Opposites Attract

Chapter 16: Pain and Faith…

A/N: I know it’s been along time coming but here it is! Warning, some torture and graphic gore descriptions is in this chapter. I just thought you should know in case you don’t want to read that kind of thing.

Two days later with Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and the gang…

Two heart wrenching days past for the crew of warriors as they had no choice, but to sit idly by and wait for the poor soul that was the “Raven” most unfortunate solider to spill the beans about his evil raven bitch leader, and their pack members whereabouts. It turns out the bastard was tougher than they thought and it took Sesshoumaru longer than expected to torture the answers out of said bastard. The daiyoukai did everything from beating, and choking the raven solider to making small paper cuts all over his body with his claws, breaking almost every bone in his body and placing just enough of his poisonous venom in said paper cuts to cause the solider to be paralyzed and suffer unimaginable pain, but not immediate death. Still the stubborn bastard refused to talk. So Sesshoumaru proceeded to slowly skin a very sensitive and private area that made the raven shake in pain despite the paralyzing toxicant in his system. The poison Sesshoumaru injected into him earlier made it impossible for his youkai healing powers to kick in. Thus his broken bones stayed broken and the cuts and peeled areas of skin oozed blood. The combination of the cuts, missing skin sizzling flesh, protruding bones and having his manhood stripped of skin and flesh was too much for the youkai to be subjected to. So after he spilled the beans about their pack and his raven flock whereabouts, which was not in the Eastern area of Japan but in the Mainland China, far away from Sesshoumaru home territory, the daiyoukai spilled the raven solider guts all over the forest floor.

Sesshoumaru with the coldest expression imaginable turned his back to the mangled bird as his body convulsed and took its last breath. The raven solider was no longer useful; therefore, he no longer gave him his undivided attention. The daiyoukai even ignored the horrible smell that was coming from the creature despite his sensitive nose. Besides as he waited for his brother which he some how managed to smell through all of the disgusting scents the now dead bird was giving off, Sesshoumaru was too busy thinking of ways to torture the raven leader that caused that artic expression to creep up on his face in the first place. And what entered his mind made what he did to her unlucky solider look like a relaxing day at the beach! He may no longer be evil all the time, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t ‘get’ evil when provoked. Messing with an alpha male’s pack, especially one that can be ruthless as Sesshoumaru is more than enough to rouse him into doing whatever it takes to protect said pack, seek revenge or perhaps both.

And if the destruction of Kurorasu and her soldiers started a war between the Eastern and the Western Lands…

‘Let them try it…’ Was what Sesshoumaru thought on the matter. If the raven bitch father wanted to take revenge for his evil daughter’s demise so be it. It is understandable that her father would want vengeance for his daughter, after all Sesshoumaru seeks retribution from the birds for even thinking about harming his pack. Be that as it may, it doesn’t mean that Sesshoumaru won’t do everything in his power to wipe out an opposition to his pack and lands. If the King of raven tried to pay the Inu daiyoukai back, the bird will find out first hand that he is not one to be fucked with…

During this two day epoch, Inuyasha would periodically check to see if Sesshoumaru had made any progress with their captured enemy. Of course he only glanced at the seen for moments before retreating. He has always been a real tough Inu, however, he had a hard time watching another suffer. Hence, why he didn’t stick around for long or participate.

On the evening of the second day, Inuyasha, after ordering the humans and other youkai to stay put made another visit to the sight of torment. This time the Inu hanyou happen upon the aftermath of the raven solider anguish and nearly lost his lunch. Inuyasha had to admit that he was grateful that Sesshoumaru found away to silence the bird bastard so the others would not be subjected to his screams. He guessed that Sesshoumaru somehow paralyzed the bird’s vocal cords so no sound could escape as he silently cawed and yelled in pain. Inuyasha could tell that the bird beast hollered with agony merely from the agonizing expression on his face and the spread of his mouth that was wide open.

