InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Angel ❯ Escape ( Chapter 16 )

Chapter Sixteen:

Escape

 

She was led to an empty cell below the Western Castle.

A prison cell.

A damp, dirty old prison cell.

Made for prisoners.

She could barely wrap her mind around it. This was what she was now. Nothing but a prisoner, chained up and thrown into jail. As General Haku slid the iron bars open and ushered her inside, he flushed that embarrassed deep red again.

"My Lady, if I could do anything to chang-"

"Nay," Kagome said cutting him off, "there is naught you can do or anyone else for that matter. You need not worry for me, I shall be fine."

And she would. She would be just fine because she refused to be anything else. She couldn't afford to be anything other than fine.

Hearing the softly spoken words, filled with such sadness tugged at his youkai heart. This woman had healed him and his men. She was kind. She didn't deserve such treatment. He was sure there had to be a reason for her deception, though he didn't know what that reason was, but he was damn sure none of those reasons had anything to do with malice.

This woman didn't seem capable of venom, despite what the Elders were saying.

He shook his head.

In this day and age woman were not individuals with power, it simply was not done. It was an unspoken rule, but one enforced none the less. Women were considered to be beneath males. Inferior to their male counterparts. Kagome had known this and had done all she could to keep the lands that were rightfully hers in her possession.

Despite the fact that Kagome, a woman, had ruled those lands for years and had wrought nothing but peace and prosperity, men still thought females hysterical, unbalanced beings not fit to have a position of power. It was ludicrous, and the biggest hypocrisy he had ever witnessed.

But he was but a General in the Western military; it was not his duty, nor his place to nay say the higher ups, merely to obey.

He finally looked at her without that embarrassing flush coming to his cheeks.

"Aye my Lady, you need not hesitate to ask for me should you require my assistance,"

She inclined her head in acknowledgment as he unlocked the cuffs from her wrist and stepped away, sliding the bars closed behind him.

Leaving Kagome alone.

With the deafening silence as her only company.

Looking around the little stone cell, Kagome rubbed her sore wrists, glad to have the heavy chains removed, wincing at the stinging pain their weight had left behind. The cell was small, really small and damp. The stones were cracked with age, and a diminutive gathering of hay sat in the corner of the room.

Her bedding for tonight she assumed.

A dirty but empty chamber pot placed adjacent to the makeshift bed and a tiny window let in limited sunlight.

Anger returned at the poor, nearly unlivable conditions of the prison. Leave it to Lord Sesshomaru to make his prisons as undesirable, unclean and unreasonable as possible. In the Northern lands, she would never have allowed such squalor, not under her rule. The few prisoners they'd had to lock up had occupied dull but adequate holding cells, nowhere near as dreadful as this place.

It was inhumane.

