The Other Sesshoumaru

Kagome was now on to escape attempt number three, which was amazing considering she somehow managed to sneak out of her father's dungeon. It was true there was less of a strict guard put on her seeing as how there was some hardened criminals down there that truly needed to be looked after, but she was still shocked she'd actually done it using a nail and a rock.

The moment Kagome had gotten free she wasted no time in finding a maid's outfit and a thick brown hemp robe to wear over it so she could sneak out and blend in. There was no going back home. She couldn't. She would lose all the luxuries she'd been enjoying her whole life, but it was a small price to pay when you were being forced to marry some stranger that was rumored to be cruel all because your father wanted you to kill your new husband. Kagome wasn't an assassin. She couldn't kill anybody, especially a real demon. What had her father been thinking? He was losing his mind to paranoia and delusions, and Kagome wouldn't play any part of it.

"Dammit," Kagome shook her head in disbelief when she made her way to the city gates to find out they'd already been sealed shut to travelers.

Only way to get through the city gate's was to call out to the guards on patrol and give a good reason as to why they should waste their time opening the heavy gates. Kagome was a lone woman with no goods or political purpose for needing to leave the kingdom, so by requesting aide she'd only be calling attention to herself.

"Only thing I can do now is head for the port or hide somewhere til morning," Kagome shook her head, "but they'll find out I'm gone by then and when that happens they'll close off all travel. I have to get out of here now."

Kagome headed towards the sea port and saw the lights of the pier reflecting a docked ship. It was a small ship, but that was a good thing. It meant it wasn't a merchant ship, and maybe if Kagome played her cards right she could get a ride with whoever it belonged to. She didn't have any gold on her, but maybe if she could show how desperate and terrified she really was someone would take pity on her.

As Kagome took off towards the port she was unaware that she was being watched the whole time. InuYasha was crouched down on the roof of a nearby store front the girl had passed twitching his ears obviously annoyed.

"Idiot girl," he growled wanting putting his face in his palm, "you might know how to escape for the short term Kagome but overall bad planning on your part. That ship will literally take you where you don't want to go."

That ship belonged to Sesshoumaru. He'd just arrived to Havensbroke only a couple of hours ago with the intention of somehow expediting the wedding so he could quickly take Kagome home with him. Was Kagome intending on sneaking aboard that ship? It would almost be comical if she wasn't the girl InuYasha had affection for. Hell, Sesshoumaru would probably prefer that outcome if it weren't for agreeing to official political terms with another kingdom.

"I hate being forced into this position," InuYasha scoffed as he jumped into the alleyway in search of his brother's scent.

The best course of action would be to alert Naraku's guards to Kagome's location so she could be returned home, but now that Sesshoumaru was in the territory InuYasha had no other choice but to report to his alpha first. Maybe once his brother saw how troublesome Kagome was he would rethink his choice in wanting her as a bride.

Sesshoumaru was leisurely standing outside of the high class INN he'd taken residence in for the evening. He was fully expecting to be given quarters in the actual castle, but Sesshoumaru was capable of manners when it came to doing business with other kingdoms and cultures. He was not going to make any sort of a grand entrance into Naraku's home at this hour, so a temporary cheap feather bed would have to do.

"What?" Sesshoumaru's voice carried disdain whenever he was forced to look on to the face of his half-breed brother, "you already told me everything you've learned. It is of no business of mine the girl is being kept in a dungeon cell. As long as she breathes and her virtue is intact it is not my concern."

InuYasha growled at how easily Sesshoumaru was willing to dismiss him, "She escaped again."

"Again?" Sesshoumaru hadn't been paying attention to the part of the story where she'd already attempted to runaway twice before this, "from a dungeon cell? Do you know where the woman is?"

"Yeah I saw her and I know where she is going. Should I tell Naraku's men?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head, "From what I've been told the people are unaware that the princess is to be married off. I don't want it to be public knowledge that girl has to be forcibly returned to her home because of it. I don't fear a public outcry from these people that are not my own, but I don't want to encourage it either. Where is she?"

