Why do you weep for what you have done? He cares nothing for you. You are nothing but one woman among many. He cares no more for you than the women he visits in the plentiful brothels dotted scandalously about the vast country-side.
Why do you weep?
He will take you still. For he is not choosy, it matters not what you have been through, what could have happened, what should have happened, what did happen.
So . . . Why weep?
Because . . .
"SANGO . . ."
"no." the small word was no more than a whisper that breathed past Miroku's panic pale lips. Several octaves too low, and several seconds too late.
Sango reached out a trembling hand intent on grasping her last chance. If she didn't have him she would surely parish. Wither and die to fertilize the very ground beneath her small, boot clad feet.
"Inu Yasha save Sango!" even as she implored Inu Yasha for help Kagome was racing toward her friend, only out-run by a desperate Miroku. It was a time for what-ifs and what could have been. If they had been paying more attention to her then this would never have happened. If they had seen her sooner then they probably could have reached her in time. If Sesshoumaru hadn't masked his senses he might have saved them the trouble.
But what-ifs were useless in the larger scale of things. And would remain useless until a handy invention that could turn back the hands of time was born. But that day was not today. No, today Sango's friends, her loved ones watched in muted horror as the Youkai slayer bagged her one of the most powerful youkai known to man and youkai alike, using an all-together different and just as affective weapon as her giant boomerang.
For once in his life Sesshoumaru didn't stand a chance, he tried to dodge quickly, not caring that he moved closer to his brother. Considering Inu Yasha as the lesser of two evils. But it was to no avail, Sango was too close and when her hand lightly touched his shoulder the Tai youkai, by some unknown force, became paralyzed. He stood as still as a dead man standing. His back ramrod straight, his face the usual expressionless mask. His one arm rested stiffly against his side and his face was slightly lifted towards the sky.
Inu Yasha's small band stood still as well. All except Inu Yasha were shocked that Sango was still alive, all marveled at Sesshoumaru's peculiar behavior. That was until they noticed that not all of him was paralyzed. His throat rumbled with a deep uninhibited growl, his jaw worked slightly, and most frightening of all, his eyes shown crimson.
Everyone moved at once, but Sesshoumaru was the quickest. Miroku cursed his limited strength, unable to use his wind tunnel for fear that Sango would get sucked in, already failing to harm Sesshoumaru with one of his sacred talismans which Sesshoumaru had made short work melting with his poison claws, and not close enough to use his staff effectively. Sesshoumaru lifted Sango high against his chest, growling threateningly when she started to squirm. Mistaking her movements as resistance.
Sango turned her face into Sesshoumaru's chest in what would appear to anyone else as shame. In truth it was nothing of the sort. Sesshoumaru might be the most handsome thing on two legs, but she wanted Miroku with something that came from deep within her. She couldn't look at him right now or she would be lost, she would jump away from this tempting male that held her with strength and confidence, and she would suffer until she died. Sango didn't want to die.
In a way she felt that she was doing Miroku a favor. Seeing as her desire for him made him uncomfortable. If Sesshoumaru took care of her need, she could come back to Miroku and be with him, with nothing to hinder their time together. She wondered if she should try to explain this to him. But her need was too great and her soon-to-be youkai lover was impatient as well. Miroku would understand when she returned, for all she knew he had already seen the wisdom in this situation. She didn't risk a glance at him to find out.
She hoped that Sesshoumaru would satisfy her. She might keep him. Sango did not delude herself that this was a one-time deal. Any feeling that was this strong lasted for an exceedingly long time. She would need Sesshoumaru for as long this fever lasted.
Before another word could be uttered Sesshoumaru rose in the air with his feverish burden. All of his senses were centered on this one human female. He could feel nothing, he could see nothing, he could tastes nothing and he could hear nothing. Except for the feel of her skin, the sight of her shining hair and chocolate eyes. He could smell her scent, which was just her, raw and magnified. He could smell it so well he could taste it. He heard the sound of her breath, which went from soft and light, to hard and anxious within a short space of time.
Even as his conscious told him how wrong it was to become so intent on one being he couldn't seem to stop himself. He wanted her.
Desperately.
And what Sesshoumaru wanted, he got.
"Dammit Inu Yasha , if you don't move faster I'll go on my own." Kagome had never seen Miroku act like this. He was irrational, and pissed. He had even resorted to Inu Yasha's language habits.
"We are moving as fast as we can Miroku. Even you should rest more. Your injuries aren't quite healed yet either." Kagome tried to be the mediator, but Miroku was spoiling for a fight now-a-days.
