Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi's characters are hers and I'm eternally grateful to her for creating them!
Outwardly, Inuyasha was silent as he followed Sesshomaru to the gates of Ryujin's castle, but inside he was fuming.
How could I have been so stupid? I knew Ryujin lived in the Eastern mountains, but I didn't expect to come across him, this mountain range is huge!
He ground his teeth. No, no excuses. Don't worry Kagome, I swear I'll get you out no matter what. Just stay alive!
"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru's voice cut into his thoughts. "You must keep your temper. Do not rise to Ryujin's taunts. He is a Demon Lord and attacking him directly would be taken as a declaration of war."
"Got it." Inuyasha snapped back. Without any visible signal, the gates of the castle opened before them. Sesshomaru walked in like he owned the place. Inuyasha however, couldn't conceal the worry on his face. His amber eyes darted around constantly, nostrils flaring, trying to pinpoint her location. His hands kept clenching into fists and releasing; a nervous tic he'd only recently developed in an effort to control his anger when the puny wolf was putting the moves on Kagome. The sentries, demon lizards wearing simple armour stepped respectfully out of Sesshomaru's way.
"Lord Sesshomaru, welcome to my palace!" The politeness of the greeting was belied by the arrogant smirk on Lord Ryujin's face. Inuyasha wanted to punch him in the throat. Ryujin's cruel eyes landed on him.
"What's this?" He asked in feigned surprise, "You've brought a guest? I never imagined to see you cavorting with hanyous." Sesshomaru's face remained calm, but Inuyasha could tell when his brother was irritated. He was no master of politics, but he understood enough of what was going on. Ryujin knew who he was, and that his half-breed status was a sore spot of Sesshomaru's.
"He is here as a formality only." Sesshomaru said smoothly, "Business will be discussed solely between you and I." Lord Ryujin inclined his head.
"Very well, please allow my servants to guide you to the dining hall." Expecting demons, Inuyasha was surprised to see that the servants were in fact, human men. They absolutely reeked of fear. Out of the three that flanked them, the calmest one, relatively speaking, was a middle-aged man with streaks of grey in his hair.
"This way, please m-my Lords." His two companions fell into step, keeping five paces behind them.
The dining hall was a wide, spacious room. The walls were ornately decorated with artwork depicting dragons, sea creatures and ocean waves. Sesshomaru seemed to know exactly where to sit. Unsure, Inuyasha sat on his right side. When Ryujin entered the room, the servants stood at attention, seeming afraid to even breathe.
"Why so tense?" Ryujin asked, "We have a great feast prepared, and we have entertainment prepared as well." He sat down and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the sliding door opened and a line of women entered. Inuyasha's ears twitched at the familiar scent approaching. But when he looked, the sight brought him no joy.
Kagome was alive and unharmed, apart from a red weal on her cheek. But she and the other women had been dressed in the skimpiest kimonos with the obi done up at the front. The mark of a prostitute. Inuyasha gnashed his teeth and forced his gaze towards the floor, remembering Sesshomaru's warning.
"You there," Ryujin said, pointing at Kagome, "You shall attend me." Inuyasha chanced a glance upward, meeting eyes with Kagome for a fraction of a second.
It had been a while since Kagome had been this angry. She'd regained consciousness in a fairly nice room, but she'd been stripped down to her undergarments and left with only the kimono and obi.
"Hurry and dress!" A woman had barked from outside the sliding door, making her way down the hallway. "It's almost time to serve the Master and his guests. Kagome's face had flushed when she had looked down at herself. Her school uniform showed more skin than this, but knowing Ryujin had deliberately chosen it made her sick to her stomach. Outside, there had been six other scantily clad women, desperately trying to hold back tears. Even without the head woman yelling at them to stay silent and only do as they were told, she was smart enough to know that this was not the place for her usual outspokenness. Putting on a demure façade, she'd walked in line with the others. Keeping her composure when she realized Inuyasha was there had been truly difficult.
When their eyes met, Kagome couldn't resist allowing a vicious thought to well up in her. She was going to enjoy watching her beloved hanyou wipe the smug smile off Ryujin's face. But she had to play her part for now, so she served the Dragon his meal, poured his drinks, and didn't sock him in the face when he stroked her arm, all with a perfectly straight face.
Inuyasha wasn't faring so well. The poor girl serving him seemed terrified. Terrified of Ryujin? Or of him? He knew he looked as furious as he felt, staying seated was taking every ounce of self-control he had. Every time that fucking dragon even looked in Kagome's direction, he wanted to rip his throat out with his bare hands. Sesshomaru shot him a warning glance when he growled out loud.
Sesshomaru seemed completely indifferent to the trembling girl attending him, making small talk with Ryujin about business that Inuyasha couldn't possibly have cared less about.
Finally, Ryujin clapped his hands, signalling the servants to remove the dishes. Kagome began to move away, but faster than her eye could follow, Ryjuin grabbed her arm and pulled her onto his lap. He pointed at two of the women, silent orders to follow suit. The scent of terror was overpowering when Inuyasha's serving girl sat next to him. Grabbing a fistful of Kagome's hair, he pulled her head to the side, exposing her neck.
"Care for some dessert?" He asked. Inuyasha's vision flashed red. His hand grasped the handle of Tessaiga, his amber eyes burning with one single desire.
I'm going to fucking kill you.
"You can't be serious," Sesshomaru said calmly, "I confess I don't understand your love for the way humans taste. I'd rather we begin our negotiations." Ryjuin smirked and carelessly tossed Kagome to the ground. Barely containing her anger, Kagome stood and joined the line of women, exiting the room.
"Very well." To Inuyasha he said "Feel free to amuse yourself with any of the women, hanyou." His cruel eyes glittered, "Business talk can be very dull." The moment Ryujin and Sesshomaru left the room, Inuyasha was on his feet, following Kagome's scent, she was getting harder to track. Damn!
"Kagome?" He called quietly. All the servants' quarters looked the same. "Kagome!"
"Inuyasha!" He nearly ripped the sliding door off its hinges. Kagome threw herself into his arms, clutching him tightly. Her body shook with dry sobs. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
"Are you alright?" He leaned back far enough to see her face. The welt on her cheek was still an angry red, but it seemed to be her only injury.
"Yes," she mumbled.
"We're leaving, now." He turned to the door and froze. His body pulsed.
No, no no! Shit!
Kagome felt like someone had stabbed her in the gut when Inuyasha turned back around, his hair black as the night, looking at her in abject terror from a pair of very brown, human eyes.
Not good. Really fucking not good.
TBC
A/N: This may be the most mature fic I've tried writing to date, so any constructive criticism is welcomed! Thanks for reading!
Shooshkipoo