InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Slave's Tale ❯ Lonely Girl ( Chapter 7 )

 

 

A Slave's Tale

Episode 7—Lonely Girl

 

This was one of the worst days of her life, Kagome sat against the wall in the Slave's Den, hunched over and twisting her fingers together in her lap. It didn't make any sense anymore, why was this happening to her? Well it didn't matter, she was just a piece of property, and it was sickening. Standing, Kagome could feel her nervousness even in her legs as they were shaking. Well she was shaking from fear.

 

The door creaked open and Ayumi stood there, “Kagome, its time for you to go now.”

 

Kagome tried to smile, she really did. “Thanks Ayumi.” Reaching down she picked up her small but useful radio by its handle. It was the only thing she was allowed to have.

 

“Do you think you'll be back, Kagome?” Ayumi stepped in through the door way, folding her hands in front of her. Her head was held slightly downcast so Kagome couldn't see the emotions in her eyes.

 

She shook her head, “Personal slaves rarely return to the group, but I am sure Lord Inutaisho will have other things for me to do as well, so we'll still see each other.” Kagome sighed, “And we'll still have our Tuesday nights at the club.”

 

“Be careful Kagome,” Ayumi worried about her friend, “Don't do anything to make him mad, you've heard how he can get.”

 

Nodding vigorously, Kagome then let out a long breath of air. Then while looking at the ground she hurried from the room and past Ayumi. Walking through the palace a heavy cloud of depression seemed to settle on her. She was passing a figure in the hall and she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

 

“Kagome,” It was Kouga's voice which was strained and thick with despair, “I didn't want this.”

 

She lifted her head, her eyes to his, holding. “I know, I have to do what I am ordered to do.” Her brows creased in the center and her eyes darkening. “But one day, one day soon, it all will change.”

 

He nodded slowly, then reached out and took her arm, holding it in his. “I will walk you to Sesshomaru's room.” Kouga knew she was unhappy, she tried to hide it. But he could read her so easily. “Come on, we don't want you to be late now.” Kouga tried to hide his grief as well while he walked with her up the stairs and towards the east wing. They came to his chamber door and Kagome swallowed hard.

 

“I don't wanna do this.” She whispered, her eyes closing tightly. Kagome leaned forward and pressed her forehead against the wall next to the door.

 

Kouga had to do what was right for her, so he stood up straighter and lightly took her by the shoulders and pulled her up straighter as well. He turned her around gently to face him. “Now Kagome, you can do this. You need to be brave, just remember that you are one of the leading forces in your operation. This should be child's play compared to that.” He took a deep breath, “You are one of the strongest willed humans I have ever known Kagome, just remember that.”

 

She nodded, still not really believing him. But she did need to be brave, she needed to push her fear down and take her place here until that time when she with the other humans could be free, which was rapidly approaching. Kagome nodded then turned and faced the door, she saw Kouga lift his fist and bang it loudly and possibly annoyingly against Sesshomaru's door.

 

Kouga could hear and sense the Dog Youkai coming towards the door and it was pulled open. His eyes narrowed instantly on seeing Sesshomaru standing there with this emotionless exterior.

 

Sesshomaru's golden eyes shifted from Kouga to the slave girl, “It's about time, if you would have been one second later, there would have been consequences.”

 

Keeping her eyes to the floor, Kagome nodded with understanding. She knew that unlike Inutaisho, his son would not hesitate to hand out punishments, just as long as it didn't kill her of course.

 

Sesshomaru pushed the door open more, but did not move. “Well come in, stop wasting my time.”

 

Thinking for a split second on how to get passed Sesshomaru, Kagome pressed herself against the door as she slid into the room without so much as touching him.

 

The tiniest of smirks seemed to curve against Sesshomaru's lips as he watched the wolf Youkai's eyes narrow into angry slits. “Something I can help you with?” His tone was mocking.

