InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 17

Pride (In the Name of Love) 17 / ??
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.
Disclaimer - I don't own Inuyasha, don't make money off it. Wish I did.

Sidestories can be found under my author profile at any of my archive sites.
Archived at - inu.adultfanfiction.net, fanfiction.net, and mediaminer.org ::: Anywhere else, ask!
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// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - Well...I first want to state that I'm trying to keep in character, but there may be SOME deviation here...take it as artistic license or development due to what has gone before or as you will. I had FUN with this chapter.... >>
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Kagome realized that this was going to be a VERY long trip almost as soon as they left the apartment building. Inuyasha found ways to draw less attention to himself and generally was glanced at and then over.

Sesshoumaru made no attempt to blend in. He drew stares like honey draws flies. Despite his trauma, he unconsciously carried himself with an air of regality. He held his head high and gave the world his typical, icy stare. His long silver hair swished behind him. And if his incredible and highly unusual good looks and simple force of his presence weren't enough, his clothing was archaic and expensive. And of course, there was his mokomoko curled around him and trailing behind him. Rin was following him in her typical fashion - two steps back and one to the right.

Everyone was staring and taking note of him. Kagome prayed things wouldn't get any worse than stares.

Her hopes were futile.

Kagome led the group to the bus stop, as the metallurgist they were going to see was a bit too far to make walking expedient. It was early morning and they hadn't yet seen any vehicles.

When the bus suddenly pulled into view, Sesshoumaru leaped back in alarm as it headed for them and moved to shield Rin even as she scrambled behind him. Inuyasha blinked when he realized his brother intended fully to attack the metal monstrosity as it neared them. He quickly hurried over. "Sessh, relax, that's the bus.""It is coming right for us! What manner of beast is it? Do you mean to say it is not hostile?""Er...its not alive. And its not an animal. Its a cart that moves around by itself and carries people."

Sesshoumaru glared at the bus suspiciously as it stopped, twitching back to a defensive posture as he heard the whoosh of air releasing as the brakes were engaged. However, when Kagome and Inuyasha both got on the bus, and Rin looked at him questioningly and trustingly - after all, SHE would NEVER do something Sesshoumaru didn't think was a good idea - Sesshoumaru nodded slightly and climbed up the steps.

The ride wasn't very long, but it was clear that the taiyoukai was very tense, his senses straining to signal out potential threats in this strange environment. He unconsciously made sure Rin was safely behind him at all times.

The metallurgist's shop was noisy and full of overpowering smells, even to the humans. Inuyasha wrinkled his nose and sneezed several times. Sesshoumaru's expression was one of disdain and disgust, although he was far more subtle about it than his brother. Kagome found the shop's owner and waved.

The metalworker put down his soldering iron and took off his mask, standing up and brushing some dust free of his heavy apron. He walked over, initially focused on Kagome although his eyes gravitated to the figure of her taiyoukai companion. "Er...hi, you the girl I spoke with on the phone?"Kagome nodded politely. "Yes...and this is my friend with the problem."The man slowly raised an eyebrow as he regarded Sesshoumaru, his eyes trailing over the demon lord curiously and pausing when they settled on the collar. "Hm. Tilt your head back, let me see your neck."

Sesshoumaru's reaction was immediate and violent. He surged forward, snatching the man by the throat and slamming him against the wall, growling dangerously and baring his fangs. His claws may have been removed, but his voice still dripped venom. "This Sesshoumaru bares his throat for no one!"

Inuyasha blinked, catching on a moment too late. "Shit!"

Kagome tried very hard not to flail. "Sesshoumaru! Let him go! What t--" Inuyasha abruptly clamped a hand over her mouth to silence her before hurrying over to his brother and the panicking metallurgist.

"Sessh...let him go, you need him to help you. He's not challenging you, he just wants to see the collar..."Sesshoumaru eyed his brother dangerously but slowly let the man down before inclining his head slightly. The panicking man, however, wasn't terribly interested in examining the collar at the moment. Kagome blushed viciously and headed over to try and calm him down.

"Look...this is going to be impossible to explain...just...lets get this over with as quickly as possible and I promise, I'll make it worth your while. I brought...a lot more money than what you would typically charge."The man was obviously weighing greed against his nervous fear. He slowly relaxed, seeing as how Sesshoumaru didn't seem to be making any more moves to assault him. He grumbled but began digging through some of his tools. "Nn...fine...get your friend to take a seat and I'll be over in a minute."Kagome nodded and they headed across the room. Sesshoumaru scowled at the folding chair as if simply touching it was beneath him before reluctantly sitting down. Kagome edged closer to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha...what the hell was that all about...?"Inuyasha flushed. "Heh. In canine youkai...hell, even in canines in your world...showing throat is a sign of submission. As you can imagine, thats not something that'd sit well with my brother even under normal circumstances..."

