InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Vying for Dominance ❯ It Begins ( Chapter 11 )

It Begins

 

 

Ignorance is bliss. Then perhaps unconsciousness is as well. At least when she was unconscious, Kagome couldn't feel the terrible pounding in her head from where she had been struck, or the painful stiffness of her limbs from where they were bound harshly in coarse lengths of carded rope. But the most terrible thing to enter her consciousness upon waking was the overwhelming burn in her senses that screamed out in warning. They were everywhere. So many it seemed impossible. So many, all around her, everywhere, consuming her senses with the burn of their powerful auras: Youkai.

 

Startled into full alertness by the realization, Kagome tried to shake away the groggy processing of her pounding head. She couldn't see anything, and she knew it was because her eyes had been covered. But if she could only think clearly, be able to focus enough to free her hands or her legs from their bindings, stretch her senses out to get a better grasp of where she was being held and by who; she would stand a better chance of surviving until help could come.

 

She couldn't let herself be overwhelmed by her emotions. Fear would serve her no purpose now, not when she needed all of her strength to face what was coming. She knew this, but knowing did not make it any easier to block away the cold chill that worked its way down her spine or to lessen the tightness that squeezed in her chest making it beyond difficult to breathe.

 

Forcing herself to take several long breaths to push away her building anxiety, Kagome fought past the feeling of fear and helplessness. Slowly, carefully, she began testing the restraints that bound her. With no eyes to see, she could only feel her way. Groping against the corded bindings and the hard surface she was laying on, she found that though she was bound both hand and foot, she was not secured to anything. Of course, the reason why became painfully obvious when her hands brushed up against a row of solid metal bars.

 

Still, using the freedom she did possess, she managed to pull herself into a sitting position. Leaning her weight against the row of metal bars, she brought her feet closer to her body to loosen the tension against the rope that secured her hands as well. Though it took several tries considering the painful state of her body, she finally managed to pull the dark covering away from her face.

 

The difference was unremarkable. There was no light in this place. Everything was cast in heavy shadows. She could barely make out the confines of her cage, let alone see where it was she was being held. There were bars all around her. Not just a single cage, but many. But the others were empty. Though she couldn't see into the deep shadows, she could feel no other presences close to her. Wherever she was, she was alone.

 

But she knew it would not last for long. Far too many times had she been captured, another creature seeking to use her to gain possession of the Jewel's power. It was repulsive; and she chastised herself harshly for allowing it to happen again, for letting her guard down long enough to let such a weak creature get the better of her.

 

Weak. That was the only way to describe them. Because any creature with any respect for themselves or any faith in their abilities would never stoop to such underhanded tactics. They would loose, fall against the purity of her light or against they fury of the fiery winds when Inuyasha managed to track her down. Death would be the only thing her captor would gain from this cowardly act. It was only a matter of time before they realized it and fell to their fate.

 

Kagome, however, was not about to sit around and do nothing to wait for it to happen. Using the alone time she had been given away from her captor; she began working at the ties binding her ankles. With her hands tied and her vision blocked by the gloomy darkness around her, it was difficult; but not impossible. After several minutes of working the ropes, she managed to loosen them enough to slip her feet free.

 

Her hands, unfortunately, would prove a different story. The length of cord was wrapped securely around her wrists and hands, locking them together so that only her fingers could wiggle slightly, and it had been knotted over several times in a crude but effective series of ties. She tried using her teeth to loosen the knots, but it was getting her nowhere. So, after realizing she was going to have to find a better way about it, she gingerly lifted herself against he bars and began carefully searching her confinements for some sort of latch or piece of splintered something that she would be able to use to cut through the bindings.

 

She had just managed to find the crude hinges that held the door on her iron prison and was about to start working at the ropes, when somewhere a door opened. Light spilled down into the darkness, and with it came the roar of voices from above.

 

Kagome drew in a sharp breath. Her heart nearly stilled in her chest from the dreadful sweep of anxiety and fear that washed through her. On trembling limbs, she pulled back from the iron gate, putting as much distance as she could between her and whoever it was that had come for her, slipping away from the light into the shadows cast by the prison walls.

 

- - - - - - - - - - -

 

“What is your name, young one?”

 

The raven-haired demoness bowed demurely to the elder Lord. Being in his presence was such an honor; but that he was so kind as to ask her name, she couldn't help but smile.

 

“Kara, Lord Takked,” she replied.

