- haunting
Fourth chapter already! Damn I'm writing this fic fast. Now special thanks to reviewers; EternityMusic4Me, DarkinocensDLT, and anonymous Guest. And thanks to those that have faved and followed. Also, I don't understand half of what I've written for the clothes and I don't expect you to either, though if your curious you can always google or go look at lulu's where i found most of the designs (outer clothes anyways) while adding a small flare to each.
He twisted the knob slowly and cracked the door open to have the sound of water pounding down in the smaller room reach his ears. Makishima had been hoping to scare the girl with a more silent entry but it seemed that would have to wait for now. Closing the door back behind him he walked further into the room with a bag swaying at his side. The contents were curtosy of Akane's unsure yes from yesterday.
He had put a lot of thought into them. Probably to much unnecessary thoughts, among others. He approached the faded rug where she slept and first dug his hand inside to plop a fluffy similarly faded orange pillow. All the colors were what girls would like he thought if they weren't so old looking. But it's not like he was going to give her a five star hotel room to sleep in. Sure, he would make her last night on this earth more comfortable considering he would be killing her late into the night tomorrow if the other Inspector and Enforcers in her unit didn't find her. He wasn't completely crazy about them finding her either, but he had said that they would see her soon when he had taken her from the tower.
It had been interesting to have a woman slung across his back considering he didn't like it when his bubble was punctured by others. Cho had know this and was always standing a few feet away while he talked. That man hadn't come back from the mission so he had to assume he was dead and the information on Sybil had never come through either. So much loss but he had found a hacker to look into the unit sent there as well and found that an Enforcer had gone missing and they seemed sure he had run off in the chaos. A similar thing had happened in another unit during the riots according to the information. Atleast he wasn't the only one that had lost something.
Back to Akane though, his mind always led him back to her these days. He had seen her by camera before with the dogs but never really cared about watching her rather trying to see if Kogami would catch on quickly enough to the next scheme. It was a fun game afterall, to play with the minds of the MWPSB. He had played with her before as well a bit, taking her friend to get to the dog after watching their interactions-
His hand curled into a fist and he glanced to the open door of the bathroom, eyes falling on a darkened figure behind the shower curtains, his breathing slowed slightly even if he wasn't really seeing her. The shadow of her body beyond was slim, streams of water falling from the wet flatened strands of hair and small round half orbs of her breasts, hands raised up above her while working the fingers though her hair to rub whatever conditioner and shampoo he had set in there. She stepped further towards the showerhead tilting her head back, running the fingers down through her hair before twisting her body to grab for something off where a metal rack would be. At the new angle he could clearly see her hourglass shape before she turned back towards the front of the tub, rubbing soap collected in her hands along the curves of her body.
That Enforcer better not have ever seen her like this, or even halfway. He might just carve the dog alive if that had ever happened. Shogo Makishima wasn't very good with sharing his toys afterall.
Tearing his gaze from her he set the bag down and picked up the small stack of clothes within setting them down without dividing the different types. Taking the bag with him he left the room intent on asking her of the relationship she held with her dogs so he knew Kogami hadn't ever touched her later.
/ / /
A sigh broke through the silence of the room. Ginoza pushed up his glasses glancing around the room at blood splatters on the wall, draped like ribbons over the furniture. "It's just like the last one."
Mazaoka was crouched down looking at the patches of ground that were clean in a single square or rectangle of space without blood splatters or even tiny specs. The 'clean-up' machines buzzed around him zipping across the ground to suck up the blood and overall help with investigating what had cut into flesh and if it left traces behind. So far all the gear used by this paticular criminal seemed to be surgeon quality. Which meant Makishima was probably lending a helping hand since the criminal hadn't worked in the medical field. It also meant they were mostly interested in the cases concerning this one since the psycho path was pulling the strings behind it. If any clues of the whereabouts of Inspector Akane were to be found it would be here.
Beep!
