Hi, Ras here. A few notes on some of the questions I was asked in the reviews. Yes, this is Pandora. I had been wanting to use this idea for a looong time. I took her legend and tweaked it somewhat. I have seen too many pictures of Pandora opening up her fabled box and letting out demons. It was too much of a temptation not to use her. To all who don't know who pandora is. She is a greek myth. commisioned by Zeus,( king of the gods) and made out of clay. She was all gifted and as beautiful as aphrodite ( i think i spelled that right) Actually she was meant as a punishment on mankind for accepting the gift of fire. She was given a metal jeweled box by Hermes and told not to open it. But the coniving Hera, Zeus's sister and wife, gave Pandora curiosity. That sealed it. In time it got the better of Pandora and she eventually ended up opening the little treasure box. What she let out was winged lizard like creatures. They screamed and flapped about her head before escaping into the night. These creatures were the ills of mankind.:Spites, Disease, old age, famine and insanity and all things of this nature. The demons and evils of mankind.

But Pandora slammed the box shut just before the most evil of these creatures escaped.

It was forboding, the final spite. For man can live with all these evils and still hold on. But if that last creature had escaped then man would have been told what misfortune was to happen everyday of their lives. No hope would have been possible. There would have been an end to mankind. Man can bear endless trouble but he cannot live without hope.

No one ever knew what happened to Pandora, some say she died, some say she went insane, other books say she just fainted away.

In my story , Pandora is gifted and cursed in many ways. She is an ageless, powerful miko who accidentally set all the demons free in the first place. And for her eternal punishment she is to roam the lands putting them back in her little wooden box. Now you know this is an impossible task. She will never be able to finish. That is her curse. You will also notice that she is somewhat insane. (Being able to read all and any demon thoughts throughout centuries will do that to you.)

Oh, and about Captive soul, I will post on Friday night or sooner. I already have chapter 17 mostly written. Just got to type it.

Now on to the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

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Chapter 3

Closing his eyes, Sesshomaru waited for his end.

He could feel the foreign mist slipping through his clothes and sliding over his skin. It covered him completely.

It's putrid thickness crawled up into his nasal cavity and down his throat, sufficating him.

His heart strained with the noxious invader, slowing with the lack of oxygen.

Unable to stand, he fell to one knee.

Then he opened his eyes and mouth in strangled shock.

This miasma was a type of miko magic that sought not to purify him but to kill cleanly by taking his soul.

It would steal his spirit and leave his body a hollow husk, porous enough to crumble and drift away with the first gust of wind.

His essence would be sealed away forever in the miko's little wooden box.

Even though his body fought against the tenacious onslaught of the penetrating mist, he knew the futility in resisting.

This woman claimed to be the legend of terror.

The famed reaper of demon souls.

He had no chance.

The deadly vapor continued its attack. It burned while reaching for the inner most part of him, his spirit.

But just as he felt a violent tug on his soul, tenseiga pulsed at his side.

Its vibration grew stronger as a black light erupted from the sword and cut through the offending mist, driving it away.

The blackish purple miasma abated, returning to the place from whence it came.

Still on one knee, he blinked.

He was alive.

Looking up, he spied the witch woman, staring at her little box of death, her finger resting lightly on its lid.

A few moments passed. Then the woman spoke in a somewhat puzzled tone.."It seems my vessel will not take you, youkai... curious.....You are either protected in some way or.... maybe...as it happens from time to time....your soul is not black enough for the invitation."

Slowly, she picked up her little treasure box then concealed it within her cloak.

The miko then turned in his direction and strolled over to him.

Her movements were sleek and balanced with the sway of her walk.

The panther trailed behind her. He then caught a wiff of the cat. It was male and the miko's scent covered it. His lip rose up in a sneer of disgust as he stood and came out of the shadowed backdrop of his prison.

The inu youkai watched in preditory observation as the raven haired woman stopped a mere five feet before the cage.

He flexed his claws which were already dripping with poison.

While trying to keep his angered demon blood from erupting, Sesshomaru kept his tone even and cold. "Since your little toy will not take me, then set me free."

Her gaze fell on him. She remained silent as her dark eyes began inspecting him closely. She started at his face and hair then traveled over his body, stopping briefly on his weapons. Then her leer halted to just below his belt.

Heat flashed across his face before her blatant sensual scrutiny.

Her eyes shimmered with wicked want then moved to meet his gaze.

Shaking her head, she replied. "No....I may have another use for you."

The female then smiled lustfully at him. "I am in need of a ......servant...."

Tilting her head slightly, the miko looked him over again. "Nice... very nice......I would enjoy having you as my.......pet."

