- thorn

First, I got a present for you guys. If you go to my profile you will find a "ShoAka" link, click on it. I know there was a lack of pov views in the last chapter since it really had to be told in Akane's view. But this one is more all over the place. So expect paint stains everywhere! Not literally... unless you like that kind of stuff. I should... no I don't think I will.

With a kick the door came down and figures cloaked in black ran into the building, weapons drawn and pointing around corners before being followed by the silhouettes. The pounding of feet echoed down the cold wood halls, the sound bouncing off all flat surfaces, and there was a lot since...

"It's empty!" A frustrated shout came at the back of the building proclaimed by Kogami. He stalked back down the few halls leading into maybe a max of eight rooms. All of them were bare of any furniture and covered in dust. He stopped at the center where the four main halls met up at a cross-road. Ginoza walked towards him from the right half of the building he had inspected. "No one's lived here in years, much less held captive." His last word came out more in a snarl as he glared at Gino.

The Inspector just met his look with a steady gaze. "This is only the third building we've been able to check inbetween actual work. If all the units weren't swamped right now I would have asked for them to help us locate Inspector Tsunemori. With the ways things are though we'll just have to maintain this crawl by ourselves." When Kogami went to cut in with a curse Gino continued. "You know we're using all the resources we can right now. The Chief agreed that if there were any sightings of Makishima or criminals suspected of working with him we would get the information right away and be able to go and investigate immedietly. So far there have been no such sightings." There was an audible snap when he shut his jaw, glaring at the Enforcer in turn.

Kogami scowled while listening to the dull clicks of boots walking towards them with no urgency. The other two Enforcers were making their way back to the others and like the last few times there would be nothing to report. He was seriously starting to think Makishima had set up a new game, possibly moved from wherever he was located previously. That the latent criminal had decided he didn't want to be found while cutting Tsunemori's body up into fine little pieces. Simply torturing the girl somehow, in a sick disgusting way. He didn't want to think about it but images of her were always entering his mind; shackled to the floor with her back torn open from various beatings, hot metal being pressed into her skin to leave scars in words or images, sitting on a bed of nails that slowly slid into her perfect pale skin.

Of course, he was projecting things he had seen on this job before but with her in the situations instead. Plus much worse was the flash of an image of Makishima holding her head down under water slowly drowning the girl, perhaps letting her up at the last possible instant so she didn't die. His jaw clentched, his hands curled into fists at his sides. He wished he had never said a word about the MWSBP back on the tower and the prospect of them catching him. That bastard now had her in his grip and was probably enjoying the fact that he had a toy that would scream at whatever he did to her.

As strong as he thought Akane was she didn't strike him as a person that could do well under torture. She was never trained for it and didn't seem to hold that rare capability. He just hoped he could find her before she was driven insane or her body broken barely clinging to life. If that happened he really would never be able to forgive himself, and he didn't plan to do so for not being able to cut Makishima down at the tower while he had the chance. He could hope like the rest of them that she would be okay and be able to sustain her person and not come back to them a wreck and missing the qualities she had about her. The thought of her eyes glaring accusingly at him for having to go through torture because of his mistake was one image that recurred in his mind wether he was awake or asleep.

He sighed, "Yeah, I know that." His face contorted back into one of anger a second later though. "But we can't count on him keeping her alive for another week. Once he gets bored he'll kill her like he said."

The boots had stopped clicking sometime while he spoke. Mazaoka turned and looked at Kogami. "You could be more optimistic." The older Enforcer said. "Maybe she's found a way to buy herself time and that's why she's still there. Or-"

"Enough!" Gino snapped at the two of them just before the watch around his wrist blinked red. Fingers tapped away and a small screen came up, it was still enough for Kogami to see that another problem had been caused in the city and he narrowed his eyes in frustration.

How were they ever going to get anywhere with all these interuptions!

