Dislaimer: I do not do this for money, but because I'm an obsessed fanfic writer and I must write or go crazy.
Naraku was naked. He was cold. He was miserable. He was also currently hanging by chains in the dungeon. Damn Kagura anyway. He raised his head as Sesshomaru entered the room.
"Naru-chan. I have a very busy schedule today, and I do not have the time to deal with your tantrums. That was an expensive and very rare item you threw at my head last night. I have servants to hire and Jaken has gone to fetch the decorators. If you promise not to be a gaki, I will release you."
"Hai. I promise Sesshy."
"Sesshy?"
"I overheard Inuyasha's wench, Kagome, refer to you that way. I thought it was kind of cute."
"I'm not sure I approve."
"Well, I don't exactly approve of Naru-chan. I am NOT going to call you Sesshomaru-sama."
"I have decided Sesshomaru-kun will be sufficient. And I like Naru-chan." Naraku muttered something under his breath about conceited bakayarou dog youkai who dressed like geisha wannabes.
"Did you say something?"
"Iie." Sesshomaru gave him a warning look before releasing him and handing him a yukata.
"I require that you be with me when I am interviewing potential servants, so you should bathe, dress and meet me at the main entrance. I will have Kagura bring some tea."
"Hai, Sesshomaru-kun." Naraku went off take a bath, muttering to himself all the way, mostly about how he might rid himself of Sesshomaru now, instead of when the potion wore off. He did not know how much more of this he could stand. Poison perhaps? Difficult, since Sesshomaru's diet was a little unorthodox and Jaken prepared his meals personally. But it could be done. Killing him wasn't necessary, though it would certainly be enjoyable. He just needed to get him out of the way. The bath was relaxing and soothing to his shattered nerves, but he knew he couldn't linger very long. His instincts told him it would be bad, very bad, if Sesshomaru came to fetch him. So he got out, put the yukata on, went back to the quarters he now shared and got dressed. Then he went to join Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru handed him a cup of tea. "Jaken has returned with the decorators. I am going to supervise, I trust Jaken's taste as much as I trust yours. As you can see, we have had an excellent response to our postings about servants." The courtyard was full of people, Naraku estimated at least a couple of hundred. "I need you to narrow the applicants down to, let's say 50, of which I will chose 25."
"Demo, I have never hired servants before. I, ehm, inherited my last servants from Kagewaki. How am I supposed to do this?" Naraku set his cup of tea down hard, almost, but not quite cracking it. Sesshomaru frowned at him. "Besides, I'm hungry. Can't you do this long enough for me to get something to eat?"
"Don't whine. It's unbecoming and annoying. You can start by weeding out those who are too old, too young, or if female, too pretty. It has been my experience that pretty females are nothing but trouble. You can eat when you have completed your task."
"Hai, Sesshomaru-kun." Naraku looked at the mass of people in the courtyard, picked up his cup of tea and sighed. What was that modern expression he heard Kagome use? Sucks. That was it. This fucking sucked. He had a suspicion that if the final 50 did not meet approval, Sesshomaru would make him repeat the process over again. If that happened, he would break the teapot over the dog youkai's head, consequences be damned. It took a long time to go through the applicants and pick out the most promising 50. Sesshomaru returned and seemed satisfied with the choices.
"Sesshomaru-kun. Since you are making the final choices, can I be excused? I thought I might hunt for dinner."
"You may. But do not wander far. I expect you back by the time of moonrise."
"Domo." Naraku bowed and took his leave. He did not yet feel up to the task of braving Sesshomaru's decorating taste. What he needed was to kill something. Anything.
********************
Naraku dispatched his fourth victim of the night, a youko kit. Cute little thing. He hated cute. It was now past dusk. He needed to see about food. He killed a small pig like animal, he wasn't sure what, but it looked edible. He managed to start a fire and was enjoying his meal when he was interupted by the arrival of Miroku.
"Oi, Houshi-sama. Tracking me? Well, since you are here, I have a proposition for you. Why don't you use that Kazaana of yours on Sesshomaru? Then I will remove my curse, you can find one or more women to bear your child, and live a long life."
"Why don't I use it on you instead?"
"I would be far more poisonous than the Saimyoushou. You would not survive it. I may not be able to summon my youkai, but they are still there. You remember what happened to Sango's cat when it bit me."
"Hai. But you don't have any power to remove the curse right now. And I don't trust you to keep your word."
"That's very wise of you." Naraku chuckled, then looked up at the sky. He noted the moon had risen. Shimatta. And sure enough, right on cue, Sesshomaru arrived.
"I thought we had an agreement."
"Chotto matte." Naraku stood, then walked up to Miroku. He took the monk's staff, and then moving unbelievably fast, hit Sesshomaru over the head with it. Hard. Sesshomaru went down. "Gomen, Sesshy, but I changed my mind. Kuso, that felt good. Of course, I'm now marked for death, but it was worth it." He gave the staff back to the stunned Miroku. "Domo arigatou." He found some vines and used them to bind Sesshomaru. Naraku thought about stripping him as well, but he remembered how intricate all the fasteners and ties were on the clothing Sesshomaru wore and decided it would take too much time. "Ja ne, Sesshy." With a wave to Miroku, he was off.
End of Part 3
