InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Girl Used ❯ You Must Be Joking... ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and do not make $$$ from this fan fiction. Inuyasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Productions, among others.

Hentai Strumpet: An explanation of Kagome's characterization? I'll try. The way I see it is Kagome in her teen years was the Kagome we all know and love, but then she slept with Inuyasha and he left her (because his parents moved) and she sort of broke. I don't want to say she's a whore, banging every guy in sight, but like any woman she has sexual needs, both physical and emotional, but in her case, whenever poor Kagome does hook up with someone its kind of a painful process. She's reminded of her first time with Inuyasha and ends up drinking herself into a stupor. Essentially, this story is her search for closure—how this slightly bad girl Kagome can find a balance in her life (and have sex without destroying her liver!). If that doesn't explain it, or if it confuses you more, tell me what you don't understand and I'll try to make it more clear.

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers, you guys are great! Unlike this chapter—it's the product of allergies, familial neglect, and my solitary, unmotivated life. Anyway, I have bigger, more empowered things for Kagome in the next one, so please tolerate this offering as a stepping stone to something better.

I'm still trying to hammer `Better Things Than You' into something I like, so I hope to start up dating that soon too!

Stay cool—its really hot outside! Drink your fluids and wear sunscreen!

Please Note! This is a more lemony version than what I posted on fanfiction.net. If you want the clean edition go look me up there—it's the same title and author.

Chapter 3

Afterward, neither of the pair could have said how it started, just that it did. One minute, Kagome and Inuyasha were in his room playing video games, the next they were in Inuyasha's room making out on his floor.

Somehow Kagome's tank top was tossed across the room, soon followed by Inuyasha's shirt. Next came her skirt and his jeans.

Looking down at the nearly-naked Kagome, Inuyasha matched the girl in his arms blush for blush. She couldn't hold his gaze for long, but he could scent out her desire.

“Look at me,” Inuyasha urged. He pulled her chin gently to face him and leaned down to kiss her. Kagome relaxed and pressed herself into him, coiling her arms around Inuyasha to bring him closer. The kiss deepened and Inuyasha reached behind Kagome to fumble with her bra.

He had seen other guys do this in movies, but as soon as his fingers touched the elastic cotton, Inuyasha's fingers turned to bouncy rubber. `How in the hell does she get this thing on? It's welded together!! How am I supposed to take it off? Are her boobs even worth this trouble? Kami! All I want to do is see `em!'

Kagome squirmed around a bit, unsure of what was going on. Inuyasha seemed to be focusing on one small portion of her back. She knew her own anatomy, and had never thought of the space in between her shoulder blades as an erogenous zone.

Hesitantly, Kagome begin to do some exploring of her own. Her fingers ghosted down his sides, further, further down until she was touching the elastic of his boxers. At first she was unsure of how to proceed but her curiosity got the better of her, and before Kagome knew it, her hand was moving under Inuyasha and into the front of his shorts.

Kagome's first reaction was to jerk her hand back when her touch encountered his stiffness, but something propelled her forward. Boldly, Kagome wrapped her fingers around Inuyasha and the hanyou froze whatever it was he was trying to accomplish behind her back.

“Kagome…” he choked out. Pulling his hands out from behind her back, Inuyasha slid one behind her head, the other down her hand to grasp her wrist. “…are you,” *gulp* “sure you want this? To be with me, I mean.”

Kagome met his eyes head on, looking at him lovingly, but confused. “Of course I want you. Why wouldn't I?” She craned her head so she could reach his lips.

Her words jarred Inuyasha. She spoke them so clearly, resolutely. It was almost as though she did not think of him as different, but just like any other guy: “I'm a hanyou, Kagome,” Inuyasha attempted to clarify. “Most girls would be fairly disgusted to just be like this,” he let go of her hand for a moment to sweep over their barely clothed forms, “with me. I'm not like you—I'm not a demon. No one else has ever wanted me…like this.” He blushed bright red when he realized he was a virgin.

