Disclaimer: Nope no Inuyasha here (obviously). Too bad isn't it though, so many possibilities...


A/N: OMG I'm real sorry bout not posting when I said I would but I had a soccer tournament in Hayward this weekend and my comp was too slow by the time I had finished that I didn't have time to post it my dad was yellin at me from the car the whole time so I had to leave. I'm sorry I hope y'alls don't go and lose interest in my story that would really suck but anyways to make up for it I should be posting another chapter or two on Tuesday and this one is rather long. Ok go read and REVIEW. C Ya







Twisted Love


Chapter Three


Cuts and Kisses







The mist cleared slowly and Kagome looked towards Sango who was still standing stock still her mouth hanging open. She trudged over to her slightly bewildered. She clasped the envelope in her hand her knuckles white with fear doing all she could to keep herself from crushing the smooth paper. Sango stared at the flimsy paper in Kagome's hand as frightened of it as Kagome had been of the cloaked woman.

They picked up the packages quickly and silently the envelope never leaving Kagome's. Wrapping the spilled contents back up they shoved them into the saddlebags along with the letter. They road back in silence again Kagome worrying about her dinner with the Lord. She didn't want him to try anything again she just couldn't handle things like that happening again and again like they had been. She had to make them stop somehow and soon. She was glad of one thing at least she had had Sango to help her with her work today otherwise she would've had to make four trips instead of the measly two that she'd made today and she didn't think she could've lived through that cloaked figure's visit if she hadn't had Sango there with her.

When they arrived back at the estate it was rather dark and almost completely black inside the stable. They took out the packages carefully. Kagome looked for the letter but couldn't find it. She took the packages into the kitchen then she and Sango searched through the saddlebags a second time. They found nothing and Kagome was panicking by now but Sango promised her that they would come back and look tomorrow.

They left the stables quickly as if to forget the entire incident with Sesshoumaru's letter. Unknown to them it lay directly under their noses in the hay. The darted away from the doors as Sango closed them with a loud crash, covering the letter with an abundance of hay.

Back in the kitchen Sango and Kagome began unwrapping the packages and stuffing them away in their little cubbyholes. Miroku joined them when they were halfway through being finished with his job of cleaning the stable and the upstairs portion of the large mansion. With his help the job was finished in no time. They started on the laundry each carrying a large basket overflowing with clothes. Carrying them outside to the river that ran by the outskirts of the Lord's estate. Unloading the baskets they let the contents spill out onto the grass taking garments one by one and dunking them into the clear cold water of the river. Sango and Kagome start to washing them covering them in soap and lathering them up. Miroku only sat by Sango handing her the soap when she needed it. Somewhat lazy on his part but then he had finished his own work. Rinsing her garment slowly in the water Kagome realized that she still needed to get ready for her dinner with Lord Sesshoumaru. She bade Sango and Miroku a fond farewell as if it were the last night of her life.

"Good luck holding him down." Sango called out to her as she hurried away.

"Yeah right." Kagome's reply came back swift and as sarcastic as ever.

"So..." Sango started but closed her mouth quickly as she felt Miroku's hand sliding up her leg. She liked the feeling of his hands on her legs and she relaxed under his touch he scooted closer to her taking her silence as an invitation to move in. He ran a hand down her back. Sango could feel him getting lower and lower, he had such a delicate touch, such fluid movements. Wait what was she thinking? This was Miroku here, who knew what he was planning on getting away with and now look how far she'd already let him go. One, two, three. She counted to herself. Eight, nine, ten. Alright time was up. She grabbed the offending hand stood up quickly and twisted it around his back. Once she had surprised him she balled her hand into a tight fist and struck him a soft blow to the head.

"Oww! Now that wasn't nice, now was it. Lead some one on like that what did you expect." He rubbed his head ruefully as she shook her own head back at his antics.

She pushed him to the ground falling on top of him as he grabbed her arm to stop himself from falling. She landed smack dab on top of him their lips touching slightly. She looked into his eyes. Strange, she'd never seen anything like that before. She thought to herself as she noticed the feelings scrambling to hide themselves in futile efforts for she could clearly see through any if his defenses just by looking into those eyes of his. She let her lips linger on his for a few minutes before jumping up off him almost tripping back over him as she tried to steady herself. She helped him up looking down at her feat to conceal the tinge of red that flushed across her cheeks.

They sat in silence for a while, while she continued to wash the garments that were laid out beside her placing the clean ones on the opposite side of her. Finally she broke the silence as she voiced her worries about Kagome and Sesshoumaru's dinner.

