InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Slave's Love ❯ May I Have This Dance? ( Chapter 7 )

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: I just spent my last five bucks on Raisinets (or however it's spelled) at the movie theater. So go ahead and sue-all you'll get after paying your huge legal fees is an empty Raisinet box. I'll even fill it with tissues so you have something to cry into after you realize you wasted a ton of money for absolutely nothing.

 

Yeah, yeah, really late I know. Writer's block sucks, and I can't write light romance for shit. But I (finally) persevered through my completely horrible and fucked-up love life and managed to write a suck ass chapter with some romance that will hopefully satisfy everyone. I don't want everyone to fall in love at once or too quickly, so full out romance will take a while, and no amount of threats or pleas will speed the story line up. Be satisfied with some fluff for now. And also, Sesshoumaru isn't such a tight-ass in this, and cusses more than in the English show (though in the Japanese manga his favorite word is “asshole” XD)

 

Recommended fics: If you like Buffy fics, then you absolutely must read anything by Just My Heart. She's under my favorites list of authors, and some of her stuff is under my favorite stories. She's an amazing writer, and I'm proud to call her one of my best friends (also I'm quite jealous of her writing ability, but let's keep that between us :wink:)

:A Slaves Love:

Chapter 7: May I Have This Dance?

 

Last time- “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 grandfather built it is connected to Naraku in some way. He has obviously been a busy little son-of-a-bitch now hasn't he?'

 

This time- Inuyasha awoke with a start as he heard the door to the library slam shut and lock down the hall. `Who the hell is that?' he took a few deep whiffs since he was still groggy, and got the strong smell of Kesa. And judging by the dominating scent of anger and tears, she had just confronted Sango. `I can finally find out what in hell is going on.'

 

Inuyasha through off his blanket, padded out the door and down the hall softly. He stopped in front of the closed door, wondering if she would hurl something at him if he didn't knock. He decided to play it safe and do as his gut told him so he didn't get massacred. When he had received no answer, he knocked harder this time, restraining from calling out to her. When the sudden sound of tearing flesh reached his cute ears, and the overpowering stench of blood reached his nostrils, he pounded the locked door down, only to find Kesa sitting in the middle of the floor, her legs folded neatly next to her, crimson liquid spilling freely from her slashed left wrist.

 

He swiftly ran toward her before she could hurriedly do the other, and ripped the kitchen knife from her grasp. Tears were silently flowing down her cheeks, and the suicide note she had scribbled was lying next to her, her final signature being her blood. She fought Inuyasha tooth and nail to get the knife back, screaming about how he shouldn't have interfered.

 

“What the fuck do you think your doing? Give it back to me! Let me go and let me finish! It's for the best! LET ME GO DAMN YOU!”

 

Inuyasha just realized that her struggling had increased the flow of blood, meaning that she didn't have to cut her other wrist to bleed out. He quickly wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug, pinning her arms to her sides fiercely.

 

“I think I'm saving you life,” Inuyasha finally replied softly in her ear.

 

Her struggling ceased a little, but she still twisted violently every now and then, before breaking out into sobs. This is when he finally felt safe letting her go so he could give her a temporary tourniquet and save her. But as he was ripping the cloth from his shirt, she bolted out the door, running down the hall toward the kitchen.

 

“Shit!” Inuyasha ran after her to stop her before she could do anymore damage. Inuyasha grabbed her shoulders and spun her around so that he faced him, opening his mouth to yell at her for what a stupid ditz she was being, when suddenly she was ripped from his grasp, twirled around, and finally firmly backhanded across the face; the result of which was her landing hard on the floor.

 

“What the hell?! Sesshoumaru, why are you here?”

 

Sesshoumaru just ignored Inuyasha and glared down at the disturbance keeping him from his precious sleep. “I just bandaged your wounds not ten minutes ago. Must you always get into trouble?”

 

Kesa stared at him in shock (and rubbed her sore, rapidly swelling cheek) from the floor as he took the strip of cloth dangling limp from Inuyashas' hand, and picked her up by her collar to gently push her against the wall to keep her upright on her own two feet, and to help stop any more escape tactics. He expertly tied the piece of Inuyasha's shirt around Kesa's bicep in less than thirty seconds once she was stably against the wall. But by now, the adrenaline of the escape wore off, and she felt exceedingly light headed. She clutched her head loosely with her uninjured hand as lights danced a merry waltz in front of her eyes, before placing it on Sesshoumaru's chest to keep herself balanced and upright. Her knees went weak, and before she knew it, she had collapsed into someone's waiting arms.

 

“Sess…Sesshoumaru…”

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

Inuyasha burst into Kesa's room, startling the wits out of Sango and Miroku. They stared at him like he was some depraved madman, covered in blood.

 

“So he's finally awoken,” Miroku commented dryly, not sounding the least bit interested as to why he looked like an axe murderer.

 

“Don't tell me, you're practicing Halloween costumes and you're trying to imitate Sesshoumaru or you've just become lazy in picking costumes and took the easy way out. I like the look, but it's not too original fyi, ” Sango put her two cents in without any real interest, until a sudden breeze ruffled her hair and she gasp when she looked over and saw a mass of red being carried by a now blood-soaked Sesshoumaru.

 

“Where are the medical supplies from earlier?” He asked calmly to a speechless Sango.

 

“Wh-wh-wh-”

 

“Just do as I say if you want her to live,” he said impatiently, surprised at the emotion building up inside him. It felt like he actually cared if the girl lived or died. `Impossible,' he scoffed. `Did this mere slip of an annoying, obviously unstable wench manage to get to me? No…it's just my passion for medicine kicking in. Damn career. Damn impulses.'

 

Sango nodded and quickly led him to the large medicine cabinet down the hall. There was one of these on each floor, just in case of emergencies, which everyone agreed they were having too many of these days.

 

He pointed to a few things verbally, Sango gathered them silently into her arms, and away they went into the bathroom. Sesshoumaru quickly set her down in the tub, and washed all the blood away from her wrist, so he could see the rate at which she was bleeding. Luckily, the mutt had managed to slow the flow of blood before it became fatal, but she was still in critical condition. There was a sluggish stream of liquid trickling from the gash, clashing horribly with the paleness of her ice-cold skin. Thank the gods she had been upset and not done it the correct way: she had made several gashes horizontally and not one long vertical one. Plus, the knife was dull, which is why it was only a few minor lacerations, though she had managed to get a deep one or two in there from what he could see, which is what was causing the blood to flow so profusely. `If she had done it correctly, she would have been dead minutes ago.'

