Jami – Well, this is the fourth chapter!!!! Last chapter, a little romance stirred between Inuyasha and Kagome, but, they're not in love yet so don't be handing out wedding invitations!

Harai – You're so corny…

Rachel – Not as corny as you… ::gives harai sarcastic, bitchy glare::

Harai – Oh, it's on! ::pushes rachel into wall::

Rachel – OW! YOU BITCH! ::pulls harai's hair:: ::harai pulls rachel's hair::

Jami - ::watches stupid catfight off in the distance:: well, anyways, here's the fourth chapter….

Chapter Four: Those Damn Perverted Lords

The next morning, Kagome woke up and got herself dressed and down to the breakfast table. Inuyasha had already been gone all morning, and was out near the courtyard somewhere. Rin greeted her once there and served her a meal. That's when Kagome realized that no one was up yet.

'That's odd.' She thought to herself. She began picking at her meal. It's not that she wasn't hungry, or that the meal tasted badly, it was just she was thinking. She needed this quick alone time to think about what had happened at the party.

Inuyasha was starting to grow on her. Even if he was the arrogant, egotistical jerk that he acted like, those were all just to hide his inner pain. She realized that at the party. She also realized that they had something in common, as impossible as it might be. They were both lonely.

Inuyasha was lonely because the woman he had once loved was raped and murdered, and he was left to suffer.

Kagome on the other hand, was a sad mistress continually bought out by greedy lords and constantly raped and harassed.

Kagome began to remember her previous lord, Kouga. Oh, how he would piss her off to her limits! What a bratty, selfish, vain man he was! Always showing off his good looks, trying to get her into bed! Though, it's not like he had to woo her to get up her skirt. He would just grab her and force himself on her if she were to refuse…. which was every single time.

Kagome was just getting used to this little schedule when that damn Ayame came into the picture… with her flowing red hair… her sparkling green eyes… that short, skimpy skirt… 'DAMNIT!' Kagome thought bitterly. "I could be just as sexy as that whore!" Kagome blurted out loud to no one in particular.

"Who's a whore?" Kagome heard someone across the room say.

Kagome turned her head to see Sango smiling happily at her. Sango sat down beside her.

There was something about Sango's smile that seemed familiar. Maybe it was because it looked exactly like Kagome's fake smile. Kagome blinked and frowned a little.

"Sango, is everything alright?" She asked her. Sango's mouth opened a little, but then she quickly closed it.

"I-I'm fine. I just…" Sango trailed off. Kagome turned a little so she could see her more clearly.

"Let me guess. Your lord?" Kagome asked her. Sango nodded sadly. "Who? Who's your lord? I'm gonna beat him up, I'm gonna…" Kagome was cut off.

"Lord Miroku…" Sango said to her, and began crying softly. Kagome reached her arm around Sango's shoulder to comfort her.

"It's okay… I'm here to help if you need me." Kagome offered.

"Please…" Sango began through gasps of air. "Just… don't hurt him…"

"Like I could…" Kagome said sarcastically. "I'm weaker than… than… well, you get it. I'm weak. Besides, I wouldn't beat someone up if someone asked me not to."

Sango peered up at Kagome with tear filled, chocolate brown eyes and smiled for real. "Thanks Kagome."

"Yup." Kagome responded. "If you don't mind me asking, what did he do to you?" Sango's smile faded.

"He… he just… I know it's our job, but he just forces himself on me constantly." Sango told her unhappily. Kagome nodded.

"I know how it feels. I understand." She told her truthfully. "Miroku's just a stupid, vain, perverted lord anyways. Nothing special." Sango began crying more heavily. "What? Was it something I said?"

"I know that he's like that… but… I…" Sango cried. "I mean, he's not such a bad guy… I've seen his sweet sides, and he's actually very smart and he's funny… I…"

"You love him, don't you?" Kagome finished for her, rubbing her shoulders. Sango nodded, her hand held to her face, covering the hot tears.

Just then, Miroku and Inuyasha walked through the doors and into the room. Miroku saw Sango crying and rushed over towards her. "Lady Sango, is something wrong?" He asked her. Sango peered up at him with wide eyes and tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Speak of the devil…" Kagome grumbled and looked over at Inuyasha. He was standing there, his red haori and pants on, his black hair flowing elegantly over his shoulders and back. His moon gray eyes glimmered. Suddenly, his eyes were locked with hers.

"What?" He asked her, though, this time not as harshly as usual. Kagome blushed and looked away.

"Nothing…" Kagome trailed off.

"C'mon, just tell me." Miroku pleaded and leaned down to Sango's eye level. Sango wiped the tears from her face and stood up defiantly.

