InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Entrapment ❯ The Guarded Fortress ( Chapter 8 )

Entrapment

By: Jazmin Turner

Chapter Eight:

The Guarded Fortress

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Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Author's Note: I know that I should have addressed this earlier, but after scanning through my reviews and reading a few over and over again, my temper began to rise. I will not mention any names, but after this message, you will know who you are.

I don't appreciate you criticizing my character's personalities. This is my idea, my fanfiction, not yours. So do not tell me what to do with my own story. If you hate my characterization SO much, then go make your own damn fanfiction and stop trying to change MY story into what YOU think would be a good fanfic!

I get enough constructive criticism and I don't need your bull opinions shoved into my face, okay? I am making Inuyasha as he was in the first handful of Inuyasha episodes. And if you remember correctly, he was NOT as nice as he is now, in the later episodes. If I made him as sweet as he is now so early on in the story, I would not be true to Rumiko Takahashi's great work.

Besides, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. And if, in your opinion, I am a wench and this story is bull crap, not good enough to be seen on the internet, then that's your opinion. And I'm okay with that. But keep it to yourself.

Please.

Now that my little rant is over, I apologize, but right now I'm in a crappy mood and now to be toyed with.

Another Note: I am sorry for the long wait! At first this fic was on hiatus, and I was even considering deleting it, but the plot is too fun to mess around with and I enjoy writing this story more than I should!

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Unbeknownst to all of the current turmoil centered around her, Kagome laid, sprawled out, on the grassy hill that she had discovered during her break earlier in the day. It was quiet and peaceful. The air was fresh, tinged by the bitter saltiness of the ocean nearby and the mouth-watering aroma of freshly cooked meats, as dinner was quickly approaching. The sun was just beginning to sink below the horizon, so the sky was a mottled palette of blues, reds, golds, and pinks. She sighed, snuggling into the soft grass for more comfort.

It was hard to believe that she had already been a slave for almost a month now. She hadn't quite settled into her new lifestyle, but she was adapting. Inuyasha was still an intriguing mystery that she was determined to figure out. And Kikyou was well…Kikyou. She wasn't really interested in her, no matter how much Kikyou had tried to make amends by bribing her with finery and 'the good life', as she put it. Once someone had hurt Kagome, she had a hard time forgiving them. It was just her way.

Just as she began dozing due to the unusual heat this time of year, a shadow fell across her face. She looked up into the bronze-flecked amber orbs of her master. Kagome managed to hold back her yelp of surprise as she scrambled to her feet. Swallowing harshly, she brushed the scattered blades of grass from her robes and lowered her gaze to her feet.

"I am sorry…"

"You had better be," Inuyasha sneered. "What the hell were you doing sleeping on the job!?" Kagome gulped and tried to calm her buzzing head. She hadn't been in the mood to test Inuyasha's limits lately - his stay's were humiliating, especially in public.

"Well…neither you or Kikyou had any more chores for me, so I decided to take another rest."

"You don't make the rules around here, slave! I do. Kikyou does. Not you. You aren't free." Kagome bowed her head. Not in shame, but because if she looked at Inuyasha any longer she would punch him in that pretty little face of his.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…please…don't stay me…"

The girl's whispered whimpers softened his rough gaze and angered blood. He inhaled deeply to clear his mind and smacked his sweaty palm against his forehead.

"Okay…alright…" he ground out. "I won't punish you…" He blamed his gentleness on the consuming, yet unusual fall heat, not out of pity for his abused slave. She looked up at him with happiness shimmering deep with her chocolate brown eyes and her first, true smile played across her lips. That admirable look in her eyes made Inuyasha flustered and caused a bright red flush to spread across his cheeks. "But don't get too excited or nothing. It's not cause I like you or anything. I'm in love with Kikyou."

Kagome held her sharp tongue and forced her face to become blank. Why does everyone have to rub that in my face? I DO NOT have feelings for Inuyasha…I don't even like him as a friend! It's not like I'm trying to butt in between them and steal Inuyasha for myself. She snuck a glance at Inuyasha's serious face and tried to control the heat rising in her cheeks. But I have to admit, he is kinda cute.

