Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Blah blah blah. You know the drill.

A/N: Well, another chapter is out. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter as much as the others. Let me know what you think!

Last Time: Miroku, Sango, and Shippo are closing in on Kagome's trail. The secret of Sesshoumaru's new arm is revealed! An escape plan is being formed by Sesshoumaru and now the time has come to execute it.

Prisoners

By WildcatYST

Chapter 8 – Prison Break

Kagome eyed the taiyoukai suspiciously. He had a plan and had yet to share it with her. She didn't like the fact that he was keeping secrets or the rude way he was ignoring her. How was she supposed to help if she didn't even know what was happening? Her poison consumption was done for the day and she was allowed a few hours of sleep before being nudged awake by an irritated looking dog demon.

"What do we do now?" Kagome asked, anxious to get out of their prison.

"We wait." He said simply. His arms were crossed over his chest in a very Inuyasha-like fashion.

Sighing in exasperation, she continued thinking of ways to pass the time. She kept waiting for some kind of explanation from Sesshoumaru, but non came. He seemed content to just sit there and leave her in the dark. Kagome watched as he flexed his claws, as if he were testing them. The demon was waiting for something and she had no clue what it was.

"Get up." Sesshoumaru commanded. It seemed that he had finally found whatever it was he was waiting for.

"Finally!" Kagome sighed in exasperation. "What's the plan?" She asked.

"I suppose your little human mind could handle it." The slightest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips at the glare from the human girl. They had gotten rather good at bantering like this in their spare time. After all, there wasn't much to do in a dungeon except talk.

"Well then, o mighty evil one, do share." Kagome rolled her eyes, but didn't miss the amused look she received from the taiyoukai.

"The guard will be bringing food soon. I have regained some of my strength and they will be no match for me. And you…" He paused for dramatic effect and almost grinned when the girl in question huffed in annoyance. "You will lure him inside."

Kagome blinked at him. Sesshoumaru blinked back. She swallowed the lump in her throat. He let his fangs glint at her with the mocking smirk on his face.

"You want me to do what?" Kagome nearly shrieked. "How am I supposed to do that? Bat my eyelashes and hike up my skirt?" A deep rumble greeted her ears and she fumed even more when she realized that he was laughing at her.

"Once you lure him in, I will dispatch of him and we will make our escape. There are fewer guards at night and our escape will go unnoticed until morning." He continued with his explanation as if the tiny woman was not glaring daggers and clenching her fists in front of him.

Her death glare was met with a calm expression. She couldn't believe his insinuation that she would use her feminine attributes to put his plan into action.

"How am I going to get him in here?" She ground out through clenched teeth.

"You're an intelligent girl. You can figure something out." Sesshoumaru said in a mocking tone.

"I can't believe you!" Kagome fumed again.

That jerk! I should have known he would be this way about it. Did he just call me smart? Was that a compliment? Or was he being sarcastic? Stupid dog demons and their stupid stupidity!

"Be prepared. He's coming." Sesshoumaru sat back down on the ground beside the door.

Okay. Think girl, think! You can do this without making a complete ass of yourself.

The sound of wood scraping against stone was heard as the guard slid a plate of food into the cell. Kagome's heart skipped a beat and her mind went into overload. She had to do something fast before he walked away. Not to mention, the flare from a pair of golden eyes was not helping to calm her nerves.

"Wait!" Kagome called out in desperation. She had to think of something fast. The guard's footsteps halted.

"What is it, ningen filth?" The dark demon snarled, his voice as rough and grated as his looks.

"It's Sesshoumaru. He's hurt." Kagome stuttered out, not missing the narrowing of golden eyes from the corner. A rough chuckled from the pitch black guard met her ears, though she couldn't see him past the door.

"Of course he is. He's a prisoner here." The demon stated matter of factly.

"No, something is really wrong with him." Kagome's voice rose as she pleaded with the guard. "He isn't breathing!" She crossed her fingers and prayed that the guard would listen.

"And what concern of it is mine if the dog dies?" The dark demon questioned.

"Arago needs him. Just think of how angry he would be if he found out the key to his success died." Kagome waited a moment for the information to sink it. She hoped the guard wouldn't be smart enough to question how the taiyoukai was hurt so badly, but she wasn't going to bring it up. After a long pause, she pleaded in a soft voice. "Please, he needs help."

She heard the guard grumble and the jingle of keys as he presumably went to unlock the door. The click of the lock turning and the grating of the door against the rock floor made Kagome cringe.

"Where is he?" The guard demanded, stepping into the cell.

