Disclaimer: *talking to lawyers on the phone* Well technically hanyou
Kagome was not created by Rumiko Takahashi, so that means that I at least
own her, right? Whattya mean 'no'?! Okay okay! I'll say it! Just don't
hurt Fox, okay!? *Turns to the audience* I don't own Inu Yasha or it's
characters. *goes back to the phone* Satisfied!? Now give me back my
hottie! *Fox reappears* Yatta! *glomp*
AN: *waving* Goodbye Writer's Block! I can't say that I enjoyed my stay. Hiya everyone! I'm back in angsty mode, which means that all you happy ppl get more story. Hazah! What did it? I'm not totally sure, but it probably had something to do with going to see Kill Bill twice in one weekend. It kicked ass!!! It's like a live action anime, with kick ass martial arts and sexy ppls (Mmm...Chiaki Kuriyama...) You're not supposed to take the gore seriously either, so don't. Anyway, enough about Kill Bill, and onto chapter 3! PS: I miss Gogo!!
Chapter 3: Hello
Kagome was granted a few days of rest to regain her strength and health. But afterward, Kouji worked her even harder, as if he was in a hurry to finish her training. On top of the sexual training (Ack!) he began instructing her in cooking and cleaning. She knew most of the cleaning already, and she was a fairly accomplished cook. But he didn't seem to want to take any chances, and forced her to go through the routines every day. He was even a little more messy than usual, just so she would have something to clean. This new teaching regiment afforded her the luxury of not being cooped up in the basement all day. He assigned her to clean the house, and then study cooking until he returned from work. He was particularly animate about her learning to cook ramen, real ramen, not the instant kind. Kagome found this a little strange, but she was not about to argue with him when it could cost her the freedom of having the whole house to herself.
The days may have been liberating, but the nights were still hell. After dinner, Kouji would lead the slave girl back into the basement for more intense training, as well as to shackle her to the wall for the night. A harrowing cycle of freedom and imprisonment. The whole situation was eating away at her very soul, and she was unsure of exactly how much more she could take.
She stared solemnly at the floor. It was probably about midnight, the room was pitch black. Her body ached from the fresh bruises and cuts that dappled her light skin. "No more..." she whispered to herself. "Please? No more." She felt hollow inside, devoid of all joy and happiness. Despair and pain filled the space instead. It felt as if she had been there for a lifetime, even if it was only a few months. She drew in a shaky, exhausted breath. Her nose wrinkled as it recognized the smell that turned her stomached. The stench of his pleasure was still thick on her hands and clothes. Tears clawed at the corners of her eyes, begging to be released. She rubbed them away. *I will not cry.* She promised herself.
This pain, and this lifestyle, was wearing her down. The bright flame that was once her spirit and soul, was now barely a flicker. She could see her wrists in the dim light, the life blood coursing through the veins, making them pulse gently. "No more." She whispered again. *He'll never touch me again. I can be free from this misery.* She grazed one claw along the length of her forearm experimentally. *All I have to do...* she held her breath and pressed the claw harder. A tiny red jewel formed at the puncture site. Wincing, she pressed harder into her wrist, and then began to cut down about three inches. The blood flowed evenly, warming the outer skin and staining her clothes as well as the floor. She quickly performed the same operation to the opposite arm.
Her work finished, she leaned back against the wall, hands palm up on her knees. *This will all be over soon.* She swallowed hard and tried to press down the fear that crept over her brain. *Just relax and let it happen.* Her mind fogged, consciousness fleeing her almost as quickly as the blood from her wrists.
~~~~~
"Hey." A low, soft voice whispered to her. "Where are you going?"
Kagome sat up and looked around. The sun was bright and warm, a gentle breeze played through her hair and over the thick grass. It sent a flurry of sakura blossoms from the tree she sat under. Her site focused on the figure in front of her.
"Where am I?" she asked aloud.
"A good place." He said. She couldn't see him. Well, she could, but not clearly, she could see his warm, comforting smile, and golden eyes alight with curiosity. Other than that, he was just a shadow. "Where are you going?" He asked again.
"I don't know what you mean." Her ears flattened a little in annoyance.
"You tried to leave. I saw you. But you can't go. You can't leave yet, he's going to bring you to me. So don't go, okay?"
"What are you talking about?" Frustration caused her tail to lash.
He pointed one clawed finger to her lap. She looked down and nearly screamed in horror. Her wrists were split open, not just cut. The flesh was sliced and peeled back, revealing shredded ligaments and bone. Gore and blood stained the blanket of silky pink flowers that surrounded her.
Her head snapped up to look into the eyes of the stranger. They were filled with fear and worry. "Please don't leave me." He begged her once more. His form began to retreat backwards, sliding away from her.
"Wait!" she cried. She tried to move, but she was frozen in place. Everything darkened, and she turned her eyes to the sky to see the sun red and dripping with blood. There was a ripping sound, and the tiny drip cascaded into a rushing waterfall of rich red fluid. It flooded the ground and engulfed the still frozen Kagome. *This sucks.* she thought as she slipped into deeper into darkness.
