Prisoner, My Prisoner

Part 14: Fourteen Cell Prison Seeking Resolutions

Author: profiler120

Email: profiler120@hotmail.com

Rating: PG/PG-13

Genre: Romance/General [AU]

Author's Notes: And here I said "In Terms of a Shadow 7" was going to be my next post. *sighs*

Thanks for reading, 15 will be the final chapter. I appreciate the support and the questions, that was fun.

Just as she was beginning to mentally prepare herself there came a heavy set of footfalls. The old door was unlatched and thrown open and two men stepped in. Kagome watched as the females around her cowered back against the wall.

The heavily armored men came in bearing two huge bowls. They sat them down, almost spilling half the contents of both before stomping back out, their footsteps receding down the hall.

Before view of the two bowls was blocked by the women all struggling to get to them she could see the contents clearly. One had been full of rice and the other had water.

She sat down back against the wall recalling something curious. The evening previous with Kouga she'd been seated by the fire when someone had brought her something in a cup.

She hadn't thought it odd that she was drinking and the others were not. Nor had she thought it unusual the man who had given her a cup had watched her avidly all night, merely thinking him to be suspicious she might run.

She could only imagine why her clothes had been changed. She glanced over noting the females were still fighting over the food. There was a small girl to one side, young, perhaps twelve or so. Younger than the others, it seemed.

"Who are you?"

She gazed up with luminous brown eyes and Kagome immediately knew she would have to rescue the girl.

"Kia."

"I'm Kagome."

The girl didn't seem particularly interesting in either talking or eating. Several minutes later the commotion over the food died down and the girls settled down. Kagome watched them with a strange sense of disconnect. Maybe she could rest a bit and then break them out?

She was really so tired.

Not ten minutes later the room was heavy with silence. All the girls had fallen over, dead asleep.

"They drug the food."

"Hm?" Kagome looked over to see Kia staring at the fallen girls.

"They drug the food to get the girls asleep. It's how the kidnap them from villages. Then they take their clothes and change them into these white yukata. My mother says its to cause terror in the families when they find the discarded clothes of their beloved daughters."

"So it's like a way to ensure obedience in Onigumo's providences. If you know this, how did you get here? Shouldn't you have been extra careful?"

She shook her head. "My village was attacked. I had been hiding, but the hut was set on fire and I was grabbed when I ran out."

Kagome sat for several minutes before something alarmed her. The girls had been drugged.

She shot to her feet. If they had drugged the girls there was likely a good chance they were coming back.

She pulled her hands together trying to focus her energy. Now if she could just break this wall.

She saw more than felt her energy as it formed into her bow. Kia watched in amazement as she strung through a single purple beam of energy releasing the small projectile.

It impacted and shattered.

Despite the weakness of the attack the entire building trembled.

The sleeping girls didn't even stir.

Kagome motioned to Kia. "Go!"

The girl wasted no time and quickly ran out the gaping hole, never looking back. Kagome prayed the girl knew her way home.

She was just about to turn to think out a plan for the women when she heard shouts and horses.

The clanging of metal and wails of pain caused her to pause.

There was a battle.

. . .

Sesshoumaru stared at the monk. Not one, but two red hand prints graced his face - one on each cheek. He assumed that meant he was suitably recovered.

Miya - the young miko - had been held back from traveling after Kagome. Although there was hesitation, the decision not to help Kagome was unanimous. Her name, foolishly pranced into the open by Ayame, hung like a specter over the village.

He turned, casting his eyes toward the tree line as though expecting her to appear at any moment, but she did not. His mind drifted to her; like that tiny glimmer at the bottom of the pond where he'd dropped her bracelet. Her face seemed to sparkle in his mind.

He moved away, not liking the atmosphere. Just as he was about to mount his horse and head out a messenger called shrilly for him.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Urgent message!"

Sesshoumaru took the tightly wrapped scroll, unwinding it as it read along.

A battle had been forged between Onigumo and some lord along his eastern border. The fighting had escalated and all the villages in the path of the battle were being destroyed and the people being killed in the chaos.

