InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Angel ❯ Rage ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter Nine:

Rage

She was nervous.

Gods was she nervous, her hand trembled as she sat before her vanity, and brushed out her black, silken tresses.

Toady was the day that the Lords wanted to speak to the Northern Lord. Miroku had informed her quite early this morning that they had been unable to convince the Lords that the Northern Lord was busy. Instead, they had given him an ultimatum.

Produce the Northern Lord or he would forfeit his lands.

She was torn as to what to do.

Should she give herself up or remain hidden?

Would her people have to suffer if she continued to hide?

She was no coward and she knew she could never allow such a thing to occur. As she combed the last tangle from her hair she dressed, donning a fresh blue kimono, designed with light blue roses and a black obi. The kimono was simple and did not reek of wealth as some of her other clothing did. It would keep her in disguise until she figured out what in the hell she was going to do.

She sighed softly.

Sometimes it was too much to bear; having to base her decisions on the good of a great many of people. Having so many individuals depend on her for guidance and protection.

Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to have some take care of her instead of her taking care of everyone. She knew she'd never be in such a situation, she would forever be the caretaker, that was her lot in life, she didn't mind it, truly she didn't, it was just that, some days it was harder to bear than others.

Days such as these.

When a decision had to be made; that decision would affect not only her, but thousands of people that depended upon her for survival. And any wrong choice on her part, any bad move, any step in the wrong direction could result in disaster for all that lived in the Northern lands.

Releasing a breath she headed to her door, her hand hesitated at the door knob, trembling with frayed nerves.

She didn't want to go out there and face them.

Didn't want to get tangled up in this mess that was brewing on the horizon. But she knew she had no choice. She would have to face this, just like always. With determination and the thought of her people's best interest on her mind.

Kagome steeled her nerves.

'Head up Kagome! Get a hold of yourself. You are the Lady of the Northern lands, you must behave as such.'

Determination once again flared inside of her at her little pep talk, and, with a steady hand, she made her way out of her bed chamber and into the hall, coming face to chest with Lord Yamiko. As she bounced back against his broad chest, he reached out a hand, wrapping it around her waist to steady her.

Kagome looked up in surprise into his twinkling yellow eyes, wondering what was he doing outside her door?

Thinking it impolite to ask him directly, Kagome dismissed the question.

"Dear, sweet Kagome, what a coincidence meeting you here in the hall," he commented with a grin.

Kagome resisted the urge to roll her eyes, but settled instead for raising a disbelieving brow.

`Coincidence my big toe,' she thought with a bit of amusement.

Yamiko grinned; he knew she didn't believe a word he said. She was a very intelligent woman; he knew very well that she knew he had waited for her to come out of her room, but instead of speaking of her doubt with words, she let it show in her eyes and raised eyebrow.

He nearly laughed aloud.

What a playful little thing she was.

Having made the decision to pursue her before anyone else decided to, he'd followed her scent here, intending to steal some time with the beautiful Kagome. He was stilled irked as hell at the time she had spent with Sesshomaru, and then with Sarinji, now it was his turn damn it.

Taking her hand he gave her a soft kiss upon the delicate appendage.

She lifted an amused black brow and a smile graced her face. She had the most gorgeous smile he'd ever witnessed before. He wanted to sample those lips, kiss her thoroughly, and make her blush that pretty red.

"Yes, a coincidence indeed, my Lord,” she said with brighter smile, amusement flashing in her mahogany eyes.

"Would you mind showing me around the castle, I find it is indeed very beautiful, and yet I easily get lost in its complex structure,” he said with a faked despairing look on his face.

Kagome couldn't help but giggle at his words and expression.

Lost indeed, with his nose there was no way he could get lost and he was obviously not stupid. Seeing this as an obvious ploy for her attention, Kagome decided to play along; it'd take her mind off of her current situation if anything and of course give her time to figure out if he was in any way connected to the string of attacks on her lands.

