InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Terms of Enslavement ❯ Violation ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Author's Note: Hello again. Once again, it took a little bit longer than I'd anticipated. I've been really busy moving into a new apartment, so I had to make time to sit down and write. At least this chapter is longer than the others ^^;

The next chapter will be the last chapter. It'll probably be longer than this one, and it will take me longer to write if only because it's the last chapter, so I want it to be awesome and full of win. I might do an epilogue, but I don't know yet. I'll let you know when I post Chapter 5.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of Rumiko's other lovely characters, nor the universe. Everything else is mine. :3


Sesshoumaru traveled through the forest swiftly and silently in the direction of the powerful aura. It was definitely Naraku, of that there was no doubt, but he couldn’t pinpoint the exact location. It was like his aura was spread out over a one mile radius. It wasn’t much, but in the time he’d spend looking, the bastard might escape.

It was in the fashion, concentrating solely on Naraku’s aura, that Sesshoumaru nearly ran headlong into Inuyasha’s group who were speeding up from the opposite direction. Both parties stopped dead in their tracks as they faced each other down. More than normal, Inuyasha’s eyes were filled with rage and fury, and his body seemed to be trembling as he reached for his sword.

“Where is she?” He growled, holding himself back with apparent effort. Inwardly the taiyoukai sighed. He’d been looking forward to this confrontation, but right now he only wanted to find Naraku.

“The miko is fine, waiting for my return.” He answered simply.

“You monster…you raped her!” Inuyasha’s voice came out strangled.

“Yes, I did. Does that make you angry? Or is it that you weren’t around to save her that angers you? That you’d left her behind?” Sesshoumaru calmly baited his younger brother.

“Shut up! You hurt her…I’ll kill you..!”

“I hurt her? A little, maybe, but certainly not as bad as you did when you abandoned her, or as bad as she was when I found her. She was dead, her battered and bruised body caught on a rock in a river. You know, she had a very deep gash in the back of her head. She bashed her head on a rock, and it paralyzed her. From what I’ve heard her say when she sleeps, it would seem she was conscious the entire time. Right up until the moment she drowned. I saved her, gave her her life back.” Inuyasha looked horrified.

“Yeah, and forced her to be your slave…!” He plundered on, stubbornly.

“Everything has a price. I gave her life – it only stands to reason that it belong to me. She certainly doesn’t seem to mind.”

“Shut up! She’s just a girl, you pervert!” Inuyasha raved, his eyes wild.

“She’s a woman, and I should know. Such perfect skin…such exquisite…well, that would be improper. But what does it matter to you? You made your decision the second you left her. You chose the dead one over the living one, and it killed her. Bravo.”

Inuyasha winced and bared his teeth, growling. Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed.

“You disgust me. You can’t make up your mind, even for so simple a choice. Kikyou, or Kagome. You even got them both killed!”

“SHUT UP!!” Inuyasha screamed, sending a backlash wave racing towards his brother, who easily cut the force in half with his Tokijin.

“What’s wrong, little brother? Are you upset because it’s true? Or did you not want your friends to notice?” He turned his attention to Sango, who stood with Miroku, looking at the brothers with uncertainty. “I’d watch out if I were you, girl. Taijiya or no, you could be next.” Sango stiffened and Miroku wrapped an arm around her protectively.

“I won’t let anything happen to her.” He promised threateningly.

“See, brother? Even the human protects his mate.” Sango turned cherry red. Inuyasha stumbled forward, slashing at Sesshoumaru who parried every swing.

“I would have protected her…! I told her to stay put, I told her I’d come back!” Inuyasha grunted, locking the Tetsusaiga against the Tokijin.

“But you didn’t. What was she supposed to do, wait forever while you chased after that priestess Kikyou? Humans do not live as long as demons, they can’t afford to wait forever.” The taiyoukai growled as he pushed his brother off.

“What do you know? You hate humans! Why would you take Kagome when she’s just another weak human to you?” Inuyasha pressed his attack.

“Because, my simple-minded half-brother, she’s not just another weak human. She’s not like normal humans at all. She’s strong, brave, caring – certainly she gets annoying if you let her talk too much, but that’s because she had no respect for you. She respects me, and obeys me.”

Inuyasha snarled and brought the Tetsusaiga against the Tokijin again, locking them as the brothers stared each other down. Then there was a racket out in the forest, a little girl crying out for someone, coming closer. With ease, the taiyoukai flung out his arm, sending the hanyou flying through the air and making their audience wonder if he hadn’t just been playing all those times they’d fought before.

Inuyasha climbed to his feet, fully intent on continuing his attack when he saw what the taiyoukai had turned around for. Out of the forest at full speed galloped a large, green, two-headed beast, carrying a frantic goblin and wailing girl. The black-haired child jumped off the beast and ran the rest of the way to Sesshoumaru. Her kimono and her arms were smeared and splattered with blood.

“Lord Sesshoumaru, Lord Sesshoumaru!” She wailed as the taiyoukai stepped forward.

“Rin, are you injured?” He asked with a flash of concern on his usually stoic features.

“No, Lord Sesshoumaru, the blood’s not mine, its Kagome’s!”

“What? Kagome’s?!” The taijiya came closer, alarmed.

“What happened?” Asked the taiyoukai.

“That wind woman came, that lady with Naraku! She came and said that Naraku wanted to see Kagome, and then she attacked us! Kagome protected me, but she’s hurt really bad, and she’s holding the woman off with her arrows!”

