To Become Allies
By; TycoonGirl
Chapter Two: Working Hard
Kagome woke in the morning, overjoyed that her cold was gone, but it had taken nearly two weeks to recover. She dressed in her fresh, clean clothes and pulled her hair back. She collected her things and went to the front to pay. The price was outrageous and she could not pay. "What do you mean you can't pay? If you couldn't pay you should've left!" "I was ill!" Kagome exclaimed. The old man shrugged. "Not my problem. You need to pay me or do something for me." "What would that be old man?" Kagome sighed. "Well, I've seen you with your armour and sword. You look to be a strong female knight and I am the mayor of this village. We have recently been having some problems with a demon. If you can kill it then you can be free of your debts here and will be paid for your services. Do you accept?" "Alright old man. Where is the monster?" Kagome asked.
The old man beamed. "Follow me. The beast is in caves below our village. Lately it has been knocking entire buildings down. The thing has been with us for centuries, but now that it has become violent it needs to be killed." the old man said. Kagome nodded and grabbed her armour that she'd recently bought. She pulled the chainmail on then her pink armour that went around her torso and held itself up by a part on her arm. Kagome tied her hair back and grabbed her weapons. The old man led her through town and the villagers all lined the street, whispering about her, the 'great' demon slayer from the south.
Kagome stood at the enterance to the cave. She turned to the old man. "If I do not return, please send word to the King of the South and Lord Souta." she said. "But why?" "They are my family." "You are a princess?" the old man asked. She bowed her head. "I am." Kagome said as she entered the cave, taking the torch with her. She entered the dank cave that smelled of rotting flesh. Kagome grimaced at the smell and continued, deciding that she would not back down and prove that she was NOT helpless.
Sesshomaru had gone back to Souta's castle to find the place in uproar about Kagome's disappearance, then he had told them where the wench was. Now a huge party including Sango, Shippo, Miroku, Inuyasha and Souta were looking for her and somehow he'd gotten dragged along. They arrived in a town the find the villagers all lining the streets, on their knees, in silent prayers. Sesshomaru jumped down from his horse and found the mayor. He bowed his respect. "Sir, may I ask why your village is all praying?" he asked. "Well we pray for the demon-slaying princess from the south. She is slaying the demon that destroys our town." Suddenly there was a great rumbling of the ground like an earthquake and a scream.
Kagome's vision was blurred by sweat as she dodged the huge claws of the demon. It got ahold of her and slammed her into the wall. She screamed and tried grabbing for her sword again. It was useless, her sword was wedged into the rock. Kagome suddenly grabbed the green demon and a powerful pink aura surrounded her. The winds in the cave went to her and swirled around like a tornado. The demon let out a howl and flung her away. Kagome grabbed the handle of her sword as the demon began to dissolve. Now she was dangling many feet in the air.
Suddenly a flash of pink light errupted from the mouth of the cave like an explosion. The mouth of the cave collapsed, sealing itself shut. Villagers screamed and ran towards the site of the collapse as did Sesshomaru and the others. "Stand back!" Inuyasha yelled, pulling out the tetsuiga. He slammed it into the rocks and they were blown into pebbles and stones. Sango, Shippo and Miroku took off running into the cave, quite blindly, followed by Souta, whom had a torch and Inuyasha and Sesshomaru.
Kagome hung from the sword in the rock and with her luck, the sword was loosening. She swore and tried to swing to a place where her feet could get into the rocks of the side of the cave. With a loud twang her sword dislodged itself, causing her to come cascading down the wall, slamming her arm into the great cave wall. She had been at least three hundred feet off the ground and now she was around two hundred. She prepared herself for what she knew was going to be death, then felt something worse. It was Sesshomaru's arms encircling her waist.
He set her down on the ground and she stepped away from him. "Looks like I was right. You are helpless." he said, picking up her near broken sword. He handed it to her and she put it away. "I AM NOT!" she roared. He smirked. "Yeah right." he said. Kagome clenched her fist tight, her knuckles turning white, then she felt blood slowly dripping down her arm. Damn it, she had a cut on her cheek that she had not even noticed.
Shippo scooped Kagome up in his arms bridal style, causing Sesshomaru to narrow his eyes at the man touching what was his. Kagome put her arms around his neck, feeling too weak to walk. Shippo, loyal as ever, carried her from the cave. The villagers cheered for her and the mayor thanked her and paid her, then put her back in her room to heal for free.
