A/N: o.O This is soooooo ……… wow! Thank you so much! I didn't expect to get feedback, especially feedback, which is so positive. Thanks again.

IAON was reviewed within the first ……… I don't know? Five or ten minutes it was online? That was so unexpected.

You lit my day ^^

Anyway, at this point I'd like to apologise to all those, who got irritated because of the HTML tag thingie ^^' ( that should have been everyone -.- ). I don't know what the heck has gone into my PC and FF.net, but still ……… I hope it's all sorted out now. If there is anything suspicious or strange, just leave a message or email me ( secluded_grove@web.de ).

Also, I'm sorry for the great amount of reviews that got deleted in the process of me re-posting the story ;_; I really didn't want that to happen, but I didn't even know that some people had already reviewed within the first five minutes. I apologise and I seriously didn't do that on purpose.

To all those, who got a little confused by the breaking up - and not-exactly-spelling-out-what-is-happening stuff ……… I'm sorry, but that's deliberate. All the questions are going to be answered at some stage in this fic: Quite a few within this chapter and some the next. However, there are still a lot that will be resolved later on, as the plot develops. Not to forget that there is a great amount of questions and riddles, which waits to be mentioned ^^ Besides, before the "solution" is spelled out, I always leave enough room for you to speculate ^.~

As you may have realised my ( chapter ) titles always have sort of a double meaning, which you can only understand, when having read the actual chapters ^.~ I know I'm making it a little difficult at times.

Anyway, hope you enjoy it nonetheless, and please tell me what you think!!

Disclaimer: I do not plan on putting this up in each chapter. I just assume you're intelligent enough to know you're allowed to do anything with the stuff that belongs to you ………

P.S.: Er ……… I don't know, if some of the readers have been sarcastic, but ……… I've been in my last disclaimer o.O and I very much wish I was related to Rumiko Takahashi ^^ however, I'm not ;_;

Please, don't forget to REEEEVIEEEEEW ^^

P.P.S.: Sorry, for all the babbling ^.~ Enjoy the fic.

Chapter II

Secret Proposal

Kagome didn't exactly know what she was supposed to think and feel right now.

So she just decided that she didn't think and feel anything.

She wasn't particularly sure of what to do either, so she just stayed put, unmoving, observing the rather handsomely looking young man, who vomited enthusiastically right in front of her.

Despite her serious attempts to block out any emotions and thoughts, she wasn't able to block out the nauseating stench.

Was this sushi she smelled?

Kagome noticed the guy's rather strange appearance. She'd never seen anybody with a long, silver mane before. The only hair colour she'd gotten accustomed to was black. Even more astonishing was the beautiful golden flashes she caught, whenever he would almost barely look up before breaking out into fits of throwing up again.

But the most inexplicable thing were his ears ………

They were almost dog-like and she felt like she could touch the smooth-looking fur, whenever she would just try to reach out with her hand.

He was quite intriguing.

Apart from the rather obnoxious smell.

~~*~*~~

Inu Yasha struggled with holding on to the last pieces of his dignity. Not only did this vision haunt him once again, but it had also dared to visit him in a state like this.

He knew, tonight, he was going to suffer from horrible nightmares again. He preferred to not think ahead.

The girl looked at him - not condescendingly, as he'd expected her to like the many times in the past, but as if she was scrutinising him. Well, that was definitely a new one ……….

As soon as he could consider himself sure of being - at least temporarily - cured off the vomiting fit, he approached her and cautiously examined her appearance.

Yes, it was unquestionably her. However, there was something different ……… something too vital to miss.

What had caused her to change?

"What the fuck are you doing here?! Now of all times?!"

~~*~*~~

Surely ……… her ears were playing some rather nasty tricks on her. He couldn't possibly have just said that.

"Answer me?! Or are you deaf ……… or mute? To believe that you of all people should have turned into a deaf mute is pure irony, isn't it?"

Kagome felt the uncomfortable chill this guy's laughter sent down her spine. There was something sick and ……… desperate about it. Lonely?

