A/N: After such a long delay I got a wild hair last night and started rereading this story and as I reread this story over again I notice how much I REALLY like it. It's rare for me to read over something and go "Damn, that isn't bad." I only wish more people would give it a chance. I know in the beginning people don't want to read it because they think InuYasha isn't in it but that isn't the case! I'll stop with the self love now and get to the writing. ^^ Thanks for your continuing support.

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns InuYasha and Co. I just screw them up to entertain fans.

Chapter Eight

Angels and Demons

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Please teach me how to live

A little more vulnerably than I do now

Won't you taint me just a little?

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He moved from his bike to the door to the old building, stuck on the wrong side of town and the worst side of the street as he pulled out his weapon. He checked his surroundings, noted the black SUV with the tags that told him this is where he needed to be and briefly glanced down at the radio hanging from his belt and made the decision to go in without backup.

Hell, it was just one guy, how good could the one lowlife be? Especially since he just got the case and was already damned sure he was about to make the easiest bust of his career.

Cockiness had him moving forward, trying the door handle first and finding it to be locked.

Over confidence had him rearing back and slamming his steel toed boot into the door, and luck had it breaking in one hit.

He squinted into the dark of the dust and mould that had risen from his brutal entry and pulled out his flashlight, announcing himself.

"This is the police, come out with your hands up!" He always felt so lame saying it like that, as if he were apart of a cheap cop drama and moved into the room, doing a quick sweep with his light.

A blur of movement had his adrenaline kicking into high gear as a man ran right past him and up the stairs, knocking the light from his hand and he didn't wait a beat before running after him.

"Freeze!" He snarled as the guy bolted up creaking wooden stairs then his heart stuttered in his chest as he saw the mans hand reach down into the back of his pants, he watched with calculating eyes as the man spun around, aiming the gun and firing.

Kaze cursed as he dove down hard onto the stairs, a bullet screaming past his ear, too close for comfort. Another few shots told him the man had a few more to go after that and his heart pounded in his ears as the adrenaline had him up and moving off of pure instinct.

"Fuck this." He snarled as the man popped off another shot and he leveled his standard issue and squeezed the trigger. The bang was a bit deafening, the sound of the body hitting the floor was anticipated and he was not disappointed as the man lay unmoving on the second floor landing.

Kaze moved up the rest of the stairs, the adrenaline masking the fact that he was sure to have sore ribs from kissing the stair case a moment ago and he moved to the body, weapon still aimed at the head of the gunman.

"Told you to freeze. These guys never listen." He grumbled and took another step forward as the floor creaked loudly. A deafening popping sound followed and he was sure he had just been shot until the floor gave way under him and he crashed hard onto the wood below him, the stair case and landing collapsing down on top of him in a cloud of dust.

…

Kagome moved around her apartment on her hands and knees, staring at the baseboards on the walls, the corners of every room, the little spaces between the bottom of her cabinets and the tile floor in the kitchen, and she prayed to see dirt.

"No dust bunnies, no little carpet fuzzes, no signs of anything living here at all! Come ON!" She made a frustrated noise as she shoved herself to standing.

Her apartment was clean; so clean in fact, that everything seemed to sparkle like it was apart of the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz. It was so, very, frustratingly clean that she wanted to go outside, grab a handful of dirt, wet it and sling it around the place.

She was out of work for a few days, day time TV, she was positive, would melt your brains out of your skull, her head hurt too much to pay attention to small lines in books, so she cleaned.

And she cleaned.

And cleaned.

Kagome leaned over the counter, thunked her head down on it and sighed.

"God damn it, I'm bored." She said to no one, exasperated. Working was not an option, drinking was not an option, and if she couldn't drink she couldn't go to bars, and if she couldn't go to bars then she couldn't pick up any interesting men, and if she couldn't do that, well…

The thought trailed off as she thought about Kaze and she quickly squelched the warm glow starting in her lower stomach as she imagined his handsome face, his spicy smell and his perfectly formed body.

She heaved a heavy sigh. God, he was a good looking man.

Sliding her fingers along the counter top slowly at the thought of sliding her fingers along his chest she grinned a bit then she lifted her head as they brushed along a piece of paper. Shifting she grabbed it and pulled it over, chin resting on the counter top as she attempted to read it. Her retinas burned and her eyes crossed a bit as they skimmed over the bright yellow flier and she shrugged, standing straight.

"What the hell, don't have anything better to do."

…

Kagome slung her gym back over her shoulder as she moved to the glass door that simple read "Self Defense" and wrinkled her nose at the lack of detail. She had noted that her car was one of three in the parking lot as she pushed open the door, the sounding of the welcoming chime meant to alert the lazy workers of the building someone was walking in seeming kind of absurd. If it was a self defense class, did they really have to worry about someone sneaking in for some malevolent purpose?

