Chapter 11: The Devil You Know
Please let this be heaven
Was Sae's first thought as she blinked her eyes up at the bright rays shining on her face. Everything looked light, an almost divine glow glimmering overhead. At first, Sae felt nothing but peaceful tranquility. The cheerful twittering of the birds a serene melody filling the air. A soft cool breeze played over her skin. It seemed like the first moments of calm she'd experienced in a long while.
Then everything came into focus.
Not again. Sae groaned in misery, getting hit by the excruciating pain all over again.
She was laying on her stomach, cheek pressed against a soft white pillow as she processed the details of the room. It took but a moment to realize she was in Lord Sesshomaru's personal chambers. The familiar white marble and large chandelier finally registering in her mind.
"I must be dreaming," Sae mumbled, closing her eyes tightly before opening them again. Unable to believe that she was still alive and now laying on the lord's very large, very silky bed. After two more attempts of squeezing her eyes shut and thinking that when she opened them again her eyes would stop deceiving her; Sae came to the grim conclusion that she was indeed laying in the room of the demon who just caused her and her brother a tremendous amount of suffering.
What. The. Hell.
Her mind beginning to race, Sae started to recall all the memories of the past week. Or was it weeks? At that point, Sae wasn't even sure how long she had been unconscious. But considering the potent stinging that was throbbing all along her back, she figured it was for at least a few days. Otherwise, Sae knew she'd be facing much more pain.
Testing out her theory, Sae inhaled a deep breath and pushed herself up with her forearms. "Son of a-!" Sae cursed, instantly aware of the scorching pain that shot straight up her spin. Taking quick breaths in and out, Sae stayed motionless as she tried riding it out. It felt like forever, but finally the stabbing burn receded to a tolerable ache.
Holding in her cry of agony, Sae pushed herself all the way up to a sitting position. The blanket fell away from her body and she was aghast to discover that she was naked under all the white silken sheets. Clutching the blanket to her body, Sae looked around the room.
Déjà vu
She saw the cup of water sitting on the stand by the bed. Unable to help herself, she drank. When finished, Sae placed it down and carefully swung her legs off the edge of the bed. The floor was cold to the touch, but a relief as Sae collected herself.
It took a moment for her realize that she had no idea what her next step was. Other than finding clothing to wear, she wasn't sure what she should do after. Try to escape again? After the last two attempts failed? Find Youhei?
"Youhei," She breathed, realization dawning. What happened to her brother? Last time she'd seen him was when she was being dragged away by the guard …
The reminder, brought on an instant mixture of anger and confusion.
Lord Sesshomaru had basically said she was going to die down in the dungeons. Why was she in his chambers? Why had he once again spared her life? Was she going to be his new experiment? How much a human can take in the name of what they believed in? Or who they loved?
"I will not be his puppet," Sae swore lowly, fury making her feel like finding a sword. If she found out that the lord had done anything else to her brother then Sae would make sure she died trying to take him with her. There was nothing left for her if Youhei was gone.
With that thought in mind, Sae once again searched around the room with her dark eyes, looking for any item of clothing she could put on. Being naked left you vulnerable and when she next faced Lord Sesshomaru she was going to be ready for a fight.
But after a few rounds around the room, Sae was disturbed to discover that there was nothing suitable to put on. Like the room had been stripped bare of any clothing. As if someone had purposely made sure she had nothing to wear.
Bastard.
Sae took a deep breath in. "Fine," she wrapped the sheet over her breasts and tied a knot tightly at the top. If she had to face him practically naked, she would. After confronting death twice in a row she felt as if she had nothing else to lose. What more could he possibly do to her, kill her?
Sae snorted.
Now for a weapon, she thought gazing around the room again. But like the clothes, there wasn't anything really useful she could work with. The only three objects Sae saw with relatively sharp ends were a spoon laying by the bed stand, a comb on the dresser by the window, and a few pieces of paper on the desk by the wall. "It's better than nothing," Sae muttered going over to the dresser and grabbing the metal comb.
At the exact moment her hands gripped the "weapon", the loud rumbling of the door sounded around the room.
Quickly, Sae tucked the comb behind her back and whirled around, ready for whomever came through that door.
The small girl named Rin stepped inside, dressed in a simple but expensive kimono and a section of her hair tied up in a knot. Her young face was bright and youthful, as a small smile played on her lips when she spotted Sae in the middle of the room.
