InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Daimyo Inutaisho ❯ Four ( Chapter 4 )

CHAPTER FOUR

Seshiko started, she had almost fallen asleep. The demoness sat up gingerly, her body was sore after her encounter with her husband, but it was sore in a most pleasant way. Inutaisho was laying on his belly, one arm flung carelessly across her torso. She started to slide away from him, the bastard had to be the lightest sleeper that she'd ever met. He proved it again by stirring as she reached over the side of the bed for her clothing.

"Going so soon?" he asked softly, turning to look at her. She shook back her hair. "Of course, my lord." Her voice was as cold as stone and twice as hard. He yawned widely, his expression was lazy and deeply satisfied. She dressed silently, pulling her clothes on and determinedly not looking in his direction. Damn bitch, he thought, wincing a little at the scratches on his back. It seemed like every time he took her to bed she was going to pull this act.

He sighed lightly, not that he'd get any sleep with her around. His bodyguards outside were no doubt taking wagers on how soon she'd storm out of his bedroom. He didn't even want to think about the things they'd probably just overheard. His men were discreet as a point of honor, but they also had standing orders that propriety was never to keep them out of his room if the lady Seshiko was there.

He rolled on his side as she finished dressing. One hand reached out to play with a lock of that remarkable hair of hers. She twitched away from him like he was a common thug instead of her lord and husband. "You can stay if you want to, I could call down for some wine and food. You've got to stay and start talking to me sometime."

"No, I do not. My lord." It annoyed him to no end that she refused to use his name, even after an exhausting session like they'd just had. You'd think even an Azaryu would have some touch of feminine softness. It wasn't like she hadn't enjoyed it, he was wearing the proof on his back. She might be a cold evil bitch the rest of the time but he had to admit that she was a damn fine lay. He settled back down, one arm going over his eyes as he relaxed into the softness of the bed. "Suit yourself, it's not like I don't try to be pleasant." The door slammed loudly.

Seshiko stormed past Inutaisho's bodyguards, sitting at their ease in the outer chamber. She refused to meet their eyes, knowing that they'd heard everything. It didn't matter to her what the bastards thought. She ground her teeth when one of them dared to whistle softly, appreciative of the lady's vocal performance from earlier.

She swore she'd love to tear the bastards to pieces, but at the moment she didn't have the energy to spare. If she went back to fight with the guard, Inutaisho would come out and then she have to start fighting with him. And if she started fighting him again, well it might be hours before she got back to her apartments.

Damn you to everlasting hell anyway, she thought furiously, stalking down the long hallway. The girl's anger showed in her quick, sharp steps, not quite running, that would be undignified. She was determined not to give the household servants any more reason to gossip about her, it wasn't like they didn't already have plenty to talk about.

She hated him, by the gods above and below she truly did. Her father hadn't understood what he was asking of her when he sent her here. Bad enough she'd been taken away from her command and made to sit and bide her time like some breeding female, but having to endure that condescending white-haired bastard was going to drive her over the edge. Her lip curled with contempt. She wanted to fight, she wanted to spar at least and have some outlet for her natural aggression. But her husband had forbidden her from that even. It wasn't her fault those men had died, if they had known what they were doing they would have survived their wounds. Once she'd sensed that her sparring partners were holding back because she was the Daimyo's consort, she'd showed them no mercy. Youkai who couldn't defend themselves better than that deserved to die under her claws. Hell, she did them a favor by making it quick.

Seshiko forced herself to walk slower, fighting down her temper. You've got a brain, she reminded herself. You can think when you want to, it won't be like this forever. Once this cursed child is born you will be free and he'll be the one to pay. She smiled fondly, thinking of what his face would look like when he realized how the Azaryu had manipulated him into this farce of a treaty. Not that she'd had time to put the plan in motion, her people were still gathering intelligence on the way the Daimyo ran his household.

They'd need someone on the inside, someone he'd trust to never betray him. She was absolutely positive that he had his own spies looking in on her, she expected no less. Her movements and the movements of her people were surely watched. Today's performance with the humans had proved that, she'd wanted to know exactly how long it would take him to find out what she'd done out in the wilds. She was impressed, the patrols were obviously in good communication with the household guard. Pity about the little humans though, she hadn't really expected he'd let her keep the pets but it had been an amusing diversion just the same.

Seshiko laughed out loud thinking of Inutaisho's expression when he'd seen the adorable little things. She'd honestly thought he was going to explode for a moment. It had all been worth it for that alone, she thought, a cruel grin playing at her mouth. Although it might be a good idea to not press him that hard again, getting herself killed wouldn't serve her father's purposes. She grimaced, at least not before this child comes.

She'd known that she was pregnant when her cycle hadn't shown up on schedule. By her estimation, she only had a few more days before her own staff came to the same conclusion. What would she do then? Seshiko sighed, one hand reaching down to stroke her stomach. This brat was too important to Azaryu interests for her to risk a physical confrontation again. She found it mildly surprising that he'd finally managed to strike her, she'd been wondering what it would take to get him angry enough to lash out at her. Her body flushed again remembering the way his hands had made her skin tingle moments later. She shook her head, disgusted by her physical reaction to the youkai lord.

