Seven by Kai

Imperial (revised)

A/N: okay, I was really tired last night and I realized that how crappy this chapter really was. I wasn’t very happy with it at all. So this morning, while I was completely refreshed with a full nights sleep, I got up and rewrote this whole chapter. So instead of three pages, its now six pages with me being very happy with how it turned out. So here you go, the revised version of chapter four.

Prompt: Imperial

Word count min: 1000

Word count: 2439

Chapter four (Revised): Imperial

Kagome threw the papers down, frustration causing her head to pound. Why couldn’t she figure this out? There was nothing at all that connected the murders. Nothing at all. Their last names were all different, they weren’t related, and they knew no one that the other did.

“How is it going?” Bankotsu asked as he brought her coffee.

Kagome groaned. “I don’t get it Bankotsu. I mean, even the case with Taisho there was something relevant.”

“But he was the killer Kagome.” He pointed out. “Maybe we’re looking at all this at a wrong angle. I mean, this guy can’t be picking everyone randomly. Did you check their background?”

“Yes…”

“Their friends?”

“Yes…”

“Family?”

“Bankotsu, I’m starting to wonder if I’m the only one who’s actually working while you’re out there shagging every female officer in this building.” Kagome glared at him as she sipped her coffee and picked up the papers again. “Maybe for once, you should go out there and question everyone they knew. That way we can actually get somewhere.”

“But Kagome, we all know that you’re so much more competent then he is.” Heiten said as he walked into the office. “Knock, knock. I’ve got some news from the boss.”

“What the hell?” Bankotsu snapped at Heiten. “What makes you think you have the rights to just waltz in here like you own the place?”

Heiten smirked at him, not caring at all about how the other raven haired man thought. “Ah Kagome, how I wish we didn’t part from each other.” He said almost dramatically. “Then you wouldn’t be partners with this brute who apparently cares only about himself and the next woman he can dip his penis into.”

Kagome stood up before the two men could kill each other. “Heiten, please stop bating Bankotsu. What does the chief want?”

Heiten shot one more glare at Bankotsu before turning his attention back to Kagome. “He wants to talk to you about this case real quick. Though I believe your going to go out again.”

Kagome looked confused for a moment before nodding. Well, at least the day couldn’t get any worse.

**

It got worse. Oh how it got worse.

Kagome’s eyebrow twitched as she tried to process what the balding man was saying to her. “Are you serious?” She whispered, her voice dangerous. “You’re asking me to go back to that place, that nut job of a place, to talk to Taisho again? I swear to the kami’s chief, your trying to get me killed aren’t you?”

“Not at all Kagome!” He said, trying not to bring the wrath of his best officer. They weren’t kidding when they said that Kagome could be the scariest officer there. He remembered back when Kagome and Heiten were partners. Apparently he asked her out at one point. And when he asked her something completely unreasonable, she actually slammed his head against the wall and stormed off, demanding that their partnership was over and that she needed a new partner because she was going to jail if she stayed with Heiten.

“Look, out of everyone here on the force, you’re the only one who can handle Sesshomaru Taisho. No one else can Kagome. You know that better then anyone. You’re a strong minded person who can get anyone to spill their guts. You’re the only one who can get Taisho to help crack this case.’

The raven haired woman glared at him, hoping he would burst into flames. “Stop trying to flatter me Chief. He’s not going to help us. I don’t think we really need him to help us with this. We can solve this case without him!”

Myoga shook his head. “Kagome, we are at a stand still with this case. You know that. I’ve seen you up for nights on end in your office, trying to connect something. It’s been two weeks sense the last murder. We can’t just sit around, hoping that the next one will show clues. There hasn’t been anything we can follow. No fingerprints, no hair, nothing. Did you find a connection at all?”

Kagome bit her lip and clenched her fist. “But sir, I’m sure we can find out some kind of clue!”