"Hello," the little girl greeted, entering the room completely.
Sae shifted on her feet. "Hello," she said back awkwardly, perhaps not as ready for anyone as she thought. Opponent wise, the girl won hands down. No one could compete with that total air of innocence or sweet kind face.
"Who are you?" the girl asked curiously, coming to stand in front of Sae.
"I'm Sato –I mean …um," Sae stumbled on her name, forgetting that she was a girl once more. "I'm S-Sae."
The girl didn't seem to notice her slip of tongue. "I'm Rin," she smiled, holding out a small slim hand. "It's nice to meet you."
Sae looked down at those tiny fingers and relaxed a little bit. There was just something very open and trusting about this young child. "Nice to meet you Rin," Sae smiled, shaking her hand.
"What are you doing in Lord Sesshomaru's chambers?" Rin asked, gesturing around the room.
"Uh …" Sae wasn't sure if Rin was aware of anything the lord did outside of being her guardian. From what Sae had been told, Rin was treated as a princess of this castle. Lord Sesshomaru made sure that the girl never wanted for anything. And for those unfortunate servants who did not obey his command on giving the kid everything she asked for, got punished. But Sae rather doubted that Rin was aware of the dungeon or such like.
"Are you Lord Sesshomaru's new friend?" Rin asked, unable to wait through the silence. She walked over to the bed and hopped on.
Sae stood rooted to her spot. "Friend?" she echoed dubiously, thinking she heard wrong. "Since when does Lord Sesshomaru have any friends?"
Rin titled her head to the side peculiarly. "He has a lot. Many are woman, but I sometimes meet a man or two. The woman are a lot nicer, though. They always seem to be happier to see Lord Sesshomaru than the men so maybe that's why he makes more lady friends."
Sae blushed for the girl. "Rin … um … they are not –er …" Sae wasn't sure how to explain the relationships between the lord and his "lady friends". Let alone if she should. Rin was much too young to really understand. So perhaps having her believe the friendship idea wasn't too harmful. Eventually she would learn, when she was of the right age. "Uh, never mind."
Rin patted the spot beside her on the bed, grinning widely. "Sit by me, Sae."
Sae shook her head. "No, I don't think-"
"Please," Rin's mouth pouted and her eyes misted over.
Sae sighed. The kid is good, she thought with chagrin as she made her way to the bed.
Swinging her small legs, Rin appeared happy when she asked, "Did you get to spend the night?"
"More like a whole week," Sae mumbled, rotating her shoulder at the achiness that resided there. She could ignore the pain when she stood but for some reason when she sat, the discomfort got worse.
"A week?" Rin's big brown eyes got wide. "No one have ever stayed in Lord Sesshomaru's chambers overnight. It's a rule. He doesn't even let me sleep here when I'm having nightmares. You must be a very good friend to him, huh Sae?"
Sae scratched her head. How to explain to an 8 year old that she was a slave? And so were most of the woman Sesshomaru brought here, therefore many did not have a choice. And how to explain that friendships between slaves and masters were nonexistent?
"He must really like you," Rin continued cheerfully, appearing oblivious to all things morbid in this world. "I haven't seen Lord Sesshomaru with a lady friend for more than a day or two. Except Lady Fukui," Rin gave a small shudder. "I don't like that friend."
Sae frowned at the girl's first show of unhappiness. "You do not like Lady Fukui?"
Rin shook her head vigorously. "She's mean. And she never likes it when I speak to Lord Sesshomaru. She looks at me like I shouldn't even be talking, especially to her. Lord Sesshomaru usually sends me away when she's around." There was sadness in her little face as she said it.
Sae couldn't help but want to comfort the sweet girl. She put an arm around her narrow shoulders, noticing how slim the child was. "Don't worry about her Rin, she's just envious of you. Lady Fukui doesn't like that Lord Sesshomaru cares more about you than anyone else."
"Really?" Rin looked up at Sae hopefully, a trusting look in those naive eyes.
Sae nodded, giving her a light squeeze. She wondered how Lord Sesshomaru had kept Rin so adorably guileless when he was a heartless demon himself. And if he would shelter Rin forever. A part of Sae hoped he would. There was just something quite innocent and pure about little Rin. Things that warranted protecting. Considering that the real world was actually a dark, dreary, and bleak place.