 

Kouga took three steps forward, as he was almost standing in Sesshomaru's personal space, his eyes were blazing with controlled hostility, “if you do anything to hurt her, I will kill you.” Kouga threatened quietly.

 

Sesshomaru's emotionless mask replaced his mocking smirk, “The human is no longer your concern wolf. The slave is my property now and I will do what I please.” He took a step back and closed the door in Kouga's face, through the door he could feel Kouga's anger surge higher, Sesshomaru didn't smile, but he felt the urge too. Turning around, Sesshomaru found the slave girl had her back to him. “Girl,” his voice seemed to drip with ice as he saw her slowly turn around to face him, her eyes still to the floor. He let out a low growl, “You will look me in the eye when I speak to you, is that clear?”

 

After taking a settling breath, Kagome lifted her head, her dark eyes finding his, she saw him blink and small lines of what seemed to be annoyance or anger crossed his features.

 

“I have a list of rules for you that must be followed, if you break any of them, I will not hesitate to hand out punishments.” Sesshomaru regally walked over to his desk and picked up piece of paper, “My father is too lax with you slaves, and I am going to rectify that starting with you.” He held the paper outward. Sesshomaru noticed that the girl did not approach him. “Well don't just stand there like an idiot, come over here and take your list. Of course I don't really expect a human like you to know how to read.” He insulted rudely.

 

Kagome moved quickly and took the list from his fingers, taking note of those deadly claws, the ones that almost ended her life when she was a little girl. She gulped down a breath of air and turned the paper upwards, she could read it. Did Sesshomaru honestly think that she along with the rest of the slaves were incompetent, they had to learn how to read to run the household. Her eyes scanned the list.

 

No speaking unless spoken to.

No making faces in front of me or behind my back

Follow all orders.

No touching me unless given permission.

No talking back

Do not disrespect me, ever.

You will not address me by name, you will address me by the title of Master or Sir.

 

Once she was done reading the list she let her arm fall to her side.

 

“Are you finished?” He asked, looking at her coldly. He saw her nod, which wasn't good enough. “Answer me human.”

 

Kagome cleared her throat, “yes.”

 

“And do you understand that none of these rules are to be broken?” Sesshomaru spoke slowly as if he were talking to a child.

 

“Yes.” Kagome answered quietly and automatically.

 

Sesshomaru reached down and plucked the list from her hand and placed it back on his desk top, “Have you any questions before we begin this master-slave relationship?”

 

Was this a trick, if she asked an honest question would he in return punish her for her comments. Feeling the urge to get an answer though was more important than any punishment he could give her. “I do have one, if I may?”

 

Sesshomaru pulled his chair away from his desk and sat down, leaning his elbows on the top looking very serious. “Go ahead.”

 

She took a moment to gather her thoughts, “Lord Inutaisho has thousands of slaves, ones who are better at their duties than I, so why did you select me?”

 

“You would rather still be with the wolf, wouldn't you?” He saw her nod, she was honest, and most humans have tried to lie to him. Of course he could smell a lie a mile away, he knew that this girl was a lot smarter than she let on, and she must know that it was not wise to lie to him. “You humans disgust me, I have chosen you because of the wolf. I know for a fact that you know that he and I have never gotten along. You are just a tool used to humiliate him. That is all.” His lip curled in a dangerous sneer, “Youkai should not ever fall for a human slave; it is repulsive.” Sesshomaru noticed she kept her face emotionless, as he insulted her kind. She was doing well in following rule number two, “You may ask one more question, but only one. So make it important.” He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.

 

There was a question she wanted to ask, but the idea of it just made her mentally cringe, and her stomach was flip nervously. “You don't expect from me, uh…” She lifted her hand to the back of her neck where she rubbed it apprehensively. “You know…uh…” Her face heated from embarrassment.

