Otherworld 2 - 4 - The Plan



Chapter 4 - The Plan


As soon as Ashara left the Castle, Naraku detached the main part of his mind from Rana and summoned Ralf and Vos to him. It was time to leave the Fortress and put the next part of his plan of revenge in motion. Ashara was on her way to meet him and he needed to get to her quickly. He sent Tyrrl to Shido and brought Shido back to Tyrrl's rooms. Then he sat there waiting with Ralf and Vos sitting at his feet. Soon!

	Shido was lying there, sleepy and content. Already Tyrrl had taken him twice and now he was being aroused him for a third time. A small part of his mind wondered why Tyrrl had been so insistent on this, but mostly he just lay there enjoying the wonderful feelings that his partner created. Shido heard the door open and drowsily turned his head to see who had entered.

Ralf and Vos took places on either side of him. What were they doing here? His mind struggled to come out of its euphoric stupor, when suddenly he felt indescribable pain. Tyrrl had bit him! And he was feeding on him! Vos and Ralf were holding him tight, keeping him down pressed to the bed. Shido groaned in pain; since he was immune to Blood Demon saliva, the painkiller in Tyrrl's bite did not go into effect. Another person walked into the dark room: Naraku! What was he doing here? Naraku sat next to the Demon lord and caressed his face with long sensuous fingers. "How does it feel, Lord Shido? How does it feel to have your blood drained from there -- from the most tender and private part of you?" Naraku whispered. Shido began to get dizzy from the blood loss. So the Demon had not been enslaved after all! And this was his revenge! But why were his friends -- and his partner! -- helping Naraku? "Ah, you are wondering about them, aren't you?" Naraku asked. "They are only my puppets -- extensions of myself. They have been under my control for a long time now."

	"Lido!" Shido snarled. Naraku had control over his daughter's mate! "Yes, she is delicious. So young, so tender, and so willing." Naraku purred. "Kill me. Take your revenge, but let Lido go. Please!"

"No, sweet Demon lord, I am not going to kill you. If I kill you, how will you feel the pain? I am leaving the fortress tonight and I am going to take everything that you love. I will take with me your precious daughter, your beloved mate, and your only son. All of them! And if I sense you or any other Blood Demon near me, I will kill one of them. Which one would you like me to kill first?" "One day you will pay! I swear it!" Shido promised Naraku, his eyes filled with hatred.

	Naraku pushed Tyrrl off and took his place, filling his mouth with the coppery taste of Shido's blood. Then he put his mouth over Shido's in a dreadful parody of a kiss and let the blood pour into Shido mouth. Shido choked on it and the blood ran down the corners of his mouth. "You don't like your own blood? You liked mine enough!"

He nodded to Tyrrl and the Demon bent down to feed more. "Remember, I will kill one of your precious loved ones if any Blood Demon gets near. Now, good night, Lord Shido, by the time you wake up, I will be long gone." Shido slipped into unconsciousness and the three Demons released him. Naraku then directed Ralf to get Lido. In a short while, Ralf returned with her. Lido was in her nightclothes, a cloak thrown over her shoulders, her hair flowing unbound down her back. She looked so much like her father it was uncanny. Except for her eyes; they were blue like her mother's. Her mate had dragged her out of bed, throwing a cloak to her. She gave a little cry when she saw her father, blood on his face and also on his -- they had fed on him! What was happening? Naraku went to her and caressed her face while Ralf held her arms behind her back. Why was Ralf helping Naraku? "Ralf is mine. He is now a part of me." Naraku answered her unspoken question. Lido stared at him and then at Ralf. No!!! This could not be happening! Then she was bound and gagged and Ralf threw her over his shoulder. Naraku made his way to Liho's room, Tyrrl leading the way. Without knocking, they went into the room and saw an empty bed. Where was she? Out of the darkness Liho flew at them. She had felt her mate's pain and anguish and had hidden when she hear them approaching her room. Liho managed to sink her teeth into Tyrrl, but Vos tore her off, tearing her throat out.

	"No! I wanted her alive!" Naraku cried. Too late! Liho was dying, blood gushing out of her ruined throat. "Damn it! Go find the kid!" Tyrrl and Vos looked around the room and found the child hiding behind the heavy drapes. Tears were running down his face. The little boy had just watched his mother die. "Hello, Shilo." Naraku said to the child. "I am Naraku."


Ashara had been riding for two days now and she was tired. Rana led the way, always heading north. She had told Tasuki that he was needed in Suzaku to summon the guardian, inventing a lie about famine and crops. He was riding by her side, wondering why they seemed to be following the little orange Demon, but he kept quiet. Ashara had already yelled at him for asking questions. He also didn't know why Ashara was even going with them. Shouldn't one of the Protectors or the guards be going with them? He was not strong enough to protect her from a powerful Demon.

	As darkness began to fall, Rana pointed to a small one-room way station for travelers. "He awaits you, Princess." She told Tasuki set up camp and take care of the horses and then walked to the small hut. She opened the door, there he was. Naraku was more beautiful that she had imagined. His long dark hair fell in rippling waves down his back, his skin was flawless, and his eyes were large and brown -- there was no malice in them at all! He stood when she entered the hut and bowed to her. "Princess."