He considered going, it might be a good idea to demoralize Onigumo's men. He decided, they would go. Even if only to pick off a few, maybe take out a commander or so, every little bit helped in a war.

Especially when you nixed the commanders, if they fell, and then their leader, the war was over.

Kagome panted, she could feel her body already beginning to slump. Her bow, a pure energy weapon, shattered into a thousands tiny points of light before they were swept away in the breeze.

Fires curled and swept around the area, trees smoking, the air thick. This was battle.

The shrill cries of horses and men pierced the air as they were cut down by the sword. Women's voices joined the echoing, haunting chorus as they too were not spared the blade. She looked around, knees weakening. This was battle, she thought again.

Raw battle.

The thing had made and destroyed men's lives.

Her vision began to darken when a hand roughly snagged the back of her white linen kimono. She was hauled, literally hauled, onto the back of a horse. The pure, unadulterated strength of a man, she thought absently, quietly in awe. She felt nauseous suddenly and lightheaded.

She, with a sense of dread and panic, turned to view her 'rescuer' or her 'captor' whichever one he would be.

Gleaming cold eyes and flying silver hair caused her relief, but only briefly.

"Inutaisho..." she murmured.

His arms fastened securely around her, holding her firmly against him.

"It's long time you started acting like a proper Japanese miss and resigned yourself to your fate."

He didn't once glance at her as he steered the horse away from the battle, keeping her eyes from viewing anymore of the disaster unfolding. Arrows flying, swords slicing, blood spattering... it was all too much.

"Fate?" She heard herself ask. "What fate is that?"

She was bitter, rightly so. Her life had been hell these last months. Absolute and perfect hell - she was well within her rights to be angry, upset, bitter and cynical.

It just didn't suit her.

"The fate assigned to you the moment you came to the Citadel. To marry my son, Sesshoumaru. You've certainly given him enough trouble for it."

Her head was swimming. She could barely think let alone process the entirety of what he was saying. Her body ached and hungered for food. Her vision blurred once more.

She didn't fight the coming blackness. She welcomed it, falling into oblivion just wanting to disappear. She'd deal with everything when she woke up. If she woke up, of course. But even that, she didn't want to think about.

"Oh my!" Nijiko exclaimed taking a good look at the pale, drawn figure in her husband's arms. "What happened to the poor thing, she looks half dead?"

"Probably is," Inutaisho replied.

He handed the unconscious girl over to a servant with orders to place her in a bed and to feed her the moment she woke.

They both watched as she was scurried away in the male servant's arms.

"Where is Sesshoumaru? Has he returned yet?"

"No," Nijiko replied. "Neither he nor Inuyasha has come back yet."

"I see. I expect them soon - notify me at once when Sesshoumaru returns. We have much to discuss."

Nijiko stared at her husband's back as he stalked off into the compound. What was bothering him so? He had not even greeted her. She frowned. Things didn't look good for Sesshoumaru when he got back.

The Citadel loomed on the horizon eerily like some daunting guardian over the land. It was his father's castle, his proudest achievement. His father, the great Inutaisho, was a man renowned for his battle achievements.

He'd won scores of battles and conquered land after land to build this empire. He was awed and respected no matter where he went.

He always remembered his father being looked up to. The most powerful man he'd ever known. That could be a hard thing on a person - having to live up to such high standards. The eldest son of Inutaisho would never be allowed to fail at anything, and anything less than greatness would be a disappointment.

Inuyasha was expected to do nothing, from the moment of his birth the burden had been born by Sesshoumaru alone. The expectations, the hopes and futures of the Masaharu were passed onto him.

"Oi!"

Sesshoumaru peered over a shoulder just in time to see Inuyasha stomp past him, riding wildly on the back of a black stallion. Following along behind him was the monk in hot pursuit.

Must be nice to be a slacker, he thought, if one could bear the shame of it all. He shook off the thoughts and urged the horse forward.

Home, sweet, home had never felt gloomier. Within, Rin, no doubt waited for him, ready to pounce on him the moment he was in sight.

He did not expect to see the outlined form of his father just inside the doorway with Nijiko by his side. It had only been two days; surely disaster hadn't befallen them yet.

