A/N: XP I'm sorry it took so long to update. I was gone all day for Wednesday and Thrusday, then there was no power on Friday. Well, there was a little, but by the time I found out, I only had an hour or so to write. ACE needed an update more than this one, so it took first priority.

It also didn't help that I was getting a little stuck here. I fixed it, though, so now we can move along. For all of you Youko fans, I needed another scene here. He took center mike, if you will, and so there is a little scene from his point of view here. Pay attention to how he feels versus Kagome towards the end of the chapter, class. There will be a quiz later.

Kitsune Kagome: I'm a naturally negative person, that's why. Thank you for calling my writing beautiful and magnificent, though. Makes me feel a whole lot more confident.

mizushoubai: Why, thank you!

inkuramaRmine: I like them too, so it's all good! XD

Black Hands: I didn't! I think...

crazy-punk-girl: I'm a girl. And I'd die if I had to make it exactly like the movie! It'd be, like, two chapters long with the amount of words I use! I don't mind long reviews, really. It's not like I have much of a life anyways, and reviews are fun to read. I don't know if I have a writing style...I really just switch around depending on the situation. Usually it's just crazy randomness. As to your questions: He's here! He's here! And he has a position already... I don't know about pairings beyond Keiko and Yuusuke. As to the stuff about people in the dust...you'll have to wait and see. I actually am not going to have very many Inuyasha characters here, due to them being the majority in my other story. Need to balance things out somehow. I know I'm missing a ton of people, but that's because it's hard for me to juggle a bunch of characters at the same time. I had already planned for Kuro-chan to be in this story from the start. As to writing him...I'm just going to go by the way he's written in various fanfictions I've read. When you say seven warriors, are you talking about Jankotsu, Bankotsu, etc.? I don't think I'm having the jewel, as I don't know what I'd do with it. I like a lot of questions, so feel free to ask as many as you can come up with. I really don't mind them, and they aren't a pain. Your welcome, and thanks for reviewing!

regretfully-yours-Cassy-chan: Cute! I don't know about others, but they make a cute couple. XP Yes, I am a shounen-ai fan. But can you blame me? Really?

Youko paced in his study. It was a small room, windowless and dark. Night was descending on the forest, darkening even more than it was normally. A fire burned in a small hearth to his left. On his right stood large desk, covered with books and documents from when his father had used this very room. That had been a long time ago, and the parchment showed its age by turning a golden yellow. Old inkwells, the ink having long since evaporated, stood with quills still inserted in them. A mirror reflected the firelight lazily, blinking cheerily as Youko moved about. The only other living thing, besides the young lord, was a blood red rose in a vase on the mantle.

He turned furiously, spinning on the smooth granite floor. His hands were fisted at his side as his mind whirred madly. He had come here to calm his mind down. Instead, his mind moved faster and faster as it centered on the same person. That woman that had come to his home that morning, shattering the peace and routine that had been set in place for years.

How could one woman do so much damage, he wondered. First there had been the fact that she had been driving him insane with all her chattering in the tower. He had thought she wouldn't be smart enough to figure out he had sensitive hearing. After all, why should he? Most of the women he knew couldn't put two and two together to get four. There had been no reason for him to believe that she actually had a brain underneath that black head of hair.

That's not true, a part of him whispered. She spoke as if she had been nobly born. Youko growled and shoved the voice into the depths of his dark mind. It had no reason to be butting into his business. He reached the wall, and turned to pace to the other end of the room.

Then, of all things to happen to the lord of a wealthy estate, his underlings lectured him. He had just sent Botan to find a way to shut the woman up, when he was ambushed by not only Yuusuke and Hiei, who had been at him to send a kidnapper out into the forest, but his good friend Kuronue, too. They all proceeded to give him a large speech about how that woman was the first human to ever find her way to the castle unharmed. They told him it was fate and that he should try and get her to fall for him.

What a load of shit that was. Of course he knew that she was the first, only woman to make it this far without becoming demon food. Of course he knew that he only had a few months until the curse was made permanent. Of course he damned well knew that if he didn't find someone soon, they would all live-forever in the same, goddamned place for the rest of time!