The smell of the already decomposing flesh, which rotted at a slower rate than usual when subjected to the daiyoukai toxic flower claws, due to the fact that Sesshoumaru didn’t use a large dose of his poison, the overly sweet smell of said poison itself along with the stench of blood, bowels, pain and fear made the Inu hanyou stomach churn and flip flop uncontrollably. Not wanting to look weak in front of his older brother, he managed to gulp the burning bile down that rushed up his throat and forced himself to walk closer to the horrid scene before him, telling himself to ‘man up’.

Covering his sensitive nose with his large right bellowing red fire rat sleeve of his jacket, he gazed at the scene for a few more moments with a look of shock and disgust; while idly wondering how someone with such a strong sense of smell like is elder brother could act as if he isn’t affected by the stench. Not only was he flabbergasted and disgusted by the scene itself, but by what Sesshoumaru had to have done to the raven demon to leave him in such a state. Inuyasha felt the bite of Sesshoumaru’s toxic claws ripping through his flesh, the pounding of his fist against his body and the pressure of his large clawed hands crushing his throat in the past. However, the younger Inu knew instinctively that he never suffered nearly as much pain at his brother’s hands as the poor bastard that lay before him. Furthermore, the younger Inu was angry with himself because he could think of no other way to gain the information they needed to find their pack besides standing by and watching his brother ruthlessly torture the information out of the blasted bird.

Was he this brutal when he was in his youkai form? A small part of him gave him an answer he didn’t want. He suppressed a tremor and his triangular puppy ears flatten against his thick white mane and scalp. He frowned as he was assaulted by an array of emotions that included anger with himself and Sesshoumaru for the torment of the bird, shock and disgust at the scene before him and fear of the answer to his earlier question. Shaking his head in an attempt to rid himself of those negative thoughts he decided that he had to stop himself from judging his brother’s cruel and seemly heartless actions. Since he and Sesshoumaru had developed a somewhat civilized relationship, Inuyasha grudgingly admitted a while back to himself that his brother isn’t all bad all the time anyway. He figured as much by looking at his brother past actions. Although for the most part he did try to kill him and made him feel like shit, the crazy bastard did save him and his pack on more than one occasion. Moreover, the daiyoukai was… fond of at least a few humans. To say that his brother actually cared about someone, especially a human, was almost too much for Inuyasha’s brain to process. However, a part of him knew that it was true. So trying to actually give his brother the benefit of the doubt, Inuyasha tried to put himself in Sesshoumaru’s place. Would he go to the same limits and beyond to save his mate the young miko Kagome and their future pups if they were kidnapped and threaten by a sadistic and evil youkai? After several more moments of thinking he admitted in his head that if he was pushed to the breaking point with no other alternative… he would do the same thing. He may be filled with guilt for doing so for the rest of his life, but he would do anything to save the family he loves.

‘So I guess in a weird, sick and sadistic way, the bastard is capable of… love.’ Inuyasha thought as he realized that Sesshoumaru did indeed torture the raven for the same reason Inuyasha would have done it…because he loved and wanted to protect his pack at all cost.

‘Of course the prick avoids the word ‘love’ like it’s the plague.’ Inuyasha thought as his brain imitated the way his brother used to say the word ‘love’ with such a sarcastic low venomous voice that made the younger Inu inwardly shake with anger at his elder brother tone.

‘Even now he would say it the same way. Even though he is experiencing the emotion he used to call a weakness! Keh! Fuckin poser!’ Inuyasha though as he pondered about how his brother actions can at times be so different from his words and uncaring attitude.

Inuyasha mind switched gears again. Hell, now that he thinks about it, if Sesshoumaru hadn’t so openly volunteered to torment the bird to find the whereabouts of Rin, Kohaku, Kirara and his little nephew or niece, he believed that he would have preformed the torture no matter how against it he was. He would like to deny that he would do such a horrid thing, but it was true. Of course he was not quite as creative with this type of activity as his brother, but he would have done anything to save them nonetheless.

