**Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha by any shape or form.

Chapter 10

"This looks like a nice place to rest for the night." Inuyasha said scanning the area.

"We're sleeping in the forest? Kagome felt a moment of panic. She was not fond of Inuyasha's idea of sleeping outside with nothing but trees surrounding her.

"It's already past sundown. We've walked further than I intended to for today. You forget you're in my kingdom now."

"What if someone discovers our position?" Kagome questioned with unease.

"We are in a very dangerous area of my kingdom. This is a forest filled with exiled and low-life demons. You wouldn't even catch my father in this part of my kingdom."

"Then why are we spending the night here!" Kagome shreiked.

"Technically it's the only safe place for us to rest. Neither yours nor my military will come looking here. Plus it's the only way to go through in order to get where we are going."

"Why can't we keep walking? I'm sure there's an abandoned hut or something if we kept walking." Kagome's voice shook thus revealing how scared she really was.

"A demon would thoroughly enjoy getting their hands on you even if they knew you were the princess of the Higurashi Kingdom. Demons tend to be less merciful than humans." Inuyasha spoke.

"Demons!" Kagome panicked.

"I'll protect you. As long as you're with me, I kill any demon who tries to pull a strand of hair from your head."

Kagome's eyebrows shot up in surprise and stunned into silence. She began to blush a dark shade of red. The word 'protect' continued to ring through her head. Kagome turned away from Inuyasha to hide her state of flattery. She held her heart and felt it pace. It was beating faster than normal.

Inuyasha chuckled to himself at Kagome's attempt to screen herself from him.

'Why do I feel this way?' Kagome thought to herself.

"I want you to stay here and start building camp. I'm going to go find us something to eat. I won't be long and I won't be far. Don't try to get yourself killed when I'm gone." Inuyasha made sure he made himself clear.

Kagome nodded her head in understanding. She knew Inuyasha was not only giving her directions but also warning her.

Inuyasha ran off into the trees and alas Kagome was alone. Kagome walked to a nearby tree and sat against it. She decided this was a perfect opportunity to write in her diary, She wrote:

A cool half-moon night

It's been five days from my departure from my kingdom. We crossed the border and now walk the lands of the Taisho Kingdom. Prince Inuyasha says that we are only a day away from our destination. He has yet to tell me where we are going as if it is a secret. It does not matter to me were I'm going as long as I am with him.

Lately, I've been thinking more and more about Inuyasha. He still remains to be a stranger to me, but I know there is something that attracts me to him. It could be his eyes, his strength, his touch, his smile, his heart. No man has ever protected me as he does. Every day we grow closer to one another. Whatever it is it draws me deep and does not want to let me go. Could I be falling for this stranger? I know one thing to be true. Because of my feelings for him, I have become woman.

My mind speaks,

Kagome Higurashi, a confused woman

Kagome closed her diary and held it to her heart. She closed her eyes and laid her head back. 'What am I going to do?' She thought to herself.

Kagome heard a rustle in the tress. Her eyes shot open instantly concentrating on what was in her presence. Her first thought was that it was probably Inuyasha returning from his hunt.

"Is someone there?" Kagome asked cautiously. She warily looked around. Kagome focused her search in one direction. She narrowed her eyes and stood slowly. "Inuyasha, is that you?" Kagome spoke again. Another rustle in the trees sent her into a fighting stance. Kagome's eyes widened as she sensed something moving and moving FAST.

'A demonic aura!'

Kagome's eyes shot open wide as she now could see the surrounding atmosphere thicken. Lord Kane taught her in her studies what a demonic aura was, and that only those with demonic blood or the gift of the divine could see auras unless one is trained to see them. Kagome rarely ventured outside of the castle walls, so she had never witnessed a demonic aura with her own eyes.

"Show yourself!" Kagome commanded.

"Foolish human," something hissed from the trees. A long snake demon sprang from the treetops and landed a few feet from Kagome. I extended its body so that it very much over towered Kagome.

With a loss of words, Kagome tightened her muscles in fear. Her body completely froze as she looked up horrified at the demon.

"It's been a long time since a woman had come wandering through my territory. You're special my dear because I sense that you are carrying the other half of the Sacred Jewel. I Moriko will gladly devour you and take the jewel!"