The next few seconds passed by so quickly that Kagome almost missed them completely. In one swift movement, Sesshoumaru closed the door from his place beside it. He had positioned himself so that the guard would enter the room fully to find him. Sesshoumaru lunged at the guard with speed that surpassed anything Kagome had seem and was on the guard in an instant.

The black demon let out a strangled cry that was quickly silenced by a clawed hand around his neck. With one quick twist, Sesshoumaru snapped his neck and dropped his lifeless body to the ground.

Kagome gasped in shock as the lifeless, red eyes of the guard turned to her with a vacant expression. She cringed again at the gruesome death.

"Ugh…you could have pointed him that way." She complained, feeling a bit queasy. She always hated death scenes.

"Quiet." Sesshoumaru hissed, searching the dead demon's body for the set of keys. He quickly found them and stashed them away. "Follow me." He ordered, turning to leave the cell. "Now."

The forcefulness of his voice prompted Kagome into action. She quickly followed him out of the door and down the hallway. The golden chain that suppressed his youki did not seem to have too much of an affect on his purely physical strengths, and Kagome was grateful for that. She followed Sesshoumaru as he prowled down the dark corridors of the castle. He led her up a set of stairs and she halfway wondered how he knew where to go.

Sesshoumaru held his arm out in front of her to halt her and pushed against her chest until she was against the wall. Kagome peeked around his broad frame to see two shadows approaching from around the corner. Sesshoumaru flexed his claws and Kagome gulped.

Two guards came around the corner at a leisurely pace. Sesshoumaru smirked cruelly as he struck out at one, slicing him cleanly through the throat to prevent him from crying out. Blood gushed from the wound and the body fell to the floor. The second demon was reaching for the small pouch that undoubtedly held the blinding poison used on the taiyoukai.

Sesshoumaru growled viciously and slashed out at the offending demon. He grabbed the demon's left arm and twisted it behind him, snapping the bones in the process. The demon tried to cry out, but Sesshoumaru's clawed hand came shooting through his chest, robbing him of air and life. The dead body of the second guard fell to the ground, his blood adding to the already red blanketed floor. Sesshoumaru pulled his hand from the chest of the demon and looked at Kagome.

"The blood will draw the others. We must hurry." He then turned and walked away. Kagome blinked at the gore before her. She hated the sight of blood and this display was both morbid and disturbing on many levels. Tip toeing over the blood splattered ground, she hurried after the retreating figure

Sesshoumaru picked up the pace towards freedom. He delicately sniffed the air, scenting where the air was less damp and more fresh. The fresh air would undoubtedly lead them to a doorway to the outside.

Well, this wasn't so hard. Kagome thought as the sight of a door framed in moonlight reached her vision. I was expecting more of a fight. She smiled happily and was about to proclaim her happiness when a blurred black figure slammed into Sesshoumaru's side, sending him sprawling into a wall.

"Going somewhere, dog?" A deep voice questioned. Kagome's eyes widened when the large frame of Toshi registered.

Sesshoumaru gave a feral growl and launched himself from the ground with his claws bared. Toshi blocked the blow with his wooden spear and attempted a round house kick to Sesshoumaru's head. The taiyoukai deftly blocked the blow and slashed his claws against Toshi's chest. The armor on the demon's chest cracked under the pressure of the lord of the west. Sesshoumaru snorted in disgust.

"Pathetic." He said stoically. "You will fall to me, hell demon." The dog demon reached for the demon's throat.

Toshi grinned wickedly and waited for his next assault. Kagome watcher in horror as the two demons exchanged blows. Without his poison, Sesshoumaru could not as easily defeat the demon.

I have to do something. Kagome thought as she watched the two battle it out. Both were already bleeding and she was afraid that Sesshoumaru may not win this if it lasted much longer.

"Watch out!" Kagome shouted as she saw Toshi reach for the blinding poison. Both demons looked up at her as if noticing her for the first time. It seemed like they had both forgotten she was there. Sesshoumaru blocked the blow intended for him, but was thrown into the rock wall. A handful of green dust followed him to the wall as Toshi threw the blinding powder into the eyes of demon lord.

Toshi grinned at Kagome and advanced on her. Kagome froze, feeling completely helpless under his scrutiny. He reached out to grab her and her training went into effect. She thrust her hand forward and released a bit of her aura towards him. The demon hissed as his flesh was seared by her purifying powers.

"You'll pay for that." Toshi snarled. His clawed hand shot towards her but it never made contact.