Inuyasha stomach churned more just thinking about being in his brother’s place. Than he continued to contemplate, trying to continue to understand the daiyoukai point of view:

‘Besides it’s not like he normally treats his enemies like this. Most of the time he kills them before they even have a clue about what the fuck just happened. Although for somebody whose style ain’t normally torture, the bastard is way too good at it… ‘ Inuyasha thought as he swallowed more bile and suppressed a shiver. Looking up from the dead mangled body to his brother’s back that seemed to be receding from him, he heard Sesshoumaru say without looking back.

‘If you or your friends wish to tag a long, this Sesshoumaru suggest you follow. This one will not wait.’ After finishing his statement he soared into the skies moving his large fluffy tail in a propeller like motion to push himself through the air.

‘If he wasn’t going to wait for me, why did he wait a while after I got here?! Keh! Like I thought, fucking poser…’

However, only Inuyasha’s ‘Keh’ made itself known and he hurried back to his friends mumbling something about ‘stupid asshole brothers who are too stubborn and prideful to outright ask for help and who love to show off.’ The younger Inu totally ignored the fact that his elder brother is not the only sibling who possessed that dogged prideful gene.

Inuyasha rushed back to his friends hoping that he could trail his brother’s scent before it disappeared.


Back at Kurorasu place…

While the enraged neko struggled to break free, and as the raven bitch a.k.a Kurorasu and her twin bodyguards were busy in her underground library preparing for the extraction of said furious neko second child, the only two humans in the underground lair where having difficulties of their own.

In a dungeon similar to the one Kirara occupied, far away from said neko on the other side of the fortress, a teenage boy sporting a black slayer outfit minus his armor and weapons hung limply from his wrists that was locked in steel cuffs that hung from a chain attached to the wall facing the door. The two chains that were linked to the cuffs made an upside down V shape. The tip of the V shape was attached to another chain which in turn was attached to square slab of steel above his head. The square brace had a small steel circle in the middle that was welded to the tip of the single portion of the chain. The steel square was some how attached to the stone wall above him. The weight of his body pulled on his wrists causing the cuffs to dig in deeply and painfully, bruising and cutting the joints at the base of his hands. The young adolescent ankles were also cuffed, but the V shaped chain that was attached to another single chain was hooked to a steel slab embedded in the floor. The ankle cuffs also clenched his ankles tightly and painfully, leaving cuts and bruises in their wake. His slayer outfit had lines running diagonally across each other on his back making a large X shape. From that shape dripped blood from the earlier abuse he suffered from one of Kurorasus’ guards, courtesy of their sharp black talons. A diagonal cut above his right brow that allowed a line of blood to flow over his closed right eyelid, his bruised left jaw, two cracked right middle ribs and labored breathing showed the other occupant of the dungeon that the young slayer was not fairing well in the least…

“Kohaku, Kohaku please say something…’ Young Rin pleaded with tears in her eyes that she was tried to prevent from falling. ‘Lord Sesshoumaru would want me to be strong’ she keep telling herself. Despite this mantra she repeated in her head, tear drops still escaped her innocent, soulful chocolate orbs. Rin was usually fearless and it took a lot to make her cry, but she was terrified not for her own sake, but for her loved ones. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing another soul, a kindred sprit, she holds so dear to her heart. Kohaku had taken a particularly bad beating and there was no telling when he would wake up. She refused to think of the other possibility, the chance that he may not wake up at all. To make matters worst, the bastards chained him up while he was unconscious and beat the poor boy while he was unable to defend himself. To add insult to injury, they made Rin watch ever second of it. Rin yelled and screamed for them to stop their abuse and for them to release Kirara and Kohaku, but her demands were completely ignored. Their mistress had instructed them to subdue the youkai slayer anyway they see fit without killing him and to force the other human who possessed more innocence to watch, which in turn would restrain young Rin, by breaking her sprit. She wanted to make sure that the two human hatchlings, or as her beloved Sesshoumaru would call them pups, did not interfere with her plans. The humans were their as hostages to gain the compliance of the rest of their pack. ‘Killing two birds with one stone’ and stopping the humans resistance before it could commence was what Kurorasu desired. The raven’s of course hated that expression, but it seemed to apply.


