Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Captured and Trapped	By : StephanieG Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 43460 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 29
- 30
Hello, everyone!
Here I’m doing something I haven’t done in ages… I’m updating!
I know, I know, you can’t believe your eyes either. Lol
It’s a bit later than anticipated *cough, a few years late, cough*, but here you have the last chapter of Captured and Trapped.
I would like to dedicate this chapter to my beta, Pandora. Thanks for still being there with me after so many years. I don’t know what I would do without you. J
Disclaimer: I don’t own InuYasha.
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Chapter 30:
Goodbye
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The air in front of them was… undulating?  Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Kagome was sure that she saw movement but now everything was normal.  And yet, something was wrong, she could feel it even without knowing what. Sesshomaru didn’t seem bothered at all and seemed to be waiting for something. A light wind blew a lock of her free hair into her eyes. As she moved them away, her hand froze in mid movement. That’s it.
She looked around the clearing. Leaves were lightly swaying with the wind but in front of them, not even a blade of grass was moving. It was as if the space in front of them was standing still. Kagome narrowed her eyes and gasped. There! The air, for a millisecond had seemed to undulate and reflect the sun. She knew this phenomenon. She had encountered such occurrence before already.
She turned towards her silent and seemly impassible companion.
“A barrier ?”
Sesshomaru didn’t answer. He didn’t even acknowledge that he had heard her or even glance at her. She opened her mouth to ask again when she felt it. Someone, on the other side, was flaring their aura answering the demon Lord’s call.
The barrier’s wall became almost visible and solid before collapsing on itself. Her eyes widened in surprise; because here in front of them, where the clearing had appeared empty before wasn’t anymore.
A small traditional garden was embellishing an elegant Japanese house, typical of the feudal era.
They were standing in front of someone’s house. And from where she was, even with her diminished or almost nonexistent reiki, she could tell that the owner of this house was a youkai; a really strong one at that.
“Why are we here? Who lives here?” She asked, uneasy. All this secrecy was making the poor woman nervous. When no answer came she turned only to realize that Sesshomaru wasn’t at her side anymore but had already started to walk towards the entryway.
“Hey!” She screamed, irritated, if not surprised, to have been ignored by the Demon Lord. Seriously, for a Lord, he has no manners; she fumed furiously in her mind.
As if hearing her thoughts, Sesshomaru looked at her over his shoulder. A blush bloomed on her cheeks. Sometimes, it really felt like he could truly read her thoughts. She shivered, not liking the idea of someone prying on her thoughts.
“Come.”  He said, before continuing his trek towards the house.
Without even knocking or stopping, Sesshomaru stepped inside. Kagome was shocked to see him remove his boots before walking into the first room in front of them. She clumsily did the same, happy to finally be ridden of the shoes several times too big for her and followed the DaiYoukai.
The room was vast, and void of any furniture. She watched mesmerized as Sesshomaru elegantly kneeled in the middle of the room and waited. Not really knowing what to do, she imitated him and settled, with a lot less grace, much to her shame, at his side.
After maybe five minutes, while Kagome was trying to stay put, with her body sore all over making it difficult, she finally felt a powerful youki approach them. She fidgeted nervously, not liking being defenseless in front of an unknown powerful demon. However, seeing as Sesshomaru didn’t move, she stayed in her position, trusting the demon Lord of the West completely.
At last, an old youkai, the owner of the strong aura, walked in, followed closely by another weaker youkai trailing behind him with the tea tray. The youki of the demon filled the room and the young miko suddenly had some difficulties in breathing. It was really close to the sensation she would feel when Sesshomaru flared his own aura. The two of them were close in power.  As quickly as it started, the suffocating feeling disappeared. The old youkai had his eyes fixed on her companion, not even glancing towards her. For once, she was glad to be ignored.
“To what does this Masahiko owe the honor of having you in his house, Lord Sesshomaru? This one is really curious, indeed.” The youkai said, his strong voice booming in the room.
Kagome was shell-shocked the moment her eyes fell on the old man. The speech pattern, and the uncanny resemblance between Sesshomaru and this youkai, the only conclusion was that they were related. After all, it wasn’t like there were lots of silver haired and golden eyes youkai around. There were differences, of course. While Sesshomaru had a head of pale and perfect shinning silver-whitish hair; this youkai’s hair was of a darker shade, less shining, if just a bit, and seemed more untamed. Kagome had no difficulties in imagining the battlefield that his hair must be when he gets out of bed, a lot like…InuYasha? Was this youkai related to her hanyou friend?
But he always said that Sesshomaru was his only relative…Could he not know the existence of this youkai? She thought, confused. It was possible, of course. It wasn’t like the two brothers were close. But still…
She remarked that, in opposition to Sesshomaru, this DaiYoukai had only one stripe on each cheek and nothing else.
As soon as the servant left the room, Kagome was shocked to see Sesshomaru move from his kneeling position to bowing to the other youkai. Masahiko did the same, and she immediately bowed too, wincing at the ungracefulness of her execution, compared to the two regal youkais at her side. They then switched to a more comfortable sitting position. As soon as the lesser youkai was out a hearing range, they visibly relaxed.
“So pup, it’s good to see you. You seem, however, a bit more tensed than the last time this Masahiko saw you.” He said with a smirk on his lips.
“This Sesshomaru is fine, Uncle, but had some… troubles not long ago. He is here to ask guidance from one of the wise elders.”