That wasn't supposed to be part of the deal, she thought crossly. Her biological response made it impossible for her keep any kind of distance between them during intercourse. She was as helpless as a puppy bitch in her first heat. And Seshiko hated the idea of being helpless before anyone. Was that why she wasn't admitting to her condition? I'm not actually worried that when I tell them I'm pregnant he'll stop taking me to his bed, am I? The thought was abhorrent, that she would allow herself to be made into a weak, submissive female just to keep spreading her legs for that son of a bitch. She growled angrily in her chest at the very idea.

Her walk had taken her past the main reception hall. This was the place where six months ago she'd been formally presented like a fucking prize to him. Her eyes were drawn by the vivid colors of the wall hangings. She strolled past the artworks, looking them up and down. Here was a battle scene, showing hundreds of youkai warriors advancing on an army. She liked this one, the red silk they'd used for the detailing was an excellent shade for blood. Seshiko wasn't an admirer of beauty, although she had been rigorously trained to assess the quality of the works before her. She herself was drawn to artist's precision in depicting the battle formations and weaponry.

The tapestry next to it was less to her taste. It was a stunningly lovely study of water lilies. She smiled faintly, finding it absurd for a work of pretty flowers to be hung next to one of a historical battle. From what she'd learned of local history, this particular piece was something of an heirloom, a treasure that had been carefully preserved for generations. With a cool smile of malice, Seshiko raised her clawed finger and ran it down the middle of the delicate weaving. The silken threads parted under her touch, somehow the destruction of the lilies felt so satisfying. She raised her hand for another pass at the wall hanging.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" Seshiko whirled around, her hands automatically going to a defensive posture. Inoki was leaning against the doorway, having just watched her destroy the antique wall hanging. She straightened slowly and let herself smile mockingly at him. "Oh, it's just you. The hanyou."

He rolled his eyes scornfully. The Azaryu girl looked like she expected him to be offended. He'd already heard too much about her from his brother to take what she said seriously. "So did the tapestry do something to offend you personally or is this just another random act of destruction?"

She turned away, a sullen expression on her beautiful face. "I don't need to explain myself to you, half-breed."

Inoki walked across the room to stand beside her. "Shame about the lilies," he murmured. She didn't answer, just stood there twisting the threads in an uncharacteristic silence. "I hate it here," she said quietly. "I want to go home."

He was surprised to hear something as vulnerable as that confession come from Seshiko. He hadn't had much to do with his brother's new consort, these were probably the most words that they had ever exchanged. From what he knew of the Azaryu, they'd rather cut out their tongues than admit to any weak emotion. Inoki scratched the back of his head, he wasn't sure how to respond or if he should even try. "I'm sorry," he said simply.

"I'm sure you are," her voice was bitter. Seshiko turned from the ruined wall hanging and went to a low seat near a window. He watched as the girl pulled her legs up under her and stared out at the darkness, her chin resting on her knees. "Just leave me alone, I don't want to talk."

"All right," he told her. She deserves her privacy as much as the next person, Inoki thought. He turned to leave then, having no idea what else to say to her anyway. Her voice stopped him at the door. "I hate him. I never should have let my father talk me into coming here."

Inoki turned around. "You're not giving him a chance. Inu's not the easiest person to get along with but I know he'd meet you halfway if you tried being civil." She laughed sharply in disbelief. "Civil? You've got to be kidding. I'm just a damn contract remember, it doesn't matter to him if I'm happy or not."

He winced, her statement coming uncomfortably close to what he'd said himself six months ago. He'd heard the stories about Seshiko from the household staff. Her imperious behavior and her wanton and violent destructions. He'd assumed they were the petty tirades of a spoiled child, one used to getting her way with nasty temper tantrums. Looking at her now, he was having a hard time placing her in that category. This Seshiko was more of a miserable, homesick girl than a willful demoness.

He didn't pretend to entirely understand his brother, or any other full blood youkai. He himself had rarely had to deal with his own demon instincts. His easygoing, un-youkai temperament marked him as an outsider more than any physical traits or lack of them. He had claws, he had fangs, but it never occurred to him to use them for anything beyond hunting. Inoki liked the peacefulness of the wilderness, tracking game and wildlife in the deep forests of his brother's territory. He had no interest in the battles that seems to consume Inutaisho's time.

Unlike others of dog-demon descent, he felt no particular urge to prove himself with the constant fighting for dominance. It had never mattered to him. He was what he had been born, hanyou. Another youkai would have interpreted Seshiko's unhappiness as weakness, particularly the admission of it. They would have either chastised her for not accepting her duty with more grace or derided her for not being up to the challenge. Everything was always, always, a conflict.

