InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The difference of Martrys and murderers ❯ Phoenix ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 3

She had to admit, being locked in the dark messed with your ability to gauge time. An hour or a day could have passed. By the way her arms ached and the tingly sensation in her legs, she could tell she'd been there a few good hours. She shivered lightly. The air was cold and the lingering smell of death was intent on snuffing her out.

Well she definitely had time to think. More so than she wished. She leaned her head back on the post not mindful of the encrusted blood. `Sesshoumaru', what was he possibly be thinking bring her here? There was no way he revived her out of the goodness of his heart. Heck the chances of him being there at the exact point in time was slim to nil. Which led her to believe he was watching her. That last thought sent a shiver through her. As unflattering the thought of him interested in her, she knew there was a reason and that it wasn't likely to be something righteous.

She shifted onto her hindquarters to get circulation going. She leaned her head to the side. It couldn't possibly be Tetsusaiga, the iron cleaving fang. Didn't he give it up months ago? That is weird how all of a sudden he lost interest in it. Kagome tugged on the straps. She wanted to lie down but the cuff would only stretch so far. She still struggled in disgruntlement. It was no use, she either have to fall a sleep standing up or force her arms to bend in an unnatural angle all night.

She had to look back on the incident that brought them together. It wasn't pleasant. He had watched the whole time she was cutting up her arm. Now in this empty darkness, the gripping reality of what she did and why made her sick. She was ashamed. Enough to make her cry at her lost innocence.

She took it too far, admitting she over reacted when her eyes opened up to the truth. Tears fell over her lost friend. She lied to him when she said she hated him. She loved him so much, she really did feel like she was dying. Without him… what was she?

She was lost in a world not her own. No family, no close friends to help her, and she had no home. All she had was her anger and jealousy. She refused to become like Kikyou. In all fairness, she deluded herself into thinking he loved her. She was merely a replacement until Inuyasha could get the real one back. She smiled at the bitter irony that Kikyou was still a zombie. This was enough to snap her out of her self-pity. In fact she pitied Kikyou instead who had her rest disturb once again. From an external point of view, she was wronged, both her and Kikyou.

So what she did wasn't exactly revenge, it was punishment.

The cloud in her mind cleared. This was why Sesshoumaru brought her here. This is what he meant by helping her. So the real question now was what was in it for him? An opportunity to inflict pain on Inuyasha, of course he wouldn't pass this up.

Kagome sneered in self-reproach. Once again she was being used as a tool. `Why am I not surprised? What other reason would he bring me here? Once an asshole always an asshole.' Again something turned colder in her soul. Bit by bit she was losing herself. She was surprise at how easy it was and it felt good.

Looking back on that incident, she no longer felt guilty but satisfied. The scar she would bare as a reminder of foolishness and naivete. Nothing like a little humbling to make a person sleepy. She stood up and leaned on the pole. It was going to be a long night. Groggily she attempted to sleep.

Rin too was having a difficult time sleeping. Her Sesshoumaru locked Kagome in the forbidden room. She wasn't supposed to know what it represented, but living with a demon for several years corrupted her innocence. She felt bad for Kagome. It was all Jaken's fault. He never liked Kagome. Which was odd. How could anybody not like Kagome?

Getting up she checked if the coast was clear. She tiptoed to the room that held Kagome. Cautiously she turned the handle. It didn't move. She deduced that it must be locked. At the bottom of the door was a crack big enough to stick her hand through. She moved her mouth to the spot and whispered.

"Kagome are you in there?" She asked. At first it was silent. Again she repeated before she heard something?

"Rin?" Kagome asked.

"It's me." Rin answered.

"What time is it?" Kagome yawned her question.

"It's past midnight. The moon has passed over a long time ago." Rin said.

"Sweetie it's late. You should be in bed getting some sleep." Kagome said.

"I know. I just wanted to see if you're okay." Rin said nervously.

"I'm peachy…" Kagome said. It sure was hard not being cynical. "Go back to bed. The sun will be up before you know it. You have a big day head of you."

"I guess so…" There was no mistake the down hearted tone in her voice.

"What's wrong?" Kagome asked.