"You don't think he'll try anything do you?" She asked nervously after she had relayed the entire story to him in short edited version. "I hope he doesn't because I know she won't stand for it and I can't bear to have the poor girl beaten up again."

"You're right Sango, she would go totally ballistic on him but I'm afraid he will try something. Why else would he even want to have dinner with her and no one else." He looked rather troubled by this and she hoped that it wasn't just because he was losing his chance at a pretty girl. That would be more like him than worrying over her safety.

"I just hope Inuyasha doesn't find out then he'd lapse into that 'I'm not jealous I'm only frustrated with her it just looks like I am because you're not smart enough to tell the difference' mood of his. And that always seems to break Kagome's heart."

"Inuyasha...?" Miroku questioned quietly.

"Yeah you know medium height, white hair, funny ears. Inuyasha."

"Oh, you mean Kagome's been seeing Sesshoumaru's brother this whole time?"

Sango stared at him for several minutes before the realization dawned on her. "Whoa, whoa. You're telling me that Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru are brothers. Poor Kagome what has that damn Lord gotten her into now." Again she'd said his name as an insult. That filthy bastard how could he do this to Kagome. And if Inuyasha found out, there would be hell to pay she was sure of it. "I have to tell her." She started to rise only to be jerked back none too gently by an urgent hand from Miroku.

"I can't let you tell her. I'm sorry but you have to know if either of them find out about this one of them will end up dead and I'd rather not have Sesshoumaru be the one to survive. We should wait until he sets his sights on some one other than Kagome before you start blabbering things to her."

"You're probably right." She admitted evenly. "But how did you know they were brothers?"

He looked at her with bemused look. She was so clueless sometimes. "I was here back then long before Kikyo even came into the picture. The Lord Sesshoumaru was much more docile then and he and his little brother had been on the best terms. But then that bitch Kikyo had to come along and backstab them one by one. You'd think Sesshoumaru would have learned his lesson the first time I can't believe he let her come back. Welcoming her with open arms yet refusing to even listen to his brother. And then she went and left him to follow that strange presence she could supposedly always 'feel'. Ever since then the Lord and Inuyasha have been like bitter enemies only the fact that their father would resent their acts keeps them from clawing each other's throats out."

"Wow I never even knew he had a brother let a lone someone like Inuyasha. They're like complete opposites, ya know." She stared off into space absently.

Miroku tried to read her expression as she pretended to study the grass around her. A slight frown pulled at the corners of her mouth. She shifted as if remembering something painful. He leaned over to her taking her hand as he realized why she was worried. He put a hand on her back softly feeling the scarred skin beneath not daring to move it knowing that the memory of those beatings was enough with out adding to it.

"You remember what he did to us the second time Kikyo betrayed him for Inuyasha don't you." He tightened his arm around her as he felt her tense, a wave of shivers coursing through her body. Those beatings had lasted for hours at a time and had continued for days. Old wounds bursting open with fresh pain because they hadn't had the time to heal. If Sango had been there the first time it happened she would have seen the old Lord Sesshoumaru, the one with feelings, the one that had cried his eyes dry over Kikyo's disturbing betrayal. But he was different now and Kagome would get a beating much worse if he found out people were betraying him with Inuyasha again.

"I can't let that kind of thing happen to Kagome. She's so young, so innocent. How can he even think of hurting her like that." She was close to tears. Missing seeing her brother, worrying about Kagome, and those old memories of the Lords beatings were getting to her. Too much for her to handle.

Miroku risked being slapped reaching across her front to wrap her in a tight embrace. He felt her tense slightly before turning to face him and melting into his arms. He held her close to him the warmth of her body giving him courage. "Don't worry Sango, we're not going to let him hurt Kagome and Inuyasha. Just trust that Kagome doesn't make a wrong move. We can protect her." She reciprocated his embrace squeezing him tightly for a moment before relaxing. It was enough for her to be in his arms. "I hope we can."


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Kagome scrutinized the loose purple gown that fell to her ankles. It would do nicely; too loose to show anything. As if Sesshoumaru needed anything like that. She'd had enough of his bulging eyes that night he'd come in on her when she was wearing her blatantly revealing nightgown. No need to entice him, he wasn't Inuyasha and he wasn't worth it. Disgusted she turned towards the door. The Lord would be here soon and she was no where near ready. She couldn't pull it off. How many times had she and Sango gone over this? All she had to do was ignore his come-ons, but faced with a thoroughly painful whipping and those strangely familiar piercing gold eyes of his she knew she was going to have problems.

