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Title: Scars
Author: DragonSapphire and Mary-chan
Rating: PG-15
Disclaimer: Original characters belong to DragonSapphire and Mary-chan respectively. Do not use without either of our permission.
Summary: Part II of "Tainted Innocence." Haru is kidnapped, yet again, by one of his own kind and returned to his former - and very sadistic – master, Kahoku, where he struggles to survive the wolf’s unimaginable cruelty…and his own destiny.
Warnings: Violence, Alternate Universe (AU), angst, sex, and slash. If you are underage, are uncomfortable with any of these subjects, or just not a fan of male/male relationships, please do not continue.
Kahoku smiled to himself as hallways became silent as death, not even echoing his own treads as he made his way through the labyrinthine maze that was home to him and some three hundred ookami youkai who called him "Boss" or "Master." (1)
Being feared gave him a rush. Fear and power, he had always said, went hand in hand, and while cultivating the one an individual could further achievements in the other. His coup was finally complete; no one would ever dare stand against him again. The only one, the last one, was exiled; bloody and almost in pieces.
Kahoku spared a thought for his treacherous nephew. Did Rafe live with his shame or had he decided to end his life? Either way, his dishonor had been thorough. The boy’s own mother, whom he had kept as a comfortable hostage against Rafe's promise of fealty, took her own life the day she discovered he had been going behind his new master's back. It was just as well; the woman had become a burden and likely resented not being allowed to follow her husband into death the day her own son had taken his father’s life.
Since that occasion a year earlier, none had dared cross him. And, truthfully, none had ever made an honest attempt to thwart him except Rafe, for which he would give him some credit.
And one other of course...
A certain white usagi youkai...the same one that Rafe had nearly killed himself freeing. (2) No matter what Kahoku had used to motivate the rabbit, no progress was ever made in revealing the kami that Rafe, ironically, and the two others on patrol had seen on the side of the mountain that night...ribbons in his hair from some friendly child no doubt. (3)
Well, things tended to turn in his favor as long as he was patient, and when a certain collection of information and an opportunity presented itself, he took it.
The Lady Sapphire was some sorceress, he was told, that had current possession of the legendary white rabbit. Kahoku didn't fear one woman, and besides, Haru had been his property to begin with.
"Out," he said to the wolves who prowled in his throne room. If it pleased them to think of themselves as courtiers, he was fine with that, so long as they realized that if they attempted to get him involved in their ridiculous little struggles for power he'd simply kill them all...
The demons fled before his cold yellow visage and soon only two others remained of his personal guard. He liked these two: they were quiet and did nothing unless told.
Kahoku had a throne of bones. He had had it made to suit his macabre vanity. It was a grisly reminder to his populace of what had happened to the their former leader: the wolf's skull at the base by his feet was a suitable deterrent these days.
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Zanna trudged soundlessly through the thick undergrowth of the forest, a limp white bundle hanging over one shoulder. It would have been easier and more convenient for him to travel at night - the bright morning light made his shadow control weaker even with the shroud of leaves and branches overhead. But where he was going, it was a certain death wish to approach under the cover of darkness, and intruders trying to sneak in at night were killed immediately, no questions asked.
Not that he feared death, but his mission was too vital to botch up - not that he ever botched a mission - and he didn't feel the need to kill any more people than he had to.
The dark usagi glared through the dark lenses of his visor, and shifted the almost weightless bundle over his padded shoulder, halting at a distance away from his drop-off point and surveying the guards lounged lazily at a closed entrance.
The guards were instantly on alert as he approached steadily, but Zanna knew it was foolish to think that security was lax around here; these were just the oafs that were in broad daylight. Even these guards were being guarded by truly fearsome representatives of their race hiding somewhere else nearby. And hiding well.
Obviously these guards were perplexed that dinner had come to their door.
"Halt! No one enters."
Zanna continued on as if he had heard nothing, tightening an arm around Haru's waist as he breezed past one of the guards, his expression cool and without a trace of fear.
"I said, HALT!" Both guards snarled and grabbed at Zanna and his captive.
