Captive Chapter 3
AO3
Tea on a tray is how she liked to be awoken if anyone had cared to ask. Something warm to start her day. Perhaps a side of toast, a dish of strawberry jam to spread. A little something to appease her, to fill her stomach privately, of course. A princess must not eat too much. That is what her teachers would say. The maids' friendly chatter would float through the room, pleasantries, and gossip at the ready as they drew the curtains. Ami would tend her bed, pillows propped and fluffed as she sat upright, the silk sheets surrounding her as the early morning sun crept in. She had a beautiful view of the grounds, the large windows letting golden rays shine through, warming her skin as she snuggled deeper into the thick comforter on her bed. Not a hard slap to her face. Never had she been woken so harshly. His palm was large and calloused, and she knew he had restrained himself, but still, her cheeks aches. Kagome had never been slapped before; Not as a naughty child, not even by the tutors. Never had she experienced the stinging shock that all at once forced her nerves to stand on edge. The air was crisp and cold, a set of nails digging into her arm, raising her frame slightly from the ground as his opposite hand reached back, poised ready to strike again.
“S-stop,” her mouth felt dry, her tongue thick. She choked on the words as his amber eyes widened slightly. Just for a moment. Long enough to register movement. With a grunt, he released her shoulder, and she fell back to the ground with a thud. So ungraceful for a princess. Dust kicked up around her as her body fell back. “You are no gentleman.” She spat, tasting the dirt residue inside her mouth. “Never claimed to be.” The demon shrugged, sniffing slightly. The world felt so heavy. She was tired and hungry, her mind swimming from the sudden events in her life. However, the anger remained. In that moment, Kagome was sure it was pure determination and anger that kept her carrying on. She was a princess. Respected and loved by her people. Treasured by her grandfather, even if she was second choice. She would not meet her fate this way. A princess must die old and in bed, rose petals scattered around her, silks draped over her carefully. Not filthy and starving, mud caked onto her feet, dirt deep under her nails. Kagome refused to let this be her end. Perhaps the demon had expected her to stand, expected her to put one foot in front of the other, as if nothing was wrong. He certainly held little compassion for her circumstances. Did he kidnap women often, Kagome wondered. Was this so routine for him that he felt no remorse for his part in her fate? He certainly bled like a stone; was his conscious as calloused as the rough hands that had grabbed her? She would stand; she would, but she needed to rest, need a moment to collect herself and pull herself together. When the demon received no reaction other than seething anger, he paused, as if mulling over a thought. He eyed her suspiciously. It may have been the first time he had truly considered her since their unfortunate acquaintance. Kagome could tell he was debating on whether he wanted to say it, whatever it was. He seemed to be a calculated solider, but he gave too much away on his face. He was expressive, even if he did not intend to be. Kagome supposed that in battle, when it was pure rage etched into his amber eyes, that alone would be enough to do a solider in. “I might not be a gentleman, but I have not harmed you, not in the way those assholes would have. Not like half the soldiers I have come across would.” He stepped in closer, peering down at her. “You know how many women I come across, lives ruined by soldiers who take what they want? I might not be the type of gentleman at your fancy court, but I haven’t laid a finger on you, princess.” His voice was low, a slow anger boiling to the surface. “And I suppose I should be grateful?” She asked in astonishment, “That you are less of a devil than you could be? That you have only kidnapped me, starved me past hunger, beaten down, just not by your hand?” She could feel her lips pulling back in a snarl, an expression she had never worn back home. Another time, another life.
“You’re alive though, ain’t ya?” He barked out. Almost as if he saw himself as a hero in this bizarre situation. “That has to count for something.” “But still your prisoner.” She answered quickly. She raised herself up on her elbows, determined to meet his gaze. Amber, blazing. Like the sun rising, the morning set on fire. Kagome watched as he ran his red tongue over a sharp fang. Lethal. Everything about him screamed danger, yet Kagome could not find it in her to cower. If he would stand tall, she would stand taller. She was a princess, royalty in her own right. Magic in her veins. Perhaps not the sister he aimed for, the one with the looks and brains, but she had enough sense in her to see this through. If she did not find her way to the Hojo tribe, her family would be in danger. Her people, unsuspecting, unprepared, would be at risk too.
“Better a prisoner and alive, then free and dead.” The way he spoke made Kagome want to slap him herself. As if her situation were inconsequential. As if she should be thankful to him, for pulling lightly on her chains. “’Sides’, you’re only my prisoner until we get back to camp. Then I turn you over, Princess.” A chill ran down her spine as she processed this information. She knew, in the back of her mind, that she would be brought to someone with a higher ranking. Knew that all along really. The solider was clearly important in his ranks, but not high enough to keep a princess as a consort. No, she would be passed off, but to who? Would it be to a king, or just the highest bidder? “Right. So I should be thankful that I have not been degraded further- yet. Always something to look forward to. And where will you bring me? Who is the highest bidder for your prize?” She hoped he did not notice the tremble in her voice, hoped she had enough will to steel it. He smiled, one corner of his mouth curled, a mirthless smirk that held no joy behind it. He might be handsome, Kagome thought. Had he come to court, his wild hair tamed and tied back, skin scrubbed clean from all signs of travel, a hand out-stretched for a dance rather than a slap to her face… she may have found him attractive. May have accepted his advances, should he be so bold. May have danced with him, may have flirted. Hid behind her fan as she smiled at him, cheeks red and blushing. She may have spent the night, tucked between her thick fur and covers, thinking of when she may see him again. That was not her situation. As handsome as he may be, a suitor he was not. A jailor, a profiteer. A scoundrel and the only thing standing between her and freedom. She was his prisoner, alone in the woods, pretending to be the sister he really was after. Briefly, it crossed her mind that even if they were back home, his attention would be drawn to her Kikyo. All eyes fell on her, and she would fall into the background. Kagome mentally chastised herself for such a thought. She hoped that wherever the stray princess had gone to, she was safe. Damn this self-proclaimed rogue and his smile. He was dangerous without exerting any strength. “Who will I belong to, once I am out of your custody?” She managed to ask. “That would ruin the surprise, princess.” “I-“ ‘I’ve had my fill of surprises.’ That was what she wanted to say. What she would have said, had her stomach not interfered. Loud and unladylike, the rumble took her by surprise, and she snapped her mouth closed. The hanyou eyed her, cheeks red from embarrassment as she kept her blue eyes down and barked out a laugh. Kagome pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as laughter rocked through the hanyou.
