Empathica
1
Sesshomaru lead his troop through the woodlands and into Inuyasha's human territory. Odoku had not returned to challenge Sesshomaru again, he was probably still nursing his wounds, but the fiend would be back. Azuki wanted his Tenseiga. Sesshomaru wanted to make sure that the other sword of his father had not become something Azuki wanted as well. Inuyasha had become strong, but he was still a hanyou. It was better that Sesshomaru see for himself that Tetsusaiga was safe.
He caught Inuyasha's scent and turned his party so that they would meet up with him and his brothers group. They entered opposite sides of a great clearing, almost at the same time. Rin called out a greeting to Kagome and to Shippo as they made their way to each other. Sesshomaru saw Tetsusaiga on Inuyasha's hip; that was good, at least it hadn't been stolen. The humans and the fox child gathered together in a group to talk and Sesshomaru moved past Inuyasha. "A word with you little brother and bring the flea if he is around."
Myoga was and Inuyasha did. He turned away from the others and followed Sesshomaru out of human ear shot. Though Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were now able to run into each other without drawing their swords, they weren't exactly pals. He found it strange that his elder brother had sought him out. "So what's wrong? What do you want Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru turned and faced Inuyasha. The excited mortals behind them paid them no mind; they were busy with each other. "I want to know if someone has come looking to take Tetsusaiga."
Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise. "How the hell did you know? Hey… wait a minute… did some dog come after Tenseiga too?"
"So you have been confronted for the sword then?"
Inuyasha let his hand fall protectively down to Tetsusaiga's hilt. "Nobody's takin my Tetsusaiga. I sent that creep home with a rupture!"
"Odoku?" Sesshomaru interrogated.
Inuyasha scowled at his brother. "Keh! What's with you? It's never 'hi, how ya doing' it's always 'tell me whatcha know' and 'get the fuck outta my face'."
Sesshomaru frowned. A demon was after both of his father's swords and all Inuyasha could do was stand here and act a fool. "Inuyasha," he growled.
Inuyasha waved a hand at Sesshomaru. "Fine, fine, whatever man. His name was Tomei not Odoku, so that means that there at least two of them right?"
Sesshomaru was pleased to see Inuyasha get serious. "They serve a demon called Azuki. He knew our father quite well for a time. I was thinking that perhaps the flea knows something about him."
Inuyasha stuck a hand in his hair and pulled out Myoga. He held him up between the claws of his finger and thumb. "Quit hiding from Sesshomaru you coward! If you know something, then start talking!"
Myoga did
2
Myoga had served their father for many long years. He was able to provide some information on the demon Azuki. InuTaisho and Azuki had been friends for centuries, but InuTaisho's intervention with the world of mortals was something Azuki had not approved of. When he saw that Totosai had forged Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga there had been a terrible argument. Azuki was angry that InuTaisho was playing god with the humans, spending far too much time occupied with them and their ridiculous wars. He was too soft on them, and then came Izayoi, Inuyasha's human mother. Azuki abandon his old friend all together after the mortal woman had caught pregnant.
Sesshomaru found this all moderately interesting, but it didn't explain why Azuki wanted father's swords. Tetsusaiga would certainly reject a new master and Tenseiga could not cut. Why would a demon covet such things?
"Maybe he's still pissed off about something. Wants to kill us and take our swords as trophies," Inuyasha offered.
"You think Tomei came to kill you, or was he just after the sword and it didn't matter if you got in the way?" Sesshomaru remembered Odoku's last ditch effort to grab Tenseiga and flee.
Inuyasha frowned a little. "I see your point." He looked back over his shoulder at Kagome. She and Misha were sitting together watching Shippo and Rin run around.
Sesshomaru sighed. He had at least some of the information he had come for. He watched the little kitsune entertaining Rin with a slight of hand trick. Rin seemed most impressed, the women clapped their hands at little Shippo.
Inuyasha took notice of the way his big brother watched his humans. Sesshomaru seemed more apprehensive then usual, Inuyasha could smell it. "Did they get caught up in your fight with Odoku?"
"Rin slept through most of it, but Misha," Sesshomaru remembered stepping in front of the woman before Odoku could pounce on her.
Inuyasha turned back to his brother, smelling him. "Well you protected her didn't you? She looks okay to me."
"Misha is fine."
Inuyasha stared at his brother reading the scents that flowed between him and the woman. "Then you mind telling me why yer giving her the hard eyeball? Did she get in your way or did all the hysterics after you terrorized the hell out of her annoy you?" Inuyasha was pretty sure that the sword thieves weren't the only thing stuck in Sesshomaru's crawl. Sesshomaru probably could have scared some answers out of Totosai and Inuyasha certainly didn't need big brother checking up on his sword. Maybe Sesshomaru had his hands full looking after a grown woman and needed some pointers. It sure as hell smelled like they had been keeping their distance from each other. There was something else in his brothers scent too as he watched the woman, something edgy.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes back to his brother. "I already said Misha is fine."
Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest and looked at Sesshomaru smugly. "So what then? Lovers quarrel? Oh wait… that's right! She couldn't possibly be your lover now then could she? The great Lord Sesshomaru would never stoop so low as to get involved with a mortal woman." Inuyasha shifted a little so that his brother was sure to smell that Inuyasha was taking care of his own woman nightly. "Or maybe you did get fresh with your virgin and she told you to fuck off?"
