I love my beta, xfang-girlx! Thank you for all of your help! :D
"How hard can it be to find one damn man?" Yumiko screamed, throwing the empty wine glass against the wall.
Coyote calmly stepped over the shards of broken glass to pull his wife into his arms. He knew she was furious because not only had Sōsuke not been found, two spies had been captured so far, one of them being Hana. Holes had been gouged in the castle walls by ammunition from catapults that had been used daily over the past week. Thankfully the gate was standing firm against the battering rams. At this point, Coyote was not sure which would fall first: the castle gate or his wife.
"Something has got to stop this fighting. I know that bastard is here. What if..." Yumiko stopped talking, looking into her husband's eyes. "What if I offered to negotiate with him to draw him out of hiding?"
"Are you talking about a settlement or surrender?" Coyote asked, staring into her stormy gray eyes.
"Neither. I just want to expose him so I can kill him," she answered, her eyes never moving from his.
Coyote pulled her tightly against him, pressing his lips to her forehead. He hated it when she was so resolute about something - especially this. "What's your plan?" he questioned her, sliding his fingers through her long hair. The tips of his fingers grazed her behind and he could not resist the urge to give her butt cheek a quick squeeze.
"Are you trying to distract me?" She raised her head, allowing her lips to brush across his. She gasped when he caught her chin, turning her face back so he could capture her lips for an earnest kiss. Her arms moved to encircle his neck as her lips parted to accept his exploring tongue into her mouth. After he had thoroughly investigated every inch of her wine flavored mouth, she pulled back to look at him.
"Is it working?" he inquired, kissing the tip of her nose.
"Splendidly," she murmured, sliding her hands into his coat to push it over his shoulders.
"Excellent," he whispered, studying her face as she removed the white leather vest he was wearing.
Yumiko devoured him with her eyes as her fingers moved over the sparse silky hair covering his well muscled chest. Her hands glided down his toned abdomen, playing across each hard ridge. Using her forefinger, she traced the narrowing line of hair down to his pants. A gasp of surprise left her lips when his hand caught hers and pulled it away.
"Don't do it," Coyote murmured, his eyes holding hers.
"What? This?" She pressed her other hand against the bulge in his tight pants. Her hand kneaded the hardness gently and her body responded by warming head to toe with arousal. Smiling triumphantly as a groan left his lips, she used her now free hand to unbutton his pants. Pressing small kisses to his well-built chest, she felt his fingers curl into her hair and believed the conversation was over.
"Don't hunt down my brother," he whispered, pulling her hair slightly as she nipped his chest near his nipple. It was nearly impossible to think, and she knew it, but he refused to be deterred. "Stay here. I'll go after him."
"I can't do that," she rejoined, running her fingers through his shoulder length waves.
"You have too high of a sense of duty to your father and kingdom," he said, pulling her lips to his using fistfuls of her hair.
Yumiko kissed him passionately, thankful he understood her motivation. Apparently, he also understood that he would not be changing her mind. Instead, Coyote channeled his efforts into wearing out her body, hoping to make her too tired to move. For hours he brought her to orgasm after orgasm with the intention of devastating her mind and destroying her body so she would not be able to carry out her plan. Early in the morning, just before dawn, they both fell asleep...or so he thought.
Yumiko carefully climbed out of the bed once her amorous husband's breathing was deep and rhythmic. Taking a moment to stare at him longingly, she prayed that she would make it back to him. She tightly held the sheet wrapped around her as she crept out of the bedroom down to the bathing chamber. Just as she had ordered, a hot bath waited for her. Fragrant rose petals floated on the surface imparting their perfume into the water and the air. Slipping into the delightfully hot water, she sighed loudly, allowing it to relax her sore muscles. Coyote had almost accomplished his mission to make her a non-functioning human being. Closing her eyes, she leaned back to clear her mind and not think about anything - a luxury in which she rarely indulged. Consciousness began to flee until she heard the hinges on the door creak as it was opened. Immediately coming to full wakefulness, she sat up to see her libidinous blue-haired brother-in-law entering the room.
"What in the hell are you doing in here?" she demanded, noting the hurt expression that flitted through his sky blue eyes.
"I just wanted to wish you luck," Grimmjow answered, pulling up a stool beside the tub. He reached for the sponge sitting on the table next to the tub, sinking it down into the water.
Yumiko held her breath, pressing her back against the porcelain surface of the basin to avoid an 'accidental' touches. "Are you sure that's all you wanted to do?"
