AUTHORS NOTE: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters represented in this fiction. Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed! I hope to receive more reviews in the future! They make me very happy! Ill also be very happy to receive and negative reviews as well. I like to make sure I've got my story going in the right directions. If anyone has any ideas they might like to see in this story feel free to share them! I might just incorporate some into the plot! I love you all so much! Review review review!
Silence, the room was silent. Totosai hadn't expected that of all things. He looked towards his lord and saw anger and confusion. But there was concern as well. Deciding that his lord needed someone to be his voice Totosai spoke up," I feel as if this is a tender subject but questions need answered. You were in love? Why are you not now? And where is the lord? The last anyone had seen him he was being dragged from the slave market. That was about 3 years ago." Totosai added a little bit of bark into his question feeling as if it was needed.
Inuyasha looked towards Totosai giving him a slight nod in appreciation.
Kagome sniffled, "I understand you both need answers just bare with me. The wounds are still rather fresh." She inhaled a unsteady breathe and reached for Inuyashas hand and squeezed it. She didn't let go.
Inuyasha looked at her hand in slight confusion before it dawned on him, 'she's seeking comfort from me? Me?' a flutter made itself noticed in his stomach,' I can do that.' He squeezed back in conformation and she began.
"I was 15 when Kikyo turned 18 and was allowed to go buy her first slave. She had always been an..well..adventures child. So no one was surprised when she came home with a pleasure slave. Its was Koga. He was the first slave I had real interaction with. And I felt such pity for him that it was unbearable. He came to our house dirty, bruised and well broken. He was hollow." She stopped for a moment glancing at her audience. Seeing they were being patient she started again.
"Kikyo had a pleasure room built outside for him. Attached to it was what she called his kennel. I would sneak outside every night and wait for her to leave his 'work room' I called it. God I was so stupid." She shuddered and sucked in a shaky breath." When she left I snuck in. I would tend his wounds and bathe him, but only when he had passed out. He didn't trust me. Kikyo was never kind. She was ruthless to him. Always left him just teetering on the edge of death and insanity. Eventually he started to trust me, and he would force himself to stay conscious so he could see me." Kagome smiled a happy watery smile and laughed an airy laughed.
Inuyasha was trying not to be jealous. Trying not to squeeze her hand in anger. It was hard.
" I would read to him. Sing to him. Massage his aching muscles. And just be his friend. We continued this for 2 years. Just friends nothing more. Then it changed one night. Kikyo had beat him especially hard. Harder then normal. And when I found him. I..I…it was almost too late." Kagome took her hand from Inuyasha and covered her face.
"He was in such horrible shape. Blood was every where. I was afraid he was going to die. I sat with him all night and prayed and cried and cared for him the best I could. He pulled through. But only barely. The night after she didn't visit him. But I did. And that was the night. That…I. He told me he loved me, and we. We made love. He was so happy! He told me he loved me. And I loved him. It was beautiful!" she sobbed great heaving sobs.
They let her cry, no one wanted to move. It was unheard of. A slave falling in love and acting on it! That was just asking for death.
Hojo sat quietly. His head cradled in his hand. He knew all this already. He was there to pick her up at the end. He still had to sometimes. God how he hoped she didn't crumble after this. Not again.
Inuyasha didn't know how to react. She fell in love with him? A slave? How stupid could Koga of been! And he had sex with his masters sibling! Without permission. ' fuck Koga what id you do?!' Inuyasha new Kagome was hurting but he had to know. He had to know what happened to him. He reached towards Kagome and grabbed her hand rubbing it with his clawed fingers.
Kagome looked towards Inuyasha and watched him smile a small uncertain smile. And gestured for her to continue. She sighed. She knew the two demons needed answers. But she couldn't, she just. "Hojo. O..I cant." She pleaded to him.
Hojo nodded to her in understanding, " ill tell the rest Kagome. I remember it well. Why don't you go lay down in my room. You know where its at."
Inuyasha bristled at Hojos words.' What the fuck does that mean!' Inuyasha tensed his clawed hand gripping the table.
Hojo saw Inuyashas reaction, "relax, me and her have only been friends." He said as the three of them watched a crying Kagome flee and run up a set of steps.
Inuyasha rose to follow her only to be stopped by the irritating boy," no Inuyasha, she needs this time alone. I can tell you the rest of the story. It'll be easier on her." Inuyasha gave in and lowered himself back down.
Before Hojo could begin Totosai interrupted," one question. How was Koga able to communicate with her?"
"oh! Kagome had taught Koga how to read and write. They had a notebook they used to talk. "Totosai nodded accepting the answer and gesturing for Hojo to continue."um..ya..so after that night Kagome went back a couple more times. They really did love each other. Very much. She didn't care he was a slave. And that demon. I've never seen anyone more devoted to someone. He wanted to make her his mate. He told me one day. And was planning on doing it when he was free. But, that didn't happen. It went downhill pretty quick. And it was nasty…she got pregnant."
