Chapter 3
"Kagome" He said stoically. He was standing over by his desk, still in his formal attire from the ceremony. Normally he would not call me by name, so I knew something was wrong.
"May I come in, milord?" I asked politely, still avoiding his eyes. I remained in the doorway, shifting my weight ever so slightly from one side to the other.
"Hn" He grunted, allowing me to step in. I was still quite shocked. He normally never acted that way. I walked as slowly and gracefully as I could, and stopped in front of him. Raising my head up to him so I could look him in the eyes.
"Milord, I've come to beg for Rin's innocence" I said regally. His eyes darted over to me, and narrowed for a minute.
"Is that so?" He commented, with his usual monotone voice.
"Yes sir, I wish her not be treated as a concubine, find another position for her. Possible a maid?" I suggested.
"Do not forget your place, Miko. It is on your back, underneath this Sesshomaru" He mocked. I turned a bright shade of red,
"Sesshomaru….." I began but he cut me off, his face buried deep into my throat. I was caught off guard instantly, and the barrier hiding my emotions fell down. Something about his touch, the feel of his body against mine.
"My apologies, milord, allow me to rephrase my request. I wish to spare Rin this fate. Am I not enough for you?" I questioned, removing myself from his grasp.
"This Sesshomaru will not be questioned. Prepare the girl or I will take her now" He grunted, straightening himself up.
"Will you require any other services, Sesshomaru-sama?" I asked, my anger boiling over. But he did not react to this at all, he just shooed me from his room. I bowed out and returned to the halfway, with my eyes watering.
"Kagome-chan, what is wrong?" Rin asked, she had been waiting for me in the hallway. I looked off to the right, and wiped those unshed tears from my eyes.
"Come along Rin, we do not have time to idly chat now. Why aren't you downstairs at the ball?" I asked.
"Lady Kagura has asked for your presence at once. I was told to wait and give you this message. She is in her private chambers" Rin answered, her pretty young face frowning.
I hugged her up tightly, and then pushed her in the direction of the long staircase that led down to the ball. All the other concubines were at the table, I knew they would not leave until the party was over. A few lords remained downstairs and someone was to keep them entertained.
"Go Rin, do not dally" I urged her, and I waited until I could no longer see her baby blue gown sweeping behind her before I went to see the Lady of the house.
Lady Kagura was not in the least bit threatened by me. She knows as well as I do she mated him out of convenience. Sesshomaru's mating to the ice queen reunited the lands that were so violently devastated by Naraku and his minions. Kagura was hated by many; they could not grasp how her life was not her own back then.
"Lady Kagome" She greeted me, not looking up from her reading materials. She was lying under covers; her upper half was showing from her gold and red colored bed sheets. She was wearing a plain colored robe. I was disturbed by her greeting; she was the lady of this establishment, not I.
"Milady, I am not a lady of this house" I corrected her gently. She did not seem to notice my comment, and continued with her readings.
"Do not forget that I owe you my life, Kagome" She said, giving me just a glance from her book. She was enjoying the few good stories I had with me here in the feudal era.
"I only did as the Kamis wanted me to. You do not owe me at all" I said, standing in the middle of her room.
"I summoned you hear because I have not seen Sesshomaru in many nights, how is he?" She asked, now putting her materials down on the bed beside her.
"Quite well, I can call him to come if you wish" I said, starting towards the door. But she raised her hand to stop me.
"No, no. He much rather not have you go back to him again. Has he had his fill of you for this evening?" She asked softly, her hands folded into her lap. I instantly looked away from her. I was embarrassed. Not only do the concubines know I was his favorite, but his mate knows too.
"I have, but now I fear he is after Rin" I confessed, not sure why Kagura was being so polite to me.
"You were not the Shikon Miko for nothing, use your head" She advised, but before she could say more, Sesshomaru came in.
"Mate" He greeted stiffly.
"Sesshomaru-sama, what a pleasure to see you. How is the ball?" She asked, forcing a weak smile on her face.
"Adequate. Have the servants been aiding you?" He questioned.
"All day long, they won't let me lift a finger" She responded, her red eyes glowing.
"Milady, may I leave? I am required downstairs at the ball" I asked politely, staying clear of Sesshomaru.
"Of course Kagome" Kagura responded, and I took my leave. I did not bother saying another word to her or Sesshomaru. I needed time to come up with a way to save Rin. Rin could not please Sesshomaru as I could, and he would not be gentle enough for her 1st time. As I exited Kagura's chambers, the hallway was filled with the fellow concubines.
"Kagome" Mayumi hissed, she seemed aggravated with me. She waved me over to her side. I cut across the two rows of concubines on their journey back to our quarters.
"Where is Rin?" I questioned, but I turned around to see her crying and trailing behind the other girls. I reached out instinctively to hold her. Rin latched onto my side like a child would, and bawled into my gown.
"Did you know that Sesshomaru has summoned Rin to his chambers?" Mayumi whispered, staying in pace behind the girl in front of her. My eyes bugged out of my head.
"For when?" I demanded, absolutely terrified.
"He requested she be freshly bathed and washed in the lavish soaps and then brought to him in her undergarments and a plain robe. I'm supposed to take her to the wash house now. Come along Rin" Mayumi attempted to pry her from my side but to no avail.
"I will take her to the wash house in preparation for Sesshomaru-sama" I interjected, keeping Rin under my arm.
"Lord Sesshomaru requested that I do the preparations. He will kill me for disobeying" She argued.
"I am his favorite concubine, I will take any punishment he dishes out to you for disobeying. Allow me to take Rin" I persuaded her and she gave up the fight. Mayumi walked off with the rest of the ladies to the room while I took Rin down the corridor to the wash room.
"Kagome-chan, please, please don't make me go. How can I avoid this?" Rin begged, she was shaking and scared.
"I don't know Rin, Sesshomaru-sama has summoned you and you must go" I started but that only made her cry even louder.
"There must be a way!" Rin insisted, pulling at the edges of my dress. The poor child, only four foot seven inches tall and a fresh thirteen. Sesshomaru's large size was going to tear her apart literally.
"Give me time to think Rin…I can only…" but that news was not good enough for her.
"Time to think! Kagome-chan, he wants me tonight!" She exclaimed, letting go of me.
"I know Rin, I know. But we cannot escape him, we cannot run away. Just take this bath and give me a few minutes to think" I insisted. Rin calmed down a little bit, and I wrapped my arm loosely around her shoulders to guide her to the wash room. How can I save her? Sesshomaru has made it perfectly clear that he is going to take her. Is this a ploy to hurt me? Or does he actually want her?