There Will Be Blood
Chapter 9: The Captain's Ball
Kagura stared watched as Yura walked in her room. Several other servants filed in. They were pushing racks of dresses along with them. Yura was carrying her ever-present clipboard. Kagura stood up as more and more racks came in her large room. She had only been in Suikotsu's home for three days, but she had gotten pretty use to the way things were run.
Suikotsu was rarely around. This was probably the only thing Kagura liked. She did enjoy Yura's company when she was around, though. Yura Daikatsu was Suikotsu's personal assistant. She handled everything, even what was for dinner. The only time that Kagura ever really had to be in Suikotsu's presence was at meals. After he had almost killed her, Suikotsu went out of his way to make up for it; Kagura now had an entire closet stocked with shoes.
All of this in three days.
"What's all this for?" Kagura asked, walking over to one of the racks. Yura straightened her pencil skirt and shooed all of the men out. That left just Kagura, Yura, and four female servants.
"The Captain's Ball is Friday night. You are going as Mr. Oshima's date. So, of course you'll need something to wear. Some designers sent these dresses..." Yura paused when she noticed Kagura shaking her head. "Kagura..."
"No. Tell MR. OSHIMA that I'm not going. I don't want to be seen in public with him. He's not going to dress me up like a porcelain doll and parade me around. It's not going to happen," Kagura said. Yura sighed.
"Kagura, you really don't have a choice. You can pick a dress you like, or I can pick one for you. However, you will be attending the Captain's Ball. Mr. Oshima will not take no for an answer," Yura said. Kagura turned and looked at her.
"Is that so? Who's going to make me pick a dress, hm? You?" she asked. Yura cleared her throat. Kagura's eye twitched. Yura looked like she could do her some bodily harm. Besides, Kagura had no reason to be nasty towards Yura; she had been nothing but kind to Kagura. Kagura sighed and looked to her right. A dress caught her eye. She pointed to it. "That one," she said. Yura turned around.
"This one?" She pulled the hanger from the rack. Kagura nodded. Yura handed Kagura the dress. "Try it on. We'll see if it needs altering," Yura said. Kagura sighed.
"Can't we just assume it fits?" Kagura whined. Yura glared at her. Kagura rolled her eyes and headed for the bathroom. Three minutes later, she emerged wearing the dress. She put her hands on her hips. Yura snapped her fingers and the women in the room approached Kagura, pinning what was loose and checking what needed to be taken up. Kagura flinched as she was poked with pins. "Ouch! Is this really necessary?"
"You must be perfect for Mr. Oshima. What size shoe do you wear?"
"Six," Kagura mumbled. Yura raised an eyebrow. "What? I have small feet." Kagura jumped as the women began unzipping the dress. Kagura tried to keep it up on her.
"Kagura, they have to take the dress." Yura noticed that Kagura just did not want to "reveal" herself to all the strange women. Yura sighed. "Kagura, we're all women in here. You don't have anything we haven't seen before," she said. Kagura released the dress slowly. Yura tossed Kagura a pair of heels.
"These? I'll break my ankle in these."
"You worked at the Adonic, right? If you could be a waitress in stilettos, you can wear any type of shoes, Kagura," Yura said. She winked at Kagura as she continued looking through shoes. Kagura cursed under her breath and tried the shoes on. Yura looked at them. "Perfect fit."
Sesshomaru pulled up to his little house on the Inzei compound. He sat in the car for a moment. It had been nearly a week since he had last seen Kagura. He had not heard from her. Every time he called, he got no answer. As far as he knew, no one had seen her since she had gone into the Ouken estate last week.
Sesshomaru sighed and put the car in park. He took out his cell phone and stared at it for a moment. Not once had it rang with that special tone. He was actually beginning to get a little worried and he did not know why. He unlocked the phone and pressed "9."
"You've reached Kagura. It would appear that I have not answered. So, you know what to do..." A loud beep followed Kagura's voice. Sesshomaru was about to leave a message but thought better of it. Instead he hung up.
Her phone is off, he thought as he pressed "end." Then he exited his car.
When he entered his house, he was overwhelmed with the smell of take-out and pizza. Music was going as well as the television. Sesshomaru followed the sound of the TV to find Toran, enjoying both take-out and pizza. As usual, she had next to nothing on. This time, her clothing of choice was one of Sesshomaru's designer towels and his long socks. When she saw Sesshomaru glaring at her in the doorway, she slurped her lo mein and stood up.
