InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Prisoner, My Prisoner ❯ Four Cell Prison ( Chapter 4 )

Prisoner, My Prisoner

Part 4

Author: profiler120

Email: profiler120@hotmail.com

Rating: PG-13 (Rated cautiously for language and other suggestive scenes.)

Genre: Romance/General [AU]

Author's Notes:

( . . . ) - Triple Periods denote point of view changes within the same scene.

Note about the rating - this story was originally PG. I raised the rating a day or so ago because of content in chapter 5 - however depending upon the responses I get I may to have to raise it to "R". It's turning into a more complex story than I anticipated.

Please note: Inutaisho's wife is introduced in this chapter (Didn't know he had one, did you?) - this is the woman we see at the beginning of the Inuyasha series. The dark haired woman with the very long hair that was Inuyasha's mother. In this story she is Sess & Inu's stepmother, their birth mother died.

Questions:

koala4u - Is Kikyo going to have a more major role by coming back and are Kikyo and Inuyasha gonna get together? - Kikyo will remain in the story, in various capacities. As for her and Inuyasha and romantic possibilities… I doubt it. I may add something along the way but it isn't a specific goal.

Icing Flower - Why did Inuyasha slap Kagome? - She has a tendency to say things, and Inuyasha has a tendency to not think before he acts. It was just to facilitate her wanting to get away from there.

Ashleekyle - What strange events occurred in the house of Higurashi, any possibly relating to scary monsters? - I'm not quite sure how to answer this because I'm not quite sure what it means.

Will Urusae tell Naraku Kagome is alive? - I doubt it. When you finish reading the chapter, you'll doubt it too. ^_^

Will other servants/friends/family members belonging to or pertaining to the Higurashi's show up in the Masaharu household? - Not right now.

Is Kagome gaining any affection for our beloved Sesshoumaru? - Interestingly enough, no. It's very strange, I'm surprising myself with how this is turning out, she's slow to realize she likes him I guess. Look for it to change soon though. ^_^

Does Kouga come into this story? - You know I adore your questions. Yes, Kouga will show up, briefly.

Was Urusae intent to kill or allow Kagome to get hurt in the woods? - Yeah! I'm glad you looked at it that way, that's how I saw it. Unfortunately I don't think a lot of other people did. I was discussing it with someone and I was disappointed to find out that maybe it wasn't as clear as I wanted. Sorry about that. So that sort of handle's Sailor Panda's question too.

Sissi - Urusae being Kanna's mother is odd. I really liked the idea. ^_^ As for Sesshoumaru suddenly stroking her hair, I just figure it'd been a while. She was back, safe, and all, his temper cooled a bit.

I think that does it for questions right? If you've got any at the end, please feel free to ask.

Never had anyone made her so anxious before. Her heart would flutter uncomfortably around him, and that in turn made her uncomfortable. She wasn't certain whether or not he knew this, but she wasn't about to ask. She had lost count of how many days she'd been here. There had been simply too much on her mind for her to remember to keep track. He seemed to have found some amusement in this although the reasoning was lost on her.

Just yesterday she'd attempted to escape, running as far as her exhausted legs could carry her. It had been almost a two-day event, but in the end he'd found her. He'd mounted his stallion and come after her - locating her tired and spent form among the bushes, too exhausted to run. She had failed to win her freedom, and she wasn't sure yet how she felt about it.

There was one aspect of life here that did make her unhappy, more unhappy than she was already, and it was Sesshoumaru's father. The stoic man who watched her cautiously when he bothered to look at her at all. Inutaisho made her even more uncomfortable than Sesshoumaru did if at all possible, but in a completely different way. The breeze ruffled through her bangs, causing her to shift out of her daydream and back to her present surroundings. She had, during a moment of questionable sanity, considered jumping off the balcony on which she was presently standing, but ultimately abandoned the thought. She didn't have a death wish.

"It's getting cold - you should come in."

She half turned to view him. He stood there so regally, she thought, just staring at her with those bright gold eyes.

"May I stay a while longer?"

They had allowed her leave of her room, although a guard followed her everywhere. Even now he was several feet away near the door, his eyes on her. She ignored him however, keeping her attention on Sesshoumaru. The amount of freedom she was suddenly given surprised her, it seemed completely illogical to be offering her more freedom instead of keeping her even more tightly bound. Yet this is the action they'd taken and no one seemed distraught by the decision.

