InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rape of Persephone...Sort of ❯ Part Two ( Chapter 2 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Penthesileia 
And now she was in Hell. Miles and miles away from her world and she had no Inuyasha to save her this time.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 05.09.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 792 | Status: Completed
And now she was in Hell. Miles and miles away from her world and she had no Inuyasha to save her this time.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 05.09.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 792 | Status: Completed
Nomina- Thank you! I hope it stays interesting.
Some things you should know before reading...
Charon- Charon is the old ferryman for the Underworld. For a piece of gold he would transport dead sprits to the gates of the Underworld, where from there they would be forever. If the dead didn’t have gold, they would be kept out of the Underworld and roam the other side of the banks endlessly.
Styx- The most famous river of Hades, this is the river Charon would sail down.
Hades- Just another word for the Underworld. The veil thing I mention later on is totally made up by the way.
Tartarus- The part of Hades where the sinners went to, to be punished for their crimes. (It’s a little bit like the Christian hell, only much more cruel in my opinion.)
Elysian Fields- The part of Hades where the warriors and hero’s lived after death. Most accounts say normal people didn’t go there after death, but I like to believe otherwise.
Prometheus- He was a titan who liked mortals and gave them fire to help them survive and prosper. Zeus (King God) was so pissed at this, he chained Prometheus to a rock and ordered a crow/eagle/hawk(the bird depends on the version you read) to eat his liver every day. Then he would grow a new one during the night, repeating the cycle, over and over again. (The Greeks sure knew how to punish someone, right?)
Disclaimer- I don’t own Inuyasha.
--
Hades
Sesshomaru handed off his carriage to the stable boy waiting, holding Kagome tightly to him, her face peaceful in sleep. He had to glance down at her every few moments as he strode down the hall, just to make sure she was really here, safe in his arms and he wasn't dreaming again.
"I see you brought her, my lord." Miroku said as he met him at the end of the corridor, walking a few steps behind him as Sesshomaru sharply turned towards their room.
"Yes." Sesshomaru replied back, still preoccupied with the sleeping goddess sighing in his neck.
Miroku quickened his pace, loathing to bring up subjects his lord might very well kill him for.
Taking a deep breath, he prayed to Kami before opening his mouth.
"My lord? I would never think to question your judgement, but are you sure this will make Lady Kagome happy? And it's not just because she's in Hades now, but because she's never met you before now. I have the feeling a woman like Lady Kagome will not be thrilled to be bound to a man she barely knows." Miroku said as if he wasn't terrified of what his lord would do for saying such things.
Sesshomaru frowned coldly at him, "She will get to know me."
Miroku almost cursed Sesshomaru for his stupid blindness. "That isn't the point my lord. You've taken her away from everything she knows! And she won't like waking up in a strange place, with a strange man she's never met before!"
Sesshomaru scowled at him, "She has seen me before, monk. I was present at her birthday party."
"When she was a month old!" Miroku argued back, surprised his head was still attached to his neck. "It's been nearly twenty years since then! She's still practically a child and you're older then her fourth ancestor!"
"Miroku. I noticed you did not complain this much when my hands were empty." Sesshomaru said darkly.
Miroku respectfully lowered his eyes, "Forgive me my lord, I spoke out of turn." he said, sensing Sesshomaru's patience rapidly fading.
Sesshomaru gestured him with a nod of his head to open the door to their bedroom. "I will over look it this time." He said, in an unusually good mood. Kagome felt so right, so amazingly good in his arms. Why hadn’t he claimed her sooner?
Miroku silently sighed in relief while he reached out and turned the handle, stepping back to allow his lord and lady entrance first.
Sesshomaru swept gracefully inside, turning slightly so Kagome's feet wouldn't hit the door frame. He reverently placed her on their bed, loving the way her pale skin contrasted with the black stain cover. He ran a hand across the light material of her dress, frowning slightly before stepping into their dressing room and fetching a warm fur robe to wrap her in. While he wanted to see how she would look in one of the sheer black silk nightgowns he had made for her, she might not appreciate him removing her clothes off so soon.
He would give it a few more days until she got comfortable enough she wouldn't be upset when she woke up in different clothes. Or none at all.
He picked her up again to take the blanket wrapped around her off and slid her petite body into the warmer clothing before pulling the covers back off the bed and pushed them snugly around her.
Miroku waited patiently at the door as Sesshomaru leaned down and brushed his lips sweetly against her rosy mouth, slightly parted in sleep.
"The gas should only last a few more hours, I will be back before then. In the meantime, we will go greet the newest residents from Charon's boat." Sesshomaru told Miroku as the little bit of warmth he had, drained from his face.
Miroku nodded, "Would you like your crown, my lord?" He asked, holding out a round head piece of cold silver, decorated with various etchings and onyx stones.
Sesshomaru accepted it from him, placing it absently on his head as they walked out the door and locked it behind him.
Kagome
Kagome felt herself wake up, but kept her eyes closed, wondering why she was surrounded with warm satin cloth and the scent of spices mixed with a faint bit of brimstone instead of her normal thin cotton sheets and sweet-smelling grass.
And why didn't she feel the sun's heat? She didn't wake up during the night, had she?
She slowly opened her eyes and stifled a scream. There was stone all around her! Everywhere! On the ceiling, on the walls, on the floor! Where was her beloved sun and clouds and wind and earth?
She sat up in bed, trying to breath deeply and not choke on her fear. She gasped again when her memories came rushing back, filling her mind with Sesshomaru and him stealing her away into his Underworld. She gasped again. She was underground!
She started to tremble slightly and forced her head between her knees, not wanting to faint. She hated being underground. There were no open spaces or trees, or plants or life of any kind. It was all dark and death. The only time she had been in an enclosed space was when she explored a cave when she was younger. Almost immediately she felt the walls were pushing down on her and she couldn't draw air into her lungs. Inuyasha had to drag her out before her brain could become damaged from the lack of oxygen.
