A/N: Wow, this chapter is long. I guess that makes up for the short one that I posted in another story today...

Chapter 9

Miroku staggered under the weight of a large stone. He dropped it next to the unfinished wall. He plopped down on it, huffing and panting. Wiped sweat off his face, he eyed Sango's delicious form as she drifted among the slaves, offering water. Younglings and other women were performing the same service. Kagome looked attractive, too, as she headed toward him with a bucket. Not that he could make a move on her…. Inuyasha would kill him. Too bad. It was almost worth it. Almost.

"Hey, Miroku. Here." Kagome scooped a large spoon into her bucket and handed it to him. She hopped onto the half-wall. "How's it going over here?"

He grunted around a mouthful of water. He swallowed and said, "They're trying to kill me, I swear." He shook his head, gazing disconsolately into the distance. Then he dipped the spoon and guzzled some more.

Kagome waited patiently, watching, slightly awed, as Miroku gulped spoonful after spoonful. She looked away after awhile and caught sight of Inuyasha. He lifted a huge boulder, carried, and dropped it next to a field filled with them. I wondered why I kept hearing some sort of boom, she thought. The slaves who were supposed to be chipping the boulders apart for wall material gaped and glared as he easily delivered tons of material. There was way too much for even that number of slaves to handle. Every once in awhile, he paused to help, taking a sledgehammer and pummeling them quickly into smaller stones. He was merely breathing a little hard, instead of getting a hernia or tearing muscle from bone.

"Wow," Kagome said, drawing out the vowel.

Miroku asked, "What?"

"Look!" She pointed. "I know we've hung out together for a long time, but sometimes…. Wow. Look at Inuyasha go!"

Miroku didn't look. "Yeah. I know. I already saw."

"But isn't that amazing?"

"I guess. But he's a half-demon. It goes with the territory."

She deflated. "Yeah. But still, no matter how many times I see it, I marvel. Just amazing."

Miroku wished Kagome and Inuyasha would just admit to how much they liked each other. It was so obvious. He doubted Sango was still amazed about Inuyasha. He certainly wasn't. Their denial was getting on his nerves.

He perked up. Sango! She's coming over here! He knew she wouldn't be able to resist for long. He struck a nonchalant pose.

"Oh, hi, Sango. Didn't see you there," he said suggestively.

She raised her eyebrows and halted. "Miroku?"

"Sango?" he asked sweetly.

She scowled and set down her bucket at his feet. "Cut it out, Miroku. You're such a womanizer."

Kagome cut Miroku's objection off. "What's up, Sango?"

"Up? I don't… Oh, this must be more of your 'slang,' isn't it?"

"Yeah," Kagome said, taken aback momentarily. She explained, "I meant, 'what's been happening with you?' "

"Oh. Really? That's strange…." She leaned against the wall beside Miroku. "Well, I'm worried about Kirara and Shippo. They were taken off to some other cell before we were dragged in front of Atsuo, remember? I didn't like the sounds of it."

"No," agreed Miroku, suddenly solemn.

Sango cried abruptly, "Miroku!"

He flinched and cautiously asked, "What?"

She lowered her voice. "Your Wind Tunnel! Why haven't you used it yet?"

"Oh, that." He relaxed and whispered back, "It's only a surprise once. I've been saving it for the best opportunity. For all I know, they'd find something to cut me off from it, like they did to Inuyasha. Besides, it's not like I should suck up humans, not even corrupt ones."

"Hey, you!" yelled a guard. "Get back to work!"

Kagome jumped. Those guards were everywhere! Armed to the teeth, too. They were floating amongst the slaves, with absolutely no inhibitions about doling out punishment. She'd better get going.

The guard marched toward them. "You heard me! Get working!" They moved, but too slowly. Hmm. Perfect excuse. He was really dying to try this thing out, anyway. They'd been handed out to all the officers, from general down to sergeant. He was very glad he'd just been promoted. He puffed his chest out, showing off his new, shining insignia. He was now important enough to be assigned this. All he needed, really, was the slightest provocation. Lord Atsuo wished to be extremely cautious with these slaves. He didn't want any signs of insubordination whatsoever.

"Too slow!" the guard cried gleefully. He glanced over his shoulder. Here it comes! He could hardly wait.

There was a loud thud and then a male scream. He shivered. Delicious. He paused to savor the sound, letting it roll on and around him.

"Oh, no, you don't!" he said to the three as they tried to rush off. "You don't want to make it worse." He grinned. "This is what happens when you, any of you, disobey in the slightest. Surely this is not a result you want." They stood, trembling, fists clenched. Ah. The delectable taste of power. He knew they'd do whatever he told them to, to avoid this.

