InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 63

Pride (In the Name of Love) 63 / ??
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 - Memorial Day Weekend - OVER!!! Oh, thank you dear gods and powers that be... working alone at the only place open near the express way overnight...not so much fun. Lol...I'm so sore...so glad I have the next three days off after tonight. I may miss an update in there - going to spend some time having a WoW LAN party at a friends. Woo! (IF anyone plays and is curious, I play alliance on Perenolde - Aiune or Briannlei.)

Sorry it's short, it's the best my exhaustion will allow for. Need sleep.
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"I do not believe we have as much to worry about as you seem to think, Kanjiro," Shirizu said calmly. The four cardinal lords were seated at a square table and discussing the matter of Jormandar and his threat.

Toga was doing his level best not to fidget and twitch. He had no patience for this meeting right now - he was far too worried about what may or may not be going on back at his castle. He sighed inwardly and forced himself to focus, his eyes flicking between his three peers.

Shimaku, the Bandit King and Lord of the South, was a serpent youkai. He was intelligent and treacherous. His word was good, but one still had to be very careful when dealing with him. He was an expert at finding loopholes and cunning ways around binding oaths. He was dressed head to foot in thick black leathers. His hair was a deep shade of green. He wore it short and spiked, save for two long sections that hung, braided, on either side of his face. The tips of each strand were a goldish-yellow. His slitted hazel and green eyes shone with devious intelligence. At present, however, he was silent.

Shirizu, Lady of the North, was a beautiful creature. She was a bird youkai - though of what type, Toga had never been entirely sure. She was an elegant, graceful creature and had been in power almost as long as he himself had been. She was well loved by all her kingdom and had remained in power despite being so kind due to a fiercely devoted army and a population willing to lay down their lives to protect her. Dazzling sapphires complimented her silvery gown and her waist-length fall of blue-black hair. There had been a time Toga had even considered courting her, but Shirizu had made it clear to all that she was not interested in taking a mate, though the interest had flattered her.

Then there was the Eastern Lord, Kanjiro. He was a slender, willowy creature - a skilled fighter and fast on his feet. He wore his long, tawny hair in a tail. Sharp green eyes caught every detail and filed them away for future reference. At the moment, however, those eyes were trained on Toga. His tone was scathing, a biting hiss that almost would have sounded more appropriate coming from the snake youkai to his right. "No? You're wrong, Shirizu. We have plenty to worry about, and all because HE is too damn stubborn. One life for the life of his entire kingdom?"

Toga's voice was low and dangerous, trembling from the strain of forcing words through his growl. "The one life you speak of belongs to my SON, Kanjiro."

"You have another son. You would really let your whole land...and likely ours, as well...die to save one miserable wretch? He is broken anyways!"

Toga's growl was much more evident now, and his claws were digging deeply into the table. Shirizu frowned. "Kanjiro..."

"No! Too long I have let him and his son have their way and not said anything. You are a selfish bastard, Toga!"

Toga snarled and tried desperately to keep his composure, not wanting the neko to get to him. "I will not give up my son...either of them...for any reason. I would die to protect either of them from harm. I have, in fact. If it brings about a war, so be it."

"So that damnable Sesshoumaru is worth more than everything else combined? What, afraid you could not find another little fucktoy so loyal and obedient? Does he please you that damn much? Does he cream like his mother when you use him like the whore he is?!"

Shirizu and Shimaku caught Toga in mid-flight. Kanjiro's eyes widened in horrified shock at the horribly loud sound of Toga's teeth snapping together a hairsbreadth from his throat. The inuyoukai's eyes were blazing crimson, and it was all the other two could do to hold him off of Kanjiro. Toga's roar seemed to shake the very foundation of the building.
Kanjiro wanted nothing more than to flee but his body wouldn't move until Shirizu's voice snapped at him. "Get out of here, Kanjiro."

Toga had stopped attempting to rip free of his captors as some semblance of coherency bled back into him, but he was still trembling with the urge to rip the neko apart. His eyes were crimson death, fixated on Kanjiro. His lips were pulled back, baring his fangs in a feral snarl, and his fingers were flexing as if eager to gouge his claws into flesh.

