Only Human

by effinsusie

[COMPLETE] Winter is coming, and Kagome is prepared. A thoughtless wish binds Kagome to Sesshoumaru. Winner- FC Awards 2021 Q2, Best Angst- 3rd place Winner-FC Awards 2021 Q3, Best AU/AR- 3rd Place

23. Sesshoumaru the Liar

Sesshoumaru sat alone by the fire, his bent knees cradled comfortably inside his encircling arms. Concern for the miko's safety had foolishly taken a backseat to his smitten recollection of the day's events, and in the absence of any witnesses, he allowed himself an enamored grin.

He relived their most recent kiss not for the first time, and decided he was quite pleased with himself for not only bringing it to fruition, but receiving her complete and willing participation as well. Of course he wanted more from her; with her. But with how cautious and uncertain she appeared to be with her physical affections, he considered any progress a rather large victory.

And he found, he wasn't disappointed with it. He enjoyed the slow, steady pace she had set. Each milestone they reached together felt gratifying, and well-earned. And without rushing through the motions, he was able to savor each moment, each feeling, and burn it into his memory; roll it over on his tongue and identify each ingredient in real time.

He felt with her that he was experiencing everything for the first time, and he didn't know if it was because he was human – so he sort of was – or if it was simply that for the first time, he was giving himself time to reflect, and react, and enjoy the journey.

He was a tourist in humanity, with Kagome as his guide. And she was making sure he would stop and appreciate every beautiful sight along the way. She was giving him his money's worth.

But that was not the only part of the evening he had thoroughly enjoyed. The well-guarded woman had trusted him enough to show him a bit more of herself tonight; peel back a few more of her layers to expose herself to his hungry gaze. She was like a harem girl preforming her enticing dance, but instead of her supple skin, each scarf she removed let him privy to her enigmatic mind, piece by tantalizingly slow piece. And he thought a few answered questions would sate his curiosity, but they only bred more questions, making him more famished for her than before.

He couldn't help but replay their conversation once more, committing her preferences to memory and planning out their future hunting trip, and the meal that would follow. He found himself growing more excited at the prospect as he tried to run scenarios in his head, and make sure he considered every last detail so they would enjoy success, and thus the evening together.

But after the fourth or fifth run-through, he forced himself to put an end to his childish daydreaming.

'What am I doing?'

And really, he had to sit and think about it for a second.

What was he doing? Here he was, in the midst of a grueling search for his ward, and he was fantasizing about some far off, pipe dream plans he had made with his brother's miko on some future, undetermined date. Was he a fool?

He hadn't even reached the tiger's compound yet, and he was behaving as if they had already succeeded and were on the final stretch back home

'Back to her home,' he forced himself to remember.

Because that's all it was. For if he managed to find Rin, and if he was able to bring her home unscathed, and if he was able to track down each of her captors and deliver their just punishments, his mission was far from over. There was still the miniscule task of finding out what made him human, and then finding how to possibly change him back; not to mention actually accomplishing it.

It could take weeks, months, even years to complete his goal. And here he was, making silly, inconsequential plans to sneak away with some human woman. And the worst part was, he hadn't even considered his plight once. He'd completely forgotten his predicament, and his worries, and his responsibilities out West. All he had been able to think about all night was the human miko currently in his company, and how he might endear himself to her. How he might please her.

His priorities desperately needed recalibration.

But it wasn't all his fault. She had been all too willing to let him do it. To let him lose himself in her.

Was this how his father had become so incapacitated? Is this how he had lost his way?

It had been so gradual and seamless, he hardly even noticed her talons sinking into him, and pulling him near.

No, she wasn't malicious, or duplicitous, or anything of the sort. She probably had no idea she was even doing it. She likely couldn't help being so irresistible, so captivating.

No, this was his fault, for letting down his defenses. For allowing her sway him. Of course, he blamed his present mortality. It was making him weaker, and from now on he must be on guard. He vowed that from now on, his priorities would return to Rin. He must focus on getting them across that river at all costs. Even if he had to do it alone.

He had to keep his eyes on the prize. For if he kept each of his goals in his sights, and reached them in sequence, he would not even be human long enough to see his dinner plans with the miko come to fruition. He would be back where he should be, keeping the Western Lands under tight rein. That was his true priority.

With his reserves properly steeled, he gave himself a mental shake to banish all of his foolish fantasies out of analyzing range to be properly discarded, and he stood. The miko had been gone long enough and it was time to bring her back. And if his human brother was still pouting and unwilling to return, he was not above grabbing him by the scruff and dragging him back kicking and screaming.

The had a river to cross in the morning, and there was no time to waste on this foolishness.

---

When the shock of his terrible trap bite had worn off some, Inuyasha had begun to once again assess his surroundings. Looking down disdainfully at the metal jaws which ensnared his left leg, he cursed his human night for making him susceptible to the pain.

If it had been any other night, he could have wrenched the thing off of himself without a scratch. But, after Kirara, he had a feeling that were he in his half demon form, his blood would have ensured he would not have detected the thing. And the magic they used would have been more than enough see him injured, just like the fire cat had been.

But now, all he had to blame was his own stupidity for not simply looking where he stepped. He should have been more careful.

"Inuyasha!" As he did his best to block out the crippling pain, he vaguely realized his friend had been calling him, and how her distant sounding voice carried a strange echo.

"Kagome?" he screamed back; eyes still screwed tight as he writhed. He tried to reach for his tether, but even the slightest movement proved nearly paralyzing.

"Kagome, are you okay?" he asked between labored breaths. "Where are you?" He pried his eyes open to try and catch a glimpse, but the mountain was dark and his vision was spotty.

"I fell into a hole. I think it's some kind of animal trap." She remembered what Sesshoumaru had told her. Too bad she didn't remember before she took off running.

Her voice sounded strained, and he had to gather himself to respond without a shameful crack in his own.

"Can you get out?" he managed. The ensuing pause was not promising.

"I hurt my knee. The bad one."

He would have grimaced if he wasn't already. He remembered when she had been stuck in the future for weeks during their hunt for Naraku. He recalled how she'd hurt herself playing some game at school, and damaged her knee to the point she couldn't walk.

Initially, he had been annoyed that they had to put the shard hunt on hold. But once she explained to him all of the constant pain she was in, he felt bad for putting the jewel over her well-being.

If it was the same injury, that was bad. How could they get across the mountains, let alone the river, if she couldn't walk? But he remembered his brother's words and forced himself not to panic. One thing at a time.

"What about you? Can you walk?"

She sounded like she did when she called up to him through the well. He tried to move his leg again, but the pain was so sharp he was barely able to lift it, let alone sit up.

"I don't know," he grunted. His voice sounded raspy and ragged. "I'm stuck in this trap. I don't know how to open it."

"Is anything broken?" she asked, and he hated the obvious pain lacing her tone. Leave it to her to worry about his injuries when she was dealing with one of her own.

"I don't know, but it hurts like a mutherfucker."

The sight of him before she fell through the ground more than confirmed that. She couldn't remember seeing him in so much pain. The thought of him hurting distracted her from her own leg, but she was not at all grateful for it.

"Don't worry. Sesshoumaru will come for us," she insured him confidently. "Just try to hold on."

He was almost as shocked at her unwavering faith in his brother as his own.

---

With each branch he pushed aside for access deeper into the mountain, he offered his brother another silent curse. The hanyou's childish temper never ceased to cause him trouble, and he realized this was due to his own negligence.

In his foolish attempt at comradery, he had extended an olive branch to Inuyasha so that they may travel together more peacefully than in the past.

It was that minimal effort which the hanyou mistook for duplicity in an attempt to gain possession of his father's fang. Had he simply ignored the whelp like usual, he never would have suspected any foul play, and likely would not have stormed off.

Really, he didn't blame him. How else was he to interpret his offer of... friendship? Brotherhood? Those words seemed too strong for them. He was willing to go with 'tolerance' for now.

He should have expected his suspicion. In any other circumstance, he would have been right.

That was why he had to start forging better boundaries between both him, and the miko. It was time to get this mission back on track.

Without the aid of Kagome's flashlight, it was incredibly difficult to see in the dark. The way the trees above blocked the sky from his view not only prevented the moonlight from illuminating his surroundings, but also prevented him from using the stars for navigation.

That was his preferred method, and without his youki, the most reliable way to get them around. That was why during the day, he loathed their reliance on the miko's compass. And as predicted, it was trust not well placed. But what good were the stars if he couldn't see them?

But some light had been able to break through the trees. And when he stepped into a modest clearing, he immediately detected movement. He rushed quickly over, avoiding roots and rocks as he ran, and hoped for the first time since entering these mountains that he was not coming upon some sort of animal.

The red of his brother's clothing lifted his hopes, but they were immediately dashed as he saw the metal trap digging into his shin. He may not have been an animal, but he was sure trapped like one. This did not bode well.

And though he pitied the boy, he could not deny his first concern was for the future of their journey.

He set off to crouch beside the squirming man's side, but before he made it, the sight of the miko's bow discarded on the ground beside him rattled him to his core.

Had someone taken her? Had a demon come? He should never have let her go alone!

But after a quick scan, he noticed the rather large hole in the ground, and scowled.

Had he not told her? Had she not just promised him to be more careful?

His tirade was on the tip of his tongue, but now was not the time. First, he had to get her to safety.

"Kagome?" he called out. He'd dropped to his hands and knees to peer over the edge. He could barely make out her pained features in the dark depths of the man-made pit. His beckon informed both of the prisoners of his presence, and a huge sense of relief washed over each of them.

Inuyasha rolled to his side to see what his brother was doing, but remained silent. Well, aside from the pained groans that escaped with each labored breath.

Kagome relaxed a bit at his appearance, but was far from rejoicing. They were not yet in the clear, and once they were, they were going to have issues going forward.

The pit was just too deep for her to reach the top of. But even if she could, she would need the ability to stand. And with the familiar pain throbbing below her kneecap, she knew any pressure she applied would be excruciating.

She could easily make out Sesshoumaru's concern up above. Here he was again, her own personal angel, right on cue. She supposed if anyone needed a constant savior, it was her, and she lamented that fact deeply.

Instead, her first instinct was to usher him to the more worthy recipient of his aid.

"Inuyasha," she instructed around a wince. "You have to help him. Hurry!"

But he had been expecting that. First, he needed to assess her.

"Are you injured?" he asked her. She touched her tender, swelling flesh.

"I think my ligament might have re-torn." She really hoped not. But the surgeon warned her it could easily happen again, and each experimental application of pressure seemed to indicate such.

He frowned at the news. Human bodies were so fragile, and so slow at mending. He only hoped, with all of her healing experience, she would be able to fix it. But one thing at a time.

"Once I free him, I will extract you," he assured her. She seemed pleased at his priorities, and nodded.

"Okay."

With a lingering, sympathetic glance down at the cringing woman, he tore himself from the sight of her and crawled the short distance to his half-brother's side.

The trap was anchored to a nearby tree, which sprouted tall above them and used its thick branches to shield them from the night sky.