Something about Sesshoumaru asking where she was terrified InuYasha. Was he implying that he was going to fetch Kagome himself? Kagome hadn't ever met Sesshoumaru or really knew anything about him, but yet was already rightfully terrified. Her being captured and forced back into confinement by her soon to be husband was not a good way for those two to start off their marriage, but the worst outcome would be InuYasha being forced to betray her again and doing the deed himself. He believed his relationship with Kagome could one day be repaired, while her future relationship with Sesshoumaru would always be filled with misery.

"She is heading towards your ship," InuYasha told him the truth, "probably thinks she can get safe passage on it. She'll probably head to the bar closest to it looking for your captain, and probably her safest course of action since a lot of the people there are foreigners and might not recognize her."

"She wants a ride on my ship?" Sesshoumaru actually managed to turn his usual scowl into a smirk, "if only it were that simple. I could escape the nightmare of this kingdom much faster that way. What do you think this woman's reaction would be after spending days on the ocean believing she is close to freedom only to be escorted right into my home?"

Sesshoumaru didn't care what the girl's feelings were on their marriage for the comment was mostly made to upset his brother. He knew that while fulfilling his task InuYasha had fallen for the girl. Sesshoumaru needed to remind InuYasha as often as possible that the woman was not his and never would be anyone else's.

InuYasha let out a small growl in response, "Doesn't matter does it? You can't do things that way. The wedding has to be here. That's what you agreed to."

"This Naraku is lucky that I wish to have my words valued," Sesshoumaru made sure his sword was secure at his hip as he began walking off in the direction of the port, "I will bring the woman back discreetly. Perhaps he will know then how serious I am."

"You're just going there alone? Are you going to capture her or hurt her?"

"Tell me InuYasha does the girl know what I look like? Will my hair and eyes be recognizable to her."

"She has no idea, but you look more like father than I do and I'm sure she's seen his portrait."

"Very well," Sesshoumaru removed a small bottle from his sleeve and proceeded to drink some foul smelling purple liquid.

His mother really only had one use to him, and that was her vast knowledge of potions and ancient rituals. Using the potion he would appear as a human to all those who didn't share his blood. Learning that his soon to be bride was attempting to run away from her family's end of the bargain was not an ideal discovery, but it opened the door for a little game. If he were to meet her in the castle properly he was sure Naraku wouldn't allow them to spend much time together, but this was a different circumstance. He would meet this Kagome for the first time as a stranger, and by doing that he could truly assess what he was getting involved in.

Kagome, as predicted, had gone to the bar closest to the harbor. She'd never been to a tavern before in her life, and if she had to start today it might as well be one full of visitors that wouldn't know her too well. All she had to do was find out who was the captain of the small ship, and what she had to do to earn passage on it.

What she hadn't expected to find was a group of really rude people. If she stood too close to where drinks were being served she was told to buy something, and if she dared wander elsewhere drunks would attempt to fondle her in exchange for an answer to her question. She was about to give up and walk out, with full of intentions of just sneaking aboard the ship when one of the men attempted to grab her ass and make a show of it.

"Don't touch me!" Kagome made it clear she was no tavern wench as she smacked a fresh faced man that looked like some sort of pirate with the amount of earrings he was wearing.

"Sorry miss," she was apologized when the man rubbed his face, "I just thought- never mind."

"Thought what!?" she demanded to know, "that it was okay to just touch me like that?"

If she weren't posing as a commoner the man could have received capital punishment for touching a princess such as herself. It was quite fortunate for him that Kagome didn't want her whereabouts to be known, because she would have no say in that man's punishments if his transgression was discovered.

"Well I assume you're looking for that ship's captain so you can book yourself passage," the man smiled at her, "I can make it happen. All you have to do is answer my question truthfully and honestly."

"What kind of question?" the princess rose an eyebrow.

