Illumination Chapter Six

"My lord…apologies I'll return…"

"No it's fine, put the food on the table." Sesshomaru interrupted the nervous looking boy that had opened the door. "You're lack of knocking was useful to prove a point at this time. Don't forget again."

"Yes my lord, of course." The youth seemed like a young teenager but given the slightly pointed ears and demonic markings Kagome couldn't know how old the boy was in truth and she struggled a moment only to find she didn't budge under the weight and iron grip of her captor. It was incredibly embarrassing to be seen this way – so much that she wasn't even certain how to protest as the boy carried in trays of food and set them up neatly but quickly. Walking a few times behind the bed and occasionally glancing at her. She knew her face and neck were on fire, how could she not be blushing with this sort of situation!? She wanted to cry but the tears wouldn't come, was this what she would have to put up with for seven years?

Once the boy finished, which seemed as if it took a tiny lifetime, Sesshomaru spoke again after the door closed. "Are you quite finished with your display of will? Your spirit is admirable; it would be disagreeable if you forced me to shatter it."

"Get off of me!" Kagome's temper rose at his remark, that mixed with her fear and self-preservation activated the same moment of light that had knocked Inuyasha away two days ago. Energy curled around her body in a flash that forced the demon to withdraw as it began to burn at his flesh. It wouldn't have destroyed him but it left him staring at her in surprise. He'd seen it before but thought it was some sort of trick or weapon in the alley…

"You're a witch…" Sesshomaru's words faded after those few, it had been decades since he'd seen a human capable of magic. She wasn't fully human then…only those with some measure of demon blood could use the Art. Her's was incredibly weak as she lacked any features but it had to be in there somewhere. The only other explanation would be a demon had given her blood but Sesshomaru knew that wasn't the case, he would smell it on her.

"Good," Kagome didn't get what he meant; apparently she'd thought 'witch' was a euphemism for another insult. She didn't even seem to realize what she'd done, she'd closed her eyes in the moment of the flash… "Now can I go get dressed in peace? You say you want us to get along, I'd like that too but I'd like to have on clothes."

She'd tugged the blanket around her as soon as Sesshomaru had backed off, this bashfulness was something she would have to get over eventually but he just nodded and waved her off. It didn't matter to him if she thought she won – the truth was highly different. He was instead considering how else this could fit into his plans. Natural sorcerer's with full training were worth more than veins of gold or platinum – even deposits of diamonds. It altered his plans slightly but he smiled as he seated himself at the table, her worth just went up exponentially.

Kagome meanwhile muttered to herself, so angry she could spit – and wanted to spit on the demon. Yet she wasn't quite that brave. She was lucky he'd backed off at all, she was starting to fear no matter what she threatened he wouldn't leave her alone. His comments as to breaking her frightened Kagome – if she ceased to be herself what would she have left when this was all over? If he 'broke' her then would he ever let her out of here at all? She had to learn to walk a finer line before she pushed his temper too far.

Despite her own anger she forced herself to calm as she got dressed and brushed her hair. There was a lovely green and gold dress that Nadia had picked out for her and while Kagome had never liked green too much it was definitely pretty. The fabric was gorgeous and the stitching had to have taken half a year if only one person was working on it. It was painstakingly perfect. Kagome was careful not to rip it when she put it on and reached behind her to get the zipper pulled up. She brushed out her hair and put it up since it was still wet and looked horrible down. Adding the jewelry Nadia had picked and looking at herself in the mirror. It was difficult to believe it was her.

"Am I losing myself already?"

With that sobering thought she took a deep breath and walked into the bedroom. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting Lord Sesshomaru." She announced politely as she entered and walked toward the table. It was easier to act now that she had a costume on. Perhaps she could do this.

The way he was looking at her made Kagome second guess that, there was intensity to his eyes that had been so cool before now. She felt the blush returning as he stared and she was about to speak again when he gestured quietly to the table and she moved to sit. "Wait until you are given permission to join anyone of higher rank, though they do not have to wait before inviting themselves to join you." She could hear Nadia's lessons from this afternoon in her head. Kagome bowed slightly and moved to sit, glad the dress she was given left her shoulder open even if the wound might be offensive to sight. After it got wet she was afraid it would fray the stitching but if the area was given open air to dry it should be all right. So far so good she supposed.

