At the End of the Rope by Smittee

The Everyday

Hello. You may have seen this one started on my "Fanfic series", and, of course, never ended. Well, I decided to try and give it a shot. This chapter has also been edited with more added. So, I hope you all enjoy it. I do enjoy reviews.

....

Kagome was once again at home, with her love/soon-to- be/husband-She wasn't sure anymore. She had been with him for over 3 years now, and couldn't remember even half of it. Her eyes were dull, as she sat on the couch with him, her head lowered. He had his arm wrapped around her, and had his face in her hair, as he took in her scent.

"So lovely. So easily broken," he spoke, a smirk on his face. "You have been good lately. I haven't been able to find anything to punish you for." He then smirked. "Perhaps I reward you for your obvious obedience." He then whispered in her ear," And you know just how to act."

"Y-Yes, my lord," she replied.

...

Sesshomaru was in the middle of doing paperwork. The higher ups had shoved it on to his department, and so he was trying to get things down. As he worked, he caught a scent entering his office. He let out a low growl, disgusted with the scent of the man before him. "What wold you want, you damned spider?"

"Now now, don't act so rude, Lord Sesshomaru. Oh, I'm sorry, you aren't called that anymore. In fact, you have been called that in years," smirked Naraku, knowing how furious that made the silver haired taiyoukai before him.

"Just state your business, and leave," was his reply.

"The higher ups have more paperwork for you. I was sent to tell you about it. Now, I'll be on my way."

As Naraku left, Sesshomaru broke the pen in his hand. 'Damned hanyou,' he thought,' He always smells disgusting, like he doesn't bathe or something. He always has the scent of some woman on her, and the scent of her blood. It's revolting.' He didn't know much about Naraku, except that he hated him. Not only was it his scent, but his manners. He started to write again, only to realize the pen was not usable. He growled. 'That's the eighth pen this week,' he thought, realizing how furious Naraku had made him. He then pulled out another pen, and began writing.

...

Kagura sighed and growled roughly, making Kagome whimper. She was currently in the hot tub with Kagome, washing her hair and wounds. "I'm sorry, Kagome. I know I'm partially in fault of your wounds again," she replied. Kagura may dislike Kagome, but she knew that they were both in the same boat, more or less. For that, she could not hate the woman before her.

"I-It's quite all right, Kagura. I know very well you cannot escape him...I've tried so hard to return your heart to you, but I-"

Kagura swam around her, and placed a finger on her lips. "Shhh...That's enough now. You tried, and it makes me happy that someone cared enough to do so. We...We just aren't strong enough...To break away from him." She then gave Kagome a sad smile. "You know, you still have a chance to get away. He doesn't hold anything that strong against you."

Kagome shook her head. "Where would I go? My family doesn't know where I am, just as I am not sure where I am anymore, we have moved while I slept so much in the past."

"I'm sure someone is waiting out there for you though" she replied.

"Who would want someone like me," replied Kagome," Look at me. There are scars that never healed. I'm always upsetting him. I couldn't even save Ari, when he-"

"Don't even start that! You couldn't stop that from happening! No one could!"

Kagome lowered her face towards the water, tears shedding. "I know. That's what's so horrible! I couldn't do anything! And now-I don't deserve to be happy! I don't deserve to have anything but this," she yelled out, covering her face with her hands.

Kagura's eyes showed a saddened gaze, and she held to the female. She knew this was all she could do to comfort her. Yes, she didn't hate this poor human creature. In fact, she felt too close of a bond with her now to not. Who she truly hated was the cause of all their sorrows, the same man who caused this once independent and spirited woman to break like this. 'Naraku...I will never forgive you,' she thought once again, something that was always a habit.

...

An announcement was made over the intercom of the large building.

"Attention, workers! There is to be a large celebration for the company's 20th anniversary. Everyone is invited! Bring your family, and join in on the fun!"

Sesshomaru groaned. 'Yep, and if you don't go, you might as well pack your bags. If you can't celebrate the company you work for, then you might as well not work here. Well, I guess it's time to dust off the old suit,' he thought to himself. The day was over, and her put on his jacket to leave. He walked into the elevator, soon to be followed by the wretched spider inside.

"A celebration," spoke the hanyou," This may be exciting. I think I'll bring along my treasure."

Sesshomaru ignored the wretch, and stepped out, heading for his vehicle. 'I wish he would just silence himself. Better yet, I wouldn't mind going back in time and tearing him to shreds,' he thought, as he got into his car and drove home.

...

Kagome and Kagura had been finishing up dinner, when they heard a car door. Kagura quickly ran to the door, and opened it once a knocking began. As Naraku entered, he slapped her hard across the face. "Next time, I would like to see the door open BEFORE I knock!"

"Y-Yes, Master Naraku."

Naraku, not giving her a glance, tossed her his jacket. He walked into the dining room, seeing Kagome had set the table, and pulled the chair out for him already. She walked over to him, giving him a quick kiss. "For you, my love," she said, looking down at the ground.

"Hnnn..Very good," he replied, giving her a kiss n her forehead, and sitting down. He soon began eating after words.

Kagome left him be, seeing as she and Kagura always made sure to eat before he got home. She walked into the bathroom to make his bath. Kagura followed her inside. "He looks to be in a good mood. Be ready for him to want you to join him."

Kagome nodded, "Yes, I know. He seems to be in the loving mood, even though he's still cruel to you."

"Yes, but this means I'll be able to sleep, and you'll actually be with him like how you met."

Kagome nodded. "Yes. It's days like this that reminds me why I got with him in the first place. He was always so kind, and loving towards me. He was my shoulder to cry on, when Inuyasha hurt my heart the last time."

"You fell right into his web," replied Kagura, and Kagome nodded.

