InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Taisho's Darling ❯ Situation Accepted ( Chapter 7 )

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Disclaimer: I don't own these marvelous characters; they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I merely torture them at will and put them in uncomfortable situations whenever possible.

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Chapter 7

Situation Accepted

…

"Lower," Taisho grunted as Kaede worked her firm hands down his back. "A little to the left…now over and up…ahhh! That's it!" he sighed as the knot in his shoulder disappeared. A contented growl rumbled from his broad chest and he dug his claws into the warm sand. If circumstances forced you to be on the run, it didn't hurt to run someplace warm, he reasoned with a smile. There were worse situations than lying on the beach with a woman rubbing your aching muscles.

"Thy back - " Kaede broke off as Taisho reached a claw out and nicked her lightly on her bare leg. "Ouch! That hurt, Taisho-sama!"

"How quickly you seem to forget the terms of our wager, dear Kaede," Taisho warned her with an arch of his silvered brows. "You agreed to update your speech if I won the card game last night. Surely you're not intending to renege on our deal?"

"Your back," Kaede corrected herself with difficulty, "is a mass of tension, Taisho-sama. Thou shouldst, I mean, you should learn to relax. Perhaps a series of yoga stretches…"

"Yoga?" Taisho snorted with disdain. "I'll take up yoga when Miroku stops groping women. No Kaede, what I need to do is get back into fighting shape. I've gotten soft over the years, sitting behind a desk. The worst injury I've received in a century is a paper cut!"

"Yoga would assist you in maintaining th-your fighting condition, Taisho-sama," Kaede continued to argue. "It keeps thee limber. For instance, I can place mine ankle behind me, like this." She demonstrated by sitting up and pulling her left ankle behind her head. "Not bad for an old lady such as myself, eh?"

Taisho made the tactical error of turning his head to speak to the woman, his intention being to correct Kaede's lapse into archaic speech. Instead, the sight of his lovely swimsuit-clad slave in such a suggestive position sent all kinds of thoughts racing through his brain, none of them having to do with modern pronoun usage. "Great kami, woman, don't do that!" Taisho sputtered.

Kaede looked at him in confusion. "Why ever not, Taisho-sama?" she asked as she lowered her leg. Her smooth skin brushed against his muscled calf, sending goose-bumps racing across his hair-roughened leg.

Because it makes me want to see what other positions you can hold, his errant brain screamed. Taisho suppressed his lustful thoughts and swallowed hard before answering. "It looks painful," he muttered at last, hoping his voice sounded normal as he buried his face in his beach towel.

Kaede shifted in the sand beside him, stretching out like a cat to welcome the sunshine warming her skin. Taisho began to smell the salt mist overlapping her own unique scent and to his dismay, he found himself wondering what it would be like to taste her skin. Perhaps bringing Kaede along was a mistake. At the very least, he should ask her to retreat beneath her 'old woman' spell. That should cool his raging blood. She could even add a few features, like a giant wart on the end of her nose…

And it wouldn't do a damn bit of good, Taisho realized. He'd still find her attractive, because under the disguise she would still be Kaede. No, what he needed was a good roll in the hay with a complete stranger to clear his brain of such distractions. It had been a long time since he'd bedded a wench - far too long, if he was now contemplating taking advantage of a woman he had sworn to protect.

…

"This room will be yours, Rin-chan," Sango guided the small girl by the hand into the spacious bedroom located in the east wing of the mansion. Shippo scampered after them, landing with a huge bounce on the frilly bed. "I hope you like pink; Jakotsu decorated the room this morning when he found out a little girl would be living with us."

Shippo noticed Rin take a delicate sniff and wrinkle her nose. "That's from Nazuna-obasan's exploding spell last night," the young kit explained to his new friend. "Bankotsu says the stink will clear out before supper. And don't ever go into Nazuna-obasan's laboratory without asking permission, either. She'll get mad and yell at you."