There was a quick flash, appearing and vanishing as swiftly as Zanna's faint sneer, followed by a pregnant pause as he stopped in front of the broad gateway, his gaze remaining forward. The stilled moment suddenly rushed forward in a blur to the present as a howl came from Zanna's left followed by a light "thud" against the ground, and then a second, louder thud right after as one of the guards dropped to his knees clutching a nub of a wrist, his hand laying palm up on the ground next to him.
No sooner did the howl of pain from the guard go up then Zanna felt something sharp at his throat.
"Next time, Zanna-sama, show some restraint. We wouldn't want something 'bad' to happen to you," a voice snarled in his ear...and then was gone.
Zanna snorted softly and moved to the side a step, avoiding the growing pool of blood as the injured guard whimpered a pained growl and tried to staunch the bleeding nub with a filthy cloth. He eyed the other guards in a silent challenged through his dark visors, his shadow snaking out behind him and raising up from the ground like a large black viper.
The guards eyed him warily, but made no attempt to approach or stop him. Zanna nodded his head humbly and waited patiently until the screech of rust and metal sounded and the gate became to open wide enough for his lithe form to slip through, the heavy metal bars grinding shut behind him as his shadow slipped through the cracks and followed at a more leisurely pace.
The guards outside the throne room were older and, consequently, uglier. They eyed Zanna disdainfully, however, and opened the doors. Kahoku had scented the strange mercenary from the front gate, but it was the white, limp bundle that caused the look of greed as he stepped off his throne.
"Very efficient. Impressive." And that was a rare compliment.
"Kahoku-sama." Zanna acknowledged the wolf leader softly, emotionlessly, and awaited further orders. In the meantime, he silently took in Kahoku’s imposing appearance; the fall of silver hair over one shoulder and the shorn spikes dyed red with blood on the other side, his pointed ears heavily pierced with precious gems and metal rings – one decoration being a large, yellowed fang that matched several more adorning the wolf’s person along with a vicious scar across his chest and an intricate tattoo on his right shoulder.
The bundle over the dark usagi’s shoulder gave a low moan and powdery ears brushed lightly against his back as he shifted Haru to cradle him stiffly against his chest, the bunny's head falling weakly against his arm, and another moan pushed from his frowning mouth.
Kahoku's eyes practically devoured the half-clothed figure in that moment. Haru's robe was streaked with dirt and he had a few smudges on his cheek. His fluffy hair had garnered a few leaves, as usual. Thoughts of power were beginning to spring anew with the return of the white usagi youkai. It was true that Haru had resisted all previous attempts to draw out his hidden power, but now he was back where he belonged and his captor had had plenty of time to think up a few new motivators.
Kahoku stepped towards his prey. There was a strange scent on Haru...masculine animal musk. And not even a trek through the woods could dissipate it entirely.
Yellow eyes narrowed. "Bolt the doors," he told the guards inside the room. "Let no one in." As the servants quickly moved to do his bidding the bristling ookami youkai leveled his gaze at Zanna.
"Wake him."
Haru was slowly coming around on his own, although Zanna knew well enough not to delay Kahoku's minimal patience. Managing to grip the drugged usagi with one arm, he reached into a pouch slung low around his waist and pulled out a crystal vial, the shimmering liquid in it the same emerald as the tampered fire from that night.
He used his teeth to uncork the vial, even though it would have more efficient to set his captive on the ground, yet his instincts told him not to...not right yet. He held his breath so that he wouldn't inhale the pale, wispy vapors that drifted from the open flask, and waved it slowly under Haru's nose.
An ear twitched and then a foot kicked spasmodically. Haru came awake with a sudden gasp, completely and wholly disoriented. His last thoughts came to him: the scent of wolves on his strange captor's clothing. But...but he was being held now...at least he thought he was. If he begged now…
He blinked, his lids were still heavy.
"Pl-Please...not there..." he said, trying to grasp Zanna's – or at least he thought he heard a brusque voice call the other usagi that in his dreams - front with his entangled arms.
Kahoku watched impassively, arms crossed.
Zanna carefully avoided looking at the bunny's pale face; he learned to avoid unnecessary nightmares that way, and secured the seal on the vial, returning it smoothly to its pouch. His face was just as expressionless as ever, but for some inexplicable reason his steady heartbeat began to race.
