Chapter 5: Day and Night

While Kagome spent her days secluded in her dim room, Sesshoumaru maintained his perpetual patrol over his lands. The weather had been uncommonly favorable over the first week of his 'experiment', yet he was forced to limit his travel in order to stay near to the girl's prison. Jaken would be sent to care for her every morning, offering the taiyoukai a few moments of peace.

Even now, he rested thoughtfully against a tree, knowing that there would be little point in trying to make any progress this month. It would be troublesome if he attempted to move the miko. The cave-like room had been commissioned by one of his forebears, specifically for the purpose of holding powerful creatures like her. Especially those whom the captors wished particularly not to be found. It would not do to have his experiment interrupted.

Rin was playing nearby, laughing jubilantly at the slightest provocation as she chatted at the two-headed dragon while Jaken was preparing to leave. He watched her childish movements as she stroked each of the dragon's heads. She stood on the toes of her bare, dusty feet, reaching as high as she could to touch the tops of the beasts' bent heads.

She had noticed that Sesshoumaru had shown little interest in covering great distance this past week. They stayed close to the mountains, and he would leave her and Jaken alone every night. Jaken, too, was gone on errands more than usual. Still, Rin payed it little mind.

"Jaken." Sesshoumaru sent a cold stare at the little youkai, who had paused in his work to glare at Rin.

The toad peaked up tentatively. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Shouldn't you be gone?"

Jaken gaped for a moment before scampering to leave.

Sesshoumaru's eyes glanced over the remains of Rin's little fire from the night before. He looked at it for a moment, seemingly ignorant of the world around him. Gracefully, he bent down, picked up a piece of charcoal and wordlessly wrapped the piece in a scrap of cloth. He threw the package at Jaken's head. "Give her this."

Jaken's eyes widened gleefully. "Sesshoumaru-sama!"

"In addition to her food, Jaken."

Jaken's face fell. "Of course, Sesshoumaru-sama."

He watched disinterestedly as Jaken departed.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin's small voice inquired. He looked calmly down at the little girl. "Will you travel today?" She asked from simple curiosity, content to follow if he chose to go, to wait if he wanted her to stay behind, to remain with him if he desired to stay.

"No," he said simply.

Rin gave him a cheery smile, promptly spinning off to pursue her own childish endeavors. She was so full of life, hardly ever stopping even to catch her breath. Strangely, he was much reminded of the miko. Kagome also had those ridiculously bright eyes, that same ready smile. Though perhaps her eyes were a bit dimmer, concealed within those walls. Her smile looked for any excuse to manifest itself, even if it were fleeting. Even he was not blind to the shroud her imprisonment had placed over her.

Still, he reasoned, this arrangement was only temporary. After the miko had paid her and Inuyasha's debt, things could go back to normal. The girl was, after all, cooperating, and he had promised to allow her to keep her life in that event.

In fact, she was doing more than simply cooperating. He had not taken her all that seriously when she had promised to him her willing assistance. Now, a few days later, he was no longer certain about her. She seemed to take her offer very seriously. Still, he would not have given it any further thought, had she not begun to show progress in her efforts.

He could taste it-- she was changing. He wasn't sure how, but it was there, a sweet burning after-taste on his tongue. At first he was not certain, but now there could be little doubt. The power within the girl was growing.

It disturbed him, in a distant fashion, to feel that power working within him. He believed now that his remedy truly was working, but he was somewhat unprepared for the changes. It burned warmly sometimes in what remained of his left arm. He was always aware of its presence, merging with his body in ways he did not completely understand.

It was adapting to him, and he to it. He could tell he was changing, if ever so slightly. He found himself in a milder disposition as time went on. It was easier to stay calm. Whatever this power was doing to him, it seemed to breed tranquility. It eased his mind as it simultaneously frustrated him. Still, if Bokusenou understood this process properly, this was an expected side-effect. Her power would dissipate after the remedy was complete.

They shared a bond now, wether they liked it or not. It only made him more inquisitive. How was she accomplishing this growth in power, especially trapped away as she was? And why would a captive seem so eager to assist her heartless captor?