"You seem to have calmed considerably." Sesshomaru observed, sitting at his place, both trays were still covered by the metal that helped keep the food warm. Kagome stared a moment before remembering it was her job to move them, she reached over with her good arm to lift the metal free and move his to the side before moving hers.

"I…just really enjoy compromise." She said as politely as she could – still annoyed with his treatment of her earlier. "It's much easier to be calm when we're on shared ground."

"Is having clothes on shared ground for you?" Sesshomaru asked curiously, was she really so naïve as to think this mattered? If something so simple would garner him further respect he could learn to make those sorts of compromises – particularly now that he knew how much she was truly worth.

"It's the principle. I want to help, I really do think Inuyasha deserves whatever fate you have in store for him but if you don't treat me any differently why should I help you?" Kagome paused after she said it, there she went again. "Erm, I mean…"

"Don't bother attempting to lie now." Sesshomaru interrupted, lifting his fork for salad and mixing it as he spoke. "Do you think I've treated you like Inuyasha would?"

"Close enough…he almost…" Kagome swallowed, pausing before her voice broke. It was still too fresh, she hadn't been fully violated but it was so close it hardly made her comfortable. "Please just let me have my privacy where my body is concerned."

"A reasonable request," Sesshomaru's answer quickly got the girls attention, her eyes shot up in unmasked surprised. Then suspicion slipped into them, she was waiting for a 'but'. "I am a logical creature Kagome, there are times when such humility will not be possible but in the meanwhile I see no reason to deny you something you feel so passionate about when you ask me respectfully. Etiquette is what we I have primarily having you taught, I see no reason to deny you now that you've ceased to have your temper control your every word and action."

"I see…" Kagome nodded slightly, picking up her own fork as Sesshomaru took a bite. She followed his example. She was supposed to eat only what he ate, it was a little silly to her but she could do the pointless food rules if they wanted her too. That was much easier than speaking. But it wasn't horrible news, if she could ask nicely then he might allow her more compromises? "Um…what do you mean by 'times when humility won't be possible'?"

"I'll explain when the need arises; it will not come up until the spring." Sesshomaru waved his fork lightly as though it was unimportant. "You need only focus on your studies and recovery. You should take more care with your shoulder…it is still quite bruised and getting it wet could infect it."

"If you weren't always pushing me around and hadn't been staring at me like a pervert then it would be a lot better!" Kagome thought at him in irritation. Her anger was clear on her face even if she didn't say it out loud. She instead said. "I will endeavor to heal as quickly as my body allows my Lord."

Her tone was a little biting but Sesshomaru was slightly amused, he hadn't met a commoner so suicidal before. Her willfulness was impressive, likely in part an aspect of her natural skill with magic – it took incredible stubbornness to be a good caster but it also took control. If she applied herself she would have a lot of potential. Yet while she was injured there was no reasonable method by which to also have her begin to study magic.

"Do you mean that?" Sesshomaru asked, his tone light, relaxed. Unlike her emotions, which were leaping off her sleeve in their clarity, his were much more difficult to read. He finished his salad and moved onto the main course, impressed when she followed suit – she was already learning quickly.

"Of course I do, I don't want to be injured…it's not pleasant." Kagome replied, managing to keep her exasperation at such a silly question to a minimum. It was like he was purposefully being aggravating – he probably enjoyed trying to annoy her as much as possible.

"Good." Sesshomaru paused and got up from the table, prompting her to put her silverware down though the food had been so good she hoped that wasn't all he wanted. Her brow furrowed in confusion as he walked around the table and she scrambled to get up before he was right in front of her. He rolled back his sleeve and raised his wrist to his mouth, biting it hard enough to draw blood then offering it to her. "Drink it."

End Chapter

Heh, this still makes me laugh. Poor Kagome is always O.O! Onnomnomnom blood? Sesshomaru is still sort of a jerk but he'll warm up to her eventually, I'm still amused at the way he treats her now.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Speedykitten1643 – Sesshy won't remain a jerk through the whole thing but it'll take him a while to warm up.

Ilebreknit – Kagome is a tad hard to break.