When the beating took place, one of the guards held Rin’s chin in place with his rough right talon hand and placed his other hand painfully on her left shoulder to force her to kneel on her knees. His claws pierced her shoulder area right below her left collar bone, causing her to gasp in pain. Another guard held her eyelids opened when she attempted to close them. With her hand chained behind her back, her ankles chained together, a single chain connecting the wrist chain with the ankle chain, and the strength of the guards holding her made it impossible for her to move. They were ordered to make sure that she got a full view of the abuse that Kohaku suffered, and to make her see the blood that oozed from the boy body. Said guards laughed at the shouts of pain and anger that came from the human boy when a punch to the face woke him up so he could experience agony before he lost conscious again. After all, neither of the humans were in a position to demand that they, the raven youkai, release there friends. Which is exactly what the two humans had done. The raven youkai saw that both humans only worried for the safety of their flock instead of themselves. The boy, who was suffering a harsh beating and the girl had no idea what fate awaited her demanded that they freed there friends instead of begging for freedom for themselves…HA, the fools! The guards figured they should be more concerned about themselves than one another and that hellion of a neko. In any case, it will take much longer for the rest of the neko flock to find them, by than their mistress would be completed with her spells. Than not even that flea bitten, furry, and human adopting, Inu Sesshoumaru could touch them! Little did they know that there was one loose end that they forgot to tie up, one solider who they thought was dead may have been forced to throw a little wrench in their mistress’s plan.

The cackling of the two guards that held Rin stopped when they got the shock of their lives. The young miko in training somehow without a conduit like her bow and arrows managed to radiate a pink light from the rosy cheeks or her face and purified their talon hands almost to the bone. Rin had surprised herself with this feat and infuriated the guards. She wasn’t even a fully developed human adult yet, how could she use her powers without a conduit and while chained up with bindings that was suppose to suppress her miko powers?! They certainly hadn’t saw that stunt coming, nor did they understand that love could be a powerful motivator. Their mistress plan to break the girl’s sprit backfired, causing the two guards that held her their hands and a lot of agony.

Kurorasu who was already on her way to greet the human children for the first time picked up her pace after hearing the enraged and pained cawing of her guards.

After Kohaku had been beaten to a bloody pulp and the other two injured guards left to have their wounds tended to, Kurorasu or as Rin would call her “evil raven lady” came up to her with a sadistic smirk on her face, only laughing at the girls demands for her ‘family’ lives. Kurorasu merely threaten to make her ‘family’ suffer unimaginable pain if she even thought about using her miko powers again. The raven knew that the girl was pretty smart for a human. The child understood that their was no way she will be able to save all of her flock members, particularly the neko and her unborn child that was on the other side of the lair. One caw from Kurorasu and Kirara, and the kaki neko Inu hanyou would meet their agonizing demise. Of course the deceitful bird had other plans for Kirara and her unborn before she planned on eliminating the neko mother, but the humans didn’t need to know that…

Rin terrified for her friends lives reined in her powers so no more surprise attacks could burst forth. Even if she managed to somehow miraculously eliminate all of the guards in the room, she knew that she would not be able to reach Kirara and her unborn child in time to save her before the guards dispatched her and the child. Beside she was tired from her earlier adrenaline, emotional turmoil, and burst of energy. Most miko do not call forth their powers in such a matter until they are at least close to adulthood. That plus the fact that she was not fully capable of controlling her powers caused the poor child to feel the drain on her body.

Still tired from the events that took place a few hours prior Rin whispered urgently:

“Lord Sesshoumaru please hurry…” She had no idea of what the neko and her unborn child’s condition and she knew from her training with Kaede in the art of healing that Kohaku was bleeding far too much and that his breathing wasn’t right.

Despite her fear, her face displayed a look of determination as she decided that she had be strong for Kohaku, Kirara and her new little sibling. She had faith that Lord Sesshoumaru and the rest of the gang would save them. Meanwhile she would continue to try and think of a way help them all escape.

“Everything will be alright Kohaku, I’m sure of it…”


TBC: Sorry about the long waiting periods for updates! I hoped you liked it! Reviews are adored and appreciated!