I REFUSE TO BE TIRED! I REFUSE! Must... write... good... story...! collapses
Alright, alright, I'm being melodramatic. I'm not that tired. But I might
as WELL be! School is horror in a bucket.
This Rose of Velvet
Chapter Three: To Touch
Kagome brushed her hair behind her ears. She was sitting on the grass, still damp from last night's rain, with her back to the cool brick of the school. The cold seeped into her body and she welcomed the numbing effect it had on her. Ahead of her was a fat tree, called the God Tree.
It was beautiful. Old and gnarled, its branches extended to the heavens and its roots looked like some sort of Nature's Lay-Z-Boy. Kagome avoided sitting there, though. She didn't feel up to par enough to sit in the God Tree's roots, with how broken she was. As she had proved to that boy.
That stupid boy. Why did he insist on talking to her? It's not like no one told him about her predicament! Why did he feel the need to go and converse with her?
'Sigh. I'm getting mad at him for no reason. He probably wanted to see what was going on with the traveling freak-show, and I definitely freaked him out with my jump-at-a-touch routine. It's not his fault I'm so horribly malfunctioned...' her thoughts trailed off as her mind blanked, unfamiliar sounds creeping into her ears.
She saw two delicate white shoes appear in the corner of her vision. Her muscles froze, her breath hitched. Staring straight ahead, Kagome kept her eyes fastened to the homely roots of the God Tree. "There was no need to run, you realize. I was simply attempting to converse with you," the boy stated smoothly, a condescending tone laced through his voice.
He bristled as she did nothing but stare stonily ahead, unmoving.
"What's your problem, girl? Did you go insane from the homework load or something?" he felt his voice rising and struggled to keep it under control. Clearing his throat nonchalantly, he looked at the huge tree in the courtyard and leaned against the brick wall next to her. "Anyway, whatever. Don't talk. I don't care."
'I know you don't. Go away, now,' Kagome begged silently, letting her eyes close briefly.
Sesshoumaru watched her face intently, seeing something like panic creep across her face when he made no sign of exiting. He enjoyed watching her squirm. At least she showed a reaction to something. Slowly, he lowered himself until he was crouching next to her, just looking at the tree. He felt her stiffen and almost smiled. "I wonder how old that tree is."
It occurred to him that he didn't know what her voice sounded like. Would it be as broken as her eyes? Maybe she was mute, after all.
"Judging by its size, it'd have to be quite a few centuries. Maybe even a thousand years." "...Five hundred," came a small, yet resonant voice from beside him.
He started guiltily. Sesshoumaru had really gotten used to the idea of her muteness in the past minute or so, but he recovered enough to put on a polite tone. "Excuse me?"
"Five hundred years," she said, louder. Although her voice was lower pitched than her shrill sister's, it held no inflection, no hint of emotion. Except maybe a constant sense of nervousness.
"Oh. I see," he said slowly, looking at her from the corners of his eyes. She never stopped looking at the tree. "My name is Sesshoumaru, by the way."
"I know."
How aggravating. "May I have your name?"
"You don't like yours?" she immediately quipped, then, seemingly horrified, silenced. Slowly, she crumpled in on herself, like a balloon deflating. Hunching over, Kagome hugged her knees.
He sat fully, crossing his legs. "It's okay. I know yours, anyway." So she had some personality after all. You wouldn't have guessed it from her face or the way she stood. She was pretty, but made herself so unobtrusive she was automatically not noticed. Sesshoumaru wondered if that was a side effect of an abusive household. He'd have to ask a few subtle questions of his brother this night.
Kagome sighed inwardly, letting despair settle over her mind like a cloak. She just hoped he wouldn't tell InuYasha or Kikyo of her insulting behavior.
"InuYasha," Sesshoumaru said mildly as his half-brother passed him down the stairs.
"Oy, what?" InuYasha responded crudely, eating peanut butter off a spoon. "I'm busy, pansy-ass."
Sesshoumaru blinked serenely, unfazed. "Keep your foul language outside, brother. I have questions concerning your girlfriend. The fact that you're tainting our bloodline with her has me worried. Are you sure she's up to par? Can she be a leader? A strong person?"
InuYasha swallowed his peanut butter, and, eager to get back to his video games, spat his information back unthinkingly. "Oh, yeah, she's been pushing that stupid weird-o sister of hers around since forever. Evil stepmother scenario or something, except in this case she's only evil to the weird-o. Woo-yee," he snorted, half of his mouth going up in a smirk. "Does that girl have scars are what? Kikyo made her show me. Made her get undressed and everything. Her back's totally mottled."
