InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter Eighteen ( Chapter 18 )

Chapter Eighteen

 

 

Dusk was settling over the fortress, long shadows were cast over the high stone walls, painting the open courtyard in shades of gold. Slowly, as if answering some hidden call, youkai began to gather. Dignified lords moved to take seats along the walls, whispering to each other behind slim hands. Over in the entryways, stable hands were arguing hotly with members of the household guard, taking bets and giving odds on the upcoming challenge.

 

Inuyasha didn't give a damn about any of it. Scowling, arms folded firmly across his bared chest, the hanyou stood waiting. He didn't care that many eyes were focused upon him. Fine, the more, the better. He didn't mind having an audience when he handed that arrogant young demon his ass. His eyes flicked restlessly over the crowd until he spotted Kagome. The girl saw him searching for her and stood up so he could see her better. Her smile shone at him like the light of a thousand suns and he had to stop himself from grinning back at her.

 

Kagome sat back down when Inuyasha turned away. She couldn't help herself, her face didn't show it, but she was a little bit concerned. From the excitement that was building around her, she could sense that a formal challenge was a very big deal to dog demons.

 

Nervously, she pulled at fine silk of her kimono. Makiko had cornered the girl in her room earlier, insisting her outfit had to go. Kagome protested in vain, tried several times to wheedle her way out of wearing the elegant thing. As many had found before her, dog demon or human, nobody could deter Makiko once she'd made up her mind about something.

 

“Kagome, I don't see why you're protesting. The garment is much more flattering to you than that...thing…you wear.”

 

Flushing, she finally gave up and accepted the clothing. She'd never told anyone, not even Inuyasha, but the reason she chose to wear her school fuku so doggedly in the Sengoku Jidai was because sometimes she thought she might forget who she really was. It wasn't always practical; it wasn't always comfortable, particularly when it was cold outside. But it was her connection to her life at home, her real life, the life that had a mother and a little brother waiting for her, and the one where she had math homework and friends that knew nothing about evil demons or sacred jewels.

 

Without that tangible link to her personal reality, Kagome sometimes wondered if one day she might forget to go home.

 

Now her hands brushed idly at her lap, feeling way too conspicuous in the bright scarlet silk. Makiko had nothing but approval in her eyes when her young human had donned the clothing.

 

“Why Kagome, you're absolutely lovely,” she murmured, her fingers brushing through the girl's dark hair. She considered putting the girl's hair up in the style of young ladies of the household, but decided against it. The glossy ebony strands contrasted beautifully against the brilliant silk, highlighting it and bringing out the delicate coloring of the girl's creamy skin.

 

Miroku said as much when he saw her, whistling low and walking in an appreciative circle around her. “Very flattering,” he murmured, grinning at her to make sure she knew he really wasn't trying to set her up for a grope.

 

Kagome flushed and looked away. “Makiko insisted,” she said, a faint pleased smile on her face.

 

“Makiko is known for getting her way,” Jano said, leaning insolently against a wall. His dark eyes gleamed appreciatively at her. “I must compliment her on her choice of colors. The red most definitely suits you.”

 

The bodyguard bowed elaborately to her, his long dark topknot sweeping elegantly over his shoulder. “Might I escort you to the courtyard, my lady Kagome?”

 

She couldn't help but giggle at his pretense. “Jano, you're so funny. I swear you're looking forward to this.”

 

“The fight? Absolutely. Yasuke has been a thorn in my side for years, him and that father of his.” Jano shut his mouth, thinking that it might just be a tad bit inappropriate for him to be discussing private issues with what was essentially an outsider. Kagome didn't seem to notice, her large eyes still sparkling with humor. Jano felt the stirrings of an odd desire; the girl was quite beautiful.

 

And much too young, he chided himself. Even if it wasn't painfully obvious to even the most casual observers that she was desperately in love with that temper tantrum of a hanyou.

 

Jano let his guests to the courtyard personally. A quick nod to Shiou and Haru who were hovering anxiously awaiting their duties. He made sure Kagome and Miroku got the best seats, ones that would have normally been reserved for high-ranking youkai. There had been a few grumbles, possibly from Hisuni-sama's closest associates, that Haru and Shiou had made sure to reserve these places.

