A/N: You guys…we're getting so close to the eeeend~~. Things begin to heighten in this chapter! Like…things! Okay…I'll let you read for yourselves XD. By the way, just so you are happy, this chapter does NOT have MUCH Sess torture. Very little. SO VERY LITTLE. This chapter may seem a bit rushed at parts and smooth at others…because I was more interested in certain parts than others. Gomen XDXD

Water and Blood

~

"Kami-sama! He's suffering from a seizure! It can kill him!" Mukai roared as he practically flew through the door. He waited at the door that Sesshoumaru was behind, a small green light coming on, giving signal that it was safe that he enter. He entered instantly, gasping as his specimen lay still on the ground. At closer sight of him, he gave a short whimper.

Sesshoumaru wasn't breathing…

Chapter 8: Answers

~

"Kami-sama…" Mukai muttered breathlessly as he stared at the hardly breathing specimen in front of him. They had managed to bring Sesshoumaru back in one piece with a respirator. Now he was breathing on his own. But it had been 13 hours past now, and it was well into the night…or morning rather. "I thought I'd lost you…"

The youkai continued with his soft breaths noiselessly. Every now and then, his eyebrow or his finger would give a small twitch.

The old man breathed out softly. 'The greatest thing that has happened in my life…' he thought. He turned to the door as it opened.

"Mukai-san…" started one of the scientists.

"What is it?" Mukai asked a little roughly.

"…General Kobayashi is here…" he said softly. "He said that he would like to the specimen at nine in the morning…And then he would like to observe him for the rest of the day…"

"Fine…" Mukai muttered. "Tell him that he may rest in the sleeping quarters."

"Sure thing, Mukai-san."

When the door closed, the man turned toward the youkai again. "My greatest find…" he muttered. "Don't you dare make my heart stop like it did hours ago…" He wanted Sesshoumaru alive. "Don't do it to me ever again…"

-

"Bye, guys!" Kagome said as she waved at her friends. She tucked a small clump of hair behind her ears as she smiled, looking down. She couldn't contain her happiness at seeing her friends for the day. She lightly clamped her hands around her book as she continued to walk.

"Higurashi!" a voice called behind her.

'Please…no, Hojou-kun…' she thought. She stopped and turned around. Unfortunately, it was Hojou. It wasn't that she hated him. Not at all! He was sweet and kind. But…he really needed to figure out that…she really didn't like him more than a friend. "Konnichi wa, Houjou-kun," she said as she smiled, hiding her frustration.

"How've you been lately, Higurashi?" he asked as he walked beside her for a while with a smile plastered on his face.

"I've been fine, Hojou-kun, thank you." She looked away for a couple of seconds.

"Listen…" he started, "I've been wondering, Higurashi…"

"Ano…look at the time!" she said as she looked at her watch. "I'm late for my appointment!"

"What appointment?" he paused. "What's wrong?"

"Gomen ne, Hojou-kun! I have no time to explain! I didn't even realize how late it was! I have to go right now!"

"…I see," Hojou said despondently as he looked down.

It hurt Kagome a little to see him so…hurt. "Listen, Hojou-kun…maybe…we can catch up some other time…ne?" she asked.

"…Sure, Kagome," he said. "I'll see you later." He looked up at her, throwing her his best, most charming smile.

She smiled back at him before placing a warming hand on his arm. "Thank you, Hojou-kun," she said. "Ja ne!" At that she took off. 'Kami-sama…it's so hard to get rid of him without feeling bad about it when he acts so endearingly toward you…' she thought to herself as she continued running home.

She finally arrived, then opened the front door. "Tadaima!" she screamed as she entered the house and closed the door. [Tadaima = I'm home/back!]

"It's about time!" Inuyasha screamed from the other room.

Kagome rolled her eyes before walking in the room that Inuyasha was in, watching him practically abuse her cat with a smile on his face. "Inuyasha, don't bother Buyo else he'll scratch you…" she muttered. She always told him that.

Inuyasha ignored her words and continued to taunt the feline by pulling on it's limbs whilst making cute sounds. As Kagome passed him, he paused. "…Ka—Kagome…" Inuyasha started.

"What is it?" she asked.

He whirled to her, dropping the cat in his hands. His nose gave a twitch as he crawled closer to her.

