InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Taming the unruly ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: AKZJ1994

The woman's body was scorching hot against his skin, her once dark complexion now pale and lifeless, her weight next to nothing in his strong arms. He gritted his teeth in frustration, cursing his own ignorance that had prevented him from knowing anything about human illnesses. Why had he always scoffed at human weakness and never wasted one measly hour of his century long life to find out what could aid them? He should have, he realized, he should have long before he had met Ana. Was Rin not enough reason to? He would have, had Rin ever come down with any sickness. He was sure of it, but as it stood now he had no idea what he could do to keep his future mate comfortable on his way to his castle. He dared not go any faster, for her shivering seemed to correlate with his speed. Admitting how long it had taken him to see that was almost shameful. Once he had had her in his arms he had left Naraku's lair in a hurry and only when he had passed Rin and Jaken on Ah-Un, who had left a day before, had he let himself calm down a little. Then he had noticed Ana shivering and instantly adjusted his pace to still be quick, yet not too harsh on Ana's frail body. From the area he was coming from it would normally take three days to get back but he was determined to make it there in a bit over a day.

Her breathing was weak and shallow. She needed someone to take care of her, a healer, not him. The only thing he knew to do was to keep her hydrated, and even that he had only realised after seeing her cracked lips and the faint veil of dried skin cells covering her motionless face. Regularly he stopped to force a few drops of water down her throat, each time she would start coughing and contorting, leaving him to wonder if it was the right thing to do.

His grip around her tightened as he pulled her to rest on his moko-moko. He had been going at this speed for over twenty hours and he wasn't as close as he would have liked to be. He had not rested in weeks, refusing to address his body's needs before finding his chosen mate. Naraku's poison still burning in his veins proved that it had been a mistake, not only had he failed to dodge the attack but his body was too exhausted to heal at its normal rate. He had been a fool, should have accepted his brothers help in the search and tended to his wound, instead of pushing through pain and exhaustion. Who would ever fight an enemy like Naraku with such severe impediments? Yes, only a fool would. And a fool he had been, just like his father before him. He was still alive though, and even if his injuries were severe, he refused to stop, he would survive until he reached his castle, and there he could heal in peace. It took another twelve hours before he could smell the castle and another two before his feet landed on the stone walkway to the great outer gates. The guards stiffened at his appearance, lifting their Naginata high into the air, blade meeting blade, in a well practiced synchronized movement of respect and greeting. He could not care less. They could have barked at him for all he cared. Ana's pulse had grown weak and her breathing was almost non existent. About an hour ago he had started to miss her coughing, worry growing with every wheezing breath she took. “Oyakata-sama,” without even acknowledging his guard he rushed past, not interested in whatever he could have wanted to tell his lord. A heavy wave of youki stopped him in his tracks, wincing as Ana's spiritual energy singed his arms in an attempt to protect her from the potential attack, he tightened his hold on her. Maybe he should have heeded the guards warning, he knew well enough that no one would dare address him if it was not absolutely necessary.

She stood there dressed in her royal kimono with her long silver hair in its two pony tails. Her golden eyes narrowed as she stared at the woman in his arms. "What is that?" Her voice was cold and aloof, just like his own as she pointed an elegant finger at Ana. A low growl rose in his throat, how dare she refer to his future mate as such?! She rose a dainty eyebrow, unaccustomed to seeing her son this compassionate. "Care to explain yourself?" He didn't reply, she was the one person he had hoped to avoid until Ana was safe in the hands of his healers. Did she not understand the gravity of the situation? He didn't have time to play whatever game his mother was spewing. Before he could devise a plan to rid himself of her presence, without turning it into a court wide scandal, she huffed, effectively easing the tension in his jaw and soothing his bristling beast, raging within as only she could. The cold metal of her eyes softened as they inspected Ana. "Take her to the healers, she reeks of poison.” The way her voice seemed to tighten at this command, told him that she could not only smell the disgusting filth on Ana's body, but also knew what it entrailed. Passing her he inclined his head just slightly, in a way of understanding or gratefulness, he would let his mother decide. "You have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow. At dawn. Don't be late, " her voice rang out, just as he entered the castle.

