Training me? First, he brutalizes me, and now, he wants to tutor me?
But Naraku's offer sounded so sincere. As she watched his face loom above her own, she noticed a kind of gentle soberness. Patiently, he waited for his answer.
"Train…me?" Mizoshi's voice cracked.
"Yes. Do you accept?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but not a sound came out. Her throat was parched.
His brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"
"I'm…so…thirst--"
Eventually, she just gave up. Fortunately, Naraku understood. From the floor below, he brought up a ceramic pitcher.
"Drink," he said flatly.
Gratefully, Mizoshi grasped the container in her trembling fingers and tipped it down her throat. The water was more warm than cold, but she let the triviality pass.
He must have used this very same water to fill the wooden tub. How generous of him.
Yet, she was too frightened to comment thus. She didn't want any more reason for him to turn against her.
Sated, she let the pitcher drop into the bath itself. She had drunk every last drop. Slowly, energy returned to her strained muscles.
"Better?" he asked.
"Yes," Mizoshi replied dully.
"Good. Now, what were we discussing again? Oh, yes. The subject of taming the fire within." The demon smirked charmingly at his hapless naked victim.
Naraku's arrogant manner bristled her. For a moment, she forgot her terror and let the flames of anger rise to the surface. "Perhaps you would have your answer already if you didn't lock me away from all sources of life," she snapped.
In an instant, the dark hanyou's eyes flared redder than fresh blood. Setting his jaw in annoyance, she watched as his hand curled around the rim of the tub. It was almost as if he was getting ready to strike her. She held her breath in dread anticipation.
Why do I keep doing this to myself?
Thankfully, he relaxed his grip. His blazing eyes cooled. "Mizoshi," he sighed, "I do apologize for the way I treated you earlier. I overreacted. That is all."
How matter-of-factly he stated this. He didn't even care what he had done or what he might have put her though. It was business as usual.
Should I have expected him to care for me?
"But, you still haven't answered my question. Would you allow me to train you?"
Mizoshi gazed right into his burning eyes. "Train me? What do you mean? Like a pet? A castle pet?"
"Don't make me any angrier, Mizoshi," the dark hanyou warned her mildly. "Apologies I don't readily give. What I mean by "train" is just that. I want to oversee your developing power and teach you how to use it efficiently so you're not totally lost in a demon's world. You should be exceedingly grateful I even suggested it."
At his harsh words, another unwanted tear trickled down her nose. It's too late to turn away. He's seen it.
"Please stop that," he whispered.
Before she could take another breath, Naraku shifted her head in the opposite direction so she could no longer look upon his increasingly puzzling features. For a fleeting moment, the dark hanyou appeared nearly…reproachful.
The cloth was upon her back again. He had resumed bathing her. It seemed that it was the more appealing option at present instead of continuing this conversation. Leisurely, he dipped it into the perfumed water, and delicately scrubbed her skin. He started at her shoulders and sank lower to the small of her back. She couldn't staunch the blush that crept over her face when he did her front. However, he was not seductive with his movements. This was just a mere washing, nothing else. Besides, when the lathered cloth brushed over her wounded wrists, no pleasure could be gained. The torn skin stung like wasps. Still, she remained silent through the entire bath and let the hell demon do what he would.
"Dunk your head," he commanded.
Mizoshi was startled into action. "What?"
"So that I may rinse your hair. What else?"
Still leery about Naraku's motivations, she reluctantly did so, fully realizing the risk she was taking with this unpredictable man. Fortunately, he kept his word and she was brought to the surface again for air, stagnant though as it was. With a sigh of pain, she allowed him to scrub her scalp next.
My wrists hurt so much…
In due time, her cleansing ended. Wordlessly, he handed her a thick towel and stalked over to a dark corner.
"Dry yourself."
Shakily, Mizoshi stood. She swathed the towel around her pale body and stepped out of the dirty water. She felt like a new person, but in a similar situation. Hadn't she appeared to Naraku before in nothing but a towel? She foolishly wondered if he found her as desirable now as he did then.
"Come," he commanded. "You need rest, correct?"
She nodded and walked over to the "master's" shadowy space of the manor. There was no other option. She wouldn't get far in this condition on her own.
Gripping her lightly by her bare shoulders, Naraku steered her through the doorway and into the corridor. It took Mizoshi by surprise how cold the castle actually was. She started to shiver from the chill. If Naraku noticed, he did not call attention to it.
At last, a familiar sleeping chamber loomed ahead. Naraku's bedroom. It was uncanny that all paths seemed to end here.
Has he planned a special dinner again? I hope he remembers what happened yesterday.
"Get on the bed," he said. "Relax."
Relax? With him
Without meaning to, she stiffened against him. This time, he noted her distress.
Darkly, he chuckled. "Don't worry. You will not be harmed." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Or touched." His lips nearly brushed her ear.
Refusing to blush in discomfort, she instead reclined on the low mattress. Unfortunately, the dark hanyou eased under the silken sheets with her.
"Good night, Mizoshi." His tone was exceedingly formal.
"Good night," she responded in kind.
She wasn't exactly pleased with the arrangements, but she needed to regain her strength. She supposed after she was unconscious, she wouldn't have to experience this present uneasiness with him any longer.
What will he do now? What does he have in store for me next?
As if answering her unspoken question, his arms stealthily wrapped around her. She couldn't condone the invasion. Not after what had transpired. No matter how comforting he was trying to be.
Can't he see that I'm still terrified?
He paid no heed.
"Pardon me, Mizoshi," he murmured,"but you still haven't given me a reply to my original question."
She thought.
Before she knew it, her lips were already moving. Except, it did not come from her. It came from the fire within. "Yes. Yes, Naraku."
"What?"
Seconds later, she found herself staring into his smoldering eyes. He had rolled her over so she could face him. The hell demon had done this solely on his decision of course.
Mizoshi swallowed nervously. She tried in vain to compose herself.
"Yes, I want you to train me, Naraku-sama."
Those smoldering eyes glittered in irritation. "Do not refer to me as that. We know each other now."
Do we really?
Sighing, this time in exasperation, Naraku cradled her in his arms once more. Her damp head was allowed to rest on his chest. Sleepily, closed her eyes while her heart thumped with anxiety.
Here I am. In the spider's web. Unable to escape, even to my own thread.
The spider had bitten her. How long would it be until he finally devoured her?
Hey gang! I planned to have this up sooner, but unexpected events took over. Well, thanks to my reviewers for all your support! Also, I hope everyone enjoys the longer chaps. Originally, they were 1,200 words. Now, they're at least 1,400-1,500. I should be able to get them to 1,800 though. I also stress that this will remain a romance. Mizoshi will get over her fear. (Who wouldn't with that bish around?) ;)
Sessy-chansbestpal: Nope, Kagura's not going to die. And the Inu gang really isn't going to show up at all. Sorry.
Sakura evil twin of Sango: Kohaku's still around the castle. But, I don't think he'll be making another appearance. Inuyasha won't show up either. I know it sounds pretty boring, but with Mizoshi's brother and Sesshoumaru around in later chaps, I think that'll add a lot of action.
Fade2Black2008: Yup. Naraku's going to be a teacher of sorts. (Wouldn't mind having him for a teacher.)