Chapter 16: Training
Avalon wakes in the morning laying on her side. She feels Kagewaki's arm around her and his body pressed against her back, spooning her.
He wakes at the change of her breathing, sliding weathered fingers down her shoulder, rubbing her stomach. "Did you enjoy last night?" he purrs in her ears.
Avalon remains silent as tears fall from her eyes.
"What dear Ava?" He licks the tears off her cheeks, sliding his bristled tongue up her cheek to drink her tears. "Do you want it again?" His fingers slide down to the apex of her womanhood.
Her lip quivers. "No...please...no," she finally chokes out
The hand retreats and comes up to cup her breast as he croons in her ear, "If you ever do what you did yesterday again," the nails dig into the skin of her breast, until the supple skin leaks crimson, "I will make it hurt." The fingers slacken and then caress as if asking forgiveness, "but if you behave and comply. You will enjoy it. Do you understand?"
"I... I do."
"Do you want me to heal this?" he asks Avalon, circling the cuts on her breast with his finger.
"I'll be fine. You needn't worry."
He smirks devilishly. "I thought we agreed you would be compliant?" He shoves her shoulders down against the futon, straddling her waist. "Do you want me to heal you?"
"If it is what you wish to do."
"Say it," he hisses out, gripping her side threateningly, already aroused.
She closes her eyes saying, "Please heal me?"
He leans over her chest scraping his mouth around the battered breast, forcing his erection into her stomach as he does. "From now on, you will pine for me," he licks the side of her neck, "crave me," his nose washes over her lips. "Do you understand?"
"Hai, I understand." Tears keep pouring from her eyes as her body shakes under him.
"Tell me you want me?" He breathes in the scent of her neck, flicking her collarbone with his tongue.
Her voice shakes, "I want you."
"Good girl," he whispers in her ear, sliding off her. "Compliant Ava...you wouldn't want me to bring Hikari here would you? She's gotten taller you know. She learns herbs with Kaede in the afternoon and sparring in the morning with some of the local village men."
"I already promised what you wanted. I'll beg for your body, but leave her out of this." Her breathing escalates and her voice is desperate.
"I want more than a body Ava. I said an ally. I want your mind, your soul, all of you." He rises, clothing himself. "If you defy me again, I will bring her here and let you watch. I think you'd enjoy that." He ties his obi and turns around. "Now get dressed and stop crying. Or perhaps you need something more to cry about?" He stalks to her threateningly, a bulge still prominent in the front of his pants.
"I don't want anything to cry about Kagewaki but if you want, I am only too happy to please you this morning." Avalon closes her eyes, holding back more tears as she feels sick with herself offering him what she thinks he wants.
He takes her by the hand, lifting her off the futon then slams her face first against the wall, kicking her legs wider. Reaching one hand down her waist between her folds, he finds her center of pleasure and begins circling it. "Beg Ava...tell me you need me to fill you."
"Oh please, Kagewaki I need you to fill me!" She feels sick to her stomach.
He unties his pants and forces himself inside of her. "You will learn to love this Ava."
"Yes Kagewaki," she says in a soft voice, her head leans against the wall as she holds her tears back. Kagewaki finishes with her and pulls himself from her to dress.
"Get dressed."
"Hai." Avalon walks to her room as Kagewaki follows her. She grabs a new kimono and juban putting them on. Kagewaki escorts Avalon to the dining area. They enter and sit together as a servant puts food down for both of them.
"Are you excited to train today Ava?" Kagewaki pours her tea from an ornate glass kettle, with sakura leaves flying in the wind painted on it.
Avalon looks up from the food sitting in front of her feeling hopeless. She speaks just above a whisper, "Yeah."
"I'm sure you are learning much from Nisshoku." He picks up a ball of rice and begins chewing it.
"She is adequate in her training abilities," Avalon answers a little more surely. "Would you like to see some of the things I have learned Kagewaki?"
"I would enjoy seeing what you have learned."
Avalon lifts her right hand palm up offering it to Kagewaki, seeing if he might take the bait.
