Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or Naruto.

Thrown To a New World

Chapter 7: Report and Lies

"Sesshomaru?" A soft voice called.

"Hm?" The demon replied, looking up from the small fire that was in front of him.

"How do you think Nari and Daro are?" The woman asked. Sesshomaru could smell the tears in her eyes even though she refused to let them fall.

"Kagome, we have not been gone that long. They couldn't have gotten into any trouble. Miroku and Sango are capable of watching them and Takeshi as well as their own children. Didn't Miroku want more children anyway? Also, we will be back soon." Sesshomaru replied. He stood and crossed the small clearing quickly, enveloping Kagome in his strong arms. They were on their way to Konoha on a reconnaissance 'mission' for the Akatsuki. While there, they would meet with the Hokage and their friends and family.

"But, will they remember us? Or be mad at us for leaving?" Kagome replied. She rested her head on his chest and held back tears. Her arms went around his back and linked. His warmth and comfort made her feel better. But, Sesshomaru broke her grip, took a step away, and tipped her head up. The miko's eyes glittered from her unshed tears and Sesshomaru used a gentle hand to wipe away the tears.

"Listen to me. They will remember us. It's only been a month." The demon murmured as he leaned down to nuzzle her cheek. It was tough for the miko to be away from their children. Her time period allowed for the children to be around their parents more often than not. In Sesshomaru's time, the offspring were taken care of by nannies or teachers. They didn't see their parents except for perhaps at meals and at night. While all that was true, Sesshomaru had gotten used to having his children around him a lot and was also starting to feel the hole. Nari and Daro had brought laughter into his life and he found that he missed it.

The unlikely pair stood in the small clearing just holding each other. Soon though, they would need to rest for more travelling. The Akatsuki's stronghold had moved a few times in the month that that Sesshomaru and Kagome had lived there, all due to the "Troublesome Trio". They were now significantly farther away from Konoha than they ever planned on being and it was now a several day trip. They would return to their home late the next night, but it would be a lot of hiding on the way there. While the pair hadn't done what they claimed they had to get into the Akatsuki, to make the story more believable, all of Konoha believed that they had been exiled by the Hokage.

"Time to sleep now, Kagome." Sesshomaru said quietly. The woman said nothing as she laid down under a blanket rather dejectedly. The demon doused the fire and quickly slipped under the blanket. His right arm slithered over her hips as they settled in to sleep.

X x X

Branches whipped at the soft skin of a woman as she ran through the thick forest. Small, miniscule scratches began forming on her face as her face was hit repeatedly. She was panting heavily and slowly down, her reflexes becoming more and more sloppy. If the woman didn't stop soon, she would pass out from exhaustion, or trip over her long robes. But she couldn't stop. Not yet. Not now that she had escaped and broken the spell controlling her mind.

"Ohhh, Kikyoooo! Where have you gone, oh my pretty slave?" Came a distant sing-song voice from ahead of her. Brown eyes widened in surprise as the woman skidded to a halt. How had the hanyou found her so quickly? She had left her two captors fast asleep under a minor sleeping spell meant to help with healing. Kikyo looked around her as she tried to process what was going on. Naraku was in front of her, though she couldn't see him. But this time she knew he was there. She could fight back this time.

"Kikyo, don't try my patience. You will serve me, my little miko. You will bring down InuYasha and Sesshomaru, and all the other meddling kids. Then, we will head back to our world and you will be my servant as I rule the world." Naraku laughed through the trees, creating an eerie affect as his disembodied voice echoed all around the forest and frightened miko. But Kikyo gathered her courage and her hands started glowing a steady pink.

"Naraku, where are you hiding? Come out and fight!" Kikyo called loudly. She was glad to hear that there was no quiver in her voice as she called out. But another laugh, this time from behind her, startled her and made her pink light falter. Spinning around, the priestess put up a defensive stance only to be taken down when a tentacle from the position she had been facing just seconds before.