 

He was sure since she was trained in medicine that she would know which direction to do it, which led him to believe that it was a heat of the moment thing and that her subconscious had probably tried to save her. That was the case with many suicide victims, but it didn't always turn out the faerie-tale ending everyone hoped for.

 

While thinking all this, he had lifted her arm up and put it on the rim of the tub, then sliced the makeshift tourniquet off her arm with one of his built in daggers: his claws. He applied pressure directly to the wound, and on the pressure point above it. He hoped they wouldn't need blood for her, since he wasn't sure he could get it in enough time.

 

Her breathing was shallow, and her face whiter than the full moon on a clear night. But she would hang in there. Her spirit was too fiery for her to die. It would never allow the Reaper to take her.

 

Sango stared down at Kesa's prone form, watching Sesshoumaru work as tears ran down her face. `Fool…'

 

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

Sesshoumaru bandaged up the girls' wrist tightly. A few splotches of red appeared on the snow-white gauze. `She's lost a lot of blood. She'll be anemic for a while, but she should live. When she's more stable, I should probably take her to the hospital for tests just to be sure. Her cheek will help with a cover story. Now if I bring her in looking like this everyone will finally get off my ass about how I never bring in battered slaves-if I even batter them that is. Those fools are supposed to heal, and heal they do-youkai only that is. Humans they beat until their hearts content. Some great medical practitioners they are.' He looked at the large black and blue bruise in the general shape on her face. `I didn't even hit her hard. Ningens are so fragile.'

 

-“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.” -

 

Her words from earlier ran through his mind, and he quickly shook the thought from his brain, wanting to concentrate on the task at hand. `This wench is much more labyrinthine than I had originally thought.'

 

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

Inuyasha had changed out of his bloody clothes and was now walking down the hall to Sango's room. He wanted to see Kagome, and find out how she progressing in her healing.

 

When he reached the door, he could tell by her scent that she was sleeping. He paused at the threshold, not sure if he should disturb her or not. But he figured that she would want to know the current events so he knocked quietly, half-hoping he wouldn't disturb her slumber. He could smell her body attempting to rouse, reacting slightly to the noise, but her mind paid no attention to her body's pleas. Meaning that she didn't budge a bloody inch. `Damn she's out like a rock,' Inuyasha thought, half surprised and half amused. `I thought that she would have been up like a shot since she had been a slave for so long.'

 

He tried again, except louder this time. He even ventured to call her name softly.

 

“Mmm…be right there…”

 

Inuyasha withheld a snort of laughter, the urge fading rapidly when he remembered that Naraku would have beat her senseless if she hadn't jumped right up the second he knocked the first time, let alone sleep right through his orders without budging. Hell, he probably would have beat her for not being awake, dressed and ready to roll before he even knocked, even though it was the middle of the night knowing him. Inuyasha shivered involuntarily at the mere thought of what he would do to her. `She's safe now. There's no need to worry about what'd he would do or wouldn't do because he'll never get his hands on her again.'

 

“Kagome, it's Yash. Can I come in?”

 

“Mmmhmmm,” she grumbled wordlessly as Inuyasha smiled and shook his head, opening the door. `She acts just like me in the mornings.'

 

He looked at her half-asleep form, moonlight that was flowing in from the wide windows over the bed threw eerie shadows over her body. They danced and frolicked gaily over her slumbering form due to a stray tree limb sprawled across the window, being bullied mercilessly by the wind. `She's healing nicely since she doesn't seem to be in pain right now,' he thought when he saw the odd angle she was sleeping in. He studied her face for a silent heartbeat. `All of the minor cuts and bruises have healed. The more major bruises on her face still have a few more colors to turn before they disappear completely, but at least all the swelling has gone down already. That cut Kesa made on her neck took 8 stitches to close up. Thank god she can close wounds as well as she can open them. The stitches would normally leave a faint scar, but Sango says that when the stitches come out, she'll rub coco butter on it, and it won't scar. We'll soon see I guess.'

 

“Is it morning yet?” Her groggy voice came muffled through the sheet she was under.

 

“Not quite yet-you still have a few more hours until sunrise.”

 

“Aww, then why did you wake me up Inuyasha? You know I don't function well until the later hours of the morning,” she teased, stiffly and carefully pulling herself up into a normal sitting position.

 

Inuyasha smiled when he saw her smiling face. “I know, you're exactly like me- it's almost creepy. But I figured you would want to know everything that's going on right now, and not wait until morning.”

 

The smile vanished instantly from her now-awake face. “Oh-no. Is it Sango and Kesa? What's happened? Are they OK? Is the fight resolved, or did it get worse?”

 

Inuyasha quickly interrupted her panicked questions to start explaining everything. “You obviously know that Sango and Kesa had a fight. I have no idea what it was about, or how it got started, but I'm sure I'll find out sooner or later. Anyway, Kesa went to the dojo to blow off some steam, then went to the woods and busted up her knuckles hitting some trees-”

 

He was interrupted by Kagome at this point. “I know all of that already. It isn't anything new. What's so bad about that?”

 

“You should learn more patience- I wasn't finished my story yet. Anyway, she stayed out on the beach for a few more hours, before Miroku sent Sesshoumaru to bring her in. Then about ten minutes after Sesshoumaru bandaged up her knuckles, she went into the library and tried to kill herself using a kitchen knife. Most of the cuts she made weren't deep from what I understand, but she did managed to hit the artery and she lost a lot of blood. I woke up when I heard her slam and lock the library door, and was able to stop her before she cut her right wrist. She's with Sesshoumaru now. That's all I know.”

 

“How could she do that? She never seemed the type…” Kagome stared at the floor in shock, her disbelief almost convincing her that Kesa hadn't ripped open her skin with the intention of dying.

 

“She isn't. At least, she hasn't been it in two and a half years.” At Kagome's questioning look, he sighed and continued. “When I first found her, she was a mess. About as bad as you were, if not worse. The wounds were older than yours were though, and we almost didn't get her broken bones set in time before they finished healing incorrectly. Moving on, it had taken her the better part of two months before she was able to really more again. Granted, she had to live in a wheelchair because her femur was broken, but at least she wasn't going insane in bed all day. As soon as she had graduated to crutches though, she snuck downstairs one night, and tried to kill herself using pills, since they're quick, quiet, and clean. Of course, we realized before she had taken too many and were able to stop her, but it was still horrible. She cried and pleaded with us to let her finish the job because she had nothing to live for: no home, no freedom, no friends, and basically no life. She had no desire to live at all then. She didn't trust us one bit, and she had reason to. She'd been betrayed, abused, and had watched fellow humans die needlessly over stupid things, knowing she could be next and no one would ever care or mourn her passing. So why after all that would she trust anyone now, especially demons? She thought we were just trying to fool her, heal her so she could become a slave again for us. She wanted no part of it, and would rather have died then go back to that life. It took the better part of a year before we earned any of her trust, and it took a hell of an effort on our part to get it that fast. But once we had it, we never betrayed her, so she's a bit less tight-assed now, but she's still cautious around new people. I'm surprised she took to you so quickly, but maybe it's only because you reminded her of herself when we took her in, and she doesn't want you to travel the same path she did. I dunno, I never really got her. There's still a lot I don't know about her; even Sango barely knows more than I do, but I'm sure one day she'll be comfortable enough to tell us more about her past than what it is “in a nutshell,” as that's her favorite phrase when she's surmising something,” Inuyasha finished quietly, looking at Kagome to see her reaction.