"Will you bear my child?" the man smiled as his companions all joined in a good laugh.

Kagome stepped back disturbed. She'd heard a lot of vulgar words when wandering the streets of her kingdom, but never before had someone openly asked her to bear their child as though it were normal.

When the girl walked backwards someone put their hands upon her shoulders, but not at all in a threatening manner.

"I'll watch out for you," a cold voice assured her.

Kagome was quick to turn around to discover what was probably the most attractive man that had ever been in such a tavern. He had long well groomed raven hair, brown eyes that had a light amber quality to them, and wore the silks of a noble with a katana kept at his hip.

Kagome looked dumbstruck as he stared upon the man. She couldn't even find words to honor him with a reply. She didn't know if she was to be thankful that he was going to 'watch out for her' or terrified.

Sesshoumaru had never seen a portrait of Kagome, and the only thing he knew about her from his brother was that she had black hair. Yet somehow, against all odds, he'd known exactly who he was looking for when he came into the bar. The girl was trying to pose as a peasant with her clothing and untidy hair, but she had to be his fiancee. There was a small radiance about her, small because she was still quite young for his taste, but he could see that she would one day grow into something special. The moment he saw her emotional doe eyes fill with fear in response to vulgar men he knew he wanted her. Not only did her blood make her a rarity to be collected, but he was well aware that he'd have no regrets in taking her as his woman.

The possibility of her being unattractive had never been a factor in his decision, but he was pleased to see he was gaining a true beauty. Her disguise could not mask what lay beneath, which was a young girl that would one day become the Lady of his future family he deserved.

The silence lingered on for what seemed like a full minute. Goosebumps were forming on Kagome's skin as she fought with her brain for something to say, anything to rid them of the moment where they just stared upon each other for the first time.

"Are you a pirate?" was the thing she blurted out.

"Kagome are you stupid!?" she raged at herself, "you can't just ask people if they are pirates. He isn't wearing any earrings like the other guy. He is just wearing his sword like it's no big deal though. Only soldiers do that around here, but he can't possibly work for my father."

"A pirate?" the ice in his voice disappeared as the man gave a warm chuckle, "that is a first. You were inquiring about the owner of the ship at port were you not? The ship belongs to me. The man you just spoke to his nothing more than a minor member of it's crew. Do you wish for me to remove his hand in your honor?"

Kagome had been angry that the man had touched her and asked her such a rude question, but she didn't want to see anyone punished all because she wasn't what those men thought she was. After hearing her father threaten to flay InuYasha and kill her siblings Kagome didn't want to be put in a position where someone was hurt over her.

"It's fine," Kagome shook her head, "I didn't answer his question and gave him a good smacking so that's punishment enough."

Sesshoumaru nodded accepting her plea of mercy. However, if he wasn't disguising himself as a human the man would have indeed been punished for asking a question he had no right to ask of a woman that was to be his. Then again it probably wouldn't have happened at all in the first place if he were noticed.

"Come," Sesshoumaru pointed to a vacant table and ushered her to it, "you have business to discuss with me I assume? Why are you so interested in my ship?"

Kagome couldn't help but to hang on to his every word, no matter how mundane it was as she followed him to the table for privacy sitting right across from him.

"So it's not a pirate ship?" she asked against knowing she sounded dumb.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. Obviously the girl was somewhat sheltered not knowing much about nautical matters. His ship was nothing more than a simple passenger vessel. It was nothing that could stand up to a fleet or be used for ill intent.

"No," he put her imagination to rest, "simply my way of getting from one port to another. Is there somewhere you wish to go?"

"Just somewhere far from here is all. I don't care where."

"Are you running away from something?" he rose an eyebrow in curiosity.

Maybe looking desperate to runaway wasn't Kagome's best strategy, but pity was really the only card she had to play at the moment.

"Yeah," she admitted forcing some obvious sorrow into her voice, "I can't stay here. It's not my home anymore."