"And how would you know that Shippo-chan, hm?" Sango smiled. She gave Rin's hand a gentle squeeze. "Don't listen to him; Nazuna-obasan is very nice. I'm sure she'd never have a reason to yell at you, because a sweet little girl like you would never go into a lab full of dangerous chemicals without permission. Now, let me show you where Sesshomaru-sama will be staying." She beckoned the children to follow her.

Rin stopped on the threshold of Sesshomaru's room and began to shake her head from side to side. "What's wrong, Rin-chan?" Sango asked. Rin silently pointed to the bed, her face marred in a frown.

Sango approached the empty bed, trying to understand what the mute girl was telling her. True, Jakotsu had decorated this room as well, but it was tastefully done. The room was accented with silver, red and black, and the overall effect was pleasingly masculine. Sango looked to Rin for further clarification.

The girl pointed to the floor and made a pretense of sleeping. "Floor…oh, do you think Sesshomaru-sama wants a futon instead of the bed?" Sango guessed. Rin nodded in agreement. "Well, there's a futon in the cabinet if he wants it," Sango shrugged. "Although why anyone would prefer sleeping on a futon instead of that big comfortable bed is beyond my understanding. I personally like the modern western furniture."

Rin tilted her head as if to say she, too, preferred the furniture. Batting her long eyelashes at Sango, she tugged on the pregnant woman's hand and attempted to move her towards the door.

"She probably wants to go back and explore those new toys in her own room," Shippo offered in translation. He was beginning to understand Rin's silent signals. "My room is next to yours, Rin, and Okaasan's room is just down the hall from us," he continued to inform the girl in a rapid chatter. Miroku-ojisan and Inu-Yasha have rooms on the top floor, and all of the obasan stay in the eastern wing of the mansion. Jakotsu and Bankotsu stay at the front of the eastern wing to keep Miroku-ojisan out. Taisho-sama says Miroku-ojisan has an unfair advantage because he lives here, so he has to stay away from the women's quarters. But I don't know why Miroku-ojisan would want to sleep in the ladies rooms," he added, furrowing his brow. "Jakotsu said Miroku-ojisan could sleep in his room if he needed a place to stay."

"Oh look, Bankotsu brought some fun games for us to play!" Sango grabbed a board game from the shelf in Rin's room and attempted to steer the conversation to a safer subject. After the events of the night before, she simply was not up to answering any questions regarding the relationships between men and women…or men and men.

…

"Are you two going to work all night?" Inu-Yasha asked his office companions. He threw a pile of paperwork into his briefcase and removed what was left of his tie from the paper shredder. "I'm taking my car back, Sesshomaru, so if you want a ride from me you need to be ready to leave in two minutes."

"What's your hurry, Inu-Yasha?" Sesshomaru asked as he continued reviewing the financial statements from the Shikon Division. Profits down, expenses up, overhead eating them alive…what the hell was wrong with their sales force? The division hadn't acquired any new contracts in over a year…

"I have stuff to do," Inu-Yasha answered casually. "Some of us have a life outside of work, you know. Higurashi, are you riding with me or not?"

Deep in study of a real estate contract, Kagome didn't bother to look up. "Go ahead," she mumbled. "I won't be ready for another half hour, so I'll just call a taxi." She flipped through the pages. "I was sure I saw an environmental clause in here somewhere…"

"Go home and let the legal department handle that," Sesshomaru told her. "We pay them to look for that sort of thing; allow them to do their job."

"I'll be waiting in the parking garage, Higurashi," Inu-Yasha said as he left the office. "Hurry your ass up."

Kagome tossed the contract into the 'legal review' box with a groan. "They'd better pick that thing over with a nit comb," she said. "One of the reasons the Shikon Division is losing money is Taisho International's inability to develop a large chunk of property the division holds. My predecessor purchased the land without realizing over ninety percent of the area is wetlands. It can never be developed, and naturally, no one wants to buy it. We'll probably wind up donating it to some preservation group just for the tax benefits."

"How I wish the problems with the Shikon Division were just related to foolish investments," Sesshomaru said glumly. "Unfortunately, the mismanagement goes all the way through. Go home, Higurashi Kagome. There's no point in both of us staying late."

