Dancing Dragons
-Chapter 1-
Summary: Kagome's running away from a twisted family that's trying to sell her. InuYasha's trying to forget his awful past with mixed feelings. Can they take the tension once Inu takes Kagome in?
"When there is a hill to climb, don't think waiting will make it any easier."
-Unknown
Kagome's POV
I sighed, feeling the dirty air leave my body slowly. Looking down upon the population of Tokyo, Japan. I couldn't help but feel the growing jealousy inside of me. Why did they have homes, families, and love? Why did they have freedom when I lived locked up as a type of slave? No doubt Kami worked in strange ways.
"Kagome you dirty whore! Where the hell are you!"
That evil shrill voice. I knew it all too well. Maya seemed to be dedicated to making my life living hell. She was terror with heels. Although I'd never been out of the small apartment I knew she couldn't dress. Combining red pumps with green shorts and a pink long-sleeve top could never be thought of as attractive, right?
I saw her enormous body squeeze through the door that led to the rooftop. Her eyes widened and she opted to scream from her current position. If I knew one thing it was that she feared heights with a passion.
"Kagome, you underhanded bastard! Get your ass over here this instant!"
I looked back down to the crowded side walk. Spotting a small blond girl of about five I questioned her silently.
'Why are you so happy?'
Then I saw her jump into an older man's arms with a wide smile. I smiled too at the simple joy they both experienced before my eyes.
"That's it you overgrown bitch!"
Maya completely forgot about her fear of heights as she ran towards me. Her hands seized my hair in a death grip and pulled me away from the edge. I screamed out in pain and she, surprisingly, let go. She seemed to hesitate before firmly grabbing hold of a broomstick that lay on the ground next to her feet. My eyes widened and all air left my lungs.
She lifted it and swung it at my ribs then brought it down on my back. The gravel met with my skin and I could taste metallic blood in my mouth. My vision seemed to give out on me for a minute. Not being fed for a week could do that to you. I felt old wounds reopen and start to bleed. I could barely register the pain as she brought the stick down on my thighs.
"Maya! You'll kill her!"
It was dangerous, I knew, to faint with these people around me, but my body gave out on me. I lost consciousness as the broomstick fell to the ground beside me.
'Thank Kami… No more… For now.'
The dull throbbing of pain coming from my spine woke me up later on. I could clearly hear the faint sound of an engine; of running cars. Sounds of life I had yet to hear and see up close. A murmur near me kept me quiet and still. A male voice was speaking in a hushed tone to me, or so it seemed.
"When I bought you I never imagined they'd beat you as a farewell!"
He paused taking in an unsteady breath.
"Sweet Kami took his time making your precious body," he said slowly.
I noticed the heavy tinge of lust in his voice and shuddered. He must've taken it as my being cold when the air on my body became warm.
"Your luscious curves… Those scrumptious lips so temptingly red. Your silky hair is begging my hands to grip it and… and…"
I opened my eyes, to his surprise and dismay, and looked at him. He was a small man, balding with age, with evil beady eyes. I questioned his sanity for I was dirty and hadn't had a bath in weeks.
"Where am I?" I demanded.
He licked his lips agitatedly and tried to get closer to me.
"In my limousine."
I groaned in frustration at his ignorance. I could tell I was in a car. I wanted to know where I was going, who I was with, and why.
"Where am I going? I have bloody rights," I said painfully aware of my wounds' slow progress in healing.
"You're a present for my boss, Naraku."
He eyed my body appreciatively. Again I couldn't help but shudder under his intense gaze.
"Hands off the 'gift' bastard," I muttered indignantly.
The limousine came to a halt and the man left me alone in the limousine. I spied the driver guarding the door and rubbed my thighs to ease the pain. I looked around and spotted the window connecting the driver to the passenger open. I smiled and carefully climbed into the driver's seat. I'd never been in a car, much less driven one. I opened the door slowly and closed it softly. The driver couldn't hear over the roar of the engine as it clicked shut and I thanked Kami for the luck he was bestowing upon me thus far. I took in my surroundings. So many buildings for me to hide in! I limped as fast as I could into the maze of large structures, grimacing time to time from the pressure on my thighs.
What seemed to be hours later, I found myself resting behind stacked cardboard boxes. Surely by now the lusty lunatic knew of my ingenious escape. I giggled, a melodic sound I found to be new and strange but joyous. My taste of freedom, so far, made me feel joy inside that could only be expressed in laughter.
Footsteps had me stiff and nervously panicking. Had they heard me? Maybe they had a tracer on me somewhere! Voices approached and left me frozen in fear.
"Well Naraku, the merchandise is here in these cardboard boxes. As soon as I get my money you get your load of-."
A rat scampered by me and I nearly screamed out. A whimper of fear and repulsion left my mouth instead.
"Here's the suitcase. Check now for all the 'papers'," said another man suggestively.
