By My Mistress\'s Side

A/N: THanks to all for the reviews. Thanks to Del and Mom for inspiration. So updates to this should come on Tues or Thurs, just so you all know. Thanks for reading!!

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The room was bathed in the soft flickering light of the television monitor. Nakago lounged before the screen, azure eyes fixated upon it as Soi tended to his wounded shoulder. The only sound was that of the light tinkling of water as Soi dipped her cloth in the basin, then wrung it to pat gently at the burn. When she had finished she gathered her items and left, bowing slightly to Naraku whom she passed on his way in.

Crimson eyes joined Nakago\'s in their study of the scene on the monitor. Naraku\'s gaze flicked momentarily to the now bandaged shoulder of his companion. \"The boy is impressive.\"

Nakago smiled, \"That he is but he can only access that amount of power instinctually. The boy has no control.\"

Naraku nodded, \"Next time we will seperate them.\"

A light tap sounded at the door. \"Enter.\"

Seto Kaiba swept open the door and into the room. \"Well?\"

Rising with all the grace of a resting feline, Nakago moved towards Seto, \"It will not be long, Seto Kaiba. I told you that it may take several days before the girl breaks. She is very strong willed.\"

Seto opened his mouth to speak but movement and sound from the monitor stopped the words. He turned to the screen to see Akari pushing away from Yusuke, the thin sheet falling away to expose the deep lash marks on her back as she fell to her hands and knees with a cry. Seto\'s eyes narrowed, \"When are you planning to persuade her again?\"

\"In one hour,\" Naraku responded, sharing a secretive glance with Nakago.

\"I shall be there,\" Seto growled as he left the room, shutting the door with a loud bang.

Nakago shook his head, chuckling. \"I do not think that he appreciates our methods of persuasion, Nakago,\" Narkau hissed.

\"I care not what he appreciates. Let him try to stop us. We have a contract. I am merely living up to my end of it.\"

They returned to watching the screen with hungry eyes.

****

Kikyou returned to the conferance room, after hours of wandering through the estate with Sesshomaru at her side, supposedly garnering psychic impressions. All eyes turned to the porcelein faced miko as she stood at the head of the room. Chichiri rose, \"Well Ms. Kikyou...what have you found?\"

\"I can not sense Akari\'s presence anywhere in Japan. Furthermore I can detect no hint of foul play.\"

\"That\'s fucking bullshit,\" Inu Yasha cried, leaping to his feet, slamming a clawed fist into the oak table.

Chichiri gestured for the hanyou to be silent, as did Sesshomaru accompanied by a disapproving growl. The advisor turned his attentetion back to the miko. \"Thank you for you cooperation Ms. Kikyou. Touya will you please show her the way out.\"

As soon as the door swung shut behind the red head and the miko, the room erupted with sound. Chichiri leaned forward, putting his elbows on the table, rubbing his temples. \"This is not helping,\" he muttered.

Sesshomaru\'s commanding voice rose above the din, \"Silence!\"

Slowly the household fell into silence but Inu Yasha continued to rant, \"She\'s a fucking liar, anyone with a half decent god damn nose knows.\"

\"I don\'t usually agree with dog face but,\" Kouga spoke up, \"He\'s right.\"

Chichiri gave the two youkai a puzzled look, then turned to Sesshomaru for explanation. \"Even now the scent of Akari\'s fear lingers in the air. She did not leave her of her own will.\"

Chichiri sighed again, as all those with demon blood nodded assent. \"I have sensed that she is blocking our efforts, therefore, I have already placed a call to an old friend of mine.\"

\"Who is tfriefriend?\" Kenshin asked curiously.

\"He is a monk, a budhist monk. I have complete faith in him. He will not fail us.\"

****
Yusuke lay his head back against the cold brick wall, sighing. The fever that had girpped Akari was gone and she slept seemingly peaceful curled with her head in his lap. Absently he stroked her hair as he tried to think of a way out of their cell. Even if he used his spirit gun to break down the door, he had no idea what lay on the other side of it. How many guards did they have out there? He had no idea even where they were. How big was the compound they were in? Without answers to those questions and Akari injured as she was there was no way he could make any attempt at an escape. Akari stirred at his side, with a small moan and he touched her cheek gently. \"Akari?\"

Akari\'s eyes flew open and she pushed away from him, crying out as the movement reopened one of the wounds on her back. She fell forward, trembling. Yusuke moved toward her, calling her name softly. Akari looked up at him through a veil of mouse brown hair. \"Yusuke?\" she whispered, voice hoarse from screaming.

\"I\'m here,\" he said, reaching out and taking her by her upper arms, helping her to rise to her knees.

Akari fell against him, wrapping her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, to hold her tight enough to stop her quivering, but was afraid of causing her further injury. \"Akari, I\'m so sorry,\" he whispered against her hair.

His head snapped up as he heard the lock click open, Akari yelped, holding him tighter. \"No, not again.\"

The door opened but neither Nakago nor Naraku came through the door. Instead Soi sauntered into the room, followed by the twins and the wolf man. \"Yusuke, follow me.\"

\"Don\'t leave me Yusuke, please,\" Akari\'s frantic voice reached his ears.

Yusuke shook his head, \"Don\'t worry, Akari. I\'m not going anywhere.\"

Soi folded her arms haughtily. \"I was told you would say that. Amiboshi, if you please.\"

One of the sandy hair twins raised a delicate flute to his lips and soon the air was filled with its crystal notes. Try though he might Yusuke was powerless against the musical magic and soon his eyes slid shut.