For Amalie's Love
Chapter 2: Violence, Deception, and Volume Control
Amalie.
Even to my nose I smell like a garbage heap, I can't wait to get home and take a nice hot bath, and then slip into my cool sheets and hug my wonderful pillows till morning. Gods my neck itches, damn velcro choker. The truth of the matter is I am a creature of my appetites. I love to eat good food, have lots of good sex, drink coffee, taking long hot baths, and lazing in a cozy bed early in the morning or after a nap. If life could just be food, coffee, relaxing, sex and sleep I would have no complaints. At least I wouldn't have had a few weeks ago. Now I find that I also have cravings for other, darker things. My joys used to be a weekend with a good book, music, and good coffee while lazing in bed. I may not be a kind, sweet, submissive person, but until recently I believed I was an understanding, reasonable and good individual, no where near cruel or evil.
Violence. Part of me hoped that on my walk home someone would try to mug me, and then I could pull my chocker off, unleash my yokai and watch them suffer for their mistakes. Maybe I would come upon someone else being molested by a criminal and I could turn my malicious, bloodthirsty intent into something good, but it was the violence that attracted me to the thought, not heroic ideals. The hunger for violence detoured me from dating, I was able to control it for the most part in my day to day life, but just thinking about sex made me giddy with pent up fury, it was all tied too tightly together: passion, lust, animal aggression. I was terrified that if I actually became attracted to a man on a date I'd end up raping him brutally, probably before we even made it to his place.
I sighed, it's not like I'd had any offers in that department since I arrived in Japan anyway, but I really missed sex, it was such a nice way to whittle away an evening, and waking up in someone's arms, even if you don't care for them, is still better than waking up alone. Looking back, that is the only real reason I'd stayed with Jacob all those years. The prestige and power I would have gained by marrying into his house was minimal, but even a union of convenience was better than no union at all.
I was three blocks from home, lost in my thoughts, when I realized I was sensing a familiar demonic aura, and it was close. I stopped and openly scanned the street with my eyes. It was obvious he had been watching me for some time, letting him know his presences was suspected might draw him out. Fingering my choker I turned in a slow circle trying to gage where the aura was the strongest. When I felt it I continued my spin as if I was still confused about where he was, I let my hand fall from my necklace, dropped my head, and continued walking. I quickened my pace hoping I would look frightened to my nearby stalker and planned a change of itinerary.
Well, he doesn't want me dead or we would have had it out in the alley eight blocks back, which means he either wants to know where I live or thinks that I lead him somewhere of more importance. He must have been following me since I left the restaurant, how could I not have noticed an aura that powerful? STUPID! He's a DOG yokai! Stinking to high heaven of kitchen grease and burnt food I bet I'm a venerable beacon from blocks away. Well, I'd rather he know where I workout than where I live. I took a left on the next street and headed for the nearby gym. With a change of cloths and a shower, utilizing a lot of soap, I should be invisible to his nose at least. I swiped my pass key at the door to the 24 Hour fitness center and slammed it shut behind me. At least he can't get in, yokai have no need for gyms.
I undressed quickly taking my choker off last. My yokai powers flooded through my body, erasing my fatigue and overwhelming me with sensations. The smell of dirty gym cloths from the lockers, mildew in the showers, and the overwhelming awareness of the emotional inadequacy of the people in the surrounding rooms hit me like a Mac truck. Then I felt his presence. I could feel his aura from the roof directly above me, Icy and hot at the same time in rolled in waves through the ceiling making my whole body shiver. No wonder I had missed him earlier, unlike when I encountered him in the DK lair he was now intentionally broadcasting his aura, and it was not inhibited by DK charms. Which means he must have been suppressing it earlier during my walk, what the fuck does he think he's doing? The whole incident took seconds before I jammed the choker back on my neck. To hell with the velvet band, unless I have to confront him or he attacks me, this shit stays on until I get home.
The shower was hot and inviting. I scrubbed until my skin was raw with the effort and I applied a splash of my favorite mulberry scented oil to my body as I dressed in the red tank top and black jeans I left in my locker the previous day. Nervously I walked out of the gym into the post midnight gloom of the city. As I amble back up towards my street the presence of the Daiyokai's aura faded and I relaxed as I made the last few minutes of my trek home in peace.