And now she was in Hell. Miles and miles away from her world and she had no Inuyasha to save her this time.
Tears burned behind her eyes as she pressed her face in her hands, as if hiding the sight of rocky walls would help her forget where she was. She hoped Inuyasha was alright, Sesshomaru had hit him so many times with that whip...
She let thoughts of Inuyasha and how he would scoff off even the most serious injury while whining about a scratch fill her mind and helped her calm down enough to peek out from behind her fingers.
And buried her face back in her hands again, trying not to freak out.
"Get a hold of yourself!" She mumbled to herself. "This is so pathetic."
She had to come up with a way to get out of here. Not whimper and whine in fright.
Slowly Kagome sat back up and let her hands fall to her lap, twisting her fingers in the fabric as she struggled for control over her fear. Trying to distract herself she looked around the room she was in. She had to admit to herself it was a little nice . . . but as a good place to visit for an hour or so, not spend the rest of eternity in like Sesshomaru was planning.
Stop it! She yelled at herself when she felt her breath catch in her throat. Sesshomaru can want whatever he likes, but there was no way she was staying here for the rest of etenrity like he wanted.
At that thought, her fear of being trapped underground faded away for the time being, replaced with the greater fear of actually becoming Sesshomaru’s wife, she pushed back the covers on the bed and set her bare feet on the floor.
"Holy-" Kagome started to curse and jerked her feet back up. The marble floor was ice cold!
She frowned as she drew the robe closer around her. That was strange. If she was in Hades why was it so cold? Shouldn't it be unbearably hot?
Thankfully, the robe was too long, so when she set her feet down again she made sure the velvet and fur was on the floor and under her feet before trying to stand up again.
She shuffled her feet across the floor, trying to stay on the fabric, towards a room that looked like a dressing room, hoping there would be shoes or slippers to put on and protect her feet from frostbite.
She walked in, hey eyes going wide at all the clothes hanging from the ceiling. There had to be more then a hundred dresses and their was an enormous armoire that looked like it held a lot of jewelry at the end of lines of dresses. She refused to look at the other side of the room, the part that held clothing for a male person and started opening drawers carved in the wall, hoping to find something useful.
She blushed when she opened one drawer and found little tiny bits of lace inside, wondering is he seriously thought she would wear something like that and slammed it back shut quickly.
She noticed a small indentation in the wall and curious, pressed it and leaped three feet back when the bottom half of the wall slid up and moved out, reveling pairs and pairs of shoes.
Kagome grasped a little shoe that was basically a heel and little scarps of fabric and wondered if it was as painful as it looked. She had never worn shoes before, preferring to go barefoot. She loved feeling smooth grass, dry dirt, sand, and any puddle she could find under her feet. She couldn't understand why anyone would choose to put anything that would disconnect them from the earth, and Sesshomaru wanted to wear what looked like 10 million pairs? She had to get out of here and fast.
Choosing quickly, she slipped a pair of flat, furred, shoes on that would be easy to run or climb in and left the robe in a heap on the floor, shivering as she pulled on a plain black dress over her head.
She grimaced down at it, picking at the skirt. It covered her from neck to toe and it looked like it had been made with ten yards of fabric. And it was black. If Kagome hated shoes, she despised the color black even more.
Reassuring herself she could dump all of it once she got home to the surface, she purposely made her way to the door, shivering from the cold metal knob in her hands.
She turned it and cursed, kicking at the door. The jerk had gone and locked it before he left!
There had to be a way to get it open from the inside...
Kneeling down and grateful for the cushioning the full skirt provided, Kagome studied the knob, slowly smirking when she realized the fool had put a normal lock and key sort of thing on the inside of the door. Her smirk turned even larger when she spotted the wilting roses in a vase near the hot spring.
Feeling more calm then she should after spotting the massage oil and body lotion sitting next to the water, she gently stroked the roses, smiling when they perked up and leaned into her touch. The roses bloomed beautifully, and murmuring apologizes, Kagome picked one of them and enlarged a thorn, breaking it off with a quick snap, hoping she hadn't hurt it more then necessary. The flower was silent, just happy to help her goddess in anyway possible.
Making her way back to the door with the thorn that was as long as her forefinger, she thanked Inuyasha for teaching her how to pick locks so long ago.
She slid the point of the thorn inside the lock, jigging it around with her ear pressed to the wood until she heard a small 'click'.
Grinning in success, she slipped the thorn into the fabric of her skirt near the bottom in case she needed it later and turned the doorknob, almost laughing when it opened.
One obstacle down, ten million more to go.
Sesshomaru
Sesshomaru mentally smirked to himself, amused at the sniveling bunch of criminals who cowered at his feet, begging for forgiveness.
"I am not the one whom you should ask for forgiveness, request it of those you have harmed." Sesshomaru said, stepping aside to show the victims of the murderers, grinning in glee.
"You may do to them what you see fit." Sesshomaru informed them, ignoring the criminals cries as they were dragged away by their prey.
He glanced over at Miroku who was waiting patiently for him to finish up. "You may do what you wish for the next few hours Miroku, I will see to my mate alone this time." He told him, Miroku bowing gratefully and walking off before Sesshomaru could change his mind.
Sesshomaru didn't watch him leave, instead he went in the opposite direction to his chambers, eager to see Kagome.
Kagome
Kagome stuffed the ornate gold necklace down the front of her dress, needing it for passage on Charon's boat but not wanting to wear it anyway. Thinking for a brief moment, she decided it would be best to hunt down Charon and get a ride to the surface's entrance where she believed she could either teleport herself out of there or find another door to the surface. And if Charon wouldn't take the gold she offered, she would simply swim. She had heard something about the river being possibly acidic but she was immortal, she would have the rest of forever to heal any wounds.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, waiting a moment to make sure no one was coming before darting out.
She forced herself to walk calmly down the hall, hoping any servant walking by wouldn't take to close a look at her if she appeared to know what she was doing. She came to the end of the hallway and almost groaned, seeing five more halls she could take.