"It seems that way," she replied, finishing the bath. Kagura then disappeared to hide, and Kagome walked into the dining room, seeing he was about done. "Your bath is ready, my love."

Naraku smiled as he finished. "Wonderful. Let us enjoy ourselves then, shall we? I have wonderful news to tell you."

"All right then," she then said, smiling. She soon was to follow him to the bath.

...

The celebration was a hit. Everyone was enjoying themselves. Well, besides Sesshomaru, who just sat at a table all night, staring off into space. Alas, that joy would be gone, when he smelled the scent of the spider coming into the room, along with the scent he always carried, now beside him. He turned his gaze to look, and was surprised to see the radiant beauty beside him. Her dark locks came down to the lower of her back. She wore a long dress, with long sleeves, the whole thing being dark green. Where the skin would usual show at her chest, there was a white, silk shirt placed underneath, as if hiding her skin.

Sesshomaru then shook his head inwardly. 'Probably just as disgusting as he is. His scent covers her, along with someone else that smells similar to the hanyou.' Much to his dismay, the devil he spoke of came towards him with his lady.

"Sesshomaru, this is my treasure I told you about. Kagome, this is Sesshomaru."

She never looked up, as she bowed and spoke softly. "A pleasure to meet you, Sesshomaru-san."

"The same," said Sesshomaru, just trying to seem kind.

"I was hoping she could stick with you a moment. There is some business I must attend to," he replied, not waiting for an answer. He held tight to her shoulder a moment, telling her his order, as he walked away. She sat down, knowing she was most likely bothering him. When Naraku was away she spoke softly to Sesshomaru. "I apologize. I don't want to bother you. I just hope my presence doesn't upset you too much."

Sesshomaru turned to look at her, seeing she still did not look at his person. 'She's surprising. She's a lot kinder than I expected. If this is how she always is, I wonder how she got with such a thing as he is.'He then replied," It's quite all right. He always tends to leave people hanging."

She nodded, not sure if she should reply. It bothered Sesshomaru that she didn't look up. So, he had to ask," Why do yo not look up when spoken to? It is quite rude."

"I-I'm sorry. I-I just don't feel comfortable....looking up that is," she replied.

Sesshomaru could catch all the emotions she was emitting. She was trying to cover them up with happiness; Grief, Fear, Sadness, Worry. He hadn't felt these emotions so strong. He knew this scent to be of the same one that he smelt on Naraku. It didn't take much for him to connect the dots. 'So, his treasure is also his torture device. It seems I was wrong. I have found a way to somehow hate him even more,' he thought. He may not know this woman, but he disliked how she must be treated. 'If she is his, he should not treat her as such,' he replied.

He was taken from thought, as Naraku returned.

"I'm sorry I took a little longer than I hoped. If you don't mind, I would like to dance with my dear Kagome"

Kagome nodded, and took his hand, going to dance with him on the dance floor..Sesshomaru watched, seeing how their relationship was.There was no love there. He could see the lust in the man's eyes, and the sadness as she continued to look down. They did not dance close. It all seemed mechanical. 'It's all an act," he thought, now holding onto a fork. The more he watched the disgusting hanyou, the more he bent the fork.

'Why do I care so much? Maybe it's all because of my hatred towards him. No, it's more than that. This wretch goes against all the rules of a demon and his mate! No one is exempt from the laws. No one! And it is my right as the once great Lord Sesshomaru to remedy this situation,' he thought. The question was, how would he do it? He noticed the song about to change, and he got up. He wandered onto the dance floor, and tapped Naraku on the shoulder.

"Excuse me. Will you give me the honor to dance with your dear lady? She looks to be an admissible dancer, unlike most of these women here."

Sesshomaru could see anger flash before Naraku's eyes, as he asked this of him. Alas, that smirk of his tried to cover his emotions, as he started to pull away, squeezing her arm a bit, and making her bite her lip.

"Why, certainly, Taisho-sama. Be my guest,": he replied, as he moved away.

Sesshomaru bowed, not wishing to, and took the lead, dancing them both away from Naraku. He could sense the pain Naraku caused, when he had squeezed her arm earlier. 'She must be injured there,' he thought. As he looked on her, he noticed her still with her eyes down. "Yes, you are the charming dancer I thought you to be, but you still do not raise your eyes. Tell me, how is it you dance so well, without ever looking up at your partner in the dance?"

"I-I guess it just takes...practice, that's all." Kagome bit her lip again, thinking about all the times she was punished, for how she'd miss a step, or did something wrong while being taught by him. A little ways more into the song, she spoke again. "I apologize, but I seemed to be growing tired. I'll need to rest for a bit."

He looked down at her, sensing her distress. 'Yes, tired of worrying about being away from him too long,' he thought. But, he just said," Very well then," and stopped, letting her go. She bowed in gratitude, and then headed over tot he table Naraku was at. Sesshomaru watched her out of the corner of his eyes, seeing how she sat down, seem to apologize, and seen how he ran the back of his hand slowly across her face, smirking as he did so. 'Disgusting filth,' he thought once again. Sesshomaru decided then to wander away into the bathroom a moment to think, and to wash away the scent of that hanyou.

While in there, he noticed no one in there, and thanked the kami for that. As he washed his hands, he thought about the situation, growling a bit. During this time, he found he broke yet other devices. He growled," And yet again, I take my aggression out on something else; this time my victims are a sink handle and the soap dispenser push button." After drying his hands, he sighed, and pinched the ridge of his nose.

When his anger cooled down, he exited the bathroom, finding that neither Naraku nor the woman were inside. 'They must have left,' he thought. He decided to push it to the back of his mind, until further notice, which meant till he was in his safe abode.

....

That's it for this chapter. More to come soon.