~~~~~
Several days later she awoke wrapped in warm, soft blankets. Her wrists itched a little bit, as she struggled to swim to the surface of consciousness. Something smelled unbelievably good. It reached through the murk and grabbed her mind, pulling her back into the real world. She cracked an eye open slightly. Her vision blurred, and then cleared to reveal that she was still in that putrid basement. But she was laying on a futon, with a heavy, warm blanket draped on top of her. Nearby was a tray, a bowl, spoon, and funnel type object with a tube, lay on top. She half sat up, fighting the wave of dizziness and nausea that enveloped her. But the coaxing smell of the food that lay on the tray chased away her sick feeling, and enticed her to sit up a little more.
"I'm glad you're awake." Kagome jumped at the voice. It was Kouji's, only the tone was not harsh or demeaning. It actually sounded concerned. Her eyes darted about the room in search of him. He was sitting across the room, near the foul cot. *He was watching over me?* "I must say I was pretty scared when I came down here in the morning to find you wallowing in a pool of your own blood." He rose, and walked toward her. He grabbed one of her wrists and showed her the scar. "But demon blood heals wounds quickly." He dropped her wrist and turned to grab the tray. "I didn't want to have to tube you again, it gets awfully messy. "
She cursed silently to herself. How could she forget that her wounds would heal so quickly? But she knew why. Never had she been so seriously wounded before, so she had nothing to compare the healing time to. She was jolted out of her thoughts by the bowl being roughly shoved into her hands, along with the spoon.
"Look, I don't want you to do that again." She looked up at him. His eyes were filled with worry, but they hardened at her gaze. "You...you were expensive." He walked briskly out the door, casting a relieved glance quickly at her before he disappeared.
Kagome felt nothing but bewilderment, for all of about two seconds. Her grumbling stomach shooed all questions of Kouji's behavior away. She looked at the bowl in her hands. It looked rather vile, a thick, steaming mass of brown goo. She sniffed at it, and her sensitive nose informed her that it was beef stew, but it had been pureed, probably for pouring down the tube. Her mind boiled with thoughts as she spooned the 'soup' into her mouth. The most profound was 'What now?' She had tried to take her own life. She felt despair for having failed, and disgust for ever believing she should give up so easily in the first place. Would he punish her? Surely not. He was smart enough to realize that punishment would probably result in her making another attempt on her life. *Maybe he'll go easier on me.* She frowned. *Stop that. You're only going to build yourself up to get knocked down again.*
She didn't know how long she had been sitting there, but when Kouji reappeared in the doorway, she realized it was dark outside. He unlocked her chains and handed her a fresh set of clothes. "The most physically intense training is over." He still seemed uneasy around her. "It's high time I taught you how to be seen in public. Get changed and come upstairs." With that, he left.
He took her shopping. Mostly they just walked around the shopping center, allowing her to piece together how she was to behave in a public place. If she made a mistake, she was punished with a low grade shock, just enough to make her wince in pain and try again. By the end of the night she was rather proficient at opening doors and waiting to be told when she could sit. He took her on several more outings, to the movies, restaurants, a few clubs. She behaved so well, he even bought her a few nice outfits, though she never saw them again.
Actually, I take it back. She did see them again, although not for a long time. It had been approximately six months since she first met that horrible man. She woke up to find not a bowl of cold gruel, but instead a tray full of actual food. Rice, miso soup, a glass of milk tea, and some pickled radish sat in front of her, steaming aromatically. Her eyes grew wide with excitement, but darted suspiciously around the room, as if searching for a trap. But nothing lent itself to such a notion, so she dug right in. She inhaled the rice and pickles, but savored the miso soup (oh man...that would be sooo good right now!) and the milk tea. She took her pills as well.
After finishing her first palatable meal since becoming a slave, she quietly began to ponder why she would receive such a gift. Her tail twitched as she thought, and she couldn't help but purr with the sensation of her stomach filled with comfort food. (I ALWAYS feel good after a bowl of miso soup...oh man, I could really go for a bowl right now) What was even stranger was that she woke up on her own, no shocking spray with the hose or kick in the stomach. She frowned. *What's going on?* Just then, the door creaked open, revealing a well dressed Kouji. Abruptly her purring ceased and her tail stilled.
"Oh good, you're awake. I'd hate to have had to get you up." *Something's weird...He's being nice.* He stepped over to her and began undoing her locks. "Alas, this is our last day together." He smiled at her, but her eyes were set on the ground. "After today, you'll belong to my cousin, Inu Yasha. You're his birthday present."
He finished with the locks and beckoned her to follow. *A new master?* She quietly pondered as she followed him through the house. *Inu Yasha...his cousin...I wonder if sadism is hereditary.* She frowned briefly. *What if he's worse?* He led her into the upstairs bathroom where Kagome nearly fell over in shock. A hot, fragrant bath was drawn. Hanging on a coat hanger on the towel rack was one of the outfits they had bought: a simple, but tasteful, light blue sundress. A pale yellow jacket, tights, undergarments, and a pair of nice shoes accompanied it. (she wore this outfit, or something like it, in one of the episodes, and I thought it looked really nice on her) Lined up along the edge of the bath was a variety of body washes, shampoos and conditioners. The vanity counter had a number of combs and hair accessories, as well as a hair dryer and brush. She turned to him, shocked.
"Mi-lord?"
Kouji coughed. "Well, I can't present you looking..." he wrinkled his nose. "Or smelling like that. So take the bath, get prettied up, and come downstairs when you're finished." He walked out of the bathroom, pulling the door shut as he did. "Oh, and don't dilly dally, we have to be there by 2:00." The door closed.