A knock on her door shattered the silence in her room. "Just a sec." She called out to the door. She walked over to it slowly making sure he outfit covered every inch of her. Opening the door slowly she almost jumped thinking it was Inuyasha but as her eyes began to register the familiar hair and that tail, of course it was Sesshoumaru. She stepped out closing her door softly behind her. She took his arm as though touching something dirty. Looking at him she studied his appearance, his long white locks of hair flowing down and dropping back behind him dangling to his waist, his tail draped over his shoulder. She admitted to herself that he looked rather handsome, nothing compared to her own Inuyasha. She dismissed those thoughts as he escorted her through the thick double doors at the end of the hall and into the dining room.

The table was set out romantically, fine china and candles illuminating the darkness that encroached upon it. Too bad Inuyasha wasn't here. She thought fervently. This would have been nice to have shared with him, but then he wasn't here and it was Sesshoumaru's arm she was clutching. Sad.

It was all elegant and dashing just as Sesshoumaru appeared but she wasn't as easily fooled as that. She could recognize his ploy to capture her heart. Too late she thought valiantly, it was already taken.

He led her to a chair, pulling it out courteously and waiting for her to be seated before pushing it in. He took a seat across from her the candle's light making his eyes glow eerily. "Nice isn't it." He commented gesturing towards the table.

"Yes I suppose it is. I've never seen it so beautifully laid out." She didn't think talking about the table was all that dangerous, unless he took that as a complement to himself. But she was sure he hadn't lifted a finger in doing any of this. No harm done in answering simple questions as long as she avoided eye contact, and any other contact for that matter.

"I'm hungry." He announced randomly. Kagome looked towards him unsure of what to do before she realized he wasn't talking to her. Too many years of waiting on people, she thought to herself.

He raised his hands above his head looking towards the kitchen doors. He clapped them together twice rather loudly. "Shippou can you please hurry the young lady and I are starving." Turning back to Kagome he laughed cruelly. "Hard to find good help these days."

She cringed. This could only get worse. She watched the kitchen doors as the opened to reveal a worried looking Shippou, arms laden with plates carefully balanced so as not to spill anything. He carried the plates over to the table setting one in front of each of them. He offered them a crisp freshly baked roll to eat with their salad. Kagome took one with out a second thought knowing Shippou's rolls were the best she'd ever eaten and rarely having the chance to eat one otherwise. They ate in silence Sesshoumaru attempting to catch Kagome's eye but she was too busy looking down at her plate trying her hardest to eat politely rather than shoveling down the mountain of fresh vegetables in front of her. She hadn't eaten anything this fresh for a long time. Once in a while if she was lucky Shippou was able to steel a few scrumptious morsels. This was the first time since she'd left her family that she actually got to enjoy her food like this.

Once they'd finished their salads they awaited the main coarse that Shippou would undoubtedly be bringing now that the Lord had called him several times already.

"How was the market today?" Sesshoumaru asked as Shippou brought in plates of chicken parmesan.

"Busy." She replied curtly. She waited for Shippou to serve her a heaping plate of chicken and noodles smothering it with marinara. He was an excellent cook and there was no doubt that this was one of his better dishes if Sesshoumaru had had him make it for their dinner. She ate it slowly savoring the taste.

"Good isn't it." Sesshoumaru noted how much she was enjoying it. "It's one of his better dishes. You know even though he is a little slow on the uptake I do believe he is a rather skilled cook."

"Yes he is a wonderful cook." She chose to ignore the comment on his intelligence. "You're lucky to have this kind of food everyday." Her voice was full of spite as she practically spit out the last statement.

He dismissed her sarcasm as though he hadn't heard it. "Sango wasn't mad about having to waste her day off was she? She didn't seem all that down and out. She looked rather happy when I saw her doing the laundry with you and Miroku. He did finish his work didn't he?"

"Yes I believe he did. And he was kind enough to help us with our work so Sango wouldn't be out there until tomorrow morning waiting for those clothes to dry." Some how he came off as more than cruel as he began to chastise her friends. It was hard for her to be so rude when she knew she'd only be hurting herself; anything she said to him would only make him mad but in no way would he give up at this rate.

He finished his meal after a few more attempts at a longer conversation which Kagome promptly slaughtered almost before they'd even left his mouth. He scooted his chair around the table so that it was closer to hers. Now would be the perfect time to make his move, over dessert.

