InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Slave's Love ❯ Emotions Make the Heart Grow Rusty ( Chapter 6 )

A Slaves Love

By: Kagura-hime

 

Summery: In a world where humans are slaves to youkai, Kagome Higurashi has it as bad as you can get. Viciously beaten and abandoned by her master, a certain hanyou finds her and heals her wounds. But can he mend her broken heart too? I/K Miroku/Sango, Sess/OC

 

Disclaimer: How could something as crappy as this make millions of dollars, and be popular all over the world? I rest my case.

 

**I'M STARTING A UPDATE ALERT THINGY! IF YOU WANT ME TO EMAIL YOU WHEN EVER I UPDATE, PLEASE SPECIFY THAT IN A REVIEW, AND, OF COURSE, GIVE ME A (working) EMAIL ADDRESS. It will be for all my stories of course, since it's hard to remember who wanted what stories, and whatnot. If you are leery of leaving your email in a review, then mine is at the bottom of the page. Feel free to drop me a line, I love chatting with new people!

 

Wow, I'm updating a redone chappy. I'm also going to re-upload the old chapters after re-reading them after my long break from writing because of some grammatical errors I found, and a few things I added changed (like in this chapter, there is about half a page that didn't exist before). Expect the next chaper within the next few days, since I'm on a roll writing and shit. Nothing more to say, except good night (since it's 12:30 at night here.)

 

Recommended fics: Summer of My Demon Lover by Samarah-chan, Silent Screams by Rogue Pryde, and You Want Me To WHAT? by lostdreams1. These are all excellent fics that deserve reviews.

 

:A Slaves Love:

Chapter 6:Emotions Make the Heart Grow Rusty

 

Last time: Sango looked at Kesa sadly while wheeling her friend along after her. `She sure as hell knows the pain this girl is going through. Sure as hell indeed.'

 

This time- “That was so sad!” Kesa wailed as she and Kagome clung to each other crying.

 

“Yes, but it was also sad the first ten dozen times you watched it,” Sango said flatly, not phased at all.

 

“But you have to admit Sango, it is sad. Especially since this is the first time ever seen Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal. That was the saddest movie ever…”

 

“Yeah, you have no heart, Maiden of Ice,” Kesa responded.

 

Sango stuck her tongue out and Kesa attempted to grab the offending object, but sorely missed, and landed on the floor, which hurt a lot considering she had been lying on the bed next to Kagome before.

 

“Itai…” she rubbed her bruised hands with the opposite, at the same time, which resulted in an awkward movement. She had landed on her hands and twisted them in an angle that they were not supposed to bend in, to make sure she didn't break her neck when she rolled off the bed headfirst.

 

“Kami, are you ok?” Kagome asked, moving a little too hastily, and quickly pulling a pained expression.

 

“Not worse than you. Now lay back down and finish mourning Tomoe's death properly.”

 

“Yeah, you should listen to her. That is nothing to be worried over. She's done so many violent, and quite stupid things that have left her in worse condition that you…” Sango trailed off, and both Kagome and said girl suddenly stared sorrowfully at the innocently blinking girl sitting cross-legged on the floor.

 

“Why in gods name are you two looking at me like that? What are you conspiring!?”

 

They both burst out laughing, and Kesa grinned.

 

“Well…” Sango started.

 

“Ha, I knew it! I win!”

 

“Win what?”

 

“A prize,” Kesa answered Sango's logical question evasively, knowing what was to come.

 

“Would that prize involve a certain white haired youkai?”

 

“Only if it comes with a shotgun and a shovel.”

 

Kagome's mouth dropped open and she laughed at the comical look on Sango's face.

 

“You know he heard that right?”

 

“Clear as a bell.”

 

“He's going to kill you now for sure,” Sango worriedly wrung her hands.

 

“Like he wasn't going to before. It will just be a little more painful now. He hates me, and I know it.”

 

“Gee I wonder why…”

 

“Hey, shut up you. Once you get better he'll probably plot your demise as well. But only after. He's an honorable opponent, I'll give him that.”

 

“I take that to heart coming from you.”

 

“Hey you should Sess,” Kesa grinned, doing a half back bend to see his tall frame at the door.

 

Sango's mouth hit the floor, and Kagome was no longer laughing.

 

“What did you do…?” Sango mumbled, almost to herself.

 

“The wench challenged me, and my authority, again. She is correct though. The only reason I haven't killed the nuisance yet is because I do not wish to have my dear brother come up with some half-baked idea of revenge. I do not need him bothering me while I'm trying to work.”

 

“Speaking of which, shouldn't you be going to said work?” Kesa asked, not phased in the least, glancing at her watch.

 

The proud being standing in the doorway merely glared at her smiling form, freezing the insides of the other two occupants of the room.

 

“Call me `Sess' again, and I will not hesitate to rip you limb from limb. Slowly.”

 

“Ok, whatever, don't be late, and drive safe,” Kesa happily lifted one of her supporting hands, and did a backwards wave.

 

“Hmm…” He merely said, his eyes flashing dangerously, before gliding down the hallway in his scrubs.

 

“Master,” trailed down the hallway after him.

 

Sesshoumaru didn't even glance back, but his eyes hardened even further, and his hand twitched, in need of a throat to wring. `Where is the mutt when I need him…'

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

“Kami…he nearly gave me a heart attack…”

 

“I think he did give me a heart attack.”

