In Terms of a Shadow

Part II

Author: profiler120

Email: profiler120@hotmail.com

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Romance/Angst

Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome

Summary: How dare he? He'd bought her, the jerk! Paid off her mother *knowing* she couldn't refuse the money and all he wanted in return was to marry her daughter. It sounded innocent - it wasn't. If that wasn't bad enough her betrothed was a beautiful, but heartless man who had no interest in her and regarded her, loosely, as his property.

Author's Note: (...) Watch for p.o.v. changes, they will be infrequent, but important.

taskinLUDE - I haven't really thought out a 'timeframe' for it. This was originally a modern fic - hence the toothpaste reference (I wondered if anyone would mention it. I just liked it so much I left it in, even though since I changed the timeframe it is historically incorrect.)

The time frame is in the "past". Vague, yes.

ParanoidNovice - 'Half-done', sorry that confused you. I was referring to the status of the chapter I was working on as 'half done'. As for chapters *shrugs*, I don't know how many are left.

Alia - 'Highly unlikely' you think? No offense taken, I am appreciative of your honesty. ^_^

sesshyangel - I hadn't really thought about it until you mentioned it. I only used Sango at all since she was convenient at the moment. But since you've drawn attention to, no, Sango and Kagome will not be the predictable maid/mistress friend combo. She'll be around though, probably a very minor character now that I think about it. Miroku too, if I think to add him somewhere.

Bikutoria - If you're interested in Nozhazuma's story, you can go ahead and read it. Her story and my own aren't that alike, they were more alike before but then I saw another fic at ff.net that was similar (I thought) to this one, so I had to tweak the entire concept. Ah, thank you so much for pointing out the "Kagome" thing. I missed that one. I catch myself switching back to 3rd person if I'm not careful.

Lunch. Ooooh. Not awe-inspiring. Not unless the stoic prince you were marrying was there followed by a female entourage. Even then, 'awe-inspiring' wasn't the phrase I'd use, I thought bitterly. Maybe I was jealous staring at women more beautiful than myself. Maybe I was jealous that he seemed to be paying them *some* attention, while he ignored me. Maybe I just felt bitchy, who could say?

It was probably just going to be a lousy day I thought testily looking up as the doors slid open and a group of men walked in.

Amend that, I thought, it's going to be an awful day. I was more than surprised when the group positioned themselves around me as though I were one of those beautiful women sitting with Sesshoumaru when I knew such wasn't true. So, what was up with this?

"You must be the lovely Kagome-sama."

I glanced to the owner of the voice meeting bright blue eyes. "Who are you?"

He grinned predatorily. "I am Kouga. Anyway, I figure you had to be Kagome because you simply aren't beautiful enough to be a courtesan."

I felt my patience slip. We - Kouga and I were not going to get along. Not until he learned his place, I thought. I'd teach him to talk down to me, he had no idea what he was in for.

"Kouga, you say?"

He nodded affirmatively.

"Well, *Kouga*, you're not really one to talk about looks."

The others gasped. He stared at me a minute before breaking into a chuckle throwing an arm around my shoulder and pulling me against his chest. "I like you."

"I don't like you, hands off!" I snapped, pushing him away. "Don't make me have to tell you twice!"

The others were paying a great deal of attention to the situation unfolding in front of them, I noted. Especially Sesshoumaru, his eyes were glued to us. I thought briefly about trying to cozy up to the annoying 'Kouga' male, but quickly cut off the thought. I wouldn't debase myself, and certainly not with a ruffian like Kouga.

He backed off a little, but pestered me through the rest of lunch. I continued to scowl at him, but by the time the hour was up, I was actually beginning to warm to him. He was endearing in little ways and I couldn't help but smile at some of his comments. Despite his loud mouth and overly touchy ways he was quite insightful.

The others slowly trickled away leaving only Kouga and me. We were, interestingly enough, discussing local legends. Somehow we'd ended up talking about the Shikon no tama.

"Kagome."

"Hmm?" I looked up already knowing who the voice belonged to. I found Sesshoumaru, alone, at the doorway. He didn't look in any way ruffled about my being with Kouga for such a while.

"Sango is waiting for you at the library - you have preparations to finish making."

I reluctantly stood and walked toward him turning back when I finally reached Sesshoumaru. I smiled warmly at Kouga.

"It was nice talking to you, maybe we can have lunch another time and finish the discussion." I suggested.