'wait…what!' Inuyasha stood abruptly at the news,'you..she..he..what!' he was speechless.
"impossible! Demons are made to take a drug that stops things like that from happening!" Totosai barked.
Hojo raised his hand," that is true, but there's two things you don't know. One Kagome is a miko. And two the drug wont work after a demon has been healed by miko powers." Hojo sat quietly letting that sink in.
Inuyasha blinked,'she's..she's a miko?! What the fuck!'he was getting more pissed, he couldn't yell he couldn't do anything but yell in his own head.
"there hasn't been a miko in at least 100 yrs. "Totosai exclaimed.
" that's true, Kagome is the first miko in 100 yrs. Why do you think she got put on the damn shrine? Only her family knows. And they want to keep it that way. She's too valuable to loose. But that's not what we are talking about. That we will get to later. Back to Koga. So, she was pregnant her and Koga hid it well for the first 5 months. But she was starting to show. Its was Kikyo who found out. But they didn't know who the father was. Kagome refused to tell them so, Kikyo beat her. Trying to force a miscarriage."
Totosai interrupted," Koga wouldn't of allowed that. He would of fought any command given to him."
Hojo sighed," and he did. He flew from his cage and attacked Kikyo. He would of killed her if he wasn't so concerned for Kagome and his pup. When Kikyo recovered from his attack she activated the collar. She took Kagome from him. Chained her to the pleasure rooms wall. And made her watch was Kikyo beat Koga back into submission, among other things. I imagine I don't need to go into detail.. Kagome still had 4 months to go before she was due. At least that's what they thought. They didn't know your gestations are shorter then humans. Kikyo and her family kept Kagome chained in the pleasure room. At 6 months along Kagome gave birth in the middle of the night. Koga was in his cage, he broke through it. She made him take the baby and run. She had a girl. Named her Nozomi. Kagome was found still chained up. They beat her. Then chained her up again….as bait." Hojo decided to stop for a moment. Giving the demons in front of him a chance to recover.
Inuyasha was shock. 'She had a pup? Where was the pup now? Koga? How was she free?' so many questions he hoped would be answered. He hated waiting.
Totosai could see his lord getting impatient, "Hojo could you continue? Please?" he asked hesitantly. Not sure if he wanted to know more.
Hojo nodded solemnly," Kagome had told Koga to not return. But, he didn't listen. He came back. Without the pup. He told her she was safe. Somewhere the humans couldn't find her. He tried to release Kagome from the chains but he was weak. Exhausted. He was so concentrated on releasing Kagome he didn't notice the humans closing in on him. They shot him. Put him down right in front of Kagome, while he was still grasping the chains that held her. She lost her daughter and mate in one night. Afterwards they released her and sent her to live at the shrine. She spent most nights here. Before you came to me Totosai. I cared for her. Its only been 6 months sense that all happened. Hardly enough time to heal for anyone. She's never even seen the baby. She doesn't know her eye color, hair color nothing." Hojo looked towards Inuyasha," I didn't wan to say anything but I think I should. Inuyasha do you care for her?"
Inuyasha looked at the human in front of him, 'wait what? That's a change of subject. I still haven't processed all this.' Not thinking he nodded yes. Because he did. He did care. Day 3 of being with her and he was already feeling her pull.
"I figured as much. Kagome is special that way. No one can help but love her," Hojo sighed a hesitant sigh," I didn't want to say anything to Kagome but I've been doing some research sense I found out she was pregnant. I might of found a way to by pass the speech modulator or at the least lower the shock rate in the collar."
Inuyasha stood abruptly his hands slamming down on the table,' why didn't you say so sooner! You fucking idiot!' he began to growl but stopped himself just in time.
Now it was Totosais turn," you never told me about this! Why didn't you say so sooner!" he yelled grabbed Hojo and yanking him out of the chair.
Hojo paled," because its only a theory! If I'm wrong I could kill whoever is collared!" he yelled at Totosai.
Glancing at Inuyasha Totosai let go of Hojo, "how sure are you?"
'please,please,please' Inuyasha silently begged.
"I'm about 80 percent sure I can do it now. But there is the 20 percent chance I'm just an idiot playing with fire." Hojo glanced from one demon to another.
' ill take the damn chance. I need to talk to her!' Inuyasha nodded his head at Hojo and stepped towards him.
"are you sure Inuyasha. If I'm wrong you die. Very very slowly and painfully." Hojo emphasized.
He was done. Inuyasha was done being silent. He was done obeying done watching as everything broke around him. He nodded. So they began.