"What?" she asked.

"…Why do you…smell like Sesshoumaru?" he asked, his eyebrows turned inward angrily.

"…I what?" she asked and paused. "But—but how?" she asked. She saw the dubious look in his eyes. "…I only went to school, Inuyasha, I swear…"

"You're going to school tomorrow, Kagome…" Inuyasha said surly. "And I'm going to follow you there."

"What?" she asked in confusion. "Why?"

"If his scent is on you, then that means that he is either nearby your school or…someone else from your school is…"

Kagome thought about what he said. She didn't ever think about that! "Alright," she said. "If it brings us closer to finding Sesshoumaru…"

-

Sesshoumaru was now sitting up in a crouched position. His body gave a light shiver from the lack of clothing. He looked down at the welts on his body, the cuts. His stomache empty and his head still in pain, he gave a short whimper. He hurt. He couldn't stay here any longer. It wasn't even the fact that he was hurting physically, either…

…He was starting to also feel ill at mind. He could feel it. Like…some sort of…animal-like wildness was taking over him.

The stinging of his leg moving across the floor brought his attention out of his thoughts and elicited another whimper from his mouth. Looking at one of the cuts on his hand, which was still bleeding, he gave it a lick, allowing his saliva to clean the dirt and blood from the wound so that it could heal faster. His tongue felt dry, as if his mouth was robbed of the juice.

He continued to lick at the wounds on his body. Those that he couldn't reach were left throbbing in pain while the rest began their slow process in healing. He would look around every few seconds as if there was some one watching him…watching his every moves. He knew there were people watching him…which made him all the more…vulnerable.

At every wound he licked, he would give a soft, dog-like whimper, his eyes scrunching in pain. Where was Tensusaiga?

Everything…was making him angry: that wench for cursing him with those two shards, going through the well after the girl had fallen in, being captured. It disgusted him that in these times…youkai were treated so lowly, without the reverence that they should have been treated. Were there even any other youkai?

His senses had been playing tricks on him lately, dulling at times, and others times flailing so heatedly that it made him feel ill. All because of these humans…

It disgusted him even more that he had allowed this to be done to him. He had been captured and allowed these humans to…hurt him…, make shame of him…, debase him…, probe at his wounds and body…

And he hated it. He hated the fact that…they found his physical weakness and exploited it. He hated the fact that they could easily control him…by bringing him pain.

No…he didn't even hate that. He hated the fact that…they were able to distill the egg of vulnerability—maybe even an anxiety of further pain—inside of him. What he hated most about that…was the fact that…

…he could feel it…cracking…cracking inside of him, attempting—threatening—to burst…


"You see…he seems very animalistic at times, Kobayashi-sama," Mukai stated. "But his intelligence is probably far beyond ours…"

"Yes, I see…" the General stated, his hands behind his back as he watched Sesshoumaru's every move. "What is it he is called again?"

"Sesshoumaru, Kobayashi-sama," Mukai replied.

"Hm…" He seemed deep in thought as he stared deeply at the specimen. "Tell me…how old is he?"

"Well…we were able to gather that his age is at least 70 years…Meaning that he is over 200 years in what we suppose is dog years."

"I see…" He nodded his head. "How long do you think he can stay alive?" he asked.

"…We don't exactly know…" he muttered. "Given the circumstances, he can last for over 200 more human years…"

The General watched in awe as the specimen began to growl about angrily as if something were in the room with him. "Is he always this…wild?" he asked.

"Actually…he's usually very calm…and very disobedient," Mukai said, his eyes widened a bit. "It could be a belated reaction of the gas that we used…"

Or it could have been that any 'animal' caged for so long and abused as Sesshoumaru was would naturally begin to lose its mind.

"I see…" the General responded. "Hm…Clothe him with what I have provided. And…his canine teeth…do something with them. I want to meet him personally…" The General walked out of the room with the statement.

-

The collar still around the youkai's neck, he was now in another room. There was all glass surrounding him, and he'd been lashing out at the material now for nearly an hour wildly. He continued to scratch at it. He would turn in one direction, not realizing that it was glass that he was going to crash into. The (blurry) humans were standing there on the other side of the glass, not even wincing as he slammed into it time and time again wildly.