Anyway, what could he possibly want from her?

"Leave us alone."

"But - "

"I told you to leave us alone."

Kagome suddenly remembered that they hadn't been alone in the first place. A careful look at her guards made her realise why they had actually chosen to be kinder to her arm: they were terrified.

Something about this man's appearance totally frightened them.

Was this terror that made them obey him?

Once they were alone, Kagome could really pay attention to his words.

" ……… fucking speak! At least talk to me!"

Her initial emotions of anger were suddenly turned into surprise as she listened to him once again. He sounded sort of frantic.

Was she in one of those horrible asylums her grandfather constantly talked about in order to scare her ( successfully )?

Despite her sudden change of heart, she didn't manage to contain her somewhat enraged tone of voice.

"I don't know who the hell you're talking about. What I know is I want to freaking get out of here. You stink and speak gibberish. Basically, you look like garbage yourself. Stop bothering me with your insolent insults. I never met you. I doubt I would want to meet you anyway."

She needed to admit: she was quite astonished herself, but she didn't want to leave the guy time to find out about it. She would take her guard's ordered departure as a hint of fate and took off to leave ……… fast.

Unfortunately, not fast enough.

"Get her!! GET THIS RUNNING WENCH!!"

Kagome was not particularly eager to get to know a patient, driven insane by ……… well, insanity. So she automatically chose, what came to her mind second best to running: hiding.

However, try to find a good hiding place in a maze ( see, that doesn't really work out ).

She just took the first thing that came across and accepted it gladly.

Kagome huddled in the corner of a small cupboard-like room that had crossed her way and which hadn't been closed or occupied at that moment. She thanked fate before cursing it for having to be there in the first place and closed her eyes in an attempt to shut out the rest of the world.

If I can't see them, they cannot see me ………

She knew how pathetic that sounded and was, before it was even fully formulated in her head. However, there was nothing else she was able to hold on to at that moment.

Despite her closing her ears, Kagome could still hear the guards' heavy steps and their cussing under their rushed breath. Whenever she and her atrocious punishment were mentioned in some sort, she trembled horribly and wished she were dead already.

No. That would be even more pathetic.

She wished everybody else were dead.

It wasn't as if it was her fault she was in this kind of mess.

"Listen, bitch. You couldn't possibly have believed that you would be able to hide in there without me finding you."

Kagome didn't hear. No. She was only imagining all of this ……… This was just some kind of bad dream.

"Oi, talk. I hate prosecuting people that do not speak."

"Let me guess, it makes you feel guilty, since you do not know if they're truly blameworthy."

Inu Yasha took a step back and stared at her in wonder, but was able to hide it before she could notice.

"You can't possibly know who you're talking to."

"The earth closet cleaner?"

"Wrong."

"I don't give a f - "

"You're not talking like this here."

"But you're allowed to stink like that?! Do you plan on killing me?!"

Inu Yasha had intended to leave, but quickly turned around at the last remark, giving Kagome a mischievous grin.

"Yes."

Kagome could feel herself being lifted up and slapped once again. This time she was being accompanied by three different guards, who didn't treat her any better than the ones before.

They silently guided her along new corridors, leaving her enough time to speculate about the seriousness in the strange guy's last comment.

~~*~*~~

The safety system definitely called for an adjustment. It didn't matter how many guards he had in his service, there would always be some kind of maniac that got his ( or in this case: her ) way into the palace.

Sadly, Inu Yasha realised that it didn't matter how many times he tried to rid himself of the awful pain that burned his temples - it just wouldn't go away!

He needed to think. And wash his mouth.

Inu Yasha settled on doing the latter first before he turned his thoughts back on the matter.

This hadn't been who had assumed to be? Was this just another one of her tricks or could he take it for granted?

Well, this girl seemed a lot different, once she opened her mouth.

Was this the dissimilarity he had sensed earlier?

He couldn't be sure exactly.

He needed to think.

"Inu Yasha-sama."

As it had been said earlier, he still needed to think.