 

Takked inclined his head politely to the young female, his broad features softened by a pleasant smile. “A pleasure.” However, when his eyes shifted to meet with the male's at her side, the golden surfaces were stripped of their warmth, becoming just as hard and unyielding as the other's.

 

“Quite a beauty, Sesshomaru,” he stated carefully. With a broad gesture towards the long table set up on the dais at the front of the grand arena, he added, “Perhaps she would serve better as our hostess. Mesudoku is quite tired of the position. She had hoped that this would be the year that your mate would take over her duties.”

 

“My mate…” Sesshomaru's words were nearly as hard and angry as the glare he leveled on the elder. The only one he had ever wanted for a mate was the only one that never could be. And even now, even here, so far away from her and the place where he had made her his; still he thought he could smell her scent, still he thought he could feel the brush of her powers. But he knew it was nothing more than an illusion. She would never be welcome here, never be accepted. She could never be…

 

“Take the bitch if it pleases you, Takked,” he replied coolly. “I have no use for her any longer.”

 

Shaking his head at the expected response from the ever-impassive Sesshomaru, Takked turned towards the young female. She hadn't even so much as flinched at the insult, but he could see it in her eyes. Though downcast in her submissive posture, still the bright gleam that had made the dark surfaces sparkle in the sun only moments before was dulled.

 

But now was not a time for such things. This young one, however she had ended up with Sesshomaru, was about to be given the opportunity of her lifetime. “Come, child,” Takked beckoned cheerfully. “There are games afoot, and our cups are in need of drink.” Offering her his arm, he indulged himself in a low chuckle as she hesitantly reached out to take it. “There now,” he patted her hand once she had finally found the courage to loop it through his offered arm, his voice rumbling in its low baritone as it shook with his amusement. “Perhaps,” he mused as he began to lead young Kara to the dais, “You will find the attentions of one of my esteemed guests.”

 

“Oh, no, my Lord,” she pleaded softly, “I would never…”

 

“Nonsense!” his booming voice cut her off. He patted her hand again with his much larger one. “It has been a good year, and there are many young males entered in the contest. You, my dear, are going to find yourself quite the mate, I am sure.”

 

The way her full lips lifted away from their natural pout even though she was trying to maintain her softly demure expression was charming. “I am so very honored, my Lord.”

 

“As you should be,” he replied with a grin of his own.

 

They stepped up onto the dais, and with the young bitch on his arm, Takked raised his voice over the gathering.

 

“My brothers. This is what we fight for!”

 

He brought the bitch forward, displaying her for all to see. And in the crowd gathered, a tremendous roar called out that shook the land with its might.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

“Can you hear it, miko? That is the sound of your death.”

 

Kagome glared at the silver bitch through the bars of her cage. Coward, her mind spit at the treacherous bitch. She had already been humiliated in her defeat, and now she would disgrace herself by making this disgusting act against the one that had spared her life. She was taunting her, clicking her claws against the iron bars, her lips twisted into a mocking smile, and her voice slick with her own self-satisfaction.

 

“They cheer because the prize bitch has just been presented.” She paused to let her mocking smile grow. Her eyes gleamed with wicked glee, her sharp focus entirely on the reactions of the miko whore as she finished, “Sesshomaru must have found a real beauty this year. But certainly he would not give her over to the crowd before he discovered her potential.” She leaned closer, dropping her voice into a seductive whisper. “He would have done things to her that you, mortal, could not even begin to fathom. And she…” She paused to indulge herself in a dark chuckle. “Well, let us just say that only a true bitch knows how to make our males howl in pleasure.”

 

The only change in Kagome's expression was a slight narrowing of her eyes, but it only made her furious glare that much more fearsome. “You won't get away with this.”

 

“On the contrary, miko,” the bitch sneered. “I already have. But you hold on to your hope if it helps you walk to your death in peace,” she laughed. “It will make it that much more gratifying to see the look on your face when you realize that no one will come to your aid.”

 

Raking her claws along the rung of metal bars, the bitch began moving back the way she had come. “I will leave you with this knowledge, for now, miko,” she taunted as she went. “Perhaps you should use the time to become better acquainted with your `Gods'.”

 

Kagome flinched at the harsh slamming of the heavy door that signaled the bitch's departure. Alone: was the message that sound carried with it. She was alone, held prisoner in the midst of a gathering of hundreds of youkai. And she knew, no matter how desperately she would have wished otherwise, that even Inuyasha would not be able to fight his way through to her this time.

 

A shuddering breath left her when she realized the full horror of her situation. Being locked behind those bars was nothing compared to what awaited her if she stepped out into their midst. A miko brought to a gathering of youkai could only end in death. The bitch knew it, and was counting on it.