Thank God for the teenager's need to gossip. Sesshoumaru nodded as if thinking, encouraging InuYasha to speak more. It never once occurred to the young boy that Sesshoumaru wouldn't immediately think Kagome a weird-o.
"Dude, they used to whip her for everything. Like, she'd sweep the walk and Kikyo would kick dirt over it and insta-whipping," he smiled around his peanut butter. "Kikyo says I can screw her whenever I want to, too. Sort've gross, her being scarred and stuff, but you take what you can get and Kikyo ain't putting out, y'know? Heard weird-o's still a cherry, though... and I wouldn't want to hurt her or anything."
'Heaven forbid,' Sesshoumaru thought sarcastically.
"Anyhow... that video game ain't gonna play itself. See you, Sess." With that, InuYasha and the peanut butter was gone.
'How disgusting...' he thought, now for the first time understanding the impact of the girl's wretchedness. How long had she been subjected to it? Since a young age, determining from her lack of drive to change her lot. You have to grow up in that sort of an environment to not rebel when it bit you in the ass later.
"Kagome," her twin said idly, preening her fingernails. They were sitting on their beds. Although Manna wasn't living there anymore, Fori wouldn't allow Kikyo to move out of the room because she said she needed the now- vacant one. For what, no one knew. "InuYasha's coming in a few minutes. He's getting really pushy about sex and stuff, and I'm too young for that stuff, you know?"
And he's not? Kagome wondered where this was headed, and felt a forbidding niggling in the base of her stomach.
"You know?" Kikyo repeated, looking up at her twin. She wanted an answer. God. "Yeah."
For once, Kikyo didn't make her refer to her as "Miss." "Good. I'm so glad you understand."
'Understand what? What's she talking about now?'
The doorbell rang and Kikyo leapt off of the bed and sauntered out. "He's here! Don't move a muscle, 'kay?" Kagome heard Kikyo's gum pop as she blew a bubble.
Down the hall, the door opened. A murmuring of voices wandered down the hallway to Kagome's ears. 'I hope they don't make me undress again. That was embarrassing....'
The murmuring drew closer, and she scooted to the head of her bed, sitting on her pillow. She folded her legs and hugged her knees, putting on a neutral expression as she saw their shadows pass the door, ahead of them. A herald to their presence, a silhouette of their greatness. Finally, Kikyo walked in, leading InuYasha by the hand. He was watching Kagome closely... a bit too closely for comfort.
Inwardly, Kagome curled into a ball. Outwardly, she didn't move a muscle, simply stared at her blanket, wondering what was going to happen.
InuYasha looked from Kagome to Kikyo uncomfortably. "You told her, right?"
'Told me what,' she wanted to scream.
Kikyo shrugged and favored her with a slight sneer. "Not really. I think she'll get the gist once you start, though." She started preening her nails again, filing at her index finger.
The boy shifted from one foot to another, and tension mounted in the room. "I really think you should tell her, Kikyo...."
Throwing her head back in disgust, she released her vice-like grip on the nail filer, letting it drop to the ground as she crossed her arms. "Oh, all right. Kagome, InuYasha needs a good fuck and you're going to be that fuck. Just lay back and sit still. I'm going to go get some juice," she announced, turning on her heel and tip-tapping out of the room.
Kagome felt her insides freeze. The numbness she felt from the brick earlier that day balled up in her stomach and its icy grip fed its way up her spine and into her chest and throat. She registered in her mind that her mouth had dropped slightly open and her face was obviously shocked, the first emotion she'd shown in front of InuYasha.
Which didn't make matters any better for him. She looked absolutely horrified. Terrified. Shaking his mind internally, he took a step forward. She was just a weird-o, after all. Besides, it's not like she'd refuse. When she didn't move, he strode to her bed in three long steps. The girl still didn't move. It was like she was stuck in that moment when Kikyo told her she was about to be fucked.
Slowly, he reached towards her, and saw her start to tremble. When his fingertips brushed against her arm, she leapt up as if stung and, in a flash, was a good five feet away, on the opposite side of the bed.
"Hey... what are you doing?" he ignored the way his voice stammered a bit, and focused on looking pissed. "Get over here."
Stark white with terror, she shook her head. She shook her head. Shook it. As in, "no."
InuYasha felt a hot, white dot of anger in the pit of his stomach. It's not like having sex with a popular guy like him was so sufferable! He was doing her a favor; she'd just as likely never have sex for the rest of her life.