"Rin!" a female voice called out, sounding out of breath.
Rin gasped. "Oh-oh, I gotta go." She hopped off the bed and ran towards the door. Before she slipped out, she swung around and looked at Sae. "Will you come play with me sometime?"
Feeling a little sad, Sae smiled anyway and nodded. "Of course."
"Rin!"
Her eyes opening wide, Rin waved. "Bye!" and disappeared.
Chuckling lightly, Sae shook her head. She doubted she would be able to see Rin again. But it was refreshing to meet someone so full of life and innocence. There was a time, no doubt, that every person looked at the world in such a way. Somewhere down the line however, through experience, every adult loses that complete positive outlook on life. Thus were the ways of the world.
It was odd, though. Now that Sae thought about it. The cold man that Sae had seen down in the dungeons could not possibly be the same man that inspired that huge smile on Rin's little face. How could he be a dotting guardian and a cruel lord at the same time? It just did not make sense. His disgust for humans was apparent. But his fondness for the young girl was as well. How did they differ in his mind? Was it only a select few that he did not believe beneath him? Could Lord Sesshomaru possibly be capable of true genuine emotion?
A sudden memory of the Youhei's beaten face flashed across Sae's mind.
No, there must have been a reason for Rin's presence in the lord's life. History that no one knew about. Because Sae refused to believe that it was out of the kindness of his heart that he took care of Rin so. He must have an ulterior motive.
The door creaked open again.
She perked up at the sound. "Did you forget something, Rin?" Sae smiled.
"No," said Lord Sesshomaru's monotone voice. "She did not."
Sae's smile was wiped clean off as she jumped up from her sitting position. The lord stepped into the room gracefully, shutting the heavy oak door with ease. He glided over to the window, looking for all the world as if he was the only one in the room. Sae reached behind her and grabbed the steel tipped comb, gripping it's handle tightly. She didn't take her eyes off the demon lord as he began removing his armor, his movements fluid.
He placed the clanking metal on the chair before moving towards the bathroom, still ignoring her presence. Sae nevertheless kept her eyes on him the whole while, never giving him her back. She could feel her heart beating quickly, unable to keep the nervousness out of her system. She may feel ready to fight but Lord Sesshomaru was still 100x stronger than she could ever be. She must be wary.
"Whatever you think to do with that comb," began the lord coldly, emerging out of the bathroom. "Take it out of that small brain of yours. The attempt will be futile."
Sae gripped the comb harder, hardly surprised that he noticed. The lord had supernatural senses that allowed him to be more perceptive than others. He didn't miss much. "No," Sae raised her chin, bracing her shoulders back. Might as well let it be known that she was not there to cooperate. "You'll have to pry it from my cold dead fin-"
Before she could finish, Lord Sesshomaru moved so quickly it was a blur. He knocked the comb out of her hands and had his fingers wrapped around her throat in a blink of an eye. "That will not be a problem," he said, putting pressure on her windpipes.
Sae gasped, but refused to show him weakness. "Get it over with already," she hissed, glaring daggers. "You've had more than one chance to kill me, why not just do it?"
Lord Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed dangerously, his hold getting slightly tighter. "Do you want to die female?"
"Death is preferable over being your slave," She spat, trying to intake as much air as possible.
"Is it now," Lord Sesshomaru squeezed slightly harder, his gold eyes staring intently into her face, before releasing her.
"What game are you playing at?' Sae wheezed, eyeing him as she rubbed her raw throat. He casually strode over to the bed and started unbuttoning his shirt, seemingly unfazed by threatening her. "Why am I even here?"
"I am now starting to realize something," Lord Sesshomaru said in that emotionless voice of his, ignoring her questions. "Risking your life doesn't seem to get through to you at all, does it? But I wonder, would risking your brother's?"
Sae's insides froze.
"Hm," Lord Sesshomaru shrugged out of his top shirt and was left in only his white thin one underneath. "It did take me a minute to discover that little weakness of yours. You are all bravado until it comes to those you truly care for." There was no disguising the mockery and scorn behind his words. "So I do not doubt that my next commands will be heeded. Or else, I will enjoy having you watch as I take off your brother's head."
Gulping, Sae nodded, a bubble of anger starting to rise.
"Say it." Lord Sesshomaru said chillingly, walking towards her.