Looking around she scanned the floor covered in blue mats, the walls lined in spotless mirrors to the back of a slender, shapely woman, her beautiful dark chestnut hair pulled up into a straight, slick pony tail as she talked to a smaller older woman.

"Ah, excuse me?" She called out to them then jerked a shoulder as the woman turned around to face her with a warm smile, her brown eyes just as warm an inviting.

Kagome suddenly heard her heartbeat pounding in her ears, the sound of the woman's voice playing through her mind before she even spoke, those warm brown eyes tired, fragile, her beautiful skin covered in bruises.

"You need to apply pressure to the wound…"

"Hello! Sorry, I'll be right back." The woman turned and said to the woman then moved to Kagome. "What can I do for you?"

Kagome shook herself free of the memories of the dream and managed a small smile, but was sure the color had drained from her face. "Ah, I'm here for the class." She managed to get it out without sounding strange and shifted as the bell chimed over the door to signal more people arriving.

"Well, you're a bit early, but I don't mind going over a few of the basics with you. I'm Sango." The woman held out her hand and Kagome shook it, familiarity flooding her.

"Kagome."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled, then waved at the other people before leading Kagome to the other side of the room, weight machines and various other punching bags and tools for training scattered along the floor. "This is a pretty easy class, you came at a really good time. I'm the instructor and I'll go over the basics of self defense and as you progress, the more you learn naturally."

Kagome nodded her understanding and looked around.

"You look like you're about the same size as me. Here, put these on, they'll protect your knuckles." Sango handed over fingerless gloves to the smaller woman. "I want you to get a feel for the punching bag while I talk to my other students, we'll be using this today since my usual helper decided to skip out of work." The smile that she gave made Kagome understand she did not want to be on the receiving end of that look and nodded again.

"Okay, I think I can handle that."

"Good." Sango moved away and Kagome turned, looking at the punching bag before poking it lightly with a finger.

"It doesn't look so tough." She mumbled as she poked it a bit harder then looked around before pulling her hand back, balling up her fist and slamming it into the bag. The pain that shot up through her wrist, to her elbow hard her yelping in surprise. The shock of it suddenly made her temper instantly peak and she turned, kicking the bag hard.

…

He sat on the hospital bed, covered from head to toe in dirt and grime, his hair half falling out of it's pony tail, left arm scratched to hell from using it to protect his face and his right arm stuck in a sling. His head pounded as he listened to the ass chewing his Captain was giving him through the cell phone in his left hand.

"…you didn't call for backup, you're costing the station money for your goddamn visit to the hospital and you killed our only suspect! You couldn't have hit him in the leg, or the arm or even the fucking shoulder. No! You had to shoot him through the head!"

"Sir, he was shooting at me and I wasn't wearing a vest." Kaze realized his mistake as soon as he said it and managed to pull the phone away from his ear as the howl of rage and flurry of expletives crackled the speaker on his cell phone. "Besides, Cap'n, even if I hadn't of shot the guy through the skull, he would probably of died from the fall or something anyway." He defended and was met with the slam of a phone in a receiver. "Captain? Hello?" Kaze pulled his phone away from his ear, scowling at it then tucked it away as the nurse, a short rotund lady bustled into the room.

"Mr. Taishou, the doctor said you're welcome to be released, under the condition that you have someone drive you since you're on pain medication and shouldn't be driving that motorcycle with one good arm." She gave him a pleasant smile when he nodded.

His fucking head hurt too much to argue and he pulled his phone back out, punching the numbers in for Miroku with a surly expression.

He waited as the phone rang, and rang then finally picked up, only to be the voice mail and he grumped, calling him again. "Just my luck, when I need you you're unavailable, how fucking convenient." Slamming his phone closed he shifted, looking back at his contacts and scrolled through them and hesitated before hitting send.

…

Kagome grabbed her cell phone from her bag as it vibrated, still breathing hard from the vigorous workout Sango had put them through. "She said this was the easy class? I'd hate to see the hard one." She huffed as she answered her phone. "Hello?"

Pausing she just listened, felt her heart beat pound a bit in her chest then nodded like he could see her. "Y-yeah, of course. I'll be right there. Don't go anywhere!" She hung up, shoved her things in her bag then moved to the door quickly.

"Sorry Sango, I have to go early but I'll be back again!" She called over her shoulder, leaving Sango blinking curiously after her.

…

He slid into the car as she tapped the steering wheel a bit anxiously and gave her a charming grin.

"My hero."

"Yeah well, I suppose I owed you." Kagome looked him over, looked at the sling then at his face as he closed the door and tried not to blanch.

"I know, I look terrible right? It's really not as bad as it looks."

"I'll try to believe that." She smiled at him. "Home?" He shook his head no.