 

“I hope that one day she does tell you her past. I would love to hear more of it, but I doubt I'll still be here to hear it,” Kagome closed her eyes sadly, Inuyasha staring at her in shock.

 

“Now what in hell would give you that impression?”

 

Kagome opened her eyes, but didn't look at Inuyasha's face, just his neck. “Naraku will come for me-I know it. He dumped me off hoping I'd get used and abused by the lowlife's of that district. His scent was all over me, so all the youkai knew I was his, and that if they took me and tried to hide me, he would kill them. The rule is if you dump a slave, you don't leave your scent behind-you have someone else leave the slave so that the scent is older- then the demons know you're not wanted, and they can do as they please with you with no repercussions. If the scent is fresh, then that means the master wants the slave to be taught a lesson -the lesson being: “Be glad that you're with me, and you don't have to go through this everyday. Now maybe you'll show me the respect I deserve,” etc. etc.- yet not taken from the spot where they left them. Everyone there knows Naraku's scent, and does just that. The last demon that tried to steal one of his slaves died a very violent and gruesome death. He made damn sure that his scent was all over me because he wanted me back, just with a new mindset about how to treat him, that's all. You broke that understood agreement. You took me from that spot and now he'll be hunting me. He'll want me back, and he won't care who he has to kill to get me. I don't want anything to happen to you guys, so you should just take me back to him, saying you weren't from the area and found me, and that didn't know to leave me there. Tell him I told you his name to return me. He might even give you a reward,” She smiled with no humor, only sarcasm.

 

“There is no way in hell I'm giving you back to that bastard-ever. I'll kill him if I have to!”

 

“That would make a lot of people happy you know,” Kagome told him, a bit shocked that he had reacted so strongly towards the idea. “I just don't want anyone here to get hurt over me.”

 

Inuyasha hooked his finger under her chin and forced her to look him in the eye. “Don't worry Kagome, nothing will happen to us. Besides, he's had this coming for a long time. I've wanted to kill him for a while, and now you've just put the final nail in his coffin. He will die, don't you worry.”

 

“But he's strong and he never plays by the rules-”

 

“Yeah, I know. But I can handle him. So can everyone else in this house. Kesa can fight pretty well for a human, Sango comes from a long line of taijiya and was trained in combat almost all her life, and even Miroku has some skill beyond the spiritual stuff. Besides, as much as I hate to admit it, we've got Sesshoumaru. He can kick anyone's ass in a heartbeat-including mine,” Inuyasha grumbled the last part, and Kagome laughed. “He could easily kick Naraku's ass. He is one thing that will hold him off from coming here for a while if he somehow finds out that you're here. Sesshoumaru's track record of battles is flawless-he hasn't lost yet. All his opponents have either surrendered or died. Ironic he's a doctor since he's the perfect killer. His reputation is known far and wide, and most demons fear him. I'm sure Naraku knows this, and is probably more than a little scared of what he's capable of himself. That's what you get for being over 800 years old I guess.”

 

Kagome's mouth dropped. “He's over 800 years old? Wow…I never would have guessed. He only looks 21 at the oldest. How old does that make you then?”

 

Inuyasha fidgeted a bit. “Well, it's not important…”

 

“Please tell me? I won't laugh or anything. Please?”

 

Inuyasha sighed in defeat. He just couldn't take her puppy dog eyes looking at him for long without giving in to her. “Dammit. Fine. I'm 423. Happy now?” Inuyasha looked away unhappily.

 

“See, that wasn't so hard. I'll never live to see that age though. I'll be lucky if I hit 30 at this rate. How long do demons normally live anyway?” Kagome tilted her head in genuine curiosity.

 

Inuyasha looked at her eyes, searching for the disgust he thought would come. But there wasn't any; only curiosity, which was a welcome surprise. “Well, full demons normally live to be about 4000 years old if you can believe that. Half demons normally only live 2000, which is logical. But some demons have been reported to have lived until they are six or even seven thousand years old. It's rare, but it can still happen.”

 

“Wow, that's amazing. Humans are lucky if they live to be fifty or sixty in this day and age. We could probably live longer if we were in better circumstances. If we were healthy, and weren't abused, we could probably live another thirty or forty years easily. Maybe it's good this way though. It's keeps the population down so that less resources are used.”

 

“How can you say that? Yes, the world needs population control, but abuse and murder aren't the answer! Just as many demons should die for every human that does. They should limit the number of children you can have. Something other than slavery dammit. It's just not fucking right,” Inuyasha finished quietly.

 

Kagome laid her hand on Inuyashas forearm and replied, “I know this, and you know this. Heck, even Sesshoumaru seems to know since he's ok with not having slaves. But that doesn't mean the world realizes this, and I don't think it ever will. Youkai have become so accustomed to having slaves, and humans have become so accustomed to being slaves that equality can never be reached. Youkai live long lives obviously, and aren't likely to forget what happened within a few generations like humans would. There will always be prejudice, fear, hatred, and abuse between these two groups. Is it wrong? Yes, but that doesn't mean it will go away because it's not morally correct. People cheat on spouses all the time, but does it stop because it's wrong? People will do something that's considered “bad” or “politically and morally wrong” just to prove they have the guts to do so. That's why so many teenagers drink and do drugs. It's wrong, and they have something to prove to everyone, including themselves. It's a never-ending loop that won't break anytime soon,” she finished sadly, her thumb stroking Inuyashas arm gently where her hand was.

 

Inuyasha gently placed his clawed hand on top of hers for a moment before withdrawing and standing with his back to her. “If I tell you something, will you promise not to be mad?”

 

“Cross my heart. You know you can tell me anything.”

 

“You've heard the story about how humans became imprisoned after being the imprisoners, correct?”

 

“Of course I have. How one young inuyoukai managed to organize the rest of the youkai slaves in his household into a successful rebellion, and leading other households to follow suit until the humans surrendered. What of it?” Kagome asked in confusion.

