Chained: In More Ways than One

Never Ends

Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrow at the miko when her evil smirk of doom returned and wondered what torture Kagome was going to try and put him through next. He tried to shake off the feeling that something bad would happen any moment now as he lead her back to camp.

"This…" As soon as Sesshoumaru heard the Miko starting to sing as she followed behind he knew it wasn't good news for him but it was what she was saying that he was afraid of.

"…is the song that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends, some people started singing it, not knowing what it was and they'll continue singing it forever just because…"

The demon lord actually prayed to the gods that she'd stop right there and sing no further after pausing but his hopes and dreams were dashed as she'd repeated the same line over again. Somehow he was managing to keep up his emotionless front.

"This is the song that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends, some people started singing it, not knowing what it was and they'll continue singing it forever just because…"

'This is even worse than the are we there yet? and pot scenario put together. Where does she come up with this stuff?' Sesshoumaru thought as he tensed as Kagome hit an off key note probably on purpose.

"This is the song that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends, some people started singing it, not knowing what it was and they'll continue singing it forever just because…"

Kagome couldn't believe it but her plan seemed to be working. She could go on forever if it meant getting Sesshoumaru to release her. 'Wow I forgot how fun it was to sing this song.' Kagome thought as she couldn't help but smile as she continued to sing the never ending song.

It seemed Sesshoumaru had a phobia for things being repeated either by him or any other person so if this didn't work she could do the thing where you copy everything the other person says but something told Kagome she wouldn't have to.

"This is the song that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends, some people started singing it, not knowing what it was and they'll continue singing it forever just because…"

Her repetitive music would surely by the death of him and if this Sesshoumaru is going down I'm taking her with me.

He tried as best as he could to calm down enough to maybe catch the chain off guard and be able to grab a hold of the annoying Miko and strangle her. Well maybe her death was a step too far for he still needed her to trade… Then maybe just to cover her mouth to get her to shut up for a minute.

"This is the song that never…" Kagome was cut off when Sesshoumaru tried a sneak attack only to be shocked back by the barrier again.

The demon lord sent a glare in Kagome direction that said "Don't you dare finish that sentence" as he dusted off his clothing after being knock to the ground and having to climb back up.

"Ends… Are you ready to give up yet lord Sesshoumaru." Kagome asked with a sarcastic mock smile and a bow. She received no answer. "Are you sure?… All right."

Kagome cleared her throat to start a new cores when the demon lord finally broke. "You know what, this isn't worth it. I'm just going to have to find away to kill that virgin eating demon myself." The demon lord looked like he was about ready to pull at his own hair as he burst into their camp.

"That took less time than I thought. Its been less than an hour since we made our bet so I guess I win by a long shot." Kagome patted herself on the back.

"Give me your hand." Sesshoumaru commanded. Kagome reached out her hand in anticipation. She was surprised when the chain actually let him touch her. He must really have the intent to release me.

Sesshoumaru fumbled with the chain to undo it but it would not. He then proceeded to tug at the chain around his own but it too held firm.

It was once Kagome came down from her day dream high of freedom that she was confused as to why she was still attached to the said named demon lord who promised to release her if only to escape from her annoyingness.

Sesshoumaru noticed the Miko's questionable look and decided to answer her. "It seems I'm as trapped as you are to me." He was amazed at how calm he was right now. All his anger had seemed to be washed away.

"What do you mean? Kagome asked with a angry hiss to her voice.

"This Sesshoumaru means that he can not remove the chain like he was told." It was then the demon lord realized his deception. He should've never accepted the chain as a part of the deal. They lied to him and there must be a reason why.

Kagome threw her hair back, closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

Sesshoumaru was too busy trying to connect all the dots from the meeting with the elder to notice the boiling Miko ready to burst.

"You mean to tell me, you used a magical item without even knowing all its capabilities not only on me but yourself. How stupid could you possible be. Where the hell did you get the thing then? Idiot." Kagome didn't care if she was treating the demon lord like she would if Inuyasha had done this. If the demon lord had a subjection necklace on she would slam him into the ground so hard.

"Calm down Miko. The chain was given to me as a device to retrieve you but have a defense against your spiritual powers. I'm no more happy about being attached than you are." Sesshoumaru tried to reassure Kagome but all he got was a mumbled 'you're never happy.'

He rolled his eyes at her before continuing. "I had a feeling something wasn't right about this mission and now I know. I'm just trying to go over my meeting with the elder in my head." Sesshoumaru tried to defend himself but he knew she was right.

"Why don't you tell me out loud? It always seems easier and less jumbled." Kagome noticed Sesshoumaru raised an eye brow at her as if asking 'why so calm and helpful now?'

