Chapter Fourteen- Doubted Loyalty
Kagome frowned at her luck, here she was strapped to a cold board and all she could do was thank kami that she was alive and that she had gave the real jewel away. To whom she would never tell, but she knew that for now her time, her world was safe from Naraku's grasp.
Kagome stared off into the dark room, there was nothing she would like better then to be safe in Sesshoumaru's arms, but what stopped her? She frowned, was it because she believed for two years that he had betrayed her? Or was it because no matter what she couldn't bring herself to believe that he could love a worthless miko like her?
Footsteps broke Kagome's thoughts as she remembered the burning feeling of lust Naraku held in his eyes when he touched her. They weren't like Sesshoumaru, they weren't cold and collected they were burning with greed and dishonour, everything she loathed in a man. The footsteps grew louder as Kagome started to fight the shackles that held her in place. She could feel the chains burn her wrists more, until they reopened the wounds that were already present, causing them to bleed. The door to the dark room creped open and Kagome's eyes adjusted to the small light that flooded the room, staring into the eyes of a female, who was similar to her own height, but her eyes, even in the shadows shone bright blue.
"Kyo." Kagome sneered, watching as the demon looked back out the door, shutting it behind her, and then running to Kagome's side, her soft blue hair bounced simply.
"Lady Kagome, please remain silent." Kyo said kindly, taking a hold of the shackle that held Kagome's left arm secure. Closing her eyes Kyo seemed to focus. The shackle shone bright yellow, and then disappeared altogether.
"What are you doing?" Kagome said as she moved her left wrist, staring at the burn marks that remained on her body.
Kyo sighed and whispered softly "I once spoke to a miko who told me that she was going to bring Naraku down on her own, but my lady no one can do something so hard on their own. I am helping you escape so that you may save everyone who has been taken under Naraku's grasp." Kyo spoke quiet but surely as she broke the right shackle, then moved to the bottom ones. "Your courage inspires me lady Kagome, but don't think for a moment that I came back here on my own will. I was forced. He said he'd kill me if I didn't come, so I followed him. But now I realize that I will die under his control anyways so I might as well die knowing I help someone make a difference."
Kagome rubbed her wrists, watching as the burn marks attempted to heal. "Come with me Kyo. I will make sure you're safe. He won't be able to harm you when you are protected with my power." Kagome's eyes shone warmly as she saw Kyo look into her face with a hopeful stare.
There was a noise beyond the door that made Kagome and Kyo freeze, working quicker Kyo broke through the remaining restraints. "My lady I will send you back to the outside of Naraku's barrier, you should be safe from there on if you cover your scent."
"No Kyo I will not leave you!" Kagome froze as the door opened up and Naraku's shot a tentacle towards Kyo. Without thinking Kagome jumped in front of Kyo and shot her aura straight towards Naraku. Kagome didn't feel the pain when the tentacle punctured her stomach so she kept fighting, closing her eyes as she focused on communicating with Gakuto. In a flash a tall, built youki with snow white hair and golden eyes stood before her and grabbed her wrist, taking her away from her enemy and her rescuer. "KYO!" Kagome screamed as she reached out for the lady of the seas.
Kagome landed on the ground. Screaming and shouting for Gakuto to release her and go back for Kyo.
"Kagome stop acting like such a child!" Gakuto yelled at her and dropped her on the ground.
"You're a stupid selfish bastard you know that!" Kagome screamed and she stood and started to run back towards the barrier. Gakuto gripped her wrist and pulled her backwards, making her stumble. Kagome flared her aura and even drew her katana, but she knew she could not kill him. "He's going to kill her and it's all my fault." Kagome threw her short katana into the nearest tree and gripped her wrist staring at the burn marks that were still trying to heal themselves, but to no prevail.
"It is not your fault Kagome." Gakuto whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You're right it is yours." Kagome said harshly, feeling heat and light behind her as she turned around and stared into a different face then the one who had rescued her. He wasn't tall anymore, he was shorter around 5"9 and his hair was black instead of snow white. "Who are you?" Kagome asked quietly, not sure what she should do.
"That is not a main concern right now let us go back to the castle." Gakuto said slowly turning his back no her. Kagome didn't argue, she just nodded and followed quietly, tears rolling down her face in regret.
The walk back had been harder for Kagome then anyone would have thought possible. Ever minute or so she would stop and look back, hoping to see the lady of the sea's following her. She snorted, here she was hoping for the life of the one who had driven her away for two years. She wasn't even sure why she had hated the demoness, sure Kyo had wanted the same man she did, but who wouldn't. The funniest part was that Kagome was sure that if it wasn't for her, Kyo could easily have Sesshoumaru.
Kagome stared constantly at the distance she had already covered she didn't know how long she had been standing there nor did she care. She knew that she had to go back she had to save the woman that saved her. Sighing as her feet moving towards the barrier.
Someone gripped her wrist causing her to wince and the pain that shot through her. She looked behind her and seen silverish hair flowing in the gently wind. She looked up into amber eyes that shone with confusion and concern. "Gakuto?" Kagome whispered, pulling away gently as she attempted to go back to Kyo.
"Kagome." A cold voice echoed through her mind. Kagome whipped her back head around and stared up at the demon.
