~Fetter's of Fate~

Summary: Kagome never thought that her dance was much...but it was her. She placed her heart in her dance, and her warriors' spirit warded off those who tried to get closer than watching her dance. However, when she meets him, her world is set on fire, her body is set a blaze and her mind is set with one goal...to see to it that Shishio's dream is realized!

Anime/Manga: InuYasha/Rurouni Kenshin

Pairing: Kagome/Shishio

Genre: Romance/Spiritual Burning/Adventure

Rated: M

A/N: I've wanted to write this for a while, I just haven't been brave enough to try. Hope you all enjoy!

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Koko Soko

This Place That Place

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'So...' Kagome looked down from the cliff she stood on, peering out at the ocean that surrounded Japan. "...where are we going?" She looked behind her to Soujiro who smiled with closed eyes.

"Lord Shishio said that we should make an appearance in Tokyo...well...more accurately...we should let the Meiji Government know...that their nights shouldn't be filled with pleasant dreams just yet...that Lord Shishio is still very much alive, and from the Shadows, he will over-run this country...and we will stand by his side." He smiled, "Of course, that's if things go according to plan, though, I don't see any reason why they shouldn't..."

"...Well...what of those with similar beliefs, but different ways of going about it. Someone who...might try to intervene?"

Shishio stepped out from behind a tree and moved close to the edge of the cliff until he stood in front of the two. "That isn't anything you should worry yourself over. If truth be told, I'm hoping...one such man will pay us a visit...of sorts. In fact...we are close now, Soujiro, head to Tokyo...why not pay our good friend Okubo a visit will you."

"Sure thing, Mr. Shishio!"

Kagome turned in time to see Soujiro disappear and Houji step out from the forest. He was the other man who had been with Shishio and Soujiro on the night she'd danced for them only a week ago.

"...Lord Shishio..." The man moved to Shishio's side and in one stride, Kagome stood beside Shishio, glancing back at the ocean. "Yumi is still waiting for our return..." His eyes traveled to Kagome and he frowned, "How will you explain...your newest...follower?"

"I will tell her the truth; I saw the fires of hell, burning deep within her eyes...I couldn't pass up that kind of a jewel." He looked to his left and caught Kagome's blush, a smirk forming on his lips before he turned cold eyes to Houji, "Putting that aside, who I decide to trust or bring into the faction is entirely up to me, Yumi knows that. You should learn your place, Houji, and not ask so many questions."

"Ah...y-yes, Lord Shishio!" Houji left the clearing and Shishio placed a hand on the small of Kagome's back, watching her tense for a second before leaning into the touch, the warmth.

"Shishio...if I may...why do you hide yourself beneath these bandages? Your words come out silky, and you move with fluid motions...you don't seem to be injured...so...why?"

"...I was burned..." He glanced out to the ocean and waited to hear her words of sorrow.

"But a man so strong, he should have no reason to hide himself beneath the bindings of his past."

He stared curiously at her, "Every inch of my body was in pain...shouting for death...it was a living hell." He took her wrist in his hand and pulled her up against his chest, "Tell me Kagome, do you believe in hell?"

"...I believe that life is what you choose to make it, and that if you see life as a living hell, it's probably just the pressures of your life taking their toll on your mind." She smiled, "You want to know a secret, Shishio?"

This was around the eighth time she'd used his name in his presence, with or without people around...and hadn't used Lord, Master or Mr., like his other followers. "Tell me,"

"...when I was little," She moved out of his arms, "My family discovered I had a knack for healing..." She turned away and let her hands hold her silk kimono covered arms in a hug. "They were quick to use my talents...for their own greedy and selfish purposes. I can remember my father coming into my room, pulling me from my bed and telling me that I shouldn't worry about sleep. I have other people to care for, and my health could wait." She turned teary eyes to the powerful man behind her, "It might have been selfish of me...but...the next person I was told to heal...I watched them suffer. It wasn't their fault my parents were cruel and vindictive...but I placed my anger on them...without a moments hesitation...I let their lives drain and watched their eyes dull...while I had the ability to save them...I chose to let them die." She gave a dry laugh, "Then...my parents realized I would no longer help them drain money from the people in our town, so they haggled me off to the first traveling bunch of morons that happened through...and I was met with one of my most horrible experiences. The Lady Midoriko...she would always ask me where I learned to fight..." She felt his warm hands catch her own that had fallen to her sides, slowly sliding up the length of her arms, moving the fabric every inch of the way. "I learned through my will to live...to kill those who had wronged me...to destroy anyone who tried to harm those who saved me. I was stained with blood, at nine, my hands were crimson, and now...at twenty...I am no different...my hands are still stained an unsightly scarlet."

"I think the color suits you." He pulled her once more against his chest and she leaned herself back against him, her shoulders bare with his touch and the movement of her silk kimono. "You are strong because you have a warriors spirit...however...you also seem to have a conscience...if we could get rid of that─"

"I don't want to..." She turned in his hold and looked carefully at him, "...my emotions...my feelings...my guilt...these are what make me human. I won't give up my humanity...not for anyone."

