Chapter 7
Kagome leaned against the cold brick sighing. She tried to shift into a more comfortable position but found it impossible in her current state. At the moment she was on a hard stone bench, if there was padding at any time it was long gone now. The room was tiny, the bench took up one whole wall then it was only about five paces to the thick door. There was light around the edges but no windows so it was basically black, and best of all were the iron shackles securing her wrists to the wall above her head. She had pretty much hit rock bottom. How had she gotten herself into this? Things were going great until she had to go and do something without thinking again, and Sesshoumaru! Oh she was not looking forward to seeing him again. Really it was her fault, but if he had just listened to reason none of this would've happened. But would he see that, oh no! No, perfect Lord Sesshoumaru was never wrong. He was always right. Everything was his way.
Kagome forced herself to take a deep breath, getting herself all worked up would not help. She just had to wait for him to come to her, she had already tried breaking the chains but the bastard had found some that resisted miko powers. It appeared he had actually taken some thought into restraining her this time. He wrists were beginning to hurt, how long had she been down here anyway? Because of the lack of windows she had no idea how long it was since she was brought down here. The bastard! She pulled her legs up onto the bench so she could stand to give the chains some slack, then she pushed the shackles as far as they would go so she could massage her chafing wrists. Just as they were beginning to feel better once again she caught the sounds of someone approaching her cell. She quickly settled back into a sitting position, legs crossed, leaning against the freezing brick wall; so she could look as if she were unbothered by her situation. Keys jingled in the lock and the rusty gears protesting movement after so many years unused. To her great discomfort none other then Sesshoumaru strode in, making the space suddenly seem much smaller. He leaned against the wall as the guard set a lantern down and closed the door.
There was silence in the room until the sound of the guard's retreating steps faded altogether. Sesshoumaru stared at her and she glared defiantly back, meeting his eyes, unafraid. She remained silent, waiting for him to take the initiative, she may not be as afraid of him as everyone else but she was not stupid enough to provoke him when he was already angry. She wondered if he would actually kill her for what she'd done? Probably not but it was an option open to him at this point in their lives. He remained where he was, to her immense relief, looking at her with unfocused eyes. He was lost in thought, well, that was all the better for her, if he was thinking about something else then it would take him that much longer for him to actually do whatever it was he was intending to do. Finally, when she was starting to actually get nervous, he looked up at her again.
"Well?"
That was all he said yet where should she start? He wanted an explanation, and she had one, but she wasn't about to say it to him. 'Oh, well this is all your fault. If you'd just listened to me in the first place nothing would've happened and we'd all be happy right now' Yea, that would go over really well. Instead she turned her eyes to the floor, avoiding his gaze for the moment, buying time while she thought about what to say. So much had happened since returning to the manor with her family…
Kagome was back in her room with Kikyo and Rin, going over the details for the wedding. There was an old woman kneeling in the corner, taking down notes once they'd decided on something. Kagome was overwhelmed at first, people kept shoving patterns and fabrics and dining sets at her, insisting that it was of the utmost importance that she choose her favorite one immediately so it could be done in time. Kikyo was a big help, organizing the wedding planners and deciding what was next on the list of important things that had to be done, she also handled the seating arrangements since Kagome knew absolutely nothing about some of the people invited. Her family was going to attend of course but so was some of Sesshoumaru's more important demon acquaintances. He didn't have any friends as far as Kikyo knew. In fact the only people she knew that would be attending were Rin, Kikyo, Inu-Yasha, and one of Inu-Yasha's friends named Miroku who she'd met very briefly a few hours ago when he came to deliver a message to Kikyo. One that made her face go red, which Kagome very much wanted to see but it appeared her authority as the Lady of the West didn't cover reading embarrassing notes that her friends received.
