Inuyasha: The Tail of Three Princes

Chapter 8

The world existed in a blurry haze. There was no sense of time and he had no idea how long he’d been held captive. Naraku kept the miasma hovering far enough away to breathe, but too close to gain any power. The whole thing had severely weakened him. He was confined again, nothing new. The missing bond with his brother was a physical ache. If they had snapped the bonds one day earlier than planned he’d have been a raging, frothing instrument of death until death. He hugged the knowledge of Kouga’s bond to him. The wolf had a different way of managing his demon side than Sesshoumaru, as the bastard has discovered. Heh.

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The transformation to his likeness triggered the raging beast he was famous for, but the last thing Inuyasha noted before taking the back seat was an interesting change. An icy calm settled over his mind and body. He stood slowly, but kept his head lowered, and spoke to the gnat buzzing above him.

“I see you want to play. Are you sure that is a wise idea? I’ll make you my new toy.”

Naraku paused, this response was unexpected by all accounts. Rumors throughout the land had the half demon infamous for his rages. It was an unpleasant development.

“No answer? I do believe I’m hurt,” His voice mocked. His head was still lowered but it had cocked to on side and a single ear twitched. “After all, you were the one who brought me here. Perhaps you are too simple to answer the question. Surprising, after all the talk I would have thought you’d be eager to play.”

Inuyasha reached his two hands out. One went to his neck and snapped the chain to his collar, the other took the chain and yanked it from the floor. The rock bed groaned and shook as a boulder came loose, still attached at the end. His head tilted back and Naraku could see for the first time the blood red eyes and the jagged stripes down each cheek. There was a shiver of visible fear that was quickly suppressed.

“Perhaps you should do research before attempting to dispose of an enemy.” There was an unholy light of glee and madness in those eyes as he whipped the boulder around head. “I really should thank you. I would never have grown this strong without your stupidity for a human.”

A flick of his wrist sent the boulder flying, with him right behind. He heard the rock impact, but never saw it as the air was filled with a thick smoke. It clouded his eyes and choked him. His sensitive nose went haywire. He suddenly couldn’t tell up from down as he fell to the ground. Red bled to gold as his eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out.

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He woke to find the stuff hovering around him. He found another bowl of water. At least he’d stay alive, he grimaced as he swallowed. Gah, it was still awful!

“I underestimated you, Inuyasha. That is something I rarely do, you are to be commended. I relied on faulty information from a fool, but that will be rectified. I am curious, however. How is it that you survived the breaking of the mating bond? Is there something you have hidden from the world? Maybe the new addition to the house?”

“What can I say? I’m special.”

“Indeed you are, and you have my attention.”

“Are you hitting on me? Cause that’s just sick you know. Mortal enemies don’t have sex! It’s in the bylaws of the Evil Overlord Handbook. Section E, subsection 29 clearly states; Thou shalt not have sex with thine enemy for he shall return to kick your ass vigorously. It doesn’t say ‘Bang your ass vigorously’. Don’t tell me you haven’t read it! I thought it was required reading for you idiots.”

“I believe it is time for you to rest your mouth, Inuyasha.”

“Why? I like hearing about your stupidity, don’t you?”

The poisonous gas closed in and he was unconscious again.

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This time it was the noise that woke him. Thousands of demons screaming echoed in his ears. He was surrounded on all sides, and it roused his demon side with all the chanting for blood. He could see that he was in an arena somewhere underground, and by the size of the empty throne, it looked like Naraku planned on presiding over whatever was happening next.

A trumpet fan fair and flair accompanied him as the bastard entered. In his hand Inuyasha saw a leash and the fox demon who gave him water before. Hiten, the long-haired half of the Thunder Brothers entered slightly behind. It didn’t appear that Kikyou’s death had affected him too terribly much after all.

He held up his hands like a petty lordling and the crowd roared it’s approval. Not that they were all that smart. Hiten hit the ground with one of his famous lightning bolts and silence descended.

“I have a special treat here for you tonight, my friends,” He began.

The crowd roared once again, but another bolt quieted them.

“Many of you have heard of Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, and his half demon brother Inuyasha,” The crowd boo-ed. “Yes, we have all heard of the dread reputation they spread about themselves, but have you ever heard of them actually defeating anyone? Has anyone here seen them fight anyone, much less a powerful demon? Perhaps they merely traded on the reputation of the powerful Inutaishou?”

There was a smirk on Inuyasha’s face as he listened to the demon speak at great lengths. He was fleecing the crowd of lesser demons. Naraku knew damned good and well how powerful the brothers were. It was why he had never openly challenged them, preferring to attack from the shadows of others. Besides there was only trouble when you went out looking for fights, he could relax now. There was no need to worry now that he knew what was planned.

