Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inuyasha series or characters or any other copy written stuff that I may have referred to or used in this story.
AN: Sorry for the delay in updating. I was out of town for 5 days. Enjoy!
From Our Past
Chapter 11 Deception of the Heart
Kagome awoke to the pleasant feeling of soft butterfly kisses on her neck and shoulder. She yawned as she stretched and rolled over to face her lover. He smiled down at her while gently stroking her cheek with the backs of his clawed fingers. She grinned at him and ran her small fingers along the side of his face captivated by his golden eyes.
"What time is it?" She asked again yawning but this time covered her mouth with her other hand.
"About six in the morning. How are you feeling?" He kissed her chin.
"Mmm---good." She smiled enjoying his soft caresses as the kisses moved down her jaw line to her ear. "How long have you been up?" She looked into his eyes again when he pulled back to look at her.
"A couple of hours. Does it matter?" He rolled over more so he was partially on top of her with an arm on either side of her shoulders holding up his weight.
"No, not really. Have you been watching me sleep all that time?" Her eyebrow raised a bit in curiosity. He grinned and nodded holding her delicate hand while rubbing the back of it gently.
"I like watching you sleep. Your the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. The light on your face makes you look like an angel." His grin became wider when she blushed a wonderful color of pink.
"Your teasing now." She scoffed at him. "Why didn't you wake me up then?" She gave him a little pouty lip. He took the opportunity to lean in closer and nip at it making her giggle.
"I wanted to let you rest. You had quite a bit to drink last night." He continued the nips down to her collar bone.
"Oh I think any effect that may have had was worked out of my system last night." She giggled again when he licked her neck sending shivers up and down her spin causing her to moan. Smiling with his mouth against her flesh he continued his licking making her squirm more. Her body responded to him like a fine tuned instrument that he could play forever. He could smell her arousal causing him to become completely aroused.
"Mmm--that is good." He replied then moved to cover her body with his. "And it is early enough we still have time to make love again then take a shower where we can do it again and again and again." He smirked against her skin as she giggled. Her hands pulled his head back so they were nose to nose.
"You are insatiable." She smiled at him.
"Always!" His grin was cocked to one side making a single fang show. She smiled and kissed his nose making a rumbling sound come from his chest. The look in his eyes captivated her. For a demon he showed many emotions through them. She recognized lust, mischievousness and something else she never thought she would see, love. It was probably just her imagination after all but it seemed so evident now. Suddenly his face became very serious, his eyes boring a hole straight to her soul. His fingers ran gently over her lips then he kissed her with more passion then she ever knew could exist. It felt as if her heart would burst from the emotion of love she was feeling toward him but her mind screamed at her to stay calm. He finally pulled away from her leaving her breathless in the wake of that kiss. "Kagome---I want to be with you always. To have you by my side until time ends." His voice was husky from the lust she could feel pouring from his body.
Her eyes brimmed with tears she fought to keep at bay. She swallowed even though her mouth felt dry. She bit her lip then smiled at him. "I love you too mate." She pulled his head down to her again and kissed him deeply with all the love she felt in her heart. He could feel it through the mating connection they now shared. At this point he could fully understand what Sesshomaru had gone through with Natai the other day. His heart was suddenly filled with sadness when he thought about it but was quickly replaced by passion and love from the woman beneath him. The tears she had been fighting finally won as the overwhelming joy filled her very soul."I didn't mean to make you cry." He whispered in her ear. Gods I hate when women cry. I never want to see them come from you again." He closed his eyes, his heart clinched with guilt.
"No you don't understand. Your being silly. These are happy tears." She pushed away from him a bit and smiled. With out a second thought he pushed her back on the bed hugging her and kissing all over her face, neck and shoulders. Then he stopped and looked at her with concern in his eyes.
"You know this is forever right? I mean you will live as long as I do. That is unless something happens to me and I die then you will age at a normal speed again. A youkai mating is different from a human marriage you can never get out of it unless death happens to either. It is completely binding for both people involved and you won't be able to go to some court to get it changed. Even if we split apart we will still be bound to each other and will know if the other is---" he hesitated for a moment remembering what his brother had gone through just that day, "that is not to say you would but even if we break up we both would know if the other was unfaithful to the bond." Her look was pure amusement. He looked at her confused.
"Yes I know." She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him passionately. He responded like any warm blooded youkai would and proceeded to carry out his earlier plan.
