Chapter 3: Abuse

He groaned as he awoke, head hurting and throat dry. He sat up and looked around, finding himself in his chambers, but not remembering how he got there. The last thing he had remembered before seeing black was trying to force himself on Kagome, only to be thrown back and into a wall. He wanted to snarl, but didn't. His mating season didn't call out to him. Had he really been out that long? His mating season usually lasted a week or two, longest.

"She sure did a number on you," the elder Hiro said as he entered Sesshomaru's chambers. "Perhaps next time you will behave yourself?"

"What do you want, Hiro?" He sat up and rubbed his head.

"Nothing really." He smiled like he knew something Sesshomaru didn't. "You really should listen to her, sometimes. It would be less humiliating, and less painful." He got serious now. "You are losing respect amongst the men and the other lands. The peace between the lands is very thin and is only there because of Kagome. Should something happen to her, or she leaves the west, the elders will leave as well, and war will be upon you. I suggest you keep your whore inline and actually listen to what Kagome has to say. She only has the best interest for everyone in mind." He turned to leave. "She may not be your mate, but the other lands and our own people see her as the lady of the west for resolving their issues and listening to them. She is the only one keeping revolts from happening." He left Sesshomaru's chambers.

Sesshomaru snarled. What Hiro said was perposterous. He was lord. He kept the peace between the lands and he would sleep with whomever he wanted, be it Kagome, Kagura, or some other woman that "wandered" to his bed. Kagome only provided him with an heir. She held no true power over his lands.

Kagome finished looking through the rest of the paperwork that came in while Sesshomaru was unconscious. It was a few land disputes between minor lords. She had come up with the simplest solution and had already sent out the proposal. She knew since it had her name on it, the minor lords would agree. Had it been Sesshomaru, it would have continued because Sesshomaru would have ignored it until it became a bigger issue, in which he would just go kill both minor lords and be done with it. Kagome didn't see violence as the answer to something so simple.

"What are you doing in this one's study?" Sesshomaru said from the door, a glare on his face.

"I am doing your job," she said as a messenger picked up the last document. She stood as she placed the brush she was working with down. She stood from the cushion. "Everything is already taken care of. You might as well just go train." She moved past him and he grabbed her arm.

"Stay out of my study from now on." He was glaring down at her.

"Whatever you say." She tore free and left his study. She moved down the hall and could hear the servants whispering about a wind witch ordering them around like she was the lady of the west, when she was only a whore. They greeted her kindly, as she replied in same. "Is all the preparations for the twins' birthday done?"

"Everything has been stored where you said for the party. It just has to be put up when the time comes, which will be easy enough," a servant said. "The cook has the menu ready for your review, if that witch hasn't torn that apart as well. She is making it difficult to do our jobs correctly. She's been trying to change everything, and even smacked around a few of the younger servants. She is causing chaos."

"Just continue to do everything as you have been doing. I will take care of her." The servant nodded. "If any other issues arise, or anyone is having issues with her, tell me. I will deal with it."

"Of course, Kagome-sama." She bowed and scurried off.

Kagome continued down the hall, heading towards the kitchen to see to the menu for the party, only to hear yelling and a resounding smack. She changed course and saw a servant girl, roughly Rin's age, on the floor crying, a hand to her bleeding cheek and Kagura standing over the girl yelling at her.

"You are so stupid! Do as I say. Do not ask any questions! I will be the lady of the west!"

Kagome entered the scene and looked to the crying girl. "Shh. It's alright. Let me see," she murmured softly as the child removed her hand. There were five slashes across her cheek as well as a bruise.

"It hurts, Kagome-sama," the girl whimpered.

"I know, but I'll make it all better." She licked the girl's wound and watched as the slashes closed and the bruise vanished. "There you go. All better." She helped the girl stand. "Now go back to your regular duties, little one."

"Hai, Kagome-sama." She scurried away quickly.

Kagura glared at her, reaching forward to turn her around so she could smack her. "This is none of your business," she snarled.

"This is my business," Kagome said coldly, turning to look at Kagura. Kagura made to slap her, but Kagome grabbed her wrist and broke it. "How dare you treat those within these halls so badly."

"They are servants. They are to do as they are told!" She held her wrist.

"They have their orders, and you are not to change them. You do not demand anything of them and you sure as hell do not strike them, especially the younger girls. You ask them to do something. Should you harm one more servant, I will know and I will punish you." Her eyes flashed with power.

"Sesshomaru will make me his mate, then you will have no say in anything, and things will be as I want them."

"You are to never mate Sesshomaru," Kagome stated coldly. "No one is to ever mate Sesshomaru." She made to leave. "And should you treat Rin or my children like you treat the servants, I will gut you and place your head on display. You will be the example of what happens to those that dare challenge what I have to say. This is your last and only warning. I've let it slide before, but do it again and you will regret it." She left Kagura in the hall by herself.

"Tell the healer that he and his apprentices are not to see to Kagura's injury." They nodded as she continued on her way.

Kagura snarled as she glared at Kagome's form. She would show Kagome. She would get Sesshomaru to mate her, then everything would be done her way. No one would back talk her, and she would get everything she wanted.