"Oh..." Kagome blushed, then frowned. "Hmm. So that collar is...extra degrading, isn't it..." Inuyasha nodded solemnly.

Having found what he was looking for, the metalsmith walked over. "So you're tellin' me that you somehow wound up with some highly charged shock collar stuck around your neck...that's permanently on...and I have to cut it off. And if I touch it, I'll probably get fried."

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed slightly but he nodded once. He did not like this human's irreverent, disdainful tone.

"...Man, you're a weird one. I don't even want to know what kind of shit you're into to end up in this situation."

Inuyasha grabbed the man before Sesshoumaru could, sensing his brother's volatile mood. "Look, man. We're paying you out the ass. Just do the job and don't ask questions. My brother's got a temper and I don't want to see anyone get hurt."

The man grumbled before donning some heavy rubber gloves and untying the straps of the collar's wrapping. He examined it carefully before nodding. "I should be able to get it off. I have some laser cutting tools. I'll just have to go slow so I don't burn you. This is kinda...y'know, fucking dangerous.""This Sesshoumaru will heal if you burn me. Just get the damn thing off," the taiyoukai growled impatiently.

It proved to be a more difficult task than they had previously thought, and the going was incredibly slow. Sesshoumaru displayed perfect restraint and never so much as twitched. When the outer edge of the collar was breached, a violent sizzle of blue-white sparks crackled along the exposed edges - apparently, the collar's power was still very much intact.

The metal proved inflexible and so two cuts had to be made. When the second was finally finished, the metalworker very carefully separated the two viciously crackling halves. With the current broken, they finally sparked their last and fell quiescent.

The collar was off.

Sesshoumaru clamped his hand to his neck with an audible noise of relief, his eyes closing. He felt a sudden surge as his youki coiled within him, no longer sealed off and inaccessible. He eyed the metalsmith reluctantly. "You...have this Sesshoumaru's gratitude." He stood up, eyeing the half-circles of rune-carved metal laying on the floor, a snarl twitching his lips.

Kagome paid the man - paid him extremely well for both the work and to keep his mouth shut - and headed back to the group. They walked out of the building to head back to her apartment. "So...will you be...staying for a while?""No," came the immediate response from Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha sighed.

"We can't. Got a lot of business to take care of back home.""Rin.""Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?""You will remain here a while longer. It is not yet safe for you to return until my enemy has been dealt with." Rin looked a little crestfallen but nodded anyway.

"Of course, Sesshoumaru-sama. When your enemy is gone, can I come back home too?""Yes, Rin." The girl beamed.

"Alright! Do you mind terribly that I'm staying with you, Lady Kagome?"Kagome chuckled. "Not at all, its like having a sister!"Sesshoumaru reached into a fold of his kimono and withdrew a leather pouch. He tossed it to Kagome, who scrambled to catch it before it dropped.

"What is...oh!" Kagome peered into the bag. It was filled with ancient gold coins, worth a small fortune. "Sesshoumaru, I can't acc--""This Sesshoumaru does not accept charity and will not remain in debt to a human."

Kagome recognized in Sesshoumaru the same stubborn defiance she was used to seeing in Inuyasha, albeit a more refined, confident defiance. She also detected the very faint undertones of a threat - he was not about to take no for an answer. "Well....thank you very much, Sesshoumaru."

The taiyoukai didn't bother to respond, merely looked away, focusing his attention elsewhere. The bus ride back to Kagome's apartment was much less dramatic and more peaceful than the one earlier that same day.

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

Freedom. Oh, glorious freedom...

For the first time since he had first been collared, Sesshoumaru finally felt as if he had escaped. With the collar off, the livid red scar of Tsetsukosei's bite was far more obvious against the taiyoukai's pale skin, but at the moment, Sesshoumaru did not care. He felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from him. And now, reunited with his mokomoko and in full possession of his youki and Rin at his side, he almost felt normal.

Almost.

The dark whispers in the back of his mind continued to reinforce his doubts and his lack of self-worth. After all, was not the bite scar as clear a mark of subjugation as the collar had been? All that saw him would know that he had been reduced to another's whore.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!"Sesshoumaru blinked out of his dark thoughts, glancing at his ward. "Yes, Rin?"

