I know this may get repetitive, but I am serious that this story is not for anyone under twenty-one.

Chapter Three- The Escape Plan

Yusuke groaned as she opened her eyes. She was sore and sticky. She so wanted a bath. She came to the realization that she could feel her arms and legs again; the drug had worn off. She looked over and up at her bound wrists. If I could just get free, I might be able to escape or even fight back. She closed her eyes and tapped the demon energy inside her. A cold breeze rippled down her body, but she didn't shiver. That's it, I've tapped it. Now, to use it.

She opened her eyes and they were glowing white. She stretched her long delicate fingers toward the ropes and managed to touch them with her fingertips. A coat of frost covered the ropes on her wrists and it raced down the entire length on both sides. The frost hardened to ice and when Yusuke strained her arms, the ropes shattered into pieces of ice.

She sat up, rubbing her wrists as she looked at the ice shards. Not bad for a beginner. Maybe my Spirit Detective training helped. Now, I need to get dressed and get out of here. I don't care about arresting Colaban; I just want to get as far away from him as possible.

She rolled to the side of the bed where her clothes lay on the floor, wincing slightly at the bruises from the first and second sessions. She had just gotten to her feet when the door opened and Colaban came in with a tray for two. "Good morning, my ice detective. I have a cozy breakfast for two. Oh, don't worry there's no drug in any of it this-," Colaban broke off when he saw Yusuke standing beside the bed. She braced herself for the explosion.

"Well, well. You broke the ropes, or should I say shattered them?" He looked at the water spots on the sheets and carpet and…smiled. Yusuke couldn't believe it. Why would he smile?

She was so stunned and confused by his actions that she sat back down on the bed. Colaban sat across from her and put the tray down between them. He pressed a cup of tea into her hands which brought her attention to him. "You seem pleased that I broke free."

"Oh, yes, quite pleased. I figured sooner or later, you would access your ice powers. I want my mate to be able to defend herself."

Yusuke swallowed her bit of croissant before saying, "I told you before, I will not be your mate. Is that why you've been acting nice to me sometimes?"

"Yusuke, I'm not just a demon, I'm a businessman. I see this opportunity as a business deal as well. In order to win over the client and seal the deal, I need to wine and dine my client. Of course, a little bit of flattery is necessary too."

That would explain his "ice detective" comment earlier, not to mention bringing food and drink. If he so desires me, why hasn't he used a drug to make me want his attentions? Heh, maybe he hopes to win me over by treating me with kindness.

"Now, then," Colaban said, putting the tray aside once the food and drink were consumed and sliding closer to Yusuke. "I think we need to work on our relationship. No sex this time, just casual exploring of each other's bodies." Colaban ditched his clothes before tenderly brushing stray hairs from Yusuke's cheek with the side of his hand so that he could place his hand there.

Yusuke was both melting at his touch and disgusted by it. He knows how to please a girl as far as touches go. Hmm, I think I have a plan. I'll pretend to be reconsidering about being his mate and the next time he goes to rape me, I'll use my ice powers to freeze him and escape. But first, I need to turn on the charm.

Colaban was brushing more loose strands off her face when she put her hand on it and gently lowered it to her lips where she kissed the palm while her fingers caressed his knuckles. She released the hand before leaning forward to run her fingers across his muscular chest. She moved her hands to his shoulders and kneaded them with her fingers.

"Mmm," he said softly. "That feels good. You've got the magic touch, my dear."

"I feel so much tension," she answered in soft, tender voice, pressing her fingers in deeper. "Or are those muscles I feel?"

"It's tension all right. Being a businessman can be stressful and I end up tense."

Yusuke continued to massage; first the shoulders, then down the arms, and back to the chest. Colaban reached out to cup and stroke Yusuke's breasts. He was tender and gentle as opposed to the previous times. His hand moved to her stomach and she shivered at his touch. "Yusuke?" he asked, slightly concerned. Was she disgusted at his touches, despite her soft words?

"Sorry. That area's a bit sensitive."

"I imagine it would be more so if you were pregnant."

"You would like that, wouldn't you?"

"Oh, yes. I'm guessing that you wouldn't, am I right?"

"I may…reconsider the idea. I may decide to be your mate, after all."

Colaban's eyes widened. "You would?"

"Maybe. Your touches feel so good and I started thinking that being with you wouldn't be so bad."

"You're starting to realize that being my mate and staying a girl would be preferable to fighting with me and getting hurt as a result?"

She smiled charmingly. "Yes, absolutely." She put a hand on his cheek and ran it down to his lips.

