A/N – Yes I know it has been FOREVER for me to update, and I am really sorry but I needed to update 'The History Book' before this. I'm alternating chapters to update. So here is chapter four of 'Fair Trade' in all it's glory.
P.S. – Thank you to all who reviewed, it has been great encouragement for me to continue this story. And for those of you who read this story and didn't bother reviewing, I hope you do, because it would encourage me a great deal more to write.
IMPORTANT - Setting:
Just so we're clear on the time period etc. Although I'm not quite familiar with the history of how people used to live in England. I know few things that I have read in novels, but in this fiction I will be altering the setting a little. Some traditions (that I know of) will be kept the same, following the monarchy rule (respect, the crown etc.) although this is not old England (King Henry VII) this is will be a slightly modern England (toilets, T.V., modern cleaning tools), however I want to keep some of the traditions from old England like horse riding and a small village from the 'castle'.
Sorry for not mentioning this earlier and confusing you all. This is a weird alternating type of England where the setting looks like old England but the technology is slightly more modern. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Fair Trade
Chapter Four – Treason
Last Time:
'I'm going to make his life a living hell…' Kagome thought evilly as she began scheming.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
Kagome smirked from a far, pleased to see a half naked King running down the corridors, soaked in water and bubbles with only a small towel to keep his man-jewels hidden in enough decency.
Earlier this day, Kagome thought of a plan…a plan to achieve revenge on the infamous King for making her look like a fool cleaning at the King's feet wherever he went, although it was her duty to do so, she has never been treated so lowly before. Cleaning was something that she needed to get used to.
Of course, the plan had worked…watching humorously as the King ran down the corridors with redness on his face. There was no doubt he was looking for her, she could practically here his voice from a far screaming for the servant's name.
It was plain to see that the relationship between Kagome and Inuyasha had…grown in some aspects, being as how she could recognize his dirty tricks and his hers. If Kagome hadn't been in hiding inside of a mop's closet, she would have been caught quickly by the sharp eyes of the King.
Kagome couldn't help it when her smile broadened when she thought back to this afternoon. She was commanded by the King to prepare a 'hot' bath with salts and bubbles before 3:00 pm, but he didn't mention when to prepare the bath, as long as it was ready by 3:00. Altering the King's command, she prepared a minimum warm to cold bath with bubbles and added cooking salt into the bath…at half past noon! By the time the King would undress and get into the supposedly warm bath, the water would be ice-cold.
The young girl, couldn't lower her laughter anymore and started to chuckle softly, and slowly it grew louder and louder. There was no point hiding herself now with the loud noises that she was making, but not that it really mattered. Kagome was bound to get caught sooner or later. It was how it has been since she arrived at the castle, she would prank at him, he would know, and give her some sort of punishment, and once again Kagome would seek revenge and do something equally or worse to humiliate the King.
It was surprising however, that the King hasn't banished her from the castle from her treacherous acts. The first time Kagome pulled a prank on the King, she was trying to be careful to not get caught. Even though she'd have to clean his room, the people of the castle provided her good food and a warm shelter…it would've been best not to get caught. The first time Kagome pulled a prank, she changed the King's laundry load from clean clothes to dirty clothes, therefore having the King wear the same dirty outfit again. During that time, she acted innocent as if nothing happened, but the King saw through her innocence and accused her for the incident, because she was the only one who was to attend to his clothing. Her punishment surprisingly was to just clean the windows on the first floor. Kagome was sure that King Inuyasha would have banished her from the castle for it was treason to do as such to a man of Royalty, but surprisingly he just let it slide and ordered her to do something else as punishment.
From then on, Kagome has taken advantage of the King's kindness and continually pulled tricks on him. She tries to hide, just to avoid another silly punishment, but Inuyasha always knew that it was she who has committed the crime.
The cycle repeated till this day.
Kagome was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the wet, sloppy footsteps coming her way.
With one angry swing of the closet door, Kagome was hit back with reality. What stood in front of her…was a very wet and very bare-naked King.
"KAGOME! YOU BITCH!" Inuyasha yelled.
When Kagome looked over the King, she noticed the well-toned chiselled chest, and the muscle in his arms showed itself more without his long sleeved uniforms. If Inuyasha wasn't a King and she not a peasant, she might have considered courting the man…after all, he was quite handsome, but seeing the circumstances they were both in, it's not likely of happening.