Sesshomaru sat on the patio drinking his morning tea when the faint scream of Kagome yelling Inuyasha's name filled the air. He smiled to himself when a feral roar followed shortly afterwards. 'So the half-breed finally chose a mate.' The thought was relieving for some reason. He took another sip of his tea then flipped the page of newspaper to read more of the current story he was interested in. There in the entertainment section was a photo of Natai as she entered the banquet with the caption under it reading "Does Anyone Know This Mystery Woman?". The picture was captivating but only brought back the bad feelings in his heart. Frowning he laid the paper on the table and pushed it half way across the table as if it was poison.
The emotions he tried so hard to suppress filled his heart again. Anger ran through his veins in a fiery torrent. 'How could she do this to me?' He thought to himself. His gaze drifted across the pool to the flower garden beyond. Their serene beauty softened his hateful gaze as he thought more. 'She would have loved that garden. She likes flowers even though she would never admit it.' The pain of his aching heart was calmed for a moment as a soft breeze flowed across his face. It flipped the pages of the newspaper open to stop on the same picture he had looked at earlier. He stared at it, at her face and the pain increased once again. With a snarl he snatched the paper up and wadded it into as small a ball as he could before hurling it into the water of the pool.
'She did more then betray his bed, she had brought attention to herself in the public eye as being his. Damn it she was his and had no right to do this to him.' His mind screamed at him with venom. 'She will not get away with this. No she will pay dearly and feel all the pain and embarrassment that she has caused me.' He hissed to himself. The scowl on his face would scare most but his assistant was used to such displays of untethered emotions. Calmly she took a seat next to him taking into account he was so lost in thought that he didn't even know she was there.
"Interesting throwing style you have there. Are the stocks that bad?" She said subtly as she poured more tea in his cup then filled hers. The shock on his face was almost priceless and she snickered to herself at his reaction. He narrowed his eyes and turned his cold gaze upon her but seeing her grin back at him with that 'I know you aren't angry with me' look deflated his heated stare. Clearing his throat he took a drink of his tea and looked at the wet newspaper that was now beginning to separate and float apart. He smiled to himself ashamed of his display but glad she was the only one to see it.
"Yes you could say that." He looked at her from the corner of his eye to see if she would let it go at that. What he saw made his blood heat up. Her face was filled with concern for him. He could see it in the way her eyes studied him as well as the way her mouth was set in a straight thin line. Quietly she surveyed his face looking for any signs of more emotion but he was determined not to let them slip past his cool mask. Sighing she set her cup down in defeat and turned her eyes to the garden. He followed her gaze and found what she was looking at. Miroku and his female companion, Sango, were walking hand in hand toward the patio. Their eyes were locked on each other as they smiled and joked around.
"They make a nice couple. Rather well rounded." Rita broke the silence between them as the couple came closer.
"Indeed." Was all Sesshomaru said when Miroku and Sango stopped at the table.
"I see Inuyasha is still in bed like normal." Miroku smirked. "Anyone know how he made out with his apology last night?"
"I would say he made out rather well." Came the surprising reply from Rita. Both Miroku and Sesshomaru looked at her surprised. "What you couldn't hear them?" She exclaimed innocently. "And you thought I was in the kitchen to relax." Her warm mischievous eyes fell on Sesshomaru. With a smile on her face she took another sip of tea. Sesshomaru looked at her questioningly.
"That is what you told me is it not?" He raised a thin eyebrow.
"Not exactly you just assumed that is what I meant." Her grin was starting to annoy him greatly. The two stared at each other cooly. She couldn't keep the smirk from her lips and he was having hard time keeping the emotions from flowing across his amber eyes. Miroku looked from one to the other and decided it was best to leave this between the two of them.
"Well then if you two will excuse us we are going in for breakfast." He took Sango by the elbow and quickly led her away. She glanced over her shoulder at the two still having their staring contest then back at Miroku with a confused look. "I'll explain later." He whispered in her ear just barley loud enough for her to hear. She nodded as she allowed him to lead her into the building.
After several minutes of staring Sesshomaru realized this was going no where fast. He lowered his eyes to his tea cup as he reached for it feeling defeated in the back of his mind. "Rita--" he started still not looking back at her, "would you accompany me this afternoon?" He took this opportunity to look at her and found confusion in her eyes.
"I don't remember any appointments for this afternoon. Is there something I forgot?" He smiled inwardly at her loyalty to her work.