 

“I think he shot me a dirty glare. Now I wonder what that was for…”

 

“BAKA!!” Sango whapped Kesa upside her head when she had returned to a normal position.

 

“Owie…Aren't I abused enough?” Kesa complained as she rubbed her throbbing head.

 

“I think you're more brain-damaged than Miroku sometimes.”

 

“And he gets beat a lot more than I do.”

 

“You wanna see a beating?” Sango raised her fist, a vein popping on her forehead.

 

Kesa cowered down and made a face like a hurt puppy. “No….”

 

“Why did you say that? He looked pretty angry,” Kagome tried to verbally break up the ensuing battle, since she obviously couldn't physically.

 

“Yeah, didn't he? I wish I'd had a camera. He usually only shows he's pissed around me. I guess I bring out the best in him.”

 

“I believe you'd be dinner right now if you had taken a picture. And if that's his best, I'd hate to see his worst,” Kagome again intervened Sango's much wanted bashing fest. “Question though. Sango, why did you bring him up in the first place?”

 

Sango shrugged in response. “I'm not really sure. It just kinda popped out. Subconsciously I guess I wanted to see how she would react when I mentioned him. He may be an arrogant ass, but said body part if definitely nice, along with the rest of his body. He's every youkai girls' teenage crush-the heartthrob of this generation. You'd have to be insane not to be attracted to him for his looks, since that's the only thing he's got going for him with his attitude. He would make some huge money modeling if there was ever a need for it.”

 

“I think he would make more money doing a porno though. I mean, have you seen his abs and back when he's working out? God damn. If I didn't know him, and know his personality, than there would definitely be a huge puddle of drool on the floor every single time he stripped his shirt off in the dojo. And his hips! You can see them, and I bet you can fondle them too! If there's one part of a guy that I go mad over, it's his hips, hands down,” Kesa responded, smirking in approval while thinking back to the time when she had walked into the dojo completely on accident while he was doing some training. It had been for a dual that his hospital was hosting to raise money for children's organizations. Something about the staff fighting each other for entertainment, using fake weapons if they wanted, since that's what youkai like best. It was stopped before any more serious damage was done than a few bruises. Why he participated though, Kesa had no idea. It wasn't mandatory, and usually he isn't bothered with that kind of thing. Well whatever the reason, it was a huge hit and the hospital made thousands of dollars, with people requesting Sesshoumaru to participate even after he had won all his scheduled fights. He didn't have to train at all to win, but Kesa wasn't complaining when she got to see him topless.

 

“Wow Kesa, I would say that someone is into Sesshoumaru,” Kagome teased.

 

“Sweetie, I am definitely into his body-it's him I'm not into. The arrogance and detachment from the rest of the world are two traits I can stand. Hell, I even like them to a degree he's really pushing. It's his pompous ass “I'm so high and mighty” bullshit I can't tolerate. Sure he's a powerful youkai with extensive schooling/training with an excellent job that he is extremely good at, but that is no reason to act as bad as he does. A little bit of an over-inflated ego is fine and dandy, even normal if you will; an ego putting the Pacific Ocean to shame is completely intolerable.”

 

“Sure, I believe you,” Sango teased her, and Kesa turned up her nose, Inuyasha style complete with “Keh.”

 

“I'm kidding. You'll find a guy our there for you someday, I'm sure of it,” Sango consoled a bit, or so she thought.

 

“Oh yeah. Slaves always find a happy ending like in the faerie tales we had to tell to young youkai children before bed. I'm going to die sooner or later, so what's the point of hoping things will work out how I want? Hasn't happened yet, so what's the point of holding onto that hope?”

 

“The point is to live as much as you can! To have a full life. That's why you're here with us-so you can be happy and have a better life than most others!” Sango yelled at her, starting to get upset at the kind of talk Kesa was implying. This was how it all started last time…

 

“To live a full life? Don't make me laugh. It's great here; I love it, and all of you-even our dear Sesshoumaru to an extent. I get to piss off a youkai and a hanyou, and I don't get killed or beaten for it. Nice to know a few decent souls still dominate this earth. But let me in on something Sango, because I still seem to be missing the big picture. HOW THE BLOODY HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE A FULL-FUCKING-LIFE WHEN I CAN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE IN ANYTHING BUT RAGS? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO ALL THE THINGS I'VE EVER WANTED WHEN I CAN'T EVEN LEAVE THE GROUNDS WITHOUT BEING A FUCKING ZOMBIE?! Tell me that Sango, and I'll rethink my idea on life and hope, and any other god damn thing I can't stand about this world.”

 

Sango watched in anguish as Kesa forcefully pushed herself off the ground and stormed out the door, slamming it in her wake.

 

Both girls flinched at the sound and a single tear ran out of Sango's eye. Kagome looked more hurt at those words than she did when she moved too much. Though she had no idea what brought that on, she tried to offer as much comfort to Sango as she could, as her shoulders heaved in silent sobs. Kagome reached over and rubbed her back, and pulled her hair away from her face, while whispering words of consolation.

 

“Shh…it's okay…you two will get through this…she couldn't have meant it, she loves you too much…it will be okay…”

“What did I say to make her blow up like that? What did I do to set off her temper?”