Aw. He frowned. The screams were dying away – probably because he was distracted. He increased the flow. There they were! Ooh, really loud, too. Nice. Just listen to that pleasant, unusual, deep voice crying out. Any voice was good, but this one – he doubted he'd ever get bored of hearing it scream. He grinned wider, delighted at the prospect of many long years ahead in which to exact punishment. And look at its friends – so worried and subdued. "Get back to work!" Ha! Appetizing, the power. Look at them scurry to do his bidding. This new rank suited him just fine.

"Hey!" Inuyasha called hoarsely. "Are you too weak to fight me? Have to resort to some pathetic ring?" He gripped the boulder's rough surface and staggered upright, pushing off from it. He was hunched over with the pain, but he was no longer screaming – by sheer force of will.

The sergeant turned menacingly. "What did you say?"

"You heard me," Inuyasha croaked. He forced himself erect. "You're too weak to fight me, sissy. Yellow-bellied crybaby!"

"Argh! Insolent half-breed!" He unsheathed his sword.

Inuyasha lifted his right hand and cracked his fingers. "Come and get me, mama's boy."

The man let out a battle cry and ran for Inuyasha. The pair stood in a stunned sea of silence and watching eyes. Inuyasha eagerly awaited him. Finally! A battle! This he could deal with – a clear opponent using obvious tactics. He couldn't fight the chain, though, and this angered him to his core.

"Stand down, soldier!"

The man faltered, glanced back, and then franticly obeyed. He stepped aside and saluted. "Lieutenant Colonel!" He was a statue as his superior walked closer.

Inuyasha smirked. The pain had faded away as soon as the soldier lost focus on it. And now a senior officer was approaching his fate at Inuyasha's hands. A real battle….

The lieutenant colonel stopped in front of the sergeant. He flashed his scarlet ring. "Join me."

"Yes, sir!"

Together, they sent their thoughts to the rings. Inuyasha jolted, fell forward, and shrieked once. It faded away. He convulsed silently, his face hidden.

"Inuyasha!" his friends bellowed helplessly.

He looked their way. Tears were flowing down his cheeks. Suddenly, they heard… his laughter? He roared with it. He rolled onto his back, lying uncaringly on the chain. He held his stomach and laughed fit to burst.

The samurai looked at each other in shock and disbelief. Inuyasha's guffaws lessened. Narrowing their eyes, they put more effort into it. Inuyasha laughed hysterically. He gasped mouthfuls of air and howled.

Miroku, Sango, and Kagome exchanged surprised, relieved, puzzled looks.

"You filthy half-breed!" cried the sergeant. He snatched Inuyasha's robes and shoved his face centimeters from his. "What is the meaning of this?" Inuyasha giggled at him. "Ugh!" He heaved him back to the ground.

"Apparently," said the lieutenant colonel calmly, "the rings only work one at a time."

"What!" the sergeant yelled, and then cringed.

The lieutenant colonel ignored his outburst. "There was, after all, no method of testing these. I'm not surprised they're imperfect. Now, step aside."

"Yes, sir!"

Inuyasha's laughter ceased when the leash jerked taut. The half-dog-demon's eyebrows snapped together. Just before he unleashed his claws on the colonel, the pain flooded over him. He flinched, tension freezing his muscles. He was dragged back to the field of boulders and released.

"Get back to work." The samurai turned and walked away. Lord Atsuo will wish to know about this, he thought.

Inuyasha sat up and growled at his retreating back. "ARGH!" He lunged. He grunted when his slack abruptly ran out. He whirled on three soldiers franticly staking down his chain. Inuyasha slashed at them, but they ran out of reach. He swore and yanked on the metal, jerking it easily out of the earth. He coiled the leash in his left hand and sprinted impossibly fast after them. They glanced back and cried out in terror. The other slaves cheered.

"Oh, no, you don't!" The sergeant unleashed his new power-ring.

Inuyasha halted. He threw his head back, clenching his teeth together to prevent his scream from getting loose. He turned, trembling, to the soldier. He saw that beyond the man Miroku, Kagome, and Sango were clashing with other samurai. They worked their way toward him.

The man looked frightened at Inuyasha's self-control briefly, but quickly recovered his anger and self-righteousness. "Mangy dog! I will not have insubordination here!" He increased the stream.

Inuyasha struggled to advance toward him, but fell to his knees halfway. He gave in and cut through the cacophony of slave versus master with his shriek. He only allowed himself one cry. Then he prowled on all fours, flattening his ears and snarling savagely. The sergeant stepped back once, but then held his ground. He focused as hard as he could on sending through the red ring.