He reached the end of the room and glared at the wall, before turning again. The only problem was that the wench was a short-tempered bitch that didn't see past his demonic form. She probably didn't even want to find out what kind of hell he had been through all these years. It wasn't easy living like this, locked forever in a cage. He had always feared being caged, and had taken good care to maintain his freedom. And then, in the blink of an eye, it was taken from him forever.

Youko reached the wall again and slammed a fist into the stone. The force was so strong that bits of gravel broke off as he held his fist to the wall. Blood slowly trickled from his knuckles and his fingers stun horribly. It did nothing to improve his mood. With a snarl, he ripped his hand back and began to pace again.

He turned his mind to the eye of the storm in his mind. The woman, whatever her name was, caused all of this. It was her fault that he wasn't able to stop thinking about her. It was her fault that he couldn't calm down. It was all her fault that she had not only surprised him not once, but twice.

And is it her fault you find her immensely attractive? The voice whispered again. Youko furiously told the voice where to shove it.

He had to make a decision about her, whether he liked it or not. It was a choice between whether he follows the advice of his underlings, or if he kept her where she was and didn't do a thing about the curse. He knew that if he passed up this opportunity, he may not have another chance. Then again, she was annoying.

Youko's hand shot out and gripped a rope, which had been lying in the shadows by the fireplace. Pulling furiously, he waited. Not too long after, Botan appeared in the doorway. "Go take her to the garden suite," he snapped. Botan hurried away as the irritated lord resumed his pacing.

Why did he get the feeling that he had just sealed his fate?

Kagome pondered her new information. So far, it began to make sense. The forbidding feeling, that nothing came back, even the strange darkness that coated the land here on the brightest of days. Shaking her head, Kagome sighed. There was one thing that she didn't know at the moment that was eating at her curiosity. "Yukina, can you tell me who here are demons? It's not that I'm prejudiced or anything, but I'm just really curious."

Yukina looked up, seeming to snap out of some memories. "I think I can tell you; everyone. Well, everyone that you will most likely meet, that is." Kagome waited patiently as Yukina put on a thoughtful face. "Okay, let me think for a moment. I'm sure you've already guessed that Kurama-ouji is a kitsune demon." Kagome cocked her head at the strange new word. "Fox. Sorry some of my old home is coming out." Yukina smiled kindly, which Kagome returned. "Then there is me, and I'm an ice koorime."

Kagome wasn't surprised. She had already figured that out when Yukina had begun to tell the story as if she had actually lived it. Which was probably true, Kagome told herself. Her attention snapped back to the ice maiden as she continued to list off a couple people. "Then there is Hiei-nii-san, who is a fire youkai. Also, Ankoku-sama, a chimera, Kiken-san, a wind shinobi, and Mokusei-san, an ice shinobi, I believe that is the names of all of the demons you are most likely going to meet."

Kagome nodded. So, there seemed to be quite a few. Yukina seemed to be waiting for her to make a comment, so she smiled and said, "That's more than I probably would've guessed. What do they do? I mean, like are they in positions here that are directly related to what type of demon they are?"

Yukina shook her head, her hair bouncing from side to side. "No, although that is an idea that never crossed our minds. If you want, I can list off people that you will meet eventually and their positions, if you are curious. I can also tell you a little bit about them. It might help you settle in a little easier."

Kagome wasn't aware of how tense she had been until Yukina mentioned that. Feeling guilty, that she had been so nervous around someone as bubbly as Botan, or as sweet as Yukina, Kagome forced her muscles to relax. "I'd really appreciate that. It would help me prevent from making mistakes."

Yukina's eyes lit up. "Alright, it would be my pleasure. But first, I need to know something from you. Do you sew?" At Kagome's nod, she stood and wandered over to a pile in a far corner. Rummaging through it for a moment, she returned to her mat with a small kit and a few garments. Motioning for Kagome to sit in front of her, she opened the kit. "This is what I do here, for the moment. This is also what Yukimura-san wants you to do, apparently." Kagome moved from her stool to the ground in front of Yukina. Taking an old, worn shirt, she accepted a needle and thread from Yukina.