To distract himself he let his mind wander to the only good dreams he had these days. He would find her and save her from a horrible fate. She would be ecstatic upon seeing him before and after recieving proper medical care. He could just ask to speak with her in-private, but really he wouldn't say a word other than him being glad she was okay now. Maybe finally be able to hold her close even though just knowing she was safe and away from the criminal would ease his mind greatly.

Then he could go back to looking at her from the corner of his eyes and noticing the little times she looked back at him to smile. Which in turn made the fantasies of having those lips on him spring into mind. His teeth gritted. If Makishima did anything to her he would kill him, if he hurt her in anyway he might just torture him into death. Not that it was a secret, he had shouted threats at the man's retreating back. If there was even a tiny bruise on her petite body... he would slice that sick psycho open from head to toe.

/ / /

His gaze kept flickering up from the book to track her progress and finding none each time. Akane just remained on the first stone step, feet covered up to the ankle in warm water that lapped softly back and forth due to the windows in the room being thrown open. The air ghosted in rippling out over the surface of the rather old fashioned pool. Spotting the goosebumps on her flesh he looked back to the page he wasn't entirely reading.

The fact was, she was standing near naked infront of him and even with her scars she looked damned gorgeous and it took all self control he had not to go over to her and make a very different suggestion for todays activities. Even if she was standing still looking out at the small waves with terror written straight across her face. Besides, he had figured he had traumatized her enough the other day and even some more this morning. She probably wouldn't be able to deal with anything else for today. That and he thought it was important she get over this fear.

Looking up again it only took him a second to note that she hadn't moved an eighth of a centimeter since he last glanced at her. In a way she looked fascinated by the water. So much she hadn't looked over at him once since she had calmly entered the water. If that's what one could call holding a kicking and screaming girl that grew silent the minute she was set down inside. Maybe her brain had gone and frozen over since yesterday.

He loudly took in a breath and she still didn't move. Perhaps traumatized was a weaker word for what she had to be feeling. But he had already told her she wasn't leaving until she could atleast get off the steps and into the shallow end. She hadn't taken very well to that either.

If anything she just resembled a statue even more at the news. The thought of pushing her in had crossed his mind a few times by now but the reaction he would get was not one he thought to be in his favor. So he had left her there to sort things out herself. Much like in the tank, but with this she could take (mostly) all the time she wanted.

Makishima in the mean time had actually gotten up from the chair a few times after the first thirty minutes having figured nothing would change. He had already disposed of the key to her door not seeing any reason to keep locking it any longer. There was nothing left to indicate that she would run away at the first chance she got. Hell, she had told him that she wanted to be kept by him. That and she seemed to have come to terms with something by the sudden spark of confidence in her step. Up until the point he told her what was going to happen for today anyways.

Resting his head in a open palm as he studied her he decided this was going to be a long and painful process for the both of them. Maybe he could tempt her with the chess pieces, tell her she could play with them and make bad english accents as much as she wanted even if she just learned how to tread water properly.

/ / /

She couldn't help it. Her mind kept going back to the tank even at the sight of a drop of water. When Shogo had come to her that morning with what sounded like a suggestion of her learning how to swim she couldn't hide her crazed expression from his eyes.

What was he? Insane? After what happened yesterday he wanted her to willingly go into any pool of water big enough for her body to be in? Sorry, big enough for her to swim in. Hence the pool she stood in reluctantly right now. He had given her a different bathing suit this time and she was sure he had burned the other one having smelled a fire and catching a weird scent in the smoke that didn't come from wood.

Her current suit was still a two-piece which meant she could see her bruised body while she stared down at the water. It was nicer than the last one though. A mixture of the colors white and gold, which were quickly becoming her new favorites.

Akane wasn't even sure how he had talked her into this. It was crazy and he was just sitting in a chair rather than trying to get her to even go into the water. Well, he had tried, actually about two hours ago. That was when he had grabbed her and forced her onto the first step... and she hadn't moved since. Her legs were starting to shake from standing for so long. They felt wobbly and like they would collapse on her if she moved even an inch. That was partially why she didn't dare to move now. The other was her simple-what he had so calmly called, 'irrational fear of water'. It may have been irrational two days ago but now she totally had a reason.

