Jodah's Revenge
This story is rated R for explicit sexual situations (yaoi, rape, torture)
Chapter 4
Kagome was searching the hills where Kouga was last seen herself, against all the protests. She was trying to sense his four crystal shards. Kenshin and Sanosuke walked near her, looking for Kouga and keeping an eye on Kagome. Kome was also searching, his speed and his inherited ability to sense the shards letting him travel much farther. It had now been a week since Kouga had disappeared. The entire Wolf clan had been combing throughout the countryside without success. What had happened? So far they had not found a trace of their leader.
Kagome had been all over the area, but could sense nothing at all. No shards other than the times when her son passed through her sensing range. What could have happened to her mate? She knew deep inside that he was alive -- her heart would have told her if he was not -- but there was the very real possibility that he was lying hurt somewhere. It had happened before.
Suddenly, the wolves started howling, calling the searchers to them. They had picked up his scent. Kome arrived first, following Ginta and Hakkaku and the rest of the clan. Kagome, with Kenshin and Sanosuke, were last. The wolves were carefully sniffing the area, trying to read the scents. Suddenly one wolf started growling and moved away from where he had been standing. Ginta talked to the wolf and translated, "There is a strange sense here. He can't smell anything but there is a bad feeling in the air. And he felt a little dizzy in this area. Kouga was definitely here and, according to the wolf, he was lying down. But there is no scent of blood at all."
The searchers tried to make sense of what they had just heard. Finally Kome ordered Ginta to stand in the area and see what happens. He didn't like being the guinea pig, but did as he was asked. The Wolf Demon stood there for quite a long time and nothing happened. "Wait," Kenshin said, "perhaps whatever is there is closer to the ground. Sit down, Ginta, and see what happens." Ginta reluctantly sat down and in less than a minute, keeled over, dizzy and disoriented. Kome pulled him from the area.
"This small area has been saturated in a sleeping gas. Kouga went into it, probably when it was fresh, and fell asleep, probably within seconds." Kenshin explained, "I knew of things like this is the war. It has dissipated and is no longer strong enough to put you out; it now just makes you dizzy."
"So Kouga was captured by someone? Is that what you are saying?" Kagome asked, tears beginning to form. "Who? We have been at peace for fourteen years now."
"I'm not sure it this was a trap for Kouga or if he just walked into it by accident. Are there other scents other than his?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes, but they are hard to make out because of the gas. The wolves say Demons, but not powerful ones, just low class." Hakkaku replied as he gave his friend cool water to drink. Ginta poured the rest of it over his head, trying to get rid of the awful dizziness.
"I need to go to the Castle to inform the Princess. Keep a watch on this area." Kome said, then turned to his mother, "Don't worry. We will find him and return him safely." He bent to kiss her cheek and then sped off, calling to them, "Tell Ayala where I am!"
Kagome stood there, fear running through her. Her beloved Wolf had been taken -- but by whom and why? And where was he? Tears ran freely down her face and Sanosuke hugged her as she wept on his shoulder.
Kome reached the Castle by nightfall and immediately informed everyone of the situation. Bakura wanted to see the area and Kome would take him there tomorrow. Kurama also wanted to go, and since Hiten was in the Castle, planning to go home tomorrow morning, he could carry Kurama.
The Princess was very worried about Kouga. All of their enemies were dead or missing and presumed dead. Her own mate, Vash, at the cost of his own life, had killed Naraku, and Kouga himself had destroyed Kagura. Mukuro was no longer a threat and living in peace in the Eastern Lands of Demon World, watched carefully by the Lord of the Northern Lands, Raizen and the Lord of the Southern Lands, Shido. The power of Bakura had consumed the evil mage, Jodah, during their battle. There were no enemies left and, since the war, Otherworld and Demon World had lived in peace. What could have happened?
In the morning, the four men set out bright and early, wanting to get to the site before the gas dissipated completely. They arrived in late afternoon, going directly to the area. Ginta and Hakkaku were still there, along with several wolves, guarding the spot. Nothing of interest had happened since Kome's departure. Both Bakura and Kurama checked out the area carefully, literately crawling on their hands and knees around the area. Then they conferred with each other, and asked to be taken to Kagome in the Village.
Everyone gathered on Kagome's porch. Bakura had never met some of them and Kurama had not visited the Village in a several months. But it was not a time of renewing acquaintances, at least not yet. Kurama began, "It is definitely a sleeping gas and it is from the Human World. But the fact that demons were here also might mean that it was merely brought from the Human World to Demon World."
"And I sensed a portal. Only a temporary one, and only the faintest trace of it left, but it was definitely a portal. Which mean that we are dealing with a mage." Bakura added.
Jodah stood on the turret of his tower overlooking the island. It was all falling into place. From his vantage point he could see the seven houses belonging to the special club members. When Bakura hit him with that last charge, Jodah barely managed to open a portal and flee, striking out at Bakura at the same time. The portal he opened went to the Human World. It was not the first time he had been to the Human World. He had gone many times and had created many magical potions and spells.
An unscrupulous mage could make a great deal of money and over the years he had accumulated much. Jodah had hidden bank accounts all over the Human World. And he learned many years ago that sex sells -- especially forbidden sex. There were clubs, secret clubs, all over the world that dealt in sex with Lesser Demons. But the Demons were willing participants and always lower class. So he made a suggestion one day, while sitting in the exclusive men's club that only the wealthy and powerful could belong to, "What if they could have a High Demon at their beck and call? How much would they be willing to pay?"From that simple premise the secret segment of the men's club began. He bought the small island and seven of the richest men in the club built private houses on the island. Jodah used his magic to conceal the island from passing planes and only his personal pilot could see the uncharted island and land safely on it. The seven houses were like spokes in a wheel branches out from his tower/house in the center.
Now, the first High Demon had been procured and auctioned and was a rousing success. The seven men had been more than willing to bid against each other to be the first with a pet Demon. Sakio was overjoyed with his pet and couldn't stop talking about how wonderfully responsive he was. Now all the other owners were clamoring for pets of their own.
But it was not easy getting a High Demon. Jodah couldn't just grab anyone. He had to be selective. You couldn't give a Bear Demon to someone and then have that demon transform into a thirty-foot beast, or take a Moth Demon that could melt its owner with its acid silk. It had to be a Demon that didn't transform; who stayed man-shaped. And Otherworld had a number of those types of Demons. Kouga was a lucky accident -- he had been trying for the young Fox Demon, Shippo. But Kouga ended up being the perfect choice.
The Mage mentally listed the High Demons in Otherworld. Yusuke looked too human and Jodah wasn't sure that even he could control a Battle Demon. Kurama was useless now that he was human -- as Youko Kurama he would have been worth a fortune! Especially if he went into heat! A Fox Demon in heat was supposed to be incredible. Sesshomaru would be a very good catch, but he was back in the Western Lands and Jodah didn't want to venture into Demon World unless he absolutely had to. However, his half-brother, InuYasha, would also be good prize -- especially with those cute dog ears of his.
Jodah and his crew of Lesser Demons returned to Otherworld, this time closer to the Castle to see who would fall into their next trap.