“But I’m not willing to wait for the next murder to find it Kagome.” He reached out and took one of her hands. “Kagome, people are dying. We need to find out why and stop it before someone else loses a family member. Remember Hakudoushi’s wife when you told her what happened? I’m sure you don’t want to do that again. So please, you’re the only one who can do this.”

Kagome glared at the balding man. “You’re an ass hole and I hope you burn in hell.” She growled out as she removed her hand and stormed off.

“Does that mean you’ll do it?” He called out.

His answer was the door slamming shut behind her.

**

Oh she hated this place. She honestly hated this place more then anything. And the learning man at his desk wasn’t helping matters any at all. Kagome wondered to herself that if she punched Kageroumaru in the face she could go home. Now that was a consideration.

“I see your back.” He sneered at her. “And here I thought I would never see your face ever again.” He reached out as if he was going to touch her only to have Kagome slap his hand away.

She wasn’t wearing high heals or a skirt today. No, just the plan white shirt, pants and sneakers. This meant if she wanted to kick his ass for touching her, she could and not have to worry about breaking an ankle. “I’m only here to see Taisho again sir. I’m here strictly for Sesshomaru Taisho and its police business and I’m not in the mood to deal with anyone else right now. So take me down to him now.” She was in a very fowl mood.

Kageroumaru glared at her before summoning Juuroumaru to come and get her.

Kagome sighed as she followed the silent man down the stairs, once more getting her to the point that she knew she couldn’t escape this place without a guide.

“Just to inform you, Taisho is being punished for killing Mukotsu a month ago. So do not give him anything besides police business.” He said simply.

Kagome gaped at him. “How did he kill him? I mean, they’re in separate cells!”

Juuroumaru glanced at her before he punched in the codes and unlocked the door. “Officer, the power of words is more dangerous then you believe it is. Remember, Taisho sent your fellow officers in the mental ward when you caught him.” He motioned to the cells. “Same as always. Fifth cell. There’s a chair waiting for you there.”

Kagome swallowed hard as she gave a nod and walked down the isle. Once more she heard the whispers of the other three cell mates as they whispered things of rape, murder, and death. The fourth one though she was shocked. There was a small girl sitting there staring at nothing. She couldn’t have been any older then ten years old! Her long white hair flowed around her and her black eyes were void of any emotion at all. She would have to talk to the chief about this girl. There was no way some ten year old girl would be there in a high prison/asylum such as this one.

“Why, this is a pleasant surprise.” His smooth voice floated to her, taking her attention. “Detective Higurashi, I did not believe I would see you again.”

Kagome walked the rest of the way to his cell and took a seat. “Good afternoon Taisho.” She said with a nod of her head. She had to remember that he liked the fact she had manors. Maybe that would save her from going out of her mind.

Looking at him, Kagome could tell that nothing had changed. His long moonlight hair looked a bit dirty from the grime of the place, but yet still so perfect. His markings stood out to her and his sunset eyes watched her carefully. His cell on the other hand was different. All his books were gone, the privacy curtain was also gone as well. All was left was a bed with no sheets, and a bench where he lounged on at the current moment.

“How long is your punishment going to be?” Kagome asked him softly. Killer or not, it just didn’t seem fair to have him be in such a baron room.

“I believe Kageroumaru wishes to break me by making sure that I’m bored out of my mind. Such a simple man he is. For seven years he’s been trying to break me. It’s silly really. But enough of the small talk. I believe you’re here to talk about the case?”

Kagome took out the papers and placed them though the slot. “Two more deaths. Kagura Onigumo and Hakudoushi Yari. Wrath and sloth this time. So far there has been three deaths. And we’ve yet to figure out how or why. Nothing makes sense with it. There’s nothing to go by.”

Sesshomaru took the pictures and flipped though them. He shook his head at Hakudoushi’s picture. “A shame really.” He said, placing them back and sending them back to her. “He’s getting sloppy with his work.”

Kagome’s eyes widened as she took the papers back. “You know who it is don’t you?”