 

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed in annoyance, was she really as incompetent as the others, surely he assumed she was more intelligent. She was fidgeting around and the scent of fear, worry and embarrassment assaulted him. “Do I expect what?” She was really starting to irritate him, then as if lightning striking he figured out what she was asking. “Are you asking in your own ridiculous way if I expect you to service me?” He watched as her face increased in color changing to a bright red and he could hear her heart thunder hard in her chest. Sesshomaru laughed, it was cold, shallow and harsh. “Don't flatter yourself; I would not degrade myself by using you in such a fashion.”

 

He saw a flicker of relief pass through her eyes and her posture even slumped a bit, like she was more at ease now. Standing to his full height, the bottoms of the chair scraping the tiles loudly, creating a ruckus, Sesshomaru saw the slave girl take one step back, looking up at him fearfully wide eyed. “Relax, I am not going to hurt you, you have done nothing to deserve it as of yet.” He was annoyed now. Lifting his hand he pointed to the corner behind her.

 

Kagome twisted around to see what he was gesturing to, seeing something in the corner she walked over in that direction. As she approached the corner she found what looked like a thin mat and one blanket, which also looked very thin. Looking over her shoulder at him, her brows creased and a question was evident in her brown eyes.

 

“That is where you will sleep,” He knew it was not much but she was a slave she didn't deserve anything more, she was lucky she was receiving that from him. “You will not leave this room during the night hours, unless I give you orders to. Don't make me have to enforce that rule by chaining you down.” He saw her eyes widen again with her understanding. “Now, my father still owns most of you, so he is still allowing you to go to that ridiculous human night club, if it were my decision, I wouldn't let any of you slaves have that much freedom.”

 

Kagome kept her face impassive as she silently cursed him in her mind, they, the humans didn't have any freedom! The Youkai don't understand that no one should be owned, she knew that they couldn't possibly endure a life that she and others like her have been forced to. This Youkai was arrogant and rude, but he would soon know what its like to want something so bad that he would do anything to get it. Perhaps a loss or two of his own was in store.

 

****

 

It had been three days since Kagome had left the Slave's Den to become Youkai Sesshomaru's personal slave. Hojo stared up at the balcony of the terrifying and cold Youkai, Even in the moonlight the brass iron that held up the stone ledge sparkled. Kagome kept everything completely polished and clean. Hojo let the smallest angry feeling pass through him, thinking that Youkai had better not have done anything to injure her. It was nearing midnight, and he was determined to speak to Kagome, he had information for her that couldn't wait until Tuesday night, he had a few small pebbles in his hand.

 

The room was dark except for the dull tiny nightlight that allowed Kagome vision so that she may find her way to the bathroom during the night. It was plugged in recently, since Kagome would run into everything and wake up Sesshomaru, him finally having enough of being woken up so rudely, put in a light so that she may see where she was going and not disturb his slumber.

 

She was lying down on the floor on that thin, uncomfortable mat, the thin blanket pulled up to her chin. Kagome had thrown her arm over her eyes to make it completely dark so that she too may get some sleep. Hearing a small clicking sound, she blinked, wondering if it was something in the room. Shrugging it off, she was about to turn over on her side to face the wall, when there was that clicking sound again. Sitting up, the blanket fell down to her waist. It sounded like something small hitting a piece of glass. She then saw a small round object hit one of the glass panels on the terrace doors.

 

Standing, Kagome picked up the poor excuse for a blanket and silently draped it over her shoulders. Glancing over her shoulder, she could see Sesshomaru sleeping snuggly in his warm blankets and she allowed herself a tiny glare in his direction. Lord Inutaisho had never treated the slaves like this, with little to keep them warm at night. The clicking sound alerted her again and her head whipped around and she quietly headed towards the doors. Careful not the wake the Youkai she gripped the golden lever handle and pushed it down, the door making a small clicking sound as well as the latch released. After she pulled the door open she silently slipped out into the chilly night air.

 

Kagome went to the edge of the balcony and looked over, she saw Hojo down there waving at her. A beautiful smile that she hadn't felt like smiling in days appeared on her face and she waved down.

