Inuyasha-fan91: Ye thinks ye says ye too much? Ye?

Sheenachi: ::gasp:: You… don't… like Inuyasha? That's ok! Heh.

inlovewithsesshomaru: I'm glad you like it. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Banana Rum: I think pink is a perfect color for Sesshomaru, and exactly what did Sesshomaru get Kagome for a present?

Theblackdemoness: I'm sorry about changing the rating to R. It's just to be on the safe side. Actually, it's mostly for the nextchapter... And the occasional profanity.

Hiei's.punk.rocker.girl: Lol. I still don't understand. I really AM hopeless. I feel stupid now….

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. I don't own anything except… uh… well, maybe I don't own anything.

Beta Read by Kalliel/ Banana Rum

Chapter 6: Wanderings

--

"Wake up! Time for the morning meal!"

Kagome groaned, and rolled over on her futon, pulling the blanket up higher. 'I don't want to get up; I'm tired.'

Someone shook her lightly. "Get up, Lady! You must go to the dining hall!"

"Huh?" Kagome said, blearily. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Where are we going?"

"You, Lady. You are to dine with Sesshomaru this morning," Hatsue stated, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "And if we don't get there soon-"

"What?" Kagome was fully alert now. "I'm going to have breakfast with Sesshomaru?"

"I don't what 'breakfast' is, but we must hurry to get you ready!"

"And how, exactly? There's not anytime for a bath, or something, from what I gather…"

Hatsue whipped out a kimono from behind, and before Kagome could say a word she had Kagome in it, and was starting to vigorously comb her hair.

"Hey!" Kagome pouted. When Hatsue ignored her, she took the time to look at the kimono. It was a rich dark blue, embroidered with tiny sliver snowflakes. She smoothed out a small wrinkle in the sleeve, marveling at the silky fabric.

"There. You're ready, Lady." Hatsue stepped back to admire her five-minute work, and nodded, satisfied. Then she motioned for Kagome to follow her.

"Now, I can't really tell you much about how to act in front of Sesshomaru, but make sure you're very polite, and don't do anything stupid, remember you could be thrown in the dungeons, and don't eat too fast…"

Kagome chuckled as Hatsue assumed the role of mother unknowingly. She sounded exactly like hers. That caused a minuscule pain deep in her heart, as she recalled that she would never see her mother again, most likely. She had no time to dwell on it, though, as she was hustled into the dining hall.

Am intricately carved maple wood with mother of pearl inlaid in the corners stretched almost the length of the room. A rice paper screen at the other end of the room indicated servants served the meal. Kagome noted it had evidence of old food stains, where some servant had tripped and spilled the food. She also saw two places set, one for her, and the other for Sesshomaru, she assumed. Hatsue nudged her to one of the seats, and she sat down, uncomfortable amid the imposing atmosphere.

A cluster of demon servants walked by, gossiping. "Lord Sesshomaru is late. I wonder why," one of them said, with a sly glance at Kagome.

The screen flew open then, and Sesshomaru walked in. The whispers died immediately as he sat down. The room held absolute silence.

Sesshomaru spoke then, in a voice that was soft but filled the whole space. "What are you waiting for? It is time for the meal."

Then the room exploded into action. Kagome watched with fascination as servants bustled through, carrying food on numerous minuscule dishes, and others hastened to bring jugs of water.

She walked forward, being careful to not rip the kimono- obviously an antique. She sat down carefully on the cushion and looked at Sesshomaru. He ignored her.

Kagome decided that now would be a good time for conversation. "So… uh…" Problem was, she couldn't think of anything.

"Yes?" Sesshomaru looked up with an icy glare that sent shivers down Kagome's spine.

'Start off nice and easy. Easy…' "So, um, why did you call me in to dine with you?" 'Stupid! Stupid!'

"I do not want to eat 'with' you. I merely wanted to discuss your… future, shall we say."

"Well, what is it then?" Kagome asked brightly, forcing a smile. 'I have a bad feeling about this.'

"After I use you to obtain Tetsusaiga, what will you do?" Sesshomaru glanced at her, seemingly uninterested in her answer, whatever it could be.

"I-I don't know," Kagome stammered, surprised. 'I never really thought of my future. I want to go back home, but what about Inuyasha? I do want to see him, I guess Maybe.'