It wasn't from fear, even though walking into a den full of vicious wolves should have made anyone faint from terror, especially an usagi youkai such as himself. His arms tightened unnoticingly around the tremblingly form in his arms as he stared straight ahead past Kahoku's shoulder, silent.
"Not where, Haru?" Kahoku asked smoothly.
Haru had been busy plying the almost unreachable person holding him. At the sound of that voice, however, all of the color drained from his face and his eyes widened impossibly. Haru didn't want to look. He knew already, he just wanted to deny it for a few more seconds. The worst place in the world he could possibly be. And worse, he had escaped under circumstances which he was sure had made the Wolf Clan leader very very unhappy.
The poor usagi youkai squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face in Zanna's cold black armor. It was poor comfort; he was brought here, and this wasn't a dream. And now...he was all alone.
Zanna observed the exchange stoically. He had been pondering setting the bunny back down on his own feet now that he was relatively coherent...but he knew that Haru would collapse the moment his feet touched the hard, cold floor. So in an oddly thoughtful move, he didn't attempt to put him down until the ookami asked it of him, or retrieved Haru himself.
"Look at me, Haru," Kahoku's rich baritone was tinged with malice and Haru could easily hear it. His ears drooped but he refused to let go.
"LOOK AT ME!"
The shout was thunderous, reverberating through the hard-packed earth and seeming drawing in all sound after it, like a tsunami, so that nothing but the silence of death followed it.
Haru practically jumped out of Zanna's arms. His entire body began to tremble but he slowly obeyed, turning a tear streaked and forlorn violet-eyed face to the cold, unyielding gaze of his master.
Even Zanna flinched slightly at the booming growl, dropping his own violet eyes beneath his opaque visor to his gloved hand against Haru's scarred, bare shoulder where his robe had slipped. He could detect a very faint shaking in his fingers where they dug slightly into Haru's pale skin. Strange...
In that amount of time Kahoku had closed the distance. His rough fingers almost gently took Haru's chin and he tilted his head until he had no choice but to meet that hard gaze. And then the wolf's face softened into an almost gentle expression. At that, Haru's body became completely rigid with terror.
"Why, Haru, I've missed you. How unkind to leave for an entire year and not even send word to your concerned master. It was extremely thoughtless..."
Kahoku's face suddenly became homicidal. "Drop him," he commanded his night-clad agent.
Haru whimpered and tried to hold on.
Zanna hesitated for only the briefest part of an instant, before he mechanically removed one arm from under Haru's tucked knees, forcing the rabbit upright on his feet, although Zanna's arm around his shoulder was the only thing keeping Haru standing. But soon that support was gone too as Haru crumpled boneless to the ground.
Which was, of course, exactly where Kahoku wanted him to be. Haru didn't know what to do but he expected that retribution was going to be very very VERY bad. In truth, when he had lived in the ookami's den, he had tried so hard to perform every act ordered. He had been humble and attentive, and eager to please...but the one thing his master wanted from him above all else Haru had no idea how to provide. And so, despite his almost martyr-like willingness, he had to be tormented for his "lack of obedience." And Kahoku knew how to torture Haru. Knew it very very well.
The risk was so high to escape, and it wasn’t even his idea, but when Rafe sacrificed himself he begged Haru to be free...
And now, all that was for nothing. And Simian...his precious lover was so far away.
Haru had no idea what to do. He immediately crouched into a kowtow position, shivering, and waited. He had to at least stay alive through Kahoku's initial fury. If, in the space of a year, the wolf clan leader had decided Haru was more trouble than he was worth, then his life was going to be incredibly miserable and would definitely be coming to an end depending on how long he was to be tortured.
Kahoku stared at the half-clothed trembling mass at his feet. The nape of his neck was bare and the wolf lord could clearly see where the tender flesh was pale and scarred. His eyes narrowed. That someone ELSE should have the privilege of tasting that blood.
"So, where have you been, Haru," Kahoku began in an almost conversational tone. "And what have you been doing? Come now, let's get reacquainted. Did you have fun? Did you enjoy your time away from me? I hope so. But I missed you every single day, Haru. How could you leave me like that?"