Kagome let her jaw drop, and then turned eagerly back to the bath. She wasted no time in stripping of her rank slave clothes and slipping into the warm, inviting water. She lazed there for a few minutes, letting the sweet scents calm her churning thoughts, and the gentle caress of the water wash away the tension in her body. Her thoughts drifted like the soap bubbles on the surface of the water. She was hit with a wave of nostalgia when they arrived on the subject of her family. *I wonder what they're doing now? Do they know what happened to me?* She frowned as she recalled her capture. She had gone hunting, and foolishly forgot to check the date. *I couldn't do anything to stop it...* She shook the thoughts from her head. *No, don't pity yourself, it never gets you anywhere.* Grabbing a bottle of shampoo, she pushed her thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand, becoming presentable.
------------------
They arrived at the medium sized building. It was one of those kind that was rented out for private functions. There were several cars already parked in the lot. Kagome fought to keep from shaking. In the next few hours, her life would change once more, and the uncertainty whether it was a good or bad change made her blood run cold. Kouji led her to the entrance. He granted her the dignity of not wearing a leash, as normal slaves wore, but she still had her collar locked to her neck, and he still had the remote in his possession. She shifted her bag slightly. The smallish yellow pack carried the few clothes he bought her, and her medication.
"You best behave." He threatened her quietly as they climbed the stairs. "I don't want to be embarrassed by having to correct you in the middle of the party."
Kagome mentally scowled, flirting her tail in annoyance. They were greeted at the door by a tall, handsome looking man. Kagome's breathe caught in her throat when she saw him. *A demon? A full demon?* He had long, silky white hair that drifted almost to his knees. Beneath his former attire, she could tell that his was lean and solidly built. She let her eyes focus on his face for only a brief moment before they rested on his shoes. He had a fairly effeminate face, marked by purple stripes on either side, and a dark crescent moon on his forehead. His golden eyes glared critically at her.
"Kouji." His voice was deep and eternal. "This is the slave?" though surprise tinted his voice, his expression remained unchanged.
"Yes Sesshoumaru-san." Kouji seemed almost as nervous as Kagome.
"A hanyou? That's...unusual." He stepped backwards and waved his arm in two directions. "The party is through there. Gifts go in that room."
"Thank you Sesshoumaru-san." He headed for the door leading to the party. Kagome bowed politely to the dog demon and followed.
"Kouji." Both froze at Sesshoumaru's call. "Did I not just tell you that gifts are to be stored in there?" there was a low, almost imperceptible growl to his voice. "That." He pointed to her. "Does not need to be seen."
Kagome's temper flared like the sun. She bit her cheek to keep from chewing the demon out right then and there. *He just referred to me as an object!? That bastard!*
Kouji hesitated for a moment before nodding and leading her to the separate room. "Of coarse, I should have been more perceptive." He was talking to himself, more than to Kagome. "They wouldn't be able to overlook the fact that you're part demon, what was I thinking? They'd have been pissed at me." He opened the door to the room. "Get it, and don't mess anything up." He shoved her through the door. "Don't even think of trying to escape either."
*Well duh!* she thought angrily to herself as she settled down for a long wait.
"I have a very special gift for you, cousin." Kouji grinned at Inu Yasha.
He forced a curious smile. "Oh, really? This wouldn't be like that stack of pornography you gave my for my eighteenth, would it?"
Kouji laughed at the memory. "Oh no, I think you'll find this gift to be much more intriguing than that." He opened the door of the smaller room, revealing nothing but darkness. He grumbled in annoyance, searching the wall for a light switch. His frustration grew when he found none. "Don't play games with me, turn on the lights before I have to use this." He held up the remote to add to the threat.
Kagome paused for a moment, frozen by what she saw. The darkness had no effect on her ability to see the two figures in the doorway, even backlit by the bright light in the hall. Kouji was not the shock, obviously, it was the hanyou that stood next to him. Her heart skipped a few beats. His elegant, silvery hair flowed like water down his shoulders past the small of his back. His white, pointed ears twitched this way and that, listening to the sounds of the room. He snapped his head in her direction as his ears focused on some sound, probably her racing heart beat. His golden eyes searched the darkness for her form. She had to suppress the urge to crouch down and avoid being seen, but he had already heard, and probably smelled her.
"I mean it." Kouji growled.
She snapped out of her thoughts. Silently, she stalked around to where they were standing, sticking like glue to the shadows. The other hanyou followed her every move, no doubt he could already see her. She couldn't tear her eyes away from his hypnotic gaze. Unaware to the weaker human, she was standing right next to them. Slowly she reached up and placed a hand on the light switch. Her eyes quickly lowering, she flicked the lights on.
Kouji jumped when he found her standing not more than a foot away. Inu Yasha blinked several times as his eyes adjusted. His breath caught in his throat when he finally got a clear view of the girl standing in front of them. *A hanyou.* He fought the blush that tried to color his cheeks. She was one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever laid eyes on. His heart skipped a few beats as he drank her in with his eyes. Her black, silky hair, the cute feline ears that twitched this way and that, her elegant tail. Her skin was smooth and her body perfectly curved. The mere fact that they were both half breeds gave him an instantaneous feeling of kinship with her. He struggled for a moment to re-mask his emotions.
"What're you playing matchmaker now?" He tried to sound smug. Something bothered him about the way the girl stood though, it lacked confidence, self, spirit.