"And where have you been for a week? No call or anything!" Toran marched over to him. Sesshomaru looked down his nose at her.
"I don't need you keeping tabs on me. Why are you in my clothes... again? " He walked around her. Toran watched him for a moment.
"Because they are yours," she said before following after him.
Toran followed Sesshomaru up to his room. When he went inside, he took off his jacket and glared at Toran. Toran just stood in the doorway with a smirk on her face. Sesshomaru removed his tie and turned away from her.
"All the more reason you shouldn't wear my clothes. My towels, either. They aren't for you to prance around in," Sesshomaru said. He faced her again, unbuttoning his cuffs. "Is there a reason you are still in my doorway?" he asked. Toran smirked. Her hands moved to the top of the towel.
"If you want it back," Toran unwrapped the towel from around her and threw it down at Sesshomaru's feet, "take it."
Sesshomaru barely noticed the towel at his feet. Toran was standing before him, wearing nothing but his tube socks. She put her hands in her hair and shook it out of the loose bun it was in. Then she placed them on her hips and walked forward. She paused as she stepped up beside Sesshomaru.
"Don't make me wait too long, Sesshomaru," she whispered. Then she continued further on into the room.
Sesshomaru cursed his providence. He stalked towards his bedroom door and shut it, hearing Toran's sneaky giggles behind him.
Kagura sat up in a cold sweat. She put a hand to her chest. Her heart was racing. She had just had the worst nightmare in all her life. The strangest part was that it had not involved her at all. It had been about...
"Kanna and Hakudoshi," Kagura whispered. She tried to recall the details before they slipped away, but they were already gone. Kagura winced as her stomach let its displeasure be known.
I haven't eaten in a while, she thought. That was true. Kagura had foregone dinner since Suikotsu was late coming in. To avoid seeing him, she just had skipped it altogether. Yura had not objected to it. Unfortunately, now Kagura was starving. She noticed that it was still dark outside and checked her clock. Three-fifteen. Hopefully no one is up. She slipped out of bed and to the bedroom door.
Kagura slowly opened the door. It was completely silent and dark outside of her room. She slowly stepped outside of her room and made her way to the suspended staircase. If Naraku's house was old-fashioned, Suikotsu's was the exact opposite. Kagura tried to move as swiftly and quietly as possible to the kitchen.
It took her a moment to find the hidden refrigerator. She kept forgetting where it was among the steel cabinets. When she finally found it, she noticed that Yura had obviously had it recently restocked. Kagura looked in the fruit drawer and found a banana. She grabbed some grapes and strawberries as well and sat at the island.
"Nothing like a mini fruit bowl," she whispered while popping a grape into her mouth.
"I agree," a voice said in her ear. Kagura nearly choked on the grape. She turned to face Suikotsu. He was leering down at her. Kagura tried to scoot away some.
"Why are you up?" she asked.
"This is my house, Kagura. I can be wherever I want to be, whenever." Suikotsu pulled up a stool next to her. He took a strawberry out of her bowl. "Yura told me you chose a dress and shoes."
"Yes," Kagura said stiffly.
"Are you looking forward to our date?" Suikotsu asked. Kagura rolled her eyes and looked down at Suikotsu as he looked up at her.
"Ecstatic," she said dryly. Suikotsu smirked.
"Such a beautiful mouth." He traced her lips with his fingers. Kagura leaned away from him. Suikotsu sat forward. She watched him hesitantly. He looked slightly drunk. Before Kagura could react to his movements, his hand had gone across her face. She fell off the stool and hit the cold tile floor. The fruit bowl fell, just missing her head. "So much mouth," Suikotsu whispered slowly.
Kagura squeezed the bowl in her hand and took a deep breath. Had he really just hit her? She rotated her jaw and shook her head. She tasted blood in her mouth. Why had he hit her? She looked up and reached for the bowl. Before she could touch it, she felt a hard jab to her left side. It felt like a foot in her ribs. She winced and turned her head. Suikotsu was looking down at her.
What the hell is his problem? she thought.
"Get up," he said. Kagura turned over. She got to her knees and wiped the blood away from her mouth. Suikotsu grabbed her by the hair and pulled her closer. "You will not talk to me anyway you like," he said. Kagura scrunched her face up.
"Oh yeah?" She made a disgusting noise. Then she reared her head back and spat a mixture of spit and saliva in his face. "And I guess you'll teach me not to, huh?" she taunted.