 

With a faint grin, he noticed Sango and Miroku making their way towards them, young Rin, Kohaku, and the kitsune boy close behind them.

 

Sango sat down, tossing her hair out her way as she settled on the stony bench next to Kagome. “Are you worried?” she asked in a low voice.

 

Kagome shook her head. “No, I'm just hoping everything goes all right. I guess there are rules about how this supposed to work. I hope Inuyasha knows what to do.”

 

Shrugging, Sango didn't tell Kagome that she had the same feelings. She didn't dare think that Inuyasha could lose, how could some pampered young demon beat him? Unless there was something underhanded in the works. She still wasn't sure what it all meant. Between Makiko's cryptic comments about protocols and the thinly veiled excitement that was being displayed, she found herself wondering if Inuyasha shouldn't have just left well enough alone.

 

Miroku and Shippou did not seem to share her hesitation in the slightest for that matter. The kitsune was looking forward to the fight, not just because it was exciting. Unbeknownst to his companions, he'd wagered his favorite toy to a demon lad over the outcome of this.

 

“No hanyou can beat a full blooded youkai,” the boy scoffed.

 

Shippou looked thoughtfully at the proud young man. “You don't know Inuyasha,” he said with a grin. “He really hates to lose and I've seen him take on much bigger demons.”

 

The young man shook his head, scoffing. “It would be easy to beat anyone with the Tessaiga. My father says the hanyou probably doesn't have any skill without it.”

 

His eyes narrowed slightly at this sentiment. Shippou knew better than most how hard Inuyasha fought to stay alive. He didn't think he'd pull any punches just because it wasn't his life on the line. “Care to make a bet on that?”

 

The murmuring around the courtyard reached an almost deafening level suddenly as the sun started to dip beneath the horizon. Young demons ran around the perimeter, swiftly lighting oil soaked torches that had been placed earlier. Sweet smelling smoke began to fill the air, the flickering light casting shadows and making eerie patterns on the gray stone of the walls. As if on a prearranged signal, the whispering died down and an expectant silence reigned over the assembled demons.

 

Yasuke had made his entrance, appearing from a small cluster of youkai, obviously his friends or relatives. Kagome strained to get a look at him. He was young, dark haired, looking pretty much like the other youkai males she'd already encountered. Slender of build, his body was leanly muscled and his walk had a confidence that Kagome hoped was more for show than anything else.

 

Come on, Inuyasha, she thought.

 

The hanyou's eyes narrowed in dislike at the approach of the young lord. Cocky full blood bastard, he thought contemptuously. His golden eyes gleamed in the firelight. Jano had quietly suggested that he pull his hair out of the way before starting this fight. Inuyasha had grunted in agreement and swiftly gathered his silvery white mane into a messy topknot, securing it clumsily with a piece of leather handed to him by Jano.

 

Yasuke smirked openly at him as he approached. Stopping at a prescribed distance, he stood quietly for a moment, making sure that the muttering of the audience had died down enough for all to hear his words. “Yesterday you attacked me without provocation,” he began.

 

“You fucking deserved it,” Inuyasha countered loudly, his hands already balling into fists. A general tittering followed the comment; already he'd breached protocol by interrupting his challenger.

 

Yasuke glared at him. “I'm the one who's doing the challenging,” he snarled.

 

“So get on with it,” Inuyasha barked. “I ain't got all night, ya punk.”

 

“Peasant”, Yasuke muttered, disgusted with the sounds of laughter from the spectators. “I demand satisfaction. You attacked me, insulted me, and dared to lay your hands upon my person. I formally challenge you to a duel in the name of my bloodline's honor.”

 

Inuyasha yawned loudly, even though he was in no way tired. He just wanted to be sure that Yasuke knew how boring this was to him. “Come on, asshole,” he growled playfully. “Enough with the yapping, you wanna fight me or not?”

 

Laughter echoed off the stone walls and this time it was on Inuyasha's side. Everyone watching was just as anxious for the action to begin. Yasuke flushed and glared around him angrily, upset at losing the advantage his dignity and bloodline would have afforded to him.