"It is a very complex structure, I wouldn't mind showing you around, we wouldn't want you to be lost,” Kagome giggled, playing along.

Their first stop was the library just down the hall.

The library was large and well kept. Rows upon rows upon rows of books lined the walls on almost ceiling length wooden bookshelves. Large windows let in luminous rays of light to brighten the room.

A few chairs and tables made of fine oak wood sat in the middle of the room on top of a wide green rug with red floral trimming. The library had been built and designed a long time ago, its interior the work of her late mother. For that reason alone, Kagome enjoyed the room.

It brought her closer to her mother.

Or so she liked to think.

"This is the library if you couldn't guess from the many books," she teased softly.

"I would not have guessed!" he said with a wide grin.

Giggling Kagome asked, "What is your favorite book to read my Lord?"

Thinking it over a moment he said, "It'd have to be the Blue Rose Maiden."

Kagome looked at him curiously.

"I've never heard of such a story," she admitted.

To her surprise and delight his cheeks stained a deep red as he said, "It was a story my mother made up. She told it to me as a young kit. Before she died, she wrote it down and it has been my favorite book ever since,"

He had no clue as to why he was telling her something so private, and waited for her to condemn him for it or laugh at him for having such sentimental emotion for a story told to him at childhood by a woman long dead. When he heard no snickering or sort he relaxed a bit,

She seemed more interested than anything.

"I'd like to hear it."

"Hear it?" he asked.

"The story. That is, if you prefer not to-"

"Of course I will tell you of it, my dear. Come,"

Leading her over to one of the comfortable chairs by the window and getting her seated Yamiko began his story.

An hour later they had gotten back to the tour, Kagome going on about how much she enjoyed the story he had told her. In fact, through the whole story she had imagined she was the Blue Rose Maiden, being locked in a prison by an evil witch.

She could relate to the feeling of being trapped.

She imagined herself being that maiden; turning the red roses outside her window blue with her sorrow. She could even imagine some handsome man being fascinated with the roses and following the trail of flowers to rescue her from her prison.

She was thinking of maybe showing him the blue roses she herself had created. He might enjoy seeing blue roses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where the hell was she?

Irritation settled in the pit of his gut.

She had not come down for breakfast, and had been gone for the better part of the morning.

Did she think to avoid him?

For surely that is what she was doing. Avoiding him, what other explanation was there for her convenient and continued absence?

He had told her last night that she was to be his. No matter where or to whom she tried to run to, it would do no good. Nothing would stand in his way. What Sesshomaru wanted, Sesshomaru got.

No questions, no exceptions.

He had made that perfectly clear to her last night. She knew damn well he had meant what he said and yet she would try and play games with him. Toy with him in this manner by denying him the pleasure of her company. And the fact that he so desired to be in her presence further irritated him and the situation.

As he looked around he began to notice another individual was missing.

That bastard kit Yamiko was suspiciously absent.

He'd been having a bad day all around; the Northern Lord had not showed his face as he'd been commanded, his woman was missing, and the Northern Lord's adviser and proxy was trying to feed him excuses, insulting his great intelligence. Sesshomaru had easily detected the nervous man's deceit. That a lowly human would stand before him, looking him in the eye and attempt to tell him falsehoods, was not only stupid, it was foolish.

The man, he'd decided, was suicidal; he clearly had a death wish to taunt him in such a manner.

He smirked.

Suicide by Sesshomaru.

The thought amused him, but it did little to alleviate his dark mood. His attempts to garner the truth from the proxy and General proved useless. The two had refused to speak the truth to him and had faced him as though they faced the executioner, which, in some way, they were.

But now, he was more than suspicious.

Something wasn't right, he could smell it.

Something was greatly amiss in the Northern lands.

There was some secret these Northerners were determined to keep hidden from him and he did not approve at all.

He was highly displeased.

Even the servants seemed to be hiding something. They watched him worriedly, staying in his presence only long enough to accomplish whatever task was needed to be completed before scurrying away as if frightened he would ask them questions or force them to release the secrets held behind their sealed lips.