He takes her hand, thumbing her knuckles.
Avalon grabs his hand holding it firmly. She allows her reiki to pour down her shoulder coating it in purple light. It spills down like smoke slowly moving towards their joined hands. "What do you think so far dear Kagewaki?"
He grins proudly separating before the light can come down to his hand and burn him. "I think today I'd like to see you put it to use." He snaps his fingers high in the air and his servants bring in three kuwaso children. "Show me, on them," he points at the crying brown otter children.
Avalon raises her eyebrow, "Oh weak youkai? Pathetic." Avalon stands and walks over to the three children. She lets her reiki rise to her hands. 'Kami forgive me.' She places her hand on the largest of the otter children letting it burn at the child's skin. The child screams in agony. She lifts her hand showing the raging red burn marks. She feigns exhaustion. "I think I may have used too much." She walks on shaky legs back to be by Kagewaki.
"Too bad," he stands up with his own sword drawn. "I think it would have been kinder." He hacks into them, slicing their stomachs, sending the contents spilling on the wooden floors. "Don't you think?" He wipes the blade on a napkin.
Avalon shivers inside at his cruelness but keeps a neutral mask. "I'm not certain. Being burned alive or quickly slit in half."
Nisshoku enters and stops seeing the mess, "What has happened?" she hisses.
"Dear Ava got tired purifying these ones. There are more in the prison, perhaps you can teach her to not use up her energy so quickly on their parents."
"Lord Kagewaki, I have not taught her to purify anything." Nisshoku looks questioningly over at her student.
Avalon shrugs nonchalantly.
"Then you can start with something small, perhaps the nursing baby," he says as he drinks from a wooden cup.
Avalon leans over to whisper in his ear, "Why are you keeping babies and children youkai. You can't possibly absorb them for power, so why?" She sits back
"I think you still haven't learned your lesson, Ava," he says firmly, bearing his teeth at her. "Nisshoku, do you have a problem with this?"
"Kagewaki I want to be an ally, I am only curious."
Nisshoku shrugs. She didn't care one way or the other.
"Or, are you trying to stall? See what good it did you?" He raises chopsticks full of fish at the dead bodies in front of them. "Shall I have more of this kind brought in? There were more children where Naraku hunted."
"I wasn't stalling. I was only curious, it seems odd." She shrugs. "But I am at your command Kagewaki." She bows her head submissively.
"Wonderful. Then Nisshoku, please go with the servants to the prison. I'm sure Ava will perform dutifully. Won't you Ava?" He tilts his head in her direction, running his hand up the inside of her thigh then squeezing it. "Because you know what will happen if you don't."
"I would happily comply but my reiki is not replenished perhaps we should spar then afterward Nisshoku could help me master my reiki better."
"Lord Kagewaki, Lady Ava, purification is not something I know how to teach, I'm afraid."
"Mmh," he becomes pensive. "Then you will both have something to practice," the hand rides higher up on Avalon's hip, digging his fingers in, before he whispers in her ear. "Or you will scream for me."
"I understand my Lord, please excuse me." Nisshoku leaves the table
"Kagewaki, I will scream your name if you wish, every night if you wish. I am yours."
"Good then you may train," he releases his hold on her. "Shame," he glances at the dead children, eyes slightly tinted red.
"Did you wish to spar with me?"
"I would love to," Kagewaki smiles at her as they finish eating.
Kagewaki and Avalon make their way to the courtyard. Avalon draws her katana and Kagewaki pulls his from his obi. Avalon and Kagewaki charge at each other. The swords meet with a ringing clash. He slices at her neck. Avalon brings her blade up stopping his, forcing her way through. She pushes past him, swinging the sword back and spins to meet his next blow.
He parries to slice into her hip, thrusting downwards. She jumps back, then steps forward again, aiming her blade to slit him horizontally along his abdomen as he had done to the otter children back in the other room. He laughs and brings his blade vertical, wrist high to block it, then punches her in the head sending her to the ground, only to force his foot down on her neck and point his blade at her eyes. "Rage does little in battle but distract Ava." He steps off her allowing her up.
