InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Daimyo's Lover ❯ Daimyo's Lover 04 ( Chapter 4 )

Daimyo's Lover 04

 

oOo

 

He leaned back on his elbows, relaxing on the forest floor. Inutaisho felt at his ease for the first time in weeks. It was late afternoon, the sun just starting to set. Izitaki, Ari and himself had stopped in their journey for a quick bite of dinner. They had every intention of reaching the fortress before midnight.

 

Inutaisho was delaying his return, it seemed like such a long time since he'd been able to get out on his own, or at least with just his two favorite bodyguards. The fortress was oppressive, it was wearying and he could honestly feel all his years starting to creep up on him. He was bored, plain and simple; he was utterly tired of being Daimyo.

 

Sesshomaru was beginning to show the beginnings of becoming an excellent leader. He was actually very proud of his son. Inutaisho grinned, thinking of Sesshomaru's natural ease for dominating others. In the field, men followed his commands without hesitation. In the court, the most irascible and difficult lords fell over themselves to curry his favor, fairly oozing with intrigue and charm.

 

His son moved like an icy specter in the mists of political machinations, becoming known and respected for his cold intellect and dispassionate judgment. He still wasn't ready to challenge Inutaisho for his position. Oh, it was coming in one way or another, Inutaisho expected it. But Sesshomaru knew that he wasn't ready yet and he'd be the first one to make that assessment.

 

Another century or so, Inu thought with a grin, and they'd definitely see something interesting.

 

Ari was carefully putting out the small fire. The summer had been unusually dry, Inutaisho thought, his hand stroking the slightly dried covering of the forest floor. No one wanted to chance a brushfire, not this late in the season anyway. They weren't even in their home territory at the moment; they had decided to head for the eastern territory on their way back, deliberately taking the long way home.

 

It had been a grueling few weeks for the lord of the Western lands. He'd had to deal with every offended clanlord over the matter of Barou, most simply using the tragedy as some focal point for whatever political agenda they wished to push. There were those that thought he was too young, those that thought he was too strange, some pretending sympathy for an overwhelmed young man, others just plain open about his lack of fitness.

 

Inutaisho dealt with them all as best he could manage, soothing the ones that needed reassurance, tacitly threatening those who needed threatened.

 

Exhausting.

 

Then there was the matter of Barou himself. Inutaisho permitted himself a slight smile, as he'd thought, the young man was in no way ready to die. Once he'd been made to understand how he could have in no way predicted what had happened, healing had begun.

 

Truthfully, there wasn't a lot Inutaisho could say, realizing that Barou's unique gifts made him both an asset to the territory and a veiled threat. He'd done the best he could, directing the clanlord's mind to a better sense of control. There would, he decided grimly, have to be return sessions. He'd been pressed for time, needing to get the boy back to his home territory as soon as possible.

 

Partly because of certain inuyoukai nobles giving the undefended area the eye for conquest, partly because he knew that the longer Barou took to face his crimes, the more difficult it would be for him to accept and learn to live with what he'd done. So he'd done what he did best, intimidated any lords who had so much as whispered about taking over, made it plain before the entire court that his support of young Barou was in no way diminished.

 

Then he openly invited every last member of his household to speak to him privately or publicly about the matter. Sometimes secrets and rumors festered like an unclean wound, slowly eating away at the greater health of his people's collective mind.

 

Now it was done, or at least the first part. He had taken Ari with him to return Barou, a not so subtle hint for those who wished him gone. As expected, Izitaki and Namichi had done an excellent job of keeping the peace. In particular, he'd been pleased with his bodyguard's report of Namichi's performance. She neither flinched nor fled from the chaos, keeping her mind firmly on her duties and supporting Izitaki and Makato's decisions with her own brand of quiet determination.

 

Not bad for a half kitsune girl barely considered of age. There were no few members of the court and the assembled nobles that thought Sesshomaru was in error in having selected young Namichi and Jano to be his personal seconds. A more seasoned choice would have been perhaps traditional, but Inutaisho liked to let his son make his own decisions when it came to loyalty.