A few of the sharpened teeth cut deeply into his calf, but luckily not enough to sever the limb. He may have some muscle, or tendon damage however. Hopefully the bone had been spared.

With no word of warning or comfort, Sesshoumaru pressed down on the springs which allowed him to pry apart the jaws, and then he did just that.

Inuyasha screamed when he experienced the sickly feeling of foreign metal sliding out of his skin, and instead of allowing his brother to remove himself, Sesshoumaru proceeded to drag the opened trap down the length of his leg and freed him completely.

Assessing in the dark the best he could, Sesshoumaru took note of his injuries. His skin was shredded and mangled, and bleeding profusely. He could not be certain of the extent of the damage, but he knew at the moment the biggest danger was losing too much blood.

Resigned to sacrificing yet another haori, he decided he found an upside to being forced to walk around in cheaply made clothing. He easily tore the sleeve off one of his arms, and tied it tightly around Inuyasha's leg. Luckily, the trap seemed to bite him all around the same location. He was willing to take his silver linings where he could get them.

"Did the demon magic camouflage the trap?" he asked, as Inuyasha finally managed to sit and prodded and tested his painful injury.

Did his humanity not allow him to see through it? Sesshoumaru wondered why he – a full demon in human form – would be able to see past the magic, but a mere hanyou on his human night would be affected. But he soon had his answer.

"No, I see it. I just wasn't looking, that's all," Inuyasha ground out around his grimace. He hadn't missed the accusation in his brother's tone.

"Fool. You must exercise better caution." His admonishment was well deserved, but ill-timed. And he was certainly in no mood to argue.

"I know. I'm sorry." His easy acquiescence put an abrupt end to his lecture.

Instead, Sesshoumaru left him to assess his own comfort as he crawled back over to the hole.

"Kagome, are you able to climb?" he asked hopefully, returning his voice to a gentler state. He could barely see her hair now, and realized she must have taken a seat.

"My knee is getting swollen. I can't stand on it." His lips curled downward.

This was bad. This was very bad. Getting her out of there was going to be a challenge.

"If I gave you something to grab onto, could you let me pull you?" Without the use of one of her legs, it was going to be difficult to pull her out without causing her more pain. He reeled for a method which would save her further torment, but it was looking like the only options they had were going to be unpleasant.

"I don't know. It hurts." As he'd assumed. He continued to think. There had to be a way.

"Perhaps I could pull us out. If I got down there, could you hold onto my neck like on the bridge?" He could get in and out by himself easily. Perhaps he could find a way out of there with her attached to him.

"Maybe. I just can't use my leg." She sounded on the verge of tears, if the quiver in her voice and sniffling was anything to go by. He hated how helpless it made him feel. He was clamoring for solutions, if only to distract him from her pain.

Maybe he could fashion a ladder out of a tree. Or maybe he could dig grooves into the wall of the hole. Or maybe, he could find a sturdy branch or vine to serve as a rope. He supposed he was limited to his ability to procure any of those things.

She looked up to see his face stone set in concentration.

"I must find something strong enough to support us. Wait there." As he pushed himself back up onto his knees, he heard her gentle laugh.

"Where else would I go, stupid?"

She'd expected some smart-ass reply, but figured maybe he let her have that one due to her injury. She could no longer see him hovering over the top of the pit, but thought she might try and get appraised of things up there before he took off to find what he needed.

"Is Inuyasha okay?" she ventured. When she heard nothing, she assumed he had already left.

But he hadn't.

Once he had pushed himself off of his hands to sit on his knees, Sesshoumaru had chanced another assessing look at his brother.

He was a bit startled to see the boy's eyes wide with terror - a look the hanyou rarely displayed.

He worried that his blood loss was becoming too great, and he might be going into shock. But before he could ask him, he felt the cold bite of steel press firmly across his throat, and he instantly stilled.

"Don't even think about going for that knife at your hip." The confident, commanding voice came from behind him, and was unfamiliar. Sesshoumaru, however, took it as a good sign. For, if the man at his back simply wished him dead, he never would heard it. "My partners have a gun at each of your heads." On cue, one of the men he had referred to walked into view, and pointed the wrong end of his Tanegashima rifle right into Inuyasha's temple.

At the same time, he felt a similarly sized piece of cold metal press harshly into the back of his own head. He had no recourse; Sesshoumaru lifted his hands and rose them above his ears.

Damn. How did he miss their approach? He had been too distracted to keep appraised of his surroundings. That was basic, pup-level stuff. He couldn't believe how negligent he'd been; how complacent.

He was at first enraged that Inuyasha had not alerted him to their presence as soon as he had noticed them, but he supposed he could not fault him. What would he have done against at least two men with guns? Though they were all only human, they were clearly outmatched. He only hoped the miko was bright enough to keep her mouth shut. Maybe they wouldn't notice her.

"Good boy. I'm just gonna take this from ya." Sesshoumaru didn't move as he was swiftly relieved of his only weapon. "Can't be too careful."

At the same time, he saw the man with the gun across from him reach down and slide the Tetsusaiga from Inuyasha's hip, and scowled. If he could get to the sword, he could kill all three of these men easily. Though he could not be certain the weapon would transform for him.

"What do you want?" he demanded, and felt the gun at his head pull back. He was little threat to them now, but that didn't stop the first man from keeping the blade firmly at his throat.

"All I wanted was to come empty my traps, but it seems you've beat me to it." The man's voice was casual; not a hint of threat in his tone. He supposed in his current position that it wasn't necessary. "You know what the penalty is for poaching on these mountains?"

For a second, he felt a soupcon of relief. If these men were just hunters and wanted their prey, they would surely let them go once they saw they didn't have it.

"I poached nothing," he insisted, and he saw the second man with the gun walk around him to help his partner in assessing Inuyasha. They seemed particularly interested in his injured half- brother. "You're cursed trap ensnared my companion by mistake."

Sesshoumaru took a moment to do some quick assessing on his own.

These men were not particularly large, but they were armed to the teeth. Each had a rifle in hand, as well as long sword. A dagger as well was secured at each hip, and their armor was impressive. Thick chest plates were strapped over well-made clothing, and each limb was protected by dragon's scales. The tough material was light and flexible, making it easier to maneuver in but offering nearly impenetrable protection.

He would go so far as to saying it was overkill, particularly for a group of hunters passing though these barren mountains.

These men seemed more suited to go to war. And seeing as he'd detected no trace of anyone else during his time here, he couldn't help but wonder what there was to fight.

He was also more than a little shocked to see these men were human. He had been expecting a youkai encounter at some point, but they had been told time and again that humans simply did not venture to these lands.

What was going on with these mountains? Suddenly, he felt a deep sense of foreboding burrow into his gut.

"Wasn't no mistake," the man informed him, and his mounting dread began to solidify. "I was hoping to catch me a hanyou. But look at that, he appears to have turned into a human. What kind of magic is this?"

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened a fraction, before he schooled his façade back into place. He saw how the other two men were raking their gaze over his brother, and was pleased that for once the loud-mouthed half breed saw fit to keep his counsel.

That the miko had yet to make a peep also lent him gratitude.

"It is no magic, he is human." It wasn't exactly a lie. It was no illusion they were fostering. His transformation was natural. But it did not bode well that they were abreast of his heritage in the first place. These men seemed to know things about them. And seeing as the familiarity was not mutual, he found himself rightly chaffed. He didn't even know these men where here, and they seemed to know enough to know Inuyasha had been a half demon. What else did they know? Who sent them?

"Now he is. Wasn't a few days ago when you entered these mountains. Wasn't even earlier today when he stopped to hunt in the valley."

Sesshoumaru scowled at the confirmation.

"You have been following us."

"Off and on," he admitted. "But don't flatter yourselves, you are not incredibly interesting."

This was an upsetting development. How much have had they seen? What had they heard? Who, if anyone, had sent them?

He briefly wondered if the monk and the slayer had been captured, and exposed them.

"I ask you again, what is it you want?" he still managed to ask calmly for a man who still had a recently sharpened blade at his throat.

"And I'll tell you again, all I want is to claim what I've caught." His voice took on an amused tone then; Sesshoumaru could practically hear him smiling. "Man, to think of all the trouble I went through camouflaging that trap, and that idiot just walked right into it with human eyes."

The two men with guns offered a small chuckle, and finally Sesshoumaru felt the burn of the razor-sharp blade removed from his skin. He dared not move, however, save for lowering his arms. They were likely aware he had been fully disarmed.

"Put the binds on him," the man at his back ordered. "We can't have him changing back and running off before we can use him."

He saw one of the men pull something out of a sack; a small length of what appeared to be reinforced rope, shaped in an infinity symbol. Even his human senses could detect the strong magic radiating off of the item. He hadn't even felt such a strong manifestation in the magic traps they had encountered. They slipped it over his brother's wrists, and ratcheted it tight.

"Use him for what?" Sesshoumaru asked, but found himself easily ignored. The man was no longer behind him, and his stomach dropped like an anchor when he turned his head to see him peering down into the deep hole Kagome was trapped inside.

"Well, hello there. Are you okay, priestess? I did not wish to injure you." Sesshoumaru had to command all of his will to the surface to prevent himself from leaping to his feet, and making a play for the man's throat. He didn't want him looking at her. He didn't want him talking to her. Certainly not so informally. But he knew if he acted rashly, any or all of them could find a bullet between their eyes, or a blade once again at his throat, only much deeper this time. No, he was going to have to keep a lid on his festering rage, and see what exactly these men intended.

"Boys, get her outta there, will you? And be gentle with her. She looks delicate."

He should have known it was too much to hope for that they wouldn't notice her. These men had apparently set these traps, and if they had been tailing them, they were aware of her presence.

He watched helplessly from his knees as one man took out a length of rope and threw it over a thick branch which stretched out above them.

For a moment, it looked like a hangman's noose, and Sesshoumaru felt a brief panic tear through his whole body. But upon closer inspection, he could see the knot was completed, and realized what they had intended.

"Just sit your pretty little ass in that rope, sweetheart. We'll have you out of there in no time."

Sesshoumaru frowned. That was going to be a painful extraction method. He only hoped the levy would not be so turbulent as to cause her damaged knee much trauma.

Kagome complied with the man's wishes. She managed to sit herself inside the large loop knot while the other two pulled her up with little difficulty. Her involuntary tears of pain were her only protest as they lifted her out of there. Once she surfaced, they grabbed her and deposited her gently on the ground.

The Western Lord did not miss how the man's hands roughly perused her ass and legs before setting her down, and he fought off a growl, and every instinct that would see him attempt to rise and relieve any of these men of their weapons.

"Sorry, what did you ask?" The man who appeared to be their leader managed to draw him back from the brink of a feral rampage with his question. The other two men appeared to be assessing his companions' injuries where they sat beside each other in the dirt.

"Ah yes, the hanyou. At first, I simply wished to kill him." At the admission, Sesshoumaru turned slowly to finally take in his accoster fully. This man was a little bigger than the others, but not by much. He was dressed similarly, but had several tassels on his armor signifying his higher rank. This confirmed they were some sort of military group, though of what he was not certain. The man with the sword also had a distinguishing scar running up the length of his neck to his jaw. He was confident, but seemed foolishly flippant for any man who held command.