“I’m sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru, forgive me! She told me to take Rin and run, and I thought it was better to protect Rin, since Kagome was holding her own...only she’s losing a lot of blood…” Jaken piped in, shaking. Sesshoumaru flashed him a glare.

“Stay with Rin.” Then he was gone, taking off so fast that none of them saw him move. Miroku and Sango rushed forward, Kirara and Shippo behind them. Sango immediately bent over the crying Rin to make sure she was uninjured, while Miroku approached the hanyou. Inuyasha appeared to be in a state of shock, and hadn’t moved.

“Inuyasha? Inuyasha, snap out of it! We need to follow Sesshoumaru to Kagome! If Naraku gets his hands on her, she’ll be in serious danger!” The monk exclaimed, grabbing the hanyou’s arm and shaking it. Inuyasha blinked once, then twice. Then, in a flat voice, he spoke.

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go.” He took off running, leaving the others to scramble onto Kirara and follow behind him. His mind was in turmoil. Was it really his fault that she died? Or that Kikyou died? And did Kagome really want to stay with Sesshoumaru? Impossible…right?

‘Kagome…’


The scent of blood was thick in the air as Sesshoumaru reached the spot where he’d left his miko. Anger coursed through his veins at the thought of Naraku taking Kagome like he had taken Rin. Would he use her as another one of his pawns, to lure him and his half brother into a trap? Most likely. Would he kill her? Not if he had anything to do with it.

The taiyoukai got to the clearing just a moment too late, just in time for the burst of wind as Kagura called on her feather to take her and the unconscious Kagome, slumped at her feet, high into the air. Sesshoumaru wasn’t about to give up so easy.

He expelled his energy into the air around him all at once, shooting him into the air. He followed, but Kagura was already far away, moving faster than he could. Below, Inuyasha stepped into the clearing in time to see the tail of his energy as it passed over the trees and out of sight. Behind the hanyou, Miroku, Sango and Shippo burst into the clearing as Inuyasha disappeared into the forest, and the chase was on.

Kirara hurtled up into the air to be able to better track Inuyasha through the forest, and they spied Sesshoumaru in the distance.

“Hold on Kagome, the calvary is coming.” Miroku remarked softly.



Kagome moaned and stirred, unwilling to leave the warm comfort of her dream. It had been so good. She’d convinced her mom, Grandpa and little brother Souta to live in the feudal era. Her grandpa had hit it off great with Kaede, the healer woman. She was teaching her little brother how to shoot a bow when she’d floated into consciousness.

Now the miko was awake, but kept her eyes closed, drifting close to the border between dreams and reality. Kagome thought about her first dream, and was glad that was all it was. Rarely did she remember any of her dreams other than her last one before she woke, but this one vividly stuck out in her mind.

Sesshoumaru had sensed Naraku and had run off to find him, leaving Kagome to wait for Rin and that annoying goblin Jaken while he was gone. He’d even had the nerve to tell that they were all supposed to wait there until he came back, whenever that would have been. Then while they were waiting they were attacked by the demon Kagura.

Rin and Jaken had fled, leaving Kagome by herself against the wind demon for the first time. So realistic, but it had to have been a dream, because she didn’t feel the pain of the wounds she’d received on her back.

‘Good thing it was just a dream…’ Kagome thought sleepily as she nuzzled her head against her warm pillow.

She was so comfortable. She was lying on something soft and warm, draped in a furry blanket. Her head rested on something broad and hard, and flesh-like. It was a man’s chest, and it moved, inhaling slowly. She yawned and stretched her arm out over her head.

“You’re finally awake…” A deep, sinister and horribly familiar voice purred in her ear. Instantly she froze, her blood turned to ice, registering the last voice she’d ever want to hear in such an intimate position. Her eyes shot open, but it was pitch black in the room. The miko tried to jerk herself backwards away from him, but he grabbed her hands in his vice-like grip and didn’t let go.

‘This can’t be happening…please tell me this is just a dream…’ Kagome panicked, yanking backwards. Naraku rolled with it, settling overtop of her.

“No! Get off of me! Sesshoumaru! Inuyasha…! Someone, please!” She shrieked as she tried to kick him, but it was like kicking iron. He laughed a low, evil laugh, and she felt something warm and slimy move across her cheek. It was his tongue…!

‘Ew! Ewww, oh god not him, anyone but him~! Naraku is pure evil! He exploits people’s weaknesses, and pits loved ones against each other for fun! Someone help!’

It wasn’t until she felt his hand trail up her hip that she realized she was naked. It had been so warm, she never noticed. Kagome screamed as he groped her breast roughly, thrashing. She felt both of his hands on her body, but she couldn’t move her own–when had he put her wrists in restraints? The miko tugged on the metal cuffs uselessly.

The demon yanked her legs apart so hard that she yelped, her muscles screaming in protest. Her legs squeezed his sides as if she could displace him, and she didn’t feel any cloth. Whether or not he had ever been wearing anything, she had no idea, because she couldn’t see.

Why did it have to be Naraku? Why him? Sesshoumaru had been different, she’d had tiny thing for him before, and she knew he wasn’t all bad. Not like Naraku. The demon pressed his cock against her and she went frantic.

“Stop it, stop it! Get off, please don’t! Noo~!” She screamed as he pushed forward, plunging in fully. Her scream ended in a pleasured yell, and she started to cry in shame.

Kagome went limp with defeat, shaking her head while protesting weakly. He wasn’t as big as Sesshoumaru but he was much, much hotter, and the force he put behind his thrusts more than made up for any size difference. The miko struggled with her shame, trying to deny the feelings and hold in her moans.

