{Chapter One: Captured, obviously I own nothing. I rewrote this chapter as of 7/20/2013}
The miko leaned against the damp stones of her prison head tilted back, throat exposed. Heavy irons encircled her delicate wrist and raw marks spoke of period of time she had spent entombed in their most terrible enemy's prison.
She had lost track of the days and hours spent here. If it had been only weeks or even months, she no longer knew. No daylight reached her here and Naraku visited regularly to add to her torment.
Sometimes he came and simply watched her. At first his silent presence was uncomfortable, now it was terrifying. Because, sometimes he simply watched but sometimes he would sit still for hours and then would suddenly lash out with waves of his powerful youkai. If she prepared she could fight it, if not she would feel it seeping into her soul. It was those times she often wished for death.
He would slip past her barriers and burrow into her mind. Dredge up her darkest fears and play them for her with his own twisted variations. She lost count of how many times she saw her friends die and in so many terrible ways. So powerful was this foe that she would feel the hot blood on her hands, smell the burnt flesh as the heat of fire singed her skin. It was hard to tell what was real.
In the beginning she would scream and thrash against the onslaught. Now she simply sat and watched the horrors replay themselves. Her power dampened by the spells on the chains that clung to her prevented her from doing much else.
"Well, well you've awoken." A familiar, dreadful voice purrs from the bleak shadows. The form of the demon Naraku slips from the dark and stands in front of his prisoner. He is pleased with the dull look in her eyes, the missing spark of resistance that she had carried for so long. He had finally broken the Shikon Miko.
He held out his hand and allowed her to place her slim fingers against his palm before pulling her up. Her clothes were ragged, her hair hung in lank clumps around face. Her eyes looked almost bruised so dark were the purple half-moons that had developed underneath them.
"Good girl, now I think you deserve a bath and some clean clothing for your good behavior."
Naraku lead her up the dank, mossy stairs that lead upward and to the light. Outside his castle was surrounded by a powerful barrier. It was enough to keep their scents locked away; he had no desire to be interrupted by Inuyasha. He wasn't sure yet if his influence on her could be swayed by her friends. It had barely been a month since he had captured her and he wanted more time.
The malevolent demon walked her down a short hallway and pushed open the screen to a small room. He would reward this new state of mind with things he knew all humans craved, warmth and comfort. Besides she was starting to look a little drawn and far to pale, he preferred beautiful things around him.
Within moments Kagura appeared a surly look on her pretty face having been summoned silently by Naraku.
"Take the priestess to the hot springs and see that she baths. Then bring her back to this room."
She gave him a short nod before spinning and turning away, Kagome obediently following behind her. Inside Kagura seethed. How dare Naraku make her the maid servant of this wretched girl? Not only had she had to serve food to the woman down in the dungeon but now she is forced to lay out clothing and bathing items for her. She clenched her fists angrily as they reached the door that would lead down to the hot springs. Kagura waved Kagome ahead of her and then followed slamming the door as she went.
The wind demon stood watch as the priestess stripped and waded into the water. For a moment, Kagome paused and raised a hand to her head as if pain. Flashes of her and another woman together at a hot springs swam in her mind before fading away.
Kagura watching with interest. Perhaps Naraku's magic was not working as well as he thought. She was not going to be the one to deliver the bad news. Besides the woman in the water had lowered her hand and continued to bathe. She stepped out once down and waited for Kagura to wave her hand in the direction of a black and silver kimono that had been imbued with Naraku's aura.
Kagome only stared at it then back at the reincarnation. Kagura sighed with exasperation, it appeared that her creator had really damaged this girl if she didn't remember how to put on clothes, or was it the evil that dripped of the clothing. Either way she needed to get her dressed and back to her room.
She grabbed the kimono and tossed it at Kagome, instinct made the miko reach out for it. Dark purple light flashed wildly from her body and erased any trace of Naraku from the piece of cloth. Unbeknownst to any that powerful wave seeped outside Naraku's barrier finding cracks were there should have been none.
Kagura stared at Kagome who calmly slipped the kimono on and wrapped herself in before looking back at the wind youkai. Kagura felt Naraku's energy pulsate and she knew it was a silent command to bring the girl back now. Shaking just slightly she turned her back on the miko and started back towards the main part of the castle.
Kagome followed her silently through the doorway and back to the room that Naraku had given her.
He was inside, seated on a chair opposite a small bed waiting for them. Glancing at the two he was surprised to see the barely masked fear in his creation's eyes. Apparently the power he felt rolling through the castle had frightened her. He was only delighted that his captive was even more powerful than he had originally imagined. It was utterly delightful.
The dark haired man waved Kagura away as he pulled Kagome into the room. He could feel the dark energy pouring off of her, but still he could feel the taint of her pure soul as it struggled to purify what he had worked so hard at. He pushed her to sit down on the bed and seated himself crossed-legged in front of her.
"Hold out your hand Kagome."
