Undercover Romance

Chapter 17: Regained and Destroyed Hope

He had no idea how long he'd stayed in that eerily quiet office. Ten minutes probably but it felt like hours. Unearthed memories of so many past events disturbed the inside of his mind in wondrous rotations, all ending the same. Angrily, depressed, confusion and even a smidge of happiness? But when were the times he was truly joyous?

Figuring that out wasn't as hard as he assumed, though it still wasn't easy. Only four people in his entire life brought him pure harmony. His mother, his father, Hiei and….Sesshomaru.

Actually a lot of his recent moments of teasing fun had been with icy eyed demon. Though they were informally forced to work together, they'd had taunting moments with each other that anyone would describe as being brotherly.

Then there were those moments when their relationship wasn't so brotherly.

Prime examples being the kisses they've shared between the other. Or rather the kisses Sesshomaru bestowed upon him. Hell he might as well say he started it too. He could as easily pushed him away and said he didn't want to be kissed, but that would've gone against his honor code. Lying wasn't a trait he fairly used but when it came to being a necessity, such as his job, there'd be exceptions.

Knock. Knock. Knock. "Inuyasha, may I come in?"

"It's your office." He replied automatically.

Taisho unlocked his door knob and pushed in with a sheepish grin on his face. "Yes I suppose it is." He closed it shut behind him, discreetly looking around his office.

"Nothing's broken." The hanyou answered to the quiet question.

"I assumed since I heard a rough bump to the wall that my favorite lamp might be damaged."

Inuyasha kept his legs draw to his chest, wrapping his arms securely at the knees. Half his face peered up at his father, following his path until taking a seat behind his desk.

"So," Taisho started, breaking the awkward silence. "You and your brother talked?"

The top half of the hanyou's head glared heatedly at as employer as he snapped, "What do you think?"

"You've done more than talk I'm sure."

"It's none of your business old man."

"You and your brother seem to think it's none of my business but it is."

"How's that? The last I checked I was old enough to pay my own bills."

At least he succeeded in getting his youngest to forget his depression, even if it's for a few minutes. "Yes I suppose you're right. But I can't help being concerned about your welfares."

Inuyasha thought a moment before responding quietly. "You don't have to worry about us. We can handle it." It was the half-truth anyway. Sesshomaru appeared to be handling it just fine. It was him who was having problems adjusting.

Taisho took the moment to study his son sitting against the wall, wishing there was something he could do to help him through his mental stress. He could use some type of distraction but failed to find anything in his office to use as a proper motivator. So he tried another approach. "You know, I never would've ever thought of you two as being a couple."

Inuyasha's head snapped up. "We're not a couple—"

"I mean you've always had a certain bond between you that was a strange understanding for anyone to grasp."

"Are you going deaf in your old age or something? I said we're not a couple—"

"Then there's the fact that you seem to only lose your temper when you're around him."

"I'm losing my damn temper with you—"

"And there's always been that picture he keeps hidden of you in his night stand…"

"Christ how many times do I—What did you say?"

"What?" Taisho said innocently.

Inuyasha propelled himself off the way with his heels. "What picture? What picture of me are you talking about?"

Taisho tapped the side of his jaw as if forgetting what he'd just said. "Oh yes your photo." He pushed back from the desk, pulling open his wide set drawer. "Let's see where did I put it?"

Inuyasha inched closer to the man, peeking over his desk curious as ever as to what picture the old coot babbling about?

"Ah here it is." Taisho pulled out a small sized piece of blemished paper nipped and ripped on the edges from years of aging. The second the tiny portrait was in hand, the time of long ago brought a smile to Taisho's face. Like Sesshomaru he would sometimes recall and treasure this beautiful image for the loving moment it was.

"You gonna let me see it or what?" Inuyasha snapped impatiently.

Taisho didn't acknowledge the question because he was still stuck in his own little world filled with a time where he could enjoy seeing his children interact with one another like they used too. It's so sad that this devilishly bitter rivalry tarnished what was once a solid gold bond.

The flitter of sadness dulled the dog chief's eyes as he glanced up at his son. "He really does care for you Inuyasha." Said Taisho, stretching out his hand with picture in tow.

