InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dog Skin ❯ Little Plastic Castle ( Chapter 4 )

Dog Skin

Chapter Four: Little Plastic Castle

 

The castle was silent, the screams of the maimed and dying having faded only moments ago, the lord having once again regained his sanity. Servants and soldiers alike lay scattered about the halls and rooms, torn apart and killed by their masters own hands as he rampaged, searching for her, his treasure, the one thing he wanted, needed. Blood splattered and pooled on the walls, floors and furniture in a gruesome testament to the horror of the morning. The sickening scent of death permeated through the corridors, causing nausea in those who still lived, hiding from their lords' fury.

 

Broken screens lay half hazard in doorways, showing the rout he had taken as he searched for his princess until he had reached his throne room. There he had collapsed on his dais, panting for breath as the blood rage left him, ignorant of his people's blood that coated his hands and spattered his clothing, matting his hair.

 

He slowly became aware of the now drying fluid, and stared at his hands, a twisted smile crossing his features. It was their own fault they were dead now. They had not heeded the warnings or the signs of his temperament at the discovery of his missing bride that morning.

 

His eyes had glowed red, his body morphing to take on more and more resemblance to that of the demon he now was. He had finally shed the last of his humanity, he cared for none now but himself, his daughter was dead to him. He would find the woman he intended to make his wife, his life mate, and he would make sure she knew where she belonged; who she belonged to. He eagerly anticipated the slow corruption of her innocence and purity.

 

“Kagura?” His voice was dark, filled with malice and bridled anger.

 

The she-demon appeared before him, her head bowed, her posture one of obedience. “What do you require of me, Naraku-sama?”

 

He perused her for a moment. “How did this happen? You were in charge of protecting her. Why is she now gone?”

 

“Naraku-sama, I beg your forgiveness for my shortfall. But I swear to you, I could do nothing to stop this, nor do I know how it happened.” She stopped for a moment, seemingly hesitating to see if he would have her continue. “The last thing I recall is my ritual evening tea with the hime. The next thing I remember is being shaken awake by a frightened servant. There was a strange, thick, metallic taste in my mouth and I am told I slept an unnaturally deep sleep.”

 

Naraku considered the demon. He was aware that she had been drugged; he could smell it on her as well as feel its residual effects on her body through the blood bond they shared. Having already dealt his frustrations out on his subjects, he chose not to punish the youkai unduly. He needed her healthy in order to track down and return his bride to him.

 

He shifted and stood, moving slowly towards her in a swaying, silent shuffle. When he reached her at the end of his dais, he moved only his eyes to look down at her.

 

“You will follow her, track her down. When you find her, you will bring her to me.” He reached for the thread of power that linked them and pulled viciously, causing her to stiffen before falling over to her side with a cry, her eyes wide and unseeing as a burning pain consumed her. “Do you understand?” She nodded ever so slightly. “Good. Hiten will be going with you. You will report to him your findings, is that understood?”

 

She was slowly recovering from the sudden pain he had inflicted on her, pushing herself up with one hand to meet his malicious gaze.

 

“I will do as you command, Naraku-sama. Though I would move faster and do better on my own,” she said, her voice weak but still proud.

 

Amusement flickered in the possessed mans eyes. “Perhaps, but you see, I don't trust you.”

 

***

 

It wasn't until the castle came into view that Kagome thought to ask where she was. They had finally broken free of the forest to see the poetic stronghold resting high on the side of a mountain, a busy town spread down the slopes to the farmer's rice fields below. A great shrine could be seen on another foothill, its long path leading from the outskirts of town, up and back into forested area where priests preferred. To be near nature was to be near the kami. It looked so peaceful from her place in front of Inuyasha, not like the run down, depressed village she had left behind and she wondered where it was that she could be.

 

She looked up at the hanyou behind her. He had not said anything to her since his whispered promise. The few words he had spoken were to Miroku, and they had just been about the failed hunt. She wanted to ask the strange lord where he was taking her, but she was not sure how to go about it. She was a princess, not a servant, and so had never learned how to act as one.

