Rebuilding Dreams

Mrs. Higurashi cringed as she heard Kagome’s body hit the floor, then turned her attention to Grander aer and Souta. The little boy was eight now, and he adored his big sister.

“We have no choice, Souta. I know it will hurt you not having your sister here, but I also know you don’t like seeing her hurt. This is best for her, Souta. If this works out right she’ll be able to come back and visit us.”

Souta nodded slowly. “Alright, Mommy.”
Grandfather sighed, leaning back in his seat. “I will contact the Lord of the Western lands tonight. It has been along time since they have heard anything from us. Not since they were notified of Kaemon’s death. We will just have to wait and see what happens.”


Sesshoumaru frowned as he surveyed his lands, off in the distance he could see a flash of silver and red headed his way. That meant his hanyou half brother was on his way to the castle. Good. The hanyou was really a pain, and most times it was all Sesshoumaru could do not to kill the little ingrate. He was always mouthing off about something, but right now Sesshoumaru needed him here. There had been too many threats as of late against these lands, and he really needed everyone available.

If it hadn’t been for Rin, Sesshoumaru wouldn’t have even bothered putting up with the irksome half-breed. Rin was Sesshoumaru’s nine-year-old ward. She was a sweet girl, but entirely too naïve. That was why Rin was always accompanied either by Sesshoumaru himself, or by his retainer, Jaken.

Inuyasha leapt easily up onto the balcony of his brother’s study. He tossed a rolled up piece of parchment onto the desk.

“What’s this?” Sesshoumaru asked in an emotionless voice, even though it was clear Inuyasha hadn’t opened the parchment.


“Feh! Why should I care about anything that has to do wiou, ou, anyways,” came the sneering reply. The truth was that Inuyasha was curious as hell to know what was in that scroll but there was no way he would let Sesshoumaru know that. He turned and started to leave as Sesshoumaru opened the scroll.

“Wait.” Inuyasha sighed and turned back to his brother, his arms crossed over his chest. “This is about you, Inuyasha.”

Inuyasha frowned and moved over behind his brother, staring down at the letter. His breathing stopped. “Betrothed?!” He yelped, his eyes going wide. “I’m not betrothed to anyone!”

Sesshoumaru frowned at him. “You really need to learn to control your emotions.” He stood up and walked over to the wall, leaning against it and the wood slid out of the way. He walked into the hidden chamber their father had used to hide important documents and sifted through the cabinet full of documents in case of someone snooping. He found the parchment he was looking for and surveyed it coolly. “Well, it would appear, that you are indeed betrothed to this girl.”

Inuyasha’s eyes were about to pop out of his head as he angrily snatched the paper out of his brother’s hand.

Betrothal Agreement

I, Kaemon Higurashi, do hear by agree to leave my daughter’s hand in marriage to the Lord of the West land’s second son, Inuyasha. This proposal, however, will only go into effect if someone in my family or myself contacts Inha, ha, notifying him of my daughter’s continued interest.

The contract went on for ages, but those first sentences were the only ones that Inuyasha’s numb brain could take in. At the bottom were both Kaemon Higurashi and their father’s signatures agreeing to the terms.

Inuyastaretared at his brother in disbelief. “How could I be betrothed to this girl and Father never thought it something he should tell me?”

Sesshoumaru shrugged, rereading the agreement. “Apparently it wasn’t something either were going to force unless this girl, this Kagome, was willing.” He leaned back looking very satisfied about something. “Kaemon grew up with us, Inuyasha. He was both our friend and our father’s. He was a demon. I do not know if his mate is a demon or human though. Apparently however, Father thought that if you both wanted this to happen, then it would.”

Inuyasha’s dazed look brightened. “Then I won’t have to! I don’t want this. I already have a mate!”

Sesshoumaru frowned at him. “One – you do not have a mate. You have that whore Kikyo. Two – There is a clause that saysanytanything were to happen to Kaemon and Kagome chose you, then you have to take her. Three – You are honor bound to do this, as this is evidently the last wish of our father. He had no other official documents drawn up before his death. Kaemon was Father’s right hand man, so I have no doubt in saying that both of them were looking out for her safety when this contract was written.”

Inuyasha was still scowling. “So why now? Why wait so long before doing anything?”

An almost explosive sigh came from the door way as a small bundle of bright blue and yellow came bounding into the room. “Uncle Inuyasha youuld uld know better!” Rin leapt into Sesshoumaru’s lap. “When someone is betrothed they can’t act upon it until the girl is sixteen! Even I know that!”

Sesshoumaru had to fight very hard not to break into a grin at these words. “It’s settled then, Inuyasha. You will go in three days time and meet your betrothed. And for good measure I think I should go with you to make sure you don’t make a horrible impression.”

Inuyasha scowled and left, not even waiting to hear how they were supposed to get to the girl.


Kagome slowly opened her eyes as she became aware of Souta leaning over her, gently shaking her. “Come on, Kagome! You have to get up!” His voice was almost shrill, causing Kagome to groan and hold her head.

“Souta, be quiet.” She whispered. “What do I need to get up?”

“You have to get dressed and put on some make-up to cover your bruises, Ka!” !” He was never one to beat around the bush about what he wanted to say, but she wished that just for once he would. She cringed inwardly thinking of what she must look like.

“Why do I need to put on make-up? Are we going somewhere?” Souta sighed as he heaved her up to her feet and pushed her towards the bathroom.

“No. Uncle has gone into his office for tay. ay. Someone is coming here to meet you; now hurry!” Kagome blinked as he shoved some clothes and her hairbrush into her hand and pulled the door shut. She turned to the shower and shrugged, allowing her gown to fall from her body as she turned on the water. Catching a glimpse of her naked body in the mirror she cringed again.
Her body was covered with an assortment of bruising, some fresh and throbbing from last night. Others were a sickly green and yellow as they were fading away. Most seemed to overlap each r arr around the area of her thighs and abdomen.

Her face was pale save for smudges of dirt and a bruise that surrounded her left eye. That had been her punishment for asking him to stop last night. Kagome turned away from the mirror and readjusted the water, deciding a bath would help more than a shower. She filled the tub near to the brim with hot water and bubble bath, sinking down into the depths of the water with a slight whimper. Her eyes closed.