Hojo sat Inuyasha in a chair,"alright lean your head forwards so I can see the back of it." Hojo told Inuyasha," ok, Totosai I need you to go into my room and under my bed is a small black case. I need that." Totosai turned and rushed as fast as his old legs would carry him from the room.
"Inuyasha, look at me a sec." Hojo requested. Inuyasha raised his head making eye contact." There is a possibility I wont be able to bypass the shock modulator. It's a very delicate and complicated piece of equipment. Every time I've tried the collar has fried." Hojo stopped speaking to take in Inuyashas reaction. He had tensed and set his jaw firmly." But I have been able to lower the shock rate and remove the tightening parameters of it. You could speak but it would be uncomfortable. It wouldn't be much, kind of like getting zapped by a bare wire. Enough to surprise you and make you weary of speech but it wouldn't hurt you. Id like to go this route instead of bypassing the modulator completely. At least until I'm more successful at it." Hojo allowed Inuyasha to absorb the options, silently hoping he would take the less dangerous road.
Inuyasha thought hard,' I could die. Or live with being able to talk but still be shocked by it. I don't want to die now. Kagome needs me. I can live with a small shock.' Inuyasha nodded his head firmly towards Hojo indicating option two with two fingers held up.
Hojo released a grateful sigh as Totosai walked back in," ok now we can get to business, lower your head and be as still as possible. Ill describe to you everything I'm doing." Hojo began working.
Totosai sat across from Inuyasha watching as his lord gripped the arms of the chair hard enough to crack the wood. Too think his young lord had been a slave this whole time. He felt sick, with the three of them sitting in silence he was finally able to take in his lords appearance and it made him cringe.
The two dog ears atop his head were cut and had pieces of skin missing, almost like someone had tried to cut them off once. Along his neck held scars from the collar showing just how disobedient he had been. Smirking, Totosai wasn't going to lie that part made him extremely proud. Inuyasha was always defiant and stubborn. His smirk slowly disappeared as he thoughts went back to his lords appearance. His skin was cracked almost like a clay pot that had dried too quickly. His hands had little white scars all over them, like he had plunged his hands into a bowl of little hot razors. But what unsettled him the most was his lords eyes. Once full of fire, youth, deviance and life. They now held anger, hatred, pain, and something else that made his old heart ache in anguish. He hoped this girl Inuyasha seemed so keen to help could save him from anymore suffering.
Totosai was snapped back to reality when Hojo began to speak," ok im in, now I just have to cut the hot and neutral wires, then then connect the neutral wire to the cold wire, turn this screw counter clockwise a quarter of turn while snipping the end off of this solenoid to attach the hot wire to the top I snipped. Then I need to weld a small amount of material to hold that wire down, ok, this is our final piece, and the most tricky. There's a screw the size of the tip of a pen I need to remove so I can attach a wire that runs from the shock modulator to a shock absorber I've installed. Hold still. If this works you should feel a release like someone cut a string attached to your throat. Don't speak until I'm done I still have to stop the tightening of the collar." Hojo began the work to remove the screw holding his breath as he did.
'please, please work!' Inuyasha pleaded. His eyes were screwed shut making his head hurt, he could feel the wood of the chair under his claws, he had broken the chair and was now just gripping splintered wood. He didn't care. He just wanted to talk! Inuyasha widened his eyes as he felt the release Hojo had mentioned. He felt amazing! His body relaxed, tension left his shoulders and he sighed in contentment. It was like someone had been sitting on his chest and shoulders this whole time and he hadn't known it until the person fell off. Such relief!
Hojo laughed, "it worked! Oh thank god! Ok no time to celebrate got to stop the tightening, he we go. This is the easy part all I got to do is cut and remove this wire and we will be….done! we did it! Hold still while I close it up!" Hojo hurriedly put the backing back on the collar and moved in front of Inuyasha.
Totosai followed Hojos movement and knelt stood in front of his young master.
"ok Inuyasha, you should be able to speak now. Just go slowly your voice box doesn't know how to work anymore so you are going to sound scratchy and pitchy for a while. Just take your time." Hojo told Inuyasha hoping the demon would listen." No big words, just like a kid go slow" Hojo spoke to him in a kind tone.
Irritated with the human in front of him Inuyasha nodded his head.' I can do this, its one step closer to freedom.'
Inuyasha breathed in and released a deep sigh, he raised his head, "shut up baka. "his eyes widened, a shock yes but it was tolerable, no tightening. No pain! Inuyasha jumped to his feet and ran up the steps out of the room.
Hojo and Totosai stood in shock at the chair that once held the half demon, "well I guess it worked!" Hojo belted out laughing as he turned towards Totosai pulling him into hug. The demon allowed it patting the young mans back. This was a big step to freedom.