there, he circled his wrists. Nope not there either. He felt around his elbows, his knees and then finally his ankles. Hmm not there either. That's what he thought with a smirk.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm looking for the ball and chain clamped on me."

Sesshomaru gave his head a slight shake. "Nuisance." He said walking out of the kitchen.

"Fancy word for annoying."

"I shall rest easier knowing you're studying the dictionary." He threw over his shoulder.

Inuyasha scrambled over to the isle, nearly throwing his whole body over the counter to hiss, "Fuck you." To Sesshomaru who in turn shot him a dirty look before heading back in his bedroom.

No retaliation? A new strait involved in last night's conversation he was going to have to get accustomed too. Since Sesshomaru was the one to call the truce, there was little to no bitter arguments on his part or insults of mixed blood heritage. Sure that was barely 13 hours ago but he's shown to be trying. He did say he'd give him all the time he needed. The pup had to admit, that was pretty fun. Having a back and forth with his older brother without the punches and poison to join in? In a way it was almost as if he were having his chocolate cake and cupcakes too.

Then another thought struck him. Inuyasha's hand lifted to his right cheek thumbing over the sensitive buzz still lingering on his face. This wasn't the first time Sesshomaru had kissed him. During their undercover situation, he'd kissed him plenty of times on the cheek. But for reasons he couldn't explain, that time felt different. Now this wasn't a confession meant to be admitted out loud, but he kind of, sort of, maybe a little tinny tiny bit… liked it. Inuyasha thought about why that kiss was different versus those used for disguise purposes and drew a blank. There didn't seem to be much for him to consider over the similarities of that strange kiss and the others. It was simple unigue from the others.

Wait why was he standing there thinking about it? It's no big deal. It's just a silly stupid kiss. Besides that's his brother. Taboo relationships weren't in his forte. Not that he wanted that of course. But—

"AHH SESSHOMARU!"

Blinking out of his dazed resort, Inuyasha shook his head and ran over to the screaming girl, defenses on full alert. "What, what is it?" His hand inched toward the concealed gun on his hip, thinking that she'd seen or heard something out of the ordinary. If somebody was in here they were going to be filled up with something nicccccce and hot.

"I found one! I found one!" Kagome cheered clapping her hands, pointing at the computer screen. "Look that's one of the guys at the hotel Sunday night!"

Inuyasha pushed her out of the way to see the identified shooter on the lit screen and studied his face closely. On closer inspection he noticed some features of the devil that he'd seen before. Long inky black hair kept in a lengthy ponytail. Deathly ashen skin in dire need of a tan. Those dark colored iris eyes. Yea he remembered this guy. He was one of the bastards who shot at him and Kagome when he was sent to pick her up Tuesday. Perfect.

But just to be safe. Inuyasha typed in the system of copycat faces; others who resembled this guy. Suddenly nine other photos flashed on the computer; all looking the same if not identical to the man Kagome just pointed out. If she could still tell what the shooter looked like from all of these, than they had their guys for sure. "Alright Kagome, look at these guys really hard. I want you to point out the same guy you just identified for me."

Kagome nodded and scooted closer to study each man closely.

Number 1-No

Number 2- Hell no.

Number 3- Eek he's creepy. Nope.

Number 4- He was close but he looked like a whinny. Not a scary shooter.

Number 5- Another close one but no. His hair was the wrong black.

Number 6- Long black hair, blood red lips, vampire pale skin, and that sinister playful smirk on his lips.

Kagome tapped her finger on the sixth man, second row. "That's him." She confirmed strongly.

That was quick. "Are you sure this is him?" He knew that was the guy, but he needed to be sure she was just as positive as he was.

She bobbed her head. "There's no mistaken that creep. He was one of the men who shot at me when I ran away Sunday."

Excellent. That's all he needed to know. With a proud smile of a big brother, Inuyasha popped a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Great job Kagome."

"I know. I'm awesome. Whoop!" She giggled hopping up from the desk chair. "I soooo earned a scoop of ice cream for this." And that's what she did once that computer became a distant memory in his mind while she dissected the freezer for her sweet treat.

