Tender Love

Chapter 24

It was only a short matter of time after Naraku had left before there was a soft rap on the door.

"Come in," Inuyasha answered, sitting up and wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hands.

Kaede entered the room, embarrassment written on her face at having found this young girl in tears. She could well imagine what had brought the girl's tears about and the thought of Naraku playing his cruel tricks on this lovely girl tore at her heart. "My lady, would you like me to prepare your bath now? The master said I should attend to your needs."

Inuyasha tried to get a grip on her emotions, hating to show her tears in front of Naraku's servants. "That will be fine. I feel so dirty, it shall be a pleasure to be rid of the grime."

"I’ll be back in a few minutes and then afterwards, I could bring some hot water for some tea."

Inuyasha gave the old woman a warm smile. "Tea will be fine, Kaede, it is kind of you to be so charitable." There was no reason not to be kind to this friendly woman, Inuyasha thought; the woman herself did not act too fond of her master and perhaps this Kaede was in a like circumstance as herself.

"Yes, my lady, master Naraku said to get you anything you will be wanting." She left the room, quietly shutting the door behind her.

Inuyasha wandered about the room for a time, until Kaede came back. She lead Inuyasha out of the room down the hall to the bathing chamber. Pushing opened the large doors, Inuyasha gasped when she saw the hug bathing pool. There was some sort of sculpture in the center of the bath of an angelic figure spitting water out of its mouth into the pool. The surface of the water was covered with rose petals. Removing her kimono, Inuyasha stepped into the warm water and sat down. She sighed as she let the warm water loosen her stiff muscles. She lingered in the bath, scrubbing and rinsing her skin to a dark pink color and then doing the same process over again. After having to endure Naraku's hands and mouth upon her, she felt as filthy and grimy as the people down at the beach. But after being in the bath for an hour, she forced herself to climb out of the water and dry herself off. Hanging on the wall was a rose-colored yukata.

Just then Kaede walked in and lead her back to her room. Taking off the yukata, she put on a dark blue pien-fu that fit her perfectly. After having completed her dressing, Kaede returned and she asked to be taken to her sons. Inuyasha was grateful that the old woman had given them the next room down the hall from her own. It was smaller than the one to which Naraku had shown her, but it was nicely furnished and quite comfortable, as was the rest of the house.

Shippo seemed more nervous now in Naraku's house than he had been earlier on the Black Widow. When Inuyasha entered the room, he ran to her with tears brimming in those dark green eyes. "Are we going to stay her from now on mother? Isn't father going to come and take us home and away from that pirate?"

"Don't worry, Shippo, you have nothing to fear." She was the only one who had anything to fear at the hands of Naraku, she thought to herself as she walked through the room and picked up her infant son in her arms.

Kaede had been standing at the door and as she looked at Shippo's tear-streaked face and then at Inuyasha holding her baby tenderly in her arms, she ventured to speak. "I beg your pardon, my lady."

"Yes, what is it, Kaede?" Inuyasha glanced up at the old woman.

"I just thought I should tell you that you probably will not have anything to fear from master Naraku this night. When he goes over to visit with the Wons, he doesn't usually get back till all hours of the morning and he doesn't even remember half of the things that happened. I’m sure all the men on this island will be drinking until they can hardly walk tonight, since master Naraku brought a large cargo back with him today."

Relief flooded Inuyasha's features as she thanked Kaede for this bit of information. Perhaps she would not be forced to become Naraku's mistress as soon as she had thought. And any amount of time, no matter how small could be to her advantage and she could still hope for a way to escape.

Before Kaede left the room, she informed Inuyasha that she would bring dinner in about an hour for her and Shippo, and they could eat it in the child's room.

Inuyasha spent the time before dinner nursing Keitano and trying to console Shippo. She had no idea what was going to happen to them or how she would go about planning for their escape. She did know that it would be up to her to do it and that she would have to use all of her strength in order to protect her sons against Naraku's madness.

xxxxx

Dinner was served to Inuyasha in the children's room and she found some small pleasure in the fact that she was able to have her meal with her sons. She had to force herself to eat her meal as Shippo nibbled slowly at his own meal. After dinner, Inuyasha was taken back to her room where she waited in fearful anticipation for Naraku to come barging through the door at any moment.

But Naraku did not break away from his friends and make his way back to his house until the early hours of the morning. Inuyasha jumped to her feet with a start when she heard a loud crash, as if someone had knocked something over, and the curses outside of her door seared her very soul with the certainty that Naraku had at last come to make good his threats of this afternoon. After hardly picking at her food, Inuyasha had curled herself in a chair and started to read a book and now with a growing fear she realized that she must have fallen asleep.

