Me: I AM SOOOOOOO SORRY! I meant to update this last week, but my rents were off from work, so I couldn't sneak on, and then this week my internet wasn't working... Currently using my mom's comp because I need it for HW, and took oppurtunity to update. Chap is 1,011 words, w/o au notes. Anyways - Daniel, disclaimer!

Daniel: DISCLAIMER: Cassie does not own any of Inuyasha, just me and this plot.

Chapter Ten

It felt, to Kagome, like it had been days. Daniel had carelessly bandaged her – only to keep her alive long enough to where he could get the information he wanted. They were incredibly tight, he hadn't given an ounce of thought to her comfort.

Although it wasn't like he had in the first place, so there wasn't much difference.

He had left, for a little while. He said he'd be back in maybe an hour. Kagome had tried to sleep, but it was fitful and light. Her throat was parched, and her stomach was growling. At this rate, she was sure she was going to die from dehydration.

Not a comforting thought, though she was sure that he would start taking a little care of her while he tried to get the information he wanted.

Kagome shuddered – it was cold in the warehouse, and most of her skin had long since been revealed. Her sleeves had become relatively nonexistent, Daniel had torn the fabric covering her stomach, her skirt had always been short, and her socks were extremely thin, so they didn't help much.

Just then, Daniel walked in, holding a WcDonalds bag. He pulled out a simple four-piece thing of chicken nuggets, and set it down in front of her, unlocking her right hand only so she could eat. "Hurry up and eat, ningen. By the time I get back with some water, I expect you to be done," he said, turning around and heading back out quickly, stopping to grab something by the door that Kagome couldn't see.

It was easy enough to open the container with just one hand, and eat, but Kagome was a little suspicious that the food might be drugged… or poisoned, or something. At least he said he'd be back with some water.

A few moments later, he was back, and he gave her a half-full bottle of brownish water. Kagome didn't entertain the idea of drinking it well, but… water is water, after all, right? She got the cap off and drank it, shuddering in disgust at the taste. It was probably full of bacteria and such, too… Lovely. Kagome was positive she was going to get sick.

Then, for the next hour, she got grilled with more questions.

"I don't know, I tell you. Maybe it disappeared, or something, I just don't know!" Kagome said, tired of repeating herself and Daniel not believing her.

Daniel still didn't believe her. "Listen, miko. I suggest that, if you value your life," he hissed lowly, "You will tell me where the power in the jewel went."

Kagome would have rolled her eyes, but she honest-to-God was just too tired. "Please, you would have killed me ages ago if that threat were true. You've kept me alive up till now so you can get the info you want. You won't kill me until you have it, or until you believe that there is another source you can get it from, and therefore have no more use for me."

Daniel scowled. "Hmmph. That mutt was actually right about you," he said, standing up straight and walking away.

Kagome froze, and she looked at him with wide eyes. "What?" she asked in a whisper, hardly believing what she had heard come out of his mouth.

Daniel's scowl turned into a smirk. "Yeah, your little ex-boyfriend. He told me all about you when I hunted him down for the Shikon Jewel."

Kagome's hands clenched into fists angrily. "You…. It wasn't Sesshomaru, was it? It was you who killed him."

"Hm? Oh, no, I didn't kill him. I just… merely shall we say weakened him for his brother." Daniel was now enjoying this – oh, he wasn't just bringing back bad memories, breaking her heart, he was working on breaking her. And it was definitely working.

Kagome closed her eyes, unable to keep from imaging it in her head. "You… why? Inuyasha hadn't done anything to you!" she asked, attempting to keep from crying again.

"Because – I'd heard rumours that he, another demon, and three humans were the last ones in possession of the Shikon no Tama. By the time I came along, the humans were long dead…. Or so I'd thought. I never found the other demon – but I did find him. And I wanted information."

"Inuyasha would never have told you about me. Never…!" Kagome said, tears falling down her cheeks now.

Daniel was enjoying this more and more with each and every passing second. "Oh, but he did. First he started off apologizing about being a jackass to you when he thought you were some wench named Kikyo, and always acting like he didn't care. And he went on about how while you were in the future, he'd get angry, impatient, and come after you, and proceed to embarrass you in front of your friends with his hanyou habits. Not to mention, by the time I was through wheedling information out of him, he had to mention that you could never measure up to Kikyo's abilities."

That last comment pierced Kagome's heart like an arrow. The tears flowed freely and she tried to choke back a sob, and couldn't.

Kagome curled up as best she could in the chains. "Inuyasha… why?" she asked herself, feeling like her heart had been ripped out of her chest. She began to feel numb, unaware now of even the pain in her side that came from moving.

Daniel now felt rather proud of himself. It had been awhile since he had mentally screwed with anyone's head. "Now," he said, almost purring, "Can you guess why he told me all this?"

Kagome sniffled, getting angry now. "You… you did something to Inuyasha. I know you did. That's why… it was all your fault! You… you… bastard!" she sobbed to him.

Daniel's eyes narrowed slightly. "Wench," he said, raising a hand to hit her.

Well, didja like it? Be happy~, I finally updated. PLEASE review. It makes me happy! And I'll update again sooner. ;3. Just press that little button below me...