 

“All right, if that's what you want,” he said tensely. Stupid hanyou didn't have any manners and no idea what a crass fool was making of himself.

 

The two combatants started to circle each other, each gauging the other's abilities, strength, reach, and speed. Inuyasha had already made up his mind about how he wanted this fight to go, quick, down and dirty. No fucking around, no prancing or dancing, he wasn't doing this to show off or make anyone impressed by his moves. Just get it over with.

 

He cracked his knuckles, grinning as Yasuke paused, his eyes narrowed. The hanyou met his gaze. “What are you waiting for?” Inuyasha asked in a soft, malicious tone. “You need someone to hold your hand?”

 

Yasuke stopped, spun around and flew at him, ready to make the first strike. His fist connected hard with Inuyasha's mouth, the hanyou making no attempt whatsoever to dodge him. A soft growl broke over the crowd, excited by the first blow. Inuyasha's head rocked back a bit from the punch, a thin trickle of blood appeared on his lip. He raised the back of his hand to blot it away, licking at the crimson stain thoughtfully.

 

“That's not bad for a start,” he commented, meeting Yasuke's surprised look. “I'm sure you can do better. Go on, hit me again.”

 

“What?” Yasuke looked pissed now. The fight had begun, challenge given and accepted. He's thrown the first blow and now the idiot wanted to be hit again?

 

Insolent fool, Yasuke thought with an angry snarl distorting his features. “If you insist,” he growled lightly.

 

The demon came at him again, faster this time, landing two rapid-fire blows right to Inuyasha's face. Still, the hanyou made no move to defend himself, just keeping his feet and not giving any ground during the assault. He grinned even more, his lips slick with blood.

 

“Harder! Hit me harder, you worthless lapdog. I want to feel it this time!”

 

“What the hell is he doing?” Miroku asked in a low aside to Sango. It wasn't like Inuyasha to just stand there and let himself be used as a battering dummy. The monk could hear a low rumble of disapproval from the crowd. This was no way to conduct a formal challenge.

 

Sango chewed on her lip nervously, watching the scene with a sense of befuddlement that had to be shared by all the other spectators. This wasn't right, Inuyasha didn't fight like this. Is he planning something, she wondered. Like her friends, she had hoped for a quick resolution to this conflict. Why didn't he defend himself or at least launch his own attack? It made no sense and she felt even more uneasy.

 

Yasuke attacked again, furious, realizing that the hanyou was making fun of him, making fun of this challenge. He landed three more hard blows to the half-demon's torso, hearing a grunt and a hiss each time his fist connected solidly with flesh. He wasn't using his claws, saving that for later, but it infuriated him that Inuyasha wasn't even going to try to hit him back. Yasuke had every confidence in his speed and skill; it just wasn't fair of the hanyou to make them unnecessary.

 

“What's the matter with you?” he snapped, angry and insulted. “You think I'll go easy on you if you don't fight back?”

 

The hanyou just grinned and spat a bit of blood on the ground. “Do I look scared, Yasuke-sama?” he asked mockingly. The strangest feeling had overtaken him just as he'd started in with the fight. He felt like he was floating above it all. Not yet, the voice inside him was whispering. Make him work for it; make him understand that you can handle whatever he gives you.

 

He dropped his hands, standing open and defenseless again as Yasuke jumped into the air, moving with an easy, practiced grace and kicked the hanyou full in the chest, sending him skidding into the ground. A triumphant roar filled the courtyard as the youkai watching saw the white-haired outsider finally go down.

 

“Is that what you wanted?” Yasuke asked contemptuously. He was angry enough that the hanyou chose to mock him by not fighting back; he would just have to end this without the satisfaction of a real conflict. Stupid fool wanted to be beaten to a pulp, he didn't know why and he didn't really care anymore.

 

Inuyasha was slowly getting to his feet, a grim smile still firmly in place and darkness in his eyes. “Thank you,” he murmured.

 

Thank you? Yasuke hesitated before attacking again. Was it a trick to draw him out, exhaust him before the fight began for real? He was breathing hard now, not from exertion as much as anger. It was ridiculously insulting; he was getting no satisfaction whatsoever from fighting like this.