"No need. I'm in a hurry and I know where to find you if there's a problem with the amount."
The men left, if the fading footsteps were any indication. I couldn't help but sigh in relief. I stood up slowly, ignoring the pain from my aching body. I was leaving my hiding spot when a hand grabbed hold of me from behind and another covered my mouth.
"A spy? I feel so important. Today just gets better and better!"
I felt stupid. Very stupid. So incredibly stupid it wasn't even funny. Somehow I had ended up getting caught again. Now here I was witnessing just how stupid men could really and truly be. Believe me, they could be ignorant, selfish, and very stupid. Never had the desire to inflict pain been so strong!
"Come on guys! Who gets to keep her?"
All of the men signaled towards their rings.
"Happily married boss," they all chanted monotonously.
Their "boss" seemed to be on the verge of saying something but stopped.
"Alright, I guess this means I get to keep her. I'll see you guys later. Your share will be in your bank accounts early tomorrow morning."
They all smiled pleasantly and waved goodbye. A woman, probably in her 50s walked in and led me by the elbow through different hallways and rooms. I started feeling a bit nauseous and couldn't help but run ahead instinctively.
"Where are you going!"
"I have no- AGH!"
Apparently the old lady caught my drift and she told me where the bathroom was. I rushed in and threw up what little there was in my stomach.
"There, there child," the old woman said soothingly, "you'll be alright now. You've found our destination."
I looked up and saw an enormous tub full of water with steam drifting out of it entrancingly. I looked at her and she nodded. She discarded of all my clothes, if you could call them that. They ripped apart easily now and patches were evident all over. The door firmly closed and the old woman helped me into the water. The water dirtied almost immediately and I felt ashamed.
"It's alright child," she said softly, "my name's Kaede, more commonly known as Nana."
I looked up into her warm eyes and couldn't help but trust her and return her gesture.
"M-My name's Kagome," I said unsteadily.
She smiled at me and I felt warm, that is until she tipped a bowl of water over my head. Before I could react her hands were attacking my scalp with shampoo.
"Breathe in and hold."
I did as I was told and she dunked my head into the water. Pulling back out, I took in a huge gulp of air.
"Sweet Kami," I muttered wide-eyed.
She chuckled behind me and handed me a bar of soap. I stared at it for a minute before looking back up at her.
"Go on, scrub yourself clean. I mean to leave you your dignity."
I smiled appreciatively and thought to myself that it wasn't my fault I looked for reassurance.
InuYasha's POV
I rubbed my temples slowly and steadily. After tonight's deal with Naraku I remembered mom and dad. Their faces, their voices, their deaths. I won't deny that I'm a rich kid or a man as I stand to be. My family was wealthy and a bit unusual. While my friends spent their afternoons chasing girls I was learning martial arts. Of course I didn't mind this much when my body changed with the exercise. My friends, however, did once I stole all the girls' attention.
In addition to martial arts I was introduced to weaponry. From swords to modern day guns, I was able to name them all, use them all. When the weaponry lessons were out of the way cuisine took the time slot. I learned simple recipes and complicated ones. My favorite, however, remains instant Ramen.
Later on, due to my father's persistence, I learned how to run the family business along with my brother Sesshomaru. Exports and imports were an easy thing and I had it down in no time. Then the best turned to the worst. My dad's associate, and owner of half of my father's business, demanded he sell his half to him. My father, of course, turned him down. Repeatedly the man tormented my parents with phone calls and the like.
One night, after lights out, I looked out my window. A man was looking at my house, which at the time was small. I could tell it was the man that so agitated my parents. I knew his face all too well. I climbed into bed thinking he'd leave soon enough. A good fifteen minutes later the creaking of the stairs woke me up. I was, and still am, a light sleeper. I opened my bedroom door in time to see the man opening my parents' bedroom door. I ran to my phone and called my friend Phillis. His dad was a cop; a good one at that.
"Hello?"
"Phillis?"
"InuYasha? It's bloody two in the morning! What-."
"Code red Phillis! There's a strange man in my-."
I heard a gun go off. I ran out and found the door of my parents' bedroom open. They couldn't see me, but I could see them very well. I saw the shiny gun pointed at the roof lower to my parents whom were scared. Their fear struck me and I stood there frozen. Holes appeared everywhere, including in my parents. Seconds later I was outside in a police car with my older brother Sesshomaru, my parents dead. Sesshomaru was eighteen and therefore I was left in his care.
Years later I still lived with Sesshomaru. I ran the business, including the half the other man, Rifflick, had to forfeit. Rifflick died a month after my parents on death row. From then on my social life was non-existent. Mind you it wasn't because I was ugly or anti-social. I liked my privacy, still do. To me women were a bit vicious. They watched me as hungrily as a kid does candy in a candy store. I'm not bad looking, a bit on the unusual side though. I'm tall, and the martial arts have me in a well built state. My hair is long and sliver. Yes, it's natural. My eyes are gold tinted, also natural, and they seem to attract women faster than my body.