Inuyasha froze silently suspicious of his father's response as he took the small plasticity paper from his hand. As if it were a delicate flower, Inuyasha gingerly twisted it in his claws to face him. The damaged bit of paper was the size of his palm, possibly smaller, and held such…familiar thoughts.

Looking closer he could barely make out what appeared to be a child's face. A round pudgy face with an open mouth smile on his face, made him chuckle a little. Kids were cute when making giggle faces. The kid looked happy.

He peered harder into the photo, examining more of the suddenly introduced features as his thumb slid off to the side of half the picture.

Blinking rapidly, his thumb carefully grazed off the faint brown tint covering the surface. He wasn't sure at first but now he was slowly becoming certain as the image slowly took shape of a time long ago locked away on his chest.

Inuyasha's breathing harshened as his Adam's apple bobbed as a shaky hand lifted the tarnished locket around his neck, tucked inside his red shirt. There was so much rolling inside his chest right now, he was sure he'd pass out. It was probably too good to be true but…"Oh God…" He was almost afraid to open his locket and compare the pictures, nervous that they would indeed be an identical match toward the other.

Before he could open it, there was something he needed to know first. "Father tell me something."

"Yes?"

Taking a deep, vibrate inhale of air Inuyasha shifted his eyes from side to side before asking, "How—how long have you and him had this picture?"

Taisho opened and closed his eyes in time with his breathing pattern, watching Inuyasha's shuddering shoulder blades. There was no since in hiding the truth any longer. "That picture has been with him since the day he gave you that locket," He pointed to his neck. "I took that picture and made four copies the following day. One for me, your mother, one for your locket and one for Sesshomaru."

Hearing that revelation spun a whole new world for the hanyou as he stumbled back, miraculously landing in the seat behind him.

"He felt terrible that day he attacked you Inuyasha but try to understand he held no ill will towards you that day. He'd been through so much since losing Kagura in that murder." The memory of finding Sesshomaru unconscious on his bedroom floor scared him witless that day. "I will not excuse what he's done to you in any way. However if you could see it from his point of view, you'd realize he didn't mean to hurt you. But the final straw came that night when you told him you hated him and that sent him off the deep end. The effects were so great he collapsed in his bedroom from emotional overload."

Wow. Hearing what those words did to Sesshomaru brought a wave of quilt settling deep within his stomach.

"Inuyasha I'm not telling you this to make you feel responsible for your hatred toward each other." Taisho explained, reading the hurt expression on the rookie's features. "But I want you to know that there is no reason for you two continue on as you are. You can start over and begin again."

"How can you ask that of me?" Inuyasha whispered angrily. "You and Sesshomaru seem to forget that we've hated each other for years and years. Nothing in the span of a week is going to change that ya hear? Nothing!" Standing so abruptly, the chair kicked back off his legs, crashing to the floor as he stood, clenching his fists by his side. "I'm so sick of you and him trying to make something out of nothing. I don't want Sesshomaru. I don't want to be with him! I don't want him! I don't love him!"

The rise of fall of a thick chest rose in time with the flare of Inuyasha's nose as he glared menacingly at his father who in turn only stared at him through narrowed eyes.

After a long stretched moment of a stubborn staring contest, Taisho was the one to finally break the piercing silence with an accusingly dangerous question. "Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?"

For another long, long while, Inuyasha just stared, focusing on the space pass Taisho's shoulder. His bottom lip was draw between his fangs to keep from shouting his erratically frustrating predicament. The balled up gesture for his fists constricted tighter until a red drop seeped through the cracks of his fingers.

He wanted to feel hostile, loathing feelings toward the cause of his confusion. He desired for that hatred to surface once more that he'd harbored for his older brother for years and years, letting it manifest into the ball of malice it is now. He tried. Deep within himself he searched his hardest to pull it back up, reaching deeper and deeper still...

But he couldn't. He couldn't find it. Not a shred.

No matter how much he wanted to fixate his heart toward the mixing turmoil…he couldn't find any of the once boiled up hatred he'd stored especially for Sesshomaru. He felt anger, confusion, envy, admiration, delirium, delight, and possibly even…even… "FUCK!"

Before Taisho could react Inuyasha ran toward the door, yanking it off its hinges and darting outside. Taisho would've gone after him but decided against it for once, taking his son's advice. There was nothing he could do from here except let destiny run its course and pray that it worked in both their favors.