Kouji laughed. "No, my friend. I present you with your new slave, personally trained by me."
Shock and horror flickered across his face. "What?"
Kouji handed him the remote. "She's belongs to you. I've already dealt with the ownership transfer papers."
He took the remote robotically, glaring at it as if it were a blood engorged mosquito. *A hanyou as a slave? What the fuck was he thinking!?* It took all his will power to remain in character. He smirked. "Personally trained, ne? Marvelous. I bet it was a lot of fun." An annoyed growl tinged his voice, but Kouji read it as a happy sound.
The human laughed. "She certainly gave me my money's worth. We got there in the end."
Inu Yasha noticed the girl's ear twitch, and her tail bristled ever so slightly. Hatred entangled itself in her scent. He cast her a sympathetic glance, one she never read because her eyes seemed to be super-glued to the ground. Anger and pity welled up inside him. "Thank you, cousin. I'll enjoy her thoroughly." He put a hand on Kouji's shoulder and led him out the door. "Why don't you go back to the party. I want to..." he glanced back at the girl. "Get better acquainted."
Kouji smirked and chuckled maliciously. "I understand." He nudged Inu Yasha in the side before turning to head back to the loud room down the hall.
Inu Yasha rolled his eyes. *Let him think what he wants.* He went back into the room and closed the door. He swallowed hard as the looked to the slave girl once more.
Kagome fought hard to keep from shaking. Did he really plan on taking her right then and there? She winced when she felt his eyes on her.
"Um, so what's your name?"
She almost jumped out of her skin. "Kagome, milord." She answered, still gazing at the ground, unmoving.
"Kagome." He tried it out. He liked that name. "Look at me." He told her. She did as she was told, though her eyes did not meet his, the way they had in the dark. "Look me in the eye." She shifted her weight nervously, before her warm brown eyes finally managed to meet his golden ones. His heart fluttered again. There was a hidden spirit inside those dark pools. But it had been beaten into submission. He secretly wished he could bring the fire out again, he wanted to see what she was like when she acted normally. *She's probably really cute when she's mad.* He blushed suddenly at the thought and looked away. He reached his hand up and scratched his head. "Um. Look, why don't you wait here until the party is over. It'd be hard to explain you to my family. It'll be over soon. Is that okay with you?"
She blinked a few times. *Why was he blushing before?* Her eyes fell to the floor almost at the same instant he looked away. "Milord, I will do anything you wish of me."
"Look, when it's just you and me, I'd prefer you call me Inu Yasha."
Kagome searched the carpeted floor for answers to the bevy of questions that were flooding her brain. *Why is he being so nice? Maybe, just maybe, he's not like Kouji at all.* She felt her tense muscles relax a little. "H-hai, Inu Yasha-sama."
He rolled his eyes. "No. Not 'Inu Yasha-sama.' Just Inu Yasha." He waited for her to say it. The neko hanyou continued to stare at the ground. It was then that he noticed she made little to no expression through her tail or her ears, and with her face as inexpressive as a rock, it made reading her very difficult. "Well? Say it." She remained silent. "Say my name!" He snapped as his frustration got the better of him.
"Inu Yasha!" She shouted back. "Are you happy now!?" She practically bit her own tongue off. *Bravo! You're in for it now!* She took a step backwards.
He was shocked at first, but he smiled. *There you are.* "Good." Was all he said, and he headed for the door. "I'll be back in a little bit, I can't take much more of this stinking party myself."
He closed the door and left her with her thoughts. *He didn't hit me, or correct me.* Her eyes were wide as she stared at the closed door. *Why do I feel so much more relaxed around him than everyone else?* She shook herself in an attempt to throw away the tension that had built up inside her. She sat down on the window sill. Her stomach suddenly protested to the lack of food, and she realized that she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and it was evening now. *He better not take too long, or I'll die of starvation.*
End Chapter 3.
Ack, sorry about the slight cliffhanger, but it's the only decent place I could think of to end the chapter. *dodges a keyboard* Sorry! I know IY is a little OOC too . But next chapter he will hopefully be VERY in character. I'm already working on it, so as you can see, my writer's block is pretty much gone! ^_^ Knock on Fox's head-I mean, wood!
Fox: Hey! Are you saying my head is made of wood?
Hama: Yes, yes I am.
Fox: That's mean. What'd I do to deserve that?
Hama: You were SUPPOSED to be helping me write waff and angst, but instead all you did was play with the cat!
Fox: Well look at him! He's just so cute and loveable! *Pets Narky, who purrs loudly*
Hama: Be still my heart. Nothing quite like a sexy guy coddling over something cute.
Fox: *looking up* What did you say?
Hama: *blush* I said I have to answer a couple reviews now...
Lianna: Thank you for understanding my plight. Unlike a certain person *cough* acidic green *cough* oh excuse me, I must have something caught in my throat. I hope you liked this chapter.
acidic green: Tap-dancing Christ on a cracker! You know what the problem is? I have this tricky little thing that happens. Lessie, what's it called again? Oh yeah, a life! I can't spend all my flipping time on the computer. Okay, I'm just pretending to be pissed off, but seriously, I had major writer's block. I actually wrote the first bit of this story on a whim, I honestly didn't think anyone would read it. So I got stuck. But now I have it outlined out so I shouldn't have that problem again. Just please be slightly more patient next time, okay? And the world does not revolve around you, it revolves around me! So there! ^_^
Thank you to everyone else for being so patient. *happy grin* now press that happy little purple buttony thingy and leave me a review, 'kay? PS: I miss Gogo!!
