Trapped

"Kagome, look out!" Inuyasha screamed from across the clearing where his sword was raised to block an enemy demons attack.

Looking around swiftly, Kagome jumped out of the way just in time to avoid being slammed into the ground by a large scaly tail. Angry red eyes leveled on her and the demon pounced in her direction.

Screaming, she hopped to her feet and took off running. Too late, she realized she was without her bow and down to one arrow. But what was she going to do – stop and stab him with it? She thought not.

Crashing blindly through the brush, she ran from the vicious hissing that seemed to be growing closer to her with every step she took. She wouldn't risk a look behind her for two reasons. Reason number one: she would likely trip and fall and surely be caught and devoured by the serpent youkai, and reason number two: she feared it was already close enough to do just that anyway and looking behind her would be to look death in the eyes.

She had to do something, though. She'd already run far from her group – they couldn't help her this time.

Arrow it is, she thought, reaching back and grasping it in her hand. Spinning around quickly, she plunged the arrow into the snakes eye; but it didn't kill the demon – just angered it further. Kagome stumbled and fell to her butt as the youkai reared back to strike.

Drawing in a breath, she intended to scream, but before she could, the snake let out a piercing shriek and exploded into chunks.

"Oh, thank god," she breathed, looking past where the snake had been to Inuyasha and her friends.

Only…it wasn't her friends standing there with creepy grins and leering eyes, roaming over her body and making her skin crawl. Slowly, she rose to her feet, brushing off her navy blue skirt and ensuring it covered her properly. She had, luckily, avoided most of the snake gunk, but now she had to deal with perverted youkai as opposed to one that simply wanted to eat her.

"Thank you; you saved me," she said, hoping her pleasantries would save her this time.

"You misunderstand, girly," one of the demons sneered, leering at her bare legs, "You will be saving us."

"You will fetch a large sack o' coin, young and thick as ya are," the other said, a vile smirk on his wide, purple lips.

She took a step back, her stomach dropping, intending to run – and bumped right into something hard and warm. Arms, thick and strong, wrapped firmly around her upper body, holding her hostage. A dirty hand came up to cover her mouth and before she knew what was happening, she was hit in the head with something hard and everything went black.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled, dashing through the trees.

"Kagome!" Called Sango, eyes downcast as she and Miroku flew overhead on Kirara's back.

Her friends called her name loudly, searching in the direction she ran through the woods, but she was nowhere in sight. They had come across the snake, blown to bits, her arrow still sticking grimly from its eye socket, and Inuyasha bristled when he caught the scent of other youkai.

"That idiot," he grumbled, his feet carrying him swiftly from tree to tree, "went and got herself kidnapped again, I'm sure."

"Inuyasha, I do not have a good feeling about this," Miroku hollered to be heard over the wind in their ears. In fact, he had been uneasy since finding the snake, the arrow, and no Kagome. He had sensed the lingering demonic auras, and he knew – as one lecher knew another – the intentions of the youkai were not pure; not by any means. Indeed, they were malicious and depraved.

He feared for Kagome's safety.

Seeing the worry in Miroku's eyes, a dark feeling brought his stomach to his gut and settled there.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled until his throat was raw.

To no avail.

The trail had gone cold.

She was gone.

"Inuyasha, we should head back to Kaede's in case she ends up there," someone suggested, but he was only half listening.

"You go ahead, I'll meet you there," he replied, his eyes dashing madly around hoping to spot the blue skirt and orange top she had been wearing, "I'm going to search a while longer."

Sango and Miroku shared a look, worried about two of their friends now, instead of one.

"I will stay with Inuyasha and look!" Shippo spoke up, about to transform into a leaf to float down to his shoulder.

"No, you stay with them, you'll only slow me down."

Shippo watched, bottom lip trembling, as Inuyasha darted away.

You better find her, Inu-baka, or I will never forgive you, Shippo promised himself as Inuyasha disappeared from sight.

Kagome was being jostled awake – rather rudely she might add. Someone grasped her arm and shook her roughly.

"Wake up!"

