Damsel In Distress Challenge
“So,” Ayame said when Kagome met her in one of her rooms, "did you go with my plan?”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t intentional. My idiotic self accidentally poured tea on Naraku while I was staring at Lord Inutaisho and his son.”
“Well, who could blame you? They are handsome.”
“There you are,” a guard said while walking into Ayame’s room. “I’ve been looking for you,” he addressed Kagome. “You’re to be ready to leave in ten minutes.”
“What?” Kagome replied.
“You’ve been sold to Lord Inutaisho, and he wants you outside in fifteen minutes.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll meet you at my room.”
“It worked!” Ayame said excitedly after the guard left.
“What about you though?” Kagome asked.
“I told you not to worry about me.”
“But…”
“Go! You don’t want to be late.” Ayame gave Kagome a hug and pushed her out the door.
Kagome walked outside and walked over to Lord Inutaisho and the others, who were standing by their dragons.
“So, what’s your name little one?” Inutaisho asked as she approached.
“Kagome.”
“My name is Inutaisho. This is my son, Sesshomaru.” As he pointed to the others in the party, he added, “Haru, and Xingke.” They all greeted her. “You’ll ride with Sesshomaru.” Sesshomaru gave his father a disapproving look.
Kagome walked over to Sesshomaru. He mounted his dragon and offered his hand to her, pulling her up behind him.
Kagome had never ridden a dragon before and was enthralled by the site below her. She leaned over to one side, holding on to Sesshomaru as she did so. She lost her balance and wrapped an arm around his waist to keep from falling. Sesshomaru smiled at her antics.
When they landed at the castle in the western lands, Kagome was amazed by the site before her. The castle she had lived in was exquisite, but it paled in caparison to this one. It was huge with several floors, ivy climbing up the sides, gargoyles sitting sentry along the roof. Several gardens dotted the grounds and surrounded the inside walls. It was old, but beautiful and incredible. Sesshomaru led his Dragon back to the barn after he and Kagome dismounted. The others handed their dragons to grooms, causing Kagome to wonder why Sesshomaru would be putting his own dragon away.
Inutaisho placed a hand on Kagome’s lower back, bringing her out of her thoughts, and guided her to the castle. “This way.”
“Can you bring Hisako and Hisoka to this room?” Inutaisho asked Haru when they entered a room on the first floor.
“Yes sir,” Haru said before leaving.
“Before I turn you over to Hisako and Hisoka, I want to let you know what is expected of you. First of all, you do not have to refer to me as lord. Sir or Inutaisho will do. We don’t have slaves here. With the exception of some workers who are here working off debts, everybody that works here is here by choice. You are one of the workers here to work off a debt: you will work off the price I paid for you. After that, you will be free to do whatever you want, whether it’s to stay employed here or leave and make a life for yourself outside the castle walls. Your clothing, food, and shelter will be included in your employment. Since you will be working off a debt, you will not get paid, but if you need money to purchase something outside of what I provide, then it will be deducted from what you have worked off. Do you have any questions?”
Kagome’s father did the same thing, so Kagome wasn’t surprised. “What about my collar? Can it be removed?”
“Unfortunately, I’m going to have to leave it on you a little longer. It’s precautionary. You attacked a guard at your previous residence, and I can’t take a chance of that happening here.”
“He attacked me and tried to kill me! That’s where I got this scar!” Kagome gestured to her face.
“You don’t have to raise your voice. I understand, but you have to understand where I’m coming from too. If you prove you are no threat to the residence here in the castle, I’ll remove it.”
Kagome calmed down. She couldn’t blame him. “I guess that’s fair.” She would just have to prove she was no threat and didn’t want to hurt anybody.
“Do you have any more questions?”
“No.”
“If you do, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Just then, Hisako and Hisoka walked in. “You asked for us?” they said together.
“Yes. This is Kagome, our newest employee. I need the two of you to get her situated with a room and clothes and to start her training. First, though, take her to get something to eat.”
Kagome just stared at the two identical female youkai. They must be twins, Kagome thought.
“You’re going to love it here,” Hisoka said, looping her arm with Kagome’s.
“And we’re going to be best friends,” Hisako added, slipping her arm through Kagome’s other arm. The twins dragged Kagome out of the room, chatting up a storm, passing Sesshomaru on their way out.
“I can’t believe you made that deal,” Sesshomaru said, walking into the meeting room. “It’s probably one of the worst deals you have ever made.”
“What was I supposed to do? Leave her there?” Inutaisho knew what Sesshomaru was referring to. Kagome.
“It’s not our problem.”
“I wasn’t going to leave her there to continue with the abuse she was going through.”
“I’m sure she isn’t the only one, so why not buy them all.”
“The deal is done, and I’m not discussing it further. And since you brought up Kagome, I’m going to assign her to you.”
“What!?”
“You wanted Emi replaced as your retainer, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but not with that miko. Why can’t I have one of the twins?”
“Because Hisoka is an apprentice healer, and Hisako is assigned to Izayoi and me.”
“So reassign Hisako to me, and you and Izayoi can take the miko.”
“I’m not arguing over this. You either keep Emi, or you take Kagome. That’s my offer.”
“Fine, I’ll take the miko,” Sesshomaru growled. If his father wasn’t willing to bend and was offering the miko, then he was going to have some fun with her.