The door was flung wide and Naraku came stumbling into the bedchamber. There was a glass look in his eyes as he tried focusing them upon his lovely captive and his mouth twisted into an ugly grimace as he approached her, walking unsteadily upon his feet.

Inuyasha, her heart hammering, backed around the chair. Her mind flying over thoughts of saving herself from this drunken fiend.

"Do not be shy, my precious, I have returned to take that which I have been dreaming of for over a year now," he mumbled, his words slurring together.

"No!" Inuyasha gasped, her hands clutched the fabric of pien-fu over her heart.

"Now come to me. Let us not fight, for I assure you I shall prove out the winner." He rounded the chair and grabbed hold of her arm, as she started to make a run for the door.

"Let me go you bastard," she screamed, pulling at her arm and pushing against his chest.

"Oh my little hell cat, I can hardly wait to get between your soft, white thighs. It shall be the most pleasurable conquest I have ever made."

He was drunker than Inuyasha had first thought and the smell of sake and cheap perfume clung to him. But try as she might, she could not break his grip upon her. His fingers crushed into her tender flesh, which already showed large red welts that brought hated tears of pain to her eyes.

"I shall squelch that temper out of you and bring you to your knees this very night," he roared, dragging her to the bed and throwing her in its center, before he proceeded to undress in a wobbly fashion.

Inuyasha saw her chance and took it when he was pulling his pants down to his knees. She flung herself to the other side of the bed, backing herself into the corner looking about for an object with which to try to fight him off.

Naraku's roar of laughter filled the room and grated on Inuyasha's nerves. "You seek to escape me do you?" He pulled his pants the rest of the way off his legs and fell flat on his back upon the bed. "You shall not get away, my pet," he murmured softly, barely loud enough for her to hear.

Inuyasha stood, bracing herself for his next attack. She dared not leave the side of her bed until he made another attempt to get her, but as she stared down at his still body, she could not make up her mind about what to do. Going by the loud snoring coming from him, he appeared to have fallen into drunken unconsciousness but Inuyasha could not see his face so she could not tell if he were only trying to take her off guard or if he were in fact truly sleeping. If she had had a long stick she could have prodded him to see if he was asleep.

So she stood as still as possible, hardly daring to breathe as she watched Naraku's prone figure for the next few minutes; to her it seemed as though hours had gone by while she stood there. Finally she gathered her courage together and stepped around to the other side of the bed in order to see his face.

Naraku lay as still as death, snoring louder than before, with his eyes shut and a cruel grin on his face. Inuyasha let out a long sigh as if she had been holding her breath for the past frightful minutes.

She then threw a blanket over his naked body, not wishing to be forced to look at that nude form. This completed she went back to the chair she had earlier occupied and tried to still her shaking hands and thumping heart. She wanted to leave the room and the house but she figure Naraku wouldn't be so careless as to leave the house unguarded. Also, she didn't want to go into Shippo's room because she did not want him to see the filthy pirate dragging her out. Although he was terrified, Inuyasha knew Shippo would try to defend her and might get hurt in the process. That was something she was not going to let happen.

She bit back her tears and sighed. What would she do if he awoke again? How could she protect herself from such a man as this? She sat as alert as a dog and as frightened as a little mouse, waiting for him to make any movement.

xxxxx


It was late into the morning when there was a banging at the bedchamber door. Inuyasha jumped to her feet, her face pale and her hands tightly clenched together, as Naraku stirred on the bed.

"What?" Naraku rose on his elbows, adjusting his eyes to the light in the room.

Inuyasha started to the door, relieved to allow someone else into the room.

"What are you doing already dressed and out of bed, my pet? You will have to learn that being my mistress means that you shall stay on your back unless told otherwise." Naraku sat up, his bloodshot eyes traveling over Inuyasha's form.

Inuyasha halted in her tracks, her mind whirling in a frenzy. 'What is he talking about? Does he not remember what had happened? Or had he been so drunk last night that he had forgotten what had occurred and thought that he had indeed lain with me?' Well, she was not about to correct his memory and she could only pray that when his next attack came she would be able to find some other means to save herself.

The knocking sounded again so Inuyasha was saved from having to explain why she was already dressed and up and about.

"Come in, dammit!" Naraku shouted, holding his head. "Can't a man find any rest in his own house?"

Inuyasha started back and sat down in the chair as the door was opened and a young man entered the room.

"What the hell do you want, human?" Naraku questioned, rising naked from the bed.

