Chapter 6- Life in the Castle


Kagome had refused to come out of her room for the rest of the night. Even when the sun had risen and was high in the sky—she didn't so much as poke her head around the door.

"I'm beginning to think that she won't ever come out of there." Ayame had come out and was telling the others, except Inuyasha. "She just sits there and stares at the wall and hardly says a word." Ayame shook her head, "I'm really starting to worry about her."

"I'm more worried about Inuyasha!" said Miroku. "I went upstairs this morning to see how much damage he did when he stormed off last night… and I saw that he hardly smashed anything! He was sitting on his balcony and staring off into space… I've never seen him so calm before after he had an episode like last night. I was sure that he was going to bit off my head and eat it when I went to check on him—and he barely looked at me!"

Shippo was staring at him with his mouth wide open. "Are you for real?" he asked in amazement. "You know I was wondering why I didn't hear a roar of anger this morning. I thought that he would still be upset after what happened last night."

"I know," went on Miroku, who was starting to pace. "I barely recognized him! I tried to talk some sense into him, but after awhile he just started to ignore me!"

Sango looked up from the book she was reading and said, "Forget Inuyasha! What about Kagome? I feel so bad for her… isn't there anything that we can do to help?"

They all thought about that for a moment until Rin jumped up and said, "I know! We can bring her some food! She hasn't eaten anything since last night and I'm sure that she must be starving! I noticed that people are so much crankier when they haven't eaten."

"You heard what Inuyasha said," said Kohaku. "If she doesn't eat with him then she doesn't eat at all."

Sango stood up, "I don't care! I'm with Rin, let's make some food."

"But if Inuyasha finds out then we're all dead!" whispered Ayame. Miroku suddenly stood up and said, "Why don't we wait a little while longer? See how they both feel after awhile. If Inuyasha still says that she's not allowed to eat then we'll sneak some food in for Kagome?" they weren't happy about it… but they all agreed that it was the best plan of action. "In the meantime," said Miroku, "I think that we should give them some time alone."


-A little later-

The sun had slowly begun to set and Kagome opened her big doors very quietly. She poked her head out slowly and looked around; everything was still, no one was outside in the hallway. Good. She crept through the hallways and down the stairs into the kitchen, making sure that Inuyasha couldn't see her.

'Why does Inuyasha have to be so, so...mean...and rude...and harsh...and, and...just...a jerk? I didn't do a thing to him!' she thought bitterly. She wandered through the castle, but looking back every few seconds to make sure that she wouldn't get lost. This was hands down the creepiest place that she had ever been. Around here, it looked as if it was always night time; there were cobwebs and dust that covered the ugly stone statues and terrible paintings. This whole castle practically screamed out 'gloom and doom' to her.

She wandered around her for a long time until she came to a pair of large, double doors. When she opened the door, she could see that she was in the kitchen, and she found Shippo and Sango talking. She got to hear only part of the sentence Sango was saying, "- control his temper, he'll never break-" but Shippo interrupted her when he heard something behind him.

When he turned and saw that it was Kagome, he gave her a wide smile and yelled out, "KAGOME!" he then ran up and jumped into her arms to give her a hug. "I didn't think that you were ever going to come out of your room! I was so worried that you were never going to talk to me again." Kagome let out a quiet laugh as she returned the hug. "It has nothing to do with you Shippo," she said gently. "I would never stop being your friend. Especially, when you give me hugs like this."

"Hello Kagome!" said Sango walking over. "I am glad to see you out—are you alright now?" she asked nervously, then when she figured Kagome had no idea to what they were just discussing she seemed to relax.

Kagome had opened her mouth to tell her, when her stomach had done it for her.

Sango smiled wider, "What? You hungry? I don't blame you. I don't think that you've eaten anything in 2 days." She walked over to another door and shouted into the next room, "Come on, Kohaku! Let's get our guest some food!"

"But… weren't you all told not to get me any food?" asked Kagome uncertainly. She overheard what Inuyasha had yelled at them all before he went storming off. Actually, she wouldn't be surprised if people heard if from her village.

Sango replied unconcerned, "Inuyasha says a lot of things Kagome, besides we can't let you starve, can we?" she then immediately started pulling things out of a large pantry and started mixing things together; while Kagome looked at her with a strange look on her face.

Sango, however, had noticed this, "You're nervous about being around, us demons?"

Kagome was startled before looking down at her feet, ashamed, "Sorry," she said meekly.

"I understand if you are nervous," Sango admitted, sounding almost amused, "I- we are used to it."

"Nervous?" asked Shippo confused. "Kagome why are you nervous about us?" The little boy cocked his head in question, "Are you afraid of us?"