"Are you trying to get rid of me or something?" Kagome cocked an eye at him. "You seem to be eager to see the back of me. Why don't you come with us?"

"I have a dinner interview with a candidate for the Shikon opening," Sesshomaru replied. Although I'd rather go home with you, he thought. "Besides, I need you to inform the rest of your 'housemates' of the new developments."

"So that's why you're in such a hurry to get me out of here! I hadn't thought of you as a coward, Sesshomaru," Kagome's azure eyes flashed angrily. "Why do I have to be the bearer of bad tidings? This matchmaking business was concocted between you and Taisho-sama, so leave me out of it!"

Oh, but I already have left you out of it, Higurashi Kagome. Naturally, he didn't say that part aloud. If the raven-haired woman standing in front of his desk caught wind of Sesshomaru's plans for her, all hell was going to break loose. "They will receive the news better if it comes from you," Sesshomaru pointed out. "In spite of your comparative youth, the others look to you for leadership. Forgive the comparison, but in another time you would hold the power and position of Father's primary consort. No decisions are made in that household against your wishes."

"Fine!" Kagome slammed her briefcase on her desk and grabbed her purse. "But I still say it's not fair that I'm the one who has to tell them. You owe me for this, Sesshomaru!" She stomped from the office angrily.

Sesshomaru relaxed as he heard the elevator doors close behind her. He needed her out of his presence or he'd never be able to concentrate. He hadn't realized what a distraction Kagome would be during the work day. Every time he heard her laughter, every time she walked past his desk, every time she spoke, Sesshomaru found himself losing his train of thought. Even worse, he'd almost called her by her given name several times, an act that would be sure to raise a few eyebrows.

"Kagome…" he allowed the word to fall from his mouth, relishing the way it rolled from his tongue. He blamed her intoxicating scent for his inability to function in her presence. She was the sister of a miko; surely the wench had powers of her own. Why else would the binding spell be affecting him like a mating mark?

The sooner he was rid of the aggravating human, the better. His father didn't want to his Favorite Darling to have just any mate, which suited Sesshomaru's plans just fine. The answer to getting rid of Higurashi Kagome worked right in this very office, someone his father couldn't possibly object to as his Darling's mate.

"Hope you're ready for long-term commitments, Inu-Yasha," Sesshomaru spoke to the empty space behind his brother's desk. If everything went according to plan, Inu-Yasha and Kagome would be mated before the month was over. The demon within him strongly protested, but Sesshomaru ruthlessly repressed the feelings.

She's riding in the car with him to the house…a perfect opportunity for the two of them to get to know each other better. Inu-Yasha's attitude has softened since he learned Kagome's true status. Perhaps all that hatred from before was just jealousy stemming from his belief that she was Father's mistress.

Sesshomaru pushed his feet against the desk, sending his chair rolling toward the window. Pieces of greenery still littered the floor below the window sill. Absently retrieving the fern Kagome had rescued, Sesshomaru allowed his thoughts to continue wandering. Alone in the car with my brother…normal conversation can take on a different tone in a matter of minutes, especially when both parties know each other.

He started as a new thought occurred to him. Sesshomaru remembered hearing rumors a couple of years ago of his brother's involvement with an unknown human woman. The relationship was very hushed for some reason. Could that woman have been Kagome? Their arguments could be an elaborate ruse, meant to conceal a forbidden affair. Their father would never have knowingly allowed one of his sons to participate in an unbound relationship with his Darlings. They're probably making out in the back seat of the car right now. Inu-Yasha had better keep his pants closed or I'll tear his throat out with my claws. I'll kill him if he touches what is mine!

He looked down, surprised to see the fern lying in shreds on his lap. Looking around guiltily, Sesshomaru scooped the greenery into his briefcase, intending to hide the evidence in a dumpster on the way to his dinner appointment. He had long given up the idea of accomplishing anything useful tonight. For the first time, he wished he could drink during the business dinner. At this point, he'd welcome the alcohol if it helped to numb his confusion.

