Chained: In More Ways Than One

Witch Doctor

The front door was left wide open for them when they arrived.

Kagome was amazed that the inside was as nice as the outside. There was a firing burning in the hearth, paper screens with beautiful imagery, and a low table with fluffy pillows around it.

The old lady had setup two additional spots with steaming tea. "Sit."

Sesshoumaru stayed standing.

Kagome crossed the room from the doorway and gladly fell into the soft cushions in exhaustion. She was just about to take a sip of the tea when it was suddenly snatched back by the witch doctor. "Wait." The women said before she added some powder that dissolved into the tea.

The demon lord raised a suspicious eyebrow at this action but was unable to stop the miko from drinking it because the old women slid it back over so fast. "Now you may drink" Kagome gulped it down like it wasn't even hot.

He noticed the more the miko drank the more her demeanor improved. The redness around her eyes disappeared and she sat up straighter than the previous tired slouch she had sported. The witch doctor must have noticed how tired the miko had been.

"Wow. This must be some amazing tea because I feel great. Can I have some more?" The miko asked. Oblivious that it was the potion she had just ingested and not the tea that was the cause of her sudden energy boost.

" Sure. You can have his." The witch doctor addressed the miko as she pointed to the forgotten demon lord who was glowering from the corner.

Kagome wasn't no time claiming his tea as her own.

The witch doctor turned her attention from the miko to the demon lord. "Just as stubborn as when you were a child Sesshy. I doubt you remember me." Finally acknowledging their previous history together. Stating as a fact in good humor.

"I suggest that you address me properly by my title." Sesshoumaru demanded coldly. Not responding well to the old nickname.

Kagome poured herself another cup of tea fresh from the pot. "I don't know I kinda like it. Maybe I'll start using it. Sesshy has a nice ring to it." She commented before taking a sip of her tea trying to look cool but ended up burning her tong. "Ah hot, hot."

She had always wondered what Sesshoumaru was called when he was younger. She doubted a name meaning the killing perfection suited a child. It was a name you had to grow into.

Sesshoumaru growled in frustration. It had taken him over two hundred years to get rid of that nickname and now he knew the source. This old women just had to bring it back in front of the miko who had such a loud mouth before he'd know it his half brother would be using it to make fun of him in battle.

And then it would spread to the masses.

""I guess your mother beat the rest of your good humor out of you since I last saw you pup. I always hated that demoness." Sesshoumaru couldn't deny the witch doctors accusations. His mother was a hard hearted women and it had spread to him.

"I'm sorry, but I've been drinking your tea but I don't even know your name yet? Miyoga never mentioned it." Kagome intervened as soon as she got the feeling back in her mouth trying to distract them and lighten the mood.

"My name is Maryoku." The witch doctor said turning her attention back to the miko.

The name meaning magical power fit her thought Kagome to herself.

"So it was Miyoga's doing sending you two to me. The little coward." The newly known Maryoku said with a huff as she looked between the two and took a sip of tea.

"Actually it was a collaboration between Miyoga and Totosai. Though the fire smith was reluctant to even suggest you to us though he knew you could help. This Sesshoumaru wonders why?" He said in an almost accusing tone.

The witch doctor slammed her tea cup on the table so fast her tea floated in midair for a second before following the cup; startling Kagome. "I don't like your tone pup. You should not speak about things you were too young to understand when they were going on."

Maryoku glared at the demon lord who returned it full force.

"Sesshoumaru apologize." Kagome demanded. He just had to insult the one being who had the possibility to help them. No wonder Totosai would never make a sword for him if this is how he behaved when asking for favors.

The witch doctor raised an eyebrow in amusement when the miko made a growling noise under her breath when the demon lord looked away in refusal.

The young woman then proceeded to stand up and march over to the demon lord's side and pull him down to her eye height by the ear. "Don't forget, oh high and mighty, that we are here to ask for her help. It's not just you butt on the line here. So I suggest that you apologize by accepting her hospitality."

The interaction between the two left Maryoku in shock and enough amusement to cause her to even forget her anger at the young pup. The intimidating reputation the demon lord had built for himself had reached the witch doctors ears and she was surprised that the miko showed no fear in his presence and even had the audacity to berate him.

Sesshoumaru and Kagome had a glaring contest for a second before he finally looked away in silent defeat. The miko marched him over to stand by the table. When he did nothing he was thrown into action to sit at the table by the young woman with one word. "Now!"

The demon lord held out his tea cup which the witch doctor filled and he took a sip before then looking at the miko from the corner of his eye for a sign of approval, which he received a small nod. Maryoku tried to hide her smile of amusement. "So now that that is done and over with. You two came to ask me for help with something?"

"I'm sure it's blatantly obvious." Sesshoumaru said as a statement but just received a blank stare from the with doctor. A short silence followed. "The chain!"

"What chain?" Maryoku asked in complete seriousness.

"You can't see it?" Kagome asked in wonderment as she held part of the chain up for the witch's inspection.

Maryoku squinted at what the miko was holding before grumbling to herself. "There's something there it's just a little blurry." The witch doctor them proceeded to reach into her robes and pull out a pair of classes that when put on magnified her already large eyes. "Aw, much better." She exclaimed before continuing to examine the chain.

Sesshoumaru wanted to hit his head in frustration being around all these old people was getting to him.

Kagome kicked Sesshoumaru under the table warning him not to make any sarcastic comment like 'this is who's suppose to help us…hn.' He glared back at the miko who fawned innocence.

"So can you help us, right?" Kagome asked.

"Of course this is child play for the likes of me." The witch doctor boasted.

"You mean you actually process the power to separate us." Sesshoumaru asked as he looked up at her in amazement.

"Isn't that what I just said." Maryoku asked rhetorically as she pulled her long sleeves back and out of the way. "I definitely have the power. Are you two sure you want to be separated?" The witch doctor asked with a gleam in her eye.

"Yes!" Both the demon lord and miko responded with at the same time without any hesitation.

"Alright you asked for it." Maryoku exclaimed before snapping her fingers, and just like that both the miko and demon lord were gone.