“You’re not fooling anyone…” Naraku teased in his baritone voice as he thrust hard, and Kagome responded with a muffled cry. “You love it, don’t you? If I stopped, you’d be in misery…You love my cock.” He pulled himself out, rubbing the head over her clit briefly, and she whimpered. Naraku laughed and thrust in fast again, surprising a scream from her. Kagome bit her lip and shut her eyes, trying to ignore him, but her body was so warm…

Instantly the miko knew what was happening, but without the use of her hands, how could she stop it? The demon moved steadily, hands tightly gripping her waist as he pulled her on to him repeatedly. She would have huge purple and black bruises when it was over, but she couldn’t focus on the pain; if anything, it added to the pleasure. Her heart racing, she felt the warmth build up in her and didn’t even notice when she stopped biting her lip, though she tasted the blood.

Kagome came with a piercing cry, clinging to Naraku with her legs as the hot bliss rolled over her, her body spasming. The miko didn’t pass out this time, but only barely. Weakly, her arms hanging from the shackles, all she could do was breathe. Even the annoying voice in her head was silent.

She was just barely aware of being freed as her arms fell from the shackles. It only occurred to her, slowly as if thinking through mud, as the demon flipped her on to her stomach that Naraku hadn’t come yet.

Kagome didn’t think she had any strength left in her body to protest but she surprised herself when she felt his cock pressing against her other hole. She sprang onto her knees and tried to turn over, yelling her objection. Naraku simply put a hand on her back and forced her torso down and she found herself in a worse position, on her knees with her ass in the air. Crying with renewed shock, Kagome begged him.

“No! Naraku, please don’t, not there! Please, anything else, it’s not clean! It’s dirty, stop…!”

It was too dark to see his face, which was good because the look on his features was terrifying. No amount of pleading would make him stop – it only made it worse. Naraku was grinning viciously, insanely, his eyes were dark and his voice would have come out rough and husky if he’d spoken. This was his favorite part. First he made them scream in pleasure, and then he made them scream in pain.

Naraku pressed forward slowly this time, knowing that if he went too fast he could seriously injure her, and not wanting to lose his newest toy so soon. All of the air left Kagome’s lungs in a hiss as she gritted her teeth and clenched her hands into the blanket beneath her.

When her sphincter closed around the head, Kagome whimpered, paralyzed by pain, and the fear that if she moved it would be worse. Naraku slid back out of her, slowly, and the miko breathed a sigh of relief. She squirmed and cried out in pain when he slid it back in further.

The demon continued in this fashion, rocking in and out, slowly pushing his cock into her ass as he reveled in the tight heat. Each time Kagome cried out, her cries growing in volume and length as the pain grew more intense. She tried to pull her hips away, to slide him out of her but his hands held her fast.

When Naraku’s cock was little more than halfway inside of her he paused, steeling himself. Then he thrust forward, sinking the rest of the way in. Kagome screamed, lifting her torso off the mattress and clawing at the wall in front of her. The demon laughed again, this time very quiet, and the sound of his rough voice as deep and husky as it was raised goosebumps on her flesh.

Naraku pulled out and thrust back in again, and the miko shrieked. She dropped her torso on the bed, reaching up to grab at his hands on her hips, scratching and prying at them for all the good it did. In response his grip tightened as he thrust again, digging his fingers into her soft flesh.

She dropped her hands in defeat, sobbing as he fucked her. The pain was blindingly intense, a thousand times worse that when Sesshoumaru had raped her that first time.

“Please…god, please stop…just kill me already…” Kagome begged, her words choked with sobs.

“Now miko, where’s the fun in that? I can’t kill you…at least, not for a while…” Se could here the grin in his voice and she screwed her eyes shut against the unfamiliar darkness in favor of a familiar darkness.

Not about to let her escape to the comfort of her mind, Naraku grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked. Kagome screamed again, arching her back up against him to save herself from being scalped. With his hips and his other hand the demon shoved the woman’s body forward so that she yelped as her torso hit the wall, her ass sticking out behind her.

Naraku continued to thrust into her even harder than before, pushing her into the wall. He leaned forwards, his body against hers so that he could whisper into her ear.

“Don’t worry…you’ll learn to enjoy this…you’re going to be here a long time.”

Kagome’s ass was starting to numb. It still hurt, but it wasn’t the same burning sensation it had been. Now with the pain dulled, she could feel how hard her body trembled, how much her head ached, how nauseous she was. Also prevalent was the strong feeling that she had to go to the bathroom, which was distressing.

‘God, please let him hurry up and finish…’ The miko didn’t really believe in gods, but nonetheless Naraku’s pace and panting quickened. He pulled his body back away from her so that he could pound her into the wall with as much force as possible.

The demon came with a growl, his claws digging into her flesh. She screamed in agony, feeling her skin tear. Kagome could feel his semen as more shot out than Sesshoumaru’s had. Then, after one last shove, he finally pulled out and the exhausted and tortured miko sank down, resting her forehead against the cool wall as she sobbed in quiet, short gasps.

Kagome never noticed Naraku leave, but she heard his muffled voice as if he were on the other side of a wall. A familiar female voice answered, and the miko was suddenly filled with hate and humiliation. Hate at the wind demon for bringing her here, and humiliation in knowing that she had been near enough to hear the entire ordeal.

Turning towards the sound, a door she couldn’t have seen slid open. Pale, dull blue light filtered in, outlining the woman’s body. Kagura stepped into the room slowly, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. Kagome couldn’t see her face in shadow, but she turned in shame anyway.

