Back at the camp Inuyasha was finishing his meal and discussing what had happened with Tosha.
"I wonder who she really is to him." Kagome asked her husband.
"Tosha is a demon of high standing in the demon society. She used to have a thing for Sesshoumaru but he would never even look twice at her. She probably thought she had him when she met up with him again at the village."
Inuyasha thought of the different demon women who would practically fall all over themselves trying to get Sesshoumaru's attention. He was always so aloof he wouldn't even look sideways at them. He wanted a woman with more dignity and nobility. He always felt that they were beneath him.
"Hmmmff! Sesshoumaru thought she was beneath him but when it came to mating, he ends up with a human." He giggled to himself. "That must have really blown her out of the water when she learned about that."
"Do you think she will try to cause trouble for Katame now that she knows about her?" Kagome was a bit worried. The demon society had some pretty tough rules and some demons would take it upon themselves to punish those they felt abandoned their heritage.
It's hard to say, Kagome. Some females are the jealous sort and will stop at nothing. As far as Tosha is concerned I honestly don't know. I never was allowed to mix company with the full demons, so I have no idea what she is really like."
Back at the village...
Tosha was in a foul mood. She sat in her palace holding on to her bandaged hand. 'Damn that bastard, Sesshoumaru. Who does he think he is? I'll show him I'll rip that woman to shreds in front of him then I'll rip him.' She was furious. 'How could he flaunt that whore in front of her and announce his son's.... His half-breed brats.' Tosha would not stand for that. She would find a way. Sooner or later she would find a way.
A fool of a servant who wasn't paying attention to his lady's mood barged in on her thoughts as he brought in some tea. ZAP Crackle. The servant lay dead at her feet. "Don't interrupt me when I'm thinking, fool." She scolded the smoking body, sneering in disgust. 'What could he possibly find interesting in these filthy disgusting creatures?' She wondered to herself as she worked herself into an even worse mood.
"He likes humans does he? Then I shall kill every human I see starting here and then to the group of them that travel with the great lord Sesshoumaru." Tosha stormed from the palace and leveled the entire village in just a few small blasts of her power. "Look out lord Sesshoumaru, I am coming for you!"
Back at the camp...
Katame and Sesshoumaru had rejoined the others as they discussed what next to do. Sesshoumaru explained that the villages to the west were free of demon influence with the exception of Tosha and they had already relieved her of her jewel shard.
Inuyasha asked his brother about Tosha. He was concerned how the knowledge of Katame might affect the demon woman.
"Tell me about her Sesshoumaru. Is Tosha the jealous sort? You showed Katame to her will she try to destroy her? After all didn't she want to... Well, you know. Now she knows she can't have you with Katame around. Will she try to remove the competition?" Inuyasha looked at his brother.
"It's always possible but I don't think she would risk it. She hasn't the power or the strength to fight me." Sesshoumaru said.
"It's not you I'm worried about. Tosha may be able to strike her down before either of us has time to react." Inuyasha fiddled with the handle of his sword. "We are going to have to be careful out here in the wild.
"There is no reason for us to continue in these mountains any longer. All the villages in the vicinity are clear. Perhaps we should consider returning to my palace for the time being." Sesshoumaru thought for a moment. "Unless I go to her and destroy her first."
"That may not be necessary." Miroku had a suggestion. "If you think she might come to us to destroy the girl why not wait for her here? We could set a trap for her and when she arrives then we will have her. It makes more sense than having her follow our every movement all the way back to the palace."
"Miroku may have a point there." Inuyasha said.
"What sort of a trap do you have in mind? Tosha is no fool Miroku she will not be easy to bring down if she has a mind to attack." Sesshoumaru spoke his voice was deadly calm. He knew that the demoness may well try something, but she was no fool either. She was no match for Sesshoumaru's strength and skill, and she knew it. If she tried something she would do it in secret. He would have to be on guard at all times.
Miroku thought a moment. "Tell me about her. What drives her and what sort of attack does she favor? We may be able to use this against her."
Tosha is a high lady and will no doubt be well trained. Unfortunately, I have never witnessed any of her battles. However, I do know that she possesses a strong power that she can use to blast away an opponent. How strong, I don't know. The thing that may be most in our favor is her jealousy. If I can anger her enough she will become sloppy."
"Why don't we just crush her as soon as she shows her face." Sango was impatient. "We are wasting time here. Lets just find her and destroy her quickly. It makes no sense to dance around with the demon woman. If she comes end her immediately."
"It amazes me that you are still alive, Sango. Your impatience should have gotten you killed a long time ago." Sesshoumaru baited the young demon hunter.
"Why you..." Sango looked ready to burst.
"That's enough you too. You're not helping matters bickering like that." Miroku spoke up. "Lets calm down and think things through. We may not have much time before she comes, if she comes. In fact we don't even know that she will come at all."
Inuyasha had an idea. He explained. "We will set camp for the night and feign sleep. Katame and Sesshoumaru should take up a prominent place out in the open so that the demoness can see them as they 'sleep'. All of us demons should stay awake of course and keep scenting the air for her arrival. When she comes we will all attack at once."
"You surprise me my brother. You seem to be learning to strategize. Good." Sesshoumaru was beginning to see his brother in a better light. "When you are done with your little hunt, I want you to return with me. You should begin to take up your role as a lord of the western realm. I have much to teach you." Sesshoumaru got up from the group. "We will do as you suggest. Get the camp ready." The last bit was spoken to the monk and hunter. Ever the autocrat Sesshoumaru was used to having his orders fallowed without hesitation. When the two hesitated he glared at them and flicked his whip. "I gave you your orders now move."
