Disclaimers: I do not own Inu-Yasha and Co. It is the respective property of Rumiko Takahashi.

What Fate Decides... Part 13

Kagome listened to the dull howl of the wind. She tried to focus on anything that would distract her mind from strain and ensueing pain in her wrists and arms after being hung in the shackles for much too long.

Her wrists were now starting to become rubbed raw as she had tried, in vain, to free herself. She had paused in her attempts and had now silently begun to reflect upon everything.

Guilt...

That was what she felt - guilt. If she had not spurned Sessho-maru, none of these cruel twists, of fate,would have ocurred. The murder,of her best friend; the persecution over the years; the attack on the place she now called home...

She hung her head. Lord Ashitaka had probably sent a messanger to the western lands...it wouldn't be too much longer before Sessho-maru arrived and decided her impending doom.

She froze suddenly as she heard the creaking of the cell door. She listened carefully to the murmur of voices. Guards...

"Wonder why the Lord hasn't done anything to da wench?", " Don't know...", "I say we take the matter into our own hands...", "A-as long as we don't kill her r-right...?"

She heard the slight cracking of knuckles and then a reply.

"Right"

* * *

The demon Lord looked down at the simpering human messanger before him. What the fool had to say had better be of importance or he would pay dearly for wasting the great Lord Sessho-maru's precious time...!

"Speak," he demanded coldly as he watched the man cower and start to tremble before him.

He let out a cry of fear and made a dash away from the demon.

He let out a startled yelp as he felt a clawed hand against his throat. He was now facing the Lord, eyes wide with panic.

"I am losing my patience," Sessho-maru remarked coolly. "Tell what you have been sent here for before I have decided that you have wasted enough of my time and crush your windpipe, sending you amongst the dead!"

"W-wait!" he squeaked hoarsely. "I-I-I was sent to t-tell you that L- L-Lord Ashitaka h-has captured the o-one called K-Kagome and he is o- offering her as a sign of peace...!"

He tossed the messanger onto the ground and walked out of the room. So they had captured her for him... perfect... it was as he had planned. Soon he would be with her...very soon...

* * *

Kagome heard one, of the men snarl. "Time to cry out for mercy you fucking bitch!"

Pain...shear pain...Her muscles seemed to scream as she felt the biting lash ,of wipes, against her back, thighs,stomach and arms.

She didn't whimper or even scream. She just took the brunt,of the constant assault, without a sound.

She gave a small grunt as she felt a fist slam into her gut and her head jerked back violently as another man yanked her hair fiercly, leaving her face upturned to them.

"I said for you scream, worthless bitch...!"

The main guard was now up in her face. His fool breath brushed against her cheek.

She gave a startled groan as she felt his knee drive into her stomach, knocking the wind from her lungs.

She felt the shackles unlock and a hand grab her, flicking her onto the stone floor.

"Stupid wench...", "Deserves all the punishment she gets'', ''Let's just leave her here to suffer...", "She can't take much more or she'll die", "Lord Sessho-maru will decide that when he arrives", " Feh."

She felt a foot slam hard into her ribs.She heard a sickening crack and another fierce shock of pain race through her body, causing her to nearly pass out.

She listened to receding footsteps and the thud of the door closing once more.

She coughed with much discomfort and felt a trickle of blood run slowly from the corner of her mouth down her neck.

She was alone once more and she could feel throbbing of the gashes and wilts on her stiff body. The sting,of her blood and sweat, as it flowed into other open wounds.

She lay in silence on the floor, her breathing low - almost inaudible.

It was difficult task to remain conscious, but if she blacked out, she feared she might not wake. Inu-Yasha... it was this thought that had kept her going...the only reason she faught to stay alive,but she knew she was starting to lose the battle...

She was so tired...

She slipped into a black sleep...

To be continued...