Illumination Chapter Seven

The line of thick liquid running down along his wrist was a contrast to the magenta birthmarks of his station. Kagome didn't know how to react to this offer, Nadia had just explained to her that demon's usually only share blood with lovers…Kagome only blinked at Sesshomaru and didn't do anything, she wasn't about to form a pact with him – particularly since it had been explained to her what that meant.

"Drink, it will heal you. Did you not just say you would do anything you could to heal quickly?" Sesshomaru remarked holding the bleeding wound closer to her which got her to lean away, nearly falling backward in her chair but Sesshomaru's free hand shot out and caught her.

"Uh, no, Nadia said that demon's share blood when they want to ah…" She blushed, she didn't even want to say it out loud. She was a virgin and she definitely didn't want to change that with Sesshomaru. "…besides I thought you didn't want to give me blood. That's what you told the doctor."

"Consider me fickle." Sesshomaru replied, pressing the wrist to her mouth before she could protest further. "I don't want to lay with you woman. The sooner you're back on your feet the faster my plan will proceed."

Kagome glared some more, she figured she had to be getting masterful at dirty looks. Considering what Nadia had said it would be nice to be healed now but the other side effects made Kagome nervous. Still it seemed he wasn't going to give her a choice, she could taste the light bitterness but it was sweeter than she would have thought. It didn't have a salty texture like her own blood did the times she'd gotten a bloody nose. It went down easier than she expected, despite her own inhibitions her body didn't reject it immediately like she thought it might.

She took a couple of swallows and withdrew; glad he didn't try to force her any further. Already her shoulder didn't ache, or the rest of her bruises from the past few days, she felt good for the first time in a while – energized. Glancing down she had to blink at her own shoulder, there was only some bloody stitching sitting on the top of her skin, removing that there wasn't even a scar and she'd assumed she would sport a rather nasty one after what Inuyasha had done to her. She felt it over carefully but it wasn't even tender…

"You're welcome." Was all Sesshomaru said when she looked back at him in awe he wasn't even looking at her, he had already sat back down and returned to eating. She was left to stare quietly for a while; she didn't feel different other than the lack of pain and energy. She couldn't 'sense' anything from him so she guessed maybe it took more than once for the other effects Nadia had mentioned? Kagome hoped so.

"Thank you…" She finally managed, it was the nicest thing he'd done for her since saving her from Inuyasha so she felt she should say it. She picked back up her fork and knife and continued to eat quietly. Another suggestion from Nadia – 'If you have trouble with speech the best policy is to remain silent unless something is asked of you or someone else begins a conversation. You don't risk annoying someone that doesn't want to speak if you do this.'

Sound advice, too bad she was now brimming with energy and had a dozen or more questions, she wanted to know more about the bond, if she should worry or expect anything else. She wanted to know where her mother was sent. She wanted to know what other sort of lessons she could expect now that she would be on her feet again. She wanted to know what Sesshomaru's plan entailed and her place in it. There was so much she was curious about and yet from what little she'd learned so far she couldn't speak any of the questions to ask. Instead she stared intently at Sesshomaru as they ate, hoping that he would speak instead. Sadly, he paid her little attention other than glances at regular intervals; he seemed to have gotten lost in his own thoughts. No wonder escorts were regarded so highly, this took far more patience than she was ready to put out.

"Is it not considered rude to stare even in human society?" Sesshomaru asked finally, he'd finished his main meal and paused but gestured to her plate when she paused – a sign she was allowed to continue. "I think you should eat, there is much you'll be doing and keeping your strength up is wise."

"Sorry…" Kagome's eyes went down to her plate when he pointed out she was staring. "I just thought we would talk or…something. Just sitting here is a little odd, mom and I used to talk about our day over dinner."

"There is little that happened in my day worth speaking of. It was dull and mostly involved work that would be a dry topic in a social setting." Sesshomaru replied. "Given you are still learning, at this time you are welcome to ask me questions if you at least attempt not to make them tiresome."

His attitude didn't bother her as much as it would have normally, perhaps she was just already getting used to it. He was a nigh-insufferable egomaniac, but knowing that she could do her best to cater without losing her temper. "Well, Nadia said that there were other ah…side-effects to drinking a demon's blood' that ah, I might feel what you feel or something similar. Should I be worried?"

"No, there is nothing that will cause you harm. You took little blood and I have not given you any before now. As tempting as altering your mental orientation is, entertaining such a whim would be foolish. Let me be clear; it is beneath me to offer you blood at all – this is for the cause and not you." Sesshomaru replied, indeed he seemed disgusted by her implication.

"To kill Inuyasha," Kagome remarked, half eating between speaking herself so she wouldn't keep him waiting so long he starved her. "Why do you hate him so much?"

"He is a pox on our house, a disease that cannot be remedied by any means except for cutting away the infection." Sesshomaru replied immediately. "His behavior is not of a noble but a criminal, his actions should leave him rotting in a cell until the end of his days but the blood he shares with me – with my house – protects his perverted actions and tastes. You have experienced yourself the sort of hobbies he pursues on a nightly basis, certainly there are many women that do not deny him but do you believe yourself his first victim?"

As Sesshomaru explained the grim picture was one Kagome wished she hadn't seen, how many other women had he soiled or dismembered before her? In the alley Sesshomaru had approached the issue as though it were one he'd dealt with dozens of times before…he had the bag of gold, he asked her to leave town and not discuss it.