Without wavering in her voice she responded, "Good afternoon your Majesty, did you not like the bath?" Kagome looked at him with innocent eyes.
"NO! OF COURSE NOT! YOU FUCKING PREPARED ME AN ICE-COLD BATH!" He hollered. Clearly upset that his afternoon bath was disturbed. The wench just had to anger him straight to the man-jewels, after all the water wasvery, very cold.
"That's an absurd accusation! What proof do you have against me your Majesty?" Kagome asked innocently, trying to confuse the Lord by acting clueless.
Inuyasha couldn't believe this girl! Wasn't it obvious why he accused Kagome and her only? After everything that has happened for the past week, one would think that the young girl would get a clue and quite the acting.
"YOU WERE THE VERY BITCH I ASKED TO PREPARE MY BATH! WHAT PROOF DO YOU WANT!" The enraged King yelled, clearly frustrated and losing his patience with the servant.
Kagome sighed, giving up the fight. There was just no fooling the King, he already caught onto her scheming…but she could still wiggle her way out with the gullible advisor right?
"Your Majesty, anyone could have prepared that cold bath for you. Why don't you just ask your advisor?"
"FINE!" Inuyasha roughly grabbed the servant's arm and dragged her towards where he believed Miroku was, while holding onto the towel securely around his waist.
"So beautiful…so beautiful…" Miroku continued to hum to himself thinking of only, of course, the perfect looking woman.
Raging noises could be heard outside his office doors…not again.
He knew where the noises were coming from, and who the voices were.
Inuyasha and Kagome
Sigh 'I wish those two will just stop their squabbling.' Already, Miroku was heading towards the door. There was no doubt in his mind that the King will start complaining about the beautiful maid he picked out for him. If King Inuyasha complained so much about his bed chamber servant, why couldn't he just dismiss her off?
Something was just not right.
Just as Miroku was about to turn the golden knob, the double doors burst open revealing King Inuyasha dragging Kagome behind him. Once again, the yelling commenced…
"MIROKU! DID I OR DIDN'T I TELL KAGOME TO PREPARE ME A HOT BATH?" Inuyasha commanded, forgetting his manners completely.
"King Inuyasha…uhm what on earth are you wearing. Or should I say not wearing?" Miroku looked over the King once, and twice…yep…he was naked. 'Wonderful…I get a naked King walking into my office and no beautiful lady.' Miroku's mind spoke, dripping with sarcasm.
"I'm naked and it's all Kagome's fault!" Inuyasha's yelled, his patience growing very thin.
"Oh I see…" Miroku's perverted thoughts rising to new heights. Thankfully though, Inuyasha caught onto his look quite quickly.
"Damn it Miroku! Get your head out of the gutter! Kagome deliberately made me a freaking ice-cold bath!"
Miroku looked at the red-faced King, and then turned to look behind him to see the innocent eyes of the servant.
"Inuyasha, don't blame the girl. I'm sure she made you a nice hot bath, but you took too long to get into it so that it was still warm…and surely your bath became cold." Miroku said in a kind voice.
"I'm telling you she did it un-purpose!" Why doesn't anyone believe him?
Miroku sighed heavily, and turned to Kagome. "Kagome, tell me the truth. Did you, or did you not purposely made your King a cold bath?"
'Oh this is just too easy. There's always such a huge advantage when the King's advisor is easily deceived.' Kagome thought, and once again faked an innocent smile.
"No sir, I assure you that I did not prepare Inuyasha a cold bath." Kagome was sure that was the perfect, innocent answer. But what she didn't realize, that what she just said…with one word…was treason.
Miroku internally gasped, but didn't give himself away, for fear that Inuyasha had caught onto her words. Unfortunately he did…
"What did you just say?" Inuyasha asked dumbfounded, catching onto every word. He was astonished himself at how far this girl would go to displease him.
He didn't want to be-head the young girl for the treasonous act, and he couldn't figure out why. All he knew was that this act of treason will go un-punished.
Kagome noticed the serious look in both men's faces, and got the hint right away that what she said was inappropriate in some way. But what did she say that was so wrong? 'No sire, I assure you that I did not prepare Inuyasha a cold bath.' Nope, there was surely nothing wrong with that statement, right?
