Disclaimer: All of this...not mine. Just the storyline. That's it. See this pen? My ma bought it. Not me. I own nothing. But don't worry. I'll be okay. Sure...I have nothing...but that won't bring me down. Nope. Perfectly fine.
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Kagome gaped at Kyoto.
Did he just say that I was going to be InuYasha's personal servant?
"Please," she begged, "don't make me. He is awful. Just awful! It would never work. I..."
"No," Kyoto interrupted," it will work because you will make it work because I said so. InuYasha is a very important person with a lot of influence. Do you realize how much damage it would be to our ship if he went around advertising that his time on The Purple Star was horrible and waitresses harassed him the whole way through? Did you think of that?"
Kagome bowed her head in shame, "No, I hadn't thought of that. I'm sorry. I'll try not to be rude to him."
That had certainly never occurred to me. This boat is my life and I almost let it slip away because of some stupid man.
She looked up at her boss with glistening eyes and said, "Don't worry. I won't let him get to me again."
Kyoto smiled, "That's the Kagome I know. Now he is in his room right now. Why don't you go and apologize?"
Kagome choked.
Apologize? To that creep! Well...I guess I might as well get it over with. The Purple Star is worth it.
Kagome nodded feeling that if she spoke her breakfast would erupt all over the kitchen floor. Starting up the stairs to his room, Kagome braced herself for what was bound to be the most horrendous three months of her life.
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InuYasha smiled to himself when he heard a knock at the door.
This is going to be great. I'll finally get that wench back for all the crap she's put me through.
"Come in," he called from his bed.
The door creaked open to a hard-faced Kagome.
InuYasha smirked widely and exclaimed, "Ah, just the girl I wanted to see!"
Kagome growled.
"Down doggy. Do you want me to get you a bone," InuYasha asked with that same cocky grin that made Kagome steam, "Now, now don't wet your..."
"Shut up," she slammed the door behind her and stepped toward the amused InuYasha.
"Ohhhh, a little feisty are you?"
Kagome looked too mad for words. The more anger that twisted her face the wider InuYasha smiled.
Ah, sweet revenge! Look at her! She's ready to strangle the air out of me, but can't do anything!
Kagome took another step toward the bed that InuYasha's egotistical frame was draped over, "Listen, you," she started with a frown creasing between her brows, "I can't believe you told on me. That is really immature. I mean come on! You came into the kitchen screaming your head off because Rin was taking a few minutes to have a conversation. It was all your fault! You were acting like a moron! I had to do something"
InuYasha, whose arrogant face was replaced with one of sheer anger., "Excuse me? It was my fault? My fault? That little witch was in there for ten minutes. Ten minutes! Miroku and I were ready to order and getting hungrier, but she hadn't even given us our drinks. Instead she was slacking off chatting to you. I had to do something. She would have left us there to starve."
Kagome's body was trembling with rage. She took another step toward InuYasha who was now sitting up with a stiff back, "Bull. You just couldn't wait you...you..." She couldn't think of any words to match her revulsion, so she used action. She reached the bed in two long strides. She looked at his face which was filled with animosity and confusion.
What in the world is she doing? This is one weird...
But before he was able to finish his thought she flung herself over the bed. InuYasha was so stunned that he had little time to react but was able to push himself off the bed to the carpeted floor with a soft thud.
Kagome landed right where he would have been had he not moved. Even more infuriated she quickly rolled off the bed to where InuYasha was laying, eyes wide and thought racing.
What is her problem? What is she doing? What have I done? This girl has one wild temper. What is she going to do to me? Dang, what can I do?
She landed on InuYasha's abdomen, knees touching the carpet both sides of his body. Regularly she would have gonecrimson at the position, but she was blinded by rage and the want, no, need to hurt InuYasha. She started to pound on his chest as hard as her muscles would allow her, "You...had...no...right...to...be...so...cruel" she screamed, shouting each word when her fists were in the air readying for another attack.
He struggled to hold pounding fists away from his body, "You freak! What do you think you're doing?" He tried to push her off but she only shoved him back toward the ground with an amazing amount of strength.
His words only egged her on to an even more painful way of torture. Slapping his face she screamed even louder, "Are you kidding me? You were so awful to Rin and me. This is the least you deserve."
InuYasha was bewildered. He had never been in a situation like this.
I can't hit a girl! How can I get out of this. This wench is losing control. She's never going to stop.