 

Sango started sobbing outright and threw herself down next to Kagome and cried her eyes out on the pillow next to her. The latter quickly put her arm around the girl, and silently cried right along with her, trying to share some of the burden.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

Kesa didn't even acknowledge Miroku as he walked down the hallway, and waved to her cheerfully. He was actually on his way to see the lovely lady now (meaning Sango, of course) and had originally thought that Kesa would be with her. He was puzzled at the unreadable look on her face, and stopped to stare at her in amazement when his wandering hand wasn't punished. Because he didn't know the full story, he planned on taking full advantage of this little quirk.

 

“Kesa, my dear lady. Shall we walk together?” he asked, draping his arm around her shoulders, his hand going a little far down.

 

Miroku froze and stopped walking with her at the icy glare she sent at him. It was the worse he had ever seen from her, and the very marrow of his bones froze at the hostility and fierceness he saw there. Even the brain-damaged Miroku knew when enough was enough, and when he regained the use of his legs, he ran to Sangos room, but stopped in front of the closed door when he heard someone sobbing within. He knew that he probably was not wanted, so he wandered off in search of a maid to make some tea or something for her. He couldn't stand to see or hear Sango cry, especially when there was nothing he could do to stop it.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

“KUSO!” The shriek echoed throughout the empty dojo like a shot, ringing and echoing in the deeper chambers.

 

The cause of this cry was a young girl, with agony in her eyes, and murder on her face. This girl quickly grabbed the boxing gloves hanging from around the top of the bag, and did what she did best-she beat the living shit out of it.

 

Each punch was punctuated by a sharp yell, used to gain power, and power did she gain with each plea to the gods for mercy. She knew that Sango was crying, and that it was all her fault. She felt so guilty and ashamed about her actions that if she didn't channel them to anger then she would surely bawl worse that Sango. Hence, the need to fight to get the adrenaline rushes until she could get her emotions under control.

 

Tears pricked the corner of her eyes.

 

“God dammit…”

 

A single teardrop fell down her faint scar.

 

“DAMMIT ALL TO FUCKING HELL!”

 

`This isn't working…'

 

She angrily took off the gloves and promptly proceeded to chuck them in the corner with everything she had. `God dammit…why do I have to be such a bitch…why must I always provoke this shit? I can't just keep that kinda shit to myself, can I? WHY DO I HAVE TO BE SUCH A BAD GODDAMNED PERSON?!' her mind screamed at her in full blast.

 

She quickly headed to the exit, and sprinted across the fields to a nearby forest, her legs pumping furiously due to the pace she was setting. She had a date with the trees.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

A few hours later, Inuyasha pulled up in an old pickup truck, exhausted from work. He was sweaty, covered in sheetrock dust, and stank to high heavens. His normally decent hair was in a high ponytail, now a lovely shade of blonde from sawdust. His generally spotless claws had dirt and debris lodged under them, which would usually drive him insane. He practically dragged his lunch kettle into the house, where a maid quickly took it to the kitchen. He had one thought in mind: sleep.

 

Now, since this is a man we're talking about, and a tired, stubborn one at that, he didn't pay much attention to the message that an anxious Miroku was trying to relay to him. He just breezed right on passed him, intent on taking up the eager Sandman's offer. He was longingly visualizing his comfortable, oh-so-comfortable waterbed, which would happily embrace him like an old friend. Well, he hoped it would anyway, since he was dead on his feet and he needed a good embrace right then to keep him from falling flat on his face.

 

He only started paying attention when Miroku whirled him around and punched him in the gut. He gave the Sandman a rain check, and glared at Miroku with all he was worth, which wasn't much at the moment.

 

“What the fuck was that for bouzo?!”

 

“It was the only way I could get you to pay attention.”

 

“Couldn't have waited until after I've slept for about 12 hours?”

 

“No, we have a huge problem with the girls.”

 

“Is it Kagome? What's wrong? Is she okay?” a suddenly worried Inuyasha perked up, and forgot about his aching stomach.

 

Meanwhile, Miroku sweat dropped. `And all this time, all I had to do was mention Kagome-sama…'

 

Inuyasha impatiently awaited an answer, before realizing that if something was wrong with Kagome, he could smell it. Now, we never said that he had the less bats in his belfry than most others, so it had taken him a little longer to realize this amazing ability. Anyway, he took a deep whiff, and smelled the strong scent of salt water. And it was mostly coming from Sango's room, and a he picked it up slightly from the dojo.

 

“As you can probably tell, Sango has been in her room crying for hours with Kagome. Kesa has disappeared, and we can't find her anywhere, though she did do a pretty good number on the punching bag, which, as I recall, you still have topped. Never again shall I stand in the same room as you while you are using a punching bag and are severely pissed,” Miroku grinned at his last comment.

 

“Heh, Sesshoumaru shouldn't have screwed with me, and he wouldn't have had to pay repair bills. I was just venting some excess -yawn- steam, which I wish I had now…” Inuyasha trailed off grumbling to himself about some random topic, continuing on up the stairs.

 

Miroku sighed. `I have my work cut out for me…'

 

“Inuyasha, get back here and let me explain! Inuyasha!”