He was agitated and on edge.

This was not like him at all. He was usually calm, cool and collected but now, it seemed as though his emotions were all over the place.

Feeling the need to kill something, anything, Sesshomaru headed out into the thick forest that surrounded the castle. He would have to take the edge off of his temper, least he take it out on the next innocent bystander that crossed his path and he'd really like to avoid such an embarrassing lack of control.

To the world he was a ruthless killer, cold, and emotionless, all feared and respected him.

He'd rather keep it that way.

His brisk walk turned into a run.

Soon, he was running at full speed, his feet barely touching the ground. In a flash of green light, he transformed, barreling down through the green forest, bloodlust clear in the crimson red eyes. Instead of holding back any of his energy, he let it all loose. He grew tall and wide, rich silver fur covering his body as his form shifted.

Within seconds, a large, fluffy silver dog towered over the leafy green trees, crushing vegetation under its huge paws as it ran.

It felt good to be able to stretch his legs and bask in the wildness that was his inner beast. He could not even remember the last time he had allowed himself to indulge in exercise of this nature. Maybe that was why his emotions found themselves so out of control.

He had been too long in his humanoid form.

The beast was tired of being cooped up inside the smaller form. That would explain the loss of his precious control. And control was everything to Sesshomaru. Controlling his life, his emotions, his lands, anything and everything had to be under his control.

He was well aware that he was what his annoying little brother called, `A control freak'.

The name did not bother Sesshomaru one bit. He could live with being such a thing and he would not lie to himself and say he did not enjoy having control.

He gave a mental shrug as he toppled another tree.

It mattered not to him.

As long as those around him realized that he liked to be in control and submitted to his dictates, they would live a hell of a lot longer and a hell of a lot easier.

But right now, this was not about control.

Right now, he didn't want to control anything. He let himself go wild.

Without hesitation, he let the beast inside of him run free.

Beast point of view

He was free!

Only for a time, he knew but for now it was free! Snarling in exhilaration the beast picked up the pace, shaking the forest with its great paws, reveling in the scent of the forest around him, the sounds, the sight, everything was more than he had hoped the outside world would be.

Everything seemed enhanced, as though he had been living in a dull, dull world before this day.

And he had.

Locked away in the cramp confines of his outer self's mind, he had indeed been living a dull existence. Constantly chained down, forced to remain quiet and tame when in reality, he was just the opposite. He was wild, vicious, deadly, completely untamed and he had no inclination to change his wayward ways.

With a loud roar, he bounded over more tall trees, crushing even more as he landed, shaking the earth beneath him once more.

A slinking shadow moved in the distance, and the smell of wild deer filled his nostrils. Feral eyes locking onto the figure, he gave chase.

Up ahead, a herd of deer ran, sensing his nearness, his bloodlust. Their fear was palpable in the agitation of their stumbling limbs, the smell of it radiating from their little bodies.

One of the deer's broke off from the large group, running in another direction. The beast locked onto the unfortunate beast. Adrenaline pumping as he ran faster, catching the scent of fear from the creature it pursued, he felt intoxicated!

The deer whined in fear and dread, knowing it would be caught and killed soon and yet still it ran, its instinct for survival pushing it forward uselessly.

He was close now, close enough to hear the heartbeat of the animal he hunted.

Thump….thump…thump…thump….thump….< /p>

The sound entranced him, hypnotizing him. He felt his mouth begin to water, saliva drizzling down his chin.

The beast licked his jaws, his long tongue running over his sharp teeth in anticipation of the kill.

Closer still.

Thump…thump…thump…thump…thump…

He was along side of the creature now, running so close he could reach out and easily kill the animal, he did not, he waited, toyed with his prey.

The heartbeat was louder in his ears now, blocking out everything, he could hear nothing else but the beat in his head, the heart pounding in the deer's chest. His own heart pounded just as hard and rapid, but not in fear, oh no, not fear, but anticipation, in exhilaration.

