Drinking Problem

Eventually the rum wasn't as hard to get down as it had been in the beginning. The drunker she got the more she found herself able to gulp it down like water. She had no choice other than to drink between every bet she made with the mysterious stranger's coins, but as the night went on she was finding little regret in her actions. After all, the drunker she was the less anxious she became about being trapped in the seedy bar with a lot of hostile men. She wasn't worried about them though, because her partner in crime promised he'd look after her.

However, no amount of drinking would have possibly kept her relaxed if she were to discover that the man allowing her to act like such a fool in public was actually her future husband in disguise.

"You began careful," Sesshoumaru's eyes traveled from the bottle of the rum that was half gone and to Kagome's hands where she held thirty gold pieces, "but when will you really play?"

Kagome didn't know how to play any of the card games available to her, so her best option was a simple dice game. Three dice were put into a cup, shaken, and she had to bet if the majority of the numbers would be even or odd. More money could be earned if she went the route of picking a specific number, but she didn't seem that courageous. She went the simple taking the long route of guessing even or odd betting only one gold piece at a time. It was working for her, but with more alcohol in her system he was wondering if she'd eventually take more of a risk.

"Stop picking on me!" Kagome shouted at the stranger getting riled up, "I'm winning aren't I? This is way more than I started with."

"Perhaps if we stay here the next three nights you'll be close to the amount with the sheepish way you're playing."

"Sheepish? Well why don't you step up and make a bet for me then if you know better? Teach me your ways wise one."

"I do not gamble. I only put my time and money into wise investments where I am guaranteed a proper return. I will not throw my gold away to dice."

"An investment is still a gamble. You bet on me after all. You didn't ask for interest on your gold when you handed it over."

"Fair point. Perhaps I'm betting that you will lose. I'll either get back what I gave you, or I'll have you settle the debt. I lose nothing in this. It is a wise investment."

"Two gold pieces on odd," Kagome placed a bet to the old man that was shaking up the dice.

"You forgot to drink first," he informed her the rules of their game, "and two whole gold pieces this time? What a risk taker you are."

Kagome had no problem in grabbing the cup behind her and taking a burning gulp as she stared upon him with irritation, "You know what isn't a wise investment? Having to hear your voice. Now watch me win!"

That made no sense, and Sesshoumaru really didn't expect it to. He watched the girl get excited by the gambling atmosphere as she hopped up and down praying to whatever gods she believed in that all the dice would be in her favor.

In truth there was more reason than one that Sesshoumaru wanted her intoxicated. Dulling her senses would make her extraction from the tavern easier without calling too much attention, but it was also to give the girl an edge in protecting herself.

As Sesshoumaru watched fire grow in her eyes from all the excitement of their wager he became more convinced of his want for her. That radiance that had only been budding before had grown as though she were casting an aura through the small bar. Everyone had gathered around to watch her and root for her. Perhaps the only thing that could truly stop Sesshoumaru from turning the princess into a full woman that night was the slurring of her words and liquor on her breathe. That kind of thing he found unattractive, but yet Kagome was seeming to claim her handicap and doing her best to keep a good head on her shoulder with her small bets. The girl was a fighter, and he knew he would prefer that over a bride that was completely submissive.

"I thought I wanted one thing," Sesshoumaru contemplated to himself amused by the sight, "but seems I cannot help but want to be the predator. A true hunter does not have their prey delivered to them the way I have expected Naraku to just wrap her up for me. I want the chase and fight. In the end I will have both an obedient wife and defiant bed mate. I shouldn't expect anything predictable. After all she is not a weak human, nor is she a demon bitch. She has that burning magical blood that only I can extract properly."

Sesshoumaru, however, was aware that whole time that this moment was only that, a mere moment for the two of them. Things could not stay this way for he wasn't quite being himself. It was rare for him to be this talkative and playful, and for that he put the blame to his disguise. When posing as a human there was no reason to set any examples or create an air of fear and respect. He could just let the moment be. He knew that it would be a pity for the girl for when she properly met him as his true self. She was in the right to be fearful of their marriage, because whatever rumors she'd heard were perhaps correct. He could be a monster when he needed to be.

The cup was pulled up revealing that two of the dice had fallen on odd numbers while only one was even. Kagome, once again, jumped up and down almost screaming in excitement that she'd turned two measly gold pieces into four.

"What say you now!?" Kagome challenged Sesshoumaru as though she'd achieved some kind of magical feat.

"That you are two pieces richer than you were before," Sesshoumaru purposely sounded bored to egg her on, "let me know when you plan to play girl."