 

Her position was precarious at the moment, she knew. She had never been stupid. If she revealed who she was to the wrong people, she could be used as a bargaining piece for power. That would mean that eventually, she may get returned to her father. She shuddered at the thought, her already empty stomach lurching in reaction. No, the more knowledge she kept to herself, the more power she had over her own life.

 

“Are you alright, Inu-kegawa?” Inuyasha asked.

 

Kagome looked up with a start, her eyes meeting the concerned golden gaze of the hanyou lord. “What?”

 

“Are you cold? Or maybe sick?” he asked, his eyebrows bowed down in a frown; “You were shivering just now.”

 

Oh. She smiled a little and looked away, back toward the looming castle. “I'm fine, really, but I was wondering, where am I?”

 

There was silence for a moment and she wondered why he wasn't answering. Finally, he spoke. “You mean…you really don't know?” She shook her head. “You're in the Western Lands, ruled by my brother, Sesshoumaru.”

 

Kagura's words came back to her then and her eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. Sesshoumaru-sama, the Lord of the Western Lands, was his brother. She had made it. She was safe! He would protect her, he wouldn't hand her back over to her father, but would give her a comfortable life like the one she was used to. Kagome's mind continued to work through all of these avenues of her now seemingly brighter future. She saw the possibility of a normal life, of choosing her own husband. She even considered the possibility of becoming the Lady of the Western Lands. A blush stained her cheeks at such an unusual thought.

 

“You sure you're not sick?” Inuyasha asked again, his palm pressed to her forehead, “You're all flushed now.”

 

Kagome jumped in her spot at the sudden skin contact, but found she was not as frightened by his touch as that of the monks. He had promised to protect her after all, hadn't he? When he pulled his hand away, she saw that some of the charcoal had rubbed off on him.

 

“How can you tell?” she asked, “I'm covered in dirt.”

 

She felt him shrug. “Your body heat spiked and you can still see a bit of colour change beneath the dirt.”

 

“Well I'm not sick,” she said with a huff.

 

“Then what's wrong with you?” he asked, his voice growling in annoyance.

 

Kagome flushed uncontrollably once more as she recalled what she'd been thinking before.

 

“See! It happened again, you must be sick!” said Inuyasha in triumph.

 

“I'm not!” Kagome yelled, glaring up at the lord.

 

It wasn't until the trio had reached the castle gate that Kagome had finally convinced the over protective hanyou lord that she was feeling fine. She couldn't figure why he was so worried, her anger growing and cheeks further warming as he continued to deny her assertions that she was fine, insisting she see a healer when they arrived. She got him to calm down when she explained she was just excited to be getting a new home where she would be safe. Inuyasha instantly quieted at that and silently agreed that it was a good reason, though he wouldn't admit that to her.

 

They entered the courtyard of the keep, a boy running up to take hold of the horses reins while Miroku and Inuyasha swung down.

 

“What have you caught, Inuyasha-sama?” The boy asked with a grin, his eyes on the strange creature that still sat on the horse, its body covered in fur from head to toe.

 

Inuyasha smirked. “She's a new helper for the kitchens, Kohaku. When you're done with the horses, run and tell Kaede-baba to find a servants room for Inu-kegawa.”

 

Inuyasha reached for Kagome, taking hold of her waist to lift her. She clutched at his shoulders with darkened hands, steadying herself against him. Their eyes met for a split second and Kagome was momentarily overcome by the strange, gold colour of them. There was fierce warmth in them that guarded deep feeling. She was mesmerised, and it seemed, so was he.

 

“All show their respect!” said a high pitched voice from the main building's entrance. “Sesshoumaru-sama comes to grace your worthless selves with his presence!”

 

Startled by the annoying sound, Inuyasha and Kagome looked away and toward the entrance of the main building. Each silently struggled to ignore the confused self-conscious sensations that threatened to overcome them.

 

An ugly green imp stood before the doors, a staff with a head of woman and a head of an old man on top clutched in his webbed hand. A growl rumbled in Inuyasha's throat as he moved to stand before Kagome, blocking her from the view of anyone who might look their way.

