Speechless by Mujitsu

Forbidden Viewing

Note: I posted this fic a few days ago on three different sites without realizing that my italics do not show up on a Single Spark. So I am reposting my chapters with quotations in place of the italics I had originally used so you know when they are signing. A HUGE thanks to Noacat from A Single Spark for pointing out this error.

(A/N: Hey everyone, it's your favorite authoress Mujitsu yet again. I was having major writers block for "For Richer or Poorer" when I suddenly got an idea for a new story, so I decided to just be daring and post the first chapter. I must warn you it's completely AU, and maybe a little cliché. I am an avid learner of sign language right now, and I really wanted a story that has that language in it. This is going to be my little experiment in trying to have an Inuyasha fic have sign language. I hope you enjoy the first chapter of "Speechless".)

Chapter One

Forbidden Viewing

It was raining.

Luckily for Kagome Higurashi, it was only a slight drizzle instead of the forceful downpour Tokyo's city climate had decided to grace them for the past week. She dodged another puddle on the sidewalk, shifting the bags in her arms to get a better grasp on them. It had been a long, hellish day at the school and she was looking forward to reaching her apartment and relaxing for the rest of the night.

Of course, fate had other plans.

Briskly crossing the street that would lead her home, she enjoyed the sound of the gentle rain as it hit the pavement, letting the gentle patter sooth her stress away and ease her tension. A muffled cracking sound made her slow down and knit her eyebrows. That definitely wasn't the rain...

She heard another slight sound that almost sounded like a whimper, and her curiosity was peaked even more. The noise had come in the direction of an alley farther down the street that was isolated, and she had a quick internal debate. Should she go and see what the noise was...or go home and kick up her feet like she had been longing to do all day long? The keening noise came again, and she made up her mind. What if it was an animal or something? It might be hurt and would need help.

Cautiously, she began to walk down the dark alley, the lack of light making her nervous. This would make the perfect setting to a horror movie, she thought, suppressing a shudder. She wrinkled her nose as an overpowering stench crawled into her senses, and she glared at the huge dumpster that was ahead of her.

Too busy trying to hold her breath against the gagging, she almost failed to hear the voices at the end of the alley. Almost. Her steps faltered questioningly as she thought about whether to continue on. If there were voices down the alley, it would be none of her business to come traipsing up into the conversation. She saw vague shadows moving closer to her, and in a moment of panic, she ducked behind the dumpster.

She sat on the wet ground with her bag still in hand and mentally berated herself. Great, Kagome, now what? She asked herself. You didn't want to get caught snooping so you decided to make friends with a green monstrosity? Do you realize how stupid you must look right now?

She thought about just standing up again and facing the embarrassment of interrupting a private conversation, or God help her, a lovers interlude, but when she heard that odd whimpering sound once more, she couldn't help but discreetly take a peek from behind the dumpster, and gasp at the sight that met her.

Four men could be seen in the diminishing light, but only two were actually standing. The other two had fallen on the ground and were forced by one of the other men to kneel with their hands behind their heads. Kagome could clearly see the weapons that the two standing men held, and felt her heart race in fear. One, a silver haired man with intense eyes held a gun loosely pointed at the two men on the ground, obviously awaiting orders from the other man. The other, the leader, was the one who made a shudder crawl down her spine. A katana, still sheathed, was held next to his trim body and although not drawn, its presence sent a sense of foreboding through her. Dark hair that flowed down his waist like smooth silk contrasted with a face as white as the purest snow. But what really made her cringe was the dark amusement that resided in his crimson eyes. The other man's eyes were just emotionless, blank and unfeeling, whereas his were brimming with glee at the pain and fear he was causing in the two beings that knelt before him.

What the hell had she gotten herself into? It was too late to crawl silently away, for the men were sure to spot her, so she was forced to watch, horrified, as one of the men on the ground said something derogatory to the dark haired man, and the man smiled. A second later, blood was pouring out of a fresh wound on his face, and Kagome gasped inwardly. She didn't even see the dark haired man move! Was it possible he was that fast?

She frowned as another thought entered her mind.

Was he a demon?

She wanted to shake the idea out of her head, but couldn't. Demons still existed, yes, but they were very rare. Kagome had never actually seen one herself, and she didn't know exactly how many resided in Tokyo. She did, however, know of the stories that were told about them. Superhuman speed and strength, senses that reached far beyond the human capability, agility that was unmatched, and superb powers and fighting skills were rumored to exist for every demon. She should have listened to all the stories her grandfather had told her before she brushed them off.

The voices reached her ears again, and another shiver ran through her at the cold voice of the dark haired man. She couldn't make out his words, but the coldness and ruthless amusement of it broke through everything else. In horror, she watched as he slowly drew the katana from his side, the metal winking sinisterly in the weak light. He lightly tapped the side of the face of one man, almost teasingly, a small smirk playing about his lips. The man on the ground then made the biggest and last mistake of his life. He spit.

Blood sprayed through the air and Kagome stifled her quick intake of air as the katana made a deadly flight through the air, completely severing head from body. Her eyes filled with tears at the body lying on the ground, and her eyes shot back to the murderer.

Almost as an afterthought, he flicked the blood off the blade of his sword, and sheathed it once more. He looked dispassionately at the other man, who was now softly crying for his fallen comrade, and began to walk away. Kagome quickly drew back, fearful now because the evil man was coming her way. If he happened to pass her and look back, he would spot her, and she would be dead.

Steadily, she heard his footsteps come closer to her location, and her heart sped up with every tap she heard. He was about to pass her...she began to pray silently to herself. She was now grateful for the rain. If he were a demon, the water would diminish his ability to smell her and the sound would prevent him from hearing the fierce pounding of her heart as he grew near. She closed her eyes...

