Damsel In Distress Challenge

[beermoney5]

Chapter 4

Action! Not Words

Kagome was running down the hall, carrying a basket overflowing with clean clothes.

“Hey, Kagome, do you want to go to lunch with me and Hisako,” Hisoka asked as Kagome ran past.

“I can’t, sorry,” Kagome replied.

She was behind schedule. She was assigned to Sesshomaru, which meant that she usually waited on him only, but today, there was an exception because the castle was short-staffed. She started working primarily for Sesshomaru just yesterday, and he was making sure she stayed busy. Sometimes, she thought he was purposely looking for things for her to do.

She reached Sesshomaru’s quarters and placed the basket on the floor inside his bedroom. She started to put the clothes away, thinking she would probably be called back to refold or rewash something. She always was. Nothing she did for Sesshomaru seemed to be done the right way. Kagome suspected he was doing it to keep her busy...and to drive her crazy.

After putting Sesshomaru’s clean clothes away, Kagome ran down to the kitchen to grab a quick bite to eat. When she reached the kitchen, she grabbed a piece of cheese and some bread and headed back to Sesshomaru’s quarters to begin the next task he had assigned her: cleaning his armor. When she had finished cleaning and putting the armor away, Sesshomaru entered,  tracking in mud from his boots.

“All done,” Kagome said. “Your armor is spotless.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” he said. He pulled his armor out of the closet where it he kept it and inspected it. “You missed some spots.”

“No, I didn’t. That armor is spotless.”

“And I disagree. It’s not up to my standards. Clean it again.”

“You've got to be kidding me?!”

Sesshomaru got in Kagome’s face. “Does it look like I’m kidding? I don’t kid, and when I ask you to do something, do it. I’m tired of you arguing with me.”

“Fine!” Kagome shouted. She grabbed the armor from Sesshomaru and got to work cleaning it again.

“Oh, and one more thing:” Sesshomaru said as he was leaving, "clean this floor.”

Kagome threw the rag she had in her hand at the door.

*******

Kagome was dragging as she entered the kitchen. She had missed dinner, but Gojyo, the head chef, didn’t mind if she came in afterwards to grab something to eat. She had become really good friends with him in the short time she had been here. Kagome grabbed the same thing she had had for lunch and headed toward the door. She would eat it in her room.

“Where are you going?” Gojyo asked, coming into the kitchen.

“Back to my room.”

“No, you’re not. And you’re going to eat more than cheese and bread.”

“It’s late, and I’m too tired to make something.”

“You don’t have to. I will.”

“You don’t have to, Gojyo. I’m fine with this.” She held up the cheese and bread.

“Sit!” he commanded.

Kagome sat.

“What do you want?”

“Um… I don’t know. Since it’s so late, I guess something that’s quick.”

Gojyo pulled out some eggs and bacon and started cooking them.

“Don’t let Sesshomaru treat you like that,” Gojyo said as he cooked.

“What else am I supposed to do? I’m pretty much his servant.”

“He doesn’t have to work you into the ground. Go tell Inutaisho. He wouldn’t be happy with the way Sesshomaru is treating you. I can guarantee that.”

“I’m okay. I just get frustrated when he asks me to clean something that doesn’t need to be cleaned and then tells me it’s not good enough and makes me clean it again. And right now, two people are out sick. What’s Sesshomaru’s problem anyway? Everybody else here seems so nice… well, except Emi.”

“Emi has some issues. Her father lost everything and basically sold her to help pay off his debts.”

“So, she’s here like me? To work off a debt?”

“Yeah, and she’s been trying to get Sesshomaru to take her as a mate. She won’t take no for an answer. I think that’s why you’re now assigned to Sesshomaru.”

“I thought he could only take someone with aristocratic blood, and Emi’s here working off a debt.”

“She does come from an aristocratic family, and it doesn’t matter if she works here or not. You could be considered as a possible mate for Sesshomaru, also.”

“No way. I want someone with a little more feeling and personality. Plus, he wouldn’t want someone like me.”

“And why not?”

“Look at me.”

“I am. I see a beautiful female before me...inside and out.”

“Then you need glasses.”

“Honestly, Kagome, if I liked females, I would be all over you in a second. I’m serious.