"Those beasts are an abomination, and I would consider it my duty to remove that filth as quickly as possible." The look of unbridled disgust he leveled at the hanyou was familiar, and inexplicably upsetting to Sesshoumaru. But it was soon replaced with a devious smirk. "But as I saw him in action throughout your little journey, I got a great idea. There is much to be done back at the castle, and my men are far too busy preparing for the upcoming war to see to every little thing. Beast he may be, but he is strong. I'm sure I could find several physical tasks that need doing that he could accomplish much more quickly."

His regard of hanyou was not uncommon. In fact, most humans felt that way about any with youkai blood. Though they despised them, their power could not be denied. But most would prefer to put them in the ground – eliminate the threat - as opposed to take a risk capturing them.

As he recognized before, though, this man was foolishly confident. Particularly for a human.

"You intend to use him for physical labor? A slave?"

"Precisely," he answered with a grin. "Do you have a problem with that?" Sesshoumaru didn't answer, unwilling to declare himself either way. The man gave him an appraising once over, and rounded on him to speak face to face. "You appear quite strong as well, though nothing compared to a hanyou. And while he may be useful, I consider hanyou sympathizers just as egregious as the beasts themselves. I think it might be best to simply kill you."

His scoff came instantly, somewhat startling his captor.

"You are grossly mistaken. This One has no affinity for any half breed. I consider them as abhorrent as you, and have spent much of my life attempting to dispatch them."

This appeared to intrigue the man with the scar, though he was rightly suspicious.

"Strange company you keep for having such convictions. Is there something special about this particular hanyou that sees to you traveling with him?"

"Indeed," Sesshoumaru confirmed haughtily. "We share a father."

"Ah, so you're brothers," the man replied, as if his answer satisfied his unanswered question. "I thought I noticed a resemblance."

"I have never considered that half breed filth my brother."

The declaration was spat with such unconcealed distaste that the leader could not hide his surprise. Nor his unease, with the sudden malicious darkness that seemed to engulf the kneeling man's aura.

"Our father was a great general in the Western Lands," he deigned further. "He recently fell in battle, so there is nothing that demands I endure his presence any longer. Strong though my father was, he held a soft spot for this whelp, and forbade me from killing him. Now that he is dead, I am free to discard him."

His companions wisely remained silent, leaning on each other for support as they tried to ignore their painful injuries. Inuyasha's wrists remained bound in front of him, but Kagome, deemed no real threat, was left free to sit with her swollen knee stretched out in front of her. She had been relieved of her quiver, however, though her bow remained discarded where she had dropped it on the ground.

The men with guns remained at their sides, though their attention was now on the conversation Sesshoumaru was having with their leader.

"Then why haven't you? You are a long way from the Western Lands. What are you doing in the North? In these mountains, no less?"

Sesshoumaru felt a measure of relief at his ignorance. He didn't appear to know who they were, let alone where they were going and why. It meant they hadn't been sent by the tigers or pumas or anyone. From the sounds of it, they appeared to simply have spotted the trio as they attempted to make their way through these god forsaken mountains. And just like most humans, they appeared to loathe any with demon blood, counting out any inconvenient alliances.

If they hadn't noticed his brother was a half demon earlier on, they likely could have easily talked their way out of this confrontation. But as far as they knew, he was just another human. He decided to use that to his advantage.

"I was simply going to slay him, put him out of his misery," he began casually. "It would have been an act of great kindness. But I had another idea." As Sesshoumaru's gaze slid to his brother, a mischievous grin lifted the corners of his mouth. His eyes sparkled with an unnamed amusement.

"I heard rumor that the tiger clan in the North used humans for their menial labor. I reached out, to see if by chance they would be interested in a hanyou for their purposes. Sure enough, they agreed to pay me a handsomely for delivering him." He returned his focus to the man with the scar, who was studying him intently. "I figured living the rest of his long life as a slave to demons would be much more satisfying than simply allowing him a swift death. In addition, I would be paid for the honor. I could not ignore such an opportunity."

They seemed eager to kill him for his affiliation. He decided if he could convince them he was one of them, they might let him go. If he played this right, he could get them to release the others into his care too.

The man considered him a moment, obviously intrigued but still unconvinced.

"Why would he travel along so willingly? You do not have him bound." His story sounded suspicious, especially since they had been watching them travel through the mountains as equals. Though he slipped so seamlessly into speaking with open disdain it came off as nothing less than genuine.

Sesshoumaru shrugged.

"I told him I was taking him to see an ally who might have a daughter willing to marry a hanyou. Unfortunately, your interference has forced me to reveal my true intentions."

"So you ally yourself with demons, then?" he asked him. That was just as bad. He would not trust any man who openly dealt with the enemy.

Sesshoumaru shook his head; his features hardened.

"Absolutely not. Any with demon blood should be forever wiped from this plane." He lifted his chin slightly, somehow managing to look snobby while on his knees in the dirt. "However, until the day my army is fit to overthrow the West, what harm is there in making a bit of money while I wait?"

Sesshoumaru was hedging his bets. The only way he saw out of this was to heavily lean into the two facts he knew to be true of most humans; their hatred of youkai, and their insatiable greed.

If he was going to be human, he was going to need to act like one. He only hoped it would be enough to earn their trust and get sent on his way.

The leader gave the kneeling man another long, thoughtful once over, before finally smirking at him.

"I couldn't agree more. Those youkai scum have been in power too long. You say your army is in the West?" Sesshoumaru smiled inwardly. Military men were all the same. If you profess the same cause they pledge their lives to, your status is instantly elevated in their eyes.

"Indeed. I lead the human resistance who plan to defeat the Western Lord and his vast army. We were mocked when we began, but our numbers continue to grow. It will not be long before the humans take control of that realm."

Satisfied with this, the man straightened a bit. Finally, he deigned to sheath his sword.

"The Western Army is formidable, and I hear the demon lord is strong. You have an uphill battle. I was not even aware of a human resistance army in the West."

Seeing as he had no idea there was a human army in the North, he figured this was some sort of a shadow operation. That, or simply a wildly unsuccessful one. Either way, he assumed the man could draw parallels.

"We keep our ranks concealed. By the time he is aware of us, it will already be too late."

"I like your passion," the man informed him. He'd been correct in assuming he was the kind who liked to talk shop. Most leaders tended to be, when it came to their cause. "And do not let the naysayers discourage you. They said the same thing about me and my army, but now the pumas are all but eradicated from these mountains."

"That was you?" he asked earnestly. He was wondering why they hadn't had any run ins. Could it be that this human army actually succeeded in banishing them from their own mountains? If so, they must be more powerful than he'd considered. "I had wondered why I had not encountered a single puma on my travels."

The smug pride on the man's face was all the answer he needed. But of course, it was not the only one he would receive.

"Indeed. Ever since my men had perfected their special demon magic, the pumas have been no match. They have been forced to flee when we began reducing their ranks considerably."

"Your demon magic?" he asked, once again in genuine surprise. "I was told it was the pumas who created it."

"Figures they would try and take credit for our ingenuity. Just goes to show you cannot trust a demon, let alone those duplicitous felines."

Sesshoumaru considered this information. If it was not the pumas, but the humans who perfected this magic, it could mean a whole new threat was on the horizon. If these humans were planning some sort of takeover, he would do well to look into it; and inform the Lord of the North what may possibly lay ahead.

"But we are the same; my men prefer to operate in the shadows. So the less known of our feats, the better. Before they know what happened, the entire Northern realm will be ours."

"Let's just focus on the mountains first, boss," the man with the gun at Inuyasha jovially suggested. His boss scoffed dismissively.

"They are all but conquered. When was the last time you even saw one of those cats around here?"

"True," the gunman conceded. "but you know a great deal of them are out on the mission. When they return from their reconnaissance is when we will truly be tested."

"Mission?" Sesshoumaru prompted. Now, he felt compelled to gain just as much information on these cat's plans as he could pry out of them. They seemed to have a good deal of inside information on their regional rivals, and did not seem ill at ease in sharing it with him.

"Yes, I am afraid I cannot take full credit for their absence. The pumas have been planning a little coup on their own."

"They plan to take control of the panther house?" he wondered. It was not an uncommon occurrence for the cousins to challenge each other. For centuries, however, they have remained unsuccessful.

But the scarred man shook his head.

"No, they grow weary of constantly battling those panthers. They have set their sights southward."

"They plan to defeat the dragons in the South?" he ventured.

"The dragons, the wolves, even your inu in the West."

He kept his face passive, but his voice took on a slightly sinister air.

"Oh? What are they planning?"

"Hey, maybe if you're lucky, the pumas and dogs will battle it out and simply kill each other. Then your men could swoop right in and claim the land for human kind at last."

Though apparently abreast of the inner workings of demons in his territory, this leader did not seem particularly interested in the outcomes. All demons were the same to him, and apparently he figured he would take on whoever the victor would be.

Demons did a fine job of killing each other, so it was not all together a terrible strategy.

"That would be preferable," he agreed for good measure. "So long as every youkai scum is dead."

"You speak my language, it seems."

"And it has been my pleasure to do so." Sesshoumaru seemed reasonably confident he had earned these men's trust enough to request his freedom returned. When he slowly began to stand, he was not met with resistance. "But as I have said, I must take the hanyou to the tiger province to collect my payment. So if you could release him to me, I would get off of your mountains as quickly as possible."

"Your own half-brother," the man drawled with a grin. It was almost said with admiration. "You are cold as ice, my friend. We could use a man like you in our ranks." He was looking at him very intently once again, his eyes thoughtful and curious. "What about the girl?"

It took everything he had for Sesshoumaru to show no outward emotion. He never had to work so hard to appear indifferent.

"The girl?"

"Yes. The pretty priestess." He gestured to his bound brother then. "You have explained why you are escorting this filth, but why her?"

The moment's pause he took to think proved long enough for the man with the scar to reach his own conclusions.

"Never mind. I think I know why." He wore a smug grin then, as if he'd just figured him out. "It is a long journey from the Western Lands. The nights get cold up North. You brought her along to keep your dick warm, am I right?"

He was hesitant to answer. Despite their 'common goals' he could not be certain they would leave her to him simply because he claimed her. He needed to give her a cover that would ensure her safe return to him.

"Believe me, I understand. It does get lonely on these mountains. And she is a pretty one." For a moment, he thought she was safe. But that was until he saw the lingering gaze he leveled at the miko. A gaze that once again had him itching to lunge for his sword. "I'm afraid I can't release her to you."

The trace of regret in his voice did little to temper Sesshoumaru's rage. He began to see red as his commanding nature started to seep through.

"You will-"

"You are in no position to be giving me orders, I'm afraid," he cut him off quickly. Flippantly. Totally unfearful. "Even though I do like you. And I must keep your hanyou as well." He looked down to his recent acquisitions, then turned back to Sesshoumaru. "Sorry about the money, but I have need of him here. And I definitely have need of her." The suggestive look he leveled her with left no question of his intentions. "I hope she wasn't too special to you."