He nodded standing likewise. "Anything for you Kagome-sama."

I brightened at the formality and walked off without a word to Sesshoumaru. It wasn't his addressing me formally that I was happy about, it was the fact he had done so with genuine respect. I hoped I had won him over.

. . .

I scowled at the two of them. I had, at first, enjoyed their bantering. I was surprised that Kouga had been so openly disrespectful to my would-be bride, but her response had pleased me. I was surprisingly happy she wasn't one of those demure little creatures that obeyed my every word. It would make life interesting. I hoped our private affairs would be as thrilling.

Yet as time wore on my enjoyment turned to bitterness. I could not imagine how the two had gotten on so well and they had barely known one another an hour. The girl had been here with me for a couple days now and hadn't had that many words me with during her entire stay! I was not jealous, I told myself, but I was not happy.

She would dare to insult me this way? I would not allow it, but she would be punished later. That damn Kouga was in for it first. I watched her as she retreated, blatantly ignoring me. She'd pay for that later too.

"I will say this only once so be sure to hear it! She is mine - Higurashi Kagome will be my wife in three days. You may keep company with her as long as she desires it but you are never to touch her!"

Kouga stepped back uneasily. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Without another word I spun around and left. I was discovering Kagome, despite her lack of overwhelming beauty like those nitwits that followed me around she had a magnetic effect on men. They were drawn to her it seemed and I didn't like it at all. She was mine - my father had, in a sense, given her to me, and I'd be damned if she was going to prefer other men. I would not be insulted so. I, Sesshoumaru, was not second to any man!

I followed her to the library and then spent most of the day shadowing her activities, sighing when the day was finally over. As I retired to my chambers it was already past midnight. Two days to go.

The animated little female was dogging my footsteps. Every time I turned around, she was there, mouth shut. It was a nice change, but somewhat disconcerting.

She hadn't said a word since our argument this morning. Or, I amended, since I had told her to shut up. Well, she hadn't said a word to *me*, she had sporadically spoken to several others, but she remained adamantly silent in regards to myself.

Now, as we approached the dining hall, I spotted Kouga and I wondered if she would seat herself and pick up with him where she'd left off with me. Or, been cut off by me, I corrected. I stepped in and paused, but she walked on by me without a word, without so much as a glance and I almost scowled to see that I'd been right.

She smiled brightly and sat down at Kouga's side. It seemed barely two seconds and they were already smack in the middle of a discussion. I did scowl at that, I turned and walked to my own table.

As typical it was surrounded by my female servants. I sat, and throughout the hour timeframe I watched her. She smiled, laughed, joked and just generally had a nice lunch with her companion, Kouga.

I suppose I should've been happy. She wasn't bothering me anymore. She was bothering Kouga now. Only Kouga wasn't *bothered*. Wonderful, now I was jealous over a woman I didn't want to begin with, I thought with a frown.

Things had been going well too, I thought sardonically. I had told her about my mother and we had... connected. Sort of. It was perhaps the only time we'd gotten along for more than five minutes. Or maybe the affair had taken only about five minutes.

It was still something to be unhappy about. Lunch ended today much as it had yesterday with everyone except Kouga, Kagome and myself shuffling out. Kouga caught my eye several times before standing, albeit reluctantly, and making an excuse to go. Perhaps I was making him uncomfortable, I sincerely hoped so. He too scampered away leaving only Kagome and myself but she seemed dead set on ignoring me. Very well, if that's the way she wanted things.

I stood and left her. Let her be as childish as her heart demanded, I could care less. Yet when I didn't hear her footsteps behind me I slowed and dared to look back. She wasn't following. I frowned again. What was with her? Was she going to be this way *all* the time?! I hadn't realized I'd stopped, just looking back at her through the open dining room doors until she looked up. I told myself to turn and walk away, leave her sitting there. She wanted it, so why not?

Yet I wasn't moving. My feet were going nowhere. I watched her stand, tucking and adjusting her kimono looking pointedly at everything but me, and then padding quietly out the door. I stood, stiff, wondering where she was going. Would she stop in front of me? Would she continue on? Would she stay at my side? What would she do?

I was, I told myself, no longer going to be surprised. After all, would could she possibly do, break into song? She stopped in front of me, and looked up, almost defiantly.

"Are you going to act like a child all day?"

"You told me not to speak, " she replied primly.

"I told you not to babble on incessantly."

She crossed her arms. "Same thing."

