X-stasy

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.

Chapter 1: -Feza-

A strange looking girl, nay, woman dressed as a little girl skipped through the forest humming to herself. She wore her crimson locks in two buns on either side of her head from which cascaded the rest in long pigtails. Her face could not be seen since she was wearing a mysterious Noh mask upon it. The Noh mask was solid white, with black accents for the eyebrows, lips that were painted a deep scarlet, and a single tear drop of blood underneath the left eye; the eyes were fake and of a golden hue. She was wearing a black and red kimono with the pattern of the two ancient demon gods, the phoenixes, Feng and Huang-those holy ones that are true and everlasting love incarnate. Tied about her waist was a black obi, which held a katana sword by her side. Two strips of cloth from the obi hung behind her swaying in the wind like reeds.

This woman's name was Isane Rune, she of the ancient demon legends...

"Wandering...wandering down the lonely path of life as always. He...he is always one step behind me. Waiting...waiting to trap me inside the golden cage of his cruel love once again. No-I will escape him! I shall never return to that hell. I will be free...like a bird. Yes, a bird soaring through the sky is so free...unlike me. Why must I be a prisoner to my own heart? Will I ever be free from myself? And my accursed existence? Why, oh why, did I ever have to fall in love with that evil spider demon!" Isane was saying to herself as she continued her way down the isolated path.

That's when she heard it-a bloodcurdling scream. The scream of one who was in extreme pain, no, worse than that...the soul was hurting. This caused the woman to stop dead in her tracks. Placing both hands in front of her as if she was about to pray she concentrated on trying to sense from where this cry for help had come from. 'Perhaps...some fellow woman needs my help. I only hear the cries of those who are in need of me.' Isane told herself. There-she had found it. Leaping high into the air, so that she came out of the forest and was above the treetops, she began to skip through the air, her feet barely touching the treetops as she went.

In only a few moments she found herself in front of the entrance to a cave at the foot of a high mountain, and did not hesitate to enter-she did not fear death after all. Skipping her way towards the sound of ultimate suffering she soon saw a dim light up ahead. Pressing herself up against the cold, unfeeling stone that surrounded her she peered around the corner and her breath caught in her throat at the sight before her.

She had never seen a male youkai that was so beautiful as this one, even in his current condition. 'Overwhelmingly sexy in silhouette,' Isane mused, 'Larger. More dominating. Incredibly male.' Isane shook her head in a frustrated manner confused that this -male- before her would stir such thoughts within her. He was strung up on the far wall of the cave in chains. His head was bowed so she was unable to see his face, which was also obscured by his long, silvery hair that surrounded him like a shroud of death.

He had been stripped of his clothing, and all that was covering him was a rag about his waist. She noticed with a cringe that his left arm had been hacked off and in order for that part of him to be chained, a hook had been driven into the tender flesh there. His clothes, she noticed, were off to the side carelessly tossed in a pile, on which two swords lay. 'How strange this is...I sense that this male youkai has much power, but somehow it has been sealed away.' Isane thought to herself.

Her eyes trailed over the steely contours of his bare flesh and noted that there were several slash marks marring his otherwise flawless skin. Even so, he still was a lithe and powerful animal, and she could not fail to admire the strength and tensile beauty of his exquisite musculature.

Something clicked in the Isane's not too clear mind-torture. Someone was torturing this male youkai. He was a prisoner here. She felt a pang in her heart at the thought. She could relate having been a prisoner once herself.

Suddenly, a female youkai materialized before the male captive, a grim smile upon her face. Her name was, Junko, of the feline youkai clan. The demoness had thick black hair, which was brought up into two unruly pigtails on either side of her head. Her eyes were a deep blood red, her skin was as pale as the snow, and she was wearing a black, leather dress that clung closely to her shapely form. In her hand she held a long, deadly, leather whip. She licked her lips as she eyed her youkai male specimen.

"Sesshoumaru, darling," she purred, "I have returned. Did you miss me?"

The youkai before her seemed to have to use all his strength just to lift his head. When he did Isane's breath caught in her throat once more. 'Could he possibly be even more beautiful than I had supposed...' She couldn't help but think. His eyes...she couldn't seem to pull herself away from them. So much emotion were held in those luminous golden orbs of his-hate, anger, strength, passion, and disgust towards the feline youkai before him. But Isane was surprised not to see fear, or pain. No, there was not even humility in his gaze as he looked upon his tormentor. This male was strong; too strong to ever be bent by the will of another. Isane smiled to herself knowing that the feline demoness had yet failed to break this male to her will.