 

“I'm coming up.” Hojo mouthed to her, he started for the side of the palace and started climbing up, grabbing each of the stones that stuck out until he made it all the way up to the balcony. He swung one leg over the railing and then the other, sitting on the ledge before jumping down onto the brown tiles.

 

“Hojo, what are you doing up so late?” Kagome whispered to her dear friend.

 

He shrugged, “I couldn't sleep, so I wanted to see how you were.” Hojo shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “How is it going?”

 

“It is going all right, I've managed to stay out of trouble if that's what you're really asking.” She nudged him with her elbow teasingly.

 

Hojo tried not to laugh, he didn't want to wake up the demon in the room, knowing how well they hear it would take very little to rouse them. “I have some information for you.”

 

Kagome leaned against the railing, “About the…”

 

“The Jewel that Lord Naraku is now in possession of?” Hojo saw her nod, he remembered when she had come to him asking him to get the information on that small round orb. “A long time ago, humans were not owned like this Kagome, we were once as free as Youkai. Mikos and Monks created the jewel hoping it would keep equality and the peace between our kind, of course what they didn't expect was that the jewel also gave whoever owned it whatever they desired. Lord Naraku who was just a common half breed back in the fifteen hundreds, got his hands on it. He changed the outcome of humans and Youkai forever, making us the human's slaves and Youkai having the most power, giving himself even power over all Youkai types, even full Youkai.”

 

Kagome's brows knitted together as she felt a bit confused, what she saw back in the shrine and how Naraku had acted when he was in there. It seemed like the jewel had been here for quite sometime. “Hojo, why was it here though? It doesn't make any sense. Wouldn't Lord Naraku want to keep such a powerful object with him at all times?”

 

“This is one of the interesting parts, Kagome.” Hojo was smiling, “The jewel needs absorb pure energy for a period of time if it is to continue to work, and well for example with your ancestors, Miroku's and not to mention the many others who come from holy family lines who are in service here, Lord Naraku could feel the purity emanating from this place.”

 

Kagome sighed and moved forward, resting her forehead against Hojo's chest. “It is so lonely, I'm starting to feel it Hojo; the loneliness is getting to me. At first I thought I could handle it, I am so depressed.” she felt his arms wrap around her, holding her to him. “I miss you, Sango,” she felt herself smile, “And yes even though he's a huge ass pervert, I miss Miroku too.” She spoke very quietly

 

Hojo brought his hands up to her shoulders and holding them lightly, he pushed her back from him; her head was held downcast. “Kagome, you haven't been injured or anything, have you?”

 

She shook her head, “Nah, I follow some rules exactly. I really do not want any kind of punishment, I really hate pain ya know that.” Kagome couldn't help the slight grin curving against her lips.

 

“Hey, well keep your spirits up Kagome, you'll see us on Tuesday night.” He saw her shake her head no.

 

Looking up, Kagome moved away from Hojo's touch, “Actually no, I won't see you this Tuesday. I have to go with `the master' while he goes on his Kendo retreat for about seven days.” Turning around, she moved backwards and leaned up against the railing crossing her arms over her breasts, still holding the thin blanket around her shoulders. “This is some fancy resort for the rich and the royals, many Youkai from all over Japan will be there.”

 

“Sounds like the event of the season.” He teased then Hojo scratched the back of his head having remembered something about this Kendo retreat, “Oh yeah, Lord Inuyasha said something, well complained about his father making him go as well.” Hojo straightened up and appeared cheerful, “Hey at least you'll have Sango with you.” A sneaky smile then crossed his features, “I mean I am assuming he will be bringing Sango as an attendant with him.”

 

“There's no doubt about that, he is completely smitten.” She threw her hand in the air and sighed dramatically, like a damsel from the past.

 

Hojo nudged her with his elbow, teasing. “Well I better get back to the Slave's Den,” He headed towards the side of the railing where he had climbed over the side, “Good luck.”

