AN- it's been awhile, but what can I do? My computer broke.

When You Left

Chapter 3

Running Away

We had reached Sesshomaru's castle a while back. Mainly because my anger seemed to fuel my immortal energy. Which in turn, caused me to sprint faster and swiftly. The two day long journey to the Western kingdom had been reduced to a few mere hours. Sesshomaru and I had flown through forests as rapid winds. His face emotionless while, mine in a torrent of various emotions.

I the more I thought about how I always let my feelings for Inuyasha reign, the angrier I got. Here I was, always thinking of him, while he practically played with my feelings. Of course he belonged to another, so why had I been acting as a fool in love? I knew I cared for Inuyasha, but love? How could I make such a commitment? When would I have had time when he was using me only as a petty shard detector?

He had always been complaining about how I was so weak and so sensitive. Why hadn't I gotten the hint then? No, I had to wait again and again while he ran off to the one he wanted, until I got seriously hurt that is.

I was such a fool. And perhaps even now. Since my thoughts are of him only.

But I'll show him. That I'm worthy of his love. That I don't need him to protect me. And how I feel at the moment.

When I had been thinking those thoughts, I had made my goal clear. And that's where Sesshomaru came in. When we had first arrived at his castle, he had gotten a servant to show me to my rooms and had also told me he's send another servant to come and get me for a meeting.

Now, I sat in my room facing the window, trying to stuffy the outside of the castle. There were seven buildings. The main one in the middle with the other six surrounding it.

It was all colored a pure white and I could see the servants worked extra hard to keep it shining the way it did. Some parts of it were made out of silver, to make the grand structure seem as elegant as the owner. The other six were also in white cloaks, but far less simpler than the delicately carved designs of the main one.

There was an enormous brick wall connecting to the six bordering structures to cage the one I inhabited now. The top of which was lined in silver as the top was carved into a footpath to give it the impression of a bridge connected to the ground. But that wasn't the only one. There were actually six other real bridges branching out from the building in the middle to the other six. The bridges were also white with silver bordering, but also a canopy top made out of some sort of durable, transparent white fabric. No doubt those bridges were created for easy transportation from each building incase of risky weather.

Between all the buildings was lush green grass, fountains with sparkling water, gardens with vibrant flowers, and youkia ladies of the court dressed in vividly colored kimonos walking on the footpaths blanketed in flower petals from the sakura trees. It was actually a quiet serene picture with flowers gently swaying in the trees. By now it was still night, so I could just imagine they were out for some fresh air and gossiping.

I was abruptly shaken out of my peaceful wanderings as a knock on the door vibrated through my room. Not wanting to bother from getting up from the cushioned area of my window I voice a curt, "Come in."

A young youkia, by the smells of it, gently padded through the door and immediately got on her knees with her head bowed, barely in front of the thick mahogany doorway.

She wore a navy colored kimono with pale blue leaves and an obi to match. All I could see with her head bowed was that she had light colored skin. Her hair was pulled back in a loose bun on the crown of her head, held back with some sort of silver barrette, with strands coming loose and framing her face.

"Why are you bowing?" I questioned, not use to this peculiar behavior.

"It is what is expected of us, milady." The petite girl replied in her soft tone.

I smiled, "Well, you can get up. And please, call me Kagome."

As she rose, I could see her aqua blue eyes wide, "I could never do that. I-I would be severely punished for offending you, milady." She hastily stammered.

"How would you get in trouble if I want you to call me by my name? Trust me, I prefer you to call me Kagome. Besides, I'm no lady." I smiled encouragingly at her.

She nodded slowly and gulped, no doubt still hesitant. I could see already that Sesshomaru and strict rules for his servants, if just the mention of such a menial favor got them stuttering.

I stood up and stretched, "Well, you can come and sit down, you know. So what's your name?"

"My name is Rika."

"Well Rika, is there a specific reason you came her at this time of night? Or did you just want to see what freak of nature Sesshomaru brought home?" I grinned as I spoke.

Slightly coloring and shaking her head she replied, "I am to be your personal servant and Lord Sesshomaru would like to see you first thing in the morning after breakfast. He wants to introduce you to his generals and such. He added and I quote 'Tell her to get of those whore-ish little things she wear and to put on a decent kimono.' That's all. Is there anything you would like?"

I huffed and mumbled, "My clothes are not whore-ish little things! They are my school uniform for God's sake!" And then I noticed Rika was still standing there waiting expectantly. I would definitely get back to him on that comment.

"You can go now Rika. I'm going to sleep now, "I yawned for emphasis, "before you go, can you tell Sesshomaru that I didn't bring any "decent" kimonos with me before I ran away in the dark with him?" I looked at her for her answer, when I noticed her gaping mouth.

"What?" I inquired.

"You call him without an honorific and you ran away in the dark with him," Her face started turning a light pink again and she put her pale blue hair behind her ea, "I'm s-sorry! Its not my place to ask!" She bowed again and swiftly exited.

"Oh god. I hope this place doesn't have gossiping ladies for that to spread." I climbed into my four-poster canopy bed with black and red sheets. Nestling into the comfy bed, I dosed off to a fitful sleep. At least for a little while.