"No there are no appointments. I am giving you the afternoon off but you will have to spend it with me." He replied coyly. She raised her eyebrow at him surprised. Then the usual mischievous sparkle filled her eyes and he could tell she was going to challenge him.
"If it is an afternoon off then why can't I spend it the way I want to?" She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him defiantly.
"It is my choice to give you the free time or not. So it is my choice to decide how you should spend it. I am merely giving you a choice of whether you wish to spend it with me or work." His voice was cool as ever. She narrowed her eyes at him and pursed her lips. One thing she never did like was his rude way of forcing things to go his way. Then a smile crossed her lips he didn't like.
"So you say I have a choice to spend the afternoon with you or work?" She asked calmly. He nodded hesitantly. "Ok then as I see it since I have a choice on how to spend the afternoon it means either way I am working in a sense so that means I will still get paid. Funny I never imagined you having to pay someone to spend time with you." She grinned at the shock on his face. His eyes shot wide and his mouth dropped open. Holding back a fit of laughter she pushed his mouth closed with her fingers on his chin. "You will catch flies in that if you don't keep it closed." She giggled. He frowned at her and narrowed his eyes.
"I don't need to 'PAY' for company. I take it you wish to work then." He fumed at her but the grin never left her face.
"I am supposed to be working anyway and as I see it since you are 'NOT' giving me the choice on how to spend the free time then it should be considered work time reguardless if we are in the office or not." She watched him close his eyes and rub the bridge of his nose. Satisfied she stood up still grinning. "I see you need some aspirin I will be right back." She started to leave but her hand was caught in a tight grip and she was pulled back till she fell into his lap.
"Damn it woman do you always have to fight with me on things?" He looked up at her frowning.
"When you are being a rude ass yes." She frowned right back at him.
"I am asking you out on a date. Is that so hard for you to comprehend?" He hissed.
"Well then give me the 'choice' of whether to accept or say no. Don't try to force me to go with you. I am not your possession." She hissed back hotly. He suddenly realized she had a temper almost as bad as his but had better control of it. This situation would not do at all, he would not be disobeyed.
"Alright I see your point but you know what I expect out of my employees and you should realize--" he didn't get to finish what he was saying before she cut him off again.
"Well if you are asking me as an employee then I should get paid for my time since you are the one spending it how you see fit. There fore I really have no 'choice'. Again I stress that I am not a possession Sesshomaru. If I decide to quit and leave the company tomorrow I will." She demanded crossing her arms over her chest defiantly.
"You can't you are under contract." He smirked but lost his feelings of triumph at her cool smile.
"My contract ran out two months ago and you have yet to renew it. The papers have been on your desk since then but you have not taken the time to go over them." She examined her finger nails calmly. Then his eyes lit up as he thought of something. An evil grin formed on his smug face. She watched him closely to see what he was going to do.
"So that means you really aren't an employee anymore and since you are not working for me then I don't have to pay you for this afternoon." He grinned broadly but it faded when she shook her head as if she pitied him.
"So you are saying that I am fired. Fine! I can always get unemployment." She started to pull away from his arms. He had not thought of that part. "You really should spend more time keeping up on the laws of employee/employer relations. This could be considered sexual harassment if I wanted to push it." She was standing next to him straightening her clothes when a deep growl irrupted from him. She turned to look at him and saw his eyes flashed red. Her eyes widened in fear. She knew that she had pushed it too far this time and began backing away from him. His growl became louder as he stood to face her. The fear radiated off her in waves. It was a pleasant feeling to him, one he had not felt for many years.
He took a step toward her and she countered it by stepping back. Her leg hit the chair she had been setting in earlier causing her to lose her balance. She turned slightly to try and catch most of her weight with her hands but was suddenly grabbed from behind. A small 'eep' escaped her lips when she was pulled against a firm chest so hard it almost knocking the wind out of her. She squirmed trying to get out of his grasp but he nipped at her neck and held her tighter. Fear poured off her intoxicating his senses causing his beast to want more. A deep growl caused her heart to beat harder in her chest and he smirked eagerly. With one bound he jumped to the balcony of his room. He tossed her unceremoniously on the bed as he locked the balcony doors.