“Come. I’m taking you to where you’ll stay.” The woman said in an emotionless, soft voice. The miko realized that she desperately wanted out of that room, and fresh tears slid down her cheeks.

“I don’t think I can stand…” She breathed, her hoarse voice barely above a whisper. Kagura sighed, stepping closer and offering a hand that Kagome could see against the blue. She hadn’t noticed the pain in her wrists until she reached up to take it.

Kagome’s legs were like rubber when she tried to stand, shaking uncontrollably. Her first wobbly step sent fire running down her legs and up her sides from her wounds and bruises. She almost went down, but Kagura’s strong grip held her steady.

The injured miko remembered none of her short walk through the dark corridors. The pain was too great, the ordeal too much. Her mind was on autopilot like it had been before, to save her sanity. They stopped in front of a door at the end of a hallway, which shimmered in the purple light of a barrier. Kagura pressed a hand against it and a hole opened up large enough for the door to be opened. They paused.

“I…have to go to the bathroom…” Kagome murmured.

“There is one inside. Before you go in, a few things. The barrier will shock you if you touch it. Don’t. I bring food down every day twice, in the morning and evening. The barrier holds all sound in, so it’s useless to cry for help. That’s all.” The demoness opened the door with one hand, the other on Kagome’s back. It was warm against her icy skin.

More out of weariness than obedience, the miko stepped into the room, eyes downcast as the door was shut behind her. The room was dark, only the purple light of the shimmering barrier outside the windows to light it.

A pair of bare feet stepped into her vision and the startled miko looked up into a pair of warm chestnut eyes. Kagome stumbled backwards into the door as she heard Kagura’s voice in her head. ‘I bring food down every day, twice’…There were others?

The woman standing in front of her was about three inches taller, had long, dark brown hair and orange white-tipped fox ears. There were several orange and white tails waving behind her, though Kagome couldn’t make out a number. She was wearing a thin, plain black robe with a simple cloth tie that hung down by her knees. The fox demon held out her hands calmingly, looking concerned.

“You poor thing. He’s always so rough, especially the first time. Its okay, you’re safe here. My name is Yuiko.” The fox demon’s voice was soothing, but Kagome jumped again nevertheless as another figure rose behind her and came forward. This one had shoulder length pale blue hair, and crystal blue eyes. She wore the same robe.

“That beast, I only just healed your wounds. My power is not endless.” She sounded somewhat annoyed as she came closer, eyes on Kagome’s hips. The miko looked down and realized that she was still naked, but though embarrassed, she couldn’t bring herself to care very much.

Huge black and purple bruises blossomed on her pale skin, with blood trailing from shallow wounds. The blue-haired woman knelt at her side to put her hands over the wounds, and Kagome stiffed but didn’t jump away. Cool energy flowed through her skin, making her shiver, and she felt a slight pinching sensation, though in a moment it was gone. The woman stood.

“There, now. My name is Sayono. I healed as much as I could, though after your wounds earlier I don’t have the strength to heal the rest. Give me a couple hours, I should have the power to do it then. Healing runs in my family, though I didn’t get much of it. I do want to thank your for earlier, though you were unconscious and it’s really rather rude. But that was first time I’ve been out of this room in many moons.” Her voice was soft and kind, though she spoke plainly. Kagome nodded, unsure how to respond.

“Yes, that’s all well and good. Some of us, however, are trying to sleep.” An irritated voice rose out of the shadows across from her and to the left. Despite the irritation, the voice was low and sultry.

Kagome stared into the shadows until she could make out the shape of a woman. She was leaning back in the corner, right knee up and the left against the floor, surrounded by a mound of cushion and cloth. Tired as she was, her curiosity demanded that she find out what she was.

“Don’t mind her Kagome. Exhane has been here for a long time.” Sayono explained, patiently.

“Yeah, she’s always grumpy.” Yuiko added disdainfully, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Leave Exhane alone.” The annoyed voice came from directly to left and Kagome jumped again, seeing another woman lying on her back on the floor a couple feet away. She too wore the black robe, though it hung open, revealing half of two very large breasts.

“I…I didn’t see you there…” The miko stammered. The woman on the floor tilted her head back to see her and stuck out a hand. Kagome took it, shaking it awkwardly. It was very hot.

“My name is Kiani. Sorry to meet you.” She introduced herself before turning to glare at Yuiko.

“Sorry because of the circumstances.” Sayono explained quietly.

“You would be grumpy too if you’d been chained to a wall in a room for thirty-two years, seventeen of those alone. No, you’d have gone insane. Exhane has earned the right to be grumpy.” Yuiko looked like she was about to respond, and Sayono cut in.

“Exhane hasn’t been out of the room since Kiani was taken. Kia is right, she’s earned it.” Yuiko bowed her head in shame.

“I’m sorry, Exhane. I got excited.” The fox demon apologized, tails drooping.

“It’s fine. I’m sorry for being so grumpy.” Yuiko’s face brightened instantly and she bounced over to sit beside Exhane.

“Maybe you wouldn’t be so grumpy if you didn’t sleep so much?” She asked curiously, leaning her head against her shoulder.

“What else is there to do besides sleep? I used to hope that I might fall into a deep slumber and wake up when it’s all over, but it won’t happen.” The woman explained tiredly. Kagome’s eyes strained as she struggled to make out Exhane’s features, and the woman noticed.

“Girl…Kagome. Don’t strain yourself. Come closer if you wish to see me. I will not bite, for I can’t. And I do not mind.”

