Tender Love

Chapter 25

With Naraku gone time seemed to pass at a swifter pace for those living in the large stone house on Grand Gravah. The weeks turned into a month and still Inuyasha was held prisoner without any further word from Tsun-Chung Soo. Her nerves were shattered due to the oppressive heat of the island and the constant plague of mosquitoes. They all retired early, thankful to get under the mosquito netting affixed to their beds, and thereby, keep away the small painful insects.

The fear that Naraku's ship would be sighted lived with Inuyasha night and day, until the slightest unexpected noise would have her trembling like a child.

It had been almost two months now, she thought as she nursed Keitano, since she had seen Tsun-Chung. What could have happened to him? He had promised to help her but so far she had not been given any word or sign. Perhaps he had been harmed in some way or even killed. Oh Lord, she prayed not. He was her only hope for leaving this terrible island. She fought back the tears as she thought about the child she had left behind. She dearly hoped that her eldest child, Keitaro was doing fine without his mother and brothers with him. She missed her son, her home, her friends and her mate. 'Where are you Sesshomaru? Why have you not found us yet?' She wanted to go home. She wanted to see her father and hold her little brother in her arms. She wanted to go run wild in the forest with the wind in her face. She wanted to sit out and watch the stars and make love to her mate. She missed his touches and kisses. Tears of sorrow fell from her eyes, "I want to go home," she sobbed quietly as she rocked with her son in her arms. But deep in her heart, she knew that Sesshomaru was still searching for her and his sons and she never once gave up the hope that he would appear any day to take her away from this miserable life which had been forced upon her.

Deciding not to wait any more for Tsun-Chung, Inuyasha had tried to escape on her own but failed miserably. She had one day gone to the back door, and begged the guard standing at his post, to help take her and her sons to Korea. She would find her own way into China where her father would be. She had promised to give him any amount of money or land he wanted, after she was brought to safety, but the guard had only grunted and proceeded to tell her in a rough, low voice that he would not rouse Naraku's anger for any amount of money. Then he had walked away laughing, and saying that if he did as she wished Naraku would only find him and cut his throat before he had the chance to spend one coin. Inuyasha had tried to call him back and to plead with him at least to ask about to see if anyone else would take the chance. But the guard, thinking her somewhat a madwoman had only roared with laughter until she had slammed the door and bursted into tears.

Several days after this pathetic attempt to gain her freedom Inuyasha had thought of Sya. Perhaps the girl was still alive and living on the island. If she could get word to her maybe, she could come up with some means by which to help her escape. Quickly she had called Kaede to her, the old woman being the only one allowed to go out of the house to gather food or any other supplies that might be needed.

But the news Kaede brought back to Inuyasha was hopeless. Sya, on hearing whom Kaede was and who had sent her, had refused to talk with her.

xxxxx

Indeed, Sya had been thrown into a fit of temper when the old woman had stood knocking at the wooden door of the shack in which she now lived, and had yelled at the old hag to get away before she came out and beat her away.

Once the old woman's retreating back could be seen walking back down the beach, Sya had burst into a shower of tears.

"That bitch," she screeched. "If it were not for Inuyasha, I would be the one living up there in that fancy house, awaiting my lover's return." Instead all she could look forward to now was the nightly return of the human filth with whom she shared the shack with. She stared down in hatred at the ugly, metal manacle around her wrist. Damn that filthy human scum for placing this thing on her. The manacle had a spell on it draining a demon of their strength. Right now, Sya was no stronger than an ordinary human female.

"Damn, that slut has a lot of nerve," she cursed. If not for that golden-eyed whore, Naraku would never have given her over to his men. Oh, she knew the way of it; her love had been bewitched. On that first morning aboard the Black Widow he had ordered three of his men to forcefully take her out of his cabin and to put her in the bowels of the ship. Screaming and kicking at the men and calling out for Naraku, knowing that some terrible mistake had been made, Sya had been taken out of her lover's life.