 

Mistakes in that regard could be most costly. It was out of that trust of his son's judgment that Inutaisho sent Namichi back to the fortress carrying his personal orders. Sessh could certainly handle things until he got back and a Daimyo could take his time in returning.

 

So it was with a regretful sigh that he got to his feet and signaled to Ari and Izitaki that he was ready to move. They had a long night's ride ahead of them. The Daimyo whistled softly, calling Kuchinashi back to his side. The huge black and silver beast looked at him with glowing eyes and bowed his head against Inutaisho's shoulder.

 

Ari and Izitaki were of course used to Kuchinashi's ways and didn't comment, but most would have been astonished to see the true bond of affection that existed between the lord and his demon stallion. He scratched the itchy place between the charger's tusks, hearing a soft mutter of enjoyment.

 

So he occasionally still took nips at his handlers, it kept them on their toes. So what if the stallion had an unrelenting lust for the blood of other beasts, it kept him in fighting condition. Less than a week ago, the stable manager had come a run, begging for assistance when Kuchinashi again broke his bindings and went after a demi-dragon in heat.

 

Inutaisho winced, wishing he'd been just a little faster in rescuing the poor thing. Still, it would be interesting to see what resulted from the unwilling mating. The demi-dragon had survived the experience, but he doubted if she'd be useful as a breeder for some time.

 

"Poor randy monster," he cooed to the hell-stallion. "I can't help if you're one of a kind, old man. That's no way to court the ladies, you'll get a reputation as bad as mine if you keep up that sort of behavior."

 

Kuchinashi snorted and drooled purple and pink slobber down his armor. “What have you been eating?” he muttered, turning his face away from the stench.

 

Izitaki chuckled. "If you're quite finished communing with Kuchinashi, my lord," he said, a droll tone in his voice.

 

"Yes, of course," he said, snapping his fingers. Like it or not, it was time for him to get home to his duties.

 

They walked along in companionable silence, Inutaisho choosing to lead his charger instead of ride. This meant that Ari and Izitaki were also obligated to follow him at his slow pace, but it didn't matter. He listened with half an ear to their conversation; mainly centering on the security measures they'd taken for Barou's territory. He paid attention more of out of habit than any real interest. He trusted their judgment about such matters.

 

"Of course," Izitaki mentioned, "I had to spend some time comforting the local ladies. They were quite terrified."

 

Ari laughed softly, glancing over at his half brother. "They should have been, hearing that a notorious lech like yourself was in residence. That and no clanlord to appeal to for assistance."

 

"I didn't need any assistance," Izitaki replied smugly. Inutaisho shook his head and declined to comment. He had already heard most of the report and knew full well that even Izitaki hadn't had any time for dalliance. He yawned discreetly into his fist and wondered about the likelihood of the fortress holding together if he decided to stay out one more night.

 

No, damn it, he told himself sternly. You have a staff meeting scheduled first thing in the morning. After that, you've got to conference with all the battalion commanders before setting the next patrol schedule. Need more presence in the south after this incident. I think seeing more soldiers in Barou's territory might just discourage any more talk about changing the borders.

 

They were passing through the forest, heading north and west towards the center of inuyoukai territory when Inutaisho's sharp ears detected a shout. He stopped immediately, turning to look at his bodyguards. They'd both tensed, listening hard. Another muffled shout and a squeal that sounded like an angry horse. Ari looked around him, hand automatically falling to the hilt of his sword.

 

"My lord?"

 

A whispered command to Kuchinashi would keep the charger in check until he returned, both Ari and Izitaki quickly tethered their mounts. Inutaisho gestured for his men to follow, moving swiftly from the path they'd been following. The ground sloped downwards; heading for the edge of the thick forest where Inutaisho knew a human road existed.