“That’s what it takes to shut you up?” He laughed, a true laugh that seemed almost unnatural coming from a solider such as he. When all he received in response was a glare, he rolled his eyes and leaned forward to extend his hand. “Let’s go, princess. It would be ‘ungentlemanly’ of me to ignore such a loud and honest request.” She had never been treated so rudely. Never had been dismissed in such a manner. As if she were a nuisance for needing basic necessitates. Kagome pursed her lips together. A lady does not lose her temper but bites her tongue. She could hear her tutor’s words ringing in her ears, echoing from a time long ago. A mantra of her youth. However, she did not look like a lady, covered in dirt, sweat smeared down her face. Her beautiful dress torn, feet covered in blisters. Her dark hair, which had once felt silky to the touch was knotted, twisted in ways even her attendants may not be able to unravel. She pushed away his hand and rose to her feet. She swore she could hear him mutter something about her mood under his breath. “Let’s go.” He said finally. “There’s a bank up ahead, should be able to catch some fish there. I wouldn’t want to keep her highness waiting.”
Kagome debated whether she should respond to such obvious sarcasm, but decided not to retort. A princess does not sink to such a low level, even if her feet with splattered with mud.
~.~
He was skilled at fishing, Kagome would give him that. Her captor, however, had taken her to the riverbank as promised, ready to fetch her a meal. He shed his armor- a dangerous move when one was so exposed in the water- and removed his top, leaving his abdomen exposed to the rising moonlight. Kagome had expected to see tanned skin underneath his shirt- not that she was thinking of such indecent things, and certainly not about someone as crass and crude as her captor- but he was surprisingly fair skinned. ‘He must not trust others enough to take his armor off.’ She surmised. ‘This is probably a rarity among his ranks, to see him so vulnerable.’ Though Kagome doubted the metal that weighed him down was just an added layer of protection; he was surely just as immune to a swords edge without his breastplate, the demon blood coursing through his veins weaving its own protections and charms.
He brought her back the fish, and Kagome could have sworn he almost looked proud. For a moment, Kagome began to question her sanity. Had she spent too long with her captor or was he truly so beguiling that she felt drawn to him like a magnet. ‘He will hand you over.’ She reminded herself. “Don’t suppose you know how to cook these?” He asked, though he did not seem surprised when she shook her head no. “’Course not.” He murmured, making quick work of starting a fire before sitting down to clean the fish. “You went to school, I’ll bet. Probably can name every country and their currency, but didn’t learn basic skills like how to clean game. How educated can you be if you can’t make a damn fire. Isn’t that what separates us from animals?” ‘If only he knew what my education consisted of.’ She thought. Needlework, pleasantries. She was finely molded for a life of leisure, to know enough to be interesting, to exude sophistication. Pointless. “Will you teach me?” She asked, shoulders squared, eyes determined. “Come again?” His eyes widened slightly in disbelief. “Will you teach me to clean the fish, to cook it.” Kagome swallowed down her pride. “You’re right. It’s a valuable life skill, and I seem to have a gap in this area of knowledge.” Reluctantly he nodded and set to work.
Kagome was sure that she was salivating by the time it was nicely roasted and passed to her. She set upon it like a starved woman, making the hanyou grimace. ‘Good. Let him see this unsightly display. I hope it turns his stomach.’ She would have said so, would have bothered to look cross, but the fish seemed to melt in her mouth, and at that moment, that sensation was far more important to focus on. They sat in silence while she ate.
“If your hungry, you should say something.” He said finally, looking off into the distance. “Its not like I can know when a human girl needs to be fed. You have no problem speakin’ up about anything else. Why the hell couldn’t you open your mouth to say you were hungry?”
Kagome paused, raising her eyes from the fish and meeting his and narrowing harshly. Of all the excuses- “I mean, Hell, I knew you needed to eat. I just didn’t realize it was so soon.” He sighed, closing his eyes and he leaned against the trunk of a thick tree. “It’s been a long time since I was around a woman, let alone such a high maintained one. Even longer since I’ve been around a human.” Kagome swallowed and gave a brief nod. It was undignified, and something Kikyou would have never done. However, she was unsure how her sister would react in such a situation. She would have charmed him, of course. Promised him riches beyond his dreams, used her wit to bring him to their side. By the time Kikyou was done, he would be waving their banners, not passing her off. “It’s difficult,” She began, voice low and steady, “to accept the apology of someone who keeps me hostage.” The hanyou laughed momentarily, as if it bubbled out of him by surprise. “I suppose that’s fair. Its… It isn’t personal. Just orders.” The last bit sounded guilty. Almost.
“Whose?” She dared to ask. “Whose orders are you under?”
The hanyou opened his mouth, an answer ready on his tongue, but before a sound could even be uttered, he snapped his jaw closed and spun around.
Someone was there.