He had to give her credit for being a human. She bounced once on the bed and was up running across the room toward the other door within the time it took him to stop and lock the balcony doors. But unfortunately she was not fast enough. In blinding speed he reached the door and locked it. With out missing a beat she turn in her flight when she saw him and headed to his private bathroom. Taking a chance she glanced back to see if he was behind her only to run into something as hard as a wall. With an 'OHMF' she hit the ground on her butt. She didn't even have time to shake it off before she was hauled up by the front of her silk blouse and flung on the bed again. This time there was no escape as she was pounced on by a very lustful demon.
She looked at him with wide eyes still afraid of what he might do. A shiver ran down her spine when his clawed hand ran down her side exploring her curves and hips. He stopped at the hem of her skirt then looked into her face before running said hand up inside it to her more private area. His tongue flicked out licking his lips with pleasure when he found that even though she seemed to be one, she was not as much of a prude as he had always thought and was wearing skimpy underwear. She gulped breathing harder when he ran a claw along her scant garment cursing the day she bought them. A moan escaped her when he nuzzled her neck and licked her collar bone.
Her mind raced with desires she only dreamed of. Inside her heart she felt this was not right but her body reacted to each touch and caress he gave her. Frantic to get him to pay attention she gasped for air to speak. "Sess---Sessho--ma--ru you---oh god---you have to--mmm" she moaned as his finger slid up and down the cloth of her panties.
"I have to what Rita?" He purred from where his mouth was now assaulting her breasts. She found herself trying to remember when exactly he had managed to get her shirt open 'Yes she will do just fine for revenge on that unfaithful bitch of a mate.' The demon side thought hotly. The woman beneath him was more then desirable. He had always like fiesty women anyway. 'She deserved the same pain she gave me.' He hissed in his mind and with a flick of his wrist Rita's skimpy lace under garment was removed. She squeaked but didn't fight him as he began to caress her. He smiled with vengeance knowing that this lesson would stay with his mate forever. The bond was strong and he could feel the lust of what he was doing serge through it to her. She would never deny him his rights and would know her place as his bitch. If she lived he might consider taking her back into his loving arms.
Natai stood in the elevator waiting impatiently for the doors to open so she could rid herself of her present company. Even though she swore to Naraku that she would return within a couple of hours he wouldn't accept her word and sent Kagura to keep an eye on her. Even though Natai was fairly fast when she put her all into running she was no match for the wind youkai who could fly over her and easily catch her with out much problem. Since his arrival Naraku had taken all her weapons from her room and cleaned out most of her wardrobe. He explained that since they had an 'understanding' now she would not need clothes that made her look like a common street wench. Lobo frowned as he leaned against the wall listening but kept his mouth shut the whole time.
Thinking back on her actions she could only shake her head in regret. For the life of her she could not think of what possessed her to come back to the hotel in the first place. What was here that she felt was so important at the time? She grunted to herself and looked at the floor. Nothing. There was nothing that was important in her life with Naraku that was worth coming back for. She messed up terribly and now she would pay for it. Her mind skipped to a deep worry that had been bothering her since the day before. Naraku didn't trust her anymore and claimed that the only way she could win back said trust was to finish the assignment. Of course he still didn't realize that Iyoutai and her mate were one in the same. This was a good thing since he would not be able to use her to get at Sesshomaru but at the same time it was bad for her. How could she kill her mate and still live with herself? How would she be able to stand by and let any of the others finish the job with out interfering? She couldn't and that was the only answer she had for it.
She jumped at the sudden ding from the elevator announcing that the door was ready to open on their floor. An uneasy feeling began to fill her body as she waited anxiously for the doors to open far enough for her to get through. The seconds seemed like hours ticking by in slow motion. Her vision began to blur slowly as she stumbled out of the door and fell into the wall across from the elevator. Her head was swimming with dizziness that she fought with all her strength. She vaguely heard someone ask if she was alright but she didn't care as she struggled against numbing muscles to get to the hotel room. Next came pain so intense she almost blacked out. She barely felt someone grab her arm and pull her harshly to the door. Leaning against it she watched the hazy figure open the door. Just as the door began to open wide enough for her to go through a hot electric shock ran through her body freezing all her nerves at once.
Screaming from pain, her hand instantly went to the mating mark on her shoulder. She could feel a warm wetness there. At the time she was not sure what it was until she pulled her hand back and saw the red stain of her own blood. The mark sent surges of pain through her blood stream to all parts of her body. The last thing she remembered was the feeling of a knife being shoved through her heart. 'So this is what death feels like.' Her mind mused. Slowly her eyes transfixed on a shadowy figure that approached as her vision faded into a welcomed black pool of unconsciousness.
