Bound
Ch. 29
Beep, beep, beep.
Kagome's eyes cracked open and she groaned softly. She awoke to white walls against sterilized linen and the pressing beep of a monitor. A nurse peeked in the room and rushed to the girl. She poured her a cup of water and stuck a straw in the cup. Kagome took the drink in gratitude and sipped while the nurse pattered on. She spoke in a grandmotherly sort of way, looking the part with her salt and pepper hair and gold rimmed reading glasses.
"Oh goodness, it was up in the air for a moment if you were going to make it, dear. Even though the burns weren't extensive, you inhaled so much smoke. You had a lot of people worried these past three days."
"Three days?", Kagome questioned, coughing up the water.
The nurse patted her back, "There, there it's alright. I know you've been through a lot, sweetheart. You may need some time to heal, but I can see you're a fighter. I hope your friend will come by to see you again now that you're awake."
Kagome frowned, tightening her jaw. She didn't know exactly how she ended up here, but only one person could have brought her here, knowing where to abscond with her again once her injuries healed. Sesshoumaru. He'd played her for the fool and lorded his power over her. She'd tried to find the beauty, the soft embrace of common goodwill and gentility within him. She tried to love past his beast rage and warped deviance and it almost looked as if he tried. Kagome shut her eyes to quell the tears before she gave her false bravado away. Sesshoumaru had used her. In every way he could, he took all that made her pure and then threw her to Naraku.
Kagome clinched her teeth as the tears spilled, 'He knew what Naraku was and he didn't care. He knew what he was capable of and that bastard gave me away.'
The demoness's eyes darkened, 'No, that wasn't it. He waited until I gave him my virginity and then he gave me away.'
A writhed hand touched her shoulder gently, bringing Kagome back from her thoughts.
"Kagome, dear. I must mention there are some officers that have been hoping to speak to you. If you're too weak, I'll shoo them off until another day."
Kagome smiled. She couldn't remember the last time someone was nice to her with no other motives.
"What do they need?" The woman croaked.
The nurse whose nametag read Hana reached for the television remote and turned to the local news. Kagome sat up fully, eyes glued on the screen. The images revealed a blazing fire and girls, countless girls carried away in stretchers. The horror of their fates had been shrouded in cloth from the press's prying eyes. The newscaster mentioned Naraku by name and Kagome froze. An older picture of the demon flashed on the screen. Kagome turned to Hana.
"They know about Naraku?"
The elder nodded, "He's dead, it's been confirmed so you don't need to be afraid of him anymore."
Her heart leapt in her throat. The demoness shook her head and soon after her whole body began to shake, "I need to go. I have to leave."
Kagome kicked her feet over to the right side of the hospital bed, forcing her way to the door. Hana, deceptively strong, held the woman by her arm.
"Now, don't be hasty. I don't want anymore trouble for you,"
"I know he's not dead! When he finds me...let go!" Kagome yelled.
Her yells echoed into the hallway, alerting the officers. Two men ran into the room. Kagome tried to bolt between them for the door, but one officer slammed it shut before she could reach it. The other, the brawnier of the two, grabbed Kagome by the waist, careful of her burns and bruises. He took her kicks and scratches in stride as he laid Kagome back on her bed. Kagome screamed, thrashing in the bed. She didn't care how crazy she looked. Naraku and Sesshoumaru were going to find her; she had to run. What if they thought she was the one who started the fire just to escape? Her punishment would be worse than anything she'd ever imagined.
"Miss Kagome, please! You aren't in danger, but it is imperative we speak to you."
The officer's words were a cruel joke.
"You have no idea the danger I'm in! When Naraku-"
"Naraku was killed in the fire along with everyone else at his compound. You are the only survivor and that is why we need to speak to you."
Kagome stilled and sat up. 'Dead? How could it be that everyone is dead?' Her thoughts wandered to Sesshoumaru. Little Rin would never see her father again. The demoness composed herself, taking in the officers fully for the first time. A rabbit demon and a fox demon watched her carefully. Kagome wanted to laugh at the idea of predator and prey as partners on the force, but quelled her humor. More and more, she found herself reacting strangely, faking normal to match ordinary reactions. Just like Sesshoumaru, she thought.
"I want to see your badges and proof to what you are saying."
The rabbit demon flashed a badge followed by the fox, albeit begrudgingly.
"I don't blame you for being cautious, after all you've been through a lot. Let's start over. I'm Oren," The rabbit demon replied.
He held out his hand, but Kagome didn't shake it.
"What all do you think I've been through, Oren?"
The fox demon, Goji, sat on the edge of the hospital bed, "You were a slave, sex slave looks like. I'm guessing you were passed around and based on the shit we found, you had some pretty rough shit done to you. We want to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else."
Kagome frowned. She inched to the head of the bed until her back hit the wall, "Why would it happen to someone else if you're sure Naraku's dead?"
"It's hard to believe he was acting alone in procuring these women," Oren offered.
"These things are always hard to accept, I imagine, but Naraku was a monster in plain sight," Kagome countered testily.
"He had a large operation, but we know he isn't the only sex trafficker in town. Cooperate with us and we'll make it worth your while. We know you're in a hard place, Kagome. While you were away, your stepfather overdosed. We can make sure you go to a good home until you turn 18. You can get tutoring to catch up on schoolwork and put this behind you," Goji coaxed.
"My stepfather is dead?" Kagome whispered.
Goji turned to Hana, standing in the corner, "I thought you told her already!"
