She gasped as he grabbed her wrist. The action was unexpected and painful.
"Do not anger the fine man. Have you no manners?" His voice was jesting but his countenance grim.
Her dark eyes narrowed in anger at his harsh words and his grip tightened on her wrist in warning. His actions did nothing to impede her temper. "And will you enjoy the luxury of my gold once I have relinquished it to our kind sir?"
He smiled then, and her eyes widened at the sight of his fangs. "Would you presume me an outlaw?"
"Are you not?" Her words were accusatory and dripping with disdain.
He laughed, further infuriating her and answered casually, "Of course, but do not mistake me for a lowly thief as him. I would not degrade myself to steal from women and children."
"How noble of you."
Her words were dry and made it clear that she thought otherwise, but he chose to continue their banter. "Indeed. Now pay the gentleman, and we will be on our way."
"I told you, I will not."
He cocked his head to the side inquisitively. "Stubborn?" he inquired, more to himself than her, as if he was trying to unlock a mystery.
Frustrated with the unforseen charade, the man advanced suddenly. He barely registered the naked blade in the thief's hand before he had turned on him, claws effortlessly slicing at his face. A wordless cry erupted from the man's throat as he clutched his now ruined left eye.
"If you want to live, I suggest you flee." The words were impassive and immediately effective.
She watched the man stumble over himself in his effort to get away with little interest. She focused instead on the man who had appeared mysteriously to grab her wrist, and now it seemed to save her life. "You are a demon."
His golden eyes flashed at her in his anger, causing her to notice the coloration for the first time. "And you are an ingrate."
She peered into the depths of those eyes and took in his white hair, partially hidden from the cloak which framed his face. She had all but forgotten his hold on her wrist, until she realized that he was now staring at the gold signet on her finger. "What would you have of me?"
He dropped her hand as if burned. "I would have nothing of you, your Highness." With that he disappeared the same as he had come.
"Forty-eight hours. You have been named ruler for 48 hours and you pull a stunt like this? What if something had happened to you. It would be my head they demanded."
Kagome clicked her tongue in anger. "Need I remind you that I answer to no one? It would be prudent to hold your tongue, Naraku," she retorted, purposely refusing his title as he had done so disrespectfully to her. She sighed, letting the tiredness leak from her body. "I wished to assess my people. I have discovered with my own eyes that they are overrun with starvation and crime. Why was I not informed of this?"
"There is nothing we can do, your royal Highness."
The title was stressed, each word laced with bitterness. Kagome clenched her fist in frustration. She could never be an effective ruler if she couldn't command. "I didn't ask what I could do!"
"I will have to double your security."
It was obvious what was happening here. Kagome practically screamed her words at him, struggling to keep her voice calm, "You will do nothing, Chancellor! Do you hear me? Nothing. I am the one who rules this country. I will make my own decisions."
She barely noticed the shrug of his shoulders. "If you continue to place yourself in danger I will have no other choice. Even now, you do not have enough guards to watch you. Their numbers must be increased."
And with them your own spies, the thought remained silenced. "I won't be caged in my own house, Chancellor, you'd best not try. Now leave my presence."
She waved him away with a flip of the hand. When she was alone, she allowed the tears to come. How had her father allowed this to happen? She took several moments to dry her eyes before calling for the next visitor.
A military officer of high rank, entered formally and knelt before her, her dark hair spilling over her armor as she offered, "My Queen."
Kagome smiled at her childhood friend as she bit her fingernail thoughtfully, allowing herself to sag somewhat in the throne. "Sango, please do not kneel. I have asked you not to be so formal when we are in private." As the female officer rose to her feet with a nod she continued, "I can see from the look in your eyes that you think I have done a foolish thing. Please, address me with your concern."
Sango gave another curt nod before responding, "As you know, there are whispers of a conspiracy. They grow louder even now. I fear for your safety, Kagome."
Kagome sighed and offered a wilted smile. "I had hoped it would not come to this. Though it seems we are left no other choice. Let us retire to my bedchamber and finalize our plans."
Kagome's chambermaid had already lit the fireplace and added metal warmers under the covers of her canopy bed. After being helped out of her dress and into her nightgown, Kagome excused her for the night. She let her hair down, brushing absently as Sango began to shrug out of her heavy armor.
"I'm staying here tonight," Sango spoke as she struggled out of her boots. "I don't trust your safety otherwise. I'll have a guard positioned outside your door each night following."
"Who?"