Then Isane frowned. Why should she care what happened to this -male- before her anyways. All males had become her enemy the day -he- had betrayed her heart. No matter-this male before her still didn't deserve to be the toy mouse of this she-cat. No-she would liberate him. After all, she had nothing better to do that day. She continued to watch fascinated as the male youkai defied the demoness before him gathering enough strength to spit in her face.

Junko simply wiped the spit from her cheek and placed the finger in her mouth sucking on it playfully. Then she pouted, "You're just no fun Sesshy. Haven't you realized yet that it's futile to resist me? Things would go better for you if you just gave in to me. And would that really be so bad?" As she said this she removed her index finger from her mouth and slowly ran it down towards her cleavage in a seductive manner.

Sesshoumaru growled low in his throat. The feline demoness sighed. "I suppose it's useless to treat you with sugar when it seems what you desire is spice!" Junko finished with a snarl. "I will bend you to my will Sesshoumaru. You will be my loyal and obedient little sex toy. I went through much trouble to acquire you, too much, to give up so easily. Even if I end up damaging the goods...I will break you!" Junko declared with a slash of her whip for emphasis. The whip came down hard on Sesshoumaru, but he didn't even cry out. Red shone on his chest as a new wound began to bleed.

"Why can't I make you understand?!" Junko cried as a crackling, electric energy began to envelope the whip. She brought the lash down again and this time Sesshoumaru's body was wracked with electric energy, his whole body shaking from it. But still he did not cry out, although his mouth was open in a silent sort of scream. "You're such an obstinate bastard! Just give up! It's not like anyone is coming to save you." Here the demoness started laughing, a shrill, evil laugh. "That's right. You're such a coldhearted bastard you don't even have any friends...not even a lover. No one would risk their lives to save the likes of you. When you die you won't even be missed. Your own brother would probably smile to hear of your demise. How long has it been Sesshoumaru since I brought you here? It's already been four months and still no one has come for you. And that's because no one ever will! Buwhahahaha!!!"

Sesshoumaru didn't say anything to defend himself, only he hung his head as if in defeat. As Isane watched she was angered that he did not retort. Surly this male youkai had friends...and he was so beautiful...surly he had a lover as well. But why did he just take that kind of abuse from the likes of her. Could her words possibly hold some ring of truth? Is that why he had remained silent?

'No...someone like him could never be alone in the world. Surly, he has someone...they just don't know where he is. That must be it. No matter, I must kill this lowly whore and set this male youkai free.' Isane was decided. She also decided she would play with the mind of this feline demoness a bit. What good was revenge if it was not a sweet one?

Isane undid her pigtails and let her crimson hair cascade down her back to her toes, she had to look the part after all. The Noh mask's face shifted from a neutral expression so that a smile graced the delicately painted red lips. "I think you're mistaken, she-cat." Isane announced coming out of her hiding place. "I happen to be Sesshoumaru's lover and have come to set him free. Although, I never would have thought that Sesshoumaru would ever need my help, but I see why now...you, lesser demoness, have resorted to cheap tricks to trap my love!" Isane exclaimed motioning to the ground at Sesshoumaru's feet.

There in a half circle surrounding him was a collection of fake Shikon no Tamas. All had turned a deep shadowy black...most likely from having Sesshoumaru's blood added to them. This was how the lesser feline demoness had been able to keep Sesshoumaru her prisoner for so long, sealing his demonic powers through the Black Magic the Shikon no Tamas possessed.

Sesshoumaru's head had shot back up at the announcement that his 'lover' had appeared to his...rescue? His eyes were now glued on the mysterious woman before them.

Junko whipped around to face the intruder, "How did you...never mind that now. You claim to be Sesshoumaru's lover do you? Well...now I understand why he's never given in to me...he has extremely bad taste." Junko spat, venom in her voice.