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

Inuyasha was now showered, smell free, and squeaky clean. He was also falling asleep every five seconds while listening to Miroku's incomplete tale.

 

“So let me get this straight. Sango's brawling with Kagome, Kesa is missing, but the dojo isn't in complete ruins. That means they had a fight, and she went to the woods to vent. At least she didn't kill the dojo this time…it took a month to repair it last time!” Inuyasha exclaimed, using a large store of his low energy.

 

“And five whenever you and Sesshoumaru fight. We have to do nothing short of rebuild it completely whenever you two go at it,” Miroku added, Inuyashas' eyes already drifting shut. But they snapped open when the last line reached his fuzzy ears.

 

“Oh God Miroku, think about that last statement for a moment…”

 

“Hmm…well that could sound exceedingly wrong if you had your mind in the gutter. And since you thought of it originally, why is your mind in the gutter, and why is it thinking of your brother like that?”

 

“Half-brother. And, how would you like to die? Slow and painful, or quick and easy?”

 

Miroku laughed nervously. “Quick and easy?”

 

“Slow and painful it is then.”

 

And so, they went off topic again, and stayed there for a while.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Sango was fast asleep trying to get rid of the monstrous headache that had formed while she was crying. Kagome was gently stroking her back still, when a stray tear or two leaked out of her closed eyes.

 

`What a mess. How did this all start? She was fine earlier, why did she suddenly just go off like that? In the week and a half that I've known her, she hasn't been anything but kind and eccentric, always upbeat about everything, taking everything in stride just like with Sesshoumaru today. Granted, that's not a long time, but I can tell that if that was all a complete act, then Sango wouldn't be so close to her. It's so confusing; I have no idea what's going on. She started acting weird when Sango brought up the topic that she would find a guy someday. Why would that be a touchy spot for her? I just wish I she had told us if something was bothering her, then we could have helped and sorted this whole mess out before it had even begun…'

 

She sighed, and looked at the sleeping girl beside her. Where is Kesa anyway? Why hasn't she come charging in here in her usual fashion, a bouquet of flowers in hand, a silly out-of-tune song of apology spilling from her lips? She would do that. I know she would, just to get the laugh from us and to break the ice. I hope they make up soon…'

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

Another hour after that, Kesa dragged herself back from the woods, bruised, bleeding, and exhausted, acting as if she had just had the crap beat out of her with baseball bats. She dragged herself to the shoreline, and dropped down in front of the welcoming sea. She just laid there, thinking. She loved hearing the sound of the roaring ocean; the sound of drops pounding on rocks after a wave had just hit it. No one knew that. No one seemed to really know her. Yeah, they knew her as a limitless dumbass with a thing for Duct Tape that had performed every stupid trick in the book, making up a few of her own in the process, and that she loved fighting, but they didn't know why, or what she liked, really liked. She loved the smell of jasmine and sandalwood. Her favorite flowers were lilies. That she could fall asleep to the sounds of the trains' whistle and oceans' lullaby. They didn't know that she loved to wear dresses and skirts, but just wore boys' clothes because she hated her body. They didn't know that she had once been in love, and had her heart smashed into bits by him. They didn't know that…that… she turned her head at the thought. That was still too fresh to be acknowledged yet. She would burst if she confronted it, the blatant truth that had almost killed her. She wouldn't tell them about it either. She just couldn't.

 

She had always been a loner at heart, and had trouble opening up. When you're hurt so many times, because of feelings you know you shouldn't have, you learn to lock them up, and throw away the key. But when that box gets to full, it explodes, which has turned out badly a few times for her. She was still adjusting to this life, but she still wanted one thing that she could never have: freedom. Yes, she was free here, but out in the real world, she was a slave. She was dirt, and not worth a penny in anyone's eye. She wanted to be able to run down a street, and laugh and smile while hanging out with friends while eating ice cream. But she couldn't. If she did, then she would get the death penalty, automatically, no argument, she was gone. She hated being human. She was weak because of this. Because of her race and all its asinine thoughts and beliefs which have brainwashed people over the years. Why couldn't she be more like Sesshoumaru, and not have these cumbersome feelings, which only led to trouble? He wasn't raised in a society that valued emotions, and was lucky in that respect. Why did the gods curse her so? `It has to be because I pissed them off at some point or another in a past life. That has to be it.'

 

“Why do I have to be the trash that everybody steps on over and over because I'm too disgusting, too insignificant to even pick up and finally lay to rest in a trashcan somewhere? And why the hell am I making up shitty analogies to explain how I feel? Gods do I need some serious mental help.”

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

Kagome had finally fallen into a restless sleep trying to think of ways to get Kesa and Sango to make up. Her rest was not a peaceful one, and she was plagued with nightmares.

 

-------------------------------------------DREAM SEQUENCE-------------------------------------

A thirteen-year-old girl slowly walked into her masters' room, looking very much like a puppy with its tail between its legs. She knew what he wanted, and she wasn't looking forward to it.

 

“Come here,” his smooth voice commanded.

 

The girl slowly walked toward his hungry gaze, which was currently roaming over her developing from.

 

“You are developing beautifully. I knew it had been a good investment buying you.”

 

The girl only looked down blankly, tears brimming in her eyes. She knew what his next command would be, and she was terrified. She knew he could tell that because he could smell it. And it only excited him further.