Men were inhumane, she decided as she kicked the chamber pot away from her bed and sat down heavily, hoping there were no bugs crawling around in the hay because that would just be the icing on her crappy day.

~~~~~~~~~~

InuYasha raced through the forest, a blur to the naked eye. Throwing himself from tree branch to tree branch, then shooting upwards, high above the tree tops, his red fire rat robes rippling in the slight breeze as gravity brought him slowly back down to earth.

The sun was setting soon, and darkness was just beginning to leak sky.

As he descended slowly to the ground below he looked at the sun, marveling at its beauty.

Burning a bright orange, it cast splatters of pink and red across the sky, the horizon a deep purple. His eyes softened as the collage of colors summoned memories from the past….

Eight year old InuYasha walked down the halls of the Western castle, easily maneuvering about the winding halls and complex structure that was well known by the young hanyou.

Making his way around was never an issue, nor was getting lost, which was why father let him roam around on his own without a guard or Jaken.

He wrinkled his little nose in distaste at the thought of the green toad that was no taller than his knee. Jaken was his least favorite person and he often wondered why Father kept him around.

He was rude, ugly and an ass kisser.

Always running after Father, praising him excessively in that annoying high pitched voice.

That bastard's voice grated on his nerves.

He knew his father was a great demon but shit, that green blob went overboard. Father's irritation with the toad servant was hidden but not well enough, he could see the slight twitch of his right eye when Jaken went into one of his spells of praise.

He headed to his brother's rooms, familiar with the path as he often snuck down to watch his big brother come and go.

He admired his brother, wanted to be just like him.

Tall and in top physical condition, a face as beautiful as a woman, he was everything InuYasha wanted to be when he grew up and became a man himself.

Always calm, always collected and composed, feared and respected, intelligent and aloof.

That was the way he wanted to be, he wanted to follow in his brother's footsteps, he wanted to be just as cool.

To learn from him; be taught by him.

The only problem with that was his brother. He seemed to hate him, and InuYasha could not, for the life of him, figure out why his older brother was so mean to him at times. He did all he could to make sure he didn't annoy his elder sibling but nothing seemed to work.

His older brother always found something to punish him for and he called his deceased mother bad names.

Those were the only insults that got to him, the ones about his mother.

InuYasha only vaguely remembered her now, even though she had not been dead long. Already her image was fading from his memory and at times he went to stand before her portrait just to remind himself of what she had looked like.

But there were things he did remember; like the warmness of her embrace, the sound of her voice when she told him stories, her soft flowery scent.

Those things he remembered about her without having to look at her picture.

Stopping at the large door to his brother's room, InuYasha put his dog shaped ear against the door, listening for sounds inside; hoping his brother had not already left for the day. He pulled his head away from the door, a confused expression on his face as he tried to make out what his brother could possibly doing.

He had not heard such noises come from his room before.

Putting his ear back to the door, he listened more intently.

Banging noises, that sounded like his brother's head board rang in his ears, guttural growls were loud and heated. There was a female inside, she was screaming herself hoarse.

He could hear his brother's voice, low and commanding.

"You like that bitch? You like being fucked don't you?"

InuYasha had no idea what to make of it. His brother was strange. Shrugging, he sat down against the door and rolled his ball around on the floor as the banging behind the door increased and the woman began to scream in earnest now.

Hm, maybe he was doing what Father called, "big people games."Father and Mother had played that game a lot. He remembered she had screamed as the woman in his brother's room was, and Father had used the same words as big brother. A time or two he had opened the door when his parents were playing “big people games,” and he had just thought that “big people games,” meant a man and a woman wrestled each other without their cloths.

His father had said he would understand everything when he was a man, but InuYasha couldn't see what would be different when he was older. He had told his father as much and his father had only laughed.

His laughter had ended abruptly when he had asked if the could wrestle with them. After that question, Father had cleared his throat a few times, his face beat red and explained that he was never, ever to say such a thing again, and that in this house, incest was not to be tolerated.