Ashara went to him and Naraku lifted her lips to his. His mouth was sweet as honey. "Princess," he murmured, "I have seen you through Rana's eyes and have fallen in love with your beauty. I am yours if you want me." "Oh, yes, I want you. I have desired you ever since I knew that you were coming for me." Naraku slowly removed his clothing, revealing a well-formed body, and then knelt before her, "This is all that I am and I give it all to you." She went to him immediately, kissing his face and running her hands over his silky skin. Oh, he was so beautiful. The perfect opposite of Sesshomaru; they were like mirror images: one light, the other dark. She could easily imagine lying with them on either side of her, taking turns. She sighed happily. This was the way it should have always been! She noticed that a bed was already made and waiting and, without hesitation, they tumbled into it. She had never felt like this when she was with her males! Outside, Vos and Tyrrl had quickly overpowered Tasuki, careful not to hurt him. He was bound and gagged and sat next to a young woman, also bound and gagged. When she looked at him; there was terror in her eyes. At her side was a boy of about seven, clinging to her. Who were they? Tasuki could sense Ashara's passion. Who was she with? What was happening? Why had Blood Demons attacked him? He had a million questions but no answers. All through the night, Ashara and Naraku made love. He was incredible! His body writhed under her touch, ready time after time for her. And it was not her power but his own true feelings! She felt very blessed to have such a beautiful and powerful man in love with her.

	During a short rest period, she lay there in his arms, her hand idly running down his satin hip, then she reached further down. He moaned softly as she stroked him. "Oh, my love, please give me a few moments' rest." He begged. "My body needs the rest, but my heart does not want to stop your touches for even a second. I have never known a woman's love before." "Never?"

"Never have I lain with a woman before. And for nearly 15 years I have been aroused every day only to be bitten and fed upon." "I thought the saliva of a Blood Demon stopped the pain?" "Yes, but only after the first bite and that first bite is agony. Daily I endured such tortures at the hands of Shido! Please forgive me, but I want revenge on that Demon." "You are free from him now. I will not let him ever harm you again," she promised. Then she realized her situation. She could not return to the Castle with Naraku. They would kill him, still thinking him evil. She could see in his clear brown eyes that there was no evil in him. He could not hide his feelings from her power! "That was an empty promise. I cannot protect you. And I have no longer have a home." "We will make a new home together." He kissed her, and then continued, his voice soft, "You should be more than just an honorary princess in a tiny country. You should be a queen. And I will make you one!" "How is that possible?" "Before I was injured by the Hanyou Dog Demon, InuYasha, I visited Seiryuu. It is the most powerful country of the Four Gods World. It could easily conquer the entire world except for Suzaku's alliance with Otherworld. But it is not Otherworld that keeps Seiryuu at bay, but the secondary alliance with Raizen and the Northern Lands of Demon World. If that alliance were to break, then Seiryuu could easily take over the entire Four Gods World." "And how would the alliance break? Raizen will not break from my mother." "No, but Suzaku will break with her, after her emissary, her own daughter, gives the emperor of Seiryuu a very special gift: one of the Celestial Seven." "Tasuki!"

	"Yes, Tasuki will be held hostage by Seiryuu. And Suzaku will immediately believe itself betrayed and break the alliance with Otherworld, which in turn breaks the alliance with Raizen." "Do you wish me to marry the emperor to become queen?" Ashara asked in horror. "No! No, my love. Of course not. The emperor is an evil man with a taste for young boys. One of my Demons will simply eliminate him once he has taken over the Four Gods World. And you will become its queen." "And you king?"

"No, Ashara, I have no desire to rule a land. I would be happy to be your consort. As long as I am near you, I will be content." He looked down at himself, "And now it looks like I have rested enough." Naraku took her into his arms, the human part of himself at the fore, the Demon parts in the background. What a stupid, gullible woman!! She would rule only as a puppet, listening to his guiding voice. And if any Demon dare oppose him, he would use her power to bind them. And Tasuki -- he would be killed immediately -- that would break the alliance! As for the Emperor, Naraku would easily win him over with his second gift: Shilo. The sweet son of Shido was just the right age for the emperor's tastes! Suddenly there was a commotion outside and Naraku went to the door, Ashara following. Bankotsu stood there, with Ralf and Vos on either side of him. "Bankotsu! Stop!" Ashara commanded. The Thunder Demon had answered her summons.

	Bankotsu looked at her, surprised by her nakedness and then he saw Naraku. This was her new lover? Naraku? Never! His thoughts were coupled with action and lightning flashed from the sky aimed directly at Naraku. Vos pushed him out of the way and the lightning struck Vos instead. He was dead before he hit the ground. Ralf screamed as his partner died and leapt on Bankotsu, tearing his throat out. Bankotsu fell, his life's blood pouring out.

"He tried to kill us!" Ashara exclaimed, not believing that one of her males could disobey her. "We must leave immediately." Naraku said, and then ordered Ralf to get ready. He pulled Ashara back into the hut. "My love, are you alright?" She nodded, still stunned by her male's rebellion. She had not thought it possible. He handed her clothes and then began to dress. "We must leave immediately. This will bring others and we cannot be here when they arrive."

	Bankotsu laid there, a glimmer of life still in him. He watched as Ashara left with Naraku, never even stopping to check if he was alive or dead. Blood Demons! Why were they with Naraku? And Tasuki was bound and gagged. What was happening? Within minutes, Bankotsu was alone, with only the charred corpse of Vos to keep him company. His mind went to Aara. "Princess," he thought.

Princess Aara felt Bankotsu's touch. "No!!!!" She screamed and ran to the main hall, calling for InuYasha. All that were in the Castle came to her cries. "Bankotsu is hurt! Oh, gods! He is dying! You must go to him fast. Almost directly north." "Kome and I will go with InuYasha. We are as fast as he is." Souten said and the three left the Castle at full speed. But it didn't matter how fast they were -- they would be too late. Bankotsu's life was rapidly ending. With the last of his strength, he tore off his left sleeve and then dipped his finger in his own blood. On his arm, he carefully wrote two letters and a symbol -- grateful that Kurama had taught him how to write. His last thoughts were of Aara and the love she always had given him. In the Castle, Aara fell to the floor sobbing. He was dead! Her beloved Bankotsu was dead! Vash gathered her into his arms and held her tightly.