"I can't sleep with you in there." Rin got in a comfortable position to talk.

"Well it really can't be helped. Please try to go back to sleep. Do it for me, okay?"

"Can I sleep here?" Rin asked hopefully.

"Er… I don't think your Sesshoumaru-sama will appreciate that and I'm sure your bed is way more comfy then the floor." Kagome said. In the blackness she heard something. "Rin?" Kagome realize the sound was someone slowly breathing. She wanted to smack her head into the pole. The kid fell asleep at the door. Well at least she wasn't alone. The sound was almost hypnotizing. Soon she was being carried off with that sound.

Sesshoumaru heard the scamper of feet. He figured Rin had drunk too much water and needed to go to the toilet. He didn't pay it any mind. He continued to write but the noises indicating her return remained absent. He got up to investigate. Bewildered he found her on the floor. A flicker of panic swept through his heart, but the reassuring sound of her snore calmed him. He walked over and gently picked her up. She was a bit startle at the movement but relaxed when she recognized him. Automatically she latched onto his neck. Her tiny hands twitched in his hair.

He carried her to her futon. Even in her sleep she was reluctant to let him go. De-tangling a human child with one arm was not easy. He managed and had her tucked in. Morning was a few hours away. He got up but stopped when Rin mumbled Kagome's name.

He was having second thoughts about his decision. He didn't want Rin to get attached but he feared it was already too late. Rin was desperate for companionship. It had been a long time since he seen her this alive. So full of wonderful delight; He missed it.

As for this wench, he had many plans for her. When she fulfilled her usefulness, he found no need to keep her. Not even for Rin's sake. He stopped just out the door. He could smell her and even the tears she shed hours ago. Her heart pounded in a steady rhythm. It was loud enough to echo in his ears.

Rumors were going around that he was soft. Taking on a human as a pet. Some went further and elaborated on his situation with Rin to disgusting lengths. He loathed those that wagged their tongues. He never cared about what other's said but as time went on he conceive he could utilized this broadcasting system. In fact with the Miko in his keeping he was sure this was more then juicy fodder for their gossip. He looked forward to it. One way or another, word would get back to Inuyasha of what he lost.

Yes the first real purpose of keeping the human female was revenge. He would teach Inuyasha the pain of lost. Sesshoumaru touched the empty sleeve. The human wasn't even close to collateral but it was probably the best leverage he had against the Hanyou.

He turned away to rest a while. Tomorrow he had many things to do. He walked further to his bed and slept. As soon as the sun arose he was up and out.

Kagome's arms were really aching. Her legs were so tired some of her muscles were quivering from the strain of stand for so long. To top it all off she had to go to the bathroom and she was thirstier then a sponge. As always she relied on her tried and true gift- Patience.

Everything up until now came as a blur. At this point she didn't have options. She was in the lair of the beast. She really had nothing to look forward to, except- Kagome shook her head. Going home was an impossilbility, she tried. Yet that lingering hope would not die.

All morning she tried to focus herself. In her head she sang a mantra of peace. She had to think positive thoughts otherwise the gloom would eat her whole. There was hope, she just needed to clear out the clutter in her head. She still had friends like Rin and Kouga. Miroku, Sango, Kohako and Shippou were out there somewhere too! Some way or another she would see them again. Until then she had to be strong. `What else do I have?' She had Sesshoumaru's help for all that was worth.

Speaking of the devil, where was he? Did he forget about her? She did an awkward dance with lots of prancing and twisting. She really had to think positive thoughts to keep her from cursing a blue moon.

It was midday when they returned home. Sesshoumaru helped Rin get off of Ah-Un. He walked deeper into the fortress to retrieve the young woman. What he found amused him greatly. Kagome was amid a new style of potty dancing. She asked him as sweetly as she could if she may go outside to relieve herself but her eyes betrayed her. In her blue grey eyes he saw nothing short of murder.

He undid the shackles but before she could bolt, he tied a rope around her waist. She gritted her teeth when his Lordship walked at an incredibly slow pace. He gave her ten-foot slack. Now that she out side to do her business, she couldn't! Well at least not with him standing there. Oh hell she knew it was childish. She went back out, red as a tomato.