Sesshomaru looked up at her and smirked slightly. “There’s a possibility that I have an idea who it is. But whether or not I tell you Detective is up to you.”

Kagome stood up, anger in her eyes. “People are dying Taisho!” She snapped. “You have the chance to do something good and save them before more die!”

Sesshomaru chuckled before he burst out laughing. “Detective, people are always dying. Even if you capture this man, there will be more. More rapists, more kidnappings, more murder. Just because you capture this one man doesn’t mean that everything is going to stop.”

“If I can stop one man from killing more, then I can catch all those out there who wants to do harm. Being a police officer means that I can stop those from trying to do harm and protect the people out there.”

He shook his head and placed his chin on the palm of his hand. “Ah, such a naive little hime you are.”

Kagome blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

A smirk painted itself on his lips as he continued to watch her. “You are like a hime in an imperial palace. You think you know everything about the world. Hope that under your rule, you can make your kingdom a better place. But in the end, you are nothing more then just another person in the world so much greater then you believe. Your imperial guards can’t protect you and your palace will crumble. And when you realize that you can’t do anything and break down, I’ll be there to catch you. And put the pieces back together.”

“You’re nothing but a murderer Taisho.” Kagome snapped. “You don’t know anything about justice in the world.”

He chuckled again. “Really detective, your words hurt me so. You call me a murderer, but what about yourself?”

Kagome froze up. “I only take a life when I have to Taisho.” She sternly said. “When they are a threat and are in need to be taken down.”

“I’m not talking about that Detective. I’m talking about your father.”

Her blood ran cold at his words. “I didn’t kill my father.” She said, her voice cracking.

“Oh do not lie to me.” He stood up and leaned against the bars, his golden eyes bearing down on her. “If you want to tell lies, I could lead you on a wild goose chase on who to catch. Now tell me, why did you kill your father?”

“I didn’t kill him.” Kagome seethed. “And I don’t need you to solve this case Taisho. So why don’t you go and rot in this hell hole of a place.” The raven haired girl gathered her stuff and started heading out.

“Detective, before you go do pass this message to your partner. That is if he wishes to live, he should back away from what is mine. Because if he doesn’t I will kill him. As for your killer, look outside of the box and you’ll find your answers. Of course, how soon is up to you.”

Kagome glared at him once more before shifting her bag. “Good evening to you Taisho.” She bit out before leaving.

**

“Damn him!” Kagome yelled once she got to the office. There was no way in hell she was going to go back. No way would she even consider going back to that pit of hell. How dare he say things like that to her!

“Um… Kagome, throwing things around the office isn’t a great way to relieve stress.” Her partner said as he watched her throw her papers about.

Kagome turned her anger right at Bankotsu. “Oh really? Then tell me how the hell can I vent out my anger?!”

He swallowed hard. “You could always go to the shooting range.”

The woman sighed as she fell into her chair. “I’m sorry. It’s just that this whole thing is getting to me. The chief isn’t happen with me because I couldn’t get Taisho to talk and this case isn’t going anywhere. I feel like we’re just running around with our heads cut off honestly. And it’s not like I can take a vacation with our sinner guy running around.”

Bankotsu got out from behind his desk and over to hers. “Look Kagome, it’s been a week sense you went there to see Taisho. You’ve been irritable sense that day. And I know the chief isn’t helping you with it either. So how about you get off early today and just relax. Go listen to some kind of music or something like that.”

“Unfortunately she can’t.” Heiten said as he walked in and knocked twice on the open door. “I’ve got some pretty bad news.”

Kagome looked at the man. “Oh god, please tell me it’s not another sinner’s murder.”

“Worse.” The onyx haired man said. “Much worse.”

“Well spill it!” Bankotsu always hated it when the other drew things out.

Heiten cleared his throat. “On top of having some killer running around like a ghost, we have a bigger problem now. Detectives, Sesshomaru Taisho has broken out of the asylum and is now loose in the streets.”

TBC...