Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Suggested Listening: Don't Close Your Eyes by Sam Tinnesz
The Space Between
Chapter Ten: Safe Haven
Sweat formed in small rivulets across her skin. Kagome wiped the back of her hand over her forehead. She'd forgotten how hard it was to scrub walls with only a rag and some cleaner. She could hardly reach the areas she'd needed to. It'd been some years since the last time she'd been forced to scrub everything down. The previous time was much more difficult though. Her brows twitched in irritation. Well, it looked like there was only one option left.
She was going to have to mop the walls.
It was the only thing that could reach where she needed to. She only hoped that the effort would pay off. The young woman pressed the mop into the semi murky water. She'd been forced to change it three times by now. The baseboards, floor and countertops were scrubbed clean but that still left the upper sections of the walls. She couldn't leave those stained that atrocious color. Kagome strained the excess before setting it against the wall and scrubbing forcefully.
Yellow melted away to white the harder she pressed. Hours flew by and her elbows began to ache in protest. Just a little bit more. Azure eyes narrowed at the task at hand.
She had no idea when the detective would return home from work. If he was dealing with the fallout of her decision to runaway, then it'd likely be a late night for him. A twinge of guilt pulled at her consciousness. She felt bad for having put him in the middle like that. She was fully aware that he was risking more than just this case by harboring her; he was risking his very livelihood.
Kagome chewed on the inside of her cheek nervously. She didn't like feeling as if she were a burden. Even if she couldn't give him what he really wanted, she could at least do this. It was better than sitting around, doing nothing at all and letting the fear worm it's way into her psyche. She needed the distraction.
The teen glanced towards the clock. It was already half past five. If she hurried, she could probably finish the rest before it hit six. Determination filled her. She'd keep focused. That was the only thing she could do.
Okita looked between husband and wife suspiciously.
"You!" Touga shot up out of his seat. Fury mottled his features. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be searching for my daughter?" The man's voice raised several notches. That was an ironic demand for a man that never adopted said daughter. Alas that information hadn't been obtained legally so he was forced to use a different method.
He didn't pay Touga any mind. Instead he focused his sharp gaze on Izumi's sobbing figure. A twist of fury clouded his view. The bruising and scratch marks on Kagome's face and neck flickered in the back of his mind. His fist clenched tightly at his side. This woman was an actress. She was good at hiding herself until the last possible second. He'd need to tear away at her defenses and leave nothing but the truth behind.
"Where were you this morning, Miss Izumi?" He purposefully ignored Touga's overbearing presence. She didn't raise her head. She hardly acknowledged him besides the slight whimper in her voice. Okita's eyes narrowed further. "Let me rephrase the question. Do you know what happened to your daughter?" He was needling her. Touga already had his alibi checked out. He'd been at work with his oldest son, Sesshoumaru. The other man had vouched for his father's presence at the company. Which meant that only one person could have been witness to Kagome fleeing from the house; Izumi herself.
Touga paused mid-rampage. His eyes widened then refocused on his sobbing wife. A flash of realization flickered in his eyes. Now came the truth. Was Touga aware of Izumi's abuse? If so, how would he deal with it? Was he the passive enabler? Was he an aggressive protector? Okita observed the couple closely. He needed this information. It was necessary to not only get Kagome somewhere safe, but to get to the bottom of the reason why the killer had chosen her specifically. There was something in her life that made her a prime target. He just had to find out what that was.
"… it." Izumi's voice came in softly. He quirked his brow at the display.
"Come again?" Okita pushed her a little more.
"I didn't do it." Red rimmed eyes turned up at him. Her chin wobbled with the unreleased tears in her eyes. It was a good show but that was it. There was no substance, no true feeling behind her little act. "She was gone when I woke up this morning. Her bed was empty."
Touga settled a suspicious glance on his wife. He was clearly aware of the tumultuous relationship between the two. So how would he respond.