Shippou walked in to discover that the Lord and Kagome were now seated much closer to each other or maybe it was only that the Lord had moved closer to her it didn't look like she had moved. Poor Kagome he thought to himself remembering how he had longed for his own love several times when Sesshoumaru had made it impossible for him to see her. But it was worse for Kagome he supposed adding Sesshoumaru's unwanted advances to her lack of free time. He noticed the pleading look she gave him as he cleared their plates and left them each with a slice of bilberry pie.

Kagome was starting to get nervous as Sesshoumaru continued to move closer and closer to her. She felt claustrophobic in his overbearing presence. She couldn't just get up and leave like she wished she could. She wanted to run but that would only improve her chances of getting a serious beating, maybe she could stay and weather this out.

He almost had her. Just a little bit closer. He scooted his chair a few inches more in the direction of Kagome. There, now she wouldn't be able to move away in order to avoid him. Pretending to eat his pie he waited for the perfect moment. He watched he eating taking small bites smiling warmly as she continued to consume the little portion making it last as long as she could. She took a sip of wine to wash the crumbs from her mouth. She drank slowly but in large gulps the liquid sliding down her throat. This was it.

She set down her glass. That pie was delicious she had to remember to tell Shippou that he was always doubting his cooking skills. She turned her head to Sesshoumaru to make sure he was still eating. She had barely turned her head to face him when his lips collided with hers. She was repulsed, he'd caught her off guard and she'd been so careful up until now. She closed her teeth tightly almost lopping off the end of his tongue to denying him entrance into her mouth. She was so shocked she couldn't bring herself to move away from him, but as he himself began to pull away her shock turned to anger. As their lips parted he backed away slowly the corners of his mouth hiding a ruthless smile. She stared at him for a few seconds as her anger boiled up inside her. She couldn't hold him back. It was her turn to shock him. She raised her hand and back handed him sharply the sound echoing loudly through the spacious dining hall. Too late she realized that she had just put the whip in his hands and asked for a good flogging. She could see his face redden in anger his gold eyes flaring as though fueled by an unseen fire. She scooted back to escape his rage almost falling off her chair as it crashed to the floor.

"How dare you!" He couldn't bring himself to shout at her and it took all he had not to scream at her until he was blue in the face. Instead he spoke forcefully his voice heavy with anger as he all but hissed at her. "Go. Go to your quarters now. I'll deal with you tomorrow. Sleep soundly until then because I don't believe you'll be able to sleep very well for a long time after tomorrow."

She huddled low scuttling towards the doors. She knew how angry he was and in this kind of mood she didn't know what he was capable of and she wasn't going to stay to find out. She slid out of the doors closing them quickly as she hurried down the hall to her quarters. She could hear things banging against walls as the whole mansion shook with his anger.

This was too much for him. Who did that little bitch think she was raising a hand to him like that? It wasn't even that she had hurt him so much but more that she had severely injured his precious pride. He was furious, throwing chairs allover the room ramming his fists into the wall. Luckily he was able to hold his temper the bulk of his fury could have obliterated the entire house to dust. He couldn't understand why he'd been able to hold in his anger. With Kikyo's betrayal he'd destroyed half a city but somehow even through his rage he was able to control his anger. Something was wrong with him. But he could fix that after he'd beaten the pulp out of that foolish girl.


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Kagome closed the door to her room. Now she'd done it; there'd be cuts allover her back by tomorrow morning. Sesshoumaru wasn't the type to be sympathetic so she'd still have to do all her work that day. She'd made it up in her mind that she would go and see Inuyasha whether ot not Sesshoumaru allowed it. She needed to get rid of that filthy taste on her lips she needed her hanyou. Inuyasha always made things better for her.

She crawled under the covers not even bothering to change out of her dress. Sleep came quickly and lovingly cradling her in her arms through the night keeping her dreams sweet and free from nightmares until the sun began to rise invading the moment.


She woke rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Blissfully unaware of anything until she heard the sound of the beckoning bell. It hit her rather hard as she rose to Sesshoumaru's call. Again she didn't bother changing out of the wretched dress it would be covered in blood by the time he finished anyway why dirty a new outfit.

She followed the sound of the bell down the corridor, and out through the back door. She could see him standing there the whip held tightly in his hands. Usually a smile graced his face but today there was not a trace of a smile nor a hint of enjoyment. He leaned against a block of wood covered in more gashes then Kagome's back. He motioned for her to come forward as he backed away from the block to stand a few feet away back from it. She knew the drill. Walking up to the block she leaned over it pulling her hair down to hang by her face exposing her back. She waited for the imminent beating that was sure to ensue.

