'What just happened? What. What just..oh..oh my god!' Kagome felt her mind unfreeze. It was like dropping ice cube into boiling water. Her head flooded with the images of what had just happened, the emotions she witnessed. The pain it brought on knowing she was unable to do anything to stop the abuse. "oh god Inuyasha …" she finally spoke as she started towards him only to stop as the demon began retching.
Her heart clenched in her chest. Such raw emotion shot through her nocking the air from her lungs. She grasped her hands together pulling at the shirt collar that suddenly became to tight around her throat."I'm..I'm so sorry!" she gasped out her knees colliding with the ground sobs escaping her." I didn't think she would do that!" she spat out hate and pain evident in her voice. Her hands came up and cradled her face hers eyes closed shut as she wailed into her palms," I'm so god damn sorry Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his haori. Looking up at the woman sobbing no more then 6 feet away from him. His head hurt, his chest hurt, he felt sick. Confused, angry, bewildered. Lost. everything was different and he didn't know how to react. Everything he new. The way he was trained to react to was so different from what she wanted. 'what if I give in? what if. What if she really cares?' he wondered. She had cried more for him in two days than anyone had in hundreds of years. 'I could believe her. What if I.. what if I trust her?' taking a deep breathe Inuyasha steeled his resolve.' No more, no more being weak. No more following the rules. If she wanted him to break those rules and be free then he fucking would.' One step, two step, three. He stood in front of Kagome now.' Time to break the rules.'
Kagome continued wailing into her hands. Her eyes hurting from the pressure of her palms digging into them. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" she kept repeating like a broken record.
Her words died in her throat as she felt clawed hands grab her wrists and pull her hands from her face. She followed the pristine white claws up two strong arms landing on two beautiful pools of gold. The raw determination she saw set in those pools caused fresh tears to cascade down her face. "oh Inuyasha, your ok." She new he was. She could see it. He was stronger then she gave him credit for. She smiled at him sadly, "ill keep her away from us, she wont touch you again." She told him as her voice grew bolder. She grabbed his hands and clasped them together with hers, "we will figure this out."
Inuyasha nodded his head at her and stood pulling her to her feet with him. He grasped her hands for a moment. He held one finger up to her raising an eye brow indicating her to wait there a moment. When Kagome nodded her head he bounded towards the house, he needed to go wash his mouth out for one. Second, he needed to make a choice, be a slave or be something more.
Kagome stood quietly trying not to think of why he bounced into the house so quickly. She wasn't an idiot. She new he could still taste Kikyo. He was a demon after all. She could feel the guilt seep back in.'no, Inuyasha is ok. If he can be strong so can I!' she berated herself as she shook her head like that would shake the guilt and images from her mind. 'we'll be ok." She smiled.
Inuyasha leapt from the house a smirk plastered to his face." What's got you so smirky?" Kagome asked him honestly puzzled.
At her question Inuyasha thrust a pair of shoes and her purse into her hands. Quirked an eye brow and nodded towards the exist of the shrine. Kagome smiled at him a genuine smile," you want to go shopping? Now?"
Inuyasha nodded yes, bent down to his knee and picked up her foot. "Inuyasha you don't…" Kagomes protest died in her throat when he gave her a threatening glare, 'shut up woman.'
She laughed at him,"ok Inuyasha you win this one." She let him slip her flats on her feet giggling as she saw the slight blush form on his cheeks. 'KAWAII!' she covered her mouth giggling.
He stood abruptly making her jump a bit, he smiled apologetically at her, grabbed her hand and walked towards the exist of the shrine. A smile on his face. He made this choice, this was his decision. And he was going to start making more like a real man and not a slave. He would be free and the woman who bought him would join him in this freedom.
Kagome let the laughter escape from her as Inuyasha drug her down the shrine steps. She liked this change. It was like had finally made a choice, and it seemed the choice was to make his own decisions. She reveled in it.