"Okay," Yukina said as she pulled out her own needle and thread and began to fix a pair of breeches. "Now, first I should tell you a little bit about myself. It's only proper." Kagome smiled at Yukina's mannerisms. She would never, in a million years, be as proper as the young ice maiden. "My full name is Yukina Junketsu. My brother, Hiei-nii-san, and I have different fathers. We are both from a distant land called Nihon. We came here when our world was thrown into war, looking for work. We were hired by Kurama-ouji's parents as personal servants. I served under Kinsei-dono while Hiei-nii-san serves directly under Kurama-ouji."

Yukina didn't miss the odd look that Kagome gave her, but opted to continue. "Then there's Urameshi-sama, and his job is to act as a type of host when people come here. His koibishi, Yukimura-san, acts as head of the servants. They both became immortal when the curse was laid upon us. They also fight a lot, so it's always loud when they become angry at each other. Urameshi-sama's friend, Kazuma-san, acts as a sort of coordinator for social events. He is kind to everyone and will never fight with a woman. The only negative thing about him is that he gets in fights with Urameshi-sama and Hiei-nii-san. He, too, is an immortal. His sister, Kuwabara-san, is a serving maid for the east wing. She keeps her brother in line along with some of the other residents. You know Botan-san. I don't know much about her besides the fact that she helps Yukimura-san sometimes."

Yukina tied off her work and set it aside. Kagome was amazed that she had finished so quickly. Kagome herself was only partway done with a rip in the sleeve she was working on, and it was incredibly smaller than the patch job Yukina had done. Yukina picked up another, just as shabby, tunic and began to repair that. "Ankoku-sama is the stable manager, and if you need to do anything with your donkey, you'll need to see him. He is just about the only person, besides Hiei-nii-san and Yukimura-san, that can stand up to Kurama-ouji and not get punished. I'm sure your companion will love him."

Kagome smiled. Just what she needed, a spoiled ass. Shaking her head, she finally was able to tie off the end of her thread. She used her teeth to neatly clip the string before copying Yukina and starting on a new garment. Yukina waited for her to turn her attention back to the koorime before continuing.

"I think that you'll like Kiken-san. He's the chef, and loves to play with people. The only thing I would warn you about is that he, like Hiei-nii-san and myself, is from another country. His isn't nearly as far, but he has an odd accent he can't seem to get rid of. It makes it difficult to understand him, but that seems to be a positive trait. Then Mokusei-san takes care of the landscape with a few other people. He creates beautiful ice sculptures in the winter months, and that's one thing that everyone here looks forward to."

Kagome smiled. "It sounds like you have a full house here. I look forward to meeting them." Kagome sighed as the conversation wound down. Somehow she knew that when she went to bed, no matter how tired she was she wouldn't fall asleep right away. It was barely noon in the outside world, and she already had more on her mind than she ever had before.

Kagome and Yukina made their way slowly through the pile of clothing, talking with each other as the day wore on. They were interrupted only once, when someone (whom she later found out was called Taka) dropped off a small lunch of bread, cheese and fruit with a clear spring water to wash it down. It was a small lunch for Kagome, but she enjoyed it in good company.

Thinking that, after the previous events of being thrown in gaol and pledging service to an arrogant bastard, there could be no more surprises for her at the time, fate decided to give her one more shocker. It happened when Botan came to escort Kagome to her room for the night.

Kagome was walking down the large, stone corridor with the blue-haired server next to her. She had been admiring the shadowed statues that flanked them on either side, shivering as the cruel faces flickered with the torchlight, when Botan had cleared her throat hesitantly. Kagome had curiously turned to her, keeping an eye on where they were traveling.

"I'm sure that Yukina told you about us, right?" Kagome nodded. "Well, the master was talking to the staff while you were with Yukina." Kagome didn't like where the conversation was heading, but she kept her mouth shut. "As you know, the person to break the enchantment has to be a human girl." Kagome definitely didn't like where this was going! She was about to answer, when someone stepped out of the shadows. He startled both women, causing them to scream.