Even Inuyasha hadn't been able to teach her anything to help her improve her sense of direction...
Kagome paused for a few minutes, chewing her lower lip as she wondered what way to go. Maybe she should have looked for a map in the room she had woken up in before leaving?
"Are you alright there miss?" a plump old woman asked, suddenly appearing at Kagome's elbow.
Kagome jumped in shock, hand going over her heart reflexively. "I'm sorry?" she repeated, after her heart had calmed down some.
"Oh did I shock you child?" The old woman asked sympathetically. "You just looked so lost there."
Kagome gave her a crooked little smile. "Well I am a little lost here. You wouldn't happen to know the way out of this place, would you?" She asked.
The old woman chuckled, patting her hand as she pulled her to the hallway on the far left. "Ah, you must be new here, child. I must admit, the palace is a little hard to find your way around."
Kagome smiled down, grateful. "Yes it is." She agreed.
"Don't you worry none, once you've been here awhile, it gets easier." The old woman assured her and Kagome kept on smiling, sure she wouldn't be here long enough to find her way around.
"How long have you been here?" Kagome asked out of curiosity.
"Well in mortal years it's been . . . seventy years. I died on my fifty-eight birthday, and I made a deal with Lord Sesshomaru for my service for a thousand years in return for my oldest child entering the Elysian Fields." The old woman informed her while Kagome tried to decide how she felt about a dead old woman holding her hand.
"I see. So you would know where to find Charon and the Styx river , right?" Kagome asked casually.
The old woman looked at her as she led her down another hall, "Yes, I do. But why would you want to go back there child?"
"Well . . . " Kagome thought quickly, "I think I might have a sister who could be..uh, moving in. I promised her I would meet her." Kagome said smoothly, wincing mentally at the lie.
The old woman nodded though she looked doubtful. "Well all right child. Oh, where are my manners? My name is Mayu."
Kagome nodded down at her. "I’m Kagome." She replied back.
Mayu smiled kindly at her. “It’s very good to meet you Kagome. Well, here we are.” She suddenly announced and Kagome was surprised to see a large door at the end of the hallway so quickly.
The doors opened on their own at their approach and Kagome had to fight back a groan. The fates must really be laughing at her now...
Sesshomaru had chosen the worst part of the Underworld to build his palace in, the one place where all evil was sent once it was finally dead and could be tortured for all of eternity. Tartarus.
The screams of the damned filled the air, their weak voices begging for mercy as their tormenters mocked them. Ash and rock covered the land, and what she guessed was the sky here, was blood red. She was glad that forever reason she couldn’t see the criminals being punished, but still wished she had something to cover her ears from the horrible noises escaping from their lungs. Down below the palace was a rundown town, the few inhabitants sitting or walking helplessly around.
“It is quite horrible the first few times you hear the screams.” Mayu told her quietly. “But . . . this is where our lord wishes to live, so live here we must. I’m just thankful we never actually see the damned.”
“But why?” Kagome whispered, “Why would anyone chose to live here?”
Mayu shrugged, “I’m afraid I can’t answer that child. Though in my experience, those who chose to suffer normally feel like that’s what they deserve.” She said, her eyes turning dim. She shook her head to clear away old thoughts. “Or perhaps Lord Sesshomaru is so twisted he enjoys the suffering of others, I honestly cannot tell you child.”
Kagome nodded, determination sparking inside her. There was no way in Hades she was going to become Sesshomaru’s now.
“If you want to find the river Styx, you must go past that veil.” Mayu said, pointing at a black, mist like wall several miles from the broken town. “But I would suggest you avoid the town and the people inside it. They are dead so they cannot harm you but they still do their best to make things difficult for other people. When you get to the other side, just follow the river until you see Charon.” Mayu instructed. “But I first must warn you child. Passing the black veil is difficult, only those pure of heart can cross it, in order that those imprisoned here do not escape. If you do not have pure intentions, the veil will not let you pass to the other side. What you do enter . . . is much worse then here.” She warned.
Kagome reached down and hugged her tightly, surprising the old woman. “Thank you so much.” She breathed, smiling brightly at her.
Mayu smiled back gently and touched her cheek. “I hope you find whatever you are looking for, child.”
Kagome nodded, “I will.” She assured the old woman, before walking down the hill.
Sesshomaru
Sesshomaru leisurely made his way down the hall, confident Kagome was safe inside and waiting for him to ‘explain’ a few things. She was probably expecting words, but he had planned much more pleasurable actions to help her understand why he had chosen her.
First he wanted to help her understand why he loved her lips, and then would move down to her throat and shoulders. He’d tease her by going back up to her mouth before slowly slipping his hands inside her clothing to cover her breasts. She’d moan, he’d smirk, and show her why she wanted him more then his idiot half brother.
Of course, it was too early for them to get very far, but perhaps he could convince her faster by getting her addicted to his touch. Maybe he could even get her to forget all about Inuyasha.
He paused at their door, making sure his cloak wasn’t crooked and his hair was straight before taking out the key and sliding it into the lock.
He froze when the door fell open at that slight touch.
Slowly Sesshomaru took a step inside, seeing the corner of Kagome’s robe from inside their dressing room, the thriving roses, and the rumpled, empty, bed.
He snarled as whirled back into the hall and slammed the door behind him.
Damn it, he hadn’t thought Kagome would try to escape until tomorrow. And the non-toxin should have knocked her out until now . . . if he hadn’t used plant compounds that Kagome would absorb faster and more efficiently into her bloodstream because of her role as goddess of the spring, double damn it!
He snarled again to move the servants out of his way as he traveled though his castle. She had to still be in here, she never would have found her way out, right?
Kagome
Kagome carefully crept around the town, praying no one saw her. Thankfully, most of the spirts who lived there were out meeting their daily torment quota and very few of the damned were actually ‘home’. But the entire town gave off an evil, unclean feeling that made Kagome cringe every time she got to near it.