“I'm sure,” Kagome rolled her eyes. “You always have other girls hanging around you.”

Feeling that the conversation was about kill the moment completely, Inuyasha leaned over and forcefully kissed Kagome. “Believe me, none of them have ever wanted to go this far. I'm kind of glad though. It means I waited for you.”

Kagome blinked at him. She honestly couldn't tell if he was being serious or not, but there was something in his eyes: a mixture of seriousness and strain, as though he was worried.

“Inuyasha?”

“I just want to know…” he paused to suck in a deep breath and push his hair out of his face, gaze falling. “I guess I want to know that you really want me. That you're not just here because of the heat of the moment or something.” His voice dropped to a whispered, “I don't want you to regret this when we're done.”

Kagome nodded, completely at a loss of words. Tears pricked the back of her eyes. Inuyasha was being so, so open, so vulnerable with her. He was always more unguarded with her than other people, but there was something touching about this. She kissed him again and moved her hand to stroke his cheek.

“I can't answer for those other girls, but I know I want to be with you. Just…um….” Her face blushed painfully red. “Be careful.”

At first the words didn't sink fully. It wasn't until they had finished shedding their remaining clothes, suited up Inuyasha with a condom (the one his brother had given him as a joke, saying he would never use it), and the hanyou was attempting to thrust into his lover that he realized her exact meaning.

He encountered a slight resistance followed by Kagome tightening around him. A cry wrenched from her lips and her sharp nails were suddenly digging little furrows in to his back.

Gulping he stilled his movements. Or tried to: his hips moved slowly of their own volition. She just felt so good.

“Can't you stay still? It hurts!” Kagome keened. A tear slipped out of the corner of her eye and Inuyasha froze.

“I—I'm sorry. I didn't know.” He kissed her, more on instinct than anything else. It was the only thing that he could think to do to comfort the girl beneath him.

At first, Kagome could not even process that Inuyasha's lips were on her own, but slowly she began to work back against his mouth. The distraction was enough to easy the slowly departing pain in her lower half.

Slowly, the tight-fist of pain loosened its grip and Kagome sucked in a deep breath of air when Inuyasha released her lips. The burning ache was replaced by something more primal; a different kind of heat. Tentatively, she lifted her hips, bringing gasps from both her and Inuyasha.

The hanyou gently pulled out halfway and slid back into Kagome. “Do—does that hurt?” He whispered. All he wanted to do was move but Kagome's tears were quite the downer. Literally.

Kagome was silent for a moment, but she shook her head in the end, “I think I'm al—all right.” She gulped slowly.

Inuyasha gave another tentative thrust and this time Kagome moaned, “Inuyasha.”

The couple carefully began moving against one another, their sounds increasing in volume and pleasure.

It however did not last long. Inuyasha lost track of time, but he knew it had been brief. He felt himself tightening and before he could try to hold back he climaxed.

When he stilled over her, Kagome looked up at Inuyasha with large, surprised eyes. “Is that it?” There was disappointment in her tone.

Inuyasha shook his head. `Great, she didn't finish too. Thank you Premature Ejaculation Boy!' He was even more horrified to realize he was rapidly becoming flaccid. His face became painfully red, partially explaining the lack of blood to his nether region. If Kagome didn't like having sex with him, who would?

Mind racing, Inuyasha tried to think of something he could do. Anything! Then it came to him: he had walked in on Sesshomaru watching a porno once where the guy on the tape used his fingers and the girl really seemed to be enjoying it. Inuyasha was desperate enough to try the technique.

“Um not quite,” he tried to reassure Kagome and little by little crept his hand down to her opening so as not to startle here. Being mindful of his claws, he entered her again with his fingers. Kagome was nervous at first—the scent of tension rolling off her as she wearily eyed his hand on her crotch—but as the blanket of pleasure began to wrap around her again, her content sighs returned. It was not long before Kagome jerked and cried out, murmuring Inuyasha's name as she came.