Kagome walked over to Hojo's side as well, holding the blanket with one hand against her neck. And with a smile and a wave she saw him climb down the side of the palace as skillfully as he did when he came up.

 

Once his feet touched the ground, he stood up straight. His hair flipping a little with the force of his head lifting up, while he was smiling up at her, he cupped his mouth and then blew her a kiss, Hojo saw her smile and her laughter was silent but he could tell by the way her body moved that she had done so. Hojo sighed and then turned around headed towards the slave's entrance of the kitchens.

 

She waited till he was all the way inside, then with a frustrated groan she lifted her hand and ran it through her hair, it was so late now, and she really needed to get some sleep. So slipping quietly back in the room, she was just as careful as she had been opening the balcony doors as she was closing them.

 

“Did you enjoy your chat?” Came the low, harsh voice of Sesshomaru in the almost darkness of the room. He could hear her gasp and her heart beat speed up. Sitting up, Sesshomaru was irritated so irritated that wanted to punish her, but he could not because he did not specify in the rules that she was not to talk to others unless he gave her permission to. “Listen girl, if you wish to speak with other dirty humans, then do it during day light hours, not when I am trying to sleep. Do I make myself clear?” He saw her nod.

 

“Yes Sir,” Kagome bowed her head and then sat down on her ridiculous bedding. She situated herself on her side, facing his direction wherever he was. She heard his soft, cushiony bed shift and the wrestling of his nice warm, thick blankets, then all was silent. While she was laying there with her knees drawn up to her chest under the flimsy blanket shivering in the cold room, trying to hold the ridiculous material tight around her, Kagome's eyes narrowed in a bitter glare. She hated him. Oh she hated him with every ounce of herself and it is really hard for her to hate anyone.

 

He could see her in the near darkness, he watched as her eyes were shut tightly, her normally lovely face… well lovely for a dirty human anyway, was Sesshomaru's internal excuse. Her face was all twisted up in frustration, but he could have sworn he felt a little bit of anger radiating from her but it was brief and hardly there. Not only was he irritated as he had been woken up by someone throwing something at his balcony doors. No human understands how sensitive his ears were and the slightest noise would cause him to wake up. He had opened his eyes to find the slave girl had gotten up and carefully, as if trying not to wake him up as she opened the door and stepped out. He could hear a second voice along with hers, it was a male's voice. Unknowingly, he had clinched his fist tight on his comforter not realizing that he had pierced the material with his claws.

 

Why would humans be talking about the jewel Naraku had commissioned his father to keep here at the palace for awhile? Humans shouldn't even know about it, the jewel had been stripped from all history books that humans might get their hands on. Sesshomaru had continued to listen to the slaves' conversation, he had never heard the girl talk so much before; noting that when she was happy her voice seemed to shine with a strange beauty, of course he never really gave her permission to speak and she was good at following the rules. After the slaves ended their conversation, the girl came back inside. Sesshomaru was sure that she was going to break one of the rules by leaving with the slave boy, but she did not. She came back inside, but only one thing was different about the girl. That male's scent was all over her mixing with hers, sending a fierce rage through him, and he had allowed the smallest deadly growl to escape from his chest, but she obviously did not hear it. If he wasn't irritated then he was extremely irritated now. His mind then snapped to the present, instead of a few moments ago.

 

And even though it was cold in the room Sesshomaru heard her soft breathing and saw her face soften as she finally found her rest. Her dark hair framed around her face and fell gently over her shoulders. It looked soft and the color Sesshomaru noticed that was more than just black, it was a midnight black. Angry with himself for such thoughts on a human's features, he turned over on his side, Sesshomaru huffed, angry at himself, he does not need to spend his nights watching a pathetic human slave. Disgusting girl, his mind shouted at him, and with that he closed his eyes.

 

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well that's it for Episode 7, I hope you all enjoyed it.

 

Thank you and remember to review,

Ryoko Blue.