The True Holder of Shikon

Disclaimer - Don't own Inuyasha.

NOTE - There will be a scene in here and the next chapter... Oh, hell, the next few chapters are rated more firmly than it the ones before it.

Chapter 9 - Captive

Naraku had, of course, sent Kohaku to watch over Sango. He was not about to let her get away. His plan would succeed. He gazed down at the sleeping taiji-ya. Her face was peaceful, as if no nightmares plagued her mind.

"Make certain that she does not do anything crafty, Kohaku. I want no mistakes." Kohaku bowed his head before looking at the girl with his emotionless eyes.

"Yes, Master." Naraku left the room and smirked to himself. His plan was perfect. Now, if Kohaku did his part, the whole thing would go forth without a glitch.

Heh heh heh... Your time is almost up, Sango. You will die during the full moon and your lifeblood will taint the Shikon no Tama forever. I will never need to worry about that fool Inuyasha or his precious friends again.

Sesshoumaru opened his amber eyes, looking back at the pathetic group behind him.

"We are going the right way. Stay close. This forest can be dangerous to fools who do not know the way." Inuyasha wanted to tear the Taiyoukai to pieces but, so far, he had made his intentions on getting Naraku clear. The hanyou only hoped that Sango could hold on.

"How far away do you think the castle is?" Miroku asked, his violet eyes staring around the darkness beside them.

"It is quite far, houshi. Therefore, if you wish to get your friend back, then you will need to walk as quickly as possible." Kirara was walking at Sesshoumaru's side, staying right near him. He was her only hope of getting her mistress back into safety. Sango's scent was completely gone. The only thing that kept them going was the fact that Sesshoumaru could sense her powers even though Naraku's barrier was preventing the rest of them from it.

"Why is he able to sense it, Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered quietly.

"Because he can. He's obviously got strong and trained senses." The hanyou sighed. He could only hope that they made it in time.

Sango opened her eyes and looked around. She was laying on the floor, her hands and ankles no longer bound. She looked around and noticed that the room had an extremely powerful barrier around it. Then she noticed the boy sitting in the corner, watching her. She glared sharply at him.

"Kohaku." He watched her impassively. He was still wondering why he could not forget her face when the rest of his memories had been erased. He no longer knew who she was but her face would not be forgotten. Nor would her tears. When Naraku had brought him back, that was the only image he could remember and the only thing left in his empty memory. Without a word, he looked away from her to stare at the wall.

Who is she?

Sango watched him scornfully. She was just a tidbit jealous of him. He did not need to remember the pain. She had almost repressed her memory right after she found out it had happened.

How I wish I could do it now. I want to forget everything. I don't want to remember my pain.

However, she had come too far to just escape that way.

"I suppose you are the guard he was talking about." He didn't even spare her a glance. She was thankful. If he had looked at her with those empty eyes, she would lose it. The quiet in the room soon grew on her and she heaved an aggravated sigh then got up and cracked her neck and back before stretching her limbs out. "I could use a hot spring about now." She was so sore. The boy stood up and walked to the door, leaving her there by herself. She walked over to the wall and touched it gently with her hand, seeing the blue shield ripple beneath her touch like water before a painful shock ran through her entire body. She quickly pulled her hand back and rubbed it, her eyes fixed on the door.

Damn... Now I can't even touch the barrier, much less walk through it.

She sighed. She noticed the pieces of rope that lay on the floor. Sitting down again, she made herself busy unraveling it.

"Sesshoumaru, where the hell are you takin' us?" Inuyasha asked, his eyes on the sky. Kagome was fast asleep on his back and Miroku was riding Kirara, slumped over, snoring softly. His brother had not stopped moving since they began.

"Where you wish to go, little brother. If you wish to find your friend then do not complain."

"But why are you even helping?"

"That is none of your concern." The anger in the Taiyoukai's voice made the hanyou think twice about saying anything else. He was guessing that it was when Kagura tried to take Rin. It had triggered Sesshoumaru's anger and forced him into action. He hated his brother. He hated working with his brother. He hated it even more when he knew he needed his help.

But I can't get a whiff of her and I can't sense her. He's the only one who can.

Inuyasha was so deep in thought that he nearly ran into Sesshoumaru until he realized that his brother wasn't moving.

"Huh? What is it?" The youkai's fist clenched and his lips twitched. His eyes narrowed and flashed red.

"I smell him. That bastard..." He was shocked when Sesshoumaru bolted. He hurried after as fast as he could, trailing him by a little. If he lost him then he could just follow his scent.

What the hell? How can he smell Naraku and I can't? What the fuck is going on?

