An Unforeseen Complication

And part three is here.

--"Blah, blah, blah."-- = Flashback type thing.

Read, enjoy and review at the end for me.

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An Unforeseen Complication

Part 3

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Juromaru kept his head lowered, careful to not draw any unwanted attention to himself whatsoever. He was confused...no, that was a gross understatement. The youkai was downright baffled. What use was he to the Inu-Taiyoukai? Honestly. The reason Naraku had kept him alive, though he shuddered at the memories, didn't hold up with this youkai.

This...Inu, this Sesshomaru was not cruel; Juromaru could see it easily in his eyes. But neither was he kind.

Azure eyes glanced up through violet hair towards the Taiyoukai's back. What was he supposed to think about all this? At least around Naraku...he had known his place. Around Sesshomaru, he had no idea. The Taiyoukai had told him of his 'employment' in the Taisho household in the West, but not his position. Furthermore, the Inu turned around and placed him trustingly near his ward as a test.

He sighed. 'I couldn't understand him if his mind was a book.'

Sesshomaru heard the sigh and glanced back over his shoulder; meeting the confused blue eyes he had felt on his back for the majority of their venture this day. He was deep in though, that much was rather obvious to the Taiyoukai's eye, but he was confused. He mentally congratulated himself. If the youkai was confused than he couldn't give Sesshomaru any trouble until the Taiyoukai clarified a few more things.

He stopped and glanced at his ward. "You are free to go."

The girl smiled brightly. "Yes, my Lord!"

After she had dismounted Ah Uhn, he gave his vassal a glare, sending the toad-like...thing...scurrying after the young girl.

Juromaru rubbed his neck a moment, the shackle around his wrist clinking as he did so and gaining him the attention of the Taiyoukai. He flinched slightly from the intense gaze and stepped back, lowering his head ever so slightly. Though a day had passed, the restraints around his wrists kept him from healing properly and he was in absolutely no condition to challenge his new master in the least.

Sesshomaru observed the silent youkai a moment, the wounds still fresh on the lean body. Uncrossing his arms, he walked up and saw the youkai tense noticeably. He circled Juromaru a moment before stopping behind him and looking at his largest, and most likely most painful, of the youkai's injuries. A deep gash that nearly as wide as half his hand traveled down his back. Though the wound had finally stopped bleeding, it was serious and would be infected by the time they reached his castle if left as it was. His eyes narrowed in concentration as he looked upon it closer, his clawed hand reaching up to touch the shaking shoulder of the youkai.

Juromaru shut his eyes when he felt the ghost of a touch, suppressing the urge to flee yet again. 'What does he want from me?'

Sesshomaru paused in his task when a tremor went through the youkai, his fear spiking to a high level. Glancing up, he saw that the youkai's eyes were closed tightly. Realization came and the Taiyoukai took away his hand to not frighten him more, saving the reason for exactly why he cared in the first place to analyze later.

"Ah Uhn, lay down."

The two-headed dragon gave its master a questioning look but obeyed, pulling Juromaru's wrists together as the dragon did so.

"On your knees."

Juromaru managed to not slightly before lowering himself to his knees, waiting and trying to prepare himself for anything. When he felt the Taiyoukai sit behind him, Juromaru couldn't contain his curiosity and looked back at him over his shoulder, although he was ignored as the Inu reached into the saddle of his mount and pulled out a couple bandaging rolls and a water-skin. Deciding that staring was probably not a good idea, Juromaru forced himself to relax and look straight ahead.

Why curse a blessing when you received one?

Sesshomaru worked quickly and silently, years of practice on the battlefield aiding him in his task. He was rather impressed when Juromaru didn't do anything to rest nor did he even flinch when Sesshomaru cleaned the large gash across his back.

He was unprepared when Juromaru suddenly leaned back against him, his hands going directly to the youkai's shoulders to brace the slight fall. Once glance quickly told of his unconscious state and the Taiyoukai wasn't at all surprised. Exhaustion had been apparent in his movements and state of mind. Frankly, Sesshomaru had thought he'd collapse much sooner.

Sesshomaru's clawed hand hesitated before moving some of the lavender hair from the almost angelic face. However, he paused when he noticed his mount giving him odd looks. Growling under his breath, he easily shifted the youkai to lean against the dragon before standing once more.

Somewhere deep within him...he knew right then that he didn't regret saving this youkai with a single look at the peaceful face.

... ... ... ... ...

He slowly shifted away, blue eyes opening but not really seeing anything in the darkened room.

