Disclaimer: Do not own this but I own the story.

Chapter 9

Kagome's new Encounter

As Kagome and Inuyasha arrive back to the camp, Kagome could pick up the scents of her friends and soon could hear the sounds of they're chatter.

When they came into view, the chatter ceased and Sango immediately jumps up from her seat and runs over to Kagome, taking her into her arms. Tears were running down her cheeks as she began to speak.

"I was worried sick about you. Are you alright?"

Kagome squeezed Sango to her, a small smile gracing her lips. "Yeah, I'm okay Sango. I didn't mean to worry everyone."

Sango pulled back with a frown on her face. "Kagome, don't apologize for something that isn't your fault. We were all becoming worried when didn't see you with Inuyasha. When he said that you were supposed to go home that's when we knew someone took you. We would have seen you if you had gone towards the well seeing as we were at Kaede's."

"Keh, stop blubbering Sango. Kagome's back and safe. Give her some room already." Inuyasha cut in as he started to lightly push Kagome towards her big yellow bag on the other side of the fire.

Sitting her down, Kagome watched as Inuyasha rummaged around to pull out some disinfectant and bandages to help to clean the cuts. He knew that she was a demon now, but doing this would help him feel better and calm his nerves from being so agitated.

"Keh, be quiet. Let me take care of these cuts on your arms, Kagome. Then you can go to sleep. I won't bother you anymore once I'm done." He said beginning to clean the said cuts.

Feeling nothing, Kagome watched Inuyasha as he did what he wanted then smiled gently. Once he was done she found herself leaning in and brushing her lips softly across his cheek getting a blush to form on his face.

Inuyasha raised a hand to cover the kiss he could still feel and studdered as he asked. "Wha- what was that for, Kagome?"

Trying to appear nonchalant, Kagome shrugged. "For being you Inuyasha. It's not wrong is it?"

He shook his head but he couldn't form words to answer her. Instead, he stood and jumped up onto a tree branch to float around in his thoughts leaving the others to ready themselves for bed.

Sango and the others were shocked from watching the exchange between Kagome and Inuyasha. She vowed to ask what happened between them later in the morning.


Shin was shaking with rage at letting Kagome escape. He let his guard down and assumed she was much too weak and young to be able to handle him. How arrogant he was. Now, though, he knew to never underestimate her. Angered and ready to find his one-way ticket to revenge, Shin ordered for one of his demons, Hisa to search for Naraku. There was no use for wasting time.

Naraku appeared right behind in just a few moments. "You called?"

Shin couldn't stand Naraku. His cocky attitude only made him all the more annoying. "Kagome escaped. Have some of your demons track her location. I assume you know where she would have gone? Or at least have an idea?"

Naraku replied enthusiastically. "Why yes, I do. Only it won't be that easy to get her away from the people she's with now."

Shin turned to him with a glare. "Get to the point."

"She's mostly likely with her friends, Inuyasha and his group. They have become friends over the last three years and haven't been apart since they've gathered to defeat me. If she's with them than chances are they know about you as well."

Shin mentally cursed himself. He didn't want anyone to know of him just yet. Now that Kagome has escaped that wish was blown out of the water. The only thing he had left was to form up a plan and get her back before her defenses were too high to break through.

Shin knew that from predictions he's come across over the past three hundred years. If he didn't get to her and convert her soon, then she will become the end of him and all he's worked hard for. She will become too powerful even for him to defeat and take the panther demon throne. Shin wouldn't allow that to happen. He had to get rid of her and that betraying bastard of a father of hers.

Once he's done with those two, he could have the woman of his dreams all to himself. Tamafune. Kagome had no idea of who her real mother was which was fine for him right now. Shin wants to make sure he used all of his strength to manipulate her mind.

It would make Shin's day to watch the faces of Yoshiro and Tamafune's as their daughter looked at them with such hate and disgust in her eyes. It will kill them along with her sword that he will provide for her. Once he was done with Kagome and she's served her purpose, Shin was going to kill her and the royal panther line will be no more short of one. Shin couldn't get rid of Tamafune. He still loved her too much.

"I don't care how many people we have to kill. Anyone who is foolish enough to come against me will die. It's that simple. I want Kagome brought back to me." He leaned towards Naraku with the fire of death burning from his fingertips the obvious threat laying bare. "If you fail, your puppets won't be there to save you."