"What's the matter?" He questioned. Oh she just knew he was snickering at her! She just knew it!

"I can't… you know… while you're there."

"I don't trust you enough to leave you by yourself: you could get hurt." He said still holding onto the coil of rope like a leash. Talk about role reversal. Kagome came to the sad conclusion that for all facts and purposes she was a pet.

She had to think fast. She reached into her kimono and pulled out a gold heart shaped locket. "Here! This is my most treasured possession. I won't take off I swear!" She handed it to him.

He didn't say anything as he took it. He did however tie her to a tree with one hell of a knot. Kagome didn't care. Once she was sure he was out of the area, she went. It was crude but damn did she feel better! She waited at the tree where he left her. Looking at the rope, she notices it was made from very fine, very shiny threads. Was it silk?

Sesshoumaru didn't take long to retrieve her. He touched the knot and magically it came undone. He tugged on the cord which Kagome followed unwilling. On the way back she stumbled. Her legs were trying to adjust to movement. She didn't think that was the only problem. Kagome tried to clear her head but it wasn't much good. For the past several days she had barely anything to eat. It wasn't the hunger that was getting to her, albeit that contributed, it was her thirst. She swallowed for what seemed like the millionth time.

Once back inside, they headed to the same room again. Kagome nearly stopped dead in her tracks. Once was enough for her. He wasn't serious, was he? Being a powerful Taiyoukai her resistance was futile. Kagome lurched forward after him. She was on the verge of getting hysterical that's how bad she didn't want to go in.

Instead of going in Sesshoumaru turn around at the doorway to face her. She looked at him and the room. Even though she wasn't flogged like the poor misfortunate fools that stayed in there, that place sent a shiver of fear through her.

"Tell me, did you learn your lesson?" He asked. God she hated his self-righteousness.

"What Lesson?! I didn't do any thing to d-" He yanked hard on the rope and she fell to her knees. Her eyes watered at the stinging sensation. It was the warm trickle that indicated she cut them up some. Between gritted teeth she said, "Yes, Master. Sesshoumaru-sama, I have learned my lesson."

"What lesson was that?" He asked. There was no room for bullshit.

Kagome was silent for a moment, and then she blurted what ever came to mind, "I don't have any opinions…"

"For a human- a female human- you catch on well." He said, almost approvingly.

She looked up at him only to be taken back by the gentle curve of his mouth. The corners of his mouth were slightly upturned and the barest glimmer of his canines would be seen. She never seen him smile other then the one that promised a painful death. If he's smiling at me then… Kagome gasped when she put the two together. So when he offered her a hand, she shrank back from it afraid that it was going to hurt her. When she didn't take it, his smile disappeared.

"Get up."

She hopped to her feet despite the pain. He led her to another room. She tried to limp after him the best she could. Inside the room was plain but it did have a nice carved out window. The wood floor complimented the cool gray stone. In one corner was a folded futon with a blanket and makura.

"Sit," He said. Inwardly Kagome gave a sad laugh. She did as she was told. If she wasn't careful she might end up being a mindless drone.

He folded his legs beneath him and sat across from her. With out looking away he called Jaken. The smaller Youkai brought a low table and set it with tea and cake. Before he left he gave Kagome a baleful look. Once Jaken was out Sesshoumaru watched her as she eyed the sweet morsels and inhaled the aroma of the green tea.

"From now on, you will seek this Sesshoumaru for all your needs." He said. There was a deeper meaning to his words but at the moment all Kagome could think about was food. She was on the verge of salivating as he offered her the cup to drink from. It felt marvelous to have the warm liquid soothe her parched throat. She didn't care that she was being hand fed.

He offered her a piece of cake but when she went to take a snap from it he pulled it back. He managed to do that with a straight face. She pouted when he did it a second time.

"Who will you seek for all your needs?" He asked. It was eerie how serious and stern his mannerism were.

"You, Master Sesshoumaru," Kagome said hurriedly. He let her take a bite. She chewed her food happily.

"Who will you seek for all of your needs?" He asked again. He held up the piece so it was eye level with her.