Her voice was bitter as she spoke, and Kagome wondered why she couldn’t bite. Was she missing teeth? Nervously, she took a shaky step forward, and felt something warm settle around her shoulders. One of the other women had put a light robe on her, like they were wearing.

“You were shaking.” Kiani explained with a shrug, standing beside her. Her waist-length hair was bright orange, and her eyes were fiery red. Kagome thanked her, and stepped forward again, unbearably curious.

The woman’s hair was jet black, almost indistinguishable from the darkness except for its shine. She wore a long, silky black kimono embroidered with red roses. Her eyes were emerald green, and her face was angular.

Out of her hair on either side of her head dark green spikes flared out where her ears should be, webbed with shiny brilliant green skin. Her pupils were cat-like slits, and curled out beside her was a spiny tail, long, thin, and covered in green scales that shimmered. Around her neck glinted metal – a thick collar attached to the wall behind her that kept her in place.

“There. Satisfied?” Exhane asked, and the miko mutely nodded.

“If you feel awkward, don’t worry about it. I did the same thing when I was first taken.” Yuiko comforted her as she stood, straightening her robe. “Now that the introductions are over, let’s get you cleaned up. We have a bathroom, there’s a spot to take care of business and a tub to bathe in. We already drew you a bath, but it’ll be cold by now…”

“Oh, I’ll get that.” Kiani rushed into the attached room that had been on Kagome’s right when she entered. Yuiko led the miko in behind her. When they walked through the doorway, Kagome stopped in her tracks. Kiani was kneeling down in front of a large soaking tub. The tub was on a platform against the wall and was made of heavy wood. The platform had a metal underside and was insulated so the fire underneath wouldn’t spread. What had surprised her was that Kiani was blowing fire from her mouth onto the underside of the platform.

“Kia is a fire demon, as you noticed. Exhane is a dragon. Sayono is an ice demon, and I’m a nine-tailed fox.” Yuiko explained cheerfully.

“We’ll give you some privacy.” Kiani smiled at Kagome and towed the fox-demon out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

Kagome disrobed, painfully made use of the makeshift toilet, which was essentially just a hole in the floor in the corner, and gratefully sank into the steaming tub. However, as memories of her ordeal came to her mind, not even the hot water could warm her cold heart.



Finally, Sesshoumaru stopped and dropped down to the ground, telling himself that he wasn’t giving up, he just needed to think. Kagura had long since disappeared into the distance, though he’d followed as close as he could. Then, Naraku’s aura had disappeared. There was no telling where they were now.

Naraku wouldn’t let her die, at least not yet, that Sesshoumaru was sure of. But that wasn’t what worried him. From his habit of getting to know his enemies in order to predict their moves, he’d learned about the bandit Onigumo. Naraku had no traces of Onigumo left, and thus no lingering feelings for Kikyou. But all that time chasing her, obsessing over her, had to leave a mark on the demon. Had to make him…curious.

Kagome was considered the reincarnation of Kikyou. She had come into this era with the jewel in her body, so that had to be true, but Sesshoumaru could hardly see the connection. Aside from the spiritual powers and the hair color, they were nothing alike. Would Naraku see that, or would his curiosity…?

The taiyoukai was furious at the thought of that second-rate demon putting his hands on the miko. His miko. He could feel the blood fill his eyes, feel his shape wavering…but he swallowed down it down, along with the emotion. He would not lose his control.

Inuyasha stepped through the trees, and his companions set down beside him.

“They’re gone.” Miroku stated the obvious.

“Thanks for the update, genius.” Inuyasha snapped, frustrated.

“What do we do?” Sango asked, looking toward Sesshoumaru.

“This Sesshoumaru will wait.” The taiyoukai answered curtly.

“What do you mean, wait? He’s got Kagome! You were just yelling at me for not protecting her, and you just want to wait?!” Inuyasha started forward, angry. The taiyoukai whipped around.

“And what do you suggest we do? Naraku has gone into hiding. We will not be able to find him until he wants to be found. He will not wait long. He has Kagome, the bait for the perfect trap – to lure us to him, so he can defeat his most powerful enemies. You can go run around like an imbecile, but I will wait and conserve my energy, for I will need it to pay him back a thousand-fold for every second he has his hands on her.” While he spoke, the blood had filled his eyes again, and the others were either speechless or too afraid to speak. Sesshoumaru turned and jumped gracefully into the boughs of a large oak tree, settling against the trunk facing away from them.

Inuyasha ‘hmphed’ and jumped into a different tree opposite his half-brother, facing the other way. Sango, Miroku and Shippo made camp, sitting around the fire tensely. Every now and then Sango glanced up at Sesshoumaru, deep in thought.



Kagome did feel a little better as she climbed out of the tub. She had pushed the ordeal to the back of her mind, telling herself that she had to focus on the present, and how to get out of the situation she was in. She didn’t let herself ask the question, if four demons had been here for so many years and not been able to escape, how could she? No, but at least she wasn’t alone. At least there was that.

It was stuffy in the tiny room, on account of the heated water, and there were no drying cloths or towels around. The miko shivered, letting herself air dry. At least the rooms were warm, she thought to herself, pulling on her new robe and tying it with a sash left for her by the door.

Kagome stepped into the other room, and took her first real look at what was to be her new ‘home’. It was darker than the bathroom, and much larger. There were two small, barred windows on the right side, though all you could see through them was the barrier. Inside the room were five large piles of pillows and blankets. One for each of them. On the walls behind them were hooks, probably to hold chains and collars like Exhane’s, for when they misbehaved.

