InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Taming the Untamable ❯ The Fortress ( Chapter 2 )

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

Thank you so much for my reviews. Sango and Sesshoumaru appear in this chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer- I do not own any of these character's except for Ayuri.

Chapter 2: The fortress

“The night is so peaceful,” Sango sighed as they flew over a forest west of Inuyasha's forest. The cat demon beneath her growled her agreement. “If only we could have more nights like this. No demons to fight, no annoying townsfolk to save.” Sango's thoughts were interrupted by a scream below them. Looking down, she gasped when she saw the little girl being chased by some rather ugly demons. “I guess I spoke too soon. Come on Kirara, let's go.” They swooped down and Sango quickly scooped the screaming child up before motioning for Kirara to return to the skies.

Quickly taking care of the demons with Hirakotsu, Sango looked down at the trembling girl in her arms and realized it was Rin. But what was she doing way out here? And where was Sesshoumaru? “Rin,” she said, trying to comfort the weeping girl, “do you remember me? I'm Sango, the demon exterminator that travels with Inuyasha and Kagome.”

The girl sniffled and nodded her head. “Yes, Rin remembers you. Do you know where Lord Sesshoumaru has gone? Rin snuck away from Jaken to find him but Rin got lost, then those demons came.”

“I'm sorry Rin; I do not know where he is. But I'm sure he will find us soon enough.” Kirara landed softly on the grass near a small stream, and Sango slid off. As soon as Rin's feet touched the ground, a low growl rang out, signaling the demon lord's arrival.

“What is the meaning of this wench!?” came the icy voice of the taiyoukai, as he approached them, “Why have you taken Rin?”

“Lord Sesshoumaru! Lord Sesshoumaru!” Rin's happy cried, distracting him as she plowed into his leg and gave him a hug. Pushing her behind him, Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to the woman in front of him, staring at her with his usual emotionless expression.

“I-I was only helping her.” Sango stammered out as she began to back away from him. “She was being chased by some demons. I'm Sango.”

“This Sesshoumaru knows who you are,” he spat out. “You travel with my pathetic excuse for a half-brother. I should warn you, you are in my land now. Inuyasha's forest is miles back.”

“Then I shall be on my way. Good day Lord Sesshoumaru.”

As she turned to leave, Sango listened as Rin pleaded with the stoic demon. “Please Lord Sesshoumaru; can the pretty lady come to the castle for a few days? Rin has no one to talk to there but stupid Jaken and I like her, she is nice to Rin.”

“Very well. Exterminator,” he sighed, waiting until she turned back towards him. “You will come with us to this Sesshoumaru's fortress.” He sniffed the air for a second before he glanced blandly at her, “It would not be wise to stay out in this weather; a storm approaches.”

Sango smiled briefly at the little girl's control over the mighty Taiyoukai before his words fully sunk into her. Should she go? Did she really have a choice? It's not like she could overpower him if he decided to force her. She sighed, I guess I have no choice. She glanced up at him and noticed that he seemed to be waiting for her answer, so she nodded and resigned herself for what was surely to come.

~later~

“Sango, Rin wants to know what you think of Lord Sesshoumaru.”

Sesshoumaru glanced towards Sango and smirked inwardly, content that for once Rin's attention wasn't entirely focused on him. He wondered why he'd agreed to letting the woman visit his home for the night. And then he'd created that idiotic reason for her to do so. He didn't know what possessed him to command the woman to follow him…but now he could see that at least while she was there, Rin would be content.

Sango, however, couldn't help but feel a little differently towards the little girl's unending questions. Give it a rest girl!She thought as she walked past what seemed to be the millionth tree. I swear, if we don't get to the castlesoon I think I'm going to die!They'd been walking for almost an hour through the thick forests that surrounded the fortress, and the little girl hadn't stopped her stream of questions once the entire time. She sighed. She saw no end to the little girl's questions. The glanced briefly at the neko on her shoulder and got an idea. She whispered her instructions to the fire cat, hesitating briefly when she saw Sesshoumaru pause, knowing he could hear every word. But then he continued on and she nudged the cat.

