Chapter 6(A.N. I know I said the last chappie was 6, but it wasn't, my bad) 'Dear Stupid Book' and Living Hope
The hours turn into days and days into weeks as Kagome gets used to castle life. She finds out that, by order of Lord 'Look at me', she was to fix all his meals and bring them to him. She was also to stay in the room until he was done and then take the dishes away. Finally, she was only to speak when spoken to. All this, of course, by his order, which she could not disobey.
During meals, especially the first few, she nearly loses control of her stomach. His table manners were atrocious. She starts to doubt he's ever even heard the words 'spoon' or 'knife'.
Her relationship with the servants is a friendly one. She meets many of them and had a special place in her heart for a young cup named Shippo, who'd been an infant when the curse was put into effect and had never even seen a human before Kagome came. He was also an orphan, so Kagome unconsciously takes on the mantle of 'Mother'.
She retains her 'up yours' attitude with Inuyasha, but is thrown for a loop regularly when he does something completely out of character, like she'd find him in the garden, enjoying the few birds that made their homes in the gloomy castle.
One day, after her duties are done, she makes her way to the library. She had taken to going there, not only for the books, but also because she was fairly certain that the arrogant lord wouldn't be there. For such an annoying, boastful thing, he had quite a few books, but there was a series in particular that interested her.
She slips in and makes her way to the very back, where the light didn't shine quite as well and the books have a thick layer of dust on them. There, tattered and worn with age, was a collection of books that were entitled 'My Parents Are Making Me Write This'. She had found the collection quite by accident about a week beforehand when she had gotten lost wandering around.
She takes the first one down off the shelf carefully and slides down against the bookcase, picking up where she had left off the previous day, stopping every now and then when the penmanship got simply appalling.
Dear Stupid Book,
Yes, here I am again. I tried to sneak past my parents so I wouldn't have to write in you, but Father caught me. He thinks he's so big, well when I grow up, I'll show him. Everyone is their usual stupid annoying selves. My stupid nurse yelled at me today for getting mud on my clothes. She keeps telling me to be more like Sesshomaru. I won't! Baka Sesshomaru, he thinks he's so important just because he was born first. I've given him the nickname Fluffy, it gets him mad. It is funny. Mother tells me not to aj agre not call him that, but I do anyway. Father frowns when I do, but doesn't say anything and I don't care. I'll show them all. They think that I'm just a snot-nosed kid that can't do anything, but I'll show them. When I grow up, I'll be so strong that Father and Fluffy-baka won't be able to beat me even if they team up! I'll get the respect I deserve.
If I See You Again It'll Be To Soon,
The Great Inuyasha
Kagome can't help but giggle as she visualizes a chibi Inuyasha grumbling as 'Father', who she'd seen in a portrait in the library, looked over his shoulder solemnly to make sure he was actually writing. Kagome had learned over the months that he hadn't always looked the way he did, but was cursed. This she learned from the servants, since the only time he spoke in more than a grunt was to comment on her idiocy or clumsiness. She hadn't found out how the curse could be lifted, or indeed that it could be lifted, so at times she felt sorry for him, though only for a short time before he would do something that would make her question her sanity for feeling sorry for him.
But here, in the hidden away depths that Inuyasha, the white furred, fanged, snarling monster hadn't been to in a coon's age, Kagome allowed herself to forget that Inuyasha, and get to know the young Inuyasha. The Inuyasha that had a heart, enough of one at least, to care a little, to want respect and to be a kid.
Kagome giggles again, visualizing what she thinks a chibi Inuyasha would look like. The youngest apparently, a tough little boy that craved attention. Souta was like that she thinks, letting her smile fall. Souta, she missed him so much. Shippo reminded her of him, which is probably at least part of the reason she liked the little cup so much. She shakes her head, thinking and wishing wouldn't change things. She was stuck her and was going to be stuck her all her life, that was the deal. She should just make the best of it. She sighs before reading more about the child that would become the monster that was keeping her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, in a rare show, Inuyasha is getting chewed out by some of the higher ranking servants, "Master, you must treat Lady Kagome better if she is ever to fall in love with you." Miroku starts.
Inuyasha sticks up his nose, "Feh, why should I even try? Even if I do make her think she loves me, I have to love her. And I don't. At all."
This time Sango tries "Please my lord, at least try. Isn't it better to at least give it your best shot then to not and wonder?"
Inuyasha growls, "No, it's better not to get my hopes up. Sango, you've seen how she acts around me. I'm the one that is keeping her from her family. She hates me. And I'm not very fond of her either." He adds, so they don't get any ideas.
The two give each other knowing looks before Miroku says, "Well Lord Inuyasha, I know I need not remind you that in less than a year Ki...'she' will come back. Kagome is our last hope at return to what we used to be."
Inuyasha just huffs, "Hmph, hope. I gave up on that stupid ideal years ago."
Miroku gives the young man he'd served most of his life a critical eye before replying calmly with a question, "Then why are you still alive?"
Inuyasha rounds and looks him straight in the eye "What?"
Miroku closes his eyes in thought before continuing, "It is physically impossible for any thinking, living being to live without hope. Without the fundamental thought of hope, then to a sentient being, there's no point in living. Why live if there is no good in one's life and no prospect of anything good coming? Thusly, Master Inuyasha, you must have hope for something."
At this Inuyasha growls before shrugging "Feh, whatever. I'm going to bed. No matter what keep Kagome away. It's that night and I don't want her disturbing me."
Miroku and Sango bow in compliance, "As you wish master." Sango mumbles before he turns and goes to his chambers, slamming the door.
Miroku sighs and looks to Sango, "Well, how shall we entertain our lady guest?"
Sango shrugs, "I don't know, where is she anyways?"
Miroku thinks for a moment, "I don't know. I haven't seen her since last meal."
Sango's eyes widen "That's not good. What if she hears the master and curiosity gets the better of her? We haven't warned her!"
Miroku nods, "We must find her and quickly."
With that they're off to find the girl, even as they hear the first of their master's pained howls echo forth through his door.
Meanwhile, the very girl they are looking for stands frozen in front of her door, hand in the process of grasping the handle. Her head turns slowly, fearfully, down the hall. 'What was that?' she wonders, 'It sounded like it came from Inuyasha's room.' She clutches the book she has in her hand to her chest, images of the young, comparatively innocent Inuyasha running through her mind. 'He sounded hurt.'
Her feet seem to start down the hallway of their own will, coming to an abrupt stop when another howl issues forth. At it's start Kagome gasps in surprise and fear, 'It almost sounds feral. I've never heard him make a sound like that before. Could a wolf have gotten in?'
Her feet pick themselves up again and before she really realizes it she's in front of his door, hand poised above the knob when another nearly feral, pained howl issues forth.
A.N. Yes! Another chappie complete! Man I'm on a roll! Two chapters in two nights, haven't done that in a while. Well, hopefully I can keep it up . Please dun hate me for the cliffie, it was just to perfect, I HAD to end it there. Hopefully I'll be able to get another chappie up tomorrow, so you won't be in suspense for to long. Well, until next time, R&R please!