She released a sigh of relief when she neared the black veil that ran straight up from the dead land to the red sky. She bit her lip and paused in front of the swirling black haze, remembering Mayu’s warning about the veil. She really didn’t know why she was worrying, if anyone would be pure of heart, it would be a spring goddess wouldn’t it?
But the threat of a place even worse then Tartarus made her stand still before the simmering fog.
She closed her eyes and briefly thought of Inuyasha, the way the sun glinted off his silver hair and turned it gold, the way he looked at her so lovingly, the way she felt so cherished with him.
She had to get back to him. And if this was the only way, so be it.
Taking a deep breath, she braced her shoulders and stepped through the barrier.
Sesshomaru
Sesshomaru was slowly becoming frantic every moment he didn’t find her, although he never let it show on his face. Instead the temperature slowly dropped, causing even the undead to shiver as he turned the corner into another useless dead end.
He almost growled in frustration. Where was she? He had searched almost the entire palace himself, he had his guards looking over every nook and cranny for her and Kagome still hadn’t turned up.
A sudden thought stopped his heart for a beat. What if something had happened to her? Maybe she hadn’t broken herself out of their room, but someone else had and taken her?
He growled low in his throat, causing one of the maids to whimper and run away when she heard him. If anyone dared to harm what was his, he would cause them such anguish, Prometheus’s suffering would look like a tea party. The kidnapper would have his liver, heart, kidney, stomach, and brain eaten out by hungry lions with dull teeth every hour for the rest of eternity if they threatened Kagome!
He took a quiet breath to keep himself in control before turning and piercing a group of quivering servants with his cold gaze.
“You there.” He almost barked. “Have you seen an unknown woman wandering the castle? Her name is Kagome.” He almost growled when the servants glanced at each other nervously. “She might be in danger.” he told them, hoping if one of them had met Kagome, she would have warmed their hearts enough to care about her welfare,
Slowly, an old woman stepped up, “Well, my lord, I met a young girl who called herself Kagome a short while ago. She needed directions to the river Styx.” Mayu said carefully, flinching when icicles dropped down from the ceiling while one of Sesshomaru’s hands fisted together.
“Very well. Go back to your duties.” He ordered and he stalked towards the palace doors while his servants scattered.
Kagome
Kagome slowly opened her eyes when she felt the coolness of the veil wash over her, finding herself safely on the other side. It was rather plain on the other side of the veil, everything was dirt and brown while a black river rushed by in front of her. Even the ‘sky’ was a very faint shade of brown. On the farther banks was another veil, only one that glowed white.
Deciding the river churning next to her must be the Styx, she started walking down river of it, hoping she would come across Charon soon.
After a while of walking, Kagome spotted a group of people and a very tall gate in the distance, and started walking faster, hoping it would be what she thought it was.
She slowed down and waited for the group of people to move through the gate, sure no one had seen her. The gate was huge, spanning almost thirty feet in the air and made a very impressive sound when it was slammed back closed.
Now that everyone was gone except for the figure on the boat, Kagome picked up her skirts and ran towards him, praying he wouldn’t leave before he could leave.
“Excuse me! Wait please!” She yelled, almost laughing in joy when the old man stopped moving around on the boat and paused, rubbing his head.
She finally reached the dock and jumped on it, ignoring the creaking under her feet. “Thank you so much for waiting, I was wondering . . . wait, Totosai?” Kagome asked as the old man turned to face her.
Totosai blinked at her, rubbing his head again. “Eh? I think I know you from somewhere.” He said slowly, raking his tired old brain for details.
Kagome nodded rapidly. “Yes you do! It’s Kagome! Don’t you remember, you created my first gardening tool when I was five?” Kagome reminded him, hoping he would remember her.
Totosai scratched his nearly bald scalp once more before breaking out into a huge grin. “Kagome! It is good to see you my dear! But tell me, what’s a nature goddess doing in a place like Hades?” He asked.
Kagome grinned back, “Shouldn’t I be asking you what’s the sword smith for the gods doing rowing boats on the Styx?” Kagome shot back teasingly.
He sighed, “Old Charon needed a vacation, and Lord Sesshomaru wasn’t pleased with the sword I created for him. That man doesn’t need to buy any more shoes, he needs to buy a sense of humor! I thought it was hilarious the god of death had a sword that brought the corpses back to life.” He grumbled. “But that lord had to get insulted and force me to work as the ferryman until I pay off the amount he paid me for the sword. Kids today! Why in my day, you had to show respect to your elders, or your parents would beat you black and blue! Today-“
”I really need a favor Totosai.” Kagome said bluntly, really not wanting to spend the next century hearing what was wrong with her generation when the time could be spend getting away. “I need to get back to the mortal world. Here.” she pulled the gold necklace out of her dress, ignoring Totosai’s wide eyed look. “Will this be enough to get me back?” Kagome asked worriedly.
Totosai snorted, tucking the necklace away. “This would pay you for a thousand passages! Well climb aborad child, I’m sure you’re eager to get out of here.” Totosai stepped into his boat, holding a bony arm out to help Kagome step on
“You still haven’t told me how you of all people ended up here.” Totosai reminded her. “You don’t look dead yet.”
Kagome sighed, not noticing when Totosai suddenly looked panicked. “It was all a big misunderstanding, one I’ll be happy to correct.” She said firmly, starting to sit down on the seat behind her.
A hard hand catching her by the shoulder stopped her. “There is a misunderstanding I to, must correct.” Sesshomaru growled from behind her.
Inuyasha
Inuyasha walked woodenly through the once lively forest, finally leaving the spot where his brother had stolen Kagome from him.
The thought of her name sent a painful ache through him, making his entire body tremble with the need to hold her, touch her, kiss her.
She had only been gone a few hours, but already it felt like decades while he slowly grew numb and cold, pain radiating from every small movement he made.
He detachably watched a bird fly above him frantically, absently recognizing it as a favorite species of Kagome’s.
