He bided his time, content to watch. This was a first, for a man more used to action, more suited to violence. And patience was something he had forced himself to learn after the last debacle. He could admit he had fumbled it; it had never occurred to him that the blasted pup would break the binding he'd placed on her purity. All the more reason for the pup to die, for her to die. And the disgusting little lower demon he had chained into his service, freed now because of her, had certainly not helped the matter, though it had been amusing, once he had gotten past the soul blazing rage.
He had been watching her for weeks now, learning her over again. She was…different. Gone was the meek woman who cowered in fear at the mere mention of his name, the mere hint of his presence, or sound of his voice. The proof in that was the seeming indifference at the message he had left in her shop, and the other he had left on her voice mail. And even now, watching outside the huge house, she ignored him.
But even as that thought crossed his mind, something else did to. He knew of the barriers, had watched her, the sickly priestess and the lecherous monk, erect them. It was possible, he supposed, that with the strength of the barriers to keep him out, they blocked out even the tiniest hint of his presence, of his scent. That was something he would have to think about and consult the little miko he currently was keeping as prisoner. She wasn't as strong as Kagome, not even close, but she was strong enough to break the barrier. He would make sure of that.
He watched as his old partner set a possessive hand at the small of her back, as he leaned down to press a light kiss to her forehead. He couldn't hear them, no, the barriers blocked that as well, but he could see and it was enough to set the rage burning again. But he would be smart, and tamped it down. "Whore." The word was a mere breath of sound, and he wasn't even aware he'd said it.
She would have to be punished twice over, for betraying him with yet another man. He knew she'd slept with the dog, and knew it wouldn't be too much longer before she slept with the wolf, too. She would pay for that. Why couldn't she remember that she was his, and that she was not allowed to touch, or have or be, with anyone else.
Yes, she would pay, but so would he. His ex-partner, Kouga. They had gone through the academy together, passed the tests necessary to earn them the titles of detective, together. And Jirōbō had known of his affection, of his love, for the girl. So he had stolen her, made her fall in love with him, rather than with Kouga. And it had worked, because Kouga had never known that Jirōbō knew. He had almost laughed at the look of pain, of dismay, on his partners face. Almost. But it was all part of the game, and now, now Jirōbō saw it was all coming full circle.
They would pay, all three of them.
o.O.o
Word Count - 550