Sesshômaru was in front the healer's room in less than a second, the nauseating smell of healing herbs, alcohol and other mixed substances caused his nose to crinkle as he barged his way through the Shôji doors. The servants, busy mixing substances and clearing the wooden tables that were layered with herbs, stopped in their tracks to bow to him, their faces to the ground. "Save her!" he commanded, gently placing Ana onto the futon. The servants instantly got to work removing the tattered rest of her soiled yukata. He stood there unable to move, unable to leave her side. "Please forgive my insolence, Daimyô-dono,” a steady female voice called, stepping in front of him with her head held high but her eyes cast down in a gesture of respect and submission. He almost sent her flying through the wall until he realized who it was. "This seems to be hard on you," she whispered softly and only for him to hear, as she bowed apologetically, “Should the healer dress your wound Daimyô-dono?” His eyes shifted over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of charred skin. Squeezing his eyes shut, he forcefully turned himself from the situation. "You will be held responsible for anything that happens here," he stated clearly. "Understood, " she answered firmly.

The tension in his body dissipated, leaving only tiredness in its wake as he made his way to his chambers. He didn't let it show, but he was well aware, that his guards could tell exactly how drained he was. It took longer than expected to reach his chambers where his servants immediately opened the doors for him. Long, secure strides, he did not know were still possible for his aching body, brought him to his own private washroom. With nothing but a huff he signalized his kneeling handmaid to undress him. Sitting down on the small, wooden stool he allowed the blind girl to scrub his back and to clean the nasty wound Naraku had inflicted upon him. The girl worked with deft hands on his tired body and without uttering a sound. Once more he was grateful for his decision to grant her a living in his castle after rescuing her from the torture chambers of the taijiya. For times like these her beyond repair damaged vocal chords were a rather desirable trait. With a deep sigh he let himself sink into the scorching hot bathing water, finally granting his muscles relief after he heard the soft click with which his handmaid had closed the door behind her.

He was home. He did not usually call this place as such, but after the stress of the past weeks it was welcomed and much needed. His silver strands drifted in the water like the moon's light on a hot spring, it made him think. Why had he not stopped her there? Why had he not complied with her wishes, was it pride or tradition? He could have told her that his beast had chosen her to be his mate, that she was not one to be used and cast aside, but would she have believed him? Certainly not, the woman was too unruly for her own good, but still, he could have stopped her. If he hadn't been such a fool she wouldn't have suffered at the hand of that mutt Naraku. There it was again, the tension in his muscles he had carried around since the day she had been abducted. He had touched her. That vermin had dared to touch what was his, to sully her with the wretched smell of his arousal, to touch her in a way no man should touch a woman and least of all his woman. He would die by his hands for what he had done to her. The anger clung to his very being and his beast's blood boiled with desire for carnage as his Youki evaporated the water around him. Had he not excreted such an enormous amount of energy he would have left instantly to find and destroy that foul hanyou. He took a deep breath, silently calling his power back inside his human form, it wouldn't be wise to leave Ana in such a vulnerable state in a foreign place with people she didn't know. He sighed heavily, pushing himself out of the tub. His little display had left him dry already, the doors opened and walking through Shizuka stood ready, jinbei at hand. After dismissing her he laid down on his futon and allowed the tiredness to immerse him. Guilt ate at his soul as he thought about Ana. Maybe she would awaken tomorrow.