Thump...thump...thump...thump…thump

The beat was faster, his mouth watered. He could smell the blood of the creature, could hear it rushing through fragile veins. He struck, grabbing hold of the animal's neck with strong teeth, using his fangs to puncture the skin, injecting poison, relishing in the animal's pathetic screams.

The creature struggled wildly, legs kicking out wildly in painful agony.

Jaws clamping tighter on the neck, a sickening crack echoed through the forest. The animal twitched before going limp.

Thump…..thump…..thump….thump…..

Lifeless the animals heart still beat, barely audible. He squeezed the neck tighter, receiving another twitch for its efforts.

Thump…thump…................

The beast feasted.

~~~~~~~~~

His appetite well sated for the moment, Sesshomaru walked back to the castle in search of his female once more. Easily picking up her scent nearby, he pursued her, another kind of lust taking over his body.

He found her on the side of the house, walking with the pathetic kit, Lord Yamiko.

His fists clenched, and the bloodlust he had thought was sated returned.

Kagome was having a wonderful time strolling the grounds with Lord Yamiko. He was bright and charming, a bit shy at times, which was really surprising considering how confident he always seemed but she found his blushes endearing. He never seemed to be at a loss for words and was very quick to smile.

His laughter came quite easy and his feelings shone through his eyes.

Speaking of his eyes, she could not help but admire the yellowness of them; they looked like the very sun. Bright and shinning and warm. She couldn't help but to compare the three Lords that seem to have set their sights upon her for some strange reason.

Sarinji was the older of the two but not in the sense that he could be her grandfather or anything. Although technically, all of them were old enough to be her grandfather, but it was not physical age she was referring to.

It was their mental state, or rather hers.

When she was with Sarinji she did not think of him as a grandfather or father, rather as an experienced male. He was very intelligent, and funny, reserved but not overly so. He was open enough to speak to her, and yet closed at the same time. He was definitely the most tamed of the three males.

But he was still handsome and a lot of fun to talk to. He was wise and seemed to have a steady head on his shoulders.

Of course there was another side to him.

The seductive side.

The side he showed her when they were in private. It was surprising really, how he could turn on the charm with the snap of a finger. Becoming as attractive, attentive and sensual as the younger men in the blink of an eye. Kagome found the change interesting to say the least.

Yamiko on the other hand was an open book.

Or rather his eyes were an open book.

One only need look into those yellow depths to see his feelings and thoughts. He was the opposite of Sarinji, completely open, no reservations. If she had to describe him in one word she'd say 'exciting' would be it. He often said things or did things without thinking of the consequence or rather not caring about them. Whichever it was, it revealed the level and depth of his recklessness.

He was absolutely exhilarating to be around, outrages, unpredictable and so much fun, but then; just below that flamboyant attitude there was vulnerability.

It had surprised her at first, and then it had touched her deeply.

He often spoke without having his guard up and let things slide, things he probably would not have otherwise said. Like the story of the Blue Rose Princess. She knew he had not purposely told her that story but had let it slip out in an unguarded moment.

She found his slip ups very endearing.

Finally, there was him.

The only word that came to her mind was MALE.

Gods, he had to be the most masculine male she'd ever met. He oozed sexuality in every searing look he gave her. His very aura was aggressive and domineering, cold, barely restrained violence. It made her feel things she wasn't sure she was supposed to feel with a male. Things she didn't know if she even wanted to feel right now or ever for that matter.

He was danger personified.

The embodiment of passion, and yet he somehow remained aloof, detached from those around him. His eyes were cold, his face expressionless, and yet at the same time his emotions were felt by one and all. So much so that he need not vocalize his wishes and desires, instead, he made his pleasure or displeasure known without uttering a single word.

And those around him scrambled to please him. Following the silent commands he issued.

It was unnerving to say the least.

She would do well to stay as far away from him as possible, but she was not sure if she could do so, or rather, if he would even let her. He meant to have her, he had told her so, but she couldn't afford to be had.

He was too possessive, to domineering, to primal.