He walked off with Naraku staring after him. As Shin disappeared from view, Naraku chuckled to himself. "Little do you know Shin that I have my own plans for Kagome. I won't be handing her over so easily." Than he too disappeared to search for Kagome with his own plans in motion.


Kagome woke to the smell of something foreign yet familiar to her. She couldn't place where she knew the scent but felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and warmth from him. Noticing everyone still asleep. Kagome stands and follows the scent. Little did she know that Inuyasha was not far behind her.

He will have to talk to her about checking her surroundings later. Right now, he had to track where she was going.

As they traveled deeper into the forest, Inuyasha saw Kagome stop short and seen a woman and Yoshiro standing in front of her. He relaxed a bit at the sight of Yoshiro but not completely. He may be her father as so he says but Inuyasha didn't trust him.

He listened in as he heard Kagome speak. "Yoshiro. What are you doing here? Why did you call me?"

Yoshiro smiled gently as he held the hand of the woman next to him. "I brought someone who has been eager to meet you since I told her of your awakening."

Kagome brought her eyes to the woman and felt a twinge in her chest at the sight of her. "I feel as though I know you." She whispered.

The woman smiled with tears in her eyes. "It doesn't surprise me that you don't remember me. Doesn't mean I'm not hurting over it."

Confused, Kagome looked at her father. "This is your mother, Tamafune."

Realization dawned on Kagome's face and she blushed. "I'm sorry." She felt as though she had to apologize for not remembering her mother.

Tamafune shook her head. "Don't apologize dear. I knew that this was to happen when I let you go. I'm not mad."

Kagome still felt bad about it. Still she's somewhat happy about finally meeting her real mother.

"Still. I'm sorry." She said then looked back to her father. She prepared to tell her father what she's been through so far.

"Yoshiro. I was kidnapped by someone you know. Shin knows that I'm awakened into my powers."

Yoshiro cursed and Tamafune gasped raising her hand covering her mouth. "Are you sure?"

Kagome nodded and Yoshiro paced away.

Shaking his head, Yoshiro growled out as he punched the tree. "He knows. Dammit, he knows. I thought we had more time."

Tamafune went over to comfort her husband. "We still do, Yoshiro. Kagome got away and now we have the time we need to defeat him."

Yoshiro knew she was right. Turning to Kagome he sighed. "She's right. As always." He offered her a smile. "Either way, we need to form up a plan and get rid of Shin. There's no more time for him to destroy my family."

That's when Inuyasha stepped out of the shadows. "If you think I'm going to allow you to put her in any danger than you mistaken."

Yoshiro smirked at him. "I was wondering when you'd show yourself. I know that you won't allow your mate to be put in danger. I'm not careless about my daughter safety.

"Keh. Could have fooled me the way your going on." He turned to Kagome. "I thought I told you not to wonder off again. Didn't last time teach you anything?"

Kagome bit on her bottom lip as she heard his words. It was stupid of her to wonder off alone after last time but the scent of her parent's called out to her in a way she couldn't ignore.

"Your right. I'm sorry. What are you doing here anyway, Inuyasha?" She asked.

Inuyasha humphed. "What do you think? I'm here to make sure you don't get into anymore trouble. Your a magnet for that." Turning back to Yoshiro who was trying hard not to laugh he directed his words to him. "What do you suggest we do to kill this guy. I don't want him coming after Kagome any longer than I like."

"Yes, your correct. I feel the same. Shin now knows that she's full demon but has yet to awaken to all of her powers yet. He may already be setting up a way to turn her to his side. We have to move quickly. Kagome has to train any awaken more of her abilities before she can even think of going up against Shin again. This time she was luck because he underestimated her. It won't be so easy next time."

Kagome shuddered at the thought of seeing the man again. She just wants this whole thing to be over so things can go back to normal. "Who should train me?"

"I will." Inuyasha said. Yoshiro cut in.

"You may help Inuyasha but she will need to learn from others who are like her. From other panther demons. She'll have to come home and meet her clan after all this time. it's time she met them again."

The thought of meeting her clan and people from her past both frightened and excited her. To know she has a large family here in the feudal era helped to fill some of the emptiness she's been feeling since becoming a full demon. Having Inuyasha around was only icing on the cake.

"When do we leave?" She asked in excitment and Inuyasha snorted.

Yoshiro smiled at her happiness as he put his arm around Tamafune. "As soon as possible."