"I said that I assure you I did not prepare you a hot bath." Kagome replied.
Miroku interrupted Inuyasha before he could make a remark he would soon regret, "Lord Inuyasha, I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding. She is, after all, new around here and is still not a custom to the regulations of this castle." Miroku stood before Inuyasha, hands raised to silence the King.
"I don't care! This damn woman has already disrespected me enough. And to not honour the name of this kingdom is treason!" Inuyasha yelled over Miroku's reasoning, while pointing an accusing finger at the young servant.
"Calm down Inuyasha!" Miroku tried pleading with the frustrated, naked King.
"Uhm…what exactly did I do wrong?" Kagome finally got a say into the conversation. She had no idea what she said that was so wrong. Sure, she disrespected him…a lot…but what's with the treasonous act?
Once again, Miroku managed to interrupt Inuyasha, turning his full attention to the confused girl. "Nothing! Nothing's wrong, you're perfectly fine…"
"The hell with 'she's perfectly fine'! I had enough…Kagome you will receive the worst punishment yet for this act!" Inuyasha yelled, pushing Miroku off to the side.
"What act! What in the world did I do wrong!" Kagome asked confused…she has never seen Inuyasha this mad before, and frankly, it was starting to scare her. What could the worst punishment be?
"You disrespected me by not honouring my name as Lord and King of this country! This act is one of the highest treasons." He yelled in return. Didn't this girl know anything?
"Well Miroku calls you by your first name all the time, so why should I?" She questioned. Why did they even have this rule? To her, and her common sense, this act of treason was completely stupid.
"BECAUSE YOU'RE LOWER THAN ME!" Inuyasha roared, his patience already leaving his body like water seeping through someone's fingers.
Kagome was taken aback. Ouch. She didn't expect that type of comment. Was she really that lowly before the King? Well of course she was…she sunk lower than she ever was before. Before the accident, she could have been known as the countess of the village….but now she was nothing but a whore. She was the most despicable person known to the Christian woman of this village. (A/N – Yes, I'm referring to Christian woman because in England in those days, most of the woman were Christian and very strict with their religion)
Kagome sunk her head. She truly was a dishonourable woman. The only thing left in her was to just accept the punishment. Today wasn't a good day to fight…the fighting needed to stop for today.
Inuyasha noticed the sunken look on the girl's face. What changed her mood? To start off the day, she was in a cheerful and mischievous mood all at once. In this circumstance, usually Kagome would fight back, denying any involvement of whatever she truly did. Something changed this all today, but nonetheless he had to prepare the punishment, for fear that Miroku would suspect such softness within him.
"Ah hem. Kagome…" Inuyasha started, getting Kagome's attention back. When he received it, he continued, "Your punishment for this act of treason is for you to attend the dungeon tonight and clean of its waste and grime." Inuyasha spoke with confidence, his speech sounding calmer than the last statement.
Miroku cut in before Kagome could reply, "No Inuyasha! That very well is one of the worst punishments ever! She doesn't deserve it, and she's still only been here for a wee…"
"No Miroku! I've had enough of her nonsense and if I don't give her the proper punishment for her acts, she'll never learn when to respect me for I am the KING!" Inuyasha interrupted with such force and power, that he event sent chills down his own spine.
Inuyasha never wanted this…he never wanted any of this. He never wanted to sound so much like his brother…like a King. He didn't want this role. So why did he act so much like his elder brother at this very moment. The elder brother who held such an addiction to power.
"Stop Miroku. It's alright, I'll accept the punishment. Cleaning the dungeons doesn't sound that bad of a punishment." Kagome said in such a monotone voice, stopping the arguing the King was having with his advisor.
Inuyasha and Miroku was shocked by Kagome's acceptance. Didn't she realize what she was getting herself into? Well, of course not, she was still the new girl around these parts. Not only was her acceptance shocking, but she accepted it so willingly and without argument.
Miroku hung his head low at why Kagome couldn't put up a fight for once out of all the times she should have. Today's punishment will not likely be easy.
Inuyasha internally smirked. 'Today you will learn it the hard way.'
Inuyasha dismissed Kagome from Miroku's office while he quickly went to his own bed chambers to get himself dressed, for the cold was starting to get to him.
