Hours must have passed, because there's a knock at my door. He steps in.

He's not in his Baboon Pelt anymore. He's in his… his 'human' form. A body that probably isn't his, guessing from the acts he commits. But it's all I have to go on when it comes to his true identity. His long black hair twists around his hard face. And his eyes… Were they purple or red? They're glaring at me slightly.

If I knew nothing about about this man - no, this being... then I'd say he's almost good looking.

Sango, what are you talking about? This is Naraku, for God's sake!

Damn.

Suddenly, I'm on the floor.

He's slapped me. He's slapped me so hard I've fallen to the ground.

I clutch my face in my hand and look up at him.

"Don't just stand there looking at me as if you know a single thing about me when you haven't even done what I ordered you to," he spat.

Hate. Hate, hate, hate.

Wait, ordered me to…?

Oh. To look 'presentable'.

Why on Earth should you bother looking presentable for a monster?

I'm fine. My robes may be a little bloody from the ambush at my home village, but I'm fine.

Naraku held out his hand, and a red robe flew from my wash room into his palm. Telekinesis. Really?

I forgot he had more skill than just strength.

"Undress," he said emotionlessly, "I won't have dirt sitting at my table."

What?

Is he seriously asking me to… undress… here?

"I-I can't-" I began, stammering.

"Oh, you will. Unless you want me to undress you for you." He said coldly.

I stood there, frozen. No. I couldn't do this. I'd lose every part of my dignity.

Suddenly, a naked me was standing right there.

Right in front of me.

What?

No.

How was this possible?

Naraku was there… and now he's gone… and I'm staring at myself, but there isn't a mirror. The naked version of me is smiling, and oh God… I can see everything and I just want to run and cover the second me up.

He… he shifted. I don't believe it.

The bastard shapeshifted into me!

Calm down, Sango… It's not really you… It's him… Remember it's him…

"OKAY!" I give in frantically, "Please, I'll change, just turn back!"

There were Naraku's hard, cold, eyes again, with a hideous smirk.

"Do forgive me for my personal intrusion, but I believe dignity is always an essential factor to lose at first if I'm going to break you, anyhow. Do remember, that although I can humiliate you, I wouldn't dream of taking pleasure from your body. I didn't even look - promise," he added sarcastically.

I turned away from him, feeling utterly helpless. Helpless and disgusting, since that's all anybody would see me as from now on.

Undressing in front of Naraku.

God, I can only start to imagine Miroku's reaction if he were here.

I took the fresh robe from Naraku's palm and slowly slid my dirty one off of my shoulder, facing away from him. I could feel myself burning up even though the sight I had just seen was much worse.

I peeked over my shoulder, curious to see what he was doing whilst I felt as though the earth swallowing me up would be better than this.

He's gone.

Gone?

How long had he been gone for?

Then it hit me.

This was all just a mind game.

He only wanted me to believe that I had to undress in front of him.

He knew I would be too embarrassed to turn and look it him whilst naked... He knew I would believe that he was there the whole time.

Relief swept over me. Then anger.

He just wanted to me to feel helplessness.

I always hated Naraku. But right now, I felt as though I could explode from my contempt for him. My veins are burning with vengeance and the most frustrating thing is - there's nothing I could do about it.

I wish I could make him suffer like he's made me suffer within less than a day of my being here.

As I pulled on the last of my robes, I felt as though gravity had moved - I was being pulled, down down through the little tower that was now my unfavourable home, through the stairs, and into a dining room.

I briefly stumbled as my body adjusted to my change of setting, but gathered myself as quickly as possible.

He's watching me.

"Finally," he mocked, "I thought you'd never come."

In front of me was a long, wooden table covered from head to toe in platters.

When was the last time I ate?

I didn't even know how many hours I've been in for. But I felt my stomach growl with a desperate need for food.

"Take a seat," he said, and a chair pulled itself far enough away from the other end of the table so that I could squeeze in.

How did he do that?

I sat down, half desperately, half reluctantly.

Naraku raised a hand in gesture and said, "Please."

I looked in front of me. Food had never looked so good before. I started serving some rice onto my dish when a horrid thought cut through me.

Poison?

No. He wouldn't have brought you here just to kill you.

But then... why the hospitality?

He needs your help, obviously.

Then he wouldn't have treated me like filth already...

That's just Naraku.

I carefully lifted my chopsticks to my mouth and had a taste.

Damn, it was good.