After a moment of though, Sango replied, "Miroku. He's unethical, but loyal. We've known him long enough that I'm certain he'd look out for your personal welfare."
Kagome gave a murmur of acceptance and set the brush down on the fireplace mantel before moving to the chamber's couch.
"The court was in quite an uproar about your disappearance, though the Chancellor tried to deny it. You were gone overnight, Kagome." She didn't add that she had been worried.
"Good. Then they will find it common place when it happens again."
Sango sighed, joining her on the couch. There was no winning against Kagome once she had her mind made up. "I'll need at least a week to prepare."
Kagome's dark eyes danced in the firelight. They were deep and intense with her purpose. "The Chancellor must not know of our journey. Bring only those you trust with my life. It must be a small party in order to move quickly to Besade. Most of my father's supporters are there; it's our only hope."
Sango gave her affirmation. "Our best shot will be to slip away during the night."
They discussed the matter for an hour before retiring to bed. The next morning, Sango took her leave early to begin the travel preparations in secrecy.
Nearly a week later, Kagome steeled herself to leave everything she had ever known. If she failed, undoubtedly her younger brother would be appointed as a puppet ruler, and the Kingdom would be lost to the Chancellor's reign. She was grateful that Souta was away for schooling. She couldn't have brought herself to leave him behind.
The horses were jittery and she couldn't blame them. They were a party of less than 30, but there was no time to waste in preparation for more. With Sango's final nod, they were off.
After traveling through the night, they decided to take a short rest in the afternoon before continuing as far as possible before night fall. The party was exhausted, but spurred by the severity of the situation.
A large building had come into view some miles back, the first sign of civilization in hours. Upon arrival, Kagome called, "And shall we not rest now, Sango?"
The female officer, whom Kagome had appointed in charge of the small band of troops, answered reluctantly. She had hoped they would be able to pass without incident. "I would not wish you to see such a place of atrocity, my Queen. There will be a more suitable place for rest shortly."
Kagome felt herself becoming indignant at the fact that her ignorance of such a place had been revealed before her subordinates and found herself unable to hide it. "Why do they exist in my land if they are such?"
Her voice held a dangerous edge, and Sango wished she didn't have to answer. An angry queen would make the trip that much more difficult. "I am afraid that the slave trade is once again legal, my Queen."
Kagome had become visibly impatient mostly to hide her surprise. "And when did this happen?"
Miroku chose to answer on Sango's behalf, sidling his horse into stride beside hers, "Toward the end of your father's reign."
Sango shot him a pointed glare.
"Fear not, your Highness, your citizens are free," he added quickly.
Her anger melted into curiosity. "Then the slaves are?" she asked, glancing back and forth between them.
"Demons, my Queen."
Miroku agreed with Sango's answer with a nod. "Foreigners from the north."
The reply was dry, matter of fact. Kagome set her jaw in determination. "Well, then, let us have look. Rest the horses; I will return in less than an hour."
Sango knew better than to protest and shot Miroku another glare to keep him quiet.
Kagome gave a nod, "I will witness what must be seen. I will not be ignorant of such things."
With a final sigh, Sango left Miroku in charge of the men while she followed Kagome to the building's entrance.
It was when she didn't think it could get any worse that she laid eyes on him. At first he was just another gruesome sight, bound and bloody, kneeling on the ground. It was his white hair that attracted her, the first spark of familiarity drawing her closer. She studied that hair from a distance, taking in the red tint from his own blood and the hand wrapped through the thick locks, forcing his head back at a painful angle. Though she had never seen its full length, the sight of it promised that she would soon be met with defiant golden eyes.
She stopped before him, curious eyes slightly wide despite herself. He was handsome and the sight of pain marring his face bothered her. She knew he would be naked like all the others, but to look upon him would be to take something from him which he had not offered. His arms were wrenched tightly behind him, pulled upward to where they attached to the wall, increasing the strain on his body and making it painful to meet her stare. He met her eyes, all the same, his own dark with anger.
She didn't know what to say, so she said nothing. The trainer continued the torment session, oblivious to her presence, and he fought to keep silent his cries of pain in her presence. She tilted her head to the side, unsure of the feelings she felt welling in her chest. Why did the sight of this outlaw illicit such foreign feelings from her? Was it because he had saved her life? Was she somehow indebted now?
The trainer finally noticed her presence, and paused, unsure of how to proceed. When the hold on his hair was dropped his head drooped from fatigue. He forced himself to again meet her stare and was struck with a blow which left multi-colored stars sparkling before his eyes.
