Jodah's Revenge
This story is rated R for explicit sexual situations (yaoi, rape, torture)
Chapter 9
Aya was washing the leaves of the philodendron, one leaf at a time, deep in thought. The plight of the Wolf bothered him, but he didn't know what to do. His lover was involved and the Wolf was a Demon. But the Wolf Demon was married -- he had a family. It was now obvious that he had been abducted for this purpose. He was not some wild animal to be tamed -- he was a man with a right to his freedom. Aya suddenly made up his mind and went to the phone book, looking for her name. There it was! He dialed the number and a woman answered the phone.
"Mikoumi?" Aya asked and got an affirmative answer. What could he tell her? "Your son-in-law is alive. I just wanted you to know that."
"Wait! What do you mean, my son-in-law?" she spoke hurriedly, afraid that the caller would hang up.
"You do have a daughter, don't you? Well, her husband is alive."
Mikoumi gasped, "Who are you? When have you seen my son-in-law?" Was this man actually referring to Kouga? That made no sense at all! Kouga was in Otherworld with Kagome.
"I saw him three days ago. He is a Wolf Demon, isn't he?"
"Yes! Please tell me where you saw him. Please." she pleaded. Something had happened to Kouga!
"No. I can't! I will try to call you next week. Maybe then…." Aya hung up. So it was true! The Wolf was married to a human. He had to help, but he was afraid -- and he had no idea where the island was. What could he do?
Mikoumi hung up the phone with a trembling hand. What had happened in Otherworld? And how could she contact Kagome to find out?
There was only one way. She packed Kagome's old school bag, the same one Kagome used to carry to Otherworld so many years ago. She put on her worn athletic shoes, phoned her next-door neighbor and asked her to keep an eye on things, and then went outside to the old well that stood in a small shed on their property: the portal to Otherworld. All she had to do was jump in, but she was 67 years old and had lived a fairly quiet life -- other than the fact that her daughter lived in another dimension and was married to a Wolf Demon! -- and jumping into a well was a frightening thing. If the portal didn't work, she would be trapped inside the well, probably badly hurt. Mikoumi gathered her courage and jumped into the well.
It was a strange sensation, almost like floating or swimming, but requiring no movement on her part; she just went through the portal and came out in a small clearing in the middle of the forest. Immediately wolves surrounded her -- real wolves, the four-legged kind -- standing in a circle around her and growling. Praying that Kouga was indeed ruler of all the wolves, she said to them, "Take me to Kagome."
The wolves stopped growling and whimpered and snarled at each other, their way of communicating. Then four wolves separated from the rest and went a little way down a path, then stopped until she followed them. It was a four-hour journey and she was tired when she reached the little village where her daughter lived. The trip had been through very beautiful scenery and now the village spread out before her, a little gem in the middle of rolling green hills. The wolves took her down the road, over a small bridge that crossed a narrow river, and then to a house.
Kagome came running out calling to her. "Mom, what are you doing here? You went through the portal?"
"Where is Kouga?" Mikoumi asked, "Is he here?"
"No," Kagome said sadly, her voice breaking, "He has been missing for three months now."
Mikoumi told her about the call and Kagome sent the wolves to find her son and then to bring Hiten to her house. Then she took her mother into her house. She put on a kettle for tea and brought out some biscuits and jam. Her hands were doing things automatically while her mind raced. Kouga was alive!
Kome raced into the house and pulled his grandmother up to hug her tightly. Hiten also arrived and Kagome introduced the Thunder Demon to her mother. Again, Mikoumi told them about the phone call.
"Do you think he will call back?" Kome asked.
"I don't know. He sounded guilty or sorry. Something like that. I begged him to call me again. I can only hope and pray."
"We need to go to the Human World, and be there if he calls back. Kagome, you need to talk to him, to convince him to help us." Kome turned to Hiten, "Can you go to the Castle and ask Kurama to come to Mikoumi's home also? He has a lot of contacts in the Human World." Hiten nodded and went to tell Serafin where he was going.
Kome was ready to leave right away. Kagome looked at her son, "Your grandmother just got here! She needs to rest. We will leave in the morning. The caller said that he try to telephone again next week. Kome, I want to find Kouga more than you do, but all we can do now is wait."
Kome nodded and went to his own home, promising to return early the next morning. Mikoumi looked around her daughter's home. It was a three-bedroom home with a veranda that extended around three sides. There was no electricity and only crude plumbing, but it was a comfortable home. Mikoumi's guest room was furnished with deep chairs and a soft bed and the sliding paneled doors opened onto the veranda where wicker chairs and a porch swing awaited. Maybe she could be happy here in Otherworld. It was something to think about, although she wouldn't mention anything to Kagome until she had truly decided.