Little more than a week had passed for Kagome in this empty place. Jaken had already been and gone this morning, and she had been settling once again into another day of tedious boredom. She had been standing on the tips of her toes, a fragment of charcoal in her hand as she irritably pushed her long hair away from her work. She didn't hear him enter, which never failed to unnerve her. Yet she did, somehow, feel him when he entered her presence. She would previously have cast off the feeling as nothing but nervousness, but she was beginning to recognize that strange tingling feeling for what it was.

Slowly, Kagome rolled down from her toes and turned to face the demon in the doorway. She hardly tried to hide her nervousness at seeing him unexpectedly in the daylight. She anxiously twirled the piece in her hand, but bravely met his eyes.

"Is there something you need, Sesshoumaru?" she asked softly.

He didn't answer right away, taking in the sight before him in the light for the first time. There were eight moons drawn now in Kagome's make-shift calender, one for each night of their trial thus far. Her sketches and notes were growing more cluttered on all of the walls he could see from his position. He cast a slow glance around him, taking in everything new she had made.

And then there was the girl, standing somewhat uncertainly opposite him. She was still wearing that strange uniform, now very rumpled and worn. It hardly covered her, he noticed. Her legs and arms were almost entirely bare. Now that he thought about it, the warm weather was waning, and it had grown much colder, especially here in the hills. He was unsure what provoked him more, the girl's inadequate clothing, or the bandages on her wrist and arm.

She was different too, he realized. Her skin was paler than it had been, her hair was duller and seemed limp and dispassionate. She nervously brushed her black locks away from her eyes, that bandaged wrist brushing against her light face. Her fingers accidently left a stroke of charcoal on the side of her cheek. Soft lips were innocently parted. He could hear--he could taste--every shaky breath that passed those lips. But her presence--it filled the room. Her small body seemed to operate in spite of the enormous power it had access to, almost as if the two did not acknowledge the other's existence. Yet her power was there... and it was stronger than it had been even a few nights ago.

"Sit," he said calmly.

She obeyed, giving him a curious look. He knelt beside her and unwrapped her bandages. She watched as he began to spread something over her cuts. "What's this?"

"It will help. You have not healed as I thought."

She gave a small scoff. "Well of course they wouldn't heal by now." Still, the moment the words slipped past her lips, she realized it was possible that he really didn't know.

He looked up at her sharply, though he did not halt his work. "What have you done?"

She blinked in confusion. "What?"

"Your power," he rested his hand softly on her sternum, "has changed."

His hand fell with the movement of her body as she let out a breath. "I... I don't know, but I've felt it too." Her hand came up to rest over his. "I feel different. It's not as hard anymore to hold back my power when you..." She swallowed. "And I always feel like there's something nearby that I can't see. It's confusing."

He pondered silently. Was it possible her attempts to stop her power had strengthened her control? It seemed that this was her first true exercise for her powers. Now that she was finally attempting to use and control it, it was growing so much.

"You're doing well," he said.

She smiled at the compliment, insignificant as it was. He drew his hand a way, noticing how cool her skin seemed.

"There are other matters I must attend to. I will see you tonight, as usual." He stood to leave, for the first time taking a good look at the west wall. This alone was not covered in scribbles, but Kagome's carefully ordered forest scene. It wasn't until he had passed the door that he realized what seemed strange about it. It exactly matched the scene a person would see if they were standing on the other side of the wall. The last thing the girl had seen before that door had closed on her.

That night he had returned as usual. With a glance, he stopped her before she could go to her usual position.

Wordlessly, he tossed her a white bundle.

She caught it, squinting in confusion as some of it unraveled and flowed over her arms. "What's this?"

"Clothes. I do not wish to see you in... those garments... again. Understood?"

She gave him a scowl, more for his attitude than disapproval over the kimono. "Fine."

He stood for a moment, waiting.

"What? Now?"

He gave her an impatient look. "Did I not say that I did not want to see you in those clothes anymore?"

She flushed bright red. "I'm not changing with you in here! Either go outside or I'll wait until after you leave."

He raised an eyebrow to demonstrate his disinterest before turning to the door. "Dress quickly."

As soon as the door shut she rapidly set to work, having a difficult time picturing Sesshoumaru knocking. Fortunately, he had not brought her anything particularly complex. At least clean clothes were a welcome change.

As she expected, he didn't bother to knock, but just walked back in when he assumed she had taken enough time. She spun around and glared at him while pulling her hair free from the kimono.

