Bound by Privilege
This story is not for profit. It is purely fanfiction. I don't claim any ownership of the manga or anime Inuyasha, the original story, or the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 3
Rin turned over running her hands along the covers landing a hand on well chiseled chest and muscular arms. She examined the face of this tall, dark, stranger that she'd allowed into her bed. He'd seemed a fine enough specimen to pull under the covers for the night. He was all physical, not an ounce of stimulating conversation beyond his admiration of her as a hungry fan and groupie. She crawled over him and out of the bed, uncaring that she'd woken him from his slumber, the white oversized t-shirt hung from her frame in a bit of a mess. Looking herself over in the bathroom mirror she splashed her face with a bit of water and tried to draw more color back into her cheeks. She always made an effort to look a sexy mess when she bid her suitors farewell. They would always remember that there would be no one else like her. She tasted his lips one last time pulling him into her purposely before she let him go. She tossed his clothes to him as she shut the door behind her and picked up her phone.
She'd barely waited for Jaken to pick up the phone before starting the conversation.
"Jaken, tell Han he's fired."
"But…"
Rin didn't wait as she hung up hearing a knock at her hotel door welcoming the room service as she waved the woman over toward the table. Rin smiled in satisfaction as the food was presented to her.
"Will that be all m'am?"
"Where's E Daily?"
Rin could see the visible swallow of the woman before she'd returned to her cart and placed the daily entertainment news magazine on the table face down. Rin placed the tip down on the table as she began her tea. Before the woman could reach the door she could hear her assistant Jaken huffing.
"Silly woman, I told you not to give her the magazine!"
The woman scampered into the hallway holding onto her tip for dear life.
"Jaken, what are you squawking about?"
"Oh…nothing my lady. I just wanted to check on you this morning. I heard about that terrible incident involving that despicable demon girl. How dare she for holding onto you like that. If it were me, I'd…"
"Jaken, please. I haven't even finished my tea yet."
Jaken straightened before looking off into space and beginning to whistle some unknown tune.
Rin took a moment to savor the warmth of her tea before finally turning the magazine over. Her jaw clenched seeing the front cover and she could feel the heat rising to her face. Flipping through the rest of the magazine she could feel her heart begin to race.
"You knew about this?"
Jaken backed away as Rin held the magazine up for him to see the front page. He hadn't needed her to hold it up to see what he already knew was there. There was Rin aka Luna on the front cover, Han holding her in midair, her face contorted to look like a monster as the girl holding onto the ripped part of her dress looked like she was in fear. If no one knew better it would have looked like Rin was attacking the girl without cause. Underneath the photo were the words in bold, Demon Hater.
Rin threw the magazine back on the table. Her glare found Jaken.
"I may have seen it this morning. But it's nothing we can't fix."
"Look at what they did to me! Do you know how many people see this magazine not to mention online? I'll be ruined because of this!"
"I'll fix it Rin. Don't worry, I'll fix it."
"If you don't, you'd better find someone who can or else you're going to be finding another job."
"Right away!"
...
Sesshoumaru adjusted the backpack over his shoulder and pulled the hood further over his head trying to stick with the bustle of the city crowds before turning off into an alley that paralleled 3rd Street. He reached a dead end and turned to find a metal door that was covered in graffiti and signs of some human gang. He listened for any sounds or movements on the other side before picking the lock. He'd followed the long dark hallway, a few of the lights flickering overhead lending a spotlight about every 10 feet before reaching an elevator. On the 20th floor, the contrast of halls couldn't have been more different. The lights were bright, and the carpet and walls accented each other in gold and white. A couple passing by eyed him suspiciously, the woman shifting her purse closer to her as her husband placed his hand around her shoulders. Sesshoumaru shook his head as he continued toward his destination, his grip around the strap on the bookbag tightened before he reminded himself to relax. It wasn't doing much good as his heart continued to race. Sesshoumaru mustered the calm to ring the bell. He could see the light change over the peephole and heard the locks unlatch.
"Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru decided not to address the man as he entered. He watched him cross the room and pour a glass of wine. Sesshoumaru declined the seat he was offered.
"Good wine. Would you like to try some?"