"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome said almost frantically. Tears threatened to fall, why had Gakuto looked so much like her Sesshoumaru?
"Hn." He pulled her into his chest and dipped down, carrying her bridal style. Kagome almost frowned at the way he was acting.
Starting to panic Kagome twisted desperately, causing Sesshoumaru to almost drop her. "Let go of me!" she screamed, flaring her aura just to shock him. She felt her body hit the ground as she gasped for air. It was obvious that she had shocked him enough for him to drop her. She moved quickly backing up and her hands and knees still trying to gather her breath. Tears threatened to fall.
Sesshoumaru took a step forward, towards Kagome, only having her panic more. "Don't touch me!" she screamed, moving frantically, falling and scraping her hands and elbows. "Who are you?" she asked through tears.
"Sesshoumaru." His gruff voice scared her.
"No! No you're not him!" she cried again. Fear and pain rippled through her body. Her eyes were filled with tears, her face distorted in anger and confusion.
"Miko silence yourself, you're making a scene." Sesshoumaru said coldly.
"No you stop talking! You're not Sesshoumaru." Kagome stood up, knees shaking uncontrollably.
"Kagome-…" he whispered, looking hurt.
"Stop it. Stop acting like you care, you don't care, I don't even know who you are." Kagome said, calming down slightly. "Where is Gakuto?"
A light shone behind her, she turned around and stared into his secretive eyes. "Gakuto." She ran forwards, almost falling. Sobbing as she connected with his chest, listening to his breathing, she listened for a heartbeat, but finding none. Kagome backed away slowly, hurt and confused. She almost slapped herself. He was obviously dead, even she knew that but it had surprised her that his body could feel so warm and yet he wasn't even alive.
"What did you do to her boy?" Gakuto asked to demon in front of him. Kagome whipped around as well looking at the demon who acted like Sesshoumaru.
"Is that Sesshoumaru?" she asked, mostly to herself.
"Yes-…why?" Kagome felt like she would die right there. She had denied to herself that Sesshoumaru would carry her like he cared, she had hurt him. She trembled in sadness. The feeling of Naraku's vile hands on her burned in her mind.
"Sesshoumaru?" she asked, seeing visible disappointment in his eyes.
"Take her back to the castle, or back to her home, which ever she prefers." His words hit her like a knife. Tears threatened to fall once more as she found she had just hurt the one that loved her, the one that she was sure she still loved.
"Take me back to my home Gakuto. Take me back to my palace."
Kagome stood in front of the doorway that parted her room from Sesshoumaru's. It hurt for him to be so close yet so far. It was well past midnight and Kagome knew that she had been there for hours. She didn't go to dinner, nor did she answer the door when various people knocked. She had shut the balcony doors, locked them, and closed the curtains. Shutting herself away from the world. The door between Sesshoumaru and her was not locked, but she knew that her presence was not welcomed in his room.
She sat there for several more hours, not letting the need for food or for water to move her. There were several more knocks on her bedroom door before noon had past, she was starving as she guessed that it had been more than four days since she had eaten and even longer since she had gotten anything to drink. She perked up when Sesshoumaru's scent had entered his room, but she pushed it aside when his footsteps entered his bathing quarters.
She refused to cry, she even refused to think for a moment that Sesshoumaru would come into her room and hold her, but she made him a promise and she intended to keep it, even if he no longer wanted her too.
There was another knock on the door, but this time the person spoke. "Lady Kagome it is Rina and Shippou may we enter?" Kagome thought for several second and she could hear the two kitsunes begin to walk away.
"You may enter." Kagome said loud enough that she felt Sesshoumaru stop for several seconds, then continue on his way.
Two fox demons entered the room, Shippou was in the arms of his real mother, looking at Kagome sadly as she sat leaning against the door, not planning on moving.
"Shippou." Kagome nodded to the young fox then turned her attention to Rina. "I see you made it back alright."
"Yes thanks to you." Rina nodded her head, setting Shippou down on the ground, watching as he ran up to Kagome and jumped towards her chest. "Lady Kagome I want to thank you for saving my kit, and my life. So as of here I give you my life to your needs." Kagome looked slightly confused at her choice of words, not knowing what she was trying to say. Rina gave her a ruff look and restated the statement. "I pledge my loyalty to you my lady, I am your servant from here on."
Kagome stared in shock. She had never had her own servant before. "Rina I could never accept your offer." She whispered as she petted Shippou's fur.
"I'm not asking you to accept it my lady, for you have no choice in the matter." Rina shook her head and stared at her kit. "I wish I knew how to return him to his talking self." Rina frowned.
"I'm sure in your presence he will learn again that he is where he belongs." Kagome whispered sadly.
"Will you?" Rina asked, matching Kagome's tone. "Will you ever realize that you belong here, with him?" Rina said, looking at the door behind Kagome in a jester which meant she was talking about Sesshoumaru.
Kagome looked up at her sadly and forced a smile. "You two should be leaving about now." Kagome said a little forcefully.
Rina nodded and let a small growl escape from her lips, watching as Shippou stood up and licked Kagome's face, darting off behind his mother as she left the room.
"It is not where I belong that I am worried about. It is who I belong here with." Kagome whispered sadly.