Chapter 7:

Kagome idly fingered at the edges of her collar, watching the door contemplatively. He never left her alone for too long, it seemed. She had been chained down to the center of the room for two days now. She couldn't quite reach any of the walls and the barrier surrounding them; obviously Sesshoumaru did not want a repeat of her last escape attempt. She had spent much of the past two days recovering. Even if she was unwilling to admit it, the past several days had been hell for her body and mind, and she found herself sleeping whenever she got the chance. With what was left of her time, she spent sulking and trying to deal with the arrogant demon who had somehow become obsessed with her.

What was worse, she feared that the obsession was contiguous. She had too little to do, and her only resort was to contemplate him. Her emotions bounced around like mad, from various stages of contempt, to confusion, loneliness, want, fear, and everything in between.

He had been making overtures of civility towards her. He had returned her clothes to her, over which she felt a disproportionate rush of relief. She felt a little better in her own undergarments, but was forced to wear the unfamiliar clothes he brought her as her uniform was mostly unwearable. He had brought her a few other tokens, which she had mostly ignored.

She was beginning to grow accustomed to the feeling of his eyes on her. He insisted on feeding her by hand. She had protested at first, but believed him when he threatened to force feed her if she refused. He had continued his campaign of rapid advances and calculated retreats in his assault on her, employing all the tact of a great military commander. The defense was beginning to wear on her, as was the barrage of emotion he struck her with. She wondered how he had so quickly become her whole world. Collared, staring at the door, she felt like a misguided puppy waiting for the return of her master.

She raised her head when he entered, by now expecting that smile he greeted her with. It varied each time she saw it; sometimes it was warm and affectionate, sometimes smug, and occasionally scary. Kagome responded with her now-customary pout, stubbornly turning away from him. He seemed to pay it no mind, settling himself down in front of her without any outward disturbance in his smooth exterior. She still refused to look at him, staring to the side and down as she knelt demurely before him.

"Kagome..." he said once in warning.

Kagome tightened her lips stubbornly, refusing to move. Still, she knew what was coming.

He reached out and snagged her chain, wrapping it around his wrist as he pulled it toward him. The yank would have been painful, had she not been expecting it. She fell forward onto her hands, her head practically landing in Sesshoumaru's lap. With his hold on her now-shortened leash, he guided her head up until she was looking at him. Wordlessly he guided a piece of fruit to her lips and she ate it before she had a chance to think things through.

She drew back when he tried again. "No," she said deferentially. She knew she would have to endure this, but she could only take so much humiliation. "Let me up please, Sesshoumaru."

He gave her a calculating look, then released the chain.

She straightened herself, relaxing as she allowed Sesshoumaru to pull her into his grasp. His large hand slid around her to brace her back as she sat sideways across his lap. Her heart picked up and her skin flushed, even though she had been expecting his actions. She let her hands lie docilely on her lap as Sesshoumaru fed her, having learned what was expected of her in these episodes.

"Sesshoumaru?" she asked between bites. When he made no attempt to discourage her, she continued. "Why do you make me eat like this?" she asked softly.

His graceful hand stroked the soft line of her jaw as he looked in her eyes. "You are not to be trusted yet."

She gave him a dark scowl. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He dropped her unexpectedly, and she grabbed the front of his clothes with both hands in a moment of panic. Two clawed hands braced her frustrated face, and she didn't balk from the intensity of those golden eyes.

"Until you acknowledge me as your mate and master, I must make sure that you are behaving properly. I believe you would still try to escape me."

Kagome pouted, but didn't deny it.

Holding her face still with a gentle but firm hold, he descended on her lips fiercely. It felt like all the breath was knocked out of her as if she'd been thrown against a stone wall. He masterfully manipulated her mouth, his tongue slipping past her defenses as rational thought escaped her as quickly as her air. If she had been watching herself, she would have been shocked to see her hands twisting fist-fulls of his clothing as her arms trembled with the pressure she used to pull herself further up into his kiss. It tasted sweet, the lingering juices from the fruit adding a saccharine tang. Heat spread to through her body and warmed her to her fingertips as he kissed her with impeccably-focused attention.

He slowed and withdrew tenderly, tracing her lips with the tips of his claws. Kagome sighed and leaned into him, her mind buzzing as she tried to slow her hammering pulse.

"Why do you do this?" she hissed at him. "You're trying to make me lose my temper, aren't you? It's hardly fair. You order me to 'behave' and then do everything possible to provoke me. You want an excuse to punish me, don't you?"

He looked back at her blankly, though under the surface his mind was rapidly turning. Her words had struck an odd chord. He had been acting contrary to all of his careful planning. True, he meant to use punishments to help her learn her role, but he had deliberately tried to earn her ire. He could see know. Instead of balancing his strict teaching with trust-encouraging tenderness, he was always trying to keep her off balance. Somehow he was addicted to the fire in her eyes, the volatility of her small body. It was a thrill to see her, glowing and writhing in anger--she was beautiful. And so was her subjugation under him.

"Kagome," he whispered, watching some of the rage wither in her eyes. "Do not speak back to me like that."

She cast her eyes down, biting back a retort. She was not going to play his way, she reminded herself. Unbidden, images of her previous punishment came to mind and she had the irrational urge to provoke him. She bit down hard on her bottom lip and clenched her fists, gradually taking control of herself again.

"But I have been unfair to you," he said finally, startling her. "My precious miko, I fear your training has only made you more stubborn."