Inoki himself felt some measure of compassion, even for an Azaryu brat who didn't know how to behave. "Look, just stop taking it out on everyone around you. The only one you have to worry about is Inutaisho. Everyone else in this household will treat you with respect if you give them half a chance. Believe me, they have nothing to gain by making you miserable."

She surprised him by giving him a lopsided smile. "No, I do a good enough job of that myself." Seshiko got up from her seat and came near him. "I know you're trying to help but putting on a nice face isn't going to make it better. I don't belong here, can't you understand that?"

"Actually, I do," he said slowly. Her eyebrows raised at him questioningly. Inoki shrugged. "As you pointed out, I'm hanyou. I was born in this house and even I sometimes feel like a stranger when I'm here. I don't blame you for being angry about being forced to stay where you feel unwelcome."

Seshiko regarded him soberly. "I guess you do understand, I'd never thought of it like that. How do you stand it?"

He grinned at her. "I get outside a lot." She sighed as if the simple statement made her sad again. "You and I have that in common," she told him. "I will be happy to go home where I can be myself again. Until then, I know my duty is to stay here and have your brother's child. This alliance is too important to my father and my people. I can't allow my personal feelings to interfere."

She'd caught his curiosity again. "I'd wondered why you were a part of that at all. Inu said it was a last minute negotiation of your father's. I can't believe he didn't take your feelings about it into consideration."

She smiled ruefully. "You don't know my father then. His only consideration is to protect our clan and he expects the same of me. As for why, I thought that was obvious enough. He doesn't trust your brother. He thinks that an heir of Azaryu bloodline is the only way to avoid having our clan wiped out. My father is certain that your brother will honor the treaty only as long as it's convenient."

Inoki stared at her. "You're wrong. I know how hard Inu has worked to bring about that treaty. He's not going to throw away what he's worked on for ten years just to spite your father."

The girl shook her head. "I'm not some simpering female who only cares about fine clothes and court gossip. I've been part of my father's war councils since I was old enough to hold a weapon. You've never faced your brother in battle. Given the choice between treaty or annihilation, no clanlord is going to waste the lives of his people. But he is going to try and buy himself as much security as he can, even in the form of a child."

Inoki could hardly believe what she was saying. "That's not the kind of leader Inu is, he doesn't need to trap or manipulate anyone to get what he wants."

"He's a youkai, isn't he?" she snapped back. "You're naïve if you think otherwise. I knew what to expect when I came here, nothing your brother has done so far has surprised me."

He flushed at her words, driven to defend Inutaisho. He knew his brother had a ruthlessness he'd inherited from their father. You couldn't manage the unruly clans without showing a certain amount of cold blooded determination. They'd eat you alive if you didn't. Inu also displayed a rational sense of self control and it was rare than anyone could push him so far as retaliation. He opened his mouth to say as much to her when the light from the few lamps in the room caught her and he clearly saw the bruise on her face.

"Did he hit you?" Inoki asked wonderingly. It wasn't like Inu hadn't hinted he'd like to do just that, but he was still surprised just the same.

Seshiko raised her hand to her cheek. The skin there was still hot to the touch. "I didn't realize you could see it," she confessed. "He must have got me harder than I thought." She saw the look on his face and waved him away. "Don't trouble yourself, Inoki. It's hardly the first time. We were arguing and I'm not known for holding my tongue when I'm angry."

He felt uncomfortable. He'd never known Inu to become violent with his women before. It was something that had always disgusted them both about their father, the way he'd treated anyone within reach as a possible outlet for his rage. Inoki and Inu had felt it often enough. "It's not right," he said quietly.

That seemed to confuse her for some reason. "Are you sure you're really half demon? I'm not a child, you know. I can take care of myself." For the first time he noticed the strong smell on her body. It was thick and musky and it went through his nose right to a primal part of his brain. Inoki had always considered himself nose-blind in comparison to pure youkai, but standing so close to Seshiko in a still room, he couldn't help but be affected. His brother's scent was all over her, the musk of sex, sweat and even blood radiated from her in a heavy perfume.

Inoki felt himself drawn closer, his body reacting to hers. He reached out and dared to stroke her hot cheek. "It's still not right, not for him to treat you like his property, not for him to force you…"

She touched his arm lightly, moving his hand away with a soft caress. "It doesn't matter." Her voice was quiet and firm. "The sooner he sires a child on me, the sooner I will have my freedom again. I would appreciate it if you kept this conversation between us, Inoki."

He dropped his hand, embarrassed. He wanted to tell Anuki and get her clear perspective. He wanted to tell Inu to stop being a pig. More than that, he wanted to tell Seshiko how sorry he felt that she was being put in this situation. He knew how it felt to be a punching bag for an angry demon.

Seshiko turned away and walked slowly to the door. She knew the hanyou was watching her, thinking gods only knew what, but thinking just the same. Father, she thought. I may have found our traitor.

END CHAPTER FOUR