"Rage, what rage?" She huffs, getting up, setting her stance again. She stalks towards him with her blade out swinging it upwards to cut his head off.
He parries against it, holding his katana vertically, then spins aiming for her stomach. Avalon brings her sword down holding it horizontally, before rotating it around his blade, while flicking her wrist and aiming to cut the hand holding the sword. She hits her mark and backs off before he can take aim at her.
He elbows her in the nose sending her flying onto the ground with blood coming from her nostrils. "Never back down Ava. I thought you said you've killed."
"You're different. I wouldn't want to displease you." She wipes the blood from her nose, holding her blade at the ready.
"Weakness is displeasing." He attacks again swinging the sword over his head at her middle. She moves her sword to block him, while rolling her body along the outside of the attack getting behind him, before she kicks him in his back sending him sprawling on to the ground. She brings her blade down to the back of his neck stopping short of beheading him.
He swings his foot out sideways, knocking her onto her back, then leaps on top of her straddling her hips, and clamps one hand down on her neck. "Better...show me you can save yourself, Ava," he puts enough pressure on her neck to slow her breathing.
Avalon lifts her sword to his neck having never let the blade go. She knows they are being watched by the men of the castle. "Yield," she hisses.
He grins proudly. "You're finally learning. No mercy," he leans over her cupping a breast. "Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you had fought back when I came?" He licks her earlobe. "Perhaps you could have overpowered me. I guess we'll never know, will we?" He rises off her sheathing his sword.
Avalon gets up sheathing her sword. "Murasaki no Raikō." The blade appears in her hand. "Shall we continue Kagewaki?"
"Are you so hungry for more?"
"You have no idea," Avalon says flatly
Kagewaki calls out, "Ava my dear, I have other things I must do. You may train with Naraku or Nisshoku. Whomever you wish for today."
Avalon huffs and lets her blade fade away. "I'll seek out Nisshoku."
But she doesn't go to Nisshoku. She seeks out the dungeon. She follows the hall and heads down the stairs. 'So he wants me to purify innocents?' She looks at the various demons in their prisons. Some look humanoid with animal features while others look monstrous. 'None are a perfect youkai like Sesshomaru. Good.'
"Murasaki no Raikō," Avalon calls. Her sword materializes in her hand. "Sandasutoraiku!" Purple light swirls around her blade as she stabs it into the ground. "LISTEN WELL, ALL OF YOU!" The power swirls, growing around her blade as she pours more of her own power into the blade. The youkai perk up with her words and the building of reiki in the air. "WHEN I UNLEASH THIS ATTACK, THE WALLS WILL BE DESTROYED. RUN AS FAST AND AS FAR AS YOU CAN. DO NOT LOOK BACK! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" She hears various agreements and grunts.
"SANDASUTORAIKU!" The ground shakes. As the attack unleashes, the walls start to crumble around the dungeon. The purple lightning strikes and snakes along the ground. Her reiki seeks out impure auras...killers, while the children and adults who did not harm others are left unharmed. The adults flee with the children as holes poke through the walls to the outside and they escape while more of the evil demon's are slaughtered and her reiki lashes through the air in seemingly random directions. She turns, feeling Naraku's aura approaching quickly.
Kagewaki senses a firestorm of reiki coming from the dungeons. He leaves his room, and follows it to the dungeon in time to see Ava covered in her own blood. The air smells clean and pure. He smiles wickedly. 'She's more brutal than I thought she was.'
Avalon falls face down in the dirt. Her chest rises and falls but she is unmoving as Kagewaki approaches her.
He approaches her carefully, kneeling down and rolling her body over. She flops weakly and silently. 'Did you over do it Ava?' He leans over her sensually listening by her mouth. Her breathing is steady as if she is only asleep.
'We will practice this new gift you have shown me.' He lifts her off the dirt and carries her into the castle, down the hallways until he finds Getsumei. "Follow me," he orders her.