“And are those troubles anything to do with the human that you introduced uninvited, may I add, in this one’s house?”
Kagome immediately tensed up as Masahiko’s intelligent eyes, who appears to be Sesshomaru’s uncle and maybe InuYasha’s, fell on her. She couldn’t say if the glance was hostile or not but it certainly wasn’t welcoming.
“The Miko was as much a victim as this Sesshomaru was. It is concerning the human that this Sesshomaru came to your door.”
“And who might she be to be of such importance that my proud nephew came to seek my council?” He asked, his narrowing eyes still fixed on the fidgeting human in front of him.
Sensing that she needed to present herself; she cleared her throat nervously.
“It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Masahiko-sama. My name is Higurashi Kagome. Hm…prior to the “troubles” Sesshomaru spoke about, I was traveling with…”
“It is irrelevant.” Interrupted Sesshomaru abruptly.
But he only gained the suspicious glare of his uncle onto his person.
“I think it is really relevant, on the contrary, pup. Go on, human.”
Confused, Kagome ignored the warning in her companion’s eyes and resumed.
“I travelled with InuYasha, Sesshomaru’s half…”
She was interrupted again but this time by Masahiko himself.
“That miscreant has no link with our noble blood”. Masahiko snapped coldly, his demeanor changing from slightly suspicious and amused to furious in a blink of an eye at InuYasha’s name.
The old youkai turned his furry towards his nephew, jumping on his feet. “I thought you knew better than to fraternize with that vermin, pup!”
“It has nothing to do with the whelp, Uncle, I assure you.” The used of first person by Sesshomaru snapped Kagome out of her anger before she could defend her friend. It seemed to have grabbed the attention of Masahiko who sat down, his anger still raging.
She had thought that Sesshomaru’s disgust and anger towards InuYasha was the worst and was because of the human blood mixed in his veins, but it was evident now that it was more than that. She had been obviously wrong in all aspect. Someone else, other than Sesshomaru, hated InuYasha even more. The demon visibly did not have that much of a problem with humans, if what happened between them the day before was any indication. Things were more complex than anyone had ever imagined.
“During those particular difficulties that this Sesshomaru had to face, he made a pact with this miko.”
The way Sesshomaru was talking of their capture and imprisonment as if it was nothing, baffled Kagome. She also didn’t miss how he stressed the fact that the pact was only with her.
To make sure that his uncle didn’t mistake again, he continued. “Being in a temporary alliance with her and only her, this Sesshomaru came to his uncle to ask guidance about a way to remove the curse that burdens the human.”
“You speak of the piece of metal around her neck?” Asked Masahiko, calmer.
“Hn.”
He seemed to debate a long moment with himself before nodding in acceptance.
Reaching inside his haori, he held out the parchment to his uncle. “This Sesshomaru thinks that he had in his possession what could be the counter spell. However…” He stopped, unwilling to admit a weakness, as small as it might be.
“You don’t understand what it is about.” Finished for him Masahiko.
“Hn.” Confirmed the demon Lord.
The old youkai looked at it while murmuring something under his breath and left the room, leaving Sesshomaru and Kagome alone.
When she was sure Masahiko was far enough, she turned towards Sesshomaru.
“What was that all about? You had a way to remove this collar from around my neck but you never told me?!” She was hurt. How could he hide something like that from her?
“It was irrelevant of this Sesshomaru to say anything while he was not able to do anything about it. But this one’s uncle is really knowledgeable in everything concerning magic, powers and dark spells. If anyone could remove the spell, Miko, it would be this Sesshomaru’s uncle.” He answered, furious that she thought he would hide it from her with bad intention.
“Oh.” She only said, regretting snapping at him when he was just trying to help her, all the while nothing forced him to. Then, something else came to her mind.
“Speaking of that, what was this animosity against InuYasha all about?”
Immediately, she realized that she should not have brought this up as she watched Sesshomaru’s face close off. She could feel that he was emotionally distancing himself from her.
“You do not wish to know, Miko.” He said coldly.
Before she could stop herself she blurred out; “Of course I want to know. All the family of my friend hates him with a devouring passion and I can’t even guess the reason for this strong reaction. You have to explain it to me so I can understand.”
“You will still try to protect that filth after we both know that he abandoned you knowingly into the hands of your enemy?!”
Kagome was speechless for a couple of seconds in the face of Sesshomaru’s anger.
“I…it…I’m sure it was a mistake. We don’t know yet if what Naraku said was the truth. But even so…InuYasha loves Kikyo more than anything or anyone.” She finished, saying it softly.
The reminder of his betrayal, again, with the undead miko pinched at Kagome’s heart. It didn’t hurt as it did in the past but he was still her friend.
She shook her head, she could not believe it. “He could not have done anything that would incite such hatred; at least, not on purpose. It must be a mistake.”
Sesshomaru scoffed darkly, not understanding why it angered him so much to hear her defend his half-brother.
“You should not assume so much Miko. The half-breed doesn’t merit such loyalty, least of all from you.” He said that with such venom that she got scared of him for the first time since her capture.
“What did he do?” She heard herself asking in a trembling voice she couldn’t recognize.
“He let my young die.”
Someone else answered in Sesshomaru’s place. Her head snapped so quickly towards Masahiko who had just entered the room, which caused her neck to hurt.