His eyes traveled up her body, now draped in a simple silk. A pink floral pattern trailed down the length of the white kimono. As she dropped her hands her hair fell in a black wave over her shoulders, the long sleeves falling past her hands as she lowered them. She looked a lot more suitable now that she was no longer wearing those rags, and more importantly, he no longer could see the bandages on her arms. He felt some of the tension slip away from his body.

By the twelfth day of the new month, Inuyasha was drawing closer. Sesshoumaru knew the whelp was still frantically searching for the girl, having long separated from his companions to cover more ground. Or, more accurately, because Inuyasha refused to search at their pace. His search pattern was random, but he was still advancing steadily. Perhaps there was some connection between him and the girl; he seemed to be choosing the right path without any sign of a trail.

Something had to divert Inuyasha from his current path. It was important that he not discover her location. Especially not this early in the month.

Sesshoumaru approached his brother from the south, not making any effort to disguise his trail. Let the hanyou think that his woman lay in that direction. There was a subtle shift in the wind, carrying his scent to Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru could sense his youki as he turned and came after him.

Even he had not expected Inuyasha's next rash move.

The hanyou burst from the trees with speed Sesshoumaru had not thought possible from him. He saw a quick flash as Tetsusaiga was ripped from its sheath. A roaring blur of red and white slammed into him as he registered the bite of steel ripping through his shoulder.

Fury burned in his younger brother's eyes as he mercilessly swung the fang. For the first time, he showed no fear or weariness of the full demon. He could destroy his brother today with out a shred of hesitation.

The force of Inuyasha's attack threw Sesshoumaru backwards. He drew Toukijin in a rush, bringing it up to parry the barrage of frantic blows.

"How dare you! What the fuck did you do to her!?" His brother seemed almost blind with rage. He smelled of fatigue, as if he had not rested at all during his search. The fear he felt for the girl was obviously pushing the limits of his sanity.

Sesshoumaru glared as another enraged stroke broke through his armor and cut deeply into his abdomen. The brat was damn fast in his desperation.

With a growl, Sesshoumaru threw his blade up to lock against the fang. He tossed Inuyasha's sword away, slashing down across his brother's chest.

The blow stunned the hanyou only for a moment. Sesshoumaru flew forward, pushing Inuyasha ahead of him, trapping his brother against a tree and pinning him with his shoulder. "Are you truly so stupid to kill her like this, mutt?"

Inuyasha's growl faltered for a moment, worry flashing in his eyes.

Sesshoumaru hissed in his ear. "Your woman still lives. However, if you somehow managed to kill me, you would doom her to a very slow and painful death."

Inuyasha threw his brother off of him, landing in a wary crouch. He held the point of his sword firmly pointed at Sesshoumaru. Both were now bleeding freely.

Sesshoumaru nonchalantly lowered his blade, reaching up to touch his wounded shoulder. He glared at the blood on his hand. "That was stupid Inuyasha. Remember that I am the only one who knows were I've imprisoned the girl. Kagome cannot escape."

Inuyasha's teeth were firmly clenched as he held himself back, fighting back his rage. How dare he speak of Kagome so familiarly! "Let her go," he growled.

Sesshoumaru returned his glare. "No. And remember, the next time you want to attack me, that her life is in my hands. If I were killed, no one would be able to find her. She would die slowly of thirst or starvation... alone... waiting for her stupid hanyou to come for her."

Inuyasha faltered, the worry plain on his face. The point of his blade lowered slightly.

Sesshoumaru sheathed Toukijin with a smirk. He was holding all the cards, and Inuyasha knew it. "Of course, you could never manage to kill me." He looked again at the blood on his hands. "Yet you have struck your brother. That was awfully rash. I should think up a suitable punishment for you..."

Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Don't you dare touch her!" His body was shaking now, wanting so badly to tear his brother apart.

Sesshoumaru raised one elegant eyebrow. "She truly is a weak point for you, isn't she? You should thank me for removing her."

Inuyasha snarled.

Sesshoumaru appeared right in front of him. 'He's close enough I could rip out his throat,' Inuyasha thought dangerously. Sesshoumaru smirked as if reading his brother's thoughts, even leaning forward slightly to taunt him.