Kagome was later escorted to the servant quarters by one of the guards, to make sure she didn't run from her punishment in the basement dungeons, while she gathered her equipment.
Is it truly a horrible punishment?
When the door to her bedroom was open, she was instantly greeted by Sango…her room mate and fellow servant.
The servant quarters was simple, but comforting at the same time. They had their own kitchen and sitting room in front of a fireplace and down the halls servants had to share a room. A simple bedroom, with two beds, a desk for letters to love ones, and a small dresser and cabinet (they didn't need a lot of clothes since they had uniforms).
For the past week, since the first day Kagome was accepted into the castle, Kagome has become acquainted with her fellow servant, Sango. Even after a week of getting to know each other, it seems like the two had known each other for years, and became good friends quite quickly.
"Kagome! What happened this time?" Sango started off as her greeting. She knew the girl too well and already suspected that something had gone wrong with the King.
"Oh nothing really. Same old, same old. Done another prank on the King, called him by his first name…got punished to clean the dungeons. Nothing really different from the yesterday…or the day before." Kagome said in a plain voice, sugar coating her 'cheery' afternoon.
"You called him by his first name!" Sango yelled in astonishment.
The guard that escorted Kagome to her room knew that the conversation might take a few moments, and left the girls alone in the room as he waited for Kagome to gather her cleaning essentials outside the door.
"Why does everyone but me think that calling the King by his first name is disrespectful?" Kagome asked, annoyed.
"It's because it's been a law for centuries now. Calling the Lord by his first name is known to be disrespectful." Sango explained simply.
"Well I think it's a stupid law. Well I got to gather some cleaning items. The guard is waiting for me to take me to the dungeons." Kagome said as she moved her way towards the small cleaning closet.
"Did you say you had to clean the dungeons?" Sango asked, looking somewhat worried and nervous at the same time.
"Yes. Is it really a horrible punishment?" Kagome questioned, still unsure about how this punishment was so cruel that Miroku wanted to defend her against the King to do so.
Sango didn't reply and simple moved herself from her position on the bed to reach underneath it to grab something. Once Sango revealed herself to face Kagome, she instantly thrust the object into Kagome's hand…a bucket.
"What's this for?" Kagome asked, examining the bucket.
"Trust me when I say, 'You will need it.'" Sang replied simply.
Before Kagome could question more about the bucket, there was a loud knock from the door, followed by yelling.
"Looks like the guard has become impatient. Thanks Sango for the…uhm…bucket." Kagome said, turning around carrying the bucket, a small dustpan and wash clothe.
"Good luck Kagome." Was all Sango said before she saw Kagome's retreating form.
'Such a cruel punishment…but I suppose King Inuyasha was being nice. The act of treason she committed…should have been instant death.'
The guard lead Kagome down a dark spiral staircase. The cold air sent chills down her spine, and sent her the message that this was not a peaceful area of the castle.
Once the two reached the end of the staircase, what Kagome saw was a large metal door with several locks and hinges that held it firm in place. Serious security she guessed.
The guard reached into his pocket and took out a ring of many keys, and fumbled through them to find the right one that will open the large metal door.
Once the large man found what he was looking for, he inserted the small peace of material into its lock and twisted firmly. With an audible click the door opened.
Without any warning, he grabbed Kagome's arm firmly and threw the frail girl into the dark room. Suddenly, Kagome was overwhelmed with the scent of death. The smell of rotting flesh was repulsive. How could anyone survive in a room such as this?
"Get up from the ground and clean the floor. Your King wishes this area to be clean of the waste." The guard commanded.
"Waste? You don't mean human sh…" Before Kagome could finish her statement, she heard a loud clash of metal…signalling to her that the guard left. And with the click to finish it off, she knew she was locked inside.
Locked inside this hell hole…
Sango was pacing back and forth in her bedroom. Today was her off day, so she had the rest of the day to relax…write to her family back home and get some well rested sleep. But the poor girl couldn't relax as she started biting her nails with such nervousness.
She clearly remembered the first time she upset the King.
On a beautiful day, she was ordered to clean one of the advisor's offices, which happened to be Miroku's office. She was minding her own business, cleaning the dust off the well expensive furniture when she suddenly felt warm flesh on her bottom. She cried out with an ear piercing scream and turned around to see the abuser and to give him a smack for doing so, but suddenly her voice was at a loss when she felt two warm lips capturing her own.
