InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ You Darkness... ❯ Chapter 31 - The Gift is Given! ( Chapter 31 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
You Darkness
by Vyncent


**This story contains violence, sexual content and rape! Some of the contents of this story are graphic. You are WARNED**

Disclaimer: I do now own Inuyasha, nor any of the associated characters. But it ain't because I don't want or wish to do so.

[A/N: I want to thank everyone for the great reviews. They are most warmly appreciated and humbly accepted. Please keep the warning above strongly in mind as you continue to read this story. It is not placed at the top of each chapter without reason, nor is it to be taken lightly. Many chapters of this fic are dark, sinister, and very graphic. This was done intentionally, as it is the emotional power of the story that I wanted to create and the graphic descriptions are what makes that feeling so strong.

For those who find such material to be offensive, you might want to skip over Chapter 32, which will be posted next week, and Chapter 33 the following week. Both are very graphicly depicted. I warn you all now, as any flaming will not be accepted. If you do not like such material then do not read those chapters. Consider yourselves warned.

Some have asked about Kouga's contribution to the 'Gift' to be presented to the up and coming Lord for his birthday gift. HEH! HEH! HEH! While the presentation and the original 'Gift' are Sesshomaru's, including the choice of apparel, and the palanquin, everything else was Kouga's part in the gift!

With that said, read on and enjoy. Please keep the reviews coming. If enough reviews are provided, I might be persuaded to post Chapter 32 all the sooner.

On with one of the chapters that you all have been waiting for!]

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Chapter 31 - The Gift is Given!



In the center of the raised dias, on a large luxurious cushion at one end of the enormous main hall in the castle of the Southern Lands, Lord Shinichi sat in eager anticipation of his birthday celebration. It was his favorite time of year. He loved surprises, and the best ones were the gifts he received from far distant realms, as they often were the more exotic gifts he received. This year, if rumour held true, promised to be the most remarkable of his entire life.

His pride sat behind him. One of those few occasions that he allowed them to sit almost as equal to him in his own domain. But he enjoyed his family, and loved having them near, especially when his birthday gifts were being presented. His numerous cubs, sat with their okaa-sans as well, and every now and again, one of the tiny newer cubs of his pride would run up to their otousan, and climb up on his knee to get a better view of the activities in the great hall.

The Great Kinmouno Shishi (golden lion) Youkai, could hardly sit still as he awaited the arrival of the first of the visiting Taiyoukai. Lord Takashi, ru-doragon (red dragon), had been best friends with Lord Shinichi since they were small cubs, and the Eastern Lord was well aware of the Southern Lord's exotic tastes. Takashi often got the shishi some of his favorite of gifts.

The ringing of a richly toned gong silenced the great hall in an instant, and the Southern Lord straightened in eager anticipation. The Eastern Lord's entrance was preceded by two of his personal guards dressed in their best armour, gleaming in the sunlight shining in through the many windows of the enormous hall. They were closely followed by four snowy white kitsune youkai slaves, who seemed to be carrying a large rather uninteresting box between them.

It must have been heavy, as they were very careful about how they carried it, and seemed to strain just every so slightly. Two more guards came next, followed immediately by Lord Takashi himself. His mate Juri walked beside him, both followed by two more guards.

"Shinichi-sama," said Takashi to the room in general. "It is good to see you old friend. I hope that your celebration this year is a most pleasant one."

"So far, it is most delightful, Takashi-sama," replied Shinichi. "Your visit always ensures that my birthday is a good day."

"You are to kind and generous with your words. Arigato," the bowing ru-doragon Lord spoke. "You gift, my friend is something that this land has never before had. A chance encounter with a mysterious ship that happen to wash ashore in the far eastern shores of my lands, left behind some most interesting cargo."

At this, the four slaves carrying the massive crate set in down on the floor and carefully pried the top off of the box. Takashi stepped forward, as one of the slaves reached into the box, and removed a strange, but still most uninteresting bottle. It seemed that the crate was filled with layer upon layer of these bottles, all of which carefully layered in large quantities of straw. Lord Takaski took to offered bottle, and another slave quickly produced a goblet.