"Lord Won sent me to inform you that his ship will sail within the half hour and he wished to be sure that you would not be late," the young, well-dressed human said.

"Well, you just get your ass on back to Huang-Fu and tell him I’m on my way. You would think Huang would at least give me a few days before I have to take to the sea again," he added mumbling to himself.

Inuyasha had not bothered looking up at the man who had come into the room, but, having digested the bit of information he had arrived to tell Naraku, she looked at the young man's back with interest. She could not have hoped for better news, Naraku would be going back to sea and this very day. Her heart beat with tremendous joy as she listened to their conversation.

"Well, get the hell out of my room, human. You brought your orders and I’ll be there shortly," Naraku shouted as he started pulling on his black hakama.

"Yes, master, I shall inform Lord Won that you shall be there shortly," the young man said turning about and starting to the door, then stopping in mid-stride as he glimpsed the woman sitting across the room.

Oh God, could it be, Inuyasha thought as she looked into the man's face. But even as she thought this she knew it was him, Tsun-Chung Soo, there was no mistake, it was him.

The young man stood looking, mouth a gape at the woman he had lusted after. He had heard yesterday of the beautiful woman that Naraku had brought as his captive to Grand Gravah. But never would he have imagined it to be Inuyasha Yamamaru.

"What are you staring at?" Naraku demanded as he watched Tsun-Chung gaping at Inuyasha. "I thought I told you to be gone?"

Tsun-Chung did not speak but went out the door, his mind going frantically over the past events. He would have to find a way to speak to Inuyasha alone. How could she possibly be in the hands of someone like Naraku and where was the demon lord she had went to Japan to mate with? He would have to try to help her if he could and perhaps he now had a chance to win his own freedom to get back to his wife. Hopefully, Inuyasha will listen to him and not be afraid. After all, he did try to force himself on her at one time.

Naraku was in a foul mood as he went about dressing. Inuyasha sat silently by, while he stomped about, cursing and ranting at Huang Fu Won and his sons for interrupting his play time.

Finally his murmuring stopped as his eyes fell upon Inuyasha, who sat primly in her chair. "You heard, I gather, that I shall be going back to sea?"

Inuyasha nodded her head, feeling uneasy under his piercing gaze.

"Those damn Wons are going to capture a Spanish merchant ship that is carrying gold and silver. It should be but a short trip, so if you have any thoughts in that lovely head of yours about escaping, let me tell you now to forget it, for I have already posted guards about the house and you shall not be allowed outside the doors."

Inuyasha did not answer but sat clutching her hands in her lap.

"I hope you shall heed my warnings, my sweet, but enough of this," he said, placing his hands on either side of her shoulders and raising her from the chair. "Let me taste the sweetness of those soft lips of yours to take their memory along with me." He pressed his mouth over hers while she pushed against him trying to free herself.

"I would think you would not be as reluctant after last night." He chuckled. "But I swear I could if time would allow it, again take you and make you mine once more. You are a witch Inuyasha, even though I know I possessed you last night my manhood cries out again for you beneath me." He released her and started toward the door. "But for now I have not the time, though you cannot imagine how I wish I did, but be sure that upon my return I will stay locked in this room for a month with you lying beside me until I have had my fill of your soft, sweet body. I will tell Kaede to tend to your needs and do not try to fly from me or you shall come to regret it, little one." With this final warning he left the room slamming the door after him.

After he left the room, Inuyasha rubbed her the back of her hand furiously over her lips trying to wipe away Naraku's foul kiss from her mouth.

xxxxx

After Naraku left the island, Inuyasha had spent her time tending Keitano and Shippo and worrying about whether Tsun-Chung had recognized her and if he also were going to sea or if he would be staying on the island and perhaps try to get in touch with her.

With Naraku's departure, a great burden had been taken off her mind, but still she felt the confines of her prison. Kaede had informed her that Naraku had indeed been true to his word and had posted four, burly looking demons around the house. Inuyasha was fast winning the loyalty of the old woman and she felt some comfort in the fact that Kaede was on her side.

Laying awake that evening Inuyasha prayed that Sesshomaru might come before Naraku's return to save her from the fate that would surely be hers if she remained on the island. She clutched the hope that Tsun-Chung would come to try to help her out of her prison. Perhaps he would help her to escape but what if he himself had become like these pirates. She would only be trading one prison for another. She still remembered how the man tried to force himself on her and the threat he had issued. He had the same look of brutal lust that Naraku had on his face. Would he help her and betray his friendship with his new shipmates?

'Tomorrow,' she promised herself, she would look about and perhaps she would be able to think more clearly and start to form a plan for her escape.