"Inu Yash - "

"Get lost or I have to kill you."

"Inu Yasha-sama, I have been thinking ………"

Well, at least somebody has. Good to know.

"……… anyway, I wanted to propose a suggestion."

There could only be one person in the world that dared to be as insolent as this and could still be called sane ……… of some sort at least.

"This really is a bad time, Nuimo."

"I know. That is why I suggest you move to the winter residence as soon as you have collected enough of your thoughts to survive the journey."

"It's about three months too early."

"I know. But this - "

"If you knew that fucking much, then you would know when to leave me a - l - o - n - e!"

"It might surprise you, but I know when that time has come, but it hasn't for now. The preparations for moving to the winter residence would keep your mind busy and ……… isn't it one of your favourite places?"

That's right. Because it is so far away from all the rest. This here is much too close.

"You could also spend some quality time with your wife - "

Inu Yasha turned around and looked at him, as if he wished he'd just wilt away in his place ( actually that was exactly what he was doing ).

"Which?! My last one has just been banned barely an hour ago! ……… You know how close I am too executing you?"

Nuimo was able to hold his gaze.

"This would be the last in a long time. I swear, Inu Yasha-sama. There weren't any others that failed."

Inu Yasha heaved a deep, reluctant sigh before burying his head in his claws.

"I'm sick of this."

"I - "

"I fucking know that you know. Anyway ……… I can't see them anymore. And I don't want to know how many have been there before - No, don't say!!"

He shut Nuimo up, who had just been about to move his lips.

Inu Yasha looked at him again and continued:

"And this would be the last?"

"The last in a long time at least."

Nuimo didn't move, even as he only received another moan as an answer. He knew where this was heading.

First, there would be silence.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Then there would be a further sigh, followed by a deep scowl before ………

"Okay. The last one. I will get rid of her as quickly as I possibly can and then ………"

Inu Yasha smiled his first carefree smile that ……… month.

"I will have enough time to myself."

"Good decision, Inu Yasha-sama."

Nuimo tore a smile in his mind and wheeled around, while saying: "I will give you enough time to get prepared now."

And he was gone before he could have heard any of the strangely unfamiliar noises coming out off the chamber ……… noises that sounded a lot like relieved sobs.

~~*~*~~

This time Kagome didn't need to worry about being seen by others. For the first time she realised the phrase "not being able to see anyone also means not being seen by anyone" hid a lot of truth.

Sitting in the dark certainly did its best.

However, she could already feel the slow rise of the little hairs on her neck. Kagome had always loathed complete darkness. It had made her feel so vulnerable and exposed. She never knew who'd look at her and what went on.

There was something morbid about being embraced by darkness and silence. You were not asleep. And you were not dead ……… at least yet.

However, you could never be sure how close that lay in the shadows. Maybe it was just about to approach, to surround you, ready to pounce. Ready to get its filthy claws on you ………

Claws ………

How ironic.

Despite ( or maybe even because of ) the situation, Kagome needed to chuckle lightly before she broke out into fits of crazed laughter.

Only a loud squeaking noise that came from the door encouraged her to stop.

"Getting mental already? Well, you're making it easy for us. You're sure a quick one."

Kagome wasn't entirely sure, but she thought it was one of the guards that had taken her here recently. She hadn't exactly felt like paying attention to the ramblings of these witless people.

If they rambled at all.

She'd been a lot more occupied with that bizarre guy's sayings.

Strangely, her thoughts always turned back to him. She was thinking of him again.

His appearance surely was ……… quite outlandish. She'd never seen anybody like him before.

His ears ……… his eyes ……… and yes, there it was again: his claws.

She needed to laugh once more.

Was she truly turning mental already? How pathetic was that.

Anyway, she'd played with that thought earlier, but she never found enough courage to spell it out.

Was he a youkai?

She'd never met one before and there were only few stories left that told about them. Kagome had always considered them to be what they were: stories.

Nothing less, but also nothing more.

Stories could be beautiful. And she definitely believed them to be needed, too.