"Damaru!" Sesshomaru barked threateningly. This conversation had taken quite the uncomfortable turn. He didn't like this over sexed hanyou talking about Misha's frail virtue in such a way.
"Keh! Did you think I wouldn't notice how light your scent is around her huh? You've been avoiding her, how come?"
Sesshomaru was getting angry. "Mind your own business little brother," he growled warningly. Inuyasha might have a better understanding of mortals then Sesshomaru did, but there was no way Sesshomaru would ever talk to him about what he might or might not be feeling for the woman.
Inuyasha growled low in his throat. "You can't lie to me Sesshomaru. There's something suspicious going on with you and Misha. I can smell it." He returned his brothers angry glare. "What did you do to her? It doesn't smell like you took her virginity so what do you look so guilty about?"
Sesshomaru grit his teeth. "Stop talking like a fool or I will shut you up myself."
Inuyasha was on to something. Sesshomaru's scent was changing. Now that he had found a vulnerable spot, he meant to dig in as much as possible. Revenge against Sesshomaru for being such a shitty older brother, for being such an asshole, for having the nerve to use Inuyasha's own mortal mother against him and then turn around and revive a mortal woman himself - just like their father had done for his mother. Inuyasha could come up with a hundred reasons to work his big brother over. "Bastard! What did you do to that woman's heart?"
Sesshomaru had enough. He wasn't going to stand here and listen to his younger brother give him some sermon about humans. Just because he felt guilty over breaking the law of Misha's kami, that didn't mean he was going to listen to this idiot. Sesshomaru turned and started down the hill. "What I do with my wards is none of your concern."
Inuyasha followed, hounding Sesshomaru. He knew he was pissing him off, all the more reason to keep after him. "I thought I already told you that taking care of a woman wasn't like taking care of a child!" He argued as he kept pace alongside the annoyed demon, smelling his emotions heighten. "What did you do to her Sesshomaru? Are you making that woman suffer after all she's done for you and that kid you drag around?"
Sesshomaru kept walking trying to ignore Inuyasha and not think too deeply about Misha. So then, even now the scents that flowed between him and the woman were tense. He had tried to make it a point to speak to Misha in front of Rin, but all he had been able to talk to her about was Rin. They did not discuss his fight with Odoku, nor anything that had happened between them in the moments prior to battle. It was as if the whole thing had just been dropped and it hung there trapped in the silence between them. Her virtue, her life, their desires…
Inuyasha was talking but Sesshomaru wasn't listening. "Keh! What was I thinking trying to tell you anything anyway? You don't understand women in the slightest." Inuyasha looked back at the women and sized Misha up again. "If I had a woman like that I would treat her right. I'd be taking Misha to my bed every night."
Sesshomaru came to a sudden halt and spun around to face his brother. He felt his anger rising as he saw the way the hanyou was ogling Misha. "What did you just say?" he growled letting his hand come to rest on Tokijin's hilt.
Inuyasha looked at his brother. He was pleasantly surprised to discover that he had struck the right nerve with Sesshomaru. He grinned and brought his hand up to Tetsusaiga's hilt. "Looks like I struck a nerve, eh big brother? What a selfish asshole you are. You won't take her, but you don't want anybody else to have her either. That's it isn't it? If you can't make her happy, no other man is allowed to try right?"
"If you know what's good for you, you'll shut your mouth right now!" Sesshomaru was becoming furious. Misha was safe under his protection, Misha was happy with Rin and Misha was never going to some strange man's bed and become his whore.
"Selfish bastard!" Inuyasha coughed disgusted. "A woman is not a child! A woman needs to be loved differently! You can't make her happy if you don't even hold her in your arms!"
Though it was just words, Sesshomaru felt like this was the most aggravating attack of his life. His character was under attack, his relationship with Misha's as well. "Get it through your head you ignorant half breed," he hissed. "Misha is my woman, not yours and her virginity is none of your damn business!" he took a threatening step toward his wide eyed brother. "And if I ever catch you looking at her like that again, I will kill you." Sesshomaru turned on his heel and stormed off down the hill. If he didn't get away from Inuyasha right now he just might kill him. That would leave Kagome and the orphaned fox alone though, and Sesshomaru had no cause to make them suffer.
Inuyasha stood watching Sesshomaru walk away. He would have howled some asinine comment at his brother's back, but the look Sesshomaru had given him just now made him fall silent. Not because he was afraid of Sesshomaru or anything, it was Inuyasha that had Tetsusaiga after all. But there had been something in his brother's eyes, in his scent. There was defiantly something going on between Sesshomaru and the woman; from the looks of things it was pretty intense too. He might not be able to get Sesshomaru to spill the beans, but… He turned and started back toward the others, putting on his most welcoming grin. The woman or the kid just might let something slip if Inuyasha played his cards right.
And he did.
3
Two days had passed since they had run into Inuyasha; Sesshomaru's group was still in the hanyou's human territory. After putting some distance between him and his aggravating slob of a brother, Sesshomaru slowed his group down again so that Rin could spend some quality time with Misha. This part of the territory wasn't particularly dangerous, but Sesshomaru left Jaken with the women during the day just in case Odoku decided to come back at them for another try. Odoku was to able to take flight and drop down to the place of his choosing. It would make it more difficult for Sesshomaru to smell him coming.
