Disclaimer: Since when did you start caring? Just to quench your up-coming thirst of knowing the truth- I do not own Inuyasha, have never owned Inuyasha, and never will own the rights to Inuyasha... Satisfied yet? I can keep going, you know...

A/N: Sorry for the pause in updating and THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of the reviews! ^_^ I tried to make this chapter extra long as an apology... Hope you accept it...

Please R+R, especially R! ^_^

Enjoy!

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Author: Sakura-chan88
Title: Mistaken Mark
Chapter 3: The Captive's Choice
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Inuyasha paced his room silently, his head swimming with the knowledge of the girl's status. She was a runaway, someone the police would be searching for. That was not good. And the fact that she had the nerve to strike him from behind...!

His gaze flickered to the girl who slept peacefully in his bed, her raven black hair fanning out beneath her slightly turned head. A single hand protruded from the blanket's cover to lay limply before her closed eyes and parted lips. Kagome's breathing was evenly taken in and exhaled in a steady rhythm.

She was quick and silent on her feet and deadly when cornered...

Miroku had brought this to his attention the second he awoke in an attempt to calm him down. It didn't take long, either- not when he held the cherub's box in sight and told his boss to look in it. Inuyasha listened out of curiosity...

That swan was worth thousands... It had been the last hand crafted glass work by Jio Jinto, a world acclaimed glass blower artist. It was the only one that wasn't displayed in a museum, yet, having been sold to a millionaire and passed to his grandchild whom knew nothing of its value. It's whereabouts had been lost with time...

Sesshomaru had once set his sight on it... almost thirteen years ago.

So, not only was she as silent as a shadow, she had a great sense in taste- a good eye for value- and knew what she was doing. How could such a girl be as innocent as she was?

Easy- she was raised on Shrine Grounds and had been an adventurous little girl before puberty kicked in. Miroku had found out her background from the name on a student id card Kagome had carried.

Kagome Higurashi, daughter of Eiko Higurashi and older sister of Souta Higurashi, lived in her grandfather's shrine. Her father was killed in an explosion at his office- one the Shadow Wolves had created, Inuyasha noted- and had left the family with thousands of dollars to boot. She was an all A student who struggled only in math- receiving a very low A- and excelled in Computer Science, Language Arts, and Science (Chemistry and Physics, mainly). She was recently working in a bakery shop with her friend Sango Taijiya. She attended all of the school's athletic competitions, but never competed. Archery seemed to be the only sport she took an interest to herself. Her ability to stay awake for three days on end and still have enough energy to run three miles had given her the nickname 'Sleepless Beauty'... Inuyasha wasn't too sure where that piece of info slipped in from or how it even fit...

'It isn't right to have to punish another for my mistake,' Inuyasha thought, beginning his pace across his bedroom floor. 'Just because of my mistake... she shouldn't have to die, but... What about my men? They'll think I've gone soft...'

Sighing in exasperation, the man left the room to think in a more appropriate area- namely, the hedge maze for a dip in the pool before the sun rose in the horizon.

******

She ran, gasping as her feet slipped on the watery grass ground as rain hit her harshly, soaking her clothes through. Cold and numbness claimed her body as she pushed herself up to regain her unsteady footing once again. She sprinted to the end of the path and took a sharp right turn, her left leg bending awkwardly.

She bit back a cry, fearing her outburst would alert the looming threat of her position...

What was she running from?

It didn't matter- she just had to get away, lose herself in the maze she'd stumbled into.

"No!" she hissed as she fell to her knees from the slick green blades beneath her. "Not again!"

'Get up!' her mind screamed and her body obeyed without another thought, launching forward, taking the path to her left. 'Mama! Souta! Grandpa! I can't find you!'

Another right, then another, and another... Left, right, left, left, right... It just kept going...

"Kya!" she screeched, sliding into the brush beside her as weak knees gave to exhaustion.

Right, left... A dead end greeted her...

"Nice," a voice sneered behind her, chilling her faster than the rain could have ever dreamed of doing. "Cornered yourself for me. How convenient."

"Not convenient," she spat, spinning to look death in the face.

A dead end... What a suiting name...

Golden eyes and silver hair...

