"Going so soon?" he asked softly, turning to look at her. She shook back her hair. "Of course, my lord." Her voice was as cold as stone and twice as hard. He yawned widely, his expression was lazy and deeply satisfied. She dressed silently, pulling her clothes on and determinedly not looking in his direction. Damn bitch, he thought, wincing a little at the scratches on his back. It seemed like every time he took her to bed she was going to pull this act.
He sighed lightly, not that he'd get any sleep with her around. His bodyguards outside were no doubt taking wagers on how soon she'd storm out of his bedroom. He didn't even want to think about the things they'd probably just overheard. His men were discreet as a point of honor, but they also had standing orders that propriety was never to keep them out of his room if the lady Seshiko was there.
He rolled on his side as she finished dressing. One hand reached out to play with a lock of that remarkable hair of hers. She twitched away from him like he was a common thug instead of her lord and husband. "You can stay if you want to, I could call down for some wine and food. You've got to stay and start talking to me sometime."
"No, I do not. My lord." It annoyed him to no end that she refused to use his name, even after an exhausting session like they'd just had. You'd think even an Azaryu would have some touch of feminine softness. It wasn't like she hadn't enjoyed it, he was wearing the proof on his back. She might be a cold evil bitch the rest of the time but he had to admit that she was a damn fine lay. He settled back down, one arm going over his eyes as he relaxed into the softness of the bed. "Suit yourself, it's not like I don't try to be pleasant." The door slammed loudly.
Seshiko stormed past Inutaisho's bodyguards, sitting at their ease in the outer chamber. She refused to meet their eyes, knowing that they'd heard everything. It didn't matter to her what the bastards thought. She ground her teeth when one of them dared to whistle softly, appreciative of the lady's vocal performance from earlier.
She swore she'd love to tear the bastards to pieces, but at the moment she didn't have the energy to spare. If she went back to fight with the guard, Inutaisho would come out and then she have to start fighting with him. And if she started fighting him again, well it might be hours before she got back to her apartments.
Damn you to everlasting hell anyway, she thought furiously, stalking down the long hallway. The girl's anger showed in her quick, sharp steps, not quite running, that would be undignified. She was determined not to give the household servants any more reason to gossip about her, it wasn't like they didn't already have plenty to talk about.
She hated him, by the gods above and below she truly did. Her father hadn't understood what he was asking of her when he sent her here. Bad enough she'd been taken away from her command and made to sit and bide her time like some breeding female, but having to endure that condescending white-haired bastard was going to drive her over the edge. Her lip curled with contempt. She wanted to fight, she wanted to spar at least and have some outlet for her natural aggression. But her husband had forbidden her from that even. It wasn't her fault those men had died, if they had known what they were doing they would have survived their wounds. Once she'd sensed that her sparring partners were holding back because she was the Daimyo's consort, she'd showed them no mercy. Youkai who couldn't defend themselves better than that deserved to die under her claws. Hell, she did them a favor by making it quick.
Seshiko forced herself to walk slower, fighting down her temper. You've got a brain, she reminded herself. You can think when you want to, it won't be like this forever. Once this cursed child is born you will be free and he'll be the one to pay. She smiled fondly, thinking of what his face would look like when he realized how the Azaryu had manipulated him into this farce of a treaty. Not that she'd had time to put the plan in motion, her people were still gathering intelligence on the way the Daimyo ran his household.
They'd need someone on the inside, someone he'd trust to never betray him. She was absolutely positive that he had his own spies looking in on her, she expected no less. Her movements and the movements of her people were surely watched. Today's performance with the humans had proved that, she'd wanted to know exactly how long it would take him to find out what she'd done out in the wilds. She was impressed, the patrols were obviously in good communication with the household guard. Pity about the little humans though, she hadn't really expected he'd let her keep the pets but it had been an amusing diversion just the same.