"You, Sesshoumaru-sama," Kagome said slowly. What was with him? She added the honorary suffix in hope he would stop this weird exercise.

"What will you do?" He said. This time he kept the cup just out of reach from her.

This was pointless! If only it weren't Sesshoumaru sitting in front of her then she would've swipe the food and run. Kagome took a calming breath. "I will seek you, Sesshoumaru-sama for all of my needs."

"Again." He said still holding the cup.

"I will seek you, Sesshoumaru-sama for all of my needs." Kagome said it. Her stomach rumbled with impatience. This was tedious. Were all her encounters with him going to be weird?

Through out the duration of the small meal, this exchange continued. As Kagome swallowed the last bite and drank the last drop, she wondered what was next. Seeing no more vittles, Kagome slumped back. She was still starving!

"Um… permission to speak master." Kagome asked.

He gave a slight nod.

"May I please have some more?" Kagome pleaded.

"Jaken," Sesshoumaru commanded. The toad entered with hot water for the tea, but nothing else. Kagome sighed inwardly, It's better then nothing. Jaken set up the tea arrangement, and took the empty tray. Like before he shot Kagome a heated gaze. `What's his problem?'

Sesshoumaru took up the cup delicately and sipped the hot contents. He gestured for her to take the other cup as her own. Granted this little freedom, Kagome smiled with joy. They sat in silence. She watched him trying to gauge what he had planned next.

He remained unreadable as ever. The only change in him was his appearance. Today he was not dressed in the white kimono or wore the heavy armor. Instead he chose a black haori, with an even blacker kimono underneath it, the whole of it tied with a white sash around his middle. Kagome became aware that he wasn't wearing his swords.

He didn't have Tensaiga with him. She knew it wasn't supposed to mean much but it did. When ever he wore the sword, she felt a… Kagome didn't know how to describe it. It was like a bond of some sort. Through this bond she was able to sense things about Sesshoumaru. It went beyond thoughts or emotions. It went deeper, like a soul connection.

Yesterday when Sesshoumaru told her to get up, she sensed his displeasure. That's why she felt guilty. She annoyed him and she was ashamed of that, and not because she gave Jaken a hard time. So if she could feel all this, did that mean he could feel her too? That was a frightening thought.

It looked like he was going to say something. If only he had Tensaiga! Being in Sesshoumaru's company was like walking in a minefield in the dark. New anxieties arose on how to react to him. Kagome patiently waited. Although he didn't have his death-defying sword, Kagome's miko powers told her something was up. Like always, it wasn't something good.

"You are an intriguing oddity." He said. Kagome looked up at him in indignation. Did he just call her an interesting freak? She had to bite her tongue on this. Keeping silent meant living longer. He continued, "To my eye, there isn't much wrong with you. You have all your teeth and you are healthy."

Kagome took another sip of her drink. Her thirst was lax but she was so hungry. In this case hunger was a good thing. Anything to distract her from the conversation and the dangerous turn it took.

"Yes most peculiar." He drank some more. He held up the empty cup and Kagome refilled it begrudgingly. "Why is it that my idiot half brother passed you up? There must be something very wrong with you for him to seek out a dead woman to satisfy his needs."

Kagome breathed in and out calmly. Damn that metaphorical knife as it slowly turned in her heart. She knew what he was up to. She wasn't going to give in. She wasn't going to let him see her break down.

"Perhaps it isn't you. Maybe it is his human inheritance that brought on his perverse necrophillia." He gave a small nod. He watched her reactions well. It was a great strain on her. `Why can I just let it go! It's over! What's done is done!' He watched the conflict in her eyes as if he were watching a storm brewing.

"You knew what he did in his absence, yet you stayed. You had no choice because you have nothing else." His words were laced with venom while his voice remained empty of apathy. His voice had that cruel ability to hide what he truly felt and that was what Kagome feared. Kagome closed her eyes to trap the tears. Breathe, she had to remind herself. Her hands trembled as she refilled his cup again. It was hard to see the blurry objects.

"I love you. Did he say that? Was it followed with a kiss to keep you from hearing the lie?" Sesshoumaru wasn't trying to be mean spirited. He was trying to help as he said he would. He would start by breaking her and rebuilding her to be a more efficient puppet. Just one more shove.