With the way things seemed to be going with Onigumo perhaps though it was possible. The man seemed to have lost his mind. There was no telling what could go wrong with him. He was a complete and utter calamity.

"I have something of yours."

The smooth, deep voice of his father pervaded his ears. His tone was normal but the words, they were odd. His father had something of his? Something of his?

"Such as?"

Inutaisho's mouth quirked up in one corner and Sesshoumaru felt himself pause. A battle smirk? He had been on the receiving end of his father's smirks very few times in his life and none of them had ever left him feeling good.

"But I'm not giving it back to you yet. Come, we have much to discuss."

Sesshoumaru watched his father walk off, tossing an uncertain glance at Nijiko. The woman was silent, she too watching his father as he stalked away.

A heavy, foreboding feeling fell over him. What did he have? What was this about? He felt like he'd been caught doing something illicit and was about to be scolded and he hadn't felt that way in a long, long time.

Without a word he took to following his father down the corridor becoming more and more uneasy but not daring to look the slightest bit phased. Inutaisho was a man of battle and manipulation; at the slightest sign of weakness he destroyed you. He'd learned that lesson very young from his father and would never forget it.

His father's office was neat and clean, the same as it always was. The man himself sat down quietly at his table, looking relaxed and untroubled.

"Sit." He curtly directed his son and Sesshoumaru, though cursing the order, obeyed.

"Yes?" He clipped his tone shortly, showing his annoyance with his father's vagueness.

"This is not a game." The growl of a statement was the last thing Sesshoumaru expected. "We are not babysitters. I do not like rumors, especially when I have not started them. I will not tolerate the servants whispering about our family business and spreading tales through the villages understand? Didn't we have the conversation before?"

Sesshoumaru barely repressed his own growl. How dare he try to scold him? Did he think he was a mere child?

Sesshoumaru inclined his head, but barely.

Inutaisho seemed to narrow his eyes. "Good. I've made some decisions for you given your inability to do so. You are going to be married, two weeks exactly from today."

"I absolutely refuse." Sesshoumaru snapped.

"The decision is made; the arrangements are being put into place as we speak. The woman is chosen and is also being prepared."

They stared, silently, at one another for a few uncomfortable minutes.

"You've told this woman already?"

"No, I believe the girl is still unconscious. She's not well at the moment."

"Who is this woman?"

Inutaisho's mouth quirked up again. "Don't look so appalled, my decision should delight you. You certainly know her well enough. She's upstairs, probably sleeping still, but it's about time she woke up."

That was a clear dismissal as his father turned his attention to the papers on his desk.

"Tell Nijiko I want to see her on your way."

Sesshoumaru snapped the door closed behind him, temper simmering. He glided toward the stairs, a glower etched across his face. Along the way he snagged a servant to summon Nijiko. He'd be damned if he was playing errand-boy for his meddling father.

How the hell was he supposed to find this woman?

"Ah, Sesshoumaru-sama!"

He glanced down sharply to find Jaken at his feet. "You wish to see the girl?"

"Where is she?"

"This way." Jaken skipped along ahead of him and Sesshoumaru found himself all the more irritable at the servant's cheerfulness. "She doesn't look well at all, half dead."

Sesshoumaru felt his frown deepen. What the hell was going on here?

He threw open the door. Upon sight of the pale faced, dark haired maiden his temper boiled over.

"Damn it!" He roared.

He snapped the doors closed and stalked off the opposite direction.

The sprawling compound was recognizable at first sight. The moment she opened her eyes, there was no mistaking her location. The Masaharu Citadel.

Already her head ached and her body felt heavy – no surprise, she thought irritably, considering what trouble she'd been through in the last several days.

The room was dim – the windows, she noted, were covered with long drapes of dark material. She turned her gaze to the doorway, it was closed. She could not tell whether or not a guard would be posted outside the doorway. Was she again a prisoner of the Masaharu family?

She flinched as the door was pulled open abruptly and a servant girl over laden with supplies teetered unsteadily in the doorway. Kagome watched, not entirely un-amused as she lost control of the stack of fabrics in her arms and both the girl and her bundles collapsed to the floor in a heap.