Seshiko laughed out loud thinking of Inutaisho's expression when he'd seen the adorable little things. She'd honestly thought he was going to explode for a moment. It had all been worth it for that alone, she thought, a cruel grin playing at her mouth. Although it might be a good idea to not press him that hard again, getting herself killed wouldn't serve her father's purposes. She grimaced, at least not before this child comes.
She'd known that she was pregnant when her cycle hadn't shown up on schedule. By her estimation, she only had a few more days before her own staff came to the same conclusion. What would she do then? Seshiko sighed, one hand reaching down to stroke her stomach. This brat was too important to Azaryu interests for her to risk a physical confrontation again. She found it mildly surprising that he'd finally managed to strike her, she'd been wondering what it would take to get him angry enough to lash out at her. Her body flushed again remembering the way his hands had made her skin tingle moments later. She shook her head, disgusted by her physical reaction to the youkai lord.
That wasn't supposed to be part of the deal, she thought crossly. Her biological response made it impossible for her keep any kind of distance between them during intercourse. She was as helpless as a puppy bitch in her first heat. And Seshiko hated the idea of being helpless before anyone. Was that why she wasn't admitting to her condition? I'm not actually worried that when I tell them I'm pregnant he'll stop taking me to his bed, am I? The thought was abhorrent, that she would allow herself to be made into a weak, submissive female just to keep spreading her legs for that son of a bitch. She growled angrily in her chest at the very idea.
Her walk had taken her past the main reception hall. This was the place where six months ago she'd been formally presented like a fucking prize to him. Her eyes were drawn by the vivid colors of the wall hangings. She strolled past the artworks, looking them up and down. Here was a battle scene, showing hundreds of youkai warriors advancing on an army. She liked this one, the red silk they'd used for the detailing was an excellent shade for blood. Seshiko wasn't an admirer of beauty, although she had been rigorously trained to assess the quality of the works before her. She herself was drawn to artist's precision in depicting the battle formations and weaponry. The tapestry next to it was less to her taste. It was a stunningly lovely study of water lilies. She smiled faintly, finding it absurd for a work of pretty flowers to be hung next to one of a historical battle. From what she'd learned of local history, this particular piece was something of an heirloom, a treasure that had been carefully preserved for generations. With a cool smile of malice, Seshiko raised her clawed finger and ran it down the middle of the delicate weaving. The silken threads parted under her touch, somehow the destruction of the lilies felt so satisfying. She raised her hand for another pass at the wall hanging.
"Don't you have anything better to do?" Seshiko whirled around, her hands automatically going to a defensive posture. Inoki was leaning against the doorway, having just watched her destroy the antique wall hanging. She straightened slowly and let herself smile mockingly at him. "Oh, it's just you. The hanyou."
He rolled his eyes scornfully. The Azaryu girl looked like she expected him to be offended. He'd already heard too much about her from his brother to take what she said seriously. "So did the tapestry do something to offend you personally or is this just another random act of destruction?"
She turned away, a sullen expression on her beautiful face. "I don't need to explain myself to you, half-breed."
Inoki walked across the room to stand beside her. "Shame about the lilies," he murmured. She didn't answer, just stood there twisting the threads in an uncharacteristic silence. "I hate it here," she said quietly. "I want to go home."
He was surprised to hear something as vulnerable as that confession come from Seshiko. He hadn't had much to do with his brother's new consort, these were probably the most words that they had ever exchanged. From what he knew of the Azaryu, they'd rather cut out their tongues than admit to any weak emotion. Inoki scratched the back of his head, he wasn't sure how to respond or if he should even try. "I'm sorry," he said simply.
"I'm sure you are," her voice was bitter. Seshiko turned from the ruined wall hanging and went to a low seat near a window. He watched as the girl pulled her legs up under her and stared out at the darkness, her chin resting on her knees. "Just leave me alone, I don't want to talk."
"All right," he told her. She deserves her privacy as much as the next person, Inoki thought. He turned to leave then, having no idea what else to say to her anyway. Her voice stopped him at the door. "I hate him. I never should have let my father talk me into coming here."