Finally, when it was late enough that the sun had already set, Kikyo called it quits for the evening. The old secretary scurried out of the room and Sango, who had been sitting quietly at Kagome's side, offering opinions when asked, rose to get their meal. Kagome felt a little strange having her best friend in the manor as a serving woman, but she knew that if she told Sesshoumaru that she wanted someone else he would send her back to his entourage and she didn't want that to happen. She didn't have long to worry over it however since as soon as Sango left Rin climbed into her lap, rubbing her eyes. The little one must be exhausted after today, Kagome hugged the little girl closer to her, rocking a little, promising herself that she would be better at making sure Rin's needs were met in the future. Of course she knew that little children tired easily, but she hadn't been watching the child at all during the wedding preparations. She should have been. Maybe she would not be such a good mother if she forgot such simple things like making sure they got enough sleep.
Kikyo must have seen something on her face because she grinned and whispered "Don't worry Kagome-sama, it gets easier the longer your at it. I've been watching over her for years now and she really is an easy child to care for." Kagome nodded agreement, she was just tired herself or she wouldn't have allowed such things to worry her. Sango reappeared then telling them all that dinner would arrive shortly, she'd brought Rin's nanny with her. Kagome handed the drowsy child to the other woman, making sure to let her know that Rin had yet to eat anything tonight and she should be fed before going to bed. The three women ate their meal together, chatting about inconsequential things, Kagome was starting to feel pretty drowsy and worn out until Kikyo finally said something that made her sit up strait and pay attention.
"What happens to a woman when she mates with a demon?!"
Kikyo gave her a funny look, exchanging glances with Sango who nodded before taking Kagome's hands in hers for support. If she had to hear this she might as well hear it from a friend. "Kagome, when Lord Sesshoumaru takes you as his mate he will leave a claiming mark, right here" she gently touched the soft hollow where Kagome's neck curved to meet her shoulder, "Other demons will be able to sense how strong a mate you have once you've been marked but you will undergo…let's say, changes, as well. No-one is certain what exactly will happen but when you wake the next morning you will be a demoness." She paused, giving Kagome a moment to absorb the news, "We thought you knew or we would've told you sooner."
Kagome stared at them both, another shock adding to her stockpile of things to think about in the next few days. She nodded finally, knowing that the other two were watching her closely. Standing up she wandered away from them, back to the window she had stood at this very morning to think about what Sesshoumaru said to her. Now that she wasn't looking at them it was easier to think. "Thanks for letting me know, I'm sorry but I'm very tired and would like to retire for the night" Kikyo mumbled something about seeing her again tomorrow to finish the wedding arrangements while Sango excused herself to return to her smaller room beside Kagome's, leaving her blissfully alone. Why did everything have to be so complicated? She really needed to relax, and she knew just where to do that. Hurrying around her room she changed out of the silk Kimono into a simple night-robe then knocked on Sango's door. The other woman answered in moments, clearly she'd been reading herself for the night as well. Kagome grabbed her arm pulling her into the hall "Come with me to the hot springs? I don't want to go alone." Sango laughed agreeing.
Mere minutes later the two friends were relaxing in hottest of the bubbling pools. "Oh Sango, I didn't expect everything to be this hard." Sango nodded, she didn't know how the other woman handled it all, she couldn't have. "I know Kagome, but, think of it this way, now you are in a position to help everyone here! All the women Kagome. If you can get on Lord Sesshoumaru's good side you can stop the whoring that goes on. I mean, it's really a horrible place, maybe now you can make it better?" Kagome's eyes widened, and the biggest smile split her face, she hadn't even thought of that! Now no other woman would ever have to come here to find that she was going to be nothing but a whore. They wouldn't have to go through the terror of having to impress the lord or get sent to the pleasure halls. Hell, there wouldn't even I be /I a pleasure hall after she was finished. Life here was going to get much, much better, now all she had to do was think of a way to get on his good side…
Sorry for the lateness of this chapter, I forgot that finals were coming up and I had absolutely no time to write. I'm going to make it up to all my readers by giving you three chapters over the next few days instead of next few weeks. It's winter break and I have time to write again!!! You gotta wait until tomorrow for the next chapter though :D
P.S. please R&R