 

Kagome couldn't stand it anymore, her hands were clenched in tight fists and tension stood out starkly on her face. What is he doing, she wondered. It wasn't like Inuyasha; he should have flattened the other demon or at least dodged those blows.

 

“Inuyasha! Stop playing with him already!”

 

Yasuke turned and scowled at the human wench who dared interrupt the proceeding fight. Playing with him, he thought, his lip curling in anger. I'll show this half-breed filth not to play with me. Snarling, he attacked again, claws poised to strike, tear the flesh off his opponent's bones.

 

Inuyasha caught his wrist, easily stopping him in his tracks. Yasuke looked up and saw an unpleasant look in the hanyou's eyes. “What the hell are you doing?” he hissed, trying to break his opponent's hold.

 

Pulling him closer with a rough yank, the half-demon met Yasuke's furious eyes. In a low, harsh whisper, he spoke for Yasuke's ears alone. “I just didn't want anyone to think that what I'm about to do to you was unprovoked. I wanted you to get your best shots in before I take you apart.”

 

Inuyasha twisted Yasuke's arm, spun him around and flipped the demon neatly over his shoulder to hit the ground hard. Yasuke was winded by the blow, but on his feet almost instantly. He readied himself to attack again, but Inuyasha was already in his face, delivering a stingingly vicious open palmed slap hard to his right cheek and an equally bruising backhand to his left. Before Yasuke could recover his balance, Inuyasha drove his fist hard into the demon's newly healed nose, enjoying the sound as the bones were fractured again.

 

Some strange emotion was on him, he wanted to hurt Yasuke, make him pay. His dog demon blood was chanting in his ear, it wasn't enough to beat him, he really wanted, needed, to humiliate him.

 

Yasuke roared angrily and rushed him, claws open and ready. Inuyasha caught him easily in a kick, his foot feeling a rib or two snap under the pressure. Yasuke backed off again, pain written all over his face. Inuyasha was far from done, chasing after him to grab the fool by his long hair, hold him still so he could pummel him ruthlessly.

 

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered what had woken up this sadistic side of his nature.

 

He had to dominate him, had to beat him beyond what was necessary. It wasn't like his rage, where he'd completely lose control and just slaughter anything within reach. His heart felt like ice, he was coldly and calmly in control as he continued to beat the other demon into submission.

 

Yasuke made one last desperate attempt, his face bloodied by now, his strength going. He raked the claws of his right hand down Inuyasha's bare chest, leaving long deep scratches. Inuyasha realized that the claws were poisoned. Not a natural defense, this was some herbal compound. A piercing pain followed by a stark numbness traveled down his chest and started to spread over his skin.

 

“You cheating bastard,” he ground out, that cold smile still fixed on his face.

 

Yasuke whimpered when Inuyasha lifted him up by his hair, holding him still so he could stare right into his eyes. “Who am I?” he asked, his claws tightening on the back of Yasuke's neck.

 

The other demon struggled against him, wondering what had possessed him to bring this wrath down upon himself. There had to be some way to get away from this pain. Weakly, he acknowledged defeat. “Hanyou-sama.”

 

Inuyasha leveled one more hard blow to Yasuke's temple, rendering him unconscious before he dropped him like a limp bag of sand. The burning pain in his chest was making him want more, he wanted to blood this gutless fool, make him pay out his life's blood. Snarling sadistically, he went for him again, claws ready to rend and tear, fangs hungry for the taste of blood.

 

“Enough! This fight is over,” Jano shouted, intercepting the hanyou.

 

Inuyasha gave him a deadly dark glare. “I say when it's over.”

 

Jano froze momentarily. The challenge had been a fun idea, a good way to poke at Hisuni and his pompous cronies, but he had no intention of letting Yasuke be murdered in front of the entire fortress. He met the darkness full on, refusing to turn away from Inuyasha's glare. With a jolt, he recognized where he'd seen that expression before.

 

It was like Inutaisho had come back from the grave and was standing before him. He instantly understood why this fight had gone so strangely. If similarly, foolishly, challenged like that, the Daimyo would have been hell-bent on pursuing and punishing his challenger. Not to be satisfied by winning alone, he had to dominate, to humiliate, establish his superiority no matter what the cost of blood.

