Chapter Two

Upon returning to the room I had awoken in, I discovered that my personal affects had already been returned. My haori had been cleaned and neatly repaired, the fine cloth showing no signs of additional stitching. My armor had been scrubbed and my swords had exhibited no evidence of tampering. I examined my belongings intently, before changing quickly. I strapped on my armor and swords.

In my haste to leave, yet not wanting to sound ungrateful, I quickly scrawled a note on a scroll of paper I found in the room.

-oooooo-

Two pairs of eyes observed the departure of the Taiyoukai.

"My lord, is it wise to allow him to leave freely, though you did not wish for me to reveal to him where he was or who you were? I am sure he'll be able to locate your palace again. He seems of the clever sort." The girl asked. It was the same who had greeted Sesshoumaru in the garden.

Her lord only chuckled. He looped a fine-boned finger through the silver ring on her choker and pulled the girl toward him. "My dear, you forget whom you are speaking to. I have already placed a masking spell over my lands. He will not be able to trace his way back here, even with his finely tuned senses." He grinned.

"My lord." She admonished. "Forgive my moment of doubt." She bowed her head.

"Of course." He whispered by her ear, his breath blowing softly on the outer shell.

The girl bit her lip nervously. Her master was always able to unnerve her with the merest of actions, but he seemed to place careful effort in it today. Not even her pet had been allowed with her in reporting back to him.

"Is there something you wish for me to do, my lord?"

"You could say that." Her lord's head bent lower, nuzzling the crook of her neck. His finger was still circled around her collar. "My dear, Kagome, you performed admirably today. I was quite pleased with your performance." He nipped lightly at the muscle which joined her neck and shoulder. Crimson eyes flashed brightly. Flicking his wrist, he summoned the note which the Taiyoukai had left behind. "It should be quite rewarding to have the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands in my debt."

Kagome repressed a shudder. It was unsettling to have her master use her name, but she understood her master's desire. Tentatively, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned her head against his chest. She had to submit to him. His free arm snaked around her waist.

He pressed his lips against her jugular, enjoying the way her pulse sped up at his ministrations. The material of her collar was thin and made of such fabric where she could feel his every touch as if the collar did not separate her skin from his contact. Gently a thumb stroked her throat. "He touched you." He murmured. He released the ring in favor of pushing the cloth down with one finger to reveal the darkening of her white flesh, the beginnings of a bruise.

"I'm sorry, my lord. He's a temperamental youkai, and was unsatisfied with my answers."

"No one but I am allowed to touch you." He growled possessively.

"Yes, my lord." She gasped as his hold on her tightened.

"Yes, Naraku-sama." She corrected herself.

-oooooo-

"SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!!!" The earsplitting shriek was the Taiyoukai's greeting as he returned home.

Sesshoumaru paused in is strides to allow a checkered streak to come barreling toward him, latching on this his leg. "Rin missed you!" She exclaimed grinning broadly.

Sesshoumaru allowed his hand to fall atop her head in an affectionate pat. Golden eyes narrowed as he acknowledged the rapid pattering of webbed feet and the labored uneven breathing of tiny, tortured lungs. A few minutes later, the disgruntled and disheveled form of his retainer stumbled through the doorway.

"M-My lord. For…give, this...humble…ser…vant, but-"

A pointed look interrupted the toad's exhausted groveling. "Spare me your excuses Jaken. Was it not my order that you were to keep an eye on Rin?"

"Yes, my lord, but the little brat-"

Ignoring his retainer, the Taiyoukai focused his attention on his ward. "Rin, why aren't you at your lessons?"

Rin pouted. "But Rin's lessons are boring. It's more fun to play with Jaken-sama." She reached out to tug on the inuyoukai's clawed hand. "Sesshoumaru-sama, play with Rin!"

"Lessons first." Sesshoumaru intoned firmly. "I'll see you when you're finished."

With the assurance that her idolized lord would visit her later, the child smiled brightly. "'Kay Sesshoumaru-sama. Rin will go to her lessons now." Hopping away, she outstretched her arms, and made a beeline toward her study room.

Jaken stared wearily after the girl. He sighed tiredly. Using his staff as a crutch, he hobbled after her.

Once his ward and retainer were out of earshot, he stalked toward his own study. Slamming the door open, he called for his guards. "Chiharu! Kimimaru!"

The guards were in his study before the door swung shut. Sesshoumaru eyed his guards. They were identical twins of the kitsune breed, masters of illusion, and his own personal guards. Their combined foxfire was more potent than a dragon's flame.

Ignoring his guards' arrival, he took a seat at his desk. Rifling through a few papers, he settled on one document. Drawing a brush, he assessed the document and began to make the proper signatures and authorization it required. Not taking his eyes from the paper, he intoned flatly, "During my absense, were you aware of any ill intent toward my persons?"

The guards stiffened. "No, Sesshoumaru-sama." They replied synchronously.

"Were you aware, that there was an attempted assassination on my persons?"

"No, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Were you aware, that they succeeded?"

The guards paused, confused. "No, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Golden eyes lifted from the sheet, his endorsement completed. "I would like you two to see to it that the person behind my assassination is found and brought before me. I will deal with the interrogation of the suspect, personally."

The pair nodded, and swiftly left the room.

"Kireto." Sesshoumaru growled.

Melting from the shadows, a dark clad youkai emerged, it's features hidden by a heavy hood and cloak. "Yes, my lord?" The creature droned lifelessly, it's voice a whisper of breeze over dried leaves.

"Discover any traitors in my service." He ordered simply. He knew the youkai had been in observance of his conversation with the kitsunes. Kireto would need no further information.