"Inuyasha, you don't have to be so rude," she grumbled groggily, "And you don't need to be so rough, either."

Jerking her arm away from Inuyasha, she opened her eyes and the lamp in front of her was blinding; it made her head throb. Hearing someone snicker, she realized she didn't recognize the sound of the voice she'd heard. Jerking back, she recalled what had happened.

"Ow," she cried, bringing a hand to her head – only to find she was unable to. Panic laced through her veins when she realized her wrists were bound with thick rope, "Why are you doing this? Let me go!"

She was pulled to her feet and nearly feel forward – her head was pounding and looking down she saw her ankles were bound as well.

And something else…

Blood drained from her face when she saw her panties at her ankles, resting atop the rope that bound them.

"You perverts!" She screamed, anger boiling her blood; she felt ill, "What did you do to me?!"

Her body began to shake, and she was sure she would be sick, right there in front of those vile demons. She tried to think; she didn't feel violated – not physically, anyway. She didn't feel as if she had been touched beneath her skirt. She didn't feel…stretched or tender, although her nipples were a little sore.

"Did you touch the merchandise, gentlemen?" Another voice piped up, "I am afraid if that is the case, I have no interest in this one."

"Did not touch her, m'lord, just inspected the goods," a third voice spoke up, "This one is plump in all the right places, and ripe as they come. Pure, too – you can smell her virginity."

Kagome felt a wave of emotion rush forward, threatening to bring her to her knees. She took a shuddering breath and bit her lip to stop it trembling. She would not cry. She would not give these disgusting creatures the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

She realized what was happening as they spoke. Her head ached worse than it ever had before, and her vision was blurry, but that didn't stop her from recognizing the situation she was in. She was likely being sold to some whore house somewhere.

Glancing up, her eyes roved over the trees surrounding them, praying that Inuyasha would find her quickly.

"Where am I?" She asked suddenly, but the men ignored her as they conducted their business.

"It appears you have damaged her," the man she assumed was responsible for purchasing her pointed out, "She has a wound on her head."

She blinked in the darkness, trying to get a good look at him. She couldn't tell what type of youkai he was. Long, dark hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck and his eyes reflected in the night – much like a feline. Squinting seemed a pain, suddenly, and her vision blurred again. She swayed on her feet and might have fallen to her knees had a rough hand not grasped her upper arm.

"But a flesh wound and will heal quickly," the man holding her offered, "It will no' be leavin' a scar."

Trying to breathe through the pain in her head, Kagome watched the youkai with dark hair as he stepped closer to hear, his eyes wandering down her body in a speculative manner that left her feeling increasingly exposed – never mind her panties still at her ankles. He walked around her and surveyed what she had to offer from behind, lifting her skirt with a long claw.

"No!" She cried, pulling away "Don't touch me!"

"She will require being tamed," the well-dressed youkai said, "I believe, however, that my lord will approve of this one." He turned back to the other three youkai. "I will offer you 300,000 yen for her and not a bit more."

"She is worth more than that," the man gripping her arm said menacingly, "We will not let her go for less than 500,000."

"And what makes you think she is worth more?" The lone youkai inquired, "she is human, and she is damaged," he pointed out, gesturing to the wound on her head.

"Again, but a flesh wound which will heal well before you will be needing her services," the burly demon behind her pointed out, irritation in his voice, "She may be human, but she is clean, and virgin. She is well-nourished and well-endowed. She is worth more than what you offer."

The demon across from her gave her another once-over, and tipped his head, looking into her blue eyes.

Unique color for a human, he thought.

"Very well," he conceded, digging in his coin purse, "500,000. That concludes our business."

Ownership changed hands, and suddenly Kagome was being lifted over her purchasers shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Good doin' business with ya'," she heard one of the demons call from behind them as her newest captor leapt away with her.

After several minutes of quick travel, they landed in a small opening in the trees and she was set down on her feet. With nothing but the light of the moon to see by, Kagome had a hard time following his movements, and her heart pounded nervously.

"Please let me go," she begged, "I will pay you more than what you paid them if you let me go."