He pushed away from the doorframe he'd been lightly leaning against approaching her, all the while motioning the guard to leave them alone. She shivered slightly in the breeze, though the weather had little to do with her trembling.

"You were not present at breakfast this morning."

She turned away. "If not eating means I can avoid your father, I would miss every meal if I could."

There was a low purring sound that might have been laughter, but she was not certain and wasn't willing to turn back to him to find out.

"What do you want with me? Why are you keeping me here?"

She felt compelled to ask, she needed to know. She had to have some reason for why she was being treated so well and Kikyo had been treated the opposite. Kikyo was always, in a way, the preferred sister. Stronger, prettier, and an entire list of adjectives that could describe her perfect elder sister. She had always been the young, delicate one that couldn't adequately protect herself. Even now - even here among strangers she was being treated as a weakling. Not suspiciously, or cautiously by anyone but Inutaisho. He was the only one who looked at her for the danger she very well could be if she ever turned her miko powers on her captors, which she had not done.

But she had promised Kaede she would never use her powers to harm, she wouldn't start now. Not even to free herself, it wouldn't be right. Not to mention there was Rin - the girl who seemed starved for a companion, a female motherly or sisterly figure to give her some attention. She couldn't hurt any of them knowing it would hurt the girl and she was always weak when it came to children.

"You were captured - I need no reason to keep you."

"Then why did you 'capture' me?" She insisted.

"A decision of convenience - I sent scouts to monitor the grounds, it was you that facilitated your own kidnapping. No one was expecting you to suddenly show up, unguarded."

She felt her breath catch in her throat. This ... was all her own fault? All because she was angry her father wanted her to get married to some idiot?

"Nor does it matter, it cannot be changed."

Maybe it didn't matter to him why she was here, but it certainly mattered to her. He had yet to give her an answer about her stay.

"What are you going to do with me, then?"

"You will be notified when I have a purpose for you."

She turned her head farther away from him. This was all her own fault, she thought despairingly. She was stuck here with this crazy family because she was behaving like a spoiled brat.

"Twelve of my guards are dead because of interference caused by people connected to your family."

She was tempted to tell him to wait a while and the number would likely double, but she didn't.

"Why did Urusae assist you?"

She sighed. "I don't know, maybe she was hoping I'd get caught and killed by the outside guards, it's likely enough."

"Beginning tomorrow you'll be restricted to the interior rooms. You are not to be seen by guests, or anyone without my express approval. There are those among the staff that would gratefully inform your father you still breathe."

She turned, silently and left the balcony and him standing there. He had not given her permission to do so, but she wasn't going back to ask and he wasn't protesting.

She made her way down the hall, her guard hurrying to catch up to her after almost missing her leaving. She went straight to her room and after having missed breakfast, and then skipping dinner, she was not heard from for the rest of the day.

"You miss your mother, Rin-chan?"

The girl had said something about her mother a few minutes before, prompting her to ask.

She turned around, her hair falling out of Kagome's hands. Her eyes were teary and Kagome regretted asking. It was a genuine look of pain - the girl truly did miss her mother. She shouldn't have asked.

"I'm sorry Rin-chan, I didn't mean to make you feel bad."

She sniffled but said nothing, leaving Kagome uncomfortable.

"I-I'm sure your mother was a beautiful woman, right?"

This however seemed to perk her up. "Daddy says Rin-chan looks just like her!" She proclaimed proudly. "I wish I could have brought her flowers, but Mama died when Rin-chan was littler."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"Is your Mama alive?"

Kagome nodded. "My mother is alive."

"Do you miss her?"

The door behind them slid open. Kagome glanced up, meeting Sesshoumaru's eyes as he stood in the doorway. "Do I miss my mother?"

Rin nodded.

"No, not really."

She gasped. "Don't you love your Mama?"

"I do, but... she... it..." Kagome was caught on what to say.

Behind them he finally decided to intervene. "Rin." It was a definite warning tone.

"My mother... just isn't a very nice woman. Sometimes its just easier without her around, that's all."

"Ooohh."

Kagome had doubts that Rin actually understood what she meant, but she didn't inquire any further and the subject just sort of dropped.

"Rin, Jaken is waiting for you."

"Horsies!" She stood up. "Are you coming today, Kagome-chan?"

"I don't think so, but have fun and be careful."

Rin smiled and ran off. She thought briefly, that Sesshoumaru might have wanted something, but it seemed his purpose today was to retrieve Rin. Just as he was about to leave he paused.