Even the goblet was strange, for unlike the goblets of fine porcelain, or precious metals more commonly used by the nobility, this goblet appeared to be extremely fragile and was clear. The slave who handed Lord Takashi the goblet, took the bottle and carefully removed a strange stopper from the top. The action produced an odd pop, and a strange, but soft hiss could be heard as it did so. Takashi held out the goblet, and the slave carefully poured some of the contents of the bottle into the goblet.

It was blood red in colour, and the smell that scented the room, enticed and tickle the senses. Despite the rather plain and unattractive box, and bottle, the contents were most intriguing and Lord Shinichi was almost aquiver in his eagerness to learn more of this interesting gift.

"A number of the beings that had been onboard the ship, happened to survive. It appeared that they came from some far distant lands, and an unexpected storm set them far adrift of their normal routes and cast them upon my shores. They were not sailors, but men of another craft. Something they called vineyards and wineries was what they claimed to be their normal habitation, and they explained their normal tasks," said the Eastern Lord.

"This crate is one of several that was salvaged from aboard this wrecked ship," he continued. "They explained that the contents is something they called wine. Having had the opportunity to sample this drink, I found it to be most delightful on the tongue and felt that one such as yourself would, as well. They inform me that the older the wine, the better it gets, these bottles apparently are a couple of hundred years old. (A/N: Ok, I am well aware that this would be almost impossible historically speaking, but hey, it is just a fantasy story, and I needed another gift for the shishi Lord...*rasp* LOL) I was so impressed with this 'wine' that I have provided a portion of my lands for these men to establish one of these vineyards in my realm. I believe you will see why when you have partaken of this wonderful nectar."

Another of the four kitsune slaves took the now filled glass, from the Eastern Lord, and carefully approached the Southern Lord on his cushioned dias. He stopped at the bottom of the dias and awaited the Lord's approval before approaching any closer. At his signal to come forward, the slave stepped up to the platform, stopping just below the top and carefully kneeling, bowed low holding the clear, liquid filled goblet out to the Southern Youkai Lord.

Shinichi took the offered container, and brought it up to his nose. He could already smell the fluid in the glass, but wanted to get a closer scent of this intriguing liquid. It carried an unusual fruity fragrance that was anything except unpleasant, to his nose and he slowly took a small sip of the blood red fluid, letting it flow smoothly over his tongue.

At the first moderately sweet taste, his eyes widened in surprise and pleasure. It was delicious. He took another sip, and a smile lit up his face.

"Wonderful, Takashi-sama," he enthused. "This wine is most delightful. Juri, you simply must come and taste this 'wine'. It is truly delicious."

Keeping low, his first mate came forward at her mate's urging and carefully took the offered goblet. She too smelled and then tasted the liquid in the glass, and the smile that spread upon her face easily matched that of her Lord and mate.

"Hai, Shinichi-sama. It truly is delightful," she said. She started to return the goblet, but her mate signaled that she could keep it, and to take it back to the other five mates that comprised his pride. While they all sampled the fiery liquid in the glass, Shinichi turned back to Lord Takashi.

"Arigato for a most delightful and delicious gift," he bowed to his friend. "I look very much forward to enjoying more of this drink." He clapped his hands, and a number of slaves came forward. The kitsune slaves carefully closed the box and lifted it back up. The Southern slaves then led them away taking the Southern Lord's gift of wine to safe storage for their Lord's later pleasure.

"There are a quantity of those unusual goblets, included in the crate with the wine," said Takashi. "I am told that this particular drink tastes best only when served in a very specific shape of goblet made of glass."

"I will be sure to keep that in mind. Arigato again, my friend. Onegai, seat yourself and rest." said Shinichi. Takashi took a seat in the front of the great all, his mate by his side, and all turned to the sound of the gong once more ringing in another guest.

With the sound of the gong still filling the room, the great doors of the hall fairly flew open and the great and almost barging bulk of the Northern Lord graced the room with his bolsterous presence. Lord Nishiki, oushi (bull) youkai of the Northern Lands seldom entered a room. No, he was more inclined to almost charge into a room. But then he was an oushi, and like most of his kind, was one for being as imposing as possible whenever the opportunity arose.

