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Started: 10/4/2004
Revised: 11/6/2005
Posted:
Words: 2,068
Quote of the week: "Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
A/N: First and foremost, I'd like to apologize for my behavior last chapter. I wasn't in a good mood because I was sick for a week and am failing half of my classes because I did not have enough time to make up my work before report cards came out. I know that it was no reason to take out my anger on you readers. I will not change the review rate again, and the most important thing is that I will not remove this story unless I get absolutely no reviews what so ever.
Second, special thanx to the reviewer who said I had a 'Petulant Demanding Attitude.' I did not mean to make myself sound like that, and I'm sorry if I did. You are the one who made me realize I was indeed to the point of bribing the readers.
Once again, my apologies, and I hope you enjoy the chapter.
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Disclaimer: Inuyasha is nowhere in my grasp, nor will it ever be.
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Chapter 5
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"You realize by now, wench, that your friends and Inuyasha will live. How annoying."
Kagome glared at the demon lord standing in her doorway. She stood slowly, attaining as much height as she could to face him. "If we are so annoying, you should have dropped us off at the nearest village. Since it is obvious that you did not, it can only be blamed on you that we 'annoying' humans and Inuyasha are here at all."
Sesshoumaru smirked. "So it would seem."
He regarded her with curiosity, gazing into her dark brown eyes. She finally looked away, a slight red tinge gathering across her cheeks and nose. Then her face twisted into an angry scowl. It added a touch of fiery justice to her obvious human beauty.
"You are… angry that you lost control of your powers?" he questioned. Then, "Or is it simply that you could not help until the last moment? Are you not happy that you saved their lives?"
Kagome's eyes blazed with rage and inner fire, and she clenched her fists. "What do you know! I am angry because I could not kill that… that bitch Kagura and her sister Kanna for almost killing my friends. If she hadn't run away, I would have made her suffer for what she did."
Sesshoumaru's eyes opened wide. He had not known that rage was an emotion present in the soul of a priestess. It had never crossed his mind. He opened his mouth to say something when she continued.
"I will not forgive Kagura, or Kanna! Next time… Next time, I will make sure I kill them with my own hands. I will get revenge for Kouga and his pack, and my friends."
"Ah, revenge, is it?" Sesshoumaru remarked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He smiled and narrowed his eyes. "What would your friends say… What would Inuyasha say if they heard you talking like this?"
"Shut up."
A feral growl escaped Sesshoumaru's throat and red seeped into his golden eyes. In a flash, he had her pinned to the wall with his knee. He grabbed her hair and jerked her head back, his face a mere centimeters away from hers. He snarled when she smirked, and dug his knee into her stomach.
"You will hold your tongue in my presence, wench! You are a guest in this house, and I could easily dispose of you and your comrades."
Kagome frowned and glared, ignoring her pain. "Do it, then, because all I'm doing here is wasting my time, arguing day in and day out with you. I have better things to do than spending time in your," she smiled sweetly, " pleasant company."
Sesshoumaru slammed her to the floor and straddled her, pinning her hands underneath her body. He grabbed her throat and pulled her upper body up so her face could meet his again.
"I will not tolerate your sarcastic remarks. Open your mouth again and I will rip out your tongue."
He carefully lowered her back the ground. Kagome's eyes narrowed, but she did as he commanded. He stared down at her defiant eyes, her chest rising and falling with anger. He slid his hand down and traced circles on her collarbone. She held her breath and watched his finger as it danced from her collarbone to her shoulder and back again.
"You really are desirable, for a human."
"What is it that you require from me, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kagome hissed.
He brought his eyes up to meet hers and his hand came to rest beside her face on the floor. "What would Inuyasha, do, I wonder, if he were to find that his woman was taken by another man?"
Kagome blushed and looked away. "He probably wouldn't care. All he thinks about is Kikyou."
"I see. But what would you do, Kagome? What would you do?"
He quickly stood up and offered her his hand, but she refused and quickly straightened her rumpled kimono just as Inuyasha burst into her room. She glared at Sesshoumaru, who bowed mockingly before turning and leaving.
"What did that bastard want?" demanded Inuyasha. He set stormy golden eyes on the empty doorway, as if wishing Sesshoumaru was there so he could stare him to death. "Why was he in your room?"
Kagome sighed and slapped her forehead. "He was informing me of you and the others' health, Inuyasha. Do you always have to get jealous over every guy who comes in contact with me? Honestly," Kagome said exasperatedly.
"I – I wasn't jealous!" Inuyasha stammered. "Why would I be jealous over my weakling of a brother? And besides, if you wanted to be with someone like him, I'd say you have poor tastes in men. Just like your fling with Kouga. I don't know what you see in them."
He huffed and turned away from her, folding his hands in his sleeves. At the last moment, he smelled the spiked scent of her anger over the nervous scent of her embarrassment. He flicked an ear and turned around to see her eyes closed and her hands in fists.
"Inuyasha… SIT boy!"
Kagome quickly walked around Inuyasha, intending to find Sesshoumaru and give him a piece of her mind. When she turned a corner, she tripped over someone, who started cursing all humans in a high screechy voice.
"I don't know why Lord Sesshoumaru puts up with you disgusting humans! You there, wench, Lord Sesshoumaru requests your presence in his study. And don't dawdle!"