 

But she refused to give up hope. There had to be a way. There was a way.

 

Forcing herself steady, Kagome closed her eyes and focused on drawing up her powers. She just needed to find Him. If she could even touch him with her powers he would know she was there. It was a long shot, but she had to at least try. Because she knew that Sesshomaru would be the only one that could take her away from this place before her presence became known.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

 

“Would another drink please my Lord?”

 

Sesshomaru declined the offer with a disinterested wave of his hand, so Kara continued with her duties, moving to the Lord seated to his right.

 

“I thought you'd never ask,” the golden Inu replied to the question not yet voiced by the young demoness. Leaning his stocky frame against the table for balance, he held up his cup expectantly, not caring that it was still half-full and his movement caused the drink to slosh out of it.

 

“Perhaps you have already indulged yourself enough, Tannis,” Sesshomaru observed dryly over the drunkard's behavior.

 

“Nonsense,” Tannis waved of the ridiculous idea. Taking a long draw from his newly filled flask, he sighed in contentment as the blood wine burned its way into his pallet. He smiled a crooked smile as he patted his bloated stomach. “Life is too short, Sesshomaru. I say, indulge in every moment. You should really try it out sometime.”

 

The problem was he had tried it. He had allowed himself to indulge in something forbidden, and he was paying the price for it with every passing moment. He was being driven mad by the constant reminder of her scent. It would carry to him on the breeze, whisper across his senses in taunting reminders. It was becoming hard to even focus on the events in the arena.

 

And then, when he thought it couldn't get any worse, something else carried to him on those taunting winds, something even more powerful. The air was stolen from his lungs when he felt the pure burn against the fires of his spirit. He looked up sharply, his mind racing to try and discover the source. But though he knew he wouldn't find her, though his rational mind was telling him it was impossible, when his eyes landed on the raven-haired beauty that was serving as their hostess, he couldn't help but see Her face and hear Her voice.

 

“Would another drink please My Lord?”

 

The same soft question, but with his sense ignited by the wash of pure light, he couldn't hear it for what it was.

 

“A taste of you would please me.”

 

The slick response that came from the black Inu Kuro; but when his hand reached out to take hold of the female's backside, the insult became too much.

 

Sesshomaru growled, the sound low, angry, and possessive.

 

The curious eyes that turned towards him after his outburst were no more shocked than he was. Clenching his hand firmly at his side, he fought away his clouded thoughts and forced himself to ignore his senses.

 

“Kuro,” he addressed the dark one, his voice carefully measured as to not reveal any of his inner struggles. “That female is under the protection of this Sesshomaru until the rights to her are won in the contest. If you wish to indulge yourself in her, then join the crowd in the arena.”

 

The black of Kuro's yes glinted with anger as he locked with Sesshomaru's gaze. But, after releasing a haughty sniff, he let his hand fall back to his side. “She must be good if she can get that kind of reaction from you. But I wouldn't want to take away from the contest by having all the other males forfeit before it even begun.”

 

“Hn.” Sesshomaru refused to acknowledge the black Inu any further. Training his focus back on the arena floor, he tried to ignore the fact that the female had made her way back to him. He refused to look at her, even as she kneeled down next to him and reached to fill his cup. How convenient. He was suddenly in need of a drink anyways.

 

Her soft whisper, however, made him look down to her.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Not her. She was not her. It was just his senses toying with him, the beast trying to get him to break to its desires. But he wouldn't. “Speak to me again,” he bit out at the female, “and you will find yourself without a tongue.”

 

“That was harsh, Sesshomaru,” Takked commented from his left.

 

“Then get on with it, Takked,” he replied frigidly. “Begin the contest so that this female will have a mate to defend her honor and the detestable task will no longer be left to this Sesshomaru.”

 

With a marginal lifting of his lip in displeasure, Takked turned away from Sesshomaru and signaled down to the arena floor for the battle to begin.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

*-Whacks Sesshomaru with a rolled-up newspaper-* Bad puppy! Because you wouldn't listen to your senses, now poor Kagome is going to get fed to the dogs! Sheesh! Men! Errr…demons. Whatever ;P

 

Too lazy to think up new names XD So, if anyone noted my use of Mesudoku and is thinking she will be anything like my last portrayal of her, don't. I just really like the name and didn't want to go through the `fun' of finding a new one that would suit her.

 

Well, I guess that's all for tonight. Later days.

 

Shadow