Once the odd pair reached the bottom of the steps Inuyasha let go off Kagomes hand. He missed the warmth of her hand, but knew he couldn't be anything but a slave in public for his safety and hers.
Kagome smiled at him at the loss," I know it sucks but it'll just be for a little while and then we can come home." She kept the smile on her face as she began the walk to down town.
Inuyasha kept a steady pace behind Kagome always keeping his head down but up enough he could still see her. If this young girl is what he needed to be the tiniest bit free he wouldn't ever take his eyes off of her. He stopped walking when he saw Kagome stop ahead of him.
"ok Inuyasha first off is clothes. What kind do you like? I need to know so I know which store to head to. Do you like traditional or modern clothing? "she asked while holding up two fingers making a peace sign.
Inuyasha laughed silently and held up one finger for traditional. I stood for a moment longer then thought of the clothing I was wearing. It was much like what I used to wear when I was free. Like his robe. Finally he looked up at Kagome and waved to himself. From neck to feet. 'this I want this. Please understand.'
Kagome watched him curiously, Inuyasha stood still as if lost in thought. Then he gestured to himself. "so you want traditional. Ok that's not hard. There's a store I know of that can help." Kagome turned to head down a small road but was stopped by Inuyasha hand gripping her wrist. She turned towards him watching him closely.
Inuyasha shook his head no, grabbed the collar of his haori and lightly pulled it then gestured to himself again.
It was like a lightbulb went of in her head, "oh! You want more of what your wearing! That'll be easy!" she clapped her hands together and turned down the small road.
Inuyasha smiled at her enthusiasm.' She's such a silly girl.' He watched her with gleaming eyes,' she always so happy.'
Kagome stopped not far down the road and pointed to a small run down shop, "this place here will have exactly what we want!" she said happily as she grabbed Inuyasha hand and drug him into the store.
Slightly panicked at the contact and not wanting anyone to see her holding his hand he snatched it away from her with a look of disbelief on his face,' are you nuts woman!' he conveyed through his eyes as best he could.
Kagome was taken aback by his refusal to hold her hand then it occurred to her, he didn't know about this place. "oh! Oh no Inuyasha! You don't have to worry about us getting into trouble here! I swear!" she laughed at him while grabbing his hand again. " don't worry two of my friends own this shop.!" She laughed.
Kagome pulled him farther into the shop, "Hojo! Its Kagome! Where are you!?" Kagome yelled into the shop.
Inuyasha tensed as a brown haired boy peeked out from behind a curtain, "Kon'nichewa Kagome! What brings you here?" he asked her wiping his hands on an apron.
"well I need to purchase some clothes for Inuyasha in the traditional style. He wants them like the ones he currently wearing." She said as she gestured towards him.
"Oh! Well that's easy! Do you want normal cloth or the special stuff?" The guy named Hojo asked Kagome.
Kagome brought her hand to her chin and thought, "well Inuyasha? What do you want?" she asked him.
'um..what's special?" he asked then mentally slapped himself, 'she can't hear your thoughts damn it.' Inuyasha looked at Kagome and shrugged his shoulders hopping she would understand.
Kagome laughed at his answer," well can you describe the special cloth to Inuyasha? He doesn't know what we are talking about."
Hojo just smiled, "how about I let the master do it for me. I'm just the face who runs the shop. He knows more then me!" Hojo laughed out. He turned and stuck his head through the curtain he emerged from, " hey! Totosai you have a customer!"
A crash and bang was heard coming from the room," must you scream you daft fool!" an elderly looking man with big bug eyes came from the room. "who is it this…. Inuyasha?" he asked his words faltering," is it really you?"
Inuyasha couldn't believe it standing in front of him was his fathers sword smith.'To..Totosai? it cant be.' He took a step forward only to stop and look towards Kagome. She looked confused.
Kagome was baffled how did Hojos slave know Inuyasha? She looked at Inuyasha then to Totosai then to Hojo." How do you know Inuyasha?" she asked Totosai.
