Obsession
Summary: Kakashi Hatake. Brilliant. Cunning. Psychotic. Sociopath. In his mind lies the clue to catching a ruthless killer. He's requested for help by Japan's force and works together with detective Iruka Umino, who is forced to trust Kakashi's reckless actions in order to succeed in finally catching Japan's newest tormentor.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story. I also do not make any money off of this in any legal or illegal way.
Chapter 11
01:49am
Staying up until your eyes burn in their sockets, until your head starts throwing the most irrational thoughts around, until your mind is so fuzzy that you mistake a book for a pillow, until you're so paranoid, until the smallest little sound can make you jump a mile high and can make you passionately believe that there is some terrifying, man-eating monster at the window who wants your toes.
Iruka knew that feeling well.
And yet he stayed awake, determined to solve Hatake's mind puzzle. It was foolish and even slightly childish, but right now nothing could make more sense to Iruka than that single metaphor.
Cause.
Reason.
Solution.
Three simple steps to unravelling the thoughts of a serial killer. The Sandman's mind, as Kakashi called it. Two crescents, facing each other. An oval-like shape in the middle. Cause and Reason gives Solution. Reason needs Cause and visa-versa. Its like a math equation or a formula.
But why are they so hard to figure out?
Iruka rubbed his eyes and leaned back in his chair as he yawned. He needed more coffee.
He got up and went to the kitchen to switch on the kettle. He then retrieved a massive mug from the sink and prepared his addiction. While he waited for the water to finish boiling, he turned and slid down the counter until he was sitting on the cold tiles of the kitchen floor. His mind still flooded with images of all the blood from this afternoon. The life-less eyes, the stab wounds, the brutality of it all.
But that shouldn't get to him. They warned him before he came here. They told him that he would be working with two monsters, none of whom was to be taken lightly what so ever. But still, it was upsetting. Which was exactly why he couldn't go to sleep . He wouldn't rest until he's sure that the Sandman is behind bars.
Iruka made his coffee and went back to his desk to continue.
Cause.
Reason.
Solution.
Iruka frowned slightly as he read through them again. He growled impatiently. Staring at those words for hours unendingly clearly isn't helping. He checked the time, and saw that it was already long past midnight. Then, as he scanned through the words again, a light lit up in the back of his head.
Cause.
Reason.
Solution.
It was a metaphor for time. Meaning that the order in which he need to start searching would be definite the same as order for time.
Past.
Present.
Future.
How could he have been so blind? Was it just his mind grabbing the ridicule, or was he actually on to something?
At least now he knew where to start. The Sandman's past caused him to become a serial killer. The cause could be because of a dysfunctional background involving any form of abuse, drugs or alcoholism.
The Sandman used fears, meaning that something must have happened during his childhood or adolescent years that drove him to killing. It could be because of a traumatizing experience where a parent, a relative or a friend, most likely someone very close to him, scared him by forcing him to do something that he was afraid of, similar to what he does with his victims.
The Sandman is thought to be male, presumably between the age of 25 and 40. It's a big gap but at least they have more or less an idea.
All of the sudden there was a knock at the door. Iruka frowned and got up. Who would be knocking at one in the morning?
He went over to the door and his hand hesitated on the handle. It's probably not a good idea to open the door for a stranger in the middle of the night, but it could be important. He finally decided on asking who it is first.
''Who is it?'' He called in a casual tone, listening closely for any sounds.
Nothing.
''Hello? Who's there?'' Iruka tried again but received no response for a second time. Now he was sure that he shouldn't open it. He slipped the chain into the chain lock and made sure that the windows in the living room were closed. He then went back to the front door, watching it cautiously as he pulled up a chair.
He stayed seated in the chair for fifteen minutes, his eyes never leaving the door. Finally he decided that it was probably his imagination and he got up. Wonderful, his coffee went cold. He grimaced as he reached out to take the icy cup.
Just then, the power went out.
Everything around him was pitch black and dead silent. His heart raced but he forced himself to stay calm, remembering that his gun was in the kitchen. Iruka cursed himself for not keeping it closer and for leaving it on the counter closes to the window where it was visible to every John Doe and his mate that happend to peer in. To try and feel around in the apartment was hopeless. He would most likely either injure himself badly or step on the poor kitty that lived with him. The palce waas still new to him and it wasn't like he was around much to actually get to know it.