 

“Well, that one young inuyoukai that started it all, that caused the world to be as it is now…he was my grandfather.”

 

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

A teary-eyed Sango knocked on the door to Miroku's room after Sesshoumaru told her to scram. Not in those exact words of course, but that was still the general idea. It was either because a.) She was so upset she wasn't helping him any, and her constant crying and whimpering annoyed him, or b.) That he decided it would be better for her to rest and get some much needed sleep to calm her rattled nerves a bit. After barely a second of consideration, she deduced that it absolutely, positively, without a doubt…was the former. Which was of course a bit depressing since it only proved, yet again, that no one gave a hoot about her feelings, only their own.

 

Miroku answered the door, his jaw dropping to the ground when he saw who it was. “Sango-chan! You've never come willingly and of your own accord to my room before. What finally caused this bout of good fortune? Is it that you need some of my…comfort?”

 

“Stuff it back in your pants Miroku, I'm not in the mood for jokes, or any of the `comfort' you're talking about.”

 

Miroku nodded, his cheery façade slipping off, and backed away from the door to allow her entrance.

 

She cautiously slid by him in case he decided to try anything funny. Surprisingly, he kept his usually roaming hands and rushing fingers to himself. Obviously, he was just as upset by the nights' events as she was.

 

Sango stopped in the middle of his bedroom, which was generally the same as hers was, except that his had a different color scheme-dark purple and black, the colors of his monk's robes. He wasn't wearing them tonight though. He only wore them once a week during his prayers to Buddha-he wore regular clothes the rest of the time. He decided to do this because he didn't live at a temple, but still wanted to show devotion to Buddha, which Sango thought was admirable seeing as how he didn't have to.

 

She looked down and sighed, tears threatening to overwhelm her again. `Why did she do it? Is life here with us really so unbearable?'

 

“Sango…” Miroku trailed off as he saw the slight shaking of her shoulders, and heard her trying to repress sobs.

 

He said nothing as he walked over and enveloped her in a gentle embrace, pressing her head into his muscular chest. She wrapped her slim arms around his waist and clutched his shirt as she let go and cried her heart out, tears stinging at his own eyes because of her distress.

 

They stood there like that, gently wrapped up in each others comforting arms, not caring about anything else that went on, for what seemed like forever before Sango finally pulled away, blushing to her toes.

 

Miroku smiled at her, genuinely smiled, before walking over to his stereo system and turning on some slow jazz. “Would you care to dance Sango?”

 

“What?”

 

Miroku laughed at the absolutely shocked look on her face. “I find that dancing can be a very relaxing activity with the right music. Obviously, rock and metal get the blood pumping, which isn't very relaxing. Rap and hip-hop bring about more of a jittery mood, and country, well, let's just not touch that one.” Sango giggled as Miroku smiled and continued.

 

“So that leaves us a few options: classical is good if you want to waltz, and instrumental I reserve for meditation. Then, there are the ever-popular love songs people dream will become a reality in their loveless lives. Surprisingly, I too am intrigued by the lore they hold, but I'm sure you would never want to dance to a sappy love song since you're not on a date. That leaves good ol' jazz, and not the Big Band jazz, the slow relaxing stuff. It's neutral in the romance department, but it's still easy to slow dance to.

 

So the final thing I have to say is: May I have this dance?”

 

“But what about…everything?”

 

Miroku sighed. “I just asked because I thought it would cheer you up. I can't stand to see you so upset.”

 

Sango thought for only a moment before smiling crookedly. “Of course you can have this dance. Just keep the hands above the hips and below the bust, huh?”

 

“I would never dream of doing anything of the sort my dear lady.”

 

“I'm sure,” Sango remarked dryly, rolling her eyes as she took his hand.

 

Miroku carefully placed his hands exactly were they were supposed to go, and they never once moved or twitched in the wrong direction. They danced and danced to the entire CD of `Jazz for a Rainy Afternoon' twice. Translation: they danced for almost two full hours with nary an incident.

 

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

Sesshoumaru checked Kesa's pulse once more, finding that she wasn't that far off from being normal again, but it wasn't that close either. He sighed in relief. He didn't know why, but the fact that she lived, and would most likely be without long-term damage gave him a slightly elated feeling. He tried to repress it, push it back to whatever hellhole it originated in, but that didn't work so well, so he just ignored it in the typical Sesshoumaru fashion. Or tried to anyway.

 

Whilst in the land of denial, he leaned back against the wall, feeling fatigue set in. `This is what happens when you don't sleep for weeks. Even a nap somewhere in there would have helped me. Damn my work-a-holic ways. Just because I'm youkai doesn't always mean I'm god. Even demons need sleep every once in a while. And if it wasn't for this wench I would have had it too god dammit.'

 

As he drifted off into a light sleep, he muttered his last words of consciousness aloud, for whatever reason. “Hmm…saved another one…twice no less.”

 

And right before he finally fell off the face of the conscious world, he could have sworn he heard her voice reply just as sleepily, “Just another notch for your dashboard.”

 

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

Kagome stared at Inuyasha for a tense moment of silence. “He, uh, you…what?”

 

Inuyasha stared at Kagome's shocked face, wishing to Buddha he hadn't just told her that it was his ancestor that made her a slave. `What the hell was I thinking telling her that? She'll hate me for sure now. I'm such a fucking idiot.'

 

“Well, Kagome, he, uh…” For the first time in his life, Inuyasha didn't have an answer of some sort. Right, wrong, smartass or idiotic, he usually had a come back for anything. But this, it stumped him. He didn't want to anger her, nor did he want her to hate him.

 

While the cogs of Inuyasha's brain churned furiously, Kagome gathered her wits about her. “Inuyasha.”

 

Said man's head whipped up hopefully, fingers crossed that the next words out of her mouth were good ones.

 

“I don't care.”

 

“Are you crazy? How can you say that? It's because of my family that you were beaten and abused. How can it not matter to you?” Inuyasha quickly shut his mouth after realizing what he said. `How the hell could I say that? I'm trying to think of ways to keep her from hating me, and what do I do? I question her sanity when she says she doesn't care. Smart move Sherlock. Damn it!'

 

Kagome laughed gently. “It's not your fault. You weren't even around or thought of when that all happened. You couldn't have been. Demons' breeding was controlled, and so were the demons once they had children. I doubt your grandfather would have attempted the rebellion if he had a child because if he had been caught, your…father I take it?” Kagome waited for Inuyasha's nod to continue. “If he had been caught your father would have been killed on the spot as punishment right before his eyes. But even if you did have something to do with the rebellion, I understand perfectly why you would have. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't wish a rebellion would pop up that I could join and escape that monster. I don't blame your grandfather in the least bit. The humans that enslaved demons had it coming. I just wish that they would be the bigger species end all of this nonsense after the debt had been paid.”

