Inuyasha and Sango watched intently as Miroku carefully worked the locks before them. His brows were furrowed in concentration as he moved the picks through the mechanism. After a few moments of silence a sharp clicking noise echoed from out of the door and Miroku froze. "I got it," he whispered, slowly removing the tools.
The trio stared at the door in anticipation as Miroku reached for the handle. His hand gripped it carefully and he turned to Inuyasha.
"Open it," he whispered, motioning for Miroku to turn the handle.
Nodding Miroku turned to the door and rotated the handle forty five degrees. The door clicked and he pulled it towards himself. Miroku peered his head inside of the small opening and examined the room before him. It was dark, damp and filthy, the walls were coated in what appeared to be mould and the smell was overpowering. Miroku's eyes searched for a human form anywhere in the room but he saw nothing. "It's empty," he whispered to his companions before carefully stepping inside of the room.
Before Miroku's foot had touched the ground, something hit him from behind, knocking him face first onto the disgusting floor. A cry of shock escaped his lips before they were filled with some unidentified filth littering the ground.
Inuyasha and Sango watched as Miroku entered the cell. Their eyes widened in shock as they saw a dark form pounce on their companion, causing him to collapse to the floor. In seconds, Inuyasha had entered the room and grabbed his friend's attacker before they could strike again. He struggled with the prisoner, trying to get a firm hold on their wrists so they wouldn't be able to attack him. Inuyasha heard Sango rush in behind him and grab the captive's arm before it could land a punch to his jaw. After a few moments of struggling, the pair managed to bring the attacker to the floor and hold him in place. By this time, Miroku had managed to clear his mouth of all foreign bodies and looked up at his companions sitting on top of a struggling heap. Amidst the scrambling, the filthy mass lifted its head into the sliver of light provided by the open door and recognition filled Miroku's eyes. "Inuyasha!" he exclaimed, rushing to raise himself up off the floor. "Let her go!"
Inuyasha looked up from his struggle in astonishment, "Why the hell would I want to do that?" he asked breathlessly, holding the figures arms tight behind their back. "I don't want to get punched."
"Idiot," Miroku yelled, moving to pull his companions off of the struggling heap. "It's Higurashi!"
Realization dawned on Inuyasha's face and he leapt from the prisoners back and pulled Sango off of her legs. The three starred wide eyed at the lump on the floor as it shifted itself into a sitting position.
"Who the hell are you people," it said, slowly raising its head into the light.
Inuyasha's eyes took in the sight before him. This was Kagome Higurashi yet she looked nothing like the small black and white photograph Sesshomaru had given him. The photo had shown a striking young woman with porcelain skin and glossy raven hair. The woman in front of him was a filthy mess with matted greasy hair and skin browned by the effects of dirt and multiple bruises. Her clothes were caked
in grime and her eyes were dark with circles under them from lack of sleep. Her expression was bitter and cold as she studied the trio in front of her.
Sango was the first to step forward, "Kagome," she said, moving forward slightly, "We are here under direct orders from Sesshomaru."
Kagome's eyes widened and an expression of hope flashed across her beaten face.
"We're here to get you out," Miroku continued, standing next to Sango before bending down to offer Kagome a helping hand.
Kagome studied Miroku's face carefully as if searching for any trace of a lie. Slowly, she reached one of her blackened hands forward and let Miroku help her up off of the floor. She stood putting the majority of her weight on her left leg. "Well," she said, raising her gaze to her rescuers, "can we please get the hell out of here?"
After checking that the coast was clear, the group of four made their way out into the hallway. Inuyasha had been elected to assist Kagome as her right leg was badly bruised and walking unaided wasn't an option. Grunting, Inuyasha shifted Kagome's arm over his shoulder. "Man," he said annoyance in his tone, "could you be heavier?"
Kagome glared at her crutch, "Are you always this respectful to your superiors?" she asked sarcastically, purposely digging her small elbow into his exposed rib cage.
"Bitch!" he hissed in pain.
"Would you two knock it off," Sango said, glaring at the pair behind her, "You're going to get us caught." The group had made it to the base of the stairs without incident but the lack of guards had made Sango nervous. She studied the stair case in front of them carefully before beginning to climb them. Miroku followed close behind but Inuyasha stood still at the base. The pair on the steps paused and glanced behind them. "What are you doing?" Miroku whispered confusion on his face.