But he continued to walk on, not even registering the small noise the bird made when it plunged into the snow, a sheet of frost completely frozen over its little body as dark clouds gathered and sleet fell from the sky, landing softly on the snow Inuyasha left in his wake.
Some things you should know before reading...
Charon- Charon is the old ferryman for the Underworld. For a piece of gold he would transport dead sprits to the gates of the Underworld, where from there they would be forever. If the dead didn’t have gold, they would be kept out of the Underworld and roam the other side of the banks endlessly.
Styx- The most famous river of Hades, this is the river Charon would sail down.
Hades- Just another word for the Underworld. The veil thing I mention later on is totally made up by the way.
Tartarus- The part of Hades where the sinners went to, to be punished for their crimes. (It’s a little bit like the Christian hell, only much more cruel in my opinion.)
Elysian Fields- The part of Hades where the warriors and hero’s lived after death. Most accounts say normal people didn’t go there after death, but I like to believe otherwise.
Prometheus- He was a titan who liked mortals and gave them fire to help them survive and prosper. Zeus (King God) was so pissed at this, he chained Prometheus to a rock and ordered a crow/eagle/hawk(the bird depends on the version you read) to eat his liver every day. Then he would grow a new one during the night, repeating the cycle, over and over again. (The Greeks sure knew how to punish someone, right?)
Disclaimer- I don’t own Inuyasha.
--
Hades
Sesshomaru handed off his carriage to the stable boy waiting, holding Kagome tightly to him, her face peaceful in sleep. He had to glance down at her every few moments as he strode down the hall, just to make sure she was really here, safe in his arms and he wasn't dreaming again.
"I see you brought her, my lord." Miroku said as he met him at the end of the corridor, walking a few steps behind him as Sesshomaru sharply turned towards their room.
"Yes." Sesshomaru replied back, still preoccupied with the sleeping goddess sighing in his neck.
Miroku quickened his pace, loathing to bring up subjects his lord might very well kill him for.
Taking a deep breath, he prayed to Kami before opening his mouth.
"My lord? I would never think to question your judgement, but are you sure this will make Lady Kagome happy? And it's not just because she's in Hades now, but because she's never met you before now. I have the feeling a woman like Lady Kagome will not be thrilled to be bound to a man she barely knows." Miroku said as if he wasn't terrified of what his lord would do for saying such things.
Sesshomaru frowned coldly at him, "She will get to know me."
Miroku almost cursed Sesshomaru for his stupid blindness. "That isn't the point my lord. You've taken her away from everything she knows! And she won't like waking up in a strange place, with a strange man she's never met before!"
Sesshomaru scowled at him, "She has seen me before, monk. I was present at her birthday party."
"When she was a month old!" Miroku argued back, surprised his head was still attached to his neck. "It's been nearly twenty years since then! She's still practically a child and you're older then her fourth ancestor!"
"Miroku. I noticed you did not complain this much when my hands were empty." Sesshomaru said darkly.
Miroku respectfully lowered his eyes, "Forgive me my lord, I spoke out of turn." he said, sensing Sesshomaru's patience rapidly fading.
Sesshomaru gestured him with a nod of his head to open the door to their bedroom. "I will over look it this time." He said, in an unusually good mood. Kagome felt so right, so amazingly good in his arms. Why hadn’t he claimed her sooner?
Miroku silently sighed in relief while he reached out and turned the handle, stepping back to allow his lord and lady entrance first.
Sesshomaru swept gracefully inside, turning slightly so Kagome's feet wouldn't hit the door frame. He reverently placed her on their bed, loving the way her pale skin contrasted with the black stain cover. He ran a hand across the light material of her dress, frowning slightly before stepping into their dressing room and fetching a warm fur robe to wrap her in. While he wanted to see how she would look in one of the sheer black silk nightgowns he had made for her, she might not appreciate him removing her clothes off so soon.
He would give it a few more days until she got comfortable enough she wouldn't be upset when she woke up in different clothes. Or none at all.
He picked her up again to take the blanket wrapped around her off and slid her petite body into the warmer clothing before pulling the covers back off the bed and pushed them snugly around her.
Miroku waited patiently at the door as Sesshomaru leaned down and brushed his lips sweetly against her rosy mouth, slightly parted in sleep.
"The gas should only last a few more hours, I will be back before then. In the meantime, we will go greet the newest residents from Charon's boat." Sesshomaru told Miroku as the little bit of warmth he had, drained from his face.
Miroku nodded, "Would you like your crown, my lord?" He asked, holding out a round head piece of cold silver, decorated with various etchings and onyx stones.
Sesshomaru accepted it from him, placing it absently on his head as they walked out the door and locked it behind him.
Kagome
Kagome felt herself wake up, but kept her eyes closed, wondering why she was surrounded with warm satin cloth and the scent of spices mixed with a faint bit of brimstone instead of her normal thin cotton sheets and sweet-smelling grass.
And why didn't she feel the sun's heat? She didn't wake up during the night, had she?
She slowly opened her eyes and stifled a scream. There was stone all around her! Everywhere! On the ceiling, on the walls, on the floor! Where was her beloved sun and clouds and wind and earth?
She sat up in bed, trying to breath deeply and not choke on her fear. She gasped again when her memories came rushing back, filling her mind with Sesshomaru and him stealing her away into his Underworld. She gasped again. She was underground!
She started to tremble slightly and forced her head between her knees, not wanting to faint. She hated being underground. There were no open spaces or trees, or plants or life of any kind. It was all dark and death. The only time she had been in an enclosed space was when she explored a cave when she was younger. Almost immediately she felt the walls were pushing down on her and she couldn't draw air into her lungs. Inuyasha had to drag her out before her brain could become damaged from the lack of oxygen.
And now she was in Hell. Miles and miles away from her world and she had no Inuyasha to save her this time.
Tears burned behind her eyes as she pressed her face in her hands, as if hiding the sight of rocky walls would help her forget where she was. She hoped Inuyasha was alright, Sesshomaru had hit him so many times with that whip...
