Tactics

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

The dawn came quickly over the horizon as a red clad hanyou leapt into the air coming close to the youkai lord that was floating on his youki cloud not too far from him. A short distance behind was a fire neko with a monk, a demon slayer, and a kitsune on board. Next to them was a two headed dragon youkai with a young woman and a green kappa that looked ill. Most everyone but the youkai lord showed signs of fatigue. The inu-youkai remained determined in his mission. To return the miko to the pack.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, can we stop for a little while? Rin is tired." His ward asked softly from far behind him.

Sesshoumaru did not turn around or respond to her question. Everyone waited with baited breath for his answer. In their minds they all wished that he would concede to a short stop. After a moment of anxious anticipation his cloud began to float lower toward the ground. Everyone mentally breathed a sigh of relief, and secretly thanked Rin for her tactful intervention. Once on the ground everyone collapsed on the ground, except for the somber lord. Rin sat at a distance from her lord and keeper, and quietly observed his pensive behavior. Finally, she stood and walked over to join him. The young woman stood quietly beside him for a while, the two just looking toward the horizon without any words spoken between them. After a long wait, Sango had the energy to get some sort of breakfast together and brought some to Rin. The brown haired girl took the offered plate with a smile and began picking at the meal. She looked at her thoughtful lord, worry sinking into her features.

"We will find her, Lord Sesshoumaru." She said as reassuring as she could, but he did not respond. "Kagome is tough. She will be fine."

Sesshoumaru continued to look toward the horizon, deep in his thoughts. With her thoughts conveyed to her lord she left him to join the others at the small camp they had made. She sat down next to Inuyasha, and the two looked sadly at one another. Rin shrugged her shoulders at an unspoken questions between the two.

"Do you think we will be able to find her before it's too late, Inuyasha?" Shippo spoke up suddenly.

"If Fluffy has anything to do with it, we will." He said as casually and reassuring as he could.

"He seems very upset about Kagome being taken. Don't you think?" The young kit asked.

"He is very concerned about all that are in his pack and under his care, Shippou." Rin interjected. "He will do everything in his power to return the Lady to us all."

"That's good." Shippou said with a relieved sigh, and he nuzzled into Sango arms again.

Shippou had been so withdrawn since the miko had been taken. Sango and Rin had done their best to console the kit, and reassure him that they would get Kagome back. He kept insisting that this time was different. They had know idea of who had taken her, or where she had been taken to. Although these were the facts of the situation, they all felt confident that they would find a way to retrieve her. It wouldn't be long before they got to Totosai's home, where they hoped to find Myoga. The pair would even tell the kit that they had Sesshoumaru-sama this time, and if anyone could find her it would be him. That would often times cheer his mood; he had great respect for the daiyoukai and his abilities.

The group returned to their travels after a brief respite. Sesshoumaru was determined to arrive at the old sword smith's home by the afternoon. Just as he had planned the entire party made it to the volcanic field early in the afternoon. Without any invitation or time for manners, the youkai lord burst into the old youkai's odd home. Totosai sat by a small fire working on his latest creation. When the brothers entered unexpectedly, he looked up at them just as he was going to blow some fire over the metal that he was working on. With his cheeks puffed out, his eyes widened slightly at the intruders.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, what an unexpected surprise." He said through his puffed cheeks.

"Where is Myoga, Totosai?" The lord wasted no time or pleasantries.

"Myoga. Why are you looking for him?" The sword smith questioned.

"That is none of your concern. Where is he?" Sesshoumaru asked with an edge of growing anger.

"He's here. I was just asking." The old youkai mumbled grudgingly.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, Lord Inuyasha. It's so good to see you." The old fleas voice could be heard, before the familiar sound of a smack followed.

"So, cruel." The flea chocked out as he floated down to Inuyasha's open hand.

"Myoga. We need your particular form of assistance." The demon lord started in immediately.

"What can I help you with, my lord?" Myoga gave a small bow.

"Kagome was kidnapped." Inuyasha jumped in.

"Kidnapped. How terrible." Myoga gasped. "How may I assist you?"

"She was taken by an unknown youkai." Sesshoumaru started. "He appeared in a cloud of black smoke and disappeared the same way. I did not see his face, only two black arms. There was no scent trail left and nothing more then the smell of sulfur and pine."

"Interesting." Totosai said, catching everyones attention.

"What do you know old man?" Sesshoumaru turned and closed the distance between them quickly.

"I've heard of a rare youkai that lives in the heart of volcano's or deep underground." Everyone turned their attention to the old sword crafter. "They are said to be an ancient race. Skin the color of night and a strange ability to move across great distances with the use of a smoke or black mist."

"So you know who this guy is?" Inuyasha asked.

"No. I've heard rumor that they were all extinct, but I suppose that is not true since the miko was taken by one of them." He chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

"Fire elementals." Myoga spoke up now. "I've heard of them too."

