Chain and Collar
It had been a struggle, and honestly Sesshoumaru would have been disappointed if she'd done as he asked her and simply submitted. In order to get her kneeling on the pillow where he wanted force had been necessary. He was given permission to confine the girl so he saw nothing inappropriate about lowering his weight on to her back to get her face down into the pale blue silken pillow where he proceeded to move her hair away from her neck.
As Kagome's neck was exposed she knew what was coming next and continued to wave her hands about wildly as though she had any chance of getting him off of her.
"You're making it much harder than it needs to be princess," Sesshoumaru spoke pressing the cold metal steel collar to her neck, "but I enjoy the fight. Even if it is rather futile on your end."
Kagome's heart sank as she heard a snap. The collar had been locked into position around her neck. Her fingers went from pushing on him to exploring the metal surface to see if it could be pulled apart, but it locked from the back where a key would be required to free herself. She'd been fearing the collar would have some sort of enchantment that would render it unbreakable or alter her mind, but it seemed to be just a human made instrument for the purpose of confining prisoners.
"I just need a hook and a good nail," Kagome's mind immediately went into overdrive thinking of an escape, "use it when he isn't looking and be out of here."
The collar was attached to a chain that Sesshoumaru held. It was a very short length for if he were to be at his desk and she at her pillow there would be little slack. Now that the deed had been done he wrapped the chain around his hand a couple times showing how easily it would be for him to drag her around if she didn't comply.
"If you are planning anything know that I will be the one always holding the chain," he explained the rules to her, "though the image of you being chained up in your master's quarters awaiting his return is quite appealing that is not how this will work. Your collar is for this room only and I shall hold the chain. You stay in here with me or go where I go unless I give you leave to do otherwise, understand?"
"Take it off!" she ordered right away not caring about his rules, "this isn't right or proper. You can't chain me up like some kind of a pet!"
"You heard the agreement between me and your father. I am incharge of confining you. There will be no more argument on the subject Kagome. This is how I will handle you until we are to be married. Now as I've told you the day is long, but not long enough. We have business that requires immediate attention. Remain seated."
The moment Sesshoumaru loosened the slack of the chain and stood up to return to his desk Kagome defied him by standing up refusing to be seated by his feet like a proper bitch. Her eyes narrowed at the five gold coins piled on his desk thinking on how he deceived her.
"Why did you do it?" she needed to know, "why did you let me just make a fool of myself thinking I could be free. I trusted you."
"Do you trust every stranger that has the means to give you what you want?" Sesshoumaru's tone was condescending, "that is your burden not mine. I merely wished to meet you outside of the company of your father. I appreciated what I saw in that tavern far more than the scared girl in the throne room."
"You're the one that is terrifying me. If you don't want me scared don't do this. That man you pretended to be wouldn't do this. Chaining me up like a slave to teach me a lesson. It's depraved."
"That man would and he is because his bride to be is in need of proper training. Your refusal to sit and follow simple orders is proof enough intervention is needed, but while your standing I'll bring some more clarity on to your situation."
Sesshoumaru returned to standing obviously intimidating her with how he towered over her and cut their distance in half simply by continuing to wrap the chain around his palm. As the small girl stumbled close enough to feel his breathe she could feel her tiara removed from the top of her head. Sesshoumaru held it in his free hand for only a moment before demonstrating his strength by snapping it in half by just closing his fist.
Kagome watched as her tiara fell to the ground in two pieces. She didn't like wearing her crown and all the rules that came with it, but she hated to see another who could never hold any sentiments towards it take it away. It wasn't like she had twenty of them hidden somewhere to be used as a backup. It could be replaced but it just wasn't the same. He'd destroyed her crown, her status symbol, and the few happy memories it gave her. Not so much the events she'd worn it to, but the people she'd met and had fun with. She shouldn't have to rely on an object to hold her memories, so it should have been fine. It wasn't fine though. She hated the crown, but it was hers. It was a piece of her and who she was and he broke it just to be cruel.
"We do not wear those in Winter Spiral," Sesshoumaru informed her as though he'd done nothing out of sorts, "we do not need to display gold or jewels on our person to show our importance. You will do that by being near your husband. That is all you need to do to flaunt your status. If you wish to wear jewelry for vanity I will not stop you, but you will not wear a crown."
