Of Slaves and Masters

Disclaimer: Guess what? Yeah, I still don't own Inuyasha. DARN YOU RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!!!

Chapter 2: Massages, Meals, and Blushes.

Inuyasha was in his room, Onigumo helping him shrug off his suit. Suddenly, a nervous page came in.

"Milord Inuyasha? Er…your slave is here. My liege the King said she was to…keep you company," he said, already bowing himself out.

Inuyasha grinned to himself as the girl (woman?) walked in. At a poke from the page, she scowled and bowed.

"What is your name slave?" he asked.

"Kagome…sire," she replied.

"Very well. Massage my feet," he ordered. He didn't much feel like a massage, and he could have had the masseuse (who would no doubt do it much better than the girl) but he wanted to see if her fierce pride would allow for such a thing.

She bent her head, and proceeded to press Inuyasha's feet.

Sesshoumaru called for his slave. She appeared, silent, head bowed.

"What are you called?" he asked quietly.

"Rin, sire," she replied. Her voice was a ripple of silver. Her eyes were gray as…as…as the hair on Jaken's head.

"Rin…can you cook?"

"Reasonably well, milord."

"Can you make me something? Now? Something savory would be nice, the dessert was far too good," Sesshoumaru asked. She looked up at him for the first time, a small smile gracing her features. Bowing her head once again so that a curtain of hair hid her face, she asked directions to the palace kitchen.

"No need. These are my apartments, and they come with a kitchen." He waved her to a curtained passageway to the side of the entrance chamber they were in.

She bowed low and made to leave. "Oh, and Rin?" he called.

"Sire?"

"There is no need to bow so excessively. I care not to have such a pretty girl become a hunchback," Sesshoumaru said, a hint of a smile tugging his lips.

"Aye, milord."

Miroku could not believe his luck. A girl! He'd gotten a girl for Christmas! No doubt Koga had his own intentions, but a girl!

"Milord?" the young woman approached him with caution in those chocolate brown eyes. Miroku found himself entranced.

"Aye…Sango is it?"

"Aye milord. Shall I serve dinner?" she asked, mistrust in her eyes.

The monk chuckled, thinking she'd be serving more than that if he had his way.
"Aye, Sango. Serve dinner."

Later that night, Kagome, Sango, and Rin were directed to their shared sleeping chambers, a circular room connecting Inuyasha's, Miroku's and Sesshoumaru's apartments.

"How's your master?" asked Kagome.

"Not too bad. He seems kind," Rin said.

The miko snorted. "Only 'cause he's probably gonna bed you, and wants no complaints."

Sango laughed softly. "You've been saying some man will bed us all since we were found by those wolves! Don't take her seriously Rin!"

But Rin's eyes widened nonetheless and Kagome regretted scaring her friend. "Ask me how my master is, go on," she said.

Rin smiled, knowing the answers she would likely get. "Alright…how's your master?"

"He's a prat! A big, overgrown puppy! One of those men that think the world revolves around him! A little spoiled brat!" Kagome scoffed.

Sango giggled. "Well, has he tried to bed you?"

"Not yet, but 'tis only a matter o' time!" Kagome said confidently.

"Sango?" asked Rin.

"Mine is a lecherous fiend, or so the maids tell me. He couldn't keep his eyes offa me the whole time."

"Well girls, looks like we're all in a lion's cave. But at least we're together," yawned Kagome.

"Aye," Rin agreed.

"Together," Sango smiled, and the thought brought peace to her mind.

The next day, Inutaisho announced that the annual New Year's Hunt would be taking place not for one day, but three, to celebrate the drought that had been ended by the recent rainfalls.

Inuyasha went to the archery field in a foul mood. He picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows, and marched himself over to the toughest course.

Shooting one arrow after another, each one missing its mark more and more wildly, until he finally gave up in burst of fury and collapsed on the grass. Kagome had followed him, as she had been appointed as his constant shadow. She'd watched from the shade of the tree nearby, and as the sun sunk past the forest line, she ventured out.

"Milord seems agitated," she said, her curiosity piqued by the hanyou's strange behavior.

"Shut up wench, and leave me in peace," came a half audible snarl.