One of the machines made a small pinging sound and Yayoi went over to see what it was making noise about. Crouching down she looked at the small screen, pinching her fingers together she touched them to the screen then spread the two apart making it become bigger so she could see more of the information at once. The screen had been split in two with a differrent set of DNA swirling round on each side. The left held the victim's info a, Mr. Zanokwa, along with an image of their face taken from a recent id of some sort. The right held the same, except the picture that should have been up wasn't, not yet anyways. It was flickering through images of citizens, running through them with little percentages that were slowly growing as it canceled out people every milisecond. When it hit a hundred percent and a confirmation signal came up which turned green a second later as someone back at headquarters verified the information. The little green box disapeared from the right side to reveal Akane Tsunemori's face.
"Ginoza," Yayoi called and waved her hand for the Inspector to come over. Apparently though from the tone of her voice the others decided to come over straight away as well. Kogami who had been inspecting the other rooms at the time came back into the living room. A small red light flashed at the top of the screen informing her that other machines scattered across the room were coming across the new information. She clicked on one to see another had found a sliver of muscle from the Inspector's body as well. She glanced over her shoulder to see the three men had gathered behind her before looking back at the screen, she widened it further before speaking, "The machines are picking up on blood, muscle," she clicked on another red light, "and skin from Akane." She touched a dial next to see how much of it the machines had gathered after the red dots began to fade into the background so they were barely visable. "It's only about half the amount of blood a normal syringe is capable of holding though." She glanced back over at them.
Kogami was glaring at the screen with his hand curled into a fist. "He's playing with us. Telling us she's still alive and that he's probably torturing her." If his eyes could have gone red from rage they would have. Even after he had yelled that he would kill Makishima if he laid a hand on Tsunemori he had still gone and done it. The criminal was mocking him for not finding her yet. Which was hard since the first clue hadn't said much.
They had found it while he was stuck in the hospital for the first day and a half, hidden in a dead body was a single old nail. Considering it was unsual to find rusted metal in a person's throat they had figured it had something to do with the Inspector, but so far were rather clueless to it considering how vague it was. Mazoka had identified it as a special sort of nail used for construction around a thousand years back. They had just gotten old building out of it and started inspecting and going through any old building they could find in the city or where certain historical places were demolished and the buildings that now sat there.
The second one was a lot more straight forward, it was the makeshift bandage Akane had tied around her leg up at the tower. It had been wrapped around a victim's wrist whose hand was pointing north at a tree with moss growing on the west side. It cut down on the locations that had to check but only by half. Somewhere in the north and west part of the city is where she was, the extent of what Makishima wanted them to know apparently.
Now they had another clue though but what bothered Shinya Kogami was they didn't know how long Makishima would keep her alive. There had been no clues to that but he knew they should move quickly to save her from the psychopath.
He didn't even want to think of what he was doing to her. The moment he found Akane he was going to make sure she got whatever medical attenssion she needed for injuries. Even sit by her bedside like she had done for him before to give her some company. He certainly didn't want to let her into danger like that again, unfortunetly it was her job, though he wanted to protect her from it.
"We'll need to have it all run through the system to see if something is hidden in it." Ginoza said. "Gather the bots up and let's get back to headquarters to see what this clue is so we can get the Inspector back sooner rather than later."
Kogami couldn't have agreed more, they needed to get moving with this investigation or something awful could happen to the sweet girl that shot him within the hour of their first meeting. He still remembered that perfectly when she had shouted and pulled the trigger. Mazaoka she was right, she was tough, hopefully she wouldn't have to hold her own too much longer.
/ / /
A sob escaped her lips, the hot tears that had been silent up till now scalded her face as it ran down her cheek. She reached forward to turn the second dial further to cold so the water rushing over her would help cool the skin and cool the paths of were her tears fell faster.