"I need to hear a better tale than that," Sesshoumaru's narrowed his eyes at her.

Sesshoumaru was trying to get something true out of her. He wanted to hear her whole sob story about how she was being forced to marry a wealthy and powerful stranger. He wanted to see how she could possibly make anyone feel sorry for her with that line of thinking.

"Things are just really bad," she didn't know how to explain to a stranger her looming wedding and father's cruelty, "you wouldn't understand."

"Try me," he dared.

"Alright then," Kagome decided to bleed some truth into the story he wanted, "I'm being forced to kill somebody. If I don't do it people I care about will be threatened, and it's all because I'm promised a reward I don't even want. I can't do that. I'm not a killer."

So were they role playing now? It seemed so, because Sesshoumaru didn't take her cry for help seriously at all. The girl was a princess and would never be expected to do such a thing. It did seem that his prize had an overactive imagination, or was perhaps stealing the tale from a book she read. He'd play along. This was beginning to become entertaining.

"Before we go any further you clearly need something to take the edge off," Sesshoumaru waved to one of the serving girls, "do you drink?"

Kagome almost immediately replied with how she didn't drink often only having a glass of wine at dinner when water bored her, but she could never get a taste for it. However, such a reply would give away that she wasn't the average commoner. What was it that the laborers always drank? Something that was brown.

"Yeah all the time," Kagome told him, "a drink sounds good. It will probably rid me of this stress won't it? That's what I need."

"I will take care of you then," Sesshoumaru could tell she was lying, "woman we will have whatever those men over there are drinking. Bring a whole bottle. I will take care of the expense."

The woman nodded going to find them their own private bottle. Sesshoumaru had no desire to drink whatever it was that his rowdy ship hands were partaking in for human liquor was not strong enough to muddle his mind, but he'd allow his woman to partake. He was curious to how the evening would proceed from there as well as using it as an excuse to weaken her mind so she wasn't so resourceful when he returned her back to captivity.

"You're being awful generous to a stranger," Kagome remarked wondering what she'd have to do to pay him back for the kindness.

"The bottle is in exchange for the story you didn't want to tell. Passage on my ship, however, is another matter entirely. The rate to house you and get you where you need to be will be eighty gold coins. That does not factor in any food or water that will be provided to you."

Eighty gold coins? That was nothing for someone like Kagome, but unfortunately for her she didn't exactly have time to collect something so valuable for survival during her escape. She was sitting across from the generous man with nothing to offer in return.

"I don't need to be housed," she quickly told him, "I can sleep on the deck for all I care. I don't have any gold at all truth be told. Not even one single coin to my name at the moment."

"Well then it does seem like you are in a desperate situation girl," Sesshoumaru spoke as the bottle was delivered with two glasses, "drink. We can discuss other forms of payment."

Sesshoumaru poured her a glass of the brown liquor from a bottle labeled rum keeping his eyes on her the whole time. He made it perfectly clear there would be no more discussion until she drank it down.

Kagome's fingers danced over the glass knowing she would be caught in a lie if she partook in it. She didn't like the smell and knew she wouldn't like the taste. Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, was quite entertained by her meandering. How far would she go to protect her identity?

"I've been told the faster you get it down your throat the quicker the relaxation will come," he mocked her.

"Yeah I know okay?" she furrowed her brow at him, "cheers to my generous host then."

Kagome tried to follow his advice and take it all in as quick as possible, but filling her whole mouth with that disgusting drink had been a mistake. It felt like burning oil to her palette that immediately had her gasping for air when it was done to get relief from her burning throat.

Sesshoumaru chuckled in response to her discomfort, "Amusing. I suppose this is stronger than what you're use to."

"Not the right brown drink," she gasped feeling her stomach churn, "I'm sorry I can't read the words on the bottle, so I don't think it's the right one. We all can't be as well spoken as a wealthy man such as yourself."

"You seem quite well spoken to me. Is it ale you want, or perhaps whiskey? I will return this bottle for another if you prefer."

