InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love of her Master ❯ A Night At The Inn ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: `Inuyasha' belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. While this plot and any additional characters belong to me, everything else is hers. I make no profit off this story, and am writing it only for my own enjoyment.

 

CHAPTER 3 - A NIGHT AT THE INN

 

It was nearly sunset when Inuyasha and Kagome reached the inn. Kagome was still uncertain as to how she should act around Inuyasha. She decided that until he told her that he wanted something she should just follow him, listen to what he said and stay quiet. It seemed the safest route under the circumstances.

 

Kagome was also worried about what her new master would want from her, especially now that she was reaching this inn where they would no doubt be spending the night. All of the fears she had felt all day were coming back to her, as she once again became certain that she would be losing her virginity tonight to her new master. She didn't want that, not now, not with someone she had just met. Granted so far her new master seemed a better sort than she had thought she would end up with. He had spoken kindly to her before and told her not to be afraid of him. He had asked his friends to get some new clothes for her, and had told her that she could expect to have a bath and decent meal once they got to the inn, all of which seemed almost like heaven after her weeks of lying in the dirt and eating slop. But still, she had always thought that when she finally did lose her virginity it would be on her wedding night, and with someone she was in love with. The thought of being ordered into bed by a man who literally owned her made her feel sick to her stomach, even if he was otherwise kind to her. Deep down though, she knew she would not fight him if that was what he wished of her. It wasn't what she wanted, but she wanted to be sold again to a man like that Lord Naraku even less, and that could very well happen if she displeased her new master. For that matter, she could very well find herself given to his followers to do with as they wished, or sold to a brothel. There were many worse fates out there that she could easily find herself thrust into, and she feared them even more than she feared what she was sure was coming later tonight.

 

Inuyasha wasn't quite sure how he was supposed to act right now. He had never had a slave of his own before, although there were several in his father's castle. He had never thought he would own a slave, especially not a slave like Kagome, who most people would take one look at and figure that she was meant to have only one duty, and that was to keep him company, in bed. Inuyasha had no intention of ever doing that to her, that was a given, but he still wasn't totally sure what to do with her. Well, he decided, first things first he should organise for her to have a bath and a meal ready for her after she was done. Fortunately that wasn't to hard to organise, as the second he entered the inn the innkeeper came running forward to see if he needed anything. The man knew full well who he was, having had him and other members of his family stay here several times in the past, and had long ago decided it was in his best interest to make sure they had everything they wanted. Inuyasha tried to stop himself from growling when he noticed the way the innkeeper was looking at Kagome, as he asked for someone to prepare a bath for her and to get a meal ready for both of them after she was done. Fortunately for the innkeeper, he was smart enough to get his oldest daughter to lead Kagome to the bathhouse. Inuyasha didn't know if he would have been able to stop himself from gutting the man if he had tried to take her there himself, and he knew his father would have been angry with him if he did that.

 

Once Kagome was gone, Inuyasha started wondering about where he should have her sleep tonight. While they would most likely be heading back to his father's castle in the morning, that still left tonight in this inn. The inn was already full so there was no way he could manage to get her a room to herself, even though that would have been the best option in his opinion. There were no other women going with him on this trip besides Sango, and she was sharing a room with Miroku. He didn't think it would be a good idea to put her in the same room with those two, who after six months of marriage still behaved like newlyweds every night. He CERTAINLY couldn't put her in the room with his father's men. Gods only know what would happen to her if he did that. Some of those men he wouldn't trust as far as he could throw the inn. With a sigh of resignation, he realised that she would have to sleep in his room. No doubt it would cause a whole bunch of rumours amongst his father's men, piss off Sango and Miroku to no end, and probably scare the crap out of Kagome, but he didn't see how he had any other choice. With a sigh, he left to once again find the innkeeper to request another futon in his room.

