InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Cinderella Stroy ❯ The Structure of My World ( Chapter 4 )

You see, you review and things get updated. As to my other stories, I am suffering from writer's block…I don't know what's going to happen next. I have a vague idea, but it's just not letting itself get written right now. I'm sorry I really am trying. Anyway, I'm glad that my fans enjoy this fic too. Stay fit and healthy, eat your vegetables, and if life starts to get you down, go kick an accountant. That always makes me feel better.

Yoshi paced, rage written into ever line of his form. The bitch had survived. Oh it was true she was badly hurt, but he had meant for her to die. He had even considered handing her lifeless corpse over to Sesshomaru as a sort of parting gift. Youkai were supposed to like things like that, but then she had gone and survived. She still limped through his palace, serving his daughters and raising that pup of hers. He should kill her now, but without Sesshomaru to blame her death on, her grandfather would become suspicious.

The object of his rage knocked on the door and slid it open, his lunch on a tray. He walked over and kicked her in the face, sending her and the tray flying. Blood streamed down her face as he watched her struggle to her knees. She pressed her face into the ground.

"Forgive this clumsy one, I will get you another."

She retreated and he snarled softly. She left for her grandfather's tomorrow and the four day trip would not guarantee that she would heal completely. He would have to send for that old witch, Kaede. He hated the idea of actually having her healed, but there was no way around it. She returned with his lunch and he sent her to village with orders to get cleaned up. The next morning she rode out with Shippou on her lap. Tsume remained, a hostage against the truth of her life. He was rather gratified to see the tears in her eyes as she rode through the gates toward the village.

Sesshomaru and Inuyasha entered Tokuji's castle with nothing more than a nod to the gate guard. They were well known here in the past if not in recent years. This was their last stop on their tour and Sesshomaru hoped to bend the old man's ear with the problem Lord Yoshi represented. He entered the audience hall and found not only Lord Tokuji, but also a woman who's eyes so exactly matched his that there was no doubt in Sesshomaru's mind that this was his granddaughter. She rose and bowed to Sesshomaru. When she straitened he felt his heart skip a beat. Her eyes flashed with recognition as she too remembered him. This was the servant he had rescued in Yoshi's garden. Why was she here, dressed as a hime? She was introduced to him and he finally had a name to place with the fiery eyes and stubborn jaw. Kagome.

He saw the fear in her eyes and silent pleading as she regained her seat. Tokuji smiled at Sesshomaru and they began their formal pleasantries. He shot her a look clearly intended to quell her, but he watched her chin raise, as though she were going to defy him. Something in the way she held herself kept him from mentioning his visit to Yoshi. He and Inuyasha were shown their usual rooms as the palace bedded down for the night. Before either of them could reach their beds though, there was a soft knock and the woman let herself in. She knelt.

"I wanted to thank you for not saying anything."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "You are a servant in Yoshi's house."

She winced. "Tokuji-sama is my grandfather. My father married Lady Akiko and I was born. My father died in battle and my mother remarried to Lord Yoshi. After my mother died, I was made a servant in my own house, forced to wait on my younger half-sisters as their body servant."

Sesshomaru sat, the anger behind her voice was hard to hide, not that she had really tried. "Why do you not tell Tokuji-sama about it?"

Her fists clenched and rage and fear lifted off of her in palpable waves. "He holds the entire house hostage against my silence. My friends, my pup, he would slaughter them all."

Inuyasha growled softly and Sesshomaru had to admit that for once he agreed with his brother. "He is the worst kind of ningen."

She winced. "I think you're giving him too much credit."

They sat in silence for a moment before Sesshomaru spoke again. "I do not know how to help you."

"I never wanted your help."

"He intended to kill you that night, he almost succeeded."

She nodded. "I know. He won't do that again, though, not unless he has someone he can blame my death on."

"So you would continue living like that?"

"I wouldn't call it living, but yes, I would. My people need me, my kingdom needs me. I am the eldest, the throne belongs to me and the responsibility of it rests on my shoulders and no one else's. As a servant I can do things go places I could not go as a Lady or a prisoner."

"Why do you not simply kill him, you have the power."

Kagome looked away, ashamed for the first time since she had met Sessshomaru. He asked all the hard questions, and his cold steady gaze demanded the truth. She felt tears touch her eyes and she willed them away. She would not cry in front of them. She would not let him see her weakness again.

"He is my family. The only family I have other than Ojisan. Ayame and Yuka are my sisters. I cannot do that to them. I cannot kill their father."

Sesshomaru and Inuyasha watched Kagome leave. Inuyasha let out a long low breath. "She's got guts."

"In abundance."

"Sesshomaru…invite her to the ball."

"Nani?"

"Invite Tokuji's granddaughter to the ball, and invite Ayame and Yuka."

"Why?"

Inuyasha grinned. "Because she is a Lady of noble standing, as are they, and we have been neglecting this corner of the kingdom. Few will think it odd. It may give them a chance to see her as an equal rather than a servant. We can't change Yoshi and after what she said…I don't think we can kill him either, but we can help them change their minds."

"Every now and then, you have a good idea."

"Thank you…I think."