Akane couldn't believe it, she didn't want to. Tomorrow, probably late into the day she was going to die. There was of course her unit searching for her she knew and they were all good at their job but when Makishima wanted to kill someone he always got his way. Her friend had died because she hadn't been able to shoot him and now she was going to be a cold lifeless corpse as well within thirty four hours, or some time close to that.
She stepped closer to the showerhead, reaching up to adjust it so it was falling right on her head like a waterfall. Her body shook and she leaned forward to rest her head against the tiled wall. Breath coming in quick short bursts as she cried. She had known this type of work was dangerous but she hadn't even been working for more than a few months and already her career, her future, it was all coming to a halt infront of her. It was no wonder he had given her some food, simple pleasures before she would be gone from this world.
Inspector Ginoza would have to get another new partner to replace her. That was sad just because he had already lost one to this man and now he might lose her, just in a more permanent sense.
This time her sob was louder and her cry pierced the air around her, the sound was muffled from the waves of water falling over her. She cringed into the wall and slowly brought her hands up to her hair to part the strands and run her fingers hesitantly through them checking subconsiously that there were no more traces of shampoo or conditioner. Bringing her hand back to her face she sucked in a breath holding back anymore noises catching the of vanilla and cherries. It made her stomach flip unpleasantly. Not the actual smell but that it was what Makishima had put in the bathroom for her to use.
She didn't understand that man at all. He seemed fascinated with old books and philosophers and their outlooks on life. Using only the parts that he also believed in to get his points across to others. Even using such information as a form of games. The last one he had said, when he left, she had remembered seeing that once but she couldn't quite recall where. It was old, she knew that. The fact that she remembered coming across it in school unnerved her. Was there actually truth to some of the stuff he said? Well, of course there was but she trusted the sybil system even if it had it's flaws.
Akane just wished she could understand him a bit more so she could know why he acted the way he did. What drove him to the actions of yesterday. She could still feel the way her skin seemed to hum at his touch, her lip quivered even now from the loss of contact rather than being comforted that he wasn't there. Wanting to have him touch her like that again, it was horrible. Her thoughts kept conflicting with eachother, eventually her mind would tell herself to remember that he planned to kill her and the fear would settle in once more. But, for now, she was simply frustrated.
Shivering in the cold water she slowly reached for the mechanism and turned the dial. It acted like a screw spinning back into place and the water stopped shortly after just a few drops hitting the bottom of the tub every other second. Stepping out she wrapped the previously clean dry gray towel around her naked form, brushing her feet against the other towle she had set on the ground so when she walked on the smooth stone she wouldn't slip.
Upon coming out from the small bathroom she stopped, standing in the doorway looking over at what was where she slept. Besides just the fluffy pink rug was now a fluffy orange pillow, the bright colors even faded looked out of place down here but it added a quality to the room that she liked and could appreciate. Everywhere else one looked it was dark, cold, grey, brown, rough. It was nice to have one part that wasn't like that. She was taken aback though by the fact there was a pile of clothes ontop the fuzzy rectangle. After finally deciding to take a shower she found that her small compact device that usually made it so she could change holographic clothes easily wasn't working and had been worried that she would have to face Makishima in a towel next time. It was great that she wouldn't have to but again she was bothered by this display.
It hadn't been there when she left for the bathroom and now here it all was. He had been in here again except this time she had been awake and even then she had failed to notice his prescence. She decided he was sneaky like a cat right then, that it was just impossible to hear him enter a room unless you were staring at the door to hear the twist of a knob and see it turn.
She walked slowly over and dropped the towel after a quick glance over to make sure he hadn't left any other surprises. It was the same other than her little personal space though. A box of pocky and bag of chips along with another bag of various dried fruit still sat ontop the chess board. Crouching down aware that she was suddenly cold without the towel over her shoulders she started sifting through the small pile.
The first piece was a black tank top, the straps had a mini bow ontop of each with thin blue lines etched along the edges, a small crop in the shape of a diamond had been made in the front beneath the chest area so a small patch of skin could be revealed, beneath that just an inch below was a line of the same light blue from before, the bottom half was a pleated peplum waist. She turned it around slowly to look a the back where the straps twisted over one another to create a simple x, not covering the shoulder or a small triangle shaped patch below until it connected with the bottom half again.