Eyes narrowing, he stepped towards her purposefully.
Across town, Sesshoumaru couldn't focus on his homework. He knew exactly where his brother was. And what he was attempting to do.
It wasn't his business. He shook his head slightly and tried to concentrate.
Egad. He couldn't even do a simple math problem.
'Screw it...' he frowned as the thought hit him. Slowly, he stood and looked at his homework a last time before heading out of the room to take a shower. 'It's not my business.'
"No." It was barely a whisper. InuYasha had excellent hearing. And even he could barely hear it.
Needless to say, it was the first time he'd heard her voice. She mostly never spoke, just did whatever Kikyo told her to wordlessly. If she was called upon to answer in class she would shake her head, say nothing. He felt his face contort into a sneer and watched her grow paler in fear. "Girl, I'd be doing you a favor."
'God... I don't feel better about this, making her scared. Maybe try to butter her up or something,' he thought despairingly. He smiled softly and touched her hair, ignoring the way she flinched automatically from his hand. He made his voice low and intimate, leaning forward. "It will be okay. It won't even hurt. I'd be gentle. Very gentle...." He let his voice trail off suggestively as he leaned more towards her, working his hands around so he could pin her to his chest, so she couldn't run.
Gathering up the remnants of her courage, Kagome did what she had seen on TV. When she had been allowed to watch it, that is. She swung her leg back, then upwards, bending her knee into his crotch with all the force she could muster.
The girl was out the door before InuYasha even hit the ground.
Only to be intercepted by Fori.
Panic seeped into her brain, bit by bit. Fori wasn't supposed to get off work for hours. Kagome's mind worked frantically for an explanation.
Kikyo... getting juice. There was a phone in the kitchen. She would have called. Kagome would be caught... and... Oh, God, Kikyo. How could you?
Fori took one look at the boy crumpled up on the floor and grabbed Kagome by the hair, near the scalp, and yanked viciously. At just that moment, Kikyo turned out of the kitchen and into the hall. If she was surprised that Kagome was dressed, she didn't show it. She walked until she could see into the bedroom and stopped... on a dime.
"InuYasha!" she cried out, her mouth dropping open as she rushed forward to help him.
"Kagome," Fori snarled at the abused girl, wrenching on her hair. "How dare you treat guests like this?"
Kagome became aware that InuYasha had almost basically recovered and was glaring at her spitefully. Keeping her tears at bay was the hardest thing she had ever done. After a near-rape, she didn't think she'd be able to handle a beating. Oh, God, please, no....
"Sir, we will punish her this very night. I am so sorry that you were subjected to this injustice. Please accept my apologies," Fori fluttered worriedly, her voice sugary sweet. The honey in her voice directly contradicted the danger of her smile.
"I'm alright... it's fine..." he muttered as he struggled to stand, Kikyo helping him.
"We're going to go out, alright? Maybe back to his house to get him fixed up," Kikyo informed Fori briskly, leaving no room for argument.
"Of course," the stepmother conceded, not missing a beat.
Sesshoumaru stepped out of the shower in time to hear the door slam, amidst much cursing.
"That little bitch kneed me! She kneed me! You said she would let me fuck her if you told her to! What gives, Kikyo?!"
He felt himself still at InuYasha's short monologue, his heart almost stopping. The strange girl... who had seemed so broken... she had some fight in her after all, did she? He almost felt like smiling.
'Only a virgin would risk losing everything for the sake of her virginity,' he thought smugly, storing this bit of revelation away for later. For now, he was eavesdropping on Kikyo.
"Don't worry, Stepmother will take care of her."
"Why'd you call her, anyway?"
"I wanted to see that stupid brat sister of mine whipped again. I haven't heard her cry out in raw pain in a while, now. She's not fun to play with anymore." Kikyo laughed, a viper's laugh.
Sesshoumaru didn't feel like smiling anymore.
Whispers were set in motion at Kagome's arrival to school. The rumors rippled through the school like wind through a field of wheat, and by first bell everyone had caught a glimpse of her.
She was limping, and one side of her face was bruised. She was bundled up in her coat per usual, so any underlying injuries were hidden. But you could tell simply by the way she walked. So gingerly. When a person bumped into her she grimaced in pain, and her eyes stung with tears.