A few days later Kagome sent her brother home on her horse, telling him not to worry. He left but not before giving her a long lecture about immaturaity and such. Kagome's eyes welled with tears as she waved to her brother. She always hated goodbyes. "Ready Kagome?" Inuyasha asked. She nodded and slung her backpack on. Sesshomaru lifted her up onto his back piggy back style. She rested her head on his shoulder. They were still not talking to one another since the day in the cave. It was killing her to have to be this close with him.
They set out for they still had many months of travel. "Kagome, you should hold on tight. Sesshomaru can run pretty damn fast." Inuyasha said for his older brother. Kagome made a face but did as she was told. Sango giggled at her earning a dirty look from Sesshomaru whom then recieved a glare from Miroku. Sesshomaru began to run and Kagome held tightly to him because she was scared. She clenched her eyes shut as they stung from the wind hitting them. Inuyasha and Shippo easily ran along side Sesshomaru and Sango and Miroku flew above on Sango's cat demon pet, Kilala. Kagome felt herself slipping. "Wench, stay still." Sesshomaru growled. Kagome leaned foward to his ear. "Stop calling me that." she said softly. Sesshomaru ignored her. "DID YOU HEAR ME? I TOLD YOU TO STOP CALLING ME THAT YOU JERK!" she yelled into his ear. He growled. "Good going wench. Now I'm deaf in that ear, and YES, I HEARD YOU, I JUST DON'T GIVE A SHIT." he yelled, throwing her off him. She flipped backwards and sprung off her hand, landing on her feet.
Shippo moved in quickly and scooped Kagome up, knowing that she would any moment draw her sword and try and kill Sesshomaru in a battle that she would not win. Kagome laid her head on his shoulder and stuck out her tounge at Sesshomaru as they whipped past him. He glared at her, but otherwise his face remained impassive, cold and un-caring.
They stopped in a small clearing as it began to get dark. Kagome kissed Shippo on the cheek, much to the annoyance of Sesshomaru. "Thanks Shippo. You sure are a lot nicer than some OTHER people." she said, casting a meaningful look at Sesshomaru. She stretched and walked into the bushes. She walked until she was looking down a rock quarry. There were wolves by the dozen lounging around and a few wolf demons. Kagome gasped and turned to run back to the camp, only now she couldn't find where she thought camp was. She whirled around, seeing none of the traveling companions. Suddenly there was rustling and some wolves emerged from the brush. They were foaming at the mouth and manegy. She surpressed a scream, but still a shriek came from her. Kagome scrambled backwards and fell over the edge of the cliff, screaming.
She caught the edge of the rock, but it was crumbling fast. She screamed again. "HELP ME!" she screamed. Kagome clenched her eyes shut tightly and her tears rolled fast down her cheeks as the rabid wolves approached her, getting ready for the kill. She tried to hoist herself up, but only succeded in knocking her right hand, her strongest hand, away from the edge. Now she dangled hundreds of feet above the sharp rocks, holding on with her weak left hand and the side of the cliff that would give way and spill her to her death.
Kagome opened her eyes and noticed that the wolves were gone. Above her stood Sesshomaru. "Give me your hand." he ordered, offering her his hand. She was reaching up to take it when the edge crumbled. She let out a scream and fell backwards, reaching up to Sesshomaru. She called out his name a fraction of a second before she was about to hit the rocks. Then there was a whirlwind and a blurred person run to catch her.
Kagome was thrown down onto a mat. Her hands and feet were bound tightly and her weapons were removed. "I'll teach you to have me, King of the North to be thrown in the dunegons! Bitch, you're going to become a slave. You're going to have to work for every meal you get and work for me, in my country, harvesting the rice." Koga sneered. Kagome glared up at him. She wanted to yell at him, but he had gagged her as well. She struggled to move, but it was useless to get from the bonds, so she started to chew through her gag, which she did almost instantly. "Listen to me you ass! My father and brother will have so many men swarming around every country searching for me! They'll find you and kill you for even suggesting such a thing to me!" she spat. Koga laughed and punched her. She fell sideways, unconsious.
Sesshomaru alerted the others about someone kidnapping Kagome and they were now all searching for her. He looked down the cliff, not wanting to find her there, because if he did, she would surely be dead. He mumbled something under his breath as he searched frantically for her, tears welling behind his golden eyes. Inuyasha watched his brother. "I've never seen him like this about anything...he must really love her." he mumbled to the others.
