InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Yours ❯ Bubbles ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: This was originally going to be just one straight story no dividing chapters, but I decided to just put it out there. To clear up any misunderstandings, I want people to know that this is a story about Inuyasha's mother who I have named Mai, and Inuyasha's father. These are all my opinions and ideas, and are not actually what happened in the anime or anything like that. Those things cleared up, I hope people like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, but I do hold credits to the idea of this story and for the persona of the character Mai.

Warning: This story is rated R for language and for possible future lemon scenes.

Forever Yours

Tinkerbell

Bubbles.

My body was completely surrounded by bubbles, and my soul was intoxicated by the scent of eucalyptus. Peace was a wonderful thing, and only at moments like this could I let my mind go. I thought too much. But for now I was nothing, one with the bubbles, submersed in warm water.

I sank in lower so my chin floated on the surface of the water. My eyes were closed, and I smiled at the warmth enveloping my body. The pool was not scolding hot, but pleasantly warm. I never liked the hot water; it made me dizzy and faint, but just below body temperature was fine, and relaxing. And if nothing else it meant that while all the other girls crowded into the steamy hot springs, I received a placid pool to myself to think.

As I said, I think too much. But what is a girl in harem suppose to do? If not satisfied by lounging around on cushions, in rooms decorated by flowers and tapestry, or soaking in the springs, what could a girl do. One could gorge themselves on the fruit and sweets in the sleeping chambers, but then one would get fat and undesirable to men, and a harem girl's only purpose is to be desirable. If the men do not want you then you are cast aside, forgotten, and then sold to work as a slave of the land and house, rather than the body. One could also sit in the gardens, play music, or gossip mindlessly with the other girls, but that all loses its charm sooner or later. So for most of the whores here, life spent like this was enough, but I found it boring.

The madams of the house did not and could not educate us in anyway. Men did not like smart women, or at least that was what we were told. "Do anything they want, and be anything they want, but never let them see you think. Men want a submissive whore they can fuck, not a witty girl they can talk to. That is what their wives are for, something you could never hope to be."

I do not want to be their wife - I just want to be free.

I sank lower into the water, dunking my head slowly beneath the soothing, cool liquid. I quickly surfaced, sending ripples through the cloudy water. Running my fingers through my wet locks of hair, I looked to the dark blue, star spotted sky. The sun had set long ago, and the moon was glowing with a golden haze. Twilight breezes blew past my skin, sending cold shivers across my exposed body. I liked sitting alone in my pool, but the cold was getting to me. Reluctantly, I slowly walked towards the bank, running my hands across the surface of the water, playing with the velvety feel of the ripples under my fingers.

I pulled myself onto the grassy bank and rose to my feet. I started to walk towards one of the warmer springs. I saw that most of the girls had been chosen for a man's company or had retreated to bed already, but some still soaked contently in the pools.

They chattered like birds, their voices each soft and melodic, but harsh when booming all at once. I did not like being in the middle of their incestuous chattering, but I was cold and starved for conversation. I slipped into the sea of bare clad women - it actually wasn't that crowded, it only seemed that way. The water was a lot warmer, and I sighed happily as I sank deeper into the spring. But just as I was about to close my eyes and sink into deep, peaceful meditation, one of the girls turned to me.

"Oh there you are Mai, we all thought you had gone to bed...or someone else's." This woman's name was Yui, she was smarter and prettier than most of the other girls, but I didn't like her. She had round, honey eyes, beautiful wavy brown hair, spoke softly, and all the girls either envied or looked up to her. I still didn't like her. She was beautiful, but empty, like a porcelain doll.

I reluctantly opened my eyes, "I was relaxing in one of the other pools, but I got cold." Yui now turned her whole body to me - she was perfect, thin, round, and curvy, with almost flawless skin.

"Oh that is too bad, but may be the reason why no man has sought out your company lately." How I hated her, she went out of her way to spite me - I don't pretend to know why. Maybe because I was her only real match in this brothel of giggling dolls.

"How do you know of my business? Have you been spying on me?" At this point all of the other girls residing in the spring left their own gossip and chitchat to listen to the fight that was brewing.

Yui, with her smile so sweet, but eyes so cold, spoke to me harshly like I was a young, stupid child. "I might, but I would get bored to easily." She spoke like a snake, her tongue hissing out words meant to hurt.

The rest of the whores started whispering - they had new gossip to chirp about. "Are they at it again?" "What did Yui say? It sounded cruel." Things of such nature floated through the air, and I then realized what I had let myself succumb to. I got to my feet, unsettling the surface of the water so it shimmered in the moonlight.

