A slave's story

A/N - Okay, I have some good news for all of you...I have to say first
that I am absolutely overwhelemed by your support of this fanfic....I
really want to take a minute out to just say thank you to all of my
reviwers, you've all been very kind *Bows* and, as a way to say thank
you, I'm going to try to have a new chapter up every Sunday night...
just look for it.....I'll do my best! Now, on with the story

The hanyou looked around his home until he finally found Kaede, she was
speaking to Miroku and Sango.

"Kaede?" Inuyasha said, effectively getting the old woman's attention.
She looked at him. "Aye, Inuyasha?" she said. "The girl is awake, come
with me. I want you to check her." he stated simply. Kaede nodded and
followed Inuyasha. Before turning around, Inuyasha addressed Miroku
and Sango "The both of you stay away unless called for." Inuyasha
said, a hint of a growl in his voice. The monk and Taijiya nodded. They
knew better than to test Inuyasha, especially in one of these moods.

The walk towards the room where Kagome was seemed to take a long time.
It started out in silence, Kaede not daring to speak. Inuyasha broke
the silence. "I don't know how long it's been since the girl last ate,
but it has obviously been a while. She simply refuses to eat." Inuyasha
said. There was a hint of concern in the voice, and Kaede did notice
it and wondered at it. *He never cares about anyone* she thought to
herself. *Why this girl?*

"Well, Inuyasha, the girl has been through quite an ordeal, and as you
said, badly mistreated. It is not surprising if the girl doesn't trust
you yet. You simply have to give it time." Kaede assured the hanyou.

"How long will it take?" Inuyasha asked, impatient. "Inuyasha, I can't
say....it all depends on the girl." Kaede replied.

They had finally reached the door to the room Kagome was in. "Are you
ready, babaa?" Inuyasha asked. Kaede nodded and together they entered
the room.

Kagome was still lying there, curled up in a ball, hugging all of the
blankets possible to her. The food was on a tray next to the table, the
food obviously untouched. Inuyasha walked in and Kaede noticed the
girl's eyes followed him, watchful and aware of every move Inuyasha
made. She hugged the blankets tighter. Kaede took a few careful steps
into the room.

"This is Kaede." Inuyasha said, motioning to the elderly woman entering
the room. Kagome glanced at the woman, then back at Inuyasha. "She is
here to see if you're okay. She's going to look at you" Kagome looked
from the Kaede to Inuyasha. "No..." Kagome said firmly, looking at
Inuyasha. "Look, we just want to make sure you're okay." Inuyasha
assured the panicked girl. "No.." Kagome said, a little more firmly.
She was terrified at the thought of this strange man being here during
an exam and watching as they examined her...she didn't want to be
examined in the first place, but she sure as hell didn't want this boy
in there.

"Inuyasha, please leave." Kaede said clearly. Inuyasha shot her a look
of anger. "No way in hell, babaa." he said. "I found her, I saved her,
I'm staying." Inuyasha insisted. Kaede sighed. "Inuyasha, may we speak
outside?" she said calmly. Inuyasha shrugged but followed her out the
door into the hallway.

"I'm not leaving, babaa." Inuyasha said firmly. "Inuyasha, this girl is
having a hard time trusting us....I think it would make it easier if
I did this alone." Kaede said quietly. "What if you need help, babaa?"
Inuyasha asked. "Please call Sango. If only women are in the room, I
think things will be a little easier." Kaede assured him. "Fine, but
I stand by the door, and if I think it's time for me to come in, I
don't care, I'm coming in, privacy or no." Inuyasha stated hotly,
walking off to find Sango. Kaede went to fetch some water and some
herbs and when she returned to Kagome's room, Inuyasha had come back
with Sango. "Are you ready, Sango?" Kaede asked. Sango nodded.

When they entered the room, Kagome was in the same position. Sango
smiled warmly at the girl. "Child, this is Sango. She lives here
along with Inuyasha." Sango smiled and sat by the girl. "What's
your name?" she asked. Kagome regarded her warily. "K..Kagome.."
she answered so quietly, it almost wasn't heard. "Hi, Kagome."
Sango chirped back. She seemed nice enough to Kagome.

"We're going to start now, Kagome. Listen, Sango and I are here to
help you. if at any time you have any pain, let us know." Kaede said.
She and Sango went over to the girl. First, Kaede felt Kagome's head
for a fever. In response, Kagome flinched. It did not go unnoticed by
Sango or Kaede. "She does have a bit of a fever." Kaede said to Sango.
They proceeded to take Inuyasha's haiori off of Kagome. This wasn't
easy, because Kagome thrashed and fought despite the calming words of
Sango and Kaede. When they got it off, they were astonished at what
they saw.

The girl was thin, too thin....her ribs all showed, and all along her
back were marks from being whipped. She had signs of being malnourished.
She had fingerprints from being grabbed on her wrists and various
places on her body. "Well, she's obviously been manhandled..." Kaede
said. Sango nodded, astonished any human could do something like this
to another person. Kaede noticed that the girl's vaginal area looked
swollen, when she parted the labia, the girl let out a loud yelp of
shock and pain, and her body started to shake uncontrollably.

"All right, all right, we're done." Kaede assured the young girl.
Between her and Sango, they got the girl bathed in a small water basin that was in the room and dressed her in a kimono. The girl was still shaking when they got her back in the bed. Kaede left Sango with Kagome and went outside the door to Inuyasha.

"Damn it, what the hell did you do to her? I heard her cry in pain,
I almost came in there!" Inuyasha cursed.

"Inuyasha, that girl has been through more than you can imagine...it is
obvious she wasn't fed and was manhandled. This girl has been beaten
and she's frightened. She'll heal, soon enough, but that'll take time."
Kaede said. Kaede told tim about the girl's injuries, and Inuyasha
got angrier and angrier, letting out a colorful string of curses.

A little later, they got the Kagome to eat and drink. Sango spoke to
Kagome about her village, and Kagome paid attention as best she could,
drifting in and out of sleep.

That night, Inuyasha was in bed when her heard the unmistakeable
sound of screams. He followed the sound to Kagome's room, and he
saw the girl having a night terror. She was fast asleep, and her body
was thrashing, she was letting out loud cries of pain and fear. Her
face contorted into a look of fear. Inuyasha walked over to her
bedside, and started to play with her hair, trying to calm her. The
thrashing lessened, but Kagome's arms found Inuyasha's shirt and clung
to it for dear life, bringing him closer to her, to comfort. She kept
bringing him closer, and before he knew it, he was in the bed with her
her body formed to his, but she had finally stopped thrashing and
screaming, only a few whimpers escaping her now and then. Inuyasha
stayed awake, trying to get away every once in a while, but she would
hold on to him for dear life. Finally, he gave in and fell asleep.