The snake demon coiled itself in preparation for him to strike. Kagome screamed and attempted to run, but the snake demon was too fast. He struck Kagome, sinking his large fangs into her side. Kagome fell to the ground numb. Kagome grasped the side the demon bit and then looked at her hand covered in blood. Kagome fought hard to try and move but her body would not give in to her demands.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome choked on his name. "Help me!"

The snake demon chuckled at Kagome's weakness. "So you rely on the protection of another? You'll die of blood loss before anyone comes to rescue you."

"I don't think so! KAZE NO KIZU!" Inuyasha yelled.

The snake demon brought forth a barrier thus reflecting Inuyasha's attack.

"Do not interfere half demon. Your sword cannot possibly cut through my barrier." The snake demon hissed.

"You'd better watch who you are talking to! I am Prince Inuyasha and this woman is under my protection. Your attempt of killing her is a direct attack at me. Therefore, you shall die!" Inuyasha growled. Inuyasha briefly looked back at Kagome. Her body twitched. She fought herself from sliiping into unconsciousness.

"It is a pleasure to be in your presence your majesty, but unfortunately you are on my territory and I am starving. At this moment I could care less of who you are. I shall devour the both of you!" The snake demon lunged at Inuyasha with all his force.

"KONGOSOA!"

Adamants launched at the snake demon piercing through the demons barrier. The demon screamed in agonizing pain as its body fell to ground. The demon choked on his blood as it lay on the forest ground slowly dying.

"Curse you half demon…"The snake demon could barely say before slipping into death.

Inuyasha sheathed his sword and immediately ran to Kagome who was barely moving.

"Kagome, are you all right?" Inuyasha asked with regret.

Kagome cupped Inuyasha's cheek but could barely raise her hand in the process. "You came for me?" Kagome smiled slightly.

"It's better if you don't speak. You're using too much of your energy." Inuyasha spoke softly. The smell of Kagome's blood filled his nostrils and made him feel uneasy. "I need to get you to a healer. You've lost too much blood!" Inuyasha carefully picked up Kagome bridal style and dashed into the forest.

Inuyasha looked down at Kagome as he ran. Her eyes were completely closed. Blood began to soak into his clothes. Inuyasha shook Kagome gently. She moaned in pain.

"Kagome, don't you fucking die on me!" Inuyasha yelled.

Queen Akina stood on her balcony staring out into the night that fell upon her courtyard. In the distance, she could hear soldiers busily organizing squadrons. She had ordered every soldier in the kingdom to search around the clock until Princess Kagome was found.

Everything was being done to ensure the safety of her kingdom and her people. Still, she remained uneasy and vulnerable. Queen Akina was disgusted at herself for feeling this way.

Queen Akina previously spoke with Lord Kane about the whereabouts of her daughter. His report though was not favorable. There seemed to be no evidence of which direction Kagome and Inuyasha traveled after they escaped.

The queen grieved.

Kagome.

She questioned her ability to rule. She questioned her ability to create order. She questioned her ability to be a mother. Was it ethical for her to marry her daughter to the prince of the Taisho Kingdom? She could not answer the question for she did not know the answer. Queen Akina wanted nothing more than her daughter to come back home. Even if she begged she felt her efforts would be useless. It would be impossible to get Kagome to return. She knew her daughter all too well.

Her leadership was needed more now than ever. Foreign enemies would see this period as weakness. With Kagome not present to marry Sesshoumaru there was no guarantee of a secure future for the two kingdoms.

"You requested us your majesty?" A man's voice asked.

Queen Akina sighed and turned from her courtyard.

"Hai, you two know my daughter and Prince Inuyasha far better than I. So I have a request to ask of you as your queen but also as a mother who just wants her daughter to come home." Queen Akina said with a sense of suffering in her voice.

"Anything for you my queen. You have given me shelter when I had none." Sango answered.

"Hai, as you have bestowed ambassadorship for I your majesty." Miroku added on to what Sango had said.

"Then, I must order you to retrieve my daughter and InuTaisho's son," the queen voice faltered as she spoke.

Inuyasha could see the village in the distance through the opening of the trees. It was far past midnight and the village was silent, a little too silent.

"I need some help! I have an injured woman!" Inuyasha yelled hoping that a villager would hear him, but there was no response.

Inuyasha continued to sprint towards the village. He looked down at Kagome who wasn't making a sound or movement. He feared that death had already overcome her.

Inuyasha snapped his head up. The sound of dozens of horses beating a path toward them thundered into his ears. The sound of their hooves grew louder as they approached and then faded.

"They've stopped." Inuyasha spoke to himself.