The long afternoon was winding down. Rin sat contentedly pulling her seashells out of a small pouch Misha had made for her to store them in. Rin liked to line them all up a certain way; all the little shells had to be in the middle of the bigger shells so the grown up shells could protect them. Rin hummed as she sorted her treasure into family groups and thought about all the fun that her own family group had at the beach.
Lord Sesshomaru would be back soon she was sure. It didn't look like he and Misha were still having a fight and that was very good because Rin had done quite a lot today. She hoped that Misha would go sit with Lord Sesshomaru tonight and tell him everything. If she could just see them doing that then she would know for sure that everything was okay-all better now! Rin peeked up at Misha. She was sitting further up the grassy hill and looking at the mag-zeene Kagome chan had given her. It was full of interesting pictures of people and food and strange devices Rin had never seen before. Misha liked to try to understand the kanji in the mag-zeene. Rin supposed it was a grown up thing, she didn't care much for all the funny writing, just the brightly colored shiny pictures. Master Jaken stood near the edge of the woods, watching and waiting for Lord Sesshomaru. Ahun was grazing behind him. Still humming, Rin returned her attention to her sea shells.
Misha was trying to find familiar symbols in the strange book Kagome had given her when they last met. Soon she would put the interesting thing aside and go prepare dinner for Rin. Sesshomaru would probably be back soon too. She had noticed that he had made it a point to talk to Misha in front of Rin. Misha understood that he was trying to rid the child of any fears that something was wrong between them. She kept her demeanor pleasant around Sesshomaru; it eased Rin and even Jaken had settled himself down again.
Misha suspected that Sesshomaru knew that she was still fearful, how could she not be after seeing him fight like that, but he didn't say anything about it. In fact, he had not mentioned that night on the beach to Misha at all. Sesshomaru had talked to Jaken about demons and swords, but that was all that he spoke of. Misha was beginning to wonder if Sesshomaru were angry at her for their sin. Certainly the goddess couldn't punish someone as strong as Sesshomaru, but she could punish Misha if she chose to. Perhaps Sesshomaru did not want a cursed woman making trouble in their group. What if he told her to leave them? What would she do without Rin? Where could she possibly go?
Staring down at the magazine and lost in her own thoughts Misha didn't notice the dark stain spreading out in the sky overhead. Rin was occupied with her shells, giving the little ones cute names like Shippo and Kohaku. Thankfully, Jaken and Ahun had demon senses. Jaken smelled something fowl and looked up. Above them a hoard of demons was coming together to attack. There were hundreds of them. He turned to the females immediately. "Rin! Misha! Get over here now!" He watched his master's wards lift their confused eyes to him. Rin saw the hoard just as it began to descend on them and she screamed.
Misha saw the terror coming from the sky above them. She dropped the magazine and ran to Rin. Rin got to her feet to run, but Misha picked her up and carried her toward the forest. Jaken was already using his weird staff to shoot fire at the advancing army of demons and Ahun was spitting lightning from his mouths. Rin clutched Misha tightly as the demons pursued them. She was screaming for Sesshomaru. Misha ran faster trying not to look at the frightening things that were closing in on her and Rin. She was almost to Jaken, almost to the woods. They would be safe in just a moment if she just kept running.
Suddenly Misha felt something wrap around her waist and without warning she and Rin were being lifted into the air. A second later she felt the hot breath of the thing holding her against her neck. She turned her head sharply to see the demon Sesshomaru fought on the beach grinning at her and drooling. Terrified, Misha screamed.
Sesshomaru rushed into the clearing and bolted past Jaken toward the screaming females. He had smelled the horde coming, but the army of demons had cloaked Odoku's scent right up until the moment that the lunatic went after his wards. He saw Odoku lifting Rin and Misha higher into the air. Tokijin easily dispatched the demons that got in Sesshomaru's way as he made for the trio clinging precariously to each other several hundred feet above the ground and still climbing. The humans would be hurt or killed if they fell from this height and he could not duel Odoku while he held onto the females. Sesshomaru would just have to reclaim the women first and usher them out of harms way before dealing with this troublesome demon once and for all.
Ahun cried out in pain as throes of demons bit into him. Jaken was screaming and waving his staff around wildly. Odoku laughed maniacally as he ascended higher into the air with Sesshomaru's mortals.
Sesshomaru jumped for them. Odoku had managed to get higher than Sesshomaru anticipated. Sesshomaru realized with a sort of angry horror that he could not reach them before Odoku carried the females off. Apparently Misha understood this too because she was prying Rin off of her. Misha pointed a struggling Rin toward Sesshomaru and threw the child out into the air. Rin screamed as she started to freefall, but Sesshomaru was under her in a flash. He took her to the ground and looked back to where Odoku and Misha had been just two seconds before. They were gone.
He kept Rin behind him and advanced on the hoard attacking Jaken and Ahun. Tokijin made short work of the lesser demons and in a few minutes it was all over. Ahun was down and bleeding badly from his hind quarters. Rin sat by the beasts head crying uncontrollably. Sesshomaru sheathed his sword and went to the child.