 

Inuyasha stared at her second head, fascinated beyond belief at the tricks it was performing. “So…it doesn't matter?”

 

Kagome smiled, “Not in the least bit. I was just a little shocked at the odd coincidence of meeting the descendant of the Great Tai-youkai that started it all.”

 

Inuyasha let out a relieved sigh and smiled at Kagome. “So, now that that's all cleared up, what do you want to talk about?”

 

“Anything. But preferably something happy.”

 

“Heh, I think that can be arranged.”

 

And so, they fell into a cheerful conversation for the next few hours.

 

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

Sesshoumaru awoke with a jolt around 5 o'clock. “Shit!” he cursed, glancing at his blood caked watch. “I'm fucking late.” He looked down at Kesa's slightly shifting form. `Damn you. This is the first time I'll ever be late. This won't look good on my record, unless…'

 

A predatory smile flittered across his face for a moment. “You'll come in handy after all I guess. Wake up you,” He gently shook her. He knew that he shouldn't startle her awake because of the trauma her body had already undergone- it would just make it worse. So he ignored all of his desires to shake the life out of her (ironic since he just saved her life) and instead concentrated on light pats, taps, and shakes.

 

Groggily, after a few minutes of Sesshoumaru's iron patience never wearing thin, she squeezed her eyes shut tightly before slowly opening them. Her vision was fuzzy for a moment, and she waited for her contacts to adjust. `Good thing these are the kind you can keep in for up to a month without taking out otherwise I'd be screwed,' floated through her mind when she gathered some of her bearings.

 

She lifted her head up quickly, only to become dizzy and lightheaded. “Oh shit. What's all this? And why the hell is my cheek so sore?” She asked aloud when she saw her bandaged wrist after lifting it to grab her spinning head.

 

“You tried to kill yourself by slitting your wrist last night. The mutt managed to stop you before you were able to do both. And your cheek is sore because I backhanded you across the face when I realized what you had done.”

 

“I did what? Ok, I vaguely remember it. Jesus…why the fuck would I do something so stupid?”

 

“Why ask me? How should I know what idiotic thoughts were running through that brain of yours?” Sesshoumaru asked, realizing to late that he had opened himself up for her smartass remark.

 

“Uh, remember that little trait you have? The one where you can read people's thoughts. You're telepathic. But no matter. That was more of a rhetorical question anyway. Plus I was talking to myself, so there's a double reason I never really expected an answer.” She crinkled her eyebrows for a moment before continuing. “Man, you must really be tired if you left yourself wide open for my comeback. When's the last time you slept? Because even though you're a demon-”

 

“I need sleep every now and then,” he finished, knowing this phrase by heart. “And I just woke up a few minutes ago.”

 

Kesa rolled her eyes. “I mean before tonight.”

 

He kept his mouth shut for a moment, not knowing how she would react to him saying he hadn't slept a wink in over a month. She would either let him know in no uncertain terms what a complete fucking idiot he was being, or…he couldn't think of anything this wench would do but insult him, so he just gave in and told her before she started bugging him about it.

 

“About four and a half weeks ago.”

 

“Are you nuts? Over a month? You can't push your body like that. I mean, three weeks, sure, no problem for a demon. But almost five? What are you trying to do, kill yourself from exhaustion? Plus you're an E.R. doctor, and you need to be awake and alert because lives depend on it. You of all people should know what sleep deprivation can do to your body, so why haven't you slept?”

 

Sesshoumaru looked at the concern in her face surprised and slightly skeptical. “Why do you act like you care? Aren't you always telling me I should drop dead?”

 

Kesa's shoulders sagged a bit, whether from anemia or guilt Sesshoumaru would never know. “I don't mean what I say. You just annoy the hell out of me sometimes, and when I'm upset I say a lot of things I don't mean. I don't want you to drop dead. Not literally at least. But that isn't the issue-you're just trying to change the subject so you don't have to answer. I know for a fact you never listen to me or take advice from me in any way, shape, or form on any subject, so why should `drop dead' be any different?”

 

Sesshoumaru smirked. “I never thought I would say these words, but you're right.”

 

Kesa put a look of exaggerated surprise on her face. “Gasp! I never though I would hear those words either. Get me a calendar, I need to forever engrave this momentous event into history,” Kesa smiled weakly.

 

“Hmph. I'm taking you to work with me so I can get you blood. Also, you double as my excuse for being late, since I am now due to staying up all night to save you. And by the way, I was planning on sleeping last night.”

 

Kesa couldn't hide the guilty look on her face. “I'm really sorry. Trying to kill myself was selfish and ignorant of me. I just get like that when I think of life beyond these walls. I guess it's still ingrained into me that I wouldn't be missed if I died tomorrow. But there are still a few people on this earth who want my smartass remarks and violent tendencies. Man, those traits make me sound like a real winner. But thank you Sesshoumaru, for saving me. Twice. I owe ya quite a few now,” Kesa tried to grin in her usual manner, but her energy was failing fast.

 

“Oh, and by the way, before I pass out from using all of my energy, I'd like to also thank you for backhanding me. It's no where near what I deserve, but it's a start,” she added quietly before finally allowing herself to fall into the enchanting lull of unconsciousness that had been pecking at her brain for a while.

 

Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow at her limp form before adjusting her into a more comfortable position. “Last night's incident notwithstanding, you seem to be maturing.” Sesshoumaru left the bathroom on that note to go get a quick shower, throw some clothes on, and figure out exactly what he was going to say when he got to work.

 

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

Ok, I was going to end it there since people are saying “too much Sess and sucky OC,” but this is really late, so, I'll add more. Mind you, I was going to save it until next chapter because it's the hospital scene with Sess and Kesa, and I was going to leave this chapter mostly with Inuyasha and Kagome, but I have no idea when the next chapter will be out. I'm working through some major writer's block trying to figure out where I want this to go, so since I know what I want to do with this scene, I'll put it in.

Love it or hate it, Sess is a major character in this because he's my favorite character from the show-lately the only reason I watch it anymore. But why would you care about my TV viewing habits? I'm rambling and need to shut up and move on. So here it is.

 

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

Inuyasha smelled him before he heard him. “Hey Kagome, hold on a sec. There's something I have to check out.”

 

“Uh, sure. Go ahead.”

 

Inuyasha quickly jumped up off the bed and calmly opened the door, though his nerves were going insane. “What happened? Will she live?”

 

“She's fine. I was coming to get the wheelchair. I saw that the girl in there was using it, and I need it to bring Kesa to the hospital with me.”