"I think it's time you put that sword away, little brother." Inuyasha growled at him in warning. "You have nothing to fear, hanyou. I promised the girl I would let you live in exchange for her surrender, after all. And if you have that blade in your hands you might do something rash."

Inuyasha shook with rage as he returned his sword and stood tensely with his claws digging into his palms.

Torturously slow, Sesshoumaru rested his hand on his brother's shoulder. Inuyasha's muscles twitched and flexed underneath his fingers, eager to begin the fight again. The hanyou was smart enough, however, to remain still. Sesshoumaru squeezed Inuyasha's shoulder slowly. What might have at first appeared a brotherly touch slowly clenched tighter and tighter until blood squeezed from five sizzling punctures. The poison claws sank in as the other struggled not to fight back.

Sesshoumaru spoke softly, directly into his brother's ear. "Remember... anything you do to oppose me... I will return the punishment to her."

"You fucking bastard," Inuyasha hissed, hardly feeling the sting of the poison. "You've hurt her, haven't you? I can fucking smell it."

Sesshoumaru gave him an uninterested look. "So what? She's only human. There are thousands more like her." A statement meant purely to provoke his brother. Even he knew that Kagome was different. It was why he had chosen her.

Inuyasha stared his brother down angrily. "Kagome is worth more than all of them. She's more than you, even, you egotistical bastard. You have no fucking idea what you're doing. To hurt someone like her is the worst crime you've ever committed."

"Oh?" he asked softly. "Then does it bother you to know how willingly she gave herself up? And how she spills her blood for me so patiently?"

Inuyasha swallowed his bloodlust. For Kagome's sake, he could not rise to his brother's baiting. Hey growled, low and dangerously. "I won't stop until she's safe again. And when I have her back, I'll make you pay for every drop of blood, every hair on her head that's been harmed. I won't rest until I've ripped you apart and slashed your fucking face off."

"Really?" Sesshoumaru said blandly. "Somehow I doubt that day will ever come, half breed, and remember that my promise not to kill you will not hold forever."

"I won't let you get away from this," Inuyasha promised. "I'm disgusted to share your blood."

The insult to their father's bloodline was a grave one, but Sesshoumaru hid his surprise and outrage. "If you truly value the girl, give up your search, Inuyasha."

Sesshoumaru tightened his grip on the other for a moment, the tips of his claws hitting bone before he withdrew. A sharp intake of breath was all that Inuyasha let pass his lip as Sesshoumaru released him. The hanyou stiffened as Sesshoumaru left. He could tell that the other wanted badly to chase him, only his fear for the girl held him back.

As soon as Sesshoumaru was out of sight, Inuyasha picked up where he had left off, ignoring the pain of his wounds and the sting of the poison. If Sesshoumaru were being honest, he was putting Kagome in more danger by going after her. Still, he could not abandon her. He would never give up on Kagome.

He was late tonight. She was apprehensive as she waited. Sesshoumaru was never late. If something had happened to him, would she even find out?

Finally, she could feel him approach as he entered the range of her improved senses. He was slower tonight. She could sense the tension in him even before she saw his face. He entered silently, lingering just inside the door for a moment.

"Sesshoumaru?" she said hesitantly.

He stepped into the light and she gasped at the sight of his wounds and broken armor. Before she could think about it, she was moving towards him.

"Are you alright? What happened to you?" He felt her warm hands brush against him, gently pulling at the fabric around his wounds. Her eyes shone with concern as she took in the sight of his bloodied flesh. "We've got to do something about these!"

His eyes widened slightly at her boldness, but he soon recovered. He pushed her hands down insistently. "There is no need."

"But these cuts are bad!" she pressed. "They should be cleaned, at least." Her bright eyes looked up at him worriedly, and for a moment he forgot to speak.

She scuttled around, finding the remains of her uniform and water. She tugged at him, pulling him towards her bed until he was seated to her satisfaction. She knelt beside him on the bed so that she could reach his shoulder, dabbing at the drying blood with what had been her shirt.

He knew that her actions should anger him, but he was more bewildered than anything. She locked her arm through his for stability as she hissed over his injury. Pale cool hands flitted across his damaged skin intimately, her slight breaths tumbling against his ear. What did she think she was doing? It was not her place to treat him like this, and he was shocked he was allowing her to touch him. Still, her movements were mild and practiced. Almost soothing, despite the hot pain of the wounds.