 

Breathing hard, Jano considered about what to do. He wondered if Sesshomaru had decided to come and watch the fight and then realized it didn't matter. Sesshomaru would let his brother kill Yasuke; there was no doubt about it. Jano had provoked this conflict by putting the idea into Yasuke's head, completely forgetting what kind of bloodline he was dealing with.

 

Sesshomaru had said as much, implying that he wouldn't so much as waste his time by watching the fight. A formal challenge was supposed to be non-lethal combat, a way for inuyoukai to settle matters of dominance and insult publicly. Unless, he thought queasily, you were dealing with a daiyoukai bloodline that wouldn't be satisfied with just beating the other youkai.

 

Gods, he really was an idiot, just like Makiko had said.

 

Dropping to his knees in front of the still waiting hanyou, he bent his head submissively. “I ask for your mercy, my lord,” he murmured. Only Inuyasha could hear his words, but the entire fortress took in his traditional stance, the bowed head, and knew that Jano was asking the half-breed for Yasuke's life.

 

Inuyasha was startled and Jano's actions quite took him out of his strange mood. Asking for mercy, what the hell? Something about the whole moment felt weird, it was like a memory that couldn't quite be brought to light, it was like the instincts that his body had been pressuring him with had suddenly all awoken. He was just a hanyou, just an outcast, wasn't he? Wasn't he? He didn't belong here.

 

He felt his feet starting to back away, back off, and give Yasuke and Jano some room. He felt a tremor in his legs that had nothing to do with the fight he'd just had and everything to do with his physical reaction to Jano's words.

 

Mercy?

 

“My lord?” Jano asked again, not looking up, not meeting the half-demon's eyes. He waited, feeling precious seconds tick by in the dead calm of the moment. No one even dared to breathe, held by the drama that was unfolding. Inuyasha shivered, twitching almost, feeling the cold, tight emotion that had wrapped itself around his heart start to ease.

 

“Okay,” he whispered, half to himself. “He doesn't have to die today.”

 

Jano heard the change in his tone and his head snapped up, glad he was seeing Inuyasha in those golden eyes again, not the ghost of the Daimyo. Relief flooded his body and he got to his feet. Somehow, Jano just couldn't quite leave it at that; his sense of humor wouldn't let him. He really should learn to keep his mouth shut. Glancing back at the still unconscious Yasuke, he flashed a grin at Inuyasha.

 

“Guess he's lucky he caught you in such a good mood. I'd hate to see what you would have done if he really pissed you off.”

 

Inuyasha stared at him for a moment, turning that idea over in his head. He caught the flavor of Jano's comment a moment later and started to smile, it was an almost shy, embarrassed smile, but it warmed his eyes. “I can't help it. I'm just a lowly hanyou. I can't help feeling sorry for him.”

 

A hard hand grabbed Inuyasha's shoulder and he looked into Jano's warm eyes. “Not just a hanyou,” he said softly. “Don't say it like it's something you're ashamed of. Your father would be proud of you for sparing him.”

 

He flushed crimson and looked away, anywhere but at Jano. No one had ever said such a thing to him and he didn't know how to react. Inuyasha let a cocky mask drop over his face instead. “Whatever. I just got bored with pounding on him, okay?”

 

Jano nodded sharply and started to reply when he was rudely elbowed out of the way by Makiko. “Congratulations on your victory, Inuyasha-sama,” she said crisply. “Will you need someone to see to those wounds?”

 

Her nose twitched and she leaned forward, examining the long gashes. “Poison? Jano, this is insufferable. Poison is strictly forbidden.”

 

He grinned at her. “I know. What do you want me to do about it?” he asked, nodding at the unconscious demon.

 

Makiko flushed and looked back to Inuyasha. “You have every right to kill him for that. Cheating during a challenge is not to be tolerated.”

 

Inuyasha shivered. No, he didn't want it. His desire for Yasuke's blood had drained away, making him feel empty. So they wouldn't notice the way he was starting to react, he growled softly. “Doesn't matter.”