The Miko just sat on a rock by the camp fire. "It seems we're both in the same boat now and it would be easier if we helped each other out. Like partners."

Sesshoumaru didn't know what any of this had to do with a boat but he thought he got the just of what she was trying to say. " You mean you want us to work together? No more annoying childish antics?" He received a nod on both accounts from the Miko.

He didn't have to give it too much thought because he was stuck with the Miko whether he liked it or not so he decided to give it a try.

"Fine. I'll go through my version of the meeting with you and if there's anything that seems weird point it out." The Miko just nodded and gave him her whole attention. It felt strange to Sesshoumaru to have the miko act like an actual intelligent person.

When the demon lord didn't talk right away Kagome decided to give him a starting point. "Why were you sent on this so called 'mission' in the first place?" Kagome put air quotes around the word mission.

"I've been having some problems with a virgin eating demon on the Eastern border of my lands." It sounded like a stupid reason now to go through all this.

Kagome had met her own fair share of virgin eating demons but most of them also deemed her special and more of the mating type of girl. "What did it look like?"

"I don't know. Never really got close enough to get a good look at it." Sesshoumaru sighed.

"How could you not know if it caused you enough problems to go ask for help?" Kagome was really curious because she knew how prideful the demon lord was.

"I received a lot of paperwork on the matter and when I tried to solve the matter myself the beast would sense me and return back from which it came."

Kagome had to process the information. "So… You mean… the demon retreats when you come anywhere near it. Wow there's something fishy right there. Why can't you follow it?"

"As the Western lord I am to stay on my own lands unless I have permission from the other daiyokia to wonder freely. You know how I said the demon was on the eastern border. I have permission to enter all lands but that one."

"What, you and this other daiyokai don't get along. How come? "Kagome asked trying to delve deeper into the demon lords past.

"That is irrelevant." Kagome was disappointed but gave him a signal to go on.

"So instead of asking permission from the Eastern lord I went to see the demon council which's sole purpose is to keep the peace between the daiyokai who rule over the four lands. It's run by the oldest demon alive at that point in time." Sesshoumaru paused to make sure the Miko was actually listening and wasn't just giving him a blank look.

When he saw that the Miko was he carried on. "I sent a letter ahead to tell them I was coming and when I arrived the elder was waiting for me with two of his advisors. Instead of giving me a yes or no answer they gave me a choice to fetch a person and bring them back there. Even after hearing it was you I accepted it thinking I'd just try and see what happened."

" Did you ask them what they wanted me for?" It wasn't where the demon lord had been taking Kagome that had worried her but what they would do to her once she arrived at her destination. Some how being attached to the killing perfection felt a lot safer than the unknown.

Sesshoumaru thought for a second. "I didn't get a straight answer but that it had something to do with your strong spiritual powers. They also mentioned how they'd been contemplating how to attain you for a while and how I was the perfect opportunity because you traveled with my half brother."

"How long do you think they've been planning this?" All Kagome received from the demon lord was a shrug. It's really creepy to know that for a long time someone's been planning to kidnap you. It gave Kagome the shivers. 'Just when you think your safe.'

"After that they just gave me the chain and I set out straight from the headquarters to find you." Now that Sesshoumaru said it all out loud he could point out a lot of things that didn't sound right.

"You must have asked how to remove the chain knowing your inquisitive personality. What'd they say? Maybe well find something there." Kagome tried to ring some more information out of him.

Sesshoumaru didn't know why he didn't think of it before. The Miko's repetitive singing must still be ringing in his ears. " The elder said 'Only the chains master can'. What did he mean by that if I can't remove it?"

Kagome had a brain wave. "Oh, like how I'm the master over Inuyasha's subjection beads." She received a blank look from Sesshoumaru so she had to explain.

"Even though Kaede was the one who performed the spell and place them on his person I'm the master because I picked the activation word. You took it to mean that because you where the one to put the chain on me that you'd have control over it but someone back at demon headquarters already activated it before hand." Kagome couldn't believe her brilliance in that moment.

Sesshoumaru stood up from his previous sitting position. "Ok… so we have to continue to travel to demon headquarters."

"What? No! Maybe you have nothing to worry about but they used you as a pawn to kidnap me. We are not still going down there." Kagome couldn't believe Sesshoumaru's logic.

"it's the only sure way of our knowledge to remove the chain. You said we were partners. Well just try this first and if the chain is not removed we'll have to find another way. This Sesshoumaru promises he will let no harm come to you while we are 'in the same boat'." It sounded really funny when Sesshoumaru quoted her not really understanding the meaning behind it but Kagome believed in his sincerity on the matter so she just nodded her head.

They started out on the same path as before but not as enemies but as companions.