 

“Strip,” he said merely, his word holding the tone of God.

 

“Hai Master…” the girl shakily replied, a tear unwillingly escaping her eye as she pulled off her shirt slowly. He thrived off of her fear and innocence, and the girl tried to hide it as much as she could, which only angered him. But a beating was better than what he was about to do. Much better, and much more preferred.

 

He smiled wickedly when she had finally reached her bra and panties. His leer only grew when he saw salty droplets fall to the carpeted floor. He pushed himself up agonizingly slow, and walked unhurried to the shaking figure before him.

 

“You look exactly as kikyo did at your age. Except your eyes. They are dead compared to hers, which are so full of hatred and evil.” The devil himself smiled down at her hungrily, not even noticing that the girl had expressive blue-gray eyes, while this kikyo had harsh brown ones.

 

Kagome remained silent as he reached down and pushed his hand into the small of her back, toward his bed. As they walked, his hand slid down a little farther into her underwear and grabbed her. Kagome stiffened, already figuring out that he was in a frisky mood, kikyo was on some trip, and they were into kinky things. She knew that even though she would not be able to walk tomorrow, she would still have to do her chores, because she was a slave. If she didn't, then he could turn her over to the authorities and have her killed. Or worse, be sent to an even more vicious master. The first one would have been her choice of the two, but the risk that the latter should happen (and probably would knowing Naraku) was enough to make her do what she was supposed to.

 

He quickly slammed her down on the bed, and began his fun.

 

----------------------------------------END DREAM SEQUENCE---------------------------------

Kagome suddenly woke with a scream barely muffled by her better arm. It was enough to wake Sango though, and she quickly jumped up and started looking around. Her eyes then landed on Kagome, and her face quickly pulled an anxious expression.

 

“What is it? What happened?”

 

Kagome looked at her for one second before bursting into tears. Sango quickly pulled the pale and shaking girl in an embrace. She rocked her, whispered comforting nothings in her ear, smoothed her ruffled hair, and silently vowed to hurt the cause of this girls suffering. If Kesa was the one to do it…

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

Inuyasha cocked his head to the side when he heard a muffled scream. Then his sensitive nose picked up on the scent of tears, and he was able to pinpoint it to Sangos' room. He quickly rose to go see what was going on, but Miroku reached over and shoved him back down.

 

Inuyasha glared as he explained his reasoning. “If they wanted to involve us, then they would have said something. Until then, we wait.”

 

Inuyasha's glare followed him around the kitchen as he gathered all the necessary ingredients to make a sandwich.

 

“I'm amazed that you can actually make something yourself.”

 

Miroku looked mock hurt. “I beg you pardon, but I think I know how to make a sandwich. It is eight o'clock, and since I'm hungry, and Kesa didn't cook dinner, I must fend for myself.”

 

“And me. Make two of whatever your making.”

 

“Get off your lazy butt and make something then. You've done nothing but lounge since you got home.”

 

“I'd like to see you throw up 100 pound sheetrock slabs for eight hours straight on a commercial construction site, after being everyone's pack-horse and carrying all the shit that two or three slaves couldn't handle, wearing a seventy pound tool belt to boot, then still have the energy to make a sandwich.”

 

“You're the one who took that job. Something about helping you train…”

 

“Yeah. I have to get stronger, and not rely on my natural strength as a demon for everything. Becoming a carpenter helps because it's all physical labor, and I'm not sitting on my ass in some office all day.”

 

“True, your ass may not expand to the point to where you can sell advertising space on it, but your knees will give out pretty fast.”

 

“Thanks for the wonderful news. It's just what I wanted to hear,” Inuyasha said, sarcasm dripping off his voice.

 

“My pleasure,” Miroku responded smiling innocently.

 

After a few moments of Miroku slicing meat silently, Inuyasha brought up an old topic. “I wonder where Kesa's gotten to…”

 

“I have no idea. Maybe she's still out in the woods?” Miroku offered, handing a sandwich to Inuyasha, about to start on his own.

 

“Dunno. I don't think she would stay out there after dark though. How about when we're done here, you go look for her.”

 

Miroku's shoulders slumped as he stared at Inuyasha, who was eating five times as fast as a normal person.

 

“Pig.”

 

“No, dog. When will you finally realize what kind of youkai I am?”

 

“When you start acting like it.”

 

“Now I'm really not helping. I was gonna sniff her out for you, but just for that comment…”

 

“Jackass…”

 

“DOG!”

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

“KESA?” a peeved Miroku was out walking around the mansion, flashlight in hand. Inuyasha had crashed on the couch in the living room, after oh-so-helpfully informing him that Kesa was somewhere outside, then falling dead asleep. Miroku was going to kill him later for that one, though it'd be easier to do the deed now since he wasn't awake and at full strength.

 

“KESA? WHERE ARE YOU? I hope she didn't run off again…” he muttered the last part to himself.

 

A groggy Kesa squeezed her eyes shut before opening them. Something was yelling, and it had woken her up from a nice dreamless sleep.

 

“Mmmm…dammiiit,” she moaned, rolling over onto her side and curling up into a ball. It was fall after all, and it was chilly out.

 

“KESA?” the sound was getting closer, and Kesa stretched before weakly calling out, trying to regain her voice, “Over here!”