She did her palm facing up; he reached from within his robe and dropped a piece of the shikon jewel on her palm. At first nothing happened and began to smile. It seemed he had destroyed enough of her purity that she would no longer be able to purify the jewel.
Suddenly the aura around the shard pulsed, it remained dark but he could feel the struggle as energy crept off the miko and surrounded the shard. Slowly it began to lighten.
He snatched it from her hands with a snarl. Damn, how was she still pure after all he had done?
Perhaps there was another way to break her. He stood up and crossed his arms over his chest. She remained seated on the bed staring blankly at him. Naraku wondered if there wasn't a chance that taking her innocence would destroy her powers. There were rumors that it was true and it would do him no good to have a simple human woman. Other than to use against Inuyasha who would no doubt want her back regardless.
With that thought he leaned forward and reached for the knot holding her kimono closed. In that instant a bolt of purple purification energy blasted out at the demon.
Kagome came too lying on a bed with Naraku snarling at her from the floor. It took only a moment for her to realize she was barely clothed and that the demon they had all been hunting was stalking towards her. Kagome screamed and at the same time called her energy forward crying out as the now purple energy swirled around her and began to lighten. Naraku surged forward pinning her down and forcing more of his energy into her. She twisted against him crying out in pain.
It took him far longer than he liked to subdue the priestess and once down he was too drained to more than roll away from her and lift himself from the bed.
"Hakudoshi!"
The child-like creation appeared in the doorway.
"Go fetch the chains from the dungeon and chain the miko to this bed."
He nods his head and disappears.
Naraku stares at the woman on the bed. She is once more unconscious but he will have to wait to press her with more of his own powers.
The boy appears with the manacles dangling from his hands and without further instructions comes in and attaches them to the bed posts and then to Kagome's wrists. They flare darkly as the come in contact with her wrists once more dampening her own power.
Naraku pulls himself up and stalks out the door.
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"Still nothing?"
Sango's voice, exhausted and full of worry asks as Inuyasha raises his head and sniffs the air. It had been almost a month since they had found the huge crater in the ground with Kagome's scent nearby. Inuyasha had screamed with rage his eyes bleeding red around the edges when he had captured Naraku's scent as well. Shippo had cried himself to sleep for the first three nights and then became determined to help Inuyasha scent out Kagome.
The little kit had smelled every leaf and blade of grass that held even the smallest whisper of the woman's smell. He could not imagine his family torn asunder once more.
Sango and Miroku noticed that Inuyasha had even made an effort to be nicer to Shippo. Not hitting him on the head or calling him names. The two acted more like brothers now as they worked together to try to find one of the most important people in their lives.
In fact everyone was acting a little different. Miroku had not even groped Sango once since Kagome's disappearance. She believed it was because he was too preoccupied trying to sense Naraku's presence as they traveled. He was hoping for a sign of the demon so that they could find the heart of their little band.
It almost would have been nice if not for the fact that Kagome was missing and most likely in terrible danger. It also did not help that Kikyo had showed up just days after Kagome's disappearance. Miroku had tried to dissuade Inuyasha from letting her join their group but the half-demon and put his foot down. Yes, they needed find Kagome but Kikyo could sense the jewel shards almost as well as Kagome and they might as well keep looking.
Sango and Miroku had discussed in soft tones in the evening how odd it was that Kikyo who always avoided their group managed to turn up just as Kagome went missing. Certainly though the other miko would not have done anything so drastic as to use Naraku to get rid of their friend. Sango wasn't sure; she certainly did not trust the undead priestess. Miroku tried to keep the peace but more than once he could almost feel the tension between his love and Kikyo.
Inuyasha remained oblivious and held steadfast to the opinion that having Kikyo could only help. He had even asked her about Kagome, at this the lifeless woman had become, if possible, even colder. Of course she didn't know where Kagome was, she had said. Sango's eyes narrowed. More than ever she believed that Kikyo knew something about what had happened.
They had no choice but to go on together though. For together they had the best chance of finding Kagome.
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Sesshomaru had been patrolling the edge of the Western Lands when the scent of a powerful miko caught his attention. Her power was rolling through his territory and just beginning to dissipate as he tried to track it. Swiftly he move across the grounds, golden eyes narrowing as he caught the scent of that ridiculous demon Naraku.
He followed the female's scent to the edge of barrier that was showing the cracks caused by the miko's power. He had not known his brother's female was strong enough to do this kind of damage to this strong of a barrier. Then again he had only ever seen her even engage in battle once or twice over the years since he had become aware of her presence.
For a moment he considered leaving, after all it was Inuyasha's responsibility to take care of his pack. Instinct urged him to remove such a powerful female from the presence of Naraku however. It would be bothersome if the half-demon was able to twist that power to his own uses.
After another moment of consideration he raised Tokijin and brought it down against the weakest part of the barrier he could sense. He would obey his instincts in this instance and deliver a blow to Naraku in the same instance.
:: After reading all the Sessh/Kag fics out there I have become a convert! Please review! ::