I know I don't exactly need to be doing this from school, but I can't resist. I hope you like the chapter

Ch. 6

Sesshoumaru woke up shivering at midnight. He was cold. After all, it was the first snow in Feudal Japan. Normally, he visited his rarely frequented home to keep warm during winter. He transformed back into his humanoid form and clutched his tail around him, wrapping the end of it around him for warmth. He trudged dejectedly through the snow. Now that he was smaller than in his Dog form, the snow reached up to his thighs.

There must have been some blizzard last night, he thought dully.

Nothing much mattered anymore. Not his job, not his life. A Were-Dog was persecuted always and forever. He knew that his transformation had probably been noticed by lesser youkai, who had passed the information on until even the humans knew it. News traveled fast here, after all…

The lord's nostrils flared. He was not alone.

He released his tail, letting its strength support itself against his body, and cracked his knuckles.

"Reveal yourself."

An Inu-Youkai walked into the clearing, his steely gray hair flapping across his youthful face. A lesser Inu-Youkai, yes, but still powerful.

"What do you want?" Sesshoumaru asked icily.

"I want only to verify information, my lord. Are the rumors true? Were you bitten by a Were-Dog?"

"Why do you wish to know?" Sesshoumaru asked, his tone still icy.

"My name is Zanmaru, and I wish to assist you, my lord,"

The taiyoukai examined Zanmaru, sniffing his aura.

"You lie."

Sesshoumaru drew another sniff.

"There are seven Inu-Youkai accompanying you and you hope to kill me."

"Very smart, I commend you, Sesshoumaru. Now, will you fight, or won't you?"

Zanmaru stepped back into a fighting stance, brandishing his claws.

"Your first mistake: challenging me."

Sesshoumaru was at Zanmaru in two seconds.

"Your second: shunning your honor to outnumber me. I will not spare you."

So saying, he slashed Zanmaru across the chest.

"There is one thing you cannot do, and your judgment won't let you. You won't bite me, not knowing you will further circulate your disease."

"And who says I am Infected?"

Zanmaru was taken aback, but quickly recovered.

"Come at me then. I'll give you a free bite as a full Dog."

Sesshoumaru transformed and was fully intent on ripping his opponent in two, but he found he couldn't. What if he didn't kill him, what if he survived and transformed into a Were-Dog?

"So I was right. You are Infected. That is just as well. You are coming with us, or you will die."

"Why are you so sure?"

"It has been my family's tradition to rid the world of creatures such as yourself. Either way, you will be gotten rid of."

Zanmaru signaled to his comrades, who all leapt onto Sesshoumaru, fully transformed.

Sesshoumaru was having a hard time not using his fangs. He knew he would lose if he didn't…

One of the dogs snapped his tail in half.

HRRROOOOOWRRR!

He turned back and bit into the demon's neck, ripping the throat clear out. It was most certainly dead.

Another Dog clamped it's jaws on his leg while the others tackled him. Sesshoumaru howled as his right hind leg was broken. He began to struggle, clawing and biting all the demons on him. After he was done, only three, including Zanmaru, were alive.

"You are a strong and intelligent one, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru raised his hackles, angry eyes narrowing. He knew his chances were not good. Apart from having only three legs to begin with, he only had two of proper function now. His tail was also useless and he was covered in huge, poison filled wounds. Already, his vision was blurring. As the taiyoukai collapsed to the ground, eyes rolled back and transformation reversing, Zanmaru smiled.

"And now you are our only Were-Dog. You may have killed the other, but you were foolish enough to be bitten…"

Inuyasha was sitting on Kaede's hut impatiently. Where was Kagome when he needed her?

Eventually, Kagome returned with a bag of little necklaces and things.

"Is that it!" Inuyasha yelled. "That'll only make about seven arrowheads!"

"Well, sorry that I couldn't do better, Inuyasha!" Kagome snarled. "It could have been worse! Now who can we take this to?"

Inuyasha thought hard. Silver. Blacksmith. Good arrowheads.

"Let's see what Toto-sai can do."

Sesshoumaru woke up, finding that his wrist and legs were burning severely.

As his eyes opened, he realized why.

They were grasped in silver shackles and he was hanging from the ceiling.

He groaned, feeling dizzy and ill.

"So, you're finally awake?"

Sesshoumaru turned to see Zanmaru.

"What do you want with me?" he managed to whisper, still feeling sick.

"I said it before. We are of a group which is destined to find, examine, and eventually exterminate Were-Dogs. Our last Were-Dog escaped and Infected you. That is why you are here."

Sesshoumaru felt his lungs strain to fill themselves. In this position, it was difficult to draw breath. He coughed blood and it splattered to the ground below him.

"Zanmaru, let me down from here now."

"You are in no position to be ordering anyone," Zanmaru sneered, flicking his short tail back and forth.

"It wasn't only an order. My lungs will collapse if I am strung here much longer…"

"I doubt it. It only feels painful. The silver hurts, doesn't it, Were-Dog? Well, as soon as I've subdued you, I'll let you down…"

So saying, Zanmaru began to chant a spell.

Sesshoumaru felt his body convulse in pain. He coughed more blood, then became still. A golden collar appeared around his neck and the silver shackles opened, dropping him to the ground. Sesshoumaru hit hard and groaned.

"Now stand and face me, Were-Dog."

"You do not, and never will, command this Sesshoumaru."

"Oh?" The older Dog sneered. "Subdue!"

Sesshoumaru felt the golden collar tighten around his neck painfully. His breathing became labored, but he could still just drag in a thin breath…

Then came the electrical bolts of pain through his body. It seemed to course through his very soul. It then changed to fire, and after that ice.

Blood poured from his ears, mouth, nose, and even the corners of his eyes and he yelled in agony, the scream ripping through his hoarse throat.

"There, now. Are you ready to listen?"

Sesshoumaru's eyes became red and his fangs lengthened until they were nearly parallel with his chin.

"Never will I bow to your will."

"That's alright. We have all the time in the world, and no one's here to hear you scream."

R and R! You'll make me happy...