The ancient Noh mask's expression shifted until the lips had turned down into a frown. "Don't you know true love is blind." Isane countered. "Besides Sesshoumaru did not chose me for my looks but rather for my power. Allow me to demonstrate." Isane quickly unsheathed her katana sword and held it out in front of her horizontally. A large ball of elemental fire energy formed in the air in front of it. Isane then sent the fireball hurtling in the Junko's direction.

Junko was quick to throw up an energy shield and the fireball simply dissipated against it. "Hahahahaha! Is that all you've got? Simply pathetic. Let me show you what true power is!" The feline demoness yelled as she once again enveloped her whip in electric energy. She then lashed out with it at the woman in front of her who didn't even try to get out of the way. The lash came down and cut across Isane's chest opening her kimono slightly and at the same time engulfing her body in shocks of energy. But instead of crying out in pain....

"Hehehehehe...oh that tickles! Hehehehe! Stop! Please Stop! I can't take it!" Isane giggled as she fell to the floor as her body was wracked with laughter.

The feline demoness was taken aback...there was something not quite right about this demon woman before her. "Well that seems to have an opposite effect on you...you really are a strange one. And what's with the mask you wear. Do you wear it to hide your hideous face?"

The childish laughter stopped abruptly at those words and before Junko knew what was happening Isane had appeared behind her-such speed!

Isane had her head tilted to the side as she looked back at the feline demoness with an air of innocent curiosity about her. The mask's face once again shifted into a smile...that continued to broaden in a freakish manner. Isane then began to dance around the feline demoness with such speed that she began to create copies of herself while continuing her singsong laughter.

"Stop that you! Stop it!" The feline demoness cried as she swung around trying to figure out which image was her true opponent. "Stop playing your foolish games! Are you such a child that you can't face me properly!" Junko was beginning to get frustrated by her opponent's odd behavior. Pleasure from pain...playing games...childish laughter...almost like a kit. The demoness's eyes widened as she came to a startling realization. "No...you couldn't possibly be-the forever child?! The Insane One! No this can' be happening!"

Isane stopped creating mirror images of herself before raising her sword high in the air and brining it down upon Junko. The feline demoness put up a shield but it didn't hold for very long as Isane had surrounded her sword in red and orange flames...a very unnatural fire indeed. The energy shield cracked and burned away to...ashes. Junko began to back away from strange woman before her, fear showing clearly in her eyes as her pupils dilated. "This can't be happening. How is this possible? Why would she...she can't possibly be Sesshoumaru's lover! I won't believe it! I can't believe it! Aren't you supposed to hate men! You foul hypocrite! You can't do this to me! It isn't fair! How could Sesshoumaru get you to help him! No I won't give up! I will not lose so easily! Ahhhh!"

Junko let out a battle cry as she was enveloped in a shimmering blue aura concentrating her power-the power of thunder. Here however in a cave her powers were limited. And she knew this. But she wouldn't go down without a fight. The blue crackling thunder energy wrapped around her whip and she lunged at the forever child. Whip met steel and sparks of the two elemental powers clashing flew into the air.

Block. Strike. Block. Strike.

The two women fought a fierce battle, but it was evident that the feline demoness was tiring. The Insane One caught the other's whip and allowed for herself to get shocked in the process...her singsong laughter filling the cave eerily. With a quick yank she pulled the whip from Junko and tossed it aside and approached her now prey. The feline demoness sank to her knees knowing she was defeated.

"No...please...I didn't know! I swear I didn't know he was under your protection or else I never...please don't kill me! I don't want to die! Have mercy!" Junko begged lunging forward and wrapping her arms around the woman.

"Mercy? Did you give Sesshoumaru mercy when he...well he would never ask for mercy. But you should have showed him some! You will pay for what you did to my love!" Isane Rune declared.

A glint shown in the feline demoness' eyes as she smiled a secret smile. She was up to something Sesshoumaru noticed. But he had no way to warn the woman, and not like he would have either. Before either of them knew what was happening the cave began to rumble. Something was happening. Rocks began to fall from the cave ceiling and suddenly a hole in the ceiling appeared. The sky could now be seen and storm clouds began to gather ominously.

"You are so naïve forever child. You should never let your guard down even when you think you've won. Your overconfidence will be your downfall!" The feline demoness declared as she jumped backwards from the woman and landed in a crouch. Her eyes glowed silver and the sound of thunder was heard outside. Isane approached Junko but it was too late. Lightning shot down through the opening in the cave and engulfed Isane, this time with such force that even she could only scream in agony. This intensity of pain and power caused her no pleasure.