Turning from his side to his back, Juromaru winced at the pressure on his wound but the soft mattress beneath him made the pain fade to a dull ache. 'What happened...? Where am I?' Wincing, he slowly sat up though his eyes still couldn't focus on anything. The stiffness in his muscles and joints told him he had been asleep for too long.

It was obviously nighttime; the windows towards the side of the room let the moonlight flicker in. The room was large, though Juromaru, having poor sight in the dark, couldn't make out any details.

"I see you're awake."

His head snapped to the side and met glowing amber. Fear suddenly rose within him at seeing his new master but he just lowered his head in response to the observation...however obvious it may have been.

Sesshomaru didn't waver his gaze from the youkai as he spoke. "I have removed your shackles under the condition that you behave. If you, in anyway at all, threaten anyone within this castle I will return them to you. Understood?"

Realization dawned with memories and Juromaru looked at his bandaged wrists. They were gone... Relief washed over him as he nodded his head once in understanding.

"Furthermore," Juromaru looked back to the Taiyoukai who stood tall and proud, his arms crossed, "you are now under my rule and will obey me. When your wounds heal, your training will begin."

Without another word, the Taiyoukai turned on his heel and left the massive room. Juromaru winced slightly as he heard the lock click shut and knew that although he had more freedom, he was still a prisoner here. Sighing a bit, he leaned back against the headboard of the bed a moment, looking down at his wrists. A small smile tugged the corners of his lips as he slowly flexed his hands.

"You should eat."

He jumped at the voice, turning his gaze towards a dark corner of the room. His gaze narrowed as he focused on a younger looking youkai who stood with her head bowed to him, blinking when she looked up at him with a warm smile.

"My name is Sakura, sir. Lord Sesshomaru saw fit to assign me to you for your needs."

Juromaru backed up slightly in his bed though the headboard made the movement a bit on the redundant side. His violet hair cascaded around his face as he lowered his own head, knowing that a single wrong move in this place could very well cost him his life. It may have been a bit over cautious given the Taiyoukai's trust in him thus far but Juromaru wasn't going to take any chances.

"Sir?" She stepped forward. "No offense is to be meant of course, but you should really eat something."

Juromaru glanced up at her a moment before his eyes went to the side and spotted a tray of food on the nightstand. Confusion went through him. 'Why are my senses still so dull?' Deciding to disregard the thought, though it did bother him, he sat up on his own and managed to hold down the wince as his wounds pulled ever so slightly. Without the shackles around his wrists, his healing was finally kicking in although with his near-starving state, it was taking much longer for his body to heal itself.

Sakura smiled at the youkai. "Perhaps you would like to bathe first?"

She was almost ecstatic when the barest of nods was seen, happy to get some kind of reaction out of him.

The youthful kitsune youkai gestured to a door behind her. "Those are your private springs, sir. Lord Sesshomaru wanted to make sure you made good use of them while you're here."

Juromaru sighed quietly to himself. He really, really, didn't feel like moving...although the idea of a hot bath was beginning to outweigh that notion very quickly in his mind. He turned a bit and put his legs over the side of the large bed, barely wincing as his body protested and ached for him not to move at all. However, he was caught off guard when an arm was suddenly around his waist and helping him to get to his own feet. Blinking a bit, he looked at the woman for some kind of explanation but she only smiled at him in response.

With the aide of the reserved kitsune, he made it to the large room where the springs were and, taking a seat on the side rocks as Sakura set a few oils and such in easy reach for him.

"Lord Sesshomaru has requested that you dress properly from now on."

Juromaru lowered his head slightly at that statement, feeling a bit dirtier than he had been.

The kitsune placed a simple pair of pants on the side of the spring before standing and bowing to him. "When you're done, I shall tend to your wounds, sir."

He watched in silence as she walked out, quietly shutting the door behind her and leaving him to his thoughts.

Shaking his head, he silently vowed that he would never understand any of these people he was coming across...though even he had to admit that hadn't felt so close to actually being happy in so long that it almost scared him.

He found himself rather liking the feeling.

After removing his clothes, the youkai slipped into the hot spring and breathed in the hot water, pleased when his sense of smell began coming back to him. He wasn't trained well and the extent of his abilities, besides his speed, were foreign to even himself but he always had a knack of learning quickly and adapting faster than one could blink. It's what had saved him in that fight with the hanyou with the Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha. The younger half-brother of his new master had been rather slow on the draw with that fang of his at the time but between dodging that young wolf and the sword, Juromaru had adapted to the new fighting styles quickly and gave both of them a run for their money.

Not even a week passed before Naraku had captured him again.

He glanced down at his claws a moment in thought.