A demon was afraid that she was afraid? She gave him a huge smile, "It's just…I've grown up hearing about demons being fierce monsters, but I guess… The village tales were wrong."

"I have a tail!" The boy cried excitedly, "See?" He turned around, wiggling his little fox tail at her. Kagome couldn't suppress it. Kagome was thrust into gales of laughter, clenching at her sides for support.

The little fox boy joined in laughing and hopped onto Kagome's shoulder, "Not all demons are bad. And there is a lot more too every demon than meets the eye. Look at me, I'm a fox demon, but I used to be a…"

Sango cut him off by picking him up, "Okay Shippo. I'm sure that Kagome would like to have her food by now." Kagome felt her jaw drop and began to water as Sango placed a whole ton of food right in front of her. She hoped that she didn't eat everything as fast as she thought she did… and it was the most delicious food she had ever tasted.

"Ah, Kagome?" asked Shippo uncertainly. "Have you ever had a decent meal?" Crap, she did eat everything as fast as she thought she did. She wiped her mouth on the back of her hand and said, "Sorry. I didn't realize just how hungry I was. I haven't eaten anything since breakfast yesterday." Kagome's smile faded as she remember eating that wonderful cake that he rescued from her 'wedding' and how she would never get the chance to finish it with her family.

Sango put her clawed hand onto Kagome's shoulder, "Like I said last night… everything will turn out alright. It usually does in the end." Kagome was able to give her a tiny smile and put her own hand on her shoulder to grasp Sango's. Shippo leapt back onto her lap, "Yeah, don't forget you have us here now! And we want you to be happy here."

"Thank you," she said. At that moment, the doors opened to reveal Miroku and Ayame who appeared to be arguing. "All I'm saying is that someone was supposed to be keeping an eye on the door!"

"Well, how was I to know that she…" they both shut up when they saw Kagome sitting at the table with Sango and Shippo. "Never mind," said Ayame. She gave Kagome a smile before saying, "Next time, let me know when you leave your room. We were worried that you disappeared."

"Sorry," replied Kagome. "I just didn't want to sit still anymore. But I'll tell you went I leave next time, promise."

Once Ayame seemed satisfied she looked at Shippo, "Shippo? Come on, it's our turn for cleaning." Shippo let out a very loud moan, "Already?! Do we have too?" nevertheless, he jumped down from Kagome's lap and said, "We can play together with Rin later right?" he asked her, giving her great big, sad eyes. Kagome felt herself smiling; she nodded. "Once you're done cleaning, then you can pick what we play."

"Yes!" he cried out and hurried after Ayame. As soon as the two of them had left the room, Miroku leapt over as if he was a child who was promised a big treat. He looked Kagome up and down before he grabbed a hold of her hand as asked in a sincere tone, "My beautiful lady…"

She leaned back, as far as she could before standing up, pulling her hand away with a disgusted look on her face.

Miroku then broke out of his stupor, "Please forgive me my lady. I could not help but stare at your beauty." He took a few steps until he was standing at her side. "Would you do me the honor of bearing my chi…"

He was abruptly cut off as Kagome grabbed his hand and began pulling his thumb back as far it would go. Her father had taught her that trick when she was 7, and she used it on Hojo and Koga to get them to leave her alone. She usually kept pulling back until she either broke the thumb… or they start begging for mercy.

"Don't think I couldn't see your hand," Kagome said as he was rubbing his hand over his thumb and she dusted off her own.

Sango raised her eyebrows, "Wish I thought of that. You wouldn't believe how many times, he tried to grab my butt." She shook her head, "I'll remember that the next time he tries something."

As he cradled his hand, the girls heard him whimper slightly. He tried to hide it by asking, "Where did learn how to fight like that?"

Kagome's expression darkened slightly, "My father taught me and my brother how to fight. He thought that everyone should learn how to defend themselves." They all knew that they had it a touchy subject. Thankfully, Kagome gave them all a cheerful smile, which scared them almost as tears do, she said, "Sango, can you help me out with these plates?"

"I apologize for Miroku's behavior," Sango apologized to Kagome, as they cleaned up the table. She looked behind them as he was trying to get see if his hand still worked, "I didn't think that he would be dumb enough to go after every pretty girl he sees."

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault. Miroku reminds me of a saying my mother once told me. It goes something like Man has will, but woman has her way." Kagome replied.

Sango doubled over laughing. "That fits him perfectly!"

They both started laughing as if they'd been best friends for years…


*After they finished cleaning up*

"And so!" said Sango. "Miroku was looking at these really beautiful women… and he was starting to flirt with them. But he didn't realize until after he asked them to 'bear his children,' did he realize that they weren't women… but men who looked like girls!"

Kagome was laughing so hard that she couldn't stand up on her own anymore. "He asked a bunch of men to bear his children?" she laughed, starting to hiccup.