“What…?”
The expression on Masahiko’s face was closed off, which remind her of the demon Lord, who was still furious beside her.
“The tale of the past has nothing to do with your visit here so it should stay in the past.” There was an expression of such anguish on the old youkai face for a second that Kagome felt her breath get knocked out of her.
She nodded. Maybe it was better if she didn’t know, even if the curiosity was killing her.
……
Masahiko asked them to follow him. He apologized for taking his anger towards InuYasha against her only because she travelled with him.
Kagome was sickly curious of what her friend could have done or rather didn’t do that led to his own cousin’s death. But at the same time, she was afraid. Afraid of what she would learn of her friend.
They followed the old youkai into what seemed like a bedroom. They were here to remove her collar so why a bedroom?
He instructed her to sit down on the futon. She looked in a puzzled manner at Sesshomaru. He hadn’t said anything to her since his outburst earlier. Each time she thought that she had him figured out, she learned a new piece of the puzzle.
The animosity between the brothers was more than her or anyone else could ever imagine. If InuYasha was really responsible in any manner of the death of their cousin, a brother that his father gave his life to save, she could understand better the hatred she could feel coming from the demon Lord each time InuYasha’s name is even pronounced in his presence. And yet, he never killed him when he could have thousands of times. Kagome marveled at everything that was part of the big complicated puzzle that was Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western Lands.
She was brought back from her musing by a cough. She shook her head.
“Why should I sit down?”
“The removal of your collar coupled with your nervousness might make your powers lash out. It would be easier if you are calm and I can sense you are tired. Sit.” Sesshomaru spoke for the first time.
She looked at him for guidance, he could tell, and he somewhat liked it. He was still angry at her for siding again with his half-brother, that she seemed to still hero worship, much to his disliking. But even so, when she looked up at him with her blue eyes shining with uncertainty and trusting his judgment, he was reminded that her biggest flaw was that she trusted too much. She was too naïve for this world and while it made her more inclined to follow him blindly, it still irked him that she had such a strong faith in the hanyou. Like he told her, he doesn’t merit her devotion and trust.
“Someone will bring clothes for the two of you to change into. For the ceremony to remove the collar, we will have to follow some steps and preparation.”
After a nod from the two of them, Masahiko left them. A few seconds later, the servant of the old DaiYoukai walked in and put down on the futon two white bundles.
“Masahiko-sama asked for you to change into these clothes. I will come get you when you are done.” She said softly. She bowed and left them, closing the screen behind her.
Kagome reached for the bundles and opened the first smaller one to uncover a white yukata. She rose while keeping the parcel closed to her chest. She looked around not knowing what to do. Did they think that she would change in front of Sesshomaru?
“The next room is empty, you can change there.” The demon Lord said, again as if he had been able to read her mind.
Kagome went to change in the white yukata as instructed. When she came back, Sesshomaru was there, already changed in his own clean white clothes. He was sitting against the wall, eyes closed.
She sat down on the futon, close to a nervous breakdown. What if they couldn’t remove the collar? She can’t stay with this thing around her neck her whole life!
“Hm…” Kagome tried to find something to say to break the silence. “Your uncle looks a lot like you.” She blurted out quickly. “I-I mean, you look a lot like your uncle. Right! He is older so you are the one looking like him.” She babbled out, skittish and unable to stop herself.
“Hn.”
“I…” She bit her bottom lip. “Do you think that your uncle will be able to remove the collar?”
“This Sesshomaru’s uncle has studied for decades the cults and magic books of all the foreign lands he has been able to put his hands on. He is your best hope to do it.”
“Ok.” She stayed silent for no more than a couple of minutes before asking “Why does he live here?”
Sesshomaru finally opened his eyes and looked at her. She was looking down, playing with the bottom of her yukata’s sleeves.
“I mean, you live in a big place, right?”
“Hn.”
“It’s lovely and all here but you are a Lord and your father was one too before you, right? He is your father’s brother, right?”
“Indeed.” He answered, not really understanding what she was getting at.
“Right, so why doesn’t he live in a castle too or with you or I don’t know where else? Beside a couple of servants, he is alone here, right? It seemed to be lonely here.”
Sesshomaru stayed silent for a long time, pondering if he should tell her or not before deciding that it would not hurt plus it would keep her from panicking again. The scent was irritating to his nose.
“My uncle likes his privacy. He has quarters at the stronghold of our clan but when he doesn’t attend the council meetings, he comes here to be alone and work on… things.”
“Oh…it started after your cousin…?”
“Hn.”
She stayed silent for a moment, reflecting on what she had been told. Then, she looked towards the demon Lord of the West, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What’s the council?”
But before he could answer, a servant knocked and walked in.
“I apologize for the interruption, my Lord. Masahiko-sama instructed me to fetch you. The preparations for the ritual are ready.” She said softly, without rising from her bowed position, her eyes fixed on the ground.
“Show the way.” Sesshomaru said impassibly after getting back on his feet.
“Hai, right away my Lord.”
Without another word, she turned around and left, leaving the screen open behind her.
Sesshomaru stopped at the door and looked back at Kagome.
“What is it Miko?”
“I…Sesshomaru, I’m scared.” She said, avoiding eye contact.
Sesshomaru sighed.
“Don’t you trust this Sesshomaru?”
“Of course I do!”
