InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Taisho's Darling ❯ Breaking Loose ( Chapter 16 )

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Disclaimer: I don't own these marvelous characters; they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I merely torture them at will and put them in uncomfortable situations whenever possible.

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Chapter 16

Breaking Loose

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Kagome tried to curl into a tight ball, only to discover her shaking limbs would not respond. She sat in the fountain on the mansion's grounds, wanting to disappear altogether. Slut! She shivered as the water of the fountain soaked through her clothing, the chill seeping through to her bones. Demon's whore! Filth!

He had threatened her, and then he had disappeared into the night. Bitch! You enjoy this, don't you? Onigumo had already taken everything from her a long time ago, or so she had thought. Tonight, he had proved that there was still something left to take - her peace of mind.

She'd never be safe again. No matter where she was, Onigumo would find her. How long had he been stalking her, tracking her as if she were some wounded animal? Tell me how much you like this! You love it when I hurt you, don't you, my feisty little piece of trash?

She wanted to throw up some more, but there was absolutely nothing left in her stomach to lose. Meanwhile, the fountain washed over her, washing away the traces of Onigumo's scent on her body. She wanted to wash away the memory of Onigumo's touch, the memory of the degrading acts he had performed all those years ago, but nothing seemed to make her feel clean.

Kagome decided she would try to stumble through this somehow, try to force her memories back down into the dark part of her soul. She'd done it before; she could do it again. She couldn't allow these torturous thoughts to stay at the surface; they would cause Sesshomaru endless distress.

Sesshomaru. As his name fell in a whispered plea from her lips, Kagome realized with startling clarity just how much she had come to depend on the aloof youkai. She needed Sesshomaru, needed him as much as she had unknowingly needed him on the day he'd rescued her from a death caused by a fading slave bond. She needed to have him hold her and tell her she was safe, that everything was going to be all right. If he told her everything would be okay, then she would trust him, for Sesshomaru would never lie to her.

……

"Young Master," Bankotsu knocked gently on Sesshomaru's door. The inuyoukai yanked the door open and scowled at the guard. "My apologies, but a situation has arisen that needs your attention."

The guard seemed terribly uneasy, causing Sesshomaru to wonder what in the world could have happened. With a sigh brought on by fatigue and a frustrating night, Sesshomaru followed Bankotsu outside the mansion. "Ahead," the guard pointed. "Kagome is lying in the fountain."

"Looks like someone had too much to drink tonight," Sesshomaru growled. All his anger from earlier in the evening rose to the surface. "Bankotsu, why are you bothering me with this? Go find her companions; they're undoubtedly responsible for her current condition."

Bankotsu grabbed him by the arm, preventing him from leaving. "Her aura is greatly disturbed. Something is terribly wrong, and I dare not bring anyone near her. Her miko powers are very unstable." He motioned toward the faint pink sparks popping around the edge of the fountain.

"Leave us, Bankotsu," Sesshomaru grumbled. "I will take care of the matter." He stalked over to the fountain, intending to shake some sense into the drunken woman.

Her face seemed pleasant enough, but her eyes stopped him cold. Kagome had a hollow, empty look in her blue orbs, making Sesshomaru feel as if he were falling into some abyss. Bankotsu was right; there was something horribly wrong with the girl.

"Kagome," he called softly, wanting her to focus on him. When she didn't reply, he crawled into the fountain next to her. "Kagome?" He ignored the cold water wetting his clothing and gently coaxed her into a sitting position.

"Don't touch me, I'm dirty," Kagome whispered brokenly. She buried her face into her hands as more pink sparks fell from her fingertips. "You can't clean up the Disposal trash," she continued.

"It will be all right, Higurashi Kagome," Sesshomaru told her. The words came out of nowhere, but somehow, Sesshomaru just knew it was the right thing to say. He carefully took Kagome's unresisting form into his arms and cradled her face against his broad shoulder. "It will be all right, I promise. I don't know how, but it will be all right."

He removed her from the fountain and carried her up to the room they now shared. They hadn't spent a single night apart since she had decided to trust him, although keeping the relationship platonic was becoming more difficult every passing day. Her physical presence was slowly driving him mad with need, but Sesshomaru dared not act on his desires. Kagome was not his intended, nor was she emotionally ready for such a step.

Sesshomaru didn't know what Kagome was seeing within her mind, but it couldn't be pleasant. Her eyes remained blank as he removed her wet clothing in order to wrap her in a silken robe and tuck her beneath the warm blankets on the bed. She gave a sharp cry when he let go of her, then dragged him in beside her as soon as he rid himself of his own dripping clothes. The ebony-haired beauty trembled within his arms, and he was certain it was from shock and not the cold.

