Warning: Torture1

Chapter Fourteen

Life in the Kutou palace was unlike in its counterpart in Konan. Tamahome found he had a great deal of freedom, but not that much. He was reminded constantly of the fact that his wellbeing was solely by the wish of the Seiryuu no Miko. Something strange had come over Yui of late, Tamahome had noticed. At one point, she had been constantly around him. Now, she barely talked to him. Right now, though, he didn't care. He had heard some guards laugh over the fact that the Suzaku no Miko was dying of some strange illness in Konan. He couldn't let her die!

So he ditched the guards and made a break for it.

Chuckling softly, Anubis came out of the shadows and tripped up the running youth. "My my Tamahome. Just where do you think you are going?" Anubis said with a dark grin on his scarred face.

Naaza's chuckle was heard as well as he appeared. "Looks like the little Suzaku boy has come out to play," he said with evil delight.

"Get out of my way!! Miaka's sick and I'm going to her!" Tamahome narrowed his eyes, taking a fighting stance as he stood. These foreigners had the entire palace nervous.

Laughing as they crossed their arms and stood in his way, the two Masho's grinned. "I don't see how you can stop us, Tamahome." Anubis said with an evil glint in his eye. He was bored and he wanted something to do.

Naaza chuckled as he said, "We could always send one of my snakes to kill her off...."

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HER!!!!!!" Tamahome growled, launching himself at Naaza. No one threatened Miaka! Growling, he launched a spin kick at Naaza's head, intending to wipe that cocky smirk off his face.

Naaza laughed as he easily blocked the kick then sent one of his own at the young man. Anubis just stood back and watched, knowing the young boy wouldn't be able to hurt a Masho of Emperor Arago. Tamahome went flying, crashing into a wall. He grunted, seeing stars. He couldn't let them stop him...

"Miaka..."

The young Suzaku Seishi grunted in pain, looking up as the blond shogun he had seen before came in, delivering a kick to his side. "Leaving us so soon, Tamahome? I don't think so..."

The two Masho's chuckled as they stood behind Nakago. Shuten also came up, standing next to Nakago as he smiled wickedly down at the youth. "Well well, little Suzaku. Looks like you need a lesson in manners..." he said lightly.

With a wave of his hand, two guards appeared and took Tamahome in hand. Nakago followed, the small group heading for the dungeons. "Perhaps you would enjoy a bit of sport?"

Shuten smiled evilly as he said, "Hai....something to amuse us with."

Naaza smirked, but Anubis shrugged. "Excuse me while I go and find someone else to bug." he said, then walked off.

Naaza chuckled. "Seems our jackal has lost his taste for torture of this kind," he said and Shuten chuckled as well.

"It is not for the faint of heart, that is for certain." Nakago remarked, leading the two Mashos down the long winding staircase to the dungeons.

Shuten chuckled again. "Oh, he is not that. He just prefers....shall we say more hand to hand torture?" he said with a sneer as Naaza snickered and licked his lips.

"Hmmm..." Nakago made no further comment as he led them to the main area of the dungeon. Inside, Tamahome stood, shackled. His arms were suspended over his head while his legs were held in place by bindings from the floor.

Shuten smiled a cruel smile as he walked in with Nakago. "My my....you look so comfy, Tamahome!" he said snidely.

Naaza grinned, then walked up close behind Tamahome, running a light hand down the shackled man's body. "Maybe we should lighten him a little." he said with a grin.

"Oh, we'll do more than lighten him, Naaza." Nakago remarked. Walking over to a large table, he removed a wicked looking whip. Snapping it, he tested the length and strength of it and nodded.

Tamahome glared at them defiantly. He didn't care much for these idiots. "Let me go! Is this how you treat 'guests'?!"

"Oh no. But you are not a guest. At least no longer." Nakago replied, pulling his hand back and the whiptail smacked Tamahome on his chest. Naaza chuckled wickedly as he stepped out of range of the whip. Shuten leaned against the wall, looking for all the world, bored. The next hour was the worst of Tamahome's life. The whip continued to hit him all over his body, never the same place twice. The pain was excruciating and he thought of just passing out more than once. But he never did. He wouldn't give Nakago that satisfaction.

Shuten and Naaza frowned as they watched, hoping for a response. Finally, Shuten said, "Nakago-san, mayhap we could help with the....process." He grinned ferally as Naaza chuckled.