Rin looked up at Lord Sesshomaru. Through her tears he looked all blurry and that just made her even more sad. "L…L….Lord Sesshomaru!" she stuttered.
This was by far the most upset Sesshomaru had ever seen Rin. He dropped to his knees beside her and put an arm around her. She was physically unharmed, but the trauma he smelled coming from her was heart breaking. She instantly threw herself against him sobbing hysterically. "It is alright Rin. You are safe now."
She knew that she was safe now that Lord Sesshomaru had taken care of all the bad demons, but Ahun was hurt and, "Misha mama!" she wailed. "He took my Misha mama away! He's gonna eat her all up and then she'll be dead and in pieces and then even you wont be able to save her Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin surrendered herself to her sorrow. She pressed her face against Lord Sesshomaru's shoulder as she crawled right up into his lap crying her eyes out.
Sesshomaru hugged Rin to him and let her cry. The pain in her small sobs stabbed at Sesshomaru's heart. He didn't think that Misha was dead, not yet anyway. Odoku had come after the females, not Sesshomaru directly. He had not murdered them on sight either. That could mean only one thing; Odoku had taken Misha to use as bait. The demon wanted to lure Sesshomaru into a trap to take his Tenseiga.
Rin's tears soaked through his kimono. Jaken went to Ahun and looked over the beasts wounds. Something else occurred to Sesshomaru as he held the sobbing child. Rin had called Misha mama. Sesshomaru patted Rin on the back gently. "It's alright Rin, I'm sure that Misha is still quite alright too. I will go and get her and bring her back to you, how would that be Rin? "
Rin tried to bring herself under control. She was relived to hear that Lord Sesshomaru thought that Misha could still be saved. She pulled her face off of his shoulder and looked up at him, blinking her tears away so that she could see him clearly. "T-that w-w-would be…" She hung her head, her child's mind showing her all of the horrible things that were probably happening to her mama right now. "You should hurry Lord Sesshomaru." Rin sniffed back the tears and climbed off her protector's lap. She stood beside master Jaken and looked at Lord Sesshomaru with sad, pleading eyes.
Sesshomaru nodded at Rin and stood up. He started off in the direction the horde had come from. Jaken scurried behind him. "Lord Sesshomaru! Surely this is a trap me lord!"
Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder at Jaken. "I know, but it cannot be helped. I will not leave Misha in the hands of such loathsome demons. Stay here and protect Rin. I'm counting on you Jaken."
"Yes me lord," Jaken responded half heartedly.
Sesshomaru turned and hurried out of the clearing following the back trail of the hoard and the demon Odoku. His heart was heavy for Rin, but he was also afraid for Misha. Odoku was insane; he would likely enjoy torturing the mortal woman to death. I'm coming for you Misha… stay alive until I get there!
4
The last thing Misha remembered seeing before Odoku rendered her unconscious was throwing Rin to Sesshomaru. Misha sat bolt upright and opened her eyes. "Rin!"
"Hey, it's okay. I think we're alright, for now anyway."
Misha turned and saw Kagome sitting next to her. They were in a large room that might be inside of a castle. "Kagome?"
"Are you alright Misha?" Kagome asked looking the darker woman over.
There was some pain in the back of Misha's head where her kidnapper had hit her, but other then that she seemed sound. "Yes, I am alright." Misha looked around the room. "Where are we? What is happening Kagome?"
Kagome sighed heavily. She had been listening to Tomei and Odoku talking outside of this room ever since Odoku had thrown Misha in here. "We've been taken prisoner by the demons after Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's swords. They've set a trap and we're the bait."
Misha knew that Sesshomaru owned two mystical swords and that Kagome's husband also possessed a sword of great power, Jaken had educated her on that front. The demon that Sesshomaru had fought on the beach still coveted Sesshomaru's Tenseiga. Misha sighed heavily letting her eyes wander to the door. She was sure that Inuyasha would come for Kagome, but would Sesshomaru really come for her? The demon had probably meant to take Rin away, but Misha got in his way and freed the child from his clutches. She was grateful that Rin had escaped, but Misha wondered if their leader would come just to save her. Sesshomaru had promised to protect her, but things between them had been so strange lately. If he really was angry with her, maybe he would just leave her here to perish.
Kagome saw the way Misha seemed to sadden. "Hey, don't worry. Trap or no trap Inuyasha and Sesshomaru will be here. Then they'll teach these jerks a lesson they won't soon forget." She had total confidence in Inuyasha. He would arrive soon to get her out of here, Misha too if need be.
There was noise outside the room and a second later the door slid open. Tomei stepped into the room with Odoku close behind him. Tomei narrowed his dark blue eyes at Kagome. "Get up miko, you're coming with me."
Kagome got to her feet and Misha stood beside her. Misha took hold of Kagome's arm protectively. "You leave Kagome chan alone!" she tried to sound stronger then she felt.
Tomei came forward as Odoku cackled behind him. He grabbed Kagome and roughly tore her away from Misha, throwing her into Odoku. Kagome let out a startled cry as Odoku grabbed her arm and held her. Tomei brought his hand up and struck Misha across the face hard. She collapsed to the floor seeing stars and tasting blood in her mouth. "Mind your tongue bitch!"
"Leave her alone!" Kagome screamed as she struggled against Odoku.
