Chapter 3: Kidnapped

Sango and Miroku flew over the treetops on Kirara, tracking the strong demonic aura they had sensed not too long ago. They had come to a silent agreement that this energy was too powerful to be anyone but Naraku. "I hope Inuyasha and Kagome are ok," Sango said, her voice thick with worry. I've already lost my brother to Naraku... You're the closest thing I have to family now. I can't lose you too, Kagome. Sango thought to herself.

Miroku put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Sango. Inuyasha can take care of Kagome and Shippo. They're going to be fine." Sango sighed and hoped that he was right. She wouldn't be able to move on if Naraku killed Kagome, or Inuyasha for that matter.

"Over there!" Miroku pointed to an opening in the trees, where they could see Inuyasha and Shippo racing through the forest. But where's Kagome? Sango thought, immediately assuming the worst. She guided Kirara down to the pair, swooping in beside them.

"Sango! Miroku!" Shippo exclaimed, jumping onto Sango's shoulder.

"Shippo, where's Kagome? Is she ok?" Sango asked, looking over at the little kitsune perched on her shoulder. Shippo flicked his tail nervously and his ears flattened.

"For now, I think. Let's just hope she can hold him off until we get there." Inuyasha growled. He didn't even need to say the name, they all knew who he was talking about. Naraku. Sango's eyes widened a bit, but she quickly wiped the fear off of her face as too not scare Shippo.

"Don't worry, Shippo. We'll find her. She's more than capable of fighting off Naraku for a while." Miroku said reassuringly, more for Sango than Shippo. She smiled at him appreciatively and followed Inuyasha through the forest. Hang in there, Kagome. We're coming.

...

"What do you want, Naraku?" Kagome asked, eyes burning with contempt. He had caught one of her arrows? Naraku just chuckled, as if the reason were completely obvious.

"Oh, Kagome. You know exactly why I'm here." Naraku replied with a devilish smirk. Kagome simply knocked another arrow and aimed it at his heart.

"You can't have my jewel shards, Naraku. I won't let you take them." Kagome hissed. She just had to hold him off a bit longer, until Inuyasha and Shippo came back. Unless Inuyasha decided to go with Kikyo. She shook her head slightly and straightened her bow.

"I'm not here for the shards. Those are just a perk. I want you." Naraku laughed as he watched Kagome cringe. In other words, he wants my purification powers. "Besides... just taking the shards wouldn't be any fun. I'd rather watch you suffer a bit before I kill you." Suddenly, vines erupted from Naraku's back, spiraling towards Kagome. They wrapped around Kagome's arms and legs, slamming her forcefully into a tree.

She groaned as her back made impact with the rough bark. The vines squeezed her even tighter, and every time she purified them, more took their place.

"Momma!" She heard Shippo yell from the bushes. her friends all burst out of the trees, only to find a barrier separating them from Kagome. "Let my mother go!" Shippo yelled, his voice wavering a bit. Naraku looked over at the little kit, and instantly more branches shot out from him, extending toward the fox.

"Shippo!" Kagome screamed as the vines shot toward her adopted son. She closed her eyes, and pinkish-white light blossomed around her, creating her own kind of barrier. The light condensed in an instant, and when she opened her deep, brown eyes, the light blasted towards Naraku. When the blinding light had disappeared, all that was left was a panting Kagome, and a very angry spider demon.

"You'll pay for that, little miko." Naraku snarled. Kagome stood back and weakly knocked another arrow. Naraku laughed at her persistence and a dark purple miasma wrapped around him. Kagome fired her arrow, but the miasma knocked it out of the air. Purple strands of energy shot out at the miko, wrapping themselves around her. Inuyasha could see a faint pink light pulsing inside it, but Kagome was too weak to hold it off for long.

"Kagome!" Sango yelled, running toward her friend, only to be blasted back by the barrier. Inuyasha took out Tetsaiga and watched it blaze red. His friends watched as her swung the sword, breaking through the barrier and clearing the miasma. By the time it was swept away, Kagome was already limp on the ground.

"Naraku, what do you want with her?" Inuyasha yelled defiantly. Naraku's vines wrapped around Kagome and dropped her in Naraku's arms, limp as a doll. Inuyasha and his friends starting chopping through the vines that had held them off and watched as Naraku floated into the air with Kagome.

"All I want is for her to realize her full potential." Naraku said with a smirk. What is that supposed to mean? Inuyasha thought, a look of confusion spreading across his face. He barely had time to yell Kagome's name before Naraku disappeared, bringing Kagome along with him. Don't worry Kagome. I will find you.