Within Darkness
Chapter 3
Amaya did not want to leave her chambers, that was how the rainy weather effected her. And that she did not want to leave the castle that had become home to her. Junichi had managed to convince Togaou that Amaya should live with other Ryuu. By now, Amaya's chamber had been emptied of all her belongings and clothing.
At the open door, Moriko appeared, ready for travel. Togoau and Junichi had agreed that Moriko could go with AMaya to give her some snese of comfort.
"Lord Junichi and his party are waiting, Lady Amaya," Moriko said.
Amaya looked at Moriko and sighed. Amaya joined Moriko and the two walked the short distance to wehre the Ryuu party waited. There, Togaou and Junichi were speaking while the rest of the party loaded the last of the items onto the carriage. Togaou noticed Amaya and pulled away from the conversation.
"I have a couple of things for you," he said. Togaou pulled out a light green jade pendent that had a crescent moon and three stars on it. He undid the clasp of the chain and placed it on Amaya's neck. "It was my mother's. It suits you, being of the stars and moon," Togaou said. He then motioned to a servant, who stepped forward with a sheathed sword held horizontally. Togaou took it from the servant then held it before Amaya horizontally. "You deserve Kenkon after all the work you put into it."
"Thank you, Father."
Amaya accepted Kenkon and made sure the pendent was on before she joined Moriko in the carriage. The door was closed behind AMaya as she settled in besides Moriko. Amaya poked her head out of the open windo and looked back when the carriage and party left through the gate. Once Togaou was out of sight, Amaya retook her seat and settled in for the ride.
Sesshomaru could not bare to see Amaya off. In the eight or so months Amaya had lived in the castle, he had grown to actually care for Amaya as a close family member. Amaya had actually told him before Togaou could of what happened. Sesshomaru despised his father more than Amaya. How could he despise Amaya for what Togaou ultimately chose?
"I noticed you did not see Amaya off this morning," Sesshomaru heard his father say. "Why is that?"
"I did not want to make it harder on Amaya than it already was, Father. You already accomplished that."
"I was pushed into a corner, Sesshomaru. Would you want Amaya to feel out of place?"
"She was not feeling out of place, Father. If anything, she was thriving. Sending Amaya away with that minor Ryuu would pull her back fromm all she has done."
Amaya had attempted to fall asleep, but with the rough road, it was difficult. Ever since she received the pendent from Togaou, Amaya had not taken it off. She was aware that Togaou was perhaps the most powerful demon, and Amaya was not sure if Togaou had some sort of power in it.
"When we arrive at the castle," Junichi began, breaking the silence. "That pendent's coming off and going into the vault. And that sword will be placed in the dojo; where you are forbidden to go."
"No, Junichi. This pendent symbolizes the East and the West. I will not take it off. As for Kenkon, if you lay a finger on it, I will cut off your hands."
"Not likely."
Amaya did not make eye contact with Junichi during that brief conversation. To her, Junichi was beneath her, therefore, not worth her time. Amaya looked out the window closest to her and sighed as the scenery passed by. She hated how Togaou folded to the pressure put on him by Junichi.
"Ah, there's the palace," Junichi said.
0o
The carriage stopped in the entrance courtyard and servants began to unload the carriage. Amaya moved to emerged before Junichi could WIth two doors, the one nearest Moriko and Amaya opened first. Junichi attempted to emerge before them, but Amaya pushed him back. She stepped out and allowed Moriko to step out.
"Never in all my years of being leader have I been given such disrespect," Junichi said from the other door.
"You had your own door, Junichi," Amaya shot. "Now, since you dragged me here, you can show me around."
"Show yourself around."
Amaya merely walked away. She had nothing to say to the man who took her from the place she viewed as home. She followed the servants who were taking her belongings to what would be her chamber.
0o
That evening, Amaya had been summoned by Junichi to the evening meal. She refused. Amaya had ordered to have her meal be taken to her chambers to avoid any contact with Junichi. Junichi could force her from her home, but could not force her to share meals with him. Amaya sat in her new chambers, her belongings still in the process of being unpacked, and attempted to get a feel for the place just from how the spirits reacted to it. From what Amaya could feel, not everyone was happy about having Junichi as the tribe leader.
"What is it," Moriko asked.
"It's not even me who doesn't like it here. There's a good number of Ryuu who don't like having Junichi as leader of the tribe."