He looked pleased at my amount of trust in his offering, but after he began to dig in himself, the last of my anxiety faded.

I'd never had such an awkward meal before. He stared at me and I stared at him, and apart from that, there was silence.

Suddenly, the chitter-chatter and dark laughter of people caught my attention in the corridor behind us.

Silhouettes of what appeared like men went past the draped material in an orderly fashion.

"Who are they?" I said, unable to contain my curiously.

He looked at me for a while until I was certain he wasn't going to answer.

"Servants," he muttered bluntly.

My mind hardened.

Servants who were noisy, and from the shape of them through the wall, armed?

No, I wouldn't buy that.

I could have sworn that I saw Kagura's pointy little figure strut past, too.

Just how many people does he have working for him?

And why are they all here, in this new... this new what? This new castle? This new world?

I didn't even know what I was in. Let alone where it was.

I went to lift my hand for another mouthful, but it was difficult. My fingers only closed a few seconds after my brain told them to.

My other hand felt heavy.

What's... what's going on?

I go to open my mouth but I can't.

It's this kind of feeling where I'm drifting off to sleep. But I'm awake. I'm totally awake but I can't move my body. Not even my eyes this time.

Something had been in my food then.

But why didn't he just immobilize me?

Or... am I dying? Is this my body shutting down?

It can't be. It wouldn't make any sense to kill me. I'm of some value at least for him to have taken me here. It's just the what and the why that I need to work out. But I'll hold onto the fact he needs me in one way or another. I'll have to just get through whatever he's planning to do tonight.

He wouldn't...

No.

Not after earlier.

He made it perfectly clear that an almost-full-demon like himself would never even think of a human in that way.

I heard voices. Female whispers. Who was that...? I recognized that sharp tongue.

"Yes, Kagura. Now if you don't mind, I have business to attend to - so pass me my weaponry and I will join you later," Naraku's voice pierced through me despite my apparent sleep-like state.

Why was Kagura here? Why is he joining her later?

What if... Oh, wow...

Maybe they're together or something.

In all honesty, they're probably the best suited pair in the world. They both have hearts of stone and they certainly enjoy sadistic acts the most.

A slash of a sword.

Oh my god.

I'm being carried. I can feel his cold arms around me. He's carelessly slumping me to the ground, being the least bit careful to cause my head less damage when impacting with the wooden surface.

My head is turned to the side awkwardly. I wish I could move. I just wish I could move, or ask him what was going on.

What is he doing?

"Now, human," he said, "This may hurt a little, but I'll only do it this once if you promise to behave hereafter."

Ripping.

Ripping pain.

_My god, I need to cry out, I have to cry out. But I can't. My head is imploding with pain and desire to move, get away.

My leg. He's cut my leg with... a sword? A knife? I don't know which, my eyes still won't open.

I can feel my warm blood ooze out of the surface.

"I'm going to let you speak, now," he said cooly as I heard from place weapon back in its sheath, "But you must answer everything I ask you - truthfully."

As soon as I felt the ability to move my lips but nothing more, I let out an ear-piercing scream.

Naraku slapped me.

"Inuyasha - Does his time of human form change every month? Or is it just on the night of the full moon?"

Confusion swept through me. I seem to remember Naraku mocking Inuyasha, but reminding him how he would allow him to try and use everything he had to kill him when it came to the end...

Sango, this is a coward you're dealing with. All he cares about is getting the jewel shards and killing Inuyasha.

But then, why didn't he kill Inuyasha that night he captured me?

Because...

_He's not ready. He needs something first. And it has to be... me.

I wouldn't be telling Naraku anything. Not if it meant Inuyasha's success would be weakened.

The torture of one village girl doesn't even begin to make up for the massacre of what would be thousands of people if Naraku ever took full power.

"Well?" Impatience from Naraku's part had obviously won.

"Screw you," I said slowly, but immediately regretted my poorly chosen words.

A tear.

Burning.

More blood. I didn't need to see it. I could smell it.

Pain, pain, pain.

How long could I really withstand this for?

You can get through this. Don't be scared, he's not going to kill you. He needs you alive. Just get through it.

I made my decision.

I don't know how many hours I lay there, bleeding. Crying in my mind, begging in my mind, but refusing to open my mouth.

"SPEAK, GOD DAMMIT!" Naraku's voice now boomed throughout the dining room.

Somehow, I persited.

Then everything went black some minutes, hours, or days afterwards, and I faded into nothingness.