Misha looked up to see Tomei standing over her and Odoku dragging Kagome from the room. "Kagome!"
Odoku was dragging her out of the room. Kagome looked over her shoulder at Misha. "It's alright Misha. Inuyasha is coming!" With that, they were gone.
Misha cast her eyes up at the demon that had just hit her. She was vaguely aware that her nose was bleeding. She could feel the blood trickling down her face. This one also had the hunter's stripes on his cheek, but there was no moon on his forehead. This one didn't appear to be as insane as the other, but he was staring at Misha with hate in his eyes. She was suddenly sure that she would no longer be alive when Inuyasha arrived.
"That was a bit harsh," a smug voice said from behind Tomei.
Tomei turned and bowed to his master as he came into the room. "Huh!" he responded immediately and stepped back away from Misha.
Misha looked up at the new man walking over to her. She saw hunter's stripes on his cheeks and to her amazement his forehead was marked. Not a crescent moon, but a symbol that looked like the sun. His long hair was like gold, his eyes dark violet. Like Sesshomaru, this creature was beautiful, godlike. She watched frightened and dazed as he came over to her and squat down beside her. He smiled at her pleasantly.
"Do not be afraid my lady, it seems that some of my men simply do not know how to behave. I am Azuki and you are…" Azuki was quite pleased with himself and his men. Azuki set the trap and his servants captured the bait. To his delight it appeared that Inuyasha's woman had miko powers, perhaps he could use her. This one though would be of little use to him. She did have an interesting look to her though. She looked like the women from the other side of the mainland; exotic and very beautiful. He could see why the brat prince would have such a creature around.
Misha was awed by Azuki, but afraid of him as well. "I… I am Misha."
Azuki nodded, smelling her. "Misha, what a lovely name." It didn't smell like Sesshomaru was lying with this woman. She had the scent of a virgin. The fool must be protecting this female's virtue as well as her life. Azuki reached up and wiped some of the blood from below her nose onto his knuckle. The woman shrunk away from his touch. "It appears that you have bleed all over your kimono Misha." He stood up, still regarding the frightened mortal with feigned kindness. "I shall have someone bring you something to wear and have your lovely white kimono cleaned for you."
Misha saw the blood from her nose had splattered down the front of her. She clung nervously to the collar of her kimono. "It's alright…"
"Nonsense," Azuki remained pleasant. He turned and headed back toward the door. "I insist that all of my guests are well cared for and safely locked away. There are very dangerous demons in this area Misha; it would not be wise for you to try to step outside of this room." Azuki reached the door with Tomei at his heels. He turned for another look at the bleeding woman. "I will come back as soon as I am able to. I would like to speak with you some more if it pleases you."
Misha was pretty sure that nothing about this demon was going to please her, but it did seem as if he was trying to be hospitable. It might be best to go along with him, safer. She bowed her head respectfully. "Yes, of course." She wanted to ask him about Kagome, but not with the demon that had hit her standing beside Azuki.
Azuki went out with Tomei behind him. Tomei closed the door and stepped back in line behind his master. "Find something less concealing for her to wear Tomei. I want a good look at Sesshomaru's virgin before I deflower her." Azuki grinned at the thought of violating InuTaisho's son's virgin. If Sesshomaru was protecting her virtue, it must mean something to both of them. Perhaps she would kill herself after he disgraced her, that would be fine, but Azuki had no intention of letting her die until the brat prince knew that his woman had been spoiled. "The sons are so much like the father, eh Tomei?"
"Huh!" Tomei bowed to Azuki and headed off for another party of the castle to obey his master's command.
5
Misha was quite distressed. Tomei had come and taken her kimono. In its place he had left strange clothes that Misha did not like at all. The top half tied around her, but it covered very little. She adjusted the tiny scraps of fabric over her breasts trying to cover as much as she could, but there wasn't much to work with. The skirt was equally horrible. Like the top, the bottom was made up of a string with two flaps of fabric to cover front and back. It was alarmingly short; it didn't even cover her to mid thigh. Artemis would not approve; Misha certainly didn't, but she supposed it was better then sitting here naked. She let her hair down and pulled it over her shoulders to try to give herself more coverage.
Misha had been sitting by the wall listening to the sounds outside. Sunset had come and her room seemed to take on an orange glow. The door opened and Azuki came in. He looked at her and smiled. Misha got to her feet and bowed slightly. "Why Misha, you look lovely," Azuki greeted as he slid the door shut behind him.
Misha blushed wildly wishing there was a way she could hide herself from his eyes. "Thank you Azuki san. These are the clothes of your people?" That had been her assumption. She didn't want to offend him or she might end up dead.
Azuki stepped closer to the woman smelling her fear and shame. "Do you not approve?"
Misha wanted to back away from the advancing demon, but she forced herself to stay where she was. "Oh no, it's very… interesting. I have just never seen such things."
Azuki stopped a few feet in front of her. He let his eyes roam over her tanned skin. "I think it looks good. You have a beautiful body, why hide it?" he grinned as the flush in her cheeks deepened.
Misha didn't like the way he was looking at her. His eyes were like those of the men that Sesshomaru had saved her from. The men that were going to… Misha stepped back, unable to stop herself. "My goddess does not allow me to expose myself in such a way," she said quietly as her eyes fell to Azuki's feet.