AN: *waving* Goodbye Writer's Block! I can't say that I enjoyed my stay. Hiya everyone! I'm back in angsty mode, which means that all you happy ppl get more story. Hazah! What did it? I'm not totally sure, but it probably had something to do with going to see Kill Bill twice in one weekend. It kicked ass!!! It's like a live action anime, with kick ass martial arts and sexy ppls (Mmm...Chiaki Kuriyama...) You're not supposed to take the gore seriously either, so don't. Anyway, enough about Kill Bill, and onto chapter 3! PS: I miss Gogo!!
Chapter 3: Hello
Kagome was granted a few days of rest to regain her strength and health. But afterward, Kouji worked her even harder, as if he was in a hurry to finish her training. On top of the sexual training (Ack!) he began instructing her in cooking and cleaning. She knew most of the cleaning already, and she was a fairly accomplished cook. But he didn't seem to want to take any chances, and forced her to go through the routines every day. He was even a little more messy than usual, just so she would have something to clean. This new teaching regiment afforded her the luxury of not being cooped up in the basement all day. He assigned her to clean the house, and then study cooking until he returned from work. He was particularly animate about her learning to cook ramen, real ramen, not the instant kind. Kagome found this a little strange, but she was not about to argue with him when it could cost her the freedom of having the whole house to herself.
The days may have been liberating, but the nights were still hell. After dinner, Kouji would lead the slave girl back into the basement for more intense training, as well as to shackle her to the wall for the night. A harrowing cycle of freedom and imprisonment. The whole situation was eating away at her very soul, and she was unsure of exactly how much more she could take.
She stared solemnly at the floor. It was probably about midnight, the room was pitch black. Her body ached from the fresh bruises and cuts that dappled her light skin. "No more..." she whispered to herself. "Please? No more." She felt hollow inside, devoid of all joy and happiness. Despair and pain filled the space instead. It felt as if she had been there for a lifetime, even if it was only a few months. She drew in a shaky, exhausted breath. Her nose wrinkled as it recognized the smell that turned her stomached. The stench of his pleasure was still thick on her hands and clothes. Tears clawed at the corners of her eyes, begging to be released. She rubbed them away. *I will not cry.* She promised herself.
This pain, and this lifestyle, was wearing her down. The bright flame that was once her spirit and soul, was now barely a flicker. She could see her wrists in the dim light, the life blood coursing through the veins, making them pulse gently. "No more." She whispered again. *He'll never touch me again. I can be free from this misery.* She grazed one claw along the length of her forearm experimentally. *All I have to do...* she held her breath and pressed the claw harder. A tiny red jewel formed at the puncture site. Wincing, she pressed harder into her wrist, and then began to cut down about three inches. The blood flowed evenly, warming the outer skin and staining her clothes as well as the floor. She quickly performed the same operation to the opposite arm.
Her work finished, she leaned back against the wall, hands palm up on her knees. *This will all be over soon.* She swallowed hard and tried to press down the fear that crept over her brain. *Just relax and let it happen.* Her mind fogged, consciousness fleeing her almost as quickly as the blood from her wrists.
~~~~~
"Hey." A low, soft voice whispered to her. "Where are you going?"
Kagome sat up and looked around. The sun was bright and warm, a gentle breeze played through her hair and over the thick grass. It sent a flurry of sakura blossoms from the tree she sat under. Her site focused on the figure in front of her.
"Where am I?" she asked aloud.
"A good place." He said. She couldn't see him. Well, she could, but not clearly, she could see his warm, comforting smile, and golden eyes alight with curiosity. Other than that, he was just a shadow. "Where are you going?" He asked again.
"I don't know what you mean." Her ears flattened a little in annoyance.
"You tried to leave. I saw you. But you can't go. You can't leave yet, he's going to bring you to me. So don't go, okay?"
"What are you talking about?" Frustration caused her tail to lash.
He pointed one clawed finger to her lap. She looked down and nearly screamed in horror. Her wrists were split open, not just cut. The flesh was sliced and peeled back, revealing shredded ligaments and bone. Gore and blood stained the blanket of silky pink flowers that surrounded her.
Her head snapped up to look into the eyes of the stranger. They were filled with fear and worry. "Please don't leave me." He begged her once more. His form began to retreat backwards, sliding away from her.
"Wait!" she cried. She tried to move, but she was frozen in place. Everything darkened, and she turned her eyes to the sky to see the sun red and dripping with blood. There was a ripping sound, and the tiny drip cascaded into a rushing waterfall of rich red fluid. It flooded the ground and engulfed the still frozen Kagome. *This sucks.* she thought as she slipped into deeper into darkness.
~~~~~
Several days later she awoke wrapped in warm, soft blankets. Her wrists itched a little bit, as she struggled to swim to the surface of consciousness. Something smelled unbelievably good. It reached through the murk and grabbed her mind, pulling her back into the real world. She cracked an eye open slightly. Her vision blurred, and then cleared to reveal that she was still in that putrid basement. But she was laying on a futon, with a heavy, warm blanket draped on top of her. Nearby was a tray, a bowl, spoon, and funnel type object with a tube, lay on top. She half sat up, fighting the wave of dizziness and nausea that enveloped her. But the coaxing smell of the food that lay on the tray chased away her sick feeling, and enticed her to sit up a little more.