"You are permitted to leave your room."

She looked up. "I know."

He simply stared back at her pensively a moment and left, not closing the door behind him. Perhaps he wished to encourage her to leave. She was about to rise and close the door when a head popped in.

"Hello Kagome-sama. How are you today?"

Aya, the servant girl was now just inside the doorway.

"Fine, how are you?"

"Well enough. Is there anything I can do for you?"
" Could you close the door, I'd like to speak with you in private."

Looking a tad bit concerned, the girl did as she asked. They were probably around the same age, she guessed. Her and Aya.

"Do you happen to know how Rin's mother died?"

Aya paled, kneeling. "Lord Sesshoumaru's wife? She was killed when..."

"When what?"

"A year or so after Rin was born, Lady Toki - that was Rin's mother, she was living in a smaller mansion many miles from the Citadel. Nothing at all like this place. It was before the war between your family and the master's family had gotten so bloody. Lord Naraku attacked the house; it was ransacked and burned to the ground. Everyone found within was slaughtered. Lady Toki attempted to flee with Rin, but she was caught, a servant was able to take the girl to safety, but Lady Toki herself didn't make it. Lord Sesshoumaru found her on the grounds dead with the rest of them."

She was silent. "Oh."

Her family... her father had killed Rin's mother. The poor girl. She stood uncomfortably. Maybe a little walk would help clear her thoughts.

Aya beat her to the door, sliding it open. She vaguely realized the guard had moved to follow her, but she didn't turn back to look at him. She followed her own path, down one hall and then another, she was going to be hopelessly lost but she wanted to be. It seemed the only form of escape she could have now.

She reached a dead end corridor and was about to turn back when a side door opened and a set of servants scurried out. She paused, curious, when a striking female stepped into view. Kagome gasped in surprise, drawing the woman's attention.

"Hello," the woman greeted her. "I am Lady Nijiko - who are you?"

"I am... Higurashi Kagome." She wasn't going to lie to her, obviously this woman was important. Yet the name was completely unfamiliar to her. 'Lady Nijiko'?

"Oh, the girl Sesshoumaru has been watching over, I see. Inutaisho told me about it."

She said the Lord of the house's name so casually - who was this woman?

"I was just going out to get some air, but it would be nice to have company for a bit. Come, have some tea with me."

She wasn't sure if it was an order or a request but she wasn't about to ask. She meekly nodded and followed the woman and her servants down the hall.

They ended up in an ornate sitting room that seemed to be used solely for tea drinking if the decorations were any clue. She followed the lead of her hostess and sat.

"You look troubled, is something the matter? Homesick perhaps?" She suggested.

"N-no, I just... May I inquire Lady Nijiko as to who you are? I hope I do not sound rude or -" she trailed off.

"It's fine. I am Inutaisho's wife." She paused. "His second wife. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha are not my children."

"Oh, you are the current Lady of the Western Lands. I'm sorry I did not realize. I didn't even know the Lord Inutaisho was married."

She smiled weakly, it seemed as though the thought disappointed her somewhat. "Inutaisho likes to keep it a secret. He fears for my safety."

Kagome frowned. That sounded entirely too familiar to what Sesshoumaru was trying to do to her. No wonder, he'd picked it up from his father protecting his stepmother. She found herself sighing.

"How have you been enjoying your stay here? Inutaisho told me you tried to run away a couple days ago. Surely you realize that's very dangerous."

She hung her head. "I know. I'm just not sure what to do anymore about anything. I don't know what I'm doing here or what he wants me for."

"When Sesshoumaru's wife Toki died he closed off - more than he had been before. I have never been close to him, but after that he really got pretty bad although Rin had helped quite a bit. He seems to like something about you, usually all the prisoners assigned to Sesshoumaru are killed."

She paled. "I don't... he doesn't... You don't think I remind him of her, do you?"

She laughed quietly. "Definitely not. Toki was a quiet, proper woman. She too was very closed off - too formal to be friendly and most people thought her arrogant. You are nothing at all like her, I can tell from these few minutes we've had together. It was an arranged marriage, Inutaisho insisted upon it."

"Arranged marriage..." she repeated.

"Ummm hmmm, I suppose you may know a thing or two about those. You are Higurashi Naraku's daughter - he is a prominent man. Perhaps he had arranged a marriage for you?"

"I was... supposed to get married in the spring. It's why I..."