"She is nothing to me," he insisted firmly; immediately. "And I'm afraid I must warn you against taking her for yourself."

"Oh yeah?" the man asked, his tone dripping with amusement. "What are you going to do about it?"

He put his hand threateningly on his hilt, while the other two lifted their guns.

"Nothing, but you misunderstand. I did not bring her along for my own pleasures. I would not take the risk. And I highly suggest you do not either."

"What risk?" Kagome remained silent as the scarred man looked at her suspiciously. Sesshoumaru couldn't bear to look at her. If he did, he wasn't sure he could do what he was about to. He reminded himself it was only for her safety.

"She was a favorite bedmate of my captain," he began. "Best soldier I have ever seen, and a good friend. Until one day, he began complaining of pain in his manhood." The man looked over to Kagome again, but Sesshomaru spoke quickly so as to regain the man's focus. "He asked me to take a look, and what I saw still haunts me to this day. Blisters. Peeling. Oozing. Bleeding... His cock became so raw, there was not an inch that was not festering in sores." He saw the man's countenance become slightly horrified at the description, but Sesshoumaru shrugged casually in response and continued.

"I wrote it off as some sort of freak ailment, until several of my men became subjected to the same horrid sickness. I thought perhaps it was a curse of some kind. I looked tirelessly for a witch who could aid my comrades, until I realized what they all had in common."

His forced his gaze to harden before he fixed it on the miko sitting on the ground. She appeared unaffected by his account, and he didn't know how he felt about that.

"They all frequented that little whore right there. Needless to say, this priestess was anything but pure." As soon as all eyes turned to her, Sesshoumaru removed his. He couldn't stand to look her way as he dragged her though the mud.

"Fifteen of my best men became damaged beyond repair. Their wives became barren." He looked intently at the scarred man. "They live every day in constant pain." Then made eye contact with each of the gunmen. "Several lost the use of their manhood. One soldier's case was so bad, he had to have it amputated."

All three men winced in phantom pain at the prospect, so he continued.

"Such damage to my army is considered an act of treason. So when I arranged to bring the hanyou to the tigers, I thought to sweeten the deal by delivering the miko as well. I figured a lifetime of being ravaged by demons was fitting punishment. And at the same time, I could infect those filthy cats as well, and be paid for the pleasure." He smirked, as if proud of himself, but both Kagome and Inuyasha noticed the absence of amusement in his features. He was putting on a show. He then returned his intent gaze to the leader.

"But I cannot in good conscious allow my fellow man to be knowingly subjected to torment. Therefore, I beg of you not partake of her deceptively innocent body."

A heavy silence hung in the air as the men tried to digest what he had told them.

"Kami," the leader finally said. "She didn't get you, did she?"

"No," he assured them firmly. "I would not lay a finger on that filthy woman. And I suggest you do not either."

"Thanks for the warning, friend." The man seemed genuinely relieved, before plastering an evil grin on his face. "And very diabolical. It's genius." Sesshoumaru forced a smug smile, as if he were pleased.

"Though I'm afraid I still have use for her. I am certain there is enough cooking and cleaning, and other woman's work to keep her busy enough."

He looked down at her again, a different kind of regret now in his eyes.

"Pity though. I was looking forward to having her." Kagome's schooled features turned scornful at the man's eyes lingering on her. This did not seem to affect him, and he turned back to Sesshoumaru.

"And you. I've changed my mind. You seem to have a mind for military operations. Are you a general? Like your father?"

"Indeed." He lifted his chin proudly. "Fine guess."

"Ah, I know the type," the man bragged with a cocky grin. "Sorry for your loss by the way."

Sesshoumaru did not react to that.

"I know you have a resistance simmering in the West, but our victory in the North is all but assured." He spared a glance to his fellow soldiers. "My men are loyal, and strong, but they lack a certain foresight that you appear to be brimming with. Not to mention a cold-blooded heart. I need a man like you to help push us over the top, finally take control."

He looked meaningfully into his stoic façade. "Would you be willing to take a look at our strategies? Maybe give my men some pointers on finally seizing these mountains so that we may move on to claim the Northern Lands from those filthy demons once and for all? When we are through, I assure you full cooperation of the North in aiding you to take down the vicious demon Lord of the West. From what I have heard of him, you will need all the help you can get."

He really had no choice. He could not prevent them from taking his packmates, unfortunately. And seeing as they were willing to kill him a minute ago, he figured he would do well to play along with their little plan.

They seemed to place a measure of trust in his abilities, at least. Perhaps he could find a way to get them out of there. In fact, he vowed it.

"Indeed. All you have heard is true. He is most vicious and bloodthirsty," he paused, and leveled his purposeful gaze at him. "and his vengeance is swift and unforgiving."

"Then we must conquer him on the first go. Do you agree?"

Sesshoumaru nodded. How could he refuse?

"I will help your men earn victory. Then you will aid me in mine."

They just had no idea what role they were going to play. But when he got his revenge, they would be there.

"Excellent."

With a nod at the gunmen, he issued the signal to lift Inuyasha up by his scruff. The until now uncharacteristically silent hayou wailed in pain at being placed harshly onto his feet. His leg appeared to have stopped bleeding - the DIY tourniquet had done well – but enough damage had been sustained to make applying any pressure very painful.

"Shame about your father," the scarred man offered as he regarded the cursing half breed. Then, he slid his gaze back to Sesshoumaru. "You must be very bitter that he disgraced your mother by laying with that filth."

Sesshoumaru met his eyes before boring them intensely into his brother.

"You have no idea."

Inuyasha appeared to be aware of Sesshoumaru's intentions with this, but he could still only the hope the pained look he received was merely a result of his physical state.

The man patted him on the shoulder then, surprising him with his audacious familiarity.

"Well, were gonna make the whelp pay, don't you worry about that." He looked between the brothers for a moment, before appearing to get a stroke of inspiration. This concerned Sesshoumaru. "But you know what? Since you are missing out on a sale because of me and my army, I'm gonna give you a free shot."

With another nod, the gunman held Inuyasha by his collar, barely keeping him on his feet as he propped him in front of Sesshoumaru.

His hands were still bound in front of him, and he wore a look of excruciating pain.

Sesshoumaru turned his bored façade over to the leader, who was grinning in anticipation.

"There is no honor in striking a bound man."

With that, the leader grabbed Sesshoumaru by the shoulder, leading him closer.

"True, but this is not a man. Not really." He may appear human now, but all he saw was the beast who had entered the mountains. If he only knew... "Do you not despise his kind? Do you not despise him for shaming your family?"

He had no response to that. He had no desire to hit his brother. Certainly not while he was restrained. But he needed these men to think he loathed demons, as they did. If he couldn't convince them, he might end up a slave like him, if they chose not to kill him.

"Hit him," he urged again, leaning in closer. "Do it for your mother. Do it for your race."

He looked over at the expectant man, and made his decision. Without an ounce of emotion, he drew back his fist, and hit Inuyasha square in the stomach.

He couldn't hold too much back. It had to look real. He had to look like he hated him. There was a time when he could have easily pulled off such a feat. Now, it was anything but natural.

Inuyasha choked and gasped at the hard blow, and wailed in pain as he was forced to stagger on his feet. Were it not for the gunman holding him up, he would have been writhing on the ground again. The other three men only laughed at his plight. The leader most of all. He patted him appreciatively on the shoulder once again.

"Man, cold as ice. I love it."

He couldn't bear to look at the miko. He didn't want to see how she saw him right now.

Luckily, the man continued to distract him.

"Alright well, first thing you can do is carry your pathetic brother for us. Don't worry, it's not a long way back to the castle, but that leg don't look very useful." Then, he turned toward Kagome. His sudden excitement was nerve wracking. "I'm gonna carry the priestess. I doubt my fingers will suffer much damage."

As he made his way for the girl, Sesshoumaru side stepped to block his path.

"I will carry the miko. Your first lesson is to keep your strength for battle. The hanyou can walk."

Though hardly in a position to make demands, his tone brooked no room for argument. The leader stared him down for a brief moment, before cracking another shameful smile at him.

"Cold as ice," he admired appreciatively, and then turned back to the others. "You heard the general. Get walking half breed. And keep up, or we'll shoot you."

A flood of relief washed through him. He didn't want to make his brother walk, but he was sure he would prefer to spare Kagome whatever molestation she was assured at having those cretin's hands on her. There was no way he was letting any of them touch her.

He noticed how the leader collected all of the weapons they'd taken from them. Apparently the miko's bow was not worth claiming. He vowed, when this was over, he would get her a new one. A finer one.

The men with the guns had their eyes on them, so there would be no brilliant escape. Yet. One got behind Inuyasha and forced him forward with the barrel, making him grunt with pain as he did his best to limp along on his thrashed leg.

Sesshoumaru bent down to offer her his back, and she managed to scramble on. But when he hooked his arm around her knee, the terrible pained scream she emitted made him release her immediately, and set her back down on her butt.

Then, he tried another way. Lifting her bridal style, he did his best to support her ass instead of beneath her knees. She didn't scream this time, but she was obviously still hurting.

"Better?" he asked quietly. He bent his face close to her ear hoping the others would not hear his concern.

Despite her wince, she bravely nodded, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He tried to keep his steps even, so as not to disrupt her too much. He dipped low again, strands of her hair tickling his cheek as he whispered gently into her ear once more.

"I'm sorry."

He didn't know if he meant for her pain, or the unflattering backstory he'd given her, or for allowing her to get captured in general. But he felt it was the least he owed her. And he hoped he didn't need to say that he would do everything in his power to get them out of this.

"I trust you."

When she whispered back, he was completely mollified, though he wasn't sure he deserved it.

---

As they were led through the mountain, Sesshoumaru was doing his best to memorize the way. They had not been through these parts yet, and if they were going to get out of there, they would need a frame of reference.

But, just like their entire doomed excursion, he had no idea where he was. No idea where they were going, and no way to know. The trees above prevented him from using the stars. His weak human sight made it impossible to discern surroundings. It was all he could to make sure he didn't trip over anything and jostle the broken miko in his arms.

When they escaped, they were just going to have to count on instinct and luck to guide them. He tried not to get discouraged by the thought.

As long as he was here, however, he decided to make the most of his time.

"Tell me more of this magic you use," he commanded the scarred man. Juzo, he learned, was his name.

As the man recruited for advising their battle plans, he was entitled to such information.

"We've been using it against the pumas for years," he began easily. Sesshoumaru was coming to learn that Juzo was more than happy to boast about his accomplishments. Particularly to a great military mind – like his – who could appreciate it.

"We can bind them for capture." He gestured to Inuyasha who was limping along behind impressively well and more or less silently. Grunts of pain would often escape him. "Infused with any weapon, it cannot be manipulated by youki for fast healing, so we can inflict severe damage. And it can camouflage anything we set it to, from traps all the way up to our fortresses, and even our very selves."

He went on to explain the many battles they had won against the pumas by rendering his men basically invisible.

"But I could see through this façade?" Sesshoumaru asked, and Juzo nodded proudly.