But being moved out of his cabin and locked in a small dingy room, was only the first of her degradations. That evening Naraku had told his men that being good and deserving men they could have her for their own and take turns with her as they saw fit. For those weeks at sea, Sya had to endure all sixty men raping her repeatedly.

By the time the Black Widow reached the island of Grand Gravah, Sya's mind was in a state of numbness. At first she had kept the thought that Inuyasha had somehow bewitched her lover, and that any day he would free himself from her spell and come for her, but as more time passed and her body was continually mistreated, she tried to stop thinking all together.

On Grand Gravah Sya had survived by the use of her body alone. She was passed from one demon to another until she was taken by a human, who forced upon her wrist the submissive manacle. The man was a disgusting swine as his breath was foul and he reeked of uncleanliness. And though the man was cruel and harsh when drunk he would beat her mercilessly while forcing his way into her body. She knew that she would have been treated the same way by any of the animals on this island except for her love. So she lived, if one could call it that, with only one thought constantly in the back of her mind, Naraku, her love and that one day she would have him back.

xxxxx

Inuyasha had been deeply hurt at the vehemence of Sya's hate which Kaede had reported back to her. She still could not understand the girl. Did she not know that the only thing Inuyasha wanted was to be away from Naraku and back with her mate and other son? Did she think that she had deliberately set out to take Naraku from her? If she had her way she would be more than happy to leave this retched island and let her have her beloved Naraku. How could the girl be so blind and so utterly dense?

Inuyasha had begun to rely on Kaede as she had years ago relied on her old nurse Jun. The older woman seemed to possess a simple understanding that comforted Inuyasha in her times of need. She had been correct in her estimation that Kaede's circumstances were close to her own. They had begun to have long talks in the afternoons, sitting out on the patio, and Inuyasha now placed complete trust in the woman. She found that Kaede had an elder sister named Kikyo that was a powerful priestess. One day they were traveling along a beach when the pirates captured them.

Her sister fought them valiantly but in the end, when Naraku appeared her sister could do nothing against the vile pirate captain and they were captured.

Kaede sat weeping softly, as she told Inuyasha about the fate of her elder sister and herself. She was only a child so she was not forced to constantly submit to the pirates but her beautiful sister. Loud sobs erupted from Kaede as she covered her wet face with her hands and continued to weep.

The pirates had captured four other women and the men raped them all repeatedly but the demons seemed to take great pleasure in brutally raping Kaede's sister. She guessed that it was because her sister was a priestess. Three of the girls had died while on the ship, while the other girl died a week after they arrived on Grand Gravah. Kaede's own sister died while trying to escape with her younger sister. And unfortunately for Kaede, after her sister's death, she became Naraku's servant.

Inuyasha had listened in a daze to the woman's story. "Did you never try to escape from this place?"

"No, child, the day my sister died, I knew I would never leave this place. After I became of age, I was ravaged by a pack of degrading men, human and demon, who sealed my fate for me. All was lost with the death of my sister."

Inuyasha knelt in front of the elderly woman and kissed the cheek of the woman, who sat telling her this sad tale. "If ever we get away, Kaede, I promise you you shall always have a place in my home." But Kaede knew even as she saw the tender smile turned to her by this young woman that she would never leave Grand Gravah. She had punished herself over the years for the fate of her sister and she would forever do the same until the time of her death.

Inuyasha rubbed the silver curls atop her child's head. She placed him on the floor and watched as the child began to crawl over to his older brother and began to climb upon him. ‘How like your father you are, my precious son,’ she thought. He was growing so big that he promised to be as tall and handsome as his sire. ‘Sesshomaru would be proud if he could see the size of his youngest now,’ she thought, feeling a terrible hopelessness wash over her. With Sya not willing to help and no word from Tsun-Chung, her fate would be sealed by the return of Naraku.

xxxxx

Sesshomaru had indeed not given his mate and children up for lost. No rest came to him as he prowled the deck day and night. His orders to the crew were abrupt and given only when necessary, and his eyes constantly were turned to the sea, searching for a sail in the distance.