I was not going to argue with her. I wasn't going to talk to her at all, I suddenly decided, spinning and walking away. She followed, I expected her to. I wasn't sure where I was walking to, I'd decide when I got there. Maybe then I would know. But she still followed me in my listless wandering. My feet led me to the back door and from there through the garden toward the back wall and the brick pillars. There had once been a structure here but it was gone now, only the pillars had remained although no one could remember why.

Tomorrow would be the eve of our wedding and I started thinking back. I wondered why my father had put that stupid clause in his will about me marrying Higurashi Kagome - mentioned explicitly by name no less. Perhaps he knew I would not be married by this time, and here I had never considered myself to be predictable. Yet he had been my father, my sole parent for my childhood years and beyond. To the point of his death just last year. Perhaps, to him, I was to an extent, predictable.

I could not hear her, but I imagined her to be there, somewhere beyond my vision behind me. Perhaps staring at my back - maybe looking around. To my knowledge she has not been in the garden, there is really no one around for her to talk to. The girl has no friends, minus Kouga should he be considered one. The girl, Sango, the maid was much too busy to be hanging around with her, so she really had no one.

I suppose it hadn't been much of a help to either her or I that I'd sent a lump of money, inconsequential to myself, but that would in a way obligate her family to sending her to me. They did as I expected and per my request she had arrived, with all her things, two days later. The 'things' however were promptly disposed of and she was quickly provided with a new set of garments. Those rags she brought with her were unsuitable for being my companion.

"Kagome," I drawled lazily, not turning at all toward her.

"What?" Her tone was unfriendly. She was still angry with me. Two days, I thought. In two days I would have her to myself, she would be forced to endure me whether she wanted to or not. I frowned, turning slightly to view her. She was leaning back against one of the pillars, her eyes cast off in one direction opposite of me. Was this going to be a disaster?

I worried, briefly, that our upcoming union would be a debacle. It would not serve well for either of us if our first night was more difficult than need be and she wasn't helping any by refusing to talk to me. Although I moodily reminded myself it was what I had wanted in the first place.

I did not worry very much over our physical union. She was young and inexperienced and a woman's body could be manipulated very easily if one knew how. Lucky for her she had no idea what she was getting herself into with me, and she would fall easily at my hands. Yet, as before mentioned, it wasn't that, that bothered me. It was before, it was after. What was I to do with her?

I hadn't a clue. I had never had to keep a female around just to keep her. I had never had a female companion. I had never been friends with a woman before. I had lovers, I had servants that was that. She would be both and she would be neither. She was to be my wife, a woman that was to have an elevated status to me and here I had no idea how to handle her.

"Our wedding is the day after tomorrow." I stated. She knew it already, so did I. "Is there anything you wish to say before?"

"Oh?" she turned, leveling a mocking glare at me. "*Now* you want me to talk?"

She scoffed and turned her nose up at me. I wasted no time in eliminating the space between us trapping her back against that pillar. With one hand wrapped smoothly underneath her chin I tilted her gaze up to me. "This level of behavior is not suitable."

"What do I care what you think is suitable?" she snapped defiantly.

I was tempted to frown, my fingers tightened convulsively around her chin as she tried to escape my grip.

"Well look who it is..."

I drew away slightly at the foreign voice turning my eyes toward the unwelcome visitor. Kikyo, how unpleasant. She was the last person I wanted to see. She was the last person I *ever* wanted to see. Although quiet and respectful, the woman had an arrogance that annoyed me. Her eyes were not on me however but on her younger half sister, the one currently in my grip.

"I apologize for interrupting, Sesshoumaru-sama." She replied, ignoring Kagome although they were staring right at each other.

Kagome kept her mouth shut, just staring, and Kikyo returned the icy look.

Wonderful - these two would be living under the same roof and they appeared to hate one another. Just what I need, more people to baby-sit. I frowned. I had known Kikyo for some years now, my brother had been courting her for a rather long time. I had not known, or cared, that she and Kagome were related until recently. Even now it mattered not to me although their resemblance to one another was striking.

I was glad in a way though, that I had ended up with Kagome. She was much more expressive - Kikyo seemed so much like a cold fish. I couldn't imagine sharing a bed with that one, not half as much as I now realized I looked forward to it with her, Kagome.

She turned, sidling off, leaving us alone again. I was glad for it. I suddenly wanted all her attention on me.

"What was that?" I inquired, dropping her chin from my hands.

