Strength in the Weak by Kurau no Zetsumei

Chapter One

Strength of the Weak

- Kurau no Zetsumei - Eater of Death

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Spoilers: Yes.

Warning: There will be some sexual hints, language and angst. Anyone that does not have the maturity of 18+ should not be reading this fan fiction. Arigatou.

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.

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Here is my latest fanfiction. It is full of drama, angst and what I hope to install, romance. I will only warn you, the readers, once.

This is a very angsty, dramatic fanfiction. There will be possibly rape, harassment and abuse. I do not know yet but I have concluded that Sesshoumaru and Kagome will not be the easiest lovers in Japan any more.

That said please enjoy the fanfiction. I have taken much time to think of this plot, write it, revise and edit it and upload it. Reviews (agreable or not) and honest ratings are much appreciated.

Thank you and enjoy.

Kurau no Zetsumei - Eater of Death

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Sapphire eyes glanced around the area slowly, the pupils two black slits within the large cerulean orbs. A pair of pale pink lips were parted, the flesh dry and hot, swiftly drawn in air moving in between them quickly, the sound of panting entering the clearing. The girl looked around her nervously, her body tense and rigid. Her hand tight around her bow she shakily notched an arrow and drew the twined string tautly with her callused fingers. She raised it and waited. She had sensed him for what seemed a century ago. The long drawn out wait for his appearance had rubbed her nerves raw. A drop of sweat slowly trickled down from her hairline too her cheek, the moisture glistening on her creamy flesh.

Licking her lips slowly, she froze. Quickly she turned around and released her prepared arrow only to see it whistle out through the air and plant itself in a tree. Panting heavier now she notched another arrow, her eyes scanning the area anxiously. The silence echoed around her, the sound of her breath loud as if it was being amplified by a microphone. She gulped. This was pointless. She was fighting the inevitable. He was going to grow weary of playing with her and soon rid of her as easily as if he were flicking away a bothersome fly.

Her head bowed forward, her eyes hooded, she hid her pained expression beneath her thick onyx bangs. But she had no choice. She was trapped in his twisted game and was only a pawn for his amusement. She had no choice but to be puppetted by this master puppeteer. However, she had the choice to be accept her defeat or make a stand that would leave an impression on the beast.

Straightening her small shoulders, her jaw clenched, her choice was apparent when she spread her legs slightly and planted herself firmly in place.

"Come out. You talk of ningen being cowards but you do not have the courage to face me?" she yelled to the trees around her, knowing her taunt would make her enemy appear.

Eyeing the treeline cautiously, her entire body froze when a pillar of white appeared from the shadows of the night. Amber eyes examined her with cruel indifference, the golden flecks in the barren orbs glistening dangerously. Clenching her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering visibly due to her rising fear, the girl tried to breathe steadily. She would not give him the pleasure to see her discomposure and fear. Staring directly into his angelic face the girl glared at him. A beautiful mask that hid the demonic evil within. It was surely a cruel trick by a sadistic god; to hide the true ugliness of this creature's soul behind an impeccable mask that would give off the impression of serenity.

Their gazes met - blue and gold clashing. His eyes remained inanimate; portraying him to be nothing but a beautiful statue. Her eyes flashed like a torrent storm; fierce and dynamic with emotion. The two opponents faced each other, a mere five feet between their equally stiff bodies. The girl swallowed over the lump that had formed in her throat and craned her neck upward in an attempt to hold her head high. His eyes narrowed at the proud, insolent gesture. He gazed down from his long, delicate nose at her, an easy task since he was more then a head taller then this inferior mortal who stood quivering before him. Staring into her small, pale face, he inwardly smirked. How pathetic was her attempt to impersonate her hanyou protector. It would have been almost admirable if it had not been her standing but a few meters from him. If it had been another creature then perhaps he would find it amusing but because it was she, she who he had despised to a dangerous degree since he had met her, he found it only annoying.

She looked directly into those two frozen topaz pools. Still panting, she whispered, "Why are you doing this?"

He stared at her icily. "I do not need a reason to annihilate filth." He responded dryly.

The girl stood stiffly. "What one thinks is filth is another's treasure. I am appreciated by those who see me for who I am - not my heritage."

The angelic face remained blank as a sheet of paper. "Everything you say is tedious, ningen. If you have any last words, say them now." He stated coolly.

She smiled a bit, the facial gesture irritating him further. He had given her the grace of speaking her boring last statements before he rid of her from this world and she had the audacity to appear amused? His face indifferent, he withdrew his legendary demonic sword. The sound of the metal blade running a long the wooden sheath made her visibly wince. Her eyes snapping with fear and anger, the girl glared at him.