“Then listen to this one when he tells you that he has faith in his Uncle’s knowledge and abilities.”
Her chin trembled with repress tears but she nodded and rose from the futon and walked timidly towards him. Sesshomaru walked out and joined the servant who had stopped not far down the corridor.
As he followed behind the servant, Sesshomaru felt a hand tentatively grab his haori from behind. He didn’t stop walking and didn’t say a word.
…
The servant took them to a small detached building behind the main house. As they walked in, the scent of incense waffled towards them. Kagome looked around. Candles had been placed everywhere in the room. She had a strong sense of déjà-vu but couldn’t put her finger on why the smell and ambiance were so familiar. But she was distracted when Masahiko turned around.
“Come in and close the door behind you.”
Sesshomaru let the servant and Kagome passed in front of him as he turned to close the door. The young Miko faced his uncle as the servant went further in to help for the last minute preparations.
Masahiko was crushing something in a bowl, not looking at them and was giving instructions to his servant at the same time.
“Mai, pour this in the water.” He said pointing to something Kagome couldn’t see. “Yes, like that. Stir with this but make sure to not to have any contact with the water or you will spoil everything.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Ok, it’s ready.” He said while stopping his gridding and pouring the crush item he just prepared in another bigger bowl. “Here Mai, take this and put it on the shelf.”
“Hai!”
He finally looked up. He didn’t even glance more than a quart of a second towards Kagome; it was just long enough to see that she was in the ceremonial clothes. Then he turned to his nephew.
“Good, you are ready. I studied the scroll you brought, pup. I don’t know who did the translating for you, but it was almost perfect. Who was it?”
When he didn’t receive any explanation to satisfy his curiosity, much to his chagrin, he continued.
“Anyways, it’s a really interesting spell. I have heard about it before but it’s the first time seeing how it works. It’s really devious.” He said the last sentence almost smiling. Kagome shivered in unease.
“We will have to hope that they followed the original spell as closely as possible. But just in case, I prepared all this as a precaution. This spell absorbed and stopped her from using her powers and reacts violently if someone tries to remove it; but it’s worse than that. Apparently, it’s not just linked to her powers but also to her very soul.” Masahiko was almost delirious from excitement. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes in disgust. His uncle was beginning to creep him out, and here he thought that his uncle was one of the ‘saner’ of all his family.
“My soul?” Kagome squeaked out, drawing the attention of the uncle and nephew on her. Masahiko made a sign of the hand and Mai left the room quietly. The old youkai waited until his servant was out before starting to talk again.
“Yes, your soul, human. That’s why it’s vicious because the longer you are under that spell, the harder it will be to remove it.” He said this, turning around and walking deeper in the room. It was then that she saw what was behind him. The sight that met her eyes made her freeze and forget to breathe.
Unaware, Masahiko started to explain what he had prepared for the spell.
“Before breaking the spell, we first have to protect your soul. For that purpose you, human, you will have to get inside this ceremonial bath and-“
“Miko?” Interrupted Sesshomaru.
The demon Lord had seen how pale his companion became when her eyes fell on the bath and flinched when his uncle start talking about soul.
“I… it’s nothing.” She whispered in a quavering little voice.
Masahiko finally looked at Kagome and saw her reaction. “Human, you look like you are about to pass out. What is it?” Masahiko asked with authority.
“It’s just… All this brings back some bad memories, that’s all.” She answered, rubbing her arms.
“Memories?” The old youkai asked, confused.
“The undead miko.” Sesshomaru replied suddenly for her, remembering one of their conversations.
“Hai. A crazy youkai sorcerer, Urusae, tried to steal my soul in the aim-“
“But you were able to keep or retrieve it, obviously.” Masahiko interrupted, making an impatient sign in her direction, ready to pass onto other things. He wanted to work on this spell and didn’t like interruption.
“Well…” She said hesitantly while glancing at Sesshomaru.
“Most of it…?” she added cautiously.
“What do you mean by most of it?” He was looking at her as if she was crazy. He glanced a second at his nephew but as usual he was unable to get anything from his expression. Sesshomaru answered for her, flatly.
“The golem is still walking this Earth.”
Masahiko froze. “Wait, tell me if I get this right. A sorcerer tried to steal this human’s soul to animate a golem. A previous life?”
“Yes, she used bones, ashes and grave soil from her tomb to make a replica of Kikyo’s body with clay.” Kagome supplied.
The old youkai nodded and started to pace.
“But during the process, you were able to get your soul back or you would not be here. But you are saying that a part of it stayed in the golem making it ‘alive’?”
“Yes.”
He stopped and faced them.
“That’s impossible! No one can live with only part of their soul and the golem should have collapsed a few hours, at most, after its creation if the whole soul wasn’t in it.”
“Kikyo uses soul stealers to supply her body with fresh souls regularly. She has been living as such for the last couple of years.”
An expression of disgust passed on Masahiko’s face.
“And you, how do you explain that you are alive?”
“I…” She looked up at Sesshomaru, not knowing how to answer that. When you say it like that, it seemed really crazy. After a moment, she came up with a plausible explanation.
“I don’t really know. The only thing I know for sure is that I supposedly have a soul bigger than most, so maybe that’s why.”
Masahiko looked at her, unconvinced. She glanced at Sesshomaru and continued.
“Kanna tried to suck my soul and…”
“Who is this Kanna?”