"Oh, my God..." she heard as she entered the classroom, ten minutes before class started. She looked up through one good eye and a swollen black one to see Mr. Houshi stand hurriedly, knocking over his chair and a few items on his desk in the process. He rushed over to her and knelt in front of her, looking at her face in horror.
Kagome jerked her head away and covered her face with her hair as she stalked to her desk. When she had sat, Mr. Houshi was standing and looking extremely angry.
"I will not stand for this," he muttered through gritted teeth, and promptly marched from the room. When he returned five minutes later, he looked remarkably calmer, as if some sort of heavy burden had been lifted.
Good. Maybe the principal told him to leave it alone. Kagome didn't want trouble at school, too. Especially not with the teachers. Who knew what Fori would do then?
Bit by bit, her classmates filtered into the room, silent and looking at her expectantly, as if waiting for an explanation. Receiving none, they sat in their respective places and murmured to each other, sneaking glances at her.
Sesshoumaru came in last. Oh, yes, he had watched her limp into school. He had seen the way she cradled her arm protectively from the crowds. And he had seen the guilty looks his brother had sent her way. It looks like InuYasha had finally gotten over his anger and was moving steadily into remorse-mode. Sesshoumaru sincerely hoped he choked on it.
Sitting next to her as prescribed from his first day here, he said nothing. He would wait until lunch.
Lunch came, and Sesshoumaru found her by the tree, as usual... alone, as usual. He stopped next to her and leaned against the brick amiably, staring at the huge tree.
She didn't move a muscle, but watched him warily from the side of her eyes. He peered closer, and noticed that her hands were shaking.
From pain? Fear? Who could know? Sesshoumaru certainly wanted to.
"So, how have you been?" he attempted, his voice silky, composed.
She said nothing.
Sighing inwardly, he decided to switch tactics. "I heard you kneed InuYasha in the crotch."
She leapt up and stared hard at him, her breathing harsh with terror. Her hair, uncombed that day, settled in a nimbus about her face, and her arms were at her sides, shaking still. Kagome leaned on her back foot, preparing to flee. She started to move when he grabbed her.
He went for her shoulder without thinking. When she hissed in pain, he immediately dropped his hand, ignoring the brimming of tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I forgot," he murmured to the ground. "But don't leave. I won't get you in trouble."
She stood still, edgy, like a rabbit. She was there for now, but ready to move at a moment's notice -- a disheartening fact for a person who actually wanted to have a decent conversation. Her lips were pursed, pale, as she scrutinized the God Tree bluntly, blinking the tears away.
Kagome the rabbit.
When he let out an audible sigh she jumped, and flicked a glance his way before looking at the tree again, as if he was unsafe to behold.
"Look at me!" Sesshoumaru was surprised to realize that this strong, angry voice issued from his own self. "Stop looking away!"
Startled, Kagome opened her eyes wide, and her mouth dropped open slightly. Finally, she didn't look scared; not a bit. Just shocked. Obligingly, she locked eyes with the young white-haired boy and stared deep.
'He has beautiful eyes,' she realized slowly. 'I wonder why I'd never noticed before. Have I always been this blind?'
Entrancing, he found, this girl who would bare her soul to one simply by allowing them to look into her eyes. Her sad, pained eyes. Her wise, innocent eyes.... Any person could get lost in those eyes of a perfect pale blue.
He took a step forward, towards her. And so caught was she in his eyes that she simply stood. She was no longer weird-o, slave, or whipping girl. Just Kagome. And she hadn't felt like Kagome in such a long time.
Sesshoumaru surprised himself by reaching up to touch her hair. Despite that it was uncombed, it was obviously well taken care of, and promised silkiness if brushed. He took another step forward, close to her, and they were chest to chest.
He was tall. Kagome tilted her head to look at him, unsure of what he was doing. A flash of memory stirred in the depths of her mind, of InuYasha pinning her, cornering her....
But this wasn't InuYasha. That much was plain to see. She wouldn't allow her sister's boyfriend to taint her thoughts.
His hands were on her face, feeling her tears as they poured down each cheek. Kagome felt protected, cradled by those delicate, strong hands as they held her aloft, and those brightly golden eyes stared down at her in sympathy. Possibly even empathy. Possibly even... a sense of kinship.
The young boy felt his hands on her face, and marveled at the smoothness of her cheeks, and the incredible moisture of those glistening tear drops. A realization hit Sesshoumaru; he was supporting her. If he let her go... would she be able to stand?
He didn't want to test his theory, because his hands were on her face.
His hands were on her face.