"If I wanted you, which I do, I'd pull you out of that water and have my way with you. What's to stop me? Lean forward and move your hair out of the way," he ordered her gently, waiting as she did as he asked.
Yumiko leaned forward holding her hair with one hand while hugging her knees to her chest with her other arm. She smiled as her commenced to carefully washing her back. "Did Coyote ask you come talk to me?"
"No. I'm doing it for my own selfish purposes," he admitted, dipping the sponge down in the water again.
Yumiko shivered as he squeezed it, sending the water splashing across her shoulders, running down her chest, and trickling over her breasts. She turned her head to look at him, seeing his eyebrows had drawn together giving his face an intense expression of concern. His face had lost its fierceness and taken on an engaging look of gentleness and worry.
"If you're planning on seducing Sōsuke it won't work," he informed her, allowing his fingers to brush across her back to push aside a few stray hairs. "I don't think the man even likes sex."
"Maybe not. I would say being a sexual predator fell to you in the scheme of things. Ouch!" she cried out when his fingernails grazed her back.
"Sorry," he spat in a less than sincere apology. Her sharp tongue infuriated him as much as it attracted him. "Listen to me so you won't do something to get yourself killed. Appeal to his intelligence and ego but for God's sake don't be sarcastic or ingratiating. Do you think you can do that?" he inquired quite seriously, kneeling beside the tub to look at her. He pulled a small, sheathed dagger from behind his back. Two thin leather straps hung from the sheath, which he held with one hand while pulling out the knife with the other.
"I-I think I c-can," she stammered, swallowing convulsively to rid herself of the lump in her throat. Her eyes were mesmerized by the sight of the dual edged blade that curved like a small wave.
"It's small but deceptively deadly," he murmured, turning the blade so the low light in the room glinted menacingly off the blade. His eyes held her as he added, "Just like you."
Yumiko inhaled sharply when he unexpectedly leaned forward to kiss her lips. The kiss was brief and brotherly which was shocking considering the source.
"Be careful, you stubborn ass. Don't get yourself killed. And don't underestimate my brother's capacity for evil," he warned her, standing up quickly. He sheathed the knife to leave it on the wooden stool before exiting the room.
Yumiko would not dare underestimate Sōsuke's ability to commit disturbing acts of atrocity, particularly toward her.
~...~
Yumiko arrived at the edge of the enemy encampment just before dawn. She was wearing the dress Gin had given her during her imprisonment at the Northern Kingdom castle. Her fingers drifted across the sheath of the dagger tied to her thigh beneath the short skirt of the thin dress. After removing the herb infused flask of wine from the saddlebag of Hera, she patted the horse reassuringly on the neck. Once she whispered words of praise to her faithful equine companion, she slapped the horse heartily on the flank to shoo her back home. The sound of many feet rushing toward her made her pause to take a deep breath to steady her nerves before she turned around. The tips of several swords were pointed at her face as the huddle of soldiers slowly spread out to surround her.
"I am unarmed," she boldly lied, hoping they did not touch her to search her. Holding out the bottle of wine, she announced, "I only bring this wine...a peace offering for your King."
"But the king is not - " One soldier began speaking to be abruptly cut off by the Queen.
"DO NOT LIE TO ME!" she bellowed angrily, glaring at the young man who became visibly shaken. Searching the men around her for the one in charge, she spotted the blonde man named Yylfordt Granz who had been one of Sōsuke's flunkies who helped kidnap her. "You. Take me to him," she commanded, stepping up to the man who glared at her with unadulterated hatred in his eyes.
"Gladly," the man growled, seizing her roughly by the arm to yank her toward him.
Yumiko bit her lower lip, refusing to scream from the pain that surged up her arm as his fingers dug into her flesh with bruising force. She did her best to keep up with him as he practically dragged her through the maze of tents. The soldiers emerged from their tents in the dim predawn light to watch with startled amazement as the Queen of the East Kingdom was marched through their camp. Avoiding their gaze and keeping her nose in the air, she concentrated on her one goal for embarking upon this possibly suicidal mission - to trap and kill the elusive Sun King. Just when she thought their trek was never going to end, they arrived at massive white tent surrounded by armed soldiers. The black and gold pennants emblazoned with the sun symbol hung limply and forlorn since there was no breeze to make them fly proudly. A spiteful smile tilted Yumiko's lips as she wondered if the Sun King were as flaccid as his flags. Before a giggle could surface from her bitter thoughts, the man appeared, pushing back the flap of his tent and walking out as if he had already conquered her kingdom. The desire to laugh fled instantly upon seeing the man standing there shirtless, wearing nothing but a loose, flowing pair of white silk pants that almost looked like a skirt. Although it appeared he had just awakened, not a hair of his lustrous chestnut colored locks was out of place. Pressing her lips together and hardening her eyes, she refused to react in any favorable way to the appallingly handsome, muscular man. Their father must have been a damn good-looking man in his youth to produce such comely and downright beautiful sons. Or maybe it was just the mothers of the men that had lent their beauty to their sons. Either way, the late King Baraggan had some impressive progeny to behold.