Beneath it was another shirt, this one a bright sea-green. At first it looked more simple and not as showy until she lifted it up and looked down to see it stopped just before her belly button and that the bottom was lace in a triangle vine design that was thin and had little holes of various sizes where you could see skin further up the stomach if she were to put it on. The short sleeves had fringes at the end, and the top dipped into a deep v that was sure to even show the little cleavage she had.
She set the two back down quickly to realise that was the only shirt selection he had given her. She picked up the next article, gray lace shorts with a scalloped hem, she tugged at the band to find it was elastic. After a couple moments of staring at it, since it really did look cute she set it aside to grab for the other bottoms. Which were simple white jean leggings.
Moving them off the pile a red tinge quickly came to her cheeks and over her face. Makishima had picked these out for her to wear? The single bra was a deep red, and when she reached out to touch the fabric she found the inner part was cotton while the outside was lace. There were small rips in the fabric that had obviously been made intentionally by the designer, frills at the edge of those rips. The strips between them were filled in by a thin see-through black. The top was more slanted down with a thin peice of fabric with a small black butterfly as a front clasp keeping it together. She pulled it up by one of the straps to see a matching pair of panties as well. Red, with similar rips, an imprint of a black butterfly centered in the middle. Putting the two at the side she found a light blue frilly laced boyshorts as the last piece brought in for her.
She sat back on her heels looking over the small yet revealing selection. Okay, the jeans weren't revealing but once she had them they would be hugging the curves of her legs and hips not to mention her ass. Besides that it was all very revealing. The fact that Makishima had picked these out confused her greatly. What was he not just a psychopath but a in the closet pervert as well or something? Okay, he was a guy which really answered that question in itself. Still her skin crawled at the thought of putting the undergarments on. Had he imagined her wearing them? She reached slowly for the blue panties then grabbed the white jeans, her hand hesitated over the shirts. Which one? She was sure she had never thought so much about her clothes before this instant. She felt the inside of both the shirts in the chest area and found the black tank had a slight extra padding and picked that one so she wouldn't have to use the bra.
Akane quickly dressed into the change of clothes after making sure she was dry, hanging the towel back up in the bathroom she started walking around the room. She was conflicted over even seeing Makishima, on one hand she wanted to yell at him, on the other she wanted to go off and hide in the tub with the curtain drawn so he wouldn't see her. All that aside she wanted to get out of here before tomorrow came.
Her feet directed her over to the door and she stared at the knob for a long moment before reaching a hand out hesitantly to grab at it and start twisting slowly. She squeezed her eyes shut continuing to turn her hand expecting to run into preasure soon but instead she heard a soft click. Eyes snapping open she stared down at the turned knob and pulled the door open peeking her head out into a dark hallway made of similar stone from her room. Slowly she stepped out and closed the door softly behind her. Akane was filled with a sense of freedom and accomplishment on her part. Looking down both sides of the hall to see the left led to a dead end while the right had a spiral staircase heading up she turned right.
She slipped her hand onto the metal railing and peered up between the stair grates trying to see what she would run into. For all she knew Makishima could be heading down right now... Akane shook her head hard. She shouldn't be thinking like that. Out of the room, now just get out of the house and we can go from there she thought to herself. We being her and her mind. She just hoped it didn't open out onto a street or else she would immedietly feel underdressed. Cursing Makishima in her head once more she started up the stairs being sure to keep her footsteps light.
Reaching the landing and what she presumed to be the first floor she glanced around quickly, making a small spin in a circle since it opened up in the middle of a room. The room itself was circular with three closed doors positioned along the wall that otherwise contained old artwork. Moving slowly to the closest door she turned the knob hesitantly. Please, oh please, don't be on the other side of this one she prayed. Swinging the door open silently she glanced into the room to see it was a sort of inside green house. She stepped in quickly and closed the door behind her trying her best not to get caught.