"I have no time for this." Yui's voice hardened - she did not like being ignored.

"Well, 'where' is so damn important, that you are needed so?" I glared at her coldly.

"I am not needed anywhere. I just choose to leave, because the company is fowl and unpleasant." I was about to step onto the bank of the hot spring, when I was stopped by my damnable curiosity.

"But haven't you herd the news? I wouldn't leave if I were you." I looked at her questioningly, checking her eyes to see if she lied.

"What are you talking about?" A wicked smile played on Yui's face, and all the rest of the girls giggled and were as curious as I was - though I would never admit to it.

"How am I supposed to believe that you are not lying Yui, if it seems that no one else knows what you are talking about?" Yui's unsettling smile widened.

"Because none of the other girls slept with a demon lord's advisor last night." I sighed and took one last questioning look at Yui, before sitting back down.

"Well tell us before all these girls go mad from curiosity." Yui tried to look innocent and pouty.

"But aren't you at all curious Mai?"

"I guess." I lied. News, and good news at that, was something rare in the harem. And a mind like mine needed - no wanted - information of the outside world, no matter how unimportant and materialistic it was.

Yui cleared her throat, and gestured to all the other girls - she loved being the center of attention.

"As I said before, I was with an advisor, or ally of some kind to a great demon lord." The chattering of the girls flowed in.

"Which one? What was his name? How great is he?" Yui clapped her hands together loudly and regained the attention of the group.

"I am not sure of the details of who he is, but I do know he is from the western lands, and is very powerful." I looked at the crowd of girls huddled in the pool. Some were so young, barely women, and some were beyond their years in prostitution, these few were only kept around for the men unable to afford any better. I watched them all, as some seemed excited and intrigued by the news of a powerful, exotic demon lord, and some seemed so frightened - ones who never in their lives had seen a demon. I turned to Yui, my tone quick and uncaring.

"Yui, what is the importance of this? If you don't have the details, than what is there to tell us?" Yui jerked her head at me.

"Be patient." She returned to her listeners, which were hanging on her every word. "The importance of all this, is that from the ally of this 'great' demon lord, I learned that the Lord of the Western Lands 'himself' has heard good things about our harem, and is going to choose a new concubine for his pleasures. It seems that his demon wife does not satisfy him, and his last mistress was killed by his only son." A few of the girls cringed at the thought of a murder, but Yui continued, making a show for all to hear. " Sad for that poor defenseless girl, but good for all of us. He is said to be choosing by the end of tomorrow."

More giggles filled the air, and I couldn't help but be intrigued. The chance of myself being chosen was pretty good in my eyes. I was not plain, but not so beautiful that I could be idle. I thought, but knew better than to question or let my intelligence be seen. Yes. I had a greater chance than most of the commonplace wenches here, and this could be my chance. For being a concubine of a great demon lord could mean freedom to the highest extent I would ever see.

I guess I smiled without noticing, because after the girls' excitement calmed down, Yui again bothered me.

"Mai, what are you so happy about?" She smiled arrogantly, "Do you really think you have a chance?" I looked up at her with confidence, showing that her petty insults held no affect on me.

"Hai, and a better one than yours." Yui's eyes tightened.

"What do you mean?" I rose slightly out of the water so Yui and all the other girls would be able to hear me clearly.

"I mean this act you have. It might fool all of them," I made a swooping gesture to the other girls, "and even most men. But I see through it, and I am sure a 'great' demon lord, as you call him, would be able to see through it too." Yui's teeth were clenched together and she was looking pretty agitated.

"What the hell are you talking about Mai?" I stood up, looking her in the face as I towered over her slightly in height.

"I see through you Yui. Your empty, and cold, and so insecure that you must seek me out and insult me, to make yourself feel powerful. You don't have your own power, and I am sure a demon lord would sense that, and wouldn't want you. Why would he want someone weak?" At this point Yui was fuming.

"And you think you have power?!?" I smiled at her. Not out of malice, or arrogance, but out of real pity.

"Yes. Yes I do." With that I stepped out of the hot spring, and shook my head so cold droplets of water hit Yui in the face. I left her there enraged, and all the other whores seriously doubting their chances of being chosen.

My act of pure confidence (and it was purely an act, because I was as unsure of myself as they were) had given me another advantage over the rest of the wenches. They doubted themselves, making it more likely that they would give up. All the better for me. I can't admit to being a fair, just person, and I would do anything to get out of here. I do not care for the other girls, just as I don't care what happens to them. Nobody here cares about each other - we are not friends, simply jail mates.

