InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remember Me in the Stars ❯ Punishment ( Chapter 23 )

Punishment

The next day Kagome and Kaede were cooking from morning to evening, getting the big

dinner ready. Everything was set to go an hour before the dinner so Kaede shooed Kagome

out of the kitchen. In her room she changed out of her servant clothes to a simple light blue

dress that reached to her knees. She took her study books and walked out into the hallway.

Kikyo was going down the hall to her mother's bedroom in a stunning black dinner dress. Her

hair was brushed to perfection. Kagome sighed almost enviously as she pulled on her own

thick locks. She opened the door to the library and hid in there. Kikyo and her aunt both

seem to avoid the library and it was a haven for her. Especially with the multitude of books in

it. She started a warm fire in the fireplace and took up a spot in a plush comfortable chair. The

doorbell rang and Kagome's head went up. She could hear someone laughing in a shrill voice

(probably her aunt) and the low murmurs of Kikyo's voice. The doorbell rang a few more

times after that and each time she could hear cheerful greetings being given. The bell rang

one more time and she could hear an even louder exclamation over the guest. Her ears

perked up and she heard the deep voice of Sesshoumaru. She gave a small chuckle.

*Fashionably late, of course* She dug her nose even further into the books, trying to ignore

the happy sounds of conversation down below. After an hour she got down from her chair

and took a place on the floor closer to the fire. She leaned her back against a foot stool and

stretched her cramped leg muscles. She put her book down and pulled her legs toward her

chin. She could hear the company below moving toward the sitting room which she had

cleaned just the day before. She gave a sad sigh, feeling a little left out. The door to the library

opened and she turned her head. Sesshoumaru was standing in the doorway. Kagome looked

at him for a few more seconds then turned her head back. *He must be lost* She heard the

door close softly and picked up her history book again. Someone sat in the chair near her and

Kagome snapped her head back. He was sitting there, as stoic as ever, and staring down at

her.

"Shouldn't you be downstairs?"

"Why weren't you at the dinner?"

"They bore me. So I asked my aunt if I could just skip it." she lied.

"They are tedious, especially if they are company you do not particularly like."

"Oh? Why did you come then?"

"Duty."

"Shouldn't you be getting back? They might be waiting for you."

"They can wait."

"That's not polite."

"They bore me. Besides, are you trying to get rid of me?"

"No, no. Just, they might be waiting."

"I would rather stay with you."

Kagome rolled her eyes.

"Oh, give it up. I know you think I'm a challenge. There's no point for you to try now."

"A challenge? Why would I, Sesshoumaru, ever think of you as a challenge?"

"Thanks, when you say it like that I feel much better."

"I didn't mean it like that." he tried to explain.

Kagome turned her attention back to her book and tried her best to concentrate on the words

instead of the strange feeling of being near Sesshoumaru. A hand came in view and slowly

pushed the book down. Kagome looked up into Sesshoumaru's eyes, her whole body frozen in

place. The firelight illuminated his eyes and showed a fiery passion she had never known him

to possess. He was on his knees and was moving closer. She found herself unable to move at

all. Full lips loomed closer and she knew she would not stop them. The library door suddenly

opened and Kikyo was standing there looking at them with an almost crazed look in her eyes.

Kagome blushed at how they looked, her sitting by the fire with Sesshoumaru's head so close

to her own. Kikyo looked like she was about to throw a temper but she caught herself in time.

Ever the gracious host, she gave a forced smile.

"Sesshoumaru." she cooed.

He stood up and walk towards her, acknowledging her unspoken words. When he came near

to her she immediatly latched onto his arm and started to talk about the conversation going

on downstairs. When the door closed, Kagome touched her lips. She wondered what it would

have felt like to be kissed for the first time. Realizing what she had just thought, her cheeks

burned from embarressment. She shook her head, as if to shake away the thought, and

returned to her history book. Near midnight, when the last guest had left Kagome finally left

her haven in the library and walked down the hall to her room. Kikyo appeared all of a

sudden and pushed Kagome roughly against the wall. Hatred blazed in her eyes and her face

was contorted with malevolence.

"You no good slut!" she spat out, shaking Kagome.

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything!"

"Don't lie, I saw you and Sesshoumaru in the library, almost kissing! I bet you used your body

to get him to the library!"

"He came there! I never told him to come to the library! He came on his own!"

Kikyo gaze a nasty smile.

"Oh no, you won't fool Kikyo this easily. I told you once already to lay off of Inuyasha, and

now you have to go after my man? Slut!"

"I'm telling you the truth!"

Kikyo looked at Kagome's neck, noticing the necklace there for the first time.

"Perhaps a lesson is in mind. Maybe I'll take....this?"

Kikyo snatched the jewel from Kagome neck, breaking the clasp.

"No! Don't take it! Please! I'll do anything! Just give it back to me!"

Kikyo examined the necklace closely.

"A low class slut like you shouldn't wear such rich jewelry. It doesn't become you. Though, I

must say, I think it will look quite nice against my own neck. Don't you think?"

"No!! Please!! I'll do anything!!"

Kagome fell to her knees, begging. Kikyo looked down at her, smug at taking something

precious away from Kagome.

"Get away from me and go to your room. Maybe some time alone will let you think of what

you've done."

Kagome started to get angry, and that anger fueled her. She stood up and moved closer to

Kikyo.

"Give it back!"

"You must be joking."

"Or else!"

"Or else what? You'll hit me? Just remember, it is because of our generosity that you are

living here. Without us, you would be living in the streets scrounging for what food you can

find. The only other relative you have live hundreds of miles away from here and you don't

have any money to buy a plane ticket."

Kagome could find no words to say, because she knew Kikyo was right. Kikyo, seeing as how

her words hit Kagome gave one last smile and retired to her room. After what seemed like

hours Kagome finally went to her room. She touched her neck, feeling how empty her soul

felt. That necklace was the strongest memory she had of her mother. And with it gone, she

could feel despair creeping into her mind. Without bothering to change, she burrowed herself

into her bed covers and cried the night away.