Miroku jumped up and hurried to do as he was told. Sesshoumaru had made it abundantly clear that Miroku's life was worthless in his eyes. He wasn't about to risk the demon lord's wrath not when he now had so much to live for. The death of Naraku ended the curse that had plagued his family for generations. The hole in his hand was almost healed and now only generated the softest of breezes. He also had been given a wife. A beautiful, soft, loving wife, that he desperately wanted to keep.
Sango on the other hand hated demons fiercely and despised Sesshoumaru immensely. She hated that he thought that he was so much better than humans. The fact that she was a female didn't help much either. They were weak in his eyes and she, as a hunter, was viewed as a minor annoyance. She refused to move from her spot.
"Sango." Sesshoumaru took a step toward her. "Do you truly wish to face me?"
She looked up at him defiantly. "I am not your slave girl, Sesshoumaru. Go order someone else around." Sango stood up daring him with her eyes to do something about her. She readied her weapon and took up a battle ready stance.
"So you are the fool then. Very well." Sesshoumaru was on her in a heartbeat. Sango didn't have time to even move her hand let alone throw her weapon. He grabbed the boomerang and tossed it aside.
"Sesshoumaru! No don't kill her." Inuyasha came running to the girl's aid.
"Inuyasha your feelings for this wench are unbecoming. You have a wife you needn't keep this useless little rag around."
"Sesshoumaru don't. Please let me talk to her. She is no danger to us let her be. Besides she's a good fighter and I need her for this quest."
"She must be punished and I don't believe you could do it, Inuyasha. You are too soft." Sesshoumaru looked at the woman, she wasn't trembling. Either she had no idea how much trouble she was in or she just didn't care. Which ever it was he would beat some sense into the wench.
He spoke to Sango. "My brother, Inuyasha, does not wish me to kill you but you still stand defiant before me. Do you wish to die, wench?" Sango raised her chin and glared at the fierce lord in front of her.
Miroku heard all of this and tried to help his friend. "Sango, use your head girl. You know what this guy is capable of doing to you. Please don't do anything to provoke him."
"Quiet Miroku, I know what I'm doing. Sesshoumaru, you're used to ordering your slaves around and that's fine for them. But I don't belong to you and I won't allow you to order me about like so much trash."
"Very well then." Sesshoumaru took the girl by the arm and flew off a short distance before landing again. "I have brought you here to allow you to save what little dignity you have left. I give you one last chance. Apologize formally and I will spare you a beating." He let her arm go.
Sango took a step back from him and shouted. "Never! I will never apologize to a demon." She flew at him to fight hand to hand. She had underestimated her opponent. Sesshoumaru caught her with one hand and threw her to the ground. "Your lucky I have a mate or you would suffer more than just a beating at my hands." He beat the girl as he used to do to beat Katame a long time ago when all he felt for her was anger and disgust. Sango was a trained demon hunter. She was strong but Sesshoumaru was stronger. Sango could bear no more and she began to cry. Sesshoumaru kept up the beating until he was certain she was not going to repeat the offence. He turned her over in his hands and glared coldly at the young woman.
"Now woman. I am claiming you as my slave. You will learn obedience at my feet. I will release you from serving me only after you learn to behave and demonstrate it for 1 full year. Misbehave once and I begin the count again. Do you understand little girl? You must behave obediently for one full and complete year before I will release you."
Sango stared up at the demon that was now her master. "You can't do that."
"I can and I have. Now unless you wish to come under my hand again you will come with me back to the camp and do as you were bid." Sesshoumaru stood up. "Do not hesitate girl there are still more places on you that I have not yet even begun to beat."
Sango stood and followed Sesshoumaru to the camp. Her backside and upper legs felt like they were on fire and she was in a foul temper. No one dared to speak to the huntress.
Inuyasha sat next to his brother by the fire. "Sesshoumaru thanks, for not killing her."
"I have learned from my wife that letting your opponent live can be just as rewarding as killing them."
Inuyasha didn't understand his brother's words. Sesshoumaru was a demon of hidden depths. He was not always easy to read.
"What did you do Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha was half afraid of the answer. He looked at the girl. She was busy at the tasks his brother had assigned. She had a pained look on her face.
"I beat her and made her my servant." Sesshoumaru said flatly.
"You what!?!"
"It will only be a temporary arrangement. I will release her once she learns to behave herself."
"How long is temporary?"
"She must have flawless behavior for one year. If she manages to obey me for a year I will release her. If she misbehaves the count goes back to the beginning and she starts the year anew." Sesshoumaru let himself have a little smile. He would enjoy teaching the wench a lesson or two in humility. She will learn her place.
"But Sesshoumaru, She is only human you can't expect her to be perfect."
"I don't expect perfection, only obedience. She does not keep her place, Inuyasha. She is a human and I am demon, the high lord of the western realm. She will show the proper respect and if she refuses she must pay the penalty."
"A whole year as a slave. Sesshoumaru that's a bit harsh." Inuyasha was feeing sorry for his friend. But she did refuse his advice.
Sesshoumaru looked at his brother. "I gave her an opportunity to apologize, Inuyasha, and I would have let her go. She was out of the sight of the others and would not have lost any face. But she chose to be beaten instead." Then he looked over to where the girl was working. "She will likely remain my slave for many years before she will give in and obey me."
Inuyasha thought about his friend. What in the world could she have been thinking? Sesshoumaru has killed so many, human and demon alike. He didn't care about those who stood in his way so long as he succeeded in his quest. Everyone and everything else mattered not to the great lord. Sango must have known this. Did she want to die? He had heard of people doing dangerous things out of despair. He would have to ask her when his brother wasn't watching.
(Poor Sango. Oh well she was warned not to trouble Sesshoumaru. Nasty. LadySesshoumaru41)