"Ahhh, I see," Azuki sighed. "So then, you are pure Misha?"
Misha hugged herself trying to cover more. Her cheeks burned with humiliation. Azuki was eating her up with his eyes. "I am."
Azuki stepped closer so that they were toe to toe. He enjoyed the smell of fear and he was about to make her much more afraid then she was right now. "And the lord of the western lands, he protects your virtue as well as your life?"
His closeness was frightening. Misha found herself frozen in place. "Sesshomaru…" but she could speak no more. Her mind was screaming at her to run away but her feet would not obey. She started to tremble with fear.
"Sesshomaru," Azuki sneered with disgust. His change of tone caught the woman's attention and she looked up at him with wide eyes. Azuki could almost taste her fear. He reached over and took hold of her wrists, pulling her arms away from her. "Come now Misha, you didn't think that Sesshomaru and I were friends did you?"
"Let me go!" Misha panicked. She was suddenly certain this demon was going to kill her. Maybe even rip her arms off! She tried to pull away from him but he just tightened his grip on her wrists.
"You see woman, Sesshomaru has something I want. I want this land- all of it and more. InuTaisho was a fool to leave this territory to such an ungrateful cur. I will conquer everything that Sesshomaru possesses including his woman!" Azuki threw Misha to the floor. She cried out in alarm and Azuki grinned. "Will your lord still protect you once I have spoiled you?"
Misha was horrified. She wasn't about to die, but this creature was about to rape her. "Stay away!" she hissed as she tried to crab crawl away from Azuki. "You mustn't!"
Azuki lunged forward and snatched up a handful of the woman's hair. She screamed as he pulled her toward him. Azuki straddled her, his weight resting on her thighs. He leaned in close to her sniffing at her neck. The woman started to cry. The scent of fear and sorrow coming from her was intoxicating. Azuki ran his tongue up her throat to her face and tasted her tears. "You should be honored to be my whore. I am more of a man then Sesshomaru could ever hope to be."
Misha knew that trying to fight this demon off would probably mean her death. If she died here she would never see Rin again, but how could she possibly face Sesshomaru after this demon was done with her. Should she fight and die or try to survive until Inuyasha could come to rescue Kagome and hopefully her too? Misha squeezed her eyes shut tightly as she felt the demon's hands groping for her most feminine features. "Please, you must stop," she whimpered. Azuki closed his mouth over hers and Misha made her decision. She caught his lip between her teeth and bit down as hard as she could.
Had Azuki been mortal, Misha would have likely torn his lip off. Lucky for him he was a demon and her vicious bite barely broke the skin. He pulled away from her tasting his own blood in his mouth. "Bitch!" he brought his hand down on the impetuous woman's face knocking her flat. He grabbed her wrists and pulled them up by her head before pinning them to the floor. She was squirming, crying, and her fear mixed with the taste of blood in his mouth. It was exciting. Azuki leaned over her getting close to her face. "You're quite the feisty one aren't you? Good, that will make this much more fun. By all means; cry, struggle, fight me. I like it when you do."
Azuki lowered his face to her heaving chest smelling her. Misha was beside herself with fear. She couldn't move her arms at all and her heels beat the floor weakly as she struggled for freedom. Suddenly there was noise outside; a loud crash and shouting.
Azuki looked over at the door and then back down at Misha. He grinned at her. "It appears Inuyasha has arrived. So sorry my dear, but this will have to wait until later. I wouldn't want you running off though until I'm finished with you." He pressed his mouth over hers and exhaled a deep poisonous breath into her lungs. He felt the woman twitch and then still as his paralyzing poison took effect. Azuki got up and stepped away from the woman. "I'll be back for you," he promised as he watched her eyes fall closed. Satisfied that the woman was unconscious, Azuki went out to face the half breed son of his old friend.
6
"Kagome!" Inuyasha screamed charging toward the inner most part of the castle. Tetsusaiga was unsheathed and ready. "Where are you Kagome? Kagome!"
Odoku and Tomei appeared in the courtyard in front of the half demon. Tomei was still angry over loosing to the hanyou once. He drew his own sword and charged at Inuyasha while Odoku sat back chuckling to himself. "You die now worthless half breed!"
Odoku watched his brother rush to attack the hanyou. A moment later his master stepped out of the woman's room behind him. He bowed to him. "Lord Azuki, the halfling is here."
Azuki watched as the two men dueled in the courtyard. Inuyasha was quite strong indeed, but Azuki wasn't worried. The fighters jumped apart, Tomei still standing protectively in front of the castle. "Inuyasha," Azuki commanded his attention. "I wouldn't recommend using your wind scar here unless you wish to kill Kagome."
Inuyasha snapped his attention to the new demon. "Bastard! What are you talking about? Where is Kagome?"
Azuki swept his hand at the castle. "She is somewhere inside. If I were you, I would not fight recklessly." Azuki grinned. By taking his woman hostage and holding her behind them, Inuyasha would not be able to release the power of his sword against them lest he destroy the fragile human structure killing his own mate in the process.
Inuyasha growled. "You cheap bastard! Where is Kagome?"
Before Azuki could respond, Tomei was after Inuyasha again. "How dare you speak to Lord Azuki in such a way you filthy hanyou!" Their swords clashed, demon energy whirling all around them.