With a soft sigh, Kagome quickly fell asleep against him. The moment her breathing pattern changed, the emotional bond which had been absent earlier that evening returned in full strength. Sesshomaru found himself almost overwhelmed with the flood of pain. The images and sounds of her abused life as a child were at the forefront, dredged from the darkest pathways of her memory. Something had happened to Kagome tonight, something that forced every hurtful event to the surface of her mind. What in the hell was going on? And why hadn't he been able to feel the bond when she was awake?

He nuzzled the side of her neck and face, his primal instincts coming to the forefront. He couldn't erase her pain; he could only give her comfort. As she nestled against him, seeking to bury herself in the warm caresses of their mutual bond, Sesshomaru continued to chant softly in her ear. Over and over he whispered to her, telling her everything would be all right. Even in her sleep, Kagome seemed to relax as if she believed him. Perhaps if he said it often enough, Sesshomaru thought, he might come to believe it as well.

……

"I would have thought you'd jump at the offer," Toto-sai reflected. He seemed to be disappointed in her. "Don't you understand, Kaede? I'm offering you freedom!"

"That freedom comes with a heavy price," Kaede sighed. She leaned against the handsome male sitting next to her in the sand and rested her head on his broad shoulder. "To gain my freedom, I must leave all that I love, Toto-sai. Thou art asking a difficult thing, indeed. Must I make the decision right now?"

"Well, according to the rules, yes. You see, if you decide to stay in Japan, I have to erase your memory of this night. It would be far too dangerous to allow you to return to your master with this kind of knowledge." Toto-sai picked up a nearby pebble and tossed it into the pounding surf. "Of course, I won't erase all of your memories of tonight's events," he admitted. "You'll remember having a really lousy date."

Kaede frowned. "I suppose this will all be as a dream to me, then," she sighed. "Mine answer is nay, Toto-sai. I have made promises to others, promises I must keep," she said, thinking of her vow to Miroku. "I promised to be a mother and grandmother to those who are children to me, and I must remain in Japan in order to fulfill that oath. Forgive me." She hung her head in sorrow.

"Ah, don't mention it," Toto-sai grunted. He didn't seem overly disappointed with her answer. It occurred to Kaede that he must lead a lonely existence, watching those he befriended cross through to another place, only to return to his mountain home alone every night.

"Toto-sai, how didst thou know I was enslaved?" Kaede asked. The question had been plaguing her for quite a few minutes. "I have been most careful in my dealings with others; thou shouldst not have discovered this about me."

"I've been searching for Inu-sama's slaves for some time," the elemental youkai responded. "I'm pretty good at spotting enslaved humans, if I do say so myself. In your case, there were a number of hints. For instance, your archaic speech is a telling sign of a long life-span. Since you're human, that made you highly suspect. You should ask Taisho for help with that; he has a pretty useful spell that would change your speech within a matter of days."

"I had not perceived any danger," Kaede admitted. "I will request Taisho-sama's assistance when the opportunity arises." She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her head against her knees.

"Will you continue to search for a mate?" Toto-sai asked her.

"'Tis the best plan," Kaede told him. "A youkai mate's bond will release me from slavery, yet allow me to remain near my loved ones. I suppose I shall tell Kagura to update my picture, though."

"You'll find it easier to get a mate if you drop the old lady disguise," Toto-sai agreed. He studied her face in the moonlight. "You don't sound too thrilled with the idea. You're in love with someone, aren't you?"

A guilty look crossed her face. "Aye, Toto-sai, but he is as unattainable to me as the moon hanging from the sky above us. I must put aside my feelings for him." With a sigh, she stood and brushed the sand from her dress. "The hour grows late, and I should return to the mansion."

The weapon-smith stood to join her. They walked hand in hand along the beach, both lost in their own thoughts. "Kaede," Toto-sai halted their progress. He gave her a boyish grin. "You know, I'm growing old. My magic isn't what it used to be, and sometimes my memory-erasing spells don't work like they should."

Kaede narrowed her eyes at the mischief evident in Toto-sai's voice. "And I suppose thou art feeling particularly weak tonight?" she asked, suppressing a smile. "Of course, these mistakes do happen. And it could be particularly useful to have some outside help, especially during these times of civil unrest. Perhaps if I retained my memories of this night, I might be of assistance to thee. For instance, I could see how the other slaves at the mansion would feel about the opportunity to gain their freedom," she suggested.

He laughed then, slapping her heartily on the back. "I knew there was a reason I liked you so much, girlie! You don't mind bending the rules every now and then, do you?" They resumed their hike.