"You'll pay dearly for that little 'slip'," he smirked, taking a slow step toward the girl. She pushed her back into the bush blocking her escape. "Very dearly, bitch."

******

The water was soothing, washing way the thoughts that plagued his mind with relentless rambling. It was nice to have the sun to greet him when he emerged from the pool's depths. Though it was a small little pool, it was deep and calming.

With the thoughts finally in better perspective, he looked back on the information, idea's going through his mind. Of course, his conscience didn't take long to regain its grasp on him.

'... Is it right to punish another for my own foolish mistake...? I should have known it wasn't Kikyo. That bitch would have been more careful- she would have looked for me... She wouldn't have broke in to someone's house.'

That was the oddest thing about Kikyo. She was the type of person that loved the benefits of living dirty, but never put her own hands in the mud. Just like Naraku...

It was a stupid mistake...

"Inuyasha?" a voice called hesitantly.

The said man looked for the speaker, spotting Miroku frowning down at him. He sighed and slid out of the water in a slow and leisurely pace. "What?"

"About the girl... what are you going to do?" his employee asked, kicking his shoes off and tugging at his socks before dipping his own feet in the welcoming water. "She could be useful-"

"You've already made your point on that," Inuyasha grumbled, looking away from his curious friend. "I don't know what to do. No one has ever made a mistake like this before... There aren't any rules about this, is there?"

"No, but other rules apply, boss," Miroku amended, clapping his hand to Inuyasha's back. "You'll see the right way, I'm sure. Just... don't rush anything."

******

'Now where am I?' she whispered, looking around the deserted room.

It was pitch black. Nothing, not even the hand she waved directly in front of her nose, registered in her sight. She was blind...

"Get over here," a voice hissed from her right. "Let him do his job- he knows what he's doing."

'Who knows what he's doing?'

"You don't understand!" she whispered vehemently. "I have to get him- we have to leave!"

"Miss, you can't go in there!" it hissed again, an arm closing around her upper arm. "The alarms are still operational."

Flashes... Bright red flashes- beams that signalled a red alert... The room was lightened with every turn of the beam, marking a clear path every few seconds.

Sirens... Loud screeching sirens flooded her ears and deafened her.

It was too late...

"NO!" Kagome cried, bolting forward and to the area she'd been previously held from as tears pricked the corner of her eyes. "I can't let it happen!"

******

Inuyasha smirked, finally coming to a conclusion as he entered his room. Talking with Miroku always seemed to prove to be in his best interest, if not to just raise and release his fury or humor him a bit.

He slinked over to the still sleeping girl. Perching on the edge of the bed, he ran a lazy hand through her hair, waiting for a reaction. She mumbled as her eyes fluttered open.

"Rise and shine, Sleepless Beauty," he purred, a snarl curling on his lips while his hand fisted in her silken tresses. "You've been found out..."

Her eyes snapped open at this. Pulling away to find no chance at escape, she yelled. He tutted.

"No one will hear you," he chortled. "All rooms I occupy most are sound proof. Naturally my own bedroom would be also. So, Kagome, what's so bad over at the Higurashi residence to make you want to run away?"

Her eyes widened to show their hidden white. "Wh... what...?" she whispered, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly once in a while. "What... did you call me...?"

"... Kagome Higurashi," he smirked. "Does it ring a bell?"

"Let GO!" she screeched, suddenly frantic.

"Of course," Inuyasha muttered, releasing her hair and reaching lazily for the nightstand beside him. Kagome sat still from what he presumed was innocent and dazed curiosity and alarm. "It's easier to hold a gun without a wriggling girl in my grasp, anyway."

******

Those dreams had terrified her, being so crystal clear as they were... Why were they so frightening though?

Simple. The last time a dream like that had surfaced was the night before her father was murdered... and she had known and was unable to stop any of it.

Now... Kagome's heart beat against her chest with a new sense of fear. She'd woken up from those nightmares to the name she'd come to forget through the years of high school spoken from the lips of a silver haired man. Not until he said her name did the previous night return to her.

With him drawing a gun up from the bedside table, Kagome learned what being in the face of death really felt like.

She was looking at the end of a 9mm.

"Wait!" Kagome shouted, hoping to startle the man into actually listening to a final attempt at freedom, like a dieing plea. She searched her mind for something, anything, that could keep all of the bolts lodged in the gun and not her... Then it clicked- thankfully her mind, not the weapon. "You-what do you gain by killing me?"

