Prisoner Inside Himself by CR

Chapter One - Apprentice

Chapter One: Apprentice

Written By ShalafiRach

"I did not ask for a female apprentice! I asked to be sent a boy no older than fifteen, but no younger than twelve!"

Taiki, the Head Servant, shrugged at her Master's outburst.

"She came with a note saying she was the sent apprentice to Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands."

She held out a sealed piece of parchment. The young demon, Sesshoumaru, strode over to her, his silver hair billowing behind him. Taking it from her hand, he broke the seal and read it.

"So it does say," he said. "But I shall not have it. Send her back."

"Oh, but Master, she seems so excited to be here!" Taiki said, clasping her hands together. "And the carriage she arrived in is in need of repair. The driver said that something is wrong with the hubcap of the wheel."

"Have someone fix it. Then send her back," Sesshoumaru snapped, turning and walking towards a table in the middle of his library, where they stood. He ran a hand through his hip length silver hair that ended in soft curls. He said coldly,

"I am going to write to those bumbling idiots that run that school she came from and who pass themselves off as warriors. I shall tell them that they are a bunch of gender-confused fools who must brush up on their human anatomy. I am also telling them that I am sending their student back immediately and if I don't get what I asked for then they won't be having any more support from me."

"At least take a look at her and then decide," Taiki sighed.

"I am busy. And what help would that do?"

"Give her a chance, Sesshoumaru-sama! At least a week! If you are still not satisfied, then you can send her back."

Sesshoumaru had sat down in a chair. He fixed Taiki with a strict look from the depths of his amber eyes.

"One week. No more."

Taiki nodded. "No more."

Sesshoumaru turned his back on her and opened up a book. He leafed through it, saying disinterestedly,

"I will call you to bring her to me when I'm ready. You may leave me in peace now."

Taiki bowed her head in a little bob and then left the room.

Meanwhile, the student in question was waiting in a small room down the hallway to Sesshoumaru's study, absently looking around the room. She was very anxious to meet Sesshoumaru-sama, as he was well known all over the country for his fighting skills, and the fact that he was a demon was even better.

Kagome had never met a demon before.

Looking around the room, Kagome was in awe. There were red and white tapestries draping around, hanging off the walls. Each had a purple crescent moon in the middle. There was a large window to the far right, and outside you could see the amazing gardens, lilies and roses and bluebells scattered around here and there. It was definitely a sight to see.

Kagome looked up, slightly surprised when the woman from before bustled in, a little smile on her face. Walking over, she bowed slightly, and smiled. It had been hard, making Sesshoumaru accept the poor girl. She had feared he would not allow her to stay at all. It was a miracle that she had. Out of all the servants in Sesshoumaru's household, she was the only one that could argue with him and get away with it.

Maybe it was because she had looked after him when he was little?

Sesshoumaru's castle was miles away from any towns, and Taiki was worried that the girl would have nothing to do. Sesshoumaru never went into towns, because the scents of so many dirty humans killed him inside. He also hadn't been in close contact with a woman (for longer than a night) in about two years.

Taiki smiled at the girl saying cheerily,

"The Master is busy right now. He will send for you later. Meanwhile I'll take you to your chambers. Come along."

Even though Sesshoumaru might not be horribly welcoming to the girl, Taiki vowed that she would. She was glad that there was now another woman in the house, she planned for Kagome and her to become good friends.

Kagome looked at the lady from under her hood, then took it down, letting her light brown hair breath. She sighed, and picked up her bag. Kagome was used to not being welcomed, and as her Lord was 'busy', it was unlikely she would be the most welcome person in the household.

"Yes, Taiki-sama." The girl said, following the elder woman. Ms. White was the kind of bubbly, plump kind of mother figure that made Kagome feel slightly happier. She smiled gently, only a flicker, and then looked at the woman beside her.

"What is my Lord doing? And may I ask what kind of demon you are?" She asked. If he was doing a dangerous experiment, then she would understand. But if he was asleep, then she would too. But if he was avoiding her, she would feel downhearted and hated.

"I honestly don't know," Taiki replied. "That was the library he was in. The Lord usually never shares what he's doing with me. Do not worry child, he will call you... eventually... And I am a rooster demon, dear. What you must know Kagome, the Lord expected you to be a boy. He did not ask for a female apprentice. I persuaded him to let you stay at least a week to see how you fare. So make it good so that he decides to keep you. My Lord is a very stubborn young man." Taiki gave Kagome a encouraging smiled. "And just call me Taiki, please."