 

She eyed him for a moment then turned to gesture at one of her people. A quick exchange of whispers and the girl ran off. Around them, youkai were starting to leave the courtyard, muttering about the strange happenings. Makiko looked at his scratches again, frowning.

 

“These will need treated, I don't think the poison is lethal to you but you might scar badly from it. You don't want to carry around Yasuke's marks, do you?”

 

He guessed not. Makiko moved away so a cluster of young females could surround him. His eyes got wide as they started giggling, one of them holding a small earthenware pot of salve. He found he was blushing hard as the females started to treat his wound, smearing it with a pungent smelling concoction. Instantly, the stinging faded away and Inuyasha felt his knees go weak as several pairs of hands were suddenly upon him.

 

It felt pretty damn good. Was this part of the whole challenge thing? He decided he didn't really care anymore and his ears drooped forward and his eyelids closed under the gentle ministrations of no less than a half dozen demon girls who were whispering and giggling to each other as they rubbed his chest, back and arms. If they didn't stop soon, he was going to curl up in a ball and start purring.

 

Makiko seemed to sense that the young hanyou was nearing the end of his tolerance. She clapped her hands sharply, catching the girls' attention. “Take him inside before he falls over,” she advised. A nice hot bath was being prepared and Inuyasha didn't seem to have a voice left to protest as the girls grabbed his wrists and pulled him away. He quite forgot that he had friends who might want to talk to him or congratulate him.

 

oOo

 

Kagome was trying to push her way through the crowd to get to Inuyasha, but she wasn't having much luck. She just caught a glimpse of him as he was being led back inside the fortress. “Damn,” she murmured. She wanted to tell him that she was proud of him for not killing that Yasuke.

 

Regretfully, she realized her praise would have to wait and turned to work her way back through the crowd to Sango and Miroku. There was supposed to be some kind of feast celebration tonight. She'd see Inuyasha later. In the meantime, Jano had made it expressly clear that she wasn't to wander off on her own.

 

She found herself separated from her friends by a small cluster of richly dressed female youkai. Kagome noted that her own clothing was much the same style and quality, if such things were an indication of rank. Not that she'd ever pass for inuyoukai, that much she understood when she brushed up against a demon or two and they looked at her with suspicion, noses wrinkling.

 

Kagome tried not to take offense, reminding herself yet again that these people couldn't be accustomed to humans moving in their midst. She told her herself sternly that it was their home, their territory and just because some of the youkai she'd met seemed friendly, the others were perfectly within their rights to be wary of a stranger.

 

“Amusing diversion, that fight. I seriously thought Yasuke-sama was about to lose his life.”

 

Kagome's ears pricked up in spite of herself. The woman's voice was low and soft, rich with an inflection of humor. She had wondered how these demons would react to seeing Inuyasha kick the living snot out of his challenger, even if there had been something strange about the fight. She listened intently, trying to place the conversation.

 

“Hiromi, it's a scandal! Hisuni-sama is sure to be outraged.”

 

“Then his son shouldn't have challenged the hanyou,” Hiromi answered smoothly.

 

Kagome found herself grinning, happy to hear a positive response to what had just taken place. The two females were just ahead of her, obviously young nobility themselves to judge by their clothing and manners. Kagome sidled up behind them, keeping her eyes cast down so no one would realize she was deliberately eavesdropping.

 

Hiromi's companion laughed softly. “I would have expected you to say that, I saw the way you were watching them. Really, your family would be appalled if they saw you drooling over a half-breed like that!”

 

Drooling? Suddenly, this didn't seem so amusing. Kagome had for some reason never considered that these full blood youkai women might find Inuyasha attractive. She supposed she had also bought into his belief that no pure youkai could see a half-demon as anything remotely acceptable. A funny feeling rose in her chest and Kagome wondered what Inuyasha would do if he realized that he was the object of some feminine admiration.

 

Hiromi's laugh had a sensuous ripple. “His human heritage doesn't bother me in the slightest. Not with that bloodline to back it up. Didn't you see how he moved during that fight? All that raw power and strength, it made me tingle just watching it.”