“She is one of the incarnations of Naraku.”
He nodded. “The dark hanyou?” He murmured. “nice character.” He added sarcastically and signaled her to resume.
“She had this sort of mirror that consumed people’s souls. One day, she tried it on me but apparently, my soul was too big even for the mirror and it cracked.”
“Was it before or after the adventure with the sorcerer and the golem?”
“After.”
“Interesting, very interesting.” He looked at her, a new light in his eyes that Kagome didn’t quite care much for. She suddenly knew what mice felt like in the hands of scientists.
“You still feel linked to this portion of your soul?”
“Yes.” She answered, wincing.
“Good, good. Then it won’t be difficult for you to call it to you.”
“What?” Her eyes widened with astonishment.
“Girl, this spell to remove the collar is already dangerous but doing it without your soul being whole is suicide. It could tear it beyond repair. You’ll need all your soul.”
“I-I can’t do that!”
“How so?”
“Because Inu-…because it would be murder.” She stopped herself just in time. Her second explanation was truth enough, even though she was ashamed to say that it was more for InuYasha’s feelings that was stopping her. She couldn’t do that to him.
“You will have to explain to me how it is murder, to put down something that is already dead.”
When she didn’t answer right away he added angrily, changing tactic.
“Do you have any idea how much suffering those souls that she feeds upon must feel?”
“I…”
“Don’t you know that because of her, those souls are destroyed? That mean, no afterlife and no reincarnation for them.”
Tears gathered in her eyes. She had never thought of that. Could it be true? Does that mean that in a way Kikyo was killing all those young women all over again by consuming their souls? Just the thought of it made her gag. A tear fell down her cheek but she was able to contain her sob. Doing nothing was like being an accomplice to the murders of those innocent souls. Worst, it was done with part of her soul. Does everyone know? Was it why Kaede refused to see this Kikyo as her sister and why, while he always stayed polite, Miroku had difficulties in hiding his disgust when he saw her shinigamis? Does InuYasha know? Does he even care?
“I never thought of what was happening to the souls that she captured.” She said slowly.
“Then…”
“But I can’t do that.”
“Are you doing this because of him?” Asked Sesshomaru coldly.
“No.” She was relieved that at least that much was the truth. “I know now that she must be stopped, even if it hurts him.”
“Then why?”
“However, it won’t be by my hands, or at least not like this. I know it must be difficult for you to understand, Sesshomaru. The fact that she is committing this kind of atrocious thing while using my own soul is unbearable. But I can’t just call back the part of my soul she is carrying. I’m not capable of this kind of cold death. It’s just not in me. I never take a life lightly, and even if she is not really alive, for me, it would be just like I was killing her. ” Anyways it would be too much like committing suicide for her taste; even if that thought bother her, the wish to not hurt InuYasha was present as well but it was more than just that. She would never be able to look at herself in a mirror if she was to do it like this.
Sesshomaru looked at her intensely and finally sighed. He knew what she was trying to say. While killing was like second nature for any other miko, he knew that this one would never hurt a soul if she could help it. She would kill to protect but she would never end the life of a youkai or anyone else just because of what it was. Even if he found her naïve, it was also that innocence that had attracted his darker soul to her. It wasn’t like he could just go after her himself right now either. However he silently vowed that the moment the undead miko gave him half a reason to put her down, her life was his. He won’t let this miko suffer for the deeds of the undead one.
“We will proceed as it is.” He said.
“Now wait-“
“I know I’m taking a risk, Masahiko-sama. I apologize if I’m making things more difficult for you. Whatever happens, I know you would have done all you could and for that I’m grateful.”
The older demon fixed his gaze on her for a moment and sensed that she would not change her mind on the topic, and sighed.
“Alright!” He said resigned. He pointed out the ceremonial bath with a clawed finger. “Climb in.”
Kagome felt the nervousness rise in her. She looked towards Sesshomaru for reassurance. For some reason, after everything that has happened between them, looking at his impassible face calmed her. She gathered her courage, and walked to the bathtub.
She gathered the bottom of the white kimono in one hand to climb in. She flinched at the coldness of the water but still sat inside. A familiar herbal scent rose to her nose making her shiver.
Masahiko walked to her side. “You will have to lie inside the bath and stay inside. Whatever happens, no one must touch you.” He said glancing at his nephew. “Once the spell commences, the water will be the only thing that will protect your soul and keep it linked to you while we extract it from your body. When we are done, it should destroy the spell on the collar. If you try to get out or if one of us touches the water it could disturb the protective spell on your soul. Any interruption could mean irreversible damage to your soul and your death. Do you understand, human?” He finished saying, looking severely down at her.
“H-hai.”
“Then we will start.”
Her heart was beating savagely in her chest as Kagome lay down in the bath. The fact that Sesshomaru was there, even if his uncle had made it clear that he could not interfere, was an anchor, a balm to her nerves. She had to do it if she ever wanted to be free from this cursed collar. She won’t be weak. She can’t be weak.
She closed her eyes and tried to stay calm as she heard Masahiko start to mumble in some strange language. She opened her eyes when she felt a disruption in the water. The older DaiYoukai was throwing other ingredients in the bath while still reciting his spell and walking around her. Each time a new herb fell into the water she felt the disturbance all around her and even inside her, like the ripples made by a stone sent in a pond. Something was happening. The water was getting warmer she realized and as the temperature climbed it was as if her muscles were getting tranquilized. Already, she couldn’t move her legs easily anymore and a sensation of pins and needles was becoming more and more difficult to ignore. Her eyes flew towards the familiar golden eyes of Sesshomaru.