"Hai. I will take what you offer." She stood before him proudly. "You may kill me today. But you will not succeed in what you want - to destroy my self-pride and my worth. My race and I were created by the same kami as youkai. There is no superior race and it is foolish to base a war or murder on a heritage - a thing no one can recitfy." The girl met the flaring golden eyes. "You may be faster, stronger and more intelligent then most humans and youkai, Sesshoumaru. But you are inferior to me. I am stronger, faster and more intelligent. I am stronger for I can accept my faults and flaws. I am faster for I can learn the world's lessons that you have yet to understand. And I am more intelligent for I comprehend what is and what is not."

Sesshoumaru listened to the little miko's words. His claw had slowly tightened around the hilt of Toukijin as each softly spoken word laced with defiance and strength grated his sensitive ears. He felt his calm collective nature fade away - the need to demolish this infuriating thing who stood mutinous and stubborn eroding his restraint.

The youkai eyed her silently, his mockery evident in his unamused glare. "You're truly stupid, aren't you? You could just hide and run away. Yet you try and stand before this Sesshoumaru, as if an equal, and say words that have no honesty or meaning behind them?" The youkai murmured, his tone holding an edge of enmity. The taiyoukai stared at her coldly, his once dead eyes now two cold sparkling gems. "You're nothing but a pitiful ningen; a smudge on this earth, a vermin created by some ludicrous attempt by the kami to create the youkai, miko."

The miko watched him silently. Noticing he turned the hilt of his sword into an attacking position, she flinched. Her fisted hands shook while she kept them close to her sides, her head still held high, her little shoulders immoveable from their stiff stance. Meeting his deadly gaze stubbornly, her little chin trembling even though she clenched her jaw tightly, the human ignored her desire to flee. To run would only prove this sadistic beast's theories of human's benig spineless, weak creatures of no courage or respect. She would stay where she was and face death and its deliverer. Dropping her bow and shrugging off her quiver of arrows, she looked fixedly into his emotionless face.

The taiyoukai walked forward, his ken prepared. The girl stared ahead of her, ignoring her quivering legs as she watched him come closer. Closing her eyes, she waited for the stealthy blade to slice through her body. The forest had silenced, its creatures had quietened to watch the events from a safe area. Inhaling and exhaling through her nose, the girl stiffened when she felt the frigid aura envelop her. Opening her sparkling blue eyes slowly, she stared at the demon who had ceased his advance. He now stood only a meter from her. She looked at him calmly, obviously waiting for the demon to do what he had come to do. Time seem to stall at this very moment. Her sweat trickled down her back, her body shook and her heart pounded dangerously in her chest, threatening to break through the skin and fall in front of her.

His eyes boring down at her, his claw and its weapon slashed through the air. The girl continued to stand where she was. Staring up into his cold, cruel golden eyes, she stumbled a bit forward, her eyes widening at the pain it caused her.

"Ungh." she grunted softly, a trickle of blood running down from the corner of her lips and trailing a long her chin.

The girl mechanically looked down at herself. The long silver blade had been accepted into her body from her stomach. The double-edge sword had sufficently implanted a fatal wound. Staring as blood quickly stained her white shirt, she felt the demon jerk the sword forward, causing her to cry out in pain. Whipping her head back to stare into that impassive mask, the miko met the emotionless stare of her killer.

"Admit you are inferior and I will finish you quickly." Sesshoumaru ordered.

"Iie."

Sesshoumaru's nostrils flared at the disobedient reply. Glaring at the wench, he twisted the blade slowly, enjoying the pain reflected in her wide eyes. Hearing the moans and slight sobs coming from her lips, he leaned forward, his pale lips almost touching her little ear.

"Do not make this worse for yourself, little miko. How do you think your half-breed will feel if he finds your body and can only identify it by your disgusting stench? Do you think your comrades would like to come upon your unrecognisable body?" He murmured. He felt her tremble. "Admit your flaws and this Sesshoumaru will leave your body in a condition where it is respectable for burial."

The miko listened to his threat. "My name is Kagome. Not ningen, not wench... it is Ka-go-me."

She had announced each syllable through tightly clenched teeth with fevor. Feeling her body begin to tremble as the loss of blood took its toll on her, she smiled despite the current situation. Turning to the demon and allowing him to view her grin, the girl stared at him fiercly, her eyes two bright sapphire gems.