 

Miroku's head snapped in the direction of a faint call, and he sprinted towards the beach. There, he saw Kesa lying in front of the ocean, the sand next to her red from her blood.

 

“Oh god, Kesa! Did you try to kill yourself?!”

 

“Nope, not again. I had a very close fight with a tree or two. I think they won, but only by a little.”

 

“I need to get you into the house. You need to bandage those wounds.”

 

“I'm not going. Just bring some stuff out to me and I'll be fine. And bring a blanket and a pillow as well, I wish to sleep out here,” Kesa asked, rolling into a sitting position and staring out into the horizon of the great ocean.

 

“Oh yes you are to coming. I'm not leaving you out here to freeze just because you're depressed.”

 

“Why do you think I asked for a blanket? I'm not contemplating suicide, but I will if you keep it up!”

 

“Fine…I'll go get everything.”

 

“Thank you,” she answered, her gaze never wavering.

 

Miroku slowly walked around front, and sat on the front steps, placing his face in his hands. `What a mess,' he glanced at his watch. `I can't easily pick her up because she'll fight me. Maybe if I can hold out until Sesshoumaru comes home, then he can do it, since `Yash isn't going to be much help. He should be home within a half hour. Though maybe if I don't show up with the things, she'll get pissed and come for them herself. You never know with her though. She's so stubborn that she would sit out there all night just to spite me. I wish Inuyasha were awake…'

 

About 20 minutes later, almost as though his thoughts had called him, Sesshoumaru pulled up in his midnight blue Corvette and quickly pulled in through the rapidly opening garage doors.

 

“Sesshoumaru!” Miroku quickly called after him, running to get in the doors before they closed.

 

He just barely made it before he was squashed and ran up to Sesshoumaru, who, as usual, ignored him.

 

“Sesshoumaru, I need your help,” he panted, stopping in front of him to take a break and swallow his pride.

 

The subject in question raised an eyebrow, silently letting him know to go on.

 

“I need you to carry Kesa in here from the beach. She's injured, and being stubborn about it because she's having a fight with Sango and Kagome,” he explained when he caught his breath.

 

Sesshoumaru looked at him flatly. “No.”

 

“Please? She needs help,” he ran after the now retreating man.

 

“Get my half brother to do it.”

 

“He's asleep on the couch. I can't budge him.”

 

“That is not of my concern,” Sesshoumaru countered, reaching the inside garage door and opening it.

 

Miroku resorted to his last idea, which he hoped would work like he thought it would.

 

“It would piss her off.”

 

Sesshoumaru froze, and slowly turned around.

 

Encouraged, he continued. “She's being stubborn and doesn't want to come anywhere near Sango. If you brought her in it would severely piss her off, and she'll probably ignore you since she's pissed at you.”

 

Sesshoumaru studied him a long moment, digesting this thought before replying.

 

“You have yourself a deal.”

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

“Where in the bleeding hell is Miroku? I knew I shouldn't have trust him…” Kesa grumbled, sitting up against a big rock. “Oh well, guess I'll have to freeze.”

 

A few minutes later, just as she had started to drift off into sleep again, faint footsteps echoed through the empty night air. Keeping her eyes closed, she smiled, thinking it was Miroku.

 

“'Bout bloody time you got here. Could you move any slower?”

 

“Yes, but it is extremely annoying to do so.”

 

Her eyes snapped open at that, and she swiftly turned around only to be face-to-knee with one person she was not to eager to deal with. `Oh shit…'

 

He smirked when she whirled around, knowing what was going through her mind. “Surprised?”

 

“No, not really. I didn't think he was gonna come back. At least he sent a doctor to care for me. Might as well have sent a banker for all the help I'll get.”

 

“You're right,” he sat down next to her, his scrubs still hard from blood.

 

A few moments later, “Who died?”

 

“And why would you ask that?” he questioned.

 

“All that blood. Someone must be hurt pretty bad if it's all from one person.”

 

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. This must have been her way of an apology for earlier, he supposed. At least she was being civil, which saved him from the major headache he was expecting.

 

“Not quite. Some drunken fool hit a young child and his mother a few hours ago. We worked on the child for hours, but he died. The mother also died about an hour ago. The driver unfortunately lived, despite my best efforts.”

 

She smiled at that. “Good.”

 

“And, pray tell, what is good about the death of an innocent child and it's mother?”

 

“Not that. The driver. Now he has to live the rest of his life with this memory. It will torment him, and slowly tear him apart from the inside out, so he feels the pain of those two poor souls yet he never dies. That's what I meant. He gets punished for what he did.”

 

“Hmm, I've never looked at it like that,” Sesshoumaru responded to her odd answer. She actually seemed at peace for now, and despite his passionate hatred for this wretched human, he was actually enjoying hearing her differing views and opinions. Now if only she were like this all the time…

 

“You should think out of the box more. Try and see some light come forth from a tragedy. This is a tragedy for someone, right?”

 

“Of course, I don't like losing patients anymore than the next doctor.”

 

She softly smiled a sad smile. “Again, you misunderstand me. I was asking if a husband or child, mother or father is mourning right now, agonizing over the death of their loved one.”

 

Sesshoumaru had to think for a moment on that one. “I don't know. I was too busy trying to save them. It's the nurses job to inform the family.”