"It's why you what?" She inquired politely.

"It's why I ran off that day, I was angry at my father. It's how I ended up here."

"Don't look at it so badly. It could be what was meant for you."

She smiled sweetly and Kagome found herself unable to dislike the woman. She was so genuinely kind. She felt compelled to reply when they were unexpectedly interrupted. Kagome turned, almost expecting to see Sesshoumaru standing there, but it was not to be. Rather, she met the eyes of one she hadn't seen for a day or so and had been glad over it.

"Nijiko, what are you doing with Higurashi?"

The stoic master of the house gazed down at his young wife, practically ignoring the fact that she, Kagome, was even in the room. If it were any other situation, she'd be offended but she was glad he wasn't paying her any mind.

"I invited her to have tea with me. Lovely girl."

As though she wasn't even there, she thought somewhat bitterly.

He did look up at her and she frowned. His stare seemed to imply she was not worthy to be trod upon.

He was about to say something, and she was dreading to hear it when, again, the door opened. Everyone turned their gazes to the new interruption. Sesshoumaru stepped within but ventured no further away from the doorway.

"I will take her."

She frowned again. They had a lot of nerve speaking of her as though she were a pet or something to be possessed.

"She is having tea with Nijiko."

'Oh, and I don't get any say over what *I* want' - this man was truly unbearable, she thought. He paled however in comparison to her own father. She had not thought so before, but now she realized just how restricted a life she'd led. Up to this point, everything in her life had been cleared by her father - her servants, her friends, her bedding, her clothes, everything! Nothing was given or taken away without her father's expressly given permission, and here it seemed was little different.

Inutaisho's tone left nothing for question - if she was having tea, she was having tea, and that it appeared would be that. Until Nijiko interfered with a small smile.

"It's quite all right, if Sesshoumaru needs her, please allow her to go then."

Inutaisho merely shrugged, a definite dismissal and Kagome stood. She bowed politely to Nijiko.

"Thank you."

What she was thanking her for, she wasn't sure. They hadn't actually had any tea yet, but the woman had allowed her to get away from her stoic husband. Perhaps that was 'thank-you' worthy. Either way she quickly made her way to the door, following Sesshoumaru out it.

. . .

"I do not think she likes you." Nijiko smiled.

"Her opinion is insignificant."

She smiled again. "What about Sesshoumaru? Surely you want him to be happy? He has already had his first arranged marriage, as you had - you will allow him to choose his next wife, won't you?"

"I have given him my consent on whatever decision he makes."

He didn't sound happy about it, however.

He walked ahead of her silently.

"What did you do that for?" She dared to ask.

"I thought you did not enjoy my father's company."

"I don't. How'd you know where I was, anyway?"

"You were not in your room and Nijiko usually has tea around this time."

"Why haven't I met her before?"

He stopped and swiveled to face her with an expression that made her regret asking, but he didn't say anything and she let it go.

They walked together, most rooms they past were silent, she noted. Some had an occasional sound that she could hear through the door but nothing significant. Then however something familiar caught her ears, but it was low and distant. She stopped, straining to hear and praying it wasn't what it sounded like.

"That sound- "

She cast her eyes back when she heard a choked gasp. Beside her, Sesshoumaru had tensed, and his arms were now folded across his chest protectively. One delicately manicured hand was at his own throat, squeezing as though trying to hold on to himself.

"Oh! Sesshoumaru-sama!"

His knees gave out and he slumped to the floor. She listened to his garbled, weak attempts to draw breath. This was... this was... U-Urusae! All this time she'd been worrying about Rin, when it must have been the family members she was after!

She reached for him, arms wrapping around his shoulders, guiding him toward her. What could she do?

She felt her dormant powers flare to life within her and begin leaking through her fingers into his body. The faint trembling of his frame ceased as her power mounted, surrounding her like a wild purple flame. His silver white hair shifted into reach of her fingers as he tur ned his head.

"Are you okay?" she asked, not lowering her gaze to him but scanning around for where Urusae might be. She had to be close. Were there others already dead? Had she gotten Rin? What about Inutaisho and his wife, were they okay?

His struggles ceased as he pressed against her gently, body going lax.

"N-no, don't do that. You have to fight Urusae!" She urged but he didn't respond.

She quickly shoved him away, feeling her miko powers might be affecting him adversely. She had to do something, where was she? Urusae had to be within a certain range to pull this off, and if that was so she might be able to stop it.

. . .

