InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 6

Pride (In the Name of Love) 6 / ??
Written by Jezz-Ra
Warnings - Not all warnings apply to all chapters. Yaoi, Het, Rape, Lemon, Violence, Language, Torture, Angst, Incest, Dark (at times). It's a massive story, folks, it's got a little bit of everything.
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// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - Nothing much to report.
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Sesshoumaru strode into the throne room with his expression carefully neutral and his head held high. Tsetsukosei was sitting in a massive throne that looked as though it had been fashioned of the bones of some gigantic beast. When Sesshoumaru entered, the demon-beast gave him that terrible, too-toothy grin. "Prompt this time. You must be learning."

Sesshoumaru stiffened further, and it was only with a supreme effort of will that he kept his retort to himself and simply nodded once.

"Today I shall be visited by many important youkai of the Circle. You've been in the political game yourself a while, puppy...so you understand the importance of putting on an impressive show without...overdoing it."

Sesshoumaru nodded, wondering where this was headed. He of course knew exactly what Tsetsukosei was talking about - showing off one's status and making a silent statement of power or majesty intended to awe visiting dignitaries was something he'd done himself often enough. // But what would Tsetsukosei want to show o-...oh. Oh HELL no. // "And what is the role of this Sesshoumaru supposed to be in your...display?" he asked flatly, although he knew the answer.

"You're not so dense, puppy. You needn't ask." Sesshoumaru twitched internally - he was really, REALLY getting tired of being referred to as a puppy. He'd been an adult for almost seven hundred years. He was not old as demons went, but he wasn't an untested whelp either. Tsetsukosei continued despite Sesshoumaru's slightly drifting train of thought. "You shall sit at my feet. Here." The beast pointed with one claw. "You will neither speak nor take action without my direct order. You will allow my guests to take whatever liberties they wish and you will cater to their whims if they are so bold as to request it."

Sesshoumaru barely kept himself in check, though Tsetsukosei's sudden chuckle told him that he either hadn't fully suppressed the growl boiling in his chest or that his roiling anger was plainly evident.

"Further, you will refer to me as 'Master' from now on. If you forget, you will be shocked. If you continue to forget and I believe you are defying this order, I will make sure that all you have suffered thus far looks like a gentle massage. Am I perfectly clear, little Sesshoumaru?"Sesshoumaru was breathing hard, his fists clenched tightly and his head down, his bangs shielding his face and the volatile mixture of shame, humiliation, and rage that was brazenly displayed. It took him a moment before he was able to swallow his emotion enough to speak. "Yes...master." The word stuck in his throat, threatened to choke him. He desperately reminded himself that he NEEDED to do this if he was to have a chance to escape. After all, there were far worse things this monster could do (and had already done) then ask him to sit and be admired by visiting youkai. A relatively easy, if humiliating experience - and then perhaps he could earn his right to research.

"Good," Tsetsukosei rasped, amused and a little surprised. In all honesty, he hadn't expected Sesshoumaru to submit at all. "Go to the third room in the west wing. This will be your room for now. There is an outfit laid out on the bed. I expect you to look your best and return here shortly."Sesshoumaru nodded stiffly and turned to go to the room, letting out a startled snarl as a sharp but brief shock hit him from the collar. He whirled angrily to glare at Tsetsukosei. "What was that for?!" he demanded before he could contain himself.

"You will acknowledge my orders verbally and with the proper appellation, puppy. That was merely a warning. Do you understand?"

Sesshoumaru's answer came through gritted teeth. "Yes, Master." He paused, wondering if he was supposed to ask before taking his leave. Tsetsukosei glared at him.

"Why are you standing there? There is not much time! Go!""Yes, Master," the taiyoukai ground out before he stalked out of the room. He made his way quickly down the hall, his mood positively thunderous. The son of the Inu no Taisho, the Lord of the West, allowing himself to be claimed! Submitting to this wretch! Oh, there would be a reckoning...

That reckoning almost came sooner than Sesshoumaru would have thought when he actually clapped his blazing golden eyes on the outfit he was supposed to wear. It was crafted of the finest white and gold silks. Said silks were rather flimsy - not quite see-through, but showed tantalizing shadows through their surface - and most definitely more feminine than not.

// He's TRYING to make me disobey him... he wants a good reason to punish me... not that he needs one. But he gets more pleasure from it if its my own choice that lands me on the wrong side of his claws. //

Sesshoumaru learned a moment later that glaring at clothing, no matter how balefully, did not cause it to spontaneously burst into flames. He gave it a good effort, however.

He dared a glance in the mirror after donning the outfit and winced at his own image - he looked beautiful, to be sure...like a beautiful, pampered whore or harem-slave. The low-cut neckline did nothing to conceal the angry red scar of Tsetsukosei's mating bite - this was probably intentional.

// It could be worse...just get through the day... // he told himself desperately. // Just get through the day... //

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The day turned out to be slightly less dreadful than Sesshoumaru had envisioned. He sat on the stone dais next to the throne, his chain leash keeping him in place even though he had no intent of ruining what he felt was a somewhat easy attempt to please Tsetsukosei.

Of course, nothing was ever easy.