She knew, that if he ever possessed her he would possess her completely, taking over her entire life without a thought to her protests.

She was too independent to fall into such a trap like that. She wouldn't allow it. If she had to choose between the three males, she'd rather have Lord Sarinji or Lord Yamiko. Those two at the very least would not consume her completely and with a little push here and there she was sure she'd be able manage them, maybe even control them.

A blush stained her cheeks at that thought.

That sounded oddly manipulative and Kagome knew damn well she was not the manipulative type…at least she didn't think she was.

She hoped she wasn't and she tried not to be, but there was no way she could know for sure. And still, was manipulation so bad? To want to have some control over the men that by law could do with her as he willed.

What was a little manipulation compared to that?

She blushed even more guiltily.

There was no use trying to justify it, manipulation was manipulation no matter the reason.

She gave a mental shrug.

Well, she would just have to dirty her soul a little with it, because there was no way she would let a male have all the control.

No way in hell.

But she knew that it would be next to impossible to manipulate someone like Lord Sesshomaru and that was more than enough reason to avoid him like a deadly, crippling disease.

He was definitely not someone to cross or get involved with, sexually or otherwise.

Turning her attention back to Yamiko she was surprised to see he was almost nose to nose with her, his eyes gleaming.

"L-lord Yamiko?" she squeaked.

"You are too beautiful for words, Kagome," he stated, yellow eyes locked on her lips, "inside and out," he murmured as his lips descended to her own.

His lips were warm and full. Not too demanding, but definitely confident.

The kiss was nice, and yet….different… lacking something.

He had not taken her lips in a brutal kiss, was not kissing her as if he could not contain himself, as if she were his last breath. He was not dominating her body, playing it like a musical instrument.

Amber eyes, passionate and hungry flashed through her mind, she could feel his hands on her body still, and that made this kiss with Yamiko feel wrong.

As if she was being unfaithful.

Ridiculous!

Lord Sesshomaru was nothing to her, he didn't own her and she damn sure didn't belong to him. She was not being unfaithful, granted, she was being a little looser in her kisses than she should be but she damn sure wasn't being unfaithful. How could you be unfaithful to a male that did not belong to you in any way, shape or form?

Just as she went to push him away, a vicious growl startled the two apart.

Kagome looked up in horror as Lord Sesshomaru stalked towards them, eyes bright crimson red, murderous intent set in his stony face.

In a flash he had caught Yamiko around the throat in his hand, squeezing the very life from his body.

'HOW DARE HE TOUCH HER IN SUCH A MANNER? HOW DARE HE PUT HIS LIPS UPON HERS?' he thought thunderously.

Incoherent, fragmented thoughts flew through Sesshomaru's mind, none staying for longer than a fleeting second before replaced with a another rage filled sentence.

'KILL HIM!'

And for the first time in a long time, Sesshomaru listened to his beast, he squeezed tighter, watching in satisfaction as Yamiko's face turned an unnatural bluish color, his claws dinging into Sesshomaru's muscular forearm.

"Stop it! You're killing him!" Kagome charged him, trying to rescue the young demon from the enraged inu youkai.

Anger exploded anew in his head, and with a heavy heave he struck out at his female, sending her crashing into the ground.

`How dare she attempt to defend that youngling!' his mind seethed.

He was out of control with rage, he knew it, but he couldn't stop himself. He didn't want to.

But as she lay there, so still, he panicked.

He damn sure had not wanted to do damage to his female. Just to punish her for her part in the kiss, no matter how brief it was.

Worry for her pushed back his anger.

With a savage growl, he tossed Yamiko into a nearby tree, in favor of assessing his females injuries.

As he turned her over, she lashed out at him, sending him flying clear across the lawn and into a stone wall, her miko energy burning through his armor, down to his skin, burning worse than anything he had ever felt.

He watched her, stunned as stood and glared absolute death at his way.

With an indignant huff, she straightened her kimono and walked back to the castle.

He watched her go, turned on beyond what he thought possible.

Though he did not regret any of his actions, he knew he'd have to tread lightly around his woman. Although he felt confident Lord Yamiko had been put firmly in his place. If not, well then, Sesshomaru would get the pleasure of doing so again. His blood still boiled from the sight of that fucker kissing his woman. As if he had a right to.

He cracked his knuckles. He hoped Yamiko would be stupid enough to challenge him again.

He looked forward to breaking some bones.