He flexed his arm, feeling Kagome's arm tighten around it in response. Her soft hands and silky sleeves moved over him like water. She was oddly comforting.

He vindictively thought of how his brother would react if he knew about the attention his little human miko was lavishing on him. As pleasurable as the idea was, there was another that insisted that he was deceiving the girl, allowing these ministrations even though she was unknowingly betraying his brother.

"How did this happen?" she whispered.

"Inuyasha," he said simply.

He did not even have to turn his head to sense her reaction. She froze for a moment, her pulse suddenly jumping as those little breaths in his ear increased in pace. He turned to look at her, finding her dark eyes wide with shock and fear. Hastily, she drew her hands away, drawing in a sharp breath. She fell away from him, drawing herself tightly into one corner of the bed.

She struggled to find words. "You... you saw Inuyasha?"

He regarded her for a moment. "Yes."

She curled up even further. "Was he... still looking for me?"

"Yes."

Her lips trembled and she feared to meet his eyes. "Did you... was he hurt?"

"I did not kill him. But he did not escape without injury. We can't have him finding you, now can we?"

Kagome did not respond. All he could do was watch as her eyes filled with tears, and, following the irresistible pull, spilled in swollen drops down her face.

Her fingers shook nervously despite her efforts to stop them. Her shame burned her. What was she thinking, touching Sesshoumaru like that? Within the past hours, this man had once again harmed Inuyasha. Somewhere, the hanyou was out there bleeding for her, probably still searching. He was the one who cared for her, the one who protected instead of hurt her. He was the one she loved. It should be his wounds she was caring for. And still she was trapped here, bound to his enemy. Her tears were streaming messily down her face, her head lowered in guilt. 'I've betrayed him. I've made myself a willing hostage to his enemy. All I wanted was for him to be safe and to somehow be free again, but now I've only made things worse.'

"Kagome, there is still business between us tonight," he said, a hint of reprimand in his voice. Still, he lifted her with a gentleness that did not mesh with his words. He should not have allowed her to try to treat his wounds. Her tears made him far too uncomfortable; a distant part of him knew that there was no satisfaction in so selfishly hurting her.

He had not meant his threats to Inuyasha. While it would be absurdly simple to punish the girl for his aggression, the idea of it was abhorrent. Just days ago he had claimed that this trial was only a punishment for fighting against him, and a satisfying bit of revenge against the hanyou who had caused him such trouble. He was having difficulty remembering, though, what this woman barely out of childhood could have done to earn his ire.

There was still, however, his desire to become whole again, and no amount of tears on her part would separate him from that goal.

She did not lift her eyes. Still, her shaking voice said more than she would have liked. "Do you want me to finish cleaning your cuts?"

Her hands twitched as if frightened to touch him again. He toyed for a moment with the thought of her continuing.

"Never mind. It is time we finished our business for this evening."

Kagome only nodded.

She did not fight him when he arrayed her on her bed, only cried harder. He pulled up her white sleeve as she turned her head away from him, a look of pure suffering on her face. She hiccuped when he lifted her arm.

She heard a small sigh and felt him release her arm. A moment later, a cool clawed hand brushed over her damp cheek, lightly turning her head to face him.

She could not completely shake her fear of his touch. Every hint of gentleness threw her further into confusion. Still, she could not mistake the smooth stroke of his hand for anything else. He was trying, as best he could, to comfort her. She didn't know wether to flinch away or pull herself closer.

"Kagome, stop crying."

She almost gasped when she heard Sesshoumaru's voice. Though his phrasing was obviously a command, his intonation was almost pleading. She was surprised, if nothing else. She quieted slightly.

He was right, she needed to bring herself back under control. There was nothing she could do about her imprisonment right now, nothing more she could do to help Inuyasha. Her only hope of ever leaving this place was to accomplish what Sesshoumaru wanted. She could not give in, couldn't despair so early. If this was what she had to do, so be it. Eleven days of this torture was already behind her, and she stubbornly resolved to see it through to the end. She would remain strong.

Her crying slowly melded into long slow breaths. "I'm ready now, Sesshoumaru," she said calmly. She felt the warmth of his hand leave her face. Her drying tears chilled her further, but she was quiet now.