“S-something is wrong with my legs. It hurts.”
Masahiko didn’t even falter in his spell. He put down the bowl that was in his hands and while still reciting the spell he lit a big ceremonial candle. He then took another bowl and again, walking around her, threw things inside her bath water.
Kagome was biting her bottom lip. The pain was getting harder and harder to contain as it was spreading throughout her body and she felt herself slip in the water, her muscles being less and less responsive. The older DaiYoukai finally stopped in front of her and threw the last ingredients into the water.
It was then that the screaming started.
She felt as if the water was boiling. She started to thrash around, screaming, wanting out. Sesshomaru stepped closer but his uncle stopped him. Should he touch her, her powers could react violently, thinking he was attacking her. Plus, any contact with the water could alter the spell and break the fragile link of her soul to her body. But seeing the Miko suffering and doing nothing was difficult to witness for the demon Lord. He closed his fists so strongly that blood was dripping down. It felt like an eternity when suddenly she became silent and slipped under the water, unmoving.
Sesshomaru growled, his eyes turning red. He couldn’t hear her heartbeat anymore.
“Don’t.”
“She is dead.” He said snarling. His uncle had killed the Miko. He was shocked.
“Oh? And what did you think would happen when her soul was ripped from her body? Wait and watch, it’s not finished yet.”
Masahiko came closer to the bath and looked in. Sesshomaru couldn’t stay put. He walked around, growling like an animal in a cage, his eyes fixed on the young woman in the water.
It felt like an eternity when suddenly they heard a distinctive click. The collar was opened. Immediately the older youkai turned around and snuffed out the big candle he had lit. The spell keeping the woman’s soul out of her body was broken.
“Now we wait.”
Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed. “What-“
Kagome woke up suddenly and trashed around, trying to get out. Without waiting for his uncle’s signal, Sesshomaru went to her and got her out of the water. Her body was wracked with coughs, trying to expel all the water she had swallowed. He removed the collar and threw it off, keeping the woman in his arms.
Masahiko, realizing the volatile temper of his nephew at the moment, didn’t come any closer.
“I will have bedrooms for the two of you ready.” He said, leaving Sesshomaru with the human.
…
The young Miko was now sleeping. The pain had been intense, leaving her drained. Masahiko had instructed his servant that she was to be changed into clean clothes and put to bed. The spell on the collar had been broken, but it had not been easy. As he had deduced, the only way to break it was to kill the bearer, so to speak. The trick had been to keep her soul out of her body long enough for the collar to think that she was dead but not too long or her soul would not have been able to go back into her body. There had been a big risk that it would not have worked, even worst since her soul wasn’t complete. But it did work. She was strong, for a human. He will give her that.
He heard a whimper coming from her bedroom and saw his nephew enter. Coming closer without making a sound, he saw Sesshomaru walking to her futon and kneeling down at her side. When she moved and whimpered again, the demon Lord gently removed the lock of hair from over her mouth then he froze and got up suddenly. When he turned towards him, his nephew’s face was as impassible as even. As if the somewhat previous tender moment never happened. For reasons that he couldn’t pin down, the scene made Masahiko angry.
“Just a pact, hm?” He said, sneering.
“Yes.”
“Don’t lie to me, pup! There is more than that. Who do you think am I? Did you think that I would not be able to smell your scent all over her?”
“That’s not-“
“That I would not smell your scent inside her?!” He snarled, angrily.
Straightening his back, Sesshomaru answered coldly. “It won’t happen again”.
“Are you sure of that?”
“Yes.”
“You are a fool.” Masahiko responded, shaking his head. “So what will happen now? Are you going to let her go back to him after what happened between you two?” No need for the older youkai to declare who the ‘him’ referred to.
“It was the pact.”
Masahiko ignored that and continued. “So are you just going to sit back and loose her to him? I’m not senile yet, pup. I can connect the facts. She was traveling with him but he failed her and she ended up in this situation. What will happen to her next time? If it happened once, it will happen again. And this time, you will not be there for her. I’ve heard enough about this hanyou named Naraku to know that he will try again.”
“He will protect her.”
“Like he protected her this time?”
Sesshomaru didn’t answer for a moment. “It was the pact. She wants to go back. End of discussion.” He pivoted silently on his heels and left.
Masahiko, now alone sighed, suddenly tired. “I wonder how long it will take for you to realize that it is a mistake”.
Of course he wasn’t happy about all this. But he was not a fool. He saw that something stronger than just a pact to survive their ordeal had grown between his nephew and the human. He is not particularly fond of humans, even less with any human with any type of relationship with him.
However, after what happened to her and what happened between them, he couldn’t understand how Sesshomaru could just put her back on a silver platter with only him as protection and walk away. It doesn’t make any sense.
…
Sesshomaru had heard the last words of his uncle and it made him even angrier. He will deliver her to the village and everything will go back to normal. It was what must be done and it was not a mistake. It wasn’t. He lost control and let himself take a step he swore he would never take. He won’t make the same mistake twice. It was for the best.