She awoke in a brown rag dress. Her feet and hands were chained together. Kagome jumped to her feet, only to be pulled back onto her rear. "I see you're up, my slave. It's about time. You have much work to do, cleaning my quarters. Get to work." Koga growled from his throne. She scowled and crossed her arms. "If you think I'm going to work for you, you must be crazy." she snapped. Koga stood and pulled out a whip. "Thirteen lashings for every word you spoke and seven extra for refusal." he growled, unfurling the leather whip. He cracked it down on her back and each time she cried out. In the end, her back was bloody and her dress was torn. Koga sat back down. "Now get to work."
Kagome did as she was told. She'd never been whipped before, but it was very painful and she did not want for it to happen ever again. She cleaned furiously all day, then Koga fed her. She ate hungrily and he watched her. "Where are your manners Princess?" he asked, leering at her. Her hands started to shake, but she ate gracefully after that, not wanting to evoke his rage. When she was finished he stood and pulled her lead over to the bed. "Join me, Kagome." he ordered. Kagome stared at him, shaking so badly that her chains rattled loudly. "What? You think that I want to touch you? No. I will wait until you've earned it. Just sleep." he said. Kagome still did not move. Koga wrenched the chain forward and she landed on his bed with a thump and he started kissing her hungrily. She struggled under him. "You gave me your word!" she cried. He laughed and kissed down her pale neck, sprinkling it with hickies. "I did no such thing. Now you will rightfully be mine!" he cried, ripping her dress.
Sesshomaru sniffed the area and smelled wolves. "Koga..." he growled, taking off running towards the north, followed closely by the others. He ran so fast that everything around him was blurred. His mind was only focused on one thing. Getting his Kagome back where he could watch over her forever. He arrived outside the castle of the north and easily killed the gaurds outside.
Kagome hit him with a silver tray. He howled in pain and pulled out his whip. Kagome started running from him, holding her tattered dress to her body. He struck her as she kept running away. She stumbled away from him and tripped on a thick rug. Koga was over her, whipping her as hard as he could. "Bitch!" he yelled, his nose bleeding from her fighting and struggling. Kagome clutched the rug, screaming. The pain hit her deep within her bones and her heart. Her mother had been killed by her grandfather for disobeying him. With a whip. But that was before her father had become king, so there was nothing to do to avenge his wife's death. Kagome had though. She had saught out her grandfather and killed him on the spot. Suddenly the thick wooden doors into the room banged open, revealing Sesshomaru standing there. Koga glared at him.
"What the hell are you doing to my wife?" Sesshomaru asked, advancing menacingly. Koga dropped his whip and took off running. Sesshomaru stooped low to Kagome, whom was trying to sit up, but was unable to. "Are you alright?" he asked softly, drawing her close to his chest, picking her up. She shivered and burried her face in his shoulder, her small figure racked with sobs. He stroked her hair and draped his cloak over her bleeding back. He held her and carried her from the castle. The others were waiting for him. "Is she alright?" Sango demanded. "Kagome is not. I will tend to her in my own castle. When she has healed she and I will join you all in the East and we will continue to look for this jewel. Go along. I promise to take care of her." he said.
Sesshomaru ran fast, holding Kagome to him, whom had fallen asleep in his arms, feeling safe. He now lay her down on his large bed and called for things to make her back better. He laid strips of wet cloth on the hundreds of deep lashes on her back. Anger brewed inside of him at Koga. Oh how he hated that pathetic wolf demon. Kagome slowly awoke at the fresh stinging pain. "Sesshomaru...?" she asked softly. "Yes Kagome, I am here. Rest now." he replied softly. She let out a sob. "It was horrible...the feeling of being whipped and treated like that..." she sobbed, clutching the pillow her head was resting on. Sesshomaru stroked her cheek and wiped her tears away. "It must have been...that bastard. I swear, I'll kill him." he vowed. Kagome caught his hand and brought it to her lips. She kissed it lightly. "You were right. I am helpless without you. You've saved me from falling from a tree, from falling from a cliff, from Koga...I owe my life to you three times..." she whispered, fresh tears spilling.
He sighed. "No Kagome, you owe me nothing. I did what anyone would do when someone is in danger, and you are anything but helpless." he replied. There was a long silence, then she spoke. "I'm no better than that monster, Koga." Sesshomaru grabbed her chin. "Never say things that aren't true!" he growled. She pushed his hand away and laid back down. "It's true. My mother was killed by her lashings from her own father. My father never could do anything about it because he had no power. He was only a young knight with no authority. So when he told me when I was fifteen, I found my grandfather. He was about seventy. He was a helpless old man and I...I...killed him..." she sobbed, flinging her arms around Sesshomaru's neck. He closed his eyes and inhaled her sweet scent of jasmines and vanilla.