…

"So that's our situation," Kagome finished her explanation to the slaves gathered in the large family room of the mansion. Looking across their expressions, she was reminded of a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming automobile. Pure, frozen panic was the predominant reaction.

"Life-mates?" Nazuna finally gasped. "I'm not ready for that kind of commitment! And Koharu's way too young! Look at her!" She pointed to Koharu's school-girl uniform.

"Hey!" Koharu protested. "I'm two years older than you! I just dress this way because the guys who visit the shop go for this sort of thing! I can't help it if I work for an adult lingerie store!"

"You wear duck pajamas to bed!"

"They happen to be cute and I like them! How can you not like a duck with sunglasses?"

"We're not here to discuss the merits of duck pajamas," Kagome interrupted their argument. "We're supposed to be talking about our situation, so pay attention!"

"Sesshomaru really intends to get a matchmaker involved in this process?" Miroku asked. "That's an interesting approach to take. I would not have thought of it myself, but I suppose the urgency of the situation demands outside help."

Kagome noted that Miroku didn't seem overly surprised by her announcement of impending unions. She had long suspected Miroku of being privy to Taisho-sama's secrets, and it now appeared she was correct. "It's not exactly 'outside help' we're receiving, Miroku. The matchmaker is none other than Sakura's daughter Kagura."

Kagome had finally succeeded in startling the former monk. "Kagura?" Miroku repeated incredulously. "Why would she agree to help? She's the last one I would have approached!"

"I don't know all the particulars," Kagome admitted, "other than Sesshomaru convinced her to aid us. However, he didn't tell her we were slaves, so she's assuming we're Taisho-sama's consorts. Oh, and Miroku," she remembered suddenly, "Sesshomaru told Kagura that you were Sango's brother, so you're going to have to be on your best behavior around Sango."

"Yeah, you don't want her thinking you're some kind of deviant," Nazuna guffawed. She turned to Kagome. "What if we don't like the youkai Kagura presents to us? Do we have any choice at all in this?"

"Taisho-sama would never insist that you mate with someone you dislike," Kagome assured the budding scientist. "But we can't afford to be too picky, either! Look for someone you can learn to love, or at least, learn to live with!"

"And failing that, finding someone good in the sack wouldn't hurt," Nazuna added with a grin.

"Nazuna!" Koharu blushed. "I can't believe you said that! I expect a comment like that to come out of Miroku's mouth, not yours!"

"Don't tell me you're still a virgin after all these years, Koharu!" Nazuna hooted. "You're so old fashioned! Not that I have a lot of experience, mind you, but at least I know what it's like to wake up next to a warm body!"

"I hardly think this discussion is appropriate around the children," Kagome ground out in exasperation. She pointed to Rin and Shippo, who were following the conversation with rounded eyes and a confused look on their faces.

"What's to discuss?" Sango finally spoke from where she was sitting in the rocking chair, her arms folded across her stomach. "No matter how you dress it up to make it look pretty, we are slaves, people! We wouldn't even be talking about this if we hadn't been spoiled by having Taisho-sama for a master. I refuse to think of this in any other terms than shopping for a new owner."

In response to her comment, the group fell into a deep silence. Eventually, Koharu spoke. "I suppose you're right, Sango," Koharu sighed as she scuffed her toe against the rug. "I just never wanted to give up my dreams of finding someone to sweep me off my feet and carry me off into the sunset. Stupid ideas, aren't they?"

"I think we all carried some romantic ideals within our hearts, Koharu," Miroku pondered aloud. "Even though we knew we could never have a normal life, it didn't stop us from dreaming about it. Now we just have to set those dreams aside and make the best of things." He stood up and grabbed his car keys from the side table. "If anyone needs to find me, I'll be at Club Lavanda looking for a female youkai who meets two important criteria."

"And what would those criteria be, Miroku?" Kagome asked warily.

He flashed a lecherous smile in her direction and his purple eyes deepened with desire. "She has to be desperate enough to want a human mate, of course." He removed a strand of Shippo's fur from his silk shirt. "And firm, round, beautiful - "

"Please don't finish that sentence," Kagome interrupted, covering Shippo's ears.