"What was what?"

"*That*," I snapped. "With her."

"*That* wasn't anything. We don't get along, that's all. I don't see what business it is of yours anyway."

"I will be your husband the day after tomorrow, everything about you is my business."

"Like hell!" she snapped.

She quickly followed up the comment with a scathing remark immediately impacting my pride. My anger was ignited immediately setting me aflame, scorching the words out of memory as my body reacted automatically to the stimuli and I struck her.

She didn't fight it, perhaps in shock as she was slammed back against the pillar and her knees gave out from under her. She collapsed into a heap upon the ground. I immediately regretted it, but it was too late to take it back now. I shouldn't have hit her, she looked utterly crushed. I couldn't take it back however and she would not know I was the slightest remorseful over it. I was the master of this household, she would be wise to learn it.

I moved slightly to pull her to her feet but she brushed me off with a vicious look in her eyes and a bite to her tone.

"Don't touch me."

I made to reply she was mine, I would do whatever I damn well pleased, but decided not to. If she merely submitted this wouldn't be so much trouble. But I begrudgingly admitted if she did that I was not likely to be half as interested in her as I was. I walked away, determined to leave her alone. It seemed to be what she wanted anyway.

I left her, but strangely enough she haunted me all day long. I couldn't get her out of my head. All I could think about was her there on the ground. What was she doing? Who was she with? Despite how many times I told myself I could care less about her welfare I couldn't help wonder. Was she okay?

I was not concerned for her well-being. No, rather, I couldn't help the feeling that I had... damaged her. I spent the day on tenterhooks, although I hated the expression, waiting for her to appear. I couldn't go to her - I'd be damned if I, the master, was giving in and going to see how she was. It was her fault to begin with. So I waited and wondered... and suffered in my curiosities.

I was able to see her, finally, at dinner time. She was dressed as she normally did, nothing extravagant, shunning the silk I had provided for her in lieu of more common fabrics. I resisted the urge to nag at her about it. She didn't so much as acknowledge I was in the room. Her eyes never traveled from the set direction she'd placed them in. Everyone around her was tense given Kagome's normally jovial attitude. After dinner she made to avoid me once more, and I allowed it, merely watching her go.

I raised a glass of wine to my lips savoring the bitter sting it left in my throat. Tomorrow was another day. I sighed. Tomorrow I'd try again. Although what I was trying I hadn't a clue.

I rose early, before dawn as was my typical schedule. It helped that I had not been able to sleep. It was the official eve of my wedding. I wondered in silence how I was supposed to feel about it.

As typical whenever thoughts of my wedding surfaced the unavoidable thoughts of her surfaced as well. I had spent the night tossing and turning, irritable with myself for thinking of her. Yet I couldn't stop.

In my daydreams I didn't realize I had veered off my daily path until I noted a certain hall. The hall where her room was located. Once I realized where my feet had unknowingly taken me I did not turn back. It was the eve of my wedding. Tomorrow she would be officially mine.

I boldly opened her door and stepped inside.

No one save the servants were awake at this hour. Aside from that she was mine, I reminded myself. Damn what everyone else thought.

I closed the door behind me taking note of her room. It was much in the same state as when I had given it to her. Her things were off to one side as though she dare not personalize the room fearing her stay was but temporary or that she somehow felt like an intruder and was not comfortable with her surroundings.

She, the girl herself, was lying asleep bundled up in dully colored blankets. Raven colored hair spilled out from beneath one end of the heavy fabric. Dark, wavy, beautiful rivulets of hair spilled over the bedding onto the floor. A black, inky puddle that was so utterly feminine and attractive I had to simply stop and take in the sight of her.

I suddenly regretted striking her all the more.

What a fragile creature she was. Yet you could never tell if the lioness had her eyes open, I thought.

I stepped further into the chamber glancing around. Wholly unimpressive really. I hadn't gone out of my way to lavish her in beautiful things. I had not seen the point.

I wondered then, why? Why hadn't I?

Was it because she was already mine? I was not courting her, she was already secured as my bride, so perhaps there was no need to win her to me? No need to impress? Perhaps, her, like all other things in my estimation was not worth the time?

Hmm... perhaps it didn't matter at all.

So many possibilities, none of which I was interested in thinking out. Not now, and later they probably wouldn't matter.

As though on some invisible cue she seemed to stir in her bedding, rousing toward wakefulness. It seemed some strange occurrence as though my presence disturbed her little sphere of peace in this room. The notion was ridiculous, but I was still thinking it.