Kagome blushed. “So, Sesshomaru’s allowed to pick his mate? Inutaisho hasn’t set up an arranged mating?”

“Inutaisho didn’t want his sons to go through the same thing he did, so he's allowing them to pick their own mates. Inuyasha wasn’t as picky and has been mated for several years.”

“What do you mean by Inutaisho not wanting his sons 'to go through the same thing he did'?”

“Inutaisho’s mating with Sesshomaru's mother was an arranged one, and there was no love. With most arranged mating’s, the two individuals usually do end up falling in love with each other, but not in this case. After Sesshomaru was born, Mika pushed Inutaisho away, wanted nothing to do with him, and wouldn’t allow him in her bed. Unlike a human marriage, a mating with youkai cannot be terminated. The bonding remains until one of parties die. This bond is from the marking that the male does to the female.”

Kagome had heard about that from her studies as a miko.

Gojyo continued talking while he served Kagome the eggs and bacon he cooked for her, along with some toast. “Izayoi showed up one day with a bakery deliver from her father’s shop, and Inutaisho fell head over heels in love with her when he saw her. A male can only go so long without female companionship, and since he couldn’t break his mating bond with Mika, he took Izayoi as a concubine. He also allowed Mika to take a lover, something that isn’t usually acceptable in youkai society. Mika did take a lover, and after about a year, he had decided to take another as his mate. Mika ended up taking her own life to end her unhappiness. After that, Inutaisho was free to take Izayoi as his mate. He doesn’t want Sesshomaru to go through the heartache he did. Inutaisho tried really hard to make his mating work, but Mika just didn’t want anything to do with him. She even pushed Sesshomaru away. Mika wouldn’t even care for Sesshomaru, even as a newborn pup. A nursemaid raised him.”

“That’s really sad,” Kagome said after Gojyo finished with the story.

“It is.”

After she finished eating, Kagome thanked Gojyo and headed to her room. At Naraku’s, she had a very small, drafty room that only accommodated only her bed. Here, she had a space big enough for a bed, dresser, bedside table, and a desk, and the space was warm and cozy. The clothes were nice, even though everybody wore the same ones. She had four knee-length dresses and five pants and shirts. When Kagome got to her room, she put on her nightgown and climbed into bed. She drifted off to sleep thinking about the story Gojyo had told her.

“Kagome,” Yaone flagged her down as she headed to the gardens for a break, "you want to have some tea with Izayoi and me?”

“Is that okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well, because I work here?”

“It doesn’t matter. And we would like to get to know you.”

“Okay.”

Yaone hooked her arm with Kagome’s, and they headed off to her sitting room.

“I’m so glad you joined us,” Izayoi said as Kagome and Yaone walked into the room. Kagome helped Yaone down since she was due to give birth any day.

“Thanks for inviting me,” Kagome answered as she sat. “I probably shouldn’t stay long, though. Sesshomaru will be wondering where I am.”

“If he needs assistance, he can have someone else help him,” Izayoi said. “How are you liking it here?”

“It’s nice. Most of the people here are really nice, and I’ve made some friends.”

“If Sesshomaru is working you too hard, I can talk to Inutaisho about it.”

“No. Everything is good.” Kagome didn’t want to come off as weak, because she wasn’t. She could handle anything Sesshomaru dished out. She was up for the challenge.

“Oh,” Yaone said, rubbing her belly. The pup’s moving.

“Does having a baby… I mean a pup...scare you?” Kagome asked.

Both Yaone and Izayoi laughed. “You can call it a baby,” Yaone replied.

“Since I’m only one of just a few humans residing in a castle full of youkai, I’m trying to use the same terms youkai use.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter if you do or don’t. We know humans use different terms.”

“I prefer to use the terms you all do. I don’t mind.”

“Well, to answer your question: the first time, I was a little scared, but this time, I’m not. I think, though, this is going to be my last pup for awhile. I haven’t decided yet.”

“You’re not going to have sex anymore?”

“Oh, I’m not giving up that,” Yaone laughed. “There’s an herb mixture I can take that will make me infertile, and if I decide to have another pup, all I have to do is stop taking it, and then I’ll be fertile again.”

“I didn’t know that was possible. Is that why you had only Inuyasha?” Kagome asked Izayoi.