 

When he traveled, he made a point of avoiding human highways. The appearance of even peacefully traveling inuyoukai caused panic among the creatures and quite frankly, Inutaisho had no interest in dealing with them, especially when he wasn't even within his own borders.

 

Still, it had tweaked his curiosity and he wanted to get a look at whatever commotion was taking place. They emerged from the forest standing on the side of a hill, looking straight down into a narrow rocky pass.

 

"Oh," Izitaki said in a tone that illustrated extreme boredom. "Bandits."

 

Approximately a dozen bandits had waylaid a cart; it looked like a wealthy merchant. Four outriders were battling furiously with the determined looking bandits, but they were outnumbered and didn't seem to be exactly the highest skilled. Instead they looked more like four slightly aged and well-fed men, unused to close, desperate combat. The bandits were intent on taking the cart, that much was certain, even the elderly looking driver was bashing at them with a long pole, screaming curses and threats.

 

"Shall we intervene, my lord?" Ari wanted to know. It went against his nature to agree to watch such a one sided battle. Two of the outriders were dead, their bodies slumped over and bleeding freely into the dirt. The old man driving the cart had taken a terrible wound to the head. Inutaisho watched dispassionately.

 

"No, Ari," he said, sounding mildly disgusted. "I prefer to leave them to each other. That merchant should have paid for more experienced guards if he traveled such a dangerous road."

 

The three demons continued to observe as the final two guards were slain, leaving the merchant's cart open for plunder. "Hardly worth much in battle, were they?" Izitaki said, glancing at his brother. "They should not have allowed themselves to become trapped in such a closed space. I would have sent a scout ahead to secure the pass before leading in that cart."

 

"Humans are not known for their tactics," Ari murmured in agreement. Inutaisho ignored their observations, finding himself preoccupied with a loose bit of leather on his armor. He would have Ansako mend it for him once they returned, it was showing far too much wear. Finally, the youkai lord glanced up, his eyes firing briefly in the dying sunlight.

 

"I believe we've seen enough," he said. "Time for us to resume our journey home."

 

Izitaki was still watching the bandits, some were looting the bodies of the slain guards, and others were still working at prying open the closed carriage. "Determined beasts, aren't they?" he said softly, his dark eyes narrowing. "I do hope their prize is worth all this effort and blood."

 

"A few bolts of silk, some wares," Ari guessed, smiling slightly as he tried to imagine the contents of the cart.

 

A howl from the bandits caught their attention, they'd managed to pry the doors off the cart and Inutaisho heard a faint cry of terror. The bandits shouted in delight as they pulled the sole occupant from their plundered prize. A young woman was roughly yanked from the confines of the carriage and Inutaisho felt his body stiffen in sudden anger as she was crudely thrown from one bandit to the other, their coarse hands tearing at her hair as she screamed in fright.

 

"Well, that's a little more interesting," Izitaki commented, folding his arms to watch as the men continued to maul the frightened girl. She couldn't be more than fifteen years old. He glared at his bodyguard in disgust.

 

"Am I to understand that watching a child be raped by a dozen bandits somehow amuses you, Izitaki?"

 

Izitaki flushed at his lord's words, turning to stare at Inutaisho in surprise. "No, my lord, of course not. I simply meant..."

 

"Save it," Inutaisho snapped, still watching the horror unfolding before him. "I'll deal with it myself."

 

"My lord," Ari protested, looking concerned. "Allow myself or Taki to go for you. It's hardly worth your time."

 

He grinned. "I'm suddenly in the mood for a little exercise, Ari. You two just stay here and wait until I've finished. I wouldn't want to interrupt your entertainment." Izitaki had the grace to blush, looking away as his lord transformed into a large and feral looking dog, loping off down the hill with a bloodthirsty snarl.

 

"Good job, Taki," Ari said, sounding mildly amused. "You managed to piss him off."

 

"I didn't say anything," the other bodyguard growled. "Hell, he's the one who always says to leave them to their own. How was I to know he would change his mind?"