But InuYasha was wrong. Kagome was using all of her strength at once out of white-hot hate and she was tiring from the pool of energy she had used up. Panting hard she slowed down and placed her hands upon his chest trying to catch her breath. At that moment the door burst open to a young girl who worked with Kagome as a maid.
"Sir we heard loud noises and..." she stopped short when she spotted Kagome and InuYasha on the ground. Registering the heavy panting and the awkward position, the girl's face was immediately plastered with a look of shock and embarrassment, "I'm so sorry," she started to slowly trudge out of the room, eyes stuck on the scene before her.
"No wait, Kasumi," Kagome pushed herself off InuYasha in a hurry, "It's not like that."
The maid shook her head, "No, no. It's okay, Kagome. I won't tell anyone promise."
"No wait," Kagome yelled after Kasumi, but she had already closed the door with a face full of mixed emotions. "I can't believe this," Kaogme wrung her hands trying to find some way to deal with all the nervous energy running through her body, "Now she's going to think that something is going on between us!"
InuYasha sat up with a groan.
Jeez. Little wench did a number on me. I outta knock her lights out.
A low growl escaped his throat as he felt a shot of pain from his chest as he tried to stand up. Kagome was still ranting fervently about what to do and how to act to this when InuYasha yelled, "SHUT UP!"
Kagome turned her face to InuYasha as if surprised to see him there. "Well," she said in a vexed voice. "Fine. Be that way," she sniffed in disapproval and turned her back to InuYasha.
InuYasha was fueled by an anger incredibly deep, but knew that the best way to deal with her didn't involve fighting.
InuYasha stood up and dusted away nonexistent dirt, "Fine. I will. Now as my servant," he started, snapping to attention, "I order you to go get me some cold cloths andplain ramen.Now."
Kagome stood still, unsure of what to do despite the obvious directions she had just received. Her mouth hung open for a few seconds as if she wanted to retaliate, but thinking better of it she closed her jaw and left the room in search of the ramen, cloths, and her sainity.
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Kagome opened the door to the bedroom Sango, Rin, a few others, and herself shared. She flopped onto her bed and lay there, staring at the white ceiling trying to block out the day she had just experienced. she had come back to the room, dripping rag in hand to find dirt strew across the floor, charis toppled over, books flung from shelves, and bedding thrown in various places. InuYasha stood in the midst of it all with a sidways grin. Walking towards Kagome, he grabbed the ramen and cloth andsaid, "Oops. Tripped. Clean it up.
Angry though she was, Kagome couldn't do anything but fume and spend the next six hours returning the room to it's formal glory. Too tired to even think, she just lay there for the next twenty minutes trying to regain some of her strength. The door opened letting in rays of bright light. The form of Sango sat next to Kagome and asked, "Aren't you getting ready? Tonight is a Moonlit Dance night."
Twice a month the help gathered at 10:00 on the open deck of the ship to have a dance, leaving around 2:00. Kyoto said it was okay as long as we don't disturb the customers. This was the night everyone working on the ship looked forward to. Rarely ever did any the workers do anything for themselves on their own time and they cherished thechance to flirt and socialize.
"I don't know," Kagome moaned and rolled over on her side to see Sango's face illuminated from the cresant moon shining through the window, "I feel so tired. InuYasha completely destroyed his room and made me clean everything up. Look at me. I'm a mess!" She sat up and held her face in her hands, "How am I supposed to cook for all of the snobs and serve the worst one whatever he wants, whenever he wants?"
Sango put on a sympathizing face and said, "I know it's hard, but this night comes twice a month. You'll be kicking yourself if you don't come. Please try," she jutted out her lower lip and widened her eyes into a pitiful basset hound face. Kagome smiled at the ridiculous face she always fell for.
Hoisting herself from the bed to the floor, Kagome said, "All right. All right. I'll get ready right now."
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Seventeen minutes later Kagome and Sango stood in front of the door ready to leave. Sango was dressed in semi-tight purple dress with sleeves that hung loosely on her shoulders. A black sash was attached from her right shoulder, across her torso, to her left thigh. Kagome had a blue shirt with translucent sleeves and a back skirt that reached her knees. They examined each other and left through the doors with a nod of approval to the other.
Once they reached the open deck they saw that a multitude of people had already arrived. The music was pumping and couples and friends were already dancing. Kagome checked the petite watch on her wrist; it had never left her side, "The time is 9:00 so we have five hours. Not too bad." Sango nodded in agreement and both of them went over to a group of friends.
