Chapter 3: The Enslaved Guest
After Shinobu had stop her examinations I was free to do whatever I wanted till lunch time. I put on a yukata that was left there earlier by Shinobu and decided to look around the palace. I knew my room connected to the garden and to the hallway, so I went straight to the hallway, which was very large and dark. I walked noticing some rooms that weren't used at the time 'Probably guest-rooms that haven't being used' most of them of the same size as Kagome's. Then she noticed at the end of the corridor a light which seemed to show another part of the palace, she saw a river coming through the palace and a small bridge connecting the other part. At the far left you could see steam, I approached and saw a hot springs: they were several pools and one in particular was detached from the others 'Probably Sesshoumaru's private one.' I inferred. I continued my trip over the palace, the place seemed bigger than I expected, I turned to the far left and approached a room, opened the door and saw it was a dojo, all kinds of swords where hanging on the walls and at the end a large statue of what it seemed a enormous inu-youkai, I went nearer to touch it but before my hand could touch the old cold steel someone took it away.
I was surprised to see Sesshoumaru's body in front of me, he had taken my hand and pulled it violently away from the statue I complained at his rude gesture but he didn't seem to care whether or not he had damaged my hand. Reminding myself of what had happened before, his delight on causing me fear, I held back the fright, he frown noticing my attitude and scold "What are you doing in this place?" he inquired coldly. I answered without fear "I was looking around the palace and I entered this dojo." I looked at him in the very eye, he didn't seem to back up but instead came closer to me, took my chin in his fingers and spoke in a dreadful tone "You shall never again enter this area without my consent, is that understood?" I just nodded but that didn't seem to please him so he repeated "Is it understood?" I muttered a faint "hai". He let go of my face and turn on his way to leave but before he did so I stepped at him and asked "Why are you keeping me here?". He stopped in his track and turned around an indifferent mask held his irritation "This is not the time nor the place for such a discussion, follow me and join me to lunch I shall then discuss this matter with you." I followed him glancing at him from behind with a "you-arrogant-rude-awful-bastard" look in my face, I had to follow because I didn't really know where the dinning room was, I inspected every single movement he made, he seemed so cold-hearted never looking at the servants that passed by and bowed politely at him, never even flinch at the sight of a servant braking something he looked so strangely... perfect I mean I could see he wanted to get everyone to think that, all of his gestures: the way he walked, the way his hair swung from one side to another and how he kept his head high up, not caring about anything but the way he looked and the way everyone looked at him, it was almost as watching a sculpture that could move.
He was indeed flawless.
Neither less he's attitude sucked. He was so cold and serious I wondered how he could be a little girl's protector, I mean he sure looks strong but... I don't know maybe he had a soft spot for the kid. Right in that moment we past through a big room filled with toys I figured it had to be Rin's 'Well well I guess I was right, he does have a soft spot for the girl...' I looked around and more toys where all around the room: from dolls to coloring scrolls, everything a kid could dream of having, I giggled in my head 'AND he spoils her!' He seemed to read my thoughts because just then he turned around to look at me and scold my amused expression, 'He doesn't seem to like me at all, but then again he IS on my debt.' I smiled for the first time that day, it was a small smile but nonetheless a smile.
He seemed to be disgusted by my smile so he turned around again and entered a large room. It had a huge table were almost 30 people could fit in, it was adorned Japanese style, with cushions on the floor and a large ancient painting of an enormous inu-youkai in the sky, it looked a lot like the one I had seen in the dojo earlier. He entered and I followed, soon after we both sat down: Sesshoumaru in the very end right in front of the painting and I at his left, we heard little Rin running around and Jaken following her, she entered quickly and sat to the right of Sesshoumaru. In a few moments loads of servants entered the room and displayed on the table all kinds of plates and delicacies, they served Sesshoumaru first then Rin and me at the end. After this they left and Rin threw herself at her plate, I thought I could do the same so I started eating as well.
Sesshoumaru was all this time staring at me, as if thinking how to torture me after lunch, I swallowed and asked "Aren't you going to eat?" He seemed disturbed from his thoughts, frown at me, and drank from his small cup of sake. After a while of no answer I let the question die, he didn't really seem keen of answering me. After I while Rin was finished and excused herself, she left the room and again could be heard the cries of Jaken following her around. When I was about to leave when Sesshoumaru stopped me "Sit down I haven't instructed you to leave." With that I did as told and sat next to him, I wasn't really in the mood for a argument so I didn't protest. He seriously looked at me and then scanned the room, after a long silence he spoke "As you know I'm grateful to you for saving Rin from the wolf-youkai..." I stared at him for a while and he added "I'm on your debt human..." she cut him off "My name is Kagome." He seemed irritated and looked at me with anger in his eyes but continued where he had left "Kagome, well then I have decided to let you stay in my palace as a way of payment for your service, I hope you will agree with this."
I gave him the most annoyed, most awful look I could muster 'Why the hell does HE want me here for? I could just leave now. I don't care if he's grateful or not, I did it to save Rin! I have nothing to do with HIM!' but taking all of that I just answered politely "Thank you for the offer but I do not wish to trouble you, besides you don't seem so keen of letting me stay." He seemed to react at this last statement, he took my hand gently like he never had done it before and said "I have my honor... Kagome, and I cannot accept a "no" for answer. I have already prepare a room for you." He stood up as if nothing I had just said mattered and went to the door, I stood up, now I was mad "Do you intend to keep me here over unwillingly? What kind of repayment is that?" He turned around and came close to me, menacing me, he took my wrist lifting it high up and replayed in a freezing tone "Do not be ungrateful human! This Sesshoumaru will not tolerate this attitude, I'm doing this because Rin has requested it!" My eyes widen at this "Now, get out of my sight." He let go of my wrist and left the room. I now understood, Rin had asked him to keep her here, but she didn't want to stay here, then as she turned brutally to the door a sharp pain made her fall to the floor, the loud thud caught Rin's attention into the room.