The blanket rolled back via a languorous arm and dark eyelashes fluttered. Her dainty little mouth opened wide in a yawn, as she blinked her eyes, peering around her, not seeing me. She ran a hand through her dark locks, scratching her scalp and then yawned once more, muttering something about 'stupid mornings'.

I was disappointed to see a purple mark on one cheek where I'd hit her the previous day. She'd be bruised on our wedding day. We were not even married yet and I'd already hurt her.

I finally saw fit to draw her attention to me, my movement immediately catching her eye. She clutched her blankets and pulled them up to her chest protectively as though she were naked behind the cloth.

She wasn't.

The action was unnecessary and only served to draw my attention to her attire, which she had undoubtedly been trying to conceal. A simple yukata, nothing fancy. Not surprising. She had shunned the few, very few, fanciful gifts I'd given her.

Few but precious, I thought, thinking of how the expensive gifts had been completely wasted on her and yet I could really care less about it. They were hers to do as she wished.

When the shock faded from her eyes I was displeased to see anger had replaced it.

She suddenly scoffed at me. "Lose interest in your harem?"

I blinked. 'Harem'? How had she come to know such a foreign word?

"What harem?"

She turned her head away snidely. "Ayame, Tsubaki and the lot."

Ah, that's what was bothering her? I failed to see her point.

"What about them?"

"What about them?" she snapped, clearly outraged. This time she leapt from her bed giving no thoughts to her bedclothes. "You say that so casually! As though I did not see you practically leap upon them before I was barely out the door."

I blinked again. What?

Had I the character for it, I might have broken into a chuckle, but she was so perfectly serious. It left me feeling heavy and confused. She had obviously made some mistake, for she'd seen me with no woman last night and certainly not one of those hussies who paraded around me.

It was interesting however, was she jealous? Was a jealous wife a good thing, or a bad thing? I didn't know.

"Out what door?"

"Don't play coy," she snapped. "Your bedroom!"

That was a surprise. If she had walked in my bedroom she was likely to have found me with a woman, not uncommon for me. Yet last night I had been alone in my room. I had, since the beginning of the week avoided any liaisons with the women I normally frequented. Since I had discovered I desired my soon to be bride physically I put other women off wanting to wait until I could savor her. The fiery woman before me that wanted to snap my head off.

I quirked my lips up into a smug grin that only angered her more.

"Were you impatient for me?"

Husky and seductive tones always worked. I wasn't disappointed, her anger visibly dimmed only to be sparked back to life by her indignation at my comment. She seemed to be at a momentarily loss for an answer, her cheeks flushing with anger.

"If you were so eager for us to become lovers, you should have stepped up and said so. Were I truly with a courtesan the previous evening, I would have dismissed her for you."

My words had the desired effect and she promptly flew into another rage. It was delightful to see a woman with such spirit. It was an usual thing given the demure manners of most of the women in my court only wishing to please me. This girl seemed like she wanted a rip a hole through me.

"You wish!"

"Wishing is unnecessary, you will be mine tomorrow. Or today if I wish it." I purposely gave her a slow once over glance and she blushed straight to the roots of her hair.

"If you wish it?"

I nodded once, almost imperceptibly. "Now would be suitable."

I stepped forward and she stepped back until she'd plastered herself to the wall. I wondered if she cared she'd made my job easier by trapping herself there.

I proceeded toward her, unsure if I actually intended to carry anything out at the moment, especially with her giving me such a terrified expression. Just as I was about to close in on my prey staring up at me wide-eyed the door slid open and in walked the maid, Sango.

"Oops!" She exclaimed. "Please excuse me, my lord. I didn't know you were ... um.... here."

The arrival of the maid however caused something to click back into place with my young quarry and her fearful expression vanished. I grinned smugly.

"Do not think she has saved you. Tomorrow there will be no interruptions."

Author's Notes: Hmm.... yes, well that's chapter two. I almost kept writing, I really need to watch my chapter length more closely.

Prisoner, My Prisoner 13 - This chapter will be a little while. I'm doing some planning for it, trying to figure out how to end it.

I am working though, on this "In Terms of a Shadow" and a one shot called "Forgiven" which is an interesting story. I just need to peg down a suitable ending, edit and post it. Unfortuantely things that sound simple very rarely are. Not to mention I've been incredibly busy.