Inoki turned around. "You're not giving him a chance. Inu's not the easiest person to get along with but I know he'd meet you halfway if you tried being civil." She laughed sharply in disbelief. "Civil? You've got to be kidding. I'm just a damn contract remember, it doesn't matter to him if I'm happy or not."
He winced, her statement coming uncomfortably close to what he'd said himself six months ago. He'd heard the stories about Seshiko from the household staff. Her imperious behavior and her wanton and violent destructions. He'd assumed they were the petty tirades of a spoiled child, one used to getting her way with nasty temper tantrums. Looking at her now, he was having a hard time placing her in that category. This Seshiko was more of a miserable, homesick girl than a willful demoness.
He didn't pretend to entirely understand his brother, or any other full blood youkai. He himself had rarely had to deal with his own demon instincts. His easygoing, un-youkai temperament marked him as an outsider more than any physical traits or lack of them. He had claws, he had fangs, but it never occurred to him to use them for anything beyond hunting. Inoki liked the peacefulness of the wilderness, tracking game and wildlife in the deep forests of his brother's territory. He had no interest in the battles that seems to consume Inutaisho's time.
Unlike others of dog-demon descent, he felt no particular urge to prove himself with the constant fighting for dominance. It had never mattered to him. He was what he had been born, hanyou. Another youkai would have interpreted Seshiko's unhappiness as weakness, particularly the admission of it. They would have either chastised her for not accepting her duty with more grace or derided her for not being up to the challenge. Everything was always, always, a conflict.
Inoki himself felt some measure of compassion, even for an Azaryu brat who didn't know how to behave. "Look, just stop taking it out on everyone around you. The only one you have to worry about is Inutaisho. Everyone else in this household will treat you with respect if you give them half a chance. Believe me, they have nothing to gain by making you miserable."
She surprised him by giving him a lopsided smile. "No, I do a good enough job of that myself." Seshiko got up from her seat and came near him. "I know you're trying to help but putting on a nice face isn't going to make it better. I don't belong here, can't you understand that?"
"Actually, I do," he said slowly. Her eyebrows raised at him questioningly. Inoki shrugged. "As you pointed out, I'm hanyou. I was born in this house and even I sometimes feel like a stranger when I'm here. I don't blame you for being angry about being forced to stay where you feel unwelcome."
Seshiko regarded him soberly. "I guess you do understand, I'd never thought of it like that. How do you stand it?"
He grinned at her. "I get outside a lot." She sighed as if the simple statement made her sad again. "You and I have that in common," she told him. "I will be happy to go home where I can be myself again. Until then, I know my duty is to stay here and have your brother's child. This alliance is too important to my father and my people. I can't allow my personal feelings to interfere."
She'd caught his curiosity again. "I'd wondered why you were a part of that at all. Inu said it was a last minute negotiation of your father's. I can't believe he didn't take your feelings about it into consideration."
She smiled ruefully. "You don't know my father then. His only consideration is to protect our clan and he expects the same of me. As for why, I thought that was obvious enough. He doesn't trust your brother. He thinks that an heir of Azaryu bloodline is the only way to avoid having our clan wiped out. My father is certain that your brother will honor the treaty only as long as it's convenient."
Inoki stared at her. "You're wrong. I know how hard Inu has worked to bring about that treaty. He's not going to throw away what he's worked on for ten years just to spite your father."
The girl shook her head. "I'm not some simpering female who only cares about fine clothes and court gossip. I've been part of my father's war councils since I was old enough to hold a weapon. You've never faced your brother in battle. Given the choice between treaty or annihilation, no clanlord is going to waste the lives of his people. But he is going to try and buy himself as much security as he can, even in the form of a child."
Inoki could hardly believe what she was saying. "That's not the kind of leader Inu is, he doesn't need to trap or manipulate anyone to get what he wants."