Suikotsu slowly wiped the spit from his face. Then swung Kagura into the cabinets. She hit them hard and slid down them. She immediately reached for the fallen bowl and threw it at Suikotsu. Suikotsu dodged it and grabbed her by her shirt. Kagura tried to pull away but Suikotsu managed to hold tight to her. Kagura heard someone else coming as Suikotsu slung her over his shoulder.
"Mr. Oshima? What is going on?" It was Yura.
"Go to bed Yura," Suikotsu said calmly. Yura looked confused.
Kagura kicked and screamed as Suikotsu carried her all the way to his room. He dropped her unceremoniously on the floor. Kagura hit her head against the bed. She turned and looked back out the door. Yura was standing there, watching. Then Suikotsu closed the door.
Two days later, Kagura looked at herself in the mirror. She wore a dark pink strapless bubble hem dress. A black bow was tied around her waist. Kagura slipped on her black sandals just as a knock came at her door. She turned as Yura entered. Yura was wearing black taffeta cocktail dress. As usual, she carried a clipboard.
"Are you ready? Mr. Oshima is waiting," Yura said.
"Do I look ready?" Kagura picked up her wristlet. She had secretly put her cell phone inside and turned it on. She stood up. "Let's go."
Suikotsu was waiting beside the limo when Kagura and Yura came outside. He grinned when he saw Kagura. Kagura glided up to him and stopped.
"Don't you look delicious?" Suikotsu ran a finger down Kagura's face. "Your chariot awaits," he said as he opened the door. Kagura glared at him and got in the car. Suikotsu waited for Yura to enter before shutting the door.
Yura watched Kagura. Kagura had the ever-present sour expression on her face. Yura cleared her throat. Kagura turned her head towards her.
"What?"
"Try to be nice, Kagura. Don't egg him on. Not tonight," Yura said. Kagura raised an eyebrow.
When they arrived at the Ekishou Building, Kagura barely recognized the place. It was completely made over. People in tuxedos and cocktail dresses were exiting cars and limos, allowing the valet and drivers to do the rest. The valet opened the door for Kagura and offered a hand. Before Kagura moved, Suikotsu grabbed her left wrist. Yura went ahead of Kagura. Kagura turned to face Suikotsu.
"Yes?" she whispered.
"Be nice." Suikotsu touched her chin. "Put on a happy face," he said before getting out on his side. Kagura rolled her eyes.
"Pig-headed piece of..."
Sesshomaru stood on a balcony in the ballroom. Toran, Bankotsu, and Jaken were with him. They watched as the guests of the ball filed inside and mingled. Only Sesshomaru and Jaken were actually paying attention. Bankotsu was busy keeping Toran distracted with idle conversation.
"You still haven't heard from her?" Jaken asked. Sesshomaru shook his head. "She hasn't even answered when you call?"
"Straight to voicemail," Sesshomaru said.
"That means her phone is off. I don't understand why you're so concerned, Sesshomaru. Aren't you and Toran..." Jaken paused when he noticed the look on Sesshomaru's face. He sighed and looked away.
"That's none of your concern," Sesshomaru said. Jaken shook his head and looked back towards the entrance. His eyes widened. He tapped Sesshomaru.
"And you were worried," he said. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. Before he could say anything, a sweet voice piped up from behind them.
"What are you four doing up here?" Izayoi Inzei asked. Sesshomaru faced his mother. She wore a cream-colored beaded halter cocktail dress. She extended a hand. "Which one of you will escort me downstairs?"
"I will."
"No, I will."
Sesshomaru pushed his friends aside and took Izayoi's hand. Izayoi smiled and waved at the other three. They followed with Toran glaring daggers and the back of Izayoi's head the entire way down.
"Why don't you take me over to Suikotsu? I want to meet those tarts he has on his arms," Izayoi said. Sesshomaru hummed his response and did as he was told.
Kagura tried not to look as sour as she felt. She wanted to disappear. She just listened to Suikotsu greet random people as she hung on limply to his left arm. Yura was on his right arm. She looked more pleasant than she did.
"Well, aren't you beautiful tonight?" Naraku said in Kagura's ear. Kagura turned to face him. He was smirking down at her. "Hello, daughter."
Everything around Kagura went hazy. She was so lost in her thoughts of rage that she missed the whole exchange between Naraku and Suikotsu. She did not realize that her hand had been given to Naraku. She did not recognize the dance floor when she got there. It was not until Naraku spoke again that she came out of her trance.