He flashed his eyes to Kagome and narrowed them," what have you done to him." He asked malice leaking from his once gentle raspy voice.
Inuyasha winced at the sound of Totosais voice,'no..no wait!' he slid in front of Kagome and held his hand up in front of him signaling to Totosai to stop. He did.
"um Totosai? What's going on?" Hojo asked him looking at Inuyasha then to the frightened Kagome.
"what's going on? What's going on? That woman has collared my Lord!" Totosai barked at Hojo.
"Your what?!" Kagome and Hojo both yelled in unison.
Kagome looked at Inuyasha in shock," you're a lord Inuyasha!" she yelled at him.
Inuyasha lowered her ears at the yelling. 'damn it. No one is supposed to know that.' He sighed and nodded his head to Kagome.
" I…I need to sit." Kagome stumbled backwards into a chair her head fell into her hands." I have a lord as a slave? I have a lord as a slave!" she bolted back up into a standing position running to the door and locking it flipping the open sign to closed." Hojo we need to go into your house. We cant discuss this here!" she all but yelled grabbing Inuyasha hand and running past the two occupants' who just had their home confiscated.
Hojo looked at Totosai," um..what just happened?"
Totosai blinked several times at the small dust cloud that had sprung up at the woman's fast departure," um.. I think she just closed my store and took your house." Both men looked from through door to the now softly billowing curtain. Still blinking in shock.
"get in here you two!" Kagome yelled from inside the dwelling.
The two looked at each other in bewilderment shrugged and walked through the curtain.
"sit all of you. We need to talk." Kagome commanded the room. Totosai and Hojo sat in chairs while Inuyasha immediately sat where he was standing which just happened to be next to Kagome putting him on the floor.
Kagome winced and both men in front of her glanced towards the half demon sitting cross legged on the floor head bowed. " oh Inuyasha, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to command you. God this is all so fucked up." She let her head fall into her hand shielding her eyes.
Inuyasha was beyond embarrassed right now. He had listened to Kagomes command like a fucking dog would, and in front of one of his fathers oldest friends. He glanced up towards Kagome at her words, he could feel the guilty and disgust rolling off of her in waves. He sighed,' its not her fault. I guess I'm just too well trained.' He set his hand on her thigh lightly patting it to get her attention.
Kagome looked at the hand on her thigh then to Inuyasha who was looking at her a small smile of forgiveness on his face." Ok. Thank you Inuyasha. You may sit in a chair." She gave him the command that would allow him to rise.
Inuyasha patted her head thankfully and took his seat next to Kagome.
Kagome looked up at Totosai," fist of all I want to correct your earlier words. I did not collar Inuyasha. I found him at the slave market. I purchased him." She paused when she heard a rumble come from Totosai when she said she had bought Inuyasha.
'oh no you don't! you will let her finish!' Inuyasha slammed his hand down on the table making Totosai jump. Inuyasha glared at him baring his fangs in an attempt to get his point across. It worked.
Totosai lowered his head to Inuyasha in a gesture of submission.
"um..thank you Inuyasha. Even though I'm not sure what just happened there." Kagome said to him a question lingering in her tone.
Inuyasha tapped his nail on the table to get Totosais attention and waved towards Kagome indicating him to explain.
Totosai look at Kagome in confusion." Why doesn't my lord speak?" he ignored Inuyashas irritation at being ignored.
Kagome gave a sad sigh," the collar the market managers placed on him will not allow him to speak. I don't know how to bypass the command in it. Every time he makes a sound he gets shocked. And its painful. I've only felt it from touching him. And it almost brought me to my knees."
Totosai nodded in understanding," very well, my lord wishes me to explain to you what happened when he assaulted my table. Because Inuyasha is my lord I am his servant. He is my master and I must obey him. He did not like that I had growled at you because of your words so he made me submit."