Kagura thought Natai was trying to make an escape when she first stumbled out of the elevator into the wall across from it. The couple that was waiting to get on had concerned looks and began to reach for her to assist her but Kagura told them that she was in need of her medication and they should hurry back to the hotel room where the said medicine could be found. They seemed to accept this and left the two alone in the hall. Anger filled Kagura as she roughly pulled Natai by the arm back to the door. She propped her against the door while she unlocked it. Once open Kagura shoved Natai in ready to start yelling at her for her actions until her scream of pain interrupted the train of thought Kagura had. This got all the others attention immediately. The blood that appeared on her shoulder was confusing but then when the woman's eyes went blank and she began to fall to the ground. That is when Kagura's mind finally registered that there was something actually wrong with her.
Naraku rushed out of the bedroom to see what the commotion was in the main entry room. He was unsure what to think when he saw an unconscious Natai lying in the lap of Maten who was harshly accusing Kagura of doing something to her. Kagura's face was pure shock as her eyes scanned each of the male's faces that now confronted her. She sputtered a denial immediately with venom in her hissing voice. Lobo and Hiten stood to each side of the angry Maten with accusing glares on their faces. Kagura's face flushed with fear when Lobo snarled at her threateningly. She soon turned her eyes to Naraku in a silent plea to help her out. A thought crossed his mind that perhaps he should let them have at it since he was still unsure of her ability to control her team. But then he saw the blood that was staining the front of Natai's tank top at an alarming rate and quickly walked over to examine her for himself.
"First off keep your voices down you fools. Do you want the whole floor to know what is going on here?" Naraku spit at them all then leaned down to look at Natai's injuries. Maten gave him this lost look and pulled her closer to his chest. Naraku frowned at him with narrowed eyes. A low growl formed in Naraku's chest and his finger nails extended to claws as he glared at the balding demon that held one of his most prized possessions. Hiten knew that his brother harbored feelings for the woman and if he didn't do something soon Maten might loose his life. Slowly he kneeled down and placed a hand on Maten's shoulder.
"It is alright brother," Hiten said in a low soothing voice, "Naraku will not harm her. He only wishes to see what is wrong." The younger demon looked at Naraku's glaring red eyes then down to the woman in his arms then back at Hiten.
"But he hurt her yesterday. I..I don't want to see her hurt anymore brother." Maten's eyes stared at his older brother with the same innocense that had always made Hiten feel as if he had to protect him.
"Not this time. That was for a different reason. You know we discussed this. He only wants to help her. Now let him take her." He patted the large demon's shoulder reassuringly hoping that would take care of it. Reluctantly Maten loosened his hold on Natai and pushed her limp form toward Naraku. The angry demon took her quickly with a final snarl of disapproval toward the pitiful Maten then stormed into her bedroom with Lobo close behind.
Once in the room he laid her on the bed while Lobo opened the balcony drapes to let in more light. The others crowded around the open door not really wanting to be in the room in case Naraku lost control but all were still interested in what could have happened to her. With care Naraku turned her head to the side so that he could look closer at the wound on her neck. His eyes narrowed trying to think of what could have caused it. Lobo was now looking over his shoulder and a gasp escaped his usual passive form. Naraku turned and looked at him with a questioning glare. Lobo's mouth was open and his eyes showed a mixture of emotions. None of which Naraku could figure out. Worry for the woman's life and concern for what any in the hotel might have seen or heard all spun circles in his mind adding to his already aggravated attitude.
"What the hell is wrong with you? I know you have seen more blood then this from worse wounds." He snapped at Lobo. The wolf youkai looked at him strangely then realization dawned on his face.
"You don't know what that is do you?" Lobo looked shocked to say the least. Naraku raised and eyebrow at him and frowned.
"Obviously not. Would you care to enlighten me since you seemed to think you know?" His scowl deepened with the few snickers that came from the door but a quick look at them stopped it. He turned his attention back to Lobo who cleared his throat to force down a laugh.
"It is the mark of her mate. He has broken the sacred bond and taken another." Lobo stated mater of factly. Naraku's eye brows furrowed as the scowl became deeper. Lobo decided to explain better since his boss didn't seem to know much about youkai mating rituals and their bonds. "Her mate took another too his bed and evidently marked her in some way. The open wound shows that the mating bond has been broken. Basically he cheated on her so bad that he actually had the balls to forsake her life and put his mark upon another. If she lives she will be scared horribly for life. Not only on the outside but mentally as well. A bond being broken has even been known to cause the injured party to go insane with grief." Lobo took this opportunity to set on the bed opposite Naraku and take a better look at the wound. He shook his head sadly then looked up at Naraku again.