A/N Wooo-eee. Damn InuYasha and his horrible URGES!! But Sesshy got some down-time with the great 'Gome-monster! Whee! This'll progress nicely.
This Rose of Velvet
Chapter Three: To Touch
Kagome brushed her hair behind her ears. She was sitting on the grass, still damp from last night's rain, with her back to the cool brick of the school. The cold seeped into her body and she welcomed the numbing effect it had on her. Ahead of her was a fat tree, called the God Tree.
It was beautiful. Old and gnarled, its branches extended to the heavens and its roots looked like some sort of Nature's Lay-Z-Boy. Kagome avoided sitting there, though. She didn't feel up to par enough to sit in the God Tree's roots, with how broken she was. As she had proved to that boy.
That stupid boy. Why did he insist on talking to her? It's not like no one told him about her predicament! Why did he feel the need to go and converse with her?
'Sigh. I'm getting mad at him for no reason. He probably wanted to see what was going on with the traveling freak-show, and I definitely freaked him out with my jump-at-a-touch routine. It's not his fault I'm so horribly malfunctioned...' her thoughts trailed off as her mind blanked, unfamiliar sounds creeping into her ears.
She saw two delicate white shoes appear in the corner of her vision. Her muscles froze, her breath hitched. Staring straight ahead, Kagome kept her eyes fastened to the homely roots of the God Tree. "There was no need to run, you realize. I was simply attempting to converse with you," the boy stated smoothly, a condescending tone laced through his voice.
He bristled as she did nothing but stare stonily ahead, unmoving.
"What's your problem, girl? Did you go insane from the homework load or something?" he felt his voice rising and struggled to keep it under control. Clearing his throat nonchalantly, he looked at the huge tree in the courtyard and leaned against the brick wall next to her. "Anyway, whatever. Don't talk. I don't care."
'I know you don't. Go away, now,' Kagome begged silently, letting her eyes close briefly.
Sesshoumaru watched her face intently, seeing something like panic creep across her face when he made no sign of exiting. He enjoyed watching her squirm. At least she showed a reaction to something. Slowly, he lowered himself until he was crouching next to her, just looking at the tree. He felt her stiffen and almost smiled. "I wonder how old that tree is."
It occurred to him that he didn't know what her voice sounded like. Would it be as broken as her eyes? Maybe she was mute, after all.
"Judging by its size, it'd have to be quite a few centuries. Maybe even a thousand years." "...Five hundred," came a small, yet resonant voice from beside him.
He started guiltily. Sesshoumaru had really gotten used to the idea of her muteness in the past minute or so, but he recovered enough to put on a polite tone. "Excuse me?"
"Five hundred years," she said, louder. Although her voice was lower pitched than her shrill sister's, it held no inflection, no hint of emotion. Except maybe a constant sense of nervousness.
"Oh. I see," he said slowly, looking at her from the corners of his eyes. She never stopped looking at the tree. "My name is Sesshoumaru, by the way."
"I know."
How aggravating. "May I have your name?"
"You don't like yours?" she immediately quipped, then, seemingly horrified, silenced. Slowly, she crumpled in on herself, like a balloon deflating. Hunching over, Kagome hugged her knees.
He sat fully, crossing his legs. "It's okay. I know yours, anyway." So she had some personality after all. You wouldn't have guessed it from her face or the way she stood. She was pretty, but made herself so unobtrusive she was automatically not noticed. Sesshoumaru wondered if that was a side effect of an abusive household. He'd have to ask a few subtle questions of his brother this night.
Kagome sighed inwardly, letting despair settle over her mind like a cloak. She just hoped he wouldn't tell InuYasha or Kikyo of her insulting behavior.
"InuYasha," Sesshoumaru said mildly as his half-brother passed him down the stairs.
"Oy, what?" InuYasha responded crudely, eating peanut butter off a spoon. "I'm busy, pansy-ass."
Sesshoumaru blinked serenely, unfazed. "Keep your foul language outside, brother. I have questions concerning your girlfriend. The fact that you're tainting our bloodline with her has me worried. Are you sure she's up to par? Can she be a leader? A strong person?"
InuYasha swallowed his peanut butter, and, eager to get back to his video games, spat his information back unthinkingly. "Oh, yeah, she's been pushing that stupid weird-o sister of hers around since forever. Evil stepmother scenario or something, except in this case she's only evil to the weird-o. Woo-yee," he snorted, half of his mouth going up in a smirk. "Does that girl have scars are what? Kikyo made her show me. Made her get undressed and everything. Her back's totally mottled."