Kagome shifted on his back and moaned in protest in her sleep when he shifted her. He then darted quickly up through the trees; sucking in his breath at what he saw. He landed on the top branch of a tree and stared in wonder at the great silver-white inu youkai. Sesshoumaru had transformed. He was attacking the shield. Inuyasha looked down at Kirara and then went down to her.

"Take care of these three, okay? Don't worry, we'll get Sango back." The neko stared at him before he left, his hand grasping the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. "Wind Scar!" The blade burned red as the attack left it and hit the barrier with a loud crash. He charged at it, watching as it vanished to reveal nothing but a field... And there, in the middle, sat Naraku in his white baboon pelt. Behind him emerged Kagura and Kanna.

This was a trap!

The hanyou cursed, using every word he knew.

"Sesshoumaru!" The youkai went forward and let out a loud howl. He tore at Naraku, trying to capture the hanyou in his teeth or beneath his claws. "Sesshoumaru, this is a trap! Be careful!" The large inu yelped and jumped back, his graceful movements catching Kagura's eyes. Large drops of blood rained down on them when he lifted his paw to lick the scratch. He was then perched on his hind legs, his tail swishing in anger.

Damn! Sesshoumaru's blinded by his anger at Naraku... If he weren't so stubborn about the entire situation, we might actually win this.

Suddenly, Sesshoumaru let out a loud growl and lessened in size until he was back in his human form. The Taiyoukai looked angry. He looked ready enough to rip everyone there into shreds.

Funny, he's always had control of his emotions. And he's always kept anger in check. What could be...

His eyes widened when he saw Rin and Jaken dangling from a few of the many tentacle-like arms of Naraku's.

"A dirty trick..." He heard from behind him. Kagome had an arrow nocked. She had it aimed at Naraku.

"Kagome, stay back." She looked at him with a frown.

"If Sesshoumaru moves, he will kill them. If you move at him, he will kill them. I can kill him while you keep him distracted." She gave him a determined look. "Now, go." The hanyou could not argue. He was going to play the pawn.

"Naraku, you dirty son-of-a-bitch! You stupid coward! What the hell do you get out of capturing innocents?" He moved toward his brother, his amber eyes holding the ones beneath the baboon mask.

"Simple, Inuyasha. I get you in the palm of my hands." Kagura and Kanna were still free to block anything. But Kanna could not block the miko's sacred arrow. Still, it was too simple a plan. He bit his lip.

If I use the Wind Scar, they'll die. I can't take that risk. But I need to distract Naraku...

Suddenly, he got the idea. He looked at his brother.

"Sesshoumaru." He tilted his head back in the direction of Kagome. Then he directed the youkai's gaze to Kagura and Kanna. "What do you say?"

"Hm." He nodded once. He knew what his little brother was planning. He was to be the distraction for Kagura and Kanna. "Well, Naraku, what have you to ask of us?" He noticed the two incarnations staring at him. He was the main distraction. Suddenly, the arrow that Kagome had been holding got Naraku in the side and he caught aflame with her power. He rushed in and grabbed Rin while Kirara flew in to capture Jaken in her teeth. Inuyasha smirked and went after Kagura.

Dammit! Kanna is in front of her. I can't use the Wind Scar.

Another scared arrow was released at the two but Kagura quickly got them out of the way. He didn't want to let them get away but he could do nothing.

"I think this was to give Naraku more time." Kagome bent and picked up the wooden statue. A long strand of black hair was coiled around it. "He knew we would come for her. He was trying to throw us off." She said softly. "Can you still sense her, Sesshoumaru?" The Taiyoukai turned his face to the sky. He growled.

"No." It was said softly but it extinguished all of their hopes. He could still smell Kagura and Kanna. He could follow that. "The incarnations...would they lead us there?" He stood up with Rin in his arm, his gaze on his brother.

"I dunno. I can smell them." He tilted his head to the side and debated it. "Right now, it might be the only chance we've got."

"We have to follow them, then." Miroku said, rubbing his eyes and biting back a yawn. "We have to find Naraku before he kills Sango." Kagome dropped the wooden statue. Her eyes went wide.

"Do you feel that?" Then she dropped to her knees. "It has to be...Sango. I have never sensed that before."

"Come on, then! Let's go!"

Sango was fed up with Naraku. She was getting really tired of him mocking her and acting like she knew nothing. If anything, he was the stupid one.

He cannot even see the shards in my forehead. Only those who have no desire in selfish persual of the Shikon jewel can see it.

She wanted to break out of that room. She wanted to be free. She was not about to be some weak, helpless, caged pet.

I refuse. There is no turning back once I do this but I cannot wait around for the others to come to my rescue. I am not weak.