The youkai bowed, and faded back into the darkness. He was a rare kage-youkai. The best and most trusted spy in the Taisho household, having sworn fealty to the Taisho's since before the rule of Lord Inutaisho.

Assured that his commands were being carried out, the Taiyoukai entwined his fingers beneath his chin. He would flush out any conspirators and eliminate any threat to himself or his lands.

-oooooo-

Kagome laid sprawled across the futon. Her hair splayed out, her clothing torn. The white gown she was clad in was streaked in dark red. She absentmindedly rubbed her throat, lightly fingering the collar. Beneath it lay the symbol of her servitude, the mark of her bondage. Cooing softly, she called her pet to her. The crow flew in silently, landing on her outstretched finger. "Kazeme, how are you today?"

The crow tilted it's head and cawed gently.

Kagome smiled. "I'm glad."

The crow gave her a questioning glance. "I'm fine. Naraku-sama didn't like the scent of another male on me."

Kazeme squawked. Kagome laughed, her voice like tinkling bells. "Except you." She reached out and stroked the head of her beloved pet. He was one of the only companions she was allowed beside the presence of her master. To Naraku, she was a secret the world was not worthy of seeing. She was a unique creature, one of the rarest in the world; a miko with the powers of a youkai and a connection to the realm beyond.

Kagome had been taken from her family when she was young. She barely had any memory of them, but she remembered a warm embrace and tears. Hot tears had been falling down her cheeks, but she couldn't be sure to whom they belonged. Then she was with Naraku, and had been for the last fifteen years. Her appearance was that of an average sixteen year old ningen, but she knew she wasn't completely human, though she had not been in contact with another human since her abduction.

Standing, the miko stripped of her ragged gown and changed into a fine kimono of dark blue with a white lily pattern streaking the left sleeve and down her side to adorn the bottom edge. She deftly tied the white silken obi and brushed her hair back behind her shoulders.

"Shall we return to the gardens?"

An agreeable caw was her reply.

Waiting for her feathered friend to settle into a comfortable perch on her shoulder, Kagome gingerly stretched her limbs. Her lord had been greatly displeased that she had allowed herself to be touched, though at the time, she had not expected the Taiyoukai to attack her. She had heard rumors of his ruthlessness, whispers through shoji screens, but only that. The servants were not allowed direct contact with her, and very few actually knew of her existence. Many of the servants simply regarded her as a favored pet.

She sighed. As a punishment for her mistake, Naraku had silently raked his claws through her gown, gracing her flesh with shallow cuts. Then he whispered comforting words to her about how he was only watching out for her before kissing her neck and leaving her room. Kagome had lain down, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. It wasn't that she didn't believe her lord, it was that she sometimes thought that there were many things he kept hidden from her. She wondered why he felt it necessary to keep her so sheltered. She wanted to go out and meet new people and hopefully make new friends.

Kagome rubbed her arms, warming them from the morning chill The wounds had healed within a few minutes due to her inherent abilities, leaving her creamy skin flawless once again. She had just let her body lay prone on the futon for a few minutes. By then, Kazeme had been released from his cage and had found his way back to his mistress.

Kagome was shaken from her musings by a light nip on her ear. Her eyes flitted to focus on the onyx colored bird which presently had it's beak around her earlobe. "Enough of that now." She said, playfully batting it away. "Alright, alright." She slid open a drawer in her nightstand and picked out a few stale crackers she had reserved especially for him. Slipping one into his beak with a "chew on that," she stood and straightened her kimono. "Let's go."

Kazeme cawed happily.

-oooooo-

Crimson eyes followed the blue clad girl. She was returning to gardens again. She spent almost every waking moment out in the gardens. It was an indulgence he allowed her, after all, he had the gardens constructed especially for her pleasure. If it kept her happy and by his side, he would spare no expense.

His mouth twisted into a smile. Though it wasn't like she could leave if she ever had the desire. She was his little darling, his secret, his pet, his slave. He had forever bound her to him. Still, it was much easier to control her if she were happy rather than miserable.

The gardens had started as an elaborate expanse of flowers and a short hedge maze. Over time and careful cultivation from Kagome alone, the garden had flourished. Many species of flowers bloomed exclusively in the garden, and could be found no where else.

The girl had carefully excavated small scoops of earth to collect rain water. They developed into clear ponds and thin rivulets spread beneath the earth to water the whole garden without leaving the soil muddy. Sakura trees blossomed all year round, and each time he had traversed the garden, he could not find a single crushed bloom or withered plant.

It was amazing. He had let no one manage the garden for fear of the discovery of his little pet, even though it was next to impossible to find someone in the expanse without a tracking spell of enhanced senses, and humans made up the bulk of his employ. Kagome tended to the garden all by herself. She was truly a valuable treasure, his treasure.

Tapping his fingers against the wood lining the shoji screen, he mentally traced her outline. Soon she would be ready. Then he would claim her fully and forge an unbreakable bond between then, sealing her fate forever to his will.

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ODM: Ok, this is chapter two. Looking on it, IT'S ALL FILLER!!! Sorry, but I need to squish in a lotta info right now. Hopefully later chapters will be better.

THANKS TO MY REVIEWERS!!!!

Misti Star: Thanks. Yea, I had that problem. But it was a little difficult for me to make it run smoothly. Later on I switch to purely thrid person though. Hahaha, makes it easier X

Archangel Rhapsody: Thanks! Yea, I can't wait to see either! XP

sigh, ok, the next chapter might be more filler too, but I'm slow when it comes to setting a situtation up. Plus, I'm my own beta reader -- INSPIRATION STRIKE ME PLEASE!!!!

REVIEW PLEASE!!!