Inuyasha screamed again and passed out.

The sergeant grunted when Kagome's bucket slammed into the side of his head. He fell, dripping wet and unconscious. Miroku and Sango reached her side as she dropped it in shock. She shook away unnecessary guilt, and knelt by Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha!" She jostled him, ignoring the ongoing battle around her. All of the slaves impulsively rose up and joined together to battle the soldiers. They were suffering severe casualties, but they still greatly outnumbered the samurai. "Wake up, Inuyasha! We've got to go! Come on!"

She shook him again. "There's no time! Wake up!"

His ears flicked. He opened his eyes and blinked bemusedly. "Kagome?"

"Come on, Inuyasha, get up! We have to get out of here!" Sango grabbed his left arm and helped Kagome hoist him up.

He moaned, pulling his hand out of Sango's grip to clutch his head. He swayed like a tree in a high wind.

Miroku goaded, "Come on, Inuyasha. We've no time for your weaknesses."

Inuyasha glared at him and forced himself straight. "I am not weak!"

Miroku raised his eyebrows. "It doesn't look that way from here."

Inuyasha growled and pushed away from Kagome to stand alone. "I AM NOT WEAK!" he yelled, fists at his sides.

"Yeah, yeah, okay, you're not weak," Miroku placated. Good. We need him up and willing to fight. Now, if he doesn't kill me, we can get going.

Inuyasha scowled. Miroku had given in way too easily. He felt tricked.

Sango winked at Miroku and rolled her eyes. Inuyasha didn't notice.

"Jeez," he said, looking around. "We're in a war zone." After a moment, he grinned.

Kagome cried, "Inuyasha! Let's go!"

"All right, all right. I'm coming." He set out, but stumbled over his long leash. "ARGH! I HATE THIS THING!" He exploded. Gripping the metal curled around his neck, he tugged and ripped at it with all his strength. Gritting his teeth, bulging his biceps, he struggled and fought, but to no avail.

"Come on, Inuyasha," Kagome said more quietly.

They quickly embarked on their own quest toward the rest of the castle compound, avoiding the packets of violence as much as possible. Occasionally, Inuyasha was forced to engage in battle. He swiftly dispatched the soldiers, knocking them out, and they continued on their way.

"First things first," Miroku said matter-of-factly. "We need to find Shippo and Kirara."

"Agreed," replied Sango. "Let's head back, much as the thought pains me, to Atsuo's place. That's where we saw them last. Inuyasha, you'll track their scent from there, right?"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever."

Kagome scolded, "Inuyasha!"

"What?" he asked, oblivious. "I said I'd track them."

"Don't you two ever stop arguing?" Miroku burst out. "Now really isn't the time."

They folded their arms petulantly. Sticking their noses in the air as they walked, they refused to look at each other.

Sango muttered, "Such children." Louder, she said, "Does anyone even remember how to get back?"

Everyone gave blank looks. Inuyasha sighed and grumbled, "Do I have to do everything?" He went to all fours and sniffed the ground for their scent. He slowly spread outward in a widening circle. "Guard my back."

"Right," replied Sango. She took up a katana from beside a nearby, unconscious soldier. "Here, Miroku." She handed him a staff stolen from another. "Sorry, Kagome. I don't see any bows or arrows."

"Well, that's okay. I'm sure we can find some later."

"Humph," Inuyasha muttered to himself. A moment later, he cried, "Ah-ha! Found it!"

"That's great, Inuyasha! Let's hurry up and follow it!" said Kagome.

"No, duh," he said quietly. He stood up and pointed. "If we went straight, then we came from that alley." He marched off toward it.

"But isn't that guesswork?" asked Sango, trailing behind him.

"No."

She waited. When he didn't add anything more, she said, "Why not?"

He explained as to a half-wit, "Now that I've found it, I can follow the scent of my blood from up here."

"Your blood!" cried Kagome. "What do you mean, your blood?"

He cringed. He probably shouldn't have said that. "Well," he said slowly, not looking at her, "even I don't heal that quickly."

"Well, are you okay? Shouldn't your bleeding have stopped by then?" she demanded.

He muttered, "Yeah."

"Then how can you smell it?" Her voice was getting frantic and higher in pitch.

"Umm… my clothes… soaked it up?" he ventured. He wasn't about to tell her that they reopened. She'd freak to high heaven.

"See, Kagome?" said Miroku, eyeing Inuyasha. "No big deal. You can calm down."

"Right. Calm." She took a deep breath. "Got to find Kirara and Shippo."

She was interrupted with, "Halt, slaves!"