One moment he was wondering what had disturbed her; the next he felt like the air in his lungs had been sucked out. His strength drained, he felt his knees give out from underneath him, but he couldn't think about the humiliating pose. He couldn't think of anything past this wave of indescribable pain that had descended over him.

Then he'd felt what could only be described as beautiful warmth. It spread over his shoulders and down his back until it encased him fully, bathing him in it's intensity sending shudders of pleasure and warmth over him. His body seemed to sing with delight as the abhorrent pain was suddenly cut off. He was floating toward death and Kagome it seemed was helping Urusae to do it, but somehow it didn't matter. It felt so nice.

Through his euphoric haze he could feel the female figure he was pressed against. He could feel the thin arms draped around him, holding him gently.

She shoved him away from her intoxicating presence and the pain set back in. He saw, he marveled at the glow surrounding her frame, but could hardly breathe through this haze.

She was standing, facing the wall, a look of utter helplessness upon her face. It melted however, into one of determination as the glow brightened and from her left hand two tendrils of purple energy extended from her hand forming a curved bar. He watched, curiously as she turned her body, raising her hand. In her other hand another tendril of energy formed, and he realized as she threaded one into the other it was a bow and arrow.

She had created a bow and arrow out of nothing; both bathed in the purple hue of her power. Her eyes narrowed determinately and she released the arrow, streaking forward and vanishing through the wall and out of sight. She remained in pose, the bow bursting into a thousand points of light that faded back into her shimmering purple aura.

She shifted to guard her ears. He watched, as she seemed to be curling in on herself. He started to proceed toward her only to stop as something crashed into her blazing purple shield and a glimmering, ghostly form appeared. He stared closer - what was happening?

Through the wall, he heard it, sounds. Cries, and then a mass of indistinguishable brown and spoiled purple emerged, colliding with the trembling miko who was desperately trying to shield her ears from something he could not hear. As they came into contact their crumpled, shriveled forms returned to their human, but ghostly appearances, a look of serenity passing over their faces in silent thanks. But the miko saw not, her eyes had squeezed shut tightly, trying to block out whatever torture this was inducing upon her.

Then, in a flash the last figure appeared and she collapsed into a heap upon the corridor floor.

Amazing.

. . .

She woke in her room, in her bed again. 'Hers', she thought bitterly. Interesting way of looking at things. Then she remembered what had happened.

She had to do it from there, from the corridor. She'd formed and drawn her bow, praying it would be enough. It was a skill that had taken years to master and even now it could use with improvement.

"A woman was found, she was dressed as Urusae was last seen but this woman was at least 40 years older."

"She's a woman of magic, changing her appearance would be nothing."

Her voice sounded weak, even to her, which was strange. Expending her energy very rarely taxed her body like this; all she'd done was shoot an arrow.

She turned to him. "Was she dead?"

He nodded grimly. "An arrow through her chest."

She frowned. "Good, it will save many people's lives, although... I broke my promise to Kaede."

She dropped back onto her bed.

"Rin! How is Rin? Is she okay?"

"Rin is outside with Jaken, she's perfectly fine."

"And you?"

He hesitated a moment. "Fine."

"And everyone else?"

He was silent and she sat up.

"Sesshoumaru-sama? Anyone die?"

"Inuyasha was found in the hall, unresponsive."

She gasped. "May I see him? Please? Maybe I can help... healing is... well... I excel at healing. Please? Let me at least try, too many people have died because of my family and ... " she trailed off staring into the cold, golden gaze. " Is it ... too late to help him?"

He stood without a word and turned his back to her. She lowered her head. He had died. Inuyasha was dead?

"Come then," he replied and she stood, throwing off her blankets and standing. Her feet felt wobbly, perplexing her. How had she used so much energy?

Her power though had returned to its dormant state, to her relief. It was safer for her and everyone else that way. She'd had too many incidents when she was younger of her explosive powers before she'd gotten them under control.

He walked slowly; frequently turning back to her as though concerned she might suddenly fall flat over. She didn't, at least until she reached his room. Inutaisho was there, as was Nijiko, standing by his bedside while the doctor from earlier appeared to be checking him over.

"Hmmm?" he looked up as she collapsed down to her knees beside him.

The atmosphere of this room felt strangely... what was it? She peered around, blinking when she saw a strange, floating figure in one corner.

