"Is this what you were speaking of, that we would meet again, Kagewaki? And your title, you also know that I was to be sold to you?" Sesshoumaru asked the two questions the moment the lord had finished speaking, and as a result he was pushed against the ground by the two guards that had escorted him, twin blades being held to either side of his neck to prevent movement.

"You little wretch! Calling the lord by his name, how disrespectful of you! You're lucky we don't execute you on the spot!" Jaken snapped at the repressed Sesshoumaru, a glare from bright emerald eyes being put onto him while the priest spoke. However, with a wave of the lord's hand did the priest quiet down, although he still glared reproachfully at Sesshoumaru. Like he cared what some little toad man thought of him.

A chuckle came from the man in front of him, his eyes gleaming with scarlet malice while he looked upon Sesshoumaru, which only infuriated Sesshoumaru more, "My name is Naraku, not Kagewaki. You would do well to remember that, otherwise my guard might not be so kind the next time you utter that name."

Growling, Sesshoumaru pushed the guards off of him before getting to his feet, the feeling of a slight wince tugging at his features while both blades had made shallow cuts against the flesh of his throat when he got up. Once again that infuriating laughter of Naraku's reached Sesshoumaru's ears, it made him want to assault the lord, to tear that fragile body of his into a thousand pieces! But...there was no way he'd be able to do that, not unless he wanted to disobey his father's wishes. With that thought, he put all of his hatred into one glare towards the fiend in front of him, which only caused him to chuckle again, oh how Sesshoumaru wanted to tear out that man's throat!

"Don't be so unfriendly, you're going to be living here after all," Naraku spoke softer than a whisper, a whisper he knew only Sesshoumaru could hear (despite the distance between them), before his gaze turned to Jaken and his voice raised to normal, "Jaken, show Sesshoumaru his quarters. I shall speak with him privately within the hour."

"Yes sir, lord Naraku!" Jaken bowed his head as he began to make his way past Sesshoumaru, grabbing his sleeve as he did so, "You come, you're very lucky our mighty leader didn't have you executed on the spot!"

Growling at the little man, Sesshoumaru followed the priest down endless corridors, his irritation with the little man rising. This little toad thought he was immune? Hah, he could probably slaughter him within seconds and be merely chastised for it, it seemed the lord had worked hard to get Sesshoumaru within his grasp and therefore wouldn't kill him for something like killing one of his servants. It seemed he would get a worse punishment for speaking the name 'Kagewaki', an irony that began to amuse him.

But, what had Naraku meant by enjoying the company of his weaker personality? It only took a moment of thought before the conclusion hit Sesshoumaru. Two minds in one body, it has happened to villagers before. But, I have never seen it in royalty, why would they allow such a man to rule us? However...

"...it would explain why sometimes he is benevolent and others he is ruthless," Unwittingly mumbling the last trace of his thoughts under his breath, he realized immediately the look Jaken was giving him before he glared coldly down at him, "You should stare into a mirror if you wish to find amusement within visage."

Jaken's eyes narrowed while he turned to face Sesshoumaru, arms flailing in anger while he began to shout, "You dare insult me, the greatly respected high priest? Your tongue will be cut out for this, I swear it! You hear me?" With a smirk did Sesshoumaru watch the toad man's reaction, looks like he might have some form of amusement here after all.

But, he was still trapped. He couldn't escape without the lord's elite guard coming after him, possibly killing him, and even if he could, it would be going against his father's final wish. And his honour was the only thing he had left, that wouldn't be taken away from him. Not now, nor fifty, nor even one hundred years would the honour of Sesshoumaru be broken, not in his mind anyway.

At long last, they reached his quarters, Jaken giving the young man one last evil glare before he slammed the door, Sesshoumaru smirked at the incoherent muttering of the priest as he retreated down the hall. However, he couldn't help but feel curious at his new surroundings, for they did not at all look like accommodations a mere servant would have. No, they seemed to be fit for a highly respected guest at the very least, if not for the lord of the palace himself. Still, the very sight disgusted him, for he would still rather be poor and starving than in the hands of the tyrannical monarch who currently had him in his possession.

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It was almost sundown when Naraku entered the chamber at last, Sesshoumaru glaring at him the moment he set foot inside while the other held a fan in front of his fact. Of course, the fan did nothing to mask the cold laughter in those crimson eyes of the lord while he began to speak, "I see you have made yourself comfortable, Sesshoumaru. Perhaps now you would like a drink?"