“Whoa!” Rin squeaked as Kirara transformed under her and rose into the air. “What is she doing?”

“I thought you might like to fly around for awhile and rest your feet,” Sango said, watching Sesshoumaru for any signs of displeasure. “I hope that's alright,” she said when the demon in question turned to look at her.

“It is fine,” he said.

“Wow! This is even better than riding Ah-Un! Your cat can go really fast! Rin likes this!”

“Good. Just be sure to hold on tight!” Sango smiled as the fire neko spun around, making the young girl break out in a fit of giggles. That ought to occupy her for a while. Now if we could just make it to this damn castle so Ican stop walking. She once again turned and began following the stoic lord. She hadn't missed the way he'd eyed Kirara as she'd lifted Rin into the air and it comforted her to know that at least the cold taiyoukai cared for someone. After all, even though they were considered allies during the final fight with Naraku, she didn't know if the taiyoukai still considered her such.

When they reached the village surrounding the fortress, Sango found her respect for Sesshoumaru increase slightly. The village looked to be in extremely well off. He obviously took good care of his lands. Normally when she entered a village there was some lurking evil or a general sense of foreboding. However, the residents of this village seemed at peace. Course I probably wouldn't worry about anything if I lived under the protection of the most powerful taiyoukai on the planet. Turning her face towards her silent escort, she sighed. She was still unsure as to his motives. She knew that after the final battle, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru had come to a sort of truce and that Inuyasha and Kagome sometimes visited the castle to see Rin, but this was the first time she'd seen him since the battle. She'd taken the fact that he hadn't killed her on sight and that he had given her his attention for more than one second as a good sign, but it didn't mean that the taiyoukai still considered her an ally. Then there was his reasoning on her visit. Why didhe made up that lie about the weather?Would he really go through all this trouble for a human child?

As the taiyoukai in question turned to once more watch his ward, she found she could believe it. He seemed to truly care for the girl. And she obviously adored him. It went against everything she'd ever heard about him, but she couldn't deny that the emotion was there.

“Rin,” Sesshoumaru said, effectively drawing the exterminator out of her thoughts. “That is enough. Go and find Ayuri. You are to eat your dinner and go to bed.”

“Yes Sesshoumaru-sama,” she replied sliding off the fire neko's back once she had landed. “Bye Sango!”

She rushed off ahead of them through the gates, leaving Sango alone with her thoughts…and him. She didn't know why, but for some reason she knew that there was more to his request than merely wishing to please Rin. After all, he despised humans. And the last time she checked she was definitely part of the human half of society.

As they entered the gates to the fortress Sesshoumaru chanced a glance at her face and was glad he'd decided to do so. Her face was in complete and total awe as she looked up at the immense castle that stood before them.

It was made of a very light gray colored stone and towered above them. Real glass filled the windows and thick drapes could be seen around the edges of them. Japanese maples, sugar maples, and weeping willows filled the yard as well as dogwoods, jonquils, roses, azaleas, honeysuckle, lilies, and tulips. A small waterfall cascaded down into a beautiful, crystal clear lake and benches had been placed in various locations around the yard. The gardeners were spreading the fertilizer Kagome had brought him throughout the flower beds while small children played in the water of the lake nearby.

He was still rather shocked at his decision to allow the exterminator to follow him, but when Rin had asked him if she could join them, he'd been unable to say no. Something within had urged him to say yes, which the youkai lord found extremely odd. Stranger still was the fact that his inner youkai seemed content with her presence…welcomed it in fact. While it normally piped up and gave him his two sense every five minutes, his inner youkai had been oddly silent the entire walk to the fortress. Sighing, he pushed the thoughts from his mind and walked up the steps to the huge oak doors with her following close behind him. The two guards on duty practically running into each other in their haste to allow him entrance.

Wow! This is amazing, Sango thought to herself, I knew Sesshoumaru was wealthy, but I wasn't expecting this. She stopped at the doorway to marvel at the room. I can't stay here. It's too nice; I'll feel out of place. The floors were made of marble and were covered with vibrant rugs. The walls were painted a soft green and gorgeous paintings hung everywhere. A crystal chandelier hung from the high, dome ceiling and directly under it stood a cherry wood table that had a rose tinted glass vase filled with more beautiful flowers on it. Large windows allowed plenty of sunlight in, giving the room a warm, welcome feeling. Two stairwells rounded up to the second floor and a fountain flowed between them.