She was sure her family would happily pay the price for her freedom, if she could just get to them.

"And where might you get this large sum of currency from?" He asked her, mirthfully, "You have nothing but the clothing on your back."

"Obviously I'd have to go home and get it," she snapped, not liking this jerk one bit.

"Now, now, you will do well to watch that tongue of yours," he said pleasantly, not bothered by her in the slightest, "I will remove your binds, but should you attempt to run, you will be punished in a most unpleasant way. Do I make myself clear, human?"

She glared at him defiantly. She wanted the rope removed; it was chafing, and her skin felt raw beneath it – plus she really wanted to pull her panties back up – but she also didn't want to give this demon the satisfaction of obeying him.

"Or, I can just leave you in the undignified manner you currently find yourself. It makes little difference to me, either way." She thought he was smirking but couldn't tell in the darkness.

Sighing, she relented. "Fine, I won't try to run." Looking at her feet, she swallowed hard, wishing she was anywhere but there.

"Wonderful," he said, and using his claws, he sliced through the rope at her wrists then kneeled to cut through the rope at her ankles. She averted her eyes in embarrassment, knowing he could see her panties. How did she get herself into this mess?

Kagome felt helpless and hopeless, once again praying that Inuyasha would find her soon.

"Where are we?" She tried again, leaning over to slide her panties up her legs – only to find that he had cut through them as well. Huffing, her eyes brimmed with tears and she let her lacy underwear fall to the ground instead. She hadn't realized how exposed she felt in her short skirt until she could no longer hide what was beneath it with another layer. Blinking, she bit back her sorrow and rubbed her wrists before bringing a hand to her head to assess her injury. She supposed he was going to ignore her question again.

"Ow," she breathed, gently prodding the lump on her head with her fingertips.

"Do try not to touch it," the demon waited impatiently for her to get it together, "I will have someone look at it when we arrive, now come," he held out a clawed hand to her, "We should arrive within the hour."

"I need water," she said, dropping her hand from her head.

Glowering in irritation, he closed the space between them, grasping her shoulders and pulling her towards him. "You will have what you require once we arrive at the fortress. Until then, close your mouth and do as you are told."

She was afraid but refused to show it as she glared up at him.

This close to him, she could clearly see the smirk when it appeared on his face. "You may act brave all you want, human, but you forget who you keep company with. I can hear the rapid beating of your heart," he said, his voice lowering several octaves as one hand left her shoulder, claws tracing across the exposed skin of her collar bone, "I can see you tremble where you stand."

He dipped a clawed finger below the collar of her shirt, into her cleavage, and leaned in, inhaling deeply. "I can smell your fear as clearly as I could smell the arousal of the vile men who held you captive previously."

His words sent chills down her spine and she couldn't help but ask. "They didn't do anything to me, did they?" She whispered; eyes wide as she looked up at him.

He was slightly put off by the innocently fearful look on her face. Pulling back just so, he analyzed the look, deciding he rather liked it, and filed it away in his memory to recall at a later time when he was alone.

"I would not have purchased you, had they."

That was all he said, but it was enough for Kagome. She sighed heavily and let her eyes close, feeling a heaviness on her shoulders. She was terribly tired all of a sudden and just wanted this whole thing to end.

"Are you going to let me go?"

"Not a chance," he said, lifting her over his should again, "It is difficult to find a young human with all of your qualities; my lord will most certainly approve of you."

She squeaked in protest as her stomach melded with his muscled shoulder. Her stomach heaved in protest and she threw her hands out frantically, trying to find purchase. Unfortunately, the only place available was his back…so her hands ended up grasping the clothing there. She was entirely too uncomfortable with her current situation. But that discomfort was nothing compared to her horror in the next moment.

As the demon began to run, her skirt flew up over her rear, effectively exposing all she had to offer there. Her eyes widened and she screamed, releasing his clothing to reach back and attempt to push her skirt back down.

Why did she wear these stupid things again? This was so horrifying. She'd never felt so degraded in her entire life.

