Okay, new chapter, thank you for the reviews, all the standard stuff. I just don't have anything to say here, not even a rant! Anyway, this chapter has been inspired by one of the many scenarios that I have been receiving over the past few weeks. Well, here it goes. Remember, your support and suggestions are always appreciated!

Chapter 10: Where are they?

Big was walking in an aimless direction, calling out for Froggy at the top of his voice. "Froggy, where are you?" he shouted.

He kept this up for some time. He felt his legs begin to tire. Sitting down for a second, he drew his lucky fishing pole. "Who could have done this? Froggy would never run away on his own. We're to good of friends for that."

Big sat, pondering this, when he heard something in the bushes. "Hello? Is that you, Froggy?"

He looked on as a small girl, not even a third of his size stepped out of the bushes. Big's ears drooped. "Sorry. I thought you were my pal, Froggy. Who are you?"

The girl gulped as she looked up at the big purple cat. "M-my name is Rin."

Big stood up, making himself look even more intimidating to this small girl that stood near him. "Hi! My name is Big. I'm looking for my lost friend, Froggy. Have you seen him?" Rin shook her head. "No, I haven't. I don't know what he looks like."

Big looked at the small girl. "What are you doing here? You look to young to be here on your own."

Rin's eyes filled with tears. "I was separated from master Sesshomaru. I don't know where I am."

Rin burst into tears. It was obvious that she was scared. Big knelt down and gave her a small hug. "Don't worry. I'll help you find Mr. Shessomaru."

Rin dried her tears. "You will?" she asked.

Big nodded. "Sure. Maybe I'll even find Froggy somewhere."

The two started to travel together, each hoping to find someone who they had lost.

********

Sesshomaru was traveling at a much faster speed than usual. Normally, he would simply start off at a moderate pace, but something was different this time. Rin was missing.

Jaken was making a miserable attempt to keep up with his lord. "Lord Sesshomaru, why must we travel at such a rigorous pace?"

Sesshomaru looked back at his struggling lackey. "Jaken, do not questing the pace that I set. Rin has been missing for a while and I want her found."

Sesshomaru would never consciously show it, but he was very worried for Rin's safety. She was just a child lost in a world that was purged by demons of every sort.

Then, he noticed something in his path. It was an odd frog with large eyes. Jaken was thankful that he was finally able to stop for a second, but he knew that his master wanted this filthy frog out of the way. "Get away, you stupid frog. Get out of our path or be roasted alive!"

Jaken brandished his staff threateningly. Sesshomaru held up his hand. "Wait, Jaken. I can sense an odd energy coming from this frog. It may have something to do with Rin's disappearance. Let us follow him and see where he leads us."

The frog hopped off in the opposite direction that he had come. Sesshomaru quickly followed suit. Jaken sighed. "I just hope that your affections for this human girl will not cloud you mind." He hurried off after his master.

********

Rouge woke up feeling very refreshed. She saw Knuckles lying right beside her. They had fallen asleep right beside the lake where they had confessed their true feelings for each other.

Rouge shook Knuckles gently. "Wake up, sleepy head."

Knuckles moaned as his eyes fluttered open, trying to shake the last remnants of sleep away.

Knuckles smiled. "Good morning, my love. I hope you slept well?"

Rouge giggled and nodded. How could I not? You were right next to me."

They both kissed. Rouge handed him the master emerald, which he had entrusted to her for the night. He looked it over. "Well, this is good. It's still here and all in one piece. Good work, Rouge."

Rouge smirked and stood up. "We should probably start heading back to camp, Knuckles. The others may start to worry about us if we stay away much longer."

Knuckles nodded. "Fine, we'll go back. But what are we going to tell them?"

Rouge was about to answer, when a low rumble was heard. "How about I tell them that you died and I took that lovely emerald from you?"

They both looked out to the lake to see an odd creature standing on the bank nearest to them. It was about twice their height and was just as blue as the lake that it stood by. Its arms were burly and strong, but it had no legs. Instead, there was a serpent tail. It's eyes were not very welcoming as they held no color whatsoever. He smirked, revealing a row of long, fang- like teeth.

Knuckles handed the jewel to Rouge and clenched his fists. "Who the hell are you?"

The creature responded, "The bringer of your death. I want that jewel to add to my already increased power."

Rouge remembered something Kagome had said to her. "Knuckles, I think that this demon may have a shard of the Shikon jewel in it."

Knuckles nodded and charged the creature. It responded by flicking its tail at Knuckles.

Knuckles dodged and drove his fist right into the creature's skull. A shard popped out and the demon was reduced to nothing but a pile of bones.

Rouge walked up and picked up the jewel shard. "I think Kagome and her friends will be wanting this."

