Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Rumiko Takashi. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No copyright infringement is intended.

Bind a Human, a Demon For All Time

Chapter Three: Excruciating Pain

"Master Jaken, where do you suppose Lord Sesshomaru went?" Rin was impatiently tapping a stick on a root that has grown out of the ground.

"Stop your childish questions immediately. How many times do I have to tell you that Lord Sesshomaru does not share with anyone his whereabouts?" Jaken snapped back at the poor little girl. He, himself, has grown quite anxious when his lord did not return earlier. He had said that he would only be gone to survey the area. That was about an hour and a half ago. 'Where are you, milord?' The retainer was certainly not one to doubt the abilities of the mighty Dog Demon. However, he is rarely ever late—not that he is late now, no, the toad would never impose such a preposterous idea.

Rin pouted at her guardian's harsh tone but recovered from it immediately. "Master Jaken, we should go pick flowers for Lord Sesshomaru! He would love it." She exclaimed.

The toad was taken aback by her rapid mood swing. No matter how many times she does a full three-sixty with her emotions, he doesn't think he could ever be prepared for them. Human females are truly a conundrum wrapped in a mystery. He saw the smile that has spread across her face and he knew that he had already lost the battle—and most likely the war. He sighed, defeated. "All right, but you can't take too long. Lord Sesshomaru will certainly be cross if he returns and we are not here."

"Mhmm!" she nodded, the smile swallowing her entire face. She grabbed the toad by one little toady arm and dragged him in the direction where she thought she saw some beautiful flowers that were begging to be picked.

The demon lord was trying to wrap his mind around the events that had occurred only an hour earlier. He wasn't sure what actually took place but he did know one thing—that female had performed some kind of magic to protect her from him. A growl threatened to escape his lips. Sesshomaru was vexed that this human could conjure magic so powerful to affect him. But why would she do that? He recognized the girl to be the slayer that travelled with the dirty half-breed. He has not caused any problem for their company in months and neither did he plan on doing so now that he had Tokijin. He no longer needed Tetsuiga. Why would this woman perform a spell that made a barrier from him and why would she act surprised that it was effective?

'No doubt the female did not believe that this incantation will do as it is intended.' Sesshomaru scoffed. 'Inept, human weaklings.'

A dull throbbing was creeping its way to his attention with every step he took. It was indeed peculiar, however, it was nothing to raise alarm. Trivial aches are below a powerful taiyoukai such as him. The cover of the leaves has parted above Sesshomaru. Finally noticing the position of the sun, he has noted that he must have been gone much longer than he originally estimated. Rin would likely be worried that he did not return sooner. Picking up his pace, he travelled through the forests with his demonic speed. He flew from branch to branch, his feet barely touching one before reaching the next.

With his increased pace, the dull throbbing was quickly elevating to sharp pricks and then to excruciating pain. The sensation clouded his mind and he slowed down considerably. Swiftly examining his body, Sesshomaru tried to find the origin of such torture only to find that he was in perfect condition. It was incredibly strong. He felt as if he was being torn apart—his limbs being ripped from their sockets. They were being called back, pulled back. To where? What was attempting to drag his entire being back to it?

At this point, the pain became so overwhelming that he had to stop all togehter. He had picked up the scent of his young ward and his retainer. They were not far. The demon lord was struggling to keep his façade. It hurt more than any wound he had ever sustained. He took a step forward, then another. Sesshomaru was determined to overcome this…this whatever it was. One more step. The pain shot through him from his feet all the way to his crown, it travelled leaving a burning sensation in its wake. The demon lord's eyes widened in uncharacteristic shock as it passed. He fell to his knees, no longer able to support his weight.

'What is happening?' he thought breathlessly. He was attempting to calm the ache that has absorbed him. It did not cease, however. It burnt a second a time, much more insistent in its order to return. Sesshomaru winced as it did this and resisted with all the strength he could muster. Instead of calming down before it attacked once more like the first time, the second round of agony remained. The tearing ensued. The pain so great, it blurred the taiyoukai's vision. Black dots began to appear before his eyes and his head fell forward into his hands, as he cradled it.

He was in the brink of consciousness when the wind carried to his nose the scent of Rin and salt water. "Lord Sesshomaru!" he heard her scream in horror as little feet pounded frantically on the ground. The demon lord was sweating with the effort to keep himself from falling into darkness. Beyond the agony he was subjected to, he heard Jaken's high-pitched squawking.

"Jaken," his voice, full of anguish was muffled by his sleeves. "Fetch Au-Un, immediately."

"Yes, milord." The toad hurried away returning a couple of minutes later with the two-headed steed.

Sesshomaru felt the dragon huff beside him. With all the energy he had left, he straightened himself and stood up. He saw Rin's face full of concern. This was motivation enough for him to pretend that nothing was wrong. He quickly positioned himself on the demon's back with the girl and the toad following suit. In a matter of seconds, they were airborne. The demon lord was following the pull. With every passing moment, the pain was subsiding. It was getting closer, he wasn't sure what his thing was or if it was dangerous, all he knew was that if heading straight to it would ensure that the torture would stop, he would risk it. He was, after all, the Great Dog Demon of the West—there is no opponent formidable enough to take down such a powerful youkai.

She could only watch him walk away. The world had suddenly gone totally and completely awry. The spell was supposed to be for her and Kilala. How was she supposed to fix this?

"What am I going to do, Kilala?" Sango lifted her hand to the large neko demon's transformed form. The cat purred to comfort her.

She sighed. "We should go back to the old demon slayer. I'm sure he'll know how to reverse all this." With that, she got up from where she was unceremoniously dropped by Sesshomaru and climbed onto the fire cat.

Like they did a couple of hours ago, the pair took to the skies. Her mind was full of images of the demon lord being so close to her and the look he had in his eyes. He was frightening in every sense of the word, but even then, he was glorious.

"No, Sango. Focus on your task." She said aloud trying to shake the thoughts from her mind. She needed the space in her mind to think about ways to repair the potentially extensive damage that she has caused.

She did not know what exactly she would do about this. The old demon slayer did not tell her about reversing and quite frankly, she didn't think that she would need to know that knowledge at that time. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid!' Sango mentally cursed herself for not pressing the old geezer for more information and now Sesshomaru would be extremely irritated if she didn't solve it soon. Oh no! She could have unknowingly put everyone she cared about in danger! For some reason, she figured that an angry taiyoukai would not be one to listen patiently to explanations.

With this new realization, she urged Kilala faster, "Hurry, girl, we need to get back quickly." She did just as she was instructed. As they soared through the clouds, it was then that the pain began. Softly at first, slowly increasing and then it escalated at alarming speed. Sango had just barely took note of its presence when it ravaged her limbs. It blazed across her form. Little did she know that the same sensation was occurring to a certain white-haired man a few miles away. She wasn't nearly as strong as the taiyoukai was and within a matter of seconds of fighting with the anguish, it has completely taken over her. She was slowly loosing grip of reality. The world seemed to move slower and she could have sworn that someone has put a veil across her eyes so everything became blurry.

She was struggling. It was only Sango's will to return to her friends that kept her awake for those last couple of heartbeats. Then, the darkness came, the pull was too strong. It was pulling her under but at the same time, something was pulling her elsewhere. Her limbs were being drawn by an unknown force. It was insistent and was not willing to let her go with a fight. The last thing she remembered was letting go of Kilala's fur and her legs slipping of her body. She was falling to the ground—quickly!

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