The quad jumped and whirled. They tensed, ready to face off with the dozen or so samurai confronting them. The leader, upon seeing their faces, hollered, "It's the half-demon! Over here, men!" Two squadrons broke off from the approaching army that had been dispatched to take care of the rebellion. Suddenly, the slaves no longer outnumbered the soldiers. Several gave in right then and there at the sight of the angry samurai. They knelt and laid down their weapons. The rest yelled and brandished rocks, sledgehammers, tools, or stolen blades. The four, enthralled, watched as the two groups clashed head-on, metal clanging loudly on stone and on steel.

Then they tore their eyes away to deal with the immediate, looming threat.

"Get behind me, Kagome!" yelled Inuyasha. He crouched and readied his claws. Miroku tensed and held his staff across his body. Sango lifted the tip of her stolen katana.

"No, you don't, you dirty half-breed!" yelled the sergeant who'd peeled off with the squadrons. His ruby-red ring glinted in the afternoon sun.

Inuyasha widened his eyes, grunted, and folded over. He gritted his teeth to hold in the scream. His legs quivered, and then crumpled underneath him. His knees hit the ground with a thud. He caught himself with a hand before he fell on his face.

Kagome gasped. "Inuyasha!" She grasped his shoulders. "Sango! Miroku! Take out the soldier with the ring!"

"We can't!" panted Miroku. He blocked a high strike, twirled his staff, and knocked his opponent over the head. The man's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed. "There are too many of them!" He twisted to face another soldier.

Sango sliced one man's weapon hand off. His scream joined the raucous, discordant harmony of battle. She turned to the left, and parried a blow that would have cut her across the ribs. "Find a bow!" she suggested.

"Good idea!" cried Kagome. She left Inuyasha and searched desperately through the frenzy for a bow and arrows. There! A man, dressed in the robes of a monk and standing toward the rear, was nocking an arrow.

Alarm spread her eyes wide. "Inuyasha!" yelled Kagome helplessly. She jerked back to the archer. The tension left the string, and the arrow slipped out of his hand toward her. The scarlet feathers fluttered gently in flight. The string twanged and vibrated into silence. All sound and color bleached out, except for red, deep and primal. Her own anxious cry was inaudible.

Inuyasha's head lifted. Instantly, he grasped her plight. Staggering upright, he ran as he had never, ever run before. She stood frozen, staring, yet suddenly, his rapidly moving body blocked her view of the monk. His arms wrapped around her, his body tensing for the blow.

The last few seconds of flight stretched into forever for Kagome. Horror dawned. His crimson, exposed back seemed to beckon to the scarlet fletching of the arrow. His dripping blood seemed to draw it ever closer. Red called sweetly to red. It could not resist the alluring summons. It could not miss.

Dappled sunlight brushed the arrow's feathers. Inuyasha's white hair lit brightly. His blood glistened. Excruciatingly slowly, the arrow began to glow gently, weakly and approached closer and closer.

Then she saw, centimeters below her eyes, the cloth of Inuyasha's robe indent and tear. She helplessly watched the arrowhead bury itself in his flesh. He jerked in slow motion. The ends of his white hair lifted gently. He slipped down her body to his knees. His long hair floated for eternity. His crimson robes rustled as his body slowly crumpled sideways. His hair fell, obscuring the brilliantly scarlet, sunlit, glowing arrow.

Kagome heard the echo of her cry, the clang of metal, the rush of wind slowly return to her ears. Color heralded her eyes – yellow sunlight, brown dirt, dull uniforms and livery. Shining silver steel clanged and cut mercilessly.

There was only one blade she was concerned with. It jutted from Inuyasha's left, upper back. Its scarlet feathers mocked her.

Miroku whirled his staff up to thwart a potentially debilitating slash. The wooden staff dented again under the blade. It was covered with marks and threatened to embed splinters in his hands.

Sango dripped with perspiration. Her sword hilt slid in her hands. All the repeated blows had traveled up her arms and nestled dully in the nerves. She glanced quickly in surprise when she heard a bowstring twang again.

The archer-monk staggered under the strike. He gazed at Kagome in shock. He fell back and writhed in pain, his hands empty. She swiftly wriggled out the quiver lodged underneath him. Throwing it over her shoulder, she drew an arrow and sent it thudding into the sergeant's thigh. He collapsed with an angry, pain-filled cry. Tears blurred her vision. She ran back to Inuyasha and dropped the bow at his side.

"INUYASHA!" she bawled. "Please be okay! Speak to me!" She fisted her hands in his sleeve. "Wake up! Oh, please wake up, Inuyasha!" She gathered him into her arms and rocked his unresponsive body back and forth. "You shouldn't have done that!"