"Kagome-chan daijoubu?" She asked shocked and placing a small hand over mine. I could hardly stand up, after a while I did and then Rin looked eyes wide and pale at me "Kagome-chan! You're bleeding!" I looked down and noticed a large stain of blood on my stomach 'I broke the stitches Shinobu made...' Rin panicked and started calling Shinobu, she quickly came and after her work was done she reproached me "I just told you not to move so much, here take this." She handed me a small bottle with some green liquid inside "This is an herbal medicine, it will help you to cicatrize just rub it on the wound after a bath, wait till it dries and wash it off ok?" She turned to Rin who was now glad that all that blood was washed away from Kagome's body "Rin-sama, would you be so kind and take Kagome to the herbal spring that way she can clean herself up and put on the medication." She happily nod, she was happy she could help cure Kagome, Shinobu help Kagome up and Rin showed the way to the springs, after some servants gave her some towels they left her on her own.
I took off the yukata and slowly and carefully enter the spring. The hot liquid touched my skin and relaxed every single muscle of my body "This feels good!" I whispered. For a moment I was glad I was in this palace, there were so many luxuries she would be able to experience, but the thought of sharing the same air and space with Sesshoumaru didn't seem appealing at all. 'I can't believe he's keeping me here. Who does he think he is ordering me around?' I tried to see the good part of it 'At least he saved me and I have a place to stay till I heal... I wonder if Sesshoumaru killed Kouga?' That was something to ask Sesshoumaru, if he had killed him then there would be no one to chase her after she would leave the palace, but if he hadn't then she would need to fight him someday. Kagome was never used to fighting, she had trained a couple of times with her father before the village was attacked, she knew how to use a bow and arrows but she never actually had being into a real "to-death" fight. The time she was with the wolf tribe she had learn some stuff by seeing them practicing and hunting but had never try them out. She then thought again of the dojo where Sesshoumaru had found her 'Maybe I could train there...' but she reminded herself of what Sesshoumaru had told her, she pouted at this and finally concluded she'd have to ASK him if she could use the dojo to practice kendo and hand to hand combat since she already knew how to use the bow and arrows.
After a while she got out of the spring to place the herbal medicine on her wound, she put a towel around her naked body and sat on the edge of the spring, her feet still in the hot water. She then heard someone coming from behind she covered herself even more, a low growl came from behind her "What are you doing here?" came Sesshoumaru's cold deep voice, shivers came down her spine as she muttered "Sh-Shinobu suggested to take a herbal bath she says it'll help my wounds healing." He growl at this and spat out "You are not allowed to use this spring without my consent."
I was tired of listening to that "Then what am I allowed to do, since you're keeping me here, you surely do not expect me to stay in my room and do nothing!" I could sense him frown at this even if the steam was so thick I could hardly see through it, I then felt his hand on my shoulder, I kind of panicked at this, was he going to hit me? Then I felt him whispering in my ear "You're a feisty one. That amuses me." His hand then traveled from by shoulder to my neck and then my jaw line it seemed as if he was studying my features with his touch, I felt my blood boil and my cheeks flash red. "As long as you're here you're my guest but don't forget your place human... I can still kill you.." I hissed at him "What about your honor?" he clasped his cold fingers over my mouth, I stared in fear, I wasn't thinking what I was saying anymore "They are other ways I can repay you, like a proper burial or maybe a quick painless death, you choose..." I gulped at that, he chuckled amused. With that his hand stopped touching me and I heard his steps fading away in the palace.
After applying the medicine on my wound, I got dressed in my yukata and walked to the corridor leading to my room, I noticed a room with the lights on. I slowly came close to the light and observed I was at the entrance of the dojo I had entered earlier that day. I could see the silhouette of Sesshoumaru, kneeling in front of the large inu-youkai statue, he was silent and seemed to be in his own thoughts. I didn't want to anger him for the third time today so left him alone, and walked quickly to my room.
I stared at the ceiling for a while then remembered the day when I became a slave. The village was on fire, people were screaming... I shot my eyes....
I fell asleep...
The blood. The smell of blood was everywhere.
"NEE-SAN!!!!!!" cried a little boy. "Kagome-nee-san!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I turned around. "Souta..." I saw his face stained in blood and dark charcoal, flames where everywhere, his small delicate hands were on his face, he was crying and calling me. I could see his skin was already starting to burn, all his clothes were in flame. I heard him cry out in pain, then, for the last time, he shout my name and then a cloud of smoke covered him.
"Iya... Iya...." I fell on my knees in front of my now burned down house, again the screams and cries of my brother in my mind. I put my hands over my face, tears ran down my cheeks little a river. I finally looked up to the house, it was now burned into ashes.
"Souta... Iya...IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I fell to the floor, wanting to die in that same moment. Wanting to be with him once again.
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A/N: I have to be honest with you, it's really really hard to decide what Sesshoumaru is going to say. I know his cold, emotionless and violent, maybe in my story he'll seem a little to impulsive but I'll try to stick to his personality as for Kagome I have showed more of here feisty and sturdy side and soon her soft loving side (yey Kagome's so nice!). Well hope you liked it, any comments/critics are welcome.
Daijoubu: are you ok?
Iya: No. Hai: Yes.
Futon: Matress (japanese style)
Yukata: bathing/sleeping robe.