They lay there silently for a few moments, both a little shocked and very embarrassed about what had just happened. Shyly Inuyasha pulled Kagome to him, nuzzling her hair. Kagome snuggled as close to as she could and laid her head on his chest.

XXX

It took them all of five minutes to reach her apartment, with the combination of Kagome's psycho bitch driving and the fact Inuyasha's apartment was practically around the corner from hers. (The pair would have made the short trip in three minutes if it had not been for pesky pedestrians and Inuyasha's short-lived resistance to letting Kagome drive his car, ending in a tweaked ear and attempted kick to the groin.)

 

The brief drive time was not to say they were able to complete it without an argument.

“When we get there, don't get out of the car,” Kagome said as she sped down the street.

“Are you kidding? This Kouga guy could have hurt your friend and you expect me to just let you go in there alone?”

“Yes!”

“Kami Kagome! Why won't you just let me protect you?!”

Kagome was silent for a moment before she answered, even if it was a somewhat rhetorical question: “I can take care of myself. I've been doing it for the past three years.” Jerking the wheel she pulled off the road and onto the side street that lead to her apartment.

Inuyasha snarled at her: “I've said I was sorry Kagome! What do I have to get you to trust me?” What else do I have to say? What do I have to do? We're getting along fine and then one little misstep and she's pissed again.

Not bothering to answer him with more than a cold glare, Kagome gave the steering wheel another hard tug. She knew she was being a bitch to Inuyasha, but dammit she already had Sango to worry about and she didn't want to add Inuyasha to her fast-forming ulcer. Fish-tailing into the parking lot, Kagome screeched to a halt next to Sango's empty car. The poor thing's hood of had multiple dents and pock marks sprinkled over its surface and the driver's side door was open.

“Sango!” Kagome cried. She leaped from Inuyasha's car and sprinted for the steps of her building, Inuyasha trailing on her heels. Taking the stairs up to her apartment two at a time, Kagome was quickly at her door, only to find it hanging off its hinges and splattered with claw marks.

There goes my security deposit. Kagome rolled her eyes and pushed her way into her apartment.

“San—” She was cut short when Inuyasha clamped a hand over her mouth.

“We need to be careful—look what he did to your door!” Inuyasha hissed as he stepped in front of Kagome. He tried to grab her arm, but she wrenched away.

Growling, Kagome began to tip toe behind Inuyasha as he sniffed through the apartment. Kagome's was the most widespread scent with smatterings of other women and then there was the wolf.

Inuyasha couldn't help grumbling under his breath, but somehow managed to keep his cool and lead the way through Kagome's home in the direction of the strongest wolf scent. It wasn't long before he came to what he could only assume was her bedroom. The door was shut tightly, but Inuyasha could detect the odor of sleep and clothes coming from inside. Cowering outside the door was a wolf demon who had to be Kouga.

He was bleeding from a somewhat flat forehead and there was a small dint in the bedroom door.

“That bitch shut the door in my face,” he whined to Inuyasha as though the hanyou would genuinely care.

“Get the fuck out,” Inuyasha growled and pointed in the direction of the exit. Storming forward, he reached to grab the wolf, but Kouga flashed out of the way.

Kouga snarled, “Who. The. Fuck. Are. You?” Looking over Inuyasha's shoulder, he locked eyes with Kagome. “And what is Kagome doing with you.” Delicately, he sniffed the air, taking in his woman's scent. “And why in the hell does she smell like you mutt? She's mine.”

He tried to make a dash to Kagome, but Inuyasha stepped in his path, “I don't think so.” He punctuated his words with a shove to Kouga's chest. “You're going to leave now.”

“No, I need to talk to Kagome.” Desperation flashed across Kouga's face, but his ice-blue eyes quickly regained their cool.