"You will remember it, Sesshoumaru. You will remember today for the rest of your immortal life." she stated firmly.

Sesshoumaru's eyes slanted. Withdrawing his blade slowly, ignoring the girls cries of agony, he looked at the crimson liquid on his sword. Hearing a soft 'thump' he saw the girl kneeling before him, her eyes already dimming. The once vibrant orbs were now lacking their earlier luster. Sniffing the air, he found the scent of death clinging to the girl tightly. The beast with in him purred in content. Staring down at the girl, he slowly ran the sides of his sword atop of her breasts on her white shirt, intending to rid of her dirty blood on his ken and ignored the fact it tore through the flimsy frabric and placed more incisions in her soft, creamy flesh. Hearing her pants, he looked down at her. Seeing her already scuming to her death, the demon's blank face revealed none of his disappointment.

"How dull. I expected you to be more amusing, miko." He said coolly.

Kagome leaned forward, her nails digging into the earth as she retrained herself from crumpling to the ground. She would not die here. She would not die now. She had too much to live for and she would not give this bastard the pleasure of being her killer. Sweat trickled down her face to mix with the steady stream of blood from her lips, causing a saltier liquid to infiltrate her blood filled mouth. The girl coughed, the sound sickening as she choked on her blood that had risen into her chest and throat.

Sesshoumaru watched the girl shake violently and sputter. Appearing calm and unaffected by her agony, he watched her slowly die at his feet. He felt she belonged to be there - at his feet and on her knees. It was where her kind had been for centuries. Seeing her shakily begin to descend to the earth on to her stomach, Sesshoumaru raised a silver brow when he saw her arms visibly shake as she fought off the impending position. Her arms shook violently while her body reluctantly began to lay on the ground at his feet. Seeing her fight against her undeniable conclusion on this earth, the demon was more then shocked when he saw her force herself up, her body swirving from side to side, blood running down the front of her shirt and on to the ground beneath her unstable feet.

Panting from the exertion on her small body, Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru. He appeared aloof - completely unresponsive. He did not have a heart nor a conscience; a dangerous mix that had caused her destruction. Her eyes now dull, her pupils dilating to the point her eyes looked black, the miko stared at him stubbornly.

"I-I... am n-not... for your... a-amusement..." she managed to stammer, her body weak and unsteady as it quickly shut down and readied to release her soul. "I... I am... Higurashi Kagome... ningen and miko... fr-friend to I..In..InuYasha."

Sesshoumaru looked at her boredly. "Touching. Now die, girl." He flicked his claw, pushing her back to the ground.

Kagome hissed when she fell on her back, her body protesting the pain inflicted on her already dying body. Tears gathering in her eyes, Kagome's felt her right eye twitch as her body began to spasm. Coughing and panting, she slowly raised herself up on her elbows and begin to stand again. Sesshoumaru observed this silently, intrigued. Why was this foolish girl being persistent over her name and dirty blood? He did not care about her name - she was another vermin he had rid of. He did not care if she was a ningen - he had killed many before and they were all the same. They were dishonorable, unintelligent, dirty race that brought down the worth of this world by their presence on it.

Once again on her feet, Kagome met the demon's cool stare again. Coughing, she watched droplets of blood hit the ground, grimacing every time the soft tap of her life liquid being absorbed by the greedy soil of the ground met her ears. Feeling dizzy and light headed, she looked up slowly at the demon.

"I will n-not... die. I re-refuse to die before... I...I am... done."

The words were getitng harder with each breath. The blood was rising in her lungs and throat, making each inhale of air mroe painful then the last. Her eyes watering, the miko shook her head.

"I...need... to he-help... every..everyone... th-the shikon no tama..." The miko swayed. Steadying herself barely in time, the girl continued. "needs to be co-co-completed... stop... Na..ra..ku..."

Sesshoumaru listened to the dying girl. His eyes fixed on her stubborn, pale face, he felt himself grow curious. This girl refused to die because of a mission? His expression remaining indifferent, the taiyoukai eyed the girl. "Why does it matter, miko? Ningen have no honor and do not care about keeping to their promises. Why do you wish to continue a mission you will either fail or give up on?"

The girl glared at him. "I.. promised.... everyone."

She stated it firmly. The stammering had ceased at that sentence. Sesshoumaru gazed at the girl thoughtfully. He knew she was not an ordinary miko or ningen. He had sensed her to be an odd creature of the litter of this race. But she appeared to be quite reluctant to die over something meaningless to her people - honor and duty. Sesshoumaru inwardly scowled. He despised this girl. He had waited to finish her off. She had performed many transgressions against he, Sesshoumaru, and was now paying for her fatuousness.

