Betrayed.

Kidnapped

Chapter 10

Sorry for the delay. Christmas season was upon me and I was stuck I tell you s.t.u.c.k, but now I'm back hope you enjoy.

She is up and about as if the past few days didn't actually happen, that she didn't almost die, almost. Nor does she care that her face looks as white as the pages on those books that she uses. Acting like its not that big a deal that she now has soul collectors with her. No not Kagome, she'll rather walk with Kouga, behind me I can hear her laughing. She hasn't laughed with me like that in ages; I'm never going to hear that deep soulful laugh that is sometimes so contagious. Now Miroku and Sango are laughing too. What's so damn funny anyway? I want to find out but I'd rather not, don't want them to know how much she affects me, how much she's beginning to act like Kikyou, cold and inaccessible. They're still laughing………..

"Could you all shut the hell up!" Inuyasha yelled. He turned and glared at them, they laughed harder. Inuyasha raised his hands in frustration, "ARRRRRR!" and stomped off towards the impenetrable looking forest.

"What the matter with him?" Sango managed to ask in between giggles.

"Who cares? The mutt was grumpy since we left the village." Kouga laughed.

Shippo jumped upon Kagome's shoulder. "Maybe he doesn't like the fact that Kagome can look after herself now, and won't need his help anymore."

Miroku just shook his head. "I highly doubt that that is the problem Shippo. Inuyasha seems more mad at himself than at us."

Kagome just looked towards the direction that Inuyasha disappeared, and sighed. Inuyasha, you sense it too, don't you? The change that is consuming me, I'm slowly losing my soul. With every soul that enters my body, a portion of my own spirit dissipates. But I can't kill Kikyou until I know that you…that you're feeling towards her have finally ended. That when her soul, my soul, is returned to its rightful place. I have to know if you'll understand, or will you hate me forever. Despise me, and ridicule me for killing the love of your life.

With a sob, Kagome turned from the group and ran in the opposite direction.

It was Miroku who then asked. "What was that?'

"Kagome!" Kouga yelled, and started after her, but a feminine hand held him back.

"Let her go Kouga," Sango pleaded.

So they prepared the camp, lit the fire and collected food. It was a clear night, with the moon in full bloom, and stars scattered across the sky. It was a night for romance, love and togetherness, but instead there was heartache, loneliness, and jealousy. Neither Inuyasha nor Kagome returned. Kouga was in a corner checking his bandages; Shippo was busy stuffing his face with the instant noodles that Kagome brought. Miroku and Sango were cuddled together, surprisingly Sango didn't protest when Miroku got a little to close. Kohaku on the other hand was playing with Kirara.

All the while Kagome was sitting on the edge of the river bank, with her head between her knees. Her shoulders shaking unbearably, Kagome wept. She was so deep in her sorrows that she did not hear his approach, at least not until it was too late.

He grabbed her from behind, held her by the neck. Kagome struggled, with the fear overwhelming her she didn't remember her training, and yelled out instinctively.

"INUYASHA!"

Suddenly the man swung her around, and all she could see was those piercing blue eyes that seemed to reach down to her very being. Then he punched her, blood splattered from her mouth. Her head began to spin but she was conscious enough to realize that he jumped into the water holding her in his very strong arms. There was a bright light and then she welcomed the darkness that loomed over her.

When Inuyasha reached there, all he saw was Kagome's head below the water, he ran after the sinking figure, then a blinding light surrounded him and he stumbled. When he next opened his eyes, Kagome had disappeared.

"Kagome! KAGOME! KAGOME!" Inuyasha yelled. There was no reply.

Inuyasha sniffed around, he smelt Kagome,and another scent that was so poignant that he jumped back. He knew that smell, like he knew his own name, but it couldn't be. He was dead, for a while now, unless he somehow found a way from the grave… but that was impossible, or was it.

Inuyasha was enraged. He felt his blood pounding in his head, because not only did he smell Kagome's sweet scent, he smelt her blood.

By the time Inuyasha reached camp, his eyes were red; his fangs looked sharp enough to bite through the toughest skin, his nails were lethal enough to tear through the strongest barrier.

Miroku saw him coming and gasped.

"Inuyasha what has happened to you?"

Sango turned. "Oh no."

Shippo yelped and hid under Kagome's bag, shuddering.

Kouga just growled. "What the hell is this all about mutt face? What did you do to my woma…?"

Kouga never got to finish his question; he was grabbed by the throat, and slammed against a tree. With Inuyasha's claws digging into his neck.

"Your woman?" Inuyasha's voice was a throaty purr, coming off more like a growl. "I don't think so wolf boy Kagome is mine." Then he dropped Kouga on the floor grasping for air.

Miroku came towards him cautiously. "Inuyasha what's wrong?"

"Where is Kagome?" Sango asked.

Their questions went unanswered.

Suddenly Inuyasha picked up His scent and began to follow it, all the while holding Kagome's bag. The group just followed.

The sun was high in the sky when Sango suggested that someone ask Inuyasha again where Kagome was.

"Maybe you should do it Sango." Shippo said.

"No, I asked the last time, he seemed exasperated about me asking him again for the 15th time." Sango replied.

"I'll ask him then." said Kohaku, who was silent most of the time.

"No, the last time you asked Inuyasha almost pounced on you. What about Kouga?" suggested Miroku.

"That's not wise either. It seems that Inuyasha doesn't even want him here, do you think that he will allow Kouga to ask about Kagome. Get real Miroku." Sango sneered.

They thought in silence for a while until Sango came up with a solution.

"Miroku you could do it. When you ask, he normally ignores you, but you can still ask don't you think?"

Miroku paused. "Me?"

"Yeah, you monk. You and Inuyasha have this kinda bond thing going on there so you should ask him." Kouga said, putting in his two pence.

"I don't know why I'm allowing you guys to talk me into this." mumbled Miroku.

Sango just smiled. "Oh no Miroku, you are volunteering to do this."

"I'm volunteering?" he mimicked.

"Yes you're volunteering. I'm going to tell you why." Sango hugged herself up to Miroku and whispered in his ear. Even that perverted monk blushed to the roots of his hair on his head.

His mood changed drastically.

"Alright then. I'm volunteering to go ask Inuyasha until I get some answers" Miroku said. Then he marched off towards Inuyasha.

Everyone was looking at her expectantly.

"What?" she asked.

Shippo asked, "What did you just tell Miroku?"

Sango just smiled, and replied. "Oh nothing much. I just used a bit of feminine wiles."

Kouga laughed.

Shippo and Kohaku looked at each other then at the two laughing.

"That will definitely work on the monk." Kouga said laughing

Miroku was now quite a distance away, trying his best to catch up with Inuyasha quickly enough to ask him, before he sprinted away again.

"Inuyasha where is Kagome? You can't just expect us to follow you, and not ask where our friend really is."

Inuyasha ignored him.

"We love her too Inuyasha. You are not the only one hurt by her disappearance." Sango shouted.

That made him stumble, then he kept on going, a little faster this time. Suddenly he stopped and turned to face them.

Nothing in his features had changed over the last 12 hours.

"Finally. Do you know how hard it is to keep up with you at this rate?" Sango grumbled when they reached Inuyasha and Miroku.

"So what happened?" asked Miroku.

Inuyasha looked at them then growled. "Bankotsu took her, and when I get him, I'll rip his heart out for hurting my woman.

Then he was off again, everyone was stunned but didn't have time, Inuyasha was once more quite a distance ahead.