Sesshoumaru paced around the small cell, maddened by the sound of his own footsteps, but unable to keep still. He was restless and on edge; his anger simply refused to leave him. The dog-demon had hoped that his mind would subvert into resignation, but he was stoking and fuming. It drove him nearly insane, and it was all he could do to keep from screaming out in frustration.

"You're quite an active one, I see," his watch-guard said.

"Leave me alone," Sesshoumaru snapped.

"Touchy, touchy," the demon muttered. "I was only trying to make conversation to pass the time."

"I'm quite content to pass the time in silence," Sesshoumaru returned angrily.

"Well, have it your way then," the demon sighed. "I was only trying to make you as comfortable as I could, but apparently you enjoy solitude."

"Shut up."

The guard rolled his eyes and kept quiet, watching Sesshoumaru pace back and forth. Sesshoumaru stiffened and stopped after a few more minutes, looking to the side warily as more demons approached his cell. He had to stifle a furious growl as Satsujin grinned at him.

"Well, well, it seems we have decided what we're going to do first," Satsujin spoke as he stood just outside the dungeon. "You can come quietly or we can drag you out of there, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru snarled and cracked his knuckles at his side, but kept his claws down. Satsujin nodded, understanding the reply. The demon-lord didn't like it, but he knew when it was in his best interest to go along with something. The door was slowly opened, and the soldiers chained the dog-demon once more. They led him out to the castle courtyard, and when he finally stopped, he realized what they were going to do.

On the far side of the courtyard, there was a device that was usually meant for interrogating a prisoner. The construction was simple-a standing wooden platform that held the victim upright while he was questioned. The captive would be strapped to the platform and held immobile so that he wouldn't be able to escape. Under normal circumstances, the helpless person would be asked a question and given a chance to answer. If they refused, they would be beaten until they decided to change their mind.

"You should know what we intend to do," Satsujin said coolly, noticing that Sesshoumaru was looking over at the platform.

"Bastard," Sesshoumaru growled out as the soldiers shoved him forward.

"I'll beat you senseless to get you on there if I have to," Satsujin replied as the guards prepared to take the shackles off. "It's up to you."

Sesshoumaru stayed still as they took off the chains, and he had to stifle a growl when they removed his armor and his shirt. They held him with his back against the device as they strapped him securely to the platform, and he grumbled a low note as they did so. He flexed his arm, testing the bonds, but they were enchanted to hold demons, and he knew he couldn't get free.

"Are you ready for it?" Satsujin grinned as he looked at his former lord.

"Just get it over with," Sesshoumaru snapped irritably.

"If you insist," Satsujin replied smugly. "Guards."

The soldiers jumped to attention, then drew their swords and advanced forward. Sesshoumaru put on a brave face as the demons smiled at him fiendishly. He knew that they were going to torture him until he begged them to stop; he only hoped he could hold out long enough to die first, or at least be fortunate enough to pass out before then. It wasn't likely, though; he knew that there were plenty of methods that incurred horrendous pain without doing serious injury. He braced himself for the anguish he was about to go through, clenching his teeth to keep quiet.