When the feline demoness had exhausted her powers the woman sank to her knees. Junko stood and laughed with a hand in front of her mouth. "I did it! I actually defeated the Insane One!" But that's when she noticed the Noh mask's expression shifting, it had been one of pain...and now she was smiling once more. How could that be?!

"Just because you managed to hurt me does not mean you've won! I will avenge my one and only love!" Isane stood and a flaming aura surrounded her. Her crimson hair billowing around her magically, she gathered her elemental fire energy in the palms of her hands and sent a fireball towards the weakened feline youkai. The fireball as it flew through the air began to take on the appearance of a bird. The bird quickly flew around the feline demoness engulfing her in flames. Junko shrieked in pain as she caught fire and then there was nothing left of her but a pile of ashes.

Isane dusted off her hands looked at the remains of Sesshoumaru's would be mistress. Still with that eerie smile upon the Noh mask's face Isane approached Sesshoumaru...actually she skipped towards him.

Sesshoumaru wasn't stupid and couldn't help but flinch as she approached having sensed the amount of chaotic power she possessed. He also knew right away that even though this woman may have killed his captor it still remained to be seen whether or now she could be trusted. There was something not quite right about this one, he knew.

"Oh you poor thing! Just look at you! My love indeed! Hahahahaha! Well let me get you down from there. You are certainly a quiet one aren't you?" Isane began to ramble as she approached the chained taiyoukai, failing to remember the Shikon no Tamas that surrounded him. She hit the force field and was sent flying backwards into the cave wall with a sickening thud. Blood tricked down her neck from under the mask...she must have coughed up blood from the force of the impact Sesshoumaru concluded. "Opps!" the woman exclaimed with a hand behind her head in embarrassment. "I forgot all about those awful jewels! Here let me purify them and then I can set you free caged bird!" She walked over slowly to Sesshoumaru this time seemingly with better concentration.

Holding her hands out in front of her and surrounding them with a flaming aura Isane then bent over to touch one of the stones. This time only a bit of resistance was met with her and she continued to push forward. Isane grunted at the pain the dark jewels caused her but soon had her hand resting on one of the dark Shikon no Tamas. Concentrating on sending her energy into the jewels they became purified and gleamed as they were restored to their natural color-a light pink.

"There that wasn't so hard no was it?" No response. The Noh mask shifted into a frown. "So much for gratitude. Oh well, what should I expect he is a male after all." The woman thought aloud as she brought her hand towards the chain that held Sesshoumaru's right arm. Sesshoumaru flinched and felt ashamed of himself. He would surely kill this strange woman just for being so...odd. Just as soon as he was freed that is, he decided.

Using her fire energy she burned the chains mysteriously to ashes. She then turned to destroy the other one and Sesshoumaru heard her gasp at the sight of his left arm. It was festering, oozing a greenish sort of liquid and was most likely not a very pretty sight. She quickly removed this chain too and let out a surprised 'epp!' as Sesshoumaru fell face first on the floor.

"Opps! I'm sorry I didn't know you were so weakened...now that the force field was gone I assumed...I had sensed...well no matter. I'll have you fixed up in no time!" Isane sang enthusiastically as she leaned over to remove the chains that were around Sesshoumaru's ankles.

Sesshoumaru hated every minute of this. The minutes seemed as long as hours. Here this woman was touching him-the great Sesshoumaru! What nerve! Such audacity! Surly she must perish for her intrusion on his life in general...in his personal affairs. Sesshoumaru fought his own battles. Sesshoumaru was not one to be saved-ever.

Isane flipped Sesshoumaru over and assessed the damage. He still had yet to say a single word. Something wasn't right. She saw a trickle of blood down the side of his mouth. And brought her hand towards it. Sesshoumaru turned his head away and his face turned red slightly, not from embarrassment but from shame. Shame filled Sesshoumaru for being in this condition...for having fallen into such a cheap trap in the first place.

"Open your mouth." Isane commanded.

Sesshoumaru did not. Who did she think she was anyways, ordering him like that?!

"I said open your mouth! Or if you won't do that at least say something!"