But she'd never felt so close to them as her grandfather always had.

They were nice words, maybe even wise, coming out of the mouths of different people. Some were able to skilfully juggle with them and to draw their readers' attention to even the most trivial parts, making them more and more interesting.

Those chains of idioms and sentences were able wrap you in cosy blankets, making you feel happy with yourself and your surroundings. But they could equally strip you off anything you possessed. Happiness ……… satisfaction ……… innocence ……… security ………

To be truthful, she didn't feel any of these things right now and she hadn't been listening to a stirring story.

Kagome had been put in a rather disheartening environment without any judicious reasons.

She didn't believe any of these strange guy's words. According to his impressive attire he was someone with a little influence, but he'd still stunk off things she hadn't wanted to name. Maybe he was the earth closet cleaner and was just too embarrassed to admit it? He struck her to be the more pretentious type.

Nonetheless, there was something intriguing about him that she hadn't been able to name, too.

She didn't feel like she'd actually met him before, but she felt like she'd been supposed to.

Gee ……… this was ridiculous.

Kagome shook her head and rubbed her temples. She was starting to behave like they wanted her to.

At least try to keep a few pieces of your dignity ………

She sighed and huddled closer against the wall, closing her eyes.

Wait a minute! They were already closed -

~~*~*~~

Inu Yasha dried his face.

He felt completely ashamed of himself and his face heat up at the thought of him being vulnerable. However, he was able to calm down quite quickly, since Nuimo had left a longer while ago. There had been nobody besides him in the room.

Feelings of misery and gloominess forced him to huddle in one corner of the Spartan-furnished room. He held his shins and carefully placed his chin on his knees.

He felt gladness and grief washing over him at the same time: he was alone.

The sensation of loneliness reminded him of the insolent girl again.

He had ordered the guards to lock her up as quickly as possibly. Preferably in the darkest corner his prison could offer. Inu Yasha wasn't entirely sure, but he felt he had overreacted ……… a little probably. Maybe she'd had a reason for being here after all?

And death penalty was quite harsh ………

But on the other hand he heard this inner voice, which seemed to belong to a child, shouting defiantly in his head: "No, lock her up! Kill this bitch!"

Um ……… maybe this wasn't a child's voice after all.

Nonetheless, he felt he was only undergoing this because looking at this girl constantly brought up old, rather painful memories of her. She'd betrayed him. And he'd taken care of that. Quite quickly.

So why was this such a problem now?

He had barely talked to her ( Inu Yasha didn't consider the insulting a decent conversation ) and he didn't feel anything for her despite abhorrence.

So why was this such a problem?

Inu Yasha got up and decided to sort this out. Once and for all.

~~*~*~~

Kagome mouthed a muffled scream, as the big, but soft hand, quickly and therefore forcefully moved from her eyes to her lips.

Suddenly she was able to see a small light that seemed to radiate from behind her. Kagome turned around as quickly as those strong arms allowed her to and was able to spot a huge figure crouching over her. The spare light that had fought its way through the thin gap, which the barely opened door had created, embraced the male form, thus transforming it into an unidentifiable shadow. Was this fur she felt?

This time she had the ability to scream before a hand hindered her.

But only for a pathetically short amount of time.

"Ssh. I don't mean to shut you up, but if you don't, I have to."

Kagome obeyed, but wasn't able to close her mouth in astonishment.

She'd heard that voice before. There was no doubt about it.

It had only sounded a little more ……… angry? Mean? Vicious?

"It's you!" Kagome was able to reply, without needing to raise her voice.

"Yes, I am. But there is no time to explain."

"What - "

"You need to listen to me."

Kagome did so very reluctantly.

She'd recognised that dirty, woollen cloak and really didn't want to be reminded of the experiences she'd had with it. Or better ……… with the individual in it.

"I want to help you."

Kagome couldn't do anything about it.

All the dignity-crap and defiance seemed as far away as the condescending comments the guards had made.

She laughed.

She laughed as she'd never laughed before in her life.

