Chapter 1: Where's Rin?

"InuYasha can we please rest for a little bit! We've been walking all morning, a short rest isn't going to hurt us," Kagome was trailing behind InuYasha with the rest of the group.

"Fine! But only for a little bit, we have to keep looking for the shards. We have to get them before Naraku," InuYasha sat down on a log off to the side of the trail.

Kagome began pulling foods from her bag for everyone. They hadn't had anything to eat since earlier that morning and it was already well past noon. She handed InuYasha his normal cup of ramen. Everyone sat down and began chowing down, everyone having their own little conversations. InuYasha and Shippo fighting over some food and Miroku and Sango going at it because of Miroku's lecherousness. Kagome thought she heard something further in the woods and drifted away from the group unnoticed. She came to a clearing in the woods and looked around, assuming it was her imagination getting the best of her she turned to head back. Just as she took her first step Sesshoumaru appeared in front of her picking her up by the throat, "Where is she? Where is Rin?"

"I d- don't kn- know what you're t-talking about," she managed to choke out the words.

"Don't act so naïve, I know you have her! Now where is she! What have you done with her?" the rage in his voice sent chills down Kagome's spine.

"Get your claws off her!" InuYasha and the group came charging from the woods.

Sesshoumaru tightened his grip on Kagome's neck. A tear streamed down her face, which was beginning to turn blue.

"Sesshoumaru! Let her go!" InuYasha charged his brother. Sesshoumaru threw Kagome at him sending them both crashing to the hard ground.

"What have you done with her? I demand you release her back to me immediately!" Sesshoumaru's eyes glared, ice cold; it was as though he was peering deep within their souls, but at the same time he seemed sad and worried.

"Sesshoumaru I swear to you we don't have her!" Kagome pleaded.

InuYasha looked back and forth between Kagome and his brother confused, "Wait, are you telling me you think we took your precious Rin? Why the hell would we take her? It's not like she has any value to us! She would just get in the way of our search for the shards."

The wind began to blow harshly through the trees. Kagura appeared with the wind with a simple message, "If you want your human back come to this location," she threw a map at Sesshoumaru and with that disappeared with the wind as quickly as she'd appeared. The map had a large red circle around what seemed to be Naraku's castle.

"That bastard! Of course he would be behind this!" InuYasha clenched his fist.

Sesshoumaru glanced over the map for a brief moment before tossing it on the ground, he turned around and took off traveling east. Kagome picked up the map, "We have to help him."

"Why? It ain't like that little brat's with us. Let Sesshoumaru handle it on his own, besides if Naraku had you he wouldn't bother helping," InuYasha turned to head back the way they'd come.

Kagome was most definitely not impressed by his actions, "InuYasha."

"Feh, what now?"

"Sit boy," she said it so calmly it was almost scary. InuYasha now laid face down grumbling about life not being fair, "come now everyone. We are going to help. This is what sets us apart from Sesshoumaru and others." The group began walking in the same direction Sesshoumaru had gone. After what seemed like forever they came upon Naraku's castle.

"Alright let's get this over with. Let's kick Naraku's pathetic ass!" InuYasha now seemed pumped for this little adventure.

"Why are you here? I never asked for your help, nor do I need it," Sesshoumaru glared down at InuYasha and Kagome and the group.

"Feh, I'm not here to help you, I'm here to take down Naraku!" InuYasha punched the tree they were standing next to.

The castle door slid open. All that was visible were a pair of unwelcoming crimson eyes belonging to Kagura. "Glad to see you all made it here safely," she spat, "we've been waiting."

Sesshoumaru vanished and reappeared in front of Kagura. Inches from her face, he grabbed the back of her head by her hair. "Where is she," his voice cold as ice, like his eyes. Kagura simply smiled and glanced out of the corner of her eyes. Sesshoumaru followed her gaze. His eyes met with Naraku's. He threw Kagura out into the courtyard where InuYasha and the gang was. "Hand her over to me now and no harm will be done. I won't kill you, just hand her back over to me and I will leave you in peace, for now."

"Unfortunately I cannot do that. You see I am but a business man. I need an equal or greater thing to trade. So make me a deal and you can have her back," Naraku grinned.

"I believe my allowing you to keep your life is more than enough of a good trade," Sesshoumaru spat back.

"I don't think so," Naraku's eyes gazed across the courtyard from face to face. He finally stopped at Kagome's face and pointed at her, "Is she not the one who has the ability to detect jewel shards? I do believe she would do for a fine trade," again he showed is dark grin.

"Hell no! You can have Kagome over my dead body you bastard!" InuYasha pushed Kagome behind himself.

"It's either her, or this one can lose her life, I don't have any uses for a young human child."

Sesshoumaru and InuYasha traded looks and nodded. They both charged to attack Naraku. No matter how hard they tried there was nothing they could do without harming Rin in the process. Kagome watched in horror, debating in her mind. "Kagome just go! Let him take you in Rin's place. InuYasha will rescue you, but just get Rin out of here for now! Naraku won't hesitate to kill her, but you, you are valuable. He won't kill you! Make the trade! Do it!"

"STOP!!!" Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs, everyone froze and stared at her. "Naraku! Let Rin go, I'll come with you, just return Rin back to Sesshoumaru and I will go willingly. Please just release her."

Everyone looked at her in amazement except Naraku, he knew Kagome was too kind hearted not to make the trade. "Kagome what the hell are you doing? You aren't going with him! We're gonna kick this bastard's ass, get Rin and keep you! So just shut the hell up and don't be stupid!" InuYasha fumed. Sesshomaru was still gazing at her in confusion.

"Why would she offer herself in place of Rin? It doesn't make sense, it isn't like we have good encounters with each other. I don't understand. Why would anyone sacrifice themselves for another?" Sesshoumaru couldn't understand Kagome's decision.

"InuYasha, just trust me on this one. Naraku! Let her go now and I will be the trade!" Kagome began walking toward Naraku. InuYasha grabbed her arm as she went to pass him.

"Kagome I'm not going to let you do this!"

"InuYasha," she smiled softly at him, "sit."

She continued to walk toward Naraku. Once she got a few feet away from him, he threw Rin at Sesshoumaru and grabbed Kagome. The wind picked up and miasma surrounded the area. Naraku laughed at the group as he and Kagome ascended into the sky, "InuYasha, your human here is very smart. Thank you for letting me have her," with that they disappeared.

"KAGOME!!!!!!" InuYasha cried out to the night sky.