Chapter 12 - The Escape

Jodah, Naraku and the false Emperor were going to inspect the troops, a journey which would require an overnight stay. It might be the only time when Malik could act. He sent one of his controls, a servant, to talk to Shilo's sister.

"I bring a message from one who wants to help you," the servant whispered in Lido's ear, while pretending to clean around her. Lido looked at her, eyes narrowed. How could she trust anyone? But it might be her only hope -- and what did she have to lose? She nodded. "Naraku and my master will be gone over night. I will come for the boy and attempt to escape with him. I wish I could take you with me, but I can't. My name is Malik and I am a boy of thirteen with blond hair. Please trust me and have the boy ready. I will come as soon as they leave and when the other Blood Demons are not around."

Lido nodded and the servant finished cleaning and left the room without another word. Ralf came in a few minutes later to check on her and left. His vigilance was slack since he felt nothing could happen in the Emperor's palace. Lido carefully explained to Shilo that he was going to try to escape and return to his father. The boy started crying, not wanting to leave her side, but she insisted. She made him feed from his wet-nurse as much as he could. There would probably be very hungry days ahead for him. She prayed that he would make it to safety -- she didn't care if her life was forfeit -- just as long as her little brother made it.

It wasn't until after nine that night when everything finally began to quiet down. Even thought Jodah and Naraku were not in the palace, Ralf kept going to see Lido and Shilo. In desperation, Lido exposed part of her breast, making it look like a careless accident, and Ralf took the bait. He carried her to his room, leaving Shilo alone.  The guard under Malik's control watched the Blood Demon take the female to his room.

When two guards opened his door, Shilo cringed in the corner. From behind them, Malik appeared. Quickly, he took the boy and, walking between the guards, left the palace by a hidden side door. After sending the guards back inside, he took Shilo and quickly went into the dark night. He had taken a potion from Jodah's shelves, which would erase their scents and covered them both in it. It would fade after a day, but it might just give them enough time. 
After a few hours, they stopped to rest. The boy was tired and frightened. Malik had given him one of his own cloaks for the sun, and Shilo sat there huddled in it. It was hard to believe that this sweet-looking little boy had torn the Emperor to pieces. Malik got them going again in a very short time; he knew that it would not be long before Shilo would be missed.

The next morning, Tyrrl walked into the room and immediately noticed that both of the captives were missing. He rushed into Ralf's room and found him asleep with Lido next to him. He roughly shook the Demon awake. "Where is the boy?" Ralf was on his feet instantly and together they searched the room. Shilo was gone. They mentally reported back to Naraku, who was furious as their stupidity. But he and Jodah were trapped; they could not leave the false Emperor. Naraku wanted to be near him, because of the low intelligence of the beast and the time limit, and Jodah had to relay the Emperor's words to the soldiers. They would not be able to return until late afternoon. How could the boy have gotten away? He must be in the palace! Naraku had the Blood Demons search the entire palace, first questioning Lido. Ralf questioned her, using his fists instead of words, but she refused to say anything. He realized that her open dress had not been an accident and he was angry that he had fallen for such an obvious ruse! They gave up on Lido and searched everywhere they could, but found nothing.

As soon as Jodah and Naraku got back to the palace, Jodah found that his apprentice, his beautiful Malik, was also missing. Had someone taken them both? The thought never even occurred to him that Malik might have run away but it immediately occurred to Naraku. He had the Emperor order guards and soldiers to search the lands to the south, the way to Otherworld. It was the only logical direction.

Malik couldn't believe his luck. The second night was beginning and no one had found them. But they were not making very good time, Shilo stumbling as he walked. He was tired, hungry and very frightened. He could not eat anything but mother's milk and there was nothing like that around here. He would just have to go hungry until they reached Otherworld and safety. Malik hoped that the Demon child would make it. Just a little over two weeks ago, Shilo was living in luxury, the only son of the Lord of the Southern Lands. Then he watched his mother murdered, his sister and himself taken hostage by men he thought were friends, and brought to a strange world. He didn't know whether his father was alive or not. He was trying very hard to keep up with Malik and not to just give up.