Kagome, wishing she had Rin's patience and soothing qualities, sat a safe distance away.

"Surely milord has heard, when one pushes away company, one needs it most." He would hate having sayings thrust on him, but Kagome derived a small pleasure from it.

"Not when said company happens to be an irritating slave of no consequence, who—"

"—Is only trying to do her job," Kagome said smoothly.

"What is your job? To keep me miserable? To witness every moment of my embarrassment?" Inuyasha had still not lifted his head from the ground as he lay sprawled on his stomach, facing parallel to her, face turned away. She giggled on the inside. Exactly like a child lies after a tantrum.

"To make things better is my job."

"Feh."

She smiled. He was weakening.

"Now, what could possibly make someone so sweet-tempered so irate?" Kagome said, tapping her chin thoughtfully, her voice oozing sincerity. She thought she saw his head lift slightly.

"Could it be that his favorite dessert wasn't served? Oh, surely not! Dinner hasn't been served! Perhaps his mother didn't listen to his whims? No, he is a big boy he would have no whims," she conversed with herself. She was facing the forest, not glancing at Inuyasha, but she could see that his face was turned towards her. Whether he was angry or amused, she could not tell.

"Has his brother insulted him? No, they love each other. Maybe his father does not let him voice his opinion?" Kagome paused and looked at Inuyasha expectantly. He opened his mouth, closed it, and gazed at her.

"No."

"Then what in the world could have happened?"

"The hunt," he whispered. And…could it be? Yes! He was flushing a pale pink at his ears! Kagome watched the blush creep up to his cheekbones.

"Milord does not like to hunt?" she said cautiously, knowing she was on shaky ground.

The Prince gave a jerk of his head and sat up.

"I can't shoot," he mumbled.

Kagome scooted closer. "Meaning…?"

"You saw me just now! I cannot shoot! If I aim an arrow at a dead dog, it'd more likely hit my father in his inner chambers!" Inuyasha snapped. Clearly, he'd said all he was going to.

Kagome could have rolled about laughing. A Prince, a stuck up, spoiled "I'm so perfect" brat like Inuyasha, stinking at archery! She controlled her mirth, judging (wisely) that it wouldn't bode well for what could be a budding…not friendship, but not enmity, either.

"Well, then…" she was at a loss for words. "Um…how'd you manage all these years?"

"I'd rush off in the midst of everyone, then stop and make a great show of hearing something, or give them the slip…and…and then…" he seemed to be blushing even harder.

"Yes…"

"I'd go off in a different direction. There's an old hermit living in an abandoned witch-tower. I'd visit her, and she'd give me—" he broke off abruptly, staring beyond Kagome's shoulders.

"She'd give you what?" Kagome urged.

He got up and pushed her aside roughly. "I'm fine!" he barked, and bounded across the course. Kagome whirled around, prepared to give him a piece of her mind, and found herself looking at Inuyasha's retreating back, and Sesshoumaru's cold gaze from under the same tree she'd been watching from. She rose up, bowed, dusted off the grass from her tunic and made to pass. He stopped her.

"Milord?" she asked, wary of perverted lords who'd take advantage of the twilight and their privacy. Oh why did Inuyasha run off? she found her self thinking, At least I wouldn't have to worry about…she broke off as she realized she was already thinking of the Prince as her protector. No! Don't get dependant on a lord! She berated herself silently. Sesshoumaru was still studying her.

"Is Rin your sister?" he asked abruptly.

"Milord?"

"Is Rin your sister?"

"No sire. We are just friends," Kagome replied, puzzled as to why he was asking her these questions.

"You've known her for quite a while?"

"Aye sire."

"Has she…been engaged with a man?"

"She's a virgin sire," Kagome said immediately, deciding that Sesshoumaru was going to try and bed her innocent Rin.

"Not that! I mean…has she been in love?" he asked. If Kagome hadn't known better, she's say those lips of his were quirked in an embarrassed gesture. Good thing she knew better.

"Not to the best of my knowledge sire."

"You may leave then…and no one need know our conversation. Not even my brother."

"Aye, sire."

sigh

I'll do Rin and Sango's first days tomorrow! I mean…in the next chapter.