"This lump can't climb stairs," Inuyasha explained, shifting Kagome off of his shoulder. Kagome furrowed her brows before her eyes opened in shock as Inuyasha leaned down and tossed her over his shoulder.
"Put me down you idiot," she hissed, desperately trying to twist her body around so she could smack him. She soon stopped though as the sharp movements sent shocks of pain through her already fragile body.
"Oh shut up," Inuyasha said gruffly beginning the climb behind his companions.
Miroku reached the top first. Placing his back against the wall, he carefully looked out into the open hallway for any signs of movement. At the end of the hall, in the direction from which they had entered, two large, uniformed men stood. They were deep in conversation giving Miroku the opportunity to
study the large guns both men held. He turned slowly back to the three behind him an expression of worry on his face. "We have company," he whispered, gesturing over his shoulder in the direction of the two guards.
"Crap," muttered Inuyasha, carefully removing a frustrated Kagome from his shoulder and setting her roughly to the ground.
"Careful you moron," she hissed, shifting her weight slowly to her left leg.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and looked to Miroku. "How many?"
"Just two," he answered, "both armed."
Inuyasha huffed in frustration, studying the ground. "How do you propose we get by?" he asked.
The group fell silent and slowly each member turned their attention to the tall silver haired man leading them. Inuyasha looked up to see three pairs of expectant eyes looking back at him. "What?" he asked raising his hands in defence, "I'm thinking."
The two guards were still standing at the end of the hall when Inuyasha turned the corner, exposing himself to their gaze. They glanced up as he approached casually but at the sight of his dark blue uniform, they turned back to their conversation. It wasn't until he had stopped directly in front of them that the two looked up once more. "You need something?" the taller man asked, studying Inuyasha's face.
Before either man could react, Inuyasha had knocked their two heads together, successfully causing them to fall to the floor into a large heap. Smirking, Inuyasha let out a sharp whistle to his three companions and they rounded the corner behind him.
After what seemed like hours of sharp twists and ducking behind doors to avoid guards, the group made it to the door they had entered through. Miroku paused before the exit and turned to his companions. "We will have to go one at a time to avoid being seen," he said, "however seeing as Miss Kagome won't be able to make it alone, I suggest that Inuyasha carry her."
Inuyasha and Kagome both let out a loud groan. "Why can't you do it?" Inuyasha whined, staring at his friend with pleading eyes.
"You're the leader," explained Miroku, "and you're stronger," he added. "Sango you go first."
Sango nodded and stood in front of the large metal door. She carefully pushed it open enough for her eyes to scan that there was no one to see her before she darted out into the clearing and disappeared
into the trees. Miroku followed her after a minute and he too was soon hidden in the foliage. Inuyasha sighed and turned to the small woman beside him. She looked back up at him clearly just as upset about the arrangement as he was. "Well," Inuyasha said, "might as well get it done."
Kagome rolled her eyes and raised her arms up so he could lift her over his back. Laughing slightly, Inuyasha leaned down and carefully placed her behind him and moved to the door. He pushed it open enough to peek through before moving the two of them outside. He looked around again and was about to cross the clearing when a movement to his far right caught his eye. Swiftly, Inuyasha raced to hide behind a large metal container beside them as a patroller slowly passed. Kagome's grip tightened on his neck and Inuyasha could hear her slow breaths in his ear. The guard passed without spotting them and Inuyasha let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Carefully, he studied the clearing three times before deciding it was safe for them to cross. They made it to the forest in seconds and were safely out of sight of the compound. Kagome breathed a sigh of relief and patted Inuyasha on the shoulder. "Nice work moron," she teased.
"Psssh and I did it with an extra two hundred pounds on my back," he joked back.
Kagome laughed and smacked him lightly over the head.
"Hey you guys made it," Sango exclaimed, joining the pair from her hiding place in the bushes, Miroku close behind her.
Miroku smirked at the pair in front of him. "Ah becoming friends I see," he said.
Inuyasha and Kagome realized at the same time that they had been being pleasant to each other and were quick to correct themselves. "Let me down you big ape," Kagome yelped.
"Calm down you mad cow," Inuyasha exclaimed back, shifting her weight on his back.
Miroku smiled and turned his back on the two squabbling behind him. "Let's move on shall we."