"Assets," Miroku finished. "What did you think I was going to say?" he asked with an air of innocence.

…

Inu-Yasha waited in the shadows by the garage of the simply one-story home on the darkened side street and applied a masking spell to cover his aura. The streets of the suburban neighborhood were empty at this time of evening. The children had gone indoors as the light faded, leaving a peaceful silence broken only by the occasional passing car.

His ears perked as he heard the approach of the late-model car. His prey turned the automobile into the driveway and he watched patiently as the ebony-haired woman stepped from the car and walked up the pathway to her front entrance. As she approached, Inu-Yasha briefly allowed the masking spell concealing his aura to drop.

As expected, the woman halted in her tracks and turned towards his hiding place. "Reveal your form, demon," she commanded. "I sense your presence." Her miko energy crackled around her.

"Are you going to purify me, Kikyo?" Inu-Yasha asked; stepping from the shadows long enough for her to see that it was truly him. He melted back into the darkness and awaited her answer.

"What are you doing here?" Kikyo hissed. Inu-Yasha could smell the fear in her scent. "If my husband were to see you…"

"He's not at home and I've purposely hidden myself from the neighbors," Inu-Yasha retorted. "Hell, Kikyo, do you think I'm stupid? I'm not here to get you in trouble; I just want some answers, dammit! Why did you pretend not to know me the other day?"

"Meet me in an hour at Club Lavanda," Kikyo whispered. "I'll explain everything! Now get out of here before someone sees us together!"

…

"No way. No way in hell. He can't be serious," Kohaku stated in his flat voice. He looked around wildly, as if searching for something with which to kill the messenger of such bad tidings.

The messenger in this instance, his sister Sango, calmly allowed him to vent his frustration by throwing random objects around the apartment. The place certainly couldn't look worse, she decided as she cast a critical eye on her surroundings. And what was with the empty takeout cartons? Kohaku was either too lazy to carry them to the garbage or he was attempting to build a new piece of furniture.

"Taisho-sama is very serious," she interjected when Kohaku paused to catch his breath. "Think about what could happen if our circumstances were discovered, Kohaku. Maybe you're ready for death after a few centuries, but the rest of us aren't! Finding youkai mates is the best solution for all of us!" Sango emphasized.

"Maybe so, but I refuse to be set up by some matchmaker with a female I've never met." Kohaku turned to his elder sister. "And what about you? Who's going to want a mate carrying another man's child?" he continued. His facial muscles did not alter their position, but Sango could see the anger flashing from his eyes.

"Another youkai's child," Sango corrected him. She hadn't wanted to share the information concerning her child's paternity with Kohaku, but he was going to find out eventually so he might as well hear it from her.

Kohaku had no love for demons; in fact, he barely tolerated Taisho-sama. She couldn't blame him, really. Kohaku had been on the receiving end of their first master's twisted fetishes too often and he still bore the physical and emotional scars from it.

As she watched him limp across the floor, Sango felt a wave of pity. Kohaku had suffered through so much already, was it too much to hope he might find a little happiness? So many women found him repellent with his paralyzed facial muscles and scarred body. His immobile face retained its youthful, handsome appearance, but his expression was a permanent blank. He required intensive therapy just to speak clearly, so his voice never held emotion. Only his eyes mirrored his true feelings. And he also shows his feelings through his actions, Sango amended as a mug bearing the Taisho Enterprises logo sailed past her head and shattered into pieces against the door.

"Kagome was supposed to be the one telling you this, but she knew you'd rather hear the news from me." Sango wrinkled her nose as she threw some dirty laundry covering an armchair to the floor and sat down. After a day spent chasing Rin and Shippo, her feet were killing her. "You may not like it, but unless you can come up with a mate on your own, you're stuck. Do you really think I like this situation, Kohaku?" she asked grimly as she stroked her belly. The pup growing inside her turned; the movement as soft as butterfly wings.

