Pairing : Miroku/Inuyasha

Rating : PG-13

Warnings : contains a mention of rape, some blood, disfigurationm angst

Summary : Inuyasha is unlucky enough to accidentally cross paths with Naraku while alone, Naraku beats him near to death and rapes him. Will Miroko be able to pick up the pieces of Inuyasha's shattered heart and make him whole?

This chappie : The group finds Inuyasha and Miroku rushes with him to take him to Kaede's.

A/N : Originally written in Dec.2006, edited in Sept.2007

Chapter Two

The group of Shard collectors approached the area careful and alert. The lack of trees alone was a very bad sign. They had left after Inuyasha when he had not come back when promised. He had said he was going to scan the area and return when he could, and they had waited for a long time. But worry for their friend made them go after him in the end.

Fidgety and worried they had tracked Inuyasha down.

None of them were prepared for what they finally saw. A large area of the forest had been completely wiped out. The dead limbs of trees lay scattered everywhere. Branches laying on the ground, half molten. There was no undergrowth to speak of anymore, all had been burnt.

"Naraku.." Miroku whispered, the half demons shoki was definitely responsible for this. The monk hastened his pace, keeping his staff in front of him, ready to strike. Behind him Sango stood alert, her hiraikotsu at the ready. Kagome was even more behind, clutching Shippo to her chest, Kirara by her side.

In the centre of what had once been a clearing, lay a barely clothed figure.

Breath caught in Miroku's chest as he saw the lone figure lying on the ground and he threw away all precaution and ran to the fallen hanyo. The girls were steps behind him. After his first glance, he halted them."Don't, don't come any closer.."

He dropped to his knees to the ground, devastated. He heard a horrified gasp behind him indicating that the others had also seen what he saw all too clearly, disgusted but unable to avert his gaze.

Inuyasha was splayed on his back, naked, his body full of deep gashes and lacerations. His face was a mess, and it was evident that his eyes were severely damaged. The monk frantically searched something to cover Inuyasha's naked form with and spied a torn piece originally from his hakama not far off. He retrieved it and wrapped it to cover the hanyo.

From the corner of his eye he'd seen that the demon exterminator was both restraining and comforting the distraught miko. Shippou seemed shocked, but seemed not to have grasped the full horror of what had befallen Inuyasha.

Miroku knelt to pick up Inuyasha's seemingly lifeless form and stood up. The hanyo didn't even stir, nor moan. It made Miroku's heart grow cold. He was too still. But he could feel a low heartbeat on the hanyou's jugular.

He turned to the others and spoke. "We need to get him to Kaede's, he's barely alive.."

Sango helped him to Kirara's back and Miroku held Inuyasha close to him. He turned to them before taking off. "Keep safe and be careful!"

Sango nodded, Kagome still crying against her shoulder. They weren't that far from the village and Naraku was known to vanish after he had done his evil, but it was better to be that extra careful.

After what had happened to Inuyasha.

Miroku gently steadied his grip on the wounded hanyo and took off. As he went he prayed that Inuyasha would stay alive. A gentle smile adorned his face as he looked down at the hanyo's face.

He had loved him for so long.

He hoped he would not lose him before they had even had a chance to be together. He cursed

Naraku under his breath. Hadn't the hanyo already suffered enough in the past? But Naraku's doings were not driven by what was fair but by what amused him or was useful to him. It was clear Inuyasha had been left for dead.

Left for dead after he'd been beaten, crushed and violated.

Miroku soon arrived at the village and rushed into Kaede's hut.