She let thoughts of Inuyasha and how he would scoff off even the most serious injury while whining about a scratch fill her mind and helped her calm down enough to peek out from behind her fingers.
And buried her face back in her hands again, trying not to freak out.
"Get a hold of yourself!" She mumbled to herself. "This is so pathetic."
She had to come up with a way to get out of here. Not whimper and whine in fright.
Slowly Kagome sat back up and let her hands fall to her lap, twisting her fingers in the fabric as she struggled for control over her fear. Trying to distract herself she looked around the room she was in. She had to admit to herself it was a little nice . . . but as a good place to visit for an hour or so, not spend the rest of eternity in like Sesshomaru was planning.
Stop it! She yelled at herself when she felt her breath catch in her throat. Sesshomaru can want whatever he likes, but there was no way she was staying here for the rest of etenrity like he wanted.
At that thought, her fear of being trapped underground faded away for the time being, replaced with the greater fear of actually becoming Sesshomaru’s wife, she pushed back the covers on the bed and set her bare feet on the floor.
"Holy-" Kagome started to curse and jerked her feet back up. The marble floor was ice cold!
She frowned as she drew the robe closer around her. That was strange. If she was in Hades why was it so cold? Shouldn't it be unbearably hot?
Thankfully, the robe was too long, so when she set her feet down again she made sure the velvet and fur was on the floor and under her feet before trying to stand up again.
She shuffled her feet across the floor, trying to stay on the fabric, towards a room that looked like a dressing room, hoping there would be shoes or slippers to put on and protect her feet from frostbite.
She walked in, hey eyes going wide at all the clothes hanging from the ceiling. There had to be more then a hundred dresses and their was an enormous armoire that looked like it held a lot of jewelry at the end of lines of dresses. She refused to look at the other side of the room, the part that held clothing for a male person and started opening drawers carved in the wall, hoping to find something useful.
She blushed when she opened one drawer and found little tiny bits of lace inside, wondering is he seriously thought she would wear something like that and slammed it back shut quickly.
She noticed a small indentation in the wall and curious, pressed it and leaped three feet back when the bottom half of the wall slid up and moved out, reveling pairs and pairs of shoes.
Kagome grasped a little shoe that was basically a heel and little scarps of fabric and wondered if it was as painful as it looked. She had never worn shoes before, preferring to go barefoot. She loved feeling smooth grass, dry dirt, sand, and any puddle she could find under her feet. She couldn't understand why anyone would choose to put anything that would disconnect them from the earth, and Sesshomaru wanted to wear what looked like 10 million pairs? She had to get out of here and fast.
Choosing quickly, she slipped a pair of flat, furred, shoes on that would be easy to run or climb in and left the robe in a heap on the floor, shivering as she pulled on a plain black dress over her head.
She grimaced down at it, picking at the skirt. It covered her from neck to toe and it looked like it had been made with ten yards of fabric. And it was black. If Kagome hated shoes, she despised the color black even more.
Reassuring herself she could dump all of it once she got home to the surface, she purposely made her way to the door, shivering from the cold metal knob in her hands.
She turned it and cursed, kicking at the door. The jerk had gone and locked it before he left!
There had to be a way to get it open from the inside...
Kneeling down and grateful for the cushioning the full skirt provided, Kagome studied the knob, slowly smirking when she realized the fool had put a normal lock and key sort of thing on the inside of the door. Her smirk turned even larger when she spotted the wilting roses in a vase near the hot spring.
Feeling more calm then she should after spotting the massage oil and body lotion sitting next to the water, she gently stroked the roses, smiling when they perked up and leaned into her touch. The roses bloomed beautifully, and murmuring apologizes, Kagome picked one of them and enlarged a thorn, breaking it off with a quick snap, hoping she hadn't hurt it more then necessary. The flower was silent, just happy to help her goddess in anyway possible.
Making her way back to the door with the thorn that was as long as her forefinger, she thanked Inuyasha for teaching her how to pick locks so long ago.
She slid the point of the thorn inside the lock, jigging it around with her ear pressed to the wood until she heard a small 'click'.
Grinning in success, she slipped the thorn into the fabric of her skirt near the bottom in case she needed it later and turned the doorknob, almost laughing when it opened.
One obstacle down, ten million more to go.
Sesshomaru
Sesshomaru mentally smirked to himself, amused at the sniveling bunch of criminals who cowered at his feet, begging for forgiveness.
"I am not the one whom you should ask for forgiveness, request it of those you have harmed." Sesshomaru said, stepping aside to show the victims of the murderers, grinning in glee.
"You may do to them what you see fit." Sesshomaru informed them, ignoring the criminals cries as they were dragged away by their prey.
He glanced over at Miroku who was waiting patiently for him to finish up. "You may do what you wish for the next few hours Miroku, I will see to my mate alone this time." He told him, Miroku bowing gratefully and walking off before Sesshomaru could change his mind.
Sesshomaru didn't watch him leave, instead he went in the opposite direction to his chambers, eager to see Kagome.
Kagome
Kagome stuffed the ornate gold necklace down the front of her dress, needing it for passage on Charon's boat but not wanting to wear it anyway. Thinking for a brief moment, she decided it would be best to hunt down Charon and get a ride to the surface's entrance where she believed she could either teleport herself out of there or find another door to the surface. And if Charon wouldn't take the gold she offered, she would simply swim. She had heard something about the river being possibly acidic but she was immortal, she would have the rest of forever to heal any wounds.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, waiting a moment to make sure no one was coming before darting out.
She forced herself to walk calmly down the hall, hoping any servant walking by wouldn't take to close a look at her if she appeared to know what she was doing. She came to the end of the hallway and almost groaned, seeing five more halls she could take.
Even Inuyasha hadn't been able to teach her anything to help her improve her sense of direction...
Kagome paused for a few minutes, chewing her lower lip as she wondered what way to go. Maybe she should have looked for a map in the room she had woken up in before leaving?