The next morning, Kagome, Kome and Mikoumi set out for the portal and the trip to the Human World. By noontime, they were settling into Mikoumi's home, Kagome in her old room and Kome in her brother's old room. During the afternoon of the next day, Kurama arrived and took the guest room. There was nothing to do but wait. Two more days passed, with all of them jumping at every phone call that came in. Finally they received the call they had been waiting for. Mikoumi answered the phone and immediately recognized the voice.
"Please don't hang up. My daughter is here and would like to talk to you." She handed the phone to Kagome.
"Please tell me when you saw my husband. How was he? Where was he?" Kagome pleaded.
There was silence on the other end of the line, and Kagome's heart sank. Aya heard the desperation in the woman's voice. After a moment's hesitation, he made up his mind and came back on the line, "We need to talk in person. Can I meet you somewhere?"
Kagome gave him their address and hung up, praying that the man would really come. He seemed like he wanted to help. Mikoumi started a kettle for tea and brought out some cakes. Like Kagome's actions three days ago, it was something to do to make the time pass. About an hour later, the doorbell sounded and Kagome rushed to the door. A young red-headed man stood there, reminding her a lot of Kurama.
"I am here to see Kagome Higuashi," he said.
"I am Kagome." then she noticed how oddly he was looking at her. "Oh! I don't age in Otherworld where I live, so I still look eighteen, but I am really 47."
Aya looked at her baffled by her words, but followed her into the kitchen where Kurama and her mother were. She introduced him to both and just then Kome came into the room.
"You got free!" Aya exclaimed, as he saw the young Wolf.
"No, I am Kouga's son, Kome. My father is still missing."
Aya sat down at the table, his head low. How could he tell this family what was happening to their husband and father. "Please," Kagome pleaded, "Please tell me whatever you know. No matter what it is, it will help to free him."
Aya looked into her eyes, seeing the hope in them, and nodded, "I don't know where he is exactly. We were taken to an island and not allowed to look outside. But it is about five hours from here by plane; a regular small plane, not a jet."
"We?" Kurama asked.
"I better start at the beginning. I have a friend -- a very wealthy friend -- and he took me to his home on this island. Your husband -- you called him Kouga? -- he was there in my friend's house. He is a captive and cannot leave the house and a small garden area. Sakio, that's my friend's name, said something about magic. We wore bracelets of rope so that Kouga could not harm us."
"He was just there? Staying in that house? Was he being hurt? I don't understand why he is being kept captive by your friend?" Kagome could not wrap her mind around it.
Kurama looked at the young man and guessed the truth instantly. "Kouga is being used by Sakio, isn't he?"
Aya nodded, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I didn't know he was a man until he spoke to me later that night. I thought he was just an animal, a pet. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to…." his voice trailed off.
"I don't understand what you mean. Is he being hurt?" Kagome said, tears beginning to form.
Kurama looked at her and gently said, "Kagome, he is being used as a sexual plaything. There are clubs like these all over the world, but usually the Demons allow themselves to be used. To capture a High Demon and keep him compliant means that there is high magic at work. This cannot be done by a human."
Tears began to run down Kagome's face and Kome started to growl. "Do you know the mage's name?" Kurama asked Aya.
"Sakio mentioned it in passing, but I don't remember it."
Kome suddenly grabbed Aya out of the chair, "Did you use my father too?" His voice was a snarl, sharp fangs glinting in the light.
"I didn't enter him, only Sakio did. I just -- I just…" his voice faltered. Kome looked like he was ready to tear his throat out.
Kagome pulled her son off of Aya, "Stop it! It doesn't matter. Aya is helping us!" Kome let go of Aya, but the fury was raw in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry," Aya said, his voice was a tortured whisper, "I didn't know."
"You are helping him now. That's the only thing that matters." Kagome told him and she meant it.
"Did you see the other one?" Kurama asked.
"Other?
"There is a second Demon missing from Otherworld. His name is Tekki. He is a Bobcat Demon and has red-blond hair and green eyes."
"I didn't see anyone else, but there are six other houses on the island and a large one in the middle. Sakio said that the owner lives in that one."
"We need to figure out where that island is." Kome said.
"I told you all I know, but I'm sure I can go again with Sakio next week. He goes every Tuesday." Aya stopped when he saw Kagome blanch. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"No, it's alright. Please go and give him a note from me."
"It is too dangerous. If Sakio suspected anything he would tell the owner and Kouga would be killed." Aya told her, then seeing the sadness in her eyes, added, "Tell me the message and I will find a way to give it to him."
"Just that we are working towards freeing him. That help is coming. And that I love him." The words barely got out before Kagome broke down and Kome held his mother in his arms. Aya nodded and promised to return after his next trip.