The atmosphere around him was completely silent, so quiet that if you dropped a needle it would sound like chicken nails on a tin roof. Then suddenly there was a small rustle of fabric next to Iruka and he tensed his body, prepared to fight back.
Nothing.
Carefully, he took a step forward, his hand stretched out to grab some form of support. Finally he felt a hard surface and let out a sigh of relieve, placing both hands on the wall in front of him.
He froze.
The plane his hands were placed on was hard and solid. But extremely cold and smooth. Almost like very thick glass.
From nowhere a light suddenly went on, illuminating the entire room and giving Iruka finally a chance to see what was going on.
What he saw shocked him and he was stunned. He was no longer in his own apartment, but was standing with both hands placed against the glass of Hatake's cell. The room was abnormally bright and there were no other cells. Iruka was the only one in the room, save for Kakashi.
But the cell was empty.
Iruka frowned, still unsure of how he got there and what was going on. But he noticed the vacant cell and he got the stomach-turning feeling that something wasn't right.
Then a pair of pale, ice-cold hands slid around his throat…
Iruka jerked awake, gasping for air as his hands flew to his neck. His breathing was rapid and very irrregular and his body was trembling slightly. His shirt was damp, as was his hair and he felt exhausted.
It took Iruka another few minutes to realise that it was just a dream. No, a nightmare. Just a nightmare. He fell asleep at his desk while he was reading through an article about an incident that occurred at the art academy, WillowTree.
This career was breaking him.
He sighed and rested his head on his desk, thinking back to the nightmare. It felt all so very real…
But it was unrealistic.
Number one, there's no way a person can teleport from one room to another. Number two, that's not what the last floor of Bluebyrd Sanctuary looks like. For one, there's thirteen cells, not one. And lastly, the most important, Hatake can't get out.
Iruka stood up and stretched his arms upward before crossing them behind his head, suppressing a yawn. He forced the previous happenings to the back of his mind and urged his attention back to the case. He was warned that this would be disturbing, nevertheless getting emotionally involve is unprofessional and just plain stupid. He wouldn't let this affect him. He was not willing to let a few meetings with Kakashi Hatake scare him off from doing his job and getting the Sandman behind bars. He needed to devote stronger than he ever has. Another yawn threatened to come as he walked down the hall.
First, more coffee.
''You seem tired, Officer.'' Hatake remarked amused as he slanted comfortably over the back of the chair in the interrogation room.
Iruka glanced up at this comment and then quickly straighten up from his slightly slouched posture. He forced a wide-awake expression on to his features and ran a hand through his hair.
''Its just your imagination Doctor, I'm not tired at all.'' He said in his most convincing tone.
''Of course you are. Do you suffer from restlessness? Nightmares perhaps?'' He drawled curiously as he watched Iruka through half lid eyes.
This cause Iruka to scowl lightly as he searched the Scarecrow's eyes, wondering how he knew. He finally decided that the Scarecrow knew because he was the Scarecrow. That or he's just trying to get into his head.
Iruka chose to ignore him and continue his questioning.
''Dr Hatake, I found an article on an occurrence that happened years ago. It just happen to be the time when the Sandman, if our-… if my guess is correct, was between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, as the art academy where it happened only accepted students from that age. Additionally, if you count back the years, which could be anything under fifteen years, then you get the age of the Sandman. Am I making sense?'' Iruka asked and looked at Kakashi, who was clearly not paying attention to the theory.
''You have dark rings below your eyes. The standard individual requires eight hours of sleep a day to remain vigorous and to function customarily.'' The tone of the Scarecrow was somewhere between extremely amused and utterly bored. Quite a gap.
''All I understood of that sentence was 'you have' and 'eyes'…'' Iruka muttered under his breath. ''Dr Hatake, I'm not tired. This is how I always look. Could you please answer the question?'' He tried again.
''Quid pro qou.''
Even though that reply was meant to inflame Iruka, he didn't expect anything different. They've been here for two hours and Iruka had yet to get any information out of Hatake except for strange facts every now and then. The 20-hour cross examination, which consisted out of an interrogation for twenty hours straight with no breaks until the prisoner finally talked, would never work on Hatake, as he had a talent to aggravate and tire any person very quickly.
Like Tsunade said, he's quite a handful.