Suddenly, the girl slumped forward and slid to the grund. Lying on the ground, one arm stretched out and the other caught underneath her, the scent of death entered the forest. Sesshoumaru stared at the girl stolidly; appearing to be withdrawn and reserved. Looking up at the sky, he noted the sun was setting. The hanyou would soon be looking for this girl. He looked at the miko again. He had killed her - it had been as easy as he presumed and maybe even more so. The demon Lord readied to leave. Sheathing Toukijin and more then prepared to leave this girl's body where it lay and enjoy the howl of pain he knew would sound this night when it was found by his dirty half-breed half-brother, the taiyoukai paused his exit. Glancing at the limp form of the girl, his silver brows lowered just a bit in thought, his eyes half-lidding in contemplation.

He did not know why but he found himself not satisifed with this girl's death. He had speculated he would feel some sort of sense of satisfation. He had rid of an enemy that had questioned his authority and status continuously and on more then one occassion attempted an attack on his person. She had earned his hatred further by affiliating herself to the creature, InuYasha, the half-breed abomination from his royal lineage. But now as he studied her prone form, he found himself displeased and even annoyed with the miko's death.

Why.

He needed to understand this enigima. Why was he unable to enjoy the miko's death? Where was his gratification in his vicotry over this menial mortal? Sesshoumaru glared at the girl. Even in death she was annoying and a problem. She intrigued him by her response to her death and he, her killer. She was an orthodox - a complex enigima that made no sense and did not react as she was supposed to do. He had observed her for three years now; she was immature, hot-headed, tempermental and prone to be bias. She was a child in a woman's body. He had assumed she would play the part every other ningen would; plead for mercy and flee. Yet she had refused to flee and even gone as far as too refuse to die.

In her last moments she did not try to appeal to his mercy. Maybe it was because she knew he was merciless or mayhap she was just too stupid to understand her death was imminent. Seshoumaru growled. His lips tightening at the corners, the demon glared coldly at the dead priestess. His hatred had deepened to loathing now. Even in death this girl managed to confused and annoy him.

How utterly irritating.

Sesshumaru turned on his heel, his white-silver hair billowing behind him in a soft silver wave of silken tresses, and began to walk away. His gaze steely and fixated before him, the taiyoukai ignored the dead miko behind him. He would not continue to mule over this wench. She was nothing - an abomination. She was obviously a ningen with some sort of disability - perhaps that was why she spoke, acted and dressed differently. Yes. It made more sense. She was mentally disabled or deranged in some sort of way. Thus why she was able to make no sense in any way. Relaxing under this conclusion on the matter of the ningen, the taiyoukai prepared to focus his chii and disappear into the night as a ball of energy. It would be a speedy and silent escape from this girl and her annoying presence.

Closing his narrow, slanted eyes calmly, his face serene and smooth as marble, Sesshoumaru began to open his chii channels to release his youki. Then, just as he had reached the pinnacle of his youki, a soft vibration to his side caught his attention. Turning his head slowly to his right, Sesshoumaru looked down monotonously at his heirloom. The katana was sheathed and appeared inactive as it had been for the last year. It had not been needed to be used since infiltrating his father's tomb to battle Naraku. And yet the one edge sword had seemed to respond. The taiyoukai lightly scowled. No. It could not be that the sword had pulsed. It would only mean it wanted to resurrect and the only body in the area was that of the priestess.

Ignoring his doubt, the demon Lord prepared to leave again. Another pulse caught his attention. The taiyoukai glared at the insufferable heirloom his father had cursed him with. What was the meaning of its reaction to the miko? Did it want the wench to live? Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. No. He would not resurrect the girl. It would then have been pointless to kill her as he had planned.

Thrum. Pulse. Thrum. Pulse.

The vibrations of the sword intensified insistently. The sword seemed to be arguing with the demon now in its own pulsing language. Growling in the back of his throat, Sesshoumaru reluctantly with drew the sword, displeased to see the blade glowing an iridescent rang of soft blues. Glancing at the miko in the background, his hatred ten folded and, unfortunately, his curiosity. He was naturally an inquisitive creatue - he seeked and appreciated knowledge. He was annoyed that he did not have a logical reason for the miko and her odd behavior; much less the sword's want to resurrect such an annoying, meaningless creature.