"Er..." she glanced at the figure and then over at the ghostly apparition, sure enough it was him. So, he technically was dead after all, she supposed. She could see him clear as day looking miffed over in the corner. Arms crossed and glaring at his family members while he floated several feet off the floor. Question was, if he was truly dead was why his ghost hovering over in the corner?

"... Inuyasha-sama, what are you doing over there?"

The figures in the room stared at her as though she'd grown another head but she ignored them. Inuyasha however looked up at her startled.

"You can see me? I've been screaming at *them* for an hour."

"I am a miko, of course I can see you. What happened? Urusae do this to you?"

"Damn right, the haggard old bitch, wait till I get my hands on her!" he snarled.

"Sesshoumaru why have you brought her here? Clearly the girl is delusional." She vaguely heard Inutaisho behind her and the doctor saying something about Inuyasha being dead.

Inuyasha cocked a grin. "Delusional, eh?"

"Stop wasting time, the longer you are out of your body the more difficult it will be to put you back in, get over here!" she snapped impatiently. "This isn't an easy task!"

His grin vanished. "You can... help?"

She smiled at him. "I've never actually done this before, but I have been instructed on it. We'll give it a shot."

He suddenly looked unconvinced. "You'll give it a shot? I'm not an experiment!"

"What's the worst that could possibly happen, you're already dead."

He scowled and floated over toward her, trying to maintain his regal bearing. She sighed heavily, this wasn't going to be easy, and she was near certain she wasn't going to leave this room on her own feet. Too much of her energy had already been expended; this little operation she was about to pull might cause her to fall under herself. Still, she was a miko, bound by her honor to help those in need.

"Lay down."

He grumbled but complied while the others watched in silence. She extended her hands over his fallen physical form, laying one at the base of his throat, the other upon his forehead as her signature purple power sparked to life again, seeping from her hands.

"Hey, that tingles!"

"In a bad way?" She asked.

"Eh... not ... really."

She could see his spirit form relaxing under her touch, and could feel her own energy rapidly depleting. She might not be able to pull this off after all. If she ran out of energy before she completed the sealing of his body and spirit again, Inuyasha might be permanently lost and she might too.

He settled comfortably down, his eyes fluttering closed as her power washed over him. She could feel the slight tremble of his frame as it became infused with his life force once again. That was a good sign; it meant at least she hadn't done anything wrong yet.

She dropped her hand off his forehead repositioning them, one on his chest, and the other at his throat, dropping her head and closing her eyes. All in all, this was a very simple operation if you had the strength to maintain the steady force of energy depletion it required. The human body's connectivity to the soul required heaps of energy, and she was very quickly reaching the end of hers. Although she had wondered on many occasions if there was no end to her miko power, but she very much doubted such a thing now.

Her head felt light, making it difficult to sit up straight and black splotches were marring her sight. She could no longer see the entirety of what was going on in front of her when she opened her eyes. She dropped them back closed again, just as she felt the pulse of his heart return and his body warm to life again.

It was the last thing she'd feel as she slumped over onto the patient she'd been trying to save.

. . .

"Eh?"

Inuyasha's eyes opened wearily, startling everyone in the room.

"I was right - she is astounding! I haven't seen such a miko perform like this in ages, let alone one so young. She must have fabulous powers!" the weary old doctor proclaimed, suddenly looking ten years younger in his excitement.

"Amazing what delusions can do these days."

Inutaisho's gaze snapped sharply to his eldest son but Sesshoumaru kept his stare on the two people in front of him.

"What the hell-"

Everyone turned back to the sight before them, Inuyasha sitting up, cradling the fallen miko.

"She did it after all... huh, imagine that."

He moved to shift her in his arms when Sesshoumaru abruptly stepped forward.

"I will take her, she is merely exhausted."

The stare down between the brothers was momentary as Sesshoumaru leveled his nastiest stare on his younger sibling and Inuyasha relented. Scooping her up, he left the room and it's occupants staring after him.

It wasn't the easiest thing she'd ever done, but she didn't regret it. Not even as she laid in her room, bed ridden for the day, at the very least. Still, she theoretically should have been able to do so without this much energy depletion, it was really quite a mystery.

The door sliding open signaled that she had a visitor.

"Awake?"

He was back to see her again? Sesshoumaru had been there twice already. Once at dawn when she'd woken to find him staring down at her, a hand upon her forehead and another just after lunch. Now, as it neared evening he was here again. Such a visiting pattern was unusual for him.