Yea he'd say she earned that reward. Now all they needed to do was collect the information needed on this jackass. This was more of Sesshomaru's deal. He was the only one with internal access to the criminal systems mainframe since Inuyasha was still within his FTO training. Sesshomaru would know what they could do from there.

---

Sesshomaru sighed lending back in his chair at the same ole' information he's assembled over the years has lend him up to nothing except what he knows. The time lapse between the end of the Ryoga case to the exact time of her death. During that 16 minute time interval who was within that vicinity? Why were her last words an apology to him? Had she gotten herself involved in something she couldn't get out of? And if so, why couldn't she have trusted him with it? All of these questions with answers only one person could answer and she was six feet under.

Sitting forward he clasped his face in his hands rubbing the dryness from his eyes. There was nothing left for him to go on. No leads, no witnesses, no suspects, no evidence, all of it was void. The bullet retrieved from her body led to an unregistered hand gun but the owner of the weapon was untraceable. This person wasn't sloppy. It was as if she was killed by some phantom murderer. And where she was shot…That was no amateur discharge. The arteries of her heart were struck dead center severing all of her life cords to ensure a slow agonizing death. This only secured his theory that whoever killed her knew her on a personal level, but how personal—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The subtle bumps at the door as it clicked open, interrupted his thoughts long enough to turn and see Inuyasha coming through the door with a feeble smirk on his face. "If you're in here, I'm assuming that you've completed your search."

Inuyasha's smile spread further. "You'd be right." He sat on the bed's edge crossing both his legs. "She's successfully ID one of the shooters from Sunday night."

A very non-Sesshomaru gesture appeared when he slumped down in his chair wiping a hand down his face. Even if he hadn't found any good news on this case, at least he was getting somewhere on the other one.

Inuyasha observed the agitated tenseness of his brother's shoulders with a frown. "You're working too much."

"It's what I'm accustomed too."

"Yea you've told me that one before." The hanyou grumbled, standing up to stand behind Sesshomaru. "Here." Long fingers congested over the thick knots on Sesshomaru's broad shoulders and began to knit them with gentle squeezes.

Sesshomaru moaned, closing his eyes at the tension being pushed out. "You don't have to do this." His lips implied, while his shoulders rotated with the massage.

"Shut up and let me do this. You need it anyway."

"Mmm indeed." Who was he to argue with logic like that? If the hanyou wanted to willingly offer him a much needed stimulating touch.

It was a good thing he took those classes last summer. Inuyasha smirked at the day when Hiei had insisted he learn a useful skill that could benefit them both and the idea of massage instantly came to both their minds. It was a technique he used to get by until he was old enough to attend the academy. He'd learned how to manipulate the soreness to another section of the body that was easiest to reach and ceased that portion of pressure to mush. Inuyasha felt he was going an ok job so far.

"Mmm…"

And judging by those moans, Sesshomaru thought so as well. "How do you feel?"

Sesshomaru rolled his neck to the side. "Incredibly relaxed, considering the pressure we're dealing with of this case." If he'd known Inuyasha could work magic with his fingers, he would've asked him for his services sooner.

"We've gotten get this guy before he makes another move." He applied more pressure to the dog demon's neck, which caused him to groan at the slightly rough caress. Damn he was tense. When did he ever take time to relax?

"Do you have the shooter's name?" The demon's voice was level, but his face held the expression of total relief. Sesshomaru couldn't remember the last time he'd had his tension released so skillfully. Not even Kagura would release this much of his stress. Not even through sex.

"I could only get his first name since I still don't have a login for the criminal document's mainframe."

Oh this felt delightful. "I could perhaps tell you something by just his name."

Sesshomaru seemed to be feeling better, Inuyasha thought proudly of his skills. He'd always been told his hands could heal a hundred with one stroke. "His name is Byakuya but I don't—"

Sesshomaru's hand suddenly darted up to ceased Inuyasha's movements after he heard the name of the shooter. A feral cold smile tilted the side of his lips evilly. "Ahh Byakuya Entei. I know of him."

"You do?"

A nod confirmed it. "He's a part of the Purple Poison Gang, ran by a villainous spider demon named Naraku."

"Naraku?"