Kagome looked at Taiki, unhappily.

"Why did they send me then, if I was a girl?" The young woman sighed. The stupid people that send her must have had a plan. As she and Taiki came to her room, she walked in.

"Thank you very much for showing me the way, Taiki." She said softly. "I can unpack my self now, thank you." The girl smiled, and then looked at the housekeeper.

"If my Lord calls, then please try and reassure him that I am a capable student? I would hate to have him think of me as weak, because of my gender."

Kagome looked at Taiki, then walked her out of the room, and shut the door. When she was sure the woman could not hear her, Kagome sat on her bed, and began to cry, silently. She had travelled all this way, to be taught by this Lord, to be rejected as soon as she got there. Kagome knew she wasn't a favourite among people, but did he have to be so harsh?

After her long journey, Kagome was tired. She lay down on her bed, and fell asleep after a few moments. In her mind, she dreamt of a white clad lord with a hidden face....

A few hours later Taiki knocked excitedly on Kagome's door, and let herself in.

"Kagome! Kagome, he has called for you!" the Head Servant called excitedly. "Oh, prepare yourself! Brush your hair! Straighten your kimono! He is actually in a pretty good mood, having spent all morning unmolested with his pointed nose buried in letters. You have a very good chance!"

She hurriedly handed the young woman a brush from the dresser.

"A couple of pointers: do not contradict him, only speak when your spoken too, don't seem overly excited, or scared, or curious. Be normal. He is 23 years of age, in human terms, uncommonly young. And then... there's something else..."

Taiki seemed to loose a bit of her enthusiasm. "He has lost one of his arms. In a conflict with his half-brother, a rather long time ago, he had to remove a sword from the face of the earth, and well... His arm was a kind of sacrifice. He still looks rather handsome though." She then said with a slight smile, "I think he still looks dashing without it. It gives him character. Ha! Like he doesn't have enough of that already." She shook her head, still smiling.

"I am ready, Taiki." Kagome said, looking at the woman. She seem genuinely excited, and that surprised Kagome. The woman lead her down to her new Lord's door, and knocked gently. Kagome stood, anxious, but not particularly scared. She had made herself a rule to look past her Lord's armlessness, and look into his eyes. That should help her tell all. As she waited, Taiki knocked again, slightly louder. Kagome breathed in, and prepared herself to meet her new teacher. Her new Lord.

"Enter," Taiki opened the door and gently pushed Kagome inside.

Sesshoumaru's back was turned towards the door and he was writing something on a piece of parchment, a letter of sorts.

"Taiki," he called out, "I am in need of more parchment. Somehow the load you brought me this morning has been used up." He bent down and opened a cupboard and peered inside before shutting it.

"Also..." he turned towards the door and stopped short upon seeing Kagome. He closed his mouth. His amber eyes stared into her blue ones, and Kagome shivered involuntarily.

Kagome looked at her Lord, and bowed deeply.

"I am Kagome, sir. I was sent to be your student."

The girl did as she had told herself to do before. She looked into his eyes, almost defiantly. She stood, waiting for his reply. She had introduced herself, and that was what Taiki had told her to do. She now had to wait to be spoken to. Kagome looked around the room quickly, and absorbed it all to memory. It was a nice room.

The girl returned to look at her Lord's eyes, and waited to be addressed. Kimono covered every part of her body, and the obi around her waist suddenly became rather interesting. She cursed herself for not paying attention. Kagome now stood, waiting for her Lord to speak to her.

Taiki opened the door again, walked in and placed a package of parchment into Sesshoumaru's hands.

"It was left outside on that small table," she said, smiling up at him. He was tall.

She turned and walked towards the door, mouthing to Kagome, Be good. Opening the door, she turned around and before closing it mouthed to Sesshoumaru, with a much stricter look on her face, Be nice.

The door closed leaving the two in an awkward silence.

"The school you came from was mixed with boys and girls, was it not?" Sesshoumaru suddenly asked, a bit coolly.

Kagome nodded.

"Hai, sir. Although it was meant to be mixed, I was the only female in the class. Moat of the parents where I lived wished their daughters to marry into rich families. I was different."