"Nothing at all. Everything is quite fine and I am feeling well. Thank you, but I have no need for your assistance." Sango said gruffly and fled the room.

Miroku watched her leave and sighed when she was out of the room.

"Why don't you go after her and say you're sorry?" Kagome suggested. Miroku didn't budge or say anything. "Miroku?"

"Damn… that is one piece of fine ass!"

Kagome and Inuyasha sweat dropped. Inuyasha hit him across the side of his head and Kagome walked over and slapped him in the face.

"OW!" He whimpered.

"Serves you right, ya pervert!" Inuyasha shouted.

"Sorry!" Miroku said eagerly. "So, Lady Kagome, what is it that you wanted me to do?"

"You heard me! Go and apologize!" Kagome ordered him.

"For what?"

"For what? For WHAT? FOR WHAT!?!?" Kagome screeched. "I dunno…." She began. "Maybe it's because you practically rape her every single night and…." Kagome was interrupted when Inuyasha clamped a hand over her mouth. Kagome glared up at him.

"Shhh…." Inuyasha said, putting a finger up to his lips. He unclamped her mouth and Miroku turned around to face them both.

"Hmmm… so that's how you see it? Well, it figures." Miroku began. "It's not like I don't know that she doesn't like it." Miroku said half-heartedly.

"Then why don't you stop?" Kagome asked him bitterly. Miroku sighed.

"Lady Kagome… it is only because I am trying to get something through her head." And he walked away and out of the dining hall.

"And what the HELL was that all about?" Kagome asked, glaring up at Inuyasha.

"What are you asking me for? You're the one who started it." He told her.

Kagome crossed her arms. "Inuyasha, you just wouldn't understand."

"Understand what?"

"You wouldn't understand what us slave mistresses have to go through."

"Then why are you a slave mistress if you don't like what lords are doing to you?" Tears started flooding into Kagome's eyes.

"I don't have a choice, Inuyasha. Remember, I don't get to choose what I want, how I want it, when I want it. People choose it for me and they always tell me what to do, and they always, ALWAYS treat you like you're nothing." Kagome said and turned her back to him. Tears were now slowly rolling down her cheeks.

Inuyasha peered down to the ground, soaking in the thoughts that had just spread through out his mind.

"So what if I'm nothing?" Kagome began. "It's not like I have anything to live for. My family is far off, poor, and sick. They have nothing. I can't live for them. It would be pointless." Kagome began weeping.

"C'mon! Don't be crying like that! It makes me feel guilty!" Inuyasha told her, wiping the tears from her face.

"Guilty?" Kagome asked. "Why would you feel guilty?"

"When… Kikyou used to cry… it was because of me, and when I see you crying, it reminds me of feeling guilty for her. I'd give anything to not have you crying because of me." Inuyasha told her and smiled, the first smile Kagome had ever seen on his beautiful face. Sure, he'd smirk at her every so often, but this, this was a true smile. One that Kagome rarely ever saw.

Kagome wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and she felt his strong arms around her in an instant. "I won't cry because of you. Sometimes, I just can't help it." She whispered into his chest.

Suddenly, Emperor Sesshomaru appeared while the couple was in their little embrace. He cleared his throat, trying to get their attention. The two separated about 10 feet from each other with bright red blushes on their cheeks.

"I have an announcement." Sesshomaru began. Inuyasha and Kagome said nothing. "We have travelers stopping and resting at out castle for a while. They are travelers from the east who are heading far south to help out with the war going on between the two areas." He finished.

"For how long?" Inuyasha asked his older brother.

"For about two weeks, maybe less. It depends on when they plan to attack the south." Inuyasha nodded.

"Hmm…" Kagome sighed.

"What?" Inuyasha asked.

"That's where I used to live with my previous lord."

"In the south?" Inuyasha asked.

"No! The east!" Kagome almost shouted. "His name was Kouga. He acted like a total wolf, always up in my business…" She trailed off.

"Sounds like a pervert." Inuyasha snorted.

"He was. A vain, greedy pervert." Kagome added.

Sesshomaru watched the conversation between the two contently before he got bored and left the room, just like everybody else that day had done.

Jami – Well, how was it? I know, I KNOW! It wasn't much, but I figured it gave you a little insight of Sango and Miroku's relationship and a little hint of the conflict that's going to go on in the next chapter… did you figure it out yet? I gave you quite a few hints! By the way, what the hell does AU mean?

Harai – I thought it meant author update…

Rachel – I wouldn't know… ::bruises and blood all over her body::

Zak – neither would I…. ::stares at rachel and her proof of being beaten up by harai::

Jami – okay.. whatever….

Matt - ::shrugs::