"Nay, Toto-sai, I do not mind, for sometimes 'tis better to beg forgiveness than seek permission. But thou must promise me one thing," Kaede said as they stepped through the portal. "'Tis not a hard task I ask of thee," she assured him.

"Anything, just name it."

"Cease calling me 'girlie.' 'Tis demeaning, especially to a woman of my years."

"How about 'Toots,' can I call you that?"

"Toto-sai…"

……

"Kaede, wait a moment. I'll walk you to the door." Toto-sai climbed out of the taxi with effort. He'd returned to his aged form before they'd left his home and persuaded Kaede to do the same. As he had pointed out, their disguises drew far less attention to the two of them than their natural faces.

"That is unnecessary, Toto-sai. The grounds of the mansion are safe enough," Kaede informed him. "I would like to thank thee for an entertaining and informative evening, however."

He ignored her and linked her arm within his own. "Nonsense, a proper youkai always escorts his female to the door. Besides, I need to ask you something, and I don't want that cab driver to overhear."

They stopped before the massive front door. "What is it?" Kaede questioned him. She looked suspiciously at the flask Toto-sai had retrieved from his pocket. "That's not the same horrible liquid thou gavest me earlier, is it?"

"Oh, no," Toto-sai assured her. "This has a wonderful taste. You need to drink it; otherwise you might suffer side-effects from the other potion."

"I see," Kaede answered slowly as she took the flask from his hand. She was about to tip it down her throat when Toto-sai stopped her. "Now what?" she asked.

"Don't drink that out here; wait until right before you climb into bed. But don't wait too long," he instructed her. "It's important that you drink all of it."

Toto-sai suddenly looked nervous. "Kaede, I haven't asked you my question. You said you were still going to look for a mate, right? Did you have anyone in particular in mind?"

"Er," Kaede answered, uncertain as to where this conversation was heading.

"Would you consider allowing me to court you?" the fire demon asked in a nervous rush. He scuffed a toe against the walkway, not daring to look into her eyes. "Not that you don't have plenty of suitors already, a beautiful woman like you…"

"Thou knowest I cannot give thee my heart, Toto-sai." Kaede smiled sadly as she reached out to clasp his hand. "If thou art willing to accept something less than love, then I give thee permission. Truly, I did enjoy my time with thee tonight."

"Maybe I can change your heart," Toto-sai said smugly. He leaned in next to her face. "Put your head down for a moment, Kaede."

She complied, and was surprised to hear a rustle of shrubbery. She felt his fingers tuck a fragrant blossom behind her ear. "Pretty flower for a pretty girl," Toto-sai whispered. "I'd kiss you, but you might not recover from the shock. My 'senile old idiot' disguise is pretty overpowering, isn't it?"

Kaede gave a light tinkle of laughter. "Nay, 'tis no worse than mine," she assured him. "How about this? Thou must picture me as I really am, and I'll just think of that marvelous-looking youkai I saw before me earlier," she whispered back.

A gentle pair of lips pressed against hers. She was about to kiss him back when they were interrupted by a cough. Kaede stepped back to see Inu-Yasha standing in the open doorway with a look of utter disgust on his face. Struggling to contain her laughter, Kaede saluted Toto-sai with a peck on the cheek and entered the mansion.

"Goodnight, Toto-sai," she called out. "And goodnight to thee as well, Inu-Yasha. Close the door, please. Thou art letting the night air inside the house."

……

Inu-Yasha blinked several times, unable to erase the image burned into his brain. Catching Kaede and that ancient weapon-smith in the middle of a game of tonsil-boxing was not something he'd ever wanted to witness. First Miroku, now Toto-sai…the old hag was certainly getting around these days.

"I remember you," Toto-sai said in his raspy voice. "You're one of those idiot pups of Taisho's." He scratched his head. "Somehow I thought you'd be better looking. Must have taken after your mother's side of the family…"

"It's time for you to leave, ya old geezer," Inu-Yasha growled at him. "Aren't you out past your curfew?" He moved to close the door in the decrepit youkai's face.

"One more thing, runt," Toto-sai told him, sticking his foot in the doorjamb. "In about five minutes, Kaede's going to be drunk as hell. You might want to remember to give her some aspirin in the morning; she'll need it for the hangover."

"What?" the hanyou asked, confused. His question remained unanswered, as Toto-sai had shuffled off into the night. Inu-Yasha shook his head; things were getting weirder by the minute. He closed the door and made his way to the kitchen for a late-night snack, cursing as he slipped in a puddle of water that had mysteriously appeared in the entryway.