At every port where his ship docked, he along with Koga, Miroku, Sango and Shilin questioned every seaman who could be seen. Did anyone know the whereabouts of Naraku and his men? Always the replies were the same; some knew Naraku, but none had seen him. What did this elegant but dangerous demon, who looked as though the hounds of hell rode his back, want with a half breed such as Naraku? They would ask themselves.

After weeks of searching Sesshomaru had hardly eaten or slept; his thoughts were continuously tormented night and day by the faces of Inuyasha and his sons. His temper became nothing short of an angry boar's and his crew avoided him whenever possible. Those who did not recognize the signs of his unleashed anger were swiftly dealt with.

In one of the ports where Sesshomaru docked, a familiar play was unfolded for his crew in a waterfront tavern. Upon docking, Sesshomaru, Koga and Captain Shilin would roam the waterfront taverns until the morning hours trying to pick up a word or a clue as to the whereabouts of Naraku.

In one such tavern Sesshomaru approached and question a large sultry demon, who was leaning against the bar. The large demon, in no mood to talk after losing his last months wages in a game of Chest, turned his back on the demon lord.

"I asked you a question, fool," Sesshomaru took the reluctant fellow by the shoulder and spun him about.

The man slapped Sesshomaru's hand away and spat at his feet. "Get away ye dandy," came his crude answer.

Losing his reason for the moment, as all of his rage came boiling to the surface, Sesshomaru stood staring hard at the demon in front of him seeing through the man and consumed with hate. Rage coursed through him as a demonic wind rose around him lifting his long hair about him like angry snakes. His snarl was fierce and promised death to any how disobeyed him.

The demon realized his mistake in not taking this demon seriously as he staredin horror into Sesshoamru's flashing red eyes and rage-contorted face as the stripes on his face seemed to widen and stretch. But too late he saw the danger in his opponent, for Sesshomaru had already grabbed the demon by the throat; a great growl emerged from the depths of Sesshomaru's chest and he shook the demon as though he were a giant rat. Tossing him against the wall, Sesshomaru stalked towards the cringing demon but before the sailor could protect himself or get away from the insane stranger before him, Sesshomaru had choked slammed the fool onto the bar shattering it into large splinters. Then he grabbed the demon again digging his claws into the other's throat and injecting his poison. The demon screamed as he could feel the poison melting his organs. "Next time someone asks you a question," Sesshomaru snarled savagely in the sailors face. "You do best to answer them." And he slung the poor terrified demon through the wall of the tavern. He crashed through three other buildings before his body finally came to a rest in front of the local healer's hut. The patrons in the tavern had fell silent when Sesshomaru began to throttle the sailor and tossed him through the wall like a boulder. As the demon lord turned to face the crowd, everyone returned back to what they were doing and Sesshomaru left the tavern in disgust.

For longer than a month he was driven so, never relenting in his search, combing the waterfronts and traveling to any port which he had heard might have pirates staying within it. But it was with a heavy heart and a weary body that Sesshomaru agreed with Shilin and put in at Italy. Shilin had been informed, on one of his own search mission, that the pirate Huang Fu Won often visited Naples every chance he gets and if anyone would know the whereabouts of Naraku, it would be this demon pirate.

Sesshomaru, Koga, Miroku, Sango and Shilin walked the streets of Naples, asking questions and offering money for information but no one would give him the answers he needed. They sensed he was too dangerous to try to fool and no one would really tell where Huang Fu Won stayed because should some harm befall him due to a man's eagerness for coins, that man would not live long in this town, which depended on the pirates for its livelihood.

It was late one evening and Sesshomaru had about given up hope of finding out any information in Naples, when, finally in a tavern after asking each man who came through the door, about Huang Fu Won, a young human with long black hair in a topnotch said that he did indeed know the pirate and in fact he himself worked for him.