She stopped to take in the details of the castle, shocked at the sheer size of it. She knew she should follow Sesshoumaru seeing as he was the only person she knew in this place, but the beauty of the room seemed to call to her. Shaking her head to rid the shock from her mind, she searched the room for the youkai lord, only to find him gone. Seeing a male servant walk into the room, she hoped she could at least ask directions to where ever Rin had gone. However as he got closer to her, she realized that would not be an option.

“You there, human. How dare you dirty this house with your presence! And you brought a weapon no less. Do you wish to die so early in life? If so, I'm sure I can arrange it.”

Seeing him crack his knuckles, Sango mentally cursed her luck. She should have realized that all the servants in the castle would be youkai. And since she'd lost Sesshoumaru, there was no way to prove she'd come here with him. Seeing the youkai begin to once more walk in her direction, she quickly tried to think of the best option that wouldn't result in Sesshoumaru killing her.

“I said why are you here!” The servant shouted, backhanding Sango when she didn't answer him. “I should eviscerate you right where you stand.”

Bringing her hand to cover the bruise already forming on her cheek, Sango tried to placate the demon.He was towering over her now and Sango could see other servants emerging from the halls to see what the commotion was about.

I'm doomed. She thought, knowing that she couldn't take on all Sesshoumaru's servants at once. She once again cursed herself for not keeping up with him. Silently wishing for the millionth time that Miroku was with her, she began backing towards the door. But he suddenly appeared right in front of her and kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying into the doors behind her. She tried to get up only to find that her legs refused to move. She raised her hands to protect her face as the servant raised his leg for the killing blow. But it never came.

When she opened her eyes, all she saw was Sesshoumaru. Turning to look at him fully, she gasped when she realized that the youkai would kicked her was now gasping, trying desperately to breathe as the angry demon lord held him suspended in the air by his throat.

His finger's started to glow as he spoke, “You have the audacity to strike an ally of this Sesshoumaru?” Raising his hand to end the miserable weakling, Sesshoumaru stopped when the smell of tears reached his senses. Dropping the servant, he turned to the human woman, noticing the bruises already beginning to form on her face. He picked her up, ignoring the several gasps that rang out as he carried the woman out of the room and up the stairs.

Burying her face in his chest Sango wept. She didn't know why he had saved her, but at the moment she found she really didn't care. Turning slightly, she grimaced when her ribs erupted in a wave of pain. Shaking her head, she tried to silence her tears knowing that Sesshoumaru was more than likely only moving her so that she didn't cause any more trouble.

He suddenly shifted her in his arms so that he could open a door and Sango lifted her head to see where he'd brought her, rather shocked when she realized they were in a bedroom. He walked her over to the large bed in the center of the room and she was once again struck with thoughts regarding his motives. Why was he being nice? The youkai lord never helped anyone except Rin, and yet he had saved her and apparently brought her further into his house. She started when she felt his fingers upon her skin, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“This room is yours for as long as you want.” He said, laying her down and pulling the covers over her. “This Sesshoumaru apologizes for his staff. That should have never happened. I will have someone bring your fire neko and some food to you.”

Sango found she could only nod as he straightened and walked from the room. He apologized. She thought as the door shut behind him. Pulling herself into a sitting position, she quickly surveyed the room. The bed linens were made of a deep, blue silk that felt like it had been spun from the very clouds themselves. The bedspread was a soft turquoise color and made out of the same material. The pillows and mattress were made of soft feathers. The bed frame was made of maple wood and was smoother than silk to the touch.

The floor was made of the same maple wood, except it was a little redder in tint. The walls were a deep green and silk tapestries flowed down from the ceiling. The doors to the left of the bed that lead to a balcony were made of glass with sheer white curtains hung from the top of the doorway, but they were not attached to the doors themselves so that you could leave the doors open and still close the curtains.