……

Kaede dropped her disguise the moment she passed through the barrier leading to her room. Humming, she drew the flower from her hair and held it to her nose, breathing in the light fragrance. It was ridiculous, really, she decided as she tucked the flower back into her hair. She hadn't known a male's touch in centuries, and now she found herself in the arms of two very handsome youkai within a twenty-four hour time period.

Not that she would allow Toto-sai's charm to go to her head, she thought with a frown. The demon was a master of deception. Only someone with a lot of experience could so effectively play the part of a senile fool. He'd certainly had her convinced, right up through that second bottle of sake over dinner.

She could smile now, looking back on what should have been the date from hell. Instead, her evening had turned into something exciting. Kaede had no doubt that if she permitted Toto-sai to court her, he'd manage to surprise her often.

Moving about quietly in the dark so as not to awaken her sleeping master, Kaede slipped out of her clothing. She automatically reached for the comfortable sleeping robes she normally wore but stopped as her hands touched the fabric. Suddenly, the robes seemed unappealing, like something an old lady would wear. Granted, she was an old lady, but she didn't look like one. So why should she dress like one?

Acting on an impulse, Kaede grabbed the piece of lingerie Koharu had given to her on her last birthday. It was black and made of silk, the simple sheath falling in a graceful line to her mid-thigh. In short, it was both comfortable and sexy. She slipped it over her head, blushing at the thought of wearing something so frivolous.

With a start, Kaede remembered the potion she was supposed to drink. Toto-sai had told her not to wait too long. Popping the cork, Kaede quickly downed the contents of the small flask.

The flask slipped from her grip and bounced along the floor, thankfully not breaking into a thousand pieces. Kaede leaned over to pick it up and found herself on her knees. How did I get down here? she mused. Her legs felt wobbly as she stood. She was definitely up past her bedtime.

The room seemed very hazy all of a sudden. She remembered she hadn't yet asked Miroku to watch over Taisho for the rest of the night. It was his turn to play nurse-maid; she deserved a break for all her hard work. The image of Miroku wearing a nurse's outfit sprung into her mind, and for some odd reason, this struck her as particularly hilarious.

Stifling her fit of giggles, Kaede weaved her way toward the bed. The mattress seemed so roomy and inviting…surely that tall demon would share it with her? A loud hiccup escaped her mouth, leaving behind a strong taste of something syrupy-sweet. What in the world did Toto-sai give me to drink? she wondered as she crawled beneath the covers and promptly fell asleep.

……

"Inu-Yasha, get your claws out of my refrigerator!" Sango scolded.

Startled, Inu-Yasha jumped, hitting his head on the handle of the upper compartment. With his nose stuck in the fridge smelling the various contents, the hanyou had been too preoccupied to notice her approach. "I'm hungry," he complained.

"You're always hungry," Sango retorted, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him away from the refrigerator. "You can't just rummage through and take whatever you want. Some of these items are intended for other meals. If you want something to munch on, raid the snack cabinet in the pantry."

"Shippo already cleaned out the good stuff," Inu-Yasha grumped. He stomach growled loudly, as if in agreement. "What about this?" he asked, reaching around Sango to remove a container of chocolate pudding.

"Only if you share," Sango told him, grabbing two large spoons from the nearby drawer. They both sat down on the kitchen floor and propped their backs against the cabinets. "I guess growing bodies need sustenance," she giggled as stuck her spoon into the chocolate goo. "If I keep eating like this, I'm going to be as big as a house."

Inu-Yasha ignored the eating utensil she had given him and dipped his finger into the container. "Tastes better this way," he said, laughing at Sango's indignant expression. A feeling of mischief came over him, and he grabbed Sango's finger and dragged it through the pudding. "See?" he taunted, bringing her chocolate-laden finger to her mouth. As she parted her lips to eat the pudding, Inu-Yasha purposely bumped her hand into her face.

"You - you!" Sango sputtered. Chocolate pudding now covered her upper lip and the tip of her nose. She made a flicking motion with her fingers, splattering Inu-Yasha's face with tiny droplets of pudding.

Inu-Yasha responded by scooping a large glob of the dessert onto his index finger and advancing toward her face, causing Sango to scoot backwards across the floor. Her back met with resistance when she reached the corner of the kitchen. "Do it, and you'll be cooking your own breakfast for the rest of your life," she warned the hanyou breathlessly.

"Is that a threat, Sango?" he whispered huskily. This game was rapidly changing, his playful intentions undone by her proximity. Up close like this, her scent was overpowering his senses, and her open challenge to his dominating posture sent his youkai blood racing. The age-old ritual of advance and retreat called to him, demanding he notice this strong female before him.