"Why do you want to know?" Inuyasha asked, pulling the hammer back. That click was not one she wanted to hear! "You have to love that sound, don't you? Sends chills down your spine..."

She shivered in affirmation, stuttering, "you-you said, last night, that you never do anything unless you benefit from it. It's a waste of your time," she recited.

"Well, it isn't a waste of my time if my dogs are fed, now is it?" he chuckled, lowering the gun. "But if you have something else to offer..."

The suggestive glint in his eyes set her on edge. She eyed him warily, watching with suspicion as he took the bullets from their chambers.

"It would be an awful waste of ammunition, too."

"I... I have nothing to give to a criminal like you," she hissed firmly. 'Great going, Kagome,' her mind mumbled in exasperation. 'Go and make him angry and get your head blown off. Just great.'

"... Pity," he sighed, raising his gaze to meet hers. "With credentials like yours, I thought you'd be a great teacher for Shippo- and get him out from under my feet, but if you insist there's nothing you can give..." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Shippo?"

"... Curious, now? You're not very good at staying scared, you know?"

"I... I'm terrified of you," Kagome muttered truthfully. "But if there's some why to stay alive and keep my family safe-"

"Your family has always been safe, kid, like I said," he amended.

She ignored the name he gave her. "What do I have to do?" Kagome asked, then put a hand up to stop his answer. "Why are you letting me live?"

"... You weren't my intended victim and you can be useful in the future. Tell me," he commanded, "why did you steal that swan?"

Kagome gaped. She'd forgotten about it..! So that's how they found out about her- her student id she always kept on hand was in the opposite pocket...

"My hand itched," she said sheepishly, looking away as pink tinted her cheeks at the man's laugh. "It was the only thing that looked worth while."

His eyebrow arched, "out of that whole house?"

"Yes."

"Hn."

"... What... do you want me to do?" she asked again after a brief silence. She shivered at the way his eyes sparkled when her voice cracked.

******

Miroku sat outside of the bedroom door, waiting for the handle to jiggle and announce that the girl had, once again, overtaken his boss. He still couldn't believe she'd done that!

The minutes turned into hours... the sun rose, the birds sang, the house filled with noise and gossip of the girl as Nobunaga ran from one side of the building to the other...

'Bored, bored, bored, bored...'

Sure enough, the handle jiggled for a second, then stopped. Miroku's jaw dropped. It wasn't possible!

With a shaking hand, Miroku unlocked the door and stood, opening it to find the girl trying frantically to open the window. Inuyasha lay sprawled out on the floor with a red hand print across his face.

"Miss! You must stop, he'll kill you next time," Miroku stated, hurrying over to her side. "What did you do!?"

"He- he- he-"

******

Inuyasha looked Kagome in the eyes before laughing. She seemed so frightened at what he could possibly want her to do... Then again, he could understand what she felt...

"I want to test you for a bit... and Miroku," he stated.

Kagome looked at him blankly. "Test me... and Miroku..."

"The short haired man that talked to you yesterday," Inuyasha explained. "See, I have a feeling that he's trying to help you out, no matter the rules. I want you to act like you've knocked me unconscious again. Do exactly what you did last night, and I'll see what we can do with you."

"I can't surprise you, though," Kagome mumbled. "Not when you're expecting it. And I'm not going to hit you when I have no reason to. That's just wrong!"

Inuyasha grinned. If she wouldn't do anything without motivation, he could always give her a reason to attack him...

******

"-he tried to- to- to-"

"Listen, I can't understand a word-"

"He tried to kiss me!" Kagome exclaimed, keeping her eyes on Miroku as she saw Inuyasha move to his feet silently. "And-and-" she shuttered.

When he had pressed her to the bed, she'd blanked her mind out, swung, and brought a knee to his groin. He was prepared for that, but not for a second one, or the slap across the face.

Miroku paled. "Please tell me he didn't try to take advantage of you." Kagome nodded meekly. "Good God, save us. He's lost his mind! Forget the rules- he isn't about to play around with some innocent girl like that bastard Naraku would," he hissed, latching on to Kagome's arm. "I won't let him, boss or friend- it's wrong. We're leaving."

