Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to a blessed thing except my husband, daughter, house and car.

Special hugs and kisses to Skittles! I missed you! Thanks for the bright and shiny words!

Belonging

Chapter 3

Kurama made his way towards the fortress cautiously, hiding his presence in the shadows of the dark night. He was lucky that it was a cloudy night. Otherwise, the moonlight might have caused him some difficulty. The area immediately surrounding the fortress was wide open with no place to hide.

Riu's spell to bypass the barrier had worked perfectly, alleviating some of his doubt about the old witch. I still don't trust her.

As Kurama skirted the walls of the fortress looking for an opening, he could hear his brother's angry and disapproving voice in his head. "You fool! You never break into a place you haven't scouted! Going in blind is dangerous!"

Kurama rolled his eyes at the voice in his head. I'll show you, Yuudai. Nothing is safe from the silver spirit. Besides, this is the only way back home to you.

He quickly found a door and easily picked the lock, gaining access to the fortress. He imagined it was a servant's entrance since a short walk down a hallway found him in the kitchen.

"Now, if I were an arrogant demon lord wanting to secure my valuables, where would I store them?"

"Someplace a common thief like you will never discover."

Kurama whirled towards the cold voice to see a tall inu youkai standing in the doorway of the kitchen. He sensed the power of the other and knew him to be the lord of the fortress. He'd spied the demon lord a few times while trying to break through the barrier. And although he wasn't wearing his robes, armor or brandishing a sword right now, he still looked impressive. Sessho-maru….

"If you should encounter him, run…. Better to be considered a coward and be alive, then be considered brave and dead."

As golden eyes remained locked across the room, Kurama was preparing to flee. The old witch was right. This is my only way home. I'll try a hundred times if I have to, but I will get that gem. As muscles sprang to life and Kurama ran back the way he came, a flash of silver bolted past him and he found himself coming to a skidding halt so as not to run into the demon lord who was now blocking his path. Inari, he's fast!

Kurama turned to flee into the fortress, determined to find an escape route. He ran back through the kitchen, snagging two knives from a chopping block as he raced into the bowels of the fortress.

Sessho-maru allowed a small smile before he began his pursuit of the thief. It's been so long since I've had someone to entertain me. He closed in quickly on the fleeing thief, but held back from stopping him right away, his fun having just started.

Kurama knew there were no other doors to the outside on the floor he was currently on from his walk around the entire fortress, so he headed up, grateful to see stairs. The fortress was just as dark inside as outside and he hoped it would work in his favor, although he was sure the lord knew his fortress well enough he could navigate it blindfolded.

As he raced along the corridor, his nose picked up the scent of fresh air. A window! He turned the corner and saw his salvation only a few yards away. Kurama sprinted for the window and just as he was about to take a diving leap out, he was roughly yanked backwards and slammed into the wall as the demon lord grabbed a fistful of hair and flung him to the side.

"Not only are you a thief, but a coward as well?"

Kurama glared at the arrogant demon as he backed away, his mind racing with possible strategies. He pulled one of the knives from his belt that he'd stolen from the kitchen and held it defensively.

"You don't want to do that, thief."

Kurama bristled at the tone but a vulpine smile slowly curved his lips as he reached down and took out the other knife as well.

"You're right. I'm much better with two."

Sessho-maru knew that he was at a disadvantage. He was unarmed and in close quarters, facing an obviously skilled thief whose stance suggested he was very adept with small blades.

"I will give you one chance to surrender yourself to me now before I am forced to show you why I am Lord of the Western Plains."

Kurama scoffed at the statement, knowing he currently held the upper hand. But he also knew that could quickly change with one misstep. He tried to angle his way towards the window but Sessho-maru quickly blocked his way.

"Bad move, thief."

Before Kurama could respond, a flash of silver invaded his vision, followed by a sharp blow to his midsection. Even as he doubled over from the blow, he lashed out with both knives, feeling one of them connect with something. He looked up to see Sessho-maru examining his sleeve, a rip tinged with crimson.

With his route to the window still blocked and Sessho-maru currently distracted, Kurama turned and fled once again, hoping to find another window before he was forced to face the demon lord again. He tried to recall the images of the outside of the fortress from his mind's eye as he raced along. He couldn't afford the precious seconds it would take to open every door he encountered, so he relied on his nose to lead him, sniffing out the scent of fresh air.

Sessho-maru scoffed at his mistake and continued his pursuit, vowing he would not allow the kitsune to touch him again. He quickly caught up and as his clawed hand reached out for the flowing white hair, a blade lashed out again as Kurama turned with a growl. Sessho-maru bared his fangs and sprinted past the fleeing kitsune, forcing Kurama to stop.