They were starting to go into the mountain range that was between Seiryuu and Otherworld. One more night and a day, and they would hit the border. A extremely guarded border. Suddenly, they heard the tramp of soldiers' boots. Malik peered out from behind the rocks and saw a company of soldiers, led by the two Blood Demons. They were found!

Malik took the rest of the potion and put as much as there was on Shilo, "You must go alone to Otherworld, to safety." The boy started to cry, shaking his head, and holding onto Malik tightly. Malik pried his fingers off his arm, "There is no choice. I will try to give you as much time as I can. Go in this direction," he pointed to the south, "Sneak past anyone who is not a Wolf Demon. If you see one of them, go to them and tell them to take you to Princess Aara. Can you remember that?"

Shilo nodded, and Malik continued, "Tell Aara this -- you must remember my words -- tell her: Ashara is bad, Tasuki is alive, and Rhu is the Black Dragon. Repeat it to me, Shilo."

The young boy took a deep breath, and whispered, "Ashara bad, Tasuki alive, Rhu dragon."

"That's good enough. Keep repeating it so you don't forget. It is very, very important." He pushed the boy forward on the trail, then added, "Shilo, if anyone tries to hurt you or capture you, pretend he is the Emperor and do the same thing to them."

The boy looked at Malik, his eyes filled with guilt and fear, but he nodded. He brushed the tears from his face and went into the dark. Malik moved in the opposite direction, trying to give Shilo as much time as possible. After only a short distance, the Blood Demons noticed his movement and pounced on him. "Your master is waiting for you," Ralf growled in his ear.  They searched the area for Shilo, but the little Demon had already fled, and the potion kept his scent from them.

Malik was taken back to the palace bound hand and foot to be thrown on the ground before Jodah. In the background stood Naraku and Ashara. The mage's eyes were furious, he had been betrayed by his own apprentice, a boy whom he had cared for and nurtured. He couldn't understand why Malik had run away and why his eyes were filled with hatred now.
"How did you do it? Who helped you?" Naraku asked. But the boy refused to answer.

"I will get him to talk," Jodah said, pulling a whip from a peg on the wall. Malik cringed but his expression never changed.

"No, that will not work. He hates you. The more you hurt him, the more he will hate." Naraku said, and added, "There is another way." He pulled Ashara forward and said to her, "Bind him to you."

"He is a child!" she exclaimed.

"Please, my Princess. It is the only way to make him tell us his secrets." Naraku purred, stroking her cheek, "For me, please do this."

She glared at Naraku, angry at him for wanting her to bind a child and for using caresses to get his own way! But what choice did she have. They needed information and if she didn't bind him, Jodah would surely torture it out of him. At least the boy was beautiful! She poured lust and desire into him and Malik moaned in response. Naraku picked Malik up and took him to the Princess' room. He untied the boy and then took his clothes off, leaving him naked and ready. "Find out what he knows. And find out how he did it." Then Naraku left her with him.

Ashara looked at the boy, "Thirteen isn't that young!" she said to herself. And he was so beautiful. "Be grateful that it is my touch and not Jodah's. You obviously hated his touch. You will love mine," she told him.

This was nothing like being with Jodah. Ashara touch was gentle and his body began to ache for it. She bound him to her alone and then whispered in his ear as she stroked him, "How did you escape so easily?"

Malik couldn't stop himself from answering, "I went out with guards."

"Guards helped you?"

"I control them. It is my power. I can control people without them knowing it."

She gave him a small squeeze and he quivered under her hand. "Oh, please!" he breathed. She smiled, and asked him, "Whom do you control?"

"Three servants and two guards."

When she was finished with him, she went to Naraku to report. Malik was left unbound, but he would not leave her side. She knew that for a fact. His binding was much stronger than the males she had received from her mother. Unless she was standing to next him, Tasuki might break for freedom and Bankotsu had attacked her, but Malik never would voluntarily leave her.

Shilo traveled by night, but his eyes could able to see in nearly absolute darkness. By day he hid in deep caves, cold, tired and hungry. He tried not to cry but it was hard. The only reason he slept was because of pure exhaustion. He had noticed numerous soldiers patrolling the area just ahead. It must be the border.