He spun to stomp away and pull Kagome with him. He didn't get more than two steps before he realized Inuyasha was missing from his spot on the floor. Kagome bit her lip in self debate. She could see Inuyasha about to lung at his disobedient and backstabbing co-worker from the sidelines in the shadows...

When he did, Kagome pulled harshly on her arm Miroku still grasped to send him back and slam into her as Inuyasha found himself flying through the empty air.

Both Miroku and Inuyasha were startled by this, for separate reasons. Inuyasha was startled because he collided with a bed post instead of the softer body of his employee. Miroku was startled because Kagome had unknowingly brought his face within centimeters of her breasts.

He grinned and lifted an attentive hand to caress the objects of his attention.

Kagome shrieked and threw the man at his boss, giving the bend of his knee a rough kick to put him in a helpless stance before the furious gang leader. He gulped.

"Miroku," Inuyasha growled. "You've been a very bad boy..."

******

Sango laughed happily as her double-tailed stray mewed lightly, pouncing around her bedroom at various objects. The cat was beautiful and, if her parents allowed, hers.

"And I shall name you..." Sango muttered, picking the feline up. She remained thoughtful for a moment, taking in the cat's features. "Kirara."

"Mew!"

Sango giggled and clutched the cat to her chest like a child did to any cute pet. As long as Kohaku kept quite, she could say she picked it up on her way back from work... 'Work!'

"Ah! I'm gonna be late!" she cried, putting the cat down gently on her bed. "Be a good girl and stay here, okay?"

*****

Kagome flinched as the man, Miroku, went flying out of the door and hit the wall rather painfully. Inuyasha slammed the door, which shuttered on its hinges at the impact.

"Ouch," she said for the door, not the man. She had a habit of that.

"You!" Inuyasha yelled, swiveling on his heel to face the girl that had defended his employee. "You are wearing down my patience. If you'd just let me punish him the first time, you won't have had to experience that, or have broken my vase, or destroyed my clock, or my picture-"

"You destroyed the picture by throwing him into it!" she corrected heatedly.

"I wouldn't have thrown him into it if you hadn't moved!"

"So you meant to throw him into me!?" she yipped. "Do you think I'd just stand there and let that pervert touch me again- even if it wasn't by his choice?"

"You didn't have to break my vase!"

"He TOUCHED me!"

"SO!?"

Kagome glared. "Don't tell me that's what you expect me to do- be some gang's play thing."

"No," he admitted. "But you aren't going to fight my men, either, if that's what they find in you."

Her jaw dropped. "You can't be serious..."

"I am."

"Then you might as well kill me now," she muttered. "I won't lose my virginity to some man I don't know and don't love, thank you very much. I'd rather drown to death- or even burn to death. Any slow and painful way."

Inuyasha laughed at that, moving away from the door to his closet. "That can be arranged."

"Wh-what are you doing?" she stammered as he throw the shirt he'd placed over his swimming trunks onto the floor, starting to tug the remaining cloth off.

"Changing. What else?"

He stopped to look at her. She spun around. "Sorry."

"... You have two options- three, I suppose," he proclaimed as the sound of ruffling clothing reached her ears. "One, you can become a maid and help out - and teach - Shippo. He's an orphan that does just about everything around here. He's currently our communications and satellite specialist, cook, security guard, informant- he has eyes and ears everywhere. Very bright, about ten years old... Two, join the gang- we're the White Hounds, by the way. You have everything you need- speed, stealth, an eye for what's valuable, and, obviously, dangerous to any man."

"You deserved it," Kagome muttered under her breath as he continued.

"But you'll have to undergo the Cloister of Shadows before you can actually do anything. And take an oath." He paused. "But you won't be able to do that until everyone here thinks you're worthy of it, so really you have to become a maid anyway... Or, option three, take that gun and turn it on yourself. All you need to do is pull the trigger."

Kagome's eyes misted. She wasn't getting out of this...

'I can't become a part of a gang... I won't... but... with their trust...' She shook her head. They knew who she was and where she lived. Even with their trust, she couldn't escape... They'd just follow her home and her family really would be in trouble.

"Can't you let me go- you know who I am..."

"For the last time- no."