Feeling the presistent calls of the blade in his hand, Sesshoumaru warily approached the ningen. Hovering over her dead body, the increased warmth and strength eminating from Tenseiga intrigued Sesshoumaru. Glancing from blade to miko, the taiyoukai stalled when he looked at the miko. His eyes widened a small fraction. Hundreds of soul collectors hovered around the girl, each trying to pry her soul away from her body. However, the girl was fighting the evil little creatures stubbornly, shouting profanities and threats at the collectors. Suddenly, the girl turned to him and glared. She continued to stare at him accusingly.

The taiyoukai stiffened at the recognition in those pale eyes of the dead miko. How is it she saw him and knew he was seeing her battle against the minions of the underworld? The girl snarled at him and shook her head.

"Sesshoumaru!" she yelled his name furiously.

The taiyoukai glared at the wench. Even in death she was disrespectful. Tenseiga caught his attention as he felt it actually trying to swing on its own. Glaring at both annoying, troublesome issues being laid before him (the girl and sword were really not worth his time or efforts), the taiyoukai concluded he would have to bring the girl to life. His eyes flashed. And she would regret being brought from the dead. If she had despised him before she would grow to loath him as much as he did her in life. Bringing the sword into the air, Sesshounmaru brought it down and across the miko's body in two elegant strikes. The hundreds of collectors screamed in agony and exploded in clouds of charcoal smoke. Sesshoumaru slid the now calm sword into its sheath, a sneer almost appearing on his thin, pale lips when he noted the content aura around the insufferable blade.

He watched the girl's chest begin to rise and fall. Hearing a soft moan part from her blood stained lips, he saw her eyes slowly flutter open to reveal the startingly blue depths of the large orbs. Kagome opened her eyes and felt the pain in her body and what it seemed to be her soul as well. Wincing at the agony she was experiencing, the miko rolled onto her side and scrunched herself into a small ball. She did not know where she was and did not want to look. Last time she had looked she had been surrounded by horrible little creatures who had grabbed her with their cold, scaley hands and attempted to pull her forward to where she had not been ready to go; death. She shivered. She could still feel the rough, chilling flesh of those ugly monsters and the chains they had tied around her wrists, neck and waist as they tried to pull her forward into the darkness of the after life.

"Miko."

The cool, deep voice of her murderer caused her to stiffen. Kagome swiftly swerved her head to the right and met those cold amber jewels that were supposed to be his eyes. The girl glared at him, furious. He kills her and then brings her back from the dead? What was his game? did he have a sick, twisted motive? Perhaps he grew bored and wished to torture and kill her some more? The miko glared at the demon's katana at his hip, damning the blade for its death defying abilities. Her body quivering from shock, cold and fury (perhaps a bit of fear as well), the priestess gritted her teeth together and glared up at the cold-blooded, heartless son of a bitch.

"Youkai."

She practically spat the word, the venom and animosity in her usually soft, gentle voice amusing the taiyoukai for but a split second. His foot shot out and sufficently planted itself on the girl's mouth, causing her to squeal in pain. Watching coldly as she rolled away from him, her eyes wide with fear and hurt as she cupped her bleeding mouth, the demon glared at her icily.

"You will not address me with disrespect, girl."

The miko spat her blood at his feet, her eyes flashing. "I will not respect a murdering, sadistic bastard who enjoys killing and torturing defenseless people for no reason other then for them being a certain species! And the also because he is a nut case!" Kagome shouted.

Sesshoumaru glared at the girl frostily. He would break this girl. He would make her regret every disrespectful word she said. And when he had the information he wanted from her he would torture her slowly and painfully for days until she begged him for death. Then, if he felt out of character and pitied the moronic creature, he would perhaps give her what she seeked. Walking forward, he clutched her by the front of her dirty, blood soaked shirt and lifted her effortlessly into the air. Ignoring her squeals and demands to be put down, he feld her to eye level, leaving only a centimeter between their noses. Staring into her large, angry but fearful eyes, the demon snarled.

"You will pay for every idiotic remark you make, miko. You are coming with this Sesshoumaru." He said softly, his deep voice chilling her to the bone.

Kagome struggled against the power and strength of Sesshoumaru only to find herself failing rather miserably. Tears swelling in her eyes, she shook her head. "No! I will not go any where with you you lunatic! You just killed me!" she said angrily.

Sesshoumaru looked at the girl with narrowed, impatient eyes. "You will accept my authority or you will be forced too." Seeing her firmly clench her chin and stare at him stubbornly, the taiyoukai gave a small half-smirk. "Good."

Kagome flinched at the deadly grin.

'Whenever Sesshoumaru smiles, it means somebody is gonna get hurt' InuYasha had once warned her.