Walking into my apartment I noticed the TV was still on and the forms of my erstwhile babysitter and her charge where curled up on the couch in front of it fast asleep. I spared a loving glance down at my niece's tiny sleeping body before picking her up and carrying to her room. Her furry little ears twitched and she woke slightly as I laid her on her futon. "Aunt Amalie, you're home." The child announced drowsily.
"I am darling, how was your day?" I asked tucking her short fluffy tail under the blankets.
"Izumi and I made paper planes and raced them in the living room, and I fell off the couch and bumped my head, but Izumi used a magic kiss and made it all better." All kisses are magic implements of healing to small children, I thought sagely.
"Well that sounds like a good, productive day, sweet pea, what where you dreaming about?"
"The circus I think."
"Ah, well I'll let you get back to it. Sleep well. And give the acrobats my regards, love."
"Yes, Aunt." She mumbled drowsily as I kissed her on her forehead and approached the door softly, "Aunt?"
"Yes, Rinee?"
"Your magic kisses are better; the ouchies don't hurt after one of your magic kisses."
"That's just because I'm a little bit more magical than Izumi, now go to sleep." I replied softly, but her regular breathing signaled to me that she did not require the order. My kisses really do heal. Such a precious, simple, good life; she doesn't know how lucky she is, and by the time she does know, it will all be a reflection of the past. I let a sigh of longing escape my lips for lost youth and innocents.
Back in the living room Izumi had woken up and was gathering her things together. "When does she go back home?" The sitter's question brought me back into reality. "The day after tomorrow." I answered.
"I will miss her." Izumi revealed.
"As will I, but her mother wants her back in the states before school starts, and I'm not sure her Japanese is good enough to attend school here yet."
"It is wonderful you are still such good friends with your brother's wife. That little girl adores you."
"No more than I adore her, Hiroshi and I where very, very close, and when he died poor Diane went crazy with grief. She needed so much help with the baby, Rinee was only two when her father passed, and it has taken Diane three years to come out of it. I was glad to take Rinee, she has been a light in my dark world, but I am even gladder that Diane is going to finally put their family back together again. It's not right for a child to be away from her mother."
"Hai, that is so true." Izumi responded.
I turned the TV off and pulled some of the evening's cash tips from my pocket. "Speaking of children away from their mothers, you should get downstairs to yours," I smiled, "Thanks so much for staying with her late, I know I said I'd be home early, but things got crazier tonight than usual." I explained as I offered her the money.
"It's no problem, Vercon-san, she was a joy." The teenager replied as we walked to the door.
Opening it for her I said, "Tell your mother I'll be down tomorrow to give her those pears I promised and you have a good night."
"I will, good night."
"Good night." I said closing the door behind her. As I prepared for bed, thoughts of the evening flooded through my mind. Why had he done the volume control game with his aura? Memories of his aura washing over made me shiver with indescribable emotion and longing for that intense feeling. For a Demon?? More than anything that happened that evening, that longing alarmed me; I put a bracelet with DK charms on and gingerly removed the choker from my neck. I need therapy, or a really good fucking, it's obviously been far too long if a demon is starting to appeal to me. My last thoughts as I fell into bed and allowed exhaustion to claim me was, why was he following me in the first place? I hope inventory goes quickly tomorrow, its Rinee's last day... We should go to that Lion King play.
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Sesshomaru
It is not an easy thing for a yokai to suppress their aura, especially an aura as powerful as the one Sesshomaru possessed, but he was nothing if not a master of control. Reckoning that anyone associated with the DK in anyway would have some sensitivity to the aura's of yokai, he buried as much of his aura as possible before following the vile smelling cook through the city streets. Easily tracking her plodding footsteps and horrible stench, fifteen minutes passed uneventfully. As he watched her down turned and exhausted movements he thought, it is unlikely that she will be going to meet one of her compatriots at that pace. Yet, a frightened rabbit will run for the nearest hole and reveal its lair. Perhaps an experiment to determine how sensitive to auras she really is will terrify her into finding safety with her fellows.