There went his sense of seeing at the moment. Everything was a blur to his usually keen eyes. Unable to decipher the thick material between him and the humans, he'd been making poor attempts to kill them. But it wasn't even that which made him lash about so…crazily.

He could hear things…hear things louder than he was supposed to. He could hear loudly the sound of machinery screeching, drilling, being electrified; he could hear loudly the words of the humans, all of them in this place, this buildling. Laughing, giggling, yelling angrily, yelling screechily—he could hear it all. And it wasn't hearing like normal…it was like they were inside of his head—boisterously…

…But he could hardly feel their presence…His senses had become weak…


The General wasn't very satisfied, though. He stared at the tight clothed-clad youkai in the cage, a muzzle on his mouth (the clothing resembles Kohaku's clothing). He seemed so…undomesticated. But he'd make sure to change that. "Is there any means of subjugation?" he asked as he looked at Mukai.

"Actually…there are two," the old man replied. "First is the collar around his neck. It disallows him to breathe while sending tendrils of pain through him. It makes him give complete cooperation afterwards." He was lying. He hadn't seen that yet…

"I see…" the General muttered. "May I…have an illustration?" he asked.

"With pleasure…" The old man pressed on the green button on the device he'd just pulled out of his pocket.

The both of them watched as the youkai stopped his wild movements. His hand instantly went to the collar around his neck fervently. He gave a convulsive jerk toward the ground. His mouth opened slightly as his eyes tightened. He stopped suddenly, as if all pain had ceased. He lay still, breathing roughly as he curled onto his side. He had halted his wild movements all together.

"Interesting…" he muttered in mild fascination; the sort of fascination that a child would show at first glance of a circus. As that child would, the General eyes glinted with thes want of a closer…look.

"Isn't it, really?" Mukai asked.

"Now…Mukai…I noticed it before, but you never mentioned to me…that he was infirm…"

"Well, uh, Kobayashi-sama," the old man stuttered, "I didn't think that it would make a great difference…"

"He still operates perfectly with only that arm, then, you are saying?" asked the General. The old man nodded in response. "Hnh…Now…of the ways of subjugation…what of the second one?"

"Ah, that, we actually have not tried it on him yet, but on one of our willing colleagues. What it is, is a shot administered to him. When it is done coursing through his blood rather quickly, he is submissive to any order that is given him. Depending on the dosage will depend on the amount of time. Also, depending on the concentration, the reactions of obedience come out differently."

"I trust you that it is fine for me to personally see this specimen…my pet," the General said calmly.

"…Well…" Mukai stuttered. "I'm not too sure if it is wise to do so. He is very dangerous. Some of his actions are very…spontaneous—unpredictable."

"He has two leashes one that one collar of his! How dangerous can he get?" the General asked. He looked at the youkai again, the two leashes coming from the walls rattling slightly as he began to move about again.

"Fine, Kobayashi-sama. I cannot hold you back. Do as you please. But I warn you…he does not usually move around as he is right now…"

"Give me one of those syringes…" he muttered as he held out his hand. "I can devise many…ways to keep him obedient…"

"…Right…" the old man muttered. He pulled one from his pocket, tested it, and handed it to the General. "Be very careful. We don't know what his reactions might yet be."

The General was already walking to the door. He pressed a button and the door slid open, given him access to the room. "Hmm…" he grunted. "So you are my pet…" he said. He nodded his head, impressed. The youkai was letting out growls, but stopped when he spoke. He watched as the cloudy eyes followed his every move.

Sesshoumaru was bothered by the fact that the effects of the collar had left his eyesight nearly blackening and his hearing at a minimum. He hadn't even been aware of the human's presence until he had spoken. The words suddenly clicked. "This Sesshoumaru is no one's pet…" he said dangerously under the muzzle.

"…Are you so sure of that?" he asked. He walked closer to the youkai, stopping as the youkai flexed his claws as if to attack. "It's no use attacking me. I know some of the best self defense there is…"

A warning growl came from Sesshoumaru's muzzled mouth.

"Come morning…" the General started, taking another step forward, "You are very much so mine…"

The words angered the wild youkai. He practically flew forward to attack, ignoring the pull that the leashes gave him. With his strength stunted and his moves slower than usual, it really wasn't a surprise that the human was easily able to evade.