"Yes. The very same man who's gotten away from both me and Father repeatedly over the years." Memories of the continous battle between that devil, himself anf his father shot through his mind in an unwanted slideshow. "He's come close to ending our lives with each encounter." The bastard.

Whoa. If this guy could outwit his brother and father, he must've been something. "So why can't we just arrest the guy now that we know he's behind all of this?"

"Because we haven't been able to obtain even a slither of evidence to pin against him. Every time he's been taken to court there's never been anyone who was brave enough to testify against him, thus leaving each term in a mistrial. And each time that happened has cost us a fortune."

Ok that explained a lot. "But what about the items we collected at the crime scene? Could some of those possibly be—?"

"He was the first one I had the forensics to test against. But because of his clean supposedly clean record, no DNA was obtained to match against him and whatever mug shots we had taken for him was immediately destroyed on order of the courts."

"Damn. So what do we need to do to get this guy?"

Sesshomaru stood up heading toward his closet for a change of clothes. "Our first option for now is to collect Byakuya from wherever his parolee has him set for employment." A red silk shirt was thrown out in the hanyou's face. "You and I are heading downtown."

"Why?" Inuyasha flapped as he pulled off his t-shirt. "What's downtown?"

"Byakuya's last employment was at a Night Club titled Club Hades." Sesshomaru stepped out of the closet wearing only a pair of dark tan jeans hanging off his narrow hips. Inuyasha's eyes unintentionally scanned over the milky spread of flesh rising and falling over course muscles. Two swollen pecs with small brown nipples lapsed over just enough to frame his sculpted strength. Since when did Sesshomaru have a body like that? He had six, no no no eight. He had a chisled eight pack? Since when? Not that he cared.

Sesshomaru caught the impressed gaze of his younger brother and hid his smile through the shirt he pulled over his head. "Instead of admiring the build of my body Inuyasha, you could be getting yourself ready for our little outing."

Oops busted. Cheeks turned an embarrassed pretty pink, as Inuyasha grunted turning his head away. "Please, as if I'm looking at your flappy skin. Why would I look at yours when I could easily look at mines?" He emphasized his point by flexing his pecs arrogantly. "I'm pretty sure I could pull as many women as you could."

"I highly doubt that." Although he could probably pull the same amount. Inuyasha's bulk build was shorter than Sesshomaru's taller torso, but he more than made up for it with the tight pull and tug of his muscles in all the right places. Inuyasha sure has grown marvelously over the years.

Finishing up with his attire, Sesshomaru found a brush to pull up his hair in a high style ponytail to somewhat disguise his usual appearance, into one of a teenage male ready to party. A few banes were left to tease the top of his eye lashes in a seductively midnight type of way. This would be no different from the other times he'd taken on a new alias.

Inuyasha tied his hair back in a braid tail flipped over his right shoulder, as he buttoned up the red silk shirt Sesshomaru offered to him. "So uh what's Club Hades like?" Might as well make small talk.

"A fairly loud environment consisting mostly of humans of the female variety. Demons frequent it from time to time but not as often. Temptations for drug usage are rather high amongst your age group."

"Cool." Hell yea hot babes, chicks, and whores. That's his kind of place. Inuyasha sprayed a splash of cologne on his shirt and shook away the access scent. Only a couple of squirts would do for tonight. "I'm ready when you are."

"As am I." Sesshomaru retrieved his gun from the night drawer concealing it in the back of his baggy pants. Now that they were ready for the club, they were going to have to mentally prepare themselves for whatever came their way tonight.

The first issue being… how were they going to break this to Kagome?

---

"Why can't I come along?"

"Because you're in protective custody."

"But I can be protected why you're out partying."

"No way. You wanted in-home protected custody, you got it."

Kagome flopped down on the couch, crossing her arms with a spoiled pout. "Then why does Inuyasha get to go if it's an assignment?"

"Because I need someone to call 911 in case there's trouble. Besides," Inuyasha winked and on cue Sesshomaru looped his arm around his waist pulling him to his side. "I need someone sexy on my arm to through off the bad guys." His lips puckered up to his pretend lover suggestively.

Sesshomaru returned the wink and kissed Inuyasha's temple much to his aggravation. Damn now he was going to have that tingle there all night.

"But I can be just as sexy as Inuyasha."

