Miko of My Desire

By: Aurora Collins

Disclaimers: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters associated with it. I'm only borrowing the characters to amuse myself and hopefully others. ^_^

Ch. 5 Internal Hurt

The night passed in agony. Kagome was unable to sleep because of the sting on her cheek that Clay left on her. She thought that Sesshomaru's slaps were bad, but Clay's hurt even worse. Her cheek was swollen and the inside of her mouth was cut up. Making it imposable to rest on her usual side, overall she was completely miserable from the inside out. She didn't want to run into Clay again, but she knew that it could not be avoided. What she feared more than anything was that the demon would rape her. Would Sesshomaru even care? Kagome was sure that he wouldn't, so even saying anything to him about the incident wouldn't make the least bit of difference and would more then likely just cause her more problems. She was screwed either way and knew it.

The morning rays of the sun rose above the hillside and she heard the familiar click of her bedroom door resound throughout the room. The door creaked open and she was actually hoping that it was Sesshomaru, but to her utter disappointment it was Clay. He snidely smirked towards her as he shut the door behind himself, "It looks like you haven't slept a wink since last night my dear. Were you thinking of me and how sorry you felt for not responding to me?" Kagome got off her bed and fled to the farthest corner of the room, "Stay away from me. I mean it." "I'll take that as a no," Clay said as he glided up to her with the help of his wind. He came close to her face and grabbed her by the chin. "Let me go," Kagome pleaded as he began to kiss her neck.

She closed her eyes. "You taste as good as you smell. I can hardly wait to teach you a real lesson my dear," He said as his hand traveled up her thigh. Kagome tried to stop him but his superior demon strength overpowered her. "You can't stop me wench, so stop trying to," Clay said as he finally stopped at his own accord. He wanted to make an imperative point to this miko he was enthralled with. Kagome opened her eyes and let out the breath that she was holding. "You're lucky that you're wanted in the foyer this morning or I would take you right now," He whispered close to her ear, his breath caressing her skin. Kagome flinched back as he finally stepped away. "Follow me wench and we will get you working this morning." Kagome followed the butler out of her room for another grueling day of work and this time she hoped she would be left alone to her own devices. She was scared that she would not be able to keep Clay at bay for long. She just didn't know what to do.

After breakfast Kagome was given the task to clean the stairways and to air out all the rugs in the palace. Cleaning the stairs was a hard job by itself but adding airing out the rugs too; Kagome had no idea how she would do all this on her own. Some of the rugs reached from one end of the hall to the other. She knew she was being punished by Kami himself if this was to be her fate day in and day out. Her fingers were still blistered and some popped during the night causing them to sting. Calluses were ruining her once soft hand. It wasn't like she couldn't do hard work, but this was simply outrageous. Kagome was yanking on a rug when she felt a weight on it. She looked up and saw the dog demon Lord himself, Sesshomaru. Kagome quickly diverted her eyes and hoped he would ignore her. He walked up to her, his footsteps barely audible. He lifted her chin and moved it to the side. "This bruise is not from me," He stated in an obvious tone. Kagome wanted to lie and say that it was all him and that she had sensitive skin, but she could not bring herself to say it. "You hit me master," Kagome said weakly to him.

Sesshomaru nodded, "I did, but I know my own strength. My hit was not meant to impede. Who hit you?" Kagome jerked her chin from his grasp and looked up at him, "I walked into a wall, nothing more." It was a weak lie, but she recalled Clay's threat and did not want to risk his wrath by telling Sesshomaru. It wasn't like he would care anyway. He despised her and she knew it in the back of her mind. It wasn't like she even wanted him to care, especially after the way he had been treating her thus far. "Hnn…" Sesshomaru glared down at her before he walked away; leaving her to her own devices. Kagome gazed over her shoulder and Sesshomaru stopped. Kagome tensed. "I know you're lying and I can smell it. I will find out what happened wench," Sesshomaru stated as he began to walk once more. He turned a corner and Kagome shoulders slumped in relief. If she told him what happened then there would be a whole mess to fix and she was already in enough pain.