Kagome nodded, " so Inuyasha is what? Royalty?"
Totosai nodded, "yes he is second in line to inherit the West…" he stopped and glanced toward Inuyasha," should I tell them of your past my lord?"
Inuyasha shook his head yes,' if Kagome is to try and free me she better know what she actually getting into.'
"very well my lord. I will ask you and this dimwit master of mine to keep questions to yourselves till I have finished please." Totosai gave them a moment to answer yes and begun," first I will address my lord. I know you are probably confused as to my demeanor as a slave in the house. Young Hojo here inherited me from his father when he passed. His family have treated me very well over the years passing me from one ancestor to another never once have I been mistreated. Because I have never been to a market I have never been collared," he pulled his haori down showing his bare neck," I am allowed to be free in this home and treat its family member as I would treat my own. I only act a slave in public. It has been a comfortable life. I make weapons and clothes for young Hojo here to sell. He gets the credit and I get the money. It's a damn good trade for me."
Inuyasha was glad he hand t had the life he had, he had been spared the suffering and hate. It was good to see life in the old codgers eyes. To know hadn't lost his fire. Inuyasha smiled and nodded to him.
"I'm glad you approve my lord. Now to the matter at hand. Inuyasha is the second son of the Great Dog Demon Inu No Tashio. Close too 300 years ago when slavery had just began the Great Lord fought against the human armies valiantly. When he was finally brought to his knees Inuyasha and his brother Lord Seshomaru had been captured. Though not without great difficulty I might add. The young lords fought long and hard. It wasn't till the mikos began helping the human armies that the young lords were caught. Lord Seshomaru had been bought as a soldier and forced to capture and enslave other demons. But Lord Inuyasha disappeared. No one knew where he was weather he was alive or dead. Most of the demons from his fathers court had been brought down during the first couple battles. So anyone who knew them by their faces would be long dead. Except for a few of us." Totosai stopped talking and looked towards Inuyasha to gauge his reactions.
It was hard to hear all this. To sit and relive his past. But knowing that Seshomaru had survived was a weight lifted from his shoulder,' who else was alive?' he asked silently glancing at Totosai.
"I understand your question my lord. The ones I'm aware of are your brother who is currently owned by a young human named Rin. He is her companion. He surprisingly adores the young girl and claims her as his ward." Totosai laughed at the idea of a slave having ward.
'why am I not surprise Seshomaru would claim his master as a ward. Bastard never gives up.' He smiled and shook his head.
" I agree my lord it does fit him. Myoga the sly flea has escaped slavery. Little bug is currently hitching a ride on a high ranking officials' cat in the human government. Rather smart choice I might add. And then there was Koga…." Totosai was cut off when Kagome shot to her feet.
"what do you know of Koga!" she yelled at him running around the table and falling in front of Totosai.
To say Inuyasha and Totosai were shocked was an understatement.
"Kagome? You don't think it's the same Koga do you?" Hojo asked his face drained of color.
"tell Totosai. Was he of the Yoro Clan? The eastern wolf tribe? Please!" she begged him grabbing his hands.
Totosai blinked in surprise," um..well actually yes that's Lord Koga."
A sob hitched in Kagomes throat, Hojo bolted to his feet sweeping Kagome up into his arms," oh Kagome! I'm so sorry! Shh shh I know." He said in a desperate calming tone. "calm down, calm..shhh." he rubbed her back as she cried.
'what the fuck is happening?! How does she know him!' Inuyasha tried not to get angry. But seeing Kagome upset this way was pissing him off.
"come on Kagome. Its our turn to talk. Come on those two are very confused right now and Inuyasha looks like he wants to rip my arms off for touching you." Hojo laughed in a tense tone slowly lowering Kagome back into her seat.
The room sat in silence as they let Kagome collect herself.
She sniffled and sat up a bit straighter,"Koga, Koga was my sisters slave about a year ago…and he. I…we were in love."