'...' Shishio frowned, 'We'll see about that...' Shishio guided her towards a brown mare and lifted her onto the saddle so that she could ride side saddle before he climbed on behind her and took off into the setting sun.

Kagome smiled at the clichéd, handsome prince riding off into the sunset with his love, but to her...it seemed more like...the destined ruler, of a fallen country, riding with power in his stride, into a sunset, ablaze in the sky, an image to burn into our minds...her heart...

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Kagome could say, honestly, she didn't like being placed in situations with multiple outcomes that she would have to think over before acting or speaking. Now, with that said, she was especially angry at Houji, who had arrived a few moments before herself and Shishio, and had thought to take it upon himself to tell this…Yumi...that her Master Shishio had arrived, and was with another woman. Kagome especially didn't appreciate being moved out of the way by Houji who...she didn't want touching her, and placed somewhere Yumi couldn't see her. This irked her beyond any normal situation should.

"Houji, do not touch her, I would rather like to see you live a while longer...and she's becoming upset."

Kagome ignored him, 'Upset? I'm beyond...upset!'

"Lord Shishio, don't concern yourself with this girl, please, let us go relax in the springs, I'm sure after a long ride you must want to unwind..." Yumi smirked when Shishio voiced his agreement.

"Kagome, would you care to join us?"

"...oh, as lovely as that sounds...I don't really wish to share anything with her. You'll have to forgive me Shishio, but I've been put in a sour mood and any interaction with her will end with her dead." She bowed and stormed off in a graceful stride, it left Shishio wondering how she could be so angry and refined at the same time.

"So childish,"

"Yumi, do not provoke her. If she fights you, you will have to stand your ground; I won't stop her, or get involved with any controversy you start." He removed his arm from her hold and fell into silent steps as he made his way to the spring.

"Ah! Lord Shishio!" She followed him in her own elegant manner.

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Houji chuckled as he followed Kagome he turned a glare on the man. "You may be the second hand trash that follows Shishio, but if you don't back the hell off, I'll make you wish you were dead!" She all but snapped at him, watching him rebuke at her yelling.

"You were brought on as entertainment, I'm sure, so he will no doubt snap out of his momentary...phase...and kill you in due time!"

"..." She smiled and turned around, "Even if I'm just his source of entertainment, I'd rather be just his dancer and singer...then his court jester!" She stared menacingly at him, making her point clear as she looked him dead in the eyes.

The look on Houji's face almost caused her to tear up in laughter before she turned and left.

It was later that night, Kagome sat on the roof of the inn they were staying at. Though, it was abandoned, she assumed that was why it had been altered from the inn it once was to the headquarters it was now. She also thought about how many other's stood the ground beside Shishio, and if they were all true to him...or if they had other plans on their agenda.

'I wonder...how Soujiro is doing...'

"If I had known you would be out stargazing all hours of the night, I'd have moved your bed out here."

Kagome laughed, "Sorry, I was lost in thought, Shishio."

"You are brave,"

"...hm?" She glanced behind her, "How so?"

Shishio jumped on top of the roof and took a seat beside her; leaning back on his elbows, he gazed up at the starry veil. "You call me Shishio, no honorifics, nothing, not even Lord..."

"...would it please you if I called you Lord Shishio?"

"...you may call me anything you desire, I have full faith in you; in how you will be able to serve me in the future."

"And...How will I be able to serve you in the future?"

He laughed, "You'll find out when the time comes. You will no doubt have figured it out by then."

She looked over at the man who leaked off power from his every pore, and smiled, 'Shishio...no matter who we are around...no matter where we are...or when it is...I will only ever call you...by your name...Shishio...until I see you as more than you...as more than your name.'

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Yumi tightened her grip painfully on the corner edge of her windowsill and glared out into the chill of the night. Shishio, the man whom she loved...truly, from the bottom of her heart, with a profound passion that could sometimes tear at her soul and rip out her heart for mere second of his time...had left her to talk with that...girl! What did she have that attracted her Shishio to such a...a..."AUGH~!" She turned and began pacing angrily around the room she shared with Shishio. This was one thing the bratty girl wouldn't take from her! She had enough problems dealing with that cross-dressing freak Kamatari, now she had a bratty little girl who thought she was enough women for Shishio! She'd have her head if she so much as touched him..."That...red district whore!"

"Jealousy is an ugly color on you, Yumi."

"..." She felt her cheeks heat and turned to see Shishio standing in the doorway where he had been watching pace back and forth in their room for a good five minutes. "I'm not jealous! Why did you bring her here?"

A familiar fire burned in her eyes, one he had seen when he'd first come across her. "Is it a matter you should concern yourself with, Yumi?"

"...no...Lord Shishio..."

"Then do not question my decision!" He removed his left glove and her body gave way to fear as she took a small step backwards. "Whatever my reasons, they are mine...would you leave me Yumi...over the threat of a woman child."

"...I...n-no...Lord Shishio..."

"There seems to be a hint of ambiguity and...uncertainty...laced in your voice...Yumi..."

"No...Shishio, I would follow you till the ends of the world and farther!"

"..." He replaced his glove and moved forward, placing his gloved hand on her cheek, he smirked, "Good, now...let us retire for the night, Yumi."