---

He didn't want to feel this. He didn't want to desire his brother.

But he did. He desired him. Needed him. Wanted him. Everything that was Sesshomaru, he wanted. That spicy scent, the silky texture of his hair, the narrowed slit of his eyes when he was in deep thought or became anger, the casual life of his eyebrow in mild perplexity, the wonderful feel of his lips, the feel of his warm skin against his; all of it and more.

No matter how much he denied it, there was no going around it any longer. He felt something for Sesshomaru that terrified him beyond reasoning. This feeling was so powerful he couldn't describe it in any other word but in the name of the person it revolved around.

Sesshomaru.

No it wasn't love. His name was enough to put it into focus.

Coming to terms with this was harder than anything else he'd ever done in his entire life. Admitting to—to those feelings made him feel fully exposed. But surprisingly stronger. It would take some getting used to, but maybe… maybe if they gave it a try, it could become something…something more.

With that inspiring thought grasped in mind, Inuyasha cut his long drive short to head straight for his temporary home. The closer he came in the direction of the complex, the more his stomach turned somersaults with excited butterflies. A giddy smile tilted his lips further as thoughts of an inspiring future came to mind.

It'll be awkward at first, that much he was certain of. Hell how many people did you know dated (or well considered dating) their brother? It definitely wasn't something done on a whim. Being a hanyou had it perks since he could easily be excused for this taboo relationship he was contemplating over. Hn the possibilities were endless.

A goofy grin was plastered on his face as the sight of the approaching structure came to view. He couldn't wait to see him now. Sesshomaru would be thrilled at the thought of them starting over again.

As he pulled into the stretched parking lot, the goofy smirk was now was a size big enough to make the Grinch proud. Not even the soup up four wheel death trap could bring down his mood as he hopped out the window, landing skillfully on his feet. He used his hands to propel his way toward the building full of a pepped up enthusiasm surging from the tip of his toes to the ends of his hair.

The power walk steadily became a hurried stepper until evolving into a full fledge run, bursting through the reception double doors, ignoring the receptionist calling for him to stop and sign in as a guest. He ran for the elevator pressing the button repeatedly, with impatient tap, tap, taps.

"Come on, come on." He scuffled with his feet waiting for the numbers to come down to the letter G. It was just beeping at level 12, 11,10, 9, 8, 7… "Fuck it." He grumbled dashing for the emergency stairwell located at the end of the hall.

If he waited on that damned machine he was going to lose his cool. The stairs were taken two at a time, some three, as he stumbled and hurried on happily up higher and higher toward his goal.

"Why the hell does he live so high up?" Inuyasha said aloud to himself finally reaching the top floor.

The penthouse door was opened and the instant he stepped foot on the lone room floor, his senses immediately jacked up to full alert. Something….something seemed off. There was an odd odor in the air. It was hazy but he could detect the stench from down the way, coming from Sesshomaru's apartment. Whatever it was, as he slowly walked closer, became fouler to his nose.

"Ugh what the hell?" He lifted a hand to protect his nose from being burned with an imprint of that scent and crept closer, suddenly becoming suspicious. Recalling from a scene he'd worked on last week, the smell started to become more familiar.

Blood. It was blood. But who's he could not say because of the overwhelming mixture of smells floating in the atmosphere.

Following his judicial instincts, Inuyasha retrieved his weapon hidden inside of his pants and hugged his back against the wall. Now he was almost positive something was wrong. Why would such a powerful flow of blood be emitting from inside of his brother's home?

Inuyasha side stepped slowly and stealthily keeping his back painted on the wall. The closer he came the more he could see out of his peripheral that the door was off its hinges lying on the side. Fuck whoever did that was on something, he thought to himself, inching closer.

Finally at the side, he mentally counted backwards from three to one, than popped off the wall with gun fully erect for protection.

No one there.

Or at least he couldn't detect another's presence in the place. Carefully stepping with his shoulders squared in line with his legs, Inuyasha took in every single detail of the disarray littering the apartment. It was a disaster.

Couches were dissected, pouring out of all of its cottony inners. Pictures were torn and shattered all over the floors. Windows and expensive materials were smashed into an unfixable mess. Wretch lined over the tables and broken wood pieces oddly pierced into other furniture parts. "What a mess," he said quietly as if someone were in there to hear him.