"Is that so? Then why was Souta found at the Yamada Residence?" He pushed even further. "A girl like that doesn't ship her brother off on a friend without good reason." He dropped his voice into a low growl. "So how about we cut the bullshit. This little song and dance you're working doesn't affect me. What happened this morning?"
Izumi buried her face into her arms; hiding away from his prying eyes. That's all this woman could do. Just run away from her problems as if they didn't exist. It'd worked for her thus far but it wouldn't work now.
A long moment of silence passed.
The memories of his own youth kept flooding back to him. It didn't help that the weather was as cold now as it was then. He just couldn't escape the damn winter.
Touga sighed, "I'd like to speak with my wife about this privately. We are not being arrested so we will leave things at that for today." Golden eyes snapped to him intently. "Find my daughter detective, or find yourself without a sponsorship."
Ah there it was. The power play he'd been waiting for. Hijikata was going to flip his shit but this next part was necessary. Not only for the case but for Kagome's safety as well. Okita stood from his position. He tucked his hands into his pockets and settled a fierce glare on the man.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Omoikiri-san." He grabbed at his carton of cigarettes. Damn he really needed one. Too bad he couldn't light up inside the station. "The killer is still loose and right now those kids need you more than ever." His expression grew serious. He didn't have anyone to talk to his family when he was her age. He didn't have someone who gave half a shit if he'd died on those streets. He didn't want that for her. She deserved more than that fate. He met Touga's gaze, "You've got a decision to make. Your wife," He gave a brief glance to the sniffling woman. "Or those kids. You and I know that you can't have both."
Touga was silent. His lips pulled downwards into a thin line. The man clenched his fists at his sides.
"We're leaving."
Just like that the pair was gone. They rushed out of the building, leaving Okita to stare after them. His partner came to stand beside him. He'd remained silent for the duration of the interrogation. It seemed that he had chosen to let him do as he needed.
The man gave him a cautious glare. There was more than one reason why they'd been partnered together. Their opposing personalities worked well on the hunt for perpetrators. The old fashioned good cop, bad cop routine was their go to. But that wasn't the only reason why Hijikata has assigned them together. Back in his days as a beat cop he'd earned a reputation for being hot blooded and impatient. It was his greatest flaw. Saito was to serve as the brakes to his volatile nature. Not that it worked though.
"What was that?" Saito's voice came in cold. "Do you prefer being at that desk?" He pointedly reminded him of his previous punishment. Okita shrugged his shoulders.
"I ain't kicking a bear to see if it'll bite." The detective set his cigarettes back into his pocket. He'd smoke one later. For now he needed to head back home and check on the kid. It wouldn't be wise to leave her on her own for so long just yet. He turned his attention towards his partner, "She's got a bad relationship with her mom. If the killer wants to get the girl then he'll take advantage of this time."
The dark haired male furrowed his brows, "Then I'll set a patrol out to search for her. She can't be left on the streets for long."
Okita felt a wry smile pull at his lips. One thing was for sure. The kid wasn't as alone as she thought she was. It was a good sign.
"Sure. I'll check around some of her friends' places. Kid probably just wants some space and needed to get out." He started walking towards the exit. "She'll show up tomorrow. I just needed to put a bit of pressure on Omoikiri." Sensing Saito's question he continued. "We want her to talk. She's not going to do that if she thinks her family is at risk. Getting her separated from Izumi is gonna be the start to gaining her trust." He scratched at the back of his neck. "Only problem is that the only way to really make that happen is to force Omoikiri's hand."
His partner scowled, "So you're taking advantage of their fight to encourage him to divorce his wife?"
Okita smirked, "Something like that. Really all he needs to do is get the kids out from her influence. We get him to do that, she might just talk."
Saito's expression grew dark. He didn't have to say what they both knew he felt. They were two very opposing sides to the same coin. Their goals were the same. Their jobs were the same. But their methods were so vastly different from one another.