Sesshoumaru felt slight respect for the girl-child. Being the only female in a class full of males, who were growing up, must have been hard.

"Did you know that I asked for a boy, no older than twelve and no older than fifteen?" Sesshoumaru asked dangerously. "Instead, they send me a girl, and not only is she female, but she is nineteen.

Any idea why, girl?"

Kagome shook her head.

"I have no insight into my previous teachers decisions. I merely follow in what they tell me to do. And they told me to come to you, sir." Kagome looked at him. "My master was always sexist, maybe he wished to rid himself of me."

He turned from her, engaging himself in what he had been doing before she had entered.

"I have agreed to let you stay for a week and give you a chance. Thank Taiki for that, if I had had my way I you would be back in your carriage on the was back to Edo. If I feel you have proven yourself worthy, you will stay. If I feel the opposite, you will leave. Your previous teachers are already receiving a very dissatisfied letter from me, they would not like another one saying that you behaved badly. What did you say your name was?"

He continued writing, each stroke a stroke of perfection.

"I am Kagome, my lord." Kagome replied innocently.

Sesshoumaru nodded, and rose, sealing the letter with some wax. He looked out the open window and frowned slightly when he saw Taiki outside looking up at him. She mouthed something but he closed the window and pulled the curtains over it, his annoyance growing.

He turned back to Kagome.

"I am guessing that you have learned the elementary skills. But I don't know just how far you've gotten to."

He looked at her expectantly, praying to the three gods that she would be more accomplished than he suspected.

Kagome looked at her master as he darkened the room by shutting the curtain. Then she replied to his question.

"I know many tactical moves and such, my lord. I learnt them in my free time, my last teacher being incompetent." She smiled, and then continued. "I learned from a friend down my street. She taught me many moves my previous teacher unknowingly teaching the rest of the class wrongly." Kagome looked at him, almost daring him to try her. She smiled, and tried to act as little as a girl as she could.

"Good," Sesshoumaru said. He was at a loss for what to say next, so asked, "Is your chamber to your liking?"

"Hai, sir. It is very beautiful." Just like you, sir. Kagome blushed, looking down. Did she really think that? But he was stunning, with his hip length silver hair, and his amber eyes, that seemed to read your soul. And his perfectly sculpted face...

Amazing.

Sesshoumaru nodded. He became a bit irritated as she continued to gaze at him. He tried not to look her up and down but unwillingly noticed everything about her from her head to her toes. The gleaming brown hair, the curves of her body, the eyes that were a deep, beautiful blue...

"I am sorry if my appearance frightens you," he said stiffly, noticing she was still staring at him. "My arm was given to a greater good for the western lands. It is a constant reminder of that I love my country more than myself."

Kagome looked at her master.

"Your appearance does not frighten me, sir." She said, looking at him almost fearlessly.

"It is the aura of power that makes me seem afraid, whilst correctly I am.. in admiration." Kagome smiled.

"Is this your study, sir?" She asked, looking at some of the books. They were all ones that looked heavy with knowledge, and Kagome's lust for this knowledge frightened her.

Sesshoumaru's eyebrows flew to his hairline, and after a second he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling.

"Yes," he replied. "This is my study. A few rules and I will then dismiss you. You are not allowed in here without me being with you. The library you can visit at your leisure, and the rest of the house you can feel free to wander. But I forbid you to go upstairs to the fourth floor." His stare became cold again. "That is my private area and the consequences will be harsh if I ever hear or find you up there. Understand?"

That was where his room and his private study was. He was allowing her to have the library at her disposal because all his treasured books were kept upstairs, in that study. He had a thirst for knowledge that could never be quenched. That and his ambition were so strong that it had nearly sent him to become a eviler lord. Many thought that he was as evil as the things he had read about anyway.

"You are dismissed," he said curtly, and walking to the door, opened it for her and followed her outside, closing it.

Kagome' bowed, and climbed the stairs to her chamber, mulling the meeting with her lord in her head. He had seemed as Taiki had said.

Withdrawn. She smiled. She hoped she had left a lasting impression. As she walked into her room, Kagome' pondered about what she would do next. She was still rather tired, so sleep was the more likely option. But her want of knowledge.. that nearly overpowered her. She lay on her bed, and was soon asleep. She dreamt the dream of the white clad lord, but this time he had a face. The face of Sesshoumaru, staring at her constantly.