The day continued with her pulling rugs outside and casting them onto long poles to hang. She would then beat the rugs to rid them of the dirt and grime caused by the many feet of the palace. The dust was so bad that she had to wear a mask to keep from coughing and ingesting the dirt. Once the task was done she would have to drag them back into the palace, up the stairs and set them back in their original places. It was a royal nightmare and by the time she was done for the day her back and arms hurt from the weight of the rugs. That kind of job was meant for someone stronger but she knew this would help build up her strength. Kagome wiped the sweat from her brow when the job finally ended.

She wiped her hands on her apron and saw how dirty they really were. She needed a bath and Kagome hoped she could get one but who could she ask? She was too intimidated to ask Clay but he was the only one to lock her up at night. Kagome sighed and that is when she felt a cold hand grasp onto her arm tightly. She flinched and knew right away that it was Clay. "Time to go my pet," He cooed as he shoved her in front of him to walk. He had grabbed onto her arm in the same spot the day before. How much more could she take?

"Looks like you worked hard today."

"Yeah, no thanks to you."

"You think I wanted you to work so hard?"

"Why wouldn't you want me to?"

"I would hate to ruin you, but Sesshomaru has his orders."

"For you to treat me like this?"

"To treat you like a common wench? He would do the same."

"No… he would not do what you do."

They finally came to Kagome's room and she was shoved in once more. Kagome hated that she had actually defended Sesshomaru but something told her that he would not hurt her so callously and not pay heed that she was still a human. Clay was about to ravage her but then he saw her state of dirty disarray. His nostrils flared as he demon senses took over. "You smell wench," he said in a disgusting tone. Kagome glared at him, "Excuse me for working so hard and never getting a chance to bathe." "Keep talking like that my pet and you will go without a bath again. Sarcasm never fitted a woman and it diffidently isn't for you," Clay said as he looked down at her.

"I'll have a basin brought up by the maids and tonight I suppose you will be granted a reprieve, but don't think you can keep avoiding me. You will succumb to me before the week is out, that I assure you." After his threat he gradually left and slammed the door behind him. He must have been upset to not have her this night, but Kagome thanked her lucky stars that her lack of hygiene warded him off. Kagome sniffed herself and her nosed crinkled in disdain. She really did stink and she had a hard time admitting that to herself. She was glad that the jerk called up a bath for her to lounge in for awhile before calling it another night in her living hell… or so she thought.

The warm water wafted up from the basin that was laid out before her. The water smelled of lavender that played with her senses. Kagome could tell that there were oils mixed in with the water and she knew that it would be good for her skin. When the servants left her with her new found love she quickly undressed and slowly crawled into her heaven. The water surrounded her as it splashed a little over the side. She grabbed a sponge and a bar of rose scented soap and began to scrub her skin with a renewed vigor. The suds cascaded on the surface and left a cloudy film, making her body invisible. She ducked her head under the water to get the soap out of her hair, but when she emerged she saw the same demon that ruined her days.

Kagome squealed and almost ducked under the water again, "Do you mind!" She shouted without even realizing that she had to keep a demeanor that was fitting for a slave. Sesshomaru cocked an eyebrow at her that warned her to stop while she was ahead. Kagome clamped her mouth shut and hugged her knees to her chest in case the water wasn't clouded enough for him to see through, not like he wanted her anyway. Kagome's face burned with a bright red when she realized that he was not about to leave just because she was embarrassed. "Why are you here…?" Kagome asked in a near whisper. Sesshomaru did not respond as he came up to the tub and grabbed her arm with enough force to move it. He examined her skin and saw yet another bruise that was not there before. Kagome pulled her arm back and looked down before he could scorn her. "It was an accident when I was cleaning the rugs today," Kagome announced as she kept her eyes averted.

"I never said that you were to clean those rugs today. Your job was to help clean the rooms of the castle with the maids. The job you did was meant for someone else," Sesshomaru explained as he walked around the basin, trying to spot more marks on her. "Are you ready to tell me the truth yet wench?" Sesshomaru questioned as he stared down at her. "I'm just a klutz," Kagome said as she sunk further into her warm scented water. "I still smell the lies on you. You're hiding something from me and I will get to the bottom of it one way or another," Sesshomaru said with determination. Kagome finally looked up at him with her blue eyes and asked, "Why do you care? I mean nothing to you." "Merchandise is that… merchandise. I want my property in mint condition. I said this before," Sesshomaru sighed irritated. "I know that, but I mean actually caring, like caring about a person. Not as in property but as the person themselves," Kagome tried to explain, but she doubted that the dog would understand anything that she just said.