"I'm still winning!" she wasn't going to let him ruin her mood.

As she pouted in response to his disinterest Sesshoumaru took in her face as well as everything would soon be his. Those soft pink lips that was the source of her aura for they had more power when smiling than frowning, her pale and flawless skin that displayed the truth of her station and sheltered life, and her hips that swayed constantly due to her muddled mind. There was only one thing Sesshoumaru wasn't attracted to in that moment and it was the small scratches he'd noticed on her neck. Who had harmed what was to be his? They weren't fresh enough to tell him she'd gotten them in her escape, and there was only one person who could get away with assaulting the princess without a public execution. The King, her father, had done that. Had he made one more attempt at cutting into her and using her blood before giving her away. That fool. Simply bleeding her out was not the answer. Sesshoumaru knew how to do it, and he had no intention of sharing the method with anyone other than his future wife and mother.

Before Kagome could continue to berate him for doubting her he placed a slender finger to her neck, "Where did you get those scratches?"

Kagome flinched the moment he touched the marks on her flesh as the life in her eyes seemed to die. The alcohol was helping her, but she was doing a lot on her part to push out all thoughts of her father and how he deemed her no more than property that could be sold or ordered around. She was having fun, but she needed to earn her freedom so that man could never hurt her again.

"Does it matter?" she asked him brushing his hand to the side though missing the warmth of them once they were gone, "as I said I'm not in the best situation right now. There are a lot of people in this place that want to hurt me, which is why I need you to get me out. So let me play the game my way, okay?"

The drunker she got the more unconvincing her lies were becoming, but there was still always that kernel of truth. Naraku had admitted himself in his letter of acceptance that he'd tried to use Kagome for her powers already, so Sesshoumaru didn't doubt that the girl had been abused at some point. He appreciated the fight, but at the same time it made their situation more idiotic. If she wanted to be free from her father why not just be happy someone was making efforts to take her away?

"I will only be in this port for one night," Sesshoumaru lied to her, "so this night is all you have. If you truly want to be free girl you need to put it on the line."

Kagome took his words to heart as she stared at the thirty-two gold pieces on the table. The whole time she was trying to follow his advice and make what he would deem as a wise investment by not making risky moves or betting too much when she didn't need to, but she was getting desperate to taste that freedom that had been taken from her.

"Half of it on even," she said pushing sixteen pieces forward.

"You're being more loose but yet still guarded," Sesshoumaru remained behind her his labored breath tickling her shoulder, "perhaps you should be specific with a number?"

Kagome closed her eyes taking in the heat of his breathe and his body pressing against hers, "It's too risky. I can't."

Loose yet guarded? That seemed a good way to describe her. It was fun being surrounded by drinks and laughter, but she was well aware that gambling might not be for her. The high of winning was just too much for her, because she knew it was a bitter taste and that she wouldn't be able to take losing. Gambling hadn't worked for her in the past obviously, because in her last bet it hadn't been gold she'd been playing with. She served her heart up to InuYasha in hopes he could be the first to truly love her and take her away from her loneliness and pain only to be betrayed in the end.

Before Sesshoumaru could be irritating and remind her to drink again Kagome quickly took a shot as fire returned to her eyes.

"Stupid dog," she muttered, "could have won together. That was just too good to be true. He's stupid, I'm stupid. We're both so stupid!"

Since Sesshoumaru was behind her he didn't need to pretend to act perplexed by her words. He assumed she was talking about InuYasha, his foolish half-brother that had gotten far too close to her in his scouting mission. Had the girl fallen for him as well? Those feelings needed to be crushed immediately if he were going to allow the two to one day live under the same roof.

As they watched the bet get accepted Sesshoumaru continued to be close and whisper in her ear, "If only your body wasn't the thing I'm only interested in playing for. I'm sure as a maid in the castle you have more tales to tell. Rumors about the royal family perhaps? There is value in such a thing. Even if half of them aren't true."

"I don't know anything," Kagome said immediately as she watched the cup be shook, "and even if I did I wouldn't stoop to that level. I told you I was a good hard working maid remember? What kind of a loyal maid would gossip about the family they serve? I'll tell you who. Idiots. Sango would never do that. Now she's a real friend."

Kagome's tongue was getting more loose. Why be specific about a certain maid?

"You said you were good and hard working?" he asked her quietly, "I do not recall. It's a shame. Rumors could buy your freedom from those bandits or whoever it is threatening you. I could share a vile one I heard myself."