"So what!? I'm supposed to sit on my ass all day while you tend me when Sango is probably somewhere with a lot more injuries? Maybe even dead."
"Chill out Miroku. Sango ain't dead. He didn't wanna kill her, he wanted to fu-"
"That is enough Inu Yasha. Don't say such things in front of Shippou."
Inu Yasha shot her a sour look. Miroku had turned pale, grasping his chest. He wondered why the image Inu Yasha's words stirred, hurt him so much. He hadn't considered himself a jealous man, but he found himself wondering if he would rather Sango died than give herself willingly to another man. In the end, when his mind had cleared he knew it was no contest. If she died there was no hope, but if she lived he could always seduce her from her chosen man.
"I say that we stop chasing after Sango and go find that snake."
"If this is about those damn jewel shards, I swear I'll-" Miroku was near his wits end and Inu Yasha was not helping matters.
"I'm not talking about the jewel shards. If we go to my brothers castle, what are we going to do? We can't beat him when he is away from his freakin' fortress, there is no way we could even penetrate the castle's defenses. And let's say we do. By that time we will be so injured that fighting him (especially in his state) will be useless. I say we find the Youkai that put Sango under a spell. Release Sango from the spell, thus releasing Sesshoumaru from the spell on him."
For once the half youkai had a sound strategic plan. And for once Miroku was not in the right frame of mind to listen.
"Fine you find the snake. I am going to the castle."
Inu Yasha placed a restraining hand on Miroku's shoulder.
"Be reasonable Miroku. You can't win against him on your own. What can you do? You don't even know the way."
Miroku shoved Inu Yasha's hand off his shoulder and fixed him with a cold stare. "Well I don't know until I try. Now are you going to point me in the right direction?"
Inu Yasha studied his friend, noting the slight vulnerability in Miroku's face. He sighed, there was no way he would allow Miroku to go on his own. They would just have to go with the flow of things. Adaptation was the keys.
Things were not going as she had planned them. Not exactly. It had been nearly a week, and the girl's scent did not dissipate, it got stronger. The youkai woman did not understand it. She refused to believe that Sesshoumaru was incapable of pleasing a woman. By this time she expected that the woman would be satisfied, dead . . . but still satisfied.
She would have thought that the Tai youkai would have killed her, if not on purpose then at least by accident. She imagined that he would have worn the girl out by now, for she had it on good authority that he and the girl had not left his chamber since she arrived there in his arms.
The girl should have felt some relief by now, and that was what the female youkai was waiting for. As soon as the spell was momentarily content, Sesshoumaru would be released from the spell he was under, he would be weak for a while and that was when she would steal the girl back from him and take her to her master.
While Sesshoumaru squirmed and writhed in his own shame. The thought brought a smile to her lips and she threw her head back and laughed. Still . . .
The youkai sobered back up. Her master might still kill her, he had given her a deadline, and there was no way she could have made it. Damn, what was taking Sesshoumaru so long. And if he had already had the girl why wasn't she . . .
The female snake youkai in the tallest tree looking at the massive castle in front of her, touched the pendant that lay across her chest. the one that contained the jewel shards. Her gesture was one of uncertainty. Had she used too much of the potion? She had never miscalculated before.
"Ahem." The snake youkai jumped then glared down at one of her fellow clansmen.
"I told you not to sneak up on me like that. What news?"
The handsome snake youkai on the forest floor leaned up against the tree. His arms folded and looked back toward the castle. He hated living there. He hated being a servant in that huge sterile castle. He hated the fact that it wasn't his, and that a little HUMAN girl got more privileges than he himself. But he couldn't defeat Sesshoumaru and his family owed Sesshoumaru a great debt which was the reason he had been sold off as if he were cattle.
He despised Sesshoumaru and that was the reason he had agreed to this. But now he wasn't so sure about this little scheme. Sesshoumaru had already shown his affection for humans by allowing that useless little girl Rin to live with him. Now he had brought another human home and had all but locked himself in his room with her.
What if she begot him an heir. Then there was even less of a chance for him to take over. He could kill the heir of course, but he had heard stories of Sesshoumaru's half brother. He knew he was not even strong enough to take him on. He cursed his weakness, but there was nothing he could do but see this farce through now.