 

"Idiot," Ari muttered, shaking his head. He slapped his brother on the back and started down the hill. "Not that I'm complaining, I haven't seen him do this in a while.”

 

"Yeah," Izitaki muttered. "Can't say they don't have it coming."

 

The two bodyguards stood a bit off to the side, watching as their lord terrorized the bandits. The big white dog, more the size of a small pony, tore into the screaming humans with a growling joy. Blood splattered liberally as Inutaisho tore limbs from bodies, heads from torsos. The few bandits who hadn't felt teeth yet tried to use their swords, only to discover that their weapons were useless, blades shattered over the dog's strong back.

 

The longhaired dog gracefully leapt over their bodies, claws and teeth sinking into soft flesh and tearing. Screams of agony now filled the air, screams and the sound of bones being shattered between strong teeth. The youkai dog snarled in pleasure, tearing out a bandit's throat with his teeth before savagely mauling another with his sharp and deadly claws.

 

He personally didn't care for the taste of human flesh, but in his canine youkai form, Inutaisho felt the freedom to let loose his instincts, the darker side of his usually civilized nature and enjoy every last moment of their terror and pain. It was a joy to let himself go, to become nothing less than death itself, death with long silky hair and fangs the length of a human's hand.

 

Begging for mercy went unheard as his senses were filled with the intoxication of bloodlust, the pleasure of destroying these miserable creatures that hurt his ears with their cries. At last, he gradually became aware that his rampage had to end...there was simply nothing left to kill.

 

The dog's fur was stained red, literally coated in blood and gore. Inutaisho padded over to where his bodyguards were waiting for him expectantly. "If you're quite finished, my lord," Ari said at last, smiling at the bloodstained animal.

 

Inutaisho transformed, letting go of his dog form to assume his usual appearance. His clothing and armor were as pristine as they'd been before he'd changed and Izitaki shook his head.

 

"I'll never understand how you do that, lord Daimyo."

 

"Trade secret," Inutaisho muttered, running a hand over his hair. Somehow whenever he transformed back, he always felt that his hair was tied too tight.

 

Ari was picking his way carefully through the gore stained battleground, trying not to let any of the human remains touch his feet. The girl had collapsed a few moments into the attack, either from shock or terror, he wasn't sure. Ari gently turned her over, one finger touching the pulse at her throat.

 

"She's fainted, my lord," he called out, figured that since Inutaisho had been chivalrous enough to rescue her, he was at least due a thank you for protecting a human's virtue, not to mention life.

 

Inutaisho looked down at the unconscious girl, a child really, he thought. She was lucky they'd happened along, the bandits certainly would have killed her with their cruel attentions.

 

Ari knelt to shake the girl's shoulder and she moaned softly, one hand reaching up to her eyes. Inutaisho noticed a bruise beginning to form on her temple and decided it wasn't only shock that had made the child keel over. One of the bandits must have tried to strike her unconscious when he'd attacked, perhaps thinking to immobilize her for the duration. Fools.

 

"Wake up, girl," Ari ordered, his voice firm.

 

Her eyes fluttered open and she tried to sit up, clutching at her battered clothing. "The lord Daimyo of the West has saved you, human," Izitaki said, grinning. "Don't you think you should thank him?"

 

The stunned young woman raised her eyes to look at the lord's knees, her gaze moving slowly up his body. A riot of multi-colored silk, overlaid by polished armor in leather and spiked metal. His sleeves blew in the light wind, their bright patterns shining in the dying sunlight. The snowy fur of his cloak danced behind him, falling like twin tails at his feet. The girl's mouth dropped open as she looked into the lord's face, that of a beautiful young man, long exotic hair, silver white and drifting soft as clouds over his shoulders.

 

Her gaze met his eyes, liquid gold like pooled sunshine and amber, surrounded by dark lashes that clashed with the paleness of his hair and skin. His high cheekbones were etched by indigo markings and when he smiled reassuringly at her, she could distinctly see the pearly white of sharp fangs before he spoke.