"Yes, Shishio."

"Yumi,"

She blushed at his closeness, but embraced it none the less, "Yes?"

"Don't forget, you may be the only woman who stands by my side, but your status isn't up to par with mine."

She frowned, but nodded, "Of course, Lord Shishio." She knew, very well...that nobody was the exception to that. He was, Lord Shishio, Master Shishio, or Mr. Shishio...not...Shishio. She wouldn't need to worry about that with the girl, no doubt, if she made that mistake...he'd kill her; which...actually made Yumi want to take her by surprise, so that she'd make a slipup similar to her own...and her Lord Shishio...would end her life. However, she also knew, he wasn't heartless...he would probably say something along the lines of, 'I'm feeling generous today, don't let it happen again...' or 'If you make that slipup again, I promise you, you won't have to worry about making it a third time.' But he wouldn't just kill the girl...just like he wouldn't just kill her...right?

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Kagome looked at her hands; she had stayed a while longer outside after wishing Shishio a good nights rest, just staring at her hands. They were once covered in blood...she could remember it...like it was yesterday...

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Flashback

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Her heart beat wildly against her chest. Kagome was nine, her hair was tied back in a messy ponytail with a torn ribbon in her hair. Her kimono of grey and cobalt had tears and rips throughout the sleeves from branches, her hands gripped the kimono closed as she ran, trying hard to keep it closed. A hand suddenly took her from behind, grabbing her by the shoulders before pushing her painfully against the ground. She moved onto her knees and pushed herself to get away from her pursuer, trying to gather speed, failing with the cheap cotton of her kimono. She fell forward when the man's weight caught her off guard and he was suddenly towering over her.

"Get off!" She called out, "LET GO OF ME!" Her tears framed her face as she made every bit of effort to escape, "Oh god...please...please let me go~!"

She could feel the man tearing at her kimono as she fought to keep it on. While her hands were occupied with her kimono, his free hand paid no heed to patience and off the wraps around her waist and bottom, then, with a quick thrust of dry fingers, the intrusion was immediate and painful, her cries for help ceased as her voice was caught in her throat.

'N-no...'

Her hands fell as she was placed in a position that she had no hope of fighting, a larger, longer, harder object took the place of the mans fingers and her sharp, piercing scream filled the still air, causing villagers to become alert of the horrible deed taking place. Her hand brushed against something metal along the man's belt and she grasped it when he brought her down painfully on his shaft. She took the hilt of the weapon at his hip and with every ounce of energy she had, she brought it unhesitatingly across the man's throat and felt the blood bathing her entire front. Her hands shaking as he fell forward on her and the fall pressure of his head caused the blade to slice a little more than halfway through his neck before she removed it. Footfalls and cries could be heard from around her and behind her. The crying was silenced, she knew the other girl who had been sold to the traveling men had been silenced...most probably killed...so she hid. Standing, she cried pained tears as she removed herself from the man and struggled to hide before waiting silently till another man made his appearance. He looked at his dead partner and growled out angrily before taking his sword in hand and looking for the child his friend had been trying to enjoy moments ago before meeting his end.

"Come out, little girl..."

"..." She clenched the weapon tightly, tears falling from her cheeks, the red of the man's blood colored her entire front, splattered across her face with how it had showered her from his throat. Struggling to stand, she moved out from behind the bush, the sword clenched tightly, out of view of the man. "I-I'm right here..."

"..." He turned and chuckled, "Good girl, come here."

Carefully, she walked forward, stopping a few steps away from him. "...what are you...going to do..."

"First, I'm going to enjoy you...in memory of my friend here...and next, I'm going to kill you." He smiled a sick, disturbed smile.

She let him take her in his arms, kissing her neck, licking the blood from her exposed chest and biting at the tender skin of her shoulder before she brought her hand up and placed it against his chest. "You won't...kill me..." And her other hand thrust forward quickly, but he caught it before the blade could pierce his flesh, tossing the blade to the side.

"Sorry, little girl, I'm not nearly as easy to kill as my friend was." He pushed her painfully against a tree and continued his pursuing of her body while she cried and screamed out for help. Her please were answered as a blade sliced cleanly across his neck.

Her back slid painfully against the tree bark as his weight fell on her.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry!" Her eyes moved to her savior who pulled the man off of her and pulled her heavy outer robe off and over her. "Let us leave these men for the police to find, we haven't any reason to be here now."

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End Flashback

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'The first time I met her...Lady Midoriko...' Kagome smiled, 'She saved me...' Kagome stood up and stretched before climbing off the roof, 'However, after ten years of dancing, fighting, singing...silently healing...I was falling apart with the same things happening...I had to leave...' She walked inside and stared across at the hall and at the door at the end of it, 'Shishio...you may not know it...but you saved me too. I couldn't bear to just leave her without a reason.' She smiled, 'I feel bad, since I used you as an excuse to leave...but...if this choice I've made proves to be the wrong one...I will take action...to fix my mistake...until then...' She turned away and made her to her own room, "Thank you~"

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Me: So, this was more a Kagome chapter, explaining more of her past, I hope everyone enjoyed! Please Read and Review~! Sankyu~ ^_^''