"Don't care!" Kagome said quickly even going as far putting her hands over her ears.

When the cup revealed that Kagome had doubled her bet once again he ruined her rush of excitement by pulling away her hands and whispering into her ear so quiet no one else would hear them.

"It's about that bastard prince InuYasha and your queen. That commoner Kikyo you all bow to now? I heard it wasn't the king that shared a bed with her that night, but yet it was the dog instead."

Kagome rejected it. That had to be a baseless rumor. There was no way her newest step-mother would do something so unseemingly, especially on her wedding night. There was also no way her father wouldn't know about it or allow it. Perhaps he had heard the rumors himself and that was why he hated InuYasha so much? Even if there was no shred of evidence to support the rumor having InuYasha around must've been an insult. Is that why Kagome speaking of him so favorably landed her in the hot water she was in and her father's strange paranoia and ranting was just extra fuel to the fire?

"Queens don't do that," Kagome told him trying to whisper yet being very loud, "having an affair on someone you married is already gross but doing it when your husband is the man you serve and bow to is really bad. You'd be risking your life. That's stupid."

"So if you were in her position you wouldn't think about it? Being attached to the same man for the rest of your days in service to your kingdom wouldn't become dull? You wouldn't seek another for a brief escape?"

"No because it's wrong," her words began to slur, "it's stupid and I'm not stupid I'm just normal stupid."

She was truly becoming incoherent, but clearly the rumor he had shared did some damage for there was only hurt in her eyes when grabbed the gold that she won. She was half way there now to having enough gold to win herself passage on his ship. Halfway to a false freedom where all she'd get for her troubles was a wedding in a foreign land, that would be quick so he could have her immediately.

Before she even contemplated making another bet she took another drink. She'd fulfilled her end of the bargain. The bottle was almost empty meaning the game was almost done for the night.

"You still have a long road to travel," Sesshoumaru told her as he continued to stand behind her and close to her ear, "do you have the stamina to keep betting all night or will you make your move? Show me your luck Kagome."

Luck? The drunker Kagome was the more she began to value the term. This whole game after all was just to test that mythical ability. She use to think she was lucky. Lucky to be the last born child in a huge family therefore allowed both freedom and luxury, but it had all been nothing more than a lie. So was she doomed to have nothing work out for her?

No that couldn't be true. If it was how was she here in this moment? The man that put her up to the game and kept her attentions as his captive clearly had ulterior motives, but he didn't seem cruel. He was giving her a fighting chance. Kagome thought she was lucky to be in the company of such a man, and was lucky to find a piece of freedom and fun after being locked in a dungeon cell. How did she even escape that time and so many times previous? Were her father's defenses that bad with the force of his castle guard stretched so thin, or did she have luck on her side? She always seemed to be able to do what she needed to do in the moment, consequences be damned.

With the rational part of her brain dulled Kagome had a new mission. She needed to test her luck for herself. She didn't hesitate as she pushed all of her gold pieces forward.

"One and six," she said finally said narrowing it down to specific numbers.

She still thought she played it safe by betting on two numbers. She only needed one of those numbers to show up to double her money and have what she needed to buy passage on the man's ship. Just one dice being in her favor would give her the biggest high she needed to mask all the pain and fear. Losing just wasn't an option. She wouldn't allow it.

"A true bet," Sesshoumaru whispered huskily continuing to expel a warmth upon her skin, "will you be mine by tomorrow evening or possibly month from now? It comes down to this."

He knew she was far too drunk to interpret what he meant by that. He was still holding true the wager he'd created in his mind. If she somehow got the gold he'd take her to his kingdom. If not he'd return her to her father. Both outcomes would heed the same result with an insufferable consequence. Either he'd cause political strife by kidnapping her, or he'd have to waste time in her kingdom waiting to have her. He didn't even know why he was going over both options in his head. He knew what the outcome would be, but sometimes it was optimal to let thoughts fall to fantasy.

"Whatever happens I'm not sleeping with you," Kagome made sure to tell him, "you won't take advantage of me. I can tell."

She was so wrong, but he wouldn't taunt her on the subject. She was going through enough as it was already. With every shake of the cup he could hear her heartbeat skyrocket.

"I win no matter what," Sesshoumaru reflected on all the good in the situation, "the girl will be mine and after this little event I know what I'm getting. Being as young as she is she will feel wronged and fight every piece of this arrangement, much to my pleasure. However, there is the true essence of a grown woman in there somewhere. My bride will be a loyal woman of morals and trust. She trusts me even when I've played against her this evening as an enemy. You'll be molded into something special my little first born blooded bride."