A samurai gripped her shoulder in a vice. She whipped her head around, tears flying, her face a twisted visage of deep anxiety and rage. She snatched her bow and struck him hard across the face. He fell. She stood and shot him point-blank through the shoulder. Kagome screamed with fury and felled the remaining soldiers, seriously wounding one after another. She then threw the bow on the ground and took Inuyasha into her arms again.

Sango and Miroku looked at each other. They were surprised and slightly intimidated but rushed to her side anyway.

"How is he?" asked Sango, sticking the bare katana through her belt.

Kagome just shook her head. Salty tears trailed down her face.

"Come on, Kagome. We need to get somewhere safer to tend to him. Did you hear me?" Sango rested her hand on her forearm. Kagome flinched and reached for her bow. Then she relaxed.

"Okay," she whispered.

"I'll get his legs," said Miroku, laying his stolen staff down the length of Inuyasha's body for ease of carrying. "You two get his shoulders, like last time. Don't let the arrow drag on the ground."

They lifted him. Sango scooped up the chain.

Miroku looked around and pointed with his chin. "It should be pretty safe there." They hurried off toward the building-in-progress.

"Okay, put him here," Miroku directed. They lowered him. Kagome propped him up against her right side, throwing an arm around his waist. His head lolled.

Miroku looked a little alarmed when he got a closer look at the embedded projectile. "The arrow's glowing with a sacred light!" He shared an anxious glance with Sango and Kagome, whispering to himself, "That's how it pierced his robe." Sharp guilt pierced Kagome. Miroku shook his head. "Let's just get his shirt off and see what we can do," he said briskly.

Together, they gently removed the blood-soaked fabric, slipping it over the arrow. He stirred when they accidentally bumped the shaft. He moaned and lifted his head wearily. He coughed and squinted at them through the indoor dimness.

"Inuyasha!" said Kagome. "You're awake! Oh, thank goodness!"

"Yeah, yeah." He weakly fended her off. "So I'm awake." He coughed again and wiped his mouth as he drew his trembling hand away. He could feel the arrow's spiritual purification penetrating his half-demon veins. It felt like an acidic poison. As long as Kagome was okay, though, he didn't care.

Kagome whispered to him, "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to do that."

Inuyasha grunted, "'S fine."

Her face clearly didn't believe him. She bit her lip.

"Okay," spoke Miroku matter-of-factly, "we need to get this arrow out now. It's not too terribly deep. Are you ready, Inuyasha?"

"Yes! God, just take it out already!" he groaned desperately.

"Wait!" cried Kagome. "Won't that make him bleed a lot more? And… make a bigger hole?" She tightly clasped Inuyasha's suikan and blinked away tears.

Miroku tried to hold onto his patience as he reassured her, "I noticed that guards here use rounded arrowheads. It shouldn't do a lot of extra damage. And Sango will put pressure on it right away. Right, Sango?"

"Right," she nodded.

Kagome sniffled, "But – "

Miroku interrupted in frustration, "Kagome, its purification is hurting him!"

She nodded and said quietly, "You're right."

"Ready, Inuyasha?" Miroku grasped the arrow at its base. It was lodged between the shoulder blade, spine and ribs. He was faintly surprised it hadn't hit any of them.

Inuyasha could feel it shift in his body when Miroku took hold. The pain was exquisite. He clenched his teeth and nodded. "Yes! Pull it out!" Miroku tightened his hold and yanked it out with a grunt. Inuyasha jolted, eyes flashing wide. He struggled to hold in his choked cry, squeezing shut his eyes. Then he hunched over and coughed wetly. Blood trickled down his chin. He could feel more of the warm liquid flowing down his back. Still, he felt many times better with the arrow out.

"He's coughing up blood! Hurry, Sango!" cried Kagome.

"I am!"

Inuyasha felt the brush of cloth, and then pressure and increased pain. He groaned. He fisted his hands, feeling the distant, nearly imperceptible sting from his relatively uninjured left.

"Sorry, Inuyasha," Sango apologized. "But we need to get your bleeding stopped! Could someone wipe this up?" she asked franticly.

Inuyasha coughed a bit more and cleared his throat. When he took his hand away from his mouth, it was sprayed with blood. That terrible, pain-inducing arrow was still next to him. He twisted around, ignoring the agony, snatched it up and tossed it away from him desperately. It bounced twice, flinging drops of his blood all over the walls.

Kagome cried, "Inuyasha! What was that about?" Inuyasha merely shook his head. She locked worried gazes with Miroku as he resumed mopping up Inuyasha's back. Anxiously, she asked, "Are you… breathing okay?" She bit her lower lip.

