"Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!"

Sesshomaru sighed, looking up from the scroll he'd been reading. "What is it, Jaken? Is the world ending?" Again.

"Milord, Ah-Un has just returned and they are injured! But the human is not with them!" Jaken exclaimed, gripping the staff of two heads tightly as he stared at his master fearfully. He cringed, whimpering a bit as Sesshomaru's eyes flashed red as he got to his feet almost immediately.

Sesshomaru's gaze drifted to the window. It was just past sunset, there was still a faint bit of light in the sky, but it would not last long. He had not realized how late it had become. He inhaled slowly, regaining his composure over the beast within him which had instantly risen to the forefront of his mind upon realizing that Kagome was in trouble.

"You will stay here with the children. Protect them at all costs." He moved towards the door, brushing past Jaken before pausing and turning to look at him. "And Jaken, should this Sesshomaru return and there is but one single mark on either of those children, I will hold you personally responsible." He then turned and left the room.

"Y-yes, Lord Sesshomaru." Why is it always me that is on babysitting duty? Jaken shook himself and took off at a run to find the children. It was best to keep them in the same room so that they were easier to watch, yes? Yes.

"Hey! Watch where you're shoving people!" Kagome yelled as she was thrust forward into a room and fell to the floor as she tripped over something on the floor. Without the use of her hands, which were still tied behind her back, she had to twist, landing on her shoulder to avoid landing on her face.

"Quiet, wench! You will stay here until the Lord comes for you." With that, the guard slammed the door shut and used a sliding bolt to keep the door from being opened from the inside just in case she got free of her bonds.

Kagome shifted up into a sit as best she could, biting her lip as a spark of pain shot through her shoulder and arm. She fought the urge to make any noise or cry, but she was sure she'd done something to her arm. She hoped with all her soul that it was just some severe bruising, or else she'd be in for a lot worse, she was sure.

She shifted on the floor, unable to bring her hands down around her bottom and legs due to the pain in her shoulder, so settled for leaning against a wall and using her legs to push herself up into a standing position. It was dark outside, and there were no candles lit in the room, the only light came from the window in the room, though as she went to the room, she noticed that it was the second floor off the ground, and with her hands behind her back, she didn't have much hope making that jump.

She leaned against the wall at this point, staring out the window at the growing darkness. "Please, please someone realize that I'm gone," she pleaded softly. "InuYasha… Sesshomaru… Kaede." Someone had to notice, right? After all, her bag and weapons had been left on that road just outside the village. Any of her friends would recognize her bag, right?

She bowed her head against the glass of the window and closed her eyes, silently pleading for someone to find her when she heard a noise at the door. She tensed, drawing back into a corner of the room furthest from the door as it slid open to reveal the Lord of the castle.

"Well, Lady Kagome. You've got quite the reputation for being a powerful priestess. You should be pleased, I have made the decision to take you as my mate and you will soon be Lady of the South." With that, Lord Akinori began to remove his haori.

It didn't take long for Sesshomaru to arrive in the village that Kagome had visited. He had seen to Ah-Un before he had left, leaving him in the care of one of his servants once he was sure that Ah-Un's injuries were not life-threatening. Ah-Un was able to communicate to Sesshomaru where the village was, at least, so Sesshomaru did not have to spend precious time searching.

As he came upon the village, he could tell there was a disturbance. He caught Kagome's scent, though it was faint, coming from the village. He walked into the village, ignoring the humans. What was it with humans and their need to shout "Demon! It's a demon!" all the blessed time? He was confronted by an old woman with an eye patch who carried a bow and arrow. He stopped in the main road, staring at the old woman.

"What be ye business here, demon?" The old woman demanded.

Sesshomaru merely watched her for a moment, wondering vaguely if he should bother speaking with her. "Which of you is Kaede?"

The old woman seemed surprised. "That would be me, demon. What do ye want with me?"

"I am Lord Sesshomaru. I come in search of Kagome. She did not return to my palace tonight and those who I sent with her returned to me injured." Sesshomaru did not move nor even express any emotion over his features as he watched her.

"Ye be the half-brother of InuYasha? We suspect Kagome was taken outside the village. One of the farmers found her bag and her bow and arrows tossed aside and she was gone. We know not where." Kaede watched the demon in front of her, wondering why Sesshomaru had come to check up on Kagome if he was as heartless as he had been painted to be.

Sesshomaru watched the older woman for a moment longer before turning and walking back out of the village, following Kagome's scent down the road for a brief period before he was assaulted by the stench of horses and sake. He knelt down, touching a place in the grass that had been disturbed and upturned and raised the earth to his nose, closing his eyes. Kagome.

Letting the earth fall from his hand, he straightened up and closed his eyes, using the new scents he had of her to lead him in the direction, following the scent of Kagome and horses down the road, taking off at a run at full speed. Following the stench of the horses was not difficult, and he was not pleased when he crossed into the southern lands and found the direction that the horses were heading.

Surely it couldn't be Lord Akinori. Surely the demon lord wouldn't be that stupid! He slowed as he noticed the palace on the horizon and let out a growl as Kagome's scent only got stronger as he went, even in the pitch black of the night, his demon sight allowed him to see the palace perfectly in the distance. He sped up once again and stopped only at the palace gates, narrowing his eyes at the guard which approached him.

"Inform Lord Akinori that Sesshomaru, Lord of the West, demands an audience immediately," he ordered, glaring at the pitiful guard. However, the guard didn't seem to want to comply.

"Sir, it is late, the Lord will be in his chambers by now, why do you not call again after the sun has risen?" The guard asked, though his voice trembled ever-so-slightly, betraying his fear, even if Sesshomaru couldn't have smelt it emanating from the male.

Sesshomaru's reply was cut short by a scream coming from within the palace. Sesshomaru knew that scream. "Kagome," he growled viciously, eyes flashing red briefly before his hand reached down, gripping his Tokijin and drawing it out. "Move," he ordered of the guard, who stupidly drew out his own sword. "On your head be it then." He held his sword out then. "Dragonstrike," he replied, his tone harsh and cold as he swung the sword and a series of blue lightening strikes proceeded to rip through the palace gates.

He rushed into the building at this point, leaping over rubble and striking down all who got into his way. Pathetically weak demons that were stupid enough to think they could stop him. Another scream pierced Sesshomaru's keen ears. Hold on, Kagome. He sped up, skidding to a halt outside of the doors and kicked them open in time to see Lord Akinori standing over the bruised, bloody, and naked form of the little miko that he himself had sought to claim as his own.

"I believe that you have something which belongs to me," Sesshomaru growled, eyes flashing red again as he raised his sword. "I want it back."