"Is that all you can tell me about this or will she be a threat to us?" If Naraku was truly concerned he didn't show it in his voice. Lobo took the wet rag that was offered by Maten and wiped the blood off gently. Only the teeth marks were bleeding and that made him feel a little better.
"Well there is some hope. The mark didn't rupture so maybe he didn't mark the other female as a mate. See the blood is only coming from the teeth marks. She will probably be alright but I can tell you one thing. Her mate must be either very strong or a complete idiot to cross her in this way." Lobo gently pushed a piece of hair that was laying across her face back behind her ear. Naraku observed the motion but said nothing.
"What difference will it make to her? She won't know unless you tell her." He stated flatly.
"She will know. During the love making she felt everything he was feeling through the bond and still is. It will all appear to her in her mind while she is unconscious. The truth is she may think it was nothing more then a dream but if she doesn't, well she may end up wanting to kill him for the pain he caused. We will have to wait and see if it drives her crazy or not." Naraku looked down at her letting this new information absorb into his mind. 'If I can manipulate her feelings of hatred toward Iyoutai then she will be more then willing to carry out this assignment without any further problems.' He ran the back of his fingers down her cheek caressing the soft skin. Lobo frowned but knew there was nothing he could do about it. Standing suddenly he looked at Lobo with a gleam in his eyes and a fiendish smile on his face that Lobo didn't like.
"After you clean her up come get me, I want to be the first person she sees when she opens her eyes." Naraku turned quickly and walked out the door with Kagura hot on his heals. The look on her face was not a pleasant one. Maten crept sheepishly into the room after they left. Hiten came in behind him with a solemn face. Slowly Maten sat on the bed next to her and picked up her hand. Lobo took no notice of him knowing that the simple minded youkai would not hurt her. Hiten placed a hand on his brother's shoulder then looked at Lobo for answers to questions he had been holding off on asking about. He thought before that it was none of his business but now with the danger that this could have put them all in he had to know.
"So you are saying that Natai has a mate but it is not Naraku?" Lobo only nodded while he worked on cleaning up the blood. "Then who is her mate and why didn't she tell any of us before?" Hiten looked down at her with skeptical eyes. In all the years he had been on missions with her he never would have thought of her having a mate. She didn't act like she did anyway. In a way it made him feel discomfort and betrayal. He thought they were better comrades then that. Lobo seemed to feel his discomfort and looked at him with a cool expression on his face.
"Don't think ill of her. She didn't know he was still alive. From what she told me, she had very little time with him before he disappeared and never did learn about youkai mating. It is all a very strange case indeed that our little Natai should be caught in all this but at the same time it answers a few questions that I have always had. One was why a human like her could live for so long. Now I know it was because her mate was still alive. Of course she did not know this so she could not answer any questions. I had often wondered if she had some powerful magic of some sort that kept her alive but at the same time kept males at bay. I should have been able to sense the mark but her mate hid it well which tells me he is very powerful perhaps even a lord. Well now we will have to leave her to rest." Lobo stated flatly not wanting the others to know how he really felt. The pain of what happened to her filled his heart with loth for the one who injured her. "Maten would you go and fetch Naraku now." Lobo stood up and went into the bathroom to rinse out the wash cloth before it stained completely with the color of blood.
"What do you mean she has a mate?" Kagura hissed still fuming over the way the males treated her before.
"Her mate betrayed her and if I can manipulate her enough she will do every thing I want from now on without the arguments." Naraku leaned against the balcony door staring out at nothing in particular as his mind went over his plan looking for any flaws.
"I don't see how. If something as simple as an unfaithful mate can break her spirit then how come it has taken you this long to get her under control. That human bitch is not worth the effort as far as I am concerned." Kagura spit out hotly. Naraku recognized the jealousy in her voice and cringed. Thoughtfully he tuned her out and let his mind wander. He thought back on why he had brought Kagura into his house in the first place. It was in the hopes of making Natai jealous enough to make her succumb to his desires but instead it only drove her farther away. Of course now he understood why she was always so distant from him. Her mate was strong there was not doubt in his mind concerning that, but soon he would squash the remaining love she held for him and win her completely. That was all he really wanted. Her unconditional faithfulness and love. Yes even love. If any of his employees knew he desired to be loved they would scoff at him and look upon him as a weak half-breed. To keep their loyalty he made them fear him. But he was still half human and the human part of him held emotions he constantly kept in check. But her, that cherished prize of his father's, was more enticing to him then anything that occupied this world. He had watched his father dolt over her and place her on a pedestal that none could touch. When his father died in that last battle, he had made Naraku swear to take Natai far away and protect her from harm.