"I don't care," Kagome was referring to the act of having to wear it, "I never did but you shouldn't have done that. It might have been important to me and you didn't even care did you?"
"Might have or it was?" he asked not liking her half answers, "it is already in the past much like your attachment to this family. Your father asked that the wedding be here for you won't be seeing them again Kagome. If your father believes his kingdom to be so powerful and well guarded then I have no use for Byakuya to be doing his bidding in my halls. You'll be free from all of them."
He was using the word free on possible. Kagome wasn't that much of a fool to see what he was doing. The chain and collar in her mind was his torture tactics, but for the rest of her 'training' as he called it was he going to employ brainwashing? The way she acted earlier she had already given away that she didn't like the company of her father so perhaps she thought she'd be accepting of life with him if it meant being free from Naraku. It wasn't that simple. She hated her father, but she was close to Byakuya and in the past had good times with her other siblings. It wasn't fair to just rip her away from all of that.
"He likes being an ambassador," Kagome spoke up for her brother, "don't take it away from him to just torture me. Father will change his mind on his kingdom not needing anyone eventually. After all he married politically many times already. He changed his views once he can do it again."
Sesshoumaru commanded her attention by laying hands to her face and pulling her eyes up to meet him. He didn't say anything for a while just letting her take in the face of her future husband. If she didn't know anything about him or was being forced to learn harsh lessons then the only way she could describe his face was perfection. The way his eyes could appear to be looking right through her but yet had a certain light about them and the way his birthmarked stripes were so perfectly aligned. Even his snow colored bangs had a symmetry about them that made him seem unreal. If not for his darkness on display she would see him as a perfect specimen of a demon.
"Then Byakuya can return when he changes his mind," Sesshoumaru gave her some hope but as he'd already proven he was clever in selling false promises, "but for now I tire of speaking of them. You hate that man, but you use your father as a defense mechanism despite him saying no one would save you. You feel entitled to a certain treatment because of your status as a princess don't you? I need your mind off of your family and on to me for the time being. Our children won't carry that entitlement of yours. They will be heirs, but where I come from you do not get what you have simply because of who your parents were. They have to be strong enough to defend and keep what they get without considering what is fair and what isn't. You will stop this prattling."
Sesshoumaru noticed his words return fear to her eyes.
"Did you think I honestly had no intention of putting pups in you?" he was amused, "as my wife it will be your duty to carry my heirs. As long as you live you'll be the only one that can do it. I will not have my reputation stained with a bastard like InuYasha. I intend to start that process as quickly as possible."
When he saw the fear continue to grow he knew he'd been right in assuming his words about her future children was what got to her. Such a silly naive girl. Did she forget the sole reason for marriages like this in the first place?
The topic of children indeed had Kagome in a panic. She hadn't even thought about it when she had fantasies of InuYasha asking her to marry him. She just wanted them to enjoy their youth together before having to take on the roles of parents. If it happened earlier than expected and it'd be a blessing, but now she was in the position of having a different suitor that wanted her popping out children right away. Why was she even surprised by this point? This man cared nothing for how she felt or what she wanted only his desires mattered anymore.
"While I have you on your feet I shall continue," Sesshoumaru's free crown destroying and face touching hand went to her dress as the other continued to hold the chain, "these colors you are wearing are pleasing and were planned on purpose. The colors of my family's sigil I see? Yes I like you in blue and yellow a lot, but not the dress itself."
Kagome attempted to push off of him to get away as his hands began to slide under the material of her gown, but his grip on the chain was so tight not letting her get anywhere.
"I do not mean to be improper," Sesshoumaru was doing his best to be in control as his hand went down the collar around her neck and towards the top of her dress, "I only wish to see what I am working with and I have found it. A corset? You will never wear one of those again. Women smashing their bodies into something so tight to hide flaws? That is not how my bride will appear. I'll allow you to feel the fine silk I will have you dressed in."
Not having to wear a corset anymore? No crown no corset? Why did Sesshoumaru have to be the possessive monster that he obviously was? All of it should have been a dream come true to Kagome. She hated having her breath labored by that damn thing just for the sake of appearances.