The little toad demon smacked a confused Kagome in the back of the head after he received a blank stare at his statement. With furious retaliation, Kagome grabbed Jaken by the throat and threw him out the closest window. She listened to his wailing until a loud 'thump' heralded his landing before continuing her way to Sesshoumaru's study.
When she arrived, Sesshoumaru was standing at a window, his back turned. She picked up the nearest book and threw it at the back of his head. He quickly snatched it and had it back on the shelf in the blink of an eye and stood before her.
"I know you did not mean to harm a valuable history book, so I will accept your apology," he said haughtily, staring down at her.
"Accept this, you arrogant bastard!" Kagome growled, slapping him across the cheek. "What right do you have to throw personal questions at me like you did earlier?"
"Oh, every right there possibly is, dear Kagome."
Her eyes widened in anger and she raised her hand again to slap him, but he grabbed her wrist and spun her around, pinning him to her body.
"What is more important than you uselessly arguing with me is you worrying about how you are going to repay me for the hospitality I have bestowed upon you and your friends."
Kagome's mouth dropped and she struggled to get free of him to no avail. "You! You planned this all along! Is that the only reason you aided us?"
"My reasons are mine alone and none of your concern as of right now. What are you planning to do about your debt?"
Kagome quickly tried to think of a solution that could possibly benefit her and the others as well as Sesshoumaru. An idea that she dreaded to think about surfaced, but she quickly quelled it and angrily racked her brain for anything else. However, after an unfruitful attempt, she sighed with resignation.
"I have one idea," she stated quietly, hoping beyond hope that the others would understand.
"Oh? And what would this idea of yours be?" questioned Sesshoumaru, turning her around so she could face him.
Kagome lowered her eyes and stared at the ground. "I will serve you for however long you deem necessary…"
"But?"
"But on the conditions that you also train me in fighting and that you aid us when the time comes to face Naraku."
Kagome said the last while raising her head and tilting her chin up to glare defiantly at Sesshoumaru's face. He carefully regarded her with a cold mask on his face. Was she really going to commit herself to him? From the look in her eyes, he knew she would.
"Very well. I accept your terms. Inform your friends and have them ready to leave in one week's time. I will not bother you until then."
Sesshoumaru immediately left, leaving a shocked Kagome. She had made a stab in the dark, and he had accepted! Then her heart filled with dread. She had no idea what he planned to do with her during her time of service. She bravely straightened her shoulders and back and went to find her friends.
Fortunately, they were all in the dining hall, having the mid-day meal. As soon as she entered, the talking ceased, and everyone stared at her. She took a deep breath and strode forward, readying herself for the announcement she was about to make.
"I have good news, and I have bad news," she began, looking at each in turn.
Everyone quickly stood and gathered in an arc in front of her. "Which shall you hear first?" she asked them.
All six looked curiously at each other before requesting the good news first. Kagome smiled a genuine smile and laughed quietly.
"Sesshoumaru has agreed to aid us in our defeat of Naraku and he has offered to train me to fight."
Inuyasha's mouth dropped open in shock. Sango and Miroku looked relieved now that they had a strong ally joining in the hunt for Naraku. Kouga looked suspicious. After everyone had talked until they were silent with questions, they looked at Kagome again. Her bangs were lowered to cover her eyes.
"And the bad news, Kagome?" Sango asked quietly, fearing the reply.
Kagome looked up and everyone saw a great sadness in them. "I have promised Sesshoumaru that I will serve him until he deems that I have paid off the debt I owe him for all three tasks that I have requested of him."
"Three!" yelled
Inuyasha, slamming his fist into the wall. "Where the hell did my
brother learn to count!"
Miroku watched Kagome anxiously.
"There is something that you have not told us," he concluded,
knowing he was right when Kagome once again lowered her head.
"What have you stupidly gone and done, now, Kagome?" growled Inuyasha.
Her temper flared. "If I hadn't 'stupidly' asked Sesshoumaru for his help after our battle with Kagura, more than one of us would be dead!" she cried.
Silence.
"Do you realize what you have done, Kagome?" Kouga finally said. "Being in willing service for a demon means you have to do everything asked of you. And I mean everything."
Kagome knew what he was suggesting, but she ignored him. She steeled herself and her voice and continued emotionlessly. "You all must be gone by one week. And I plan to see this through, so if any of you decide to try and get me, I will place a barrier around Sesshoumaru's castle. And Inuyasha, I assure you that my barrier cannot be broken," she added, upon seeing his thoughtful face. He frowned and glared at her.
"We can't even visit you?" asked little Shippou.
Kagome smiled sadly at him. "No. I must do this on my own. For you, and for the demands I made of Sesshoumaru."
"Kagome, you can't…" whispered Inuyasha.
"Yes, I can, and I will. Nothing any of you do or say will change my mind. I do have a request to make of each of you, as well."
They all waited quietly.
"Become as strong as you can, for when my service is done, we will hunt down Naraku."
By the end of the week, Kagome had said her goodbyes and everyone had left. She waited patiently in her room for whatever might come next. When she was brushing her hair for the night, the opening of her bedroom door drew her attention.
Sesshoumaru stood there, staring coldly at her until she stood and looked back at him through her mirror. She sighed and placed the brush down, then turned and bowed to him. When she stood straight, but with her eyes cast to the floor, he came forward and grasped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. He smirked.
"It is time. Time for you to fulfill your end of the bargain."
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