She caught a whiff of roses, daffodils, and other various flowers. There were a few trees as well with vines curling up around to the walls and ceiling, the climate in here was warm and she welcomed the feel on her cold skin. Moving through the mini forest around bushes she reached a door at the other end and opened it slowly, peering through a crack to check what it was. A hallway. She swung the door open the rest of the way.
Glancing down the long walkway she looked to her right and saw that a door with windows nearby looking outside. She hurried over to look through the glass and had to surpress a groan.
A forest expanded infront of her eyes in every direction, with no city buildings in sight. She was somewhere in the country side probably many miles away from the city since she could see the sky was darkening ahead of her she pushed her face closer ot the glass trying to see anylight in the distance, there was none. In the middle of nowhere. That was just perfect. She couldn't just go out the front door like she had planned, Akane needed to find where the cars were kept and get herself into one, but she had no idea what this layout was. It was also getting dark and she was sure that was when Makishima went to see her.
Her breath came quick as her thoughts and emotions grew conflicted of what she should do. It wasn't very likely he would forget to lock the door twice so this had to be her oppurtunity. Cars were big how hard could it be to find one? Unless this place was large and so far it felt that way to her. Looking back down the hall she tried to figure out which door looked like it would lead to a garage of all things of held a hall that went in the general direction she needed to go in.
A dull thump sent her heart racing, her ears ringing like thunder had clapped overhead. Turning from the window she moved quickly back to the door and opened it slipping back into the green room. She fought to keep her feet silent on the floor as she got back to the room that held the staircase feeling her heart pounding in her chest. Everything seeed to pass in blurs until she was halfway down the staircase and her leg twisted awkwardly beneath her as she was turning. She held back a pained noise but fell forward, knee banging into the metal rail as she caught into it so she wouldn't go tumbling down the stairs. The footsteps in the room overhead were suddenly getting louder faster as she clung to the metal trying to catch her breath. Putting a hand on her leg she forced herself to move again down the stairs, she got off but had already heard other steps on the metal.
She gasped as a hand shoved her up against a stone wall using her shoulder as leverage. "Little bird," his voice sent her legs shaking and she would have collapsed to the ground had he not been holding her up. "what are you doing outside of your cage?"
She bit into her lip aware of her voice trembling as she spoke but unable to stop it. "I-it was unlocked. The door-" Not able to stop herself she broke into a sob the thoughts that had filled her head in the shower coming back to her full force. "Please, please," she begged, "don't kill me. I won't leave the room again, please." She sniffed, body trembling, waiting to be hit or thrown back inside without another word.
There was a tugging at her arm and she followed the direction he took her in slowly, trying to stifle her cries. Hearing that familiar click she knew she was being put back into the room and she walked in after him. The hand fell from her arm and she glanced infront of her to notice he wasn't there and that she could hear him moving back out of the room. She whimpered softly and caught her breath as the footsteps stopped short.
The cold air in the room was rushing over her skin again. Hearing the footsteps coming back towards her it sent her body shaking even harder. Oh please no, leave me alone. Warm. Her shoulders suddenly felt warm as hot breath fell upon the skin and along the back of her neck. She shivered from the sensation, turning her head slightly trying to see him standing behind her. Her simple action stopped when she felt a finger touch the back of her neck and trace down her spine until the straps and their x got in the way. Her breath wooshed out of her in a single breath at the foreign feeling. The shaking subsided to small shivers as his finger moved over the strip of clothing to continue down the spine stopping again at the bottom half of the shirt.
Suddenly the warm prescence disapeared and she could hear him walking away again, a clear firm sound of the door closing and the loud click and jingle of the knob signaling it was locked again.
Her legs finally gave out on her. She collapsed onto the ground, pressing her forehead against the cool floor.