When Kagome calmed her pounding heart, she took a good look at him. He stood much shorter than her, by about four inches. His jet-black hair defied gravity, with a white starburst overhanging a white bandana over his forehead. He wore a simple black outfit of breeches and tunic, four white belts being the only color at his waist. His piercing red eyes began to size Kagome up as he stood with his arms folded beside two doors.

Kagome's eyes were drawn to the doorway next. The doors were beautifully carved with roses and ivy plants. They wove in and out of each other in an intricate pattern. Kagome's mouth parted slightly as the firelight danced over the carvings and made them seem like they were moving. It was a magical thing to know that someone had carved this with their own hands. The dark-stained wood added to the effect. If it had been made out of any other material, like stone or metal, the art would have seemed cold and dead. The mahogany panels gave an aura of warmth and light that seemed to sing to anyone who looked upon it.

Botan stepped into Kagome's view and turned the large brass handles to reveal the room beyond. Kagome turned to her and she smiled. "Well, go in already! Take a look around while we're here." The shadow-man hadn't moved at all, so Kagome chose to ignore him. Nothing could have prepared her for the room beyond the shadows, as Botan flurried ahead of her to illuminate the rather large area.

Kagome's eyes widened. Not just from the size, in which she could fit three rooms like her old one in there comfortably and still have room to spare. It was the furnishings that caught her eye, expensive yet elegant. The door had been the foreshadow of the enclosure. All of the material inside the room was a shade of green. The large four-poster bed at the opposite end stood proudly in the arena, covered in dark, forest green coverings. Large velvet curtains hung limply from the bed and window. Open to admit the moonlight. Polished oak gleamed from all points of the room. To the left of the door was a small fireplace. Circled around the opening were two chairs and a lounging couch, all upholstered with the same material as the bedding. A large armoire stood a short distance from the right side of the door, stained a dark, rosy red. A table the same color finished off the room, gracing the middle of the floor on a red carpet made from old rags.

Kagome smiled and turned to tell Botan what she thought of the room. However, like the last time she had been taken somewhere, the bubbly woman had disappeared. Instead, the shadow-man from before stood in front of the doorway. One of the doors had been closed without Kagome's hearing, which effectively blocked her exit.

"What's going on?" Kagome asked. There was that feeling again, one telling her she shouldn't have asked that question. She should have left well off, instead going to relax in the room and enjoying the comforts of a noble. No, she just had to find out why she had been brought here, why she was being watched by some stranger like a piece of thick, juicy steak. Damn her curiosity.

The man gave her an icy glare, and Kagome couldn't help but be reminded of Yukina. Was this her brother? His voice was a deep bass as he answered her. "You are the only human wench stupid enough to come here. You are the only hope for us to have our curse broken. Therefore, on Kurama's orders, you are going to be treated like royalty." Kagome opened her mouth to retort, but was cut short. "No, you cannot leave, and I have orders to make sure of that. I've also been told that the only way you can leave is if you agree to dine with Kurama later this evening." He smirked.

Kagome gasped. "What do you mean, I can't leave?" For her answer, the man walked out and closed the door behind him. Kagome ran to the entryway, trying the doorknob only to discover it was locked. She pounded loudly on the door, calling through the thick wood. "Let me go! I was told I would be working if I agreed to stay here, not be shut up in a fancy prison cell! Let me out!" She pounded until her fists began to crack and bleed, on the edge of hysteria.

Finally, she gave up. There was no way she would eat anything in the presence of the son-of-a-bitch prince, no way in hell! Kagome furiously turned away from the door. Now she was trapped, just like she had feared. This was no different than what her father had threatened to do all her life. Kagome was now trapped in a cage, with no way out. Angry tears spilled over her eyes as she walked over to the bed.

Biting her lip, she tried to stop crying. There was no changing her fate, nothing she could do. She tried to tell herself that none of this was her fault, but it didn't work. Not that she thought it would, but it had been worth a shot. She slowly laid herself on the overly large bed, feeling incredibly alone. She curled up and let the flood of sorrow break free. As sleep began to pull her into his arms, Kagome wished with all her might that she had died when the fever had taken her. If she had, then everything would've been right with the world. Everyone would be happy.

And she would have been free to fly.

End Chapter
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