Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Never had I been immobilized and controlled by fear. My blood turned cold, chilling my body as it coursed through my veins. The color in my face immediately vanished, turning pale like a fish's belly. Not even the cool air that barely entered my compressed lungs could calm my rapid heartbeat.

The men approached me and I did nothing but remain in the position I had been in for the past few seconds. Their rough hands enclosed around my thin arms and pushed my forward. And yet, no tears came. Not one.

His grin widened as he saw sweat flood my pores and pour down my skin, soaking the thin cloth that covered my body.

"Why so nervous, Kagome?"

He had not changed. He was still the man that I loathed and the disgusting attitude of his was enough to make my stomach quench.

"Please."

"Please what?"

"Let me go."

He came to me and enwrapped his cold, dry fingers around my chin, pulling me towards him. His hands were not warm and gentle, like Inuyasha's.

"And why would I do that?" he breathed.

I frowned.

"I have no business with you anymore, Kouga."

He stared at me as if I were joking, as if this were all a mere game.

"What did you say?"

"I am not in love with you and therefore I cannot marry you."

"You will not embarrass me in front of my men."

I could feel his fingers gripping me tighter.

"Get in the carriage."

I did not move.

"Get in the carriage, Kagome."

"And if I choose not to?"

"Then it shall be by force."

The guards that had surrounded us reached for me and threw me in. The back of my head hit the metal part of the carriage and I felt a hot liquid trail down my scalp. Slowly but surely I was losing consciousness. The image of Kouga in front of me was beginning to blur but his repulsive voice stayed the same.

"You will become my wife Kagome. I have waited long enough."

The door was closed and I entered a world of darkness that no mortal would ever want to be in. It was a world that no one could enter and save you. You could be forever lost in an endless vortex where you, and only you, could find the exit.

I was standing alone. White surrounded me and seemed to stretch on forever. I yelled for someone but there was no answer…only an echo. Was I dead? Had Kouga killed me? Is this what hell looked like? No, it could not be. Maybe this was purgatory.

I yelled again. Nothing.

Before I could sit down and cry of frustration, Inuyasha appeared in front of me. He extended his hand towards me and gave me a flashy grin. Yet every time I reached for it, he would move. I cursed him but he kept a warm smile on his face. I tried running to him yet I could not reach him. Each step I took chased him away. Why was he leaving me?

I ran but the image of Inuyasha kept getting smaller. Before I knew it he was gone. He had left me…alone. Why?

I realized it. This was not real. This was all an illusion that I had created. I needed to wake up.

Slowly, my eyelids opened. I moaned as my hand reached to touch the cut on my head. The blood had started clotting and the cut would soon heal. I looked around and saw that I was in a dungeon, my hands and legs chained as if I were some common criminal. How long had I been unconscious? My stomach growled of hunger and my throat was dry. Filthy rats were eating the rotten food that, I suppose, had been given to me. The stench of sweat and dirt entered my nose. I had probably been in here for two days.

I heard footsteps approaching but I did not move. I had a feeling it was Kouga and I would not let him see me coward down before him.

"I see you have awoken."

I did not answer.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, pulling out a tray of fresh fruit.

I felt my mouth water instantly and I was about to say yes. But where would my pride go?

"You must be. I bet you are thirsty as well."

No reply.

"There is an important even later today and I must show up. You will accompany me do you understand?"

He ate a fruit in front of me and I looked at him with disgust. Did that man really think I would accompany him?

He threw the tray and shook the bars. The rats ran to their holes. How I wished to be one of them.

"Do you understand?" he yelled.

He walked away and I heard him speak to a few guards. He left and the men came to open the cell door. I sat quietly as I watched them. When they came in, they picked me up and dragged me out. I made no movement whatsoever.

They brought me into a large chamber. Five robes were laid on the king sized bed; probably the ones Kouga expected me to where to his event. Three maids entered and took me to the tub. They had all been expecting me.

All kinds of oils were spilled on my head and every kind of soap was used to wash my body. There was no privacy. I was dried when I stepped out and given the white silky robe that touched the floor. When I saw that the maids were not paying attention I ran towards the door. The damn women chased me down and pulled me back to the room. They tied my hair to the side and let my curls hang freely. The final touch was a golden bracelet that went a little above my elbow.

"You look lovely, Your Highness."

I looked like the old me again and for some odd reason, I did not like it. It reminded me of the days when I was invisible, when no one cared about what I had to say. All of that had changed after I met Inuyasha.

When the women walked out of the room the same guards came in. Again, they dragged me to the front door where Kouga awaited me. I saw him look at me with pure lust as if I were only an object to satisfy his sexual desires. He came up to me and kissed my cheek.

"Beautiful," he whispered.

If it had been Inuyasha I probably would have blushed. Yet it was Kouga and thus those words meant nothing to me.

He pulled on my arm roughly.

"Come they are waiting for us."

We walked into the carriage and he sat in front of me. The sun had not set and I could still see Kouga's disgusting face. A few months back I thought he was attractive, now I just think he is an overly sized pig.

"Do not look at me like that. It was you who chose to run away."

I continued to stare at him, but I remained quiet.

"This had all been plan out since the day you were born. It is just the way life goes. You may not like it now but you will get used to it."

I leaned my head on the carriage door.

"We are not ordinary people, you and I. We have royal blood flowing through our veins. You cannot pretend to be a peasant Kagome. Not only would you be lying to the rest of the peasants, you would also be lying to yourself. Accept the fact that you will never be normal. And is not that the best way to live? Like a king?"

"Silence Kouga."

He chuckled.

"Did I hit a nerve?"

"Your voice just bores me."

We reached our destination and when I got out of the carriage I felt the air escape my lungs. We were in the arena where Inuyasha battled. I tried to get back in the carriage but his guards grabbed me.

"Wrong way, Kagome," he grinned.

I wanted to kill him with my bare hands. I could feel the tears beginning to emerge but I held them back. I would never let Kouga see me cry.

They dragged me to the tunnel where only the wealthy were seated. I kicked and screamed, doing everything I could to escape. They were too strong and I could not do anything about it. The few people that passed by did not even try to help.

I could hear my heart beat fast along with the roaring of the crowd. The light at the end signified that we were getting closer. I was beginning to feel sick again and wished that I could just collapse right there. The Gods were not on my side today.

Kouga walked ahead of us and the guards held me put. When Kouga appeared in front of the crowd, the people grew quiet. All that was heard was my heart pounding against my poor rib cage.

"Today is not an ordinary day," he yelled. "Today is a glorious day for I have found something that I had lost. And now I present to you my future bride."

The crowd cheered and the guards pushed me out, towards Kouga. He grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him. I wanted to hide from the crowd, from Kouga, from the world for I had just been publicly humiliated. To be called Kouga's bride was nothing but an insult.

Did these people even know what kind of person Kouga was? Had they any idea what Kouga thought of them?

My eyes roamed around the crowd before looking down at the arena. They came in contact with two familiar golden orbs that expressed nothing but shock and pain.

Inuyasha.

A/N: Finally!! Sorry for the delay White Dire Wolf…jeje...anyways!! SCHOOL IS ALMOST OVER… I am SOOO happy…no more homework, no more tests, no more teachers…I'm seriously counting the days man.