The little boy waited until nearly midnight before he got the courage to make a run for it. Remembering a game of hide and seek he had once played with his father, he traveled from rock to rock, not realizing that he was moving so fast he was only a wisp of blackness in the dark night. He crossed the border easily. Now to he needed to find the find Wolf Demons. He had never seen a Wolf Demon, but had heard about them from his father. They usually traveled with true wolves. After leaving the mountains, he went into deep forest. Again daylight came and he hid, still not wanting to take a chance of being seen. He was so hungry! It was now three days since he had eaten, which was a long time for a little boy on a purely liquid diet. If he could have tolerated blood, he would have hunted down a small animal. But there was nothing to do but bear the empty feeling in his stomach.

When it got dark, Shilo once again set out. After a few hours, he saw a flickering light: a campfire. He crept towards the light and sitting around the fire were three Demons. Suddenly he heard a growl behind him and he whirled around, face-to-face with a four wolves. Wolf Demons! He called out to them, startling the Demons who immediately ran towards his voice. He asked them to take him to Princess Aara.

The Wolf Demons knew that a boy was one of the captives of Naraku; so they quickly broke camp and carried Shilo to Kaede's Village. It was much closer than the Castle and Kouga could carry him to the Castle in less than half the time. The Wolf Demons ran the rest of the night, trading off carrying the boy so that they could keep up the pace. It was mid-afternoon when they reached the Village and they took him directly to Kouga's home. Kouga was patrolling with Miroku, but Kome was home. He was sent to look for his father.

Kagome cradled the worn out little boy, peering at her with huge eyes in a pale face. He whispered his name to her and she stroked his forehead as he leaned heavily on her shoulder. She could hear his tummy rumbling with hunger and since she knew he was a Blood Demon, she asked him what type of blood he could eat. He shook his head. "I can't eat blood," he murmured, almost asleep in her arms.

"What do you eat?" Kagome asked, wondering why a Blood Demon couldn't drink blood.

"Milk."

"We can milk a goat or a cow for you," she said, calling for the Wolf Demons.

"No, not them. From my mommy." Suddenly it came back to him that his mother would never feed him or comfort him again, and he started to cry. Kagome hugged Shilo tightly, while she asked the wolves to bring Mirosuki to her house. She was a village woman who was still nursing her own son.

Sango and Kaoru arrived and helped make a bed in the corner of the great room. Ayala was staying in Kagome's only guest room, and she really didn't want Shilo to be alone. Mirosuki came immediately upon hearing the wolves' tale and put Shilo on her lap. It didn't matter to her that he a seven-year-old Demon; she only knew that he was a hungry child and her mother's heart went out to him. He hungrily ate, but never once hurt her with his fangs. Her milk didn't fill him, but at least he was appeased. Kagome thanked Mirosuki, who promised to return when she was needed, and put Shilo to bed, tucking the covers around the small boy. The exhausted, frightened little boy fell asleep instantly.

Kouga and Kome returned shortly thereafter, and Kouga immediately sent out the entire wolf pack to search the area where Shilo was found, just in case there was someone with him. How did a little boy manage to escape from Naraku and two Blood Demons? Did Tasuki or Lido escape also? Kouga had many questions, but realized that he needed to get Shilo to the Castle and Shido as soon as possible. He and Kome would carry the boy, taking turns, at full speed. Kouga let the boy sleep for a few more hours while he and his son ate and then they both took a brief nap. It was dusk when they were ready to leave. Mirosuki returned and fed Shilo before they started their journey. Fortunately her own son was old enough to eat solid food and not having his mother's milk for a couple of feedings would not hurt him.

Kouga kissed his mate goodbye, picked up Shilo, and then he and his son raced down the road to the Castle.

Dawn was just beginning to break when they arrived at the Castle. Neither Kouga nor Kome had taken more than a few minutes break and they were exhausted. Kurama rushed to the gate when he saw them coming and Kouga placed the boy in his arms. Kouga was so tired that the Wolf Demon stumbled and almost fell. He had spent the day patrolling around the village and then had run all the way here. Kurama sent him and Kome to room to rest, promising to take care of Shilo. Aara ran down the stairs just as the Wolves were starting up the stairs, and she thanked them as they passed her.
Shido came running after her, practically leaping down the stairs. He took his son in his arms, holding him very tightly, with tears running down his face. He had been terrified that he would never see his son again!