Despite that, the Northern Lord was a very pleasant youkai and many enjoyed his company. His herd of cows were his most prized and proud possession and were well cared for, even by ningen standards. He was not one for a lot of pomp and pageantry, but still loved to make an impression whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Lord Nishiki and two of his prized cows, entered the room surrounded by four of his best guards. He didn't appear to be carrying anything and there was one seiyuuki (monkey) youkai who walking as part of the Northern Lord's entourage.

At first Lord Shinichi wondered if the Northern Lord had even bothered to bring a gift. But the first words of the visiting Lord changed his mind and left him once again eager to receive yet another wonderful gift.

"Konnichiwa, Shinichi-sama," said Nishiki with a bow and flourish. "My gift to you is one that your wonderful mate was kind enough to assist with bringing to you. We had need of...some destraction to keep it secret from you until the right time. For that, I must give thanks to Juri-sama for her aid." The great oushi youkai bowed in gratitude to the Southern Lady. She just blushed, but remained silent.

Shinichi was already surprised and even more intrigued. His first mate had helped to bring his gift? She had distracted him to give the Northern Lord time to bring it in? How long had it been here and him not notice? Where was it?

Figuring he had strained the eager Southern Lord's excitement enough, Lord Nishiki singled to the seiyuuki youkai beside him. The slave bowed low, and then immediately rose and fairly swarmed across to the west side of the room.

Now that it was brought to his attention Shinichi realized that he had completely missed the unusual 'tapestry' that seemed to hang covering almost half of the wall on the Southern side of the great room. How he had missed such an enormous hanging and not paid it any mind he had no idea. But then the charms of his first mate were considerable, and delightful enough to distract almost anyone. Juri caught the sly smile directed her way, and a most alluring blush graced her features, bringing a warmth to the Southern Lord and his look promised great things later for his mate's anticipation.

Turning back to the efforts of the seiyuuki youkai, he was delighted to see the agile little youkai reach the tapestry and without a moment's hesitation, swarm up the edge of the material. He reached the top corner, and grabbing a great handful of the fabric, he carefully released the corner. With it now free, the tapestry swung down, bringing the seiyuuki youkai back to the floor and exposing what had been hidden behind the cloth.

The timing for this gift must have been carefully planned. There was just no other way to describe the beauty of it. For at that precise moment, the sun of the late afternoon sky hit just the right spot to fill the entire room with its light. But it was what it shined through that brought a gasp of delight to the entire room.

Where there had once been a large expanse of wall with a number of large paintings, there was now one window. And it was huge. It covered more than half of the wall and went from floor to ceiling, over 25 feet above the floor. Shards of glass of every possible colour imaginable had been carefully and skillfully chosen, and bonded together to form a huge picture. It depicted the rich jungled forests of the Southern Lands with the shadow of distant mountains in the background. The glitter of clouds graced the sky of the scene, and in the foreground was the rendering in many and varied shades of golden glass, the proud and huge stance of the Southern Lord standing as though in constant vigile looking out over the lands he protected and ruled over.

As he looked more carefully at the huge mural like scene, he noticed that there was a subtle play in the colours chosen for the sky of the picture. With a careful eye for detail, the artist had included the almost ghostly image of the Southern Lord in his true shishi form. As the image of his grand self stood hovering in the skies of his beloved homeland, he could be seen to be guarding his home from all who would dare to defile his lands.

The colours that filled the room as the sun shone through the stained glass, were pure delight to the eye, and the glitter of tears of pride could just be seen glistening in the corners of the Kinmouno Shishi Youkai's eyes. If he could have done so without losing face for being immature, Lord Shinichi would have jumped up in pure joy and clapped his hands in wonder. Instead, he settled for his cubs doing that for him, as they too, oo'd and awed over the marvel now gracing the western wall of the great hall.

"Lord Nishiki, words cannot express the beauty of the gift you present today," said the awed Southern Lord. He bowed to the Northern Lord. "Arigato."