Across from the bed stood the door to the rest of the castle. In between this door and the ones that opened up into the balcony was a small couch, with a table next to it. Next to her bed was a marble nightstand with a small oil lamp atop it. Beside her was a large window in front of which sat a large reading chair with two bookshelves on either side of it. And to her right there were two doors, which she supposed either led back out into the castle or to another room.

Her curiosity getting the better of her, she walked to the two doors, hoping that maybe one of them led to a washroom. She would rather go take a bath, but something told her that she wouldn't make it to the hot springs. Not that she even knew where they were.

She opening the first door she came across, Sango was surprised to find it was a small room filled with various kimono. Afraid to touch them, she closed the door and walked to the second door. Opening it slowly, Sango was once again surprised. It seemed as if Sesshoumaru had built a hot spring within the castle. Knowing she wasn't on the first floor, Sango pondered how this was possible. Shrugging it off, she counted her blessings as she quickly stripped of her worn clothing and walked into the warm water.

This room, in her opinion, was nicer than the bedroom itself. It had the same calming feel as one would find in a natural spring, but there were some obvious differences. On one wall stood two large shelving units which held various things to aid in bathing such as oils, brushes, and robes for when you emerged. There was another sunken pool of water on the top of a counter, which Sango assumed was for washing her face when one did not want to entirely submerge herself in water. And there was a hole in the ground with water running through it which Sango found herself completely in the dark about. And of course, she didn't have to worry about a demon sneaking up and attacking her. Moaning as the warm water relaxed her sore muscles Sango decided she could get used to this. It had been at least 2 weeks since she'd been to a hot spring and the heat was doing marvelous things for her bruised ribs.

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As he shut the doors to Sango's room, Sesshoumaru tried to comprehend what he was feeling. When he'd seen the servant kick her he'd found himself overcome with rage and had been unable to control his inner youkai from taking over and reacting in his stead. She was a mere human. He shouldn't be experiencing feelings of this nature towards her. He knew he should send her away before his emotions got any stronger, but he found he was unwilling to do so just yet. He wanted to observe her to see why his inner youkai had taken such a strong likeness towards her. I bet father is rolling over in the grave, he sighed and headed off in the direction of the kitchen. Halfway there, he was met with Athrun, his close friend and trusted advisor.

“My lord,” he called, coming to a stop just before him, “we have found Jaken. He was hiding in Inuyasha's forest near the Goshinboku. What do you want us to do with him?”

“Take him to my office, I will deal with him. Also, Athrun I want you to go to the village that Sango lives in and inform my brother that the exterminator has been injured and will be staying here until further notice.”

He bowed lowly, “Yes sir, I shall leave at once.”

“Unnecessary. Inuyasha is in the future in Kagome. You may leave tomorrow.”

“Of course,” Athrun nodded and turned to leave, but he only got a few steps away before he turned back towards Sesshoumaru. “Do you mind if I ask why you know this?” The resounding growl that filled the room caused Athrun to chuckle. As Sesshoumaru turned and entered the kitchen, Athrun grinned. If he had been anyone else, he knew he'd now be lying in a pile of steaming ooze for daring to ask him a question. But growing up with the youkai had its advantage.

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Walking into the kitchen, Sesshoumaru found Rin eating her lunch. “Rin,” he said solemnly. “Where is Ayuri?”

“Rin thinks she is over there in the storeroom looking for more rice. But Rin is not sure.”

He nodded slightly and walked to the storeroom, inside, his cook, Ayuri was indeed looking for rice. “Ayuri, you will take some food up to my guest.”

The woman got up from where she was knelt on the floor and nodded, “Yes my lord. Is she human or demon? I do not wish to send her something she does not normally eat.” Ayuri was the only half demon in the fortress, unless Inuyasha was here, although he rarely was. Sesshoumaru had thought it best to have a half demon cook since Rin was human and would not want the same things to eat as the demons. And if the cook was half demon, she would know how to cook for humans better than almost any demon.

“She is human. Make sure no one takes it to her but you. And you will take you the fire neko up to her room.”

“Of course, my lord.”

“Now, to deal with Jaken.” He grumbled as he climbed the stairs to his study.