Rage filled him and his vision spotted crimson.

With youkai speed he reached through the bars to slash at the bitch, caustic poison spraying from the tips of his claws.

His sharp talons missed their target by inches as the bars held him back.

The green poison only slid down against some unseen barrier to fall sizzling at the miko's feet.

As Sesshomaru still shook with suppressed anger, he straightened and glared icily at the witch.

She only smiled at him with carnal delight.

Then the woman licked her lips. "What a temper, so wild, so feral, so much of the animal you are, demon dog....Yes.. taming you will be so much of a pleasure. I look forward to it."

She sighed. "But I see you need time to....compose yourself. I will leave you for now, prince, and I shall return soon. But before I go, I will give you a gift to help you..realize...that resisting me would not be in your best interest."

The smell of magic permeated the air as a crackling aura surrounded the miko.

As she stepped closer to him, a spark ingnited in her eyes.

When the miko moved within his reach, he chanced her energy and slashed out at her again with the intention of snatching her.

This time his foolheardy action earned him a shock that knocked him back with such force that he smashed into the thick metal wall behind him.

On impact he heard the sound of his armor cracking and the crunch of the bones in his right shoulder.

As he fell to the hard cold floor he uttered angerly. "Damn Bitch!"

While raising her hands which were now aglow with static power, the womans features blazed with the promise of unholy torment. Her voice then rose in rage. "No, Mutt! you are the one who is now damned!"

Struggling, he tried to stand. His lungs labored, more than likely one was punctured.

But then he found himself unable to move as he felt his body being lifted upwards.

He floated, suspended in mid air.

The demon glared with hatred at the witch. "Bitch! Put me down! Devil Witch! I will kill you slow......" His words were cut short as a powerful electric current shot through him. Razor sharp blades of white hot fire seared him from the inside out.

His howls penetrated the dense lifeless forest.

Then he felt himself falling.

He dropped, slamming into the stone hard floor on his left side, the force of the fall breaking his left arm.

He remained motionless, paralyzed by the intensity of the pain.

While taking deep, tortured breaths, he lay there. The coppery taste of his own blood filled his mouth.

He coughed once , splattering dark red lines across the shiny black metal.

Groaning, he watched as the miko's aura dimmed while she lowered her hands.

Without a word, she turned and left, the panther following.

As he heard the departing rustle of the woman and her cat through the foliage, the strange light in the clearing died as well.

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Hi all! I know. I know. Sesshomaru is in pretty hot water right now. I did say this story was going to be dark. In many aspects. Now I know Sessy got pretty beat up in the process in this chapter, but you got to remember. The trap he is in also dampers his demonic ability at resistance to force and his ability to heal as well. In other words these abilites are cut somewhat in half or more than half. Comments? Questions? Please review. ^_^ I cannot see some things as cleary as you all do so other eyes are helpful in determining what mistakes I may make. I like constuctive criticism. And I love to explain things. Thanks to all who read and liked!

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. Review responses:

Sunfowerseed:Yes, I had been wanting to use Pandora's myth for a long time.

Nah, that is not the end of the series. In the episode right after the episodes where Kouga first shows up, Kagome sees Inu hugging Kikyou under a tree. Inu vows that Kikyo belongs to him. Kikyo hugs him back then turns on him and puts a dagger to his throat and tells him that he is no different from Naraku. Kikyo leaves. Inu turns to see Kagome standing there. No words are said but there is this look in Inu's eyes of regret. Kagome runs back home and he does not follow. While Kagome is in her time and Inuyasha is in his. Inuyasha tells everyone else that he has chosen Kikyo over Kagome. UGH! While Kagome is in her time she realizes she loves Inu. Kagome comes back to the feudel era and tells Inu that she understands and that she will always be by his side. So their quest together, just as friends, continues.

Sashlea: Now that is a coincindence! Good luck in summer school! ^_^

Sake Girl Duelest: You just left Sessy there?

Alina: girl, don't exert yourself too much. ^_^

And thanks to all who reviewed! ( most who asked about Pandora and I gave my explanation in the notes at the first of the chapter.) ^_^

Tenshi no Yami

Johanna Gen: Gaspity Gasp?

My Reflection: I don't know why but I like your pen name.

mikopriestess143

Phoebi

fan of story ^_-

Blue Demon

Shinoku : *pouts* no real pocky for me..drat. I'm glad you like the bit of pandora. I am silently hoping that I am not taking anyone else's idea who may have put it in Inuyasha first. I haven't seen anyone with it so I guess I am ok. ^_^