A dark spot caught his attention as the Great Shyster spoke to the crowd. Was that a mark on his haori? Had that bastard touched him while he was unconscious? Maybe it was dirt… Eww! He wrinkled his nose. That was just nasty! Someone was going to pay for this! Ooh, he was so going to have to scrub to get that out!

The sudden sound of the crowd roaring again had him glancing up to see a massive demon swinging a club down on his head. He stopped the club with one hand and ripped the stranger’s stomach out casually. It stumbled back and he leaped forward with a grin, punching the idiot through the wall. The entire fight took two seconds.

The crowd was silent.

“If this is all you got, then don’t waste my time!” He yelled at Naraku, and threw the club at him. It was stopped by a barrier of power. “Feh!” He humphed.

Naraku nodded, sending his miasma through. The last thing he heard was the fickle crowd exploding with cheers.

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His head was pounding the next time he came to. All the poison was affecting his nose and he had a royal headache. He was still in the arena, but there were ten demons surrounding him. At least he had someone to take his bad mood out on. He waded into the group slashing and hitting with glee.

Several were disposed of in a blink of time, but others he toyed with. If this was his only enjoyment he was going to make it last. Not that there was any real chance of them winning. Where the hell was that ass finding these idiots? Crappy Fighters R Us? The crowd was going nuts again, and he wondered exactly how long these fights had been hosted. Oh, he was going to find the stash of gold Naraku had hidden somewhere. There was probably a mountain of it just begging to be used for a better purpose. Like new toys to use on Sesshoumaru and Kouga. Heh.

This fight took about three minutes longer than the last one. His demon side had actually gone to sleep in disgust. Ten times this amount might make him blink. This caliber was pathetic and a waste of his time. When the fight, if you could call it that, was over he turned to address the crowd.

“Is this what you paid to see?” He asked. “Naraku making money off you? There wasn’t a decent fighter down here! He’s fleecing you all like fools, and hiding behind an arena because he’s too scared to fight me himself!” He looked at the host of this gathering, “Your time is coming soon.” It was a promise.

No more was said as the cloud descended again.

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The leashed demon boy was in his cell when he woke. He gulped the usual bowl of water and eyed the new addition huddling in the corner.

“Master said I was to come here and be with you.”

“Why is that? Wasn’t he planning on selling you?”

“He was very pleased with the money you made him today. He t-told me to do whatever you w-wished.” He stood and stripped off the fundoshi. It was the only covering he had.

“What the hell! You’re master is sick! I don’t touch children!”

“I’m older than I look.” He declared bravely.

“I don’t care if you’re over a thousand! I ain’t touchin you!” Inuyasha yelled.

The boy huddled in the corner clearly scared. He sighed, it wasn’t the boy’s fault, but it was disgusting to even think of.

“What’s your name?” He asked gently.

“Shippou,” Was the faint reply.

“Shippou, does your master touch you? Or give you to anyone else?”

“N-no, this is the first time. He said it was time to earn my keep, and that this would keep you from getting bored.”

He swallowed bile as he watched the boy shiver in the corner. “When I get outta here you’re comin with me.”

“No, master will find me and give me to the guards. I’m his property and everyone will make me come back.”

“When I leave the ‘master’ will be dead.” He said bleakly. “Come here.”

Shippou looked up with fear filled eyes, but crawled to his side.

“Lay down brat, we’re gonna sleep together. Your master needs to think that I’ve used you, or he’ll send you to someone else. How old are you anyway?”

“Four hundred.”

“Fuck! Older than me and still a baby.”

“That’s because Master says you’re an inferior breed. Besides, I’m small for my age.” The kid was squirming.

“Master’s gonna get his ass kicked before he dies. Hold still, will ya?”

“I feel hot.”

“What you’re sick too?”

“Nooo,” He moaned. “I feel hot all over.” He began to rub against the half demon.

“Woah! Oh no, no you don’t! What the hell is wrong with you?”

“You feel gooood.”

“Shit! Shit, shit, shit! He drugged you!”

“Mmmm, it’s nice. Don’t you want to touch me?”

“No! I don’t!”

“But I’ll die if you don’t!”

“Well, touch yourself!”

“It’s forbidden. I don’t even know how.”

“Wrap your hand around the thing that’s sticking out and rub it until it spits at you! What the hell is wrong with you!” He said panicked.

The boy did as he was told. Inuyasha tried to ignore it, but the growls and moans kept leaking through. He finished with a sharp bark of pleasure and the half demon gave a sigh of relief. He was as hard as a rock, but there was no way he was going to do anything about it. There were times when he REALLY missed his mates.

TBC...