A Perilous Web

Feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

Chapter 3

----

 

Haruki watched the rain fall across the opening of the cave, his back to the still unmoving demon lord. Sesshoumaru had stopped bleeding and was bandaged up with the dark haired demon's own, much cleaner clothing. He did what he could, but the opening of the wound was large and it was going to have to heal much on it's own. The silver hair was still stained with blood. He had gotten most of it off his visible skin, treating the lesser wounds as well with a salve he concocted.

 

As far as the paralysis, he wasn't sure when it would wear off. That depended on the demon.

 

He walked back to Sesshoumaru, lifting the makeshift bandages slightly to double check the bleeding had stopped. A crushing hand reached up to grab his wrist, and Haruki jerked, unsuccessful in pulling away.

 

Yellow amber eyes looked to him, but to hell if Haruki had any indication what the demon was thinking.

 

A screech sounded from his mount, and he knew someone else was here to join the pair. He pulled away again and this time Sesshoumaru let him go. He turned to go to the opening of the cave, and through the fleeting rain he could make out a demon stalking closer. He couldn't make him out very well. The man was tall, and his hair was long, dark and braided. It hung over his shoulder, reaching his waste. He held a sword in one hand.

 

Scenting the man, Haruki could tell the demon was already wounded.

 

“You need to stay out of shit that doesn't involve you, little one.” the man spoke to him. His voice was deep, carrying through the rain.

 

Haruki pulled his weapon out. He wasn't nearly as little as this one apparently thought him to be. Perhaps young for a demon, but time had matured him in many aspects. The sweet pull of adrenaline came to him, and a small bit of bloodlust. His mount felt it too, as Kanou circled around the two demon's, giving the unfamiliar one a wide berth.

 

Haruki came at the man swiftly, not wasting time. He knew what it was going to come down to, and at the moment he didn't fancy giving Sesshoumaru up. He had grown to enjoy the calm he had in the lands of the west. Without a powerful demon to rule it, he knew it would just turn to chaos like the all the rest of the world.

 

The demon countered, pushing back. He seemed a bit surprised at the ferocity in which the slimmer demon attacked. He hadn't known Sesshoumaru to have too many companions.

 

Haruki moved swiftly to the side as the larger man was pushing, coming at him from a different angle. Physically, he knew the man was stronger then him. His own advantage was that he was swift.

 

The strange demon had to turn his body awkwardly, and struck at Haruki's blade with the back of it. It was at this point he realized that the strange demon was already wounded. There was a gash wrapped around his side.

 

Haruki knew he wouldn't last much longer.

And he was correct. The demon was retreating not too long after.

 

“You are going to regret interfering,” the demon spoke as he fled. Haruki didn't go after him.

 

Haruki turned and walked back to the entrance of the cave, Kanou following him, his nose at his master's shoulder. He stopped as Haruki walked back in.

 

'So it wasn't just Naraku that was after you,' Haruki thought. He didn't count the less notable demons. No wonder Sesshoumaru had been hurt so badly with Naraku plotting against him, and another demon taking advantage of that.

 

“I no longer need your aid. You may go,” Sesshoumaru spoke.

 

The arrogance behind the lord's words left Haruki slightly dumbfounded.

 

“You are in no shape to defend yourself.”

 

“I will manage,” Sesshoumaru returned.

 

Haruki did not leave though. He took a seat beside the great demon lord.

 

“What happened?”

 

“Naraku tricked my servant into poisoning me,” he spoke. The rest could be implied.

 

“When you are well, you will go after Naraku?”

 

“Rest assured, that worm will be dead very shortly.”

 

Those confident words sparked a deep longing in himself. He wished nothing more then that to be true.

 

“May I aid you?”

 

Sesshoumaru did not say anything for a few moments. With Jaken gone, and Ah-Un his only companion, he had to admit things would get a bit dull.

 

“I will not protect you if you cannot protect yourself. And if you get in my way, I will kill you.”

 

Jaken had been easily persuaded to betray him, be it his intention or not. He would not allow himself the same comfort level with a traveling companion again.

 

Haruki nodded. He could expect no less. He wasn't going to get his hopes up. Naraku was a slimy bastard. The hanyou also had a great deal of control over him, and if Sesshoumaru found out, the dog demon would probably kill him then.

 

-

 

So, he stayed with Sesshoumaru. His wounds healed quickly, and they were on the move soon after. Haruki came to realize that the dog demon was a man of few words, even after more time around eachother. He didn't prove a nosy fellow either, and even if Haruki took off on his own for a few days, he didn't ask questions. He thought the partnership may even work, until he felt the loathsome tug of summoning. Naraku was calling him directly, which was never a good thing.

 

Sesshoumaru was resting when he started off, going to Kanou. The mount was laying in a bed of leaves, his nose resting on the ground. Haruki climbed on him, pulling the beast from his slumber, and setting off towards Naraku.

 

When he arrived, the demon did not look happy.

 

“My pet has lost it's loyaly,” he spoke, and Haruki bristled.

 

“Yes. I know of your traveling with a certain dog demon. And I have no intention of keeping you from doing so. It may work in my favor in the end. But,” he started, rushing forward to grab Haruki by the hair. He had the demon on his knees a second later. “Do not loose sight of who you belong to.”

 

He drug Haruki into his home and threw him to the hard flooring. The door slammed shut and Naraku was on top of him before he could think to move.

Naraku stripped him cleanly, his hands gliding over milky white skin. Haruki laid still, wishing it over as quickly as the last time.

 

The spider demon sunk fangs into his shoulder, and Haruki whimpered. No matter how many times they coupled, a fear was instilled in him. He hated that the demon had that power over him.

 

Naraku lined himself up, and delved deeply inside the smaller body underneath him. Haruki squirmed, but Naraku was ruthless. With angry, possessive thrusts, the spider demon pulled the youth into an uncomfortable position.

 

“You will always be my whore,” he spoke against his neck, just moments before he came inside the pale body. With one more thrust to get his point across, he pulled out, leaving Haruki still laying on the cold floor.

 

“You may go on now. Go back to your dog demon, and try to conspire against me. You know when the time comes, when you both come to confront me, I will have you on your knees. Then what will your great lord think of you then?”