 

"Are you all right, child?"

 

Inutaisho frowned as the girl heaved a sigh and collapsed, falling over on her face, helpless and overwhelmed by the afternoon's events. "Damn," he murmured. "She fainted again."

 

"That's a human for you," Izitaki said, smirking down at his brother. "No manners at all."

 

The lord Daimyo scowled at his bodyguard. "Manners, Izitaki? When she wakes up to find blood and bodies all around her, including those of her companions? She's damn near assaulted by a dozen bandits and then finds herself surrounded by demons and you think fainting is a lapse in manners?"

 

Izitaki winced; somehow he had definitely gotten on the bad side of Inu's temper. "I apologize, my lord."

 

Inutaisho waved his hand in irritation, wondering why Izitaki's casual remarks were chafing him so much. "Forget it, Taki." He stared down at the young woman, an unfamiliar sympathy tugging at the back of his mind.

 

Can't just leave her here, gods only know what's going to come down the road after all this blood. The sky was getting darker every minute and there was no way in a thousand hells he had any intention of taking the human back to his home. Oh hell no, he could just picture the scandal it would cause. All the worst kinds of rumors would start and he'd probably have to kill someone to put an end to it.

 

He looked at Ari with a resigned expression. "Pick her up, Ari."

 

Ari gently lifted the unconscious girl, her long hair spilling over his arms. "My lord?"

 

The Daimyo sighed. "I have to return her to her people. We can't just leave her here in the road. Go back to the fortress and tell Sesshomaru I'll be along as soon as I can manage. It's time he learned to deal with the staff on his own and I'm confident he can handle it."

 

Ari hesitated a moment, watching as his lord transformed back into the large dog. However unusual Inutaisho's behavior was, the bodyguard had too much sense to argue with him. As carefully as he could, he arranged the unconscious girl over the dog's broad back, balancing her so that his lord could move easily.

 

Izitaki shook his head, watching as the dog ran off into the distance, his unusual burden swaying in time to his strides. "Just what the hell does he think he's doing?"

 

His brother looked into the darkening sky. "Damned if I know," he said softly.

 

oOo

 

I fell to the floor, my head ringing from the blow. For a minute, I couldn't get up. I didn't want to get up because he'd only hit me again, but I didn't dare stay on the floor for very long either. He knew exactly what he was doing, how hard to hit me, how much I could take. If he didn't want me unconscious, I wouldn't get to pass out. Nobody ever escaped him that way.

 

Still, even as a child I had a sense of pride. I wouldn't let the bastard make me cry and I'd never beg him to stop. It was a matter of pride I guess, I'm pretty stupid that way, or at least I used to be. So I put my hands underneath me and pushed my body off the floor and stood up, wobbling a bit, but I could still stand on my own.

 

My father's eyes glittered at me when I stood up, even though I was sick with fear I didn't look away. He would punish any hint of weakness; I never let any pain touch my face. All I could do was stand there and be as cold as I could manage. I didn't know what the beating was for this time; he'd yanked me up out of bed and dragged me into the corridor before swatting me to the ground.

 

It didn't matter, we both knew that. Something had annoyed him and he felt like taking it out on me. His hard-clawed hand took me by the throat and pushed me into the wall.

 

"Are you scared, brat?" he hissed.

 

"No," I told him in a dead blank voice. Admitting to fear was weak; he'd already trained me that well.

 

His eyes narrowed, watching my face closely. "You should be afraid, it would be such a simple thing to kill you like this. Weak worthless little child, every day I look at you it makes me angry. You look too much like her."

 

I didn't answer; I just stared blankly at him. Inside my heart was pounding, he knew it. The monster could smell my fear, understand my terror. Even if I didn't give him the satisfaction of showing my fear or showing weakness, he still knew it was there. If it hadn't been, he wouldn't have enjoyed hurting me as much.