Sesshomaru broke into her reverie. "I could use you…" he said thoughtfully. "Yes, you could serve a very nice purpose."

"W-what?" Kagome was thinking of all sorts of suggestive things. 'What does he plan to do with me?'

"You can be a servant."

"W-what? Be… a servant?" Kagome asked, shocked. She mulled over the possibilities. 'Well, I could go back, I guess, but I would see Inuyasha. If I stayed here, I wouldn't see my family. It all points to no, but…. I think I want to stay here. Why?'

She looked at Sesshomaru, and her heart started beating faster. 'Well, I guess he's kind of hot….. Wait. No. No, I do not like him. I can't. That's impossible.'

"What do you say?" Sesshomaru asked, plainly irritated. "Do you want to, or not?"

"I guess so. But, tell me one thing," Kagome said. "Why did you offer me this?"

"Because I can never have too many servants," Sesshomaru replied. 'You know that's not true! You like her!'

"Stupid," Sesshomaru muttered under his breath. 'I don't! I just need her.'

"Grr." Sesshomaru suddenly stood up. He walked out of the room without looking back.

"Huh?"

"Come on, Lady, let's go," Hatsue urged. She pulled on Kagome's arm to get her moving.

"But-but I'm hungry!" Kagome whined, realizing just how hungry she was. "Can't we at least bring some food back to my room?"

And that was how ten minutes later, Hatsue found herself watching Kagome stuff herself with rice and vegetables. 'This will be the death of me, trying to clean up.'

"Hatsue?" Kagome said, food falling out of her mouth.

"Yes?" Hatsue turned away from the sight.

"Why was Sesshomaru acting all uptight this morning?" Kagome finally swallowed.

"Hmm…" Hatsue thought. 'Come to think of it, he was acting a little strange this morning.' "Maybe he likes you, Lady?" Hatsue teased with a smile.

"No! Please no!" Kagome begged. 'I don't want him to like me! I don't want to like him! And I don't!'

"I think you like him," Hatsue teased, probing into Kagome's mind.

"No! I hate him!" Kagome declared. Despite her efforts, a blush rose to her cheeks.

"You do," Hatsue said slyly.

"Hmph."

--

Sesshomaru was not in a good mood.

'I don't like that wench. I don't. I hate her.' Sesshomaru leapt through a tree, scattering pine needles on to his clothes and entangling them in his hair. He slashed at another one.

'I hate her.' He told himself. With that in mind, he thought about what to do next. 'I want to kill something.'

He started walking sedately, not in the angry rampaging rush before. 'I hate her. I'm not mad.'

He saw an innocent squirrel sitting on a tree branch. It chattered at him noisily.

Sesshomaru suddenly dashed forward, and his claws swiped through the muscle and body fat of the squirrel. It stumbled forward, and then fell, its head falling next to the body. When Sesshomaru looked down, he saw a mess of squirrel guts.

"That's better. But not good enough." He stepped on the body, and heard a loud crunch. He crouched down, and used his poison to melt the head. He observed the eyes sizzling with satisfaction.

He sighed. 'No one's around. I don't have to pretend anymore.' Checking the vicinity one last time, he sat down, back to the trunk of a stump.

'I might as well admit it. I like her. But I don't want to. It only adds complication to life. Rin.' He bowed his head.

'She died. Because of that hell-born Jaken. Damn him.' He remembered that day all too clearly. 'If only I had been there… it only she had never come into my life!'

He recalled when he first met her. 'So innocent.' She had helped him. 'I didn't need her to help me.' She died. He revived her. 'Why did I?' She had followed him, and from that day on, she had become the comedy of the group. Besides Jaken, of course.

'If I hadn't brought her back, she would have stayed dead. Do I regret that course of action?

'No. I'm glad she was with us. But she didn't deserve to die. Fucking toad.'

Sesshomaru stood up. 'I need to kill more.'

--

Kagome crept stealthily out of her room. She looked back, checking to make sure she hadn't been noticed. She breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't see anyone.

Kagome had been wondering, ever since that morning, what the castle looked like. So, she had decided, instead of thinking about her mixed feelings, she would explore. Without Hatsue.

She could just imagine it. "Lady! Come back! Don't go in there!" Wait. Was that only her imagination, or-

"Lady!"