Kohaku slumped to the floor beside her chair, laying his head on her knee as he used to do when they were children. "Maybe death is better," he spoke quietly. "I'm getting tired of trying to lead a normal life."

"If it weren't for this baby, I'd be thinking the same thing," Sango agreed. Death was something all of the slaves contemplated at one time or another. It was unnatural to live so long; to see so many changes. To live through countless wars and watch as the magic slowly disappeared from their world was painful, and Sango wondered if she wanted to live to see the day when the youkai ceased to exist altogether. The thought made her hug her stomach protectively. Her desire to provide a happy life for her pup was overwhelmingly strong.

"I suppose the father of your baby isn't in the picture?" Kohaku asked her.

"No," Sango replied sadly. "He's dead. It was a one-night stand, anyway."

"I'm sorry, Sis." Kohaku buried his face in his hands. "Sango, I don't know how to be someone's mate. And who's going to accept someone like me?"

"I don't have the answers, Kohaku," Sango answered. "I guess we'll just have to trust our luck and see what Kagura produces. I don't have a lot to offer a future mate, either."

"Be sure to feed any potential suitors," Kohaku told her. "Your cooking alone will convince them to take you."

"Don't be ridiculous," scoffed his sister. "No one likes to eat so much that they'd take on a life-mate just for her cooking." Sango ignored the memory of the silver-haired hanyou sitting at her breakfast table. Although it had been pleasant to awaken from last night's faint in his warm embrace…she banished the wishful thinking to a dark corner of her mind. He was her master's son! Even if she weren't pregnant, why would he give her a second look?

…

Club Lavanda was crowded, noisy, and in a very dangerous part of town. Naturally, that made it the place to be seen. Inu-Yasha walked to the head of the line and the bouncer moved aside to allow him entry. It paid to own real estate, especially when that real estate included the hottest club in town.

Manten, the younger brother of Inu-Yasha's friend Hiten, spotted him and waved from behind the bar. Inu-Yasha flattened his sensitive ears from the noise and headed towards his manager's office. Once there, he found Koga on the phone arguing with the entertainment director.

"It doesn't matter what kind of band they are! They can play Tiptoe Through the Tulips on the ukulele for all I care!" Koga yelled into the phone, silently gesturing for Inu-Yasha to take a seat. "Book me some warm bodies for Friday's live entertainment!"

"Since when does the club have problems booking decent acts?" Inu-Yasha asked his longtime friend and manager when Koga slammed the receiver down in its cradle. He fiddled with the odd looking paperweight on Koga's desk.

"There's a huge 'Battle of the Bands' event going on next weekend," Koga informed him, running his claws through his jet-black ponytail in distraction. "All the decent acts are performing at the event. I was able to call in a couple of favors for Saturday's entertainment, but Friday is probably going to be a loss. Maybe we'll just hold open karaoke that night."

Inu-Yasha gagged. "Go with 'Open Mic Comedy Night' instead. I hate karaoke; you know that."

"I know, but it's popular with the masses," Koga replied. "What brings you here tonight, dog-boy?" he asked good-naturedly. "Is it business or pleasure?"

"Believe me, it's not pleasure, Koga. I need to borrow your office for a while," Inu-Yasha told him. "I have to have a private conference and I need a favor from you. When Kikyo shows up, slip her in here without being seen."

"You're the boss," Koga answered, but his eyes betrayed his disgust. He loathed Kikyo even before the woman had ripped out his friend's heart and stomped on it. Her treatment of Inu-Yasha had just intensified his hatred.

"It's an interrogation session, not a lover's interlude," Inu-Yasha growled. "Kikyo owes me some explanations, and I damn sure won't be invited to take tea with her and her husband. If the man so much as spots me on his security cameras, he'll come after me with a hatchet. Or worse, a court summons naming me as correspondent in his divorce."

"Do I even want to know what this is all about?" Koga asked.

"No," Inu-Yasha answered distractedly. "Just get her in here so I can talk to her, okay? Oh, and Koga?" he stopped the okami youkai from leaving the office. "You don't happen to know any good lawyers, do you?"

