Disclaimer: I will count off what I don't own. 1. Inu-Yasha. Sigh. 2. Kagome. She rocks, man… 3. The plot for Cinderella. But if I DID, man, Disney would have a heart attack. 4. The various canon characters, like Kikyo (GRRRR) and Kagura (who, contrary to popular belief, IS cool). 5. Maruchan Ramen Noodles. (Please don't ask.)
Rory: Hello, and welcome to the second chapter of "Chimney-Boy and Cinder-Girl: A Very Twisted Parody. Today, I have my sister Tria with me.
Tria: RONNIEKINS BILIUSUS!
Rory: sweat : You'll have to excuse her. She was in the middle of writing a demented fan fic…However I have good news!
Tria: You just saved a bunch of money on your car insurance by switching to Gieco?
Rory: …Um, no. A new chapter! Yeah! Scroll down.
Chapter OneStupid Toad and Wake Me With The Morning Light
Oh, I feel so lucky.
Inu-Yasha was lying on his back in bed, staring up at the stable roof. It was made out of wood. Any minute now, Jaken or Sesshou-maru would come out of the house, and –
"INU-YASHA!"
He flinched. Yes, there was the damn alarm toad. "I'm comin', I'm comin'," he yelled back, tugging on his kimono. "Shut up, Jaken." From there, he made his way to the house to get his chores for the day. Not fun.
There was a list inside. Inu-Yasha sighed. At least he wouldn't have to fix breakfast for Sessho-maru. He wished he could at least eat something.
He glared Jakken down as he left the house. There was a deep animosity between them. Jakken practically fawned over Sessho-maru, and Inu-Yasha was Fluffy-sama's little brother. It made Jakken hate Inu-Yasha. Inu-Yasha just didn't like the little toad-demon. But the day went peacefully until Sessho-maru returned from the village.
"WHAT THE – YEEEEEUUUUUCCKKK!"
Sessho-maru glared at his brother. "Inu-Yasha," he said coldly, "Stop mucking about with the cows and get in the house."
The hanyou glared at his brother's retreating back. He had been shoveling out the cow yard when Jakken whacked his ankles. "What'dja do that for, freak?" he asked angrily, rubbing at his bare arms.
"You weren't working hard enough," the diminutive henchman said, brandishing his staff.
Inu-Yasha grabbed his kimono from a nearby post and yanked it on over the cow crap. "I'd better get some bath time later," he grumbled to himself. Once he reached the house, he stepped into Sesshou-maru's favorite room. He noticed that he was dripping poop all over the floor and furniture. He also didn't particularly care. It'll serve him right, the jerk, he thought. "What do you want, Sessho-maru?" he asked scornfully. His brother may have practically enslaved him, but that didn't mean he had to respect him.
"I thought that would be obvious." He indicated the floor. "There seems to be cow drippings all over the house. I believe you were the one who brought them in, am I correct, Inu-Yasha?" Without waiting for a reply, he continued. "You are to clean this up as well as proceed with your normal chores. I will be in the village. There are some humans I want to slaughter."
The boy glared as Sessho-maru left the room. "Damn him," he muttered. "This is Jakken's work, cleaning the house! Stupid toad…"
Cleaning took up a better part of Inu-Yasha's afternoon. He had dripped a lot of cow shit on the floors. "Yuck," he muttered as he accidentally stepped in some. "I guess it's better than not having a house…Or a life."
He recalled his last new moon. Sesshou-maru had forced him to stay in the cellar the entire time, so he would not be killed by other demons. Inu-Yasha had no idea why he had done that on every full moon since their father's death. To protect you, said the Little Voice inside his head. As a human, you have no strength. You should be grateful that Sesshou-maru tries to help you.
"Screw him," Inu-Yasha told the Little Voice.
Much, much later, he leaned against the back door, wiping his head. Why do I let Sesshou-maru push me around like this? He wondered vaguely. Then he answered himself. It was Father's will for us to stay together. Like a family. And I have to honor his final will.
Doesn't mean I have to like it.
Smiling with grim satisfaction, he pulled off his red outer clothes and walked down to the nearby hot spring, taking some Maruchan noodles with him. (Hey, the guy has to eat sometime.)
Little did he know what was about to happen…
"KA-GO-MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
She sighed. "Yes, Stepmother Naraku," she called back, pulling on a shirt over her head. "I'm coming."
"Well, pick it up," she snapped back. "Kagura and Kanna haven't eaten their breakfast yet."
Kagome rubbed her aching neck and pulled on the rough red pants. Naraku had her working from the first rays of dawn to well past midnight, and she wasn't thrilled about it. She always woke up tired and overworked. It wasn't as though she could do anything, though, and she took her duty seriously.
In the kitchen, she prepared a grand meal for her two stepsisters on her own. She couldn't bother her sisters with something so trivial. Kikyo had her temple duties, and now ten-year-old Kaede had her own duties as Kanna and Kagura's maid, cleaning the rooms they stayed in. Naraku had dismissed most of the hired help, and now Kagome did most of the hard work. So far, she had mended the walls, fixed the garden path, done a lot of gardening, and mended all the clothes. Since she was fifteen, Naraku had her doing the hard work. At least she doesn't make Kaede suffer, Kagome thought. I couldn't forgive myself for that.
Kikyo, as usual, had no work, but her temple training was beginning to wear on her. She would come home, and Kagome would fix some soup for her only for Kikyo to turn it down and go to bed. Kagome took on what would be Kikyo's normal chores so she could continue at the temple.
I hate my life.
"Dear," Naraku said as Kagome set the dishes before them. "I have noticed how responsible you are."
She tilted her head, slightly startled. "Thank you, Stepmother," she said carefully, not knowing where it was headed.
"You do all of your own chores," she continued, "Yet you do your sister Kikyo's chores as well. You even find time to teach Kaede reading and writing."
"Yes." She finished serving and held the tray loosely at her side. "I try."
Naraku smiled. "If you would like," she said, a smile drawing across her face, "You may have the afternoon off, if you finish your chores. I will not call upon you, and I will make sure Kanna and Kagura do not, either."
Kagome bowed. "Thank you, Stepmother," she said. What is she up to? I know she has a reason for this besides motherly love.
Yet through the whole day, nothing happened. She could finish washing the clothes, mending Kanna's white kimono, and mop the floors in peace. No one bothered her, or stomped around with muddy shoes while she cleaned. Kagome had no idea what was going on, but she didn't care, either. When she finished, she bowed to her stepmother and ran off.
There was a hot spring she wanted to check out…
Rory: Dun-dun-DUN! So, how'd you like this chapter? I think it was a LITTLE better than the last one, if just because Naraku had more to say. - I did like his – I mean her description.
Tria: AHHHHHHHHHHH! Cross-dresser! Bring out the Birdcage!
NEXT CHAPTER:
Inu-Yasha and Kagome meet. What will happen, what will happen…