Iruka nodded at the Scarecrow to proceed, and suddenly realised that he was disobeying the rules completely. For one, he was making too much eye contact. He also didn't even notice that Hatake moved his position so that his one leg was drawn up to chest and his cuffed hands, which opted to be in front of him instead of behind him as he requested, were resting on his knee.
''What do you think of Count Orochimaru? 'Hatake asked in a hushed tone, but Iruka doubt it was to spare the Count's feelings.
The brunette hesitated and glanced behind him at the glass window, even though all that showed was their reflection.
''It's alright, he can't hear us. Remember, this is strictly confidential.'' The Scarecrow added to soothe Iruka's apprehension.
''Right. Well, I think the Count is a very… intelligent and…'' He paused and stole a glance at Kakashi, who shook his head slowly.
''Tsk, tsk, tsk Officer. It's wrong to tell lies. I want to know what you really think about him. The truth.'' Hatake drawled in his taunting tone as he cocked his head to the side and watched Iruka through half-lid eyes with the ever–present smirk still there.
Iruka took a deep breath and glanced over his shoulder one more time before finally admitting his true feelings in a quick, breathless whisper.
''I dislike him very much. He's possessive, overwhelming and just plain creepy.''
Hatake chuckled lightly and brought his arms up to rest his elbows on the table and support his chin in his hands.
''That, Officer, is exactly how I would describe him. To answer your previous question, yes you are making sense. My turn.'' He cheered happily and Iruka's jaw dropped.
''No, you didn't answer the question!'' Iruka exclaimed, his tone exasperated and vexed.
''I did. You asked if you were making sense and I answered. Now it is my turn. That is after all how these games work.'' Hatake said with half a shrug.
''Dr Hatake, this isn't a game! There are people's lifes at stake! If we don't find the Sandman, he won't stop. Its been only four months and he's already killed thirteen people!''
''Ah yes, Shun Fabre. I heard about that one.'' Hatake mused thoughtfully, only angering Iruka more.
''Your not listening to me, we don't have much time.'' Iruka shouted distraughtly, uncomfortably aware that his voice sounded close to the verge of tears and that Hatake picked that up too.
Kakashi's eyes softened to some extent and his smirk turned into a light scowl.
''And why do you believe that you catching the Sandman would make any difference in the least? People die everyday. Serial killers are like unwanted plants, once you get rid of one, another dozen pops up the next day. Catching him won't make a difference.'' He said in a acrimonious tone, making Iruka flinch slightly.
The Scarecrow had a point but Iruka refused to admit it. It's not true. Every drop in the ocean counts. Sure there will be another one, even another hundred, but there will always be the fact that at least one person's life was speared if one murderer was caught.
''No! I won't believe that!'' Iruka growled and knit his hand in his hair, glaring aggravated at the Scarecrow.
''Your just being stubborn and foolish.'' Hatake said indifferently. ''You know that you have limited resources, so little that you resulted into asking me, an ex-mass murderer to help you track down a partner in crime. How thoughtless.''
Iruka forced his eyes shut.
''You won't get in my head.'' He said softly, barely a whisper.
''I'm already in your head. You just won't admit it. Accept it, you can't change the world.'' Hatake said forcefully.
''I don't have to. Getting one sick slaughterer behind bars is good enough for me. He doesn't even deserve something as simple death penalty.'' Iruka said, his voice now back to normal and his composure regained. He looked up, in the eyes of Kakashi Hatake.
''I'm not giving up. That I can assure you of.'' He stated and crossed his arms, earning a meaningful smile form the Scarecrow.
End of Chapter 11
A/N: Dang, had to rewrite this one twice. I hope you liked it! Thank you so much for reading and please leave a review and let me know lwhere I can improve and what you like/don't like about it.
Thank you so much to the following reviewers: , tearfularcher, Fantasi Liar, Livewire013, Ralys Lleuad, Monkey in Jump Suit, Guest(Sorry, there was no name) and Stalking Slaskedukke!
Guest: Sorry! But here he is now :D. Ah yes, unfortunatly I did… I refuse! *clings on to Kakashi while hissing*. Thank you! Have a very nice day! *waves back with hyper smile*
You all may have a smaaaall piece of Kakashi's hair. VERY small. Its priceless and valuable. Anyway, thank you so much, you guys are awesome! Please remember to leave a review, I would really love that! Enjoy your week!