It was a blood curdling scream that pierced his sensitive ears in the middle of the night. Ana! Demonic energy swelled within and around him as he slammed the doors of his chambers open, sending the guards into shock as he dashed towards the healer's room. Someone was about to die. He ripped the sliding door from its hinges and walked over to where Ana lay thrashing violently in her sleep. Seeing the state of his mate, his beast snapped and a new surge of youki flooded his system as he held the healer by the neck. "What did you do?!" he raged at the goat, his eyes bleeding red, ready to kill the old fool for whatever mistake he had made. "Please calm down, Daimyô-dono." He turned to see Mayumi filled with fear, her face on the floor, begging, something that didn't suit her. He drew back his anger as best as he could, realising the goat demon. "Explain!"

"We are unsure Daimyô-dono, but it seems as if she is trapped in a nightmare, possibly reliving the trauma she went through. Since you brought her, Daimyô-dono, we have dressed her physical wounds with great care, but we are unable to assess any mental damage until she awakes," her speech was fluent and secure, but the fear emitting from her and everyone else in the room was enough to make his sleep deprived head spin. "When will that be?", he asked, dreading the answer more than he cared to admit. The way Mayumi's voice hitched let him know, that she feared it just as much. "We are uns-"

"Leave!", he commanded harshly, causing the other servants to scatter, leaving only Mayumi who looked at him with concern in her eyes before quickly averting her gaze. She bowed respectfully before trailing behind the others.

Concern swelled within him as he turned to look at Ana who seemed to stop screaming and thrashing but was now trembling. He slowly approached her, unsure of how to comfort the unconscious female. As he got closer to her quivering form he noticed the streaks on her face, the potent herbs and solutions from the room must have hidden her salty teas from his sensitive nose. Why did this happen? She was so innocent, peaceful, and yet this... He knelt down and gently touched her forehead. Her trembling stopped almost instantly but her face contorted in pain. Confused by her reaction he leaned forward and cupped her face but she began screaming and thrashing once more, flailing her hands about as if to ward off an enemy. The sting on his face came quick and unexpected. It took him a while to process what had just happened, in an effort to protect herself her hand had connected with the side of his face. His instinctive reaction was to hit her back but the urge was immediately suppressed. Sighing, he allowed a gentle flow of his youki to engulf them as to demonstrate his peaceful intentions. It was a gamble, but he was relieved when there was no blast of spiritual energy. There was, however, a tingling sensation whenever he touched her but it didn't burn like at the day of their arrival. "It seems as if you do not trust this Sesshômaru, even though it was you who had told me to take care of her," he stated, amusement dancing in his voice. The tingling subsided but there was still a slight hum beneath his fingertips. It let him wonder, a miko's reiki had always been foreign to him, even with Inuyasha's new Miko constantly around he wasn't familiar with it. Apparently it was not too different from a demon's youki, capable of showing chaos and destruction as much as serenity and quietude. He huffed softly and removed the covers, he would move her to another area, somewhere more comfortable for her and less straining on his sense of smell. Gently picking her up, he pulled her to his chest and allowed his moko-moko to engulf her then headed back to his chambers. He would have someone prepare a room for her in the morning and station Mayumi as her guard.

After laying her on his futon, he laid down beside her, draping a large fur lined cover over them. She relaxed next to him, breathing calmly as he gently ran his fingers through her tangled hair. She was safe, with him she would be safe and he wasn't going to let her go. Taking a deep breath, he relished in her scent before falling into a deep sleep.

“Now I see why you're late.” Sesshômaru's eyes flashed open to the sound of his mother's voice. She stood there a few feet in front of him, motionless, but there was a hint of amusement within her eyes. He felt like a pup getting caught stealing a piece of meat from his father's plate, thinking he wasn't looking. “You have ten minutes.” She left, not waiting for him to respond. He pushed himself off the futon, flinching when he felt the tug on his moko-moko. She was still clinging to him. Fighting the sudden rise of guilt and sadness that threatened to resurface, he gently pried her fingers from his fur. After a few moments of gathering himself he called for a servant to prepare the adjacent room for Ana to stay in, then called Shizuka to dress him for his appointment with his mother.