At this point, there was still a chance he could have halted the game and returned himself to sanity. All bets were off, however, when Sango chose a course of action that showed she was enjoying this as much as he was. Eyeing his chocolate-covered finger with an evil grin, Sango popped the digit into her mouth and licked it clean. "Can't use a weapon you don't possess," she taunted.

His thin strand of control snapped. "You missed a spot," he growled, pulling her against him in a rough embrace. His tongue flicked across her face, tasting the sweet combination that was chocolate pudding and Sango. She moaned softly, sending heated blood roaring through his veins.

"Inu-Yasha, I - " Sango gasped. He silenced her by covering her mouth with his own. The container of pudding was knocked over, chocolate slowly oozing out the side. The mess went completely unnoticed by the couple locked in a passionate embrace on the kitchen floor.

……

"So this is where you live? Nice place," Hiten commented to Nazuna as he admired the moonlit landscape. "Don't tell me the two of you live in this huge place all by yourselves," he continued.

Koharu snickered from where she and Koga were walking ahead of them. "Of course not, silly. We share the place with a few other…um…"

"Roommates!" Nazuna finished for her. "We have a lot of roommates. It keeps the living expenses down," she added lamely. "Would the two of you like to come in for a drink or something?" she asked quickly, trying to change the subject at hand.

"Sure," Koga answered, pulling Koharu's cuddly form closer to him as Nazuna unlocked the door and they entered the mansion. "We won't be disturbing your roommates, will we?" he asked softly.

"Not if we're quiet," Koharu winked. "You'll just have to talk in a low voice and read my lips." She pouted her lips up and Koga swooped down on the offer.

"Come on, the kitchen's this way." Nazuna motioned them forward. "That's funny, I thought Sango always turned the light off before she went to bed," she mentioned, noticing the light shining through the swinging door. "Oh well, I guess she's entitled to forget a few things."

"Did - did you just say 'Sango'?" Hiten stammered, coming to a complete halt. Koga had stopped as well, and his face had turned a ghastly shade of puce. "This Sango isn't a really scary pregnant woman with a mean left hook, is she?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Nazuna reassured him with a wave of her hand. Hiten and Koga relaxed. "Sango's not the least bit scary, unless you're up to no good. And she hits people with her right hand, not her left," Nazuna continued.

"Uh, Nazuna!" Hiten swallowed nervously as Koga sent him a desperate look. "There's something we need to tell you and Koharu. Can we talk for a minute?"

"Sure," Nazuna agreed. She held open the swinging door leading into the kitchen. "What's the matter? You act like something's going to come and get you." She chuckled. "There's nothing here but - oh, excuse me, I didn't know anyone was in here!" she gasped as Inu-Yasha and Sango tore themselves apart.

"Oh, er, we, ah…" Sango began.

"We, um…we dropped the bowl of pudding!" Inu-Yasha broke in, jumping to his feet. He reached out a hand to help Sango rise. "We'll…just get something to clean this up…"

Sango, however, had noticed the two youkai standing behind the girls. "Oh, are these your dates?" she asked. As recognition hit her, Sango's expression quickly changed from one of friendly welcome to absolute fury. "Hiten? Koga?" Her low voice promised a slow and painful death for the unlucky pair.

"Oh, you know them?" Koharu asked in her sweet voice. "We've been dating for a couple of weeks. We met them at Club Lavanda that night you went to see Inu-Yasha."

……

The pale moonlight fell over the calm landscape below. For once, the city was quiet. Inside the police station downtown, the night officers worked methodically over their reports, enjoying the rare absence of rioting and mayhem. A short distance away, the youkai prime minister slept soundly, undisturbed by reports of scandal and corruption.

Everyone seemed to be in on the act. Noisy birds remained silent, no fights broke out in the bars, and neighborhood dogs ceased their barking. Beneath the soft glow of the moon, the world basked in a welcoming love. Mankind and youkai everywhere were at peace.

Everywhere, that is, except at the Taisho mansion. While all appeared quiet on the neatly landscaped grounds, appearances were deceiving. For inside the spacious kitchen, that bastion of hearth and home, all hell was breaking loose.

……

A/N: Oh my, things are definitely heating up at Taisho's mansion. I wonder what Miroku, Kanna, Kagura and Kohaku are doing at the moment?

Thanks for reading and reviewing! I love my readers! (glomps them in a big cyber hug) In a purely non-threatening way, of course…And thanks to my tireless beta, TitianWren!