The miko felt something furry wrap around her body. Stiffening, she screamed when she saw the fluffy white thing that was always on Sesshoumaru's body holding her tightly to the wretched demon. She had thought all a long Sesshoumaru was wearing a boa for many different reasons. He was gay (it'd explain his bachelor status and weird loneliness), he was trying a new fashion statement and trying to have an articule of clothing for his 'stylish' taiyoukai personna (that had been another gay pointer as well) or it was tail or even worse, over grown arm pit hair from his last remaining arm. The last idea had been the most appropiate - since he didn't have his other arm Sesshoumaru couldn't shave his arm pit any more. Youkai had super everything so why couldn't they have super hair growing abilities?

Sesshoumaru growled at the grating effect on his ears the sound of the girl's yells of protest were having on his ears. Impatient and fairly infuriated, Sesshoumaru slapped his large claw over half of the girl's face, suffocating her. Watching her eyes begin to bulge out of her head and skin turn blue, he released some of his poison into his palm, making her inhale it. Her eyes suddenly rolled into the back of her head and she went limp. Sesshoumaru checked if the girl had died. Sensing her still alive, he turned to the western prefecture. It did not matter if she had died anyways. He could just use Tenseiga to bring her back. Closing his eyes, he focused his chii again and felt the welcome warmth of his youki energy surround him. He watched the world travel by beneath him as he stood elegantly, his hair untouched by the night's air while inside his energy bubble. Looking down at the unconscience girl, the demon's glare intensified.

He could not wait to rid of both his curiosity and the cause of it as soon as possible.

Entering the Western forest, Sesshoumaru landed silently, his silken black shoes and white hakamam not making a sound as he strode forward. He ceased his walk after a few minutes. Looking around, he noted the cave just above him. Leaping high into the sky, he landed on the jut of land that was the cave's entrance and entered it. He dropped the girl carlessly, not concerned for her health in any way. He looked for the provisions he had had Jaken store before. Seeing an adequate pile of materials in the south-western corner of the cave, the demon withdrew some chains. His eyes slanting dangerosuly, he eyed the girl. Just how much freedom did he feel like giving her?

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Bang bang bang

The thumping in her head woke the once slumbering miko. Opening her eyes quickly, the girl immediately regretted it when she saw a white form sitting cross legged just a few feet away, his eyes intent on her. Her body stiffening defensively, Kagome stared at him, wary. She waited for him to make a move or possibly say a word. Noticing he did not blink, flinch or appear to even be breathing, she hesitantly pushed herself off the floor. The girl stiffened when she felt something heavy drag her wrists downward. Trembling, Kagome gasped when she saw the thick metal chains around her wrists. She stood swiftly, ignoring the silent youkai who observed the scene with interest. Kagome stared in horror at the chains around her wrists and a seperate pair around her ankles. Pulling her wrists back to make the chain tight, she attempted to pull the chain free. She knew they were in a cave probably in a mountain; she could smell the mustiness of the cave and the fresh air that could only be found high in the sky. Feeling the chain become taut quite easily, Kagome noticed she had only a foot of chain to work worth.

Sesshoumaru watched the miko. Her small body was quivering and her scent had heightened. She seemed to be sufficently angry and annoyed now. Good. Perhaps she could now understand how annoying some people could be; particularly her. The miko swung around to the taiyoukai, her eyes now two pools of stormy blue that threatened to shoot daggers magically out of them and pierce him to death.

"How dare you! What is wrong with you? First you catch me unawares at the well, trap me in a forest, kill me, resurrect me, hit me and then kidnap me? And then," she gasped for breath, "you chain me up like some sort of animal?!"

Sesshoumaru stared at her emotionlessly. The girl's aura vibrated with emotion. It was rather pathetic that she let herself be controlled by her emotions. Had she not learnt by now that because of her emotions every terrible event that had occurred and presently was occurring was caused by her 'emotions'? The demon's eyes narrowed in warning. He did not appreciate being told all his previous activities, he was not a pup to be admonished. Standing up in one graceful movement, the taiyoukai towered over the girl. He raised a silver brow. It was pathetic how small and insignificant ningen were. Kagome watched as Sesshoumaru approached her. She backed up a bit and found herself trapped against the wall.