She didn't deny it. However, she also couldn't show him how much he had gotten to her. He couldn't know that she thought of almost nothing but him. She couldn't let him find out the dizzy thrill that went through her when pulled her to him by that damned chain, the agonizing pleasure that tested her resolve whenever those razor claws grazed her tender skin. No, it wouldn't do at all if Sesshoumaru found out, and she was quickly losing her will and ability to keep it from him.

Kagome felt graceful fingers on her back, caressing her slowly. The lines from her punishment were slowly fading and had lost most of their tenderness, but were still sensitive enough to make her shudder.

"I can heal this for you," he said softly.

She shook her head. "No. I want them."

"Why is that? I doubt you have accepted your punishment to this degree–-but perhaps you enjoy knowing I have this power over you?" His voice lowered to a wind-soft hiss. "Perhaps you yearn for another demonstration?"

Kagome remained silent, but felt her insides twist at his words. The image of herself, coiled in that damned chain, helpless beneath him sprang into her mind. His claws and fangs would torment her until she was writhing helplessly, begging for mercy. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to clear her head, when Sesshoumaru blessedly changed the subject.

"Why haven't you touched the things I brought you?" he asked, though of course the answer was obvious.

She glanced at the objects arrayed next to her futon: a few items of delicate and beautiful jewelry and lovely silk clothing. She had been forced to wear some of it, but had not changed despite the selection he offered. It would be too easy to be lulled by his unorthodox hospitality.

"Because they are from you," she answered, carefully shielding her voice from her anger and weariness.

"Hmm, this will not do at all," he reprimanded softly. "I want only for your comfort." Now was the time to correct his mistake, to start building the trust between them. After that, he could claim her passions. He set her down on the floor again, guiding her with his hands until she was kneeling facing away from him.

With an elegant flicker of his hand, he picked up one of the delicate neglected combs. Gently, he began to pull the silver teeth through her wavy black hair. Kagome tensed at first, but would not move away as long as her chain was looped about his striped wrist. With each stroke, she seemed to melt a bit more, the straight lined tension in her back easing. He noticed with satisfaction when she began to make soft breathy noises of pleasure as he ran the comb across her scalp. Her hair smelled wonderful and felt like silk. When her locks hung in smooth heavy waves down her back, he halted the brush. She looked back over her shoulder at him, her dark eyes heavy and relaxed.

He kissed her chastely on the presented cheek, and the girl only blinked in acceptance. He resisted the temptation to speak, knowing that if he pointed out her acquiescence she would only regress into her sullen disobedience. It was better to lure her with a gentle hand. There would be plenty of opportunities to see those brilliant angry eyes of hers in the future.

"Now," he said softly as he took her by the wrist, "you will do the same for me." He pressed the comb into her fingers, which curled reflectively about the jade handle.

She blinked and shook herself. "What?"

"I have taken care of you, but it also you responsibility to service me," he explained patiently.

He watched as she pressed her lips together, staring at the comb and then at his hair. There was a flicker of... longing? It was quickly followed by a frown of annoyance, but he had already noticed. She wanted to, he could tell. It was simply a mater of coaxing her.

"Kagome, would you please do me this favor?"

She didn't answer, but scooted forward. She reached out for his shoulder for balance as she moved behind him hesitantly. He could hear her breathing behind him in indecision before she finally lifted a lock of his trailing hair from where it rested, touching the floor. He felt the comb begin to move expertly through his hair and permitted himself a triumphant smile.

Kagome was having trouble believing her own actions. She watched her fingers weaving through his pearly hair, the whole scene feeling very surreal. If he had asked him to 'serve' him in any other way, she would have fought him again, no matter the consequences. But no, he had to ask for this, something she had been secretly longing to do. She had always been curious about his hair and had wanted to touch it. Close up, it shone like abalone and shifted like spider silk. The strands were thinner than Inuyasha's, but more radiant and smooth. It was quite thin but seemed strong in spite of the fact. She was envious of how smooth it lay, but couldn't seem to keep her hands from it. It was as pleasurable as his ministrations to her own hair. She was tempted to feel this hair against her cheek; she could almost fall into the silver-white rail down his back.

"It's beautiful," he heard her sigh behind him.

Relaxed and assured, he reveled in the steady rhythm of her hands. "Do you enjoy it?"

There was a moment's hesitation before she answered. "Yes. I've never seen anything like it."

"I give it to you then. From this moment, you are the only one I will allow to touch it, and may do so whenever you wish." This gift, he thought, she would not refuse.

"I..." she stammered. "I might mess it up."

"I have faith that you will do me honor, Kagome," he said subtly. "Regardless, it is yours."

She paused for a moment. "Really?"

He nodded.

She was confused, but the lure of wrapping her hands in his hair was too tempting. The pledge made her feel a bit dizzy, and there was a buzz of desperate pleasure at knowing he trusted her with this. And that Sesshoumaru, who had always been so selfish, would offer her a part of himself...

There was wonderment in her voice when she spoke again. "Thank you."

"You are most welcome," he grinned at her. Every chink he discovered in her formidable armor, and she became a little more his. It was only a matter of time, now.

.


Another very short chapter. I am sorry. I'm afraid I don't intend for this to be much longer, as I find it hard to maintain interest. Thanks for all the great reviews. I'll try to keep this story going as long as people seem interested in reading it.

Ah yes, and several people have asked about email updates. Sadly, I don't think that will be practical because I publish this story on several sites and it never seems to be at the same time. So I apologize again.