I'd rather die than accept anything from you, Sesshoumaru thought as he narrowed his eyes at the other, and although he would have loved to say it for Naraku to hear, he had more common sense than that and decided to accept the offer politely, "I would gladly accept your offer, lord Naraku," Honestly, he tried hard to keep his tone cold and indifferent, but he was unable to stop some of his hatred towards the monarch from slipping into his tone, and what infuriated him more is that it caused Naraku to laugh.

"My, my, my...the son of the great smith, reduced to accepting favours from his mighty ruler? It must be shameful," That smirk of Naraku's twitched for only a second, eyes beginning to fade from red to a darker brown, "...it seems that my weaker personality wants to speak with you. A shame that I'm...not..."

Confusion began to plague Sesshoumaru's expression as he looked onto the lord, who had dropped his fan and sunk onto his knees, both hands clutched to his chest, "Damn...perhaps I've underestimated my weaker half..." He could hear Naraku speak the words before his eyes completely faded to black, closing before opening slowly, as if he were only just waking up now.

"Oh...that monster, he took over me again," The softer tone of Kagewaki Hitomi gasped out as he shakily got to his feet, Sesshoumaru could sense that this was indeed a different person, rather than the more foreboding presence of the monstrous Naraku, "Are...are you all right, Sesshoumaru? You have cuts on the sides of your throat..."

"They're nothing," Sesshoumaru winced with disgust at the lack of backbone Kagewaki showed, he almost seemed womanly as he approached and touched gentle hands to his wounds (it took all of Sesshoumaru's will power not to back away or hit Kagewaki at this gesture), "I've suffered worse, do not trouble yourself over them."

Honestly, he would have preferred Naraku over Kagewaki after his next gesture, "But...at least allow me to bandage them so that you will no longer loose blood," Sesshoumaru stared blankly at the man before him as Kagewaki tore off a portion of his kimono sleeve, that cloth being wrapped firmly around his neck before he tied both ends, "Are you still able to breathe?"

"I am fine, lord Kagewaki," Sesshoumaru glared at the man before him, watching with cruel satisfaction as the more timid of the two personalities stepped away from him, "I suppose it is you who is in control when you seem to care for the people of this state, and Naraku when he does nothing but destroy it?"

"Yes, unfortunately," Kagewaki bowed his head while shame burned onto his cheeks, Sesshoumaru glared continuously at Kagewaki as he began to speak, "You see, this Naraku, he started appearing the moment I took the throne. He is consistently stronger than I, therefore I cannot stand against him. There are times when I can resume control, but he is the one who is most often in possession of my body."

"So you are weak, just as he said," Sesshoumaru spat at the monarch before him, eyes narrowing while said monarch nodded in response to his word. However, he couldn't completely criticize him, for apparently there were rare occasions in which Kagewaki could take his body away from Naraku, "Then I shouldn't expect to see much more of you while I am trapped in this cursed place?"

"No...you shouldn't," Kagewaki mumbled, turning his glance away while he continued to look upon the floor. The sight was discussing, as benevolent as Kagewaki was he was still weak. Unable to stand up for himself, no matter how he tried. It was rare that Kagewaki could take possession of his own body, maybe it did belong to Naraku as he was the dominant one of the two.

Of course, immediately the sword smith's son regretted those thoughts, for the eyes of Kagewaki became red once more, that gaze of blood being turned upon him with malice that was almost as dark as sin, "I hope you enjoyed your chat with that fool Kagewaki, for it will be the last you see of him. I can assure you of that," His smirk caused even more fury to build in Sesshoumaru's chest as he glared at Naraku, this looked like the end of the 'pleasantries' between them.

"Now, about that drink," Naraku turned his back and began to leave the room, pausing at the doorway to make a gesture for Sesshoumaru to come forward, "Are you going to become a new palace statue or are you going to come...slave boy?"

Growling at what Naraku had just called him, the shorter of the two hesitantly followed the monarch as his eyes darted around the halls, this castle didn't feel quite right. No, it felt like there was something dark, something hidden within these walls. Something no one was supposed to know about, but he knew that Naraku at least knew of whatever secret this fortress might hold. Perhaps later Sesshoumaru would be able to find it, it couldn't possibly be good with the aura the walls gave off and therefore he would probably end up destroying as well. But...maybe being here for only a short while was already playing tricks on his mind.

Sesshoumaru, however, came back to his reality when he heard the sound of a heavy bottle being set onto a small wooden table, it was almost surprising to see such a thing in the lord's palace. But, then again, this was probably not where that arrogant man ate, it appeared heavily worn, as if in frequent use by palace servants and slaves alike, "Sit down and drink, Sesshoumaru. I wouldn't want this Sake to go to waste."

