A/N: Sorry again. It seems like I've made a habit of getting chapters out late. Anyways, I hope you all like this chapter. Let me know what you think. I really enjoy reviews. I didn't get many for last chapter … So make me happy and send reviews!

Disclaimer: Oh, did I mention I do not own Inuyasha? Well, now you know the horrible truth. I do not own Inuyasha or any characters associated therein. Yes…it is a sad thing…

Prisoners

By: WildcatYST

Last Chapter: Kagome dreams of her father and awakes in the lap of Sesshoumaru. She survives the poisoning, only to be put through even more training by Sesshoumaru. How much longer can she last?

Chapter 7 - Hope

Sango wiped the sweat from her brow as she set the large yellow backpack down on the ground. It was extremely hot outside, and riding on Kirara had provided only a little breeze to cool her heated skin. The small group had landed for the day and decided to set up camp. Miroku was currently scouting out the area around them.

"Any sign of her?" Sango called while watching the monk inspect the ground. They had landed back where they had been ambushed and Kagome was stolen.

"Nothing yet." Miroku responded. Night was approaching and he knew that the search would have to be put on hold until tomorrow. However, something about the area put him on edge. He felt his holy powers tingling but he could not quite figure out why.

"We will search tomorrow after we rest." Sango announced as she stirred the ramen Kagome had taught her to make. It was difficult coming to terms with the fact that your best friend, who you considered a sister, was held captive by the enemy. She could even be dead! But Sango would not let that thought dampen her spirit. Instead, she firmed her resolve to find her friend and return her safely to the group.

"I miss Kagome." Shippo sniffled a little while picking at his ramen. The usually rambunctious child had grown quiet in his adopted mother's absence.

"We all do." Sango patted his head in an attempt to comfort him. Eating the remains of her meal, she began to clean the camp until an all too familiar presence made itself known.

"HENTAI!" Sango shouted while smacking Miroku over the head with her large boomerang. Miroku, who was now laying on the ground unconscious, had a large smile plastered across his face.

"Will he ever learn?" Shippo shook his head and smiled at Sango.

"I'll probably have to remove his hand before he stops groping me, the lecher." She seethed.

Shippo smiled to himself. He had seen the blush rise on the demon exterminator's cheeks at the monk's touch. They liked each other, but both were too afraid to admit it. He wondered how long it would be until they admitted their feelings. Kagome would often make comments to Shippo about how cute the couple was or happy she would be when they finally got together.

Kagome. The kit looked up into the night sky and felt tears well up into his eyes. I hope you're okay. He sniffled again before curling up next to Kirara. He could only hope that Kagome was still alive to see their two friends finally admit their feelings.

It had been one week since Kagome's initial exposure to Sesshoumaru's poison. Daily trips to see Arago had improved her tolerance and she was now up to five of the small glasses. Her stomach still did twists every time she ingested the vile stuff, but she would always wake up in the lap of the dangerous taiyoukai she shared a cell with. At night, the demon lord would be taken to the extraction chambers and drained of his poisons. The miko would take care of him, and the roles were reversed when she was taken by day to drink the green substance.

Today was like the seven days before, and Kagome was waking from her groggy, poison induced slumber. After being emptied from the youkai's lap and tossed to the floor, Kagome turned her blue grey eyes on him.

"This is getting old." She sighed, rubbing her sore muscles to relieve the ache.

"Indeed." Sesshoumaru answered stoically.

A moment of compatible silence passed between them. In the days Kagome had been trapped, she had formed a small bond with the demon now staring at her with his head cocked to the side, as if inspecting her. He was a good teacher, always pushing her to do better. He was hard, but always offered praise where it was earned. He even had a sense of humor when they bantered for lack of anything better to do.

He's just a big puppy. Kagome thought, grinning from ear to ear. A little vicious and totally hot…but a puppy none the less.

"Do you find me amusing?" Sesshoumaru cocked a silver eyebrow at her delicately, which just made her break out in a fit of giggles. After calming down, she put on her best straight face.

"I find nothing about you funny." She humphed and crossed her arms, trying her best to put up a good front.

"Is that why you were making that awful noise you call laughter?" He insisted, arching his eyebrow even higher.

Kagome bit her lip in an attempt to keep from giggling at him.

"It is not awful." She almost pouted. "You wish I paid that much attention to you." Grinning at him like a Cheshire cat, she almost laughed when she heard a sound very similar to Inuyasha's 'keh' escape his lips.

"As much as I wish for the sky to fall." He decided to ignore her for the time being and signaled it by turning his head away from her.

Infuriating woman. He snorted to himself. Sesshoumaru had been training her especially hard for the last week in an attempt to get her strong enough to attempt what he had planned for them. It would be a difficult task, but with a little luck they would be able to make it out of the stronghold now holding them captive.

"So, are we going to train today?" Kagome asked, not especially liking the idea. She was a bit drained from earlier and was still feeling slight queasy.

"No." Sesshoumaru replied calmly, almost smirking at the look of absolute shock on the woman's face. Almost.

"What?" Kagome gasped. "You mean Sesshoumaru, almighty slave driver, is not going to force me into hours of mind numbing practices? The world must be coming to an end."

"Do not mock me, onna." He growled, but was slightly concerned to see that it had absolutely no affect on the miko in front of him.

"You scare me, you really do." Kagome smiled all too sweetly. She could have sworn her rolled his eyes at the last comment.

"You will rest and regain your strength." Sesshoumaru ordered calmly. "You will need it tomorrow."

"What happens tomorrow?" Kagome asked, her cheery countenance turning serious.

"We will be escaping." The Western Lord stated matter of factly. "Now eat and rest. I will wake you when it's time."