"Yes," she gritted out, the resentment building up so high she felt as if she might choke on it.
"Yes, what?"
Sae grinded her teeth together before uttering: "Yes, my lord."
"Good," he stood directly in front of her, looking down at her small frame. "As if it needs to be said, I do not have to explain my actions to the likes of you. However, I will tell you this." He ran a clawed finger down her cheek. "The only reason you are alive, wench, is because I will enjoy breaking your spirit. Your determination and courage may be intriguing to me but only for the sole purpose of seeing it withered away into nothing but shredded dreams."
Sae turned her face away from his gentle touch.
He dropped his hand, his eyes narrowed. "You will be my personal slave, woman. Anything I wish, must be given. Anything I demand, will be served. Anything I ask, will be done. It that understood?"
Almost shaking with rage, Sae bowed stiffly. "Yes, my lord." It took everything she had not to scream out in fury. If it hadn't been for Youhei's safety and well-being, Sae would have risked taking the lord on. But if there was a chance she could save Youhei, Sae would do anything in her power to see it through. Even if it meant swallowing her own pride and personally serving the arrogant Lord of the Western Lands.
"What would you like me to do?" Sae grumbled, keeping her eyes on the floor in case he'd see the hostility there.
There was a moment of silence, in which the only audible sound was the breeze blowing through the window. "Strip," he finally answered, turning around and heading towards the bed.
"W-what?" Sae stammered, looking down at the sheet in surprise and distressed to remember that she'd been practically naked this whole time.
"Do not make me tell you again," Lord Sesshomaru's voice was spine-chilling.
"I-" Sae stopped herself, before words of defiance automatically came out. This was for Youhei's survival now, not hers. No matter how demeaning the task was, she had to do it.
Sae swallowed her humiliation and untied the knot at the top of her breast. She took a deep breath before letting the sheet drop to the floor. And stood frozen. Everything within her wanted to use her hands to cover herself but she knew that this was some sort of sick punishment. It was meant to disgrace and bring shame. So Sae kept her face turned away and her shoulders held back. He would not see any mortification from her.
"Follow me," he said tonelessly, striding towards the bathroom.
Confused, and very discomforted, Sae slowly trailed after him. At the doorway she saw him turning the tub on, running a hand under the water. "You will bathe," he ordered coolly, grabbing a towel and tossing it at her.
"I- what?" Sae was sure she looked as bewildered as she felt, clutching the towel to her body.
"Do you not understand simple words wench?" Lord Sesshomaru's eyebrow rose tauntingly. "I am sure you have taken a bath a few times in your pathetic lifetime. I will not permit a human I will be having around my presence smelling as if she were a dog. Bathe and there will be clothes for you to wear when you finish. If you try anything female, your brother is as good as dead."
"So you're not going to …?" she asked, relieved. She thought he was going to make her perform certain "duties". It was better to prepare herself for the task than go on blind and ignorant.
There was a scoff to his voice. "As if the body who could pass itself off as a boy would ever tempt me."
With that, he walked out the bathroom and slammed the door shut.
That arrogant-no good-evil-son of a bitch!
Sae was still fuming an hour later, pacing back and forth in the room. She was freshly bathed, her hair was down after being combed –for the first time in months- and she wore a simple blue kimono that fit a smidge too big. It was the nicest Sae had been groomed and dressed since she had arrived at the castle. Hell, perhaps her whole life. Although she knew the dress was modest and no more thought was put into making it than any other servant's clothing, it was still the softest piece of material she had ever donned.
Yet still, Sae was furious. How dare he? It may have been the plan to pass herself off as a boy but for him to imply that she was no more attractive than an adolescent male was offensive. And stung. She wasn't sure why it mattered but she knew her pride had taken a direct hit. Not so much that he didn't find her attractive but that a man with a new partner each week would look down his nose at her? Laughable.
Why was it that every time anyone questioned or doubted anything about her, did Sae get tied up into knots about it? When she first dressed as a boy she took being called small offensive. When she had been fighting in the tournament she fought to prove her worth. And now, when Lord Sesshomaru practically called her unappealing, she fumed with indignation. Was she so egotistical that she could not handle criticism? Especially from the likes of a cruel and heartless demon lord?
Sae stopped. "Am I that … shallow?" she wondered out loud, blinking.