"He's a youkai, isn't he?" she snapped back. "You're naïve if you think otherwise. I knew what to expect when I came here, nothing your brother has done so far has surprised me."
He flushed at her words, driven to defend Inutaisho. He knew his brother had a ruthlessness he'd inherited from their father. You couldn't manage the unruly clans without showing a certain amount of cold blooded determination. They'd eat you alive if you didn't. Inu also displayed a rational sense of self control and it was rare than anyone could push him so far as retaliation. He opened his mouth to say as much to her when the light from the few lamps in the room caught her and he clearly saw the bruise on her face.
"Did he hit you?" Inoki asked wonderingly. It wasn't like Inu hadn't hinted he'd like to do just that, but he was still surprised just the same.
Seshiko raised her hand to her cheek. The skin there was still hot to the touch. "I didn't realize you could see it," she confessed. "He must have got me harder than I thought." She saw the look on his face and waved him away. "Don't trouble yourself, Inoki. It's hardly the first time. We were arguing and I'm not known for holding my tongue when I'm angry."
He felt uncomfortable. He'd never known Inu to become violent with his women before. It was something that had always disgusted them both about their father, the way he'd treated anyone within reach as a possible outlet for his rage. Inoki and Inu had felt it often enough. "It's not right," he said quietly.
That seemed to confuse her for some reason. "Are you sure you're really half demon? I'm not a child, you know. I can take care of myself." For the first time he noticed the strong smell on her body. It was thick and musky and it went through his nose right to a primal part of his brain. Inoki had always considered himself nose-blind in comparison to pure youkai, but standing so close to Seshiko in a still room, he couldn't help but be affected. His brother's scent was all over her, the musk of sex, sweat and even blood radiated from her in a heavy perfume.
Inoki felt himself drawn closer, his body reacting to hers. He reached out and dared to stroke her hot cheek. "It's still not right, not for him to treat you like his property, not for him to force you..."
She touched his arm lightly, moving his hand away with a soft caress. "It doesn't matter." Her voice was quiet and firm. "The sooner he sires a child on me, the sooner I will have my freedom again. I would appreciate it if you kept this conversation between us, Inoki."
He dropped his hand, embarrassed. He wanted to tell Anuki and get her clear perspective. He wanted to tell Inu to stop being a pig. More than that, he wanted to tell Seshiko how sorry he felt that she was being put in this situation. He knew how it felt to be a punching bag for an angry demon.
Seshiko turned away and walked slowly to the door. She knew the hanyou was watching her, thinking gods only knew what, but thinking just the same. Father, she thought. I may have found our traitor.
"All right," Inu said stiffly. "What's the problem this time?"
Seshiko had invaded an important council meeting with his captains. It was unthinkable, but she'd managed to force her way past his personal guards by threatening to do herself a serious injury. He himself might have even called her bluff to see what she'd do, but the guards had taken her seriously enough to escort her into his study and interrupt him anyway. The minute he'd seen her face he knew that everything he'd been trying to accomplish over the past few hours was thoroughly shot to hell. There was no hope for it, he dismissed his captains brusquely and gave his wife his full attention before she decided to bring the ceiling down on him.
Seshiko looked away from him, a stubborn set to her jaw as she folded her arms firmly across her chest. She was wearing a delicate sky blue kimono that clung to her figure and was sheer to the point of immodesty. He knew it wasn't by chance that she had chosen to dress this way. Knowing Seshiko, it was part seduction to get his undivided attention, something he had to admit she did very well. And it was part insult, showing up and disrupting an important meeting dressed like a concubine in front of his staff and captains. Inutaisho could already feel the headache that was coming on starting right between his eyes. "What is it this time?" he asked her again.
She tossed her hair. "I want you to dismiss my personal guard, my lord. They have been behaving far too familiarly and I want them gone."
He blinked at her. "You're bringing this up now?" he asked in disbelief. For a moment he'd actually thought that it might be something important, like her coming to tell him she was finally pregnant.
