Chapter 3: Scars
Kagome paced back and forth in her room. What should she do? There had to be another way to get out of this. Was sleeping with the king really the only way? Grunting, Kagome fell backwards on her bed.
"What shall I do?"
"Kagome?"
She looked at her mother, as she walked into her room.
"The king wishes for you to come to his bed chambers. I advise you to be respectful and do as he asks."
Kagome rolled her eyes and headed towards the kings chambers. She took a deep breath and opened the doors.
"I have been waiting for you, come."
He motioned for her to sit next to him on his bed. Instead, Kagome stood in front of him.
"It is Inuyasha."
"What?"
"During, if you feel you need to call a name, call me Inuyasha."
Kagome was appalled, what did he mean if she feels she needs to say his name? He certainly thought a lot of him self.
"I have decided to decline your request."
"Pardon me?"
"I do not wish to lay with you."
"Are you certain?"
Kagome nodded and turned to leave but his clawed hand grabbed her forearm.
"Have you ever been through a lashing?"
"No, I have not."
"Hmph."
He let her go and she left the room. Miroku was outside and when she emerged he sighed.
"Why didn't you just do as he wished?"
"I will not give myself to anyone who dose not love me."
Miroku shrugged and lead her to a room she had never seen before. It was dark with only one rusty light hanging from a damp ceiling. There were two pillars in the middle of the floor and a rope hung from each one. A man emerged from the darkness.
"And what is this lovely lady in for?"
"Disobedience towards the king, one lashing."
"Only one? The king must favor you."
The man pulled Kagome to the pillars and tied the ropes around each of her arms. This left her practically hanging, the ropes were up high and she was to short to really reach them. The man unbuttoned her dress in the back.
"Do you think I could have done this myself?"
"Its my job my lady. What did you really do anyway? A pretty girl like you should not be in for a lashing."
"I denied the king what he wanted."
"And what might that be?"
"The pleasures of the flesh."
The man nodded and took a few steps back.
"Now, usually when u disobey the king, its at least five lashings, I guess he likes you. Now brace yourself my lady."
Kagome grabbed onto the ropes and shut her eyes. The man raised his hand over his head.
One.
She winced at the pain and tried to hold in her cries.
Three.
Letting out a small whimper as the leather collided with her frail skin.
Six.
At this point the pain was worse. The whip seemed to hit her in the same place over and over.
Eight.
Almost over, crying at every encounter. Felling the warm blood run down her back.
Ten.
Once she counted ten she let herself fall. Hanging there by her wrist, she felt nauseated and dizzy. The room got darker and she slowly lost all feeling in her body. She slipped into an unconscious state. The last thing she felt was the man's hand on her arm.
Kagome moved slightly and the smell of lavender hit her nose. Who did she know that smelled of lavender? She tried to raise her head, but found it a harder task the she had thought. Her memories began wandering back into her mind, her eyes opened wide and she used her arms to push herself up.
"No my lady, I am not finish dressing your wounds just yet."
"What?"
"The lashing my lady? Do you not remember?"
"I do. Where am I?"
"You are in the kings chambers my lady."
"What? Why?"
"It was his wish that I dress you wounds."
Confused, Kagome laid back onto her stomach. It seemed best because of the pain in her back worsened when she tried to move.
"If you do not mind my asking, was it really bad?"
"Pardon me?"
"The lashing I mean. you fainted during, correct?"
"No, after."
"Oh, I never had a lashing. I was told it was awfully painful and that it is unlike any other pain."
Kagome felt the woman's soft hands, as they cleaned her open wounds.
"Is it true?"
"Huh?"
"That you denied the king the pleasures of the flesh? If it is not to much to ask."
"No its not….yes, I did and I shall do it again."
"But you will be in for another lashing, are they not horrible? Are you not afraid?"
"They are. But what is more horrible then laying with a man you do not love? Nothing scares me anymore."
"I understand. I would never deny the king. When he asks me to join him in his bed, I do as I am told."
"What is it like? Laying with the king I mean."
The girl giggled and placed the hot cloth on Kagome's bare back.
"Well, he is surprisingly gentle. One would not think he could be so gentle. Honestly, he is better then my husband was."
"Was?"
"Yes, he is dead now. He is the reason I am in the court actually."
"He sold you?"
"Yes, but I still love him, even to this day. Now sit up so I can wrap you up."
Kagome did as she was told and the woman wrapped a bandage around her body, covering her wounds. Just as she straightened her dress, and after the woman had left, the king walked in. She avoided eye contact with him.
"Are you alright?"
Kagome refused to answer, she just stared at the floor. He walked up behind her and ran his hand down her back, unbuttoning some buttons in the process. He touched the bloody bandage and Kagome whimpered in pain.
"This shall leave a nasty scar."
"Thank you for that information."
Kagome stepped forward and buttoned her dress.
"I did not wish to hurt you so. You brought it upon your self."
"You shall be forced to do this again. I will never lay with a man I do not love."
"Love? Is that what you seek?"
"Yes and that is something I shall never get from you."
Inuyasha chuckled and took her hand.
"You would be surprised at all you can get from me."
Pulling away, Kagome headed for the door.
"You shall move into the place, that way we shall never be far apart."
She shut the door behind her and took a breath before taking a painful walk to her home. Half way there, Kagome had to rest, she sat on the side of the road.
"My lady, may I offer you a ride?"
Kagome looked up at the man before her sitting in his carriage. He was very handsome with blue eyes and long black hair.
"You seem to be hurting, can I help you my lady?"
He climbed down and helped her in his carriage.
"There we are. May I ask what you were doing walking all alone?"
"I just need to get home."
The man nodded. The ride was silent for a moment.
"Where is you home?"
"Right up here. I can walk."
"No, I shall take you there."
He took her up to the house and helped her out.
"I thank you, good sir. I do not know how I would have made it here without your generosity."
"The pleasure was all mine my lady."
Just then the front door to her house flung open. Her mother came out and bowed before the man.
"Oh your highness, to what do we owe this lovely visit?"
Kagome looked at the man and then back at her groveling mother.
"Your highness?"
"Bow before royalty you insolent fool!"
Her mother pulled her down to her knees.
"Oh no madam, this young, beautiful lady is in pain. I was only taking her home."
The man pulled Kagome to her feet. The touch of his hand made her blush slightly.
"I thank you again my good sir- I mean your highness."
"No, its Koga my lady."
He winked at her and pulled off in his carriage. Her mother grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in the house.
"What were you doing with him? And why are you allowed to speak to him so informally?"
"I do not know mother. I only just met him."
"He is the duke of France himself! I want to know everything you said to him."
"Well, I was sitting on the side of the road and he pulled up next to me and asked me if I wanted a ride. He helped me in and that was all."
"Do not lie to me girl!"
"I'm not."
Her mother just turned and walked away. Kagome felt the pain in her back creep back and she groaned before sitting down in the kitchen.
"Mother? The king says I am to live in the palace with him. People shall be here to move my things tomorrow."
There was no response, so Kagome walked to her room and laid down on her stomach and thought of the pain of the cold leather against her smooth pale skin. A stray tear fell and she sighed.
"He said it would leave a scar…..maybe I should have just lain with him."