She couldn't repress the smile as all of the neatly stacked garments came undone.

"Hey, Aya. Having a bad day?"

Aya, having previously not noticed her, brightened. "You're awake."

Kagome nodded grimly. "Although I'd really rather be sleeping. I feel rotten."

Aya's grin widened marginally. "I'll go Masaharu-sama you woke up."

"Do you have to?" Kagome's lips quirked down into a frown. "How did – oh I remember."

Kagome's frown deepened.

"I think that man is an ogre."

Aya's sudden laughter surprised her.

"Between us, I heard Inutaisho say much the same about you this morning. Trouble-some, half-witted females who don't know anything about the world landing on my doorstep', it was very amusing. I barely held in my laughter."

Kagome's unhappiness lifted as her lips formed into a small pleased smile. "Do you happen to know what I'm doing here? I mean, am I a prisoner again?"

"I haven't heard anything about it. As far as I can tell no one even knows you're back yet. In fact, Sesshoumaru-sama, himself, just discovered you had returned to the Citadel barely two hours ago when he returned."

"Sesshoumaru?"

Aya nodded, not daring to question Kagome's casual use of his first name.

"I saw him a bit ago, he looked very unhappy."

Kagome's sadness returned. "Wonderful," she bit out sarcastically.

They lapsed into silence for a few moments before another thought struck Kagome.

"Have you seen my mother or sister here? The last time I saw Sesshoumaru he told me they were being held prisoner here. Is it still true?"

Aya looked contemplative for a moment. "I believe so. Down hmmm in the west quadrant near the servants quarters."

"Could you find out?"

Aya was clearly hesitant. "I could but I might get in trouble."

"Please? I'll take all the blame for any trouble you get into if you get caught please? Aya, it's awful." Kagome pleaded. "I feel so lost. I don't know what's going on anymore."

Aya nodded. "Okay, I'll find out for you. But you're not going to try and break them out or anything are you? Because then I can't help you because then I would get into even more trouble and since I broke Masaharu-sama's vase last week, I'm really not in such good standing and"

"No nothing like that. I promise I won't get you into any trouble."

"I'll see what I can find out," she promised, slipping back out the doorway after appropriating the garments to their cabinet.

Kagome looked up, staring at the ceiling. Maybe she had really bad luck; it wasn't such a bad guess. How many times had she ended up here already?

Maybe she should just give up this inane fight for something she couldn't seem to find anyway.

She sighed, pulling herself up. The thin yukata she'd worn earlier had been changed, she wasn't unhappy for the discovery, the old one had smelled. She glanced around – a sparse room. Futon, cabinet, window, and a whole lot of empty space: that was the contents of her room. It seemed like that every time she came here.

She frowned.

What a gloomy place this was.

She pulled herself up, grimacing at the ache, only to collapse straight back down again. No energy.

She closed her eyes with a heavy, resigned sigh.

If she didn't have the energy to drag herself to the dining room she'd have to wait on someone to bring her something.

Again, she vainly attempted movement, but fell short of her intended goal, falling back into her blankets.

Okay, new plan, she thought. She would simply quietly await the arrival of someone with food.

Inutaisho stared at the hanging on the wall, his vision far beyond the image painted on the tapestry. Sesshoumaru was taken care of, now all he had to do was handle the two women in his cells downstairs.

Some time ago, he recalled, telling Sesshoumaru why he never handed prisoners over to Inuyasha. That being, because beneath his callous exterior lay a soft heart. That, he believed, would be infinitely useful in this scenario.

There were two women in the cell downstairs: one mother and one daughter. Perhaps he could influence Inuyasha...

"Oi!"

The door slid open with a loud rattle as Inuyasha made his entrance. "You call for me?"

He frowned at his son. His behavior left something to be desired. It usually did. He now severly regretted neglecting Inuyasha in his youth while he disciplined Sesshoumaru so severely. It was an obvious mistake, but hindsight was always better, it was a loss.

"Sit down, Inuyasha."

His youngest plopped down without ceremony, looking bored. "Yeah?"

"You are aware, are you not, that I have Kagome's mother and sister in custody downstairs?"