She didn't flinch when he cut her.

He proceeded in silence for a moment, watching calm steadily overcome the girl's mood. She no longer had to extend any great effort to control her power, even though it had grown in strength. Her breathing was slow and steady, and she seemed deep in thought. It was as if she had reached some sort of compromise within herself, her guilt and pain pushed aside in a semblance of peace.

"I never could draw right," Kagome said distantly, breaking the silence. Her tears had dried and her eyes were clear. She looked at the dark walls rather than him. "They said I didn't have the patience to do it well. But I thought, hey, I've got nothing but time. Right?"

It was strange how quickly Kagome's emotion changed. She had been so broken only a moment ago, but had quickly found some strength within herself. Her voice was almost musical in its melancholy.

His thoughts glanced over the girl's pet project, her mural of what lay beyond the door. It still seemed odd, that she so accurately remembered the landscape. Closer comparison had revealed that her scene was too similar to the one outside to be mere chance.

"It would be better if I had something green... or blue... or anything." She gave him a thoughtful look. "It would be nice to go outside again." Then she looked away and refused to meet his golden eyes.

He finished, assisting her to a sitting position. He carefully tended to his work, not raising his eyes until he was done. He pulled her sleeve back down over her arm and searched for her eyes. She was looking into a corner of the room, purposely letting her hair obstruct his view of her face.

"Kagome," he said firmly.

She gave a small nod.

"Kagome, look at me."

Her nervous brown eyes alighted upon his. He reached up and brushed her hair away from her face, nudging it behind her shoulder.

"I cannot allow you to leave this room." Especially as long as Inuyasha is looking for you.

Hurt, anger, sadness, confusion, loss. All of them sparkling in her eyes in the split second before her gaze dropped.

"Why not? Just for a little?" She tried not to sound too pleading. He wouldn't like that.

He ran his fingers down her smooth arm. "I will not allow anything endanger the success of this venture. You don't want to start over, do you?"

She shook her head, her hair once again falling over her face. She was trying to hide from him again.

He knew she didn't belong in a place like this. Her strength of spirit aside, a soul like hers did not adapt well to this confinement.

He wasn't sure what provoked his next reactions. She had simply looked so forlorn. He slid his arm around her shoulders, pulling her smaller body against his chest. She tensed at his actions, silently straining away from him. His grip did not yield, and she tiredly relaxed into him with a small whimper. She was exhausted, he realized, worn down in both mind and body. So was he.

She was cold. Her skin was icy to the touch. He should have been paying more attention to how cold this place became as winter approached. Why didn't she tell him that she was suffering? Though his mind supplied that answer readily enough: she either assumed that he already knew and was doing it to hurt her, or that she didn't believe he cared. In either case, he knew that she had very good reason to believe as she did. He resolved to bring her some more warm clothes and blankets. He could not allow his negligence to harm her.

His wounds from earlier were already healing. By morning they would be gone. He was more aware than ever that while he would recover so quickly, her injuries would linger. Already, her exhaustion had overpowered her anxieties and she had fallen asleep against him. She was so fragile, he thought as he stroked her hair, much as he would pet a caged bird.

In the mysteries surrounding this strange girl, two facts were coming into focus.

Her power was somehow growing stronger.

Her body was becoming weaker.



Sorry for the delay. Shit happens. Shit and organic chemistry. Stupid, stupid organic chemistry. Your reviews have been really supportive and actually quite helpful. Thanks a bunch.

Someone asked for clarification on a few things, so here we go:

One, the side effects will wear off after Sesshoumaru drinks her blood. Two, you don't turn into something by eating it. I hope. Or I'm screwed. So there's no chance of diluting his demon blood in this story. Third, Kagome is actively trying to 'seal' her powers, in effect keeping her blood from purifying him and actually altering it to be helpful. It's an inherent ability that she is growing better at with all the 'practice' Sesshoumaru is giving her.

Amreld: *twitch* I was hoping no one would think of that. I'm trying to keep it on the down low. The title just fit so well... I mean, it's just another word, right? It's not my fault if it's been used in unsavory ways in the past, right? *twitch*

Threnody: *blinks* Huh. You're right, now that I think about it. Thanks!

Please Review!



This Chapter last modified: Tuesday, October 14,2003