It was actually quite large, with enough room for all five women to lie down comfortably without getting too close to one another. There were no possessions – no books, scrolls, or games. Nothing to occupy them but each other. Honestly, it was surprising that they all got along so well, considering the living arrangements.

At the moment all the women were in their spots. On the left wall next to the door to leave was a pile of blankets on which lay Kiani. The pile in the far left corner was Yuiko’s. Exhane was in the far right, the middle of the right wall was Sayono, and the pile directly to the right of where she was standing, in the corner was empty. That must be hers.

“Are you feeling any better?” Yuiko asked from where she lay on her blankets, head near Kiani’s.

“A bit.” Kagome conceded as Sayono stood. “It’s just sinking in, though.”

“Well, don’t rush it. You’ll have plenty of time for that, trust me. Now, that is where you’ll sleep.” Sayono pointed to the pile next to hers in the corner. “And if you come over here and lay down, I think I’ve got enough energy to heal you fully.”

Kagome obliged, and after she was healed she found herself suddenly exhausted. Sitting carefully down on her pile of blankets and cushions, she was surprised that it was so soft and comfortable. It was almost like a real bed, with more pillows. With a yawn, she lay down and fell asleep.

Later, she awoke slowly, like before. With a shock, she remembered where she was and sat bolt upright, afraid that she might be in Naraku’s grasp again.

“Did you have a bad dream?” Sayono asked concernedly. The light in the room was a little brighter. Across the way, Kiani was sitting with Exhane, and Yuiko was lying on her back fast asleep, snoring lightly with her mouth wide open. Sayono was lying on her side, and her hair was mussed like she’d slept.

“Not that I can remember…” Kagome replied with a yawn. “What time is it?”

“Early, the sun is only just starting to peak over the mountains in the distance.” Sayono replied, eyes half closed. “You could go back to sleep, if you wanted.”

“No, that’s okay. These past few days I’ve been asleep more than awake… And, if you don’t mind my asking, how did you know that? I mean, stuck in here…”

“I can feel it.” The woman replied, glancing over at her through the corner of her eyes. There was a pause, and then before Kagome could ask, “I’m an ice demon. I thrive in the cold. I can feel the slightest temperature change. The sun is a big ball of fire, heating the whole world. I can tell where it is by what temperature it is, and whether it’s climbing or lowering. Kia can tell where it is, too, but only because it’s made of fire.”

“Oh. Thanks.” Kagome lay down again and stared at the ceiling above her. Her stomach growled, very loud. She hadn’t eaten very much these past couple days. Across the room, Exhane snorted.

“Do not worry, girl. You will eat soon enough.” Kagome flushed.

“Yes, Kagura comes soon.” Kiani agreed, and Kagome remembered what she’d said about bringing them food. “Usually she brings a beast of some sort, freshly killed.”

“Wait, the meat…is it…raw?” Kagome asked, horrified.

“Yes. But don’t worry, I can cook it for you if you want.” Kiani volunteered.

“Thanks…” Kagome breathed a sigh of relief. The next few minutes passed in relative silence, except for Yuiko’s light snores. Then the fox demon sat up with a gasp.

“Wolves!”

Immediately Kiani was at her side.

“Its okay, Yuiko. There are no wolves here.” She comforted her, rubbing the panting woman’s back.

“No wolves?” She asked in a small, scared voice.

“No wolves.” Kiani assured her, and the fox demon leaned her head against her shoulder.

“Good.” She breathed, relieved. Kagome turned to Sayono, who whispered to her.

“Yuiko’s family was killed by wolves.” Kagome thought of Kouga and his wolf demon tribe.

“Naraku?” She asked in a whisper.

“No. Just happenstance.”

“Oh.”

“Actually, Naraku didn’t encounter Yuiko until a few years later. Yes, Exhane was first, Kiani was second, I was third and Yuiko was fourth. And now you, you’re fifth. I really hope that there aren’t any more to come, we don’t have the space…”

It was then that they felt the barrier being manipulated. Even Kagome felt it, the sudden tightness in the air that made her ears pop painfully. It scared her, and she was going to ask about it but she saw their attention turn towards the door and guessed what it was.

First through the doorway was what appeared to be the hind half of a cow, skinned and bled. Kagome’s stomach immediately turned queasy at the sight and she looked away. It was carried by wind, courtesy of Kagura, to a mat that Sayono had laid out, that Kagome hadn’t seen. It was shocking, how organized it all was, though Kagome supposed that after so many years…

There was a wet ripping sound, and the blood drained from her face. She refused to look, not even when the sound of sizzling reached her ears, and the smell of cooking meat reached her nose. It smelled good and helped with the nausea by making her stomach remember how hungry it was.

A tanned and scarred hand thrust a piece of cooked meat under her nose, on a long bone. Kagome took it, glad that she didn’t feel nauseous anymore, deliberately not thinking about the rest of the meat.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Kiani replied warmly.

“How did you get those scars?” Kagome asked without turning around, so as not to see the others eat.

“Hm? Oh. Sometimes fire is too hot, even for fire demons.” She answered calmly, and Kagome took a tiny bite of the meat as she thought. It was good.

‘Fire demon, ice demon…I’ve been in this era for so long, have I ever seen one before? There’s been so many demons, I don’t remember…It’s certainly possible, Kagura is a wind demon, and there were the thunder brothers from before…A nine-tailed fox, though? How common can that be? And a dragon..,? Is she a half breed, like Inuyasha, or is she a dragon in human form? Is that even possible? And then…me. How do I fit in here?’