Knuckles nodded as the two started off in the direction of the camp.

********

Everyone awoke back at the camp. They soon noticed that a few of their allies were missing. Miroku looked at Omega. "I am aware that you do not require sleep, Omega. Do you know where the Knuckles, Rouge, Big, and Froggy have gone?"

Omega nodded. "Affirmative. Froggy was missing last night, so Big set out in search of his lost companion. As for Knuckles and Rouge, they headed down to a nearby lake exactly..."

Miroku cut him off. "Please, no more precise stuff!"

Omega nodded. "Understood. They have been there for a majority of the night and should be returning shortly."

Amy put a finger to her chin. "I wonder what they were doing out there."

Tails smirked. "I have a few ideas."

Everyone looked to the fox. Shadow frowned. "Tails, that is not the kind of image that I want implanted in my memory."

Everyone heard a chuckle behind them and turned to see Knuckles and Rouge standing there. Rouge smiled at Tails. "Well, we didn't have sex, if that is what your thinking."

Knuckles nodded. "Nope, no sex. Just good clean making out."

Kagome smiled them. "I'm very happy for you both."

Inuyasha snorted. "If you ask me, they were better off when they were kicking each other's asses."

Sonic looked at Inuyasha with a small smirk on his face. "Inuyasha, I think your jealous."

Inuyasha turned away. "Why would I be jealous of an egg-laying ant-eater and a bat that could make a wolf howl until he was horse?"

Kagome frowned at him. "Inuyasha, can't you just be happy for them?"

Tikal nodded. Chaos spoke in a low whisper to Tikal, "You know, I think Sonic may be right. Inuyasha may just be jealous because he has no one to share his emotions with."

Tikal nodded again. "Yes, you may be right. He just seems so pent up about getting close to anyone. I wonder why."

They had forgotten how good Inuyasha's hearing was. "To answer your question, Tikal, getting attached means getting hurt."

Tikal and Choas blushed at having their conversation found out.

Eggman cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt this interesting conversation, but we should probably look for Big. He isn't really the brightest bulb in the bunch and I fear for his safety."

Sango nodded. "That would be a good idea. From what I observed, Big is way to laid back and a demon could easily take advantage of him."

Kohaku looked over to the ground. "Look over hear. I think Big took off that way."

Vector took another look at the tracks as Kohaku motioned towards the woods. He nodded. "Good work, kid. You'd make a good detective."

Kohaku blushed a bit and rubbed the back of his head.

They all heard someone laugh at them. They all turned to see Kagura standing there. Espio looked to her with extreme distaste. "So, we meet again, Kagura."

Kagura nodded, eyeing the chameleon. "Yes, but I am not here to have another tussle with you. I am here for a challenge with those two."

She pointed at Sonic and Shadow who characteristically crossed their legs. Shadow was the first to speak. "Give us one good reason why we should waste our time and energy fighting you"

Kagura grinned and held up two glowing gems. "I think that I have something that you want."

Sonic's eyes widened. "Great! She has two chaos emeralds."

Shadow turned to the others. "Kagome, throw us the chaos emeralds!"

Kagome complied and reached into her backpack and threw the two hedgehogs the two chaos emeralds that they posessed.

After the two caught the emeralds, Sonic yelled, "Listen! We're not sure what this chick has up her sleeves, so everyone get away from here and see if you can find Big and froggy!"

Everyone seemed to support this idea except Inuyasha. "I'm not gonna let you guys have all the fun."

Inuyasha was about to jump forward before Chaos put a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Inuyasha, This is not your fight. She has specifically challenged Sonic and Shadow. We have no power over this event now. Besides, they will be fine. They each have a chaos emerald anyway.

Inuyasha was about to brush Chaos's hand off when Cream came up. "Mr. Inuyasha, please don't try and fight her. She wants to fight with Mr. Sonic and Mr. Shadow. I don't think that we should get involved."

Inuyasha reluctantly backed down. The group turned and ran off leaving Sonic, Shadow, and Kagura.

Shadow eyed the woman. "So, what did you have in mind for this challenge?"

Kagura smiled. "It is simple really. All you have to do is defeat me in combat using only attacks that are channeled through the chaos emeralds. You are allowed to dodge and block the attacks any way you see fit, but all other attacks are off limits. If you win, I'll give you these chaos emeralds. If you lose, I want the two that you possess. Sound fair?"

Shadow looked over at Sonic. "Heh. Sounds fair to me."

Shadow nodded. "Very well. We accept your challenge."

Kagura grinned. 'These fools are practically handing me the emeralds on a silver platter!'

She was thrust out of her thoughts as Sonic and Shadow charged at her in unison. And the battle began.