InuYasha had not idea what incest was, but apparently his father thought it was very bad indeed.

But his point had been made. InuYasha was not allowed to play “big people games”. Not until he became a man.

Adults were so strange.

Why play a game that he couldn't join in?

It wasn't fair.

Just because he was a pup didn't mean he couldn't learn how to play the game.

He loved games; he'd like to play "Big people games" too. He was eight years old for fuck sakes! How old did he have to be to play?

The pounding stopped as a vicious growl rang out and the woman screamed one last time, then the room grew very quiet. After a few minutes of clothing rustling and a few soft spoken words, the door to his brother's room opened and a blue haired fox youkai female slipped from the room. Her hair was in a mess, her face flushed and her lips swollen, to InuYasha she looked a bit dazed and confused, but had a wide smile on her face.

Judging by her clothing, InuYasha assumed she was the daughter of some nobleman. She wore those expensive kimonos and way too much jewelry.

She didn't spare him a look as she limped down the hallway.

"What business do you have here, half breed."

Looking up, he saw his brother had come from the room. Clean, unruffled, his brother was dressed to perfection as always, not a hair out of place, a striking contrast to the woman that had just left the room.

"Big brother! Will you come and play with me?" InuYasha asked the two hundred year old demon, hoping that this time, his brother wouldn't just walk away and ignore him like he always did.

Sesshomaru frowned in disdain.

Big brother always frowned at him that way. He never played with him either. He mostly avoided the little eight year old. Though mother had always told him not to bother his brother, InuYasha couldn't understand why though, why have an older brother and not play with it?

The other kids in the villages played with their older brothers.

Before he could say anything else, the hostile glare blazing from cold amber eyes stopped him. The ball he had been holding rolled to the floor unnoticed. Chilled by the open volatile expression on his brother's face; similar, innocent, amber eyes watered, lower lip trembling, the small child looked down at the ground.

Why did big brother hate him so much? Was he a bad pup? Was that why? He knew he sometimes could be a handful for mother and father but was he really that bad?

He didn't understand why big brother treated him this way.

"Remove your disgusting person from this region of the castle or I shall remove you myself,"

InuYasha sat there, uncomprehending, though he keeping his head down, least his brother see his tears and think him a big fat crybaby.

Sesshomaru's frown deepened.

"This Sesshomaru does not enjoy repeating himself, simpleton. Remove thy self. Now."

He didn't move. Couldn't move, it hurt too much. His heart ached.

'Why big brother?'

Suddenly he was picked up, a rough, crushing hand wrapped around his throat, closing off his breathing. Frightened, he yelped loudly, calling for Father. His brother's face lowered into his own.

"You are worthless; tainted trash. You may be father's spawn but that bitch of a mother of yours insured you will always bear the taint of humanity. A disgusting mutation of youkai greatness, a mockery of everything we stand for. Pathetic half breed, you will never be my equal,"

As his vision began to blur with more tears, a deep, angered voice brought him back to his senses.

Father!

"What goes on here Sesshomaru?"his father thundered.

InuTaisho stood before them, golden eyes blazing at his eldest son.

"Release him at once,"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at his father. For a moment, InuYasha thought his big brother meant to challenge father for dominance. Even one as young as he understood the ways of dogs, it was instinct. InuYasha held his breath, hoping this would not be the day that the tension between his father and brother snapped.

When the two of them were in the room together the ire and resentment was palpable.

That was another mystery entirely.

Big brother seemed to hate father more than he hated him. Every chance he got, he prodded father's temper and pushed his patience to the limit. Father got angry at times and yelled at big brother, but afterwards, his father always felt so bad about it, as if he had been the one in the wrong.

InuYasha didn't understand it and no one bothered to explain it to him.

"Stand down Sesshomaru,"

Once again, Sesshomaru stood quietly, cold eyes calculating and intense. Something gave way and he dropped the youngling with a thud. InuYasha struggled to suppress his tear, scrubbing in irritation at his wet cheeks. He would not cry anymore, not in front of his brother.

His big brother never cried, and he wouldn't either.

A warm aura engulfed him, protective and caring.

His father.

He was scooped up into strong arms. Strong arms as gentle as his mothers. Sesshomaru looked at them and something akin to jealous anger flashed in his amber eyes, before freezing over once more.

But not before InuTaisho caught it.