No response.

"She didn't...did she...that bitch!" Sesshoumaru flinched from the harshness of her tone. "She cut out your tongue didn't she! Well...don't worry you've made a friend of the Insane One! You'll be all right but first." The sound of ripping kimono was heard. Sesshoumaru turned towards her to see what she was doing. She had torn a strip of cloth from her kimono. She held it towards him and Sesshoumaru tried, but failed, to back away.

"I must blindfold you Sesshoumaru...for you see I must remove my mask in order to heal you and no male is allowed to see my face. If you don't comply I might as well kill you. You know, I usually kill obstinate males such as yourself all the time so I don't see why this time should be any different. You are trying the little patience I have...the sun shall set soon and I definitely don't want the likes of you to be around me when that happens! So comply and let me heal you, you ungrateful bastard!" The woman was getting tired of Sesshoumaru's resistance to her help. He certainly was one stubborn male youkai. She sighed, he had too much pride for his own good. In a softened voice she said, "I promise I won't hurt you...just please allow me heal you. That way we can get this over with and I can leave you be." When he still failed to respond. "You know I have better things to do than save whipped dogs!" Well she had tried to be nice but she was getting angry.

Sesshoumaru growled low in his throat but knew he had no choice but to comply with this strange woman. He really wished she didn't talk so much. And how she just rambled on about things that made no sense. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and the woman sighed in relief as she bound his eyes. She then removed her mask revealing two golden eyes much like Sesshoumaru's, but hers were wider and lined all in black making them look even bigger and cat-like, although she could proudly say she had no feline youkai blood within her. There was a beauty mark under her left eye where the teardrop on her Noh mask was. Her lips were full and a soft pink.

Those eyes of hers were beautiful but haunted, however. There were shadows of the past that seemed to swirl in her vision. Her eyes being the window to her soul revealed a tortured one was harbored in the temple that was her body. She leaned over Sesshoumaru. "Now open your mouth..." She trailed off. Sesshoumaru hesitated but then did as she told him. She then let out a sob as tears streamed down her face and fell into Sesshoumaru's open mouth. The tears glistened as they fell, reflecting the light that was given off in the cave from the luminous moss. Soon his tongue was healed.

"Who the hell do you think you are, wench! I am Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, and obey orders from no one! If you think I'm going to lay here and let you continue to make demands of me then you are sadly mistaken! I will show you the power I have inherited of my ancestors!" Sesshoumaru declared as he tried to get up...a futile attempt of course.

"Perhaps, I should have saved healing your ungrateful tongue for last." Isane laughed...a sort of hollow empty laugh Sesshoumaru noticed, as if she was forcing it. "Anyways, just lie still and allow me to heal the rest of you. Then you can show me this -power- of yours." She leaned over his bare chest and more tears began to fall from her eyes. She found it was easy to feel sad for this beautiful youkai male beneath her, whose ethereal beauty had been marred by that evil she-cat. Soon her body was wracked with sobs forming the healing tears of pain, a pain that was in her kind, innocent, heart.

Sesshoumaru lay still and heard that she was crying...why? He felt the wetness on his skin of her tears and then the warming sensation...the tears were healing and mending his flesh-incredible! Well not so much incredible as interesting Sesshoumaru decided.

She then moved slightly as she neared his left arm. The tears fell and began to heal the festering flesh and then...she gasped. Her tears were beginning to cause his arm to grow...to restore itself. She smiled inwardly at this and when she tried to feel sad again found that she could not.

"Damn it. And I was so close to restoring it. I have no choice." Isane manifested a curved dagger and quickly embedded it into her arm and twisted the knife. Sesshoumaru who was nearly healed at this point shot up into a sitting position at the sound of her scream of pain. She quickly pushed him back down. "Lie still! I'm just inflicting pain on myself! Hehehehe!" She giggled then used her tears of pain to continue healing his arm. Sesshoumaru had been startled by her scream but felt even more startled by her explanation. He could also not believe that she was in fact managing to heal his arm in this way with those tears of her. To heal the arm that his hanyou brother InuYasha had managed to cut off.