Sesshomaru shook his head, "Humans and their emotions. I will talk with you later on this subject when I'm not so irritated." Kagome thought to herself 'Good… now leave me alone you perverted jackass.' Kagome was happy that her master couldn't read her thoughts, but all she wanted was a little privacy for once. She didn't respond to him and that is when he left her to her own devices for the night. He closed and locked the door behind him to ensure that his property stayed where he left it. Sesshomaru traveled down the hall and he came around the corner where he found the person he was looking for. "Clay," Sesshomaru said to get his butler's attention. Clay came up to his liege lord and bowed slightly, "What can I do for you my lord?" "Kagome was not meant to clean the rugs today. I thought I told you to find someone else to do that," Sesshomaru said with little patience.

"I must have misinterpreted my lord. I assure you that I did not mean to disobey your orders," Clay said as he bowed again once more. Sesshomaru grunted out, "Don't let it happen again. I need that wench for something else and the last thing I need is her getting hurt while working. Don't disappoint me again." "Of course my lord. Whatever you say," Clay replied with an apologetic tone. Sesshomaru just glared at his butler and passed him without another word on the topic. Once Sesshomaru was out of sight Clay hit the wall of the corridor and left a hole in the granite. "That cocky son of a bitch dares to reprimand me?" Clay said to himself with a whisper that was barely audible. Without any further complaints Clay left the hall to go to his own quarters for the night. He would deal with the onna in the morning.

Sesshomaru finally got to his room for the night and began to pace around with a newfound energy that just wavered through his body. Why did he even care about that woman? A slave was all she was and nothing more. He didn't even care this much about his other property, but then again they did not hold the key to his half brother's demise. That was the reason behind the whole thing and that was why he cared about what happened to the miko. If she got hurt then Inuyasha's cooperation would be hindered. He wanted Inuyasha to suffer so much that he would want to die. Sesshomaru stuck his hand in his pocket and felt the jewel that he kept close at all times. The last thing he needed was a power hungry demon getting their claws into it, like Naraku. Sesshomaru already had bouts with that creature and could not wait for the day when he could massacre that weak excuse for a demon.

Sesshomaru sat down on his bed and lay back with a long drawn out sigh that usually never happened. He was dealing with so much at once that his thoughts were jumbled and that also never happened either. Once this situation was over with then he could get back to his original life with no Inuyasha to ruin it for him. With that newfound thought in his mind he concluded that he could sleep at ease this night.

Morning came around once more and Kagome was reluctant to get out of bed. She was up all night with thoughts on her master. He just stared at her and questioned her when she was naked in the tub. Her face became red once more at the thought of any man looking at her when she was in the nude. Maybe she should have told him the truth but how could she when she knew how he felt about her. If she were to tell on Clay then there might be two conclusions to it. One would be that Sesshomaru would not care either way or Clay would get her back, or Sesshomaru would just reprimand his butler and that would be all. In either case she would be a dead woman. Sesshomaru had a heart of ice and there was nothing that could change that. In knowing this it should not have kept her up at all hours of the night.

Did he find her appealing? Kagome ducked her head under the covers for even thinking such a thought. There was nothing there… end of story. Kagome sighed as her brain began to hurt from all the thoughts and mixed feelings. She wondered if she would ever see Inuyasha again, her best friend. Just when her thoughts were getting on track she heard the click on the door and knew that it was time to get up to start another day of work that she was not ready to do. She pretended to be asleep so that maybe she might not have to face the reality of life that was beckoning her in the face. "I know you're awake," came the voice of a particular someone that she did not want to hear from. Kagome did not respond as she lay still under her nice silk sheets.