Seeing the stunned look of wonder on the Southern Lord's face was more than enough thanks for the Northern Lord. He happily returned the bow, as did both of his cows.

"You, my friend and ally are more than welcome." said Lord Nishiki. "May you enjoy the artistry for many years to come."

With that said, the Northern Lord and his cows settled themselves near Lord Takashi in the great hall. When everything was settled and quieted again, all turned once more to the huge doors of the great hall. Once again the gong sounded and the huge doors opened. This time with grace and care.

The first thing that came through the doors was a rather unimpressive, and to be honest, although well dressed, ugly green imp, standing tall, well tall for a figure of only about two foot in height, and carrying a well known Staff of Skulls. For such a short, ugly, green, little toad of a creature, the youkai certainly had a rather imposing air of arrogance. Well, maybe not imposing, except perhaps to those chosen few who happened to be shorter than him, and that was certainly not many. Well, maybe the mice and rats...

Just behind him, came six most imposing and burly guards, armed to the teeth, weapons and armour polished until they gleam so brightly in the late afternoon sun as to almost be blinding. Their stance was most imposing and rigid, and their look could readily chill even the most stalwart of hearts.

They were immediately followed by a most impressive sight. A large palanquin, being bourne on the shoulders of four identical black kurohyou (panther) youkai slaves, each had a gold ring piercing one ear, and bands of gold adorned their ankles, wrists, and arms, with ringlets that jingled in the passing breeze with an ear pleasing musical tone. They bore the weight of the imposing looking palanquin with ease, and walked with a pride that most slaves seldom possessed.

The palanquin itself was impressive. Covered in thick, heavily embroidered forest green silk draperies, embelished in gold thread, and a frame work of the purest gold. Just behind the palanquin came four ookami handmaidens.

Just as the four kurohyou, they too were identical. Even in their garments, they were alike. All wore the simplest of long skirts, sitting low on their hips and slit up to just above mid-thigh. The skimpiest of tops covered their ample breasts, while permitting their cleavage to be view in an appealing but tasteful manner. While the maidens clothing was trimmed in gold, the fabric itself was simple linen in a plain forest green colour.

They were not the most beautiful of slaves, nor were they ugly either. They were pleasant to look upon, but it seemed that they were carefully chosen to not be overly attractive. Shinichi was wondering why.

Another six guards to equal the first six followed immediately behind the handmaidens. The last through the door was the young Prince of the Ookami Tribe, Kouga, and the Great Lord of the Western Lands, Sesshomaru.

Before anyone could do more than sit in awe of the presentation before them, the little imp spoke up.

"My Lord Shinichi," he spoke calmly, with is rather irritating voice. "My Lord Sesshomaru sends his best wishes that your birthday is a pleasant one. The Prince of the Ookami Tribe, Kouga-sama, also sends his greetings. Both send you these gifts."

"From the Prince himself, four carefully trained, hand picked ookami handmaidens, and four carefully trained and chosen kurohyou slaves. They are meant to be a compliment to Sesshomaru-sama's gift."

At this, the four kurohyou slaves carefully turned the carrier, until it faced side on towards the Southern Lord, and smoothly knelt until the feet of the palanquin came to rest upon the floor. Once it was seated securely, they all four in perfect unison, stepped back and away from the enclosed carrier, turning as one and kneeling to face the Southern Lord.

At once the four ookami youkai handmaidens stepped forward, and prepared to pull the curtains of the palanquin aside. Sesshomaru and Kouga both stepped forward, and approached the curtains, stopping for a moment and looking towards the Southern Lord.

Jaken continued, "The gift of my Lord, is one of a delicate flower of great rarity and beauty. It hails from foreign realms, and is a most exotic sight to behold. It is his wish to give this treasure to your Lordship for your birthday." At this Jaken bowed until his beaked nose hit the floor. (A/N - Not that Jaken can bow any other way...LOL!) The twelve guards, all in perfect unison, dropped to one knee, heads bowed. Sesshomaru and Kouga simply held out their hands towards the curtained palanquin. The handmaidens pulled back the heavy draperies, and two of the most delicate hands reached out, grasping the hands of the Prince and the Taiyoukai.

