AN:Hey there everyone! I haven't even posted the last chapter yet...I don't usually do this..but it's not a bad thing, right? This way, I'll be slightly ahead..for once. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's semi-planned, but I always end up adding in about four times as much as I originally plan. I think that's ok. Otherwise, the chapters would be very short. Well, enjoy. Please tell me what you think. Any questions, comments, praises, flamings, whatever, I'm game. Again, I'd like to thank my mom for the aid she provided me. Things get more serious, hopefully. Well, here goes! Peace and Asian pears!
DISCLAIMER: As you may know, I never have and never will own Inu Yasha and company. I have finally come to terms with that, and you should too. I'm sorry. However, Maki and Kaji the servants are original characters. Hah.
A TWIST OF FATE*~CHAPTER 11
She had been so mad. He had no right whatsoever to just dump her wherever he liked, even if he was a demon lord. She was positively fuming, yet, somewhat thankful. The bath had been like a small piece of heaven in her messed up world. Nothing was turning out the way she had always thought it would. The only thing she had known for a split second was the warm, soothing water. She could always count on a bath to relax her, but she still had questions. Questions that needed to be answered, questions that she knew would not be answered anytime soon. Possibly never. But, that's how things were.
She had time to think about things while she soaked in the hot spring. It was really a beautiful spot. There were plants everywhere and, actually, two hot springs, both of which were a considerable size, although one was smaller than the other. She took in her surroundings, the whole time, wondering how she had even got there in the first place. She just had so many questions. Why did Inu Yasha do that? How could he love a corpse, but not her? Why had she thought that Inu Yasha could forget about Kikyo, and love her, the one that was truly alive? Was she truly alive? Was Kikyo really the deceased one? Kagome had not felt anything, except for a moment when finding Shippo, since she had seen Kikyo and Inu Yasha. She was emotionless for the greater period of time. She was becoming not unlike Kikyo herself. She couldn't let that happen. But, she couldn't show her true feelings either. Not with the company she was keeping lately. How could she do both? She would just handle it, a step at a time. She could feel sad. If anyone had a right to, she did. But, she could be happy too. Just because Inu Yasha had left her, it didn't mean the world would end....although, sometimes, in truth, it sure felt like it.....
Baths are a blessing. She knew that from experience. Kagome put away her thoughts, although not before she was finished with them. The servants had come to help her out of the spring and to help her dress, although she argued that she was very capable of dressing herself, thank you very much. The bath had helped, but she was still in a royal mood. Until, that is, they gave her her clothes.
"Where is my uniform?" she questioned, scanning the side of the spring.
"We have taken it for cleaning." replied an older woman youkai of origins that Kagome could not discern.
"They were not in proper shape for you to wear."
"Oh, I guess they were pretty filthy. Thank you." she sighed. "But, what am I supposed to wear?"
"The master has instructed us to give you this." The second woman youkai held up a beautiful blue kimono embroidered with a simple pattern of darker blue waves around the sleeves and hem of the outfit. Kagome thought it was absolutely the most gorgeous thing she had ever seen.
"Me...wear that!"
"Is it not suitable to your taste?"
"NO! I mean...no...it's...beautiful. I can't believe I'm supposed to wear this..."
The two women youkai smiled warmly at her and handed her the kimono. After a few minutes, Kagome began to take back her statement about being able to dress herself.
"Would you like us to help?" The servants asked curteously, yet chuckled softly. Kagome couldn't help but smile too.
"I guess I'm just not used to this type of clothing." she explained as the servants tied a beautiful blue obi for her.
"It's quite all right, dear." The women servants went over her dress, checking it for wrinkles. "Ok, there is a servant waiting outside the door to take you to the dining hall. Forgive us, but we are too busy, or one of us would take you there ourselves.
"It's ok, really." Kagome smiled brightly at them. "Can I ask what your names are?"
The servants looked slightly shocked, but then resumed their positions almost instantaneously.
"We do not need names. You may just call for us."
"But I have to call you something if I am supposed to call you."
"We do not need names."
"But you have them and you should use them."
"Well, Yes..."
"Kagome."