"No sense letting it go to waste," she quickly told him not wanting to further make a fool of herself, "so other forms of payment?"

"There is only one I'll take over gold," the stranger's tone got a bit more serious, "I'll require use of your body. Many women in the past have paid for passage in similar fashions, but it's been a while since I've made a deal with a female such as yourself. One with all her teeth and a pretty face. I won't even expect payment for food or drink. All you have to do is warm my bed during the journey. I will make use of your body whenever I have a need of it. In the carnal sense of course. As I said I know you are well spoken, so I shouldn't have to explain what that means."

The mysterious stranger was taking her for a whore? He wanted to sleep with her in exchange for getting her out of Havenbrooke? Kagome had to consider her options. She needed help and she had nothing else to give in exchange. If she left her current life would her virginity hold any importance anymore? If she failed in escaping then allowing this man to claim her innocence could be seen as treason by both her father and Sesshoumaru. She'd be punished worse than she already had, but was the price to pay worth it? She was fortunate that the man sitting across from her was much more attractive than many of the wealthy men she'd met in her father's court, but was vanity enough to get her to throw away her values? Back when she believed she had freedom and was allowed to make her own choices she'd always thought she'd be giving her innocence to a husband that she loved. She didn't want it to be like this.

Sesshoumaru was hanging on to her every expression. He wasn't disappointed that he wasn't receiving an answer right away. Seeing her mull it over was entertainment enough. Being a princess she probably was instilled with the morals that her virtue was something to be treasured and not easily thrown away. Her answer would show him how desperate she truly was to get out of the arrangement he had with her father. Was becoming his bride so terrifying that she was willing to be taken advantage of by a stranger?

However, as silence continued to linger over their table he was finally began to grow impatient. He was thirsting for her answer. He needed to know if she'd sell her body to him. Once he realized how valuable her answer was to him he began to despise what he was doing. Why was he becoming so enraptured with the desires of the princess? Why should he care what she thought him and their marriage? She was going to be his no matter what in one way or the another. She couldn't run or hide from him. It was his destiny to claim her. He needed to change the subject, he couldn't continue to yearn for it.

"What even is your trade?" he purposely made himself sound disinterested to make her think she'd made a mistake in her hesitation, "do you have one? If not what are you planning on doing in this new world."

"Uh I'm a maid," Kagome blushed knowing she must have looked ridiculous by thinking on his offer too long, "at the castle. I don't like it very much though. If I had to start everything over maybe working in a bakery?"

"A bakery? Breads and cakes? That is not a trade for women. Continuing your work as a maid or working in a tavern such as this would be your best option. Drink girl."

Before Kagome could protest he was already pouring her another cup of rum. This one looking fuller than the last. She looked at it with a sickly expression not knowing if she could handle more burning down her throat.

"It's easier the second time," he assured her keeping eye contact the whole time though he gave off the body language of someone contemplating keeping their distance from her if she didn't comply.

"If you say so," she said nervously only able to get half of it down before coughing loudly.

He allowed her nurse the last half of the drink before she was given permission to continue.

"I was hoping in the new world there wouldn't be rules like that," Kagome spoke truthfully, "I remember when I was little there was some woman, I barely remember her, gave me one of the most delicious small cakes I could ever remember. It was so sweet and melted in my mouth. None of of our- I mean bakers in the city knew how to make it so I always wanted to do it myself. I just haven't been given the chance."

"So the wife of a baker that assists him? You wish to find a husband in a new land?"

"No! You're not listening to what I'm saying. I can do it myself. I just have to learn."

"There are no women bakers where I am going, but if you have the dream of being the first I will not stand in your way. Only thing you need to do to get one step closer to that reality is consider the payment option I have given you."

Kagome was quicker with her answer this time, "I can't do that. There has to be another way. I really need passage. Can't I help clean the ship? I'm no stranger to a bucket and a brush. You'll have the shiniest ship in all of the seas."