"Shut up. Listen - Shuddup. Ssh!"

The girl wasn't able to answer, since her mouth was covered once again.

She felt a warm breath and a soothing voice tickle her right ear. Not to forget the immense wave of goose bumps that arose her skin. It felt rather nice ………

"I said I didn't want to shut you up, but you leave me no choice."

Kagome heard him shift in the dark and suddenly felt herself being turned around and her back being pressed against the guy's pelvis. Despite her fierce attempts, she wasn't able to stop her face from significantly heating up.

"I want to help you. And for that I need your trust. Whatever happens, you need to follow my orders. Understood?"

The man got a reluctant, but unnoticeable nod in response. He didn't take his hand away.

"Right now, I cannot get you out. But I will be around all the time. At the moment, whatever you're being asked you must answer with 'yes', promise? Trust me, you are not going to die."

Kagome nodded again, this time a little more enthusiastically. Especially the last part sounded promising. She had no clue what this guy was on about or what he wanted her to do, but she'd feel a lot more comfortable if she at least knew his name ……… for a start.

"Good. So now that's settled."

He released her mouth once again and looked her straight into the eye ……… and smiled tenderly, brushing a thick strand out of her face. It was a careful touch, but Kagome couldn't get the thought out of her head. It felt somewhat ……… affectionate?

She didn't pay attention to his departure. Now she had a lot more questions, which demanded to be answered.

~~*~*~~

He cursed.

Rather loudly.

Inu Yasha needed to calm the guards that had immediately jumped at his side, prepared to fight off anything that came their way. He covered his embarrassment with a neutral smile and waved at them, so that he could pass without needing to fear of getting his head accidentally chopped off in the process.

"I'm fine."

He managed to accelerate and quickly disappeared around the corner.

Maybe Nuimo was right after all. Perhaps the winter residence would truly be a better place to spend his time.

At least he never got lost there.

Inu Yasha admitted to himself that finding his way through this ……… maze proposed to be quite a challenge. Still, he couldn't let anybody else know.

They would only lose their respect, thus making his life and defending his entitlement to the throne so much harder. That was the last thing he needed right now.

Heavy steps finally reminded him of where he was once again: the security unit.

"Inu Yasha-sama? You plan on visiting the girl?"

The daimyou, who was being addressed, blinked confusedly.

"How do you know about her?"

It was a strange sight, but Nuimo surely managed to glance in an even more bewildered way.

"Well, I may not be the daimyou, but as your closest advisor I certainly should know when a criminal has been detained."

Inu Yasha answered with a puzzled look.

"Anyway, things should be sorted out soon. How do you know about her by the way?"

"Er ……… I arrested her ………?" He started to be quite unsure if they were talking about the same person. But there couldn't be any other females locked up down there?

Nuimo just opened his mouth - according to the looks he gave, it would have probably turned out to be another question - as a servant, who hurried around the corner and consequently found himself to pant heavily, disrupted their discussion.

He turned to look at the person next to Inu Yasha.

"Preparations are being called for. Your guidance is needed."

Nuimo just nodded in his direction before facing the daimyou again, wanting to pick up on where they'd left off.

"Now."

Inu Yasha knew that Nuimo's hatred could be mainly be provoked by insolence, but he sorely envied him for his discipline, thus nearly fooling him and himself. Nearly.

"What are you preparing anyway?"

Inu Yasha had actually addressed Nuimo, but he received a perplexed look from the servant, nonetheless.

"I do not mean to trouble you with unimportant affairs that are left in my care anyway. Good bye."

There was no doubt about Nuimo leaving. Inu Yasha saw him use his legs and actually disappear around the corner, being accompanied by the young servant, but he wasn't entirely certain about his sanity.

What went on in this place?

He had left the conversation behind, but was even more confused than ever before.

~~*~*~~

What went on in this place?

At first, she'd started to believe that she was the one turning insane.

By now she couldn't be entirely sure.

Kagome began to feel insecure around her own thoughts. Usually, she loved being on her own. But within the past hours too many things had changed.