He wiped his hand on the ground and nodded without looking at her. His voice was rough. "Feh. This is nothing." Now that that arrow was gone, anyway.

"Really, Inuyasha?" she queried. She turned his head toward her. "I feel terrible. You took that arrow for me."

He made eye contact and raised an eyebrow. His face spoke volumes.

Miroku remarked after a moment of silence, "If we keep needing bandages like this, my kimono will soon be as short as Kagome's!"

Kagome smiled in spite of herself. She wore a mini-skirt. She asked, "Really, how are you holding up, Inuyasha?"

"For the last time," Inuyasha croaked, "don't ask me that. It's stupid."

"What? Why?"

"Because I'm fine. Jeez."

"You're not even close to fine, Inuyasha," said Sango. "Miroku, this one's totally soaked through. Tear me off another piece."

"Look at how much trouble you are, Inuyasha," Miroku grumbled. "Stop getting hurt so much, okay? I do want to have some clothes left."

"Oh, ha, ha," he muttered. Sango switched cloths and reapplied the pressure. He flinched. "Are you done, yet?"

"No," said Sango. Then she asked, "Is anyone else injured?"

Miroku raised a hand. "I have a few cuts."

"Yeah. I have some myself. Here, Inuyasha, can you sit up by yourself?"

He snorted. "Of course!"

"Good. Kagome, put pressure on this." She shifted to make room for her. "I'll dress your wounds, Miroku. Tear off some more."

Miroku sighed and complied.

Soon, everyone was bandaged up and ready to go. Well, almost. Inuyasha struggled to stand, trailing and clinking his omnipresent chain.

Kagome asked for the umpteenth time, "Are you really sure you're okay, Inuyasha? It must have hurt pretty bad."

"I'M FINE!"

Miroku mocked, "Okay, Inuyasha. Whatever you say." He picked his battered and bloodied staff up from the ground.

"Shut up! You're lucky I can't reach you right now!" He propped his right hand on the wall for support.

Kagome frowned. "Give me your arm, Inuyasha." She extended her hands.

He recoiled, making his claws screech on the wall and his chain jangle. "No! I'm fine on my own."

"Inuyasha, let me help! It's my fault you're hurt!"

"I don't need your help!"

"Yes, you do! Now, give me your arm!"

Sango interjected, "Just give her your arm. We don't have time to be arguing."

He glared at her but allowed Kagome to reach for him. He cringed when she lifted his left arm to sling over her shoulders. "The other one!" he gasped.

She gasped, too. "I'm so sorry! I should have realized. That was really, unbelievably, just so totally, incredibly stupid. Do you forgive me? Are you okay?" She scurried over to his right side as she spoke.

He let her scoot under his arm and muttered, "Oh, shut up, Kagome." They staggered off together, Inuyasha leaning rather heavily on Kagome. He was still experiencing the remnants of the spiritual toxin. She had some difficulty with holding up the both of them and walking straight at the same time. He tripped over the chain and cursed darkly under his breath.

"Don't swear, Inuyasha," she reproved. Gathering it up, she coiled it loosely and hung it about his neck. He glared at her. "What?" she asked innocently.

He grumbled to himself and looked away.

Sango said, "Okay, Inuyasha. Can you find our path?"

He sighed.

"Inuyasha?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, you can, or yeah, you heard me say your name?"

"Yeah, I can."

"Good."

He pointed with his chin. "It's that way." A blood trail traced their route into the building.

"Very good, Inuyasha," said Miroku. He clapped softly. "That was quite astute."

Inuyasha threatened, "Miroku!"

"What?" he coyly said. Then he backpedaled. "Hey! What was that for? It worked for Kagome, didn't it?"

"Come on, Miroku, don't taunt him," Sango intercepted. "We really need to find Kirara and Shippo!"

"I know that!"

"So let Inuyasha do his thing."

Inuyasha said, "'Inuyasha' doesn't need to 'do his thing' right now." He clenched a fist. "And I'll always be ready for a fight!"

Kagome jostled him gently. "Stop it!"

He huffed.


Struggling to avoid the continuing skirmishes of the slave rebellion, they traveled stealthily among the buildings of the compound. They were forced to walk at a slow pace for Inuyasha's sake. He also needed to pause once in awhile to sniff the air, particularly at intersections. Once or twice, he was forced to lower himself gingerly to the ground to find their route. Then Kagome helped him back up and they continued. A few times they hid in doorways or alleys to let a platoon march past.

"There's Atsuo's house," said Sango as she pointed. "Getting in without notice is going to be the hard part." Several guards were stationed at the immense, ornate front door.

Inuyasha scoffed. "So what?"