He nodded, suddenly looking very interested.

"I have not, as of yet, determined what I will do with them. The situation with Sesshoumaru and Kagome has brought me no end of displeasure; I do not want to see the scenario repeated."

Inuyasha nodded.

"If I were to turn over handling of Kagome's sister to you, what would you do with her?"

Silence stretched between them for several minutes as Inuyasha thought about it, weighing possible solutions.

There was no guarantee that Inuyasha would come to the conclusion he wanted him to.

"Don't know," he replied at length, shrugging. "Sesshoumaru didn't do anything with Kagome, either." He added as a defense.

"No, he didn't. That's what I'm trying to avoid."

"Oh."

Inutaisho thought, how could he nudge him in the right direction?

"Given any thought to your future, Inuyasha?"

His son paused suddenly, stiffening as though he were about to embark on a father-son lecture.

"Um... No," Inuyasha answered carefully, looking cautious.

"Sesshoumaru was about your age when he took his first wife, perhaps you ought to be considering it also."

He blinked and seemed to cringe. "I don't want to get married, have a stupid woman hanging over me all the time. Then she'll get pregnant and I'll have a little kid tugging at my clothes and making all that noise like Rin does and-"

"That's life, Inuyasha. I used to have two little brats running around, tugging on my clothes. Only one of them has grown up."

Inuyasha tensed, clearly understanding his father meant 'him'. He sighed dramatically and crossed his arms.

"Your brother is about to remarry, and I have done so myself. If marriage was a state of severe unhappiness, why would I be subjecting myself to it? Or, for that matter, Sesshoumaru, either?"

Inuyasha still looked unconvinced.

"Inuyasha, I think you have not spent enough time among women."

Inuyasha's back went ramrod straight.

"I'm suggesting you marry Higurashi Kikyo." Inutaisho stated, giving up on Inuyasha coming to the idea on his own.

Inuyasha kept silent and tense, looking half insulted and half uncomfortable.
"Fine, whatever."

With that, he quickly left the room.

Inutaisho grinned. He hadn't intended to insult him, but whatever got the job done. Inuyasha, no doubt, felt slighted by the women comment and that he pushed him into agreeing.

Still, whatever got the job done.

. . .

Inuyasha left the room in a huff and started walking.

When he'd been summoned he hadn't intended to meet with his father and have his manhood insulted.

'Not spent enough time among women', hmph!

So he wasn't the playboy charmer that Sesshoumaru was, that was no surprise. He hadn't had all that much experience among women, so what? His father didn't need to slap him with the fact like that.

Although, he had also said he didn't want a repeat of the Sesshoumaru-Kagome incident, so...

He was technically one-upping Sesshoumaru. When Kagome had been turned over to him, he'd been uncertain as to how to handle her, but he, Inuyasha, wouldn't have that problem.

He could solve it right from step one.

Feeling refreshed in his position, he headed off, a bound in his step. Now, if he could only find that egotistical blockhead he had for a brother...

Sesshoumaru stared irritably at the wall. What the hell was his father thinking bringing her back here?

He scowled.

Since he'd been to see her a couple hours ago he hadn't felt any more relieved knowing she was here, safe, rather than out traipsing around the country-side.

A hostile country-side full of people ready to rip her open all because she happened to be the daughter of Senaka Naraku.

He stood, forcing his feet underneath him.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!"

"What?" He snapped as Jaken burst through the door.

"Dinner," Jaken chirped.

Dinner, as though he could actually eat. He breezed past the servant only staying long enough to make sure Jaken vacated his office before stalking off down the hall.

Walking in the opposite direction of the dining room, he just barely heard Jaken following along.

"Oi!"

He silently groaned. He just couldn't catch a break, could he?

Inuyasha stepped up beside him. "Guess what?"

Sesshoumaru blinked. He hadn't heard Inuyasha ask him that with such a strange, happy voice since they were children.

"What?" It had to be *something* at least half-way interesting to get Inuyasha excited.

"Dad gave me the girl."

Sesshoumaru paused mid-step.

"What?" He asked. "What girl?"

"Kagome's sister, Kikyo. He says I can have her."