"He was going to kill you. That's why he blocked the well."

Kagome's resolve shattered at this. "Lair! You fucking bastard! He didn't, he wouldn't! You're lying!" He may have been a two-timing cheat, but Inuyasha was not wicked.

He didn't smile or flinched from her tone of voice. As much as he wished, he didn't feel any pleasure making the girl cry. He waited until she settled down a notch.

"So far, all that I have said is the truth." Sesshoumaru voiced.

Kagome shook her head violently. She felt like a caged animal that finally snapped at the person poking her with a stick. All her reasons for being quiet left. She was so overwhelmed. All this stress from lack of food, rest and the emotional turmoil was enough to make her crazy. She probably was at moment.

"Even if it was, it's none of your damn business!" Kagome backed away from him. "Where do you get off by saying all this! God, get a life!" She just wanted a nice spot to cry herself to sleep. Rest… that's all she wanted. A dark quiet place far away from all the pain.

She finally remembered the rope as he pulled her back to him. He backhanded the table along with their drinks into the wall. It landed with a crash. The wood actually groaned as it splintered every where. With that out of the way, Kagome had nothing stopping her from falling into his lap. He pulled her thrashing form fully onto his lap and growled menacingly for her to stop.

It was no use struggling against his iron grip. Kagome stilled from sheer exhaustion. She wept quietly. Sitting in his lap like some oversized doll, she had no choice but to be complacent. She could feel the vibration of his growl on her neck. Once sure that she wasn't going to get hysterical he spoke into her seashell shaped ear.

"He blocked the well to keep you here. Long enough to replenish Kikyou. He was going to sacrifice you to being back his true love."

"You lie," Kagome said softly.

"Why else did he take you so far away from your friends? Why did he keep you in solitude? Didn't his collection of odd artifacts dealing with necromancy ring a bell in your pretty head?" He said lowly.

"If all this is true why didn't you let me die!" Kagome choked out. "I have no reason to live as you so clearly pointed out!"

He removed his arm around her waist to pull something from his pocket. She had to focus her eyes to see the gold locket swinging before her face. Tentatively she reached for it and opened it up. Inside a picture of her Mother, Souta and Grandfather were etched in gold with photo perfect quality on one side. The other side held a worn portrait of her father. Her sniffling stopped as she gazed at each of their faces.

"I can help you go home if you help me." He whispered into her ear. For a second, it had the haunting quality of Naraku's temptations.

Kagome turned in his lap to look him in the eye. "I'll do anything! But… why are you helping me, don't you hate humans? This isn't like you."

"You presume too much." He said evenly. Kagome couldn't bear the sheering intensity of the gold pools of his iris. She turned back around. To her horror she felt him lick the outer curve of her ear. His hot breath made the fine hair on her neck rise on end. "The fact of the matter is that I hate everyone and everything."

Why does that sound familiar? Kagome had to keep her mind focused on something other then his warm wet tongue. She thought hard as to why that phrase struck her as familiar. Oddly enough, that would have been a typical Kikyou response. Her anger flared. He was messing with her again. It was like she was riding a roller coaster of emotions. She had to get away from him. She was glad that he didn't do anything as she got off his lap.

However, moving around so much agitated her skinned knee. It bled but not too much. She looked at it but a foreign hand got in her line of view. Sesshoumaru touched the cut, heck, he rubbed it painfully, which of course made her wince. He brought it up to his face for inspection.

He smeared the red liquid with his thumb as if testing the consistency of it. He licked his fingers cleaned. That was when Kagome witnessed an actual change of expression. He frowned as he contemplated its taste. He reached out to get a little more on his finger. When she flinched away, he pinned her with a look of warning. Kagome winced once more as his fingers wiped up the remaining blood.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes as he sucked his finger. To her, he looked like a wine connoisseur tasting fine wine. When he opened them, Kagome could see a new light. It was filled with volatile power. He blinked several times before it cleared.

"Interesting," there was the barest hint of a smile. That was the last thing she saw before she blacked out.

To be continued…