"You smell a lot better by the way my pet," the voice came closer and Kagome held her breathe. The sheets were ripped from her and she gazed at the one demon that made her skin crawl. "Time to wake up princess for another beautiful day," Clay said as he saw her sprawled out before him. He gulped down as he saw her raven locks in a ravenous mess, spewed over her cotton pillows. "You know I didn't appreciate your little tattle to Sesshomaru. Because of you I got reprimanded and it's entirely your fault," he said accusingly. Kagome sat up and responded, "I didn't say anything to Sesshomaru. He just asked me about the bruises you gave me and I said that I was cleaning the rugs today and that I was nothing more then a klutz. I said nothing about you." "Not the point. I don't want that dog breathing down my neck about anything. I should punish you for even putting me out there as a bad guy. I do have a reputation to uphold you know," Clay explained as he got uncomfortably close to Kagome. Kagome backed up further into her bed as he stalked her like a predator. "When the master asks me a question I must respond," Kagome tried to explain to Clay.

Clay stepped up onto the bed to where he was hovering above her. "I said I don't care and I mean it. Humans have such weak excuses that it's pathetic. You'll regret ever crossing me," Clay explained as he saw his reflection in her blue orbs. Kagome glanced at the door and tried to make a run for it but Clay was too fast for her. He grabbed her by the shoulders and flipped her over onto her back. Her head was at the edge of the bed until he yanked her down to him. She nearly screamed until he slapped her so hard on the face that her world became blurry, like she had too much to drink. "You're mine and I think it's time I taught you to obey me, not that lap dog you call master. Do you hear me!" Clay nearly screamed at her as he forced her to look at him.

Kagome opened her mouth and the blood trickled past her lips, making them red. "No reply I see. Well I'll get something out of you by the time I'm done," He said this as he tore at the top of her night dress. "No! Stop!" Kagome yelled out as she tried to fight him off. Clay shoved her down so hard into the mattress that the fabric was coming apart. Kagome yelped out as she felt her body being compressed by Clay. He began to fondle her breasts as they protruded from her night shift. He squeezed them with such force that it hurt and wasn't even close to pleasurable. "I said stop!" She screamed this time and she felt a surge of power run through her. It was the same feeling she got when she was in a fight with Lady Itsuko. It drifted from her body until she thought it would consume her. "What is this!" Clay reputed loudly as he saw a pink hue immerse from the onna's body. It struck him and knocked him off of her. The light scorched his arm and his side enough to make him realize how much power she actually held. He ran away as fast as he could.

Kagome thought that she was done for and that she would be forever tainted, that is until she woke up and realized that she was alone in her room. Maybe it was just a dream but when she looked down at her night dress she realized that it was not. She covered herself quickly and made sure that the door was closed. Clay was not in sight and that must have meant that her miko powers worked once more and this time it didn't take so much energy out of her. Kagome got up from her bed and noticed that her whole body ached. Her skin looked black and blue on her wrists, arms and chest area. Now she wondered how her face looked and what Sesshomaru would say if he ever saw it. Kagome walked up to her mirror and saw the damage. She looked terrible.

Her whole left side of her cheek was swollen and her lip was cut. It would be weeks before she would look normal again. All she had to do was avoid the dog for the day and find a way to heal herself faster before he found out what really happened to her. She got dressed for the day and spent it cleaning the windows of the estate. No one took a second look at her or even noticed how badly she was hurt. She didn't mind as long as Sesshomaru didn't find out.

"Wench, what are you doing?" Sesshomaru asked as he saw his slave perched up on a ladder. "This is not your task for the day." Kagome swore under breathe because she was trying to avoid him for once. She put her cleaning cloth down and kept her face turned away from him. "What was my task supposed to be today master?" She questioned with distaste. Sesshomaru didn't like the fact that he had to look up at her but he answered none the less, "You were supposed to work in the gardens this morning and help with the trimming of the hedges. Do you enjoy working so hard?" Kagome glanced down at Sesshomaru and nodded, "Yes, it allows me to forget this place and you." She knew she shouldn't have said that but she couldn't help it.

"Get down here woman," He commanded. Kagome sighed to herself as she began her decent down the ladder. Now she was in for it. Not like there was much else that could be done to her now. She winced as she had to step down the last step because it was a little far from the ground. Sesshomaru noticed this and walked up to her with one stride. She still kept her face turned from him as he began to examine her. "You don't smell right today. Something is wrong," Sesshomaru stated as he walked around her until he came to the side that she was trying to hide. He glared at the ghastly mark and his eyebrow twitched. "Who hit you?" The master asked. Kagome kept her eyes averted and said, "I just fell off the ladder." "And I suppose your wrists got hurt as well?" He inquired. Kagome nodded.

