Author's note: Here's the second chapter! To those who only read the manga, Inu-yasha may be a little out of character. To those who watch the anime, Kagome may be. I relly hope not though! Please review! To all those who have reviewed- Thanks!

Chapter 2:

Inu-yasha's dog-like ears pricked up as he listened intently, trying to pick up any sound from the otherwise quiet forest. For a moment, if only briefly, he had thought he heard a human scream. He shook his head to clear it. It was impossible for him to have heard a human scream. There wasn't a village for miles and there didn't even seem to be any demons in this forest. He had searched the forest for miles around where he and his friends had set up camp. No humans... no demons.. nothing. The forest was completely deserted. He and his friends were the only ones in this forest. There was no way for him to have heard a scream because there was no one here to attack them. Suddenly, Inu-yasha remembered the words of an old woman from the previous village who had warned them not to come here, and his heart started beating fiercely. The conversation had begun innocently enough:

"Which way do you plan to travel once you leave the village?" she had said.

Inu-yasha had answered her with one of his usual snide comments. "East. What do you care you old hag?"

Her wrinkled face had gone pale and she gave them a warning: "Beware of the forest in that direction. No one who has gone in, has ever come out again. They say a fearsome demon moved into that forest about a month ago and killed every living thing in there, even the other demons. The entire forest is deserted and completely devoid of life. If you wish to keep your lives, you must NOT go near that forest!"

Inu-yasha had only laughed at her in scorn. "Oh please. Who do you think I am? I'm not afraid of any demon. Let him even try to attack me or my friends. I'd tear him to pieces. No one can beat ME!"

When they had arrived in theforest and had found nothing there, not even a sign of a demon, they had dismissed her story as a mere legend. Now... Inu-yasha wasn't so sure. What if that demon had attacked his friends while he was exploring? He rushed back tto their camp as quickly as he could.

"Kagome! Miroku! Sango! Are you guys alright!"

"Yawn!" Sango roused herself from where she had been sleeping under a tree. "What is it Inu-yasha? I was finally getting some sleep."

"Yes. You are very attractive while you sleep Sango...Ouch!" Miroku, being his usual perverted self, had finished his compliment by feeling her butt and had received a fierce slap to his face. He now sported a bright red hand print on his face.

Shippo, the young fox demon, emerged from behind a tree. "Sheesh Miroku, you asked for that one. For once, could you guys try to get along?" Turning to Inu-yasha, he rolled his eyes. "We're all fine Inu-yasha. I was the only one that heard you. Sango was sleeping, and Miroku was too busy watching her to hear anything."

"Ouch!" Miroku received another slap.

"Any way Inu-yasha," Shippo said, "why are you so worried about us?"

"Well, i heard a scream and I thought..." Suddenly, Inu-yasha stopped mid-sentence. He looked frantically around the camp. "Where's Kagome!"

"Isn't she hear?" asked Sango, beginning to get worried.

"She has to be! I saw her before!" said Miroku, getting up and looking worriedly around the camp.

"That scream..." said Inu-yasha. "What if...Kagome...? We have to find her! She could be in trouble! The scream came from that direction." he said, pointing to where he had heard it.

"Come on!" said Sango, getting her weapon and jumping on Kirara, "Let's go!"

Miroku picked up his staff and put Shippo on his back. "Yes. Inu-yasha let's look for her. We'll help you find her!"

Inu-yasha and his friends ran off to search the forest for Kagome. Inu-yasha had only one frantic thought in his head. "Oh please let Kagome be alright until we find her! Whoever took her is going to PAY!"