The cup was lifted and Kagome took a bit to accept the reality of what she saw. There were only three dice, and the odds of getting a one of a six shouldn't have been too difficult if luck were truly on her side. However, the result was two fours and a three. Two fours and a three had cost her everything as well as taught her that she had no luck at all. All she ever was in all of this was a fool as her father said.

"No no no no no!" she quickly exclaimed watching all of her gold taken from her, "that's not right. Let me see those dice again."

Kagome tried to reach for them to see if she'd mistaken what she saw in her drunkenness but wound up falling to the floor. The table was further away than she thought it had been so there was nothing to lean against. All the men in the bar laughed at her before going about their business now that the fun was over. Sesshoumaru allowed her to be crumbled up on the floor for a moment before joining her on the ground to make sure she was okay.

"It's not right!" she exclaimed the moment she came for her, "I shouldn't have listened to you! This is all your fault! I'm not paying you anything. I was doing just fine before I made risky bets. That was all you and that brown drink. Not me. I didn't do it!"

"Calm down girl," he said in a comforting manner, "you will not be paying me back with your body. As I said I am not dishonorable. That game was rigged. They saw what was going on and let you win every bet until you were properly egged on and drank more. By betting that much you did exactly what they wanted you to do before taking everything you had, which might I remind you their profit was only five gold pieces in the end. Either this kingdom is that poor or they believe you'll return to make the same mistake again."

"So they think I'm an idiot as well!" the drunk was getting angry as her eyes lit up, "they're cheaters! They're cheaters so we have to punish them! I'll never drink here or gamble again. They're not taking anything else from me!"

Kagome attempted to stand up and fight for all her gold back, but quickly lost footing and fell right on to him. She was now sitting in his lap with her head knocking into his own, which couldn't have felt good to her.

"Calm down girl," he said softly glad that he was able to hold her in such a familiar way, "you're not taking on anyone in this condition and I'm not starting chaos over five gold pieces. It's over."

"So I wasn't going to win no matter what?"

"Precisely," that had been the lesson he was trying to teach her after all.

He could feel the rage radiating off her skin and chose to calm her down instead of feeding the anger. He put a hand behind her head and held her tightly allowing her to use his body for comfort. While she lightly sobbed into his shoulder he took in a huge whiff of her scent wishing it wasn't so drenched in liquor so he could somehow store it for the long term.

"It was rigged the whole time," she cried in defeat, "I was never going to win. I was never going to get out of here. Why did I expect any less? If you weren't going to help me why did you waste your time? You're not going to let me on your ship?"

"Not today," he confessed to her quietly, "why did I do what I did? For entertainment and your body, but you do not wish to give it to me. You are either not desperate enough or you cannot compromise yourself no matter what the stakes are. I will not take advantage of you again. Not when I've seen what is important to you."

"What do I do now?" she asked unable to think of another escape route when she was that intoxicated, "I don't know where to go."

"You know where to go," Sesshoumaru replied softly standing up with her in his arms, "let's go Kagome."

When she didn't react to him knowing her name he knew she was too far gone. His game was over now. The only thing that would have been embarrassing about the whole affair would've been if he'd been mistaken and this girl wasn't the princess. However, he refused to be wrong and her loose tongue revealed as much with certain comments and mistakes she'd made.

"Where are we going?" she asked knowing she was out of her mind cause she could have swore she saw the man's black hair turn white for a moment.

InuYasha? Was that damn dog still in her head so much that she was seeing things now? She thought Sesshoumaru's potion wearing off was just her mind playing tricks on her trying to make her think about the one that betrayed her and did something to cause foul rumors about Kikyo to spread.

"Maybe I need more to drink," she suggested about to fall over again if not for him holding her.

"You've had enough," he dismissed carrying her out of the tavern.

Once he had her outside where the cool breeze did her some good and kept her calm Sesshoumaru contemplated what he needed to do. The responsible thing that would keep him in good standing with Naraku on what was already shaky ground would be to immediately call for some guards to take her back to her father. They weren't married yet, so it wasn't up to him how to handle her punishment and confinement.

"Wait," Kagome kept one hand on her shoulder as her drunken form danced all around looking for stability, "there is one more thing."

"Do not throw up on me girl," he warned wondering what other business they possibly had to settle.

"Even if I lost I wouldn't have owed you," she reached into the pockets of her robe.

To him she revealed five gold pieces he wasn't aware she'd been holding on to. Where did she get that he wondered. Had it always been in the pockets of the stolen clothes? She couldn't have won it. He watched every bet of hers and had been aware of how much money she earned and had to play with.