 

***

 

Kagome had followed the innkeeper's daughter to the bathhouses in silence, trying not to let herself be bothered by the scornful and disgusted look in the other woman's eyes every time she looked at her. The girl had been quick to deduce what she was, and clearly didn't approve. Not that Kagome could blame her, if she was in her shoes she likely would have felt the same way. But she couldn't help what she had become, and it still hurt to see the way others were looking at her now. She was just glad that her family wasn't here to see her and what she had become, they would be so ashamed.

 

She was happily able to put those thoughts out of her mind for a little while when she saw the lightly steaming tubs in the bathhouse and was able to gratefully sink into the water. After a good forty-five minutes of scrubbing her hair and body with soap she was starting to feel halfway human again. She had always loved to just sit and soak in the bath, and was considering doing just that when she was rudely brought back to reality by the innkeeper's daughter's call of `aren't you done in there yet, slave?'. That quickly brought her crashing back down to earth again as she remembered what she now was, and realised that her master would likely have become annoyed at her by now for being gone so long. Instantly jumping out of the tub, she quickly dried herself off as best she could and put on the yukata the inn had provided for her. Hurrying outside she was met by the innkeeper's daughter who currently had an annoyed and impatient look on her face.

 

“About time.” The woman said, looking at Kagome like she was something she would scrape off the bottom of her shoe. “Our guests will likely be returning to the inn soon and wanting baths. None of them will want to share the tub with a whore of a slave. If your master wasn't Lord Inuyasha, you would not have been allowed in there at all. Be grateful I didn't kick you out long before now.” With that, the young woman turned and started leading the way back to the inn. Kagome followed, silently ordering herself over and over again not to cry. The woman had only told the truth after all, and she had better come to accept it. This was her life now, and she had better learn to deal with it, because she couldn't exactly go back in time and return to her old life as a simple village girl. That life had ended the day her village was attacked.

 

Kagome became more and more nervous as she followed the innkeeper's daughter back towards the inn, and then upstairs to what was clearly one of the better rooms. When the other woman knocked on the door, Kagome's heart nearly stopped when she heard her master's voice. Of course this would be her master's room, she knew that would where she would be no doubt sleeping - or not sleeping as the case may be - tonight, but she was still terrified by the idea. Especially seeing as he may already be upset about her taking so long in the bath. However none of those worries stopped the innkeeper's daughter from opening the door and pushing Kagome somewhat roughly into the room.

 

“Here's your slave back, my Lord Inuyasha.” The innkeeper's daughter said with a bow. “Is there anything else you wish tonight?”

 

While the woman was talking, Kagome quickly took the opportunity to look around the room. Like she had thought, it was one of the better rooms in the inn, stylishly decorated and immaculately clean. A large futon was already set up on one side of the room, while on the other side sat her Lord in front of a low table drinking tea. He was looking towards the doorway with a frown on his face. Thinking that he was mad at her for taking so long Kagome looked down at her feet, worrying about what he might say or do to her for being gone so long.

 

“Yeah, will you go down to the kitchen and tell the kitchen staff that I'm ready for that dinner I asked for earlier.” Inuyasha said, not taking his eyes of Kagome. He had thought she was pretty before, but now that she was clean he was willing to change that to beautiful. Not only that, but he could now properly smell her scent which in his opinion was simply lovely, kind of like sakura blossoms. He was upset that the innkeeper's daughter had pushed her into the room so roughly, but Kagome seemed okay so he wasn't going to say anything. This time anyway. If that woman touched her again, there would be hell to pay.

 

The woman bowed again and left shutting the door behind her. Kagome remained standing where she was, still looking down at her feet, not daring to met her master's eyes or say anything.

 

“Sit down, Kagome.” Inuyasha said when he realised that she still hadn't moved. Stiffly Kagome walked over to kneel down in front of him, though she kept her head bowed and her eyes on the floor.

 

“Master, I'm sorry I took so long in the bath.” Kagome said after a few uncomfortable moments of silence. “I assure you I won't keep you waiting again.”