"I know that and I wasn't excited, Inuyasha. I was just happy that you decided to be nice to me." The hanyou flushed again.

"It was nothing…"

"So why do you hate me so much?" she asked cheerfully. A little too cheerfully, Inuyasha noted.

"I don't hate you per se…It's just a very strong dislike." Kagome clucked her tongue in slight annoyance and let out an exasperated sigh.

"So why do you have a very strong 'dislike' for me?" she asked sarcastically. Inuyasha decided to ignore her sly attitude and have a little fun with her. Picking on Kagome was one of his favorite pastimes.

"Hmm…because you're ugly, annoying, stupid, dirty, and you smell. I hate your scent!" At least two out of the five were true. Kagome was annoying - she was responsible for Kikyou's mood swings and personality change, plus she was nosy and loud. She was usually dirty - covered in sweat and grime after each of the day's hard grueling, even though she took a bath every day. But that was all. Even though he wouldn't admit it, her stunning beauty rivaled that of Kikyou's, she often outwitted him in a battle of the brains, and unbeknownst to him, he had come to rely on her scent to soothe him. But she needn't know any of that.

Kagome held her tongue once more and Inuyasha was amazed at that. She was like a firecracker - easy to set off, hard to calm down. But even though she remained silent, he could see her body shaking with silent fury.

"Well…if you didn't want to know the truth," he began smugly. Too smugly for her tastes. "Then you shouldn't have asked me anything in the first place.

"True." Was all that she said. Damn…he wasn't getting enough of a reaction out of her.

"That's why I prefer Kikyou."

"Oh." What's with the one-word answers?! Inuyasha silently fumed.

"She pretty, smart, nice, fun to be around, and she doesn't stink!" The hanyou pretended to wave an imaginary stench away from his nose. Kagome's face began to turn red - either from anger, embarrassment, or she was about to cry. He hoped it was the former than the latter.

"Um…that's nice. Can I go eat now? I'm hungry." He could see her chewing on her lip so hard that little welts began to appear as well as small dots of red blood.

"No. Not until I'm done pointing out all of your obvious faults." With his superb hearing, Inuyasha could hear Kagome grinding her teeth together. "Don't you want to hear them from your master?"

Kagome let out what seemed to be an interesting cross between a growl and an agitated sigh. "No…actually…you dumb bastard…" she mumbled crossly under her breath.

Inuyasha's ear twitched. "'What was that?" he asked tauntingly.

"I said of course, master," she added, more like spat while cracking her knuckles.

"Well you snore…and don't deny it. You eat way too much. You're fat…" I am enjoying this way more than I should…Oh well… "Even though you look basically the same as Kikyou, you are much worse than her. You're lazy and you're work is sloppily done. I would have been better off doing the work myself."

"Then why can't you release me?" Kagome asked loudly.

"Because I'm having too much fun to let you go," he snickered irritatingly. Kagome's face reddened in anger.

"Don't you care that your…fun is at my expense? Don't you care about my feelings at all?"

"Hey! Just because I was lenient today doesn't mean that I like you at all! I thought I already told you that I don't care about you at all!" For some unknown reason, her heart stung at his calloused words.

"Well…I thought…that we could at least be friends or…something," Kagome whispered as she fidgeted nervously.

"I don't need a friend. All I need is Kikyou," the hanyou snorted, but he became unnerved when he smelled the unmistakable scent of fresh tears and pain.

"I never asked for you to marry me!" Kagome barked, a fierce blush spreading across her face. "I never asked for anything like that…"

Inuyasha's ears twitched as he caught the sad undertone in her trembling voice. He always had a soft spot for upset women. He couldn't stand watching them cry, especially if it was his fault. But the feelings Kagome stirred inside of him confused him…he had never felt this upset about a weeping woman before.

"Whatever," was his grumbled response before he shot off into the woods from whence he came. Kagome rubbed her wet eyes and sighed.

"What the hell was that all about?"

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Inuyasha returned to the fields later on in the evening. Concealed by the darkness and with barely any light from the moon falling gently upon him, he could have been passed for a mere shadow, flitting harmlessly through the trees. Kagome's slowly strengthening miko powers detected him before he was able to sneak up on her and frighten her, like he usually did.