The tentacle slithered around her waist and squeezed. Kikyo shrieked and arched her back as the pain invaded her brain. The pressure released briefly before the woman felt heat near her feat. Looking down, fire engulfed her feet and a burning sensation replaced the squeezing one. But as quickly as it had come, it was gone. The fire hadn't left any burns on her clothing or skin. The only thing that told Kikyo that she had just been burned were her own memories and the lingering smoldering feeling in her feet.

Panting, the dark-haired woman laid on the ground, trying to ignore the tentacle around her waist. Sweat dripped down her brow as she tried to push the pain from her brain. It wasn't working. The tentacle continuously moved about her body and she couldn't ignore it. Why was she unable to get rid of this criminal. She had only nursed him when he was a poor, burned, and sickly human. She had been killed and resurrected and still couldn't get rid of him. At least when she was dead she hadn't had to deal with him.

"Just kill me. You've done it before after all." The miko said with short breaths. The half-demon was starting to squeeze her again.

"No can do, Madam. I have plans for you!" With a final laugh, Naraku caused Kikyo to pass out cold. "Come, Sanji. Time to put our plan into effect."

The red-headed demon came out of the shadowed trees with a nod and picked up the unconscious woman. Soon she would wake up alone.

X x X

"Mama! Papa!" Cried a little girl's voice as she ran to the two shapes emerging from the shadows. Her white dog ears, mostly hidden by her wavy white hair, twitched in excitement as her father scooped her up in a hug and her mother joined them. The eleven year-old girl had tears in her eyes but she was determined to hold them back. Her carefully filed hands rubbed at her golden eyes as her dad put her down to grab up her brother.

"Papa…" Was all the boy said as he closed his own golden eyes and buried his head in the man's shoulder.

"Oh, Daro." The woman said as she stroked the boys short black locks, tucking the longer strands behind the boy's slightly elongated and pointed ears. The girl was at her side, clinging to the woman's legs as another couple joined them, four other children behind them. In the shadows just beyond the six was an old man and a younger looking man, both crouching in a tree, waiting for the reunions to wrap up.

"Kagome! Sesshomaru! It's so good to see you two again! We're glad you're safe!" The women said, going up to the miko and hugging her tightly. Kagome couldn't help but notice that her friend's belly wasn't swollen anymore.

"Sango! You had the baby!" She exclaimed, a smile lighting her face. She had wanted to be back for the birth, but it must have gone well, or they would've been called back earlier from the Akatsuki. The other woman grinned and pointed to Miroku, who held the baby girl in his arms. The priestess practically ran to the man and held out her arms to hold the gurgling baby.

"Naomi, meet your Aunt Kagome." Miroku said proudly.

Kagome took the small baby girl in her arms and rocked her. The baby cooed and the priestess smiled gently. She cradled the baby close to her chest and closed her eyes. Soon, the dark-haired woman was humming a lullaby as everyone watched. The baby was asleep in moments and, hesitantly, Kagome handed the baby back to her father.

"Kagome. Sesshomaru. You can do the rest of your greetings later. Now is the time for you to report. The safety of the village is important." One of the voices from the tree said before leaping from the tree and coming to stand amongst the gathered group. It was Sarutobi: the third Hokage of the leaf village.

"Yes, Sir," Said Sesshomaru stepping forward with his boy in his arms. Daro was still cuddled in his arm with a thumb in his mouth but his eyes were looking curiously at Sarutobi. "The Akatsuki don't have any solid plans to steal Naruto, and the kyuubi within him, in the immediate future. It seems that they just want to gather information for the moment. They believe we are on a reconnaissance mission here."

"Yes. Yes, I see. I have to think about what my next step will be. You can stay for a while. I'll send someone with a meeting time and place in a few days. You relax with your family. It's good to have you back." Sarutobi said after a moment of silence. And just like that he was gone. Gone to ponder. Gone to sleep. No one really knew. But, now it was time to catch up with everyone.

"InuYasha, time to come out of that tree!" Kagome called, a smile gracing her lips. This was where she was meant to be; with her friends and family.