Thank God for the teenager's need to gossip. Sesshoumaru nodded as if thinking, encouraging InuYasha to speak more. It never once occurred to the young boy that Sesshoumaru wouldn't immediately think Kagome a weird-o.
"Dude, they used to whip her for everything. Like, she'd sweep the walk and Kikyo would kick dirt over it and insta-whipping," he smiled around his peanut butter. "Kikyo says I can screw her whenever I want to, too. Sort've gross, her being scarred and stuff, but you take what you can get and Kikyo ain't putting out, y'know? Heard weird-o's still a cherry, though... and I wouldn't want to hurt her or anything."
'Heaven forbid,' Sesshoumaru thought sarcastically.
"Anyhow... that video game ain't gonna play itself. See you, Sess." With that, InuYasha and the peanut butter was gone.
'How disgusting...' he thought, now for the first time understanding the impact of the girl's wretchedness. How long had she been subjected to it? Since a young age, determining from her lack of drive to change her lot. You have to grow up in that sort of an environment to not rebel when it bit you in the ass later.
"Kagome," her twin said idly, preening her fingernails. They were sitting on their beds. Although Manna wasn't living there anymore, Fori wouldn't allow Kikyo to move out of the room because she said she needed the now- vacant one. For what, no one knew. "InuYasha's coming in a few minutes. He's getting really pushy about sex and stuff, and I'm too young for that stuff, you know?"
And he's not? Kagome wondered where this was headed, and felt a forbidding niggling in the base of her stomach.
"You know?" Kikyo repeated, looking up at her twin. She wanted an answer. God. "Yeah."
For once, Kikyo didn't make her refer to her as "Miss." "Good. I'm so glad you understand."
'Understand what? What's she talking about now?'
The doorbell rang and Kikyo leapt off of the bed and sauntered out. "He's here! Don't move a muscle, 'kay?" Kagome heard Kikyo's gum pop as she blew a bubble.
Down the hall, the door opened. A murmuring of voices wandered down the hallway to Kagome's ears. 'I hope they don't make me undress again. That was embarrassing....'
The murmuring drew closer, and she scooted to the head of her bed, sitting on her pillow. She folded her legs and hugged her knees, putting on a neutral expression as she saw their shadows pass the door, ahead of them. A herald to their presence, a silhouette of their greatness. Finally, Kikyo walked in, leading InuYasha by the hand. He was watching Kagome closely... a bit too closely for comfort.
Inwardly, Kagome curled into a ball. Outwardly, she didn't move a muscle, simply stared at her blanket, wondering what was going to happen.
InuYasha looked from Kagome to Kikyo uncomfortably. "You told her, right?"
'Told me what,' she wanted to scream.
Kikyo shrugged and favored her with a slight sneer. "Not really. I think she'll get the gist once you start, though." She started preening her nails again, filing at her index finger.
The boy shifted from one foot to another, and tension mounted in the room. "I really think you should tell her, Kikyo...."
Throwing her head back in disgust, she released her vice-like grip on the nail filer, letting it drop to the ground as she crossed her arms. "Oh, all right. Kagome, InuYasha needs a good fuck and you're going to be that fuck. Just lay back and sit still. I'm going to go get some juice," she announced, turning on her heel and tip-tapping out of the room.
Kagome felt her insides freeze. The numbness she felt from the brick earlier that day balled up in her stomach and its icy grip fed its way up her spine and into her chest and throat. She registered in her mind that her mouth had dropped slightly open and her face was obviously shocked, the first emotion she'd shown in front of InuYasha.
Which didn't make matters any better for him. She looked absolutely horrified. Terrified. Shaking his mind internally, he took a step forward. She was just a weird-o, after all. Besides, it's not like she'd refuse. When she didn't move, he strode to her bed in three long steps. The girl still didn't move. It was like she was stuck in that moment when Kikyo told her she was about to be fucked.
Slowly, he reached towards her, and saw her start to tremble. When his fingertips brushed against her arm, she leapt up as if stung and, in a flash, was a good five feet away, on the opposite side of the bed.
"Hey... what are you doing?" he ignored the way his voice stammered a bit, and focused on looking pissed. "Get over here."
Stark white with terror, she shook her head. She shook her head. Shook it. As in, "no."
InuYasha felt a hot, white dot of anger in the pit of his stomach. It's not like having sex with a popular guy like him was so sufferable! He was doing her a favor; she'd just as likely never have sex for the rest of her life.