“Leave!” Inuyasha commanded, to which Kouga answered with a punch to Inuyasha's face. Inuyasha leapt at the wolf, tackling him around the waist so he bore him to the floor. The two wrestled about in the ground for the span of several minutes, but in the end it was Kouga who bested the hanyou and shoved him out of the way.

Dashing at her, Kouga grabbed Kagome up and leapt out of the nearest window. There was a loud thud when Kagome's head came in contact with the wood and her startled cry was silenced. Inuyasha scrambled after them, but the demon was moving so fast there was no way he could reach them; Kouga was practically flying over the city and it had been years since Inuyasha had gone roof jumping.

“Fuck!” Roaring, Inuyasha banged his hands on the sill, his eyes flashing red for a moment.

“Calm down,” came a hiss from behind him. Whirling on his heel, Inuyasha came eye to eye with the girl from the night before.

“Sango.”

“You remember me,” Sango answered noncommittally, stepping across the kitchen to pick up her purse from the table. She could just remember flinging it there as she ran into the apartment to escape from Kouga. She had been trying to hit him with the bag, but it had been difficult to aim while fleeing for one's life. And worrying about what Kouga had told her. “What are you doing here? Didn't you get enough of Kagome last night?” She had to deal with Kouga now. Inuyasha, for whatever reason he was here, had not been able to stop Kouga from taking her friend. And now it might be too late for Kagome.

Inuyasha glared at Sango. They had never been friends and from the way she was sizing him up, it didn't look like today was going to be the day for smiles and sunshine between them. “Who are you to say who Kagome can be around? Yeah, I remember you in high school, never thinking I was good enough for Miroku or Kagome.”

Crossing her arms, Sango tapped her fingers against her skin. She did not back down from Inuyasha's glare: “You hurt her once, I'm not going to trust someone who's already a fuck up.”

Inuyasha let out a long growl, baring his fangs as his eyes flashed red for another instant. “I may be a fuck up and all but I'm back now and that bastard's taken Kagome. I'm going after her!”

He made a rush at broken door but Sango's words stopped him. “You don't know where to go.”

“Then fucking tell me!”

“So what? So you can go play hero and whisk Kagome off her feet so she'll come running into your arms?”

“No! So that fucker doesn't hurt her! What are we waiting for?”

Sango thought for a moment, weighing her options. If what Kouga said was true, then she could use the help of someone like Inuyasha—even if he had somehow let Kagome be kidnapped. It was better than going in alone. But she was still unsure of Inuyasha and his motives.

In the end, she decided that there were more pressing matters at hand than an old flame of Kagome's. If they didn't hurry, there might not be much of a Kagome left. Quickly, Sango strided to the door, pausing only when she did not hear Inuyasha's tread behind her own. “Are you coming?” Sango asked from the doorway.

“Where? Why? Do you know what he's going to do with Kagome?” With each question, Inuyasha become visibly more agitated.

“I'll explain on the way, but we're going to Kouga's `Love Lair'. As he likes to call it.”

“L-love lair?” Inuyasha choked. He stumbled to follow Sango out of the apartment. He skidded to a stop next to her car's passenger side door.

“That bastard—look what he did to my car!” Sango hissed as she slid inside, popping the lock so Inuyasha could hop in the other side.

“So…Kouga's Love Lair?” Inuyasha prodded, both to get the conversation going and to distract himself from Sango's Kagome-esqu manic driving.

“His apartment,” Sango explained. “Yeah, he's a douche bag—he's never deserved Kagome.”

“So why's she with him?” He asked, clutching the arm rest in hopes to keep himself in the vehicle. For some reason, he didn't trust the seat belt alone.

Silent for a moment, Sango mulled over the question: “I'd say loneliness.” Another pause. “She's not always like she was last night. Usually she's just Kagome, but sex seems to turn her into a manic alcoholic.” Sango's eyes darted off the road for a moment to glance at Inuyasha, “She's been that way since you left.”

“What do I have to do with it?” Inuyasha knew he wasn't going to like the answer.