Sesshoumaru pulled her fabric as far as he could and peered down her chest at the corset that hid her breast from him before doing the same to her backside. He was trying to make it appear that he was either examining her style of dress or up to something perverted, but neither was the case. He was looking for scars and marks to find out what Naraku had been doing to her. Her back was where he found a couple of them, however they were quite faint as though they'd been made years ago. There was nothing recent other than the light scratches on her neck.
Once his examination was done he did his best to fix her stretched out dress to make her proper again, "Do not return to me tomorrow wearing something so seemingly uncomfortable. You might be confined here and find my presence a pain, but I do not wish to see you distracted with turmoils. Your pillow should be comfortable and there will always be food and drink for you."
Sesshoumaru was just now being concerned with her comfort? Yes, brainwashing had to be the angle he wanted to approach with her. Well it wasn't going to work.
"Great a luxurious prison for a princess," she commented when he returned slack to the chain to sit at his desk.
"If that's what you want to call it then I take no issue. If you do not wish to sit and deny yourself comfort all of the sake of rebellion then the later exhaustion of that seemingly human body of yours can be your problem. It's already a lesson in itself isn't it Kagome? Your husband knows what's best for you while you do not. Stand there like a fool for the rest of the day if it pleases you."
Did Kagome win? Did she win a fight she really didn't put much effort into? That was hard to believe with a creature as cold as him being so adamant with how he wouldn't repeat orders. She didn't care how tired she was and how badly she wanted to get off of her feet. She wasn't going to sit beneath him.
"You didn't win at all," Sesshoumaru was amused as he watched her, "didn't I already teach you that you won't win? It's a rigged game just like the last. All you did was make more trouble for yourself girl with another game. I won't let you sit unless you beg me."
"Seemingly human?" Kagome seemed to be taking issue with how he spoke of her, "won't marrying me stain your reputation anyway as well as having children with me? I am pretty much human. I don't know how or why when my siblings are so different, but you're just such a well bred demon. This can't be a proper match from your point of view but you sought it out anyway."
That had Sesshoumaru curious. Did she think she was human? Did Kagome not know why he wanted her? She had to know if she knew why there were scars on her back. Perhaps her father never told her.
"Out of all the things I've heard come out of that mouth of yours I haven't heard you ask why. Kagome do you not know why I asked for your hand in marriage? Why someone as powerful as me would want the last born daughter of a secluded kingdom?"
Kagome had put that question far into the darkest parts of her mind so she couldn't ask, because she didn't want the answer.
"It doesn't matter," was her response looking away from him, "you wanted it and my father agreed to it so I'm going to be forced to do it."
"Why won't you ask me? What are you afraid of?" Sesshoumaru's curiosity grew, "it could be a treat if she doesn't know what she is or what she's capable of. It will make her much easier to work with. However, I don't want her thinking her father's abuses and my treatment of her are one in the same. It is in no way the same."
"You are right your blood is so muddled I do not even know what you are," he said, "but it seems to have muddled and mixed in the right way. You are an oddity. You're not human nor demon. You're something different that no one else can have. I've seen so many royal human and demon bitches on many other king's arms and they all appear the same to me with their features and mannerisms befitting their race. They are one of many, but there is only one Kagome isn't there? A rare prize."
That had been the stupidest thing Kagome ever heard, "Those women are probably really different you just never took the time to get to know them. Yes there is only one Kagome and there is only one of everyone else. There is also only one Sesshoumaru and I don't like how he treats this Kagome at all. I would say that you should at least pretend to be nice, but you already did that didn't you? I'm sure you got a real kick out of seeing me desperate and afraid knowing the whole time why I was acting like that."
"Indeed you were scared and afraid when I found you, but it didn't take long for the atmosphere to become quite warm. Do you hate demons such as myself Kagome? Do you have preconceived notions about me? You hadn't even met me yet and you were ready to tell lies and play games with strangers to get away from me."
He was making her out to be the ignorant cold hearted bitch in all of this? How dare him.
"Nothing preconceived about my notions!" she hissed at him, "you already showed me who you are. You're a liar who wants to see me suffer and tell me what to do and what to think of you."