"I'm glad you're awake." Kagome jumped at the voice. It was Kouji's, only the tone was not harsh or demeaning. It actually sounded concerned. Her eyes darted about the room in search of him. He was sitting across the room, near the foul cot. *He was watching over me?* "I must say I was pretty scared when I came down here in the morning to find you wallowing in a pool of your own blood." He rose, and walked toward her. He grabbed one of her wrists and showed her the scar. "But demon blood heals wounds quickly." He dropped her wrist and turned to grab the tray. "I didn't want to have to tube you again, it gets awfully messy. "
She cursed silently to herself. How could she forget that her wounds would heal so quickly? But she knew why. Never had she been so seriously wounded before, so she had nothing to compare the healing time to. She was jolted out of her thoughts by the bowl being roughly shoved into her hands, along with the spoon.
"Look, I don't want you to do that again." She looked up at him. His eyes were filled with worry, but they hardened at her gaze. "You...you were expensive." He walked briskly out the door, casting a relieved glance quickly at her before he disappeared.
Kagome felt nothing but bewilderment, for all of about two seconds. Her grumbling stomach shooed all questions of Kouji's behavior away. She looked at the bowl in her hands. It looked rather vile, a thick, steaming mass of brown goo. She sniffed at it, and her sensitive nose informed her that it was beef stew, but it had been pureed, probably for pouring down the tube. Her mind boiled with thoughts as she spooned the 'soup' into her mouth. The most profound was 'What now?' She had tried to take her own life. She felt despair for having failed, and disgust for ever believing she should give up so easily in the first place. Would he punish her? Surely not. He was smart enough to realize that punishment would probably result in her making another attempt on her life. *Maybe he'll go easier on me.* She frowned. *Stop that. You're only going to build yourself up to get knocked down again.*
She didn't know how long she had been sitting there, but when Kouji reappeared in the doorway, she realized it was dark outside. He unlocked her chains and handed her a fresh set of clothes. "The most physically intense training is over." He still seemed uneasy around her. "It's high time I taught you how to be seen in public. Get changed and come upstairs." With that, he left.
He took her shopping. Mostly they just walked around the shopping center, allowing her to piece together how she was to behave in a public place. If she made a mistake, she was punished with a low grade shock, just enough to make her wince in pain and try again. By the end of the night she was rather proficient at opening doors and waiting to be told when she could sit. He took her on several more outings, to the movies, restaurants, a few clubs. She behaved so well, he even bought her a few nice outfits, though she never saw them again.
Actually, I take it back. She did see them again, although not for a long time. It had been approximately six months since she first met that horrible man. She woke up to find not a bowl of cold gruel, but instead a tray full of actual food. Rice, miso soup, a glass of milk tea, and some pickled radish sat in front of her, steaming aromatically. Her eyes grew wide with excitement, but darted suspiciously around the room, as if searching for a trap. But nothing lent itself to such a notion, so she dug right in. She inhaled the rice and pickles, but savored the miso soup (oh man...that would be sooo good right now!) and the milk tea. She took her pills as well.
After finishing her first palatable meal since becoming a slave, she quietly began to ponder why she would receive such a gift. Her tail twitched as she thought, and she couldn't help but purr with the sensation of her stomach filled with comfort food. (I ALWAYS feel good after a bowl of miso soup...oh man, I could really go for a bowl right now) What was even stranger was that she woke up on her own, no shocking spray with the hose or kick in the stomach. She frowned. *What's going on?* Just then, the door creaked open, revealing a well dressed Kouji. Abruptly her purring ceased and her tail stilled.
"Oh good, you're awake. I'd hate to have had to get you up." *Something's weird...He's being nice.* He stepped over to her and began undoing her locks. "Alas, this is our last day together." He smiled at her, but her eyes were set on the ground. "After today, you'll belong to my cousin, Inu Yasha. You're his birthday present."
He finished with the locks and beckoned her to follow. *A new master?* She quietly pondered as she followed him through the house. *Inu Yasha...his cousin...I wonder if sadism is hereditary.* She frowned briefly. *What if he's worse?* He led her into the upstairs bathroom where Kagome nearly fell over in shock. A hot, fragrant bath was drawn. Hanging on a coat hanger on the towel rack was one of the outfits they had bought: a simple, but tasteful, light blue sundress. A pale yellow jacket, tights, undergarments, and a pair of nice shoes accompanied it. (she wore this outfit, or something like it, in one of the episodes, and I thought it looked really nice on her) Lined up along the edge of the bath was a variety of body washes, shampoos and conditioners. The vanity counter had a number of combs and hair accessories, as well as a hair dryer and brush. She turned to him, shocked.
"Mi-lord?"
Kouji coughed. "Well, I can't present you looking..." he wrinkled his nose. "Or smelling like that. So take the bath, get prettied up, and come downstairs when you're finished." He walked out of the bathroom, pulling the door shut as he did. "Oh, and don't dilly dally, we have to be there by 2:00." The door closed.
