A/N: Just Kagome in this chapter. Sesshomaru's is the next one.
Kagome sunk deeper into the steaming water of the hot springs. The last half hour was spent bawling her eyes out. Her emotional exhaustion was at its maximum. She had to calm her mind, otherwise all hell would break loose again.
She looked down at her hands, which were pruning from being in the water so long. But she couldn't bear to leave the warm sanctuary. She was left alone here, which she appreciated. The Lord of the West was unexpectedly caring. He even took off the silver bindings on her wrists and ankles; not that being freed from the shackles meant she was free to go. Guards were assigned to her now, but even with her reiki there was no way she could escape.
The blue crescent on her wrist was bright like lapis lazuli, emerging from the cloud of purple bruising from the bite. Blue like royalty. Who would've thought that she, a plain and inexperienced miko, would end up at the Western Palace as a concubine.
Kami, if she was -just- a concubine, she might have had a chance of leaving. There was no way she could escape this whole 'life-companion' mess now. Mates were one thing; providing an heir to carry the family line was important even in human politics. Youkai tradition separates companionship from mating, although in some cases it may be combined. Life-companions are equals, either male or female. They share battles, property, and even abilities. Kami, how did he not know what he was doing?
A youkai with a human life-companion - what a joke. As if youkai-human relations weren't bad enough. It was only in the last two centuries that the youkai became power-hungry and overtook the lands. Ningen were treated as lower class citizens; the emperor and the royal family were demoted to personal attendants and servants for the Western youkai Lord and Lady. Humans hardly have the numbers to compensate for their lack of strength.
The village surrounding the Higurashi shrine attracted many people; it was the last human establishment untouched by the Western Palace. Kagome was the only Higurashi left. Her family was killed by youkai soldiers during an attack to overtake the village. Those same guards were stationed at the village to 'monitor' the population, ensuring that food and resources could be exported to the palace on demand. It broke her heart to see how many people became injured, or simply died out of exhaustion. So many came to her seeking help, begging her to do something about the soldiers. But what could she do? She wasn't a strong enough miko to fight all of them at once. They swore at her out of anger and threatened her life for bringing this calamity upon them; upon humanity. It would be best if they thought her dead, now. She would rather not face the humiliation of being labeled a traitor or a whore.
Should she be thankful that this happened - that she wasn't around those people anymore? She should be happy, right? She's lucky to be alive.
But why did they have to burn the shrine? From what the Lord of the West had said, it seemed like it was out of his control. But what did that mean? Wasn't he the one with the power to order things like that? All that history was now nothing.
Kagome took a deep breath and tried to stop the onslaught of tears again. Her emotions were in shreds. Logic made her brain hurt. How could one possibly go from losing all hope to dealing with …this. Life-companions with a stranger. With the heir to the Western Lands.
Kami.