With their support, a graceful form with almost feline grace stepped out from the palangquin. Still holding their hands, the figure stepped forward until it stood just below the lowest tier of the dias that the Southern Lord sat upon. It was obvious by the feral feline grace of the creature that it was a female, but other than the hands currently being held by the Youkai Lord and the Ookami Prince, nothing of her visage could be seen.

Her scent carried easily up to the Southern Lord. The delicate fragrance of tiger lilies in full bloom filling his nose. The figure was covered from head to toe, in the most alluring pearly white sheer silk, with a golden sheen that radiated in the glow of the sun. Despite the sheerness of the material, the figure beneath was almost totally obscure, and all in the room waited with bated breath to see the veil covering her head, removed.

With moves so quick as to leave the eye to wonder at their passing, both Kouga and Sesshomaru swiped at the figure standing between them. The veil that covered both her head and her face fell to pool at the feet of the figure it once covered. Before them all, stood the most exotic female any had ever seen.

She stood in height about level with Sesshomaru's collarbone. Her long, knee length hair was the colour of spun gold and seemed almost as though she wore it as a cloak. Her skin was almost the same golden color and the light of the sun almost made her glow. The features of her face were delicate, alluring, and exotic. Her eyes large, and the deepest emerald green that Shinichi had ever seen. On her forehead was a small teardrop shaped emerald that seemed to be embedded into her skin. Her lips were blood red, and the highlights on her eyes were as gold as her hair.

She was well busted, large and firm. The rosy peaks readily seen through the sheer silk of the strange bodice she wore. A wide belt of gold, rich with golden coins and bells draped in rich cords rested on her well rounded hips, jingling at the slightest of movements, even just her breathing. Yards of silken layers draped from her hips, slit up both sides, just a bit to the front. This presented just enough of a glimpse of her legs all the way to the hip, to want to see more, taunting the sight begging to be seen. Her dainty feet bare and just peeking out from behind the silken layers pooling to the floor.

Shinichi's breath caught in his throat at the sight of the beauty before him. Before he knew it, he had stepped down from his dias and was standing before the female being presented to him by the Great Lord of the Western Lands. His eyes never left her, as he drank in her form. The very sight of her had him so hard he could hardly breath let alone stand. His eyes darkened with lust and desire as he gazed upon the exotic treasure before him.

He barely heard the words Sesshomaru spoke quietly to him.

"Shinichi-sama, this ningen is called Natsuki. She is one of a kind. The stone she bares is a subduing stone, binding her permanently to you and you alone. It will hold numerous commands, and she will neither be able to refuse those commands, nor resist them for any reason. You may do with her as you wish, any...'damages'...will heal the next day as long as they are not life threatening," the Taiyoukai stated almost softly. The words were for the Southern Lord alone, and Shinichi knew this. The excitement it gave him only served to arouse him even more.

"The handmaidens are to serve her, your Lordship," spoke Kouga. "They understand her 'special' needs, and can see to her every requirement. The slaves are for any travels that you might wish to take her on, or to...assist...if you so desire."

The Ookami Prince's words left no doubt in the Southern Lord's mind as to what he meant by...'assist'. He could already picture many such encounters that the slaves...aid...would come in handy for. If they did their job well, and he had not doubt that they would considering who was gifting them to him, he would certainly be glad to...reward...them for their services.

"She is specially suited to serve your every desire, Shinichi-sama. She is a gift from the Western Lands to fulfill your every pleasurable desire," said Sesshomaru, "and she bares but one, and only one flaw."

"Flaw?" asked Shinichi, momentarily thinking that this gift was too good to be true.

"Hai, Shinichi-sama," spoke Kouga, with a feral gleam in his eyes, directed towards the female standing before them. "She does not have the ability to speak. She was born without the proper means to do so."