"Have you forgotten how to speak, Kagura?" he asked. Kagura blinked and looked up at him. She immediately began fighting against him. Naraku squeezed her wrists together and Kagura glared up at him. "Behave, daughter."
"I'm tired of MEN telling me to do that. I'm not a fucking child," Kagura whispered. Naraku bent her right wrist back and she winced in pain. He released her, having gotten his desired reaction. They began dancing. Kagura did not look at him.
"Have you been a good girl?"
"Define 'good,'" Kagura said. She still avoided eye contact with him.
"Have you done everything Suikotsu asked of you so far?"
"He hasn't asked much." Kagura finally looked at Naraku. "Where is this line of questioning going, Naraku?"
"I want you to refuse him nothing. You got that?" Naraku looked serious. Kagura frowned up at him and rolled her eyes.
"If I don't like it, it's not happening. I'm lucky to be here anyway." She looked away from him. "Do you know what he's done to me so far? He's nearly killed me," she said. She showed him the marks on her arms. Naraku shrugged indifferently.
"So? The way you talk, I'm surprised he didn't succeed," he said. Kagura's eyes widened and she turned her head to look back up at him.
Sesshomaru and Izayoi stopped in front of Suikotsu and Yura. Suikotsu gave Sesshomaru a sideways glance before looking down at Izayoi. He smiled at the older woman.
"Mrs. Inzei, it is most definitely a pleasure to see you. You look radiant, as always," Suikotsu said, taking Izayoi's hand and placing a kiss on it. Izayoi chuckled softly.
"You are far too kind in your words, Suikotsu. But, I came to meet the beautiful young ladies you have on your arms. I see one has vanished," she said.
"Oh, she is entertaining Naraku right now," Suikotsu said. Izayoi's smile faded a bit at the mention of Naraku's name. Then she nodded and looked at Yura. "But, this is Yura Daikatsu. She is my new personal assistant." Izayoi smiled at Yura. Yura stepped forward and bowed to Izayoi.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Inzei," she said.
"No. The pleasure is all mine." Izayoi stepped to the side. "Sessho, are you... buzzing?" she asked while looking up at her son.
Sesshomaru had not noticed his phone vibrating in his jacket pocket. He took it out. It was a text message. He nearly gasped when he saw who it was from.
Kagura, he thought. The message read: 73 – 5. Sesshomaru put the phone away. He felt his mother's eyes on him. She looked back at Suikotsu.
"It was good to see you, Suikotsu. Now, I must go mingle. You boys play nice. Toran, come with me." Izayoi wandered off with Toran. Suikotsu looked at Sesshomaru.
"I heard you were attacked recently, Sesshomaru. Such a shame," he said.
"You heard that, huh?" Sesshomaru asked. Suikotsu just shrugged. "Been to the East Dock lately?" Sesshomaru asked. Suikotsu's eyes widened.
"Why you..." Before he could finish, Jaken and Bankotsu had blocked his way. Sesshomaru stepped back away from them.
"Jaken, I have business." With that, Sesshomaru was gone.
Kagura walked around Sesshomaru's office on the 73rd floor. She had given Naraku the hardest slap she could muster before storming off and texting Sesshomaru in the process. She knew he had to be at a terrible party like this. She glanced around the office.
The last time she was here, she had never actually made it INSIDE the office. A sneaky smile came to her face as she remembered that turbulent night. Kagura went over to the large desk and sat in the big, black swivel chair. She looked out at his desk.
Such a neat freak, she mused. Kagura noticed a picture of a girl holding a tennis racket. She looked to be 14-16. She had black hair and big, brown eyes. She was also smiling as hard as she could at the camera. Kagura squinted. I've seen her before...
The door to the office closed loudly. Kagura sat the picture down and glanced up. Sesshomaru stood by the door in his tuxedo. It dawned on Kagura that she had only ever really seen him dressed down twice. But he filled out a suit and/or tux rather nicely. She bit her lip as he approached the desk slowly. He stopped and looked down at her.
"What are you doing with him?" Sesshomaru asked harshly. Kagura looked shocked. She shook her head and stood up. Sesshomaru watched her for a moment in confusion. "What? Where are you going?" he asked as she walked around him. She whirled on him and stared him in the eye.
"A nice 'Hi, Kagura! How ya been,' would've sufficed. Weren't you the least bit worried about me? Or am I just a pawn to you, too?" Kagura asked pointedly. Sesshomaru swallowed and narrowed his eyes.