 

Inuyasha waved his hand dismissively. “Don't worry about it, you needed it. And besides, I needed some time to get my thoughts together. I'm not mad at you Kagome.”

 

Kagome, relieved that he wasn't mad at her, bowed as well as she could while still kneeling on the ground. She wondered what he had been frowning about, but she didn't want to push her luck by asking.

 

After that the two sat in silence again until there was a knock on the door. Kagome was about to get up and answer it, when Inuyasha gestured for her to remain sitting and called to whoever was out there to enter. The innkeeper's daughter stood there along with another woman who was clearly part of the inn's staff. The innkeeper's daughter looked annoyed that she had to open the door and carry the food in while there was a slave sitting right there, but she didn't dare say anything to Lord Inuyasha about that. The two woman placed the trays of dinner before Kagome and her master, and neither of them missed the fact that Inuyasha's tray contained nearly twice as much food.

 

The innkeeper's daughter once again asked Inuyasha if there was anything else he wanted, and once he had said no she and the other girl both took their leave, closing the door behind them.

 

Kagome's eyes were locked the entire time on the delicious looking food in front of her, but she dared not start eating until Lord Inuyasha gave her permission to do so. But after so long without decent food it was so hard to resist.

 

Inuyasha didn't start eating right away, and sat there for a long moment contemplating the food in front of him and Kagome and then the girl herself. Coming to a decision, he quickly switched the trays around, putting the fuller tray in front of Kagome.

 

Kagome frankly looked shocked. She would have never expected that her master would give her more food than he would eat himself, no matter how kind he might be.

 

“You look like you need it more than I do.” Inuyasha said gruffly, trying to keep his blush at bay in light of the shocked and grateful look Kagome was throwing his way. “Dig in already.” Kagome bowed in real gratitude before obeying his order happily. She had almost forgotten how good real food could taste and finished her food in no time.

 

“Looks like you enjoyed that.” Inuyasha said after he had watched her finish every last bite. He had also finished quickly, partly because he had less food, partly because that was just how he was. He had always inhaled more than ate his food. “I'll have to make sure you're feed properly from now on.”

 

Inuyasha took a deep breath and prepared to start what he knew would be a very important conversation with her, when there was another knock on the door. He would have been very annoyed, but he recognised who was out there by the smell, and so forced down his ire. Gesturing to Kagome to once more remain sitting, he got up to answer the door himself.

 

Sure enough, when he opened it he found Sango standing there. She was holding three folded yukatas in her hands, one red, one green and one pale blue. He took them from her, knowing what they were for.

 

“Thanks Sango, I owe you one.” He said calmly. “I'll pay you back when we get back home.”

 

Sango shock her head. “Don't worry about it, consider it a gift. Me and Miroku were just about to head down stairs and get some dinner, would you and Kagome care to join us?”

 

“We've already eaten, thanks.” Inuyasha answered. “Besides, I need to talk to her about some stuff before bed tonight.”

 

“Right.” Sango said, narrowing her eyes slightly. “Bed. About that…”

 

“Sango, you know me better than that.” Inuyasha interrupted firmly.

 

Sango sighed and nodded. “You're right, I do know you.” She said with a sigh. “I just never expected you to ever by a slave at all, now that you have one I'm not really sure how to deal with it.”

 

“To be honest, I'm not either.” Inuyasha said. “I'm just kind of making this up as I go along.”

 

Sango sighed again and nodded. “Well, if you're sure that you don't want to come down, I guess I better get downstairs myself and keep an eye on Miroku so that he doesn't flirt with the serving girls. Oh, yeah, by the way we ran into Koga downstairs. He says he and the rest of the men finished selling the rest of the goods today, and if you agree we can start heading back home first thing in the morning.”

 

Inuyasha nodded. “Sounds good. I'll see you guys tomorrow then, you better get down there before Miroku starts hitting on everything female.” Sango nodded grimly, before heading down the hall.