Azuki turned to Odoku. "Let's make this more interesting, shall we Odoku?"
Odoku nodded, grinning and beginning to drool. "Yes master!" Odoku took a few quick strides out into the courtyard. "Kaze no hansou!" The pair of demons were lifted high up into the air on the wind. "Kaze no chi tenma!"
As Inuyasha clashed with Tomei, he saw the other demons get airborne. Between swings of his sword, Inuyasha noticed the hoard of demons seeming to come from nowhere and appear above the floating demon. "Kagome! Where are you Kagome!" The situation was worsening. Soon a hoard would descend and Inuyasha could not use the wind scar without knowing where his woman was. "Kagome!"
"Here! I'm here Inuyasha!" Kagome had poked a hole in the wall to see outside now she stuck her hand through it as she screamed for him. "I'm here! Here!"
Inuyasha saw the hand flailing wildly. "Hang on Kagome! I'm coming!"
Azuki grinned. "I don't think so. Odoku!"
Odoku cackled wildly and sent the hoard flying after Inuyasha. "Kill him! Kill the son of filth!"
Inuyasha had his hands full with Tomei as it was. He was standing too close to Kagome's location to release the windscar. "Damnit!" he screamed as Tetsusaiga deflected another of Tomei's swings. "Get away from me you bastard!"
Their swords clashed again and Tomei spun around. He kicked Inuyasha in the face and sent him flying backwards. The demons were on the half breed in a second. He watched amused as the half breed swung wildly to fend them off. "Be a good boy and die now Inuyasha."
Inuyasha was managing to keep from being killed, but there were too many demons. If he couldn't use the windscar he was going to end up dead. "Damnit!" Suddenly the demons to his left exploded. Inuyasha blinked surprised to find Sesshomaru in the courtyard. He was using his whip to take care of the hungry lesser demons. Sesshomaru's arrival had momentarily distracted the enemies so Inuyasha made a break for Kagome.
Sesshomaru could smell Misha and Kagome inside the structure. His whip could easily take care of these inferior demons giving Inuyasha the time and freedom of movement to locate the women and get them out.
As the rest of the hoard surrounded Sesshomaru Inuyasha reached Kagome. He sliced through the wall and yanked her outside to him. He grabbed her arm and started to lead her away. "Wait! Misha is still in here!" She pulled him back in the direction of Misha's room.
Tomei charged after Inuyasha. With the castle now behind him Inuyasha let Tetsusaiga's power loose. "Windscar!"
Tomei dodged the blast speeding at him, but him having to divert his course gave Kagome time to find Misha. She threw the door to Misha's room open and saw her lying on the floor. "Here Inuyasha! Misha's in here!"
Sesshomaru finished off what remained of the hoard after Tetsusaiga's blast. He saw Inuyasha and Kagome disappear into the castle. The demon that had been fighting his brother charged after them. Swiftly Sesshomaru got between this demon and the castle. Now that he knew where Misha was, Sesshomaru unsheathed Tokijin and let the sword loose. The blast of energy Sesshomaru sent flying hit the surprised demon knocking him back. Sesshomaru advanced on him to finish him off.
Inuyasha blinked at the scantily clad woman. "Uh…"
"This is no time to be a slob!" Kagome screamed at Inuyasha. "Get Misha so we can get outta here!" Outside of the castle the battle was getting intense. Inuyasha picked Misha up and threw her over his shoulder. He ran out of the room with Kagome right behind him.
Tomei caught his breath and raised his sword. Sesshomaru was on him a second later their swords throwing energy all around them. Inuyasha was making a break for the outer wall with the mortals. "Where do you think you're going hanyou!" Tomei jumped away from Sesshomaru and tore after Inuyasha.
Sesshomaru pursued Tomei letting his eyes skip ahead to the others. Inuyasha was running with Kagome beside him. Misha was over his shoulder. Misha! For A second he thought that she was naked. He wanted to turn his nose on her to make sure that she was alright, but he couldn't right now; Azuki was flying down at him from behind. Sesshomaru whirled around and faced him before the other demon's sword could touch him. He could smell Misha's fear on him and the sent of the demon's blood. He was quick to locate the bite mark on Azuki's mouth. Now that he saw him, Sesshomaru recognized Azuki. He had spent time with InuTaisho before he died. "Azuki! What is the meaning of this treachery!"
Inuyasha set Misha down and turned to face Tomei. "Stay back Kagome!" He rushed forward to meet Tomei as far away from Kagome as he could.
Azuki leapt back and leveled his sword at Sesshomaru. "It's been a long time Sesshomaru," he growled.
"What do you want? Why are you after my father's swords?" Sesshomaru fed his power into Tokijin readying another powerful strike. Azuki's sword was rather impressive as well, so far it was holding up to Tokijin's force.
"I want everything. Everything that you have, everything that InuTaisho should have left to me not you and that filthy hanyou!" Azuki charged again fueling his sword with power. The clash was tremendous. Sesshomaru slid back in the courtyard and Azuki flipped high into the air.