Eyes narrowing, he stepped towards her purposefully.
Across town, Sesshoumaru couldn't focus on his homework. He knew exactly where his brother was. And what he was attempting to do.
It wasn't his business. He shook his head slightly and tried to concentrate.
Egad. He couldn't even do a simple math problem.
'Screw it...' he frowned as the thought hit him. Slowly, he stood and looked at his homework a last time before heading out of the room to take a shower. 'It's not my business.'
"No." It was barely a whisper. InuYasha had excellent hearing. And even he could barely hear it.
Needless to say, it was the first time he'd heard her voice. She mostly never spoke, just did whatever Kikyo told her to wordlessly. If she was called upon to answer in class she would shake her head, say nothing. He felt his face contort into a sneer and watched her grow paler in fear. "Girl, I'd be doing you a favor."
'God... I don't feel better about this, making her scared. Maybe try to butter her up or something,' he thought despairingly. He smiled softly and touched her hair, ignoring the way she flinched automatically from his hand. He made his voice low and intimate, leaning forward. "It will be okay. It won't even hurt. I'd be gentle. Very gentle...." He let his voice trail off suggestively as he leaned more towards her, working his hands around so he could pin her to his chest, so she couldn't run.
Gathering up the remnants of her courage, Kagome did what she had seen on TV. When she had been allowed to watch it, that is. She swung her leg back, then upwards, bending her knee into his crotch with all the force she could muster.
The girl was out the door before InuYasha even hit the ground.
Only to be intercepted by Fori.
Panic seeped into her brain, bit by bit. Fori wasn't supposed to get off work for hours. Kagome's mind worked frantically for an explanation.
Kikyo... getting juice. There was a phone in the kitchen. She would have called. Kagome would be caught... and... Oh, God, Kikyo. How could you?
Fori took one look at the boy crumpled up on the floor and grabbed Kagome by the hair, near the scalp, and yanked viciously. At just that moment, Kikyo turned out of the kitchen and into the hall. If she was surprised that Kagome was dressed, she didn't show it. She walked until she could see into the bedroom and stopped... on a dime.
"InuYasha!" she cried out, her mouth dropping open as she rushed forward to help him.
"Kagome," Fori snarled at the abused girl, wrenching on her hair. "How dare you treat guests like this?"
Kagome became aware that InuYasha had almost basically recovered and was glaring at her spitefully. Keeping her tears at bay was the hardest thing she had ever done. After a near-rape, she didn't think she'd be able to handle a beating. Oh, God, please, no....
"Sir, we will punish her this very night. I am so sorry that you were subjected to this injustice. Please accept my apologies," Fori fluttered worriedly, her voice sugary sweet. The honey in her voice directly contradicted the danger of her smile.
"I'm alright... it's fine..." he muttered as he struggled to stand, Kikyo helping him.
"We're going to go out, alright? Maybe back to his house to get him fixed up," Kikyo informed Fori briskly, leaving no room for argument.
"Of course," the stepmother conceded, not missing a beat.
Sesshoumaru stepped out of the shower in time to hear the door slam, amidst much cursing.
"That little bitch kneed me! She kneed me! You said she would let me fuck her if you told her to! What gives, Kikyo?!"
He felt himself still at InuYasha's short monologue, his heart almost stopping. The strange girl... who had seemed so broken... she had some fight in her after all, did she? He almost felt like smiling.
'Only a virgin would risk losing everything for the sake of her virginity,' he thought smugly, storing this bit of revelation away for later. For now, he was eavesdropping on Kikyo.
"Don't worry, Stepmother will take care of her."
"Why'd you call her, anyway?"
"I wanted to see that stupid brat sister of mine whipped again. I haven't heard her cry out in raw pain in a while, now. She's not fun to play with anymore." Kikyo laughed, a viper's laugh.
Sesshoumaru didn't feel like smiling anymore.
Whispers were set in motion at Kagome's arrival to school. The rumors rippled through the school like wind through a field of wheat, and by first bell everyone had caught a glimpse of her.
She was limping, and one side of her face was bruised. She was bundled up in her coat per usual, so any underlying injuries were hidden. But you could tell simply by the way she walked. So gingerly. When a person bumped into her she grimaced in pain, and her eyes stung with tears.
"Oh, my God..." she heard as she entered the classroom, ten minutes before class started. She looked up through one good eye and a swollen black one to see Mr. Houshi stand hurriedly, knocking over his chair and a few items on his desk in the process. He rushed over to her and knelt in front of her, looking at her face in horror.