"Correct. It only affects youkai."

"Interesting." Instantly, Sesshoumaru was strategizing how he would go about battling a foe with such abilities. The only obvious answer he could come up with would be to ally himself with humans to detect the magic for him.

"Yeah, pretty sweet huh? It's how we got those mangy pumas out of here. Not that they haven't tried to use their magic for themselves," offered the gunman who was not forcing Inuyasha forward.

"Explain." Sesshoumaru had been gradually slowing his pace as he spoke, so when he spoke to Juzo, he would be forced to slow as well. In turn, the brute with the gun to his brother's back would stop stabbing him with it every time he took a break to rest his leg.

Juzo answered for his underling.

"Living near us for so long, they eventually learned how to make it themselves. It does not work against us, obviously, but they realized they can take it on the road, to use against their demon enemies."

He had already tried to inquire about how to make the magic. This was one tidbit Juzo would not be sharing with him. But that was fine. There was another topic he was much more interested in, and did his best to approach as casually as possible.

"You said something about a plan to conquer the other lands?"

He had a feeling this demon magic would play no small role.

"That's right. They are all over the country, using our magic to trick the surrounding demons. You know, test it out. They've been at it for months, actually. And those stupid mongrels don't have a clue."

He hated to admit, this was the first he had heard of it. This fact did not please him. But he kept his tone passive.

"And what is it exactly they are planning?"

"I don't know the exact plans," Juzo admitted. "I know they have weapons and traps set all over the various lands. But their partnership with the elementals will surely prove the most devastating."

"Elementals?" This time, he was unable to keep the interest out of his voice. Elementals were notoriously neutral. Whenever approached to aid in the wars, they have always abstained. Even when offered very generous considerations. If the pumas had managed to gain their cooperation, it could be a problem. He would also be interested in how they had managed such a feat.

"Yeah. They usually stay out of the affairs of the lands, so that's why they will never see it coming when they help infiltrate the armies. There are already several traitors who have allied themselves with the elementals. They will give them the locations, and the elementals will know when to strike. The best part is, it looks like a natural accident. That's where they are now, out making more allies. Soon as they have enough, the armies will begin to weaken. Youkai have no idea what's coming."

Sesshoumaru repressed a scowl as he tried to recall any natural disasters having an effect during his battles. There were a couple instances where the weather had taken an abrupt, strange turn. Or when a forest fire would suddenly appear out of nowhere, and forced his soldiers to retreat.

Unless a terrible coincidence, that meant he likely had a few traitors in his midst. How he would enjoy pouring through the ranks, and sussing them out, and making examples of them.

He'd thought he handled this years ago, but it had been quite a while since he needed to remind his army why it was foolish to cross him.

His list of to-dos for when he returned to himself was growing by the day.

From her place in Sesshoumaru's arms, Kagome could see his wheels turning. The muscle in his jaw became large, as she noticed it did when he clenched it too tight. It meant he was worrying over something. And though she had the urge to lift her hand to his cheek in a gentle suggestion that he stop, she understood that she was supposed to be the enemy, and shows of affection would spoil their cover.

Instead, she subtly squeezed her arms more tightly around his neck, bringing herself slightly closer, and pulling him down a bit to her. He seemed to understand the significance, and dropped his gaze down to hers.

She clicked her teeth silently twice at his curious look. And once he realized what she intended, he relaxed his jaw. They really were getting pretty great at reading each other, and the thought made barest of smiles appear on his lips, along with a softening of his eyes. She smiled back, before a voice from ahead scared her back into character.

"Say, what'd you say your name was, bud? I've been talking to you this whole time, and I just realized I don't know it."

He already decided to stop using his real name. If he wanted to protect the Western Lord, and the lands in which he lives, he couldn't go around advertising his weakness.

But he'd come prepared.

"Yuta. Nakamoto."

When he returned his gaze to the miko in his arms, the small smile she'd worn before had graduated to one of considerable amusement, and she was doing her best to hide it by burying her face in his chest. He probably shouldn't be trying to make her laugh, but at the moment, he couldn't find it in him to care.

---

At last, they'd made it to the castle. The long winter night wasn't half gone, but Sesshoumaru had high hopes that by sunrise, Inuyasha would again be strong enough to heal, for one. And second, to bust free of his bindings and get them all out of there.

But now, with more intimate knowledge of how this magic worked, they weren't holding their breath.

It was a modest castle – two main towers standing several tiers tall, but not terribly wide. Fine enough for humans trying to hide deep in the mountains. Apparently, this castle was concealed by the magic they used, so though they could see it, any demon to pass by would not. It has aided them greatly in their continued preservation.

They'd arrived to the castle to a very warm reception. The top soldiers in the resistance lived on base, along with their wives. There were other fortresses throughout the area apparently, but this was the main property where the leaders of the movement gathered.

Though about a dozen top officials called this place home, several more soldiers inside were always on duty, working patrol and guarding their secrets. This is where all of their plans of attack, and magic, and anything valuable was kept for use against demons in the uprising.

Yuta had been introduced as the clever general leading the front against the demons of the West. But attention was mostly on the human who they swore was really a half breed, and his pretty young companion.

Most denied their leader's claim, insisting he was imagining things when he saw this human, and he had been mistaken to have took him for a hanyou. The other men were swarming predatorily around Kagome, until warning of her affliction came across, and stifled the attention.

That was when the trio was forced to split up. Yuta insisted on carrying the miko down to the stone dungeon where she and Inuyasha would be locked up together, but he was finally made to relinquish his hold. He looked closely to see that the young man who carried her kept his hands to himself, and so far, he could see that he had. Inuyasha, who had impressively endured the trudge to the castle, would be forced to limp the rest of the way, with his guard escort, of course.

Yuta, however, was invited into the den with the other soldiers. Apparently, Juzo was eager to get his thoughts on several of his strategies, and all were eager to get to know the young man their leader found so impressive on sight.

A handful of the top official's wives would also be in attendance, and – as it was a casual setting – drinks would be served as well.

"We won't lock you up like the others," he graciously informed him, "but I'm afraid we can't leave you unguarded until we know each other a little better."

With all the heavily armed soldiers about, Sesshoumaru was loathe to admit he wouldn't be making his escape any time soon. He might as well get good and comfortable, and accept the sake Juzo prepared for him.

"You want me to bound him?" one of his underlings asked. Juzo shook his head.

"No need for that. Just keep your gun handy. I trust Yuta is going to fit in just fine." He smiled at Sesshoumaru, who returned the gesture quite mockingly. Not that they knew the difference.

"Let's have a drink!" Juzo suggested, clapping a hand on his shoulder as they reached the den's door at last. "I want to introduce you to the others."

---

He could see why they called it a den. 'War Room' was too generous, with the way these men carried on.

They weren't a completely disorderly lot; he'd certainly been party to worse. But planning for battle took dedication; serious considerations. Let alone toppling a regime. And though alcohol and women made for more entertaining fodder, in put into question their commitment to the cause.

But perhaps he was being too judgmental. The few women in attendance were the wives of a handful of the soldiers present. And though the sake had been flowing generously – and continuously – these men appeared capable of holding their drink. It just made them a little cruder, a touch louder, and quite easily and heartily impressed with his suggestions. Not that they shouldn't be.

But in his experience, a more sullen, sober countenance was required prior to waging war. This gathering appeared more akin to a celebration, and was more appropriate after victory had been achieved.

These men seemed quite happy to see him, and were becoming more so with each proposed tactic. And each bottle of sake.

"Brilliant!" exclaimed the man who'd been introduced as Juzo's captain.

The highest ranking members of his army had crowded around Sesshoumaru at the end of the large table, and were growing increasingly excited with each suggestion he proposed.

To his right was the captain, who watched on joyously as Sesshoumaru poured over the various maps and scrolls laid out before him. This man apparently had a poor concept of personal space, as he hadn't been shy about leaning into his shoulder and remaining there for the duration of his most recent explanation.

To his left was the lieutenant. Who, thankfully, was not so brazen or loud, and merely sat respectfully and watched the experienced warlord familiarize himself with their guard posts.

"I told you he was good." Juzo sat across from him; a smug smile and relaxed posture exuded his self-satisfaction in discovering the obvious professional and recruiting him for their purposes. Sesshoumaru's competency seemed to validate his eye for talent, and therefor bolster his men's confidence his ability to lead them to victory.

He was content to simply sit there and enjoy his sake, next to his wife who was doing the same, and watch this general of the West give his opinions on everything his men asked him.

"He's better than good, the man's a genius!" the captain praised again. Though when he once again grabbed his shoulder in what was intended to be a friendly gesture, Sesshoumaru found little solace in the man's infuriating audacity. "I've never seen such impressive strategies as these. Those pumas aren't going to see us coming."

Another round of drinks commemorated another approved formation, and Sesshoumaru began to wonder how long it was going to take for the sake to do him a favor and put these men to sleep.

With the way they were going, however, it seemed this army had developed quite an immunity. It was going to take a while. Inwardly, Sesshoumaru sighed.

There was little he could do. Though nothing compared to his own army, theirs was admittedly not completely ineffectual. They had a rather impressive track record, and were obviously not without abilities. For humans.

These men had good minds for war. They had clearly put a good deal of thought into their revolution. And for going up against a powerful demon house, their success rate was worthy of acknowledgement.

Their weapons were impressive, and he should know. Each man in the room proudly brandished his own personal arsenal on his hip, strapped to his back, or even simply in his grasp. And all the other soldiers – the lower level guards who he had witnessed come and go from the room, or patrolling around the castle – were more than minimally armed.

And he – at the moment – was decidedly not. And currently, to his dismay, also the center of these armed men's rapt focus. Escape was going to be challenging, and not for the first time his thoughts drifted from the playbooks he was supposed to be scrutinizing to his packmates locked away in the dungeon. He worried for their safety, and hoped these men were at least bright enough to protect their investment and not subject their intended workforce to torture.

But he couldn't do anything about that now. For now, he had to play along and earn himself a measure of their trust. His best move right now was to comply with their demands, demonstrate his value, and hopefully earn enough respect to be allowed some time to his own devices. Then, he could make his move. He just hoped it wouldn't be too long.

"Forget the pumas, not a single neko youkai in the North is going to be able to stop us!" another of the gathered soldiers gleefully proclaimed. "With Yuta here, we will own this land in no time."

He did his best to appear gracious, and appreciative of their praise, but it was his fantasies of gutting these men with their own swords which was the real inspiration for the modest smile gracing his lips.

"You can't give him back." The lieutenant finally deigned to speak, and Sesshoumaru was not pleased with the words he had chosen. He turned cautiously to the man on his left, trying not to glare too hard at his assessment. "We can run the whole country with these bullet proof tactics. I can't wait to see what else he can do for us."

The other men seemed to agree, as various approving noises could be heard in between cups being refilled. To his surprise, Juzo interjected.

"Now men, I gave him my word I would release him without incident as soon as the North is ours, and I keep my promises." Sesshoumaru hid his surprise as he watched the leader admonish his men. "After we take the North, we will help him take the West, and we shall all be allies. No need to be greedy."