Okita lifted his hand and gave a short wave.
"See you around, Hajime-kun. Keep me updated if you find anything." With that he walked out of the headquarters.
Kagome was safe for the moment. He'd drop her off in the morning when things calmed down. It was the best he could do for her at the moment.
The man left without glancing behind him. He tucked his hand back into his pocket and grabbed a single cigarette. He withdrew a lighter with his other hand and pressed the small flame against the butt. A cherry red dot glowed in the darkened alleyways. A trail of smoke curled behind him; twisting and fueling until it dissipated into the winter's air.
He rounded through the labyrinth of side streets and shady buildings. It was funny how close true crimes lurked to suburban neighborhoods. He was a stone's toss away from headquarters by comparison to his coworkers yet his house was nestled in a place that was unique in its own way. It was nice with plenty of small family run shops around, but just past the third block was one of the seediest neighborhoods around. It was an odd conflict of cultures. He was close enough to keep an eye on things while far enough to maintain his distance.
The man rounded the final path down the street to his home. It was quiet besides the Itou family's dog on the house to the left. That thing was a little yapper, constantly barking at everything that passed by the window. Okita plaintively ignored it. He finished his cigarette and snuffed it out beneath his heel. His eyes shot towards his house. The lights were left off. Which meant Kagome was either keeping a low profile or she'd already left.
His jaw clenched. Only one way to find out. He pushed his key into the lock and twisted. Hearing the soft click, the detective pushed open the door. His eyes scanned the area cautiously. The scent of his floor cleaner burned at his nose. Had she cleaned?
"Kid? You in here?" Okita called out tentatively. The living room was still dark. Night had fallen making it difficult for his eyes to adjust to the shift in his vision.
"I'm on the couch." Kagome responded softly from within the darkness. "I didn't want to draw attention so I kept the lights off."
His hand went to the switch. He flicked on the lights and was forced to do a double take of his own home. We're his walls always that white? He couldn't remember. Seeing the shock flicker over his expression she continued.
"I thought I should do something as a thank you for letting me crash here." Her face turned towards the ceiling as a faint line of pink went across her nose. "I didn't go touching any of your personal stuff though. I just scrubbed off all the nicotine from the walls, floors and counters in this area." Her eyes narrowed at him. "Speaking of, haven't you ever heard of opening a window? You'll damage your resale value if you ever try to move."
His lips quirked upwards. He rather liked this change in demeanor in her. Definitely much more refreshing than the fear she'd expressed earlier. This somehow suited her more.
"Worried? I appreciate it but there's no need." The detective shrugged out of his coat. He threw it over the back of his chair as he made his way into his kitchen. "Anyways I can't go shopping but what do you feel like eating? I ain't gonna let a minor go hungry under my watch."
"Hey I'm only a minor for a couple more weeks." She crossed her arms over her chest petulantly. "Besides I can cook. You've already done enough."
He didn't miss the concern in her voice. She clearly understood the position he'd placed the both of them in. He kept his smile.
"So? I decided to do this, not you." He opened up his pantry and took a good look around. He might not have had much in the way of cleaning supplies, but his food was always stocked. "Anyways you best tell me now otherwise I might cook something you'll hate." His lips stretched into a wide grin.
Kagome took a seat at his table. Her eyes observing him like a hawk, "I honestly don't care. Also," She met his eyes shyly. "Thanks again for doing this."
Okita shook his head. He gathered up several ingredients before starting work on a simple, easy to make meal. "It's fine kid. I asked you to rely on me if you needed so that's what you did. I can't exactly blame you for doing what I asked you to." He felt the slight twinge of satisfaction. "If you two get into it again or if you think she's going to go off on you then come back here."
He started up his stove. He wasn't the greatest cook in the world but he knew enough to get by. The man placed the strips of meat across the pan as he pressed onward.