"...Lady Kagome. You are correct. Forgive us. Maki and Kaji are at your service."
"There's nothing to forgive you for. Thank you Maki, Kaji. Are you always here?"
"Most of the time, Lady Kagome, but you can find us other places throughout the house also. If you need of our assistance, please do not hesitate to call."
"Thank you. You've been very kind. I'm sure I will be seeing you often." Kagome looked pointedly at the springs."
"Ahh. Yes, of course, Lady Kagome. Now, you should probably go, or the master will get impatient." With that, they both gave her a warm smile. Kagome looked back as she stood in the doorway which she had, just recently, been carried through, kicking and yelling. She turned to face them.
"Is there something you need, Lady Kagome?" Maki asked her.
"Is is all right if I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Lady Kagome." they answered.
"Why do you stay here, with him? With Sesshoumaru? It's not that I dislike him, it's just, he doesn't care about servants. He doesn't care about others."
"Lord Sesshoumaru cares about many things that others do not know of. But, this is as it must be. Now go quickly, Lady Kagome. The master is waiting."
"Kagome."
"Pardon, Lady Kagome?" Kaji asked.
"Please. Just Kagome." She said as they ushered her quickly out the door.
"Very well then, Kagome."
Maki's statement about Sesshoumaru remained with Kagome, imprinted in her mind...that is, until...
"oh. You..." Kagome's face had drained of color, then slowly, very slowly, regained color.
"Listen, human. If you say anything to Sesshoumaru-sama, I will -ummphh!"
Kagome went to step over Jaken, and, very accidenltaly, stepped on him.
"Oops...I'm sorry...Rockin Jaken. Now, I hear there is a dinning room somewhere." Kagome took her foot off of him. "And you're supposed to lead me there." Jaken mumbled a few incoherant words and started off to a passageway on their left.
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Now, Kagome, having lived a few years, had experienced what most would call extreme boredom. For instance, being subjected to her grandfather's ranting stories for three hours straight once when her mom had gone out shopping. But nothing, absolutely nothing, could compare to dinner with Sesshoumaru. Especially when Sesshoumaru wasn't there. She had almost blown a vaulve. Here she was, she had rushed to get there so that his all high and mighty wouldn't "become impatient", not that she cared. But it really was nerve-racking. By the time Jaken had led her through all of the corridors that went to the dining room, she had planned out exactly how she was going to tell off the demon lord. It was quite...annoying...when she had litterally picked her mind for the best cautious insults she could, only to have her target not be there.
The servants had explained that Lord Sesshoumaru had left. She was to eat. And perhaps he would be back. Needless to say, Kagome was livid. She mumbled hot insults under her breath, only stopping to thank a servant occasionally and to shovel bites of food into her mouth. She hadn't realized how starving she had been. She hadn't eaten for a day or two and was feeling the results. So, one of her little eating sessions sounded somewhat like this-
"I can't believe him! Mmph hrm! I swear, mnh hmphrn sets foot in this room, I'd kmngh hmn right this second!"
"I believe I missed that. I could not make it out between your twisted tongue and stuffing of the face." Sesshoumaru entered in through a door on the right.
"Hmph." Kagome swallowed slowly and glared at him. "You were supposed to be here."
"You were supposed to be here also. An hour ago."
"Things happened. Where are Shippo and Rin? You expected me to eat alone? You think you can just order someone to do as please, go wherever you want them to, then not be there?"
"Things happened. Shippo and Rin have already eaten." he had then strode over to the table, but remained standing.
Must be the whole superiority thing. Kagome thought to herself. This guy really is an egomaniac!
"What you did before....that was not called for!" Kagome glared at him.
"You should thank me. You no longer wreak."
"Oh hah ha, you-"
"If you are to stay here, you must obey the rules."
Oh boy. Here is comse. More controll issues.
"You will do as I tell you. You are not allowed extra priviledges under any circumstances."