Not one to argue with a day off of work, Kagome consumed the little bit of food that had been shoved into the cell. If they really were going to make a break for it, then she would need all of her strength to get through tomorrow. Sighing to herself, she tired to find a comfortable spot on the hard floor of the cell.

After several minutes of unsuccessfully sleeping, she opened her eyes and sat back up. Casting a glance at the demon sitting across from her, her mind began to wonder.

The golden necklace was still over his head, and she still had not found a way to remove it. With it on him, he wasn't exactly weak, but he wasn't his normal self either. She wondered how that might come into play tomorrow when they escaped. Sighing again, she let her mind wander more.

How did he get in here? And where did that arm come from? She eyed him carefully, as if looking at him long enough might reveal the answer to her questions. When the object of her scrutiny spoke, she almost jumped in surprise.

"I believe you are beginning to drool." Sesshoumaru drawled, making sure to let her know that he was mocking her.

"I was not staring at you." Kagome insisted, her face turning a light shade of pink at the accusation. At Sesshoumaru's raised eyebrow, she nearly growled in frustration. "I was just thinking to myself."

He merely shrugged his shoulders, as if he didn't care.

Damn that arrogant jerk! Kagome thought, seething inwardly at his calm appearance.

"I was wondering how you got that arm back, because I clearly remember it being chopped off." She nearly shouted, her anger getting the best of her. Sometimes, Sesshoumaru just knew exactly how to push her buttons and she didn't like it.

Sesshoumaru looked over at the arm that was once severed by his half brother. It had been a painful blow to his pride to return to his castle minus one arm and without his father's sword. However, an opportunity had presented itself and he had taken it.

"An advisor of mine recommended a certain demon that was known for his intimate knowledge of healing and spells." Sesshoumaru explained with the same calm mask on his face. "I sought him out and he delivered what he promised."

Flexing his restored arm, Sesshoumaru clenched his teeth at the memory. Had he been a little more weary, he would have known that something was amiss. But he let his vanity get the better of him and had fallen into the trap laid by his captor.

"Oh." Kagome answered, taking in the explanation. "So, who was it?" She couldn't help the curiosity from getting the question out. It's not like she would know the youkai responsible, but she liked to listen the demon lord talk. Not that she would ever admit it.

"Arago." The name left his lips as it were venom. "The spell put me at a weakened state and his followers ambushed me with their blinding powder."

"Oh, that's terrible!" Kagome let the distress show in her voice. If it's one thing she couldn't stand, it was deceit. Naraku was guilty of it and so was this new demon bent on torturing her for some twisted legend. "He'll get what he deserves Sesshoumaru, I promise." She said with determination in her voice.

It was strange to hear a promise coming from a human. Sesshoumaru was not used to people offering such words to him. His soldiers obeyed his every order from fear or reverence. His advisors were to scared to speak so openly to him. But this little woman spoke a promise she seemed hell bent to keep. Never had anyone, let alone a naïve woman child who followed his half witted brother around, ever spoken such a vehement promise to him.

"That he will miko. I will see to it personally." He clenched his clawed hand into a fist and thought of the many ways he could maim and torture the back stabbing demon who held him captive.

A few moments of silence passed between them and left Sesshoumaru to contemplate the strange relationship forming between him and the human miko. She was annoying, mouthy, and often tried to get a rise out of him on purpose. Yet, he found her easy to talk to and dare he say fun to argue with. She had a quick wit and a disposition that was easy to get along with. Most of their arguments had been attempts to pass the time and see who could come up with the best insults.

Of course, the Lord of the Western Lands would never admit that he found the least bit of comfort in the presence of this human woman. Once they were free from this prison, things would change. She would be his to use against his brother to obtain the sword that rightfully his and a tool to defeat Naraku with. That was all she would be…or so he told himself.

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome's quiet, melodic voice broke Sesshoumaru's thoughts. His eyes fell on hers and a moment passed between them before she continued. "Why did you want your arm back so much? I mean, you were still a formidable fighter without it, so why the need for it?"

Sesshoumaru mulled the question over in his mind. Why indeed? For some reason, it pleased him to know that she still thought he was strong even with the loss of his arm. And he was strong. But the reason he sought the return of his arm so eagerly was not for the sake of battle. He could still defeat any enemy who dared to cross him without it, but his reasons lay beyond the battlefield.

Kagome stared at the stoic lord she had come to think of as a friend. His eyes shimmered with memory as it seemed that he was recalling why he had sought his arm so. She thought that he would not answer her until his deep voice drew her eyes up to his golden ones.

"Rin wanted me to hug her." Sesshoumaru answered, his golden orbs locking with her own blue gray ones.

Kagome's face held a warm smile as she gazed at the youkai lord. It seemed that she was right. He DID in fact have a heart behind that cold exterior.

"Now rest." He commanded with a bit of gentleness in his voice. Kagome did not argue, but lay herself down on the floor.

Her smile lingered as she attempted to capture the illusive creature that was sleep. It made her happy knowing that he had shared that little bit of information with her. So, Rin had wanted a hug from him. Not a pat on the head or a one armed squeeze, but a real embrace. And the youkai lord wanted to grant that wish.

There's hope for you yet, Sesshoumaru. Kagome let another smile plaster across her face as she faded into a restful slumber.

WildcatYST: Well? Reviews? Pretty please with a naked Sesshoumaru on top! OoOoOo…that sounds nice, doesn't it?

Anyways, I hope you guys liked that chapter. Oh, I used blue gray for Kagome's eyes because that is what is in some of the manga and such.

So hit the button below and let me know what you thought of this last chapter!