The next morning found Inuyasha, after she had fed Keitano, eating her own breakfast with Shippo out on the small garden patio, when Kaede announced that a human male was waiting at the door and wished to have a word with her.

"Show him in Kaede and bring another cup for tea." She held no doubt who the man was. It could only be Tsun-Chung Soo.

"What a fetching sight you make sitting there with this lovely background." Tsun-Chung smiled and walked to her and bowed.

"Greetings Lord Tsun-Chung," she said.

"Not anymore," said the young man. "My younger brother has the title of lord now."

"What happened?" Inuyasha asked shocked, offering him a chair to sit down in. "Shippo, go inside and watch your brother."

"Yes mother," the little kitsune said and went inside.

Tsun-Chung frowned watching the little fox demon go inside. "I thought Sesshomaru was a dog demon?"

"He is. We adopted Shippo."

He nodded in understanding. "Anyway, after your refusal of sleeping with me, I left with the intention of making you pay for clawing me on the face. But my father told me that if I didn't let it go he would put my younger brother as heir. So, I went about my daily life as usual while secretly plotting against you, when one day, I met the most wonderful woman in the world. Her name is Mei Ling. She is a sweet, caring, loving woman and I love her very much. I asked her to marry me three months after you left for Japan but my father was against the marriage."

"Why?"

"Because she was a peasant and I was royalty. I began to see what problems your own parents went through because of the difference." He sighed. "It didn't matter to me that she was poor. I loved her and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her."

"So, what happened next?"

Just then, Kaede walked out on the patio with a tray. "I thought your guest would like to have something to eat as well." She placed the tray on the table.

"Thank you, Kaede," said Inuyasha smiling at the old woman. "Go on and finish." She poured some tea into a cup and handed it to Tsun-Chung.

"Well, my father threatened to disinherit me. But you know at that moment, I realized something. I didn't care anymore. I thought let him give everything to my brother. I would still be happier than anyone in my family because I would be with a woman who loved me for me not for my father's money." He smiled sadly to himself as he took one of Inuyasha's hand. "Can you ever forgive me, my lady for my crude behavior?"

Inuyasha smiled at him and took his hand firmly in hers. "Of course I can. I can see that this Mei Ling has truly filled your heart with love. And I am so happy for you." She noticed the frown on his face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said smiling brightly at her. Then the smile dropped. "Inuyasha, tell me, how you come to be in the hands of someone like Naraku?"

Inuyasha sighed depressingly and commenced to tell him, hardly knowing where to start, about what had happened in her life when she left China. Tsun-Chung quietly listened throughout her long story until she finally told of how Naraku had taken her and her children from her mate's castle. He could see the love and hurt that filled her whole face when she told him of her mate. His own heart wept for her because he knew exactly how she felt. He dearly missed his beautiful Mei Ling.

When at last she sat quietly looking into his face with trusting eyes, he spoke, "I shall try to see you out of this Inuyasha, but if I may be so bold as to ask, were you happy with this Sesshomaru Aoki?"

"Yes," Inuyasha said smiling sweetly. "Never have I known such a demon or human as my mate. My whole life has changed since knowing him, he is my only hope for love and for the future and I do not think I would wish to live if he were taken permanently from me. The only thing that has kept me going so far are his sons.”

Tsun-Chung smiled warmly at her. "Then I shall do everything in my powers to help you and your children to escape this island."

"You truly have changed." Then she frowned. "But how is it you are here as well?"

He explained in short order to her how he had walked out of his father's castle never to return. Two months after he and Mei Ling were married, he was on his way to Japan to ask her to forgive him for his cruel behavior when his ship was captured by Deshi Won and taken prisoner along with the rest of the passengers and some of the crew. He had tried to escape but that ended in failure. He realized that he might stand a chance of escaping if he got the pirates to like and trust him, and it worked, Huang Fu Won had taken a liking to him and he became the pirate lord's personal vassal.

Inuyasha was amazed at the turn of fate they had both received since only a little over a year ago.

"I had better leave now, Inuyasha," said Tsun-Chung rising to his feet. "I had to bribe my way in here, through your guards, and I do not wish Naraku to know that I knew you before in China, so it is best if I do not visit too long. And also there is Huang Fu, he has a bit of a temper, when kept waiting."

"But I thought he had left yesterday with his other men," she said, rising to her feet to show him to the door.

"No, no. I think he is planning to go into Naples soon though. I may have to go with him, Inuyasha, but never fear I will find a way in which to help you get back to your mate."

"I do not know how I shall ever be able to repay you." She placed a light kiss upon his cheek, before he went through the door.