'Why? Why is this woman helping me...suffering for me? Not like I care really. But still it makes no sense. She doesn't even know me.' Sesshoumaru was plagued with such thoughts as she continued to heal him. She didn't even noticed when his arm was fully healed but Sesshoumaru did. He felt the tears on his newly restored hand and sat up. Fully healed...and also he noticed that his power had returned entire as well. If he wanted to he could kill the woman before him easily catching her off guard as she continued to let the sobs of pain escape her lips. All he would have to do is place his powerful hand around her neck and snap her neck...

"Wench! I'm fully healed you can stop your incessant crying now." Sesshoumaru drawled instead.

Isane blinked at him and was glad he hadn't removed his blindfold. She would have had to kill him if he had seen her face. She quickly replaced the ancient Noh mask upon her face concealing shadows in her eyes once more. "You can remove the blindfold now...Sesshoumaru." I felt strange to her saying his name now that everything was over.

Sesshoumaru complied and removed the blindfold. He was slightly put off to see she had replaced her mask once more. He was curious to know what she looked like beneath that mask. Perhaps, she was concealing a scar of some type. They sat staring at each other for a few moments before the woman noticed that the sun now had moved and was shinning directly overhead through the hole in the ceiling of the cave. Her eyes quickly shifted to Sesshoumaru's clothes, which were lying off to the side of the cave.

"Your clothes are over there." Isane motioned to the corner of the cave with her hand. "I'll be going now." She then stood up and turned to leave.

Sesshoumaru debated whether he should call after her, or just blow her away with an energy blast. She had some nerve turning her back on him like he was nothing. "Wench..." She stopped. "Why...why did you save me? You don't even know me."

Isane spun around and quirked her head at him. "Why? Must there be a reason? Men...you always want to know the why of things." She sighed. "Well...if you must know I heard you screaming and so I came-

Before she knew what had happened Sesshoumaru had her pressed up again the far wall a hand around her neck. "Heard me screaming? That's a lie." Sesshoumaru began to tighten his grip enjoying how helpless she seemed in his grasp, certainly she was not more powerful than he was.

"It's not a lie!" She gasped stubbornly. "I know you had your tongue cut out but I still heard your cries of pain-internal cries of pain. Don't ask me how but I did. I'm not lying. So is this how you treat everyone who saves your life?" Isane finished coldly.

'Saves your life' the words rang in Sesshoumaru's mind and unwanted feelings of guilt passed through him but only for a moment. He simply released his hold on her and she sunk to the floor coughing. He gave her a smug look enjoying the fact that he was the one to bring her to obeisance.

"Don't flatter yourself, that didn't hurt." Isane said as if she could read his thoughts. "I was previously hurt while fighting the feline demoness. If you don't remember I was kind of struck by lightning. That wasn't very fun either." The woman stated before beginning to walk away from Sesshoumaru yet again.

This woman was really beginning to get on Sesshoumaru's nerves. If anyone were going to walk away from anyone it would be him and not the other way around! Shouldn't she be begging to follow him? Become his loyal servant?! After all, she had claimed she was his lover. Perhaps she harbored fantasies about him. 'Yes,' Sesshoumaru decided, 'the woman must be infatuated with me. And that is why she saved me. That is the true reason...not pity. This Sesshoumaru receives pity from no one. If they know what's good for them that is.'

"Just like that...just like that you're going." Sesshoumaru found himself saying unexpectedly.

"Well yes...I saved you. And now you certainly don't need me...or did you need me to help you with something else?" Isane asked turning around again catching Sesshoumaru off guard, as well as her self. Here she was actually offering her services to a -male-!!!

Unbelievable! She help him?! She was supposed to be asking him for his help! "Me? Need help. Never." Sesshoumaru growled back.

Isane paused as if she expected Sesshoumaru to say something more. If she expected him to say thank you she was sadly mistaken! "That's what I thought. I'll be going now." There was a hint of sadness in her voice before she looked up and got an idea. Placing her hands before her she concentrated. Suddenly two angelic wings sprouted from her back. The feathers were gold, red, and orange in color. Before Sesshoumaru could react she had taken off through the opening in the cave ceiling leaving his life as quickly as she had entered it.

The Insane One.

The forever child.

A single feather floated down and Sesshoumaru caught it in his outstretched hand.

"Perhaps..." Sesshoumaru was saying aloud. 'I should have thanked her.'

To be continued...

Japanese translations:

Feza: Feather.