Naraku smiled to him self at the thought. The look of complete concern in his father's eyes. The unexplainable fear that lie there as if someone would whisk away his favorite toy. Why it mattered to him at the time he didn't know. He had always despised his father for being a weak human and his mother for mating with him. She did it for the power of his lands and name but his father had been fooled. His mother never loved the man only used him until the day she died. Onigumo had gone mad after that insisting that it was due to spies from the rival lords to the west and south. That is when the war started and the rest became history. Natai was merely bounty from a raid on a town far to the south. But when his father set eyes on her his whole manner changed.
Flashback
The Madame of the Geisha house that was in that town swore that the girl was the best they had even though her eyes clearly showed she was lying. His father didn't care once he saw the girl for himself. She was a beauty beyond compare and soon fell under her spell. Many night Naraku had sat in the shadows outside his father's chambers and listened to them. His father would moan and groan in complete bliss but the girl never made a sound and stranger yet she never smelled like his father's seed. What she did to him while behind closed doors was unknown but his father would not let any other go near her accept his only son of course. He had spent hours trying to pry out of the girl what she and his father were doing but she would avoid the questions skillfully and use his father's desire for privacy as an excuse.
Little did his father or any other know but Naraku was the reason that the Northern lands fell so quickly. He had been a spy for the Lords of the West and South. All he wanted was his freedom to leave and live as he wished. They granted his request willingly and he did just that with out regret. He took Natai far into the eastern mountains to a secluded keep that he had stock piled with the riches he managed to smuggle past his father's guards. There he found out what her power over his father was and there is where his new 'business' started. He could still remember the look on her face when he shoved her into that cold room and told her to stip. She looked like a scared rabbit ready to bolt but did as he asked. If he had known it would be that easy then he would have done so before. It would not have been a problem to spirit her away in the middle of the night to that same keep but at the time he still had a fear that his father would find out and all his carefully laid plans would be destroyed over desires for a simple concubine.
"My father is dead now you know this." He remembered the conversation as if it was just the day before. She looked at him with sadness and nodded. "Good." He felt a power over her that was more the satisfying. He approached her slowly and ran his fingers down her cheek feeling the softness of her skin for the first time. She lowered her eyes in obedience a tear fell down her cheek but she made no sound. She showed no fear or emotion that he could pick up with his demon psyche. The urge to throw her down to the futon and ravish her body left him as he watched more tears fall from her closed eyes. Gently he kissed one cheek then the other letting the saltiness of those tears seep past his lips to his tongue where he could taste them. A feeling of over whelming sadness filled his heart but he pushed it aside and concentrated on the beauty in front of him. He rested his hands on her smooth curves and ran them down her hips the back up again. She shivered at his caresses but still kept her eyes closed.
"Make me feel the way you made my father feel Natai. I want to know why he cherished you so much he would give up his titles and lands to keep them from getting you back." He was surprised when her eyes opened to small slits. They sparkled from her tears like cool sapphires captivating his to the point he could not look away. Those eyes seemed to delve into the far reaches of his mind and ask the question 'Are you certain this is what you want?' A nod from his head was all it took for her to start. He vaguely remembered feeling her gentle fingers as they caressed his face with a feather lite touch. The rest was like a dream that was more sensual then anything he could have imagined. When he awoke the next morning his body was relaxed and refreshed more then he could ever remember being before. He looked around the room but didn't find her. Panic filled his soul as he grabbed on his hakama. Slipping them on as he raced out the doors of his chambers with out a shirt.
Frantically he ran to the open door at the end of the hall. His mind ran over the many commands he had given before he retired the night before. He would see heads roll for this if she manages to escape. This door lead outside to the gardens with many paths that wound through the middle of beautiful flowers. He knew from his own inspection that some of the paths would lead to a gate that opened to the forest at the back of the property. His anger grew as he sped through the paths still not finding her. Convinced she had ran from him he took the next path that would lead to her freedom. He rounded a corner of tall roses and came to a skidding halt.
