Chapter 2

            When Yukari awoke some hours later, she could see that the youkai was awake and staring at her. Uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny, she looked away and reexamined her shoulder. Damn! she cried silently. Why am I not healing properly? I'll never escape from this stupid pit with an injured shoulder, let alone fight whoever put me in here.

            Sesshomaru had awakened only minutes before. His head ached, but he could feel his youkai blood mending his injuries. He could smell the human female sleeping across from him: she was young, and he could smell the blood from the puncture in her shoulder. She smelled distinctly human, but there was an unusual smell about her. She smells like a miko, he thought. And a powerful one at that. My injuries had better heal faster. Even I, a strong and powerful youkai, can't kill a fully-trained priestess while I'm injured. But for the moment he was safe: she was as injured and as incapacitated as he was.

            The miko opened her eyes and found Sesshomaru looking at her. A self-conscious blush rose in her cheeks, causing her to look away. She stood up to examine the stone walls of the pit, and he was able to get a good look at her. She was dressed in typical miko fashion: loose white blouse with flowing sleeves, long, baggy black pants, and wooden sandals. An empty sword belt hung at her waist. Her long, blue-black hair was woven into a wide braid that reached past her hips. She is the most striking looking female I have ever seen, he thought. As soon as he had that thought he felt disgusted with himself. How can I admit to being attracted to a mere human?! She is not even worthy to serve a great and powerful Youkai Lord such as myself. Thinking this, he gave a self-satisfied smirk and turned away from the miko.

            Yukari felt the man turn his gaze away, and she breathed a sigh of relief. His stare made her feel very self-aware. She leaned back against the wall and stared at him through her thick black lashes; she didn't want him to know that she was studying him. Inu youkai, her instincts told her. His long silver hair was blood-streaked and tangled, but reached to the backs of his knees. There was a blue crescent moon mark on his forehead, and two red streaks lined each of his cheekbones under his eyes. His eyes: they were intense and piercing, golden amber in color, and they glowed faintly in the dark. Yukari looked away. He's handsome for a youkai, she admitted to herself.

            They sat there in silence for a long while, sneaking glances at each other without the other noticing. Finally, uncomfortable in the prolonged silence, Yukari spoke to him.

            "How did you get here?" she asked.

            Her words echoed in the stone chamber, unanswered. He stared at her disdainfully, and she returned his gaze defiantly. Still he didn't answer.

            "Well you don't have to be a jerk about it," she said irritably. 

            They sat in silence for another long while. Yukari was getting frustrated with the youkai, but decided to try again.

            "You're not even going to tell me your name?" she asked.

            "I am Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western Lands!" he proclaimed.

            The girl snorted, and he looked at her in surprise. Seeing his scowl, she began to laugh.

            "I'm sorry," she said. "You just sounded so pompous. I couldn't help myself."

            "Watch your tongue, wench," he growled. His eyes began to glow faintly red. "If I weren't chained to this wall you would be in pieces right now. How dare you insult me?"

            "You insulted me first," she snapped. "Besides, you're obviously not as powerful as you think you are. Otherwise, why would you be in this pit with me? You're just an arrogant little puppy."

            He stuck his chin out, looking offended and furious at the same time. Her words had definitely stung him. "I refuse to speak to you again, as you are a human and therefore beneath me," he stated flatly.

            "Fine by me, mutt," she replied.

            The pit grew quiet again. Just as Yukari was about to fall asleep again, her senses warned her of a demon's aura approaching. It is the same aura I felt this morning, she realized. The aura felt vaguely familiar, though, like something from the past that she should remember but didn't. Why is this demon familiar to me? she wondered.

            At that moment, an unidentifiable demon appeared in front of the imprisoned pair without making a sound.

            At least I know why I didn't hear it coming this morning, Yukari thought.