"You will learn respect for your superiors," the trainer spat impatiently. Apparently, he had been at it for quite a while. He turned his attention to Kagome, a look of curiosity lighting his features. "Is there something I can help you with, madame? Surely—"
"How much for this slave. I will have him." It was impulsive, but she didn't regret the words.
The trainer nearly scoffed at her. "You don't want him; he's a mut. A half-breed."
His words were matter of fact, as if they explained everything perfectly. But Kagome wasn't one to be condescended to. "I said I will have him."
The demon looked to her then, suspicion evident in his eyes and received another harsh blow. The trainer seemed annoyed now. "Clearly someone of your class deserves a well bred slave. As you can see, he's not yet been broken. He'd be uncontrollable and quite dangerous. I doubt you could handle him."
She tossed a sack of gold coins at him in annoyance. "Count your price. Though if you are not fair, I will have you arrested. Quite hurry, I am traveling and do not wish to delay unnecessarily."
The trainer's eyes grew wide in surprise, and he quickly hurried off to settle the account with the trader. Sango followed at a short distance, biting back her own thoughts on the situation.
Kagome turned her attention back to the outlaw, barely able to hide her smirk. "I suppose we'll have to get you some clothing."
He glared at her then. "Don't think that you will control me."
She smiled mischievously despite herself. "Now who's the ingrate?"
Her thighs and back were beginning to ache from the increasingly rough terrain. They had left the capital over a day ago. Conversation had been almost nonexistent. Kagome gave a sigh before moving up in the line to ride beside her friend. "My dear Sango, you do not approve of my actions."
Sango frowned before answering, slowing the gait of her steed to fall more closely to the queen. If she could help it, she wanted to keep their conversation private. "I do not understand them. He is a dangerous creature and will only complicate our journey."
Kagome turned then, glancing behind her to watch him stumble along, cursing vehemently as the ropes attached to his wrists were jerked by the horse. "So it seems."
"Do you intend to make him your jester?"
She smiled, feeling laughter tickle her throat at the thought. "Perhaps, though he doesn't appear to be gifted with humor, does he?"
Sango shrugged, missing Kagome's meaning. "He seems quite accustomed to humiliation, my Queen."
She looked thoughtful then, turning to glance at him once more. "No, Sango, that is quite foreign to him, and he does not wear it well. No, he will serve a much more important role." She ended the conversation there, leaving Sango to puzzle over her words. They spoke only of their journey after that.
When the camp had been set for the night, Kagome lay in the tent wondering why she still entertained thoughts of him. She had more important things to worry about. Much had changed during the closing of her father's reign, and it would be a tough road to fixing them. It saddened her that her father had been manipulated in his failing health; he would be upset to know that the slave trade had been resurrected under his name. It led her to wonder what else had changed.
The sound of his yelp brought her reeling from her thoughts. She fought the weight of her skirts to rise quickly and then the urge of her heart to walk slowly to the scene. She couldn't appear troubled over a demon after all.
"Enough." Her one word halted the beating immediately. She would have thought that the strength of five royal guards was a bit unnecessary to control one demon—if that one demon hadn't been doing such a good job of resisting those five guards. For the second time that day, she felt her eyes widen in curiosity. However, as good as he was doing, he was still losing. She sighed heavily, unsure how she felt about the sight before her. Her tiredness was evident in her voice. "What is his transgression?"
In an impressive show of strength, the soldiers forced him to his knees before her as one answered, "He attacked a guard in an attempt to escape."
Kagome blinked at the official blankly. What a surprise. Honestly, she had hoped he'd be less predictable. With a sigh, she hardened her face, and his eyes grew large in panic, the emotion surprising her. "I didn't—" He was effectively silenced by a blow to the mouth.
His body was exhausted from the consecutive beatings so he allowed his head to hang. Really, he deserved it. He should have known better than to think she would hear his side or that he would be allowed to give it.
"I said, enough." Her tone was quick to anger, though what she really wanted to say was, I don't have time for this.
The soldier stepped forward and fell to one knee immediately. "Of course, my Queen."
She breezed past him, ignoring his abasement to show that he was in ill favor for his disobedience. The demon jerked at her touch when she cupped his chin, forcing his face to rise and his eyes to meet hers. "Tether him to the pole in my tent; I wouldn't want him to escape, though I am sure he would not make such a foolish attempt again."
He shuddered at the severity of her words and was promptly dragged to his feet.