The doors to his mother's chambers were slid open by the kneeling servants as he made his way down the corridor with his head held high. Sesshômaru stepped into the fur lined chamber filled with plush pillows and decorative ornaments atop various tables. The walls were painted purple and patterned with sakura petals. She dismissed her servants and gestured him towards the space in front of her. He took his place, waiting for her to say something but there was a long period of silence. “This is the second human you've bought here.” He said nothing. “I wouldn't have thought to see you this soon after what had happened to Rin. By the way where is Rin?”

Did she have to remind him of such a painful moment? Did she expect him to return the favour for the decision she had made of her own free will? “She is on her way,” he replied emotionless. “Hmmm. I'm surprised you let her out of your sight. Then again, judging from the looks of that girl you brought here the situation must have been dire.” He knew what she was doing, wanting to force him to say what had happened prior to his arrival, something they surely both had already analyzed just from Ana's smell. Ignoring his mother's obvious tactics to lure an emotion out of him, he simply replied that Jaken was with her. “Didn't think that green little toad was a fighter.” He huffed at her words, of course he wasn't but he would give his life before anything could happen to Rin, even with all his bickering, Sesshômaru knew the toad dearly loved the child. “Sesshômaru,” she called out slowly, smiling to show her fangs, “Did your beast choose that human female?” He wasn't surprised that she had deduced the situation that quickly but he was still a bit taken aback by her direct question. “I have accepted her,” he said without hesitation. “Is that so,” she said carefully, “Does the girl know that she is to be your mate? Has she accepted you in return?”

He was silent, unable to let it be known that Ana had no idea of how he truly felt for her. His mother sighed, “You were so much more expressive as a young pup, why did that change?” Her eyes glazed over as she reminisced on days long in the past. That wasn't him anymore nor did he plan on being that young fool ever again. She sighed again, “ How do you intend on letting the poor girl know she's worthy of being by your side since you won't out right tell her?” She looked at him, sensing the answer clearly. He hadn't thought of that, his mind had been bent on saving her, not finding a way of expressing the way he felt for her, much less announcing his beasts choice of her as his mate. “There isn't much I can do in this case but I will still evaluate her, if that's alright with you?”, she asked with a smile. He didn't reply nor did she wait for one, they both knew she would do as she pleased no matter what he said. He may be the head of the house, the most powerful youkai of the western lands, even the most powerful of all the lords, and yet… she was his mother. It was that simple. She had raised him, she had taught him, she had watched over his lands during the time he had left for his own selfish reasons. She had saved Rin. With a slight bow he left his mother's chambers then headed to where Ana rested.

Mayumi bowed deeply as he approached Ana's bed chambers. “Daimyô-dono,” she forced out as he reached for the handle of the sliding door. His hand dropped to his side as he waited for her to continue speaking. “They are changing her bandages,” she stated simply. He answered with a simple nod and leaned back against the opposite wall. The healers had told him that skin and flesh were severely damaged and he was sure she did not want him, or anybody for that matter, to see her in such a damaged stage. Damaged, she had thought of herself as such before, how would she think of herself now? Letting it happen again? Shizuka's healing process had shown him that they always sought the reason for their ordeal by themselves, would Ana even be the same once she awoke? Maybe the two women should spend some time together. It was not proper by any means for the future Lady of the West to mingle with the servants, but seeing how the choice of lady itself could not be considered as such, what more harm could it do? Anas health, be it in body or mind was his priority, custom and rules be damned. When the healers left the room on their knees before him, he entered. Slowly walking to her unconscious form he gathered his youki and allowed it to gently engulf her before sitting next to her and placing her head in his lap. He stayed with her for a while, gently caressing her face, feeling the hum of spiritual energy beneath his fingertips just as before. After a few minutes of cradling her in his embrace he placed her head back onto the futon and left. He didn't know it yet but it would be a long wait before she awoke and many of those nights he would spend in her chambers holding her terror stricken body close to his as his own heart grew with sorrow.