For Forever My Lord, For Eternity My Love

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.

A/N: Thank you Priah for editing. It was much appreciated.



Thank you guys for reviewing!



zen, trinity3000, L0VER, Angel_Moonlight, Lissa



L0VER: I believe they'll both deserve one, yeah? ^.~



Angel_Moonlight: I'm sorry about how short the chapters are, but when I write, it just ends up that way. Whatever happens, happens, I suppose. Sorry about that.











...The young woman awakened to cool hands upon her back. She dared not to move. It would only make the pain far more worse. Kagome was silent as the hands worked on her back.





"Your punishment had been lightened." said the voice. The voice was soft and familiar. It was the old woman who usually did things like this after she was punished. Kagome stayed silent.





"The one giving you the lashes did not go as hard on you as the other did." The older woman's voice was soft and wise. Kagome has known her every since Sesshomaru had resorted to whipping her for her disobedience.





Tansho was the old woman's name. Sesshomaru appointed Tansho as her herb mistress for times like these. She was quiet old, but very wise. Long, black hair that she kept in a braid and tied up into a bun, dark green eyes that has seen many years past her time, and so much knowledge that even Sesshomaru, himself, had to asked her opinion about certain things.

Kagome hissed when the old woman's hand touched a very sensitive wound on her back.





"Aiiya!" she yelled, her hands clenched. The woman tsk'd and put more cream on her back.





"You are a strong one. Sesshomaru knows he is wrong for doing this to you, little one." The old woman said, her voice soft. Kagome, who's head was turned to the right, facing the wall of the room, scoffed.





"Sesshomaru doesn't care about anyone."





"Oh?" The woman said, now smiling. Kagome sensed that the woman was amused.





"It's true. He doesn't care about me, he only enjoys hurting and using me," Kagome replied sadly.





Tansho sighed. "Sesshomaru,"





"Wants me dead." Kagome cut in. Tansho popped her on her bottom and Kagome squeaked and glared at the wall refusing to look at the old woman's reproachful eyes.





"Now you listen to me," Tansho began. "Sesshomaru still cares about you. He might not show it too often or at all, but he does. There are things about Sesshomaru that even I do not understand. But I, along with others that know him well enough, know that he still cares about you, possibly even loves you." The elder woman sighed. "Yes, he is harsh on you. Very much so. But he knows he is wrong. He knows it-"





"But he won't stop. He promised me he wouldn't hurt me, you know." Kagome looked straight at the wall as she talked. "Before becoming Lord, he promised he would love and cherish me forever. I would smile and I told him that I would never leave him. I never asked him to mate me." Kagome smiled sadly.





"I never asked him to, because I knew he couldn't. I didn't want to jeopardize his position as Lord. I even told him I would leave from here to let him mate to the youkai demoness that he chose. Leave and never interfere. But he kept me. Kept me and made me into his . . . his pet. A sex slave. He's done terrible, terrible things to me, Tansho." Kagome said and moved to sit on the bed when she knew that Tansho was done.





"I still love him, Tansho." Kagome whispered sadly. "I still love him. Yes, I know I'm stupid for still caring, loving, him, but I do. I really do." She finished and felt a tear run down her cheek.

Tansho looked at her sympathetically and brought her hand old, wrinkled hand to the young girl's face and turned it toward her. Violet stared into gray-blue.





"He loves you." Tansho said knowingly, wiping away the tear, before kissing the young girl's cheek.





"Get some rest, my dear. Your back should be fine now, but do not do anything to irritate it, yeah?" she said and Kagome nodded.





"Hai. I will remember. Thank you." The herb mistress nodded and left. Kagome sighed and got underneath the covers of Sesshomaru's bed before closing her eyes to sleep.





Sesshomaru, himself, was coming to see her. He had seen Tansho leave her room and was quick to see how Kagome was doing. Tansho stopped him, placing her left hand on his shoulder. Sesshomaru looked at her.





"She should be resting right now." Tansho stared hard at Sesshomaru.





Both of their eyes met. Tansho only said what was needed, they both knew the rest. She let her hand slide off of his shoulder before silently leaving, soon disappearing into the hall. Sesshomaru's blank expression did not change.





Opening the door to his room, Sesshomaru was not surprised to hear Kagome's soft breathing, meaning she was asleep. Closing the door behind him, he silently walked towards the bed and sat down beside her. He impassively brought up a clawed hand and caressed the side of her face.





She did not move.





I hate you. Sesshomaru's hand removed itself from her angelic face. Those were the words spoken from her lips. The words that angered him and made him cringe, made something inside him clenched painfully from every word. When he watched the guard whip her, it was always painful to him. Something else he would never admit to anyone...





She was punished. Punished for saying things he didn't want to hear himself. The words she spoke was truth. He knew that. She shifted in her sleep and he blinked, paying closer attention to her. He wanted to laugh at her. He wanted to laugh at her expense. She was still hopelessly in love with him. Anyone with eyes or common sense could see that. Yes, he loved her once.





But that was a long time ago. A very long time ago.





---------





...Kagome was awakened by Saya, one of the girls that helped her dress. Saya placed a soft hand on her shoulder.





"Tansho-sama told me to check your wounds before letting you up, fully." Kagome nodded and allowed the young girl check her back. After a moment, the girl nodded and said softly, "You are better."





Kagome thanked her before letting Saya help her into the back room and into the onsen. Kagome looked back at the young girl and smiled lightly. "I'll continue bathing myself. Thank you for helping me though." Kagome said nicely and Saya smiled.





"Hai, my Lady. I will let Sesshomaru-sama know you are up and well." Kagome was about to protest, but Saya had already left the room.





Kagome continued to bathe herself and when she finished, she laid back on the onsen's wall, relaxing. The water came to her breasts. Her long black hair, now wet, covered the tops of them. She sighed softly, comfortable for now. It would only be a matter of time when Sesshomaru entered.





"My Lord, Lady Kagome is up and bathing in the onsen." Saya said softly, her eyes downcast.





"Is she well?" he asked in his deep baritone.





"She is fine, My Lord." Sesshomaru nodded and swiftly passed by her to see for himself. Coming into his room, he smelled her scent, immediately he went into the onsen where he knew he would find her.





"Kagome.." he whispered to himself. She seemed quite comfortable, resting her head on the onsen's wall. It did not surprise him that she didn't acknowledge his presence. "You know that I am here." he finally said after another moment of waiting.





"And what do you wish for me to do about it." Kagome said plainly, her eyes still closed, still in the same position as she was before. Sesshomaru bit back a growl. He was silent as he began disrobing himself. Kagome heard the shifting of his clothes and opened her eyes, now reaching for the towels near the onsen.





"What do you think you are doing?" Sesshomaru asked, now nude. Kagome wrapped the towel around herself and started towards the door.





"If you are to bathe here now, then I shall leave."





"You will stay." Sesshomaru said as he lowered himself into the water. Kagome had no choice but to stay with him in the onsen. Sesshomaru had made sure she did not leave the onsen.