Silencing her cries.
At first she fought the person who was clearly disturbing her personal space, but then some how she was drawn to this passion. The fire within her heart stirred towards this man who was ravishing her with these kisses.
She couldn't get a clear view of who was doing this to her…torturing her, for she was at such a close view that her eyes blurred. But she had a good sense of who it was.
The only pervert of this castle was Miroku…and she could always recognize his kisses.
This wasn't Sango's first encounter with the advisor. No…many times they would secretly meet and have their usual 'sessions' whenever he called for her cleaning. She couldn't really remember how the whole affair started, but the only thing that she knew…was that she truly loved this man. Unfortunately, fate wasn't on her side that day.
As Miroku slowly started to move his hand up through under her uniform, the doors to his office suddenly burst open.
The Prince (and future King) walked through the doors with heated anger.
Yelling commenced between the advisor and his Prince. Miroku defending his love, that this was all a misunderstanding and that Inuyasha really shouldn't be upset over something like this. While Inuyasha came back with his statement that people of lower status should NEVER associate with people of the court, and that Sango's punishment for not acting like a good Christian woman was to attend to the dungeons.
Sango, even till this day still remembers the horrors of the dungeons. The dirt, the smell, the rotting…the death. It was all too much for her that she went insane for probably a week or two. Inuyasha was so upset with her for her act of lust that he left her in that dungeon to clean for three days.
Three days of living hell.
After that experience, she became too obedient for her own liking. Even avoiding visiting Miroku…her love.
Unconsciously, tears started to form at the corners of her eyes. The sad moment of her having to tell Miroku that she couldn't live through that hell again, and the only way to avoid it, is if she respected Prince Inuyasha's wishes and stayed away from Miroku.
Sango would never wish for this to happen to anyone, she never would want anyone to experience what she went through…even her worst enemy.
'Please be alright Kagome. Tonight…I'll come for you.'
It was dark.
The only hint of light was in a distance, and even so, it was too dim to light Kagome's path. Ever so slowly, she picked herself up…trying to feel for a wall or something to guide her way through the dungeon. How was she supposed to clean human waste when she couldn't even see it!
Gradually Kagome's eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she could faintly see a silhouette of chains on a brick wall. Kagome instantly grabbed the chains, for now she had a guide, and slowly she began to take small steps.
Only five minutes in here…and Kagome felt like she could cry. She hated the darkness. It reminded her of everything that was evil…anything could happen in the dark and she wouldn't know what hit her…like that one night…
No!
Kagome forced her mind to wander anywhere but that night. This horrid dungeon brought terrible memories she wanted to disappear, and thinking about those memories now, will not lighten her current situation.
The smell made her want to gag, but she forced her stomach to stay settled…now she understood why Sango gave her a bucket. Better in a bucket than on the floor where she'd have to clean it off from.
The dungeon was like a maze! An endless maze of darkness…it was driving her insane in here…and now only 10 minutes has past.
As she continued walking further into its depths it became warmer than before. Shouldn't it be getting colder? It was what she always assumed a dungeon would be like…cold…rotten and…
Suddenly Kagome held a high pitch screech as she felt her form tense when she tripped to land face-first into the smelly cold floor. Her cleaning essentials rolling away in a loud clatter. Wait a minute…cold? Wasn't it warm just a moment ago? What did she trip on?
Kagome felt her surrounding on the floor. Her legs felt numb from the coldness of the floor; while her hands travelled around her surrounding…trying to find what was it she tripped on. Feeling further back…she felt something warm, it had a soft texture to it, and as she put pressure onto the object, it sunk like flesh.
As curious as Kagome was she leaned in closer to the object…
Surrounding her, and along the walls, the torches were suddenly lit with the hot flame…giving her light to her surrounding, and to what she was observing…
Outside the dungeon metal doors and in the light…a loud high pitch ear-piercing scream was heard. Followed by a crash of silence…
Ohhhh no what happened to Kagome? This was honestly the longest chapter I have ever written in a story so I hope it was worth your while…
I'll update as soon as I update 'The History Book'…till then…what happens to Kagome remains a mystery…
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