There she sat at the edge of a small pond. Her delicate fingers skimming the top of the water in a figure eight pattern. She turned and looked at him quizzically just as he came to a stop. His lungs strained for control of his breathing. The emotions that ran through him were a mixture of relief and anger. He leaned over with his hands holding his knees to support his upper body while he caught his breath. Her eyes were filled with surprise as she scanned his scantily clad body then they showed her concern when her eye brows furrowed. She reached out for him to come to her and he complied kneeling in front of her. Her gentle touch resting on his cheek while her eyes searched his. The same warmth from the night before washed over him and calmed his racing heart.
"Did you not sleep well Naraku-sama?" Her face was twisted with worry. Her fingers moved his unruly hair from his face. He grasped her hand and kissed her palm while his other hand rested on her cheek.
"What did you do to me?" He felt like he was a child pleading for an answer to his question but he had to know. Her face became solemn, her eyes looked to the ground as she shifted her body uncomfortably. "Tell me Natai!" He shook her shoulders sharply. "I know that I did not touch you last night even though I have the memories that I did. You don't smell like me at all. What sort of spell did you cast on me?" The anger started to come back as the realization seeped into his once clouded mind. Her eyes became as big as saucers with shock.
"H-how?" She stammered. "N-no one has known before accept- but he was a powerful youkai lord." Fear filled her eyes as she looked up at his angry face. She began to scoot away from him rapidly but he was faster and grabbed her arms forcing her back to him. He grabbed her face with a hand on each side of her head making her look him in the eyes and asked her again with more force in his voice.
"What did you do? How are you able to give me memories like that?" The pain became evident in her eyes and he could hear her heart beat faster. Then her eyes changed to the same sadness he saw in them before. She stopped her struggle and went limp closing her eyes in defeat.
"Does it matter as long as you are satisfied?" She whispered. A tear rolled slowly down her cheek and across his thumb. "You wanted to know what I did for him. I released his mind and let it create it's own images just like you did when I released yours. The memories seem real because they are made from your own imagination. Is that so wrong?" The tears fell more as her eyes pleaded with him to understand. He held a firm grip on her and scowled.
"Yes it matters. What else can you do with this power or what ever it is? Tell me Natai!" He pulled her face with in inches of his and quickly wrapped one arm about her pinning her to his chest so she could not flee him. "I need to know if I can trust you or not. I would hate to kill a rare flower if I can avoid it." He smoothed a loose hair back over her ear then brushed his lips against hers softly. "I would hate to have to force it out of you and ruin this pretty face of yours." His breath was warm on her lips and made her shiver. He clutched her closer to him to make his point. She gasped as the air was suddenly pushed from her lungs before she could react.
"I can not harm the unwilling nor those asleep." She whispered fighting for badly needed air. He released her slightly not wanting to make her go unconscious before he was done questioning her. The air rushed back into her lungs painfully causing another shutter of pain. Her weakened body slumped against his chest as she gasped for air. "I can not harm you if you don't accept it." She sobbed.
"For your sake, you had better not be lying to me." He yanked her to her feet and drug her back into the keep. His mind swirling with many plans.
End Flashback
Naraku was brought out of his walk down memory lane when the door to the room opened and Maten called to him. He pushed Kagura out of his way and quickly walk back to Natai's side. He sat for a long time waiting for her to open her eyes. There was only once he had to through Kagura out to stop her endless chattering. The woman was starting to get on his nerves in a way she really didn't want to. He finally had to put Lobo on guard to keep her out. But all this problem will end if his plan works. He sipped a cup of coffee while mindlessly stroking Natai's face with his fingers. A soft moan slipped past her lips that he almost missed but she began to respond to his caressing fingers on her face. Quickly he put his cup on the night stand next to the bed and lowered him self so he was stretched out next to her. His head was propped up on one elbow as he watched her intently. Slowly her unfocused eyes opened. She blinked several times trying to make out the blur in front of her. Confusion was smeared all over her face as she stared at Naraku's smiling face.
"Welcome back to the land of the living my Sleeping Beauty." He could not contain the evil smirk that was plastered on his face.
AN: I normally don't write this many AN in a story but I wanted to let you know it is ok to review. I just don't like rude people. Someone expressing their opinion is one thing, someone just being nasty and mean is another. So I won't bite your head off if you review. Thanks.