AN: Thank you for those who support this story. It will be a long road, but one well worth the wait. There will be drama, pain, and unfortunately more rape. With this being said, I do not support or condone the act of rape or abuse. Situations like this are rarely as simple as a one and done type of thing. To the honest, Kagome has a long road of healing, one filled with trials and tribulations. If you're reading this, get ready for the long, and sadly brutal, haul. She will not give in quietly, she will not fall in love overnight, but she will get through it. Are you ready for that journey?
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or the fairy tale of "Little Red Riding Hood". I also do not own the "Song from Chartivel" by Marie de France. This story contains violence and scenes containing rape and emotional trauma. This story is intended for mature audiences over 18. Thank you.
Sesshomaru watched as Kagome wrapped herself in the Kimono. She was quite skilled, and he wondered where she had gained the knowledge.
"Miko, who taught you to dress yourself?"
"It's none of your business."
She heard him rise and make his way towards her. She braced for impact. She knew she should have just answered the question, but she could never let him win this easy. Kagome was not broken yet.
He grabbed her by the hips and thrust her into the table, pulling at the sash she had just finished tying. With skilled hands he unwrapped her as he had her bent over.
"No. NO! No please! Not again!" Kagome squealed, attempting to pull away.
Once he had her front exposed he flipped her on her back, forcefully wrapping her legs around him and shoving her mound to the front of his own clothed core. He leaned into her face, allowing her to see the glitter of red dancing at the corner of his irises.
"Do you enjoy this, Miko? Do I need to punish you ever time?"
Sesshomaru leaned closer, pulling her neck into his mouth.
"When will you learn to submit?"
"My mother." Kagome choked out, tears threatening to fall.
Sesshomaru pulled away, confused. "What?"
"I learned from my mother."
Sesshomaru leaned up, dropping her head and neck back onto the table beneath them. He eyed her suspiciously. "Her mother?" He thought, trailing a hand down her exposed breast to the curls of her mound.
"You have a mother?"
Kagome nodded her head slightly. "I… I had a mother."
He pushed the nub between her legs causing her to flail her arms out and instinct attempting to close her legs.
"Please. Please… not now." Kagome begged, daring to look at him.
Could he see her begging? Could he see the fear that she held for him?
He dipped his long finger into her, brushing up and flicking her cervix inside. It caused a jolt of pain to shoot through her and panic began to set in.
"It is at my will that your request has been acknowledged." Sesshomaru said as he removed his finger and walked away from her. "Finish preparing, Miko. We leave in the morn'." And with that he left her.
She sobbed quietly as she pulled her legs together and fell gently off the table. Why did he have to continuously touch her? Did he not see that it caused her no pleasure? Her hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they began repositioning and rewrapping the kimono. It was only when she glanced up and saw the miko garments hanging in the corner of the room did she stop.
She was a miko. A powerful miko. While she may not be powerful enough to kill Sesshomaru, she was still the most powerful miko in all of Japan. She had no reason to wear this silk kimono, meant for a lady. She had a duty. Kagome was a miko, and regardless of what honor Sesshomaru was to bestow upon her, she was a miko first.
Sesshomaru returned only a half hour later. He had brought with him a small boar, some rice, and a basket of vegetables. He dropped the boar upon the table and turned to Kagome.
"Miko, you shall-" He stopped. She had not put on the kimono he had brought for her.
"Miko, explain yourself."
Kagome stood and faced him. Fear permeated the room and he was aware she knew what she did was wrong.
"I… I… I am a miko. It is not right of me to sit here in this elaborate kimono. I have a duty. I... I…"
Sesshomaru eyed her sternly. "You are a warrior?"
"Yes."
He looked down and away for a moment. She was a miko.
"This Sesshomaru apologizes. He did not intend to offend."
Offend? He did not intend to offend?
"It's a little late for that." She whispered.
Sesshomaru chose to ignore the comment and instead walked back to the table, ushering Kagome to his side.
"I have brought dinner for us Miko. You shall prepare the rice and vegetables, while this Sesshomaru prepares the meat."
He took the boar outside for what Kagome could only assume to be slaughter. She did not want to feed him, but the growling of her stomach proved to be her downfall. She quickly put the rice on the fire to cook while she chopped the various vegetables.
The rice and vegetables were just about finished when she decided to check on Sesshomaru. She wasn't a fan of prepping animals, nor was she in the mood to see him, but she was curious. She peeked out the door to see him sitting on the edge of a fire, the boar roasting on the flames.
He tilted his head slightly, "Miko, join this Sesshomaru."
She jumped, but did nothing more.
He looked at her again, "I will drag you out by your hair."
Her face paled, but she did as she was instructed. She walked tentatively towards him, turning her focus to the meat. It smelled amazing. She stopped when she was within a foot of him.
He reached up and grabbed her hand, holding it.
"What are you-"
Thump
Kagome plunged into the dirt next to him.
"When I call you, you will come."
He laid his body atop of hers, placing his knees between her legs. She scrambled to get away, but as before, she could do nothing. Kagome's back was in his chest as he snatched her hair and head backwards.
"When I call, you will come. Is that understood?"
"Yes. Yes!" Kagome sobbed.
He let her go, and went to grab the boar. As she stood he grabbed her arm.
"If you disrespect me at court, or within earshot of another, I will bring you to the brink of death."