“No,” Izayoi replied with a sad look in her eye. “There were complications when I gave birth to Inuyasha, and I wasn’t able to conceive again.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Don’t be sorry. The council of elders gave Inutaisho a hard time about it and tried to make him take a few concubines to produce more heirs. He refused. For generations, the males in his clan have always had a mate and several concubines to ensure lots of offspring. He’s the first not to.”

“If that’s the case, then why aren’t there more members of the clan?”

“Years ago, there was an epidemic that spread through the lands. Many died, youkai and humans alike. Inutaisho was the only one of his clan that survived. That’s why the council tried to get him to take concubines: to build up the clan again. And that’s why they have put pressure on Sesshomaru to take a mate.”

“Wow. There’s a lot of sad history here.”

“It’s happy now. though, and has been for awhile.” Yaone replied.

“I think I should be going now,” Kagome said as she stood.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay longer?” Izayoi asked.

“I really should be going, but I would like to do this again, sometime.”

“Definitely,” Yaone said.

*******

“Is that it?” Kagome asked after setting down the tray she brought with a pitcher of water and a glass of wine on it. This was Sesshomaru’s usual every night before he went to bed, and she was usually excused for the night after bringing it.

Sesshomaru glanced around the room, looking for something else he could have Kagome do, when he saw his hair brush. He was about to brush out his long hair and braid it up for bed, but he now had a better idea. Sesshomaru picked up the brush and handed it to Kagome. “You can brush and braid my hair. Then, you’ll be done for the day.”

“Seriously? You have two hands. Brush your own hair.”

Sesshomaru glared at Kagome. “I’m tired of your attitude. When I ask you to do something, you better do it without question.”

“No. Brush your own hair.”

“Do you want me to report you to my father? You want that collar off, don’t you? My father might change his mind about removing it if you continue to be difficult.”

Kagome didn’t think Inutaisho would be mad at her for refusing to brush Sesshomaru’s hair, but she wasn’t sure, and she didn’t want to take a chance.

“Fine. Give me the stupid brush,” Kagome said, giving in.

Sesshomaru handed the brush to Kagome and sat in a chair. He prepared himself for the ripping and tearing of his hair that he was sure to come. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised by the long gentle strokes of the brush as Kagome ran it through his hair. The incredible sensations that Kagome created with each stroke caused Sesshomaru to let out a content, involuntary sigh. And he didn’t care. He sat there in bliss as Kagome continued to brush, and then all too soon, it was over. He was disappointed that it didn’t last longer, but he made a mental note to have Kagome do this every night.

“Where have you been?” Hisako asked, walking into the hall with her sister, when Kagome passed by. “I thought you were only taking Sesshomaru his drinks?”

“I did, and then he wanted me to brush his hair.”

“What?” Hisoka replied, shocked. “Did I hear you right?”

“Sesshomaru had me brush his hair. What’s the big deal?”

“Kagome, only mates or potential mates brush each other’s hair,” Hisako answered.

“Well, I can assure you that Sesshomaru isn’t thinking of me as a potential mate. He’s only trying to find as much stuff for me to do as he can.”

“If you say so,” Hisoka said, skeptically. “Hisako and I want to know if you'd like to do lunch in the gardens tomorrow.”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t start with that,” Hisoka said.

“I want to, but…”

“But nothing. Screw Sesshomaru. You need to have regular breaks, so you’re having lunch with us tomorrow,” Hisako said.

“Okay.”

*******

“There you are!” Sesshomaru growled. “I’ve been looking for you. Why are my rooms not cleaned yet?”

“I started them. I was going to finish after lunch.”

“I want them finished now!”

“No. I’ll finish when I’m doing eating,”

“Don’t make me drag you up there.”

“Go ahead. I dare you.”

Every time Kagome opened her mouth, it made Sesshomaru angrier. Anger clouding his judgment, Sesshomaru grabbed Kagome by the arm and yanked her to her feet.

“You’re just like Naraku!” Kagome yelled. Both the twins gasped at the remark Kagome made, knowing it was going to push Sesshomaru over the edge.

“I am not like Naraku!” Sesshomaru growled, digging his claws into Kagome’s arm.

“Ouch! You’re hurting me.” Kagome cringed. Seconds later, Kagome had a seizure and collapsed into Sesshomaru’s arms.