“Honestly? I think she really loved you—maybe part of her still does—and when you were gone sex was nothing more than a frightening reminder to being abandoned. I think that she ends up with guys like Kouga because she's afraid of getting close to anyone—its hard to love someone who treats you like shit all the time.”

Sango spun the car down a narrow ally and Inuyasha was sure he could hear the sound of its door's scrapping against the walls of the buildings they passed.

“So wh-why did Kouga take her?”

“That's the part you're not going to like,” she said as they veered out of the alley and to the right lane of traffic. “I'm not sure of the exact `where' but I know `what' he is taking her to.” Skidding to a stop, Inuyasha saw they were parked in front of another apartment complex.

“And what's that?” Inuyasha asked, jumping out of the car to trail Sango up the external stair case. She stopped on a landing. Not missing a beat, she kicked in the door knob that gave with unsettling ease. Unsettling ease if it had been his own apartment, Inuyasha observed.

Sango walked inside, clearly scanning for something. She made of move for an open lab top set up on the living room's coffee table. Inuyasha was sure he heard her mutter idiot under her breath as she began clicking away.

“What is he taking Kagome to?” Inuyasha hissed when Sango did not answer him. She was too busy walking over to a nearby printer.

“Here,” she pressed a freshly printed map into his hands.

“Where the fuck is this?”

“Its driving directions from Kagome's apartment to the wolf elder's meeting place. I knew if we came here we'd find something like this. Kouga can't drive in the city for shit!” She was beaming as she dragged Inuyasha from the apartment.

“Wh-what? Elders? Meeting Place? What the hell does this have to do with Kagome? Is this the part that I'm not going to like?”

Starting up her car, Sango nodded as she raced out of the apartment parking lot. “All right here's what Kouga told me.”

Inuyasha watched Sango's face as they weaved in and out of traffic. She was clearly attempting to pull the words she was about to say out of her mouth. “Well?” If she didn't hurry up he would do it for her.

Sango decided it was best to start at the beginning: “Evidently Kouga was engaged to a wolf princess and the pack elders found out he was cheating on her with Kagome.”

“So what does Kagome have to do with them?” He hated to think about Kagome with that—that wolf, but Sango was stalling again.

“They're punishing Kouga by making him marry Kagome. He wasn't clear on how that's punishment, but that's what he said. He'll forfeit his crown he doesn't bring Kagome to the elders tonight and marry her in their presence. Then he has to live out Kagome's lifespan, being faithful to her.”

The interior of the car was silent for several agonizing heartbeats as Inuyasha dug his claws into his palms and Sango continued to speed through traffic.

This cannot fucking be happening. I finally track Kagome down and then some wolf kidnaps her.

Grabbing for anything to say to break the silence, Inuyasha uttered, “I take it Kagome has no say in the matter?”

“From what I can gather, Kouga thinks she'll be thrilled at the prospect of becoming his wife,” Sango said with a deep sigh and head shake at Kouga's pompous ass-ness.

“What do you think Kagome wants,” Inuyasha questioned hesitantly, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer himself. Kagome had been with this guy even if he was a jackass. What if the idea of being married to Kouga wasn't her worst option?

Sango's shoulders shrugged. “I can't answer for her myself, but I would say being married to Kouga isn't on her list of hopes and dreams. Its not going to matter if we don't get there in time though. Once they're married, Kouga's going to whisk her away so she won't be able to escape him. He wants his title of prince protected.”

Inuyasha tried to resist the urge to rip off the handle off the car door and failed. Sango batted an eye as she took in the piece of metal and plastic for a split second before turning her attention back to the road. “I hope you're planning on paying for that, otherwise you can get out here.”

Inuyasha gulped, glancing out the window at the scenery whizzing by. “I'll replace it.”

“I thought so.”