Sango didn't reply or look at him.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go." He swung his arm off Kagome's shoulder. Without letting him see, Kagome let her face show disappointment. She'd enjoyed the excuse to be close to him. And he'd saved her again; it was nice that she could help him, even if it was just this once.

Inuyasha lifted the chain over his head and held it, coiled, in his right hand, as he set off toward the building. Miroku caught Inuyasha's left forearm, though, before he could leave the alley. "Let's find a back door."

Inuyasha sighed. "Fine. But I can't help you with that."

"Really?" asked Kagome, looking up at him. "Wouldn't a servants' entrance smell different? With like, food, or trash, or something like that?"

He made a face. "I suppose."

"What, don't you like those smells?" She smiled and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

He muttered, "Let's just go, already."

So they proceeded to sneak around the building in search of a more unobtrusive entrance. They found one at the back, unguarded and of plain, rough wood. They crept up to it, looking both ways for any soldiers, and entered silently, finding themselves in a dimly lit, gloomy hallway. They wandered along its wooden floor, opening doors that led to simple, utilitarian quarters. They encountered no one. Turning a corner, they finally found a stair leading down. Not a single footstep or scrape reached their ears.

"Can you smell them yet?" whispered Sango.

Inuyasha nodded. The scent was strong – not that of someone who'd left hours ago. "They're still here."

Their eyes lit up. They were close! This cut their rescue mission in half. They didn't need to risk another trip through the compound to find them. Miroku and Sango fell back into step behind Kagome and Inuyasha. The corridor was sufficiently wide for two to walk abreast. They all paused at the bottom of the steps. Kagome looked around for guards (which Inuyasha knew was unnecessary); he sniffed the air and turned left.

His bare feet were silent on the stone floor. The others' sandals made a small scraping noise that they silenced hurriedly. The group swept past rows of cells, all similar to the one they'd been encaged in. They turned left again and saw yet more cells, though these were smaller and farther apart. They also looked more secure, with thick, solid metal doors and strong locks.

Inuyasha followed the scent to a door halfway down the hall. "It's this one," he said.

Sango called incautiously, "Shippo! Kirara! Can you hear us?"

Inuyasha flicked his left ear toward the door in front of him, the other to the right to listen down the hall. Miroku and Kagome speedily shushed Sango.

Silence echoed down the stone walls.

After a moment, Inuyasha whispered, "It's okay. No one's coming."

Miroku asked quietly, "Did you hear Kirara and Shippo?"

Inuyasha nodded. "Yep."

"I didn't hear a thing," Kagome said, surprised and slightly dejected.

"You're a human. Of course you didn't hear anything," replied Inuyasha. "Now, how do we get them out?"

Miroku asked, "Can't you just bust it open?" He wiggled his eyebrows in teasing.

Inuyasha didn't grasp the joke. He shrugged. "I could try." He transferred the chain to his left hand.

Kagome protested, "Inuyasha, you're wounded! Now isn't the time to be macho! You could reopen your injuries!"

He looked at her blankly. "What's macho?"

She waved it away. "It doesn't matter. That's not my point. You could hurt yourself! We can find another way!"

Sango motioned anxiously at her to lower her voice.

Miroku said softly, "You don't have to do this. I was just teasing."

Inuyasha ignored Miroku's comment and Kagome's ongoing, whispered tirade. He murmured, "Here goes." He put his back against the wall opposite the door and rushed at it, ramming his right shoulder into the metal. He succeeded in making a large dent and a loud thud, along with a shrill metallic jangle from the chain. He rebounded, winced, and tried to comfort the arrow wound, even though he couldn't reach it.

"Inuyasha!" scolded Kagome. "Didn't I tell you it was a bad idea?"

Sango, on the other hand, looked hopeful. "Wow, Inuyasha! I bet if you could do that a couple more times, it really would break open." She clasped her hands together, somehow simultaneously wringing them, pleading, and expressing pleasure with them.

Miroku said, "Yeah, if the sound doesn't alert anyone."

Inuyasha shook his head. "I don't hear anyone at all." He lowered his hand from his shoulder. "I don't even think any guards are in this building." He looked back at the door and nodded to himself. "I can handle a couple more."

"No!" cried Kagome instinctively.

"Well, if you have a better idea, I'm listening!" he said.

She fell silent and dropped her hands helplessly at her sides.

"That's what I thought," Inuyasha said. He backed up and rammed the door again. It dented even further, bending around the huge, powerful lock. His face tightened almost imperceptibly. He repeated the action. There was now a gap around the corners of the door; the humans could hear Shippo and Kirara calling from within. Inuyasha didn't give them a chance to answer, but threw himself at the door once more.