She felt a laugh roll through the demon carrying her. "Yes, he will definitely approve."

"P – put me down!" She begged. This was too much. Kagome was strong-willed and came from a time where most women were empowered, but in that moment, she felt very small and insignificant. She felt exposed and vulnerable.

And she hated it.

As soon as she got the chance, she would run. She couldn't count on others to save her. She'd have to get herself out of this one.

She feared, though, that it wouldn't be as easy as that. And a while later, when a walled-in fortress came into view, she began to truly panic. Struggling against her captors hold, she thrashed fiercely, and he came to a stop just inside the tree-line of the forest.

Tossing her onto the ground at his feet, she landed hard on her backside. Ignoring the pain she pushed herself away from him as quickly as she could, climbing to her feet. The world spun around her, and she thought that she might pass out.

"You will behave yourself," he reminded threateningly, "Or you will face my lord's wrath."

Supporting herself against a tree, she glanced quickly around, looking for a way out, but it was dark, her head was pounding, and her legs shook beneath her. She lost all hope and slumped to her knees, finally allowing the tears to fall down her cheeks.

"Why are you doing this?" She whispered past the lump in her throat, "I just want to go home."

"Perhaps, if you behave," he started, the hint of a promise in his mischievous voice, "my lord will see fit to release you once your debt is paid."

"What debt? I don't even know your lord. I definitely don't owe him anything!"

"Oh, but you do, you see. 500,000 yen, in fact. A steep price, for a human. I wonder how long it will take you to work that off."

How long?

A fresh wave of panic set in, pumping adrenaline through her veins and she lifted herself to her feet and ran blindly through the trees, ignoring the branches that scratched her face and arms. She didn't make it far before she was being man-handled once more, laughter in her ear.

"You are a feisty one," he laughed, throwing her onto his shoulder again, "You will certainly require some taming. I wonder if my lord will allow me to do the honors."

Kagome kicked, punched and screamed the entire way into the fortress, no longer seeing in her blind panic. She didn't see the amused faces of the youkai they passed. She didn't notice the many flags in red and white that lined the fortress walls. She failed to see the small green toad youkai that watched them with interest and curiosity.

"Let me go!" She screamed, grabbing a fist full of his hair and yanking his head back as hard as she could. She was fighting for her life at this point. "I said, let. Me. Go!" She growled and bit down on his neck.

His eyes widened at the intimate act and he finally released her, unceremoniously dropping her. She was on her feet in an instant and darting in the direction they'd come. She watched in horror as the gates closed before she could reach them.

"No!" She cried, pounding her fist against the solid wood imprisoning her. Spinning around, she was breathing hard, eyeing the guards that surrounded her. The courtyard was lit up with lantern light and she could almost see everyone clearly enough. She spotted the youkai who'd brought her there and anger coursed through her veins.

"You!" She yelled, picking up a rock at her feet and infusing it with reiki; she threw it in his direction, silently begging it to hit the mark. It missed him as he stepped easily from its path.

Feeling her powers suddenly surge within her, her reiki flared, and the guards took several steps back. Her entire body trembled, and she couldn't tell if it was becoming darker or if her vision was failing her.

"A miko?" the demon closest to her questioned.

Right, she was a miko. And what a useless miko she was, she thought. She couldn't even protect herself from one demon – forget an entire fortress of them, many of which were surrounding her at that very moment.

"What is Inuyasha's wench doing here?" came a familiar squawking voice. Her blood went cold and drained from her head. Her eyes glanced around quickly, seeking the owner of the voice. She was sure she looked insane, but she didn't care – she had to be sure.

Stomping up to the wench, Jaken stopped right in front of her. "Why are you here, wench?" He demanded; his staff aimed in her direction. "How dare you place your filthy human self within the walls of my lords home!"

The moment her eyes landed on Sesshomaru's henchman, her legs gave out on her and gravity pulled her down. No sooner did her knees meet the ground that the darkness tunneling her vision crept in fully and her eyes rolled to the back of her head. The guards watched as she slumped to the ground, her cheek resting in the dirt.