His father's expression twisted in pain and exasperation. InuYasha had seen that expression so many times on his father's face.

"Why must you be this way?” InuTaisho questioned softly, “He is your brother, and you are still my son,".

Sesshomaru turned his back to them as though he could not stomach the sight of them for another moment.

"He is mo brother of mine,” Sesshomaru spat, “He is the spawn of Izaoi and InuTaisho, nothing more."

His father went from anger to sadness, shoulders slumping in tired depression.

"We are family, kin, pack, how can you deny this?"

Sesshomaru's fists clenched.

"I have no family."

Sadness increased tenfold upon his father's handsome face.

"You will always be my son. I love you as I love InuYasha. That has not changed nor will it ever. I made a mistake. I know that it was inappropriate to take a mate so quickly after your mother died, but you must understand-"

"I must understand nothing,” Sesshomaru hissed, turning slightly to face the two, his eyes crimson, his magenta stripes jagged.

A moment of great and heavy silence washed over the three males. After a moment, Sesshomaru's expression cooled, the redness of his eyes fading back to deep amber. Seeming to be back in control, he spoke once more.

“Leave,” he he commanded, his voice cold as ice, “Take your son and leave me be. I have nothing more to say to either one of you,"

With that, he walked away.

InuYasha looked up at his father's face, he was stricken, his eyes following his eldest son's retreating form. He didn't understand what was going on, didn't know what was going on between big brother and Father, and had no idea how to fix it.

They didn't speak as his father carried him outside; walking briskly through the garden, out into the forest. Demonic cloud forming under his feet, InuTaisho took to the sky.

The sun was setting, blazing a bright orange, casting splatters of pink and red across the sky, the horizon a deep purple.

InuYasha wrapped his thin arms around his father's neck, sensing he needed a hug. A drop of moisture fell onto the arm that rested around his father's neck. He looked up at his father, surprised to see crystallized sadness sparkling in those sad amber eyes…..

His father's tears.

The setting sun reminded him of the sorrow his father had felt, of that day he had seen his father's tears, had realized the depth of his father's sadness.

Back then, he had not understood what had been going on.

Now, a great number of years later, he understood. He hated Sesshomaru for the way he had treated his father, his mother, even the way he had treated him, still treated him, but damn if he didn't understand Sesshomaru's feelings. He knew that probably had to have been hard on his elder brother. Losing his mother, grieving her while his father was making preparations to replace her with another woman before his mother was even cold in the ground.

Still, did he have to hold a grudge so fucking long?

At the very least he could make an effort to be civil to his younger brother.

But nooo, that was asking too much from him. InuYasha folded his arms at the thought of his brother and his unreasonable wrath.

What the fuck, InuYasha had not done anything to the dick. He had merely been born. And that, to his brother was his biggest sin.

He sighed as his feet finally touched the ground and he raced in the direction of home.

There was really no help for it, his brother hated him, and that was all there was to it. He would not let go of his resentment and didn't seem as though he wanted to. He was happy with the damaged, hostile relationship the two of them shared. Shit would never change between them. Years of hatred and bad blood between two brothers had become so familiar, so...normal for all involved.

Sesshomaru resented the very air he breathed.

Stating that he was of tainted blood; sadly, it was true. His mother had been changed when she had mated his father, becoming something close to a purebred youkai , but not quite completely, retaining a small percent of her human heritage. So, by technicality, InuYasha was considered a hanyou. Or as his brother was fond of addressing him as, "Half breed."

InuYasha wrinkled his nose at the word. Fuck that shit, if Sesshomaru wanted to be butt-hurt about his birth -which was in no way his fault- then who the fuck was he to nay say him?

He'd let the bastard continue on with his unreasonable anger and stupid, petty grudges.

The castle came into view shortly; he leapt gracefully onto his balcony and through the open balcony doors. He always left them open so he did not have to go through the main castle area and encounter snobby assholes. And he knew for sure that his chance of running into a snob was extremely high today. His brother and uncle were having some kind of trial to take the Northern lands from some woman that had fooled everyone and every royal bastard from the four corners of the world had come to witness the spectacle.

He snorted in amusement; served those stuck up bastard's right.