Kagome watched the battle unfolding as she dragged Misha closer to the outer wall. They had to get away from these guys; they were all over the place. It was too dangerous to stay close. Something was wrong with Misha. Kagome couldn't get her to wake up and in the dieing light of day she could see something around the woman's mouth. Some sort of poison she guessed. If only she had her bag or at least some arrows she could do something other then run and hide. Demon energy collided in the courtyard tearing up the ground and blasting away parts of the building. Kagome saw the room they had held her in explode when Sesshomaru swung his sword.
Tomei was thrown back by the force of Tetsusaiga. He rebounded quickly and leapt high into the air meaning to come down on Inuyasha. Before the half breed could block him Tomei stabbed his sword into Inuyasha's right arm. "I will be taking that Tetsusaiga now hanyou!"
Sesshomaru had no choice but to intervene. The demon was about to slice off Inuyasha's arm and capture Tetsusaiga. Sesshomaru parried and turned on Tomei. Before the demon could react to Sesshomaru's advance, Tokijin took Tomei's head off.
"Brother!" Odoku screamed as Tomei's head rolled across the courtyard.
"Tomei!" Azuki was furious. He charged at Sesshomaru meaning to kill him this time. He let a great amount of his power into his sword and swung it at the sons of InuTaisho.
There was no time to even yell to Sesshomaru to get out of the way, not that he needed to. Inuyasha steadied himself as the blast of demonic energy raced toward them. "Bakuryuuha!" The energies collided, the explosion was incredible. Tornadoes spawned off the collision swirling demon energy through the courtyard and at the castle. Inuyasha watched frozen as the energy struck Azuki, Odoku and Sesshomaru. A blue light enveloped his brother, Tenseiga protecting Sesshomaru's life again. Azuki and Odoku were not so lucky though; however when the dust settled they were still alive.
Azuki held Odoku by the arm. He was growling at Inuyasha. "This isn't over you little brat." He turned his hate filled eyes on Sesshomaru. The brothers were in rough shape after that last blast, but so was he and Odoku; and Tomei was dead. "Here me Sesshomaru, I will take all that is you possess." He narrowed his eyes at the other demon. "Tell the woman I said thanks for showing me such a good time," he sneered. "Odoku!"
"Kaze no hansou!" Odoku commanded. He and Azuki were lifted high into the air. His master was wounded; he was hurting everywhere from the blast of the Bakuryuuha. His brother was dead, slaughtered by that filthy brat prince Sesshomaru. Odoku would get even with him, of that he was certain. He took his master up higher until they vanished in the clouds.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome was running to him.
Inuyasha sheathed Tetsusaiga and turned to his woman. His arm throbbed where Tomei had skewered him with his sword. "Kagome!" He hurried to her and hugged her with his left arm. "You alright?"
Kagome hugged him back. "Yeah, I'm alright, but Misha…" She looked over at Sesshomaru. "There's something wrong. They've done something to her. I can't get her to wake up." Kagome let go of Inuyasha and went back to kneel down by Misha's head. Inuyasha came up behind her and Sesshomaru stepped around then to Misha's other side. Kagome took Misha's chin in her hand and tilted the woman's face toward Sesshomaru. "Look, do you see it? Around her mouth. I think its poison."
Sesshomaru dropped to his knees beside Misha staring at her stunned. He was appalled and furious; the revealing clothing and Azuki's scent all over her. It didn't take long for Sesshomaru's senses to reveal to him what had happened. Azuki had attacked her, but had been set back by her resistance and interrupted when Inuyasha arrived. He had then immobilized Misha by breathing poison into her lungs. Sesshomaru leaned in and Kagome backed off. He hooked an arm under Misha and brought her face up to his. "It's poison, but I think I can counter it." Sesshomaru sealed his mouth over Misha's and breathed his own poison into her.
Inuyasha stood watching amazed. Sesshomaru wasn't hesitating in the least to save this mortal. He was a mix of strongly charged scents. He felt Kagome slip her hand into his. Sesshomaru pulled away from Misha, but still held on to her watching her face intently. The woman's body jerked a little then Inuyasha saw her trying to open her eyes.
Misha wanted to wake up. She was very tired and her chest hurt, but things had been getting dangerous when she passed out. She struggled to open her eyes and got them about half way there. Sesshomaru was looking down at her; the soft sky of twilight was behind him. I'm free, I'm safe. Sesshomaru… I'm so glad… "…you came for me…" Misha tried to smile at Sesshomaru; she thought maybe she did before darkness took her again.
"Is she going to be alright?" Kagome asked. This was a little weird seeing Sesshomaru take care of Misha like this. It was weird to see him with a mortal let alone a woman.
Sesshomaru was still looking at Misha. The fact that she had woke up, even if only for a few seconds, was a good sign. "She will be alright, she just needs to rest."
Kagome stood up again and looked back at the castle. Most of it was destroyed, but the southern end still had a room with four walls and a roof. "Why don't I go see if I can set her up with a bed in there?" She trotted off toward the ruined castle.
Inuyasha watched Kagome walk to the room and go inside. He turned his eyes back to Sesshomaru. Though Tenseiga had protected Sesshomaru from the most punishing part of the Bakuryuuha, he had been caught in the blast. His armor was cracked, the shoulder piece was missing. He looked almost as bad as Inuyasha felt. "This is just great," he grumbled.
Sesshomaru picked Misha up and carried her in the direction of Kagome's scent without a word.