Sesshoumaru stood raising the whip high and cracking it down as it cut her dress and skin. He never missed after long years of practice he'd become very skilled. His whip raked through the air whistling along and then snap. Kagome's face screwed up in pain but through the whole ordeal she didn't make a sound. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of hearing her defeat. He stopped abruptly his arm almost in mid swing. A deep sigh escaped his lips. "You are free to go but I expect you to complete all your work for today. Move along now, I don't have time for you to skulk."

She rose and headed back to the house biting back remarks that would undoubtedly end in more pain.

Sesshoumaru watched her walk off her back obviously burning with fresh cuts. He hadn't enjoyed this as much as he usually did, as much as he hoped he would have. Something had to be wrong with him he couldn't bring himself to hate that despicable girl. He couldn't put a finger on it but something was keeping him from hurting her as much as he wanted to.


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Kagome lay on Sango's bed her bareback exposed as her friend bandaged her wrapping her all the way around her middle. She'd already washed her cuts and cleansed them neatly accompanied with several of Kagome's sour moans. By now she was just finishing wrapping her up.

"I don't understand it was like he just stopped right in the middle of the beating and told me to go. This time I barely lasted for fifteen minutes usually it lasts for twenty-five minutes. Something must've been wrong with him." Kagome tried to explain why her beating was so short but she herself couldn't figure out why he'd just stopped as suddenly as he had. It puzzled her. If anything she would have thought today's beating would have been longer than usual.

Sango was still debating over telling her about what Miroku had said even though she knew she couldn't tell her and she wouldn't. She paused before contemplating what Kagome had said wondering herself why the Lord had chosen to end it so early. "I don't know why he would have done something like that. He can sometimes be unpredictable but after the wreck he made of the dining room I wouldn't be surprised if he'd beat you unconscious. You're lucky he didn't."

"I know. But then I wouldn't be able to finish my chores and that would defeat the whole purpose. It's not enough that he beats you he has to make you feel the pain over and over again. If you didn't then it just wouldn't be fulfilling for him." She didn't think that he would ever have beaten her as bad as Sango suggested even knowing how angry he had been last night.

"Maybe you're right. But I wouldn't count on it too heavily if I were you. One of these days he's likely to snap." She finished up the last of the wrapping. "Alright Kagome. Right as rain as long as you don't go picking at them again."

"But they itch sometimes just every so annoyingly." She replied in a mockingly pathetic whine.

"Off with you now maybe if you finish your work you can go and visit with Inuyasha." She called after her as she rushed out the door eager to start at the prospect of a chance to see the young hanyou.


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Kagome wandered off into the forest. She'd finished all her chores that day including serving Sesshoumaru his lunch, grooming the horses and cleaning the rest of the house in order to see Inuyasha. She hadn't met the Lord's eyes the whole day afraid of the cruel heated anger that would force itself out of them to harm her, still afraid he hadn't quite vented all of his anger. She traipsed through the woods the trees looming darkly over her head. When she reached the clearing she noticed that a note had been stuck to the largest tree by an arrow. On it Inuyasha had scribbled out a message that he would be at the Lady Kaede's fixing a stubborn fence that refused to stand up. She hurried through the woods to find a separate path that led to Kaede's.

Reaching the edge of the forest she followed the path through a flowery meadow until she could see her old friend standing along the side of her house. She reaches her giving her a warm hug. "I haven't seen you in a while, my sweet child. How are thee doing as of late." She gave her a welcoming smile.

"It's wonderful to see you again. I'm doing wonderful how are you? Oh and have you seen Inuyasha?" The words spilled from her mouth in a jumble it's a wonder the Lady Kaede understood half of what she said.

"I'm fine child. He's over there fixing that blasted fence." She pointed across the meadow to Inuyasha's bent form. He had his bare back to them glistening with sweat in the afternoon sun his haori hanging down about his waist. His arm muscles bulged as he lifted the pieces of the fence forcing them back together, as he nailed them to each other his hammer moving quickly, continuously. As soon as he was ready to move on to the next section he turned slightly catching a glimpse of Kagome. He rushed over to them taking Kagome up into a tight embrace his hands clutching her body close to him as he tightens his arms around her. Pain lashes through her body as his hands seem to sear her flesh the new cuts on her back burning in agony even through the bandages.



A/N: I hope this extra long chapter makes up for all the time it took especially since I didn't post it right when it was finished. Anyways REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW and I'll write write write. Like I said I should have the next chappie up a lot sooner than this one gotta go now Ciao.

Oh yeah the next chappie-Forgotten Memories (Lot's a flashbacks in this one folks)