"Inuyasha…" she said dully before he had the chance to even open his mouth and yell, boo. Kagome heard him cursing, but she ignored him. She got up from her spot on the hill, brushed off any remaining blades of grass clinging onto her robes, and stared him straight in the eyes. Had it not been for her moist, innocent eyes and her sweet scent of jasmine, Inuyasha would have mistaken her for Kikyou. Her hair, while was usually out, was tied into a low, bushy ponytail that greatly resembled his lover's.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, he returned to the task at hand - apologizing. Apparently, Kikyou had been watching them the entire time and was now forcing him to apologize to his SLAVE! She was his slave. A piece of property…not a person. He told himself that over and over so that he would not develop any feelings for her.

But he had to. Kikyou had warned him if he didn't, he would be punished. So here was, caught and struggling futilely in a web that the two mikos had spun around him. When had he dropped his guard and failed to realize this? Inuyasha cursed himself once more before staring into Kagome's eyes. But he blinked and turned away before he could get trapped with their bewitching depths. That was too risky…

What was it about this slave that was so…intriguing? She seemed to hold as many secrets as Kikyou, and yet…he wasn't mad. He wanted to figure them out on his own, not force them out of her. Maybe it was her indomitable spirit, even in the hopeless situation that she was in, her warm, sunny smiles that promised that everything would be alright, or maybe it was her interesting, yet unusually sweet scent that made him want to get to know her better.

But Inuyasha guarded his heart like a fort…and the only person he would let in was Kikyou and once she was in, the fort was permanently sealed. No one else was allowed to enter. Kagome was his slave after all….the only reason that his relationship worked out with Kikyou was because…Inuyasha shook his head. He was putting off what he had to do.

"Yes…master…" Kagome was still unused to tacking that formality at the end, but she was learning. Inuyasha had suddenly popped out of no where and was now staring creepily at her. It sent chills down to the tips of her toes and then back up to her ears. What did I do now…

"Um…" Never one at a loss for words, Inuyasha was uncomfortable. His hand fidgeted nervously behind his back and he had a hard time keeping his squirming to a minimum. If there was one thing that he had told himself after all of these years was that he did not get uncomfortable and he did not squirm. But he was doing both of those things at the same time and he didn't enjoy it at all. And it was all his slave's fault. He would have to do something about it, for sure.

Kagome it out, but she did peer at him curiously.

"Inu…Master Inuyasha," she began. After much debate, furious bickering, and a few stays on her part, Kagome was forced to take Master or Mistress in front of Inuyasha and Kikyou's names. This was beyond stupid…humans were all equal…no one was better than someone else. Why did she have to use these stupid terms to address someone exactly the same as her!? "Are you okay?" She was already becoming frustrated with his presence, but she kept it inside.

"Uh…I'm…I'm…sorry. Alright!? I'm sorry for being so…mean to you earlier." He did expect her to redden with pleasure and excitement, but he was not prepared to be enclosed in her small, warm arms and to be embraced by her. Her sweet smelling hair tickled his sensitive nose and her body melded perfectly against his. Not knowing if this was right, or even legal for that matter, he just stood with his arms dangling limping at his side, a goofy smile spreading across his face.

But he did not push her off.

From behind the bushes, on the other side of the field, Kikyou let out a squeak of anger…how dare that common slave embrace HER man! It was unforgivable! Her face became red with anger…how dare she! She shouldn't have the GULL to do something so…so…daring! With Inuyasha - her MASTER of all people.

Push her off…push her off…Kikyou urged silently, but he did no such thing. As silvery wisps of light peeked from between the moving clouds, it spilled down upon the couple.

An indescribable rage welled up inside of her and caused her body to shake violently. Foreign tears formed in her eyes and splattered on her hands.

"She is taking him from me…the boy that I hold so close to my heart…my first love…the boy that I gave so much up just to be with him…" Kikyou slammed her back against a tree and slid down to the grassy, damp earth beneath her. She cradled her head in her trembling arms. "I barely have anything left to give now…I have nothing…if she takes him…I will have nothing…" Kikyou chewed her lip bloody and wiped the wetness away from her face.