It was then that Kagome chanced a look over her shoulder, and noticed that Kagura was still standing in the doorway watching them all. The sight of the demon made her remember the previous night, and she felt shame wash over her. But Kagura wasn’t paying attention to Kagome, it was Exhane she was watching. Letting herself look over, she was half surprised that there wasn’t blood smeared around their mouths.

Across the room Yuiko was trying to persuade Exhane to eat a chunk of red meat. The dragon woman had turned an uneasy shade of light green.

“Come on, just a bite? You didn’t eat anything yesterday, either, Exhane. You’re wasting away…” Yuiko pleaded. Exhane leaned towards the meat, sniffed, and jerked back.

“I can’t. I’m sorry…” Her voice sounded tired. Kiani went to her.

“I can cook it for you like I did for Kagome.” She offered. Exhane shook her head with a smile, and Kagome heard the jingle of a chain.

“No, thank you. My body just can’t handle it…its human food.” She looked up at Kagura and shrugged.

“Dragons are so picky…” Yuiko sighed. Exhane chuckled.

“It’s not me, it’s my body.”

“You know I can’t get you what you want. Even if I could find one, Naraku will not permit me to do it.” Kagura appeared unapologetic, but her voice held the faintest bit of remorse, which puzzled Kagome. The wind demon lingered in the doorway, continuing to stare at the dragon woman. The miko looked over to Exhane, and was surprised to meet her gaze. The seconds trickled by as their gazes held, and then Exhane sighed and leaned back against the wall.

“The answer is no, Kagura. The answer is always no.” Kagura glanced at Kagome and shrugged.

“Suit yourself.” The wind demon turned and left, and they felt the barrier reform behind her. Kagome turned to Sayono, hoping for an explanation. It was Exhane who gave her one.

“Every time Naraku gets a new toy, he tries to make a bargain with me. Always the same – if I kill one of you, he will free me, of this prison and of himself. Certainly he doesn’t want me to dispose of his new toy before he gets the chance to use it, but I still cannot do it. I cannot kill something that has no other fault than to be stuck here in this prison with me.”

Kagome was at a loss for words as she realized how very close to death she had come. She was the new comer, and she was a human. Certainly a demon such as Exhane would feel no remorse about killing her…and yet, even though it would have set her free after so many years, she hadn’t agreed. The miko felt a pang of guilt, despite herself.

“I still don’t know why you didn’t kill me.” Kiani sat back against the wall, chin in her hand and arm propped on her knee. “I mean, I nearly killed you, you had every right.”

Kagome listened as she finished her meat, and noticed that the carcass was gone. So was the piece Yuiko had tried to give Exhane, though the fox demon was currently chewing on the bone, crushing it to pieces in her normal-looking jaws.

“You had just been kidnapped and tortured. You were allowed to freak out. Besides, you didn’t mean to kill me, just burn down the room. You’d never even met me before, and anyway you almost killed yourself, too.”

“Heh, yeah. We’d both be dead if you hadn’t put the fire out. It was stupid of me – I saw the barrier, but I was so upset that I lost control. I couldn’t calm it at all.”

“Yeah, well, no harm done. No lasting harm, anyway.” Exhane looked to Kagome. “When I heard that there was a new girl, I thought for sure you’d go berserk like the rest of us did.”

“But she’s only human. What’s she gonna do?” Yuiko giggled.

“That’s funny, coming from you.” Kiani laughed, and the fox-girl pouted.

“She’s a miko, with really strong spiritual powers.” Sayono rebuffed. Kagome was half shocked that she knew, and half flattered at being called ‘really strong’. The ice demon turned an eye on her. “Kagura told me that when she brought me up to heal you.”

‘Kagura said that?’

“So…you all went berserk when you were taken?” Kagome asked.

“Oh yes. I was first, so no one else was here. I was rather irate.” Exhane smiled at the memory.

“She destroyed the whole room, there was nothing left. The barrier was almost broken when Naraku came, but he had to move her to a new room because the walls, the floors, the ceilings, everything was just splinters and ashes.” Yuiko jumped in with a laugh.

“Kiani was the next, and she burned the place to the ground. Another new room.” Sayono listed. “Exhane put out the fire before either were seriously injured, by ripping out of her restraints.”

“You were third,” Kiani said to Sayono. “You tried to turn me to ice.”

“It was a good thing you were a fire demon.” Sayono nodded in agreement, with a smile.

“I was next, but I didn’t do anything…” Yuiko shrugged.

“You screamed a hell of a lot. I thought my ears would never stop ringing.” Sayono rubbed an ear.

“You kicked me in the chin pretty hard. That really hurt.” Kiani remembered and laughed. “And then Exhane said ‘enough!’ and you stopped mid-scream.” The fox demon giggled at the memory.

“So, Kagome? No rampage?” Sayono asked, eyes glinting in amusement.

“There’s not really anything I can do. My powers are limited to sensing the jewel, and using arrows that can pierce through anything. I don’t have any arrows, though.” Kagome sighed. Exhane looked thoughtful.
“Anything?” She asked.

“Just about…”

“You’ve never been trained, have you?” The dragon demon asked carefully.

“In what? My spiritual powers?” The demon nodded. “Well, no, not really. I mean, a little…but not much.” Kagome answered, confused.

“Not by anyone who actually has spiritual powers, right?”

“Well…no. Why?”

“Well, if you had, you would know that spiritual powers can be trained, can be focused. You have a bit of raw power, but if you refined it…you would be near unstoppable. And you can train your power to fit into any vessel. Not just arrows, though those are traditional. Swords. Daggers. Anything pointy, even blades of grass. Fangs, claws.” She waved her fingers. “Of course, how much you can fit into the vessel completely depends on its size, but you could wreak just as much havoc as Sayono or Kiani. More maybe, if you were trained.”