"No, take me back to the station. I have to do my report."

"Can't it wait?" The concern was evident in her voice and he smiled at her.

"I wish it could, my arm and my head wish it could as well, but my Captain is already ready to give me a hundred lashes and I'd really rather not anger him any further today.

Kagome hesitated, deciding whether or not to argue with him then nodded. "Alright, but my fare is going to be pretty steep for this ride."

"Oh yeah? What'll it cost me?"

"I'll think about it." She grinned at him as she drove to the station then slid out as she parked, moving to help him.

"I can handle it from here."

"Don't want me to see your office?" She smiled sweetly and he stared for a moment, mesmerized.

"That…ah, no. That's not it, and it's not really an office, it's more like a cube, with no walls, and only half a desk. But you're more than welcome to come inside, all I can say is, is I have nothing to do with the men in there and you shouldn't believe anything they say."

"I think I can manage." She smiled and followed him inside, looking around at the people running around, looking highly busy and important. "Wow, it's loud in here." He nodded as he moved to his desk, already feeling the eyes of his coworkers boring into his back.

Grabbing a chair from an empty desk he rolled it over to his own before flopping down at his computer turning it on.

"This shouldn't take very long."

Kagome nodded and sat, noting that she was still in her workout clothes, consisting of tight yoga pants, a tank top with her hair pulled up and flushed a bit. He glanced at her, glanced her over then looked up at the ceiling, willing for his mind to stray away from how those clothes hugged her curves.

She watched him as he pulled up what he needed to, as he adjusted the keyboard then she stared as he used his good hand to hunt an peck at the keyboard.

"You're kidding right? We'll be here all day if you do it like that!" She laughed and he blinked at her before grunting as she rolled his chair to the side and slid her chair into place in front of the computer. "Just tell me what to type, and I'll do it. It'll go much faster, hm? Then you can go home and rest without a problem."

He watched her for a moment, a strange feeling moving through him the nodded as he went over every gritty detail of his morning.

…

Kagome's hands shook slightly as she finished typing up the report and she felt a bit sick inside as she hit the save button. Today, the man sitting beside her had killed someone, he had killed a man then had fallen through a set of stairs and survived. She didn't know much about the law, but she had a feeling that he had made plenty of mistakes in the beginning, not calling for backup, not wearing a vest. Not waiting for someone, anyone to help him out.

The man was lucky to be alive.

"How do you do it?" Her voice was surprisingly steady as she looked at Kaze who watched her, his face expressionless.

"Which part?"

"All of it. How do you run into the unknown, how do you find the courage to go into a place knowing that someone might be waiting for you, might be waiting to kill you? How do you…pull the trigger?" He watched her for a moment then leaned close and gently brushed a loose piece of hair back from her face in a tender gesture.

"It's my job." He stated simply then stood, offering his hand to her. "Let's get the hell out of here. I need a drink."

Kagome shifted, rolled his answer over in her head and decided it wasn't good enough, but she left it alone as she took his hand and stood. She followed him out, as wolf whistles and cat calls followed behind them.

"Take it easy on our Detective, miss!"

"Don't ride him too hard, he's kind of fragile!"

"Taishou, you dog you!"

Kagome flushed as Kaze opened the door for her then she looked at him as he cursed lowly, a man with dark hair and dark eyes running up to them, his face flushed with concern.

"Inu…!" He had started to say but was cut off quickly by the death glare of the man in front of him. The man with the gun tucked in the back of his pants. "Christ, Kaze, what the hell happened to you? I saw your missed calls and called the station, they said you'd gotten hurt."

"Oh yeah, thanks for that. For picking up your phone when I really needed you man, appreciate it." Kaze ragged on him and Miroku scowled.

"I was in a meeting."

"With a woman?"

"Fuck off." Miroku said good naturedly then turned to Kagome. "Ah, hi, I'm sorry his manors are lacking and he sucks at introducing people." He held out his hand. "I'm Miroku, the best friend."

"I'm Kagome." She shook his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"And what are you to him?" Miroku leered a bit and Kagome flushed.

"Ah…"

"She's none of your goddamn business, that's what." Kaze delivered a swift smack to the head of his friend.

"Ow! Okay! I got it!" He rubbed the back of his head. "Jeez. I was going to invite you to lunch, my girl'll be there this time, but since you're being such an ass…"

Kaze snorted. "I can't believe she puts up with you." He turned to Kagome. "You hungry?"

"I could eat."

"Let's go then." He grabbed her hand and pulled her after him, glaring at Miroku as he passed by.

Miroku grinned after him.

…

The café was busy, waitress' moving back and forth from the kitchen to the tables, the smell of coffee, soup and baked goods prominent in the air, making Kagome's stomach growl. She grabbed onto the back of Kaze's shirt as they weaved in and out of the people, afraid to lose him in the crowd and he glanced back at her over his shoulder, his expression unreadable for a moment then he smiled at her, making her heart skip a beat.