"I have been trying to reach you for a week. I finally see you and you're with... him!" he yelled at her. Kagura took a step back. He had never yelled at her before. Sesshomaru sighed and released some of the tension in his shoulders. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"A week?" Kagura leaned against the desk. "I've been sold into captivity. I'm Suikotsu's 'property' now," she said glumly.
Sesshomaru stared at Kagura. He could not have heard her right. Captivity? Naraku allowed this to happen? Why? Sesshomaru brought Kagura back into focus. She was looking at the pictures on his desk.
"I really let him have it downstairs. I'm surprised no one else heard it. Guess they're already too drunk to notice." She picked a picture up. "Is she your sister?" she asked. Sesshomaru looked at the picture.
"Yes. Her name is Rin."
"She plays tennis, like Kanna." Kagura grabbed Sesshomaru by the tie and pulled him closer. Something under his collar caught her eye. "What's this?" Kagura moved his collar back. Her eyes narrowed and she stepped away from him.
"What?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Who's been sucking on you, Sesshomaru? That is so fucking... high school!" Kagura yelled. She headed for the door. Sesshomaru beat her there. "Move."
"Listen to me. This is from Toran," Sesshomaru said. Kagura crossed her arms.
"So? What? Is she your real girlfriend or something?"
"No. She just stays with me. She's already suspicious about us. So is Suikotsu, apparently. I can't really refuse her," he said. Kagura's frown deepened.
"So you're gonna fuck two girls?" Kagura asked. Sesshomaru winced at her terminology. "That's what it is! I refuse to let you screw her and me at the same time!"
"Fine. Then I won't," Sesshomaru said. Kagura raised an eyebrow.
"Won't what?"
"It'll just be you. I'll let her think what she wants," he said.
"Um... okay. That was easier than I thought it'd be," Kagura said quietly.
Sesshomaru nodded. Then he grabbed Kagura and pulled her into a rough kiss. Kagura dropped her wristlet. She put a hand up on the wall. Sesshomaru ran her hands down her body. Kagura winced in the kiss as he touched her sides. He kept going and she gasped in pain. Sesshomaru pulled away from her and looked down at her. Kagura looked up at him.
"What's wrong? Why'd you stop?" she asked.
"Are you hurt or something?" Sesshomaru asked. Kagura bit her lip. She shook her head fervently. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. He turned her around. "Untie this," he commanded. Kagura rolled her eyes and did as she was told. Sesshomaru unzipped her dress. Kagura held it to her chest but Sesshomaru still saw everything as he kneeled.
Kagura had dark bruises up and down her sides. There were marks on her back that looked like fingerprints. She also had scratches. Sesshomaru touched her skin softly. Kagura gasped softly and looked down at him. He stood up as he zipped her dress back up. Kagura turned to look at him. She had never seen him look so angry before.
"Sesshomaru..."
"We need to go back downstairs," he said firmly. Kagura frowned.
Swell, she thought morosely.
Yura was smoking a cigarette against the wall and out of sight near the elevators. She heard the distinctive "ding" of one coming down. She turned her head and saw the door open. Kagura stepped out. Yura raised an eyebrow and took another drag. Kagura turned her head and Sesshomaru Inzei followed her out of the same elevator. Yura nearly forgot to breathe as she watched the two share a long kiss. Then she turned away from them. She squeezed her eyes shut.
I'm not going to tell Suikotsu. He'll just hurt her more, she thought. Instead, Yura moved quickly to intercept Kagura. Right before Kagura crossed into the ballroom, she grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the side. Kagura gasped and looked at Yura.
"What do you think you're doing with him?" Yura whispered.
Kagura stared at Yura for a moment, unsure of what she meant. Then it dawned on her. Yura's frown deepened.
"Please don't tell Suikotsu," Kagura said. Yura stared at her. Kagura looked truly scared. Yura sighed and pulled out another cigarette from her silver purse. She lit it and took a hit. "Yura?"
"I won't!" Yura said loudly. A few people looked at the two. "Just make sure you stay away from him from now on, Kagura." Yura pointed to where Suikotsu was. Kagura nodded and started to walk towards her "master." Yura turned her head and looked back towards the elevators. Sesshomaru was still standing there. Yura stormed towards him. She stopped inches away from him. "Listen here, Mr. Inzei. If you come so much as within fifty feet of Miss Ouken again, I will personally see to it that she'll never see you again. Got it?"
"You can't keep her locked up," Sesshomaru said. Yura smirked and blew smoke in Sesshomaru's face.
"I said SHE'LL never see YOU again." Yura turned and walked away.