He looked up to his fellow clanswoman. His cousin actually, he had loved her for a very long time now. Another reason he had granted this favor. She knew of his feelings and never hesitated to make full use of them. She had left their clan when she was young and idealistic. She had every intention to marry her father's friend and partner . . . Sesshoumaru. Yes another reason to hate the lord that had everything. Sesshoumaru had turned her down, gently, at least for Sesshoumaru. She didn't take it well and went to another young youkai lord to get her revenge.
She had been naive, and spoiled. If her temper had been given a chance to cool she would have forgotten her plans for revenge and would have kept trying to win Sesshoumaru's affection in an innocent and harmless way. But the Youkai lord she went to had been starting his own business against his father's wishes. A brothel. Intrigued by her beauty and innocence he had seduced her. Actually it had been more rape than seduction, but he was good at what he did, casting spells on unsuspecting females. making them slaves to his desires.
She had been caught and now would never leave her master. Her family had even invited her back, but she wouldn't go. She worked as one of the first females in her master's brothel. She knew tricks that most people didn't learn in a lifetime. And she used all of that to get her way with him.
And just like she had been snared, so was he. He would do just about anything for her.
"What news?!" she snapped impatiently.
"Sesshoumaru allowed his second, Jaken into the chamber today."
"So is he done with the girl then?"
"It sure doesn't smell like it. All the male youkai are going crazy. Well at least the ones that are left. When Jaken realized what was going on he moved all the male youkai to the left wing as far away from the lord as his prize as he could put us. Only a few of us are left there now."
"This is taking too long." She jumped down from the tree and turned to her cousin.
"Is there any way that you can get a closer look at what is going on in the chamber?"
He looked at her warily. "Not if I don't want to become enslaved myself." Before she could say anything to that he spoke quickly. "That would not serve your purpose either cousin."
She seemed to be considering something. "Then I shall have to go myself. You will have to get me into the castle." She spoke decisively moving toward the entrance gates.
He moved quickly grabbing her by the arm. "Sesshoumaru's palace is a bachelor residence. The only females allowed are the laundry maids, who don't come for another two days, the cook who stays in the kitchen, the slave girls that come to please his servants they also don't come for another couple of days, and Sesshoumaru's chosen females: Rin and this chosen female of yours. I can't get you in without permission from Sesshoumaru."
"What of this little girl Rin. Is she allowed no visitors?"
"None. That is his little shadow. The only visitors she wishes to have is Sesshoumaru." Irony struck him for a moment. "She is somewhat like you were, following him around like-" He stop as she turned and hissed at him.
"I am nothing like her!" She snarled. Then her expression turned cajoling. "I know I ask you for a lot. But I really need this small favor from you." She slithered up next to him, rubbing her body against his as her tongue played with his ear.
"He will kill me if I do not do this. Do you want me to die, I don't want to die." He shuddered against her expertise as she whispered low in his ear, her arms wrapped around him her breasts flat against his chest.
"Will you help me?" She asked between licks. "Please . . ."
He shivered at that one word, spoken in a way to bring back memories of long hot nights. Help her? Of course he would.
Sango had never been more miserable. If she could have sat still for a moment she would have realized that misery had company. Sesshoumaru was bent over as he had been since they had gotten here. He growled constantly, he had not slept, he had not eaten. He just sat there, his red eyes (which had never changed back to their normal color.) closed. His flesh was feverish, his fangs grew day by day, hour by hour.
There were self-inflicted scratches all over his body. Other than these things he sat, almost peaceful. Most of the time he was as still as a statue. Anyone who thought this pose was serene was fooling themselves. For deep within Sesshoumaru he was fighting a battle.
He was very aware of the fact that he was under a spell and he was fighting hard against it. And losing. For every time he gained a little control over his senses, her scent got stronger. He could not send her away. The spell would not allow him to save himself in that matter. So he sat across from her struggling to regain control. He was only thankful enough that she had not been so unwise to touch him again.
Sango stared at the semi-silent youkai. If she had wanted this she could have stayed at the camp with Inu Yasha and Miroku. Suddenly she was irrationally angry. What was wrong with her, that men did not want her? She had thrown herself into too many laps to be denied now. The longer he took, the longer she was away from Miroku. It was time to take action. She reached for the sash that was tied around her waist. Watched as Sesshoumaru's ears twitched as the silk hit the floor. Then she reached behind her to undue the holdings on the back of her garment . . .
Hey sorry about the small chapter. And about the cliffy. Thank you to all who reviewed. I hope you like this chap. Oh and sorry for any typos and grammer errors, I was writing this in a hurry.
Songbird4freewords