'Crap.'

"Lady, why are you out of your room? You shouldn't be wandering about!" Hatsue scolded, once she was next to Kagome. "We're going back. And you're staying there."

Kagome huffed. 'I'll just have to go out tonight.' She crossed her arms, yanking one out of Hatsue's grasp. They walked on in silence.

Back in the room, Kagome stared idly out the window.

A flash of white. The faint sense of death.

Kagome started. Peering more closely outside, she saw what appeared to be Sesshomaru. 'But why is he killing? Well, I guess he is a heartless bastard, but…'

The sun was setting. It cast a brilliant arc of light on the castle. The sky was awash in autumn colors. Kagome almost felt as if the sky was putting on this magnificent display just for her. It felt secretive, as if only she could she it.

'It's so beautiful.' Kagome thought in bliss. It washed away all her troubles and fears, for at least a minute. Than the feeling was gone.

"Time for sleep, Lady," Hatsue said. Kagome grudgingly turned away.

--

Inuyasha ran through the village, a blur of red and white. The villagers stopped and stared. Kaede, however, smiled, satisfied. Kagome would be back soon, she was almost sure of that.

But a niggling sensation at the back of her head said otherwise. So she called Sango, Miroku, and Shippo to her. "I believe that Inuyasha won't try to get her back. Ye must go with him. Shippo, will ye stay with me?"

Sango and Miroku nodded in understanding. Shippo, however, wasn't pleased. "I don't get it! Why can't I come?"

"You can if you want," Sango offered. "Do you?"

Shippo shook his head. "I'll see Kagome when you bring her back! And besides, Kaede needs me!"

"Yes, she does," Sango agreed. "Well, we'll be back within a couple of days, if all goes well. See you then."

"Yes." Although Sango's tone had been cheery, Kaede knew that it would be difficult. 'Good luck.'

--

Inuyasha now walked lazily through the forest. 'I'll go fight with Sesshomaru, pretend to try and save Kagome, and then come back and say I couldn't do it. Simple.'

However, his plan backfired when he saw Sango and Miroku behind him. 'Shit.'

"Inuyasha!" Miroku called out jovially. "How are you? You know, you don't seem to be going very fast. Mind if we join you?"

Inuyasha groaned. "Keh." 'Well, now I actually have to try! Damn.'

"Good! Let's go!"

--

'Ow. Ow. That last one actually hurt.'

Kagome was miserable. She couldn't see, so she had run into the wall about five times now. She dared not use a candle- it would attract the other servants.

'Maybe I shouldn't have gone exploring.' Kagome tripped, and fell over, flailing her arms. "Ow."

"Oops." She covered her mouth with her hand. 'Please, please don't let anyone have heard me.' Kagome listened for a minute more, then got up and kept going.

She heard snoring to her left, and figured she must be at someone's room. 'It would be so funny if it were Sesshomaru's.' Stifling a giggle, she decided that's what she would look for. 'Maybe I can somehow blackmail him. Or play a trick? Something to liven up the atmosphere here.'

Kagome almost stumbled again when she came to a flight of stairs. When she looked up, she could swear it was blacker than a black cat covered in black paint against a black background, wearing a black collar, its eyes black-

The point was: it was very black. It looked dark, menacing… and enticing. 'I wonder what's up here.'

Creeping silently up, she detected a faint mustiness in the air. 'I guess no one's been here for a long time.' The stairs suddenly ended, and Kagome looked down the narrow hallway. At the end, there was a glow.

Kagome's curiosity was peaked. She tiptoed down, and pushed the screen door aside gently.

The first entity she saw was a candle. The was one, lighting the room with a feeble light. There was a silver comb before it.

Kagome stepped forward, and reached for the comb. Before she could touch it, a hand grabbed her wrist with almost enough force to break it.

Kagome shrieked, startled. Another hand clamped over her mouth. "Shut up, bitch."

Kagome did that, shaking. The grip on her was loosened. She looked back and saw Sesshomaru.

--

A/N: Well, it's kind of a cliffy. And I'm so proud! It's five pages long! ::cries::

Poor squirrel! It shouldn't have died! But I guess this IS called "Blood of the Innocent". But maybe the squirrel was plotting to take over the world with his machine gun! You never know.

Until next week then! Please review!