 

“Well then maybe you should find out. Make sure that their arrangements will be taken care of. If there's no one else to do it, then how can they properly be lain down to rest?”

 

“That's what funeral services are for.”

 

“What are their names?”

 

“What?”

 

“I want to know their names. I'll go to their funeral even if no one else does. Of course I'll have to drag your half-brother with me so I'm not killed on sight for being what I am, but I'll get there one way or another.”

 

“I don't understand you. You don't even know them and you wish to meet them in death?”

 

“You don't understand a lot about me. Please, what are their names? I'll just say I saw it in the paper or that I once knew them or something.”

 

Sesshoumaru studied her saddened features in the pale moonlight. She kept her eyes trained on the sand though, and never noticed him looking at her.

 

“Mitsukake Asako and her son, Tai.”

 

“Thank you,” she said softly, and looked him dead in the eye. He was surprised at the myriad of emotions he saw there. Sadness, loss, gladness, love, thankfulness, and most of all, trust. He had earned her trust with six little words.

 

She quickly looked away from his unblinking eyes, and looked towards the heavens, staring at the stars. They sat there in a comfortable silence for a few more moments, each enjoying the brief moment of normality, before they went back to the loony bin that they called home.

 

Suddenly Sesshoumaru, who had been beginning to fall asleep to the calming sound of the ocean, stood up, remembering what his original task was. He quickly scooped her up into his arms bridal style, and readied himself for the piercing scream that was almost guarantied to come. But it never did. Quite the opposite happened, and instead of pushing away, she wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled into his chest.

 

“She's asleep…” he murmured to himself, half smiling at the innocent look on her face. `Just like any other being on earth, she doesn't look like a complete menace in her sleep. Even though she's covered in dirt, and blood, she still has some beauty. For a human wench that is.' He added hurriedly, not liking where his train of thought was heading.

 

“Stupid bitch,” he whispered as he began walking to the house, his precious cargo sleeping safe and sound.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

“What took you so long?” Miroku jumped up when he heard the front door open.

 

He froze when he saw Kesa limp in his arms, and ran over to Sesshoumaru opening his mouth to speak. Sesshoumaru beat him and spoke first.

 

“The bitch is fine. She is only sleeping.”

 

“Thank Kami. Everyone would go crazy if something happened.”

 

“I do need to dress her wounds, for as you said earlier, she ripped up her knuckles pretty badly. If I were you I would put an electric collar on her with the invisible fence so that she couldn't do this again.”

 

“You would love that wouldn't you?”

 

“It would greatly amuse me, yes.”

 

Miroku sighed and started following him to her bedroom.

 

“Get me some clean bandages and warm water with a damp cloth. And some disinfectant cream. I'll tell you if I need more later after I've fully assessed the injuries.”

 

Miroku nodded and ran off to gather the things he asked for, knowing full well that at least two of the three things could easily be found in Sango's room. He didn't want to bother them, but he knew that they would want to know the situation, so he made his way to her room and quietly knocked on the door. A startled squeak cam from within, and a distraught voice granted him entrance.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

Kagome gave a startled squeak as someone knocked on the door. What if it was Kesa?

 

“Come in,” Sango answered stonily for her, and Kagome wiped the last of the lingering tears from her face.

 

“I'm sorry to bother you, but I need the basin and bandages,” Miroku quickly explained, feeling like an intruder.

 

“What, did Inuyasha injure himself on the job?” Sango asked curtly, more angry than upset now.

 

“No, Kesa injured herself,” he explained hurriedly, grabbing the basin and bandages and heading for the door.

 

“What? Did she try to kill herself? Is she ok?”

 

“No Sango, she's fine. She didn't try to kill herself, just her knuckles.”

 

“What, did she pick a fight with some wild animal or something?” Sango asked heatedly, annoyed that he had scared her so much.

 

“Close, tree. If her knuckles account for anything, than I feel sorry for the poor tree.”

 

Kagome giggled a little, and turned to Sango. “Go see how she is, and tell me what happens, ok?”

 

“Will you be ok alone?” she asked in her mother hen fashion.

 

“Yes, I'll be fine, all I have to do is holler if I need something. Go,” she pleaded, and starting shooing Sango out of the bed.

 

“Fine, fine. But only for you,” Sango smiled at her, and followed a worried Miroku out of the room.

 

`How will those two react when they see each other?'

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

Sesshoumaru paced the room, waiting for the materials he requested. `Humans are so slow,' he thought impatiently. He wanted to get done, and go to bed. He had to be at the hospital for six thirty in the morning, and he wanted to get some sleep before then.

 

Finally, Miroku appeared five minutes later, another ningen wench in tow. `Oh great, an audience,' he thought sarcastically.

 

“Here,” Miroku handed Sesshoumaru the bandages and cream, and after he put those down, he took the now full basin from Sango.

 

He nodded, and quickly used the rag to remove the blood from her hands, and the splatters that were in lines across her face. She had beaten those trees pretty hard for the blood to fly like that.

 

Her knuckles were severely bruised and battered, some of the gashes very deep. `They may need stitches,' he mentally noted. A few were broken and fractured, but nothing serious and permanent. If he set them right, that is.

 

She had slept through all of this, and only awoke when he touched the cool cloth to her face again to finish cleaning it.