Sesshoumaru stared, for a moment unable to do anything but stare. "What are you going to do with her?"

Inuyasha grinned cockily. "Marry her."

"Just like that?"

His younger brother crossed his arms. "Dad suggested it, sounded like a good idea."

"Have you spoken with her yet?"

"Nope," he grinned again. "I'm gonna go give her the good news now, wanna come?"
Sesshoumaru's lips thinned into a frown. "No."

He turned and began walking again.

"Just as well, didn't want you coming along anyway," Inuyasha called back.

Kagome met dawn uneasily, but with greater physical strength. She still felt weak and expected she would for a little while longer. Still, she felt well enough to be out of this room, she needed to settle herself to her situation and perhaps meet up with Sesshoumaru.

She hadn't yet seen him, but it had only been one day.

She hadn't seen Aya either with news of her family. She sighed, sliding open her door. The hall was empty.

She started down headed for the nearest staircase. She knew instinctively she would soon be lost, but let her feet guide her anyway. She came to the bottom and swept left randomly. She'd eventually end up somewhere.

She pulled open a door, hoping it would lead her somewhere interesting, and immediately stopped.

Her instincts told her to snap the door closed and run, but she didn't. Instead, she boldly stepped inside and slid the door closed.

. . .

Sesshoumaru heard the soft padding of feet in the hall, thinking nothing of the early morning presence. Many servants were up at this hour milling about preparing for the day. When his door slid open and no feet, nor movement followed, he wondered.

The haori hanging off one arm went limp - who was watching him? He turned, just slightly, eyes widening ever so slightly at the sight before him.

She looked alert, but her eyes held a depth of fatigue. She stepped in, pressing her bare feet to the matting on his floor; her nimble little hand sliding closed his door, shutting them in, and everyone else out.

He turned fully to face her, still holding the haori he had yet to pull all the way on off his one remaining arm. The once neat bow that held his pants in place was now a mere clumsily tied knot. The hell that had become dressing, he thought, not even wanting to glance at his discarded armor.

He would only look at her.

What was she doing here?

For the longest of seconds she stood there, merely staring. She looked caught and vulnerable.

"Hello, Sesshoumaru."

He couldn't or wouldn't voice a reply.

She kept her gaze steady, tracing over his bare torso, eyes falling on the abominable scar. Despite its beastly appearance, he was proud. Proud to have it, proud to bear it. He was a survivor, a man of battle.

Kagome approached slowly, each step drawing her nearer to him.

"Your father brought me back here a while ago."

"Of such I am aware." He replied, his tone terse.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, turning her gaze to the floor, balling her hands into fists. "Before I met you at Miya's village I felt lost. I didn't know what I was doing or where I was going, or why I was important to anyone or anything. After I saw you, I just... I haven't been able to stop feeling bad. Regretful, I felt I was being ungrateful. Even though I was a captive here, you really did take care of me."

She dropped her head even lower.

"But... "She trailed off.

"But what?"

He tilted her chin up.

"But what?" He asked again.

"Your father said..." she looked away. "He said something about marriage... is that true?"

He leaned down, sliding his fingertips along her cheek. "Do you think so?"

"I don't know. He said one thing and ... you said another... So... I'm back to feeling lost all over again."

"That I'm finished with you?" He asked, voice hushed.

She nodded, his hand sliding down to trace along her collarbone.

He dropped his hand away and turned to the side. She blinked before realizing what he wanted and picked up the haori and helped him dress.

She slid her hands along the fabric, straightening him out, not fully able to engross herself in the task as her cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink as she worked.

"Your mother and sister are still captives."

"Yes, I know." She replied.

"Your sister Kikyo has been given to Inuyasha. He has already told me he is going to marry her."

"M-Marry her?" Kagome exclaimed. "Will she agree to that?"

Sesshoumaru slipped away from her turning to grab his sash from the window sill. "Her consent doesn't matter."

Kagome gasped.

"No more than yours does." He continued. "You are mine."

Their eyes met.

"Promise?" She asked voice uncertain.

His blank look turned smug, a grin quirking up his lips.

"Heh," Inuyasha grinned. "What do you think of that?"