Groans of disappointment made their rounds, but Juzo met Sesshoumaru's eyes with a friendly smile, and nodded once at him.

Sesshoumaru, in a silent act of gratitude, returned the gesture.

The man was far from honorable, but it appeared even he had his code.

"Good looking guy too. How'd you like to meet my sister?" Sesshoumaru's attention traveled over to the soldier who asked the question just in time to hear the amused reaction from the rest of the group. A few of the men made comments on her attractiveness – or lack thereof – causing the man to punch another in the shoulder for speaking rudely of his kin. A few threats were made regarding the other's responses, and the lieutenant began clearing the scrolls in front of him to put in safe keeping.

"No thank you," Sesshoumaru answered politely as he watched the maps in front of him disappear. "I have someone waiting for me when I return."

This got an intrigued reaction from a few of the men, while others were losing interest in the absence of war talk, and began busying themselves with more wine and engaging in side conversations.

"Oh, you have a woman?" When the lieutenant rose to lock away their new plans, another man took his seat to better interrogate their guest.

"Of course he does, look at him." He looked up to see Juzo's wife smiling at him, and the woman sitting beside her giggled softly into her hand. Juzo didn't seem upset by his wife's assessment, and didn't even look her way as she rose her wine to her lips once again.

"What's she look like? Is she hot?" He held the woman's gaze a moment longer, before turning back to the man who'd addressed him. Before he could answer, another of the soldiers eagerly cut him off.

"I bet she is. What's the sexiest thing about her?"

It appeared deep in these mountains, those not lucky enough to have wives were not blessed with many female visitors. It made him more nervous about having Kagome here. He knew his warning would likely not ward the more desperate men off for long.

Of the small group that remained at the table, all eyes were expectantly on him. Juzo, and the women, wore looks of mild amusement, while the single men at the table seemed hungry for lewd descriptions. But it wasn't only for the mixed company that gave his chaste answer.

"Her eyes." The reaction he got was instantaneous and varied. The single soldiers groaned loudly in obvious disappointment, while others chuckled lightly at the harmless answer. A couple of the wives swooned appreciatively, causing a whole new round of disapproval from the single men at the table.

"Pfft. That's what you tell the women, but level with us." The man at Sesshoumaru's side leaned in conspiratorially, and even his human senses could scent the sake permeating from his breath. The intensity of his gaze relayed his seriousness. "She have big tits?" he asked earnestly.

Boisterous laughter from the men followed. Even the until now reserved Juzo indulged in a light chuckle. But the women rolled their eyes disapprovingly, and Juzo's wife saw fit to chastise the crude young man.

"Shut up, you slime. Not all men are dogs like you." Sesshoumaru turned his gaze back to her at the ironic word choice, but said nothing. "I think its sweet that he likes her eyes."

Her own shone with approval, and he found himself somewhat captivated by her obvious satisfaction with him.

"Well I don't wanna hear about some pretty girl's eyes." A slap on his arm tore him away from the woman once again. "C'mon, tell me. What was the first thing you really noticed about her that made you just want to split her in two?"

He tried to hide his distaste, though he was afraid his annoyance was ill-concealed. Still, he was trying to develop a rapport with these men. So what was the harm in indulging him a little?

The man appeared to be on baited breath for his answer. Sesshoumaru was further convinced that there must not be any women who traveled this way.

Finally, he humored him.

"She has very nice legs."

This seemed to satisfy him, and a large grin spread across his features.

"There we go. Long?" he asked eagerly. Sesshoumaru couldn't help but smirk at his desperation.

"Very. And shapely."

"Nice," he replied, finally pleased. "Bet you just her to wrap them around you and -"

"Alright, it's getting a bit too rowdy in here." Juzo's wife stood, and placed a hand on her husband's shoulder while looking down at him expectantly. "I'm getting ready for bed. You coming?"

Juzo gestured to the piles of paperwork before him before tilting his head back to respond.

"No, I have more work to do. But sleep well, my dear."

She huffed in mild disappointment, but easy acceptance. She leaned over to give him a brief kiss, and bid her goodbyes to the others before making her exit.

Sesshoumaru watched her go, wondering if now would be an appropriate time to ask to retire. Perhaps once he was alone, he would be able to devise a plan for getting them out of the castle.

They appeared to be done strategizing for the evening. Most of the men had involved themselves in other conversations, and gotten up to move around. Juzo was speaking to his captain, and referring to one of the many scrolls in front of him, but as far as Sesshoumaru could tell, their need of him had expired for the moment, thank kami.

"Will I have somewhere to sleep?" he finally asked, interrupting the seemingly inconsequential conversation Juzo was having. He was pleased when he nodded immediately.

"Of course. We are setting you up with your own room." He placed his page down to give him his full attention. "It's got everything you need. We treat our own well." Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding, and felt a measure of relief at the news. Juzo's sudden apologetic cadence had him a bit worried, however. "Unfortunately, since you're still new, we're gonna have to lock you up, just for precaution."

It wasn't exactly a surprise. These men were crass, but they were not fools.

But every prison had its weak spot. He just needed to find it.

"It's getting late I suppose. We can pick this up tomorrow." When he stood, Sesshoumaru instantly followed. Juzo walked around the table to lead him out. "And don't worry, we'll have some nice little chores for your companions to get into tomorrow." He supposed that was intended to be for his benefit, as well as the wink that accompanied it. "We'll stick it to 'em extra for your mother... and your captain."

Once ushered out of the den, Juzo signaled one of his guards over. The man with the gun quickly complied.

"Toshiji, go show Yuta to his room. Make sure he has all he needs, and lock him up nice and tight."

Sesshoumaru watched as he then handed the guard a very large ring holding multiple keys, and a burst of hopeful excitement coursed through him. The ones for the dungeon had to be on there, and a plan instantly began to form in his head. All he needed was a moment of opportunity.

He watched subtly, yet intently, as his escort received them from his boss and shoved them into his armor.

"Yes sir." With a bow, the guard insistently urged Sesshoumaru to follow him, and he did.

"Sleep well, Nakamoto. You did good today." He looked over his shoulder to see the leader waving him off. He appeared to be waiting to return to the den until he was out of sight. Sesshoumaru did not respond, only returned his focus forward, and began assessing his surroundings on the journey to his room.

They passed several armed guards on the way to the staircase, and a few more as they ascended. It was a large, multi-tiered structure which was built into the center of the castle. There was no wall encasement, so the comings and goings of the stairway were fairly exposed. Each time they reached a new floor, access was blocked by a single gunman who stood at attention. Toshiji would acknowledge each one he passed, before continuing upward as he led Sesshoumaru through the castle.

Finally, they reached his floor, and with a nod, the soldier guarding it stepped aside and allowed the two of them passage. The tightness of security was not promising, nor when they entered through the door to find yet another guard standing on the inside – of course with gun in hand. Sesshoumaru eyed him warily as they passed him to make their way down a long hall.

"Your room is nice. Its right down the hall from the boss's, so he can keep an eye on you." Toshiji causally filled him in as he tried to gage the area. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to appraise. Long stretches of wooden walls were bare. And so far, the only door they passed had been closed. There appeared to be a window at the end of the hall, but the long curtain prevented him from taking in the view. "But you're three stories up, so you still get a window. Don't expect you'll be jumping anytime soon."

He doubted the young man was astute enough to read his thoughts, but he still offered him a modest glare for his comment.

"Perhaps a little trust is in order for one who is to be such a valued ally."

"Trust comes with time. It is your value which calls for the security." Toshiji spared him a quick glance as they came upon a door to their right. "But it could be worse, you could be in the dungeon with your brother and the whore."

He could easily disarm this man in an instant. Relieve him of his weapon, take his keys, and shoot him dead for his insolence. But then what? There was no clear way out of here, that he could see. And even if there was, there was still the matter of getting to the others and freeing them. Not to mention dragging their crippled bodies out of there.

"Is the dungeon accessible from the castle?" he tried to ask as evenly as possible. The man's gaze remained forward.

"You need a key to get to the basement, then a key to get through the tunnel," he saw no harm in informing him. "The tunnel is underground, and takes you to the detached dungeon in the side tower. Don't worry, they ain't going nowhere."

So the dungeon was next door. That made it even harder, not that it wasn't proving exceedingly difficult already. With the way they kept this castle so well manned, he did not doubt there would be several men with guns at every turn. Simply breaking in was looking like less and less an option. He was going to have to come up with another way to get down there. But what?

They passed by the door, so Sesshoumaru figured his room must be the next one.

"That priestess was pretty tasty. I believe after this, I will go down and pay her a visit."

He snapped his head harshly over to him, and made no attempts to hide his sneer.

"Fool, did you not hear my warning?"

The man didn't bother looking at him, only lifted his shoulders in a casual shrug.

"There are ways around that. I'll just use another entrance." Sesshoumaru's shoulder's instantly tensed. "I'm sure others have already thought of it, but I want to make sure I'm there first."

As if things weren't bad enough, his urgency immediately tripled. He thought he might have a few days to gain the men's trust, maybe learn of their schedules and rotations and eventually come up with a plan. But he saw how some of these men behaved. He was running out of time. He needed to get them out of there now. With each hour that passed, the miko's safety would be placed in greater peril.

He was considering disregarding his previous notions and grabbing his gun anyway. At least it would give him a chance, albeit not a good one, and then this cretin guard would not be touching her for certain. His fingers itched at his side.

"Toshiji, come here please."

The blood roaring in his ears prevented him from hearing the door open behind them, but both men halted when they heard the feminine command.

It seemed the door they passed was the one belonging to Juzo, as his wife stood at the threshold.

Sesshoumaru was surprised to see her there, and was more than a little interested as to why she required his guard.

Toshiji turned to her and offered his bow.

"Yes Otoha-sama, but first I need to lock up Yuta-"

"Bring him with, this is urgent."

Sesshoumaru turned around, and looked between the leader's wife who stood in the doorway, and his guard escort who seemed frozen in indecision.

What was going on here? Opportunity, perhaps? His eyes were wide open for any chance he may be given to escape.

He simply waited to see what the man would do, and it was clear he was torn between following order's and obeying his boss's wife.

She seemed aware of his plight.

"Do not make me tell my husband you disobeyed me."

She turned to retreat into her room, leaving the door open for them to follow. He made brief eye contact with an expectant Sesshoumaru before gesturing for him to follow after the woman.

The room was not overly large or gaudy. It was a modest castle, after all. A quick glance around revealed a futon on a raised platform against the back wall, and on another was a decently sized window. The curtains were drawn, but it was far too dark to make out anything outside.

There was small area in the corner set up to take meals, and a desk beside that. And in the other corner, there appeared to be a closet of sorts.

Once they were inside, Toshiji closed the door behind them. The guard quickly identified the strange scent filling the air.

"Are you smoking opium?" he asked incredulously. Looking to the low table beside the bed, Sesshoumaru could see the man had guessed correctly. A small wooden pipe was still smoking, and set down beside a traveling pouch. She didn't need to respond, but she didn't seem overly concerned with being found out. She didn't seem overly concerned with anything at the moment. Her eyes were half-lidded, and she wore a discrete smile on her painted lips. "You know the boss said he would have my ass if he caught you getting into that again."