She pursed her lips together angrily. She was trapped with a lunatic. Just wonderful. A crazy demon who had trapped, killed, resurrected, beaten, kidnapped and now imprisoned her. The miko flinched when she noticed he continued to come towards her. Her head raised high, she trembled when he came but a few centimeters from her. She had to tilt her head back to meet his flashing golden eyes and instantly regretted her earlier rant. However, she did not regret it enough to cower before him. Higurashi Kagome was a proud, stubborn girl who simply did not believe in giving up or being a helpless female. It got her into many unpleasant situations but she simply would not be treated as an inferior.

Sesshoumaru's claw sliced through the air and connected with the girl's cheek. Kagome yelped in pain and quickly raised her hand to cup the abused flesh only to feel her wrist grabbed in a steel-like grasp. Gasping in fear, she struggled fiercly only to notice in humiliation that her attempts to free herself were futile. Reluctantly, she ceased her struggles. She knew when it came to physical confrontations she would always be defeated. Sesshoumaru watched the small miko stall her humiliating and poor excuse to fight against him. Finally, the taiyoukai allowed the girl to notice something he knew would frighten her.

Feeling her wrist caught in one of his large claws, Kagome froze when she felt her other hand be grabbed by another claw and be pinned behind her. The miko looked up into the flashing, triumphant eyes of the demon.

"How."

She could only whisper it in shock, her eyes showing her bemusement. The demon imprisoned both her wrists in one claw and roughly grabbed her chin in his left. Staring down into her suddenly fearful gaze, he enjoyed the sense of forebodment that had suddenly settled on the girl.

"Youkai can heal themselves, girl. It took only four years for my arm to grow back. The arm you aided in relieving from my body with InuYasha." He drawled darkly.

Kagome shuddered. This was horrible. This was beyond Naraku taking over the world horrible. Kagome found herself almost hyperventilating in fear. Sesshoumaru had both arms and she was chained up. She had no true control over her miko powers, no weapon and this psycho had earlier killed her with no regret. She looked up into his cruel, dead eyes. She was looking into the face of Satan it seemed. Sesshoumaru inhaled the scent of fear pouring off of the girl. His beast purred in excitement. Sesshoumaru tightened his hold on the girl's chin and opened his claw further so he could now grasp her entire jaw. Tilting her head so she would be forced to meet his eyes, he raised a brow.

"Not so brave now... are you miko?" He mocked softly.

Kagome quivered. She then tried to calm herself. Her face becoming stubborn again, she snapped, "I am as brave as one can be when being faced with a maniac for a captor."

Sesshoumaru glared at the girl. He tightened his grip, piercing her skin with claws. She flinched and began to tremble and almost cry when he injected some of his acid into her skin. She tried to tear herself away from him, the pain was terrible, but his hideous, murdering claw held her in place. Her eyes snapping furiously, she snarled,

"You want me to fear you don't you, Sesshoumaru?" The miko noted the gleam in his eyes. This crazed freak wanted her fear? Her heart pounded in her chest and her blood quickened in her veins. She would not do it. She would rather be tortured and die over and over again by his claw then give him the gratification he seeked from her pain.

"Pain will do nothing to me! I have already expierenced death and pain with you earlier and I know now what to expect from you. You will not break me, Sesshoumaru." The miko stated passionately, her little face becoming beautiful and fiesty during her impassioned speech.

Sesshoumaru growled. This girl was infuriating. His eyes flashing, he kneed her in the stomach and twisted his claw into her hair. Tearing it almost from her scalp, he lifted her high into the air by the silky black tresses, forcing her to meet his furious golden eyes that were now rimmed with a dangerous crimson. Seeing the fear in her gaze return only to fade quickly back to hatred, the taiyoukai snarled. He would find something to break her. Suddenly he noticed something in the air around this girl. Intrigued, he began sniffing her and he halted when he found it. Her sakura and jasmine scent was quite interestingly innocent. He investigated it more, placing his nose directly at her neck. Ignoring the trembling girl who continued to squirm against him frantically, he drew back to allow her to see the deadly smirk on his pale, thin lips.

"You are not marked, miko. Has InuYasha not asked you to be his mate?" He purred.

Kaome stiffened. Her eyes widened and she began to kick out at the demon only to feel him pull her closer into his body, making her unable to strike him. Tears in her eyes, she hissed, "None of your business creep! That's between InuYasha and me!"

Sesshoumaru raised a silver brow. Ignoring the girl's demands to let her go, he forced her cruelly into the wall, ignoring the slight cracking sound from her back due to the impact and ripped open her shirt and the strange undergarment underneath it. Two round, pale orbs of surprising beauty appeared before him. He watched the light pink nipples begin to harden from the coldness in the air. The demon clasped his claw over Kagome's mouth as she began to scream for him to get off her and inspected her breasts, collarbone and neck for any sign of what he had suspected from the hanyou. Seeing no sign of a mating or intended-mate mark, the taiyoukai released the girl's mouth and looked into her sparkling sapphire eyes.