“Wait, as much as us? What about you?” Kiani elbowed her playfully in mock anger.

“My dear, nobody can wreak as much havoc as I can.” Exhane drawled with a grin. Kia rolled her eyes.

“Dragons.” She muttered as though it explained it all.

“If this is possible, then… can you train me?” Kagome asked, mind racing at the thought of being able to develop her powers. Exhane sighed.

“Well, I can try. It will be rather difficult though, being stuck to this wall.” Exhane leaned forward, drawing the chain tight. Kagome winced, and the excitement in her quelled just a bit.

“Can you talk me through it?” She asked, hesitant.

“I can try.” Exhane promised, and Kagome beamed.

“So…wait. Does this mean there might actually, finally, be a way out? If Kagome can develop her powers, and we can get our hands on something…pointy…” Yuiko stopped as Exhane wiggled her fingers again, showing five long black sharp claws.

“There is the smallest possibility, yes.” Exhane answered with a calm smile, and the other women grinned. Yuiko faltered.

“What’s wrong, Yuiko?” Kiani asked.

“Well…I’m not so sure that I want to leave…Don’t get me wrong, I hate it here!” She said quickly, to stave off any inquiries to her sanity. “It’s just that, after the wolves…what I mean is, outside I don’t have anyone, or anything. But in here…I have you guys.” The fox demon smiled sadly. Exhane cuffed her on the head.

“Insolent kit. What, you think we’ve had enough of you? That we’d just leave without you? The only thing any of us have is each other. There’s no way we’d leave you behind.” Yuiko glomped Exhane. Kiani pretended to wipe away a tear and put an arm around Sayono, who smiled.

“Kagome, that extends to you too, if you wish.” Exhane offered, and Kagome shook her head politely.

“My loved ones are still alive, but thank you. I really appreciate the offer.”

“Then we will make sure that you are reunited with them.” Exhane promised and Yuiko nodded her head vigorously.

“Thank you…” Kagome smiled, then paused. “I…I know that this isn’t a good question, and if you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but…how did you guys come to be in here?”

Kiani shrugged.

“I don’t mind. When you’ve been here for so long…you come to terms with it. You accept it, because you don’t ever want to forget.

“It’s been fifteen years. I used to live with my older sister, and my lover. My sister was six hundred years older than me, but we were best friends. She was brilliant, a scribe. Her name was Mira. We had the same mother, but different fathers. Because she was a scribe, she would be away for whole seasons at a time. That night, she was home. We were celebrating…and this demon in a ridiculous baboon skin shows up at the door.

“He asked my sister something that I didn’t hear, but she refused to answer. He got really mad, and he killed her, right there. I think he meant to find what he was looking for in our home, but Mira never kept any of her scrolls there. Naturally, I attacked him, in a rage. Ryo, my lover at the time, made a run for it. He was dead before I even saw it happen.

“Naraku put out my fire with his will…At least, that was what it seemed like.” Kia wrapped her arms around her knees. “He knocked me down, and he just stood there, staring at me. And...then he raped me. Right there, with my sister’s and my lover’s bodies in the same room.”

“That’s horrible!!” Kagome gasped, horrified. Kiani nodded.

“I passed out, and when I woke up I was here. I’m just lucky that I wasn’t alone. I don’t think I could have dealt with what happened otherwise.” She looked to Exhane with a sad but grateful smile.

“I had a mate…” Sayono began, voice soft. “His name was Takeo. He was wonderful…sweet, strong, protective…So smart, and playful. I loved him so much…We’d just decided to have a child. To expand out family…I was so happy. And then he was called away, to help his friend exterminate a band of human bandits that had moved into his territory…Just three days, and then he’d be home, he said.

“Naraku showed up that second night. I had no idea who he was, and he didn’t say a word. I still think about that – what did he want? Why was he there? Maybe it was me. Who knows? I fought him. We tore my home apart. But he was stronger than me…Eventually I passed out. I woke up here, like Kia. I didn’t even stop to think about why they were here – I just attacked.

“Everything was explained. At first, I’d hoped that Takeo would come find me. I worried that he’d be mad at me for being taken, or for disappearing, and that he wouldn’t come. Then it dawned on me that I didn’t want him to come, that he’d be killed, and it clicked that there was no way he wouldn’t. Naturally because he was still alive, I fought Naraku with everything I had, every time.

“So Naraku set up a trap. Takeo fell right into it. Needless to say, he was killed. For so long, I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. How could he be gone, and with him all our hopes and dreams? I came to terms with it after a few years, finally. Not that he was dead, but that he was murdered and one day I will avenge him. Eleven years have passed.”

Kagome wiped a tear from her cheek, at a loss for words.

“Mine isn’t nearly so dramatic…” Yuiko said somewhat sheepishly. “My family had been killed by wolves several years before. My life from that point forward had been consumed with training and revenge. No lovers, no mates, just hunting. I was being stupid. I had caught a scent – I didn’t even notice I was being followed.

“He caught me from behind and disarmed me so easily; it was like I had wasted my time training as I had. And…well, here I am, six years later.” Yuiko smiled, but it was haunted. One by one they all looked to Exhane, who was leaning back with her eyes closed.

“Mine isn’t some tragic tale like the others. Nor have I ever shared it before, in its entirety. Thirty two years ago, I met the half-demon Naraku. With the Jewel gone, he was desperate to find some way to make himself a full demon.”