"But that won't happen…when all of this over…and my plan succeeds…and I have my way….Inuyasha will be mine and Kagome will be dead. Inuyasha will murder her at my command…and she will never bother us again! Inuyasha will be mine. I will have him…I will…I will."

With her mind made up, she wiped the last of her tears away and walked stiffly back to the village.

"But Inuyasha will not get away with this…he will be punished…"

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When Kagome finally let go of him, she looked fearfully up into Inuyasha's eyes, expecting to see anger or something of the sort, but she could detect nothing. His amber orbs were clouded and no emotions managed to shine through. He guarded his heart and emotions so well…it was a wonder that he wasn't carved of stone. Even his mouth wasn't twisted in a frown or curved upward in a smile, with a small, cute fang hanging over his lip. No…he was rigid, his face blank, but his eyebrows twitched uncontrollably.

Before Kagome could mumble a hurried apology and dash away, Inuyasha spoke.

"Kikyou was watching…"

"Oh god…" Was all she could say.

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Inuyasha.I do not appreciate you cheating on with me with your slave.

Kikyou…I…

I trusted you! I trusted you…

But you still can trust me, Kikyou! She hugged me not the other way around!

You didn't push her off!

She was happy…

Since when did you care about the happiness of your slave?!

Since…well…

Inuyasha…I can't take this. There has to be trust in our relationship if it is going to work…you have broken that trust in me. If you don't shape up your act…our love may be broken…

No! Kikyou! It was just a hug…not a kiss…

But what if she had tried to kiss you? You would have let her, wouldn't you?

I would have pushed her off, Kikyou! You said that we could be friends. And friends hug each other…

I don't trust her...or even you for that matter. I thought that if everyone was friends, then things would work out. But I was mistaken. You are no longer allowed to associate with her, unless it is strictly business.

But Kikyou…

Now go! You are dismissed.

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"I am sorry, Inuyasha," Kikyou murmured a little while after the hanyou had flew from the hut in indescribable rage. "Part of my plan was for you two to be friends, so that her act of betrayal would wound you deeply. That way, you'd never look at another woman again. But it is too risky. I can't chance you falling in love with her. A hug may be all it takes to attract you to her. Don't think I can see the way you look at her when she smiles…" Kikyou paused. "I don't care whether you are friends or enemies with Kagome, Inuyasha. Either way, in the end, you will kill her."

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The bow and rag dropped with a muffled thump onto the sea of emerald green beneath her.

"B-But I t-thought after y-yesterday…" Kagome stammered, obviously having a hard time forming words.

"Well you thought wrong! I got in deep trouble because of you and I DON'T appreciate it, slave. You are no longer allowed to touch, talk, or look at me unless it is strictly business."

"Why can't we be friends? Why can't we just be…I dunno…at least polite acquaintances? Why does Kikyou have to take that away, too?"

"This is not Kikyou's fault! It's yours!" He shoved his clawed hand very close to her face. She swallowed. He could slash her to bits in a second if he wanted to. Thinking like that definitely isn't going to help me now, she thought as she gulped once more.

"My fault! I was thanking you for apologizing! I don't understand!"

"What makes you think I care, wench. I don't care about you at all!" Even though it was an outright lie, Inuyasha knew he had to say it, or suffer another lecture and maybe more punishment from Kikyou. If he didn't say it, their relationship, now teetering on the brink of destruction because of this one, stupid girl, would collapse and they would be no more. "If you ask me, yesterday didn't even happen." Tears began to form in Kagome's eyes, but Inuyasha turned the other cheek and ignored it.

He couldn't remember when he was so cruel to her…and he hated it, but Kikyou was more important to him than Kagome would ever be, Inuyasha reminded himself painfully.

"But…But…I…"

"Look. You're a slave. This is me and this is you!" He pointed upwards, then downwards. "You answer to me! Not the other way around!"

"I know that Master Inuyasha, but I…"

"But nothing!"

With those last words, he stalked away angrily.

Inuyasha guarded his heart like a fortress…Once someone got in, the fort was sealed. And he would allow no one else to enter.

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I know. I know. Inuyasha is an ass, okay? So don't chew me out about it. I'm not in the mood. >.<

Please review!