 

“Wha…”

 

“I'm taking care of your knuckles. I'm also cleaning the blood off your face. Now lie still and stay silent.”

 

“Yes master,” she said, some of the sarcasm back in her voice.

 

Sesshoumaru ignored that comment verbally. `She's back.'

 

He finished and sent Miroku to get some splints for her hands (the family keeps a stock of them since everyone is always getting hurt), Kesa propping herself up into an upright position, all the while keeping her eyes closed.

 

When he was finished, he moved aside, and turned to leave when a slap echoed throughout the room. Both Miroku and Sesshoumaru stared at Sango who had just slapped Kesa across the face. It was rapidly turning red in the shape of her hand, and Kesa had not yet moved her head from the position the slap had placed her in. Her bangs covered her eyes, so it was impossible to tell what she was feeling. It was a good thing she had her contacts in, and not her glasses because they would probably be lying on the floor broken due to the force Sango had hit her with.

 

“How dare you do that to me. I'M YOUR FRIEND! Do know how much you hurt me today? And then you go and do this. Is it all some kind of ploy for attention?”

 

Still not moving, Kesa replied. “If it was all a ploy for attention, then would I have gone off by myself for hours, or waltzed in all bloody screaming `help me'? I did the former, meaning I wanted to be left alone. I would still be alone if Miroku hadn't sent Sesshoumaru to bring me in here.”

 

“How do you know…?” Miroku asked in obvious confusion.

 

“How else would I have gotten here? Sesshoumaru was the last one out there, but I'm sure as hell he wouldn't have gone out there on his own. What'd you do? Promise him I'd be mad and ignore him if he brought me inside?”

 

Sesshoumaru looked at him sharply, and would have laughed at the expression on his face if he had been anyone else. But he was not, and the great Sesshoumaru did not laugh. Period.

 

“I knew it. Why couldn't you just let me be?”

 

“So you could do what? Sulk about how bad your life was? That you had a bitch for a master and you couldn't poison her? That you can't talk to me and tell me what's going on before you blow up in my face for no reason and with no provocation? I lost my brother, my father, everyone. I watched that bastard Naraku kill them all. Do you see me screaming all the time? And poor Kagome, she's living proof of his viciousness. Do you know what else he did to her? He raped her. He used her as a sex toy since she was 10. Does she try to kill herself right after she can move again? You don't have anything against Naraku personally, and you don't know the extent that he'll go to make others suffer.

 

“The hell I don't! I said that kikyo hired some goons to beat me to death. I lied. Her boyfriend did it. Her boyfriend was Naraku. She was going out with him while she was going with Inuyasha. I didn't know Yash at the time, and by the time I did, they had already broken it off. She was giving Naraku information on him, and the rest of you because she's his fucking bitch. Yanno, he managed to rape me as well before he nearly killed me. He wasn't in me for that long before I managed to whack him in the balls, and that's how I got this scar on my face. Because he held me at knifepoint and I when struggled to hit him the knife slipped and slashed my face. Are you happy now? Are you fucking happy to know that my life isn't perfect either?”

 

Sango stared at her in shock. “Why…why didn't you tell me this before…”

 

“You think I'm going to admit to everyone `Hey look at me! I'm a weak human, so I can be taken advantage of easily. The line starts here if you're interested.' I haven't even accepted it myself! I don't want to think about it, and I definitely don't want your pity. I'm lucky as hell I'm not mother to his child. Though if he had managed to get me pregnant, and it was the right time of the month for me, he probably killed it when he beat me afterwards. I'm relatively glad he centered around my abdomen now that I think of it. Yanno, I was ashamed that I'd let that happen to myself. I should have died rather than give him exactly what he wanted. That monster deserves to be shot. Why do you think I've become so obsessed with getting stronger, and learning how to defend myself? I'm not going to let that happen again, to you or Kagome!” She stood up and tears ran down her face. She pushed past the two shocked males of the room and stormed out the room.

 

Sango collapsed on the spare bed, and just stared at the wall, trying to take all this in.

 

“I'm going to bed,” Sesshoumaru announced, as if she had not just spilled out her biggest secret for the first time.

 

He was not acknowledged in the least bit as he glided gracefully out of the room, and disappeared down the hallway. `It's amazing how every single bloody person in this house who hasn't been here since my great-grandfather built this house is connected to Naraku in some way. He has obviously been a busy little son-of-a-bitch now hasn't he?'

 

That was so sad to write! I'm so depressed now…I guess you can tell this is going to get more angsty as it goes on. Heh, anyway, I'm done rambling now, but if you want to chat/questions/comments, then email or im me at:

 

AIM: CrimsonDream87

ShadowsSong87

DarkMoonGlow77

(All of my AIM names are linked, so it doesn't matter which one you IM really)

Yahoo: Dark Moon Glow77 @ yahoo.com (spaces not included)

 

Ok…I think that's everything, so Ja ne!

 

Translations~

Itai-ouch

Kami-god or sprirt

Youkai-demon

Baka-idiot, moron, ass, etc..

Kuso-shit, fuck

Bouzo-insulting term for a Buddhist monk

-sama~ highest honorific suffix

dojo-place where people train in martial arts

hai-yes

ningen-human

 

If I missed/misspelled/completely screwed up any, let me know.