 

He pushed his face closer to mine; I could smell rank alcohol and blood on his breath. I wasn't the first person he'd abused this evening and I felt a passing sympathy for whatever unlucky creature had drawn his wrath. Maybe that hint of pity showed in my eyes because he started smiling unpleasantly. He let me slide to the ground and dropping into a crouch before me. I just stood as stiffly as I could and stared straight ahead.

 

Come on, I thought to myself. Just hurt me and get it over with. Then I can go back to bed.

 

His hand was gentle, reaching out to touch my hair and pull a handful of silky white strands over my shoulder. Oh I hated this more than getting beaten. Sometimes he liked to pet me, knowing how sick it made me for him to pretend any sort of affection. I supposed most children liked having their parent pay attention to them, for me it was just another form of torture.

 

His eyes were thoughtful as he played with my hair, his rough hand moving up over my face possessively. "You are nothing," he murmured, playing with me. "I made you, I can destroy you, I can do anything I want to you and no one will ever help you. You can scream and cry, but I won't stop until I'm done with you."

 

"Go on," I muttered, starting to quiver with fury. "I don't care, beat me up, and torture me. I won't fight back."

 

"I know you won't," he sneered. "Your mother never fought back either. I taught her very well that she belonged to me, only to me. I owned her pain, I owned her fear. Just like I own yours."

 

I was losing control. Damn it, he shouldn't speak of her. He didn't have the right to mention her to me; it was because of him that she'd killed herself. He'd slaughtered her clan and defiled her, why did he have to taunt me with her death?

 

"Shut up, you bastard," I muttered.

 

His eyes registered a certain amount of surprise that I dared to challenge him like that. For a moment, I thought he'd strike me again. Beat me unconscious and leave me bloody on the floor, the anger and contempt in my voice was hard to miss.

 

I waited for the blows, almost welcoming it because the sooner he started hurting me the sooner he'd be done, get bored with it or something, and then he'd leave me alone. But he was in a strange mood this evening, I wasn't sure why.

 

Something was different in his eyes, a sort of predatory cruelty, like he had found a new way to hurt me and was savoring the idea.

 

Slowly, one claw traced my cheek, traveling down my neck to my chest. "So defiant, my little son. So much like your mother in looks, but inside you're much more like me. I have a lot of things to teach you, not only pain. I can teach you to enjoy the pain, enjoy even more causing it in others. A father wants to teach his son everything...everything he can."

 

His expression had changed and I felt horror well up inside of me when his hand moved caressingly up my body and back to my hair. I knew what he was thinking and I started to shake, outright shake with terror. I didn't care that he could openly see my fear now; I had to get away from him before he went any further with this sick new idea of his.

 

"Get away from me," I whispered, turning my face to the side as his hands started to roughly pull at my clothing. Surely even he wouldn't do something like that, not force his own son, his child, to accept him like that.

 

"Inu?"

 

My eyes tore away from my father, seeing my little brother Inoki come walking sleepily out of our room. He rubbed at his eyes, yawning under his thick black hair that stuck up in every direction possible. Inoki stopped, frozen in fear when he saw our father, his eyes blinking in confusion at the scene he found.

 

Him holding me against the wall with one hand, his other hand starting to take off my robe. My father looked at my little brother, then he looked back at me and a sadistic gleam entered his eyes. His hands fell away from me as he stood and stalked over to my helpless little brother.

 

"On the other hand," my father murmured, looking down at Inoki's wide eyes. His hand flashed down and seized Inoki by his hair, my little brother giving an agonized shriek as my father dangled him in front of me. He shook him hard, Inoki crying out and sobbing in fear and pain.

 

"Maybe I should make you watch what I do with this little one. He's just a worthless half demon, he won't last very long."

 

"Let him go!" I screamed. My father had already learned that one thing would drive me to defy him; one thing could make me lose control and attack him in rage. He just had to threaten my little brother.