But as he walked further into the apartment when he turned to his side his heart nearly leapt out of his rib cage. There lying on the living room floor in a pool of her own red pond was Kagome positioned in such a way that described what she'd been through.

"Fuck…" Inuyasha lowered his gun and his head at the terrible sight of their only witness. Blood leaked from an obviously wound dealt to her side, the size of a small hole. She'd been shot. But not with just any bullet. Damn,this was the newest kind used by slower killers that wanted to draw out their victim's pain until they bled to death. And judging by that large red circle that's exactly what happened.

Shuddered waves of anger rippled through his chest as his banes covered the emotion roaring in his eyes. Walking over to her red stained puddle, he tucked his gun back in his pants and bent down to one knee looking at the terrible scene.

How the hell could this have happened? Why hadn't they been here to protect her like they should've? "Damn," he growled biting his bottom lip till it bled a bitter red. "Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Each curse word was pounded with rage into the plush carpet next to her head. He should've been here. Just look at her. She looked so small and fragile. Now look what he'd done. Inuyasha failed again to protect another person close to him. "Kagome, I'm so sorry…I-I should've been here... Been here to protect you." He whispered miserably to the lifeless body. Inuyasha stretched out his arms and picked the still warm body and hugged her close to his neck, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. "Kagome, forgive me."

Why did this keep happening to him? In the span of two days he's lost two people close to him. His fucking best friend was murdered. Now his new friend was lying in his arms lifeless and sad. All she wanted was justice for her best friend. All she wanted was some peace of mind and perhaps a friend. She didn't deserve this. In the end of all this bullshit she ended up meeting the same faint as Sango.

As he hugged her close he could almost hear her annoying voice asking for some ice cream or to take a break. She felt so frail in his arms, almost like a tiny child. Who could've done this to her? Had there been a robbery gone wrong or had their suspects finally found her and killed the only glitch in their plans?

"S-sesshomaru..."

Inuyasha's heart sped up as he jerked back looking down the body he thought had lost its soul. Kagome's eyes were still closed but her chapped lips tremble as more words tried to reach out to the hanyou's ears. "Inu…yasha…"

Too relieved to speak, Inuyasha hugged the girl tightly to his chest trying to hold back his tears.

"Sess…Sess…."

"Shhh don't talk. You're going to be ok." He said rocking her body back and forth. Suddenly remembering she was wounded, Inuyasha placed her gently back on the floor and used his claws to removed her t-shirt. Seeing the projectile's insertion, he began remembering classes in the academy of how to check for internal injuries, kicked into full gear.

"Kagome listen, I gotta check ya body for other injuries. Try to be strong 'cause it's going to hurt some."

Not waiting for her answer because she didn't have much choice, Inuyasha used his index finger to gently trace over the bullet hole before pushing his finger inside, ignoring the girl's whispered whimpers begging him to stop.

Her whining cries hurt him but he had to stand strong and do this for her if it meant her survival. His finger circled around searching for any punctured organs or broken bones near the hole and sighed his relief when nothing was found but torn tissue. He slowly removed his finger and reached down toward her legs, spreading them apart looking for any sign of internal bleeding coming from her anal area.

Next was the pulse line in her neck which he timed with his watch and felt even better that it was stronger then he'd first assumed. "You're going to be fine Kagome. The bullet didn't cause any major damage." He assured as he took off his own shirt and pressed it over the bleeding hole to pressurize the flow.

"Sess…sesshomaru…" She tried once more turning her head to face him through watery eyes.

"Shh I told ya not to talk stupid," Said the hanyou pulling out his cell phone to make a call for his partner's number. Where the hell was Sesshomaru when you needed him?, he thought as his brother's cell phone kept ringing and ringing to voicemail. "Fuck." He clicked it off and dialed another call.

"Emergency Services, how may I help you?"

"Yea this is Detective Toshiba, from the D.I.A. calling in a signal 39 gunshot wound to the side stomach. The victim is a young human female located in the west sector near Boston Ave and Hamilton Blvd intersection."

The phone line was silent for a few moments as the operator typed in all of the information given. "We'll have the paramedics out to assist you soon Detective."

"Thanks." He hung up and looked over at the now quiet girl lying on the floor. Although her eyelids were sealed shut tears still slid down her face. Inuyasha was alarmed by the drips leaking from her eyes and scooted closer to ask, "Are you hurting Kagome? What's wrong?"