With one final glare at Naraku did he sit down at the table, like it or not he would do what he was told. If not forcefully, then by the wishes of his late father, curse the man for putting him in a situation like this! ...no, he couldn't curse his father, not after all he had done for him. All he could really do was deem his father a fool, right before wishing him peace in whatever afterlife he was in. A sigh passed through his ivory lips as Sesshoumaru poured a bit of the warm substance into the wooden cup in front of him, lifting that cup with his right hand once it was filled and the bottle replaced on the table.

"Do not hesitate, drink it. It is what you wanted, is it not?"

I should kill you, Sesshoumaru communicated his thoughts with a steely look at Naraku before he looked into the cup, right before tipping it slightly to allow the alcoholic substance to trickle down his throat. It wasn't the best he ever had, but it was sophisticated enough to suit a lord, Sesshoumaru could tell from the first taste alone. However, he stopped drinking to give a cold glance to Naraku, who had just seated himself across from Sesshoumaru with a continual ruby gaze set on him. What was he playing at now?

"Why do you yourself not drink any Sake, lord Naraku?" Venom was put into his words as he glared at the monarch, who only chuckled in response to his disrespectful tone, "Or are you tired of me already and want me to be poisoned, just so that you can watch me die?"

"You would wish that onto yourself rather than be here, wouldn't you?" Naraku spoke so softly and calmly that Sesshoumaru almost couldn't stop himself from attacking the other, it was so irritating, for an unknown reason did this man get on his nerves, "No, you're staying for a long time, for I know your father forbade you from suicide. And, I have no desire to kill you as of yet."

Within seconds, Sesshoumaru had lunged across the table and had Naraku pinned to the floor, snarling at him while he drew his sword, lowering it so that the sharp blade was just barely touching the flesh of the monarch's throat, "But, what of your own life? What honestly assures you that you are immune against me?"

Sesshoumaru almost decapitated him right there as Naraku chuckled once more, he didn't seem frightened at all, or not even angered that Sesshoumaru had reacted this violently against him! However, all of the confusion enduced by this evaporated the moment Naraku grabbed Sesshoumaru's wrist, the grip tight enough to cause a small gasp to build in his throat as his hand holding the sword was painfully forced away from Naraku.

"This is why, Sesshoumaru. You are far too weak to defeat me, even if you do have your father's blood in your veins. Why else do you think there was no escort of my guard when we came in here?"

He isn't human. Those were the only words that went through Sesshoumaru's mind as he was thrown off of the monarch, right before he slammed into the wall, his head hitting the wood in a way that dislodged a grunt from him. But, what had he meant by not being strong enough, and his father's blood? However, he found that he had no time to ponder the answer, for Naraku was in front of him again, lifting Sesshoumaru by the collar of his tunic while his face came in close, their lips almost touching when Naraku spoke next.

"You will be obedient, Sesshoumaru. No matter how long it takes," With a scoff did Naraku drop Sesshoumaru, once again an infuriating smirk was being pointed at Sesshoumaru as he felt his cheeks burn him in a way they had never before. That bastard was messing with his head, even if he was stronger, Sesshoumaru vowed to himself he wouldn't give in to this lunatic, "Now...for your punishment..."

Glaring in resentment at the lord before him, Sesshoumaru shakily returned to his feet, his glare being wasted on the back of the other. He'd kill the bastard himself, if it was the last thing he did he would make sure he saw Naraku die, even if it wasn't by his hands he'd love to see that man suffer...

"...three days without food. You will be supplied with water and nothing more, Sesshoumaru. Fail to go through with this and...I'll think of something more severe."

He couldn't help but feel hatred for Naraku as he left, going back to his own quarters (seeing as it would be futile to leave). Then, his body was willingly thrown onto the blanket provided for him, his face resting against the ground while his eyes clamped shut. He wouldn't show weakness, not even to himself...

But this experience was going to be one hell of a ride.

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Author's Note: All right, Chapter 2 is finally up! Once again, I apologize for any out of character behaviour Sesshoumaru may have exhibited, but I feel licensed to be a bit creative seeing as Sesshoumaru is being so oppressed. Also, I feel equally licensed to be a bit eccentric with the character Kagewaki, for he isn't expressed often enough in the series (both anime and manga) to have any real character portrayal. Anyway, hope you've enjoyed this chapter, and I'll try to update sooner next time! Also, Sake was underlined for those of you who don't know what it is. Sake is rice wine, I myself have never tasted it but I heard that it tastes very nice.