"Sango!" Miroku waved a hand and Kagome looked quickly to the table where her pretty self defense instructor sat, hair down and face perfect.

"No way." She mused in amazement. "Talk about a small world."

"What was that?" Kaze looked back at her and she grinned and shook her head.

"Nothing."

"You're late!"The woman smacked her hand to Miroku's face as he leaned in for a kiss. "Don't put those womanizing lips on me. Where were you?"

"I was picking him up!"Miroku pointed to Kaze and Sango turned to look at him then grinned widely.

"Oh, you're forgiven then."

Miroku grumbled. "Of course you'll accept seeing him."

"Hey beautiful lady."Kaze grinned at her then pulled Kagome around him. "Sorry we're late, it's really his fault."

"Of course it is." Sango nodded sagely then looked at Kagome and blinked in surprise."Oh! Kagome!"

"Hi." Kagome smiled a bit sheepishly as the older woman looked between the two.

"You're with him? Is that why you left the class early?"

Miroku looked between them.

"You know each other?"

"Kagome just started taking my self defense class, she's really very good at it!"

Miroku looked in horror between then women then at Kaze.

"Oh hell, just what we need, another violent woman." He yelped as Sango smacked him upside of the head.

…

"I like them." Kagome mused as she drove Kaze to his apartment. "Your friends, they're very nice and entertaining people."

Kaze laughed, shifting to relax in the seat. "Why do you think I keep them around?"

"Well it must be nice, having friends back from when you were in high school. I can't say that I have anyone like that. " She looked thoughtful as she pulled up to his apartment and parked the car. "Actually, I can't say that I have any friends at all."

He watched her then sat straight. "No? Surely you have friends."

She shook her head no a bit. "It's strange really, I know a lot of people. But none of them could be considered as friends. Ever since that accident, and being out of touch with the world for so long I just can't seem to connect with anyone."

"Until now." She looked at him just as he closed the distance between them, his lips pressing against hers slowly. She shifted in surprise then let her eyes drift closed as she melted into the kiss.

He kept it slow, painfully so and she slid her fingers up his arm lightly to his shoulder then to his neck as his tongue flicked out playfully against her lower lip. She didn't think, didn't want to think as she parted her lips, felt his tongue flick over hers, seducing and warm and she barely stifled a moan.

Before she knew it, before she wanted it. The kiss was over and he was sliding out of the car.

She blew out a quick breath, willing the punch of lust in her lower stomach to break apart and disperse as he leaned down, looking into the car.

"I want another date." He watched her and she nodded.

"I can handle that."

"Are you sure? As much as I've enjoyed a woman laying down on a first date, I'm not sure if I can take the unconscious part again." He teased and she flushed.

"Well, I think it's safe to say that if I'm going to be laying down around you again, I'll be very much awake." He smirked at her then stood straight.

"Drive carefully" He closed the door and watched her pull out, then adjusted his pants and moved inside.

…

Kagome dragged her feet a bit as she moved up the stairs to her apartment, brushing her fingers over her lips as she remember the way he tasted. It's not like she hadn't kissed a man before, but damn, that was…

"Something else…" She sighed a bit dreamily as she opened her door and walked inside, her heartbeat skipping hard in her chest as she looked around her trashed apartment.

…

"Well, I really wanted something to clean." She joked with the police officers as they searched her apartment. "I don't think anything is missing."

"Whoever was here was looking for something." The officer turned and looked at her. "Have any idea of what it could be?"

Kagome shook her head no as she sat down on the back of the couch.

"Well, you should consider staying somewhere else for tonight. We'll let you know if we find out anything."

She nodded as she watched them walk out, heard the door click closed behind them as she looked around her apartment slowly.

"What a mess." She blew out a breath, tied her hair up and got to work.

…

She was running.

The trees of the forest thick around her as bushes snagged at her clothes and limbs grabbed at her hair.

Her heart pounded in her chest as her lungs sucked air in and blew it out harshly to try and keep up with her over worked system.

"Kagome…"

The voice that called out to her was right behind her.

He was right behind her.

No matter how hard or fast she was running, she couldn't escape. She turned, darting in another direction as his shadowy body appeared in front of her, grabbing her hard.

Kagome opened her eyes quickly with a deep breath, sweat beading her brow and she shifted to look at the clock and froze, a scream catching in her throat as the shadowy figure of a man loomed over her.

Quotes: Shinjitsu No Uta by Do As Inifinity

A/N: How was it? Good? Bad? Boring? A new character has been introduced! Let me know what you think! I even made a longer chapter than normal to make it up to you!

…Nuclotei