"You can come up with an excuse or something to avoid panic but this place is open for you as long as you need." He set a timer for the meat. "Better than having you running around on the streets by yourself. Take it from me kid, being out there is dangerous. Especially in your situation."
He turned his back and rested against his counter. His features drew into a concerned scowl.
"Sleeping out on benches isn't the sort of thing teens like you need to be doing. This place is safe so just crash here when you need." He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to light another smoke. The girl spent hours cleaning his house. He wouldn't screw up her hard work by doing that in front of her. "I'll figure out the rest so you can keep doing what you need to."
Kagome stared up at him. Her face had shifted between shock, discomfort and finally settling on embarrassment. She was an open book to read when she was like this. A small smile pulled at his lips. It was nice.
"Thank you, detective."
He waved off her gratitude by plucking the finished food from the pan.
"Don't worry about that and just eat. I heard your stomach screaming a mile away."
Her face turned red as she tried to focus on the food in front of her. Okita took the seat beside her, calmly eating at his own meal. This had been the first time since he'd moved in that he had someone eat with him at this table. It wasn't a bad feeling. Not at all.
The pair settled on the couch next to each other after dinner. Neither spoke much but Kagome remained silent, glancing between him and the television curiously.
"Detective," Her voice was tiny. Hardly audible above the game show he'd turned on to help put her at ease. "Why are you doing this?" Azure eyes looked to him—piercing through him with the depth of her curiosity and cautiousness. She was still so skittish towards authority figures. Not that he blamed her.
He took a breath through his nose.
"That's not an easy answer." Okita smiled at the young woman warmly. "But just think of it as me doing my job. You need help and so that's what I'm going to do."
Kagome threw him a suspicious glance, "So taking in runaway minors is apart of your job? Wow, I didn't think the police force endorsed that sort of thing."
Damn she was cautious. A laugh fell from his mouth. He reached up, placed his palm over the crown of her head and gave it a rough tousle.
"Hey!" Kagome tried to protest.
"Don't make it sound so sleazy." He withdrew his hand and focused his attention back on the screen. "You're a good kid from what I can tell, Higurashi." She blinked the second he referred to her name. "Don't go fucking up your life like I did. That's all that I'm asking."
She sat back. Her eyes shifted towards her feet. A thoughtful look crossed her features.
He didn't push the subject further. If she wanted to open up to him then he'd have to gain her trust first. This was merely the first step towards that goal.
"Take it easy tonight. We'll figure the rest out tomorrow." He gave her hair another tousle. Kagome curled her legs to her chest and nodded once. She tucked her arms beneath her knees as she settled in to watch the show. As time passed her eyes slowly drifted closed. She nodded off, her body leaning into his heavily.
Okita blinked. Had time really gone by that fast? He looked towards his temporary charge. Her face was peaceful and her eyes were closed—a clear sign that she was fast asleep. He fought the urge to sigh. He couldn't just let a girl sleep out on his couch. Pressing one arm behind her shoulders and the other beneath her knees, he lifted her into the air. His brows knit together in worry. She was light. Too light. Was she eating enough? Or was she hiding out and feeding on scraps to avoid her family? He shook his head. He'd worry about that later. For now he needed to get her to bed.
Okita carries her to his room. He'd kept his place tidy so he had little to worry about in regards to that issue. The man gently lowered her onto the mattress, pulling back the sheets just far enough so he could put her beneath them.
The detective shifted her legs onto the bed fully and tucked her arms to her side. He tugged the bedding up to her neck before heading towards his closet. He grabbed a spare blanket and pillow before making his way back out to the living room.
Okita casually tossed them onto his couch before settling over it comfortably.
Saito had one thing wrong about him. He wasn't completely without his set of morals. There were two things that he could never overlook: abuse and starvation. The kid had struck both and he'd be damned if he left her to wallow in that hell hole.
He turned on his side. Emerald eyes drifted closed as he tried to push out the memories of his past.
This was going to be a long night.