Kagome let her jaw drop, and then turned eagerly back to the bath. She wasted no time in stripping of her rank slave clothes and slipping into the warm, inviting water. She lazed there for a few minutes, letting the sweet scents calm her churning thoughts, and the gentle caress of the water wash away the tension in her body. Her thoughts drifted like the soap bubbles on the surface of the water. She was hit with a wave of nostalgia when they arrived on the subject of her family. *I wonder what they're doing now? Do they know what happened to me?* She frowned as she recalled her capture. She had gone hunting, and foolishly forgot to check the date. *I couldn't do anything to stop it...* She shook the thoughts from her head. *No, don't pity yourself, it never gets you anywhere.* Grabbing a bottle of shampoo, she pushed her thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand, becoming presentable.
------------------
They arrived at the medium sized building. It was one of those kind that was rented out for private functions. There were several cars already parked in the lot. Kagome fought to keep from shaking. In the next few hours, her life would change once more, and the uncertainty whether it was a good or bad change made her blood run cold. Kouji led her to the entrance. He granted her the dignity of not wearing a leash, as normal slaves wore, but she still had her collar locked to her neck, and he still had the remote in his possession. She shifted her bag slightly. The smallish yellow pack carried the few clothes he bought her, and her medication.
"You best behave." He threatened her quietly as they climbed the stairs. "I don't want to be embarrassed by having to correct you in the middle of the party."
Kagome mentally scowled, flirting her tail in annoyance. They were greeted at the door by a tall, handsome looking man. Kagome's breathe caught in her throat when she saw him. *A demon? A full demon?* He had long, silky white hair that drifted almost to his knees. Beneath his former attire, she could tell that his was lean and solidly built. She let her eyes focus on his face for only a brief moment before they rested on his shoes. He had a fairly effeminate face, marked by purple stripes on either side, and a dark crescent moon on his forehead. His golden eyes glared critically at her.
"Kouji." His voice was deep and eternal. "This is the slave?" though surprise tinted his voice, his expression remained unchanged.
"Yes Sesshoumaru-san." Kouji seemed almost as nervous as Kagome.
"A hanyou? That's...unusual." He stepped backwards and waved his arm in two directions. "The party is through there. Gifts go in that room."
"Thank you Sesshoumaru-san." He headed for the door leading to the party. Kagome bowed politely to the dog demon and followed.
"Kouji." Both froze at Sesshoumaru's call. "Did I not just tell you that gifts are to be stored in there?" there was a low, almost imperceptible growl to his voice. "That." He pointed to her. "Does not need to be seen."
Kagome's temper flared like the sun. She bit her cheek to keep from chewing the demon out right then and there. *He just referred to me as an object!? That bastard!*
Kouji hesitated for a moment before nodding and leading her to the separate room. "Of coarse, I should have been more perceptive." He was talking to himself, more than to Kagome. "They wouldn't be able to overlook the fact that you're part demon, what was I thinking? They'd have been pissed at me." He opened the door to the room. "Get it, and don't mess anything up." He shoved her through the door. "Don't even think of trying to escape either."
*Well duh!* she thought angrily to herself as she settled down for a long wait.
"I have a very special gift for you, cousin." Kouji grinned at Inu Yasha.
He forced a curious smile. "Oh, really? This wouldn't be like that stack of pornography you gave my for my eighteenth, would it?"
Kouji laughed at the memory. "Oh no, I think you'll find this gift to be much more intriguing than that." He opened the door of the smaller room, revealing nothing but darkness. He grumbled in annoyance, searching the wall for a light switch. His frustration grew when he found none. "Don't play games with me, turn on the lights before I have to use this." He held up the remote to add to the threat.
Kagome paused for a moment, frozen by what she saw. The darkness had no effect on her ability to see the two figures in the doorway, even backlit by the bright light in the hall. Kouji was not the shock, obviously, it was the hanyou that stood next to him. Her heart skipped a few beats. His elegant, silvery hair flowed like water down his shoulders past the small of his back. His white, pointed ears twitched this way and that, listening to the sounds of the room. He snapped his head in her direction as his ears focused on some sound, probably her racing heart beat. His golden eyes searched the darkness for her form. She had to suppress the urge to crouch down and avoid being seen, but he had already heard, and probably smelled her.
"I mean it." Kouji growled.
She snapped out of her thoughts. Silently, she stalked around to where they were standing, sticking like glue to the shadows. The other hanyou followed her every move, no doubt he could already see her. She couldn't tear her eyes away from his hypnotic gaze. Unaware to the weaker human, she was standing right next to them. Slowly she reached up and placed a hand on the light switch. Her eyes quickly lowering, she flicked the lights on.
Kouji jumped when he found her standing not more than a foot away. Inu Yasha blinked several times as his eyes adjusted. His breath caught in his throat when he finally got a clear view of the girl standing in front of them. *A hanyou.* He fought the blush that tried to color his cheeks. She was one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever laid eyes on. His heart skipped a few beats as he drank her in with his eyes. Her black, silky hair, the cute feline ears that twitched this way and that, her elegant tail. Her skin was smooth and her body perfectly curved. The mere fact that they were both half breeds gave him an instantaneous feeling of kinship with her. He struggled for a moment to re-mask his emotions.
"What're you playing matchmaker now?" He tried to sound smug. Something bothered him about the way the girl stood though, it lacked confidence, self, spirit.
Kouji laughed. "No, my friend. I present you with your new slave, personally trained by me."
Shock and horror flickered across his face. "What?"
Kouji handed him the remote. "She's belongs to you. I've already dealt with the ownership transfer papers."