"My Queen," he said in his silken voice, bowing to her grandly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I came to seek a peace agreement," she answered, snatching her arm out of her captor's agonizing grip.
"Come in," he invited her, giving her a beguiling smile.
Such a charming man, she thought, clutching the flask in her hands as she entered his tent. It's such a shame he's pure poison in a very pretty container. Looking down at the decanter filled with tainted wine, she held it to her chest and smiled. She immediately turned to face him, uncomfortable with turning her back to him. Not expecting him to be so close, she yelped and backed away after her nose scraped his bare, hair free chest. Her eyes met his and her anger flared to see the self-righteous, conceited expression in his dark brown eyes. She watched him silently as he backed away to sit down at the low table to their right. Swallowing a bit of her self-respect and nearly choking on it, she knelt in front of him, lowering her head as she held out her gift to him.
"You come bearing gifts?" Sōsuke questioned her, tentatively taking the bottle.
"A peace offering," she mumbled, keeping her eyes on the soft animal skin under her knees.
"What if it is not the offering I'm seeking?" He reached out to curl his finger under her chin, tipping her head up to look into her eyes.
"Wh-what do you m-mean?" Yumiko stuttered, mentally kicking herself for showing weakness.
"Sit," he cordially bade her, directing her with the wave of a hand to sit beside him at the table.
Yumiko could not help but notice that he had brought the golden goblets from his father's castle with him. Heaven forbid Sōsuke be denied any extravagance or the comforts of royal life. She studied his every move as he poured them both a cup of wine. Having been prepared for this possibility, she had brought along a small packet of herbs that would act as an antidote and counteract the sedative effect of the wine. Gin had helped her prepare the possibly lethal mixture for this occasion. The dose of herbs was more than triple that of the wine he had given her to help her sleep. If he died from the overdose of herbs before she could stab him to death, so be it. Then her hands would remain unstained by his blood both literally and figuratively. Her eyes followed his hand as he took the cup and raised it for a toast.
"To peace...and a beautiful new future," he said, his eyes skirting over her face.
Yumiko concentrated on remaining emotionless, not wanting to give away any hint of her duplicity. She was sure he suspected it anyway. Raising her goblet to touch it to his, she was caught off guard when he grabbed her wrist to jerk her toward him. Her body fell against his, the wine sloshing over the tops of their cups. Her scream was muffled by his lips covering her mouth in a pain inducing violent kiss. Grimmjow, you were WRONG!, her brain screamed as the man tossed aside the cups then seized her other wrist before she could slap him. This was not supposed to happen. This was not the plan. The plan was for him to drink the wine, fall asleep, and she would kill him. When did he develop a raging libido like his younger brother?
Yumiko pushed against his chest with her palms flattened to his hard pectorals all to no avail. She raised her lips from his, managing to emit a short, sharp cry before he knocked her flat on her back with a powerful slap to the face. Shock prevented her from feeling the pulsing sting emanating from her cheek. Her fear widened eyes met his as he moved to menacingly hover over her on all fours. Her body trembled beneath him as his fingers lovingly stroked her aching cheek. The tender, apologetic action was in direct contrast with the malicious intent in his eyes.
"Have I done something my brother could not manage to do?" he said in a soft lulling voice as if talking to himself out loud. He gingerly pressed his lips to hers as if to apologize for the horribly violent strike to her face. "Have I tamed the shrew?"
Yumiko closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm herself. She needed to think. Gathering all of her strength into her legs, she thrust her knee into his crotch as forcefully as possible. Allowing her anger to fuel her need to escape, she jumped to her feet and ran without giving a second thought to the man lying in a pathetic moaning heap of agony on the bearskin in his tent.
"Oh, no you don't!" a man yelled grabbing a handful of her hair to pluck her off of her feet.
