Chapter 25 - Her Own Captive

Sango pulled her friend out of the well confused, and slightly alarmed by what had just happened. Kagome had never had a problem passing through the well. There had to be some sort of explanation for this. Could Kikyo have sealed the well? Sango couldn't help but wonder, she looked around cautiously waiting for the miko to pounce.

"What in the hell is going on? I don't think that I can take much more of this." Kagome was at her wit's end. Nothing was going her way, this couldn't be happening.

"I think that we had better get back to the village, there is something strange going on here and I don't know if we are safe." Sango helped Kagome get onto Kirara's back and they took off into the sky. "Ohh. Why is this happening to me Sango? I must have the world's worst karma." Kagome couldn't help but feel sorry for herself, she just couldn't catch a break.

"Cheer up Kagome. There has to be an answer to all of this. Think back, is there anything that you did differently? Did anything look different?" Sango questioned. There had to be some clue to all of this.

"No, I don't think so. I did everything exactly the same." Kagome thought back as hard as she could, but nothing came to her. The well looked untouched, and her decent mirrored hundreds before it.

"Well don't worry Kagome, I'm sure Kaede or Miroku will have an idea why this is happening." In her head Sango prayed that it wasn't some spell Kikyo was using to keep Kagome within her reach.

Kagome had already thought of the possibility that this was Kikyo's doing. There was something missing though, it hadn't felt as if she had hit a barrier. Kagome was sure that it was solid earth that had been below her feet. She had sensed nothing that would give her even the slightest idea what or who could have blocked the well. Kagome was almost sure that it was untouched, but without InuYasha's nose there was no way to be sure.

The two women traveled quickly through the sky back to the village. Sango entered the hut while Kagome waited, ready to flee with Kirara. Inside sat Miroku, Kaede, and Shippo. The little fox demon had returned to play lookout after seeing the two to the forest's edge. He now lay sat next to the fire in deep conversation with Miroku and Kaede. "Are you the only ones here?" Sango asked scanning the hut.

"Yes, were you expecting someone else, child?" Kaede asked.

"Quick, inside Kagome." Kagome jumped off the Kirara's back and dashed into the hut.

"Kagome! What are you doing back? Why aren't you in your own time?" Miroku questioned shocked to see the girl standing before him.

"I can't go." Kagome answered. The three looked confused.

Sango placed a hand on Kagome's back. "The well is sealed." She explained and then guided Kagome over to the fire. The two women sat quietly down, unsure of what to say. Sango finally broke the silence, deciding that they didn't have time to be gentle. "Kaede do you think that Kikyo put a spell on the well so that Kagome couldn't go home?" Sango questioned.

"I doubt that she could. The well is tied to Kagome, InuYasha, and evidently Sesshomaru, my sister was never able to pass." Kaede replied.

"What do you mean that she was never able to pass? Has she actually tried to go through the well?" Miroku couldn't hide the utter shock from his face.

"Yes, she did. She must have tried a dozen times or more to go after InuYasha. I believe that she wanted to see what type of a girl she was up against. She could never get through though, she couldn't even get past the bottom. There was no hint of a transformation, just a well with Kikyo standing at the bottom." Kaede smirked, she couldn't help but want to laugh at Kikyo when it happened. She had advised her sister several times that the well was not meant for her in her state, that it was meant for those of another time. The miko had ignored her, and try she had, growing more and more frustrated with each failed attempt. It had been quite a sight to watch Kikyo mutter in disgust and frustration, years and years of fighting demons, and a damn well would do her in.

"Well then what could be sealing the well?" Shippo asked spinning rolling onto his stomach and kicking out his legs.

"Kagome." Kaede's answer was simple, but profound. The room went silent and they all exchanged glances.

"I didn't seal the well. I don't even know how." Kagome volunteered.

"The well doesn't work that way, child. The well allows to pass only those that you desire, and those that have the power to sustain such a journey. If in your heart you don't want to go home, no matter what you say aloud, the well will not let you pass. What is it that ye are hanging onto in this time so strongly that you can't bear to leave, child?" Kaede's question hung in the air like a great storm cloud that could burst open any moment and swallow Kagome whole.

Kagome simply couldn't bear to answer. In her heart she knew the truth, but what would her friends say if she said Sesshomaru, and not InuYasha. Would they think that she had gone mad? Would they understand? Kagome just couldn't bring the name from her lips.

"Kagome, I think that you had better tell us if there is something bothering you. If you don't figure it out, you may never get back to your era." Miroku spoke quietly, but his tone was serious. He was truly worried that Kagome may have just sealed herself in the feudal era, where at any moment a master archer could walk in and fire on her.

"I… I… don't know. There may be something, but it's… personal." Kagome couldn't think of anything better to say. There was no way that she could tell them that she wanted to go back to the castle, to a demon that couldn't care less for her. They are going to think that I was hit in the head. Sango knows, I can tell by the way she is looking at me. She really is a good friend not to rat me out right now. Kagome looked at Sango and gave her a slight smile. Thanks for her silence. Sango nodded in return.