"InuYasha had not marked you." He stated coolly.

Kagome gulped. Attempting to continue to appear brave, she shook her head. "It's none of your business." she repeated again.

Sesshoumaru raised a silver brow. "I think it is, little miko." He purred. Pressing into her, he noticed the trembling of her body increased a dramatic amount. Forcing her between his body and the wall of the cave, the taiyoukai growled. "You are afraid of men, miko? Are you perhaps more interested in the taijya then the hanyou?"

Kagome flushed furiously. "You asshole! I love InuYasha! Sango is my best friend, you perverted creep! Get off me!" she shrieked as she renewed her struggles.

Slap.

The silencing hit caused tears to trickle down her face. Her lips quivering, Kagome looked into the cruel, hauntingly perfect face of her captor. She did not want to beg for him not to do it. She had never been touched like that - had planned to never be touched until she and InuYasha were ready. And now, she was frightened, no terrified, that Sesshoumaru knew her greatest fear. She did not want to be spoiled. She knew InuYasha would be devestated if Sesshoumaru was her first. The miko calmed herself. Sesshoumaru would never have sex with her. He hated her and had killed her just for spitting at his feet. He could not stand to have anything of her near him much less in that sort of way. Appeased with this, she craned her neck and gave him a withering look.

"Is that all you know what to do? Is hurt and kill people?" she demanded softly.

Sesshoumaru glared at her. "I will be doing more then that miko." He leaned forward, watching her eyes widen. Cupping her chin, he forced her into his body, allowing her to feel every muscle. "Anything that will show you your place."

Kagome shivered, her eyes large and fearful. No... he wouldn't. "You wouldn't dare do anything beyond that. I'm a ningen - you can not bear my existence much less feeling me. Your threats are empty."

She had said it outloud while intending to keep it in her mind. She sucked in her breath, instantly regretting it. Looking into those golden eyes, she saw them flash dangerously. She had called him out; had practically dared him. The miko shivered in horror. What had she done? The demon growled. So she thought he could not rape her? Looking at the girl, he surveyed her closely. She was attractive enough. A rather impressive chest as far as he had seen. Her face was gentle and smooth; large blue eyes, full pink lips, high cheek bones, thick eyes lashes and a smooth, flawless complexion. Her body was long and slender however curved. Her waist was small but curved outwards into rounded, smooth hips that lead to long, slender legs. Her breasts were strangely perky for a ningen - all women tended to sag but she had defied her race yet again - and round and seemed an adequate size for his claw to cup with out being too small or too large.

Sesshoumaru looked at her. Her waist length black hair rippled behind her in a shimmering onyx mass; blue tints apparent in the deep black waves. Yes. This ningen was attractive as reluctant as he was to admit it. Seeing her eyes flicker nervously, he smirked. Perhaps he would rape the miko. It would certainly break her. She would be soiled goods for the hanyou she claimed she 'loved'. Mayhap he'd even get her pregnant with a little hanyou bastard and send her off to InuYasha. Then, when she felt comfortable and safe from him, he'd come and kill the three of them. How would she react if he killed her bastard baby and lover in front of her?

Kagome saw the calculative gleam in his eye. Hissnig, she struggled, ignoring the fact she had discovered earlier she could not win. She would not let this happen! Sesshoumaru easily stopped her struggles. Smelling her fear, he felt a grain of satisfaction implant itself in him. The taiyoukai raised a brow. Is this what he had wanted? The girl had not feared him during death or pain. But the possibility of rape she was a coward. Had he been searching for this girl's fear of him all this time? Is that what had been missing in his triumph over her? He concluded that it was more then likely that very reason. He wanted to dominate this wench yet she had proved to be difficult. She was spirited and stubborn; something he had never encountered with an enemy. He despised not having complete control over his victims and this girl had defied his authority.

When she had died, he had no gratification for she had died with out fear of him. She had simply died by his claw and accepting her death. He wanted her to hate him, fear him and to fight him. Not to simply offer her neck and let him slit it for her. Feeling the girl struggles increase as she screamed, he smirked. He was going to enjoy this.

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Translations:

Ningen: Human

Youkai: Demon

Taiyoukai: Demon Lord

Iie: No

Hai: Yes

Miko: Priestess

Kami: God(s)

Taijya: Demon slayer/exterminator