"Inu…Yasha…"

"It's ok. I'm here."

"No," She wheezed finally opening her eyes to plead with him to understand. "They…they….Inu…yasha…"

"Shhh just relax." What was she trying to say? Why wouldn't she just relax and be quiet?

"Please…" She said as more tears flowed down her pale cheeks.

"Kagome what are you—"

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Before he could as his question the buzz of his cell's vibrator sounded off on his hip. Looking at the screen he saw the name Asshole flashing. It's Sesshomaru. Tapping the screen with his finger he lifted the receiver to his mouth ready to let his bother have it. "It's about time you called Asshole. I've been—"

"Interesting way to answer the phone detective. Is that how you and your brother normally speak to each other?"

What the hell? "Who is this?" That creepy ass voice was definitely NOT Sesshomaru's.

"Just an old friend of your lovely brother."

"Whatever. Why do you have my brother's cell? Put him on."

"Tat tat tat, little hanyou," The weird voice chuckled softly. "That's very rude. I just wanted to say hello and ask how that young human girl was doing. Has she died yet?"

A wicked shiver snaked up the hanyou's spine. "Are you the one who shot her?" He questioned in a sneer.

"Yes. I was the one who put the bullet through her although I have terrible aim and missed her heart…"

"Listen you twisted son of a—"

"Name calling is beneath us little hanyou."

"Who. The. Fuck. Is. This?"

The sinister man laughed over the speaker. "Surely you should have heard of me from your brother and Father little hanyou. Have they not told you of—?"

"Look you freaky asshole, I don't have time for your bullshit. You either tell me who the fuck you are or I'm hanging up the phone."

The man sighed. "Oh then I guess you don't want to hear how your brother's doing? You see we're having this little party and he'd love for you to hear how he's doing."

What? What was he talking about? "Listen if Sesshomaru's there then let me talk to 'em. I don't have time to play games!"

"Of course….if you insist."

Inuyasha pressed his ear closer to the phone listening to the back ground as some shuffling and muffled voices of at least three people. A low punctured groan echoed over the cell followed by another and another finishing off with a heavy grunt of agonized exhaustion. What the hell? Was that… was that Sesshomaru?

Two seconds later Mr. Creepy returned to the phone with a mild tone of amusement. "Need further proof of his fun?"

Oh God. So it was Sesshomaru. "Where the fuck is he? What are you assholes doing to him? He better not be hurt or I swear to fucking God I'll fucking kill you!" He ranted off becoming angrier by the second.

"You're not in the position to make threats little hanyou."

That little admission silenced any further death vows from Inuyasha. He knew what the deal was, now that the situation was made real. The best he could do was be silent and listen to what the fucker wanted.

"Ah now I see what you're catching on. Good puppy."

"Don't hurt 'em." Was all Inuyasha gritted nervously, a million thoughts racing in his head. "What do you want?"

"Insurance." The evil bastard stated firmly. "You see with your brother in my custody, he can used as a ransom for my plans."

"How much do you want?"

That sent twisted man into a whirlwind of laughter. "My dear boy, money is no object for me. I could make this and every other country in this world rain money if I wanted too. No, the kind of insurance I mean is for you and your officer comrades to steer clear of me and my minions until I've completed my task."

A large lump lunged in the rookie's throat. "What task? What plans?"

The line was quiet for a moment before he said, "That's none of your concern. But now that you know what the situation is, I've said all I waited too for now. Be sure to stay close by for further instructions."

Inuyasha nodded as if the man could see him, silently shaking with built up rage and a tinge of fear for his brother.

"Oh and little hanyou?"

"Yea?" He grunted.

The conceited man chuckled lightly. "Make sure to tell your father that Naraku says hello." And the line died.

The lump stuck in his throat sunk to the pit of his stomach the same time the cell slipped through his fingers, dropping to the floor in a loud stud.

Naraku….Naraku was the one who had his brother….

Oh Sesshomaru…

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TBC: ^_^ Great news everybody… well if you wanna call it great news. This story will be completed either by the end of this week or the beginning of the next. Yahhh my second story is nearing its end. I'm so happy. Which means I'll be back on schedule starting up another story.