"Lies."

"How do you know? Are you with me all day?"

"No, but it is strange how these injuries only occur when I'm not around."

"Well there is a lot that you don't see."

"Is that a challenge?"

"No. It is merely an observation."

"I observe myself and I see that something isn't right."

"I will stand by what I say."

"I can't believe that you have that hard of a time not hurting yourself," Sesshomaru said as he forced Kagome to look at him. She winced when he touched her and he released her when he saw it. He saw into her ocean blue eyes and saw something different about them, something that he had never seen before. He saw the sadness in them and the fact that her soul was becoming broken. Something really wasn't right and his instincts never proven wrong before. "Kagome, I will find this out and when I do you will wish you told me the truth about all of this," Sesshomaru said as he began to walk away.

"Wait!" Kagome called out. The master stopped in his tracks. "You said my name?" Kagome asked. Sesshomaru looked over his shoulders, "It means nothing. Take the rest of the day off and I expect to see you in your room with the door locked. I'm sure you can manage that?" Kagome nodded and Sesshomaru was once again on his way.

Sesshomaru was furious as he strode down the hall. His servants got out of the way and none of them looked at him. His anger reverberated off of him at so many different levels. What was wrong with him? He used her name and that was not in his character to do. That woman didn't deserve her name being used so nonchalantly. He made a turn to his study when he saw his butler, Clay. He saw the wind demon limp. "Clay, come over here," Sesshomaru called out. Clay stopped cold in his tracks as he glanced at his master. Clay tried to keep his footing as he came towards Sesshomaru. He wanted to try and appear normal. "What happened to you Clay?" Sesshomaru asked. Clay plastered on a smile, "Nothing my lord. It was just an incident in the kitchens. You know how busy they get when it comes to meal times. Speaking of which, I put yours in the study because I knew you would want to work my lord." Sesshomaru nodded, "Indeed."

Sesshomaru was just about to do just that when he noticed something on Clay's arm. It had the same kind of burn mark that Lady Itsuko had when Kagome used her miko powers on the demon woman. Sesshomaru came to suspect that his butler had something to do with Kagome's injuries. Kagome said that he wasn't with her at all hours of the day, but maybe he would put a surprise visit on her before the day was out. He knew what was going on and he would catch the lies that were given to him. "Will that be all my lord?" Clay asked. "Yes that will be all," Sesshomaru answered as he began to open the door to his study. "By the way my lord, where is that onna slave of yours? I haven't seen her in some time and I just wanted to make sure that she was still working," Clay mentioned to his master. Sesshomaru gave off his own little smirk, "I gave her the day off. It seems that she can't stop hurting herself." Clay bowed to his master and went on his way before he got into further conversation with the dog.

Clay moved down the hallway and grinned to himself, "That dumb dog can't even see what is right in front of his nose. Well I'll take care of that miko once more and this time she won't get the better of me. Now I'll have all day with her." He continued until he came to the slave's door and abrasively unlocked it with an uncanny click that resounded with an echo. He shoved the door open and saw Kagome sitting in a chair near the window. Her head was down on the window sill and it looked like she was asleep. It must have been nice to have the day off. Clay slowly closed the door with abrupt silence and made his way across the room. He allowed his wind powers to splay a warm draft that twisted around his victim. Kagome mumbled in her sleep as the wind comforted her in her dreams.

Clay went up to Kagome and played with her ebony locks that reminded him of the night sky. She moved more until her eyes fluttered open. "Sesshomaru…?" Kagome murmured as she rubbed her eyes. "Not Sesshomaru," Clay said as he yanked at her hair. Kagome yelped out as he pulled her out of her chair by her hair. "I owe you for what you did to me you little bitch!" Clay yelled out. "You deserved it you know. You shouldn't hurt people like that," Kagome snapped. Clay bristled with anger, "Well then I should thank you for not tattling on me again. I guess Sesshomaru is dumber then I thought because he doesn't even suspect me. That dog doesn't care for you one little bit and, he hates you weak little humans. You're nothing, you're a nobody and even if you die he would never even notice. Why even keep you around?"