 

Her companion made a rude noise. “You can't guarantee that a strong warrior will also make for an impressive bedmate. You're letting your hormones run away with you. Besides, haven't you heard the rumors? He arrived here with two human females; one of them is bound to belong to him.”

 

“If she does, I'm sure she's hardly more than a pet,” Hiromi said coolly. Kagome flushed and felt her hands clench. Who did this woman think she was, she didn't know the first thing about Inuyasha, what his life had been like or all the dangers they'd faced together. Who was she calling a pet?

 

“In any case,” Hiromi said softly, “I've already made my decision. I want him for myself and I will have him tonight in fact. Care to place a wager on it?”

 

Kagome went cold inside when Hiromi's companion burst out laughing. “Scandal, scandal,” she teased. “I know better than to wager against you when you're in a mood like this. Have your fun with the lord's little brother then. Just don't forget to let the rest of us in on the juicy details tomorrow morning!”

 

She stopped to let the women move on, unable to stand hearing any more. Her face was flushed and she felt her teeth starting to grind together. A tight hurtful feeling was twisting her stomach, she felt like someone had punched her. What would Inuyasha do? Would he ignore her? Kagome couldn't help but remember some of the reactions he had been having to being so close to other inuyoukai for the first time in his life. Wouldn't it be natural for him to be curious?

That Hiromi was beautiful, sophisticated and obviously experienced. How could she, Kagome, compare to that? Wouldn't it be normal for him to be just a little bit interested or curious about an inuyoukai female? He wouldn't have to worry about protecting her; a demon woman could take care of herself. And he wouldn't look in her face and see the ghost of a dead woman either.

 

Either way, she told herself sadly, isn't it still his decision to make?

 

Kagome was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize someone was standing behind her, impatient for her to move out of the way. She was startled when a rough hand suddenly shoved her, almost hard enough to make her fall. She turned around and looked up into the eyes of an angry, angry looking demon.

 

“Out of my way, you human piece of filth!”

 

She was too stunned to say a word. He was tall, imposing and the way he looked at her made her want to cringe. “I'm...I'm sorry,” she stammered, not quite understanding what she had done to earn such a hateful look from a youkai.

 

He glared at her. “You dare to speak directly to me, human? I should take your head for that.” Kagome felt nervous, feeling other youkai coming up around her, gathering in a circle that hid the smaller girl from view. Something unpleasant was glittering in his eyes and Kagome swallowed hard.

 

Whoever he is, he's too angry to be thinking straight, she decided, catching a glint of red in his eyes.

 

She looked down, flushing. “I said I was sorry, please leave me alone.”

 

A rough hand grabbed her by the jaw and Kagome looked desperately around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jano, Makiko, anybody who might help her. All she could see was the demon's companions, cruelty and hate oozing off them like a miasma worthy of Naraku himself. Strangely, thinking of the horrible demon put Kagome's courage back in her spine. She straightened and shoved his hand away with defiance worthy of Inuyasha himself.

 

“Don't touch me!”

 

He growled low in his throat. “A human should know her place,” he rumbled, his claws flexing. She didn't know what she could have done to earn such a hateful look, but her chin came up, her eyes grew hard and she refused to back away or cower. Kagome felt a surge of power that she knew was her own unique abilities; she wasn't powerless. If he hit her, she'd purify the hell right out of him.

 

The youkai raised his hand to slap her aside, annoyed by this game. That the day had come when hanyou beat his own son and a human wench refused to back down, this was a sad day to be a youkai indeed. Still, she deserved a lesson for her insolence and he struck at her. Kagome braced for the blow, willing all her spiritual abilities to defend herself when something fast and slim darted across her path.

 

“You leave her alone!”

 

Kohaku had seen Hisuni's people surround Kagome and acted instinctively to protect his friend. Now he found Hisuni's attention focused on himself instead, which was what the boy had intended.

 

Hisuni gave a growl of rage and swung with all his considerable strength at the young boy. Kagome shouted a warning, desperately, but she wasn't fast enough to prevent the lord from striking Kohaku. The boy flew back hard into a wall and slumped over, dazed by the violence of the blow.