Kanjiro made a hasty retreat from the room. Shirizu sighed and slowly released her grip on Toga, glad that he had such tremendous restraint. She knew as well as Shimaku did that the inuyoukai could have killed them both if he really had a mind to.

"I...am sorry for his behavior."

Toga's words were a clipped, vicious snarl. "If he speaks one word against me or mine again, I will kill him. I...must retire for now. If I do not calm myself, I may kill him anyways. Despite his accusations, I do not want a war....with the wretch Jormandar OR the eastern lands." So saying, Toga stalked stiffly out of the room.

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

Shimaku slid into Kanjiro's room and eyed the neko youkai skeptically. His voice was slick and silky, although heavy with incredulity. "What in the name of all that is holy would you do that for, Kanjiro?"

The visibly shaken cat demon scowled at Shimaku. "Hn...what do you care, snake?"

"Next time you pull a stupid stunt like that, neko, I will not make an effort to save you. What in the blue bloody hell could you have been thinking? Everyone knows your hatred for Sesshoumaru, but have you no sense of self preservation?"

"This war will come, Shimaku."

"Be that as it may...to insult his son, and so outrageously?"

"It is true. I have sources...the twisted bastard is blinded by his sick lust for his own child and cannot see the good of his kingdom."

Shimaku rolled his eyes. "Alright, even supposing Toga is bedding his own son...do you not think that so vile an insult from you does not warrant his aggression? Inuyoukai have their faults, but disloyalty is far from one of them. He was well within his rights to kill you in defense of his honor."

Kanjiro bared his teeth in a snarl. "I have my reasons. And I am still alive, aren't I?...There are two sides to the coming war, Shimaku...the side he is on and the one I am. I am willing to have you with me. You should not make the mistake of siding against me."

"Openly opposing the Inu no Taisho is tantamount to suicide."

"Not when you have the proper allies, my serpentine friend."

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

Shirizu followed Toga and sat next to him silently. She could see the tense rage playing through him still, in the way his muscles were taut and corded, the tick in his jaw, the visible pulse in his veins. Kanjiro did not know how close to death he had truly come.

"Toga...I am sorry. If I had known this meeting would come to this, I never would have agreed to it myself. Kanjiro is a loathsome wretch. His opinions are not ours."

"What if he's right?"

Shirizu blinked, rather taken aback. "Pardon?""What if I am being selfish? To defend one life over the lives of all in my kingdom...oh, do not mistake me. I do not regret it in any way, nor will I ever consider changing my stance. But is it such a selfish thing?"

"It is never selfish to defend that which you love. I am sorry that he made such accusations against you, though...I am sure they are u--"

"He's right."

Shirizu blinked. "But...what?...how can...I...I don't understand."

"I AM in an intimate relationship with my Sesshoumaru. I do not regret that, either, despite the opinions of others. I had, however, elected to keep it secret to spare him and myself the bother of the inevitable rumors and insults that will come of it. It troubles me that he found out. None outside of those closest to me know anything of it. What of you, Shirizu? Do you think less of me because of it?"

Shirizu was silent for a moment before responding. "Does he make you happy? Is he happy?"

"Yes to both, as far as I am aware."

"Then no, I do not think less of you for it. In fact, I am happy for you. Too long were you alone, Toga. You were alone for what seemed an eternity...had a brief relationship with his mother....and then were alone for so long caring for him. If you found a way to be happy, and to melt that boy's cold heart...more power to you."

"He isn't...you know. He's not so frigid as everyone assumes. Nor was..." Toga sighed heavily. "He was taken by an old enemy of mine, a dragon youkai, in defense of his ward. While in captivity, the beast forced him into many things. He was not a willing participant. All the rumors are wholly false."

"You need not explain this to me. I did not believe them any more than I believed the strange missive that came to me detailing his supposed sordid relationship."

"Thank you, Shiri. It means a lot to me to have you understand. You must know that in doing this...you will not endear yourself to Kanjiro. The gods only know what Shimaku will do."

"If it can bring you happiness, Toga, I will not only stay out of your way but openly stand by your side and put down those that oppose you. Now lay on your stomach, relax...let me get some of the tension out of your muscles. While I work, you can tell me how it is that you have come to live again."

Toga did as he was asked, a slight smile twitching his lips. It was good to have a friend.