With that he unfurled the full power of his aura. Amalie stopped and immediately began searching the street and rooftops. She plays with her necklace, the rabbit is nervous, he thought as she picket up her pace, Now, where will our little rabbit run to? The thrill of the hunt was upon him now; he smiled hungrily as he jumped from rooftop to rooftop following Amalie. To him it appeared as if her path was now more random, a good sign he had frightened her into changing her intended destination.
When they arrived at the gym he experienced some disappointment and impatience. Maybe she is calling a compatriot on a pay phone, or has some contact that works at this facility at this time of night. She is not smart enough to actually elude This Sesshomaru; even with a shower, her fear will alert me to her. Schooling himself to wait he settled on the roof.
Moments later he was struck by a flash of that familiar and powerful aura coming from the buildings interior. It washed over him like a flash flood. Like a blow it hit him to his core and when it was gone, he was left breathing hard and shaking with longing for its return. Lust, rage and need boiled inside of him, his yokai form peaked out from his soul and his eyes burned with its need to dominate the creature that possessed that aura.
His mind reeling in shock Sesshomaru thought, how can this be? How could something like that appear and then just vanish? I must find it! I must crush it! She is a ningen; she does not deserve to have such power! How could it affect me so? Sesshomaru fought the incomprehensible urge to smash through the concrete roof, find the woman who had made him feel like this, and prove that he could conquer that compelling aura.
With difficulty Sesshomaru fought himself back into a semblance of his usual calm and forced his mind to think rationally again. How could it possible appear and disappear like that? It is not possible for a mere ningen to have control of a yokai that powerful. Inuyasha needed the Tessaiga to control his yokai and he was at least a hanyou. Then the truth occurred to him. Those rocks, that necklace, she wasn't nervous she was hiding her power with one of those charms the vermin at the bank used to capture me. The full reality of what occurred on that street annoyed him. She wasn't nervous, she wasn't running, she was choosing to not fight me. She may even think she was sparing me, the great Daiyokai Sesshomaru.
The idea of Amalie's presumed attempt at mercy angered him. More his own misinterpretations of her actions, his shortfall at not recognizing her earlier, and the confused feelings that her aura had triggered in him caused the anger to become rage. That insolent ningen slut! I will make her tell me what she knows of those parasites and I will make her beg for her own life for thinking that she was sparing me anything, and when I am done she will be the one who is grateful for being spared.
When Amalie left the gym he had his plan in order, he expected her to smell differently and to not be afraid. After all, she believed she hat outsmarted the Great Daiyokai Sesshomaru; a change of tactic was in order. He searched for a woman wearing that choker, gambling that she did not have another piece of jewelry with a charm at the gym to replace it.
His bet paid off. When the mulberry scented woman left the gym her choker was almost on display. The vibrant red of her top called attention to her torso and the low v-neck cut made the choker stand out. That necklace looks as though it is declaring itself unworthy of brushing the fragrant flesh of those delightful breasts. Lust burned forth at the unwanted thought flitted through his head and anger followed, how dare she make me feel this way, she is nothing more than a ningen slut! It is that yokai I am drawn too; I am not attracted to a ningen whore! I will find how she has gained this power and rip it from her unworthy corpse.
After she had moved a block away Sesshomaru forces his aura down with a ferocious effort and followed at a distance. When she arrived at the apartment complex he waited five minutes before entering himself.
In the lobby he gained a reward for his patience. If she had taken the elevator he would have had to resort to sniffing the buttons like a common animal, but she had taken the stairs instead, and her scent lingered in the stairwell. He easily followed it to the third floor, her apartment was the first one off of the stairs, as he approached the door it opened and he quickly ducked back into the stairwell. "Tell your mother I'll be down tomorrow to give her those pears I promised and you have a good night." He recognized the voice of his quarry.
"I will, good night." A small, high pitched, girls voice responded.
"Good night." The door shut and an awkward looking teenage girl entered the stair well. Sesshomaru pushed passed her as if he where in a hurry to get to one of the apartments on that floor and then waited for the sound of her foot steps to disappear. Moving with demonic quickness he returned to the stairs and climbing one more flight took the roof access. From there he used the fire escape to reach the apartment of his prey.