"Are you alright there miss?" a plump old woman asked, suddenly appearing at Kagome's elbow.
Kagome jumped in shock, hand going over her heart reflexively. "I'm sorry?" she repeated, after her heart had calmed down some.
"Oh did I shock you child?" The old woman asked sympathetically. "You just looked so lost there."
Kagome gave her a crooked little smile. "Well I am a little lost here. You wouldn't happen to know the way out of this place, would you?" She asked.
The old woman chuckled, patting her hand as she pulled her to the hallway on the far left. "Ah, you must be new here, child. I must admit, the palace is a little hard to find your way around."
Kagome smiled down, grateful. "Yes it is." She agreed.
"Don't you worry none, once you've been here awhile, it gets easier." The old woman assured her and Kagome kept on smiling, sure she wouldn't be here long enough to find her way around.
"How long have you been here?" Kagome asked out of curiosity.
"Well in mortal years it's been . . . seventy years. I died on my fifty-eight birthday, and I made a deal with Lord Sesshomaru for my service for a thousand years in return for my oldest child entering the Elysian Fields." The old woman informed her while Kagome tried to decide how she felt about a dead old woman holding her hand.
"I see. So you would know where to find Charon and the Styx river , right?" Kagome asked casually.
The old woman looked at her as she led her down another hall, "Yes, I do. But why would you want to go back there child?"
"Well . . . " Kagome thought quickly, "I think I might have a sister who could be..uh, moving in. I promised her I would meet her." Kagome said smoothly, wincing mentally at the lie.
The old woman nodded though she looked doubtful. "Well all right child. Oh, where are my manners? My name is Mayu."
Kagome nodded down at her. "I’m Kagome." She replied back.
Mayu smiled kindly at her. “It’s very good to meet you Kagome. Well, here we are.” She suddenly announced and Kagome was surprised to see a large door at the end of the hallway so quickly.
The doors opened on their own at their approach and Kagome had to fight back a groan. The fates must really be laughing at her now...
Sesshomaru had chosen the worst part of the Underworld to build his palace in, the one place where all evil was sent once it was finally dead and could be tortured for all of eternity. Tartarus.
The screams of the damned filled the air, their weak voices begging for mercy as their tormenters mocked them. Ash and rock covered the land, and what she guessed was the sky here, was blood red. She was glad that forever reason she couldn’t see the criminals being punished, but still wished she had something to cover her ears from the horrible noises escaping from their lungs. Down below the palace was a rundown town, the few inhabitants sitting or walking helplessly around.
“It is quite horrible the first few times you hear the screams.” Mayu told her quietly. “But . . . this is where our lord wishes to live, so live here we must. I’m just thankful we never actually see the damned.”
“But why?” Kagome whispered, “Why would anyone chose to live here?”
Mayu shrugged, “I’m afraid I can’t answer that child. Though in my experience, those who chose to suffer normally feel like that’s what they deserve.” She said, her eyes turning dim. She shook her head to clear away old thoughts. “Or perhaps Lord Sesshomaru is so twisted he enjoys the suffering of others, I honestly cannot tell you child.”
Kagome nodded, determination sparking inside her. There was no way in Hades she was going to become Sesshomaru’s now.
“If you want to find the river Styx, you must go past that veil.” Mayu said, pointing at a black, mist like wall several miles from the broken town. “But I would suggest you avoid the town and the people inside it. They are dead so they cannot harm you but they still do their best to make things difficult for other people. When you get to the other side, just follow the river until you see Charon.” Mayu instructed. “But I first must warn you child. Passing the black veil is difficult, only those pure of heart can cross it, in order that those imprisoned here do not escape. If you do not have pure intentions, the veil will not let you pass to the other side. What you do enter . . . is much worse then here.” She warned.
Kagome reached down and hugged her tightly, surprising the old woman. “Thank you so much.” She breathed, smiling brightly at her.
Mayu smiled back gently and touched her cheek. “I hope you find whatever you are looking for, child.”
Kagome nodded, “I will.” She assured the old woman, before walking down the hill.
Sesshomaru
Sesshomaru leisurely made his way down the hall, confident Kagome was safe inside and waiting for him to ‘explain’ a few things. She was probably expecting words, but he had planned much more pleasurable actions to help her understand why he had chosen her.
First he wanted to help her understand why he loved her lips, and then would move down to her throat and shoulders. He’d tease her by going back up to her mouth before slowly slipping his hands inside her clothing to cover her breasts. She’d moan, he’d smirk, and show her why she wanted him more then his idiot half brother.
Of course, it was too early for them to get very far, but perhaps he could convince her faster by getting her addicted to his touch. Maybe he could even get her to forget all about Inuyasha.
He paused at their door, making sure his cloak wasn’t crooked and his hair was straight before taking out the key and sliding it into the lock.
He froze when the door fell open at that slight touch.
Slowly Sesshomaru took a step inside, seeing the corner of Kagome’s robe from inside their dressing room, the thriving roses, and the rumpled, empty, bed.
He snarled as whirled back into the hall and slammed the door behind him.
Damn it, he hadn’t thought Kagome would try to escape until tomorrow. And the non-toxin should have knocked her out until now . . . if he hadn’t used plant compounds that Kagome would absorb faster and more efficiently into her bloodstream because of her role as goddess of the spring, double damn it!
He snarled again to move the servants out of his way as he traveled though his castle. She had to still be in here, she never would have found her way out, right?
Kagome
Kagome carefully crept around the town, praying no one saw her. Thankfully, most of the spirts who lived there were out meeting their daily torment quota and very few of the damned were actually ‘home’. But the entire town gave off an evil, unclean feeling that made Kagome cringe every time she got to near it.
She released a sigh of relief when she neared the black veil that ran straight up from the dead land to the red sky. She bit her lip and paused in front of the swirling black haze, remembering Mayu’s warning about the veil. She really didn’t know why she was worrying, if anyone would be pure of heart, it would be a spring goddess wouldn’t it?