Nakago shrugged, stopping for a moment. "Be my guest, Shuten. Do what you think you can."

Shuten nodded, then looked at Naaza. Naaza smirked, then brought out a vile. Holding his hand out to Nakago, he said, "May I have your whip?" Nodding wordlessly, Nakago handed over his whip. He watched the warlords with interest. Smirking, Naaza took the whip and opened the vile. He slowly and meticulously dipped his finger within the magenta fluid and coated the whip from the tip to the handle. Smirking as he recapped the vial, he handed the whip back to Nakago, handle first. "Do not touch the whip, only the handle." he said in warning and Shuten chuckled again. Accepting the whip back, Nakago eyed Naaza with curiosity. What was it he had put on the whip? He shrugged. He'd find out soon enough. Pulling his arm back, he let it fly. Tamahome's eyes widened and he let out a moan. It was mixed between pleasure and pain. He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. What was this new torture?!

Shuten cackled softly as Naaza said with a sneer, "Did you like that, little Suzaku? It is one of my potions that is most effective in getting a prisoner to break"

"It...won't...work!!" Tamahome screamed, another lash hitting his bare chest. He saw stars for a moment, but refused to give in.

"Very intriguing substance, Naaza." Nakago admitted, watching as it did its work on Tamahome.

Shuten snickered softly. "And with each lash, the feelings get worse as the poison lingers in the blood." he said softly, his eyes glittering with malice.

Naaza chuckled as he leaned back against the wall. "It gets even worse if someone touches the victim. The response....is interesting." he said with a smirk.

"Oh really? I should like to see that." Nakago replied, making sure to hit certain sensitive areas on his prisoner. Tamahome gasped, crying out. He'd never hit that before! Shuten grinned evilly as Naaza smirked. Nakago stopped, turning to the warlords. "Perhaps...one of you would like to demonstrate?"

The two Masho looked at each other, then Shuten gestured grandly for Naaza to go. "Please Naaza, do show our host," he said with a sneer. Naaza smirked as he stepped forward, then caressed a light hand down one of the suspended arms. Tamahome screamed, his whole body shuddering as pain filled every part of his body. He thrashed, trying to get away from Naaza's touch.

Naaza chuckled lowly as he ran the hand down the bleeding chest, scraping at one of the cuts. "Now now, Tamahome....we must give a good show," he whispered cruelly as he tweaked a nipple. Tears sliding down his cheeks, Tamahome struggled to get away from Naaza's touch. It was so painful he thought he would scream again. But he refused to give them the satisfaction.

Stepping back a bit, Naaza nodded at Nakago. "Perhaps some more poison would help, Nakago-san." he said with a cruel smirk.

"Good thought, Naaza." Nakago nodded. Once again the whip lashed out and Tamahome's screams and moans could be heard throughout the dungeon. Smirking as he watched, Shuten shifted. The screams and moans reminded him of the one time Naaza had used the poison on him. That had been....a memorable night. Licking his lips, Shuten shifted his gaze to Nakago, trailing his gaze across the armored body. Naaza smirked as he licked his lips. How he loved the combination of moans and screams. He traced a hand down the victim's chest. Tamahome shuddered, trying to get away once more. He'd never felt anything like this, a combination of pleasure and pain. One part of him longed for each strike, while another screamed for it to end. Naaza smirked, then pressed up to Tamahome from behind. Opening his mouth, he sank his fangs into the youth, letting some of his other venom mix with Tamahome's blood, dimming the pain briefly.

A scream like no other escaped Tamahome's lips and he thrashed, trying to get away from the mouth on his neck. "Get off me you...THING!!"

Biting harder as he chuckled, Naaza then pulled away slowly, licking at the wounds. He caressed a hand down the chest of Tamahome as he whispered, "Such is the Venom of Naaza. Now, you shall see what real pain and pleasure are like."

Shuten smirked, his eyes filled with lust as he watched Naaza work. "Nakago-san, some more whippings will...prove the point," he said as he licked his lips. He loved this part.

"True. Or perhaps you would prefer to handle it, Shuten?" Nakago asked, offering the whip handle. His eyes met those of the Mashos' leader and he quirked a smile.

Shuten licked his lips slowly as he gazed at Nakago. Slowly walking forward, he gracefully wrapped his fingers around the handle, brushing them against Nakago's briefly. He purred softly, "I think I shall...." he said lowly, then cracked the whip, testing it.

