The Long Road to Freedom Part 1: The Dastardly Prince

Punishment

        Kuroihi's mind was still floating aimlessly from one despondent thought to another when Sesshoumaru arrived. He dismissed the servant in the hallway and slid the door closed himself, simply watching her as he remained where he was. The air was thick with his displeasure, and she was acutely aware of each subtle gesture as he finally made his way over and settled gracefully on the sitting cushion nearby.

She drew down the scrolls as he requested them, the usual silence heavy on her as he read. Slowly, the scattered bits of her mind echoing senseless 'what if's' began to coalesce into a single question: What now?

She shifted her gaze as though to check his cup and sneaked a peek at his face, trying to read the details of his mood in the minute changes in his expression. Fuchsia crossed frosty alabaster along his cheeks, long white lashes giving a glint to the pools of honey glazed with cold, calculating focus. Their color was a trap, a lie. There was nothing sweet or warm to be found in those eyes. The mask gave away nothing.

His gaze sliced into her suddenly, and he turned his head just enough to fix both eyes on her. She tensed, held frozen by that gaze even as every fiber of her being screamed at her to flee, but she dared not move, not even to breathe. Those eyes narrowed, sharpened, and Kuroihi realized she'd been staring. She threw her gaze to the floor, dropping her head in silent apology, but all that intense focus was centered on her now.

'It's not your first day, you damn fool, now look what you've done!'

His jyaki swelled to fill the room, and she struggled to breathe against the pressure of it. Every sense, every sensation intensified until even the smooth cotton of her kosode felt like sandpaper against her skin. She had never seen him so incensed, not like this, not at her. Had her side trip truly enraged him so?

"Hanyou."

His soft voice sounded like a roar to her, and she flinched, using the last of the air in her burning lungs to answer.

"My lord?"

"What is your station?"

"I am but your honorable lordship's humble servant."

"In every manner."

There was a slight questioning to his voice, as though he was seeking confirmation.

"In...every manner, my lord."

Her head screamed at her to run, escape now before he had the chance to speak again, but her body was paralyzed by his overwhelming presence.

"Why?"

The question sounded strange coming from him.

"Because...it is your command, my lord."

"That is not an answer."

She hesitated, mind racing to find a better response.

"Because your lordship requires it."

"I, Sesshoumaru, require nothing."

His tone said 'try again'. She angled her back in a bow.

"Your servant is but a lowly creature fortunate enough to be gifted the opportunity to‐"

He cut her off.

"Neither is that an answer. Do not attempt to placate me with the same cur‐like kowtowing as that bastard Fuyutoka."

She licked her lips. What else was there to say? What was he getting at? It wasn't as though he... Could he possibly?