Inuyasha stood in the center of his new room. Kagome had left to go cook dinner. Which still floored him that he was going to eat a real meal for once. Sighing he walked towards the bed and let his hands ghost over the soft plush blanket. It's his. This room was his. Not hers. Not theirs. His.
Confusion and disbelief were still warring each other in his head. 'is this a trap? Is this real? Is she playing with me?' after almost 300 years caught in slavery, he never had someone who was genuine about this level of kindness. Eventually they would tire of watching him grow happy and comfortable and turn cruel and indifferent towards him. Beat him, use him, force themselves on him and then sell him once his spirit was broken again.
Feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over him he collapsed on the bed his head cradled on his palm's elbows resting on knees, his silver hair falling around his face to conceal him.
'I can't let myself get comfortable. I can't.' His chest hurt. He was tired. Tired of being frightened, being angry, and weak. He felt the tears well up in his eyes again,' damn it! I need to stop fucking crying. It's so fucking pathetic!' wiping his face and stood and made his way to the bedroom door. His hand hovered above the handle. 'if I leave the room will it still be mine?' he asked himself, momentarily afraid it would be taken from him 'gah. Grow the fuck up. Be a man damn it' he turned the handle and walked out. He closed the door behind him leaving his hand on the handle, he sighed and had to force himself to start the walk to the kitchen.
As he turned the corner leading in the kitchen he stopped and watched as his new master stood in front of the stove dancing to music that didn't exist. Every once in a while, waving a wooden spoon in the air.' What a weird girl.' He thought to himself. Deciding not to interrupt her dancing he leaned against the door frame and just watched. His arms crossed over his chest and one eye brow raised.
After about a good five minutes Kagome spun around in a circle and stumbled to a stop when she spotted Inuyasha watching her. "ha ha...um...hi." she squeaked out waving her wooden spoon at him.
Inuyasha smirked and shook his head at her obvious embarrassment. But his smirk disappeared when he realized just how comfortable he had gotten in those few minutes. 'shit. Don't trust her damn it.' He scolded himself.
The smile that had started to form on Kagomes lips died away she sighed and spoke softly to him while scooping some food into a bowl," well I guess it was too much to ask for to have you trust me so easily." She said to him her enthusiasm at what she thought was trust disappeared.
"here I made some ramen. It's about all I have right now. We can go shopping tomorrow morning. It's almost 10:00p.m now so we need to eat and go to bed." Kagome sat down and the small table in the kitchen setting a bowl down for Inuyasha across from her. "well come on lets eat." She waved her had towards the bowl. Kagome bowed her head," Itadakimasu!" picked up her chop sticks and began eating.
Inuyasha watched Kagome eat. It smelt so good. He walked to the table and reached for the ramen half expecting her to smack his hand and laugh at him. When she didn't, he picked up his bowl and took his place on the floor at her feet.
Kagome stopped eating as she watched Inuyasha sit on the floor. Her heart sank. 'damn. I didn't tell him to eat at the table.' She sighed and decided to let it slide this time around. No matter how uncomfortable it made her. She had already sprung so much on Inuyasha in the short time she has had him here.' It's no wonder he hasn't asked me if I'm crazy yet.' She sighed to herself and continued to eat.
Kagome sat back in her chair a contented sigh escaping her lips," well I'm full. How about you?" she asked Inuyasha while glancing down at him sitting by her feet.
Inuyasha shook his head yes slowly and stood. Unsure of what to do now he backed away from her his head down cast. 'I feel so god damn pathetic' he growled to himself. He felt his hands ball into fists.' I can't make my own fucking choices. Just tell me what to do damn it.' He silently begged her.
Kagome watched him carefully trying to understand what distressed him so quickly. Why was he just standing there? Why didn't he just go watch t.v or something? It's not like he had to wait on her.
"you know Inuyasha you don't have to wait on me in order to go do something." She told him gently as she took their bowls and began washing them.
'don't tell me that. I can't handle anymore today damn it. Just tell me what to do.' He wasn't used to having choices. It was always do this or do that. A whip flying there or a punch here. He looked up from the floor to stare at her back. 'give me something to keep busy with. Please.' His brain was on overload. He had been given so much today he didn't think he could handle anymore.
Kagome turned away from the sink to look back at Inuyasha. 'why is he just standing there. It's not like I have to tell him what to do all the time now…wait.'
"Inuyasha? Are you ok?" I asked him hoping we could solve this new problem easily.
Kagome sighed as an emotion crossed over his eyes, she couldn't pin point it and he shook his head no.
"ok. Then what can I do?" she asked her hands raised in mock surrender.
Inuyasha thought for a moment then pointed to his temple tapping it slightly. He shook his head no and then held his hand out as if to stop her.
Kagome was still confused. "I'm sorry Inuyasha I'm not understanding this time." She shook her head at him sadly.