"You've been covering for him for years." Kagome realized, suddenly not hungry, "You hate him but you kept him from getting caught. Why? Why would you do that?"

"I cannot do that, my legacy is my family and for as unworthy as the half-breed bastard is, he shares my name. If I do not kill him legally his actions brought to light would destroy our name. I, and someday my sons, would suffer because he cannot control himself." Sesshomaru replied, matter of fact.

"But he hurt women, probably killed women…murder isn't legal even for a demon! Even if it would hurt your family name how could you just let him…if you had actually done something then I wouldn't even be here. He couldn't have…" Kagome was having a hard time wrapping her head around this injustice, he was dressed nicely and handsome but he was poisonous beneath that beautiful exterior – an exotic plant whose beautiful leaves could render you dead if you got too close or breathed too deeply. "You're a coward."

She swallowed after she said it, she could feel anger rush through her and she knew it wasn't hers. So much for no other side effects, there was rage coming off of the silver haired noble at her table unlike she'd ever personally felt. Yet he just continued to stare at her dispassionately, if she hadn't felt it she wouldn't have the slightest idea just how deep the demon's emotions actually went.

"Have you ever heard of a demon being convicted of a crime by which they were charged? Or, as a matter of fact, a demon being charged at all?" His voice was so measured it was hard to believe that the rest of the anger boiling wasn't just her imagination.

"No…" Kagome said meekly, once she thought about it she'd never actually heard of any demons ever being charged with anything negative despite all the horrible rumors that constantly were spread about them.

"That's enough discussion for the moment, finish your dinner and get some rest, you're lessons will begin early tomorrow now that you are healed." He got up and slid his chair into place before walking over to put on his suit's jacket.

"Sesshomaru I am…" She started, trying to apologize.

"Do not address me informally, I am your Lord, any commoner should know that much without extra training." He interrupted her, buttoning his jacket. "Good night."

He was out the door, he didn't slam it or stomp, from the outside one would think he was a little insulted by his swift exit but Kagome held a hand over her heart – all the odd new sensations were hard for her. She wanted to break something she was so angry and yet she knew it wasn't her…it was very bizarre. Clearly her words had struck him deeper than she thought anything capable of.

"Mental note Kagome, don't call Sesshomaru a coward ever ever again…" She thought with a shiver. The anger still curling through her was a sign of that…how easy it was to forget he could kill her with no more effort than snapping his fingers.

There was dessert but she didn't feel like eating anymore. She pushed the plates away and moved to hang up the dress and prepare for bed. She doubted she would be able to sleep easily but she didn't want to think anymore about this horrible world she was now a part of. Or she'd always been a part of, only now she was learning just how dark everything actually was.

Sesshomaru tossed his briefcase down on his assistant's desk, he'd returned to the office – no one was there other than him and it would give him something to do to calm himself. Why did the one creature capable of offering him Inuyasha's destruction have to vex him so? Coward? That sort of insult would have gotten other lords killed and all he'd done was walk out on her. He was concerned if he had struck her that she wouldn't survive and however annoying her ignorance it was tolerable compared to the idea of Inuyasha living through his natural cycle.

She isn't an escort yet. He reminded himself, it was likely going to become a personal mantra in the days to come. The sheltered girl couldn't know how politics, how law worked (or more aptly described didn't work) for those of demon blood. Not that many full demon's remained but anyone with a lineage that gave them half or more demon blood were treated more like royalty than nobility even if they had no personal title of their own. Her narrow views of the world even with her incredible potential made her a liability. Little wonder Nadia had mentioned needing more time. Perhaps he was asking the tutor to do the impossible with Kagome, he would need to get more time in himself with her if he wanted her to learn beyond what was already planned– if he could find the time to spare.

There was always more paperwork to be done, two piles had racked up just since he'd been in that morning. A run of poor weather in the south had all number of aid requests coming to the capital and he had to sort who deserved or didn't deserve the funds available for what they needed before people just looking for things they wanted. Such distaster's always brought out those looking to get a little extra even if they weren't the ones that had suffered. From so many miles away it was difficult to make such decisions but that was his place. He had to learn to do these things, for one day his father would be no more and Sesshomaru would run the kingdom in his stead. Shirking the responsibility now to hand to his father would make it no easier later. Likely he would be here all night, in the morning he could check on his investment and leave orders for further paperwork requiring his attention to be forwarded to the hotel.

"You're a coward…" The accusation played back through his mind and he gritted his teeth, fangs grinding a moment. He would make her pay off every penny of this investment with interest – and the amount she owed would rise every time she was insolent.

End Chapter

Unhappy Sesshomaru this round, not that Kagome's exactly cheerful. Oh misunderstandings – and insults just tossed around. Kagome badly needs to learn to watch what she says – she doesn't make for a very good slave. Though at this rate she'll hate her life before long. XD

-Aura

P.S. Our net goes out later today and then we go to move/on vacation between the move so updates will be scarce til we get done with all of that and settled in our new place.

To my reviewers:

Angelus – LOL, I don't think it's quite like 'CHUG CHUG CHUG'

Silver Tsukiko – I'm glad, I hope you continue to enjoy.

LoveInTheBattleField – Thank you, hope you had a good day too.