He kissed her palm before standing, getting dressed, and picking up the tray. "I will return later, my ice detective. Perhaps, we couple then."

"Yes. I would like that."

Colaban stood in the doorway for a moment, drinking in Yusuke's naked body before closing the door and leaving."

The moment he was gone, a look of absolute disgust crossed Yusuke's face. She couldn't believe what she had to do and that Colaban actually bought into it. Then again, maybe I can. He kept saying he wants me as a mate and for me to stay a girl. I merely said what he wanted to hear. Now…I need to practice my powers before he comes back. All my "sweet talk" will be for nothing if I can't freeze him into a block of ice.

She held up a hand, palm face-up, and focused on her power. She had no idea what ice apparitions did with their powers, but she had seen Hiei's fire moves and since she was an ice apparition due to his blood then she could adapt his moves for her ice. She bore down and a plume of ice erupted upward before fading out. Damn. I managed to freeze the ropes, so what's wrong? Maybe I can freeze objects by touching them like I did the ropes. She spied a jug of water on a windowsill and went over to it before touching it with a finger, focusing on her power. The jug and the water within froze over. Good. Now, what else can I practice on?

Yusuke fell asleep after practicing and deeming herself ready. She had learned to freeze any size object she chose as well as unfreeze it, much to her surprise. All she had to do was touch the frozen object and will the ice to return. She unfroze everything she had touched so that she would be fully charged when she attacked. Right now, she was curled up with the covers over her body and her clothes draped neatly over a chair. She needed her clothes easily accessible once Colaban was frozen. She was so exhausted from practice that she didn't hear Colaban come in.

Colaban entered, quietly closed the door, and smiled at the sight of Yusuke sleeping. She is so beautiful and looks more so when asleep. This could be my future: A beautiful mate asleep in bed when I arrive from work, maybe a child or more in a few years. He removed his clothes, climbed into bed behind Yusuke, and gently shook her shoulder. He heard her murmur something before rolling over and blearily opening her soft, red eyes. She focused on him and sat up with a gasp.

"Hello, my dear. I didn't mean to startle you."

Yusuke stifled a yawn. "Hello, honey. It's all right. I was just so tired."

"How come?"

"I was strengthening my powers. Practicing wore me out. But it was worth it. I'll be able to defend myself just as you hoped."

"That's good." He pulled the sheets to expose Yusuke before he climbed on top of her. He planted a loving kiss on her lips as he caress her arms. He felt her fingers run across his body gently and lovingly. His hands ran over her sides and rubbed her hips before moving them to her butt and down her legs.

He brought his hands up to brush back her hair and brush her cheeks. She smiled as she put her hands on the backs of his own. Her smile didn't waver as she turned on her power. Colaban yelled in pain as he jumped off her and the bed, his hands encased in ice so cold it burned and it was spreading upward. He looked at Yusuke who had a smirk on her face and her eyes were full of cold satisfaction.

It was a trick! She pretended to think of being my mate and practiced her powers to use them against me! She'll pay for this!

He flexed his energy ever so slightly and the ice vanished in a hazy vapor, making Yusuke's mouth drop. He advanced on her with an ugly look on his handsome face. He swung a hand and cracked it hard across her face. "You ice bitch!" he screamed. "You'll pay for your deception! You'll pay most dearly! I'll make you wish you had been willing to be mine!"

He reached under the bed and withdrew a long whip with sharp barbs running along its length. He snapped it and it cracked across her shoulder. She gasped at the strike; the barbs had bit into her skin something fierce. She gripped her shoulder, feeling blood on her fingers and exposed her back to her foe. She heard the whip crack again and hit her on her back. She gasped again and fell on her front. Colaban snapped the whip over and over until Yusuke's back was bleeding and covered in whip marks. He growled as he tossed the whip aside, climbed behind Yusuke's legs, pushed them apart and began roughly thrusting into her, his fingers pressing on her skin harshly. Yusuke screamed, tears pouring down her face. He kept going until he was spent. He eased off and sent for a couple of guards to throw Yusuke in the dungeon while he went to the bathroom to calm down and further plan his revenge.

Yusuke stared in dismay at the dark bruises on her legs that now joined the bruises she had sustained already. She had woken up from her torture and rape to find herself in a cell. The marks had stopped bleeding, but still felt raw and very sore. Well, that was a stupid plan, now that I think about it. I should have remembered that his energy's just as strong and could dispel my ice. Now, he's had me thrown in his dungeon. I guess he's done trying to win me over, but not done torturing and raping me. A sudden thought struck her and dread settled in her stomach. Will he eventually kill me?