Instead, a kick to the stomache sent the youkai whimpering loudly as a dog would do when his master struck out violently at him, the most pained whimper a puppy could muster. He bent over in pain, then gave a nearly inaudible yelp as he hair was wrenched tightly.

"You see…youkai…" the General sneered, pulling at the youkai's hair tighter, "you are not very…popular to us humans. We find you a little dangerous. So this one chance that we have you in our clutches, you are ours. Mine, to be exact. I expect that you follow my orders thoroughly…like a good dog would do for its master."

The youkai growled angrily. The last few words had cut holes in him of foreboding

"You will not, first, answer to me with a growl. Do you understand me?"

The youkai gave a louder, more guttural growl as he wrapped his claw around the human's wrist. He gripped as tightly as his still weak body could, leaving red, stinging marks. He ignored the stinging pain that his hand received seconds later. Minimal time passed.

He felt different…He felt…not of himself. Not that he already felt different…but…this feeling was…different, as if he could do nothing of his own accord.

"Do you understand me?" the General asked again, this time with a smirk.

There was a long pause. And finally:

"…Yes…"

"Good…" the General said with a wide, misplaced smile. "Now…what are you to me?" Another long pause.

"…Nothing…"

He could feel what he was doing…but he had no way to resist it…

"Anything more?"

"…No…"

"And anything less…?"

"…No…"

"That's right…You'll be mine by the evening tomorrow…"

-

Kagome nervously looked around as she walked to school the next morning. The wind slightly kicking up and tousling her (practically non-existant, as Inuyasha liked to call it) skirt, making her wonder if Inuyasha was watching.

He'd been following her for the past ten minutes…It was rather irksome. She was hoping that…he wasn't bringing any unwanted attention. Then again…the fact that he was jumping off rooftops and flagpoles didn't really help in the situation much. She smiled as she neared the school, hoping to see her three girlfriends.

"Oi! Kagome!" one of them called from behind.

Kagome swiftly turned around and looked for her friend through the crowd of people. Ah, there she was. "Oi! Eri-chan!" she screamed happily, waving at the girl, who ran over to catch up to her.

"Ohayou, Kagome! What's up?" she asked as they continued walking.

"Oh…nothing really," Kagome said with a slightly empty smile.

"…I know that look …It's your boyfriend, ne, Kagome-chan?"

"…Yeah…a little," she said, looking up with a sigh.


Inuyasha almost fell from the flagpole that he was perched upon. 'Na—Nani?! Boyfriend?!'

Upon further prodding of the conversation…he realized that Kagome was talking about him. The thought of it only brought him to blush softly. 'Kagome…' he thought.

He continued to follow her and her friend as the neared the school. Hopping from one pole to one building and repeating the process differently each time, he watched interestingly as another girl caught up with her. A short while later, a third girl caught up with her.

Nothing suspicious came of it.

As the were near entering the school, he noted (quite jealously) the boy that caught up to them as well, talking to Kagome solely. He watched as the three other girls seemed to scamper off inside of the school building, but hiding behind bushes instead to listen in.

One of them mentioned a bell ringing soon, and for a few seconds, he allowed his mind to linger and question what she was speaking of. The sight of the boy handing something to Kagome brought his attention back to her. Another feeling jealously crawled within him before he paused.

The scent…of Sesshoumaru…

It was here…with this boy…

The warning bell rang and the three girls scampered inside of the building with wide eyes, leaving Kagome and the boy by themselves. He angrily dropped from the perch he was sitting on between Kagome and the boy.

"Kyaa!" Kagome screamed, grasping at her heart at the sudden sight of Inuyasha. She looked at Hojou, who had more than a frightened expression on his face as Inuyasha grabbed his collar. He was pale…like he was seeing some sort of ghost. "Inuyasha…osuwari!"

"Nyah!"

Hojou wore a confused expression as he saw the downed…guy. He then looked at Kagome, who had her arms crossed angrily. "…You know him, Kagome-chan?" Hojou suddenly asked.

"Yes…I do," she managed to answer, a little miffed. 'Unfortunately…'

A string of curses came from Inuyasha's mouth; he was trully angry. He stood up after a few seconds. He grabbed Hojou by his collar again, ignoring Kagome's angry threats of saying the word again. The boy let out a near terrified scream. "You have Sesshoumaru's scent on you!" Inuyasha barked angrily.