"Fire elementals?" Inuyasha questioned.

"Fire elementals are very dangerous foes." Sesshoumaru said solemnly.

"The Tsukerutono." Totosai added. "The fire lords as they were called. They control fire and flame, they reside in volcano's or deep underground where it is warm, they hibernate durning the winter time. This is very unusual. He must have had a good reason for coming out while it was cold."

"Good reason. He kidnapped Kagome, you ass." Inuyasha cracked the sword smith on the top of his head leaving a knot.

"Do you know were this missing fire lord may be hiding?" Sesshoumaru asked calmly.

"Nope, not a clue." Totosai shrugged his shoulders and raised his hands in defeat.

"Ah, what good are you old geezers anyway." Inuyasha howled in frustration.

"You said that he smelled of sulfur and pine, correct Lord Sesshoumaru?" Myoga asked.

"Correct." Sesshoumaru turned toward the old flea with a hint of optimism.

"Sulfur would be part of the tsukerutono's natural smell. I would assume that the pine is our best clue." Myoga rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "There are a few pine forests that we would investigate first. I can't think of any that are located near a volcano. Although, they can move over great distances with their mist, it does have a limited range. However, it's not to say that he couldn't use it repeatedly to go a farther distance."

"Let's start with the forests that are within a reasonable distance of where she was abducted." Sesshoumaru stated. "Myoga you are coming with us."

"But, my lord. I have given you all the information that I have. There is nothing else I can help you with." The old flea stopped his argument the moment the daiyoukai pinned him with a death glare that brooked no argument.

It was hot. Very hot. Kagome rolled onto her other side trying to escape the discomfort of the heat, but it was no good. The heat followed her; surrounded her. As her consciousness pulled at her thoughts she could start to feel the soft fur that she laid on, the moist heat that surrounded her, the fuzzy feeling in her head and the pain behind her eyes. That's when everything came flooding back to her. She was kidnapped. That fire elemental had taken her, and drugged her. Kagome's eyes flew open as she popped into a seated position. Her weak eyes scanned the cave for any sign of the black youkai that had taken her. The fire was nothing but embers again, leaving little light at her disposal. She squinted her eyes against the darkness and began scanning the cave for any sign of her captor. As much as she tried she could not make out anymore then the few odd shapes that she could only vaguely remember from the day before. Or was it the night before. The cave was pitch black, making it difficult to determine the time of day.

Two bronze eyes opened across the cave from her. They shown like a beacon in the night. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw them. They stared unwavering at her, until she squirmed under their scrutiny. The youkai stood, or she imagined he did, since his eyes rose slowly into the air. He moved closer to the fire, and coaxed it back to life as he had done before. Kagome watched him carefully as he prepared the kettle. There was no way she would drink that tea again. Fool me once, she thought to herself. At that moment Kagome's stomach rumbled in protest of it's state of emptiness. She grabbed her stomach as if it would silence the protests. The bronze eyes of the youkai turned to her, and she looked up cautiously. He quickly looked away and continued with what he was doing. Once he was satisfied with the kettle he retreated to the corner of the cave with all the clay pots. He looked over them until he came to the one that he was looking for. He dug into it and pulled out a bundle wrapped in burlap cloth. He walked to where the miko stayed seated on the fur and tossed the nondescript bundle at her. Kagome fumbled to catch it, and held it for a moment before unwrapping it. When she pulled the fabric back she found a small pile of dried meat in the center.

"What is this?" She asked suspiciously.

"Dried meat." He replied sourly.

"What kind of dried meat?"

"What does it matter? You are hungry miko. Eat." He insisted.

"Yeah, you said it was just tea." She scoffed at him.

"I apologies for that. It was for your own good." He said earnestly.

"Yeah, right." Kagome huffed while turning her head away from him.

"I promise you miko, that food will bring you know harm, and neither will I." His tone was pure and honest, causing Kagome to turned back to look at him.

He stood by the fire his shoulders square to her. His body held firm with the conviction of his words. Kagome couldn't help it. She smiled and nodded at him. Looking over the pieces of meat she picked up a small portion and took a bite from it.

"So, we didn't get a chance to introduce ourselves the last time we talked." She said after swallowing her first bite. "My name is Kagome."

"Moeagaru." He nodded to her, and she nodded back.

"This is good." She said with another bite. "What is it?"

"Better you don't know." He smirked, as she swallowed hard.

"It's not poisonous, is it?" Her voice trembled.

"Do you think I would go through the trouble of kidnapping you just to kill you?" He chuckled in a way that didn't sound funny.

"I don't know. Did you?" Kagome asked as her voice became hoarse.

"Of course not." His tone turned more reassuring.

What did he want? He seemed to be very contradictory. Was he going to do something to her? Or was he just going to take the jewel from her. She clasped the chunk of Shikon Jewel that still hung around her neck.