Inuyasha leapt into a clearing were he spotted the hundreds of men and horses.

"A DEMON!" One man yelled and fired his arrows directly at Inuyasha. Inuyasha dogged them and jumped into a tree for protection.

"I mean no harm! I have an injured woman who seeks medical attention! I ask for your aid!" Inuyasha yelled. Inuyasha started to move from his hiding spot. The sound of shuffling and men dismounting their horses caused him to peek around the tree. Dozens of arrows were then fired at him. Inuyasha snapped back to prevent himself from being struck.

"Cease fire!" A woman yelled and then continued. "What business does ye have here demon. I am the priestess of this here village. Ye shall take your matters with me."

"My name is Prince Inuyasha Taisho. I have a woman with me who was attacked by a snake demon and is critically injured. I ask for your help." Inuyasha responded uncovering himself from his hiding spot. Inuyasha jumped into the clearing to reveal himself.

'A royal?' The woman thought to herself.

Inuyasha was surprised to see that the woman was very aged indeed.

"My name is Kaede." The priestess said. She then looked at Kagome to examine her state. "I shall recover the girl, but ye cannot come into this village. This is a village a human village where demons are not allowed. Ye may stay in the forest if that is your wishes."

"I'm not leaving her!" Inuyasha protested.

"Inuyasha…I'll…be…fine," Kagome struggled to say. Kagome started to shiver. Inuyasha knew her pain was worsening.

Inuyasha looked down at her with worry. "I guess I don't have a choice."

"She will be in safe hands." Kaede motioned for two men to retrieve Kagome. Inuyasha growled at the men as they lifted Kagome from his arms.

"You assholes better be fucking careful." Inuyasha snapped at the men as they mounted her onto a horse.

"Do you think the queen knows?" Miroku asked. He shuffled through his sack of belonging checking to make sure he had everything he needed for their journey.

"Knows what?" Sango said not to far from him.

"Thank we know where Prince Inuyasha and Princess Kagome are." Miroku went on.

"Hai, I think so. She wouldn't have sent us on a mission if we didn't."

"I shall go retrieve a horse now and she shall begin to undergo our travels." Miroku said slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"That won't be necessary."

Miroku turned to face Sango. Before he could ask why he was taken off guard by Sango's appearance. Sango wore a black and red demon slayer's outfit that hugged every curve on her body. Sango blushed as Miroku gawked at her with wide eyes.

"What?" Sango said with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance in her voice.

"It's nothing! It's just… I haven't seen you wear that in years." Miroku said snapping back into reality. There was silence between the two of them until Miroku remembered what he had to ask Sango in the first place.

"Why is it not necessary to obtain a horse? How else are we going to get around?" Miroku asked.

"Kirara!" Sango yelled.

A small two tailed cat ran outside and sat besides Sango's feet. It purred as it rubbed itself against Sango's leg.

"A cat?" Miroku raised his eyebrow and looked at Sango as if she had multiple heads.

Sango giggled. She looked down at the cat and then nodded. The cat burst into flames and grew larger as it transformed into a viscous large cat.

The large cat roared and bared it large fangs. Miroku jumped back in fear.

"A cat demon! How long have you had this, this thing?" Miroku yelped.

"Her name is Kirara," Sango corrected. "I've had her since I was little. The King Kanaye gave her to me before he died. I trained with her when I was young. She is an excellent fighter and companion."

Miroku panicked as Kirara approached him. Kirara sniffed him. Miroku froze not knowing what the cat demon was doing. Kirara stuck out her tongue and licked Miroku. Sango giggled as Miroku expressed his disgust.

"She likes you." Sango continued to giggle. Sango extended her hand to help Miroku up. Miroku took it eagerly. He brushed himself off as he stood.

"So how exactly does having a cat demon take advantage over using a horse?" Miroku asked.

Sango mounted herself onto Kirara's back. "For one thing, she fly's."

"She what?"

Kirara feet began to lift of the ground taking to the air. Sango grabbed the collar of Miiroku's kimono lifting him into the air with her. "Come on," Sango ordered.

"Wait Sango!" Miroku yelled. "PUT ME DOWN!"

"Stop being such a baby and get over yourself!" Sango chuckled.

A/N: I know it's a short chapter. I promise it going to get better. Sorry it took so long for me to update I had to finish up high school. Now that I've graduated, I have more time on my hands and new ideas for the story. Comment please.