"I'm...s-sorry...master," Haru's sobbing voice rose from where he had buried his face in his hands and the floor.
"I don't think you are," Kahoku knelt swiftly, gathering Haru by the back of his head and yanked it back painfully. His nose sniffed Haru's wet cheek and his eyes glared into the terrified violet ones. "For instance, who has been rubbing himself all over you, Haru."
Poor Haru could only moan in emotional agony at the worst question that he could possibly be asked at that moment.
"...Kahoku-sama," Zanna interrupted quietly, carefully as he lifted his visor from his face and pushed them back to the top of his head, flattening his dark, short hair.
The wolf demon disliked anyone hiding their eyes, unable to tell if the shielded gaze was staring at him in a challenge or did not hold a suitable amount of fear. Zanna's eyes shown neither as they remained on the yellowed tooth hanging from Kahoku's right lobe. Zanna did not revel in mind-games and torture, and he had felt extremely uneasy about this particular mission. Yet he never turned down the wolf leader, to do so was a grave mistake, but Kahoku knew Zanna's limits and had never pressed the shadow usagi for more than he was capable.
Kahoku's eyes slid menacingly from Haru’s to the those of his sometimes mercenary servant. The look said enough; 'do you dare interrupt me?'
"I think, perhaps, Haru and I should be alone." He didn't like interference, and Haru had a long punishment ahead of him.
"Hai, Kahoku-sama," Zanna murmured in his chilled tones, carefully avoiding the wolf demon's narrowed eyes and Haru's frightened, beguiling ones as he nodded his head in a respectful bow. (4) He gracefully walked backwards towards the exit, careful not to turn his back on the other. His shadow was ahead of him this time and waited for him impatiently by the door.
"On second thought..." a low drawl as the dark usagi paused and looked up unerringly towards the wolf, "I have a proposition for you."
Haru shuddered. He hadn't wanted Zanna to go, and was relieved that he had stopped on his way out, but he didn't like the faint look of curiosity in his master's face.
"Proposition?" Kahoku looked bored but that one instant had betrayed him enough to one who could see through shadows. "Quickly, then. Obviously Haru and I have some catching up to do..."
Zanna chanced a quick, fleeting glance towards Haru that he hoped Kahoku didn't catch. On second thought...things might be easier if he did. Zanna ignored the shadowy fingers that clawed at the edge of his cape beckoning, pleading for him to just go and don't do anything foolish, nudging them away with his foot as he took a few steps forward again.
"Forgive my intrusion, Kahoku-sama, but Har...your captive has been weakened considerably due to the amount of poisons administered to his system the past twenty-four hours." Kahoku looked at him uninterestedly, and Zanna's careful speech accelerated a touch before the wolf lost interest. Or worse - his patience.
"I believe it may be in your best interests, if you may, that I administer to the white rabbit so that he will not become permanently weakened and retain a suitable amount of stamina for... what you may intend of him." Zanna fell silent, his shadows curling back away from him as if retreating out of the line of fire, and he felt almost vulnerable for once in a very atypical time.
Kahoku's expression never changed, but his intelligent yellow eyes were calculating the worst possible horrors for Haru and perhaps he was considering it.
"Usually I strike while the iron is hot. In this case, however, perhaps prolonging the anticipation will be more effective. Very well." Kahoku sat on his throne, never taking his eyes off the shadow-using usagi. He waited. Haru crouched, shivering, trying to weep, but knowing his life was going to get as bad in intensity with Kahoku as it had been good with Simian in their room with the huge jacuzzi.
"...Thank you."
Zanna lowered his head so that his eyes followed the regression of his inky shadows. They shifted into a questionable, vulgar shape and seemed to bristle at him as they tucked themselves into a far corner, refusing to acknowledge their master. Zanna felt the wolf's untrusting gaze upon him and force back a shudder as he approached on silent feet and knelt next to Haru on the hard ground.
(2) ‘usagi youkai’ – ‘rabbit demon’ (Japanese)
(3) ‘kami’ – ‘god’ (Japanese)
(4) ‘Hai’ – ‘Yes’ (Japanese)
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