He allowed her to see the seriousness of his tone. "This is not Edo, Miko. You are expected to perform as a lady of the court."
"Submit?" she whispered, her tears threatening the corners of her eyes.
He thought for a moment. While true he craved her submission, this felt like a loss in a way.
"In public you are expected to submit, however if you wish to continue to defy me in private, it shall be at your discretion."
He did not want to lose the fight she possessed entirely. She shook his core when she defied him. She brought a sense of fulfillment to their encounters.
"Will you continue to…" she stopped. Dare she say rape?
"Yes, that portion of the agreement shall not change, Miko." He smirked as he turned from her, choosing to go inside.
Dinner was a silent affair for them. He ate while writing a long scroll, pausing ever so often to read his work. He would make silent gestures with his hands, as if contemplating how to best say something. Once dinner had been finished by both Kagome had chosen to wash the dishes in the basin and return to the fire.
She watched him write from the corners of her eye and wondered briefly what he was writing. She chose to look away. She missed writing. It wasn't something she was able to partake in since her return from the future. Rarely had traders even carried parchment and ink, and never had she the funds to purchase it. Inuyasha had once berated her for attempting to negotiate for it. He said it was an "unnecessary" thing that she shouldn't waste what little she had.
She sighed heavily and begun tracing words in the wood of the floor.
The sigh prompted Sesshomaru to look up from his work. He was writing thank you letters to the various Lords and Ladies who would be attending the announcement ceremony within the fort night. He did not know what caused the sigh and was inclined to ask if she required something. He stopped when he saw her hand tracing the wood.
She was not just following the grooves of the wood, or making nonsensical shapes; she was writing. He was aware that she could read, at least to an extent, but was not aware of her ability to write. This would be most beneficial as it would allow her less training in her new position.
"Miko."
She turned slowly, her eyes making contact with his own. "Yes?"
He handed her the quill and motioned for her to come to him. She grabbed it, curious of his actions and walked to him. What could he want? His hand patted the open seat next to him and reached into his sash, pulling out loose parchment. He set it in front of her.
"You are able to write?"
She nodded.
"Can you write for this Sesshomaru?"
"I… I guess. What do you want me to write?"
He thought for a moment. What could she write? He decided quickly. If she was to become the Lady of the West, she would have something meaningful to say wouldn't she? It is not every day that a woman has her thoughts incorporated into flesh.
"Write something you believe to be beautiful."
"Something… beautiful?" She asked.
Her shoulders drooped. There was not much beauty in her life at the moment. She was being held captive, raped, and would live the rest of her life as such. What beauty would there be? Did she even know anything beautiful? Before her own thoughts could form, the quill in her hand began to move.
Hath any loved you well, down there,
Summer or winter through?
Down there, have you found any fair
Laid in the grave with you?
's death's long kiss a richer kiss
Than mine was wont to be–
Or have you gone to some far bliss
And quite forgotten me?
What soft enamoring of sleep
Hath you in some soft way?
What charmed death holdeth you with deep
Strange lure by night and day?
A little space below the grass,
Our of the sun and shade;
But worlds away from me, alas,
Down there where you are laid
She brought the quill back to her, holding it to her breast. She breathed heavily. What would he think? His own captive was still captivated by the everlasting love? Would he even understand?
"You are familiar with ancient texts?" Sesshomaru said, moving the parchment to his face.
"Uh, yeah. I mean, we had to learn them in school." She said.
"School?" Sesshomaru said confused. "This Sesshomaru is not familiar with the term, "school". Explain."
"It's… it's a tutor, and they teach a group of children in a large setting. So instead of teaching just one person, they teach a group of about twenty."
"School? Hn… This Sesshomaru is confused about the practice."
He continued to study the parchment for a moment longer before he sat it back down on the table.
"This Sesshomaru assumes it would make sense given the quality of the writing."
She snatched the paper from the table and walked towards the bedroom. He had some nerve! Telling her that her writing was terrible.
"I'm going to bed!"
The door closed behind her and Sesshomaru smirked. She was so easy to get a rise out of. Regardless, writing could be fixed with practice. The fact she was familiar with ancient texts was beneficial. It meant she was probably trained in more things like mathematics and history. She was unknowingly, trained to become the Lady of the West. Perhaps this mating would in turn have its own benefits.
Sunrise came early for Kagome. She begrudgingly got moving, but mumbled the whole way. She was not a morning person, and it didn't help her last few days have not been sleep friendly. Sesshomaru had not bothered her, choosing instead to put his armor on and watch her move.
"I am ready, I suppose." Kagome said, finally putting on her outer Kimono.
Sesshomaru eyed her, taking in the Miko he had unwittingly took as a mate those days ago. He had some hesitations, but in general was quite happy with how this turned out. He took a mate, this meant the various ladies of the court could stop pestering him. This meant the Lords with all their daughters would let him be. "Thank the gods for that." He thought.
As they walked out the door Sesshomaru grabbed Kagome bridal style.
"I do not need you to hold me!" She squealed, attempting to drop out of his grasp.
"We are flying, Miko."
In an instant they were airborne and Kagome was clutching to Sesshomaru tightly. He laughed loudly.
"This Sesshomaru thought you did not require assistance?"
Kagome chose to ignore him and instead focus on the flight.
"How long?"
Sesshomaru looked at her and towards the horizon, "Not more than an hour."