Yumiko was unable to scream when she hit the ground flat on her back because the impact had pushed all of the air out of her lungs. She panted for air, staring up at the pretty but outrageously incensed Yylfordt Granz. Her back ached when he pulled her up from the ground, throwing her into the King's tent as if she were a rebellious and ill-mannered puppy. She tripped and fell, finding herself face to red face with the King who was in excruciating pain.
"Tie her up," Sōsuke ordered, slowly and unsteadily getting to his feet while keeping a hand over his damaged crotch. "Secure her to the pole in the middle of my tent. I want to keep an eye on her."
Yumiko obstinately refused to scream as her arms were grabbed by coarse hands and treated the harshest way possible as they were pulled behind her back. She bit her lower lip to withhold a cry as she was slammed down onto her back with a firmly and painfully placed kick to her shoulder by the irate and physically tortured King. Never would she give any of them the slightest bit of sick gratification by screaming out in pain or fear. A tear did leak out of her eye as she was dragged across the tent to be gathered up and forced down on her knees. She stared at the ground, desperately trying to keep the tear from escaping her eye as her back was placed firmly against the pole while two men held her wrists and ankles together behind her as a third bound them together. A burning sensation tore through her shoulders and hips so she tried to reposition herself to alleviate the strain on her muscles and joints. Allowing the wooden pole to scrape across her back, she sank back until her butt was sitting on the ground with her knees splayed wide in front of her. The tear finally released itself, streaking down her cheek to drop off of her chin. The one thing working in her favor was that her skirt, despite its short length, had spread across her thighs not only maintaining her modesty but keeping the dagger concealed.
"Don't cry, my dear," Sōsuke cooed, using the tip of his sword to raise her face. "Behave yourself and I'll release you...in a day or two."
Yumiko kept quiet, choosing to glare at him in silence. Saying anything in this moment would only cause him to spout off some lengthy diatribe about how superior he was and how he would win.
"Hmmmm," he hummed, kneeling down in front of her. Running the tip of his short sword down the length of her neck and then her chest, he turned it to insert it inside her dress.
Yumiko closed her eyes and held her breath as he pulled the handle and the fabric gave way beneath the sharp blade. The fabric fell away from her breasts, exposing them to chill morning air which immediately made her skin prickle with goosebumps and her nipples harden into stiff peaks.
"My goodness..." he murmured, reaching out to touch her. He smiled lecherously and cruelly as she flinched when his hand covered her breast. "You are beautiful underneath your clothes too. I can see why my brother became so enamored with you."
"Bastard!" she shrieked, struggling to sit up. This action tightened her restraints causing a searing pain to course through her wrists and ankles as the ropes bit into her skin. Realizing the futility and frightening gravity of her precarious situation, she sank back once again, allowing the tears to fall with abandon as he groped her breast. It made her sick at her stomach for a myriad of reasons. Not only was another man touching her, but it was Sōsuke, her enemy and her husband's excessively wicked, despicable brother. What if he...what if he...it was too terrifying to even contemplate if he chose to do more sexual harm to her.
"They'll come for me. And when they do, they'll kill you," she snarled through her teeth.
"But," he whispered, moving his face close to hers. His eyes gazed into hers, enjoying the fear that was growing in their dark gray depths. He pushed his sword down, cutting her dress further. "How much damage will I cause you before your knights in shining armor arrive?"
Yumiko closed her eyes, taking away his ability to see her fear. She squeezed her eyelids together tightly as he completed cutting the dress from her body. Her heart nearly froze in her chest when she heard his sudden intake of air. She yelped when the straps securing the dagger to her leg were ruthlessly cut using the sharp sword tip without regard to the skin beneath.
"Well, lovely and deadly...just like a sweet, innocent lily of the valley," he said, cutting off a piece of his pants to use as a bandage for the cuts he made on her leg. His hand rested on her wounded thigh, his long fingers spreading uncomfortably close to the most intimate part of her. "Hiding poison in her petals."
Yumiko grunted as he pushed himself to a standing position exerting most of the force on her injured thigh. She watched as he poured himself another goblet full of wine. Hope soared within her as he raised the gilded cup to his lips. Disappointment filled her when he turned the cup, spilling the contents onto the ground.
"Do you really think I'm that stupid?" he questioned her, a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
Yumiko allowed her stubbornness to rise, overshadowing rational thought, she retorted, "One can always hope."
Then she was promptly separated from consciousness by a furious and humiliated King Sōsuke who kicked her maliciously in the face without a single regret.