 

“Jaken…” he said by way of explanation, “Avoid him. He's not dangerous, but can be a real nuisance to be around, especially if you're human. He doesn't care for them.”

 

“And Sesshoumaru-sama puts up with him?” she asked, frowning as she watched the little toad stand proudly by the open doorway.

 

“Keh! He doesn't much care for humans himself, though he puts up with and protects those in his lands.” Inuyasha said just as his brother stepped through the doorway and into the courtyard.

 

Kagomes' breath caught at the majestic beauty of the demon lord, instantly seeing the family resemblance between him and Inuyasha. His hair was neater than the hanyou's, shinier and of a purer white. His bone structure was lighter, giving his features an almost androgynous look. He had red stripes on his cheeks and a crescent moon on his brow. His ears were pointed like Kagura's, his eyes a shining gold.

 

And he was cold.

 

She could sense his youki now as he ignored Jaken and swept towards their little party. It was humungous and powerful and tightly controlled by an icy will. It was not malicious, but neither was it benevolent.

 

Kagome inwardly laughed for even entertaining the idea of marrying such a creature. She wanted love and respect from this lord? She was sure never to receive it if she were to ever search it out.

 

“Inuyasha.” Sesshoumaru came to a stop in front of them, his kimono rustling with the sudden stop, his face a solid look of indifference, though his tone spoke volumes of his feelings for his half brother.

 

“Sesshoumaru… oni-sama…” a lip curled at the sarcastic endearment.

 

Continuing like nothing had been said, Sesshoumaru said, “You will make yourself respectable and be on your best behaviour. The emissaries from the other lords will be arriving tonight with answers to our invitations.”

 

“Keh, don't worry, I know what's riding on this stunt of yours.”

 

“This is no stunt, brother, but a move made out of necessity,” the lord said coolly.

 

He moved to turn away, his purpose complete, when he caught sight of her. He froze, his eyes clashing with hers for only a moment, assessing her, his nose delicately scenting the air before a small twitch and shift in his eyes indicated his sudden amusement. Her eyes widened, a thin sheen of sweat breaking out across her skin as she got a distinct feeling he knew something. But he said nothing, only continued to turn and walk away.

 

***

 

Kagome stood before what would now be her room. No, to call it a room was being too kind. It was a corner, a space under the stairs leading to the kitchen that they had been able to find for her with promises of better accommodations in the future. She severely doubted it would ever happen.

 

Plainly put, the castle was full. Many of the servants lived outside the castle and came in to work. All the same, those who did choose to stay in the castle were enough to take up all of the available servants' quarters. All that was left was this little corner under the stairs, angled in such a way that no light could reached in. The sheet draped before it to give her some semblance of privacy allowing even less in. She was upset, there was no denying that. But she also knew that things could be worse. She could be married to her father.

 

With a sad smile she slid inside and began arranging it to be of some comfort. She arranged the old futon and blankets she'd been given into a sort of nest for sleeping. She'd found an old crate and used it as resting place for the lamp she'd been given, planning to store her treasures inside it. Undoing the yellow bag from her hip, she pulled it from beneath the furs. She'd carried it this whole time and not once had it grown too heavy for her. In fact, for the most part she'd forgotten it was there. With great care she placed it in the crate, acutely aware that its contents were her only connection to home. It was the only remaining proof of who she once was…and who she might be again….

 

“Inu-kegawa!”

 

The call of her new name and her instant reaction to it had her winkling her nose in annoyance. She was Kagome. Ka-go-me. She had to remember that.

 

She moved quickly from the dark corner and out into the hall, heading toward the kitchen where the call had come from. An old woman with long grey hair and an eye patch stood stooped with her arms clasped behind her back. This was Kaede. Kagome had been introduced to her before being shown her room. Kohaku had been in charge of showing her around, Miroku and Inuyasha having excused themselves with promises of seeing her around.

 

They would not see her around, at least, not in the companionable way they had been up till that moment. She was beneath them now, a servant to a lord and a monk.

 

“Ye are to work in the kitchens from now on, girl,” said Kaede, her gaze piercing as she observed the new worker, “In return ye will be given room and food and given some spending money once a month. Ye will be expected to fetch wood and water, sweep the floors and wash dishes, clean up after the cooks and do other such work in the kitchen. In time ye may be allowed to help in food preparation, but for now general cleaning will be good for ye. Any questions?”