The maid follows Kagewaki watching as he carries a limp Ava. "Is she dead my Lord?"
"No," he says breathing heavily, taking her into the washroom. "Only unconscious. Wash her and then leave her in my bed." He sets her down on the floor of the washroom grinning.
"Hai, my Lord." Getsumei strips Avalon of her clothing. She washes the blood from her face and the dirt from her body. "What did you do my Lady?" she shakes her head. After cleaning her Getsumei puts her in a simple yukata. "Now how am I to get her in the Lord's bed?"
She leaves Ava on the floor and steps into Kagewaki's room. He is sitting at his desk. "My Lord, she is washed and dressed but I cannot lift her into your bed. My apologies." She bows low on the ground hoping he will not punish her.
He licks his lips hungrily, only slightly frustrated with the maid. "Bring her food and drink." He rises from the desk and goes to the washroom, lifting Ava off the floor and brings her to his room. He sets her on his futon and straddles her hips while she sleeps. "What did you do?" He traces a line from her neck, down to her chest. "What new trick have you shown me?"
Getsumei leaves the room and goes to get Ava food and drink. Avalon still sleeps under his ministrations. Getsumei soon returns with food and drink for her Lady. "Here my Lord." She sets the tray down and leaves the room.
He leans over Avalon, licking the skin of her neck and smiling. "We're going to have fun with this aren't we?"
Avalon finally stirs, groggy and confused. "Hmmm." Her eyes blink a few times trying to focus.
Kagewake caresses her cheek gently, to ease her waking. "Dear Ava," he slides off her lap. "What happened?"
"Kagewaki?" She blinks, finally focusing on his face and smirks before closing her eyes again. "I just did what you asked."
"My dark Miko," he sidles up next to her. "Did you enjoy killing?"
Avalon closes her eyes. "It was interesting."
"Are you hungry?" He points at the tray of food, "thirsty?"
"I'm starving but I am so tired." Avalon relaxes into the futon. The energy she expelled was way too much. She pushed herself too far.
"Then eat," he purrs in her ear, "and I will help you rest."
Avalon tries to rise up but only gets up a few inches off the futon before falling back onto it. "I think I will just sleep."
Kagewaki removes his hankimono and hanjuban and lays down next to her. "Then I will join you."
Avalon sighs. "Do as you please." Her eyes are already too heavy and her consciousness slips away. Within seconds, she is out cold again.
"Sleep Ava, sleep." His eyes darken, excited to see this change of heart. She will be his dark miko.
Once her eyes are closed he rises from her side pacing back and forth, deep in thought. If Ava wanted to...she could kill him and he knows it. The strike she sent was powerful enough to destroy the dungeon and the many demons within it, meaning if she wanted to fight against him, she could. He needs the Shikon no Tama to cement his power before that happens. He stops and then begins to grin. 'But would she put Hikari at risk?' He knows she wouldn't, the child Hikari is Ava's weakness and she would do anything to keep her safe. With that thought, he stretches out next to Ava again, falling asleep.
The next morning Avalon wakes feeling more refreshed but famished. She goes to sit up feeling Kagewaki's arm around her waist. She thinks back to the previous day. She had decimated the dungeon destroying the walls. Her reiki sought out auras that were impure, while leaving those that were pure alone. The innocent escaped in the chaos she created. She remembers seeing Kagewaki before she passed out. He looked so pleased, making her smile. 'You have no idea that I let the innocent escape do you?' She shifts to be out of his grasp.
Kagewaki feels Avalon moving next to him and wakes up. He rises off the futon. "Ava," he says sweetly. "Are you rested?"
Avalon sighs, "Yes I am feeling much better but I'm starving."
Kagewaki goes to the door and waves his hand at one of the servants. "Bring food and water, and Kurayami." He sits down by his desk and says, "Food will be served shortly."
Avalon nods as she stretches her back. She is surprised he had not taken her during the night but she isn't going to complain. She slides off the futon walking over to his desk. She leans over his shoulders resting her front on his back. "What are you working on?"