She cleared her throat. "Something wrong, Sesshoumaru-sama? You've visited a lot today, I'm not dying or anything."

"Just checking."

She frowned. "Yes, wouldn't inadvertently want that to happen, would we?"

Her uncharacteristic bitterness surprised even her. Why was she in such a bad mood?

"You are to see my father this evening after dinner."

He didn't ask if she was able, if she needed help, whether or not she could handle it. He simply told her she was going, what a jerk! She was reminded why she didn't care for his company most of the time. They were so insensitive and after all she'd done for them. Suddenly the words of her father filtered back through her head - maybe he'd been right. Perhaps enemies were enemies and they could never be won over although she was not inclined to believe such. She dropped her eyes closed despairingly. Perhaps she should try to escape here again? Maybe getting married in the springtime to some stranger her father had picked out wouldn't be so bad and she would at the very least be safe. Relatively safe, anyway.

Who knew what Inutaisho wanted, probably to disparage her on something. She frowned, she could not bring herself to like that man, but nor could she hate him. She could not fight her character, nor would she. She was a giving person by nature, and if there was someone who needed help, she helped him or her.

Now that she thought about it, she wasn't sure she was even going to dinner. Why hadn't he said anything else? He was still in the room, wasn't he? She opened her eyes. Sure enough, there he was.

"Anything else?"

She came off sounding irritated and his eyes narrowed slightly in response as though her irritation had irritated him.

He looked tempted to snap at her and she was just as tempted to snap back, but neither said anything. Their tempers seemed to cool however as he knelt down at her side, eyes softening slightly from their annoyed expression back to the unreadable mask. That however was bearable.

"How did you do it? Strike her through the wall, the body was found four rooms down."

"It was a spirit arrow, just as ghosts are not hindered by physical obstacles neither is a miko's energy channeled into an arrow's form."

"And the other? Did you purify the ghostly souls that hung around her?"

"What?"

"After you shot the arrow."

She thought back, remembering. She'd covered her ears because the deafening screams had returned and tried to hide from the sound. Had they come after her? Is that why it was so intolerably loud?

"I do not understand what you mean. What happened?"

"Indistinguishable forms emerged from the wall and struck the purple glowing shield around you and turned into ghostly figures."

"Oh... really? Well, I suppose that explains why I have no energy left." She laughed suddenly, feeling relieved the mystery was solved. That meant conclusively her powers were not weakening. The ghosts had come to her and she had unwittingly purified their souls. She smiled brightly. That was good.

"That's very likely, purification flows naturally from my fingers when my miko powers are active. Although... it really doesn't explain why you were able to see any of those things, most spiritual forms are beyond normal human vision."

Although she had bathed him in her power, in an attempt to protect him that had ultimately failed. It was a possible minor and very temporary side effect. If she had succeeded at that, then maybe killing Urusae wouldn't have been necessary but… she couldn't just let him die in front of her like that.

"I suppose it doesn't matter."

"I will return to escort you to dinner."

"Unnecessary, Aya can help me."

"I will return later." His tone left no opening for question or argument. He would be back to help her, and Aya... well he'd probably send Aya off somewhere just so she couldn't disobey him.

"Oh, how is Inuyasha?"

"He is fine."

She smiled. "I am glad."

. . .

He kept tossing glances at her. She smiled weakly to herself, his discomfort relaxing her a bit in the stiff silence of the Masaharu dining room. No one was speaking.

Rin was on one side of her and no one sat on the other side. Down a bit further sat Sesshoumaru and then further down was Inutaisho and Nijiko with Inuyasha across from his stepmother. Nijiko, it seemed had noticed Inuyasha's not-so-subtle glances in Kagome's direction and was weakly smiling as she watched him. Inutaisho watched it all displeased. While Sesshoumaru paid no attention to anyone.

Dinner ended as quietly as it began and she watched everyone rise and filter out. Rin was led off by two women, leaving her and Sesshoumaru alone in the room. She stared down at the floor uneasily. What now? Maybe she'd get lucky and Inutaisho would change his mind? She lifted her head hopefully, but when she met his gaze her hopes were dashed.

"Are you ready?"

That was the final confirmation - they were still going.

"Do I have to?"

It sounded much like a whine, and she knew it would have no effect.

"Yes."

"Oh... why me?" She muttered grumpily as she stood up.

He was already at the doorway waiting for her and she unwillingly headed toward what she dramatically considered 'her doom'.

[End Chapter Four.]