"Well," came a baritone voice from just inside the doors of the fortress, "It has not been quite so lively in this courtyard since the last gathering."

"My Lord," the youkai in the courtyard said respectfully, bowing low.

"As you were," he granted, turning to his advisor. The youkai held his neck and Sesshomaru could smell blood, "What have we here, Takeshi?" He questioned, glancing at his half-brother's miko, unconscious within the walls of his fortress, "Why did you bring a miko within my walls?"

Takeshi felt like a fool. How he had not realized she was a miko, he could not begin to say.

"She must have been suppressing her reiki, my Lord. I felt no holy aura from her upon purchasing her."

"You purchased her?" Sesshomaru questioned, intrigued, "From who?"

Did his vile half-breed of a brother finally grow tired of the human? He thought it unlikely.

"Some youkai I have done business with previously. They claimed they found her alone in the woods, about to be eaten by a serpent demon."

"Hn." He eyed the woman. During their previous run-ins, she had worn similar clothing, though in different colors. The richness of the color and the quality of the fabric she wore had always intrigued him. She did not seem to come from wealth, but the color and quality of her scant clothing almost suggested otherwise. That and the way she carried herself.

His eyes trailed the path of her bare legs, all the way up to her nearly visible backside. Glancing to his right, he eyed the guard whose eyes had a direct line of vision up the miko's horribly short kimono. The guards eyes were glued to what was beneath her clothing and Sesshomaru wondered, vaguely, what had his guard so enamored.

Finding Takeshi, Sesshomaru continued his inquiry. "I presume you purchased her for the gathering."

"Yes, my Lord. She is one of the better humans I have purchased for the event. Though, I had no idea she was a miko. And she seems ill-trained," he admitted, glancing at her slumped form, "She did not display a spiritual aura, nor did she attempt to escape using her reiki. I am not sure she is capable of such a task."

"I always had the same impression," Sesshomaru offered to his advisor, "Though, it would be wise not to underestimate the miko – she possesses a great deal of power, she just does not know how to harness it. Regardless, from what I have been witness to, she is not a threat as long as she remains without a weapon."

He eyed Takeshi's neck once more. "What is wrong with your neck?"

Takeshi removed his hand to reveal a wound shaped very much like human teeth. It was already healing, but Sesshomaru wanted to laugh at his advisor for his carelessness.

"She marked you, Takeshi?" He taunted his advisor, "You belong to the miko now?"

"Absolutely not, my Lord!" Takeshi sputtered, outraged. As if he would allow a filthy human to mark him. "She threw a tantrum!" He defended himself, "Pulled my hair and bit me, the bitch."

"And tell me, Takeshi, did you enjoy it?" Sesshomaru smirked. He, himself, rather enjoyed rough foreplay. He never minded a little hair pulling and nipping.

"My Lord, surely you jest."

"Hn."

"Shall I place her in a room, or would you rather I disposed of her?"

"How much did you pay for her?"

"500,000 my Lord."

"Keep her. She will likely be worth more than what you paid," his eyes fell on the miko again, a cruel smile crossing his lips, "You did well, Takeshi."

Ever since he witnessed the miko pull his father's fang from his burial site, then proceeding to hand the sword over to his unworthy half-brother, he had wanted to bring the miko to her knees. Even more so after he attempted to kill her with his acid, and she somehow remained unscathed before his very eyes.

"Inform me of where you put her," he commanded Takeshi, "Jaken, the miko will be staying. Do not cause a commotion."

"B – but! My Lord!" Jaken's grating voice rang through the courtyard.

Sesshomaru turned around, heading back toward his study. "And inform me immediately upon her waking."

Sesshomaru was going to use this opportunity to his advantage. Perhaps he could convince her to acquire his father's fang for him. He may not be able to wield it, but it most certainly did not belong in the hands of the half-breed. It could sit in the armory and collect dust before he would allow the disgusting hanyou to keep it.

Having complete control over her was an added bonus. She would be helpless to him, without a weapon, without help, and completely at his mercy.

Sesshomaru could hardly wait to begin.