"Kagome, there is something called fate. It works to punish those whom have done something bad or sinful. Your killing your grandfather was fate's way of adminstering his punishment for what he did to your mother. You were just fate's toy for the execution, but that doesn't reflect on who you are inside. Inside, you are one of the most wonderful people I've ever known. You're always smiling and happy, even when there is nothing to be happy about. In this day and age, we could use more people like you. Now I know I've been cruel to you in the past and I apologize for it, but you must understand that fate also works strangely as well. While I am going to be marrying you, my heart belongs to another." he said. Kagome pulled away blushing. " How silly of me to think that someone like you wouldn't already have a woman." she said, laying back down.
Kagome woke in the middle of the night and slunk over to where her clothes were. She changed quickly and crept from Sesshomaru's room. Her back ached painfully, her ankles and wrists had angry welts on them and her neck and chest were covered in dozens of itchy lovebites. She moved a quietly as she could through the castle to the doors. She set off, walking as fast as she could. Kagome decided that she would stop by home and convince her father to cancel the treaty. If he refused then she would run away to the East where she couldn't be found for years. Kagome walked for hours dilagently and when the sun rose she was many miles away, but she knew that Sesshomaru could catch up with her at anytime with his speed. She stopped by a river and washed her face.
She sat on the bank, staring into the water when demons surrounded her. The man in the baboon cloak advanced towards her. "How perfect. You're alone this time and without that annoying demon. Now I'll be able to kidnapp you and bring you back with me." "Why me?" she yelled, standing in the water. The man laughed. "Because you had my father locked up. Besides, you'd make the perfect addition to my collection of wives." "WHO ARE YOU?" "My name is Naraku." he said, moving forward.
Suddenly Sesshomaru shot out from a tree and attacked the man. Naraku disappeared quickly and Sesshomaru turned to Kagome. "Bitch, what do you think you were doing?" he yelled. Kagome turned away, not replying. She kept on walking, ignoring his very presence. He followed her and grabbed her arm. She hissed and pulled away, rubbing it gingerly. "What the hell are you trying to do? Re-open the scars?" she asked vemonly. He rolled his eyes. "Where are you off to?" he asked. "My home. I need to talk to my father, then I will re-join the search depending on the outcome of my father's reply to my request." she said stiffly. "And what request would that be?" he asked, crossing his arms. She whirled to face him. "It would be that either he kill me or break the damn contract that would give me to you." she hissed. Sesshomaru smiled. "Fine by me. Climb on, I'll get you there much quicker." he said.
Kagome went to her father's study and knocked. "Enter." he called. She entered. "Father, I have come home to talk to you." "About?" "I have thought about the contract while I was away." "And?" he asked, leaning forward. "I want you to rip it up. Break it, I don't care." "Kagome, you know that this marriage is in the best intrest of the country and you!" "Fine, then use this sword and kill me. I'd rather be dead than married to him." she growled, holding out a sword. He father sighed and rolled his eyes. "Oh Kagome, put your sword away. I won't kill you, what is it that won't allow you to agree to this?" he asked, sitting back and pouring himself some mead. "I find him totally arrogant, jerky, cold, annoying. He's a bully! I will NOT allowed myself to be married to him NOR any other man that asks for my hand that I do not love! I will kill myself if you do not agree." she said, holding her blade to her own throat. Her father paled and grabbed the sword away. "You will not kill yourself young lady and you WILL marry Sesshomaru weather you like it or not!" he ordered.
She scowled and turned away and ran from her father's study. Kagome went to her tower and ran up to the very top floor. The walls were lined with bookshelves and there was a set of doors that led to a balcony. She went out onto the stone balcony to see Sesshomaru standing with a young girl of about five or six. Kagome laid her head on the stone rail and sobbed. It wasn't fair to Sesshomaru if he was in love with someone else that she take him away from the woman and it wasn't fair to her that she was going to have to. Kagome wiped her tears away and looked around her father's castle. The lands were very beautiful, but most of it was covered in forest. A gust of wind caressed her face and a white flower sailed up to her riding the wind. Kagome caught it and smiled. She looked down to see who did it and the little girl waved and smiled. Kagome waved and smiled.