 

Snarling with fury, I launched myself at him. He swung a heavy hand and swatted me away, sending me reeling into the wall. I was only down a second; I was already on my feet and attacking again. This time I didn't waste time trying to hit him, I jumped for his throat. My strength was not yet anywhere near where it would be, but even as a child I was already starting to show signs of the demon I would become.

 

He swung again when I came at him, but this time he was a fraction of a second too slow. Either that or his aim was off due to Inoki's struggling and crying. I clawed my way up his body like a wild beast, slashing at him with my small sharp claws. Father dropped Inoki hard on the floor and reached for me. Too late, I had him. My claws slashed into his face and my fangs clamped down on his throat.

 

For the first time, I tasted my father's blood. It tasted better than anything I'd ever experienced before. He roared with anger, furious I'd dared to mark him. His claws closed around my neck, trying to tear me away, but I was tenacious and hung on, snarling as his blood leaked over my teeth and down my chin.

 

Finally, he pried me loose, me writhing and twisting insanely, desperate to find his flesh again. Now that I tasted blood, I needed more. I had to destroy him, devour him. For the first time the darkness had opened inside of me, I sensed what I was and what I was capable of. Bloodlust and abuse, fear and terror and longing to cause pain.

 

He hurled me into the wall, knocking me silly for just a moment, but I was far too gone to stop.

 

He started to turn back to Inoki, but Inoki wasn't stupid and ran away, his little bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor as he ran. Father turned to pursue him, but I'd already recovered enough to launch myself at his legs. I was nowhere strong enough to take him, knock him to the ground as I wanted, but I had to try anyway.

 

"Leave him alone, you son of a bitch!"

 

He grabbed me, plucking me easily off his back and swung me hard into the wall. I squalled, too filled with the rage to even feel pain. My fists buried themselves in his hair, ripping and tearing at him wildly. I had become a mindless thing, consumed by my desire for revenge and blood. He just held me at arms length, staring down at me with a fascinated and puzzled look.

 

"What are you waiting for?" I screamed, trying to kick him, hit him, hurt him the way he hurt me. I wanted it so badly.

 

My head rocked back at the first blow, his opened palmed slap shook my brain in my skull. Then, again and again, he hit me, pummeling me bloody; the only sound in the cold corridor was the sound of his hand driving into my flesh, the sound of my blood spattering the floor and walls. When I was almost unconscious, he dropped me, sneering as he walked away.

 

"Next time you think you can take me, you'd better be sure to win."

 

I'd be sure, I thought sullenly, aching and too damaged to move. I decided I'd just lie there; sooner or later some servant would happen down the hall and put me back in my room. I closed my eyes, just concentrating on breathing, wondering what had happened.

 

I had become something else for a minute, in spite of the terror and pain, I wanted it again. I wanted to feel that power surging in my body; I wanted to punish an enemy. I would do anything to feel like that again, even as I lay there bruised and bleeding, the memory of that feeling consumed me.

 

A soft hesitant sound drew my attention and I felt something touch me gently. "Inu?"

 

"Inoki," I croaked, glad that he'd escaped the monster this time. Inoki just looked at me, tears in his eyes and he grabbed the corner of his sleeping robe and started to wipe the blood off my face.

 

"I thought he was going to kill you this time," Inoki murmured.

 

Yeah, so did I, little brother, I thought. Sick depraved monster, I had to protect Inoki from him as much as I could. That meant making myself a target. It was not too much to ask for my brother, I knew that I'd do anything to keep our father from hurting him.

 

Grimly, I worked my arms underneath me so I could sit up and shook off the nausea and pain that was filling me. I had to be strong, I had to survive and fight the monster at every turn. For my mother, who had killed herself to escape him.

 

For Kaiya, who had died giving birth to my brother and shown me what real courage could be. And for Inoki, without him I might have never known what it meant to have someone to protect, I might have grown selfish and cruel, only amused at my own capacity for causing pain in others.

 

I would have become my father.