They night was growing darker, and the breeze was evolving into a chilled summer wind. Slowly I left behind the rest of the girls - Yui was still fuming. To my surprise I was actually tired, and wanted to retreat to my bedroom. But before I could go back inside the harem, I needed to collect my kimono, which still lay, on the bank of my favorite spring.

I could see it bubbling in the distance. It was a vague outline of moonlight and shadow. A small brook powered into it on the northern side, so fresh ripples of water flowed into it. The grass beneath my feet was damp with the rising steam of the springs and I crept to the edge of the water so as not to disturb the serenity of the clearing.

I kneeled down next to my plain blue kimono, folding it nicely and picking off the brambles. What I did not know was someone watched me, intently staring at my kneeling figure. He concealed himself in the lining trees, and had been observing me for quite some time. I soon felt a presence and questioningly stood up and turned around. I held my kimono in my arms, and clutched it protectively to my chest as I spoke.

"Who's there? Show yourself." No answer came from the trees, and I soon waved off the feeling - maybe there really isn't anyone there. So taking one last look at the looming outlines of the trees I turned back towards the spring to pick up my sandals.

But as I crouched on my knees by the spring, I herd footsteps sound from behind me. I spun around, and was met with the faded moonlight shadow of a man. I again clutched my kimono tightly, trying to cover my bare body from his sight. He looked at me dreamily and then spoke softly.

"Woman, tell me your name." I did not know what to say. Men were not allowed on the harem property unless they were doing business, and I was not going to be raped unless I got paid for it. But there was something about him that made me feel safe, I felt that he dared not touch me. He spoke kindly to me, and he his eyes showed respect and awe. I spoke cautiously, stuttering from my uneasiness. He waited patiently for my reply, a gentle smile on his face.

"P..Please leave sir." My eyes were downcast, because I could not look at him. The night hid the details of his appearance but I could feel his strong presence. His aura was overpowering, and it made me feel small and insignificant before him - that I was unworthy to be standing in front of him. But the tone of his voice revealed such admiration, that I he also made me feel like a queen. How contradicting he was.

"I only want your name. Someone so fair, so beautiful, so lovely, should not go without a name." The man took a step towards me, his hand timidly outreached, as if he wanted to touch me but could decide on doing it. As he advanced, slowly and not in the bit threatening, I pulled away - I'm not sure why. I stepped back, though staying conscious of the flowing spring behind me.

His eyes moved from my body and lips, to meet my own pensive eyes. His stare was intimidating, and his eye's glinted in the moonlight with a golden enchantment. I couldn't see much of him, the light was dim and he concealed himself under the thrown down shadows of the trees behind him.

The man was very close to me now, and his once timid hand boldly reached out for my cheek. I stood completely still, lost in his glowing stare. But as the soft pads of his fingers graced my jaw line, I turned my head and pulled away even more. The man retracted his hand and forced it to his side in a fist.

Still looking at the ground, I spoke. "If you are not here for business, then you must leave."

I am not sure why I said these things - in the truth I actually wanted him to stay. He seemed kind, and was very attractive - though I couldn't see him very well. But something about him also scared me. His strength and confidence, and the way he looked at me. No man had ever looked at me that way. His heated stare focused in on my eyes, instead of hungrily roaming my body.

I guess the man could tell that I indeed wanted him to leave, and pulled back a bit. Taking one last look at me, with a soft smile and a sigh, he turned to leave the way he came.

As his figure grew harder to see in the shadows, I knew I had to say something. I mean, what if I never saw him again.

"Mai!" I called out awkwardly.

The man turned slightly and looked over his shoulder at me, his stare questioning. My eyes were now raised from the ground, and I desperately tried to keep eye contact with him.

"That is my name…Mai." I smiled at him.

"Arigatou Mai…..maybe we will meet again." The man then disappeared through the trees, and I was left standing and watching where he had once been.

After a moment, I snapped out of my daze and looked down at myself. I glanced over my bare body, giving myself a personal checkup and then clutched my kimono tighter to my chest and stomach. I could not see myself, but I knew I was blushing.

I started to leave, and soon regretted sending the man away.

"I hope we do meet again." I whispered softly to myself.

A/N: well there is the first chapter, and please Read and Review. I will try to get the next chap out soon but it might take me a while because I have been and need to work hard on writing new chapters in my other bigger fics. Arigatou for all my readers.