The car continued to weave in and out of traffic.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kagome blinked her eyes, slowly registering her surroundings. Rolling her head, she tried to work out the crick she had from letting her head hang down as she had slept. She was sitting—or more tied—to a chair in the middle of a dimly lit room. She could make out dark wooden walls and a circular green rug covering a small scrap of the polished wooden floor. In front of her, set against the wall under a decorative scroll, was a shine. Rather elaborate in contrast to the rest of the sparse furnishings.

Kagome rocked from side to side, testing the flimsy wooden chair and her bindings to it. Her waist had been bound to the chair's back. When she tried to lift her hands, she found they were strapped firmly to the arm rests. Her legs were tied to the legs of the chair. And some fucker had put a gag in her mouth. Her tongue could feel some kind of cloth and with a twitch of her lips, Kagome knew there was probably duct tape slapped over them.

Kouga.

Kagome had a blurry remembrance of being in her apartment, the broken door, her ex boyfriend cowering outside her bedroom door…Inuyasha yelling at him. It all had happened so fast.

Where is Inuyasha? She hoped nothing had happened to him; that Kouga hadn't hurt him…or disemboweled the poor hanyou. I wonder if he even tried to stop Kouga from kidnapping me. I wonder…if he'll come to save me.

Why would he? I was being so bitchy earlier when all he wanted to do was help.

She gave another furtive tug at the ropes, but nothing gave. How did people always get free in those spy movies? Kagome gulped at her next realization: sometimes they don't get out. Sometimes they get chopped up in little pieces, tossed in garbage bags, thrown out on the side of the road. I know Kouga's not the most reliable man, but he isn't unstable. Is he?

Before she had a chance to pounder further her own death, she heard the distinctive sound of a door opening behind her. Turning as best she could, Kagome made eye contact with Kouga who smiled sheepishly at her. He strolled over to her and she could see a bag of Wac Donald's in his hands.

“I got your favorite,” the demon smiled down at her. Clearly, he expected her to answer even though that was impossible beyond a humming growl. “Well, if you're going to be that ungrateful—”

He stopped short at the glare Kagome was giving him and finally noticed the lower half of her face covered in duct tape.

“Oh, I'm sorry baby!” Kouga chuckled at himself, reaching forward and ripping off the tape. Kagome immediately spit out whatever mystery cloth it was that had been jammed into her mouth. Looking down at it, she was horrified to see a very familiar pair of underwear falling out.

“What the hell are my panties doing in my mouth Kouga!” Kagome shouted. “And what the fuck am I doing here?!” Her eyes blazed, unsure of which she was more angry about—the chocking-hazard knickers or being unlawfully taken and bound to a chair. An extremely uncomfortable chair.

“I thought it would be sexy, baby. You know, we've never tried anything very kinky.” Kouga had the gall to sill be smiling at her. He pulled what smelled like a fish sandwich out of the bag, unwrapping it and holding it out for her. It was definitely fish and fish was not Kagome's favorite.

When she did not immediately reach for it with her bound hands, Kouga gave her a funny look. “If you weren't hungry, you could have said something.”

Flexing her fingers, Kagome wished she could gouge them into Kouga's eyes. He deserved at least that for the oral underwear. “Why am I here Kouga?”

Instead of answering, Kouga stuffed the fish sandwich in her mouth. “You must be starved, its way past lunch time.” Kagome had little choice but to swallow down the first bite, but she refused to let Kouga jam anymore of the greasy fish into her mouth.

“Kouga! Keep that garbage away from me! And tell me what I'm doing here!”

“Why'd you eat it if you didn't want it Kagome! I could have had it instead, but now its covered in your slobber!” The wolf demon scowled at Kagome and then examined the remains of the sandwich before chucking it at the nearest wall.

“Kouga!”

“What?!”

“You haven't answered my questions. What am I doing here?”

Kouga brushed his fingers through his hair, sighing in exasperation. “You're here to so we can get married tonight.”

Kagome felt the room pivot around her, but the feeling of nausea quickly passed as it was soothed by a strong balm of denial. I'd forgotten Kouga had a sense of humor.