"Kagome if you are trapped here then I suggest you don't go wandering about. Stay here and out of sight. You must all stay together, lest Kagome fall prey to my sister. She spoke of leaving last night to look for a "remedy" for her current state. InuYasha had better return quickly, where is InuYasha anyway?" Kaede realized that quite some time had passes since he and the flea had gone off into the forest.

"I don't know. He has been gone a long time though." Miroku observed.

"You know how that InuYasha is. He's probably mad about something or another and needed to blow off some steam." Shippo said opening the flap of Kagome's bag and pulling out a piece of candy. He relished that she kept a stock just for him. Stupid InuYasha! Kagome does everything for us and he treats her like she doesn't even matter. Shippo had grown tired of the tension, and the awkward silences that had popped up since the arrival of Kikyo. There had been a great rift between InuYasha and Kagome since the very first day Kikyo claimed that she was now living. InuYasha had been stupid enough to believe her. The now growing fox demon understood more now, and he knew that things had become very serious between Kagome and InuYasha, but before anything could be done about it Kikyo came walking into the picture wrapped up in a cloud of lies and false promises. She had changed the dynamic of the group. InuYasha was constantly pulled between the two, Kagome was always sad, and the rest of them were left with dozens of complaints. All of which were silenced because of Kikyo's presence. Something needed to change and Shippo knew that if it didn't happen soon someone or everyone was going to end up alone and unhappy.

The two brothers occupied the same space, but they couldn't be further apart. They had nothing and everything to say to one another, but neither could bring himself to speak. InuYasha brimming with rage that Sesshomaru very well could want Kagome as a mate, and Sesshomaru with resentment that he actually needed InuYasha and the dead mortal. The air between them was thick with a thousand things that they should be saying, and the more that they knew they should be talking the quieter they became.

Myoga couldn't stand the silence any longer, he was afraid that if it went on that they would work themselves into a battle. "Uh… Masters…" Myoga realized he had never addressed the two of them at the same time before, it was strange to hear himself address Sesshomaru and InuYasha together. "May this flea ask why we are going to the castle?" Myoga hoped that the feeble attempt would ignite some sort of conversation.

"We are going to see the result of what will happen should things go wrong." Sesshomaru answered flatly.

"What things are you talking about? What exactly is it that you want?" InuYasha could fight his curiosity no longer.

Sesshomaru sucked in a breath before addressing his younger brother. "I have spoken with our father InuYasha, his spirit came to me to deliver a message about his sons and their mates." Sesshomaru faced InuYasha.

"Which mates are you talking about? You wouldn't be referring to you and Kagome would you?" InuYasha could feel the fire rising within him.

"Actually little bother what I am talking about isn't just Kagome, its you, and the dead miko as well. I know where your heart lies InuYasha, you have your mate, pathetic as she may be, and now I am choosing mine. Kagome will be by my side as I claim the throne."

"Over my dead body, there is no way that I would ever let Kagome mate you. She's mine." InuYasha was ready to pounce, it was taking everything in him not to lunge for his elder brother's throat.

"You lost your right to her when you traded her life for that miko. Don't lie to me InuYasha, you thought that I would kill her. You sent that flea with a message because your precious conscience got to you. Stop being a coward InuYasha, announce your choice and allow the girl to move on without guilt."

"Kagome would never want to mate you, there is no way!" InuYasha was fuming.

"Is that so InuYasha?" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. The inference was clear, something had happened between them. InuYasha wasn't blind he knew what that look meant and he didn't like it one bit.

"What do you want Sesshomaru? Let's get on with this before I loose my temper and you loose another arm." InuYasha's patience was at it's end.

"I want to save my bride, and incidentally yours from death." Sesshomaru could bring himself to say no more without a moment to compose himself. The mere thought of Kagome dieing tore at his heart.

InuYasha gave his elder brother a puzzled look. Had the taiyoukai gone crazy? "Okay I get the Kikyo part, I don't like it but I get it. Kagome on the other hand is fine." Well at least for now, as long as Kikyo doesn't get to her. InuYasha thought to himself.

"Not some idiot dead miko's expiration date. I mean save them from aging. Surely you realize InuYasha that whether you chose Kikyo, or Kagome that you would live long past the days of their death." Sesshomaru gazed at his brother. The look on InuYasha's face told all there was to hear. Yes, he had thought of it… everyday of his life.

"You know how to stop that from happening to both of them? How?" InuYasha couldn't help but be curious.

"Through a very meticulous task InuYasha, it is such a task that if we should fail we may all die." Sesshomaru lowered the cloud to the ground an the two stepped on solid ground.

"So what happens if we mess this up that is going to be so bad?" InuYasha taunted. Sesshomaru looked at him with serious eyes. He waved his hand and the barrier opened. "This is what will happen if we fail. Sesshomaru gestured to the land around them. InuYasha's jaw fell as the took in the devastation around them.

"What is this from?" InuYasha couldn't believe his eyes, he had to know.