Those whom cared about her thought her attractive. Given, one was her brother and the others thought she was a boy but that was hardly the point. It was only through the eyes of those who loved you whose opinions truly mattered. Everyone else's opinion was none of her concern.
Sae looked over at the mirror standing against the wall.
"Asshole," Sae muttered, turning away and walking out onto the balcony. The wind blew her hair back as she leaned over the stone railing. The sun was at its peak, shining brightly as its rays illuminated the huge landscape before her. The people bellow, a few servants doing chores and a couple nobility taking a stroll through the gardens, seemed almost like another world from her view way up high. Looking out, she could see why Lord Sesshomaru liked to keep this side of his castle all to himself. It was peaceful and very solitary, away from the hustle and bustle. You could be an observant without being a participant. Something, she suspected the lord preferred.
So why he wanted to lock her in here with him, she did not understand.
Directly after showering, Sae had attempted to open the door. Only to discover that it had been locked. She hadn't really been trying to escape, just endeavoring to take a walk. Perhaps to the dungeons to seek out a raven haired boy who looked especially similar to her. No real harm. But then, the door hadn't budged and Sae realized she was trapped.
She was at her wits end. She knew very little about the lord. Like everyone else at the castle, much of his life was left to speculation. His actions and what his past times were was a mystery to most. But the more encounters she had with him, the less she understood. If anything, he became more of a mystery.
Why, after claiming that she was nothing but a liar and deceiver, did he choose to spare her life? And why, after threatening to kill her for the disrespect she showed, did he want to keep her as a personal slave? It just did not add up.
"Oh."
Sae whirled around at the sound.
There stood a familiar servant girl from the castle, her hands clutching the ends of a rag and a bucket.
"Kagami," Sae said in surprise, recognizing the other girl instantly.
Kagami's brown eyes widened in puzzlement. "Do I … know you?"
Sae was taken aback for a second. It was so easy to forget that she had been wearing a disguise the whole time she had been there. After a while, being Satoru had become the norm. Comfortable, even. She was going to have to remind herself to be Sae, her original self from now on. "I'm Sae."
Kagami squinted at her, peering at her face more closely. "You do look vaguely familiar."
Sae rubbed the back of her neck, shifting on her feet awkwardly. Technically, there was no reason to lie anymore. Her cover had been blown. Lord Sesshomaru didn't even want to use her as another one of his mistresses. Or playmates. So admitting the truth was relatively safe. But how to …
"I remember now!" Kagami exclaimed, snapping her fingers. "You remind me of a boy that used to work here!"
Sae cleared her throat uncomfortably. "Yeah, I-"
"Was he a relative of yours?" she talked over Sae, inching closer to her. "You know he died a few weeks ago after a tournament? He almost won, but he got beaten by one of the soldiers. It was all really quite sad. He was a very nice boy."
"I did not get beaten!" Sae protested, outraged. "That beast cheated!"
The other girl's eyebrows scrunched up in bafflement. "What are you talking about?"
Taking a deep breath, Sae calmed herself. No reason to get worked up over something she could no longer change. "Kagami, my name is Sae but I used to go by the name Satoru."
There was an expectant silence.
"I don't…" Kagami shook her head. "I don't understand."
Sae sighed. She grabbed her hair and pulled it back from her face. "It's me, Satoru."
Finally, after a moment's pause, Kagami gasped. "Satoru! You're alive!"
Exhaling, Sae nodded and let her hair fall back down her face. "Yeah."
"And a …girl," Kagami's brain finally processed the whole picture. "Satoru-"
"Sae."
"I-I mean Sae," she blushed. "You're ... actually quite pretty."
This time, Sae flushed and couldn't help but twirl a silken lock around her finger. It was the first time, in a long time it seemed, that she had been complimented as a woman. It was definitely nice to hear, especially after the lord's distain and mockery. "Thank you Kagami."
"Wait, why are you in Lord Sesshomaru's chambers?" the other servant girl asked, putting down her bucket.
"I'm … uh …" Sae didn't want to admit that she was going to be the lord's own personal pet, in a manner of speaking. But what other excuse would be valid enough to explain her presence in the lord's room?
"Did they put you on chamber duty now that you're a … girl?" Kagami's expression was comical.
Sae gave a noncommittal gesture. "Yeah, I wa- hold on," She spotted the door wide open. "You opened the door." There was no question.