But he'd miscalculated. Instead of trying to avoid contact with Sessho-maru, Kurama used his momentum to attack. He slashed at the demon lord who nimbly avoided his strikes, much to Kurama's frustration.

Sessho-maru was done playing for the night. As he stepped to the side, avoiding the silver blade, he came up behind Kurama, latching his arm around his waist and pulling him up and sending him down to the floor. Hard. He stood over the kitsune who was gasping for air.

Kurama knew he had to get up, but his back screamed in pain. He managed to return to his feet with only one blade remaining in his hand, the other's whereabouts currently unknown.

"Looking for this?"

Sessho-maru held the blade out, taunting Kurama to try and retrieve it from him. Damn all the gods, I have to get out of here and fast! But something within Kurama, his pride perhaps, wanted to stay and fight. He wanted to show this arrogant demon that he was more than a thief and worthy of his respect. He saw the condescension in the golden eyes as that silky voice mocked him.

But before Kurama could make a decision, he was distracted by a loud, whiny voice approaching from behind. He jumped to the side, his back against the wall leaving the demon lord on one side and the intruder on the other.

"My Lord, there's an intruder! Someone managed to make it through the barrier! My Lord!"

As Kurama hazarded a quick glance towards the figure emerging from the shadows, Sessho-maru struck. He had no intention of killing the kitsune, but as Kurama raised his blade, Sessho-maru didn't hesitate to strike.

Wide golden eyes stared forward as Kurama's body slowly slumped to the ground, an arm wrapped around his midsection. He could feel his clothing getting wet and he looked down to see a spreading stain of blood. As he looked up, he saw Sessho-maru remove his own knife from his shoulder and toss it aside as if it were nothing more than a thorn in his paw.

Sessho-maru looked down at the kitsune, who still had a look of defiance, even as he lost consciousness.

"Sleep well, thief. We'll speak again later."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kurama awoke to find himself chained to a wall in a small, windowless room which was bare except for its occupant. His first attempt at movement sent a blinding jolt of white hot pain up and down his spine. He let his body go limp again, grateful that he was chained in such a way that he could at least sit back on his heels.

His wrists were cuffed and his arms were anchored above his head. His ankles were also cuffed and chained to the wall leaving no room for movement. He was stuck on his knees.

When he dared to look at his body, he found that his wound had been dressed and he was in clean clothes. That's unexpected.

He let his eyes wander around the monotonous grey room, looking for any weaknesses in the construction which could lead to his escape. He didn't see anything so he called forth his ki to enhance his senses and continue searching. What the---

"Bastard."

Kurama growled as he rattled the chains above his head. He's using a ward to suppress my ki. Which means these injuries are going to take longer to heal. He sighed and let his head hang, grimacing as his back protested the movement. I'm not beat yet. I will find a way out of here with that gem.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sessho-maru hadn't seen the thief since his guards carried his body off. He gave very specific instructions that he was to be treated, but not healed and then he was to be locked up and left alone until he was ready to deal with him.

So Sessho-maru had let the thief sit and stew for a day before making his way to the tiny room, his thoughts preoccupied with the fun he would have with the kitsune. He's strong and spirited for his breed. He opened the door to the thief's cell and he was delighted to see the kitsune's head jerk up, his golden eyes sparking with hatred. You'll be defiant to the end, won't you, thief?

He paid no outward notice to the seething kitsune kneeling before him. Instead he approached until he was within a few feet, openly appraising his captive, confident that he wouldn't be going anywhere.

"Who are you?"

As expected his inquiry was met with a cold stare. He could see this kitsune was no ordinary thief. The determined glare of the thief told him he would not get an answer to his question, or any others he asked. He could torture him and rip the information from his tattered and bloody body, but Sessho-maru had no taste for such tactics. Such means were for the unrefined and desperate. And Sessho-maru was neither.

He approached the kitsune and reached out placing his hand on the cold metal cuff around the kitsune's wrist. He kept his eyes on the tense creature, their golden eyes locked together. He went to withdraw his hand, letting it fall to his side. But in the process his fingertips brushed the warm flesh of his captive and both parties shivered at the small touch. He made no outward sign of being affected. He was certain the kitsune did not sense his reaction so he made his exit, leaving his newly acquired prisoner while he decided what to do with him.

To be continued…?

I haven't gotten the best feedback for this story so if things don't pick up, I'm just going to pull it. I had a hard time trying to figure out where to post it: YH or Inu-yasha? Anyway, I like the story and it's 80 complete so no matter what, I'll be finishing it for my own enjoyment.