 

“Um, yeah sure. Take it. But if she's fine then why do you need to take her there?” Inuyasha started to worry that his brother was holding something back. He was infamous for his habit of withholding details.

 

“As I said, she is fine, but it would help her body recover easier and faster if I gave her a transfusion. That is the only reason she needs to go,” Sesshoumaru added, knowing because of his “little trait” that his brother thought he was skimming over the details because she was in a bad condition, and would question him further, therefore making him even more late than he already was.

 

“Oh. Yeah that makes sense I guess. I'll go in and get it for you. I don't think Kagome would mind giving it up for a while.”

 

`So his newest pets' name is Kagome,' Sesshoumaru thought distractedly as he waited for his younger brother to return.

 

Inuyasha returned not more than a minute later, the folded up wheelchair tucked under his arm. “Do you want me to put her in it, or do you want to?”

 

“If you feel you must, then you do it. It would help me some because then I wouldn't get blood on these clothes and have to change again.”

 

Inuyasha nodded his approval, and they both took off and reached the bathroom within seconds. Sesshoumaru realized something as he opened the door for Inuyasha. They talked, and they didn't fight once. Not even an itty-bitty insult was thrown. It was shocking because usually they couldn't even stay in the same room without some form of a brawl breaking out. They were having civil conversation, and even helping each other. All because of Kesa. `The girl does have some use other than kitchen help and late excuses.' He watched vaguely as Inuyasha carefully picked her up bridal style after opening the wheelchair. He quickly grabbed some linen sheets from the bathroom closet to cover his car seat as a last minute idea. Soon her still sleeping body was rolling out to him, and he put the linens in her lap.

 

“She's all yours. Take good care of her will ya?”

 

“Like I haven't been doing that so far.”

 

Inuyasha blushed slightly and mumbled something about going back to Kagome. Sesshoumaru smirked, picked up the wheelchair, and practically flew down the steps to the garage door. `Damn, I should have made him come down to get her in the car. Looks like it's back to doing it the hard way…'

 

Sesshoumaru opened up a folded sheet and covered the seat of his beloved Vet. Even though the blood on her should be dry, he wasn't taking any chances. He took the other sheet and wrapped it around her, tucking it under her body so he had less of a chance of getting blood on himself.

 

“Hmm…” Sesshoumaru contemplated how he could make her look more like a slave once she was seated. The blood coated most of her clothes, which was good, but the clothes looked too high-quality underneath. He shredded bits of her gray shirt and pants, and sliced off the binding around her chest completely. Slaves would never have that, no matter what they were forced to do. Even if it would help them, masters made slaves suffer as much as possible. He messed up her hair even more, and sliced some chunks out. That would look good as a previous punishment for something. “Maybe a little mud and grime would help. I'm not about to rub it on her though. She'll have to do as is.”

 

He folded up the wheelchair and put it off to the side, since he wouldn't need it until they got back. He revved up the engine and drove away, deciding to let her sleep until they were about halfway there. Then they had to discuss her behavior at Shingetsu Hospital.

 

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

Kesa finally came back to the light after a few minutes of jostling. “Five more minutes Sango-chan. Please?”

 

“No, we have to talk. And I'm not Sango.”

 

Kesa's eyes shot open, and she looked around at the rapidly disappearing countryside and appearing suburbs. “Where in sam hill am I?”

 

“The outskirts of Kanazawa. I told you we were going to the hospital before you passed out.”

 

“Oh yeah. You have to give me a few minutes for my memory to kick in. It's a little slow on the uptake.”

 

“So I've seen. But moving on, I need to tell you how to act at the hospital. It's crucial-”

 

“That I don't give away I'm not treated as a slave. Take every order you give me, don't listen to anyone else unless given orders, act scared and helpless. And broken, that's always a plus. Umm…never look another youkai in the eye unless given orders by you, don't speak unless spoken to. Always address you and other youkai with the utmost respect. I know the drill. Kikyo had the rules pounded into me, not that it ever did her any good,” Kesa grinned cockily at the fond memories of driving her former master up the wall.

 

Sesshoumaru nodded in approval. “Good, you remember how to act, now for the cover story. I've decided to say that last night you decided to disobey me, to test my limits of mercy. I backhanded you across the face for your impudence, which explains the bruise. You told me to kill you if you were going to continued to be treated as thus, and so I gave you orders to slit your wrist since you wanted death so badly. I gave you a taste of the Reaper, and only after you begged and pleaded for your life, swore that you would be a loyal and obedient slave, did I consent to save your worthless hide. I am late because I ordered the others slaves to put you in the car, and they took too long so I had to give them punishment before I left. My coworkers should accept the story without much difficulty.”

 

“Catchy. I like it. I bet it's one of your biggest fantasies.”

 

“Oh, and why so?”

 

“You would love to `punish' me more often, and have me under your complete control.”

 

Sesshoumaru shook his head and decided not to touch that one. “Well, is there anything you would like to add to the story?”

 

“Actually, `add' isn't the word. The less details, the less made up something sounds. You can't be too vague, or they'll think you're hiding something; too much detail and they'll think that you're being too thorough in trying to convince them and won't believe a word of it. Stick to the basics, but be ready to elaborate a bit if pressed. Though there is one question that will probably be raised that we should discuss the answer to.”

 

Sesshoumaru mulled over her words as he asked her what that could be.

 

“Why you saved me even though I pleaded. Remember that cattle are worth more than slaves. If you killed me, it wouldn't matter. Just buy another one and save yourself the aggravation.”

 

Sesshoumaru grinned. “Aren't you the clever one? I'm glad the cogs are turning. I'll just say that you have a special knack for cooking that I haven't found in any other one of my slaves.”

 

“Good enough for me. And by the way, you are the one who did this to my clothes, right?”

 

“No, I commissioned one of the wild black bears from the woods to do it.”

 

“Oh hardy-har-har. Smartass. I asked if it was you because I'm missing something that's usually under my shirt.”

 

“The binding?”

 

“That would be it. So you are the one who did it.”

 

“Not that it would take a rocket scientist to figure out you wore it, but yes I did do it.”

 

Kesa's face flushed against her will, and she saw Sesshoumaru smirk out of the corner of her eye.

 

“Nothing I haven't seen before, I assure you.”

 

“Yeah, whatever you say pal. Just keep driving and let me get some of my dignity back.”

 

“It's not my fault you wear that instead of a bra like a normal woman. Slaves don't bind their chests because they don't fight unless their masters enter them into an underground Gladiator tournament. It had to go.”