~~~~~~~~~~

'How dare he strike me!'

Kagome had never been so furious in all her life! Although the blow stung, it hadn't been as bad as it could have been, at least he'd had the goddamned decency and common sense to hold back much of his considerable strength. Any harder and she would have vaporized his ass to dust instead of the burn she decided to give him!

Kagome knew a little of the ways youkai in regards to relationships. She had enough youkai living in her lands to observe behavior wise. A significant amount of them resorted to violence to punish wayward mates.

That was exactly what he had been doing.

Punishing her, as if she were his, as if she belonged to him.

What right did he have to her?

NONE.

She could kiss who she wanted, when she wanted, where ever she wanted, and he could not nay say her, she was a free woman!

Commanding a passing servant to send her midday meal to her room, she stormed up to her bedroom, pacing the floor. Miko energy crackled around her, itching to go back down stairs and finish him off. She had no idea how long she paced, but a knock at her door stopped her. As she wrenched open the door and took the meal tray from the stunned servant, she thought of all the ways to skin an inu youkai.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How did this happen?"

Yamiko turned to the old hag.

"Rough play," he grumbled.

The old woman's eyes reflected her doubt but she said no more as she continued to grind herbs into a cup. When it was ground into a fine white powder she poured a slimy, foul smelling green concoction over it.

He wrinkled his nose in distaste as she handed the cup to him, giving him an expectant look.

Grimacing, he downed the potion in one gulp, trying not to gag. However bad it may taste the effect was instant; his sore windpipe no longer throbbed and burned.

"Be sure to return for more if ye need it,"

Nodding, Lord Yamiko stalked from the infirmary, cheeks flaming.

He had never been so embarrassed in all his life.

Did Kagome think him a weakling now?

A youngling?

Unworthy of her?

Did she think he could not protect her?

How could she not after what she had witnessed. It was worse than death! Having the woman he desired see him in such a position! Fury as he'd never felt before racked his frame. He would get that bastard for making him look like a fool in front of his woman! How the fuck could he ever face her again!

In grim satisfaction he felt his skin healed its self, stitching back together, the bruises disappearing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miroku sat in Kagome's study with General Rykotsu.

"What do we do? We can;t keep this secret much longer. Lord Sesshomaru senses we tried to deceive him this eve. He will find out,"

General Rykotsu nodded gravely.

He'd known this day would come. He didn't know how this would all turn out but he knew he'd defend Kagome to his last breath. Come hell or high water he would protect her, he would fulfill his promise, and atone for the sin he had committed against her.

A sin so horrible, he didn't think he could bear it if she ever found out.

"I know, we'll have to be on guard and protect her more diligently now. Lord Sesshomaru is as clever as he is dangerous."

Miroku sighed, "I'll have to speak to Kagome. She must tread carefully."

Rykotsu agreed.

Turning to a much different matter Miroku unrolled a scroll onto the desk.

"You were able to uncover more information on the sword?"

Miroku nodded, "There is a lead. In the village of Yaminto there's rumor that the smithy that forged Aman du Rai lives in that village. If we can find him, he may be able to point us in the direction of the sword."

Hope bloomed in Miroku's heart. There was a lead.

With luck they would have the sword and find the culprit, and or culprits involved in the attacks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later guys!

~Sessakag