Sesshomaru could not believe this stroke of luck and asked the young man to join him at his table. The man declined telling Sesshomaru that it was too dangerous to speak out in public. So, Sesshomaru told him where to find his ship, he renamed the Retribution. The young man said he would come once night had settled. Then he got up and left.

Sesshomaru sat at the table and watched the young man leave. He did not know what to do. At last, after weeks of searching, he was finally one step closer to finding his children and his beautiful mate. He got up and left to find the others and tell them the news.

It was close to midnight and Sesshomaru was beginning to think that the human had stood him up when he heard someone say from the docks. "Permission to come aboard, sir?"

"Yes," he said excited then he called for Koga, Sango, Miroku and Shilin. The four rushed up on deck as they saw a young human standing at Sesshomaru's side. "This man says he works for the pirate that maybe able to tell us where Naraku is hiding."

Then a thought hit the human as he stared at Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru Aoki, lord of the west of Japan?"

Everyone frowned at the young man. "How do you know who he is?" asked Miroku.

He smiled at the demon lord. "You are mistaken, my lord. I will not tell you where to find Huang Fu."

Sesshomaru could feel the rage boiling inside him as he had a vision of ripping this vile filthy . . . but his rampaging thoughts where interrupted when the human said something that made the demon lord's world rock.

"No, I shall take you to Inuyasha and your sons."

"Wait a minute," said captain Shilin frowning. "I know you. You’re Lord Tsun-Chung Soo."

"Use to be, remember, I gave it up when I married my Mei," said Tsun-Chung.

"But we heard you were lost at sea and presumed dead," said the dragon.

"No, the ship was attacked by pirates and I have been with them every since hoping for a chance to escape so I can go back to my wife."

"You know where my Yasha is," Sesshomaru said desperately. "Is she all right?"

"I have seen her and spoken with her. She is all right and she has not given up hope of you finding them and taking them home."

Sesshomaru was so relieved. He could feel the tears burning behind his eyes. He turned quickly. 'I will not cry. The lord of the west does not show weakness to anyone.' But the tears came all the same. He has searched so long and now it was almost over. 'Yasha. My Yasha, I am coming for you.'

Tsun-Chung smile widened as he had no doubt that this demon lord standing before him shedding tears of joy for his wife was indeed Inuyasha's mate. He looked exactly as he had pictured him in his mind on the day Inuyasha described the demon to him. Also, no one, human or demon, could be as interested in Naraku’s whereabout as this demon was without having a very good reason. Inuyasha was the best reason that Tsun-Chung could think of.

Sesshomaru dried the tears, cleared his throat and turned back to face the human. "So, how do you know my Yasha?"

"We knew each other in China," he said, making sure not to tell this powerful demon what he tried to do to his mate. He continued to tell Sesshomaru how he had came upon Inuyasha in Naraku's bed chamber and went back the next day to speak with her, after Naraku was off the island. He also told Sesshomaru that he had sent a message to the western palace telling him of his mate's whereabouts. He had also in this letter begged him to meet him in Naples since he himself would not be going back to the island and would await him there.

Sesshomaru could not believe his good fortune in having run into this young man. His head was reeling with the thought that he would be able to get to his mate. "I cannot tell you in words what your loyalty to my mate means to me, Lord Tsun-Chung.”

"The only way you can thank me is to rescue your mate before Naraku returns. He has already headed back to the Grand Gravah," said Tsun-Chung urgently. "The Black Widow is a swift ship. At best, if you push your crew day and night, you would probably make it a few hours after Naraku arrives at the island."

Upon hearing this, Sesshomaru turned to the dragon. "Shilin awaken the crew. We set sail tonight." Then he turned to Tsun-Chung. "You show us on a map where to find this place. I know you must miss your wife and want to get home as soon as possible. i know how you feel. I miss my Yasha every day we are separated. You do not have to come with us."

"I know but I want to come. I will not be able to live with myself if I did not make sure you got to the correct island in time to save Inuyasha," said the human. 'Besides, I owe it to her to make sure she is safe. After all, I promised her that I would do everything I can to help her escape.'