Not only the fact that she'd been imprisoned. That she wasn't the only prisoner.

Kagome couldn't explain it, but she'd forgotten about her mother completely. Emotions of guilt and betrayal washed over her and she was close to believe that she was less than just the scum of the earth.

How could she?

What was mother doing? Had they locked her up in some place different?

Kagome got up and walked to wooden door. Her eyes tried to examine the very little space that the small hole in the timber had left her. She knew out of her grandfather's stories that their use was to hand the meals to the prisoners. So far she hadn't gotten down so low as to eat revolting food that was being passed through an opening. However, that was mainly because she hadn't been in there long enough. Her angry stomach convinced her of her fading determination.

She was being pathetic again.

At first, she'd forgotten about her mother and now her stomach had managed to rule her brain ( well, to be truthful, the latter hadn't really occurred for the first time now ).

Everything had changed ever since she'd met him.

There it was once more.

Her thoughts had turned to him again.

~~*~*~~

It was one of these strange happenings in history that would take place in the unlikeliest of locations. A prison being a very good example.

Inu Yasha's steps had finally managed to tear Kagome out of dangerous daydreams, but the girl couldn't entirely be sure, if they didn't propose less danger after all ………

"I see you're doing quite well - "

"What do you want?"

"Not losing any time, are you? Anyway, I want to know who you are."

Kagome gave an ugly snort before answering: "Why the hell should I tell? And why do you of all people care?"

"I don't care. I don't give a fuck about you! I just want to know who you are!" he replied rather heatedly and the girl could feel his rising fury. Good.

"What do I get for it?"

"What?"

"What do I get for it?"

"For what?"

"For this piece of information. Are you letting my mother and me go?"

"No."

Inu Yasha flinched for a barely noticeable moment.

Hang on a minute. Mother?

Kagome smiled contently and wrapped her arms around her torso before she leaned against the wall.

"Fine."

"What is fine?!" What the hell did she think she was doing?

"I. I'm fine. Do you seriously think I'm going to obey because you ordered?"

The bewildered blinking wasn't the only answer she got: "Yes."

Kagome laughed, this time a little more openly, but didn't say anything.

Inu Yasha stayed in place for another few minutes, not moving. Kagome followed his example.

Fearing that he might die of old age in his own prison forced him to break out of his stillness.

"You know what: Die a wretched death!"

Kagome checked her fingernails.

"Good. I got nothing else to do." She looked up and smiled, successfully hiding the momentary turmoil of the feelings that burdened her. "We all die eventually. I die wretchedly. You die like a dog."

Inu Yasha didn't know if she'd noticed, but his pulse suddenly raced very unhealthily.

He desperately needed to get out.

"Bitch."

"Gay bitch." Kagome called after him, but wasn't entirely sure, if he'd heard and understood the play of words. The banging of the door was rather loud after all.

~~*~*~~

Her last words rang in his ears and he didn't manage to rid himself of them.

His resentment had finally reached a level that - he knew it - would kill him in the end.

She was human. She was female. And she was one of the evil spells, which she'd put on him.

This girl needed to disappear.

For his and her own good ( as if he'd care about the latter anyway! ).

~~*~*~~

Damn!

She'd wanted to get out of here.

Why hadn't she just argued rationally and had brought up logical reasons for her innocence, but no! She'd just managed to sign her own death penalty. Kagome had no clue about the degree of the guy's power, but he didn't strike her to be the joking type. And the comment the other strange guy had made ( they seemed to be all on the more bizarre kind of side ) assured her to be careful.

On the other hand, if she already believed that remark to be true, then maybe she could trust the offered help and promise to protect her after all.

Damn, this was so difficult.

Why hadn't she just stayed at home and had found further pleasure in torturing Souta?

Home ………

She didn't know a long time would still pass before she'd ever see it again ………

A loud voice, which was followed by a rather brutal grip, once more got hold of her mind, that seemed to wander off like the many times before.

"Get ready. You're leaving. Orders."

