Before all of this. Before the Band of Seven held Kagome's fate in their hands. Before the very thought of Inuyasha made her body tremble in anger and her chest ache. Before she decided to turn her back on the one she once loved to save herself, the nights she spent in the feudal era were full of laughter and irreplaceable happiness. The shared joy between her and the friends she made caused her smile to shine brighter than the stars they slept under. Sleeping in her bed within the safe confinement of her home couldn't compare to the tranquility of losing herself in the soft night breeze and awakening to the purity of a new day. The worry of demons and Naraku couldn't take that away. She hoped that those nights would never end, even after they managed to defeat Naraku. Being with the Band of Seven made her miss those nights more than ever. There were laughs, but they weren't like the ones she shared with Sango, Shippo and Miroku. They didn't laugh out of innocent humor. They got their fix watching life slip away by the second, leaving another corpse bathing in a crimson pool behind them. Their victims' last memory of this life being the agony of blades ripping through their skin like warm butter and looking into the stagnant eyes of their murderers as they breathe their last breath. Life was a very fragile thing and the Band of Seven relished in the dust. Very gone but, never forgotten. No one remembered whether their impact out-weighed their triumph. The fine line between life and death can sometimes be danced on as if it were a tight rope with a trapeze artist who wants to hold balance. And these infamous mercenaries always tipped the scale in their favor. It had only been a little over a day since she'd been kidnapped but felt near an eternity since she'd seen them last. She missed them dearly and couldn't stop thinking about them or what they could be doing. She thought of Shippo and how worried he must be for her. Her heart sank at the thought of her adoptive youkai son crying, wondering where she was and when she will be back. Tears gathered in her eyes at the thought of him waiting for her only to never see her again.

I didn't get the chance to say goodbye.

Kagome's somber aura did not go unnoticed by Bankotsu even if he didn't voice it. From the corner of his eye, he could see the pain in her eyes along with the water in them she wouldn't let fall. He pondered for a moment if he had something to do with her sadness. If she was missing her friends or if the moment they shared earlier hurt her as much as it hurt him. He wanted to finish what he started. He wanted to show her what simply looking at her or hearing her name was doing to him. To ravish her ivory skin and burn her body's every curve to memory. To taste her essence and show her pleasures she couldn't imagine. But she was a miko. A pure woman dedicated to light and healing. And his prisoner. He could already hear the disapproval of his comrades as they voice their dying respect for him. He couldn't have that. He had to remind himself that the respect of his men was not something he could afford to lose, even if it cost him the woman he desired. The woman he had to accept would never be his.

He couldn't look at her without his inner voice screaming at him to take what he wanted. When they returned to the castle, they both settled into bed without a word or glance to one another. Facing away from him, Kagome allowed the tears she held in to release. Silently she sobbed until sleep took hold of her. She hoped that sleep would be a reprieve, even if for a short while, but her dreams made her chest hurt even more than the loss of her friends.

She stood by the Bone Eater's well, staring into her only way home like she was waiting for something to happen even though she didn't know what. She turned to find a familiar head of white hair flowing freely against red robes. Those adorable dog ears she'd recognize anywhere twitching at her presence. Inuyasha turned his golden gaze to her, his eyes had the sense of longing she hoped every day to be sent her way. Her name on his lips was sweet like honey. She didn't know who took the first step before he was in front of her, his body's warmth enveloping her in the same comforting matter she grew used to over the years. He said her name again, but his voice was wavering. He brought his face closer to hers with his lips pursed and certain determination in his eyes. She couldn't bring herself to move or speak, only watch as he closed the space between them. She closed her eyes expecting their lips to touch but when his warmth pulled away from her, she opened her eyes to not find Inuyasha in front of her. She could see Inuyasha standing at a distance from her, embracing a woman with her raven hair and ivory skin. She watched Inuyasha claim the woman's lips and realized it wasn't herself he was holding. It was the woman who had her hair and a similar face but a cold heart beat in her chest. Kikyo. Kagome watched in agony while their innocent kiss turned passionate. Their bodies came together in a sickening dance as the kiss consumed them. When Inuyasha turned his attention to her neck, his name was a mantra on her lips. As Kagome watched the display of affection before her, pictures of their naked bodies becoming one came to the front of her mind. She couldn't escape the sting of Inuyasha's betrayal no matter how hard she tried to forget, no matter how many tears she cried begging him to stop.