"No, thanks."
Sesshoumaru quickly scanned the room, taking in the modern, expensive fixtures and furnishings that would have surely cost enough to feed hundreds if not thousands of people for months. He'd seen it many times before but something about it always seemed to change.
"You're all business as usual. Smart."
The man in front of him tapped his temple with his finger as he smirked.
"I suspect you came here to bring me something?"
Sesshoumaru removed the bag from his shoulder. Unzipping it, he pulled money from the contents and laid it on the coffee table. Sesshoumaru tried not to let his mind wander to killing this man, how he would look with his black and red streaked hair, his brown eyes lifeless against the stained pristine white rug underneath his body. And yet, he would end in much the same manner. Four other beings had made their way into the room, quietly and purposely near any exit that might be possible. Like the demons he'd faced in the ring, they too were fighters and part of Takemaru's handling team known as The Wolves. Any one of them would be a force to go toe to toe with in the ring but to try to take on all four at once would end him quickly.
"I'm impressed. How you managed nearly one thousand from the rings without spending more than what the entrance fee costs and maybe ten dollars for yourself in the matter of only a month is beyond me."
"..."
Takemaru laughed, letting the glass rest on the coffee table. "Join me."
"No, thanks."
"Sesshoumaru, does it mean that much to you to live off the streets? You'd rather pay off your father's debt when you could live here, in luxury? You'd never go hungry, you'd never want for anything. I don't understand."
"My freedom means more to me than any material possession you can provide. I guarantee that if I turned to any of your demons without your knowledge they would tell the truth."
"And what is that truth?"
"That they starve until they win a fight. That they're confined to this place, that they'll never see the light of day unless they leave with you. They're prisoners in this house of luxury. Those that would say otherwise were born into this life and ignorant to anything else."
"It's a shame. That was the same thinking of your father. Be careful."
"I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Sesshoumaru turned to leave, one of the demons stepping aside as he heard more threatening words he'd been anticipating.
"I'm betting on you at the pier."
"How much?"
"Five thousand. If you choose one of Bankotsu's fighters and win, I'll erase half of your debt no matter what the amount is presented to you. But, if you choose a different fighter, it's up to you. Just business as usual."
"And what if I choose one of Bankotsu's fighters and lose?"
"It's pretty simple. Your debt would increase the five thousand that I lost plus some interest of course. And...
Takemaru examined the wine as he savored the smoothness and flavor.
"...you'll forfeit your father's agreement for two months."
Sesshoumaru immediately realized the setup. Takemaru wasn't banking on him taking the risk to go up against one of Bankotsu's demons. The stakes were too high. The goal was to deter him from going up against a higher-level demon for a larger winning amount. Takemaru had to have known he was taking on high-ranked demons in the unsanctioned fights to win more in a shorter amount of time. It was infuriating to know that Takemaru was only further impeding him from what seemed like an already nearly unattainable goal.
"It's never enough is it?!"
"Easy, Sesshoumaru. Your father and mother made this deal and now so are you. Don't forget what you are and what your life was supposed to be. Your parents were on my team. Technically, you should be too but your parents bought you out, albeit leaving them in a deep debt that ironically you now owe to me. If you screw up on the streets, you'll have nowhere to go, no one to call to bail you out. If the police find out about your debt, you'll be in my hands for good. I suppose I should simply look forward to that day when the police capture you, require you to register, and give you an ultimatum to be locked away for years or come back to me but I like a bit of a challenge."
Sesshoumaru could hear the smile in Takemaru's voice.
"You lied to my parents from the start, making them believe that their chances in society were better with you. It's not enough that you've failed at every turn to convince me that being a member of your team guarantees wealth and stature when it in fact guarantees a life caged. I'd rather die on the streets than live under you."
Sesshoumaru hurried toward the door hearing Takemaru's words follow him.
"You live in an illusion of freedom. Your fate is tied to me no matter how far you go."
A/N: Thank you for the reviews!
Yes, I am aware of Yashahime and am currently following the manga which I am grateful for since the anime seems to have ended. I honestly like the storyline in the manga better. You may also see some tidbits and references pulled in from Yashahime through this story too.