 

Kagome thought for a moment before she shook her head. She knew her role, though whether she'd be able to fit it properly was still unclear to her. She was not made for hard labour, something that did not go unnoticed by the rest of the kitchen servants over the next few days.

 

It took her longer than any other to come back with water, having to stop from moment to moment to rest her aching arms and forcefully stretch her curled fingers straight. The wood was another matter; no more than two logs could be carried by her at a time, her arms too weak to do much more and she feared the pain of slivers after the one she got during her first attempt. She'd cried so badly when Kaede had pulled it out.

 

After a few days, Kaede stopped giving her those tasks and kept her to the easier jobs. The other kitchen servants weren't too happy about what they saw as special treatment. They quickly abandoned any liking of her, whispering about her when she came near, making her feel isolated, an unwanted and unneeded addition to the castle. That neither Miroku nor, more importantly, Inuyasha had come to see how she was doing made her depression that much more consuming.

 

Most nights she cried herself to sleep.

 

Most nights she woke crying as cobweb dreams of red eyes and unwanted caresses slowly disintegrated in her mind.

 

It had been a little over a week since she'd first arrived. She'd been given permission to take a break since there was no work needing to be done at the moment and had headed for a walk around the castle grounds, thinking she might see Kohaku. He had seemed like a sweet young boy when he'd taken her to the kitchens. His eyes had shone while he proudly told her about his older sister, a warrior of much renown sent to the border to fend off rouge youkai attacks.

 

She had just come out of the stable where she'd been looking for Kohaku when she heard a commotion from the courtyard before the main buildings entrance. She came up around a corner and saw a large group of men… no, not men. She could sense their power as a group. They were youkai.

 

Wolves surrounded them, growling at the castle dogs and sniffing at the strange buildings and objects. There was a castle soldier standing before them, talking with one of the youkai who appeared to be the leader. He was tall with long black hair held in a high ponytail. Wolf pelts draped from his waist, a tail at the back, and covered his arms and legs, while armour shielded his chest.

 

Curiosity skipped through her when his head tilted back and he seemed to scent the air, searching for something like an animal would. She was fascinated when his entire body stilled as he searched. The soldier had stopped paying attention to the youkai, his head turned expectantly toward the main entrance beyond Kagomes' view.

 

The sniffing came to a stop just before the youkai's head shifted. Suddenly a piercing blue gaze was focused unblinkingly on her. She gasped and stepped back as if pushed, not liking the look entering his eyes. Phantoms that haunted her dreams were brought to surface by that look and she trembled at their awakening. She needed to get away.

 

“Yo, wimpy wolf!” Relief flooded Kagome at the sound of Inuyasha's voice and the sudden release from that gaze as it turned to another. “You're early, you know. We weren't expecting you till tomorrow like all the others.”

 

The wolf snarled as Inuyasha came to a stop in front of him.

 

“Dog turd…” His lip curled back in a sneer while he taunted Inuyasha. “Can't help it if some are faster than others, some are just better is all.”

 

“Careful with your mouth here, Kouga,” Inuyasha said with a smirk, “I may put up with you continuing to live at such insults, but my brother may not be so forgiving.”

 

The wolf snorted, his face becoming serious. “I'd never be as stupid as to insult the Tai-youkai… nor to jeopardise these peace discussions.”

 

Inuyasha seemed to become serious as well. “Birds of Paradise giving you more trouble?”

 

Kouga didn't answer, just huffed and looked away, his gaze wandering until his eyes settled on her again. Kagome had not taken the reprieve to get away, she had been too happy to see Inuyasha again, and had hoped he might notice her. Now, however, she realised her folly and stepped back with a strangled noise in her throat as the blue eyes locked on her once again.

 

“Who is that, dog turd?” the wolf asked, his eyes pinning the girl in place, not letting her leave.