 

Kesa shuddered at the thought of the revived Gladiator tournaments that demons devised. Instead of always seeing two youkai wasting each other within seconds, they pitted humans against each other, demons, and assorted animals, including but not limited to, lions, jackals, wolves, and cougars.

 

“Keep telling yourself that ya bloody pervert if it makes you feel better. Let's just get this over with.”

 

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

As soon as Sesshoumaru turned off his engine, he started barking orders at Kesa like a good master should because the youkai in the hospital had very sensitive hearing. Kesa pulled though beautifully. She whimpered, tears welling in her eyes as she opened the door and tried to walk. She promptly fell as her legs crumpled under her from weakness that wasn't part of the plan.

 

“Get the hell up you worthless bitch.”

 

“I'm trying master,” Kesa cried as she repeatedly tried to stand on the two towers of jelly she called legs.

 

“Well try fucking harder unless you want me to reconsider my decision to save your sorry ass.”

 

Kesa finally managed to gain a rocky footing when Sesshoumaru grabbed her neck, dragging her behind him reaming her out kind of loudly about how worthless and pathetic she was, and how he should just leave her in the gutter where she belongs.

 

`Damn, he's getting waaaay too into this. Totally un-Sesshoumaru like. He never shows emotion in public from what I hear. And he's actually starting to hurt my neck. My ass isn't feeling the best either,' Kesa thought while wincing because of her skin being rubbed raw by asphalt.

 

Surprising the hell out of Kesa, right after she thought that, the grip on her neck loosened a tad bit, and she was lifted off the ground more. She smiled inwardly. `Thank you Sesshoumaru-chan, because I know you can hear this.'

 

The only reaction he showed was lightly clinching his hand around her throat for a second before loosening it up again. Kesa knew that was his way of acknowledging her gratitude without blowing his cover.

 

After they had gotten inside the foyer of the employee entrance, he picked her up and threw her down hard on the ground. All of the nurses who had just been bustling to-and-fro a moment ago froze when they laid eyes upon the first slave Sesshoumaru had ever brought in. One old wiseass doctor that walked by just had to make a wiseass comment.

 

“Well well well, what have we here? Has the emotionally constipated doctor finally let himself get riled up by a naughty slave-bitch? My, what a wonderful surprise to find that you actually have it in you to punish the disobedient.”

 

“What makes you think she's the first?”

 

“Well for starters, you've never brought one in before.”

 

“Unless you have discovered the means of bringing back a corpse then bringing in the others would have served no purpose.”

 

“Whatever you say m'boy. Just keep her out of the way.”

 

“She's very obedient…now.” Sesshoumaru waved a hand toward her completely still form, her head facing the ground, her eyes away from everybody.

 

“Glad to hear it. Now I have to be getting back to my job. I have more important things to be worrying about than some damn slave girl. Just patch her up and stick her in a closet until your shift is done.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded his head to his superior. “Sir.”

 

The old man laughed as Sesshoumaru dragged Kesa to the nearest and smallest room by her hair. The tears Kesa shed weren't as fake as she would have liked. The stories she heard were true; it really fucking hurt! But she never let out a sound or fight him as she normally would have.

 

Once in the room, he closed the door behind him and picked her up only to drop her on the bed. `Damn hospital beds are hard,' Kesa inwardly grumbled.

 

“Now stay here, or else there will be hell to pay.” Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru squeezed her hand as his passed over her, a reassuring gesture that confirmed that he wasn't getting off on his newly found, and most definitely temporary power, and wasn't happy that he had to do it. `Jesus, when has he ever done something like that before? That boy has shocked me more times today…'

 

He returned a few minutes later with a bag of blood hanging on an IV rack complete with tubes.

 

“Hold still.” He stuck the needle attached to the tubes into the back of her hand and taped it down, then turned on the flow of blood and attached her to the bed with restraints.

 

“So you don't try anything stupid you dumb bitch.”

 

“If you see it as necessary master.”

 

“Don't you dare act like you have a choice or are consenting to this wench. Don't presume that just because the needle is in your skin that it can't come out.”

 

“I'm sorry master, I didn't mean to sound impertinent. Please forgive me.”

 

Sesshoumaru took a light whiff. “You're not lying, so I'll forget this one instance. But if it happens again…”

 

“It won't master.”

 

“Good answer. Now you'll stay here until I find that you have received enough blood. Then, I will take you to the janitors' closet, and you will stand there for the rest of my shift. Stand, not sit. The only words you will speak will be to someone who goes in there. You will tell them that you are the slave of Doctor Tamakata, and you are there by my orders until I say you can leave. If anyone tries to move you to a different location, then yell for me and I will straighten them out. You know what to do if anyone tries to steal or claim you as their own.”

 

“Hai Tamakata-sama. I am to scream until you get there.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded. “Hmph. Now I have a job to do, and I'll be back later to check on your progress.”

 

“Hai Tamakata-sama,” Kesa nodded her head because that was the only bow she could do.

 

And with his order still ringing in the air, he left to take care of his patients. Kesa soon dropped off from exhaustion, and to prep for the long hours she will have to stand when she's done receiving blood.

 

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

As Sesshoumaru flipped through the charts to see who needed attention the most, one of the residents walked by grinning.

 

“I just saw that slave of yours and heard what ya said. With a body like that she shouldn't be accustomed to standing for long periods of time.”

 

“If you're implying that I would stoop low enough to fuck a stupid slave for mere carnal pleasure, than you are an even bigger imbecile than I had originally pegged you as.”

 

He smiled, thinking that Sesshoumaru was just messing around, and laughed slapping him on the back. “Yeah I'm sure. You may think you're so much better, so much different than the rest of us, but you're still a demon, a man, with needs-”

 

Sesshoumaru whirled around and grabbed his wrist, twisting it behind the kids back easily, almost popping it out of its socket. “Now listen here,” he whispered right next to the kids ear. “For starters, don't you ever touch me again if you want to keep this arm. Second, I don't give into lust and rape an innocent girl for kicks and an unsatisfying quickie. And if I want to screw somebody, I can get it from any demoness I desire. I don't need some inexperienced human wench who has never pleasured a man before. Understand?”

 

“Ye-yes Tamakata-sama,” the kid sputtered, Sesshoumaru damn close to ripping his arm off.

 

“Good.”

 

The kid was released to rub his throbbing arm. “Damn you have a grip.”

 

Sesshoumaru went back to work and ignored the kid as he rambled on.

 

“Hey, I have a proposition for ya.”

 

`Oh great, here it comes,' Sesshoumaru thought, mentally rolling his eyes.

 

“Hey, are ya listening?”

 

“I am trying not to, but you're not making it that easy.”