Silver hair came into Kagome's vision and it took her a moment to figure out what happened. Sesshoumaru had slammed Toshi against the wall and the dark demon was knocked out on the floor.

"We leave." Sesshoumaru reached out blindly for her. Kagome took his hand in her own and followed his figure towards the door. "Get on." Sesshoumaru bent down towards the ground and signaled for Kagome to climb on. She did as she had done with Inuyasha a hundred times and climbed onto the demon's back.

"You're blind, Sesshoumaru. How will we make it now?" She asked, her voice mirroring the concern etched on her face.

"You will be my eyes, Kagome." His voice was low and soft as he attempted to reassure her. "I trust you." He added. Kagome squeezed his shoulder reassuringly and nodded.

"Alright. Straight ahead." Kagome was shocked when the wind blew by her face as he barged through the door, tearing it to pieces as he reached it.

"Left." Kagome directed him to avoid hitting a tree. She held onto his shoulders for dead life as she attempted to guide him through the blurring scenary.

"Right." She shouted . "You're other right!" She screamed louder, earning a warning growl from the lord of the western lands. The forest blurred past them as Kagome continued shouting out directions.

"Left. Straight. Left. Jump!" Kagome shrieked as they took to the air. Sesshoumaru landed gracefully on the ground in a small clearing and he halted his movements.

"There should be enough distance between us now." Sesshoumaru set the girl back down onto the ground.

"I thought we were going to run into that last tree stump." Kagome laughed half heartedly. "That was a rush." She took a moment to catch her breath and examine her surroundings. "What now?" She asked, looking into the vacant, unseeing eyes of the taiyoukai.

"We will return to my castle." Sesshoumaru stated matter of factly.

"What? You can't even see!" Kagome protested. "And I have no idea where we are, let alone how to get back to your castle. We've got to…"

Her sentence was cut off as the wind was knocked out of her as a hard elbow connected with her stomach. The world tumbled around her as she fell to the forest floor. The sound of flesh tearing and beasts snarling met her eyes. Through watered eyes, she looked up to see Arago himself standing above Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru felt the sword stuck through his shoulder and found Arago's own claws embedded into his other shoulder. A light blue glow surrounded the claws and he realized that Arago was injecting him with poison. Sesshoumaru snarled again, but was too weak to fight. The poison was slowing him down and his already injured body was giving in.

Curse this damn weakening necklace. Sesshoumaru growled on the inside. If he was at his full strength, this demon would be nothing. His nose crinkled in distaste as he smelled the tell tale soot and ash smell of the demon's serving Arago.

"Shall we punish him, my lord?" One asked. Arago chuckled deeply.

"Return him to his cell. Bring the girl to me." With a sweep of his golden hair, he was on his way back towards the castle.

Kagome groaned somewhere to his left, but she was quickly carried away. Sesshoumaru placed his stoic mask on his face and allowed himself to be escorted back to the castle and into the cell. There was not much else he could do in this state. Freedom was sweet, but short lived.

It was several hours before the door to the prison was opened. Sesshoumaru looked up with unseeing eyes as a pair of footsteps echoed in the chamber. A loud thud was heard as Kagome's body was dropped to the stone floor. The guard exited and locked the door behind him.

He listened intently to the ragged breaths the girl took. It was obvious that she was in pain. She did not move or speak, which told him that she was probably unconscious. He slid his hand against the rock flooring until his clawed hand touched flesh. He gently traced his hand over her arm and was alarmed by the amount of moisture he found there.

The smell of her blood permeated the air and he could feel it against his palm as he physically inspected her. Drawing her lithe form into her lap, he realized that she had many cuts and gashes all over her body.

How dare they. He thought as he ran his hand up her arm and to her neck. They punished her and left me untouched. He tilted her face towards him and sniffed out a cut along her cheek. It would not be long before she bled out if her wounds were not tended to. However, without his sight he did not trust himself to clean and wrap them with the correct salves. So, he did the only thing he could do. Using his nose to find her still bleeding wounds, he settled over the one on her left cheek.

His rough tongue snaked out to lick her wound. He traced the slices and gashes on her skin with his tongue to clean them and prevent infection. His lack of eyesight would not allow him to treat her wounds and his only option was his antibody filled saliva. Tracing the cut on her other cheek, Sesshoumaru settled against the wall to continue his ministrations. He gently traced her cuts, trying to ignore the way she gasped and whimpered from the slightly stinging touch.

It was going to be a long night.

WildcatYST: Well, what do you think? There's more to come soon. Let me know what you think. It took me forever to get this chapter out, so I hope it meets the standards. Buh Bye!