Inuyasha inhaled and stepped towards her. He grasped her hand and brought it to his collar then lowered himself to his knees in front of her.
Kagome gasped as Inuyasha knelt in front of her." No! Inuyasha you aren't a slave here. Please. Get up." She pulled him back to his feet." Are you having a hard time with having to many choices so quickly?" she asked him thinking that maybe her thoughts from earlier and his had led them down the same path.
Inuyasha shook his head yes and hung it in shame.' Pathetic. Fuck.'
"oh! Inuyasha its ok. You have been a slave for so long and I've given you so much in such a short time. I'm surprised you lasted this long!" she all but gasped out at him. " do you need me to tell you to do something? I don't like it though."
Inuyasha snapped his head up to look at her, 'please' he mouthed the word to her.
She sighed and nodded yes, "ok I'll do it but it'll only be a few things a day. Ill break them up throughout the day until you are more used to this. ok? deal?" she asked him secretly hoping he would say never mind on the whole idea. But that didn't happen instead he agreed to receiving random commands throughout the day.
Inuyasha stood waiting for her to decide what she wanted him to do.
"oh I know! I need you to go bathe yourself. Don't wash your hair thought, because I'm doing that!" she clapped excitedly.
' a bath? She just told me to bathe? Inuyasha raised an eye brow at her.' That's not a thing slaves do! damn wench!' he inwardly barked at her.
Kagome giggled at him, "oh stop looking at me like that. It's a command. Go wash yourself. In your bathroom. And go now." She smiled and raise an eye brow back at him, "well?" she waved her hands at him shooing him away.
'fucking bitch found a way around it. It's a command but it's not a real god damn duty.' Inuyasha sighed irritatingly. Turned and marched up the steps to go shower,' damn bitch.'
Kagome went and sat in the living room smiling to herself. She gave him a command but it wasn't anything bad it wasn't even a chore. But he had to do it. She knew she couldn't do that every time. But just this once she wanted it to be easy.
Kagome sat up straighter when the bathroom door open and a clean Inuyasha came down the steps looking rather irritated. Kagome jumped off the couch and walked towards him," alright time to finish come into the kitchen and sit on that stool. And that's an order." Kagome ordered him as she stood next to the stool her hands on her hips.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at her but did as he was told. "now I need you to lean back because I'm going to wash your hair and then brush it." Inuyasha tensed when her hands led him back towards the sink." Relax Inuyasha I promise I won't bite." She smiled while laughing at his reaction.
Inuyasha didn't like being laughed at so he crossed his arms over his chest to pout, 'wench.'
Kagome carefully soaked his hair and lathered it with shampoo. She lightly scrubbed his cute dog ears with her fingers. Minding the scratches and fresh nicks in the thin flesh. The shape of his ears made her heart melt. Scabs an cuts and scars could be seen on them. Along with infection.
Inuyasha sat full of anxiety as she washed his tender ears. They hurt so very much. He could smell the infection in them. Having her rubbing them gently hurt but the comfort he felt from her small hands on them and his scalp outweighed the pain. Soon enough he felt himself relax in her touch. It was nice to be handled so gently. Something he couldn't remember being done to him.
Kagome smiled when she felt him relax under her ministrations and hated to have to tell him when she was done. But his hair needed brushed." Ok Inuyasha I'm done. Lets go sit on the couch where I can brush out all the knots in your hair." She smiled at him when his amber eyes popped open and met hers. "come on." She motioned for him to follow her and he did as he was told.
Kagome sat on the couch and patted the seat next to her," now I'll try not to pull to much but you have some horrible knots and I really don't want to cut your hair."
Inuyasha sat down next her his back facing, he hoped she could save his hair. It's all he had left of his life as a free demon. He let out a relaxed sigh when her small hands began the task of untangling the knots.
Kagome smiled as she watched Inuyashas shoulders relax and all the anger and pain fled from his body. She watched as his swollen ears flicked back and forth at all the sounds around them,' they are so freaking adorable!' Kagome felt the last of the knots fall from his silky strands and took the opportunity to softly rub his ears between her fingers. He tensed quickly under her ministrations but soon relaxed into her hands leaning into them. She giggled softly and continued.
About 5 minutes into doting on his ears she felt his body sag against her and a light purr escape from his chest. She had to conceal her excited gasp,' he purrs like a cat! Kawaii!' finally deciding to leave the poor man be Kagome slid out from behind him a softly let him relax down into the couch. She grabbed a blanket and covered him.
Standing next to the sleeping hanyou made Kagome sad again. Not only were his ears tattered. But his face as well. Light scars littered around his eyes and she could faintly see marks on his arms as well. 'I'm sorry you went through such horrible things Inuyasha.' She bent down and laid a feather light kiss to his cheek and left to head to her own bed. But she missed the confused amber eyes staring at her retreating back.