Not on your life babe. "Kagome just stay put and stop being a baby. We'll be back later tonight to let you know what happened. Alright?" He couldn't believe this chick thought she was hotter than him. Keh, when pigs fly over a frozen hell, playing spades.

"Fine." She huffed propping her feet on the small table. "But bring me back a drink or something."

"Sure." Not likely. "See ya!" The two waved their farewells and stepped out the door together.

Kagome sighed sagging down in her chair. This sucked. Now she was stuck in this giant apartment all alone. What in the world could she do while they were away? Looking around the small apartment for something worth entertaining herself with, her chocolate brown eyes fell down the lowest self noticing something small tucked away behind a bunch of picture frames... That's weird. She thought quietly getting up to investigate...

There was a small picture hidden there...

---

"Check mate."

Sighing heavily, Koga Wolfe removed his last stitch of clothing tossing it across the table. "You're pretty good at this."

"Yes well I do what I can." Hiei smirked gathering his spoils next to the pile of winnings he's earned from pitiful wolf demon.

After their first game of cards days before, Hiei and given Koga another chance at keeping his balls and gradually moved away from the bet to something safer. Like all of his clothes and money. If Koga kept at it he was going to go home with his hair tie by the end of the next game.

"What else do you want to play?"

Hiei thought a moment. "We've played spades, poker, checkers, connect four, tick tack toe, bingo, chess. So far I've beaten you each and every time. Although I'm not too sure they were legit."

Koga's eyes shifted. "What do you mean?"

Hiei's eyes read 'I know you were playing weak on purpose to let me win.' "What do you take me for you fool? I'm far from the helpless demon you make me out to be. Don't underestimate me because of my size. Great things come in small packages."

Koga couldn't deny that. Especially since the small package before him was a well-placed package of muscles, lips, eyes and a pretty tight ass. The few day s they'd spent together have slowly become torture to him. Hiei has shown no shame on a few occasions of walking around the apartment in his slender birthday suit. Koga didn't mind the view but was threatened on several occasions that if he got caught looking at the Koorime's ass he'd lose his tongue.

"I apologize for playing softly, but I couldn't resist. You seemed so happy when you won."

"Only because I know you're not going to get your clothes back. You can walk around in the buff if you wish." Hiei secretly wouldn't mind seeing more of the wolf demon's tanned body gracing the place. So far the man was stripped down to his blue and brown striped boxers and he was pretty much enjoying the view.

Koga tapped the side of his head in thought. "I think I can find another game for us to play." He pushed away from the table with a naughty wink. "You sit tight Spicy while I get us something to eat in the meantime."

Hiei blushed at the nickname. "Do not refer to me by that disgraceful name and before you step foot into my kitchen put on some garbs. I do not wish for hair particles to be mixed in my food."

"What makes you think I was cooking?" Koga hollered as he walked down the hall toward his kitchen.

"Because it's what I wish." Hiei stated snootily.

"And you wonder why I call ya Spicy." The little firecracker could easily set his blood a boil.

"Fool." Hiei stood up as well to stretch out his arms. Each passing day his mind would ponder over the whereabouts of his best friend. He wondered if the hanyou was eating enough and hopefully getting enough rest. The gods know that if it weren't up to Hiei the stupid fool would go for days without eating or sleeping.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

What the hell? Hiei glanced over to the side wall clock, noting the late time.

10:18 p.m.

Who the hell could it be, coming here this late at night?

Shrugging his shoulders, he walked over to the front door and peeked through the peep hole. There were two men on the other side. Strange but he didn't recognize either. Hn, probably got themselves lost or something.

He could open it for them, but he remembered Koga saying that he should never open the door without him being presence. So what? It was his place of residence. He could easily answer these guys question and send them on their way before the wolf even noticed.

Without another debatable thought on the matter, the mixed Koorime twisted the doorknob…

Hours turned to minutes. Minutes to seconds. Seconds to a cease in time. The door was pulled open without the slightest care. It would be no different from any other time he opened the door. It'll be just like before whenever he opened the door to strangers. So why when Hiei opened his front door... his red almond eyes suddenly focused... down the barrel of handgun…

TBC: OH NO! What's going to happen next? ^_^ Stay tuned.