"I attempted to find other kodama, but they're in the nearest forest half a day's ride from here."
"There's somethind odd about Junichi, I just can't place it."
Amaya took a sip of her sake. She needed something to drown her feelings. Amaya wanted to feel numb. Junichi did not care about what Amaya felt, so why should she feel anything?
"That's enought, Amaya," Moriko said, taking Amaya's cup away.
"Give it back, Moriko. I want to feel numb. Junichi took away everything I had."
"Tell him that when you're sober."
Moriko motioned to the servants that had been out of sight. The servants came and took away the food and sake. Amaya watched the servants take the sake and sighed.
Sesshomaru had avoided his father near since the day that Amaya left. The place in Sesshomaru's heart that Amaya had gained and warmed had frozen over again. He hated how Togaou sent Amaya off with Junichi mere months after Togaou found her. Sesshomaru wondered if his father even realized how close the two had grown. If Sesshomaru had been asked that, he would say that Togaou did not.
Sesshomaru walked past Togaou's office and overheard him speaking with someone Sesshomaru did not recognize. He stood just outside the open door, using the wall to hide behind.
"Amaya left nearly two months ago," Togaou said. "She's now residing in Junichi's palace some days south of here."
"You should have done research on Junichi, Lord Togaou," the unknown person said. "Junichi heard what happened to the East and he actually plans on taking the young female Ryuu you found."
Take Amaya as a mate, Togaou through in shock.
Sesshomaru thought the same. He did not look back when he set his mind on finding and rescuing Amaya before that happened.
Amaya had managed to fend off all of Junichi's advances so far. But she had a feeling that she would not be able to do so for much longer. In the roughly two and a half months since her arrival, Amaya had developed a routine that kept any contact with Junichi to a minimum.
"Ah, Amaya," Junichi said when he found her. "I would like to extend an invitation for a private evening meal in my chambers."
"No thanks, Junichi. You disgust me. Why I would spend the eveing with you, I do not know."
"You best learn your place here, daiyoukai," Junichi growled. "For here, I'm the leader. I expect to see you in my chambers tonight."
Junichi walked away. Amaya looked up to the sky with all hope that something happened so she could escape. There had to be a way for her to escape. A sound on the wind had Amaya turn her head, as if she recognized it.
"What is it," Moriko asked. Moriko had just joined Amaya when she had heard the sound.
"Though I heard an Inu on the wind."
"Togaou?" In the past few weeks, Moriko had learned more of Junichi than she cared for.
"Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru saw the palace that Junichi claimed for himself and his court. Somewhere trapped in there was howled with the hope that Amaya could hear. He had to hurry before Junichi forced himself on Amaya.
The sun marked the passing of time, and of the evening meal. One of Junichi's own servants dressed Amaya and led her to Junichi's chamber. Amaya left instructions with Moriko to have their belongings packed.
At Junichi's chambers, Amaya entered alone. She saw Junichi sitting by the evening meal. She remained standing in front of the now closed rice screen door.
"Just don't stand there, come join me," Junichi said. Amaya remained at the door. She would not eat anything that she saw before her in case Junichi put some thing in the food. "I insist."
"No."
Junichi stood and walked over to Amaya. She held her ground despite the advancement of Junichi.
"You will be mine, there's no point in resisting," Junichi said.
"I never agreed to be your mate. So ge'off," Amaya said, pushing Junichi off of her.
Junichi stumbled back from Amaya, who had broken through the screen door and was now running from the chamber. When Junichi emerged from his chamber, he saw a large inu youkai in its true form. Below it, in between the front legs, stood Amaya.
"Make a carriage ready," Amaya demanded. "Moriko and I are leaving."
Junichi saw no way out of this situation; especially with the inu youkai looming over Amaya.
A day's travel from Junichi's palace, Sesshomaru took his human form. He had remained in his true form to ensure that Amaya and Morko were protected. Amaya rushed over to hug him, which Sesshomaru gladly returned.
"Are you well," Sesshomaru asked.
"I am. Thank you."
"Let's go home."
Sesshomaru saw a smile appear on Amaya's face before she went to climb into the carriage. He moved and beat AMaya and Moriko to the carriage and opened the door. He offered a hand to assist both women into the carriage. Amaya and Moriko each took one of the two benches within the carriage.