Would he ever be able to taste the thrill of a fight again? He had been created for that very purpose, after all. To fight and though he had been gifted with an intelligent mind, he loved the addicting thrill a battle provided. The adrenaline causing the blood to pump wildly throughout his body, eyes looking towards his opponent for a challenge. In truth, it was the most basic instinct of any living youkai. No matter if the battle was a victory or loss, keep fighting and never stop.

Sighing to himself, he sunk deeper in the soothing water and closed his eyes in a moment of bliss.

His wounds had stung in protest against the hot water though merely seconds later; the tense muscles in his body began to unwind.

Azure eyes opened slightly as his thoughts went down a now all too familiar path.

The Taiyoukai.

Deciding to forgo the subject for a few minutes, he glance up and looked at the oils the kitsune had given to him to use. Hesitantly sitting up and taking hold of one, he brought it to his nose and the scent of cinnamon assaulted his senses. Deciding to make use of it, he carefully washed his hair and body, ignoring his wounds for now, before spreading the oil over his skin.

He lounged in the spring for a few more minutes before remembering that the kitsune was waiting for him.

As quick as his body would let him, he climbed from the spring and dried himself off before slipping the black pants over his thin legs. They were a bit big on him and hung on his hips but he couldn't complain considering what he had been wearing before. He slowly walked over to the door and opened it, the cool air of the room on the other side making him wrap his arms around his torso.

"Better?"

Blue eyes glanced over at the kitsune, now easily seen through the dim candlelight in the room.

Juromaru didn't answer and she really didn't expect him to either.

"Come and sit down, sir. I'll redress your wounds."

The youkai forced his arms down to his sides before walking over and taking a seat on the bed once more.

Sakura climbed up behind him and Juromaru jumped at the feel of her hands steadily starting to properly clean the wound on his back. She made no protest on the actions and merely kept working. When she was done, she wiped her hands off and prepared to get off the bed. However, she paused when her eyes caught a glimpse of another deeper wound and winced in sympathy. Directly above his left hip, Juromaru had another deep gash that looked to be already infected with the lack of treatment. Sighing, she rung out the cloth she had used on his back and lightly began cleaning it.

Juromaru's eyes widened dramatically at the light touch on his lower side and his mind slammed to a halt, stalling his thoughts.

--"You'll never escape me."--

Bright silver seeped into his azure eyes before he growled deeply and his claws were flying, backhanding the kitsune across the neck and face roughly. She cried out in surprise and pain as his claws slashed through her throat and face with ease. He turned and glared at her prone body on the ground, watching in a morbid fascination as she clutched her throat to stop the bleeding, looking at him with obvious fear in her eyes although they both knew she wouldn't die from the wound.

A door slammed down the hall and Juromaru blinked, shaking his head in confusion as the beast within him settled back down before the door to his room was suddenly thrown open. His new master surveyed the situation quickly before glaring at him with enough malice that it made Juromaru whimper and back up until his back was flush against the wall.

Sesshomaru's golden orbs fought to remain their normal color, crimson leaking in the white of his eyes as he glared at the youkai cowering from him. "Do not move," each word was punctuated with a threat that Juromaru didn't even want to know the outcome of.

Quickly, the youkai nodded in submission to the powerful Inu and watched as the Taiyoukai quickly scooped the young kitsune into his arms and left the room, leaving the door wide open...a fact that wasn't lost on Juromaru. He breathed deeply for a few moments as he heard the fading footsteps of the Inu, dread and despair filtering through him. He hadn't even been able to control his reaction.

Fear made him panic and his heartbeat picked up as his gaze suddenly focused on the door, running in the opposite direction of the Taiyoukai before he even consciously knew what he was doing. Juromaru's hair whipped around him as he ran without pause, corridors and stairways passing him in the blink of an eye as he reached a high speed given his condition. He couldn't stop, knowing all too well that the Inu would already know of his escape attempt.

Juromaru leapt down a flight of stairs and continued on throughout the castle.

He rounded a corner was suddenly only aware of two things. One, a sudden flash of white was in front of him and two, an intense pain registered as he came to a harsh stop. Azure eyes lowered and his mind numbly registered the arm that disappeared into his abdomen before he looked back up, his vision blurring as saw deep crimson eyes glaring back at him.

A growl was heard before the hand was ripped out and Juromaru coughed slightly, tasting blood in his mouth before falling to his knees and feeling the weakness in his body take over. The pain faded, as did his conscious thoughts before he felt himself fall to the floor. With a final view of the black boots not four inches from his face that were now stained with his bloody, he closed his eyes and succumbed to the darkness invading his mind.

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End of Part 3

Haha! Cliffhanger! *dodges random things thrown from audience* Relax! Review and I'll update. Thanks, guys! ^_^