Kagome couldn't stifle a chuckle at his joke: “That's a good one Kouga. Now why am I here?”

“So we can get married tonight.”

“Stop dicking around Kouga,” Kagome's tone spoke of warning. “Please be serious! You at least own me an explanation for tying me to a fucking chair!”

“I am being serious! We're getting married tonight.”

Her mind stuttered, “Wh-what about Ayame? Fuck that! What about me! I don't want to marry you! You're an asshole!” Suddenly Kagome wished she had more of her fish sandwich so she could spit it into Kouga's face. He just looked so smug and pleased with himself—even in the face of her decent.

“I can't marry Ayame—she's knows I've been fucking you!” Kouga through his head back and laughed as though he had just said the best joke ever—or that Kagome was painfully yet hilariously stupid.

“So why in the hell do I have to marry you?” Kagome tried to stay calm, but her control was slipping. If she hadn't been in that stupid chair, Kouga would have been mauled. Of that she was certain. She would have killed the bastard. “Who even says we have to get married?”

Kouga put a conciliatory hand on Kagome's shoulder, “The elders are making me. As part of my punishment for being unfaithful to my betrothed I have to marry you and live with you until you die Kagome or they'll take away my title of wolf prince Kagome. And you know I couldn't let that happen! They'd take away my royal stipend and I'd just be a nobody!”

A large vein in Kagome's forehead began to tick. She clutched the chair handles for support as the room began to spin again: “I'm guess,” her words came out as a tight hiss, “I don't get any say in the matter.”

Once more he laughed. “Of course not! What does it matter to you anyway? You're going to get married to me!” It was clear this was supposed to be a great honor for her. Kagome however did not completely agree with Kouga's assessment of the situation.

“Kouga if you do not untie me this instant—”

The door Kouga had entered by swung open again and in stepped an older wolf demon cloaked in a brown burlap mantle. “Ah, she is a pretty one!” He smiled down at Kagome in a grandfatherly manner, tracing her jaw line with a finger tip. Ok, a really creepy grandfather. “A shame she is human, she would make a fine princess. As it is, she'll do as your concubine.”

“I'd rather die than be Kouga's concubine or your wife!”

“That's not what you said last night,” Kouga purred, leaning down to kiss Kagome. She tried to jerk away, but he followed to capture her lips.

The elder nodded gravely at Kouga, looking him dead in the eye: “Then it is arranged—you will have your wedding this night at which point the girl will be announced as your concubine.” Then the older demon bent his head to address Kagome. “It is a shame you will only be his wife and not his mate—to us you'll always be a bit of a whore, but then you should have kept your legs closed.” His face cracked into a wide, lecherous grin. “But worry not, your short human life will soon be over so your suffering will not be drawn out.” Here he attempted to tuck up Kagome's chin, but she bit hard into his demon flesh, breaking the skin. “She is a bitter Kouga—you'll have to watch out for that. Replace her gag!”

And that was how Kagome found her panties being stuffed back into her mouth and the duct tape re-applied.

With a pat on the head, Kouga left her again, all alone with her thoughts.

At first, Kagome only felt a blind-red rage. Steam shot out of her ears every time she remembered the wolves' words. Slowly her anger turned inward to herself.

Yes, she shouldn't have been sleeping with Kouga. She didn't even really like him all that much. He was just there. Her loneliness had gotten the better of her and Kouga had claimed to be single. It was a stupid mistake when there were so many sex shops in her neighborhood. Any number of vibrators would have been more attentive to her needs than Kouga.

But if I hadn't been with Kouga I wouldn't have been there when Inuyasha found me.

Being tied to a chair and forced to marry a jerk was hardly an equal trade to being reunited with Inuyasha, but it would be nice consolation if he showed up to save her since she was already here.

Will he come?

She honestly could not say.

But I can hope he does since at the moment I can't think of anything else.

All she found herself able to do was wait. And wait.

And hope.