"A letter," he says slyly as the shoji doors slide open and the servant with the food arrives with a samurai behind her. "This is Kurayami, Ava." He turns to the side to see her face. "He is a mercenary, under my direction." He hands Kurayami the letter. "Read it."
Avalon thinks, 'Kurayami means darkness.'
The samurai opens the scroll. "We are to destroy the village where the Miko Kaede resides and kill a child named, Hikari if the castle falls." He folds the letter, sliding it into the material of his hankimono. "It will be done Kagewaki-sama," he bows.
"So obedient," Kagewaki exhales satisfied and turns to Ava. "What do you think Ava? You can leave Kurayami."
Avalon's eyes burn into his. Her reiki swirls along her skin stinging at Naraku but not causing actual harm. "What is the meaning of this? I have done nothing but what you ask of me."
He grabs her by the wrist and flings her onto her back, towering over her. "For that sting alone, I should send him to find her. What do you think he would do with that girl? His men?" He slides a knife out from his wrist and holds it at her throat. "Drop the reiki Ava," he digs the tip into the side of her neck. "I would hate to kill you."
"It's not always under my control dear Lord. But I will try." Avalon closes her eyes trying to calm down. She is too drained and would not be anywhere near strong enough to take him out right now. She breathes deeply, feeling the blade against her neck ignoring the sting as it pushes into her flesh. After a few moments the reiki subsides. Her eyes fly open still seething with anger. "You know if she dies, you have nothing to hold over me?"
"I think it's time to test your obedience," Kagewaki says malevolently. He pulls open her kimono and slides the knife in enough to break her skin but not cause any real damage. "Don't scream." He slides it snake like down her collar bone, between her breasts going from side to side and along her stomach.
Avalon smirks internally. She wouldn't scream no matter what he put her body through. She breathes heavily, staying still and not making a sound as he cuts her.
He finishes stopping just above her curls. "I think I'm going to leave this as a reminder, Ava...you will always belong to me." He stands turning away from her. "Eat and then go train."
"Yes dear Kagewaki." she says flatly. She rises up pulling the kimono closed while moving to the food to eat. She was so hungry.
He goes to the door, uninterested in their game this morning. "Who do you belong to Ava?"
"You, Kagewaki," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Don't ever forget it. If you do...it is she who will pay. You can't be in two places at once. Just remember that." He leaves to let her eat, knowing the cut will scar.
The rest of the month passes with Avalon waking to train with Nisshoku on her miko abilities or her sword skills with Kagewaki or mastering her Murasaki no Raikō using Sandasutoraiku. Avalon wanted to strike the puppet down but she didn't want to anger Naraku further. Every night he forced her to his bed. He would insist she beg for him to take her and she would comply. When he asked her to scream his name, she would. All to keep Hikari safe even as Naraku ate away at her soul every day degrading her and manipulating her further.
Avalon wakes one morning in Kagewaki's futon with a start. Her stomach lurches forward and she claps her hand over her mouth. She springs up from the bed bolting for the bathing area and pushes the shoji screen open to the outside before violently expelling her stomach content.
A/N Thank you to my many readers and please review it feeds my soul and helps me grow. I thank my beta and co-author Elohiniar. She keeps me on track and helps bring life to my story; it would not be half as good without her. What will happen next, find out next week in Chapter 17: Kagewaki's Fear.
Itzarakahashi- Thanks for the review and yes she is doing what she has to survive and keep Hikari safe. And maybe Avalon is pregnant now what? Find out in the next chapter.
Smmahamazing- Thank you for bringing up that point. Naraku has taken the place of Kagewaki. Avalon refers to him as Kagewaki to hopefully spare the people in the castle. She refers to his puppet as Naraku. But no doubt real Lord Kagewaki is no more. Now how Avalon will affect the timeline only time will tell.
ASJS- Yes let us pray that Sesshomaru finds Avalon's arrow and does something to protect Hikari and if he finds it hopefully he will try to help Avalon as well. Thank you for the review.