Sango tried her best to hold her breath and free herself from Korosu's grasp as he held the stinking cloth against her face. Even as she struggled, she could feel the strength slowly draining from her body. She tugged lightly against the rope that tied her to the tree one last time, but she couldn't escape. Her vision started clouding over, and her mind became lost in a deep haze. Her eyes slid half closed, and she glared up at Korosu.
She went from trying desperately to escape her bonds from using all of her strength to keep herself from losing consciousness. She strained to look at him, and saw the cold look on his face. Slowly, he removed the rag, and a small smirk crossed his face. It as then that as a fresh breath of oxygen flowed into her, her eyes slid shut and she seemed to become isolated from the rest of the world, slipping into deep, almost frightening sleep…
----
Inuyasha, Miroku, and Kagome watched helplessly as Korosu seemed to suffocate their friend. Inuyasha gave the air a whiff, then held his nose tightly, complaining about the harsh smell, then that he felt a little dizzy. Kagome looked at him with concern, then up at Sango as Korosu lifted the rag.
"If that stuff is affecting Inuyasha like this from a distance…" she thought aloud, "What do you think it's doing to Sango?" Miroku gritted his teeth.
"I wish I knew…" he grumbled. Frustration seemed to blind him as he contemplated attacking the demon once again. But he knew he couldn't, because if he did, the demon could kill Sango with little effort and think nothing of it. He's got us right where he wants us…he thought. He heard the clang of arrows, and looked over at Kagome as she reached into her quiver.
"No, don't!" he advised harshly. "Sango's at too much risk…" They were all helpless, and they all knew it. All they could do was wait to see what Sango's captor had in mind for her fate.
----
Sesshomaru darted through trees, far from where he knew Sango was, but heading in that direction. He was furiously impatient at that point, wanting nothing more then vengeance. He had at first tried to keep himself from lashing out until he knew the time was right, but he could no longer take it. Two days was long enough. The death of a prominent demon lord would spread like wildfire, and it would certainly reach any relatives of the deceased in a short time. Though even he doubted it in the pit of his stomach, the time to strike was right.
An evil smirk twisted his face. He could barely fathom the pleasure he would get from striking cold fear into Sango's heart, then killing her friends before her very eyes. But something inside him was telling him not to deal her any physical pain. He had committed terrible acts of violence against countless victims, negating weather he had any emotion for them at all, but there was something about her, something different. Though, in the past, he remembered that there had been another woman with a demeanor like hers, one that touched his heart as well…
But he had slain her. He stopped for a moment, face emotionless. He didn't care if he had had any feelings for her at all. An unfaithful bitch is nothing to care about…only something to punish…he thought. And it was this cold emotion that was telling him to put an end to Sango's life as well. But a thought crossed his mind that put even more confusion into the mix. If he did kill her…would it be something he regretted for the rest of his life? She had cared so unconditionally for him, and he was going to kill her…just like that? He snarled, then started up again on his trek to Sango. He would think over these things when it was necessary.
----
Korosu slowly drew the cloth away from Sango's face as she drifted off into a drugged haze. An almost fearful look was on her face, and she writhed around under the binds that held her to the tree. A slightly sadistic smile grew on his face as he reached down and stroked her face softly, with a compassion that seemed to almost calm her.
"You're so much prettier when you're not fighting me…" he said softly. His smirk fading, he ran his finger down her face to her neck, and down her neck to where the small red stone hung. "I need to know…" he murmured, "Why this is calling out to me still, even though the spell should've broken when Sesshomaru took her life…"
The scent changed in the air ever-so-slightly. Korosu tore himself from his thoughts and looked down at Sango, watching her intently. Nothing seemed to be different, so he dismissed the change. I'll let that take effect for a moment…he thought, glancing over at her friends, Now to take care of them.
Author's Notes: Okay, I know this took forever, but forgive me. I know…I say that every chapter, but I had a science project to do (which went well btw), a big math test to take, I was sick most of last week, (I still feel kinda crappy) and I've been trying desperately to win tickets to see Velvet Revolver in Las Vegas on new year's eve, so the new chapter got put on the back burner for a while. Okay…so it got taken completely off the stove. (That and whenI finished the chappie wasn't letting anyone upload anything).Well, anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading. Keep the reviews coming!!