Inuyasha waited tensely by the main dining table. It was the first time since meeting Kagome that he had been away from her. The female slaves had rushed him out so that they could dress their master's daughter appropriately for her guests. He didn't like it. He had been more at ease in the last several hours than he could remember ever being before, but one second outside of her halo of grace and the tension snapped back into his shoulders, the barely-suppressed snarl returned to his lips, and the rage that boiled just underneath his skin came back with a vengeance. It didn't help that Naraku was sitting across the table from him, staring him down, smiling cruelly and likely thinking awful thoughts. His wife was also there, but, as always, she seemed totally oblivious.
He tried to ignore it. He not to visualize ripping the man's throat out and smearing the blood across his ridiculously expensive-looking outfit. But his claws twitched in anticipation anyway, craving the feel of his flesh sliding through them. He looked away.
Thankfully, it was at this moment that Kagome came down the stairs. And suddenly he felt tense for an entirely different reason. Kagome was wearing a red dress: form-fitting, long, and low-cut. She walked with elegance and a smile that was practiced, but still becoming. Who was coming over that would necessitate such a look? Inuyasha wanted to drag her back upstairs and put her back in a shirt and pants. They made her seem less like she was for sale.
"I don't like it, either," Kagome whispered as she sat coolly in the chair he was standing behind. Quickly, he tried to reform his expression into one of blankness to hide whatever emotions she was picking up on.
"Took you long enough," Naraku quipped. Despite his comment, though, his stare was intimate and invasive. Inuyasha barely choked down his growl and concentrated on keeping the red out of his eyes.
"They are here," a lizard demon said, bowing.
"Then bring them in," Naraku replied, taking longer than necessary to pull his eyes away from Kagome's figure to view the door.
The lizard demon stepped through the door frame and gestured to the figures behind him, who promptly filed inside.
"Naraku! How good to see you." The speaker was a voluptuous woman, heavily made up and wearing a colorful and unflattering dress. Overall, she looked like an explosion of paint. Behind her, a wolf demon with a high ponytail entered. Next came a shy-looking and well-dressed boy with downcast eyes. Behind him, an overly sexy cat demon waltzed forward confidently.
Each human took a seat and each demon stood behind their main owner. Naraku smoothly returned the woman's pleasantry, and the two chit-chatted for a couple of minutes while Inuyasha sized the newcomers up.
"So," Naraku said finally. "I think it is time that we get down to business. We are here to discuss the possible marriage of my daughter to your son."
Four heads snapped up at this. Inuyasha felt sick. Kagome looked horrified. The boy looked shocked. Kagome's mother looked somewhat dazed.
The voluptuous woman seemed pleased. "My Hojo is a fine boy. Your daughter could do no better."
"I'm sure," Naraku purred.
"And I'm glad to see she's finally gotten a slave. I think it fosters a wonderful kind of character in a woman. Or a man."
"I so agree."
"It really makes you grow up and claim your rightful place. That's why I got my Hojo this little jewel. Hojo, dear, order your slave to do something."
Hojo looked bewildered, and finally muttered, "Take a bow." His slave stepped back and bent forwards gracefully.
"No, no, no, use a little domination. Like this. Kouga! Lick my boot!" She lifted her garish dress to reveal clunky heels on her thick legs. Her slave knelt and took one in his hand. Then he licked it obediently. As he did so, she kicked him square in the jaw. His face bruised and bled slightly, but quickly began to heal. He wiped the excess blood away, his expression never changing.
"Down!" she shrieked gleefully, and he crashed to the ground, wincing slightly as his binding necklace vibrated.
"Very good!" Naraku cheered, clapping. The woman winked and playfully stuck her tongue out.
Inuyasha's sick feeling was only getting worse and worse. He looked to Kagome to see how she was faring. Her eyes were shut and she seemed to be focusing intently on something. The expression was familiar. When had she made it before...?
Suddenly, the wolf demon gasped desperately for breath. All eyes snapped to him, and his eyes snapped immediately to Kagome. She was biting her lip and looking extremely agitated.
"Down!" The woman screamed. Kouga didn't move.
"Down?" Kagome whispered, and the wolf demon went crashing to the floor. Kagome hung her head in her hands, clearly dismayed.
And suddenly it all became clear. She had tried to free the wolf from that horrible woman, but just as it did in the forest, the experiment had gone wrong.
She had bonded him to her.
Several things happened at once. Naraku and Hojo's mother rose to their feet. Inuyasha pulled Kagome out of her chair and shoved her behind him. Kouga appeared next to him, seemingly ready to fight as well. Everyone else at the table looked around in bewilderment.
"What is happening!?" the woman wailed. "Slave, get back here! Down! DOWN!" Kouga didn't budge, and allowed himself a satisfied smirk. The woman turned on Naraku. "You're a thief! I don't know how you did it, but I'll sue!"
Naraku glared at Kagome. "I assure you, it's a misunderstanding," he ground out.
"Then give me back my property!" There was a long silence as Naraku mulled over the possible courses of action.
"I cannot," he said finally.
"Then you'll be hearing from my lawyers. You're a liar and a crook! I should have known you weren't really interested in Hojo. Come on!" With that, she grabbed her poor son by the shoulder and dragged him out of the room. The cat demon trailed behind, sparing one longing glance at Kagome, as if hoping she could be switched, too.
There was a tense moment of weighty silence before Naraku finally spoke, forcefully and quietly. "What... have... you... done?" The rage was clear on his face. Inuyasha was afraid he would launch himself across the table at them. He was ready if that happened. Instead, Naraku straightened and seemed to compose himself. "Later," he said. "You and I will talk about this later." Then he marched out of the room, his wife stumbling along behind.
Inuyasha turned immediately to Kagome, checking to see how she was coping with the recent events.
"I didn't mean to," she whispered, looking totally lost.
"I know," he replied, reaching out to hold and console her.
But before he could, the wolf demon darted in front of him, grabbed her shoulders, looked her in the eyes and said, "I've decided. You will be my mate."
A/N: Whaaaaat!? Did anyone think it would be Kouga? And Hojo, I guess, but no one cares about him. I'll bet no one saw the bond coming, at least. Did you like it? If you want me to keep going, then you know what you have to do!