She closed her eyes and the shards began glowing. Then it spread to her entire body, encompassing her in warmth and power. She grunted. Powering up was not something she was used to. She held out her hands, palms facing the ceiling. She winced as the powers flowed through her body. This was not an easy process. She then lowered her hands and clenched them into fists, her sharp mahogany eyes on the barrier. She would break free. She would not sit here like a prisoner. She charged at it, going through and hitting the ground on the other side. She held her throat, coughing.

I do not have my mask. But my powers should protect me from this if I concentrate.

She stood up and focused, feeling a light wind kicking up inside the corridor. It blew the miasma cloud away, revealing Naraku and Kohaku at the end. The hanyou seemed surprised. She smirked at him.

"Do you know what I feel like doing to you right now, you bastard?" She asked, lowering herself in a stance. He stared at her silently. His eyes darkened and he smirked.

"You truly are powerful now, Sango. What a joke it is to hang around with a fool like Inuyasha." She lunged at him, gripping his throat and slamming him into the door. It gave way and sent them both onto the floor.

"Shut your mouth, hanyou." Her voice was shaking with rage. "I do not want to hear another word from you." He gave her a twisted smile and she felt a pain in her back. She did not loosen her grasp. She would fight back with all she could.

I may not be prepared to handle him but I will die before he kills me without a fight.

She was suddenly thrown off of him and into the wall on the side. She clutched her left side.

"Sango, you forgot that I have a servant, did you not?" He asked with a laugh. Sango stared at him, not even taking one moment to glance at Kohaku. The boy stood in battle position and she knew that she would have to go through him first. But she could only see Naraku. She could only feel her rage coursing through her veins. "Sweet, sweet, taiji-ya. How could you forget about Kohaku?"

"I would never forget him, Naraku. Never." She hissed. "I know that is not Kohaku. He is just your puppet to take the killing stroke for you." His eyes glittered with pleasure.

"Why do you fight me, Sango?" He asked walking towards her. Sango stood up and stared at him defiantly. She was going to give him one hell of a time of getting her killed. He took her chin in his hand while the other held a hidden dagger to her throat. One false move and the blade would spill her blood. "I do not need the full moon to kill you. I can taint the jewel now. But it would be stronger on the full moon." He let go of her chin and touched her hair. "Too bad you have to die pure." She felt disgust rise in her stomach. "I would take you as my own." Her eyes grew wide.

Damn, this isn't good...

He looked to be thinking it over. She heard the rattle of a chain. Kohaku walked over and tied her hands. She tried to kick Naraku off but the blade he was holding made a shallow cut across her throat. Blood dripped down and soaked some of her dark yukata. Then she felt her ankles being tied as well. This was not looking good. The next thing she knew, Kohaku was gone and Naraku was leaning down to her throat, tasting her blood. He smiled as he stared down at her. She felt bile rise in her throat but fought the urge to throw up.

I must not let him take me.

She had no idea how to stop him, however. Her hands and feet were bound with chains and he had a dagger in his hand. What he did next filled her with horror. He began to slowly untie the sash that held her yukata closed. She closed her eyes and let out a burst of power, bliding him. She then fell and rolled away from him. She wanted to use her power on the chains but it was not working. Her eyes glowed and a small barrier closed over her body.

I do not know how long it will last but...it is my only hope right now.

Sango continued to work at the chains. She had to get free. Then she lay on her side and drew her ankles to her hands in her back so she could work those. Once her feet were free, she began trying to get her hands free. After a moment, the chain dropped to the floor. Naraku was angrily staring at the barrier, his power beginning to rise.

"You cannot hold that forever, Sango." He snickered. "When it falls, I will take you." She dropped the barrier and lunged at him. She was too angry to even begin to think logically. She kicked and punched at him, wincing when he slammed her to the ground. "You are not strong enough to overpower me." He ripped the sash off and she pulled her arms up to fight him off of her. She brought her knees up and kicked him, sending him flying to the other side of the room. Quickly dashing for the sash, she reached out one hand to grab it. He beat her there and grabbed her wrist, pulling her against him. "Your defiance intrigues me, little taiji-ya." She struggled, feeling his arm around her waist and his grip on her wrist.

"I will never belong to you, Naraku." She hit the floor and turned her head, dizziness encasing her mind. His hands... He was touching her skin. Her stomach. He ran his hand up then. She squirmed. He leaned down, close to her face. She forcefully brought her head up, smashing hers into his. He fell back in surprise and she groaned, getting to her knees and trying to crawl away. The room was spinning...

"Leaving so soon?" Sango could not fight anymore. She was not going to give up but she could hardly even crawl. She grunted when Naraku jerked her back by her loose yukata.

I do not have a prayer left...

That's all for now, guys! You'll have to wait until next chapter to find out what happens. Ta ta for now!

Don't forget to tell me what you think!

And please don't kill me for leaving it off there! Or else you'll never know!