 

The kid laughed, any and all anger about his arm long gone. “I want to buy your slave bitch.”

 

“No,” Sesshoumaru said flatly.

 

“Oh come on man, you can't let such a good piece of ass go to waste. Granted, she has nothing on a demoness, but she's still a knockout if you cleaned her up a bit.”

 

“What part of `no' confuses you?”

 

“The part where you won't accept a fair amount of cash for her.”

 

“She's not for sale.”

 

“Alright fine, I'll have to give you a price to entice you I see. Alright, I'll give ya…500 bucks for her man.”

 

“I could get more at an auction if I needed the money.”

 

“Fine, 550. You could always use some spare cash man.”

 

`This kid just doesn't know when to quit does he?' “Spare cash? That's pocket change for me. Don't you know anything about me? Obviously not if you're sprouting such moronic suggestions. I'm one of the wealthiest youkai on the planet. I only work because I enjoy it, and have no desire to sit around all day doing nothing but wallowing in my riches. I don't need your measly offer. Her services are worth more than your offer anyway.”

 

Sesshoumaru had never liked flaunting his status. It was disgusting how other demons abused the privilege of being wealthy to manipulate everything to suit them. He only used it when he was extremely annoyed or in a sticky situation. The latter had never happened, so it was again the former without a doubt.

 

`That should shut him up.'

 

“That explains a lot. No wonder you act like you have a pole shoved up your ass: it's because you have quite a few silver spoons jammed up in there.”

 

`Scratch that.'

 

“Consider yourself warned after this-if another word passes your lips to me while I'm trying to do my job, then you'll be the next patient treated. Is that clear enough for you, or do I have to spell it out kitty?”

 

The kid, a young cat demon, flushed a bit at the implication and the nickname. He was a cat, and Sesshoumaru a dog. Now tell me kids, who usually wins the brawl between the two species?

 

He mumbled incoherently under his breath and slinked away in a very feline-ish fashion.

 

“About bloody time,” came another mumble, except this time, it was from the top dog instead of the kitty-cat. (An: Wow that was a really bad pun XD)

 

And now, with the kid gone, Sesshoumaru finished scanning the charts and choose a demon with blunt force trauma to the head and chest because him and his buddy wanted to see how much strength it would take to knock out a demon, and where the best results happened.

 

Sesshoumaru quickly wrote down a smart-alecky comment on the chart before walking off to see how the dumb shit was doing and check his newest X-rays.

 

“Recommendation: Keep Mr. Tao and his half-wit pal far apart and away from baseball bats.”

 

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

Kesa awoke feeling refreshed by the sensation of a needle sliding from under her skin.

“Itai…”

 

Suddenly a lot more than what qualified as a mere “itai” happened across her cheek-her already bruised cheek I might add.

 

“Silence. I do not want to hear another utterance from you.”

 

Her eyes shot open and she took in her surroundings. `Oh shit, I'm at the hospital. I shouldn't have said that. Dammit, he should have woken me up first so I remembered not to say it. Shit damn fuck. Shit damn fuck…' was the chant going through her now un-sleep fogged mind. She quickly turned her shocked expression into one of fear and pain (the pain being not so faked). She nodded her head and sealed her lips tight.

 

`What a wonderful chant you have there. You should teach it to a group of pre-schoolers,' floated through her mind. She knew that it was Sesshoumaru talking and would have smirked at him openly if not for the circumstances, so she did it in her mind knowing he could sense it.

 

`I thought so. Maybe you could gather them around my bed and I'll start a daycare. How's that sound?'

 

Sesshoumaru passed the sensation of rolling his eyes to her. `You need to grow up. Onto more important matters, I have another four hours on my shift. You are lucky-you've been out for about five hours already because I put you on a slow drip.'

 

`Four bloody hours? I'm going to die doing that.'

 

Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow (not physically of course). `I could have pumped the blood into you faster and made you stand for six hours instead of four.'

 

`I love you Sesshoumaru.'

 

Sesshoumaru didn't respond, and was about to break the telepathic connection when she quickly got his attention. `Hey wait a sec before you leave. Do you remember when we were out on the beach and you told me about the mother and son that died?'

 

`Yes, what of them?' he responded, knowing full well what she wanted.

 

`Could you look at their charts and see if they have any family to take care of the arrangements. I'll look for their obituaries on the internet when we get home, but I can start planning during my little fours hours of fun since I'll have nothing better to do.'

 

Sesshoumaru was silent for a moment while he pondered. `I'll look if I get the chance, but there is no guarantee,' he finally decided, getting an excited and happy feeling from Kesa.

 

`Thanks old man.'

 

`Watch who you insult. Remember-don't bite the hand that feeds you,' Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes (remember this is all mentally too).

 

`I have been thoroughly abused today; that little tease was a freebie and you'd better let it slide. And remember-I'm only biting the hand that's been smacking me with the empty dish before he fills it.'

 

Sesshoumaru cut the connection at that. `Touché wench. Touché.'

 

During the little non-verbal chat, Sesshoumaru had been stretching out her muscles to get the new blood circulating through her system.

 

“Now that you're done here, I will take you to the janitors closet and you will do as I instructed earlier. You may stretch a bit if your limbs feel heavy, and you may pace slightly, but no more than two steps forward and two steps back past the original position. You are not to touch or disturb anything.”

 

“Hai master. Domo arigato gosaimasu for your patience and mercy.”

 

“You're lucky I have both those traits, but never forget that even I have limits again.”

 

“I will not make the same foolish mistake again Tamakata-sama.”

 

Sesshoumaru picked her up off the bed and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and walked her down the hall to the closet. He picked a square tile in the middle of the room to set her on. Without a word he left and closed the door behind him after turning on the light. Kesa mentally sighed braced herself for four hours of pure boredom.

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

Yeah, I'll end it there for you. I got ideas for the next chapter from writing this past scene but I still need overall plot ideas XD Anyone willing to step up to the plate and give me suggestions is entirely welcome to, and I will most likely try to find ways to combine everyone's ideas plus my own so that everyone is included. Ok, I'll shut up, put up the translations, and post away.

 

PS- Please excuse any bad grammar since I didn't proofread this twenty gazillion times like normal because I wanted to get it out the night I finished it. Thanks.

 

Translations-

Youkai-demons

Taijiya-Demon slayer

Inuyoukai-Dog demon

Tai-youkai-Demon Lord (I think. I don't remember the exact translation x.x)

Shingetsu-New moon

Hai-yes

Itai-Ouch

Domo arigato gosaimasu-Thank you very much

-chan-honorific suffix. Usually used between girls and toward children

-sama-honorific suffix for people of higher status or for a customer from a shopkeeper/employee