Bankotsu awoke in the middle of the night to Kagome's voice. She tossed and turned relentlessly in her slumber emitting soft moans. He hasn't known the miko long enough to differentiate her personal terrors from her pleasures, and it sounded like her lustful desires were being fufilled. Unfortunately, it wasn't his name coming from her lips, it was the idiot hanyou's. His blood boiled at the idea of the hanyou being the source of her naughty cravings. Even if he couldn't have her, it didn't stop him from wanting her. It should be him the priestess could give herself to in her dreams, his name rolling off her tongue. He wanted to kill the half-breed for embedding himself in his woman's subconscious. Even worse, he wanted to make her regret even thinking of him. The voice in his head didn't oppose to it, he didn't bother to push away the thought. The miko was his, and he was going to make sure she knew that.

Kagome awoke groaning her frustration. Last night's torturous nightmares left her weak with exhaustion. The morning light broke through the castle's barriers as well as her eyelids. An attempt at even a moment of peaceful slumber was out of her reach. It was only when she sat up to rub her eyes did she notice Bankotsu come into their room with heavy steps.

"You're awake. Good." He couldn't bite back the distain in his tone, his fury was fresh from the previous night. He stomped over to her and violently jerked her to her feet to guide her elsewhere without letting go of her arm. Kagome was caught off guard by his obvious complete change in mood. She could even feel his unpleasant aura if his voice wasn't enough. Maybe he wasn't a morning person or maybe something happened to sour the day's start. Surely, she would figure it out soon, but it didn't make sense to why he was taking it out on her since she couldn't remember doing anything to upset him. She obediently followed with his hand keeping her close. The contact reminded her of how Jakotsu treated her the day before. As did the unkind release that followed. She would've fallen to her knees if she hadn't caught her footing in time.

"Jakotsu! Find something for the girl to do. Watch over her and make sure it's done efficiently." Bankotsu shouted without looking at him or the girl in question.

His orders were clear, but his sudden change of tone caught everyone off guard. The picture of Bankotsu's hands squeezing the throat of anyone whom mistreated their guest took residence in each mercenary's memory and poured gasoline on the burning terror it gave them. It was a situation no one wanted a part of. The men had to be careful with how they acted towards the girl to evade punishment, but they had no idea what to do with their superior's approach.

"Um… Brother Bankotsu … "Suikotsu's acknowledgement was as tense as he felt. He wasn't exactly sure what he was asking but Bankotsu noticed this and decided to answer the silent question hanging in the air.

"It's very simple. Keep her busy and make sure she does a good job. I don't care what you make her do. There's no point in keeping some lowly bitch around without getting something out of it." Bankotsu's gaze followed the path to Kagome's. Seeing her eyes widen at his distasteful choice of words made him smirk. It was those oceanic eyes that pulled her under the tides and knocked all air out of her lungs. But now, those eyes that gleamed with menace. The very eyes that captivated her and made her question all she knew now made her skin cold. She wondered what she did wrong. What happened to the man with a touch so gentle and a warmth that could conquer any winter? Wherever that man was, Kagome wanted him back. The way he spoke about her almost brought tears to her eyes, but she remembered the promise she made to herself.

I will not break. Not in front of him or any of them.

Bankotsu's grin didn't fall but the water trapped in Kagome's eyes made him turn around. Just like the priestess, Bankotsu refused to break. He couldn't let a few tears change his mind but this strange, broken, beautiful woman was like a puppet master who held the strings to his black heart. He'd deny it to his brothers, but he couldn't deny it to himself that he wanted her more than his precious Banryu wanted blood. And he couldn't deny that he hated it. Her face haunted his dreams, her scent was intoxicating, her voice made his nerves run wild and her figure sent blood straight to his manhood. Just being in the same room as she had his self-control slipping. In all his life, before and after death, there wasn't a soul that made Bankotsu feel so vulnerable. He worked hard to build his reputation and reveled in the fear his name caused. He was a proud warrior, and no warrior should fall to his knees because of some woman.

"I've got better things to do." With that, Bankotsu left the castle and Kagome to his men.