"I'm tired of having them follow me around. It's indecent and humiliating for them to pursue me like a stray who can't find her way home."
He sat on the table and rubbed his eyes. She had chosen here and now to confront him about this just to wring that extra little bit of annoyance from him. "I'm not going to dismiss your guard, Seshiko."
She glared at him. "I'm not a child that needs protection!"
"No, but the rest of the territory needs protection from you," he snapped. "Do you think after what you pulled last week that I'm going to let you out unsupervised? What's next, you going to set the forest on fire or destroy a few villages? Good gods above woman, you're a menace to everyone in this household. I don't think we can survive any more of your temper tantrums."
"Fine," she hissed. "If you're going to be a stubborn ass, my lord, I'm leaving. I've had as much as I can stand. To hell with your precious treaty, I'm going home to my father!"
"Don't I wish," Inutaisho retorted. "Your father will send you right back here. He wants that damn heir too much to risk blowing apart this alliance."
Seshiko grinned nastily at her husband. "Do you take me for a fool, my lord? There's not going to be any alliance if I go back to my father. When I tell him everything I've seen and everything I've heard, he'll have no problem believing that you were planning to betray him from the beginning.
Inutaisho snorted at her threat. "Even Kashikoto wouldn't believe a story like that without proof. You're out of your league, girl. No one will believe the word of a spoiled brat."
She circled the table to stand right in front of him. He watched her warily, not particularly concerned if she became violent as usual. For once, she looked like she was in complete command of her emotions. "You want to bet?" she asked sweetly. "Try me." She raised her hand and raked her sharp claws down her own cheek. He jumped up, startled by the deliberateness of her action. "Who do you think my father will believe, my lord? The loyal daughter who he sent to watch you or the man who brutalized her and forced him into a treaty he never wanted? I can be very persuasive, as can my father. It won't take much to sow the seeds of doubt amongst the other clanlords."
The scratches were bleeding freely and he saw she was entirely capable of carrying out her threat. His eyes flared red with sudden anger. "You crazy bitch," he growled. "You'd risk starting a civil war just because you can't have your way?
"In a heartbeat," she bit back at him. She had him, oh she knew she had him now. And just in time too, she thought, looking over his shoulder at the open door behind them.
Inutaisho grabbed her by the neck, his claws digging into the soft skin. "Bitch, if you think I'll let you do something like that, you're more fucking crazy than I thought." He squeezed her throat meaningfully. "I'll see you dead before I let you leave."
Seshiko's eyes went wide in shock and pain. Her hands plucked weakly at his fingers. "I'm sorry," she gasped. "I'm sorry, my lord. I'm sorry, please don't hurt me."
"Why not?" His youki had risen abruptly and he found himself enjoying the look of abject fear in her eyes. Her defiance might be a turn on but there was something so satisfying about her capitulation now. She seemed honestly terrified of him. "Tell me why I shouldn't hurt you?"
Seshiko pulled desperately at his wrist, hardly able to breathe. "Because I'm carrying your child," she whispered.
"Huh?" He hadn't been expecting that and slackened his hold slightly. Seshiko tore herself away from his grasp, choking and stumbling around the table, making for the door. He turned his head to watch her leave and found himself looking into Inoki's furious eyes.
"Inoki?" he asked, feeling his face flush. "When did you, how long were you..." he trailed off struck by his brother's expression.
"Long enough, brother." The scorn and revulsion in Inoki's voice stopped Inutaisho like a blow. Inoki looked like he was going to be sick. He turned away, one hand gripping the doorframe convulsively as he struggled to bring the words from deep inside his clenched heart. "You know what, Inu? For a minute there I thought that Father had come back from the grave. All my life I've convinced myself that you would never, could never, turn into anything like him. Now I see what a fool I've been. You're exactly like him."