Before Kagome could answer the door swung open and the great dog demon lord stood within the doorway. "Release her Clay before I make you," The lord spoke out his voice a low growel. Clay dropped Kagome and she crumpled onto the floor. "You're mistaken my lord. She was being disobedient so I was merely punishing her," Clay tried to explain himself. Sesshomaru stepped into the room, "Enough lies. I know the truth Clay and I don't appreciate the fact that you're ruining what is rightfully mine, nor do I appreciate you brandishing my name." "Please lord, let me explain…" Clay was cut off. "Enough!" Sesshomaru's eyes glowed red. "I want you out of my castle. You're to stay in the servant's quarters and work with the others outside. If I see you within the walls of my estate I will kill you. Now get out of my sight."

"Are you demoting me?" Clay asked as he confronted his liege lord. Sesshomaru stepped up so fast to him that Clay was nearly on the floor himself. "Yes. I can forgive you for using the women in my harem but you will never touch Kagome again." Clay paled because he thought Sesshomaru didn't know about that. Clay didn't argue further as he scampered out of the room and out of sight of his lord. He should be thankful that he was not banished from the lands of the west forever because of his indiscretions.

Sesshomaru then turned his attentions to the woman on the floor before him. Kagome got up from her position and stood before her master. "I told you I would find out," Sesshomaru said as he stared at her. Kagome's face turned red, "I suppose you did."

"You think I wouldn't find out?"

"I thought for a moment that you wouldn't"

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"No, just ignorant."

"Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

"Because you wouldn't have cared."

"And how do you know?"

"Because I'm nothing more then your property."

"That doesn't make sense."

"Yes it does."

"How so?"

"I'm a human being and I'm more than an object. I have feelings and emotions that need to be looked at. I didn't tell you because I thought you wouldn't have cared enough to take care of the problem, so I dealt with it myself. Clay was doing more then just beating me," Kagome admitted finally. Sesshomaru stared at his property, "What do you mean?" Kagome looked away from Sesshomaru before answering, "He tried to rape me. I thought he would have if…" "If your powers didn't come to your rescue. How could I let this happen?" Sesshomaru sighed as he looked away from the miko. Kagome wanted to mention the same thing about Rin, but she decided to not give her input on that particular subject at the moment.

"It doesn't matter anymore because you dealt with the problem, so forget about it," Kagome went on to say, trying to keep her tears at bay. The great dog demon looked back at Kagome and said, "No it's not dealt with. Look at you." "I know, I saw myself clearly in the mirror. What are you gonna do about it? Heal me? Shower me with affection to heal the wounds that you helped to inflict? Or maybe hit me again?" Kagome spat out with renewed anger. Sesshomaru thought for a moment before he answered her, "This Sesshomaru will think on the matter and…" "Get back to me right?" She replied with sarcasm. "You always have to think about it or go away from a problem that is facing you."

Sesshomaru glared down at her, "That is not true. I face my problems." "That maybe true, but when it comes to others then it is second rate; especially when it comes to emotions," Kagome explained as she stared back at her master. "You have a big mouth wench." "I know I do, but you need to open your eyes and see. Since I have been under your watch I have been worked with hard labor, mentally and physically abused, threatened and bad mouthed. I know I'm your slave Sesshomaru but even I deserve better. I have never done anything to you," Kagome said this and she crumpled down onto the chair she was sitting at. Sesshomaru made a move to grab her but saw that she was holding onto the chair.

"Are you alright?" he heard himself say. Kagome gawked at him and couldn't believe that he would even ask it. It took her a moment to respond, "Yes, I'm just tired and worn out." "I forget humans don't have high tolerances to pain. I will have my physician take a look at you and get you healed up. For now on you will be under my care and not someone else that I thought I could trust," Sesshomaru said. "What are you talking about?" she questioned. "I'm talking about you never leaving my sight. You will be moved to my quarters in the morning."

Kagome almost sat up but she felt light headed, "Wait, you mean in your room? With you? Alone?" "Of course," Sesshomaru simply replied as he turned to leave her completely baffled.