Kagome jerked her head away and covered her face with her hair as she stalked to her desk. When she had sat, Mr. Houshi was standing and looking extremely angry.
"I will not stand for this," he muttered through gritted teeth, and promptly marched from the room. When he returned five minutes later, he looked remarkably calmer, as if some sort of heavy burden had been lifted.
Good. Maybe the principal told him to leave it alone. Kagome didn't want trouble at school, too. Especially not with the teachers. Who knew what Fori would do then?
Bit by bit, her classmates filtered into the room, silent and looking at her expectantly, as if waiting for an explanation. Receiving none, they sat in their respective places and murmured to each other, sneaking glances at her.
Sesshoumaru came in last. Oh, yes, he had watched her limp into school. He had seen the way she cradled her arm protectively from the crowds. And he had seen the guilty looks his brother had sent her way. It looks like InuYasha had finally gotten over his anger and was moving steadily into remorse-mode. Sesshoumaru sincerely hoped he choked on it.
Sitting next to her as prescribed from his first day here, he said nothing. He would wait until lunch.
Lunch came, and Sesshoumaru found her by the tree, as usual... alone, as usual. He stopped next to her and leaned against the brick amiably, staring at the huge tree.
She didn't move a muscle, but watched him warily from the side of her eyes. He peered closer, and noticed that her hands were shaking.
From pain? Fear? Who could know? Sesshoumaru certainly wanted to.
"So, how have you been?" he attempted, his voice silky, composed.
She said nothing.
Sighing inwardly, he decided to switch tactics. "I heard you kneed InuYasha in the crotch."
She leapt up and stared hard at him, her breathing harsh with terror. Her hair, uncombed that day, settled in a nimbus about her face, and her arms were at her sides, shaking still. Kagome leaned on her back foot, preparing to flee. She started to move when he grabbed her.
He went for her shoulder without thinking. When she hissed in pain, he immediately dropped his hand, ignoring the brimming of tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I forgot," he murmured to the ground. "But don't leave. I won't get you in trouble."
She stood still, edgy, like a rabbit. She was there for now, but ready to move at a moment's notice -- a disheartening fact for a person who actually wanted to have a decent conversation. Her lips were pursed, pale, as she scrutinized the God Tree bluntly, blinking the tears away.
Kagome the rabbit.
When he let out an audible sigh she jumped, and flicked a glance his way before looking at the tree again, as if he was unsafe to behold.
"Look at me!" Sesshoumaru was surprised to realize that this strong, angry voice issued from his own self. "Stop looking away!"
Startled, Kagome opened her eyes wide, and her mouth dropped open slightly. Finally, she didn't look scared; not a bit. Just shocked. Obligingly, she locked eyes with the young white-haired boy and stared deep.
'He has beautiful eyes,' she realized slowly. 'I wonder why I'd never noticed before. Have I always been this blind?'
Entrancing, he found, this girl who would bare her soul to one simply by allowing them to look into her eyes. Her sad, pained eyes. Her wise, innocent eyes.... Any person could get lost in those eyes of a perfect pale blue.
He took a step forward, towards her. And so caught was she in his eyes that she simply stood. She was no longer weird-o, slave, or whipping girl. Just Kagome. And she hadn't felt like Kagome in such a long time.
Sesshoumaru surprised himself by reaching up to touch her hair. Despite that it was uncombed, it was obviously well taken care of, and promised silkiness if brushed. He took another step forward, close to her, and they were chest to chest.
He was tall. Kagome tilted her head to look at him, unsure of what he was doing. A flash of memory stirred in the depths of her mind, of InuYasha pinning her, cornering her....
But this wasn't InuYasha. That much was plain to see. She wouldn't allow her sister's boyfriend to taint her thoughts.
His hands were on her face, feeling her tears as they poured down each cheek. Kagome felt protected, cradled by those delicate, strong hands as they held her aloft, and those brightly golden eyes stared down at her in sympathy. Possibly even empathy. Possibly even... a sense of kinship.
The young boy felt his hands on her face, and marveled at the smoothness of her cheeks, and the incredible moisture of those glistening tear drops. A realization hit Sesshoumaru; he was supporting her. If he let her go... would she be able to stand?
He didn't want to test his theory, because his hands were on her face.
His hands were on her face.
A/N Wooo-eee. Damn InuYasha and his horrible URGES!! But Sesshy got some down-time with the great 'Gome-monster! Whee! This'll progress nicely.