Plain, simple, and with no room for argument... She should have known...

"A maid...?" Kagome repeated, dropping her head to look at her feet. Not a very appealing offer.

"Well, there is another option, but you've already made your point on that one," Inuyasha spoke, startling Kagome at how close he was. She spun to look at the now fully dressed man behind her. "But being a mistress to me or my men doesn't fit you, anyway. Your body wouldn't hold up," he chuckled. "Us men are a bit rough."

Kagome sneered in disgust. "You're sickening." He raised an eyebrow. "You're too blunt," she explained. "Now, who's Shippo?"

Inuyasha smirked, "knew you'd say that. Now, listen. If anyone objects to letting you live, I have no choice but to kill you, understand?"

"No, but I'll live with that for now, won't I?"

He chuckled. "Great sense of humor... I think we'll get along just fine."

"Unlikely..."

With a sigh and toss of his head, he ordered, "Follow me," and left the bedroom... with Kagome a step behind him.

******

"Shippo!" a voice boomed, snapping the ten year old out of his reverie.

He sat in front of the pantry, taking inventory with a blank mind, drawing stick figures on the edge of his list. Last night had frightened him to no extent. The girl Kagome was probably laying dead on Inuyasha's bedroom floor with a bullet through her heart...

"Shippo!"

"Here, boss!" he yelled back in his gruffest voice.

"Don't make me hunt you down, Kitsune," Inuyasha advised.

"In the pantry, boss. Inventory time, again!"

A brief silence had Shippo jumpy. Usually Inuyasha would bang a few pots around on his way through the kitchen. Quickly realizing he was supposed to show himself, not wait for his employer to find him, Shippo scurried out and into the main dinning room. Here, he stopped in his tracks.

Inuyasha sat in his seat, lazily leaning back with his feet on the table. A bedraggled Kagome stood uneasily at his side, wringing her hands with her head downcast.

"Um, boss? Isn't she-"

"Your new partner in crime," Inuyasha laughed. "Anything you need help with, anything you want help with, anything your little heart desires for her to do- she's yours to command, oh Great One."

Yup, Shippo was definitely scared out of his mind. Inuyasha had gone insane! People weren't going to stand for the captive to still be alive and standing. But then again... someone for him to push around... or be friends with... He'd take it!

"... Um... Okay... I need help in the kitchen right now," he admitted. "We're out of Ramen and sugar... and pepper. I need to go shopping... and lunch hasn't been started."

"Alright, maid, you heard him. It's time to start cooking. Shippo, she isn't to leave the kitchen until you get back," Inuyasha announced, kicking his feet from the table to stand. "Install a com system in the room and get over to the store... After you tell her what she needs to know, of course."

"Sure."

Inuyasha brought Kagome's chin up with a finger. "Listen to him and you might live to see another day." She glared. "And say 'yes, master,' when he tells you to do something, understand."

"Yes."

"Good, give it a try, Shippo," Inuyasha ordered.

"... Um... Follow me?" he said uncertainly.

"Yes, master," Kagome muttered.

"Couldn't here you," Inuyasha chuckled. "Try again."

"Follow me," Shippo commanded more sternly, trying to give the teen a little encouragement.

"Yes, master," Kagome said, looking up to Shippo.

Inuyasha nodded in approval. "Good. Now, I have to check on the museum again. Did you get the system mapped out?"

"Yeah," Shippo chirped, thankful for the change in conversation. "They have a standard MVRJTW-17 security system. It's also a direct link to the Bank- they can both be taken out by the flip of a single switch."

"I'll think about it."

With this said, he left the two 'maids' to their chores. Shippo sighed and shook his head. Sometimes he didn't understand how that man ever became leader of such a notorious gang.

"Well, what do I need to know?"

Shippo returned his attention to Kagome and sighed again. "Come on, I'll tell you while I take inventory and set up that com unit."

"Yes, master."

You know, he was kind of starting to like that title...

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A/N: Sorry, again I have changed the way I'm writing- this is because of my wish to get out of depressed mode I've been in... It's helped... a little, at least... Oh well. And sorry for such a short-ish chapter and long pause in updating, I'll make it up to you- Promise!

Again, thank you all so much for the reviews! They really mean a lot to me- thank you, thank you, thank you!

Until next time!