Inuyasha followed the slight scent of Kagome all day, without any sign of her. Sesshoumaru had Kagome. That bastard! He better not have done anything to her or he'll be sorry. I would have thought Sesshoumaru would have came to me to get Tesusaiga already. Where can he be taking Kagome? Inuyasha growled and ran faster following Kagome's scent.
"Inuyasha! Did you talk to Kagome-sama yet? What happened?"
Inuyasha looked up to see the houshi and Sango on Kirara looking extremely worried. Well, they aren't going to be much happier knowing what I know. Inuyasha grimaced. The next thing he knew it was total darkness and something was gnawing on his head. Growling, he stopped running and pulled Shippou's hands away from his eyes. When that didn't stop the kitsune from chomping on his skull Inuyasha bopped him on the head and threw him at Miroku. Miroku held Shippo and whispered something to the kitsune that made the cub nod and stop struggling.
"Have you gotten the Shikon shards back from Kagome-sama, Inuyasha?"
"She isn't in her own time." Inuyasha's hair hid his eyes as he spoke. "She hasn't been home since she saw me and Kikyo in the forest that night, but I've just picked up her scent." Sango was about to say something when Inuyasha interrupted her. "And she is with Sesshoumaru." Sango gasped and Miroku's eyes widen in surprise. Shippo looked like he was holding back tears as the kitsune remembered the cold-blooded youkai that was Inuyasha's brother.
Sango got hold of her emotions and her eyes hardened. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go get Kagome back." Inuyasha nodded brusquely and quickly ran towards the quickly fading scent. Sango and Miroku, holding Shippou, hopped onto Kirara's back as they quickly followed Inuyasha. In various states of worry, the air seemed to weigh heavily upon each of them. The houshi seemed deep in thought and he absently stroked Shippo's back. Sango's body was tensed for action and her eyes showed determination. Shippo scrunched his eyes closed to keep tears from escaping as he wished that the person he considered his family would not be lost to him. I would rather she be back in her time than dead in ours.
* * * * * *
Kagome walked the rest of the way in a thoughtful silence, giggling occasionally at Rin's antics. Birds cheerfully sang their songs and the sun shone through the canopy of leaves above them. Rin was chasing butterflies as they flitted from flower to flower. Although they made a strange group, at the moment it seemed almost companionable. Kagome could almost forget that she was Sesshoumaru's captive as the youkai walked with animal grace before her. Watching Rin, she was reminded of another kid. Shippo. I wonder how he's doing. He's almost like a little brother to me. I hope he's okay. I know he thinks of me as family and he even misses me on those short trips I take to my word. But I know the others are watching out for him.
Tilting her face to the sun, Kagome let the warmth wash over her. Maybe it was because she had told her story with nothing withheld or maybe it was because someone had listened to her story and knew her pain. Either way, Kagome felt that somehow things were not as bad as she had thought they were. Sure, you've been kidnapped by a cold-blooded killer. But the good news is, it seems he isn't as cold-blooded as you thought and the little kid that he totes around is so kawaii! And now that you've told him your life's story and he knows almost all your secrets what's there to be scared of? Of course, he could decide to kill you at any moment
Kagome turned to stare at Sesshoumaru wonderingly. I don't know what I was expecting from him, but he hasn't said a thing since I told him my story. Making a face at the youkai she felt slightly peeved. Mou! Tell him my life's story and I don't even get some kind of response from him. Not a single word, not even an "oh". He's even harder to understand than Inuyasha! Kagome continued staring at Sesshoumaru as she tried to figure out what the youkai could be thinking.
Sesshoumaru could feel the weight of the girl's stare and ignored her curiousity as he tried to make sense of his thoughts and feelings. He puzzled over what had happened to him when he had experienced the girl's feelings. Maybe it was because it had been so long since he had last used his power to feel what humans felt. Sesshoumaru had never considered their thoughts to be of any matter interesting enough for him to want to know. The last time I used this technique on a human Sesshoumaru closed his eyes against the memories and brought his attention back to the issue at hand. I have no doubt that Inuyasha will soon come looking for Kagome. He wants those Shikon shards quite badly and since she's the only one who will help him get them at the moment, he will come. Ah, little brother, you still cannot see things that are right in front of you.