Kagome had never actually been on her knees cleaning anything in her life. She probably would mess it up, but she'd already be away from port before that was discovered.

"I already hire those men to do those tasks," Sesshoumaru seemed confused, "and why would I want my ship to stand out? Would you rather pirates sink it and capture you to be raped? You're a fool."

The girl would rather work than simply trade her body? He knew it wouldn't be an easy choice for her to make, but still the answer surprised him. Work like that was way below someone of her status after all. Giving her a bucket and brush would only be something done in entertainment if they were to ever keep playing out the scenario that would never happen.

"You won't give me passage will you?" Kagome asked disappointed, "I'm sorry. I'm not a whore. I can't easily do that. I'm desperate, but it's just not the way I want to go about it. Maybe if things got worse, but you won't be here by then."

Sesshoumaru had a better understanding now of his fiancee's values, but they still had a little night ahead of them. He wasn't done playing with her yet by testing her desperation.

"You won't be cleaning," he told her sternly, "there is only one more thing you can do. However, I'll have to test you. Fail and you either stay here and become an assassin, or you give me your body. I cannot allow my generosity to be taken advantage of so easily. It'd be an unwise investment. Pirates are indeed an issue on the sea as well as storms, and the occasional siren settlement if wise tales are to be believed. Tragedy can be avoided by staying on a proper course and being aware of strong winds, but most of it comes down to luck. Every journey my men try to find some form of luck charm to insure safe passage. Perhaps you can be their lucky charm."

"Luck?" Kagome as of late was really doubting her luck, "if I prove I'm lucky I can go with you? How would I even do that?"

Sesshoumaru removed a few gold coins from his silks and dropped it before her.

"I will lend you five gold pieces," he instructed, "for the games of chance that can be found here. If you can manage to turn these five pieces to eighty-five coins of gold you have proven your luck and paid for your voyage. Eighty-five girl, no more, no less. You won't get away with losing all of it. If I've been shorted these five coins I'm lending you than you will find a way to pay for it, a way you might not agree with. Is it a deal?"

Kagome really had a fear that she would come out of this losing everything, but her running away from home was a gamble after all, so why not gamble more? It was a better option than outright whoring herself to the stranger. She still didn't even know his name, but if he wasn't asking her name she wasn't going to muddy the waters by requesting his. She really had to think of a good convincing fake name just incase.

"You'll at least get your five back," Kagome told him slowly taking the coins into her palm.

Before she could grasp the gold for herself Sesshoumaru's hand went over hers blocking her from having it as well as her freedom to play with fate.

"Last rule of the arrangement," he gave her a dangerous smirk, "before every bet you drink until that bottle is gone? Understand?"

"Are you trying to get me drunk so I'll sleep with you?" Kagome asked nervously not wanting to be taken advantage of it.

"I am not that dishonorable," he shook his head, "I merely wish to see you more relaxed. Even if our business doesn't come to a favorable conclusion perhaps a loosened tongue will be willing to share more stories with me."

He finally released her hand before crossing his arms ready to watch her gamble those coins away. Perhaps as a wedding gift he would give her those very five coins back. Have it melted down into a ring to signify their very first meeting she was completely unaware of.

Sesshoumaru felt like gambling with fate as well. He'd do that through Kagome. By the time she lost it all she'd be too drunk to realize she was being returned to her father's castle, but if she somehow managed to earn the gold he was requesting he would fulfill his end of the bargain and let her on his ship. He would steal her from Naraku and marry her on his terms not caring if it caused a war. Diplomacy was a skill of his father's, not his. The point being no matter the outcome Kagome was going to lose no matter what. She was going to belong to him no matter. That was the lesson she needed to learn.

"I like the idea of melting down those coins between her slender fingers before trapping them with it," he thought to himself amused, "but in truth this night is her wedding gift. This is your last night of freedom Kagome. Enjoy it."

(End Chapter)