He will just forget everything about her anyways and she will be back with the hanyou. He will just make sure she’s alright from time to time. After all, it was his duty to make sure that his pack was well and that was it. The hanyou will keep her safe until she finishes her journey and she will leave. Yes, he will insure that she lives to see her quest to the end. And he will make sure that other than protecting her, the hanyou will not touch her.
Either hanyou.
….
As soon as Kagome woke up, they left Masahiko's house and walked in the direction of Edo and the well. She didn’t see the old Inu before leaving and was a little sad to depart without thanking him again for his help but Sesshomaru told her that he was busy and ended it at that.
They travelled in absolute silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts. After a couple of hours, Sesshomaru summoned his cloud, installing the still really tired Kagome on it. In less than two minutes, she was deep asleep.
She woke up when Sesshomaru touched down in the clearing, not far from the well. It seemed like she had just closed her eyes for a couple of minutes when actually hours had passed.
Kagome was nervous. That was it. It was the end of her adventure with Sesshomaru. While she was happy to put behind her most of what happened during the last few weeks, she couldn't help but being sad that she had to part way with the Demon Lord.
Not saying a word, she walked towards the well, Sesshomaru just behind her. When they reached the wooden structure, Kagome turned around to face him. She didn't know what to say. While some part of her just wanted to jump in the well and forget everything, a small part didn't want to move and wished to grab the demon Lord tightly with both hands and not let go, afraid that the companion she had with her in that hellish cell would disappear on her.
Already, the sense of comradery that had been between them was disappearing. From the moment they left his uncle's house, Sesshomaru had erected a barrier between them, becoming again the emotionless being he was before. Her eyes filled up with tears as she looked up at the impassible face of the DaiYoukai. She wanted to throw herself in his arms but knew she couldn't. That was it.
After a moment, to her surprise, it was Sesshomaru who talked first, but what came out of his mouth ripped out her heart.
"Nothing has changed." She flinched but just nodded, understanding what he meant. She knew his thoughts on the matter, he told her already. But even knowing it, it didn't stop it from hurting. After a second he added "however, if you don't interfere, This Sesshomaru won't touch you in the future." In another words, if she doesn't come between the two brothers anymore, he would never try to harm her again. The message was clear. She should be grateful for that at least but she just felt numb.
"The pact will be respected." He continued when she stayed silent.
"I won't say a word of what happened there." She answered softly, losing her battle with her tears which were now running down her cheeks.
He nodded at her and turned around, ready to leave the clearing and her behind.
That was it. It ended here. Everything will go back to normal...but not for her.
"Sesshomaru!" He turned to look at her.
"It won't be the same. It will never be the same, at least for me. I know that we have to do as if nothing ever happened but it won't disappear just because you will it. You will never be an enemy in my eyes anymore, whatever happens from now THAT will never change." She was crying openly now, warping her arms around her. He didn't say anything. She walked slowly the last few steps to well and sat on the rime. She stared at the bottom of the well a moment, gathering her courage and looked over her shoulder. Sesshomaru hadn't move from his spot. "I…I will miss you." She whispered, looking sadly one last time at the demon Lord and then let herself fall down the well.
Sesshomaru closed his hand tightly as if to stop himself from reaching out to her, but didn't go after her. He stayed frozen for a moment, as the magic of the well flared before disappearing completely, taking the miko and her scent though time, far away from his grasps. His eyes stayed fixed on the well for a few more minutes, and suddenly he turned around silently and walked off. It ended here. It was better that way. I was as it should be. Work was waiting for him at home. He had been away far too long already.
It was better that way...
...
When Kagome arrived at the other side of the well, she curled up on the ground and let the shaky control on her feelings go. She didn't know how long she stayed at the bottom of the old well, crying her heart out. She didn't know if she was crying because she was sad that she won't see Sesshomaru again, her ally against the horror they lived through, or because she was happy that she was really home or because of what happened to her in that cell since her capture. To be fair, it was probably a mixture of everything.
After what felt like ages, the flow of tears finally stopped. She suddenly wanted out of there, away from the portal to that world which made her suffer so much. She climbed out with some difficulties, even with the help of the ladder; her tired muscles trembled from the exertion. After catching her breath a couple of minutes at the top, she opened violently the door of the well house, walking out and towards her house as quickly as she could. She opened the door, calling out for her mom.
"Kagome?" Mrs. Higurashi said, coming towards the entry, not sure if it was really her daughter she heard or a mirage.
Kagome had thought that she couldn't cry anymore but she was wrong apparently as tears again filled her eyes when she saw the uncertainty on her mother's face, as if she couldn't believe she was in front of her.
"Yes."
The laundry basket fell from the older woman's hands, and the two women rushed into each other’s arms.
"My daughter! My daughter!" Mrs. Higurashi said, tightening her hold on Kagome, as if afraid that she would disappear.
"Tadaima." Kagome said softly, her face buried in the neck of her mother, taking comfort in the familiar scent. She buried herself as deep as she could in her mother's embrace as if she wanted to fuse with her.
"Kagome?" Asked a timid voice behind her. She looked over her shoulder, seeing her little brother fighting back tears and her grandfather coming up behind him.
"Souta." At her voice it was like a signal and the little boy rushed at them, sobbing.
She took him close to her side as he hugged both women’s waist. She felt her grandfather coming behind her, and his frail trembling arms embracing the crying trio. The catch in his breathing betraying his emotions.