 

Inuyasha shut the door and turned around to find Kagome sitting on the floor where he left her, apparently trying to politely ignore his conversation with Sango. He went back over to sit back where he had been, stopping to place the yukatas on the floor next to her.

 

“Here, these are yours.” He said. “I had Sango pick them out, so hopefully they should fit you okay. They'll do for the trip home, we can get you some more clothes when we get there.”

 

“Thank you Master, but you really needn't waste your money on me.” Kagome said humbly. She couldn't help but admire the yukatas, they were far finer than anything her family had ever own.

 

“You let me be the judge of that.” Inuyasha said. “And please stop calling me `Master', I don't like it. I have a name and I prefer for you to use it.”

 

Kagome bowed her head slightly in acceptance. “As you wish, Lord Inuyasha.” Truthfully she had wanted to call him by his name ever since she had first heard it, but dared not until he gave her his permission.

 

Inuyasha frowned slightly, but wiped it off his face before Kagome noticed and thought that he was mad at her again. He would have preferred it if she had dropped the `lord' off his name as well, but figured that maybe that was too much for her to handle at this point. Maybe later when she lost some of her fear of him.

 

“Anyway, Kagome, we have to talk.” Inuyasha said, deciding that enough time had gone by already and that he couldn't put this off already. “I probably should have told you all of this sooner, but every time I tried to say it something else would come up. I've never had a slave before now, and I'm not really sure how to treat one. I also know what kind of slave the people who sold you expected you to become, and judging by the nearly terrified looks you've been sending the futon every few minutes since you entered the room when you think I'm not looking, I'm guessing you know too.”

 

Kagome somehow managed to both blush and become more pale at the same time at that statement and once more dropped her gaze to her lap. She kept her eyes focused there until Inuyasha reached out to gently grip her chin and raise her head so that she was once again looking him in eyes.

 

“I'm just going to say this once Kagome, I am NEVER going to ask that of you.” He said firmly. “I was raised to believe that that is something you should only share with someone you truly love, and I would never sink so low as to try to either force or order someone into my bed. For that matter, I'm never going to try to make you share anyone else's. I brought you away from Naraku because I knew that he would not be so kind and I wanted to spare you that kind of life. Like I said, I don't know much about owning a slave, but I promise you that you'll have a good life with me. You'll be well taken care of, and I'll never try to hurt you. I give you my word, and as anyone who knows me will tell you, I always keep my word.”

 

Kagome simply couldn't believe she was hearing this right. Surely this was just some cruel joke he was pulling on her, trying to lure her into a false sense of security. Long moments passed, but still the look on her master's face did not change. Finally she began to let herself believe he was telling the truth as tears of relief rolled down her cheeks.

 

“Thank you.” She whispered gratefully.

 

Inuyasha smiled slightly. “I wouldn't be who I am if I did anything else. Now, uh, about the sleeping arrangements tonight. The innkeeper swears up and down that there aren't any extra futons left as full as the inn is right now. The futon I've got in here is big enough for the both of us to use if you trust me enough for that. If you're not comfortable with that, and I wouldn't blame you if you're not, you can have it and I'll sleep on the floor.”

 

“It's, it's okay.” Kagome said softy after a minute. “We can share, I trust you.” And found surprisingly that she did. She did trust him to keep his word on not forcing himself on her or hurting her. She had never even dared to dream that she might end up with a master like him, and thanked all the gods that they had seen fit to send him to her.

 

“You're sure?” Inuyasha asked in surprise. He had thought for sure that he was going to have to take the floor. However when Kagome nodded he could smell only sincerity in her scent. Inuyasha couldn't help but smile slightly. As strange as the circumstances of them meeting and coming together may have been, he had the feeling he had just made a real friend, something he didn't have all that many of aside from Miroku and Sango. He had a feeling that maybe buying Kagome would turn out to be one of the best decisions he had ever made.