"You loaned it to me and I'll give it back," she said putting the gold in his hands, "the moment I had an extra five I held on to it so I wouldn't owe you."

"So even through all of this you were careful?" he asked palming the money that meant nothing to him financially, "I do not recall you having any extra winnings."

"I stole it," she admitted, "back when other people were betting to. I took it really fast like when you were still pouring my drinks for me. I was going to give it back when I had the right amount and didn't need it, but since they cheated I don't feel bad about cheating. It's fair right. Now I paid you back and we're okay? Right? I'm not a thief, well I was a thief, but I won't steal from you. You're nice."

"And you're drunk," Sesshoumaru swiftly replied still staring at the gold in disbelief, "you honestly stole this when no one was looking?"

Did he have the right woman? How did a princess with not much tavern experience manage to steal from a place that was obviously well trained in taking advantage of others with their rigged games? How did she pull that off? Perhaps she actually did have some luck on her side.

"We're fine though aren't we?" she asked, "you're not going to rape me or sell me for a cow or anything are you? Wait no that's dumb. You can't have a cow on a boat, but if you did I swear I'll clean up after it to earn my keep. Take me with you please."

Sesshoumaru pocketed the five coins contemplating what to do, "Our business is settled fairly then. They cheated you for the simple profit of five gold, which you stole from them and your debt is paid. The interest I got was some entertainment. Were you entertained as well?"

"It was fun," she admitted now having a hard time keeping her eyes open, "it was fun being allowed to feel and play. I make no sense do I?"

"You do in a way," he admitted putting his arms around her, "I'll at least make sure you stay out of trouble for all your efforts. Hold on and once again I warn you to not vomit on me. You will not like the result of that."

Sesshoumaru leaned over and got her to get on his back where she could keep a hold of him by wrapping her hands around his neck. He carried the tired drunk through the sleepy city for quite a while before he was sure she was truly out of it.

"InuYasha," he called for his brother picking up traces of an odor, "I know you are watching us. Show yourself."

InuYasha hopped off the roof of a building and looked at the two in disbelief. The younger brother had no idea what transpired in the tavern, all he knew was that the two were in there for quite a while. He thought his brother was just going to go in there and drag Kagome out by her hair if he had to, but instead he seemed to be comforting a really wasted Kagome.

"What happened to her?" InuYasha immediately asked, "she got that way and it was okay with you?"

"She is not my wife yet," Sesshoumaru told him coldly returning to his dismissive self, "as I said as long as she still breathes and her virtue is in tact I do not care what happens to her in this unlawful haven they call a kingdom. Why would she think it was okay to go to a place where depraved men linger and take no issue with watching a young girl like this get intoxicated? Anything could have happened to her. Did she learn these values from you?"

InuYasha just wanted to know what had happened and already he was getting attacked and blamed.

"She was in that place with you not me!" InuYasha growled back, "you have her so what in the hell do you want Sesshoumaru? Did I not do my job? When are you going to leave me alone already?"

"Soon enough. I need your guidance. Who does this girl have that she trusts? I recall a name. Sango?"

"Her maid and guardian," InuYasha answered, "yeah I know her. She always looks out for Kagome and isn't like the others. She doesn't tell on her or lecture her for leaving the castle all the time."

"Good. Fetch this Sango. I will meet her outside the castle and she will discreetly return Kagome to her home. She will return the girl to her bed, not a dungeon cell. I'll leave Naraku to figure out how that happened."

InuYasha was searching for something to get upset with his brother for, but he really didn't have anything to complain about with that plan. Maybe if Naraku thought Kagome had escaped and came back there wouldn't be any severe punishments, but then again her father was obviously one that could be described as predictable.

He gave a respectful nod before going off to fetch the maid so they could sneak Kagome back into her home. The whole time he was questioning if any of this was real. It was quite unlike Sesshoumaru to be respectful and caring about the treatment of another who would soon become his property.

Sesshoumaru was aware he was coming off too generous, but he could justify it. While he walked off towards the castle with Kagome sleeping on top of him he reached for the five gold coins and simply held them.

"It will be a long time before I can be this generous towards you again," he warned the unconcious girl, "but it would seem you earned it. You can earn it again. All you need to do is try and fight your fears. Unfortunately for you there will always be something to fear. You see me as a monster after all, and I cannot deny that as a false accusation. Tomorrow when we meet properly for the first time you will know the truth and your future."

(End Chapter)