Oren smiled sympathetically, brushing a lock of hair from Kagome's view. Tear-stained eyes looked up at him. He had a boyish smile with two floppy ears jutting from a mass of ash hair. He kind of resembled the humanoid form of the woman's stuffed animal at home. Kagome bit her lip. Where was home now? Where was her place? Her memories traveled back to her time with Souta and her mother. Life seemed so innocent. She even preferred the memory of her and Sesshoumaru curled up with Rin watching a movie, or antique shopping. She longed for more memories wrapped in her arms at the beach or that night she fully gave herself to the demon. None of the memories were perfect, but brought a calm before the storm and a sense of home, belonging in the moment. There was a knock at the door. A woman cracked open the door.
"A nurse said it was fine to come in."
"Callia!" Kagome jumped to her feet, ignoring her injuries to embrace the woman.
Callia wrapped her arms around the girl, whispering words of comfort as Kagome broke down in her arms. The blonde led her back to the bed and turned to the officers expectantly.
"Listen, I just learned my friend survived a crazy big fire. Think you could give us a moment?"
Goji hesitated, but Oren pushed him toward the door. He handed a card to Kagome.
"I know you've been through so much, Kagome. We'll be back in a few days, but if you want to share something in the meantime, just call."
Kagome took the card gratefully and nodded. Hana ushered herself out after the officers. She poked her head back in the door.
"Kagome, I'll give you some time with your friend, but the doctor will come here soon. Given your circumstances, the doctor wants to run a few tests."
"What kind of tests?" Kagome asked, sitting down with Callia.
Hana smiled softly, "The police uncovered some of the items that the fire hadn't destroyed. Now it's not public knowledge so don't feel like the whole world knows, but the doctor knows that man had...certain sexual desires and exploits. We just want to make sure you're healthy."
Kagome blushed, looking away. Callia hugged her again, "You're be fine and then we can go."
When Hana left, Callia pulled away and pulled a manila envelope from her purse, handing it to the girl.
"I guess you knew your master better than I thought."
Kagome wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her hospital robe and opened the envelope.
"What do you mean?"
Kagome poured out the contents of the envelope. A letter, a necklace, a wallet sized photo, and more money than she'd ever seen spilled on the bed. Kagome reached for the necklace first, rolled the gold locket in her hand. The magical orb was gone and the gold was scratched and dingy looking, but the picture of her family revealed it was her old locket.
"How did you get this?"
"Sesshoumaru came to me after the fire. He must have gone back for it. He thought it meant a lot to you."
Callia linked the necklace around Kagome's neck. Kagome circled her fingers around the locket and gave a bittersweet smile.
"It's all I have to remember my family now," Kagome laughed at the bitter feeling, "We're more alike than I ever imagined."
Callia held up the bundle of money, "Not quite, you have options still. Have you read his letter?"
Kagome reached for the letter, scanning it intently.
Kagome, I have so much to tell you. I never intended for any of this to happen. I don't want you to think I knew what Naraku would do to you. I'm sorry. Enclosed is part of the money I promised. We can start over, the three of us.
Kagome threw the letter back, "How delusional could he be? Does he even realize what he put me through?"
Callia examined the picture of Kagome and Sesshoumaru donning face paintings, "What did he say?"
"He wants to be with me, start a life with me. He gave me to a monster!" Kagome fumed.
Callia fingered through the money, flipping it in her hand, "He must really be serious. This is serious money, though not enough to deal with fucking Naraku."
"I hate him. I hate him so much. He made me think...I thought he cared about me."
Callia resisted telling the girl she was right. She didn't understand Kagome and Sesshoumaru's relationship, but based on the money, the photo, and everything else, it was complicated to say the least.
"What else does the note say?" Callia asked instead.
Kagome picked up the letter once more, "It gives me a phone number to call to meet him."
Callia looked at Kagome seriously, "It's your choice, but Sesshoumaru gave me a large sum of money to give all this to you. He's right about one thing; you can start over, but you don't need him to do that. We can leave together and use this money to start another life. You have nothing to lose. Give the police the number and they'll handle him."
Kagome bit her lip, turning to the photo. She gazed at the picture, admiring the photo Sesshoumaru had chosen to include from their night at the carnival. Kagome was grinning and giving Sesshoumaru bunny ears, focused on the camera. Sesshoumaru's eyes were completely on her. He gave a slight smirk and his golden eyes smoldered. What had he been thinking to have that look? Before, Kagome might have called that love, but she knew better now. This was part of his plan, right?
Kagome held her locket again, gritting her teeth. It didn't make sense. Why pay Callia to come to her with all this stuff? Was it hush money to keep her from going to the cops or was it more? Did she mean something to him? Even now he twisted her heart, controlled her emotions.
"So what will you do, Kagome?"
Kagome stared at the note with a million ideas swirling in her mind. In one smooth motion, Kagome ripped the note. She handed it back to Callia.
"I won't be his pawn anymore. I'm putting Sesshoumaru out of my life."
Callia smiled and tossed Kagome a blouse and skirt she'd brought with her, "Perfect! Tell the cops what you know and put this behind you."
Kagome paused, thinking back to Rin's toothless grin at her. While she would never know what Sesshoumaru thought of her, she was certain of his love for Rin.
"No. Sesshoumaru gave me the money for a new life. My silence can give him a new life too."
Callia bundled up the rest of Kagome's belongings and slipped the torn letter back in the manila envelope, "It's your choice, but I think you're letting him off too easily. He's still controlling you."
"Maybe," Kagome admitted, "but he won't know where we are. If he's different like he says, it'll be a new start. If he's not, he'll be caught."
Kagome walked to the door, peeking out to check for the nurses. She turned back to Callia with a smile, "I'm going to take your advice the first time and really follow through. I'm going to start over. No looking back. Let's go."
The end! I'm just kidding though I have like two chapters to go. It's finished for the most part and the last two chapters will ty up the loose ends. If you had a thought or question you want answered, let me know. I've worked on this so long, I'm afraid I might forget something big. Thank you all for sticking this out!