"Hey guys!" A lady, 26 years old, waved the two over. Trianna had been on the Purple Star for five years, joining after she dropped out of college. She claimed she just wasn't fit for the business world like she thought she was. Her major was law and she was planning on becoming a lawyer but as she said, "Things just didn't work out." She had always taken good care of both Kagome and Sango and the three of them had formed a strong bond of trust.
Trianna's smile, small though it was, lit up her face as she addressed them, "Where were you? I thought you'd never come." Kagome and Sango launched into the story of Kagome's enslavement and what had happened between the two. When they finished a look of bewilderment revealed Trianna's feelings about the whole thing, "I can't believe he did that. InuYasha and Kyoto. How unfair! And you're a cook. You shouldn't be anyone's maid. Geez! I just don't know what to make of this whole thing." She ran her fingers through her hair in distress but then put on a comforting smile. "It's certainly nothing we have to deal with right now. Let's just have fun, kay?"
Kagome and Sango nodded and smiled in agreement. The three girls and the rest of the group-Rin, a new waitress Aria, Yasmin a chef who had worked beside Kagome for five years, and a custodian named Mina-stood around bopping to the music and chatting for 30 minutes when Kagome felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around she saw a smiling Kouga behind her, hand stretched out, palm up, "May I have this dance," he asked with a momentary raise of his eyebrow. Kagome smiled and took his hand with a look back at the giggling friends saying things like, "Don't do anything I would do," and, "Try not to think about him too much; his hotness will melt your brain."
A fast song was playing when they got on the dance floor. Kouga twirled Kagome around receiving a giggle in return. They danced and smiled at each other until the song ended much to their dismay. Two more fast paced songs followed. Kagome and Kouga danced circles around each other and laughed at nothing except their own happiness.
Goodness, I am having a good time. Who would have thought Kouga is such a good dancer?
Tenderly placing her hand on his chest, Kagome stopped Kouga and led him off the dance floor to the cooler for a cool glass of iced water.
"Thanks for such a good dance," Kouga said with a twinkle in his eye. Kagome just smiled and looked over at her friends. Mina was flirting with Myo, an assistant doctor, Aria and Yasmin were in deep conversation, and Sango and Rin were dancing together a few spots away from where Kagome and Kouga recently were.
I think my breath is returning. Hmmm...what should I make of this? I always thought but could never prove Kouga likes me. Maybe this is my proof. Is he going to ask me to his girlfriend? Would I say yes? Jeez...decisions, decisions.
Sango and Rin spotted the couple and happily skipped toward them. "Hey guys" said Rin, "How you doing?" She took some of the chips in a bowl that had been set on top of a table beside the cooler. Kagome smiled and replied, "Pretty good; tired, but good." She dramatically fanned herself. Rin, Kouga, and Sango laughed and the four friends fell into a comfortable silence.
After what Kagome estimated to be ten minutes Kouga asked her if she would like to dance again. She nodded in affirmative and moved toward the dance floor, Kouga in tow. Kagome started to sway to the music and really enjoying herself when something caught her eye. A boy she knew, Kyo, was standing in front of a girl whose name Kagome couldn't place, but that wasn't what concerned her. Kyo was wearing a white shirt but with a huge, red stain on the back.
Blood.
Images flashed through her mind. Images she had tried and tried to push out, but to no avail.
No. Not again. NOT AGAIN!
Without thinking, Kagome ran to Kyo, pushing all those in her way aside. She forced him to turn to her. He looked astonished, "Kagome, what's going on?"
"Your shirt," Kagome started, feeling the spot where the red splash was, which was also on his front, "it's covered...in...blood." She stopped her hands from their frantic moving when she realized the spot was dry and not blood, but tye-dye. Embarresment shone on her face in two pink splotches on her cheek. Everyone was staring at her. She momentarelly closed her eyes wishing it all to be a nightmare. When she reopened her lids everyone was still staring at her in either shock, disbelief, or amusment. Everything became too much. She ran.
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InuYasha came from the bathroom in the hall in a towl wrapped around his waist, fuming.
Stupid boat. Haven't been on here a week and my shower is broken. Ah well. The day hasn't been a complete loss.
He smiled to himself remembering the expression of that waitresses face when she saw the room.
What did that other girl say her name was? Kagome?