It took a moment for Shinichi to grasp what he was just told. When it did, the onna would have shook in fear if she had been allowed the ability to do so. In her mind, she screamed in terror, but because of the special spell currently holding her in place to be viewed by the Southern Youkai Lord, like a piece of meat on a platter, she could do nothing but stand there and feel the waves of lust pouring off of the youkai lord.

The Southern Lord, himself just smiled. It was a smile that most would have died at the sight of. She could not scream, she could not speak, she could be readily subdued, and compelled to follow any command. Her delicate skin, unmarred by scar or blemish, would heal almost overnight. Oh the pleasures that he could, no would have with this exotic flower.

Kouga and Sesshomaru spoke no more, and just stepped back to let the Southern Lord have his pleasurable moment with his new gift. The smirk that threatened to break out on the Taiyoukai's face didn't go unnoticed by Natsuki. Inside her head, a male voice saw that smirk, and the screams of horror intensified.

The male screamed, cried, growled, pounded, scratched, clawed, did anything and everything to try to run, but could only do so in the dark confines of her mind. But those luxuries were forbidden him. He could do nothing, say nothing, totally unable to act on his own choices.

That look he got from the Southern Lord, was one that he all to well recognized, for he had seen it on his own face and the faces of his friends. A look that they had worn eagerly with every onna they had ever taken for their own. But this time that look was directed at him, and he knew from his own twisted experience what that look meant for him.

Shinichi was almost drooling with lustful desire for the luscious morsel before him. He would have to take a bit of a break before the evening's meal came about. He wanted to get acquainted with his new 'toy'. What better time than the present.

Seeing that he was enthralled by the gift from the Taiyoukai of the West, Juri signalled for the guards to clear the room, so that everyone could rest and refresh themselves for the evening's repast in a couple of hours. In the mean time, she made sure that the handmaidens were shown the room that the ningen onna would be kept in, and let her Lord and Master know that he would find his privacy for the afternoon assured.

She was not jealous of his attention on other females. She was after all his first mate, and Lady of the Southern Lands. Besides, being part of a pride meant sharing. Her Lord had tastes in a wide variety of sensual desires, and what one mate could not offer or was unwilling to, another could and would freely give.

Soon the room was cleared, and Shinichi drew his attention away from the gift of the Western Lord, long enough for her to be lead to her own quarters. Licking his lips in anticipation of the night yet to come, he went to visit Natsuki. He wanted to give her a once over before he planned out his night's pleasures once everyone retired for the night, and after he rewarded his first mate for her delightful help in the presentation of one of his birthday gifts.

Yes, this was going to be one birthday that he would remember for many, many, many years to come. He looked forward to every night of those years.



Dictionary

Baba - Old Woman, Witch, Shit, Bullshit
Baka - Idiot
Chikushou - Damn
Daitoku - Priest
Fujo - Sorceress
Fukurou - Owl
Hanyou - Half Demon
Higurashi-daitoku - Roughly: Priest Higurashi...I have chosen to use this instead of a name, as no name is ever cited in either the anime or the manga. Kagome's grandfather, and name used by those not of the family.
Higurashi-nisou - Roughly: Priestess Higurashi...I have chosen to use this instead of a name, as no name is ever cited in either the anime or the manga. Kagome's mother, and name used by those not of the family.
Hinba - Mare
Houshi - Monk
Inu - Dog
Joshi - Women
Kinmouno shishi - Golden-haired Lion
Kitsune - Fox Demon
Kobura - Cobra
Koruto - Colt
Kurohyou - Panther
Kuromiko - Dark Miko
Miko - Shrine Maiden
Neko - Cat
Nisou - Priestess
Ojii-san - Grandfather
Ojika - Stag
Okaa-san - Mother
Onna - Woman
Ookami - Wolf
Osuuma - Stallion
Oushi - Bull
Red Dragon - Ru-doragon
Sama - Lady or Lord - respectively
Seiyuuki - Monkey
Shika - Deer
Shikon no Kakera - Shikon Shards
Shikon no Tama - Jewel of Four Souls
Shishi - Lion
Taijiya - Demon Exterminator
Taiyoukai - Demon Lord
Youkai - Demon


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