He was glad someone had played them for a fool, even better that it was woman. Besides, what right did they have to confiscate her lands? It's not like she had broken any laws or nothing. Sure he wasn't the smartest cookie in the jar, but he knew there were no laws that stated a woman could not be a Territory Lord.

But, knowing his brother and his ego, he would find a way to obtain those lands at all costs.

He grimaced.

Because what Sesshomaru wanted, Sesshomaru got.

The thought made him angry. His emotions were already on the edge from his memory of his father's tears, and he was feeling none to charitable towards his bastard brother right now.

Why the hell should he get what he wanted without having to jump through hoops?

Why didn't someone make things difficult for his brother for once instead of the other way around?

Because no one dared, everyone feared him.

He snorted. He wasn't one of those people that trembled when his brother walked into the room.

"Screw that," he muttered walking towards his bedroom door.

InuYasha left his room and headed down to the prisoner cells. If no one wanted to step in and make trouble for his brother, he guessed it was up to him to do so. He had no doubt that that was where she was located. It was Western land protocol that all prisoners awaiting punishment or going through a trial involving the higher ups.

He shuddered, recalling his own stay in the confining cells. A punishment devised by Jaken after numerous complaints made by the strict instructors that had seen or attempted to see to his education. The insufferable lessons they'd wanted to subject him to were worse than his time in the underground prison.

He smiled.

He'd been more than a handful with his teachers, earning him more than one lecture from his father, and more thrashings on his rear-end than he cared to count.

A fond smile made its way to his lips.

Father.

It seemed as though he thought of his father often lately, it made him feel good. His father had been the only bright spot in his life after his mother's death, and wrapping himself up in those warm feelings made him happy.

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

Kagome paced the length of her small cell, stewing in her anger. After hours in the damn cell and only bread and water brought to her, she was cranky and hungry. As she raged at the male population, she had come to a decision.

She would kill the next male she laid eyes on.

One blast of miko energy and kaboom! Just one freaking blast!

Kagome sighed and sat on the floor.

Who was she kidding? They would never let her get away with something like that. Not that bastard Sesshomaru, that little chicken shit. Gods how she hated that man! He unnerved her, irritated her….set her body on fire, and mixed up her emotions until she had no idea what she felt about him.

She had never felt such a way before. Had never felt actual desire to know a man in that way, let alone do the things she had to done with him.

A fierce blush stained her face.

What she had done was so naughty. She could still feel his tongue deep inside her, could feel his lips on her breast and it was almost too much to bear. Her body was set ablaze when he looked at her. It was amazing what just a searing, deliberate look from said demon Lord could do to her.

And that's what she hated the most about this situation. Wanting him and yet wanting to blast him on his arrogant ass.

The sound of footsteps brought her out of her thoughts. Kagome looked up as the bars were slid open. In the darkness she could only glimpse silver hair and amber eyes. She shot to her feet.

Him!

Summoning her energy, she sent a pink ball of furry at him, not enough to do damage, but enough to get his attention and with more than enough ire behind the attack. The male flew back on his butt, a groan rumbling from his chest.

Angrily the male pushed himself up on his elbows, pinning her with irritated golden eyes.

"What the fuck?" he growled out.

Anger doused, Kagome's eyes widened.

That voice. Rough and crude, that was definitely not Sesshomaru's deep masculine voice.

"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" she said as went over to him.

He was sprawled out on the cold stone floor, an angry expression on his handsome face. She blinked in surprised shock; this was definitely not Sesshomaru, though he looked a great deal like him. Same luminous amber eyes, and silver hair. His face a little rougher than the other male, he looked almost exactly like him, only younger, and more open. Sort of like Yamiko.

Expressions worn like a beacon of light.

"What the fuck is your problem woman? Are you out of your goddamn mind?" he thundered.

Kagome was a bit taken aback by the crude language. Hands on hips she shouted back at the male on the floor.

"I thought you were someone else! Geez, I said I'm sorry!" she yelled back.

"Well you can take your apology and shove it up your a-"

InuYasha stopped, speechless as he really looked at her. This woman before him was beautiful!

"What did you say?" she asked heatedly

His mouth opened and close, and open once more. For the first time in his life InuYasha was not able to think of a single thing to say.