Hours later, he sat in stony silence, stiff and aching from the rough texture of the ropes and tightness of the bindings. He watched her, scribbling notes and bustling papers as she spoke in hushed tones with the same female guard he had seen her conversing with before. His ears twitched at their conversation as he realized the potential danger the queen was in. It was clear that the female was acting as her advisor and that they were fleeing the castle in an effort to thwart a coup de tat. He bit his lip but remained silent. He had provoked the queen's anger once; it would be dangerous to do so again. It was a name that caused him to finally interrupt, when Sango ended the conversation by saying, "I will have Kyou carry our message as we act on our plans."
"I do not think it to be wise." The words had slipped from his mouth before he could silence them, and he instantly regretted it. He grimaced when she turned her attention fully to him, but decided to hold his ground, for her sake if not his.
"Oh?" she answered in a mocking tone. "An outlaw turned slave presumes to be the royal advisor? I must say, I am most honored."
He looked away, hiding his anger. "He can't be trusted." The words were forced, clipped.
Sango started in alarm. "He is one of my most trusted men."
"He is against you. He speaks of betrayal."
Kagome spoke more softly when she addressed him now. "And how did you happen to hear his traitorous words?"
As he was unable to shrug, he managed a look of boredom. "The same as I heard your plans. Do you think these ears are for decoration?"
Getting an attitude with the queen probably wasn't the smartest idea he'd ever had, but she was an infuriating girl. Why had he even bothered to help her?
"What would you suggest?"
He blinked in surprise at her words before he realized that she was probably just toying with him. He sighed but decided to answer truthfully. "Send a false message through him, and don't let anyone know of your true plans. Surprise is your only ally now. You need to act quickly and when you do there can be no traitors amongst your men or you will fail."
She nodded and turned to Sango. "Then it is decided. Do you have any objections?"
"No."
"Then go and deliver false papers. We will search for treachery in our men and deal with them accordingly."
He watched the exchange in mild shock, and soon they were alone in the tent. He kept silent, the unwilling victim of her scrutiny.
She knelt beside him, eyes intense as she studied him. "What do you wish to gain?"
It wasn't the reason he had spoken, but it didn't matter. "My freedom only."
She dropped to her knees, gripping his bare shoulders as she peered into his face. "No. You know what I mean."
Yes, he knew exactly what she meant. "I do not."
She was intoxicating. Her eyes, her lips, her touch. And it was as if her scent alone could make him incoherent. It was what had drawn him to her in the alley. It was what drew him to her now, the scent increased by her mere proximity. And he was probably going to get himself killed because of it.
She leaned forward, forcing her lips against his, and he allowed himself to breathe all of her in. He remained painfully still, unwilling to return the kiss, knowing full well that it would be his death wish. She pulled away and he felt palpable fear from the anger in her eyes and an ache in his side from the absence of her touch.
"Why?"
He tried to look away, but she moved into the line of his vision. He was reluctant to answer, but finally offered, "I know you're just toying with me."
He jerked when he felt her fingertips brush the back of his ear. "Don't forget, my little pet," she purred dangerously, rubbing her fingers harder across his ear as she rose to whisper in the other. "You're mine, and I can use you any way I want to."
A small whine escaped his throat as she used her grip on his ear to force his head back. His eyes were wide as she forced her lips against his with bruising strength, forcing him to open his mouth to hers. She released her hold on his ear and ran her fingers through his hair and across the bare skin of his neck as he returned her kiss. When she continued her their trail down his chest, tracing the outline of the ropes, he whined into her mouth, leaning forward, straining to press harder against her.
She pulled away abruptly, leaving him stunned. "Wha–"
"Would you sell my secrets to the highest bidder?"
"How can I profit when I am yours?" he cried out in frustration.
She smiled, genuine and pure, and he knew then that she had believed him that he hadn't attacked the guard. It was true that she had effectively spared him from further punishment. A part of him felt happy, but it worried him that she would trust him. Demons weren't to be trusted, and he was an outlaw on top of that. If she trusted him, there was no telling who else held her trust unnecessarily. He would have to keep a closer eye on her.
She was stroking his hair absently. The action was immediately distracting. "Won't you tell me your name?"
He couldn't possibly think of lying to her when she looked at him that way. "I don't remember it. Most just call me the inuyasha."
She looked thoughtful before replying, "Then Inuyasha it is."
AN: Edited the chapter for errors and transitions. Hopefully it feels less rushed now. Chapter two will be up shortly. Leave a review if you like it. :)