Inoki stalked down the long corridor, his face set in an unreadable mask. He refused to meet anyone's eye, he just couldn't get his brother's face out of his mind. He'd always known, always, that Inu had to have his dark side. Just because he'd never been on the receiving end of it didn't mean it didn't exist. It was still a shock to see if for himself. He hadn't been lying, it really was as if his father had taken up residence inside his brother's body.
He realized he was heading for the reception hall. How did he know that the girl would flee there? It made much more sense for her to have retreated to her own quarters, to be comforted by her own servants, people who knew their mistress well. I just want to make sure she's okay, he told himself. If I have to escort her to her rooms myself, I'll do it. Anything to avoid another confrontation like that. He wasn't sure what the conflict had been about, but he was glad that he'd walked in when he did.
Inoki saw her sitting at the same window, her head leaning against the wall as her eyes watched the darkness outside. "Hey," he called to her. "Are you alright, do you need me to send for a healer?"
"Of course not, hanyou." Her voice was bitter. He stopped, wary of drawing closer. There was a seething anger in her tone. "Do you want to be alone?"
Seshiko sat unmoving by the window. "I want to go home."
Inoki heard sadness and menace in her voice. "Are you really pregnant?" he asked. That got him an angry glare. "How dare you say that to me!"
He shrugged. "Are you going to answer?" She sat quietly, still gazing out the dark window. He waited a moment longer before turning away to leave her there.
"Yes." Her voice was soft, neutral.
Inoki turned back. "Congratulations."
She looked at him. "My father needs to know." Inoki stared at his feet. "I'm sure Inu will send a messenger," he muttered. For some reason that made her laugh and he tried to ignore the slight hysterical edge to her amusement. Seshiko stood up with a flourish and met his eyes defiantly. "He needn't bother. I shall tell him myself."
Inoki grabbed her arm as she swept past him. "Are you crazy? You heard him, he won't let you leave. Maybe after the child is born, but definitely not now."
She gazed at his hand on her arm and didn't pull away. "You don't understand. This is more important than my pregnancy. I believe your brother is going to betray the treaty. I have to warn my people, Inoki."
"No," he said. "I don't believe that." Her face was deadly serious. "I have to try," she breathed and gently took his fingers from her arm.
Inoki swallowed hard against his dry throat. "Couldn't you send one of your people, surely that would be safer than you attempting to make the journey yourself." She smiled at him, wry and condescending. "You actually believe they'd get there, don't you? You're either a fool or you honestly don't know your brother."
He winced at that and saw her eyes soften. "Please," she murmured.
Inoki jerked away from her. "No, don't ask me to betray my brother. I can't help you, lady Seshiko." She bowed her head. "I don't blame you for being scared of him," she said softly.
"I'm not scared of Inutaisho. He's my brother and I love him, even if I don't recognize him. I'm sorry you're unhappy and I'm sorry he's the reason. But I won't help you betray him. I couldn't live with myself."
Seshiko closed her eyes. "I wish I deserved that kind of loyalty. He doesn't. I will find another way to get a message to my father. I won't ask you to do something against your own conscience."
She knew when to lead and when to back off. Inoki wasn't a fool, nor was he bribable. She had to play her hand very carefully. Seshiko slipped her fingers into her pocket and drew out a small crystal pendant on a fine white-gold chain. "Ever since I came here, I've done nothing but make enemies. I admit I've let my resentment temper my relationships with the people here. Now that I will have a child raised in this household, I wish I'd done things differently. At least you are loyal, my son or daughter will need that kind of loyalty. Inoki, please take this jewel. I know it's not much, but I feel like I should thank you for the concern you've shown me."
He held it up. "You don't have to do this." Seshiko smiled at him. "I know that, but it's the only thing I have to give that is mine alone. I know you think that Azaryu are just barbarians, but we place honor and loyalty very highly. Among my people, it wouldn't matter if you were half- demon, your character alone would impress my father. I thank you for your kindness."
Inoki sighed and slipped the chain over his head. Her sincerity touched him and he knew accepting the token was the only way to get her back to her rooms. "You're welcome. Now will you please go back to your apartments?