But the threat of a place even worse then Tartarus made her stand still before the simmering fog.
She closed her eyes and briefly thought of Inuyasha, the way the sun glinted off his silver hair and turned it gold, the way he looked at her so lovingly, the way she felt so cherished with him.
She had to get back to him. And if this was the only way, so be it.
Taking a deep breath, she braced her shoulders and stepped through the barrier.
Sesshomaru
Sesshomaru was slowly becoming frantic every moment he didn’t find her, although he never let it show on his face. Instead the temperature slowly dropped, causing even the undead to shiver as he turned the corner into another useless dead end.
He almost growled in frustration. Where was she? He had searched almost the entire palace himself, he had his guards looking over every nook and cranny for her and Kagome still hadn’t turned up.
A sudden thought stopped his heart for a beat. What if something had happened to her? Maybe she hadn’t broken herself out of their room, but someone else had and taken her?
He growled low in his throat, causing one of the maids to whimper and run away when she heard him. If anyone dared to harm what was his, he would cause them such anguish, Prometheus’s suffering would look like a tea party. The kidnapper would have his liver, heart, kidney, stomach, and brain eaten out by hungry lions with dull teeth every hour for the rest of eternity if they threatened Kagome!
He took a quiet breath to keep himself in control before turning and piercing a group of quivering servants with his cold gaze.
“You there.” He almost barked. “Have you seen an unknown woman wandering the castle? Her name is Kagome.” He almost growled when the servants glanced at each other nervously. “She might be in danger.” he told them, hoping if one of them had met Kagome, she would have warmed their hearts enough to care about her welfare,
Slowly, an old woman stepped up, “Well, my lord, I met a young girl who called herself Kagome a short while ago. She needed directions to the river Styx.” Mayu said carefully, flinching when icicles dropped down from the ceiling while one of Sesshomaru’s hands fisted together.
“Very well. Go back to your duties.” He ordered and he stalked towards the palace doors while his servants scattered.
Kagome
Kagome slowly opened her eyes when she felt the coolness of the veil wash over her, finding herself safely on the other side. It was rather plain on the other side of the veil, everything was dirt and brown while a black river rushed by in front of her. Even the ‘sky’ was a very faint shade of brown. On the farther banks was another veil, only one that glowed white.
Deciding the river churning next to her must be the Styx, she started walking down river of it, hoping she would come across Charon soon.
After a while of walking, Kagome spotted a group of people and a very tall gate in the distance, and started walking faster, hoping it would be what she thought it was.
She slowed down and waited for the group of people to move through the gate, sure no one had seen her. The gate was huge, spanning almost thirty feet in the air and made a very impressive sound when it was slammed back closed.
Now that everyone was gone except for the figure on the boat, Kagome picked up her skirts and ran towards him, praying he wouldn’t leave before he could leave.
“Excuse me! Wait please!” She yelled, almost laughing in joy when the old man stopped moving around on the boat and paused, rubbing his head.
She finally reached the dock and jumped on it, ignoring the creaking under her feet. “Thank you so much for waiting, I was wondering . . . wait, Totosai?” Kagome asked as the old man turned to face her.
Totosai blinked at her, rubbing his head again. “Eh? I think I know you from somewhere.” He said slowly, raking his tired old brain for details.
Kagome nodded rapidly. “Yes you do! It’s Kagome! Don’t you remember, you created my first gardening tool when I was five?” Kagome reminded him, hoping he would remember her.
Totosai scratched his nearly bald scalp once more before breaking out into a huge grin. “Kagome! It is good to see you my dear! But tell me, what’s a nature goddess doing in a place like Hades?” He asked.
Kagome grinned back, “Shouldn’t I be asking you what’s the sword smith for the gods doing rowing boats on the Styx?” Kagome shot back teasingly.
He sighed, “Old Charon needed a vacation, and Lord Sesshomaru wasn’t pleased with the sword I created for him. That man doesn’t need to buy any more shoes, he needs to buy a sense of humor! I thought it was hilarious the god of death had a sword that brought the corpses back to life.” He grumbled. “But that lord had to get insulted and force me to work as the ferryman until I pay off the amount he paid me for the sword. Kids today! Why in my day, you had to show respect to your elders, or your parents would beat you black and blue! Today-“
”I really need a favor Totosai.” Kagome said bluntly, really not wanting to spend the next century hearing what was wrong with her generation when the time could be spend getting away. “I need to get back to the mortal world. Here.” she pulled the gold necklace out of her dress, ignoring Totosai’s wide eyed look. “Will this be enough to get me back?” Kagome asked worriedly.
Totosai snorted, tucking the necklace away. “This would pay you for a thousand passages! Well climb aborad child, I’m sure you’re eager to get out of here.” Totosai stepped into his boat, holding a bony arm out to help Kagome step on
“You still haven’t told me how you of all people ended up here.” Totosai reminded her. “You don’t look dead yet.”
Kagome sighed, not noticing when Totosai suddenly looked panicked. “It was all a big misunderstanding, one I’ll be happy to correct.” She said firmly, starting to sit down on the seat behind her.
A hard hand catching her by the shoulder stopped her. “There is a misunderstanding I to, must correct.” Sesshomaru growled from behind her.
Inuyasha
Inuyasha walked woodenly through the once lively forest, finally leaving the spot where his brother had stolen Kagome from him.
The thought of her name sent a painful ache through him, making his entire body tremble with the need to hold her, touch her, kiss her.
She had only been gone a few hours, but already it felt like decades while he slowly grew numb and cold, pain radiating from every small movement he made.
He detachably watched a bird fly above him frantically, absently recognizing it as a favorite species of Kagome’s.
But he continued to walk on, not even registering the small noise the bird made when it plunged into the snow, a sheet of frost completely frozen over its little body as dark clouds gathered and sleet fell from the sky, landing softly on the snow Inuyasha left in his wake.