She stayed like that, soaking in the warm of her family's love. She was home, the nightmare was finished. She was safe.
"Tadaima."

THE END
...........................
Here is the end of Captured and Trapped. I hope you all liked it as much as I liked to get all those ideas out of my head and write it. :)
This is the first arc of what I had in mind for this story. Since they aren’t “captured” and “trapped” anymore, the following chapters are separated under another name. ^^
Second part of the story is coming soon. To help you wait, you will find a preview of the following story in the end of this message.
Thank you all for following me for so long and to have read this little story of mine. Thanks again to my beta.
Love,
Sweetest Angel
Preview of "Only human", the sequel of "Captured and Trapped"…
They have been looking everywhere and the morale of InuYasha and his group was lower than ever. They still haven’t found Kagome.
The reunion of the young hanyou with his friends had not been an easy one. He was still angry at them for what he saw as a betrayal and for Miroku's words against Kikyo. At the same time the humans had been less than welcoming at first, making their little reunion really tense. In the end, they ended up agreeing that now wasn’t the time for division but for unity instead.
At first, InuYasha’s intentions were to gather his friends and join back up with Kikyo towards the South, as he promised her, but, call it instinct of preservation or something, he realized that it was better to let things settle down before bringing back the problems they have. Now wasn’t the time to fight; InuYasha might not be a thinker but even he realized that. So he followed them and didn’t voice what his thoughts were, and didn’t ask them to follow him, yet. He was ashamed to have lied to the dead miko. Well, it wasn’t really a lie when you believe it when you say it, right? At the time, he had every intention to get them to follow him and even force them to offer him an apology for their words against Kikyo. However, those days alone trailing his friends had helped him calm down and realize that, as she confessed to him later, she didn’t know if Kagome was in the South or not. So he decided, to follow the rumors in this area first and if they don’t find anything, he will bring up the information the dead miko had given him again and they would then go South. He just hoped that Kikyo will forgive him.
And now, after days of following any possible rumor for the whereabouts of their miko friend, they were getting desperate. Weeks went by since they last saw Kagome and they still hadn’t had any clue of what happened to her. At the same time, they didn’t see hide or hair of Naraku either. The atmosphere was tense. After much discussions, and yes disputes, the young hanyou was convinced they needed to go back to Edo, even if it was just to get supplies and inform Kaede of their progress or lack of thereof.
They were walking in silence when suddenly InuYasha stopped in his track, making Miroku almost run into his back. The hanyou didn’t even react and kept scenting the air.
“InuYa—“ The monk stopped mid-sentence, worrying Sango at his side. “Houshi ?”
“Something dark is coming.”
“A new reincarnation of Naraku's?” She asked, reaching for the straps of her Hiraikotsu. Kirara jumped down from her shoulder, transforming as soon as she touched the ground, hissing violently towards the trees in front of them.
“I don’t know.” He answered, also preparing himself to battle. “I’m not sure but, it fells more like…”
“Naraku!” Growled out InuYasha.
A dark laugh echoed around them.
“Show yourself you coward!” Yelled out InuYasha, grasping Tessaiga, transforming his sword as soon as he had it in his hand.
Suddenly, the dark hanyou was there, floating just in front of them. “Always so… welcoming InuYasha.” He said, mockingly.
As the wind blew towards them, Miroku watched his growling friend's countenance abruptly change. He had never seen him blanch like that and he could have sworn that a strangled whine had escaped his throat.
“InuYasha ?”
InuYasha was livid. His brain had difficulties to accept what he was scenting coming from Naraku, who was fixing him with a smirk on his face. When the scent of blood had reached his nose, his mind rebelled against what it meant.
“What, InuYasha ? You seem unwell?” Naraku asked with fake concern.
“You… you bastard!! What did you do to her?!”
His mind might rebel against it but he knew what he scented. Naraku was talking. Saying how much fun he had with Kagome but InuYasha didn’t really hear it. For his ears it was just whispered blah blah blah, as if it was far away, his brain having short-circuited. Because, on Naraku, InuYasha could scent Kagome’s blood. His brain supplied that Sesshomaru’s blood was also present, and in quantity, but it didn’t record in his mind.
With a scream mixed with rage and pain when she realized what it was all about, Sango sent her Hiraikotsu towards Naraku, who dodged it easily and disappeared in a cloud of miasma and laughter.
For hours, they frantically looked around, to see if they could find where the dark hanyou had come from and went. The blood had been fresh on him, InuYasha confirmed, so he didn’t come from far and that meant that Kagome must be around there. However, they couldn’t find their friend. It was as if Naraku had dropped off out of nowhere.
When they realized that they couldn’t find anything, panic and anger rose in the group. In the end it was Miroku, the voice of reason more often than not, who said that if Naraku came to taunt them like that it could only mean that Kagome must have been kept around here and if he came himself maybe Kagome succeeded in getting away. If she got away, she would have gone directly to Edo. InuYasha wanted to look around more but after hours of nothing they decided to go towards the well just to be sure. They never ran so quickly before and upon arriving, InuYasha was elated to smell Kagome’s scent in the clearing. He was confused by the presence of Sesshomaru’s scent again but finding Kagome was more important.
InuYasha didn’t stop. He ran and jumped directly into the well. Sango looked down the well, anxious, and Miroku put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
- 29
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