He kept his gaze downcast - as much to obey his order as to keep from having to look at the constant parade of youkai he was being made a spectacle of for. Not all of them were as morbidly hideous as Tsetsukosei and his minions - but some were worse. Most of them ignored him, not giving into Tsetsukosei's display. // Those are the strong ones...not showing weakness by being impressed. // Several of them commented on him, ranging from minor compliments to outright lusting and gushing. // The weaklings, trying to curry favor. //

The last sort was worse, however. The truly powerful youkai were willing to take liberties with Tsetsukosei's patience, proving they were not afraid of him. Several of them inspected Sesshoumaru closely. A few were so bold as to touch him, ranging from gentle caresses and petting to outright fondling and squeezing. Sesshoumaru grit his teeth, restrained his twitching and the anger that threatened to drive him mad, and almost made it through the day.

Almost.

The last demon to visit was obviously someone Tsetsukosei respected - possibly a superior, judging by how the demon got up and bowed in respect. The newcomer was mostly humanoid in appearance, although he had twisting horns atop his head and long, pointed ears. His tongue was forked, and his limbs all looked just a little too long and spindly.

"Ah, Lord Tsetsukosei...my greetings," the newcomer said with formal bow.

"Lord Jormandar, a pleasure to have you grace my humble abode with your presence."

The two chatted, typical pointless political pleasantries. The conversation eventually slowed and Sesshoumaru heard the newcomer's voice get closer. "Ah, so this is your new pet..." Sesshoumaru's chin was grabbed roughly and his face lifted. Pitch-black, pupilless eyes looked at him scrutinizingly.

"Yes. A fine catch, if I say so myself. An inu taiyoukai.""Ah, one of the Inu no Taisho's brood...I still say you should have taken the father.""Hn, it wasn't worth the effort. Besides, I favored the pup."

"I see...is he as...talented...as he is pretty?"

Tsetsukosei eyed Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru wasn't moving and wasn't looking at anything. "Perhaps you wish to find out? I'm quite generous, I'd be happy to loan you my plaything." Tsetsukosei released Sesshoumaru's leash and smirked at the disbelieving taiyoukai. "Do as he says, puppy."

Jormandar smiled widely and then gave Sesshoumaru a leer "Well, come here, little pet. On your knees and show me how you earn your meals."

Sesshoumaru had frozen, simply unable to comply with the demand. Squinting, Jormandar reached out and grabbed a fistful of silver hair in an effort to speed along Sesshoumaru's decision...

...and Sesshoumaru snapped. "THIS SESSHOUMARU IS NO ONE'S PET!" With a feral roar he slashed Jormandar's face wide, his claws leaking acidic poison. He fell over the other demon in a snarling, tearing ball of rage. "THIS SESSHOUMARU IS NOT A PLAYTHING!"

Tsetsukosei blinked in surprise, then narrowed his eyes angrily. He couldn't activate the shock collar with Sesshoumaru being in physical contact with the shrieking, enraged Jormandar. With a thundering roar he leapt to his feet and waded into the fray, bodily hoisting Sesshoumaru off the other demon. Sesshoumaru whirled with a primal snarl, his claws and fangs bouncing harmlessly off of Tsetsukosei's armored hide. His eyes were blood red and rolling.

"It seems your puppy is rabid, Tsetsukosei!" Jormandar snapped, clutching at the deepest of his bleeding wounds. Tsetsukosei held Sesshoumaru at arm's length by the throat.

"You have my apologies. He is apparently not yet broken..." Smoky crimson eyes locked on Sesshoumaru and Tsetsukosei growled viciously, the sheer threat in his tone enough to catch Sesshoumaru's attention. "But that will change, and soon." The demon beast slowly squeezed his hand closed around the taiyoukai's throat. The red bled out of Sesshoumaru's eyes as he struggled to breathe and eventually fell unconscious. "Very soon."

Tsetsukosei drug the unconscious taiyoukai from the room, growling and seething as he stalked off down the hall to his personal chambers.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

In the morning, Miroku was healed enough to speak, at least. The wound had ended up looking worse than it was, although the burn was nasty and it was tender to the touch.

"So what'd ya find, monk?" Inuyasha asked eagerly.

"It seems there is some sort of...I don't know. Defended gateway of sorts, leading to a stone chamber. I saw what was left of Sesshoumaru's clothing - you know how distinctive it is...and his armor. It was..." Miroku paused, frowning. Even if he had no real love for Sesshoumaru, he didn't care to see ANYONE tortured. "It was some sort of prison cell. There was blood everywhere. A lot of it.""So you think my brother's being tortured?" Inuyasha asked with a frown. "Even if he is a bastard, he doesn't really deserve THAT..."

"I think we could probably get through the portal, if we did it right. Then it'd just be a matter of finding Sesshoumaru and bringing him out. Chances are good that if he IS being tortured, he's too weak to get out on his own.""Or whoever's got him is really strong."
Miroku frowned. "That's always a possibility. Or it could be a bit of both."

"Well, lets go."

"What?"

"We have to rescue him. He's a supercilious ass, but he's my BROTHER, Miroku. I don't think he'd do the same for me, but...well.""Inuyasha, do you fail to remember that I'm laying here, severely wounded, for poking the portal with a stick? We can't just jump on through. I don't even know if you can interact with it if you can't see the spiritual realm."

"Well, dammit, find a way. Before whoever is playing with my brother decides he's not interesting anymore."

"I'll work on it. But Inuyasha, I'm...I'm not a very powerful monk. This may be way over my head."

"You'll find a way. You have to. Just get me there and I'll do the rest."

Miroku looked at his friend, so determined, and then nodded slowly. He would find a way.