All of this in a reserved guy, according to Nana, is too much for a woman to handle. And right now the scent of food is almost too much to handle. I couldn't help but run to the kitchen.
Kagome's POV
I shivered as the cold air met my wet skin. With a towel around my body Nana threw open the door and led me down the hall. I could faintly hear voices, both male and female, heading our way.
"N-Nana! People are coming our way! I-."
"I know dear. Let them come."
I saw them before they saw me. It was a group of teens in baggy jeans and the like. They looked me up and down, scrutinizing what little they could see. I felt self-conscious, to say the least. One of the guys started to whistle but was cut short by another.
"Did I hear whistling?" asked Nana, a tinge of anger in her voice.
"Of course not Nana," said a young woman. She stood out among her companions. She radiated beauty and grace. She was obviously their leader of sorts.
"Bright child, my dear Rin. I'd like to ask a favor of you. Without your posse snooping."
Rin smiled and nodded at her friends. They muttered a bit, but left quickly enough.
"Well Nana?"
"Do you think you could help this girl out with some clothes?"
Rin looked me up and down slowly.
"Maybe. We'll see. Come along. There's not much I can do with that towel covering your body. Can't get an exact size!"
Kaede pushed me softly after Rin. I didn't want to leave her side, but I was an adult and needed to act as such. Plus, I wanted to be free and this was as close as I was getting so far.
InuYasha's POV
I followed the smell of great food to the kitchens. I looked around and snuck in. Everything smelled heavenly. I saw a steaming pot and chose it for inspection. I made my way towards it and lifted the lid and put it aside. I grabbed the spoon and dipped it into the crimson liquid. Whatever it was, it smelled magnificent. I carefully blew on it, ignoring the swinging doors doing just that; swinging. I tasted the liquid and whispered my admiration, still ignoring whoever was watching me.
"InuYasha!"
I jumped and didn't dare turn around. Nana was known to have a temper.
"Nana I-."
"Save it," she said terminally.
I hushed quickly. She grabbed me by my ear and pulled me out of the kitchens.
"Ow Nana! I'm twenty years old!"
"And I'm fifty-one!"
"And here I thought you were older," I said jokingly.
"I- Why you-!"
"Would you rather me lie to you Nana?" I asked innocently.
"Sometimes it doesn't hurt InuYasha," she said slowly.
"Then I must say you look damn sexy soaking wet and angry!"
Nana growled and I ran.
"You'd better get changed for dinner! And I'll be damned if I hear you cuss one more time!"
I grinned and went to do Nana's bidding. I had ticked her off enough times today.
Kagome's POV
Rin had me in the most provocative clothes she could find, it seemed. A black tube top and low rise jeans were tight against my body and showed curves I didn't know I had. My hair was long, almost down to my knees and got in Rin's way. Rin handed me a pair of knee-highs and boots that were above my knee caps.
"When should I give these-"
"Keep them," she said smiling.
I smiled back. Maya had repeatedly said that all people were evil to me at some point. Obviously she hadn't met the right people.
"The length of your hair is amazing um…."
"Kagome."
"Kagome. My name's Rin."
She sat me down on a chair in front of a large mirror, brushing my hair repeatedly. I couldn't help but close my eyes and revel in the feeling.
"Well your hair has no tangles in it. Do you want some make up?"
I scrounged in my memory and remembered Maya and her over protectiveness for lip gloss. Especially flavored lip gloss.
"Have any flavored lip gloss?"
"Yeah! What flavor?"
I stared at her, I hadn't thought of what flavor.
"How about Cherry," she suggested. "It's all the rage!"
"Alright."
After all of that was out of the way Rin led me down the hallway and pointed me down the stairs.
"Just go down the stairs. Either Nana or InuYasha should be waiting."
Before I could ask her who this 'InuYasha' person was she was running down the hallway. I gathered up my courage and walked down the stairs. A little wobble here and there but I got to the bottom sagely. Unfortunately for me nobody was downstairs waiting for me as Rin said there'd be. I sat down on the bottom step, a bit impatient, and looked around bored. A couple of the guys from before approached me, smiling wickedly. I hadn't dealt with people much, true, but this was an alarming expression.
"Hey there," said one of the guys.
"Who, me?"
"Yes, you."
"What?"
"Wanna come have fun with us?"
A bit on the late side, but here nevertheless. Tell me if you like this, because I am truly proud of this piece of work. I do not own Inu & Co. and DragonTamer9741 was my beta. Any and every other product herein used is not mine but that of it's producer, etc. Review dear reader, review. Edit: 8/7/05 Comment: Ehehehehe... They're in Tokyo, Japan...