"Are you gonna stand there and gape or are you going to speak?"

That seemed to shake him out of it.

"Uh….yeah…I uh…came to…uh….help you out of here."

Kagome was shocked to say the least. Why would he do that? He was obviously related to Sesshomaru, most likely his brother, so why would he help her?

"Why?" she asked skeptically, "You must be Sesshomaru's brother, you two look almost like twins. Why would you help me?"

InuYasha snorted," Why would I miss the chance to ruffle Lord Fluffy's feathers?"

Kagome frowned in confusion.

"You two are brothers right? You should be on his side, should you not?"

"Fuck that. We ain't that close."

"Why not?"

His right eye twitched in irritation.

"Look, I came here to bail you out, not to get all touchy feely. You in or what? Hurry the fuck up cause we ain't got much time here."

Kagome was at a loss at what to do. Should she stay, and continue with this farce of a trail?

Or go with this stranger?

Wait a minute! He was Sesshomaru's brother, therefore in a position of power, even if he wasn't close to said brother. Maybe she could convince him to help her get out of this mess.

"We ain't got all day lady, what's it gonna be?"

Besides, she had decided to pick and choose her battles. She would choose now.

Decision made, Kagome smirked, stepping from her cell, "Lead the way,"

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

Naraku washed Kagura's blood from his hands in the river, humming softly to himself, sighing in contentment. Nothing like torture to make a man's day a great one. He looked down at the crumpled body of the naked woman on the floor, and smirked. Ah, he never got tired of her pain filled screams.

He kicked her body once, watching in satisfaction as it twitched and a pained gasp was released from her mouth.

Hmmm, still out cold.

No matter.

He would leave her here for now, and if she knew what was good for her sorry ass she'd be back to the extended hut before sundown. Least she end up in worse condition than this.

He'd brought her out here to the woods so that she would have to crawl back home, injured and bruised. He laughed out loud; she was such a stupid bitch. Thinking he had forgotten to punish her for sneaking out of bed the other night.

Nay, he would never forget to inflict pain on someone.

Wasn't in his nature.

What kind of male would he be if he did?

Straightening his clothing, he stretched his body, wincing at the dull pain. The ceremony had taken a toll as always, but he noticed, the more times he did the ceremony the shorter the recovery time. His body was adjusting to the pain, getting stronger.

He was pleased to say the least.

Squatting down next to the woman on the ground, he grabbed her hair in a painful pull, bringing the unconscious woman to a painful awakening.

"You will get your dumb ass up and get back to the house before noon tomorrow or you will know more pain than you could ever imagine. Do I make myself clear whore?"

Kagura struggled to breathe through the pain, black spots danced behind her eyes, and she felt as though she was about to vomit. He jerked her head back and she cried out.

"Do you hear me?" he hissed

"Yes Master Naraku."

He shoved her head to the ground; the taste of dirt filled her mouth. Kagura barely noticed.

Satisfied with his handy work, Naraku walked away.

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

Tourcher made his way down to the cave. Ducking inside, the barrier parting as made his descent, the scent of blood assaulted his nose.

It was intoxicating.

He wandered deeper, the sent becoming stronger as he traveled. He could feel it, his brother was near. Gods he had missed him! Picking up the pace he smiled as he finally spotted him. Surrounded by jars upon jars of blue eyeballs, Mahdness sat among them.

He was playing with a bloody liver and slimy intestines.

"Fly, fly, fly, come, come, fly, fly!"

Taking a bite from the bleeding liver, he chewed happily and continued to play.

"Mahdness, my brother!" Tourcher called out.

Mahdness looked up, bloody lips curling in a wide grin. Blood dripped down his chin, and pink chunks of liver stuck in his teeth.

Mouth full he cried out, "Mourcher! Ny rother! "

Tourcher chuckled at the mumbled reply. He ambled over to the younger male and hugged him, tears burning his eyes. Mahdness had always been like a little brother to them all for he was the youngest and the most vulnerable with his shattered mind.

As they drew back from each other, Tourcher slapped him on the back.

"You've been collecting again, I see?"

Mahdness forgot to chew and swallow again, liver fell from his mouth, coated in saliva, dripping down his chin and onto the cave floor.

"Indeed. I sleep well at night. All night. They watch."

"Aye, I am sure they do."

He stood.

"It's time to go Mahdness; we must get prepare to summon Vishious from his prison."

Excitement bloomed bright.

"Big brother Vishious?"

"Aye, before this year's end, big brother Vishious will once again walk the earth."

 

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

 

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

Laters!

~Sessakag