Kagami looked back over her shoulder before turning back to Sae, mystified. "Yeah, so?"
Sae pushed past the girl and quickly made her way to the exit. "I'll explain later Kagami. I'll see you around!"
"Wait!"
But Sae didn't stop, her eyes fixated on the first means of escape. She knew she would not get far but if she could confirm with her own eyes that her twin was okay, then perhaps serving the lord would not be so intolerable. The reassurance would be enough to get her through the humiliation that was no doubt awaiting her in the future.
She marched past the doorway, her anticipation growing-
"Ooof!"
Sae was knocked off her feet and thrown onto the floor, landing heavily on her bottom.
Lord Sesshomaru's voice was unmistakable. "Was there somewhere you were going?" A brow arched, contemptuously.
Sae looked up, her neck craning back to stare into the lord's chilling eyes. "N-no." Sae gulped, not sure she was entirely ready for another round of lashings. Now that she knew he wouldn't kill her, unless she was willing to risk's her twin's life, Sae was aware that he had plenty of other ways to command obedience.
Her back was proof.
"Then what pray tell were you doing?" Lord Sesshomaru stepped inside, his presence in the room making it seem just a tad smaller.
Sae's mind raced for a cleaver answer. "Closing the door?"
"Is that so," the lord glanced over at the other female in the room coldly. "I specifically gave orders that no servants were allowed into the west wing from now on. The next time you deliberately disobey my orders, there will be consequences. Now leave my sight, you are an eyesore."
Kagami rapidly picked up her cleaning supplies and scurried out the door, without a backwards glance.
Sae watched her go, longingly. How she wished she could just go back and change fate. Youhei would be working on a farm, with a wife and children waiting at home. And Sae would be … anywhere but where she was right then.
"For someone who deceived everyone for so long," interrupted Lord Sesshomaru's deep tone. "That was a pathetic lie."
Scowling, Sae picked herself up from the floor. She didn't say anything in response. Not that the great demon lord waited for a reply. But either way, he was slightly correct. Her attempt at an excuse had been mediocre at best.
"Nothing to say?" he continued mockingly, having seated himself on a chair by the window panel. "You had plenty to voice this morning."
Sae pursed her lips, standing rigidly.
"Perhaps you have already learned your place in this world?" he said with arrogance. "A lowly village girl like you is nothing more than a servant to nobility. The greatest accomplishment you could ever aspire to would be to serve your lord to the best of your ability."
Sae's eye twitched.
"Then when you are old and no longer useful there will be another poor village wench that will take your place. And there will be nothing left of you or what you had done that will be remembered. It is then that you will come to realize how irrelevant your life truly is."
Sae muttered under her breath.
"What was that, wench?" Lord Sesshomaru said. "Speak up."
"I said," Sae ground out, her jaw tense. "It is only irrelevant if you didn't have those who loved you. They are what keep your memory alive. Not what you have done but the lives you touched."
"How quant," scorn was evident in his words. "You are one of those females that believe love conquers all, aren't you? That an absurd emotion such a love will change the course of fate? Let me enlighten you human and that puny little brain of yours." He glided up from his siting position and walked towards her. "Love will not save you or your life. Those things are in my hands and mine alone. Whomever, however, or whenever I choose to do it. And love will not save your brother from the ultimate death he will face if you dare defy me."
Sae looked straight ahead, not allowing herself to follow his movement as he walked around her, like a predator stalking its prey.
He was wrong about love, Sae knew that first hand from the death of her beloved parents. No one was truly gone as long as you kept them close to your heart.
But he was right about one thing. Lord Sesshomaru did hold her life in his hands. As well as Youhei's. So no matter how much Sae wanted to rally against his cruel and sneering words, she had to play it safe.
The lord stopped behind her, leaning into her ear. "Can your small mind wrap itself around that?" his breath brushed across her neck, a warm sensation.
Sae shivered, disconcerted and slightly unsettled. She had never been this close to a man before. Other than Youhei, she was not accustomed to close proximity with a male. So although he meant it to be intimidating –which it was- Sae couldn't help the rapid beating of her heart. What emotion that reaction was caused by she wasn't quite sure.
There was only one thing that was clear in Sae's mind.
The devil you know is better than the devil you don't.
*Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. Any violence, perceived abuse, or negative behavior should not be taken literally. The plot is for entertainment purposes only. This author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material.