InuYasha thought over the days events when a small figure rammed into him with so much power the wind was knocked out of him. He kneeled over trying to catch his breath and when looked up he saw Kagome on the ground. " Hey," he said to her, "what's your problem? Do you find pleasure in..." he was about to say 'beating me up' but he noticed her cheeks were red and puffy as where her eyes. "What's wrong?"
Kagome looked up at him in...fear. InuYasha was suprised to see such a scared expression on her face. It made his own soften.
"I'm sorry," she started and seemed confused as what to do next.
InuYasha shook his head and said, "Naw. It's okay. Umm...are you alright? You seem a little..." he left the sentence there unsure of what word would fit the look on her face. Kagome seemed taken aback by his sudden kindness and her face flushed a crimson red adding to the effect of what InuYasha supposed was her previous tears. She pulled her knees up to her chest and started to rock back and forth eyes welling up with more tears. InuYasha stood in the middle of the hall bewildered at her sudden action.
"Hey now, come on. Don't cry," he feebily tried but tears started to cascade down her already flushed face. InuYasha was unsure of what to do. He was certain someone would come out and discover them. Not really knowing what to do, InuYasha picked her up, bridle-style, and carried her to his rooms. She continued to rock back and forth and an odd whine softly came from her mouth. He held her close trying to calm her, completely aware of her body against his bare skin. Kagome's hair soflty tickled his chest and her smooth cheek rubbed right on his pec. He hurried to his room, nervous of the strange way his body was reacting to hers.
Using one hand to hoist her up, he opened the door with the other. Once he was inside he carefully laid her on the bed, and went to his drawers to retrieve a shirt and pants. He went into the bathroom and hurridly changed, not wanting to leave Kagome alone in her current state. Once he was comfortably dressed, he emerged from inside the bathroom to find Kagome on his bed still rocking back and forth, tears flowing ever faster.
InuYasha was frieghtened at Kagome's actions. He wanted the other Kagome back; the one that beat on him with her fists, the one whose mind seemed to be stable.
Intent on helping her, INuYasha stepped in front of Kagome and, grasping her by her shoulders, said, "Kagome. Kagome, it's okay. It's alright; you're safe. Nothing will happen to you while I'm here." Kagome looked into InuYasha's eyes and he took a step back.
There is so much fear in those eyes. Something horrible must have happened to her to cause a nervouse breakdown like this.
She seemed to relax, allowing her body to cease it's swaying motions, but never took her eyes off of InuYasha's. The powerful emotions that swirled in her choclolate pools made InuYasha feel as if he were her protector. He settled himself beside her on the bed still looking in her captivating eyes. They stayed like this for what seemed like a milenia to Inuyasha but was in all actuality 15 minutes.
Kagome's lids grew heavy. "Rest,"he said and momentarily picked her up, stretching out her body, and lay her down after lifting the comforterand placing her body underneath the heavy blanket. Her eyes still remained on his and before she closed them to drift into dreams, a light smile curved her lips and InuYasha saw how truly elegant it was before she closed her eyes and her mind to the coscious world outside.
InuYasha watched her sleeping figure, his own smile gracing his lips. He reluctently turned his back and started to get off the bed when a whimper escaped Kgome's mouth followed by a whispeed word that InuYasha's sensitive ears picked up.
"Dad."
Her body trembled adn InuYasha settled himself back into his previous spot. He took her hand from under the comforter and held it in his own, attempting to generate his strength into her body. The trembling stopped, but the worry line in between her brows stayed.
I hope she'll be okay. What could have happened to cause this?
He thought back to her wispered word and concluded that something must have happened to her father.
InuYasha held her hand through the night, his eyes never leaving her face. He had never felt such a connection to another or even such a need to protect them, but protect her he did. He helped her battle her mental monsters with as much strength as he could muster. Kagome's breakdown had scared him tremendously and he pondered it through the night. After a few hours his consciousness slipped and he too fell into dreamland.
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Okay, that's it. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, tell me why, if you didn't, tell me why and how I cna improve. Please remember FLAMES ARE HUNKY-DORY!
Wise thought of the day: With so much to live for, don't take advantige. So many people go around complaining about what went wrong with their day and how much someone else has. STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE! Think and appreciate the things and people you have around you. For if you only think about the negative aspects of life, you will feel negativly EVERY DAY. Sound like fun? Live the life you have to the fullest; it doesn't last as long as it seems.