"Jeez," said a grumpy Miroku. "I made a tiny little mistake, and suddenly I'm branded for life."

Sango turned to look at him, "Well, you did deserve it! You think that you would've learned your lesson that day. But nnnnnnnnnoooooooooooo. You just do not get it, do you?"

Shippo suddenly scurried into the kitchen and leapt onto Miroku's shoulder with a nervous look on his face. "Hey, Shippo," said Miroku in surprise. "I didn't think that you would finish this early. Why…" he stopped talking when Shippo urgently, began to whisper in his ear. Miroku had gone very pale before he plastered a forced smile on his face.

"Well, this was fun!" he said in a higher voice than usual; and Kagome noticed that his eye was twitching slightly. "But, I think that it's best if we... you know… all turn in early."

Sango wiped her hands on a small towel before looking at him with confusion in her eyes. "Miroku, what are you…" her eyes widened. In that second she understood… Inuyasha was in pain again. As of late, periods of him being in pain had become more common and lasted longer than they used to be. She dropped the towel before she also put on a creepy, false smile and said, "Come on, Kagome. Let's go back to your room and we can talk some more."

Kagome was surprise on how her friend's moods had changed so suddenly. "What's wrong?" she asked as reasonably as she could. "It's my first time being in a castle inhabited by demons you know..."

"Eh...wh-why don't you want to go back to your room?" Shippo asked trying to stay calm. He hid his hands behind his back and gave Miroku a hard nudge in the elbow as if saying 'Talk some sense into her' and plastered an innocent smile on his face. "Yesterday, you said that you would rather stay in there forever."

"I know. But… it sure would be nice to get a look around…" Kagome trailed off.

Shippo piped up at this "Would you like a tour?" This time, he was the one who had a hard nudge in the elbow by Miroku. "Now now I'm sure we can find something else to do right?" said Miroku, he then lowered his voice to Shippo, "We wouldn't want anyone snooping around at the worst possible moment would we? Someone could get hurt..."

"Get hurt from what?" Kagome asked curiously.

Shippo jumped and blushed, "Oh well I can't say...!" Miroku then gave him a small punch in the shoulder. "I guess we can take a quick tour," he said. He was trying to distract her from the question. He bowed and offered Kagome his arm. She raised her eyebrows before accepting his offer, but she gave him a warning, "Keep your hands to yourself if you want to keep your fingers."

He gave a light laugh, but she could hear the nervousness in his voice. They walked through the many halls and the hundreds of room; it was so easy to get lost in this castle. Miroku, Shippo, and Sango were all talking about shortcuts, and how to find your way easily. Shippo would occasionally point to a suit of armor, or some kind of small space throughout the castle, that were his hiding places.

They had just entered a room with white and black checkered marble floor and a long red and gold carpet descending down the hall, the walls were painted a sandy gold color and there were about fifty suits of armor standing up, one line on the right, the other on the left. Something had been bugging Kagome ever since Inuyasha had leaded her to her room the night before.

"Miroku?" she asked. "Why did Inuyasha give me a room? I thought that he was going to keep me down in the dungeons like he did with my brother. Do you know why?" she noticed that his eyes had made contact with Sango's in a worried way before answering. "We were the ones who suggested it. I just couldn't bear the thought of a beautiful woman, locked away like a criminal. I merely suggested that he should give you a room of your own."

"But then why did he want me to come to dinner last night?" she asked confused. "Why me?"

Sango was the one who answered this time, "Because, Inuyasha may be stubborn, rude, hotheaded, and a total jerk sometimes. But he does have his nice side also. He's puts on this big, tough-guy act to try to hide the fact that he's a total softy underneath."

"Yeah, I mean…" Shippo cut in, "He's a good person… er… once you learn to overlook a few things. Like his personality, his appearance, his manners, taste in clothes, no sense of humor what-so-ever, and that breath! He's…" Miroku placed his hand over Shippo's mouth to shut him up. "What Shippo's trying to say, is that once you really get to know him then he's not as bad as you first think. Like Sango said, he's nothing but a big softy underneath that hard-nose exterior."

He then began to point out how there was a secret passage that leads from this room all the way back to the kitchen. Shippo then jumped in at that time and said that he uses it all the time. But Kagome wasn't really paying attention; she pretended to listen as she thought more about Inuyasha. Was it true? Or were they just saying that? It was then that something that her dear mother once said to her when she was younger. 'We all wear our defenses. But if you can pierce through the hard cold armor, what you'll find is something soft and warm.'

Maybe things weren't going to be as bad as she first thought. Maybe if she could learn to look past the armor, or rather fortress that Inuyasha had built around himself… maybe… just maybe… she could discover the good that her new friends could see.