She shrugged, obviously unperturbed, and took a seat on her futon.

"Then he better not find out, for both our sakes."

Sesshoumaru watched on curiously as the soldier appeared to seethe. These two clearly had some sort of history, though to what degree he could not be certain.

Toshiji managed to bottle his disapproval, and addressed the woman sternly.

"What did you need?"

Her careless gaze slid to Sesshoumaru then, and just like downstairs, she'd locked him in with it. Something about the way she looked at him earned his undivided attention. Not that there was anything else interesting to look at in this room.

"I need a word with Yuta. You are dismissed." She had yet to break his passive gaze, but the soldier's regard turned suspicious. It was clear she made him nervous.

"I was ordered to lock him in his room," he informed her plainly. "I can't just leave him with you, for whatever you are planning. The boss would kill me for sure."

Finally, she returned her attention to Toshiji, a mocking smile playing at her lips.

"And would your wife, when I tell her I saw you with the kitchen maid last week, hm?"

He blanched, and Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow at the man while he watched the drama unfold.

"You promised you wouldn't-"

"And I won't, so long as you don't defy me," she coolly assured him. "I'll lock him away when I'm through, don't you worry about that."

She held out her hand expectantly.

Toshiji's harsh glare looked intended to burn holes, but it appeared she had the upper hand. After another moment, he relented.

"Dammit, alright." He pulled the large ring of keys out of his armor, and placed them in her hand none too gently. "Just don't forget. You're lucky I have business in the dungeon to take care of."

He seemed to realize something as he watched her inventory the key's in her grasp.

"Speaking of which, I'm gonna need the keys to downstairs."

Now it was his turn to hold out his hand, as he waited for her to remove the ones he asked for and give them to him. She seemed to consider his request, but only for a moment.

"I think not," she decided, and his face fell. "That poor girl has been through enough tonight. I'll be sure Juzo gets these back."

He was shocked at her refusal, but it turned quickly to anger. It was obvious he was searching for a way to respond, but there appeared to be little he could do. Her condescending smirk did not improve his mood.

"Now go back to your wife, before I sit her down for a long-overdue chat."

With one last withering glare, he turned hotly from the woman. Though Sesshoumaru's face remained passive, the soldier seemed aware of his mockery, and brushed past him quickly to see himself out.

But before he made it to the door, the woman called after him with one last command.

"Don't forget to report back to my husband first. Make sure to tell him it all went smoothly. We can't have him tearing away from his work just to check on yours, can we?"

He didn't turn to respond to her, just continued on his way. She watched with a smile as the door shut behind him, and returned her gaze to Sesshoumaru. When she did, she noticed the way his attention danced curiously around the room. That same scrutinizing eye that had been studying their maps and posts was now perusing her bedroom, and it was little mystery why.

"I see you already planning your escape, but don't bother." At the sudden address, he returned his focus to the strange woman once again. "I'm sure you passed all the guards in the halls and stairway on the way up. All men are armed here, and they will shoot you down no matter how brilliant a tactician."

As grateful as he was for her interference, he did not appreciate her casual threat. Still, he had yet to discern what she wanted, so he plastered on an insincere smile and bowed his head slightly in deference.

"What can I do for you, my lady?"

Without the burden of company, she finally allowed herself to take him in. She made no attempts to hide her perusal as she looked him up and down meticulously.

He remained still; back straight, shoulders squared, chin high, and simply waited to see what it was this woman wanted with him.

He had his suspicions, but he couldn't exactly peg her.

She'd interfered in his confinement, and whether she intended to resume it remained to be seen. She'd been pleasant to him downstairs, in fine contrast to the soldiers. But most importantly, she prevented that vermin from getting down to Kagome tonight. For that, he was most grateful.

At this point, he couldn't tell if she simply wished him to warm her bed, or if she may be willing to aid in his escape. Perhaps the two options were not mutually exclusive.

And if it was only the former, perhaps it might lead to the latter.

"Opium?" she finally asked, nodding her head to the night table. His eyes never left hers.

"No, thank you."

His attention drew to her hands, where she still held the keys the guard had given her. She leaned over to place them on her table, and his hopes soared. If he could get those keys from her, he could get to the dungeons. Of course, he would still need a way to pass all those guards, but one thing at a time. This could be his first break.

After setting down the keys, she reached over to grab her pipe, still smoking from her earlier use, and stood. It only took three steps to be standing before him, close enough to touch.

"I'm afraid I must insist." She held it up to him expectantly, only inches from his face. From there, the smell was undeniably stronger. Her countenance was inviting, yet brooked no room for argument. He continued to meet her gaze, trying to figure her out. Since he'd yet to succeed, he decided his best course was to humor her for now.

"Then how can I refuse?"

He'd sampled opium as a demon. Even as a young demon, the human drug had no effect on his senses. He was far too strong to be altered by human vices in any way. But he remembered Kagome's magic pills. She'd told him they were the same. And the incredible relief he felt after taking them proved he now was certainly susceptible.

What was the harm? Might as well enjoy the sensation while he had the chance. Once he changed back, he would not have the opportunity.

Besides, after taking those pills, he turned back into a demon for the night. Kagome said it was unrelated, but if she was wrong, this would be a great time to transform.

He accepted it from her. And without further hesitation he lifted it to his lips and took a good, long pull of smoke through the pipe, and held it in. After several unhurried seconds, he exhaled through his nostrils until all of it was expelled.

Instantly, a peaceful contentment washed over him, actually surprising him with its potency.

The pills hadn't worked so quickly, but the warmth rushing through his body and setting in his bones was not an unwelcome sensation. Suddenly, all of the stress and dread over his current situation did not seem so acute. His troubles were not forgotten completely, but the gravity of them had dulled considerably.

She took the pipe back from him, and returned it to rest beside the keys on her table. When she turned to him again, she noticed his posture hadn't altered. His half-lidded gaze was the only thing betraying his relaxation.

"Don't listen to that idiot downstairs," she told him as she made her way over to her door, and locked them inside. "I think your devotion to your beloved is sweet. It is clear you really care for her."

"Indeed I do." Her voice sobered him a bit, and he watched her reclaim the space directly in front of him. She was close, but far enough away that she didn't have to tilt her head back to accommodate for the height difference.

"Have you been away from her long?" she asked.

Sesshoumaru shook his head.

"Not terribly."

Her hooded gaze was still intense, and never left him. She was very curious of him, but she also seemed genuinely concerned. If she was feigning her sympathy, she was doing an excellent job of it.

"Still, you must really miss her." A long pause ensued, and it was clear she expected him to fill it.

But he didn't know how to respond to her assessment, so he simply didn't. The opium hadn't rendered him useless, simply a touch slower than he would have otherwise been. She tried again.

"It is difficult to be away from the one we wish to share our life with."

Still unclear of her intentions, he was eager to get to the point. He was going to get those keys one way or another, he was just waiting on her to tell him which method he would choose.

He didn't want to be too rash, because she might offer to help him voluntarily. If she were willing to advise him, or escort him, it would be preferable to just sneaking – or more likely, forcing – his way through. So to speed things along, he offered her an opening.

"Luckily you have no such troubles. Your husband is right downstairs."

He didn't know what to make of the little half smirk she gave him. Her eyes were still assessing him; cautiously confident.

"Yes, but he might as well be miles away. He is so obsessed with the revolution; he hardly makes time for me these days."

"War can be a harsh mistress," he conceded. "but it cannot be ignored. Without it, the life you enjoy may cease to exist."

It was becoming clear what it was she desired of him. Turns out his initial suspicion had been correct. And though seducing her could prove a successful method of obtaining his freedom, he was the first to admit it was not ideal.

She was fair enough. She was not terribly annoying. She was obviously no fool.

But Kagome would not be pleased. She had made her feelings perfectly clear on the matter. And if he went through with this, there was a good chance she would not entertain his advances.

But if he didn't get down to the dungeon soon, none of it would matter anyway. It was only a matter of time before those soldiers got their hands on her. And once they found out she was not tainted, it would be open season.

And what was he telling himself earlier, before he'd found his brother in the trap? He needed to get his priorities in order, put the mission above his romantic ambitions.

Getting her out of here was most important. If he could seduce this woman into aiding his escape, he should consider himself fortunate for even having the option. Kagome would get over it. And if she didn't... well, then she didn't. He could live with the consequences.

"I find so little to be joyful about lately. Not much excites me."

The cautious look in her eye became bolder, and he knew what to expect.

"You excite me." He watched as she prowled closer to him, and finally lifted her hand to run her finger tips experimentally along his chest. He allowed it, remaining still. "You are obviously a strong man. A brilliant man. An accomplished soldier." Her attention drew over to his missing sleeve, and the exposed, muscular arm its absence revealed. "This body has accomplished many great things, has it not?"

He watched her continue to softly touch him; followed her hands with his eyes as she played with the edges of his haori.

"It has," he confirmed. "Though I should like to think it's glory days are not behind it."

As she continued to finger the material, his gaze drifted from his chest over to hers. The part in her kimono revealed a breathtaking sight, and he was captivated by what she bared to him.

"Do you like looking at my chest?" she boldly asked, easily noticing his distraction.

At being caught, his entranced look took on a slightly more sheepish quality, and he offered an appreciative smile.

"Actually, I was admiring your necklace. Are those-"

"Diamonds," she confirmed, removing her hand from him to reach up and touch the jewels at her throat. "from the youkai mines in the East. My husband killed a demon who had this made for this mate." She caressed the jewelry appreciatively as she continued to explain. "I despise those youkai, but you have to admire their craftsmanship."

He lifted his own hand as well, and she drew a sharp breath when he placed his hand over hers atop the impressive necklace. Several rows of white diamonds glimmered as they cascaded down her chest, narrowing to a point as if directing him to the valley of her breasts.

Most impressive, however, was how two thin rows of the diamonds circled all the way around her neck. Somehow, the youkai diamonds did not require a chain, but rather infused together. Bonding to one another, so only diamond after diamond glittered and shone, and laid comfortably and naturally around the base of her neck.

"Indeed. My mother had one just like it." He used the pads of his fingers and thumb to trace along the priceless gems, and soon discovered his hand was large enough to wrap all the way around her dainty throat. He stretched his hand wide, and she gasped when she felt the center of his palm press firmly against her trachea, only to relax again when dragged his fingertips down either side of her necklace in unison, finally to meet in the middle right above her cleavage. "There is no finer jewel in the lands. Your husband must really care for you."

He withdrew then, but he left heat in more places than he touched. Just the notion that he could take her life by simply closing his hand around her sent a thrill coursing through her entire form.

"May I ask a personal question, Nakamoto-san?" she asked, very aware of her own heavy breathing.

"Of course." The sparkle of her diamonds reflected the one in his eyes. They appeared to encourage it, at the almost ravenous way he was regarding them.

"Your beloved; she has yet to give herself to you, ne?"

