Next chappie. Actually I think I might start writing my other Inuyasha stories, but make sure I update this at least twice a week. This is a short chapter, sorry about that.

Chapter 14 – what you mean to me

Kagome woke to an inudaiyoukai staring down at her on the bed. She quickly read his face and while she did not know what he was feeling or thinking, for once he was not looking angry, that was a good sign. This lessened the fear still in her heart and she wondered whether this encounter for once was going to be somewhat civilised. She did nothing but stare at him, unsure of what to say and unwilling to break the tense silence hanging between them. Eventually though, it was broken, by her yawn.

It was long past midnight, and it was obvious he had only just entered the room. Actually it was him entering that woke her up; it was one of those things she could not sleep through. A thunderstorm would not rouse her if she was deep enough sleep, but the bedroom door being opened, never failed to.

"Umm, good evening," Kagome greeted, propping herself up so she was in a sitting position and stared at the demon lord standing near the door. He did not make a reply more than a nod to say he had heard her. He stared down at her; he was staring her body and not anywhere else in the room, but did not meet her eyes for some reason.

Kagome took this opportunity to scan his form for injuries. He seemed to be relatively hurt, but only because of the burns, extra injuries from the fight were minor and few in number. These were signs that he and Kouga had not been fighting too seriously, or at least, if they had then serious injuries had not been obtained. She had not seen Kouga yet, but she guessed that he and the dog were not desperately unmatched, as Touga seemed to only be suffering minor cuts and bruises; Kouga was probably in a similar condition. This made her glad; she did want anyone to be hurt because of her, because of fighting over her.

"Are you alright now?" she was, believe it or not concerned for his safety and feelings, because that affected his mood, and she was in close proximity. She was still angry at him, but it was another battle she would step down from, she could explode at him later when she had an escape route, and preferably someone with her.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, and she did not flinch from his sudden closeness, calmed slightly by the amber of his eyes. "I apologise for attacking you," he said, facing away from her, but his voice was sincere. "It was wrong of me to turn on you, I could say it was my beast and I am innocent, but that is a mere excuse, as my beast is a part of me. I do not begrudge you for burning me, and am glad you are unhurt."

"It's O.K. I am just a little shaken. You said that you would look after me, so I forgive you, you can't have been yourself."

"I wasn't, but I am still sorry."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Why are you here in this room?"

"Well yeah, I want to know that too, but really I want to know what I am to you. Am I a servant, a subject, or what? And when can I leave?"

"You're starting to get angry," was all he said in reply. It was true; anger was slowly overcoming her as she was pretty sure she was a prisoner with certain benefits. Kagome did not take kindly to being held anywhere against her will.

"I have a right to be," she shot back.

"I know you do, but that is not the reason I say it. I will answer your questions, I owe you that much," though you may not like the answers I give, "but it is late and you need your sleep, we will talk tomorrow."

"That's another thing, do you have a chair or something for me to sleep in, this is your bed, or I can just go back to my room."

"You're here for safety reasons."

"Safety? You're the only one who has attacked me so far!"

"I know, but you're staying here."

It was useless to argue with the Taiyoukai. "We will share the bed; it is plenty big enough for two, especially for a woman of your size."

"I am not that tiny!"

"Yes you are." Compared to him she was miniscule. She did not eat enough for she was too skinny to be healthy, though he had started to encourage more food down here during her stay here. She had a little more muscle too since coming here, courtesy of those training sessions with his son. But they were more like conversations now since that is what they preferred doing when in each other's company.

"Still, I don't really want to do that, it makes me uncomfortable."

"We will be doing nothing more than sleeping Kagome, I promise you. I have more honour than force myself upon someone."

Kagome instantly turned red at his smirk and felt stupid for what she had suggested. He did not feel anything like that for her.

She turned over on her side so she was facing away from him and shuffled over so she vacated two thirds of the bed for him. She heard a clunk as his armour hit the ground, and she was struck with the realization he was stripping for bed.

Hopefully he would have the dignity or at least the honour to wear something but she needn't have bothered to worry. It was late and she was still tired, he was right, now was not the time to get angry and discuss things, she couldn't be bothered. She was asleep before he had settled down in the bed next to her.

She is such a strange girl; I am glad I found her and kept her. She entices me to do such rash things; I almost killed my strongest ally, that wolf. But what is worst, I almost hurt her badly, an innocent, a pure soul, one that is mine, I never harm what is mine.

He wrapped an arm around the sleeping girl's waist a pulled her to his chest, instantly finding solace with her in his arms.

"You're in this room because I don't want anyone else getting so close to you again," he whispered though he knew she could not hear. "You are mine and that wolf cannot have you, you are here for safety reasons, their safety."

He began to stroke her hair as he answered the questions that he would lie as answer to in the morning. "You are my pet, that is your position here, though you may not know it, and I am enjoying you very much. You can never go back, this is your home now, I do not plan on letting you go as you belong to me."