Being thrown into ice cold water does not help with one's fear of it you stupid stupid man! She was still considering shouting that at him but her mouth would not work anymore right now. He had effectivly shut those systems down with this idea.

A prickling had begun up her legs and she cursed them silently. Going to sleep on her and doing that pins and needles thing... She blinked in terror as her legs started to shake as if the preasure was finally becoming too much for them. You can do it! She urged mentally. Stay in place! She locked her knees a moment later to stop the trembling and sighed softly in relief.

Ten minutes later the feeling had traveled up to her knees as well and she didn't know how to stop it. She was barely aware of the soft whimpers coming from her, even less of the hard stare she was getting from making such noises that made the right side of her upper body prickle in a very different way. Her legs were shrinking down on her, the water lapping up just slightly past her ankles. She yelped at the sudden change, jumping slightly in the process. When her foot came back down in contact with the smooth stone step she slipped forwards, plunging into the water infront of her, body barely skimming over the last steps and she was extremely glad she was short in that moment or else she would have hit her head on the bottom of the pool.

Now submerged she started kicking and throwing her arms forward at awkward angles. The fact that this water was at a normal room tempature instead of freezing did little to comfort her nerves. She had squeezed her eyes shut but once she felt her head break the surface they snapped open as she shouted a, "Shogo help me!" Her gaze turned quickly around the room to find him still sitting in the chair with his face contorted in such a way that he was clearly trying not to laugh at her. Gasping she felt water slip through her lips and quickly spat it back out as she tried her best to glare before she felt the water rising back past her chin, "Help!" she cried again, voice shaking.

His eyes suddenly narrowed in on her and she swallowed self consiously. The book in his hands being closed echoed in a dull thump as his gaze remained fixed on her. Her heart was beating wildly. Aren't you going to move? She wanted to scream at him as she felt her head sink further down, the water rising to touch the bottom of her lips. When she heard his voice she was torn from being scared and pissed off, "Akane, dear, you're in the shallow end of the pool. Stand the fuck up."

Her feet settled on the bottom so fast pushing her body back up on wobbly legs so she had to clutch at the edge of the pool just so she didn't fall over. "What did you just say?" She snapped, glaring a paralyzer ray at him. He might as well have been actually hit by one since he hadn't moved any further after setting the book down on a onyx looking table end.

"I said, stand the fuck up." Makishima smiled at her while he repeated the words. "And you did, good job making progress."

At seeing his hands move back toward his book she exploded, "Why can't you say stand up like a normal person! And this isn't progress! I slipped into the water you dumbass!," his gaze flickered up briefly as he opened the book. "You said you were going to help me! Stop sitting there and come fix the problem you made more difficult!"

"If you hadn't had your issues with our relationship it wouldn't have been necessary." His words just floated back to her as he thumbed through the pages to find wherever it was he had left off.

Akane sighed pushing her head forward onto the smooth stone her hands rested on. She glanced at him between strands of her hair. "Our relationship?" she murmured, still not quite believing that's what they had now. What if it wasn't love she felt? Rather that... what was it? Stockholm syndrome thing. But, didn't that take more time to develop? Besdies that, if it wasn't love why had she been worried what everyone back in the city would think about the two of them?

Watching him close and put the book back down she raised her head slowly as he walked toward the pool, her thoughts swirling into an even further mess. Her eyes followed him as he walked down the steps his clothes quickly soaking through. She bit at her lip when the bottom part of his shirt started sticking to the skin and she leaned forward a bit gaze stuck on him even when he stopped infront of her. A finger pressed at the bottom of her chin and tipped it up to meet his eyes. "Akane," the soft tone made her heart flutter, "let's not talk about the other day, okay? I don't want to upset you further."