When he declined to answer, she lost a bit of her courage, causing her to blush and slightly recoil.

"Sorry, I know that's forward. But I have an eye for these things. The same way I can tell when a man hasn't known a woman's touch in far too long."

He raised an eyebrow at her in genuine curiosity.

"Oh? How could you discern such a thing?"

Her spent confidence was quickly replenished, and her smile reflected that. She inched closer to him again, and placed her hands atop each of his shoulders.

"Mostly, it's your posture," she began, and squeezed lightly around the base of his neck. "The stiffness in your spine, the squareness of your shoulders." She stopped squeezing, but left her hands where they were as she looked into his eyes. Now her head was forced to tilt back. "And then there is the way you speak. You have not been able to relax in far too long. You just seem... tight."

They held each other's eyes intently, the insinuation not lost on either of them.

"I have always been this way," he finally admitted. She gave him another sympathetic look, and ran the flats of her palms firmly down his chest, and back up slowly.

"Poor thing."

She repeated the rubbing action several times, all while never dropping his gaze. They seemed to be moving closer, at an incredibly slow pace.

"Tell me, are you not tight?" he asked, and placed his hands on her hips. It didn't take much to pull them into his. "You look very tight."

When he began to dip his head, she curled her hand behind his nape and pulled him in, crashing their lips together. Her other hand was in his hair, and she pressed her chest firmly against his.

Her kiss was desperate, and permissive. This woman was somewhat demanding, and not afraid to take what she wanted. He took this as a blessing. It meant he would not be forced to initiate much progress between them. He could go along with this, do what must be done. But he did not want this woman; had no interest in perusing her or attempting to entice her.

It was going to be hard enough to get through this without dwelling on what it might cost him.

Her aggressiveness would allow him to simply turn his mind off, and acquiesce. So that was what he did.

When they pulled apart, she squirmed out of his hold and quickly parted her kimono. In an instant, it was just a pile of silk on the floor, and she was standing in only her undergarments. She started in on his obi next.

"Are you certain your husband will not find us?" he asked, helping her solve the knot. Once they did, it joined her kimono, and she was clawing feverishly at his haori.

"Trust me, he will be down there until dawn working on his war strategies. You can have me as long as you need."

Once his haori was apart, and she was given an unobstructed view of his chiseled abs and chest, she decided she couldn't wait to take it off him before she pressed herself to him again.

She ran her hands over the hard muscle appreciatively until his lips found hers once more. When his tongue entered her mouth, she pressed her own exposed body against his naked torso and enjoyed the warm feel of his perfect skin on hers.

His hands slid around to grab her ass, and pull her tightly to grind against him. She groaned at the friction, enjoying the feel of him a moment before finally tearing herself away. Growing increasingly impatient, she took him by the hand, and led him over to her bed.

She got on her back while he loomed over her on his knees. Her excitement continued to mount when she watched him in all his glory as he peeled his shirt off the rest of the way, and she started rubbing circles into her own throbbing clit at the sight of the perfect specimen above her.

He crawled forward then, propping himself up with one arm as his face hovered right above hers.

She was smiling wide in anticipation, touching his chest again and thanking the kami for sending this beautiful man to please her.

He lifted his hand to her chest, and once again, he was tracing the diamonds at her throat. Her eyes closed in pleasure at the simple contact, until he spoke again.

"Will you remove this?" she cracked her eyes in time to see his amused, apologetic grin. "It reminds me of my mother."

With a giggle, she forced herself to sit, and he sat back on his knees so she could do so. She seemed to be struggling with it, so he scooted closer to offer his aid. With both his arms around her neck, he was able to release the lock. As soon as it was off, he put his lips to her throat, as if offering a replacement.

She moaned at the attention, and he easily coaxed her back down onto the bed.

She seemed to enjoy him kissing her throat. So, he relaxed his weight on top of her to continue while she arched into him. Small, dainty hands clawed at his back; raked through his hair, and stimulated him with the sensation. In response, he grabbed a hold of one of her covered breasts to gently caress, and when he finally gave it a rough squeeze, she nearly came undone.

She was about to demand he do it again, but a firm, feverish pounding on her door stopped them cold.

"Otoha!"

They both instantly recognized the firm, angry voice of her husband on the other side, and after meeting each other's eyes, quickly scrambled off the bed.

"You have to hide!" she whispered, as she located his clothing on the floor and shoved it at him. He threw his haori over his shoulders, and tied his obi in a frantic, messy knot. She declined to dress herself, however, as she was more preoccupied with finding a place to stash him.

"Where?"

"Otoha! Open the door! I gave Toshiji my keys!"

She forcefully began shoving him toward the closet. Seeing what she intended, Sesshoumaru resisted.

He still doubted it was true, but the monk's raunchy story warned against such a thing.

Frustrated with his refusal, she began to panic.

"No. He will find me," Sesshoumaru insisted. She knew he was right, but they had no other options.

"There's nowhere else!"

"Otoha! Who's in there with you?"

Juzo sounded a good deal drunker than when they left him. So, it seemed the alcohol did have an effect. Just much later than he preferred. Hopefully, it would work in their favor.

The monk's story gave Sesshoumaru another idea, and he headed for the window.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, still whispering as he opened it.

"I shall hang out the window."

She wouldn't have thought of that, but she was also afraid he might try to escape. If he got away, her husband would not be pleased.

Then again, she could blame it on Toshiji...

"Will you jump?"

"Three stories?" he mocked. "I think not."

When he threw a leg over the sill, she grabbed ahold of his remaining sleeve.

"Will you fall?" she asked worriedly, her genuine concern shifting away from his possible escape to his possible injury. But the man exuded confidence.

"I am very strong," he assured without an ounce of doubt.

That, he was. Just the reminder of that firm body pressed against hers-

She went in for another kiss. She couldn't help it. But before he swung himself over, she stopped him.

"Wait!" She demanded, and ran around the bed. He did, but the accusatory shouts from outside her door were growing louder and more insistent.

When she returned, she thrusted the traveling pouch at him. He just looked at it, and quirked an eyebrow.

"I'm in more trouble if he finds that than if he finds you. I need you to take it."

Seeing the plea in her features, he obediently grabbed the items from her hand and secured them inside his obi the best he could.

As soon as he took it, she bolted for the door, and he lowered himself out of the window. The last thing he saw was her spraying perfume around the room, likely to conceal the opium smell. His hands grasped the ledge tightly as he used the balls of his feet to push him away from the castle.

He chanced a look down. It was far, but he immediately considered jumping.

This was his chance to get out there, and then he could find his way into the dungeon. But at this height, he wasn't sure he could make it.

He was certain he would survive. But the odds of him breaking something upon impact were good. Then, they'd be three broken human slaves locked in a dungeon.

He heard Juzo's slightly slurred voice booming inside the room. He wouldn't chance a peek, but from the sounds of it, he was accusing his wife of doing – well, what they were doing. At her denials, he was tearing the room apart looking for... not necessarily him, but someone.

He heard him threaten to check the closet, and was pleased with himself for sidestepping that little encounter.

Now that the room was apparently cleared, things seemed to have calmed down a bit, and Juzo was apologetic.

That was good too, because his arms were starting to strain. He hoped she would get him out of there soon so he could get back inside. Then, maybe he could get her to give him those keys. Perhaps instead of seducing her, he could blackmail her. Of course, implicating himself as such to the leader was probably not the smartest plan, but an idle threat might be sufficient.

Sesshoumaru strained his hearing to find out what was going on in there. His arms were starting to cramp.

But the sudden familiar moan of the woman inside nearly caused him to curse.

It seemed that Juzo took his wife's state of undress to mean she was eagerly waiting for him to return, and in his drunken state, he was apparently eager to comply with her wishes.

They were clearly on their bed, and a lot further along than he had been minutes ago.

A lot further along.

He didn't know how long he could hold like this. His muscles were still sore from the incident on the bridge, se hoped this male's stamina wasn't anything to write home about.

After a moment, and confident of Juzo's distraction, Sesshoumaru lifted himself up to venture a peak.

They seemed to be pretty into it. He didn't know why she sought attention elsewhere, as they appeared to be perfectly compatible. This woman was just greedy. Or perhaps still keyed up from before. Possibly both.

Averting his eyes, he slid them over to her side table, and noticed the ring of keys that still remained.

Damn. He should have grabbed them when he had the chance. That was the whole reason for this escapade, and he failed.

He wondered if Juzo was distracted enough not to notice him if he crawled back through the window and snatched them off the table.

It would be risky. Probably even riskier than jumping. He looked down again, and made his decision.

It would hurt, but he would make it.

He began looking around, to see what was available to him. The darkness of night made his task a difficult one, and he desperately hoped there were no guards outside who might look up and notice him. If there were, he would be unable to detect them.

That's when he noticed it.

Below, and just out of reach, there were the branches of a nearby tree that nearly stretched out and brushed the castle. If he could launch himself over and grab ahold of one, it might slow his descent enough to allow for a softer landing.

He had to try it. This was his only chance, and he didn't know when he would get another one. By then, he might be too late.

Listening to ensure the couple was still busy – they were - Sesshoumaru reaffirmed and readjusted his grip, steadied his feet against the wall, and bent his knees a few times as if pumping a well. He took a few centering breaths, blocking out the noise of all his doubts and worries, save for one.

If he didn't do this perfectly, Kagome would pay the price. It was all the motivation he needed.

He looked at his target, crouched low, and then he jumped.

Launching himself into the nearby tree, he had more than cleared it. He managed to get himself a few feet further than he needed, ensuring it was not difficult to grab ahold of one of the several long branches that were reaching for him. He just hoped it would be sturdy enough.

The weightless feeling of being airborne was thrilling, and aside from the whole gravity thing, was the closest he'd been to flying since his transformation. He was pleased of the reminder, and though he would not allow for any outward shows of appreciation, he enjoyed the calm serenity he had only ever obtained while slicing through the air at impossible speeds.

For just those few seconds, he felt a part of himself return to him, and he got to revel in the wonderful, familiar feeling before reality came crashing down as he prepared to do.

Falling in human form was different than for a demon. It was faster, save for his reaction time. And blurry. He had to rely on instinct as he did not have ample time or clarity of thought to make choices.

The thin, sparsely leafed branch he'd managed to secure was held firmly in his grasp as he careened toward the earth. About halfway down his fall, he felt the slack begin to tighten, and braced his grip.

Sure enough, as the branch reached the limit of its durability, it offered resistance. The tree had slowed his descent, and deposited him down to the ground below with minimal impact. He even managed to stay on his feet. And when he released it, the branch whipped back up into the air, bouncing a like spring a few times before returning where it belonged.

After taking a quick personal inventory, Sesshoumaru cut his gaze back up to the window he jumped out of to make sure they hadn't heard him. He was relieved to see that no one appeared to be looking.

And after a brief glance around, it didn't look like anyone else had seen him either. He had the urge to relax a bit at his success, but he hardly had time to celebrate. Before he was spotted, he made a fast break for the other tower. He had to get into that dungeon.

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A/N: You probably hate me a little bit, but trust me, the pain will be worth it XD