 

Inuyasha looked confused before following the others gaze, his eye's widening when he saw Inu-kegawa standing across the courtyard. She was shaking like the autumn leaves on the trees, looking as though she would give anything to run but unable to, as if tethered in place. He glanced quickly back at the wolf prince, his eyes narrowing at the look he sported.

 

“I love her furs…a bit dirty for my tastes, but nothing a good cleaning couldn't fix.” He licked his lips at whatever dirty thoughts he may be having.

 

Inuyasha's ear's twitched at the small distress sound that emitted from Inu-kegawa. With a growl Inuyasha moved to stand between Kouga and the anxious girl. The two locked eyes in a still battle, low growls rumbling in both of their chests as each restrained from attacking the other.

 

“She's just a human servant, Kouga,” Inuyasha said his voice harsh and forced sounding, “now would ya quit changing the subject. Sesshoumaru says for you and your men to make yourselves comfortable, but the smelly wolves have to stay in the forest. Got it?”

 

Kouga seemed to forget about Inu-kegawa then, his eyes narrowing, his expression one of disbelief.

 

“I very much doubt Sesshoumaru-sama called my wolves smelly.”

 

Inuyasha smirked. “Doesn't change the fact that he wants them out of here though, does it?”

 

Kouga growled before jerking around to his men. “Make yourselves at home brothers, the dog lord has made us welcome.” His gaze focused on the wolf closest to him as his men cheered. “You, take the others and wait for us in the forest. Report what you see daily.” The wolf wined pitifully and Kouga patted its head before nudging it with his leg towards the others. “I said get outta here; I need you in the forest.”

 

The wolf turned and with a yip and a half howl had the wolves following him out of the castle, down the road and into the forest surrounding the town. Their howls could be heard echoing off the mountain walls as they made their presence and mastery known.

 

Kouga looked back at Inuyasha, arms crossed as if to say, `there, ya happy?'

 

“Keh, let's get inside. Sesshoumaru will wanna see you.” Inuyasha said, stuffing his hands in his sleeves as he moved to lead the wolf prince into the castle.

 

He was relieved when he heard him follow, grateful that he had diverted him from Inu-kegawa. He glanced out of the corner of his eye toward where the girl had been. Thankfully she was gone, probably having fled when he'd sidetracked Kouga. He was relieved, but only for the moment. Kouga didn't get interested in much outside of his pack, but when he did, he tended to become almost obsessive. Even if she was a servant in the castle and should be expected to act and be treated like any other, Inuyasha felt a certain need to protect her. He had promised her he would after all.

 

***

 

Kagome lay fetal in her nest of blankets, a cold sweat beading on her skin as she gasped for breath, trying to regain some control over body. She had run so fast, frightened of the wolf and the glowing eyes that had chased her back into the darkness, but also hurt by Inuyashas' words.

 

`Just a human servant.'

 

She wanted to scream, to rip and tear at the furs that covered her body and then to attack the flesh that covered her bones and muscles. She wanted her bones to burn in the hell that was her existence and be reformed into a new shape, a new person. Her old identity, all connection to her mother and the curse that was her beauty, she wanted gone, dissolved and reformed to be reborn as… someone she was not.

 

The reality of who she was stood as the only thing that kept her mouth shut, kept her from screaming at the wolf for his impertinence and then at Inuyasha for his insult. She had no power here. She was a servant living at the whims of her masters.

 

Kagome reached for her yellow bag and pulled out the pouch filled with the charcoal and stared at it with unseeing eyes. The wolf did not like the dirt; she had heard him say as much. Perhaps more would dissuade him from pursuing her. She took it to her face, spreading it thickly over her skin, further darkening it, spreading it on like the white paint of a bride. She moved to her hands and arms next, darkening them further, working it even beneath her nails until she was one with the darkness of her sleeping space, her large, luminous eyes the only thing signifying she was even human.

 

***

O_O Hello. I know I sound like a broken record, but I'm gonna say it again. I like reviews. I want reviews. Give me reviews!! Liquid based please so as I can inject the sweet drug directly to my blood stream. Really, they give me that extra kick I need. If I know people are reading and expecting, it seems to help crank them out faster. Never thought it would be that way, but, here we are.

Ja mata