"What kind of lawyer?" Koga asked. "You're not getting sued, are you?"

"The kind that can break non-compete clauses."

Koga laughed. "Taisho finally tricked you into signing one of those, didn't he?" He shook his head ruefully. "Give it up, Inu-Yasha. If Taisho's lawyers wrote the non-compete clause, it can't be broken."

"Shit!" was his friend's succinct reply.

…

"And with a kiss, the beautiful princess awakened the sleeping prince. She carried him off to her castle and they lived happily ever after," Kagome read aloud. She closed the book with a snap. "Time for all young demons to sleep," she announced.

For once, Shippo didn't protest his early bedtime. He had run himself ragged around the mansion that day, and Rin had been showing signs of wear and tear as well. The quiet girl had almost fallen asleep in her supper. As she tucked her son under the covers and kissed him goodnight, Kagome reflected that neither child had ever had a steady playmate before. She only hoped the peace would hold once the novelty wore off.

She walked into Rin's bedroom, surprised to see the young girl still awake. Kagome was certain the girl was exhausted, but she seemed to be waiting for something. Or someone, Kagome realized. Sesshomaru hadn't returned to the mansion yet, and Rin was desperately trying to remain alert until she saw him.

"Rin-chan," Kagome gathered the silent child in her arms and cuddled her close. "Sesshomaru-sama is probably going to be very late coming home tonight. I know he would want you to get your rest instead of waiting up for him." Kagome slowly rocked Rin as she spoke. "Will you try to go to sleep for me, sweetheart?"

With her faint sigh, Rin relaxed against Kagome's soft warmth and closed her eyes. Her small hand reached up to wind itself in Kagome's dark locks, fingering the soft strands of hair. Kagome kissed the tiny fingers on her shoulder.

"My hair can't possibly feel as good as Sesshomaru-sama's," Kagome whispered with a giggle. "His is so pretty! I always want to touch it," she confessed to the girl in her arms.

Rin nodded as if to agree and then yawned and snuggled closer. Kagome brushed Rin's hair back from her little neck and rubbed the tattooed bar code with a finger. She guessed that Rin would find that touch to be a comfort. Judging by the girl's relaxed response, she was correct.

Kagome always felt the same way when her own bar code was rubbed, something she'd never confessed to anyone, not even Taisho-sama. Her master had volunteered to get the bar code removed, but Kagome had refused. It was her only link to her past, after all. Through the information it contained, she had been able to locate her sister Kikyo and her brother Sota.

She felt slightly guilty for not telling Sesshomaru about her tattoo, especially once she had seen the barcode on Rin this morning. At the time, Kagome had chalked it up as simply being none of Sesshomaru's business. She was beginning to realize it was something more than that, however. At the heart of the matter, she didn't want Sesshomaru to see her as another Disposal to be pitied. It was bad enough that the inuyoukai knew about her past with Onigumo, thanks to that stupid nightmare of hers.

Blushing, she remembered the other dream she'd had last night, the one that followed her nightmare. Kagome fervently hoped she hadn't given Sesshomaru a peek into that dream as well. It was rather…explicit. And it involved the icy youkai. Why couldn't she dream like that about someone who actually liked her? Better yet, why couldn't she do that with someone who liked her, instead of dreaming about it?

…

A/N: The pairings should become apparent in the next few chapters. Also, more information will come to light concerning Kagome and her family's (Kikyo and Sota in particular) past, as well as information about the other slaves. I realize I haven't touched on Nazuna and Koharu's history yet.

Oh, and a huge thank you to TitianWren for pointing out the correct use of archaic pronouns. I knew about the proper cases, but wasn't aware of 'ye' being plural. Sloppy research, forgive me! I have repaired the pronoun errors and the (glaring) mistake in chapter 5 concerning the snake youkai. (How did I overlook that one?) I didn't bother with changing most of the archaic verb endings, though. That's too much effort for something that really doesn't matter :>D

Credit goes to the following website for the brief lesson in archaic pronoun usage (remove spaces for the link): http:// alt - usage - english.org / pronoun _ paradigms . html