"I could have bowed down to you, kissed your hand, and whispered promises in your ears about how your father would never be cruel to you again under protection and you'd still reject me. It does not matter what you think of me. You don't like being traded in to someone else and treated like property do you? That is the situation you're in and nothing I can do will ever mend that wound. I want you to be mine and you will be mine. That is all there is for you."
Kagome had accused Sesshoumaru of not caring about her feelings, but yet knew what her feelings were. If he was aware of why she despised this whole arrangement then why couldn't he at least display empathy for her?
"There was no warmth," Kagome made sure to tell him as she watched his eyes flicker to the pile of gold coins displayed on his desk, "I was just drunk. If I wasn't I probably would have fled the second you said I could pay for passage with my body. You're just deranged."
"You were not drunk when that offer was made," he made sure to clarify, "and since you've reminded me I need you to know that public displays of that nature will not happen again. You drunk in the eyes of others acting the way that you did will not be tolerated."
Kagome's cheeks burned anger, "You're the one that got me drunk! You did it and now you're scolding me for it. You're putting rules on me for misbehaving after creating a situation for which I could misbehave in. Do you not see how idiotic you sound with all these orders and rules?"
Kagome being outspoken seemed to put a smirk on his face, "No one there knew us as we were. All things considered that is a private affair. As someone who has grown up in a royal court I'm sure you know basic etiquette. What we do when in private is different from we do in front of others. If you found interest in that man because he was generous to you then know that I can be generous to you as well, but only after you've earned it. Now can we finally begin? This is what I have to give you."
Sesshoumaru pointed to another large case he had on his massive desk that he opened up to reveal about a dozen gold bars or so as well as some more coins beneath it.
"I don't want your riches," she quickly said not knowing if he was still trying to bribe her with something in exchange for compliance.
"It was part of the agreement was it not? This is not me putting coins in your hand this is your budget for your wedding. I assume you know how many coins a bar is worth and how much we have to spend on this affair. You don't have much time for planning, so if you want things a certain way you must begin your tasks now. I don't have any preferences or demands in this. I just want it done by the deadline set."
The budget for the wedding? Was Sesshoumaru telling her to keep the budget in mind and plan her own wedding that she didn't want? He really was cruel.
"I don't want to," Kagome swiftly told him really wishing she could sit as she felt tired.
"If I plan it then it will be done by deadline with no proper ceremony and no party for your goodbyes to family and friends. It will just be done. If that is what you want then by all means drag your feet and do nothing. You're angry because you have no control, but yet can't even show anyone you can handle control responsibly."
Sesshoumaru's lessons were finally sinking in a bit. If she had to marry him no matter what then maybe having a bit of control wouldn't be so bad. The wedding would be something she did without having to be told what do, so she'd actually get a chance to show everyone she could be independent and take care of herself and it hadn't been just talk. Maybe if she could show them her father would take her plea back into consideration.
"So I take that gold and hire people to do things like music and decorate?" Kagome thought out loud not even knowing where to begin, "it's that simple isn't it?"
Sesshoumaru looked up at her, and for the first time she saw disgust in his eyes. Had she disappointed him? Why was she momentarily upset about disappointing him?
Sesshoumaru wasn't disgusted at her just her words, "You who do not sound confident in what you want to do yet you wish to pay for services up front? That is not how creatures of our status handle business. You get services on good faith and pay after. That is how you guarantee things will be done to your liking. This gold is for you to settle your accounts before you leave. You have settled accounts and debt before haven't you?"
"Uh?" Kagome really didn't ever manage gold just spent it when she was awarded her allowance, "no. Why would I? Also I should say before you get upset at me again and look at me like that later I actually don't know how many coins a bar of gold is worth."
She didn't know basic currency either? Sesshoumaru knew he was getting a child, but a child that had had been outright denied the basic knowledge of how to conduct business like an adult? That would not work for him and he'd have to correct that.
"Five hundred coins can be made with one bar," he lectured her, "with the coins you have this case is worth six thousand and four hundred gold. This is not enough for an opulent royal wedding with hundreds of guests in attendance, but if you do it correctly and wisely you can do something that will rival weddings of the past. I do not care how the wedding proceeds as long as it is done, but do not be a fool. I need the woman of my household to manage my accounts, so you better learn quickly. You get services on credit and do not touch this gold until we're ready to set sail. I will not allow you near it until after the wedding. Understand? It sits here simply to remind you of your budget for you need to keep it in mind while balancing every decision. I'm putting faith in you."