"You have to come see this, Lord Sesshoumaru!"

Sesshoumaru allowed the girl to lead the way across Kagome's apartment with the resigned look of someone who has been led to see great and wonderful things - in Rin's opinion - many, many times. Rin led him to the kitchen and pointed to the sink. "Look!"The taiyoukai peered at the metal basin and slowly arched one delicate eyebrow. Rin beamed and flipped the handle, turning on the water. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened and he couldn't help himself but take a few steps closer.

"And look, I can make it warm too!" Rin demonstrated her mastery of the sink to Sesshoumaru. The taiyoukai struggled to hide his intrigue. Inuyasha and Kagome both suppressed smirks and snickers.

Rin proceeded to show Sesshoumaru the further awes of indoor plumbing - shower included, electrical lighting, the refrigerator, the television, central air, the radio, reclining chairs, the microwave, canned food, telephones, mass-published books, alarm clocks - an endless list of common modern technology and objects. Sesshoumaru forgot to be stoic and disinterested, which delighted Rin to no end and only made her that much more excited about revealing the secrets of this new world to him.

Even the food baffled him - Kagome had food from all parts of the world, many of which he'd never even heard of. He eyed a can of pineapple skeptically, sniffing at it. "This is edible?""No, the food is inside! I like these." Rin produced a can of peaches and triumphantly presented it to her Lord. Sesshoumaru picked up the can and gave another sniff, although it proved as ineffective as the first. It revealed nothing but the tang of metal and the faint odor of the glue holding the colorful label to the can.

"How do humans eat this?" He frowned at the can. Surely his fangs could rip through it, but that didn't explain how this made it simple for a human. How did they get the food in a metal shell anyway?...Especially since this world seemed to be all about convenience. It seemed a terribly difficult and impractical way of storing food. How did they keep it from rotting, too? Fruit didn't last long once it was picked!

Kagome was straining very hard not to giggle. Inuyasha nudged her to keep her quiet, content to sit with her and watch his brother be fascinated. He'd not been much different when he first came here.

"Watch!" Rin beamed and plucked the can from Sesshoumaru, bouncing over to the can opener and inserting the can. The little machine whirred, neatly taking the lid off of the can and holding it aloft with a little magnet. Sesshoumaru blinked, his mind whirling with questions. He was distracted from his thoughts, however, when Rin gave him a bowl of peaches to try. She then dug into something she called a 'freezer'. He had to touch it to believe it was as cold as she said.

Soon the taiyoukai had eaten bits and pieces of many different things he'd never heard of. He especially liked the 'ice cream' Rin had given him.

Inuyasha snickered a bit and nudged Kagome. "Those two are gonna eat you out of house and home with their experimenting."

Kagome snorted. "Inuyasha, the amount of money I can get from that bag of ancient gold your brother gave me could restock this place ten million times over. Let them have their fun."

"Eh, they can have all the fun they want. He just better not eat all my ice cream."

Sesshoumaru's hearing was apparently sharper than Inuyasha thought.

"This Sesshoumaru has claimed this box of iced cream. You shall have to find another." Sesshoumaru gave his spoon a satisfied lick. He liked this 'spoon'. Much easier to use than chopsticks.Inuyasha blinked. "Oh, like hell you did!"

"Can Rin have some, Sesshoumaru-sama?""Yes, Rin.""Thank you!" Rin beamed adoringly at Sesshoumaru before taking a bite.

Inuyasha squinted at his brother. "Gimme that.""No. It is mine.""And Rin's.""It is mine, but I allow you to have some."Rin nodded in agreement before showing Sesshoumaru the wonder that was a pressurized can of whipped cream. Distracted by this new wonderful treat, and how well it went with his ice cream, Sesshoumaru almost missed his brother's attack.

Inuyasha found himself snagged mid-pounce by Sesshoumaru's mokomoko and held aloft. He snarled and kicked and tried to sink his teeth into the furry pseudo-appendage, but to no avail. "Hey! Lemme go!"

Sesshoumaru glanced at his brother, a spoonful of half-melted chocolate near his mouth. "No. You will try to take my iced cream."

"I'm the Lord now and I say you have to give it to me," Inuyasha declared with a smirk. Sesshoumaru paused, considering that as he savored a bite.

"It is true, you ARE Lord of the Western Lands."

Inuyasha nodded. "Damn straight."Sesshoumaru smirked. "But we aren't in the Western Lands, so you have no right to order me. Would you like some more, Rin?"

Inuyasha howled and continued his futile struggle, and Kagome couldn't help but laugh until she almost cried.