He seemed to be expecting resistance, Kikyo thought, watching the young man grin at her.

"I see." She replied, looking away.

A marriage proposal from Masaharu's youngest son was the last thing she expected, but the best thing that could've happened to her.

Not only could she discard her hated surname, and exchange it for another, but she would also be able to rid herself of the battle scene. Settling into a normal life with a husband and children was a dream she thought she'd never be able to realize while serving her father.

She smiled weakly, turning her head down.

Inuyasha paused. "Of course, who wouldn't want to marry me?"

Kikyo remained silent in response and the mood turned awkward. Feeling it, Inuyasha made his exit, leaving the two women alone once more in the dimly lit room.

"Have you lost your mind?"

Kikyo looked up. "What?"

"Marrying him? Isn't he your enemy?" Kagura asked, snidely.

Kikyo leaned back against the wall, trying to fight off the chill in the room by pulling her knees up to her chest.

"Father is dead; I don't have any enemies anymore. Marrying and discarding the 'Higurashi' name is the best thing I can do for myself. I'm sure Kagome will come out of this just fine as well. Question is, mother, what about you?"

Kagura met her daughter's icy stare before looking away. Kikyo was right, of course. Kikyo was always right. A fact that never ceased to annoy the irritable mother.

Her two daughters, Kikyo and Kagome, had been a source of unhappiness for her ever since they were born. Naraku's favorite children, she thought, recalling his obsessed delight with the two abnormally powerful girls.

She never did understand his fascination with miko power or his insane joy over having control of it, via his daughters.

She never understood anything about the half-insane man she'd been forced to marry.

She leaned her head back against the wall.

Of course, Kikyo and Kagome would be fine. They always were.

There would be no marriage offer to save her life.

Cappie: So, is this the end of Kikyou-tachi? Practically.... Kagura always has to be the troublesome one.

Cassidy Jewell: Why did Naraku want to save Kagome, and only her? *blinks* Well, I guess he loved her then, right? - Simply put, Naraku was obsessed with Kagome from the very start. I should have gone into more detail with that, I love obsessive-Naraku.

Sissi : He threw the bracelet in the back garden pond. I need to remember that for the next chapter. ^_^

Unfortunately Ayame and Kouga were both inconsistent throughout. I never intended for that to happen, that they developed un-smoothly.

Orchidaceae: You might be disappointed with the Inu/Kikyo thing. It wasn't planned, that sort of just happened. Either way, it's unlikely to be mentioned again in any great detail.

Midnight Fairy: Sorry, no Sango/Miroku. I'm probably finished with them, and Shippou too wherever he disappeared to.

Rageful Jewel:

[1] How are Kage(rou)maru & Juuroumaru related to Naraku? I know that they were both commanders at his outpost but were they connected to him by blood as well?: Yup, both sons of Naraku, half-brothers of Kagome. I don't believe I ever mentioned the connection in the story.

[2] Did both Kagome & Kikyou get their miko abilities from their mother?: Very likely, I never gave any thought to the origin of their miko powers. That's a good point though, how would such a thing have come from Naraku? Maybe that's what caused his obsession with it.

[3] How did Kagome end up in the cart? This is mentioned briefly at the top, probably not in as much detail as you'd like though.

[4] Why doesn't Kagome remember any of the events after she walked away w/ Kouga? I couldn't figure out what you meant by this.


Familia-Ficz:

Replacing the arm: Kagome probably would replace the arm, but I can't imagine how she would even think up the idea. You never see Kikyo regenerating body parts when she heals people in the villages, so that kind of thing would be a special ability (I'm guessing).

Come to think of it, Kikyo regenerating Sesshoumaru's arm is a good idea. It won't happen, but neat.

If Onigumo is the only enemy left, then why were they scouting? Do they still consider him their enemy? - Of course, this is the singular reason there's going to be a chapter 15. ^_^

Pallas Athena1:

Is Sesshoumaru going to help, or is his pride too important for him? - Originally, he was one of her rescuers. Then I changed it to Miya, the miko. Then I changed it again, to Kagome rescuing herself, and then somehow Inutaisho got worked in.