She blinked at him, still biting into her lip. Waiting for a moment she gave a small nod. "Okay." The finger fell away from her face, his hands wrapped around her own bringing them off from the wall to let go a second later. They settled a second later on either side of her face, stroking at the skin and hair. She relaxed into his touch up until she noticed him leaning forward. Her teeth slipped off her lip and she hesitantly moved forward to meet him, closing her eyes a second later when she felt his lips pressing onto hers. Hands slipped down her body to settle on her waist, pushing her against him. Her body felt flushed and warm against his own. When her lip was pulled gently into his mouth she blushed at the pleasant feeling of his tongue running along the surface. With a gasp she opened her mouth and felt his tongue plunge into her mouth. Raising her hands she wrapped them along the back of his neck, finger tangling in the white hair they found there while she attempted to pin his tongue down with her own. She ultimately lost that fight though and pulled away for a moment to take in a gasp of air. He was already pulling her back to him, laying kisses along her cheeks, nose, forehead, until Akane took ahold of his head and pulled him down so she could reach his lips.

Her body seemed to get warmer the more they kept in contact and soon she felt a burning in her stomach once again. With a whimper she pressed further against him wishing his shirt was out of the way so she could feel his skin. At the feeling of his hands dropping below her waist her eyes snapped open for a moment then she relaxed a moment later. She raised her legs up effortlessly to wrap them around his own waist, clinging to him.

He suddenly pulled away from her and she blinked trying to trail after him. "Akane," Shogo said in a soothing tone while grabbing her legs and disentangling himself from her. "relax." At that word she frowned at him wondering why he would tell her something like that.

She turned her head down to look at her feet and started at the sight of water just below his shoulders and noticed a second later that the liquid was covering her own. "You..." She took in a breath to try and calm herself but ended up shouting anyways, "You tricked me!" Her heart was thundering in her chest but she didn't know if she could get out by herself without ending up under the water once again. "And when did the water get cold?" she muttered.

"You're fine. Now just raise your legs." His hands were along the back of her thighs urging her to raise them up through the water.

"Why?" she snapped immedietly trying to push her legs back down as she felt herself start to sink further when her heels weren't pressed into the stone.

A kiss was laid on her forehead before he pulled back away and she scowled at him opening her mouth to berate him. "You told me to help you. Now relax, you're just going to float for a moment. You won't go under, I'm right here." She scrunched her nose at him for talking before she could. "Come on, raise your legs a bit."

"Fine." she muttered and raised her legs up until his hands clasped around them in a motion to stop. Akane felt ridiculous as he arranged the lower half of her legs as well though she didn't mind the feel of his hands running along her skin.

There was a tapping at her foot before his hand wrapped along her ankle twisting the foot in some specific motion. "Keep it like that." he told her before moving on to her next foot and making it move in a similar motion just in the opposite direction. His hand slipped away a moment later and she continued to move her feet figuring he would ask her to anyway. "How do you feel?" he asked a moment later and she glanced at Makishima to see him looking at her carefully.

"Fine, I guess." At his smile she blinked shoulders drawing forward as she leaned toward him. "Is.. am I-" she wasn't sure how to phrase it but at his nod she beamed. A moment later though she frowned glaring at the water around her before looking back at him. She raised her arms above the surface, "Could you? I don't know how to swim over." Not to mention she was kinda scared of if she moved wrongly in some way she would end up suffocating. He moved over towards her to wrap his arms around her and she smiled. Akane kissed at his neck the only skin she could get to at the moment. "Thank you." she murmured directly in his ear.

/ / /

Hands rifled through drawers, open and closing the four stuffed with previous solved criminal files. All cases worked on before where Makishima was behind the crime were pulled out. The folders were soon spread out across the desk that was highlighted by a single desk light. The reports were pushed aside, the photos taking priority. None of the criminals had been brought in for questioning due to their crime coefficent being to high and being dealt with immedietly.

The amount of pictures was small not taking much time to go through. The hand holding them flung the images across the room as the person sighed, pressing back into the chair with a sigh. A hand settling over the eyes.

How on earth was is so hard to find one person?