"You-you have serious issues, buddy! Your servants don't understand you, no one does, and you have the personality of a rock! I'm a living being! I won't let Shippo, let alone myself, be couped up in some stone house, following the orders of someone who has tried to kill us more than a generous amount of times!" She glared wildly at him. There was something in her eyes. Something that caught his atteniton. Not the emotions that she was feeding him right then through her shouts, but something that was underneath. She had stood up. She was leaning forward now, across the expanse of beautful table, continuing to yell at him. The kimono he had given to the servants to give her suited her well. Suddenly, in a moment he would later consider to be weak, he realized that she really was quite pretty for a human, in her simple beauty. Her raven hair fell over her shoulders as she argued. He stood, stoic as ever, wearing an almost bored expression on his face, suveying her.
"You..you call yourself a lord, but you're as bad as Inu Yasha! You're nothing but an egotistical jerk who-"
" I might be an 'egotistical jerk' as you put it, but keep in mind, human..." he had suddenly appeared before her. He had placed a long claw at her neck, lifting her chin so that blue eyes met blazing gold. "this egotistical jerk could kill you any second he wishes." He scanned her face for any sign of emotion, but it was blank. She remained silent, staring at him, her blue eyes taking an odd grey tint to them.
I need to leave this place. Kagome thought violently. Leave him. Leave Inu Yasha. If only I didn't need to collect the jewel shards...
Then it was her turn to talk.
Sesshoumaru had kept his nail where it was. Kagome had cast her glance down, then looked up again, directly into his eyes.
"I will get you the sword. Now it is time we discussed my revenge."
Sesshoumaru was slightly taken aback.
"I thought that we had already established your revenge."
"You thought wrong."
"Then you do not wish for Inu Yasha's or the other miko's death?"
Kagome had to play this smart. If she could do it right, she could concvince him...
"Death is not enough for them."
Sesshoumaru somewhat doubted the miko. She did not seem like one to wish death so suddenly on one that she had obviously been in love with. What had his stupid half brother done to her to make her wish such a bad fate upon him? Not that he didn't diserve richly deserve.
"Go on." Sesshoumaru's hand fell from Kagome's chin.
"There is a jewel called the shikon no tama. It has many powers, one of them the ability to make a half demon a full-blooded youkai."
"I have heard of this jewel. Continue."
"Well, originally, Inu Yasha and I were gathering shards of the jewel to make it whole again, each for our own reason. Inu Yasha wishes for it with all his heart so that he can become demon. It would be the ultimate punishment for him not to have it. WOrse than death. And I, I wish for it because I am its protector and guardian and it is my responsibility to recover it." She didn't need to tell him the whole part about how she had shattered it.
"I see. And this is the revenge you have chosen?"
"Yes."
"And what position do I play in your little charade."
"You're the muscle. Before, I always had Inu Yasha to take care of the demons with shards, or those trying to attack me. I need your help now."
"You wish for me to become my brother's replacement. Dispicable."
"Think about it, Sesshoumaru. I will get your sword. If I gather all of the jewel, Inu Yasha will not be able to become a full demon, which would, I dare say, be a small inconvenience to you if allowed to happen. You'll be doing yourself a favor."
Once again, the annoying human made sense. Once again she drove a bargain that was beneficial for him. He was tired of her. She would not let up as other humans would. She was sharp, this human. Full of surprises that he would not expect from a normal human.
"And this is a revenge that will fulfill your purpose?"
"Yes."
"Why do you not ask the other companions of yours to aid you."
"Because we have a bargain. Plus, your stronger. And Inu Yasha is with them."
"I see. It will be done. But do not think, for the slightest moment, that you have any hold over me. I am not in your debt. This is only on conditions of the bargain I made"
"I know, already. You know, Sesshoumaru, you could be-"
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken scurried in through the huge dining room doors, panting. Man, that toad had horrible timing. "Sesshoumaru-sama! This Jaken has come as quickly as he could. You must be prepared! There is trouble on your lands!"
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AN: Well, how'd you like? I eased up on the humor, but that doesn't mean it won't appear sporatically. Just be glad I didn't leave off on a major cliff hanger. I'm known for that. Well, as you can tell, things are going to get a little more complicated from here on out. Please review and tell me what you think or give any suggestions, comments, death threats, etc. I hope you all are enjoying the story! The next chapter is a lot longer. Peace and chcken noodle soup!