He bounced back into the center of the corridor. His head hung as he panted. Sickly sweat ran down Inuyasha's face. His right shoulder ached deeply, as did his wound. Just one or two more hits, though, would open the door.

"You okay, Inuyasha? You're almost there!" No reply. Then Sango called through, "Get out of the way! Inuyasha will open the door!"

He lifted his head and took a deep breath. He braced his left foot against the wall in a runner's stance, tensed, and shot toward the door. It broke open with a thunderous boom, bouncing off the wall within. Inuyasha's momentum carried him into the stone surface opposite the door. He slid to the ground.

Shippo and Kirara had scurried out of the way, yet now they ventured out. Sango scooped up Kirara with joy, hugging her close. Miroku crouched next to Shippo and inquired on how he and Kirara had fared. Kagome offered concern and sympathy to Inuyasha.

"There's no time," he said, shaking his head. "Someone's coming." His hand was back on his left shoulder.

"What!" hissed Miroku. "I thought you said there wasn't anyone here."

"Well, obviously, I was wrong." Inuyasha struggled to his feet and picked up the chain again.

As they all rushed out, Sango thanked Inuyasha. "And I'm sorry you're hurt because of it."

Embarrassed, he muttered, "Forget it."

"Where are we going?" asked Shippo from his perch on Miroku's shoulder.

"Away," said Sango. Kirara meowed with agreement in her arms.

Their feet pounded up the stairs and down the hall. Their clothes rustled and billowed. Running footsteps, shouts, and the clanking of weapons approached, growing louder. Miroku yelled, "Hurry!" He glanced back, but saw no one.

They burst out into the late afternoon sunshine, dashing madly for the nearest shadowed alleyway. They dived into it, panting, just in time to be enfolded safely in its arms. Several samurai had just exploded angrily into the light, temporarily blinded. Pursued and pursuers were all blinking furiously, desperate to get their eyes to adjust. The soldiers spread out and hunted for the escapees. The troupe of friends edged slowly deeper into the shadows, wary of alerting them with a sudden movement. Eventually, they crept around the side of the building and ran.

Reaching relative safety at last, the six stopped in another dark alley. Breathing hard, they bent over, hands on knees. Inuyasha dropped the collar/leash on the ground. Kirara and Shippo jumped down and waited for their friends to catch their breath.

Shippo asked, "So, what do we do now?"

"We need… to find our weapons," gasped Sango.

Miroku nodded. "Agreed…. We can't leave without them…, especially Tetsusaiga. You get hurt… too much without it, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha growled wordlessly at him.

Said Shippo, "How are we going to find 'em?" He leaned over to stroke Kirara, who purred and arched her back at the contact.

The group sighed in unison at the enormity of their task.

Kagome grudgingly stated, "I hate to suggest this…, but maybe it would be… better if we split up."

"Why do you hate it?" asked Inuyasha.

She gave him a how-can-you-be-so-dense look. "Because then it will be that much harder… to get us all out of here…, and in one piece, at that."

"That may be true…," offered Miroku. "But it would be faster to… search in several groups."

"All right…. I'll go with Inuyasha," said Kagome.

"And I with Miroku." Sango raised her hand.

Miroku crooned, "Ooh, Sango…."

"Don't even think it, monk."

Shippo asked, "What about me? And Kirara, too."

"Well, pipsqueak," Inuyasha sneered, "where do you want to go?"

"Not with you!"

Inuyasha snorted. "Good riddance."

"Hey!" Shippo shook his small fist at him.

"Just ignore him, Shippo," reassured Sango. She redirected her attention. "Kirara, will you go with Kagome and Inuyasha? Then our groups will be even. Unless we want three groups?"

Kirara gazed around at them all, seemed to shrug, and sprang onto Kagome's shoulder.

"Well, that answers that, then, huh?" said Miroku, mostly to himself.

Shippo climbed up onto Sango's shoulder. He stuck his tongue out at Inuyasha, making a rude noise.

"You brat!" cried Inuyasha, angrily striding closer.

"Sit," Kagome said calmly.

Inuyasha slammed face first into the dirt. "Hey!" Didn't she realize that that hurts? Just on the inside, usually, but today he was wounded! Besides which, he landed right on that evil chain! What the *$%? Not two seconds ago, she was fussing over him! Not that he enjoyed it, but what in the world changed?

She kneeled, ladylike, next to him. "Come on, Inuyasha. Let's just look for Tetsusaiga. You want it back, don't you?"

He grumbled to himself as he clambered back to his feet. "Feh. Let's go." He fought not to comfort his shoulder.

And so it came to pass that the six friends parted ways.