"He what?" Kagome asked in shock as she looked over at Hojou. "I said put him down, Inuyasha!" she yelled angrily, realizing that he still had his grip on him.

"Sesshoumaru…" Hojou said, as if musing. "…The youkai?"

The question heightened Inuyasha's suspicion.

A/N: Wraah! IT'S HOJOU!! Hojou KNOWS!! XD. See…I told you they'd find out…sort of. Questions will be answered as to just WHY Hojou knows in the next chapter, though it may just be blatantly obvious. That and…if Inuyasha and Kagome aren't quick…they might not see Sesshoumaru…ever…* watches as Inuyasha does happy dance* O_O;;; Hurry Kagome! Hurry Inuyasha! Sesshoumaru can't wait any longer! He's so close to just…giving…up…>:O *gasps along with the rest of the audience*

Tsume Yamagata: O_O Meep! *hides in a corner* Now…I wonder why you'd hate me…You…you want to CHOKE me? ;_; Waaaii~~! Ramen is crying waterfall tears *cries endlessly* >:D. Actually…I've never written a story where one of my reviewers wanted to choke me…:D. I'm happy now ^-^ Hm…to make Sessh turn out undamaged in the end…or make him damaged…hm…decisions, decisions…

The Crystal Wolf: Hmm…I really wonder if he'll turn out okay. >:D Even so…with you hugging the poor thing to death, I wonder…o_O ^-^

porifra: Hehe ~_~. Sorry. It was too good of any idea to pass up. >:D. Thanks for the suggestion. Wahaha! Nee~…I think I'll call you porifrabobeta from now on ~_~. I can't resist. Your name is tangible in so many ways -_-;;

Kitsune Bi 123: Alright…I think…I'm done with the Sess torture, really >_>. But yah…Asako…kinda likes Sesshoumaru…I guess. But she better watch out…she can look, but she better not touch…Or else she'll have to deal with me…and Tsume-chan, and…All other Fluffy fans >:D;;

Lady Aika: Yah, I sorta realized that when I went into your bio. (I have this strange quirk for reading people's bios…and enjoying it XDXD). Your email was the same, so I was like, "Oh! Crimson Youkai Angel! ^-^" Thank you for the compliments. Don't worry, we all have those moments where our brains are just…flowing with…strange…ness. ^-^;;;

Mintvee: *glomps you* Waai! I love you XD. You're, like, always there to review my stories! XD I only knew it was you because I remember you telling me that you wanted this to be your pen name, so yah. ^-^. Austraaaaliaaa~~. I want their SAND!! XDXD So red…Hmm…The name Shichirisu doesn't really have a meaning. At all. I made it up. Kind of. You know…Sess has citrus colored eyes (I'm tired of hearing amber or honey. I like Citrine and stuff :D or even sunflower…hmm…new Sess name!! XDXD). Citrus = Shichirisu. That's how I translate into Japanese, so yah (makes up her own words -_-;;). Wow…that was rather blunt that you don't like Rin/Sess stories. Bleh. Oh well ^-^. It's your opinion. (CHANGE! CHANGE NOW >:O *joking*) Yah, the science lady (her name is Asako), is sort of in love with him. As for Sess being the generals pet…that's not exactly a good thing, as you've probably gathered from this chapter.

fluffyluver07: Hehe~ >:D. Thaz the way I wanted it to be >:D. So addictive that you couldn't get away from it even though you hate it. Thaz my intention, that 'tis. Oh, don't worry, they're coming sooner than you think >:D. And you know…for a while, I was contemplating letting Inuyasha get caught as well…, but, as you say, that'd be too strange o_O. And it'd only make this story longer than I want it to be. =_=. Sess giving up? Hmm…:O…

yamitamashii: Kwehehe >:D. Yah, I updated fast cuz I wrote the 6, 7, and 8th chapter at the same time :D. Anyway, yah, this torture I'm fine with ^-^.

Crow T R0bot: Nee…you sort of sound so…angry with Japan…o_O. Thanks for the' abrut' review though ~_~.

Infernale: Thanks! I will!

Please…if you guys love me… review!! And…hehe~ That's not the end of the deal. ~_~. Read my other new stories as well. And spread word! Ja matta, minna! REVIEW!! >:O