The flower was very pretty with yellow right in the middle of the large petals. Kagome stood and closed her balcony doors. She dashed into her bedroom and scrubbed her face and hands. She cleaned up as best she could, then pulled on clean clothes and re-packed her bag. She put the flower safely in her bag and laced up her shiny black boots. Kagome exited her room and was horrified to see Koga walking down the hall. She shrieked and ran back into her room and slammed the door. She locked it and went to her window. Kagome pushed it open and looked down at the ground. It was pretty far down. Kagome swore softly and started to make a rope of her bed linens. Once the rope was long enough she tied it to her heavy bed and started to climb down. She jumped from her spot on the rope and landed on her feet. "Kagome? What are you doing?" Sesshomaru asked if he were talking to a mental patient. "It's Koga. He's here. Inside the castle...my father doesn't know what he did either times." She said, her lip trembling. Sesshomaru frowned. "How could he not?" "I don't know. Souta must've dealt with it as he saw fit and only you know what happened the second time..." she said, looking ashamed.
Sesshomaru turned to enter the castle. "Lord Sesshomaru, where are you going?" the little raven haired girl asked. She was dressed in a cute orange dress and her hair was in a lopsided ponytail. He smiled warmly down at the girl. "Rin, I have to go talk to the king. Stay here please and protect Lady Kagome." he said. The girl grinned and nodded. She went over to Kagome and grabbed her hand. "Come on Lady Kagome. Rin wants to go pick flowers." she said. "You can just call me Kagome." Kagome smiled. Rin raised an eyebrow. "Why? Lord Sesshomaru always reminds me to be respectful. Do you not want to be a princess?" she asked. "Nope. Not at all. I'd rather not have any of the duties and things like that. Being princess might seem glamours and fun, but it is dreadful." "I know. Lord Sesshomaru makes me sit down and read and many other things he says fine ladies must know how to do." Rin said, bending down to pick a few queen anne's lace.
"So how do you know Lord Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked. "Lord Sesshomaru is like a father to me. He adopted me when he found me during his travels in the north. I was attacked by wolves, but I lived. He saved my life and now that he's accepted me into his house, I'm technically a princess." Kagome was silent and picked the flowers nearby her until a hand wrapped around her upper arm. "Hello Kagome. Did you miss me?" Koga growled. Kagome kicked him as hard as she could in his groin and scooped Rin up and took off towards the castle. Koga ran after her and grabbed her. Kagome rolled so that Rin would not get hurt. She released the girl. "Run Rin! Run! Get Sesshomaru!" she yelled as Koga pulled out his whip. Rin dropped her flowers and ran.
Kagome rolled away from the lashes and scrambled to her feet. She blocked his whip with her arm. Her arm stung angrily and she grabbed his arm and brought her leg back and kicked him as hard as she could. Kagome ran away and scrambled up a tree, at the very top. She clutched the tree panicked as Koga looked for her. She let out a small whimper and he looked up at her. She screamed and jumped to another tree. Koga scrambled up a tree and tried to get her. She kept avoiding him by mere inches until she heard Sesshomaru. Kagome jumped down from her tree and ran behind the tall man. "Go inside with Rin." he ordered. Kagome nodded, panting heavily and having no energy to argue. She went inside to Rin's side. The small girl was shaking and pale. Servants surrounded the two, administering medicine and bandaging Kagome's arm.
Sesshomaru stepped into the hall and pulled off his blood-spattered over coat. His hands were covered in blood and so was his sword, though he had not spilled a drop of his own. He noticed that Rin had fallen asleep against Kagome's chest and Kagome had fallen asleep, holding Rin like a mother would. Rin woke and climbed away from Kagome, careful not to awaken her. "Lord Sesshomaru, are you alright?" she asked. "Of course Rin." "Lady Kagome was very worried. She just fell asleep. She likes you a lot, I can tell." Rin smiled. Sesshomaru was shocked at Rin's words and looked over at Kagome. She was pale and her face did seem worried. "Kagome is just very compassionate. She worries about everyone." "Lord Sesshomaru, I heard some of the servants talking." "About what Rin?" he asked absentmindly, going to wash his hands and sword. "About Lady Kagome." "You know I don't care about gossip." Sesshomaru said shortly.
Rin shrugged and went back over to Kagome and took her hand. "Kagome talks in her sleep." she said. Sesshomaru stood and picked Kagome up. "Really? What sort of things does she mumble?" he asked, humoring his daughter. "That's how I know she likes you. She said it while she was sleeping. I also found out you lied to her about loving someone else, Lord Sesshomaru." Rin said. Sesshomaru sighed and set Kagome down on her own bed. "Well Kagome should be with someone she loves with all of her heart, not me." "But you love her too, right?" "Yes, I do."