Naaza smirked as he ran a light hand across Tamahome's collarbone. "You are in luck, child. Shuten has a special....affinity for whips," he purred out as he licked at Tamahome's ear.

"Get away from me!" Tamahome struggled, trying to break free. His eyes widened in uncharacteristic fear as he gazed at Shuten. It couldn't be any worse, could it? Nakago watched, an air or disinterest about him. Nevertheless, he watched them almost avidly.

Shuten smirked cruelly as he cracked the whip again, then walked up to Tamahome. Taking the whip, he wrapped it once around the youth's neck and held it there. Pulling Tamahome close so that their lips were mere inches apart, Shuten whispered, "Shall we show you the true meaning of 'fire through your veins' Tamahome?" With that, he kissed the youth hard, then pulled back and yanked the whip free from around the Seishi's neck.

Tamahome's eyes widened and he cried out, shuddering. He was going to have to wash his mouth out now, damnit! He could feel his body reacting unconsciously to what was happening and he cursed violently. 'No....' Chuckling as he saw the result, Shuten grasped the business end of the whip and curled it into a loop, shivering in pleasure as the pain/pleasure coursed through him at the touch. His eyes almost glowed with lust as he began to run the whip roughly up Tamahome's chest. Naaza purred as his fingers ripped lightly down the youth's back.

"Stop...please..." Tamahome moaned, his eyes closed tightly as tears leaked from his eyes. They had to stop...they had to! He couldn't take this...this couldn't be happening! 'Oh Suzaku! Save me from this!'

"He begs now, does he?" Naaza purred out as he squeezed Tamahome's tight ass. Shuten just chuckled as he ran the whip roughly down the youth's legs, then smacked them with it. Nakago nodded, amused. These men were very good at what they did. They had the proud Suzaku seishi begging. He most definitely approved of that. Stepping back a bit, Shuten flicked the whip, wrapping it around the upper thigh of Tamahome, then whipped it back swiftly, tearing the fabric and leaving a welt in its place. He repeated the action to the other leg, then did it around the lower part of Tamahome's hips...right across his arousal. With a sinister grin, he whipped it away.

"Holy Shit!!" Tamahome screamed, his whole body arching upwards unconsciously. His fingers dug into his wrists as he thrashed around. The pain was quickly overcome by an intense pleasure like he'd never experienced in his life before.

Naaza purred in delight. "A virgin....how wonderful..." he purred as he pressed himself to the youth, rubbing an already painful erection into Tamahome's ass.

Shuten purred as well, licking his lips. "Shall we try that again, Tamahome? Or maybe....Nakago, would you like to try it?" he asked as he looked over his shoulder and smirked, knowing the sheer lust he was feeling showed brightly in his gaze as he gazed at the blond shogun.

"I think not. Just be careful. I do not want him permanently damaged." Nakago reiterated, taking his eyes off Shuten to stare at the trembling form of Tamahome. He didn't mind the torture, but anything further was out of bounds.

Naaza pouted as he traced a light trail across Tamahome's chest. Shuten chuckled lowly. "As you wish, Nakago-san." Shuten said softly, a wicked grin on his face as he winked at Nakago. Turning back to Tamahome, he said, "Well, boy, you are saved some fun...whether or not this is good...has yet to be seen." He chuckled softly with Naaza, then brought the whip up again, wrapping it around the muscled chest, ripping a new slash across it just touching the nipples.

Crying out, Tamahome sagged against his bonds. The pain was becoming too much for him and he was barely able to see. "I...won't...give...in..." His eyes rolled in the back of his head and he sagged against his bonds, unconscious from the pain.

Pouting, Naaza poked Tamahome. "Hmph....the weakling passed out," he said with a snort, then smirked at Shuten.

Shuten smirked back, then shrugged before walking over to Nakago and handing him the whip. "Looks like our play is done....for now." he whispered with a grin, then turned to Naaza. "Let's go...get cleaned up, Naaza," he said with a smirk, then turned and walked out, followed by a smug Naaza.

Once they were gone, Nakago discarded the whip and had Tamahome's body unshackled. It fell to the ground and Nakago toed the youth onto his back. "Soon, Tamahome. Soon all that you care about will be dead." Indicating for the guards to take the youth back to his quarters, he left.

+ Book I : Chapter Thirteen +

+ Book II : Chapter Fifteen +