He took the remote robotically, glaring at it as if it were a blood engorged mosquito. *A hanyou as a slave? What the fuck was he thinking!?* It took all his will power to remain in character. He smirked. "Personally trained, ne? Marvelous. I bet it was a lot of fun." An annoyed growl tinged his voice, but Kouji read it as a happy sound.
The human laughed. "She certainly gave me my money's worth. We got there in the end."
Inu Yasha noticed the girl's ear twitch, and her tail bristled ever so slightly. Hatred entangled itself in her scent. He cast her a sympathetic glance, one she never read because her eyes seemed to be super-glued to the ground. Anger and pity welled up inside him. "Thank you, cousin. I'll enjoy her thoroughly." He put a hand on Kouji's shoulder and led him out the door. "Why don't you go back to the party. I want to..." he glanced back at the girl. "Get better acquainted."
Kouji smirked and chuckled maliciously. "I understand." He nudged Inu Yasha in the side before turning to head back to the loud room down the hall.
Inu Yasha rolled his eyes. *Let him think what he wants.* He went back into the room and closed the door. He swallowed hard as the looked to the slave girl once more.
Kagome fought hard to keep from shaking. Did he really plan on taking her right then and there? She winced when she felt his eyes on her.
"Um, so what's your name?"
She almost jumped out of her skin. "Kagome, milord." She answered, still gazing at the ground, unmoving.
"Kagome." He tried it out. He liked that name. "Look at me." He told her. She did as she was told, though her eyes did not meet his, the way they had in the dark. "Look me in the eye." She shifted her weight nervously, before her warm brown eyes finally managed to meet his golden ones. His heart fluttered again. There was a hidden spirit inside those dark pools. But it had been beaten into submission. He secretly wished he could bring the fire out again, he wanted to see what she was like when she acted normally. *She's probably really cute when she's mad.* He blushed suddenly at the thought and looked away. He reached his hand up and scratched his head. "Um. Look, why don't you wait here until the party is over. It'd be hard to explain you to my family. It'll be over soon. Is that okay with you?"
She blinked a few times. *Why was he blushing before?* Her eyes fell to the floor almost at the same instant he looked away. "Milord, I will do anything you wish of me."
"Look, when it's just you and me, I'd prefer you call me Inu Yasha."
Kagome searched the carpeted floor for answers to the bevy of questions that were flooding her brain. *Why is he being so nice? Maybe, just maybe, he's not like Kouji at all.* She felt her tense muscles relax a little. "H-hai, Inu Yasha-sama."
He rolled his eyes. "No. Not 'Inu Yasha-sama.' Just Inu Yasha." He waited for her to say it. The neko hanyou continued to stare at the ground. It was then that he noticed she made little to no expression through her tail or her ears, and with her face as inexpressive as a rock, it made reading her very difficult. "Well? Say it." She remained silent. "Say my name!" He snapped as his frustration got the better of him.
"Inu Yasha!" She shouted back. "Are you happy now!?" She practically bit her own tongue off. *Bravo! You're in for it now!* She took a step backwards.
He was shocked at first, but he smiled. *There you are.* "Good." Was all he said, and he headed for the door. "I'll be back in a little bit, I can't take much more of this stinking party myself."
He closed the door and left her with her thoughts. *He didn't hit me, or correct me.* Her eyes were wide as she stared at the closed door. *Why do I feel so much more relaxed around him than everyone else?* She shook herself in an attempt to throw away the tension that had built up inside her. She sat down on the window sill. Her stomach suddenly protested to the lack of food, and she realized that she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and it was evening now. *He better not take too long, or I'll die of starvation.*
End Chapter 3.
Ack, sorry about the slight cliffhanger, but it's the only decent place I could think of to end the chapter. *dodges a keyboard* Sorry! I know IY is a little OOC too . But next chapter he will hopefully be VERY in character. I'm already working on it, so as you can see, my writer's block is pretty much gone! ^_^ Knock on Fox's head-I mean, wood!
Fox: Hey! Are you saying my head is made of wood?
Hama: Yes, yes I am.
Fox: That's mean. What'd I do to deserve that?
Hama: You were SUPPOSED to be helping me write waff and angst, but instead all you did was play with the cat!
Fox: Well look at him! He's just so cute and loveable! *Pets Narky, who purrs loudly*
Hama: Be still my heart. Nothing quite like a sexy guy coddling over something cute.
Fox: *looking up* What did you say?
Hama: *blush* I said I have to answer a couple reviews now...
Lianna: Thank you for understanding my plight. Unlike a certain person *cough* acidic green *cough* oh excuse me, I must have something caught in my throat. I hope you liked this chapter.
acidic green: Tap-dancing Christ on a cracker! You know what the problem is? I have this tricky little thing that happens. Lessie, what's it called again? Oh yeah, a life! I can't spend all my flipping time on the computer. Okay, I'm just pretending to be pissed off, but seriously, I had major writer's block. I actually wrote the first bit of this story on a whim, I honestly didn't think anyone would read it. So I got stuck. But now I have it outlined out so I shouldn't have that problem again. Just please be slightly more patient next time, okay? And the world does not revolve around you, it revolves around me! So there! ^_^
Thank you to everyone else for being so patient. *happy grin* now press that happy little purple buttony thingy and leave me a review, 'kay? PS: I miss Gogo!!