Kurama sent the guards to procure a wet nurse from the nearest village. Then they patiently waited for Shido to release his son. Aara knelt before the boy and brushed the hair from his eyes. "Are you the Princess? Princess Aara?" he asked.

"Yes, I am. Who told you to ask for me?"

"Malik."

Who was Malik? He had been found a day from Kaede's Village, but they had no idea in which direction he had been traveling. Hopefully Shilo knew but he was only seven years old and traveling through unfamiliar land. Had he been traveling with Malik?

"Malik told me to tell you something," Shilo began, knitting his brow as he tried to remember the exact words, "Ashara bad." Aara looked at Kurama. This was not good news, but deep in her heart she was not surprised by his words. "Tasuki is alive. And Rhu is dragon." His blue eyes were on her, hoping he got the words right and she understood.

"Thank you, dearest," she told him, kissing his forehead, and then stood up. She asked a guard to bring Kyo down. Tasuki was alive! That was good! But the last words bothered her. She feared what they might mean!

When Kyo arrived, she told him Shilo words and he turned ashen. "Rhu? Are you sure that was the name?" The boy nodded and then suddenly remembered the correct words, "Rhu is a black dragon!"

Kyo ruffled his blond hair and stood up, his face grim. "Rhuyogeromaru or Rhu is also a Great Dragon, only he is black in his dragon form while I am red."

Shido then asked his son, "Lido? Is your sister alright?"

The boy nodded, "I think so. She was okay the last time I saw her, but Ralf took her away into his room."

"Shilo, where were you? Where is your sister?"

Suddenly, the memories came flooding back and Shilo started to sob, "I killed someone, Daddy."

Shido blanched. What was this? "It's alright, Shilo. Tell me what happened."

The boy related his tale, tears running down his face steadily, "Ralf took me to a room with a big basin and the women washed me and put smells on me, and then they took me a room and put me on a bed. They didn't give me any clothes, Daddy. Then Naraku came in with this man - they called him Emperor - and Naraku left him there with me." His voice faded and he said something that could not be heard. Shido asked him to repeat it. Very quietly, Shido said, "He tried to hurt me. He tried to do what Tyrrl does to you. But he is not my partner. And he was mean. He made me mad."

Shido's face was chalk-white, and his eyes were completely feral and filled with seething hatred. Naraku had tried to have his son raped! Just one more sin that Naraku would pay for!  He ached for revenge. He forcibly calmed himself down, and turned back to his son, "You did the right thing. No one should ever touch you until you are partnered in a few years. And then no one, not even your partner, should ever hurt you."
Kurama bent down to the boy, "Did you hear the Emperor's name?" Shilo shook his head. "Do you know what country you were in?" Another shake. "Malik told me to go always go this way." He pointed south with his finger.

A crowd had now gathered around them, and Tekki spoke up. "Going north from Kaede's Village is the kingdom of Seiryuu and it is ruled by Emperor Balago who is known for his taste for young boys. It means that Naraku is in Seiryuu."

"That is why they took Tasuki. With Tasuki, they would get the Emperor's help, by giving him one of the Celestial Seven. But now the Emperor is dead. We need to ask Suzaku if they have heard any news from Seiryuu." Kurama added. "Now, Shilo, who is Malik?"

"He was a boy about partner age." Kurama looked at Shido and he interpreted "thirteen." Shilo continued, "He talked to us through a servant. Then two guards took us out of the palace. He wanted to escape also, but they -- they caught him. He got caught so I could escape. Daddy, will he be all right? He saved my life. He wanted to save the others, but he couldn't." Shilo started to cry again. Shido picked up his son, saying "I am taking him to bed. He is exhausted and frightened."

Aara nodded and watched the pair go on the stairs. What a brave little boy! And now they had another person to rescue: Malik.

 

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