Someone putting faith in her to accomplish something correctly without help or being forced? That was a first for Kagome. Why did it have to be from the man that held her on a chain?
"It's hard to make preparations if I am to spend my days standing here," she made sure to tell him.
"That is why you must ask for my permission to leave. I will allow you off your collar for wedding business and nothing else. This is how I will ensure it is getting done, because I doubt you want to spend eight days like this considering your hatred of me. Be aware I will know of all your comings and goings. Sometimes I will accompany you sometimes I will not but I will always find you. If you dare break faith with me and attempt to escape you can forget about these tasks and I'll use a better dungeon cell as quarters to keep you in."
Kagome had two choices. Plan the wedding and do something meaningful with her time to prove to him and her father she could be responsible so her feelings could be taken seriously, or take advantage of the freedom Sesshoumaru was allowing her to come up with another plan of escape. It was yet another gamble she'd be taking if she tried to runaway, because if she did it had to be flawless with no room for error as she knew it'd be her last chance.
"There is plenty of ways I can get out if I just play it smart," the wheels in her head were turning, "and remember to take money with you this time. Seeing him return to an empty office with that case I'm not allowed to touch missing, now that would be hysterical. What are you saying Kagome? Stop. You're already scared of him why would you steal from him and piss him further? Be smart okay? We can do this. We don't have to runaway. Running away never fixed anything for you it always made it worse. Maybe I should try this. Maybe for a few days and see how I feel. Do something stupid the moment you get freedom you'll never be trusted with it again."
"Let me go then," Kagome told him, "I need to start working I guess. I don't know where to begin but I'll figure it out."
"Denied," Sesshoumaru's tone was disinterested as he began writing something on a scroll with one hand while still keeping a firm grip on the chain in another, "I need to know exactly where you're going and what you'll be doing. If you still don't know where to begin I'd advise to take this time to think."
Kagome let out a groan of disappointment as she lowered her body towards the pillow wanting so badly to get off her feet but Sesshoumaru shot her a dangerous look reminding her she'd lose every argument she made against him and his harsh rules if she faltered on her own defiance. She returned to a proper posture and looked back on to the five coins even going as far as grabbing them.
"You wish to steal back what you've already stolen?" he asked seemingly amused, "I still don't know how you managed to take something from seasoned scam artists. You must have not been the only drunk there that night."
"You underestimate me," she said confidently putting them back, "when I want something bad enough I can get it. If I want the wedding to be nice and I have to get the services for it on credit I'll do it. I just need a good night's sleep first."
"Which will leave you with only seven days," he told her matter-of-factly as he continued to write before contemplating to himself, "now you want an ideal wedding? Is this yet another game my Kagome? Will you convince me that you've changed your ways and have accepted your situation by doing as asked to lull me into a false sense of security? I will never lower my guard, even to you, so by all means try so you can learn the same lesson all over again."
"Another wager and another gamble," Kagome taking in her options yet again, "play the game of perfect wedding planner and see where it gets me or ruin a well crafted plan for the small chance I can escape. Lot of effort for a possible reward versus risking it all? Can I even handle the long game? If I can just grow up and manage to suffer this little married life thing for a little bit it could pay off. Do my duty here successfully with no incident and I could have a better chance to flee his kingdom where no one knows me. He wouldn't be expecting that at all if I can just behave. That's the best plan even if it means I have to get through going to bed with him once or twice. I already considered sleeping with him once to get across the sea. This wouldn't be any different."
Of course, Kagome was confident in her thoughts but she was still just a young girl that didn't know if she was emotionally prepared for having to give herself to another man she didn't love on her wedding night. She would have to though if she were to sell him on her compliance to lower his guard.
"I can do it. It's a simple loveless marriage. Just take a taste of it like that brown rum stuff and suffer the burn."
That moment the two exchanged no words, but still Sesshoumaru wore a smirk. He couldn't tell what was going on in that mind of hers but he could feel that a new challenge had been issued between the two of them and he was excited to see how exactly it would play out.
(End Chapter)