"Oi!" a voice shot out, making her eyes fly open. It was the dark haired man's henchmen, she assumed, who had been left behind. "What do you want me to do with the other one?" his voice rang out.

She could hear the pregnate pause that followed, and then the voice she dreaded came floating to her in the dark. "Whatever you wish..."

She held her breath as he passed her hiding area and almost cried in relief as he left the alley without once looking back. She was safe, for now.

However, that didn't stop her from hearing the screams from the other victim on the ground, as the henchman apparently did whatever he desired. Screams that seemed to last for hours...and hours...and hours...

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After what seemed like an eternity, that narrow alleyway was soon filled with the sirens and lights of several police squad cars as they responded to the scene of the crime. After two of their officers failed to report in after a specific amount of time, the units were sent to investigate the last area where the officers were assigned to be. They met the gruesome sight of their fallen comrades, one almost mutilated beyond recognition and the other without his head. The rain had stopped several hours before, causing blood to pool everywhere instead of being carried away by water and filling the already stinking alleyway with its stench. Two officers stood, immobile by the horrible sight while another one was losing his dinner in the corner, but they all turned around when they heard the steady footsteps reaching their location.

They relaxed when the shadow fell away from the man to reveal a familiar, yet shockingly cold face. Golden eyes flashed over the two bodies, coldly assessing the damage, while his tall framed circled the scene. His silver hair, longer than was normal for this day and age, flashed in the meager light the lamps provided as the unique markings on his face marked his station in life and identified who he was.

"Sesshoumaru," one of the officers greeted, taking his hand off of his weapon as he realized whose presence he was in. "Did you just arrive?"

The silver-haired being nodded gracefully before his deep baritone filled the night. "How long have they been like this?"

One of the deputies scratched his head. "They were supposed to report in a half an hour ago, but never made it. Judging from the blood, they might've been lying here for hours."

Yes, the blood. Sesshoumaru could smell it in the air, all around, completely filling his senses as it aroused his darker side. He squelched it ruthlessly, and wordlessly turned away to walk back down the alley. The crime scene team would be there soon to give him any clues as to who might have killed members of his team, but for now, he would take a look around.

The first thing he noticed about this alley was the smell, the garbage and blood almost creating an overload to his sensitized sense of smell, but as he traversed the alleyway again, another smell hit him, making him pause.

Jasmine...

His eyebrows lowered in contemplation, creating a small mar on an otherwise flawless face. That smell did not belong in this alley, and yet surprisingly, it was coming from around the huge dumpster that occupied the alleyway. Sniffing more delicately, he followed the scent...and received a shock.

A child was kneeling on the ground with her face pressed against her knees. No, not a child, he noticed with another frown. A woman. And that delicate fragrance was coming from her. He slowly reached out a hand to touch her, but backed off when she raised her head and her blue eyes wildly met his golden ones.

She tried to back away from him frantically, forgetting that she was already against the wall, her breath heaving in pants and sobs from her fear. Her hands were held protectively in front of her, and her terrified scent filled the air, overwhelming him once again, causing him to let out a small growl.

Wide eyes fixed upon him in shock as she stilled. He stopped growling immediately as her fear receded when shock took it's place, and he reached into his pocket. The woman tensed again, but had a look of utter relief on her face when he pulled out his badge and show it to her.

"Miss, I'm Sesshoumaru Inutai with the Tokyo Police Department. Were you here this whole time?"

The woman stared at him for a few moments before wordlessly nodding.

"Are you all right, then?" he asked, his voice oddly soothing to her, and she nodded again. He frowned at her lack of voiced response.

"Can you tell me what happened here?"

Slowly, she shook her head, and he frowned again.

"Why not?"

No answer.

"Look," he said, showing the well renowned patience he was known for. "I'm sure you must be in a lot of shock right now, but you are safe. Nothing is going to hurt you here. But, two men are dead over there, and I know that you probably saw something, so I need you to tell me what happened tonight."

Her eyes became slightly agonized as her mouth moved soundlessly. He leaned in a bit closer to hear her, but still didn't receive a response. The woman closed her eyes instead.

Kagome didn't know what to do. How could she make him understand? There was only one thing to do, and pray that it worked.

Sesshoumaru stared curiously at the woman as she brought her hands from around her knees, and began to use them.

"I can't."

Sesshoumaru froze when he recognized what she signed. When her hands came up, he didn't know what to expect, but it was definitely not to see her sign that she couldn't tell him what was going on. He wondered if it was fate that had brought him to this particular scene, as he shocked her in turn.

"Why not?"

The woman's eyes widened and filled with tears once again as she sagged against the wall. He understood her! He knew sign language!

Quickly, her hands began to move. "I'm mute. I use sign language to communicate. I'm so glad you're here!" A few more tears trickled out of her eyes as she tried not to sob in relief.

His eyes softened minutely on her form as she opened her dark eyes to meet his once again.

"It's okay now," he signed. "But for now, I'm going to need you to come with me."

He stood up, revealing his tall form, and held out a clawed hand to her. She stared at it a moment in awe before tentatively, before looking back up at him.

Only trembling slightly, she placed her hand in his.

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Okay, there is the first chapter! I know it's not much, but I will update soon. I hope everyone will like this new experiment story of mine. Like I said before, sign language fascinates me, and I wanted to have a story with that particular language in it. I hope it will be a success. As always, reviews and e-mails are MOST welcome, and all flames will be used to light all the cigarettes I will smoke during finals week.

Ja ne,

Mujitsu