~~*~*~~

Inu Yasha had decided to do something he hadn't done for a long time on his own.

Dress himself for bed.

He'd ordered the servants to disappear - Why did they obey and she didn't - Stop thinking about her! - and had gotten quite far without any help.

Was he supposed to feel proud right now?

He didn't care.

He just did.

"Inu Yasha-sama?"

Damnit -

How often did he need to hear this voice today?

The door opened without him having given the actual permission.

"Inu Yasha-sama, she's arrived. She awaits your proposal."

Every tiny bit of lethargy that had tenderly started to strip him off his consciousness, almost pleading as if it wanted to make love, had immediately vanished.

"What?!"

"I hope you're prepared."

"Hell as if - "

"Fine."

"No. Nothing is fine! You just leave me bloody alone!"

"You promised. This once."

"Damn the promises. I ordered you to leave. I'm sick of this. Hell, I've even already been sick of this!"

Nuimo's voice turned dangerously low and the glimpse that Inu Yasha received wasn't one, which approved of being ignored.

"Remember it was me who got you out of your mindless stupor that didn't let go of you." His talking now turned into chained hisses. "I only did what you ordered me to do."

"Yeah - "

"Your so-called 'hell' knows where you and her would be, if it hadn't been for me. It may have been my idea, but you thanked me for it with ultimate gladness. I promised to help you and I did. You promised to agree to her - "

"Fine - Fine! I'm going. I'm leaving. Just stop this mind-crap."

Nuimo wore his neutral smile again.

"I'm glad we get along so well, Inu Yasha-sama."

Inu Yasha rolled his eyes and was careful enough to do so behind his back.

He got hold of the door handle and opened it before closing it just as forcefully.

Nuimo didn't move and waited.

It only took another five seconds before it got opened again, this time strangely cautiously.

"Where ……… is she waiting?"

"Throne Chamber."

"Right."

As soon as the door was closed, Nuimo got ready to get back to his work, but he couldn't help it, nonetheless.

He rolled his eyes.

~~*~*~~

Kagome couldn't quite explain it, but the room seemed to be far too ornamented to be threatening.

She had been forced to sit on the only plain piece of furniture it offered and was left to look at its opposing counter piece, which appeared to be more expensive than anything her family owned. Maybe even more expensive than anything the whole village owned.

Jewellery of the strangest colours adorned the by turns thin and thick golden ringlets which the chair was composed of. With each passing moment she felt she discovered something new about it.

And Kagome wished she had more time to scrutinise, but a noise that came from the door disrupted her.

Just as much as the truly horrified look she was being given.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

~~*~*~~

Would he never get rid of her? Never?

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

According to her stares she seemed to be equally surprised. It took a while until she managed to get her mouth open, but nothing would leave.

"Answer me: Who let you out?!"

This was the clue she appeared to have been waiting for.

"What is that supposed to mean? I've been ordered to leave and have been taken here!! I really would like to get to know what's going on in this place?!"

Yeah, I'd like to, too.

"I didn't order anything. I thought they'd executed you by now."

Inu Yasha got a doubtful snort in response. He smiled carefully. She slowly seemed to have understood that she could easily take his words for granted.

It was rather comforting to see her poorly hidden fear being reflected in her face.

The tension that filled the chamber normally wouldn't have allowed enough space for another individual, still Nuimo managed to just squeeze in, earning quite a few hateful glances.

"So, everything's sorted?" he wanted to know in a rather innocent tone of voice, perfectly ignoring the momentary situation.

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Have you proposed yet?"

He had to be joking ………

A/N: Actually I wanted to update the story each Saturday. It doesn't seem to have worked out the way I'd planned -.- Either I'm too late or too early. I try to get the third chapter up by the 17th though. Next Saturday ( the 10th ) would be a little too soon. School starts this Wednesday again ;_; So please leave me some time to sort out my stuff ( I still need to clean my room -.- ).

And please: don't forget to reeevieeew ^.~ I need to make up for the ones that got lost.