 

“Kohaku,” she shrieked, running to his side. Kagome knelt beside him, taking his injured face in her hands. “Kohaku, are you okay? You didn't have to do that, I can handle myself!”

 

“Couldn't let him hit you,” Kohaku muttered. “My father would be ashamed if I didn't protect you from someone like that. Inuyasha's not here, I had to keep him away from you.”

 

“Inuyasha,” the demon sneered. “Are you someone special to that half-breed, wench? I have taken enough insults from him, for my son and myself. I'm not about to start suffering the insults of humans as well!”

 

Hisuni moved swiftly past her, grabbing Kohaku by his throat and holding him up in the air. Kohaku struggled feebly, his legs kicking and finding nothing to connect with. Kagome sat horrified, watching as Kohaku's face turned red from the pressure being put on his neck.

 

“Stop it,” she cried. “He's just a boy, don't hurt him!”

 

“Beg me for his life, human,” Hisuni hissed, holding the boy still higher. “Beg for his life as my son was forced to by that half-breed filth and I might consider sparing both of your lives today!”

 

“Leave my brother alone!” a new voice screamed.

 

Sango saw her brother hanging limply from a demon lord's hand and felt an incandescent rage fill her body. She was crackling with fury, the aura of her anger standing out from her body almost like a halo. Demons who weren't used to a human who could produce such a palpable sensation of rage stepped back in wonder. Even Kagome was stunned to silence, watching her friend advance wrathfully on Hisuni's men.

 

Hisuni glared at this new insolent human and his fingers tightened meaningfully around the boy's neck. “This does not concern you.”

 

“It concerns me because that's my brother you're throwing around. You put him down now!”

 

A human female would not order him. He would not be able to live with the shame of such a humiliation. Hisuni felt his own anger reaching a climax, he wanted to burn this bitch into the ground, snap her brother's neck, and kick the other cowering girl until she coughed blood. It was completely unreasonable, but the youkai had been pushed beyond what he could bear. Watching his oldest son being pummeled by a filthy half-breed, the shame of a once great and noble line had made him irrational.

 

Humans and demons did not belong together; disgusting abominations like hanyou were proof of that. Now he towered over the furious Sango.

 

“I will crush you,” he hissed.

 

Hisuni tossed Kohaku like a rag doll, sending the boy crashing hard into the unforgiving stone pavement. The defiant woman gave a shout of anger at his rough handling of her only sibling and flung herself on him without a second thought. Sango couldn't think of battle tactics, or comprehend that attacking a demon lord barehanded was probably one of the most foolish things she'd ever done in her life. She longed for Hiraikotsu, one clean slice of her weapon's edge and this demon would find himself cleaved in two.

 

For now, her fingernails and fists would have to do, they were all she had and Sango felt a strange desire to feel the demon's blood in her fists as she never had before.

 

He saw her coming, saw the foolish human launch herself at him like a weapon, puny fingers outstretched to claim his skin. It was laughable, it was ridiculous. With a cold smile, he waited for the perfect moment in her leap, the flat of his palm striking her face and knocking her away from him.

 

Hisuni watched the woman fall, pleased to see her so easily batted away like the insect she was. It was over; he'd made his point. Humans like these were weak and simple. A lord of his bloodline and position had to defend his pride if nothing else. He was content to let them live, this time.

 

With an elegant sweep, he gestured to his men to leave the wretched creatures where they lay. It was about time someone reminded them of their place. Hisuni smiled to himself and started to walk away, a touch of violence had done much to appease his anger and insult. He was nearly gone from the open courtyard with a voice as hard as stone and cold as ice stopped him in his tracks.

 

“Hisuni.”

 

Sesshomaru's face was utterly expressionless; he might have been one of the stone walls for all the emotion he was showing. He looked at the humans on the ground, noting the flush of a bruise forming on his mate's cheek. He glanced around him then, seeing that all activity had stopped, youkai and human alike were frozen in the moment like flies in amber, waiting, not breathing, for his next action.

 

Holding himself with all the stillness of death, destruction ebbing around him like leaves in a whirlwind, he looked at Hisuni again before speaking softly to the gathered spectators.

 

“Clear the courtyard.”